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Colts QB Anthony Richardson opts for season-ending surgery on injured throwing shoulder
Colts QB Anthony Richardson opts for season-ending surgery on injured throwing shoulder
Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson will have season-ending shoulder surgery
2023-10-18 23:42
Mexico’s Sheinbaum Grows Advantage in Nomination Race, Poll Says
Mexico’s Sheinbaum Grows Advantage in Nomination Race, Poll Says
Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum has an eleven point lead over second-place contender Marcelo Ebrard ahead of the ruling party’s
2023-08-16 06:54
Ross Tucker Calls Taysom Hill 'One of the Greatest Football Players Ever'
Ross Tucker Calls Taysom Hill 'One of the Greatest Football Players Ever'
Ross Tucker loves Taysom Hill, apparently.
2023-09-11 03:22
Markus Burton leads way in overtime, Notre Dame edges Oklahoma State 66-64
Markus Burton leads way in overtime, Notre Dame edges Oklahoma State 66-64
Markus Burton scored 20 points, J
2023-11-18 08:25
Former Sunderland chairman Sir Bob Murray on Newcastle, sportswashing and football’s forgotten roots
Former Sunderland chairman Sir Bob Murray on Newcastle, sportswashing and football’s forgotten roots
There were many moments that Sir Bob Murray could point to as illustrating how much football has changed, but one stands out for what he feels was a lack of basic decency. “My wife used to go to the boardroom at Chelsea, and they would thoroughly search her handbag,” he says. “She’s the woman married to the chairman of Sunderland.” The reason for that was out of the rigorous security concerns for Roman Abramovich, an ownership that Murray declares himself “personally diametrically against”. The 77-year-old even argues in his new book, I’d Do It All Again, that the entire issue of modern sportswashing “might have started with Abramovich picking up 20 trophies”. The deeper point is how some of football’s more dignified traditions, such as decency to rival clubs, were cast aside because of far loftier geopolitical concerns. Abramovich was a billionaire with a huge security detail, so that superseded the rest of the game. There is an obvious contrast with a great football figure that has been so celebrated this week, as Murray recounts in his book. The former accountant had taken his 10-year-old son James to see Sunderland’s match at Old Trafford, where Sir Bobby Charlton arranged for him to have his photo taken with the Champions League trophy. “When we played them at the Stadium of Light in the return fixture six months later, Sir Bobby had remembered the photo and handed James the picture. I was very touched by that; he’d showed great kindness and thought. Sir Bobby and his wife, Norma, always treated Sue and me like royalty at Old Trafford. In return, I always made sure I gave him some ham and pease pudding and stottie cake to take home whenever he came to our home games.” While so many of Murray’s stories raise a smile in the same way, it is very quickly apparent on talking to him about the book that this is no mere folksy look at what football used to be. It is about what the game is supposed to be, and what it represents. Drawing on his experience from 20 years as chairman of Sunderland, and having taken them up to the Premier League, Murray feels it is necessary to address the most complicated of themes. “Sportswashing” and the game’s many financial issues come up a lot, as he believes all of this is so damagingly moving the sport away from the community core it is supposed to be about. That ethos is visible in Sunderland’s Stadium of Light itself – with the financially sustainable way it was built seeing Murray brought into the St George’s Park and Wembley projects by the FA – as well as his aims for the book. He has insisted that 100 per cent of the cover prices goes to the Foundation of Light, the club-associated charity he set up “to use the power of football to invest in the communities we serve and to improve the education, health, wellbeing and happiness of people, no matter who they are”. It can be purchased at www.sirbobmurraybook.com. A core of the book of course covers Sunderland’s fortunes, from Roy Keane and the Niall Quinn-led takeover by Drumaville to Peter Reid’s transfers and tribulations, as well as the simple joy of having Kevin Phillips repeatedly lash the ball in after a Quinn knock-down. “It's the pace that things change,” Murray laments. “I think people don't realise it. This league is only 30 years old, it's in its infancy and yet... in 2000 I had the Golden Boot of Europe in Kevin Phillips. That was a wonderful thing to have, a lad that wanted to stay at Sunderland, that was 23 years ago.” It feels impossible now, because of how football’s economic infrastructure has been allowed to change. “It's just accelerating, we're just at the beginning of this journey... it's not going to get any better. We don't have any political leadership on it.” There is naturally a lot of discussion about Sunderland’s greatest rivals. While Murray is highly critical of the Public Investment Fund ownership of Newcastle United, and what it all represents, he believes the path to that point is instructive. He points to a period where both clubs reached agreements with broadcasters. “Where we’d created new shares, Newcastle United did a media deal of their own by selling existing shares to rivals NTL. The Newcastle directors received a lot more money – around £15m for themselves. The difference was it went straight into their pockets, while we took a share dilution so that ours could go straight into building and funding the Academy of Light. (We created new shares, so that the company – the club – got the money; Newcastle sold existing shares so that the directors got the money; then four years later the club bought some more Hall family shares, bringing the Hall income from Newcastle United to £20m. Add in salary packages and dividends paid to all shareholders and you’re looking at £36m to the Halls and £8m to Freddy Shepherd. And this was all before the sale to [Mike] Ashley.) “The receipts from the public flotation of Sunderland AFC all went to pay for the Stadium of Light and the Academy of Light. The receipts from the public flotation of Newcastle United helped pay back the Hall family loans. Sky had paid vast premiums to what the shares were really worth – but all the money went on the