Inside Soccer
Inside Soccer
Episode 3 - Cobi Jones, Hall of Fame Player
Cobi Jones joins Inside Soccer to discuss his journey to greatness, his experiences at MLS and USMNT levels, MLS and Mexican Soccer, youth development and much more. Incredible conversation full of great thoughts by a great person and great player.
Hello and welcome back. You're listening to another incredible episode of Inside soccer when your host bill Peterson inside soccer brings you a soccer fan expert analysis and opinion on the critical issues facing the game today. also bringing guests that have incredible stories and historical perspectives on the game, with soccer experience spanning 20 Rolodexes open to bring you the voices and opinions you want. Sit back at wherever you are in the world. enjoy today's episode.
Unknown Speaker :I want to welcome the listeners to inside soccer. We've got fans from around the globe already. That's right. We've got people listening from some far flung places, and we're only into Episode Three. We're here to bring you the soccer fan insights and experiences from some of the best in the world. This is Episode Three. You've already heard from Kevin Payne about key management issues. Media Rue is khalasar and today we're honored to have one of the best one of the greatest one of the builders of the sport. cobi Jones who's been on the frontlines of soccer for many years, and one of the first real stars of the game in his country. He has an incredible following. He has been active in so many different areas, whether as a player or a coach or an ambassador to the sport, and we'll touch over a lot of different issues with Coby over the next 30 minutes. goby. I can hear the crowd cheering Welcome to Inside soccer. You know, one of the things that has always struck me about you and someone else mentioned it just the other day. I said, You know, I think we're gonna have Coby on Tuesday and he said, Man, that guy just oozes class. And I said, That's exactly why we have him as our first player on inside soccer. You've always approached the game with a lot of respect and your opponents with a lot of class and I had the fortune of working off the field in around you and You're a person we can always go to, with questions. And we always knew you would come to us with fair questions yourself representing the team or the players or yourself in times when things needed to be addressed. So I appreciate you getting up early this morning on the west coast and joining us and we're going to have some fun with this. So let's go ahead and dive right into it. Let's start off with the basics. I mean, how and why did you get into soccer?
Unknown Speaker :The God's honest truth of why I got into it and
Unknown Speaker :and why stuck with it, you know, more importantly is because I was good at it, you know, but it really came comes down to it in the 70s. I was, you know, part of that first big boom in the United States of a lie so soccer and everyone plays and, you know, you know, kids in the suburbs and everyone pushing their kids into something, you know, and soccer was it for me for my parents and I think that was just because they wanted me to you know, burn off some Because I was a pretty active child of the youngest of four boys, so they just needed to get out some of the kids out of the house. So for me, it was I would go out there and play. And you know, as most parents find, nowadays, when a kid likes something and is good at something, they tend to even like it more, you know, so for me, I was a little bit faster than most of the kids at the time. And so I got more time on the ball, and I would go out and kick the ball around and love not doing it. And because I liked doing it, you know, my parents decided, you know what, let's, let's see where this goes. Let's just kind of keep them in this game. Because you know, it's something that he's enjoying, which is making him like it and he's getting better at it because he's paying attention to it. And, and it's also tiring about at the end of the day,
Unknown Speaker :and coming What role did your parents play and you're deciding to play soccer to continue because I can imagine even back in the day it was, it took a heck of a commitment to do that.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, my parents were an integral part in my success, and it's fine. It's one of those things that you appreciate more when you're an adult, and have your own kids as I do a two little boys and I look back at what my parents went through on all the weekends, and driving to different tournaments have given me with a different training sessions and how difficult that is just coordinating with other parents and being picked up and going to training and day in and day out. You know, you're a little kid, you know, the world centers around you, you know, you don't even think about it, but the commitment they gave of weekends away from home, we get away from, you know, my other brothers that were a bit older than me. It's a commitment, you know, that the parents have to be willing to take and I give my mom and my dad, you know, all the credit all the credit because there would have been no, no tournament's down in the San Diego area. No Pikes Peak tournament in Colorado does No, just regular games up in Bakersfield two hours away. You know, that's that's a lot for anyone that's listening out there you you know that okay, you're gonna drive you know to a game that's two hours away then sit through the game for a couple of hours then drive all the way back or possibly stay up there because it's a tournament we get two to three games in a day. It's a different world where not only is the child's worlds in around it, but the parents on the weekends have to give up everything that they have planned and are doing so that they can you know, further you know, the the entertainment enjoy their children.
