WEBVTT - Truly Professional Softball with Jennie Finch 0:00:00.720 --> 0:00:03.160 Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're welcoming 0:00:03.200 --> 0:00:05.560 the world of softball to our city tonight for a 0:00:05.600 --> 0:00:10.080 big party celebrating opening weekend at the AUSL millort shots 0:00:10.119 --> 0:00:15.280 for everybody. It's Friday, June sixth, Happy Friday Slices. On 0:00:15.320 --> 0:00:17.759 today's show, we'll be talking with National Softball Hall of 0:00:17.800 --> 0:00:21.520 Famer and Athletes Unlimited Softball League Advisor Jenny Finch about 0:00:21.520 --> 0:00:25.080 the inaugural season beginning on Saturday, the beauty of softball, 0:00:25.079 --> 0:00:28.000 stakeholders all working toward the same goal, and Major League 0:00:28.040 --> 0:00:32.599 Baseball's groundbreaking investment in the AUSL. Plus the PWHL expansion 0:00:32.640 --> 0:00:36.600 window opens with some huge moves, the NWSL is back 0:00:36.640 --> 0:00:38.479 in action, and at the end of the show, a 0:00:38.560 --> 0:00:41.519 special treat for all you puzzle lovers out there. It's 0:00:41.560 --> 0:00:57.000 all coming up right after this. Welcome mack y'all. Here's 0:00:57.040 --> 0:01:01.440 what you need to know today, leading off with softball 0:01:01.480 --> 0:01:04.800 and the Women's College World Series. We're recording this episode 0:01:04.840 --> 0:01:08.120 before Game two of the Championship Series between Texas and 0:01:08.160 --> 0:01:11.080 Texas Tech on Thursday night, So as you're listening to this, 0:01:11.360 --> 0:01:14.920 we're all either thinking congratulations to Texas for winning the 0:01:14.959 --> 0:01:19.200 program's first ever national championship. And wow was Sarah's pre 0:01:19.360 --> 0:01:22.640 series prediction right or we're all getting geared up for 0:01:22.680 --> 0:01:25.360 Game three of the series. Whichever way things went, We 0:01:25.440 --> 0:01:29.200 hope everyone had fun. Hey, speaking to that, y'all have 0:01:29.240 --> 0:01:31.120 to check out the brand new album Hope We have 0:01:31.200 --> 0:01:34.040 Fun from my friends and my faves Mountjoy. 0:01:34.400 --> 0:01:35.160 It's so good. 0:01:35.680 --> 0:01:38.959 Shameless plug, but you gotta support the RTS, y'all to hockey. 0:01:39.200 --> 0:01:43.560 Holy cow, The moves are moving in the PWHL. The 0:01:43.640 --> 0:01:47.039 league's new Seattle and Vancouver expansion teams are taking full 0:01:47.040 --> 0:01:49.560 advantage of the five day signing window ahead of Monday 0:01:49.600 --> 0:01:53.640 Night's expansion draft, just snaggin top players left and right. 0:01:54.200 --> 0:01:56.640 Remember how we told you that the Boston Fleet opted 0:01:56.680 --> 0:01:59.720 not to make ten time world champion Hillary Night one 0:01:59.720 --> 0:02:03.680 of their protected players. Well, she became the first player 0:02:03.720 --> 0:02:07.080 to sign with Seattle on Wednesday, inking a one year 0:02:07.120 --> 0:02:09.440 deal for the twenty twenty five to twenty twenty sixth season. 0:02:10.000 --> 0:02:12.320 And after she told us right here on this show 0:02:12.600 --> 0:02:15.640 how much she wanted to bring a title to Boston, Well, 0:02:16.080 --> 0:02:18.000 feels like you're one in Seattle. Might be a bit 0:02:18.040 --> 0:02:20.720 of a scorched earth tour making them pay for letting 0:02:20.720 --> 0:02:24.600 her go. Then there's two time defending champions Minnesota Frost, 0:02:24.600 --> 0:02:27.320 who saw both Sophie Jake's and friend of the Show 0:02:27.320 --> 0:02:31.440 Claire Thompson leave to sign with Vancouver Jakes for three 0:02:31.520 --> 0:02:34.280 years and Thompson for one year. With two players from 0:02:34.280 --> 0:02:37.040 Minnesota getting scooped up, the Frost were eligible to protect 0:02:37.040 --> 0:02:40.120 a fourth player, which they did on Wednesday, protecting Britack 0:02:40.160 --> 0:02:44.320 kral Salemi. Vancouver is also signing Ottawa Golie Emirates