Latest / The Guuuzan Show / S1 Ep4 | Sandra Golden talks evolution of Atlanta sports, locker room stories, & breaking barriers

Transcript

S1 Ep4 | Sandra Golden talks evolution of Atlanta sports, locker room stories, & breaking barriers · The Guuuzan Show

0:09
SPEAKER_01: Welcome to the Goozan show.
0:17
SPEAKER_04: Welcome back to the Goozan show.
0:20
SPEAKER_04: What's happening, everybody?
0:22
SPEAKER_04: I am your host, Bradzhan.
0:23
SPEAKER_04: Sat next to me is Joe Freihoffer, and we are into week four, my man.
0:28
SPEAKER_02: Week four.
0:29
SPEAKER_02: Week four, and we got something to celebrate here, Brad.
0:31
SPEAKER_02: To all you guys in the control room, show yourselves right now.
0:34
SPEAKER_02: Let's see everybody that's working hard on the show.
0:35
SPEAKER_02: Because, guys, Brad, what have we just achieved?
0:39
SPEAKER_04: We have reached 100,000 subscribers.
0:43
SPEAKER_04: Let's go.
0:44
SPEAKER_04: Thank you to everyone that has tuned in.
0:47
SPEAKER_04: Subscribe to the show.
0:49
SPEAKER_04: I mean, I'm gonna be honest, that's amazing.
0:51
SPEAKER_04: I I'm not a I'm not a tech guy.
0:53
SPEAKER_04: I'm not, you know, this social media guy.
0:56
SPEAKER_04: But 100,000 subscribers, I feel like, is a good number.
0:59
SPEAKER_02: First of all, cut yourself some slack.
1:01
SPEAKER_02: You're doing like collab posts these days on IG.
1:03
SPEAKER_02: That's big.
1:03
SPEAKER_02: You gotta accept that big invite is huge.
1:05
SPEAKER_04: Hey big shout out to the social team.
1:07
SPEAKER_02: Also, you know what we get for this?
1:09
SPEAKER_02: We get a plaque.
1:10
SPEAKER_02: They they mail you something.
1:12
SPEAKER_02: Did you know this?
1:12
SPEAKER_04: I did not know this.
1:13
SPEAKER_04: I mean, we're gonna put it up on the wall.
1:15
SPEAKER_02: Am I correct in saying this?
1:16
SPEAKER_02: Are we gonna get a little something in the mail here, fellas?
1:19
SPEAKER_02: Yep.
1:20
SPEAKER_02: Let's go.
1:21
SPEAKER_02: First bit of hardware on the show, dude.
1:23
SPEAKER_02: Come on.
1:24
SPEAKER_04: Come on.
1:25
SPEAKER_04: Hey, I'm pumped.
1:26
SPEAKER_04: I am pumped.
1:26
SPEAKER_04: I'm pumped not only for for the plaque that's that's gonna come at some point.
1:30
SPEAKER_04: Yep.
1:30
SPEAKER_04: Uh I'm I'm pumped for the the guest on this week's show.
1:34
SPEAKER_02: Big.
1:34
SPEAKER_02: Yep, of course, March 8th was International Women's Day.
1:37
SPEAKER_02: Uh this is such a historic era that's coming up for the city of Atlanta.
1:40
SPEAKER_02: You've got NWSL in 2028 as well.
1:43
SPEAKER_02: Uh we've got Women's History Month right now, too.
1:45
SPEAKER_02: So our special guest for today, Brad, is somebody who's really been a pioneer in the sports journalism world.
1:50
SPEAKER_02: Uh she knows local sports from front to back, uh, and honestly has gone through a lot as well to be uh paving the way for all of our future people like you know, we have so many pillars at this club.
2:00
SPEAKER_02: Marissa Arns, Lee Jakes, uh Lena Saul, as well, so many talented women behind what we do every day.
2:06
SPEAKER_02: For sure.
2:07
SPEAKER_02: And she's another one of those really talented women.
2:09
SPEAKER_04: For sure, for sure.
2:10
SPEAKER_04: It's it's it's exciting to be able to have her on the show.
2:14
SPEAKER_04: Um it's exciting to be able to, you know, have this platform that that allows us to be able to tell these stories of of incredible individuals, uh, but as you mentioned with with International Women's Day, uh incredible women that that make sports uh what it is.
2:30
SPEAKER_04: And and we're so thankful for for her as well as all the others that you mentioned here at the club that that work tirelessly behind the scenes to make um to make Atlanta United what what we get.
2:42
SPEAKER_02: 100%.
2:42
SPEAKER_02: Yep.
2:42
SPEAKER_02: Sandra Golden, everybody, super long radio tenure, also worked at Fox Sports South as well, uh covering the Braves too.
2:49
SPEAKER_02: She is part of the steakhouse with 92.9 the game as well, and has been setting the tone in the broadcasting world for a long, long time.
2:56
SPEAKER_02: So speaking of big names as well, it's not just Sandra.
2:59
SPEAKER_02: Where were you this weekend?
