1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: I was interviewing Christian Polisic a little while back and 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: someone had asked him on our Someone on our panel 3 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: asked him like, do you know how like how impactful 4 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: this is gonna be? And he was like, uh, yeah, well, 5 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 1: you know we all playing Europe And I said, no, no, 6 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: you have no idea what the World Cup playing at 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: home is going to do for you. Man. It's a 8 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: completely different animal and it changes your life and it 9 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: will forever. 10 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 2: What's going on, everybody, Welcome back to Inside American Soccer. 11 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 2: I'm your host, Tom Boger, joined by my friend one 12 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 2: of the greatest players in US soccer history, veteran of 13 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 2: three World Cups, Tap Ramos, And as we promise, we 14 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 2: are bringing back another US soccer legend, also a veteran 15 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 2: of three World Cups, an NCAA champion, MLS Cup Champion, 16 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:50,840 Speaker 2: MLSMVB Hall of Famer, New Jersey Royalty, Tony Meola, Uncle 17 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,919 Speaker 2: t Tone, thanks for joining us again. They have all 18 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 2: this valuable time. How many favors while oh you know none? 19 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: Man. I love coming on with you guys, love chatting 20 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,200 Speaker 1: chatting this game with you guys. 21 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:05,119 Speaker 2: On our last episode, we had Tony saying a ton 22 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 2: of nice things about Tap, and these are long, long friends, 23 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 2: and it was funny to watch Tony say to you know, 24 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: the best midfielder in US soccer history, and just having 25 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,199 Speaker 2: to watch Tab sit here and listen and be polayed 26 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 2: without knowing how to take a very very top compliment. 27 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 2: So I'm gonna turn that to you, Tony, Tony you, 28 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 2: and and again Tap, I've said similar things you as well. 29 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 2: But Tony, there are there are I think few people 30 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 2: when I'm just talking to agents and generally people around 31 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 2: when your name comes up, it's always a smile, it's 32 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 2: always a laugh at somebody you can. Oh you talk 33 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 2: you talk to Tony. Oh you talk to Big Ragu 34 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: and then insert any other nickname that anybody will give you. So, Tony, you, 35 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 2: You've always been great to me. So thank you. Thank 36 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 2: you for taking the time. Tap. How are you doing? 37 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: What was that like to uh sit there and make 38 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 2: Tony feel uncomfortable? 39 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 3: Listen? 40 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 4: I'm doing great. I'm doing even better to have Tony 41 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 4: here here with us. Although Tony and I have multiple 42 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 4: conversations every day about some things we're really happy about 43 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 4: and about some things that we're struggling with. But but 44 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 4: we do have some deep conversations. Listen, I'll start with 45 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 4: this about Tony. Is you know I've said in episodes before, 46 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 4: how you know, when you're on the team with somebody 47 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 4: and you go through difficult moments, you really get to 48 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 4: know who's somebody. 49 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 3: What somebody's like. 50 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 4: But at the end of the day, you're on the team, 51 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 4: you go to practice, and then you go home. You know, 52 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 4: Tony and I have developed a really close relationship over 53 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 4: the last few years, working on a number of different 54 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 4: things that, by the way, we don't have to do together. 55 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 4: We chose to do together. So it's a little bit 56 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 4: different than someone picking you on their team and then 57 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 4: you have to go fight together. Right In this case, 58 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 4: we're fighting for a lot of things together because we 59 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 4: chose to do that. 60 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 3: And you know what I can tell you. You know that 61 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 3: although I've known Tony. 62 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 4: Since he's you know, in his teens and before that, 63 00:02:58,160 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 4: I can tell you that I've been able to find 64 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 4: out more about the person Tony Miola, and that is 65 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 4: you know, somebody who's patient, somebody who's super smart. And 66 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 4: I think I think in the place where we match 67 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 4: is that we're both planners, right, and so we we 68 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 4: are always looking at what we have to do next 69 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 4: and how to put it together, and we really we 70 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 4: really compliment each other in terms of like planning things 71 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 4: as to what the next steps are for everything that 72 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 4: we're doing. But it's been it's been a real pleasure 73 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 4: for me over the last few years to really get 74 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 4: to know Tony much better as a person and to 75 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 4: have developed a really close relationship. 76 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 3: That we now have. Having said that, I don't want 77 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 3: to get too sentimental. 