mash Meyer, 0:02:44.440 --> 0:02:46.840 and per the Athletic Sley Salvian is also expected to 0:02:46.880 --> 0:02:49.880 sign Toronto Sarah Nurse. And that was all just on 0:02:50.000 --> 0:02:52.880 day one of the signing window, y'all. By the time 0:02:52.919 --> 0:02:55.680 you slaces hear this, it's possible even more signings have 0:02:55.720 --> 0:02:58.640 been announced. Each expansion team can sign a maximum of 0:02:58.680 --> 0:03:03.720 five players before Sunday Eastern. Just a reminder, any unprotected 0:03:03.760 --> 0:03:07.040 player or player on an expiring contract is eligible to 0:03:07.040 --> 0:03:11.480 be signed. More PWHL. On Tuesday, the league's players Association 0:03:11.560 --> 0:03:16.200 announced that players voted overwhelmingly to disclose player salaries moving forward. 0:03:16.600 --> 0:03:19.320 As of now, salaries won't be published publicly, but they 0:03:19.360 --> 0:03:22.520 will be available to players and agents upon request. The 0:03:22.600 --> 0:03:25.440 decision is expected to give players more clarity and more 0:03:25.440 --> 0:03:28.720 information during contract negotiations. It's a big move from the 0:03:28.720 --> 0:03:32.480 PWHL Players Association and comes at a key moment given 0:03:32.520 --> 0:03:36.560 the ongoing expansion draft negotiation window. Moving on to hoops, 0:03:36.560 --> 0:03:40.080 the Seattle Storm is under a microscope once again. We 0:03:40.160 --> 0:03:42.680 first saw a report from Christina Williams, which was later 0:03:42.720 --> 0:03:45.920 built upon by reporting from Annie Costable, that the WNBA 0:03:46.040 --> 0:03:48.960 is reviewing a complaint from a former Seattle Storm player 0:03:49.000 --> 0:03:52.320 alleging that a current Seattle Storm assistant coach directed profanity 0:03:52.360 --> 0:03:55.000 at them. The encounter in question occurred when the Storm 0:03:55.040 --> 0:03:59.120 hosted the Aces on Sunday. There's no official investigation underway, 0:03:59.200 --> 0:04:01.800 but this is the second time Seattle's coaching staff has 0:04:01.840 --> 0:04:04.320 been the subject of a complaint in the last calendar year. 0:04:04.720 --> 0:04:06.480 You might remember that in November of. 0:04:06.520 --> 0:04:10.120 Last year, Constable, then with the Chicago Sun Times, reported 0:04:10.120 --> 0:04:13.640 that Seattle's coaching staff was under investigation for alleged player 0:04:13.680 --> 0:04:17.200 harassment and bullying. That complaint was filed by former Storm 0:04:17.240 --> 0:04:21.279 guard Jewel Lloyd, but an external investigation concluded without finding 0:04:21.320 --> 0:04:25.120 any violations. Lloyd requested a trade and is now with 0:04:25.160 --> 0:04:28.159 the Las Vegas Aces, per a post from Costable on 0:04:28.360 --> 0:04:31.760 x yesterday. Fines and suspensions are not expected in relation 0:04:31.839 --> 0:04:34.800 to this incident. Seattle is currently four and four on 0:04:34.880 --> 0:04:37.520 the season. We'll keep you updated on this situation as 0:04:37.560 --> 0:04:40.560 we hear more to soccer. The NWSL is back in 0:04:40.600 --> 0:04:42.720 action tonight after the international break. 0:04:42.920 --> 0:04:44.080 Two games on the schedule. 0:04:44.120 --> 0:04:47.160 First up Utah Royals at Racing Louisville at seven thirty 0:04:47.200 --> 0:04:50.920 pm Eastern. That'll be available on NWSL Plus, Paramount Plus 0:04:50.920 --> 0:04:54.320 and CBS Sports Galazzo. Then at ten pm Eastern, we've 0:04:54.320 --> 0:04:57.080 got a prime video showdown between the San Diego Wave 0:04:57.160 --> 0:05:00.120 and Seattle Rain. Five more contests over the course the 0:05:00.120 --> 0:05:02.440 weekend as well, so we'll link to the NWSL schedule 0:05:02.440 --> 0:05:06.200 in our show notes. More footy our show side. Minnesota 0:05:06.240 --> 0:05:10.400 Aurora FC is still undefeated. The squad is four to 0:05:10.400 --> 0:05:12.280 oh this season after a four nail victory over the 0:05:12.360 --> 0:05:15.719 Chicago City Dutch Lions on Sunday. The Aurora are back 0:05:15.760 --> 0:05:18.400 in action at home tonight against Sioux Falls City FC. 