By Sean McCaffery, October 13, 2023
Today, the day before the USMNT are to take on Germany, hardly their recent opponents of Uzbekistan and Oman and higher still than Colombia, so a big game, they have a press opportunity with coach. It started at 10:30 local time and was not even 15 minutes in duration. Wed., one was pushed 20 minutes before it was to begin by 45 minutes?
Though retired, I do not have in my schedule the full flexibility to make each and every thing put forth by anyone. Those with regular jobs, may have taken an early meal at 10:30 or earlier, a 7:30 start on the west coast to attend this, could have been a coffee break instead.
Changing the time on so short of notice, also inexcusable, if this happened in the business world, on an at least national conference would not go over well at all. Imagine having travelled to the game a day early as press and having this be the result?
Why does soccer not get the coverage it thinks it deserves, maybe they need deeper thinkers?
At a press day this week a player said to be available, and the reason some press, yes all 6 of us came, was just for that, the player was not available due to a personal issue maybe 45' in advance. I am not taking issue with the player, but rather the organization, get another player(s), executives were available and interviewed, do a round table, a bonus for those intrepid, dedicated few who were present.
A shirt presented to us, was after I did a video on it and other swag presented to us, we were told please not to show it until game day, next day they post it, no notice that it was then okay to share. It was to be a surprise to the player it was dedicated to. All online comments were dominated by requests to put it online by those in and out of the USA.
Also next day, a billboard near Penn Station was of the player, when MLS did this in Times Square for MLS Season Pass, press were invited, along with a trio of broadcasters, full unfettered access to them granted. This time, nope.
This I find even more frustrating, having worked for 3 pro teams, a pair of college programs, in the industry over 40 years now and other business almost equally as long, this in not acceptable.
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