1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we might 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: have to give up on setting the record for most 3 00:00:04,840 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: podcast downloads. In fact, Saylor Swift on New Heights might 4 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: have taken down the whole podcast spear Can you break 5 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: a streaming service? Does iHeart still exist? Can you hear us? 6 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 2: Is this thing on? 7 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: It's Thursday, August fourteenth, And on today's show, we'll be 8 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: talking to best selling author, longtime journalist, and proud dad 9 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: Wayne Coffee about the biggest storylines to follow as the 10 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: NCAA College soccer season gets started, how the college soccer 11 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: landscape has changed in recent years, and what it's like 12 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: watching one of his daughter's report on his other daughter 13 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: making her Olympic debut. Plus our new favorite hatchling clinching 14 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: while resting, and goat tails that left us wanting more. 15 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: It's all coming up right after this welcome back slices. 16 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: Here's what you need to know today. 17 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 2: With soccer. 18 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: The NCAA Division One college soccer season starts today with 19 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: three hundred and ten teams in action, and here's a 20 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: list of all one hundred and fifty five games. Just kidding, 21 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: but we will link to the full schedule in the 22 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: show notes, and we're guessing there's a team playing near you, 23 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:18,759 Speaker 1: so go out and support him. Heading into the season, 24 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: the United Soccer Coaches Poll has the defending champs, the 25 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: North Carolina Tar Heels, ranked number one in the nation, 26 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: followed by number two Notre Dame, number three Florida State, 27 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: number four Duke, and number five Southern California. Full rankings 28 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: are linked in the show notes. And we'll have plenty 29 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: more on what to expect this season with Wayne Coffee 30 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 1: in just a bit more soccer, this time in the NWSL. 31 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: The Chicago Color Neutral Stars announced the hiring of Martin 32 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: Hugren as the club's new head coach on Wednesday. Hugran 33 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: won't join the Stars till January, as he plans to 34 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 1: close out the season at his current post head coach 35 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: of Swedish team Hammerbye until then. Anders Jakobsen, who has 36 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: worked with Huchrun for more than a decade, will service 37 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: Chicago's head coach for the conclusion of the twenty twenty 38 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: five season before transitioning to working as Huggland's first assistant 39 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: next year. In a press release, the Stars said that 40 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: Hugland and Jakobsen's hiring comes following an extensive process that 41 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: included more than sixty candidates dating back to April when 42 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: the club fired previous head coach Lauren Donaldson. Hugren, in 43 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: addition to his club experience, was also the head coach 44 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: of the Norwegian national team for six years from twenty 45 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: sixteen to twenty twenty two, which included an appearance in 46 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: the quarterfinals of the twenty nineteen Women's World Cup. The 47 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 1: Color Neutral Stars have been blowing through coaches, so here's 48 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 1: hoping that Hugland sticks around long enough for me to 49 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: find out whether I'm saying his name correctly. To the WNBA, 50 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Links are officially playoff bound. The team may 51 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: still have twelve regular season games to play, but on 52 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: Tuesday night, they mathematically clinched a spot thanks to their 53 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: twenty seven and five record, making it official with the 54 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: loss from the sixth place Indiana Fever. 55 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 2: Yep, that's right. 56 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: They just got to sit home and watch as a 57 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: postseason birth was assured. So we got one spot locked 58 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: up for now, while another seven remain up for grabs 59 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,519 Speaker 1: between now and the end of the WNBA regular season 60 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 1: on September eleventh. 61 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 2: Also something to keep an eye on. 62 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: As the end of the season approaches, with the Lynx's 63 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: de Fisa Collier missing significant time to an ankle injury, 64 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: sure feels like the WNBA MVP is very much up 65 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: for grabs. The Las Vegas Aces Asia Wilson's been putting 66 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: up numbers, the Phoenix Mercuries Elisa Thomas is racking up 67 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: triple doubles, and what about a dark course in the 68 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: Indiana Fever's Kelsey Mitchell, who's leading the league in total 69 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 1: points scored more. WNBA our suspicions about the mysterious egg 70 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: outside the Chase Center were confirmed. The Golden State Valkyries 71 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: unveiled their team's mascot on Monday during halftime of their 72 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: seventy five to fifty seven win over the Connecticut Sun. 73 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: Her name Violet the Raven, wrote the Valkyries about the 74 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: violet colored, feathered, bespectacled bird quote. Ravens are commonly known 75 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: as Valkyrie's helpful and savvy counterparts in Norse mythology. Collecting 76 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: information from her day billy flights, Violet brings crucial knowledge 77 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: back for the leaders of Balhalla to use in battle. 78 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 1: Ravens are considered guardians of good fortune shape shifting to 79 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,960 Speaker 1: trick and defeat any enemies of Balhalla. 80 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 2: End quote. 81 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: Also an interesting note about those glasses that Violet wears, 82 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 1: they wrote, quote because she is near sighted, she sports 83 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: gold glasses, helping her achieve the excellent eyesight that Ravens 84 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 1: are known to have. 85 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 2: End quote. 86 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: More on those glasses and the newest mascot in the game. 87 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: In a little bit to tennis. Ahead of next week's 88 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 1: US Open, Venus Williams has been awarded a wildcard to 89 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 1: compete in women's singles at the tournament. It'll be William's 90 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: first Grand Slam event in two years and continues her 91 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 1: recent return to the court. Last month, she played her 92 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: first tournament in sixteen months at the DC Open, making 93 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: it to the second round after losing in the first round. 94 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 1: The Cincinnati Opened last week, she said she feels like 95 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: she's in great shape. Quote Now I can work on 96 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: power and speed instead of trying to just make sure 97 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: I'm not hurt going into the tournament. 98 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: End quote. Also, speaking of Venus, she's. 99 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: Getting honored with a bar arbi which will be released 100 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: on Friday. The new Venus Williams doll will wear the 101 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: same uniform Venus war when she won Wimbledon in two 102 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: thousand and seven. We'll link to a photo and more 103 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: details in the show notes. And if you're a collector 104 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 1: snapping up those PWHL barbies and Venus barbies and all 105 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 1: the other sporty barbies, shoot us a photo. We'd love 106 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: to see your collection. To college hoops and a developing story. 