The Men in Blazers Countdown Tour LIVE from Atlanta, featuring Clint Dempsey, Brad Guzan, Big Boi and more

24:50And like you said, we've done music with everybody from Young Thug to the Gorillaz to everybody in between. It's a wide range of artists. It's never been just like, we never try to make algorithmic picks. We just like the vibe, and if it feels good and it feels fun and it feels organic, then we're going for it. And I think that's what Freedom is centered in. I mean, where you come from, this city is known as hip-hop center of gravity. It's given us outcasts, future, whack-a-flock-a-flame. What is it about this city that give it these traits of creativity in your mind? I don't know. You said it.

25:26It's like a magnet for creative people, especially people in the South. You know, it's a magnet for people who, like, they come from out of town. They come from these small towns. And my parents are from Fort Valley, Georgia. My grandparents were from Fort Valley, Georgia. And they came to Atlanta and they cemented themselves. And it was like, you know, we're going to bring the best of us and we're going to create a new life here and bring and do something that hasn't been done before. So I think all of these people that you name, like, they all have stories of, like, passing down, like, that lineage of, like, creativity and opportunity and making something happen.

26:00I think there's a good point in there, too, that we have the advantage historically of being one of the bigger cities from South Carolina all the way to Mississippi. It's one of the biggest cities you're going to come across in all of that land. But that's a lot of people and that's a lot of creativity. That's a lot of stories and that's a lot of voices. So they're like, well, shoot, what's the biggest place I can go to nearby to get my story out right here? It's almost like a megaphone for an entire region. Yeah, for a whole region. I mean, only you've said that Atlanta is the land of Oz. It's black people just being unafraid and unapologetically creative, just running around being themselves.

26:38Yeah, I think one of the beautiful things about Atlanta, it is a global city, right? Just like a London, just like a Dubai, just like a LA, a New York. In my personal opinion, I think Atlanta is a global city, but the hosts are black people. You know what I'm saying? Like we're hosting people to this global city. And I think it just gives it that difference that you don't get if you go to Chicago or if you go to L.A. You know, I love these places. But like coming here, like she said, there's a famous institution that has caused all of this hoop line controversy. It's basically like the like the southeast living room, you know what I'm saying?

27:15Especially like where you go and like if you grew up. The front porch. The front porch. It's like where you grow up and you see your cousins might be singing in the living room, dancing, working on a routine in front of the TV. That's here. You know what I'm saying? By the way, Magic City, I want to thank them for sponsoring tonight. Yeah! Oh! Let me get it! I'm making tonight's event possible. Adam Silver's just turned off the live stream. Money just start falling on us right now.

27:50From one great city institution to another, I know you've both been to watch Atlanta United in the flesh. Look at that photo. What a time. Yeah. How does this team, how does that culture, how does that fan base fit into the culture, the ethos of this? Man, we needed it. We needed Atlanta United. They came right at the right time. They came at a time where our city, like, really, really needed another team to rally behind. So, you know, that's what you see, you know what I'm saying, when you're talking to people on the street about it, it's like, yeah, we got something we can, like, be super, super, super yelling for constantly.

28:26I think Atlanta needs that. I think we're already a city that's going to support our own. We're already a city that's going to support our teams. We're going to tailgate. We're going to party. But when Atlanta United came and it was right after the stadium was built, oh, man, you're talking about, like, a pivotal moment for the culture? Necessary. Yeah, this is fanaticism right here. Look at this. I love what you've just described. Super, super, super yelling. You've just described essentially what it's all about. Yeah, supers and a yelling. Yelling. Why not football? Yelling. Football ultimately is about community, and you two have done some remarkable work in this city.

29:04You started, I love this, a community garden. Look at this, man. These guys have got... Yeah, that's crazy looking back and going, oh, yeah. These guys have got incredible range. Just look at that photo. It's so pastoral. Everybody on that front row is just thinking, I wish they'd hurry up and take the photo so I can get to Magic City. But you started this with Gene Charles Young Middle School, Atlanta Public School Board. You let kids get their hand dirty, feel the earth, which I think is the most important thing. The fight against food insecurity. The mayor came to the unveiling. I think, Olu, you talked about how your family church in West Briner, the Black Moth, handed out breakfast for school.

29:45you've both talked about this and it's kind of incredible you said Earth Gang is for the people by the people what do you see as Earth Gang's mission in this city and in the world? I think a big part of our mission is like we said amplifying the voices of free thinking honestly I can't put it in another way I don't want to be too PC or NPC but we got to show that we're thinking free and we're thinking forward and we're thinking progressively and a way to highlight that is what we do. I think another thing for us is making sure that there's enough space for everybody, right? So, like, even with the community garden, one of our main things was, like, we want to make sure that not only are the kids who are making good grades getting a chance to do this.

30:35We want the, quote, unquote, problem kids, the kids who can't sit still. We want to give these kids the opportunity to go outside. and be engaged and be engaged because these are the people who really want to be probably be active with their learning experience so it's like we want to make sure that everybody has a place so that's like a small microcosm but earth gang in the whole it's like we want to make sure that everybody has a place and feel seen as one of those kids um i want to thank you i want to thank you on behalf of us there's a lot of human beings in this audience who feel the same um but i need to follow up with the Rene Montgomery Michelin Guide, which I now need to reframe the question.

31:13It's about a food suggestion that is not Magic City, I think. I know you both like to hit up Local Green, that spot in the West End. It has dish names, Rapper's Delight, Salmon Vegan, Cheese Philly. I've had the three-stack cauliflower taco and can highly recommend. Yeah, that's a good cauliflower dish right there. When the World Cup comes, thousands of fans arrive here. What else other than Magic City? Do people need to try Winter in Town? You got to go to Rocksteady. Oh, yeah. You got to go to Rocksteady. Somebody know about it, right? Rocksteady, they only start, they open at 5 p.m., so you know what I'm saying?

31:46It's not one of them daytime joints, but you got to go to Rocksteady. Great food. What are we eating? It's Haitian Caribbean inspired food. So it's bust. They got a red snapper dish that go, they got jerk lamb tacos. It's crack. And they got good music, good vibes in there. It's a great place. The rum drinks are off the chain. you want to go there tonight? Yeah, I was going there. I can make a phone call. How long have you been able to read minds? Make a phone call. Oh, yeah, I was going to say, there's a lot of great places. If you want to go get some good wings, go to the hood, go to Wing Depot.

32:26But outside of that, I had to shout them out, shout out to Ben Hill, but outside of that, Beetle Cat is really good. It's a really good seafood spot. I love Beetle Cat. If you've never been to Beetle Cat, Go to Be The Cat, get them oysters on a nice little, you know what I'm saying, vibe. We'll take you later, get the oysters, get it popping. You know what I mean? Speaking of oysters. The lobster roll, get it. Hey, you need to come up here. And what I love about you is that your song's checked. Hartsfield at Jackson Airport, Interstate 85, Georgia Doom. In that music video for Down Bad, which I watch when I'm feeling a bit alone myself, You eat flaming hot Cheetos outside the West End Mall.

