Steve Zakuani's life has taken him from the Congo, to London, to Akron and Seattle. Through that time he focused on soccer as his future. An accident had that dream stopped at one point and his focus shifted to life learning. His dream of a pro career in England stopped. But, as he returned to health, he discovered this strange thing called an athletic scholarship to a university in America. On his website he calls those two years at the University of Akron "One of the best periods in Steve Zakuani’s life. "

Zakuani is starting with a small foundation, running camps, having a scholarship, but his vision is large for Kingdom-Hope. While it will begin in Seattle, in the end he hopes to connect three continents and not just improve some people's chances at soccer, but with life education and academic work.

Below is our conversation about education, opportunity and soccer. He talks about how a program can start small and grow in ways like a player's development. It is a conversation about having dreams both on the pitch and beyond the touchline.

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To Whom it May Concern,

The United States has hosted the Winter Olympics on four occasions at three sites. Two of those sites the people of NBC have determined don't deserve to see the Olympics live on NBC. Neither Utah, nor California will be able to get live results on television in the USA, two states with HUGE Olympic history are being ignored by a programming decision.

I live in Seattle, and though I could drive to British Columbia and get the results in just over two hours if I want to watch it on television at home I will be forced to wait three hours, because some one decided that no one in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver, Salt Lake City would actually want to watch a sporting event live.

We are no longer stuck in the 80s, when ABC made the mistake of tape delaying Monday Night Football, you have sadly chosen to copy that strategy in an era of email, internet, twitter and facebook. On twitter feeds that I followed I had a 3 hour advance notice of the Opening Ceremony. I knew everything that would happen, so I chose to ignore what you had on the television, there was no point.

Today, a Saturday, I am home with a dog and wishing that I could watch live sports programs, and I can. But only if I don't care about the Winter Olympics just a few hours North of me. I can watch Fox Soccer Channel and see the world's best soccer teams compete - LIVE. I can watch BBC America and watch 6 Nations Rugby - LIVE. There are a dozen stations showing college basketball - LIVE.

But the first medal of the 2010 Games I will not get to see live, nor the second, nor the third. I will be made to wait, because NBC/Universal seems to have decided that nearly 100 Million Americans don't know what the Internet is, nor do they have friends/family in the East.

You are making a mistake, and it is one that could easily be corrected. Sports TV ratings are up in 2009, and will likely be up in 2010. The reason is because of surprise, and that by being LIVE they are events that can not be missed. This year, I can afford to miss them, because I will already know the results, for unlike your decision makers I live in the 21st Century.

Thank you,

With the recent news that Jose Romero is leaving the Seattle Times, the rumors concerning Arlo White joining the Sounders broadcast, latest release of the Face of Sports (US)by Nielson and the nearly constant complaints on soccer forums about local sportsradio's lack of coverage of the Sounders I thought I should share my thoughts on this in just one place.

For a little background I have some education in Broadcast Communications, leveraged that into a job at KJR-AM Seattle for about 2.5 years, and even taught a little bit at BCC. The job I did at KJR-AM was as a producer - which means I was responsible at that time for booking guests, doing show research, screening phone calls and helping guide the overall direction of the show.

In order of amount of time I worked on shows I was affiliated with the following programs on a dedicated basis;
Locked on Sports with David Locke (now in Salt Lake City as play-by-play for Utah Jazz)
John Clayton's Sports Saturday (now at 710 ESPN Seattle)
SuperSonics Basketball (now dead and gone)
Storm Basketball
Baseball's Best Postgame Show(numerous hosts - Seth Everett, David Locke, Bill Krueger, Mike Blowers, Steve Sandmeyer, Dick Fain and Shannon Drayer)
The 4th Quarter with Dick Fain (now called Sports Saturday)
Mitch in the Morning

On top of that I worked and supported the other shows on the air, went to numerous press conferences and team practices.

I give this partial resume not because Dave Clark wanted to talk about himself, but so that newer readers might k now that when I talk about radio talkshows I know a little bit about it. It was my job, and while the host is the primary driver of ratings, my time was well spent.

