17 Burst results for "Chris Richards"
Men In Blazers
"chris richards" Discussed on Men In Blazers
"Of these careers. Clock in and follow this job as history wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen ad free on the Amazon music or wondery app. Chris, you journey, it's been a footballing one, yes. But it's also sounds like it's been one of self actualisation, from being the only African American kid on almost every team you played on in Alabama to the multicultural squads in Germany and now the incredible diversity of Crystal Palace. I saw you shot a video during black history month where you went to a local class of kids in South London to talk about self love to talk about the power of their own identity. And it was really beautiful to witness, do you feel that the lessons you've learned in football have taught you those lessons about life and the importance of self love? Football is very much an opinion based sport. Everybody's going to have their opinions on who should play who shouldn't. But honestly, you know, for me, it's always been one of those things where if I've given a 100%, I know that I've done everything I can and I have to be okay with what happens at the end of the day. And growing up, you know, it's very easy to want to fit in, but it's very hard to stick to what you know artistic to what you love and to stick to being kind of the outsider in. No, I always felt like the outsider, but it's one of those things where I was okay with being that and I think the first thing of being this outsider is just kind of being okay with yourself and it took me a long time to be able to acknowledge that and to accept it, but looking back, I'm glad I didn't conform to the people around me and I didn't I didn't kind of follow the crowd because I wouldn't be here today. An infinite number of sticky notes helps her. Yeah, definitely. Seeing your goals and seeing kind of what you want to achieve in life or whether it's a goal that you want to get the day going to get through the day having read 20 pages of a book or it's, you know, I want to play Premier League football one day. It's like, it's good to have these things that seem tangible and being able to look at them every day. It's like, okay, I'm 1% better today because I did this. And I think that's something that really helped me. What's on the sticky note now, Chris. Yeah, it's the first one to stay healthy. The second one is to just give a 100% and everything I do, whether it's on the field off the field, whether it's, you know, whether it's a cooking class I'm taking or whether it's whatever it is, it's just to give a 100% and I think that day to be okay with what I did because I did that because I gave everything I could. Chris, last question for you. The incredible thing about your journey, the incredible thing about the wisdom that you've gleaned from it, is that you're still just 22 years old. And the speed of your journey has been immense, the distance you have traveled similar. And the incredible thing is you've got almost your whole career in front of you and it's funny to ask you to think retrospectively about any of this yet. But I do want to know, if you were to go back in time, and look at your 16 year old self in the eyes, what would you say? I probably said dream bigger, I think. Like I said, my whole life, I never even thought this was tangible. And so I was kind of almost limiting my goals and I'm not saying that I'm in a bad place at all, but I'm saying I wish I would have dreamt bigger and I guess maybe push myself just 1% harder because there's no telling where I could be now. But I think my parents always told me, you know, growing up if people aren't laughing at your dreams or your goals, then you haven't dreamt big enough and I think I had big goals, but I think that I could have just that much bigger, but I think because I wasn't you want everything now and when it doesn't come to you now, you kind of deflate to you and the FC Dallas trial very much deflated me, but now I put me on this path where I am where I am now and I'm grateful for it but also I wish that I had told myself that it was very much something that was possible. Chris Richards to embracing the laughter to walking apart with audacity and tenacity and confidence, honestly, it's an incredibly nourishing inspirational hour to spend in your company to you to your family to your brother in particular and to the mighty mighty Crystal Palace. Thanks man. Yeah, thank you all the pleasure. Courage. Up the palace and I mean it a massive thanks again to Cameron and tequila for helping make that conversation possible. It is the GF OP's from that most awarded tequila,
Men In Blazers
"chris richards" Discussed on Men In Blazers
"Yeah, definitely, you know, we try to support each other as much as possible, whether it's like, I went to Leeds full of last week and just kind of doing stuff like that. It's good to be around these guys and even though we're competitors, we're also teammates at the end of the day and a lot of us have even grown up with each other. And so it's a brotherhood and we really we really lean on each other for support. You went up to Leeds Fulham to see just like the most American game of all time. You wanted a piece of that. Exactly. I was awesome. You know, it was, of course, Jedi and Tim and against Weston be in Tyler. And it was awesome. It was like, it felt really nice to see all these guys who, you know, I've played with or played against and at the end of the game, it's just, we're still the same guys who go to camp with each other. Like, we all just kick it after the game and just have a left. The big question, which one of you is most likely to develop the Brad friedel mockney London accent? Well, you're even it. Oh gosh. I take Jedi out because he already has it. I'd probably say the west lives and leads. I would say Wes because that sounds like something that he would do, but I feel like I heard Christian. I feel like Christian did some type of accent one time, so actually I give it to Christian probably. Anyway, the next camp money on the fact that Wes is just going to stroll into the American camp be like, hey, oh, I'm sorry. 100%. That's worse. That's something that he would do. It's go full John harks. Life is tough and full of difficult questions. What does happiness really mean? How do I get the most out of my time on earth? And what really is the best candy bar?
