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Lobbing Scorchers, Brad Evans and Lesle Gallimore LIVE from Spokane
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Lobbing Scorchers is a production of Just Once Media.
Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer's Ari Liljenwall and Producer Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.
Contact: lobbingscorchers@justoncemedia.com
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Transcript
Introduction and Live Setup
00:00:00
Speaker
This episode of Lobbing Scorchers was previously recorded and streamed live on YouTube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers. If you want to listen or catch these episodes live, see the video, and see all the rest of our content, go to YouTube.com slash at Lobbing Scorchers or LobbingScorchers.com slash YouTube.
00:00:22
Speaker
Well sir, we got a scorcher today. Gonna be real scorcher today. Why the scorcher today? Well it's gonna be a scorcher.
Live from Spokane: Soccer Excitement
00:00:43
Speaker
Good evening, everybody, and welcome to a very special live edition of Lobbing Scorchers. We are out here in Spokane at Flat Stick Pub. ah In about three hours' time, it's going to be a very historic occasion. The Seattle Sounders are about to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps in leg two of the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16. We're going to be hanging out.
00:01:03
Speaker
at Flat Stick with the people of Spokane. We're going to be previewing this match and talking some CCC and the Sounders' chances of advancing, 3-0 aggregate lead and all that. And we got Benji Wade here with us of the Spokane Soccer Show. He covers all things soccer in Spokane, as might be indicated by the title. And he's going to be giving us the lowdown on the soccer scene in Spokane and all that good stuff. So exciting stuff. Thank you to everyone who's ah here in the live audience. We got a nice little crowd here. Shout out. Shout out.
00:01:32
Speaker
Noah, how are you feeling, man? we're We've been in Spokane for one night so far, and it was a good little journey up here. Game in a few hours. How are you doing? I'm excited. This is a great this is a great place. third like Just driving around here, i was like, I kind of want to jump in the river right now just for fun. It's probably a little cold, but you know that's what it is.
00:01:52
Speaker
um And no tech difficulties. we were We saw it in chat. They thought, oh, we they can't pull it off. They can't pull off a live stream. We did it i don't know hit it. I don't know if I would go as far as to say no to tech difficulties. The PA system, that was a little bit of a curveball. i don't think Have we ever done that before? We haven't the p we havenn't done sorry the PA system. So sorry to this. So that took a little bit of tech. But yes, I did see the commentary before the show even started in our chat talking about how they didn't think we could do this. So we beat the odds. And it looks like the tech is functional and we are live with audio. So that's a feat in itself. ah
00:02:24
Speaker
Let's get Benji in here. Benji. Spokane Soccer Show, thank you so much for yeah joining us. ah To start, why don't you just give us the lowdown on Spokane Soccer Show and the type of stuff you do, the coverage you're doing of the soccer scene in
Benji Wade on Spokane Soccer
00:02:38
Speaker
Spokane. what do you guys What do you guys get up to week after week covering soccer in Spokane?
00:02:42
Speaker
I cover all things soccer in the fine city of Spokane. That's how I introduce every episode of the show. How do i speaking of which, real quickly, yeah it's not a tech difficulty. i thought it was going to be on YouTube and i was going to drop a link. is It is.
00:02:55
Speaker
How do I get a link to this so that I can just put it out for supporters? Just that live tab and you should be able to get there. not see a live episode. Here, i will I will text it to you right now. Beautiful. Okay. ah Yeah, I m How would I describe myself? I'm going to talk about everything as far as my perspective goes towards what's happening tonight as longtime, not a hater. I'm not going to say that. I think that's too strong.
00:03:22
Speaker
But I'm not an MLS person. Yeah, that's fine. That's great. And so I have described what's going happen tonight is I'm ready to be baptized. One of the Spokane Soccer Show listeners is here sitting about 20 feet away.
00:03:36
Speaker
Can I get a scarf, from Nicole Mullaby? Woo! I need some kit. I need something to wear to tonight's game. Oh, wow. You guys should have to talk to me about what I'm looking at.
00:03:48
Speaker
That is a champion of champions, which we're playing in right now. Cocker cap champions cup. It is a concap champions cup winning scarf right there. And the Seattle Sounders famously won cock camp. And they're famously the only 20, 20 team to ever do it ever.
00:04:01
Speaker
No other team ever has ever done it. And no other MLS team is there. No, just ever, just ever. The only team to ever win CONCACAF Champions Cup, Seattle
Spokane's Growing Soccer Scene
00:04:12
Speaker
invented. ah Benji, tell us about the soccer scene in ah in Spokane, because I feel like a lot of our audience probably doesn't know a heck of a lot yeah about it. Obviously, you had Spokane Velocity come in a couple years ago, pro soccer in the city, which that was exciting. we went to We were talking before we went live about how we went to the Ballard FC Spokane match a couple years ago, and it was a great time. Memorial Stadium, yeah. Yeah, yeah. But ah what is the what is the scene like out here? What kind of appetite have you found for the game in your time covering?
00:04:42
Speaker
Well, my story, which I think relates a lot to people who live in Spokane, is that I have spent most of my, certainly my adult life, paying attention to soccer that's happening like several thousand miles away in Europe.
00:04:55
Speaker
And when I found out that we were going to have professional teams coming to Spokane, I kind of lost my mind. And it's a long story. We don't have time for it. But I was... a participant in the creation of the identities and all that other stuff for our two local professional teams, one in particular, Velocity FC.
00:05:14
Speaker
And i kind of just gave up everything else in my soccer life and my even my just like sports-consuming life to pay attention to the soccer that was happening 12 in, like it's like a 12-minute drive from my home in Spokane, Washington to our stadium.
00:05:30
Speaker
And I would say that from the start, It's just been. um What's that expression drinking through a fire hose? Yeah. So much soccer because we like Two teams were put in front of a local crowd in the same year, starting with Velocity and then Zephyr like a short eight months later, not even eight months. So it's just been insane to try to keep up with. And of course, Velocity FC made a championship final in their first two years of existence as a USL League One team.
Spokane Velocity's Ambitions
00:06:05
Speaker
So yeah, it's just been insanity. What's been the response in the city to Spokane Velocity? Because from the outside, looking at it, yeah it looks like such a professional operation. I think like USL League 2, you kind of get all levels of funding and support and all that. And it seems like the Spokane Velocity operation is like there's a lot behind it. And there's the I think the roster, when I look at it, it's kind of more experienced players.
00:06:31
Speaker
pros maybe than some other League Two teams. why Why do you think it's kind of, it seems like it's taken off in and ah but in a way. Is that surprised you, the way it's taken off? It isn't only because I've had so many conversations with ownership and their approach and their mentality about building both of these teams that just as an example, I'll use the fact that we have like probably one of the, I would say one of the two deepest squads in USL League One coming into this year.
00:07:01
Speaker
We just signed a goalkeeper. was saying League Two, that's my. oh yeah We just signed a goalkeeper named Sean Lewis, who was back to back goalkeeper of the year in USL League One.
00:07:13
Speaker
And he was a backup in his first game for us last week. And he'll probably, I'm guessing, i it's a couple hours until Velocity play against BC Fusion and the Open Cup, but he'll probably start tonight. So from the start, I would say that this USL Spokane has just been committing resource and they want to win.
00:07:34
Speaker
i mean, the fact that Velocity FC made the championship final in League One back-to-back years I think the first year was more of a surprise. The second year wasn't surprise. I think we came in thinking we should win the Players' Shield, and we were disappointed not to.
00:07:47
Speaker
But still, winning back-to-back penalty kick shootouts at one stadium, the second one in particular against the Portland Hearts of Pine, was my favorite sports-going experience of my life. So...
00:07:59
Speaker
I'm already trying to vamp so that I can send a link to people on Instagram for this this show, but they have just been, USL Spokane, completely committed to winning. And we've also heard, and this is, at first I would hear this from the club, but now I hear it outside the club, that players want to come here.
00:08:16
Speaker
because they can see how USL Spokane is going about things, that they not just want to field a competitive team, they want to have depth for you know midweek games like tonight.
00:08:26
Speaker
and And they're also really committed to like signing players that have like high character. So like character and competence is something like Lee Biedman, the manager of Velocity FC, says a lot.
00:08:37
Speaker
And it kind of shows. I think all the players are very involved in the community. They're very good players. And yeah, I think right now, Velocity FC is front runners for League One this year in 2026. Who are kind of the the star players and team leaders on the team this year that who are kind of at the forefront of of what they what the team has going on right now? It's a great question. And I think this year it's.
00:09:01
Speaker
every position. Luis Heal, the captain, is probably the most experienced, I think, and capable, one of the most experienced and capable players throughout League One. um But position one through 11, it's, there's just a lot of really capable and experienced players. I think we lean a little older, too.
00:09:21
Speaker
lot of veterans that have been around, um, Andre Lewis, Jamaican international who played with the under 19 Jamaican team that that beat a very historically great French team in, I can't remember what year that was.
00:09:34
Speaker
um But there's a lot of players like that. And there's a couple of young players too, but yeah. Yeah, sorry. I was teching over here. I was listening. to You tech really quick. going to vamp. You guys vamp. Okay, beautiful. This is this is a classic Lobbings Quartus moment. Pull out 30 minutes before. The tech has exceeded expectations, in my opinion. i I want to get your take, Ari, on playing games in Spokane. I was very high on this.
