Run Kick Heartbreak

Recorded July 6th, 2026

Getting eliminated is one thing. Getting eliminated after you finally start caring is another. We’re fresh off watching the United States crash out of the World Cup, and we talk through the whiplash of going from “I’m not a soccer fan” to glued to the screen, arguing about cards, coaching, effort, and how a match can feel over even when the score says it isn’t. If you’ve ever surprised yourself by riding for the stars and stripes in a sport you barely follow, you’ll recognize the feeling.

From there, we zoom out to the bigger USMNT and soccer in America conversation: what the historical finishes say, why accessibility matters for building fans, and what has to change for the US to climb into the top tier of global soccer. We hit the uncomfortable parts too, like development paths, money incentives in youth sports, and why so many top players end up needing Europe to reach their ceiling.

Then we do what we do best: argue sports legacy with our whole chest. Is LeBron James a top 10 Laker if you judge only his Lakers tenure, not his full career? We run the list, compare eras, bring in the rings debate, and even use a simple filter that sparks instant disagreement: would the Lakers actually build the statue?

We also mix in golf talk (Rickie Fowler drama, big putts, big rounds, and a feel good PGA Tour win), plus a little MLB All Star energy to close. If you laughed, got mad, or nodded along, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave us a review. What’s your top 10 Lakers list and what did you see in that US match?

#baldguysonthebench #graboneandcrackone #worldcup

Transcript

US World Cup Elimination Reaction

Graham 0:00

Welcome to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench podcast with your hosts Graham Cohen and Scott Wasco.

Scott 0:14

What's up, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of The Bald Guys on the Bench. Uh this coming after we just watched the United States get eliminated from the World Cup. And not only that, but your boy probably the most to quote Ryan running kick games I've ever watched in my life. Ever, dude. Ever. Hey, I was excited about it. It was fun. I mean, I don't even know what to say. Graham, what's up? You know what we do. Get it going. I mean, before we even get into it. I know you're I'm depressed. I can't believe I'm depressed after watching run kick. And the reason I call it run kick, for those that don't know, my old assistant in Greenbrier's from England. And he calls football throw catch. So I call soccer run kick.

Graham 1:08

So I I'm almost at a loss of words, but hey, Scott, like we always do, let's grab one and crack one. Let's do it. Hey. I mean I don't know, dude. We got smoked. We got smoked. I'm looking at our text thread you and I have. And before the game started, I texted you. I'm so 8-0s pumped for this game with an American flag. After five minutes, I'm like, w what what? What? Who?

Scott 1:46

What what like what hey? Like I said the other night at our text thread with our fantasy league. I'm not a soccer fan. I said it on the podcast last week. But if you're wearing the stars and stripes, I'm gonna pull for you.

Graham 2:03

Facts.

Scott 2:03

And get excited about it. Do I know all the rules? No. I'm texting Ryan about the red card last, you know, the controversial one. I don't know. I'm like, is that a red card? He goes, you know, to quote Ryan, absolutely not, mate. You know, you know, I don't know, dude. I don't know the rules. I mean, my boy Books, we've mentioned him a lot. He texted me the other night after we won, and he goes, I don't know if you're a soccer guy, but this shit's awesome. He played college soccer at ODU. And I'm like, I'm not, but I am a fan of the greatest country in the world. And if you're wearing the stars and stripes, I'm gonna watch and I'm gonna pull for it. Right. And hey, it was fun, dude. I mean, you know, I'm not gonna stop watching now. Right. I'm pulling for England for my boy Ryan. And like Ryan always says, it's coming home, mate. It's coming home. That means the trophy, you know. You mean the cup? The win. He just calls it the win. The win's coming home. I mean, I've never I felt so bad for him back in the I don't even know. It wasn't the World Cup, it might have been the Euros or whatever, when good old Marcus missed the penalty kicks and they lost to Italy in the championship game. But whatever. Let's we'll get into that in a few minutes. Uh

Weekend Check In And World Cup Viewing

Scott 3:25

we grabbed it, we cracked it. How was your weekend? Let's get into that. I know you worked a lot.