78 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 4: Right at the end of the day, Listen, I you know, 79 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 4: the one thing that we'll all remember about Tony, and 80 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 4: this is more as fans than anything else, is obviously 81 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 4: Tony in the nineteen ninety four World Cup and what 82 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,119 Speaker 4: he did for the team, and of all the wins. 83 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 4: You know, because sometimes we compare teams and we compare generations, 84 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 4: you know, why is this generation not getting the huge 85 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 4: wins that we had in the nineties, Because that's true. 86 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 4: You know, we beat a lot of big teams in 87 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 4: the nineties in the nineties that we weren't supposed to win. 88 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 4: And probably the most important reason we did that is 89 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:18,279 Speaker 4: because Tony Meola was standing on his head and he 90 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 4: we were able to take on the kind of pressure 91 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 4: and we were you know, thank god EXG didn't exist 92 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 4: back then because we would have broken all the negative 93 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 4: XG records. 94 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:30,920 Speaker 1: But we still won the games. 95 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 4: But you know the good thing about not having the 96 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:34,719 Speaker 4: XG is no one talked about it. 97 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 3: Is we just won the game. But yeah, you know, 98 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 3: on the field, it's something else. 99 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 4: And I think, you know, I think Tony was the 100 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 4: kind of guy that marked an era, you know. I mean, 101 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 4: when you think about the nineteen ninety four World Cup, 102 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 4: you know, even me, and even though obviously I played 103 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 4: in it, I think of Tony Meola. I think of 104 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 4: the Tony Meola, Tony Tail and Tony being in the 105 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 4: goal and being the captain of the team. So Tony 106 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 4: has had a big effect for me personally in my life, 107 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 4: and I think he will continue to have it, hopefully. 108 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: Wow. I don't even know what to say. I talk 109 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 1: to Tab. I talked to Tab ten times a day, 110 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: and I'm speechless right now. For any one of us 111 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: to be speechless, thanks man. I appreciate that. Yeah, I 112 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: appreciate it. And I think he knows me, knows how 113 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: I feel about him. It's all the same things. I'd 114 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 1: just be regurgitating all that stuff for me when when 115 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: the team part forget our personal relationship is what it is, right, 116 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: and I don't think that's ever gonna change the team 117 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: part of it all. All I ever wanted in teammates 118 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: was to know that the guy next to me wanted 119 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: to win as bad as I did, Right, that's all. 120 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean you're gonna win. There's gonna be crappy 121 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 1: games and you're gonna suck some games, and you're gonna 122 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: be great some games, and that's just the way the 123 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: sport is, right, that's the way life is. I just 124 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: wanted to know that you wanted to win as much 125 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: as me. And I didn't have a teammate. There's a 126 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: few I had tabs certainly at the top of the 127 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: list that wanted to win as much anybody that I 128 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: ever played for. So that that's why I think, right 129 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: from the beginning, aside from the fact we were from 130 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: the same town and all of that stuff, that's why 131 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 1: I think we kind of we hit it off right 132 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 1: from the jump. 133 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 2: It's a pretty obvious one from the outside. And again, 134 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 2: it's just really cool when you meet your heroes for 135 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 2: them to be actually good people. As well, because you 136 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,720 Speaker 2: guys could have been a holes and it wouldn't have 137 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 2: changed anything. But it's even a bonus. You guys are 138 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 2: good people. But anyway, let's get right into it. On 139 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 2: today's show, we have an interview with Tony. His memorable 140 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: moments is Crew, the Hides and Low's and I'm gonna 141 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,040 Speaker 2: see if I can get them get him off balance 142 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 2: with a couple of random questions, and we're gonna name 143 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 2: our all time best starting eleven for the US men's 144 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 2: national team. I think that we've got a lot of 145 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 2: different answers. It's it's great for debates, it's great to 146 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 2: go down memory lane. It's great to talk about some 147 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 2: of the legends of this program. I always enjoy that. 148 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 2: But first, let's tart with Tony. Tony, as we covered 149 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 2: on the last time you were on the show, the 150 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 2: Carnie all all of that to come from New Jersey, 151 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:03,920 Speaker 2: Tab was talking about it as well. He hinted at 152 00:07:04,080 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 2: you were not just a great, great soccer player again, 153 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 2: one of the best goalkeepers in this country's history. You 154 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 2: were a basketball player. You played college baseball. I believe 155 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 2: if your Wikipedia is right on my on my a 156 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 2: little bit of looking into this. You made All State 157 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: in New Jersey both as a goalkeeper and as a 158 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 2: center forward in high school. 159 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, my senior year about some of my best 160 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: friend soros Amilia. For three years we rotated either games 161 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 1: or hat. He was a goalkeeper. He went on the 162 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: place I've heard, I know, I know. But a week 163 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: before our our senior year was about to start, our 164 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,119 Speaker 1: center forward got in a car accident and couldn't play, 165 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: was out for the entire season. And mister Miller, our coach, 166 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: legendary coach and car and he said, man, we really 167 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: need a set, We need a center forward. Does anyone 168 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: know anyone, because like it was a town you could recruit. 