20230623 Raven Newsletter

I type with fingers filled with anticipation. This has been some week. One filled with American Glory and the anticipation of a World Cup campaign to come. Our gents playing BJ Callaball all the way to Nations League success. Our women announcing the 23 who will head Down Under and attempt to go back-to-back-to-back. We have been blessed with a front row seat at both events. We filmed with USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski shortly after he unveiled his squad and he told us in tones that combined thrill and relief that, “we wish the World Cup kicked off tomorrow.” More on that in a moment. This afternoon, I am delighted to spend some time with BJ Callaghan, the interim USMNT manager who is on the cusp of a Gold Cup campaign, a week after lifting the Nations League, slaying dread rivals Mexico and Canada along the way. I genuinely cannot wait to speak to him. Like you, I have marveled at the confident, joyous way with which he has made this moment matter. A human reminder of what Robin Williams quoting Roman poet Horace tried to tell us. Carpe Diem.

If you enjoy this newsletter, please share it with as many of your football-curious friends as possible. Men in Blazers is based on community and word of mouth and we are immensely grateful to you for helping grow it. It is such an honor to do what we do at MiB as the sport’s profile is surging in our nation. We never take it for granted.

b. I have to send my love out to Becky Sauerbrunn. U.S. Women’s Captain, an inspiration on and off the field, and also my friend-in-pod. A foot injury means she will not achieve her dream of leading the U.S. into her fourth World Cup. The outpouring of love from her teammates and throughout the football world is the best indicator of just how much she will be missed. Becky is more than a player and a captain. She is a nourishing culture builder who ensures that any team she is on remains focused on their path, and true. Regular listeners will know I have been taping a monthly show with Becky, Road to the World Cup, in which she has talked about her journey and this moment. We taped a show yesterday. It comes out next week and is pretty remarkable; emotion-laden, but filled with so much courage and human insight. Becky talked about what she will miss most – the opportunity to help her young teammates for whom this is their first World Cup campaign – and the tiny moments in the locker room that she never took for granted. Godspeed to her, with wishes for strength and health in this moment of challenge. We cannot exaggerate just how much she will be missed. 🇺🇸👑

c. I am headed to Europe for the next eight days. Do not fear, we have taped a couple of cracking shows that we will release as I wander. Brace yourself for the BJ Callaghan joint, a joyous conversation with the magical Crystal Dunn, and a pretty fascinating show for Premier League fans. An Australian analyst goes deep on what Spurs fans have in store with that powerhouse Big Rig Ange Postecoglou at the wheel. We will be back in action and then some in early July, working with so many of the Premier League teams across America. I have to say this: I am genuinely fascinated by Wrexham who seem poised to make as much noise as any of them as they barnstorm across our nation. There is something so rationally complex but emotionally powerful about that team. As well as the US Women’s National Team as they head off in search of a Three-Peat. In that vein:

🇺🇸🍻 San Jose and San Francisco GFOPs Save the Date: JULY 7 we are coming to you for a nighttime extravaganza of extravaganzas with US Women’s Football Stars present and past 🇺🇸🍻

Want to make sure you’re alerted as tickets become available? Join our Men in Blazers text line by clicking this link or by texting “RAVENTIX” to 513-572-3171. We’ll shoot you a message as soon as tickets are live.

🗣️Subscribe to our new newsletter: The Women’s Game 🗣️

Designed to enhance your viewing pleasure as a fan by intelligently, accessibly, and quickly getting you up to speed on all you need to know to revel in the day’s World Cup play. We will cover every storyline, every match-up, every adrenaline-surging Marta pump-up speech.

Subscribe now, here, and please, there is no better way to spread the word than by you sharing this with your football-loving friends.

2. To the Football, Presented by Bud Light

Transfer Season is in full mad swing as Premier League fans sweat out the psychodrama of Declan Rice choosing between winning everything with Manchester City and living his truth with Arsenal. American fans are tuned on Tim Weah, Christian Pulisic, and the reborn Ricardo Pepi who seem headed for Juventus, AC Milan, and PSV Eindhoven accordingly.

b. Chelsea are bending norms and no one knows what to make of it

In a week in which Chelsea bought a majority stake in Strasbourg and are now a multi-club network, Todd Boehly has found a creative way to offload his deadwood players for sizeable money to the club’s own Saudi Arabian investors which has created an enormous loophole the Premier League probably never saw coming.

