Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt Not Interested In Buying English Soccer Team
by Joel Thorman on Feb 24, 2010 1:41 PM CST
in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Season
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PrintAbout six months ago, while perusing an UK tabloid checking things out on the internet, I noticed a report from across the pond at The Sun indicating that Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt was in the running to buy West Ham, a Premier League soccer team.
(On a side note, these tabloids are freakin' hilarious. Here's what they said about Hunt six months ago: "WEST HAM are set to go Yankee Doodle Dandy with US tycoon Clark Hunt emerging as a shock contender in a £120million buyout.")
Of course, nothing came of the report.
Early this week another report emerged from the South London Press indicating the Chiefs owner was interested in purchasing another team called Crystal Palace.
Not so, says Nick Wright of 610 Sports. Per Wright, Chiefs PR has said Hunt is not interested in buying the team.
The reports linking Hunt to other soccer teams probably comes from his own affiliation with soccer. The Chiefs owner also owns the Dallas and Columbus MLS teams.
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Crystal Palace
They’ve got a pretty dedicated fanbase and have had some intermittent success, but not close to what West Ham’s had. If Hunt’s not interested in the Hammers he’s really unlikely to be interested in Palace.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
You've demonstrated more knowledge of English soccer than me
by Joel Thorman on Feb 24, 2010 1:46 PM CST up reply actions
Well, I Did Live There For Six Years :)
And I’ve always been a fan of English football, Liverpool in particular.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
And Crystal Palace isn't even in the Premiership.
And has shown no real drive toward entering the relegation playoffs. The real reason we’re hearing it is because they’re in administration (the period just before bankruptcy).
Meanwhile, West Ham has been in the Premiership for the past 15 years and has a rich history.
I’d expect a Portsmouth swoop if he were really looking for an EPL team to get on the cheap.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Actually, West Ham Got Demoted Awhile Ago, Then Came Back Up
They got dropped during Paolo DiCanio’s last year with the team. They were Division 1 (Coca-Cola Championship) in 2006 when they got to the FA Cup Finals against Liverpool. I think they’re back up in the Premiership now, though after 2-3 years down.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
I remembered them being in the FA Cup Finals in '06.
I really thought they’d been up for as long as I’d been aware of the EPL. Then again, as a ‘Pool fan, you’d know where they were better than I in ’06.
Speaking of which, what did you think of that slug-fest in the Merseyside a couple of weeks ago?
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
I Didn't Catch It...I Was On The Road In Tennessee
But the Liverpool-Everton derby is always like that…those teams fricking hate each other.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Best Bumper Sticker I Ever Saw, By The Way
“Liverpool has two great football teams…Liverpool and Liverpool’s reserves”.
I think my favorite Liverpool-Everton rivalry story, though, is from 2005, when Liverpool won the 2004-2005 Champions League but failed to qualify for the 2005-2006 Champions League because they’d placed fifth in the Premiership, right behind Everton. The Champions League gave Liverpool an exemption to allow them to defend their title by letting the English Premiership put five teams in the ‘05-’06 Champions League instead of four. A friend of mine from Liverpool (a fan of Liverpool, not Everton) was actually pissed about it…he wanted Liverpool to be awarded Everton’s spot just so the Everton fans would get screwed over.
Now that’s a rivalry. :)
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Can't not have the big four in the Champions League, can they? =)
Yeah, that game is always rough, but a stricter ref would’ve sent another 2-3 guys off in addition to the 3 he did send off. Studs-up everywhere.
I just had my fingers crossed that someone didn’t take Landon’s leg off.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
I Think They Just Loosen The Rules For That Game
There are already so many cards in that game that it would put both teams behind the eight ball for their other Premiership matches if they called the game much tighter. I always suspected that the refs had an unspoken agreement to just let them play and suffer the consequences for it in injuries.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Wait...Landon Donovan's Playing For Everton!?!
I can’t stand that little pansy bastard. He’s the epitome of all that’s wrong with U.S. soccer.
You don’t need to worry about Donovan getting his leg taken off…he hides from contact. Which makes him a perfect fit for Everton.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Yep. On loan.