169 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: And I was like, literally, I just come back from 170 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: the youth national team. Was the on the nineteenth at 171 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: the time, and I was like, I'll do it. I'll 172 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 1: do it like I always wanted to do it. I 173 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: did it every day. So I ended up I led 174 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: the state in scoring and I made first team and 175 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: it was I think I like thirty three goals or 176 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: something like that. It wasn't certainly tab scored like one 177 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty three in a season, but but yeah, 178 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: I did it just because that's what the team needed 179 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: to win, That's what we needed to do to win. 180 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: That's so I ended up doing it. And actually, Tom, 181 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 1: it was preemptive to what the game became, right, like 182 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: goalkeepers having to play with your feet. And I still think, man, 183 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: it was. It was And at the time I didn't 184 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: know the benefits I was getting out of it, but 185 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: it benefited me down the road when I needed it. 186 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,959 Speaker 2: Most your benefits was learning how to celebrate goals and 187 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 2: was probably like, man, this is a whole lot of 188 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,079 Speaker 2: fun being on this end of the field, right, like 189 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,320 Speaker 2: tab It's funny, like this has come up randomly, like 190 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 2: like I've said this on the show before too. Just 191 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 2: look up your goalscoring record in high school. I can't 192 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 2: possibly imagine how much fun that is. 193 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: It was a little bit just for one person. It 194 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 1: was fun for one person. Everybody else was miserable. 195 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 2: Kidding me, how manuny assists could you get by just 196 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 2: rolling a ten yard past sideways? 197 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: And yeah, it was. 198 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 3: It was different times, Tom, It was different times, Tony. 199 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 2: So, again, with all of your wider athletic accomplishments and abilities, 200 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 2: did you ever consider not going soccer like going towards 201 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 2: basketball or baseball. 202 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 1: Well, no baseball, right, I played half My scholarship in 203 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: Virginia was a baseball scholarship, so I only played in 204 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: the fall. I missed the first fall because me and 205 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,959 Speaker 1: Jeff Agus and that team went to the Youth World Cup, 206 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: so we had the red shirt my first year. So 207 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: my first college, my first college sporting event was a 208 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 1: college baseball game at Virginia because I started in the spring, 209 00:09:49,559 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: and I used to during soccer season. Bruce Arena will 210 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 1: tell you. I used to during soccer season at nighttime 211 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:58,240 Speaker 1: after we went to dinner, some people went to study. 212 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:00,680 Speaker 1: I want. I had a key to the gym and 213 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: I went into the batting cage during during soccer season 214 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: and I stayed all night and hitting the batting cage 215 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 1: with the baseball guys and vice versa. I would go 216 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: hang out with the soccer guys during baseball season because 217 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: I had to. You know, there would be days off 218 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 1: with baseball, and I trained in the spring soccer season 219 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 1: like That's how I had to do it, because I 220 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: didn't really know any other way, and my parents couldn't 221 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: afford for me to go to UVA. So if I 222 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 1: didn't play both sports. I mean I had I had 223 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: a dual scholarship. I was just trying to keep up 224 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: with all of it. But that's kind of what college 225 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: was like for me. 226 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 2: Again, just another different era, and I think that's why. 227 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 2: So for baseball was that ever again, you got drafted 228 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 2: by the Yankees out of high school? 229 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: Right, that that's great, like my that's I was getting 230 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: there when I got I got tought from the Yeah, 231 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: when I got cut from the Olympic team. Tab do 232 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: you remember eighty eight Olympics. We were in a hotel 233 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 1: in El Paso, Texas, I think, playing our last game 234 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:02,839 Speaker 1: before the Olympics, and I'd just come on late in 235 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: the site was it was only one camp. And I 236 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:08,959 Speaker 1: remember because Ricky Davis refused to play because there were 237 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: so many young players. He came on the bus. He 238 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: refused to play because there it was just going to 239 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 1: be a young team, right, and they wanted him to 240 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: captain the team at the time. And I went back 241 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 1: to the hotel and they gave they gave tickets out 242 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: and these guys were literally going to the Olympics. If 243 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: your ticket said you were going to Soul and my 244 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: ticket said I was going home, And I kind of 245 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: knew it, right, I knew it. Oh No, Bart Barrick 246 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 1: was nineteen ninety four, not nineteen eighty eight. The yeah, 247 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: in nineteen niney four. But that's how I and then 248 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: I thought, you know what, I'll go to coll I 249 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: have to play soccer in college because it's paying for 250 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: my school. But I'm gonna play. I'm gonna play baseball. Yeah, 251 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 1: I had to because my parents wasn't gonna tell my parents, right. 