Desk Editor, Abu Dhabi

Besides the pay and benefits, the best reason to work here: Chuck Culpepper is the lead sports columnist for The National in Abu Dhabi.

 

SHUT UP! Seriously? God, I really haven't talked to him in a while, apparently.

 

A hire is forthcoming, I am told. And sadly, it is not me.

 

They have any sports besides soccer there? No booze, that's another downer.

 

Still, I woulda killed for this job. Disappointed to say the least.

 

Cricket, motor sports, tennis, horse racing … lots of stuff like that. F1 has its championship race there. There's a steady flow of exhibitions and big-money golf events. UFC staged an event in the UAE in the last year or two.

And booze aren't an issue – expatriates can get a license to purchase alcohol. The only real catch is that the only places that can serve are located in hotels, though there are enough hotels it's not really a problem.

 

They are hosting a European PGA Tour event this week with a lot of top players.

 

I received a nice e-mail from the Robert Mashburn informing me they had two solid candidates and, sadly, I was not one of them. It sounds like a hire will happen soon. I was pleased to hear back from him because so many times you hear nothing when applying for a job. I'd go in a minute if given the chance, and I'm hoping they add some new sports writers in the future.

 

I received the same email as well. I'd still jump at the chance if an opening ever presented itself.

 

Echo the last two posts.