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:22.560 That game begins at eight pm Eastern. And in softball, 0:05:22.600 --> 0:05:26.800 as I mentioned, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League AUSL starts 0:05:26.880 --> 0:05:30.360 up tomorrow a quick refresher on this new league. While 0:05:30.360 --> 0:05:33.120 Athletes Unlimited has been in the softball game since twenty twenty, 0:05:33.320 --> 0:05:36.039 this new league will use a more traditional format. Four 0:05:36.080 --> 0:05:38.680 teams will play in the inaugural season, touring in ten 0:05:38.760 --> 0:05:41.560 cities across the United States. In the past, AU has 0:05:41.560 --> 0:05:44.880 crowned an individual player as a champion, while this new 0:05:44.960 --> 0:05:46.680 league will award the inaugural. 0:05:46.320 --> 0:05:47.600 Trophy to a team. 0:05:47.960 --> 0:05:50.560 The first game on the schedule Saturday is The Talents 0:05:50.640 --> 0:05:53.680 Versus the bandits up in Rosemont, Illinois. That one starts 0:05:53.680 --> 0:05:56.800 at three Eastern on MLB dot Com, MLBtv, and the 0:05:56.920 --> 0:06:02.000 MLB app No subscription required. Its Eastern The Volts play 0:06:02.000 --> 0:06:05.560 the Blaze in Wichita, Kansas. Catch that game airing live 0:06:05.640 --> 0:06:09.880 on MLB Network and on MLBtv. Lots more AUSL chatter 0:06:09.960 --> 0:06:12.320 coming up later in the show with the Great Jenny Fitch. 0:06:14.920 --> 0:06:17.760 Slices want to let you know the flights are booked 0:06:17.760 --> 0:06:20.719 and the Aurora jersey is washed and ready. I'm headed 0:06:20.720 --> 0:06:23.279 to Minnesota next week to watch our show side the 0:06:23.320 --> 0:06:27.080 Minnesota Aurora FC in person. So if you're anywhere near Egan, 0:06:27.160 --> 0:06:31.080 Minnesota and Tco Stadium, just about twenty minutes outside Minneapolis 0:06:31.120 --> 0:06:34.720 Saint Paul. Come hang out and support the Aurora on Thursday, 0:06:34.800 --> 0:06:38.680 June twelfth against the Chicago City Dutch Lines. Team owners, 0:06:38.920 --> 0:06:41.240 you gotta wear your exclusive Onma Slight's hat if you 0:06:41.320 --> 0:06:44.520 got one excited to see y'all there. We're gonna take 0:06:44.520 --> 0:06:46.919 a quick break. When we come back, we're talking AUSL 0:06:46.960 --> 0:06:48.560 with the legendary Jenny Fitch. 0:06:48.839 --> 0:06:59.440 Be right back joining us now. 0:06:59.440 --> 0:07:01.800 She's one of the greatest softball players of all time, 0:07:01.839 --> 0:07:04.320 in a National Softball Hall of Famer, an advisor for 0:07:04.360 --> 0:07:07.200 the upcoming inaugural season of Athletes and Limited Softball League 0:07:07.320 --> 0:07:10.240 the AUSL. She was a collegiate All American, helping the 0:07:10.240 --> 0:07:12.680 Arizona Wildcats win the two thousand and one Women's College 0:07:12.720 --> 0:07:14.920 World Series, a member of the US national team that 0:07:14.960 --> 0:07:16.720 won gold at the two thousand and four Olympics in 0:07:16.760 --> 0:07:18.600 silver at the two thousand and eight Games. She played 0:07:18.640 --> 0:07:21.520 pro with the Chicago Bandits of the National Professt Pitch. 0:07:21.440 --> 0:07:22.840 League from five to twenty ten. 0:07:23.080 --> 0:07:25.360 We've seen around the Real Housewives of Orange County, dancing 0:07:25.360 --> 0:07:27.920 with the stars and famously striking out the world's best 0:07:27.960 --> 0:07:29.239 Major League baseball players. 0:07:29.480 --> 0:07:31.800 It's Jenny Bench Hi, Jenny. 0:07:32.160 --> 0:07:33.320 Hey Sarah, how are you. 0:07:33.440 --> 0:07:35.200 I'm good. Thank you so much for joining us. 0:07:35.240 --> 0:07:38.880 I am so excited to talk all things AUSL. 0:07:38.640 --> 0:07:42.680 Because we are finally here. We've been hearing about this league. 