S1 Ep14 | Tim Ream: From Home Turf to World Stage

Join us in this episode as Tim Ream, a seasoned US men's national team defender, shares his incredible journey from playing on home turf to competing on the world stage. Discover the mental and emotional challenges of making a World Cup team, the importance of camaraderie, and the strategies that have shaped his career. Tim opens up about the pressure of selection, the joy of unforgettable moments, and the evolving tactics in international soccer. Whether you're a soccer enthusiast or curious about the life of a pro athlete, this episode offers a compelling glimpse into the heart of the game.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

I get to go in, I get to go be with the boys again and and and catch up and um you know do do hard things and and that's that's the best part about it is that you're you're you know you're working hard with with a group of guys who you know you you've become brothers with All right guys welcome back to the Goo Zan Show I'm your host Reg Zan sitting next to me Joe Freyhofer and we have a very very special guest who's coming off the pitch um from the US men's national team Mr.

SPEAKER_01 0:32

Tim Ring Timmy Wow Hey we're going full effects for you buddy welcome to the show hey thanks for having me appreciate you taking the time as I mentioned um US men's national team here in Atlanta uh obviously two massive games um training here at the training facility and you were kind enough to to lend us some time to to jump up here and and jump on the the podcast man um we've been begging me for days so well it's about fanboy out here too does training I was seeing them just pacing up and down the touchline I tried to I tried to blank him and just relentless come on behind me yelling at me and just nonstop Hey whether on the pitch or from the sideline you know I don't mind it it never stops I mean we've we've been teammates we've been friends for years teammates I mean friends all all the things dude all the things how are you doing how's the family good man yeah yeah getting big as as you know very well they're they're growing up 12 years old 10 years old seven years old and youth sports youth sports yeah the boys are in the swim and and my daughter is interested in wanting and is playing soccer now so nice yeah how does that how does that affect like in terms of your training day to day or like when you're away because I I I don't think people necessarily understand especially when you're away um sometimes the the grief we're getting from our from our wonderful wives that are always so supportive of us listen uh I and I say this all the time you know what we've we've been able to have long careers because of of what our our significant others do right and and the way they hold it down and um yes we catch grief um and and you know they they pick up the pieces and and you know my my wife was in in Richmond last weekend um four days for for a swim meet so I'm like you know not seen her had my daughter um so yeah it's it's like you're you're here there and everywhere and and you're still you know you're still trying to trying to have your own career and um but it's you make it work don't you you you make it work and because at the end of the day uh at some point you stop playing yeah and then I I'm sure you can tell me how how much running around you're you're doing but it's exactly it's a balancing act you you try to do as much as you can while you're home and and when you're away you know she has to she has to do do everything and and that's um it's the new normal it's the new it's the normal it's life you know and so like when you think about it it's all right I gotta go to this practice I've got to take them here I've got to go there.

SPEAKER_03 3:07

It's a lot of organizing.

SPEAKER_01 3:08

Correct. Which is that's I'm good at so she's better at it but yeah.

SPEAKER_03 3:12

I mean I I've good at it you know I wouldn't say great but you know we're we're we're we're still playing so we're working on that part of it. Um dude exciting summer ahead yeah talk to us how you feeling man um yeah great I I I keep telling everyone it's like everyone's like why are you still doing it?

SPEAKER_00 3:31

Why are you still playing well I'm like because you get to play in a World Cup at home. Like what do you mean why are you still doing it?

SPEAKER_01 3:36

Exactly. Because it at some point you don't do it. Correct. So I'm yeah I'm excited uh um you know it's it's one of those that you're you you'll you'll never get and I know I'll never get it and some of these guys probably won't ever get a another chance to to play definitely at home in a World Cup. So um yeah I'm I'm pumped for it. Um still still have have work to do still gotta get there. There's nothing ever guaranteed. I know absolutely you know I keep I keep telling everybody that you're you're not guaranteed a spot no matter you're not guaranteed any any camp. So the closer you get the the more exciting it becomes but um it's one of those where you you gotta almost have like a tunnel vision of of like the here and now because the you know the the summer is still a ways away.

SPEAKER_03 4:21

Definitely I mean you you you talk about it right it's nothing's guaranteed. And do you still get the butterflies when when the email comes in, the the the call comes in saying oh yeah you're you've been included in this camp. I mean right?

