WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.480 And I heart radio the music Freston all the best free city playlists. It's 2 00:00:04.519 --> 00:00:08.240 everything. There a great podcast for every interest. This is Freddy Brins Junior 3 00:00:08.279 --> 00:00:12.320 from the Wrestling with Pretty podcasts. All of the mind blowing contact twenty thousand 4 00:00:12.439 --> 00:00:16.719 dollars, all in your favorite superstars. This Dave grew from the Food Fightersest 5 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:20.879 of all, it doesn't cost him to be absolutely free. iHeart radio app 6 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:31.320 Now let's continue. Reds Baseball kicks off about seven ten, and I first 7 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:35.399 pitch about eight ten. Of course, big story, which is FC Cincinnati's 8 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:40.600 undefeated, untied, unstored on in first place and the Red Legs maybe in 9 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:44.320 first place come another week from now. The Bengals picked when the Super Bowl 10 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:49.479 Saviors should win the National College Basketball Championship next year, and U see Bearcats 11 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:53.679 might win the national football title. Yes, I'm in fantasyland. But Jeff 12 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:58.399 Birdings, the CEO and chairman of the board of FC Cincinnati, and Jeff 13 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:03.679 Birding, can you tell us before we talk about Messi and Ronaldo maybe teaming 14 00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:07.159 up with FC, can you talk about what the hell's going on with FC? 15 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:11.879 Who can't lose a game? What happened? Well, we have a 16 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:17.560 great coach in Pat noon In and a great GM and Chris Albright and a 17 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:21.400 great fan base, a great stadium, and you put all that magic and 18 00:01:21.640 --> 00:01:25.959 together and you're gonna have a great season. And that's where we've been this 19 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:30.560 year. The US Cup. Of course, I met Commissioner Gerber about four 20 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:34.560 or five years ago at Nipperd Stadium. Could you have seen at that point? 21 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:38.000 I think in that game FC lost in the semifinals of the US Cup. 22 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:42.000 And now it's going to happen against semifinals, maybe with Messi and Ronaldo. 23 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:49.560 But nonetheless, could you have seen the growth of FC the previous what's 24 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:52.560 happened in the past five years? Could you have seen that at the Knipperd 25 00:01:52.640 --> 00:01:57.159 Stadium it's packed thirty two thousand people, and of course the restrooms are overflowing, 26 00:01:57.280 --> 00:01:59.799 you can't get a hot dog, people are going nuts, the parades 27 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:02.519 opening, and they lost that game with Gerber president, But nonetheless, could 28 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:08.080 you have seen the growth of this thing? Well when Carlner and Scott Farmer, 29 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:12.960 George Joseph, when when we found that FC Cincinnati, it was to 30 00:02:13.080 --> 00:02:15.879 be a winning team, and we certainly experienced that in the minor leagues, 31 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:19.199 right We were the New York Yankees of Minor League soccer, and then we 32 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:24.199 quickly moved into MLS as an expansion team and certainly fumbled the transition. But 33 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:29.639 our goals have always been to be a winning team to represent the city, 34 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:34.680 and we were. Our ambition was to get back to being that winning team 35 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:38.759 and as we were in the minor leagues, and win more trophies. So 36 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:43.800 this is certainly what we had been working so hard for to deliver for our 37 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:46.800 wonderful fans and for this, you know, our proud hometown. And can 38 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:51.879 I tell you why I thought MESSI would play a team? Could you have 39 00:02:52.039 --> 00:02:54.120 envisioned Messiah? You called it a year ago? You called it a year 40 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:58.240 ago. It was. It's amazing that here we are having this conversation. 41 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:01.560 I say, I wasn't a believe. You were a believer. You're we 42 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:06.479 gotta get Messy. We're gonna have mel Stadium. And I was laughing sort 43 00:03:06.520 --> 00:03:08.000 of with you, going come on, Bill, and here we are, 44 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:13.560 Well, this is what I thought. I've done work for the BBC, 45 00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:17.759 which is not the Burbank Broadcasting but the British Broadcasting Company, and I do 46 00:03:19.080 --> 00:03:22.280 live call ins to London. I'm kind of the voice of the Midwest. 