Today the man who is always seeking the next person to interview becomes the interview. We welcome Rafael Gonzales, Executive Producer of World Football Daily, to Five for Friday. In the new era of media featuring email, texting, facebook, and twitter, sometimes it can be hard to actually get to know a person. Through the emails we exchanged, I can say that Rafa is very genuine and loves the job he currently has. I along with most fans of soccer would probably trade places with him in a second and I thank him for being nice of enough to answer our questions.
Soccer Banter: What was your background in the game of soccer prior to World Football Daily?
Rafael Gonzales: You know, in a weird way soccer has sort of always been a part of my life. I remember kicking the ball around in the streets with the neighborhood Mexican kids (I'm half my self) and although I didn't play much in high school apart from pick up games with my friends, I ended up making it onto the Men's Club team at Arizona State. So I played the game a lot and followed what I could.
Aside from that, I wasn't eyeballs deep in the game before I got to World Soccer Daily.
SB: How did you get your start with WFD and what is your day to day role?
RG: Well, I started as an intern answering phones. I wasn't allowed to talk to the guys during the show and hardly spoke with them after because I was pretty nervous around them. Certain events lead to me taking over the show pretty quickly as Producer and today I would say my official title would be Executive Producer.
My day to day roles shift, morph, and change regularly. I'm constantly searching for and scheduling daily guests for the show. We usually average about 3 a show. Players, Managers, Journalists, Commentators, you name it, we've done it. But I'm also responsible for all the equipment in the studio and the daily grind of streaming a live audio and video show, recording both, and podcasting all our material. I also manage the majority of the website and what populates it. I do have a lot of help now, which is nice, but generally I am responsible for what we put out and what we create.
Soccer Banter: What was your background in the game of soccer prior to World Football Daily?
Rafael Gonzales: You know, in a weird way soccer has sort of always been a part of my life. I remember kicking the ball around in the streets with the neighborhood Mexican kids (I'm half my self) and although I didn't play much in high school apart from pick up games with my friends, I ended up making it onto the Men's Club team at Arizona State. So I played the game a lot and followed what I could.
Aside from that, I wasn't eyeballs deep in the game before I got to World Soccer Daily.
SB: How did you get your start with WFD and what is your day to day role?
RG: Well, I started as an intern answering phones. I wasn't allowed to talk to the guys during the show and hardly spoke with them after because I was pretty nervous around them. Certain events lead to me taking over the show pretty quickly as Producer and today I would say my official title would be Executive Producer.
My day to day roles shift, morph, and change regularly. I'm constantly searching for and scheduling daily guests for the show. We usually average about 3 a show. Players, Managers, Journalists, Commentators, you name it, we've done it. But I'm also responsible for all the equipment in the studio and the daily grind of streaming a live audio and video show, recording both, and podcasting all our material. I also manage the majority of the website and what populates it. I do have a lot of help now, which is nice, but generally I am responsible for what we put out and what we create.
SB: What team do you support and who is your favorite player?
RG: Favorite team is Glasgow Rangers. The story of how I found them is long and it involves a Scottish family who moved to my city and school when I was younger.
Favorite player? That's a tough one. On Rangers, definitely big Mo! I've been lucky enough to meet and interview the guy before and I was amazed at how intelligent he was. I think he has a lot of potential still, and I think he is a smart player on the field, but I wouldn't classify him as a play-maker or star of a team. But he does his job and does it well, plus he knows where and when to be, if you get what I'm saying.
Of course you have to love Messi and what that young man can do. Unstoppable and more than entertaining to watch. You have to think that there is still so much to come from this guy and it's going to be a pleasure to be a part of his story. Like those who were around to watch Pele, the generation who are privileged enough to watch this guy are more than lucky.
I could probably go on and on about several different favorite players and why, but I feel that's unfair to the question.
SB: What has been your most memorable moment in the game of soccer, either professionally or as a fan?
RG: Now this is a very tough question because I am such a big fan of the game. I feel very lucky for all the fantastic opportunities my job has afforded me and it's incredibly tough to pick out one. One nice thing about our show is that we don't try to be journalists or pundits. We are fans of the game and make it known.
Watching the Chelsea boys cool down at midnight after playing Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl just a bit earlier was awesome. Shaking Mourinho's hand when he came here for Madrid v Galaxy was a memory.