Men In Blazers
"chris richards" Discussed on Men In Blazers
"There are things on here for the USA. Can they do it here? Cross and dead seas tonight again and Donovan is gone. Can you believe this? Go go. USA. Certainly through it's incredible. You could not write a script like this. I was ten years old at that point, you know? And that was like my very first go go USA when that happened. We went crazy, you know? And I think what hurt the most was that my brother is also ten years old and I was like, oh, this would be my chance to, for him to kind of have the same inspiration that I had when I was his age. And I think that's what was very tough for me because I remember that moment was like everything for me and it kind of I probably say push started my career or in my love for the game. And for me to miss that, it felt like I was letting him down more than myself. I can't imagine Chris. I can not imagine you would played 361 minutes of the World Cup qualifying journey, including that surreal El Salvador game in below freezing temperatures in St. Paul Minnesota, the memory of which I'm sure will stay in your bones for years to come. Can World Cup to have to watch on from home as your Friends, your teammates took the field. Did you watch? How difficult was that? Yeah, it was tough. I remember, I couldn't watch the first game. I really couldn't, of course, I wanted to support everybody, but it was one of those things where I was like, I can't. Because it hurt, you know? And my family came. My mom and dad came, kills around Thanksgiving, and so they wouldn't be with me, especially with me, not making the World Cup, and they were downstairs watching it, and I was like, I have to be up in the room. I can't sit there with you guys. I'm sorry. And then for the U.S. England game, it was a bit easier because I knew that if we had lost that I would get a bunch of crap at training the next day or whatever everybody came back, so I was like, all right, it's my chance. I'll be able to watch this with a bit of a lighter heart. And so we went to actually went to a pub when we met up with some American outlaws and it was good to be around those guys. And just kind of be able to support and have a group of people around who were also there to support, but again, it was still hard to watch. But I'd say the first game was definitely the hardest for me. Thankfully, you return to action after the World Cup break, you made your first ever Premier League start January the 18th against Manchester United, a belated start to your dreams, about 5 and a half months later, then you would ever have imagined. We are nervous ahead of the game. Do you get nervous, Chris? Yeah, I think everybody, if people say they don't get nervous, I think they're lying because all very much was nervous. And not that I was nervous in my ability. I think I was just nervous of just having this be like my first step, of course, the debut Anfield and the few appearances I made in between that were a good first step, but it was like, am I sticky notes? I was like, you know, first start in just for it to be against a team like united, which was one of the teams I grew up watching. It was like, and it made it even bigger for me. I found it very moving, Chris. What should you drop to your knees and pray right before kick-off? Can you take us into your mind in that moment? It's something I do before every game and it's, you know, it's just giving thanks to it's just giving thanks to the man up above and nobody's journey is easy, but I feel like my journey over the past few years is something that many people wouldn't have liked to have taken and many people haven't taken. And so it's one of those things where just try to reflect in those little moments before the game and let's try to just pray for guidance and for health and that whatever happens that I gave it my all and that's all I can ask for. Did you ever give you all in that game? I enjoyed that game so bloody much. You made your impact early and often. There was a tackle on Marcus Rashford, where he tried to hit you with a hesitation move, but you didn't bite instead, you jeweled like a 5 star wide receiver cornerback showdown at the Alabama spring game, would I be hyperbolic to say Chris that this? This was one of the greatest Premier League moments in Alabama history. I would like to think so. I mean, it's sick, you know, of course slip with the run that raster has been on lately. It was cool for I love seeing that stat where it's like, yeah, he scored in all of these permanently games except you know and it's like, it's really cool to, I guess, to be a part of that game, but like you said, just to kind of etch that in Alabama history or Alabama sports history in general, like it's just, it's amazing. 42nd minute, to me, knowing what you had been through, the challenges, the tenacity that it took to get to this minute. One of the most joyous moments of the year, you trap back a high-speed chase really down the Flank with Anthony. You pursued him step for step all the way down to the palace touch line, and then unfurled a perfectly timed tackle just snuffing out all danger, tell us what went through your mind because got to be honest, I was exhausted just watching yeah, so the guy was yelling at me the whole time. He was like, foul and follow him. I know I can get him. I don't want to follow him yet. And then so like you said, I'll just track them back and it was one of those things where of course everybody knows that he's a quick player, fast player, but I was like, no, I got him. Don't worry, everybody. I got him. And I made the tackle at the end and I remember people after the game saying like the crowd behind me was like going crazy, but also I couldn't hear a thing. Like I was just I was so focused on that very moment where I couldn't hear anything or anybody around me. Wayne Rooney's described it. He said like when you do similar that you can't hear a thing but then suddenly there's a thrilling second where you realize what you've done and you feel like a swimmer breaking the surface and coming up for air in game. Are you aware of what you just done? Are you in your head and you're like, oh my God, I Chris Richards from Hoover Alabama. I belong in the Premier League. Or does that only happen when you see the highlight clip after the game? No, I think in that tackle, I was like, all right, I'm here. This is it, you know? And it very much hit me after the game, but I think in that moment I was like, all right, this is what I'm here for. I've just got to keep it going. And I feel like I proved it to myself in that moment that I was supposed to be here. What happens afterwards? Do you get back to the locker room with just your phone, has all of your mates just sending that clip to you after the game? Yeah, everybody. I mean, I saw y'all's tweet like it was one of those things where I was like, did I really do that? I don't even remember that happening in the game, but I remember like all the texts and calls and tweets and it was just they went crazy and I don't know, it was weird to me because I felt like you know it was just something that I was supposed to do. It wasn't something that was extra special or something that I expected them myself so I didn't I didn't feel like it was something crazy, but then after the game I didn't realize how like I said I didn't realize the how big that moment was. Yeah, I've got to tell you it's funny you mention our tweet because it is one of the most wonderful that I have sent out this year. I even sent it to my own mother, even though it wasn't of me, I had nothing to do with it.
Men In Blazers
"chris richards" Discussed on Men In Blazers
"At night, but the whole area around the ground, one that's so many great footballers have emerged from concrete Catalonia they call it in England home to such an incredibly diverse population, a truth that's reflected really in the diversity of the palace squad, and I loved hearing you talk about just how much that means to you, Chris, as someone who grew up as the only black kid playing soccer in his hometown. of the black kids out here and it's something that like growing up, I never would have thought was even possible. And you know, it's cool. Even not necessarily saying that it's just about the black kids, but it's like, we have, I feel like we really very much London's team, like we represent every corner of London and whether it's now we have a Serbian on our team, we have players from all over South London, all over London all over the UK, France, other nations in Africa, and it's just nowhere. I feel like we very much stick to the root of London, which is immigrants and just kind of who we are. We don't we don't put up this facade where we're like this posh team, you know, we want to be the people soon. And I think we very much represent that. I've got to say, one of my delights when I am in London is to catch a game at Crystal Palace and every listener, when you are there, make a pathway down there to watch Chris and his team, it