3:00
SPEAKER_02: I saw y'all suited up with the lady too.
3:02
SPEAKER_02: Who are you hanging out with?
3:03
SPEAKER_04: I mean, it was a busy weekend.
3:05
SPEAKER_04: It was a busy weekend.
3:06
SPEAKER_04: You know, was fortunate enough to to be a part of uh Dominique Wilkins' uh Gala on Friday night at the aquarium.
3:12
SPEAKER_04: Uh, highlight reel.
3:14
SPEAKER_04: I know.
3:15
SPEAKER_04: Uh Culture City, uh K-U-L-T-U-R-E-C-I-T-Y, and the work that they're doing.
3:21
SPEAKER_04: World's leading nonprofit on sensory and accessibility.
3:23
SPEAKER_04: And so being a part of that event was was fantastic to see the work that they're doing and and all of the individuals that they celebrated that night.
3:32
SPEAKER_04: Obviously, Saturday, uh, we had a huge home opener.
3:36
SPEAKER_04: The the atmosphere was fantastic.
3:38
SPEAKER_04: Unfortunately, we we came up a bit short.
3:40
SPEAKER_04: Um, but when you look at a player like Galarza and what he brought, especially in the second half, I think he's someone that is is not only the real deal, but someone that's gonna create exciting times for Land United fans in the 17th century.
3:54
SPEAKER_04: Super and um and then on to Sunday, you know, we were we were down at the the new PGA superstore uh in Buckhead and being a part of that, and I mean that space and to to see all the individuals coming through the the kids, the work that they're doing with with local kids, uh the platforms that they give um you know so many to be able to learn the sport of golf, to be able to go out and golf.
4:17
SPEAKER_04: Are you a golfer?
4:18
SPEAKER_04: No, I got a mean slice when I can hit it about 200 if I'm lucky.
4:23
SPEAKER_04: Hey, love that.
4:23
SPEAKER_04: I'm I'm the same.
4:24
SPEAKER_04: I'm the same.
4:25
SPEAKER_04: I I've got all the gear and no idea, as they say.
4:27
SPEAKER_04: But I mean I I look good while I'm out there, um, enjoy getting out on the course.
4:32
SPEAKER_04: But now with with all the things we got going on in studio and and here in the office, you know, I just I don't know if I'm able to sneak away for for four or five hours.
4:40
SPEAKER_04: Um and listen, uh you know, on Sunday we we had a huge win for our twos, right?
4:44
SPEAKER_04: I think the twos, baby.
4:46
SPEAKER_04: Absolutely.
4:46
SPEAKER_04: Plain playing over in Athens and um massive win for them.
4:50
SPEAKER_04: And and so that part was exciting.
4:52
SPEAKER_04: You know, on Saturday we had the Academy stream going on.
4:57
SPEAKER_04: Uh, and so all the individuals that were able to put that on and and being able to give all of our fans uh just a weekend full of of soccer from from start to finish.
5:08
SPEAKER_02: Speaking of, let's keep it rolling, guys.
5:10
SPEAKER_02: We're gonna jump now to our interview with Sandra Golden of 92-9 the game.
5:14
SPEAKER_02: But first, guys, don't forget we're gonna celebrate the power of women in sports at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
5:19
SPEAKER_02: This coming Saturday, March 14th, Atlanta United FC is gonna take on the Philadelphia Union for a special Women and Girls in Sports match day.
5:27
SPEAKER_02: Your ticket includes more than just the match, by the way, guys.
5:30
SPEAKER_02: You're also gonna get an exclusive Atlanta United water bottle, sticker pack, and the chance to attend pre-match women in sports panels featuring inspiring voices from across the game.
5:39
SPEAKER_02: Bring your friends, guys, bring your family, be a part of a night that's gonna celebrate the impact of women in sports.
5:45
SPEAKER_02: You can grab your tickets now, and we'll see you at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
5:49
SPEAKER_04: And we've got a very special guest in studio.
5:53
SPEAKER_04: Twenty years in the Atlanta broadcast markets.
5:56
SPEAKER_04: Atlanta royalty when it comes to broadcasting.
5:59
SPEAKER_00: Wow.
6:00
SPEAKER_00: Wow.
6:00
SPEAKER_04: Sandra Golden, everyone.
6:02
SPEAKER_04: Sandra, thank you so much for being here.
6:04
SPEAKER_00: I'm so excited to be here.
6:05
SPEAKER_04: Absolute honor and privilege that you would come on this show uh to come and chat all things broadcasting sports, um, and just talk about yourself a little bit because we, like I said, are so excited that you are here to join join Joe and I.
6:20
SPEAKER_00: Well, I'm thrilled.
6:21
SPEAKER_00: I really am.
6:21
SPEAKER_00: When Matt asked me, I was like, wait, Brad Guzon, he's like soccer royalty.
6:26
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna be starstruck.
6:28
SPEAKER_00: And now you're in the media.
6:29
SPEAKER_00: How does that feel?
6:31
SPEAKER_00: What could you do in a readiness?
