Rooster and the Villain: An American Soccer Podcast

Josh Hakala - US Open Cup Extraordinaire

Josh Hakala has been covering the US Open Cup since 2003. 

At that time, he started USOpenCup.com (now thecup.us because USSF did a USSF thing) and provided coverage to a competition that has been in existence since 1914. A competition that has never truly peaked. A competition which Josh believes will continue to grow in popularity as US soccer becomes more prevalent in the world football landscape.

Josh speaks with us about how he became interested in the cup, more about TheCup.Us and its coverage of the Open Cup, some of his favorite moments from the past tournaments, and what he's looking forward to for this year's tournament.

It's a great primer for anyone interested in the tournament this year! If you, like me, have only begun to become interested in the tournament, this is a great place to start.

Dan Vaughn - A Protagonist of Lower League Soccer in the USA

Dan Vaughn and the rest of the Protagonist Soccer crew are one of driving forces behind growing support in the lower leagues of the United States. They offer a voice for the under-covered and a platform for supporters of local soccer to gather information that is scarcely available elsewhere. 

Dan started the site in 2018 and focuses Protagonist's attention towards covering 3rd Division and lower soccer leagues here in the US. Which, of course, includes the league where our beloved Maryland Bobcats FC play (NISA). Personally, I love the Knights Who Say NISA (an homage to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, of course!) podcast and see it as the only outside source of information and news coming out of NISA. 

During our conversation, we talk about some of the deep history of soccer in this country (shoutout Inocentes FC and the American Soccer league), NISA and its current affairs, the USMNT and their qualifying hopes, and more! I also find it fascinating that we have found another American soccer fan who was brought into the sport through FIFA. Happens more than you'd think!

Jimmy’s Back, Baby! - Aston Villa, Tottenham, Title Race, Relegation, and USMNT

Jimmy and Mike bring back an old school episode for the diehard Rooster and the Villain fans out there. We do our usual boozin' and chatting. We take a deep dive on Aston Villa and Tottenham, and then skirt around the Prem a bit. Hope you enjoy it Heldy baby.

Craig Hearn - We Are Soccer - From England to Detroit

The more I talk about soccer, the more I want to talk about soccer.

Every soccer journey in America is different and they're all interesting to me. But I had a particularly fun time talking with Craig about his personal soccer journey. Craig moved to the US from England in the early 1990s, when he was about 10 years old. His dad was a diehard Aston Villa supporter (and they lived very close to Villa Park), so by indoctrination, Craig continues the tradition from the Metro Detroit area. 

As a young soccer player, Craig was always the fastest person on the field. He played for the Michigan Wolves Soccer Club from ages 13-18 while simultaneously playing high school soccer. He then had the opportunity to take his talents to Michigan State to play four years at the Division 1 level. We talk a little bit about the level of quality in NCAA Division 1 back in 2003. This was before lower league soccer had begun to emerge so Division 1 soccer at that time meant that you made it. Craig played Striker in a 4-4-2 and as most of us do in college, had the time of his life (although I'd argue he probably had more fun playing than I did learning how to shotgun beers, but I digress). 

After college, with Professional soccer being what it was in the US in the early 2000s, Craig had to get real job (bummer). He lived like the rest of us for a few years until a contact from a newly formed club club, Detroit City Football Club, told him that he should come and try out for the squad. On the wrong side of 30, he managed to not only make the team but become a regular starter. It was the beginning of the Northern Guard Supporter's Club, and the beginning of what DCFC now represents today. How cool was it to be a part of that?

Craig now hosts his own soccer show, We Are Soccer, and has a great following. He also has had the opportunity to interview Kellyn Acosta and Rebecca Lowe and puts on a live show every Saturday morning from 8am-9am. Go check it out!

Alex Kao - From Togo to France to the USA

We were so excited to have Alex Kao on the show. Alex has had an amazing soccer journey. 

He was born in Togo on Africa's West Coast and lived there until he was 9. Then he moved to France and joined the Red Star 93 academy around age 12. After that, he was recruited by Paris FC and joined their academy until it was time to make a tough decision about his career. Life led him to be recruited by a few Division 1 programs in the US and circumstance had him land in Louisburg College in North Carolina for 2 years before heading to the University of Connecticut to finish his collegiate career. From there, Alex turned pro with the Philadelphia Fury (after a stop at the DC United academy) and finally has landed back close to home with the Maryland Bobcats.

Alex brings an interesting perspective to the American soccer landscape as an Academy Product of France. We chat about his personal soccer journey, his view on youth Soccer in America, what it takes to be a Professional, and more. Fun chat. Hope you enjoy it! 

Adam Gotkin - The Voice of the Maryland Bobcats

I had the pleasure of chatting with Adam Gotkin, who is currently a Senior at Quince Orchard High School, and is the voice of the Maryland Bobcats. Adam has known that he has wanted to be in Sports Broadcasting/Journalism since he was a young child. At such a young age, he already has experience starting his own High School Sports broadcasting network (Quince Orchard Sports Network), calling games for the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League team in Gaithersburg (the Giants), and with the Maryland Bobcats FC.

Adam is off to Syracuse next year to continue his pursuit of that dream. 

We talk about his preparation as a broadcaster, how he got involved with the Maryland Bobcats, his Twitter friendship with the infamous Arlo White, and then dive into NISA and USMNT a bit. 

Why Hello Antonio!

The trifecta is back, baby! The boys getting into everything we've missed since we last chatted soccer. I also predict West Ham regressing to the mean and then they go out and beat Chelsea.

You Down with the Old Bae Brigade?

I caught up with Alex, the fearless leader of The Old Bae Brigade, which is the Supporters Group for the Maryland Bobcats of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).

Alex and I talk through the problems with Soccer in the United States, USMNT, lower league soccer, Detroit City's acrimonious split with NISA, the lack of support at the Soccerplex for the Bobcats, building a soccer audience, the Bobcats, and more.

Hope to see you all out at a future Cats game. 

The Premier League is (Almost) Back. Yay!

The holy trinity returns in this glorious episode of Rooster and the Villain. We talk mostly Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa but pepper in a little bit of everything from the Prem. Enjoy!

Euro 2020, Copa, Gold Cup, and NISA Independent Cup

The Rooster and the Villain are back at it. Discussing Euro 2020 because it's been epic. We also delve into MLS, NISA Independent Cup, Gold Cup, Copa, Tottenham and Villa, and more. Fun little convo.