1 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: In the game of life, Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,880 Speaker 1: nurturing meaningful connections with family can be among the most 3 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 1: formidable challenges we face. 4 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 2: It was always the name in the background, son of 5 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 2: national team player John Harks and Cindy Harks, so there 6 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 2: is that pressure, but I take it as a positive. 7 00:00:19,760 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: Yet for many professional athletes, fostering both has proven to 8 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: be a triumphant recipe for success. 9 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:28,600 Speaker 3: The number one thing Cindy and I both try to 10 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 3: focus on with the character of who they are, not 11 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 3: so much about what they're going to achieve. 12 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: I'm John Frankel. For the past two decades, I've traveled 13 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 1: the globe covering some of the most impactful human interest 14 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: stories in sports. On this show, I'm sitting down with 15 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: some of the biggest families in the game, the legends, 16 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: current superstars, and the up and coming playmakers to understand 17 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: what's really making them tech. What can pro athlete families 18 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: teach a new generation about the importance of caring for 19 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: your health, health and finding success in the face of adversity. Together, 20 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: we'll hear stories of their remarkable comebacks, setbacks, and the 21 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: crucial role their family and self care played in their 22 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: paths to championship glory. This is part of the game. 23 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: The story of American soccer can't be written without John Harks. 24 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: One of the most accomplished players in US history, Parks 25 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: played a key role in the rise and popularity of 26 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: the beautiful game here in the States. He was the 27 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: first American to play in England's Premier League. The midfielder 28 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:43,839 Speaker 1: led Team USA in two World Cups, including the nineteen 29 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: ninety four Cup, in which the host nation, the US, 30 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: captivated the country with its run to the round of sixteen. 31 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: In nineteen ninety five, he led the American team to 32 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: a US Cup victory. 33 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 4: The set to say the fellow the story hauk shun 34 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 4: Hussa la grit. 35 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: Enough Armstrong, who does what have mentioned? 36 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 5: It? 37 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: Been followed by leading the same team to the semi 38 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: finals of the Copa America tournament and being named co MVP. 39 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 1: During his career, Harks collected ninety caps that his appearances 40 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: for the national team. He also won two Major League 41 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: Soccer Championships with DC United. Parks stayed connected to the 42 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: game following his retirement as a TV commentator and is 43 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,640 Speaker 1: currently the coach of the Greenville Triumph in the USL 44 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 1: League One. His son, Ian Harks, is hard at work 45 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: building his own legacy on the pitch. Parks a riding 46 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: first time shot, Hony cut the post it and it's. 47 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 4: Up going in. 48 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: Ian Harts has scored long range blast his first MLS goal. 49 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: He recently returned stateside to play for the MLS franchise, 50 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: the New England Revolution, after four seasons playing in Scotland. 51 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: John's wife and Ian's mom, Cindy, was a standout college 52 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 1: and pro soccer player. Ian's wife, Sarah T. Garden, also 53 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: played professionally for the Celtic FC women's club in Scotland. 54 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 1: In addition, Ian's two younger sisters, Lily and Lauren, also 55 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 1: played at the collegiate level. One can only imagine the 56 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: backyard games that happened during family gatherings. Is there a 57 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: pickup soccer game at your house on Thanksgiving? 58 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 5: There have been many a pickup game. I don't know 59 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:30,519 Speaker 5: about Thanksgiving. 60 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 2: I think we bring out the American football to pass 61 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: around every once in a while, just yeah, a little bit, 62 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 2: try and get into it and then we go back. 63 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 3: We just try to fit in. 64 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 5: Yeah. 65 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: For the Hearks, there is no off season because soccer 66 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: is the family business. John. Let me start with you. 67 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 1: You grew up in New Jersey at a time when 68 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: soccer probably wasn't on the front burner for most people, 69 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: at least not yet in this country. When did you 70 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 1: start playing and what was the appeal? 71 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think, you know, I started playing as soon 72 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 3: as I can walk, basically, And I do remember my 73 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 3: dad being a big influence in coaching and running training sessions. 