0:07:42.760 --> 0:07:45.440 But this weekend in my hometown of Chicago, I'm helping 0:07:45.920 --> 0:07:48.280 throw a big bash to celebrate the start of the 0:07:48.360 --> 0:07:51.720 league on Friday night and then Saturday the action begins. 0:07:51.760 --> 0:07:53.920 So tell us a little bit about what you've been 0:07:53.960 --> 0:07:55.840 working on when it comes to being an advisor for 0:07:55.920 --> 0:07:56.480 the league. 0:07:56.880 --> 0:07:59.920 Yeah. Absolutely, we couldn't be more excited for our score. 0:08:00.200 --> 0:08:02.920 I feel like now's the time we have all hands 0:08:02.920 --> 0:08:05.880 on deck and it's going to be exciting. Yeah, and 0:08:05.920 --> 0:08:08.320 I can't wait to join you in Chicago. What in 0:08:08.360 --> 0:08:11.720 two days? Crazy up here before we know it. 0:08:11.840 --> 0:08:12.320 So yeah. 0:08:12.360 --> 0:08:15.160 So my main role has been kind of just building 0:08:15.840 --> 0:08:18.640 the league from the ground up over the under the 0:08:18.640 --> 0:08:21.840 direction of Kimming, with the other advisors as well, cat 0:08:21.840 --> 0:08:25.600 Offhanjus Windows and Natasha Wattley and so just kind of 0:08:25.800 --> 0:08:30.000 figuring out I mean, building a league from the ground up. 0:08:30.040 --> 0:08:34.800 It's a huge, huge, enormous project and we couldn't be 0:08:34.920 --> 0:08:38.040 under better leadership. And it's just a matter of you know, 0:08:38.080 --> 0:08:40.400 finding the general managers. We did a ton of interviews 0:08:40.440 --> 0:08:43.480 and then head coaches, because who do we want. 0:08:43.280 --> 0:08:45.520 In these roles leading our league? 0:08:45.520 --> 0:08:47.240 And there's only fourteens, and I think that was the 0:08:47.440 --> 0:08:50.480 hardest part, was narrowing it down until only four, which 0:08:50.880 --> 0:08:52.760 I hope this is the only beginning, and we plan 0:08:52.840 --> 0:08:57.920 to expand hopefully next summer. But yeah, and just how 0:08:57.960 --> 0:09:00.960 many games and the whole world, what cities do we 0:09:01.000 --> 0:09:03.600 play in? And so a lot of decisions were made 0:09:03.600 --> 0:09:05.880 in a short period of time. But I think for 0:09:05.960 --> 0:09:08.440 the first time ever, we have everyone working in the 0:09:08.480 --> 0:09:11.280 same direction, and I think that's what excites me the most. 0:09:11.320 --> 0:09:15.720 Where in the past it's been different ownership, and it's 0:09:15.760 --> 0:09:19.400 been kind of honestly being in a survival mode of 0:09:19.440 --> 0:09:21.280 how do we make this work with limited funds? But 0:09:21.360 --> 0:09:24.920 now we're here and doing it the right way, and 0:09:25.000 --> 0:09:26.080 I couldn't be more thrilled. 0:09:26.559 --> 0:09:28.679 We had Jessica Mendoza on last weekend. She said the 0:09:28.679 --> 0:09:31.560 same thing. She just kept saying, it's just everyone together. 0:09:31.600 --> 0:09:34.280 We have everyone in the same place together, working toward 0:09:34.360 --> 0:09:35.880 the same thing. It reminds me a little bit of 0:09:35.880 --> 0:09:39.839 the PWHL, which is this incredible hockey league that now 0:09:39.880 --> 0:09:41.760 has all the best stars in one place instead of 0:09:41.800 --> 0:09:45.240 these disparate leagues that are trying to pull people all 0:09:45.280 --> 0:09:47.640 with great intention, but it's obviously so much better when 0:09:47.640 --> 0:09:50.920 you could have one destination. You mentioned four initial teams, 0:09:51.000 --> 0:09:55.440 the Volts, Bandits, Blaze, and Talons. So tell us about 0:09:55.440 --> 0:09:56.640 the format for this season. 0:09:56.679 --> 0:09:59.040 Where are the game is going to be? How many games? 0:09:59.080 --> 0:09:59.880 And how did the playoffs? 0:10:01.040 --> 0:10:02.520 So there's ten different cities. 0:10:03.600 --> 0:10:06.160 Actually we're coming They're going to come to sulf for Louisiana, 0:10:06.200 --> 0:10:10.120 which is their hometown, so really excited, and ten ten 0:10:10.160 --> 0:10:13.160 cities again, like how do you pick into ten cities 0:10:13.200 --> 0:10:14.000 for our sport. 