1 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: One of the reasons why I was drawn to soccer 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 1: at an early age was that international aspect. And I 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: love the fact that when I walked out in my 4 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 1: suburban Detroit existence onto my sidewalk and started juggling the ball, 5 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 1: that there was a kid on the other side of 6 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: the world, completely different language, completely different culture. But this 7 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: was that connection in that they're juggling the ball too, 8 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: and I loved that. 9 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 2: This is the Reform Sports Project, a podcast about restoring 10 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,919 Speaker 2: healthy balance and perspective in all areas of sports through 11 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 2: education and advocacy. AH this is Nick Bonacor from the 12 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 2: Reform Sports Podcast. Today, I'm speaking with Alexi Lallis, former 13 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 2: professional soccer player, member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, 14 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 2: and analyst for Fox Sports. Well known as a standout 15 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 2: defender on the US men's national team during the nineteen 16 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 2: ninety four World Cup, Alexi was also a member of 17 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 2: the nineteen ninety two US Olympic team and the nineteen 18 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 2: ninety eight. 19 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: World Cup squad. 20 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 2: A father of two, Alexi and I discussed soccer's growth 21 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 2: in the un US, the costs associated with increasing the 22 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 2: sports accessibility, and the numerous benefits of playing soccer at 23 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:08,600 Speaker 2: the youth level. First of all, been a fan you 24 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 2: know have you know, watched you play and compete and 25 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:13,680 Speaker 2: love your content, what you're doing and what made me 26 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 2: reach out to you, I mean, especially the timing of 27 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 2: when I did. I saw you in shout out Tom 28 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 2: Ferry from the Aspens Stude, I had him on as 29 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 2: a guest not too long ago, connect himself the time 30 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 2: I saw you, guys kind of have a little back 31 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 2: and forth speaking on the kind of the topic of 32 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: youth sports and particularly as as it plays towards you know, 33 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 2: the pay to play and soccer culture. Of my background, Alexi, 34 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 2: I played college and I played one year of professional 35 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 2: baseball over in Italy, so I was not, you know, 36 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 2: anything close to a big, bigger here stateside, but six kids, 37 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 2: like I mentioned to you, all involved with sports. But 38 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 2: I've been very entrenched in the baseball scene for a 39 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: long time, so I've seen that. I've talked to enough 40 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 2: college coaches and every sport. But you know, as far 41 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 2: as the soccer side, I'm not as knee deep into 42 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 2: the culture as I am, particularly in base So I 43 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 2: would just love to know where you are and what 44 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 2: is your feedback and perspective on the state of youth 45 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 2: sports today, particularly as it comes to the soccer side. 46 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 2: Would love for you to take me through that. 47 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: Sure. So a lot of the you know, I guess, 48 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: the consternation and the debate and the discussion when it 49 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: comes to youth soccer in particular is about development. We 50 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: have a huge country. Obviously, unlike other sports, soccer is 51 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: not king and while we do have a history in 52 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: a tradition, when it comes to soccer, it's nothing compared 53 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: to all the other sports that are ingrained in our 54 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: history and have much more kind of traditional pathways. And 55 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: so the question is how are you going to mine 56 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: that talent, that youth talent out there, and how are 57 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:44,920 Speaker 1: you going to create not just more soccer players, but 58 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 1: more soccer fans in the US. And so a lot 59 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: of the conversation is around that development pathway, and let's 60 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:56,519 Speaker 1: be honest, what the cost is and the pay to 61 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: play thing. It's not just relative to soccer. I know, 62 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:00,640 Speaker 1: it's involved in a lot of other sports. I mean, 63 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: you've got six kids, and obviously it adds up, and 64 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: especially in this day and age when you know, I'm 65 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: older than you, but still we grew up in a 66 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: time where it wasn't this age of specialization from a 67 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: very young age where you go into a specific sport. 68 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: A lot of us grew up playing a bunch of 69 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: different sports. Now it's a little naive to think that 70 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: that's just going to continue on. And so all of 71 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: that is part of the conversation right now. What's ended 72 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: up happening, I think is while this industry of youth 73 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: sports has arisen, and when it comes to youth soccer, 74 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: you know, a very robust and industry that is full 75 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: of potential to grow and continue to grow because of 76 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 1: the sheer numbers that we have and the simplicity of 77 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 1: the game and the popularity of the game. Is this 78 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 1: this vilifying of the men and women that work in it, 79 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: and many that make a living, and many that don't 80 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: make a whole lot of money, and some that make 81 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: relative to others more money. And so I was just 82 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: I think going back and talking about how while we 83 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: can certainly have a conversation about limiting costs and differing 84 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: costs and at times maybe even eliminating costs, I want 85 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: to make sure that that part of the conversation is 86 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: separate from all these incredible women and men that work 87 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: each and every day on and off the field to 88 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 1: propel in my case, soccer forward and deserve the money 89 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: that they get in many of the businesses that they 90 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: are formed or the businesses that they are a part of. 91 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 2: I love how you said make them out to be villains, right, 92 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 2: and quite frankly, I don't like that either, because I 93 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 2: feel like it's so easy to put everyone in this 94 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,720 Speaker 2: in this you know, in this space and say, oh, 95 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 2: because you charge fees or you make a living, you know, 96 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,840 Speaker 2: you're you're this, you're you're no good. Well that's just 97 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 2: not the case. You know, there are a lot of 98 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 2: folks out there and different organizations who are doing great work. 99 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 