This weekend I’ve been behind enemy lines, doing business in Manchester. Here’re the details…
Working in PR with a couple of clients who are FIFA World Cup sponsors, I do my fair share of traveling and dealing with footballing’s best and brightest. This weekend it was a trip to Manchester to do some work with Tim Howard, who is a MasterCard spokesperson.
Before leaving, I had the opportunity to get a ticket to the Spurs - ManU match. On one hand, it’s always nice to take in a match, especially when you can see two decent sides in a famous venue.
Now mind you, this would have been a ticket that I would not have had to pay for. So, did I go?
I DID NOT! There was no way ManU or Spurs (I’m assuming there is some kind of share of gate receipts) were going to get one penny from this Gooner, even if indirectly. That’s called taking one for the team my friends. I didn’t feel I could come back to you and look you in the eye (metaphorically speaking of course) having watched two of our biggest rivals. Besides, who was I going to root for. I couldn’t very well root for Spurs (especially in Manchester) and I wasn’t going to pull for United now, was I?
I did however go to the Stadium and was forced to make a small purchase at the Mega Store. This was for a colleague (a superior in fact), not my kids.
On Saturday night I had a brief chance to speak with Sir Bobby Charlton. The former United and England captain can be summed up in one word: class.
Humble, polite, gentlemanly and pleasant would also work. Just a very nice man.
After that it was off to dinner at a local Chinese restaurant known to be a favorite of United players. Sure enough, about 10 minutes after we were seated, in comes Ruud van Nistelrooy. As he walks in, he lightly brushes up against a patron who was walking out and RvN immediately falls to floor. No just kidding. Tough for me, as a Dutch football fan I wish him well, but still, it’s RvN so I can’t quite call myself a fan.
Then on Sunday it was down to business. We met Tim at the MUTV studios at Old Trafford. Now, I’ve worked with a lot of pro athletes: Pele, Jurgen Klinsmann, Ozzie Smith, George Brett, Steve Francis, Tim Hudson… And I must say, Tim is not only very bright, but also a real solid guy. He was there to work. He asked questions, was engaged and tried his best, and this was just a practice session, we weren’t even doing real media activities.
He also “got it” quicker than just about anybody I’ve worked with. I was very impressed with him.
So, rest easy ArseAmers, your founder did you proud by refusing to line the Glazer coffers.
53 Responses to “ArseAm Founder Goes Manc”
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October 24th, 2005 at 12:48 pm
You are a better man than me. I’d taken in the match and called it “research!”
October 24th, 2005 at 1:53 pm
LOL!
Rick, I’m wondering if at any time in the conversations, your affiliation came up?
October 24th, 2005 at 1:55 pm
You could have gone to the match, and took some notes… researched the teams… and passed on the info to Arsene…
I think I’d have gone, just to have been to the venue for a match…
I’d like to go to ALL the stadiums, at least once..
October 24th, 2005 at 2:00 pm
I would have taken it. But, I do hate both teams. Like I dunno what I want from this game. Now Spurs are happy that they took a point from Man U and they are confindent. Man U did not lose, so they are ok. ahh.
Please Gunners, beat Spurs. !
oh, anyone heard about Chelsea Jose’ saying that he wants to seal the title by X-mas. Would it be possible? Or the Curse of Man U will get them like the way it got us last year.
October 24th, 2005 at 2:11 pm
Obviously, they can NOT mathematically seal the title by Xmas. But, if they are up by 10 points by the new year… and have not lost a match, then how likely is it that they will lose 3 matches, and either Arsenal or United will run the table unbeaten in the new year??
October 24th, 2005 at 3:09 pm
FRAUD!
October 24th, 2005 at 3:12 pm
Funny “Ruud comment”.
And well done, sir. Only, I was a little disappointed that you didn’t thank Tim for being solid and professional and then launching a goal kick into his boys. And a part of me thinks you were just scared to be found out at OT and beaten up. But, all in all, well done.
Now get back to London and burn something black and red. Your mojo reeks!