Sounders' Impact and Strategy in Spokane
00:10:01
Speaker
in general, bringing the Sounders to other cities, especially on the dry side where you have people who will travel to Seattle for a majority of matches. This seems like something the Sounders should continue. And that's my personal take on it. I'm interested to hear what you have to say. Because one of your takes originally was, I don't know. i don't know. Is this just, you know, playing at a smaller stadium? Is this like, what's the vibe? Have you changed your mind there? Where are you at now? No, i kind of I kind of have. I think ordina Ordinarily, it's not ideal to be playing a CONCACAF Champions Cup home game in a venue that's not your actual home stadium or like functionally a home stadium like Starfire.
00:10:41
Speaker
And there is a very there's a vast distance between these two locations. Right. So I think, you know, when I first heard about it, it's like, you know, I think it's fine given the situation, but I think it's pretty unideal. But honestly, you kind of changed my mind on it when you went on your soapbox about ah how it's such an opportunity for the organization to expand the fan base and reach out to new fans and kind of be a part of a a new community beyond the one that they're already ingrained with. So i think I think that's awesome. And I think there's a lot of potential for it.
00:11:17
Speaker
And I wouldn't mind. i wouldn't mind continuing to have the team come out here for these games. Like, I think all things being equal, I would want CCC played at Lumen Field. But we know that that is famously quite difficult at times. So given the circumstances, like I'm kind of i I'm all about it at this point, especially kind of just being here and seeing the response and all the people that are out there. Like, I'm just excited to get to the stadium at this point and see what the atmosphere is like. We drove by it. We were like, OK, that looks pretty. That looks pretty cool. It's pretty good. Two are in for a treat.
00:11:48
Speaker
And sold out too. You were saying it's only the third time that it's sold out, correct? I think specifically for soccer. soccer. Yeah, I would say that the two home openers for each respective club and then now.
00:11:59
Speaker
And it's like a place where this is both awesome and a challenge for the club. yeah There's not a bad place to watch a game there. Yeah. So but for the price of admission, any breezeway, any of the concourses around,
00:12:12
Speaker
you You are right on top of the players on the pitch. have you Did you watch by chance yesterday LAFC played against Alahuense, which is a Costa Rican club? Oh.
00:12:24
Speaker
Literally the camera, the entire stadium was shaking. It was bouncing up and down because it was packed. People were so into it. The environment was just incredible. Hell yeah. You think we're going to get that kind of vibe tonight?
00:12:36
Speaker
I think so. i mean, the fact that the stakes are what they are. I don't know how many, i'll be very curious how many educated fans will be there tonight that have come over from the West side or that are people in Spokane that really know the sport and know not only like when to cheer in terms of the context of a single match, but know kind of the context of like, dude,
00:12:56
Speaker
This team, I mentioned it on Instagram today, put six past Minnesota United over the weekend. They have Tomas Muller. One of the best to ever do it. Oh, my God. Yeah. like it It is objectively hilarious that we're going to see a German, a World Cup winner playing on a turf field in Spokane. like he he wasn't He did not sign up for that. That's not something that they told him he was going to have to do when he got to the Whitecaps. Yeah.
00:13:20
Speaker
Welcome. Welcome to MLS, buddy. What can you tell us about, like, you you said you're not and a much of an MLS guy. are We're going to convert you tonight. Let's go. You guys want to get into this? Yeah, let's let's go. Why not? I brought notes. He's got notes. Here we go. You could fit my knowledge of Sounders FC on one of these PubNapments. Okay. However, I want to just get this out of the way. I'll bet that's still more than the two of you know about Velocity FC.
00:13:46
Speaker
So we're going to educate each other. It's going to be sick. I am done making fun of the Sounders on my podcast. I'm done making fun of the MLS. I'm not done making fun fun of the MLS. I'm also not done making fun of the USL.
00:13:59
Speaker
When these big organizations do stupid things, I will call them out. Yeah, we don't like the oligarchs. No, we don't. we don't I will start by saying this is my pieces of trivia about Sounders FC. You have plenty of time. Believe me. Ready.
00:14:12
Speaker
Ozzy Alonzo, club legend, Open Cup winner. Correct. Number one. Number two, Clint Dempsey played for them once upon a time. He did. Number three, Chad Marshall is the favorite player of Velocity FC's own Cam Miller. okay Oh, he knows ball. He knows ball. Yeah, that's a good, yeah. yeah I thought it was Brad Evans that I had to go back and look at the recording of when I introduced Cam Miller, who's from the West Side. He's from Snohomish.
00:14:31
Speaker
ah Number four, there are a few Ballard FC and Tacoma Defiant studs on this team, and I'm blown away by that. And I think it's really cool. And I think it's an indication of everything that I've come to learn about Sounders FC by proxy, by osmosis, by whatever other word that it's a classy club and they're taking the homegrown kids and they're giving them a shot.
00:14:55
Speaker
because Osaze de Rosario whipped in a cross in the third minute of the Open Cup game against us last year that helped defeat us. So back then I was pretty pissed about that dude. Now I'm like, I'm pretty stoked on him.
00:15:06
Speaker
ah Peter Kingston, the best player by far that we faced in the 2024 Open Cup je i eat against Ballard. he's He's a content grinder. King Pete. He literally makes YouTube videos. today He's got a channel.
00:15:18
Speaker
Dude. He's a grinder. And he he stood out so much. If you've watched the sport long enough, I'm in multiple decades of doing this. You just see a player and kind oh, that guy looks way different than anybody else.
00:15:30
Speaker
That was King Pete in 2024. Shout out to him for having a great season debut against San Jose last weekend. And then Yutsuko Nomei. I think Yusuke Nome had an XG personally of like two against us in the Open Cup last year. He hit the bar at least twice.
00:15:46
Speaker
Total stud. Glad to see that he got called up. ah Everybody. OK, number five. Everybody loves Paul Rothrock. Pull the room. Pull the room. Yes, yes, yes. Everyone's clapping. Everybody wishes that Jordan Morris could stay healthy.
00:16:01
Speaker
Also correct. Yeah. about yeah Yeah. ah Number six. Nope. That's it. That's the list. That's my knowledge of Sounders FC. Any questions? I'm like an effing Wikipedia entry over here. Honestly, I think that's pretty good. That is pretty good. I think I think you hit on a lot of players. Yeah, that we like. I could spell the name of the club. You know, Roman Torres.
00:16:24
Speaker
Right? i do. You know Romontuarez. Didn't even know that he had anything to do with... Okay. I think what you The first MLS c Cup for the Seattle Sounders, he scored the game-winning penalty kick after famously ah never having taken a penalty kick in his life, I'm pretty sure. He also got smoked in the face by a ball like really early in the game, and that game was played in negative 10-degree weather in Toronto. And I always wondered how he...
00:16:50
Speaker
came back from that and played the rest of that game and hit the game winning penalty because that must have felt like it was off a Sebastian Giovinco shot right to the face. Must have felt like getting hit by a rock. Giovinco no better FIFA 13 career mode player. Yeah.
00:17:07
Speaker
When he played for, I think, Juventus, I think it's joke. Crazy FIFA 13. That's a good pull. That's a good pull. You've got ball knowledge. You were talking about it like you had no idea, but, you know, that's that's so that's quite a but quite
Debate: Sounders Playing in Spokane?
00:17:20
Speaker
a bit. ah I think what you were hitting on with the with the youth development and giving the young players a chance, that's something that we both talk about a lot that we that we love about the club. Because you get the fun storylines of the homegrowns like Paul Rothrock. But the thing I always talk about with it is it's like when you have a youth development system like that, where there's so many of those players actually playing for your first team, it just makes the club feel more authentic, actually, to the place where it's from. Like when other teams play the club, it feels like they're actually playing against Seattle and not just a collection of players from elsewhere that happen to be on the Seattle team.
00:17:57
Speaker
My favorite part of it, I see you, Jeremiah Oshanth, was talking to Jeremiah. God, when was that? I think it was after the Interbay game. So the second time we played and broke the hearts of Ballad FC in the Open Cup.
00:18:09
Speaker
And you were like, yeah, this... The Sounders have a reputation for developing young players and giving them opportunities. And at that point, I had not seen it during my brief, at the time, foray into the Spokane Soccer Show. And now I'm talking to you and those three kids that I've seen play against Velocity FC for these, not semi-pro, I guess Valor is, but that they are giving this kid the chance because they've all now played and worn the shirt. I think you've made ah appearance, right? Yeah.
00:18:37
Speaker
Not for the first team yet, but he, I mean, he's going to have to at some point this season. Yeah. Should we get Ocean in here? We probably should. You're in here. You want to get in here? Get in here.
00:18:48
Speaker
Get in here. Take my mic. Get in here. We have a fourth mic. Here. I'll set it up while he takes mine. right. We got use another mic. Are you good? Jeremiah Ocean, Sounder of Heart. was Check my Instagram link. Is it working to the live show? Just want to make sure people can make it. you to Check Benji's tech. Check Benji's tech.
00:19:08
Speaker
J.O. You can hear into the headphones. Yeah, you can. It makes it a lot easier, honestly. yeah the The tech setup is kind of unreal. Hi, Jeremiah. Hey, looking good, my man. Thank you. you know we We had to stop at Chili's on the way over. so i heard about that. I was disappointed in you. Why don't you come here?
00:19:26
Speaker
Hey, i so I didn't eat. okay But the kids in the car, right there was some tea in the car that were apparently wowed by Instagram images showing at it of Chili's. And they needed to yeah they needed to do some dippers or something. I totally get it. That's valid. We thought you and cheese pool we we were picturing a situation where you and Nico were like, you know what we got to do right now? no that was not the situation. Go to Chili's. That's what we need to do.
