Podcast appearances and mentions of washington diplomats

Andy Dolich, a renowned sports executive, shares insights from a groundbreaking career in today's episode.   From creating the first sports management program at Ohio University to boosting attendance for the Washington Diplomats with soccer legends like Johan Cruyff, Dolich recounts the milestones of his journey.   “Sports is part of our society,” Dolich says. “60, 70, 80 thousand people can come together, have their differences, root for their countries, and when the game is over ... get along. We can use more of that today.”   His time with the Oakland A's saw attendance rise from 300 to 16,000 season ticket holders, culminating in the 1989 World Series win against the Giants despite the challenges of the Loma Prieta earthquake.   “It is sports that really helps bring people together,” he notes.   Reflecting on teamwork, leadership, and trust, Dolich also discusses his unsuccessful 1999 bid to buy the A's. Join us as Dolich explores the unifying power of sports and its vital role in society.   ⭕️ Watch in-depth videos based on Truth & Tradition at Epoch TV

American followers of the "beautiful game" undoubtedly know the name Thomas Rongen - but can easily be forgiven for not remembering just exactly how. Of course, there's his current color commentary work for today's Major League Soccer Inter Miami CF - but fans of a certain age will recall the Dutch-born, mop-topped midfielder from his on-field (and in-arena) antics during the halcyon days of the old North American Soccer League alongside international greats like Johan Cruyff, George Best and Alan Willey on clubs like the Los Angeles Aztecs, Washington Diplomats, and two flavors of Strikers - Fort Lauderdale and Minnesota.  Younger aficionados might place their earliest recollections of a fiery presence on the sidelines coaching a wide array of pro clubs ranging from successor ASL/APSL versions of the Strikers in the late 80s/early 90s, to early MLS sides like the 1996 Tampa Bay Mutiny, 1997-98 New England Revolution, 1999-2001 DC United, or even 2005's version of Chivas USA - not to mention his two stints helming the US Men's U-20 National team before and after. However, most will undoubtedly know Rongen from his memorable turn as the head coach of the American Samoa national team during FIFA World Cup qualifying in 2011 - forever immortalized in the epically joyous 2014 documentary "Next Goal Wins", and soon to be refashioned as a major motion picture drama of the same name this fall - in which he wills one of the world's perennial soccer minnows into surprising respectability. We cover all of it - and more - with one of the country's most endearing soccer personalities!   BUY EARLY & OFTEN: Next Goal Wins (2014 DVD)   PREVIEW: Next Goal Wins (2014 documentary) Next Goal  Wins (2023 dramatic feature)   FIND & FOLLOW: Website: https://goodseatsstillavailable.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoodSeatsStill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodseatsstillavailable/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodSeatsStillAvailable/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@goodseatsstillavailable

If anyone's qualified to weigh in with authority on the current Oakland A's relocation imbroglio, it is our guest this week - long-time professional sports marketing executive and Bay Area-based industry consultant Andy Dolich ("Goodbye, Oakland: Winning, Wanderlust, and A Sports Town's Fight for Survival"). Dolich spent 15+ years in the Athletics' front office from 1980-94 during the Walter Haas era - inheriting the remnants of Charlie Finley's parsimonious ownership, helping usher in "Billy Ball", nurturing a promising farm system, and ultimately, reaping the rewards with a 1989 World Series championship over the market's "other team" - the San Francisco Giants. But before we get there, we take an important introductory detour into Dolich's other exploits, replete with notable stops of keen interest to a certain little podcast - like the NASL's Washington Diplomats, the original National Lacrosse League's Maryland Arrows, and the NBA's Vancouver Grizzlies.

