This appears in the Wednesday, April 5, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.
Etheridge thinks Michael Jackson statue outside Fulham is cool
by rick olivares with photo by Glyn Kirk of Getty Images
Since the untimely passing of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop has been celebrated and remembered throughout the world of music and entertainment. And now that Mohamad Al Fayed has his way, Jackson too, will be a part of football lore forever.
Al Fayed, the owner English Premier League team Fulham FC put up a statue of Jackson outside the football team’s home field of Craven Cottage. Al Fayed did this to honor his friendship with Jackson despite the pop star not being known as a fan of the sport.
When he heard of dissenting opinions, Fayed, who among many properties owns the Ritz Hotel Paris blurted out that they can “go to hell” and “If they don't understand and don't believe in things I believe in, they can go to (support nearby neighbor) Chelsea. They can go to anywhere else."
Al Fayed is the father of the late Dodi Al Fayed who was the lover of the former Princess of Wales, Diana. They were killed together in the Pont D’Alma tunnel in Paris after being chased by paparazzi.
Fulham are currently in tenth place in the EPL with an 8-14-9 record and have recorded two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five matches. The football club features Australia’s number one goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, American forward Clint Dempsey, former Chelsea and Barcelona forward Eidur Gudjohnsen, and the Philippine Men’s National Team’s Neil Etheridge who is now in a reserve role for the Cottagers as the squad is fondly called by.
Said Etheridge when I asked about the statue, "I haven't seen it but it’s not really anything that will affect me. All I know is that the chairman is a massive fan and as it is his ground, he can do as he pleases. I guess he will do that. Haha!"
Fulham will play Manchester United in Old Trafford this coming Saturday night (April 9) where a win by the latter will assure them of their 19th league title breaking an 18-all tie with fierce rival Liverpool FC.
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