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<v Speaker 1>That's our next guest. I could use a ton of superlatives.

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<v Speaker 1>The Wall of the wasatch the best to ever do

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<v Speaker 1>it in Major League soccer, and now we can add

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<v Speaker 1>to it. Nick Romondo Hall of Famer as Nicky was

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<v Speaker 1>inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame as part

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<v Speaker 1>of the twenty twenty five class just a few days ago,

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<v Speaker 1>the first RSL player ever to be inducted. So Nick,

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<v Speaker 1>the first thing first, man, So proud of you. Congratulations,

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<v Speaker 1>how you doing, Thank you man?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, World wind Tour. Just got back from being inducted

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<v Speaker 2>in Dallas, and just so real for me to be

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<v Speaker 2>amongst the names of so many great American soccer players

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<v Speaker 2>and people being inducted into the Hall of Fame. So

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<v Speaker 2>just feeling so happy, so grateful, so blessed. And to

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<v Speaker 2>be the first to ever do it from oursel obviously

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<v Speaker 2>that's a special feeling as well.

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<v Speaker 1>Let me ask you this, Nick, because as I referenced,

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<v Speaker 1>I certainly am proud of you. I know a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of people, including my old man, very proud of you.

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<v Speaker 1>What are you most proud about during this journey that

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<v Speaker 1>is culminated with an induction into the Hall of Fame?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I tried to get your pops down there. Unfortunately,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, your dad has a busy schedule, but he

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<v Speaker 2>was able to send me a nice little little gift

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<v Speaker 2>to the house. That was very nice of him. But

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<v Speaker 2>for me, I think just the consistency of being able

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<v Speaker 2>to play for twenty years. You know what it takes

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<v Speaker 2>to play for that long, to be able to take

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<v Speaker 2>care of your body, have the trust from the organizations

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<v Speaker 2>and teammates, your coaching staff, and to stay the longevity

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<v Speaker 2>of just being at a club for so long, like

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<v Speaker 2>Real Salt Lakes. So and again, I think I would

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<v Speaker 2>be remiss not to say that, you know, the experiences

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<v Speaker 2>I've had with the national team, going to represent the

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<v Speaker 2>country down at the World Cup in twenty fourteen was

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<v Speaker 2>very special for me. And obviously the whole journey, the

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<v Speaker 2>whole journey makes me who I am as a player,

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<v Speaker 2>as a person, and the ups and downs of my

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<v Speaker 2>careers and just just again just this reminiscing and looking

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<v Speaker 2>back on my career. There's so many ups and downs

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<v Speaker 2>that maybe the person I am today And just just

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<v Speaker 2>again just feeling so grateful to be in the Hall

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<v Speaker 2>of Fame.

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<v Speaker 1>No, you're a big music guy. I was watching this documentary,

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<v Speaker 1>this music documentary on Glastonbury, this music festival, and they

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<v Speaker 1>interviewed Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, after that

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<v Speaker 1>big cold Play, like their their first Glastonbury concert, and

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<v Speaker 1>he said something that struck with me because they said,

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<v Speaker 1>and you know, guys like you who achieve, and guys

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<v Speaker 1>like lead singers of a band, you know, they start

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<v Speaker 1>with a dream and then they followed the dream and

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<v Speaker 1>work as hard as they could. And I'll never forget

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<v Speaker 1>what he said. He said, my dreams never got this big.

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<v Speaker 1>I never got here in my dreams. Were you did

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<v Speaker 1>you dare to dream that something like this was a

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<v Speaker 1>possibility for you when you were starting out playing soccer

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<v Speaker 1>or did your dreams never get this big?

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<v Speaker 2>No? You know, I never started playing soccer to be

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<v Speaker 2>in the Hall of Fame. It was because I loved

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<v Speaker 2>the sport. I loved the competition, I love the band.

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<v Speaker 2>I love to see my teammates and being a part

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<v Speaker 2>of the team and the goal to reach you know,

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<v Speaker 2>the finals, the playoffs. That I was just a competitive person.

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<v Speaker 2>And obviously when you start playing for as long as

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<v Speaker 2>I did, to act like start to you know, accumulate

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit more and more, and if you win,

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<v Speaker 2>if you do well, you know, your name might get

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<v Speaker 2>you know, shine bright a couple of times here and there.

