Brian Kilmeade will serve as the color commentator alongside Callum Williams for tonight's match when Sporting Kansas City take on the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. The match can be viewed live on KSMO-TV in English. SportingKC.com had the chance to chat with Kilmeade ahead of his guest role on the broadcast.
SportingKC.com: Brian, for those of us that don't get to see a lot of the morning shows, give us a brief background into who you are and what sort of work you normally do?
What I've been doing since 1997 is hosting the morning show on FOX News and also, since 2000, hosting a national radio show right after called "Kilmeade and Friends." The show in the morning is called "Fox and Friends" and for the last 11 years its been No. 1 in the mornings on cable and in some cases it even beats the networks.
SportingKC.com: You also have some experience in soccer broadcasting. Can you tell us about that?
I did a soccer show on MSG network for about seven years. I did play-by-play for the Long Island Rough Riders, who preceded MLS in the USISL. They had Tony Meola, Giovanni Savarese, Chris Armas, it was an unbelievable team. Then I went over to the MetroStars and for two years did their sideline reporting. I did the Big East championship games, men's and women's for a couple years, as well.
SportingKC.com: What is your soccer background, playing and coaching-wise?
I played since I was five, all the way through college. I played division II, Long Island University. Never great, just a solid player, but I played almost everyday from five until I was about 22-23. When I started having kids I started coaching again, and now I have a C license a B license, an A license, a national license and an advanced national license. So just coaching now, 14-year old boys and under-8 girls, and I help out with the Masapequa SC whenever I can.
SportingKC.com: So how did this opportunity to join the broadcast team come about?
I had met (Sporting Kansas City VP of Operations) Chris Wyche before. I had spoke to the US Soccer Federation, I was a keynote speaker for them. I have two books out, "How You Play the Game" and "The Games Do Count," and Chris got in touch and said "Listen, we are coming out there, would you want to join the team?" I got clearance to do it from FOX , started watching some of Sporting KC's games, and hopefully I won't turn too many people off on Saturday.
SportingKC.com: Have you been to Red Bull Arena quite a lot or will this be your first time there?
I've been there twice. It's unbelievable. If it rains, the fans stay dry. It's very tight, a real professional feel and a first class organization.
SportingKC.com: What are you most looking forward to about Saturday?
Just to be able to call a live event again and be part of the action. Both teams have a lot of promise. The League, I remember the beginning points and things looked dim. I've been out to Giants Stadium many times when there were 7,000 people out there. I just think it's so great that the League is now on such a roll. To see Henry hitting his stride, and the level of play and knowing that there's going to be between 18,000 and 24,000 out there is what I'm most excited about. I'm also excited because my son is going to be with me and he'll get to see for the first time what goes into these kinds of events.