107 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: Tennessee basketball player Ruby Whitehorn was charged with aggravated burglary 108 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: and domestic assault after she was arrested last Friday. According 109 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 1: to court records obtained by the Knox News, the rising 110 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: senior was arrested after she got into a physical altercation 111 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: outside a woman's residence and proceeded to kick in the 112 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: door to the residence. Per the report, the woman provided 113 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: cell phone video of Whitehorn entering her house and fighting 114 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: with her. In a press release, Whitehorn's attorney said she 115 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 1: plans to plead not guilty, saying quote, our firm's investigation 116 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: has also revealed that the factual allegations contained in the 117 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,359 Speaker 1: warrants are not accurate and are contradicted by eyewitness accounts. 118 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 1: Ruby Whitehorn looks forward to having this matter resolved in 119 00:05:58,960 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: the very near future. 120 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 2: End quote. 121 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 1: We'll link to the latest story on this incident from 122 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: Knox News reporter Cora Hall in the show notes, Finally, 123 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 1: an update on a story we discussed last week. US 124 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: sprinter Shkerri Richardson has apologized to her boyfriend Christian Coleman 125 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: in a post on social media after she allegedly assaulted 126 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,359 Speaker 1: Coleman during a dispute at the Seattle Tacoma Airport. Richardson 127 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: was arrested and spent eighteen hours in jail, but the 128 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: charges against her were dropped after Coleman declined to pursue them. 129 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 1: On Instagram earlier this week, Richardson wrote, quote, I apologize 130 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: to Christian. He came into my life and gave me 131 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: more than a relationship, but a greater understanding of unconditional 132 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: love from what I've experienced in my past. Due to 133 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: my past trauma and pain, I was blind and blocked 134 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: off to not only receive it but give it. I 135 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:46,720 Speaker 1: love him and to him. I can't apologize enough. End quote. 136 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: All right, Slice, As you might have figured out by 137 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 1: now if you listen to the show regularly, that I'm 138 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: a bit of a mascot girly. I even dressed as 139 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 1: Ellie the Elephant for Halloween last year, so you know, 140 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,239 Speaker 1: we can't let a new mascot hatch and not talk 141 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,559 Speaker 1: about it. Time for another edition of Give Me a Minute, 142 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 1: Alex Misha, get in here. The Bird's the word, Let's 143 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: get into it. First thoughts, very cute mascot. I liked 144 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: the concept. We had a feeling the Bird would somehow 145 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: be about the Valkyrie sort of journey through the air 146 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: to bring these wounded warriors to Valhalla and obviously in 147 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 1: their case, ball Halla. I dig it I first was 148 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: a little confused, and in fact, one of the friends 149 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: of the show, who I has not given me permission 150 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: to say her name, but she traveled to this game 151 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: and did not enjoy. 152 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 2: The fact that Violet the Bird was being. 153 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: Taught how to shoot a layup by an NBA player 154 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: that was in attendance at the game. She was like, 155 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: why is this a helpless little girl bird who doesn't 156 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: know how to play basketball? But in reading the release 157 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 1: that the team put out, she literally hatched. So the 158 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: point of all of her first day activities were they 159 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: taught her how to dance, they taught her how to 160 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 1: do a layup, they welcomed her to the world. They 161 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 1: apparently realized she was nearsighted and gave her some glasses. 162 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 1: So all right, if we're talking about Violet being a 163 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,440 Speaker 1: true baby, little hatchling that needs to learn about the world, 164 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: I'm okay with that. I don't need her to emerge, 165 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: you know, and be a literal warrior type of bird. 166 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 2: She can grow into that. 167 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:18,800 Speaker 1: As for the glasses, my first thought was why why 168 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: did we give this bird glasses? 169 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:21,239 Speaker 2: What's the point? 170 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: And then my brain immediately went to the obvious reason, 171 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: which is probably money. And my guess is that there 172 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: will be some sort of sponsor tie into the glasses 173 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: that gets revealed very soon. They didn't want to do 174 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:33,319 Speaker 1: it right away because then everyone would be like, oh, 175 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,960 Speaker 1: they totally sold out, So they're waiting a little while 176 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: to be like sponsored by you know, whatever vision, the 177 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 1: Bay Area's number one provider of glasses or whatever. 178 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 2: It is also interesting giveaways. 179 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: You know that they got like the Ellie brain and 180 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: stuff at Liberty Games that people buy the hats and 181 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: stuff that have the Elli braid on them. You know, 182 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:54,280 Speaker 1: there's me a bunch of kids that want to be 183 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: rocking those violet gold glasses with some feathers or something. 184 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: So my bet is not that they were like, let's 185 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: make kids out there with glasses feel good. 186 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 2: By having a bespectacled mascot. I bet there's money in 187 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 2: that game. Other than that, I'm curious to see what 188 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 2: her vibe is. 189 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 1: They have her dancing, which is very Ellie coded, but 190 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: not in any way sexual way. She is not bringing 191 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 1: that Ellie fears sort of vibes with some sass. She's 192 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: definitely bringing I just hatched vibes. So I'm curious to 193 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: see if this mascot will always be for the kids, 194 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: which I'm told is usually what mascots are for. But 195 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: as whatever version of adult Disney person is for mascots, 196 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: that's what I am, and I want them to be 197 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: for me. So I just need to see if Vie 198 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,679 Speaker 1: as they call her, can bring it for me and 199 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: not just the kiddos. 200 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 3: Alex, I mean, I love everything about this, but I 201 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 3: want to do a little group brainstorm. Can we think 202 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 3: of any other pro sports mascot that wears glasses. 203 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 2: I can't. 204 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 1: There's probably some sort of like a at some point 205 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 1: that's got like the goggles on. 206 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 2: That's just a wild guess. 