Unknown Speaker :Now you're right, and you know, I'm going through it I have two daughters. One is older now and in college, but she was a tennis player. So we did that same exact sort of routine was her and my younger daughter still playing soccer at a pretty good club and they travel, you know, up to 300 miles any direction on any given weekend. And you know, it's a joy to do it. I'm not complaining whatsoever. Yeah, but Man, it's hard and it's hard on them. It's hard on. It's hard on the family and, you know, it's, it's a real commitment. But
Unknown Speaker :yeah, I have to give credit to my parents. I'm the one the one thing I look, I think back with my parents, and I'm the youngest of four boys. And, and as far as this conversation goes, I'm thankful that I was six years apart from my next oldest brother. So there's a little bit of a distinction there when I got older and went to these tournaments. I think that my parents, it was never just, my mom would go or just my dad would go or no one would go both parents, they both went to all my games. They went to all those tournaments, you know, over the years now, it's a little different when you know, I'm 10 and you know that my brother is 16 he could be on his own you know, so there's that issue but for them to dedicate, you know, I give them you know, all the credit in the world.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, Greg commitment but again, it, put it, put it, put your wheels in motion, and put your career in motion and, you know, it's always great to hear when somebody finds something they love to do and then and then they're successful at it. And obviously, you've had a lot of success. You've played division one college level you've played in England, you've played in Brazil, you've played the United States, for both the national team and the galaxy. Let me ask you a question from a player perspective. And it doesn't have to be one right answer. So I'm not trying to put you on the spot. But But who's been your favorite coach to play for? And why
Unknown Speaker :are you talking about the club level you're talking about? You know,
Unknown Speaker :you answer you answered how you see fit. I mean, you know, I mean, you answered any way you want.
Unknown Speaker :You know, I'll go with the pro level. You know, there's two that stand out for me for different reasons. And different ways. You know, there there's, I look at my experience with Vicki Smith. You know, that and my time with him over the years where it was. It was a complicated relationship as you could say, because I went from playing for him as a college player at UCLA and then going off on my own started my professional career. And then he came in as a galaxy head coach as a, as a, as a professional player dealing with someone that I still think kind of looked at you in a way of being Oh, that college game that came in that little contention guy there, you know, sometimes, but what I always appreciated about Ziggy was his tactical ability, his way his ability to read a game dedicate himself to the game and to pick out the flaws and the the strategy that we were going to use, you know, so he was the best in that as far as the personable and understanding of players at the professional level. I always got to go with Bruce arena. I think he has a very good understanding of what the players are. He knows how to motivate players. He knows how to talk and do it places. To get the most out of not just the starting 11 but the 18 the full team and an example that I always give is that army during the World Cups when every player is a top player at once and and rightfully so thinks that they should be starting on the field you know and playing in every game, he was always able to get the 11 starters hyped and ready to go and prepare get the the seven or eight that were on the bench. Actually cheering for the players that were in their positions to do their best and and now most people will be like, well, that's how it's supposed to be. Well trust me as a professional athlete. It doesn't always work like that. Because you're, if the player in front of you is always doing well, you're never going to get on the field. So there's always that hope of Yes, the team does does well but you want to get your shot. That's what it comes down to. But Bruce arena was able to get it where all 18 players were on the same page, thinking the same cheering for every every player on the field. So I gave him a lot of credit through the years that he was able to do that and develop through his college and professional life a way to understand the the American player.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, I agree with you. I mean, a great tactician, obviously. But at that level, you become a master of the roster, if you will, and in dealing with a lot of issues that have nothing to do with where the ball might be or not be. And he's proven himself over and over again, Ziggy was, Ziggy was always a favorite of mine in and around LA, and he was pretty consistent. He always wanted something from us, and wasn't afraid to ask and literally the last time I saw him, was a few months before he passed and had not seen him in probably two or three years. And we stopped and started talking and within two minutes, he was acting like I still work there and asking me for some stuff. Do you know do you think we could get I'm just I'm just here visiting some people, because I know but you know, everybody you know, you've been here before and I'm just wondering, maybe, you know, you could talk to them. I can't talk to anybody.
