1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: He dribbled everyone and then he I think the goalkeepers 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: coming out, but I'm open. I made the run the 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: whole way. I ran my bavy yards with Clint and 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: I'm open in front of goal, and he decided to 5 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: suit it. 6 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 2: But I still it is day. Don't even know that 7 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 2: I knew that you were there. 8 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 3: Greeting folks, and welcome to Inside America in Soccer. I'm 9 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 3: your host, Matt Doyle holding down the fort for Tom Boger. 10 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 3: I'm joined by one of the greatest players in US 11 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 3: soccer history, a veteran of three World Cups, Tab Ramos, 12 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 3: and we are bringing back US soccer legend and Tab's 13 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 3: favorite player and also. 14 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 4: Mine Clinton mathis Cleaytens. Thank you for joining us by friend. 15 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 2: No problem, thanks for having me. 16 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,480 Speaker 4: So on today's show, we're gonna interview Clint. 17 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 3: We're going to talk about his most memorable moments, both 18 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 3: for club and country. 19 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 4: We're gonna talk about his upbringing a little bit. 20 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 3: Came from Conyers, Georgia, outside of Atlanta, not traditionally known 21 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 3: as a hotbed, but he may have paid the way 22 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 3: a little bit. As we see more Southerners breaking into 23 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 3: the top flight, not just in the US but overseas 24 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,480 Speaker 3: as well, highs and lows. Plus we are going to 25 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 3: ask him to name his all time US men's national 26 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 3: team starting eleven tab. Did you slip him the envelope 27 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 3: to make sure that your name is in that eleven? 28 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: I tried, but you know, Clint always goes with the heart, 29 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 1: so I'm sure he's gonna pick whoever he thinks is right. 30 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,400 Speaker 1: And by the way, I'm gonna be totally okay with that. 31 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,880 Speaker 1: It's great. It's just great to have Clint on, you 32 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: know we I've been fortunate enough to sort of end 33 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: my career with Clint be in my roommate for the 34 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: last couple of years, and I truly enjoyed seeing seeing 35 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: his rise into stardom. 36 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:45,319 Speaker 4: You know, not that he. 37 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: Wasn't already a little bit of a start when he 38 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: came to the Metro Stars from LA but I think 39 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: once he joined the New York team and the Metro 40 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: Stars at the time, that's sort of where he really 41 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: took off, absolutely for sure. 42 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 3: So I was gonna say I was gonna transition back 43 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:02,639 Speaker 3: to your up because we'll get into the Metro Stars 44 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 3: bit in a minute. 45 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 4: I just want to talk. 46 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 3: About the fact that you grew up in Conyers, Georgia 47 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 3: in the nineteen eighties. It's a college football hopbed right. 48 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 3: It's not like it's a great basketball area. It's not 49 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 3: a place. 50 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 4: It's not Carneie. It's that where Tap grew up. It's 51 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 4: not out California. 52 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 3: How did you come to the game and how did 53 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 3: you end up being such a complete and technical player 54 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 3: given the standards. 55 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:31,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, so, I mean, I think it's kind of funny. 56 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 2: I have two older brothers and an older sister, so 57 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 2: it goes myself and my sisters five years older. And 58 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 2: then I have an eight and a half year older 59 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 2: brother and a ten year older brother. So I was 60 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:47,679 Speaker 2: definitely the mistake that happened. But that's okay, I don't 61 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 2: mind that. But yeah, being around my older siblings, I 62 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 2: think really just gave me that competitiveness drive and things 63 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 2: of that sort. And you know, my brothers, they were 64 00:02:58,600 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 2: big time wrestlers. 65 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: Uh. 66 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: They also played football, but they also played soccer. Uh. 67 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 2: And then when I would go to their high school games, 68 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 2: I would be the ball boy. So I was around soccer, 69 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 2: I was around all sports. 70 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: Uh. 71 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 2: So I played literally everything, uh, you know under the sun. 72 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 2: Uh as far as kids could play. I mean I 73 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 2: did golf, I did bowling, I did wrestling, I did basketball. Uh, 74 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,360 Speaker 2: they wouldn't let me do soccer, or excuse me, football 75 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 2: because one of my brothers got hurt. So that's the 76 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: one sport I could never be allowed to play. But 77 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 2: there was something fascinating that about soccer that granted you 78 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 2: don't use your hands and then be able to, you know, 79 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 2: do the things that you can do with your feet 80 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: was pretty foreign. Uh you know, I think to a 81 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: lot of people, especially in the South, so it was 82 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 2: one of those things that you know, I'd like to 83 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 2: be indifferent. Uh not many people were doing it. So 84 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 2: I just looked at something like that and really enjoyed it. 85 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 2: So I just continue to play that, and at a 86 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: young age, it was something that kind of clicked with me. 87 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: I still continue to play all the other sports. And 88 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: then I think it was my after my junior year 89 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 2: of high school, I used to play basketball and football, 90 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: and then I decided to just stick with soccer and 91 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: focus on that after my junior year of high school 92 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 2: and everything else took off and told the story itself there. 93 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: Well, I have to say, and I'm not sure how 94 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,799 Speaker 1: you did that, But you just mentioned that you continue 95 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: to play basketball for a little while. But you know, 96 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 1: I'm sure you remember at Keene University we had the 97 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: basketball court that you know, before the coaches arrived. Everybody 98 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: used to go in and play. And I want to 99 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 1: say that I played, and although I wasn't a terrible 100 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 1: basketball player, I could play. But to be able to 101 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: see how you played basketball and how Tim Howard played 102 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: basketball was certainly a different level. And I have to say, 103 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: you know, and sometimes I I say this about Tony 104 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: Meola sometimes too. There's just certain guys that are just 105 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 1: great at every sport, and Clint happens to be one 106 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: of those. 107 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 3: Well, thank you Tap when you when you met Clint 108 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 3: right after that trade from the Galaxy to the Metro Stars. 