207 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 3: I just think it's brilliant. I think of ways that 208 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 3: you can unite a fan base and hand out a 209 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 3: very simple object to make everyone have this unifying thing, 210 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:18,439 Speaker 3: and little glasses without glass of them so so fun. 211 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 1: And also a great way to get your entire audience 212 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: to be simultaneously clowning the officials. They all put their 213 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: violet glasses on and be like terrible wild cry. 214 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:35,559 Speaker 3: I wanted to point out though, there was a very 215 00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 3: funny line I thought in the press release about quote 216 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 3: collecting information from her daily flights, Violet brings crucial knowledge 217 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 3: back for the leaders of Balhalla to use in battle 218 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 3: end quote, And my initial thought was, oh my god, 219 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 3: another drone gate. They have replaced the drone with a bird. 220 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 3: She's going to be spying on team practices, just like 221 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:59,280 Speaker 3: the Canadian national team. And I know, different sport, different 222 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 3: level of competition, And I was like, is this too soon? 223 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:02,720 Speaker 2: Feels a little too soon? 224 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 4: Okay, I hope they don't use Vie to to do 225 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 4: some elite by the spy. 226 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 2: Isn't there a person spy? Isn't that a TV show 227 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:19,720 Speaker 2: for kids or something? Again meish, not my wheelhouse. Okay. 228 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 4: Anyways, uh, I do love this mascot. Violet has already 229 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 4: stolen my heart. I don't know why you were initially 230 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 4: confused about the glasses Sarah as a bad vision Battie. 231 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 2: I feel very seen by Violet. I know there's a lot. 232 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 4: Of people who feel exactly the same way. I was 233 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 4: a big glasses goggle wearing kid. So I really think 234 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 4: this is gonna you know, it's gonna unite some people 235 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 4: who feel a little bit left out. Sometimes in the 236 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 4: world of elite athletes who've got, you know, twenty twenty 237 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 4: vision and can do everything perfectly. 238 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:52,199 Speaker 2: Some of us can't see. 239 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. No, I mean I'm supposed to wear my glasses 240 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: every day, I just choose not to. I just prefer 241 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: to be mostly blind because they adore me and I 242 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: hate my context. But you did just give me an 243 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:05,199 Speaker 1: idea of a little nice play between Ali Chagray and Violet. 244 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 2: Whenever the Atlanta dream are visiting the Valks. 245 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 1: We could see a little spectacles off between those two. 246 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,439 Speaker 1: Before we wrap on this mascot thing, I do want 247 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: to share something that I never had a chance to 248 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 1: after WNBA All Star, which is to say that Benny 249 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: the Bull has always had my heart. Like I truly 250 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: believe Benny the Bull can get it, and I think 251 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:26,360 Speaker 1: that's a weird thing to say for someone who's not 252 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 1: actually a furry but something about Benny the Bull and 253 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 1: the pop Tart guy, which is the same dude, you know, 254 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: I just there's some there, and I met Buckets, the 255 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: mascot for the Las Vegas Aces at the All Star Weekend. 256 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 2: Y'all Buckets can get it. 257 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 1: Buckets has some crazy swagger, gold chain, those jack rabbit ears. 258 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: I'm just saying, whoever's inside Buckets has some wild swag, 259 00:12:55,640 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: and props to that human female, male, non binary whoever 260 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: is up in Buckets costume. 261 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 4: And I don't know if I can ever follow you there, 262 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 4: ever in this lifetime be able to follow you. But 263 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:16,079 Speaker 4: you know what, I respect it because it's you. It's yours, 264 00:13:16,559 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 4: it's yours. 265 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 1: I defy you to watch several minutes of Buckets doing 266 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: his thing and tell me that you're not like. 267 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 2: Oh God, damn, someone in there's got something going on. 268 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 4: You're telling me Buckets as a gender that is also many. 269 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 2: Buckets the mascot. I believe it is a man. 270 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: I believe the mascot is a man, but the vibes 271 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: are non gender specific. 272 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 2: And someone tells. 273 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 1: Me those years would get you, mesh, I think those 274 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: years would get anybody. 275 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 4: I don't know what that thing is that tells you that. 276 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:53,679 Speaker 3: And like Kasha Buckets spells their name with a dollar 277 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 3: signed they do which win in my book? 278 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, well I've made it weird, all right? Moving on, 279 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: we gotta take a break. When we come back. Some 280 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: soccer talk with Wayne Coffee. He caught up with them on. 281 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:15,440 Speaker 2: Wednesday, joining us now. 282 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 1: He's a best selling author and journalist who did a 283 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:20,120 Speaker 1: long stint as the principal sports enterprise and feature writer 284 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: for the New York Daily News. He's the author or 285 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: co author of thirty books, including the New York Times 286 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: bestseller The Boys of Winter, which producer Alex says was 287 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: the very first sports book she ever bought. Also noteworthy 288 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: athlete memoirs, including Briana Scurri's My Greatest Save in Carly 289 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: Lloyd's When Nobody Was Watching. A graduate at Binghamton University. 290 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: He's a fan of red lentils and kindness, and he 291 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: particularly likes the sports writer Alex Coffee, who happens to 292 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: be his daughter, and the TV reporter Sean Coffee, who 293 00:14:48,440 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 1: happens to be his son. Oh and one of his 294 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: other kid happens to be an Olympic gold medalist and 295 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 1: the captain of the Portland Thorns. Sam Coffee, what a legacy. 296 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: It's Wayne Coffee. 297 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 5: Hi Wayne, Hi Sarah. Great to be with you and 298 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 5: thanks for giving my giving my kids a shout. They 299 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:04,440 Speaker 5: deserve it. 300 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 2: How could I not? What an incredible trio. 301 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 1: Before we get into the NCAA soccer season, I want 302 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: to talk about those talented kids. We got a TV reporter, 303 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: a sports writer, a pro athlete. I have to ask, 304 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: because my parents are not super into sports, and I 305 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: found my way into playing and now working in sports. 306 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 1: How organic was the love of sports and interest in 307 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: sports for your kids or was there some urging on 308 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: your part? 309 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 5: It's an interesting question. I mean it was all organic, really, 310 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 5: We're I have loved sports my whole life. I played, 311 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:39,160 Speaker 5: and when the kids were little, I coached in you know, 312 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 5: little league, soccer, basketball, you name it, and they all played. 313 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 5: And we live in a little town called Sleepy Hollow, 314 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 5: about thirty miles north of the city, and there's this 315 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 5: big sort of community green, big green space that is 316 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 5: just like a field, and it was very much our 317 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 5: kids feel dreams and we'd go out there and we'd 318 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 5: play various sports and it just sort of it took 319 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 5: root from there. It was, Yeah, they're great memories, but yeah, 320 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 5: these guys, all three of them, are just crushing it. 321 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 1: So I have to ask, after years and years of 322 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: watching and reporting on sports, how different is it watching 323 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: your own child play in something like the Olympics. 