Jamie Watson! - Bumper to Bumper 7/8/26 Hour One

Bumper to Bumper with Dan Barreiro!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Brother. There's too many love you brother, brother, brother, there's

(00:27):
far too many love you dad. I think anyone puckers
up their lips and brushes it against their boss's buttocks.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
And then smooches as an ask kiss. I seem to
think that everything except my work. I'm good at my work.

Speaker 3 (00:46):
I confine myself to that. All I want out of
life is thirty five on a twenty rating.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
The man's enlarged my mind.

Speaker 3 (00:54):
Man, he's a poet Bowyer in that in the classic sense.
I'm a little man. I'm a little man.

Speaker 2 (01:00):
He's a great man. Think of his colors.

Speaker 4 (01:04):
There's black and there's white, and in between is mostly gray.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
That's us.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
Now.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Gray is a tough color because it's not as simple
as black and white.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
And for the media that's certainly not as interesting.

Speaker 5 (01:16):
But is who we are.

Speaker 2 (01:25):
Buses, You're the.

Speaker 4 (01:28):
Shattering of Dreams Leader fan Fan Radio Network.

Speaker 2 (01:35):
It's frustrated and k f a n dot com.

Speaker 4 (01:40):
Well, with one minute, and I'll say, forty three seconds
past the hour three o'clock central daylight time, we welcome
you back. It is a midweek edition of the Bumper
to Bumper program. I sound in my headset hollow. Is
that just because maybe my headset screwed up? Is there?

Speaker 2 (01:57):
They're weird.

Speaker 4 (01:58):
There's something going on in that chair, you see. You
sense it as well, do you?

Speaker 5 (02:02):
I mean, I don't hear it, but I know common
talks about it.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
Oh, this is the first time I've noticed it. Something's
going on and nothing's going on with the mic.

Speaker 4 (02:10):
Well, we'll figure it out and hopefully it does not
distract the audience as much as it does the uh
person of the individuals in this chair. I am the
occasional host of the program. My name is Dan Barrero.
Guardsy is out today. Brett Blake Moore, you've already heard
from is in and we will be going the distance
today until six point thirty this evening. I'll give you
some details if you care, on what kept me out

(02:33):
of the chair yesterday, because it was my intent to
be off through Monday and back on Tuesday's program, but
some things got in the way in Chicago, Illinois. In
that regard, Brat Shawn Brian Kafan text line is open.
It's been rebooted six four six eighty six. If you'd
like to be part of today's festivities.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
I learned a lot you know in the few days.

Speaker 4 (03:00):
Off, including apparently my ability to first raise expectations and
then well, I guess I'm not being accused here of
shattering the dream. But the individual felt shattered, he claimed,

(03:20):
because he believes that I had raised his hopes beyond
all reason. What are we talking about here, We're talking
about World Cup and US men's participation. It ended badly,
as most of you know by now. I'm sure there's
been a lot of discussion about it the last couple

(03:41):
certainly of yesterday and maybe even a Monday as well.
We got spanked by Belgium and we have been eliminated.
The North American presence dead right, Canada dead, Mexico dead,
United States of America done as well, and Larry Mondela

(04:02):
guy via X claimed that he's mad at me, or
he holds me responsible for taking it so hard. The
implication seems to be that he thought I had raised
expectations to a place where I expected the team to
continue to win and perhaps get to well the next

(04:23):
round would have been the quarters, right at the Elite
eight and maybe even beyond.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
I don't remember saying that.

Speaker 4 (04:29):
I do remember saying I believed it felt like something
different was going on that there was a thread here
that you could grab onto, and a lot of it
for me has just been sort of embracing the World
Cup as a concept in general. But if it had me,

(04:49):
it got me thinking. So if I did raise expectation
in the mind of at least Larry mondela guy too high,
making it that much harder to accept what turned out
to be that reality in what was it a.

Speaker 2 (05:01):
Four to one loss? Is that the final it was four.

Speaker 4 (05:04):
To one, then I feel almost compelled and obligated to
say I don't want to raise another expectation anymore than
it has seemingly already been raised in this town. So
I'm going to on this Wednesday, I guess, do my

(05:25):
duty fulfill my obligation, and that is to tell you
that if you are starting to get excited about the
possibility of Lebron James coming to Minnesota to join the Timberwolves,
you too will see your dreams.

Speaker 2 (05:42):
Shattered and dashed. Stop it.

Speaker 4 (05:46):
Stop fantasizing over it, stop thinking about the idea the welt.

Speaker 2 (05:51):
We're in the mix. They told us we're in the mix.

Speaker 4 (05:56):
They pretty much told everybody there in the midd Well,
I guess they've technically supposedly narrowed it to six. I
think this is one of the most well orchestrated, if
a little bit cruel, games, ever orchestrated at the National
Basketball Association level.

Speaker 2 (06:17):
I really do. I think Lebron's enjoying it.

Speaker 4 (06:20):
I think his representation is enjoying having fun with the
Let's have fun with the bit, let's lay out reasons
why we might be interested in coming to Minnesota, or
coming to Golden State or to the New York Knicks. Sothough,
I think that has now been ruled out. I think

(06:40):
they're just entertaining themselves during the ABYSS so at the
risk of again or trying to eliminate the risk of
being accused of raising expectations too high. In another story
on Lebron, I am officially telling you he ain't coming.
Lebron James is not coming to Minnesota. That's not me

(07:01):
saying that it wouldn't be a good fit and a
hell of a story, because I do think it would
be both. But I don't think there's a chance in
hell that he's actually going to come here. The team
is obligated the I think if I were the owner,
I would be upset if I found out that Tim

(07:21):
Conley wasn't working overtime to pursue that dream. That's your
obligation in a situation like this if you're running a
basketball team. But I don't want Larry m another guy
upset at me for the second time in the last
couple of weeks. I'm assuming the Lebron announcement. My guess
it's going to come next week, although there's no firm

(07:43):
deadline on it. So it is interesting because I don't
usually find myself in a position where I'm accused of
raising expectations to hide.

Speaker 2 (07:53):
That's rare for me.

Speaker 4 (07:55):
And as I said, I think on the World Cup,
and I stand by this, it's the concept of it.
I'm not done with the World Cup with the US out,
is what I'm trying to say. Now, does it lose
a little something in terms of steam here?

