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The Football Diner Big Interview:
Kevin Cadle
interviewed by Michael E Lawrence
23/10/2007
Sky Sports shows over 125 live NFL games a season, including HD coverage of New York Giants vs Miami Dolphins at Wembley on Sunday.
Kevin Cadle needs no introduction to UK Pro Football fans he is the mellow, besuited host of Sky TV’s live NFL show, the mellifluous East Coast ying to Nick Halling’s straight up blighty yang.
Just back in from a jog (him, not us are you mad?) Kev took time out to talk to the Diner earlier this week, taking in presenting, Wembley, and even motivational speaking, a Cadle sideline, along the way. Affable and relaxed as ever, we figured we’d find Kev was an NBA guy first who also does football on the side.
Au contraire.
We found Kev to be a man who’s ultra passionate about football, and who’s been so ever since he’d make a weekly pilgrimage to watch his hometown Bills as a child. He used to ask for, and get, OJ Simpson’s autograph on a weekly basis, prompting Simpson to comment kid, what do you do with them every week?
Frankly, we respect any man content to raise OJ Simpson’s ire.
A welcome, and on being in the Guiness book of records
 FD
Hi Kev, thanks for dropping in to the Diner. What’ve you been doing this afternoon?
Kev
I’m just coming back in from a run I needed to get out and work out. I haven’t done it for a while I hurt my knee.
FD
Doing what?
Kev
Running actually.
FD
Well, that’s why we like to keep sport as an observational activity here at the Diner. Let’s find out a bit about yourself obviously, you present the Sky NFL show, but you also have a hugely successful past as a UK basketball coach and you’re in the Guiness book of records care to expand?
Kev
Well, we won five trophies in the 1989/1990 season when I was coach of a British Basketball League team here in London it’s the most successful sports season ever in the UK.
FD
Blimey. On your website (www.kevincadle.com) there’s a quote from Bill Walton: I learnt at 15 from John Wooden that your success, achievement in life is based not just on you but on the people around you is this the Cadle ethos?
Kev
Well I think this is the case whether you’re a basketball coach, on a football team, or in the Sky studio. Take Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls he needed people around him to succeed finally. Because he made all of his money off the court, not on it, the Bulls were able to put a competent foursome around him. And it was the case with my basketball teams too, and yeah, at Sky there’s a great team not just Nick and I and the guests, but the people in the gallery, making the show work and all those guys behind the scenes. The only time it’s not true is if you’re playing tennis!
On his favourite sport and it’s not basketball
FD
And talking of basketball, that’s where your grounding is, right? Did you ever get to play football as an athlete growing up in America?
Kev
You know what, I played basketball, and I love basketball, but if I had to pick a sport, it’d be football. Of the two, I’ve actually always preferred it. I grew up in Buffalo, just over the road from where the Bills played. As a kid growing up I’d go and watch OJ Simpson all the time, and I’d get his autograph whenever I saw him. One day he said to me kid you’re here every week and you get my autograph every time, what do you do with them?! The other star Bills at the time were guys like (quarterback) Joe Ferguson and (wide receiver) Ahmad Rashad, I loved to see them play. But me personally, in high school I played a lot of football, then my skill set began to change and I got involved in basketball later on.
On the Sky NFL show, and how it’s changed over the years
FD
How did you get involved in the Sky NFL show?
Kev
I asked a question, and the question was simply: can I do it? It’s as simple as that! Some people, I think, would be too proud to ask, but I really wanted to do it. I was already doing the NBA show, and as I say, I enjoyed football more, and so 8 or 9 years ago now, I started doing the NFL show too. My batteries had burned out with coaching by that point.
FD
Tell us a bit about the Sky show has it evolved much since you first started hosting it?
Kev
Oh it’s truly evolved. Back then there was one game per show, and now we’re doing triple headers, taking e-mails, using the replays in the studio for analysis, we have got loads of studio guests. And the guests we have in are not just former NFL players, but former NFL players who can really represent themselves. There are lots of ex-players out there who’d like to be on TV but just can’t do it.
FD
What about you and Nick now, after all these years you must have a great understanding of what each of you will do in the links?
Kev
Oh yeah. It took a little while, but now it’s just natural, and we can go with the flow. I can give him what I need to give him and vice versa, we have that down.
On what goes on behind the scenes during the show, and preparing to go on air
FD
For the uninitiated, what happens off camera is it all cigars, brandy and newspapers?
Kev
No! Behind the scenes we’re sitting there watching the games just like everybody else. Often we’ll see things we want to talk about in the next link. But it’s pretty relaxed in there, sometimes we’ll sit and eat! I think it’s more intense for the guys in the gallery (from where the show is produced and directed) they’ll have 400 different things going on, and there can be times when I’ve got 7 or 8 voices in my ear and I’ve got to tune certain ones out and decipher the messages that’re important. I think guests new to the show can be startled by that! But overall, it’s fun in there, and we enjoy watching the games as much as viewers.
FD
And what about before the game what happens in terms of preparation?
Kev
Well my deal is I do most of my preparation during the week that’s what’s great about this job, I’m a sports fan, I’m constantly reading about them all week long, and so I keep up to date throughout. That’s why this job is right up my alley. All week I’ll watch film and makes notes, and moreso with the NFL Total Access on Sky now. And then there’s so much information on ESPN.com and the NFL.com site has so much video footage now. Saturday is my chill out day I don’t do anything on Saturday. But then on Sunday I’ll come in, type up those notes and just refresh myself on the teams, the game, what’s relevant. And I pride myself, within UK sports broadcasting, as being a guy who will bring facts to the table, who’ll provide that factual knowledge.