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<v Speaker 2>But I think if you ask anybody that has been inducted,

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<v Speaker 2>they don't they don't do it to be in the

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<v Speaker 2>Hall of Fame, to do it because they love the sport.

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<v Speaker 2>And yeah, as you continue to play, those ambitions get

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit bigger and bright. And as I, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>won the MLS Cup, it's like, what could I do next,

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<v Speaker 2>Let's go to the Goal Cup. Let's let's get on

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<v Speaker 2>the national team. And then obviously the goal was to

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<v Speaker 2>make it to the World Cup, and and uh, to

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<v Speaker 2>be able to achieve that that goal the biggest goal

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<v Speaker 2>of my of mine and playing and one of the

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<v Speaker 2>biggest soccer tournaments or sports tournaments in the world was

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<v Speaker 2>massive to me. And I guess when when you're done playing,

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<v Speaker 2>maybe there's a little hope that that there's gonna be

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<v Speaker 2>some recognition somewhere here and there, and and and to

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<v Speaker 2>be recognized by the Hall of Fame and be inducted,

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<v Speaker 2>that's that's the biggest for me.

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<v Speaker 1>I wonder Nick, because you know, the hero's journey contains

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<v Speaker 1>a lot of ups and downs, and life is not

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<v Speaker 1>a straight line and careers are not linear. And you

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<v Speaker 1>had a really interesting career where you started out, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>on a trajectory that was going straight up with Miami

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<v Speaker 1>and you want a supporter shield. You know, you were

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<v Speaker 1>a starter as a rookie, and then you went to

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<v Speaker 1>d C and you know, you were able to get

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<v Speaker 1>the starting job for a minute, you guys want a

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<v Speaker 1>cup and then you lost your starting job and ultimately

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<v Speaker 1>you landed here in in a trade that brought RSL.

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<v Speaker 1>Freddy you do and you turned out to be the

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<v Speaker 1>gem of that deal. But at the time, I think

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<v Speaker 1>there were some questions. Did you ever question yourself during

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<v Speaker 1>that time when you had lost your job and you

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<v Speaker 1>landed here, grabbed the starting job and the rest is history.

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<v Speaker 1>But did you ever have doubts during that process?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah? Of course, And again like that's I touched on

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<v Speaker 2>a little bit. But who made It's what made me

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<v Speaker 2>as a player, the down more than anything, the injuries,

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<v Speaker 2>the not playing someone else taking my starting position. It's

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<v Speaker 2>believing in yourself, pushing yourself through there are in those moments,

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<v Speaker 2>letting that be the feel not you know, not the

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<v Speaker 2>ceiling of who you are as a player and a person.

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<v Speaker 2>And I really think if I didn't have any setbacks

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<v Speaker 2>in my in my career and everything was just jolly

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<v Speaker 2>and going straightforward, I wouldn't be where I'm at. Uh.

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<v Speaker 2>It's those it's those setbacks and injuries that again made

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<v Speaker 2>me and made me go through the hard times in

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<v Speaker 2>my career and and really really flourish and the good

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<v Speaker 2>times and and uh, you know, push me through to

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<v Speaker 2>get to those moments, you know, winning in two thousand

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<v Speaker 2>and nine, going to the MLS club and even losing.

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<v Speaker 2>I think I believe those twenty twelves a KC. Those

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<v Speaker 2>feelings stick with you and and and you don't want

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<v Speaker 2>to feel those feelings again. So you get back on

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<v Speaker 2>that on that on that field and in the gym,

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<v Speaker 2>and you try to do whatever you can not to

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<v Speaker 2>have that feeling again of losing, and it just pushes

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<v Speaker 2>you through. Everybody has more innovation in their own way,

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<v Speaker 2>and and and mind was through the losses and and

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<v Speaker 2>and those learning experiences and how to get back on

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<v Speaker 2>that horse.

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<v Speaker 1>You know what I didn't know until recently because we

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<v Speaker 1>were talking about your induction. You never won MLS Keeper

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<v Speaker 1>of the year. In your entire career, that award never

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<v Speaker 1>came your way once.