Speaker 2 (08:06):
Of course?

Speaker 4 (08:08):
And I will say, and I'm sure you've talked about
it a lot, Brett blakemore, But.

Speaker 2 (08:17):
I'm not offended by losing in this round. But I
am bothered by the way they lost. It was too thorough,
it was too total. To me, it.

Speaker 4 (08:30):
Looked very much like some the US soccer program. When
we've sort of viewed it as this what are you,
what are you doing? What's It was not competitive, it
was not close to competitive, and that's what bugged me,
not the l itself, but the way it played out.

(08:51):
And I ironically, I'm sure that you guys have talked
a lot about the reversal on Balligan and here's my
biggest issue with it. I think because the theme has been.

Speaker 2 (09:06):
Ruined, the vibe, vibe ruined.

Speaker 4 (09:09):
Everything changed. When we appealed, we had the highest elected
person in the United States of America tried to pressure
allegedly individuals to get it reversed.

Speaker 2 (09:23):
Whoever you want to blame for it.

Speaker 4 (09:27):
The implication is you've lit a fire into Belgium and
you've completely changed what had been a feel good vibe
about the team until then. Here's my problem with that theory.
I think it lets the team off the hook too easily.
It's almost like saying, well, you can't really even blame
the team for playing as poorly as they did because

(09:50):
that change changed everything. The soccer guys got involved. Belgium
had their revenge factor, they had their extra motivation, and
it may have giving them some extra motivation. My concern
about it being reversed was simply this is how positive
I was. For me, it was, Man, if you beat Belgium,

(10:14):
you're taking away some of the enjoyment of it because
people are gonna say, especially if Baligan's a big factor,
and I don't think he was, that it was going
to that that's what flipped it.

Speaker 2 (10:24):
And you're not.

Speaker 4 (10:25):
Even going to get proper credit for moving into the
Elite eight because you got this advantage.

Speaker 2 (10:31):
That's how upbeat I was. But I don't for me want.

Speaker 4 (10:34):
It to be to be used as an excuse for
almost like, well, the team itself. Once that mechanism was
in place, once the reversal was coming down the track,
then it was almost like, well it's USA didn't have
a chance. Belgium was going to be too motivated, and
the Spirits would look at the US team differently.

Speaker 2 (10:57):
The feel good part of it would be gone.

Speaker 4 (10:59):
And to me that that makes it too easy about
how we ended up playing in that game. So, by
the way, we'll get a guy who knows this stuff
a lot more, a lot better than I do. Jamie
Watson's going to join at the bottom of the hour.
In addition, we've got some bonus time with Alec Lewis coming.

Speaker 2 (11:19):
Up at I think it's four forty five.

Speaker 4 (11:21):
I'll double check my time on that, and interesting stuff
from him on a new survey athletic survey regarding perceptions
among Vikings fans and the current operation. And then Wednesday
regular kesselary schedule. I'm assuming to join in studio today
as well. That will be at at five thirty tonight.

(11:43):
We'll get into there's a lot of it. There's a
couple of done as is. Really we could have two
or three today if we really wanted to. But I
also will give I'll give you a little bit more
on how I ended up not making it back Yesterday's
very strange. It's it's everybody runs into these air stories.

(12:04):
What struck me as being different about this one was
all I was attempting.

Speaker 2 (12:09):
To do.

Speaker 4 (12:11):
Was travel from Chicago, Illinois, the world's busiest airport, O'Hare,
back to Minneapolis. It wasn't like I was trying to
get out of Sigon to get to Minneapolis, but it
felt like I was in Saigon at O'Hare airport for
reasons that we will discuss a little bit later. Maybe
it's just sort of the sign of the times or

(12:32):
the fact that the margin for error in the transport
air transport business perhaps has changed and has been lessened
over the years. Bratchean Brian Kafe in text line is
six four six eight six.

Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, I'm getting this from six to five to one.

Speaker 4 (12:49):
Guy, Is it my air pods or does Dan's might
have a reverb or ring to it, like you have
a monitor on in the studio.

Speaker 2 (12:56):
We do have a monitor on, but we usually do.
I'll turn it down.

Speaker 4 (12:58):
I don't think that should matter, but you don't could
you don't detect it?

Speaker 2 (13:03):
Not at the moment.

Speaker 5 (13:04):
But I have heard what they're talking about in the past,
so it's it's not out of the question.

Speaker 2 (13:08):
All right, we'll figure it all out. We'll get to
some text.

Speaker 4 (13:11):
As I said, prepare for a three thirty several the
first of several outstanding guests, and you know, I think
on a rather muggy Wednesday afternoon, we should have I'm
sure some controversies develop as well.

Speaker 2 (13:25):
Stay tuned bumper to bumper with Dan Burrero.

Speaker 4 (13:43):
While I was gone, I might have gotten the deadhead
community going. We'll save that for a little later in
the broadcast. We'll have some fun with that six' five
to one guy taking the.

Speaker 2 (13:57):
The queue from so many people.

Speaker 4 (14:01):
Who are so eager to label WHAT i, say what
any of us, say that it doesn't really even become
relevant WHAT i actually do. Say, example, Haha dan Blaming
trump for the. Loss imagine THAT i was doing the

(14:23):
Exact the POINT i was making was the exact opposite of.

Speaker 2 (14:28):
That got to listen better. Man BUT i understand.

Speaker 4 (14:33):
If it's the old deal of IF i have to
be your, boogeyman then you're going to grab on and
even invent stuff that, encourages or i should, say validates
your notion of my opinion on a given, individual whether
in that particular case it has anything to do with
the reality That i'm laying out Because i'm ACTUALLY i

(14:57):
do not in general like any executive getting in the
middle of that, nonsense even if it's The World. Cup
whether it's him or anybody, else doesn't matter to. Me
but BUT i was making the exact opposite point that others.
Do it's, like, well there was no chance once he,
intervened and Once belgium had this extra motivating, force the

(15:19):
whole vibe.

Speaker 2 (15:20):
Changed that lets.

Speaker 4 (15:22):
The team off the hook too easily for the soccer,
ambassador as far As i'm.

Speaker 2 (15:28):
Concerned that that that ain't that not gonna work for.