Graham 3:31

Weekend was busy with work and watching a lot of this World Cup. You know, just being excited for the other teams. I'll say this. In the round of 32, but then especially in the round of 16, a lot of these games have been compelling. You know, going down to the last minute, the extra time, good matches back and forth. But today, the Portugal game earlier, that was a snooze fest against Spain. Like, I mean, there was a score right at right at before the 90th minute. All right, Spain gets the dub. But and then just to watch the game today, I I'm just look, soccer, it's not US's top fifth, sixth, seventh sport. I get that. I mean, look, where we've come as a nation in soccer compared to where we were 30 years ago, leaps and bounds. It's just today is one of those days where it's just like, you know, uh, for us and our football teams, or uh sometimes it's more I'd say it's more prevalent in baseball, where it's just like you can be great on paper, but your players, your stud players, can just have off days. It's just and it just looked like our best players had off days. It looked like they were outcoached. And the homeboy was still hurt. Yeah, but even still, like it's just there was just something about it where it's just like, you know, they had all this momentum, they get the the red card gets taken away, so the guy plays, and you know, all this momentum, and then just that I'm not saying they didn't put out effort, but it was just like they didn't really show much until the second half where you're like, alright, you know, there's some momentum here, but then Belgium was just like, no, no, no, we're gonna take it away from you, we're gonna close these traps, we're gonna not make you do this, we're gonna do that. And it's just like, I mean, there's so much strategy and technique that goes into football soccer that it's just like it's so hard to score, but then it's just like, look, there's a reason why the United States is ranked 17th in the world, and we were playing a team that's ranked ninth. We're on the outside looking in, and for us to have a chance to make it to the round of eight where we've only been once ever as an as a country, it you know, we had high hopes. I'm just more sad that like I just thought we would have played better considering there were two goals that were complete errors. Complete errors, and you just can't have that at that level. That I mean, if England would have done that, oh my god, those fans crucified them. When they go back home, done. For us, it's just like, all right, when's the NFL start?

Scott 6:14

What speaking of which DraftKings did put something up today? It was like, no matter if the United States wins or loses, we have American football that starts pretty damn soon. And we all like well played, you know. But uh anyhow, weekend, you know, 4th of July. Happy 250, America.

Graham 6:36

Yes, sir.

Scott 6:37

Let's go. Saturday. You work Saturday, right?

Graham 6:40

Yeah, yes, sir.

Scott 6:41

Yeah, I had a little 4th of July event at the club. Last event until we opened, grand reopening, hallelujah. On our newly renovated greens. Oh my gosh, I can't wait, dude. Finally, other than that, work Saturday was off yesterday, watch a little G. Work today, kids camp, day one, 56 kids. Oh man.

New Golf Greens And Club Reopening

Graham 7:10

Uh so just thinking about it, I uh this question just popped in my mind as you were saying it. With these new greens, is there or should I say this? Like, what were people fighting to get that first tea time on the greens so they could be the first one to play them?

Scott 7:25

It's funny you ask. I mean, we weren't gonna let it come down to that. So what we did Wednesday the 15th is when we do the grand reopening, we're actually doing uh a shotgun tournament at 12 o'clock. So we're doing like a whole you know ribbon-cutting thing, and the president of the board's gonna talk, GM is gonna talk, and then shots, ceremonial first shots or whatever. Your boys in there, you're welcome. Four left. Sorry. Yeah, but and then you know we opened for real for real on the 17th, where it's just normal, back to normal play. Right. But uh pumped, dude. Pumped course needed it. It's amazing. Redid the bunkers, redid the greens, irrigation. It's gonna be fire. Can't wait. Cannot wait, dude. Anyhow, though, something I wanted to bring up early. Guess who's gonna be in the 757, aka Virginia on Thursday afternoon? Why? Yeah, I had to throw this out early. Uh, grammar police.

Graham 8:39

What?

Scott 8:42

Yeah, dude. Him and Steph were texting me yesterday about Ava's uh graduation present, you know, this and that. And then he texted me today and he was like, hey, instead of mailing it, I'm coming. I'm like, bring it on. We ain't got nothing going on. Kristen and Ava going to ECU for orientation Wednesday night, be home Thursday. Andy and Steph will be here on Thursday afternoon. Oh boy, we'll have some beverages going. Oh.

Graham 9:12

It's a man.

Scott 9:15

Yeah. But uh something I wanted to get into that we talked about last week, and I'm skipping ahead in the notes here.

Is LeBron A Top 10 Laker

Scott 9:27

I'll go back to golf. We mentioned it last week about Draymond Green opting out, and that was the first, you know, domino to fall with that whole hopefully Warriors, you know, dream team scenario thing with the all old guy team. Right. Uh, and then LeBron comes out and tells the Lakers he's out. And I heard something the other day that really made me think. And so the other night when I was telling you I can't wait to bring this up, and this is what we're gonna talk about. Uh question for you, Graham.

Graham 10:01

Oh the more you think about it, I'm like no okay, is LeBron James a top ten Laker of all time?

Scott 10:16

Not player, I'm talking about his tenure as a Laker. Absolutely not. I mean, I uh Absolutely not.