Broke Ashley Cole’s (Ca$hley’s) ankle in a 50-50 ball. No malice to it, but put Cole out 3 months.
He’s actually been on quite the tear for Everton recently. They’re 5-1-1 since he showed up, and they beat ManU, Chelsea, and tied Arsenal in that time period. Started every game.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
I Remember When He Was With Bayern Leverkeusen In '05
Dieter Hamann and Gerrard ate him alive when he played Liverpool in the Champions League. The dude had “deer in the headlight” eyes through most of the game. Right after that he started whining about how homesick he was, bitched about how Germany was keeping him from being a good soccer player and went running back to the States to hide in Los Angeles. Leverkeusen wasn’t holding him back…he just found out he wasn’t a big fish in a small pond any more and he couldn’t handle the fact that he was a mediocre player by real standards. I’ve never had any respect for him after that…the guy’s a quitter and a whiner (as evidenced by his pathetic little snit with Beckham).
I’m surprised he’s doing that well for Everton. Maybe Beckham finally getting fed up and telling the world that Donovan was a selfish backstabbing baby finally lit a fire under his ass.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
His run of play at the international level hasn't hurt either.
USA’s deep run at the Confed Cup last year was kind of his coming out party. He’s been a man possessed since.
Yeah, 1 goal, 3 assists, and 2 penalties earned since he’s shown up in the EPL. He’s taking it a bit more seriously this time, I think.
I don’t really like the guy as a person, but I’m not going to mind if he plays like a house on fire when we get to South Africa in June.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
I Just Can't Get Behind Him
I hope the U.S. team does well, but I despise the guy and won’t care if they don’t. He’s been held up too often as the poster boy for U.S. soccer players and he’s constantly given them a bad name with his immaturity and underachievement.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
I remember being at a Wizards game just after the '06 WC.
We had a poster that said “Star Without Heart” that he signed without looking. I believe it’s still somewhere in the Cauldron’s collectables.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Really?
That’s the perfect description.
Can you take a picture of it and send it to me?
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Ask and ye shall receive.
I don’t have it, but they still do, I believe.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Just Looked It Up
I see that Donovan and his wife split up. It’s amazing how much more attractive she just became. :)
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
He's Also The Reason I Root For England, Not The U.S., In Soccer
Donovan was one of the worst team captains I’ve ever seen when he captained the last two World Cup teams. DeMarcus Beasley would have been a better choice. Or Casey Keller. Or Bridges. At least they stuck it out at the top levels of soccer instead of playing in the backwater MLS.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Actually, Landon hasn't ever been our first-choice team captain.
In 2002 and 2006, Claudio Reyna had the band, and when he went off hurt in 2006, Eddie Pope got it.
Since then, it’s been Carlos Bocanegra with the band. Bradley prefers defenders to have it, so even KC’s own Jimmy Conrad has gotten it over Landon in games.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
I Stand Corrected, Then
I thought Arenas made him team captain (at least until Arenas got fired).
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
I Did Like Reyna
He had a solid career overseas. I remember watching his last game for Man City.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Claudio is still my captain.
Solid player and good role model.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Hadn't Heard That Palace Was In Administration
I remember when Leeds United went through that…it wrecked that team for years and cost them their stadium. Hope Palace comes out of it better.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
You're not kidding.
From Premiership to League One in a matter of a few short years. Ugh.
They seem to be turning it around a bit, though.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Yeah
They had some issues during Glenn Roeder’s time there which helped get them relegated, but now they seem to have some stability there. 2005-2006 was the last season I paid close attention to the English leagues (I moved back to the States in ’06) but that West Ham team that made the FA Cup Final was a really good team…that final game was amazing (especially since my team won).
As for Hunt, I would have thought it was a good purchase if he’d bought West Ham (who I’ve always liked, even if I wasn’t a fan) and Crystal Palace would not be a horrible buy if he got it dirt cheap, but I think the tabloids are just making it all up…next you’ll hear he’s planning to buy Millwall (and oh please god, no…they’re the Oakland Raiders of English football).
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
It's like AEG and the Kraft family.