109 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 3: And for those who aren't aware, it was a really convoluted, 110 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 3: very early MLS trade, one where there were deals made 111 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 3: in dark rooms by people nobody knows, and that's how 112 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 3: Clint ended up with the Metro Stars and kind of 113 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 3: saved helped save a franchise that had been in the 114 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 3: doulgrums for a year. 115 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 4: But Tab, what was your impression of him? 116 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 3: Because you knew he was an attacking player, but then 117 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 3: he comes and you see how versatile he is and 118 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 3: how skillful he is, and was it just instantly like, oh, 119 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,359 Speaker 3: I have a kindred spirit now on the field with me. 120 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,600 Speaker 1: Well, at first, I think I had a little bit 121 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: of that arrogance that we all seemed to have, you know, 122 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: in New Jersey as part of everyday life, right, which is, okay, 123 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 1: so we're getting some player from la who's from Georgia. 124 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 4: Why do I care? Really? 125 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: You know, like that? And then and then you realize 126 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:11,719 Speaker 1: the ability, right, And then you realize why not only 127 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 1: the ability, but then you realized his way to connect 128 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: with people, and you realize the charisma that Clint had 129 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: immediately when he walked into a room. You know. Not 130 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 1: everybody's like this, you know. I think Clint had a 131 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 1: lot of special qualities like that were automatically when you 132 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: walked into locker room. He was just very well liked. 133 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: And I think that's something that at the time. We 134 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,039 Speaker 1: were building a nice team at the time, if you 135 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,839 Speaker 1: know Clint, if you remember the year two thousand, I 136 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 1: think we had the best team in the league. We 137 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 1: happened not to win that year, but I think we 138 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: we actually should have won MLS Cup. I think that's 139 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 1: the year that Kansas City won and we've got knocked 140 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: out by Chicago. But my point was we were building 141 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:54,839 Speaker 1: something good at the time, and I think Clint, one 142 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 1: of was one of those pieces that became the glue 143 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: between sort of the American and the foreign players. We 144 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: had Lotha Mittea's, we had, you know, we had some big, 145 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: superstar guys, but I think Clint's charisma match with its 146 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: talent was the glue that kind of brought that team together. 147 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, that was a special team. I mean, like you said, 148 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: you brought up Lothar, I got to play a little 149 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 2: bit closer between Tab and Adolpho Valencia, who was an 150 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 2: unbelievable player. So you know that means a lot saying that. 151 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 2: You know, I was that glue there. But I mean, 152 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 2: I think all these teams have these little pieces that 153 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 2: are needed, and Tad was right that that team was 154 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 2: being a team that was a good team being built. 155 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 2: Uh And if I was the last piece to come 156 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 2: in there, I was happy to be that piece because 157 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 2: it was a it was a great transition and to 158 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 2: see how how good that team really was. Obviously going 159 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 2: up against a team like Chicago, which was a great 160 00:07:56,040 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 2: team first year franchise and had these unbelievable Europea on 161 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 2: players or whatever. So you know, Bob Bradley did a 162 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 2: good team, good job building that team as well, but 163 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 2: I definitely think we had the best team and we 164 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 2: were the team to watch out for, especially that year. 165 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 3: I remember you you kind of hit that hit that 166 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 3: team like a thunderbolt when you arrived. It was every 167 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 3: week you were scoring, You were assistant, and you're kind 168 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 3: of the skeleton key that ended up unlocking a lot 169 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 3: of the attacking stuff that you early. 170 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 4: In the season. 171 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 3: I think everybody had seen it, but there was just 172 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 3: that one centerpiece missing, and that's the role you kind 173 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 3: of played, Clint, and I guess the the the high 174 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,199 Speaker 3: point of all that was it was a hot summer 175 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 3: night in Dallas in August of two thousand and you 176 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 3: went out and you said an MLS record scoring five goals, 177 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 3: and Table course was on the field with you that night, 178 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 3: and it just kind of all came together for you 179 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 3: and and for the MetroStars on that day. 180 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, Sony is you know, every once in a while 181 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 2: when this kid's asked, I like telling the story because 182 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: I think it's a good life lesson too, whether it's 183 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 2: kids or anybody that is listening or watching or whatnot. 184 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 2: But you would think that everything was just going in 185 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 2: my favor that day. But at the beginning, it's hot, 186 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 2: it's muggy, everything like that. And I think I took 187 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 2: six shots that game. I could be wrong, but you 188 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 2: can ask the statistician stattician. But the very first shot, 189 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 2: I think I might have hurt the popcorn guy really 190 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 2: bad because it was so far away from goal in 191 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 2: the stand somewhere. And you know, the lesson learned there is, 192 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,079 Speaker 2: don't worry about what happened. Worry about the next play 193 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:47,959 Speaker 2: because you can't do anything about what just happened. And 194 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 2: literally everything just laid in place. In the next five attempts, 195 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 2: I put it goal, We're in the back of the net. 196 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 2: And to add to that story, I think we were winning. 197 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 2: It was either three nothing or three. I think it 198 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 2: might have been three to one in the locker room, 199 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 2: and everybody was happy. I just had a hat trick, 200 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 2: so I'm happy. Everything's going good. And then all of 201 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 2: a sudden we come out and Dallas scores three goals. 202 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 2: We're losing four to three, and I am absolutely just livid, 203 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 2: and I'm screaming about the defense. I think I was 204 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 2: yelling at Mike Pecky at one time. I was like, 205 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 2: get this crap together, what are we doing? And then 206 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 2: you know, I was able to go in and score 207 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 2: two more to put us up five to four. And 208 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 2: then these guys were literally trying to kill me, so 209 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 2: I asked the coach, hey, we only got a few 210 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 2: more minutes left due these guys are going to be 211 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:43,319 Speaker 2: breaking my legs. Soon crowd was booing me and everything, 212 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 2: so I was able to get out of their unscathed. 