WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:04.280 See Greg, it's a fancy open what's up? You tell me? 2 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:06.719 Are you? Are you globe trotting? Or are you local? 3 00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:08.640 I am home at the moment. 4 00:00:09.080 --> 00:00:11.679 Okay, And so he's having a which cup of coffee? 5 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:17.760 Is this? Okay? 6 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:19.000 We went down the wrong pipe? 7 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:21.000 Okay, brother, I'm all right. 8 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:21.239 Man. 9 00:00:21.960 --> 00:00:22.879 I got taken a drink. 10 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:25.039 I was like, I feel like this thermist didn't work. 11 00:00:25.079 --> 00:00:27.000 I was expecting a hot drink and it was cold. 12 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:29.679 Uh. Oh you see, go for it? Take it? 13 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:33.399 Yeah, clear there there clear clear it out least it 14 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:34.320 didn't go at the camera. 15 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:36.799 Well but see now if that had been a spit take, 16 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:39.880 then then you and the you and the boss that 17 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:42.640 would have been a h an interesting purchase. You're you're 18 00:00:42.679 --> 00:00:45.560 going over to uh best buy and you're checking in 19 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:46.280 with a geek squad. 20 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:48.640 Excuse me? So what happened? Why are you buying a 21 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:49.960 new computer? Kind of? 22 00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:51.079 Pretty much? 23 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:52.000 Lens? 24 00:00:52.039 --> 00:00:52.840 Pretty much? Man? 25 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:56.640 So how is the globe trotting going? 26 00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:59.439 And I know that since we're getting into the college season, 27 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:01.719 high schools are kind of getting into practice as well. 28 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:05.280 Where are things right now with you and the cap 29 00:01:05.319 --> 00:01:06.000 and beyond goals? 30 00:01:06.040 --> 00:01:06.560 What's going on? 31 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:07.760 Everything is good? 32 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:11.480 Man, all is well, can't complain same old, same old, 33 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:14.280 getting involved with I'm sure high school will probably start 34 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:15.840 at the end of the year, so you have a 35 00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:19.079 few more months for that. Obviously, college is all starting 36 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:20.159 right now, which is always great. 37 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:20.319 Man. 38 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:25.319 When it comes to you looking at the college experience 39 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:28.640 these days, you got to go through club and pursue 40 00:01:28.680 --> 00:01:34.000 it that way. College experience right now, it doesn't seem 41 00:01:34.040 --> 00:01:36.799 to matter what level. I mean, it could be Division one, 42 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:40.599 Division two, three, nai whatever. It seems to me like 43 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:44.120 the margins are closing, and so if you choose college 44 00:01:44.159 --> 00:01:48.480 as a path that that's cool. You know, it's not 45 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:51.400 something where you know, if you start in your Division one, 46 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:53.920 that's great. If you start and it's a small college 47 00:01:53.959 --> 00:01:56.799 in you know, Nebraska or Wyoming, it doesn't really matter. 48 00:01:56.879 --> 00:01:59.079 I think the margins are closing these days when it 49 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:01.760 comes to where you can be the best you that 50 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:02.280 you can be. 51 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:06.599 Most definitely it's uh, you know, we we want even 52 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:08.800 in our mentorship, we want kids to understand that they 53 00:02:08.840 --> 00:02:13.800 should take even tell my own kids, you want kids. 54 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:14.000 To take soccer as far as it takes them. 55 00:02:14.240 --> 00:02:16.599 Right, there's so many values that they'll continue to learn 56 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:20.520 if you look at you know, corporate hires or major 57 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:24.159 organizations and kids who you know don't have the opportunity 58 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:27.520 to maybe live out their dream of being a professional 59 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:31.360 soccer player, but they can still use an amazing education 60 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:34.080 going to college and and helping them learn values and 61 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:36.319 things that will help them with everyday life. And uh, 62 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:39.479 you know, the teamwork, the how to deal with adversity, 63 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:41.479 how to get through challenging moments, how to get through 64 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:45.159 obstacles and hurdles. That's those are all things learned within 65 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:47.439 the within sport and what it provides for us. So 66 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:51.400 college can provide so much, so much in that realm 67 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:52.319 as well well. 68 00:02:52.360 --> 00:02:56.400 And at the same time, you mentioned dealing with adversity 69 00:02:56.520 --> 00:02:59.240 and all of these obstacles that you would tackle on 70 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:03.639 a daily basis is outside of the athletic field. I mean, 71 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:08.520 it's it's something that even today when you and cap 72 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:12.360 have you know, when you guys decided to start beyond goal, 73 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:16.639 I'm sure and I'm fairly sure that there was a 74 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:20.000 learning curve going in. There's a learning curve even now 75 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:23.080 as you're going. And I think that in stages there's 76 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:25.960 been learning as you've gone. How much learning have you 77 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:29.879 and and and Michael had when it comes to building 78 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:33.120 beyond goals, hitting separate stages and going Okay, we need 79 00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:34.240 to do this, we need to add this. 80 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:36.520 How much learning have you guys even done today? 