<p>Grant Wahl is unequivocally one of the most iconic soccer reporters in the history of the United States. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/us-soccer-writer-grant-wahl-has-died-20221210-WST-411858.html">His untimely passing</a> during the 2022 World Cup brought in countless memories and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/classy-tribute-from-telemundo-pays-tribute-to-grant-wahl-20221220-WST-413000.html">tributes from fellow soccer reporters</a>. Working for Sports Illustrated, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/grant-wahl-tribute-a-trailblazer-for-us-soccer-20221212-WST-412107.html">Grant Wahl assembled an impressive collection of stories</a>. Many of those were in-depth looks at American soccer.</p>



<p>He oversaw the rapid rise of Major League Soccer and its subsequent expansion. Likewise, Grant Wahl regularly provided unrivaled coverage of the United States Men’s National Team. However, his work generally split among different publications. Those include Sports Illustrated and <em>Fútbol with Grant Wahl</em>, which was his newsletter with Substack. Wahl had the ability to write in different themes and to different types of audiences. Stories could be in-depth looks at social issues in soccer or they could be quick-hitting news stories.</p>



<p>Now, Grant Wahl has a new book titled ‘<em>World Class</em>‘ coming out that puts together some of the most iconic stories from his vaunted career. That includes stories documenting some of the brightest young stars across American sport. Notably, Grant Wahl did more than cover soccer during his time with Sports Illustrated.</p>



<p><em>World Class</em> is now <a href="https://amzn.to/41PzNZo" rel="sponsored nofollow">available for preorder</a> via Amazon. Readers will be able to receive the book when it comes out on June 4. It will serve as a lasting memory for one of the best American sports journalists of a generation.</p>



<h2>Stories abound in new Grant Wahl book</h2>



<p>With Grant Wahl writing the stories of so many historic sporting figures, the list of stories to feature in this new book are broad.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="720" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240109_WST_482171_Wahl-tribute_e6cbf70e.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=720" alt="" class="wp-image-482239" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Wahl-tribute.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Wahl-tribute-300x180.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/01/Wahl-tribute-768x461.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>For example, Grant Wahl documented the rise of Landon Donovan to be one of the most iconic players in American soccer history. With so much access to the USMNT and Major League Soccer, Wahl often had close contact with Donovan during his time as a player. Likewise, the writer had an early eye on some of the most iconic USWNT stars. The book will have in-depth looks at Megan Rapinoe and Abby Wambach well before they became the most integral parts of Women’s World Cup teams that had immense success.</p>



<p>Not each of the stories are about individual players or coaches. Grant Wahl captured the cultures of soccer in places like Buenos Aires or Barcelona. The book’s description even mentions “the dusty sandlots of Nacogdoches, Texas,” which is an homage to Clint Dempsey and his upbringing. Wahl will have stories about the first-hand accounts of teams lifting trophies.</p>



<h2>More than just soccer</h2>



<p>Wahl did have a major focus on soccer. Yet, it was more than just that. One of Grant Wahl’s standout stories was the headline story about LeBron James before he became the NBA’s leading scorer of all time. The story helped put James on the map as the story’s front-page image read ‘The Chosen One.’</p>



<p>“For me, Grant’s&nbsp;<em>Sports Illustrated</em>&nbsp;cover story was the moment everything started,” LeBron James said. “The time that we shared when I was in high school for that story was pretty special for myself and my family. Grant was always energetic, always had a smile on his face, and always wanted to do right by his interview subjects. This collection of Grant’s work is a great testament to not only what he did when he was here, but what he’s still doing to impact others.”</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>

Unveiling Grant Wahl's finest work: Details on his new book

Grant Wahl has a new book coming out that documents some of the biggest stories from his illustrious career as a writer.


