WEBVTT 1 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:17.120 Second got a historic day today out in Sandy in America. 2 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:21.440 First Field unfortunately not downtown here in Salt Lake City, 3 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:24.519 where there's a parking lot where a soccer stadium should be. 4 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:30.879 Our next guest broke the news last night for The Athletic. 5 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:33.439 He was able to actually get at the price point 6 00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:37.759 that the Miller family has purchased the controlling steak or 7 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:40.280 Real sal Lake and the Utah Royals for a six 8 00:00:40.359 --> 00:00:43.520 hundred million dollar price tag. In Christopher Camaradi from the 9 00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:45.880 Athletic is good enough to grace us with his presence 10 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:48.079 and studio on a chili day. 11 00:00:48.119 --> 00:00:49.640 We got you out of the house. I'm impressed. 12 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:52.640 So we're dressed like we're matching. Well, I mean we 13 00:00:52.679 --> 00:00:53.840 are matching basically. 14 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:57.679 Yeah, basically black hoodies. Are you protesting the cold weather 15 00:00:57.719 --> 00:00:59.799 with that? I decided to address it all black because I'm 16 00:00:59.799 --> 00:01:02.000 pro testing thirty eight degree weather in April. 17 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:03.840 I don't know what it is man, the older I get, 18 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:07.159 I just feel like black is my color. I don't 19 00:01:07.159 --> 00:01:07.680 know what it is. 20 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:09.359 No for no reason, no reason. 21 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:13.079 Well, Porter will tell you this is how I'm dressed 22 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:15.920 every day in the winter. Yeah, when the when the 23 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:18.920 spring actually springs, and the summer is actually warm. I'll 24 00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:20.400 mix it up a little bit, but give me my 25 00:01:20.519 --> 00:01:22.000 black sweat sweatsheit. 26 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:23.200 All day like a titleist polo. 27 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:27.480 Maybe you know my relationship with the breatheable golf polos. 28 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:30.560 I have several. Oh, by the way, I'm giving some away. 29 00:01:30.599 --> 00:01:31.680 Do you have any interest? Do you want to go 30 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:32.280 through them? 31 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:34.480 I only accept Rome gear. 32 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:36.400 So okay, fair enough? Do you want to go through 33 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:38.159 my golf shirts? I'm giving away a grip of them. 34 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:39.560 Tell Chris to back off the roa gear. 35 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:43.400 By the way, well, I'll split it equally with equally 36 00:01:43.480 --> 00:01:45.480 with all of you. Well, Chris, it is great to 37 00:01:45.480 --> 00:01:48.680 see you, and we do have some breaking news about 38 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:52.120 a striker that reportedly is on his way to our cell. 39 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:55.079 But before we get there, take us through what you 40 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:58.599 wrote and your thoughts on this transaction. As ourssel has 41 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:00.959 now been sold to the Miller family. 42 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:05.560 Well, as we've heard today, they had their official formal 43 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:09.879 announcement and press conference out at America First Field. All 44 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:12.800 the major parties were there involved, the governor was there. 45 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:15.479 I think there were some church officials there as well, 46 00:02:15.560 --> 00:02:18.280 So all the heavy hitters were out in attendance. In 47 00:02:18.360 --> 00:02:23.080 Sandy my colleague and I Paultonorio, who is our lead 48 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:27.159 men's American soccer writer at the Athletic. We spent the 49 00:02:27.240 --> 00:02:32.599 last day basically trying to nail down the overall valuation 50 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:35.479 price point for what the sale was going to end 51 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:39.680 up as and we've had you know, multiple league sources 52 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:44.319 across the landscape of MLSN, NWSL break it down for us. 53 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:48.960 We confirmed that RSL sold for four hundred and forty 54 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:51.879 million dollars. The Royals went for one to ten, and 55 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:56.479 then you know, various escalators basically got it up to 56 00:02:56.680 --> 00:03:01.560 six hundred million. And if you look at what David 57 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:05.680 Blitzer and Ryan Smith bought it for basically a little 58 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:09.479 over the three years ago, now I think that was 59 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.240 about four hundred million, But that was before the Royals 60 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:14.919 were back. Remember, A great piece of business done by 61 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:19.080 Blitzer and Ryan at the time was being able to 62 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:23.800 lock in a two million dollar expansion rights price point 63 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:26.199 fee to bring the Royals back after they had left. 64 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:33.439 So when this first started percolating, I want to say 65 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:36.039 a couple months ago, I mean David Blitzer told me 66 00:03:36.120 --> 00:03:38.439 last night that he reached out to the Millers around 67 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:41.199 the holiday seasoned engauge whether or not they wanted to 68 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:46.240 be the local anchor majority owner that he was searching for. 69 00:03:48.120 --> 00:03:50.240 This was percolating for a few months now they finally 70 00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:52.919 get it across the finish line, but it was clear 71 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:59.080 that Blitzer wanted and it makes sense he wanted to 72 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:02.439 have somebody low who was going to be the day 73 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:08.039 to day majority owner to usher in yet another new 74 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:09.960 era for RSL and the Royals. 