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<v Speaker 2>No, no, I figure I was close a couple of times,

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<v Speaker 2>but uh never never was able to get it. And

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<v Speaker 2>and and listen, there were some good goalkeepers in my

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<v Speaker 2>time and not not to you know, be that humble

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<v Speaker 2>guy all the time, but you got to give it

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<v Speaker 2>to some of these goalkeepers. Man, every time I thought

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<v Speaker 2>I maybe had it, and again you don't. You don't

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<v Speaker 2>start the year it may be a goal, but you

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<v Speaker 2>don't push for it. And at the end of the

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<v Speaker 2>year you're like, Okay, maybe I got it and it

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<v Speaker 2>was just never on the table for me. And I'm

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<v Speaker 2>okay with that. I'm okay with that. I have so

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<v Speaker 2>many more experiences and uh and then friendships and teammates

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<v Speaker 2>and awards that I got through my career and and

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<v Speaker 2>but it is. It is a talking point for sure.

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<v Speaker 1>Look, dude, you have the MLS records for minutes games played, wins,

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<v Speaker 1>clean sheets, saves, and penalty kicks. There's literally nothing else

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<v Speaker 1>you could have done. So I will complain for you.

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<v Speaker 1>The fact that you never won that award once is

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<v Speaker 1>beyond stupid.

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<v Speaker 2>I think you and my mom agreed.

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<v Speaker 1>Okay, fair enough. Well that I'm in good company because

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<v Speaker 1>I've met your mother. Of course, she's a lovely lady. Hey,

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<v Speaker 1>let me ask you this, What was it about, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>whether it was simply salt Lake being a new fresh

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<v Speaker 1>start or John Ellinger and then Jason christ you know,

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<v Speaker 1>believing in you. What was it that made this market

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<v Speaker 1>at that time the right fit for you, that allowed

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<v Speaker 1>you to go on to break all these records.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, well, for me, it needed I needed a change.

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<v Speaker 2>I wasn't the number one in DC. I was really

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<v Speaker 2>in good with with DC United and the front office,

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<v Speaker 2>so they helped me, you know, get out of there

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<v Speaker 2>and gave me some options. It was Kansas City, Columbus,

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<v Speaker 2>and I think Salt Lake City were at the top

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<v Speaker 2>of the list for trading options. And honestly, for me,

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<v Speaker 2>it was just trying to get as west as I could,

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<v Speaker 2>and salt Lake was that and I was thinking, Okay,

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<v Speaker 2>if I could somehow end my career in California, that

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<v Speaker 2>would be great. I'm back to where you know I'm from,

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<v Speaker 2>But salt Lake is it was a home. It fit me,

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<v Speaker 2>it fit my family, the people here, that the relationships

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<v Speaker 2>I built the club Now to this day. Have have

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<v Speaker 2>a great relationship with them and I owe a lot

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<v Speaker 2>to them. In my career, so many people did to name,

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<v Speaker 2>but this is home. After I was done playing, there

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<v Speaker 2>was there was, you know a handful of MLS clubs

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<v Speaker 2>that wanted me to come and get into coaching with

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<v Speaker 2>their first teams, And for me, it was just it

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<v Speaker 2>wasn't the right time and and honestly, I wanted to

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<v Speaker 2>see what coaching was about, what what that next level

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<v Speaker 2>was about, and what better place to do do it

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<v Speaker 2>at than my home club where my kids are and

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<v Speaker 2>really dip my toes and what is coaching things all about?

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<v Speaker 2>So again they open up their arms to me and

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<v Speaker 2>let me be the coach version of myself and see

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<v Speaker 2>if I like it or not. And I just love

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<v Speaker 2>it here man, the weather, the changing of the weather,

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<v Speaker 2>the people that you know where I live, ride in

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<v Speaker 2>my bikes everywhere, that the concert scene, the restaurant scene.

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<v Speaker 2>It's just evolving through the years, and I'm happy this

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<v Speaker 2>is home.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, you really have carved out an excellent piece of

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<v Speaker 1>real estate for yourself, both literally and figuraively in this

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<v Speaker 1>market with the businesses you run, the coaching you're doing,

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<v Speaker 1>and the presence you have. I wonder I want to

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<v Speaker 1>kick the tires with the coaching stuff for a little bit, Nikki,

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<v Speaker 1>because from my experience interviewing players and coaches over the years,

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<v Speaker 1>and specifically players like you that decide to get into coaching,

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<v Speaker 1>nothing will ever capture the buzz of playing, right, I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>I think that's fair to say. But does coaching come

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<v Speaker 1>close at all? And what's your experience been like so

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<v Speaker 1>Faruff you.

