WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:04.759 Don't just watch the game, experience it at beer Bar 2 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:08.199 with four massive projection screens. It's the only bar in 3 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:12.160 Salt Lake City that plays every MLS match without blackouts. 4 00:00:12.359 --> 00:00:15.599 Fuel your fandom with the fame It's original Garlickberger from 5 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:18.399 the Cotton Bottom. And don't forget the home Cut prize. 6 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:21.160 With over one hundred beers and thirty of them on tap, 7 00:00:21.239 --> 00:00:24.120 there's always something new to try. Find us downtown at 8 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:28.719 one sixty one East Second South Jazz Utes. RSL catch 9 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:30.839 all your favorite sports action at beer Bar. 10 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:33.560 Time to hit the pitch on the drive. The RSL 11 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.200 Insider today and every day is brought to you by 12 00:00:36.200 --> 00:00:39.359 beer Bar head downtown for watch parties and game day 13 00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:43.320 shuttles to the stadium. More at BEERBARSLC dot com. 14 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:46.719 It's a historic day for our local soccer club as 15 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:50.119 Raal Salt Lake made a splash, made an acquisition, brought 16 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:53.359 in a really good player, and we are lucky enough 17 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:55.000 to get to know him here on the program as 18 00:00:55.039 --> 00:00:58.719 DeAndre Yedlin is our guest on a Thursday. DeAndre, Happy Thursday, man, 19 00:00:58.719 --> 00:00:59.200 how are we doing. 20 00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:02.039 I'm pretty good? Thank you for having me. 21 00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:05.920 Welcome to Salt Lake. Welcome to Utah. We're very excited 22 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:09.439 to have you here. I wonder if you could enlighten 23 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:11.959 us on this process, how this all went down, and 24 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:13.799 how you're feeling now that you're here on the ground. 25 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:18.680 Yeah, it was kind of a whirlwind. Salt Lake had 26 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:22.280 had shown some interest a bit ago, so I've known 27 00:01:22.319 --> 00:01:24.560 about the interest for a while and you know, finally 28 00:01:24.599 --> 00:01:28.840 boiled down, you know, to the point where obviously ended 29 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:31.840 up coming here. And you know, I think a big, 30 00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:34.280 a big thing for me was uh, you know, not 31 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:37.079 just their not as their commitment to me now, but 32 00:01:37.239 --> 00:01:39.120 you know for the future that you know that means 33 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:40.959 a lot, and you know it shows just you know, 34 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:44.319 how much they value me. So I was really excited 35 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:47.040 to come. I'm really excited to get uh in with 36 00:01:47.120 --> 00:01:50.000 the group and you know, hopefully make a kind of 37 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:52.200 a late last push for this for this playoff position. 38 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:56.480 Now you're a Seattle kid at birth, and you've lived 39 00:01:56.519 --> 00:02:00.040 all across the world quite frankly, bouncing around Europe, and 40 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:03.280 you played in Cincinnati, Miami of course Seattle back in 41 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:06.400 the day. What what do you know about Utah? What 42 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:07.599 do you know about salt Lake? 43 00:02:08.520 --> 00:02:10.800 I know about the great salt Lake I came. I 44 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:12.240 came down here when I think I was like ten 45 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:14.199 years old. I got a picture of me floating into 46 00:02:14.199 --> 00:02:16.680 salt in the in the Gray Salt Lake. Me and 47 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:20.919 my grandfather did a lot of hikes growing up, you know, 48 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:23.120 obviously being from Seattle with the mountains up there also, 49 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:25.840 so we also did a lot of road trips. So 50 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:28.840 I think that road trip specifically was kind of down 51 00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:33.560 through Yellowstone and then to Arches. So I'm a big 52 00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:36.800 fan of nature. I love mountains, I love National parks, lakes, 53 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:38.159 you know, whatever it be, as long as it have 54 00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:39.719 to do with nature, I'm a I'm a big fan 55 00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:42.960 of his. So you know that definitely, that definitely had 56 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:45.080 a learning effect in pulling me here. 57 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:48.479 Now, what do you know about the club? What do 58 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:51.240 you know? I mean, I mean, it's it's an interesting Yeah, 59 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:52.319 I mean, it's. 60 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:54.199 A it's a it's as far as em Ols goes 61 00:02:54.199 --> 00:02:57.599 as a historic club in this league, you know, I know, 62 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:02.400 obviously this year, uh, you know, middle of the pack. 63 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:05.400 So I think there obviously improvements can be made. But 64 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:07.039 you know, at the end of the day, I think 65 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:09.479 there's a great team and a team that can really 66 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:14.800 make a push here at the end. Yeah, at the 67 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:16.680 end of the day, I think, you know, it's a 68 00:03:16.919 --> 00:03:18.960 it's a great club. They've had club legends here. 69 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:19.520 You know. 70 