75 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:13.560 So I was digging into some of these specifics here. 76 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:17.600 Ryan Smith Ashley Smith seg Entertainment Group out entirely. 77 00:04:18.040 --> 00:04:20.399 Yeah, Paul, and I reported that I think at the 78 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:21.199 end of March. 79 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:26.439 Okay, ye, So the synergy between Dave Blitzer his group 80 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:28.920 and the Miller family and their group, do you have 81 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:31.839 any inside there? So the Millers are the controlling owners now, 82 00:04:32.199 --> 00:04:35.879 so they will have say in whatever they want. Dave Blitzer, 83 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:38.079 I think it's eight clubs across the landscape of Europe 84 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:40.560 the Blitzer umbrella. So that's a relationship that you want 85 00:04:40.600 --> 00:04:44.439 to maintain. So is the line of delineation as clear 86 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:46.959 as the Millers have the business and Blitzer has the 87 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:49.480 soccer or is it a little more complicated. 88 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:51.319 No, it's not. And David kind of said that today 89 00:04:51.319 --> 00:04:53.160 and his presser he said, like he wants to be 90 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:56.360 more involved now on the soccer operation side. He is 91 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:59.120 a soccer junkie, like he grew up playing it. Obviously, 92 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:04.000 he own majority or entire stakes in several clubs overseas, 93 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:10.000 and I think, honestly, this is probably the most useful 94 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:15.120 area that that David can help rsl out in. I mean, 95 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:17.600 he's a guy who is worth a lot of money 96 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:20.439 and he has a lot of irons in the fire 97 00:05:20.519 --> 00:05:23.759 at all times, you know, as you know, he's involved 98 00:05:23.800 --> 00:05:28.120 with the Sixers, the Devils, the Commanders, the list goes 99 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:33.920 on and on. The Millers now are going to basically 100 00:05:33.959 --> 00:05:37.079 be the be the point guard, shooting guard, small forward, 101 00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:40.040 power forward center using all the old basketball cleasues and 102 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:41.360 the sixth man and the sixth man. 103 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:41.680 Wow. 104 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:49.079 So yeah, I mean the priority for David Blitzer was 105 00:05:49.120 --> 00:05:53.560 to have a majority local owner who can run day 106 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:57.639 to day operations. And you can make an argument he 107 00:05:57.759 --> 00:06:00.399 was lucky that the Millers were waiting there now, Paul 108 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:02.959 and I did report that, you know, he offered Ryan 109 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:06.839 Smith right a first refusal last fall with everything that 110 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:09.240 Ryan had going on bringing in the hockey team and 111 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:11.439 the Jazz and the Delta Center revamp and all the 112 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:16.720 downtown stuff. You know that Smith declined and David was 113 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:23.000 lucky enough to have a long tenured local sports franchise 114 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:26.040 Steward in the Millers be waiting for waiting in the wings. 115 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:27.439 But it had to be, you know, as they always say, 116 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:30.120 had to be the right fit. And it was the 117 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:30.680 right fit. 118 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:32.399 Sure, sure, And I worked for the Millers for seven 119 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:36.079 years and I can speak to the type of company 120 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:37.920 they run and the type of people that they are. 121 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:40.319 And I know, I know Steve Starks and Steve Miller 122 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:42.800 and Greg and Gail had a chance to sit with 123 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:45.519 them and some other media members yesterday as they walked 124 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:48.759 us through kind of their mindset and their mentality. So 125 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:52.879 I'll ask you, Cek, somebody who once upon a time 126 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:54.959 was hanging out with David Beckham at a record store 127 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:58.079 downtown when real Madrid was here a rip Virgin, a 128 00:06:58.199 --> 00:07:01.199 right T Virgin Records and was a real Madrid ral 129 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:04.759 Sawlake as a patron and has kind of seeing all 130 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:08.120 of the iterations of RSL either as somebody who would 131 00:07:08.120 --> 00:07:11.560 attend games then in the media covering them. And now 132 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:15.360 we transfer over to this day, what do you what 133 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:17.680 sort of benefits do you think this could bring ral 134 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.279 saw Lake. What's what's the buzz the feel around the 135 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:21.319 ownership transition? 136 00:07:21.480 --> 00:07:25.399 Yet again, Yeah, it's it's a franchise that finds itself 137 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:29.319 in a very unique position. We don't see many major 138 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:37.040 professional sports franchises change ownership three times basically in four years. 