FSWR's Mitch Peacock is in Dallas for the MLS Final tomorrow. Here are some of his thoughts.
"Several things struck me while working at Pizza Hut Park Saturday...
One, there really are alot of great people working around the League. From MLS staffers, to my colleagues in the media, to the two teams battling for the title on Sunday...friendly, approachable, and passionate about the game.
Two, that passion is just as strong in the people paying to watch MLS. Fans young and old enjoying a host of football-related activities in and around the Stadium. Folks in shirts and hats and club colors of all sorts - creating a buzz not only about Sunday's Final but about the sport in general and that's a good omen for the future of the game in our part of the world.
Which brings me to three, the future, kids love this sport and the ones I saw around our hotel and at the Stadium were not just kids who play soccer but kids for whom soccer is a big part of their lives.
I wasn't that well versed on things when the NASL boomed and then when bust so I don't know what the energy was around the game at that time, but with what I saw Saturday plus a League working hard to spread the word and the start of more extensive TV coverage of the MLS-version of the world's game we may really be on the cusp of an new era for the football here."
The following advertisement recently ran in the National Post in Canada.
"Global Television Winnipeg, producers of the Fox Sports World Report seen daily in the United States and Canada, is seeking an Anchor for the production, based in Winnipeg.
Requirements are a high degree of on-air hosting skills, extensive knowlwedge of professional soccer and technical ability for editing.
Applicants should send a resume and demo tape to Global News, 603 St. Mary's Road, Winnipeg, MB R2m 3L8 and email: newsroom@globaltv.com"
Michelle will be doing her final Fox Sports World Report show this coming Friday. After five years she is off to Toronto to join the Media and PR department of Toronto FC who will be making their MLS debut in 2007. We will all miss her but it is a fantastic opportunity for her and she will do a wonderful job for the newest member of the MLS family.
It looks like the blogs will continue into the new European season.
I'm heading back to Winnipeg early tomorrow morning after a great five weeks in Los Angeles. There wasn't a chance to thank everyone at Fox Soccer Channel for giving the opportunity to be part of their World Cup coverage and the many people behind the scenes who put the show on the air and the blog on the web site.
Although I will be back on the FSWR on Friday the plan at the moment is to take a couple of weeks off from blogging to reaquaint myself with the family. Over the years my wonderful wife has been very understanding about my soccer obsession.
I also looking forward to seeing our two cats again - Baggio and Shevchenko. Yes my wife even let me name the cats after two of my favourite players.
I expect to be up and blogging around the start of August but who knows the urge may just get the best of me before that time is up.
Again, thank you to all of you for making this so interesting and enjoyable.
A very good game and an opening game win for Mexico although 3-1 was a bit flattering. Lavolpe looks like a genius after making a double half time substitution.
One a totally different topic they say that when you have bad news get it out before someone else does. So I've decided to own up before Jeremy St. Louis tells the world. The Fox Sports World Report World Cup pool report came out last night. I am getting my butt kicked.
My lovely, beautiful and soccer savvy wife however is doing very well. As of last night she was tied for third place and she called this mornings first two games right - with the exact score for Mexico \ Iran.
Don't be surprised if next season I am replaced by another McMahon on the FSWR.
Back again for Angola and Portugal and thanks to all who visit the blog from time to time and to add their thoughts and comments.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
Thank you to all who take time to visit this blog and especially to those of you who post your comments and thoughts.
PS - If you have questions please post them on the regular Monday blog. I am unable to answer e mails posted to the inbox on this site.
And one more thing. If you have questions or complaints or compliments about programming please contact Fox Soccer Channel or Fox Sports World Canada directly. I have no control over what the stations televise.
