WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.319 I we're live today at the Black Desert Resorts in 2 00:00:03.399 --> 00:00:08.039 Beautiful Saint George. We're broadcasting live in their clubhouse, right 3 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:10.759 next to the golf course and adjacent from the resort itself. 4 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:14.240 Down here for the Kyle Van Neutcharity Golf Tournament. Had 5 00:00:14.279 --> 00:00:16.280 a chance to play the track today. It is such 6 00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:20.039 an awesome course. The resort is up functional. They've got 7 00:00:20.039 --> 00:00:23.359 some dust as they continue the construction. But if you've 8 00:00:23.399 --> 00:00:25.480 never been down here, I would highly recommend it to 9 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:28.039 the Black Desert Resort in Beautiful Saint George. We'll get 10 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:31.559 back to some NBA Draft stuff. Utah Football locked in 11 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:33.719 or recruit today for the twenty sixth class that we'll 12 00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:36.320 get to, but thim to switch gears. We'll talk a 13 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:39.359 little soccer, little RSL some exciting things going on that 14 00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:43.039 folks might not know about. Former outside back once upon 15 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:45.320 a time. He's now the assistant general manager and a 16 00:00:45.320 --> 00:00:47.359 friend of the show. It's always fun to spend some 17 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:50.320 time with a great Tony Beltran on a Monday afternoon. 18 00:00:50.320 --> 00:00:51.560 Tony, Happy Monday, buddy. 19 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:54.759 How are we doing high spends? Happy Monday. It's great 20 00:00:54.799 --> 00:00:56.159 to connect. Great to be back. 21 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:58.799 From the show, and I'm I'm glad to hear that 22 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:02.320 you're down in Saint George beautiful resorts and enjoying the tournament. 23 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:04.480 I had the privilege to go down there a couple 24 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:07.480 months ago, and it certainly is spectacular. 25 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:10.239 Yes it is. How is your game, Tony? By the way, 26 00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:11.239 how are you as a golfer? 27 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:14.200 So my game is non existent? I am? 28 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:17.879 You want to look And the reason for that sense is, 29 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:19.799 you know, I'm you know, just in the stage of 30 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:21.760 life that I'm in, right. I have three young kids, 31 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:24.120 I have a very demanding job, and so you know, 32 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:27.280 any of my excess time goes to my family. I 33 00:01:27.319 --> 00:01:30.239 haven't picked up a golf club and probably over a decade, 34 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:32.040 but at some point in life. 35 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:34.040 I would like to revisit it because. 36 00:01:33.799 --> 00:01:36.439 In my youth I had a ton of fun. I 37 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:38.680 grew up playing golf with my dad, and I am, 38 00:01:38.840 --> 00:01:41.879 you know, a very avid supporter of the sports and 39 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:46.400 certainly appreciate the arts that is his the game of golf. 40 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:50.760 Fair enough, all right, Tony, before we get to you know, 41 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:53.159 Rayl saw Lake, the Senior Club and some of the 42 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:55.480 struggles and hopefully some of the pieces of hope you 43 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:58.359 can offer. I'm not sure how many of our listeners know, 44 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:00.840 and quite frankly, if I'm honest, I found out after 45 00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:02.680 because I happen to be golfing with your guy Trey 46 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:07.680 that the uh so, I mean, this is cool, Like RSL, 47 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:12.400 the U sixteen squad has literally made history, first team 48 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:16.800 in history to win both Generation Adidas and MLS Next, 49 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:20.000 MLS Next Cup, those two titles coming in the same 50 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:23.520 season after you guys were able to defeat Atlanta United 51 00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:26.479 two to one just a few days back. So of course, 52 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:29.319 you know, you guys have your decisions to make with 53 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:31.199 the senior squad and that gets most of the attention. 54 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:33.360 But this is kind of your baby, right, I mean, 55 00:02:33.360 --> 00:02:36.000 this is kind of what you have been focused on. 56 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:38.800 So first of all, congratulations. Second of all, unpack this. 57 00:02:38.919 --> 00:02:41.360 What do you think this means for the U sixteens 58 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:43.000 and hopefully eventually the senior club? 59 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:47.319 Yeah, thank you, Spence. I appreciate the kind words. And look, 60 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:50.319 this has been my baby, you know, and certainly a 61 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:52.680 great many you know, more worthy staff members than myself 62 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:56.000 their baby as well over the past really over the 63 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:59.599 past several years. And look, I think it's important just 64 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:01.919 to give a little bit of context and maybe walk 65 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:05.759 through history up to this point, just to provide perspective 66 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:08.960 on what this actually means, right, and so you. 67 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:09.840 Know you think about it. 68 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:13.199 From the Academy was the inception of the Academy was 69 