Major League Soccer & Walmart Present Men in Blazers Live in New York Featuring Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Matt Freese, Michael Bradley, and more: 09/25/2025

24:22Matt Fries and Justin Hack. Okay. It's time to red ball it up. And my next guest is a remarkable footballer, a man who comes from an almost biblical lineage of ballers. His grandfather and his father both played at Gif Sonsval in Sweden. His own career began there at 17. I just love that. origin story. He had nine years at your sister club, RB Leipzig, where he became part of the fabric, really the DNA of the club, all buzzing intensity, a tangle of spin moves, bangers, oh my God, and deeply covetable long blonde locks. New York, please be upstanding for the captain of your New York Red Bulls, Mr.

25:14Emil Forsberg. Oh, Emil, you have been in our city for nearly two years now. What is it that you have enjoyed most about life here as opposed to, say, Leipzig? The bagels. This is a man who is very, very serious about his bagels. I read an interview with you where you talked with passion. You have an order for in the store, and you have an order for when you're eating privately at home. Yeah. Can you just tell the people how you do your bagel? because it's like the most Swedish thing that ever bageled. Yeah, so I got to bring a little bit of that Swedish tradition here, but I put pepperoni, peppers, and cream cheese on my bagel, and it's delicious.

26:01Try it at home, honestly. It's like the Henrik Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Freddy Lundberg of bagel combos. I could do a whole show about bagels. Big shout out to Esser Bagel, am I right? But we are here to talk about like bagels is New York's biggest passion. I think its passion for sports is just underneath. You've been here a long enough time. You've engaged with the many sporting offerings here. You've lived them on the field. How would you describe sporting fandom here, New York fandom, which I think is one of the most singular in the world? I think it's incredible. I think it's unbelievable.

26:41I think the passion for the team is incredible and you love to see it. and it brings the best out of yourself as well when you go onto that pitch. But yeah, I mean, the passion, the love they have for their team is incredible. And I think everybody feels that way about their team. They want them to do good. I love watching you play. And I want to show you a quite singular moment. July this year, ball casually comes to you edge of the area. There appears to be no danger. And then you go and do this. Sands missed it. Shebshefsky, Hall, Gengor, Forsberg, the turn!

27:22A summer blockbuster from Emil Forsberg! That's just a one-man pick and roll. In moments like that, Emil, what goes through your mind, or is it just like you watch it later and then you think about it? I think it comes to you in the moment. You feel your opponent in your back or where they ever are, and then you just shoot a little bit from the hip. You go by instinct a little bit. And I had a good instinct of taking that ball inside and shoot it. Last season, the club made it to MLS Cup final. It was propelled by an incredible run. Emile's return from injury. And then that quite magnificent slogan, which I'm paraphrasing to, hmm, sod it, why not us?

28:12But now you are, quote, 200 % back. This season's been a grittier experience. Can you talk about where you are now and what this team to do to make this campaign a playoff one? First of all, we've got to win our games. I think it's important that we realize how important it is to make the playoffs, and we need to focus on the next game, the next practice and it's our duty towards our fans as well to do it. So it's very important for us to make the playoffs and the season has been a little bit of a roller coaster. I think away games, we've been letting points go too easily, too many mistakes and if you make mistakes, you get punished.

28:55So that's been a little bit the saga of the season. But last year, ahead of the Hudson River Derby, your Red Bulls ultimately beat NYCFC 2-0 in the playoffs.

29:12After the game, you said, I think a lot of people should apologize to us now for underestimating us. Do you feel people are still underestimating this team this season? I mean, at that time, I think everybody counted us already against Columbus. so it was a little bit towards that. But yeah, I mean, I believe in my team. I think we have a great team. I think we could do big things. But the most important thing is to show that on the pitch and it starts on Saturday. So it's going to be important to get three points. God bless. Emil, the World Cup is coming to American shores. Again, who's counting?

29:53266 days. You know World Cups. You scored the goal to put Sweden into the 2018 World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in the early quarter of a century. You've lived it. You've made memories for your nation. So can you tell us what does the 2026 World Cup have in store? The final is going to be right here in New York City. How will it change the profile of football across North America, MLS as a league and our city in particular? I think it's going to be incredible. I'm sure of it. I think also for the final to be here in New York, it's going to be incredible. For everybody, soccer interested all over the world to come to USA and experience the World Cup.

30:37I can't imagine it's going to be any better than it's going to be. I think it's going to be an amazing experience for everybody. God willing, from your mouth to God's ear. Emil, I will say it's been a joy to be with you. You are genuinely, you're a beautiful human being. You too. Yeah, I'm the worst. But one of us is European footballing royalty. And you really could have gone anywhere in the world when you had that decision to come here. I mean, you are an accomplished veteran that's done it, seen it all. You've got a black belt in leadership. And you choose to come here to this club, to this city.

