Over The Ball with Kevin Flynn: Recent Episodes
Kevin Flynn
A podcast. From America. About soccer (sometimes). But not as you've known it. Over The Ball with Kevin Flynn brings together the worlds of soccer, comedy and entertainment.
Best World Cup ever as Mbappe hat trick is not enough to stop Lionel Messi and Argentina as they win on PKs. Argentina gets their third World Cup Title and with that and cements Messi as the GOAT. Lionel Messi now shares Argentinian World Cup Hero status with Mario Kempes and Diego Maradona. More importantly, solidifies his superiority over Ronaldo at the GOAT. Kevin, Bob, and Chris all share their feelings about the game while tipping their hat to France for one of the greatest comebacks in history with their ability to drive the game to a shootout. This and much more of this week's edition of OTB.
Early Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 soccer journalist Grant Wahl died suddenly while covering the World Cup match between Argentina and the Netherlands. Wahl, one of the most well-known and respected soccer writers in the United States, was loved throughout the soccer world and beyond. Well-known and celebrated for his heart, passion, integrity, and incredible knowledge of the game, Grant’s passing shocked the world and the soccer community. Kevin and Chris are joined by legendary sportscaster Bob Ley, and close friend and colleague Grayle Howlett to pay tribute to the man, his incredible heart, his sterling reputation, his immense passion, and his impact on the soccer world.
We’re down to the Final 8 (Croatia v. Brazil : Netherlands v. Argentina : Morocco v. Portugal : England v. France) and Kevin and Chris assess the fallout from the US Men’s loss, discuss the future of the team and Berhalter, share their picks for the final rounds, and share their choice for where they would send their child to learn the game of futbal.
US puts together an aggressive, fast-paced attack but misses several opportunities to put the ball in the back of the net, while the Dutch’s discipline and precision take advantage of US backline defense failures. We finally see Reyna and perhaps a glimpse of the future. That and more on this special World Cup edition of OTB.
In what can only be described as a gutsy and passionate performance by Team USA, the USMNT moves on to the Knockout Round where they will play the Dutch on Saturday at 9 am EST. Kevin and Chris break down the game, opine about Berhalter's changes to the starting line-up, analyze his 75th minute substitution decisions, critique Haji Wright's intensity level, and continue to wonder..."where in the world is Gio Reyna?" England advances with 3-0 win over Wales. Netherlands advances with 2-0 win over Qatar, and Senegal beats Ecuador 2-1. That and more celebration on this week's episode of OTB.
US Soccer provides additional motivation for Iran by altering the Iranian flag on social media. Tyler Adams handles a truly bizarre press conference like a seasoned pro against the Iranian press. Fernandez scores 2 against Uruguay to Advance Portugal. Brazil advances with a 1-0 win over Switzerland. Cameroon stays alive with a 3-3 tie with Serbia. Ghana and South Korea battle back and forth in a 3-2 win for Ghana. Canadian Coach John Herdman disses Croatia after they knock Canada out.
Playing for the Knockout Round: USMNT must win off Tuesday against Iran amidst controversy. Berhalter under pressure to change line-up. World Cup Parity continues as Spain & German Draw. Ticos Beat Japan 1-0. Croatia Eliminates Canada 4-1. Morocco Tops Belgium 2-0, Argentina 2-0 Over Mexico. FIFA’s Juergen Klinsmann and US Soccer stir up controversy in Iran. Kevin lambasts UK news for not standing behind Team England after loss to US. This and more World Cup highlights on this week’s OTB.
England wasn’t its sharpest and the US played inspired soccer. With passionate play from US Captain Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah the US kept England off balance but missed a couple of huge opportunities including one off the crossbar by Christian Pulisic. Controversy still surrounds the lack of minutes for Brenden Aaronson and Gio Reyna. Begs the question, even when the team is playing this well, shouldn’t we have our absolute best squad on the field? The boys need goals…period. Sets up a huge do-or-die game on Tuesday against Iran, who beat Wales 2-0.
Kevin and Chris take a look at the day's action, as the CONCACAF teams remain winless. The boys were impressed by Japan in their 2-1 win over Germany. Even more so by Canada in their loss to Belgium. They fell asleep during the Spain 7-0 trouncing of Costa Rica. Think the 12 million estimated viewership across Univision, Fox, and Peacock is likely understated. And Kevin vehemently disagrees with Soccer America's Mike Woitalla's assessment of Zimmerman in the USMNT game against Wales. That and more on OTB.
Chris and Kevin discuss today’s (and last night’s action) including Argentina’s HUGE loss to Saudi Arabia has the Saudi’s declaring the day a national holiday. England comes out of the gate strong against Iran. France appears utterly dominant in their 4-2 win over Australia. Lewandowski’s PK miss hands Poland and a flopping Mexico team a tie. USMNT faces criticism over Berhalter’s mind-blowing decision not to start Reyna. Cristiano Ronaldo is leaving Manchester United by mutual consent. Qatar bans drinking and cracks down on players and fans wearing rainbow flags and armbands. That and more on this special World Cup Edition of OTB.
A Tale of Two Halves. USMNT marked their return to the World Cup with a 1-1 draw against Wales. Tim Weah puts one in the back of the net in the first half. But Gareth Bale's penalty kick late in the second half resulted in the two teams splitting points. It's a draw. Christian Pulisic had a great first half, but Team Wales came out more aggressive and put Gregg Berhalter's team on the ropes and Walker Zimmerman's foul on Bale proved costly. Big saves from Matt Turner and outstanding play from Tyler Adams topped the highlights of the second half. Join Chris and Kevin as they break it all down.
Soccer America's Senior Editor Mike Woitalla joins OTB hosts Kevin Flynn and Chris Chamides to announce a daily OTB podcast series that will air during the World Cup games that starting this Monday, November 21, as the USMNT squad kicks off their 2022 FIFA World Cup against Wales.
World Cup Anticipation is Exploding. Kevin and Chris talk to Clemente Lisi, author of “Passion of the World Cup - A History of the Planet’s Biggest Sporting Events.” The boys discuss the gravity of the World Cup when nationalistic pride is mixed with Superbowl-like competition, Qatar's demands for the world to acclimate to their culture, the USMNT starting keepers and center-backs, Christian Pulisic's Bose commercial, and USWNT's win over Germany, and Jesse Marsch's "I Don't Care" statement. This and much more are on this week's edition of OTB.
MLS Cup Mania has carried through the last week! Kevin and Chris discuss and dissect an MLS Cup that seems to be made for TV. Arguably the best MLS game of all time due to the game, the crowd, the scoring, the media coverage, and the PKs at the end. The boys dig into the details, celebrate the moment, and discuss the power of hecklers in this episode of OTB.
MLS Cup Mania has carried through the last week! Kevin and Chris discuss and dissect an MLS Cup that seems to be made for TV. Arguably the best MLS game of all time due to the game, the crowd, the scoring, the media coverage, and the PKs at the end. The boys dig into the details, celebrate the moment, and discuss the power of hecklers in this episode of OTB.
MLS Cup Mania has carried through the last week! Kevin and Chris discuss and dissect an MLS Cup that seems to be made for TV. Arguably the best MLS game of all time due to the game, the crowd, the scoring, the media coverage, and the PKs at the end. The boys dig into the details, celebrate the moment, and discuss the power of hecklers in this episode of OTB.