74 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 3: My brother Jimmy three years older than I, so I 75 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 3: think he was seven at the time, and my dad 76 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 3: was bringing him down the register for the youth clubs 77 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 3: and for the youth league that was in Carnia at 78 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 3: that time, and my dad was coaching, and you know, 79 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 3: he signed me up as well at the age of four, 80 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 3: and so it was kind of almost like that's what 81 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 3: I knew. This is part of where we grew up 82 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 3: because of the culture there. It was a lot of Scottish, 83 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 3: English and Irish families. And then you go across the 84 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 3: one small bridge, very small bridge to Harrison and Newark 85 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 3: and it was Portuguese and it was a Latinos Central 86 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:53,479 Speaker 3: American and it was just like a melting pot of 87 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 3: people playing soccer everywhere. And we thought that that's how 88 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 3: the world was, you know. It was just in a 89 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 3: small town in Carney, So we just continuously played every 90 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 3: day all the time. 91 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: As John came of age, the United States was just 92 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 1: starting to get its first taste of professional soccer thanks 93 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 1: to the establishment of the North American Soccer League and 94 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: the spectacular ascent of the New York Cosmos in the 95 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: nineteen seventies and eighties. The Cosmos hosted home games in 96 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: both New York and New Jersey and was home to 97 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: one of the sport's most legendary players, Pele, who was 98 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: one of the team's forwards and left an indelible mark 99 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 1: on American soccer history. I'm going to age myself here. 100 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: How much did the Cosmos and Pele's presence influence you 101 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: at that point? 102 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 3: It was the biggest influence, having some of the best 103 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 3: players in the world come and play basically in your backyard. 104 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 3: I was a ball boy for the Cosmos for a 105 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 3: short period of time as well, so I got to 106 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 3: experience that and see Pele in the dugouts in the 107 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 3: dressing room and the tunnels coming out in the field, 108 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 3: and Giorgio Kanalia, who I got to work with at 109 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,159 Speaker 3: serious XM for a short period of time when I 110 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 3: wasn't coaching, and they were all there, all these players, 111 00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 3: Wanner Roth, you know, quality players. Santiago Formoso who lived 112 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 3: in Carney was part of the Cosmos roster as well, 113 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 3: so we kind of had them all around. And then 114 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 3: Ricky Davis, who was like the All American boy that 115 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 3: was on that team of World All Stars, and those 116 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 3: guys were coming across and at the end of our 117 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 3: youth season, they'd be presenting trophies to us, So I'm like, 118 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 3: what is going on here? Isn't that amazing? 119 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 5: Yeah? Yeah, it's crazy. Ian. 120 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 1: Did those names mean anything to you coming up a 121 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 1: generation later? 122 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:47,280 Speaker 5: Yeah, definitely. 123 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 2: I think their names still holds that power and that 124 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 2: influence throughout everyone that loves football. And I think the 125 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: fact that my dad would pass down those stories and 126 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 2: say that he was the ball boy, working and being 127 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 2: around those guys in those environments and they're probably playing 128 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,479 Speaker 2: at some of the best times in their career and 129 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 2: the fact that they were doing it in the US 130 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:08,919 Speaker 2: is massively influential. So yeah, I think my generation it 131 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: still speaks volumes their names and what it means to us. 132 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: I did you have a choice about pursuing soccer. I 133 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: don't mean that necessarily in the literal sense that your parents, 134 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 1: you know, tied a soccer ball to your foot. But 135 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 1: given that not only was your dad an accomplished soccer player, 136 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 1: but your mother was a collegiate soccer player, how much 137 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: was that sort of the family business. 138 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:31,679 Speaker 5: It definitely was just there. 139 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 2: Like my dad said, when you're growing up, it's just 140 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 2: around you right away. And I think I started probably 141 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 2: around three or four years old too, So I think 142 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 2: they presented it to us, and me and my sisters, 143 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 2: we all from a very early age. We just took 144 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 2: to it. And I think I did have a choice. 145 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 2: I played a lot of other sports, wasn't very good 146 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: at them to the same level that I was a 147 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 2: basketball player, had five Yes, I played a little basketball, 148 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 2: a little bit of rugby, one very quick season of 149 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 2: baseball and didn't love it. And yeah, so I always 150 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 2: came back to football, and I always came back to soccer. 151 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: Like his dad, Ian excelled at the amateur level. He 152 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: won the Herman Trophy in twenty sixteen while at Wake 153 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: Forest as the best collegiate soccer player in the nation. 154 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: The same award John his dad won in nineteen eighty 155 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: seven while playing for Virginia. Let's talk about the fact 156 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:31,440 Speaker 1: that you grow up with these two parents who played 157 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,079 Speaker 1: soccer at a high level, and your father was able 158 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 1: to take it to the next level beyond college. You 159 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: experienced a great deal of success as a high school 160 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: soccer player. You go to Wake Forest, you have a 161 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: great career there. In fact, you win the Herman Trophy, 162 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: which I believe our crack staff you are the only 163 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: father son team to both win that award for the 164 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 1: best soccer player in college soccer, the equivalent of the Heisman? 