SPEAKER_01 4:33

That heart never goes away that never goes away. Yeah. It's you're always it's always on edge like are are you or aren't you? Right? Are you gonna get it or are you not going to get it? And and then it's you know if when you do get it you it's like a okay now like now more m you have to do more work. Right. Right. And and that's great. That's what what we're here to do. If you don't get it it's it's bitter disappointment. But I think that comes with you know being around the the group so long um being a being around the you know the the program for for so long and not taking it for granted. I think that's the biggest thing is is I've you know loved every camp that that I've gone into some more than others. But you you you have to you have to enjoy it but you you also you you want it so bad right that that when you're waiting you're you're on edge. Right. And and then when it comes it is like yes all right I get to go in I get to go be with the boys again and and and catch up and um you know do do hard things. And and that's that's the best part about it is that you're you're you know you're working hard with with a group of guys who you know you you've become brothers with.

SPEAKER_03 5:41

The mentality of of wanting to work hard right you you you touched on it. It's the mentality of saying yeah I I want to go in camp. Not yeah of course to see the guys and the camaraderie and all the things but you you want that platform to say you know what this is the the top of the top this is the best of the best in it I want to push myself I want to push guys around me to be better. I want to be a part of that hard work.

SPEAKER_01 6:01

Yeah for sure and and I think that's the part that I I think some people don't quite understand. It's like oh well why are you doing it? Well because I like working hard. Like I I still like pushing myself until your your legs fall off. Like I still like pushing and pushing and pushing and pushing um and and showing not not just the the guys who are here but you know everyone like you you can push as as long as you want to push right at at some point yes it will catch up to you and it it could catch you quicker than than others but um and it it's for my own kids as well like guys like you can you can do whatever you want. Yeah you can you can push yourself as as far as you want to go. Right? How many years ago could I have said yeah you know what I'm I'm all right I'd rather I'd rather go on on vacations or or have that time off and and have the days off. Right. But I don't like I I I enjoy working. I I enjoy pushing myself and and and being a part of something that's that's bigger than than just an individual.

SPEAKER_03 6:56

Having that mentality I think is I think is is a huge part of why you've had such a successful career the longevity right whether it's the mental side or the or the physical side what have you if anything have you done as your career career has gone on to either physically change preparation, post-training you know habits or or recovery methods what what have you taken on board and learned about yourself as you've prolonged your career?

SPEAKER_01 7:22

We don't have enough time to go through everything. I was saying this the other day I think the the big one of the big reasons that I I think a lot of people end up retiring other than you know they they just can't physically do it anymore is is the time it takes before and after training, the time you have to put in to prepare yourself for a training and and then obviously for a game but then also recovering from that and then getting ready for the next one. Right? It's it's doing it once is is easy. It's then can you do it then the next day and then the next day and then the next day and then you have to to do all these you know little preparation things. I picked up Pilates along the way um that was a big one when I was over in England. Don't know if you've tried it. It is not Pilates I was a yoga guy you were a yoga guy. I I'm not a yoga guy I was a Pilates guy and when I tell you I I learned through Pilates on a reformer that I had I had muscles in areas that that and and would become sore that you didn't even have an any idea. But I I attribute that to the to the ability to to stay relatively healthy. So I've I've picked that that up along the way but just little things you you know you go through you have your your physios and your your athletic trainers at your club but then you also have a a different group with the national team and they all they all play a little bit of a part right they all give you a little bit of something and you just you add to this routine as you as you go along. And it gets longer and it gets longer and it gets longer. Trevor Burrus But as does your career and it adds to your career. It does I'm not sitting here at at 38 plus without all of these little little things that that you've added right that I've added and I'm grateful for for all of them because they they they do it it helps um prolong you don't know the the inevitable you say 38 plus I was going to say you look 21 but that's a lie.

SPEAKER_03 9:17

I certainly can't say that about you. I mean listen the the ponytail I a little jealous but you can let that thing down to the eagle squawk right as he unleashed it. That's for another podcast. What are you able to take from 22 from from Qatar and and say whether it's personal or team oriented you know assuming everything goes well from here until then but is there something that when you look back at your time in Qatar that was like oh man I wish I packed that in my bag or I wish I brought this or forgot this or I needed this and instead of that? Or or maybe even from like a competitive standpoint, right?