is the kind of authentic joyous experience that you will never forget. But how you find in London Chris after Germany, can you talk about the cultural transition? I know you've said that you find the street signs hard still. Yeah, I mean, London is, it's like a place where you can be yourself, you know? You can be who you want to be. I think Germany is very traditional in that sense where everybody kind of knows everybody even in a big city like Munich. It was like everybody knew everybody and you're kind of where forced to just be like a football player. And then you get to London and you can go through the city and just not have to worry about somebody stopping you or not have to worry about putting up a false image of who you are who you want to be. You can just be the authentic version of yourself and I think it's really easy to get lost in London in that sense. August 15th, you made your debut. You came on as a substitute against Liverpool. How much of a step up playing wise is the Premier League, you've remarked just how much faster you felt the experience was. Can you describe it to someone, me? Who's not played a single minute? Making your debut against Liverpool is pretty quality team, you know? They're not a bunch of scrubs. And you know, I'm not saying the Bundesliga is a bad league, but also every team here has quality players, you know, like world class players even. And coming in, you know, of course you're adrenaline's really high and you add an amazing ground like Anfield and the game is one one at that point so you're like, all right, I just have to do everything possible to keep it one one or to get us to take this one, go ahead. And it was just so fast. I almost didn't believe it. But I think very much in my head, I made it a bit faster than it was because I was just nervous, anxiety, adrenaline, everything was going at that point, but it was, yeah, it's probably my favorite moment of football so far in my career. This is saying that the beginnings are always difficult. And that was the case for you at Crystal Palace. The frustration of a long-term hamstring injury that you suffered in September kept you out for two months. Can you tell us what that experience is like, a fragmented start being a new gen in a new place, having that compounded by the loneliness of rehab away from the rest of the squad, doubt can creep in. Does that create more immediate pressure as you left upon that? How you yearn to prove yourself to the fans to Vieira. Like you said, doing a rehab, especially for a longer period of time. It's very isolating. And you know, probably say 75% of this year I've been doing a rehab, whether it's how I ended my season of hoffenheim or here and I felt like when I came here, I was in good shape and ready to prove myself and then right before the World Cup, of course, had a bad injury and it was like a double whammy because a, I couldn't prove myself to palace and then B also I was missing the World Cup where it's something that you've football players dreamed of as a kid. And so that whole period coming home and watching games and then going to training the next day and being by myself and everyone's gone for the World Cup break. It was tough. But I think it just made me work even harder to chance finally came to finally be able to put my best foot forward and to make the most of it. I am taking you into a moment of darkness, a moment of darkness for you personally. I've got to be honest a moment of darkness for all American football fans when that injury didn't just keep you out the Premier League. We learned that it was going to keep you out of the World Cup two and you broke the news yourself back in November on Instagram, I believe the word you use was gutted to miss the tournament that you dreamt to playing in since you were a kid. Can you really take us into your head during those final days that moment of realization that the dates of your rehab and the dates of the World Cup were just not going to ally, you weren't going to recover in time. Is it a grieving period? It was a tough time because, like I said, it's something that always dreamed of, but also it was one of those things where I did everything possible. I really did every sort of treatment. I was resting. I was doing everything possible. And we were just trying to hope that maybe one day I'd wake up and it'd be just 1% better. And when you push yourself really hard to try to make something like that, your body needs to rest. And so you can't go every day. And it was tough because, you know, for me, it wasn't just me representing myself. Of course it was representing my country, but it was also representing my family, like all the people that have been there with me on the journey and my first experience with the World Cup was 2010, like the U.S. Algeria game and I remember I was at this I was at a soccer camp back home in Birmingham Birmingham southern actually and we were outside and the game was being played on the radio and the loudspeakers. Landon Donovan there are things on here for the USA. Can they do it here? Cross and dead seas tonight again and Donovan is gone. Can you believe this? Go
Men In Blazers
"chris richards" Discussed on Men In Blazers
"You just broken into the buy in first team 2021 when you decided to leave in search of more regular minutes. You spent a season and a half on loan at hoffenheim, where you caught the eye of a legion of teams, come last summer's transfer window, Southampton, Brighton, legion united were all linked to you, but in July 2022, you decided to move to Crystal Palace, blockbuster signing $13 million Premier League football was now to be yours in South London. What was it about the mighty eagles? What did the incredible Patrick era see to you Chris that made you decide this? This is going to be the place for me. You know, I think everybody knows Vieira from how he was as a player and he'd do anything to win and like you said, you know, center house will do anything to win. You know, not necessarily that we'll score the goals, but it was one of those things where he kind of brought the same mentality that I had when I first decided to start playing center half, it was one of those things where it was, it was like that, you know, and he very much he very much played into that without even knowing and he kind of gave me that sense of, you know, we're going to fight for each other. We're very much a family club and you hear about teens being family clubs, but when you get here, it really is a family. And it's really cool because a lot of us are on the same age, a lot of us, you know, we have a lot of same experiences growing up and he didn't really have to tell me much if I'm being honest with you, you know? Palace is palace. The Premier League South London, you can just tell from television that the guys enjoy each other and it's a quality team, so that's all it took for me. Palace is palace. It is listeners if you have not been one of the greatest places to watch and play football in England. The selhurst park atmosphere crackling out the home Dell end.
Men In Blazers
"chris richards" Discussed on Men In Blazers
"And especially when they offered me the yearlong loan. I had graduated high school the week before and I had only one suitcase to pack for a year and move into a place where I didn't speak the language and I couldn't even tell my parents or friends goodbye 'cause I was like, oh, I'll be back in a year. No biggie, and then I wasn't back in the year. I'm still here. I'm still over here. So it was a, it was a big deal. It was a big deal. Oh, can't go to senior week. Gotta play for Bayern Munich, who has not experienced that as one of their adolescent rituals. Yeah, I'm fascinated by the culture shock because you come from part of our nation famous for its hospitality. You know, people are said to be very warm and welcoming. There's a real emphasis on community. Germany, reputationally at least, slightly cool the place. People more reserved. Were there aspects of German culture off the field that you found difficult to adjust to when you first got them? Yeah, definitely. Now me and my coach Sebastian hennes, like as soon as I got there, we were butting heads because Germans are very, it's their way of the highway. The autumn. Yeah, exactly. Oh, yeah. Crazy. Crazy. Yeah. I love it though. It's very, that's a very American thing, I think. No speed limit, just driving as fast as you want. But no, I mean, we were just butting heads all the time and it was like, you know, he wanted it one way. I was like, oh, there's a different way to do it and that was just like, I was getting punished for it, you know? And again, like you said, Germans are a bit more traditional and reserved. And that's something that I was not used to. The south is very, you know, southern hospitality. If you can't find one way to do it, you find a different way to do it. And very much something that I wasn't ready for when I first moved there. And the German locker room is a world away from American cozy climbs. The