Mr. Riley... can I call you Joel? Good. Joel. You and I have a problem. We’ve never met, and honestly before about 8:30 this morning I had no idea who you were. Unfortunately since that time our relationship has gone downhill.
Joel, sometime during your show this morning you began an interview with the commissioner of Major League Soccer Don Garber. What followed for the next four minutes and 50 seconds was one of the most unengaged and ill-informed interviews I’ve seen conducted outside of the world of politics.
Less than 15 seconds in to the interview you state “... three times best regular season record, but no title yet...” Joel, the Crew won the MLS Cup in 2008. Silver Dr. south of Hudson St. is named MLS Champions Way. Apparently you couldn’t be bothered to read all the way down to the THIRD PARAGRAPH of the Wikipedia article.
One minute in to the interview you kind of startled me again Joel. You state to Commissioner Garber “At 19 teams I know you'd love to add another one and I bet New York City would be a great place to go.” I guess not knowing about the Crew’s 2008 championship would also make it less than likely that you would know the Crew’s opponent in the 2008 MLS Cup was the New York Red Bulls. Apparently the Commissioner thought the same thing I did as he had to remind you that Major League Soccer already had one team in the New York metropolitan area and that the expansion side would be the second team.
Joel, I understand. You aren’t a soccer fan. Nothing wrong with that. Here Joel, is my concern. You weren’t even listening to your guest.
At 2:25 seconds Commissioner Garber bails you out. He states “The Crew brought home a championship in 2008.” Garber then speaks for a few more minutes about his thoughts on attendance and other club matters. You reply “They certainly have the product, they've got three out of the last five or six years where they've been the winningest team on the field, it's just get us a title I think and we'll talk.”
All I can conclude from this is you weren’t listening to a word Commissioner Garber was saying. In this day and age when given ample time to prepare, it is inexcusable to be ill-informed about such a basic topic. There were no concepts to grasp, no theorems to learn yet for some reason you couldn't bother more than a cursory look at Wikipedia. Beyond that though you couldn’t even bother to listen to your damn guest.
Joel, this is embarrassing. You honestly reminded me of Handsome Dan from Wayne’s World 2 during this interview. I understand that the Commissioner of Major League Soccer may not be your idea of an amazing guest, but he’s a pretty important one for Columbus. The Crew have a major economic impact on the central Ohio region and are a broadcast partner of your own radio station!
Joel, if Commissioner Garber was an NCAA official I don’t believe we would be having this talk. If he was the reserve women’s track team’s assistant coach for Ohio State I know we wouldn’t be having this talk, but he is neither of those things. Commissioner Garber is working with the Hunt family and the Crew front office to improve upon something that has a positive economic impact on the city of Columbus, improves the quality of life in this town and creates jobs. All of this was done with zero money from taxpayers (something none of the other pro teams in the state can boast).
What the Crew are looking for now with their “Dare to be Massive” campaign is publicity. That’s why Commissioner Garber came on your show today. His goal was to help the Columbus Crew. What he got was someone disengaged who focused on the negatives, didn’t do any show prep and talked about knee-capping David Beckham.
I don't mean for this to come off as personal Joel. I don't know you and I tend to think that most people when you get down to it are good, honest people who are trying to do the right thing. I think in this instance, you missed the mark.
Joel, I invite you to come out and take in a game sometime. While you are at the stadium talk to the kids who are part of the Crew Kicks for Kids program. Talk to the people helped by the Crew Soccer Foundation. Have a conversation with the supporters group leaders who participate in so many events and charities that make our community better every single day. Learn for yourself why the Crew community helps make Columbus a better place to live and then listen to that interview again.
The Crew deserve better Joel. Columbus deserves better.
