My Dream Combo

[prk166]

Phil Ball and Drew Carey at a game together? I would've liked to be there.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=363073&root=europe&cc=5901

I was actually high up in the gods in the press box for the game, a wonderfully giddy view from up in the high peaks, looking down almost vertically onto the early spring baize of the 'Bernabow' pitch far below. I was accompanying the excellent Drew Carey, an American writer, actor and comedian who was in Spain to film the week's build-up to this week's clásico in Barcelona.

Travelling down to meet him on the Saturday morning, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and was worried that I might have to politely explain that there was in fact no tradition of cheerleaders or of 'time-out' in Spanish 'soccer', but my hard-core English football snobbery was well wide of the mark, for he turned out to be highly knowledgeable of the game.

Not only that, his 'outsider's' view turned up some real gems - some of which could never occur to the more tired European eye.

[Rover]

Thanks. Phil Ball is on my list of the top two or three soccer writers, although he rarely has anything to say about soccer outside Spain. Ironic that Drew Carey opened his eyes to the possibility that an American might actually know something about the sport.

For you readers out there, if you get a chance, get a copy of White Storm, PB's book about Real Madrid. I'm a Barca fan, but it's still worth reading.

[prk166]

I agree. It's a good book. I enjoyed Morbo more. I like that his approach is about talking about the history of both the clubs, the sport, and the country instead of just talking about the teams, their records, and giving details on every game.