A complete excitement-filled recap of the 2022 MLS Cup featuring LAFC and Philadelphia Union. Soccer America's Mike Woitalla joins Kevin to discuss the incredible atmosphere and the one-of-a-kind stadium environment at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday for the MLS Cup featuring the glamorous and stylish LAFC taking on the more physical Philadelphia. The game absolutely lived up to the hype with an epic, back-and-forth 3-3 match -- tied at regulation, the game goes into extra time and ends with an incredible penalty kick shootout. An unforgettable true Hollywood ending for two of the MLS' best teams. #MLSCup2022
A complete excitement-filled recap of the 2022 MLS Cup featuring LAFC and Philadelphia Union. Soccer America's Mike Woitalla joins Kevin to discuss the incredible atmosphere and the one-of-a-kind stadium environment at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday for the MLS Cup featuring the glamorous and stylish LAFC taking on the more physical Philadelphia. The game absolutely lived up to the hype with an epic, back-and-forth 3-3 match -- tied at regulation, the game goes into extra time and ends with an incredible penalty kick shootout. An unforgettable true Hollywood ending for two of the MLS' best teams. #MLSCup2022
A complete excitement-filled recap of the 2022 MLS Cup featuring LAFC and Philadelphia Union. Soccer America's Mike Woitalla joins Kevin to discuss the incredible atmosphere and the one-of-a-kind stadium environment at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday for the MLS Cup featuring the glamorous and stylish LAFC taking on the more physical Philadelphia. The game absolutely lived up to the hype with an epic, back-and-forth 3-3 match -- tied at regulation, the game goes into extra time and ends with an incredible penalty kick shootout. An unforgettable true Hollywood ending for two of the MLS' best teams. #MLSCup2022
It’s MLS Cup Weekend is here, and Kevin and Chris are digging into issues of payroll, parity, parking woes, and the impact and importance of a hometown crowd. With World Cup Fever upon us, the boys share their concerns about USNMT injuries, England’s false confidence, Argentina & Portugal as favorites, and why the hell we’re playing in Qatar…in November. Kevin and Chris sneak in a little Leeds love fest, the fear of relegation, and the health and durability of Premier League players, while cheering on their friend, Mike Noonan, at Clemson and celebrating Coach Chamides' accomplishments at LMU. And end the day with some confusion as to where the Romans are? That and more on this week’s episode of OTB.
It’s MLS Cup Weekend is here, and Kevin and Chris are digging into issues of payroll, parity, parking woes, and the impact and importance of a hometown crowd. With World Cup Fever upon us, the boys share their concerns about USNMT injuries, England’s false confidence, Argentina & Portugal as favorites, and why the hell we’re playing in Qatar…in November. Kevin and Chris sneak in a little Leeds love fest, the fear of relegation, and the health and durability of Premier League players, while cheering on their friend, Mike Noonan, at Clemson and celebrating Coach Chamides' accomplishments at LMU. And end the day with some confusion as to where the Romans are? That and more on this week’s episode of OTB.
It’s MLS Cup Weekend is here, and Kevin and Chris are digging into issues of payroll, parity, parking woes, and the impact and importance of a hometown crowd. With World Cup Fever upon us, the boys share their concerns about USNMT injuries, England’s false confidence, Argentina & Portugal as favorites, and why the hell we’re playing in Qatar…in November. Kevin and Chris sneak in a little Leeds love fest, the fear of relegation, and the health and durability of Premier League players, while cheering on their friend, Mike Noonan, at Clemson and celebrating Coach Chamides' accomplishments at LMU. And end the day with some confusion as to where the Romans are? That and more on this week’s episode of OTB.
Kevin and Chris dig into the USMNT final roster spots, assess Sean Johnson and Kellyn Acosta, discuss MLS' lack of American players, bitch about MLS' shoddy game coverage, rave about Gio Reyna's magic, worry about Pulisic's and Adam's lack of playtime, herald Ricardo Pepe, and ponder what has happened to Barcelona and Juventus, talk MLS playoffs, and dissect how Curtin won Coach of the Year over LAFC's Steve Cherundolo, and much more of this week's edition of OTB.
Kevin and Chris dig into the USMNT final roster spots, assess Sean Johnson and Kellyn Acosta, discuss MLS' lack of American players, bitch about MLS' shoddy game coverage, rave about Gio Reyna's magic, worry about Pulisic's and Adam's lack of playtime, herald Ricardo Pepe, and ponder what has happened to Barcelona and Juventus, talk MLS playoffs, and dissect how Curtin won Coach of the Year over LAFC's Steve Cherundolo, and much more of this week's edition of OTB.
Kevin and Chris dig into the USMNT final roster spots, assess Sean Johnson and Kellyn Acosta, discuss MLS' lack of American players, bitch about MLS' shoddy game coverage, rave about Gio Reyna's magic, worry about Pulisic's and Adam's lack of playtime, herald Ricardo Pepe, and ponder what has happened to Barcelona and Juventus, talk MLS playoffs, and dissect how Curtin won Coach of the Year over LAFC's Steve Cherundolo, and much more of this week's edition of OTB.
Kevin lives large at a celebrity wedding in NY. Kevin runs into Gareth Bale at the bank. Has USMNT found a #9 yet? Kevin and Chris assess the US Men’s team roster leading into a Winter World Cup. MLS hits the 10M attendance mark -- is it ready to take over the NHL and/or the MLB? Apple’s $2.5B deals with the MLS -- does it squash local media? Can we PLEASE get some American announcers? The boys celebrate Salah’s winning goal in the Liverpool vs. Man City game. Are body cams for refs a good idea? That and much more as Kevin Flynn and Chris Chamides dig into an active week in soccer - from an American Perspective. On this week’s OTB.
Kevin lives large at a celebrity wedding in NY. Kevin runs into Gareth Bale at the bank. Has USMNT found a #9 yet? Kevin and Chris assess the US Men’s team roster leading into a Winter World Cup. MLS hits the 10M attendance mark -- is it ready to take over the NHL and/or the MLB? Apple’s $2.5B deals with the MLS -- does it squash local media? Can we PLEASE get some American announcers? The boys celebrate Salah’s winning goal in the Liverpool vs. Man City game. Are body cams for refs a good idea? That and much more as Kevin Flynn and Chris Chamides dig into an active week in soccer - from an American Perspective. On this week’s OTB.
Kevin lives large at a celebrity wedding in NY. Kevin runs into Gareth Bale at the bank. Has USMNT found a #9 yet? Kevin and Chris assess the US Men’s team roster leading into a Winter World Cup. MLS hits the 10M attendance mark -- is it ready to take over the NHL and/or the MLB? Apple’s $2.5B deals with the MLS -- does it squash local media? Can we PLEASE get some American announcers? The boys celebrate Salah’s winning goal in the Liverpool vs. Man City game. Are body cams for refs a good idea? That and much more as Kevin Flynn and Chris Chamides dig into an active week in soccer - from an American Perspective. On this week’s OTB.
Are the wheels coming off the bus for the US Women? More heads rolls due to the Yates Report, Pulisic gets playtime and puts one at the back of the net, Ricardo Pepe finds the back of the net twice, the Ronaldo soap opera continues, are there more roster changes in USMNT’s future, a significant loss for US Women’s National Under 17, MLS longest tenured coaches, and OTB’s love affair with Haaland and Leeds continues. That and everything soccer, from an American perspective, on this week’s episode of OTB.
Are the wheels coming off the bus for the US Women? More heads rolls due to the Yates Report, Pulisic gets playtime and puts one at the back of the net, Ricardo Pepe finds the back of the net twice, the Ronaldo soap opera continues, are there more roster changes in USMNT’s future, a significant loss for US Women’s National Under 17, MLS longest tenured coaches, and OTB’s love affair with Haaland and Leeds continues. That and everything soccer, from an American perspective, on this week’s episode of OTB.