81 00:03:37.800 --> 00:03:39.120 We say it all the time, right, I think we 82 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:42.360 speak about it all the time. We learn that there 83 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:46.319 are so many things that we learned from kids. I 84 00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:49.800 was actually speaking to to Myke Contie about this last 85 00:03:49.879 --> 00:03:55.240 night that the Atlanta Journal Sports Business Journal panel that 86 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:57.960 we that I was invited to last night, which I 87 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:00.719 will say this, I was extremely disappointed they mentioned every 88 00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:05.039 professional former athlete there and did not mention Ilanti United 89 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:05.800 or me. 90 00:04:06.520 --> 00:04:09.479 So that was kind of a that was kind of upsetting. 91 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:11.919 But other than that, you know, as I mentioned that 92 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:15.039 to my Conti last night, just h there are so 93 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:19.040 many cool things that we learn, even as adults from 94 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:20.439 these kids in the ways that they think and the 95 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:22.879 way that they carry themselves, and how we can continue 96 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:27.399 to produce new ideas and build new platforms to help others, 97 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:30.199 right because some kids already, some kids already have it. 98 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:33.439 Some kids already have certain qualities within their within their 99 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:36.399 personality and the character that they are that that allow 100 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:38.920 them to be role models for others, And I love 101 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:43.879 using examples of those elite personality kids to other kids 102 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:45.920 who may be struggling in those areas. 103 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:50.360 But I would also imagine that there are elite athletes 104 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:57.480 that young athletes look to that for one reason or another, 105 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:01.000 you might have to steer them away from the certain athletes. 106 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:02.759 You know, you may sit there and think that you 107 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:06.680 know so and so might be a great a great mentor, 108 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:09.759 But the more that you learn about these individuals, you 109 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:11.279 might have to steer away from them. 110 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:12.560 How much, how many? 111 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:16.560 How many warning signs do you and Mike give about 112 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:21.279 choosing your mentee, your mentors wisely when you want to 113 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:21.879 grow as a. 114 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:28.560 Person man, Choosing mentors wisely as a big one we 115 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:31.959 talk about a lot. We definitely want to bring a 116 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:34.879 woman in the future. That is a huge that is 117 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:39.120 a huge talking point within Mike and myself. But but 118 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:41.040 there's so many values that they have to cover. They 119 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:43.600 have to be willing to, they have to be willing to, 120 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:47.519 you know, have a lot of similar thoughts that we 121 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:51.879 have in regard to, most importantly the comfort to work 122 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:55.720 with kids. Not everybody likes working with kids, that's first 123 00:05:55.720 --> 00:05:58.120 and foremost, And there's just so many different values that 124 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:01.759 we hold within I think ourselves that are that are massive, 125 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:04.800 and we don't we want them to obviously, you know, 126 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:07.519 take take the reins and and and do with do 127 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:10.759 with it what they want in regard to maybe personal storytelling, 128 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:12.759 but there is a set curriculum and things that we 129 00:06:12.839 --> 00:06:16.879 really like to follow and and kind of creating those conversations. 130 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:20.920 So it's it's a difficult process finding the right person, 131 00:06:21.480 --> 00:06:24.319 uh for for that job. And as we continue to grow, 132 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:27.000 but I think one one that we will hopefully get 133 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:28.800 to uh some point or the other. 