That Time Devang, David & Sean Said Farewell

On this week's show David, Devang and Sean say farewell and discuss their departure from the show. Then for one last time they open up the mailbag for their final edition of #AskAFP.

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Episode Transcript

(00:22):
Hello and welcome to AFP. Myname mister veng Deside. I'm joined by
the usual suspects, David Gas andSean Kay. On today's show, we
talk our imminent departure, dun dudramatics, our favorite moments of the show.
We chat about what we've missed inCanadian soccer and US soccer, chats
up. MLS is back plus forthe final time, we open up the

(00:46):
mail back for another edition of AskAFP. So, yeah, we didn't
bury the lead. I said,our departure right off the topic. Yes,
this is the final show of afhe at least in this form for
David, Sean and myself. Threeyears really does fly by. I cannot

(01:07):
believe it's been that long, andthis show started in the middle of a
gosh darn pandemic. But we cansafely say that AFP helped thwart COVID and
without us, I don't think fouchshe's able to do anything. Frankly,
So yes, you're welcome everyone,AFP. Save the day. We did
it. Everyone, We jokes,Joe did show, the chablic jokes aside

(01:32):
the Holy Cow guys. Three yearslove doing the show. I love talking
to you every week. I loveforming friendships and building on friendships. I
hadn't met David before doing the show, and now I consider him a good
friend. So I feel pittersweet abouttoday because I think we're all we're all
of other things on the go,and that's kind of why we're taking this

(01:55):
this absence. But yeah, that'sthat's the word on the street. Fellow.
Yeah, devang a men's sadness.So U you know, as you
said, we've become really close overyears. Sounds weird by the way,
it feels like four months, whichI think is a testament to how enjoyable
it's been. Um, you know, and I knew Sean before and a

(02:20):
big fan of Sean, so it'sbeen, you know, an honor getting
to do this with him and um, but you know, we've become really
close and we don't say it asa joke, like the discord has become,
you know, a staple of mylife. I don't um mute the
notifications. So Megan, it's becomea staple of her life as well,

(02:44):
because I mute every group chat.Say, oh god, same, you
can't survive with these this many groupchats popping off? No, so uh
so, Yeah, it's been it'sjust been awesome. And I've learned a
ton, which is the thing thatI probably value as much is anything,
and that's been really cool. MyCanadian geography is still a little off.

(03:04):
I think I got slammed in thediscord as a random ETR host who didn't
know Saskatchewan, which I was makinga joke about. But it's still a
little bit off. But uh yeah, it's just been great and it's been
something that I've been proud to beassociated to and enjoyed doing. And so
it sucks that we're going to bedone doing it, but you know,
we're all going to stay in touchand that, you know, I think

(03:27):
Clay said best, it's not goodbyeexactly. I think the one like there's
a lot of nut regrets, butlike, the one thing that I really
wish that we could have done thatwe didn't get to do is is a
live show, and not even justin front of an audience that would be
incredible, but like just the threeof us in a room. Yeah,

(03:50):
that's the That's the thing that's beenthe craziest is that the three of us
have sat here chatting for me onand off for three years and then you
got it's for three years without havingfacial recognition, like day in and day
out, and then like, yeah, being in the same space. And
so I think that's something that Iwould like give you guys so much credit

(04:12):
for for like being so good atlike creating this community and like and vibing
off of each other off of justvoice alone, weekend and week out.
It's just like it. It's neverfelt like there's this disconnect, and I
think that that's a credit to youtwo. Um it's been, uh,
it's been. It's been a greatshow, and uh it's uh it's yeah,

(04:36):
it's said. Obviously there's nobody herethat is uh happy that it's over.
So it's uh yeah, So meand Devang have still never physically met.
Yeah, And the only reason Iknow he's super tall is because Nick
Andrade is surprisingly super short and qualifier. Otherwise I didn't even know that about

(04:57):
you guys. That that means hasto go down. It's one of the
top five moments and he's a numberyo Nick for the first time I work
with Nick now, so again anothersmall world outside of the show. Yeah,
you guys said it well, andI will say, like, no
breaking news here, but I,along with probably a lot of people,

(05:19):
were in quite a dark place aroundthe middle of twenty twenty in terms of
just general vibes and things being poorand bad and viracy, and I found
this show to be quite the lifelineand it is. It's funny you said
that, Sean that I haven't Ihaven't met David, but he's one of

(05:40):
those people that I think you quicklyget to know and you can quickly understand
is just a great dude and someoneI love chatting footy with. And Shawnnie,
I've known you for a long timeand from our TFC days, to
rekindle this passion of ours and talkfooty has been absolutely awesome. And when
we talked about doing something like thisyears back, I was hoping it would

(06:00):
be something like this. So Ithink in that regard, I can only
be thankful just to recap what wehave covered, because running down this list,
I won't lie I forgot I maybememory hold half of these things.
Frankly forgot them because I have braindamage. But the Island Games happened,
that MLS is Back tournament happened,TFC hired and then fired Chris Armis.

(06:25):
Canada Qualification run the US men's nationalteams, rebuilding qualification, both teams in
the World Cup, the epic quizshow in which I prevailed a lot to
pick out from there, I don'tknow if you guys have a highlight of
these. I mean, obviously Canada'sI think Canada's run from the early days

(06:45):
of David terrifying us about Surinam lethalwas going to kill from that moment was
what a journey. So I wantto pick qualification, but that might be
too easy. Can I just say, although Becker and he's the best attacking
player on what was a Bundesliga championcontender up until like two weeks ago,

(07:12):
So I sort of feel vindicated onthe Sermom thing. Is that really the
gauge? That is how you've beenvindicated? Giraldo Becker's individual exploits for Union
Berlin really well? Yeah, Imean I just kept saying they're better than
you think. This isn't a badteam. It was good, It was
good, It was good, butthe preparation was key. And I think

(07:33):
you're your zealotry. Your love ofCocky Calf was extremely valuable for us as
we had to start from the verybottom and make it all the way to
guitar and to be perfectly honest,like this was Canada before the World Cup
qualifying, Like we were afraid ofany moment, at any opportunity, So

(07:56):
like, of course you're gonna goin and be like you're right, Like,
no matter who you were playing,there's a chance, there's a slip,
there's a sickness, there's a something, and Canada's out before we even
get to the party. So no, before I am with David here,
I was going into that surinam beinglike, let's see how this goes.

(08:16):
So Devang was so mad at me, though after the game he was like
three zero. That wasn't even fromthat hard, are you kidding me?
I also appreciated that was when theywere playing in bridge View, which is
still like the weirdest part of it, in front of empty crowds, and
so it was like you just hearMilan celebrating on all the money after all

(08:37):
the games, and we did acouple of live postgame shows to that,
which for me, it was reallyexciting because you know, we've talked about
a lot a root for Canada.I feel pretty closely connected to the soccer
scene in Canada. I've been excitedabout it for longer than before they qualified
for the World Cup, and butthose were great for me because I got

(08:58):
to live it through you, throughall of the fans of the show in
Canada, but especially you Devang,and like with the US, it didn't
feel the same. We have likecrazy fans and all this other stuff going
on, and so like that Canadaexperience felt like what I originally felt like
when I became a USA fan backin like two thousand two, in two

(09:20):
thousand and three and coming out ofcovid when it was like nothing matters,
everyone plays five hundred games, there'sno fans, no energy to it.
Like that was really a big spellof games for me that kind of got
me back going, And so Ithought that was one of the best things
we've done, and the Island Games, because I'd never really watched CPL to

(09:41):
be honest, I didn't watch thatmuch year one outside of like the final
and the first game at Forge andstuff like that, and I really enjoyed
that whole tournament, especially the CCIstadium that they played. That was decision.
There's a lot of decisions during covidUM with like whether it be three

(10:07):
D stadiums or like ad boards upin the stadium covering things that continue to
move, that we're just so bad. I'm I'm ready to talk like two
years removed, being like what werewe thinking? I know we have made
goods. I know there are thingsthat need to be paid for, but
the the I don't The graphic packagejust wasn't good enough, and we hope,

(10:31):
I hope to God that we nevergo back to that and their defense.
I feel like that might have beenlike bullet eighteen on the to do
list to get this off the ground, but maybe it should have been higher
because esthetically, I think with you, fascinating to see how all those leagues
adapted and like how they held thosegames behind closed doors. Just reflecting on

(10:52):
the Canada run personally, like Ishattered my jaw during that run too,
but oh geez, watching the Mexicogame in my sister's house with my jaw
still wired shut and being like thisis amazing, but not being able to
say that out loud, but justbeing able to see that, experience that,
and then feel fine and return tohealth and be able to enjoy the

(11:15):
rest of the run. It feltlike a full circle moment when Canada got
in and then ended up playing inthe World Cup and and scoring that goal
and captivating our hearts by really takingit to a dysfunctional Belgium team, which
I just want to say, RobertoMartinez getting that that new job to lead
a new national team after that isjust incredible. Absolutely after Hassard said it

(11:43):
was it was unfortunate that I playedat this World Cup. I shouldn't and
then the guy who coached him andmade that decision got hired for an even
better Just great, it's just great. It's just fantastic. And then all
the Portugal fans hated their current coachand they got this guy. So it's
yeah, it's great. That's whywe love this game, guys, right,
That's why we love the sport.Um. The qualifying was great.

