This week we welcomed Paul ‘Ski’ McGee to the MNS studio for the first time.
Before the programme I asked him where the ‘Ski’ nickname came from, expecting to hear tales of a childhood whizzing down the slopes of Val D'Isere, Kitzbuhl, Gstaad or the like.
Unfortunately, he wasn't able to give me a definitive answer, - certainly not as exciting as the above - other than the fact that when he was very young in Sligo, Ski rhymed with McGee.
With Dave Barry, Paul Doolin and now ‘Ski’ all regular MNS pundits, we could have a great Daddy Warbucks look-alikes competition. (For those of you who are wondering who Daddy Warbucks is, check out Albert Finney’s portrayal in the film version of Annie).
It reminds me that some great look-alikes have been suggested on our facebook page for a number of our pundits and players from several Airtricity League clubs. I think some of the suggestions might find there way onto the MNS web page rte.ie/mns soon enough.
On our facebook page somebody has emailed a digitally enhanced photo of me with a bald head, saying that I seem to be obsessed with baldness in general, and the baldness of our panel in particular, and I have to say it gave me a great laugh.
It's arguable that I'm a handsome devil even with the bald pate!
Another man who's complained recently of losing the 'gruaig' is Bray boss Eddie Gormley, who's had cause to tear his hair out over the last few years by the seaside, but he was in great form in studio on Monday night.
Last week Damien Richardson said Eddie needs to smile more even if it seems as if every decision is going against his team, and I have to say he was self deprecating, and happy to have a laugh in studio with the panel, and I'd like to think we might see more managers and maybe players in studio as the season progresses.
It was nice to chat with Brian Murphy too, who's switched from the Gypsies, to the Tractor Boys of Ipswich, and he seems to have settled in there well.
Someone contacted us to ask why we only interview players after they've left the league here to play abroad, but I think that was a little unfair as we have done many features and interviews with players based here.
Because I’m studio-bound more often than not, I don’t get to too many UEFA Champions League matches, but with a couple of days off this week, I availed of the opportunity to go to the Emirates for the first time to see Arsenal take on Porto.
It has to be said that whatever the quality of the match, the surroundings at the Emirates are awe inspiring. No matter where you’re sitting you have a good view of the proceedings.
My tickets, sourced by my brother out of law and Irish Examiner columnist Bernard, were behind the corner flag on the upper level, (Not ideal if you’re struggling with a knee injury), but the view was still excellent.
As it happens, Arsenal played some sparkling football and to be present when Nasri scored one of those goals that will be remembered for years to come, was a real pleasure.
The one thing that struck me with great force was the fact that the atmosphere at the Sligo Rovers versus Shamrock Rovers game the previous week was better.
More intense, more vocal and we’ve better singers over here to boot. When Arsenal played at Highbury it was sometimes referred to as the ‘Highbury Library’, such was the lack of noise made by the home supporters, and that has obviously carried forward to the Emirates.
Of course when fifty thousand fans cheer and rise to acclaim a goal, the noise is fabulous, but during the general course of the match, the most they can muster is the odd, ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’.
You’ve heard the phrase ‘Too posh to push’ in relation to wealthy pregnant women. Maybe the Arsenal fans are too posh to sing?
The price of the season tickets for the Emirates nearly knocked me over. £1800 per season for the area I was seated in, and those prices put the Airtricity League’s season ticket prices into some kind of perspective. Yes, you’re unlikely to see Lionel Messi-esque, or even Nasri-esque goals scored every week at your local League of Ireland game, but what I’d like to think you will get is plenty of passion, the occasional wonder goal as we’ve witnessed on MNS over the last two seasons, and atmosphere created by the two sets of supporters.
The Tuesday night matches of Shamrock Rovers versus St Pat's and UCD against Bohemians will be interesting this week. My old friend Brian De Salvo, who is media officer at UCD these days, is missing the film premiere of Zonad, in which he has a substantial part, to be at the UCD Bowl for the Bohemians match.
That's the sort of dedication that this league of ours brings out in it's supporters and all involved with it. Long may that spirit survive.
