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The Score does a Q&A with Peter Montopoli


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quote:Originally posted by jonovision

That is the problem with conducting an interview by email. The interviewee has too much time to think about answers, can craft the most careful spin, cover all his bases, and not have to worry about a probing follow-up.

So true. You can definitely tell the difference between this interview and the one he did with Ed.

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This is not surprising from a formal PR perspective. All the answers were meant to

be non-offensive (or neutral), as a result would be offensive for the hard-core

Canadian soccer fan. That's why it sounds like it's from a politician.

But the answers, however crytic, reveal several points:

(1) the CSA needs more revenue and more marketing has to be developed

(2) Montopoli recognizes the importance of supporters to further the

"branding" of the sport in Canada and develop this CSA "property"

(eg. quote: "To be successful, we plan to concentrate on the business development of the sport. We are confident that through successful business development, we can help position soccer as the premiere sport in our country..." and "Our brand, be it our national-team games

or the Nutrilite Canadian Championship ...")

As a result I don't expect anything radical in his responses, because I don't think

he perceives his mandate to offend and shake up the people who hired him to market the game.

So, it's also: (3) his priority is to make soccer marketable rather than challenge the

status quo.

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This interview just highlights the need for a major shakeup at the CSA. Montopoli clearly is not the man to effect any meaningful change while he has to serve his masters in such a pithy, toothless manner. I blame his job description and the obvious muzzle it puts on him, not the man himself though I have to wonder why he even took the job under such circumstances. This interview was a waste of time and space.

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Who wrote those questions? Why can't someone ask simply, "please explain why Dale Mitchell still has a job?" It's not like the Score should be worried about losing access to the CSA - they are one of the two national media outlets that cover soccer. If it was Sharman, perhaps he was trying to put to rest rumours that he can't use complete sentences and proper punctuation.

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quote:Originally posted by Richard

Montopoli clearly is not the man to effect any meaningful change while he has to serve his masters in such a pithy, toothless manner. I blame his job description and the obvious muzzle it puts on him, not the man himself though I have to wonder why he even took the job under such circumstances.

How can Montopoli effect radical change when the provinces

(ie. amateurs) are controlling the CSA? His job description,

from what I gather, is more on a business/marketing approach

(similar to Nykamp's at Canada Basketball).

But I propose a starting point: hire a coach who is OUTSIDE

the "old boys network" of the provinces. This would avoid

the internal political crap that each region has brought previously,

such as the advocacy of Dale Mitchell as MNT coach vs. Ontario's

vs. Quebec's vs. the Maritimes' choices.

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quote:Originally posted by Soro17

Who wrote those questions? Why can't someone ask simply, "please explain why Dale Mitchell still has a job?" It's not like the Score should be worried about losing access to the CSA - they are one of the two national media outlets that cover soccer. If it was Sharman, perhaps he was trying to put to rest rumours that he can't use complete sentences and proper punctuation.

Not to be a dick, but 'Why can't someone ask simply, "please explain why Dale Mitchell still has a job?"' uses punctuation improperly.

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^ Now, in fairness, though I have been known to be a bit of a pedantic jackass at times, my goal was to playfully poke at the irony contained in your original post, not come across as a member of the language police. Clearly, mission not accomplished on that one.

Perhaps a more liberal usage of smileys will help prevent such misunderstandings in the future. Let's give it a shot...

Trust me, if I were on the hunt for impeccable grammar and punctuation, I wouldn't be surfing the Internet. :D

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