SPEAKER_01 10:01

Yeah so there was nothing that I thought I I should have packed or should have brought um I'll say two things from a competitive standpoint. One from a competitive competitive one from a like a mental the competitive standpoint was it is like the the energy the excitement the um just the the level is just everything is a final right and and you you under you could you have an idea going in but there was one person who had World Cup experience with DeAndre in in that group. So none of us knew what to expect which was a good thing right and it can be a bad thing for sure. Right. So I think having that experience and and going through kind of the cadence of of the games and and what it takes to um to get yourself prepared, get yourself ready the to to kind of g yourself up for each and every single game because they're all a little bit different. You know you can we can definitely take that I I think mentally I I don't I don't think I took everything in to be like we always say oh you like take a mental picture of this but because of like the the match times that we were playing at 10 p.m right and then we're everyone was up until 2, 3, 4 a.m because that was the the they wanted our body clocks to be on that right right you you actually don't like you you forget about a lot of the things like and you're so like again laser focused and and this tunnel vision of of being in the hotel and and going through all these different processes to get yourself ready that you don't actually have a time to to breathe. Like you don't have like a to sit in the moment. Take in the moment. So I think that's one of the things that that this one will will definitely be on my mind um at least to in that very first little bit. For sure.

SPEAKER_03 11:52

Right I think when I when I look back in in 2010, 14, like that's something I I regret right and maybe not regret you know probably not the right word but I look back and I wish I I did more of that of taking in those moments and people are like, oh what was that like and I remember I have certain flashes of certain memories and things. Yes. But you're just like man I wish oh what was that like I I don't really remember that part because you're like you said you're so laser focused on what's going on around you in terms of preparation in terms of recovery in terms of matches that you you almost forget about the environment that you're in and you're almost like yeah okay and that was something as I as I got older as my career was was coming to an end sort of thing it was one of those times where I'm like I'm gonna remember this. And and I'll and I was very cognizant of of making a point and deliberate and saying I want to make sure that that I can tell my kids about this and and something I could talk about you know post post event, whatever that event was.

SPEAKER_02 12:48

Of course that was something I love that you did when you got to MLS too my favorite memories during a match are looking at you when we would score and you would just turn to the crowd. He would do them all he would just black out out of electricity and just look at the crowd hit him with one of these too it was that kind of stuff did you do that more as you got further along?

SPEAKER_03 13:05

But that but like even just like whether it's in the hotel whether it's around whether you know I go back to the Olympics right and you know we were we were talking about in 2008 the opening ceremonies and are we going to get to go to the opening ceremonies and and I remember at the time I was like no we got to focus on the game and and it was and now I was like in the back of my mind I'm thinking that'd be really cool if we got to go to the opening ceremonies and then it was like but we're here to play. We're here to work and it's here about the game. Yeah and then we ended up going and I was like thank God we did because if if we didn't I think that for sure would have been a moment that I look back and been really disappointed with.

SPEAKER_01 13:41

Yeah I I and I I totally in agreement like it it's hard because you you're competitors right you're you're in there and and you're you're saying we're going to this to do a job we're going to this this big event because of of you know what we're there to do what we're there to do. Yep. Right? We're we're not there for the for the extracurriculars. We're not there for the um you know the opening ceremonies and and all the the pregame stuff and the the halftime shows and we're not there for that. But at the same time that's part of all of it. So it's like it's hard to to to say oh we're we're not thinking about any of that but because you're you're so like we're here to to do this. This is this is what we need to do. You almost feel a a little bit like guilty that you're missing out on other things but but it's hard to it's hard to separate. Right. And and you have to you have to separate. And that's part of the like the competitors mindset. It's like well I I don't want to do any of that because that's not what I'm here to do. And that's such a distraction. Even though really it's just you're you're just it's great to take a mental note of it and then move on.

SPEAKER_02 14:49

Sure. Right. Definitely 100 percent so Tim you spend a big chunk of your experience abroad in England as well. Brad and I were just talking pre-show this guy used to take a train for what four hours in total just to get a little Chipotle? From from Birmingham down to London with Birmingham down to London four hours?