134 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:32.680 Yeah, And you bring up an interesting point because to 135 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:37.639 have a different voice, there's nothing wrong with different voices 136 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:41.279 and different impacts because all of those points of view 137 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:44.000 that you and and Michael may have you bring in 138 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:46.160 another individual. You sit there and go, Okay, that's that's 139 00:06:46.279 --> 00:06:47.680 that's a point of view. And that's an angle that 140 00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:50.120 I hadn't thought of before. And and and you make 141 00:06:50.160 --> 00:06:53.639 a fantastic point about having a female influence when it 142 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:57.759 comes to being a mentor as well. Literally when you 143 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:00.160 brought it up just now, I'm like, Yeah, that that 144 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:04.560 makes a tremendous amount of sense going forward, that those 145 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:09.079 kinds of voices are equally important, and it's something that 146 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:12.519 in the process of thought, you're like, yeah, why didn't 147 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:14.079 we think about that sooner? But the fact that you 148 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:17.240 now have, I think is just as important as having 149 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:19.399 that realization most. 150 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:23.560 Definitely, yeah you you you want to continue to build. 151 00:07:24.839 --> 00:07:26.680 In the most positive ways possible. 152 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:30.439 And Uh, for Mike and I, it's it's we are 153 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:33.199 extremely satisfied with where we are right now. 154 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:36.680 Obviously want to continue to grow and want to continue. 155 00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:39.160 To add, you know, additional assets. 156 00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:41.000 To to what we are doing. 157 00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:43.600 But I think it takes time. It takes time to 158 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:46.360 come to an understanding of what is needed and what 159 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:49.759 can help the continuous growth and also the right personnel 160 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:50.879 to go along with it. 161 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:53.120 Does it have to be an athlete? Though, when you 162 00:07:53.160 --> 00:07:56.439 when you add men, when you add other mentors as 163 00:07:56.439 --> 00:07:59.680 a part of beyond goals in the future, doesn't necessarily 164 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:01.639 have to be an athlete? Can it be a captain 165 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:05.079 of industry? Can it be a CEO? Or you know, 166 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:08.720 does mentoring really have does mentoring really have a jersey? 167 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:10.360 Does it have an ID card? 168 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:14.399 No, it doesn't, it doesn't because you can be anyone 169 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:16.600 to mentor. I think there there there are so many 170 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:18.680 mentors out there you speak to, whether it. 171 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:20.720 Be CEOs or CFOs or. 172 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:24.240 Even everyone I met last night, all of these people 173 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:26.439 had their mentors to kind of guide them through and 174 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:29.720 make them, not make them, but shape them into who 175 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:33.200 they are today. And I think that's an important that's 176 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:35.759 an important path and journey for. 177 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:37.320 All people who are successful. 178 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:40.159 There is a lot of credit that needs to be 179 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:43.080 given to those around them, to those who bread that 180 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:46.360 leadership from the very get go. So that's essentially what 181 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:50.399 we're doing. I think I think our platform is unique. 182 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:57.240 I think professional Athlete platform is unique because it was 183 00:08:57.279 --> 00:08:59.559 really interesting because I heard a lot of people speak 184 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:01.960 last night and whether it be from a MB or 185 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:06.559 whether it be from you know, just stadiums in general, 186 00:09:06.600 --> 00:09:09.480 and they just kept saying, we are in the entertainment business. 187 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:11.879 We're in the entertainment business. We are in the entertainment business. 188 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:14.080 We're in the entertainment business. And I almost wanted to 189 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:22.320 respond and say, we are the entertainers. We are the show. Right, 190 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:25.240 you guys are in the entainer entertainment business, but we 191 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:25.799 are the show. 192 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:26.320 You go to. 193 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:29.159 Cerla, you don't remember you remember the name of Sila, 194 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:34.320 but you you really give your respect. Maybe not towards 195 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:37.799 the people who are in the background right doing setting 196 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:39.759 everything up, you give your respect to the people who 197 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:43.840 are performing. And I think that in regard to even 198 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.879 us as professional athletes, it allows us to have I 199 00:09:46.919 --> 00:09:50.440 think even a higher platform. And everything that you say 200 00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:53.559 must be said well, and everything that you say must 201 00:09:53.559 --> 00:09:57.840 be done well, and and and and you know, given 202 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:00.879 the fact that you are that hole model, and so 203 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:03.120 I think the curtain is open, right you. 204 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:04.039 You open those. 