"El Cheatico" Preview (Liverpool Fans' Words, Not Ours) 💙🩵

Hail GFOP!

I write with fingers filled with Super Bowl Tingling. Though in honest truth, Tracy Chapman’s Second Coming from self-exile last weekend was my Super Bowl. I spoke about my immediate reaction at the top of last Monday’s podcast. However, I can’t stop thinking about the majesty of that perfect five-minute performance. What has struck me in retrospect is that while every other star in attendance posed for photographs with Taylor Swift and Jay Z, there is nothing of Tracy apart from her appearance on stage with Luke Combs. Proper legends come in, deliver transcendence, and then disappear without investing energy in brand building and clout. The purity of that singular, fleeting approach only added to the perfection of the experience.

And second: As the media melts down in re-discovering Tracy Chapman post-her life in self-imposed exile – it has been incredible to witness the long-tail of goodness she has put into the world. I have written before about how as an indie-music loving kid, I would experience agony whenever a band I loved made the leap from obscure-act to the big time. As an 11-year-old, I was probably one of a dozen people who bought Culture Club’s first three singles. Their fourth, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, exploded to the top of the charts around the world. The night they hit the No. 1 spot in England, my Mum, who was watching their performance alongside me said excitedly, “There’s your Culture Club men that you love.” But sitting on the couch alongside her, I was overwhelmed by a sense of profound loss in that moment. Overcome by the realization that something I had adored because it felt like it spoke to me – and me alone – was about to change irrevocably. So all I could summon in response was to sob and mutter quietly, “They are not my Culture Club any more, they are the World’s Culture Club now.”  

I feel the opposite with Tracy Chapman in this moment. Yes, being a Tracy Chapman obsessive before Luke Combs (and there were many, many of us who quietly adored the performer, the work, and the memories of how it had made us feel at times when we really needed it, check out this incredibly passionate podcast series) was a cult-diehard thing. But now the bright lights of this rebirth are upon us, and Tracy’s music has returned to the top of the charts, 36 years on from its first release, I feel only profound relief and joy. In this all too dark world we are living in, nothing good can be lost. Tracy Chapman is a pure, bright bolt of both light and truth. Two things that are rare, rare currencies in our time and age. May she shine on. The sad truth is, we all need her humanity and empathy more than ever.

For more: I wrote about Tracy Chapman a lot in my memoir. You can see a taste of that here and snap up your own copy here. Thank you, Tracy. Thank you. 

b. TOMORROW, we unleash Joel Embiid television show on Peacock. Joel is remarkably passionate about his football. An Arsenal and Real Madrid fan — what was magical about this taping is that he just wanted to keep chatting long after the interview had finished. And wait to hear him go OFF on his adoration of Peter Drury. That episode along with the last two full seasons of the Men in Blazers Television Show is available RIGHT HERE.  

c. This week, we have prepared for a week-long trip to Wrexham, where we will spend the weekend filming around North Wales. A magical time to arrive – as one of the Super Bowl moments I am most looking forward to is when the biggest American television audience of the year are exposed to Wrexham AFC courtesy of the quite beautiful poetry of Sir Anthony Hopkins’ commercial for our joy-filled friends at STōK Cold Brewed Coffee. I was lucky enough to be able to shoot a “Behind the Music” Interview with the director of this commercial, Bryan Rowland (dropping at Noon ET Today on our YouTube Page), who created this gem in which Sir Tony outs himself as Wrexham’s mascot, Wrex the Dragon. The piece is slow-build brilliant, but what I love most about it is the context. The master craftsman that is Sir Anthony Hopkins and the naive slapstick of the mascot suit; the glitzy hype that is Las Vegas contrasted with the gritty pride of Wrexham; the juxtaposition of the state-of-the-art Allegiant stadium and the traditional honesty of the STōK Cae Ras. Above all, the world’s greatest but tiniest micro-football power being celebrated and showcased in the world’s greatest television moment is just wheels within wonderful wheels. 

2. To The Football

i. Manchester City vs. Everton (Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET, USA)

A game Liverpool fans have dubbed “El Cheatico”. Everton, that eternal-point deducted pinata faces up to that impervious-to-115-charges Double-Treble seeking Inevitably that is Manchester City. A City who can go (fleetingly?) top for the first time since September, unbeaten in last seven in the league, and recipient of a 66% chance of winning the league according to Opta's title predictor. Even as Sean Dyche asks in vain, why have Everton been punished stating, “Like everyone else, we are just all wondering what makes one rule for one and one rule for the other,” his team are in the curious position of being both winless and unbeaten in the Premier League in 2024. One point from safety and without the injured Doucouré, do they stand a chance? Did Paul Blart stop a heist at the West Orange Pavilion Mall? Liverpool fans, have no fear. DCL knows the mind is the only weapon that doesn't need a holster.

