230106 Raven Newsletter

HAIL GFOP!

I type with fatigued fingers after experiencing a week of surreal, sordid soap opera unspooling from the Berhalter-Reyna feud at US Soccer. To witness all those World Cup good vibes, created first, fleetingly, by our young American team, then turned up to 11 by Lionel Messi and his Argentinian hero’s journey, be eviscerated by the trauma and incestuousness of the US Men’s coach and the most prominent footballing family our nation has produced, battling for power in a style that is Shakespeare meets Elmore Leonard, is hard to watch.

We have covered this sad story all week long with you dear GFOPs and will continue to analyze it in this newsletter, along with FA Cup 3rd Round Wonder and the fallout from the past two weeks of dizzying football action, in which we have lost King Pele and experienced Ronaldo arrive in the nation owned by Newcastle. We are not even one week into 2023… tell me it is going to get better already?

Inside US Soccer’s Fredo-Michael Corleone Power Struggle

First up, let us be clear: there can be no winners from this story which is trauma-filled and tabloidy in equal measure. A blast that is in danger of taking out everyone in its radius.

What Dark Circus have we experienced this week in which our elite men’s program has been made to look as small as a club youth team filled with nepotism, privilege, and overreaching parents? This is Friday Night Lights stuff. It is not elite football. It is embarrassing. Let’s review for a moment how we got here:

On Tuesday, Gregg Berhalter tweeted a long, pain-filled statement re-living the details of his teenage domestic assault on his now wife, fused with the revelation that someone was trying to “take me down.” US Soccer simultaneously released an accompanying statement filled with legalese about “inappropriate behavior by individuals outside of our organization” which only served to add confused intrigue to the issue.

Within 24 hours, the bombshell dropped when those individuals were revealed to be Claudio and Danielle Reyna. Gio’s parents, ex-US internationals both. Claudio, a former captain, and 2-time World Cup leader. Footballing Royalty. Both put out statements creating an awful “He Said-He Said/He Said-She Said” which a Wednesday afternoon US Soccer Press Conference featuring President Cindy Cone and Sporting Director Earnie Stewart largely deadbatted, citing a desire to let the outside investigations they have now greenlit to take their course along with Earnie Stewart’s footballing review of Berhalter’s coaching performance. The surreal reality according to Stewart is that Gregg Berhalter is “still in consideration” to coach USMNT, pending investigation.

Finally, Thursday lunchtime, Gregg Berhalter continued his post-World Cup tour of America’s finest leadership courses, popping up at the Harvard Business School. The lecture was breezily entitled “A New World of Work.” Gregg appeared via zoom, looking as haggard as one might expect after a dark week like this, but overall attempted to present a positive outlook in which he talked about how he would like to continue on as USA coach, even while admitting regret about his decision to throw Gio Reyna under the bus at his last ill-advised Leadership Program appearance. “My bond with the players is very strong, and it's about maintaining that bond. The players and the staff know who I am and know what I stand for.”

ii. There is still so much we don’t know – and must resist the urge to fill in the gaps with fantasy thinking. We still have no real idea about exactly when the deepest of friendships turned to dread feud. When did this childhood friendship forged between two Jersey boys who grew up playing on the same club and high school teams together, made their dreams come true by representing their nation in World Cups, and married two elite footballing-college roommates along the way turn to a power battle in which bloodlines were drawn over the next generation?

Was it when Gio was told pre-World Cup he would get limited minutes? When the press were briefed he was unfit, while he said he was ready to go? When Jordan Morris came on instead of him while we cried out for a goal? When Gregg threw Gio under the bus at the HOW Institute on December 11th? Or did it all begin before this, for reasons not yet revealed? We simply do not know, but it is humanly heartbreaking. Look at these photographs of Gregg and Claudio over the decades. One of our GFOPs called them “the worst Springsteen song ever."

iii. The one thing we know for sure is that Rosalind Berhalter does not deserve any of this. The trauma at the heart of this story – an act of domestic violence – was her story to tell. Michael Rosenberg wrote well about this in Sports Illustrated: “Whatever happened to Rosalind Berhalter on that night in 1991 is not the Reynas’ story to tell. Danielle Reyna has a right to feel however she feels—as a mother, as a friend, as a woman. She does not have a right to use a painful incident from Rosalind’s past as a weapon to defend her son. If Rosalind wanted this publicized, she could have done that. If the Reynas think Rosalind is in danger today—and there is no indication they do—then there are ways to protect her.”

iv. The rest will be left to the US Soccer investigation. The Reynas either intentionally threatened to expose that Gregg Berhalter as a teen committed an act of domestic violence (a “kick” in his words, or something “significantly” worse in Danielle Reyna’s telling). OR they simply sounded off as frustrated parents to their ex-teammate friends, ex-teammate friends who all happened to hold serious positions of power at US Soccer, including Sporting Director Earnie Stewart and General Manager Brian McBride, blithely unaware that in the wake of October’s Yates Report, which had revealed years of “chronic institutional failure” at the heart of US Soccer, they would have no option but to trigger an outside investigation. Which they have. Into both the Berhalters and the Reynas, all while one of the longest reviews of a coach’s performance in footballing history is undertaken by Earnie Stewart’s staff.

v. What Now?