6:33
SPEAKER_04: That's that's why you're here.
6:34
SPEAKER_04: I'm I'm gonna need you to give me some some tips, some pointers, some advice.
6:38
SPEAKER_04: Talk to me.
6:39
SPEAKER_04: What what what should I be, what should I be, you know, what should be my North Star here?
6:43
SPEAKER_00: A million years ago when you have how how long have you been in Atlanta?
6:46
SPEAKER_00: Like I want to say, so five years ago, I saw you, four years ago, first getting interviewed.
6:50
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
6:51
SPEAKER_00: A natural, like you're just you're uh the cameras flock to you because you're so good and you're authentic.
6:57
SPEAKER_00: So you're just you, right?
6:58
SPEAKER_00: Is that fair?
6:58
SPEAKER_04: I mean, I try, I try to be on most days.
7:00
SPEAKER_04: He has his moments too.
7:01
SPEAKER_04: I mean this thing right here, you know?
7:03
SPEAKER_04: It's that's why this podcast is on video, you know.
7:06
SPEAKER_00: I mean, please.
7:07
SPEAKER_00: I'm just saying.
7:08
SPEAKER_00: That's what they told me you I've got a great face for radio.
7:10
SPEAKER_00: They said, get off TV, old lady, get back to the in front of the microphone stuff.
7:13
SPEAKER_00: They didn't no one said that.
7:14
SPEAKER_00: Stop freaking out.
7:15
SPEAKER_00: No one okay.
7:16
SPEAKER_00: Everyone calm down, right?
7:18
SPEAKER_04: Calm down.
7:19
SPEAKER_04: No, that's amazing.
7:21
SPEAKER_04: Um, and you mentioned Matt.
7:23
SPEAKER_04: And you know, we we we know who you're talking about, but Matt, can you give us a little insight uh on the backstory here?
7:32
SPEAKER_03: Yes, I was a young, this is how legendary Sandra is.
7:38
SPEAKER_03: I was a young 20-year-old intern at the Braves Radio Network, and uh I was I was good, I I I had performed okay, they just kept me in the studio, but so they let me go to Turner Field to like actually see, you know, how it goes on in the media, and so I was just a starstruck kid watching all the people, you know, do interviews and everything.
8:00
SPEAKER_03: Sandra was the uh reporter for Fox Sport South at the time for the Braves, and I watched her.
8:07
SPEAKER_03: There was I think it was like during the trade deadline or something, there was something the Braves weren't telling us all.
8:13
SPEAKER_03: And you were interviewing the GM at the time, and like hard-hitting questions, would not let him get away with it, would not let him get away with the easy answer, kept following back up, and then the cameras went off, and he didn't love that.
8:27
SPEAKER_03: And you were like, Well, I need to tell the people the truth, and I was like, This lady's awesome, this lady's awesome, what a what a champion, and then you came over to the Media Scrum and told us that I was like, This is I wanna I wanna do this.
8:39
SPEAKER_03: This is great.
8:40
SPEAKER_00: That's too funny.
8:41
SPEAKER_00: I don't even remember that.
8:42
SPEAKER_00: How about that?
8:43
SPEAKER_00: No idea straight to the point.
8:45
SPEAKER_00: John Scherholtz, I'm quite sure.
8:47
SPEAKER_00: And um, I was I was always really nice, but I was like, you know, it's so different because you'll see when well you're still with the team, but when you don't work for the team and you gotta be around the team every day, it's a you know, it's a nice little balancing act you have to do to be a journalist.
9:03
SPEAKER_00: Journalist, that's what we do on our radio show.
9:06
SPEAKER_00: Whenever we say journalists, because we make fun of ourselves, because we're like, who are we kidding?
9:09
SPEAKER_04: Don't take life too serious, you know?
9:10
SPEAKER_04: Exactly.
9:11
SPEAKER_04: I love that attitude.
9:12
SPEAKER_04: I love that attitude.
9:13
SPEAKER_04: It's uh yeah, I mean, but you have to be, you have to be direct, you have to have this no-nonsense approach to it.
9:19
SPEAKER_04: And you know, for so long you set the bar for so many, right?
9:23
SPEAKER_04: And you know, you have been a um an inspiration to to so many women throughout the years in terms of being able to go into this sports world and say, you know what, I'm not only gonna leave my mark, but I'm gonna do it with such positivity and such charisma to say, you know what, yeah, we can be here too.
9:41
SPEAKER_04: And and you're gonna to set the bar for women in all the sports.
9:44
SPEAKER_04: And you know, I I know there's so many individuals that look up to you that are inspired by the work that you do and how you tell stories.
9:51
SPEAKER_04: So I'm on behalf of all of those other women, thank you very much for what you do for for the sports community here in Atlanta.
10:00
SPEAKER_00: Well, I am so proud to say that a hundred years ago, because I came here in 1997, y'all probably weren't even born yet.
10:06
SPEAKER_00: And I remember walking into the Braves um clubhouse, and there were two other female reporters.