(12:07):
Shout out to Chris Armis. Ithink that was an exhilarating run of terribleness
that really brought brought backs and memoriesof TFC of old. Remember the uh
the CCL game though against Leone atI MG, yes, no balled out
was good. I'll tell you,I'll tell you we think that day.

(12:28):
Oh god, everything responsible. ChrisArmis, if you were to tell him
that at the start of this jobthat he would then move on to the
Premier League and be involved with ManchesterUnited and leads. He must have been
like, holy shit, I didsupporters. Yeah, but kudos to him,

(12:56):
man good. Good on him tokeep finding those jobs. It's wild,
got it great interviews. You gottabe good in interviews to get jobs,
and some people clearly excel at that. I feel kind of he seems
like he's in a bad way thatleads because he's still on the staff,
but he's been phased out effectively bythe new manager. For Andy. I
think he was quoted as saying wedon't need any more help, which I

(13:18):
think might be the most upsetting thingto hear if I am a coach on
a team and they're like, nada, da, we got this man,
we got the codes, and theytake the codes from him and shut the
door. But jobs and jobs,he's in the real league. He'll be
fine, don't worry. He'll bethe assistant on the US men's national team
when Jesse takes out. All right, David, I'm not even mad about

(13:41):
no, I'm just being that's that'swhat's going to happen, right, Listen,
Clearly he's good at being an assistantcoach completely. I am, I
am, I agree, yes,And if that means Jesse's the coach and
not Zadan, then I'd be fineall right. So obviously the show was

(14:07):
born during a global pandemic where noone can meet up, and that took
a lot of work from people behindthe scenes. So we have to thank
several people, including Clay, whoSean mentioned, the guy who who runs
the space monkey ship and who whowanted to hear us talk about soccer frankly,

(14:28):
and that's that's kind of how theshow started. But without his backing,
that is just the show's not possible. So a massive thanks to him,
and of course the brilliant minds whowe talked with every week and who
helped us produce and make the showsound good. Dylan Greg Nick Nick who
is with us for quite a whileand just a wonderful dude to meet and

(14:52):
become friends with, and Zach whojoined us a bit later. I'm all
phenomenal people who who really helped usmake this show sound great and also were
one a fool to work with.Ye Ivan Sean mentioned like, we've done
this show remote and what made iteasy was having other people have our backs
and you know, working on itso hard and you know, making it
sound great, making it fluid tobe able to do it. So really

(15:16):
thankful to Dylan and Greg who helpedthere, and then Zach who's come on
or recently, but really to Nickand you mentioned when you broke your jaw,
like he stepped in as another host, and he did it numerous times
when I was out and you wereout, And obviously I always made fun
of him on the mail bag,but he brought a lot of energy to
the show. He loved doing it. He was passionate. I don't think

(15:37):
they win the Premier League without Nickand Rade. I also don't think it's
a coincidence that he laughed and nowit's all falling apart flamented exactly exactly.
So no, but a big shoutout to him because we wouldn't have been
able to do any of what wedid without him, and so he's not
with us on this records. Ijust want to make sure to give him

(16:00):
his deal. Of course our guestsas well. Really really thankful to be
joined by so many, so manypeople we admire in the soccer world and
outside of the soccer world as well. I think we we've come from different
paths and I think that allowed usto talk to a variety of different people,
and that's what I enjoyed a lotabout our show. I think you've
been getting a fresh dose of thatfrom our replays. But we talked to

(16:22):
some really cool people about their journeysin this game and how or maybe how
they want to see soccer and beplayed, which I think is something we
think about and talk about quite abit on this show. So many many
thanks to those people, and ofcourse the last thanks, but probably the
biggest thanks is to our Patreon familywho've supported us for three years and have

(16:45):
really fostered a great community that,like David, I check every day and
and love checking and seeing what's goingon times when I wasn't able to stay
up on things. Is the Discordis the first place I go. But
I think beyond that, just thepeople and there and the kindness and then
the warmness of the group in termsof their support, means the world.

(17:07):
Their money was fantastic, but Ithink it just shows what kind of folks
they were to devote their hard earnedmoney to us us talking about soccer a
couple hours out of the week,but means the world, and we're going
to try and keep this discord runningbecause, like I said, the conversation
there is great. But yeah,Sean David, I'm sure you guys agree.
The Patreon community was so huge anddefinitely motivation to keep doing the show

(17:34):
week in a week out. Yeah, shout out to mal Seth, Jason
S McGuinness. I know I'm missingother people here, Patrick, So you
know, just always with us andtalking with us again with us being remote
and especially during some of this time, you feel like you're talking into a

(17:56):
vacuum and then it becomes a conversationwhen you all sort of which him in
and and talk about the things wewere talking about, caring about the things
we were caring about. Um.As I said, I've learned a ton,
especially with the CPL and the growthof it and the women's game in
Canada, areas that I didn't knowas much about, and um that's been
really helpful. Someone you know,gave me the bar that I ended up

(18:17):
going to before the US played CostaRica and the final welcome qualifier in San
Jose, Costa Rica through the discord. UM. So yeah, it's been
awesome, and it's it's it feelslike a warm blanket and it's a happy
place to talk about soccer. Andthe Internet is not always that UM and
so I'm really appreciative of the wayit exists. Yeah, I'm I'm going

(18:40):
to echo that. And and justlike I think finding like minded people through
like technology h is a hard way. It is hard to find, but
when you do find it, it'slike it's like sort of creating a nest
and creating a home and you canjust return there and feel warm and feel

(19:03):
great. And We've been really luckywith with such a great community to to
be able to help us um keepthis going for so long. UM And
and once again, this is notfor like anything other than just like continue
to push that forward. People thatlike creators want to do this and build
communities and and and continue to UHrespond and and build these these groups because

(19:32):
they're special. Some of the greatestthings that I've ever been involved with have
been through uh Internet communities, whetherit be Toronto FC fan clubs, whether
it be this, it's just youcan build something really special and just so
continue to do so and UH andsupport creators on Patreon. Can I make
one last Patreon request. Yes,so I stumbled, Actually, I was

(19:56):
walking the other day and my podcastthis and it rolled into an episode of
AFP which sounded great, and itwas an interview. I think it was
an interview that we did with DariusBarnes. And I like interviews. So
we are ideating and potentially doing otherthings in the future. If there's someone
that you think should be interviewed,put it in the patriot, put it

(20:18):
in the discord. I'm trying towork on a list of people. So
yeah, sorry, I'm making everyonedo my work again. That's what we
call a tease in the biz.Ladies and gentlemen. Wow, So all
right, um do that? Allright? But for our conclusion down memory
lane, or our final stroll downmemory lane, maybe back to the origin

(20:41):
of this all SKU Spring twenty twenty. We're all scared of shit about things
down and this show gets made.But maybe take us through that time.
Yeah, no, it's it's thespring of twenty twenty. Things are are

(21:04):
sort of all over the place,things aren't what they seem in business,
etc. And I think it wasit was the moment of let's get our
creative juices following prior to there wasanother iteration of a football podcast, and
we still had the root and thefeed, and it's like, Okay,

