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Episode 238: Previewing MLS Cup with Adrian Hanauer image

Episode 238: Previewing MLS Cup with Adrian Hanauer

Nos Audietis
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57 Plays9 years ago

In so many ways, 2016 has been the worst season in Seattle Sounders history. It started with one of the most tumultuous offseasons in their brief history as they lost several fan favorites, including Obafemi Martins. It continued with frustrating loss to Club America in CONCACAF Champions League and into the regular season with three straight losses, a 6-12-2 start and a week spent in last place. Even one of the biggest highlights — signing Nicolas Lodeiro — was preceded by nasty negotiations with Boca Juniors and followed by Clint Dempsey’s heart issues.

There were off-field issues as well, starting with the whole mobile-ticketing fiasco and several public disagreements between the front office and supporters groups.

Given all that, it’s not shocking that Adrian Hanauer still has mixed emotions heading into Saturday’s MLS Cup, as he admits that he takes each failure personally.

We talked to Hanauer in his Pioneer Square office above The Ninety on Thursday for what we feel is some interesting insight into a season that may well end on the highest high in Seattle soccer history.

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Transcript

Introduction and Sponsorship

00:00:00
Speaker
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00:00:53
Speaker
are born from great opportunity. Back in the driveway, we were nothing. This is not just a game anymore. Either we heal as a team or we're going to crumble. It's not about winning.
00:01:12
Speaker
You cannot be afraid to lose. I don't care what the scoreboard says. At the end of the game, you play like that. We cannot be defeated. Everything y'all done to this point means nothing if you lose yourselves. You don't have to prove nothing to nobody except yourself. We have to be ourselves. Now it's time.
00:01:31
Speaker
to see who has the heart. Ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. We've made a great effort so far. Let's just keep it up. Follow me. Walk with me out into that field.
00:02:04
Speaker
The bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle And the hills the greenest green in Seattle Like a beautiful child growing up
00:02:21
Speaker
Welcome back to

Episode Kick-off and Hosts Introduction

00:02:22
Speaker
another edition of No Spotty at Dis, sponsored by Fullpool Wines, Constellation & Company, Queen Anne Acupuncture, Verity Credit Union, and our newest sponsor, Designers Marble. This is episode 238, and we're recording on Wednesday, December 7th, 2016. I'm your host, Jeremiah O'Shan, and I'm joined by my co-host, Aaron Campo, and our engineer, Lickit. Later in the show, we'll have on Sounder's Majority Owner, Adrian Hanauer.
00:02:45
Speaker
Honestly, not much has happened since her last show, like at all. But there is this little MLS Cup final coming up on Saturday, so it felt like this would probably be a good idea to talk about it.

MLS Cup Final Preview

00:03:00
Speaker
And I guess we'll just start with this. Given everything that's, you know, the various little things that have transpired in the last week, it's kind of settled in, maybe. We know the weather is gonna be really cold,
00:03:14
Speaker
How are you feeling going into this game, guys? You know, some of the excitement has worn off and it's kind of turning into like, I don't want to say dread, but yeah, definitely nerves. You know, when you look at the reality of the situation, Toronto's a really good team that I think the Sounders might have some matchup issues with.
00:03:37
Speaker
that have been playing really really well in the playoffs that have home field advantage. I don't think the weather is going to be the make or break factor that I think a lot of people think it is. I mean I think a lot of the time the cold weather stuff is a little bit overblown. It's not pleasant to play in but it's not like
00:03:57
Speaker
you know, none of these players have ever played in cold letter before. They all have some experience doing that. So, you know, I'm sure it'll factor in, but it's probably going to be more unpleasant than, you know, something that turns the tide or what have you. But yeah, I mean, it's, you know, I think you have to consider Toronto the favorites.
00:04:20
Speaker
I don't think you want to go the Curtis Larson route and say that nobody actually believes that the Sounders have a chance, but frankly, you never want to go the Curtis Larson route because that guy's a huge dick. I'm still excited. I still think no matter what happens in this game,
00:04:39
Speaker
It's exciting, it's great to finally get over that hump. It's going to be disappointing if the Sounders lose obviously, but I don't think it's going to be soul-crushing in a way that, I guess depending on how the game plays out, but if they lose without either getting destroyed or losing in some kind of heartbreaking fashion, I don't think it's going to feel as bad as a lot of the other playoff exits.
00:05:02
Speaker
Well,

Sounders' Chances Against Toronto

00:05:03
Speaker
I would agree with that for sure. Yeah, this this I think I think after the win after they beat the rapids I think there was a sense of like oh, this is like a huge accomplishment and almost like We're really this like just getting to the MLS Cup final was really the goal and I it's funny I always feel like the way that the team talks about MLS Cup is getting there they don't necessarily talk about winning the MLS Cup and I don't know if that's just a
00:05:30
Speaker
turn a phrase or if that's really the way they think about it, but I will say that as we've gotten closer to this thing and like yesterday I had this long Twitter exchange I was kind of trolling Curtis Larson over his ridiculous statement which he said I wish I had in front of me, but
00:05:47
Speaker
He's a Toronto columnist and he made some comment about how no one other than fanboys or if you're new to the league think the Sounders have any chance of really winning this. And I found that an outlandish statement mainly because the Sounders have been as good as anyone in the league over the last four months. The only team that they've been maybe not better than is Toronto FC but even then it's a pretty close
00:06:14
Speaker
It's pretty close, so I'm definitely not willing to give up any kind of hope I'm not like freaking out about the center chances, but I am nervous I think that the that I agree with you I think Toronto sees the the favorites in this one But I think the centers might have you know some some potential advantages I don't think that they have anything
00:06:35
Speaker
Nothing about their defense tells me that they're going to mark Nicolas Ledero out of the game. Nothing about their defense tells me that they're going to be able to keep Jordan Morris from getting behind the defense. Jordan Morris, let's keep in mind, the Sounders tied this team 1-1 in Toronto before they went on this run.
00:06:55
Speaker
And I don't know, I guess maybe Toronto is better now than they were then. I guess they may have been missing a player or two. I think Altidore was probably out of that game. But I don't know, I'm not... I accept that Toronto has been very good offensively. But I'm just not... I'm not convinced that this is anything like a mismatch.
00:07:19
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I think that, I think you can say, you know, if you want the Toronto is a better team. Um, I don't know that I believe that. I think like on a neutral side, it's a, it's a pretty even matchup, but you know, there, there's certainly a very good team. This idea that, that they are, you know, this Goliath, um, that, you know, that just can't be stopped is, is very weird to me. I mean, they, they, you know, they, they had a solid season. They've been great in the playoffs, but it's not like they were like,
00:07:46
Speaker
you know the supporter shield winners going away or anything um and yeah they've they've had injuries and they've had players missing and they had to deal with call-ups and you know so is every other team so yeah i i just i don't get this and frankly i mean to be totally fair it's being pushed by i think a very small number of people um but yeah i mean i don't think this is like you know the galaxy versus new england a few years ago we're going into that game everybody was like oh god the galaxy you're gonna
00:08:14
Speaker
completely destroy New England, which didn't end up happening. They ended up winning, but it was a very tight game. I think it was an overtime action. It was. Yeah, I think it was. The thing

