I am the 24th Minute

Time to mix things up

It’s been a weird year. 

Check that. Decade. 

From the first time I said ‘Hey, have you been listening to the news about this virus thing happening in China’ back in January 2020, through endless nights screaming at people on the Internet about their inability to understand the difference between peer reviewed studies and some jackass’s hairbrained conspiracy theory on YouTube, and then on to the post-reality days of 2024, where we now live in parallel worlds, with each equally convinced that the other is made up of those who are WORSE. THAN. HITLER. the ‘20s have been discombobulating  

In this confused world, it’s been hard to consume football in the same way I did from about 1990 to 2019. And, every time I thought I was ready to go full-on-in again, something happened to steer me off course. 

Kevin got a great opportunity in TVA and in his personal life. So the podcast ended rather suddenly. I went from being a daily voice in the independent MLS media world to just a(n old) guy with a Substack. 

Just as soon as I started to get some joy and motivation back on the writing front I was promoted at work. That’s a good thing – for too long I prioritized my soccer side hustle over my actual career – but it still made it difficult to pay attention to this space as much as I would have liked to. 

And then my mom got sick. 

That was tough. It still is, if I’m honest. When you are watching your mother die it kind of puts TFC missing the playoffs into perspective. The Reds will get another season. Mom has run her race. 

So, that’s why I didn’t write much this year. 

Which brings me to today, writing this blog on a dreary, November day, a couple weeks out of another TFC season. 

About a week ago, I was convinced that this post would be the one where I talked about all the great times I have had over the years writing about TFC – the friends and the pain and the glory and the laughter and everything in between – and about how I was going to miss it, but that it was time.

I was pretty convinced of that a week or so ago, but I’m self-aware enough to know that there is literally no one other than me that is concerned about how much I write about football. Maybe in 2011 or so that was different, but now? Nah. There’s few of you that like my voice – and I appreciate you all, truly – and I think I have even shown that I can still add a little value to the space from time to time, but the time that an independent blogger could have much influence or relevance in MLS circles has long passed. 

So, there’s no need to be dramatic. There’s also no need to turn off the lights. ‘Cause here’s the thing: I’m also self-aware enough to know that something is going to come up tomorrow, or next month, or whenever, that I’m going to want to write about.  

I’m a writer and a writer is gonna write.   

So, the lights are staying on. It might look a little different here though, which is why I am still writing this post. 

How is it going to look different? It’s a pretty simple answer: I’m not only going to write about football. You see, one of the things that this insane decade has underlined for me is that I want – no, need – to write about things. I’ve found myself incredibly inspired to write about all kinds of subjects these past years, but I didn’t have a space for them. I just had a football blog. 

Then I got to thinking about it. After 18 years, the 24th Minute is part of me now. Sure, it’s origin is Danny Dichio’s goal, but it long ago crossed over into just being my online identity. So, why am I restricting the blog to just football?

Probably because some of you support the space financially and you don’t do so to read my take on the running world’s current obsession with marathon qualifying times, an essay on the cultural importance of The Northern Pikes, a 10,000 word diatribe on Induced Demand and traffic management, or, worse of all, my fiction (all of which are entirely possible to show up in this space). 

So, if you are someone that has given me some support and are only interested in football articles, please take that money and give it to another soccer blogger. Honestly. Support independent voices that are doing what you love. 

If you enjoy my voice and are interested in seeing where this goes, stick around. I didn't say I was going to stop writing about football, after all. Just that there would be other stuff thrown in from time to time. 

Ironically, you might get more football writing, now that I’ve taken the pressure off myself and given myself permission to go outside the bubble.

I was going to write a bit about John Herdman today, actually. But, I’ve gone pretty long so I’m going to save that for later this weekend – maybe after the Forge v Ottawa game tomorrow. 

It’s a big off season for the Reds, after all. 

Finally…seriously, thank you for reading me for all these years. Having the platform to be able to articulate my thoughts and feelings about this sport and TFC in particular is something that has truly enhanced my life. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to be a tiny little part of this sport’s growth in Canada.