2: I think what happens is you have people that have 100 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 2: bad experiences that aren't doing the right things, and you know, 101 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 2: and then everyone wants to put everyone into the same 102 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 2: you know, stratosphere and say that, hey, everyone out there 103 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: who's charging kids or charging families fees for their services 104 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 2: is not doing r I think that's simply not true. 105 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 2: How do you think? And I know you met, I'm 106 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 2: forty four years old. I think you got a few 107 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 2: years zombie. But like you said, we're relatively in the 108 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 2: same time frame growing up and all that. Certainly before 109 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 2: the social media technology it really took off. How was 110 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 2: it for you and your youth soccer experience, you know, 111 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 2: growing up? I know you mentioned non specialization. Was it 112 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 2: different sports for you and basically how to go for you? 113 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: Yeah? So I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. 114 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 1: Up there in Michigan, it is the law that you 115 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: have to play hockey. And I actually played a whole 116 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: lot more hockey than soccer growing up, and played multiple sports, 117 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: and back then we would just call it kind of 118 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 1: travel soccer, and so at a younger age, I started 119 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: to play on you know, first off, I grew up 120 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,799 Speaker 1: playing you know, mom and dad coaching and orange peels 121 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,400 Speaker 1: and juice boxes at halftime and all that kind of stuff. 122 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: My dad is Greek and so he was the foreign guy, 123 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 1: so let's put him as a coach. So and this 124 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: is this happened then it actually continues on today and 125 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: there's nothing necessarily wrong with that. And then I kind 126 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: of graduated up to playing on travel teams and doing that. 127 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: But I also played high school soccer and that has 128 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: kind of dissipated and kind of gone the way of 129 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 1: the Dodo in terms of the pathway that a lot 130 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: of kids take now where they you know, they go 131 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: when they play club and in many instances they're not 132 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 1: even allowed to play high school soccer. And it's at times, 133 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: you know, high school soccer. Not all high school soccer 134 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 1: is created equally. But I did benefit from that experience 135 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 1: of playing in high school soccer, not even the kicking 136 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 1: of the ball, but the whole socialization of it and 137 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 1: representing your school and you know, coming to school on 138 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: game day and wearing your jersey and all that kind 139 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,719 Speaker 1: of stuff. I benefited from that high school type of experience. 140 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: Now I know not everybody is going to have that 141 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: same type of experience, and some kids will not want 142 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: to do that. So I did specialize in the sense 143 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 1: that I gravitated at an early age to soccer. I 144 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 1: love the creativity, I love the autonomy that the sport, 145 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: that the sport gives you. And my parents were not 146 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: athletes or sports people. My mom was a writer and 147 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 1: my dad was a profet sir, and they just saw 148 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: this as there it kept their kid out of trouble 149 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: and he was good at it, and so they supported me, 150 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 1: but they certainly didn't pressure me and It wasn't a 151 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: means to an end of getting into a better college. 152 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: It was something that I don't think any of us 153 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 1: anticipated would lead to a life and a career on 154 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: and off the field going forward. Now as I sit 155 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: in front of you at fifty three years, but I 156 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 1: grew up in the seventies and eighties in the US, 157 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: in the suburbs where Ayso was coming to be and 158 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: soccer in general was starting to become more of a 159 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 1: cool thing to do, but it was still kind of niche, 160 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 1: and soccer people are a rare breed, but that tent 161 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: has gotten so much bigger since I grew up. And again, 162 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: those pathways that we have now for young players to 163 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: develop are so much, so much greater. But back to 164 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 1: your point about the actual men and women that work 165 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: in it. You know, we talk about pay to play, 166 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: and there's actually a lot of now opportunities for young 167 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: players that are free and academies that Major League Soccer 168 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: teams have and other teams have going forward, But there's 169 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff when you grow up that requires 170 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: payment for you to do extracurricular activities, whether it's sports 171 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: or any other activities, and piano lessons and all these 172 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: other things, and again we don't we don't vilify those 173 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: people and those men and women that do it. And 174 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: so again it comes back to you know, I believe 175 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: in I believe in capitalism. I've put been doing what's right, 176 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: and I think you mentioned it earlier. Sometimes we look 177 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: at people that are in the youth sports space and 178 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: we think that it should be some altruistic type of venture, 179 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 1: and it should be some sort of charity, and it 180 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,559 Speaker 1: shouldn't be done with a business in mind. And I 181 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: completely reject that notion, as it doesn't mean that you 182 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 1: can't have a passion for it. It doesn't mean that 183 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: you can't be emotionally invested. It also doesn't mean that 184 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: you can't recognize that you are doing things that are 185 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 1: going to arm, if you will, young people with tools 186 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 1: that might even go beyond the actual soccer field or 187 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: any sporting field out there. We all know the benefits 188 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: of actually playing sports and the socialization and the interaction 189 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: and the physical activity, all those different things. But it 190 00:09:13,520 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: can be a job, and it can be a for 191 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 1: profit type of venture without having it become you know, 192 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: sleazy or bad, or you know, a factory type of 193 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: setting that doesn't recognize that you're dealing not just with 194 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: young players, but you're dealing with young kids. 195 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:34,439 Speaker 2: So on that thread that you and Tom had, I 196 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 2: think it was a when he quote retweeted he talked 197 