Defense Analysis: Toronto vs Seattle

00:08:28
Speaker
that's going to be key, I think, is that Toronto's defense is not as good as Seattle's. I don't think anybody would argue with that. The Sounders, I think, have
00:08:39
Speaker
I don't want to say an elite defense, but it's close to the top of the heap. I think it's been really, really solid in the playoffs. Toronto has some really impressive- It's at least Joe Flacco elite. Yeah, it's at least Joe Flacco elite. That's a good way to frame it. Toronto has some really imposing weapons.
00:09:00
Speaker
Um, and it's going to be very difficult. And I think that's going to be the key thing for the Sounders. I mean, the Sounders can put up goals against this Toronto defense. I think, uh, there's no reason to think Toronto is going to try to keep this as a tight game that doesn't really suit, uh, you know, what I think their strong points are. Um, and so that's, you know, that's going to be crucial. I mean, if Seattle can, can get through the game without making any serious mistakes and perform at the level we've seen them perform that in the playoffs, I think they have a pretty good shot. Um, if they can't, you know, but
00:09:30
Speaker
they're probably not going to win. And that sounds a little bit reductive, but it's true. And I think it's truer in this game than in most games. I think there's going to be a fair number of goals. And the key is just limiting them to what you can't stop rather than actively assisting them toward scoring more.
00:09:50
Speaker
Speaking of the weather, I guess it's supposed to be in the 20s. The Sounders, luckily, I guess you could say, have been training in pretty cold weather all week. But I don't think that's necessarily an advantage for either team. I guess the only concern would be if the ground was really frozen. They claim that there's underground heating.
00:10:10
Speaker
that should keep that from happening. So if the ground isn't freezing, I'm not really that worried about the players just being in the cold. I think that that's probably an overestimate, that's been overstated how big of a factor that can be. I guess there's some wind factor that comes in off Lake Ontario. My assumption though is that since Toronto FC built up that stadium, they added something like 15,000 seats to it, I think.
00:10:39
Speaker
My assumption is that that blocks the wind a little bit more than it used to. But the idea that the Sounders are any less experienced playing in that kind of weather I think is rather hilarious. Let's keep in mind that Toronto FC is not a team that has much experience either playing early in the season like Champions League or late in the season.
00:11:15
Speaker
the playoffs.
00:11:18
Speaker
Andres Yvonchitz played a lot of his career in Austria. You can kind of go down the list and Nelson Valdez played in Germany. And these are leagues that play through the winter or at least play significant portions of their season in the winter. So I'm not really worried about the Sounders ability to deal with the cold. I guess the one thing that's going to be interesting is
00:11:43
Speaker
And I think it's another area that the centers might have a big advantage is on set pieces. You know, we haven't seen Roman Torres score a goal. Chad, but Chad Marshall, but he's been dangerous. Chad Marshall has been consistently dangerous on set pieces. Nelson Valdez hasn't scored on a set piece, but he's, you know, we've seen him do it. Christian Roldan even has been pretty good on set pieces. I think the centers, I would not at all be surprised to see. I think the centers have several paths to victory, essentially. I could see them winning this game 3-2.
00:12:12
Speaker
I could see them winning this game 1-0. I don't think that it's going to be... I just don't see them being tactically overmatched here. You know, Josie Altidore has been good. Obviously Sebastian Giavinko, Michael Bradley, but I don't know. I just kind of... I'm really feeling good about the Sanders chances in this one. And I don't know. I guess that's... What else is there to say at this point, right?
00:12:37
Speaker
Yeah, pretty much. I mean, they've got to play the game and maybe we look like idiots. You know, maybe not. I mean, I think that there is certainly a chance that Toronto could just blow Seattle out of the water. Like, I don't want to say that's not going to happen. Sure. There's a chance. I mean, there's always that chance, right? Right. Yeah. I mean, especially if, you know, they get a goal or two early, you know, that that certainly changes things. But I think the odds are it's going to be a pretty tight game with, you know, four or five goals between the teams.
00:13:05
Speaker
That probably suits Toronto a little bit better, but it's not like the Sounders can't score if they have to. I mean, they've had a lot of games this year where they scored quite a bit. So yeah, I mean, we'll see. I don't know. It's so weird. It's such a foreign experience as a Sounders fan going into an MLS Cup final that I don't really know what to think.
00:13:32
Speaker
You know, this is a team with a core that has experience in cup finals. Obviously the US Open Cup Final is not the MLS Cup Final, but you know, I think the approaches are similar. I mean, the only difference really is that
00:13:48
Speaker
Both teams probably want to win a little bit more, but I mean, you know, you don't set up your team completely. I don't know. You go into a cup for me, a cup finals, a cup finals. Yeah, exactly. Once you're on the field, I think the build up to obviously a US Open Cup final is very different than the build up to an MLS Cup final. I actually was down at Sounders training today and they showed me like the spreadsheet that shows all their media availability. And it's just like,
00:14:12
Speaker
It's just like this jam-packed schedule for essentially like two days. Like every free moment they have seems to be meeting with, you know, rights holders or whatever. And that part of it I can see maybe being a little overwhelming. But I don't know, the Sounders and Toronto FC even are both, you know, if any MLS team is reasonably well prepared for that kind of
00:14:35
Speaker
Craziness, I think that these two teams are and I'm really looking forward to this game. I think it's gonna be good As it turns out I'm gonna be there a couple other people from Thunderheart are gonna be there so should be a good time and Yeah, I guess we can probably kick it out to the we're gonna we have we were able to get Adrian Hanauer I'm gonna talk to him for a little bit. We'll come back. We'll answer your questions You are listening to Nos Adietes
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Speaker
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00:16:42
Speaker
Welcome

