On February 6, 2007, Tom Hicks and George Gillett bought Liverpool FC -- and damned near ever since, them boys have been up to their arses in controversy over in the U.K. The Daily Mail celebrates, if that's the right word, the one-year anniversary with a surprisingly calm and thoughtful recap of the twosome's tenure as owners of one of England's most beloved football teams (never, ever call it a "franchise").
But the most interesting thing to note in the story is the sole person interviewed for it, someone who offers nothing but kind, compassionate words for Hicks especially: FC Dallas coach Steve Morrow, the former Arsenal standout who, in 2002, played for the Dallas Burn till injury retired him to the sidelines.
Says Morrow to the U.K. Mail, "Part of the problem is just the fact that Tom Hicks is here in Texas and Liverpool is a long way away. People in England might wonder how much day-to-day involvement he has. But I'm sure he wouldn't have taken the job on if he didn't think he could give it everything and make a success of it. He certainly has a reputation for doing things his own way. But he's turned the Rangers and Stars into two very big organisations, and I don't think anyone can argue with his record."
Well, now, Steve, let's not get carried away. --Robert Wilonsky