Speaker 5 (15:30):
Me does it make you feel any better that it's
not an exclusive To Dan barrero, problem because yesterday or,
no two days, Ago guards he Had Mike. Trudell oh, yeah,
okay and everyone said we're gonna have other guvenatorial candidates on.

Speaker 2 (15:46):
And guards just. Go there's hundreds Of oh that's.

Speaker 4 (15:50):
Tremendous trudell he covers, unless AS i, know has He
probably he's got the look and the slickness that would
probably make him a viable. Candidate but right, now as you,
say he's a, reporter sideline reporter and other broadcast duties

(16:10):
For Los Ange's laker.

Speaker 2 (16:12):
Stuff, Correct, yeah that hasn't changed SINCE i last known.
Him that's pretty. Good that's very.

Speaker 4 (16:16):
Funny so the plan was get, back take the last
flight out Of chicago Hair.

Speaker 2 (16:22):
Monday, night ten.

Speaker 4 (16:24):
Thirty and we get to the airport and we find
out pretty, quickly all, right it's moved back to, eleven
which isn't. Great be, Okay well it, happens and then
it kept getting moved. Back we finally make our way
to the gate near the gate AND i get a
text that gives us a new departure time of two a.

Speaker 2 (16:50):
M And i'm, saying that's not. Real they're not.

Speaker 4 (16:55):
Gonna, realistically you're not gonna take off a. PLANE i
guess if maybe you need it In, minneapolis you, could
you could do, it but we're not going to take
off it, Too and if we're putting it back that.

Speaker 2 (17:05):
Often, basically what.

Speaker 4 (17:09):
IF i was supposed to leave at ten thirty, one
thirty three and a half, hours we're now talking about
three and a half hours. LATE i go to the
gate agent AND i, say have they canceled this? Flight
and he said, no but he said off the, record
they're going To there's no way we're going. To the
plane's still sitting at the gate and stuck in a

(17:30):
storm IN i think it Was, raleigh it was In North,
CAROLINA i don't remember where could have Been, charlotte might
have Been. Rally it's not gonna it's not even off
the ground. Yet at that, point you, figure, okay it's over, Tonight.
Johnny so we go to one of those crisis centers
that they did have to, have didn't, have did happen

(17:50):
to have, open and they, say we got nothing else for.
You tomorrow, morning we got nothing else for. You tomorrow,
afternoon we got nothing till the same flight tomorrow night
is In tuesday night at ten thirty, six at which
Point i'm not very, happy But i'm, saying.

Speaker 2 (18:10):
All, right let's we'll we'll figure this out in the.

Speaker 4 (18:14):
Morning then you get to the issue of, well what
do you want to do about the, bags because we
don't even know if we're gonna end up on the same.
Airline do we want to you, know we got no
bags for the evening to go back to my, sisters
to Coach barrero's. Place so it's the old let's go
to baggage and see if they can retrieve the. Bags
is that. Possible it's a big, airport is a million you.

(18:34):
Know and they, say, well it's not, easy but let
me check with my. Supervisor he goes around the behind a,
curtain comes back on and, says Because i've given, him
we get them the tag. Information and he, says, yes we,
can we. Can we can make that. Request it might
take up to an, hour which is not. Ideal boy, say,

(18:55):
okay well what we got to. Do but then here's the,
kicker he, says BUT i, said so within an. Hour
at the end of an, hour we will be able
to they'll find them and get.

Speaker 2 (19:05):
Them and he, says, well it's fifty to. Fifty so
what he, says, so what do you mean it's fifty to.
Fifty so it's fifty to.

Speaker 4 (19:14):
FIFTY i mean about half the time they actually are
able to do, it and half the time they're. Not
AND i, go, well but it's got to be a
yes or a. NO i can actually live with a,
no but if you're gonna give me a, yes you
can't say it's a qualified. Yes there's a fifty to
fifty chance because we could be here till six am
and they don't show. Up so THEN i got to
get him to he admits.

Speaker 2 (19:35):
It he, says, yeah that is a.

Speaker 4 (19:36):
Problem so then he's got to go back through supervisor
to cancel said. Request at first he said we can't cancel,
it then he said we.

Speaker 2 (19:44):
Could then we get back in the.

Speaker 4 (19:46):
Vehicle Coach berrero comes back out From barrington to pick
us up get, home probably about three, thirty And i'm, thinking,
well you, know i'd like to come. BACK i intended
to Work, tuesday BUT i couldn't get anybody at this
Was american airlines to get to the phone to try

(20:08):
then to do the other. THING i, said, well how
about getting on another. Carrier you know it's it's not
illegal to do. It they don't like doing, it but,
Whatever and the first go, around the first line of
goofballs said, sorry we can't do. IT i appeal to
a second, individual and after a long period of, time

(20:31):
we ended up getting on A united. FLIGHT i think it.
Was it was scheduled to leave at two. THIRTY i
think we actually left it four yesterday. Afternoon but what
was weird about it is everybody has these. Stories, obviously
it just feels different when.

Speaker 2 (20:46):
It's LIKE i, said you're Going chicago To.

Speaker 4 (20:48):
Minneapolis you, go, well there's got to be a million,
flights there's got to be put us in.

Speaker 2 (20:52):
Steerage you, know we don't put us where we need to.

Speaker 4 (20:54):
Just we just want to get on the plane and
get back soon enough to do.

Speaker 2 (20:57):
It so that's. It there's nothing more anniversial than. That
it was just.

Speaker 4 (21:01):
Odd it's one of those situations where everybody who, Travels
i'm sure can, relate where no decisions seem like great.

Speaker 2 (21:10):
Decisions i'll give you another.

Speaker 4 (21:11):
Example after the luggage we find, out we can't get
the luggage. BACK i do call one of the eight
hundred numbers about the idea of trying to at least
get on that flight to have something for the next,
night just in case nothing else.

Speaker 2 (21:25):
Develops but here this was the.

Speaker 4 (21:28):
Kicker she, said, well you, know technically your flight tonight
has not yet been. CANCELED i, SAID i, know but
the gate agent said it's about. To so what are
we supposed to do? HERE i, said let me ask
you a. Hypothetical IF i don't book anything else now
with you for like the next, day make this change

(21:48):
and that flight somehow does, leave let's say at three
in the, morning are we out the Fair and she, said,
well technically, yes because we were on that flight and
the flight did. Go so it felt, like as well
as days or nights where there were no good, options
you're just trying to figure out what what gives you

(22:10):
the best the best chance to get.