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 2: about the retention piece of soccer, and actually I thought 198 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,959 Speaker 2: it was a good point because it's like, it's like 199 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 2: the sport you introduced to your kids oftentimes is soccer 200 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 2: is the system that's currently in place. Do you think 201 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 2: it feel like it's more advantageous to kids and development 202 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 2: of the best soccer players in the United States can 203 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 2: put out there today versus the way it was when 204 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:58,400 Speaker 2: you grew up in the seventies and eighties, Because I 205 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 2: think that's very interesting because for me, I feel like 206 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:06,360 Speaker 2: you've had more professional athletes in other sports. Case in point, 207 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:08,319 Speaker 2: rect in Peace, Kobe Bryant, he used to talk about 208 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 2: his soccer experience and Chad O Jo Sinko, you know, 209 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 2: playing FIFA World Cup and all these little things kind 210 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 2: of draw attention to the sport. Maybe for fans that 211 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 2: aren't necessarily originally involved, it can get eyeball. So do 212 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: you feel like the culture in youth sports today is 213 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 2: more advantageous to developing the best soccer players in the 214 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 2: US can produce or has it improved from when you 215 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 2: were a kid? 216 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,239 Speaker 1: It has improved. And I mentioned some of the pathways 217 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: and the opportunities. I mean, like it's night and day 218 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: from when I was growing up. And what a you know, 219 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: a kid we're recording this on Monday, October second in 220 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three, and a young boy or girl that's 221 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 1: growing up in the United States that wants to be 222 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 1: involved in soccer. First off, there's many more opportunities and 223 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: therefore there's many more kids that are involved, and then 224 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 1: those pathways to if you care about it, the elite 225 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: type of player, there's so many more pathways, both domestically 226 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: and internationally. And that gets to the aspirational aspect of it. 227 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: And you mentioned Kobe and Chad and these types of athletes. 228 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: Let's be honest, if they were growing up in maybe 229 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: a different culture, in a different country where soccer is king, 230 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: that would be what they would aspire to be. Sure, 231 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: and me growing up, you know, I didn't have any players. 232 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: I had nobody to emulate, I had nobody to look 233 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:25,920 Speaker 1: up to. My stars were Detroit Red Wings and you know, 234 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: and rock stars. That was That was basically who I 235 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 1: looked up. 236 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 2: To Detroit Rock City. You had to be a Kiss. 237 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:33,559 Speaker 1: Fan, right of course, you know. I mean I want 238 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: to be Gene Simmons and I want to be you know, 239 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: uh Steve Steve Eiserman or something like that. But nowadays, 240 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 1: when they are growing up, they have their own league, 241 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: whether it's Major League Soccer a USL or from a 242 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: women's perspective NWSL. They've seen multiple World Cups played in 243 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: their country. They also see players that are going over 244 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: to Europe, and there's a real aspiration for a lot 245 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: of kids to go and play in those big leagues 246 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 1: over in Europe. And they see more Americans getting opportunities 247 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 1: over there. I mean, I had to star in a 248 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 1: World Cup in order to get an opportunity to play 249 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 1: in Europe. And we have players nowadays in their teams 250 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,480 Speaker 1: that haven't even played a game in Major League Soccer 251 00:12:11,640 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: that are getting recruited and bought to go and play 252 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 1: over in Europe. So that's wonder that warms the cockles 253 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: of my redheaded American heart to see the opportunities that 254 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: are that have arisen for this generation going forward. But again, 255 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 1: it's such a unique aspect because we're competing with all 256 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: of these other leagues. We're competing with all of these 257 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: other sports, and we're competing with in some instances, you know, 258 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: a century head start in terms of what they are 259 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: as sports and ingraining into our society. 260 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 2: So when you hear, because the argument would be, and 261 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 2: I'm interested in your thoughts, here is the cost and 262 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 2: having a baseball background, I feel like baseball's turned into 263 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 2: a country club sport. I mean it is. It's very 264 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 2: very expensive compared to what it was, right compared to 265 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,120 Speaker 2: what it was. That's my perspective. But you know, at 266 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,280 Speaker 2: times I'm like, well, are the most talented I've had? 267 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 2: You know, Eric Backage, Tim Korb, and you know some 268 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 2: of the best coaches in college baseball today talk about 269 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,680 Speaker 2: how you know baseball. It's Eric Becketch literally said to me, 270 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 2: it's too white, Like there's a pemographic that doesn't play, 271 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,080 Speaker 2: don't have access, can't play. So do you feel like, 272 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 2: at times, while I get listen, I'm a capitalist as well, 273 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 2: do you feel though at times the barrier for entry 274 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,200 Speaker 2: to some clubs really can kind of eliminate some of 275 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 2: the best athletes, like some of the best kids that 276 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 2: really can help drive the sport or any sport forward. 277 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,959 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, look, I want as many people man, woman, 278 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:34,960 Speaker 1: and child in the United States that want to play 279 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: soccer to play soccer. All right, we talk in the 280 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: American soccer circles about free soccer, free soccer costs. Somebody 281 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:47,800 Speaker 1: has to pay for all of that free soccer, and inevidently, 282 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: when we get into these discussions, my question comes back to, 283 00:13:50,520 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: all right, fine, I want it too. I would be 284 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: wonderful to live in this idealistic situation in a country 285 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: and culture again where soccer is and king, where anybody 286 00:13:57,920 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: that wants to play soccer can play it for free, 287 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: but who's going to pay for that? And that's usually 288 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,559 Speaker 1: where the conversation ends. It doesn't mean that that can't 289 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: be a goal, and also doesn't mean that you don't 290 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: recognize and respect how far we've come when it comes 291 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: to