165 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: Is it a double edged sword? Ian too be a 166 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: Harks and pursue soccer. I mean, you go and maybe 167 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: in some cases you didn't need this to open the 168 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 1: door because your talent spoke for itself. But then there's 169 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: also expectations that come along with that, aren't there. 170 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I take it as a lot of blessings. There's 171 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 2: a pressure that comes with it because, Yeah, ever since 172 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:20,199 Speaker 2: we started to maybe make names for ourselves and step 173 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 2: into different challenges, it was always the name in the 174 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:26,400 Speaker 2: background of son of national team player John Harks and 175 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 2: son of Cindy Harks. You know, Hall of fame or 176 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 2: everything that she's done as well. So there is that pressure, 177 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 2: but I take it as a positive pressure. I don't 178 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 2: see it as a negative, and I think my sisters 179 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 2: do as well, because we're proud of what our parents 180 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 2: have done. We've seen them go through so many challenges 181 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 2: and they've kind of paved the way for us so 182 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 2: we can follow their example. And they've been great role 183 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 2: models for us, and they have opened a lot of 184 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 2: doors and opportunities for us, and then it's up to 185 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 2: us to step through those doors and take it on ourselves. 186 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 2: So I could definitely call it a double edged sword, 187 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 2: but it's definitely a blessing more than I think. I 188 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 2: see it as a challenge. But the talk is a there. 189 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 2: People are always gonna question it. 190 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: And when you speak of talk, did anybody trash talk 191 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: to you on the field as you were growing up, Oh, 192 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 1: you're not your dad, or you think you're your dad, 193 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: or maybe worse. 194 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 2: I don't think too bad, And maybe you get the 195 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 2: odd person that you know come for you a little bit, 196 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 2: But I don't think it wasn't too bad in Northern 197 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:19,240 Speaker 2: Virginia for trash talk. 198 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,719 Speaker 1: And even if they said something to the effect of Oh, 199 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: you play like your mom. That was actually a compliment. 200 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, case exactly, and I need to play more like 201 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 2: my mom sometimes. 202 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 1: But I was actually going to ask, are there subtleties 203 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 1: to the game that you got from your mother that 204 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: were advantageous in your career to this point? 205 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 2: Well, it was talked about the different positions. Dad been 206 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 2: more of a midfielder, played right back as well, but 207 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 2: my mom was always kind of a number ten or 208 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 2: a striker. So she was always like talking to us 209 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 2: when we were in the backyard playing or training or 210 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 2: doing something where she was like, you guys need to 211 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,760 Speaker 2: have the finishing gene. You don't have that and everything, 212 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 2: but you scored plenty of goals in your time. 213 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 5: But he's like, where's the striker. 214 00:10:58,200 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 3: Yeah. 215 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 2: She was always bringing up that and getting in the 216 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 2: box and how do you make runs and everything like that. 217 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 2: So we had two different aspects like that. But we've 218 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 2: been surrounded by a lot of strong women playing the 219 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:08,719 Speaker 2: game our whole live. 220 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, John as Ian and the girls embarked on these 221 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: careers and following you and Cindy into this line of work, 222 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 1: what did you say to them to prepare them emotionally 223 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: and mentally to deal with carrying the Heark's name on 224 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: the back of their shirts. 225 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 3: I think the number one thing we Cindy and I 226 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,680 Speaker 3: both try to focus on was the character of who 227 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 3: they are, not so much about what they're going to 228 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 3: achieve or anything, but just being a good character person 229 00:11:41,480 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 3: and through the adversity, because there's a lot of downs 230 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 3: as well as ups, you know, in every sport, in 231 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:50,880 Speaker 3: any professional career that you seek, although soccer is just 232 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 3: one of those. It's a big platform and people are 233 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 3: going to follow you, and we're always saying you can 234 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 3: never be wrong doing the right thing, and so we 235 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 3: always kind of said keep your head, you know, even 236 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 3: keeled through that process. And it's always easier to say 237 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 3: it then to actually go through it. It's always harder 238 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:12,719 Speaker 3: when you actually physically go through that. So I think 239 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 3: we were always just trying to find a balance as 240 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 3: best as we could to prepare them for what was coming. 241 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:21,120 Speaker 3: But they have to go through that because they're just 242 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 3: passing through you as children anyway, So you can't feel 243 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 3: like your experiences are going to be exactly the way 244 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 3: theirs are, but you just kind of prepare them a 245 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 3: little bit through ups and downs. What people are going 246 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,559 Speaker 3: to write about, what they're going to say, like your 247 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 3: team lost, oh you guys think you know whatever, negative, 248 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 3: it always comes with it. That's part of the sport, 249 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 3: and you just take it and move on. 250 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: In twenty seventeen, Ian made the leap to professional soccer. 