252 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: So anyway, it turned out differently. Once we qualified for 253 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 1: that World Cup. 254 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 4: I do remember that we all became honorary citizens the 255 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 4: city of Alpaslo. 256 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 3: I think I still have that certificate somewhere here. 257 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: It might be behind that some here. 258 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 2: Actually fantastic, that's fantastic. Yeah, so I again there is 259 00:12:13,679 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 2: if we had three hours, I wouldn't run out of questions. 260 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:18,559 Speaker 2: But you know, there was plenty of time between. But 261 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:20,080 Speaker 2: I do want to get to the ninety four Walk Cup. 262 00:12:20,120 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 2: So so Tony, what were you what were you alluding 263 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,439 Speaker 2: to there? That was barbark Well. 264 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 1: We had so we we would run on the beach 265 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: like we had double days, literally every day for eighteen months. 266 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,000 Speaker 1: And the guys that were in Europe like tab They 267 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:36,719 Speaker 1: they were living their their beautiful life while we were 268 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 1: living in California doing double days and chasing soccer balls 269 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: all around with one player, one ball from Bora Miltanovich, 270 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: which was a legendary a legendary drill he used to do. 271 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: So that we get down to the end and here 272 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: we had released a couple of guys. Borahead couple cut 273 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: a couple of guys probably about two months before the 274 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: World Cup, but there were still four guys that needed 275 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 1: to be cut because we knew Harks. I mean the 276 00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: guys that were coming back Ernie Stewart and I know 277 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: I'm missing a couple, but the guys that were coming 278 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 1: back from Europe, I think there were like seven of 279 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,120 Speaker 1: those guys. We knew they were making the team. Essentially 280 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: Roy Weggerley was in that group. I can't remember off 281 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: the top of my head, but anyway that we knew 282 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: the numbers. So four guys had to be released. And 283 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: we're a week out from playing that Mexico game, which 284 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: was the last warm up game of the World Cup, 285 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 1: and Bora makes us, has us run at the beach 286 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 1: in the morning, right, Tom, when I tell you my 287 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:38,480 Speaker 1: biggest freaking nightmare ever running at the beach right like 288 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: that was. I hated it more than anybody in the world. 289 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: And anyway he leaves, he leaves the facides one thing, 290 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 1: I really I respect Bora, but I've told him, like 291 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: I told him at one point about ten years ago, 292 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,199 Speaker 1: that that needed to be done a little bit differently. 293 00:13:56,840 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: But four guys got phone calls and said go over 294 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: to the facility. And the gal, her name was Melissa, 295 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 1: the gal that was at the front desk, was tasked 296 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 1: with telling those guys that they didn't make the World 297 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 1: Cup team. He's her job. 298 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 2: She was. 299 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,199 Speaker 1: Didn't do it himself. He was a secretary. There was 300 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: a secretary at the front desk, and Bord left the 301 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 1: training and the documentary that's coming out, I think you're 302 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: gonna hear from some of those guys about how that 303 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 1: all went down. If they agreed to do it, I 304 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:33,720 Speaker 1: know they were, they were being asked to do it. 305 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: And and so when I when you talk about Barbaric 306 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 1: in nineteen eighty eight, No, that was really good. At 307 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 1: least you knew you were getting a plane ticket home, 308 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: like you knew you could get home. At least you 309 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: know the other way you didn't know how you were 310 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 1: getting home. You just knew you weren't going to the 311 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: World Cup. So yeah, guys like Domin Kanier was one 312 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: of those guys. I think Chris Henderson was one of 313 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: those guys. Yeah, I'm trying to think of the other two. 314 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 3: One of those guys. 315 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 1: Jenny Fagus was one, really and there was one. There 316 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:09,560 Speaker 1: was four that day. But anyway, so when you said barbaric, 317 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: I'm like, no, no, you have no idea. 318 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 2: So so finally getting to the World Cup again, man, 319 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 2: that I can't imagine being one of the last guys cut. 320 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 2: That's just so so brutal. 321 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: Dominiclayer was my roommate from the first game after the 322 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety World Cup, which was in Portugal. We played 323 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 1: in Portugal to the last camp before the ninety four 324 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: World Cup. Every single camp in between, Dominic Kinnear was 325 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,520 Speaker 1: my roommate and then and then got released from that team. 326 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 3: You know what, I remember, Dominic caner at some of 327 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 3: some of the trips. 328 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 4: Didn't you have like a PlayStation game or something where 329 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 4: you played hockey all the time, right. 330 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, well it's probably NHL ninety or ninety one 331 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: or something like that. But Yeah, that's what it is. Yeah, 332 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: he was. He used to bring that so funny either. 