Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool's would-be owner John W Henry is the shy suitor who wants to court the Kop
The happy couple: John Henry and Linda Pizzuti on their wedding day last year[LNB]While John W Henry has been variously described as shy, somewhat awkward and enigmatic, the most fitting word seems to be successful.[LNB]The man who would be Liverpool's new owner led the group that bought the Red Sox in 2002 for £435million more than twice the highest previous price for a sports team.[LNB]Since that time, according to the Wall Street Journal, the Red Sox have increased in value to an estimated £755m.[LNB]Successful in business and inromance, as witnessed by his courtship and 2009 marriage to LindaPizzuti, 30 years his junior at 31.[LNB]Not only is she beautiful, Lindaholds a masters degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,one of America's most prestigious universities which boasts 75 Nobelprize winners among its alumni. Henry, by contrast, never graduatedfrom college.[LNB]By allaccounts, Henry is anything but eccentric, so it was embarrassing tohave the details of the affair, including e-mails, printed in theBoston media.[LNB]A sample:'Dear Linda. A brief encounter-and-a-half with you gave a cool spin tothis little blue planet from my vantage point. We feted the Celticstonight and the skies opened. The sun emerged and created a giantrainbow between the city and the park. You only saw it if you were inthe right place. I was in the right place when I noticed you. I barelyknow you. I am honest. And I see no reason not to say that I've beensmitten by you. You've very innocently made my world brighter, better,lighter and warmer.'[LNB] Enlarge High life: Henry's Florida mansion[LNB] While pursuing Linda, Henry took her out on his£21m, 164ft yacht, the Iroquois, flew her to Europeand took her on helicopter tours of Manhattan. During the courtship she reportedly realised it hadbeen years since Henry had been in a grocery store.[LNB]Last year the couple married on the Iroquois in Boston Harbour, followed by a lavish reception in the outfield at Fenway Park for 400 guests, with music by Maroon 5. The VIP-studded guest list included Curb Your Enthusiasm star Larry David.[LNB]When he first arrived in Boston,Henry, who was seen as intensely private and a little weird due to hispenchant for tan safari hats, lived on his yacht and tootled around ina Mercedes coupe, but later purchased a £10m, seven-acre estate in theposh suburb of Brookline. He also has a sprawling mansion in theexclusive Florida enclave of Boca Raton.[LNB] Mixing with the fans: Henry with Red Sox supporters[LNB]Beforemeeting Linda, Henry and his pals used to go out on the town just aboutevery night, calling themselves the Cirque du Rire the circus oflaughs. Even now, he stays up until the small hours checking the Asianand European markets.[LNB]'Going to bed before that is like leaving in the fifth inning of a ball game,' he says. Such attention todetail once got him politely bounced out of a Las Vegas casino for counting cards.[LNB]Friends describe him as a warm andgenerous man who mixes easily with the Fenway fans. His other interestsinclude music he plays three instruments and writes songs in hisrecording studio on the Iroquois and computer games he plays in avideo racing league with his employees.[LNB] Friends in high places: Maroon 5 played the music for Henry's wedding, while Larry David was a guest[LNB] Talking of which, Anfield staff had better beware his puckish humour. When new Red Sox president Larry Lucchino grabbed a nap in his office during a hard day, Henry took a photo and posted it on a bulletin board with the caption, 'New Red Sox CEO hard at work.'[LNB]Henry enjoys the high life but he also likes to preserve hisassets. Reportedly, when friends visit him on the Iroquois he asks them to remove their shoes to protect the vessel's teak deck. Then hegives them red socks to wear.[LNB] Liverpool's Red knight John William Henry II tells shamed Tom Hicks and George Gillett: I'll smoke you outHow the man who wants to revive Liverpool turned around the fortunes of another great club in declineLiverpool's prospective new owners New England Sports Ventures vow to wipe out the debt in Anfield takeover bidSo, just who is John William Henry ll... the man set to take control of Liverpool?[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Larry DavidPlaces:Liverpool, Las Vegas, Boston, America, Europe