33:06Look at that photograph. This is this man. What is one thing from Atlanta, your Atlanta, that when the world comes, they can't miss? What can't you miss when you come to Atlanta? Wow. So crazy.

33:24Make it a good one, guys. They got to be in the summertime. By the way, both their brains are just flying up Magic City. Magic City. Oh, no. He's a cheetah. Hey, man. Might keep an eye on this guy. Take it easy, dog.

33:42Let's see. I would say, if you can, take an entire tour of the full belt line. Yeah, I would say that's worth it. I would say do that. Do the entire belt line. Get you some bikes, some rollerblades, some scooters. You know what I'm saying? Get the kids in the strollers and do the entire. Yeah, and branch off wherever you deem interesting. God bless. I was going to say that was a long wait, but my God, suddenly you sounded like you were both running for mayor, and I love it. Last question for you both. What I love about you is you've taken Atlanta, your own unique Atlanta, and you run apologetically, wonderfully weird Atlanta, and you've just projected it out to the rest of the world.

34:25I mean, you tour everywhere. where we were chatting backstage about you watching World Cup football in Iceland, in Spain. I mean, ultimately, what do you think about this moment, how it's going to transform Atlanta and take it out into the world and make it see this city in a different way? Well, I say Atlanta right now is in such a developmental growing stage. As far as the scale of a city, we're like a 14-year-old right now. We're like, you know what I'm saying, right in like the voice cracking. pun, like that kind of puberty. So we're just going to have to, you know what I'm saying, embrace us for where we are and where we're growing and we're going to take the experience and grow in front of the world.

35:04You know what I'm saying? That's the beautiful thing about Atlanta is we're not scared to just be ourselves and evolve with people watching. The legacy of the world. Everyone's agonizing. What is the legacy of the World Cup? It's going to help Atlanta through puberty. Pretty much. Pretty much. Make a man out of here. Make a man out of you. Put some hair on your chest. Lou and Ian, I've got to tell you, you are the best Atlanta duo since Miggy and Joseph. To the spirit you put out into the world, Atlanta, let's hear it for two of your own. Let's hear it for Earth Gang.

35:44We're just getting started. It's time to go to the football. Don't know if you've heard, but tomorrow night, the U.S. men's national team will avenge your assemble here in the A.

35:57where we're going to beat ninth in the world Belgium right before we take on a Ronaldo less Portugal Tuesday night and to break it all down it's incredible to welcome to the stage a gent who I love, he's done it all seen it all, occasionally give it all a swift elbow in the down blows in the name of competitive fury 142 caps for the US men's national team. No man has scored more for their nation. It's my honour to take this live edition of The Juice with him in the flesh tonight. Let's welcome the Basasazin, the Nagadochis Nice, giving Atlanta a welcome to our friend, Mr. Clint Dempsey!

37:04What's up, everybody?

37:10Hey, Raj. Hey. I appreciate y 'all. Thanks for my personalized copy. It's true. I love Clint. New book. All right. I'll see you. Clint, always be selling. I see you. God bless. Clint, you're in there a lot. By the way, give me the book for one second. They asked me, who do I... All of this book is about memory, and there's a lot of Rodgers, some with hair on the cover. And then they asked me, who in the middle, like me now, what jersey do I want to be wearing? I said there can only be one answer. 2014, Clint Dempsey. Sir. In the bottle pop jersey. Yes, sir. Never a doubt, man. Appreciate you showing love, man.

37:52You are that hero for so many of us, and I want to get right into it. USA, Belgium, when you hear those words, what's the first memory that comes to mind? Our last meet in 2014 World Cup. What's up? Yeah, exactly. He stood on his head, was on fire that game. But yeah, we got knocked out in the World Cup. So not good memories when I think back to the last time we played them. Is there a particular singular memory of that game? Because it was a surreal game. I don't like to be hyperbolic. It was like epic Greek poetry played out in the World Cup. Is there a memory of you on the field that you remember when you look back?

38:29There's a few. I remember the Wondolowski chants and what that went in. Too soon. What would have happened? I remember I had a good chance in that game too. We had a set piece that we had worked on, and it worked out just how we drew it up. But Courtois did a great job of coming off his line, making himself big, and I wasn't able to convert. So those are the things you think about as missed chances. But all in all, it was a great honor to represent my country, to wear the captain's armband, to help us to play a part in getting us out of the group of deaths. So those are the things I'll think about.

39:06That night in Salvador did make Tim Howard. I mean, it forged his legend. It was the last time we played Belgium. But I also remember May 2013, there was another game played right before the World Cup in Cleveland. It was a warm-up game. It was the first ever game that you were made captain. They beat us 4-2. You know who scored that night? Yep, got a penalty. That's right. That's all anyone remembers about this. There you go. He scored. Josie scored. Marouane Fellaini scored. That mad bastard. It was a massive warm-up game for us. A little bit like now. That was where we'd been playing. We'd been playing CONCACAF.

39:45Suddenly we're like, okay, let's play the big boys. It was a reality check. We are 76 days away from the World Cup. Tomorrow night, Tuesday. These are massive games. Last two games before the squad's announced. You've been there. What does it feel like mentally within camp, inside for the players, the pressure on them to fight and prove that they're World Cup worthy? What's going through their mind now? Yeah, I mean, first of all, I'll say it's an exciting game for both Belgium and for the US, right? They're getting an opportunity, Belgium, to play on U.S. soil where the World Cup's going to be played and kind of get an idea of what that's going to be like.

40:21But then it's exciting for the U.S. because there's not a lot of meaningful games left and everybody's fighting for a place to book their ticket to go to this World Cup. So there's so much on the line, but you just got to go out and perform, right? You got to be hungrier than the guy that's next to you. And that's what these kind of last games are about, right? It's just like leaving your mark on these games so the coach, it makes it undeniable for him not to pick you. You've got to make them pick you, make them put you on that roster. And for me, it's really like your last chances to do that.

40:52So that's why I look forward to these games to see how these players are going to step up, especially the ones that are kind of on the fringe. I mean, it's amazing, by the way, what you've said about Belgium looking forward to this. I mean, it's fascinating watching France yesterday. was it Chua Mania after the game in Boston say I played where Tom Brady played. Kevin De Bruyne is an enormous NBA fan. These players will get such a kick out of playing in your city, playing in this stadium. There is no doubt about it. But it is a fascinating dance for the players between showing themselves as individuals and trying to win as a collective.

41:28US unbeaten in the last five friendlies. We're seeing an improvement in results. We yearn for that. So many questions remain. 27 players in this camp, 26 spots on a World Cup squad. And we know there's big names who are missing out. Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, Hadji Roy, not here. So let's go through the issues, challenges, the big questions, starting with, always the starting point, Christian Pulisic, our lord and saviour, right? Big picture, incredible season, double-digit goals for AC Milan. But recently, it's been more of a grind for Argent. 12 games about scoring. It's been friction with his teammates, uncertainty about his next season, where he wants to play.

