The Weekly Dis
News from the Nancyverse, the Bezverse and the dystopian world of Don Garber
Spring has sprung this special, limited-time offer for new subscribers: Get 15% off an annual Silver subscription when you sign up to support local, independent, Disrespected Media. I need your help. I'm cheap. Thank you.
This just in (three days ago)
Mark Walker
According to multiple reports, former Crew coach Wilfried Nancy is a finalist for the job at Ligue 1 Lorient. In his previous job, at Celtic of the Scottish Premiership, he lasted eight games over 33 days. Tough crowd.
According to The Herald of Scotland (link above):
The Breton club are looking for a new manager for next season after Olivier Pantaloni stated he would leave at the end of the campaign at protest at conditions placed on him at the club, which is owned by former Hibs shareholder and Bournemouth owner Bill Foley's Black Knight Football Club.
He (Pantaloni) said: "I signed under conditions that clearly showed there were many doubts about me – I still feel that distrust and that is why I refuse to work in these conditions."
Wait, what? Black Knight Football Club?
Tim Bezbatchenko – the former Crew president/GM who brought Nancy to Columbus ahead of the glorious 2023 season – is the president of Black Knight FC.
(If there was some kind of "hands-off-Wilfried" clause in Bezbatchenko's exit agreement when he left our fair city nearly two years ago, it was likely nullified once Nancy left for Celtic.)
Bezbatchenko is from Westerville and is a graduate of Columbus-St. Francis DeSales High School (and the University of Richmond, and the University of Cincinnati law school). The Bezbatchenko family has had Crew season tickets since the beginning in 1996.
Bezbatchenko won one MLS Cup while running Toronto FC and two MLS Cups during his five years running the Crew.
There have been on-again, off-again rumors that Bezbatchenko might be returning to Columbus when his current contract with Black Knight reaches term this summer.
Is Bez coming back?
It wouldn't surprise me.
#SaveTheCaps
Ernest Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises creates this exchange between Bill Gorton and Mike Campbell, a pair of oft-inebriated WWI veterans:
"How did you go bankrupt?" Bill asked.
"Two ways," Mike said. "Gradually and then suddenly."
The owners of the Vancouver Whitecaps, CONCACAF Champions Cup and MLS Cup finalists last year, have had the team up for sale for 18 months. Per usual in such chases, the threat of relocation has been linked to the potential sale.
The City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia haven't been asleep all this time. They've been working on the problem gradually, you might say.
Last December, the Whitecaps and the City of Vancouver signed a memorandum of understanding on the potential development of a new stadium and entertainment district in Hastings Park. But at the time of the announcement, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said the process would take "four-plus years," a timeline that apparently isn't quick enough for MLS.
In recent days, MLS commissioner Don Garber has met with British Columbia Premier David Eby to discuss ways in which the Whitecaps could remain in Vancouver. Eby told CBC that the talks were "constructive." The province has offered financial concessions tied to BC Place but has ruled out buying the team.
When news leaked earlier this week that the MLS was actually exploring a Whitecaps relocation to Las Vegas or Phoenix, well, a situation that seemed to be moving along gradually shifted seismically. All at once.
And the #SaveThe Caps movement erupted.
I dropped the paywall when I offered my take on the subject:
Michael Arace
This column got more views - 5K-plus and counting - than any other post I've written since I hung out my shingle here on Sept. 12, 2025.
Two excellent opinion pieces also caught my eye. Support local, independent media. Exclamation point.
First, Matthew Doyle:
Matthew Doyle
Second, Wes Burdine:
Wes
The Las Vegas Review-Journal broke more news Thursday: "An investor group led by businessman Grant Gustavson submitted a bid to Major League Soccer to relocate the Vancouver Whitecaps to Las Vegas."
The Athletic followed up, too.
Two good overviews from either side of the border come from the CBC and the Associated Press (below).
Anne PetersonIf you're from Columbus, or anywhere else, and you were sympatico with those who helped #SavedTheCrew, think about taking a minute to sign the wall at #SaveTheCaps.
My hope for the Vancouver Southsiders and their fellow supporters took a hit after the announcement that a Vegas group led by a billionaire nepo baby was taking a run at relocation. That said, I don't discount the chance to believe that MLS commissioner Don Garber will be able to work his extorsion magic, gouge the city and the province and "find" a way to keep the Caps where they belong, as he did with the Crew and Columbus.
Godspeed, brothers and sisters in Gastown.
Down the stretch they come
Happy Kentucky Derby Day.
I've taken the paywall off my previous post ...
Michael Arace
... so that you can peruse the picks submitted by The Disrespected Horseracing Desk.
I'm putting $2 on the nose of Golden Tempo, but I recommend you pay more heed to Don Davis, The Clanchise and Professor Krafty.
Good luck.
Busy April for the Crew
Although they lost their star striker, Wessam Abou Ali, in a game against Orlando April 12, the Crew had to be encouraged by their April performances. Generally speaking.
The Crew played seven games from April 4 through April 29; that's seven games in 26 days, which is a haul. In MLS play, they went 3-1-1 with nine goals for and five against. The also beat two Tier 3 teams, Richmond and One Knox, and outscored them by a combined 7-1. Signs of life.
The Crew (3-4-1, plus-1 goal differential) open a new month with a home game against the Minnesota Uniteds (5-3-2, minus-3) at Fertilizer Field.
Minnesota's three losses: At Nashville (3-1 March 7), at Vancouver (6-0 March 15) and home against LAFC (1-0 last weekend). The Loons also lost at San Jose (4-2 Wednesday) in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16.
Combined league record of the four teams Minnesota has lost to: 30-5-4.
Yes, the Loons are good. Put a line through the garish loss at Vancouver in March, and they've also got a positive goal diff. An excellent team.
Injury report: Abou Ali (knee surgery) and F Jamal Thiare (lower leg) are out. MF Andre Gomes (lower leg), who has missed the last three games, is questionable.
U.S.O.C: Keep winning, keep home-field advantage
The final draw that maps out the remainder of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament was staged Thursday. This can be said: The Crew are not the Blue Jackets.
Fortune smiled on the Black & Gold.
As long as the Crew keep winning, they will maintain home-field advantage for the remainder of the tournament.
Their next U.S.O.C. game is a quarterfinal against NYCFC at Fertilizer Field on Wednesday, May 20. If they win, they'll move on to the semifinal round, to be staged Sept. 15-16. The opponent will be the winner of the Orlando City-Atlanta United quarter.
And if the Crew win that, the final is in Columbus on Wednesday, October. 21.
The U.S. Open Cup was the first trophy the Crew ever won, in 2002. Brian McBride! They haven't won it since.
A reflective Rudy Camacho
I usually post only the videos I've recorded myself, but as I missed the Friday press availability at One Black And Gold Blvd., I am sharing video that comes courtesy of the Crew. Henrik Rydström is always interesting. The Rudy Camacho Q&A is most excellent. Recommend.
"You have to talk to the coach. You have to respect his ideas. He has to respect your opinion. And we are getting there."
Thanks for reading. If you're enjoying what you see and you are of a mind, click on the link below and leave a tip. If you've yet to subscribe, consider making a small hop over a paywall. It'll help keep local, independent media disrespected. You can follow me @MichaelArace1.bsky.social. Have a nice day.
Click below to leave a tip. Thanks.
Michael Arace