<p>Telemundo paid tribute to Grant Wahl in a very classy way in their World Cup closing montage on Sunday.</p>



<p>The former <a href="https:\/\/www.si.com/soccer/2022/12/10/grant-wahl-fox-tribute-rob-stone-saturday-world-cup-matches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FOX Sports</a> reporter died suddenly after suffering an <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/grant-wahl-death-caused-by-aortic-aneurysm-says-wife-20221214-WST-412310.html">aortic aneurysm</a> during the World Cup quarterfinal between Argentina and Netherlands. </p>



<p>In its tribute to writer, author and analyst Grant Wahl, Telemundo Deportes revealed a message at the end of their World Cup Final closing montage.</p>



<h2>Telemundo pays tribute to Grant Wahl in World Cup montage</h2>



<p>Lead announcer Andrés Cantor had the final say, live on Telemundo Deportes:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="La Copa Mundial de la FIFA Catar 2022 ha llegado a su fin | Telemundo Deportes" width="500" height="281" src="https:\/\/www.youtube.com/embed/YPadah2QpSg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<p>It’s customary for broadcasters to show a World Cup Final closing montage at the end of their month-long broadcast. For instance, <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/tv/bbcs-world-cup-closing-montage-captures-greatest-moments-20221219-WST-412856.html">BBC had an incredible one</a>. Telemundo’s was just as good, too.</p>



<p>So, during Telemundo’s World Cup Final closing montage, the Spanish-language broadcaster had the following message for viewers in the United States:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20221220_WST_413000_tribute-to-grant-wahl-telemundo-1200x670.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="tribute to Grant Wahl" class="wp-image-413009" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/12/tribute-to-grant-wahl-telemundo-1200x670.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/12/tribute-to-grant-wahl-telemundo-300x168.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/12/tribute-to-grant-wahl-telemundo-768x429.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/12/tribute-to-grant-wahl-telemundo.jpeg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div></figure>



<p>It read:</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p>“In memory of our colleague and friend:</p><p>Grant Wahl – R.I.P.”</p></blockquote>



<p>Wahl, who was a <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/grant-wahl-tribute-a-trailblazer-for-us-soccer-20221212-WST-412107.html">trailblazer in US soccer</a>, was 49 when he died. May he rest in peace.</p>



<h2>FOX Sports tribute to Grant Wahl</h2>



<p>Other than a 60 second tribute from FOX Sports presenter Rob Stone, FOX Sports have been very quiet about his death on television.</p>



<p>The former FOX Sports reporter had been critical of FOX’s decision to not report on off-the-field controversies at Qatar. And with Qatar being the lead sponsor for FOX’s coverage of the World Cup, it appeared that FOX Sports were reluctant to give Wahl a fitting tribute beyond what Stone shared.</p>



<p>After Grant Wahl left FOX Sports, it gave him the opportunity to be more vocal and critical in his analysis. As an independent reporter, like us at World Soccer Talk, he was able to speak his mind without interference from his previous employer such as FOX Sports.</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fitting tribute to Grant Wahl by FOX Sports. Rob Stone getting choked up, as many of us are. <a href="https:\/\/t.co/RrDSc3AP4s">https:\/\/t.co/RrDSc3AP4s</a></p>— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1601581083870793732?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p><em>Photo credit: IMAGO / Sportimage</em></p>


Telemundo Deportes paid tribute to Grant Wahl in the closing montage at the end of the 2022 World Cup Final, live on television.

Classy Telemundo pays tribute to Grant Wahl - World Soccer Talk

Classy Telemundo pays tribute to Grant Wahl


<p>The recent <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/us-soccer-writer-grant-wahl-has-died-20221210-WST-411858.html">death of American soccer writer Grant Wahl</a> sent shock waves through the sport. Wahl, 49, collapsed during the Argentina versus Netherlands <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">World Cup</a> quarterfinal match on Friday. The journalist’s wife, Celine Gounder, revealed on Wednesday that her husband suffered from an ascending aortic aneurysm.</p>



<p>“An autopsy was performed by the New York City Medical Examiner’s Office,” Gounder wrote on <a href="https:\/\/grantwahl.substack.com/p/a-note-from-grants-wife-celine-gounder" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grant’s website</a>. “Grant died from the rupture of a slowly growing, undetected ascending aortic aneurysm with hemopericardium. The chest pressure he experienced shortly before his death may have represented the initial symptoms.”</p>