31:17When you decide to enter the next chapter, whatever you do, what do you hope to take from this New York spell of your career, which has been fantastic to witness? No, I mean, when I came, I wanted to make us better. I wanted to make the club better. I want to win. That's the reason why I came, and I'm not going to stop until I do it. So it's going to... That's my passion, and I think we have it in us to do it. But we've got to believe we've got to do a lot of stuff better. but I'm sure we have the quality to do it. And like I said, I'm not going to stop until I win. This might be the most New York Swedish New Yorker that has ever New York Swedish New Yorked.

32:02Emil, huge, huge tack on behalf of all of New York City. Let's hear it for Mr. Emil Forsberg.

32:22Emil Forsberg.

32:27I've been looking forward to my next guest all week long. He's a gent who was a player, was very much like an American Jason Statham. I'm not just saying this because I'm a bald man, but he was a fellow bald who would kick ass and make all those around him feel ultimately safe and full of hope. It was all about his physical commitment, his mental tenacity. He was a virtual security blanket for any team he played on, simmering away at the heart, especially for the U.S. national team. 151 caps, third most men's all-time, second most assists, started every game at the 2010-2014 World Cup. Age 38, I've loved watching this, taking on a new role as head coach of New York Red Bulls 2, Electric Boogaloo.

33:20I live with a team ahead of the 2014 World Cup. I shot the hard knocks for ESPN. And when I did, I always loved to interview him because he was just like a truth teller who would just tell you in good times and bad what it really was all about. So it's great to welcome him to the stage tonight. New York City, please be upstanding for Mr. Michael Bradley. Michael Bradley, you beautiful man. Can I say, first of all, congratulations. You were honored recently. By the way, for me, it took too long for this to occur. Ahead of the South Korea game at Harrison, New Jersey, 151 US men's national team appearances between the two of us.

34:06You're capped in the team in 48 of those games to stand there with your wife and your daughter. Can you tell us what went through your mind as you stood there? What did you think about? Was there a particular memory or were you just like, let me suit up again. I got to get back on the field. Honestly, Roger, I didn't need it. I enjoyed every second that I had representing the national team and I never took one second for granted. But when U.S. soccer came to me with the idea and the honor, ultimately for me that day was about my family and that day was about the people who supported me every step along the way.

34:49And so to be able to share the day with them, that part was really special. By the way...

35:01For those of you too young to have seen this man play football, let me just say this gent played with a ferocity, with a sense of competitive fire. Honestly, the like of which we've rarely produced on the men's side. I remember interviewing you in Denver in the hotel the night before the Snow Classico. You were playing in the peak of your form. You were playing for Roma. And I asked you the simple question. I said, can you believe that you, a kid from New Jersey, are starring in a Serie A midfield, and you just lent in. You had your hotel key in your hand, Michael, and you cut the air as you said each of these words.

35:42You said to me, I'm not done. I want to be a big player who makes big plays in big games for big teams. You kind of slice the air in front of you with each of them. It's really stayed with me because in that moment I felt like I saw the dream which drove you every minute on the playing field right yeah look I I loved the game um I I was lucky I got to live my dream um you know growing up in in New Jersey um I would have I would have killed for one opportunity to play for the national team. I would have killed for one game in Syria. I would have killed for, you know, one, one big night under the lights.

36:29And, and I was lucky I got a lot of them. And so I, I enjoyed every second, took advantage, tried to push myself as hard as I could always. Um, and, and I made the most of every chance. You really did, Michael, you were one of the most defiant footballers in really a golden moment for all of us who dream about the game. And tonight is about rivalries. And you know more about rivalries and pretty well any other American on the men's side. You know what it takes to thrive in the crucible in a rivalry situation. let me take you to 2017, to the Azteca, when this man stepped in front of Chicharito and did this.

37:36The thin air at Azteca helped me. Well, if it was in America, it would have like dropped 10 yards before the goal and a chair would just would have casually picked it up. Would have changed the calculation a little bit. All of your lives would have been inaccurably different, but it was a work of art, that goal. I mean, first of all, the speed at which you were running combined with the most delicate of chips. I mean, it's an incredible technique. Did you know beforehand, had you seen Ochoa pushed up? Did you think about it in the moment, or was it just muscle memory kicking in? Yeah, that was just split second.

38:16You know, when I was able to intercept the ball in midfield and then the ball was out in front of me a little bit. As I was running onto it, I saw Ochoa off the line, and I thought, let's go for it.

38:33I do want you to know, I think, like, for so many of us, that was just an exquisite united states memory of the last 20 years it did feel in that moment watching i remember it felt like anything was possible and it felt i think it felt for all of us um in those moments do you think about i i'm a man who has recurring dreams just mostly failing exams um you know you know just like um missing deadlines um you know do you does that come do Do you think about, sometimes you're just sitting there in New Jersey and you're like, oh. No, the only thing I think about these days is what we're going to do in training tomorrow morning.