(21:25):
what's this next step? What dowe need to do? And I think
sort of going down lists of likeit just can't be me talking. Nobody
wants to do that, no onewants to hear that. So it's like
who am I looking to talk to? And you go through your rolodex of
who you know who would be agood combination, and something that has been

(21:45):
at the top of my rolodex anytimeI think soccer in the last twelve to
fifteen years of my life has beento call on Udvang, whether it be
working at the Score or I'm lookinglooking to hire at Toronto FC, or
if I'm looking to start a podcast. It's understand knowing that you have this

(22:07):
depth of knowledge, this understanding,this great hosting ability that you've really grown
into in the last few years thatI would say like it has been incredible
a growth from you, but likeI just always knew that you would be
entertaining, reliable and just a greatlead and then a wish list for me

(22:30):
and this, like David has talkedabout being quote unquote a fan of mine.
I've been in ETR stand when Iworked at TFC before then when it
was a different iteration. But ifyou were to say number one, what
do I want from anyone out ofETR? So everybody else, but it's
it's David and so putting those twoon the list and just going and hoping

(22:55):
and then both being easy ses itwas just like, well, we got
to do this. Then it was. It was it was bizarre in such
a weird dark time that like thetwo people that I wanted to bring together
to do this immediately we're like,oh, yeah, I'm interested, Let's
let's see how we can do this. Uh So it was, Yeah,

(23:15):
it was that weird moment of like, I have these creative ideas. There's
this opportunity because a lot of thebusiness that we were working at the time
sort of shut down because we weretrying to get access to locker rooms and
nobody's opening a locker room to otherpeople at the time. So um so
yeah, it was. It wasgreat. What was your thoughts David?

(23:38):
When I first reached out to youand was like, hey, I know,
We've had a couple of beers andchatted soccer and and have and spend
time together in other projects, butwas immediately like, let's do this,
let's let's push things forward. Yeah, I guess we've never talked about this,
which is but yeah, when weso we've met previously, but I

(24:03):
can say the first or the mosttime I remember us spending time together was
in Mexico for the twenty eighteen CCLfinal and we got food and you guys
interviewed me and we hung out andtalked and went to the game. And
at that point you guys had leftTFC and were working as Space Monkey,

(24:25):
and I just remember I think Dylanwas there as well, and I was
like, why did you leave?What are you doing? And it was
kind of like, well, weall like each other and we all wanted
to work together, and this wasa way to make it happen and we
get to do the projects we wantto do. And I was so jealous
the entire conversation because I was like, this sounds awesome and one of the
things in my experience. And obviouslyI do a lot of work with ETR

(24:48):
and so I've worked with Andrew Rubyfor a while, but outside of that,
I'm a freelancer. I don't reallyhave a team. I cover teams
and it sounds great, but Idon't get to work with the team.
And I was genuinely jealous when youguys talked about that and sort of the
group you had built and the wayyou guys can all rely on each other.
And so I think I said toyou, if you're ever looking for

(25:08):
someone to work with them on something, I'd be interested, because that was
why. And so when you callme, I had, you know,
and you were like, oh,we're thinking about this show and Devane,
who I had never met before,and I was like, you are a
person that I would have trusted inthat setting, and I did that.
You are putting good people together.And it was at a time when I

(25:30):
wasn't sure how good everyone was inthe world. So I was out on
a limb on that one. Butyeah, so it was really exciting for
me to get that call. AndI've learned through doing this that I do
really respect everything. Obviously you've movedaround a bit, but you and Clay
had built and do build, andyou operate the way that people should operate,

(25:53):
which isn't always given in this industry. Plus I was looking for a
way into Canadian and passport at thetime, in the height of twenty twenty,
so it seemed like a pretty goodoption for and then Devang when I
had sort of brought up David's nameand You're like, well, I don't

(26:14):
know who this guy. What whatwere your thoughts of doing a podcast with
somebody who had like zero relationship withgreat question. I don't. I didn't
have any any sort of apprehension.I kind of maybe was more thinking about
how it would work or like wouldit be weird or bad? Like if
we if we had no proper relationshipand we and we got into recording and
he could like tell kind of fromthe get go it's like, ah,
this isn't gonna work. So Ithink there was some fear I had of

(26:38):
that being the case, but Ithink it took me, like I don't
I'm not exaggerating, possibly one totwo minutes to be like, oh,
no, this will work. Thisdude is He's fantastic, And I mean,
yes, I it's been a joy. And I you're talking about learning
stuff. I think I've learned morethan I care to admit about North American

(27:00):
soccer thanks to you guys, andthanks to this show and getting fully immersed
in all things that this sport hasto offer, especially closer to home,
which I think is an important thing. So I was amped to get back
into it. I think I wasmissing that TFC hole in my heart,
and I think this show was wayto get back into that. So having

(27:22):
David being amazing to work with wassomething that was a pleasant surprise. But
I also, like he said,I was confident in the in the squad
you were assembling adventures style. SoI guess that makes Sean Nick fury in
this in this scenario. But yeah, that's the last not a bad that's
not a bad connection. I can'tbelieve I made a Marvel reference. I'm

(27:45):
not even a super fan, soplease don't come at me. Spielberg kids
and my fan. It's okay.Film. Yeah, Fast and Furious is
now Marvel movies, so it's they'rethe same movie. Best one. That
is actually my biggest sigret that wedid. We actually will do a final.
We got a theater. Yeah,a movie will just as the Family's

(28:07):
Family ends forever. Oh man,all right, Um, I guess we
could talk. I think we'll talkwhat's next at the end end, and
we'll get to the mail bag.So when we come back after the break,
we will open up the mail bagfor the final time. Got some
great questions from our Patreon community,so hope you enjoy it. Coming up

(28:32):
next and welcome back. And it'ssadly now time for our last edition of
ASKFP, where Devang and David willdo their best answer all of your questions.
Once again. Thanks everyone who's sendingtheir questions in through the Patreon discord.

(28:53):
We have a lot to go throughtoday, so let's uh treatless like
a final lay it all on thefield and uh no substitutions, okay um,
and this is gonna go one hundredand twenty plus penalties, oh completely,
and then with modern us extra time, there's gonna be like seven to

(29:14):
fifteen minutes of it. So well, we'll see how long it goes.
Maddie Jago's first um. Because wedidn't really have a preview show for this
year's MLS season, Divang, let'sstart with you first. Could you give
us your supporter shield MLS Cup andCanadian Championship winners. I'm feeling very thankful

(29:37):
people have forgotten how to pick Charlotteto win MLS Cup. I think I
did something I might have been havinga moment though, so I thank you
so much to everyone for forgetting thathappened. Um, okay, revised picks,
small sample size, et cetera.But I have this feeling about Cincinnati

(30:02):
this year, so I'm going topick them to win the Supporter Shield,
but not MLS Cup. I thinkMLS Cup will be taken by an old
friend of ours in Nashville who's mightbe on the national team sooner than later.
Big Chafts, the Daniel Love Itspipeline is alive and well Chef is

(30:25):
killing it. But yeah, Ilike, I mean, Nashville is not
a sexy pick at all, andwatching some of their games was one of
the more painful experiences recording the show. But I will pick them to win
the MLS Cup Canadian Championship. Allthe MLS clubs are bad. So with
that in mind, how about Foragewins it. How about we get a
forge t David, What do youthink I'm glad that I get to do

(30:52):
this for a second time, that'snot before the season starts. Yeah,
you got you got three games?No, this is amazing. So for
Supported Shield, I'm gonna pick Seattle. They look to be back to themselves,
and they don't have CCL, sothat's a little bit of an advantage
for them. I don't know whatLeague's Cup is gonna look like and all

(31:14):
that, but I think they've gotenough pieces to contend across the year and
have a little bit of an advantageover LAFC. I also think the West
is well, the whole league mightbe weak. I'm not totally sure.
Do think there's some easy points inthere for them. So I'm gonna take
Seattle. I'm gonna go Philly forMLS Cup. I'm gonna stick by that.
I think they still are who theyare. I think they'll we don't

(31:37):
know what Andre Blake Century is.I think they'll put a decent amount in
CCL. Watch they lose in anhour and a half after I say that,
and other competitions. But I thinkwhen you get back into the MLS
Cup playoffs, like, I thinkthe format fits them pretty well. More
games to just blitch you off thefield and stick to their guns, and
so if a bounce goes against them, we know that they can sort of