42:14You experience these kind of periods in your own career. You know, in time of European club wonder, you've come back and represented the U.S. There were times for you that were also frustrating. What does Pochettino have to do to make the U.S. team Christian's happy place? Well, I don't think he has to do that, right? You look back at Christian's time with Chelsea, and maybe he wasn't playing as much going into that last World Cup that you would want him to be playing. And he just seems to always step up when he puts on that jersey for the U.S. team. I mean, the way I would compare it is Thierry Henry on the Champions League show talking about when players put on the Real Madrid jersey, they seem to perform at a higher level.

42:58And I think that's the case for some of the players when they come back to the U.S. I mean, I think Christian, it seems to up his game. I think Gio, it ups his game as well. But it's one of those things that if it takes something to get you motivated to come back and represent your national team, then you're not doing it right, right? That was the greatest joy for me to come and represent my country as a kid. That's what I dreamed about playing for my country on the biggest stage. So once that was kind of done, we didn't qualify in 2018. that's when I knew it was kind of time to hang the boots up because it wasn't there anymore.

43:32So I don't think it's a situation where they need to get motivated. Just go out there and do what you can do and control what you can.

43:42You mentioned Gio Reyna. Gio is here in camp. He's played 26 minutes total for his club in 2026. By the way, when I hear that, Gio Reyna's played 26 more minutes than I have in this I'm like my hope for my future international career is renewed why not me? why not you? but he's an incredible singular creative he's shown that when he wears a US jersey he's almost like American James Rodriguez when he pulls on that US jersey it's like a Marvel comic hero coming alive can't get on the field for Borussia Mönchengladbach, struggled to get on the field really in the past few seasons for his club. How do you understand why he got the call up and why he is so clearly still important for this U.S.

44:35team? Well, when I think about this situation, it's one of the craziest situations that I've ever seen, right? A kid with so much talent, so much potential, especially when you saw him at Dortmund and then picking up some of those injuries and stuff like that. I think it's kind of halted a little bit of his club play. But you can't question what he's done for the national teams when he puts on that jersey, especially in the CONCACAF Nations League. His performances in those games, in the semifinals and finals, goals and assists. So like you said, he seems to take it to another level, another gear when he's representing the national team.

45:12And that's a reason why I think Pochettino brings him in. But you still got to get this club situation thing figured out, right? 26 minutes is not enough. And there's no way you can be enjoying your football if you're not playing week in and week out. That's what everybody wants to do. So hopefully things get better in that regard. But like you said, some people, you know, step up a little bit more when they put that jersey on for the U.S. Does it create a weird dynamic in camp? Like there's an exception to the rule. For one player, everybody's got to be playing regular minutes. But there's a contradiction.

45:49And 26 minutes total is okay because, Gio, what you can do is different to the others. It's kind of one of those things where the coach is the one who's making those decisions. He's created the culture and he's doing what he thinks best to help his team be successful. And, yeah, there's always going to be things that people are like, what about this? What about that? you know maybe you don't really understand it but at the end of the day you can't worry about all that crap you got to focus on yourself and what you're doing to be the best that you can be and make sure when you get your opportunities to get on the field you you make a difference and and make it where the coach has to play you if you do those type of things you ain't got to worry about all the politics and all these games so I think that should be the the main focus let's go and talk about one of the subjects we I feel like we've been talking about for the last two cycles, which is who's America's next top American striker?

46:44You know, in camp, we've got the East 3, Patrick Adjuman, leading Derby counter with 10 goals all competitions. Brings him a little different to the rest. I adore Riccardo Pepe. As a footballer, I adore him as a human being. He's so inspirational. 13 goals all comes for PSV Eindhoven. And then you've got the incredible Flo Balogun. 15 goals all comes for Monaco. So, Clint, you scored a goal or two for the United States team. Who should start and who will Potsch start, do you think? I mean, I'm a big fan of Bolligan. I like what he does. I like to see more of kind of the partnership and connections that him and Christian kind of have together.

47:25And, you know, we got a little bit of taste of that in the last Copa America before, you know, we had the bad exit with the game versus Panama. all but uh I think we're gonna learn a lot about these strikers and what Pochettino thinks is is the players that he wants to go with as we look forward to the World Cup and how he's gonna decide that roster obviously big loss not having had you right to be in here to kind of fight it out and to see you know how things are gonna go you got you got the Belgium game and you got the the Portugal game right so I think we're gonna learn a lot about you know we're gonna see the minutes that these players play and who he chooses to start and who's that first guy off the bench that comes in so he's going to answer the question for us right I mean I got love for Pepe because he's from Texas you always got to show love to the boys where you're from um I've been impressed you know the way that he continues to to fight he doesn't always start he comes off the bench and he makes an impact and you need to have that type of mindset when you get the minutes you make the most of them so that's why he kind of stands out to me but uh yeah I mean what do you like about You said, I like what I see in Flood Balligan.

48:33As a man who scores goals, what do you see? He's a complete striker, in my opinion. He can beat you on the dribble. He's good from outside the box. He can shoot with both feet. He can score with his head. I mean, he can assist. He has the pace to get into those dangerous areas that kind of remind me of when I played with Obafim and Martins in Seattle. And when he gets past people or make those runs to open up the game for our team, and then we're able, some of those late runners coming in the box, he's able to get his head up and find those players. So I think he just becomes, he has a lot of dynamics to his game that I like and I think it would be fun to play alongside him.

49:13God bless. God, there you are. That was come and pick me. It would be fun to play alongside him. Clint's throwing his hat into the ring. Why not me? Hey. By the way. Hey, I haven't played 26 minutes, but you know what I mean? Absent from Cam, you mentioned him. is Coventry, Sizzler, Hadji, Wright. His goals have really propelled the team to the cusp of the Premier League. Out of injury, we have three strikers in this 27th human being squad. If we only take three of those four, Hadji, Flo, Baligan, Ricardo, Pepe, Patrick, Hadjeman, who would you leave out? Man, you're always trying to put me in these tough spots, bro.

49:50It's called a hot take. Hey, I'm not going to say nothing. Like I said, I think we're going to learn a lot from these next two games, who he sees as his top two guys that are in this camp. And then I think it's going to be up for grasp with that third spot. Clint Dempsey throwing hat in the ring. There's only two spots, really. Let's be candid. I want to talk about the defensive end. I mean, hey, they could take four strikers. You don't know what they're going to do. They could take four strikers. It's true. Clint plus three. I want to talk about... By the way, I'm not Clint's agent, but I'm kind of interested, to be candid, I want to talk about the defensive end in a second, but before we do, I've got to ask you quickly about Mauricio Pochettino.

50:33He is in, as US manager, I mean, he is in control. You know, he has asserted himself, the team's results, five straight games, hitting their stride. But at the same time, he's continuously linked to major jobs in Europe. And let's just say, he's not exactly batted down these rumours. He was asked about the Spurs job this week. Are there any Spurs fans here tonight?

51:01Why are you all shouting Goos? Goos was Aston Villa. My God, there's several people. I just want the record to show there were more people doing the West Ham Irons in the crowd than there were Spurs fans. God bless. By the way, if I was here last year, I bet you there were loads of Spurs fans. And you're like, yeah, not anymore. I'm on the Bournemouth bandwagon now. But... Oh, this guy. I mean, ultimately, Pochettino said this when he was asked, do you want the Spurs job? And by the way, I just want to say, he could have said, I don't care about that right now. My mind is just on the US team and the World Cup.