SPEAKER_03 15:04

Well hour and a half there an hour and a half back okay fine yeah all right I mean the full it was it was a full afternoon dedicated to get some get some Chipotle but I was saying you know being in London's a lot different than being in say Bolton slash Manchester. I mean just a little bit different just a little bit different. What what what do you think of when you look back at your time over there when what do you what do you think about what you know the positives the challenges you know I mean listen I was telling them I was over there nine years you were over there 12, right? 12 and a half yeah 12 and a half. I mean that's that's a long time. Yeah. And and you know for an American to go over there and be over there that amount of time to be the type of player that you were in terms of captain counted on depended on the success that you had over there what what's something that you're you're most proud of I I mean honestly I think I think that the thing I'm most proud of is is when when things weren't going well that I didn't run and hide.

SPEAKER_01 16:04

Yeah that that you don't run away and say okay well things aren't going well I I can I'm just gonna go back to back home back you know back to the States. And and there were chances to do that. But I also thought well you always have that. You can always go back right you you can't once you go back you're you're not gonna you're not gonna go back the other way. You're not crossing the Atlantic again. And so yeah when when you know a manager would would change and and they would say oh you know you're not really not really for me and um you know this that and the other and and we're gonna play other players and you know that that for me was like head down pushing through all of that and and still coming out on the other side and and being a player that was that was relied on um for those same managers who who said that you wouldn't be playing that that is is what I'm most most proud of right. Just being able to adapt to all the different and and everybody say well adapt like it's it's an English speaking country it's not that yeah well when you go from New York to to Bolton Manchester that's a little bit of an adaptation. You go from Bolton down to down to London you're also like it's a little bit of a change. But then also being able to adapt on the field I think is is the biggest thing because yeah you know all these managers they all they all want to do different things and and you know they they their first impression they may say oh you're not for me and then you have to figure out a way to to show them that you can play for them. So those those things but I think that the the biggest thing and this is off the field is is being able to you know my wife and I going over together starting a family um all three of our kids were were born over there and and just having that you know our our little unit like creating something that that is uniquely ours that that nobody else has um I think is is one of the coolest um coolest aspects not for me but but more for my kids. They were able to grow up in a in a completely different country travel the world and and you know see some things that I could have only dreamed of seeing as a as a kid. So um yeah I think those those three things are are probably the most most I'm proud of. That's awesome man I I get goosebumps listening to that because it's like I'm getting flashbacks of of my kids being born there and it's funny because your kids were born there and the only reason my kids were born in the same hospital is because I knew you'd you had gone there.

SPEAKER_03 18:28

I found out I got you I got you I got you bro um obviously you started in New York and you know you've come back you've you've seen the league right you you you started your career there and you know I I think you'll end up finishing your career in this league. Maybe not maybe you're gonna get back on the plane you'll head back that way you know um you never know. But how how have you seen the league grow um from from when you came in?

SPEAKER_01 18:52

Um I mean it was first and foremost there were 14 teams sorry 16 teams in the league when I when I first yeah wow so I was second round second pick I was 18th pick overall and and it was a second round pick. So it you're talking only 16 teams so it's basically doubled. I was lucky enough in in New York that we had a a European coach and we had a bunch of European guys and he wanted to play a very nice brand of of football right and and that helped me tremendously um it it without a doubt it's it's the my rookie year the way we the way we played and and the way he he coached there's there's no doubt in my mind that that is one of the big reasons that I'm still able and was still able and still doing it now because as you know rookies don't don't play that often. Absolutely absolutely and I played every minute of every game that year as a as a rookie stats my gosh dude we get it dude we get it all right no but it was you you looked at a lot of teams and it was run and gun. Like let's be let's be more physical let's run more than the other team we're just gonna you know hit the ball we're gonna we're gonna fight we're gonna battle we're gonna we're gonna do everything we can to to disrupt and and just be disruptive. And now you look around the league and you have so many different styles of play happening right so many different systems that are being played so many um different coaches that are that are trying to implement different ideas. I mean back then it was what four four two good luck right four four two against four four two all right cancel each other out. Now you've got three five two you've got five you got you got you've got everything yeah right four three two one or four two three one like it's all it's all over the place. And I think that that that shows the level of of coaching has has improved but I think it also shows the the development of the the players to be able to understand these different ways of playing. Right. Right? Because if you don't have the the i you can have the ideas if you don't have the players who understand it you can't you can't do it. You're not gonna be able to implement it. So um I I think that the the development of the the player and the and the coaching has has definitely improved. You know it's not so much run and gun let's let's be more physical let's let's overpower overrun teams it's it's more thought to it now than than there ever was.