39:20That's called a pivot. I do want to know, in that moment, what did that feel like, man? I mean, this is a rivalry goal. a goal like that scored in a rivalry like that feels can you complete that sentence? No

39:41US Mexico games were special you know, you felt the history you felt the the passion you felt the you know you felt it every bit of it you know and you felt the the emotion, the rivalry, there was a sense of how to carry that on. I can remember watching the first U.S.-Mexico game in Columbus. I can remember when Josh Wolfe and Ernie Stewart scored. I can remember waking up in the middle of the night and watching the game in South Korea. And so, like, that stayed with you. And so when you got your chance to step on the field, and it was US-Mexico and it was their green jerseys and it was Azteca, you felt all of that.

40:32And so when you had your chance, I think we all understood the responsibility that went with that. And yeah, we gave everything we had. Think about that next time you watch that goal. I watch that goal whenever I feel sad and it lifts my spirits. But it's about the dreams we had. And you are now dedicating your life to seeding those once again, because on the 12th of June this year, you returned to this club, the New York Red Bulls. Place where it all began for you. You began as a player here in 2004. I've got to say, I am so bloody excited to see you coach Michael Bradley. But can you talk about the decision for you to dedicate the next chapter of your life to this pursuit, to these people?

41:21A lot of players find that coaching transition natural. A lot find it much easier just to, you know, start a podcast. Can you talk about what it is with your mentality? I mean I know you as a perfectionist like as someone that obsesses about details that wanted to devote themselves to growing the next generation of footballers in New York City look the starting point for me is I love the game you know I love being on the field every day I love being a part of a team I love the the part of you know being in a group that's trying to do something special and so as I was as I was getting towards the end of my playing career For me, it was almost natural that that was going to be the next step.

42:11I grew up in a house with a coach, and so I learned from a really young age what it meant to work hard, what it meant to, you know, commit to your team, to your players, to do everything you can to help improve them. And so for me, again, when I got to the end of my playing career, I knew that was what I wanted to do. And so, you know, I finished playing in – I played my last game in Toronto on a Saturday night, and I was on the training field in Norway on Tuesday morning. And I needed that because it meant that I didn't have any time to even stop and think about not playing anymore. And so I was able to – I used the year in Norway as an assistant coach for my dad and learned a lot and got really good experience.

43:05And then when that finished, I was really lucky because things fell into place and I'm really appreciative of the opportunity that Red Bull have given me in terms of now as a young coach having a team of my own every day to work with, to develop my ideas, my way of working, my way of engaging a group, and I'm enjoying every second.

43:37One of the things I'm most fascinated about Red Bull's system is the influence of the great Jurgen Klopp, who is now head coach of global soccer for the Red Bull organization. He's a remarkable man. I feel so lucky in my life to have spent time with him, and every time I spend time with him, I learned so much about football, but mostly I learned about life. Can you talk about your time with Jurgen Klopp and the most important lessons you've taken from those interactions? I mean, the thing that you take from any time that you spend with Jurgen is his passion, his passion for the game, his passion for life.

44:18He has so much energy. And obviously now for all of us inside, inside Red Bull, his vision for what Red Bull and Red Bull football is going to, is going to be going forward. Um, that is, that's what excites me. That's what I wake up for. Um, you know, and, and can't wait to, to get to the training ground and now, you know, get on the field and find a way to bring, bring that to life. And so it's, uh, yeah, exciting times for Red Bull, for the club. And like I said, as a young coach, for me, the time that I've been able to spend with him has been incredible. I'm very fond of another coach, your dad, the legendary Bob Bradley.

45:04An incredible American. I do actually think Bob Bradley is one of the most courageous coaches that America has produced, to be candid. It's his spirit of adventure, his willingness to put himself out of his comfort zone, his willingness to put him out there, I admire it more than I can say. And he remains one of only two Americans in our nation's history to coach a Premier League team, which is crazy to say. The other, the great Jesse Marsh. So what is the dream for you? What what do you imagine, Michael? What's the end goal for Michael Bradley as a coach, as a player, you told me you want to be a big player on a big team, making big plays in big games, which I loved.

45:50And I think about all the time as a coach, what does that translate through to you? What do you dream about? Look, I'm, I'm still a young coach. So the first part is just, you know, every day enjoying it and, and finding, uh, finding the right ways to, to grow, to improve, to develop myself, you know? And then there's the part which is every day. How can I, the 22 players that I have in my group, how can I help them? How can I make them better? And how can I make us a better team when we get our chance to play on the weekend? And that's obviously the, that's the day-to-day. In the bigger picture, look, I'm proud of the career that I had as a player.