Graham 10:31

I I mean, do you have a list to back this up?

Scott 10:34

Oh, I got I got multiple people that can replace him.

Graham 10:38

Well, I'm just gonna.

Scott 10:39

I'm not taking credit for this. I got this from the Chargers podcast. Matt Money Smith used to do radio for the Lakers. Okay. And at the end of the Chargers podcast last week, the dude asked him, he goes, so now that LeBron's like on, are you bummed? And he goes, I'm happy. You know, he's not even a top 10 Laker of all time. And I'm like, oh my God, he ain't wrong. You start thinking about it. I mentioned something to Jerry because Jerry's a longtime Laker fan until LeBron, just like Navarro. And Jerry's like, without a doubt, we're not talking about LeBron's career. We're talking about his tenure as a Laker. And I know you're looking it up right now because you're deep into your phone.

Graham 11:25

Yes, sir.

Scott 11:26

Dude. And so I was like, all right, Jerry, here you go. I called you out last week about your aim point, and you got mad, and you know, this or that. I'm like, you're a longtime Lakers fan. Give me your top 10 Lakers of all time. And I can't say I disagree. Kobe, Magic, Jerry West, Kareem, Elgin Baylor, Shaq, Worthy. Here's one that I really wanted to put in front of LeBron, and I'm shocked that a lot of people did. Paul Gasal. How big was he to those teams, dude? Yeah. Oh, don't even think about it. Don't even think about it. Dude. Jerry kept going.

Graham 12:18

He goes, you know, Kobe, no win without Gasall those years.

Scott 12:25

Vern Mickelson led team to four titles. Byron Scott. These are honorable mentions. Byron Scott, Jamal Wilkes, Michael Cooper. Go on and on and on. You know who else I'd put in front of LeBron? As a Laker, we're not talking about career. Robert Ory.

Graham 12:44

I knew you were gonna say that. But he was a piece. Yeah, he hit shots. They call him Mr. Clutch for a reason. Game seven against Sacktown? Yeah.

Scott 12:57

Back in those battles in the day. Oh. Dude.

Graham 13:02

I mean Yeah. Still, role player. I I I I I don't know. I I think perception. I yeah. That's a it's a tough one.

Scott 13:19

I know.

Graham 13:19

It's tough also because you're you it's hard to compare errors. You know, those players that you were. I'm not comparing errors.

Scott 13:25

I'm no comparing Laker Lakers tenure.

Graham 13:32

Consensus among analysts and fans on Reddit Lakers discussions ranks the top ten Lakers players of all time. What? I'm just not.

Scott 13:42

I'm not asking for Reddit. I'm asking for Graham Cohen.

Graham 13:46

I I will I'm just I'm well I'm also trying to remember all these players of yesteryear, but I mean it for LeBron putting a team on his back, not having well, I mean he did have AD. Um it's look in this day and age, you can't win with one guy. You just can't.

Scott 14:12

You need to have an did you just watch the Knicks?

Graham 14:15

Well, no, no. That they had one guy, but it was a but they got production from everyone. All the other teams, like they have they have the 1A, then they have like I wouldn't call it the 1B, but I would call it the 2A and 2B, and then I love this look you're giving me. Like, shut the hell up.

Scott 14:38

I I just can't wait for my response. I'm just keep talking, bro. I'm just is he a top 10 Laker?

Graham 14:49

I uh I would say uh he was with him for eight years.

Scott 14:58

How many times did he get swept in the first round?

Graham 15:02

Well, based on you asking that question, I feel like you know the answer to this. So was it more than once?

Scott 15:07

It was more than one.

Graham 15:09

I don't know the exact answer.

Scott 15:11

Is he a top ten Laker?

Graham 15:13

I would say yes.

Scott 15:15

Okay, I knew you were gonna say that. I knew you were gonna say that.

Graham 15:20

I I am so he was a top five player in the NBA almost every year. He was with the team.

Scott 15:29

Not with the Lakers.

Graham 15:31

Yeah.

Scott 15:32

So would you say Oh man, it was funny. I was talking to TP about this, and he goes, You know Graham's gonna say yes. And I'm like, a hundred percent. I mean, it's so and TP goes, when Graham argues with you, he goes, hit him with this. And I was like, oh man, this is gonna like a swift kick right to the nuts.

Rings Logic And The Statue Test

Graham 15:55

I can't I can't let you go Scotty again.

Scott 15:57

If he argues, you should say most people will say Aaron Rodgers is a better quarterback than Big Ben all time. So if LeBron is a top 10 Laker, then A Rod is the top Steelers quarterback of all time. I was like, TP, this is one of the reasons why I love you, buddy.