Interview with Adrian Hanauer

00:16:43
Speaker
back to NOS Adietes. We are here with Sounders Majority Owner Adrian Hanauer. Do you ever get tired of hearing Majority Owner Adrian Hanauer? Does you get anything out of that? I don't get anything out of it. Nothing's changed for me. We're like a year into it now, right? Yeah, we are.
00:17:00
Speaker
We are. But the exciting part is that this is a big week coming up. This is a big week. A big, big week. And I really appreciate you taking some time to talk to us and talk to our listeners a little bit. How has these two weeks been for you? Has it been fun? Has it been nerve-wracking?
00:17:21
Speaker
You know, a little bit of fun, emphasis on little, a little bit of nerve-wracking, a lot of logistics for me, but really the staff here. It turns out it's a pretty complicated move.
00:17:42
Speaker
300 people to Toronto and obviously to distribute tickets to the fan base and try to get as many fans to Toronto as possible.
00:18:01
Speaker
Obviously, coming out of a game in Toronto, there's a lot of MLS mechanics that happen with expansion. Literally, the next day you have to submit your list of protected players for expansion draft. Yeah, it's really difficult.
00:18:18
Speaker
You want to be 100% focused on the game. You want all the players to be 100% focused on all the game, but you have to imagine that in some of their minds, the mechanics of MLS are going through their minds.
00:18:35
Speaker
But again, obviously, massive amount of focus on the game. Should be a great game. Two very, very good teams with some really special players. Two great organizations with amazing fan bases. So again, I'm obviously not impartial, but I'm really looking forward to Saturday.
00:19:03
Speaker
Yeah, this has been, I have said that this has the potential to be the most compelling MLS Cup, certainly I would say at least since 2009. I mean, you have two large markets, you have two active fan bases, you have two teams that have
00:19:18
Speaker
players that the average American soccer fan knows that play fun soccer. I mean, there's a lot of potential here. And if you maybe throw in a little snow. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Well, entertaining. Another snowgate.
00:19:34
Speaker
Yeah, you know, it's a great advertisement for the league. You know, Toronto has their share of big players in Josie and Michael and Juvinko, but, you know, but also some really interesting role players, you know, whether it's a Drew Moore or Jonathan Osorio or...
00:19:54
Speaker
and Will Johnson, who's been there before. And obviously on our side, we're excited for a guy like Geordie to come in and help lead the team to a first MLS Cup appearance.
00:20:18
Speaker
Nico obviously great story Aussie Christian and and then really happy for Nelson Valdez a guy like that who you know was slightly maligned throughout the throughout the season but showed his true
00:20:35
Speaker
character and quality in crunch time. So very happy for him and all the guys. Steph going home or going back to Toronto where he started his career. That's a great story.
00:20:52
Speaker
What's your perspective on the overall success of this season? Does it feel like the most successful season on the field in Sanders' history?

Reflecting on the Season's Challenges

00:21:03
Speaker
If I'm honest, it doesn't necessarily. I've mentioned this in a couple of interviews.
00:21:11
Speaker
With or without the trophy on Saturday, this has been the roughest year of my career in soccer. The roller coaster, the lows were really low this year, whether that was
00:21:28
Speaker
sort of the negotiations and the OBA saga playing out early in the year, disappointing loss at Mexico City.
00:21:48
Speaker
On the field, there's any number of lows that you can point to that maybe were the worst you've had to go through. I mean, I don't know how bad the Oba thing was, but that certainly wasn't, I'm sure, a lot of fun. The Club America big loss. Yeah, Club America, obviously, you know, the season. Clint Dempsey's. The Temple Suits. The Temple Suits. Going down, parting ways with Ziggy. You know, it was. And then actually spending time in last place, like in July. Yeah.
00:22:13
Speaker
Yeah. And our fans were grumpy. Yeah. Probably saw it. It's a few people. Yeah, weird. Yeah. You know, the message boards were not full of praise for the Sounders organization. So so that, you know, and I take that personally, I take all of it personally and.
00:22:32
Speaker
you know, whether it's a comment about a player or something relative to the front office or a partnership that we have out there or a media fit, like, I take it all personally as, I mean, I did when I wasn't the majority owner, I certainly do as the majority owner and so, so,
00:22:56
Speaker
Yeah, it makes life not so great for me as well. But obviously, super happy then to have brought Schmetz into the fold as the head coach, see his impact, some of the additions mid-season.
00:23:17
Speaker
the locker room and how all the guys have come together and obviously our fans are happier now and that makes me happy.
00:23:28
Speaker
So, I don't know how much you are intimately aware of the locker room dynamic, but it feels like from the outside that this is the most, like there were some great locker rooms in the, you know, in Montero and Maro Rosales and Leo Gonzalez and, you know, you go down, that group of guys seemed like they, that was a fun locker room.
00:23:51
Speaker
but yet somehow this one feels even like the highs seem higher, like they just seem like there's more fun, there's more laughing, there's more joking, there's more little dancing. I don't know if we've ever seen literal dancing in the book. Yeah, I think