00:19:51
Speaker
ah How are you feeling? A few hours time, leg two, CONCACAF Champions Cup, round of 16. ill ah I'll kick to you the question that ah Noah kicked me earlier, which is, ah you know, for me, in an ideal world, you wouldn't have to play a CONCACAF Champions Cup game across the the state. but Yeah. Now that we're out here and you see the scene and and everything that's going on, how are you feeling just about this? Is this something that you think that the club can benefit from as far as expanding and the the fan base? And is this something that they should ah consider continuing to do if it goes well? You know, we talked about this on on my podcast the other day where I love the idea of playing out here on a regular basis. I don't know from a practical standpoint.
00:20:36
Speaker
if they can really do competitive games out here because most of the tournaments have rules about where you can play your games yeah and you can't just play it wherever you want. But I do like the idea of of opening it up a little bit and becoming more of Washington's team.
00:20:52
Speaker
And i like so and i think this is a great turnout. I think this is, this is I think, a best of both worlds. that it's It's a happy accident that they end up having to play out here. i mean, this is a great crowd. I think the Sounders seem to embracing it.
00:21:05
Speaker
I think it's great. As for the game itself, you know, 3-0 aggregate lead. ah But we were talking about how Vancouver just absolutely destroyed Minnesota United 6-0. That was a little bit of a comeback to reality one moment for me because I think, you know, anyone who watched the ah the stream from the car on our way back from Canada probably could see that we were juiced. I was absolutely flying on adrenaline. I was i was watching that back. I was like, wow, I was...
00:21:34
Speaker
I was pretty lit right there. i was saying some stuff that I might hear. But then, you know, after the dust settled and ah the Whitecaps beat Minnesota United six to zero, i was like, OK, this ah this is this is still serious. This is not over.
00:21:49
Speaker
yeah So how are you feeling about this one going into it? You know, I think there was a line from Steph Fry yesterday at the presser where he said, look, we beat them 3-0. They're perfectly capable of beating us 3-0. And so I think there is a reality check element of it.
00:22:03
Speaker
It's, of course, a little different when you know you can, you don't even have to chase it. The Sounders, you know, they I think the next goal is huge. And that's not exactly the deepest analysis, but I think the team that scores next is going to feel really good about their chances of of seeing it out.
00:22:21
Speaker
I said that to my buddy, my best friend, Phil, who's over from the West side. Hey, Phil. I was like, I would selfishly love to see, I shouldn't even see this. I'm going to get killed. If Vancouver scores a goal, yeah we suddenly have. Yeah.
00:22:35
Speaker
I mean, it's ah it's it's on. Extremely high stakes. Yeah. yeah
Local Spokane Life and Dining
00:22:40
Speaker
Absolutely. Oh, we got Nico Moreno. Nico Moreno, he was also at Chili's. Nice of you to join us from Chili's. We appreciate that. Yeah, we had a phenomenal time there. yeah Great food. You have to support the local Chili's. The local mom and pop local businesses. do have a mic real quick.
00:23:00
Speaker
when When you have to go to the bathroom in the press box, tell me which stall you use because I'm not going in there. that really All I had was wings and I had two. The rest are in the car. I do have a question for you though, Benji. yeah I saw there's ah there's a burger place called Dick's. Is that the same Dick's that's in?
00:23:17
Speaker
Yep. They just told you that signage, though. Yeah, same. Okay. yeah i do not I did not know that. I thought it was a Seattle-only establishment, so we're all learning here. i have another question. Last time I was here, I went to The Onion. yeah That one was pretty good. Is that?
00:23:31
Speaker
Because I've i've heard there's a chain as well. Is that more local or is that? That's fine. okay Better than Chili's? Oh, wow. It's more local than Chili's. Okay. Okay.
00:23:43
Speaker
Sorry. No way. and That's what I'm saying. Whatever. If somebody from Chili's watches this. Chili's, did I say I'm sponsored? Up your game. Up your game. well how are how are you feeling? 3-0 up on ah on aggregate, but we were just talking about how, you know, one goal for the Whitecaps. I could totally flip this thing back into... I don't know about full toss up territory, but it it it makes it gives them a lot of life if they can just score first. But at the same time, the Seattle can just score first.
00:24:13
Speaker
I'm not going to say it's a wrap if they score first. But at that point, it's pretty tough for the Whitecaps to come back. So how are you How are you thinking sizing this one up? Nico, I'm going to do a quick Kanye West moment here and and we'll let you answer that. But I have to shout out Flatstick Puff.
00:24:26
Speaker
Flatstick Puff, not only in not only in Spokane, but also on the west side. Huge supporters of soccer literally could not do this podcast for the last. Now this is year three without them.
00:24:38
Speaker
Okay. Hey, I love that.
Sounders vs. Vancouver Tactics
00:24:40
Speaker
You get the important stuff out there. There you go. I like that. We'll have to do taste test on the wings. All right. I need a beer. I'll definitely be getting a beer. Somebody get Nico a beer.
00:24:53
Speaker
ah So you're talking about the game. It's going to be. It's going to be interesting how the first 15 minutes play out. Jasper Sorensen is a guy that is very methodical about the way he operates his offense.
00:25:06
Speaker
I do think that there's going to be a lot of numbers committed forward, but he understands what it would mean to allow... Whether, however you set it up, my guess is that today we'll probably see Paul Arriola there on that on that left side. Who's going to give a high note? Confort. Confort is very comfortable getting forward.
00:25:24
Speaker
and And I think that's what Jasper Soran is going to want to try to alleviate is maybe not getting too comfortable getting forward. But I do think the first 15 minutes are going to be the most important minutes of the game.
00:25:36
Speaker
Because if you do allow that early goal, it completely changes the game. And it almost... shifts what Brian's preparing for in the first 45 minutes let's call it. So I'm confident and comfortable with a Sounders team that I think has looked very good playing against the run of play, which is this new added feature to what the centers have been doing this season. and be able to, I don't want to go completely absorb. i don't want to just sit there and wait for the Whitecaps to come at you. But there are ways to be systematic and to be selective of when you push and when you do counter. And I feel like that's something that they've done well recently. i feel that they did that perfectly in the first leg. And I hope that they continue to do that in the second.
00:26:23
Speaker
J.O., are you ah do you think there's going to be anything different lineup-wise for this one? or do you think it's just, ah if it ain't broke, don't fix it, run it back, do exactly what you did in the first leg type situation? I'm trying to think if there's any obvious changes that they that we should expect. And I think it's going to be...
00:26:38
Speaker
Basically the same lineup that they ran out. That would be, I'd be a little surprised actually, if they made any changes. Like I assume Fishing rolled, or Alex Morbon's going to play center back.
00:26:49
Speaker
I assume Costa Rienzi's going to play right back. Trying to think what other or changes there would even be potentially. I think that the only one, the only change that I could see Brian making because he does trust Alex Rodin so much, maybe would be. Moving into right back. playing If Tito played so well last game, do you run him back next to Jackson Reagan and you push Alex onto the right flank and let him be more of a.
Lineup Changes and Player Impact
00:27:20
Speaker
ah manageable right back aside from a colon colonic or so it's going to be more yeah of an attacking minded the type of at fullback, but at the same time, then it goes to what I just mentioned. Do we really want to sit there and absorb? But I do think that because of the relationship between Brian and Alex, maybe that'd be the one change that I think we could see for today. I think the bigger changes going to be on the Whitecaps.
00:27:47
Speaker
They did not start Brian White. They did not start Andres Kubas. They did not start AZ Jackson. these are Those are three very game-changing type of talents that they did not start in the first leg for a variety of reasons. We don't know what's going on with Tristan Blackman yet, I don't think.
00:28:05
Speaker
But they they will have a stronger lineup in this game than they did in the first leg. Benji, have you ah have you gotten any sort of read on? i You were talking earlier about like not knowing how if it's going to be the more kind of plugged in, educated type of fans versus more casual fans who are kind of just discovering this for the first time. Do you I guess do you have like a read or prediction on that at all? are you kind of just going into it with absolutely no idea what the vibe is going to like when we get in there?
00:28:39
Speaker
Such a great question. i have a feeling i don't even know because I don't know where all the... If I went back through the memory of that week, and I remember talking to you Jeremiah, about the sales of tickets, and we were like, well, by this time, there'll probably be blah, blah, blah. And then was like sold out very quickly. I mean, it sold out within 24 hours?
00:28:59
Speaker
Yeah, so I don't know what the complexion of West Side versus East Side is. And that East Side crowd might be a lot of people that are Sounders supporters who know the game really well and know the club really well. I mean, I think to back to the point, which I didn't get a chance to to chime in on, and maybe this is a great time to do so,
00:29:16
Speaker
As far as this being an exploratory exercise that happened quite accidentally for Sounders FC, maybe it's a friendly, maybe it's not a ah competitive fixture, but tonight will be a really good litmus test for what type of fan shows up. Absolutely. i will tell you this.
00:29:35
Speaker
Even when you have, i think we we didn't have the support we wanted at our semifinal win over Portland Hearts of Pine, which is the best sports going experience of my life.
00:29:47
Speaker
I wanted to beat that team so bad. Oh my God, for reasons. And we, I'd say there was like 2,500, 3,000 people there, but it felt insane.
00:29:57
Speaker
It was complete pandemonium when we scored an equalizer in 120 plus 48. We say that number a lot around here because that was when Neil Vignail scored an equalizer and we went to Penns.
00:30:08
Speaker
um But if it's anything like that and there's stakes, now that's going to be key. If it's comfortable for the Sounders, I mean, I don't think you're going to...