0:10:13.840 --> 0:10:14.120 To go in? 0:10:14.200 --> 0:10:19.000 But Chicago, Wichita, Round Rock and then the championship series 0:10:19.040 --> 0:10:23.360 will be in Tuscaloosa in Alabama. And so I believe 0:10:23.400 --> 0:10:27.199 it's twenty four games, all televised on major networks ESPN, 0:10:27.320 --> 0:10:31.199 MLB Network, which is really really exciting, and MLB dot 0:10:31.240 --> 0:10:34.200 Com just announced that they are opening it up for 0:10:34.640 --> 0:10:37.840 completely free for viewerships to be able to tune in 0:10:37.880 --> 0:10:40.600 and all of the games will be broadcasted there. 0:10:40.679 --> 0:10:43.920 So just really really excited for just. 0:10:43.880 --> 0:10:47.560 The platform that we'll have now, and we've had leagues, 0:10:47.600 --> 0:10:50.480 but there was the consistency was never there, and so 0:10:50.600 --> 0:10:53.440 how do you follow? And I think our biggest hurdle 0:10:53.960 --> 0:10:55.959 in the past fifteen years was the. 0:10:55.920 --> 0:10:57.720 College game is at its all time high. 0:10:57.920 --> 0:11:00.000 It just continues to increase year after year after year, 0:11:01.840 --> 0:11:03.800 and we've never been able to kind of bridge that 0:11:03.880 --> 0:11:06.520 gap from the college game to the pro league. And 0:11:06.600 --> 0:11:10.880 so now being able to broadcast these games on TV, 0:11:11.679 --> 0:11:14.360 you know, fans will actually get to know the players, 0:11:14.480 --> 0:11:17.199 and they'll have a team to get behind, a mascot 0:11:17.240 --> 0:11:20.840 to get behind, and eventually the cities will come. But 0:11:20.920 --> 0:11:24.840 I think it's an extremely smart move to be able 0:11:24.840 --> 0:11:27.680 to do this tour first and kind of find out 0:11:27.840 --> 0:11:31.280 where the league will succeed and be at its best. 0:11:31.440 --> 0:11:33.880 And so that's what this summer will be, and then 0:11:33.920 --> 0:11:37.200 hopefully next summer will be able to kind of plant 0:11:37.200 --> 0:11:38.880 those teams in certain cities. 0:11:39.080 --> 0:11:42.480 Yeah, I feel pretty good about the chances that Chicago 0:11:42.720 --> 0:11:47.560 Bandits will be the team that the Bandits become, based 0:11:47.600 --> 0:11:50.640 on the fact that they very smartly use the sort 0:11:50.679 --> 0:11:53.400 of light blue and red from the Chicago flag, the star, 0:11:54.040 --> 0:11:55.880 all the things that we loved about the Chicago Red 0:11:55.880 --> 0:11:58.679 Stars logo, which they changed when they became the Chicago Stars. 0:11:58.679 --> 0:12:00.720 So the Bandits are giving us back team to root 0:12:00.760 --> 0:12:02.880 for that has the elements of the flag and the 0:12:02.960 --> 0:12:06.400 history there. They compete on Jenny Finch Way, for God's 0:12:06.440 --> 0:12:08.040 sakes in Rosemont, Illinois, So. 0:12:08.000 --> 0:12:09.160 I feel pretty good about that one. 0:12:09.200 --> 0:12:12.240 You mentioned twenty four games per team, so forty eight 0:12:12.280 --> 0:12:14.680 games total for the fourteen league in this first season 0:12:14.720 --> 0:12:17.880 and then a best of three championship series in Tescalosa 0:12:17.960 --> 0:12:20.679 on June twenty sixth through twenty eighth, So lots to 0:12:20.720 --> 0:12:22.679 look forward to, lots of games to watch. 0:12:23.240 --> 0:12:23.920 You know, as a. 0:12:23.800 --> 0:12:27.360 Player in an earlier iteration of professional softball, you have 0:12:27.440 --> 0:12:31.680 firsthand knowledge of what's been lacking and what was the. 0:12:31.600 --> 0:12:33.360 Next step for this sport. 0:12:33.600 --> 0:12:35.800 What did you suggest to athletes unlimited in some of 0:12:35.880 --> 0:12:39.200 those meetings. What are some of the most important resources, amenities, 0:12:39.240 --> 0:12:41.720 priorities for players that you insisted that they have in 0:12:41.720 --> 0:12:42.440 this new league. 