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:16.680 in twenty ten, right, and very quickly that was in Arizona, 70 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:19.800 very quickly. There was a prodigious class of players that 71 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:24.280 was led by Justin Glad, Jordan Allen Corey, Barrett Brooks, Lynn, 72 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:26.960 Aaron Herrera, a lot of story players that have had 73 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:30.280 it from the success in MLS and for RSL, right, 74 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:33.280 and there was so much productivity for the first team 75 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:36.840 because of the developmental pipeline three D the Academy and 76 00:03:36.919 --> 00:03:40.159 so so now you know, if you fast forward to 77 00:03:40.199 --> 00:03:44.080 twenty seventeen when the Academy was brought to Harriman at 78 00:03:44.159 --> 00:03:48.520 Science Bank Training Campus here, you know that was a 79 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:51.919 difficult period for the Academy. There wasn't, you know, quite 80 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:55.639 the developmental resources that were necessary, The structure wasn't there, 81 00:03:56.120 --> 00:04:01.520 and the player productivity from that period dropped from the 82 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:04.879 previous period that I referenced when new ownership took over. 83 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:07.919 When mister Blitzer pursues the club in point twenty one, 84 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:11.439 a major motivator and focus of them doing so is 85 00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:15.400 to reinvest in the academy, and so resources were provided 86 00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:17.519 so that we could do all the things that we 87 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:20.199 wanted to do, and that's you. We wanted to retain 88 00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:24.120 the top talent from our territories. We wanted to improve 89 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:27.199 player recruitment, We wanted to be able to recruit top 90 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:30.959 coaches to foster an elite developmental environments, and we wanted 91 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:34.480 to more than anything, develop professional players capable of contributing 92 00:04:34.920 --> 00:04:38.079 in MLS, right, And the number one truth that I've 93 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:41.920 learned in youth development is that you can't chief time, 94 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:44.600 and so there was a lot of patience required with 95 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:48.240 this investment, and everything is starting to happen all at 96 00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:51.639 once in terms of what that investment is producing, right, 97 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:55.160 and we're seeing that that's really led by Zavi Rgozo 98 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:58.600 at the first team level. Be two thousand and seven class, 99 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:01.079 and that's the year that Zavier Gozo and his cohort 100 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:04.560 we're going into that class. That was the first class 101 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:07.959 that was recruited develops you know, that have gone through 102 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:10.759 our full pathway right under everything I just referenced, and 103 00:05:10.839 --> 00:05:14.319 so so Xavier is is again leading the way right 104 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:16.759 but behind him in the two thousand and seven, the 105 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:20.040 eight Neo Nines which is the C sixteen team, the Nines, 106 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:23.720 and twenty tens. Those are our classes that we've developed 107 00:05:23.759 --> 00:05:26.360 with this new structure as well. And so for the 108 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:30.920 six teams to look to to have this historic achievement 109 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:36.319 is another healthy indicator of how look of how strong. 110 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:37.519 Our developmental pipeline is. 111 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:40.319 And it's it's certainly something to be proud of because 112 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:43.879 if we reference his again, that Justin glad Era has 113 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:48.639 produced so much value for the club, and you know, 114 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:51.920 in our expectation, my expectation is that the player cool 115 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:54.439 that we have in our academy now is going to 116 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:55.079 do the same. 117 00:05:56.839 --> 00:05:59.000 Okay, So I'm gonna ask you about some of these players, Tody, 118 00:05:59.079 --> 00:06:01.040 I'm not you know, one of the things that bothers 119 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:03.480 me about my business is you will be interviewed by 120 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:06.480 people that pretend they do things that they did not do. 121 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:08.079 I did not watch any of these games. 122 00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:10.279 I'm not going to pretend like I did, so I'm 123 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:14.720 just reading the recaps here, okay. So Van Parker Golden 124 00:06:14.759 --> 00:06:18.480 Boot winner eight of RSL's eighteen goals throughout the competition 125 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:22.959 and then leading the team in goals he won the 126 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:25.560 Golden Boot, won the MVP. What do we need to 127 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:27.519 know about this young man? What kind of player is he? 128 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:28.319 What kind of kid is he? 129 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:30.560 Look? 130 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:34.279 I think I think I'll reference his character first, right, 131 00:06:34.360 --> 00:06:37.120 and in doing so, I'll kind of zoom out not 132 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:40.720 only to Van Parker, but also to his cohort as 133 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:43.040 well in the academy. Going back to the structure that 134 00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:46.040 I said that we implemented Spence, something that I'm so 135 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:50.240 proud of is the cultural expectations. 