Unknown Speaker :I think that's the great thing about Ziggy. Right? He was never afraid. He would do by the philosophy. If you don't ask, you're not gonna get Yeah, he's very willing to ask for anything and everything. But he was also willing to give to when people would ask him and I thought that was great. One of the great things about him was something that you mentioned, how he, you saw him just a few months before he passed. The same with me, I actually had a meeting with him down in Manhattan Beach down at the Starbucks and might have been like a month before that he a month or two before he passed away, and we had a great conversation. Just talking about soccer and the good old days, of course, you know, all that stuff. So I'll always remember those moments. You know, and especially that moment, being able to just sit down just me and have one on one, and kind of air, all our dirty laundry, all the things and the issues that we had in the past. But also just able to move forward and just talk about a lot of different things. And he was in a tough spot I
Unknown Speaker :always felt, you know, I mean, coming just basically down the road from UCLA to the galaxy. There was still this perception. I think that he was in college and or people knew him in the soccer community from his college experience and the shake that was hard. I don't know. I mean, it was just it sort of follow him around I thought until he went to Seattle and then you know, there it was different deal, but a good man good coach was very passionate about it. And look, as you know, you lived it. Those weren't early days. I mean, it wasn't all the skids weren't all greased. And there were times where you had to do some things you just shook your head and go, there's no other choice here. Again, you know, this is what we're going to do today. So, you know, give you all a ton of credit. So we ask about your favorite coach. Now let's get serious who's who's the biggest competitor you personally ever played against? Sorry, what was that you cut out? The player that you felt was the biggest competitor that you ever that you played against personally?
Unknown Speaker :Ah, man.
Unknown Speaker :That's see there's quite a few but I always go like with the, like some of the top players that I played against if I remember one of the tournaments that we played down in Mexico, you know, we were Brazil was in the tournament and for me, just seeing the skills and abilities of Ronaldinho in his heyday. You know, that was someone that I saw non stop the the abilities were exceptional. You know, he stood out I think at the time he was like 19 or 20. And I was amazed and we were playing against them. We're playing against them, but you still couldn't help just be like, you know, why isn't some Take the ball from him, you know? But, I mean, he was so strong and his ability and technique just kind of, you know, left me mind boggled a little bit after the fact that I look back on it, you know Ronaldinho, I mean, and now and after that point, you know, going forward, it kind of makes sense, right? It's just like, of course, he was that good. But then there was this young kid, you know, on the team, and it was, it was it was something to watch.
Unknown Speaker :You might still be that good.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, probably you notice all these charity matches that he still plays, and he's still showing all of the skills. Now one of the players that stood out for me that I played it against consistently, that it was a battle one on one, knock down, drag out, tit for tat, over the years during, you know, the heydays of the 90s and early 2000s, or whatever would have been Ramon Ramirez, the left back from Mexico, it was it was a track meet, you know, between the two of us, it was battle. And I always and I know everybody says that but if you look at some of the games that I played against him, it was almost like the tactical decision of the two coaches, be it Steve Samson who I average Rena, or push me It was later but Steve Sampson are born no tone of itch that they left us and the Mexican coach, whoever it was. They left us alone. It was like okay, Kobe, you're gonna take the right side, remote, you got the left side. Have at it. I can't tell you how many times that we went back and forth to each other and there'd be no one else around and sometimes you're wondering, where's the support? Where's the help? Is anyone gonna help out here? You know, it was this. It was something where I think we had a grudging respect for each other because I definitely had grudging respect for him over the years because I knew it was going to be difficult and and a tiring process, I guess over the next 90 minutes, you know, facing up against him.
Unknown Speaker :That's nerve racking. I mean, once you see it pop up on the schedule, you start thinking about those types of things. And you're like, yeah, I can't let myself down. This guy is going to show up to play ball. And, you know, at the end of the night, we're both going to be exhausted, do you get a chance to see him at all now that your playing days have ended?
Unknown Speaker :I have not. That's the funny thing. And look, I do quite a bit with Mexico and with a lot of different national team players over the years, and I have to say, I'm sorry to say I haven't been able to keep up with where he's at now and what he's doing so I'm a little lost there. If anybody knows, you know, please let me know love this. Love to hear about it. And that's a funny thing, right? We could be enemies on the field, battle it out, maybe not even like each other that you know, through the years, but when it's all said and done, and once you're out of the game, as far as being on the field day in and day out. There's that there's that respect, because you know, that you've kind of gone through the same type of battle the same type of life. So now, you know, I would love to see what all those players are doing from, you know, from the history and what they're doing nowadays.