Did Johan Cruyff play for the Washington Diplomats? How many games did Winston Bogarde play in his 4 years at Chelsea? Which Premier League manager has been texting Andy Gray? Listen on for all that and more football trivia drivel. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @CareerWeGoPod

We interview Emmy Award winning producer Pete Radovich Jr, the man behind CBS's successful coverage of the UEFA Champions League, Serie A and Concacaf competitions. We discuss how a childhood growing up in a Croatian family made him a soccer fan, the formula behind the success of CBS's UEFA Champions League coverage, how a friend's recommendation changed his life, his family connection to the NASL and the Washington Diplomats, how Paramount+ allows him to provide soccer coverage that goes beyond television, news about long-form soccer documentaries coming to CBS Sports in the future.

In this episode we welcome Thomas Rongen. In 1979, Thomas intended to travel for leisure to the United States. Instead, he ended up playing with the Los Angeles Aztecs. From then on, he would play and then go on to coach amazing teams throughout America. Today, the discussion revolves around great players like Rinus Michels, Johann Cruyff, Gerd Müller, Elias Figueroa, and Teófilo Cubillas. Thomas also shares what it was like playing with his idol, his experience coaching in Samoa, and the documentary about it that followed. On this episode: ● How Thomas ended up in America. ● The childhood hero Thomas got to play with. ● A little bit about Thomas' experience playing with the Aztecs. ● Who Thomas says is the most influential player and coach of all time. ● Why after playing in Edmonton, their team never checked out again. ● What the other players got out of working with Johan Cruyff ● The greatest football friend Bob ever had. ● Other sometimes distant but legendary players. ● The new documentary about the NASL that's coming out shortly. ● The rule change in the NASL that opened up the game. ● What happened in 2007 that looked like the reincarnation of the NASL. ● The increasing importance of branding in soccer. ● The event Bob has a warm spot in his heart for. ● What the documentary “Next Goal Wins” is about. ● How Thomas ended up coaching in Samoa. ● Thomas' personal and professional highlights of coaching in Samoa. ● Who played Thomas in the documentary. ● What David appreciated about the documentary.

Today we're joined by Andy Dolich, Senior Vice President and former General Manager of the Washington Diplomats. He talks about his most memorable moments in the North American Soccer League, the greatest players in history, and what it takes to create a successful team. On this episode: ● A bit about Andy's career and the previous sports he worked in. ● How Andy ended up working in soccer. ● An overview of the new book Andy wrote called “Loss of Logo.” ● What Andy and Bob call one of the most exciting times in soccer. ● The slogan that Johan Cruyff used a lot. ● What Andy learned in post-game conversations with Cruyff. ● Why Andy wanted Johan Cruyff to come to Washington. ● Bob's thoughts on the documentary about the New York Cosmos. ● What happened after the Cosmos lost the semi-finals in 1978. ● Why Andy calls the Cosmos the “Cirque du Soleil” of soccer at that time. ● A funny memory Andy has of Charlie Bluhdorn, chairman of Gulf & Western. ● Why Andy tried to put a group together to buy the Diplomats. ● What Johan Cruyff went on to do after the Washington Diplomats. ● The thing Cruyff shared that he learned from his time with the Diplomats in his book. ● What Andy's son is doing to make him proud. ● How much soccer has grown over the decades. ● When Washington decided to try another franchise, and why it didn't work. ● How Bob felt going from New York to Washington. ● What Andy calls a “hole in his soul.” ● What Andy did after the Washington Diplomats.

Ron Fresen, de mediagast in het eerste uur, is bekend als politiek verslaggever bij de NOS. Deze maand bracht hij een boek uit over zijn werk bij het Achtuurjournaal: Acht jaar Achtuur. Daarin onthult hij, dat hij sinds 2018 lijdt aan een ongeneeslijke vorm van prostaatkanker. Mede daarom maakte Fresen bekend volgend jaar te stoppen bij de NOS. Guus Hiddink, de sportgast in het tweede uur, is voormalig voetballer en voetbaltrainer. In september kondigde hij aan met pensioen te gaan, maar Hiddink lijkt nu al weer van zijn schreden terug te keren. Hiddink was onder meer trainer van PSV en van de nationale elftallen van onder andere Nederland, Zuid-Korea en Rusland. Zelf speelde hij onder meer bij De Graafschap, PSV en de Washington Diplomats.