On e-mails not least from the ladeez
FD
You really enjoy the e-mails, any in particular stand out?
Kev
Well, there are some guys who e-mail every week they’ve e-mailed before we’ve even gone on air sometimes! But more than that, it’s great to get e-mails from knowledgeable, passionate female fans who are posing questions and making points. It’s good to know it’s a sport that attracts both sexes.
FD
Ah, we get it. Ever get any offers?
Kev
Uh, no
On Europe’s first ever regular season game, Wembley stadium, October 28th
FD
Ok, the London game we’re guessing you’re pretty excited about it.
Kev
Yeah really excited about it. When we first heard about it in the studio, when we went off camera, we were saying to each other we’ve got to do our part, get our friends there, make sure Wembley’s full and it looks good, we thought it wouldn’t be that well known to the general public. Then the tickets went on sale, and I realised I couldn’t get a ticket! To have half a million people ask for tickets in so short a time was amazing, I was totally impressed. So yes, we’re all excited.
FD
Tell us about the Sky coverage itself and what you’ll be doing on the day
Kev
Well, we go on air at 1 pm. Were kicking off with two episodes of Americas Game, one on the 72 Dolphins and then the 73 Dolphins. The build up will then be from 3pm include lots of previews, analysis, views on both teams and the players plus lots of live coverage of the teams getting ready, introductions, national anthems, coin toss etc.
On predicting the outcome
FD
Give us a prediction the Giants are looking great but the Dolphins
Kev
The Giants should win, because they’re so much improved now. You look at the Patriots, they’ve had that consistency from week 1, but the Giants have had to pick it up, and they’re a different team now compared to the early season. It’s night and day, and they’re getting better and better. Their defense is stronger, and Eli in his fourth year has a finer understanding of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback.
FD
Any players in particular you tip for a big game or a bad game?
Kev
Well, for Miami, Ronnie Brown should have a solid game because I think you can still run on the Giants. On the New York side, Plaxico Burress has been outstanding. You have to watch for Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora who was born in London, and is leading the NFL in sacks both those guys have to be accounted for.
FD
Give us a prediction
Kev
New York 30, Miami 21.
On the big question of an NFL franchise in the UK
FD
We’ve spoken to both Karl Baumann and Neil Reynolds about the possibility of both a) more London games and b) a UK franchise any thoughts?
Kev
Well it’s an interesting concept, a team in London, you always hear it in the NBA as well. There’s the question of travel time LA to London is a long way to go. But equally, I think the idea of regular season games over here once or twice a year is realistic, and from there You see other US sports leagues looking at it too the NBA had the Celtics/Timberwolves exhibition game at the O2 arena, and back in September the NHL actually played its regular season opener here! You had NHL people wondering what was happening, when the season opener is played overseas.
On predictions for the season in general
FD
What about the NFL season as a whole who do you see prospering at the end of the year?
Kev
The cream of the crop in the AFC is New England, as I say, and the Indianapolis Colts – that machine keeps rolling on. They’re very athletic on the defensive side, and offensively, whoever they put in that backfield succeeds, most recently Kenton Keith. Then San Diego they need to stop blaming the new coaching staff, but if they win the West, which I think they will now, once they’re in the playoffs their record won’t matter, because it’s all about when the coin goes up in the air. Win and you advance. To me Pittsburgh is a pretender, not a contender, and Jacksonville just aren’t good enough on offense. In the NFC, I think it’s the two East teams Dallas and the Giants. I think to a degree New York misses Tiki in the short passing game but then again they’ve evolved without him on offense. Green Bay and the teams in the South Carolina, Tampa Bay aren’t strong enough in comparison.
On Kev’s motivational speaking, and his future
FD
Now then, what’s this we read about motivational speaking?
Kev
Well as a coach, you have to learn to motivate your players every day. This always surprised me since these guys have chosen to become athletes. If you’re working in KFC, sure, you might need motivation, but for professional athletes?! Still, I learnt to motivate people, and having motivation working to be the best you can be in whatever sphere is necessary in sports, schools or businesses, and I’ve had the opportunity to do that and I truly enjoy it. In sport, you get an immediate result within 60 minutes or so, but in life you have to find a way to get that motivation longer term, but ultimately in both you’re going to be judged on what your results are. It’s been great to see that impact on people in business, or schoolchildren, to help them be the very best they can be.
FD
Will you come and give Football Diner a pep talk? Sometimes we’re a bit lethargic before lunchtime. We could give you a free all day breakfast
Kev
Uh, I’m kind of busy.
FD
Right. What about the future might we see you broadcasting in the US at some point?
Kev
Well I’m very happy where I’m at. I’ve lived in London for over 15 years now, and I love what I do at Sky. Plus I’ve had the chance to go back to the States through the show when I was in New York recently I got to speak with Harry Carson, Carl Banks, (erstwhile Eagles receiver) Mike Quick, (Giants President) Steve Tisch, even Andy Reid’s wife! It’s a great group of people at Sky and I truly enjoy what I do. Of course if an offer I just couldn’t refuse ever came up
FD
Well, right now there aren’t any vacancies at the Diner, but we’ll keep you posted, we promise. Alright Kev, we’re out of time, it’s been a pleasure speaking with you drop in again soon
Kev
I will do thanks!
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