333 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 2: Way, that's just brutal. But getting to the ninety four 334 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 2: World Cup again, we're talking so so much about this. 335 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,000 Speaker 2: That was the last time the World Cup was here 336 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 2: and all of the legacy that it created Major League Soccer, 337 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 2: everything that you guys did and everybody on that team 338 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 2: did to help build and create a foundation for the 339 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 2: sport in this country. So Tap, maybe i'll start with 340 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:22,360 Speaker 2: you on this one. Your first game, your debut game 341 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 2: at the World Cup in ninety four, when the national 342 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 2: anthem is playing, What's going through your mind? What are 343 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 2: you feeling? 344 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 3: Well, besides being extremely hot, it. 345 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 4: Was because you have to remember, and I want to 346 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 4: answer your question properly, but we were playing at the Silverdome. 347 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 4: Silverdome was obviously it's closed, it's in the middle of 348 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 4: the summer, and it has no air conditioning. It was 349 00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 4: the first time that they put these grass fields inside 350 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 4: inside of a bubble, so it was extremely hot. Still, 351 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,960 Speaker 4: I think the hottest game I was ever involved with. 352 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,360 Speaker 4: And that's even though obviously I later on I played 353 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:04,400 Speaker 4: four pm games on Saturdays in Dallas in MLS and 354 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 4: those are not fun, but the hottest. It was incredible 355 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 4: at the at the at the Silver Dome. But having 356 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,320 Speaker 4: said that, it was it was just really an incredible 357 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 4: feeling to have been part of that team because for 358 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:22,960 Speaker 4: the first time, I think we felt like people cared 359 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 4: about soccer in the country. As we're sitting there with 360 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 4: the national anthem and you know, the stadium is full 361 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 4: and it was a pro American crowd really for the 362 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 4: first time where we had tens of thousands of pro 363 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 4: American fans. I think it was It was certainly a 364 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 4: day to remember and an incredibly proud moment. 365 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: Tell what about you, Yeah, I remember it being hot, 366 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 1: for sure. It was muggy and uh. One story that 367 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 1: you'll again you'll see in the documentary It's coming Out. 368 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: We were there the night before and we realized, you remember, Tad, 369 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: We went there and Bora took us just wanted to 370 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: take us to this stame. We had already trained in 371 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:06,919 Speaker 1: the afternoon. We we had dinner and he wanted to 372 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 1: take us to the stadium. So they drive us to 373 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 1: you know, right into the stadium and we walk out 374 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: to midfield and they turned the lights out in the 375 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 1: whole stadium. It was pitch dark, right to have and 376 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: they put a video up on the board just for us, 377 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,399 Speaker 1: and I think we're going to see that video for 378 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:24,640 Speaker 1: the first time coming up here in the next couple 379 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:27,719 Speaker 1: of months. It's a really quick video. Everybody on the screen. 380 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 1: It was like a pump up video. Yeah, yeah, there's one. 381 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 1: I did see one picture circulating recently of that group 382 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:41,639 Speaker 1: just at midfield with the lights on, just like like 383 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: a team photo type thing, which is really cool. But 384 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: I I remember that night and remember, uh, you know, 385 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: like not we're ready, like now's the time, right, we 386 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 1: were going to play a World Cup at home, because 387 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:56,480 Speaker 1: when you think about World Cups, there's very If you 388 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: really think about the number of people that play in 389 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 1: a World Cup, it's it's so the number is minuscule, right, 390 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,880 Speaker 1: compared to how many people have ever played soccer. And 391 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 1: then to think about the the guys who get a 392 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 1: chance to play at home, right, that number is even smaller. Right, 393 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:15,879 Speaker 1: that's in a couple of hundreds, right, maybe in a 394 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: few thousand, if you will. And I was interviewing Christian 395 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: Polisic a little while back, and someone had asked him 396 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 1: on our someone on our panel asked him like, do 397 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 1: you know how like how impactful this is gonna be. 398 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 1: And he was like, ah, yeah, well you know we 399 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,679 Speaker 1: all playing Europe And I said, no, no, you have 400 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:37,159 Speaker 1: no idea what the World Cup playing at home is 401 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 1: going to do for you. Man. It's a completely different 402 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:42,400 Speaker 1: animal and it changes your life and it will forever. 403 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:44,920 Speaker 2: Getting pumped up just thinking about. But we got to 404 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,160 Speaker 2: take a very very quick break. We're gonna ask some 405 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 2: rapid fire questions with Tony about his favorite teammates, his 406 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 2: biggest difference is his best performances, and a couple other things. 