51:40But instead, he said these words, I miss the world of football in England. I mean, you've been a player. I mean, I'm kind of fascinated. When you have a manager in that term of tabloid headlines, His next step is the future of turbulence. Do players notice? I think there's a little bit of background there, noise that you can kind of hear and see, but I don't think it's going to deter them and their focus, the fact that they have a once-in-a-life opportunity to play a World Cup on home soil. I mean, that's the main focus. That's what you control. You go out and give your best and try to represent your country and try to do something special that will leave a legacy for other kids to come along and do something even more special.

52:26You think back to the 94 World Cup and the professional league that came about because of that. And who's to say what's going to happen after this one, right? I think we do have the quality that we could maybe do something special, like what you saw from South Korea being the host country and I think getting to a semifinals and doing something like that. But you can't worry about the things you can't control. And people are going to always position themselves to do what they think they need to do from a business standpoint. But as a player, you just focus on what you got in front of you, which is one of the biggest and best opportunities that you could ask for in a lifetime, and just go make the most of that.

53:03God willing. I mean, it's time to talk about the back line, but to talk about how we're going to keep the goals out, I think it's time we bring on a man who knows a thing or two about shutting a game down. Going to bring on a polar bear, made 144 appearances, for Aston Villa Football Club. Won 64 US caps and perhaps most memorably won an MLS title right here in the A. One of my most joyful visions as a football fan was watching him bounce out of the back of the net like a power-balled many-face god to laugh right back in Luis Suarez's big teeth grill. Moving on to stage with great joy, cheer for Brad Guzan!

54:15All I need now are 26 minutes, and I'm going to be playing for the US. There's an incredible kid here I do think is going to be playing for the US. Hold on.

54:30Mark my word, when you make the debut for the US in five World Cups time, people will be like, oh my God, that clip is mind-blowing. And it all started. There's so many good things do with Goose. it's great to see you it is incredible can we get another goose for all times Alanta

54:52hey let's go ATL let's go oh this guy

55:11How much you paying to sing all this, bro? There's kids in the audience, you know? Come on now. By the way, Brad wrote that chant and he gets publishing. For every time it's chanted, he loves it. But let's dive right in. Got some serious stuff. The back line is going to be fascinating tomorrow. We've heard Chris Richards, sad news that he's out for both games. So there's real opportunities all over the place at centre-back. Pochettino talked today about even possibly having Tanner Tessman step in. But we've got to talk about the big question, Brad. Honestly, it's like looking in a mirror looking at Brad.

55:45Beautiful. He's bald and beautiful. He's gorgeous. He could be my son.

55:53US is number one, number one. I mean, it felt like Matt Freeze is Pochettino's guy. He's been 12 straight games. Nice to have the Freeze family here tonight. Welcome. But there's another Matt in town. Matt Turner is back. I do love this man. Not played in camp. Really fell down the Pochettino depth chart. I think last June was the last time he played. It was really chastening. 4-0 loss to Switzerland. but again last cycle felt like Zach Steffen had the gloves and then Matt came out late on the outside and was really one of the stars of the last World Cup so when you cast an eye on this keeper wars the battle between the Mats, Fries and Turner professionally what do you see?

56:40Yeah I mean when you look at the the group right obviously there's there's four in camp and Matt Fries certainly has Pochettino's trust over the last 12 games, as you talked about. And those results, especially the last two in November, good results for the team, right, moving forward. And what you want most importantly is that confidence of whoever's going to be playing. You want the confidence not only for the individual, whoever's in goal, but you want the team to be able to look back there and say, yeah, we feel good about going into battle today and going into these games. I I mean, the amount of times, right, you're looking back.

57:16You want your goalkeeper to have this confidence and belief in himself. And to have that belief in yourself, you need to have the belief from the manager. So for you two, who do you both believe will be the U.S. goalkeeper when we kick off the World Cup against Paraguay June 12th and White? Hey, louder. Let's go. Let's go. By the way, that was Matt Freeze's family that shouted goos as well. That's amazing. That's some complicated emotion. He'll be the starter. I've seen, by the way, I love you. I watched you go after the Snow Classico with this man. Let's go. I remember it. You went down into the Azteca and shout out the Mexicans.

57:58And I am so grateful. I think everybody's so bloody grateful. We've seen you step up and win the confidence of your team. Which of these two keepers do you believe will be the starter at the next World Cup? I think when you, again, you look at the last X amount of games, the run that Matt Fries is on in terms of building that confidence, both collectively with the team and individually. You know, I think Pochettino certainly has a decision to make in that position. But ultimately, you know, you would think he's going to carry on with Matt Fries, just going off of the last X amount of games. But as you talked about, touched on with 22, you know, you can step up at any moment.

58:40And Matt Turner certainly did that. And Zach Steffen was on the outside looking in. Clint, will it be Gio Reyna in goal? Oh, shit. It will be. By the way, that's not about, not having much less minutes in goal than he has in Rifford. Do you know who will be the goalkeeper? I mean, I don't know who's going to be the goalkeeper, right? I don't think it's clear and cut that you have one guy that's head and shoulders, like the main guy, right? But to your point, Matt Freeze has been performing well, and he's been getting the nod when it comes to starting. But anything can happen still. There's still more games to be played.

59:20So I'm not going to sit here and say that there's not spots that are still open in other areas of the starting lineup for this team. So that's the beauty of it, right? We get to sit back. We get to watch from the comforts of the couch or at the stadium and say, oh, he should have done this, should have done that. So there's still a lot to be played and that can happen. So I'm not going to sit here and say this guy is definitely number one right now because it's too early. The only thing is we do not know. And it is a position of great intrigue. By the way, quick question, detour for both of you.

59:51If you could pick one player from your era and plop them down in their prime in this U.S. team, who would it be and why? Start with you, Goose. That's a good question. Listen You can both just say each other I know I'm glad I'm going first here You know I'm going to take prime Clint I'm taking prime Clint Oh this guy Hey listen Gassing me up Listen Gas price is already too high man No And not because Not because of your play Just because of The swagger that you had How you How you carried yourself And always starting fights You know what I mean I'm all down for it Love that right Which fight do you remember the most?

1:00:35There's too many There's too many. Getting mad about this, getting mad about that. Clint was just always mad. So it's nice to see him out here smiling. Oh, this guy. You know? He's a good guy. He's a good guy with a good heart. Hey, I don't care what they say about you. You're all right, Brad. I'll take my payment. I'll take my payment off stage. You're my boy, Blue. I don't care what they say about you. You're all right. That is like my mother giving a backhanded compliment. Who would you take? And why is it Kyle Beckerman? because of those dreadlocks. So they can go fishing. Bro. So they can go fishing together.