213 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 2: And then I think at Dulphos scored a six goal 214 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:51,439 Speaker 2: for us to win six to four. So one of 215 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 2: those games that I won't forget. It's pretty cool to 216 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 2: be able to do that. Not many people can say 217 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 2: that they scored five goals in a game, so I'll 218 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 2: take that. But the most important thing was getting the 219 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,080 Speaker 2: win out of there, and to this day I think 220 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 2: that rosewell or excuse me, the Cotton Bowl is probably 221 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 2: one of my favorite places to play, even though nobody 222 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 2: gets to play there too much anymore. 223 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, you know, it's easy to define it as 224 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: your favorite when you scored five goals, right, Dallas. 225 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 2: Has always been my favorite team to play because I 226 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 2: think that year we played them like three times because 227 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 2: we would play them in the playoffs or whatever happened. 228 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 2: But I think we played them three times that year, 229 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 2: and I think I scored ten goals on them that season. 230 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 2: So they're my favorite team to play. That's why I 231 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 2: like the Cotton Bowl as well. 232 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: No, and by the way, Matt You's saying that night 233 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: in Dallas, we wish it was that night in Dallas. 234 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:47,959 Speaker 1: It was actually it was actually like before in the afternoon, 235 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 1: ae hundred degree weather day at the Cotton Bowl. 236 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, so what was extremely the whistle blue and the 237 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 2: game was over the. 238 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,839 Speaker 1: Exactly hey for me, For me to be honest, I 239 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: think I played the whole game, but I think it 240 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 1: was night. Right around the twenty fifth minutes. 241 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 2: Her eyes were closed. 242 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, Aleck, Clint do all the heavy lifted on that one. 243 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 4: But then it came back to buy. 244 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 3: You a year later, Tab But when Clint scored the 245 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 3: two thousand and one goal of the year for the 246 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 3: Metro Stars on a terrible field and Clint chose not 247 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 3: to pass to you instead, are you bitter about that now? 248 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 4: Twenty five years later, do you think he made the 249 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 4: right show? 250 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 1: No, you know, I'm trying to figure out how you 251 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,080 Speaker 1: found that out. You must have read that somewhere, because 252 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 1: I know that Clint dribbled everybody, like down the whole field, right, 253 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,559 Speaker 1: that's the goal. It was that. It was that giant stadium. 254 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,559 Speaker 1: He dribbled everyone and then he I think the goalkeepers 255 00:12:45,559 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: coming out, but I'm open. I made the run the 256 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: whole way. I ran like eighty yards with Clint and 257 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,040 Speaker 1: I'm open in front of goal, and he decided to 258 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 1: shoot it. 259 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 2: But I still do the state don't even know that 260 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 2: I knew that you were there, because I guess because 261 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:01,959 Speaker 2: people were like, well would you even want to dribble 262 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 2: that far? When you have you look up and you 263 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 2: see two or three people in front of you. If 264 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 2: I remember it directly, we actually had someone ejected, so 265 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 2: I think we were down a man, I could be. 266 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 2: And then we had a corner kick and so that 267 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 2: I was at the top of the box and the 268 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 2: ball came out, and so I was there with the 269 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:21,319 Speaker 2: ball and I was like, well, I have no one 270 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:23,199 Speaker 2: to kick it up to because we're down to man. 271 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 2: So I just took off dribbling, and I was like, 272 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 2: I'm just going to keep going right. 273 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 3: It was a cow pasture, it was not a field 274 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 3: that was in the best condition. But you scored that 275 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 3: one and then you turned your jersey around in celebration, 276 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,560 Speaker 3: you showed your your last name to the crowd. 277 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,240 Speaker 4: It was I mean, there was. 278 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 3: A there was a sort of a magical, almost rockstar 279 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 3: type of thing to it right there. And was that 280 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 3: your mindset in those days, like Okay, let's let's put 281 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 3: on a show. 282 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 4: Let's make sure these people are So it. 283 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 2: Was definitely different on the field than I was off. 284 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 2: I was definitely more mellow off the field. I always 285 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 2: tell everybody that once you cross that line, I'll tackle 286 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 2: my mother if she's on the other team, but I'll 287 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 2: pick her up and take her for a beer after 288 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 2: the game. And that's the way I was, or tried 289 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 2: to be with everybody. You know throughout the league. You 290 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 2: know you're my enemy when we're playing against each other. 291 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,720 Speaker 2: It's about going out doing what I need to take, 292 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 2: you know, nothing like dirty or anything like that, per se, 293 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 2: but try to get the job done. So I was 294 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 2: very an emotional type of player, very energetic type of players. 295 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 2: So I like to talk smack, I'd like to get 296 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 2: crowd involved, or most of the time the crowd was 297 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 2: booing me or whatever, you know, I would say something 298 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 2: back to him. So I was one of those guys, 299 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 2: but definitely different on the field wearing that jersey than 300 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 2: I was off the field, for sure. 301 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: And you know, and I think that's why the crowd 302 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: identified so much with Clint because of you know, at 303 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: the time. I'm not sure, Matt, if you were I 304 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 1: guess you might have been a fan of the time 305 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 1: right if you're in the area. But you know, the 306 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: crowd absolutely loved Clint and loved his commitment on the field. 307 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 1: I mean, although I mean you can tell by his 308 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 1: demeanor what he's like off the field. He was always 309 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,240 Speaker 1: this way. He didn't just become this way now. 310 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 4: On the field. 311 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,480 Speaker 1: He had no friends, and I think that's what that's 312 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 1: what the fans in this area really identify with, with 313 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: the guys that go on the field to just do 314 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: anything to win and don't care about having friends. And 315 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: I think that's why there was that immediate connection with 316 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: the crowd. 317 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 4: I still don't have the connection with the crowd, and 318 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 4: then not sure, you gotta at least do Clint I 319 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 4: promise that connection with the crowd. 