SPEAKER_02 21:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:18

No I I I agree wholeheartedly.

SPEAKER_02 21:20

Tim when you were growing up St. Louis was there anybody that you loved watching and when was that day that you said to yourself I could be a pro footballer one day?

SPEAKER_01 21:34

And I've I've given this answer many times over the years. I'm we were so old we didn't really have T footy on TV here. So like there wasn't not a whole lot that that I could watch don't say it like that by the way we sound really old and we say it hard I don't care. It's fine. RTVs are black function real function realistic black and white realistically that's what we were that's when we grew up. So um you know and and and that's okay I I never tried to model myself after anybody. You know, and and that that's just the way it was. I didn't I didn't want to be anybody else. I was like, if I'm gonna make it, I'm gonna do it because I'm me, not because I'm I'm playing like somebody else. Um I truly didn't think or didn't and I've always tried to be humble, but like I I truly didn't feel like I was gonna be a professional until my third year in college. So I was 21 and I thought, okay, I think I have a shot here. Let's go. Now is when I think I have a shot. Yeah. Um late, right? Very late. Very late, yeah, of course. I I mean to be completely honest, I was not even close to being developed. Like I look at some of these kids now and I'm like, excuse me? You're you're how old? You're 16? Right. Yeah, right. I said I didn't look like that at 16. So I didn't look like I looked like that at 21. Like, what is going on here? So yeah, it was it was uh I went and did did PDO um for two summers in between, you know, my my second and third year, my third and fourth year. Um and that's when I really thought, okay, I've got a I've got a real a real chance at this. Um didn't think I would have the career that I've had, but um that's yeah, 21 was when I really thought, yeah, I could I could do this.

SPEAKER_02 23:22

In that character arc of football in America, you think about the World Cup is here. Yeah. In your backyard. You're with the USMNC representing your nation, all of the different, like you said, streaming services. We got Apple TV, we got Champions League, CBS. What is this year you think gonna have in terms of the butterfly effect for this sport?

SPEAKER_01 23:41

Um honestly, I think that's such a hard uh a hard answer to give. Um you you talk about 1994 and what did anybody think then? Who knows? Right? I mean did they think a whole, an entire league was gonna form two years later? Probably not. They probably had no idea. I think that the the easy and honest answer is that as a as a group of of players and and the national team, we have an opportunity to to to bring a country together. We have an opportunity to inspire um I'll go and I'll go through a list. We have an opportunity to inspire kids who have not picked up a soccer ball yet. We have a chance to inspire kids who are dabbling in in the game and deciding whether it's really something they want to do or if it's just something that that they want to have fun with. And we have a chance to inspire the group, another group, that are full-on uh involved in it traveling, like have have dreams and aspirations of of becoming professionals and the next uh iteration of of the US men's national team. I I think when you look at it that way, that that's really where I see the the butterfly effect happening is is influencing those the you know those those next generation, whether they're seven, eight, nine, all the way to fifteen, sixteen, who have have those real dreams and aspirations of of being a professional. That's that's the group, you know, those that that kind of age range from from seven to to fifteen, sixteen that that we really have and can have a major effect on. Cue the anthem, baby. Yeah, I'm ready. I love that. Studza.

SPEAKER_03 25:22

Dude, you you you know what it means to represent this country, you know what it means to wear that badge, and and you continue to inspire so many kids every single time that you're on the field with your play, with with who you are as an individual. Um man, I'm I'm I'm proud to call you uh a friend. And you know, we can't thank you enough for for coming on and and jumping on the podcast for a bit and just talking shop. And you know, we we don't want to take too much of your time. I know the recovery process is is long and where's my protein? Exactly. We'll we'll let you get back. Um but yeah, man, can't thank you enough.

SPEAKER_01 25:55

Uh anytime, except when I don't have enough time.

SPEAKER_03 26:00

I love it, dude.