205 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:08.919 Curtains to really every every action, decision, thought, emotion. The 206 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:11.720 role that you play within whether it be in your 207 00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:16.279 professional environment or even in a public environment, means means that. 208 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:20.000 Much more because to your certain sole At example, we 209 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:22.799 kind of gravitate toward the person that gets launched out 210 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:26.080 of the cannon. We know, we know, the one that's 211 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:29.279 on the bicycle, that's in the hamster wheel it's going 212 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:34.360 you know, nine thousand an hour, the the the gymnast 213 00:10:34.440 --> 00:10:36.159 that can sit there and take the hula hoops and 214 00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:38.159 do the complete and total split at ninety feet in 215 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:38.519 the air. 216 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:40.679 You know, we kind of gravitate toward those folks. 217 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:47.120 So I would ask you this as the entertainer is 218 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:52.399 in this discussion. How long did it take you to 219 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:58.799 become comfortable knowing your role as the entertainer, but knowing 220 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:01.080 that you had to hold your self to a higher 221 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:04.360 standard and know that you have to be around those 222 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:08.440 folks that share your ideas, share your goals, share your vision, 223 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:11.440 so you're not hanging out with the wrong crowd even 224 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:14.639 as an entertainer and an influence on others. How long 225 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:17.159 did it take you to become comfortable with who you 226 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:17.919 are right now? 227 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:22.080 Man? That is I think we are continuously learning, we 228 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:25.720 are continuously growing, we are continuously maturing in different ways, 229 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:28.879 whether it be through experiences that we have, sometimes decisions 230 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:32.120 that we make. But I think from a very early 231 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:35.279 age I give a lot of credit not only to 232 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:38.480 my parents, but just people around me. And I think 233 00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:41.919 I had great mentors in my life to help me 234 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:45.159 understand the dudes that don't, the rights, the wrongs, the 235 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:49.720 things that are most valuable in life, and you know, 236 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:52.120 things to be grateful for, things to keep you motivated, 237 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:56.080 things to help you and continue to dream towards. I 238 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:58.720 think there's a lot of different values in which I 239 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:01.919 learned as a very young kid. But I think also 240 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:06.759 just traveling the world and seeing life in different areas 241 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:11.240 and learning about different cultures and seeing that, you know, 242 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:14.600 not everybody's life is exactly the same, Not everybody's life 243 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.240 is cookie cut. 244 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:20.440 You know. I think sometimes as Americans, we we we. 245 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:23.240 We only are focused on what we have around us, 246 00:12:23.799 --> 00:12:26.480 and until you go to other places in the world, 247 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:30.559 you start to realize that there are smaller of things 248 00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:34.200 that people are very grateful for. And and you know 249 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:37.639 it's it's has nothing to do with being spoiled, because 250 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:38.799 I know, I know here in. 251 00:12:38.759 --> 00:12:42.639 The States, you know we were, there. 252 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:46.279 Are families and and and places where people do struggle 253 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:49.440 and struggle quite a bit. But you know, I could 254 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:52.840 go speak to any title one school, yeah, high school 255 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:55.960 or or middle school, and I can ask every kid 256 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:58.240 to raise their hand, and I always do, and I 257 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:00.480 ask how many of them have a console? How many 258 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:04.679 of them have a phone? And ninety nine point ninety. 259 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:06.039 Nine percent of those kids will raise a hand. 260 00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:08.360 Whether they have a Nintendo Switch or whether they have 261 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:10.440 a PlayStation, or whether they have a phone, or whether 262 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:13.240 they have an Xbox. It doesn't matter if they live, 263 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:16.639 you know, in a in a trailer park, they still 264 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:20.399 have a console. And so you know, I think when 265 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:22.480 you go to different places. 266 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:25.159 You see life a lot differently. 