Speaker 2 (22:11):
Someplace so that's. It that's.

Speaker 4 (22:13):
Why so by the time we got in it was obviously.
FINE i did think about, driving but ultimately that was
going to be too complicated to get a rental car
where we, were so in any, case that was that's.
It there's, uh it's we call it first world. Problems
obviously nobody, died it's. Not it was just strange BECAUSE
i always you, Know i've obviously traveled over the decades,

(22:36):
hundreds certainly dozens and dozens and dozens of times between
those two, cities And i've had like weather issues where
But i've never had a situation WHERE i felt like
they were as far away the two cities and two
airports as they were in that, situation LIKE i are
there fewer flights.

Speaker 2 (22:53):
These, DAYS i don't. Know it was very very.

Speaker 5 (22:55):
Stronge that's the risk of checking, bags AND i try
to avoid it at all.

Speaker 4 (22:58):
Costs, well but the Reason i'm not good at traveling
in those liquids for the like the liquid, side you,
know the smaller travel size containers on lotion and you,
know shaving all.

Speaker 2 (23:10):
That kind of.

Speaker 4 (23:10):
Stuff i'm not good at. That and SO i just say,
yeah because that you're, right that's the. Advantage but the
disadvantages then you've got to you get anything on there
that shouldn't, be they'll they'll then they got. It you
had to take it off of the out of the
out of your, luggage, right WHICH i hate to. Do,
Too Bradshawn Brian cafe in text line is six four
six eight.

Speaker 2 (23:30):
Six we are going to get into plenty of soccer.

Speaker 4 (23:33):
Conversation by by the, way somebody, said train seems like
a pretty good. OPTION i did think about, that but,
again the complication there is you got to get all
the way back to Downtown. CHICAGO i think to get
to the train and we'ord o hair and then you
know it's going to leave. YOU i don't think the
train leaves you directly at the airport here where my car.

Speaker 2 (23:54):
Was so it got very very.

Speaker 4 (23:55):
Complicated well prepared to Talk World, cup But i'm sure
there's been a lot of conversation about it the last
couple of days in the aftermath of THE us is
BEING us being summarily dismissed By. Belgium and we'll Get
Jamie watson's reaction to how it went, down and then
we'll broaden it out to who's, left what storylines interest

(24:19):
him the? Most and Did egypt get job by the? Officials?
Right that's one of the key questions that continues to
come up after the ridiculous comeback led by, well it
wasn't really led BY messi. Right in, fact DIDN'T messi
miss a penalty. KICK i believe that he, did as

(24:39):
somebody has written that as world class and historic As messy,
is he's got a terrible percentage on penalty, kicks WHICH
i didn't. Know so again to all of that and,
MORE i think the obvious question with our next guest
we'll start with is where does THE us go from
here in the? Continuum have we made some progress or

(25:00):
the way it? Ended are we kind of back to square?
One six, four six eighty. Six if you have, questions
brats you On briankfean text line back in a.

Speaker 3 (25:08):
Minute you're listening To barrero on the fan Our iHeartRadio Music.

Speaker 2 (25:14):
Festival presented By Capital.

Speaker 4 (25:15):
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Pm tener keywords and learn more head to kfan dot.
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Speaker 4 (25:32):
Com a former twelve year PRO mls USL n asl
U nc these DAYS tv analyst extraordinaire DATELINE i believe
originating most recently From, Nashville. Tennessee Jamie watson kind enough
to join us again via The Connectico Water systems. Hotline

(25:55):
you Are nashville based, now, Correct that's that's.

Speaker 3 (25:59):
Right man From minnesota In. Nashville he started in twenty,
twenty so we've been there ever. Since but two of
the my boys were born In, minnesota so we Are
we suffered six winters In minnesota where grandfather dian to
be Lifelong minnesota and at least who my boys are
and then by default, me so we missed it all the.

Speaker 4 (26:16):
Time then it's interesting because Again nashville has BECOME i
don't know if you were ahead of the curve or
right on the.

Speaker 2 (26:22):
Curve it's become one of those.

Speaker 4 (26:23):
Vivid and while Exploding american, cities. RIGHT i, mean it's
it's through the roof In.

Speaker 3 (26:29):
Nashville everybody comes for a weekend to visit and then they, think,
OH i could live, here and then they move here really,
quickly and it's it was a hidden gym have been figured. Out.
Man we felt the way that way About minnesota, though
when we went up there and we SPENT i went
on loan before the team and figured out we loved,
it and then when the opportunity came to play, there
THEN i jumped at. It, MAN i loved my time In.

(26:49):
MINNESOTA i. Missed so this is the best. Time this
is When minnesota is at its absolute peak and nobody
appreciates summers more Than, minnesota and so you spend more
time outside and it's a beautiful. PLACE i. Love it's
nine thirty at.

Speaker 2 (27:00):
Nine, still, yeah you're right about. That all? Right where
do we?

Speaker 4 (27:05):
BEGIN i was talking earlier in the program THAT i
didn't necessarily think that THE us had to Beat belgium
for this to be considered a successful. RUN i didn't
want a grade on too tough of a, curve BUT
i wanted a grade on a pretty tough. One WHAT
i was more bothered by was the way they. Lost it,

(27:26):
felt from my, eyes so much more thorough and at times,
unprofessional where it felt like we were back in the.

Speaker 2 (27:35):
Past how did you process?

Speaker 4 (27:37):
It AM i being too hard on the team or
what was your reaction to The belgium game?