During my time there I received constant calls that we didn't talk enough about sport/issue X, Y and Z. Every time I took that phone call or email I had to think "Is this complaint legit?" "If we talk about this we gain how many listeners and lose how many more/less?"

I was an advocate for more coverage of the A-League Sounders and that coverage very rarely happened, and was generally confined to on-air ribbing of the slightly crazy producer (me). Callers tended to advocate for more NHL talk, maybe some NASCAR as well.

We didn't have a hard rule. There was not a magic number that needed to be hit.

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The Crowd that Stands in Unity
We are the Blue and the Grey
Expecting Victory Everyday

-inspired by 311's Something Out of Nothing

In August of '08 the blog launched. There were 37 readers that month. Through an inaugural season that stunned MLS, and local media the blog has continued to grow, in large part thanks to the readers just spreading the word.

That growth lead to me joining this network, which is still growing itself.

Today, as part of the network I have the ability to sell some shirts. They are relatively inexpensive, and will contain phrases and images inspired by Sounder at Heart's writings concerning the team. I may do an occasional one that is match or player specific, but the three that launch the lineup should be good for a few years.

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After last nights two amazing events scheduled around the US MNT's "performance" you'd think you are done with soccer parties this week.

You would be wrong.

You may have heard that Jose Romero is leaving the Seattle TImes, and in fact leaving the state. He has decided to host a gathering where he will just hang out with the fans that made his first season as a soccer reporter so much fun.

Copper Cart Cafe
Thursday Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m. to however long it goes
113 Bell St # Main
Seattle, WA 98121-1730
(206) 239-0830
www.coppercartcafe.com

This is an easy one people. It is just a time to show up and say thank you. Jose won't be working, just enjoying life.


Last night's events went very well.

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The George & Dragon Pub will be hosting Steve Zakuani, James Riley, Gorilla FC and hundreds of soccer fans who wish to use their passion for sport for a little bit of nobility. The event will start at 5:30PM on Saturday the 23rd and will coincide with the USA v Honduras friendly. It will feature autographs and raffles to raise money for Doctor's Without Borders. This is a change.

There are suggested donations of 5$ for either the raffle, for autographs, for photos and for entry, of course you can always give more. There are of course hundreds of ways that you can help the people of Haiti, this is just one that combines our other passions with an opportunity to help.

Go! You were going to watch the game anyway.

If you prefer a different pub, or different organization. Emerald City Supporters are also having an event, in their case at the Atlantic Crossing with American Outlaws (US MNT group).

You were going to watch the game, you might as well do it at one of these locations.

Below the break is Jozy Altidore on the situation in Haiti

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Many who read this blog know me personally. They know my past, my passions and my current job. Those that don't might not understand that the reason that I will be working on arrangements for the Supporters Summit, and contacting people in the TOA, the USL and MLS concerning the drama of pro-soccer in North America is because I don't work on Veteran's Day.

I do this because I served.

BUT I served in peace. While hard emotionally and physically it does not compare to life of those who are active right now in Iraq, Afghanistan and nearly a dozen other forgotten places. My time in Kuwait does not compare to 91. It should not be confused with Bosnia, Somalia, Haiti, Lebanon, Kosovo, the Philippines, Panama, Korea, Vietnam or either of the World Wars, but still my time defined who I am. It changed me in ways that I had guessed, but it also changed me in ways that I never would know.

I don't work on Veteran's Day not for myself, but so I can lift a glass to Lt. Mike Adams who I only knew as a Scout as a teen. Mike died while riding in a tank on a highway headed home. I don't work today for him.

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In an effort to get even further hyped up, to meet more of the people who voted me onto the Council and just enjoy good beer I will be hanging out at Elysian Fields on Thursday. Probably from about 3:30PM until prior to kickoff, or so.

I'm inviting coworkers, people from the 214 and readers of the blog. If you plan on making an afternoon of it please let me know, as I would like let them know roughly how many and get a few tables together or a room or something.

Wear your scarf everyday. Kits/Jerseys/T-Shirts/whatever as well. This is a huge week for Seattle soccer, and should be for Seattle sports as well. On Saturday I am scheduled to talk Sounders with Dick Fain on KJR-AM Seattle. More details on that as they come.