Tottenham vs. Everton: What Could Possiblie Go Wrong

HAIL GFOP

I type with fingers filled with gratitude and a sense of wonder at the depth of passion and commitment you, and the thousands of GFOPs who are reading this newsletter have demonstrated towards me and the MiB team this week. Our new book Men in Blazers Present Gods of Soccer: The Pantheon of the 100 Greatest Soccer Players (According to Us) was published this Tuesday, and the reception has been immense. Our goal was to create a beautiful looking volume with heft. One that could proudly grace football fans’ coffee tables, and that families across America could read together with wonder, to revel in the human tales of Pele, Maradona, Mia Hamm, Cruyff, Messi, Marta, Ronaldo, Alex Morgan, and more. To share the launch party with you GFOPs on Tuesday night (LISTEN HERE) was to savor the depth of connection our audience has forged with the game we love in the nation we adore. Bringing out a book in 2022 is an act of creative passion and insanity. Thank you, dear football fans, for meeting us there! GRAB YOUR COPIES HERE

More: Gain a sense of our book here: Our entry on Lionel Messi ran on GQ this week and here I am on NPR All Things Considered in video! with the great Mary Louise Kelly.

b. If you have one second, please leave a 5-Star Rating on our Amazon Page… IT SOUNDS CRAZY BUT REALLY HELPS!!!

Grab your Copy of our book HERE. Support Indie Book Stores America!

🍻 We will be toasting you as we hoist our Buds skywards this weekend, dear GFOPs. Order Budweiser via Drizly and get $5 off your first order when you use the code: BUDXMIB Courtesy of Drizly. New Drizly users only. Must be 21+. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Per applicable law, value may be applied towards order total or shipping or delivery fees. Includes orders of non-alcoholic items. Void where prohibited. Expires on 12/31/22 at 11:59 EDT. 🍻

2. NEW YORK CITY COME AND RAISE A GLASS WITH US LIVE: Nov. 15, 2022 🗽

Yesterday, tickets to the opening show of our Men in Blazers This Cup's For You World Cup Tour went on sale. And we start this thing off with a home game. The city that never sleeps, but does take the occasional Sad Nap. NYC. We light the fuse on this month-long World Cup Tour Tuesday, Nov. 15 at Terminal 5. What a city. What a venue. What a night this promises to be. Football. MASSIVE GUESTS. Budweisers. TICKETS FOR NYC AVAILABLE HERE. 

As for the rest of the country, we are absolutely blown away at the response to our shows in Philadelphia, D.C., Austin, Atlanta, St. Louis, LA, San Francisco, Seattle and Nashville. We cannot wait to celebrate each of your wonderful cities and their football culture, and eat our way across the country. TICKETS FOR ALL SHOWS AVAILABLE HERE. 

3. TO THE FOOTBALL 

i. Liverpool vs. Manchester City (Sunday 11.30 AM ET, USA)

Midweek, Liverpool made a mockery of the Ibrox intimidation factor, running rampant 7-1, a delirious. feelgood 90 minutes in which Mo Salah scored a 360 second hattrick and the fans sang Jurgen Klopp’s name. Was this a one-off freak misdirection of a result or was it a turning point in a confounding, damp squib of a season? They are 14 points off the pace, and will have no greater litmus test than a match-up with Manchester City. Dolph Lundgren in cleats propelled by our new Robot Overlord, 15 goals in 9 games Erling Haaland. “Whatever He Hits, He Destroys.” Klopp hailed Norwegian Ser Gregor as “The best striker in the world,” and has suggested, even with an injury-hot defense, they will seek to keep him off the ball. Good luck with that, as City will be motivated to inflict Liverpool’s first home-defeat-with-crowd in five long years.

More: Liverpool - Scoring Less and Conceding More. Is that good?

ii. Tottenham vs. Everton (Saturday 12.30 PM ET, NBC Proper) 

Last March, Spurs blasted five past freefalling Everton as their fans stomped on our dead body, singing “Everton going down.” How much has changed since then? Not a lot really. Antonio Conte’s squad are still a “Tough, Gritty Team” with Kane and Son looking back midweek. Everton are Everton. A unique combination of gas and liquid who promise joy but deliver only a kick in the down-belows. 

iii. Leeds vs. Arsenal (Sunday 9 AM ET, P’Cock)

Tyler and Brenden face up to “Matt Turner’s Arsenal,” having gleaned a concerning two points from their last 15. Arsenal are what Jesse Marsch wants his Leeds to be: A young, hard-charging, kinetically intelligent collective. Leeds have been able to manage that in bursts; Arsenal in one complete, delirious 90 minutes after another. The giddy days of “Leeds United States of America” feel like they were a frighteningly long, long time ago.