139 00:07:37.199 --> 00:07:40.279 But this is where RSL finds itself in the Royals 140 00:07:40.319 --> 00:07:45.000 as well. I'm going to continue to just be this 141 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:49.680 guy on your show. Ninety percent of fans just want 142 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:55.040 and infuse of allocated resources to make their team fun 143 00:07:55.079 --> 00:07:57.839 to watch and make them be good bottom line, end 144 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:02.600 of story. It's a lit'll. It's easier in soccer as 145 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:06.480 opposed to the NBA. You have if you're willing to 146 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:08.839 splash the cash, so to speak, if you're willing to 147 00:08:08.920 --> 00:08:14.120 shell out the resources to maintain a competitive roster, both 148 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:17.439 on the professional men's and women's side. You know, from 149 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:20.920 a Royals point of view, like when they came in 150 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:25.639 man heaviest hitters like World Cup stars Becky Sowerbroun, Kelly O'Hara, 151 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:29.079 Kristin Press came here. This iteration of the Royals still 152 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:32.720 trying to figure out who they are. The league is 153 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:36.240 a little different. A lot of our American women's soccer 154 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:39.879 players aren't necessarily chomping at the bit to play here 155 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:42.559 there a lot of them are playing in Europe. And 156 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:45.360 on the men's side, we've been talking about it for months. 157 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:50.039 It's like, can the Millers or are the Millers willing 158 00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:54.279 to invest the amount of money necessary to get this 159 00:08:54.440 --> 00:08:59.679 team to be a contender in a very difficult conference, 160 00:08:59.720 --> 00:09:04.240 in a league that now demands so much more money 161 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:08.039 in order to just have you know, your name and 162 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:10.159 the hat at the end of the season as opposed 163 00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:12.000 to what it was, you know, five six years ago. 164 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:15.840 The Royals piece of this is pretty interesting, right, So 165 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:20.000 one hundred and ten mil for the Royals and valuations 166 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:24.720 across the landscape of the NWSL have skyrocket, Y's correct, yep, 167 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:27.720 So what sort of and they you know they Ali 168 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:30.120 Senader is one of the bright young stars in America 169 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:32.639 as far as female soccer players go, and she's been 170 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:35.039 really good for them. So before we get back to 171 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:37.000 the RSL side, we'll talk about the breaking news of 172 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:40.159 the striker. What a information, if any at all, do 173 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:43.039 you have about how motivated the Millers were to do 174 00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:45.039 this because of the Royals portion of the deal. 175 00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:47.879 Well, I mean it's a package deal. It was always 176 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:49.519 going to be a package deal, as it should be. 177 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:56.000 The Royals are unique in that they are, like I said, 178 00:09:56.039 --> 00:10:00.639 they're trying to figure out who they are as a club. Still, 179 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:03.720 they're trying to accumulate talent. You know, Alie sent no 180 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:06.360 Or is one of the bright young American talents we 181 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:09.440 have in our game. But beyond that, I mean they're 182 00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:13.159 they're you know, the goalkeepers very good as well. She's 183 00:10:13.320 --> 00:10:16.039 been had some national team senior team call ups recently. 184 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:22.960 But it's it's at the risk of sounding shallow, star 185 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:26.879 power matters anywhere, and if you can have star power here, 186 00:10:27.320 --> 00:10:30.600 I think that that is a huge reason why I 187 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:33.559 think the first iteration of the Royals exploded the way 188 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:37.879 it did was because, like you had three people who 189 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:44.519 were basically rotational, rotational or starters for the US women's 190 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:48.879 national team who were you know, winning World Cups. Now 191 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:51.679 it's they're trying to figure it out, man, Like it's 192 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:55.519 it's hard. And you mentioned the valuations of NWSL skyrocketing. 193 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:59.639 They are skyrocketing because Denver, I think is had to 194 00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:03.120 pace something similar to what the Royals sold for just 195 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:06.600 as one yeah, and the San Diego Waves sold for 196 00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:10.320 one to twenty last year. So this league was kind 197 00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:12.840 of on shaky ground as recently as four or five 198 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:16.679 years ago, and now, thankfully, like you're just seeing the 199 00:11:17.480 --> 00:11:19.679 other side of the coin and it's pretty healthy. 200 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:23.240 So when the Royals left us the first time, the 201 00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:26.480 final year here, they averaged ten thousand fans per match, 202 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:29.679 which was second to the Portland franchise at the time. 203 00:11:30.279 --> 00:11:32.159 I don't have up to date numbers, but I can 204 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:33.240 tell you it's not close. 205 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:33.679 To ten thousand. 