Unknown Speaker :That's a great point. I think the more you play, the higher the level that you play any sport really the more appreciation once it's over you have for not only what you accomplished, but what others accomplished and what they tried to do competing against you. And you know, it takes some time I think to develop that appreciation and then it takes some time for it to come back once you've stopped but you know, it's it's special and it's something you'll carry with the rest of your life and you know, the rest of us we're we're lucky enough to watch some of it so that's cool. Let me ask you another question. Where was the what is the best environment cobi Jones ever played in? Which one did you go wow, this is unbelievable.
Unknown Speaker :Oh, come on. I played in so many of those.
Unknown Speaker :I'm a little bit odd, I always liked it, you know, playing in the opponent's stadium where, you know, you know, people are kind of screaming at you. So I've had quite a few of those over the years. You know, I think I think, you know, that Stanford stadium World Cup in, you know, 94 walking out, you know, for that game against Brazil, just seeing all the positive on the Americans, you know, supporting us, you know, 9010 American fans, I thought that was my first like, really like, Well, you know, this is absolutely amazing. But outside of the US, there's quite a few, you know, you got as at the stadium, which is something else, you know, when you're going there and playing at altitude against Mexico and just the old school Azteca stadium before the renovations were, the people were just packed in, you know, beyond the beyond belief and just the natural buzz that was always going on. I loved also Uh, something that a little bit out of the ordinary I'd say would be like when I went to Saudi Arabia, you know, that was something else where you have the cultural differences kind of affected me where you go to the stadium and everyone was in the the white. I don't even know what it is the white robe or like top of the headdress, whatever, I don't know the name of it, what it's called, but everybody wearing that all male. So you walk out and I was just like, wow, this is this is different. It's impressive. The stadium was like state of the art or at least to me at that time, it looks to me the art and it was kind of overwhelming, you know, for him to see all that so those are a few of the ones that stand out for me that I just I look back and just go That was an experience of in and of itself. I wish I had you know, the the cameras, the iPhones and stuff now so I could have taken pictures out on the field, unfortunately. Yeah, a little bit before that time right field. A lot of that has been lost, you know, over the years.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, no, that is exactly right. And it's too bad. You know, my first professional soccer game that I ever watched in person was camp new. And it's a long story. I won't tell it. We snuck in actually, because we were just visiting Barcelona, LA. Yeah, we're visiting Barcelona for a weekend there were three of us three guys. And we're like, hey, there's a big soccer game going on. I was working for the NFL at the time. I knew very little about soccer, which some would still argue I still don't and, and we said, okay, let's go and we get down and we're like shit, we don't even have tickets or we don't have anything. I'm like, come on, follow me. And we we sort of walked into back through the loading docks and stuff acted like we'd been there before and didn't say anything to anybody because we couldn't speak Spanish. And the next thing you know, we popped out, we're on the second level, and there's probably 60 65,000, which is far from being full. But, you know, the smoke bombs and the stuffs going off and everybody's chanting and we're like, Who's the home team? You know? I mean, we're not sure do that. Home Team is but let's just sit down keep our mouth shut. So it started there and I was in awe I was at all the passion night 10 years in Europe, we had a chance to spend a lot of time with professional soccer players whether it's an Amsterdam or London or wherever it may be. It was interesting our NFL guys would always find the soccer guys and hang out with each other we do a lot of promotions with them stuff like that. You know, and kroy would do stuff for us his brother in law kick for us. Louis even gone Amsterdam and I did a bunch of things I went to St. Louis like me, but we did a lot of things together. And and and, and so they I got to see a lot of matches and a lot of tense stuff. And not all of it always pretty, of course, is real, real passion. But you know, there's real passion western Pennsylvania for football as well. And I've seen some things there that, you know, people wouldn't be proud of either back in the 70s, but going into Azteca The first time I was there, we were fortunate enough to be walked out on the field. About 10 minutes before Mexico vs. USA I think it may have been a World Cup qualifier place was sold out. And I've never felt so uneasy in my life. Like, what are we doing here? And how are these guys gonna play in this atmosphere and it was incredible and the team was the US team was just, you know, focused and you know, they'd been there before. And the grit and determination of planning out environment to me is always stuck out as being pretty, pretty darn special. I mean, that to be able to play and not be distracted in that environment and to do well is is really something to take away. It's really incredible.