iv. Manchester United vs. Newcastle United (Sunday 9 AM ET, USA)

A battle to prove who is the one true powerhouse United. The Manchester version needed a 93rd minute McTominay goal to fend off Omonia Nicosia, currently 6th in the Cypriot first division (but featuring Mix Diskerud). Bruno Guimarães-propelled Newcastle have become a delirious fever dream. They will swagger into Old Trafford without fear. 

v. Quick Hits

a. Devastating Chelsea news: Reece James injury worse than feared. Might he miss World Cup? 

b. Wolves. Might Nuno’s return be imminent?

c. I don’t know if this is true but I love it: Leicester rumored to have banned pre-game birthday messages at home games after fans allege they asked to celebrate “Zack Rogers” and “Brenda Nout.” 

Full Premier League Broadcast Schedule Here.

4. World Corrupt: Our Crooked Media Collaboration Out in the World

Tomorrow, we release World Corrupt Episode 2, our new Pod series with "Pod Save America"/"Pod Save the World” Tommy Vietor and the GFOPs at Crooked Media. The Podcast is an exploration of the intersection of sport and politics, centered around the World Cup in Qatar. In EPISODE 1 we unpacked the idea of sportswashing and discussed the way past World Cups have been co-opted by autocrats and dictators. In EPISODE 2, we go deep on FIFA, its history, and how this craven bunch of suits came to rule the World's Game. We also hear from former Department of Justice official (and Arsenal supporter) Matt Miller, who was at the 2010 awarding of the World Cup and called it "The most corrupt thing I've ever seen in my career and I spent a couple years working in New Jersey politics."  

Please spread word about this podcast. It feels like the most important I have ever been involved in.

5. More Football, Did Ya Say?

i. El Clasico Weekend! Real Madrid v Barcelona (Sunday, 10 AM ET, ESPN+) 🇪🇸

First vs. Second, as in days of yore. Lewandowski’s first rumble in a Barca jersey. A Barca jersey which has stolen all the headlines going into this one, as Drake will be the first Spotify artist to appear on the front of Barca’s famed jersey. Sign up for ESPN at espnplus.com/gfop. 

ii. More on Qatar’s Fyre Festival: 

Fox Television made an editorial decision to avoid mention of the corruption and human rights abuses that have paved the way to FIFA’s brazen, nosensenical decision to award the tournament to Qatar. 

My take on that? To avoid mention is to enable and empower and become an agent of propaganda. Especially when articles like this one are dropping 37 days away from the World Cup kick-off: Qatar thanks Russia and Vladimir Putin for their World Cup support. This Fox decision is reckless, craven, and probably connected to the amount of advertising inventory Qatar Airways have purchased. 

iii. NWSL Playoffs are upon us

Best of Times, the Worst of Times: the NWSL returns to play for the first time since the release of the truly devastating Yates report. It is impossible to just stick to sports in these circumstances. Football, as Jurgen Klopp always states, remains “the most important least important thing.” However, it is clearer than ever just how much the players have sacrificed to build this league, and that reality should also be celebrated and supported – in almost split-screen style: the record crowds, the Alex Morgan/Sophia Smith golden boot race for the ages, the rabid fan culture developing at expansion teams Angel City and San Diego Wave. We can marvel at all of this whilst simultaneously demanding leadership change and real accountability in this Post-Yates world.  

This weekend sees the first round of playoffs: first up on Sunday at 5pm EST on Paramount+, the tenacious Houston Dash host the surgingly aspirational Kansas City Current for their first ever playoff game in club history. Godspeed to all in Houston. Next, at 10pm EST on Paramount+, San Diego Wave host last-day-of-regular-season playoff clinchers, Chicago Red Stars, at that shiny, new cauldron of noise, Snapdragon Arena. If fit, Alex Morgan vs. Mal Pugh is a mouthwatering prospect. Sign up for Paramount+ at paramountplus.com/mibtwg

More: USWNT: After two straight losses, should we panic?  (Athletic, subscription needed)

6. More from MiB World Headquarters

Incredible week of tapings. We are putting finishing touches on a new, massive, ambitious Brendan Hunt World Cup series which we will release imminently. I have loved taping it with the mighty Coach Beard. It feels like talking to a mate down at the pub. 

i. On Monday's The Men in Blazers Podcast, Rog and Davo applaud Arsenal's 3 - 2 win over Liverpool in what was less a game of football and more a five-line poem on the human condition. Plus, Christian Pulisic is in the goals. And Everton... well... you know.

