SoccerPod
The soccerPod hosts long-form, heart to heart interviews with past legends of the game of soccer. There is a massive market for soccer in the United States today, but it wasn’t always this way. We go back in time and talk to legends from the prior era, whose stories are not well known in the United States. We talk about playing with no shin guards, the apparent impossibility of a straight red card and smoking cigarettes at halftime. We talk about the legendary games they were a part of, the goals they scored and the trophies that they won. But we also explore the time and culture in which our guests grew up – whether it was, as a kid - seeing the Berlin Wall go up in their backyard, or going to sleep to the sounds of IRA bombs in 1980’s Belfast. From childhood through their professional careers, on to where they are today – our guests’ have all had interesting rides – and we explore them here.
For those who love it, the beautiful game connects us all. So relax, kick back and if you are into soccer talk with a nod towards nostalgia – or you just want to hear some fascinating stories that will make you laugh - give us a go.
SoccerPod
Bruce Murray
If you have children that play youth soccer, I hope you will give a listen to Bruce Murray.
He has a brain condition called CTE. In his 30’s he began forgetting things, he developed a sensitivity to light and began to develop a problem with impulse control. It really scared him - he went through dark times and ended up in some dark places.
He and his doctors have no doubt that this is related to the repeated heading of the ball while his brain was still in development as a boy and young man. He has a foundation to help other athletes that suffer from this – and actively campaigns for rules of the game to be amended – especially at the youth levels and notes that ‘no developing brain should collide with a soccer ball at some 40 mph.
He is happy and doing well now though – and this campaign is what Bruce cares about most now, but he also had a fascinating career as a player. He was part of that crew of American National Team guys that played for a county that didn’t care too much about what they were doing.
And he was a huge part of that 1990 World Cup Team that qualified for the first world cup for America in 40 years. That campaign from qualifying to competing is the greatest American soccer story there is – and every generation that comes after owes these boys a huge debt - and Bruce was there for all of that.
I really do love Bruce Murray – in many ways, of all the sits I have done – he is my favorite one.
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