10:12
SPEAKER_00: So there was three total.
10:13
SPEAKER_00: And Bobby Cox called me Sharon every day.
10:16
SPEAKER_00: Sharon's not my name.
10:18
SPEAKER_00: But he didn't mean it just he's just like, you know, it's just such a weird vibe.
10:22
SPEAKER_00: And so I didn't think anything of it because when I grew up, my I was like my dad's right hand little, come on, let's go.
10:27
SPEAKER_00: I didn't know that we didn't, every other little girl didn't go to every football game and know the the like my dad would act like a little dog and pony show.
10:36
SPEAKER_00: He'd sit me on his knee and go, like, his friends would come around and go, name the backup quarterback for the New England Patriots, and I'd play this little game, like pat me on the head.
10:44
SPEAKER_00: So I thought every little girl, this was eight, nine years old doing this.
10:48
SPEAKER_00: So I just knew it and we loved it.
10:49
SPEAKER_00: So it became a part of just like y'all with soccer, like you did it this high, right?
10:53
SPEAKER_00: So it's just kind of part of what I did.
10:55
SPEAKER_00: And thank goodness once I got a little old enough and I went to Florida State, go Knolls, and I was like, I I wanna I wanna do that.
11:02
SPEAKER_00: I watched Mary Tyler Moore growing up, and I want I loved a newsroom, and I loved that the art of like let's find out what's going on and storytelling.
11:10
SPEAKER_00: So it was a natural transition when it became acceptable for women to be in locker rooms and women to cover sports with a different perspective.
11:19
SPEAKER_00: I was never the girl saying, Well, I can play.
11:22
SPEAKER_00: No, no one wants to see me play sports, but there is a different perspective.
11:26
SPEAKER_00: And you look out in the stands, how much of the audience is women?
11:31
SPEAKER_04: Absolutely, absolutely.
11:32
SPEAKER_04: And and to have that voice to be able to tell those stories, you you've done it so well for for so long.
11:38
SPEAKER_04: And um it it is important to have that other perspective and and be able to see it from another side.
11:45
SPEAKER_02: Sandra, something for me would be to help.
11:50
SPEAKER_00: Oh my goodness.
11:51
SPEAKER_00: It's okay if you do.
11:52
SPEAKER_02: If we go back to everybody kind of had that first gig, your origin start, if you will.
11:57
SPEAKER_00: Yep.
11:57
SPEAKER_02: Was it a small news market for you?
11:59
SPEAKER_02: Was it where was that?
12:00
SPEAKER_00: WTXL TV, channel 27, and uh Tallahassee, Florida, and uh John Peterson was the sports director.
12:08
SPEAKER_00: And way back when, again, you didn't just have your phone or whatever.
12:12
SPEAKER_00: Now now I walk report watch reporters come in and they're like, hey, what's up?
12:15
SPEAKER_00: Let me do this.
12:16
SPEAKER_00: Well, I probably weighed 97 pounds, and there's a three-quarter deck, and there's a camera, and there's a thing for your head.
12:23
SPEAKER_00: So I was walking, get this LPGA event in Tallahassee, Florida, 18 holes, and I was like, I think I'm gonna cry and I'm gonna kill myself.
12:30
SPEAKER_00: I have to quit today.
12:32
SPEAKER_00: Like that was my very first day at the office, honest to goodness.
12:34
SPEAKER_00: And we would go shoot high school football in South Georgia.
12:37
SPEAKER_00: So, I mean, you're like Thomas Kemp, girl, don't get me started.
12:42
SPEAKER_00: And again, shoulder on shoulder, I'm like, let's go.
12:44
SPEAKER_00: It's go to him.
12:45
SPEAKER_00: Then I gotta get this touchdown and run to another county.
12:47
SPEAKER_00: So talk about getting your feet wet.
12:49
SPEAKER_00: And maybe I made$13,000.
12:51
SPEAKER_00: I'm not kidding.
12:52
SPEAKER_04: But was it about salaries?
12:54
SPEAKER_04: Salary, but about opportunity, right?
12:55
SPEAKER_04: Like, it was amazing.
12:57
SPEAKER_00: It was they're gonna see what you're made of, and then you start to move up.
13:02
SPEAKER_00: So that was kind of where it happened.
13:04
SPEAKER_00: Just get your feet wet, you know, pay your dues, and uh, you know, live with three people in an apartment.
13:08
SPEAKER_00: It was a black.
13:09
SPEAKER_00: You look back on those times, probably training, you know, when you're younger, you're like, God, it we didn't know that that was so fun.
13:14
SPEAKER_04: But it builds you too, right?
13:15
SPEAKER_04: It builds character, builds resilience, and it teaches you, right?
13:19
SPEAKER_04: You know, I've put the work in, I've I've started at the bottom, and now look at you.
13:23
SPEAKER_04: Was it always sports?
13:24
SPEAKER_00: It was well, no, I started in weather.
13:26
SPEAKER_00: That's the first sports job in Panama City.
13:28
SPEAKER_00: They're like, Can you do the weather too?