407 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 2: So please rate, review and subscribe. It's Inside American Soccer, 408 00:19:55,720 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 2: Tabaramas wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back fin South 409 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:12,159 Speaker 2: American Soccer. Let's do a little rapid fire with the 410 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:16,280 Speaker 2: legend that is Tony Miola. Tony goalkeepers have to learn 411 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 2: to deal with mistakes. What was the one time, maybe 412 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 2: the most time that your confidence was actually shaken in 413 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:22,040 Speaker 2: a game, if at. 414 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 1: All shaken in a game. I'd have to say for 415 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: about thirty seconds after giving up the goal against Romania 416 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 1: and the World Cup, and then I had to really 417 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: just turn around. But I was I thought I had 418 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 1: it right, and I didn't have it right, so that one, 419 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:40,560 Speaker 1: but I like how it reacted from it. 420 00:20:41,080 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 2: There you go, story redemption. What do you think your 421 00:20:43,560 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 2: personal best performance was in a US Sure? 422 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 1: I always looked at my career in a hundred caps 423 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: I had, I had five really shitty games I had, 424 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:01,119 Speaker 1: I had five really super good games in like ninety games. 425 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 1: It all looked the same. That's like the thing I'm 426 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: most proud of. But my best one was probably the 427 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:09,399 Speaker 1: performance against England. And what was that tournament called the 428 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: US Cup? It was? 429 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was a US Cup? 430 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, US Cup? Yeah, against the against England to zer 431 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:22,879 Speaker 1: win tab Actually an incredible assist on the Duley's goal, right, 432 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:24,119 Speaker 1: was it Thomas Dooley. 433 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 3: On Duley's goal. 434 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. 435 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,359 Speaker 4: But I'll add to what you said before. You know 436 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 4: that when you look at your career, you look. 437 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 3: At five shitty games and five great games. Well, I 438 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,120 Speaker 3: don't remember any of your five shitty games. I can 439 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 3: tell you that. 440 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 2: I think that those two numbers were even. I mean 441 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 2: the great games was much much higher. 442 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, but that's kind of how I looked at it. 443 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,520 Speaker 1: But because my my the pride of for me of 444 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,399 Speaker 1: the career was like just being consistent, knowing that you 445 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: could you could depend on me when you needed to 446 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:53,520 Speaker 1: depend on me. 447 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:56,560 Speaker 2: What was the craziest environment you ever played in? That 448 00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 2: can go all the way back to childhood, to high school, 449 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 2: to college, to pros to indoor soccer to a media 450 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 2: game with me with. 451 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:08,520 Speaker 1: Without Yeah, the media game was second. But the craziest 452 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: one by far was a game I didn't play in 453 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 1: but I was in the state, but against Morocco in Casablanca. 454 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 1: I have never ever heard anything like that in my life. 455 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: That that was, uh, that was incredible, incredible. I mean, 456 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: the the way the noise went through like it was crazy, 457 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:34,640 Speaker 1: the way the stadium shook. And then the other one Actually, 458 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:40,399 Speaker 1: another game I didn't play in was he maybe maybe 459 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 1: that's the familie didn't recognize when I was playing locked 460 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: in was South Korea World Cup in two thousand and two. 461 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 1: That when Clint Mathis scored that goal, but that stadium, 462 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 1: the entire day was But I guess you notice things 463 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: to have more when you don't. 464 00:22:57,119 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 4: Play when you play your because your you're I guess, yeah, 465 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:03,440 Speaker 4: but it was those two. 466 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, favorite US men's national team teammate besides them, Oh. 467 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:15,119 Speaker 1: That's a tough one, I'd have to I'd have to 468 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: say because I was with him. Probably the longest is 469 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 1: Marcello Babo. 470 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:24,919 Speaker 2: Legend, legend, most difficult opponent that you played with for 471 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 2: the national team? 472 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 1: Played it played against? Yeah, yeah, yeah, Oh easy one 473 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 1: for me. We played a C. Milan in my my, 474 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,440 Speaker 1: my team we played AC Milan in Chicago. Marco Van 475 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: Boston my hands down. I shouldn't say hands down because 476 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:50,359 Speaker 1: Ramrio and Bebeto we're also pretty pretty good. But Marco 477 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 1: van Boston and Rude Houllett. But Marco van Boston, he 478 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 1: hit a ball to score a goal by my ear 479 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:01,480 Speaker 1: and I could still hear it going past meeting. But 480 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,479 Speaker 1: he was a beast man. Justj just injuries cut his 481 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: career short. He was a monster. 482 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,440 Speaker 2: What's the biggest difference between your nineteen ninety four team 483 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 2: and this upcoming twenty twenty six to US national team? 484 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, I would say one thing. We're seeing it now 485 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 1: with this team, so it might be we're but that 486 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 1: ninety four team was so tight. I mean, we were trying. 