Graham 16:20

Oh my God. First off, A Rod has how many Super Bowls? One. Okay, so he automatically can't be better. Uh two. I'm just saying, Ben has two. Okay.

Scott 16:39

And so what you're telling me is Eli's a better quarterback than Aaron Rodgers? Because he has two. Is that what you're telling me? No. Well, that's what your argument just was. I'm just saying. So you wanna eat your crow now? I mean, it's all about Super Bowls. Uh I mean, what's homeboy's name? Trent Dofer? Him and Aaron Rodgers have the same amount of Super Bowls, so you're telling me they're equal? Look, Aaron Rodgers is one of the best Brad Johnson? Uh so Dan Marino doesn't have a Super Bowl win. So all of a sudden, I don't know.

Graham 17:15

Aaron Rodgers is one of the greatest passers of all time that this league's ever seen. I will admit that. I mean, there's a reason why.

Scott 17:22

He's the greatest Steelers quarterback of all time, according to you. I never said that.

Graham 17:29

It's TP. Got him!

Scott 17:36

I'm ball tapping the shit out of TP when I see him the next time. By the way, does anybody know who won the College World Series?

Graham 17:45

Oh my god. Hey Andy, where'd you leave that dead horse you always like to beat?

Scott 17:52

What's that got to do with Andy?

Graham 17:55

I'm just saying, like him, you like to keep beating dead horses. TP, I love you right now. I just that's that's not even in that question, or should I say, his statement is not even the same realm. It was one year he's been on the team. And it it's like there's so many other players that are involved.

Scott 18:25

I love it. I love it, absolutely love it. You know what, T P love it.

Graham 18:35

How are your kings doing? Don't change the and you're angels, right? He's an angels fan too.

Scott 18:44

Yeah, but he knows they suck. Just like my Metropolitans. I mean, it's all good. We could admit.

Graham 18:53

My Dodgers ain't doing that bad.

Scott 18:56

Oh, dude. No, you're I forgot. Oh, you're the Dodgers for me. I'm just messing with you. Oh my god. Oh man.

Graham 19:07

Aaron Rodgers.

Scott 19:08

I I I uh I mean, would you call Aaron Rodgers the best quarterback of the Packers?

Graham 19:16

Yeah, I know. That's an Aeris thing. I mean, Bart Starr, Brett Favre. Yeah. I mean, what they did in the 60s, I mean, that, yeah, that's quote unquote football, but you know, that's not how we play the game today. I I just look, there's a reason why Aaron Rodgers, with his what, four MVPs and a Super Bowl, considered one of the best, uh, you know, Hall of Famer, first ballot, as should Benby, come what, next year? Or the year after I think it's next year. I can't say it got me. I mean, that's uh it's like the whole LeBron thing made me think.

Scott 19:58

And I was just like, wow. Their championship wasn't that the bubble.

Graham 20:04

Yeah. Yeah.

Scott 20:06

It was are they putting a statue outside of Staple Center of LeBron?

Graham 20:12

No, no, and they shouldn't.

Scott 20:14

That answers your question right there.

Graham 20:16

Yeah, but that's like saying is um Kurt Schilling when he was on the Yang, you know, yeah, you know, with him and the Yank.

Scott 20:26

Like there's organizations, smack yourself, Red Sox.

Graham 20:31

I was thinking, wait.

Scott 20:32

Bloody Sock. Smack yourself.

Graham 20:34

No, I know that, but Kurt Shilling.

Scott 20:37

Diamondbacks and the Red Sox smack yourself, thanks.

Graham 20:41

My point is there's certain franchises that have have been so good for so long that it's just like erecting a statue. I'm not saying he's in the top three. Shaq should have one over him. There's a reason why Kobe has one, and it looks terrible, by the way, but whatever. I I just I mean, granted, you also say there's whole career in one of five championships, so I mean it's it's a it's a it's a good one.

Scott 21:17

Made me think.

Graham 21:18

Yeah.

Scott 21:18

But anyhow, let's move on.