13:30
SPEAKER_00: And I was like, heck yeah.
13:31
SPEAKER_00: No idea, no idea.
13:32
SPEAKER_00: But I think I got like an extra$400 a year, not a week, a year.
13:36
SPEAKER_00: Perfect.
13:37
SPEAKER_00: So I was like, Yeah, I can do the weather, and you just push a little button back then and you'd be like, hey, it's in Panama City or it's gonna rain.
13:42
SPEAKER_04: It's sunny or it's thunderstorms and it's gonna last 20 minutes and it's gonna blow over.
13:45
SPEAKER_00: So Brad knows, Brad knows, yes, yes, exactly.
13:49
SPEAKER_02: You touched on it there briefly, Sandra.
13:50
SPEAKER_02: Could you tell the audience at home who were some of those broadcasters really early when you were young that you said, oh, I have to be like them, or I need to model who I am, my voice in the way I tell stories after them.
14:01
SPEAKER_00: Well, y'all probably don't remember, but there was only one, Jane Kennedy was the only female broadcaster in sports way back when I guess Phyllis George was one of them.
14:10
SPEAKER_00: Um, but I loved the Barbara Walters moments.
14:13
SPEAKER_00: And I I was like a news junkie.
14:15
SPEAKER_00: So when you know, like early on, if you look back at your life and go, I knew early on I wanted to be a soccer.
14:20
SPEAKER_00: I knew I, you know, you know.
14:21
SPEAKER_00: So I started looking at that kind of stuff.
14:23
SPEAKER_00: But then Pam Oliver is was in Tallahassee at the same time as me, and I got to be friendly with her, and she's still my hero to this day, and has done nothing but open doors and help me and help others.
14:34
SPEAKER_00: And so I also try to pay that forward for the girls here.
14:38
SPEAKER_00: And you know, Atlanta right now, I was looking last night because I knew I was gonna come on with y'all.
14:43
SPEAKER_00: We've got like seven female TV sports casters that are Mac Daddy badasses, they are so really well educated, they are great at their job, they have Emmys, they hold them, you know, they're respectful, fabulous women.
14:58
SPEAKER_00: So I'm just like a peacock pride, but oh, my girls all growing up and moving on.
15:02
SPEAKER_00: So it's good.
15:03
SPEAKER_04: I love that.
15:04
SPEAKER_04: That's that's so cool that you have an appreciation for them because you know that they have such an appreciation for you.
15:10
SPEAKER_00: Well, I don't know that they appreciate me.
15:11
SPEAKER_00: They're they're probably like, listen, that one.
15:13
SPEAKER_00: What is she still doing here?
15:14
SPEAKER_00: But I I love I love a pass the torch moment too.
15:17
SPEAKER_00: So I actually wanted to talk to you about that, Brad, because it must be weird for you to be doing this now because you kind of know, and I kind of knew too, even the TV, the grind, I don't even want to do it anymore.
15:31
SPEAKER_00: Like I do radio three days a week.
15:32
SPEAKER_00: They asked me to come back, and I was like, okay, but I kind of only want to work three days, and I kind of want the same money, and I kinda and and if you don't want to do that, I'm okay with it.
15:42
SPEAKER_00: Right.
15:42
SPEAKER_00: So that's what I was wondering.
15:43
SPEAKER_00: Like, how did you know?
15:45
SPEAKER_00: Did you know and it's okay to leave it behind?
15:48
SPEAKER_04: Uh no, because I don't think you ever you ever know, right?
15:52
SPEAKER_04: And you know, what I said kind of throughout the end of last year to to today, it's nobody outlives any sport, right?
15:59
SPEAKER_04: Whether it's soccer, baseball, basketball, football, you know, whatever it is, nobody's gonna outlive the sport itself.
16:04
SPEAKER_04: And um, you know, at that point, you know, being able to have this opportunity to transition into the front office, thanks to Matt, being able to have this podcast and be a part of this show and put this together, this has been amazing.
16:19
SPEAKER_04: And so the experiences that I've been able to have over the last two, three months um have been fantastic in the sense that you never lose that competitiveness, you never lose that ability to say, hey, I think I could be out there or I I want to be out there, that sort of thing.
16:34
SPEAKER_04: That never leaves you.
16:35
SPEAKER_04: Um, but being able to, whether it's distraction or just the opportunity and and loving all the things that I'm doing over here, it's been helping with the transition.
16:46
SPEAKER_04: And so um, yeah, I don't feel like how about when the match the other did you feel weird?
16:51
SPEAKER_04: That was that was obviously the first time you know, being being back in the stadium, and you know, you're in that moment and you're watching the team, and you know, okay, the game's not going great, and you don't have any control over what's happening out there.
17:05
SPEAKER_04: At least when you're on the field and you're playing and things are going poorly, you can say, okay, how can I how can I impact the game?
17:11
SPEAKER_04: Um, and you can still kind of have your say, if you will.
17:14
SPEAKER_04: But when you're up up in the stands, you you certainly don't have that ability, and you're at the mercy of what's happening, you know, with the guys on the field.