1:01:10Heck yeah. He does like fishing, so we rock on that. But you mentioned the 2014 World Cup and a player standing on his head in a big game versus Belgium. So Tim Howard. Got to show some love to Tim Howard. But also my backup goalie would be Brad. Oh, all right, bro. Hey, what I'll say about this guy, man, He always brought the energy, was positive, great teammate, did a great job in terms of fighting for his place in the team without having that animosity. It seemed like you and Tim always kind of got on with each other and had respect for each other. Talk to me about that a little bit in terms of how you have to manage that because ultimately your dream is to be the number one.

1:01:55For sure. And how do you go about that? Listen, if you're not able to put the team first, it becomes really difficult to be in that environment. And I think that the thing between Tim and I is we were friends off the field. We're close, still are to this day. But on the field, there was a battle, right? And he was making me better. I was making him better. And if the manager picked him, well, I can't be mad at Tim, right? Like my beef or I need to go speak to the manager at that point and say, what do I need to do to try and get in the team? Or what can I do more? knowing that at the end of the day, the team was going to be in a better situation because training was always competitive.

1:02:35We were always pushing each other and it's, it's never the other player's fault. It's never your teammates fault, right? Like they're not trying to sabotage you. You're trying to do what's best for the team. And sometimes you're picked, sometimes you're not, but it's nobody else's, you know, fault, if you will. It's how do I, how do I change the narrative? You talked about forcing your name on that team sheet to get on that roster for the final decision day. That's what you have to do as a player. You have to continue to fight and battle and figure out a way to try and get into the team. Amazing thing about you is your elite ability, also your humility, which is very, very rare in an elite athlete.

1:03:14And I do want to say again, when that nation needed you, our nation, you went down to the Azteca. in a very tense moment in that cycle in which there would have been nothing if we had not had that run coming out of the Snow Classico, going to the Azteca. Jermaine Jones was injured, couldn't play. Tim couldn't play. You stepped up. We're an absolute wall in your own right now. It's one of the most remarkable performances I've seen. But it is. There's very few players that could take their chance like you and also have that humility. And we miss that very much. You're an incredible human being. We were lucky to have you.

1:03:46Appreciate that. He's all right. Hey, such kind words. Such kind words. But anyway, I want to get predictions for this game in one moment. I do need to know. I keep getting asked all the time in interviews, how good is our team? And the answer really is we do not know. I mean, this team is on a diet of friendly. We didn't have to qualify. They're exhibition games. We barely played on the road in this cycle, getting hardened in very fierce, combative, hostile environments that shape a team. Pochettino, God bless him. I love, he loves the movie Miracle on Ice. Like I imagine, I imagine he's like 18 hours a day watching tactical video.

1:04:30And then the other two just slipping on with Jesus Perez. Let's watch Miracle again. He loves that movie. And he said to the team this week, he said the following, he goes, why not us? Why not us? And I thought like genuinely fascinated, serious question. As players, the players all like nodded. does that really work? Does it change how you think? Will the players have been like, oh my God, I hadn't thought about that. Why not us? Oh my God, I thought we were going to do this, but now actually I think we're going to be, does it work? And should this team believe? They should believe. If you don't believe, you should get out of the locker room, first of all.

1:05:11Talk about saying it's your mom and people tell you, if you don't believe in yourself, nobody will. So I just think that's important, man. I think as a manager, you know what makes your team tick, right? And if you've got to come up with a saying or do something to get people to be more bought in, then do what you've got to do, right? But I think that the most important thing is just having everybody on the same page and wanting to fight for each other and trying to get the best out of each other. And like you said, you said they're back there a little bit. Sometimes just 1 % makes a big difference.

1:05:44So if that's that little bit of difference you need, well, then we'll take it. For sure. You have to believe. And if that gets through to one guy on the team, then then say say it all the time. Why not us? But I think, too, you know, going into this tournament, you know, I think back, you know, 2010, 2014. And I remember looking back at the videos from back home. And now the fact that this is on home soil, all of a sudden we start to pick up a few wins. The excitement is going to be within the city, within the city, but ultimately with the country. Having an entire country behind this team, anything could happen.

1:06:18Right. It's 90 minutes of football, and anybody can beat anyone, so why not us? For real. Let's go. And to your point, you see the winner will be the U.S. hockey team versus Canada hockey team and how everybody behind the country and rooted for them for both the men's and the women's team. So I think it's just an exciting time, and I look forward to these games that are coming up because I'm hearing the stadium's going to be packed again because for a while there's been a lot to talk about where's everybody at? The people are not coming out and supporting this team. You saw some of the attendance during Gold Cup.

1:06:57So, you know, Goose has his ear to the street. He always knows what's going on. Atlanta, we got to show him. Turn up. Let's go. He's telling me it could be sold out. I guess we'll see. Let's get that stadium rocking. I guess we'll see. When you mention the Winter Olympics, I'm still pissed off about the curling. But I thought you were going to say when you watch videos of 2014, you'll see how we were inspired by the coach getting the man in to rip the phone book. Oh, man. Did that really work? If you didn't see this, before the 2014 games, Jürgen Klinsmann got a very strong, swole man in to stand in front of the footballers.

1:07:36A phone book, children watching at home. We used to have phones. We didn't know numbers. They were these thick things, really thick. You couldn't rip them. But this man just came in and goes, ripped the phone book. And the footballers, the video wasn't clear to me. Were you sitting there impressed or were you just like, steroids, baby? Hey, man, we definitely got 1 % better from watching that. Lost a few phone numbers as well. Okay, I'm going to get predictions for the game in one moment, but I need a quick one. if Clint Dempsey took 10 penalties against you Brad Guzan today how many penalties are being scored and how many are getting saved zero he's scoring zero no I'm scoring eight I'm scoring eight I'm scoring my number no chance I mean I only missed one when I played with the national team so I had pretty good rating oh my god I remember that penalty That was against Mexicans.

1:08:39Let's not talk about it. Why are you over here, Boston? Don't worry about... Positivity, positivity. By the way, just see your name. Yeah, it was in Columbus, 2013. We were winning 2-0. There was a penalty almost last minute. Clint took it up, hit it to the right, I think. And I watched it. I was in the stadium that night. I was like, Clint's such an incredible American. He's like, guys, I'm the captain. Let me miss it so we keep the deuces there. And then when I spoke to him, Afterwards, I was like, Clint, you're so amazing. You missed that on purpose to keep our nation's honor. What did you say?

1:09:14Man, hell no. I didn't do that on purpose. That would have been the difference between me breaking the record. He's still pissed now. Children, be like this, man. We still sore about that, bitter about that? He really is. Eight. Eight. What's happening to the other two that you're going to miss? Oh, it's going to hit off his nose. That thing's blocking all kinds of stuff. Look at that. It's predictions time. We're about to play Belgium. it's an amazing opportunity. Pot one opponents, heavyweights, both of these teams, Portugal too, teams that expect to go deep. They've not lost in four games away on the run.

1:09:50They were without Thibaut Courtois, who calls himself Belgium, Brad Guzan, Leandro Trossard, big Rom Lukaku also out. They still have sufficient quality to probe, to test us. Kevin De Bruyne will be on the field at some point. Jeremy Doku, Uri Tillmans, But Bufavus, starting with you, Guzan Adormus, tell us what will happen tomorrow night. What kind of game will it be and what will the score be? Listen, I think it's going to be certainly a tough test. You know, all the players you mentioned for Belgium, right? World-class players. But that's what we're going to see in the World Cup. And so it's going to be an exciting game, I think, especially for the fans.