ii. Tuesday, we loaded up our nap sacks (mostly just Nutella, tbh) and hit the continent for another weekend of European Nights, Presented by Paramount+ with the New York Times Chief Soccer Correspondent and author of "Expected Goals: The Story of How Data Conquered Football and Changed the Game Forever" Rory Smith. This week, Rog and Rory explore the history surrounding the biggest European matches of the week. First up, the incredible heritage of Celtic, their great historical success in Europe, eccentric new manager Ange Postecoglou, and the lessons from the unique recruitment strategy he brought with him to Scotland from Japan. Then, unlikely Group B leaders Club Brugge (who have since gone on to clinch their spot in the knockout rounds), how they have surprised their opponents, and where the Belgian league fits in the European hierarchy. Plus, Rog and Rory pick their most interesting matches in the Europa and Conference League. The home of the Champions League is, of course, Paramount+. Try one week free on us at pararmountplus.com/mib.

iii. Wednesday, we unleashed the latest offering from MiB HQ. Our American States United Newsletter, our new weekly newsletter that covers our best and brightest young American stars plying their trade abroad. Get news from The Front, every week, delivered directly into your inbox by SUBSCRIBING HERE. 

iv. Thursday, talking of Baby Eagles abroad, it was the latest episode of our American States United, Presented by ESPN+ Podcast. In this episode, we head to the Bundesliga to sit down with Borussia Mönchengladbach defender Joe Scally. I have rarely interviewed a teen who was more poised. What a remarkable gent. This was one of our favorite conversations of the season, as we discuss his adjustment from Long Island to life in Germany, the sheer intensity of Bundesliga football and his childhood friendship with Gio Reyna. American States United is presented by ESPN+. Sign up now at: espnplus.com/GFOP. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

7. Not Football, and All the Better for It

i. How Cortex’s ‘Troupeau Bleu’ Became Hip-Hop’s Favorite French Jazz Album. The craziest of the crazy ass white boys

ii. Julio Torres Thinks Most Comedy Is Too Easy. Los Espookys one of the best shows out these days, tbqh!

iii. And a little more Los Espookys for all you hooligans: John Early Grills Julio Torres and Ana Fabrega on Everything Los Espookys.  

iv. The story of Angel Ortiz, Keith Haring's overlooked collaborator. "I taught him everything. I showed him how to refill the markers. I showed him how the commnity is run -- I showed him my type of environment."

v. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022 – the winning images. There's a photo of some flamingos in here that will make you lose your mind.

vi. The Rise, Fall, and Rise of Bennigan’s. Always fancied Brodge as a good Bennigan's manager.

vii. Which Indigenous lands are you on? This map will show you. Really good visualization of the breadth and diversity of indigenous peoples in this country.

viii. Lizzo Is Here to Talk About All of It—That Flute, That Lyric, Her Man, and More. If the Library of Congress wants to produce a season-long series of Lizzo playing different old timey instruments I'm here to say I will watch every episode with rapt attention.

ix. Report: Even Facebook Isn't Using Its Own Metaverse, Begs Employees To Spend Time In It. Next Florida Cup should be played there.

x. Rare, Previously Unseen Photos Show Beatles Performing at a Club in 1961. Like glimpsing Jack Grealish pre-calf muscles. 

xi. American Culture Is Trash Culture. "Our culture has always been at its most pure when it’s in the gutter, when it’s conflating divine and ugly, beauty and base." Wesley Morris at it again with another banger of an essay.  

xii. The Elusive Power of Cate Blanchett. Deep cut, but if you've never seen Todd Haynes' I'm Not There, where Blanchett plays electric guitar era Dylan in a performance that will crawl itself under your skin, there is no time like the present.

xiii. The $100 Sunglasses Minting Millions From 1980s Nostalgia. On top of 80s nostalgia Pit Viper also bears the distinction of having one of the most deranged approaches to marketing in all of modern capitalism.

xiv. This Song helped me through the Week: Deadhorse by Yard Act. Lyrics are just incredible. Post-Punk Larkin.

That is it for today. We are very much inside the World Cup belly of the beast right now, work-wise. It has been three weeks of 5.30 AM ET mornings to create all that we are about to unleash together. Incredible Tyler Adams podcast coming next week, along with World Corrupt, and news of our new, magical Brendan Hunt series. There are real moments of exhaustion, but your passion, your tweets, ravens, and love are driving us onwards. Big, Big Love. Let’s never take watching football and making memories for granted. Even when that football is of Chicago Bears-caliber quality, and leads only to profound sadness. 

Big Love

Courage

ROG