17:21
SPEAKER_04: And you know, you kind of look back on Monday morning quarterback, if you will, and say, Oh man, you know, whether good or bad.
17:28
SPEAKER_04: And um, so yeah, it was certainly a unique experience.
17:31
SPEAKER_04: Weird, yeah.
17:32
SPEAKER_04: Um weird, yes.
17:33
SPEAKER_04: Um, but yeah, it's it's one of those where I don't know if you ever fully comprehend it, and and maybe, I don't know, maybe as time goes on.
17:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, time is your friend.
17:42
SPEAKER_04: Yes, and so then you then you look back and say, Oh, okay, you know what it wasn't as bad as I thought, and we're gonna be okay.
17:48
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
17:48
SPEAKER_00: Well, it's so fresh now.
17:50
SPEAKER_00: Time is a wonderful thing as you young people, and I'm gonna talk down to you now as the elder statesman in the world.
17:55
SPEAKER_00: It is kind of the um given F factor because you know, when I was 40 and I gotta compete and am I as cute, and then you get older and older, and I'm like, I I don't even care.
18:08
SPEAKER_00: Like, I'm just gonna be over here hanging out with Brad.
18:13
SPEAKER_00: Now it's like you just it's it's a different level of priority.
18:16
SPEAKER_00: You just still want to do a good job and have a good time.
18:18
SPEAKER_00: But levity and brevity wins.
18:20
SPEAKER_00: It's fun.
18:20
SPEAKER_00: For sure.
18:20
SPEAKER_00: It's a fun time.
18:21
SPEAKER_02: For sure.
18:22
SPEAKER_02: On that experience note, too, if you uh look back through all of your time, all of the different interviews that you do, is there one kind of like what Matt was saying there in the control room?
18:30
SPEAKER_02: Is there one that you say, man, that's either the toughest interview I've had to do, the craziest one?
18:34
SPEAKER_02: Did you catch somebody after a really tough final score and say, my goodness?
18:39
SPEAKER_02: Right, right now with this guy outside of that.
18:42
SPEAKER_00: Five stripes nation.
18:44
SPEAKER_00: Let's go.
18:45
SPEAKER_00: Oh gosh.
18:46
SPEAKER_00: Um Bobby Bowden, the legend, was my guy.
18:50
SPEAKER_00: Like he was it literally knew my parents, so that one is gonna be on the the the king of the castle for sure.
18:57
SPEAKER_00: But in terms of tough goings and I pride myself now on we used to call it a Rolodex, but your contacts in your phone.
19:09
SPEAKER_00: And the relationships I have now, I have I can look every single person that I've interviewed in their face with integrity, and I was honest.
19:18
SPEAKER_00: I kept my word if I said it's off the record.
19:21
SPEAKER_00: So not one single time can I say I didn't use my integrity and respect.
19:28
SPEAKER_00: So that's the thing I think I'm most proud of.
19:30
SPEAKER_00: With anybody that I interviewed, even if it was a hardcore, I would even follow up with a handshake and say, you understood why I had to ask that right, and then if they had a follow-up.
19:39
SPEAKER_00: So I'm just kind of proud of and my you know, I'm my mama's daughter.
19:42
SPEAKER_00: My mother taught me manners first and foremost.
19:44
SPEAKER_00: I don't care if you're working or if you're at public, you use your manners and treat folks the way you want to be treated, and that served me well, I think.
19:53
SPEAKER_02: On that note as well, too, how many females were in the sports broadcasting space back then, and how have you seen it evolve through all these different years?
20:01
SPEAKER_00: There were two.
20:01
SPEAKER_00: Literally, the day I watched in the Braves Clubhouse, there were two.
20:04
SPEAKER_00: And they were nasty and shitheads, they really were.
20:07
SPEAKER_00: And I just I remember saying, and I you're probably not like you know, girls aren't really nice to each other, and y'all probably don't know why early on.
20:15
SPEAKER_00: Quick lesson, 30 seconds.
20:17
SPEAKER_00: When you guys grew up playing sports, okay, you were on a team, you're taught to play together, you're taught to he'll help me, I'll help him.
20:26
SPEAKER_00: When we not you because you're young, when I was growing up, you were competing with each other.
20:31
SPEAKER_00: Little Miss Homecoming.
20:32
SPEAKER_00: See, we didn't really play sports a lot.
20:35
SPEAKER_00: It wasn't it wasn't a thing you did.
20:37
SPEAKER_00: So you were competitive with each other.
20:39
SPEAKER_00: So through time, we as girls have had to come along and go, like, all right, girlfriend, I gotta help her, and she's gonna help me.
20:46
SPEAKER_00: So we are now the team that is the men.
20:49
SPEAKER_00: So we finally caught up, which is what I think is happening.
20:52
SPEAKER_00: So that's what's changed from day one.
20:54
SPEAKER_00: Those two females that were they were writers at the time, they didn't like why is she here?
20:58
SPEAKER_00: And I quite frankly, I felt the same way, like, why am I here?
