Update Guy & Co-host of The Hardcore Footy Show
Where'd you grow up? Windsor, Ontario
I moved to the T-dot in 2004 for university. I knew early on in high school that sports media was the industry I wanted to be in and since Toronto is the media capital north of the 49th, I figured I'd have to leave my border city home behind. I think I made the right choice, but man I miss the Detroit skyline. Comerica Park was my second home in high school. I would scoop up as many $5 seats as I could. I lived less than 10 minutes from the stadium (give or take a few, depending on the hassle you get at Customs). I went to a lot of Tigers games as a kid and hit up a few Pistons and Lions games too, but I always loved watching soccer on TV. God bless the invention of satellite TV and cable packages that allow me to watch nearly any match from anywhere in Europe. I almost failed my sophomore year in high school because I was staying up all night to watch World Cup matches. I was stressing then, but do I regret my decision? No.
What is the first soccer game you ever bet on? I'm the king of making random wagers. The first single game bet I ever made on soccer was on a Cork City and Derry City match in the Irish Premier League. Cork City was at home and laying -300 so I figured they were the biggest lock on the board...I lost. Derry shut them out on their own ground.
Favorite team(s)?
Aston Villa - Unlike my man KJ, I am not from Birmingham and have never even been to England. But in the first Villa match I ever watched on TV, Dion Dublin scored a hat trick on Southampton and I instantly fell in love with the 'Claret & blue'.
Portuguese National Team - My mother was born in Portugal and for years I only had Brasil to cheer for, but since Euro 2000 they've been a hell of a team to watch. I hate their rep for diving, but a semi final appearance in Euro 2000, finals in 04', and making the semis in Germany 06' means they're doing something right.
All-time favorite players?
Pele - watching video of him play I can't help but wish I could've seen him play in person. What he could do with the ball was unbelievable, and he starred in a movie with Sly Stalone! (Victory, 1981). But I've got to say that messing up the end of the Brasilian Grand Prix in 2002 put a blemish on his status in my books. He waived the checkered flag for Takuma Sato who was a lap behind and didn't wave the flag when Schumacher crossed to win the race because he was talking to somebody. That's a hell of a blooper though for the best soccer player ever.
Luis Figo - he put Portuguese soccer back on the map. Nobody expected Portugal to even get out of a group with England and Germany at Euro 2000, let alone beat England and make it to the semis! He's a class act and is one of the best player's of the last 15 years.
Current favorite players?
Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) - the guy wore #7 at Man U as an 18 year-old right after Beckham left! People forgot about Becks real quick. He's a stud and I have to see him play in person someday.
Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) - he's got skills, he plays for his local club and he's still a young cat. He'll have a great career with Villa and England.
Kaka (AC Milan) - he makes the Serie A worth watching on a regular basis.
Julian De Guzman (Deportivo de La Coruna) - he's really making a name for himself in Spain and he grew up in my neighborhood.
Dwayne De Rosario (Houston Dynamo) - also from my neighborhood and he's one of the best players in the MLS. He is the only reason Canadians even knew what the MLS was before Toronto FC.
Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal) - this guy is sick, all he does is score goals but somehow still gets no love. His jersey is one of the few that I would actually pay $150 for.