00:30:20
Speaker
It's probably not going to be very raucous, but I don't know. What do you know? What do we know about the the surface? ah How does it play? Is it that the ball spin a little bit quicker? Does it bounce a lot of you? Does anybody know anything about the way this stadium? I think it plays right down the middle. And i and I'm going to be talking some complete nonsense here. But.
00:30:40
Speaker
I think it was designed to emulate natural surface and it is about as top of the line and expensive as you can get for an artificial surface. And they did that quite intentionally. i think somewhat in anticipation of an opportunity like this,
00:30:56
Speaker
So it's a really great pitch and people, players like to play on it. I don't know any players ever going to tell you they would not prefer to play on graphs. But as far as artificial surfaces go, it's really, i think it's, I think it's wonderful for an artificial surface.
00:31:12
Speaker
And I think it yeah plays like right down the middle. I don't think it's a particularly quick surface. The only time I've seen it quick this weekend, we had 35 degree temperatures and there were ice crystals on the pitch.
00:31:23
Speaker
It was a little nasty for Zephyr FC, but then by the next day when Velocity played, it was fine. Some people think California has a monopoly on wine, but it turns out the Pacific Northwest produces plenty of it too.
00:31:35
Speaker
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00:31:47
Speaker
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Community Support and Local Sponsors
00:31:59
Speaker
to you.
00:31:59
Speaker
And then when you go to someone's house, you bring one of those bottles and everyone is super impressed. We're proud to be sponsored by FullPullWines.com. There's a version of shopping that doesn't feel like a chore, and Podium and Edmunds is it.
00:32:12
Speaker
You walk in, Nick, the owner, greets you. What's up, dude? Massive Sounders fan, probably someone you've already argued with or agreed with in our comment section at some point. And suddenly, you're 45 minutes deep into a conversation about the latest Sounders news, and you haven't even looked at the clothes yet. let me show you around And then you do look around and everything in there is the kind of thing you buy once and keep forever.
00:32:34
Speaker
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00:32:50
Speaker
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00:33:06
Speaker
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00:33:30
Speaker
Hey everyone, Ari here. I'm excited to tell you about one of our sponsors, Hakeson Ferments. Hakeson is a Seattle-based hot sauce and vinegar brand making some of the most flavorful hot sauce around. We've partnered up to craft a small batch green blended hot sauce fermented to perfection with bright flavor and medium heat.
00:33:47
Speaker
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00:34:03
Speaker
no And I ask that because that is something that does come to mind of the players. Right before this trip, Some of them, hey, they asked, yeah have you ever been there? Nope. I have no idea what it looks like. Never texted. So it wasn't that that it was in their minds.
00:34:17
Speaker
However, I do think that the Sounders have an edge when it comes to an unknown surface. that a week We heard Brian talk about playing at Starfire. That is an awful place to play. So does play. Yeah, and so it's busy place and that that was my next point busy place is a hard place to play at I hear constantly people being like man that place is awful including some sounder players so I do feel like they have an edge in knowing how to play their game in Abstract or unknown surfaces so I do feel like it does seem to slow down more of Vancouver's game than the sound
00:34:54
Speaker
Benju, as far as the venue, One Spokane Stadium itself and the I guess the viewing experience, you know, you were saying earlier that the jewel of the city, it can get pretty electric in there. What specifically, why is that like? What are the factors about about it that make it so?
00:35:09
Speaker
I think it was just designed for exceptional visibility because of the concourses that surround the pitch.
Spokane Stadium Experience
00:35:16
Speaker
And again, i always say this, it's a little frustrating, I think, for USL Spokane for me to be saying this, but it's true.
00:35:22
Speaker
i don't care where you buy your ticket. The quote unquote nosebleed, which I bought my season tickets, which is section 206, right below the press box. it's I call it the FIFA, the tele you know like the telecam, you know whatever, you know FIFA.
00:35:37
Speaker
You can see tactically like what each team's doing, in their shape, et cetera. But then it's still it looks exceptional. For anybody here, the part of this that I want to shout out, it for anybody here who's coming, like my friend Phil, who's been to Lumen many times to see Sounders,
00:35:53
Speaker
You will be closer to these players and probably you ever have been unless you're like one of those rich people who sits close to the players or whatever. or you've been to game at Starfire. Right, exactly. Yeah. So everything just feels very intimate.
00:36:07
Speaker
um And the grandstands wonderful. Yeah, I just there isn't a bad place to view the game. Awesome. Can just say I love that? I absolutely love that. Coming from South America where you have a track and a 25 feet barbed wire fire water fence to make sure nobody gets in. It's kind of nice to be on top of the players and very European-like. The first seat of the bleacher.
00:36:32
Speaker
um maybe not quite as close as I am to you right now, Nico. it That's like what a throw-in is going to feel like on the touchline. oh you've got that You've got the touchline, you have the LED reader board, and then you've got ah fan.
00:36:45
Speaker
You've got the, for us, typical game, maybe be the 509 syndicate at, you know, the center circle. Yeah, so... Something just happened out there. There might have been it's like Nashville scores.
00:36:57
Speaker
Oh, no shot. Folks, Nashville SC has apparently equalized against Messi. No, they've gone ahead, essentially. They've gone ahead? Well, because it's... Road goals. raise that that's god Oh, God. Oh, my God. What minute is it? What minute is it?
00:37:10
Speaker
Is Messi playing? He scored a goal seven minutes into the game. Of course. Oh, my God. How funny would it be if they got knocked out? Please, please. Me and Jeremiah were just talking about this. I said I'd be very happy if Nashville scored a living for us. That's a little bit too much time. That's a little bit too much time. I love the Open Cup so much. I just want to shout it out. Oh, my God.
00:37:30
Speaker
Absolutely. I was going to say before we got the Miami update, like i those games at Starfire, the reason I love those games is because of a lot of the stuff that you're describing being right on top of the of the field. It just makes for such a crazy atmosphere. like the you know The capacity is only 5K, but it may as well be 20K with the environment that it creates just because of how it's structured. Yeah, absolutely.
00:37:52
Speaker
ah Speaking of the Open Cup, though, Spokane is playing tonight, right? Against VC Fusion. And VC Fusion is a somewhat famous USO 2 team. Shout out Keith Costigan. He's the coach. Oh, thank you. Is he the current coach?
00:38:05
Speaker
Oh. We found that out when we were interviewing him, yeah. And we were like, you broadcast all these MLS games and coach a team? And he was like, yes. Wow. yeah he's kind of he's kind of wild for that i like he's he's a great guy great guy yeah check out our uh interview with keith costan he keep got a little dog in him he him uh jeremiah and i were out there for the ccc final in mexico oh yeah's and You know, that was a hostile crowd for anybody with ah a Sounders logo or just looking American.
00:38:38
Speaker
And not not only what were we walking out together trying to you know, some pops up, you know, we're all going to see what happens. But he goes in the the Uber, stops it and gets cash out of a random ATM near the in yu Columbia. And I told him, like, you want me to watch back? Like, you are no almostm cry you know, I'm all right. He just watched by himself. He gets the cash. And I'm like, oh, he's a real one. Yeah, that's that is the definition of having that dog in you. Isn't it isn't it funny that we're at a bar full of Sounders fans and supporters and it erupts in cheers when Nashville SC scores against Inter Miami like that is that is
CONCACAF and Competitive Soccer
00:39:17
Speaker
good stuff. Nobody knows who scored it.
00:39:20
Speaker
It was an Espinoza absolute banger. Let's go, man. You know what that I'm I'm okay with the Sounders not signing him so he could could do that. I i was a proponent of going after him in free agency, which I knew he was like not gonna happen.
00:39:35
Speaker
But now that he's ah Trying to take down messy in Champions Cup. I'm okay with it. The only people who like Inter Miami are the people who play for that team. um I think I never want to talk too loudly about the possibility the possibility of a cup set.
00:39:48
Speaker
So Portland Hearts of Pine lot lost last night to Vermont Green. Did you see this? No. Yes, I did. And I was so ready to pounce. And i was like, you know what? I'm to keep my powder dry until we Wait, did we talk about Dick's driving? Yeah. We did. yeah I'm just reading check out here. What happened? I was checking. They have it out here, and it's the same thing. We have a Dick Sandburgers. Different logo. Different logo? Wait, it's a different? Oh, it's a different. Tim was saying, is is it different?
00:40:14
Speaker
Oh, it's different. Okay. False. False. ah False prophets. Yeah. There's so many and we got fake news. I was thinking you were false advertising. False prophets works. False prophets. You know, we're we're a religious show here. We, you know, famously.
00:40:28
Speaker
a Noah, how are you feeling? You know, got the game coming up in just over two hours now. Yeah. Yeah. It's 3-0 aggregate weed. What do you what do you think?
00:40:40
Speaker
I mean, listen. say Thomas Muller trying to do it in front of five k in Spokane. He can't. He's not going to be able to do it. it's gonna be There's going to be at least two goals for the Sounders in this game.
00:40:54
Speaker
Hell, put Pete Kingston on. See, you're still got the the confidence going, which I like that. I'm more i'm more of the type of person that's like, yeah i don't I don't like feeling like I'm jigs in something. This is me. Yeah. so i But I appreciate the fact that you're just like, nah, they're going to beat the Whitecaps, which is what you said before Lake 1, which you kind of you planted your flag on that.
00:41:14
Speaker
And I was not sure how great an idea that was. And then it's not arrogant. And then it paid off. It paid off. Dude. I'm superstitious. I think I'm a little bit more like you, Ari. I don't want to jinx it. Yeah, well, I just, you know, if I am puffing my chest and acting all confident going into a game, then the team loses. Then I'm like, that was because of me.