Well, it's that time of the week again, another week, another match preview! Joining Todd this week to Preview Sunday's DC United v Philadelphia Union game (5/23) is DC United PxP, Dave Johnson! Dave talks about growing up in the "Pele era" of soccer in North America and how watching the Washington Diplomats played a role in him wanting to become a broadcaster. Todd and Dave also dive into Hernán Losada's quotes after the United v Orlando City game last weekend, and how DC have looked under Losada so far. They also talk about DC United not going out and signing a "superstar" like they have in the past, along with how Edison Flores and Paul Ariola are coming along from injures they suffered last season. Finally, they give their thoughts on what it'll take for each team to win this weekend.   NASL/Washington Diplomats: [2:30-7:34] Losada quotes after Orlando City loss: [7:35-10:41] Losada through 6 games: [10:42-16:43] DC United off-season signings: [16:44-20:27] DC United v Philadelphia Union predictions: [20:28-33:52]   Social Media:  Twitter: @FreeKickPod Instagram: @FreeKickPod Facebook: @FreeKickPod http://thefreekickpodcast.com/   Dave's Social Media: Twitter: @davejsports Instagram: @davejsports

damnit we're back!!! After a restful holiday the guys are back and have some opinions on some things. They continue they're discussion on sports restarts, team name changes and give some music reviews of the recent album drops... and yes we can't ignor the elephant in the room, we address Yeezy running fro prez and his new music

Professional union labor lawyer and Society for American Soccer History sports historian Steve Holroyd returns to the podcast to go deep into one of the more curious rabbit holes in North American Soccer League history. In early 1977, Ed Garvey, a labor lawyer and head of the newly-formed National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), recruited Washington Diplomats midfielder John Kerr to help gauge interest among his teammates and those of other clubs in forming a similar organization for the suddenly ascendant ten-year-old NASL.  By the end of that summer, player representatives from all 18 league clubs agreed in principle to create the North American Soccer League Players Association (NASLPA), and on August 29th, 1977 – the day after the New York Cosmos’ dramatic Soccer Bowl victory over the Seattle Sounders in Pele’s US swan song – officially sought recognition by NASL owners to become the players’ collective bargaining entity. Commissioner Phil Woosnam and league ownership quickly refused, fearing a threat to the still-fragile circuit’s integrity by a group run by a union of the NFL, with whom NASL owners already had a tenuous (and in the cases of Ft. Lauderdale’s Robbie and Dallas’ Hunt families, common ownership) relationship.      With no progress towards recognition of the union either during the subsequent off-season or the next year, members of the NASLPA finally voted 252-113 to strike against ownership – announcing its intention to do so on April 13, 1979, one day before the league’s second weekend slate of regular season games. What transpired next was five unprecedented days of confusion (would foreign imports risk deportation by playing during an American player work stoppage?); desperation (coaches Eddie McCreadie [Memphis] and Ron Newman [Ft. Lauderdale] donning uniforms to help their strike-depleted teams); naiveté (unwitting fans seeking Rochester Lancer “player” autographs during last-minute replacement tryouts); and ultimately, miscalculated futility – as player resolve waned almost immediately, especially among the association’s non-US residents, who actually made up the majority of the membership. The players’ point had been made, however, and by mid-1984 – through a long series of subsequent court rulings – the NASLPA finally prevailed in its mission to collectively represent players at the bargaining table with league ownership. Ironically, by then, it didn’t matter – the NASL folded in March of 1985. We love our sponsors – Streaker Sports, 503 Sports, OldSchoolShirts.com, SportsHistoryCollectibles.com, and Audible – and you will too!

Orlando City hosts D.C. United and The Orlando Sentinel's Jordan Culver joins the show to discuss the Lions early season form, how they want to play, and the impact of Nani. Then, The Athletic's Pablo Maurer talks with Roche about Johan Cruyff, his worldwide and national legacy, why his "mixtapes" don't pop, and who would play Cruyff in the Netflix limited series about his time in DC.