136 00:06:49.480 --> 00:06:51.439 That we have at the academy, Right. 137 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:56.000 We expect our boys to aspire for excellence in academics, citizenships, 138 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:00.399 and soccer, with soccer always following academics and citizenships. So 139 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:02.360 you know, again, the two things that I can tell 140 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:04.920 you right off the bat about Van Parker are true 141 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:07.240 for all of the fifty two players in our academy. 142 00:07:07.639 --> 00:07:11.040 He's a phenomenal student. Okay, that's number one. The average 143 00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:14.959 GTA for orders combined from the last school year for 144 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:17.680 all of our again, our fifty two players an on 145 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.720 site high school was just over three points, right, And 146 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:23.560 that's that's a really really cool staff that I love sharing. 147 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:27.120 And it's important because of all the things we know, right, 148 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:29.600 like to be. To make it as a professional athlete, 149 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:31.360 to make it in life, you have to be able 150 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:33.759 to learn, take on information, have a growth mindset. All 151 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:36.560 those things the classroom and success there is such a 152 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:39.399 healthy indicator of what players can do, what people can do, 153 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:41.959 you know, as we move forward in this game and 154 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:46.720 in life citizenship. The second pillar, right Van Parker is 155 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:50.160 He's got a phenomenal mentality. He's a great teammate, he's 156 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:52.439 a great kid. He's beloved by everyone on campus. 157 00:07:52.839 --> 00:07:56.199 And moving on to you know, to the latter pillar soccer. 158 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:59.600 He is an absolute beast of a player. He is 159 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:02.319 some one I think the word that I'll use is 160 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:04.959 he's a bully on the field. I mean that in 161 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:08.079 a very positive way. He's a center forward who can 162 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:11.040 play as a standalone nine. He can occupy both center 163 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:14.519 backs and any ball that is within you know, I 164 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:16.720 don't know a fifteen year radius of him. He can 165 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:21.079 absolutely eat up any physical challenge and bully and bang 166 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:23.480 with the rest of them as he just steamrolls the 167 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:26.279 back line and scores goals like he did the eight 168 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:27.199 goals of this tournament. 169 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:30.240 So Van is someone you know that we're. 170 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:32.720 Really excited about in our in our pathway and someone 171 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:37.759 who we're very happy to see success on this national board. 172 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:41.960 Entirely embarrassed that I'm about to ask you if the 173 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:45.559 head coach Jordan Allen is RSL's Jordan Allen. Is it 174 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:46.600 the same Jordan Allen? 175 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:51.159 No, look it is. It is the same word now, yes, 176 00:08:51.480 --> 00:08:55.320 and so very cool. After he left RSL, he was. 177 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:58.720 He went back to UVA and he finished up his 178 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:01.000 degree there and was working as an assistant coach with 179 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:02.320 their men's soccer program. 180 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:06.360 And then from there we recruited Jordan to come in 181 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:07.440 and be a coach for. 182 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:11.559 Our academy, and so he joined OURCEL Academy. I believe 183 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:14.159 that was in Cashion, going to get it wrong, but 184 00:09:14.200 --> 00:09:17.320 I think that might have been in twenty twenty one. 185 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:19.960 And he's been with us, yes, twenty twenty one. He's 186 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:23.200 been with us for the past four years. And so Jordan, 187 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:26.720 as you know, Spence, and as many people in this 188 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:29.840 ecosystem know, he is. You know, when you say who's 189 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:32.480 the best player to come ever come out of Ursel Academy, 190 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:37.200 people usually say Jordan, now right, But so he's got 191 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:41.879 he's got a phenomenal perspective on the player pathway because 192 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:44.440 he's experienced it, he's lived it. He's gone from an 193 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:47.679 academy player with you know, those dreams of aspiration to 194 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:52.240 playing in MLS at a very high level. And now 195 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:55.000 as a coach, it's been, you know, so incredible to 196 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:57.960 see his character, his drive, who he is as a 197 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:02.519 person continue in the in this new challenge as a 198 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:04.279 coach within our developmental ranks. 