00:41:31
Speaker
Like, I did that. So, I mean, it's nice to have someone here with I've even thought about that. If somehow the unthinkable happened, I'm like, they'll never come back to Spokane. yeah Yeah. I just think i just think that any time you take an early victory lap is...
00:41:46
Speaker
It just yeah so he puts you in a place where you shouldn't necessarily be. Like, why put yourself out there like that? So, yes, that the team's ahead. Cowardly, cowardly. I'm confident. howly I'm very confident that the team is going to hold up great.
00:41:59
Speaker
um But, you know, there's always that other possibility. But... I do think that, let's say a the worst happens early in the first 15 minutes. Yeah, yeah, let's talk about that. Whitecaps come out, bam, a goal five minutes into the game. You do get scored on. I do think that there's you know enough experience on the field. and If there's going to be a key component today, at least on offense, it's going to be, you know, through balls to the back of the defense because they're going to be, they're going to hike in the confrontation line as high as they can. exactly They're going to press extremely high. And if there's an area where I think that Ferreira has to excel is in those pockets right before that line.
00:42:38
Speaker
And I think that if today weather there is, um, you know, Osasio Rosario getting more involved today or that Paula Riola connection chemistry that we saw in that game in Vancouver, that's going to be a key today. You know, perhaps the way this works is if they do get that goal and Seattle keeps their composure, just stick it to the game plan, right? You stick to the game plan and and and you allow those moments to come around. You don't force the ball, but you do look for those faces behind the back line of Vancouver. Can I ask you a question? Yeah.
00:43:12
Speaker
As the ignorant among us. First of all, can Tomas Mueller, can he still pull the strings? a But I also want to say our 509 Syndicate Supporters Group president, Jonathan Ehrenberg, has successfully stalked Tomas Mueller.
00:43:30
Speaker
So stalked him. Yep. Restraining order pending. Okay. Okay. All right. So he might be a little off his game right now. Okay. Have you guys seen the movie The Fan with Wesley Snipes and Robert De Niro? Oh, yeah. Yeah. I think that's what Aaron Berg's doing right now. We do not encourage this chat, please. No. It was nice. Tomas Miller is the sweetest man alive. He is. I will say that about him. He seems like we kind of talk about his value to their teams in vibes as much as anything. But I will say he still can't build the strings yet. He had, think... Like an outlet pass, like play people in. Like what's he doing? Yeah, no, he definitely... don't think he's washed or anything. Like he had...
00:44:10
Speaker
13 goal contributions for them after coming to the team last year. A lot of them were penalties, as Noah likes to point out. a penalty He was a penalty merchant. But no, I think when I watch him play for them, I think he's still he's still a very, very plus player on the field. Like, yeah, he's got some juice. You can tell that he's got that world class pedigree. You know, he's like 37. So maybe not as ah as much in his yeah he does younger years. I got to be honest, like of all of the old guys who play in this league, he's you know, he doesn't really look that bad. i can't stand for this.
00:44:45
Speaker
I'm old. So don't be putting years on him. He's not. thirtys He's not. He's not in the league. Settle down. He's not 37 yet. He's not. a Look at this beard. We got beers at the table. Shark is right here, baby. Hey,
00:45:01
Speaker
there we go shot ah yeah with the with the beer he used the use a camera work for pool so shout out three floor wheres zi go ah but it has helped out this both you suck you know oh really he's awesome i love that guy i was gonna say niko you might need that again you know now that you're cooking up all these interviews it's your great time to plug at the jiopollo interview you haven't watched coach's corner yet Oh, hell yeah. Check out Coach's Corner. Coach's Corner. Check out the Keith Koskin interview. Check out the Will Bruin interview. If you haven't seen the interviews, go check out the interviews. We've got a lot out there. now we love it. It's gorgeous. I don't need nothing. yeah We got the guys are here with the big pockets. We do, bro. Bring in the production. we just We just stick our hand in Jeremiah's pockets. We just go. We learned that strategy a long time ago. Yeah, exactly.
00:45:44
Speaker
Let me say something about Thomas Miller. I think that his biggest attribute is that he's a amplifier on the field and he makes everybody around him better. Yes. And I didn't realize that his energy and pedigree was going to be as infectious as it was. I am a I don't want MLS to bring.
00:46:04
Speaker
old people type of person. i don't I don't like the whole chase the big names and put butts in the stands with all these big players. So I wasn't necessarily behind that move, but all took was two games for me to see him chasing down players, talking to those around him, to...
00:46:20
Speaker
You know, ah there there was a game, I can't remember if if if it was that the third game that that I saw from him. He's directing traffic. He's telling guys, slow it down. So that ability for a guy at that level to still care enough to coach and manage and lead and then have the ability, technical ability and skill set to also prove it on the field, that's been what's been most most impressive about Thomas Mueller since he arrived at Vancouver. When we were in Vancouver for the first leg, we were walking around the stadium before going in, and we see Thomas Mueller just walking down the street. Just strutting down the street. Just strutting just like any guy. He's a dude. And then obviously people around the stadium realized that, and so he was kind of surrounded by fans, and people wanted to take pictures and get autographs, and he was just man about town. He just, yeah.
00:47:10
Speaker
I'll take this picture here. I'm this autographed here. Every person. Every person. And, yeah, you know, he was mentoring the youth, you know. It was just like, wow, I mean, I can't hate this guy. He just seems like a great guy. It's really unfortunate that the White Cats have likable guys. I hate that. It's like, I don't like that team.
00:47:27
Speaker
But like, i want oh, I got to like, so I got to like the Berhalter. I like a nice guy that's signing autographs on the street. Damn it. Quit being, quit being nice. Stop being affable. Yeah. God. It's just these damn Canadians. I'll bet you a lot of people looked at that as it was happening, though, that didn't know. And they were like, who is that guy? guy must be a really sick accountant.
00:47:48
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, man. He probably saved them so much money on their taxes. Yeah. Come on Tomas Muller. I mean even than my picture is my guy Jonathan with him last night like Jesus that does not look like a professional soccer. No the fact that he's like a world-class elite athlete. He is you ripped though. One of the best to ever do it. Yeah, Nico. were you gonna? No, I was just thinking that as much as we we we do talk about you know the addition of brand white today, that's gonna be you know a tough matchup.
Brad Evans Joins: Sounders Insights
00:48:17
Speaker
I do think that this particular game is gonna be determined
00:48:22
Speaker
with the midfielder battle between their pivots and archivists. They got Cubans out there this time. Cubans is the one that was missing. Cubans is the the more six type, the one that recovers, simplifies, that is very quick on turning the ball over.
00:48:38
Speaker
So Last game, Bernal was found open. He found a lot of openings, a lot of pockets. He was able to transition with the ball with a little bit of easiness. I don't think that you get that today.
00:48:51
Speaker
And so that's going to be something that I want to watch today is how much Anders Kubas and our pivots end up being that battle and win that battle in midfield. Why did he not start in the first game? I'm only saying this because I found out later, but he he was um he had a red card, a yellow card, yellow card accumulation.
00:49:10
Speaker
We apparently have got a a special guest joining the show right now. And oh, I see who it is. okay i see it it is. This is a special guest indeed. Let's get him in here. wait till you see this, folks. It is.
00:49:23
Speaker
Brad Evans joining the show at Flat Stick. Round of applause from the people. You love to see it. Brad, thank you so much for joining the show. Great to see you. How's it going? How are you feeling being in Spokane for a Seattle Sounders who's champion? it's destin Who's computer is this? good. read the chat. Don't read the chat. He's monitoring the chat now. This was enough of a tech...
00:49:45
Speaker
wait this you guys This is what you guys do. You search Brian Schmetzer quotes. Keep Costigan talk Seattle. Come up with something on your own. You got to check these tabs, Noah. Listen, we were clipping up all those highlights for our social media accounts, which, you know, you can follow Lobbings Porchers.
00:50:02
Speaker
Oh my gosh, the social media plug. What's going on guys? What's going on? You're in bo you're and Spokane for a Seattle Sounders, I know. What do you think of that? I wish that I was playing now. That's that's how I feel because this is I mean, once in since 2009.
00:50:18
Speaker
Right. It's such a momentous occasion. Talking to the fans that are here, like living in Spokane, how much it means to have a game that means something here is like they are so stoked beyond belief because we have to pay respect to them for consistently driving across, getting a hotel, stay in the night and then driving back. And this is the only way that we can really repay them. Right. We can win cups. We can do everything with them. But until we have a game here that means something, this really just highlights what it means to to be a sounder. And i know i know that the guys have to be excited to be here. We've talked about how it kind of seems like an opportunity, ah unique opportunity to actually yeah look at me to actually try to face a camera on him trying to face the camera. looking at chat but yeah You're not having a conversation with them talking to me. OK, OK.
00:51:02
Speaker
What was I even talking about? Now I don't remember. Okay, we were talking about how this was an opportunity to expand the fan base in a unique way that they they don't really have a chance to do it, like you said, playing a game here. Do you think that it could have that impact and sort of bringing in new fans into the... ah Yeah, it's the orbit that wouldn't otherwise. I mean, we could think huge here. And when we talk about the World Cup, it's about grabbing younger, the younger generation. Right. To bring them in. And but Spokane already has high level soccer. Right. And and you've got a lot of MLSX players. I mean, Ozzy owns a piece of the team here.
00:51:36
Speaker
You've got women's soccer as well at a high level. And you you see like Luis Gil. Right. mean, he's a guy that did really well in in Major League Soccer, who's applying his trade here, who chose to be here and continues to be successful. So they have taste of it.