GFOP Mark Dolce emailed me to ask: Rog, where on that melanin-deprived body did you get the Jarrad Branthwaite tattoo? We know the tramp stamp area is currently occupied by a Stevie Naismith tattoo, which is paradoxically transparent. 

Rog writes: Mark, I love Jarrad so much. But I am already pre-mourning his inevitable leaving us. And it hurts so bad. 

Good Read: Can anyone or anything stop Manchester City from the Double-Treble and what does that say about football? by Barney Ronay.

ii. Liverpool vs. Burnley (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, USA)

A team who could be second top before kick-off face up to the club who are second bottom. “Unbeaten in 23 Premier League games at home Liverpool” seek to heal the trauma of last week’s impotent defeat at Arsenal, against JJ Watt’s Burnley™ who have won just twice on the road this season. Darwin Nuñez should be back. He has been absent from both of Liverpool’s losses this season. Woodwork beware.

iii. Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle (Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)

The Tricky Trees, suddenly America’s Team, face up to Saudi Arabia’s Toon who have ground out just one win in their last six league games. Matt Turner was the FA Cup penalty-shoot out hero midweek in a tenacious performance culminating in heroic scenes we hope can be redemptive. Gio Reyna should return and gain more minutes in the bar-fight chaos that is Premier League Football. The truth remains, Forest are just two points from relegation with a possible points deduction hanging like an FPP Sword of Damocles. Why do our American boys always find themselves in the most unforgiving realities possible?  

iv. Tottenham vs. Brighton (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, Peacock)

Sonny is back from Jurgen Klinsmann’s tutelage and shock semi-final exit at the Asian Cup. Will Big Ange start him in Saturday’s home game against Brighton? And how will a suddenly potent Richarlison – nine goals in the last 10 games – feel about that? Incredible to listen to Richy open up this week about the role therapy has played in his recent upswing: “I got to a point when I understood that I needed help. And a lot of people were telling me this. So I got help and the therapist has been helping me a lot… I think the main thing is my happiness. I was able to find my happiness again. I came from periods of my life when I was very down and sad… I wasn’t the Richarlison everyone knew… So I think I was able to find this again, this hope I had. That was the most important thing I got back.” Remember readers: admitting you need help and articulating that is the hardest but most important step. Big Love, Richy, you King. 🇧🇷👑

v. West Ham vs. Arsenal (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET, USA)

East London welcomes North London. With his contract renewal due in June, David Moyes’ West Ham tenure remains Sisyphusian. Winless in six games he welcomes an Arsenal he has beaten twice already this season – the joy of that 2-0 win at the Emirates on Dec. 28 already feels like a lifetime ago. This will be Declan Rice’s first Premier League return to the Hammers. Cue Anger Bubbles.

vi. Aston Villa vs. Manchester United (Sunday, 11:30 a.m. ET, USA)

A proctologist exam for both teams’ Top Four bona fides. The reverse fixture of this game saw a Rasmus Hojlund winner as the giant Danish memelord finally scored his first ever Premier League goal amidst emotional scenes. His Redemption story — four goals in his last four Premier League games — has been one of the most humanly rewarding experiences of the season.   

More: Full Premier League Broadcast Schedule Here.

3. Prize Picks. Best Double PP since Pablo Picasso?

Charlie Kipp writes: Variety is a big part of what makes our partnership with PrizePicks so mesmerizing. At the end of the day, all you need is a sprinkle of More-or-Less picks in designated stat categories, strung together and you’re in a position to win. What those picks look like, however, is entirely up to you. You want to get exotic and take something like Auston Trusty passes attempted, like we did last week (easy winner, btw) - go for it. Or, you can take my advice this week and keep it simple: John McGinn MORE than 1.5 Shots. 

