Run of Play Interview
Run of Play was nominated for the Most Entertaining Football Site, while Run of Play author Brian Phillips was nominated for Best Football Blogger. We asked Brian to talk about the awards, how 2010 had turned out for Run of Play, future plans and of course, who he would vote for in the awards. Here’s in the interview:
1) You’ve been nominated for Best Football Blogger and Most Entertaining Football Site, chosen by both fans and industry experts, how does it feel?
Remember the moment in Temple of Doom when Indiana Jones narrowly escapes the spike room, then reaches back in to get his hat in what is literally the final microsecond before the stone crunches into place? Some days, you feel like you escape the spike room. Today I feel like I also got my hat.
2) What kind of year has 2010 been for Run of Play and yourself?
2010 has been a very good year for Run of Play, and also for myself. We relaunched the site with a nifty new design, got a nice traffic boost from the World Cup, and had the pleasure of publishing a lot of brilliant new writers. Myself, I started writing a regular column for Slate and got invited to be in a lot of other publications where you’re expected to wear a tuxedo even while you’re sitting at home working on the rough draft. There I was, bow tie in place, collar-wingtips proudly angled, trying to explain “why teamwork is a good idea” or “who plays soccer in Nebraska.” It’s really a horrifying vision, if you can force yourself to imagine the complete plainness and drabness of my office and the absolute perfection of my tuxedo. 2010 was terrible.
3) What do you think has been the key factor in your success?
Well, my readers are very good-looking. I’m talking tall, athletic, with haircuts you can tell someone planned out in advance. I’m not saying I consciously try harder just to please them, but unconsciously? They deserve all the credit.
4) If you were casting a vote for your any of your fellow nominees, who would it be?
I’d probably vote for Dirty Tackle, out of pity. I mean, to have limped along for this long, with so little traffic, with so few readers! It’s inspiring. However, it’s also sad. Every now and again I try to throw them a sympathy link.
5) What’s next for you? Major plans for Run of Play?
We’ll probably take more vacations. Also, I’ve been thinking about a project revolving around team photos from decades past. Have you ever noticed that the same guy appears in the upper left in virtually all of them? He’s got slicked-back hair, and this kind of long, murine face, and in the color-tinted ones his cheeks are red, as if he’s just come in from practicing free-kicks in the cold. Who is that guy? How did he play on every team in the world before 1950? I’d like to do some research.
6) Have you seen the Castrol Football Rankings? What do you think about them, and who do you think is the best footballer in the world at the moment?
It’s funny to find myself in agreement with a company that makes industrial and automotive lubricants, but I can’t help but notice that Castrol and I share a strong admiration for Leo Messi. I am more likely to buy Castrol and Castrol-related products as a result of this realization.
You can vote for Run of Play and Brian Phillips in the following award categories:
Most Entertaining Football Website
Best Football Blogger
Back to the main 2010 Soccerlens Awards nominee interviews page.
Topics: Interviews