intimidation factor, you're a teenager from Birmingham, and you join your club filled with international legends of the game. I remember my first day I walk in and right beside the opening of locker room, it's like David Alaba and ain robbin, Frank ribery, and they're just like, they're laughing like they're humans, but then I walk past them and they have this cold stare on their face and they'll say, oh, okay. All right, nice to meet you. And it's like I said, it's like these guys, so I grew up watching, like I remember, I remember I and Robin at the 2010 World Cup, just like these guys who have had world class careers and I'm just this scrub from Alabama is coming into play alongside them. It was honestly a shocking. You got a great story of your first time training with the Bayern senior team and you get yelled at by iron Robin and even as you were being yelled at in real time inside your own head, you're like, oh wow, this is amazing. I'm being yelled at by iron Robin. Yeah, it was very intimidating but also. I was like, not many people can say that, you know? We've had them all these actually such a sweet blue for me was dying to know what you did to bring out that side of iron, but by and sign you on a permanent contract 6 months later, you spent your time training with the buyer and academy. Are the things you learn that year on the pitch and off that you know you would not have learned if you'd stayed here at an academy back in the United States. Yeah, a 100%. I mean, I think Byron just kind of gives you like, whether it's the academy or it's the first team or even the second team is just the winning culture. And they'll do anything to win and whether it's extra trainings, whether it's extra tactical work, it's just they live and breathe it here and that's something that necessarily we don't have back home in the states because we have other avenues, whether it's other sports or whether it's to go to college first or whatever the deal is here, it's almost life or death to them. And especially at a club like Byron, who's known for being one of the best, if not the best in Europe, it's definitely, you know, it's definitely a barrier that I had to learn and, you know, I think if I would have stayed back home, it wouldn't have I wouldn't have gotten these lessons. Needless to say, those first couple of years at Bayern, they were not all tournament matches with the first team. Playing PSG and Juventus you, Chris, were grinding it out. First with the under 19s, then with the reserve team, were there ever times in your heart in those first two years when you started the doubt the part where you'd walked up by and maybe thought to yourself, God, if I was still at Dallas, I'd be starting for the first team right now. And no one would be screaming at me. In German. Yeah, of course, you know, I think, especially as a young player, the first thing you want to do is play, you know? You see guys who are your age, like making their first team debut, whether it's not buying or it's around the league and you're like, you know, why am I not doing that yet? And buyers not necessarily known for being a development club either. So you guys one of those things where I was like, man, did I make the wrong choice like it? Am I going to be one of those players who's on loan every year and never really gets a shot at the first team? And I mean, I figured, you know, it's just one of those things where I'm in the right place if I'm doing the right stuff, eventually eventually the moments will come and that they did. You choose to stay the course. You finally earn your Bundesliga debut with Bayern at the end of the 2019 20 season. That was the first summer of the pandemic. It was all fanless, came on in the 84th minute, and another debut quickly followed November, you made your first appearance for the U.S. men's national team, a ten minute cameo in Venus, Austria, in a friendly against Panama, again, without fans without your family able to come, but you said to me after the match. Honestly, I found it incredible at the time.
Men In Blazers
"chris richards" Discussed on Men In Blazers
"Most kids want to sit up front, score the goals, grab the glory, and your 6 foot two now, but at the time you get to hit that gross but and I'm fascinated, what drew you to that position at such an early age, because arson wenger once told me, people who love to win become strikers, people who hate losing defenders. Yeah. I like that. I like that quote. You know, of course my dad, he doesn't know too much about soccer, so he is one of those, one of those parents, of course, everybody wants their kid to score, but here's one of those parents who was like, oh, if you're not scoring you had a bad game, you got to a point where, of course, I wasn't scoring. And so I started eventually moving further and further down the field and then once I hit center half, I was like, no, this is like, I feel like I have the most control in the game because I'm right in front of the goalie and I'm able to kind of make my mark in a way where I don't necessarily need to score the goals, but I can help prevent them. And so like you said, I hate to lose, I don't know if it's just because of how I grew up, but I'm very competitive and ever since then, I've been drawn to it and I've not haven't looked back and yeah, I was very short at the time, so everybody thought I was just kind of a temporary thing. Oh, he'd play there for until the guy comes back and then eventually one summer I woke up and I was like 6 inches taller. Thank God for the United States that guy never came back. But the thing about being a young promising footballer in Birmingham, especially a decade ago before Birmingham had the USL team the mighty legion before Atlanta United, there weren't a lot of places to develop at an elite level. So you had to go on trial to FC Dallas 650 miles away from home where you trained alongside the likes of young Texas up and comers western McKinney. Jesus Ferreira Reggie cannon. Do you remember any of those kids from Batman? Yeah, of course, you know, like they would live stream the national championship game for the academy, and I remember watching Wes, you know, of course when we were watching Reggie, Jesus, Brian Reynolds, all these guys, and FC Dallas and one every year, so it was like the top of the top and I was coming from Alabama, you know? Was Wes Wes back then? Yeah, he was still less, you know, he hasn't, he hasn't changed much since he was like 1617. But yeah, I mean, I came from Alabama where we weren't even the best team in Alabama and then I went on trial at FC Dallas and I was like, this is a whole different world. Yeah, the trials didn't last long inside 5 days, you were cut. We've all been there dear listeners. That kind of rejection, 16 years old, away from home, just starting out, and you ended up moving to Texas anyway, a few months later, not to FC Dallas, but to Texans SC, development academy in Houston, you suffered crippling homesickness away from your family, but that perseverance paid off because a year after the first rejected you, Dallas re approached you, and things have got to say, started to move extremely quickly once you got back to Dallas within a year, you'd sign your first professional contract as a homegrown player. And Chris, your mom has a story about you, ten years of age, you'd put sticky notes on the mirror in your bedroom with all your goals, all of them culminating in the ultimate dream of playing in MLS. And when you're selling that first contract with Dallas, 18 years old, having achieved the extent of what you'd allow yourself to dream as a kid. What went to your head? Were you like, I have climbed the mountain, or were you like, wow, I've got to come up with some new goals and buy some new sticky notes. Yeah. As I had to buy new sticky notes, you know? I had these goals set up for me and it was like, okay, once I signed my first deal at Dallas, I was like, you know, what's next? Signing your first pro contract is always amazing. But then you're thinking, all right, what's the next step? How do I get to the next level? I mean, this is where your story becomes truly surreal through the looking glass. It just an incredible moment because within a month, a month dear listeners, before you'd even played a professional game in MLS. You were given a trial at Bayern Munich, German powerhouse European powers by a unit. They had a player development partnership with Dallas and they offered you a yearlong loan. I wouldn't know we talk about this. Yeah, that happened. And of course, that's where he went. He went first to Dallas, then to how much of a shot was it when they came in, were you playing it cool on the outside inside what was going on because that is a world away. A world away from FC Dallas. I remember calling my parents and I was like, so I'm going to Germany next week. You know, it's a trial and they're like, what do you mean? And I was like, oh, buying this and that. And two years before that, I was playing in Alabama, you know? And then to go from Birmingham to Byron within two years, it was like