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, that's it. It was a battle, you know, all the time. And, you know, I speak it out as tech, as you were talking about that the qualifiers I still think about It's the day of the many times that I played there I think about those times when you walk up those steps and you get into the stadium and you're there for warm up so you're like, not even warm up but just, you know, feel the field see what it's like you're there like an hour and a half, you know, after two hours before the game and just looking around and there was already like 40,000 in that buzz that constantly. Yeah. is going on. We're just like, what is I remember one of those games looking up and seeing the effigies that were there being hung from the sides of the stadium at the top levels were yet the player with the American jersey on you know, you had places where the flag was being burned and all they say hey, look it and I'm not talking about that this is all about competition, right and then trying to kind of psych out the American players you know, that was there. That's what it was all about, you know. And the whistling you know, that the the chanting that goes on During the matches that you know, you can't possibly not hearing, even when you're on the field in that stadium because it's just so loud and oppressive, you're at a mile. I'm sorry that that altitude is so high that it makes it difficult to even walk up the steps. You know, a lot of the times the games will be in the middle after the noon where, like the heat and the smog is just so difficult to play in. It was a overbearing and oppressive and oppressive Stadium, impressive too, but oppressive Stadium, you know, at that time in those years before all the new construction and even to this day, I still think it's difficult to play. You mentioned the camp new, I want to go back to real quick, do my soccer career over you know, 30 years so you know, 20 some odd years, almost 30 years professional and playing and being involved in the sport for years playing again. I've never been to the camp knew until last year, so 2019 I finally made it
Unknown Speaker :kind of like a Cathedral to the game I was there for the damper. You know I got to see Barcelona play Arsenal so that was something special to actually for me to actually go and finally see you know the camp new and I was very impressed you know with that stadium and everything it entails and just the fan base you know about a rabid fan base when you walk out and just hear the fans cheering and singing. That's what got me and my kids, you know go we're able to be there and some of our friends that goes here and just the singing of the fans it kind of overwhelming. It's a it's an IT is overwhelming. And you know for me years later thinking about all the great players that have played there and all the great matches and all the passion that is that every match there that is really a spectacular place. But coming back to Mexico as we sit here and talk about it, I don't know and we don't have to debate is I don't know if there's a tougher sporting event in the world. Then the US National men's men's national team going into as tech for a World Cup qualifier, I'm just not sure it exists. And look, those fans are great. I worked with that Federation, those fans appreciate what's happened in this country and the development of the game in this country. But they sure as heck don't want to lose to us. And they're gonna do everything he can to will that team to victory, which is again, as you said, it's it's, it's, it's oppressive. But boy, I can't think of anything that's tougher from a player standpoint.
Unknown Speaker :No, I, I can't either. You know, when it comes down to it, there's something to be said about going to as tech a stadium in that environment. And then especially when you are the US when you are the the natural rival. You are the main rival where it's back and forth throughout the last decades of who's the top of unconquered cap. There's no more difficult spot, I think four and a American player to play in because it is oppressive. You know, when you're there, it's difficult. As far as just the environment, and there's just a certain energy as soon as you land in the country for the day or so, beforehand prepping for that game, you can feel it. The fans make sure you feel it because it's a it's a game that means so much. And the fans are, are ready to take that part because the intimidation factor doesn't start right when you get into the stadium. It starts the night before they know where your hotel is that they're driving by your hotel in the middle of the night. They're honking the horn trying to keep you awake. I've had it multiple times where conveniently the night before the game the fire alarm has been has gone off at the hotel and I'm back where everyone has to get out at like 230 in the morning, you know in the middle of your sleep cycle and you have to go outside and wait outside for like 3040 minutes before you can go back in. You know, it's all all that gamesmanship. That's at another level whenever it's US Mexico qualifier in Mexico. That's fantastic stuff.