47 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.560 They think I'm normal in London, and I talk to people there and they 48 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:30.120 said, look messy. This is a couple or three years ago. If 49 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:34.439 he can win the World Cup for Argentina, if he can actually conquer the 50 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:37.840 World Cup, and he won like the Golden Boot, like seven years ago. 51 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:39.000 I said, Okay, look at it this way. Let's say he 52 00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:42.240 wins the World Cup, which would have been in a year or two. 53 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:46.520 Let's say he wins that. And let's say at that point Argentina has a 54 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:51.400 forty percent inflation rate, which it does online. They had fifty percent one 55 00:03:51.479 --> 00:03:53.520 year and forty two percent the next. This year is going to be thirty 56 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:59.759 eight percent inflation. The money he's making in Argentina is devalued greatly, and 57 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:03.000 he's already conquered Barcelona. The Barcelona they were getting rid of players, they 58 00:04:03.080 --> 00:04:05.759 weren't signing. He didn't feel like he was in control of what's happening in 59 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:10.039 Barcelona. And I said, at this point, there's only one thing to 60 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:14.680 do to keep his promise to David Beckham. And he told Beckham a few 61 00:04:14.759 --> 00:04:17.240 years ago, look, if it's possible for me to join you in Miami, 62 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:19.720 I'm going to do it, and so he's looking for a place to 63 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:25.079 live with his three kids. Argentina may not be the place. Europe is 64 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:28.680 not the place. Why not come to America. There's a continent to be 65 00:04:28.839 --> 00:04:32.439 captured. And that's why I thought Bessie would do it. Well, I 66 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:35.600 mean again, I'm being real serious. You called it in a way that 67 00:04:35.720 --> 00:04:44.199 some of us thought was really not possible. He is the biggest, the 68 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:48.920 most famous professional sports player to ever play in the United States, And just 69 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:54.399 to give the listeners some idea of that, he has four hundred and sixty 70 00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:59.759 nine million followers on Instagram. That's more followers than Steph Curry, Lebron, 71 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:03.720 James, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Otani, Alex Morgan, Jimmy Butler, 72 00:05:03.879 --> 00:05:10.600 Tiger Woods, Travis Kelsey, Mike Trout, John Morant combined, combined, 73 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:19.120 combined is four hundred and sixty nine million followers on Instagram. He is 74 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:25.319 instantly the biggest name in US sports. If there was right now and mount 75 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:30.199 rushmore of athletes in the world, in the world, I'm not sure an 76 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:34.399 American would be on it, but I know that Messi would be the top 77 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:41.079 athlete in the world. Is that fair? Yes, it is. It 78 00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:44.920 is. I mean, when you have to remember soccer while it's still catching 79 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:47.120 on here in the US, and we've made enormous progress. It is the 80 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:51.079 most popular sport in the world. There's more people playing soccer on this planet 81 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:58.279 than every other sport combined, and so everywhere around the world, the biggest 82 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:03.519 sport and the biggest star. The goat is messy. Well, is he 83 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:08.759 going to play? And our fans are going to get an opportunity to see 84 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:11.879 him play. Our season ticket holders are gonna have an opportunity to buy their 85 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:15.160 own seats. The stadium of course will be full. We're playing for a 86 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:19.079 prophy and it should be a heck of a night on August the twenty third. 87 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:26.160 Are you reasonably confident he's going to play on the twenty third? I 88 00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:30.120 mean, obviously the deal hasn't been inked yet, but he's announced his intentions. 89 00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:35.079 So assuming that this works where he signs with Miami, he of course 90 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:39.160 is going to be on the field they're playing. They're playing for a trophy 91 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:44.480 too, and you know, and we have a great stadium. It's been 92 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:47.399 said across the board it's the best soccer stadium in the United States. I 93 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:51.519 can't imagine a scenario unless he's injured, where he wouldn't play, So he 94 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:55.160 would play for a team that's not very good. Right now, I think 95 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:59.199 Miami I don't follow it closely. I think Miamie's not very well. They're 96 00:06:59.319 --> 00:07:04.680 last, the last, their last, and nc's first. We are and 97 00:07:04.839 --> 00:07:08.920 so messy. If he SAI, that's why you play the game, right 98 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:11.560 Yeah, Well, I mean a last place team can be the first place 99 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:15.279 team all the time, but none in soccer. So you're saying the dominant, 100 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:20.399 the greatest player in soccer, better than Pelee, better than and Bope, 101 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:25.680 better than Ronaldo, is going to be in Cincinnati sitting at the end 102 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:29.360 of a bar in OTR having a beer. Is that what you're saying. 