The Yates Reports casts a dark shadow on NWSL, USMNT stinking up the pitch, Dolphin’s QB Tua’s concussion, Man City beats up Man United on Derby Day, Aston Villa can’t slow down Leeds, Arsenal beats the Spurs, the Black & Gold wins 2022 Supporters Shield, Iranian National teams faces scrutiny over political silence.
The Yates Reports casts a dark shadow on NWSL, USMNT stinking up the pitch, Dolphin’s QB Tua’s concussion, Man City beats up Man United on Derby Day, Aston Villa can’t slow down Leeds, Arsenal beats the Spurs, the Black & Gold wins 2022 Supporters Shield, Iranian National teams faces scrutiny over political silence.
Kevin and Chris discuss USMNT’s Tough Loss to Japan, praise Japan’s performance, while dissecting USMNT’s lackluster efforts. Is this what we should expect from Team USA? The boys dive into Berhalter’s coaching strategies, anticipate the game against Saudi Arabia, and lament the timing of the World Cup in November. Kevin returns to U Mass for his alumni game, celebrate soldiers' success as players, critique kangaroo boots vs. modern cleats, express their disgust for referee mobbing, welcome U.S. Soccer’s new CEO, JT Batson, and revel in LMU’s undefeated season. Another full week on the pitch for OTB.
Kevin and Chris discuss USMNT’s Tough Loss to Japan, praise Japan’s performance, while dissecting USMNT’s lackluster efforts. Is this what we should expect from Team USA? The boys dive into Berhalter’s coaching strategies, anticipate the game against Saudi Arabia, and lament the timing of the World Cup in November. Kevin returns to U Mass for his alumni game, celebrate soldiers' success as players, critique kangaroo boots vs. modern cleats, express their disgust for referee mobbing, welcome U.S. Soccer’s new CEO, JT Batson, and revel in LMU’s undefeated season. Another full week on the pitch for OTB.
Kevin and Chris discuss USMNT’s Tough Loss to Japan, praise Japan’s performance, while dissecting USMNT’s lackluster efforts. Is this what we should expect from Team USA? The boys dive into Berhalter’s coaching strategies, anticipate the game against Saudi Arabia, and lament the timing of the World Cup in November. Kevin returns to U Mass for his alumni game, celebrate soldiers' success as players, critique kangaroo boots vs. modern cleats, express their disgust for referee mobbing, welcome U.S. Soccer’s new CEO, JT Batson, and revel in LMU’s undefeated season. Another full week on the pitch for OTB.
Kevin and Chris discuss USMNT new kits, Berhalter’s choices for the roster, Haaland’s masterful goal, Chris leading LMU to an undefeated 2-0-4, Klopp’s 7-year itch at Liverpool, Lewandowksi’s success, takeover bid at Man United, possible American ownership at Bournemouth, racism at the Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid match, and NWSL's new attendance record courtesy of San Diego and Angel City. That and more on this week's episode of Over The Ball.
Kevin and Chris discuss USMNT new kits, Berhalter’s choices for the roster, Haaland’s masterful goal, Chris leading LMU to an undefeated 2-0-4, Klopp’s 7-year itch at Liverpool, Lewandowksi’s success, takeover bid at Man United, possible American ownership at Bournemouth, racism at the Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid match, and NWSL's new attendance record courtesy of San Diego and Angel City. That and more on this week's episode of Over The Ball.
Kevin and Chris discuss USMNT new kits, Berhalter’s choices for the roster, Haaland’s masterful goal, Chris leading LMU to an undefeated 2-0-4, Klopp’s 7-year itch at Liverpool, Lewandowksi’s success, takeover bid at Man United, possible American ownership at Bournemouth, racism at the Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid match, and NWSL's new attendance record courtesy of San Diego and Angel City. That and more on this week's episode of Over The Ball.
In the wake of a dark week for the Premier League due to the Queen’s passing, Kevin and Chris banter about the state of the royal family, the soon-to-be-announced USMNT roster spots, guess who will start in goal for Team USA, disagree on FIFA’s 23 Premier League Ratings, bow to Aaronson’s ascension at Leeds, react to Renaldo turning down €242m, discuss Messi’s future, and get worked up over the lack of consistency in regards to offsides in today’s game.
In the wake of a dark week for the Premier League due to the Queen’s passing, Kevin and Chris banter about the state of the royal family, the soon-to-be-announced USMNT roster spots, guess who will start in goal for Team USA, disagree on FIFA’s 23 Premier League Ratings, bow to Aaronson’s ascension at Leeds, react to Renaldo turning down €242m, discuss Messi’s future, and get worked up over the lack of consistency in regards to offsides in today’s game.
Chris joins Kevin from the heat of Las Vegas to discuss Chelsea sacking Tuchel, Liverpool’s humiliating loss to Napoli, Haaland’s on fire and driving Man City, Gio Reyna is back on the pitch, Sergiño Dest to Milan, and Jesse Martinez’s suspension from Atlanta United, and talk physicality more.
On this week's episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris dive into an action-packed week of Premier League games, gush about Manchester City and Erling Haaland, share their props for Mike and Mark Noonan, celebrate Chris' LMU squad's first win in 26 games, and marvel at Philadelphia Union’s recent scoring blitz. That and more at OverTheBall.com.
On this week's episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris dive into an action-packed week of Premier League games, gush about Manchester City and Erling Haaland, share their props for Mike and Mark Noonan, celebrate Chris' LMU squad's first win in 26 games, and marvel at Philadelphia Union’s recent scoring blitz. That and more at OverTheBall.com.
On this week's episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris dive into an action-packed week of Premier League games, gush about Manchester City and Erling Haaland, share their props for Mike and Mark Noonan, celebrate Chris' LMU squad's first win in 26 games, and marvel at Philadelphia Union’s recent scoring blitz. That and more at OverTheBall.com.
Kevin and Chris react to Leed's stunning win over Chelsea, share their love for Jesse Marsch, dissect Aaronson's amazing goal, banter about Tuchel being allowed to Coach even with the last game's red card, and analyze USMNT's seeming surplus of striker talent. That and so much more futbol on this week's episode of OTB.
Kevin and Chris react to Leed's stunning win over Chelsea, share their love for Jesse Marsch, dissect Aaronson's amazing goal, banter about Tuchel being allowed to Coach even with the last game's red card, and analyze USMNT's seeming surplus of striker talent. That and so much more futbol on this week's episode of OTB.
From Tuchel and Conte going nose-to-nose at the end of the Chelsea and Tottenham match, to Jessie March’s brilliance at Leeds, to Christian Pulisic’s possible loan move to Newcastle United, Kevin and Chris sift through the week’s hottest action, biggest controversies, and most surprising moves on this edition of Over The Ball.
This week Kevin joins us from over the pond where he is performing his one-man show, "Fear of Heights", all month at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, while Chris somehow escapes LMU's pre-season workouts for a moment or two to discuss how difficult it is to watch soccer in Europe, Gareth Bale's sterling performance this last week for LAFC, insights gained from the Premier League's first week, and Jesse Marsch's Leeds team becoming a favorite for US soccer fans. That, and more, on this week's episode of Over The Ball.
