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Happy Fourth From Men in Blazers 🇺🇸

Plus, Rog & Rory live in NYC next week.

July 04, 2025

Hail GFOP! 

Happy Independence Day. From the bottom of my heart, I wanted to wish you all so much love, to you and your families on this important day. I know it is a time of chaos and challenge in the world. Over the past year, I have found real meaning in the simple things in life. The act of opening a beer, eating a good hot dog, and sharing the company of those you love, is the single greatest thing. I want to thank all of you for the love you bring to us in our MiB community. We do not take it for granted. I was reading an article about how Oasis changed Britain, and there was a quote from the artist Tracy Emin, who described how they captured the “brightness of things happening.” You, to me, are “the brightness of things happening.”  

My father, Ivor, passed away last July 4 so the day has an even deeper feeling for me now. The day will hit me hard. His passing still makes me ache. I miss his singular, quirky enthusiasm, and his old school English life-force so very much. I try to summon his spirit every single day. My father lived his life with a profound awareness of his own mortality. He was a man obsessed with making every moment matter, and not wasting a second. It was his voice I heard yesterday, when I awoke to the devastating news of Diogo Jota’s passing. A gent who played the game with the joy of a kid playing in a Porto park, and died a champion. All I can say is this: Savor every second of life you have. Never take a moment for granted.

Bring on the Gold Cup Final: USA vs. Mexico Dance Again (Sunday, 7 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX Sports) 🇺🇲🇲🇽

Our battle-hardened U.S. G-Leaguers will take their bruised bodies to Houston to face Mexico for the eighth time in a Gold Cup final. Houston’s NRG Stadium will be packed with Mexico fans. One of the most shocking subplots of this American Gold Cup journey has been the meager fan following our U.S. team currently has. To win here, will be to begin to change that. Mexico are undoubted favorites but they too are deeply flawed, especially in their opponent’s final third. Yet, they are propelled by 16-year-old Gilberto Mora, a young baller who is 459 DAYS YOUNGER than Lamine Yamal. They have not allowed a goal in 383 minutes. Make no mistake, this is going to be some challenge for Pochettino’s child team. Where there is Diego Luna, there is hope. 

Whatever happens, come and join Clint and me post-game live on YouTube and chop it up with The Deuce ♠️

I would love to hear from you all. Let me know how you think it is going to go. Email me at [email protected] 🍻

Happy Fourth from all of us at the Men In Blazers Media Network. Let me leave you with my favorite line from one of my favorite poems: Langston Hughes, “Let America Be America Again”

“O, let America be America again—
The land that never has been yet—
And yet must be”

To better days ahead.

Big Love.

Go, Go, USA!

Courage,

ROG

Come and Watch the Club World Cup Semi-Finals with Rory Smith and Me in Person in New York City 🏆🍻

Rory and I will be parked up for much of the week at The Michelob ULTRA Pitchside Club. Entry is free (we just ask that you RSVP) for all the events, and once inside, you'll be treated to a footballing fever dream: massive screens, cold Superior Light Beer, and a celebration of the game we love.

Here are the details:

📍Second – 849 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10001

🎟️ RSVP (Free!): Sign up for all three events here

📺 Club World Cup Semi-Final Watchalongs with Rog and Rory

  • Tues 7/8 | 3 & 5 p.m.

  • Wed 7/9 | 3 & 5 p.m.

🎙️ Live Show with Rog & Special Guests

  • Fri 7/10 | 6 p.m.

We want to raise a glass with all of you. The more of you we can see, the better. RSVP RIGHT HERE. 🍻

Help Us Understand Your Football Love 📊 

We're looking to better understand the beautiful game...through your eyes. It would mean the world to us if you could take a moment to fill out this quick survey about your soccer fandom — how you watch, who you cheer for, and why this game means so much. It’s short, it’s sweet, and your voice will help shape future conversations around football in America with on of our partners. Plus, you’ll be supporting GFOP-powered research — the best kind there is. TAKE THE SURVEY HERE 📝

Our Discord Community Is the Place to Be 🗣️

Hundreds of you have come together to build community around football with us on Discord. We want to create the single best place on the internet to connect around not just football, but life. We host weekly AMA's with yours truly, Sam Mewis, and other exciting characters - amongst so many other great things. This Discord is going to be THE place to get early access to special MiB Events, news, and more. Get in on the ground floor and come be with us. It's completely free and the link to join is HERE.

Not Football and All the Better for It 📖