00:51:48
Speaker
So I hope that the Sounders show up and and really fans can see what it's like to be in in Major League Soccer. Right. And it's really about the youth. So the kids are the most important thing. Yes, I respect everyone that's going to go to the game, but selfishly, I want a kid to show up.
00:52:03
Speaker
He watches, gets a taste and gets that hunger and then carries that on. And then hopefully we see them in a Sounders jersey in 15 years. That's that's the dream for me. Brad, do you played do you played with Roman Mettenir? I'm assuming.
00:52:15
Speaker
No, who played for Minnesota United. No. No? Metzineer. Huh. No. Why would I have played with him? Where? He was for, he played for Minnesota United.
00:52:26
Speaker
i didn't play for Minnesota. No, no, no. I mean, you say he was in the MLS. You played against or? At the same time he played? Eh. Okay. I mean, I've been retired for like eight years.
00:52:37
Speaker
No, I know. he was It was a while ago. In 2019, think Roman stopped playing. No, I'm already done. Okay. No, you were already done then? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. i don't I don't remember him. He scored the first goal ever for Velocity FC. really? Yeah, nice. No, I didn't know that. He was 33 at the time, but yeah.
00:52:52
Speaker
He got a little extra juice than I did. I was 32 hanging up the boots. Lucky guy. Brad, I do have i have a hypothetical question for you. If you could put your player hat back on. It's always hard.
00:53:05
Speaker
Yeah. you So pretend you are playing in a CONCACAF Champions Cup series and after leg one, three zero aggregate lead. real And then the next leg, you got to close out the series.
00:53:17
Speaker
You got three road goals on your opponent. But you still do have to close it out. What do you think? how How would you be approaching that situation? the mentality Mentality. Well If I was coming I think first of all if the first team had played against San Jose like really everyone and had a tough game I think I'd be thinking different going into this one But the reality is Schmitz makes these changes. They make the changes based on metrics who they're playing next everything the rotation all the all the road games and And so for a player like Albert, for example, played, you know, a few minutes really didn't really put in like a a hard shift. So for those guys, this game is the one that mattered.
00:53:58
Speaker
So they they don't care about San Jose. Yes, they got the result. Their whole point of wrestling them was for tonight. Right. To come here to Spokane to to close out this series, to advance to the next stage. When you walk in in in preseason, I mean, management has every single trophy that's on the board. And you When you don't attain one, you got to knock it off and you don't want to be the first ones to have to knock out a Champions Cup. Right. You don't want to have that early exit. And so that it means a
Sounders' Champions Cup Motivation
00:54:22
Speaker
lot to this club. And I know for the guys as well, they want it. They want to show up.
00:54:25
Speaker
There's money involved in it, too. And and when whatever your motivation is, you have to get the job done. So for those guys. I think the motivation and the mentality is to come in here and win and put in a good showing, right? It's it's something different. It's something new. And you hope, i mean, with a 3-0 lead, you better believe that the Sounders should be able to close this one out.
00:54:45
Speaker
Paul Rothrock called it, they're saying in the locker room, they're calling it the Seattle Sounders Roadshow because of all the travel that they're doing right now. i think it's like seven games in a row. yeah And then this was like supposed to be a home game, but this is basically another road game. What do you remember about those just really long road trips? And what what do you think is the key to successfully taking results when you're just basically living out of a suitcase type stuff? Yeah, it's tough, but you do it in preseason for long enough, right? You've got about a month in preseason where you're flying internationally, you're having to play against teams you've never played before. And ultimately, it's about bonding on the inside and and really what it's like to pick up results in difficult situations. That's why the Sounders go to Europe for preseason. It's get guys uncomfortable, put them together in a place where it rained. it was hailing. It was windy. It was, you know, shit conditions in Spain. But can you still find results and and and be resilient and have fun in those situations?
00:55:37
Speaker
So if you're telling me you have to fly charter and go stay in a nice hotel and have good food and play an away game now in this day and age, isn't, isn't an excuse for these guys. They've got to put in the work and get it done. And it is the road show.
00:55:49
Speaker
I think for them, if they can get through the next four or five games and then have that home stand and have this one be successful, I think you'll see a great Sounders team come middle part of the season when the world cup's done and the latter part of it.
00:56:01
Speaker
Um, what was the second part of your question? I think that was i think that's pretty much it, Rocho. You know, I think Brian was talking about how each round you get through is, it's it's like a next step. Like once you get through one round, you're you're moving on to the next. Maybe it wasn't Brian. But when you look at Champions Cup, you look at all of the away travel, you look at all of this, you're looking ahead.
00:56:24
Speaker
When you were preparing yourself, I know this is this kind of a second part to Ari's question. It's like, You were just looking at this game. You're not looking ahead to be like, oh, since we might get to play a Cincinnati team that may or may not be that strong or like how do how do you kind of walk that part out as compared to.
00:56:43
Speaker
It's a learned thing. I mean, if you're going to ask a rookie that question when he comes into league at the Sounders and have to play five tournaments in a year, they have no idea how to handle it. The only thing that a college player has done is played you know a three-month season in college. They don't know what it's like to go on a seven, eight-game road stand and then have multiple tournaments throughout the year. So it's a learned thing that you figure out in year four and five. right If you had asked Reagan that four four or five years ago, he wouldn probably wouldn't have an answer. it's just take every game at a time. But as you get older, you can start to pinpoint things differently.
00:57:14
Speaker
In the schedule where you say, OK, if I play well here, we should get a result. This is a tough game. You think about last year's team of your opponent and if you were successful or not successful. Was it at home? Was it not at home? Was it in the summertime? Was it when the weather was nice? Like all these things flood into your brain as a player the last time you face that opponent. So I think guys will be saying right now when you have this big homestand is just win the first half.
00:57:39
Speaker
or keep it to zero right and i think that that'll be the most important thing i don't want the guys to go into a shell tonight most importantly i i think that's just ineffective for us and and i don't see that happening tonight i think with a three nothing lead the sounders have so an opportunity to to press and yeah to impose their game. If this was 1-1, 2-1 tighter, maybe you sit in a little bit and have that show, but I think tonight they have an opportunity to go out and play free, and I think that Schmitz has has echoed that as well. it It sounds like we have another eruption. Did they get another one?
00:58:12
Speaker
It's over. national wash Nashville Inter-Miami. Oh, my God. Wow. Inter-Miami has crashed out of Comic-Con. I said, love to see it. And that's the first comment I looked at. Love to see it. right you You love to see Inter-Miami crashing out. That is incredible. We have the same brainwaves. I am interested to know...
00:58:34
Speaker
Now I'm losing my question here. I've got to rebound that. I'm just thinking of, oh, here we go. The Sounders, it feels almost like they're immune to the CONCACAF-ness now. We were watching Sun and Boanga yesterday struggle in Costa Rica. I have never seen Sun have a crash out. He's a very, you know, settled player.
00:58:55
Speaker
he got up and started running around and screaming at other players and at the referee. It feels like because the Sounders have been there, done that, Brian has been there, done that, this team is so glued together. There are major roster turnovers. are you doing this while chewing gum?
00:59:08
Speaker
You want to buy No. youing gun That's incredible. i also go I also can't hear you at all. So I've just been lip reading. Oh, you don't have headphones. it's Yeah, it's fine. But yeah, are the sounders immune to CONCACAF? Well, but it's just so experienced in CONCACAF now. Son is so new to be. I mean, there's a reason why teams are CONCACAF, have been CONCACAFed.
00:59:29
Speaker
Whether it's referees or or or situation in the stands that happened. It could be anything, right? So I think this is Son's first a away trip coming off of a Saturday game and and not finding the success that he normally would.
00:59:42
Speaker
When you play teams from CONCACAF away from home, all all that everything goes out the window. You have to be so basic in your play to get the result because you have to imagine all those players you're playing against You as a sounder are living the dream.
00:59:57
Speaker
You're playing in Major League Soccer, living in America, getting paid now fucking a ton of money. And they are just fighting for a chance to be recognized, right? To maybe be looked at by a GM that's watching or a GM from another team to say, hey, that guy's got the spark. They are playing for their life and a way out.
01:00:14
Speaker
And so you're encountering a different beast. And even if he was involved in the Asian World Cup qualifying, I don't think it's the same. I don't think it's the same. I think it's there's something. And when I played with the World Cup team and U.S. Men's National team going down for World Cup qualifiers, the teams you beat at home three or four, nothing easily never happens away from home.
01:00:35
Speaker
It just never does. And there's a reason for that. It's hot. It's humid. The referees are bad. The fans, the food, the travel, whatever it may be, you throw it all out the window and you kind of have to just get back to basics and play the way that you were taught to and good things will happen. But Son was victim to being CONCACAF.
01:00:52
Speaker
Lionel Messi now crashing out of CONCACAF Champions Cup against Nashville SC. This is why is the greatest league in the world. You're never going to see anything like that. Yeah, but Nashville's really good. They are, Nashville's really good. Did you think that they had a decent chance in this series? Because, I mean, they are really good, and I love the Espinosa signing, but it's the best. I mean, I wished and prayed that the Sounders went after Espinosa and made it happen somehow. Me too. We were just saying that. He's incredible. I mean, he's one of my favorite players.
01:01:20
Speaker
If you're any striker in this league, that's the player you want serving you the ball. That's the point. I mean, it's it's incredible what he can do on the ball and on the pitch in his brain and how he's bought into every team he's been on, even a shitty San Jose team.
01:01:33
Speaker
He was bought in fully and loved by the fans and got results and assists and goals. um The prototypical player that I would love to sign. Right. That would have been my first go to. But. He's an incredible player and has made them even more dynamic.