Kevin calls in from Edinburgh, Scotland, where he is performing at the Festival Fringe to pay tribute to Bill Russell, Chris gives an inside look at Juventus F.C., the boys discuss the appeal and popularity of the NWSL, and skewer Ronaldo for his most recent antics at Manchester United. That and so much more on this week's episode of Over The Ball.
Kevin calls in from Edinburgh, Scotland, where he is performing at the Festival Fringe to pay tribute to Bill Russell, Chris gives an inside look at Juventus F.C., the boys discuss the appeal and popularity of the NWSL, and skewer Ronaldo for his most recent antics at Manchester United. That and so much more on this week's episode of Over The Ball.
Kevin takes a break from Nantucket and Chris from pre-season prep to discuss the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a red hot Toronto FC, Bale’s performance at LAFC, Hélan’s impact on Man City, Lewandowski Barcelona adventures, and Ronaldo’s whining toward Manchester United, amongst other ramblings.
Hot off a successful week hosting the 16th annual Nantucket Comedy Festival, OTB host Kevin Flynn discusses the week's biggest soccer news with United Soccer Coaches Division II Coach of the Year in 2021 and OTB co-host Chris Chamides. Join Kevin and Chris as they explore the Nantucket lifestyle, USWNT's upcoming game with Canada, comparing the challenges that face the USMNT vs. the USWNT, Lewandowski heading to Barcelona and its impact on the Bundesliga, and everything soccer from an American perspective.
Soccer pioneers come in all shapes, sizes, and genders. As a student athlete at Yale, Lawrie Mifflin paved the way for Title 9 and NCAA girls sports in the early 70's and then rolled that into a career in sports journalism. Lawrie covered the NY Cosmos and numerous World Cups at a time that female sports reporters were non-existent. Kevin and Chris sit down with Lawrie to celebrate the life and career of soccer's first female reporter on this episode of Over the Ball.
This week, with Chris Chamides on location doing 2022-2023 recruiting, Kevin goes solo with one of OTB’s favorite guests Paul Carr to discuss the recent announcement of the US cities that have been chosen to host the 2026 World Cup games. Could this be the biggest World Cup audience to date? Kevin and Paul kick that ball around on this episode of Over the Ball.
This week Chris joins Kevin as he’s traveling on the movie set of the upcoming film “Teaching While Black”, for a down and dirty talk on all things World Cup, their reaction to Wales Coach Rob Page's inflammatory comments about their forthcoming game against the USA being “winnable”, loving words about Chris's favorite defender, Chiellini, and a scholarly discussion on the role of mentoring in NCAA soccer, plus a few hilarious rants from Kevin and Chris. An episode not to be missed. | Ep. 194
On this week's episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris pick the brain of Michael Winograd. Ex-collegiate player, ex-pro player, accomplished lawyer, past U.S. Soccer Presidential candidate, and supportive father of a recently recruited college-bound son, about the growing complexities of the college recruiting process and the demands now being put on aspiring young soccer players gunning to play in the pros.
Back in the late '60s and early 70's there was a vision for what American Soccer would look like. One of the men the newly formed NASL turned to to help guide it was a young NY Jets Executive by the name of Jim Trecker. On this week's episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris talk to Jim about those early years, working with Pele, what type of soccer player Joe Namath would have been, and the growth of the World's game in the U.S.A.
In a landmark labor agreement that guarantees equal pay, U.S. Soccer, and top players agree that the men's and women's national teams will receive the same pay when competing in international tournaments. Join Kevin and Chris as they speak to UCLA's Professor Steve Bank to get the legal lowdown.
Kevin and Chris help celebrate the 92nd birthday of a true living soccer legend, Soccer America's Paul Gardner. Having covered eight FIFA World Cups, ten FIFA Under-17 World Cups, and interviewed the game's greatest players like Pele, Carlos Veja, Franz Beckenbauer, and Diego Maradona, Paul has also overseen the transformation of the game inside the U.S.A. from the late '60's to today. Don't miss this legendary OTB episode.
Some call him the happiest player of all time. Others call him the most agile. But nearly everyone calls him the greatest ball handler the game has ever seen. Join Kevin and Chris as they speak to the Douglas Brothers about the making of their new documentary "Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World" - streaming exclusively on the new FIFA+ streaming platform app.
In this episode of Over The Ball, Kevin and Chris discuss Kevin's locker room antics, this week's games, and the Premiere players that make them feel old. The boys think they've gotten stood up by NCAA coach Sasho Cirovski, only to grab him off the golf course to discuss the latest negotiations with the NCAA about scheduling and a switch to the "21st Century Model".
Athletes in every sport are exploring the performance-enhancing benefits of vitamins, supplements, and nutraceuticals as a way of fighting fatigue, increasing muscle performance and increasing human metabolism. So this week OTB sits down with PhD. Jonathan Scheiman, co-founder & CEO of biotechnology company FitBiomics, and MLS Defender Tim Parker of the Houston Dynamo FC, to discuss their use of next-generation probiotics to increase overall gut health as a way of optimizing athletic performance and propel athletes to their highest potential.
On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris welcome Senior Vice President of Operations and Competition for MLS Next Pro, Ali Curtis. He tells us all about where his league fits in with the big picture of American soccer.
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On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris welcome two-time MLS Cup winning coach, former US National team member, and current assistant coach at FC Cincinnati, Dominic Kinnear. They talk about the legendarily great game between Liverpool and Man City this past weekend, the USMNT, Dominic’s MLS management tenure, and of course some analysis of Kevin’s indoor career.
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On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris welcome TWO guests to the show, Soccer America Senior Editor Mike Woitalla and TruMedia Sports Director of Content Paul Carr. They all talk about the 2022 World Cup Final Draw, and the level of competition the US will face in Group B.
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On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris talk about the debacle at the Oscars, the tactics employed by the USMNT in their 5-1 route of Panama. They’re then joined by TruMedia Sports Director of Content Paul Carr, who brings his statistical insights on everything from individual aerial duels to the FIFA rankings that determine the World Cup draw as the national team goes into its final qualifier.
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On this special edition of OTB, Kevin welcomes Soccer America’s Senior Editor Mike Woitalla for some quick analysis of the USMNT draw vs Mexico at Estadio Azteca.
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On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris talk FA Cup, El Clasico, and the mounting injuries plaguing the USMNT as their final CONCACAF qualifiers. They are then joined by actor, writer, and producer Jim Piddock to talk about his love of Crystal Palace FC, his new book Caught With My Pants Down, not recognizing Rudi Völler, and many other stories from his long and varied career.
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On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris talk Ronaldo’s record-breaking hat trick and his legendary work ethic, Jesse Marsch’s first Premier League win and the difficulties that American coaches face in the United Kingdom. Then they dig into the growth mode mindset that Chris has taken through the game, from his beginnings on dirt fields in Brooklyn to playing and coaching Division I soccer.
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On this episode of OTB, Kevin and Chris are joined by US soccer great and Fox Sports Analyst Alexi Lalas to talk about Russia’s World Cup ban, the USMNT players who may be compromised by injury in the upcoming qualifiers, the debt that our concacaf opponents owe to the MLS, Alexi’s opinions on the USWNT settlement, his answers to our Five Questions, what it was like to kick Chris in the stomach, and more.
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On this episode of OTB, Kevin talks about hanging out with Larry David, he and Chris discuss this past weekend’s games, and they both welcome two-time World Cup champion and former USWNT captain Julie Foudy, with whom they discuss the recent equal pay settlement, as well as the current state of the team.
