Going Through Changes

It has been announced that the groundbreaking podcast, World Football Daily, will be going through a massive change.  Co-host, show founder and quite frankly one of the biggest influences on the game in North America - Steven Cohen - will be stepping away from the mic in two weeks time.

The show was started nearly a decade ago by Cohen and Nick Geber.  It has easily attracted more Americans to the World's Game than a David Beckham publicity stunt ever could.  Geber resigned from the show several years ago and Kenny Hassan assumed the official co-host role shortly thereafter.  Hassan will continue as a solo host for the time being.  Ensuring that one of the most robust, engaging and thought provoking sport podcasts in the world will go on...daily.

Cohen is a controversial figure to say the least.  As a Liverpool fan I feel I need to address the fact he has in the past been offensive, insulting and had a completely obnoxious attitude towards the club I support.  His comments regarding tragedies that have involved Liverpool Football Club got Cohen in hot water while a co-host on Fox Soccer Channel's Fox Football Phone-In and more recently incited a global protest against World Football Daily (known at the time as World Soccer Daily).

Essentially, the Liverpool supporters at the heart of the protest forced the show off satellite radio, drove sponsors away in droves and brought unnecessary (and illegal) threats against Cohen and his family.  The abuse that Cohen and his family endured are acts no moral and decent human could ever support or engage in.

Cohen persistently raged against Liverpool and its millions of fans.  Many of whom are paying WFD subscribers.  His rants have rendered Liverpool supporters extinct from participating in the show.  While the actions of many were (and continue to be ) reprehensible, Cohen often seemed to suggest that the entire fanbase were scum and not welcome to participate on his show.

While it is disappointing that supporters of one of the biggest clubs in the English Premier League - the primary focus of the show - are largely kept in the shadows, the show attracts world class journalists, players and managers.  It is without question that Cohen's vision has taken the show to the next level.

Five days a week listeners get insights, tactics and often times segments of sheer comedy that make whatever fee they charge a bargain.  Throughout the years regular callers and emailers have become like close friends to fans of this show.

And I am happy to call myself a fan.

Cohen has stated he has other interests to pursue and after 9 years you cannot blame him.  Yet, I don't for a second believe we will not be seeing him in some capacity contributing to the sport either through radio, television or social media.

I enjoy listening to Steven and thought the early incarnation of Fox Football Friday when he and Gerber sat on a couch in a dingy basement talking for an hour was one of the most entertaining and under appreciated shows in recent memory to air on a sports network.

The man is a pioneer - no question.  The man is controversial and that will never change.  His ego will not allow it.  The show will go on but will never be the same.  The sport will continue to grow in North America and more fans will adopt European clubs to support.

Call me melodramatic or over estimating a guy who started a podcast and his importance on the game in this country.  But I hope years from now when I see fields filled with kids playing soccer matches on the weekend, their parents know Steven Cohen by name, are still listening to World Football Daily and feel in some way his influence helped encourage their children to play the greatest game in the world.