1:10:27I'm going to go bold, brave. We're going 2-0 to the U.S. Oh, damn. Let's go. Dose to zero. Okay. All right, let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Oh, no, you say Ducerciro in Flemish, but I love it. Plenty. I think it's going to be a real exciting game. It's a friendly that both teams have a lot on the line, right? Belgium's getting an opportunity to play in the States and get a little bit of taste of what it's going to be like here in the World Cup. Also, players fighting for a spot to be on the team. Same situation with the U.S., right? They're going to be excited, playing in front of a packed stadium.

1:11:04Everything's on the line to try to book your ticket to be in a World Cup on home soil. I think it's 2-1 U.S. I think it's an exciting game. It's going to be back and forth. And U.S. is going to keep it going. From your mouth to God's ear, both of you. Clint, you and I are going to be live post-game on our channel on our YouTube. So I'm going to let Brad Guzan have the last word. Goose. US team, whatever happens, they are about to embark on an epic journey with the nation watching, with the world watching. In a way, it's going to define so many of their careers, what happens in June and please God, July.

1:11:43You know, a campaign on home soil in an American jersey. If you were invited to come in there, put the phone book down, say, I'm not going to rip it, guys i'm just gonna speak to you from my heart if you were to address them what would you tell these players i would tell them to to play with their heart to turn your head up everybody hold up come on come on i'm not gonna get all sentimental get in the locker room hey give the people what they want behave no listen this this this opportunity is so unique right of course being a part of a world cup squad is is massive but being able to do it on home soil they won't have this opportunity ever again, right?

1:12:24Whether, you know, they're young or old, like, that's not, it's not going to happen again. And so to be able to have an entire country behind you, play with your heart, be brave, enjoy the moment. And we were talking backstage about not necessarily enjoying all of the moments throughout your career, but understand what this is and, you know, really enjoy it and know that an entire country is behind you and go out there and get the job done or leave the country and don't ever come back. In life, there's only two options. I want to say, Brad, I love being with you. You are honestly an icon. It's incredible to watch you go from strength to strength, from goalkeeper to broadcaster.

1:13:05I can't wait to watch you on TNT tomorrow, HBO Max 2, 3.30 p.m. Eastern time. You and I will be together after the final whistle. I love listening to you, breaking down what we've just witnessed. I just say it's an honor to be with both of these two legends. I'm someone to watch them from afar. Honour to be with you in this crowd. Absolutely. It's amazing. Atlanta say we never take being with these two human beings for granted. Let's hear it for Big Brad Guzan and the mighty Clint Dempsey.

1:13:44But it's time for our final guest tonight, a true Atlanta icon. an extraterrestrial poet laureate who has won half of the greatest euro that music has seen in the modern period has dropped more unforgettable bars than Atlanta has Peachtree Streets. We'd be here until mid-July, honestly, if we dropped every one of his accolades, the half-dozen Grammys, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. I think he's won two World Cups. they also dropped the best-selling hip-hop record of all time masterpiece double album speaker box of love below which is officially faintly audible at all times across our planet it's a joy to welcome and welcome back the gent who once said catfish and grits is how my flow flows atlanta please be upstanding for one of the greatest poets of modern america it's Sir Lucius left foot himself.

1:14:45Big boy!

1:15:00Big boy!

1:15:12Oh, big boy. It is incredible to see you, man. What's up, buddy? We're here in your kingdom. ATL Ho.

1:15:23ATL Ho. Yeah. Yeah, okay. All right, let's keep it corporate. Let's keep it corporate. What's up, buddy? It's so good to see you. I want to say, it's a joy to be back with you. You came on, I can't believe it's five years already since you made your first appearance on our show. Look at that. Oh, I still had my own, I had a full head of hair. I looked like I was in jail. Oh my God. You know what? You've made the mistake of coming back here, you beautiful human being. But last time we talked about your love of throwback baseball jerseys. We talked about your love of Kate Bush. We could do an hour on that.

1:16:05Right, right, right. But first of all, we've got to hit the hard-hitting stuff, the most important stuff, the stuff I think America needs to know in deep. It's about your love of owls. Yeah. Talking about your Eurasian eagle owls. Yeah, that's right. Houdini and Hootie Who, let's hear it for those. Hootie Who. Yeah. I got to say, they were one when we spoke. Yeah. What have you learned about life as these owls have grown? went um that they're expensive to feed yeah for sure what are we eating um full-grown rats it was mice but i was like they're eating the new york rats now it's time yeah it's one of new york's great exports how are they as they grow are they still like watching you swim hanging on your diving board just being cute little things or are they like demanding no no no they're super cool man like they'll sit and they'll perch all day and um until it's feeding time and then you know that's one thing and if i take them like outdoors or whatever they just have such a keen sense of like sight and hearing like they'll key in on a snake or anything and kind of take off after the chipmunks in the backyard yeah can i say since we spoke like everyone loves dogs everyone loves cats i've been like on a personal campaign to try and persuade my wife to say why can't we have owls I got the plug I can hook you up now I got the plug I got the plug I know you've got the plug because you are proper Atlanta in every way you're like a vegetable plate from the Busy B wrapped in a throwback jersey from Walter's you're so Atlanta that the city has celebrated both an outcast day and then they're like no no no we must also have a big boy day which I just love I want to live in that city yeah you moved to the city in the mid 80s when you were a kid um 1980 yeah man i mean what did atlanta mean to you then when you arrived just give us that as a baseline what was atlanta when you came here well when we first moved here we moved to uh regency park at east point um yeah for sure um kindergarten we was we was poor as hell um eat mcdonald's every day uh my mom worked like three jobs to support like three kids and um yeah it It was rough.

1:18:21It was rough. And Atlanta as a city, then, did it not really exist beyond the unit, or did you have a sense of it as a place and what it could be? Yeah, I mean, from watching the news and stuff like that, it's just a key.

1:18:37I mean, you have transformed this city as one of the key elements that has made us understand from an outside world what this place is. But what's driven you? I think two things. We're going to talk about, one, your love of sports, but also your love, your profound love of music. You went to Tri-Cities High School. Yes. Bulldog Pride. Yeah. You met your longtime collaborator, your musical partner, Andre 3000. Yeah, yeah. And I love this. Andre once said, neither of you had thought of making music. This is mind-blowing. Kids watching this, listen to this. until you started watching pop videos and thought, and I love this quote, this is terrible.

1:19:24We can do terrible. Let's try it. Look at you both, by the way. Does that feel like yesterday or does that feel like a long time ago? That felt like about 30-something years ago. I still got the same face though. Yeah, for sure. Where do you get that confidence from to be like, we can do terrible, but let's try it, to just think, okay, we can absolutely destroy this. I don't know if we said that shit, but I know we were both into music, and being in high school, we were like the new kids to the school that had just merged a bunch of different schools to try cities, and it was like gang culture, and we were always into fashion, the way we were dressing.