251 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: He joined Major League Soccer's DC United franchise, the same 252 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: team as dad played for when he won two MLS titles. 253 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 2: When I first started playing with DC, it was my 254 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 2: first game. I was playing against Pier Low and David 255 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 2: Va for New York City. I was like, wow, how 256 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 2: are these players you know, on the same pitch as 257 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 2: me right now with their careers, And so I was 258 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,800 Speaker 2: very lucky to be a part of that and have 259 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 2: two good years with DC United. 260 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 5: And I'm part of my professional career. 261 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 2: But then I just saw the opportunity to go and 262 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 2: continue to get games and kind of expand my career 263 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 2: a little bit. And like we talked about my dad 264 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 2: first going and kind of being a trailblazer and pioneer 265 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:33,679 Speaker 2: for everyone, not just myself but for American players in general, 266 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 2: and what he did just broke down doors and barriers, 267 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 2: which it does still exist over there. 268 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 1: Over there, meaning overseas. Europe is considered the cradle of soccer, 269 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: with some of the most storied teams and players in 270 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: the sports long history. Twelve World Cup champions have come 271 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,719 Speaker 1: from Europe, by far the most of any continent, and 272 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety John Harks went across the Pond to 273 00:13:58,320 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 1: play for Sheffield Wednesday. 274 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 3: Wellington switches it to Hawks on the right. 275 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: That's a good effort by Jonas. It's first ever in 276 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: in fast football. I won't he remember for the rest 277 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: of his days. In nineteen ninety two, the midfielder made 278 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: history becoming the first American to play in the English 279 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: Premier League. Give me a sense of what that meant 280 00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: in terms of quality of play and how did it 281 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: transfer to you as a competitive soccer player. What did 282 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: that mean to you to be at the Premier League level? 283 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 3: Well, total honesty. I think at that time you don't 284 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 3: really understand what that means. You're just there and you're 285 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 3: in it. And I was very fortunate in the first 286 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 3: seven months there, you know, scored a goal of the 287 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 3: year and then we were winning a title against Manchester 288 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:58,080 Speaker 3: United at Wembley, so it was all coming really quickly. 289 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 3: But what people failed to w recognized this. There was 290 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 3: four months of me on trial and fighting and trying 291 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 3: to be accepted there and people think, oh, you played 292 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 3: in the World Cup. You know you're going to play 293 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 3: for a club in England severyr Wednesday, and I'm like, man, 294 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 3: it was some dark times like me staying over there 295 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,040 Speaker 3: and not making it, and a lot of phone calls 296 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 3: back to Cindy, who I was dating at the time, 297 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 3: and then to my mom and dad too, like I 298 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 3: don't think I'm going to make it, and it's crazy 299 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 3: to think that. But I actually played in the World 300 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 3: Cup before I was a real pro, and it was 301 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 3: because we were ragtag bunchs of college kids coming out 302 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 3: and fighting, chip on our shoulders to prove things to 303 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 3: the world and we got that opportunity. So I've been 304 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 3: really fortunate to be in those opportunities and I always 305 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 3: just try to make the most of them as best 306 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 3: as I can. And so when you think about what 307 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 3: you just mentioned the Premier League that came in the 308 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 3: second season when they changed the Division one Division two 309 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 3: status and they said, at the Premier League now, and 310 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 3: it did raise the expectations and the level of play 311 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 3: and the speed of play because now there was more 312 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 3: international players coming into those leagues where it used to 313 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 3: be like two or three international players per club. Now 314 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 3: you look at the lineups and your spotting, like is 315 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 3: there any English players out there? Let alone the Americans. 316 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 3: But you open the door and you create those opportunities. 317 00:16:22,840 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: Fair to say that it made you a better player 318 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: playing at that level. 319 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 3: Without a doubt, because when you get to the higher levels, 320 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 3: people think that you recreate certain moments in the game 321 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 3: or you create. It's just speed of play, speed of thought, 322 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 3: and the physicality and it's the quicker you can think. 