Team Dynamics and Atmosphere

00:24:04
Speaker
you're right. I mean, you know, the guys would, you know, you talk to a guy like Ozzy or Brad or Zack to get their impressions, but my feeling is that this is the most, you know, the most together and most,
00:24:20
Speaker
positive locker room we've had. But that may also just be sort of the relationship to how low and down everybody was during, you know, during that early part of the season, the summer, because
00:24:38
Speaker
because those were some dark days. And again, fans weren't the only ones that were grumpy. The owners were grumpy, and staff was grumpy, and players were grumpy. How much credit do you think Brian deserves for that locker room dynamic? It seems like from the outside that he's done a great job of fostering it. Yeah, I think he deserves a lot of credit. You've heard me say this a lot of times.
00:25:08
Speaker
Organizations are successful as the sum of their parts and they're unsuccessful as the sum of their parts. It's never as simple as one thing. You know, we are playing an MLS cup because this is a super high functioning organization. Everybody on the business staff, the
00:25:33
Speaker
playing staff, the players, the coaches, the supports. Organizations, businesses, entities are successful in an aggregate, not because of any one thing. And so when we were
00:25:53
Speaker
failing early in the year. It was, you know, a lot of different contributors. And now that we're succeeding, a lot of different contributors. And so, but Brian, I think, was the catalyst for a lot of it.
00:26:11
Speaker
He came in with a new energy, new mentality. And again, I've mentioned this as well on some interviews. It was a bit of a bolt of electricity to the heart to get it pumping again. And once it was pumping and sending blood out to the rest of the body,
00:26:35
Speaker
It's sort of that momentum continued. Nico obviously added to that. Alvaro, Torres coming in, winning a few games, just keeps that going. And it goes from being sort of a death spiral to more of a virtuous cycle of improvement and positivity.
00:27:00
Speaker
have a sense that that was in, I mean, you know Brian pretty well. You've worked with him now for 15 years, I guess, more maybe. But he, you know, from the outside, I think there was this assumption that it's like, well, he's Siggy's top assistant. Whatever's wrong with the sounders, he's got a role in it. But, and that's certainly, I think that's true to whatever degree it can be true. But at the same time,
00:27:28
Speaker
I don't know, was your assumption that, well, if we hand this over to Brian, it's going to be a totally different dynamic?
00:27:34
Speaker
Well, we wouldn't have handed it over to Brian if we didn't think that there was a high likelihood that we would get a positive uptick. And again, through my 15 years and Chris Henderson's years and Garth's shorter time period with Brian and Joe Roth and I talking about making the transition,
00:28:02
Speaker
We certainly thought that we would get a bump, but anybody who can tell you, I didn't know it would look like this and end up at MLS Cup, and you always hope, but
00:28:17
Speaker
Anybody who you know says well, yeah, of course We knew all we had to do was change the head coach and all of a sudden we're gonna end up at MLS Cup like that just isn't reality and and And you know again, I'm pretty
00:28:34
Speaker
practical on this stuff. If we had retained Ziggy, it's entirely possible that we'd still be here today. So you just never know. But what we do know are a bunch of Brian's really, really strong qualities that have helped
00:29:00
Speaker
move the ship along and kept things steered in the right direction. He just does have some man management skills that are pretty unique to people I've been around. He is as good a people person as I know, and you deal with him daily as well.
00:29:25
Speaker
he's just people like him and they were very genuine he you never feel like he's putting you on nope exactly he's honest as the day is long and you know he communicates with the players and his staff in a really clear and simple way and i think that
00:29:47
Speaker
I think that that was necessary, a bit of a reset. When things are going badly, too much stuff starts going through people's minds. You're second-guessing yourself.
00:30:02
Speaker
Brian coming in and saying, look, this is like, this is a simple game. We, you know, we try to possess the ball and, you know, everybody has their role and the ultimate, you know, objective to score more goals than the opponent. And, you know, you in this position, this is the role of this position.
00:30:21
Speaker
and staff, this is what I need very specifically for you to focus on. And then, you know, as has been discussed, kind of handing it over to the players as well and saying, I need you to sort of police yourselves and, you know, this is your team. You guys need to be a big part of the solution here because the coaches can't solve this for you.
00:30:48
Speaker
And one of the things that I was struck by early on in talking to Brian, like I think I talked to him, it was before the Houston game, the first Houston game, not the first, the first Houston game of his tenure. I think that was when I talked to him. But anyway, he,
00:31:04
Speaker
I got this sense that he's working with the coaches also in a different way that it's not just the players, and it's not just, I mean, it seems like he's looking for body he wants buy in from everybody he wants. He wants the fans to buy into what they're doing.
00:31:19
Speaker
He engages them in that way. He wants the press to buy in. He engages them in that way. I assume the front office the same way. But with the coaches, it seems like he's really like, I need you guys. I guess he has almost daily meetings with them about what we do different, what worked today, what didn't work today.
00:31:38
Speaker
Yeah and look every every manager you know you've probably worked for a bunch of different people like everybody manages in a different way and communicates slightly different and builds consensus in different ways and is collaborative in different ways and some people
00:31:56
Speaker
You know, some managers give a lot of rope and, you know, let people fail. Some people manage a little tighter. And you know, Brian has just been able to find the right, you know, the right balance to
00:32:15
Speaker
make it clear what the objectives are to, you know, to, he has strong opinions, expresses strong opinions, but also to trust and give the empower, you know, empower people around him to do the best possible to make the organization overall successful.
00:32:41
Speaker
The other quality about Brian, again, 35 years of history with this club, there's no one that cares more about this club and understands that, again, the club in order to be successful is the sum of the parts and
00:33:03
Speaker
there's not a lot of room for individuality and people grandstanding and doing it for their own individual benefits.
00:33:17
Speaker
You know teams teams are successful great organizations again. I've said it a million times You know it is it has to be the sum of the parts and it can't be Everybody has to be in the same boat rowing the same direction and Brian has been Has been since I've known him Really really good at getting people together like that
00:33:40
Speaker
Do you think, and not to harp too much on him, but do you think that he would have been this, like was he better prepared in 2016 than he would have been in 2009? Or is there part of you that was like, man, it would have been kind of cool to hire him in 2009 and see where this went? Well, both. I mean, it would have been kind of cool in 2009 to see what would have happened.
00:34:02
Speaker
But very happy that we hired Ziggy. And I think Brian was better prepared a couple of months ago to take this task on because of his time with Ziggy.
00:34:20
Speaker
not necessarily all that much on the sort of people management and culture and mentality and character side, but just his knowledge of MLS and the players and the rules and the mechanics. He knows a hundred times more about that today than he did eight years ago. And I think that will make him more successful going forward.