01:01:46
Speaker
You had to ah compete against some of these big names that came over during your career. Teams taking on Thomas Mueller tonight. You know, he's one of the best players of the generation, one of the best German internationals at all time.
01:01:58
Speaker
What is what are those situations kind of like when you're playing a guy like, oh, like I watched him on TV growing up where he's considered such an elite player?
Facing Elite Players: Challenges and Strategies
01:02:07
Speaker
Is it is it hard to kind of differentiate between maybe whatever starstruck you might feel feel between on now like i have to compete against this guy and beat him? Yeah, i mean, David Beckham was probably the biggest biggest example of that. When I grew up watching Sky Sports, it was all basically Beckham highlights. He was in his heyday.
01:02:23
Speaker
And then to get to play against him on the pitch in L.A. in his own environment was something really special. But everything goes out the window when when the whistle blows. right He just becomes an enemy at that point. It's whatever I have to do to win the ball or throw him off his game.
01:02:38
Speaker
and And a player like that, you can't really throw them off their game. They've been through it so much. So in those situations, you just know you have to do everything right. Right. And a guy like that, you have to study. Yes. Beckham's all right footed. He's never going to play a pass with his left foot. So you favor one side over the other and hope that you get the result. In those days, it was Keane, Landon and him running the show.
01:02:58
Speaker
but yeah, you have to throw those things out of your mind. Otherwise, you can get wrapped up in in the hoopla that's around it. But those guys playing in L.A., Beckham was amazing. Robbie Keane, another guy that I grew up like, a hero of mine.
01:03:09
Speaker
um In L.A. it was different. they They played more free. But then when they came to Seattle, it was it was a different team. They got some results every once in a while. But I always felt it was a little bit different in Seattle. Like they were coming to our place to play. And you see that they're human at the end of the day.
01:03:23
Speaker
that Yes, they would get results, but they weren't lopsided like they were in L.A. um And so I think you you neutralize those things sometimes when when you when we had home games. Right. So I think, you know, if Miller plays tonight and I think a player like that is great because he's really enjoying his time playing here.
01:03:41
Speaker
And I think for him, this will this will be a great experience for him. I think this is something he's never really had before. um Maybe 2020. twenty Plus years ago when he was a youth player coming up, but playing in the Bundesliga, these opportunities don't come around that often.
01:03:56
Speaker
Maybe in the Polka Cup that they play there. Maybe some games away. But I doubt that he would play in away games there in small venues. So this is a cool opportunity for him. And i um I'm excited for the fans to see him as well.
01:04:08
Speaker
I've gotten the impression that he's really stoked by the novelty of these types of experiences. Yeah. And that's great. Not only does he not begrudge he's embracing it. Yeah, embracing it. Like, oh, I'm going to go play at a place where high school soccer's played with 5,000 people. That's the mentality. It's great. It's a good point because not every big star like him come comes over there and is is like that. i mean, can you imagine Blaise Kufour or Oba playing in the stadium?
01:04:30
Speaker
The attitude that would come out? There's just no way. No. Yeah. I think it's cool. You know, Brian talks a lot about his NASL days, playing exhibition games in Yakima and all of that stuff. And, like, when I talk to him, honestly, I hear those stories more than I hear just any other regular game. This is not just a regular game. This is big for the club. yeah This is big for...
01:04:52
Speaker
players in
Creating a Home Advantage in Spokane
01:04:53
Speaker
general. It's one you're going to remember. Yeah, it it'll be what like we said, it's once now since 2009 that we played a game here. Right. Starfire is amazing. It was great. Yeah. Maybe if we get a great result, maybe this becomes the new Starfire. Who knows? Right. We give homage and and credit to the to the east side bands and then it becomes a place that's tough to play for away teams.
01:05:11
Speaker
You can see it as a new home. Who knows? Brad, we're going to let you go on that. Thank you so much for joining the We really appreciate the time. Someone did give you a a super chat for $10 and said he needs a refill.
01:05:25
Speaker
Oh, thank you. let us know. The next one's on us. Brad, before you get out of here, words of encouragement. Cameron Miller, who grew up in Snohomish, plays for Velocity FC. He's likely to play tonight against VC Fusion in the Open Cup.
01:05:38
Speaker
His favorite player was Chad Marshall, but Brad Evans was in his, like, Short list of his favorite players growing up. Appreciate that. Words of encouragement for Cam Miller. Yeah, look, every opportunity is a chance to show. And you never know. look Looking back on the career now, you never know when your last game is going to be played.
01:05:56
Speaker
Right. And that that's the biggest mentality, I think. So you have to go out. No ball is is is too far to be hit out of bounds. You have to chase down everything. And you you just can't leave the field with any what ifs. That's the biggest thing. you can't You can't say what if after the game, if I would have gone up for that header, if I would have challenged, if I would challenged for the ball on the ground, if I would have just took that shot or organized or talked. right In games, we're all going to be okay the next day, no matter how much output we give. And so mentally, you have to give everything to the game and it'll give back to you.
01:06:29
Speaker
Appreciate it, man. Brad Evans, special guest joining the show. Thank you for the time, man. We really appreciate that. that was awesome. Should we get, we got Nico or J.O. back in here? Do you want to my non-sounders ass out of here so some other people can chat? It's fine. No, no, I mean. I can be the interlocutor who asks some questions.
01:06:49
Speaker
that That's also fine. I mean, it looks like we got a two-man panel right now. We're getting Noah back in here. I think we're probably going to wrap up yeah relatively soon anyway. if you were planning on about an hour, so Yeah. what ah What a great live show at Flat Stick, though. Shout out to Flat Stick for hosting us. This has been awesome. Shout out to everyone who... ah yeah youre s We're doing some panel adjustments right now.
01:07:16
Speaker
Benji Wade, Spokane Soccer Show. yeah Follow on Spokane Soccer Show Instagram, YouTube, wherever. Everyone, go follow them. them some love.
Spokane Soccer Show and Local Community
01:07:23
Speaker
give them some support. He's covering all things Spokane Soccer all the time.
01:07:27
Speaker
The best show doing it. And it looks like I'm a one man panel right now. can i get someone else Can I get someone else on the panel with me?
01:07:38
Speaker
I'm flying solo right now. Oh, we got Sammy the Sounder on the show. Wow. Fever dream show. Do you need a beer?
01:07:50
Speaker
are you
01:07:53
Speaker
sandy
01:07:56
Speaker
sounder you oh we got sammy the sounder on the show wow
01:08:03
Speaker
fever dream show you need a beer Yeah? Oh, sorry. I've been happy.
01:08:12
Speaker
It's fresh. Whoever, whoever. Go for it. Go for it. I'm good. I'm good. Cheers, Ashley. good i don't laugh i'm good
01:08:22
Speaker
heres ashley
01:08:26
Speaker
like a frat party here. I just got hand it handed to me. Somebody else could have already drank out at half the... I can attest to that it's fresh. It's fresh. It's from Jeremiah. Good. How are you? I'm going to go... Are we on a commercial break right now? No, we're live.
01:08:45
Speaker
We'll do a lot. Yeah. Yeah. Then you can hear us all. Hopefully. you need up or down, just let me know. yeah All right. Jeremiah, go
NWSL and Seattle Reign's Challenges
01:08:54
Speaker
for it. Yeah. So Leslie, Leslie Gallimore, the GM of the Seattle rain.
01:08:59
Speaker
How's it going out here? Good. I just walked by a big red wagon across the river through no snow. Right. It's like 60 degrees over here. It's beautiful. It's beautiful. Beautiful. I missed my time over visiting the Zags when I was at washington University of Washington, so it's been a little bit. Yeah. I'm excited to be back in eastern Washington. So did you come out? How often were you guys out here when you were at u though Probably every other year. We play them home and away every other year. So pretty consistently. And so how, i this is you guys are going to be kind of, this is going to your home for an extended period. A stint, starting next Wednesday. We're here for three-game sprint before the, you know, third, fourth, and fifth game of the season. And how has, you know, how's the reception been?
01:09:40
Speaker
um with Within the club? Well, both, i guess within the club, I would imagine there's maybe a little PTSD right now because if I heard that, well, we'll get into that. yeah But yeah, how has the reception been from the players, but also from the community?
01:09:55
Speaker
I think good. You know, our fans are anxious to see us at home at Lumen, of course. Yes. Our Seattle fans. But everyone is also really excited for the World Cup this summer. They get it, you know. And for us...
01:10:07
Speaker
What an opportunity to extend our fan base, get in front of players, ah you know, potential players, families, kids, soccer fans over here in Spokane because there's a lot of them. it's a You know, it used to be Eastern Western Washington rivalry back in the day when the youth soccer was divided in half.
01:10:24
Speaker
ah So it's it's just exciting for us to be able to bring the NWSL here into the USL stadium. And Spokane, Zephyr, and ah Velocity have been great leading up to the games. They've been really gracious.
01:10:36
Speaker
Well, I feel like I would be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to ask about this insane road trip that you guys just went through. Oh, my God. Where you were delayed going out.
01:10:47
Speaker
Five hours on the tarmac in Seattle for de-icing and the snowstorm that hit Friday morning. Correct. And then you got delayed at the game. Well, let's talk about the fact from Seattle to Orlando is a six-hour flight. So there's that.
01:10:59
Speaker
Six-seven flights. So when did you get in? How long before the game did guys get in? I don't want to falsely represent things. I was at the Seattle Sports Star Bank Friday night. I did not fly with the team on Friday.
01:11:09
Speaker
I was only delayed an hour and a half on my flight going out Saturday morning. But the team got in late, I think 10 p.m., 11 p.m. on. was like a 12-hour day for them on Friday.