Aston Villa host Manchester United this Sunday at 11.30 a.m. ET on USA Network where a fire hydrant of a man, 29-year-old Scottish midfielder they call ‘Meatball’ (because of a haircut his mom have him when he was 17) will be the spark plug for a Villa midfield that has been enigmatic of late. McGinn sat down with Rog earlier this year in an interview I highly recommend if you have not yet watched, where he shared that he possesses a rear end so large you can rest a pint glass on it. MORE than 1.5 pint glasses, though? MAKE IT A CATEGORY, PRIZEPICKS. On the pitch, McGinn has recorded more than 1.5 shots in each of Villa’s last 5 games and I see nothing about this United defense to suggest that won’t continue here. More than 1.5 shots for John McGinn - Aye.

If you haven’t joined PrizePicks, go to prizepicks.com/MIB and use code MiB for a first deposit match up to $100.

3. Our Cup Overfloweth: AFCON and ASIAN CUP FINALS 🏆🏆

Is AFCON the best international tournament of all-time? Gold Cup, you got work to do, just saying. This week's semifinals were pure fire. Perma-Manager-less hosts Ivory Coast pulled off a 1-0 win over DR Congo, and tournament favorites Nigeria beat 10-man South Africa in a penalty-filled contest at the Stade de la Paix. Saturday sees the third-placed match (3 p.m. ET, beIN) while the final between Nigeria and Ivory Coast will kick off Sunday at the same time and channel. Clear. Your. Calendars.

ii. Meanwhile in Qatar, Jurgen Klinsman smiled his way through his South Korea side’s shock exit as Jordan booked their place in the final against hosts Qatar, who fended off Iran in their semifinal on Wednesday. (No third place match in this tournament.) Will Saturday’s 10 a.m. ET final (Paramount +) witness defending champions Qatar repeat their 2019 success? Or will 87th in the world underdogs Jordan continue their trailblazing run all the way to their first Asian Cup trophy? 

Love: Playing Soccer in $1.50 Sandals That Even Gucci Wants to Copy.

4. Wrexham. Like Love, will Turn Around 🐉

Well…last weekend was not great. A 3-1 loss to 19th-placed Salford left our gents slipping out of the automatic promotion places in League Two. The good news is: only six points separates the Red Dragons from league leaders Stockport, and Wrexham have at least one game in hand on the three teams that sit above them. FURTHER good news, this weekend Wrexham host West Yorkshire side Bradford City (Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, iFollow), who are winless in their last eight league games and sit 18th in the table. WARNING TO WREXHAM FANS: this is the last weekend before team MiB heads to the STōK Cae Ras to watch the Dragons IRL and is therefore the last game before the Curse of Rog™ goes into effect. 

Fantastic: Wrexham journey looks so good Boyzone want Chorley to follow us – Phil Parkinson.

More: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Ryan Reynolds vs. David Beckham. It’s not a high cheekbone breakdance battle. It’s some good old fashioned League Two football. This week, our Wrexham correspondent Tomi “Cheese” Lewis travels to Salford, the club owned by members of Manchester United’s famed Class of ‘92. WATCH HERE. New episodes of this beauty dropping every Thursday. 

5. National Lampoon’s European Vacation: AC Milan and PSV 🇮🇹🇺🇸🇳🇱🇺🇸🤌

Title race still on? Last Saturday's comeback win against Frosinone, coupled with Sunday’s Derby Italia win for Inter, means Christian Pulisic and co. are just four points behind second place Juve. The secret to the Rossoneri’s success (according to the AP)? The MLS legend with a penchant for referring to himself in the 3rd person: Zlatan Ibrahimović. Since the Swede returned to the club in an advisory role in December, Stefano Pioli’s side are unbeaten in Serie A, winning six of their eight league matches. “With him we have a man extra.” winger Rafael Leão told reporters. This Sunday (2.45 p.m. ET, Paramount +) Ibra and his disciples host defending champions Napoli. 🇮🇹

More: Graham Potter to the San Siro???

b. PSV Eindhoven travel northeast to Volendam FC (nickname: The Other Oranje. No notes.) where they will meet the Eredivise’s 17th placed team looking for their first win in four. Both Malik Tillman and Ricardo Pepi are expected to return to the squad after respective issues, a good sign for manager Peter Bosz as his side approaches their February 20th Champions League match against Dortmund.

🎧: Sergiño Dest joined me on the latest episode of our partnership with the club, PSV-USA. This is the first time I have spent real time with Serg. He is a singular character. An individual obsessed with his own highlight videos playing on a club who emphasize collective unity. Also: Never met anyone who loves Vin Deisel more. Never Change Sergiño, Never Change. Listen Here. 🇳🇱

More: For everything US men and women abroad, you need to be subscribed to our American States United newsletter. Flying every Wednesday, it’s your one-stop-shop for all things Eagles abroad, from deep cuts to the latest Puli wonder-run.

6. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. Behind Inter Miami’s meltdown of a pre-season World Tour. I worry about Lionel Messi and his ability to sustain the pace physically for a full season. I hope I am wrong. He can do so much to grow the game here, but must be protected at all costs.

ii. Just in time, NOT to save Everton… are Premier League financial rules about to change? Could Profit and Sustainability rules be about to change? Premier League clubs set to discuss this week,

iii. Might the Super Bowl be won… by a Soccer Player? On the connection between Kickers and our game 🏈

iv. Goals, goals, goals: why have there been so many in the Premier League? The Guardian’s John Brewin takes a shot at answering.

7. THIS WEEK AT MEN IN BLAZERS

So much content, so little sanity. 

💪 The Women’s Game continues to crank out the hits. This week, the great Sam Mewis is joined by Barcelona and England star Lucy Bronze. LISTEN HERE. A wonderful conversation in which the former UNC Tar Heel talks Barcelona’s signature symphonic style, what she thinks of the NWSL and why she celebrated THAT Euros final goal away from her teammates. PS. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WOMEN’S GAME NEWSLETTER HERE. 

🇺🇸 A brand new episode of VAMOS with Herc Gomez in which he sits down with USMNT and FC Cincinnati Center Back Miles Robinson and asks about his decision to forgo a move to Europe. LISTEN TO MILES HERE. And you’ll notice that VAMOS is now available ON ITS OWN FEED, along with Men in Blazers Early Kick Off, our daily news show that gets you primed with all the day's biggest football stories. Get VAMOS and Early Kickoff delivered directly into your inbox by SUBSCRIBING HERE. 

🌟Coming up next week… do you hear that? It’s the sound of European Nights with the great Rory Smith returning. Look for it on the Pod feed Tuesday. 

8. Not Football, And All the Better for It

i. Some discovery: along with attempts to register license plates like NEEDMILF and BREADHOE, The New York DMV rejected "MESSSSSI"

ii. Forget the Quadruple, this is a true accomplishment: this man has eaten everything on the Cheesecake Factory's cinderblock-thick menu (and survived!). HOW IS THIS NOT AN OLYMPIC SPORT???

iii. Brilliant from Asterisk Mag and their very well designed website: Why You’ve Never Been In A Plane Crash. 

iv. Meet The Eight Celebrity Lobsters Of Biddeford, Maine. I've never met a celebrity lobster, but I was once given the business card of an instagram famous Corgi. 

v. What really caused the sriracha shortage? Two friends and the epic breakup that left millions without their favorite hot sauce. And you thought your breakups were bad… 

vi. How the codpiece flopped. I wonder what modern trend will get this treatment in 300 years? And why did this fashion never come back? 

vii. Some Jon Krakauer Outside Magazine inception going on here: The ‘Into the Wild’ Bus Was a Pilgrimage Site in the Wilderness. Can It Hold Up in a Museum?

viii. GDP who? Inflation who? Stock market WHO? The Price of Chex Mix at Every Airport Is the Economic Index We Need.

ix. The same thing probably happens in Thiago Silva's hometown: California city comes together to celebrate every birthday for 116-year old woman.

x. Chloë Sevigny Is So Over NYC’s Women Walking Their Dogs in Athleisure. Just got rid of my dog and all my leggings. 🫡

xi. I read this book: YOU DREAMED OF EMPIRES, by Álvaro Enrigue. A short, surreal, exquisite poem of a counterfactual novel, set in the 16th Century, as Spanish empire builders arrive in Aztec pre-Mexico City. There is fear, laughter, and a lot of mushrooms. A lush trip of a read. 

Xii. I love this song: Terrible News by Middle Kids and a one-shot video Scorsese would approve of.

That is it for today. I am going to close as I opened. Savor Tracy Chapman’s classic visit to Morning Becomes Eclectic which was sent to me by the interviewer, great GFOP and huge Aston Villa fan, Nic Harcourt. Two legends converse. I hope you savor this as much as I did. Enjoy the Super Bowl. I am going to put all my money on the Bears to win it all.
Let’s Savor Every Second and not take a moment of watching football together for granted,

Big Love.
Courage.
ROG