320 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 3: And of course the way you played in two thousand 321 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 3: opened up doors to the national team, and you ended 322 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 3: up being one of the faces of the national team 323 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 3: for the two thousand and two World Cup, even coming 324 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 3: off of devastating injury. And then you don't start the 325 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 3: first game, but the second game of the group stage 326 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 3: you started in South Korea against the host nation and 327 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 3: you stood on the field for the national anthem, that 328 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 3: big flag behind you. 329 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 4: What what was that feeling like for you? 330 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 2: It's one of the best feelings ever, I mean, especially 331 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 2: how it ended up turning out. It's a game I'll 332 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 2: never forget, just the way that everything played out, playing 333 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 2: the you know, it was the first time that it 334 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 2: was hosted by two countries, Japan and South Korea, but 335 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 2: playing the host country in their city in Seoul, being 336 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 2: able to go and play against them. You look around 337 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 2: at that time for people that don't know, that was 338 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 2: called the Red Sea because they would all wear their 339 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 2: red jerseys out in the city and everything and had 340 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 2: literally looked like red water flowing through the cities because 341 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 2: there were so many people. But I remember back in 342 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 2: those games you couldn't hear anything. I mean even if 343 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 2: we were, you know, pretty much standing next to each other, 344 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 2: it was hard to hear each other. And it was 345 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 2: a loud game. The South Koreans were like robots, running 346 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 2: their tails off and then being able to get that 347 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 2: unbelievable ball from John O'Brien to lay down and be 348 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 2: able to take that first touch and finish the second 349 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,919 Speaker 2: one was like the biggest sigh of relief. If you 350 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:19,680 Speaker 2: go back and watch that after a score and I 351 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 2: run to the corner flag, you see like Brian McBride 352 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,720 Speaker 2: hugging me, and then I think Claudio puts his arms 353 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,240 Speaker 2: around us, and Claudia is like, just stay here in 354 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:30,800 Speaker 2: the corner, stay here in the corner so we could 355 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 2: all get our breath back, because you know, the South 356 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 2: Koreans they were crazy fit and running everywhere. But the 357 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 2: one thing I remember the most is, and I tell 358 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 2: this to people all the time, how they always ask, 359 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 2: how is it you know, to feel where eighty thousand 360 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 2: people are cheering for you? I mean, what is that feeling? 361 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:50,840 Speaker 2: And I was like, well, that feeling's good, but a 362 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 2: better feeling is having eighty thousand people root against you 363 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,120 Speaker 2: and shutting every single one of them up. And that's 364 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 2: what happened in South Korea. I mean, we had probably 365 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,240 Speaker 2: a few hundred people at the game, whether it be family, friends, 366 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:06,439 Speaker 2: you know, fans or whatever, on the far other end 367 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 2: of the corner, and that's all you could hear. I mean, 368 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 2: you could literally almost hear a pin drop in that 369 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 2: stadium of how quiet it got. And you know, that's 370 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 2: a feeling I'll never forget till the day I die. 371 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 3: That goal against South Korea in the World Cup. That 372 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 3: had to be your best moment in the US Jersey 373 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 3: or was there another one that stands out for you? 374 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 2: No, for sure, That's definitely the best moment. I mean, 375 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 2: I just think the build up, the situation ends up 376 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,359 Speaker 2: so happening we lose that game or the next game, 377 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 2: because we tied that one, so we beat Portugal, tied 378 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 2: that game. That goal actually gets us through just because 379 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:49,639 Speaker 2: of the points that we had because Portugal ended up 380 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 2: losing to South Korea. So South Korea helped us out 381 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:54,440 Speaker 2: to get through that. But you know, if you take 382 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 2: all that into account, to be able to score that 383 00:18:56,520 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 2: goal against the host country and be able to put 384 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 2: us through out of that group, stage. That's definitely the 385 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 2: best goal of my national team career for sure. 386 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:08,160 Speaker 4: Tad. 387 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,520 Speaker 3: How did it feel for you to be watching that 388 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 3: one or to see it on highlights because it happened 389 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:14,199 Speaker 3: at about three am the journey. 390 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 1: No, No, it was amazing, truly amazing, and more importantly 391 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 1: because I knew Clint the person, you know, and I 392 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: knew where he was coming from, and I knew when 393 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: he celebrated a certain way, how he felt. You know, 394 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: I really felt like I identified with Clint and how he 395 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: felt in the game, and so I always had a 396 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: strong connection with Clint that way, and it was really 397 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: special to me to see him score and not load 398 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: to what Clint was saying about, you know, standing there 399 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 1: for the national anthem. You know, sometimes when you become 400 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,560 Speaker 1: a longtime national team player, you know there are many 401 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,040 Speaker 1: times when you walk on the field and you have 402 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 1: the opportunity to listen to your national anthem. But sometimes 403 00:19:57,920 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 1: you get caught up and we have to win this game. 404 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: We need two points here, we need a point there, 405 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: we need three points here, right, and you seem to 406 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:07,360 Speaker 1: forget really where you are, who you are, and who 407 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: you're representing. You're just at the end of the day, 408 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,920 Speaker 1: just playing a game. But I have to tell you this, 409 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: the World Cup is always different. You know, when you're 410 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 1: listening to your national anthem at the World Cup, there's 411 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:20,880 Speaker 1: a special feeling that is different than any other game. 412 00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 1: You know, the whole world is watching, and you know 413 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: you're fortunate enough, regardless of how good someone is, or 414 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:29,560 Speaker 1: how good you are, or how good the next guy is, 415 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: that you're so fortunate to be one of eleven people 416 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: representing your whole country and that that truly is special. 417 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,919 Speaker 3: You guys follow that up the group stage with a 418 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,400 Speaker 3: most famous performance in recent US national teams I think 419 00:20:44,440 --> 00:20:49,120 Speaker 3: maybe ever the two nil win the Delsa Sero over Mexico. Now, 420 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 3: you didn't feature in that one, but I imagine the 421 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 3: celebration in the locker room afterwards must have been legendary. 