267 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:29.919 And I think within my experiences, I think just seeing 268 00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:32.279 what other kids had, whether it be in South America 269 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:34.559 or and you know, I mean mostly South America, even 270 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:38.039 playing in Mexico for a long time. It's it's the 271 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:43.120 littlest of things, right, It's the it's it's taking, you know, 272 00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:47.279 to an orphanage. They're taking a stuffy right, a stuffed 273 00:13:47.279 --> 00:13:50.720 animal that's a high stuffed animal that for you you 274 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:54.159 see a Hallmark or Walgreens or you know, my kid 275 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:56.159 wants to grab one every time at Kroger or whatever. 276 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:59.360 It's you know, a dollar fifty two bucks for them, 277 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:02.080 that just made their whole year, right, and they're gonna, 278 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.799 you know, they're going to carry that stuffed animal and 279 00:14:03.799 --> 00:14:05.519 they're going to keep it with them and cherish it 280 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:07.720 because it's probably the only toy that they've ever had. 281 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:10.919 So I think I learned that from a very young 282 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:15.720 age of just kind of building those values of obviously 283 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:19.919 strive and motivate yourself towards more, but also be be 284 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:22.519 content with with with what with what's in front of 285 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:24.679 you as well at all times, because there's always somebody 286 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:27.519 else that's that's struggling much more than you. 287 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:28.679 You can be assured. 288 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:31.799 That when did you can you remember when you realize 289 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:34.679 that for the first time, that yeah, I'm really fortunate. 290 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:38.720 There are others who are not as fortunate, and I should, 291 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:41.480 you know, share my experiences with them. When did you 292 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:42.919 have that first interaction? 293 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:44.279 Do you remember? Yeah? 294 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:46.840 I think when I moved to Brazil when I was twelve, 295 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:48.240 and I just remember going there and I was an 296 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:50.840 average American kid, and I just think watching these kids, 297 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:53.960 whether they were coming down to training from the slums 298 00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:56.600 and just taking public buses at the age of eleven 299 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:59.600 and twelve to get to training. I think that was 300 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:01.519 the moment to where I started to realize the only 301 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:04.960 thing that they had, their only escape was soccer. And 302 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:07.399 you know, I could go back home and whether I 303 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:09.639 was successful there or not as a kid, I could 304 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:11.480 go back home and still go to a very decent 305 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:15.799 school and do all these great things that my parents provide. 306 00:15:15.960 --> 00:15:19.519 And for them, these kids were already away from their parents, 307 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:21.840 you know, at that young age, and there was only 308 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:23.480 one thing on their mind, and it was probably to 309 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:26.879 get their parents or their family out of poverty, and 310 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:28.600 that was the grind, and that was the hunger, and 311 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:32.360 that was the you could feel that tension within training, right, 312 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:35.960 everybody was out to They're all great kids, but everybody 313 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:38.000 at the same time was out to kill because you know, 314 00:15:38.840 --> 00:15:41.559 these kids are eleven, twelve years old and they're already 315 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:47.159 fighting thinking about seven eight years from now, Whereas kids 316 00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:49.279 here in the States we play soccer. I mean, I 317 00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:52.320 teach my kids to play soccer for fun, right, and 318 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:54.679 it's something that's going to teach them so many values 319 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.399 and teach them so. 320 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:56.120 Many different things. 321 00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:58.759 But I think when you start to see in other places, 322 00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:01.759 these kids and set are completely different, and I think 323 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:04.840 it gives you just a different perspective about life. And 324 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:07.399 for me, it taught me that hunger. It gave me 325 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:09.799 that hunger as well. I put myself in their shoes. 326 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:11.799 But then again, I think it also made me take 327 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:15.039 a step back and realize, you know, I am very 328 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:18.879 grateful for not only this opportunity, but just to learn 329 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:21.440 from that, and I think, you know, it kind of 330 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:23.919 helped me shape myself the rest of my life to 331 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:26.919 always give back, to always be a part of kids 332 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:30.759 who maybe in similar environments, and just always try to 333 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.960 be involved in the community. 