46:35As I said, I enjoyed every second. I never took one thing for granted. But at this point for me, the dream, I want to do everything I can to be a better coach than I was player. I thought you were going to drop the bomb on us there and tell us where you were going, which is TBD. But let me ask you in a different way. Last question for you, Michael. The Red Bulls is very much your home and it's very poetic watching you move back here. It's like seeing a salmon swim back upstream. I mean, it's very healing. 2004, this is a picture of you at MLS Superdraft. Look at that. That is a 16-year-old kid signing, the youngest signing in club history then.

47:23If you could go back in time, Michael Bradley, the coach, what's the one word of advice you'd give that kid, Michael Bradley, the rookie teen, that he'd need to know about all there is to come? Honestly, Roger, I was lucky. I had a lot of good people around me. And the advice that they gave me was the stuff that stuck with me. It was to enjoy every second, to push like crazy, to never settle, to always want more, but to take the time along the way to appreciate where you are. And I can remember doing that in so many moments along the way in my career. Actively, you made those memories. Yeah, I mean, I said this last week when I was doing some stuff around the national team game, where I can remember walking out onto the field an hour and a half before the game in Rustenburg before the first World Cup game in 2010, US England.

48:30And I can remember walking out on the field and it was, again, there was nobody in the stadium, but I can remember looking around and thinking to myself, like, this is unbelievable. I'm about to play in a World Cup. And so I think for anybody in life, the ability to push yourself, the ability to give everything you have, the ability to never settle, always want more. You have to have that, but you're also, it's life. You got to enjoy it. You have to, to appreciate where you are and, and also, um, always like take a second, look around. So I, I, like I said, I had people who loved me from, from the very beginning who, who gave me good advice.

49:13And I, I lived by that, um, every step along the way. Michael Brad there. Well, thank you. Michael is kind of articulated what I think is the best parenting advice. It's difficult, but save it every single second and make memories while you can. He lived it as a footballer. I want to tell you, I loved watching you as a player. I really did. What you brought to our country was remarkable. And what you can now bring as a coach in our hour of need is so thrilling for me to witness. I think for everybody in this room, I love watching you. To your family, to your future. New York, be upstanding for one of your own, Mr.

49:51Michael Bradley.

50:13Okay, it's time for our final guest. It's incredible to be joined by two gentlemen who embody the hustle and tenacity of this incredible city. One is a relentless, incredibly soulful tempo setter who will take an elbow to the face and bounce back better than The Undertaker. Might be single-handedly keeping Mike and Ikes in business. And by the way, he's proper Chelsea. The other is a blur of knees and elbows. He's got a jumper that's as lethal as his Lego building abilities. Both are at the heart of the NBA's most eternally optimistic franchise. New York City, put your hands together for Bodegio, Cat and Jay Hart, Carl Anthony Towns and Josh Hart.

51:08What up, what up, what up, what up, what up, what up? Sorry, there we go. Let's go, Rich! Let's go, Rich! Let's go, Rich! Love it. Let's go, Rich! Let's go, Rich! Let's just do this for 20 minutes, by the way. I'm like, fine. I think they're ready. I think they're ready. They think I'm going to drop 40 points on the Celtics, and I'm kind of ready for you right now. I've got to be candid. Josh Hart, it's so bloody good to have you here in the flesh, man. I've got to tell you, the last time we chatted, you were playing for another team in the other pool, but you were not yet a father since we spoke you have had twins Hayes and Hendrix and I need to know what's been the bigger lifestyle change moving to New York City or raising kids biggest change for sure kids um New York feels like home yeah New York feels like home um the kids are little menaces man one goes one way one goes the other um so i got a lot more patient a good test for your day said that that is great shout out to you speaking the kids in new york cat you grew up just across the river i didn't know where you were going with that i told you i'd keep it kosher you know what i mean but you grew up across the river in new jersey in piscataway yes yes is anyone here from jersey I love that.

52:41You grew up as a fan of the Knicks and the 90s. Stefan Marbury days, Jamal Crawford, Eddie Curry. By fifth grade, you were already over six feet tall. You were already training with some... Look, Piscataway Tech. Oh, boy. Okay. Come on, you raiders. You never see that photo? I mean... I never see that. I'll bring that up on the podcast, I swear. Don't do that. When you look at that, what did you see? I needed some facial hair and some aura and some swag. But it's all good. We found out later. Can you point to words, though? That kid across the river, you knew what football, you knew what basketball, sorry.

53:19Oh, there we go. There we go. Okay. I'm like on Michael Bradley mode, baby. But you knew what basketball represents in New York City. Can you talk about what the dreams you had of this city at that age in your mind? Yeah, I mean, anyone who knows my journey and knows my story, I grew up a Knicks fan. So, uh, so, you know, and also having my father, um, play basketball here, big East man. And then also have a chance to make the team for the Knicks. Uh, didn't make it, you know, career ending injury, but I'm happy now that things come in full circle that he finally gets to see that towns on the back of a Knicks jersey.