(32:00):
continue on. And so I'm gonnago that. And then for Canadian Championship.
It is tough because as the vansaid all the MLS teams suck.
The other thing is Toronto has abuy that Montreal will face them if they
beat Vaughan, which am I rightin saying this is the first time Vaughan
are in Canadian Championship I believe.So yeah, yeah, that is awesome

(32:27):
because this is one of those namesthat like is in every player's profile that
I work with, whether it's collegesoccer, drafts at USL, MLS,
next pro and so it's like it'sa big name to me. I'm like,
oh, well, you know,like, yeah, he's a Vona
Zeri guy and people are like,I don't know what that means and so

(32:47):
um, so that's pretty cool onits own. So, um, I'm
gonna take Vancouver. I think.I do think Vancouver is fairly competent as
a team, even though they havenot performed well. You have to specify
now, which one Yeah, ohwow, is that a thing? Yeah
Vancouver? Yeah, but like,don't they have to cern status as Vancouver

(33:14):
you Yeah? Okay? Based offthe way Pacific and Vancouver Whitecaps went early
on, it might not take muchfor them to earn that spot, and
when they officially announced Camillo to jointheir squad. It'll all change pretty quickly.
Camillo san Vazzo is rumored to besigning. I think they already sign
Did they sign Caden Chung? Yes, Yes, yes they did. Big

(33:37):
Club, Big club. I'll goquickly. Um, I'm with you in
regards to I think Seattle is goingto be the team to beat this year.
If if Jordan Morris stays healthy,I think he might have an MVP
in him. I think that he'sjust he just needs to play the game
and play at this level, andI think that he'll he'll be one of

(33:59):
the best players in the league.MLS Cup, I have like no trust
in Philly, Like I understand whatyou're saying, but I honestly I don't
know. I might go LAFC againand the Canadian Championships. I'll good to
go TFC. I think that theythey need, they need wins, they

(34:21):
need to be in the big tournaments, and I think they're going to treat
it's more serious than the other twoclubs. That being said, who's healthy,
I don't know. Um, movingon to the next one. We
got mikey Um and he asks whatis your favorite MLS stadium to watch a

(34:43):
match? That is not your hometownclub. Mike said that Lumanfield was his
favorite. David, let's go withyou first. This is a really tough
one for me. Um and Ienjoy a lot of the atmospheres. I
assume this is yeah, it's inMLS. It literally says MLS. Yeah.
Yeah. So I obviously have alist of like nine, but off

(35:05):
the bat, the three the firstthree that came to mind for fun,
if I was going to a game, the experience would be I think Portland,
Toronto, in DC or the firstthree that came to mind, because
they all have good atmospheres. They'reall soccer stadiums, and we can talk

(35:28):
about Seattle and Atlanta and stuff likethat, but yeah, it just feels
different in a soccer stadium, andthey're all accessible, like a lot of
the MLS stadiums that are good.A ksec sounds like Nashville. Now you
have to like drive, it's awhole thing. You got to get out
there. And it's like I walk, you know, I take the train
or walk to Toronto whenever I'm there. Same with DC Portland. I use

(35:52):
an electric scooter to like ride thequarter mile to get to the game.
So all of those are to melike the idea deal scenarios of a game,
and all of them hit a.Portland would probably end up number one,
just because the atmosphere is unique andspecial and fun. And I think
I've only ever been there for Seattlegames. I think the only time I've

(36:15):
seen Portland home in person was MLSCup, a playoff game against Seattle and
a rivalry game against Seattle. SoI've been pretty fortunate as well. Oh,
good picks. I think I mightgo Providence Park, Portland. I
haven't been there many times. Ithink I was only there twice, but
each time I was there, itleft a lasting in print on me.

(36:37):
I would say as an experience inthe league. I mean there's a few
places that are like that, morethan a few, but I felt like
that was a special atmosphere as avisiting person watching TFC there. So I'll
go with Portland. I'm shock youdidn't. Neither of you said Gillette Stadium.

(36:58):
I believe that said I love TobyHeaths, Barr and Girl as much
as the next perisode. Your biggestrestaurant outside the stadium. Hum. Yeah,
I'm gonna give because you guys havetaken Portland and I think Portland is
number one for traveling. I willsay from overall experience of like remove fandom,

(37:21):
but like site lines and stadium andeverything, I still think, uh,
Red bull has the best park inMajor League soccer. It is just
so special. The site lines aregreat, that it's built so well.
I just I love it so much. That Arsenal Red Bulls match I watched

(37:43):
there was incredible. It was soand I mean for a weird friendly which
has no stakes, it felt reallyimpressive. I think the stadium had a
big part of that. Did youcome down here Demang for that? Yeah,
yeah, we did, like abus dirty it was my gut bus.
Yeah. Times times are at timesare hat. The actual game itself
was a blur. That was whenpre game, oh man, Andre is

(38:07):
such an experience that pre inner orpress conference, someone was like, what's
a better stadium red bull or theEmirates And he was in my beloved High
Bay and yeah, and everyone stoked. He's just that guy. You know.

(38:29):
I went to his debut for RedBulls, which was actually against the
Tottenham Hotspurs. Oh that was thatwas a weird turn of events. Yeah.
Uh, moving on, Mels asks, what is one unexpected thing that
being a football fan has given you, Devang, I'll go with you first.

(38:53):
Oh, great question, Die.It's funny because, like I find,
maybe my favorite aspect of his sportis the people I met watching it,
And I think that it's it's weirdto say this is unexpected, but
I maybe I didn't think I couldmake such important friends in my life through

(39:14):
this game. Maybe I didn't expectthat. I expected, maybe to coalesce
around a TV and watch a matchwith people and have a good time,
but I didn't think it would extendbeyond that, and I think in so
many ways it has for me inregards to soccer and old friendships, new
friendships, friendships that involved maybe alarge gap in time in terms of communication

(39:37):
are rekindled by a crazy score lineor a positive result for our club that
we share like stuff like that thatI think I didn't realize how much that
would impact my life, And especiallywhen times are good and you're watching your
club do cool things and sharing thatwith people who once upon a time we're

(40:00):
kind of strangers is it's pretty specialto me. So maybe I didn't expect
that, and I'm thankful that haveexperienced it. My aunts is going to
be similar to Devang So it's tough. But I would say the amount of
people around the world that I've met. I mean, I went to the
twenty fourteen World Cup in Brazil andtook a safari in Manaois into the jungle

(40:21):
for three nights and have multiple peoplethat I met there that are not Americans
that I still talked to. Wentto one of the guys. One of
the guys ended up getting married inNew York in Central Park to his wife
from Scotland, and I went likestuff like that where you're like, yeah,
I think if you had asked,you know, childhood me, I

(40:43):
wouldn't have understood that that's a thingthat people do and sort of like a
way to operate in the places it'staken to me around the world and the
people I get to meet. It'syou know, I say this a lot,
but it's it's a window in aprism to get to see the world
and meet people. It's an inwith a lot of people that maybe I
wouldn't normally talk to just to establisha relationship, and then you know,

(41:05):
all of a sudden, I'm theguy who comes in and watches legal mex
every Sunday night at the Mexican restauranton the Upper West Side, and I
walk in and the game goes on, and everyone comes out from the back
that's working because they need excuse toput it on, and I'm that excuse
there like can say, oh,customer requested it, and then you know,
I hang out there every single weekfor two or three years, and
so yeah, it's a really specialsport and it's it's been really special in

(41:30):
that way. Technically, it's howI met my wife. I'm not downgrading
meeting her. I just don't knowif it's like because of being a soccer
fan, but we met being onthe same co ed soccer team because people
that worked at MLS sort of connectedus onto that. So that would be
a pretty big surprise, good one. Maybe. Yeah, I don't know

(41:53):
that I put that down to likebeing a fan exactly totally. But it's
been a huge part of our relationshipas well, Like she has gone to
games at Ports Amense in Portugal withme in San Jose and Costa Rica and
they've been some of the best tripswe've gone on and things we've done.
And again, people we've met togetherthat have been because of that that we