October 24th, 2005 at 4:10 pm
I’m very glad to know Sir Bobby is just as I imagined him to be. I know alot of ArseAmers hate Man United with a passion, but I for one never “hated” them for any reason other than they were Arsenal’s biggest rivals for the title. Bobby Charlton, Georgie Best and, my favourite United player of all, Nobby Stiles, will always hold a special place in my heart. Different contexts of growing up, I guess,
October 24th, 2005 at 4:25 pm
I don’t know any of those people, except in NAME only…(Charlton & Best)…
Favorite United player? huh?…
I’d have to say I don’t think any (many) of us have favorite United players… most HATED, hell yeah…
October 24th, 2005 at 4:26 pm
I said I would go in to the belly of the beast for RESEARCH, which I’d pass on to Arsene…
I have Arsenal players in my team…
YOU… do not…
FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 24th, 2005 at 4:45 pm
Nobby doing his dance after the game in 1966 - pure brilliance.
As I said before, I had a different context growing up. Though my family has been in Canada for a few hundred years now, we still have deep emotional ties to England (and Scotland, yuck). Some of the English in my family came from Wigan and Manchester. One of my uncles has been a die-hard United supporter since the early ’60s. And we support England in football. I cannot help but love this part of my heritage, and indeed the culture in which I live. Guys like Nobby Stiles, Bobby Moore, and Bobby Charlton are not simply names in a history book to me; they mean as much to me as guys like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Paul Henderson, Rocket Richard, and others mean to Americans and other Canadians. Just because some of them happened to play for Manchester United will never take anything away from these men.
Many ArseAmers are really only new converts to English football, and only really like Arsenal. I don’t hold that against them, but no one could seriously expect me to not like Nobby Stiles as my favourite ever Manchester United player just because I support Arsenal.
October 24th, 2005 at 4:48 pm
Research is just a pretense. You wanna soak up some of that Glazer-bought atmosphere. Maybe check out the Vieira rumor.
And having Arsenal players on your team means squat if you can’t support them in real life. :^P
October 24th, 2005 at 4:53 pm
Are you Clarkey’s other friend, the United fan?
Clarkey if this really is you, you should be banned from ArseAm for one whole day. Nice sentiments and all, but using the words “favourite”, “United” and “player” in the same sentence without gobs of AFC arsekissing to balance it out is a 2nd class misdemeanor, I think.
Rick, can you check the handbook. Oh wait, you’re in with them, as well.
Out of hurricane names and now this. World’s gone to the dogs, I tell you!
October 24th, 2005 at 4:59 pm
It is me, mate. You guys just don’t get it. You’re Americans. You might be Anglophiles, but you don’t really want to rejoin the Empire, do you? The Empire may be gone, but the emotional links still remain in many of us British-descended Canadians.
How come, when people go off saying they like Ajax, the Dutch team, Barcelona, or some other popular side, no one puts them through the ringer about this site being “exclusively” Arsenal?
October 24th, 2005 at 5:03 pm
I’ll raise the ante…
I even like Jimmy Greaves!
October 24th, 2005 at 5:17 pm
No, we don’t want to rejoin the empire. And last time I checked, the teams you mentioned aren’t in the Premier League and they aren’t loaded with a sh*t storm of wankers, either. We may meet them in other competitions, but then again anyone can win those silly cups.
For shame, Clarkey.
October 24th, 2005 at 5:18 pm
Raises the ante…and lowers the bar.
October 24th, 2005 at 5:26 pm
I never said I was keen on many of the current United players. Rooney is a chav in need of a good boot up the arse; Alan Smith looks like a girl, Cristiano Ronaldo more so; Rio Ferdinand has a shocking haircut and is a doze; Ruud is a horse; Scholes, a ginger; Tim Howard is a spastic; the list goes on. There again, I’m not keen on a number of current Arsenal players either. I only have any real liking for Ljungberg anymore. I support the club; liking the players is just a bonus.
October 24th, 2005 at 5:26 pm
Haha
October 24th, 2005 at 5:45 pm
Rick should I say good luck with your business but I’m very jealous hearing you met Sir Bobby Charlton. I have seen him once in person but hope to speak to him before I die.. He one of a few guys in football you will loved to drink with in your house and you sum it up nicely - Class.
October 24th, 2005 at 6:04 pm
“Hate” is a very strong wrong and you right but I will say some fans are jealous of other teams which can turned into hatred. I have seen people died for nothing because they support the other club but when you come to think for it you see how stupid the killer(s) were.
Even with Spurs been our biggest rivals, I don’t and will never like the Spurs but to hate them as some folks do is beyond me. I worked with 2 spurs fans, including some Kops, Chelsea and United fans and we say all sort of things to each other but hating is not part of it. Hating make you looked like a fool because football is a sports.