Academy of Light, and we had no debt. What do I think? I think we put the club first. Hall and Shepherd’s legacy to Newcastle was to get the highest price. That’s why they had 10 years of Mike Ashley. Now they’re owned by a Saudi. That’s your legacy…” While some would no doubt accuse Murray of jealousy or all the usual claims, that would be to completely misunderstand his perspective. This isn’t just about competing at any cost. It’s about creating something sustainable for the community. “It’s the Newcastle supporters I feel really sad for, they’ve got great tradition and pedigree, great supporters, very passionate, love their club, I'm concerned about them really. That’s what I’m concerned about. I don’t like them on a Saturday 3 o’clock, but after that I've got no problem with them.” He is highly critical of the Premier League’s leadership. “Who knows where it’s going to end? Probably with more clubs losing their soul.” Murray elaborates on this more in a chat about the book. “We've got a fantastic club, lots of youngsters, ladies, great mix, generations, really proper football club and we're very fortunate to have the owner we've got, but I didn't do the book because I'd been in the game so long again, and I did St George's Park and Wembley, I thought I should voice my concerns, that's to the advantage you spend a bit of time and effort on sportswashing, because it's quite new in the north east. That's where I am, I put my head above the parapet really, I didn't write the book to do sportswashing to be truthful. It's the issue isn't it.” Murray hones in on what this is in the book. “Sportswashing presents huge concern for the future. It’s money through the back door that hopefully will be investigated properly. And it goes back to that old chestnut of the supporter not being able to influence the thing he or she loves. In fact, it’s even worse: supporters are now turning their heads and not looking where the cash comes from as long as they are winning trophies or qualifying for Europe – that’s the ultimate triumph of sportswashing.” Speaking now, he brings much of this down to a core driving motivation. “There’s a lot of self interest because we have to win games. But football should be for the good of society. That's what we're all about really isn't it. “It reflects on them, because it's the power of the brand. We can get people to live better lives due to the crest. “That’s what the game's about.” Sir Bob Murray’s book can be bought at www.sirbobmurraybook.com, with 100% of the cover price going to the Foundation of Light Read More Eddie Howe’s tactical move exposes Newcastle weakness in Dortmund ‘lesson’ Newcastle given reality check as summer decision returns to haunt them One of those nights – Eddie Howe bemoans fine margins after Newcastle defeat Eddie Howe’s tactical move exposes Newcastle weakness in Dortmund ‘lesson’ Newcastle given reality check as summer decision returns to haunt them One of those nights – Eddie Howe bemoans fine margins after Newcastle defeat
2023-10-26 14:58
USMNT rumors: McKennie on Leeds, Tillman on his future, Pukstas staying
USMNT rumors: McKennie on Leeds, Tillman on his future, Pukstas staying
Today's USMNT rumors include Weston McKennie talking Leeds United. Malik Tillman has given an update on his future and Rokas Pukstas is staying at Hajduk Split.
2023-11-24 02:22
Free Valorant Pride Bundle: All Items, How to Claim
Free Valorant Pride Bundle: All Items, How to Claim
Players can head to the Valorant in-game store to claim the free Valorant Pride Bundle to receive exclusive Player Titles, Cards, and Gun Buddies.
2023-06-05 23:43
NBA free agency: The 3 biggest losers in this offseason so far
NBA free agency: The 3 biggest losers in this offseason so far
The initial wave of NBA free agency has come and gone. Here are the three biggest losers so far.NBA Free Agency is one of the most exciting and nerve-racking times for NBA fans. Stars and superstars are moving across the league to increase their chances of winning an NBA championship. For fans, ...
2023-07-08 06:43
USMNT news: Turner to Forest, Trusty to Sheffield, Reynolds to Westerlo
USMNT news: Turner to Forest, Trusty to Sheffield, Reynolds to Westerlo
Today's USMNT news includes Matt Turner being linked with Nottingham Forest and Auston Trusty could be on his way to Sheffield United. Also, Bryan Reynolds has joined Westerlo.USMNT news: Matt Turner to Nottingham ForestMatt Turner has managed to keep his place as the USMNT's first-cho...
2023-07-31 21:38
This new-to-you iPad Pro is just $171 with accessories
This new-to-you iPad Pro is just $171 with accessories
TL;DR: As of October 10, get a refurbished Apple iPad Pro 9.7-inch for only $170.99
2023-10-10 17:00
Bain Is Said to Near $494 Million Payout from Virgin Australia
Bain Is Said to Near $494 Million Payout from Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd. is close to paying A$730 million ($494 million) to its private equity owner
1970-01-01 08:00
Laura Carleton shooting – latest: California store owner and ‘true LGBTQ ally’ killed in row over Pride flag
Laura Carleton shooting – latest: California store owner and ‘true LGBTQ ally’ killed in row over Pride flag
Tributes are pouring in for a "beloved" California business owner who was shot dead by a man who complained about a Pride flag hanging at her store. The unnamed individual killed Laura Ann Carleton, 66, at her business Mag Pi clothing store after making “several disparaging remarks about a rainbow flag that stood outside the store," the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office said. Deputies responded to the incident around 5pm on Friday following reports of shots being fired. The mother of nine children was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office said in a statement. The shooter fled the scene on foot but was later located by authorities near Torrey Road and Rause Rancho Road. The suspect, who has not been identified, was killed during “a lethal force encounter” with police. Hollywood director Paul Feig, whose works include Bridesmaids and The Heat, posted a tribute saying that Carleton, who he called his “wonderful friend,” had been killed by a young man. The Lake Arrowhead LGBTQ+ described her as a "remarkable figure", whose "unwavering support" for the community and "dedication to creating a safe and inclusive space within her shop touched the lives of many".
2023-08-21 12:09