(42:15):
still have relationships with. So yeah, it's been pretty great. And I
would put you on that list aswell, you guys. And you know
now every time I go to Toronto, I rolled deep. Yeah, I
think that's the one spet like Ilike in traveling, Like I haven't traveled
too much in my life, butwhen I do, I know I have

(42:37):
this like quote unquote soccer or footballpassport that I can just sort of like
roll up to a Cabby or anyoneor go to a bar and talk to
a bartender and know that I havea connection, like I have an in
to start a conversation, whereas likeI don't know, I don't I don't
know if there's anything else in thisworld that you can like sort of roll
up, have this into back yourmind and be like Okay, I can

(42:59):
have a conversation, really start toget to know people really quickly like soccer
does. It's pretty special. CanI tell you? And if I already
told this story, feel free tostop me, But this is one of
the most insane stories in twenty probablytwo thousand and eight, I don't know,
I could google it. One ofthose years there was an AFKHN and
it was like starting and I wasliving in Boston at the time, and

(43:22):
I had some insane day and endedup out really late and took a cab
home and the cab driver was fromthe Gambia or something like that, and
we were talking about Afkhon for likethirty five minutes. I think he's outside
of my apartment chatting about it,and then I went in and left my

(43:42):
phone in his car and he calledhome, which was unfortunate because home was
still my parents home at three thirtyin the morning, and they pick up
and he was like, I foundthis phone in my car, and my
Dad's like, well, it's mysons. He goes to North Eastern and
he goes is he the one whoknows everything about African soccer? That's probably

(44:05):
him? And so the guy cameback the next day and we hung out
and talk soccer more, and itwas like one of those things where you're
like, yeah, you know,if we're gonna talk about Dragma, then
I'm here for it. Hum Mikey'sback and he's asking what CPL ground is
your favorite slash? If you haven'tbeen there, where do you want to

(44:25):
go? Devang let's start with youon that one. Devanks has to be
York SCFC. So the problem ismy extensive history is limited here, so
I default I would pick York LineStadium. But I have made it a
personal bucket list thing to get outto see other parts of Canada, and

(44:51):
I really want to check out theWanderers Ground in Halifax, so that is
definitely something gets on my list todo. And I mean to see most
of these stadiums, if I'll beinghonest. Maybe not so much the Valor
one because I've seen it on TVmany times and it looks terrible, but
pretty much all of the stadiums,but I'll put wanders Ground to the top

(45:13):
of the list. Have either ofyou been to a game in Ottawa,
USL days or CPL. I've beento many A games in Ottawa, but
not not a soccer well no,um, I might have been to a
Canadian women's match in Ottawa, butno, I have not seen this iteration
of at Lettie or the Fury theresame and I am going there this summer,

(45:37):
so that's on the list as well. Yeah, the stadium looks cool.
I covered it for USL stuff.I think the obvious answer if you're
not saying Halifax to me is outat Pacific at Starlight, Like it's just
so unique on TV and I don'tknow everything around it looks gorgeous, so

(45:57):
it seems like it's worth going toand like a thing to do. Um,
Halifax would be the other one.Halifax, if they make it to
the semifinal could play Toronto again orMontreal of the Canadian Championship and that game
last year was one of the bestgames of the year and best atmospheres of
the year, and that might bea thing that I have to try and

(46:20):
go do. But those are thetwo clear ones to me where they're like
unique soccer specific stadiums. Just ashout out to Calvary Stadium as well.
Um, they the stadium is likeliterally a five minute drive from my my
brother in law, and so Iwant to go this summer hang out with

(46:42):
my brother in law and then popover to see a Cavalry game. So
that's that's on my list. Andthen yeah, um, I went to
a Forge game last year. I'vebeen to all three of the Ontario teams
stadiums. But yeah, I thinkyou guys are right with I think Halifax.
And then on the other coast Pacificare the right ones. But I
think Calvalry, I love the Ilove the one side. Uh it feels

(47:07):
like a very craven cottage. It'sish is the only issue that I have
is that the posts that sort ofsit over the underhang that is going to
like cut you completely off of ofsight lines. But that's Fenway Park stuff,

(47:29):
I know. But as somebody who'sbeen to Fenway Park a few times,
I hate that. I love Fanwaybark. But you're like, why
this is just can you could fixthis with modern construction? Just do it?
Uh Um. Moving on, wegot another question from Mike. Uh.
It comes from who is one personyou have met in football where you

(47:51):
completely awe struck? David, yougo first, completely awe struck. Yeah,
I would like to say that Ifeel comfortable enough in my skin that
I normally feel okay in most settings. The obvious one is Patrick Vieira.

(48:14):
He's like he was my favorite playerwhen I was a kid that was not
American. He carries himself in away that like you feel his presence in
the room, but he's like superkind. I've said this before the first
time he interviewed him. Like hecame into this room we had set up
with a huge crew. We weredown at preseason I think, and he

(48:36):
shook every person's hand in the roombefore he sat down and like introduced himself.
It was like, yeah, weknow you're Patrick Vieira. You don't
have to say Patrick. Every timeyou shake people's hands, it's assumed.
So he would be the big one. I never met Dragma. I was
like, never in the same spacewith him. That would have been an
obvious one. MLS circles. Andthen the other one that comes to mind

(49:00):
Abiwanback, who I interviewed when sheI covered her Hall of Fame induction in
the US Soccer Hall of Fame,and just this is just sound good,
not bad. She's a politician,and not in the that she's fake,
in that like it's so easy forher. She's magnetic. She's a big

(49:22):
personality. But you everyone felt connectedand everyone bought into everything she was saying.
And you know she's talking about this, but then physically pulls someone else
in and like brings up something greatthey did, and it just was like
you could see she'd done it herwhole life and it was so comfortable for
her and easy for her and youjust sort of walk away, And I

(49:45):
think all struck is the right wordthere, of like that is a person
who is better at being a personthan I could ever be. Kind of
in the same way where I'm lookingback now and I think generally starting work
at TFC, I was kind ofawe struck by everyone and like, ah,
like, oh this is super awkwardand weird, and like the first

(50:07):
time I met Michael Bradley, Iremember being like what the hell, like
this is this is? So Ifeel like generally that was my first couple
of months there at the club.But yeah, like in terms of like
general awe struck, no, Iwould say, as well, maybe some
of the people that we I hadmet through like working at EA and like

(50:29):
the marketing meetings, like meeting Kakaand being like, oh, okay,
like this is someone I played withon FIFA, watched on Teddy and now
he's just a guy in front ofyou, um watching a power point.
I'm like, okay, Like thisis this is pretty cool. So I
would say running into people that Iwatched on TV a lot and just seeing
them as regular people when they weredone playing was was pretty wild. Afterwards,

(50:54):
Yeah, I think and something thatactually, David, your answer got
me thinking about actually a moment whereI was I was just doing promo work
for the Toronto Links back in liketwo thousand, just as just freebee work,
but I got press passed for Canadaversus the United States women's game at

(51:15):
Varsity Stadium, and that, honestlywas probably the most awe struck because I
think at that time I would havebeen seventeen eighteen years old, but it
was mia hamm like basically telling liketelling me to like be like, hey,
do you mind moving for a second, And it was just that moment

(51:36):
of being like a seventeen eighteen yearold kid looking around and being like,
holy shit, mia Ham just spoketo me. And then and then looking
back on it today and looking atthat roster also great game, by the
way, it was too too andthe two goats of Canadian soccer scored that
day. Shermaine Hooper scored, inChristine Sinclair scored. I try to think

(51:59):
what how old Christine Sinclair would havebeen at that time, because we're twenty
twenty three and she's still playing.But either way, it's just that was
that was probably the one. Andthen The other thing that came to my
mind is also in this like Ishould have been awe struck, but it's
in a moment that I didn't knowwho this person was or did, but
sort of made a joke of it. In twenty fourteen, in like the

(52:22):
summer, Tottenham Hotspur play or trainedat the training grounds at TFC, and
so for three or four days Tottenhamcame to the ground and I was obviously
in awe but there was this oneplayer, number thirty seven, Harry Kane,
who was just uh yeah right,like but that's what I mean,

(52:44):
Like Harry Kane was just this noname guy who and then now like me
in twenty twenty three would be likeholy shit. So it's one of those
things where you just gotta just rememberthe moment so that when you come back
on it, it's like, wow, they would be you'd be awestrucks.
So it's wild. I wasn't awestruckby the way Mario Beltelli trained with us