But as for my most favorite memory, it would have to be my entire trip to Glasgow for last year's February 28th Old Firm match at Ibrox. I was lucky enough to have Maurice Edu come to my hotel for a video interview the Friday night before the Sunday Old Firm match. I was also lucky enough to get a connection within the team from a good friend of the show and ESPN Commentator, Derek Rae. This got me Press Credentials where I sat about 10 feet away from Walter Smith during the game. And of course Rangers winning in the 2nd minute of added time with a last minute goal from my man Maurice Edu was the cherry on top.
Literally a male's fairy tale trip. As a professional and fan, that trip was a dream come true.
RG: Favorite team is Glasgow Rangers. The story of how I found them is long and it involves a Scottish family who moved to my city and school when I was younger.
Favorite player? That's a tough one. On Rangers, definitely big Mo! I've been lucky enough to meet and interview the guy before and I was amazed at how intelligent he was. I think he has a lot of potential still, and I think he is a smart player on the field, but I wouldn't classify him as a play-maker or star of a team. But he does his job and does it well, plus he knows where and when to be, if you get what I'm saying.
Of course you have to love Messi and what that young man can do. Unstoppable and more than entertaining to watch. You have to think that there is still so much to come from this guy and it's going to be a pleasure to be a part of his story. Like those who were around to watch Pele, the generation who are privileged enough to watch this guy are more than lucky.
I could probably go on and on about several different favorite players and why, but I feel that's unfair to the question.
SB: What has been your most memorable moment in the game of soccer, either professionally or as a fan?
RG: Now this is a very tough question because I am such a big fan of the game. I feel very lucky for all the fantastic opportunities my job has afforded me and it's incredibly tough to pick out one. One nice thing about our show is that we don't try to be journalists or pundits. We are fans of the game and make it known.
Watching the Chelsea boys cool down at midnight after playing Inter Milan at the Rose Bowl just a bit earlier was awesome. Shaking Mourinho's hand when he came here for Madrid v Galaxy was a memory.
But as for my most favorite memory, it would have to be my entire trip to Glasgow for last year's February 28th Old Firm match at Ibrox. I was lucky enough to have Maurice Edu come to my hotel for a video interview the Friday night before the Sunday Old Firm match. I was also lucky enough to get a connection within the team from a good friend of the show and ESPN Commentator, Derek Rae. This got me Press Credentials where I sat about 10 feet away from Walter Smith during the game. And of course Rangers winning in the 2nd minute of added time with a last minute goal from my man Maurice Edu was the cherry on top.
Literally a male's fairy tale trip. As a professional and fan, that trip was a dream come true.
SB: Nicest player and manager you have dealt with in your current role?
RG: Definitely a tough question. Might be easier answering the rudest person I've met?
You know, come to think about it. There have been a ton of incredibly nice people I've met through this game and I think that says a lot for the sport and the fans/players/managers/etc. Not very many people are in this game without loving it. And that's a big thing. We all love it. From top to bottom, we love this game, and it shows.
I also pride myself in making a friendship with each guest we bring on to our show, and with over 300 guests in the past year and a half, it would be hard to pick out one. I often text or call these guys (and girls) outside the show to just touch base and have a laugh.
Nicest Player: Jimmy Conrad. He records his podcast in our studio these days and we have become really close recently. Honorary mention has to go my man Mo.
Nicest Manager: Tie between Alex McLeish (lost phone connection 4 times during an interview and he was more than happy to deal with it and he delivered one of the best Manager Interviews we've had on show), Jose Mourinho and Steve Nicol. (from dealing with them all)
RG: Definitely a tough question. Might be easier answering the rudest person I've met?
You know, come to think about it. There have been a ton of incredibly nice people I've met through this game and I think that says a lot for the sport and the fans/players/managers/etc. Not very many people are in this game without loving it. And that's a big thing. We all love it. From top to bottom, we love this game, and it shows.
I also pride myself in making a friendship with each guest we bring on to our show, and with over 300 guests in the past year and a half, it would be hard to pick out one. I often text or call these guys (and girls) outside the show to just touch base and have a laugh.
Nicest Player: Jimmy Conrad. He records his podcast in our studio these days and we have become really close recently. Honorary mention has to go my man Mo.
Nicest Manager: Tie between Alex McLeish (lost phone connection 4 times during an interview and he was more than happy to deal with it and he delivered one of the best Manager Interviews we've had on show), Jose Mourinho and Steve Nicol. (from dealing with them all)
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