Senior Open Notes And Fowler’s Cut Drama

Scott 21:23

Because TP, thank you. Thank you for that, rebuttal. I love it. Uh I don't know, dude. Uh a little golf, U.S. Senior Open. Our boy Mike Tree uh didn't have the best two days, but I will say it was pretty sick. Uh somebody in his support group that was there did Instagram live like last year on the first hole. Little birdie, let's go, on the first hole. It was sick. I'm sitting there watching it. But uh Miss Cut, whatever. Uh Block, you know, had a good finish last week. What he was it tied. For ninth in his first champions tour, but then something like that. T31, I think, this week. Uh solid. I did say he was gonna miss the cut, but that was also because of I forgot what he said on Instagram or something. I forgot what it was. Um totally forget. Whatever, not important. Uh, but the fun stuff, Fowler, dude, had to make a five-foot putt on Friday for Parr to make the cut. Made it, obviously. Then goes 63 on Saturday with the bogey on 18. Solid performance. T15 switch putters. I think we talked about that last week. Put a new putter in the bag. Dude, if you would have seen where he got up and down from on his last hole on Friday on the ninth hole, which was his 18th hole. Yeah. Dude, he hit it left off the T and he had like 190 in and just hit it, whatever, left of the green. And I'm like, oh my god, dude. He's got to get up and down to make the cut. You know, my boy Romance needs to get paid. Dude. Amazing little pitch, amazing pitch shot to like four four and a half feet, Kansas. Then goes out and goes deep. You know? And the thing that sucked on Saturday when he was lighting it up, because he made the cut on the number, what happens to those guys that make the cut on the number? They tee off on what? Number 10. Okay. And so the other side of the field, the leaders and everybody, tee off on one. And there was no cameras where he was. And dude, he's lighting it up. And I'm like, oh my god, my God, he's lighting it up. And they're not even showing any. And I'm like, yeah, that's because he's on the other side of the golf course. Dude. But I mean, hey, good finish. He's in the top 30. FedEx, you know, that's what we want. Not playing Scottish this coming up week. Which shocked me a little bit. But then he has played the last, he just played like four or five in a row. And, you know, British is the following week. But uh, you know, last major of the year, dude. Golf is it's almost over, bro. It's crazy.

Graham 24:23

Well, hey, there's other things that are going on on Sundays that we care about that are coming around.

Scott 24:28

So yeah, uh, but I mean, golf, then last major of the year, then FedEx. It's crazy.

Graham 24:36

But how soon does the FedEx start after the last major? Is it pretty cool?

Scott 24:40

Well, we got we got the open, and then we have I think there's like two more events. The Wyndham in uh North Carolina, where my boy Cam Young got his first dub last year that propelled him to his little streak.

Gotterup’s Loyalty Win And Rise

Scott 24:55

But uh something I had to talk about, Godurp, dude. Okay three years ago, God her up got a sponsor exemption into the John Deere. Okay, finished like fifth or sixth. Wow. And to think it kept him going. And then last year, he won God won the Myrtle Beach event. That was a off, you know, the opposite field event. Didn't count as a I mean it did count as a PGA tour when he got his two-year exemption, but then went deep and played head to head against Rory and the Scottish got the dove. And then came out early this year, won at Sony, right? Yeah and won at the waste management, going head, playing with Scotty. First day ever playing with Scotty, beat Scotty by 10, I think on day one. And doesn't have to play in the John Deere and goes and plays, dude, because of what they did for him. And giving him that sponsor exempt. And then uh what did he shoot yesterday?

Graham 26:07

Uh nine under, is that any good?

Scott 26:10

Uh yeah, gets the dub. Granted, Cole's hiccupped on the last hole. But dude, he had his brother on the bag, his brother got the week off and came out caddied for Godurp. And they're like literally on the range watching the finish of the event because Godurp was so far ahead, you know, he's just sitting there waiting.

Graham 26:32

Yeah.

Scott 26:33

And then finally, when it happens, like the emotion of him and his brother, how sick is that? You know? That's dope. Dude, President's Cup. You're welcome. Guaranteed he's on the team at Medina this this fall. And you're probably gonna see him, dude, uh, on the Ryder Cup team. I mean, here's a dude that played four years at Rutgers and because of COVID had a fifth year of eligibility and went to Oklahoma, played at Oklahoma, and my guy is just solid, dude. Everybody's like, oh, he's a bomber. Yeah, he's a bomber, but my guy can also put the lights out of it. That's what you need, dude. It's awesome. I think it's great. I uh I love the guy, you know, super cool. But hey, just keep getting these young guys, man. We need them bad. Bad something needs to go our way. Ryder cop, and we gotta get it.

Graham 27:41

I mean it's gotta happen. But hey, I don't know. I was stoked for God or audio.

Scott 27:48

But what I was really stoked for tell them Jeff Aldridge.