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On this episode of OTB, Kevin has a talk with UCLA Professor of Law Steven A. Bank about the $24 million settlement reached between the USWNT and US Soccer over past pay inequality, as well as the complications of the collective bargaining agreement on which it is contingent.
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This week on OTB, Kevin and Chris talk about the women’s national team’s 5-0 win over New Zealand by way of 3 own goals, the differing contract situations of the USWNT vs the USMNT, and the increased utilization of data in coaching and scouting. They then welcome Skip Gilbert, CEO of US Youth Soccer, to talk about player/coach development and the challenges involved in coordinating numerous different youth leagues around the United States.
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This week on OTB, Kevin and Chris welcome Jeff Carlisle from ESPN to discuss the USMNT and the CONCACAF and MLS, then talk about the recent calls from USWNT players for accountability from US Soccer for their response to abuse and misconduct claims against coaches.
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This week on OTB, Kevin and Chris welcome Mike Woitalla, executive editor of Soccer America, to talk about the USMNT and their cold weather victory in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifier vs Honduras, the strategy behind choosing the location of that match, and the dominance of the Canadian national team of late.
This week we welcome new co-host Chris Chamides to the pod to discuss the USMNT's qualifying win over El Salvador and look ahead to Sunday's clash with Canada.
This week on OTB, we welcome Greg Kenney, a goalkeeping coach and all-around ideas man, who we spoke to about the USMNT's upcoming qualifiers, the frigid conditions keepers will face there, some potential rule changes to the game in general, and more.
This week on OTB, Tom Cotter is back to sit in with Kevin and Sam for a conversation with Ian Barker, former (as of this week) director of coaching education for United Soccer Coaches. Together they discuss the upcoming Coaches Convention in Kansas City, how coaching and training have evolved across the ten years Ian spent in the position, and why his next move may be a return to the NCAA game.
OTB returns in the new year with a new co-host to welcome in Mike Woitalla, executive editor of Soccer America, to look back on the biggest stories of 2021 as well as all that there is to look forward to in the year ahead.
On a special edition of OTB this week we welcome in Clemson Head Coach Mike Noonan fresh off his program's national championship win last weekend to get the inside story on his team's route to the title. We are also lucky enough to be joined by the recently announced, first-ever play-by-play voice of Charlotte FC Eric Krakauer, who discusses the move to MLS from covering international leagues, initial impressions on his new home and soccer community, and why he badly wanted to be a part of the project.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined once again by St. John's University Head Men's Coach Dave Masur to discuss this weekend's College Cup. In addition to breaking down each of the four remaining teams, we hear about how coaches prepare for two games in less than 48 hours, ways the pandemic has changed the NCAA soccer landscape, how foreign players continue to influence the college game and how everything might be upended by a split season.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined by long-time soccer writer for the Boston Globe Frank Dell'Apa to discuss the resurgence of the Revolution, what went wrong in the playoffs, where things stand on a new stadium and the legacy of coach Bruce Arena before breaking down the MLS conference semis and looking ahead to next year's World Cup in Qatar.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined once again by TruMedia Sports Director of Content and all-around stats guru Paul Carr to discuss the differences between club and international play, who the numbers say should be in net for the USMNT, how data at-large has affected the game itself on the field, and if there's any quantifiable sense to be made of refereeing decisions. In addition, the guys discuss NBC Sports' massive new EPL deal and an impressive rise in MLS viewership.
On OTB this week Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined once more by Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla to break down the USMNT games against Mexico and Jamaica including which players stood out, who regressed, the level of officiating and where things stand overall as we reach essentially the half-way mark in CONCACAF qualifying.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined once again by ESPN writer Jeff Carlisle who is in Cincinnati following the buildup to the USMNT–Mexico showdown to get his take on the big game (as well as the Jamaica match next week) and the future of CONCACAF qualifying in general with an expanded World Cup in 2026. Jeff also shares his thoughts on the upcoming MLS postseason, players to watch and which clubs he thinks could be primed for a run.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined by Ty Keough—an All-American at St. Louis University, former NASL and USMNT player, and longtime broadcaster for ESPN, ABC and more—to discuss the evolution of the NCAA game and why he feels Americans aren't always given a fair shot at the college level, his playing days with the San Diego Sockers and in MISL, and finally how he made his way into broadcasting and why he wishes there were less maybe a few less foreign accents covering the game in the US today.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined by Jason Arnold—Vice President of Sporting Business with Capelli Sport and former University of Maryland player—to hear about the growth of the brand and their work at the grassroots level and in the women's game along with how the soccer lifestyle "brand" in general has managed to infiltrate the mainstream over the last decade.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the Saudi takeover at Newcastle, some Champions League action and when we might see Pulisic back on the field before being joined by former New York Cosmo and longtime USMNT member and captain Rick Davis to hear about life as a rare American player in the old NASL and sharing the pitch with the likes of Pelé and Beckenbauer before touching on the national team today, including what makes a good captain, how far we've come and how far we still have to go.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam break down the USMNT qualifying results against both Panama and Costa Rica, and debate Gregg Berhalter's overall success with the team to date before being joined by the panel of goalie coach Greg Kenney and comedians (and also 'keepers) Brad Mastrangelo and Graig Murphy to talk about the evolution of the position, rule changes they'd like to see or not see, and the importance of a team naming a true number one starter.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam break down the USMNT's 2–0 qualifying win over Jamaica offering high praise for Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi, and somewhat less-high marks for Taylor Twellman in the booth, before being joined by Ted Priestly, founder and CEO of Fundraise4U.net, to talk about the work he does raising money for athletic sponsorships, the challenges and opportunities presented by soccer specifically, and how vital his job has become in the era of COVID.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the USMNT roster announcement for October qualifiers, Jesse Marsch's rough start at RB Leipzig and other Champions League action before being joined once again by Professor Steven Bank of UCLA, an expert in sports law and soccer in particular, to help make sense of the latest from the USWNT–USSF lawsuit, allegations of abuse in NWSL and whether or not the Super League is truly dead and buried.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the new MLS/Liga MX Leagues Cup, Ted Lasso's dominant performance at the Emmy's, COVID and injury concerns ahead of the USMNT's October qualifiers and the latest in the USWNT–USSF equal pay lawsuit before being joined by Martin Jacobson (Coach Jake), the winningest coach in NYC history at MLK High to discuss his team this season, what his players have to overcome on a daily basis and why urban areas are still largely overlooked in the American soccer landscape.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss Champions League action, the USMNT and USWNT potentially entering negotiations with US Soccer collectively, and the idea of a World Cup every two years before being joined by US Soccer Hall of Famer Hank Steinbrecher to hear about his long career in the sport, including organizing the 1994 World Cup, coaching and playing at the NCAA level and the evolution of the college game, and overall how far we've come as a country and how far we still have to go.
This week on OTB the guys discuss the USMNT's performances against both Canada and Honduras and breath a huge sigh of relief following victory over the latter before being joined once again by Eric Krakauer of beIN Sports to hear his thoughts on the CONCACAF qualifying campaign as well as the overall quality of Ligue 1, the impact of Messi's arrival at PSG and why MLS could be a top world league in a decade.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss and break down the USMNT's 0-0 qualifier draw in El Salvador before welcoming soccer broadcasting legend Seamus Malin to the pod to talk about his long career in both coaching and commentating, including calling Cosmos NASL matches, the 1994 World Cup, his time with ESPN, the evolution of the NCAA game over the years and how it feels today to see so much soccer on TV considering where it all began.