324 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 5: The nerves we can start with nerve racking and then 325 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 5: go from there. I covered twelve Olympics, Sarah, and and 326 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 5: I'm here to report that it's much easier to be 327 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 5: an Olympic reporter than it is to be an Olympic father. 328 00:16:38,960 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 5: Not that I would change it for anything, but it's 329 00:16:42,120 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 5: a good thing. They weren't taking my blood pressure or 330 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 5: pulse during the Olympics because I was, you know, just 331 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 5: not just on the on the edge of my seat. 332 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: I was. 333 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 5: It was a thrill. But I remember years ago hearing 334 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 5: Calvin Hill, the Hall of Fame football player, talk about 335 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 5: how watching Grant play at Duke was more nerve racking 336 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,480 Speaker 5: for him than playing in a Super Bowl or an 337 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 5: NFC title game or anything else he ever did as 338 00:17:09,080 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 5: an athlete. And if Calvin were here, I'd say, you 339 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:13,440 Speaker 5: are right. 340 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 2: On, Well, how nice for you and all of us. 341 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:18,439 Speaker 1: That they won it all, that certainly makes all the 342 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 1: nerves worthwhile. Last question for you about your kids, because 343 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,720 Speaker 1: I know that your daughter Alex took a break from 344 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,880 Speaker 1: her normal beat of baseball to write about Sam competing 345 00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: at the Olympics. 346 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:31,160 Speaker 2: What's that moment like. 347 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:35,679 Speaker 1: Just watching your journalistic efforts be passed down to another 348 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,440 Speaker 1: generation and to see her write about her own sister. 349 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's surreal in a word. And Alex is just 350 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 5: a wonderful storyteller. You know, I knew she would she 351 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 5: would write it and write it beautifully, and she did. 352 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 5: She's now you covered the Phillies for a three years, 353 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 5: I think for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and now she's just 354 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 5: doing full time enterprise with an occasional column thrown in, 355 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 5: and she's I read her like early on, I remember 356 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 5: like she'd send me a story, and I would I 357 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 5: would probably be a little too heavy handed with my 358 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 5: edit and should say in a very loving daughterly way, 359 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 5: that this is my story, it's not yours, and I'm 360 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 5: interested in your two cents, but no more than those 361 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:22,199 Speaker 5: two cents. And I mean, she's really got her own voice, 362 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,359 Speaker 5: and she's decades ahead of where her where her father 363 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 5: was at that age, or maybe ever even at this age. 364 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 2: That's incredible. 365 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 1: You have covered so many different things, so many sports, 366 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: so many teams, so many athletes. 367 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 2: But you come very highly recommended. 368 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: From our preferred soccer reporter, Meg Linahan as the go 369 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: to guy for NC DOUBLEA soccer, which somehow remarkably gets 370 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: underway on Thursday, over one hundred and fifty games on 371 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 1: the slate. 372 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 2: So let's talk about it. 373 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:54,679 Speaker 1: One of those first games, North Carolina versus Tennessee. Last year, 374 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:58,159 Speaker 1: North Carolina won it's twenty third title, the winningest program 375 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,879 Speaker 1: in NC DOUBLEA soccer history, but it was the first 376 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: title for UNC in a decade. I assume that they're 377 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: coming in as the favorites this year. 378 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:10,159 Speaker 5: They sure are. In fact, the United Soccer Coaches just 379 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:15,160 Speaker 5: released their preseason poll in North Carolina, to the surprise 380 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 5: of No one sits number one. But what's interesting even 381 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 5: beyond that, Sarah, is that last year, people may recall 382 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:26,760 Speaker 5: that all four teams in the College Cup Soccer's final four, 383 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 5: if you will, all four teams were from the ACC 384 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 5: which is mind boggling in itself. And now in the 385 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 5: preseason United Soccer Coaches Poll. Seven of the top eight 386 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 5: teams are from the ACC Conference. I mean, it's just 387 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 5: it's crazy that it's a gauntlet. That schedule is just 388 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 5: there's no rest and no hiding. 389 00:19:49,440 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it feels like UNC got even better. They 390 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: got the transfer Shalah Bradley from Rutgers. She was number 391 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: twelve on last year's list of top one hundred freshmen 392 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: and got all Big Ten honors in her freshman year. 393 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: So they bring in some new talent, but also a 394 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 1: second year under Damon Nahas. And this is the guy 395 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: who took over the reins for Antson Dorrance. Anson Dorance 396 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: was there forever and ever the all time leader in 397 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,919 Speaker 1: Division one NCAA championships with a single team in any sport, 398 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,199 Speaker 1: twenty two titles, and right before last season started it 399 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: was August when he stepped down, which was kind of surprising. 400 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:26,399 Speaker 1: But Damon Nahas steps in and does I guess what 401 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: you'd hope for your new coach takes them all the. 402 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 2: Way to the title. 403 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 1: So can we expect more of Nahas's style this season 404 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: as opposed to a continuation of what Anton Dorrance had employed, 405 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: or do you think that there's not a lot of 406 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: difference in what we're going to see style wise. 407 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 5: I mean, you can't argue with success. And it's also 408 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 5: inconceivable that Damon Nahas would have bigger shoes to fill 409 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 5: than Anton Dorance's, who was only spent forty three years 410 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:56,360 Speaker 5: on the coaching sidelines for UNC men and women by 411 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 5: the way back back in the day. But I think 412 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,040 Speaker 5: they've got a rate formula going and they've also got 413 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 5: the mac Herman Trophy winner Kate Fossi's back, so you know, 414 00:21:06,560 --> 00:21:09,680 Speaker 5: not only they have the transfer Bradley, but they're and 415 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 5: you know, one of the best midfielders in the country 416 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 5: in Tessa Della Rose. So yeah, I mean they're they 417 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 5: are loaded for sure. And it's it's a really interesting 418 00:21:19,520 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 5: time in women's college soccer, Sarah, because with the onset 419 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:29,520 Speaker 5: of the nil era and also a transfer portal that 420 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:33,439 Speaker 5: is it's not just a revolving door, it's like a 421 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,159 Speaker 5: high speed revolving door. I mean, there were hundreds of 422 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 5: players who changed teams this year. The University of Oregon, 423 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 5: who had a really poor year last year, they got 424 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:46,600 Speaker 5: themselves a new coach, Tracy Joyner from UC Davis. They 425 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 5: have fourteen transfers on that team, and they have six 426 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 5: from UC Davis who went with their old coach to Eugene, Oregon. 