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:21.919 I actually was able to play with both Nick Ramondo 71 00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:25.000 and Kyle Beckerman. You know, Jason christ was a coach 72 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:28.840 of mine and in Miami, so I know him pretty well. 73 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:34.479 The GM Kurt was I don't know what his official 74 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:37.240 position was in Seattle when I was in the academy there, 75 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:39.680 but he was there when I was when I was 76 00:03:39.719 --> 00:03:42.800 in Seattle, so I know him pretty well. John Spencer, 77 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:46.360 who also works works at the club. You know, I've 78 00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:49.240 known him since I was in high school. So I 79 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:52.360 know quite a lot of people. Tony Beltran I played against, 80 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:54.639 So yeah, I know I know quite a lot of 81 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:57.080 people within the club, and you know, they've all made 82 00:03:57.120 --> 00:03:57.960 me feel so welcome. 83 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:02.080 So tell me, DeAndre, we're hoping to see your club 84 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:04.439 debut on Saturday. Is that the plan? 85 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:08.000 I hope? So yeah, I hope. So, you know, I 86 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:10.639 want to get started as quick as possible and kind 87 00:04:10.680 --> 00:04:14.080 of get integrated within the group. So yeah, hopefully sooner 88 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:14.759 rather than later. 89 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:19.199 What in your conversations with Pablo, who's a guest on 90 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:22.079 this show, every week, and someone I've known a long time, 91 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.079 and I really have become fond of him. He's a 92 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:27.680 really really good guy. So I wonder what your impressions 93 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:30.399 are at him and during the conversations you've had with him, 94 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:32.319 what what have you been asked to do so far? 95 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:36.720 I mean, honestly, the first time I've talked to him 96 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:40.600 was today, you know, obviously known I've known of Pablo 97 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:42.959 for quite a long time. I think, you know, everybody 98 00:04:42.959 --> 00:04:45.720 with an MLS has. My first conversation with him was 99 00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:48.759 actually today. And he's a great guy. He's a great 100 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:50.240 you can tell from just from the gay go. He's 101 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:52.959 a great guy, really, you know, not only cares about 102 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:55.120 the player, but the human aspect of it as well, 103 00:04:55.160 --> 00:04:59.680 which I truly appreciate. And yeah, I think, I mean, 104 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:01.839 I think, you know, a big reason why they brought 105 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:03.560 me in is for you know, kind of my veteran 106 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:06.959 presence and to two young teams, so to to help lead, 107 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:11.639 to help kind of lead us in the right direction, 108 00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:15.879 and you know, obviously be a presidence on the field, 109 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:18.839 you know, and and try to do what I do 110 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:22.079 on the field, also help off the field, you know, 111 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:25.399 with whatever needs to be helped with. So yeah, I 112 00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:28.759 think just add that that layer of maturity in and 113 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:32.560 you know, help help this team achieve great things. 114 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:38.079 How familiar are you, DeAndre with this roster? And obviously 115 00:05:38.120 --> 00:05:39.959 it's going to be a learning curve because they just 116 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:43.399 brought in Rowan Cruz as well as Victor Olatunji to 117 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:46.360 big acquisition during the summer windows. So it is kind 118 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:48.680 of a new group. And as you referenced earlier, it's 119 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:51.240 getting late early. There's only eight matches left to try 120 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:53.040 to get this club across the playoff line. So what 121 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:54.600 do you know about your new teammates? 122 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:57.199 Yeah, I mean I obviously know about a lot. I 123 00:05:57.560 --> 00:06:00.519 haven't played with any of them, you've seen any of 124 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:02.160 my previous clubs, but I do know a lot of 125 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:07.720 about the players here, whether that's been you know, speaking 126 00:06:08.199 --> 00:06:11.759 with players that I've played with, the players here or whatnot. 127 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:14.759 So you know, I feel like I feel like I 128 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:16.680 do know them. But today it's my first day of training, 129 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:19.040 so you know, it's good to get out and get 130 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:20.439 to know the guys a little bit. And it's a 131 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:22.360 great group. You know, they, like I said, they welcome 132 00:06:22.399 --> 00:06:26.360 me in, you know, so so easily. So uh, it 133 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:29.120 was really good to get out with them. And you know, 134 00:06:29.160 --> 00:06:31.560 they obviously have some some great talent on the scene, 135 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:34.839 great young talent, and you know that excites me, you 136 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:38.759 know because usually usually the the the young guys are 137 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:40.800 super hungry, and I like that. I like that, you know, 138 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:43.120 kind of just head down and work and you know, 139 00:06:43.160 --> 00:06:44.800 that's what you need, that's what you need to to 140 00:06:44.839 --> 00:06:45.839 win championships. 