103 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:32.000 That's what I'm saying. And just to give you a sense, because I've 104 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:35.160 heard some people ask me, is this like Michael Jordan going to the Wizards, 105 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:41.120 and uh, he's MESSI scored I think twenty goals this past season. 106 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:47.639 I mean that that's not someone who's not still performing at extraordinary level people who 107 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:51.399 fall soccer. Scoring goals is hard, and a player scores twenty goals in 108 00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:55.959 one of the top leagues in the world. He's still a phenomenally good player. 109 00:07:57.199 --> 00:07:59.759 Assuming all this takes place, you know, our team will be up 110 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:05.240 for the challenge. But you know, it's he's pretty good. How much 111 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:09.040 money I've read some reports he's got a deal with Apple TV, MLST. 112 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:18.800 Did FC financially participate in getting Messi to Miami? I think the short answer 113 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:20.759 is we don't know the details of the deal. There will the deal, 114 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:24.000 once it's done, will be brought to the Board of Governors. Carl Lindner 115 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:30.199 will have an opportunity to review the details and um and ultimately have to you 116 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:33.279 know, the owners will have to approve it. So we've seen some of 117 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:37.440 the media reports, but at this point that's all we've seen is the number 118 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:43.480 about two hundred and fifty to three hundred million for Messi. Again, haven't 119 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:48.360 seen the details. I've seen that in some of the public discussion, But 120 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:52.000 until we get a memo Carl gets a memo from the from the from the 121 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:56.320 commissioner regarding what the deal is, I'm not going to speculate here. I 122 00:08:56.399 --> 00:09:00.240 don't think that's fair. What's the top salary for the top player, inc. 123 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:05.720 Who is the best player for your team? Um, I think Luco 124 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:11.799 Acosta are attacking midfielders, is probably our highest paid player. But can you 125 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:15.120 tell me what he makes or not? Is that private? It's it's no, 126 00:09:15.240 --> 00:09:16.559 it's it was, It's been announced publicly. I think he makes about 127 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:24.159 two million a year made, and Messi's two fifty. I don't. I 128 00:09:24.279 --> 00:09:28.279 really don't know what the number is. But you know, if I would 129 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:33.000 say this, if anyone's seen the movie Air, which is about Nike coming 130 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:37.360 up with the Air Jordans and partnering with Michael Jordan as he was coming out 131 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:41.480 of UNC and Michael Jordan got a percentage of all the Air Jordans that Nike 132 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:48.159 has ever sold, and that was a transcendent deal, uh, for for 133 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:52.639 Nike and for Michael Jordan, who's of course the goat in the in basketball. 134 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:56.519 My sense is based on some of the media reports as it might be 135 00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:03.759 a deal somewhere akin to that, But obviously that was an enormous deal to 136 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:09.080 help Nike and Michael Jordan and his family. So my guess is this will 137 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:13.600 have some elements of that, but I don't know the details. Are you 138 00:10:13.720 --> 00:10:22.360 shocked that Messi maybe in Cincinnati a t q L in about seven weeks shocked. 139 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:26.080 Yes, yes, for sure. We were watching the drawing yesterday because 140 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:31.639 when Miami we won Tuesday Miami one Wednesday, there was a question of who 141 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:33.679 would host the game. So yesterday there was the drawing, and of course 142 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:37.440 the drawing for who would host the game was coming on, you know, 143 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:41.360 the next day, after the news about Messi going to Miami. So then 144 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:43.919 we win the drawing yesterday where our FC Cincinnati is going to host Miami, 145 00:10:45.720 --> 00:10:50.279 and then all of a sudden it's a feeding frenzy of just you know, 146 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:54.279 look, people who are a sports fans, right, we like to see 147 00:10:54.320 --> 00:11:00.840 the goats, We like to see