1:20:10We were really into the girls, you know what I mean? And it was music. Our musical tastes were similar. you know we would go and get new music every week and then we just you know really had a knack for it and just discovered our god-given gift do you remember the first bars the first roms you wrote what were they i know i can remember drake's got back to my it was figure figure finicky i get more cat than morris yeah and i go back to old cat food commercial you know i mean still pussy oh my bad all right back to the corporate yeah let's go back let's go back to the corporate you did it I'm with you okay let's go I'm with you let's do corporate and non-corporate versions I like them both speaking of corporate one of my dear friends is here in here from the private bank at Bank of America Alicia Dunlap that's my family man hey appreciate it y 'all know what it is it's real by the way I love this man this is amazing He both veers completely off the corporate road and then comes back and just lands it like Kerry Stroog and it's magnificent.

1:21:19I want to get back to Outkast, 1992. You were in high school. By the way, first song, first hit, Players' Ball. Anyone remember Players' Ball? It only went gold. When that song dropped, it was 1993. I just moved here. You were just 18 years old, which is incredible. Ultimately, it was the beginning of what at first, it wasn't just a tremor, it was a massive quake. And it created a cultural shift, seismic shift. Yes. Establish Atlanta as the third coast. I mean, you can really trace this back. Another Atlanta icon, T.I., described it. He said we were shaping and molding the foundation of a culture of a city in a way that would go on to influence everything.

1:22:05we're three decades on what shouts atlanta to you now when you see it we've heard what it was when you moved here but when you see it when you hear it what is the essence of this city um greatness you know um from you know from the people to uh the commerce to the food and the trees and business, movies, music. Atlanta's on top of it, for sure. What's the most Atlanta thing about you? What part of you? What part of your identity, big boy? Your personality, your entire aura. What's been shaped by this city when you think about yourself? I think it's the southern hospitality, you know? Where you can walk down the street and people speak to each other, you know?

1:22:54It's not like the hustle and bustle of a big city like New York, whatever, where everybody's in their own world. Like if you say good evening or good afternoon, they'll say it back if you say it right. Yeah. Well, just an engaging community first. Of the people. Of the people, for the people. It is a theme of tonight. Yeah. And that's who you are. And as we said up top, there's another thing that's driven you, which is your love of sports. Yeah. I love this. As a kid, you thought you'd either be a psychologist or a professional football player. Very similar realities. I don't know if this is true.

1:23:31I'm now doubting myself because my Wikipedia research has been revealed tonight. Yeah, I'm finished, by the way. This is the last ever Men in Blazers live show. Is it true? I'm now phrasing these as questions. Is it true? Is it true you chose big boy because you're a high school football player? You said you were really into apple pies and ice cream, which is highly bloody relatable. I think they mixed a whole bunch of that together. Yeah, they meaning me. That's fair. Slightly hyperbolic. What kind of athlete were you? What were your skills? No, I didn't say that. I made that up. No, no, no. Wikipedia, like anybody can go on there.

1:24:15I mean, y 'all can go and put your name on there. Wikipedia is truth. I don't want anyone knocking Wikipedia here tonight. I don't want anything like that. But what kind of athlete were you? What were your skills? Just really fast. You know what I mean? Just super fast. but my mom didn't have like a lot of money to pay for like the equipment and get the practices and stuff so went to music sports loss music's gain but you became i mean you went under a 3000 um would sell popcorn at the old fulton county stadium is it is it true that you would go and like line up to watch dian sanders drive up in his ferrari which i just love was that wikipedia you no that was truth i was there that's a fact that's a fact that's a fact that's a fact look at that what would you feel when you saw that what did that make you feel man like man he was he was that guy man it was like dion was was the man still is the man to this day shout out to dion should do it a whole sander's family for sure respect you're like you'd watch that car zoom past and be like, I bet that man owns pet owls.

1:25:21If you had to put together your Mount Rushmore of Atlanta sports icons, which four faces are you putting on the side? Definitely Deion Sanders, Dominique Wilkins, Hank Aaron, and give me Tom Glavin. Yeah. For sure. Yeah. Whoa. Atlanta doesn't forget. Chipper Jones. No. I mean, put him on the other side. I just try to mix it up a little bit. I love you. I love you. Angel McCutry. Yeah. I just have one big Michael Vick face on the side, to be candid. But I didn't want to make everybody black, so I had to throw somebody in there. I love that. I love that. All right.

1:26:15I'm trying to be, you know what I'm saying? That's amazing. Dion Sanders, Dominique, Michael Vick, and Brett Guzan. There we go. I mean, you are a legit supporter of all Atlanta sports teams. You've been there for Atlanta United since the team debuted in 2017. Look at that, man. You've got to hit the golden spike. And you said, and I love this, As you said, the crowd at Atlanta United Games are louder than a Falcons game. Yeah. I mean, you go, you watch the Braves, you go to Falcons game. What makes United Games such a remarkable, singular? Oh, my God, look at that photograph. It's amazing. What makes it such a singular experience?

1:27:01Because they don't sit down. They're on their feet the whole game, man. And it's the chance, it's the swaying, it's the footy mob. It's all of that, man. It's just nonstop action. For sure. The footy mob is incredible, man. It is incredible. When I go to United games, I find it incredibly moving that footy mob have led that movement of bringing hip-hop culture into the stadium. I mean, the whole thing, goody mob, footy mob. Atlanta's influence, your influence. I mean, big boy, in some of the chants, you know, Outkast B.O.B., Hootie Hootie Hootie, Childish Gambino's 3005, Crime Moggs, Nook If You Book.

1:27:47Hey. What does it say to you when you hear a stadium full of people watching that game, singing a football chant based on your brain? it's amazing man it's powerful actually when you go in there the energy is like you know on a thousand it's really cool especially if you get to sit behind the goal and watch the ball fly and hit the chicken tellers one time for all the blank for them good seats them booth seats baby appreciate it I'm spoiled that's the only way I like to go if I can't sit in the suite behind the goal I don't want to go man you're only human I'm just saying man Like I was to give a chance my nephew or my grandson to catch the ball.

1:28:32And it's happened a couple of times. Oh, God bless. For sure. I mean, that is the reality. But when you hear them sing that song, your song. Yeah. I feel like a part of the team. They need you right now to be candid. I'm just stating facts. World Cup's coming. Yeah. No one knows who's going to win for sure. I want to go out on a limb. I think Atlanta is going to win this World Cup in 2020. Let's do it. Your city. I do, I do, I do. I mean, you are going to be playing a live show, first day of the World Cup, right? Yes. In Decatur Square. And Atlanta has been, in your lifetime, the centre of the world.

1:29:131996. Not only was it the summer of the ATLENs, in the lesser news, the city also hosted the Summer Olympics. Then, the world was looking at your city. It was looking at your neighbourhoods. who is looking at your world. 1996, you can make the case, put Atlanta on the world's map. So, Big Boy, what do you think 2026 can do for this city? It's the same thing amplified. That's what I was saying the other day. This is going to be bigger than the Olympics, you know, because it's such a world community that's coming to the city that's going to be crazy, for sure. So what the first time, second time, 70th time visitors need to experience when they're here.