487 00:24:29,359 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 1: We had a different mission in ninety four, right, We 488 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 1: were trying to conquer the world in nineteen ninety four, 489 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:35,680 Speaker 1: where these guys have the world that they're at their 490 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:37,399 Speaker 1: feet right now. It's just no matter what they do 491 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 1: with it. 492 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 2: What is the most annoying non soccer question you get 493 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 2: asked in interviews like this by idiots like me? Because 494 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 2: I have two guesses. One is either hey, are you 495 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 2: gonna go back to the ponytail? Or two is gonna 496 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 2: be tell me about the time when you were on 497 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:51,640 Speaker 2: the Jets, because I think it's one of those two, 498 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:52,440 Speaker 2: But tell me if I'm wrong. 499 00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:56,200 Speaker 1: Yeah. Look, the Jets thing was like just a childhood 500 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 1: like dream that I was living out right to play 501 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 1: another professional sport. But you it's number two and you 502 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:04,639 Speaker 1: nailed number one. So I don't know. How did we 503 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:05,919 Speaker 1: have this discussion before? 504 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:10,959 Speaker 4: Okay, Yeah, by the way, I didn't know anybody had 505 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,400 Speaker 4: dreams that playing for the Jets, But I. 506 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 1: Guess some people said, I said, another professional sport. 507 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 2: Lastly a rapid fire. Maybe this could be a new 508 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 2: annoying one. What can you tell us about your nineteen 509 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 2: ninety five off Broadway appearance in Tony and Tina's wedding. 510 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:33,600 Speaker 1: Oh man, it was awesome. It was so awesome doing anything. 511 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:37,280 Speaker 1: I went to school theater, theater and and uh, and 512 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 1: communications was my me. Yeah, in college and I and 513 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: I thought, man, this is the only way I can 514 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: convince my parents that I actually went to some of 515 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 1: the classes. I got to take a job. 516 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 2: But were you Tony and Tony and Tina's wedding? 517 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:56,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was the Star. Yeah, no, it was I 518 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,960 Speaker 1: wanted we do. We extended it four weeks. What happened 519 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 1: was MLS. MLS was supposed to start. They ended up 520 00:26:03,320 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: pushing the league back. And then I got this call 521 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,119 Speaker 1: because they were doing all these like Lee Mazzilli and 522 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 1: X Mets player, like all these guys were doing this role. 523 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:12,920 Speaker 1: So they called there, like my guys, if he didn't 524 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: even have to change his name, it's Tony, you know, 525 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:18,879 Speaker 1: he doesn't even have to fake it. And then it 526 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:23,440 Speaker 1: was so tom there were people waiting online. There would 527 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,480 Speaker 1: be soccer fans waiting online to get tickets the night 528 00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:28,359 Speaker 1: the night of the show that couldn't get in, and 529 00:26:28,359 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 1: they'd be back the next night. And they extended it 530 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: like four weeks after that, and uh, and back in 531 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: the day, I'll be honest, it wasn't a bad paycheck 532 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:40,919 Speaker 1: for what I was doing, better than the Brooklyn make money. 533 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:43,680 Speaker 3: I'm sure better than Brooklyn Italians. 534 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 2: I can't speaking of money, I can't tell you how 535 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 2: much money i'd pay for a time machine to go 536 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 2: back and watch one of those performances. But thank you 537 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:52,440 Speaker 2: for that sone. We're gonna have one more quick break 538 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 2: and we'll be back for the all time US men's 539 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:56,879 Speaker 2: national team starting allows. Thank you for listening to Inside 540 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 2: America Soccer. Please rate, review, subscribe forever he gets podcast. 541 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:14,840 Speaker 2: Welcome back to Inside American Soccer. We thank Tony Mioa 542 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:18,120 Speaker 2: so very much for his time, expertise, laughter, friendship, everything. 543 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:20,840 Speaker 2: So we want to go back in time and talk 544 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 2: about who our all time starting elevens is with the 545 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:24,560 Speaker 2: US national team. 546 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:24,840 Speaker 1: TAB. 547 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:27,639 Speaker 2: This was very hard for me to put together. I 548 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 2: can't imagine how difficult its view, given that you've been 549 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:31,399 Speaker 2: in the locker rooms, you've been part of all of 550 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:33,400 Speaker 2: these teams, and a lot of guys that you've seen 551 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:35,920 Speaker 2: both in training and in games, and then currently coaching 552 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 2: or watching all of that. So Tab, I'm gonna let 553 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 2: you kick us off and go first. 554 00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:40,680 Speaker 3: All right. 555 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:44,159 Speaker 4: I made up my own rules a little bit for 556 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:47,679 Speaker 4: this selection, so I didn't I picked an old time 557 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:50,159 Speaker 4: team that I would want to play with. But I 558 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 4: only I did it only with guys that I played 559 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 4: that I actually played with, guys that I spent time 560 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:57,680 Speaker 4: in practice and in games with. 561 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 3: So this is my line up. Tony would be in goal. 562 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 4: In the back I selected, I'm going with three in 563 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 4: the back, as you know the new US lineup. But actually, 564 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 4: if I could pick only one or two defenders, I 565 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 4: would have been better off. 566 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 3: I didn't want to pick any, but I'll be I'll 567 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 3: be clear with that. 568 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 4: I would have picked more attackers, kind of like an 569 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,159 Speaker 4: MLS All Star game where they picked like gold the 570 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:18,919 Speaker 4: number tens. 571 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:23,879 Speaker 3: I would have done right. So I picked three. So 572 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 3: I went in the back. 573 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:27,720 Speaker 4: I went with the three center backs being Alexi Lalas, 574 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:34,600 Speaker 4: Kevin Crowe, and Marcelo Balboa wide on the right and 575 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 4: the left. I went on the left side, Hugo Perez 576 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:41,640 Speaker 4: on the right side, Landon Donovan. In the middle of 577 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 4: the field, I went with John Harks and Rick Davis. 