free academies that are out there, that are associated 292 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: with teams or even clubs that have been around, having programs, 293 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: that have scholarships set up, and that have situations where 294 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: you can defer money and where other folks will pay. 295 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: All that kind of stuff exists, but it's still not enough, 296 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: and I would be the first to recognize that this 297 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: slipping through the cracks. We often talk about that in 298 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: soccer and probably a lot of different sports, in that 299 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 1: we want to have as many people experience the game 300 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 1: as possible, and from a pure competitive standpoint, the more 301 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 1: people we have playing the game, the better teams we 302 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: are going to have, the better talent we are going 303 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: to have. And we have had so many decades now 304 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:55,200 Speaker 1: where if it is not accessible to a group because 305 00:14:55,280 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: of whatever, you know, a socioeconomical status or locate, I 306 00:15:00,720 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 1: mean we are a huge country, so location, uh, coaching facilities, 307 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: all those different things, then there is the potential to 308 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: lose what could be an American messy or something like that. 309 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: Uh that is that has changed dramatically and there is 310 00:15:15,640 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: less and less of that happening, but still a country 311 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 1: our size, we're not getting to as many people as 312 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: we want. And so I think we all agree that 313 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: we want to, you know, have this sport on offer 314 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: to as many young kids as possible. It's just a 315 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: matter of how are we going to pay for something 316 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: like that, and recognize it goes back to what we 317 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: started talking about, that all the men and women that 318 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 1: are spending their time in these in these situations coaching 319 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 1: and administrators and facilities and all that kind of stuff. 320 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 1: They have to get paid and somebody's got to put 321 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: that money. 322 00:15:48,560 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 2: So I saw an interesting post on LinkedIn from a 323 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 2: gentleman who's a great writer as a great column mom, 324 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 2: Andrew Peckcash. She was a guest of this podcast. He 325 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 2: gave some predictions what he sees in sports the next 326 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 2: five years or so. One of them was and then 327 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 2: he's just speculating start in conversation and such, but he 328 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 2: talked about how he feels the MLS is going to 329 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 2: start to surpass Major League Baseball, you know, from a 330 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 2: viewership standpoint, And you know, I actually I thought it 331 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 2: was kind of interesting because baseball is in this unique 332 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 2: place where you know, they're changing rules right because they 333 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 2: were losing fans games, are taking for it, trying to 334 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,280 Speaker 2: speed the game up a little bit. So I'm wondering 335 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 2: how wrong I mean, for someone who's entrenched in the culture, 336 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 2: how long do you think it could be before you 337 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 2: see soccer maybe actually compete. And I don't even want 338 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 2: to say NFL because I feel like that's such a 339 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 2: tough thing, But when do you think do you think 340 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 2: it's a reality where you can see soccer really start 341 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 2: to kick the door and become quote unquote one of 342 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 2: the Big three even I mean, and maybe surpass or 343 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 2: get to that point where it's in the same conversation 344 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 2: as a sport like Major League Baseball. 345 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, the running joke for soccer in America is it's 346 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: the sport of the future. For the last thirty years, 347 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:54,400 Speaker 1: it just means good, you know. And when does it 348 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: actually come to fruition. When do we see soccer, you know, 349 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: be a major sport in the US? I would argue 350 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: that it is already a major sport. And so when 351 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,080 Speaker 1: you talk about the major sports, I think you're doing 352 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 1: a disservice and I think you're showing your lack of 353 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: understanding of the landscape out there when you don't include 354 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 1: it Major League soccer in particular. Though Major League Soccer's 355 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 1: problem isn't that there aren't soccer fans in the US, 356 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,679 Speaker 1: it's that they're not enough MLS fans. Soccer from a 357 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 1: pure fans perspective, has millions and millions of fans. As 358 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 1: a matter of fact, the number one soccer league in 359 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 1: the United States is League MS Mexican. The Mexican Soccer 360 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: League interest, so actually trying to convert soccer fans into 361 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 1: Major League soccer fans. That's what MLS's job and their 362 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 1: biggest challenge is going forward. I do think that one 363 00:17:43,560 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: thing that MLS has going for it relative to the 364 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:48,199 Speaker 1: rest of the world is people want to come to 365 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: North America. I think it's the greatest country in the 366 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: world for a number of different reasons. And when it 367 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: comes to you know, we're talking a lot nowadays about 368 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:57,400 Speaker 1: Messi coming over, and I think that that could be 369 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:59,920 Speaker 1: a real game changer in terms of providing a credit 370 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: ability and an authenticity that would have other players say, look, 371 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 1: if Messi can do it coming off winning a World Cup, 372 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 1: this is something that I can do and for their families, 373 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,679 Speaker 1: for themselves, if they can get paid the same amount 374 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,160 Speaker 1: of money and they get to live in the US 375 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: culture and their families get to live over here, and 376 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,639 Speaker 1: by the way, getting paid on time and consistently. You know, 377 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: don't take that for granted around the world, but that 378 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: happens over here. And you know, there was a migration 379 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: that happened ten twenty years ago in Europe from Italy, 380 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,560 Speaker 1: which was the best league in the world to England, 381 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: which is now the best league in the world. Players 382 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: didn't go to England because of the weather and the food, Okay, 383 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: they went because of the money and if you were 384 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 1: able to compete from a money perspective in North America, 385 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,679 Speaker 1: and the credibility was there, plus with all of the 386 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 1: wonderful advantages that North America has in terms of lifestyle 387 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:57,680 Speaker 1: that let's be honest, Saudi Arabia doesn't have. Now you're cooking, 388 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,440 Speaker 1: and I could see another migration happening if and when 389 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 1: the world looks at North America and Major League Soccer 390 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: as a as the Commission of Major League Soccer Don 391 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:11,199 Speaker 1: Garber would say, a league of choice and a destination 392 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:14,679 Speaker 1: type of league, that's when things start start changing. But 393 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: if I'm the other sports, the other four sports, absolutely 394 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: I see what soccer is doing in general, and I 395 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 1: see what MLS is doing, and I'm worried because if 396 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 1: that's a stock that has incredible room to grow and 397 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:29,320 Speaker 1: get much much bigger, given the demographics, given the realities 398 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: on the ground when it comes to sports, and giving 399 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:33,439 Speaker 1: the changing of our country and culture. 