199 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:06.039 And Jordan has had. 200 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:08.960 Has had this group for the past two years and 201 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:12.480 obviously you know he's the driver of that environment. And 202 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:16.919 knowing his character, the way he approaches his craft, his dedication, 203 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:21.440 everything about him, that is again a very healthy indicator 204 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:24.799 of why this team has had the success that has 205 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:28.519 led to us having this conversation part. 206 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:31.639 Of a text I received tell me prime for this interview, 207 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:34.039 and now I'm understanding it. I'm realizing in real time 208 00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:37.120 as Trey said, the keeper has been great. And now 209 00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:39.000 I know why he said the Keeper because he probably 210 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:40.000 doesn't know how to pronounce the name. 211 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:40.559 So here we go. 212 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:46.399 Custintinos Kyrie azis no idea, if that's right. That's my 213 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:48.600 first time I first and that I just broke my 214 00:10:48.679 --> 00:10:51.000 own radio rule, Tony, I don't do that if I 215 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:54.039 haven't practiced the name, but I'm seeing that he had 216 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:56.159 a great tournament. Can you tell us about this, this 217 00:10:56.200 --> 00:10:57.159 young keeper of yours. 218 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:01.759 Yeah, no, absolutely, you know this is fantastic. Look uh 219 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:03.279 look spence Worth. 220 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:06.039 You know these are these are young men, right, you know, 221 00:11:06.120 --> 00:11:08.759 these are fifteen year old young men, right and so, 222 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:12.120 but but it is it is so much fun to 223 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:14.360 to watch them come in at a very young age. 224 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:17.039 Tinos. Actually, I think he joined this when he was 225 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:20.759 thirteen or just after he turned fourteen. He's been with the. 226 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:23.960 Academy for for a year and a half and so 227 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:27.799 to see his progression, to see his development, his his 228 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:32.159 continued maturity during that time leading up to his success. 229 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:34.159 You know, this year he was the he was the 230 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:37.320 earned the Golden Glove at GA Cup and now his. 231 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:39.480 You know, helped carry the team to to this. 232 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:44.000 Latest accolade and lifting the MLS next Cup trophy. Tinos, 233 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:47.480 his his fingerprints are all over that and his ability 234 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:48.600 to to. 235 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:52.120 You know, to put to play out of the back. 236 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:56.480 Calmly under pressure in a very Nick Romando esque way 237 00:11:57.799 --> 00:12:01.879 is fantastic and very well compliment minted by his his 238 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:05.159 shots stopping ability in his brain Tinos is about twice 239 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:09.639 my height for your reference, and that's you know, that's. 240 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.360 He's certainly imposing in the goal. 241 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:16.120 And we're very proud again of of of Altinos's continued development. 242 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:19.480 All right, I'll ask you about one more because this 243 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:22.200 young man was the MVP of the g A Cup, 244 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:23.960 Ryland Hashimoto, who is not. 245 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:24.759 Related to Duke. 246 00:12:24.840 --> 00:12:27.879 For you old school RSL fans, uh So, tell me 247 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:28.600 about Ryland. 248 00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:30.240 Tell me what kind of player Ryland is. 249 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.720 Yeah, I think he's He's one of the most two 250 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:35.080 footed players that I've ever seen. 251 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:35.600 Spence. 252 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:38.440 He's an attacking player. He can play all across the 253 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:40.759 front line, but you know, primarily as a ten or 254 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:45.080 or maybe an inverted winger. But Ryland's got incredible balanced, 255 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:49.679 incredible technique, an unparalleled ability to move the ball between 256 00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:51.799 both feet and off balance defenders. 257 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:53.799 And he can really score from you know. 258 00:12:53.799 --> 00:12:58.679 All over the field, including including including on a cornertick. 259 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:01.759 In this my final match he scored. 260 00:13:01.799 --> 00:13:04.600 It was a really tight game and at zero zero 261 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:08.240 he scored an olympico straight from the corner to to 262 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:10.480 you know, start the scoring there before he went off 263 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:11.639 and when night game three nothing. 264 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:14.639 So Ryland is He's he's got. 265 00:13:14.440 --> 00:13:18.080 A ton of natural attacking ability, and again it's been 266 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:21.559 great to see his progress and success this year. 267 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:25.519 Last one here, and then we'll get some thoughts on 268 00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:28.519 the Senior Club, the match this weekend to three points 269 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:30.960 a couple of weeks ago, and et cetera, et cetera. 