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<v Speaker 2>Cut out a little bit spence.

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<v Speaker 1>That again, Bud, I'll reduce it to make it quicker.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't think anybody, I don't think anything can ever

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<v Speaker 1>capture the buzz of the buzz you had when you

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<v Speaker 1>were playing. I just don't think that's possible. But does

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<v Speaker 1>the coaching thing come close? And what's been your experience

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<v Speaker 1>so far with the coaching experience?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah? No, I mean when you step on the field

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<v Speaker 2>and you put the mids on and you got the

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<v Speaker 2>cleats underneath, the lights and the pressures and trying to

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<v Speaker 2>accomplish something as a team, that's a whole different filling

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<v Speaker 2>than you know, put it on the running shoes and

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<v Speaker 2>a polo before a game, that's for sure, But you know,

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<v Speaker 2>it keeps me involved you can't buy experiences, and the

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<v Speaker 2>experience I've had in the game, I think, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>real monitor the academy kids that I've been working with,

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<v Speaker 2>and even the first team if if there's you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I see them around a lot in the locker room

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<v Speaker 2>and we you know, small talk hand. They're about games.

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<v Speaker 2>But I think you're never going to get that same

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<v Speaker 2>filling of being the player. But I hope that you know,

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<v Speaker 2>my presence on the sideline, on the training, training field

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<v Speaker 2>will give these players an upper hand, you know, with

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<v Speaker 2>my experiences.

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<v Speaker 1>All right, Nick, you before I set you loose, because

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<v Speaker 1>I know you have to run. I always hesitate to

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<v Speaker 1>either dismiss or annoint an MLS team based off the

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<v Speaker 1>start because some of the best teams we've ever had

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<v Speaker 1>here they've started slowly and some of the worst have

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<v Speaker 1>started quickly. It has been an up and down start

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<v Speaker 1>to say the least. But Rath has been really good.

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<v Speaker 1>I wonder what your take is on this new keeper

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<v Speaker 1>for the club and your thoughts on if Pablo and

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<v Speaker 1>the group can turn around.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah. I see Rafa every day. His training habits are

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<v Speaker 2>second to none. What he's doing on the field, isn't

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<v Speaker 2>it surprising? Me because he comes in and works hard

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<v Speaker 2>every single day. His technique is upstanding and other players

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<v Speaker 2>to look up to, and I'm just really really proud

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<v Speaker 2>to see Rafa step in and be so consistent with

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<v Speaker 2>the team. And he's been one of the players in

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<v Speaker 2>my opinion throughout throughout the season so far. Obviously you

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<v Speaker 2>have to be you have to think of Diego Luna

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<v Speaker 2>as well, who and we could get back on track.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, we've had some injuries. I'm trying to get

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<v Speaker 2>you know, I think some some.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's let him go, all right, Uh there you go.

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<v Speaker 1>I think he copped in his car. I think he

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<v Speaker 1>probably had to get to practice, is my guest this

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<v Speaker 1>time of day, right.

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<v Speaker 3>I think actually another soccer game, daughter soccer game.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, yeah, he's got to uh two growing kids. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>sure he's uh there there. There's there's nothing more complicated

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<v Speaker 1>than you're doing an interview and you can tell that

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<v Speaker 1>they're walking from their house to the car. Then you

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<v Speaker 1>got to get in the car, got to start the car,

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<v Speaker 1>got to pull out of the driveway. So that's my

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<v Speaker 1>guest that we had Nick in his house and then

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<v Speaker 1>he had to get in his vehicle.

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<v Speaker 3>I think you actually when you cut out was him

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<v Speaker 3>the headphones going into the the car. So I think

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<v Speaker 3>you're spot.

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<v Speaker 1>On, Nick Romando, Hall of Famer. I will repeat this now.