427 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 5: So and I mean that's an extreme example, but there 428 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 5: are plenty of top'll that have six or eight or 429 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 5: nine transfers. 430 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:07,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, and soccer in particular is a sport where you 431 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:12,359 Speaker 1: can just not fit the style or the format of 432 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: the coach, and once you fall out of favor and 433 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,880 Speaker 1: you don't see minutes in your future, you're often ready 434 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:20,399 Speaker 1: to go somewhere else. So that kind of movement is 435 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 1: sort of to be expected going forward. Let's talk about 436 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 1: who else might be in the mix for the title 437 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,160 Speaker 1: this year, whether because they got better in the offseason 438 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: or because they're building off success of last year. 439 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 2: Who do you see competing with UNC. 440 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 5: Well, I think Notre Dame is right there. Nate Norman 441 00:22:36,280 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 5: has done a tremendous job with that program and they 442 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 5: have one of the top scores in the country. Is 443 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:45,119 Speaker 5: the Angle who's back. I mean, she's really a dynamic 444 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:49,520 Speaker 5: forward and they're just they're really loaded, and I think 445 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 5: you know they will be right there. And the other 446 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 5: you can never count out Florida State either, and they 447 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:59,160 Speaker 5: have been arguably over the last decade, the most dominant 448 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 5: program in the spot. And you know that their coach, 449 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 5: Brian Penske is he's I'm sure he's really pretty sick 450 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:10,480 Speaker 5: and tired of hearing about last year's NCAA tournament when 451 00:23:10,520 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 5: they very uncharacteristically went out in the second round against Vanderbilt. 452 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 5: And he's when I spoke to Brian a while ago, 453 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:21,280 Speaker 5: he was talking about players leaving early, like, for example, 454 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:25,200 Speaker 5: he had Jordan Bug was one of his prize recruit 455 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 5: and she went the Seattle Rain invited her to a 456 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 5: training camp and they liked her so much that they 457 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 5: signed her and she never even went to Florida State. 458 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 5: Hate when that happens if you're a college coach. But 459 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:42,280 Speaker 5: Brian was thrilled that three of his top players Jordan Dudley, 460 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 5: Heather Gilchrist and maybe Van Zanten all decided to return 461 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 5: and not go to the end of USL. And they 462 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 5: had offers, they had chances to go, and they returned, 463 00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:59,200 Speaker 5: And Brian said, I almost felt like I should put 464 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 5: out a press relief to announce that they're staying. You know, 465 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 5: the big news is always oh so and so is 466 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 5: turning pro or here's another here's another teenager who's going 467 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:14,360 Speaker 5: right to the league. But he was able to convince 468 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 5: these players to stay and they're going to be right 469 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 5: there in the mix too. 470 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:22,679 Speaker 1: I'm sure that's an interesting concept because it's true we 471 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 1: always see the big press releases around transfers around, you know, graduations, 472 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:30,399 Speaker 1: around heading to the pros. But there's something to be 473 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: said for the ability of a coach to hang on 474 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,920 Speaker 1: to the players that create that core for their success 475 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 1: and to create an environment in a place that they 476 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,639 Speaker 1: want to stick around. Before we get to the changing 477 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 1: landscape of college soccer, I do want to get to 478 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 1: a couple more teams that are expected to be sort 479 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:47,320 Speaker 1: of in the mix. 480 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 2: You look at a USC team. 481 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 1: They ended their season in a dramatic quarter final penalty 482 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:59,199 Speaker 1: kick shootout. They come back hungry for more, and they 483 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:02,199 Speaker 1: had some playersans for out, and they had some players 484 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: graduate and go on to the pros. But they also 485 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:07,679 Speaker 1: got four big gets in the off season, a defender 486 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 1: from Northwestern and Tanna Scharnstein, a midfielder from Mississippi State, 487 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 1: in Anez Simas, a midfielder from Columbia and Sophia Cavaleri, 488 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: and then a forward from Stanford Omaali pianum. So when 489 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: you're bringing in a new set of players like that 490 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: after this so close the season before, do you expect 491 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:30,359 Speaker 1: them to come out similar and look similar or do 492 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 1: they have to adjust to this new set of transfers 493 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,240 Speaker 1: coming in and play a different style this year. 494 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 5: I think there's always a period of adjustment. But they 495 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 5: have a very strong culture there at USC and I 496 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:46,440 Speaker 5: think for their first year in the Big Ten, they 497 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 5: really made a statement, as did U s LA. It's 498 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:53,120 Speaker 5: still like it's mind spinning to think that these schools 499 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 5: are in a Big ten, or maybe we should call 500 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 5: it the Big eighteen because that's what it is now. 501 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:00,879 Speaker 5: Banning for coast to coast. 502 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:03,399 Speaker 2: I call it a big joke, Wayne, is what I 503 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 2: call it. 504 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:08,280 Speaker 5: But yeah, I mean the travel is just insane. 505 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:14,080 Speaker 1: Unrealistic and bad for the environment and incomprehensible when aligning 506 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:16,880 Speaker 1: with a schedule as an actual student athlete. 507 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 2: But maybe that's the podcast for another time. 508 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:21,840 Speaker 5: Yes it is. Yeah, they don't want that. We don't 509 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 5: want their student athletes to miss any class time. But 510 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,399 Speaker 5: you know, meanwhile, you're gonna go three thousand miles to 511 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 5: play the soccer game because well, I think money might 512 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,439 Speaker 5: have had a little something to do, but that is 513 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:34,640 Speaker 5: another podcast, Yes. 514 00:26:35,040 --> 00:26:35,359 Speaker 2: Isn't it? 515 00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: Always Let's talk quickly about Stanford. One of the fascinating 516 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:42,119 Speaker 1: things that's kind of cool to see in women's and 517 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,880 Speaker 1: c DOAA soccer is that there are very long tenured coaches. 