(53:07):
at the training ground in twenty twentyfour and I was like, ah,
it's just another day, but whyis me you know why? I bought
me moving on, Jason g Asks. If you were to bring an NWSL
club to Toronto. Who would beyour first hire on the football side of

(53:30):
business? Also bonus Marx, whatwould you name the club? Devang oh
boy is picking Guyana Mathison not alot considering she's starting a different league,
because I will pick her. Iwill pick her because I think we've seen
already kay her ability to make partnershipsand make impactful partnerships across not just the

(53:53):
soccer world, but in the businessside as well. So she's clearly Solino,
I think is willing to put inthe work and put in the time
to build a club from the groundup. So I think that would be
my first choice. Higher Teter's ofthe name. I'm struggling here because I

(54:15):
don't want to go with like theclassic euro style, like a real or
or put something wild in front ofit. But I do like something kind
of simple. It depends where theyplay. I would like I think this
might be a play on a CEBLteam, a basketball team up here,

(54:36):
but maybe the Saga Stars or theScarborough Stars if they're playing in a certain
part of the city. I'd likethat. I'm pretty much of no help
on this subject. I will sayI will say this so one I don't
really know where people are from specifically, so feel free to shoot down what

(54:59):
I I would say if I one, I hope this happens in too,
it should happen, and if itdid, I think the clear first thing
you do is you drop a bagon Kadisha Buchanan, right, and you're
like, the best player in theworld can come play here and play at
home. Ashley Lawrence as well.Are they both from Toronto? I believe

(55:22):
so. Yeah, so that wouldbe the first thing I would do.
Yeah, I think Matheson makes aton of sense. Kreeena LeBlanc obviously makes
sense. Those are two people whohave, you know, like Devank said,
a bit of experience building teams andbuilding things. If I was going
to go outside the box, though, I would say for coach, I

(55:45):
think you see with situations like thisa lot of times you bring in first
time coaches, someone stepping off thefield. And I'm interested about Sophie Schmidt
just the way you watch her playthe game is the way she reads the
game. I think she's next level. I think she's always been next level
about that. She seems like anobvious coach to me. She's still playing,

(56:07):
but probably at the end of hercareer, maybe she's done and would
be interested in it. I don'tknow that she's I guess I could literally
just google it. She is fromWinnipeg, which is not in Toronto spoilers.
And then she played for Vancouver,so she has no connection to Toronto.
But that would be the other obviousthat I just think I won't be

(56:27):
shocked in ten years when she's avery successful head coach. Fair enough,
I think there's a there's a shoutout to be said for Carmelina Moscato.
She's over at Tigris right now.I think that once again, she's from
the region. I think she's beeninvolved with the program for so long and

(56:49):
has been I think coaching since twentysixteen twenty seventeen, so she already won
a title down there exactly. AndI think she was in Norway for a
bit as well. Like I thinkthat she is the no brainer call.
But once again, like I don'tknow if what money situation here there or
whatever, but I think that shedeserves a shout. And then I've always

(57:09):
even before TFC MLS days, I'veand this has nothing to do with the
city group, but I think Torontocity just has a nice ring to it.
So I would be really interested intoseeing Toronto city and the Blue fits
Sean. You have been around fora while and you know more about this.

(57:30):
Is there any business soccer soccery personthat you would want as like being
involved and that would be a keyto being successful to you, like like
a Tim Laiwicky type, but probablynot him. It's a good question in

(57:50):
the soccer world. I nothing comesto my mind. There are a lot
of um, I know, yeah, nothing comes to my mind right now,
so sorry, um, yeah,um, but I do believe I

(58:12):
would love to see them play.Um and this has been my EMO for
five ten years because I live aroundthe corner from it. But Varsity Stadium
in Toronto, like it's on theUniversity of Toronto campus that needs to be
re refurbished, re pushed up abit and it should be host of a

(58:35):
CPL and A and a NWSL team. Is that where rugby team played?
No? That is um, thatis Lamport Stadium, which is just a
bit a bit north of Bemo.This is like, but yeah, um
it's already held big crowds, iswhat you're telling? Yeah, yeah,

(58:59):
but Varsity Stadium, it was likein let's call nineteen ninety five, where
Canada would play soccer games. Theythen tore it down and then brought just
an erector set sort of in thearea, but in the downtown core.
It holds five thousand right now,but you could put another side on it.
That's the dream for me once again. I will I am a five

(59:20):
minute walk from there, but that'swhere I want to see pro soccer coming
next. Moving on, s McGinnisis asking for some dirt, tell us
something without risking your reputation that wouldsurprise us about working at an MLS club
or the league devang No risking yourreputation here, but what you got any

(59:44):
dirt? Maybe maybe that Like Idon't know if this is a surprise at
all, but like the whole axiomthat like they don't people don't read the
press, so like teams don't readpress, or like management don't read press,
they read all of that and likethey are sometimes actively trying to sway
opinion in it, or a guidea narrative, or plant some seeds.

(01:00:07):
And it was pretty fascinating to seeit up close and see that relationship up
close. So I think that thatwould be probably my best dancer and maybe
had the idea of that, LikeI mean a couple of times I was
sanctioned for shooting in the press box, but like the idea that you're not
pass box, I think was itwas something that I will never forget being

(01:00:30):
yelled at in Orlando after I thinkwe came back to win three two,
but like regular season, yeah,yeah, I feel like there was that
game was especially heated though it waslike a something it happens, like the
James el'connor days, right where everylanded. Yeah, yeah, I think
so before they became unhinged. Nowit was the winning goal that you cheered

(01:00:55):
for though I think so, yes, it was. Yeah, but like
the I'm seeing other teams do thatas well. So like that, that
whole unwritten rule I think was likesomething that I was fascinated by because like,
we literally worked for the team,so who gives a damn honestly in
my opinion, but well one ofthe things, so a few different ways
that I read this, I agreewith you. So when I first got

(01:01:21):
into doing what I did, Isaid to someone like gambling, like I'm
covering a team, like I wascovering a college team, and if they
win games, they would host moregames and I would get paid to do
those games. And I was like, I have more money tied into this
than you do in gambling on stuff, because like, this is this is

(01:01:43):
what I do. And so I'vealways thought that's really interesting, Like you
talk about cheering like employees of clubshave massive bonuses. Tight in your job
is easier, Like if you haveany KPIs, if the team wins,
you're hitting that exact and if theteam doesn't win, you're not. And
it doesn't matter how good you areat social and video production and creativity and

(01:02:05):
marketing campaigns, like you are goingto what happens to the team is going
to control the way your life is. So like you have fans, and
you have and now obviously gambling isa massive part of following sports, and
like the people working for the teams, I think are experiencing all of that

(01:02:27):
at a way higher level and youjust have to fake it that you're not.
And I've kind of always like thoughtthat that was unfortunate and unnecessary.
I got yelled at for a cheeringat a US Open Cup final, not
for a team. I just sometimeswhen I watch soccer, I like being
like, shoot, oh, goodball, Like I didn't care who won.
And someone was like, hey,that's like you know you shouldn't do
that. We're in the press box. I was like, yeah, addie

(01:02:50):
here, like I don't care abouteither of these teams. So yeah,
that's kind of what my big thingis, just the way the way you
engage with the sport. And thenI would say, I think everyone knows
this, but all of these organizationsare way smaller and less professional than you
think they are. And I'm notjust talking about North America. I'm talking
about Byron, I'm talking about manyou, I'm talking about Chelsea, I'm

(01:03:13):
talking about FIFA like it is.It would blow your mind how poorly most
of these organizations are run, andhow small most of these organizations are,
and like the amount that individuals aredoing and the lack of levels between I
just started and I heavily affect theway this team is, where this organization

(01:03:37):
is being put together. What's yours, Sean, I'm curious. I think
the thing, without like picking aspecific is that how many marketing initiatives,
whether it be player signings, playertrades, or like, how much has
been created that nobody ever sees umand like it was. It was like

(01:04:02):
without saying a specific moments, butit was always a joke at at TFC
that there's this warehouse full of allthese like designated player deals that that,
yeah, that like should have unfurleddown the air, Candid Center slash Scotia
Bank place, or like this andstatue exactly like or the UM the UK