334 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:35.000 Greg Garza beyond Gals mentering hanging out with us on 335 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:37.159 the Friday free kick as we do here at nine 336 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:40.720 point thirty on Friday morning's Eastern time. In your early 337 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:45.080 relationships that you had with you know, fellow athletes, going 338 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:48.799 from eleven twelve to when you started being a professional athlete, 339 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:53.840 how many of those teenage relationships do you still have today? 340 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:55.759 How many of those folks are you still in touch 341 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:59.279 with or because of you know, things getting in the way, 342 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:02.320 you know, hard to reach them one way or the other. 343 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:05.400 Do you still have those early relationships. 344 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.880 From kids in Brazil. 345 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:10.200 Or just just early on, from like eleven to twelve 346 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.799 to when you were really on the path to being 347 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.440 a professional. 348 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.759 Yeah, yeah, of course. 349 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:17.720 You know, I still speak to some kids every once 350 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:20.720 in a while. I mean, we're all still very connected 351 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:24.039 within social media. I wouldn't say we have, you know, 352 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:28.079 long conversations, but just to kind of see where everybody 353 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:30.279 is and see how they're doing in life is always great. 354 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:35.559 There's one kid in particular that that's probably a kid 355 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:38.759 that I grew up with my whole entire youth, and 356 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.319 we hit it off from the get go. The very 357 00:17:40.359 --> 00:17:46.119 first Boston camp in It was in Boston and the 358 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:48.839 private school, the first under fourteen national team camp. And 359 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:51.440 I believe I wasn't even thirteen yet. I think I 360 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.240 was just about. 361 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:54.480 To turn thirteen. I was still twelve. That was my 362 00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.640 very first camp. 363 00:17:57.400 --> 00:18:00.759 I actually let my son, My seven year old son 364 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:03.680 won his five e five tournament this this last week 365 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:06.160 on Labor Day, and I let him. He couldn't find 366 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:09.039 his Shin guards. And I have my Shin guards from 367 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:12.799 that camp that I used my whole entire career, all right, 368 00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:16.000 So I use those same Shin guards my whole entire career. 369 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:19.720 Those are championship shing guards right there. Never took them. 370 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:23.839 And I remember I actually lost those Shin guards Paul Dillon, 371 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:26.599 the QUIP manager from LA and I when I separated 372 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:28.519 my shoulder against Red Bull and I got the red card. 373 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:33.880 PAULI d lost those shing guards man, and I was livid. 374 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:34.200 Man. 375 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:37.200 That was my that's my pride and joy. 376 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:40.200 He ultimately found them and and and sent them back 377 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:43.960 to me. But you know it's uh, I had my 378 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:46.839 I let my seven year old use those shing guards 379 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:48.440 in the five or five and that's the one thing 380 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:50.480 I saw. I said, I don't care if you lose 381 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:53.400 your body today, man, but you will not lose those 382 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:53.960 shing guards. 383 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.119 Man. 384 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:55.960 Do not take your shing guards off. You have a 385 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:57.960 rest between games, you take your cleats off. You want 386 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:00.000 to leave those darned shing guards in because they've lost 387 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:04.680 like eight pairs already. But that camp, going back to 388 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:08.200 the story that camp, there was a kid from from 389 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:14.720 Pennsylvania and his name is Zeric Valentine. He plays for Minnesota. Now, yeah, 390 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:18.799 right back he was, And it's interesting story. He was 391 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:21.480 on Portland Timbers. Whenever we beat Portland Timbers in the final. 392 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.920 He was on the right, he was playing right right 393 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:26.519 wing back. It was him and him and Aldo Polo 394 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:30.839 were on my side. And and that just goes to show, like, 395 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:33.640 that's probably one of the coolest relationships that I've had 396 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:35.519 with in my career. That we met each other and 397 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:37.839 we hit it off when we were at that age 398 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:41.240 at twelve years old, and and we never fell off. 399 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:41.960 The kind of the map. 400 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:43.839 He he kind of was in and out of the 401 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:45.039