400 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,439 Speaker 2: When we return, Alexi and I discuss soccer's cultural growth 401 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 2: in both the US and globally. 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On Tuesday, October twenty fourth. 419 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 2: Where we left off, Alexi and I were about to 420 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 2: talk about his passion for soccer and why he believes 421 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 2: that kids who played the sport will remember that excitement 422 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 2: for a lifetime. I agree. I mean, I know in 423 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,440 Speaker 2: my lifetime, I feel like it's getting more and more attention. 424 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 2: And of course, you know MESSI being here. I mean, 425 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 2: you have some of the biggest athletes in the world, 426 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 2: and it's just getting so much attention, and it's really 427 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 2: I think it's great for these younger kids to be 428 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 2: able to get in and to be able to see 429 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 2: and see these When I played in Italy for that year. 430 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 2: This is back in two thousand and one, and it 431 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 2: was my only time in Europe, and I thought a 432 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:15,639 Speaker 2: soccer game was like you know, my high school soccer, 433 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 2: you know, that's how naive I was. And I'm in 434 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 2: Parma and I don't know which team we went. We 435 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 2: were on the road and went, but it was like 436 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 2: an NFL game, and I think it was just like 437 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 2: a regular and they had like myself and a couple 438 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 2: other baseball players, and they had there was this promo 439 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 2: in our city and they had a couple of the 440 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 2: soccer players there and I felt like I was like 441 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:37,639 Speaker 2: a second grader, you know. It was the flock of 442 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 2: people to see the soccer play. I mean, I was like, 443 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 2: that's when it really opened my eyes, and I went 444 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 2: and watched the game. It was blown away by the 445 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,119 Speaker 2: energy of just like this is like being in an 446 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 2: NFL stadium. It was intense, It was awesome, and I 447 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 2: became a fan for life from that point on. And 448 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 2: I love the sport. And I also here because I'll 449 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 2: interview a lot of pro athletes and such, and a 450 00:21:57,240 --> 00:22:00,119 Speaker 2: lot of them referenced their multi sport background, you know, 451 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:01,479 Speaker 2: when they were younger, and a lot of them talk 452 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:05,359 Speaker 2: about how much soccer brilliant, particularly with the footwork piece 453 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 2: of it, the spatial awareness. I haven't talked to an 454 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 2: athlete who has accredited or recommended like, hey, if you 455 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 2: want to play whatever it is, like soccer will help 456 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 2: you in every other sport. 457 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I mentioned hockey. A lot of soccer 458 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 1: players have played hockey, and a lot of hockey players, 459 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: let's be honest, especially with the international aspect of the NHL, 460 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,399 Speaker 1: have come from soccer backgrounds and play and play soccer. 461 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,160 Speaker 1: And now to your point, you know, there's a whole 462 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 1: generation that when they wake up here in twenty twenty three, 463 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:35,360 Speaker 1: they don't look at soccer as anything different than any 464 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 1: other sport. It is part of their sports palette, if 465 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 1: you will. And this generation, you know, that grew up 466 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 1: with soccer being part of their everyday existence. Obviously they 467 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 1: grew up playing FIFA. That was a huge, huge, huge, 468 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 1: I mean that changed the perception of the game for 469 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: a lot of people, and let's be honest about it, 470 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: has educated multiple generations in terms of leagues around the world, 471 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:00,400 Speaker 1: teams around the world, colors, tactics, all all that kind 472 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 1: of stuff, management, all that kind of stuff through a 473 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 1: video game. But it opened up the world. And one 474 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,000 Speaker 1: of the reasons why I was drawn to soccer at 475 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,280 Speaker 1: an early age was that international aspect. And I love 476 00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: the fact that when I walked out in my suburban 477 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 1: Detroit existence onto my sidewalk in front of my house 478 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: and started juggling the ball, that there was a kid 479 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:21,640 Speaker 1: on the other side of the world that I had 480 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: absolutely nothing in common with, completely different language, completely different culture. 481 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 1: But this was a thread and this was that connection 482 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 1: in that they're juggling the ball too, and I loved that. 483 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 1: I mean, look, I loved growing up playing all American sports, 484 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 1: and like I said, I played much more hockey at 485 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: times than soccer, but soccer was really unique and different 486 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 1: to me. And I do think that this generation growing 487 00:23:43,400 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 1: up right now looks at soccer and you know, kind 488 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 1: of thinks globally but acts locally, and that kind of 489 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 1: vein and sees that soccer is this game and this 490 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,159 Speaker 1: thread that is shared with the rest of the world. 