(01:04:26):
shook that was in front of theuh Keya training grounds that was supposed to
be made, but then uh,somebody got got fired and then that thing
that was ordered got put to ashipping container. Like I think that that's
something that I've always joked about asbeing like when we look back ten fifteen
years down the line, I thinkit's a great content series of like looking

(01:04:49):
opening up this like storage locker andgoing through the Diego four land banner that
was supposed to be like three hundredfeet tall, or the UM whatever X,
Y and Z that was supposed tohappen, the Blazzi uh bust that
was supposed to go out. Butyeah, I think that there's there's a

(01:05:09):
lot of different things that are createdand like hard created T shirts, et
cetera. I sent a picture actuallyto my friend group the other day,
just because I was cleaning up myphone of a box of T shirts with
the Comy Cafe Champions League UM winnerswith TFC on it, because I saw
it in the depths of the Chiefof stadium that day. Um, so

(01:05:32):
there's tons of that stuff out there, and I think that it's it's it's
if you think that it's that deepdown the line, there's probably something created
with the person's name on it.So that's what I would say. It's
the the I had a gym teacherwho used to always get her hands on
the losing teams championship T shirts andour giveaways for like, you know,

(01:05:56):
best flag football team over the courseof the four week whatever was always like
New York Yankees two thousand and onechampionship t shirts. That's speaking of things
we don't normally talk about because wewant to be professional. Um. We
got a question of what did uhDevang David and Sean do U the night

(01:06:20):
that TFC won the Cup at BimoField. David, you want to go
first? Yeah, sure, becausemine won't be as good. But it
was. I do remember it wasan earlier kickoff than twenty sixteen, so
it wasn't Man twenty sixteen. Ijust remember I'm pretty sure Dwayne d Rozario

(01:06:42):
hosted a party across the street,a postgame party, and it was like
that late night can't get it wasjust a funeral with a DJ blasting and
no one doing anything. And thatwas rough Um twenty seventeen, though I
like I was texting actually because Isaw this question in the rundown with a
friend China, remember, and wewent to a restaurant called Bi Biblos.

(01:07:06):
It's all like fancy Middle Eastern restaurantthat night, and then we went out
and went drinking the rest of thenight, and I think I ended up,
as usual at the time, backat the hotel drinking the rest of
the free association alcohol that was notused by sponsors and whatnot, And then

(01:07:28):
took my friend out the next dayto Miku Sushi that I remember to celebrate
because I stuck around for the Icovered the parade, which was one of
the best things I think I've everdone in my entire life. And I
was standing there seeing all of yourpr staff and seeing Josie Go pick up
the mic, and I turned andI said, no one's got eyes on

(01:07:51):
Josie right now, and he justpicks his camera up and we're like too
far away, and he starts andI was like, yeah, that went
exactly how I thought I wanted.So of twenty sixteen, I remember I
flew I had just moved to Vancouverfor my new job, but I flew
back for the final and then watchedthe game, and then I remember I
met up with Sean afterwards a weesad drink for a while. And then

(01:08:14):
ten seventeen, I was in India, so I was watching the game at
my uncle's place on my phone usingWi Fi, like outside in the middle
of the night, going mental withsome lag. There was heavy lag actually
to be honest, but just gettingand the It was me, my brother
in law, my sisters watching iton the porch. But that was kind

(01:08:36):
of surreal as well because I wasliterally thousands of miles away but getting getting
messages and talking with people, aretrying to talk with people and watching on
my phone. So it was apretty wild night. Wild contrasting experiences as
well, because twenty sixteen, God, that was a funeral, was right,
that was sad? Yeah, twentyseventeen was a bit of everything because

(01:09:03):
I was working that game. SoI was in the press box with our
my team, uh, sort ofbuilding what could have happened, how it
was all going to go down,and all that kind of stuff, and
then also managing everyone else's excitement whileI'm dying inside being like, holy shit,
we're gonna do this. And soI was like, Okay, I'm

(01:09:24):
gonna man the press box. I'llsend a couple of my teammates down to
the field, they'll get video allthat kind of stuff. And then the
graphic designer set beside me, andso she got to see me literally breakdown
in tears in the press box.And then all of a sudden, like

(01:09:44):
there is this just large bang onthe glass of the press box. Anyone
who doesn't know Bemo Field is likebasically three large panes of glass, and
then at the bottom there's like allthese seats that you could sort of people
could turn back and see who's workingthe game. And then there's this bang
on the glass and it's my motherand she's crying and she said, we

(01:10:06):
did it, Shannie, and I'mcrying, and then the graph the graphic
designer beside me's like crying because she'sseeing me cry and I'm like, yeah,
we did. Nobody else in thepress box. Thank god, everyone
else was going down to the fieldfor quotes. Uh, that all happens.
So that's an incredible moment. Andthen following the game, because of

(01:10:29):
numbers and staffing and everyone wanting toget on the ride, my staff couldn't
go to the after party or acouple of them couldn't, so I gave
them my tickets to go, andso I then went to a local bar
with my friends that prior to beinga part of TFC, went to go

(01:10:50):
see and hang out with them fromlike whatever midnight to two o'clock, and
I saw the rest of the nightout with with my U sector for ends
that I started with back in likewhatever two thousand and two to twenty fourteen
or twenty seventeen. So it wasreal. It was a real nice moment,

(01:11:11):
but it was definitely not the brightlights and celebrating with the team that
day. So the yeah, that'sone of those things depending on like what
you care about, how you're associated, it is one of those funny things
where again you care about this immenselyand it's your job, and so there's
like, yeah, weird moments backand forth. I will say the one

(01:11:34):
thing I have always cheered for morethan anything, it's MLS winning CCL.
And I missed my flight after firstleg Chivas twenty eighteen final. I came
up to Toronto on my own togo to the game as a fan and
then sad drank post game with peopletill four in the morning, and my
flight out of Billy Bishop was sixfifteen am, which I don't know what

(01:11:58):
I thought was going to happen.And I woke up and I was like,
Nope, didn't make that and endedup having to get on a different
point out. Yeah, it's uh. I will say. The next day
things got well sort of the paradeday did things got silly and uh we
we got we got photos and videoson my uh my phone that we'll never
see the light of day. Um. We got a couple one off questions.

(01:12:27):
First, fort de Ang, whatwas the most awkward TFC player interview
he did with the club? MFor the most part, I think I
had positive, positive experiences to playerswe had like the series or we would
interview a player on the podcast wedid weekly and for the most part it
was quite good. I would sayawkward or maybe like the vis or slightly

(01:12:50):
off, would it would be RobbieFinley maybe just because like I don't I
don't know if he was fully briefedon what he was he was doing or
like what he was signing up for. So it was it was a strange
conversation. We were talking about someof his businesses outside of work, but
I I don't know if I wasshowing enough interest in those businesses. So

(01:13:11):
it was so I think that thatmight be my pick. Was it real
estate stuff? No, it wasa barber shop, I think, but
it was like it had like aunique it had a unique cook that I'm
struggling to remember. But I wasI wasn't really getting into it at that
point, so it was, Yeah, it was a strange conversation. He
drew, He drove a Bentley,so those uh extracurriculus must have been doing

(01:13:33):
well. One of my favorite memoriesis Robbie Finley driving a Bentley to like
the gravel parking lot of being afield of the players parked. I'm like,
oh, God, like that paintshop is a danger. That is
that is not good? Uh anduh and David, very different question,
but uh, can you name aall time five aside team for the best

(01:13:59):
of concycat. Oh. Yeah,five aside men's only. Let's let's go
with that. Yeah, let's goeven bigger. Yeah. Five aside.
So five aside means ballers only.I don't need defenders. I don't need
goalkeepers, like I just want touchand move right. Sure, Okay,

(01:14:19):
I'm gonna do that, and I'mgonna do one per country. I'm gonna
limit myself, so I'm gonna doClintensi, Mottomac, Blanco, Oh,
White York. Oh, so thoseare easy, three out the gates.
I think then, so that italso eliminates those three countries from other people.

