The People’s Game – Radio Show for Saturday June 19, 2010

Today’s show was live-to-air on our home station, KPFK Radio Los Angeles. We open with a roundtable (Alan, Jennifer, Pablo, and Fernando) that takes the temperature of the tournament then shifts to Jennifer’s commentary in today’s Guardian, which calls on FIFA to use this World Cup to combat sexual violence as it has done with racism. Then we focus on Cameroon, the first team exiled from the tournament after a 2-1 loss to Denmark. We’re joined by two bloggers, both passionate supporters of the (In)dominable Lions, to learn what went wrong for this highly-talented side: Cameroon native George Fominyen; and American Liz Hottel. Then we’re joined by the filmmakers behind a great new film, Pelada, about pick-up soccer games around the world. Luke Boughen and Gwendolyn Oxenham, accomplished players themselves, literally traveled the entire globe – and their film captures the intense joy that people from all nations spontaneously find in the game.

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The People’s Game – Radio Show for Friday June 18, 2010

Three games, surprises at every turn – curiouser and curiouser. In the roundtable Jennifer, Alan, Pablo, and Fernando celebrate Team USA’s amazing comeback vs Slovenia and rationalize their support for the Yankee imperialists. Matthew Cobb, a Man City supporter, has a fertile theory about why England stinks that also explains the political economy of soccer. Nick Green testifies that the USA wuz robbed. Hamoud Salhi relates the euphoria in Algeria over the nation’s greatest result since 1982. Serbian Srdjan Ilic contextualizes his home country’s victory over Eurozone powerhouse Germany. Blogger Thomas Michalakos explains the significance of Greece’s first-ever victory in a World Cup Finals to that embattled nation. Lastly, the BBC’s Paul Mason says the chorus of his countrymen calling for Fabio Capello’s head are out of tune – the blame for England’s misery lies elsewhere.

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The People’s Game – Radio Show for Thursday June 17, 2010

A glorious day for Mexico, Argentina, and Greece – a roundtable discussion leads off the show with co-hosts Alan Minsky, Fernando Romero, Jennifer Boyle (From a Left Wing), and Pablo Miralles (Gringos at the Gate). Followed by a report from journalist Daniel Hernandez in Mexico City where it’s Xmas and Carnival. The huge Argentine banners herald both Diego and Che – Aura Bogado addresses the relationship between futbol and oppositional politics in her homeland. Lastly Nick Green (100% Soccer) previews tomorrow’s group C matches, as tiny Slovenia tries to knock off another superpower, the USA.

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The People’s Game – Radio Show for Wednesday June 16, 2010

Great Day for Switzerlands. Jennifer and Alan console Spaniard Tony Presido. Uruguayan Lazar Treschan simultaneously celebrates and apologizes for crushing the host nation’s spirit. El Tri partisan Fernando Romero looks towards tomorrow’s Mexico-France showdown where everything is on the line. Then Jennifer talks with two of the team behind Nomadic Wax’s magisterial 12-minute World Cup track.

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The People’s Game – Radio Show for Tuesday June 15, 2010

Reflections on the marvelous Brazil/North Korea match and an interview with John Turnbull of the great website The Global Game.

The People’s Game – Radio Show for Monday June 14, 2010

Robert Edelman, author of Spartak Moscow: A History of the People’s Team in the Workers’ State, reflects on the 2010 World Cup on and off the field; and Mark Torres posits that soccer is no longer a second tier sport in the USA

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