On OTB this week Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the MLS–Liga MX All Star game; some big names potentially on the move across Europe, including Weston McKennie; Paramount Plus streaming issues and more before welcoming back to the podcast former USMNT star and US Soccer Hall of Fame Member Desmond Armstrong, who is now the head men's coach at Fisk University, to discuss his upcoming season, the evolution and current makeup of both the USMNT and USWNT, as well as his longtime work in bringing soccer to urban areas.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss seasons getting underway in Europe, Carli Lloyd's retirement announcement, whether the Super League may actually have been a somewhat decent idea, Ted Lasso and USMNT players abroad before welcoming back Grant Wahl to the pod to get his take on a wild summer of soccer, thoughts on Messi at PSG including how the move is being viewed in Argentina, MLS news and his biggest storylines concerning Americans in Europe this season.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss Messi's move to PSG, a new cleat deal and potentially a new role for Christian Pulisic at Chelsea, new FA limits on heading in training and more before welcoming back goalkeeping whiz Greg Kenney to hear why he dislikes the sweeper keeper, loves Kasper Schmeichel, the reason Italy prevailed on penalties against England and present his idea for how to fix extra time so we see less shootouts.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the USWNT's Olympic defeat to Canada and subsequent Bronze medal, along with the USMNT beating Mexico to win the Gold Cup before welcoming Jay Heaps—former MLS All Star and Revolution Head Coach—to the pod to talk about his latest venture as President and GM of USL Championship club Birmingham Legion, including the growth of the league in general and the role it plays in player development.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the USWNT's performance to date at the Olympics as well as that of the USMNT at the Gold Cup before welcoming back Jon Champion of ESPN to the podcast to hear about his experience covering EURO 2020, beginning in Bristol and ending on location, his prep work for a short tournament and how he stays neutral when covering England games.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the USWNT's 3–0 opening Olympic loss to Sweden, the USMNT's 1–0 Gold Cup victory over Canada and some MLS news before welcoming Gianluca Bottoni—Director of Admissions for the Soccer Management Institute in Rome—to the pod to hear about the various programs they offer for American players in Italy as well as his own experience as an Italian playing college soccer in the US.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the culmination of both the EURO and Copa America and the massive TV numbers for both tournaments, as well as some MLS news before welcoming Soccer America executive editor Mike Woitalla back to the pod to break down the two USMNT Gold Cup performances so far and look ahead to this weekend's showdown with Canada, plus talk USWNT and where things stand heading into the Olympics.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss and preview both the EURO and Copa America finals, as well as the Gold Cup and USMNT before being joined by huge Azzurri fan Frank Isola of ESPN to hear about his love of the game and talk even more EUROs, covering soccer on PTI and Around the Horn, why Serie A hasn't caught on in the U.S., the level of the NCAA game and who he likes in both this weekend's epic finals.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam run through some of the underlying numbers of EURO 2020 in quiz form, discuss FIFA's punishment of Mexico for homophobic chants and Konrad de la Fuente's move to Marseille before welcoming back multi Emmy winner, and former EURO and World Cup studio host for ESPN Bob Ley to talk about this year's tournament coverage, how the international game has changed over the years and why sports broadcasting will—thanks to COVID—never be the same.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam give their take on the EURO to date before being joined once again by UCLA Professor and sports law expert Steven Bank to help us make sense of the ongoing legal battle between the USWNT and US Soccer, MLS' newly-announced development league, how NCAA rule changes with impact college soccer, Olivia Moultrie's lawsuit against the NWSL and fallout from the Super League.
On OTB this week Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the EURO so far including the harrowing scenes in Copenhagen involving Christian Eriksen, the officiating and level of play in the tournament, and the USMNT friendly vs. Costa Rica before being joined again by Fox Soccer Analyst Alexi Lalas to hear his take on the Nations League victory and a summer full of soccer, growing up playing both soccer and hockey and how the two overlap, and of course the recent on-air exchange with Heather O'Reilly that went viral.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam share their thoughts on a wild CONCACAF Nations League win for the USMNT and briefly look ahead to the EURO before being joined by MLSsoccer.com Senior Writer Matt Doyle to hear his takeaways on the match including which players impressed or regressed, and how Gregg Berhalter altered his team's tactical approach at the outset and made in-game adjustments even if, in the end, this one was more about emotion and desire than strategy.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam break down the Champions League final both on and off the field along with Inter Miami's recent legal issues before being joined by Soccer America executive editor Mike Woitalla to discuss the USMNT friendly defeat to Switzerland and preview tonight's CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against Honduras as well as look ahead to the Gold Cup in a summer filled with soccer.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the Europa League final and shootout in general, Catarina Macario and where she fits with the Olympic squad, and look ahead to the Champions League final and USMNT friendly vs. Switzerland before welcoming ESPN Columnist Jeff Carlisle to dissect his recent MLS Power Rankings, get his thoughts on the USMNT and the split between the USSF and SUM, and discuss his story on the Black Players for Change organization and what progress has been made over the past year.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss men's and women's College Cup action and both the presence and impact of foreign players, whether it's fair for fans to criticize someone who seems happy after a loss, and the Crew's name change reversal before welcoming Clemson Head Men's Coach Mike Noonan back to the pod to get his thoughts on the College Cup and playing in the Spring, what this year as a whole has been like for his program and why more foreign players are gravitating towards NCAA soccer.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss a big increase in MLS TV ratings early on, Man City winning the EPL and Inter Serie A, the NCAA College Cup, foreign club ownership and more before talking to former Chicago Fire GM and current President/CEO of NISA team Chicago House Athletic Club about his long career as an executive at all levels across American soccer, the several teams he's founded including his latest venture, how things have evolved over time and where they may be heading.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the Manchester United pitch invasion, Champions League action and another strong performance from Christian Pulisic for Chelsea, Jesse Marsch still not getting his due, Mourinho on his way to Roma and more before welcoming These Football Times senior writer and player development expert Jon Townsend to the pod to talk about his new book titled It's Just a Ball: Exploring the Complexity of a Simple Game.