<p>“No amount of CPR or shocks would have saved him,” Gounder continued. “His death was unrelated to COVID. His death was unrelated to vaccination status. There was nothing nefarious about his death.”</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Grant Wahl’s wife, Dr. <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/celinegounder?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@celinegounder</a>, reveals that the renowned journalist died due to an aortic aneurysm that ruptured at the World Cup.<br><br>Gounder says she hopes he is remembered as a “kind, generous person who was really dedicated to social justice.” <a href="https:\/\/t.co/aaVkb2dhrb">pic.twitter.com/aaVkb2dhrb</a></p>— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/CBSMornings/status/1603022622572281856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>Grant Wahl death brings end to historic, celebrated career</h2>



<p>Wahl began his journalism career at <em>Sports Illustrated</em> directly after a college internship at the <em>Miami Herald</em>. The writer quickly rose through the ranks to become on of the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/grant-wahl-tribute-a-trailblazer-for-us-soccer-20221212-WST-412107.html">most respected soccer journalists</a> in the country. However, he did not always mainly focus on soccer.</p>



<p>In one of his breakout moments as a journalist, Wahl did a cover story on a then teenage basketball prodigy named Lebron James. Not only was the story enthralling, but the <em>Sports Illustrated</em> cover became one of the most famous in the publication’s history. The writer and athlete stayed in touch since the article was written 20 years ago.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You had a huge impact on me and my family and I’m so appreciative of you. A great person and journalist. Rest In Paradise Grant Wahl. 🙏🏾🤎👑 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/rvFDGEA9fz">https:\/\/t.co/rvFDGEA9fz</a></p>— LeBron James (@KingJames) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/KingJames/status/1601625123559469056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>In 2009, Wahl essentially solely focused on soccer. He became a mainstay with both the United States men’s and women’s national teams from this point on. The journalist also penned a New York Times Best Seller about David Beckham’s move to L.A. Galaxy in 2007. </p>



<p>Following his death, World Cup organizers displayed Wahl’s photo on the video screens inside Al Bayt Stadium in Qatar prior to the France and England quarterfinal game. Flowers were also placed at the writer’s typical place in the stadium. The <a href="https:\/\/www.cnn.com/2022/12/14/us/grant-wahl-cause-death/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CDC said</a> that Wahl’s particular condition caused the deaths of about 10,000 people in 2019.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Xinhua</em></p>


Celine Gounder, a doctor and the wife of Grant Wahl, confirmed his death came as a result of an ascending aortic aneurysm.

Grant Wahl death caused by aortic aneurysm, says wife


<p>US soccer writer Grant Wahl has died while covering the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.</p>



<p>Age 49, Wahl is best known for his soccer writing while at <a href="https:\/\/www.si.com/author/grant-wahl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sports Illustrated</a>, and for his popular book he wrote entitled <em>The Beckham Experiment</em>. His death comes as a complete shock to journalists, soccer fans and the media industry.</p>



<h2>Grant Wahl has died: Soccer world mourns</h2>



<p>Wahl was at the Argentina-Netherlands game at the Lusail Stadium, where he suffered a cardiac arrest, <a href="https:\/\/www.wsj.com/articles/grant-wahl-soccer-journalist-world-cup-11670639526?st=z6xa4pzjd0f35cj" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to the Wall Street Journal</a>.</p>



<p>“The entire U.S. Soccer family is heartbroken to learn that we have lost Grant Wahl,” a statement by the US Soccer Federation said. “Here in the United States, Grant’s passion for soccer and commitment to elevating its profile across our sporting landscape played a major role in helping to drive interest in and respect for our beautiful game.”</p>



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I am so thankful for the support of my husband <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/GrantWahl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GrantWahl</a>&apos;s soccer family &amp; of so many friends who&apos;ve reached out tonight.<br><br>I&apos;m in complete shock. <a href="https:\/\/t.co/OB3IzOxGlE">https:\/\/t.co/OB3IzOxGlE</a></p>— Céline&nbsp;Gounder,&nbsp;MD, ScM, FIDSA 🇺🇦 (@celinegounder) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/celinegounder/status/1601404727014879232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Wahl has been the preeminent soccer journalist in the United States for decades. Most recently, he had launched a paid subscription service to provide his written and spoken word to subscribers.</p>



<p>In addition to his written work and podcasts, Grant Wahl had been a correspondent for several sports networks including FOX Sports and CBS Sports.</p>



<p>In Qatar, Wahl had been very outspoken in condemning the human rights abuses and lack of freedom in Qatar, the host country of the World Cup.</p>



<p>On behalf of everyone at World Soccer Talk, we’d like to share our condolences with Grant’s family and friends. May he rest in peace.</p>



<p><em>Photo credit: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire</em></p>


US soccer writer Grant Wahl has died, age 49, while covering the World Cup in Qatar. The writer died during the Argentina-Netherlands game.

