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Recap of CEFC’s First-Ever Reddit AMA

Posted on by Grant Burkhardt
19
Apr

Columbus Eagles FC participated Wednesday in its first-ever Reddit AMA (“Ask Me Anything”). Eagles CEO Mark Wise answered questions for slightly over an hour on r/TheMassive, Columbus Crew SC’s supporter-run subreddit.

You can see the full AMA on Reddit here, but here are some of the highlights:

Question, from 5HAD0VV: “I realize you probably don’t want to play favorites but if I were to attend a match for the first time who should I keep an eye out for on the pitch? Is there a fan favorite that stands out?”

Answer: “You know, in past years I might have been able to answer your question with specific players. However, this season we have so many talented women that it would be impossible to single out specific ones. I do know that if you are a fan of solid defensive players, you will find a favorite, and if you enjoy creative, passionate and skillful midfielders, you will find a favorite. And, if you are looking for strong finishers whose shots could take you breath away, you will find a favorite.

They each bring unique gifts to the pitch.

We are close to defining our initial starting 11, so we do recognize some ranking, but the quality of players we have this year make that selection very tough.”

Question, from PopCanSteve: “I’m looking forward to coming to my first Eagles FC match this season. Who would you consider your biggest rival? Thanks!”

Answer: “As for our rivals, Cincinnati comes to mind first. They may not be our most competitive rival, but we have a long history playing each other and the matches are very intense. As for our most competitive rivals, I would say either Cleveland or Motor City (Detroit) as they both have very talented teams drawing from nearby Division I college players.”

Question, from TheGet-Ups: “My daughter loves the sport and dreams of playing professionally when she’s older. What advice would have for her to reach her dream?”

Answer: “First and foremost, never give up your dream! It will be a tough road, as there are very few truly professional teams here in the US, and we really need to work on the parity of pay issue. Most professional women soccer players currently cannot make a living playing their game as men do. I believe the current salary cap for players in the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League), the US 1st division league for women) is $37,800.00 with a team cap of $265,000.00 Each team is allowed 20 rostered players so if you do the math, that’s only $13,250.00 if each player were to be paid equally.

Anyway, getting back to her dream, she needs to work hard, find the best coaches/teams to train with, get visible by playing in the top tournaments and network with as many people in soccer as you can.

I wish her luck!”

Question, from FantasyMLSHelper: “Why did you decide to start a women’s soccer team here?”

Answer: “This question has a very long answer. Let me try to condense it into a few sentences.

I have been a fan of the women’s game since Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Christine Lily, Brandy Chastain, … When I took my entire family to Chicago in 1999 to watch the Women’s World Cup, I joined with over 70,000 fans in that Chicago stadium watching women from all over the world compete and play the beautify game. I was thrilled when I heard that they were starting a professional soccer league for women and I expected them to choose to place a team in Columbus. They did not. That league failed after 3 years of play. A few years later, they started again and again I was hoping that they would place a team in Columbus. They did not. That league failed 3 years later. When they announced the current NWSL, I thought, surely they will place a team in Columbus this time around. After all, we have many thousands of players in the youth system, we are geographically located to minimize travel costs and so many college players are recruited from this area. But, they passed over Columbus again.

I was at a coaches convention around the time the NWSL was formed and was complaining to some coaching friends about the situation and they said; Why don’t you do something about that? I responded that I did not have the money or the connections to get that done. However, it reminded me of things that I had stated to my youth soccer players that I had coached over the years; 1) Dream Big Dreams and 2) Sometimes it has to be you that makes it happen. These words were coming back to haunt me. I needed to dream a big dream and sometimes it just takes someone to step up to make things happen. That fall I sent my check into the WPSL to start the Eagles women’s soccer club. The long-term objective is to bring Professional Womens Soccer to Columbus, Ohio. We are currently on that path.”

Question, from 5HAD0VV: “What style of play would you say best describes the Eagles?”

Answer: “Beautiful 😉

Really, we are a possession oriented team, very creative and solid. However, from my point of view, it is important that a team is capable of playing any style that is dictated by the needs of the game, so we will be prepared to adapt to each situation presented to us in competition.”

The Eagles play next this Sunday (4/22) against Ohio Dominican University at ODU’s Panther Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale online and at the event for $10. Parking is free at the event. 

If you can’t make it, the club will be streaming the match live here on CEFC’s website, and also on our YouTube and Facebook pages. 

Grant Burkhardt