Men In Blazers
"chris richards" Discussed on Men In Blazers
"Special with the one and only Chris Richards. Joining me today, I've got a gent who I admire greatly. A 22 year old American who's already journeyed the road less taken in his career from the Deep South of Alabama to deeper Bavaria and now deeper, steeper South London, forging a singular path in inimitable style, one that we can only hope will be followed by many Alabama born football dreamers in all corners of that glorious state in years to come. True joy to welcome U.S. men's national team and Crystal Palace center back. Bama Beck and Bauer all round great human being. Mister Chris Richards. Hey, roger. That was awesome. That was a cool introduction. Chris, you know what? It's all true and I want to start by going right back to the beginning because you are a native of Hoover Alabama just south of Birmingham to traditional place and that the risk of stating the obvious, not one of the major hotbeds of soccer culture in America, hardcore, high school football territory, Friday night light style. What was it like growing up as a soccer player in a place so devoted to gridiron? It was tough, you know, I wasn't at the high school I went to there was very limited amount of football players or sorry, soccer players. And so like you said, Friday night lights is what we were doing. Every Friday, like that was a thing to do was to go to the high school football game and hang out with your Friends. And so I had to miss a lot because I was on the way trips for soccer, but it was the thing growing up was just high school football. You know, there's so much about this that's fascinating to me because you've talked about how you were pretty much the only African American kid in Hoover who played soccer. And I'm fascinated how self conscious were you of that the whole time, because you've said retrospectively, you heard things that tournaments that you shouldn't have heard. I think in general, I was like the only kid in my friend group that played soccer. And so I didn't really think too much about the race aspect and then looking back, it was one of those things where I was very much kind of the only black kid that was playing. And like I said, once I finally moved to Europe, it was like the first time seeing people that look like me playing on the same team. And so it was really refreshing. Yeah, so I saw an incredible interview you did with Rio Ferdinand, where you said, as you've been kind of unpacking that, almost being a double outsider in America and not until you got to Europe, did you find people who look like you who kicked the ball that you loved to kick. You said retrospectively to Rio, you realize that you grew up around a profound identity crisis. I think being biracial, you kind of already have that identity crisis, you know, sometimes it feels like I'm a little bit too black for my white friends and a little too white for my black friends and just on top of that I was also playing soccer, so it was like I was like you said like a double outsider. I'm kind of giving me the sense of independence growing up where I didn't really necessarily need the people around me to kind of gas me up. Like it was just I was kind of had my own path that I knew I wanted to take. Birmingham. In the early 2000s, the closest thing you have by way of a professional team, I believe, with the Atlanta silverbacks, two hours away playing in the second tier, the NASL, and I'm curious how much exposure did you have to the professional game back then? Were you watching it on TV? Who were you watching? Did you have idols that you looked at outside of your world and said, him, him, I want to be him. In Alabama, of course, there weren't very many soccer games being played on TV. And when they were, it was like, you know, back then it was Clint Dempsey maybe at Fulham or land and Donovan at Everton. So those are like the games that were being played. And you get the occasional united game when Cristiano was there, so that was kind of like my introduction to soccer. But like you said, the closest team was Atlanta silverbacks and those games were never on TV. So I didn't really have any type of introduction to MLS or things like that until I was probably like 15, 16 years old. When the Lenny united finally got the startup. I mean, were you what were you watching Clint and Brian McBride and Landon Donovan? And were you like them? I won't be there. That is a fantasy land I want to jump into or will you like that feels so far away? How do I even get through the enchanted forest to find my way to glory? About too far away for me, honestly. You know, I think we had a player from Birmingham named Chandler Hoffman and he ended up making his way to MLS and that was like, you know, that was a thing where like, wow, like we saw him play at UCLA and go to galaxy and we were like, that's the dude. You know, that's what everybody wants to be. And last thing online was playing primarily league, you know? And so it was, it almost felt like it was too big of a dream for me at that time because I've never seen anybody around me do it, especially not at the caliber that we're at now with the Americans. It's like everybody's able to do it. If we really put our mind to it. Not everybody, not this guy, Chris, but you gave it interview once. We talked about the single moment that you decided you were going to go all in on football. You and Buenos Aires and under 16 regional ODP team. They took you to a local club game. I think it was Lannister against banfield. Been as always classico del Sur and was the first professional game you'd ever attended, which blows my mind. Take us back there. The atmosphere, the experience, the passion, the emotions you felt, what was it that had such a profound impact? What did you see? What did you think? So my club coach growing up, he was from Argentina and so you could just see the passion. Like when he would speak, you could just kind of feel the passion in his voice, I didn't quite have the passion for it at that time because I wasn't kind of had one foot in one foot out because I was doing everything at that time. And then I get to Argentina and, you know, like I said, at that point, I'm 15, 16, and we're going to this game. And we're all wearing green tops because that was like the color of our region. And apparently that was the color of the away team as well. And so we're driving up on the bus and they're throwing stuff on our bus and we're getting off and like, of course, you're 15, you're kind of like shitting yourself, but also you're like, all right, this is also sick, you know? This is my first professional game. So after that trip, you know, I come home, I tell my parents, I was like, you know, this is like, this is something I've never experienced before, but I want to experience the rest of my life. And of course they were a little bit skeptical. They threw crap out of us. I want that. Exactly. Like kind of anger. Yeah, I mean, like they're throwing flares, they're throwing hot dogs, coffees. It's just like whatever they get their hands on their throne and at us. And like I said, we're 15 year old kids, like, I can't imagine playing for the first team at that time. It was scary, but also was very inspiring at the same time. It was around that time that you just started the play center back. And you were in midfield up till they ran the age of 14. One fateful day, a teammate was injured, the coach moved you back and you have never looked back. most kids want to sit up front, score the goals, grab the glory, and your 6 foot two now, but at the time you get to hit that
ESPN FC
"chris richards" Discussed on ESPN FC