491 00:23:56,480 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 1: And I know you had that experience when you went 492 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: to a soccer game. A lot of people that I meet, 493 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: they go to a soccer game, you know, a soccer 494 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:06,119 Speaker 1: game in the US, and they see the singing, and 495 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 1: they see the emotion, and it's two hours in and out, 496 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:13,760 Speaker 1: and it's NonStop action. There's not TV timeouts or anything 497 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:16,440 Speaker 1: like that, and they're just blown away at the entire 498 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:20,199 Speaker 1: experience of what soccer is, especially relative to maybe if 499 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: your only experience is going to a high school game 500 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:24,800 Speaker 1: or you soccer out there. When you go and actually 501 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:26,960 Speaker 1: see a game played at a high level in a 502 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 1: professional type of setting, it's incredibly exciting. And in that moment, 503 00:24:30,840 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: there's a lot of people that say, you know what, 504 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:34,880 Speaker 1: I get it. I understand why this is the most 505 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:35,920 Speaker 1: popular game in the world. 506 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,160 Speaker 2: I want to say a little bit of my bias 507 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:42,719 Speaker 2: because I grew up in a football household and people 508 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:47,119 Speaker 2: you know, would often say they're obviously idiots. There's no 509 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:49,240 Speaker 2: physicality inside. I want you to talk, and I know 510 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:51,439 Speaker 2: you were a physical player. Can you talk about the 511 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 2: physicality of soccer and talk about it's running eight miles 512 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:57,639 Speaker 2: or something crazy during the course of a game, like 513 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:01,360 Speaker 2: what physical exertion goes into, you know, playing an entire 514 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 2: soccer game and banging. I mean, the pcality of it. 515 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: I think that that has started to dissipate, and it's 516 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: almost like a dinosaur mentality that has to just kind 517 00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:12,760 Speaker 1: of die off and become extinct. And and that's not 518 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: just in terms of fans, that's also in terms of media, 519 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:17,880 Speaker 1: and that has has really changed over the years. I mean, look, 520 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 1: I grew up and as an American playing soccer in 521 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:23,280 Speaker 1: the seventies and eighties. I mean there were you had 522 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:25,159 Speaker 1: to dodge the slings and arrows that were coming from 523 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:26,879 Speaker 1: all over and this is you know, this is a 524 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:30,439 Speaker 1: communist sport, and this is you know, homophobic stuff, and 525 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 1: you know just I mean just just piling on because 526 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:35,639 Speaker 1: you were soccer and I kind of wore it as 527 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 1: a badge of honor. You know, you were kind of 528 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: this this misfit, rag tag type of existence as a 529 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: soccer dude back then. That's changed dramatically over the over 530 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 1: the years. But when it comes to the actual physical 531 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: demands of the sport, obviously it's an incredibly aerobic type 532 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 1: of situation where you're running on a consistent basis and 533 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,119 Speaker 1: your you're you know, you're sprint but then you're jogging, 534 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:03,879 Speaker 1: then you're sprinting, then you're jogging. So purely from a 535 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:08,040 Speaker 1: physical perspective, I think that there is a it's not 536 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: big grudging type of respect. I think in general, I'll 537 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:14,359 Speaker 1: meet other athletes from other sports and immediately they say, listen, 538 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 1: I know what I do is I think it's hard. 539 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 1: But what you guys do in terms of running around, 540 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,280 Speaker 1: you know, for two hours on what you're doing, that's 541 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:24,959 Speaker 1: a whole other level. There's not the stops and starts. Obviously, 542 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:27,560 Speaker 1: there's not the timeouts and stuff like that. Now I'm 543 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 1: six foot three. I was six foot four when I 544 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: had all the hair, but you know the reality is 545 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,399 Speaker 1: that I was. I was much taller for the era. 546 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:37,440 Speaker 1: But nowadays, I mean, when you look at the athletes, 547 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 1: you look at someone like a killing Embappe who plays 548 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:44,160 Speaker 1: for France. These guys are big, and they are strong, 549 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,200 Speaker 1: and they are fast, and they would you know, any 550 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:50,639 Speaker 1: American football team would salivate over having some of these 551 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 1: some of these guys. So there's no again, if you 552 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 1: saw Messi walking down the street, you wouldn't say, hey, 553 00:26:57,280 --> 00:26:59,480 Speaker 1: there goes the greatest player that ever played the game. 554 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 1: If you didn't know anything about soccer, and so it 555 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: it It accommodates all types and that's something that I 556 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: love about the soccer. But the physical part, uh, you're 557 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 1: running miles and miles and miles a game that you know, 558 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 1: the tactical part in terms of where you play, and 559 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,479 Speaker 1: let's be honest, it is a low scoring type of 560 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:21,399 Speaker 1: sport and so the hardest thing, the hardest thing to 561 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: do in soccer is score a goal. But it's also 562 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:29,400 Speaker 1: this incredibly cathartic, orgasmic release when it happens, because it 563 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:33,280 Speaker 1: is relative to other sports so rare, and when it 564 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: finally happens, it's the culmination of so much work and 565 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: so much coordination someone that can be seen. Obviously, some 566 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: of it's that's done behind the scenes and some of 567 00:27:41,280 --> 00:27:44,120 Speaker 1: it's that's under the surface, but ultimately it's the it's 568 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 1: called the beautiful game, but it's also the simple game. 569 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 1: All Right. You go to a soccer game, you understand 570 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:50,360 Speaker 1: how it works, and yeah, you can take some time, 571 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 1: you can figure out some of the little nuances out there. 572 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 1: But it's a simple and beautiful game. But it does 573 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:58,439 Speaker 1: require it does require a motor when it comes to 574 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 1: the physical uh, design and necessities when it comes to 575 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 1: the game. 576 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 2: What are the benefits of playing the sport of soccer, 577 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:07,159 Speaker 2: particularly at the youth level, and why would it be 578 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:11,159 Speaker 2: in the parents' best interest or kids' best interest to 579 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 2: not only participate, but you know, to find ways in 580 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 2: which if the kid enjoys the sport, Like why should parents, 581 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:24,200 Speaker 2: from your perspective, maybe prioritize a sport like soccer or 582 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 2: any sport for that matter, when you have so many 583 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 2: others who are saying youth sports is just listen, I 584 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:30,119 Speaker 2: think there's ways that it can be improved, but I 585 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:31,639 Speaker 2: think there's a lot of good as well. So I 586 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 2: want you to kind of steer towards the good and 587 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:37,520 Speaker 2: what solutions that you think can maybe even improve the culture, 588 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 2: you know, going forward. 