the greatest stars and Messy coming to Cincinnati, 148 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:05.480 which Bill Cunningham you called over a year ago. My next next is 149 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:09.159 going to be I think when people think you're kidding, there might be some 150 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:13.080 knowledge behind your kidding. Well, I will tell you you called it. 151 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:16.840 I'm thinking about Ronaldo is next because my wife says, I'd look like Ronaldo 152 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:24.360 when he gets done in Saudi, when he gets done in Saudi Arabia, 153 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:33.039 wouldn't he want to join maybe FC Ronaldo. Well I don't know about Ronaldo, 154 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:37.600 but I will say this with Messi signing in the growth of soccer in 155 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:43.240 the United States with all the stadiums, thirty teams now, um the Apple 156 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:46.720 deal where people all over the world are going to be able to watch MLS 157 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:52.159 games, watch Messi on Apple. UM, this certainly becomes a more attractive 158 00:11:52.960 --> 00:12:00.399 you know where where other great players and UH will have more inspiration and with 159 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:05.559 the credibility that Messi brings to come to Major League Soccer and certainly at some 160 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:09.120 point you know FC, since I will be a part of that. I've 161 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:13.879 watched the interviews with Lyon only talks about his three kids, talks about his 162 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:16.519 wife. He wants the stable situation. When he was in Europe, he 163 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:20.519 stayed in a hotel as kids were living out of a hotel. He wants 164 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:22.600 a home. I can see him and back him getting a nice place in 165 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:26.840 and around Miami, one of those mansions they have, one of the islands, 166 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:31.360 and just putting roots down in America. And that's what's This is still 167 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.320 the let's be honest, for all of our troubles, this is still the 168 00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:41.240 greatest country in the world. And for you to your point, whether you're 169 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:45.159 the goat or you know, another fine human being, to be able to 170 00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:48.879 have an opportunity to come do what you love and what God gave you the 171 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:52.720 abilities to do in our country in the United States of America's a phenomenal opportunity 172 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:58.039 and it certainly this gives credibility to what all of us is owners and key 173 00:12:58.600 --> 00:13:03.360 leaders in Major League Soccer have been building, some for two decades and some 174 00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:07.320 of us for you know in Cincinnati here eight years. Now, are you 175 00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:13.320 ready for the big question? Sure? Sure, Bill fire Away on August 176 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:20.360 at twenty third, if Messi plays at TQL, do you have two tickets 177 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:26.840 for me and Penny? Yes, we will. We will one hundred percent. 178 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:31.279 We will need Bill Huntingham in the house. Jeff Birding, thank you 179 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:35.000 very much. It's good to be with you. Thank you, Bill. 180 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:41.679 God bless America. Thank you. Messi and Ronaldo sharing in the ball at 181 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:46.960 TQL is my next dream. On news Radio seven hundreds WLW. The federal 182 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:52.039 indictment of a former president. It's never happened before, and we will prove 183 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:54.799 that. You have a lot of questions. We are here to help you 184 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:00.919 find the answers. What exactly are the charges against Donald Trumps? This politically 185 00:14:00.960 --> 00:14:03.919 motivated? What does this mean for the nation? How could this effect a 186 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:07.679 run for the White House. We have to do things that will prevent this 187 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:13.120 man from ever being involved in any kinds of politics as history unfolds. Listen 188 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:20.320 for the latest updates, info, and analysis on seven hundred WLW. Are 189 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:24.799 you ready to think outside of the house? Evans Landscaping as the finest equipment 190 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:30.360 and expertise to turn your outdoor space into a beautiful place for relaxing with friends 191 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:33.879 and family. Evans has served Cincinnati Now for decades with the highest quality products 192 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:39.759 and unmatched customer service. From transplanting trees and installing hardscapes to material delivery and 193 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:43.679 demolition, Evans will help every step of the way. 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