21:01
SPEAKER_00: This is really weird.
21:02
SPEAKER_00: But now it's just like it's not even a thing, it's not even talked about.
21:05
SPEAKER_00: Like you wouldn't go in a room and go, oh, look, there's six females.
21:09
SPEAKER_00: No, it's a thing now.
21:10
SPEAKER_00: It's not, it's just easy, you accept it and all that.
21:13
SPEAKER_04: It is what it is, right?
21:14
SPEAKER_04: And it's just it's it's the it's normal.
21:16
SPEAKER_04: And shout out to Girl Power, you know.
21:19
SPEAKER_04: I mean, you you guys stick together and and continue to crush it.
21:22
SPEAKER_04: And you know, you talk about the sport scene here in Atlanta, you know, from your time, how have you seen that sports scene continue to evolve and grow, whether it's broadcasters or or just the popularity of sports?
21:37
SPEAKER_04: Yeah how how has that changed within the city?
21:40
SPEAKER_00: Well, the the South, we it it's part of our social makeup, it's part of our culture.
21:46
SPEAKER_00: It is literally from peewee football and pee-wee soccer growing up.
21:49
SPEAKER_00: So if you're not you can say pee wee football.
21:51
SPEAKER_00: I mean, listen, we're the southeast.
21:53
SPEAKER_04: That's right.
21:54
SPEAKER_04: It's American football down here.
21:55
SPEAKER_04: That's only true.
21:57
SPEAKER_04: But I appreciate the soccer shout out.
21:59
SPEAKER_00: Um but It is, it's just kind of what we did.
22:01
SPEAKER_00: And that's from I was watching my mom Saturday morning cheerleading football.
22:05
SPEAKER_00: She would get breakfast ready.
22:06
SPEAKER_00: So it's it it was always a part of what we did.
22:09
SPEAKER_00: I think folks didn't realize, and by folks, I mean people hiring people, TV people, marketing people to sports to realize that the female audience is massive.
22:20
SPEAKER_00: And not only are they massive, they a lot of times hold the purse strings in terms of what we're buying, what we're spending, what we're eating at the concession stands.
22:27
SPEAKER_00: So it's a beautiful, it's it's only growing.
22:30
SPEAKER_00: I cannot say enough about Atlanta United, and I'm not just sucking up because I'm here.
22:34
SPEAKER_00: But what Atlanta United has done for so many girls playing soccer, and now they're parents, and they're sitting on the 50 and they are buying the packages, and it is the most fun event starting at noon.
22:47
SPEAKER_00: Starting at noon.
22:49
SPEAKER_00: You know, so that's what I mean by it's college football, it's it's five stripes, it's you know, we miss our hockey team, but ba the Braves and baseball at the battery, it doesn't get better than Atlanta.
23:00
SPEAKER_00: It's amazing.
23:01
SPEAKER_04: And now and now we're gonna be having an NWSL team, a women's professional team.
23:06
SPEAKER_00: Can y'all talk?
23:06
SPEAKER_00: Is that gonna be here at this facility?
23:09
SPEAKER_04: Not at this facility, they're gonna have their own facility.
23:11
SPEAKER_04: They're gonna be playing down at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
23:14
SPEAKER_04: I mean, it's gonna be it's gonna be amazing.
23:16
SPEAKER_04: But I mean, you talk about the opportunity for girls to you know get into soccer.
23:20
SPEAKER_04: Now they've got their heroes that they're gonna have on on the women's side to be able to look up to and say, hey, I wanna be one of them, and I want to be player X or player Y and and be over there and be a part of that professional setup, which you know this city is now going to provide.
23:35
SPEAKER_04: That'd be amazing.
23:36
SPEAKER_00: And you guys with daughters, not only are they playing sports, okay, so they can go play soccer.
23:41
SPEAKER_00: But to think about, well, gosh, my daughter is is kind of a good writer.
23:45
SPEAKER_00: She can get on YouTube now, she can do her own show, she can have a radio show, she can be a great, she can get in a locker room, she can host a podcast, she can that's a whole nother area of I love sports, and I'm gonna write about it and tell people about it.
23:58
SPEAKER_00: So it's just, you know, another finger on the hand.
24:01
SPEAKER_02: That was something I wanted to ask you about too, as well.
24:03
SPEAKER_02: How much journalism itself has changed?
24:05
SPEAKER_02: Has I mean it feels like everybody's got a streaming device in the pocket.
24:09
SPEAKER_02: Uh they can throw it in 4K and be live whenever, wherever they want to.
24:13
SPEAKER_02: How have you seen the field itself evolve?
24:16
SPEAKER_02: And uh what are some ways you think the next generation is?
24:18
SPEAKER_00: But I'm not a negative Nelly.
24:20
SPEAKER_00: I just don't I think Katie bar the door, anything goes.
24:22
SPEAKER_00: There is nobody monitoring it.
24:23
SPEAKER_00: It's like the NIL in college sports.