Speaker 3 (27:41):
Match, no Looks you're absolutely. Right and here's the. Thing
this isn't participation. Trophy let's have. Fun everybody gets a
medal and an award at the end of, this it's
sports at the most competitive, level and it's the highest
competition you can have in. Sports it wasn't good enough
on the, day and not one player on that team

(28:04):
would look you in the imbe able to tell YOU
i had a good game that, day so as a collective.
Effort but two things can be. True at the same,
Time dan could have been the worst performance of The World.
Cup and also this tournament as a whole could be
massively successful for THE us men's national team soccer in
this country and really the view of how a tournament

(28:29):
can unite the world off the. Field both things can be,
true AND i think that they are true in this
sentstence where the group just didn't rise to the, Occasion
they didn't meet the, moment and that sports not everybody does.
That there's forty eight teams in the. Tournament forty seven
of them are going to go home except that they
didn't win the tournament and second guess themselves and a
lot of players are gonna ask questions about could they

(28:50):
have done, more should they have done something differently for
the rest of their. Lives and then also all forty
eight teams are going to say this was collectively one
of the greatest sporting experiences to be a part, of
to see, unfold to be witness of it was successful
and in a different. WAY i wish it would have
been on the field and more. Successful but come into the, Tournament,

(29:12):
dan this was rank seventeenth in the. World we got
to the top. Sixteen that's our, barometer like that is
where we. Are anything else would have been fantastic to,
succeed to get to the final. Eight if we would
have only gone to the round of thirty, two it
would have been a. Failure SO i mentioned in what
grade did you give THE us men's national? Team now
That i've set all that.

Speaker 4 (29:32):
Piece you talk about, grade letter, GRADE i haven't really
gone down the little grade would you would.

Speaker 3 (29:37):
You give letter? Grade did you have a? Number? Grade
where do you? Have?

Speaker 4 (29:40):
You ya that if you force, ME i may be
to prisoner to the way it ended to celebrate, it
to the degree that if you take the longer view
that you, are that you may be that you should
because again it felt, well let's let me try To
i'll answer in a.

Speaker 2 (29:57):
Minute let me try this on, you Because i'm very.

Speaker 4 (29:59):
Curious is to get where you are if you if
you classify yourself as a vibe guy because one of
the things the theories that has been advanced is once
the ball got rolling on attempting to reverse the, suspension
that and it ultimately it was granted that all of

(30:19):
the good vibes that surrounded this team, dissipated almost as
if they're talking about mysterious soccer gods no longer smiling
on what THE us was. Doing and in addition that
it Gave belgium extra motivation that they felt, like you,
know the world is against.

Speaker 2 (30:39):
Us my only problem.

Speaker 4 (30:41):
With that theory IS i think it lets the team
off the hook too, easily BECAUSE i still think you
got to you, know you got to play better if
you are going to really be. Better so but where
are you on that whole vibe? Discussion did? That do
you buy the fact that that literally changed everything from
a feel good story where there's nothing stopping us now
to oh my, god we're trying to mess with the

(31:03):
with the with the soccer. Gods here we got a you,
know a reversal that really doesn't usually take, place and
we Handed belgium this great extra motivational, ploy meaning it
was impossible for us to.

Speaker 3 (31:19):
COMPETE i, mean, look it sucks that the conversation shifted,
right and and the whole process isn't. Ideal isn't? Great
live in an age where the information that is going
to be put in front of you you have to
take it with a grain of, salt and depending on

(31:39):
what your algorithm bubble tells you and what it's curated
and crafted for. You you're going to see, Headlines you're going
to see. Articles some of them are going to be
ninety nine point nine percent, accurate some of them are
going to be zero point one percent, Accurate and the
truth is probably somewhere in between everything you. Read so
was it as bad as it was made out to?
Be was it not near really as bad as it

(32:00):
was made up to? ME i don't quite. KNOW i
know it sucks that we're having this conversation because if
it never happened and THE us still lost and everything
still stayed the, same we'd be, like, hey, look you,
know kind of things kind of you, know that's the
way that it. Went they, Long but everything else is.
Great it's kind of muddied the feel goodness of. It
AND i don't like that BECAUSE i don't think that

(32:22):
the players necessarily deserve. That Glorian balaguan doesn't necessarily deserve.
That he didn't do anything in. Particular he was greatiubout
he wouldn't the referee stand after the game they gave
him a red, card and he would gave a quote that,
said why AM i going to be upset and? Curses
because we're a role model to young boys and. Girls
we need to make sure that we show we can handled. It. Biz,

(32:46):
SO i thought a lot of the dark cloud that
was hanging over the final and then was not helped
by the, performance to say the, least really shifted what
the focus should have been on and what that fairly or.
Unfairly that's for whatever lens you want to look to it.
For SO i JUST i hope that look it sorted itself.

(33:08):
Out the game played itself. Out their best players be
our best, players and they're a better. Team hopefully we
can focus when that all kind of dies down onto
the bigger, picture because there was so much more good
that was done than what the final thirty six hours
of the tournament, unfolded and none of those players particularly
asked for. It it just kind of got dumped on their, lap,
which in hindsight it sucks and it didn't need to happen.

Speaker 4 (33:31):
Necessarily, YEAH i MEAN I i was positive. ENOUGH i
mentioned earlier in the show THAT i was looking at
it the other. WAY i was, thinking you, KNOW i
don't want A us victory to be tainted by this extraordinary.

Speaker 2 (33:45):
Reversal that's the.

Speaker 4 (33:46):
WAY i was, thinking BECAUSE i, say it's going to
get in the way it's and to that, extent whether,
again AND i think we agreed that it was not
the right, call but it did certainly feel like it
was a fairly unusual set of circum sances that led
to the. Reversal correct that those reversals Don't, yeah it
happened very, often do.

Speaker 3 (34:04):
They it was unprecedented as far as A World cup is, concerned,
right like it had. Happened it happened a couple of times,
before and it did Affect grit Johneral ronaldo being able
to play in some. Competitions i'm not sure if it
was The World cup or if it was The. EUROS
i have to go back and look at, it but,
yeah it's super rare the case of which, happened and

(34:24):
never in A World cup and just, oh you, know
all the surrounding stories of it is makes it look really,
convoluted so that's why there was so much fuss about.
It but, MAN i Just i'm so proud of WHAT i,
saw not just on the, field BECAUSE i think it
can be, better and it should be. Better we should
demand better if we really want to be an, elite

(34:45):
top tier. Team in this conversation in the, world But
i'm so proud of What i've Seen communities come. Together,
MAN i watched people from all walks of. LIFE i
Did congo Versus uzbekistan And, Atlanta, georgia dan like different
worlds colliding and everybody having a great. TIME i got
a chance to Do morocco Versus, haiti And i'm watching
people dance and make friends that you, know it was.

