After Mr. Henry takes a quick picture** with Marko and I, they ask Ryan about some good Whites for a party they are holding. Brilliantly, they are quick to note they are specifically for partygoers. They prefer reds. Thats too perfect. They agree on a particular bottle and Ryan begins assisting Mr. Henry with choosing a nice red. I thought our little encounter with them was over and I was completely satisfied with that. Then Linda comes up to me: What do you think about the new mascot, Mighty Red? Really? Linda Pizzuti is asking my opinion on club related business? I have to admit, that relatively innocent question flattered the heck out of me. Without skipping a beat John pops over to clarify that its not exactly a mascot. He wont be on the pitch, he jokes and we all laugh a bit. An equally as innocent remark but one that spoke volumes. They get it. Its a different sporting culture. An on-field mascot wouldnt, and hasnt, been accepted by fans in the English sporting culture for the most part.
He wont be like Wally, she said referring to the loveable Red Sox mascot. Its something for the kids she says, noting they want to make the club and Anfield more family friendly. Very young kids can often relate better to an iconic character like that than to an athlete. She went on and on, in an incredibly informed manner that made my jaw drop. She knew her stuff and I was very impressed. There I was having an impromptu conversation with the first lady of Liverpool Football Club about Anfield and Mighty Red. It was delightful. Mr. Henry even had to tap her on the shoulder and remind her that they had to catch a dinner reservation.
They check out, chat for another minute or two and head out the door. Then, just as hes leaving, he leans back into the shop not unlike John Wayne and says, It looks like we got the striker from Roma. We were stunned. John Henry just let us in on a bit of transfer news. I asked about the Dempsey rumors and he obliged me with an actual response instead of a stock line like well see what happens. I wont go into detail about what he said but it was a moment that made my day.