(01:14:44):
So I think then I'm gonna god Row there because I don't need
I don't need speed, no likeopen field speed, not that dro didn't
have it. And he's a finisherand he's a baller. So I'm oh
d Row. That's four and myfifth. I'm also eliminating countries there.
Jamaica US a little tough because likeit's tough to say who really played for

(01:15:09):
them and how much Conky Caffe experiencethey got. Um, So maybe I
think I'll go Brian Ruiz. Oh, good pick. Yeah, that's that's
a hell of a team. II when you started listening like Deuce and
all this, I'm like, yougotta to go Dero, Like de Ro
Dero is so so good with hisshort touches. It was just like although

(01:15:33):
I would say, and the teamlike that five's Atiba would be very good,
right, like constantly keeping the ballmoving, doing a little more defending
than everyone else. But yeah,no, d Ro de Ro is one
of those. And you guys knowthis better than me. But like twenty
years later, like what would whatwould his career be he was coming through

(01:15:57):
now is like kind of wild tothink about completely. It's wild. Like
there was the other day, likeI followed Dero on Instagram, but he
starts like lately he's been showing alot of like older clips and there was
just one where he was going Ithink like one v three and he just
absolutely like just and it was probablylike twenty one twenty two at the time,

(01:16:17):
and you just like, how didwe waste such an incredible talents And
like when you look at his career, there was nothing wasted, but it's
just on the grand scale of likewhat he could do with the ball,
what he did. It was justit feels like a bit of a waste.
It's it's wild. It worked forMLS, he won a lot of

(01:16:38):
trophies. Yeah, completely last,but not least because I think this one's
gonna be a bit loaded. CanadaNational team versus Canada Soccer. How does
this all end? Devangh good question. I don't I don't think. I

(01:17:04):
mean, I believe we're waiting forthe hearing now of or the hearing the
parliamentary hearing regard with the board membersand the people from the CSA. But
we've had the players speak in Ottawaand the MP's doing absolutely zero homework before.
That was not a surprise, ButI hope they are prepared a little
better when the CISA comes calling.I don't know. I feel like the

(01:17:29):
relationship with Charwayne Crooks already seems nottenable immediately. I think it's partly due
to the fact that she was aroundbeforehand, and I'm not sure if that
relationship can be prepared, and thatalready says to me that they have to
start over. So I think itwill require them starting over entirely at the

(01:17:49):
board level. Now will they dothat with the World Cup planning on your
way and the idea that they're goingto have more matches in Canada with the
expansion of the tournament. I don'tknow, I really do. I don't
have a good answer here. Idon't know what the dissolution is other than
the ESB maybe reworking their deal oroffering maybe some some war transparency and saying

(01:18:13):
maybe we can limit the term hereon this contract we signed. Yeah,
I think it is tough to lookinto the future and try and figure it
out because pretty much everything happening isfairly unprecedented. And this is, you
know, on a day after fortytwo page investigation into the USMNTIS coach and

(01:18:35):
parents of players and stuff, solike, it's not just Canada right now.
I think one of the big thingsthat I've taken away from covering this
Canada fiasco and now covering US soccers, And I've said this a couple of
times, the players have reached alevel that the organizations are not on.
Right, Like Nick pontass right,he wasn't paid, Like why do you

(01:19:00):
have a volunteer position running an organizationthat has Stephen Ustacio and Alfonso Davies and
Ashley Lawrence and kid should be cannonplaying for them, Like those are world
class players that play at the biggestclubs in the world. Why are they,
you know, then going and playingfor a volunteer organization. Like a
lot of that stuff just doesn't makeany sense. The belief that government's going

(01:19:24):
to come in and fix it aspretty far fetched I think for a lot
of people. So my hope isthat the generation of players who are who
have a level of professionalism can getsome control and I think to like pat
On said, runs an MLS clubnow, you know, full time,

(01:19:46):
and you talked about Diane Matterson andobviously we see you know, Christine Sinclair
going and talking, you know,in these big, high leverage moments,
Like it feels like there's enough soccerslash professionalism there to try and lean in
that direction and have them who Ithink the players then will have a level

(01:20:08):
of trust with sort of start torun things. And I think that's the
one thing you've seen on the USsoccer side, Cindy Parlow Cone and then
Ernie Stewart, Kate Margraff and obviouslyBrian McBride leaving, Stuart leaving, and
we don't know what happens to GregBerhalter, but like trying to have that
connection. I think that's a pathforward in terms of building the organization at

(01:20:29):
a better level and than having sometrust between players and the people above them.
But whether that happens or not,I can't say. And right now
we're in danger of all three countriesin this region hosting the World Cup wasting
it. Like Mexico's a mess.Us soccer is a mess, and now

(01:20:50):
Canadian soccer is as well. Yeahit's it's not a good time. And
I know that's the thing is I'mgonna echo what you guys said, like
unless there's somewhere down the line wherethey can or the CSB is going to
be like, you know what,we're gonna renegotiate it of the goodness of

(01:21:12):
our hearts, which they're also liketo be perfectly honest, like if they're
running the Canadian Premier League, likethey're not making handover fifths, so this
is sort of like the coffers thathelps them maintain this league. So it's
you're sitting here being like, well, nobody's nobody's going to break here,
so therefore you're just gonna get pissedoff players for as pissed off team that

(01:21:38):
is under like funded, and we'regonna, hopefully in fifteen years figure this
out. I don't know. Idon't know how this ends unless the CSB
makes the decision to share some wealthback into or find a way or like

(01:21:58):
show a business plan with it's like, okay, after X amount of dollars,
we will then funnel it back intothe system. I just don't know.
It's we're in a sad state andit should be celebrated that, Like
we're going into a World Cup inthe summer where the women should be a
contender, and we should be hostinga world Men's World Cup in twenty twenty
six and it should be exciting,and we are here in twenty twenty three,

(01:22:24):
hands up being like, uh,the one hope or dream or whatever
saving grace could be that if theseplayers on both the men's and women's side
are so good that they start theyjust keep winning things and making money from
that, there might then be enoughmoney for people to be more open to

(01:22:45):
what you're talking about, because allof a sudden there's an influx and hosting
a World Cup is supposed to dothat, Like that's what twenty fifteen was
right and helping build out grassroots level, you know, helping build out the
pipeline that and Alfonso Davies then camethrough, and Jonathan David then came through.
Like that's what twenty fifteen was supposedto create. Obviously there were mistakes

(01:23:09):
made coming out of that with CSB, and that's the hope of what twenty
twenty six will be. And ifthe women go and win the World Cup
and then go and win an Olympicsand the men win a Copa America,
like that's that is another way forthem to save this on the field,
which is I think more realistic,completely fair enough before I handed over to

(01:23:31):
you de Bang, any less thoughtsbefore we close it up. No,
I'm glad we went out with along one like we usually did when we
recorded late into the night and fondmemories of doing that. Recorded a lot
of podcasts in this apartment and I'mrecording it right now and I'm moving out
soon. So it also feels likethe end of many things. Dramatically,

(01:23:57):
it's been fun boys. Yeah,very sad. We'll leave it there after
nearly three years weekly check ins,that is it for us. I just
want to say again Thanks to anyoneand everyone who has ever listened to an
episode of a football podcast, whetherit was the first time, ten times

(01:24:18):
or one hundred times, and meantthe world to us that you came here
to get our takes and our opinionsand our terrible jokes. Thanks thanks for
listening to us. Thanks to ourPatrion community for supporting us throughout all these
months and for generating such lively discussionin the discord, which we hope to

(01:24:39):
keep going. Massive thank you againto the Space Monkey team Clay behind the
scenes getting the show off the ground. I worked with Clay so many times
throughout my career and I feel verylucky to say that. And the passion
he exudes and the effort he putsinto projects, it's really unparalleled. So
I I want to send a massivethanks to him, and thanks to Dylan

(01:25:03):
and Greg and Zach and Nick forhelping us make this show every week random
times. Coordinating scheduling, getting usin one room was not easy, but
those guys were legends and they madethis show sound wicked as well, So
massive thanks to them. Nick wasa big part of the show on the

(01:25:25):
air as well, and friends forlife and a big fan of his and
all he does. So thank youto those guys. Without them, this
show does not happen. And withoutyou guys, the show does not happened.
So, for one last time,for producer Greg on the Ones and
t Us, and for Sean andDavid, thank you so much for listening
to AFP Take Care or Concussion