578 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 4: In front of them, I have Clint Mathis and up top, 579 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 4: Eric Guinalda and Brian McBride. 580 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 2: My gosh, that's quite a team. That's quite a team. Man. 581 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 1: I'm gonna show you I haven't made any changes I 582 00:28:57,840 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: wrote him down. I'm just gonna read them as they are. 583 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:01,360 Speaker 2: Go ahead. 584 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:07,360 Speaker 1: Wow. Yeah. So I went with Balboa, Alexi Lass and 585 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 1: Eddie Pope in the back. I went in the center. 586 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 1: So I went three four three I'm using I'm stealing 587 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:16,720 Speaker 1: Murcia Pochettino or three four two one I'm stealing the 588 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:21,320 Speaker 1: stealing Pochettino's lineup or formation? Uh tab on the right 589 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: hand side, uh, John Harks and Thomas Dooley in the 590 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 1: middle of the field, and Landon Donovan on the left 591 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 1: hand side of the field. And then I went went 592 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:33,320 Speaker 1: Alda on the left, Mathis on the right and Brian 593 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 1: McBride up top. 594 00:29:34,560 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 2: Who did you say in Golden On miss that? Or 595 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 2: did you skip over goalkeeper? 596 00:29:37,440 --> 00:29:39,920 Speaker 1: Yeah? I didn't put a goalkeeper in. Come on, Tony, 597 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: I put myself in. Yeah yeah, damn shit. Yeah. So 598 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:48,280 Speaker 1: we had all the same attacking players. Amazing man. 599 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 2: That's so I'll give mine. And I thought it would 600 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 2: have been funny to just dead pan and only do 601 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 2: guys that have played like twenty ten and after, just 602 00:29:55,720 --> 00:29:57,840 Speaker 2: to see if if you guys would be raging through 603 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 2: the through the computer screen. Mine is is a bit 604 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 2: more comprehensive, though maybe not all the way back towards you, guys, 605 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:05,720 Speaker 2: I went four to three to three Uncle Tony Meollen 606 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 2: goal uh, Steve Tarndolo, Claus Bocaneaga, Alexi Lallis and DeMarcus 607 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:13,520 Speaker 2: Beasley on the back line, central midfield trio that you 608 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 2: can only dream of, Michael Bradley, Claudia Arena, tab Ramos 609 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:18,760 Speaker 2: and a front three you could also only dream of 610 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:20,880 Speaker 2: Christian Poolsick, Clint Empsey and Landon. 611 00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 3: Wow, that's hard to be. That's hard to beat. 612 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 2: And my manager would probably be Bob Bradley, very very 613 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 2: close over Bruce Arena. 614 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:34,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, had I played with a couple of that Again, 615 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,560 Speaker 1: I stole tabs rule. I actually thought that was the rule. 616 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 1: Only guys that I only guys that I had played with. 617 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:45,720 Speaker 2: Was how I I looked at this one man, this 618 00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 2: and this this is good because I think and I 619 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,400 Speaker 2: think MLS has a worst problem of this than the 620 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 2: national team. But we're pretty bad at like being proud 621 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 2: of our history and really being like, like you stacked 622 00:30:56,720 --> 00:30:58,960 Speaker 2: out eleven up listen man, any maybe it is in 623 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 2: Brazil with Lea and Ronaldo and everything, but like that's 624 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 2: a lot of world class, top quality players for me, 625 00:31:05,840 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 2: so I always do enjoy going back down. 626 00:31:08,440 --> 00:31:10,840 Speaker 4: You know, I always, I always, I always feel bad 627 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,520 Speaker 4: if we put like an old time team together and 628 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:17,240 Speaker 4: we don't know the Walter Barrs and the Harry koh Yes, 629 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 4: and you know, then beating England in Brazil in nineteen 630 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 4: fifty like that counts, you know, And so I always 631 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 4: feel bad if you're going to put a best eleven 632 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:29,760 Speaker 4: that you know we never saw them play, you know, 633 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 4: so how could it be? 634 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:34,360 Speaker 2: Right? And and again how different everything was back at 635 00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:37,560 Speaker 2: that time, not just the game itself, but the preparation, 636 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 2: the being scouted and selected to the team, all these things. 637 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 2: Like I forget what movie it was, but you know, 638 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 2: it seemed like that nineteen fifty seamed it was like 639 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 2: just the best players in Saint Louis, some guys from 640 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 2: from the northeast as well. Man, what a different time, 641 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 2: but what a legendary, legendary team. I think that does 642 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:57,640 Speaker 2: it for our time. Totomiola, You're a legend. Thank you 643 00:31:57,680 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 2: so very much for joining us, that you're giving us 644 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 2: your time. Again, everybody listening to this, I'll say it again, 645 00:32:02,360 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 2: he is the best, one of one. Please listen to 646 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:08,360 Speaker 2: him CBS, Sports, Galazzo, Serious XM. Anywhere he's doing work, 647 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 2: you should be listening when he's talking. TAB Same to 648 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:13,000 Speaker 2: you as always, but I'll get to talk to you 649 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:15,440 Speaker 2: again next week. Thank you all for listening. We'll be 650 00:32:15,480 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 2: back very very soon.