323 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 3: And that's where I think, you know a lot of 324 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 3: our kids have been really gifted because they see the 325 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 3: game well. I think Sarah as well as Ian and 326 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 3: Lauren Lily could all be great coaches if they wanted to, 327 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 3: because they really understand the game of football because they 328 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 3: live it. You know, it's their passion, they're emotionally invested 329 00:16:57,360 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 3: in it. But I think that's the biggest difference was 330 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 3: that speed of play, that speed of thought, and just 331 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 3: you're not always going to be the fastest player on 332 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 3: the field, but you got to think faster than anybody else, 333 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 3: and that's what helps you get. 334 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:15,800 Speaker 1: By Ian Harts once again followed the trail his father 335 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: blazed years earlier. In twenty nineteen, he joined the Scottish 336 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: club Dundee United. His wife, Sarah Tigarden, also played professional 337 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: soccer for Celtic FC in the Scottish Women's Premier League 338 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:33,880 Speaker 1: until her retirement in twenty twenty two. Ian, what did 339 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: you see is the biggest difference leaving American soil and 340 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: then going to play for a club over there. 341 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:42,399 Speaker 2: One of the biggest differences is just how much of 342 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 2: football is embedded in the culture over there. And I 343 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 2: think the US has come such a long way and 344 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 2: it's amazing to see what they are doing and how 345 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,479 Speaker 2: strong the league is here now. The league's is basically 346 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 2: as old as me, just when you started in nineteen 347 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,919 Speaker 2: ninety six and everything, and it's taking you know, leaps 348 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 2: and boules. They get it. It's nice, nice, nice, subtle. 349 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 5: Yeah. 350 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 2: I think there is still kind of a connotation or 351 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 2: a bias towards American players playing overseas of basically not 352 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 2: whether or not we can do it, but you know, 353 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 2: are you good enough? Are you good enough to stay 354 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:17,400 Speaker 2: in it? Do you get what's going on here? Kind 355 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 2: of all of that, the pressures on the smallest games 356 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 2: is so high, which makes it fun, which makes it challenging, 357 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,320 Speaker 2: but you do get to see the other side of it, 358 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 2: the nastier side of it, I guess where people's passions 359 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 2: come out. 360 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 5: But it was cool to see that too. 361 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:34,600 Speaker 1: A little bit of home soil for you too in 362 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 1: a way, right playing in d that's where your grandfather 363 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 1: is from. 364 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, your dad was born in Dundee, just behind 365 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,360 Speaker 2: and grew up just behind the stadium that we played at. 366 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:47,879 Speaker 2: So that was pretty cool, full kind of circle moment. 367 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 1: And you know, we talked about Sarah, your wife, who 368 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:57,239 Speaker 1: also plays overseas professionally. How much does soccer dominate the 369 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: conversation when it's just you and Sarah, when the whole 370 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: family gets together, does anything else get mentioned? 371 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:05,400 Speaker 3: Movies? 372 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, we try and talk about a lot of other things. 373 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 2: Soccer and football is definitely the dominating part of our conversations. 374 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,080 Speaker 2: And it just because it's our life. Like we said, 375 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 2: we just yeah, we live and live. 376 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 3: In natural like everyday thing that's just there. 377 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, And but on the other hand, it's very nice 378 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 2: to also have someone that knows exactly what you're going 379 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 2: through every single day and actually have those conversations where 380 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,800 Speaker 2: I can just tell her coming back from work, you know, 381 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 2: and training, and say this is what happened to and 382 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:36,880 Speaker 2: she goes, yeah, I know exactly what you're going. 383 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 5: Through, right. 384 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 1: I ran ten more sprints than you did today, so 385 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 1: don't complain to me. 386 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 2: That's why I'm never gonna I'm never gonna win the 387 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 2: competition battle with her. 388 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:51,919 Speaker 1: When we return, we'll talk about how soccer has evolved. 389 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 3: In the old days we didn't have all this data analysis. 390 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:56,680 Speaker 3: It gets to a point where you go, I wonder 391 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 3: how much better we could have been if we did 392 00:19:58,560 --> 00:19:58,920 Speaker 3: have it. 393 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 1: Part of the game. We'll be right back and now 394 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 1: back to part of the game. Injuries, of course, are 395 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: part of every sport, and soccer is no different. Pro 396 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: players run on average between six and seven miles each game. 397 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 1: That's a lot of miles on the odometer. John and 398 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,360 Speaker 1: Ian Harks have experienced pain on the pitch during their careers, 399 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:35,639 Speaker 1: but they both feel they've been somewhat fortunate. What have 400 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 1: been the worst injuries that each of you have suffered 401 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: in the course of your careers? 402 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 2: For me, probably ankle problems, torn ligaments, very serious ligaments, 403 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,880 Speaker 2: and both ankles, but thankfully more recently on my left 404 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:51,640 Speaker 2: one that was more of an eight to ten weeks 405 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 2: so I was a bit longer where I thought I 406 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:55,680 Speaker 2: was going to have to get surgery and thankfully didn't 407 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 2: have to. And then before I've just kind of gone 408 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 2: through some other ones that have just been sprands or 409 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 2: serious brands. 