53:58Yeah. I appreciate it. Biblical baby. What about you, Josh? Josh, you grew up just down 95 in Silver Spring, Maryland. There he is. God bless. He's not changed. Who looks more like themselves from younger, me or Josh? Who do you think? Josh? I agree. Now go back to the other one. There we go. Leave it there. Oh, my God. You both look like formative versions of yourselves. But the DMV is another incredibly rich basketball tradition. How did you view New York hoops from afar? What did it mean to you, this kind of magical kingdom just simmering there? Yeah, growing up in the DMV, man, obviously we had so many talented guys.

54:49But I felt like there was only one place that probably had more talent. And that was like the tri-state area. Obviously, New York and Jersey, I put them all together. Yeah, look at that. And they just have so much talent, so much, you know, just swag to them. So obviously growing up, you knew like, OK, New York and, you know, that's that's the mecca of basketball. So it was always a dream, obviously, to be here. I wasn't six foot eight as a freshman or whatever like Kat was. But six foot. Yeah, you were like six, eight. I was like five foot eight. The dream was to play here, but I never thought it was going to happen.

55:37But, you know, now we're here. You grew up watching George Marison play for the Bullets. Those were the days. I wasn't that old. I'm not that old. I was watching like Antoine Jamison, Gilbert, Caron Butler, those guys. So, Brendan Haywood, Sean Stevenson, some guys. And then you rose up to the Villanova of the Wildcats. You played in Los Angeles. You played in New Orleans. You played in Poland. You arrived here in 2023. I was so bloody happy when you arrived in my city because I adore how you carry yourself. I adore how you approach the world. I really do. You're a man who's seen it all. You are quite a singular human being.

56:20And then you arrive in this singular city. Can you talk about how you feel the mood in this entire city shifts according to sports wins and losses. Does it feel different to you, to the other stops along the way? Oh, 100%. Obviously, L.A. was cool. It was fun. Early in my career, New Orleans, we struggled. Portland, we struggled. But there's nothing like basketball in the garden. Because... I mean, you can... You ain't lying. You ain't lying. As they know, once you hit March, April, you know, weather starts getting a little warmer. Playoff basketball, you know, is around the corner. There's a fire in this city like no other place in the country.

57:07So it's basketball different here. A fire in this city like no other place. And I adore that. I really do. And you'd seen that from afar. And tonight's show is about the passion and the fandom of this city. I mean, you now play in the place that you dreamed of. And I do often watch you play and think about what does it mean for your family? I mean, you said of your mum, this is an amazing quote. You're like, by the way, you should win the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. I do want to be quite clear. You said Madison Square Garden to her was the Mecca to our family. It's always been the Mecca to be able to play in a place that was so revered by my mother.

57:50obviously it strikes a different emotion again you played elsewhere when you finally arrived what does it feel like to step on that floor and to call this your home i mean it's special it's special there's no other words to it um you know like you said she she always told me how magical master square garden was and only the icons and the legends and the best of the best play there and you know growing up for her immigrating from dominican republic you know didn't have the money to go to MSG to play. Yo, shout out. Appreciate you.

58:27And, you know, for me to have a moment now where I don't need to spend money to go to MSG, but I get to play at MSG is something super special. So, you know, it's expensive for us. I know. That's why I'm happy. I get to go there for free.

58:48I do think you talk about what's special both of you and you talk about the fans and I do hope that future academics will study the quite unique fandom of New York City especially for the Knicks let me play a video that explains exactly what I mean let's go Knicks! let's go Knicks! let's go Knicks! that's pretty well that all could pass the test from the voluminous hours of incredible side talk clips for tonight's family audience but by the way we had we had cut like a minute and a half and that's all that passed the end of the semester which is about the greatest tribute to side talk clips that there can be but do you guys ever watch side talk clips in the locker room what does it make you feel Because when I watch it, like my basketball is a Shaquille O 'Neal three throw shooting levels.

59:47But I feel like I could shoot 40 points at the guard when I watch that. I don't even know. That's not even from this season, right? Nah. That's how crazy they've been. Yeah. After every playoff game, you know, those wins, they go out there and show love. And that's one thing I think we've always talked about. We always see them. And we're like, one time we got to go out there. We can't go out there winning a game in the first round or something, but it's like Eastern Conference finals, finals. We got to go out there. So, I mean, it's a vibe, man. They have fun, and we want them to have fun. We want them to have as much fun and excitement around Nick basketball as they can.