And you very right, is a very Different contexts of growing up .
October 24th, 2005 at 6:14 pm
Stag,
I do have an Arsenal player in my fantasy team. His name is POOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
I used to have 3 of them but they were soo bad I had less than 20 points between them in 3 weeks. Is all about winning my friend. lol
What about Scotty - After all his big chat I have never seen an Arsenal player in his team. Is TRUE someone told me he is a secret Spurs fan. hmmm
Clarkey don’t like the Arsenal, you take a look at his team. A Westham fan in waiting. lol
October 24th, 2005 at 6:18 pm
So you don’t have any faith in your team. Now we know who you support.
I guess you will soon have PV in your team when he signed for United. You have been found out ?
October 24th, 2005 at 7:07 pm
LoveG…
I expect a few Arsenal players on your squad…
I see that Scotty is a fraud… he has VanHorseface as his captain… and no Arsenal players…
and…
Clarkey…
well… we know he’s Chelsea, but he just PROVED it to me… with 3 Chelsea players and none Arsenal…
Its truly an embarrassment!
I just thought I’d point it out for all of ArseAm to see… 24 teams, and only a few have NO ARSENAL PLAYERS…
I’m going to make it into the top 5 by seasons end WITH Arsenal players leading the way.
October 24th, 2005 at 7:09 pm
Actually, I think Quebec wants OUT because of those Brit ties… they are FRENCH… I think I like them better, see: HENRY WENGER PIRES VIEIRA etc…
October 24th, 2005 at 7:11 pm
Thats funny…
I love the players… and the club…
when one of my favorites leaves, I take it to heart.
Its NOT JUST ABOUT THE LAUNDRY…
the players make the team….
October 24th, 2005 at 7:12 pm
Hence why I said “British-descended” Canadians.
October 24th, 2005 at 7:13 pm
I’d like to have some wine with Titi, Bobby, Paddy and Arsene…
October 24th, 2005 at 7:22 pm
Then thats fair enough. I’m not saying you’re wrong to think that. And I’m not saying I don’t care about the players par se. I really, really miss Keown and Parlour. The Arsenal is still here though, and so am I.
We all have slightly different relationships with Arsenal; no two are the same. Look at Hornby. While many ArseAmers can identify with and share his passion for the club, none of us have the same experiences with the Arsenal. Hornby But that doesn’t make Hornby the ultimate Arsenal supporter. He didn’t grow up in a family of fanatical Gunners - in fact, his Dad wanted to go to Chelsea! He didn’t go to many away games. He doesn’t write (at least not to my knowledge) for a fanzine. But nor does all this make him any less entitled to call the Arsenal his own. Just because I have a deep respect and admiration for a few men who played for opposing teams does not make me any less an Arsenal supporter.
October 24th, 2005 at 7:28 pm
West Ham?? I think not!
I only picked up Carroll as he’s relatively inexpensive for a keeper likelier than most to start.
If anything I’d say Bolton. I used to have Giannakopolous, Nolan and Ben Haim. Maybe now I’ll pick up Powell and have the rumours start that I’m a season ticket holder at the Valley.
October 24th, 2005 at 7:38 pm
This is all true Clarkey…
Hornby lives Arsenal… season ticket holder for years… Fever Pitch said it all… and now that he has “MADE IT” and could live wherever he wants, he still lives down the road from the ground! (yes, in a posh area, but down the road still)…
I think you just open yourself up to some bashing!
With your “Chelsea” episode…
a Fantasy team without ANY Arsenal…
and now… having favorite United players??
Hmmm… you… are an easy target!
October 24th, 2005 at 7:55 pm
Yeah, Clarkey! You got no club reps in your fantasy team!
Oh. Heh.
In the immortal words of most of my uncles from Jersey, “Its just business.” ;^) Fantasy is about being the biggest and best glory hunter ever. When they’re hot, you pick ‘em. When they’re not, you drop ‘em. That’s why we play cause in real life we don’t have that option.
And we’re crazy.
October 24th, 2005 at 7:56 pm
Eh…maybe at the pub. But no Mancs in my house.
October 24th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
Me open for bashing? You’re the one who only knew of those guys just by name, not what they’ve done. Next you’ll be slagging off people for liking “that Pele guy, whatever he did…” ;+)
October 24th, 2005 at 9:49 pm
You could do alot worse than being a season ticket holder at the Valley!