589 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: Okay, so let me let me start just by you know, 590 00:28:41,120 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: being an advocate for soccer. All right. So, as I said, 591 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 1: it's a simple game. I know we've talked about the 592 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 1: cost involved, but relative to many other games, it's it's 593 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 1: very limited in terms of cost in that all you 594 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:55,440 Speaker 1: need is a ball, all right. The you know, the 595 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: equipment is, you know, is very minimal relative to other sports. 596 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 1: And when it comes to a field, all you need 597 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 1: is a space. It could be a space of grass, 598 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 1: it could be concrete, it could be terf, it could 599 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 1: be dirt. It's why it's played in so many different ways, 600 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 1: and you know, down corridors and down alley ways and 601 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 1: on streets and all these different things. And sometimes it's 602 00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 1: not even a ball that you need. Maybe it's a 603 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:21,040 Speaker 1: sock filled with newspaper or whatever it is. So the 604 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 1: simplicity of the game I think is part of it 605 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:26,920 Speaker 1: of its beauty. Number two and I mentioned it a 606 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: little bit. There is no archetype. There is no specific 607 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,760 Speaker 1: body structure that you need as opposed to other sports 608 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 1: where you know, height and speed and strength are you know, 609 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 1: are are necessary in order for you to be really 610 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 1: really good. Yes, you have to be you know, I 611 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:47,840 Speaker 1: think a good athlete, but I think more you have 612 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 1: to understand the mathematics of the game, the geometry of 613 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:54,600 Speaker 1: the game, all of that kind of stuff. Number three, 614 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: it's NonStop action. If you've ever gone and watched kids play, yeah, 615 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: they're kind of like these b buzzing around the ball. 616 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 1: But they're always moving and they're always involved, and they're 617 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:07,760 Speaker 1: always active. There's not a lot of downtime in soccer. 618 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:10,840 Speaker 1: And I think that that ultimately is U is a 619 00:30:10,840 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 1: good thing. Number three or I don't know, I think 620 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 1: I'm number five or six right now. But the international 621 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 1: aspect of it, I do think that that is incredibly 622 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 1: attractive to people to know that this is a game 623 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 1: that is played all over the world. And it doesn't 624 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:25,040 Speaker 1: mean by any stretch of the imagination that you can't 625 00:30:25,080 --> 00:30:27,000 Speaker 1: be proud of your country or all the wonderful sports 626 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: that we have. And I think this gets back to 627 00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: the bigger picture of why be involved in sports. Look, 628 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:36,520 Speaker 1: I know that I've lived a charm life and I'm 629 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 1: one of the very few that has gotten the opportunity 630 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: to be that small percentage that, you know, go professional 631 00:30:43,520 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: and play in Olympics, World Cups and that kind of stuff. 632 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: The reality is that the vast majority out there are 633 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:52,719 Speaker 1: never going to get that, But that doesn't mean that 634 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 1: they can't benefit from being involved in youth sports. And 635 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 1: I mentioned, you know, the socialization, right. You know, my 636 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:02,720 Speaker 1: son is is a okay soccer player. He's played ayso 637 00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 1: for years and years and years. He changes teams each 638 00:31:05,680 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 1: and every season so that he can socialize, and I 639 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: want him to socialize. I want him to It has 640 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 1: nothing to do with necessarily kicking a ball. But he 641 00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:14,479 Speaker 1: has to come into a new team and he has 642 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:16,720 Speaker 1: to introduce himself to his new teammates and to his 643 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 1: new coach, and he has to adapt and to adjust 644 00:31:19,400 --> 00:31:21,960 Speaker 1: to a different type of setting. And while that might 645 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:24,040 Speaker 1: may or may not make him a better soccer player, 646 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 1: for me, it doesn't really matter because I want him 647 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 1: to have that type of experience. I want him at 648 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:30,600 Speaker 1: times to be out of his comfort zone, both on 649 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: and off the field in terms of the experiences that 650 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,080 Speaker 1: he has. The you I'm sure you've talked about it 651 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:39,240 Speaker 1: on the on the pod before about all the lessons 652 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 1: that you can learn and whether it's whether it's leadership 653 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: or communication, or how to deal with failure, how to 654 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: deal with success, how to be uh you know, how 655 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: to be a leader, in a sports setting, when to 656 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:54,160 Speaker 1: kick somebody in the butt, when to pat somebody on 657 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: the on the back, all of those different dynamics that 658 00:31:56,720 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 1: go on in a sporting environment that you then can 659 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:03,360 Speaker 1: translate to the real world, and that I guess I'll 660 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:07,200 Speaker 1: end it on this. We focus A soccer game is 661 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:09,959 Speaker 1: ninety minutes, right, So we focus so much on that 662 00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 1: ninety minutes in terms of developing talent that sometimes we 663 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: forget and even unfortunately we abdicate the responsibility that we 664 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:21,600 Speaker 1: have to that other twenty two and a half hours. 665 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:24,200 Speaker 1: I would love every player to go on and have 666 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:27,080 Speaker 1: a wonderful career and be great soccer players at the 667 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 1: highest level. That's not going to happen. But what I 668 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:32,400 Speaker 1: do want to happen is that we arm them with 669 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 1: the skills to function as people in a productive society 670 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:38,680 Speaker 1: and in my country and culture here in the US. 671 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:42,880 Speaker 1: I want them to be that generation that leads the 672 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 1: country that I love, the country that I believe is 673 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:48,080 Speaker 1: the greatest country in the world off the soccer field, 674 00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 1: and some of those lessons and some of those skills 675 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: are learned not just in you soccer, but in youth sports. 676 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:56,360 Speaker 1: And so I think you're really not setting your son 677 00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:58,640 Speaker 1: or your daughter up for failure. But I don't think 678 00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:03,440 Speaker 1: you're giving them the best chance of success, and you're 679 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 1: not giving them all of the different tools that they 680 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:09,520 Speaker 1: are going to need to be successful in society if 681 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:12,040 Speaker 1: you deprive them of the opportunity to play soccer at 682 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:13,800 Speaker 1: any level. By the way, it doesn't It doesn't have 683 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:14,960 Speaker 1: to be a lead. It doesn't have to be club. 684 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 1: You don't have to be traveling all around, just running 685 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:19,360 Speaker 1: around and kicking a ball, running around and hitting a ball, 686 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:22,800 Speaker 1: or just being involved in that moment that we all 687 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:25,320 Speaker 1: know and that excitement and it will last a lifetime. 