410 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 5: So thankfully nothing too bad John. 411 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 1: Any lingering effects. 412 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 3: Well, I mean I beat up my body early in 413 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 3: those days. You know, it was just fight, fight, fight, compete, 414 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 3: you know, really crappy field mud. The conditions now that 415 00:21:16,760 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 3: they play in and the science that's applied to it 416 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 3: in terms of training and everything is just so much better. 417 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:26,760 Speaker 3: It's unbelievable on the recovery periods. And I give these 418 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:30,440 Speaker 3: guys so much credit. Like even Greenville that I coached 419 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 3: in the USL, I see players rolling out and doing 420 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:38,159 Speaker 3: exercises like hours before training, and I'm like, man, we 421 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 3: used to come in, you know, get a cup of 422 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 3: tea or a coffee, and then walk out in the 423 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 3: field warm up for twenty minutes and then we were 424 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 3: good to go. 425 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:45,880 Speaker 5: That's why you lost your hip. 426 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, I had a hip resurfacing technique done, but 427 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:51,160 Speaker 3: I did it after. 428 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: I retired, proven to be successful. 429 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 3: Very successful, like still running and kicking the ball today easy. 430 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 3: It's not a hip replacement. It was a surfacing done. 431 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,560 Speaker 3: And I've had you know, fifth minute tarsal breaks at 432 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:07,880 Speaker 3: college at UVA. I had that recovered from that and 433 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:11,879 Speaker 3: minor cartilage surgery when I was a junior in high school. 434 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:16,320 Speaker 3: My knee which is bugging me now, but now, other 435 00:22:16,359 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 3: than that, it's been pretty you know, lucky. I guess 436 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 3: not to have the major ones. 437 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: You pointed out something that I would like to address today, 438 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: and obviously this is true about almost every sport. You 439 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:31,480 Speaker 1: look at the golfers today and these guys look like 440 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:37,120 Speaker 1: real athletes. Rory McElroy and Tiger Woods look like guys 441 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 1: who spend as much time in the weight room as 442 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: they do on the golf course. How has the training 443 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: changed in soccer today? What are the things that players 444 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 1: are doing today, John, that you coach and you didn't 445 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: do during your day. 446 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 3: Ian. 447 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,000 Speaker 1: What do you see as some of the differences. 448 00:22:55,560 --> 00:23:00,439 Speaker 3: I think just how that science has applied, how the 449 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:04,399 Speaker 3: results you know, are just both macro and micro throughout 450 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:07,640 Speaker 3: a whole season. And I think that from a high 451 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 3: performance coach or strength and conditioning, whatever title you want 452 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:14,360 Speaker 3: to give. They have, you know, a lot of input 453 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 3: that can help you. And look, I mean it gets 454 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 3: to a point sometimes from a coach from our generation 455 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:23,640 Speaker 3: and I've been coaching at the pro level since two 456 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 3: thousand and seven, but it gets to a point where 457 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 3: you go, oh, the old days, we didn't have all 458 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 3: this data analysis, and I wonder how much better we 459 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,080 Speaker 3: could have been if we did have it, Like how 460 00:23:35,160 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 3: much more prepared we could have been, how much better 461 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,920 Speaker 3: in game situations instead of just pulling off a hopeful 462 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:45,639 Speaker 3: play that we would have more consistency to do that 463 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 3: over and over again, based on the strength and stamina 464 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:51,679 Speaker 3: that they have. I think players today speed of the 465 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 3: game has gone up tremendously when we played, even just 466 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 3: training with Sarahenni and like three days ago just watching 467 00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:02,159 Speaker 3: him train. Came back and Lauren, my daughter, was like, 468 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:05,440 Speaker 3: how to go? And I'm like, man, he is so powerful, 469 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 3: it's ridiculous, like runs, striking a ball, sprinting. It's crazy 470 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 3: and we can raise it up ourselves at certain times, 471 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:17,639 Speaker 3: but to have it at a consistent level, and I 472 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 3: think him being in Scotland hardened him a lot and 473 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 3: because of that expectation physical nature of Scottish football. But 474 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:29,280 Speaker 3: just to see how strong he is, it's crazy. I 475 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:34,320 Speaker 3: mean honestly, no, seriously, the training and the more dedication 476 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 3: that they put into really what they eat and everything diet, 477 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,639 Speaker 3: I mean it's exceptional. I think it's great, and I 478 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 3: think the players can hold for longer periods, longer stretches 479 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:52,439 Speaker 3: of time, like real high intensive workloads. We couldn't do 480 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 3: that back in the day, There's no way. 481 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 1: I've read and heard over the years different numbers about 482 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 1: how much distant soccer players cover in the course of 483 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:03,920 Speaker 1: a match, you know, five six, as much as eight 484 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:07,120 Speaker 1: nine miles. Do you know what the number is today? 485 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 2: I think anywhere from well, I was always doing in 486 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:17,080 Speaker 2: kilometers the last couple of seasons, but don't confuse me, sorry. 487 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 2: I think the average was like ten to twelve kilometers, 488 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:23,760 Speaker 2: so I think it's maybe eight or nine miles. 