To: beam@globe.com
Alex,
I am absolutely sure that by now your inbox has filled up with many e-mails from irate Liverpool fans. Hopefully, the majority of these will display reasoned argument, and will point out exactly how, and why, you were wrong to write your article based upon what seems to be a basic lack of knowledge on the subject of the Hillsborough disaster.
So, if I may dissect your article as I read through it:
"... Henry’s visits to grotty Liverpool — Worcester without the glitz..."
Initially, and though this is by no means the worst of what you've included in your article, I object to this.
I have lived in Liverpool for my entire life. And I am, by no means, under the impression that we live in a glorious celebration of a city.
We are in the north of the UK, an area not renowned for its wealth, but to those who take the time, and have the courtesy and intelligence to visit with an open mind, eschewing first impressions, you would find that most Liverpudlians (as we are known) are friendly, warm people; sharp-witted, and occasionally sharp-tongued. I would question whether you have ever visited Liverpool, and taken some time to absorb anything of the local culture?
I would also point out that Liverpool successfully hosted the Capital of Culture in 2008. Not bad for a "grotty" city. Also, the local economy, during the recent economic slump, was one of the few areas to achieve improvement, despite the financial climate. And finally, as tourism goes, Liverpool is one of the most-visited cities in Europe. Again - Not bad.
To continue:
"... The few sane people I have talked to about Liverpool understand that these are early days for New England Sports Ventures and that meaningful changes probably won’t come until Liverpool’s season ends in May. None of those sane people are in Liverpool, however..."
We do appreciate that. We are a fan base of a club steeped in tradition - As are the Red Sox. And whilst we do have a certain level of expectation, we are, generally, aware of the situation with regards to the ownership of the club. Many of our fans are still wary of new owners. Many also know that you cannot change the fate of a club overnight. Positivity and negativity have a certain momentum; We are fully aware that it will take time for any and all changes to change the course of our contemporary history. I will not pretend that there aren't some vocal fans calling for immediacy, but the sensible Liverpools fans - and we are the vast majority - know how the land lies. I would, again, ask a question: How many Liverpool fans did you actually speak to before you decided to make that statement?
"... Their excitable Internet fan sites are still agonizing over a 21-year-old soccer riot that killed 96 people..."
It's not just the internet fan sites who are agonizing, Alex. It is everyone who is a part of the city of Liverpool, and a fan of the club. We are a tight-knit community, for the most part. The spirit of community that is present on the terraces ensures that. So for the families of the 96 who died that day, we will share their pain, and their sense of massive injustice at the fact that this tragedy - and it was exactly that, Alex, a tragedy - was caused by a basic failure by the authorities, that could have been prevented. Then, to add to the pain, a popular nation-wide tabloid runs false, sickening stories about how fans were supposedly rioting, and pickpocketing the dead, amongst other heinous acts. And finally, the authorities who failed in their duty were given the equivalent of a slap on the wrist, and the truth of the matter was covered up for decades.
Do you have no empathy? Do you have children, or a loved one, who attends sports games? Or maybe your best friend? Or your best friend's child? Imagine the pain and shock you would feel, given the circumstances I have just described, should you or one of your nearest and dearest, have lost someone. Can you imagine the idea of simply moving along with your life, after something like that? You would want justice - as do we.
"... It’s impossible to imagine a high-gloss player-franchise, a la David Beckham and his appalling wife, moving to doggy Liverpool..."
Allow me to present Messrs Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
Torres, one of the top-rated strikers in the world even before he came to Liverpool, moved away from the Spanish sunshine in the capital of Madrid to come and live in "Doggy" Liverpool, bringing his then-girlfriend, now-wife, with him.
Steven Gerrard was born and raised in Liverpool, and despite being one the best central mid-fielders currently playing, with opportunities to move to London, or Spain, to give just two examples, he hasn't sought to move to a more supposedly salubrious location.
Evidently these two players don't object too strongly to their surroundings.
Alex, what more can I say. You have misjudged us, it would seem. You have misjudged our club, and our people, and even our city. Personally, I would like very much for you to look inside and feel the need to issue an apology, or a retraction at least.
I have to say, I'm pleased to see that your the on-line article has already been amended due to your "reporting error". You were wrong to describe the tragedy of Hillsborough as a riot, and the Globe seems to think so too.
Thank you for your time in reading this, Alex.
Michael Tetlow.