422 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 2: Clinton amazing. Obviously there's no blood lost between that rivalry 423 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 2: and it continues to happen uh nowadays. Being part of 424 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 2: that first Dosi Cetro and Columbus, Uh, that really kind 425 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 2: of started this whole trend type hathing the pasmer that 426 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:23,680 Speaker 2: exactly and so and getting subbed into that because Josh 427 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:26,679 Speaker 2: goes in and that game to rewind. It's just funny 428 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 2: how things pan out and how I think God looks 429 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 2: after you and paves a way for you. But Brian 430 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 2: gets his face smashed in, so Josh goes in, and 431 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 2: then I think Claudio gets hurt, so then I sub in, 432 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 2: and then guess what starts the dosi cetto there uh 433 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 2: with Mexico. But yeah, that game at the World Cup, 434 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 2: you know, just watching from the sideline, but just literally itching, 435 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:53,919 Speaker 2: wanting to get in because of everything that's going on 436 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 2: with the you know, Marquez foul against Kobe and just 437 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,679 Speaker 2: multiple things have happening, so you know, a lot of 438 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 2: bad blood between those I think especially it might not 439 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 2: happen as much today. I'm not sure, but you know, 440 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:11,760 Speaker 2: those were just some battles against that era of Mexican 441 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 2: players and US players. And then the funny thing is is, yeah, 442 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:19,440 Speaker 2: there was a celebration after not only to be able 443 00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:22,439 Speaker 2: to win that second round match, but also do it 444 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 2: against a team like Mexico, which everybody would always say, hey, yeah, 445 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 2: Mexico is better. I think it my stint. I don't 446 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 2: think in the games that I've played that ever lost 447 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:35,360 Speaker 2: against Mexico. I didn't get to play in the one 448 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,199 Speaker 2: where we played it as Teca, I think I was 449 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 2: injured or I was out that game for some reason. 450 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 2: But all the other games never lost to Mexico, And yeah, 451 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 2: just to have that feeling to beat them at a 452 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 2: World Cup on that world stage was amazing. And then 453 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 2: you know, we may or may not have had some 454 00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:58,280 Speaker 2: beers ready for us after the game. But the funniest 455 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:01,440 Speaker 2: part about the story is after the game, you see 456 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 2: all them walk out. They got their wives and their 457 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 2: nice purses and everything like that and kids, and you know, 458 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 2: we're just sitting there hanging out, you know, waiting to 459 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:13,720 Speaker 2: get on our bus. They take off and then we 460 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,719 Speaker 2: get in our bus, have our beer on the bus, 461 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 2: and then as we're driving, you see a bus that's 462 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:21,679 Speaker 2: pulled over on the side of the road. And we 463 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:25,000 Speaker 2: had our caravan of all the security that was going 464 00:23:25,040 --> 00:23:28,359 Speaker 2: on with Osama bin Laden and everything. So we had 465 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 2: all kinds of military police and everything with us, because 466 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 2: everybody thought that the US team was going to get 467 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 2: killed somehow. And so we're going by and it happens 468 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,119 Speaker 2: to be the Mexico bus that was pulled over the 469 00:23:40,160 --> 00:23:43,360 Speaker 2: sidelines or on the side of the road. And then 470 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:45,800 Speaker 2: We're all hanging out the windows with our beers, just 471 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:48,679 Speaker 2: started cheering like crazy as we're passing the bus. So 472 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 2: it was an awesome feeling. It just so happened that 473 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 2: it worked out that way. But I guess the plan's 474 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,359 Speaker 2: always written how it's supposed to. That was a fun 475 00:23:58,400 --> 00:23:59,919 Speaker 2: celebration for sure. 476 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:05,959 Speaker 3: After that victory and the next game, the famous Torsten 477 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:09,640 Speaker 3: Frings handball on the line. If there was var back 478 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 3: in the day, that one probably would have been a 479 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 3: lot different. Do you believe that you guys would have 480 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 3: won if that penalty had been awarded? 481 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:20,240 Speaker 2: I think so. I mean I think it would have 482 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,479 Speaker 2: been a game changer. I mean what a lot of people. 483 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:24,720 Speaker 2: I mean, maybe not a lot of people, but it 484 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 2: always talks about it comes up with a handball of 485 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,360 Speaker 2: this and that. Do I think that we would have won? 486 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:34,800 Speaker 2: You never know, because I think that what people miss 487 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:38,960 Speaker 2: a lot is probably the best player on that field 488 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:44,040 Speaker 2: was Oliver Kahan. Ye, the guy absolutely had a blinder. 489 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 2: It wasn't just that. I mean, we had some really 490 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,200 Speaker 2: really good chances and he came up with some unbelievable saves. 491 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 2: Would that have been another one that he came up 492 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 2: with We'll never know, but I definitely think that that 493 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,400 Speaker 2: could have been the straw to break the camel's back, 494 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:02,160 Speaker 2: is if that is called and then they're already saying 495 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 2: or already thinking that, Hey, the US is all over 496 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,640 Speaker 2: us right now, Oliver is really the only one that's 497 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 2: saving us. We get that penalty, we get that goal. 498 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 2: I definitely think it changes the mood of that team 499 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:18,439 Speaker 2: and builds that confidence in the US to where you 500 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 2: could see a win. And then we win that game, 501 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:25,159 Speaker 2: We're back at playing South Korea again in the semi 502 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 2: finals of a World Cup and who would have thought 503 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 2: that the US or South Korea would end up being 504 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 2: in the finals. So that would have been a fun 505 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 2: little story to read about if that happened. But then again, 506 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 2: I believe everything happens for a reason, and it just 507 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:42,920 Speaker 2: wasn't our time to go further. 508 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 1: And again the pressure is off, right because you know, 509 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,960 Speaker 1: against Germany, not expected to win, US is the underdog 510 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 1: and play and lose almost wins the game, And who 511 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: knows what would have happened on the next one, because 512 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: it would have been the same, right, All the pressure 513 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:57,960 Speaker 1: would have been on the South Koreans if that was 514 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:01,840 Speaker 1: going to be the the the and with no pressure on. 515 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 1: We've always been a team to fear. 516 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 4: Yeah. 517 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,760 Speaker 3: Absolutely, just hope that we see some of that. Let's 518 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 3: hope that we see some of that this summer at 519 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 3: the World Cup for the US team, who of course 520 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:14,880 Speaker 3: will be under some pressure, but for us, it's time 521 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,800 Speaker 3: for a break up. Next, we'll ask Clint about a 522 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,719 Speaker 3: current player that reminds him of himself. We'll ask him 523 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 3: about his rockstar persona as described by Ryan Dunsath back 524 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 3: in the day. 525 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 4: And in the meantime, we're going to. 526 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:28,920 Speaker 3: Ask you to please rate, review, and subscribe to Inside 527 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 3: American Soccer with Tom Boger and Tam Ramos wherever you 528 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 3: get your podcasts. Okay, folks, welcome back to Inside American Soccer. 