On OTB this week Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss Champions League action, the start of the MLS campaign and the social media boycott in England before being joined once again by Grant Wahl of the Fútbol with Grant Wahl and American Prodigy podcasts to get his thoughts on Jesse Marsch's appointment as manager of RB Leipzig, the Super League's collapse, Chicharito's hot start to the MLS season and share some memories on covering the NCAA soccer tourneys in the 90's for Sports Illustrated.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the launch/spectacular failure of the European Super League, the opening of the MLS season and upcoming NCAA tourneys before welcoming FOX Soccer's lead play-by-play announcer John Strong to the pod to hear what it's like to be back in the stadium for MLS games, how he takes inspiration from other commentators and other sports, preps to call matches, constantly looks to improve, and how we can put it all together to give the sport a uniquely American voice.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss Champions League action and Christian Pulisic's performance against Porto, El Classico and Sergiño Dest's best position for the USMNT, recent USWNT results and outlook, plus the upcoming MLS campaign before welcoming goalkeeping coach and expert Greg Kenney back to the show to talk about the best way to play out of the back, why 'keepers get beat near post more these days, and some of the psychology behind the position.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss USMNT players in action in Champions League, Weston McKennie's dinner party gone awry, Valencia walking off the field in a La Liga match following alleged racial abuse and look ahead to the MLS season before welcoming Nigel Barker—author, photographer and former judge on America's Next Top Model—to discuss the intersection of fashion and soccer, his lifelong love for the sport, and hear some great stories from his long career in the fashion industry.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam welcome Soccer America executive editor Mike Woitalla to the pod to discuss the US mens' failure in Olympic qualifying and ask how big of a setback missing the tournament really is, plus break down the recent friendly performances from the new-look full USMNT squad against Jamaica and Northern Ireland, and consider whether commentators treat the men's and women's games differently.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss Olympic qualifying, a potential MLS–Liga MX merger, the Champions League quarterfinal draw, a new WSL TV deal and more before being joined once again by John Kristick—executive director of the United Bid Committee responsible for the successful bid to host to the 2026 World Cup—to hear about how COVID has impacted planning for the tournament, where things stand in terms of host cities and what we can expect from a 48-team WC spanning three countries.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss upcoming Olympic qualifying, Yunus Musah's decision to represent the US, the lack of incentive for a player to stay on their feet, suggestions for VAR improvements, the new Champions League proposal and more before being joined by Mike Garrett, CEO of Let's Play Soccer, a company building indoor facilities across the country, to hear about his own playing and coaching days in MISL, how the indoor game has changed over time and where it's all headed next.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss Champions League action, Pulisic's suddenly tenuous situation at Chelsea, MLS camps opening (and closing) and ABC's presentation of Der Klassiker before being joined by UMass Head Men's Soccer Coach Fran O'Leary to hear about his new project 'Inside College Athletic Recruitment', running an NCAA program amidst the pandemic and how the college game has evolved over his long coaching career.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam talk USMNT players in Europe, greater soccer participation amongst the younger generation, abuse of officials, EPL and more before being joined once again by beIN Sports commentator and analyst Eric Krakauer to discuss the situation at Barcelona on and off the pitch and what happens to Messi, his prep work for games, and how he is giving the game a uniquely American voice.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the USWNT SheBelieves Cup victory, Jordan Morris' injury at Swansea, Champions League results, and new names and rebrands in MLS before being joined by FOX Soccer Host and Commentator Rob Stone to discuss how he got his start in the industry, what it was like calling games in the early days of MLS and how coverage here has evolved plus why NCAA soccer is both undervalued and underutilized.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined by Grant Wahl of the Fútbol with Grant Wahl podcast to discuss Champions League action, the situation at Barcelona and whether Messi stays, Pulisic's prospects at Chelsea under Tuchel, and the USWNT's run up to the Olympics.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss Man City's big win over Liverpool, a record MLS signing, online racial abuse in the EPL and more before being joined once again by Professor Steven Bank of UCLA to help make sense of the new MLS Collective Bargaining Agreement and how each side came out in the negotiations, plus the latest on the USWNT lawsuit and the future of the Champions League.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the USMNT's 7–0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago, the price of coaching education, Phil Neville's appointment at Inter Miami, EPL, Ligue 1, Serie A, La Liga and more before welcoming back USYS CEO Skip Gilbert to discuss how the pandemic has reshaped the youth soccer landscape, his hopes and plans for the future, and ultimately how to keep growing love for the game across the country.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the upcoming USMNT friendly v. Trinidad and Tobago, start dates for MLS and NCAA Soccer, another American moving to Serie A and the end of NBCSN before welcoming ESPN FC's Craig Burley to discuss his approach to broadcasting and social media, and hear some amazing stories from his playing days in the EPL and with the Scottish National Team, including how he ended up on stage at Madison Square Garden.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the often tense relationship between soccer and TV money, Weston McKennie's first trophy with Juventus, the USWNT friendly against Colombia and more before welcoming back Dominic Kinnear, a two-time MLS Cup winning coach with Houston, to hear about his current job search, coaching education in the US, foreign managers in MLS, coaching a player like Ibrahimović and how clubs view and prepare for the MLS SuperDraft.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss comments from Hope Solo and Carli Lloyd on their introductions to the USWNT, 19-year-old Matthew Hoppe's Bundesliga hat-trick and other MLS news before welcoming ESPN Lead MLS Commentator Jon Champion back to the pod to talk about the difference between calling an MLS vs. EPL game, what the 2021 MLS season may look like and which North American sports he's been getting into since making the move across the pond.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss MLS news, US men's and women's national team camps and more before catching up with Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla to talk about the 50th anniversary of the magazine, what this year's virtual Coaches Convention will look like and some of the main stories from 2020.
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This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam run through the top stories from around the world of soccer before being joined by Grant Wahl to reflect on his podcast American Prodigy: Freddy Adu as well as discuss how to make the CONCACAF Champions League more relevant and whether Messi may really end up in MLS.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the prospect of Jesse Marsch getting the Dortmund job, US Soccer players of the year, CONCACAF Champions League and more before being joined by NYU goalkeeper coach Greg Kenney to hear about the time he faced off against Maradona, how the position has evolved in the modern game and why the US struggles to produce top 'keepers the way it once did.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the Columbus Crew's resounding MLS Cup victory and run through other top stories from around the globe before welcoming stats wizard Paul Carr—Director of Content for TruMedia Sports and host of the Expected Value sports analytics podcast—to break down the numbers from this crazy season as well as help explain the constant evolution of soccer analytics as teams continue looking for any statistical edge.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the USMNT friendly win over El Salvador, the suspended PSG–Basaksehir Champions League match and MLS Cup final before welcoming David Wright to the pod to talk about his new role as Chief Commercial Officer for the U.S. Soccer Federation and the bright future he sees for the sport in this country.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam run through some of the top stories from around the globe and then welcome Dominic Kinnear—former USMNT player and back-to-back MLS Cup winner as head coach of the Houston Dynamo—to discuss what coaching in MLS this season has been like, the experiences that have shaped his personal philosophy on coaching and of course his short-lived stand-up comedy career.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam talk about the passing of Diego Maradona and the impact he had on the game plus their own personal thoughts and memories, then welcome Grant Wahl to discuss his Maradona obituary in Sports Illustrated as well as his new podcast series American Prodigy: Freddy Adu, which came out earlier this month.