Learning from Mistakes and Future Focus

00:34:50
Speaker
So given some of the, I don't know if failures are the right word, but struggles maybe is a better word that you guys went through this year, whether it be on the business side, fan relation side.
00:35:02
Speaker
playing side, whatever it may be. Do you feel like you've learned stuff? Is there stuff that you feel like you can actually take to the bank and say, we can do this better because we learned we couldn't do it that way? Or is there some sense that maybe it was like, it was really just about whether we were winning or not. And that kind of shaped everything.
00:35:23
Speaker
Yeah, well, no, no, I mean, for sure there are. I don't know if I would. I'm not sure I call it necessarily learning like, you know, you make a mistake. Like if you're four or three and you, you know, you fall down the stairs, you probably learn from that and you like you learn to grab the.
00:35:47
Speaker
But if you make a mistake in business, you evolve. You modify things, but you're always going to be trying things.
00:36:04
Speaker
We're going to make more mistakes on the business side. The players are going to make mistakes. The coaches are going to make mistakes. We're going to like that's just that's just reality. I mean, hopefully you don't make the same exact mistake again. So I guess in that regard, you could say you learn. But but I mean, you don't learn how to not fail in a meta sense. Exactly. I mean, you know, that that's the way organizations evolve is is
00:36:33
Speaker
and grow and and do things better is sometimes you you make mistakes and sometimes and Hopefully you hopefully you make less mistakes than you do good things but but you know for sure we You know, I think that as much as anything having a chance to to
00:37:00
Speaker
work introspectively and organizationally this year and some of which is the end result is this sort of 10 year vision which hopefully gets us really focused on the things we need to do in order to run, continue to run and grow and a great organization and have massive impact in our community.
00:37:30
Speaker
You know that that that I think has been a helpful process for us But but yeah, I mean we we you know we certainly Know that we'll make mistakes in the future. We just want to make sure that we're making mistakes that are and and
00:37:54
Speaker
making as few as possible, but heading towards the right goals and objectives. So this is obviously the first time you guys have made it to Emma's Cup. Has the benefit of it, has the kind of the positive aspects of it, have they met your expectations or has it kind of been, I don't know, dog catching car and not like, oh, it wasn't quite what I thought this was going to be when we got to this.
00:38:22
Speaker
Yeah, I think that we don't know yet. It's been, what, 10 days since we qualified for MLS Cup. We've sold season tickets. Our partners are excited. We're taking some partners to Toronto.
00:38:45
Speaker
You know, I think TV ratings will be good, but you know, I don't think we understand yet the long-term impact, and obviously the long-term impact will be greater if we win MOS Cup. We do know, again, back to this sort of vision and values and strategic objectives that we've set, you know, we talked about creating moments, enriching lives, and unifying through soccer.
00:39:13
Speaker
making it to a championship does a lot of that. I feel really good about
00:39:21
Speaker
what we've been able to do for the community. You see institutions and monuments and companies all over the city sort of getting behind the team, fans mobilizing and crossing, you know,
00:39:43
Speaker
three time zones and an international border to join us and support the team, fans banding together and working with each other to make the experience as good as possible. And again, we always talk about, okay, at the end of this, if we win, there's a trophy.
00:40:07
Speaker
but the important part is sort of what it does for people and the emotions. And to, again, I know fans have really stuck with us this year, like to go through those lows of the summer and now to have as much positive emotion and mojo at this moment makes me really happy and satisfied.
00:40:34
Speaker
So even though this has been a frustrating year, and I'm sure that the frustrations obviously linger, you're still, like they still are a thing that you feel, is there
00:40:47
Speaker
I don't know, some way that, like, do you take positives though, out of, like if it had all just been rainbows and sunshine, you guys won the supporter shield, everyone was happy and you kind of coast into the MLS cup, it would be a very different experience than you are right now. Is there some benefits to going through it this way and, and kind of learning on the run and knowing that you can?
00:41:08
Speaker
Yeah, you know, it's funny, Jeremiah, because I've had a number of people tell me, look, you like down the line, you will appreciate how much sort of the, you know, having these highs now and, you know, being in a championship relative to the lows will, you know, again, in retrospect, you'll be very happy and proud of that sort of that, um,
00:41:37
Speaker
evolution throughout the year. But today, you know, I don't quite feel it. I keep trust. Like, intellectually, I can kind of wrap my head around it and know that maybe they're right, but emotionally, I'm still, you know, too scarred from the year to really feel it. But, you know, again, I'll go back also to the, like, the business side and the organization. Like, I'm really
00:42:05
Speaker
you know, I'm really proud of the organization for persevering on the business side and the soccer side, because, you know, it had been really easy to sort of throw in the towel and say, Oh, well, you know, our fans are mad at us. So boo hoo, let's, you know, take our ball and go home, you know, and the organization said, No, we're, you know, we're, we're the Seattle Sounders. We're proud. We're gonna, you know, we're gonna,
00:42:35
Speaker
We're going to turn things around. And so yeah, excited about that. And so I guess I'll kind of end on this note. There does seem to be the sense, whether it be Brian, whether it be Nico's time here, whether it be getting to MLS Cup,
00:42:57
Speaker
that there's still a next step, like you haven't, like there is no end, there's no end line to any of this. What do you do to keep, I mean in some ways it seems like it just raises the bar of what now the standard is. And so how do you go about, how do you go into an offseason that's a very different place than you've been in the past?
00:43:17
Speaker
Yeah, well, again, I hate to feel like I'm pitching this sort of vision. But you go back to what it's all about. We want to create moments and rich lives, unify through soccer. We have five main strategic objectives. One is to win multiple MLS cups. One is to sell out CenturyLink, $68,000 a game.
00:43:41
Speaker
lead, serve, and invest in our community, focus on the democracy and sports through the Alliance, Alliance Council, and run a responsible and sustainable business.