0:12:42.920 --> 0:12:47.160 Well, I think you know, and honestly, playing in Chicago 0:12:48.040 --> 0:12:50.360 it was such a dream and my first call was 0:12:50.400 --> 0:12:53.720 to the owners of the Chicago Bandits from way back when, 0:12:53.800 --> 0:12:57.080 and just with a huge heart of gratitude and appreciation 0:12:57.280 --> 0:13:00.880 because they did it. When I mean it's never going 0:13:00.960 --> 0:13:03.320 to be easy, but man, like, they gave us a 0:13:03.360 --> 0:13:07.240 shot and we had the opportunity to play. But honestly, 0:13:07.600 --> 0:13:09.520 you know, to think of where it is now, like 0:13:09.640 --> 0:13:15.520 this is truly professional softball, and you know, honestly, I 0:13:15.679 --> 0:13:18.600 had to pinch myself so many times throughout this process 0:13:18.679 --> 0:13:21.280 because childcare. 0:13:20.800 --> 0:13:25.680 Health insurance, training funding like this stuff was. 0:13:25.840 --> 0:13:29.000 You know, we didn't even have walker rooms. We were 0:13:29.080 --> 0:13:33.360 using the same restrooms as the fans pretty much. And 0:13:34.400 --> 0:13:37.640 so just to see how far we've come. And then 0:13:37.880 --> 0:13:41.400 obviously Athletes Unlimited has had success in the past, but 0:13:41.600 --> 0:13:44.960 it was sixty athletes and they were in Chicago, and 0:13:45.000 --> 0:13:47.800 then every week they would rotate teams. The top four 0:13:48.440 --> 0:13:51.200 athletes according to their point system would then be the 0:13:51.280 --> 0:13:55.400 captain head coach of those teams. But I think, you know, 0:13:55.679 --> 0:13:57.800 we listened to the fans and the fans of course, 0:13:57.840 --> 0:14:00.280 with softball being a team score, I think that is 0:14:00.320 --> 0:14:04.400 the most beautiful team sports. And so being able to 0:14:04.480 --> 0:14:07.880 really kind of put a name to a team, to 0:14:08.000 --> 0:14:10.800 a mascot and eventually a city will be something really 0:14:10.840 --> 0:14:14.280 really special. And for me too, I love to see 0:14:14.280 --> 0:14:18.160 the adjustments and see how who works together and that 0:14:18.240 --> 0:14:20.560 camaradery on the field, and I think being able to 0:14:20.640 --> 0:14:23.760 have a team together for a summer that's going to 0:14:23.800 --> 0:14:27.680 showcase just the beauty of our game on and off 0:14:27.680 --> 0:14:30.720 the field. And so I think that's what and the 0:14:30.720 --> 0:14:33.920 players too, you know, it's it's really tough getting to 0:14:34.080 --> 0:14:38.040 know teammates that and then the next week you know you're. 0:14:37.880 --> 0:14:42.480 Playing against that person. And so kudos to what they've done. 0:14:42.520 --> 0:14:45.760 And we will still have the championship series at the 0:14:45.960 --> 0:14:48.080 end of the summer, and those will be the top 0:14:48.120 --> 0:14:52.640 athletes from the league, the top right right to play 0:14:52.680 --> 0:14:56.160 in that, which will be super exciting, and and they'll 0:14:56.160 --> 0:15:00.280 be you know, repping their team, and then the players 0:15:00.280 --> 0:15:02.080 of that team. And I think two which is a 0:15:02.080 --> 0:15:06.160 really really special dynamic is these athletes, the majority of 0:15:06.160 --> 0:15:10.680 them have played together in Athletes Unlimited and all under 0:15:10.720 --> 0:15:13.480 the same roof for a couple of summers now, so 0:15:13.560 --> 0:15:18.040 these athletes really really know each other, which I think 0:15:18.120 --> 0:15:20.520 is a unique dynamic as well. 0:15:21.160 --> 0:15:24.440 You mentioned that you called the owners of the Chicago Bandits. 0:15:24.440 --> 0:15:25.640 What did you want to ask them? 0:15:25.720 --> 0:15:27.440 What did you want to get from them as you 0:15:27.440 --> 0:15:28.880 were trying to help build this league. 