M-I-C-K-E-Y D-E-R-B-Y

By: Bob | November 15th, 2007

When you think of the Walt Disney Company, you think of good, wholesome, family entertainment. When you think of the English Premier League side Derby, you think of slaughter, nightmares, and horror. At least that is what we have seen from the table bottom dwellers so far this season: one win from thirteen matches, a -26 goal differential, and zero goals scored away from home. Those numbers are scarier than Space Mountain. You could even say they are a Mickey Mouse team. They might even become one.

The word on the street, or at least in the world of newspapers, is that a company headed by billionaire Roy Disney is interested in purchasing Derby. If that turns out to be the case, Derby would become the fourth Premier League team owned by an American, joining Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa.

How would Disney be as an owner of an English Premier League side? The company is no stranger to the sports world. It owns ESPN and it used to own the Anaheim Angels baseball team. It has shown that it is more than willing to spend money on its sports product while also using its sports holdings to promote its theme parks, movies, etc. That could mean some new money for Derby and some new players to help the club stave off relegation and to change its current Mickey Mouse image.

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Category: English Premier League, World Football

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Brian

I can't wait for the inevitable Disney attempt to turn Derby into a feel-good family movie. They've got all the ingredients--scrappy losers who have to pull it all together and win as the ultimate underdogs. The only difference in this case is that they don't win, lose four games by the combined score of 21-0, and fall apart in alienation and despair. Really, Derby are like a Disney movie directed by Antonin Artaud.
Ian

Will we really have much more chance of seeing EPL on ESPN after Derby heads back down to the Championship? I like the idea of Disney having a stake in a football team for the reason of increasing their interest in putting the sport on ESPN, but there's nowhere near the necessary audience demand in the US for Championship football. Maybe a Disney cash injection could be enough to save Derby, but that would have to be a lot of cash. More every day that they wait, the way the currency exchange is moving.
Lucas

That's a very good point on your bright side, Brad. ESPN, for what it's worth, does do nice coverage of Champions League and MLS, and if they own an English side it only increases the chances of someday seeing EPL on early Saturday mornings before College Gameday starts.
Blue Devil Brad

Disney also bought an NHL expansion team, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, to promote the movie D2: The Mighty Ducks. The movie in turn promoted the newly opened Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, the future home of the Ducks.

Two years after Disney sold the team, the new management changed the colors, logo, and name (to the Anaheim Ducks, shedding the "Mickey Mouse" look for something both more intimidating) and the team promptly won the Stanley Cup.

But yeah, I think Matt's got the right point - this would make 4 American owners in the Premier League... for 5 months, until Derby gets shown the door... can we make sure Disney knows this?

Bright side - maybe this'll mean we'll get to see people beat up on Derby on ESPN on a weekly basis?
jz

The name change is somewhat because of the ownership change. Disney bought the team and changed the name from California Angels to Anaheim Angels to advertise Disneyland. The new ownership group wanted to appeal more to the LA crowds so they changed it to LA Angels of Anaheim. I don't think Disney was overly competent during during their stewardship.
Bob

Thanks for the correction, RS. It is hard enough keeping up with the name changes for the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles let alone their ownership.
Matt

Wait, so Disney knows that Derby will be a Premier team until May right....
RS

Not a big deal, but just an FYI: Disney sold the Angels years ago. I think in like 2002 or so.