"League minutes since he went to crystal Powell. So obviously you're not basing that on form right now. So what are you basing Richards at number two? 'cause that's really the spot everybody's talking about, right? We assume it's walker Zimmerman and whoever's number two. Yeah, there are a few factors here. The biggest one is sealing. I just think it's sealing so much higher than any other center back. He's a good explosion waiting to happen. A lot of talent right there. And the second one is how you pair them with walker Zimmerman. I've seen Aaron long and walker zoom in. I've seen what I can get out of them. And the tandem while if you're going to fend only first could be effective, you're asking these guys to play out of the back. You're asking them to build your offense. Stay within possession, penetrate lines. That combo, you saw what happened against Japan. You saw what happened against Saudi Arabia too. Yes, World Cup opponents, but nowhere near where you want to get to the World Cup which is the latter phases. So Chris Richards is a great compliment to walker Zimmerman. Now walkers has gotten a bad rep, if you will, when it comes to his playing out of the back ability, but he can play out of the back end different fashion. So the way those two can play out of the back walkers and his long switch walker Zimmer and the physicality was walker Zimmerman can give you on the offensive end of the ball and set pieces and Chris Richards left footed profile, clean feet, penetrating balls within midfield, a good switch as well. I just think it's the partnership that compliments each other the most and Chris Richards of a ceiling alone has to be in the number two spot. Richard's got to get healthy. That's important right now, Patrick Vieira giving an update that as of earlier this week, which is still not a part of group training. So time starting to run out on Chris Richards who, of course, missed out on the last window. You've got Aaron long at number 5. And obviously Aaron long is a lightning rod for criticism, right? If you've got him at number 5, you're saying he's going, but probably not starting. Today. Probably an emergency use player. If he does have to start, can the U.S. win a game at the World Cup with Aaron long as a starting center back? I've got no issue with Aaron long starting a game in the World Cup if what you're trying to do is hold the zero. If you're not trying to build out of the back, if you're not trying to construct cleanly, if you expect the whole time that what you will be doing is defending. A player like Aaron long, when physically fit has shown he can be of use to you, but when you Greg burr halter asking him to do certain things that he's not doing weekend and week out with the New York Red Bulls, it's a disservice to air and long. It's a disservice to the U.S. national team, a disservice to yourself. And you're not going to gain anything out of that. Can he be a productive player for you at times and that's up? Sure, maybe. Will that happen probably the majority of that time? No. So if you're at an event first type of shell or type of mode, then airline could be a player that you can use. I mean, pre Achilles injury, he was a very good player. Actually a very trusted player for Greg berhalter and nobody had an issue with them. It's him coming back now that people have an issue with because they don't necessarily think he's been one of the better players in Major League Soccer in his position. All right, let's move from American center backs to American goalies because American goalies
ESPN FC
"chris richards" Discussed on ESPN FC
"You got James sands. Okay. James sands is more of a versatility player for me. That's the only reason he's on here. Still very young. I don't expect 6 to go to the World Cup. There's there. Aaron long is a tough one between him and kamakura bakers, but we're going off form today. I would take Cameron Carter Vickers over him. Captaining a European side in the Champions League is no joke. The first one, Mark McKenzie, Mark McKenzie almost by default. There's been a better season for him at game. He's regained that form so I'll put him at number three. This is realistic candidates. So no John Brooks, no Tim ring. Sure. No miles Robinson. Miles Robinson injured, obviously. Those other two not in Greg brahl just plans. So then it's Chris Richards and walker Zimmerman. Chris Richards probably the highest ceiling out of all of them, but walker Zimmerman is the present today out of all of them. So it was a pretty easy choice there, at least when it came to the top two. It gets tricky after the top two. Okay, I got some questions for you here. Let me start with this. How many do you think go? You've got 6 on this list. How many center backs do you think Greg burter takes or needs for the world cupping guitar? You know, you asked me this this morning and I think my answer is going to change. I would probably take 5. Okay. Yeah. We set for this morning. Why'd you change? Yeah. Well, things go awry very quickly. We saw it in the women's Euros. It took a COVID outbreak and everything go arrive very quickly. You may need some cover there, so I would take 5. That's what I would do. Now, within those 5, you have flexibility of going to center backs or three center backs in a formation. So that comes into account and that's why a mark Mackenzie could have a lot of strength in there. In the last camp Greg we were all called in four center backs, but in the last qualifying window he called in 5, so take all that for what it's worth. I'm interested that you have Richards at number two. He's played only 47 Premier
ESPN FC
"chris richards" Discussed on ESPN FC
"Inferior the U.S. players look, this guy has all the technical skill in the world. Let's update you on some health issues surrounding the U.S. men's national team. The injury watch, here's a bit of good news. Christian rolled on his back. He started played 76 minutes as a Seattle, played over the weekend, a loss to sporting Kansas City more on that. Later, but coming back from a groin injury. Good to see him back on the field nerd. Yeah, he's so important to Seattle's success and the recent success they had over the last few years. He missed the last 8 games. And in those 8 games, the sounder is possible 24 points could only pick up 7. Elsewhere, Tim wea didn't play, but he was on the matchday squad for Leo as they lost a two one to L'oreal on the weekend. Jonathan David got a goal. In the game, Leo currently sit 8th in the French table heart. It's a start foot injury kept him on the shelf. Now he's back. You gotta do. In case you missed it, Ted Lasso mania continues. This at the NFL game in London, Chris Richards Matt Turner from the men's team Lindsey ran to the women's team hanging with the Ted Lasso cast. Did you see it? I did see it. Look at that. Jason Sudeikis, you got coach beard. You got everybody there. Chris Richards. A little stash on them. Lindsey, all right, look, all right, I see you guys. Very, very cool. Yes, stars of soccer in the stars of the soccer television show Ted Lasso, hanging out at the NFL game. Who was it to Vikings and saints? Which actually had a field goal thriller right at the end, the double doink? Incredible stuff there. And Chris Richards with coach beer very cool. All right, speaking of the U.S. men's national team, you might see Luca del Tori on Sunday when self to face off against a Barcelona del toro played the 20 minutes. This past weekend, the selta beat Betty swan nothing. Regular season in the books. Here's a look at the table. Top four, that means they gonna buy into the quarterfinals. 5 through 12 are into the play in where we got some fascinating matchups. We also have some fascinating questions that are still lingering after the conclusion. Of the season. Let's start with the team near and dear to her heart. Who finished 5th, but some in our production team are saying they're actually the biggest threat to win the league almighty's title herc. Do you agree? Let me tell you why they think it's a bigger story. It's actually the first team to reach 30 points and not be in the top four. That's how good of a tournament was for a lot of these teams in the top four. But they are the biggest threat to everybody in that field. Besides
ESPN FC
"chris richards" Discussed on ESPN FC
"The Mark Mackenzie's of the world. Derek Palmer brown's of the world. Okay, they're playing. Yeah, I get it, but are they playing anywhere? Any much better than John Brooks or Tim like did Tim reign thing for me is very difficult to understand. Hurt knows this at the World Cup you need players that are versatile. Anthony Robinson's out with an injury, he starts left back for Fulham in the Premier League guys. So I just look at it and say, if you give me four center backs are playing, I have no problem leaving Brooks and ream at home based on where their national team careers have been. But guys, you know as well as I do. No one's dominating the center back position other than I would say walker Zimmerman has put his footprint and saying, all right, I'm the leader. I'm going to go. Everyone else is in the same boat. Yeah, but Greg berhalter has told us he wants to play with the high line. I don't see him playing the high line at the World Cup actually see the U.S. men's action being pinned in a lot. What I will stress is your most experienced player, not just a fender, most experienced player on the national team is going to be Deandre yedlin. It's going to be his second World Cup. At some point, you're going to need experience because experience brings that com. And we heard Greg berhalter after the game and say, maybe the guys are worried, or maybe they're stressed about not making the team. If they are nervous right now, an empty stadium on new to ground versus Japan and Saudi Arabia, what's it going to be like versus England when it's packed versus wells when it's packed versus Iran when you have geopolitical pressure on you? Sure. To your point about experience Chris Richards doesn't have much. I couldn't agree. I couldn't agree more caps. But yeah. All right, that's all the time we've got. Taylor, thanks for joining us here on football on America. It's great to have you with us on the show safe travels to your next MLS assignment. I know you got the LAFC in Portland coming up on the weekend.