SPEAKER_01 26:01

Pleasure. Thanks, guys. Thanks, Dun. Appreciate it. Thank you, man.

SPEAKER_03 26:04

All right, guys. Welcome back to the Goose End Show. Clearly, this is not Joe Freihoffer sat next to me. Uh, straight from the control room into the podcast room. Matt Moore stepping in for Joe. Um Matt, welcome to the podcast room.

SPEAKER_04 26:18

Yeah, thanks. Uh Joe on assignment. Be careful, Joe. You remember that story of Wally Pip? You know Wally Pi you know Wally Pip is, Brad?

SPEAKER_03 26:25

I mean, I think you're gonna tell me, so go ahead.

SPEAKER_04 26:27

Well, yeah, Wally Pip, you you took a day off. Lou Gehrig came in to play First Space Forum. Set the all-time record. No, I'm kidding. Joe's on assignment. We got him out doing uh some video hosting work. So the mailbag must go on. Delivered by the Home Depot. Always on time. Always on time. So let's get to it. Open her up. Should be a sound effect for that.

SPEAKER_03 26:53

Love it.

SPEAKER_04 26:54

All right. I like this World Cup edition questions. As we just went through an amazing guest of newest member of the USMNT, Tim Reem. What are the most the must-pack items for the World Cup? That's from John from Watkinsville. Okay. So you've been to the World Cup a couple times, right?

SPEAKER_03 27:17

Yeah. Um, I mean, listen, I think there's the obvious ones uh like your phone, laptop, iPad, uh any and all electronics that you're gonna need. Yeah. The the positive for for the guys this year is they're not gonna have to worry about any adapters or anything like that, right? That's always tough, right? The voltage, it is. It's it's a bit tricky. South Africa was tricky, Brazil was tricky. So you you've got to be you've got to be able to make sure all your things can charge, all your things are are plugged in, the appropriate uh voltage and whatnot. So um that's not going to be on the list for these guys, but the U.S. does a pretty amazing job of of making sure, almost turning the hotel into a bit of a um home base, if you will, in terms of all the things that they're gonna need from lounge, video games, uh, an area for the team to be able to hang out and chill, ping-pong pool, um, you know, making a little bit of a game room. I remember in 2010, uh, there was a member of our team that was a big fisherman, and we had a little pond behind the hotel. Mr. Clinton Dempsey himself would would go out into a little little boat and you know, had had himself some uh some tackle and a rod, and he was he was out fishing. And so um they try and make it as convenient as possible for for all the guys.

SPEAKER_04 28:35

Having been around you and Captain America, Mr. Bukineger, I've heard some of these stories. I I also heard someone might have jumped in that lake.

SPEAKER_03 28:42

We had one off day. We had one off day. Um and uh yeah, and long story short, somebody ended up in in in into the water. Um and you know, it's it's things like that. The you know, as you look back and those are the core memories, right? Yeah, core memories, the the moments that you remember uh with those those friendships, relationships that that are your teammates at the time that just kind of blossom and and like I said are become part of your core memories.

SPEAKER_04 29:11

You know, I I'm not obviously I didn't play in the World Cup or go into these things, but don't be mad. I do think and I I've been around you and and other athletes enough that you do remember the games. Um I mean obviously like you you I you could probably take me through some of those uh games that you that you remember in the World Cup, but I I know that and having been you know talked to athletes and uh Falcons here, other places, but when you the ones that you look back on, and and and same with me, you know, I've been to a million road trips and things like that, but it's those moments that happen in a game room or at the hotel, uh that are at the game, those are the ones you think about because I I was asking you before we got on when we saw this question is you probably remember who was the best ping-pong player, who was the best pool player, who went fishing, who jumped in the lake. Those are the ones that trigger your memory and make you smile when you think back on those World Cups.

SPEAKER_03 30:13

Yeah, I mean, I think when especially you listen to managers of you know all these top countries around the world, right? And the difference between the the top top teams, it's so small, right? And when you look at what is going to give them an advantage, it's essentially who's not going to be sick and tired of each other after the course of six, seven weeks of seeing each other every single every single day, right? And and you you have this ability to be able to not only enjoy each other's company, but continue to push each other in training, compete every day, and make sure that by the end of the seven weeks that you are still wanting to be there. You're wanting to be with the group of players that are your teammates. Um, and there's no there's no hostility amongst the group. And and it's those moments that that bring the group closer together.