More: Chelsea, Saudi Arabia, and football’s sudden private equity problem. Suddenly, Saudi Pro League money has disrupted the market, inflating and destabilizing it. Fees have gone up and wages have spiraled.

PS. This is super weird. Another parallel dimension the Premier League never considered: Newcastle want to sign Ruben Neves, 26, on loan after the Portugal midfielder agreed to join Al Hilal from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £47m this week.

c. Everton are not a Serious Football Club

Every player who can is leaving the club. The prospect of money being found in between the pillows of the club couch to pay for new ones feels remote. New American owners are always said to be circling. Despised board members not only appear to be staying in the face of massive fan protests, but the club’s Mad King owner, Farhad Moshiri has appointed himself to join them. Carlo Ancelotti is suing the club over “side deals” he had with our former Oligarch “non-owner.” We are in “You are not serious people” territory.

b. How low can you go? An Everton ex-player who barely took the field puts his old kits, barely worn, on sale as a bundle. Like that Hemingway six word story, “For Sale, Baby Shoes, Never Worn.”

d. Why Bournemouth’s American owner mercilessly sacked the coach who saved the Cherries from relegation in search of a new style?

e. LIONEL MESSI TO MAKE INTER MIAMI DEBUT ON JULY 21 against Liga MX side Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup match. Exact same time as the US Women take to World Cup action.

PS: A look at Messi’s deal promoting Saudi Arabian Tourism.

3. USWNT: The US Squad was unfurled last Wednesday. It is a fascinating mix of the very new, and the deeply experienced and familiar 🇺🇸🏆

With the help of every football and America-loving celebrity from Taylor Swift and Megan Thee Stallion, to Lil Wayne and President Biden, the 23-woman roster was revealed. Yes, there is Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, but 14 of the 23 have never experienced the unique crucible of pressure that is a World Cup campaign before. Raw talent runs through the team from top to bottom. Eighteen-year-old Alyssa Thompson has just left high school and will now surge into World Cup play. A thin center-back pool will be led by the supernaturally confident 23-year-old Naomi Girma who is an immense human being, story, and star in the making. This excellent piece by Caitlin Murray breaks down the “gambles Vlatko has taken.”

b. I had the honor and joy of speaking to US Women’s National Team Coach Vlatko Andonovski, who broke down the decisions behind the 23 names on the final roster position by position. We talked about the irreplaceability of Becky Sauerbrunn and the great Horan inheriting the captaincy, Vlatko’s high expectations for Sophia Smith and her ability to embrace and thrive under pressure, and the way he divides his squad into “warriors” and “artists.” Above all, his key message was how ready he feels this squad is. Key quote: “We wish the World Cup started tomorrow.” Listen to this podcast here.

PS. It includes, as a coda, analysis of this squad from two-time World Cup winner Julie Foudy. (I asked Julie who is going to win. I did not love her honesty.)

c. We capped off the day with a really inspiring conversation with Crystal Dunn which will come out next week. I can’t wait for you to watch it. I first filmed with Crystal with her family in Long Island ahead of the 2019 World Cup. It is a really beautiful piece in which her Mum sobbed as Crystal relived the pain of missing out on 2015’s World Cup roster. So much life has happened to Crystal since then. She has become a World Cup winner. A mother. A true veteran leader of this squad. It is impossible to listen to this interview without feeling better about your own life by listening to Crystal talk about hers.

d. Here’s some more recent podcasts that will prepare you for a World Cup of Wonder 🇺🇸🏆

1. Sophia Smith talks about just how intimidating it was to break into the USWNT as a teenager, her innate goal scoring ability, and what she sees when she gets in front of goal.

2. Trinity Rodman talks about what it was like to turn pro as a teenager, her natural goalscoring instincts, and her quite remarkable TikTok.

3. Alex Morgan talks about how motherhood has changed her approach to football and what she plans to do post-football.

4. Naomi Girma talks about her journey into football as the daughter of Ethiopian immigrants who believed she was being kidnapped when she was first called up for the US Youth Team, her collegiate career at Stanford, and what she hopes to learn about herself in New Zealand.