206 00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:34.480 No, it's not. 207 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:38.200 So what sort of yeah, and you referenced the star power, like, 208 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:41.720 I don't think we fully realized like exactly how powerful 209 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:44.960 that group was. What sort of steps need to be 210 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:47.200 taken to get that number back up? Because if the 211 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:49.279 fans came, then they'll come again if they have a 212 00:11:49.320 --> 00:11:49.759 reason to. 213 00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:55.240 Yeah, And again, it's all right, it's the almighty dollars, 214 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:58.639 right and checks. The man with the gold makes the rules, 215 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:00.960 that's you. That's your gold rule. And it makes sense 216 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:06.200 always again, if you are willing to invest, fans will come, 217 00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:09.159 fans will pay, fans will watch from home. If they're 218 00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:15.799 not paying, like, this is a market that is willing 219 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:20.480 to fall in love with a team that is good 220 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:23.159 at what it does, that has players that are good, 221 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:26.440 that play an attractive style of whatever sport they're playing. 222 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:28.799 We've seen that with the Jazz, We've seen it with 223 00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:31.360 RSEL over the years. When the Royals were here the 224 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:34.519 first time they had a tremendous amount of talent, you 225 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:37.799 just got a pony up man. And for a long time, 226 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:44.200 especially under the Deloy Hanson era, RSL was lagging behind. 227 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:47.120 And I know the Blitzer group with Ryan Smith kind 228 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:49.480 of changed that. You know, they spent six million dollars 229 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:52.080 for Chichio Orongo. But as we've talked about on the 230 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:53.960 show last couple of months, like now that gets you 231 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:57.320 a that gets you a rotational squad player, that gets 232 00:12:57.360 --> 00:13:01.360 you a solid fifth to six player if you're going 233 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:04.440 to compete. And that's just the way it is now. 234 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:07.960 New World, New World, which brings us to and look, 235 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:11.399 it's I'm smarting a little bit because every RSL guest 236 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.679 I've had on over the past i don't know, two 237 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:17.000 or three months since and you and I talked about this, 238 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:20.720 since the rumors surfaced that there was this ownership transition 239 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:24.639 taking place. Whether it was Kurt or Jason or Tony 240 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:27.879 or Pablo or John, whoever it was. Whenever we talk 241 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:30.720 about are you guys making additions, Yes, we're working on it, 242 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:34.519 I would say, well, is the potential ownership transition getting 243 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:36.399 in the way, And they all said no, Well the 244 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:39.960 ownership transition is done. And an hour later we find 245 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:48.480 out that Robert Bozanik Bosanique, Robert Bosanique a Slovakian striker 246 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:51.039 and the Slovakian national team. 247 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:54.600 You know, they're like a top fifty national team year 248 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:55.240 in and year out. 249 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:57.480 They strike me as a team that John Paul would 250 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:59.200 use to beat me in FIFA one nil and you 251 00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:02.840 don't really make me up. Said, but this striker has 252 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:06.120 had several caps with the Slovakian national team. He's twenty 253 00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:11.080 five years old. Robert hit me again. Bosanique Bosanique. Robert Bosanique, 254 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:15.039 according to reports, has been signed and is on his 255 00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:16.279 way to play for RSL. 256 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:18.000 So what's your reaction to the breaking. 257 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:21.519 News coincidence on the day that ownership group. 258 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:24.559 Of course, not right, it can't be. There's no way 259 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:27.000 it's coincidence. They just all lied to me. And now 260 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:28.559 I've got a bone to pick with all of them. 261 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:31.879 If you're track, if you're looking at the player profile 262 00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:36.120 of what RSSEL likes to go after at the moment, 263 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:40.879 it makes sense a guy who has success with his 264 00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:46.879 senior national team, who is in and out of a 265 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:50.919 decent club in Portugal from a starting eleven rot point 266 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:57.559 of view, but he's twenty five six'. TWO rsl guys 267 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.720 have told you on your show ad nauseum that they 268 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:05.679 are sign and develop. Club now this is a potentially 269 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:10.240 different deal, because LIKE i don't know what The portuguese 270 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:12.639 LEAGUE i, mean top. Heavy if you're talking about Like 271 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:15.679 Sporting lisbon And, porto it BLOWS mls out of the. 272 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:19.000 Water but as a you, know if you're measuring the 273 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:21.120 bottom of the barrel over there versus what we have, 274 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:24.360 HERE i would imagine it kind of evens out a little. 