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<v Speaker 1>We do this thing in our market where you know,

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<v Speaker 1>we always complain to Jerry Sloan never one coach of

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<v Speaker 1>the Year, which was a crime. I think Jerry had

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<v Speaker 1>a case four or five different times. Nick Romondo has

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<v Speaker 1>the MLS records for minutes played, games played, career wins,

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<v Speaker 1>clean sheets, saves, and penalty kick saves. Is there anything

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<v Speaker 1>else that you can Is there any other record you

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<v Speaker 1>can hold as a keeper? I feel like Nick has

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<v Speaker 1>literally every record in MLS history that you can carry

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<v Speaker 1>as a as a goalkeeper.

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<v Speaker 3>I think so, at least as we're talking career spans, right,

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<v Speaker 3>there's no one that really comes close to Nick Romondo.

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<v Speaker 3>And when you look at the comparison spence, they are

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<v Speaker 3>several of them. They are records that appear like they

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<v Speaker 3>could stand for a very long time in Major League soccer. Yeah,

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<v Speaker 3>I don't know that there's much more. You know, you

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<v Speaker 3>don't rely on on goalies for goals, but I always

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<v Speaker 3>like that one. That's always fun when a goalie has

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<v Speaker 3>a couple of goals on the sheet.

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<v Speaker 1>Maybe assists distribution out of the back porter.

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<v Speaker 2>It's important.

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<v Speaker 1>It's important soccer terms. I don't mean to get too deep,

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<v Speaker 1>but you got to be able to provide distribution from

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<v Speaker 1>the back line. Nick was actually good at that. I

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<v Speaker 1>don't know how many career as Sissy have he had,

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<v Speaker 1>but I think he had a few. So outside of

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<v Speaker 1>goals and assists that you do not count on your

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<v Speaker 1>keeper to provide, Nick has all of the meat and

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<v Speaker 1>potato records in MLS.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I believe so. As you said, probably a crime

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<v Speaker 3>that he was never given that award. And you go

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<v Speaker 3>back to some of the ways that RSL won and

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<v Speaker 3>one playoff games, one games down the stretch, it was shootouts.

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<v Speaker 3>It was one nill right that I mean to rely

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<v Speaker 3>on your keeper quite often. So yeah, shout out to Nikki.

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<v Speaker 3>Well deserved Hall of Famer, even if he didn't get

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<v Speaker 3>that Keeper of the Year wark.

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<v Speaker 1>Throughout the course of RSL's runs back in the you know,

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<v Speaker 1>the two thousand and seven to twenty fifteen sixteen run

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<v Speaker 1>when Nick was really peaked. Nick, if you weren't there,

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<v Speaker 1>or if you weren't watching consistently, it's hard to explain

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<v Speaker 1>how many big time saves he came up with not

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<v Speaker 1>just throughout the run of play soccer term, not trying

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<v Speaker 1>to get too deep, but also just penalty kick saves

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<v Speaker 1>PK shootouts. Certainly MLS Cup. They saw RSL beat that

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<v Speaker 1>La Galaxy team that had landon Donovan and David Beckham

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<v Speaker 1>on it. And you know, it's interesting to consider, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>nicks Nick's story is a really really just simply a

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<v Speaker 1>really good life lesson because as I talked to Nicky about,

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<v Speaker 1>ironically enough, Nick's career started out in Miami with the

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<v Speaker 1>Miami Fusion. They picked him thirty fifth overall in the

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<v Speaker 1>third round of the draft, and the starting keeper in

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<v Speaker 1>Miami at the time was a guy named Jeff Kassar,

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<v Speaker 1>and Nick took Jeff's job. Ironically enough, Jeff was the

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<v Speaker 1>goalkeeper coach under Jason Christ here in Salt Lake. So

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<v Speaker 1>Nick was started as a rookie and then started twenty

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<v Speaker 1>five games the next season, and the Fusion won the

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<v Speaker 1>Supporter Shield in two thousand and one. With Nick and

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<v Speaker 1>goal Miami now has a soccer team. I don't know

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<v Speaker 1>if you've heard they've got a player. I don't know

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00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.600
<v Speaker 1>how to pronounce his name. I think it's MESSI but

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<v Speaker 1>Miami was contracted after the two thousand and one season,

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<v Speaker 1>so Soccer and Miami was done and the players were

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<v Speaker 1>dispersed via an allocation draft, and Nicky was taken by

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<v Speaker 1>DC United, who was coached by Ray Hudson, who coached

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<v Speaker 1>Nick in Miami. And in two thousand and two, Nick

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<v Speaker 1>played in every game. Two thousand and three, he missed

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<v Speaker 1>the end of the season with an injury, but then

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<v Speaker 1>he lost his job to Troy Perkins because Ray Hudson

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<v Speaker 1>lost his job, and I want to say, Bruce Arena

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<v Speaker 1>took the job in DC and then Nick actually took

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<v Speaker 1>the job back and they won MLS Cup that year.