270 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:34.559 I understand that your academics have gone from two point 271 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:37.679 five to three point nine over the past three years. 272 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:41.559 After Dave Blitzer about the team, and there's a woman 273 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:44.399 named Roxy who deserves some flowers Tony, as the kids 274 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:44.919 would say. 275 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:45.720 So the space is. 276 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:48.039 Yours, Spence. 277 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:50.679 First of all, shout outs to Tray Fitzgerald, who I'm 278 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:53.039 assuming preppy for this interview, and I'm really you know, 279 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:56.360 that's so cool that he he wanted to part of 280 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:59.440 this airspace to cover Roxy because I think, you know, look, 281 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:03.240 there's a there's a large number of people that deserve, 282 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:06.080 you know, shared credit for all the success or Academy 283 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:06.960 is having. 284 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:09.000 I think Roxy is right at the forefront of that. 285 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:10.320 And yes, the stat that you. 286 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:13.120 Said is true. When mister Blitzer took over the club, 287 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:16.080 the average GPA hovered around two point four. And now, 288 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:20.360 like I said earlier in this call, all four quarters 289 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.399 for all, you know, in this past high school year, 290 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:24.360 in the twenty twenty four twenty twenty five school year, 291 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:27.639 we're above three point eight. And so you know, Roxy 292 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:30.639 is is, it's her department, and she has brought in 293 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:35.039 a ton of you know, of energy, of commitment and 294 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:38.799 expertise and support for all these boys and not only 295 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:42.759 just you know, helping them. Look, it's a very difficult 296 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:45.159 thing to be a student athlete, right, especially at a 297 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:47.080 young age when all of this is right in front 298 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:49.879 of you. But Roxy does an incredible job of keeping 299 00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:53.600 those boys engaged and focused and challenging them as well. 300 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:56.919 Another stat that I love, which I think is a 301 00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:02.159 testament to her is prior to the to her coming. 302 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:04.519 Into twenty twenty one, we had. 303 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:08.159 Two I think it was two to five players every 304 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:11.759 quarter would take you know, a higher level class concurrent 305 00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:15.240 enrollment or AP class or anything for college credit. And 306 00:15:15.320 --> 00:15:20.080 now over fifty percent of our student athlete population has 307 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:24.120 some form of concurrent enrollment or AP honors class. And 308 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:26.679 so she is driving everything, you know, as far as 309 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:31.799 academics and certainly in the character expectations for our players 310 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:34.639 as well. And yes, Miss Roxy, and it deserves all 311 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:37.120 the credit and all the flowers. 312 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:39.840 Okay, good stuff, Tony. Let's move on. 313 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:43.279 And I actually was excited when I saw you on 314 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:45.559 the rundown because there are some things that I haven't 315 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:47.600 been able to talk to you about that I've spoken 316 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:51.720 with Kurt and Jason and Pablo, you know who stopped 317 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.799 by very consistently. 318 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.320 So here's where I want. 319 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:56.200 To start as we move over to the senior club. 320 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:00.440 And look, this is nuanced, it's complex, it's not you 321 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:04.679 can't be reductive, but we can say Chicho seventeen goals, 322 00:16:04.679 --> 00:16:08.519 twelve assists, Andras thirteen goals, nine assists and oh nine goals, 323 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:12.600 three assists, Matt Crooks three goals, five assists, you get 324 00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:15.919 You get the gist, right. So last year, about fifteen 325 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:20.240 eighteen games, I swear you guys played potentially the best 326 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.399 soccer that I've ever. 327 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:22.799 Seen played by an RSL team. 328 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:26.639 All of those players are gone, and for whatever reason, 329 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:30.159 there have not been adequate replacements brought in as of yet. 330 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:32.639 What's fair to say about why that hasn't happened. 