You know actor Dominic Monaghan as Charlie from Lost or Merry from Lord of the Rings, but he’s also a lifelong Manchester United fan. Today, Monaghan is more well known as the crazy-brave, insect-loving host of Wild Things with Dominic Monaghan on BBC America.
Monaghan joins a long list of A-Listers to take an interest in the club. Dr. Dre received a signed United kit as a 50th birthday present. Also, here’s a link to Ice Cubs and Kevin Hart discussing the Manchester United-Manchester City rivalry. Looks like you can add Will Smith to the expansive list of A-list celebrity United supporters that includes Miley Cyrus and Usain Bolt.
Monaghan recently penned an essay for Paste entitled “Why I Support Man United.”
An excerpt:
The reason why I am a Manchester United fan is, obviously both of my parents are from Manchester. So there wasn’t really any debate about supporting Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal. Chelsea, just because one of the major things that happens in England—I would say that probably 90 to 95 percent of the time you support where you come from. It just happens like that. With success it brings in fans from different parts of the world.
Which I think is why Manchester City fans throw the comment towards Manchester United that no one in Manchester supports Manchester United. But the way I would throw that comment back is, with them being probably the most well-known club in the world, you’re just going to bring in tons of international fans—that’s just how it works.
There is certainly a huge contingent of Manchester United fans in Manchester, which is obviously proven by the almost 79,000 people that go to the game every week. As opposed to Manchester City who fill 50,000 people into the stadium. So, I would just try to put that comment to bed, just because I think it is worthwhile. Trying to nail that to the wall a little bit, because the next thing you’ll get from people is:
“So you’re one of the people that supports the biggest team in the world because it’s easy.” But I think obviously in Manchester, there’s a lot of fans.
Dominic Monaghan has been making all the American soccer talk show rounds lately (ESPN FC “Boot Room,” NBC Sports “Men in Blazers”) to plug his show, and discuss his Man United support.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye. He also appears regularly on numerous television and radio talk shows all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 The Zone.
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