1:00:32We got to give them something to cheer for, though. Yeah. That's the most important thing. so I just want to say those side talk clips are like to me it's like the greatest New York cinema since Mean Streets by Scorsese but Carl you are an incredible manifestation of this city's true roots to me it's why I love watching you play after you won the Eastern Conference finals you said this you said this is for my brothers who were with me at Gaucho's gym and Ruckapart for my Dominicans in Washington Heights by the way sounds so much better out of your mouth than my idiot but if you were football and you know this madison square garden would stand up every night and chant he's one of our own he's one of our own the big bodega which he invented the nickname given here right by this and i love it because it's so bloody new york city and i want to hear you say how much pride does it give you that you don't just represent the bright lights big bling side of new york but the true hustle the real boroughs the real new york i mean you know i just grew up in this area and being able to like i said when i said that after the game it's true you know i grew up at the grassroots of new york basketball i've been part of the grassroots of basketball so gauchos he loves rock and pot and all that like i grew up like playing in those parks and you hope for that one time you could take one of those shots at Madison Square Garden.

1:02:03You know, you're seeing Patrick Ewing, you're seeing Carmelo Anthony now. Shout out to Melo Hall of Famer. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So you in the park, you're playing, you're thinking about like those times you pray one day, you know, you could just shoot a basketball on Madison Square Garden on the floor that so many legends have walked on. And for us to not only be able to do that, but to only make our own history on that court. I mean, like you said, it's manifestation. I thought about these moments my entire life. I always thought that I would have this moment. I didn't know if it would come when I was in Minnesota, but now, you know, being here and being able to say I've been able to, you know, have those moments, I'm truly blessed.

1:02:45I'm honored. And it's true, you know, when you think of something enough and you pray for it to happen and things, you know, you just manifest enough, you know, anything's possible. And I think that, I hope that I could just be an example of that.

1:03:01You do feel that. You feel like kind of almost like biblical lineage, the Patrick Ewing, the Carmelo Anthony. Like as a New York kid who'd watched that from afar, you're living that. You feel that with every dribble, every shot, every... No, yeah, you feel the history. I mean, Josh could speak to it more. I mean, he has more time here than I had. But last year was a magical season. It was something, you know, to have that first moment in Madison Square Garden. Absolutely. To do something that hasn't been done in 25 years, to do it with my brothers. I just, you know, and then to see the excitement that New York had and the respect they showed us.

1:03:37I was telling someone the other day, you know, obviously everyone knows that we get paid to do this job. But the currency that's the most important here in New York is respect. And I feel that we've earned that respect. And that's the most important thing. No money can earn that here in New York. So, you know, I think, you know, we've done an amazing job last year setting the foundation. And it's up to us this year now to build on that foundation. And 25 years, they haven't seen Eastern Conference Finals. It's our job to take them even farther than this year.

1:04:10Paul Anthony Towns, you're an incredible human being. Josh Hart, I mean, you are next level. I mean, we just had Thierry Henry on the show. That man loves New York City. Yes, absolutely. I mean, Teddy loved playing in New York. He said, because fans would let me know what's what. That's called a pivot in the trade because I do want to touch upon quickly, football is a game that you love. You've made the mistake of coming on our show before. You are proper Chelsea. And before we get into my many. Yeah. I thought we were all friends here tonight. It's here for the Knicks. There you go. Thank you.

1:04:54So we all could agree on something. There you go. That's called diversion. And I love you people for letting me do that. Because I want to ask you, why Chelsea, when so many other teams, namely Everton, were available? Yeah, I mean, what she said, why not, man? We won everything. So, honestly, it started, I've been a diehard, really dedicated fan and supporter since probably 16, 17. But before that, I think it was the 2010 World Cup, if I'm not mistaken, the years that we talked about it. But I actually found myself supporting England. Yeah, I was supporting England. I'm telling you, I'm giving you a why.

1:05:40I'm a Chelsea guy. I'm like the best American man ever and you'll like support England. I was supporting England. Hey, you're next. Woo! I'm just saying, man, I was supporting England and my two favorite players on that squad was Frank Lampard and John Terry. And, you know, obviously they were their proper Chels and, you know, I kind of went over there and started supporting them and just kind of took off. So, you know, London's blue. And y 'all know what it is, man. Y 'all know what it is. You know what? I am going to, like, try and diffuse this before Riot kicks off here. I'm like, I'm in this into dark terrain.

1:06:25I do want to say, this man is, like, so proper Chelsea. Like, on Twitter, he's, like, almost like the, if there's Chelsea Reddit, he's almost, like, running Chelsea Reddit. it. Here's like proper intel. We will talk more about it in safer terrains. By the way, this is him on his honeymoon. Let's have a quick look. Yeah. Yeah, I was, uh, yeah, there's my beautiful wife, Shannon. So, um, yeah, man, I, uh, I was cleaning out my, my closet, uh, from, from our house in Miami and I just started seeing all the, uh, the Chelsea shirts that I had and it was the Hazars and William Mount obviously the guys now Palmer those guys like I had watch I probably had 25 30 Chelsea shirts man so um you know it's go blues this is Como, this is not cleaning up your closet.