518 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:49,159 Speaker 1: People stick around for a long time. There is patience 519 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: in finding success and in continued success. Head coach of 520 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 1: Stanford Paul Ratcliffe, most successful coach in Stanford history. He's 521 00:26:56,920 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 1: entering his twenty third season with the Cardinal. They made 522 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 1: it to the semis of last year's tournament. They ended 523 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: up falling to Wake Forest. What do you see out 524 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 1: of Stanford this year? 525 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 5: They're always tremendous and they have one of the top 526 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:13,880 Speaker 5: midfielders in the country and Miyabuta and I would never 527 00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:17,400 Speaker 5: count them out at all. And what Paul Radcliffe has 528 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,400 Speaker 5: built there and the amount of talent that has come 529 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 5: through there. I remember when Sam was playing at Penn State, 530 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:26,600 Speaker 5: they Stanford visited and that was a team that had 531 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:32,080 Speaker 5: Katerina Macario and Tierna Davidson and then Sophia Smith. You 532 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:35,119 Speaker 5: just go up and down and oh yeah, and Naomi Germa. 533 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:39,119 Speaker 5: It's it's crazy, but I think They're going to be 534 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 5: formidable and have one of the best chances of anyone 535 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:44,720 Speaker 5: to go to go deep into the tournament. 536 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:46,760 Speaker 1: Are there any teams that you think are making a 537 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:50,639 Speaker 1: move toward being a part of the annual conversation? Programs 538 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:53,359 Speaker 1: that have invested, whether it's in a high profile coach 539 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:55,880 Speaker 1: or maybe in the nil game, they've been. 540 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 2: Able to get more talent. 541 00:27:57,040 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 1: Is there a program in the last few years or 542 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: you think in the coming year that will have to 543 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:04,360 Speaker 1: start putting in the bunch with some of the annual faves. 544 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:08,719 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's an interesting question. People don't necessarily think of 545 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:12,960 Speaker 5: TCU as a soccer power, and I'm not sure why 546 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:16,879 Speaker 5: that is, because they should. They're tremendous every just about 547 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:20,439 Speaker 5: every season. Their ninth and the preseason Coach's Poll, and 548 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:25,439 Speaker 5: they had they brought in some great transfers and they're 549 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 5: just really strong and again kind of under the radar. 550 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 5: And the other another team that's really on a rapid 551 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:37,480 Speaker 5: rise is Michigan State. They have really come up in 552 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 5: a big way over the last few years. So I 553 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:42,840 Speaker 5: think they're going to be a force in the Big 554 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,560 Speaker 5: ten And would I would be remiss if I didn't 555 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 5: mention one of my favorite programs because my daughter went there. 556 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 5: Penn State under Erica Dombach, another very experienced coach and 557 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 5: just a wonderful coach who year in year out, they 558 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 5: have been to now I believe it's six straight Sweet 559 00:29:01,520 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 5: sixteens every NCAA tournament for the last eighteen years. And 560 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:08,280 Speaker 5: not only not only that, but they they're not only 561 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 5: consistently good, but they just players go there and they 562 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 5: get better. They stay usually and they get better. And 563 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 5: it was life changing for Sam to go to Penn State. 564 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:24,480 Speaker 5: And I think it's no coincidence that you see Penn 565 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 5: State players all over the NWSL. Carrie Abello and Corey 566 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 5: Dyke in Orlando, and Kaylee Reels in Utah. Kate Weisner 567 00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 5: is with the Washington Spirit, Ellie Wheeler, who's been a 568 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:41,160 Speaker 5: starter at Kansas City the best team in the league 569 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:44,720 Speaker 5: this year right from day one. So's they do a 570 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 5: great job. And I think it's interesting, Sarah, when you 571 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:50,880 Speaker 5: think about how the game is changing. I mean, one 572 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:53,880 Speaker 5: of the biggest pivots really in the last few years 573 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 5: is the increasing tendency for players to just skip college 574 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:02,840 Speaker 5: and and go right to the pros. I wrote a 575 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 5: story for the Athletic in the spring about Riley Jackson, 576 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 5: who's now, you know, a real fixture, a great young 577 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 5: midfielder for the North Carolina Courage. She was about to 578 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:15,239 Speaker 5: you know, step foot on the Duke campus. She's one 579 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 5: of the biggest recruits in the country. She was the 580 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:21,160 Speaker 5: National Player of the Year as a sophomore coming out 581 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 5: of Georgia and she went right to the pros. But 582 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 5: my larger point is that it's not for everyone. You know, 583 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,959 Speaker 5: there's a lot of a lot of players who will, 584 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:32,120 Speaker 5: you know, think I'm going to make this jump, I'm 585 00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:35,959 Speaker 5: going to be a big social media sensation, and you know, 586 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 5: you're going to be the youngest youngest player ever to 587 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 5: do this and do that, and we're seeing it more 588 00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:43,480 Speaker 5: and more, and I think we will continue to see it. 589 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 5: But it's as college coaches will will tell you that 590 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 5: for the Trinity Rodmans of the world, maybe that'll work out, 591 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 5: and it has for others like Riley Jackson or Emery 592 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:59,400 Speaker 5: Adamas with Seattle, but it's not the best move for everyone. 593 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 5: I don't think. I think there are some players who 594 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:05,720 Speaker 5: need time to develop to the mature, to grow into 595 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 5: their game. 596 00:31:06,760 --> 00:31:09,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think there's of course pros and cons. There's 597 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:13,040 Speaker 1: the benefit of playing alongside elite players, getting great training, 598 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 1: having the ability to learn from the best of the best. 599 00:31:16,880 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 1: But at the same time, if you're not getting a 600 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: lot of game action, or if you're pushed into game 601 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 1: action without having the soccer IQ or the mental fortitude 602 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:31,720 Speaker 1: or maturity to handle those game situations, you might benefit 603 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:34,600 Speaker 1: more from making your way up through a collegiate program 604 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:38,240 Speaker 1: and learning how to face the biggest stressors and the 605 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 1: highest profile matches and all those other things, not to 606 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:43,600 Speaker 1: mention just developing as a human being and as a 607 00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:45,640 Speaker 1: person so that you can handle the stresses later and 608 00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:48,600 Speaker 1: the balances of being a professional athlete as an adult. 609 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,600 Speaker 1: I wonder if you think it's changed the college landscape 610 00:31:51,680 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 1: much now that it is not a necessary pipeline to 611 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 1: the pros. Has it affected other than just some players 612 00:31:57,920 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 1: not using it as a pipeline. Has it changed the game, 613 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 1: the recruiting, anything else that players aren't really required to 614 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 1: go before declaring for the draft, which now no longer exists. 