489 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: So in the course of that, can you run yourself 490 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: into shape maybe the way your dad and his teammates did, 491 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 1: or are you getting into the weight room now different? 492 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:36,840 Speaker 1: You know a generation after you're trying to gain that strength, 493 00:25:36,920 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: not just by playing and practicing, but you're getting into 494 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:42,399 Speaker 1: the weight room and working and bulking up so that 495 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:43,800 Speaker 1: you have the strength to do it. 496 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 2: I think, like my dad said it, nowadays, I think 497 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 2: it's just all about finding that extra one percent that 498 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 2: you're just adding in so many different facets of the game. 499 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,520 Speaker 2: But I think he's probably underselling it how much they 500 00:25:54,560 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 2: actually worked and ran and did all of that themselves. 501 00:25:57,520 --> 00:25:59,879 Speaker 2: And I think that's just nowadays we have the technology 502 00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:03,360 Speaker 2: to talk about the metrics and talk about the science 503 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,639 Speaker 2: and all of the fitness that goes into it. But 504 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:09,119 Speaker 2: there's a negative connotation too, where sometimes they hold us 505 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 2: back and go, oh, they've only hit this number for 506 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:12,959 Speaker 2: the day, and you're looking at it from a coach's 507 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:15,320 Speaker 2: perspective and they're probably going they can get more out 508 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 2: of these guys. It's not just based on the numbers. 509 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,919 Speaker 3: Yeah, that is a balance. That is true though, And 510 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 3: then we kind of go like this sometimes back and 511 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 3: forth with that, you know, like you guys, can we 512 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 3: can push you a little bit more, you know, and 513 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:29,880 Speaker 3: sometimes they're like, whoa overload, We need to pull them 514 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 3: back today. 515 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:36,359 Speaker 1: One of the many valuable lessons sports teaches us is 516 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 1: the ability to confront and overcome adversity. Ian harks encountered 517 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: such a scenario in twenty eighteen when he was released 518 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:48,439 Speaker 1: by DC United. Just two years removed from being crowned 519 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: the best player in collegiate soccer, harks was now a 520 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:56,040 Speaker 1: player without a team. But when times are tough, the 521 00:26:56,080 --> 00:27:02,159 Speaker 1: Hawks family circles the wagons to help each other. Do 522 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: either of you remember a specific experience in Ian's career 523 00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 1: where you called up mom or dad and talk to 524 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 1: them about it and we're looking to be consoled. 525 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:19,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, there's probably plenty of examples. Like you said, there's 526 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 2: plenty of ups and downs as injuries that have gone 527 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:23,439 Speaker 2: through where I've thought, you know, it's the end of 528 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 2: the world, and I've had to call them. Thankfully, I 529 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 2: haven't had too bad of injuries, but you know anything, 530 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 2: when you have a little setback sometimes in your career, 531 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:32,920 Speaker 2: you can only focus on that moment and you can't 532 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 2: see the bigger picture where you're going to get through 533 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:36,640 Speaker 2: it and it's going to be all right. But they've 534 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:39,879 Speaker 2: talked me through those They've talked me through even just 535 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:41,679 Speaker 2: this past season that I came off of. There was 536 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 2: a lot of downs, a lot of big losses, and 537 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 2: ultimately The way we finished the season was we were 538 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 2: relegated over in Scotland and that was the first time 539 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,679 Speaker 2: for me in terms of seeing as wow, is this 540 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,119 Speaker 2: a bigger kind of picture as a failure or is 541 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:56,919 Speaker 2: it just a part of your career And you go 542 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 2: through these things and you've had the highs of being promoted, 543 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 2: going over to Scotland and bringing the team up and 544 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 2: having that pride with it, and then you think, oh, wow. 545 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 5: We've also had the other side of it. 546 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 2: So I've had to talk to them and they've helped 547 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 2: me through this whole year. You know my wife what 548 00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:16,680 Speaker 2: she's gone through with playing football and knows the game 549 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,399 Speaker 2: very well. I've heard of Leonan these you know everyone 550 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 2: in the game. Everyone experiences different things at different moments, 551 00:28:22,840 --> 00:28:24,880 Speaker 2: but they've always been there to support and they've always 552 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:25,680 Speaker 2: been there to guide. 553 00:28:26,359 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 5: So yeah, very lucky to have that. 554 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:32,239 Speaker 3: Self reflection is the best way to grow. And if 555 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:35,720 Speaker 3: there's mistakes or things that happen, or relegations like Ian 556 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:39,640 Speaker 3: just mentioned, or winning Scottish Cup titles like Sarah has 557 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 3: done a Celtic, it's like the highs are going to come, 558 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 3: you enjoy them and then you reflect back on and 559 00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:48,400 Speaker 3: say what did I do really well that helped do 560 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 3: that as a team. And I think what Ian and 561 00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 3: Sarah and Cindy and Lauren and Lily all have and 562 00:28:55,680 --> 00:29:00,120 Speaker 3: even I have, is it's always team first mentality. Can 563 00:29:00,200 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 3: ask you a question like a reporter, can ask you 564 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 3: a question that makes you think down and makes you 565 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:08,640 Speaker 3: think negative, like, oh my god, my performance was poor today. 