1:07:27Hey, Shannon about to come out here and whoop his ****. I swear.

1:07:33Shannon's proper arsehole. Oh, hell no. Hell no. She ain't in my house doing that. I do want to say. Oh, it's your house. It's a Chelsea house. It's a Chelsea household, man. My kids got no choice but to be Chelsea, Knicks, and Commanders. so that that's that's a three man i know hey sander sander sander relax you got scared do you know that feeling when a show spirals away from you like i'm living that in this moment i'm not going to do the new york knicks thing again but new york knicks i do i i mean we're we're getting a lot to discuss i need to get this onto safe terrain we're living in an era when so many nba fan uh players have fallen in love with football and at the same time football is falling in love with the NBA I mean it's hard to watch you guys play at the garden without the likes like Marcus Rashford, Musiala, Michael Alise, Vinicius Jr.

1:08:35I mean when you meet these human beings what are the conversations like do you like is it just a jersey swap or is it like game respect game? I think it's a mutual respect you know to see them be great at their sport and for them to come to our house and to see us do what we do best there's just such a mutual respect you know they're they're killing it in their craft and on the pitch and for us on the court we're trying to do our best to show New York and you know the all the NBA fans you know that we're the best of the best so I think there's just a lot of mutual respect from that yeah I think it's cool obviously seeing those guys and talking to them a little bit after but some of those guys we talked about you know Marcelo comes up and he's He's there pregame watching us warm up, so you get to talk to him.

1:09:21Is there more than Spike Lee? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Reese James is there, the captain. So you get to talk to these guys, man. You know, I got to – it's a soccer podcast, man. I got to talk about Chelsea. But, no, it's super dope to have, you know, those guys come to our games and obviously the crossover. You got more NBA guys diving into European football with obviously the Premier League and La Liga and those kind of things. So it's a fun crossover. It's also working the other way with the reverse commute cap. There's so many NBA stars who've fallen in love with football. I mean, not just Josh Hart.

1:10:01I mean, we now have a show on our network with Larry Nance Jr. Who lives for the game and owns a little piece of a Premier League club. You know, we've had Alex Caruso, Joel Embiid, TJ McConnell, Joe Missoula. Yeah. I mean, you are someone who is football curious, I'd say. You've been to PSG. You've seen it. How do you understand the way football culture is integrated into the NBA? And when you watch certain players' football, like Wemby, are you like, man, I wish I played a little bit more football than you? First of all, shout out to the fellow NBA players, you know, showing their love for football.

1:10:39I mean, that's the most important thing. And, you know, like you said, I think there's just such a mutual respect. I think that there's both of us, you know, soccer players, football players for me also, but basketball players, you know, everyone wants to try to see their greatness, that what makes them so great. And I think it's also awesome when you get to watch a soccer game and you get to see them play and you get to see them be great and to see why they're so highly regarded. I think that's what makes sports so fun. you want to see the best of the best play and for the best of the best to have such respect for what we do, it means a lot.

1:11:13I mean, we are 305 days away from seeing the best of the best play the World Cup. Jersey. In this very city. Yes, yes. Which we played in. By the way, I love Cal. Jersey. Just make a show. Make a show. I got to have my shout out. Thank you. It's going to be in Jersey. I lost your FIFA nose. It's going to be in Jersey. Jersey. I mean, Josh, you've been following the sport the better part of a decade. You really have. You are all in. We've talked about it. You are in it deep. What does this World Cup summer mean to you? What are you going to be doing? And how do you think it's going to change the profile of the game in this nation?

1:11:54Yeah, for me, I'm going to try to go to as many matches as I can. But, you know, anyone knows if you go to Europe and you go to those matches, it's a different kind of intensity. And then it's even heightened when it's the World Cup and those guys are representing the country. So I think it's going to be an amazing experience for, you know, everyone here. But more importantly, the youth here that are playing soccer, now they get to see these guys, you know, close up and see the skills, see the passion. And that's going to continue to drive football here. And, you know, I think it's something that's going to take it to another level.

1:12:34And obviously, you know, we've made strides in the last 15 years. I still root for the U.S. guys. I'm just saying. I still do. Save himself 15 minutes later. I still do.

1:12:50But no, it's going to be fun for the U.S. to really be exposed to that. And, you know, for generations to come, they're going to see that and they're going to aspire to be on the pitch, you know, representing the country. Hayes and Hendricks World Cup 2042. Hey, I would love it. They got three or four choices. They got like baseball, basketball, soccer, or golf. They're not touching the actual American football field. They're not touching it. So they got those four to pick from. So we'll see. They got to pick two out of three, right? Yeah, for sure. They can win two out of three of those beauties.