Unknown Speaker :Let's let's move forward a little bit. What are your thoughts on these rumors? Maybe they're more than rumors of sort of a merger between MLS and and the Mexican top division now they've eliminated promotion relegation, I guess that puts them in a position to do something.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, I could I could I could see where that goes. Like you said yeah, I think it's like promotion relegation in Liga MX isn't isn't gonna happen for like six years or something like that. Right. But they put out there I think it's the opportunity to test certain things. As far as from legal Mexico's side I'm sure MLS since they don't have it, promotion, relegation are gonna kind of go and maybe think about testing. I'm not sure I. Well, I know I don't like the idea of the two top leagues merging because I think there needs to be just the separate the idea of two separate To separate nations having their own clubs and and basically leagues to kind of develop the players in their own way. I like the separateness and how players are going to be developed in the style that players will have throughout the different leagues. But I do like the idea if there is some type of higher up merging, if there's some type of bigger tournament if it is like a, like how you have in Europe, where do you have the Champions League? I know there's a conquer cap Champions League and we could make something some type of tournament that's a little bit more organized, intact, has more meaning to it, between Mexico and the US. I think I think that's great, because I would love to see the top teams in the US competing with the top teams, you know, in Mexico, because rewinding a bit I think about this. You have all the teams that are on the backs and you have all the teams that are in MLS, how are you going to merge? You know, all those different teams and and who's going to say which teams go to this new league? And what happens to the rest? Are they kind of left behind? You know, there's a lot of questions that and that they're going to be asking, you're going to have to have a lot of answers. It tends to be very delicate. And for all these teams that have pain, and owners that have paid hundreds of millions to get their team into MLS and the different, you know, situations in Mexico, I don't think those owners are going to be happy if all the sudden they're not involved in the top league that they expected their team to be in anymore.
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, no, I agree with you. 100% I'm in your camp. I can remember back in. Oh, 203 talking to Don Garber and I was working with the Mexican Federation a little bit I said, you know, and Lamar Han was on the board of governors for KC in Dallas, and he had been on my board at the NFL has always been given credit for coining the term Super Bowl. And I looked at Don and I said, you know, if you want to real global Super Bowl, the MLS champion will play the Mexican champion, and it'll be lights out. And I think at the time, it may have just been a little bit early in their minds, I don't but in their minds, they thought is a little bit early. Nobody wants to, to be embarrassed or lose, which I don't think would have happened. But you know, now's the time, I think where even if it was a tournament, I mean, let's let's rewrite the books here. Is there a football tournament between the two nations and the top clubs that really mean something? And that does go to this sort of continental championship not to steal wrestling term, but you know. Anyway, yeah. Something to think about. I was just curious what your thoughts were, I know you've had a lot of contact and a lot of experience down there. Let me move to another semi related topic, and this is a sort of quick fire near a little bit, but what are your thoughts on The young Americans migrating to Europe right now.
Unknown Speaker :I think it's great. It's been happening for decades, people for probably forget about this, you know, we tend to do that, but the top players that can go, you know, should go there and the competition's going to be at another level. And if you're a young player, and has the opportunity to test yourself at the highest levels there are in the most noted teams, then you should go for it. I think. I think it's a great opportunity. I think, I think it would be the wrong way to look at it or difficult for a player when they get older to think that I didn't even try, you know, and right now, regardless, any way you want to look at it, the top leagues in the world are in your, you know, so if you want to have a shot and you know, have a shot of being and playing with the best, then you go for it. I think it's important. I think it gives more status. To the American player, and thus more people will start looking at the American player as you get more and more success.
Unknown Speaker :Excellent. And last question before we move to the big finish.
Unknown Speaker :I ripped off that term as well. But
Unknown Speaker :thoughts on youth development today, I mean, biggest challenges in this country as far as youth development are concerned?
Unknown Speaker :I think for youth development, the biggest challenges are going to be you know, were they talking about the pay to play system? You know, I think that's probably the biggest issue right now because it's, it's difficult. I look at like my background and and my youth and and how soccer was then it was, it costs money to play, but it didn't cost a whole lot. It's pretty much just, you know, getting the boots and you're paying for a tournament here and there. You know, and now it's so much more at when I hear the costs for a kid to play the game. You're you're pushing out so many kids from participating because if it cost me thousands of dollars to play soccer back in the day, I tell you right now I would have been playing my parents would have been like, yeah, that's not gonna happen. So there needs to be, you know, I know times have changed and it costs more money and stuff. But there needs to be a way for a lot of these young players to have the opportunity to play now, maybe it's not. Maybe it's not on those top teams that travel at the big tournaments, but then you are having a situation where you could potentially be missing out on a lot of talent if they're not able to showcase themselves at some of these big tournament. So there's got to be a combination of figuring out how to get players that can't afford, you know, the to be on these traveling teams where they could be seen all over the place, and how also the scouts are able to go into places into these underserved or less fortunate communities, whatever you want to call and look and have have time to see some of these Players over and over again giving them a chance, you know, to become, you know, better players and move forward in the game.