0:15:29.320 --> 0:15:33.480 Mainly it was just just showing gratitude and appreciation, and 0:15:33.600 --> 0:15:37.120 you know, we were super close and still are super close, 0:15:37.200 --> 0:15:41.960 but it was just kind of showing my respect and 0:15:42.760 --> 0:15:44.840 letting them know that we would not be in this 0:15:44.920 --> 0:15:47.040 position if it wasn't for them. And I think even 0:15:47.440 --> 0:15:50.280 all I think of all of the families and teams 0:15:50.320 --> 0:15:53.080 that hosted like my camps when I was going on 0:15:53.160 --> 0:15:55.560 tour and we went to like twelve cities a summer, 0:15:55.680 --> 0:15:57.880 and it was just like all of the growth of 0:15:57.920 --> 0:15:59.960 the game, you know, and that was how we can 0:16:00.040 --> 0:16:02.760 kind of we're able to make money and still compete 0:16:02.760 --> 0:16:05.200 and train for the Olympic Games. Was doing camps and 0:16:05.240 --> 0:16:07.920 clinics and speaking engagement because that allowed us the flexibility 0:16:08.720 --> 0:16:12.360 to work around our training schedule and competition schedule and 0:16:12.400 --> 0:16:17.040 so just you know, just full circle moment and just 0:16:17.080 --> 0:16:19.560 so appreciative of that's cool. 0:16:19.600 --> 0:16:20.720 We're finally here. 0:16:20.800 --> 0:16:23.200 And I think, you know, obviously bringing Kim ing on 0:16:24.200 --> 0:16:29.080 was just that next step of Okay, this is legit. 0:16:29.600 --> 0:16:33.880 Her MLB background of being a general manager. It's just 0:16:34.200 --> 0:16:37.320 you know, you can't compare to her leadership, her knowledge, 0:16:37.320 --> 0:16:39.640 her experiences that she has, and then to be able 0:16:39.680 --> 0:16:43.920 to bring that over on our side, we're extremely, extremely 0:16:43.960 --> 0:16:44.840 blessed to have her. 0:16:45.120 --> 0:16:45.360 Yeah. 0:16:45.400 --> 0:16:48.280 I love that sort of looking back and saying, now 0:16:48.280 --> 0:16:50.880 that I'm putting together a league, Wow, do I understand 0:16:50.920 --> 0:16:53.080 what y'all did for us when you put together those 0:16:53.080 --> 0:16:55.640 initial leagues and then looking forward and saying, what does 0:16:55.680 --> 0:16:58.280 it look like if we put in place this incredibly 0:16:58.280 --> 0:17:04.639 successful MLB exec who has bigger budgets, bigger investments, bigger resources, 0:17:04.680 --> 0:17:07.240 and how does that affect the choices we make here 0:17:07.240 --> 0:17:09.960 and how big our swings are here? You mentioned Kim 0:17:10.000 --> 0:17:13.440 Eng the new commissioner. This signaled a real commitment to 0:17:13.560 --> 0:17:15.960 getting the best and doing this right. What do you 0:17:15.960 --> 0:17:18.320 make of her first moves at the position and her 0:17:18.359 --> 0:17:20.600 approach to the newly going forward? What has sort of 0:17:20.680 --> 0:17:21.399 stood out to you? 0:17:22.640 --> 0:17:23.800 I think just her. 0:17:25.680 --> 0:17:31.199 Consistency and relatability at the same time being who she 0:17:31.400 --> 0:17:33.440 is and what she's done and accomplished. 0:17:35.280 --> 0:17:36.919 And I think her her. 0:17:36.920 --> 0:17:43.800 Passion and she's just she's very even keel And it 0:17:43.800 --> 0:17:46.800 hasn't been easy, you know, signing athletes and trying to 0:17:46.840 --> 0:17:49.680 get them to buy in and be on board because 0:17:49.720 --> 0:17:53.919 it is it is all new for everybody across the board, 0:17:54.080 --> 0:17:59.440 and so just really thankful of who she is and 0:17:59.480 --> 0:18:02.359 how she goes about her business and her professionalism that 0:18:02.400 --> 0:18:04.720 she brings on so many levels. 0:18:04.760 --> 0:18:06.400 And I think to the people. 