We don't have answers for Soccer

Lebron is going to Cleveland. In 2020, Lebron launched the SpringHill Company. Since then, SpringHill produced a number of podcasts, shows, and movies (including Space Jam). By 2024, SpringHill merged with Fulwell 73 Productions, who are responsible for producing The Kardashians. Ever heard of ‘em? The narrative of arc Lebron returning for one Last Dance in Cleveland is irresistible. As reported by Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor, Lebron is already shopping the rights to a docuseries of the 2026 season. Bron coming to a streamer near you!

I believe the bulk of the hold-up preventing Lebron from signing already is so that Cleveland can re-route James Harden in a sign-and-trade. There is no world any team with title aspirations should rely on Harden during the playoffs, and for the right price, someone will take a chance on Regular Season James. A rational sign-and-trade would let Harden grab one last bag, and maybe even net the Cavs an asset. Is it enough for a championship? Yes, it can be. Observe:

The Bench Boys include Max Strus, Playoff Dennis Schroeder, and Sam Merrill. Get Kevin Love back up in here! Believe me, good health, a 2023 Jamal Murray like heater from Mitchell, Mobley exorcising the playoff demons that KAT just exorcised, and this team can raise a banner. It’s a parity league at this point. You don’t need to be OKC or San Antonio. Know how I know? Only one is coming out of the West, and neither won a ring last year.

It’s undeniably cool that Lebron can wrap this whole career up where it started. If 26-27 really is the last trip through the League, we should all watch his little TV show. And if this means less James Harden, even better.

I’m so geeked up to post-mortem American Soccer. I’m so hyped to unpack why we can’t compete with Spain! Or France, Belgium, Argentina, Brazil, probably Cape Verde, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, or any other country that doesn’t watch the NFL. The degree of complaining from insider soccer critics hasn’t just been deafening, but it’s downright confusing. Here are some notes:

So to round out, we both need to emulate European training academies on our home soil and ship our best players to Spain akin to Messi leaving Argentina when he was 13. A lot to unpack for a baseball fan like me.

Wanting more from your domestic icons isn’t a uniquely soccer experience. We see it in the NBA when Wemby, Jokic, Giannis, or SGA win MVPs. Japan dominates the World Baseball Classic. USA Hockey has its ups and downs. Unfortunately, the US Men’s Soccer program just has so little historical success to stand on that the discourse around improving results feels more hopeless than just waiting for AJ Dybantsa to mature into the NBA’s best player. The recommendations from on-air talent feels hollow coming from equally unsuccessful former American players. Of course, we’ve tried the “hire a foreign coach” approach, but the National Team Head Coach isn’t going to coax mass upskilling of twelve year olds.

I’m not going to add to the fire hose of recommendations for how to make the next Messi American. I suggest you don’t either. I’m also not going to have any expectations that we make a World Cup quarterfinal in 2030. But I’m going to watch every game.