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<v Speaker 1>But then he lost out to Troykins again in two

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<v Speaker 1>thousand and six, so he was their second string keeper.

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<v Speaker 1>And I think what a lot of people may forget

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<v Speaker 1>is we had Nick here for a minute. But then

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<v Speaker 1>Nick lost his starting job here in saw Lake to

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<v Speaker 1>a guy named Scott Garlic and so Nick was sent

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<v Speaker 1>back to DC United. Okay, so he was sent back.

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<v Speaker 1>Excuse me, he was actually traded to the New York

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<v Speaker 1>Red Bulls. Okay, so he was traded to the New

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<v Speaker 1>York Red Bulls because Scott Garlic won the job here.

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<v Speaker 1>So Scott Garlic was going to be the keeper here.

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<v Speaker 1>He was the first choice keeper, he had won the job,

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<v Speaker 1>and Nick was in New York. Well, I'll never forget

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<v Speaker 1>being in RSL's offices when a phone call came through

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<v Speaker 1>and the general manager at the time, Steve Pastorino John Allinger,

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00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:50.759
<v Speaker 1>was kind of making most of the decisions. But John

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<v Speaker 1>Allinger informed the staff that Scott Garlic was retiring from

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<v Speaker 1>Major League Soccer because he got a good job in

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00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:01.720
<v Speaker 1>real estate. And I can remember thinking like, Okay, this

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<v Speaker 1>is not the NBA, this is not the NFL. This

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00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:05.960
<v Speaker 1>is a different league. If you're starting keeper who had

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<v Speaker 1>won the job and was under contract and probably had

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00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:12.599
<v Speaker 1>three or four years left to play, decided he was

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<v Speaker 1>retiring from soccer because he wanted to pursue real estate.

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<v Speaker 1>This is a different thing altogether. So John Ellinger, to

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<v Speaker 1>his credit, had to scramble and he calls New York

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<v Speaker 1>and as the story goes, New York I believe gave

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<v Speaker 1>John the choice between two keepers and Nick was one

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<v Speaker 1>of them, and John said, just send Nick back to

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<v Speaker 1>us and let's see what we can do with that.

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<v Speaker 1>And the deal again for Romando was made to acquire

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<v Speaker 1>Freddie Adue, who was thought to be the future of

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<v Speaker 1>American soccer. He was a teenage kid when he was

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<v Speaker 1>receiving national team call ups, and Freddie had played for

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<v Speaker 1>John Ellinger at the Bradenton Academy with the developmental program

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<v Speaker 1>for the national team. So the attention in that transaction

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<v Speaker 1>was on Freddie and not Nick. Nick was kind of

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<v Speaker 1>a throw in, and then they had to panic to

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00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:05.599
<v Speaker 1>get Nick back because our keeper retired. They made Nick

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<v Speaker 1>the number one overall keeper in two thousand and seven,

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<v Speaker 1>and all he did after that was go on to

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<v Speaker 1>break every record that MLS has for keepers. So pretty

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<v Speaker 1>phenomenal story. And Nick deserves a lot of credit because

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<v Speaker 1>obviously RSL went on to win MLS Cup in two

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<v Speaker 1>thousand and nine, they went onto a CONCACAFF Champions Final,

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<v Speaker 1>almost becoming the first MLS team to win the CONCACAFF

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<v Speaker 1>Champions League, and then nearly won a Cup again but

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00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:34.279
<v Speaker 1>lost to KC in the final. And then Nick played

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<v Speaker 1>through twenty nineteen, so it played another five years after that,

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<v Speaker 1>and we'll go down as one of, if not the

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00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:43.359
<v Speaker 1>best keeper in the history of this league, and certainly

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<v Speaker 1>a legend for RSL