SPEAKER_04 31:08

No, and it's fun to watch you be with some of those former teammates uh from those things. I uh you can see that there was a bond that you guys made because of those uh moments and at the hotel and things. Uh so who was the best ping pong player?

SPEAKER_03 31:24

Uh now that you put me on the spot, now I gotta try to flash flashback. Um I think when I go back, I want to say it was probably one of one one of our European-based guys. I feel like Jermaine Jones was up there. Nice. Uh I could see him. I feel like Jermaine Jones was up there. Um, I could be absolutely making that up, but we're we're gonna I'm gonna go with Jermaine Jones. That's cool. Card games, too, right? Some good card games. Yeah, I mean, just friendly.

SPEAKER_04 31:51

Yeah, friendly, of course. Friendly, friendly card games that that no flipping of the table, exactly, no exchanging. All right, my next one. I was I was curious. I I put this one in myself. Uh you have been seeing all these uh videos and moments on social of people getting players being told they've made the team. Uh I was curious, uh I like to hear your stories. What are your memories of being told that you made the World Cup team? Uh, and then what was that moment like? And then who do you call? Who who you know, what what do you do? Do you take a deep breath and be like, oh my God, well, holy, I made it.

SPEAKER_03 32:32

You know, uh how was it like? No, for sure. Um, you know, in that moment, every manager's got their own way of doing things, and so in 2010, we were all in our hotel room, you know, waiting for a phone call to then essentially go down to the meeting room with with you know Bob and the coaching staff. Um, and you knew that you know you were gonna go down and you were gonna get good news or bad news, and you're either gonna be really, really happy or really sad. And um, I was rooming with a guy that unfortunately, you know, did not get the get the yes and and get the okay. And so I remember he came back to the room and you know, there were tears. It was emotional, it was sad. Um, you know, it was certainly a feeling of disappointment. Um, and then the phone rang for me to go down there and I'm like yeah, that's that's that's not a great feeling. Um and so you go down there and you're you're sweating, you're nervous. Um and you know, fortunately for me, I was a you know, I I got good news and and said, you know, congratulations, you're gonna be a part of it. Um and in that moment, I remember feeling extremely excited, um, you know, just almost like this sense of relief. Yeah. Um, but then I knew I was walking into a room where I had to almost control my emotions because I wasn't trying to gloat and be overly excited because my friend and my teammate and my roommate is is not going in. So it was it was a bit of a tricky situation, really. And um, you know, afterwards, you know, you call your family, you call your parents, and uh you closest support system. I always talk about having a support system, and you call those individuals and you let them know, and you put uh a thumbs up in the group chat, and you know, it's it's like in those moments, it's um it's a tricky, it's a tricky emotional balance that you have to have. And then in in 14, it was very much the opposite, where you know we were all anticipating it being on a certain day, and that's when the the decisions were going to be made. And we came back from training and we were in the locker room, and guys just started getting called out one by one. Um, but after the the first guy comes back in and it's like, oh, by the way, they're doing the cuts now, and you know, I'm going home. You're like, wait, what? What's happening here? And and in that moment, you're like panic sets in, and you know, essentially they they didn't even tell really the guys that were gonna go, they just told the guys that weren't gonna go. And so then by by math and numbers, you were like, Okay, I guess I'm going.

SPEAKER_04 35:07

It's a cliche thing to say this, but that like sports is the ultimate reality show. Um and modern day uh television and production has allowed you know the common person to see it who who's not in sports. And obviously, like you know, the the production guys see it from afar, but we're not you know, they're not doing a production cut, like oh, we're keeping four of you video cameras, like four of you uh so uh we'll call you. But so we see it, but we don't feel it at your level, and and I think that's what um it's it's definitely hard for us to see that, but we don't we don't experience it. But I I think that is where the ultimate reality show is where the you're waiting for your cell phone to ring or for a text, and it's like hey, bring your bring your bring your playbook, basically, bring your bring your stuff, and coach wants to talk to you. We not many comment, you know, normal like people in the workforce experience that. And that's where you have experienced that. It's just like it's a different level, it's a different experience. And and that's where that's why I do like sitting back and hearing your stories because I've never lived that, but I also get anxiety at the same time.

