With Aplomb

We sat down with Doug Raftery, General Manager of Reno 1868 FC, a USL Championship club based in Reno, Nevada.

Some of the topics we discussed:

• What it's like to have Herb Simon, of Simon Properties/Indiana Pacers/Indiana Fever fame, as an owner
• 1868's relationship with the San Jose Earthquakes
• Signing Luis Paradela, the 1st Cuban ever to secure a P-1A visa to play professional sports in the United States
• And much much more

All around amazing insights from Doug.

The latest episode of With Aplomb is a celebration of American icon Tim Howard's 22-year career.

From a defiant and record-breaking World Cup performance against Belgium to a goal from his own penalty area against Bolton, we discuss the legendary goalkeeper's legacy in both the USMNT and the Premier League. 

Throughout his playing career, Howard possessed the quality, tenacity and leadership that put him head and shoulders above any footballer to have donned the USA shirt before him - and yet as we explain, the example he set means that there is hope for more American superstars like him.

Join us as we hail his exploits on the pitch, as well as explore the characteristics that on top of an exemplary sportsperson, make him such an exemplary man.

We sat down with Cameron Porter, a brilliant ex-MLS striker, who played for the Montreal Impact as well as Sporting KC.

Cameron collected many accolades in his career and is best known for his famous 94th minute goal for Montreal Impact against Pachuca in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals to take his team to the semifinals with the last kick of the ball.

Alas, his promising career was cut short at the young age of 24 when he was forced to retire because of injuries.

Join us as we talk about his experience working with Coach Jesse Marsch while he played for Princeton, being in the same dressing room as the legend Didier Drogba, what it's like to play against the one and only Cafu, the future of US soccer, the need for investment in the Women's game and a fun lightning round of questions!

The second part of the D10S series finds us discussing Diego Maradona’s club career.

Beginning in Argentina, Maradona would embark on monumental journeys to Barcelona and Napoli, both on world record fees.

Diego Maradona at Napoli was something you find in dreams.

He waltzed by defenders. He scored audacious goals — free kicks, falling down chips, super calm penalties and slalom runs resulting with the ball rifled into the bottom corner.

His status as Napoli’s greatest ever was cemented as two Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia and a UEFA Cup found their way down south. Maradona was the spectacle and remained so as he dazzled the world in blue for six years.

Maradona’s heroics during the 80s had him penciled in as the icon he is remembered as today.

He was simply unstoppable. A force on the ball the world has not seen the likes of since.

Diego Maradona, the man who became a god.

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Paolo Maldini. Roberto Carlos. Ashley Cole. Bixente Lizarazu. Denis Irwin. Patrice Evra.

What do all these legends have in common?

They all played left back and wore the #3 jersey.

Not only incredibly intelligent defenders with a keen sense for situational awareness, but they were also a genuine threat going forward in attack.

As the game has evolved through the century, full backs (left or right) are asked to both defend and attack on the flanks.

In fact, most of the all-time great left backs regularly chipped in with assists and goals, the latter often in the form of free kicks and penalties. 

Join us as we delve into the history of the Number 3 jersey and the icons who have adorned the shirt!

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In football there are legends — heroes who transcend the sport and live forever in the hearts of supporters worldwide. And then there are gods. 

Gods fly in rarefied air and singlehandedly change and shape the game. They are untouchable. A once in a lifetime presence and talent that alter how we comprehend what truly is possible. And it is this latter classification which finds us nestled within the aura of Diego Armando Maradona. 

In the first part of our D10S series, we cover Maradona as he embarks upon an unfathomably flawless journey to the World Cup 1986 crown. This was Maradona’s prime where he sat on top of the footballing world and weaved a tale of magic. A tale we are still gushing over and one that will he gushed over for generations to come. 

In 1986, Diego Maradona went from a maestro on the ball to a deity of the masses. 

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Four games into the new Premier League season and many of us are still unclear about this season's new rules!

So we thought it our duty to help. What we cover in this episode: 

1. Rules not to give a fuck about
2. Rules to give a fuck about 

• Who is Peter Wilt?
• Black Rob - Whoa! (Instrumental)
• Intro
• 1:1 with Peter
• 🙏🏽✌🏽
• 9th Wonder & Kaze - Spirit of '94 (Instrumental)

• Oh hey
• Black Rob - Whoa! (Instrumental)
• Intro KLABU
• What’s Next?
• ✌🏽
• 9th Wonder & Kaze - Spirit of '94 (Instrumental)

In episode 11 of With Aplomb, we’re thrilled to share the story of Forward Madison FC.

In their inaugural season in USL League One, Madison WI’s first pro soccer team is bringing joy to a community that from what we saw from our visit is hungry and pumped for the world’s ultimate sport to have come to their city.

The stories you’ll hear in the 1st of our 2 part series with the team will shine a light on the ins and outs of what it takes to build a community-oriented pro soccer team in the United States.

Boasting the highest home game attendance as well as the most Instagram followers in the league, we were blown away by the quality of their branding, merchandising and grassroots fan engagement efforts.

When we asked about the vision for the club, this is what we were told:

“To become a staple of the community...We just want this to be Madison’s soccer team, forever.” 🖖🏽

• Intro: Black Rob - Whoa! (Instrumental)

• Intro: Black Rob - Whoa! (Instrumental)

• This Episode's Jersey

• Discrimination x Europa League Final

• 🙏🏽✌🏽

• Outro: Kaze - Spirit of '94/Instrumental (produced by the inimitable 9th Wonder)

• Intro: Black Rob - Whoa! (Instrumental)

• This Episode's Jersey

• In This Episode

• Q&A

• Causes: http://iiwisconsin.org/

• 🙏🏽✌🏽

• Outro: Kaze - Spirit of '94/Instrumental (produced by the inimitable 9th Wonder)

• Intro: Black Rob - Woah!/Instrumental (produced by Buckwild) 
• An Ode to Jersey's 
• #10
• The SheBelieves Cup and #FIFAWWC
• Outro: Kaze - Spirit of ‘94/Instrumental (produced by the inimitable 9th Wonder)