If the United States was a normal footballing nation, this story would be front page leading every newspaper and broadcast, drip dripping new revelations as journalists mined the story, forcing the football federation to move fast. I would love to be wrong on this, as I do believe this story requires speedy-resolution for reasons I will explain in a moment, but I do not believe the United States is there yet.

So, US Soccer control the story with their investigations which they have said will take an unknown amount of time. Every day that goes by, though, deepens the stain on our game’s reputation. Just as the optics of Gregg Berhalter’s hiring will always be seen by many as connected to his brother’s then role as COO of US Soccer, this moment creates the impression our Federation is a venomous, incestuous clique. That is terrible on the face of things from a value and culture perspective. It is also particularly damaging when glimpsed through the eyes of future elite European coaches assessing whether or not to kick the tires on the US Men’s job, and even from a commercial brand partnership perspective. (Look at how the feud was viewed on BBC News in Britain. Berhalter has talked about "changing the way the world views American Soccer." Right now we look like a sordid, surreal soap opera.)

Speed, transparency, and value are of the essence. At a certain point, one would hope the parties involved would have to realize that no one individual is more important than the institution that is charged with overseeing and growing the game of football on the mens and women’s sides from youth, Paralympic and national levels, not to mention the coaching. There is so much that is being risked in this moment. Failure to qualify for the World Cup in 2018 was followed by a year of drifting and stasis. The Men’s program was lost in the wilderness under an interim coach, treading water. With all the momentum coming out of the World Cup – the energy, and joy, and sense of possibility of this young, talent-soaked collective – to fritter it away with this chaos and darkness, especially in the wake of the Yates report, is intolerable.

There is an old leadership trope that any challenge brings with it a moment of opportunity. I truly believe this. How we act in times of darkness is ultimately what defines us. What reveals to the world whom we truly are. In that vein, this is a moment in which US Soccer can either circle the wagons around its own and look small, as the Yates report revealed it did time and time again in the Gulati days. Or step up and signal this is a time of leadership, and make a statement that this is a new era, a new culture. A clean slate. That lessons have been learned and new ways of facing the challenges of making football great in this nation will ensue. With all of my heart, I hope, for so many reasons, it is the latter.

One last note: probably the most important: The 1-800 domestic violence hotline and confidential chat-line which serves all who need it is

(1-800-799-SAFE)

1.800.799.7233

Or go to https://www.thehotline.org/ 

To better days ahead for all 🇺🇸

2. Our coverage of Berhalter-Reyna Feud

We covered pretty well every angle of the Gregg Berhalter/Claudio Reyna story as it developed with three straight days of Do It Live! on AMP and a special Emergency Pod. You can binge all our daily coverage ON OUR POD FEED. These AMP broadcasts have been wonderful during breaking news and coming off big games because they allow us to commune with you, Dear GFOPs. And enable you to ask your questions live on the Podcast. To get involved, all you have to do is download the AMP app on your phone and follow @meninblazers, so you never miss when we go live. You can listen on your desktop/laptop by clicking HERE, or simply tell your Alexa, "Hey Alexa, play Men in Blazers" while we're live. And our coverage continues today on a new episode of WGFOP. Call in your questions, now and always at 646-450-9472.

4. Happy FA Cup 3rd Round Weekend

Manchester United v Everton (Today, 3 PM ET, ESPN+)

Floundering Everton will have Frank Lampard manage despite rumors he will be fired before the Blues next play in the league on January 14th. Bookmakers have Wayne Rooney, Sean Dyche, David Moyes, Roberto Martinez, and Duncan Ferguson as the five favorites to replace him. All incredible epic novels waiting to be written in their own right. I have not seen Everton raise a trophy in 27 long years, bar the prestigious Florida Cup. Defeat this afternoon would extinguish my dreams for another season. To hope, false hope, and delirious fantasy thinking.

Liverpool v Wolves (Saturday, 3 PM ET, ESPN+)

As Julen Lopetegui seethes that his Wolves have had two less days to recover from league exertion, his opponents may unleash debutant Cody Gakpo in an attempt to turn Der Frowns upside down at Anfield, for what would be Gakpo’s first game since Netherland’s feisty World Cup exit to Argentina.

Manchester City v Chelsea (Sunday, 11.30 AM ET, ESPN+)

An instant re-match of yesterday’s City 1-0 victory which ended with the City players banging on the walls of their locker room and singing “Johnny, Jonny Stones.” With Chelsea’s season stalling, their injury list ballooning, and Graham Potter’s side having gleaned only 6 points from their last 8 league games, how much is he prepared to invest squad wise in a game which would be viewed as more of an inconvenience if both teams were in a title chase.

Christian Pulisic limped off with a reported knee injury. Awaiting status update. Cruel for Chelsea, whose injury list is voluminous, and for the player who was making his third straight start as transfer rumors abound.

