Sigi Schmid, the 55-year-old Columbus Crew boss who has been deservedly crowned MLS Coach of the Year, probably “watches more televised soccer than any other person in America,” according to Shawn Mitchell.
“Sundays are for European games and MLS highlights from the weekend,” writes Mitchell. “Mondays are dedicated to watching recordings of the upcoming opponent. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are for more of the opponent and more highlights from Europe.” Thursday he takes a break to visit Ruby Tuesday, a bar near Ohio State, and lift a pint or two with colleagues and fans. Friday he watches Champions League games, and on Saturday he’ll catch a game at home and then another at the stadium before coaching the real thing.
He also finds time to watch Boston Legal. “Bill Shatner cracks me up,” Schmid said.
And what about the problem of rebellious family members that the rest of us face when we turn on the TV to watch soccer, yet again? No worries. Schmid’s wife Valerie and four grown children remain in Southern California, far away from the exhausted TV set that finally expired at the weekend. “I guess I’ll have to haul the small one out the bedroom,” is Schmid’s solution.