Strategic Goals and Aspirations

00:43:51
Speaker
And that, you know, again, the kind of trite, simple answer is to sort of go back to that and say, okay, we're not done yet.
00:44:02
Speaker
And but then it takes, you know, Joe, myself as as owners of the franchise, the, you know, the managers, the senior senior leaders, Brian Schmetzer, like we all have to find the ways to get everybody motivate, be self-motivated, but then get everybody else to realize that to your point, it, you know, it isn't like this isn't the end game winning a winning
00:44:30
Speaker
one championship like we are certainly getting to one MLS Cup final like this is this is a long journey that you know we're in the very very beginning stages of to to be you know totally honest and
00:44:48
Speaker
And the great part is that we have amazing people in this organization who do have their eyes. One eye on Toronto on Saturday and one eye on the future. So Garth is in Europe or on his way back from Europe after scouting, after being in South America.
00:45:13
Speaker
you know, Chris, Kurt, like the team side is doing their thing to continue to try to make the team better. You know, on the business side, we're, you know, obviously well into the planning stages for 17 and beyond thinking about how we grow and evolve and be a, you know, be an even better organization going forward. So, and, you know,
00:45:43
Speaker
You know sort of joked about it with owners and some of the senior group like even back in the USL days When we won championships in 2005 and 2007 I was you know working with Bart back then like the night of those championships We were in FX McCrory's talking about what we were going to be doing the next morning at at the office like that
00:46:05
Speaker
For the working stiffs in the office, there's not a whole lot of off-season celebration. It's just a constant, how do we get better? How do we win more? How do we make things better for our fans?
00:46:27
Speaker
But it is the best business on the planet, like being in sports. It's a roller coaster.
00:46:37
Speaker
but it's a great business and a great, you know, enterprise to be involved in. Yeah, it's been an amazing, certainly have been an amazing ride to kind of watch from, not from afar, but, you know, from a close. From a close. I mean, it's been, it's a year unlike any other year I've had in my personal sports fandom.
00:46:58
Speaker
and it's been really, it's been fun, it's been crazy, it's been, there were times when it was just like, maybe this is the new reality and it wasn't so great, but here we are. But anyway, I really appreciate you taking the time, Adrian. Obviously, we'll be rooting very hard for a positive outcome on Saturday, and yeah, I'm sure we'll be talking to you soon enough. Cool, thanks. Yep, thank you. You're listening to Nos Arietas.
00:47:31
Speaker
Verity is a local credit union and has been headquartered in Seattle since 1933. They have branches throughout the Puget Sound area and know what is important to you because they live here too. Verity is not for profit
00:47:45
Speaker
and puts any money they make into good rates, products and services for you, the members. They have credit cards with competitive rates, checking and savings accounts, and loans for all sorts of things, even bicycles.
00:47:58
Speaker
Verity is federally insured by the NCUA and an equal housing opportunity lender. Anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Washington state can become a member and we would love to have you. Learn more and apply at veritycu.com.
00:48:20
Speaker
Constellation & Co. is a letterpress stationery company and gift shop located in the Fisherman's Terminal, next door to Chinooks. Their storefront in the Magnolia Interbay neighborhood of Seattle is home to antique printing presses, unique greeting cards, and locally made goods. They also offer design and printing services for weddings and special events. Mention Nos Auderes for a 20% YNYA discount. For more information, visit constellationco.com.
00:48:54
Speaker
Welcome back to NOS Adiatus. We have some MLS Cup themed questions. So I'll just lick it. Take it away. All right. Dirty C Town asks, predictions on MLS Cup final. Does it end in a penalty shootout or do we know the winner in 90 minutes?
00:49:13
Speaker
I think we'll know a winner in 90 minutes. I was interviewed by some publication in Canada, and I said 3-2. I don't know. That seems a little outlandish, but I'll stick with that. Why not? I'm going to go 2-1, and I'm not going to say who I think is going to win. Okay, you guys talked about this a little bit already, but I'm going to ask you again, because why not?
00:49:42
Speaker
asks, has Ledero ever played in the snow before? I don't know that he has played in the snow and I'm not sure that I've heard him asked that but he played four seasons in the Netherlands I would think at some point he played in the snow I don't know if he literally played in the snow with like a glow ball but
00:50:08
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I think he probably has. I think you're probably right. And it's also worth noting, like he's been playing internationally for a long time. And, you know, they play international games in the winter. And, you know, in a lot of South America, it gets super cold in the winter. So, you know, it would not be shocking to me, you know, if he's, if he's played in the snow a few times.
00:50:34
Speaker
You know, I think it's like you said, as long as the pitch isn't totally freezing and you know, I think it's supposed to be that the pitch is like at a constant 40 degrees with the under soil heaters. I just, I don't see it as a problem. I mean, if you watch Premier League games, the bigger teams that have under soil heating, like you can, you'll see it's snowing, but it doesn't really seem to have any effect on the game and it melts pretty much when it hits the ground. So.
00:51:00
Speaker
I don't know, it'll probably break mysteriously five minutes before kickoff, but we'll see.
00:51:05
Speaker
I think the thing with snow, playing in the really super cold, it's not like playing super hot in the difference of where a team can get used to playing like in Kansas City when it's hot, muggy. But when you play in the snow, both teams, you're freezing your ass off. It doesn't really matter. You can't get used to it. So I don't think there's a real advantage. Right. I think that's a good point, that no one is training in frigid weather on a regular basis.
00:51:34
Speaker
Yeah, I mean your feet freeze, they're just gonna freeze. Both teams are freezing like that.
00:51:39
Speaker
What's the coldest weather you've played in Lickett? I'm curious. I've played in like literally like the old fairy tale, you know, my walk five miles in the snow uphill kind of thing. I played in like three games where there was like a foot of snow. It was ridiculous. In Seattle? Really? I think one of them was down at Evergreen College. It was just like it was freezing. I don't know why they made us play it, but we were playing in it.
00:52:05
Speaker
And then I played on frozen dirt fields before. That's even worse. So yeah, it doesn't matter. I mean, you're freezing either way. Bill Jones, STRPTS. Can you make wild speculations as to whom Garth is scouting this week in Europe? Midweek means you have a Champions League, right? I guess so. I have no idea who he is. Maybe he's scouting Pulisic.
00:52:35
Speaker
Why not? Why not? Yeah, I mean, I think he's got to be scouting DP quality players, right? If he's at those games. Yeah, for sure. You're the thing. So unless he has some weird trick up his sleeve. It is interesting, though. If you're the GM of an MLS team right now, you can't do anything. You might as well focus on
00:53:00
Speaker
on scouting, because there's nothing you can really do to affect your team at this point. Yeah, I mean, there's really not, and it will probably keep you from going crazy. Yeah. Atvoit asks, is the pitch at BMO Field being kept worn by all the hot takes published about the Sounders this week? Well played. That's pretty good. That's good. Well played.
00:53:27
Speaker
No, no comment. I don't have an answer. Well, it's a good comment. It's not really a question, is it? Not really. Not really. Not really. I think Aaron covered it earlier when he called someone a penis, so. B2overS has two questions. 1.93 points per match in the final three months and no best 11. Whole, greater than sum of parts or MLS slight. Hashtag chip on our shoulder.
00:53:57
Speaker
I mean, I think Ozzie Alonso probably had a decent shout for being on the best 11. I think it was a little ridiculous that they had no, I mean, they never have full backs. That's kind of become pretty standard for, for MLS best 11, but they, most of the time, not all the time, but they usually have at least one defensive midfielder. And this year they basically had three defenders, three midfielders and four forwards.
00:54:22
Speaker
So yeah, it's, it's ridiculous. I mean, like on the one hand, it's like, it's a best 11, who cares? Really? On the other hand, it's, it's just frustrating to like, see like, why are you even bothering with positional nomenclature? You know, that team can't take the field. Um, and yeah, but, but I think that Ozzy Alonzo was one of the best players in MLS this year. And I think that he was, you know, one of the few sounders where even when the team was bad, he was playing really, really well. So.
00:54:51
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I think that's definitely a snub, but I also kind of think he probably doesn't care that much.
00:54:58
Speaker
And I'll also say in defense of the voters is that you look at the season as a whole and you're going to inherit, it's just reality, you're going to look at counting stats. It's tough to, you know, considering there was no one that other than, I mean, Morris, I guess, had a decent 34 game season, but most of the other than him and Alonso would have been tough to even consider. I mean, there's no way Morris was going to make that best 11, but like it would have been tough to put Ladero on there just for half a season.
00:55:25
Speaker
Although I guess some people were suggesting he deserved some consideration for MVP, but that's tough too. Uh, to whoever's second question is, does MLS cup get moved to a neutral site in the future that isn't frozen? Not that it will be much warmer here on Saturday. I think, I think that ship is sailed. I mean, I think that they tried it, um, interestingly enough, it was kind of Toronto that signaled the death knell of that because nobody showed up.
00:55:52
Speaker