141 00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:50.439 So ultimately, you are also married with two young children. 142 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:52.720 And did I read that your wife is from the Bronx. 143 00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:55.720 She is from the Bronx. Yeah, she is from the Bronx. 144 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:58.720 Hey, DeAndre, where I'm a Northeast kid. I grew up 145 00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:02.040 in Connecticut. It's where we're a little bit far away 146 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:05.079 from the Bronx. Salt Lake is not necessarily Bronx. I've 147 00:07:05.079 --> 00:07:07.680 got to know what was your wife's reaction when you said, Babe, 148 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:09.600 we're moving to salt Lake. Yeah? 149 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:12.800 She, I mean, she's she's been amazing throughout my whole career. 150 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:16.040 She was out with me in Newcastle, she moved with 151 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:19.680 me when I went to Turkey obviously, to Miami, to 152 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:23.839 Cincinnatian out here, so she's she's all those places were 153 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:27.240 so different. She's adapted to every to every place, and 154 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:30.519 she truly is you know, she truly is that rock, 155 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:33.439 you know, because obviously I'm on the road a lot, 156 00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:36.079 so you know, she's the one that stays behind with 157 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:39.959 the kids and she makes my life way way easier. 158 00:07:39.959 --> 00:07:43.519 But she was excited. You know, she knows how into 159 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:46.920 the mountains and you know, hiking and that sort of 160 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:49.040 life that I am. So she's excited to kind of 161 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:53.199 see that aspect of it because we haven't really lived 162 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:55.120 in a place, you know, since we've been together that 163 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:57.839 has been able to offer that. So we're excited to 164 00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:00.000 get out and get on some adventures out in the mountain. 165 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:03.639 So once upon a time, DeAndre, you were the youngest 166 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:07.199 player on the World Cup roster in twenty fourteen, and look, 167 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:09.839 father time comes for us. All you blink and suddenly 168 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:12.839 you're thirty two and you're the wily old vet top. 169 00:08:12.920 --> 00:08:16.279 To tell me about the evolution the process going from 170 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:18.279 one of the bright young stars in our country to 171 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:21.079 now this vet. How has your journey kind of colored 172 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:22.199 that context for you? 173 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:25.879 Yeah, it's been a wild ride. And you know the 174 00:08:25.920 --> 00:08:28.240 crazy thing is I don't feel a day older than 175 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:32.960 when I started, you know, so you know, obviously, you 176 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:35.960 know physically it casts up with you, but you know, mentally, 177 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:40.679 I still feel young, I still feel energetic. But it's 178 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:44.320 been an amazing journey, and I've learned so much along 179 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:47.279 this journey, and I think even more than which probably 180 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:51.879 surprised people. Even more than on the field growth off 181 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:54.559 the field, I've grown a ton, and I think obviously 182 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:56.799 a lot of that credigos to my kids. I think 183 00:08:56.840 --> 00:09:00.519 becoming a father has really, you know, giving me a 184 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:04.440 whole new perspective on life. But now I wouldn't change anything. 185 00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:06.480 I wouldn't change anything I've done. I have no regrets 186 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:10.440 within my career because everything has led me to hear 187 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:13.919 and ultimately this is, this is at this point where 188 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:17.480 I want to be, and I'm glad I'm here now. 189 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:21.200 Is there? You know, when you look at your resume, 190 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:24.320 you've accomplished a lot in this game. You've accomplished a 191 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:28.600 lot as a player. Is there a single highlight? Is 192 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:31.320 it a World Cup call up? Is it going overseas 193 00:09:31.360 --> 00:09:34.000 and playing in Europe? Is there one highlight that you're 194 00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:34.679 most proud of? 195 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:42.519 Honestly, honestly, it's just playing in front of my kids. 196 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:46.279 That's that's really the biggest thing for me. I'm a 197 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:49.720 I'm a huge family guy, and you know, I I 198 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:51.679 try to keep the main thing the main thing, and 199 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:53.919 I know for me, the main thing is my kids 200 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:58.600 and my family. Soccer is second to that. So you 201 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:00.559 know the fact that I'm able to play in front 202 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:02.919 of them and and they're they're able to see their father, 203 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:06.360 