Motor Boat And Chick Of Week

Scott 27:55

He's been mentioned the last two episodes, and you were working the last couple days, or last after the episode came out last week, and I sent it to him, and I was like, hey, there's gonna be a new segment on the podcast. It used to be the hot chick of the week, right? So now it's not going away, is it? No, it's not, it's getting better. So because of Jeff and because of the motor boating, it's now gonna be called the Jeff's Motor Boat and Chick of the Week. And he was so fired up, dude. His son was in town for uh the 4th of July, and we were talking about it, and he goes, dude, really? I'm like, Yeah, you gotta give me your tick. And he actually forgot tonight, and so I sent him I sent him a picture, and I was like, yo, does this qualify for our motorboat and chick of the week? And he goes, absolutely, she's our girl.

Graham 29:02

The first end will pick from him, and he's dropping the ball.

Scott 29:06

Hey, it's a holiday weekend. Family's in town, you know. He's retired, he's been having some cocktails and doing his thing. Oh man. Uh, and that goes out to Wyndham Clark's girlfriend. Uh, I mean Emily Tanner.

Graham 29:27

That pick of her and and him on the boat over the weekend.

Scott 29:31

She that's what I sent him. That's what I sent. And I was like, where is it? I was like, Wyndham Clark girlfriend, your pick of the week. And he's like, she definitely qualifies. I'm like, perfect. And he goes, she might be worth breaking a locker for. And I was like, and being on Mercer's hate list, and he goes, true. And Mercer's like, all right, I'm a fan now. So Emily Tanner, Wendell Clark, son of a you're welcome, Jeff. Oh, he's gonna have to come on. Yeah. He he has to. The best part about Jeff is he's a tar heel.

Graham 30:21

That's the best part.

Scott 30:23

Oh, yeah. Remember that? Remember that missing, missing milk carton that I made of you on chat GPT? Yeah, he he he got to see that.

Graham 30:35

Jeff needs to come on every week if he's gonna have a whole sponsored event. Shit.

Scott 30:40

I mean, come on. Let's go.

Becoming Soccer Fans And Backing England

Scott 30:43

So I mean, World Cup, dude. I like I said, I've never been a soccer person. Ever. Ryan used to always try to get me to watch it. And you know, I always gave him shit. It's been exciting, dude. I I I'm not gonna lie. The games have been great, you know, the atmospheres have been awesome. But like I said last week, it's because it's in the United States. And the games are on prime time for us. It's not like we have to get up at 4 a.m. and watch them in Japan or Right. You know what you know what I mean? I get it. I totally get it. That's huge. It it was awesome. I mean, I had fun watching it. Couldn't believe I was watching it even last night when England's playing him.

Graham 31:41

Right.

Scott 31:42

Well, you know, I'm pulling for England for my boy Ryan and Harry Kane, even the other day when he scored those two goals, and you know, I'm singing the song that Ryan used to always sing about Harry Kane. And my staff's going, What in the hell are you talking about? And it's been a while since I've sang, so Ryan, this one's for you. He can score on the left, he can score on the right, he can score up the middle, he'll make you look shite. Super, super cane, super, super cane.

Graham 32:13

I mean, tough match next week. Or later this week.

Scott 32:18

Yeah. Norway, Holland.

Graham 32:21

No joke.

Scott 32:22

Hey. It just sucks because we could have beat Spain.

Graham 32:28

Not if we played like that.

Scott 32:30

Yeah, well, yeah. No. Duh.

Graham 32:33

We couldn't beat the MLS championship team if we played like that.

Scott 32:37

Yeah, something though I saw and I was like really surprised.

US World Cup History Since 1958

Graham 32:45

Okay. Okay. Since 1958, uh the United States World Cup records and how we finished. Yeah.

Scott 32:54

58 through 86, we didn't qualify. 86 or 90, we made it group stage. 94, round of 16. 98, group stage. 2002, quarterfinals. 2006, group stage. 2010, round of 16. 14, round of 16. 18, didn't qualify. Shame on me. 2022, the most recent one until this year, round of 16. And then this year, round of 16.

Graham 33:28

I mean, we're getting better. I mean, like you were saying, the fact that it was here in North America and it was more accessible for everyone here to watch. I feel like how is this? Like, I feel like more fans were gained, and there'll be more.

Scott 33:46

It was like the Olympic hockey, dude. Yeah. Even though that game came on at what, 6 a.m. my time, 3 a.m. your time. Yeah. Isn't that what it was? Something like that? The championship?

Graham 33:56

Yeah, it was 3 a.m., yeah.

Scott 33:59

Hockey gained fans from that.

Graham 34:03

Yeah.

Scott 34:08

But can can somebody tell me this? I s I I read this today. 26 people on our World Cup roster.

Graham 34:20

Okay. Yeah. 20 of them are from the United States.