529 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 3: I'm Mettal hosting for Tom Boger. I'm joined, of course 530 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:54,359 Speaker 3: by Tom Ramos, and we're joined by Clint Mathis, the 531 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 3: guy who took the Metro Stars by storm back in 532 00:26:57,280 --> 00:27:00,359 Speaker 3: two thousand and then became something of our rock star. 533 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:04,400 Speaker 3: As for our good friend Brian dun Seth who described 534 00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 3: going to the clubs with you back in the day, Clinton. 535 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,960 Speaker 2: I don't know what he was talking about. Yeah, I 536 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:16,600 Speaker 2: pleaded the fifth. Nah, No, I was. I definitely enjoyed. 537 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:19,640 Speaker 2: I mean, that's I think what caused a lot of drama. 538 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:23,440 Speaker 2: You know throughout my career is going out and doing 539 00:27:23,520 --> 00:27:27,760 Speaker 2: things that not the normal guy did. But at that time, 540 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 2: you know, I was in New York, a small a 541 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 2: small town Conyers where I grew up, moved to LA 542 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:38,119 Speaker 2: and then moved to New York City. So I was 543 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 2: fortunate enough to meet a lot of influential people that 544 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 2: allowed me to get to meet some really cool, famous 545 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 2: people that I would never normally get to meet, especially 546 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:53,639 Speaker 2: in Conyers unless it was the local bull rider or something. 547 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:57,960 Speaker 2: I don't know, but uh yeah, No, I enjoyed myself. 548 00:27:57,960 --> 00:28:02,879 Speaker 2: But I think that that's what really allowed me to 549 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:05,800 Speaker 2: just be that person that was free going out on 550 00:28:05,840 --> 00:28:07,879 Speaker 2: the field. Was it the best where I could have 551 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 2: the longevity of my career or anything like that, especially 552 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:12,919 Speaker 2: how you need to take care of your body and stuff. 553 00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:18,680 Speaker 2: Absolutely not. Would I change anything, Probably not, because that 554 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:20,679 Speaker 2: just gave me that freedom to say, Hey, I go 555 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 2: out and work hard, and I go and do my job. 556 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:25,879 Speaker 2: I do everything that I need to do on the field. 557 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:28,160 Speaker 2: I should be able to get to enjoy it. Off 558 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 2: the field as well, So maybe I shouldn't have done 559 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 2: it as much, But you know, you live life and 560 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:38,360 Speaker 2: you learn from life, and no, I definitely enjoyed, enjoyed 561 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:41,560 Speaker 2: myself and maybe did have this rock star persona. I 562 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 2: think at one point somebody called me the Dennis Rodman 563 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 2: of soccer. I don't know if I would go that far. 564 00:28:49,600 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 2: Was it like I was doing drugs or anything like that, 565 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 2: But I did like to have fun and go out. 566 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 2: Never did it the night before a game or day 567 00:28:57,920 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 2: before a game or anything like that. At least I 568 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 2: gave myself the day when I can't promise you on 569 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 2: two days before. 570 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 3: Is there a carrier part of the persona, I guess 571 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 3: is the confidence in the swagger that you carried yourself 572 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 3: with on the field. And Taba said, like, there's a 573 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,640 Speaker 3: difference between Clint on the field and Clint off the 574 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 3: field in terms of how open and so like. 575 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 4: Even in the midst. 576 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 3: Of enjoying yourself in the way that you so eloquently 577 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:30,840 Speaker 3: just described, you were kind of a killer once you 578 00:29:30,880 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 3: got in between the white lines. And is there a 579 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 3: player that reminds you of yourself in that way you 580 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 3: see them playing? You're like, Oh, that's kind of like me. 581 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,120 Speaker 2: Oh, that's kind of tough to say. I mean a 582 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 2: lot of these guys I don't know personally because I 583 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 2: mean I'm not around them or anything like that. That 584 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:52,720 Speaker 2: might be one we have to stick on a stick 585 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,400 Speaker 2: in a pin, stick a pin in it just for 586 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 2: a second and let me think as we're talking a 587 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:00,920 Speaker 2: little bit more. But there's a a couple guys that 588 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 2: you know, might come to mind that it was pretty 589 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 2: much like a f off type of guy that I 590 00:30:07,560 --> 00:30:11,040 Speaker 2: think people would pretty much call me is because you know, 591 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 2: I was that guy that literally went out there to 592 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:15,920 Speaker 2: just try to win. I mean, that's what I was 593 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:18,719 Speaker 2: getting paid to do. That's what people care about. They 594 00:30:18,760 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 2: don't care how pretty I look at doing things, and 595 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:23,400 Speaker 2: maybe some people do nowadays. But at the end of 596 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:26,800 Speaker 2: the day, and I think I learned that and maybe 597 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:29,960 Speaker 2: got a little harder spot on my heart playing in 598 00:30:30,040 --> 00:30:32,959 Speaker 2: New York is because that's really all they care about. 599 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:36,280 Speaker 2: You know, I can go out and hit five thousand 600 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:40,440 Speaker 2: home runs or score eighty goals in a season, but 601 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:43,480 Speaker 2: if I'm not winning games, they don't care. They might 602 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 2: be like, oh, yeah, the rest of the team sucks 603 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:49,680 Speaker 2: and Clint's great, but that's not the case. They want winners. 604 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 2: And you know, I learned that a lot, you know, 605 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 2: going in the New York area and realizing that I 606 00:30:56,120 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 2: was just a small fish in a huge pond and 607 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:01,479 Speaker 2: to go out there, and you know, if you're going 608 00:31:01,520 --> 00:31:05,160 Speaker 2: to put a stamp on something and have to make 609 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 2: yourself notice, you got to go out there and you 610 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 2: got to win. And it's about doing what you can 611 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 2: and everything in your ability to go out there and win. 612 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 2: And once you become a winner in that type of area, 613 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 2: in that New York area, you know you're going to 614 00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:18,840 Speaker 2: be beloved. 615 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:22,480 Speaker 1: And you know if I you know, that's a great question, Matt, 616 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:25,600 Speaker 1: because it's hard to it's hard to actually ask Clint. 