you know, play like they they still ask questions when 204 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:07.919 people come up and try to take pictures of me, 205 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:10.080 like why is that person taking a picture with you? 206 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:13.399 So they don't understand completely yet. But you know, that 207 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:14.720 was one of the things when I was younger that 208 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:16.919 I always dreamed of was being able to have my 209 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:19.519 kids watch me play. So to be able to fill 210 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:21.879 that dream has been has been nice. And hopefully I 211 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:25.120 can lift the championship, you know, with them Washington as well. 212 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:28.159 I've just got to know what it's like because I 213 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:31.879 read that you you were the captain in Miami and 214 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:34.360 then they then they acquired a player. Let me see 215 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:37.600 if I can pronounce this name right, uh in Lionel Messi. 216 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:39.879 What what was it? What was it like to hand 217 00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:42.720 the captain's arm band the Lenal Messi? 218 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:46.679 I mean it was a pretty easy thing for me 219 00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:48.240 because I'm not going to be on the field with 220 00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:52.399 Messi and and and be the captain. So I was like, yeah, 221 00:10:52.759 --> 00:10:56.120 you you take this, my friend, But no, it was 222 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:57.919 it was an amazing experience. You know, he's he's a 223 00:10:57.960 --> 00:11:00.960 player that you know, not only myself, but I think 224 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:06.639 probably everybody playing now like soccer nowadays, grew up watching 225 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:09.799 and admiring and you know, he was a he was 226 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:12.240 a hero to a lot of people. So you know, 227 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:13.600 to be able to share the field with him and 228 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:17.000 see how he goes through life and how he goes 229 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:21.159 through you know, his his daily routines, it was incredible 230 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:23.840 and it was cool insight because you know, at the 231 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:25.519 end of the day, what I realized about him is 232 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:28.120 he's he's a guy that loves his kids, that loves 233 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:31.559 his wife, that is a family men. And you know, 234 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:33.679 a lot of people don't get to see, I think, 235 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:36.200 that side of him because everybody only watched him on 236 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:38.399 the field. But you know, as a family guy myself, 237 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:42.720 I really respected that aspect of him because you don't 238 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:48.159 you don't see many great athletes that also are great 239 00:11:48.200 --> 00:11:50.240 family men. You know, it's he is one or the other. 240 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:52.720 Usually sort of for him to be able to juggle 241 00:11:52.720 --> 00:11:56.600 both of those, For him to be able to juggle 242 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:59.720 both of those, you know, because it makes me have 243 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:00.679 a lot of respect for him. 244 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:04.480 I mean, I don't mean to geek out on this dynamic. 245 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:08.039 I just think it's it's so incredible that he is here, 246 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:11.480 and it's so incredible that we have the opportunity to 247 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:14.600 watch him play in the United States. I never thought 248 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:17.000 it would be a reality. So I've got I've got 249 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:19.679 to ask you, what what was it like to experience 250 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:22.759 just his brilliance every day in training? Are they are 251 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:24.919 there things to learn? Or is it like he's just 252 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:27.759 on kind of his own level? Is it? Is it? 253 00:12:27.799 --> 00:12:30.000 Is it even hard to focus when you're watching brilliance 254 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:30.399 like that? 255 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:31.440 Yeah? 256 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:34.360 No, I mean he's on his own level. Obviously. You know, 257 00:12:34.440 --> 00:12:36.559 you can try to replicate the things that he does, 258 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:39.240 but you know you're not gonna be able to. So 259 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:42.840 it's really just about it's just about accepting it and 260 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:46.679 just enjoying the show while it's while it's on you. No, obviously, 261 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:49.240 father time catches up to him as well, and you 262 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:50.639 know he's not gonna be able to go on forever, 263 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:53.519 So you know, it's just really just about enjoying it 264 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:56.080 and enjoying, you know, that greatness and not brilliance while 265 00:12:56.080 --> 00:13:00.000 it's here. And then you know when he when he retired, 266 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:03.759 I he's obviously, in my eyes, the greatest player ever 267 00:13:03.799 --> 00:13:06.039 to play the game. So you know, to be able 268 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:08.720 to say that I was able to share the field 269 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:12.559 with him, you know, it's it's it's awesome, it's a 270 00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:16.120 it's a great story along my journey. You know, something 271 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:16.919 I'll cherish. 272 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:20.159 You know, you have such a unique prison in perspective, 273 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:23.080 DeAndre when it comes to the sport in our country, 274 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:26.360 because you've experienced the sport elsewhere, and you've also made 275 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.919 a home in MLS and you've also played in World Cups. 276 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:31.919 You know, RSL has been here twenty five years now, 277 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:35.879 which is pretty wild to consider. How have you seen 278 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:38.360 the game grow domestically and do you believe with a 279 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:40.840 World Cup cycle coming up, the game will continue to 280 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:41.919 trend in the right direction? 281 00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:46.320 Yeah, I mean the game is growing in an insane 282 00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:49.759 amount here. You know, obviously with the arrival of Messi 283 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:52.240 that bumps it up. Then you know you have to 284 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:54.039 club World Cup that bumps it up. The World Cup 285 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:57.440 is coming that will bump it up. And just you know, 286 00:13:57.480 --> 00:14:01.240 since I've been back from Europe, the level of play 287 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:07.879 has gotten exponentially better. The facilities, the stadiums, even even 288 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:10.399 down to like the how the fans understand the game, 289 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:13.320 you know, because you know back when I back when 290 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:16.360 I started, you know, there's still it's still young in America. 291 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:18.960 Wasn't like super super young, but it's still young, and 292 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:23.000 there's there's times that fans really understand what was going on. 293 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:26.000 But you can tell they understand the game now and 294 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:29.960 you know, for things that should be clapped for, they 295 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:33.000 clap for, you know, which is something you see a 296 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:34.960 lot in Europe. You know, the fans truly do understand 297 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:37.679 the game. So it's nice nice to see over here. 298 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:42.200 I think you see the expectation now of US fans 299 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:45.120 and you know they expect, you know, really high things 300 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:47.120 from the US team, which I think is awesome because 301 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:50.159 I don't think that was the case thirty years ago 302 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:55.440 or whatnot. So yeah, it's growing, it's growing exponentially. It's 303 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:57.240 great to see. I think it's only going to grow 304 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:00.120 even more. And you know, all that means is is 305 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:05.200 you know, better players being produced and you know, better 306 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.559 talent for this country. 307 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:08.879 When you were a young player, when you were coming 308 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:11.639 up through the youth ranks, did you have because I 309 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:14.000 always find this interesting, you know, when it comes to 310 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:17.720 the visions people had for their careers. Did you have 311 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:20.080 the goal of playing in a World Cup? Did you 312 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:22.279 have the goal of playing in Europe? Or has your 313 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:25.360 career even outshot your own dreams what you thought you 314 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:25.799 could do. 315 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:28.919 Yeah, I mean I I had a dream of going 316 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:30.559 I had dreams of going to Europe. I had dreams 317 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:36.120 of playing the World Cup. But yeah, I mean as honestly, 318 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:39.399 as as soon as I really turned as I turned professional, 319 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:42.639 it wasn't I didn't really even think about those sorts 320 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:44.200 of things. It was just kind of taking it day 321 00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:48.080 by day and you know, just kind of going with 322 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:52.080 the flow if you will. You know, it's there's It's 323 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:55.279 not often I sit and think back on my career. 324 00:15:55.399 --> 00:15:58.639 Sometimes I take time to do it, but you know, 325 00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:00.639 so much of it is just day by day, and 326 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:03.000 that's how I try to live my life. You know, 327 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:06.159 tomorrow's not promised, so you know, I just try to 328 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.919 live in the president, live in the present moment, and 329 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:13.480 you know what will be will be. Kind of I 330 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:17.320 I personally is, especially with kids coming into my life. Understand, 331 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:21.679 there's more important things in soccer, so you know, I 332 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:24.639 don't want to make that like the you know, this 333 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:27.360 is my ultimate dream or my you know, ultimate goal. 334 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:31.440 But yeah, I think for me, it's just it's taking 335 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:33.039 it day by day and what will be will be, 336 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:34.679 and just try at the end of the day to 337 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.559 try to do the best you can. 338 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:38.360 Oh, you and Pablo are going to get at You're 339 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:42.919 gonna get along with Pablo so well. 340 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:47.840 Yeah, I've heard. I've heard he's into grounding, which I'm 341 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:50.480 very into as well, so we'll have to get some 342 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.240 grounding sessions. 343 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:54.480 In grounding meditation, you will find him meditating. 344 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:57.240 I love it. I love it. 345 00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:58.799 You're going to get on really well. Do you do 346 00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:01.159 you have any boxes as you would like to check 347 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:02.879 that you haven't checked yet. I know you're an in 348 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:05.079 the moment guy, you're focused on right now, but is 349 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:07.839 there anything you feel like you have left to accomplish? 350 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:09.640 I mean in MLS so far, I haven't won an 351 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:13.200 MLS Cup, So I have won every other well besides 352 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:15.839 like a Champions League here, but I haven't won an 353 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:19.160 MLS Cup, So I would love to do that here 354 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:23.240 in Salt Lake. I think, you know, we're building a 355 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:26.960 great team to be able to accomplish that. So that's 356 00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:30.240 that's kind of a main goal here is to is 357 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:30.920 to achieve that. 358 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:33.440 What do you like to do when you're not playing soccer? 359 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:35.119 I know you got those kiddos in the life. Is 360 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:36.680 it just family time when you're not playing? 361 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:40.400 It's it's family time. I'm a I'm a big creative person, 362 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:44.960 so whether it's drawing or some sort of art fashion, 363 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.839 I love. I love really anything that has to do 364 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:53.880 with creativity. I love the mountains. So here I'll probably 365 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:55.960 be hiking a bit and you know, driving up in 366 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:58.920 the mountains and you know, just enjoy being in nature. 367 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:02.079 You know, enjoy taking my kids up there. They haven't 368 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:07.200 really seen anything like this in their lifetime, so I 369 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:09.759 think it'll be pretty special because you know, it was 370 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:11.559 literally at the age that they are now that my 371 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:14.880 grandfather started taking me. So it'll be a cool kind 372 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:17.640 of I would say, full circle moment, but just kind 373 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:20.680 of continuing to continue the path of you know, getting 374 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.519 down to nature young. 375 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:23.839 All right, before I say you lose, I gotta ask 376 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:26.720 you this question. I asked Diego Diego Luna the same question. 377 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:30.039 I am fascinated with what I refer to as neck 378 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:34.279 tattoo confidence. Neck tack confidence. Where does where does that 379 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:36.400 come from? The neck tack confidence. 380 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:40.759 Honestly, I was like, all right, I've had I'm trying 381 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:42.359 to think when I got it. When I got my 382 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:48.319 neck tat, yeah, I was like, I've been playing for 383 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:51.480 long enough now I feel like if I need to 384 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:53.920 get a job after, I can do something in the game. 385 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:56.759 So I think I'm safe to get a neck tat. 386 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:57.680 I was. 387 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:59.960 I was holding out on it a bit just because 388 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:01.400 of like, I don't know if I'm gonna have to 389 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:05.119 work a nine to five or something after. But I figured, 390 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:08.160 you know, hopefully if I if I'm gonna work, I 391 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:12.599 can do something within the game, and and they're they're 392 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:14.680 not going to be too pressed about it some necktat, 393 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:18.319 So yeah, it's uh. I love it. 394 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:18.799 I love it. 395 00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:21.359 I think it's I think it's awesome. I love Diego tattoos. 396 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:24.839 I think I think they show us character and you know, 397 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:30.400 allow him to be an individual, and yeah, it's it's awesome. 398 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:32.559 I got asked the question today, if we're gonna have 399 00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:38.279 a tattoo count competition, so we we may be doing 400 00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:40.319 that in one of these one of these upcoming days. 401 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:42.519