More: English Press begin to wonder if in serving Haaland up for his goal feast, City are becoming lesser as a collective like United and Ronaldo.

MORE: Full FA Cup viewing slate here

5. More from Men In Blazers this week and next

One magical piece of MiB content that dropped this week, a MiB YouTube exclusive with Heung-Min Son. A truly joyous conversation in which the South Korea and Spurs star talks how he experienced the Spurs on Spurs World Cup PK violence between Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris; why he'll never have a tattoo; and why Spurs don't seem to get in gear until they are "punched in the mouth." We are putting so much content on our YouTube Channel these days. Subscribe and share.

ii. And if you like this Newsletter, you may want to read our American States United Newsletter, a weekly missive that flies every Wednesday and tells you everything that you need to know about how our Baby Eagles and World Cup Champion Women are faring abroad. SUBSCRIBE HERE. 🇺🇸

iii. In the week ahead, we are taping our next episode of Tyler Adams: Road to the Cup presented by Volkswagen in which Tyler and I will relive moments of the World Cup itself, game by game.

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4. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. How Streaming TV Turned the Premier League Into a Great American Pastime. Variety go deep, and Rog features.

ii. Why American owners are taking over Premier League by Swiss Ramble

“If we add up all of these stakes, treating all clubs equally (i.e. no consideration of valuation or revenue), then we can see that around 40% of the Premier League is now owned by American investors, significantly ahead of British owners (25%), followed by China, Greece and Thailand (5%).”

iii. Would Pele’s career have been even better if he had left and played in Europe?

iv. Why Women Footballers are experiencing so many brutal injuries.

5. My Music of the Year 2022

In a year of chaos, these 12 songs sustained me. The first song, 100% Endurance by Leeds band Yard Act is one of my favorite tunes of all time. I adore everything about it. The song. The message. The video. Please give it a listen. I hope it gives you joy as it has me.

6. Not Football, and all the Better for It

i. Boy George Documentary. How 70s shaped him. A story as much about suburban Britain in the 1970s.

ii. Sonic History of the Clarks Wallabee. A shoe I have worn since I was a tiny kid and has always been the staple of my wardrobe.

iii. I am a sucker for anything about the mental game of NFL Kickers. For whom every game feels like a penalty shoot-out.

iv. I work in party hostels all around the world. I clean gross rooms and host all-night pub crawls in exchange for a free place to live — here's what it's like. How are the words "Jack" and "Grealish" not featured anywhere in this story.

v. Who Removes The Graffiti In Baltimore? Always just assumed the answer was McNulty.

vi. Breakdancing is heading to the Olympics -- but at what cost? Liverpool College Breaking Crew, Assemble !

vii. How Much You Should Tip Restaurant Staff, Hotel Staff, and Drivers in Every Country. A good thing to know if you're running low on funds is that you can always supplement a small tip with the promise of your unborn child.

viii. The bunker at the end of the world: Why the salvation of humankind is in Norway. Going to reuse this headline when Haaland hits 50 goals later this season.

ix. People Are Shitposting on LinkedIn Now. The most intriguing part of this article is the contention that what people were posting on Linkedin before this was not parody???

x. American Girl's "Girl of the Year" is from Metuchen, New Jersey. Her father works in waste management. They're going to visit colleges up north next week. Should be fun.

xii. Real life Super Mario World opens next month. When I was about 8 years old I spent like seven hours playing Super Mario on my brother's gameboy and when I finally stopped I kept hearing the game music in my head -- an auditory hallucination that went on sporadically for many years -- which I don't want to say was the most alarming experience of my childhood, but it's right up there, and so respectfully, no, I will not be stepping within 10 miles of "Real life Super Mario World."

xiii. Ronzoni discontinues pastina without warning. Never forget what they've taken from you son.

xiv. Bryan Cranston Reprising Iconic ‘Breaking Bad’ Character for Super Bowl Ad. First time as tragedy, second time as farce, third time as an incentive to buy Frito-Lay’s PopCorners. The life cycle of man under late capitalism.

xv. An inflection point for GOATs: Please quiet quit these 'banished words' moving forward. Going to use them even more just out of spite.

xvi. Man who ate 124 kebabs in a month says it left him "physically and psychologically damaged". He clearly misunderstood this episode of Review. And no, for the record, the man was not Kalvin Phillips.

xvii. New York Public Library’s best books of 2022. The New York Public Library is an incredible institution and if you see them please tell them I said that and that I'm honestly really sorry for keeping The Books of Jacob for six months without renewing it was just really long and if they would be so kind as to un-blacklist me I would be much better this time around I swear.

That is it for today. As I write, tragic news has broken that Italian giant Gianluca Vialli has passed away from pancreatic cancer, aged 58. A truly transcendent talent who came to Chelsea in 1996. One of the superstars whose arrival from Serie A helped turn the Premier League into the global spectacle it is today. If you did not see him play, take a minute to honor his memory by watching this video. Farwell Re.

To better days ahead for all and making memories through football,

Big Love

Courage

ROG

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