615 00:32:08,640 --> 00:32:11,640 Speaker 5: I think it's changed. It's changed things tremendously. I mean, 616 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:14,479 Speaker 5: you you know, you put all this time and energy 617 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 5: and money into into recruiting someone and then right before 618 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 5: it's time to sign, you know, they can get like 619 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:24,719 Speaker 5: scooped up by the pros like Jordan bugged it. Another 620 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:28,160 Speaker 5: good example of that is US women's national team in 621 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 5: Kansas City, current midfielder Claire Hutton. She's from this small Bethlehem, 622 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 5: New York and kind of you know, a small town kid, 623 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 5: but absolutely wonderful player. One of the very best and 624 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:43,040 Speaker 5: hottest recruits in the country. She was she was about 625 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:45,880 Speaker 5: to go to North Carolina and she just she had 626 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 5: an opportunity and she went for it, and she's it 627 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:52,840 Speaker 5: works worked out spectacularly for Claire. I mean, she's she's 628 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 5: a locked and starter. She's on the national team now. 629 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:59,280 Speaker 5: But yeah, I think we're we're seeing more and more 630 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:04,200 Speaker 5: that even if players come to go to college, it 631 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 5: was almost unheard of, even five or six years ago 632 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:10,640 Speaker 5: for players to leave college early. Like when Tierna Davidson 633 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:13,240 Speaker 5: decided to leave Stamford I believe it was twenty nineteen, 634 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 5: people were shocked, like, you just don't do this, You're 635 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:20,480 Speaker 5: leaving early. And now we see Michelle Cooper left Duke 636 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:25,160 Speaker 5: after two years, and Ali Sentner left UNC after a 637 00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 5: couple of years. And Penn State had a player last 638 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:33,200 Speaker 5: year as a freshman, Katie Scott, who stayed, who was 639 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:37,240 Speaker 5: one of their very very top recruits, and a kid 640 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:40,880 Speaker 5: with deep family ties to Penn State, aunts and uncles 641 00:33:40,880 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 5: and siblings who went there, and she's from Pennsylvania and 642 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 5: she was She played I think not even ten games 643 00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:52,000 Speaker 5: with Penn State and then signed with the Kansas City 644 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:56,160 Speaker 5: Current and now she's on loan to Racing Louisville. But again, 645 00:33:57,200 --> 00:34:00,520 Speaker 5: it just seems like the ground is ever shifting. Even 646 00:34:00,560 --> 00:34:02,680 Speaker 5: if you get a recruit now it's not a four 647 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:05,960 Speaker 5: year per deal in many cases. If their kids someone 648 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:08,920 Speaker 5: has a breakout season, then in a lot of cases, 649 00:34:09,120 --> 00:34:11,800 Speaker 5: they're gone. That's why it's so remarkable that k FOSSi 650 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:14,879 Speaker 5: returned and Jordan Dudley too at Florida State. These are 651 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:19,360 Speaker 5: huge talents and will I think show every side of 652 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:22,840 Speaker 5: being great pros, but they wanted to finish their college careers. 653 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:24,080 Speaker 2: So yeah. 654 00:34:24,200 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 1: I have a friend who went to college in Florida 655 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:28,000 Speaker 1: and they had a pool at every dorm, so that's 656 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:29,839 Speaker 1: probably part of it too. I don't know how many 657 00:34:30,000 --> 00:34:31,919 Speaker 1: NWSL facilities have a pool yet. 658 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 5: Well it's getting for sure. I mean you know, I 659 00:34:35,080 --> 00:34:38,840 Speaker 5: remember covering the league and its infancy, and you know 660 00:34:38,880 --> 00:34:41,160 Speaker 5: people who would come, players would come out of top 661 00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 5: programs and that turned pro quote unquote, and then everything 662 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 5: would be worse, the facilities, the training staff, and the 663 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:49,920 Speaker 5: weight rooms. 664 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:53,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, I feel like the nil of it all has 665 00:34:53,080 --> 00:34:56,360 Speaker 1: also probably changed the space, especially with so many players 666 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:58,960 Speaker 1: making last minute decisions, whether that's to go pro or 667 00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:01,080 Speaker 1: go somewhere else in that and kind of force coaches 668 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:04,320 Speaker 1: into making last minute moves or having to replace someone 669 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 1: that they were counting on arriving. 670 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:08,240 Speaker 2: What have you heard about that aspect of things. 671 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:11,880 Speaker 5: It's really I'm not sure if epidemic is the right word, Sarah, 672 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:14,360 Speaker 5: but it's it's close to that. I spoke with a 673 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:18,120 Speaker 5: coach the other day and I and I said to him, so, 674 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:20,719 Speaker 5: tell me, have you ever had a recruit who was, like, 675 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:23,040 Speaker 5: you know, basically signed and sealed and ready to come 676 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:25,879 Speaker 5: to your school and you lost because of money? He said, 677 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:28,719 Speaker 5: all the time, all the time, like the rich. This 678 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:33,080 Speaker 5: coach really believes that with NIL, the rich are just 679 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:35,040 Speaker 5: going to get richer. I mean they're gonna be and 680 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 5: there's going to be less parody in the sport, and 681 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:40,880 Speaker 5: that the you know, the very top teams with the 682 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:43,560 Speaker 5: with the biggest budgets, especially with if they have big 683 00:35:43,560 --> 00:35:48,120 Speaker 5: football money behind them, they're just gonna they're going to 684 00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:51,400 Speaker 5: come along and just and buy players. Another coach that 685 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 5: I spoke to said this, use those exact words. They're 686 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:58,960 Speaker 5: just coming in and buying players. It becomes a financial transaction. 687 00:35:59,160 --> 00:36:04,160 Speaker 5: And you know, that's a real slippery slope because developing 688 00:36:04,239 --> 00:36:07,640 Speaker 5: as a player is it's a process, and it's not 689 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:10,799 Speaker 5: just about who's offering you the most money, what's the 690 00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:14,240 Speaker 5: best culture for you, what's the best playing style, and 691 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:16,520 Speaker 5: who are the coaches who you know are going to 692 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 5: going to be there. I took you know, one of 693 00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 5: the most respected coaches in the country, Jerry Smith, who's 694 00:36:23,480 --> 00:36:26,160 Speaker 5: been at Santa Clara for thirty nine years. He told 695 00:36:26,239 --> 00:36:29,839 Speaker 5: me that when I interviewed him for another story, he said, 696 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:33,400 Speaker 5: we went from being like overregulated to the wild wild 697 00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:35,680 Speaker 5: West in the span of a couple of years. And 698 00:36:35,840 --> 00:36:41,080 Speaker 5: the transfer portal is just is going crazy. And now 699 00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:46,160 Speaker 5: with nil and players just really literally getting purchase and 700 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:49,760 Speaker 5: poached right out from under some programs, it just means 701 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:53,640 Speaker 5: like the mid majors and maybe the less marquee conferences 702 00:36:53,800 --> 00:36:55,920 Speaker 5: are going to have a harder and harder time competing. 703 00:36:56,840 --> 00:36:59,520 Speaker 2: Okay, have one last question for you. I'm just curious. 704 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,520 Speaker 1: I was on the website for NCAA Soccer and I 705 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:05,440 Speaker 1: saw that next year, the Women's College Cup the final 706 00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:09,480 Speaker 1: four will be held alongside the men's the same weekend 707 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:12,520 Speaker 1: at WAKEMD Soccer Park. Up until now and continuing through 708 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:15,040 Speaker 1: this year, it has always been held the week before. 709 00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:17,480 Speaker 1: What does that mean for the women's tournament and what 710 00:37:17,520 --> 00:37:19,240 Speaker 1: will that maybe help her change? 711 00:37:19,600 --> 00:37:23,880 Speaker 5: The coaches push for a longer season and a longer 712 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:26,239 Speaker 5: run up in the preseason, and then the season is 713 00:37:26,280 --> 00:37:29,320 Speaker 5: going to be two weeks longer and there. I spoke 714 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:32,680 Speaker 5: the other day with Laurie Walker Hawk of Ohio State, 715 00:37:32,840 --> 00:37:37,200 Speaker 5: and she was one of the prime movers behind this initiative, 716 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 5: and she thinks it's just going to be nothing but 717 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:42,919 Speaker 5: good for the players and the player's health and well 718 00:37:42,960 --> 00:37:47,480 Speaker 5: being having an extra couple of weeks. In college women's 719 00:37:47,520 --> 00:37:51,480 Speaker 5: college soccer, it has been almost a given that you 720 00:37:51,520 --> 00:37:54,360 Speaker 5: would play two games every weekend, sometimes like on a 721 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:59,680 Speaker 5: Friday to Sunday turnaround, which is crazy. And now with 722 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:03,200 Speaker 5: the expanded schedule, there's going to be far fewer two 723 00:38:03,239 --> 00:38:06,480 Speaker 5: game weekends. It's just nothing but good for the players. 