275 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:27.799 Bit BUT i. Can't i'm trying to. Think last TIME i, 276 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:30.639 SAW i think he had like thirteen goals in the 277 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:35.279 last two years, there so not a tremendously high goal scoring. 278 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:39.320 Rate but it's a guy who gets run with his 279 00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:41.720 national team In europe and it's a decent national. Team 280 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:43.759 it's a you, know a guy who used to play 281 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:46.559 here for a while was on that national team In Albert, 282 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:49.480 rusnak and he was a really good, signing you, know 283 00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:52.279 one of the best international signings at RSL's ever. HAD 284 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:56.279 i wonder if If robert talked To albert, about you, 285 00:15:56.320 --> 00:16:00.200 know living here and making that move. Beforehand but it's 286 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:01.960 a move that had to be. Done it is kind 287 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:06.279 of very ironic that this news gets broken a few 288 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:08.120 hours after the ownership group is officially. 289 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:10.840 Announced, well it has to be the thing we were waiting. 290 00:16:10.919 --> 00:16:12.919 For AND i don't even, Like i'm not saying there's 291 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:17.480 anything wrong with, That like obviously if you're if You're David, 292 00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:20.679 BLITZER i WOULD i Guess i'll Include. RYAN i don't 293 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:22.639 know The ryan was ever all that committed to any 294 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:25.559 of this. Stuff but if you're on the ownership side 295 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:27.799 and you're the one that's BEING asketerrt to, check because 296 00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:30.279 the reports are this is a designated, player so this 297 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:31.159 is not a cheap. 298 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:34.639 Player we'll see what the final number looks. 299 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:38.840 Like you would want to wait for the thumbs up 300 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:41.799 from your new, bosses who The millers are now they 301 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:44.720 have the controlling, Stakes so, YES i would imagine this 302 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:47.200 was something that was in the pipeline for a few, 303 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:50.240 weeks as our Guy Tom boger talked, about and they 304 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:52.399 had to wait for the green light from the new 305 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:54.200 ownership group to get it. DONE i, mean it's probably 306 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:55.759 as simple as, That chris anything it. 307 00:16:55.799 --> 00:17:00.279 Is But tom REPORTED i think late last week maybe 308 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:03.600 or earlier this, week that talks have had stalled With 309 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:07.079 bozonique and Boa vista and THAT rsl was looking at 310 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:12.279 potentially other. Options so the fact that that got, public, 311 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:15.720 generally when that gets, public it means things soured and 312 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:18.000 they have to move on to another. Target the fact 313 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:21.240 that a very well sourced report like the PREMIER mls 314 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:25.359 reporter reported that and it's eventually got over the line is. 315 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:30.920 FASCINATING i wonder what potential you, know contractual or number 316 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:34.559 dispute was at the forefront of. That but now that 317 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:37.480 it's over the, line it's it just had to, happen, 318 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:39.440 Man and now you got to get him here as 319 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:40.839 soon as humanly. 320 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:44.359 Possible and that's the issue because it's not just getting him, 321 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:47.119 here it's getting them acclimated with the coaching staff and the. 322 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:52.319 Players and the primary transfer window closes next, Wednesday, yeah Next, 323 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:55.200 Wednesday so how long then we'll move on to some other. 324 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:57.839 Stuff how long is it reasonable to expect before he 325 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:01.680 is on the, ground acclimated in the eleven and actually 326 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:03.079 doing some, Things. 327 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:08.359 So it'll depend on when it's officially. Announced there's a 328 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:12.880 thing called AN, itc which is an international transfer CERTIFICATE 329 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:16.119 i believe it stands. For and that is the huge 330 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:21.960 kind of that's just got to go through relatively quick 331 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:24.880 BECAUSE i think If i'm going back to my beat 332 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:28.079 right days and my brain serves me, correctly that is 333 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:31.559 also usually contingent on helping a player get a visa as. 334 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:34.359 Well and the faster you can get all that stuff ironed, 335 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:36.640 out the faster they can be on a plane here 336 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:40.960 and be, comfortably you, know starting to. Acclimate but if 337 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:43.480 we're talking about what is today the, eighteenth the day 338 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:48.839 is the. Eighteenth if we're guess IF i was to 339 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:52.200 guess what his first start would, Be i'd probably say 340 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:54.680 a month from. Now and that's being, generous all. 341 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:55.400 Right last thing. 342 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:59.319 Here Non, garber commissioner Of Major League, soccer was there 343 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:03.640 for the, announcement as Was Dave, blitzer And don made a. 344 00:19:03.720 --> 00:19:07.440 Comment he looked around and, said people ask him all the, 345 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:11.480 time will soccer make it In, america and he, said 346 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:14.720 looking around at this, event it's clear that soccer has 347 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:18.200 made it In. America the other thing that continues to 348 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:22.000 be talked, about AND i Promise i'm not. Chuckling it's 349 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:25.160 just ironic that The World, cup it's going to be 350 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:27.480 played in our, region and then The Women's World cup 351 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:31.000 that's coming as, well will serve as this. Boom then 352 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:34.200 once again soccer will ride to the stratosphere of whatever that. 353 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:37.000 Means it's exactly the same thing that was said in 354 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:40.039 two thousand and four to two thousand and, two the 355 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:43.599 very same. Thing AND i do feel soccer as a 356 00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:46.000 footprint here in a way that most people maybe never 357 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:48.759 thought it would. Be but is it realistic to expect 358 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:50.960 this thing to? Grow and do you think The World 359 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:53.119 cup and the footprint that it will leave here will 360 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:55.279 have this tangible effect that everybody keeps talking. 361 00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:59.599 About that's a great, question. Man LIKE i mean going 362 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:02.960 back to you can make an argument that your dad 363 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:04.680 doesn't want to bring a soccer club here if not 364 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:07.559 for the success OF o. Two like everything is part 365 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:11.240 of a, timeline so to. Speak but if we're talking 366 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:16.079 about domestic professional, SOCCER i don't know how much further 367 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:19.519 we can go in the current setup of WHAT mls 368 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:24.599 is in the single entity. STRUCTURE i think for the 369 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:28.000 professional soccer in this country to break free of, that 370 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:32.240 it needs to do that exactly and be a free. 371 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:35.599 Market whoever can spend the most cash spends the most 372 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:38.279 cash into the victor goes the. Spoils AND i know 373 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:42.200 that sounds kind of, depressing but you can make an 374 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:45.359 argument THAT mls is nearing that. POINT i, MEAN i, think, shoot, 375 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:48.240 man With San, diego we're like at the thirty thirty 376 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:51.119 one teams or something. Like there are so many teams 377 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:56.559 in this league. NOW i do think fans will get you, 378 00:20:56.599 --> 00:21:00.200 know excited once again next. Summer but for a lot of, 379 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:02.640 folks it's kind of like The. Olympics it's like they 380 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:06.640 get super stoked every four, years and after that they're, like, 381 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:10.160 Man i'll go back to watching The steelers lose or 382 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:12.240 praying The jazz Get cooper, flag you. 383 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:12.519 Know WHAT i. 384 00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:16.440 Mean, yeah, YEAH i just don't know what that next 385 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:20.079 step is outside of you, know a semi final for 386 00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:22.839 the men's national. Team the women's team has handled. IT i, 387 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:25.039 mean obviously you want to, see you, know the Pro 388 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:27.519 the pro model here will grow on that. Side but 389 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:29.799 other than, that IT'S i just don't know what the 390 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:32.920 next step is BECAUSE i feel LIKE mls is pretty 391 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:36.160 healthy compared to you know where it was you mentioned 392 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.640 two thousand and two way. BACK i mean it was 393 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:40.920 it was on shaky ground back. Then, man it was all. 394 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:42.880 Right last thing, here then we'll catch a quick break 395 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:48.599 in the stratosphere of The miller family and what they 396 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:52.680 have in their stable now and what they're trying to 397 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:56.440 do With Major League. Baseball the power district is right out, 398 00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:59.240 here just kind of let's, see it would be northwest 399 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:03.200 of where we're. At AS i always reference the irony 400 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:06.200 of me working in the studio IS i can literally 401 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:09.440