I've had the pleasure of meeting Tom Hicks and his son Tommy when they invited me to Dallas not long after they purchased the club. I say pleasure because it really was. I found them nice, polite people and Mr Hicks senior certainly laid on the VIP treatment and for that I will always be grateful.
I read last night about the comments Tommy made in an email to a Liverpool supporter. My initial reaction was "So what" because yes, I'm sure he's taken a kicking from numerous fans by email. It's only human for someone to take so much before firing off. However I then realised that Tommy is a board member and as a result, such behaviour cannot take place. When you look at it that way, which we have to, his comments were disgusting.
The thing is Tommy, if you're sick of taking abuse - and there's nothing to suggest you were abused during this particular exchange - then have a word with your old man and tell him to pull out of the club.
On a personal level I have no problems with Tommy or his father. I really am sincere when I say that Tom Hicks came across as a real decent guy when we met and afterwards when we remained in touch. But the thing is, while he may be a nice person, there's no hiding the fact that the Hicks and Gillett families have totally played with the emotions of ardent Liverpool supporters. That's the only Tom Hicks and George Gillett that the fans see and experience.
We don't care if you cook a full Sunday roast and walk the dog three times a day while devoting your life to your family, Tom. All we care about is the club. So let's forget the private Tom Hicks and look only at the one that matters, the one who owns 50% of the club with George Gillett.
The fact is that both of them are playing with the lives of so many people. Liverpool Football Club isn't a franchise like the sports in America. Liverpool Football Club is a religion to so many of us.
And now they're considering selling Fernando Torres and/or Steven Gerrard. There's no proof to suggest such but if you don't believe that and you can't see the manager's recent hints, you're a fool.
When our own lives aren't going very well, at the end of the week, regardless of the [oops] we have to deal with, we can all say "[oops] it! At least the Reds are playing tomorrow" and for 90 minutes of our lives usually once a week, we have a release from our lives.
Fans experiencing terminal illnesses, fans having lost loved ones, fans with no work prospects or fans who are strugging to make ends meet and so on, all turn to Liverpool Football Club to get them through life. It's our faith, it's all we have and someone is playing God over our happiness.
The club is an absolute shambles as a result of their take-over and nobody will convince me any differently. It's a shambles and it's not going to change for a long time unless action is taken.
I totally support Spirit of Shankly's attempts to keep up the pressure. I don't agree with everything they say or do but I agree with the sentiment. Same with Share Liverpool FC. A great idea, run by great people. But the thing is, I believe it's time to turn up the heat a little and start taking a more militant approach.
It's ok saying that militant action will look bad on the club or prospective buyers will be scared off but I call [oops]. "We're Liverpool FC, we're better than that", [oops], absolute [oops]. Right now there's no such thing as the Liverpool FC that we all once knew.
I believe it's time to dump the peaceful protests that are not effective and make it a full out attack on the owners. Would I break the law by smacking one of these muppets? Too right I would. I'd be a hero.
"Oh let's do it the nicey nicey way", well I tell you what, the nicey nicey way isn't working. Nobody wants to get into trouble or embarass the club but we're already a laughing stock so does it matter?
Would you take part in a militant style protest if you thought your actions could force them out and save your club? I know I would. I believe it's time to harass and make things as difficult at possible either on Merseyside or in the States.
For me, and I don't care what you think, it's time for the ski masks to come out and for the frightners to be put out. If you want to stick to your respectful protests, that's fair enough but are they respecting you and your club? Are they [oops].
I'm telling you, if people don't start turning the heat up, it's unlikely there will be a change because right now everything is nice and cosey for them. Would you care about a hundred or so fans heckling you if you were going to cash in? No, neither would I but I'd reconsider my feelings if a group of fans burst into my hotel room threatening to break my knees.
I'm not suggesting bumping anyone off or physically attacking anyone but I am suggesting turning up the heat as much as possible and if it earns you a £100 fine and a slap on the wrist, big deal. I'll pay it for you.
The views expressed in this article are mine. Lock me up and throw away the key.
YNWA
Dunk
KopTalk Editor
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