617 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:28,160 Speaker 1: You know, is there a player that particularly reminds you 618 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: of you? Right, because it's hard to find it from 619 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:34,080 Speaker 1: you know, from my end, I can tell you that 620 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:37,719 Speaker 1: I know the American pool pretty well of players. And 621 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 1: if I had to compare somebody to Clint, I would 622 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:44,240 Speaker 1: have to I would have to say a combination of players, right, 623 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 1: So I would have to say, for example, the skill 624 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:51,760 Speaker 1: the skill of like like Christian Pulisic with with the 625 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 1: mentality of like a luna with the speed of like 626 00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 1: a ballaguan, where so I'd have to come up with 627 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:00,720 Speaker 1: like a bunch of things that would make it into 628 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: one in order to match that. 629 00:32:04,080 --> 00:32:07,800 Speaker 3: And he a multi talented player was Clint math Is 630 00:32:08,400 --> 00:32:11,680 Speaker 3: and a guy who who learned some I guess tough 631 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 3: lessons based upon what you were saying in terms of 632 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 3: like getting that hardness on your heart from playing in 633 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:22,240 Speaker 3: New York. Is there a lesson that you learned while 634 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:25,840 Speaker 3: wearing a US jersey that has stuck with you over 635 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 3: the years. 636 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:29,320 Speaker 2: I mean, just I mean you got to enjoy it 637 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:33,360 Speaker 2: while you got it. I think my national team career 638 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:38,560 Speaker 2: was cut a little short from internal things that we 639 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:43,880 Speaker 2: could talk about, but it's not really worth it. I 640 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 2: don't think it was due to you know, playing ability 641 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:49,760 Speaker 2: or anything like that. I think it was you know, 642 00:32:49,840 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 2: personnel and things of that sort, which I think people 643 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 2: hears down the road later realized that a mistake was made. 644 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 2: But yeah, my career ended pretty early with the national team. 645 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:06,560 Speaker 2: It was in two thousand and five. Also happened when 646 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 2: I came back from Germany to play in Salt Lake, 647 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:13,280 Speaker 2: which was not a good situation the first season, so 648 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 2: there was a lot of things that happened there. So 649 00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 2: I think with the national team, just enjoy it. Why 650 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:20,160 Speaker 2: you got it. You don't know when it's going to 651 00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:24,120 Speaker 2: be taken away for you from you. In the professional world, 652 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:26,440 Speaker 2: people think that the players have all to say so 653 00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:30,560 Speaker 2: or anything like that, but it's not the case. You know, 654 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:34,040 Speaker 2: you look at so many soccer players careers go in 655 00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:37,280 Speaker 2: a different direction because they don't mesh with a coach 656 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 2: or he's not and their plans or that coach brings 657 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:43,440 Speaker 2: in their players that they're loyaled. You don't know what's 658 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 2: happening behind those closed doors, So enjoy every minute to 659 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 2: be able to represent your country, like tab said, to 660 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:52,800 Speaker 2: be one of those eleven guys out on the field 661 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 2: with your hand over your heart, plan for a country 662 00:33:56,560 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 2: like the flag you know behind me, and just say, hey, 663 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:04,640 Speaker 2: this is something special. Nobody cares about the other stuff. Yeah, 664 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 2: how many Instagram clicks or whatever the crap they call nowadays. 665 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:12,920 Speaker 2: I have no idea, But it's not about that. It's 666 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:17,560 Speaker 2: about representing your country and knowing that you're doing something 667 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:20,719 Speaker 2: special and it's going to be something that you'll never forget, 668 00:34:20,920 --> 00:34:23,680 Speaker 2: you know, the rest of your life. As an individual. 669 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 2: Other people might forget it, but that's something special that 670 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:30,080 Speaker 2: nobody can give you and nobody can take away from you. 671 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:33,239 Speaker 1: And that's a really good point about the national team. 672 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:36,160 Speaker 1: So you know, just you know, taking it back to 673 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:38,440 Speaker 1: my own experience. So I happen to be on the 674 00:34:38,520 --> 00:34:41,160 Speaker 1: national team from you know, nineteen eighty eight to two thousand. 675 00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:44,000 Speaker 1: But in that period of time, there were three World Cups. 676 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:46,120 Speaker 1: It was a ninety ninety four and ninety eight. And 677 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:49,440 Speaker 1: although some people may think, oh, that's your generation of 678 00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:54,279 Speaker 1: players that you came through, there may have been two 679 00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:57,520 Speaker 1: hundred players that were part of that process, and in 680 00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:02,320 Speaker 1: the end it was really just Eric Guanala in myself 681 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:04,680 Speaker 1: that made it through the three World Cups. So sometimes, 682 00:35:04,719 --> 00:35:07,120 Speaker 1: you know, to Clint's point, you know, sometimes you don't 683 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:10,239 Speaker 1: value the moments that you have and sometimes I get 684 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,279 Speaker 1: a little bit upset, and I have been over the 685 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:14,680 Speaker 1: last seven or eight years when we talked about our 686 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:18,280 Speaker 1: national team as as we're developing players for the next 687 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 1: World Cup, And to me, that's not the national team 688 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:23,399 Speaker 1: and the national team should always be who are the 689 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:26,359 Speaker 1: best players that we have today? And let's take the 690 00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:28,759 Speaker 1: best players that we have today and let's go beat 691 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:31,160 Speaker 1: that country today. What's going to happen next year, We 692 00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:33,480 Speaker 1: don't know, because you're going to depend on your moments, 693 00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:35,080 Speaker 1: You're going to depend on your club, You're going to 694 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:38,080 Speaker 1: depend on there's so many things outside of the national 695 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:40,480 Speaker 1: team that you have to depend on in order to 696 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:44,080 Speaker 1: get on the national team. That's very difficult, you know. Sometimes, 697 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 1: you know, long careers on the national team are taken 698 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:49,000 Speaker 1: from granted thinking, hey, you know, so and so is 699 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:50,279 Speaker 1: a great player, so they must have been on the 700 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:53,080 Speaker 1: national team for ten twelve years. It doesn't always work 701 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:55,759 Speaker 1: out that way. There's hundreds of players that go up 702 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:58,960 Speaker 1: and down in those periods of time, and it's very difficult. 703 00:35:59,120 --> 00:36:01,400 Speaker 1: And any time you have an opportunity to play for 704 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:03,759 Speaker 1: the national team and put your hand over your heart 705 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:06,560 Speaker 1: and listen to the national anthem, you really should truly 706 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:07,120 Speaker 1: enjoy it. 707 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:11,879 Speaker 3: Yeah, and next segment, we are going to find out 708 00:36:12,680 --> 00:36:16,120 Speaker 3: Clint's best eleven for the US men's national team of 709 00:36:16,160 --> 00:36:18,120 Speaker 3: all time. Guys who put their hands over their heart 710 00:36:18,280 --> 00:36:21,200 Speaker 3: and enjoyed it and then performed left their mark on 711 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:24,000 Speaker 3: the game. Here in the meantime, we're taking a break. 712 00:36:24,080 --> 00:36:27,080 Speaker 3: Thanks for listening to Inside American Soccer. Please rate, review 713 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:27,799 Speaker 3: and subscribe. 714 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:28,680 Speaker 4: We'll be right back here. 715 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:43,920 Speaker 3: All right, folks, welcome back to Inside American Soccer. I'll 716 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:46,799 Speaker 3: respect to everyone who has ever played for the US 717 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:48,840 Speaker 3: men's national team, but we have Clint Mathis here and 718 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:52,279 Speaker 3: we're gonna ask Clint to pick his starting eleven to 719 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:56,600 Speaker 3: win one match at the World Cup. Everyone's in their prime. 