And you know the optics of that were really bad and that game was god. It was so bad So I don't blame anybody for not showing up, but yeah, I mean and I just think this is a better system I mean it certainly you know means that the regular season matters But yeah, I hope they never go back to a neutral side I think it I think this is just a lot more a lot fairer and a lot more interesting as well Yeah, I don't have any problem with this
00:56:16
Speaker
The Sounders didn't deserve to host Emweska. I mean, if they hosted Montreal, I guess that would have been great. Don't get me wrong. But, uh, you know, there should be some punishment for not playing well for the first two thirds of the season. I mean, if it becomes some kind of, you know, spectacle, like the Super Bowl or something or whatever other bowls are, I mean, then sure. But since it's more about your team is playing in the final, I think this is fair.
00:56:42
Speaker
Steve Locker asks, which team, sounders of Toronto, do you think has more desire to win this game? Who wants it more? I think we're just lucky to be there, so you know. I mean, I think if you look at the organizations, I think the sounders probably feel a little bit more
00:57:04
Speaker
like they have they deserve it maybe a little bit more just because they've put in so much time Toronto I could see maybe feeling a little bit more immediacy whereas I think the Sounders can realistically look at their lineup and think oh well you know we should have these parts plus you know you should be able to add some important parts going into next year like I don't know how Toronto FC improves on this team in the near future
00:57:30
Speaker
You know there I kind of get the sense that their roster is pretty well locked in So I could see maybe from that perspective, but I don't think desire is gonna be Wanting on either side Yeah, I mean I think that you know they're professional athletes and this is the biggest game that they're gonna play and MLS and you know so they're
00:57:52
Speaker
I mean, their competitive nature kind of maxes out that desire to win, but I think the Sounders do, I don't think it's going to be a factor, but I mean, I think especially for guys like Ozzy Alonso, Brad Evans, you know, guys that have been here for a very long time and kind of have lived the frustration, that probably gives them some extra motivation, but I just, I don't know if that actually manifests in any meaningful way into the performance on the field.
00:58:24
Speaker
SR Skank asks, how about that FOMO hashtag MLS cup? FOMO? What am I missing? Fear of missing out. Oh, I don't... You don't know that because someone gets to go to the game. Yeah.
00:58:43
Speaker
I would have been bummed to not be able to go, but I think I was very comfortable with the idea of watching this from home. It's tough. I know there's lots of people that wanted to go to this game that can go for reasons that were very well out of their immediate control, so it's unfortunate for sure.
00:59:09
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, it's for people, I think that travel a lot. Um, it's probably really, really hard for me. It was like never an option really. Like it was never going to happen. So, um, I don't feel it as much, but I certainly understand. Like if you're somebody that travels and you go to the big games and you can't go to this one, that's, that's gotta hurt a lot. It sucks. Um, but I think, you know, it's going to be a meaningful experience, um, wherever you are. And so.
00:59:36
Speaker
You know, it's going to be fun at Queen and Beer Hall. It's going to be fun at, you know, BAC. Wherever you go, it's going to be a cool experience. I mean that, you know, the US Open Cup party, we had at Spitfire. That was a blast. I mean, yeah, it would have been great to be there, but that was a super cool experience too.
00:59:53
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I would totally echo that. Like I, and that was, I mean, not that I was going to like, I had an opportunity to go to MLS Cup. I'm going to go to MLS Cup, but I would have been, I think Queen Anne, you know, going to a viewing party, I think as much as it would be, it's going to be a little bit more nerve wracking maybe to watch it at a viewing party. I think it's, it's worth it. And don't forget to RSVP if you're going. Yeah, if you go and make sure to do that, that'd be great. It would help us out.
01:00:24
Speaker
Luke the PD asks, how important is ritual? Should I change up my typical way match viewing because it's the final or keep on with the superstitions? I mean, if your superstition includes watching it on your couch, I would maybe urge you to change your superstition.
01:00:46
Speaker
Yeah, I think I'm a person that knows superstitions or BS and still has them. And that's part of the fun, but something that's going to make the experience actively worse. I'll ditch it. What if your superstition is not wearing pants while watching games? Yeah, that's a tough one.
01:01:08
Speaker
I would say ditch that superstition. They kind of frown on that in public sometimes. Yeah, they do. You can wear a shirt. Well, yeah. Something to consider. Joe Slaby asks, watch from home from the safety of my couch or with crazies who will exacerbate these anxiety or elevate the joy. So much hype. I think. We're on a theme here. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think you've got a, like,
01:01:36
Speaker
Some people don't like being in crowds of people and I get that. But I think if it's just still like, I don't really wanna be around people or whatever, I think you gotta get over it and try to watch them in public in a group.
01:01:52
Speaker
But yeah, I mean like if the thought of going to a bar and watching a game makes you gives you the shakes Like you should say home. That's fine. But you know if it's not like if it's not like an actual like anxiety condition which I'm not diminishing because I have I have it myself just not specifically for this but
01:02:12
Speaker
Yeah, I mean if there's nothing preventing you, you should do it. You should go watch them public because I've actually found that I get less anxious when I'm in a group than I do when I'm like at home alone because they're like distractions and stuff like that. And beer, lots of beer. Let's see, Billy Dust asks, what's better poutine or chili cheese fries?
01:02:38
Speaker
I love poutine, man. I can't believe, it's so funny because I feel like I first heard of poutine, like, definitely as an adult. And I thought it seemed so weird and so gross, but after you've eaten poutine a couple times, nothing, there's nothing weird or gross about it at all. I like chili cheese fries, but I certainly am much more likely to have poutine than chili cheese fries.
01:03:04
Speaker
Yeah, I like chili cheese fries, but it's one of those things that seems like more of a novelty, you know? Like, I'm never gonna order that if I go out to eat. I've had it before. Right. But poutine is, you know, it's delicious. It's good. Usually have chili cheese fries at home because I don't have gravy and the right kind of cheese or curds for poutine, so. Right. It's like a substitute. SunnyJim509 asks, would you consider yourselves more fanboys or just recent watchers of MLS?
01:03:33
Speaker
So this is a reference to Kurt Larson's column, and that's who he said would give the Sounders any kind of reasonable chance to win this game. We'll go with fanboys, I guess. I've never watched an MLS game. I've never watched an MLS game before. Oh, well, there you go. I've just been making all of this up. I don't even know what Freddie Montero looks like. Who? Who's that? I don't know. OK.
01:04:03
Speaker
Billy does have some more questions. Where should I watch the match in Bellingham? I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. People should tweet at him and tell him. Yeah, definitely. I haven't been to Bellingham in like 20 years probably.
01:04:19
Speaker
I've been to Bellingham more recently than that, but I've never gone there to watch a soccer match. So yeah, they must have, there's gotta be some like soccer bars there because they've got like a decent, uh, soccer team. Yeah. And they've got, you know, United. Yeah. And they've got, uh, it's a college town. So there's gotta be, Oh yeah. There's gotta be some decent spots. I just don't know where they are. Yeah. I have no idea.
01:04:42
Speaker
Glad we could help. Yeah. So his next question is, if you found the perfect Christmas tree, but it was on Timber Joey's tree lot, would you just go to Fred Meyer instead? Yeah, for sure. Yeah, he doesn't actually have a Christmas tree lot, does he? God, that would be so perfect if he did. I really...
01:05:03
Speaker
What are the chances of really finding a perfect Christmas tree at like a 7-Eleven lot, though? Come on. That's true. Yeah, but if you went to his tree lot, it'd take you like 20 minutes just to get a tree because you'd have to chainsaw the little tiny tree down for you and then hold it over his head. Right.
01:05:23
Speaker
Uh, never heard of this guy before, but I'll ask this question. Mike Russell photo. I don't, it doesn't sound familiar. No, not at all. Who snores louder? Jeremiah O'Shan or Spencer Davis. In other words, do I need to pack earplugs?
01:05:36
Speaker
Yeah, so I will be rooming with Mike and Spencer in Toronto. Man, I have to admit, I've been known to snore on occasion, but I don't do it all the time. I'm hopeful that we'll figure it out. But I bet you, I'm really hoping that Spencer and I get to share a bed that's gonna be pretty sweet. Those aren't pillows. And Mike has a follow-up question. Follow-up to my previous question, onesie or?
01:06:06
Speaker
Definitely, I'm hoping what Mike is rocking a onesie. Definitely hoping for that. You guys should all yeah, I was gonna say all good ones Definitely. I like that idea. I'm gonna have to do that. I'm gonna have to stop at Target on the way to the airport It's the custom in Toronto as to where I think I've read that I've read that and then finally SS SS FC victory lap asks will you be belligerently hopeful with me? I
01:06:30
Speaker
Yes. Yes. Gotta be belligerently hopeful. Definitely. I'm always hopeful. I'm hopeful about sports. Most things no, but sports. Like I can rationally say I think Toronto is a favorite and then, but at the same time, like I don't think there's any way the Sounders are gonna lose. Like I just, I can't picture it. So yeah. I definitely feel like this is a story that needs to end with the Sounders hoisting MLS Cup.
01:06:56
Speaker
Definitely, so I've been given this symptom. This is like a random thing I feel like I just need to say so there's been a lot the question this this year this last few weeks has been when did the season turn around and and it seems like most of the players are