Scott 34:26

What? Dude, our head coach ain't even from here.

Graham 34:29

Well, well, the coach doesn't have to be from here.

Scott 34:32

It's like the baseball, world, whatever baseball thing.

Graham 34:35

World baseball classic?

Scott 34:36

Yeah, all our American-born players are playing for Italy.

Graham 34:41

Well, if they got dual citizenship, why would you put wouldn't you want to play on a team that has a chance to win? I I just don't I don't get it. I I mean, look, there was a lot of buzz. So much soccer

Why US Soccer Still Lags

Graham 34:59

buzz here with what's going on with the World Cup, especially for the U.S. now. And I mean, look, all the commentators after it, you know, I'm looking online right now, they're like, hey, even though the performance that was put on today wasn't our best, you know, what how do I say this? But like where the US is as a team moving forward, it will only get better. And I'm like, hey, that's you know, that's great. Because I mean I'm not saying US fans are fickle, but it's just like we're used to being good. I mean, it is that out of line to say, no, you know, I mean, especially when it comes to the Olympics. There's certain like there's certain sports like we'll just concede, like, we we ain't it. I mean, at least in the winter Olympics, I mean, compared to the Summer Olympics, like we dominate in the Summer Olympics. Like, we're still kind of up there in the Winter Olympics, but there's some sports where it's just like there's just no way, like, we're not competing. And you know, when it comes to soccer or football, depending on which nick part of the world you're in, um, I mean, it's a way of life. And until here in the United States, like it becomes a way of life here. And you know, when you're a young kid, what do you want to play? I mean, a lot of kids when they're young, they play soccer, but they play soccer until what 12? Yeah, uh yeah, you do. It's just it's the love for the game, it's the want, you know, it's and also the the the problem in this country, and like I hate to say this, there's a lot of kids now, especially because their parents, like, they just want to gruel and be good so they can like make money. And in soccer, it's not about that. I mean, to to make that type of money, you have to leave and play in Europe. I mean, like, you'll make some money in the MLS, but you don't make that kind of money unless you're that star we're trying to poach from Europe to come here and play. I I I I I mean, like, I would love for us to and for us, I mean, you know, team USA to be in the world rankings where like we're in the top ten, but I think that'd be a situation if that was the case, I think all of our players wouldn't be playing in the MLS. They'd be playing over in Europe or somewhere else, and they would have to be coming back here to play for us, type of a situation. I mean, granted, a lot of the players on all the other countries play for other teams, like I get that, but I'm just saying it's just you know, we I mean, most of our player like we have probably less than five players on our team that play internationally. I mean, dude, our our goalie that had that amazing gaff of an error at the end right there. I mean, dude, he played it in call college for Harvard, and he's a two uh a three-year starter on a on the New York foot football team.

Scott 38:09

Like, dude, this is hilarious.

Graham 38:13

I I just I I look at what I just told you. Oh god, here we go.

Scott 38:20

United States men national team defensive coach Brandon Staley. Oh god. Oh man. Oh my god. Yeah. I don't know, dude.

Belgium Match Breakdown And Frustrations

Graham 38:39

I wouldn't mind if we lost, just not like that.

Scott 38:43

Hey, like I always say, you'd rather lose getting your ass kicked like that than it comes down to penalty kicks or extra time.

Graham 38:56

I would have rather have lost to penalty kicks.

Scott 38:58

I'd rather it be over early. Ugh.

Graham 39:00

Yeah, no. Yeah, at that point, yeah, but if it's over early, why even watch? Like, you know what I mean?

Scott 39:08

Like it's not heartbreaking.

Graham 39:11

I I know, but at least I mean, I want to see the effort. I want to see us have the chance to win the game. I mean, when we tied it up at 1-1, I was like, all right, we got the crowd going, the teams going, everything's great, and then oh, what happened literally 90 seconds later?

Scott 39:30

Goal like when the game was tied.

Graham 39:40

I mean, the goalie for Belgium had his first save from a shot on goal in the 83rd minute of the game. What? Domination station. It didn't feel like it any part of that game. Like, even when we tied it up, it kind of was like, alright, we got a free kick, we got the goal from that. But like, when I'm watching this game, there was no part of that game that I thought we were gonna win. The only time I thought we had a chance we were gonna win was before the whistle started the game. I got excited when we tied it. Yeah, I got excited, but I was just like, alright, give us confidence.

Scott 40:25

And then I wouldn't peed. And I came back and it was two to one. And then what happened was Yeah. Hey, I don't I don't know. Hey, it was fun, dude. It was fun, totally fun. I enjoyed it. I had fun.