ESPN FC
"chris richards" Discussed on ESPN FC
"Who lost to Dominican Republic who they dominated in the final by 6 goals and it could have been worse. It's not the fact that they wanted how they write. Yeah. Like these tournaments, especially when you look over the past years, the stars of like a U 20 Concacaf tournament don't end up being always I'm very rarely we should say the stars of the national team. There are two week tournaments featuring teenagers, right? Anything can happen. The fact it's three straight, I will give you is at least something. If I were a real fan, right? Now I wanted to get fanatical about it. I would say everything because to your point, have you ever seen a U.S. team dominate Concacaf like that? And I'm not just talking about the numbers hurt. I'm talking about the how. Like the way that they played was very satisfying and the way they dominated the key games, the final, it's three nothing basically by the 40th minute. The semifinal, it's three nothing by the 40th minute. And the quarterfinal, which is, you know, a must win game, it's 5 minutes in when Paxton aaronson scores. They were killer and damn did they look good doing it. Yeah, and they did it against teams like the home team Honduras in front of a pack crowd. I mean, it really is the way they did it, said nothing seemed to phase these kids and they are kids. And congrats to them because this is an amazing accomplishment. Yes, one of the accomplishments, of course, they punch a ticket to the 2024 Olympics, which we know will be held in Paris. Now, men's soccer at the Olympics, you get three over age players. You can add to your roster. So if we gave you some homework here, you got the entire pool of overage, U.S. men's national team players, who you take in with those three spots. Before I start, let me just say I was going through the names and I realized the type of roster that the U.S. youth national team because it's a youth tournament to U 23 tournament for the Olympics will have. I mean, Gaga saloni, Bella, you know, it could be on one side. You could have Reynolds or just scallion on the other side. You were talking about guys that didn't even play in his life. I didn't even play Eunice Musa at Giovanni Reina Ricardo peppy and Matthew Hopkins those guys still have got me thinking like, holy, what? Oh, bed, a bunch of different things. All right, so this is where I went with, okay? First player producer, can I get Chris Richards? Come on down. Chris Richards is gonna be one of your over age players for this Olympic team. Now, you need an experienced center back, but I still want a younger center back. I want a younger son back they can play the way that this team has been showing us they play, building out of the back, very good in transition, defending long passes, vision, all that stuff. So Chris Richards will be the first one. Weston McKinney, I went down as well because Weston McKinney is a winner and I want winners on my team and it's a guy that's a good two way player that's gonna get goals and assist and he's a set pieces. He is a threat. A lot of that midfield has been said, like honestly, that 6 position could be tricky, but Johnny cardozo could be there. You could have somebody else emerge in that time. I think it could be well spent with Weston McKinney there that experience. And then listen, if this is the Olympics, I want Captain America, I want Christian Pulisic. Now, this is all theoretical assuming everybody gets released because we know how these things go. He could be on a team like Chelsea or around Madrid or whatever the case may be, you went through something and say, I'm not going to risk this player in a U 23 tournament. Somehow miraculously all the Brazilian players get released, but other teams do not, okay? If this is the case I want Christian.
ESPN FC
"chris richards" Discussed on ESPN FC
"Care if it's on both sides. I don't care if it's on one side. Put that aside. All that BS and it's John Brooks right now. You need to facilitate something for John Brooks to come back into the organization into this program and you get fast track them because he could be your starter or he could be a very important cog or a very important piece come World Cup time. You no longer have the luxury of just saying talented players are out the window. Couple quick questions here for you, herc. Who is in the driver's seat to pair with Zimmerman from the list that I'm looking at? Is it Chris Richards? Yes, this is Chris Richards. It's Chris Richards and you can slice up Mark McKenzie and Aaron long there four and 5 however you want Kramer Carter Vickers in. You can put Eric Palmer Brown. You can put in a map miyazu, whatever you want, I don't care. Okay? It's one, two, three right now that I am worried about. All that other stuff is subjective and people love to break them down and love to do the power rankings of whatever. I don't care. Concentrate on one, two, three, because those are gonna be the ones who are gonna be your main cogs or most important players come World Cup time. You already have a situation where you don't know who you're 9 is. Or they have a situation where you don't probably know who your goalkeeper is. Now it's the center back tandem. U.S. mustache fans can't catch a break. Another quick question here, because the reality is that John Brooks, whether you want him in or not, may not be under consideration. It might not be in this list. So if you had to take Brooks out and I'll give you some I'll give you some options here for who you can replace them with other guys that have been in or around the pool. Who's getting that 5th and last spot in your top 5. You got names like Eric Palmer Brown. You got Cameron Carter Vickers, who I think you mentioned. Somebody like Tim ream, who like it or not, will be a Premier League player next year. He just got re upped at Fulham. Probably a Cameron Carter Vickers or Matt miazga would be my two guys, but why are you trying to take John Brooks outside? Why don't you like about John Brooks Seb? No, it's nothing that I don't like about John Brooks. I'm just looking at the reality of what the national team manager has not just done. Let's look at the reality of those things. With his call ups, but what he said, he just told us a week ago. Dropping like flies. That is the reality. The only context we need here. He just told us a week ago, he would rather take a look at Cameron Carter Vickers than John Brooks. Look, we will leave the center back discussion for now. Let's talk about the surface herc on which miles on which miles Robinson was injured on Saturday. That artificial turf at Mercedes Benz stadium in Atlanta. And as I mentioned, it's not the first time that we've seen it, either on turf in MLS, this past week we saw it in Seattle with Joe Paolo or specifically in Atlanta. We saw it not in Achilles, but a knee injury with Brad guzan earlier this year. It was Achilles. Okay, how big of a problem hurt? How big of a problem is turf for Major League Soccer? It's a, it's a huge problem because perception is something that Major League.