720 00:36:57,280 --> 00:36:58,960 Speaker 3: Who are the guys you're going with? And I just 721 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 3: want our listeners to know that Tad was trying to 722 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:03,800 Speaker 3: make sure he was weaseling his way into the spot 723 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:04,359 Speaker 3: in the brain. 724 00:37:05,160 --> 00:37:08,279 Speaker 4: But this whole, this whole process is on the up 725 00:37:08,280 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 4: and up. 726 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:11,880 Speaker 3: I want to assure you no undue influence has taken 727 00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:12,520 Speaker 3: place here. 728 00:37:13,320 --> 00:37:15,560 Speaker 2: Yes, and just so you know it, break, I did 729 00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:18,799 Speaker 2: not change any of my people, so I've kept him 730 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:23,239 Speaker 2: the saying. And this has been done way before this 731 00:37:23,320 --> 00:37:26,400 Speaker 2: show even started. So you are going to see some 732 00:37:26,480 --> 00:37:30,480 Speaker 2: bias here. Uh, you are going to see some positional changes. 733 00:37:31,440 --> 00:37:34,799 Speaker 2: But this is who I would go and coach and 734 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:38,319 Speaker 2: take to the World Cup, and I think this team 735 00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:42,920 Speaker 2: would do pretty damn well. So in goal, I'm gonna 736 00:37:42,920 --> 00:37:48,640 Speaker 2: have Tim Howard left back. I'm gonna have DeMarcus Beasley 737 00:37:50,719 --> 00:37:55,640 Speaker 2: center back. I'm gonna have Eddie Pope paired alongside Pablo 738 00:37:55,760 --> 00:38:03,040 Speaker 2: Mastroani right back. I'm going to have Steve Tarndelo. I'm 739 00:38:03,040 --> 00:38:06,360 Speaker 2: gonna have two holding midfielders. One's gonna be more of 740 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:08,680 Speaker 2: an up and down kind of guy. One's gonna hold 741 00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:12,040 Speaker 2: a little bit more that first one's gonna be John O'Brien, 742 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:19,640 Speaker 2: who I have to say is probably my favorite US 743 00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:24,840 Speaker 2: soccer player behind Tab. The next one is gonna be 744 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:30,440 Speaker 2: Chris Armis, I have to say, my favorite holding midfielder 745 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:33,000 Speaker 2: to play with between him and Pablo. That's why I 746 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:35,440 Speaker 2: put Pablo at center back because I know he can 747 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:38,080 Speaker 2: play center back and he can get forward as wealth 748 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:41,759 Speaker 2: he needs. Then in front of them, I would have 749 00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:48,200 Speaker 2: the one and only tab Remos on the left side 750 00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:51,360 Speaker 2: pension end to where DeMarcus could get up and down 751 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:56,480 Speaker 2: would be Clint Dempsey. On the other side pension in 752 00:38:57,160 --> 00:38:59,960 Speaker 2: where Steve could get up and down would be Landon Donovan, 753 00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:05,440 Speaker 2: and then up top we would have the big Header. 754 00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:06,920 Speaker 2: Brian McBride. 755 00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:09,560 Speaker 3: First of all, you're too humble. You didn't put yourself 756 00:39:09,600 --> 00:39:10,480 Speaker 3: in that. 757 00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:14,720 Speaker 2: That's why that's why I said I'm coaching this team. 758 00:39:13,719 --> 00:39:17,480 Speaker 1: All right, good, good. I mean that's a great lineup. 759 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:20,200 Speaker 1: If you don't mind, Matt, I'm gonna go back to 760 00:39:20,239 --> 00:39:22,719 Speaker 1: mind so he can see how I'd laid mine out right. 761 00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:25,040 Speaker 1: So I had Tony, I had Tony and Gold three 762 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:28,640 Speaker 1: defenders Lalas Kevin Crowe who you may not know in 763 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:33,160 Speaker 1: Marcelo Baboa. And then across the midfield, I had you 764 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:36,720 Speaker 1: on the right with hearts and Rick Davis as holding 765 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:40,680 Speaker 1: mids and uh Hugo Perez on the left side, I 766 00:39:40,719 --> 00:39:44,239 Speaker 1: had Landing as a as uh the attacking more of 767 00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:47,200 Speaker 1: an attack in mid with win all then McBride up front, 768 00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:51,120 Speaker 1: so we had some that's good. Yeah, we had definitely, 769 00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:54,839 Speaker 1: definitely McBride. I mean McBride was great. 770 00:39:55,320 --> 00:40:00,799 Speaker 2: He's been our really main only true number nine that 771 00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:02,840 Speaker 2: was good in the air, would hold up the ball, 772 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:06,640 Speaker 2: distribute it back and then start running to get in 773 00:40:06,680 --> 00:40:07,400 Speaker 2: the box. 774 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:10,680 Speaker 5: Right and by the way things together and by the way, 775 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:13,759 Speaker 5: we had dun sith here, you know, a few weeks back, 776 00:40:14,120 --> 00:40:16,839 Speaker 5: and I asked him to talk a little bit about 777 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:19,680 Speaker 5: John O'Brien because you know, it's great what you said 778 00:40:19,680 --> 00:40:20,240 Speaker 5: about John. 779 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:23,840 Speaker 1: O'Brien, but most most fans wouldn't know him, and he 780 00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:26,080 Speaker 1: was such a great player, and I asked him to 781 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:28,759 Speaker 1: talk a little bit more about him so they get 782 00:40:28,800 --> 00:40:30,480 Speaker 1: to know him. But yeah, what a great player, right 783 00:40:30,560 --> 00:40:31,160 Speaker 1: quin Clint? 784 00:40:32,120 --> 00:40:35,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, he was. I mean, I'm not saying this with 785 00:40:36,239 --> 00:40:41,080 Speaker 2: any like level of like joking around. He was probably 786 00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:44,279 Speaker 2: the most skilled American player I've ever seen. 787 00:40:45,320 --> 00:40:48,120 Speaker 3: And he showed it on that famous goal that you 788 00:40:48,239 --> 00:40:51,239 Speaker 3: scored against South Korea in the two thousand and two 789 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:54,080 Speaker 3: World Cup, dropping a dime. It was a right foot 790 00:40:54,160 --> 00:40:56,919 Speaker 3: first touch and then a one touch finish with your left. 791 00:40:57,160 --> 00:40:58,799 Speaker 4: Am I remembering that correctly, Quint? 792 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:01,040 Speaker 2: That's correct? Yeah? And then I don't know how you 793 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:06,040 Speaker 2: even't got that ball there because he just basketball through 794 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:08,560 Speaker 2: a water hose because he didn't have much for room 795 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:10,239 Speaker 2: to do it. And I don't know how he even 796 00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:15,640 Speaker 2: saw me. But if he could have stayed healthy for 797 00:41:15,680 --> 00:41:18,920 Speaker 2: a lot longer, I mean that that kid was unbelievable 798 00:41:18,920 --> 00:41:20,440 Speaker 2: with his feet. He was. 799 00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:24,000 Speaker 4: There were a lot of ifs from that team back then. 800 00:41:24,040 --> 00:41:26,919 Speaker 3: Of course, if John O'Brien had stayed healthy, he would 801 00:41:26,920 --> 00:41:29,879 Speaker 3: have ended up on Barcelona. If things had worked out 802 00:41:30,239 --> 00:41:32,560 Speaker 3: forre Clent math as he would have ended up perhaps 803 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:34,680 Speaker 3: on Bayern Munich, but. 804 00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:40,480 Speaker 2: The league I actually had a signed contract. What a 805 00:41:40,520 --> 00:41:43,759 Speaker 2: lot of people don't know is we had a weekend 806 00:41:43,800 --> 00:41:46,120 Speaker 2: off at the Metro Stars where we didn't have a game. 807 00:41:46,800 --> 00:41:50,799 Speaker 2: Uh So I actually flew to Germany and met with 808 00:41:51,280 --> 00:41:57,120 Speaker 2: Carl's Carl Heins rumenega Ulians and actually signed a contract 809 00:41:57,160 --> 00:41:58,920 Speaker 2: with him, but the league wouldn't sell me. 810 00:42:00,120 --> 00:42:02,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, so bad times back in the day. 811 00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:04,040 Speaker 2: Another story into that one. 812 00:42:04,239 --> 00:42:07,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, we'll get you on for another. 813 00:42:07,040 --> 00:42:10,320 Speaker 2: One that happened nowadays. Put it that way, No, I don't. 814 00:42:10,120 --> 00:42:16,000 Speaker 3: Think it would, but yeah, Clint, we appreciate you coming 815 00:42:16,080 --> 00:42:19,960 Speaker 3: and joining us before this show. We all appreciate uh 816 00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:22,400 Speaker 3: the memories you gave us in that wonderful two thousand 817 00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:24,640 Speaker 3: and two World Cup, and some of us appreciate what 818 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:27,200 Speaker 3: you did with the MetroStars as well, including this guy 819 00:42:27,280 --> 00:42:29,120 Speaker 3: right here is one oh one. 820 00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:30,560 Speaker 4: Back in the day. 821 00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:34,319 Speaker 3: It has been a pleasure having you on. Uh TAB 822 00:42:34,360 --> 00:42:38,880 Speaker 3: and I big fans of yours always and forever, and 823 00:42:38,960 --> 00:42:41,600 Speaker 3: to our listeners, thank you for being with us on 824 00:42:41,640 --> 00:42:45,520 Speaker 3: this show and listening to Inside American Soccer. Please rate, 825 00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:48,600 Speaker 3: review and subscribe and we will see you next week.