This week on Over the Ball Kevin and Sam discuss the USMNT's 6–2 friendly win over Panama in Austria, whether or not the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso is perpetuating stereotypes about American soccer coaches, and who should be considered the best US men's player of all time.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam break down the USMNT's 0–0 friendly draw in Wales and then welcome Adrian Healey—longtime MLS and soccer commentator for ESPN and the future voice and Executive Director of Broadcast and Content for Austin FC—to discuss how he got into broadcasting and his upcoming move to Texas, as well as his own approach to calling games and finding that sweet middle ground between American and British announcers.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam break down the top stories across the world of soccer and look ahead to two USMNT November friendlies before being joined once again by ESPN Lead MLS Commentator Jon Champion to hear his thoughts on the MLS Playoffs, how his first season in America has gone and just how he stays on top of so much soccer action from around the globe.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam run through the top stories from around the world of soccer, then speak to longtime St. John's University head men's coach David Masur about what it's like to coach during the pandemic and not have any games (yet), and how he expects the rest of the college soccer season will play out.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam run through the top stories from across the globe and then are joined once again by Grant Wahl to discuss the influx of American players—but lack of American voices—in Champions League, the prospect of a European Super League, the potential impact of Virgil van Dijk's injury and why Ted Lasso is absolutely worth watching.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam run through the biggest news stories from around the globe, then welcome back LAFC Lead Broadcaster Max Bretos to discuss the ups and downs of this MLS season, what it's been like calling games amidst the pandemic, the USMNT and the difference between commentating from the studio versus on-site.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the top stories from world soccer including upsets and surprise performances in the EPL, a coaching change in MLS, Covid chaos in Italy and what to look forward to coming out of the international break.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam welcome back Ian Barker, Director of Coaching Education for United Soccer Coaches, to discuss returning to playing and training during the pandemic, what's in store for next year's Coaches Convention, his thoughts on Landon Donovan pulling his USL club San Diego Loyal from the field in protest and how new handball rules leave plenty to be desired.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined once again by Soccer America executive editor Mike Woitalla to discuss the early-season performances of USMNT members overseas and the future of the national team in general, USWNT players leaving for Europe, Frank De Boer's hiring by the Netherlands and what it was like to attend a "ghost game" in San Jose.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam welcome back Grant Wahl, writer and host of the Fútbol with Grant Wahl podcast, to discuss the current state of USMNT players abroad, the MLS season to date, USWNT players leaving for Europe, chaos at Barcelona and Gareth Bale's legacy at Real Madrid.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam welcome back longtime USMNT mainstay and FOX Soccer analyst Alexi Lalas to discuss Weston McKennie's move to Juventus and his own experience playing in Italy with Padova, plus he shares his insight on the current state of the USMNT and a few thoughts on the MLS season so far.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam welcome back former longtime award-winning ESPN anchor and Outside the Lines host Bob Ley to discuss the evolving intersection between politics and sports both in our current moment and moving forward. Plus, we also get his thoughts on the state of the media in this country today and what the reality of sports broadcasting may look like in the near future.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are thrilled to be joined by Jon Champion, a true soccer commentating legend who has covered the game for more than 35 years at the highest level internationally and here in the US. Jon shares his thoughts on this week's MLS boycott, what covering the league for ESPN has been like and how he views the future of soccer broadcasting in America, and tells us the story of how his illustrious cricket career landed him his first job in the business.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined by former USMNT mainstay and current MLS Senior Vice President of Competition, Operations and Medical Jeff Agoos to discuss the success of the MLS is Back tournament and the transition into the regular season, the main differences between the USMNT in the early 2000's compared to today's squad and what the future holds for Berhalter and co.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam break down the top stories from MLS, NCAA Soccer, FA Cup and Champions League and are then joined by Eric Vaughter and Greg Deutsch to discuss their new podcast "3 Old Goalies," and get their takes on all the goalkeeping issues of the day.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam run through headlines from around the soccer world as the European leagues wrap up, then welcome back Grant Wahl of the Fútbol with Grant Wahl podcast to discuss his most recent endeavor: a six-part podcast series on the career of Freddy Adu, a separate project he created in partnership with Blue Wire.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam break down soccer news from around the globe then talk to Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla about MLS is Back, Christian Pulisic's play at Chelsea, the current state of the USMNT and what NCAA soccer might look like this year.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are happy to welcome back soccer law expert Steven Bank—Vice Dean and Professor at UCLA Law—to help make sense of the recent ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport concerning Man City and Financial Fair Play rules, and how the precedent could shape the game's landscape going forward.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the MLS is Back tourney getting underway plus news from around the globe before welcoming NCAA soccer legend Billy Gazonas to talk about his new book That Little Son of Bch: A Soccer Journey from Tears and Humiliation to National Champions and Hermann Trophy Winner.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam get caught up with Clemson men's head coach Mike Noonan to discuss the challenges facing his program in the midst of a pandemic and what NCAA soccer may look like if and when it returns to the field in 2020.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam welcome back Grant Wahl—host of the Fútbol with Grant Wahl podcast and NYT best-selling author—to discuss Liverpool's EPL title and soccer's restart across Europe, plus his thoughts on how the game is broadcast domestically and what he makes of the MLS and Champions League summer tourneys.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam talk to beIN Sports USA commentator and analyst Eric Krakauer about the art of soccer broadcasting and his own personal journey, what it's like to call games during the pandemic, who he likes for the La Liga title and what the future holds for many of the smaller leagues he also covers.
This week on OTB we talk to former USMNT standout and 2012 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee Desmond Armstrong about his reaction to the death of George Floyd and facing racism and discrimination both within soccer and society at large. He also discusses his role as head coach at the HBCU Fisk University and what meaningful change will look like in the game.
This week on OTB, Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the soccer world's reaction to the death of George Floyd and protests across the US, then speak to Ian Barker, Director of Coaching Education for United Soccer Coaches about his role amidst the pandemic and how things may look different whenever players can get back on the field.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam talk to long-time Soccer America writer Paul Gardner about his three part series on college soccer in this country, beginning with his introduction to the game in the 60's all the way up to the present day. We also discuss Bundesliga action from the past week and finish with a jersey quiz to round it out.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam speak with Alison Foley, former Boston College women's head coach and founder of Foley Athletic Advising, about her experience in the world of soccer and her new book The Elusive Full Ride Scholarship: An Insider's Guide, co-authored by Mia Wenjen.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam speak to sports law expert Prof. Steven Bank of UCLA about the judge's recent ruling against the USWNT's equal pay claim, and where things stand and could possibly end up moving forward in the case.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam talk to US Youth Soccer CEO Skip Gilbert about the challenges of running the organization at a time like this and what positives he believes can emerge to the overall soccer landscape in this country.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam talk to Dan Woog, head coach of Staples High School in Westport, CT, about his two-part series in Soccer America on the coronavirus' impact on high school soccer and how coaches and players are adapting to this new landscape.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam welcome University of Maryland head men's coach Sasho Cirovski back to the show to discuss what lies ahead for college soccer in light of the coronavirus outbreak and where things stand on the proposal for a Division I soccer season split between the fall and spring.
Last Wednesday marked the start of Soccer America's 50th year of publication. On OTB this week we celebrate what has long been the sport's paper of record in this country by talking to Executive Editor Mike Woitalla and Editor in Chief Paul Kennedy about SA's history and evolution, plus get their takes on the most pressing issues of the day.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam talk to Middlebury College head men's soccer coach Alex Elias about the difficulties his program faces both in recruiting and keeping up with current players while in lockdown, and hear his thoughts on the prospect of a split NCAA soccer season.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined by Reed Fox, NYC Adult Program Manager and Homeless World Cup Director for Street Soccer USA, to discuss the difficulties his organization faces during a time like this and what happens when soccer disappears from people's lives.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam talk to longtime ESPN host Bob Ley about his own experiences covering soccer in this country and the evolution of the game from a broadcasting standpoint, along with where sports fit into our cultural landscape in a moment of crisis.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam welcome back head SI soccer writer Grant Wahl to discuss the current state of leagues, cups, tournaments around the world and what, if any, changes this will all lead to moving forward, plus break down the continuing saga of disharmony that is US Soccer right now.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam discuss the impact of the coronavirus on soccer and sport worldwide, this week's Champions League action and the resignation of U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam talk to former USMNT great and current soccer analyst for FOX Sports Alexi Lalas to get his thoughts on the opening of MLS' 25th season, the current state of the USMNT and what it should mean for a player to represent their country.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam talk to Soccer America executive editor Mike Woitalla about MLS's upcoming 25th season, Gio Reyna and the current state of the USMNT, and US Soccer's new Grassroots "learning through play" courses, which will also be offered in Spanish.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined by Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl to discuss Man City's Champions League ban, Jurgen Klinsmann's short stint at Hertha Berlin, how MLS compares to Liga MX and what Jermaine Jones has been up to since retirement.
This week on OTB Kevin, Grayle and Sam are joined by Professor Steven Bank of UCLA, an expert in sports law and soccer in particular, who helps make sense of the new MLS CBA as well as the current state of labor relations between U.S. Soccer and the men's and women's national teams.