US soccer writer Grant Wahl has died - World Soccer Talk

US soccer writer Grant Wahl has died

<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
<p>Grant Wahl at FOX Soccer never allowed the reporter to be overly critical of the US Soccer Federation. Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl has gone from US Soccer Federation insider to critic in a short span of time. Wahl’s evolution reflects the changing attitudes of the soccer media in the United States towards the USSF. But it also reflects Wahl’s shifting professional position from FOX Sports on-air talent to exclusive SI writer, which has seemingly influenced the shift in his analysis.</p>
<p>Wahl’s forte has always been his ability to use his contacts to report stories related to the sport. When it comes to covering the matches he reports on, his analysis has generally been weaker. But like many American writers who cover soccer, he’s been generally defensive of MLS while being cultivated for years by those in the upper echelons of the game in this country. His reporting on European soccer would generally have an American angle of some sort, and his access seemed to guide much of his reporting.</p>
<h3>Change of emotion regarding USSF</h3>
<p>As criticism of US Soccer grew throughout this decade, culminating in multiple lawsuits against the governing body for the game in the US, Wahl generally reported on these developments with a skeptical or establishment eye. This earned him the ire of many reformers and a perhaps undeserved wrap as an establishment shill on Twitter. His frequent appearances on FOX’s coverage of MLS or UEFA Champions League coverage appeared to be, more often than not, promotional set pieces for MLS or the USSF, reporting stories favorable on-air such as big player signings or positive ownership changes in American soccer.</p>
<p>FOX’s coverage has a definitive pro-American and pro-MLS slant. The network essentially has served as a propaganda arm for the establishment clique that runs US Soccer. FOX’s desire to consistently over-hype players in MLS as well as the competitiveness of the US or Mexican men’s national teams has a definitive nativist tinge. As an on-air reporter for FOX Sports, Wahl was largely boxed-in, it appeared (often <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/wsoccertalk/status/938124583940521984" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ignoring the anti-establishment voices</a>), in delivering the type of news that would be acceptable to the FOX viewer and presentation style.</p>
<p>It is important to remind the readers at this point that Wahl is a reporter, not a commentator or analyst. While many reformers saw him as a shill, I was never in that camp, and honestly didn’t have much time for that view because those who articulated that point misread Wahl’s role. Reporters can be advocates but can also be straight news gatherers. They need to go where the facts or information at their disposal takes them.</p>
<h3>Grant Wahl at FOX Soccer no more</h3>
<p>Wahl is a reporter whose sources were largely in and around the established governing circles of American soccer. Did that skew his world view? In my opinion, absolutely, but that did not make him a shill by any stretch of the imagination. Reporting and perspectives of news reporters are often shaped by the world they live in, and Wahl’s world was the hallowed glass house of the American soccer establishment. It’s naive to think he could create overnight the sort of network of contacts outside the US that would be necessary to have a broader perspective. In many ways, Wahl was no different than any number of leading British writers, whose global views of football are shaped by watching the Premier League and stereotyping lazily in some cases continental football and what happens in other corners of the globe. This all having been said, Wahl’s perspectives on the global game were often badly out of order with what many of us saw as reality.</p>
<p>But these are no ordinary times in the world of American soccer and Wahl being a reporter first showed a growing willingness to question those in power during 2018. Wahl’s reaction to the US Men’s National Team missing qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup was to float trial balloons about potential USSF Presidential candidates, and broke the news about Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt’s desire to relocate his club to Austin.</p>
<h5>Frustration at FOX Soccer</h5>