688 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 1: They will remember it for a lifetime. 689 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:30,800 Speaker 2: Dude, I love it, Alexi llilas, Dude, where where can 690 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:33,440 Speaker 2: First of all, I love following your ex your Twitter 691 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:36,920 Speaker 2: now X feed with I love every freaking morning. You're like, 692 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 2: what are we yelling about that? It always makes me laugh, 693 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:41,120 Speaker 2: But what are we yelling about today? You're just getting 694 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:44,320 Speaker 2: people fired up? Besides Twitter X, where can people find 695 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 2: you and stay in touch? 696 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 1: Yeah? So I have the State of the Union podcast 697 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:49,600 Speaker 1: over at Fox and I do that a couple of 698 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:51,480 Speaker 1: times a week with my good friend David Mossy. And 699 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:53,920 Speaker 1: it's basically looking at the world of soccer, and as 700 00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:56,440 Speaker 1: I mentioned, there's always somebody kicking the ball somewhere around 701 00:33:56,440 --> 00:33:59,440 Speaker 1: the world. It's impossible, you know, to retain all of it. 702 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:01,840 Speaker 1: We of look at a top level of everything that's 703 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,360 Speaker 1: going around the world, especially with an eye to the US, 704 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:06,720 Speaker 1: so American players that are playing overseas and what's going 705 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:08,400 Speaker 1: on with the US and all that. So we do 706 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,760 Speaker 1: that a couple times a week, you know. I continue 707 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,680 Speaker 1: to work for Fox. We had a big summer with 708 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:17,160 Speaker 1: the Women's World Cup. I was in Qatar last winter. 709 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:19,399 Speaker 1: Next summer, we got a huge summer when it comes 710 00:34:19,440 --> 00:34:21,880 Speaker 1: to soccer here in the United States. The US is 711 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:25,720 Speaker 1: hosting Copa America, so Messi and Argentina, Neymar and Brazil, 712 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:27,600 Speaker 1: and the US team is actually going to be in 713 00:34:27,640 --> 00:34:30,759 Speaker 1: that tournament. Also the Euros which is the European Championships 714 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:33,360 Speaker 1: that we'll be doing. And then obviously this huge ramp 715 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 1: and lead up to twenty twenty six when the US, Canada, 716 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:39,080 Speaker 1: and Mexico are hosting the World Cup, the first time 717 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:41,319 Speaker 1: the Men's World Cup is back in the US since 718 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:44,000 Speaker 1: back in nineteen ninety four when Yours truly was running 719 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 1: around with a whole lot more hair. 720 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:48,360 Speaker 2: Let's go. You look like our Garfunkel out there. You 721 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:48,879 Speaker 2: were the van. 722 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:51,800 Speaker 1: It was a lot of hair ago, a lot of 723 00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:55,160 Speaker 1: haircare products too. My goodness, oh, my goodness. 724 00:34:55,480 --> 00:34:57,400 Speaker 2: Well, dude, I can't thank you enough for coming on. 725 00:34:57,440 --> 00:34:58,520 Speaker 2: This has been freaking awesome. 726 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:01,319 Speaker 1: Hey, listen, I think thank you so much for you know, 727 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:03,520 Speaker 1: for first off reaching out and for you know, talking 728 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:05,520 Speaker 1: about these things. It's it's important and you know, we 729 00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:08,040 Speaker 1: can agree and disagree and go back. I think, you know, 730 00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:10,279 Speaker 1: this comes from a conversation that we had, you know, 731 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:13,320 Speaker 1: on on X and you know, sometimes that can get derailed. 732 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 1: But I thought it was civil and I thought it 733 00:35:14,640 --> 00:35:18,000 Speaker 1: was respectful and I enjoyed it. And you know, people 734 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:20,560 Speaker 1: agree with me, they disagree with me, they vehemently disagree 735 00:35:20,600 --> 00:35:21,800 Speaker 1: with me. They scream and yell at me and do 736 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 1: all that different stuff. But you know, ultimately, the more 737 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,120 Speaker 1: face to face or zoom to zoom, at least human 738 00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:29,680 Speaker 1: beings talking, I think the better off it is for 739 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:31,440 Speaker 1: the sports. And you know I don't I certainly don't 740 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:33,160 Speaker 1: have all the answers. I know you don't have all 741 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:35,640 Speaker 1: the answers, but at least talking about this and trying 742 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:39,000 Speaker 1: to work some things out, and you know, at least 743 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:42,520 Speaker 1: examining where we are is good. And while we kick 744 00:35:42,520 --> 00:35:44,640 Speaker 1: ourselves for what we haven't done as a nation when 745 00:35:44,640 --> 00:35:46,759 Speaker 1: it comes to soccer or sports, or just as a 746 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:49,440 Speaker 1: nation in general, sometimes we also have to pat ourselves 747 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:51,400 Speaker 1: on the back foot with how far we've come, because 748 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:53,960 Speaker 1: it's pretty incredible what we have when it comes to 749 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:56,560 Speaker 1: our country and the opportunities that we have doesn't mean 750 00:35:56,560 --> 00:35:58,200 Speaker 1: that we don't have problems, and it doesn't mean we 751 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:00,399 Speaker 1: can't get better, and we need to work eat every 752 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:02,279 Speaker 1: day to get better. Now, I know you do it, 753 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:04,560 Speaker 1: and I know a lot of your listeners are doing 754 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:06,640 Speaker 1: it out there, and they're doing it a lot of times. 755 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 1: Were not a whole lot of money and certainly not 756 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:11,000 Speaker 1: any type of recognition. But the men and women that 757 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:13,600 Speaker 1: each and every day are pushing that boulder up the hill. 758 00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:15,280 Speaker 1: It's a labor of love, but it's still a labor. 759 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:17,959 Speaker 1: They deserve a tremendous amount of credit because you're doing 760 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:20,719 Speaker 1: so much that goes beyond kicking or hitting the ball, 761 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:23,479 Speaker 1: like I said, and you should be thanked, you should 762 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:25,759 Speaker 1: be praised, and you should make as much money as 763 00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:27,080 Speaker 1: you possibly can in the process. 764 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:29,920 Speaker 2: Hey, hey man man, I love it, dude. They couldn't 765 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:31,560 Speaker 2: agree with you more. And Bro, I appreciate you. 766 00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:31,960 Speaker 1: Thank you. 767 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:36,200 Speaker 2: That's Alexi Lallis, former professional soccer player. Thanks for listening 768 00:36:36,239 --> 00:36:39,320 Speaker 2: to the Reform Sports Podcast. If you've enjoyed this episode, 769 00:36:39,440 --> 00:36:41,239 Speaker 2: we would appreciate it if you took a moment to 770 00:36:41,320 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 2: rate and review our podcast. 771 00:36:42,680 --> 00:36:44,359 Speaker 1: As we work to grow our community of. 772 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:48,400 Speaker 2: Supporters and advocates for more reform sports content, please subscribe 773 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:51,520 Speaker 2: to our newsletter and blog at Reformsports Project dot com. 774 00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:52,799 Speaker 1: You can also follow us on 775 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:55,360 Speaker 2: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.