(35:09):
Beautiful it was almost like reinvigorating of what humanity actually
is when you get outside and touch grass and you're
able to go to a fan fest and see people
and just, say you, know like you don't speak the same,
language BUT i think a smile is, universal AND i
saw a lot of that during The World. Cup so,
man that's when it's all said and, done What i'll
choose to remember from. This but, YEAH i, mean this

(35:31):
Isn't we don't need to go into the deepest dive
of what needs to be fixed from a performative standpoint
on the, field tactically and all this, stuff because that'll
get sorted out in the four walls OF Us. Soccer
What i'm most proud about is how great This World
cup has, been uniting people and just restoring faith and
humanity that we are all at the heart of it

(35:52):
in the, core just people that want to be a
part of, community want to be loved by, others and
it really is a great world and there are great
people AND i got to see a lot of that.
Firsthand so that's that's HOW i choose to remember. It
and hopefully next time in four years the team can do.
Great but even if then they, don't like the world's
going to keep, spinning it's still going to be a
great experience if it mimics and replicates what we had

(36:13):
in This World.

Speaker 4 (36:13):
Cup, yeah that part is, undeniable and it's ongoing because
the tournament obviously doesn't stop With unfortunately now THE, Us
mexico And canada all out of. It helped me technically
on what happened to our goaltender on WHAT i think
was certainly the most soul crushing moment in that game
that took, away you, know any real chance to, say all,

(36:34):
right we might be able to get back in this.

Speaker 2 (36:36):
Thing play that out.

Speaker 3 (36:38):
For you could be more, Right, yeah You pitt be
more right about the way that it just crushed the
spirits of the team because the team was. Losing the
fact that early down one and a half was a
minor miracle of itself with the way that they, played
and this group could have gotten back. In they kind
of felt like they were ten fifteen minutes. In and
then the goal of the second, half and then the goal. Happens,

(36:59):
basically the goalkeeper has come, out he's ready to play,
well he intercepts, it the forward stays with it's still
pressuring him and the. Goalkeeper what he's thinking about at
first Is i'm just going to kick this as far
AS i. Can but then when he touches the ball by,
him he immediately, thinks, well instead of kicking it as
far AS i can and just giving it back to
the other, TEAM i can keep the ball AND i

(37:19):
can pass it to a. Teammate but at that point
he's starting to already have that swinging. Motion so now
he sort of tries to change his, thought almost like
in your back swinging of golf when you're trying to
throw a football and all of a sudden you, decide,
OH i don't want to do, that you. KNOW i,
LOOK i don't want to say it's farm trying to
throw across the middle, here but you know WHAT i.
Mean it's one of those thoughts where you're, like, oh,
no don't change your mind, Here, like don't it's okay

(37:42):
to do the other thing that you're planning on doing,
it even if it was a bit you, know it
seems a bit. Reckless the other thing is way worse
of an, idea and it. HAPPENS i hate it For Matt.
Freeze it's a great. Kid i've gotten to talk to
him a few, times and you, KNOW i JUST i
hope that doesn't define his time as a. Player you.
Know it's a diversity That i'm sure he didn't expect

(38:02):
to be. Facing and, yeah, man that's how find the
margins are at that level of. Sports so you'd make
a mistake like, that you get, punished and that really
killed all the momentum they. Played the final thirty minutes
stand but you could just tell that group didn't believe
that they were going to be able to score. TOO
i think they thought they'd get One, bess But, DAN
i think they believed they weren't getting two back Against

(38:23):
belgium in that game was kind of over.

Speaker 2 (38:24):
After, that no question about.

Speaker 4 (38:26):
That we're chatting With Jamie watson About World CUP us.
Eliminated there's a lot more to get to beyond. Them
one LAST us, question at least one. MORE i assume
you want.

Speaker 2 (38:39):
Post chattino to continue to be the.

Speaker 4 (38:41):
Guy there's a not an open question right about whether
he would stay for the next.

Speaker 2 (38:46):
Cycle how does all that, Work where does all that?
Stand what do you?

Speaker 3 (38:48):
Think, yeah So i'll try to give the quick elevator pitch.
Here IF i WAS Us, SOCCER i would Want Mauricio potchettino,
Back and WHAT i would do IS i would, SAY
i want to give you a contract that's going to
make you feel happy today as it does in four years.
Financially and THEN i want to put a clause in
their den that, says if you entertain one conversation with
any other club team or national team throughout the midst of,

(39:09):
it you have to pay us. Back every penny and
then some because THEN i want my coach to be
completely financially motivated to make sure that he doesn't entertain
any other idea for the next four. Years and then
when all that signed in The ingish dry, DEN i would,
say now you have the full. Keys WHAT i want
IS i want our sixteen year olds and the national
team playing exactly the same way as the full. TEAM

(39:31):
i want there to be integration from the youngest age
of national team all the way. Up. YEAH i played
the under seventeen national, team under, eighteen under, twenty under twenty,
three every national team and even A Youth World, cup
except playing in the actual full. TEAM i was that,
close but never quite over that final. HURDLE i can
tell you at no point in any of those camps
do we say this is the way we are, playing

(39:53):
because the first team plays this, way and if you
want to play a part of the full national, team
then you need to understand the game this way and
view it this, way so that way you've got years
of repetition before you finally make your way up to
the first. Team If pachettino says and they give him,
THAT i want him to have full rain of this
program to be able to implement that style from top to,

(40:14):
bottom so there's no question about. It so that, way
when we get into these situations in the future and
we get young, players there is not inexperience trying to
adapt to a. System they're sitting there, GOING i actually
don't know another way to play the game because this
is the Way i've been doing it for so. Long
that's what my hope would. Be and if he's not
on board of, that, okay then fair, enough good, luck
go test the. Waters we wish you all the. Best

(40:34):
keep that door open if it ever comes back. Open
but that's WHAT i would. Do but, AGAIN i don't
have the blank check to write them and the game
plan to go through, That so who knows that that'll actually.
Happen i'll be just as curious kind of as everybody
else where are you.

Speaker 4 (40:47):
ON i know there's been discussion about this post more and.

Speaker 2 (40:50):
There always is.

Speaker 4 (40:53):
That part of the problem still that needs to be
addressed beyond a really key point you just mentioned is
that this, sport the way it's set up terms of
amateurs at the youngest, level is becoming so exclusive so
quickly and so much about money that we end up
eliminating individuals who might actually be helpful to the.

Speaker 2 (41:14):
Cause and everybody.

Speaker 4 (41:15):
Says it's a, problem but nobody seems to know what
to do about.