<p>Then in 2018, Wahl reported about efforts to “twist arms” to support Kathy Carter’s establishment-driven bid to become the President of the USSF. Carter was the President of Soccer United Marketing (SUM) — an entity whose ownership by MLS and relationship with US Soccer has long been the focal point for critics who consider the governance of the sport in this country broken. Wahl’s reporting on this matter was on SI’s website, not on FOX.</p>
<p>The breaking point for Wahl appeared to be his report on FOX of the USSF refusing to interview recently-departed Real Madrid Manager Julen Lopetegui in October 2018. The former Spain Manager expressed interest in the US job, reported Wahl, but he was told that the federation was not interested.</p>
<h3>Wahl as a reporter</h3>
<p>Wahl’s ability to track down this news that would have originated in Europe and then report on it in a very critical fashion showed a growth as a reporter and a growing dose of healthy skepticism about the federation. Lopetegui, plainly by any objective standard, would have been a fantastic hire for a men’s national team that was growing more and more irrelevant. The unwillingness of the federation to even grant him an interview rightly resulted in indignation across the fandom of American soccer, with Wahl suddenly becoming the figure that led the chorus of anger.</p>
<p>Wahl’s reporting on this matter reflected the growing sentiment within the frustrated US fanbase that qualified candidates were turned down for interviews, while the process took a long year with a preordained result.</p>
<p>Since that moment, Wahl has become more critical of US Soccer, MLS and the general establishment narrative often offered on FOX and by other writers. Wahl’s general reporting on US Soccer matters has been marked by a more critical eye in the last 18 months since the Lopetegui interview rejection.</p>
<p>Interestingly, after Wahl left his on-air position with FOX Sports, this seemingly gave him more freedom to sharpen his writing pen and question the US Soccer establishment.</p>
<p>The ongoing legal process involving the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) and US Soccer Federation (USSF) led to yet another ugly turn this week as depositions revealed the USSF’s strategy for winning the case. The underlying theme of the USSF’s strategy was to paint the World champions as biologically inferior to the US men and to claim that men’s soccer was more difficult than women’s soccer. The Federation also chose to make the case that the US men have a disadvantage in home games because of support for other nations within the United States – an argument that has racist undertones and has consistently been used by apologists of the failing men’s program to excuse poor performances.</p>
<p>To clean up the mess especially after sponsors expressed displeasure, US Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro put out a bizarre <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/worldsoccertalk/status/1237920911979929600">statement of apology</a> that was read on air by a stunned ESPN Commentator Seb Salazar toward the end of the US-Japan SheBelieves Cup match on Wednesday night.</p>
<p>For Wahl, this poorly worded statement appears to have been the final straw. The one-time establishment journalist called for the <a href="https:\/\/www.si.com/soccer/2020/03/12/carlos-cordeiro-must-resign-us-soccer-president" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">immediate resignation of Cordeiro</a>.</p>
<p>Wahl’s evolution has been something to watch over the course of the last 12-18 months and he’s gone from the position of US soccer cheerleader to a critically important journalist covering the sport. His voice is important as more fans and stakeholders in the sport lose faith in how soccer is being governed in this country.</p>
<p>Wahl’s reporting has always been top notch in terms of gathering stories from his contacts in a timely fashion. Now, freed of FOX Sports agenda-driven advocacy of US Soccer’s establishment, Wahl has joined the growing ranks of American writers being critical of the federation’s business practices and decision making. As a writer with an outsized influence, he is having a real impact on shaping the debate and putting the USSF on the back foot. As a soccer nation, we are better thanks to his current posture.</p>


Grant Wahl at FOX Soccer hampered his ability to be a true critic of U.S. soccer. Now, he has more journalistic freedom to

Grant Wahl at FOX Soccer no more, chance now to be U.S.S.F. Critic - World Soccer Talk