1:29:56If you were going to tell visitors from around the world to understand the soul of this city, I've now legally got to say, other than Magic City, where would you send them? Oh, Claremont Lounge. Oh, that's a good one. That's a good one. Yeah, yeah. Claremont Lounge, yeah. Keep it corporate. Oh, corporate? Okay, let's see. Waffle House. Let's go to Waffle House. Got to go to the Waffle House. Maybe Spondivitz by the airport if you like seafood. You can visit the dungeon where we started making our music over there in Lakewood. It's on Airbnb, for sure. And then go to the High Museum.

1:30:45Keep it corporate. I was going to say, KIC, keep it corporate. Yeah. Quickly, what's your go-to restaurant? on? What's a one must-eat? What dish are we getting? Where are we going? Restaurant? It's a new... Well, I don't know if it's new, but it's called CNS Seafood. And I don't eat oysters, but they got a lobster scampi. It's amazing, you know? I'm like only... I don't eat no beef or pork. I eat seafood, chicken, and turkey. You know what I mean? So CNS is like the glazed carrots. Yes. Yeah, get that. Get that. Keep it corporate. God, I am so bloody hungry. The rest of the show is going to fly by as I charge down there for the glazed carrots.

1:31:30What? Let's go, let's go. By the way, I'm not kidding. We are going, baby. But people are coming. Cape Verde, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Uzbekistan are going to dominate. Hundreds of thousands of Uzbekis are going to be in your city in the most remarkable ways. You also have the tenacious, remarkable Haiti side, who I think are going to be one of the stories of this World Cup in the most beautiful way. They've made this tournament despite having to play every single qualifying game away from home. I think they're magnificent. It's going to be a diverse group of supporters descending upon your city from Africa, from the Caribbean, from the Middle East, from Asia, from Europe.

1:32:13What are you most excited to experience in this five weeks and why? I just want to go to one of those games. I I know it's going to be electrifying because there's going to be people from all over the world and not just two separate teams cheering for somebody different. It's going to be a party, I think. For sure, for sure. It's going to be an incredible party. And I do appreciate you have a... You're a man, I've learned, who has an ability to savor things, to take nothing for granted, to make memories, to create wonder, to enjoy wonder. I mean, we've watched you collaborate with everyone from the Atlanta Ballet to UGK.

1:32:49the whole world in there man i mean you have a collection of furs that is pretty remarkable but the thing i love more than anything about listening to you and being with you in life is you have one of the most incredibly positive mindsets of anybody i've ever met thank you brother um there's a line on the trade uh where you said quote you got to keep on living like each day is the beginning. It's your birthday, even on your worst day, which sounds better out of his mouth than it does out of mine, but it is amazing. I just want to say, what is the secret to that kind of positivity, to that kind of outlook?

1:33:29I'm asking for a friend. I think we all need to know right now. You want me to be honest? No one's listening to this. My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, buddy. That's where I'm at. You know what I'm saying? I follow God in everything I do. For sure. I put God first in everything I do, and I'm not ashamed of that. Know that. And what does that... So what does that... How does that work? What does that empower you to do? I just pray and just, you know, ask for guidance and fill my body with the Holy Spirit. You know, and I just go from there. I'm not perfect. Holy Spirit can never be beat. I gotta tell you.

1:34:10Yeah, y 'all ain't thought I was gonna go like that. Keep it corporate. Keep it corporate. Yeah, I know you're not supposed to put religion in it, but hey, it's a part of me, so I'm here. It's the Holy Spirit and the Bank of America. Yeah. Wait, wait, wait. No, the private bank. I do want to ask you one more before you go. You're a beautiful human being. You can keep this as corporate or as un-corporate. I don't know what the opposite of corporate is. But when you introduce yourself to the world as part of OutKast, when you won the best new rap group at the 1995 Source Award. I mean, a deeply historic moment in America, deeply historic moment in culture, deeply cultural moment in music.

1:34:55Andre 3000 dropped that incredible line, the South got something to say, which was just a hall of fame mic drop moment. We are now 30 years later from that. What does the world need to hear from the South right now going into this summer's World Cup, big boy?

1:35:18Creatively or just musically or just what? Corporately. Corporately. However, in all honesty, I think this is an important question. However you want to answer that. We just need to extend that real big hand of Southern hospitality, invite everybody in and be good to people, man. That's the name of the gang. by the way there's so much wisdom in that just be good to people um big boy i want to say you are a remarkable human being i think you know that you have a real sense of that you and your whole team the joy you bring to the world i will say it's more precious than ever before you leave i want to make a memory of this night atlanta be on your feet put the house lights up big boy join me going to bring the photographer Matthias back on let's have you all be up standing we'll take a photograph treasure forever come on let's do it

1:36:46And then, so let's hear it for Big Boy!

1:36:51Oh, my God. I adore that human being, I want to tell you. And I'm, like, dead inside, and now I feel... I'd be lying if I said that everything is possible. but I do believe my hair will grow again. That is our show. Can I say what a night it was to share it with you, you beautiful human beings. I have learned so much tonight. This is, by the way, the most positive show, the most optimistic, the spirit the world needs. I'm going to jump on down into that corner of the theatre. I'm going to go in the lobby. I want to support this bookstore more than I can say and come and meet you all. I do want to give a genuine, keeping it corporate, thank you.

1:37:38I love that phrase. To our great friends. Can we hear it for Bank of America? For presenting this show. They are the official Bank of US Soccer and the FIFA World Cup 2026. By the way, I'm so ecstatic for what they're about to do in the months ahead. They are powering so much of what's great in football. They've got this new Soccer in Schools campaign, which is aiming to make soccer accessible at every school in America, which is what America needs right now, more than we can say. And I know it's coming to Atlanta so soon. Thanks to all you do to grow the game in the nation and especially here in this incredible city.

1:38:21But before I go, I do want to raise a toast. I want to tell you how meaningful this has been to being in your loving arms. I feel like so charged by being in the energy of your city. Our whole team does. Our whole team is welcomed into your hearts. And I want to thank those who made possible tonight the FIFA World Cup 26 Atlanta host committee, who are one of my favorite in the whole nation. What you're making possible for the state of Georgia is really beautiful. I'll just say the football world is about to descend upon this city. They are in for the greatest treat. I don't even think they know.

1:38:58They're coming for the football, but they're about to discover a new side of themselves, a huge, huge love, a love supreme. Obviously, they're going to go to the Busy Bee. It's going to blow their minds for the greatest chicken I've ever tasted. They're going to go after tonight to Magic City, but obviously just for the wings. I don't want to get on Adam Silver's bad side, so I just say they're going to commune in Centennial Park and say for all that is great about the communities of this city coming together and your love for football. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for having us. As Darius from Atlanta himself said, I'd say it's nice to meet you, but I don't believe in time as a concept.

1:39:42So I'm just going to say we always met. Atlanta, let's not take a single second of watching football together for granted. Big love, courage. Let's go and win the World Cup, yeah? Thank you.