1:13:33Last question for both of you. And before you go, I want to give a shout-out to the MLS, too, because the MLS, yeah, absolutely. I think the work they're doing is amazing, and I think the World Cup's more special and it's taken more serious now because the MLS has shown America what soccer really looks like and could feel like. So shout-out to them. God bless you, Cap. By the way. Yeah. This gentleman is a prophet, is all I'm going to tell you. This man is a poet and a wine connoisseur. I want you to know I buy two out of every five bottles of wine that you pop up on Instagram. This man is a prophet, is all I will tell you.

1:14:15And I think you have glimpsed the future, which makes me want to ask you my last question. One thing that I think everybody who's been on this stage tonight shares is a sense that they represent this city, your city, New York City. They represent the bright lights. They represent a mythical place, a place where you can become great. More than that, you can become iconic. You've mentioned some of the human beings that inspire you. You both have a chance to be in that pantheon. Can you describe what that feels like when you are taking the core, not just representing the team, but representing an entire area every single night, a city that the world watches on the regs.

1:15:00What does that opportunity, what does that privilege mean to you both? Josh, first. Yeah, it's something that we take very seriously and very humbly. You know, I always go into games with kind of a server mentality and how I can help these guys get into the best positions that they can with, you know, Cat, JB, Kel, OG, those guys. How can I help them be successful? And I feel like, you know, this city is built on hardworking people, people that are willing to sacrifice, people that are willing to put their own individual success to the side for a common goal. And, you know, so when I go out there and I look around and I look at the fans, I see myself in them.

1:15:46And that's the way, you know, that's why I play as hard as I do. That's why I play with the passion that I do. you know you know 6 '5 you know 6 '3 6 '4 and a half you know standing on boxes of Mike and Ikes you know kind of athletic you know for the league now so I'm just like I got here with that mentality that hard working mentality and that's what this city is built on on.

1:16:24That last word's yours. You know, I think about myself growing up not having much money, and I think about me saving up all my money to watch a basketball game. And when I play now, I always think about that kid or that family that took a lot of their hard-earned money to go to a Knicks game, because like y 'all said, it's an expensive ticket to get to, for sure. I understand. And I think about that kid, you know, who and his family that have made the sacrifice to see us play. And I want to make sure I'm available and I want to be able to give him the best version of myself that night. So every time I step on the court, I want to be the best not only for my teammates, of course, for our team, but, you know, for the fans.

1:17:03Y 'all bring the best out of us and y 'all show up for us. So, you know, I want to make sure I do that. And on top of that, as a man, as a man of God, you know, I know what I do gets more attention than who I am, even though who I am is more important than what I do. And I appreciate that. And, you know, so I want to be able to show, you know, not only the city, not the youth, but the world, you know, that the love and the goodness we got in this city for the world. And I hope every night on the court, I show the talent that this team has and what I could, you know, do to improve each other's lives and my brothers and how we could be the best for our team, for the city.

1:17:41But I hope that also could be a model of what a man of Christ walks like. So that's really what I try to do. Can I just say what he's just said to all of us in this room, to all of us in this city, being the best versions of ourselves. like Naz said nothing's equivalent to the New York state of mind I want to say gents it's been an incredible joy for I think for all of us everybody watching at home to share the stage with you tonight Carl Anthony Towns and Josh Hart let me give it you one more time New York Knicks I won't be clear I am six foot six when I stand up straight right everybody tell everybody My posture is just terrible.

1:18:29By the way, this has been some incredible night. It's a small image of what the Hudson River Derby is going to be. Saturday, September 27th, 7.30 p.m. Eastern Time.

1:18:46Can I be honest? I genuinely can't wait. First of all, I want to thank all of you in the room tonight. You have been so bloody joyous. When I was told we're going to do a rivalry show and invite New York City fans and Red Bull fans, I thought it was the most insane thing tonight. I want to thank you for being a room filled with love. You're amazing.

1:19:12I also, I really do want to thank the team at Walmart for the support of tonight's show. I want to thank them for the investment that they're putting into the game. We need this in the United States. We need this in MLS. We need the growth of the domestic game. I think it's dear to all of our hearts. Let's celebrate fandom. Let's celebrate rivalries. Let's grow this game. I think that's something we can all get behind, right?

1:19:42We're going to be in Seattle next week. I honestly can't wait to revel in the Emerald City there. But I do want to say this city, this place, this fan base, this sporting culture is so near and dear to my heart. Remember, I grew up dreaming of this city. I'd never been here and I dreamt of it. And it shaped me without ever stepping foot here. We're all here tonight with a spirit that's best captured by the great Daniel Day-Lewis, Bill Butcher. He bellowed, my father told me we was all born of blood and tribulation. And so then was our great city, Amsterdam. And it's true. It's incredibly true.

1:20:32Let's fight with love, New York City, as we have tonight. Love is all that matters. This is Rog sending all of your big love and thanks and courage.

1:20:47Thank you.