Grant Wahl at FOX Soccer no more, chance now to be U.S.S.F. Critic

<p>Excellent sports’ writing is not simply about analyzing players, teams or organizations. It’s largely about painting a picture that fits into society’s perceptions of the surrounding world. It’s about writing a narrative and properly explaining the parts. It’s about playing historian and social critic while discussing competitions and complex organizations.</p>
<p>Sports’ writing is an art form, and even though I enjoy Grant Wahl’s College Basketball and Soccer writing for SI.com, I was not sure how well he’d do writing one of the most important books in the history of American soccer.</p>
<p><a href="http:\/\/www.amazon.com/gp/product/030740787X?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;tag=et00d-20&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=9325&amp;amp;creativeASIN=030740787X" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">The Beckham Experiment</span></em></a> is a brilliantly crafted book. Wahl paints the picture of an organization at war with itself and the celebrity culture of European football and Hollywood colliding with the lunch pail scrappy attitude of the United   States.</p>
<p>For the MLS and US Soccer fan, the book provides an objective and highly critical but fair narrative at how the Los Angeles Galaxy and parent company AEG operated from January 2007 until November 2008.</p>
<p>This book through groundbreaking reporting as well as objective analysis paints an accurate but somewhat disturbing picture of the LA Galaxy franchise.&nbsp; The assumptions many on the outside including myself have made for the past few years can be cleanly refuted by some of the new information revealed by Wahl.</p>
<p>For starters, Alexi Lalas while largely responsible for the decline of the Galaxy organization after Doug Hamilton’s death was in fact the sanest and most responsible person in the front office by 2008. Also interesting was the relationship between AEG and Simon Fuller’s “19” based around the promotion of entertainment events including the Galaxy. AEG had in fact been in contact with team Beckham since 2002. This partnership became so extensive that the two organizations in fact merged for a time, with 19 in fact running the Galaxy.</p>
<p>Former England National Team and Chelsea back office staffer Terry Byrne, the best friend of David Beckham became the pivotal figure in the Galaxy after the 2007 season. Byrne, a former London cabbie who had burned out as a professional footballer at a young age began working for Chelsea in the mid 1990s. When Glen Hoddle, Chelsea’s manager took the England National Team job, Byrne went with him (while continuing his staff role at Chelsea where he’d work for Ruud Gullit) and his relationship with Beckham was hatched.</p>
<p>Following the coup of signing David Beckham, Lalas and manager Frank Yallop would often be on different pages. The type of players Yallop wanted to surround Beckham with, like the very technical Kyle Beckerman or Jeff Cunningham, one of the leading goal scorers in MLS history was nixed in favor of Lalas’ ideal players.</p>
<p>Yallop had played in England at Ipswich Town against David Beckham and had also played against Lalas when he was with the Tampa Bay Mutiny. He had also managed Landon Donovan with the San Jose Earthquakes. In short, the professional experiences of Yallop made him uniquely qualified to objectively judge the situation. But Tim Leiweke, and Alexi Lalas weren’t terribly interested in Yallop’s point of view. After Beckham’s arrival and the circus that ensued, Yallop would often retreat to the confidence of Landon Donovan. As we knew before reading this book, Yallop’s “resignation” to take the San Jose job was liberation for the manager.</p>
<p>Leiweke, for his part was the brains behind the “<a href="http:\/\/www.amazon.com/gp/product/030740787X?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;tag=et00d-20&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=9325&amp;amp;creativeASIN=030740787X" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Beckham Experiment</a>.”&nbsp; His goal which was largely influenced by Jurgen Klinsmann was to be the most European looking MLS club. This was a vision that was always bound to fail. But Leiweke’s public statements were so bold and made so confidently, few challenged his assertions within the Galaxy because they sounded so good.</p>
<p>It’s almost humorous to note Wahl’s comparison of Leiweke’s statement about MLS in ten years being a top tier league in US pro sports to Phil Woosnam’s similar statement in 1977 about the NASL. The NASL was in fact much closer to this vision in 1977 with large football stadiums being filled or close to being full and several teams signing well know foreign stars. But the NASL did not have the infrastructure or successful national team to fall back on that MLS does today. No question exists that unlike the NASL which was dead in 1987 that MLS will be thriving in 2017. But chances are MLS will still be struggling for mainstream sports media and fan recognition.</p>