Jim Trecker is considered one of the most prominent communications and public relations professionals in US Soccer history. He has been involved as a journalist, administrator and communications maven at all levels of the game, working for the NY Cosmos during the Pelé era, the Washington Diplomats when Johan Cruyff played there, the US Soccer Federation in the 1990’s, the Japanese Federation, and the organizing committees of the 1994, 2002, 2010, and 2022 World Cups. Most recently he has been involved with the build out of the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, TX. Join us as we discuss his journey from Connecticut to the top echelons of world football. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our World Cup fever has yet to break, and we spend this week reveling in some of the heretofore unexplored (at least on this podcast) nooks and crannies of modern-day American pro soccer history with one of its most unsung front office heroes.  In a career spanning over four decades, sports PR and event management executive Thom Meredith has proverbially “seen it all” across some of US sports’ most remarkable leagues, franchises and governing bodies – including remarkable (and sometimes dubious) assignments like: handling press for the woeful NFL expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers of 1976-77; managing communications for Lamar Hunt’s World Championship Tennis circuit of the early 1980s; and directing a litany of events for the fast-growing (and World Cup USA-fueled) US Soccer Federation of the 1990s.  But it’s Meredith’s work across some of the most exciting (and exasperating) teams of the late 1970s/early 1980s North American Soccer League – the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Washington Diplomats, Philadelphia Fury, and Dallas Tornado – as well as the enormously well-funded, but ultimately ill-fated Women’s United Soccer Association of the early 2000s, that really piques our obsessive interests. In this episode, we journey back with Meredith – the consummate professional soccer management insider – as he recounts priceless moments shared in the trenches with a veritable Who’s Who of the modern American game’s most indelible personalities, including: Shep Messing, Francisco Marcos, Al Miller, Phil Woosnam, Jim Karvellas, Seamus Malin, Alec Papadakis, John Hendricks, Timo Liekoski, Dick Berg, Tony DiCicco, Pele – and, of course, the incomparable investor-patron Hunt. We thank Podfly, SportsHistoryCollectibles.com, and Audible for their support of this week’s show!

With a career spanning more than four decades, the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s 2017 Colin Jose Media Award-winner Jim Trecker has been part of the American sports media relations landscape since the late 1960’s.  After a chance part-time undergrad job in Columbia University’s modest sports information department, Trecker traded his initial career ambitions in French language education for what ultimately became an unmatched professional journey in public relations at the highest levels of international sports. After cutting his PR teeth with various post-grad pro sports gigs around New York (including work for the Madison Square Garden-owned New York Skyliners [actually Uruguay’s C.A. Cerro] of the 1967 United Soccer Association), Trecker helped manage media relations for the “Broadway” Joe Namath-era AFL-then-NFL New York Jets – a whirling dervish of major league sports information management that transfixed both the Gotham and national press corps, especially in the wake of a surprising Super Bowl III championship. But it was the arrival of international soccer superstar Pelé to the fledgling New York Cosmos in 1975 that ultimately took Trecker – and the steeply ascendant North American Soccer League – into a stratospheric professional orbit, as the increasingly star-studded team, league and sport exploded onto the local, national and global sports scenes during the latter half of the decade.  Soccer’s first true international “super club,” the Cosmos became nothing short of an international sports and cultural phenomenon, and Trecker’s job was to manage all of the media’s intense interest in everything related to them – no easy feat. Trecker joins host Tim Hanlon to recount some of the most memorable events during the heyday of the Cosmos, as well as his subsequent PR leadership roles with the NASL’s Washington Diplomats, the league office itself, and his mega role as head of media relations for the wildly successful USA-hosted 1994 World Cup.  PLUS: we discuss Trecker’s role behind the upcoming NASL 50th Anniversary, to be held in conjunction with the re-launch of the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, TX on October 16-18, 2018! Thanks to Audible, SportsHistoryCollectibles.com and Podfly for their support of the show!