Season Reflections and Key Moments

01:07:09
Speaker
saying oh well that was the Orlando City game and I can't help but feel like that was way too early for that to have been the turnaround like that was the second game of Schmetzer's tenure I think
01:07:20
Speaker
And I wanted to hear you guys' thoughts on this. My theory is that the turnaround happened in the locker room at halftime of the game in Portland. There must have been something that was... How easily could the season have gone differently? They were losing 4-0 to their biggest rival on the road. They had just lost Clint Dempsey. How easily could that have snowballed into a disastrous finish?
01:07:44
Speaker
Yeah, I can see that. I can see that. That makes a lot of sense. I don't know. I think you can argue for a lot of different points. I mean, I think that the Orlando game was big because it was on the heels of a pretty disappointing draw.
01:08:01
Speaker
against LA in a game they play really well in. But yeah, I mean, I can see that. I can see that. Maybe also the Toronto game, funnily enough, in Toronto, where Jordan scored that goal out of nothing to get a draw, that just did not look like it was gonna happen. But that's, I don't know, that was probably too late.
01:08:24
Speaker
I would say that was too early to have been the turnaround because obviously they still had the loss to Kansas City. I do think that may have come right before the Dallas win though.
01:08:36
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, that's what I'm saying is I think that the game definitely got away from them. Um, but it, you know, they, I dunno, it was the first time all season I'd really had hope. I think, yeah. I think I know what you're saying. I think it's, uh, they, it just felt like it felt like they weren't out of it or they felt like the team was willing to effort to at least draw.
01:09:00
Speaker
Right. And maybe, I mean, by that token, the Houston game as well, down in Houston, where they got that really late goal. Yeah, it would have been. And that wasn't even a game they really needed to win, even at that point. But yeah, that was right before that was right before the Timbers game. Was it? Yeah, it was. It was because I remember watching that game and they were on a three game road trip, I believe, and we were thinking,
01:09:28
Speaker
that they oh that would have yeah that would have drawn us to within that drew us and then portland would have been we would have been within like three points or something yeah something like that three points with like a game at hand or something like that but i i like your theory though nirma but i think the point at which we knew that it had turned around was the la game like when we beat them 4-2 it stopped yeah i think that was the way people started
01:09:54
Speaker
Yeah. That was when I think making the playoffs suddenly seemed like not just a hope, but like, oh, we're going to make the playoffs and holy shit, we might be able to do something in the playoffs. I'll totally agree with that. All right. Well, uh, that's, that's the show I guess, right? Look at it. Yeah.
01:10:11
Speaker
All right, well, thanks to Adrian Hanauer for giving us some time on this big, big week. Thanks, of course, to our sponsors, Full Bowl Wines, Constellation & Company, Queen Anne Acupuncture, who I hope people took advantage of that acupuncture, free acupuncture offer they were given to people. And you still might be able to get away with it.
01:10:32
Speaker
if you book an appointment with them and put in the notes MLS Cup. Anyway, Verdi Credit Union and Designers Marble. So anyway, this is No Sadietes. I am Jeremiah O'Shan, signing off on behalf of Aaron Kempo and Lickett. Remember, you will never yacht alone.
01:10:54
Speaker
Green Douglas spur where the water's cut through. Down to wild mountains and tangents you flew. Canadian Northwest to the ocean so blue. It's Roll On, Columbia Roll On. Roll On, Columbia Roll On. Roll On, Columbia Roll On. Your power is turning our darkness to dawn. Roll On, Columbia Roll On.