4. Behind the Curtain at MiB World HQ

What a week we’ve had here at Men in Blazers World Headquarters, starting with our coverage of the USMNT’s CONCACAF Nations League triumph over our neighbors-to-the-North Canada. WATCH Rog’s reaction at the final whistle.

ii. We are putting so much content on our YouTube page and will increasingly do so. Content that can only be seen on that YouTube page. Two videos we hope you’ll give a watch that we’ve released in the past week. The first, a deep dive into the 115 Financial Fair Play allegations against Manchester City. That 115 number gets banded around a lot, but if you want to truly understand what they are accused of doing, watch our video.

iii. At the other end of the tonal spectrum, we have a video that we had an incredible amount of fun creating. Great Moments in Premier League Shithousery. Richarlison, Diego Costa, Everton’s Pink Sweater-Clad fan… and even a little Weston McKennie.

Please SUBSCRIBE. SUBSCRIBE. SUBSCRIBE.

iv. And what a week we have for you next week on our Pod Feed… the battle plan is as such:

Monday - The NEW KING, BJ Callaghan, talks to Rog about how he’s experienced keeping the throne warm, while providing himself a formidable football mind.

Tuesday - Episode Three of Road to the Cup with Becky Sauerbrunn in which Becky opens up about the heartbreak of missing out on the World Cup. Can we just say, we are all lucky to have Becky Sauerbrunn. She is a national treasure

Wednesday - Australian journalist Dan Colasimone, who has covered new Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou for years, gives Premier League fans insight into one of the league’s great characters.

Thursday - A brand new Gold Cup-themed VAMOS with Herc Gomez, Presented by Bud Light. PS - this past week’s VAMOS included a truly candid interview with Christian Pulisic. Fascinating to listen to him talk about the pressure he experiences as the face of US Soccer. I love what Herc is doing with this show

Friday - A very special episode of The Women’s Game with Crystal Dunn. A tour de force as a player, a mother, a human being. We cannot wait for you to hear this conversation.

Men in Blazers Summer Sale ☀️

Summer is here and so is the Men in Blazers Summer Sale. Up to 75% off select items, including our Most Important Least Important Tee, our Logo Tee, and ‘72 Crewneck Sweatshirt. Our way of saying thank you for making football memories with us over this last season and getting prepped for a busy summer of football. Discounts will show automatically in your cart prior to checkout.

Men in Blazers x Bud Light Sweepstakes - Exclusive Prizes for GFOPs 🍺

You’ve long known about the GFOPs at Bud Light’s support of the game we all love. Now, they’re giving us the chance to give away some exclusive prizes only to those of you reading this newsletter. Entering is easy: just head to budlight.com/MIB to enter for your chance to win signed gear, exclusive Bud Light merch, and more.*

4. USA! USA! USA! USMNT v Jamaica (Saturday, 10 PM ET, FS1) 🇺🇸🇯🇲

What is the Gold Cup now, and what is it good for? The recent creation of the Nations League has been akin to watching a greedy developer erect a beachfront skyscraper right in front of what was formerly a beachfront skyscraper, reducing the Gold Cup to NIT-levels of worthiness. This tournament has long been poorly branded. A continental tournament that should feel significant, but always appeared like base metal when compared to the sheen of the Euros or Copa America. With the Nations League culminating just last weekend now overshadowing it, this CONCACAF creation is in danger of becoming a runt-tournament. A bastard offspring played out by the major power using a motley crew of B and C Teams performing for an audience of one (Lalas). I have to believe CONCACAF will bend their head around a creative approach to giving this tournament the energy and life it needs to grow and thrive, because for the smaller nations in our Confederation, it is a crucial financial lifeline. From a US perspective, I am excited to watch Brandon Vasquez, Cade Cowell, and Alan Sonora. PS. Demarai Gray rides with Jamaica now, who HAVE brought a very strong team to this tournament. Godspeed to him. The more Premier League players that join CONCACAF, the better off we will all be in terms of the level of competition on the challenge. Magnificent.

b. Get psyched: Cade Cowell and 9 things to watch in Gold Cup Journey.

And: How Gregg Berhalter got re-hired at US Soccer.

Canadian GFOPs 🇨🇦: An Exclusive Offer from FuboTV

We love our friends north of the border, and FuboTV loves football as much as we do. FuboTV is Canada’s home to streaming live soccer with 57+ live channels of soccer and other top sports. With the 23/24 PL fixtures just announced, there’s no better time to head to FuboTV and get the entire Premier League season for as low as $14.99/mo with an annual soccer plan. To learn more check out fubo.tv/signup.