Syndicated morning radio personality Terry Hanson (The Big Show with John Boy & Billy) joins Tim Hanlon to discuss the formative years of his renaissance career in sports and media, across three of the original North American Soccer League’s more memorable franchises.  Hanson waxes nostalgic about doling out “Americanized” first names to the Serbian-infused roster of 1976’s Rochester Lancers; moonlighting in the Washington Diplomats broadcast booth with play-by-play pros Jon Miller and Don Earle; and marketing a reborn, Ted Turner-owned Atlanta Chiefs team that no one seemed to want to watch play outdoors, but everyone flocked to see play indoors.  Thanks to Audible for sponsoring this week’s episode!

In this episode of Keep Moving Forward, I interview Kurt Kuykendall. Avid Christian and star goalkeeper at American University from 1970 to 1973 who turned pro, became a member of the US Olympic soccer team and went on to play in the North American Soccer League for the Washington Diplomats, the New York City Cosmos, the California Sunshine, and the Rochester Lancers. “With God, all things are possible.” I’m sure you’ve heard this said before, in one way or another. But have you ever seen the power that this phrase can have? I certainly didn’t until I spoke with Kurt Kuykendall about his athletic journey. Kurt began as a basketball player, aspiring to one day go to the Olympics and represent his country wearing that red, white, and blue. After working hard every single day, Kurt found himself cut from both his high school and his college basketball teams. He was crushed, until he discovered that perhaps basketball wasn’t his sport. After much convincing from his friends, Kurt conceded to play in a soccer scrimmage for his fraternity just after being kicked off the American University basketball team. Kurt took on the position of goalkeeper, and though he struggled initially, he fell in love with the sport. After only three months of training, Kurt found himself as the starting goalkeeper on a division 1 soccer team. For his successes at American, Kurt was named a 1973 Honorable Mention All American Soccer Player. Following his illustrious college career, Kurt saw his Olympic dreams come true as he was granted the opportunity to play in the Games. He went on to play professionally for a number of years, even playing alongside Pele during his time with the New York City Cosmos. Kurt Kuykendall’s incredible career paired with his steadfast beliefs and humble dedication to God prompted the creation of the movie “For the Glory.” The film showcases his life from his childhood through the conquering of his Olympic dream, all the while crediting God with getting him to where he was. It was honor to have the opportunity to speak with him and I truly hope that you enjoy my interview with goalkeeping legend, Kurt Kuykendall. If you are interested in seeing the film based on Kurt Kuykendall’s inspiring story, you can visit http://fortheglorythemovie.com/. Always remember, you can beat the odds and go the distance, if only you keep moving forward.

Johan Cruyff's passing on Thursday has caused many to commemorate and remember the Dutch soccer icon. Among them is Thomas Rongen, Cruyff's former teammate on the Washington Diplomats and L.A. Aztecs. In this special edition of the Planet Futbol podcast, Grant Wahl sits down with Rongen, who shared stories of Cruyff's time in the NASL and reflections on his impact on the world of soccer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Dolich's career has spanned over 40 years, with just about every type of sport imaginable. Dolich recalls his early days with the Philadelphia 76ers, Maryland Arrows, Washington Capitals and Washington Diplomats. But Dolich's 15-year stint with the Oakland Athletics helped set him apart, revitalizing the Bay Area Major League Baseball team that only 326 season tickets, increasing it to over 16,000. Dolich refined the Athletics into "Billy Ball" with a marketing campaign that is credited with rebranding the entire ball club into the image of then-manager Billy Martin. Dolich shares his insight into the growth of sports marketing, especially gaining shared knowledge through peer-to-peer industry conferences, as well as his short-time at the Golden State Warriors. Dolich talks about how the relocation plans of the Vancouver-to-Memphis Grizzlies came about, as well as his tenure with the San Francisco 49ers. Twitter: @Koufish