0:18:06.160 --> 0:18:11.719 She knows as well, and it's not we have to 0:18:11.760 --> 0:18:15.240 try it out. You know, she's been there, She's seen 0:18:15.320 --> 0:18:17.800 what works, what doesn't work, and how to manage. And 0:18:17.880 --> 0:18:21.360 I think I love the mentorship of her with our 0:18:21.400 --> 0:18:25.359 general managers as well. So our four general managers have 0:18:25.520 --> 0:18:29.080 her on speed dial and have access to her to 0:18:29.160 --> 0:18:32.760 help lead their ball clubs as well in this. 0:18:32.920 --> 0:18:38.480 So just really really cool support system. I think on 0:18:38.600 --> 0:18:40.399 so many levels that she brings. 0:18:40.600 --> 0:18:42.480 Yeah, we'll talk about those gims in a second, but 0:18:42.520 --> 0:18:44.440 I want to first talk about the other folks she 0:18:44.480 --> 0:18:46.119 has on her speed dow, which is a lot of 0:18:46.160 --> 0:18:49.159 people at MLB. And last week we saw the announcement 0:18:49.560 --> 0:18:53.480 about the huge MLB investment into the AUSL, an incredibly 0:18:53.600 --> 0:18:57.639 exciting development. What does that partnership mean for AUSL and 0:18:57.720 --> 0:19:00.600 Pro Softball? The first time MLB has ever invested in 0:19:00.600 --> 0:19:02.680 this way in a professional softball league. 0:19:03.560 --> 0:19:09.399 It's a historical, monumental moment movement for us and couldn't 0:19:09.400 --> 0:19:12.320 be more thankful for Major League Baseball stepping up to 0:19:12.359 --> 0:19:16.600 the plate and not just saying yes, we support it, 0:19:16.840 --> 0:19:20.480 but you know, putting money where their mouth is. And 0:19:22.000 --> 0:19:25.000 when we were on the call to get the news, 0:19:26.160 --> 0:19:29.399 it was Natasha Wattley and I with Kim Ang and 0:19:30.480 --> 0:19:34.239 Sarah put Off from MLB as well, who works with 0:19:34.320 --> 0:19:39.359 the MLB development side, and there was a room full 0:19:39.400 --> 0:19:44.399 of press there to witness this moment and and it 0:19:44.440 --> 0:19:47.399 was just like, they're they're going to back this and 0:19:47.400 --> 0:19:48.760 they're going to do it the right way. And so 0:19:48.800 --> 0:19:52.200 I think that's what excites me the most is it's 0:19:52.240 --> 0:19:56.040 not just a headline of you know, MLB supports a 0:19:56.160 --> 0:20:00.880 us L. It's it's truly legit and they're they're stepping 0:20:00.920 --> 0:20:02.480 up to the plate and good things are coming. 0:20:02.480 --> 0:20:03.920 They're sharing their platforms. 0:20:05.200 --> 0:20:09.360 My feeds are just insane on Emibe Network, MLB dot Com. 0:20:09.680 --> 0:20:12.480 I mean, they are truly all hands on deck. And 0:20:12.680 --> 0:20:15.359 I love it too because the writers truly have a 0:20:15.440 --> 0:20:21.000 passion and care about AUSL and the players, and that's 0:20:21.080 --> 0:20:21.680 that's what we need. 0:20:21.760 --> 0:20:23.000 We need to build stars. 0:20:23.040 --> 0:20:26.119 We need to be able to tell their stories and 0:20:26.160 --> 0:20:28.640 showcase who they are, what they do and how great 0:20:28.680 --> 0:20:32.119 they do it, and just start building those connections with 0:20:32.480 --> 0:20:34.680 and I think, obviously we have softball fans on deck, 0:20:34.720 --> 0:20:37.439 but we need a wider, broader audience. We need we 0:20:37.480 --> 0:20:40.480 need mainstream America to back this and to be behind 0:20:40.480 --> 0:20:43.120 it and know the superstars of the AUSL. 0:20:43.320 --> 0:20:47.040 Obviously such a great product that's been so clear across 0:20:47.080 --> 0:20:49.120 the college landscape and even at the pros the people 0:20:49.160 --> 0:20:51.640 who get into it know. But being able to have 0:20:51.720 --> 0:20:54.600 a whole brand new, giant audience to tune in and 0:20:54.680 --> 0:20:56.520 be introduced to it in this way through the MLB 0:20:56.640 --> 0:20:59.160 is really great. I need to ask, what's the dog's name? 0:20:59.359 --> 0:21:01.440 The dog made a little appearance with a little bark 0:21:01.440 --> 0:21:03.040 in his no. I was hoping he wasn't in the 0:21:03.359 --> 0:21:05.400 no he is, and I'm loving it. To be honest 0:21:05.440 --> 0:21:06.520