Bonus Episode: "We earned their respect" ft. Joe Malachino

Remember Saginaw?

Throughout this podcast folks continuously have brought up this lesser-known story about the Miami Fusion's 2000 US Open Cup run which included a thrilling 3-3 (6-5 PKs) result over the PDL's Mid-Michigan Bucks on July 25, 2000 in Saginaw, MI!

This story DEFINITELY fell under the "unbelievable" category of stories for the Miami Fusion and when I had the opportunity to interview former Player/Coach of that 2000 Bucks team, Joe Malachino (2000 PDL Coach of the Year award winner), I knew I had to get his story.

In this Bonus Episode: "We earned their respect", Joe shares his story of how he came to play for the Bucks and what that memorable 2000 season + US Open Cup run meant to them.

Enjoy!

In 2001, despite putting together one of the best seasons in MLS history (at that point and arguably since), MLS made the decision to fold both the Fusion and their Florida neighbors, the MLS original franchise, Tampa Bay Mutiny.

While MLS soccer has returned to Miami in the form of David Beckham's Inter Miami, much has been discussed of "what could've been?" Had the Miami Fusion been allowed to stay and build. Indeed, what WOULD a Miami Fusion look like in 2023?

This podcast tells the story of the Miami Fusion through the voices of those who actually lived it. 25 interviews across 25 episodes charting the good, the bad, and the unbelievable.