They’ve been rumored for EPL clubs before, and they own MLS ones, so naturally every club that wants to sell gets tagged by The Sun as a prospective suitor for these guys.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
I Was So Happy When Kraft Was Rumored To Be After Liverpool
But sadly that fell through. Not that they’ve done badly since then.
Although they would have done better if Rafa Benitez, for some bizarre reason, hadn’t been obsessed with playing Steven Gerrard on the wing instead in the middle where his strengths were. Xabi Alonso must have had some pictures of Benitez blowing a goat or something for all the favoritism he got.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Surely you can't be referring to Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso.
Because we all know they don't just throw money at anyone.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Yup
He left before this season…finally. Alonso is a good player, but he’s not close to the caliber of player that Gerrard is in the middle. Liverpool’s offense in ‘05-’06 was sooo much better once Gerrard got moved off the wing late in the games.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Xavi makes him look so much better in Spain's midfield
Than he ever did as a club player. Those two together are arguably the best in the world.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Or Did You Mean Leeds?
Their general manager Peter Ridsdale really put them in the hole. They sold off all the talent on their roster and they were still only able to pay off about half the debts he ran up. For five years they had to sell every semi-promising prospect that came up through their system for cash so they could avoid bankruptcy and had to sell their home stadium, Elland Road.
I doubt Ridsdale’s even set foot in Leeds since then…which makes me think he’s maybe not the complete idiot he appears to be every time he opens his mouth.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Yeah, I meant Leeds.
Buying (and then subsequently selling) Robbie Fowler was incredibly stupid. Then again, maybe they just wanted him to replicate the “snorting coke” celebration while he was there.
Then went Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, and Harry Kewell (to your liking, I’m sure), and they were doomed. Can’t pay the bills if you’re not winning, and can’t win without talent.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Especially Since They Already Had Robbie Keane On The Roster
And Keane was a younger, better striker. I loved Robbie Fowler, but that was one of the most blindingly stupid acquisitions I’d ever seen. They bought Keane, then a few months later moved him to the bench for a guy who couldn’t stay healthy any longer.
Don’t even get me started on Kewell.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
The '05 Champions League Final "injury" substitution
Or the ’06 FA Cup Final one piss you off more? =)
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Not Sure What You Mean
Those two games were the best (English) football games I’ve ever seen. I don’t remember being pissed at either one.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
I remember several 'Pool fans being pissed
Because they thought Kewell faked injuries in those games because he wasn’t playing well.
Obviously overshadowed by the victories, but I know at the time, they were upset at having to burn a sub.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Oh, I Think He Was Actually Hurt
But the stories that came out were that his preparation and work ethic were continually lacking. He had some pretty severe injuries, but he also sat out when they weren’t that serious too. He’s the J.D. Drew of soccer.
And I remember now the injury you were talking about. Yes, I was fucking livid when he came out in the finals of both. He did get really seriously hurt in the FA Cup, though, through no fault of his own so you can’t really be that angry at him for that. It was just frustrating. So the Champions League made me angrier.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Tore A Groin Muscle In Both Games
But the Champions League injury was because he was fat and out of shape (for most of the season, in fact). The FA Cup final he’d played well up until then, was in good game shape, and was a key player to their success but just caught a bad break at the worst time. In light of the solid season he’d had, I was a lot more sympathetic to that injury.
He was a horrible signing overall, though. It was amazing that Liverpool was able to accomplish what they did considering how his acquisition blew up on them.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Yeah Kewell's one of those guys that slacks off and can get away with it.
I struggled to really get behind some of those “Top 10 Player” comparisons that included him because he could’ve been so much better. That’s what happens sometimes when you throw that much money at a kid that early, though.
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Nice convo, UC.
Rec’d the post ‘cause I couldn’t rec all of yours. =)
"I don't know if I want to go to New York. They'll have to pay me a lot more money because I like it here in Kansas City." -- Roger Maris
Soccer? What's that?
Interesting that MLS will let one guy own 2 teams? What happens when they play each other? Seems a bit suspect.
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
Always in motion is the future.
-- Yoda
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