Speaker 2 (41:19):
IT a do you agree with that? Theory and if you,
do what do we do about?

Speaker 3 (41:24):
It, Oh i'm gonna time you got, here about what
time we go off here today because we'll probably still be. Talking,
LOOK i don't have an answer for. IT i know
what my experience, was AND i know that my parents
had the sacrifice to be able to get me to
be able to play club. SOCCER i have a child
that's nine years old that's in his second year playing club,
soccer AND i get sticker shocked every time THAT i

(41:45):
see the bill that comes in for what it takes
for my nine year old to go. Play and THEN
i know what it costs when they want to go
play a. Tournament you, know it's several hours, away and
we have to go get, hotels and we have to
do all the things that make it, happen you, know
to watch them play for three games and then come
back home at the end of the. Weekend if we
could do it all over, AGAIN i wish it would

(42:08):
be done completely. Different but the reality, is AND i
think we have to understand that we live in a
capitalist society where that's a business and soccer happens to
be THE. X it happens to be the business that
we are talking about. Here and if it was the
next thing of selling something, else selling another, experience and
that's what the cost of it, was and that's what

(42:28):
It's the system has been set up and is established to,
be it's going to be hard to undo. That is
it WHAT i wish it? Was, NO i wish it
was something. Different is it the reality of what it? Is?
Yeah AND i don't think that there's any undoing. It
AND i do think that it does keep people from a.
Barrier there is a barrier of entry to be able to,
play AND i hate. That BUT i also have a

(42:48):
realistic approach that that's not changing anytime, soon and it
would take billions and billions of dollars to try to
buy people out of that, business which is youth soccer
and youth sports in. General BECAUSE i know that there's
listening right now driving twin cities that are going. Way
do you see a hockey bill for rine? Time wait
till you see a volleyball costs to get to go

(43:09):
travel to play in. Tournaments why do you see a
cheerleading or a dance or any. Sports it's turned into
it's completely a, business and that's the reality that we live.
In DO i like?

Speaker 1 (43:19):
It?

Speaker 3 (43:20):
No do any of the parents like? It absolutely? Not
does it prevent some people from? Playing? Yes but is
it also the reality of the world that we live. In,
Dan it, is AND i don't think that it's. Changing
so we could talk to her blue in the face about,
It but that's just the world that we live, in isn't?

Speaker 2 (43:35):
It honest? Answer for? Sure?

Speaker 4 (43:36):
Absolutely Did egypt get jobbed by the? Officials soon they're
an Argent tina's dramatic come from behind went all?

Speaker 3 (43:47):
Right so to catch a new listeners up with you that? Context,
right He gyp's up one, zero they score a, goal
but after the goal is scored to make it to,
zero there is a review of a foul that happened
completely at the other end of the field that essentially
led To egypt winning the ball and then going down
the link to the field and. Scoring, basically if ants

(44:09):
in the, corner he gets the ball swiped from him
and they go and score, it but then all of a,
sudden instead of getting you a, basket we go back
and we go wait a, minute there was a foul
in the. Corner his arm was. Hit take those points.
Away that's essentially what happened To. Egypt so they get
a goal called back to be fair, ball don't lie
situation to you, know shout out kg. There egypt did

(44:33):
score and make it two, zero legitimate. Goal but Then
argentina and that little Magician, messy he just made magic
happen like he always. Does they come, back they win
three two by the letter of the. Law, DAN i
know they. Didn't well it feels that, way and anybody
that wants to see it Through egyptian tends to, glasses
they're going to, say, yeah we got. Robbed it was

(44:54):
a foul and that's part of the. Rule and it
just sucks the situation that had. Happened but my, goodness
CAN i say this one thing, Though, dan to Watch
Lionel messi cry after winning that. Game he is the
man that has brought tiers of happiness to millions of.
People he's a man that has more money than a
lot of countries. Do he has won everything that you
can in this game for him to be in tears

(45:14):
after winning a round sixteen game when ultimately he probably
thought that was His World cup being done in ten
or eleven, minutes and then it turns all the way
around to win. It it brought me happiness to see
that man have that level of, happiness and it just
it was probably one of those few feelings in life
that can bring him and evoke that kind of an,
emotion and SO i was happy to see. It as

(45:35):
as a fan of the, GAME i just felt heartbroken
for My egyptian friends that had their hearts broken from
one of the biggest upsets in the round of.

Speaker 4 (45:43):
Sixteen, well what you're laying out ON, MESSI i, maintain
is what separates the goods from the all time great
is it no matter how much they, have either financially
or in terms of championships or, victories it's still matters to.
Him that's part of me what separates them in the first,

(46:04):
place without a.

Speaker 3 (46:05):
DOUBT i, mean and look the money kept by. HAPPINESS
i THINK i would be pretty happy in A. Ferrari
BUT i think when you've had all of that.

Speaker 2 (46:14):
Your whole, career and the.

Speaker 3 (46:17):
One thing that you've had your entire life is coming
to an, end but father time is. Undefeated as much
As messi wants to play soccer for as long as
he possibly, can there is going to be a point
when he is unable to do. That and this might
have been that moment where he's, human so it might
have been creeping into his mind THAT i may never
get to play in A World cup game. Again that is,

(46:37):
happening AND i tell you what it happens to everybody
when you come to the end of your. Career you
are literally counting down the. MINUTES i cried after my
last practice BECAUSE i knew that it was the last
TIME i was going to have a soccer, practice. Right
it just it. Was it's that. Emotion it's the only
thing you've ever, known that your, identity it's who you.
Are AND i guarantee you he genuinely thought it there
was a world of which you could. End but then

(46:58):
he also went completely the greatest of all time mentality
and decided it's not going to end, today and he
completely made it all happen where the team could turn
around the. Results so also goes to show why you,
Know i'm now commentating and he's still playing and we're
roughly the.

Speaker 2 (47:13):
Same, age and he's the best to ever do.

Speaker 3 (47:14):
It and anybody watched you, PLAY i could SAY i
was the most mediocre to ever do.

Speaker 4 (47:19):
It you, know you KNOW i tend to root for two.
COUNTRIES i root for THE us AND i do root For.
Spain it's where my, father my late father was. Born
my whole family Is. Spanish, actually my dad's father was
born In. Argentina SO i got all kinds of connections
here that make it a lot of interest extra to.