01:11:20
Speaker
They trained on Saturday after sleeping in a little bit. And then i was there by the evening on Saturday. Everyone was in good spirits, ready for the the season opener. We are looking at the weather report. Started kicked off at 4 o'clock.
01:11:33
Speaker
Jess Fishlock, bless her heart, scored a goal. And we got into halftime before the lightning struck. So we went in with a 1-0 lead. It was about a two-hour delay. Second half started.
01:11:43
Speaker
We conceded a goal, Barbara Banda. And then our new signee, Brittany Ratcliffe, veteran player in the league, gets the game winner late in the 80th-something minute. And that saved the trip.
01:11:57
Speaker
Because you get three points, there's a lot of things that can be forgiven. And bless our players and our coaching staff and primarily our support staff and operational staff. We're just taking one thing at a time. We woke up at 4.45 Monday morning to a canceled Delta flight ah and with no flights to be had.
01:12:15
Speaker
Airspace in Venezuela had been closed. TSA wasn't being paid. Miami had a huge backup and there were lightning and weather delays from the storms that had hit the East Coast. It was a perfect storm of debacle.
01:12:27
Speaker
We found a charter. The charter pilots that were supposed to take us out on Monday night timed out trying to get out of Miami to Orlando. it was a scramble for a hotel. Pilots still had to wait till 1 p.m. on Tuesday to be able to fly.
01:12:41
Speaker
They left, ah ended up leaving around 2 p.m. yesterday, got home last night at 8.30. But there was another wrinkle. You couldn't fly direct from. oh no no. They had to stop to refuel in Kansas City. Oh, my gosh. So was ah it was a three-hour stop to refuel, three-hour segment for the players yesterday. You have driven back to Seattle in that amount of time. Yeah.
01:13:02
Speaker
I did not complain to the team about my one hour delay on Monday on monday night on monday night at 8 o'clock. i I did hit the pillow about 3 a.m. Eastern time Monday night, but that was nothing compared to what they'd been through at all. Whoever said being a pro professional soccer player is glamorous. like know Not so glamorous. We're we're working towards those ah every trip charters, but that's not quite happened yet. We're not there yet. We've got sell some more tickets to get to that point. Yeah. But, you know, i guess so this is all I believe this is also the anniversary of the rain Western New York flash game that was played in the outfield of the Rochester Rhinos Stadium. Oh, gosh. And at least we have progressed from there. wait We have evolved. There's many ways that we have all have evolved and our players are gritty.
01:13:45
Speaker
ah You know, there's no better way to build resilience than to have a few obstacles thrown your way. And for people like Jess Fishlock, players like Jess Fishlock that have been in this league for 14 years, she can look back and she knows there's been an evolution. um they Their expectations have risen. The standards have risen.
01:14:03
Speaker
But there is definitely one thing in this world none of us can control, and that's the weather. was going to say, shout out to Jess Fishlock for the goal, but also her documentation of this debacle. Yeah, that was one of greatest series to follow. That honestly incredible She seems...
01:14:19
Speaker
To be in as like good a spirits as you can be in that type of situation. And being a great leader and a great example for our other players. you know The culture is a great culture inside that locker room and exemplified by players like Jess and that Laura's leadership. they They manage. And again, our staff was doing everything they could along the way to make things right and make the next best choice.
01:14:40
Speaker
um I think Laura's content was pretty good too. Same clothes, different airplanes, different chair, different... We're in a different state, still not home. Somebody send a plane. They they had a good humor about it. They got out and trained today in Seattle.
01:14:53
Speaker
We'll train again tomorrow and head to Portland right after training to play there on Friday. And then ah it's it's Spokane for three-game stretch, and we're excited to be over here. what When are the games being played here?
01:15:06
Speaker
Great question. Next Wednesday. okay I think we go Wednesday, Saturday, Friday. if i If my recollection is good. Are they staying out here the whole time? Are they going to go going to stay for the two games in a row. Then we'll go back.
01:15:18
Speaker
ah The goal is to have our heads on home pillows and in our home you know people and their dogs and their lives. yeah yeah But we will stay from the Wednesday-Saturday game. We'll go back and then come back out for the last week. And then when do the Reign play their first game at Lumen on grass? I believe that's April 24th. Okay. Yeah, so it's after the FIFA break. Write it down. hope Yeah, write it down. limit Lumen at the end of April.
01:15:44
Speaker
And so there's got to be... this No one wants this trade-off exactly. We're not going to act like this is all gravy. But there is some upside, and that is getting to play home games on grass. That's got to be something. I think everyone's looking forward to that. Remember, we have the U.S. woman playing Japan at Lumen also. Worth it. I'm excited. On the
Future of Soccer: World Cup and Young Talents
01:16:07
Speaker
14th of April, I believe.
01:16:09
Speaker
Hopefully we have some people in that roster. Hopefully they get on the field, get our fans really excited to see them in rain jerseys right after that. So, you know, all the exciting things happening in soccer, and we just love the sport in general, is really shining this year. I mean, there's going to be a spotlight put on the game.
01:16:26
Speaker
And I said this before, like, One of the things about the 26 World Cup I'm most excited about for our state and for our city and for all the band zones that are going to be going on around the state are the non-soccer people that really understand how big the game is globally. I think there's going to be some eyes open to how much it means to people.
01:16:44
Speaker
So I got one more soccer question. I feel like I got to ask you made a big trade just very recently. Jordan Heidema. Tell us about that. What went into it? That's a it seems like a significant life. Yeah, it is significant. You know, Jordan has been an outstanding player, a human being in our club for four years. She's still very young. There's a World Cup year coming up.
01:17:05
Speaker
I think there there was mutual feelings around Jordan, maybe just feeling a little bit stuck and needing a change of scenery as professionals do. So we talked it out and obviously there were teams that wanted her and what we you know are looking for in the future. And it was in our league. It has to be you. to You know, we it and so we had Laura and I both had great discussions with Jordan around it.
01:17:28
Speaker
And to be honest, if if nothing could have happened when she wanted it to, she would have been fine. And we would have been fine having her stay. But Chicago came at us, and I think we made a good deal. And we ended up getting another young Canadian signee. You guys haven't seen Holly Ward yet. But you know we've we got another player that I think will do very, very well.
01:17:47
Speaker
And we wish Jordan nothing but the best. It'll be exciting to see how she does. That franchise ah had a big sale. They've had a lot of turnover in the club. They have a new coach this year. So i I hope Jordan tears it up.
01:18:00
Speaker
Who are some ah young players that you have coming up that you're looking forward to seeing that they can do going forward here and what kind of impact that you can be taking? In the team? Yeah. You know, i say this to a lot of people.
01:18:11
Speaker
We have Jeff Fishlock sitting at 39 and the average age of our team is 24. So if you took Jeffs out. Imagine what that does. We have a lot of young players. So we've signed 17, almost 18 year old Evan Osteen, who's the U19 national team.
01:18:25
Speaker
You know, we're going to give her a developmental period at some point, maybe send her on loan, but she's going to be the future. um Obviously Jordan bug, little bit of a knock with a hamstring in the last FIFA window, but Jordan is arguably the best young center back in the country right now. And we are so fortunate to have her. She's got a big, big,
01:18:44
Speaker
future ahead of her. Maddie Dahlin, Emery Adamas, Ainsley McCammon, ah to name a few, are our young players. Mia Fischl has been in Mexico and at Chelsea for first time in the US playing. She's young. She's 23, I think, or 24. So we've got some one players that I think are really going to be the next big building blocks and and chunk of our team that leave a legacy.
01:19:09
Speaker
I'm interested to know how the league has changed a lot because it seems now, you know, it used to be the the college pathway was the pathway. And now you're signing players out of high school, correct? Correct.
01:19:22
Speaker
How has that changed in the last five years? 10-1 years. Yeah, it's it's been wild. It takes fun, right? I mean, Lindsay Horan was the original that skipped high school and went straight to Lyon and didn't go to college at UNC.
01:19:34
Speaker
um Some of these players are signing before even finishing high school. And it's it's just interesting. i think if you look at the men's game and see how it evolved up to this point, and if you look at the women's league, we're we're kind of following suit in some ways. um Jamie
Conclusion and Audience Appreciation
01:19:50
Speaker
Clark, good friend at the University of Washington. I had the pleasure of working with him. for several years.
01:19:55
Speaker
He and I both talked about this all the time is four years of college might be perfect for some guys that end up going on to be professional. Two years might be the the pathway that they have.
01:20:06
Speaker
And there's some that skipping college and making it a pro now is is right for them. They all play a part in it. I would never tell somebody to skip college because i think it's tremendous in some. That's the best pathway for them. But there are some young players out there right now that are proving that they're ready.
01:20:23
Speaker
Sweet. Well, I think you are getting pulled. I think you're being summoned for more responsibilities. Thanks, guys. Thanks so much for joining the show. Thank you so much. Go rain. Go sounders. Go rain. Let's see your rain tickets. Seattle rain GM just joining the show. We had Brad Evans right before that. So Star Stutz cast at the live show at Flastic. I think we're, i mean, are we ready to wrap here? Yeah, yeah.
01:20:45
Speaker
Yeah, we're to call it and right there. We've been going for an hour and 20 in plastic. So yeah it's almost about time to head over to One Spokane Stadium for this match. Thank you all so much for tuning in.
01:20:57
Speaker
Shout out to the tech. Thank you to everyone in the live audience here that ah showed up to watch and show some support. We love you guys. and Game up next. We will see you guys for our show after the game.
01:21:10
Speaker
Love you all. Peace. Bye.