566 00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:11,000 Speaker 3: I was really crap, and then all of a sudden 567 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 3: you go into this spiral down world turn And it's 568 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 3: easy to do that instead of just saying, hey, yeah, 569 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:18,720 Speaker 3: I am going to have bad games. 570 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 5: We all are. 571 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:22,719 Speaker 3: But each team that we continue to keep playing for 572 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:24,400 Speaker 3: is that we're going to try to lift each other 573 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 3: up all the way. That's what's part of the process 574 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 3: of being an athlete and fighting for things every year 575 00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:30,440 Speaker 3: and every club season. 576 00:29:31,240 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 1: Let me ask you both, it's sort of a hypothetical 577 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 1: question here. How different would your relationship be as father's 578 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:42,480 Speaker 1: son if Ian was not a soccer player and had 579 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 1: not reached some of the levels that he had. 580 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 3: I don't think it would be different. I think there's 581 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:51,360 Speaker 3: a connectivity through the game that we share and the 582 00:29:51,400 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 3: love for the game, and we like to talk about it, 583 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 3: but I think real life and just being human like 584 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:59,440 Speaker 3: we just it's family. I don't think it would change 585 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:00,680 Speaker 3: month been kicked out. 586 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:03,000 Speaker 5: I would have been kicked out of the house by 587 00:30:03,040 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 5: day of five. 588 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 1: Now it wasn't an honest answer. 589 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 3: I can't believe you would have been a chess champion. 590 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:08,240 Speaker 3: It's amazing. 591 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 2: I think our relationship wouldn't have changed much. I think 592 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 2: it would have been pretty good. 593 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:16,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, let me close this way. 594 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,080 Speaker 1: Both of you can take a second to think about 595 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 1: this and answer it in your own way. It means 596 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 1: something different to everybody else. The name of this podcast 597 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:27,040 Speaker 1: is the heart of the game. What is the heart 598 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:29,240 Speaker 1: of the game. What is the heart of the game 599 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: of soccer? To you, Ian, I. 600 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:36,720 Speaker 2: Think the heart of the game is the fact that 601 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:40,800 Speaker 2: the game is global. I think it connects everyone that plays. 602 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 2: It doesn't matter where you're from. It doesn't matter what 603 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 2: language you speak, what you look like, religion, anything like that. 604 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 2: I think it's a language that we all speak. And 605 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:51,840 Speaker 2: my wife and I were talking about this this morning. Anyway, 606 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 2: where we travel, you see a soccer pitch in the 607 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:57,520 Speaker 2: middle of the city. Anywhere you go, you can speak 608 00:30:57,560 --> 00:30:59,560 Speaker 2: to anyone about the game and teams that you love. 609 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 2: I think the heart of the game is just that 610 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:04,080 Speaker 2: love and that passion that everyone has for it, and 611 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:07,240 Speaker 2: you can't really explain it. I think it's just something 612 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 2: that connects everyone across this globe. 613 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 5: It's pretty cool, John. 614 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 3: It's hard to follow that up. I think he hit 615 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:16,280 Speaker 3: it right on the head the way it doesn't judge 616 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 3: the inclusivity of it, the democratic approach of throwing a 617 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 3: ball together, even in tough countries where there's maybe lack 618 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:27,640 Speaker 3: of opportunity or poverty, and you still throw a ball 619 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:30,040 Speaker 3: out there and everybody goes out and plays and laughs 620 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:34,200 Speaker 3: and smiles and puts their arm around you and just says, Wow. 621 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 3: That's the heart of the game. It connects everybody across 622 00:31:37,080 --> 00:31:38,880 Speaker 3: the globe. 623 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 1: The Hearts family personifies the unwavering spirit of soccer, with 624 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:49,440 Speaker 1: its roots intertwined in their DNA. No matter the distance 625 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:52,960 Speaker 1: it separates them across the Atlantic Ocean or the friendly 626 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:56,840 Speaker 1: rivalries that ignite during their family pickup games, the game 627 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 1: of soccer remains the unbreakable bond that keeps them, reminding 628 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 1: them that strength and dedication, both on and off the field, 629 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 1: are essential for their enduring success. On the next episode 630 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 1: of Heart, of the Game. We'll hear from NBA legend 631 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 1: Tim Hardaway and his son, current NBA superstar Tim Hardaway Junior. 632 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 1: An overcoming adversity on and off the court. 633 00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 4: I've always wanted to play. I played through a lot 634 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:26,400 Speaker 4: of injuries. There's a lot of times where I'll be 635 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 4: heart and everybody knows I'm hurt, and I'll tell them like, no, 636 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 4: I don't think i'm'n go tonight, But then I'm suited 637 00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:34,840 Speaker 4: up Brady to go. Your mindset just flips a switch. 638 00:32:36,680 --> 00:32:39,080 Speaker 1: Heart of the Game is a production of Ruby Studio 639 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 1: from iHeartMedia. Our show is hosted by me John Frankel. 640 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:47,560 Speaker 1: Our executive producer is Matt Romano. Our EP of Post 641 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:52,000 Speaker 1: Production is Matt Stillo. Our supervising producer is Nikiyah Swinton. 642 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:55,600 Speaker 1: This show was edited by Sierra Spreen. Our writer and 643 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 1: researcher is Mike Avela. Thanks for listening. We'll see you 644 00:32:59,400 --> 00:32:59,800 Speaker 1: next time.