(47:39):
Me so tell me about my, team My spain, teams
that team's chances to continue to go, forward because As
i've watched them as a casual, GUY i know their,
HISTORY i know how fundamentally sound they are and how
you can never count them. OUT i haven't been wowed
by their dominance throughout and YET i don't think they've

(48:00):
given up a goal.

Speaker 2 (48:01):
Yet If i'm not, mistaken so are. They do you
look at them as.

Speaker 4 (48:05):
A legitimate threat to win this whole thing or what's
what's your view of Where spain fits in for the
teams that.

Speaker 3 (48:13):
Remain, Yeah spain has been. Fantastic they have not conceded
a goal. TURNER i did their first two games Against
Cablo verde where they weren't sit at all, right And
Cablo verde pulled off one of the biggest shock results
of The World. Cup and THEN i had the game
where they Beat Sali arabia Four nila And Saudi. Arabia
i'm not sure they touched the soccer malle for large
portions of that, match SO i got to see sort

(48:34):
of the odds and ends of it up close and.
Personal and, man This spain, team they're they're. Good there's
the number two team in the. World can they win?

Speaker 4 (48:42):
It?

Speaker 3 (48:42):
Absolutely i'd Say, Spain argentina And france are probably the
only legitimate teams that can win this. Tournament can something crazy? Happen,
sure those would be the only TEAMS i would feel
comfortable putting my money where my mouth is theoretically IF
i did that, right SO i WOULD i would say
that they are in that. GROUP i think they give
you a lot to. LIKE i believe that if THE

(49:04):
us would have won Against, belgium the would played Against
spain and then we would have been saying The mirkawn
ice times a. Thousand if they Beat, spain it would
have been that of a lopsided. Prediction going into. It
So spain was ALWAYS i feel, like going to get
to the semi, final and THEN i think they're gonna
have to run Into france and if they, deserve if
they Beat, france they deserve to be in the final

(49:24):
and they're a team that can do. It. Yeah for,
ME i think this is lining. Up if it all
goes to HOW i think the tournament should, go with
the run of form that everyone's, in THEN i think
we're setting up for A World cup final rematch from
four years ago When argentina took On. France and the
way That france is, PLAYING i could see there being

(49:44):
a flip of the script in which Killing abape is
Beating argentina And Lino messi in the. Final AND i
know they say the sequel is never as good as the,
first BUT i don't, Know Man holoan two was pretty.
Good SO i think A World cup final rematch too
Of france And argentina would be hell of a, matchup
pretty enticing to watch and could break some numbers. There

(50:05):
so what about, you who do you think is winning?
Is you've got so many rooty. Interests what is your? Head?
Say not your, Heart, dan my?

Speaker 4 (50:11):
HEAD i DON'T i, MEAN i guess overall it looks
to me Like. France but you, know there's still a
part of me that, says, WELL i appreciate so, much for,
example What spain seems to do, defensively they just don't
seem to create very many. OPPORTUNITIES i probably lean that,

(50:33):
way but you're far more expert on that than. ME
i hope It's. Spain i'd love to see, it for.
SURE i will say the only good thing ABOUT i
got stuck in a mess at O'Hare getting back flight.
Issues the only good thing WAS i had all this extra,
time SO i ordered A La roja HOODIE i found
online that looked too SO i feel that was the

(50:54):
one consolation of being delayed by all kinds of airline.

Speaker 2 (50:58):
Issues was a lovely a big hoodie guy now these.

Speaker 4 (51:01):
Days so either, WAY i THINK i can wear A
laoja hoodie with some.

Speaker 3 (51:05):
Pride, yeah you look at, it and if they, WIN
i want to see, you, yeah doing a little bit of,
alsa eating some paie or something like that to. Celebrate.

Speaker 2 (51:14):
Man you, know, yeah it might be.

Speaker 4 (51:16):
Pie it more likely would be, empanada but we GOT
i grew up with all the Good spanish bishes for,
SURE i, SHOULD i should mention to.

Speaker 2 (51:25):
You i'm gonna give you.

Speaker 4 (51:26):
An example of the texts that have come in during
our visits with, you including this. Time uh this is
from six to five one Guy Jamie watson on The
World cup is great. Radio thanks for getting him. ON
i had a couple earlier basically saying where have you
been hiding? Him you should have him on more? Often
please have him on again to discuss these. Topics so

(51:47):
it's been it's been. Great it's not like we didn't know,
you but we haven't talked in a while and it
has been really. Helpful AND i will we'll try to
maybe do a better job of stay in.

Speaker 3 (51:55):
Touch, okay, man. Thanks the six Number i'm pretty sure
Is Eat. Sauce he's the one THAT i always loved talking. Soccer, Yeah,
mike soccer.

Speaker 2 (52:03):
Guy there you.

Speaker 4 (52:04):
Go hats to be for, sure good to catch up my, Friend.
Wilch maybe we might bug you once more before we
wrap this thing.

Speaker 3 (52:10):
Up never. Bothered thank you for the kind. Word thank
you for the.

Speaker 2 (52:14):
Time.

Speaker 3 (52:14):
Man you Know i'm a big fan of. You guards
e Chaed abbot the whole. Station, man you guys do
it the best better than. Everybody so thank you for
letting me come on the airways and talk to the
good people The Twin. Cities, MAN i miss you guys a.
Lot And, dan thank you for being so great. Man
i've enjoyed This listuit again Soon.

Speaker 2 (52:29):
Okay, absolutely thanks.

Speaker 4 (52:30):
Again jamie all, right Brother Jamie watson formally want why
it was never technically one of, us but he spent
a lot of time here and spend a lot of
time in the STATION i know over the years as.
Well he's been great through this Whole World cup. Process
maybe not doesn't feel quite as good with THE us
no longer, connected but there's still a lot of good

(52:50):
soccer to.

Speaker 2 (52:51):
Discuss we're a little bit. Late we'll make this the
top of the hour.

Speaker 4 (52:54):
Break Some vikings conversation or more, specifically a poll that
it seems to indicate where The vikings fans are when
it comes to your their favorite football, team as they
mentioned in The Minnesota.

Speaker 2 (53:08):
Vikings that's With Alex.

Speaker 4 (53:09):
Lewis that's schedule for about four forty five, Today kessler
in studio at about five point, thirty you are listening