331 00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:37.200 Look, I think you know I don't want to deflect 332 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:40.399 or defer, but I know you've had previous conversations with Kurt, right, 333 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:42.519 And I think Kurt is the authority to answer that. 334 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:48.240 But look, you know, I'll say, you. 335 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:51.600 Know, we are constantly looking and evaluating the roster and 336 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:55.200 taking an information to help make informed decisions, right. And 337 00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:57.919 part of that, you know, it's you know, either in 338 00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:59.639 the president of the past or the future for our 339 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:03.200 ross are really any roster in a professional aspect, you know, 340 00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:05.960 we're going to be looking at additions. What you mentioned 341 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:09.599 was a lot of gold productivity, right, and I appreciate that. 342 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.920 You know, if with that kind. 343 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:14.240 Of productivity departure, you of course have to you have 344 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:17.440 to replace that, you know, at other places in their roster. 345 00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:22.640 And so you know, I think we are very excited about, 346 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:24.839 you know, the attacking pieces that we have, right, I 347 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:27.480 think you know, the obvious ones are there. 348 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:32.000 And then I don't want to say a welcome edition. 349 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:34.279 As well has been Zavi Ergozo to go back to 350 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:37.880 the academy and as he's bloken into the attacking side 351 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:40.720 of the first team lineup. But again, you know that 352 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:44.200 what you referenced was was a lot of production, right, 353 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:48.400 and production is something that that helps drive success, especially 354 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:51.119 in MLS in this week, and so that's something we're 355 00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:54.200 conscious of. That's something we're looking at and we're trying 356 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:57.799 to make you know the informed right decision and get 357 00:17:57.799 --> 00:18:02.079 the right player so that you know we can impact 358 00:18:02.119 --> 00:18:04.279 in all parts of the roster as necessary. 359 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.880 So we'll end with the good. 360 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:10.759 But before we get there, you know, I'm not going 361 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.119 to ask you if you feel like this is a 362 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:14.160 lost season, because there's no way you would say that 363 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:16.000 you do even if you felt that way. But it 364 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:19.880 did get late early tony for you guys, leaving points 365 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:22.960 on the board, having some tough breaks with some officiating 366 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:26.160 gaps if we're honest and being fair, and then ultimately, 367 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:29.640 you know, eighteen goals score. There's only four teams in 368 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:32.160 MLS that have scored less than that, So the attacking 369 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:37.200 prowess just isn't there. So whether it's the secondary window 370 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:39.680 that's opening here in a number of weeks, you know, 371 00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:43.319 three weeks or so, or growth from within or comfort 372 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:45.279 of a got it and Russell, what gives you the 373 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:49.440 most confidence that with halfway, you know, kind of behind 374 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:51.400 us now, there's still a lot to play for and 375 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:54.279 maybe you guys can crack that top seven or whatever 376 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.720 and make the playoffs. 377 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:58.880 Yeah, I think there's several things fence to give me 378 00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:00.680 a lot of confidence, you know. Number one is just 379 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:04.519 knowing mless right, and knowing how look, how arduous the 380 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:07.559 summer is, but also how much opportunity there is, and 381 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:09.559 you know, there's a ton of opportunity in the games 382 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:12.119 remaining that we have. You know, look you look at 383 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:14.480 the you know, historical amount of points that it takes 384 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.839 to get to the playoffs, and there is a clear 385 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:19.200 path for us, especially with the number of home games 386 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:22.680 that we have remaining. And so you know, knowing that, 387 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:26.240 knowing you know, the sturdy leadership that we have in 388 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:29.759 Pablo Masterni, and knowing like you said, that the summer 389 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:32.880 window is is you know, is on the horizon as well. 390 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:35.319 That does give me a lot of confidence. 391 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:35.480 You know. 392 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:38.359 And also look my own experience as well, and leaning 393 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:41.599 on you know, RSL's history and other teams in this 394 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:45.480 league that have gained momentum late in the season and 395 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:48.400 had that carried towards not only a playoff word, but 396 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.000 success from the playoffs as well. 397 00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.400 And so look, I think. 398 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:54.400 Whether you're talking about us at this stage or you know, 399 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.319 any other team who's who's not. 400 00:19:56.359 --> 00:19:58.079 Mathematically you know, eliminated. 401 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:04.000