<p>Leiweke was dissatisfied with the results in 2007, which saw the Galaxy struggle with Beckham on the pitch but make strides late in the year with Beckham injured thanks to the likes of Gavin Glinton, Carlos Pavon and Peter Vagenas. But Yallop wasn’t given the proper credit for this transformation and when the Galaxy faced off with Chicago in the final game with a playoff spot on the line, Beckham came on injured, late, and gave the ball away resulting in the winning Chicago goal by John Thorrginton. Wahl writes a great narrative and I know it is difficult to bring in every little detail, but this game needed more emphasis in my mind. Firstly, because it was a showdown with the other big MLS signing of the last five years, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, whose class performances for Chicago made Beckham look silly. Secondly, because the winning goal was scored by Thorrington, a US International who had come through Manchester United’s reserve system while Beckham was the public face of the club in the late 1990s. Wahl writes an excellent narrative, but this particular game being emphasized for the points above could have made a strong book even stronger.</p>
<p>After losing to Chicago, Leiweke, wanted to continue building a European oriented setup, and he forced the issue giving Terry Byrne license to essentially screen and hire coaches. That’s how the Galaxy ended up with Ruud Gullit who had been Byrne’s boss at Chelsea. Byrne as Wahl puts it had a “consistent and multifaceted presence with the Galaxy.” He had become a paid consultant to the team and in fact was higher on the pecking order than Lalas.</p>
<p>Once Gullit was hired, Lalas was completely marginalized. His one potential positive contribution to the Galaxy in 2008 was his insistence that star Guatemalan striker Carlos Ruiz be pursued. But once Ruiz returned to LA where he has starred for the Galaxy a few years back, he was quickly labeled “Lalas’ guy” by the European oriented duo of Byrne and Gullit and thus spent a frustrating half a season in Carson. The treatment of Ruiz, who after all took up a huge salary chunk under MLS arcane salary cap rules is very instructive in how Gullit dealt with players he associated with Lalas.</p>
<p>Lalas, to his great credit never broke ranks publicly. He was after all an AEG company man, but this book reveals his inner struggles, and should go a great length to rehabilitating Lalas’ tarnished image in American soccer circles.</p>
<p>Another common theme to come out of this book is the professional jealousy the greatest field player in US history; Landon Donovan exhibited towards David Beckham and his superstardom. Grant Wahl doesn’t portray it as such. This is my interpretation based on reading the book. But as someone who has typically been in Landon Donovan’s corner, the book reveals that Donovan for all his talk of being more mature than a few years ago, still has a fundamental streak of immaturity. I’ll explore the revelations about Donovan further in a future opinion piece.</p>
<p>That leads us to the central figure of the book himself, David Beckham. The irony is as Wahl points out repeatedly, Beckham himself is a protected figure behind an army of handlers and marketing people led by Terry Byrne and Simon Fuller. The only person in the story we never learn to understand from Wahl’s portrayal is Beckham. That’s because Beckham so closely guards his public image to journalists, fans, team mates, etc, it is impossible at times to read him.</p>
<p>Beckham’s social status evokes many reactions out of his team mates and fans. Wahl does a very good job of portraying the social tensions within the Galaxy family, and the image of society beyond the club. Some MLS players are among the lowest paid professional athletes in the United States. But Beckham seemed oblivious or worse uncaring about this fact through much of the narrative.</p>
<p>Wahl’s book on the whole is a masterpiece of sports journalism. Any fans of the game in the United States must read this book, and general sports fans would probably find it interesting as well. European football fans will be able to get an accurate gauge as to the state of club soccer in this country from reading Wahl’s book as well.</p>
<p><em><a href="http:\/\/www.amazon.com/gp/product/030740787X?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;tag=et00d-20&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=9325&amp;amp;creativeASIN=030740787X" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Beckham Experiment</a> is featured as one of the <a href="http:\/\/epltalk.com/ultimate-guide-football-books/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">top 18 recommended soccer books to read this summer</a>. The book is <a href="http:\/\/www.amazon.com/gp/product/030740787X?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;tag=et00d-20&amp;amp;linkCode=as2&amp;amp;camp=1789&amp;amp;creative=9325&amp;amp;creativeASIN=030740787X" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">available from Amazon</a> and all fine booksellers.</em></p>