Unknown Speaker :I think you're exactly right. Look, you know, it's it's expensive. I hate to even think how much I spend with just one child. And I see some of these families out there with two or three playing. And, you know, the costs are incredible. I don't know what happened to high school soccer, it sort of got passed by somehow. But you know, there would have been an entry point for people to come in and play without the added cost. But, but I agree, I think it's the key to the game. We asked it on an earlier episode, you know, what's happening to fill the funnel at the bottom, and I don't mean to just, you know, treat players like a number, but we need more players coming into the game. And the way to do that is to have great coaching and have it be affordable to them. And then on the top and my other issue is, you know, how do you really sift through them? I I think it's a challenge. It hasn't been addressed with enough resources and I don't think it's a challenge as has been addressed. With enough clarity you know let's realize we're a country of over 350 million people the landmass is is just incredible you know how do you really scout players how do you how do you develop talent you know it's it's it's it's gonna have to be done a little bit differently than it is or you end up losing players because they've been you know, they haven't been seen or they haven't been able to move up and then they go and you know, had a kid here that I know that was a top striker for his team and all of a sudden a coach brought in somebody from another neighborhood and he goes, I'm a four handicap golfer, how am I here? You know, and the sport lost his incredible striker just because he didn't want to play second fiddle now. That opens up another whole can of worms as well. So anyway, I we could bring in a lot of therapists and psychologists to think about this. I don't want to do that today. But I do want to wrap up for our fans here on inside soccer with a great company. Jones Koby, any, any, any great stories or Tales from the past that you could share with our listeners?
Unknown Speaker :There's a whole lot that I can't
Unknown Speaker :you know, you knew that was?
Unknown Speaker :Yeah, I didn't ask. I didn't ask it that way. I'll let you go.
Unknown Speaker :Now I would, I would put it from kind of touching on what you said when you talk about high school and just a little bit on my philosophy here. I always think that there's more than one way to to get to where you want to be. There's more than one path and they always say there's more than one way to skin a cat, right? I don't think that's culturally appropriate anymore say that it is more more than one way to success. And I look back and one of the stories that comes from me is like when I was playing in high school, and I was just starting out there there's this process where you go like, okay, who's going to be all ci F and all this stuff and one of the coaches apparently one of the teams When it came to vote for me, would I be on all ci app was had an argument that to him, I was the worst player that he had ever seen. Okay, so
Unknown Speaker :and I got one too that my coach, let me know.
Unknown Speaker :And that was one of the reasons why I didn't make it. And I think it's important for young kids to realize that your situation of wherever you're at, it's all centered around the one person that's making the decision, be that the coach, you know, the head coach or his assistants or whatever, you may still be a quality player, a top player, but you just need a different place to be. You know, you're just dealing with that one opinion. Don't let that one opinion. You know, determine your outlook on your future. Get out of the situation, if it's not good for you because a coach that thinks that you're not great if you go right down the street, that other Coach may say you are perfect for what I need, and you may be able to thrive in that situation. So for me, for my situation where he said it wasn't the best player or as the worst player that he ever seen, that was part of my motivation that continued to push my team and get to where I am now. So do not take one person's opinion at hand because that's all it is. It's just one person's opinion.
Unknown Speaker :That's a lesson for life goby. We're blessed to have you on here inside soccer. Episode Three, the Greg, Coby Jones has been with us. I said, 30 minutes I've yet to make it. But But I do appreciate your time getting up early on the west coast and sharing with us. And hopefully sometime in the future, we can get you back on here and dive into some of these other issues even more. So. Thank you. Thank you so much, and continued success with everything you're doing.
Unknown Speaker :Thanks for having me. Boy, I appreciate it.
Unknown Speaker :Make sure you join us Thursday, as we talk about one of the sports biggest issues gambling They'll have some experts here to talk about what that means today in the United States what the technology looks like today and in the future, and what it means to use a fan. To be able to or not to gamble on your favorite professional soccer teams.