Caught Offside
"chris richards" Discussed on Caught Offside
"Agree but you won't be alone in thinking that it's a must win. And what did we just say on the podcast. The other night in any game of any import from here on out pepys. He has to be your your number night. He has to be your striker. I just feel at the you know at the risk of overstating it. I just feel the energy of of the on the mood. And the and the perception of this team a good performance and a win is needed on wednesday to to just close the chapter on on this On this window we can't go like days. No nah you're right. I hear you I wonder too about you know fullbacks. It's gotta be robinson and dust anything aside from that would shock me Centreback miles robinson. I'm sure slots back in. I hope you'll walker zimmerman has played. Well i know he got you know we thought peppy was the star of the other night but i saw barry alter gabe. Zimmerman the match ball After that one was really complimentary of job. He did sure he's he's now played in both of these. Is he gonna be able to give you these three in a week. One which you know on the road coming back now to ohio. I hope i think miles robinson and walkers look good next to each other so You know i. That's what i would want to see but we'll have bear halter knows bear altern better than us. What sort of fitness levels. He's got left in zimmerman. Maybe he played them tonight knowing. That wasn't gonna give them all three. And it's gonna be miles. Robinson and chris richards mackenzie. Maybe he'll go the less. I don't know. I'm genuinely curious this. This teen is nothing if not unpredictable so we will. We will sit and wait like the rest of you in nervous anticipation. Suddenly it takes on a different hue in different color. I mean all these qualifiers we said there are important. This is what it's all been building toward and the fact that there's tree in quick succession definitely heightened attention. Bought detention goes into overdrive after performance. Like that now. It's really now. It's mood music andrew. it's it's hans zimmer. It's it's it's real kind of cinematic stuff big win. Big performance needed wednesday night. Does this sound familiar..
ESPN FC
"chris richards" Discussed on ESPN FC
"Midfield just because he can actually pass the ball and has some personality. I'm like the folks who played their last year So i think that is a big plus. I legally very open about it. He was hoping to get another midfielder in You know he's not high on an archer or raviol- probably core to your most of midfielders cristiano saying obviously impacts everything But from their perspective they were certainly hoping to bring in a center forward to replace manab. Noise can moist. Ken is is in. They see more of a season more of a winger type than somebody who can lead the line. He's an interesting one because when he was a part of the reason let him go is that we're briefing that you know. He's he was a bit of a head case and his he wasn't serious about being a pro or whatever. Now they're all saying oh look he's matured so much for power signs your man and you know learning from learn his professionalism. You hope he may maybe more from imbaba than from name out. But they're something that as as applause. They got the kid george as well so you know they feel that they have enough weapons to be competitive this season but obviously legally will also feel that. They've missed out on at least two targets. And i wonder wouldn't be surprised if we see them back in in january just to round out the squad. Weston mckennie remains the event is player advocates are posted in uk that he was talking to a number of clubs including burnley. Yes and here. It's kind of interesting. Because i was told about the only thing and Burdening said well. We stopped away the minute we realize that the the intermediaries who were offering him to us. They're not actually agents quite a bit in football. Where no you go to the club and you say hey do you want so and so and how much you're willing to pay for it and if you have credibility they say we'd be willing to pay this much we can do this contract. Then you go back to the club at the agents and say ooh we've got burnley lined up for you but you gotta do the deal through us. So burly credit to them sniffing these people out and so weston mckennie stays where he is just confirmed show some of the other. Us international transfers. That have taken place this summer. Hoppy as gone to me yorker. Chris richards to hoffer. Meanwhile mon.
ESPN FC
"chris richards" Discussed on ESPN FC
"Dangerous. How is he not in the best. Twenty six hurt okay. So obviously gregg berhalter does not see him as a nine sees him as a wide player. Matthew hoppy is also in this limbo situation with this club. So this doesn't surprise me you you gotta let them sort that out and you can't just sign go somewhere and say hey by the way. I'm leaving if you're not an established player right now bundesliga too. I don't mind this look at the players who are in front of me. What do we have in front of matthew. Hoppy you're going to have christian pulisic gio raina. You're going to have who else do you have. Brendan errands and who's been absolutely on fire timmy. Way he had a great gold cup but versus gold cup opponents. These other players have been noonan at a higher level so with this club situation. I think it lends himself for. Maybe it's between him. And conrad. And if conrad establishing that clubs situation. Maybe greg hold a conversation with them. Fix your club situation. We'll go from there. Look you want to sing. George bellows praises. How does he get the call up. He doesn't surprise raise and doesn't get it on gold cup performance but you asked me. I said yeah that surprised me okay. What about george. Bello is surprise. Because he's there. Because of the position. Because i think what's really interesting. Is you basically look at him desk. You got two or three outside backs. Everybody else that they brought in on defense. And he brought ten defenders. He's got seven players who are all centrebacks or potentially centrebacks in back three does that tell us what formation wealthy formation. He's look he's looking at probably working at it three centreback formation and players who could potentially be part of that i was also surprised at james sands is on this list. Not the james sands is a bad player. But i didn't think he had a great gold cup. Wants the competition got stiffer. I thought he struggled even the all star game yesterday. You saw there's still some things in his game sometimes. Where maybe. He's a little over competent. Maybe he's not as great a defender as you think he's very good. Pass another back. Sometimes that that'll get you in trouble. I was surprised that maybe a chris richards for example wasn't on this list. Chris richards i. I know it's a club situation.