5. The Women’s Game by Meg Swanick

i. This weekend: Say Farewell to our USWNT Warriors

Summer swings swiftly toward the 2023 World Cup, and alas, this weekend is the last we’ll witness the National Team stars before they depart. The first must-watch matinee goes down Friday, as defending Champion Portland Thorns host aspirational Washington Spirit. Six US stars grace either end of the pitch- from Trinity Rodman to Sophia Smith- in a gridlock clash featuring first-placed Spirit against second-placed Thorns. (Friday, 10:30 ET, Paramount+). Another seismic match in SoCal pits top-of-the-table contenders OL Reign against San Diego Wave in that land of burritos and Alex Morgan. Seven US stars feature in the West Coast matchup caught between two top clubs currently tied on points. (Saturday, 10 PM ET, Paramount+).

ii. Lindsey Horan officially to stay in Lyon 🇺🇸🇫🇷

Lindsey Horan has had some week. Engaged. Sole USWNT Captain. And now she is officially staying in Lyon permanently, where she first moved in January 2022 on loan from NWSL’s Portland Thorns. With a heartfelt message to fans in Portland, Lindsey bids farewell to her former club and continues her reign in Europe, signing a contract through 2026. Godspeed to her.

6. Not Football and All the Better for It

i. I love Mark Rylance. Jerusalem is one of my favorite plays of all time (Prima Facie currently playing is up there too.) Skip down to the question and answer session for a really fascinating set of interactions between Rylance and famous fans. Especially on self-confidence.

ii. A rare W for Tiktok. The New York Times highlights Shirley Raines and her great work with nonprofit Beauty 2 the Streetz. 

iii. Your move North Dakota: Velociraptor statue heist ends with three arrests in South Dakota.

iv. Presented without comment: Letter of Recommendation: Turner Classic Movies.

v. Worth using your 1 free article for: How Ayo Edebiri Went from Being an “Uncomfortable Child” to a Star of “The Bear”. Ayo Edebiri is a demigod.

vi. What does it feel like to die on stage every night? Katie Wyver speaks to actors about the strange toll of playing with death. I thought a lot about this when watching Jodi Comer in Prima Facie TBH. My lord. To live that over and over, up to twice a day…

vi. 50 Best crowns the world's (50, you guessed it) greatest restaurants but how reliable can it be if Waffle House does not make it?

vii. Esquire asks the big questions: Will 'The Bear's' Fame Ruin the Italian Beef? If The Bear doesn't, the author's description of the sandwich as a "wet mound" might do it.

viii. Celine Song's stunning debut, Past Lives will make you think about it forever (and listen to Sharon Van Etten's tie-in song). The film makes its wide release TODAY and you should see it in theaters.

ix. A.W. Davis honors her father in a beautiful essay for Harper's. "At school I encountered kids whose parents treated them like their own creations, possessions to be controlled...I developed a new appreciation for my dad, who always treated me like a fellow artist, creating myself."

x. One whole year without Roe: Here Are the Stories of People Denied Abortions. This is so important to read and hard to read in equal measure.

xi. This Song Made My Week: Satisfy by Dylan Atlantis. Mesmerizing summer slow jam.

xii. I read this book and it was fascinating: Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck. A love affair set in East Germany, traces both the arc of a relationship, and the embers of communism in this newly translated work by a brilliant German author. If you love thinking about love. Or about the history of the Iron Curtain. Or both. Lap this up. More here.

A reminder: football fever is growing in our nation and Men in Blazers has always been about community and word of mouth. If you enjoy the Raven, please forward along to any of your football-loving or football-curious friends.

I am off, with a pile of books, and a lot of sunscreen. Am headed to the Middle East for a moment, and then Paris on the way back. All your recommendations are welcome.

Big Love

Courage,

ROG

*BUD LIGHT® “MEN IN BLAZERS” SWEEPSTAKES. No Purchase Necessary. Open to US residents 21+. Begins 4/4/23 and ends 12/31/23. Multiple entry periods. See Official Rules at https://budlight.com/MIBSweeps for entry deadlines, prizes and details. Message and data rates may apply. Void where prohibited. ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. © 2023 Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light® Beer, Light Beer, St. Louis, MO