SPEAKER_03 36:28

But it's like you you work so hard, right? You work your entire life for for this moment.

SPEAKER_04 36:33

And you've roomed with a guy for the whole camp that you've had a bond with. You just talked about the bond that you have to make with these guys to be a great team. You've shared your your life story with this guy, like trying to build a relationship because he might be your teammate, and then he gets called in and comes back crying, like, and then you're like, I am waiting for my phone call.

SPEAKER_03 36:54

Yeah, that's hard. No, for sure, for sure. And you're you're hoping that it goes in f in your favor. Uh, it doesn't always work out that way. Um, and I think that's that's also what the beauty of sport. And and as hard as as those moments are, when it does go your way and and you're fortunate enough to to be on the the positive side of that conversation, um, it's the best feeling. And so yeah, it's uh it's it's a it's a nerve-wracking time, it's a nerve-wracking day.

SPEAKER_04 37:23

And what okay, so everyone like the the results have are in. The results are in, uh, Mori Povich. Um the results are in. You are not on the US uh no. Um you go and find out you've the guys that have uh been told they're not going to make that final roster have have left. What's that moment like with the guys that have just made like is there a moment where you're kind of waiting for the dust to settle and you guys kind of look around and be like, holy, we just made the cup. Like, this is it. This is it.

SPEAKER_03 37:59

Is it no for sure? There's there's absolutely that moment of of togetherness, of of camaraderie, of okay, this is the group that's going to the World Cup, and this is the group that's you know, barring any injury injury or anything like that. But this is the group that it's it's gonna be together, and we're gonna we're gonna go and try and and and make history. And when you look around and you're forever connected to those guys because of that tournament, because of that squad. And um, that's something that that I'm extremely grateful for to this day that you know being able to have those relationships and friendships of those teammates during those moments, during those World Cups, um, something I'll cherish forever.

SPEAKER_04 38:40

Then you're like, all right, let's play some pingball.

SPEAKER_03 38:42

Exactly. Go fishing, jump in the lake, you know. Um it's a it's an exciting time for everyone to be a part. It's like I said, there's gonna be guys that are disappointed, there's gonna be guys that are are are feeling um sad, upset, all all the emotions today that that weren't named on the team yesterday. Um, and um, you know, you feel for those guys, but at the same time, it's uh it's a time to be excited for for the guys that are gonna go and and be a part of the US men's national team for the 2026 World Cup and uh on home soil and and and that is a huge honor, uh, a huge feat. And um, you know, I I know they're gonna have all the support uh from from us and yeah um here and in the entire country behind them. So it should be fun.

SPEAKER_04 39:28

It's starting to feel real, isn't it? It's coming. We have been preparing for this for quite some time in the Robbie and I we put up the welcome Uzbekistan on the Halo board. I mean, like it's it's getting real, like uh the the World Cup is about to start. It's gonna be a good thing. You know, I know we're about to end, but you know what's funny, I was thinking the other day time really does fly, but I remember getting okay. I remember letting the production crew and being their like their liaison to film drone shots of this facility to make the World Cup 2026 uh promo video to try to get the bid.

SPEAKER_03 40:13

And now what like 20? I don't even remember.

SPEAKER_04 40:15

It was a long time ago.

SPEAKER_03 40:16

19 maybe? 17, 18, 19, somewhere in there?

SPEAKER_04 40:20

Yeah, yeah. No, I mean the the the training ground was very fresh and new, and we did all these cool drama. I mean, the video guys there were so talented and filming all these shots of this could be one of your training grounds. Atlanta could be a host city. And now we're about to start. We're gonna lose you for a bit, but we'll see you virtually. So we're gonna make it work. You're gonna have to pack your suitcase. Exactly.

SPEAKER_03 40:43

You're gonna be living out of the suitcase. Robbie's gonna teach me all the all the fun electronic gizmos and gadgets. He's gonna send me bring your chargers. Uh exactly. Um Maddie, always welcome to the podcast room.

SPEAKER_04 40:54

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 40:54

Fantastic job with me.

SPEAKER_04 40:55

I'm feeling more comfortable in the control room, but I kept this seat warm for Joe. That's right. We'll see you next week. Team player