Graham 40:42

You're still gonna watch?

Scott 40:44

Yeah, because I'm pulling for England.

Graham 40:47

Yeah.

All Star Talk Plus Massive World Cup Upsets

Graham 40:48

Any excitement? Not to change uh topics here, but uh any excitement for the All-Star game coming up? Is that will that happen after next week's episode or before?

Scott 40:58

The Major League Baseball All Star game in Philly.

Graham 41:01

Is that next week? I have no idea. It's the 14th. Oh, wait. That would be after all.

Scott 41:07

That's next Tuesday.

Graham 41:08

Okay, so what's next? Okay.

Scott 41:09

Yeah, I have no idea. But if you're a betting person, you know, it's in Philly.

Graham 41:16

Take the NL?

Scott 41:17

No, go ahead and take Schwarber in the home run contest because he's he's doing it.

Graham 41:23

Oh yeah.

Scott 41:24

Yeah. If you don't win that, it's a mistake. I don't know, dude. I can't believe, like I said, how much soccer I watched. I'm at a loss.

Graham 41:39

It's been compelling. The upsets, uh, you know, Pape Verde, are you kidding me? Almost beating Argentina?

Scott 41:47

Dude, just I was thinking about this. The city of Virginia Beach has 480,000 residents. That country 580,000. Bro, how do they even put a team out there that does what they did?

Graham 42:07

Yeah. Also, something I was reading earlier today. Messi had so much respect for their goalie that after the game was over, he went up giving congratulations and he swapped jerseys with him. That's awesome. Messi doesn't do that. The fact that they were peppering him and that goalie was just like being a wall back there, like, no, no, no, no. For Messi to do that, I was just like, that's mad respect. I'm like, dude, that team, that goalie, put them on the map. They are, I mean, I would say they're a team to reckon with, but like, look, they're getting the 15 minutes of fame, the spotlight, in which they well deserve. I mean, there was a point where they were winning that game. If they would have beat Argentina, that would have been the greatest upset in the World Cup of all time. And they had them on the ropes. Yeah. An island of 500,000 people against the defending champions. With the goat, with the goat. Exactly. I I just insane. Insane.

Scott 43:23

Twitter, my wife, you don't even like soccer. Me. I don't like war either, but we pull for the US when they're in one, don't we? Love it. 100%. Oh my god. That's funny. Pretty funny. Ain't wrong.

Next Week Preview And Sign Off

Scott 43:39

But anyhow, it's been a fun episode. Uh what do we got going next week? We're this is a shorty episode.

Graham 43:48

Hey, it's all we need. Hey, it's it's that time of the year, you know what I mean?

Scott 43:53

Yeah, we've we've talked about everything. I mean, hey, it's July 6th. A month from right now, we got a preseason football game.

Graham 44:04

Let's go. Hey, at least next week we get to talk open championship talk. Yeah, we do. Excited about that. We get to talk all-star talk. We get to talk a little more World Cup action because you know we're new soccer fans, and uh, I'm not gonna call myself a fan.

Scott 44:23

I mean, hey, uh actually, you know what? I'll eat some crow two weeks in a row. I enjoyed it. Yeah, I rallied around the United States, and it was fun to watch. I will say this though, dude. Mope from France.

Graham 44:43

Mbappe.

Scott 44:44

Whatever. Mope, Swape, my dude.

Graham 44:50

Yeah, he's legit.

Scott 44:52

My guy, yeah, he's legit, alright. He's the biggest flopping SOB I've ever seen in my life, dude. Do you watch these games? They're all flopping. A hundred percent. But dude, I mean that guy, dude. Oh my gosh, dude. Wow. The other night, oh man. I mean, I still, Ryan, I want to know what's in that magic spray can, bro. When they come out and spray the players, like I'm waiting to find out what's in it. But anyhow, Graham, get us out of here. Fun episode. Uh it's getting closer to that time.

Graham 45:34

Yes, it is.

Scott 45:36

And even though Jeff picked out the hot chick of the week, dude, Saturday afternoon after Fowler went deep dish pizza. My girl interviewed him. Then we all know who that girl is, Amanda. If you saw that interview, all I can say is, you're welcome. Graham, get us out of here.

Graham 45:56

Always leading us. Always ending us with a laugh, Scott. Anyway, it's always a pleasure doing the podcast with you. And as the best homie always says, BUBA.

Scott 46:09

Good night, friends. Good night, United States team. Good night, goalie. I don't even know what your name is, but Graham was probably smarter than you if he was playing goalie for us tonight. And I don't even know what to say. Run kick. I just became a fan.