I have a mate thats a long-time Arsenal season ticket holder, who bought season tickets to Charlton as well. He lives down the street from Charlton, and the price for him and his daughter (BOTH TICKETS in the family section), is half the cost of his ONE ticket to Arsenal. Go figure.
So he shares the ticket to the Arsenal matches with his relatives… and can take his kids to see Premier League footy at the Valley for free…
October 24th, 2005 at 9:51 pm
Who cares about some old ManU players? They never did anything for me… and I can assure you that they were no Thierry Henry!
October 24th, 2005 at 10:10 pm
You obviously can’t recognize quality. Maybe that’s why you’re in 14th place in the fantasy league
October 24th, 2005 at 10:11 pm
Charlton aren’t half bad now, I reckon they’ll plummet if they lose Curbs to England though.
October 24th, 2005 at 10:26 pm
Well I’m going for C. Palace ticket season ticket to share with my friends.
I loved the Arsenal but the way things are going I’m going to give up the ticket maybe at the end of this season even though I’m sharing with another person. For almost ?1800.00 forget that. That will buy me 3 season tickets at Palace or Fulham.
October 24th, 2005 at 10:28 pm
Titi yes but the rest nope.. I don’t go pass Calais. Hey that was a joke I loved Paris..
October 24th, 2005 at 10:35 pm
Ok maybe in a Pub but it doesn’t hurt having a bit of class in my yard.
Well he is better than the guy you went drinking with Scotty - Your fantasy league captain. I bet you didn’t mentioned that to Stag..
Your secrets are out…… :0- )
October 24th, 2005 at 11:39 pm
ARSEaAM flounder goes Manci.
Ticket Rules:
Free tickets u go if it’s good.
Lotsa free tickets to all kindsa good things, you give all but the ones you need away to your friends, family and co-workers.
No friends, family or a job then I guess you scalp them because the person that gave them to you felt sorry for ya.
No free ticket I have ever had has gone into the round filing cabinet. There’s always someone to give them to if you feel around a bit.
What’s an Arsea Am? Bobby who? Pele’s a real ladies man, eh?
October 25th, 2005 at 12:02 am
Shhhhh…:)
October 25th, 2005 at 3:43 am
That MIGHT be true…
but I AM in 14th place with Arsenal players in my side…
you’re team is full of Chelsea…
we’re the Arsenal, ya see?
October 25th, 2005 at 3:44 am
I’ve been to Calais… en route to Paris…
and I’d have a drink with Arsene Bobby and Paddy there any day!
October 25th, 2005 at 3:49 am
what the f???
Scotty goes drinkin’ Capn’ Morgans with VanHorseface??
And his team is still in 20th place?
Huh?
We’ll see who the smart one is when Henry bangs in 4 goals next match… and I have HIM at MY CAPTAIN… as well as the Arsenal’s….
I’ll catapult up the table in no time…
Love G… you stick to your guns and your Chelsea boys…
Scotty… stick with VanHorseface and a team of non-Arsenal… it’ll bring you right to the bottom…
and
Clarkey… that freakin’ Chelsea blue boy… I’ll catch HIM at the top before Xmas…
October 25th, 2005 at 4:08 am
Recently, I came across a Pele book where the author (I believe Harry Harris) had thanked a certain Rick Liebling for providing him with some help. I had a feeling that was you. I mean how many Rick Liebling’s can be out there?
And if there quite a few, how many would get a chance to interview Pele? But your above comments confirm that it was you indeed!
Good stuff man!!
October 25th, 2005 at 10:46 am
Don’t you know I am the Special One?
October 25th, 2005 at 11:22 am
I know that he’s your god, and Drogba is your hero…!
October 25th, 2005 at 4:11 pm
Really mate, giving up the ticket? I can’t say as I blame you much. ?1800 for a season ticket is shocking, simply shocking. With fans like you (and me, eventually) being priced out, you can bet the atmosphere at the Grove will be no better than the Library is now.
October 25th, 2005 at 4:13 pm
Why don’t you go to Wimbledon? Thought you were mad for the Crazy Gang
October 26th, 2005 at 1:25 pm
It’s all business, my friend. You’re the Sven Goran Eriksson of the fantasy football league - you pick players based on what they did ages ago, not on current form.
October 26th, 2005 at 1:27 pm
No no, * I * am the Special One. That fish-eating wanker… no way! And the guy from Arseblog.com is right, there is no more horrible looking kunt than Drogba.