724 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:09,680 Speaker 5: So that will be a very positive thing. And I 725 00:38:09,719 --> 00:38:13,239 Speaker 5: think just extending the season a week and having the 726 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:15,919 Speaker 5: College Cup and the same weekend with the men's it'll 727 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:18,280 Speaker 5: just go a little bit one week deeper into December, 728 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:20,520 Speaker 5: and I think it's all to the good and kind 729 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:21,640 Speaker 5: of showcasing the game. 730 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:25,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and there's potential sometimes for there to be more resources, 731 00:38:25,600 --> 00:38:29,960 Speaker 1: more excitement, etc. At men's championship weekends, and so now 732 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:32,719 Speaker 1: the women can benefit from some of that infrastructure or 733 00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:36,160 Speaker 1: some of the investment that might go into place that 734 00:38:36,239 --> 00:38:38,600 Speaker 1: weekend by being there at the same time competing at 735 00:38:38,600 --> 00:38:39,160 Speaker 1: the same time. 736 00:38:39,640 --> 00:38:41,200 Speaker 2: Wayne, thank you so much for your insight. 737 00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:42,919 Speaker 1: This was a lot of fun and God is really 738 00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:44,080 Speaker 1: excited for the start of the season. 739 00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:46,080 Speaker 2: So we appreciate the time, my pleasure. 740 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:49,440 Speaker 5: Thanks for having me, Sarah. 741 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:51,600 Speaker 1: Thanks again to Wayne for taking the time. We got 742 00:38:51,640 --> 00:38:53,600 Speaker 1: to take another break when we come back. We invite 743 00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:55,680 Speaker 1: you to join us at the pitch. 744 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:04,120 Speaker 2: Welcome back slices. 745 00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:05,840 Speaker 1: We love that you're listening, but we want you to 746 00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:07,640 Speaker 1: get in the game every day too. So here's our 747 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:10,160 Speaker 1: good game play of the day. Go watch a college 748 00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:12,480 Speaker 1: soccer game this season. As we mentioned at the top 749 00:39:12,480 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 1: of the show, there are a lot of teams playing 750 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:17,160 Speaker 1: across the country, so check out your local college or 751 00:39:17,239 --> 00:39:19,680 Speaker 1: university schedule and pick up some tickets to a game. 752 00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:22,560 Speaker 1: Bring the whole family or a batch of friends, and 753 00:39:22,640 --> 00:39:24,719 Speaker 1: send us a pick when you do. We always love 754 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:26,240 Speaker 1: to hear from you, so hit us up on email 755 00:39:26,239 --> 00:39:28,719 Speaker 1: good game at wondermedianetwork dot com or leave us a 756 00:39:28,760 --> 00:39:30,200 Speaker 1: voicemail at eight seven two. 757 00:39:30,239 --> 00:39:32,880 Speaker 2: Two oh four fifty seventy and slices. 758 00:39:32,920 --> 00:39:34,520 Speaker 1: I have to tell you I've spent the last couple 759 00:39:34,640 --> 00:39:39,160 Speaker 1: days going through all my emails from back in January 760 00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:42,439 Speaker 1: till now. That's how behind I was, so I've really 761 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:44,040 Speaker 1: enjoyed reading what a lot of you had to say. 762 00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:45,880 Speaker 1: Some of them I was catching up with in real time, 763 00:39:46,120 --> 00:39:48,239 Speaker 1: but the ones that I miss I responded to. And 764 00:39:48,360 --> 00:39:50,360 Speaker 1: there's actually a lot of stuff that y'all have suggested 765 00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:53,399 Speaker 1: for guests or otherwise that we've been incorporating and some 766 00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:56,600 Speaker 1: that I missed that we are definitely going to respond 767 00:39:56,600 --> 00:39:58,600 Speaker 1: to on the show. So that's coming up in a 768 00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:01,520 Speaker 1: future Big Citrus, keep them coming. We always love to 769 00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:04,800 Speaker 1: hear from you, and don't forget to subscribe, rate and review. 770 00:40:05,160 --> 00:40:05,760 Speaker 2: It's easy. 771 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:10,680 Speaker 1: Watch Tarasei on Prime Video, rating three out of three 772 00:40:10,719 --> 00:40:13,080 Speaker 1: episodes that just left me wanting more. 773 00:40:13,680 --> 00:40:14,040 Speaker 2: Review. 774 00:40:14,600 --> 00:40:18,000 Speaker 1: Diana Tarassi might be one of the lesser covered superstars 775 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:22,560 Speaker 1: in all of sports history. She's got a gigantic, hilarious personality, 776 00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:24,600 Speaker 1: but she mostly preferred to talk her shit on the 777 00:40:24,640 --> 00:40:27,719 Speaker 1: court and with friends, family, and teammates, as opposed to 778 00:40:27,719 --> 00:40:31,600 Speaker 1: in interviews, podcasts, or in commercial campaigns. So watching the 779 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:35,239 Speaker 1: new Tarasi documentary and learning about her family, her upbringing, 780 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:40,040 Speaker 1: her love story, and more was outstanding. I just wanted 781 00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:44,080 Speaker 1: more episodes. Three was not enough. There were some truly 782 00:40:44,120 --> 00:40:47,600 Speaker 1: standout moments, though, including a robbery at gunpoint that her 783 00:40:47,600 --> 00:40:50,480 Speaker 1: family faced in Argentina which sent them back to the 784 00:40:50,520 --> 00:40:53,640 Speaker 1: States where her basketball prowess could be better cultivated, and 785 00:40:53,680 --> 00:40:55,359 Speaker 1: you have to wonder what might have happened if she'd 786 00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:57,399 Speaker 1: never come back to cut her teeth in US high 787 00:40:57,400 --> 00:41:00,960 Speaker 1: school hoops, and aau also dinnouncing that she'd play the 788 00:41:00,960 --> 00:41:03,200 Speaker 1: rest of her season in Russia for free after the 789 00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:06,040 Speaker 1: murder of her team's beloved owner, which inspired the rest 790 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:08,040 Speaker 1: of the roster to stick around, win it all and 791 00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:11,120 Speaker 1: help recoup financial losses suffered by his widow. There was 792 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:15,120 Speaker 1: a real leadership moment from her, her mom's funny reaction 793 00:41:15,239 --> 00:41:17,400 Speaker 1: to Gino Orima's incessant recruiting. 794 00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:20,080 Speaker 2: I can't remember how many times she said I hate. 795 00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:23,480 Speaker 1: Him about Gino Oriema, and then her mom's very touching 796 00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:26,080 Speaker 1: an emotional reaction to Diana moving across the country to 797 00:41:26,120 --> 00:41:28,480 Speaker 1: go to Yukon. There was just a lot of stuff 798 00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:31,359 Speaker 1: in there that really rounded out who Diana is as 799 00:41:31,400 --> 00:41:34,000 Speaker 1: a person and a player, whether that's family time with 800 00:41:34,040 --> 00:41:36,440 Speaker 1: her wife Penny and their kids, or even her reaction 801 00:41:36,520 --> 00:41:38,160 Speaker 1: to being benched for the gold medal game of the 802 00:41:38,200 --> 00:41:41,280 Speaker 1: final Olympics she played in. It's just a real juicy 803 00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:44,719 Speaker 1: three episodes that left me again wanting more. But I 804 00:41:44,760 --> 00:41:48,440 Speaker 1: do think it's a must watch, especially for new WNBA fans, 805 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:51,360 Speaker 1: whether it's the super physical play that Diana had to 806 00:41:51,400 --> 00:41:53,640 Speaker 1: adjust to as a rookie in the league or the 807 00:41:53,680 --> 00:41:56,080 Speaker 1: sacrifices that she and other players had to make playing 808 00:41:56,160 --> 00:41:59,200 Speaker 1: at home for much less money than abroad to try 809 00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:01,920 Speaker 1: to help build the WAB and create opportunities for girls 810 00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:04,319 Speaker 1: coming up. I just think you'll really appreciate what you're 811 00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:06,719 Speaker 1: watching now. In the w way more if you know 812 00:42:06,760 --> 00:42:09,520 Speaker 1: who helped make the league what it is today, and 813 00:42:09,680 --> 00:42:12,200 Speaker 1: obviously Die is one of those players, so well worth 814 00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:15,160 Speaker 1: your time. Check it out now it's your turn, rate 815 00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:19,120 Speaker 1: and review. Thanks for listening, See you tomorrow. Good game, Wayne, 816 00:42:19,400 --> 00:42:22,960 Speaker 1: Good game, Violet. The raven cue contacts. How have we 817 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:26,640 Speaker 1: not invented contacts that don't dry my eyes out yet? 818 00:42:27,200 --> 00:42:29,880 Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports 819 00:42:29,880 --> 00:42:33,040 Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You 820 00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:36,200 Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 821 00:42:36,239 --> 00:42:39,880 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, 822 00:42:40,120 --> 00:42:43,520 Speaker 1: our producers are Alex Azzie and Misha Jones. Our executive 823 00:42:43,560 --> 00:42:48,000 Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder. 824 00:42:48,440 --> 00:42:51,840 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rutterer, Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and 825 00:42:51,880 --> 00:42:56,120 Speaker 1: Gianna Palmer. Our associate producer is Lucy Jones. Production assistance 826 00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:59,160 Speaker 1: from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain