WEBVTT 00:00:14.669 --> 00:00:17.390 You're listening to Raising Anchor, the Rhode 00:00:17.390 --> 00:00:20.589 Island FC podcast. Now part of the Blazing Musket 00:00:20.589 --> 00:00:37.890 family. We're glad you're here. Hello and welcome 00:00:37.890 --> 00:00:40.429 to Raising Anchor, your podcast and source for 00:00:40.429 --> 00:00:43.600 all things Rhode Island FC. My name is Matt Etrigan, 00:00:43.659 --> 00:00:46.960 and I'm sitting here joined by the legend himself, 00:00:47.479 --> 00:00:51.259 Michael Parkhurst. He's a co -founder and owner 00:00:51.259 --> 00:00:53.439 here at Rhode Island FC. We're sitting in the 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:56.240 beautiful suite number nine, I believe, at the 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:58.520 newly ready -to -go Centerville Bank Stadium. 00:00:59.539 --> 00:01:01.679 Michael, how are you doing, first and foremost? 00:01:01.799 --> 00:01:03.539 Welcome back to the Rhode Island State. How's 00:01:03.539 --> 00:01:06.640 life been? Thank you. It's good to be here. No 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:09.680 complaints. Life is good. My kids are happy, 00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:12.280 healthy, and... doing well in their sports. So 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:15.299 no complaints at all. No weather complaints out 00:01:15.299 --> 00:01:17.540 in Columbus right now? Everything's good? We 00:01:17.540 --> 00:01:19.900 can all complain about the weather, but it doesn't 00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:24.540 help things. And summer is soon upon us. So that's 00:01:24.540 --> 00:01:26.980 what I'm focused on. What are the priorities 00:01:26.980 --> 00:01:28.900 for you? Obviously, we're launching the stadium 00:01:28.900 --> 00:01:30.920 this weekend, San Antonio. It's going to be a 00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:32.640 big game. But what have been your priorities 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:35.040 in life? I know you have the mentorship. How's 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:36.680 everything going beyond your responsibilities 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:41.819 of being a football investor? Yeah, aside from 00:01:41.819 --> 00:01:44.980 Rhode Island FC, yeah, the mentoring is my main 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:49.319 focus. I really enjoy what we do there, me and 00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:51.299 myself and Greg Garza, a former teammate of mine. 00:01:52.140 --> 00:01:55.060 Yeah, it's a really cool project that we do, 00:01:55.180 --> 00:01:57.560 and it leads to different opportunities and connecting 00:01:57.560 --> 00:01:59.739 with different people and helping a lot of youth 00:01:59.739 --> 00:02:01.959 athletes, so that's awesome. And then other than 00:02:01.959 --> 00:02:04.319 that, watching my kids play their softball and 00:02:04.319 --> 00:02:07.739 baseball. Brings me a ton of joy. And so that's 00:02:07.739 --> 00:02:12.900 my focus. And that's why we're in full force 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:15.099 here as we get into spring. It's that season. 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:19.560 So yeah, it makes traveling difficult. A different 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:20.960 type of mentoring, right? It's just your kids 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:23.240 on that one. They don't like to be mentored at 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:25.879 all by me because I am dad and I don't know anything. 00:02:26.020 --> 00:02:28.860 But I know a lot of people can relate. A story 00:02:28.860 --> 00:02:31.500 as old as time on that one. Why did I sit here 00:02:31.500 --> 00:02:33.099 today and talk to you about a couple of different 00:02:33.099 --> 00:02:36.729 things? Because I think... With all of the performances 00:02:36.729 --> 00:02:38.969 that are coming up very quickly, you're probably 00:02:38.969 --> 00:02:41.530 one of the most uniquely positioned individuals 00:02:41.530 --> 00:02:44.409 here right now in Rhode Island to talk about 00:02:44.409 --> 00:02:46.250 it. So I want to jump straight into the Open 00:02:46.250 --> 00:02:48.650 Cup and your connection to the big game next 00:02:48.650 --> 00:02:51.780 week against the Revolution. First and foremost, 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:53.960 you're a champion of the Open Cup, having won 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:56.520 it with the Revolution. I won't give the date 00:02:56.520 --> 00:02:58.719 because I don't want to age anyone here in the 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:01.759 conversation. But as someone who's played in 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:04.340 the Open Cup many times, who's won the Open Cup, 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:07.020 I want to ask you first and foremost, what makes 00:03:07.020 --> 00:03:08.919 this soccer tournament, what makes the U .S. 00:03:08.939 --> 00:03:12.819 Open Cup so special? Yeah, I think it's unique 00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:16.819 when you get to play in competitive games against 00:03:16.819 --> 00:03:20.860 teams that are outside of your... normal league. 00:03:21.699 --> 00:03:24.020 And that's what makes the FA Cup special and 00:03:24.020 --> 00:03:27.479 all the league cups of different countries, because 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:31.580 it means a little bit more to these lower division 00:03:31.580 --> 00:03:34.659 clubs. And it's a huge opportunity for them. 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:37.039 And that's why, you know, from an MLS perspective, 00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:40.360 there is no such thing as an easy game in the 00:03:40.360 --> 00:03:43.840 Open Cup, right? You see teams, top teams lose 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:47.159 all the time. It was so challenging for us when 00:03:47.159 --> 00:03:51.500 I was playing in MLS to go to a USL, even a League 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:53.419 One team or a championship team. It didn't matter 00:03:53.419 --> 00:03:56.500 because you knew like you were up against it 00:03:56.500 --> 00:03:58.120 and they were going to give everything they had. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:01.680 And it was just always a battle and always so 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:04.599 challenging. So, you know, from now being on 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:06.599 the opposite side of it, you look at it and you're 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:09.860 like, it's such a cool opportunity. It really 00:04:09.860 --> 00:04:13.960 is. Bring MLS here, right, to show everyone, 00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:17.379 you know, the competition level. And so, yeah, 00:04:17.459 --> 00:04:18.839 really looking forward to watching that one. 00:04:18.939 --> 00:04:21.180 It's going to be fun. You know, interesting to 00:04:21.180 --> 00:04:23.519 drill in on that for a second. We obviously hear, 00:04:23.660 --> 00:04:25.560 you know, people live for the cup sets, the quote 00:04:25.560 --> 00:04:28.779 -unquote, right? David slaying Goliath. We've 00:04:28.779 --> 00:04:30.920 heard that the lower division teams will always 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:33.699 play 10 % tougher. We actually heard Coach Cano 00:04:33.699 --> 00:04:36.319 say that last week with Westchester playing against 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:39.170 Rhode Island FC in the Jägermeister Cup. On the 00:04:39.170 --> 00:04:42.790 other side of it, as the veteran MLS presence 00:04:42.790 --> 00:04:45.629 that is playing these lower division clubs, is 00:04:45.629 --> 00:04:49.089 it just as similar as it's the same game for 00:04:49.089 --> 00:04:51.990 them? You're just taking it as it's 90 minutes 00:04:51.990 --> 00:04:54.089 on the pitch, or is there something more about 00:04:54.089 --> 00:04:57.790 making sure that that lower division team doesn't 00:04:57.790 --> 00:05:00.329 cup set you? Is there a matter of pride that 00:05:00.329 --> 00:05:04.370 changes, or is it just business as usual? No, 00:05:04.430 --> 00:05:08.939 it's tough. It's a really tough balance. I think 00:05:08.939 --> 00:05:12.480 there's one part of, God, I got to play this 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:16.759 midweek game against a lower division team. You 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:18.420 know, and for me as a defender, it's kind of 00:05:18.420 --> 00:05:21.180 like this is a tough place because if I play 00:05:21.180 --> 00:05:23.360 perfectly and we have a zero, well, that's the 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:25.519 way it should be. And if I make a mistake and 00:05:25.519 --> 00:05:27.680 they score, it's how the heck is that possible? 00:05:28.100 --> 00:05:30.879 You know, so it's a tough situation sometimes. 00:05:31.180 --> 00:05:34.740 But and you do have that pride of like, hey, 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:39.009 this is why. we're up here and you're not type 00:05:39.009 --> 00:05:42.250 of attitude you know as far as players and you 00:05:42.250 --> 00:05:47.709 want to show that and so it's conflicting a little 00:05:47.709 --> 00:05:50.129 bit and it brings a lot of challenges because 00:05:50.129 --> 00:05:52.170 i do think that some of the top players in mls 00:05:52.170 --> 00:05:55.290 don't really want to play a midweek game against 00:05:55.290 --> 00:05:57.769 a lower division team on a midweek you know um 00:05:57.769 --> 00:06:01.470 it's tough um but it provides other opportunities 00:06:01.470 --> 00:06:05.180 for other guys on those rosters to show why they're 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:09.339 a part of that roster so um yeah i think kano 00:06:09.339 --> 00:06:10.959 is right though as far as the lower division 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:13.620 teams get a little extra motivation right and 00:06:13.620 --> 00:06:15.819 and they should right we've said that from day 00:06:15.819 --> 00:06:18.300 one like we want guys motivated to go on and 00:06:18.300 --> 00:06:20.980 play at a higher level and we understand that 00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:23.519 there is a higher level and we want guys to have 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:25.399 that aspiration will they all get that opportunity 00:06:25.399 --> 00:06:27.480 of course not but we want to have that aspiration 00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:32.399 so yeah i hope that they bring a little extra 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:35.939 on for that night. I know it'll be tough because 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:37.720 I talked to the team already today and I said, 00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:39.620 hey, tomorrow is going to feel like a cup final 00:06:39.620 --> 00:06:42.879 with the energy. And so then they've got another 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:46.680 cup final on Wednesday. It sounds like to me, 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:48.660 too, that maybe Coach Kano has it a little easier 00:06:48.660 --> 00:06:50.759 in his playing days as an attacker against a 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:52.800 lower division team. I didn't really think about 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:55.019 the pressures of being a goalkeeper or a defender 00:06:55.019 --> 00:06:59.339 having to maintain the superiority of the better 00:06:59.339 --> 00:07:01.920 product, so to speak. So that's a fascinating 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:05.519 part. Speaking of Kano himself, what was the 00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:07.240 conversation between the two of you when you 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:09.379 guys found out that the Revolution were going 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:11.779 to be the seeded draw for the Open Cup, a hosted 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:14.860 match here? The first time these two teams will 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:16.339 play each other and it's here at Centerville 00:07:16.339 --> 00:07:19.920 Bank Stadium. What was that dialogue like? Yeah, 00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:21.600 I think it was, I mean, obviously we knew it 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:26.060 was a strong possibility going into the draw. 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:28.240 We knew that we weren't going to be matched up 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.120 against the USL team. So it's kind of one of 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:33.839 two. And so, but I think we were all just, we 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:35.579 were both just like, you know, it's a dream. 00:07:36.100 --> 00:07:41.540 It's a dream matchup. It's honestly to have that. 00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:47.279 to experience an opportunity in such a new stadium 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:51.600 for a pretty new club is pretty cool. You know, 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:54.819 result aside, just to have them in our stadium 00:07:54.819 --> 00:07:57.560 and some of their fans come here and see what 00:07:57.560 --> 00:07:59.740 we are building here and what we're trying to 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:02.199 accomplish here, I think is really cool. And 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:04.220 just an opportunity for our fans and our players 00:08:04.220 --> 00:08:08.959 to match up against an MLS team. So for sure, 00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:12.379 it's going to be exciting. Having both of you 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:15.139 been winners in the Open Cup, now in the leadership 00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:18.360 side of things, do loyalties get tested in a 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:21.040 match like this? We've heard from lots of fans 00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:23.360 because, like you said, these two teams don't 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:26.399 normally see each other. So it's easy and acceptable 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:28.300 to be a fan of the New England Revolution and 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:30.300 also be a fan of Rhode Island Football Club. 00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:33.080 That all changes for 90 minutes this week coming 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:35.539 up. How do you guys feel about it personally, 00:08:35.659 --> 00:08:38.059 like literally lifting that trophy and then also 00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:39.940 now being on the other side of things? Where's 00:08:39.940 --> 00:08:44.000 the loyalty? The loyalty on Wednesday will be 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:47.960 with Rhode Island. And, you know, that's I'm 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:51.940 not afraid to say that out loud and clear. So 00:08:51.940 --> 00:08:55.220 that is definitely the case. And, you know, we've 00:08:55.220 --> 00:08:57.620 of course, we've had our successes with New England 00:08:57.620 --> 00:08:59.600 and had some good relationships there and good 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:02.940 ties. But, you know, for me, full focus is on 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:05.919 Rhode Island FC and the project that we've got 00:09:05.919 --> 00:09:09.110 going here and building it and growing it. opening 00:09:09.110 --> 00:09:12.730 up this beautiful stadium. So yeah, no issues 00:09:12.730 --> 00:09:15.509 there on Wednesday night. How significant is 00:09:15.509 --> 00:09:17.590 the meeting of these two teams right now? It's 00:09:17.590 --> 00:09:20.870 so early in Centerville Bank's opening. Is it 00:09:20.870 --> 00:09:23.129 something that was destined? I mean, you kind 00:09:23.129 --> 00:09:24.809 of said it was almost like lined up for the Open 00:09:24.809 --> 00:09:27.169 Cup, but in terms of the optics of it overall, 00:09:27.490 --> 00:09:29.590 is it more important now than ever that these 00:09:29.590 --> 00:09:31.350 two teams see each other now? Or is this something 00:09:31.350 --> 00:09:33.009 that it would have had the same table stakes 00:09:33.009 --> 00:09:35.500 if this happened two years down the road? Yeah, 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:38.779 I don't know. I'm not sure. Because in one sense, 00:09:38.820 --> 00:09:43.379 I don't think that most of Rhode Island knows 00:09:43.379 --> 00:09:47.039 yet what lies here in the stadium, right? And 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:49.320 the uniqueness of it and the experience of it. 00:09:49.419 --> 00:09:52.980 And so not everyone's going to have experience 00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:55.840 or the opportunity to experience that before 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:59.240 this game comes. You know, 10 ,000 people will, 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:04.460 but a whole lot of other people won't yet. You 00:10:04.460 --> 00:10:07.259 know, in a perfect world, do I wish it was a 00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:11.399 few weeks away? Sure, maybe. But, you know, I 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:13.259 think we're really, really thrilled to have the 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:16.919 opportunity to host it and show that where we 00:10:16.919 --> 00:10:19.559 line up and how we line up and stack up. And 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:21.559 I think that, you know, of course, when you have 00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:24.399 a local game like that, it's always more intriguing. 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:28.200 So a lot of good storylines and great opportunity 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:32.639 for us as an organization. macro level for the 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:35.259 Open Cup itself. Do you think that the tournament 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:38.320 is in a better place than it was in your time 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:40.500 playing? Do you think that there's still more 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:42.700 room for it to grow? And if so, are there ideas 00:10:42.700 --> 00:10:45.799 on how the tournament overall can improve for 00:10:45.799 --> 00:10:49.120 all players participating? Yeah, I think that 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:51.320 it's... I don't know if it's in a better place 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:54.080 or not. I think that last year was tough, obviously, 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:57.980 with the controversy of MLS teams. So I'm glad 00:10:57.980 --> 00:11:00.679 that... They're trying to figure that out. And 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:02.759 this year is a balance between, you know, first 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:06.299 teams and MLS next pro teams. So that's good. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:09.460 I understand that there's challenges and travel 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:12.840 and finances. And, you know, there's a lot of 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:15.460 different components to it. And honestly, some 00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:19.399 of the surfaces that teams need to play on when 00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:25.840 they go on the road. And so I get it. We have 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:28.360 to figure out a way to make sure that this carries 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:31.500 on because there's a long legacy of this cup 00:11:31.500 --> 00:11:34.080 and it means a lot. And like we talked about 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:36.519 earlier, it's unique and there's different opportunities. 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:39.500 So, you know, I think that U .S. soccer understands 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:42.340 that and we're trying to figure it out. But I'm 00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:44.879 glad that this year there's MLS teams involved 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:49.240 and that's the way it should be. And then, you 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:51.750 know, final topic here on the Open Cup. What 00:11:51.750 --> 00:11:53.690 was your favorite memory? And it can't be lifting 00:11:53.690 --> 00:11:55.450 the trophy. There's got to be something else 00:11:55.450 --> 00:11:58.649 that uniquely stuck out to you about your time. 00:11:58.750 --> 00:12:01.450 Maybe it was an off -the -pitch moment. Maybe 00:12:01.450 --> 00:12:03.110 it was a traveling moment. Maybe it was something 00:12:03.110 --> 00:12:05.190 that did happen. But what's something that when 00:12:05.190 --> 00:12:07.090 you think back to the Open Cup, close your eyes, 00:12:07.190 --> 00:12:10.269 and not lifting that trophy, what is something 00:12:10.269 --> 00:12:18.509 that always rings out true to you? I think just... 00:12:19.529 --> 00:12:26.909 bus trips to random stadiums where you don't 00:12:26.909 --> 00:12:28.929 know what's going to be there when you get there. 00:12:29.330 --> 00:12:33.370 And this was true with both my time with New 00:12:33.370 --> 00:12:37.230 England, but also Atlanta and Columbus and, you 00:12:37.230 --> 00:12:39.909 know, going to Akron for a game and, you know, 00:12:39.909 --> 00:12:42.250 in Atlanta going, I mean, Charleston, you knew 00:12:42.250 --> 00:12:44.409 what you're going to get, but just different. 00:12:44.470 --> 00:12:47.909 I mean, Charleston road trip, our bus broke down. 00:12:48.700 --> 00:12:53.360 on the way to the game. And so I think we ended 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:58.480 up flying. I think they, yeah. And that's the 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:01.059 Open Cup. It's just crazy things happen. I remember 00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:04.960 in Columbus going to Akron and you play 120 minutes 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:07.360 because of course the game goes into extra time. 00:13:07.659 --> 00:13:12.159 And it's a grind. And there's no easy games in 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:14.100 Open Cup. And that's what I learned over my time. 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:16.879 It doesn't matter who you're playing. There's 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:19.809 just not an easy game. uh but yeah a lot of a 00:13:19.809 --> 00:13:22.549 lot of good memories and yeah glad i got to win 00:13:22.549 --> 00:13:25.009 it a couple times it was fun you know moving 00:13:25.009 --> 00:13:27.429 on to rhode island fc now here for a minute uh 00:13:27.429 --> 00:13:29.990 when we last connected one of the things i asked 00:13:29.990 --> 00:13:31.529 you was what was one of the biggest learning 00:13:31.529 --> 00:13:33.850 curves thrown your way being a participant now 00:13:33.850 --> 00:13:37.110 being a co -founder and owner of a sports franchise 00:13:37.110 --> 00:13:40.700 at the time you had mentioned a lot of red tape. 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:42.659 Ironically, Brett Johnson, Dan Krober, they've 00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:44.980 all said the same thing. And I have seen firsthand 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:47.840 the complications of getting this stadium online. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:50.840 But, you know, looking at it now, you're under 00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:54.299 your belt with the product on the field. What's 00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:56.220 something beyond the red tape that you had to 00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:58.740 learn and grow as an owner and co -founder with 00:13:58.740 --> 00:14:01.620 this organization? Yeah, I think, you know, for 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:03.779 me, obviously the focus is on the technical side. 00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:08.220 So it is just the roster construction year over 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:10.899 year. When you have success as a team like we 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:14.299 did last year, I get why it's difficult to keep 00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:17.259 a team together. Everybody wants a new contract 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:22.340 and bumps and raises and to be recognized for 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:24.399 their contributions to a successful team. And 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:27.820 I understand that. part of that on the other 00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:30.659 side as a player so i get it um and so we're 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:32.940 doing our best to try and do that and keep the 00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:35.779 core together and obviously we've done that you 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:38.559 know from last year to this year we had very 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:41.460 little turnover some here and there but um overall 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:45.399 the same team and um but that's that's tough 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:47.899 and so i think that for me it's always a learning 00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:50.039 curve understanding the contracts and players 00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:53.419 and budgets and relationships with agents and 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:57.409 and all that stuff so um that's a part of my 00:14:57.409 --> 00:15:00.629 job and part of my gig and um but that's that's 00:15:00.629 --> 00:15:02.789 a challenge for sure because you want to do do 00:15:02.789 --> 00:15:05.230 right by players because i've seen clubs not 00:15:05.230 --> 00:15:07.429 do right by players from the other side of things 00:15:07.429 --> 00:15:10.769 and i never want to be that the club right now 00:15:10.769 --> 00:15:13.889 managing through a extensive number of injuries 00:15:13.889 --> 00:15:17.730 i think there's seven that are at some point 00:15:17.730 --> 00:15:21.029 between day to day to longer term injuries From 00:15:21.029 --> 00:15:23.970 the technical side of things, you don't have 00:15:23.970 --> 00:15:26.750 the deep reserves of an MLS side, a billion -dollar 00:15:26.750 --> 00:15:29.889 backer. What goes through your mind as you help 00:15:29.889 --> 00:15:33.049 Kano try to navigate through the trials and tribulations 00:15:33.049 --> 00:15:35.690 of a depleted roster? Yeah, it's something you 00:15:35.690 --> 00:15:38.169 can never plan for. It's just tough. You might 00:15:38.169 --> 00:15:39.750 go through a whole year and have very little 00:15:39.750 --> 00:15:43.149 injuries, or you get some here and there, and 00:15:43.149 --> 00:15:47.909 that's why you've got a roster of... backups 00:15:47.909 --> 00:15:51.909 and 20 odd guys uh but yeah you can never plan 00:15:51.909 --> 00:15:54.129 for having five six seven injuries at the same 00:15:54.129 --> 00:15:57.649 time it's tough and i've seen it occur before 00:15:57.649 --> 00:16:00.450 and uh you try and get through it the best you 00:16:00.450 --> 00:16:02.990 can you know we had a conversation last night 00:16:02.990 --> 00:16:05.629 of kind of like you know who do who do we have 00:16:05.629 --> 00:16:07.470 relationships with that we can call if we need 00:16:07.470 --> 00:16:10.870 some extra bodies and extra players and you know 00:16:10.870 --> 00:16:14.639 for short -term loans and things and uh It's 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.919 a tough time of year, though, because all clubs 00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:18.899 are dealing with different competitions, and 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:21.379 that makes it challenging because really nobody 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:23.240 wants to give up anybody because they need their 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:28.320 bodies. So it's tough. That being said, no one's 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:31.779 going to feel bad for us, and we need to continue 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:33.639 to put the best product on the field as we can. 00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:35.879 So it's definitely one of the challenges that 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:39.460 every team faces, and right now it's us. It's 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:41.220 a strategy, and obviously you can't get into 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:44.259 it. giving out the secrets here, but we saw the 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:47.139 25 -day contract to Riojo Gund. That now gets 00:16:47.139 --> 00:16:48.940 extended through the remainder of the season, 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:51.000 whether that was because of a need or just also 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:53.299 in combination of the performances that he put 00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:56.220 in the defensive work over the games he was able 00:16:56.220 --> 00:16:58.879 to showcase himself. You know, looking back, 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:01.179 I don't think 25 -day contracts was a thing in 00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:03.940 your playing time. Is that a mechanism that helps 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:06.819 or is it really... a band -aid to the longer 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:08.759 term problem? Is it something where you'd like 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:10.839 to see the loan options? You'd like to be able 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:13.500 to navigate and maneuver through having players 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:15.420 get a little bit longer consistency than just 00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:18.359 showcasing less than a month's time with a team? 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.720 Yeah, I think it's both. There's a combination 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:24.200 of things, right? It gives us an opportunity 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:27.960 maybe to sign a player that we're not 100 % sure 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:31.680 on, but we're going on somebody's recommendation 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:34.250 or we've seen a little bit, but... We're not 00:17:34.250 --> 00:17:37.190 100 % sure yet. And so let's give him a contract 00:17:37.190 --> 00:17:39.289 here and get him in. And it's a good opportunity 00:17:39.289 --> 00:17:43.569 for that individual to prove himself. But doesn't 00:17:43.569 --> 00:17:47.309 tie us down long term if things don't work out. 00:17:47.930 --> 00:17:51.529 The loans are good options. It just depends on 00:17:51.529 --> 00:17:54.890 how much of the salary are we picking up? What 00:17:54.890 --> 00:17:58.670 does that contract look like? What are the details 00:17:58.670 --> 00:18:01.069 of it as far as recalls for them and things? 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.519 But those are good options as well because it 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:08.240 provides us with usually a little bit more flexibility 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:11.539 if things don't work out or just financially, 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:13.599 right? Where we try and have some of the MLS 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:16.299 team cover some of the salary. And so you try 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:19.480 and get a pretty good player for a lesser salary 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:22.640 than it would normally cost us. So everything's 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:25.420 on the table all the time. There's no doubt about 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.779 it. And especially when you're going through 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:31.140 an injury crisis like we are. Eyes and ears open 00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:34.140 to everyone and anyone. So what I'm hearing is 00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:38.059 you may put the boots back on and give Karno 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:41.220 15 minutes at the end of a game? That is not 00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:43.980 what you're hearing. We're trying to win games 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:47.759 here. So, you know, talking more onto the technical 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:49.960 side of your participation with this club, how 00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:51.920 invested are you in the day -to -day? I know 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:54.849 you guys have... Daily calls, I think I've heard 00:18:54.849 --> 00:18:57.089 this a couple of times, but are you watching 00:18:57.089 --> 00:18:58.970 tape at the end of the game? Are you looking 00:18:58.970 --> 00:19:02.589 at the Y -Scout details that come out, the Opta 00:19:02.589 --> 00:19:05.829 breakouts afterwards? What is the level of your 00:19:05.829 --> 00:19:10.410 time in relation to this team's on -field performance? 00:19:10.930 --> 00:19:14.769 That sways. I get all the training sessions, 00:19:14.970 --> 00:19:18.529 all the games, all the information, so it's available. 00:19:19.250 --> 00:19:22.450 I watch all the games. I don't miss anything. 00:19:22.690 --> 00:19:25.950 So I rarely have to go back and watch anything. 00:19:27.490 --> 00:19:32.170 And to me, statistics, I don't know. Some of 00:19:32.170 --> 00:19:33.630 them are good. Some of them I don't really care 00:19:33.630 --> 00:19:36.230 for. If things were based off statistics, I would 00:19:36.230 --> 00:19:38.170 not have had the career I had. That's for sure. 00:19:39.910 --> 00:19:43.430 They didn't really do me any favors. So, you 00:19:43.430 --> 00:19:46.150 know, here and there. But, you know, I think 00:19:46.150 --> 00:19:48.829 that those things become more relevant maybe 00:19:48.829 --> 00:19:50.289 when things aren't going well and you're kind 00:19:50.289 --> 00:19:52.779 of. trying to figure out why or what's underlying 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:55.160 problems maybe what are your eyes deceiving you 00:19:55.160 --> 00:20:00.140 of type thing but um you know day to day i try 00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:04.759 not to get into the weeds you know we hired kano 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:07.019 because we believe in him and the staff and so 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:10.940 i'm very cognizant of staying in my lane giving 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:14.700 him his space and you know i'm there as a resource 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:18.180 and a guide and an extra set of ears and eyes 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:28.339 I take a look at every player we sign. Week to 00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:31.680 week it varies, but pretty heavily involved. 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:35.059 As a player, first and foremost, now an owner, 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:37.819 when you watch a Rhode Island FC game, can you 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:40.700 actually enjoy the game or are you in that technical... 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:43.960 you know, analyst mode. And, you know, I look 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:45.960 at like a chef, right? Like a chef looks at the 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:49.319 presentation, the temperature, the way the ingredients 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:53.359 combine. They very rarely get to enjoy the meal 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.940 that they made because they're so critical of 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:57.480 what they've done and contributed to it. Can 00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:59.420 you actually enjoy watching a Rhode Island FC 00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:04.240 game? I can, I can. And I've said this where, 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:07.440 you know, even for teams that I've played on. 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:11.740 I'm not as heavily invested. When I watch New 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:14.839 England or Atlanta United or Columbus play, I 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:20.599 root for them. But I don't get... My palms don't 00:21:20.599 --> 00:21:23.539 get sweaty. My heart rate doesn't rise. If they 00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:27.539 lose, I'm going to enjoy my night no matter if 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:30.339 they won, lost, or tied. It doesn't matter. With 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:32.119 Rhode Island, it's different where I actually 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:35.680 get that sense of... I'm rooting for the team, 00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:38.700 like really want them to do well and, you know, 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.640 get nervous at the end of a game when it's close 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:43.900 and things like that. So that part of it's really 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:46.279 cool for me because I didn't have that before 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:49.700 this, other than the Red Sox when I was little. 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:56.859 But even though I am that heavily invested, I 00:21:56.859 --> 00:22:00.519 still enjoy the games. I don't get that crazy 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:06.509 emotionally. I'm not the head coach, and even 00:22:06.509 --> 00:22:10.690 if things don't go that well, it's not on me 00:22:10.690 --> 00:22:13.369 right away to solve it for the next game tactically. 00:22:13.630 --> 00:22:16.769 If I see things, I might mention it to Kano if 00:22:16.769 --> 00:22:19.650 he asks. Maybe I'll give my opinion, but again, 00:22:19.750 --> 00:22:24.410 otherwise, that's why we hired him. I more look 00:22:24.410 --> 00:22:27.369 at big picture stuff, but yes, I do enjoy the 00:22:27.369 --> 00:22:31.609 games, and I like that. Looking at the idea of 00:22:31.609 --> 00:22:34.319 big picture, I think... Again, you're so uniquely 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:37.220 positioned here. A professional player in New 00:22:37.220 --> 00:22:40.720 England. You also were someone who grew up as 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:42.819 a Rhode Island native. You got to watch the Stingrays 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:46.160 play what Pierce Field in East Providence. Here 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:50.099 we are. Gosh, what has that been? How many years 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:53.200 is that? I don't want to age it, but at least 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:56.160 two decades. Professional soccer now once again 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:59.430 here in this beautiful stadium. Bring this full 00:22:59.430 --> 00:23:01.450 circle for us. What's this like knowing that 00:23:01.450 --> 00:23:04.509 you're basically a kid watching a level of professional 00:23:04.509 --> 00:23:06.950 soccer in Rhode Island, and here you are after 00:23:06.950 --> 00:23:10.230 a very, very exhausting player career that you 00:23:10.230 --> 00:23:12.230 had. What's this like for you kind of sitting 00:23:12.230 --> 00:23:15.829 here now? Yeah, that's the coolest part for me 00:23:15.829 --> 00:23:22.009 is I know that tomorrow and throughout the next 00:23:22.009 --> 00:23:26.930 decades, there's going to be hundreds and thousands 00:23:26.930 --> 00:23:29.960 of... young kids that come into this stadium 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:34.279 that can then really see themselves playing professional 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:38.299 soccer or having role models and idols that play 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:41.339 in front of them like I did when I was with the 00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:44.279 Stingrays. And those guys came to like our camps 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:46.019 in the summer and you got to play soccer tennis 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:51.339 with them. Right. Javier was a legend in for 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:56.180 us growing up. And, you know, so now I think 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:58.690 that. those kids are going to be able to come 00:23:58.690 --> 00:24:05.109 here and experience such a different atmosphere 00:24:05.109 --> 00:24:09.490 and a different level that we experienced at 00:24:09.490 --> 00:24:12.390 Pierce, which was awesome at the time. But we're 00:24:12.390 --> 00:24:14.869 definitely taking it to the next level here. 00:24:14.970 --> 00:24:17.430 So I think that part of it is so, so cool to 00:24:17.430 --> 00:24:21.630 me that really going to help fulfill some dreams 00:24:21.630 --> 00:24:24.980 there for local kids. I get that some of them 00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:28.660 get it when they go to Foxborough, but we think 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:31.539 it's going to be a unique experience here. How 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:35.299 important is the local and regional game outside 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:37.720 of the professional landscape for you? Brett 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:40.339 has often talked about you're the glue to the 00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:43.579 community. You're the one that understands the 00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:46.099 system, having been a part of it yourself. How 00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:48.299 important is that aspect to the future of Rhode 00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:50.670 Island FC? Yeah, very important. And that's why 00:24:50.670 --> 00:24:52.890 we want to make sure that everyone feels included. 00:24:53.710 --> 00:24:58.609 We know that, you know, the communities are tight 00:24:58.609 --> 00:25:02.170 -knit here and we want to make sure that we are 00:25:02.170 --> 00:25:06.250 a uniter of those tight -knit communities and 00:25:06.250 --> 00:25:07.910 everyone feels like they've got a place here 00:25:07.910 --> 00:25:10.170 and this team represents them and they're welcome 00:25:10.170 --> 00:25:13.750 here. It's one of the reasons why, you know, 00:25:13.769 --> 00:25:15.769 when people ask us, do you have an academy, we're 00:25:15.769 --> 00:25:17.940 like... No, we don't have an academy right now. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:19.759 Are we going to take the best players from each 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:22.180 club? Like, how is that going to affect our relationships 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:26.960 within the state? So, no, it's really important. 00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:30.059 I mean, growing up, you know, I played for Bayside, 00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:32.140 but we played in Laza. And it's like, you know, 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:33.920 you've got these Portuguese leagues and you've 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:36.500 got these Hispanic leagues. And, you know, then 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:38.960 you've got, you know, surf down south. And, you 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:41.380 know, there's things all over in different pockets. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:44.460 And the game is there. So, you know, we just 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:47.369 need to make sure that we are. including everyone. 00:25:47.549 --> 00:25:50.230 And that's the plan and giving them a space and 00:25:50.230 --> 00:25:52.089 hopefully bringing everybody together, rallying 00:25:52.089 --> 00:25:54.789 around the sport. I know you've said, and you 00:25:54.789 --> 00:25:56.769 just re -echoed it about, you know, there's, 00:25:56.769 --> 00:25:58.990 there's no immediate plan for an RFC Academy, 00:25:59.190 --> 00:26:01.569 but how do you make sure you're the front runner 00:26:01.569 --> 00:26:04.369 when it comes to the local talent that's developing? 00:26:04.470 --> 00:26:06.390 You know, how do you get, I think most recently, 00:26:06.390 --> 00:26:08.569 like the Damien Rivera's to not go to the New 00:26:08.569 --> 00:26:10.930 England Academy. How do we, how do we get them, 00:26:10.930 --> 00:26:13.769 you know, signing for, for Rhode Island FC in 00:26:13.769 --> 00:26:16.680 a future state? yeah it's a good question and 00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:20.200 uh it's a tough one right now obviously they've 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:22.980 been around for a long time and um have things 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:26.700 set up and um they've got which is great and 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:30.660 you know they that was a long time coming right 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:33.359 that academy didn't exist when i was there uh 00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:37.140 so you know it's it's come a long long way which 00:26:37.140 --> 00:26:39.079 is great for the sport in this country but yeah 00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:42.569 of course we want some young Rhode Islanders 00:26:42.569 --> 00:26:45.009 to be a part of our squad in the future. And 00:26:45.009 --> 00:26:47.049 so, yeah, we still need to figure that out. But 00:26:47.049 --> 00:26:50.529 we do hope that, you know, through being local, 00:26:50.609 --> 00:26:53.589 through providing a really good atmosphere here 00:26:53.589 --> 00:26:56.230 and to be welcoming to those players that maybe 00:26:56.230 --> 00:27:00.089 need training opportunities or to be seen here 00:27:00.089 --> 00:27:02.490 and there or different things that we can be 00:27:02.490 --> 00:27:04.529 a little bit more accessible and open to those 00:27:04.529 --> 00:27:06.769 players and provide some different opportunities 00:27:06.769 --> 00:27:10.019 that, you know, maybe they couldn't get. you 00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:13.319 know from other clubs moving on here just want 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:16.039 to ask your early thoughts on the whole conversation 00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:18.680 about division one now opening up for the usl 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:20.660 as well as pro rail kind of coming in tandem 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:24.359 it it was like we didn't have it and now we're 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:26.200 going to have both at the same time it feels 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:29.599 very fast uh what's your overall confidence in 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:33.819 this in this you know it what's the overall perspective 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:36.079 as the ownership group like what do you need 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:38.000 to start doing to set yourself up for success 00:27:38.589 --> 00:27:41.490 for that longer -term phase or project of the 00:27:41.490 --> 00:27:43.930 club. I asked Kano the day it got announced. 00:27:44.009 --> 00:27:46.210 He's like, I'm taking this game by game. My focus 00:27:46.210 --> 00:27:49.109 is on, I think it was Phoenix Rising at the time. 00:27:49.210 --> 00:27:52.009 So for you, though, macro level, what are your 00:27:52.009 --> 00:27:54.410 overall thoughts, and how are you preparing yourself 00:27:54.410 --> 00:28:00.049 and the club to handle the eventuality of Pro 00:28:00.049 --> 00:28:02.130 Rel and Division I coming? Yeah, I think that 00:28:02.130 --> 00:28:05.849 we've... thought or known that there was a possibility 00:28:05.849 --> 00:28:08.890 for a while so you know that's why the stadium 00:28:08.890 --> 00:28:11.650 was built in a way where it could expand pretty 00:28:11.650 --> 00:28:16.150 easily if we ever need to and so I think the 00:28:16.150 --> 00:28:18.710 concept of ProRail is very exciting I think that 00:28:18.710 --> 00:28:21.109 it does make a difference to the competition 00:28:21.109 --> 00:28:26.309 and once fans get accustomed to it and learn 00:28:26.309 --> 00:28:28.910 it and can appreciate it I think that it does 00:28:28.910 --> 00:28:34.240 provide next level. type of excitement and entertainment 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:37.420 but i also think it's a long ways off i think 00:28:37.420 --> 00:28:39.200 that there's a lot that needs to be figured out 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:42.579 and there's a lot of logistics that go into it 00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:47.079 and and how division one is classified right 00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:50.859 now uh we're just a little ways off of it um 00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:55.720 so i do think that it's a way to differentiate 00:28:55.720 --> 00:29:00.859 ourselves from mls and um maybe bring in some 00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:04.460 more fans that way but you know i'm also cognizant 00:29:04.460 --> 00:29:07.700 i'm a realist of like there's a lot that needs 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:10.220 to be accomplished before this is a reality and 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:14.420 we can actually do it uh so for me you know i 00:29:14.420 --> 00:29:16.859 need to see that and and some more commitment 00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:19.660 from different ownerships in usl i think that 00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:24.680 we or i view us as you know like atlanta united 00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:27.940 and mls like newcomers push the league forward 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:32.220 right that's hopefully how things occur, right? 00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:34.839 That's what Atlanta United did and LAFC and all 00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:38.880 the new coming teams did for MLS. We're one of 00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:41.299 those for USL, like bring it to the next level, 00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:43.319 the next new team, bring us to the next level 00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:46.299 and keep bringing us up and dragging the lower 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:49.960 teams with us and say, Hey, it's not good enough. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:52.680 Bring it up. Let's go invest more type thing. 00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:56.539 So, you know, I think that as that occurs, that'll 00:29:56.539 --> 00:30:00.140 become more realistic. we can do it the right 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:02.980 way. You've experienced promotion and relegation 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:05.019 directly. I think it was in the Danish League 00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:08.940 that you helped the team move up. What is, since 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:11.119 you've been such a world traveler in your professional 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:14.059 playing career, what in your eyes is the best 00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:17.220 version of a style of Pro -El that you'd like 00:30:17.220 --> 00:30:19.279 to see adopted? You know, a lot of people are 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:21.859 instantly saying it's the English style, you 00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:23.920 know, three up, three down, and then a playoff 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:26.589 in -game for that third slot. There's so many 00:30:26.589 --> 00:30:28.289 different versions of pro -rel out there. What 00:30:28.289 --> 00:30:30.670 would you like to see from having been a player 00:30:30.670 --> 00:30:33.029 yourself in a pro -rel system? Yeah, I think 00:30:33.029 --> 00:30:35.950 it totally is dependent on the league and the 00:30:35.950 --> 00:30:38.529 size of the leagues and how are they going to 00:30:38.529 --> 00:30:41.750 structure it. And also, what is the likelihood 00:30:41.750 --> 00:30:45.630 of the teams in the lower division being able 00:30:45.630 --> 00:30:49.930 to bump up as far as infrastructure -wise to 00:30:49.930 --> 00:30:52.690 the top league and things like that. So I'd imagine 00:30:52.690 --> 00:30:57.180 it'd probably be one team to start. But I do 00:30:57.180 --> 00:31:01.440 get the English way of having the playoff. It's 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:06.660 exciting. It is really, really cool. I think 00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:10.640 Bundesliga also does a playoff as well. So that 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:14.420 is really, really entertaining. If there's two 00:31:14.420 --> 00:31:16.339 teams and one gets automatic and one's got to 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:20.539 play a playoff, I really like that idea. That 00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:25.960 would really intrigue me for sure. Yeah, I don't 00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:29.079 know. I've never thought about it, but some sort 00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:30.660 of combination would be pretty cool. Do you think 00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:33.980 ProRail can live independent of American fans' 00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:38.779 desire for the playoff format for the rest of 00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:41.500 it? Because I look at it as you've got the USL 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:43.319 Cup, but what does that mean against promotion 00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:46.240 then in a championship where there's a Premier 00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:48.819 League ahead of it? Do you think that you're 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:51.420 going to need both to be a viable solution, or 00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:54.160 do you think the fan base can be educated to 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:57.730 kind of... be weaned off of one and embrace this 00:31:57.730 --> 00:32:04.670 other version. Yeah, my personal opinion is I 00:32:04.670 --> 00:32:09.210 think you can do both. I think that we don't 00:32:09.210 --> 00:32:16.730 need to really become like everyone else. We 00:32:16.730 --> 00:32:21.200 can have some uniqueness, I think. I don't know 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:24.240 what the plans are for USL. I'm not privy to 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:27.220 all those conversations, so I have no idea. Personal 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:30.039 opinion, though, I think that we keep the playoffs, 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:33.559 and you have the top teams, and maybe it's just 00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:35.819 less are getting in the playoffs, and you still 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:38.759 have that battle for the championship after the 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:41.599 playoffs. I want to touch really quickly here 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:44.240 into the players' CBA. It's expiring for the 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:47.700 USL, I think, in June. I'm sure negotiations 00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:50.529 are already getting ready to ramp up. But where 00:32:50.529 --> 00:32:54.049 I'm really interested is in the USLPA's efforts. 00:32:54.329 --> 00:32:57.309 I remember back that you were once on the bargaining 00:32:57.309 --> 00:33:00.390 committee for the CBA for MLS. So I know how 00:33:00.390 --> 00:33:03.109 personal that is for you as a player. And then 00:33:03.109 --> 00:33:05.089 now moving into the ownership side of things, 00:33:05.230 --> 00:33:09.450 I guess asking you this, you know, one, how important 00:33:09.450 --> 00:33:11.730 is it that the league gets this contract right, 00:33:11.789 --> 00:33:14.759 knowing that it will? potentially bump into the 00:33:14.759 --> 00:33:18.079 beginning of division one pro rel and then also 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:20.859 two for you as both first and owner and then 00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:23.440 a former player how do you mentally navigate 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:27.000 through the the the turns of a cba discussion 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:30.680 like that yeah i think that you know right now 00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:32.660 you need to have flexibility right because the 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:35.980 future is so unknown all right so you know with 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:39.519 the world cup coming next year with difference 00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:44.609 of and talks of pro rel and calendars and this 00:33:44.609 --> 00:33:46.549 and that, you know, it's, we just don't know 00:33:46.549 --> 00:33:48.250 where the future lies. And so I think that there 00:33:48.250 --> 00:33:51.089 needs to be, you know, probably opt outs and 00:33:51.089 --> 00:33:55.509 structure of like, you know, Hey, we need to 00:33:55.509 --> 00:33:57.869 have flexibility in the future because there's 00:33:57.869 --> 00:34:01.509 a lot of unknown. But yeah, no, I think it's, 00:34:01.509 --> 00:34:03.910 it's important for the players. I do view it 00:34:03.910 --> 00:34:05.450 from a player perspective because that's where 00:34:05.450 --> 00:34:07.390 I've spent most of my life. So I think that that's 00:34:07.390 --> 00:34:13.269 important. From the ownership side, for me anyways, 00:34:13.670 --> 00:34:17.269 I want what's best for the players in a way that 00:34:17.269 --> 00:34:20.949 the league can still grow. That's super important. 00:34:21.050 --> 00:34:25.230 We're not at a place where I think MLS is right 00:34:25.230 --> 00:34:29.949 now, where valuations are crazy and there's a 00:34:29.949 --> 00:34:33.309 lot of finances being involved and the players 00:34:33.309 --> 00:34:35.469 should be getting more cuts of that. And they 00:34:35.469 --> 00:34:39.469 are now, which is great. We can't constrain ourselves 00:34:39.469 --> 00:34:42.570 so much where it's impossible to grow or to bring 00:34:42.570 --> 00:34:45.829 in new teams or things like that. So just finding 00:34:45.829 --> 00:34:48.050 that balance of like, hey, we need to take care 00:34:48.050 --> 00:34:51.230 of players and treat them the right way and make 00:34:51.230 --> 00:34:54.989 sure that they are in a position to be at their 00:34:54.989 --> 00:34:58.469 best, but also be in a position where we can 00:34:58.469 --> 00:35:02.090 continue to grow and put money into the league 00:35:02.090 --> 00:35:06.260 and really flourish. do you think that a contract, 00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:08.400 whatever the outcome of that is, does it need 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:12.400 to be put into whatever the implementation of 00:35:12.400 --> 00:35:15.360 D1 becomes? Because I feel like everything gets, 00:35:15.519 --> 00:35:17.440 all bets are off the table again once you, because 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:20.920 it's salary restructure, a new level of competitive 00:35:20.920 --> 00:35:23.519 requirement, who knows what the international 00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:25.639 game will look like in terms of players coming 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:29.050 abroad. Is this maybe at best probably a two 00:35:29.050 --> 00:35:31.150 - to three -year contract, and then we'll see 00:35:31.150 --> 00:35:32.789 where things go from there? Is that what's right 00:35:32.789 --> 00:35:34.389 for the players? That would be my assumption. 00:35:34.590 --> 00:35:37.869 I think that's – and I haven't been involved 00:35:37.869 --> 00:35:40.630 in any of the PA conversations up until this 00:35:40.630 --> 00:35:44.369 point, none. So I don't know. But that would 00:35:44.369 --> 00:35:47.369 be my assumption from the outside. There's just 00:35:47.369 --> 00:35:51.309 so much unknown, and there's – I've heard things 00:35:51.309 --> 00:35:54.940 of like, are the D1 – parameters going to get 00:35:54.940 --> 00:35:59.059 changed a little bit um so i think because of 00:35:59.059 --> 00:36:01.059 the unknown it's really difficult to try and 00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:04.659 forecast and you know create that and it just 00:36:04.659 --> 00:36:09.199 we're negotiating something that's like maybe 00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:11.079 gonna happen possibly gonna happen don't know 00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:12.440 when it's gonna happen that just seems like a 00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:14.920 waste of time to me where it's like hey let's 00:36:14.920 --> 00:36:17.679 focus on the now and the next couple years or 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:20.710 next year or whatever and then good faith, hey, 00:36:20.789 --> 00:36:23.670 let's revisit this if this becomes a possibility 00:36:23.670 --> 00:36:26.849 or whatever. That's how I would view it, but 00:36:26.849 --> 00:36:29.449 again, I'm not really making those decisions, 00:36:29.530 --> 00:36:32.050 I don't think, until they ask me to help out, 00:36:32.150 --> 00:36:35.010 but that would be my recommendation. I can say, 00:36:35.150 --> 00:36:36.829 having talked with some of the players, that 00:36:36.829 --> 00:36:41.170 they don't even feel the CBA affecting them because 00:36:41.170 --> 00:36:44.070 they've gone on multiple times, multiple lengths 00:36:44.070 --> 00:36:46.739 to say... The Rhode Island FC treats them far 00:36:46.739 --> 00:36:48.940 better. And they are one of them. I won't name 00:36:48.940 --> 00:36:51.679 the player, but even said, like, I didn't know 00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:53.820 that these were problems that, you know, other 00:36:53.820 --> 00:36:56.000 USL teams face. And like, I would hope that I 00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:58.099 never get traded to one of those teams and not 00:36:58.099 --> 00:36:59.900 knowing that such a high standard has been set 00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:03.500 here by the club. I want to kind of end here 00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:05.760 on just the conversation with your relationship 00:37:05.760 --> 00:37:08.980 to Atlanta United specifically. I'm always fascinated 00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:11.760 about the relationships that owners, that coaches 00:37:11.760 --> 00:37:14.239 have. You know, I think. To last year, we saw 00:37:14.239 --> 00:37:17.019 the Jack Pan EO2 loan. We saw the Morris Dugan 00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:19.139 loan. So obviously there's some bridges that 00:37:19.139 --> 00:37:20.760 have been built between New England and Minnesota. 00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:23.079 But then I think to the ownership side of things, 00:37:23.219 --> 00:37:24.980 right? Like there's the Ipswich connection with 00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:27.719 Brett. And of course, you're such a fan favorite. 00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:30.039 You know, I look at your interactions. I look 00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:31.960 at your dialogue with Atlanta United. You seem 00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:36.119 very much still invested in the success of that 00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:38.059 team. Not rooting for them, as you said earlier, 00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:41.179 because it's Rhode Island FC now. Is there a 00:37:41.179 --> 00:37:43.860 pipeline, especially to your mentoring, to the 00:37:43.860 --> 00:37:45.699 way that you're still connected to that club? 00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:48.500 Is there any potential success where we could 00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:51.239 see a talent pipeline develop between the two 00:37:51.239 --> 00:37:54.019 organizations? Could you be the facilitator of 00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:56.460 bridging that gap at some future point? I hope 00:37:56.460 --> 00:38:00.179 so. I hope so. There's been some conversations 00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:04.139 and nothing's come of them yet, but we've had 00:38:04.139 --> 00:38:07.239 dialogues and just like with a lot of different 00:38:07.239 --> 00:38:10.050 clubs, but it's just finding the right. player 00:38:10.050 --> 00:38:13.130 in the right situation. And I think that, you 00:38:13.130 --> 00:38:15.289 know, we're still in the phase of prove it to 00:38:15.289 --> 00:38:19.130 us type thing of, you know, do you have the infrastructure? 00:38:19.429 --> 00:38:21.449 Are our players going to get the right training 00:38:21.449 --> 00:38:23.429 and the right games and the right this and the 00:38:23.429 --> 00:38:25.809 right that, right? We're so young. So, you know, 00:38:25.829 --> 00:38:27.610 I think that that's why it's important that we, 00:38:27.610 --> 00:38:30.230 you know, had those early loans and, you know, 00:38:30.230 --> 00:38:32.369 gain respect of MLS clubs and like how we do 00:38:32.369 --> 00:38:35.610 things and how we treat players and things. So 00:38:35.610 --> 00:38:39.090 I think that all helps us. So, you know, I think. 00:38:39.360 --> 00:38:41.820 With that comes more opportunities for us, and 00:38:41.820 --> 00:38:46.619 hopefully I would love to have an Atlanta United 00:38:46.619 --> 00:38:49.599 player or two up here and helping us and help 00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:53.800 grow them and give them experiences that honestly 00:38:53.800 --> 00:38:56.519 they can't get in MLS Next Pro. What's made it 00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:58.420 easy for you to have these continued dialogues 00:38:58.420 --> 00:39:00.539 now? Is it the stadium finally being here, the 00:39:00.539 --> 00:39:03.400 tangible product established? Is it the result 00:39:03.400 --> 00:39:06.400 all the way up until the USL Cup Final in Colorado 00:39:06.400 --> 00:39:09.070 Springs? as that person that will facilitate 00:39:09.070 --> 00:39:11.809 those conversations what what makes your job 00:39:11.809 --> 00:39:14.409 easier when you go out and have those uh those 00:39:14.409 --> 00:39:17.730 reach outs yeah i think it's how our players 00:39:17.730 --> 00:39:20.090 are treated so if their player reaches out to 00:39:20.090 --> 00:39:22.309 any player on our team of what their experience 00:39:22.309 --> 00:39:24.250 is like what the training sessions are like how 00:39:24.250 --> 00:39:27.010 kano is as a coach the results on the field the 00:39:27.010 --> 00:39:29.309 atmosphere at the stadium right that's a huge 00:39:29.309 --> 00:39:32.750 huge thing mls next pro right they they don't 00:39:33.739 --> 00:39:36.179 They don't get the experiences that you get in 00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:38.900 USL Championship as far as atmospheres, as far 00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:44.679 as pressure, as far as playing against men. That's 00:39:44.679 --> 00:39:47.960 a big differentiator. And so, you know, I think 00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:51.559 that MLS Next Pro is great for what it is. But 00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:55.300 I think there's definitely opportunities. And 00:39:55.300 --> 00:39:58.820 that's why their loans happen, that top end players 00:39:58.820 --> 00:40:02.610 that aren't quite ready for first teams. need 00:40:02.610 --> 00:40:05.610 something more than MLS Next Pro, and need to 00:40:05.610 --> 00:40:08.150 be pushed a little bit more, and need to play 00:40:08.150 --> 00:40:11.469 against men. And so that's why these opportunities 00:40:11.469 --> 00:40:13.409 arise, and I think that they will continue to 00:40:13.409 --> 00:40:16.170 arise. And then without getting yourself in trouble 00:40:16.170 --> 00:40:18.130 here, if you could change one thing about the 00:40:18.130 --> 00:40:21.429 way the USL operates today, since you're so close 00:40:21.429 --> 00:40:24.110 to it, your finger is on the pulse, what would 00:40:24.110 --> 00:40:26.909 you do if you could to make a positive change 00:40:26.909 --> 00:40:32.369 with how the USL operates today? I think that 00:40:32.369 --> 00:40:37.869 we need to take a look at the standards of some 00:40:37.869 --> 00:40:42.369 of the fields. I think that it's an issue when 00:40:42.369 --> 00:40:45.750 the fields are really affecting the play on the 00:40:45.750 --> 00:40:53.949 field. And it affects the quality on the field. 00:40:54.010 --> 00:40:57.369 It affects when you're watching it and what you 00:40:57.369 --> 00:41:02.840 see. So it needs to be examined, and I get that 00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:04.780 the league is young and we're growing and it's 00:41:04.780 --> 00:41:08.199 difficult and it takes huge investments, but 00:41:08.199 --> 00:41:11.739 I will say it's just different when you watch 00:41:11.739 --> 00:41:15.880 a game that's on grass or it's on good, wet turf 00:41:15.880 --> 00:41:19.360 versus if it's on a rock -hard turf field that's 00:41:19.360 --> 00:41:22.380 dry and you can't dribble because the ball is 00:41:22.380 --> 00:41:24.000 getting stuck under your foot and you can't get 00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:25.599 it under control because it's bouncing up at 00:41:25.599 --> 00:41:27.840 your shin every time. There's a big difference. 00:41:28.619 --> 00:41:33.139 in the quality of play uh so i've noticed that 00:41:33.139 --> 00:41:36.000 numerous times and uh so i think at some point 00:41:36.000 --> 00:41:40.679 it needs to be addressed and final thoughts you 00:41:40.679 --> 00:41:43.519 know here we are the game by the time this goes 00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:44.860 out the game will have already happened against 00:41:44.860 --> 00:41:47.480 san antonio but what are your overall thoughts 00:41:47.480 --> 00:41:50.119 you know is it all real for you now how are you 00:41:50.119 --> 00:41:52.519 feeling about everything going on with yourself 00:41:52.519 --> 00:41:54.670 with rhode island of sea with the state this 00:41:54.670 --> 00:41:56.849 project overall? What are those, what are those 00:41:56.849 --> 00:41:59.110 final thoughts to impart with, with listeners? 00:41:59.429 --> 00:42:01.690 Yeah, I think we're in a good place. I think 00:42:01.690 --> 00:42:05.349 that's, um, it's been a long, tough road to get 00:42:05.349 --> 00:42:08.630 to where we are. Um, there's a lot of people 00:42:08.630 --> 00:42:10.849 who have lost a lot of years and got a lot of 00:42:10.849 --> 00:42:14.829 gray hairs, um, in the process of getting to 00:42:14.829 --> 00:42:18.329 where we are this weekend. So, you know, and 00:42:18.329 --> 00:42:22.519 a lot of people have been grinding. working crazy 00:42:22.519 --> 00:42:25.679 hours. I got emails last night at 3 a .m. in 00:42:25.679 --> 00:42:27.440 the morning from somebody that works here at 00:42:27.440 --> 00:42:30.139 RIFC, and it's like people are just working around 00:42:30.139 --> 00:42:34.719 the clock right now. And it doesn't go unnoticed. 00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:38.960 It's a lot. It's a lot to put together this and 00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:42.960 to provide this. And so it's going to be a celebration. 00:42:43.460 --> 00:42:46.079 It really is. A lot of people are going to be 00:42:46.079 --> 00:42:50.130 thrilled, and we're looking forward to it. It's 00:42:50.130 --> 00:42:52.710 having people come into our home and making it 00:42:52.710 --> 00:42:55.230 their home and feeling like they're a part of 00:42:55.230 --> 00:42:58.429 the club. Michael, thanks for joining the podcast. 00:42:58.670 --> 00:43:00.449 Always a pleasure to get your unique perspectives. 00:43:01.030 --> 00:43:03.730 Can't wait to see the results both on and off 00:43:03.730 --> 00:43:05.989 the pitch for the remainder of this season. And 00:43:05.989 --> 00:43:08.710 you are welcome back anytime. to join us and 00:43:08.710 --> 00:43:11.030 have a talk about Rhode Island FC. Awesome. Thanks, 00:43:11.090 --> 00:43:13.349 Matt. Appreciate it. Thank you. In the meantime, 00:43:13.489 --> 00:43:15.230 don't forget to check out our friends at the 00:43:15.230 --> 00:43:16.969 Blazing Musket for all of your New England soccer 00:43:16.969 --> 00:43:19.329 coverage, including Rhode Island FC. You can 00:43:19.329 --> 00:43:22.070 also find us on Instagram at Raising Anchor and 00:43:22.070 --> 00:43:24.969 the rest of the social media accounts, RAFC Podcast. 00:43:25.449 --> 00:43:28.050 Don't forget to check out our website, RaisingAnchorPodcast 00:43:28.050 --> 00:43:31.409 .com. And remember that we are on Thursdays every 00:43:31.409 --> 00:43:34.750 week at 8 p .m. for live podcasts. Talk to you 00:43:34.750 --> 00:43:35.630 guys soon and anchors up.