24:25
SPEAKER_00: But I do love that if you want to go tell a story, you've got your phone.
24:29
SPEAKER_00: If I wanted to come in here right now and go interview you guys and be like, hey, let's sit down, let's talk.
24:35
SPEAKER_01: Straight away.
24:35
SPEAKER_00: It's it's and it's great.
24:37
SPEAKER_00: So I don't I don't mean that as a negative thing, but the days of you having to go sit and figure out what's gonna turn on the news.
24:47
SPEAKER_00: Anything goes.
24:48
SPEAKER_00: Who's credible?
24:50
SPEAKER_00: Who do you listen to?
24:51
SPEAKER_00: So it's gotta you gotta figure out who you're gonna listen to and believe and credible and integrity.
24:57
SPEAKER_04: Keep your word, you know.
24:59
SPEAKER_04: Absolutely.
25:01
SPEAKER_04: Obviously, you've been on this scene in terms of sports.
25:04
SPEAKER_04: You know, we've we've got some exciting times, whether it's the five stripes with the year ahead, we've got the Falcons on the horizon.
25:12
SPEAKER_04: Um it's been a tough go for our Hawks.
25:14
SPEAKER_04: Um we got the Braves starting up.
25:17
SPEAKER_04: You know, what give me some predictions for 2026.
25:21
SPEAKER_04: All right.
25:22
SPEAKER_04: Getting into some takes here, Andrew, you let him throw you into the fire like this?
25:25
SPEAKER_04: Professional.
25:26
SPEAKER_04: Professional.
25:27
SPEAKER_04: She's been down this road before.
25:29
SPEAKER_00: Just saying.
25:30
SPEAKER_00: You might have to get back on the pitch because if the five strikes don't turn this thing around, we're gonna have some issues.
25:35
SPEAKER_00: So, okay, I'll start there.
25:36
SPEAKER_00: Now, the Atlanta Braves, if they can just have five pitchers, that'd be great.
25:40
SPEAKER_00: Somebody that doesn't break a leg or blow out an ACL, because as we're taping this, Joey Wentz was the latest.
25:44
SPEAKER_00: Okay, so but they're gonna be fine.
25:46
SPEAKER_00: They're gonna win the division.
25:47
SPEAKER_00: The Braves are gonna win the division.
25:49
SPEAKER_00: Here we go.
25:50
SPEAKER_02: You heard it here on the goose and show?
25:55
SPEAKER_00: Um I'm worried about our little Falcons.
25:58
SPEAKER_00: Today's the day we were celebrating Tua, Tonga Valoa, okay.
26:02
SPEAKER_00: Um, worried about the Falcons.
26:05
SPEAKER_00: Hawks could go for seven wins tonight.
26:07
SPEAKER_00: So my prediction's gonna be with the Braves.
26:10
SPEAKER_00: Okay, the Georgia Bulldogs will win the whole thing this year.
26:12
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
26:12
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
26:13
SPEAKER_02: Wow.
26:14
SPEAKER_00: All right.
26:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
26:16
SPEAKER_02: Matt really liked that one there in the control.
26:19
SPEAKER_04: Go, go dog.
26:21
SPEAKER_04: Absolutely.
26:22
SPEAKER_04: Love that.
26:22
SPEAKER_02: Could you unpack a bit of how did you end up at Florida State and where does your your seminal passion, where does that come from?
26:28
SPEAKER_00: Well, I'm from Panama City, Florida.
26:30
SPEAKER_00: So when you're from Panama City, it's in your blood.
26:32
SPEAKER_00: I I believe the garnet and the golden.
26:34
SPEAKER_00: So that's how it is.
26:35
SPEAKER_00: And uh my dad, literally diehard dad, and I got a scholarship to Florida State, and that was the end of it.
26:41
SPEAKER_00: So I went two years to a junior college, and then we I went to Florida State for two.
26:45
SPEAKER_00: So it was now, had I known better back then, maybe I would have been like, well, maybe I should go take a year abroad.
26:50
SPEAKER_00: But it was just what you did back then.
26:51
SPEAKER_00: If you get up, get in.
26:52
SPEAKER_00: And by the way, to get into Florida State back then, it was do you have a pulse?
26:55
SPEAKER_00: Yes.
26:55
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, like, yes, I do.
26:57
SPEAKER_00: Well, here you go.
26:58
SPEAKER_00: Move in the dorm.
26:59
SPEAKER_00: Perfect.
26:59
SPEAKER_00: So I loved it.
27:00
SPEAKER_00: It's God's country's Tallahassee, Florida.
27:02
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
27:03
SPEAKER_02: I did some research on your socials as well, Sandra.
27:05
SPEAKER_02: Is it true you threw an uppercut punch at the Florida Gators?
27:09
SPEAKER_02: Did I see you throwing a crazy hook?
27:11
SPEAKER_00: That's right.
27:12
SPEAKER_00: You're intimidated, even you should be.
27:14
SPEAKER_00: No, no.
27:16
SPEAKER_00: Brad, the gator got too close to me on the sideline, and I took him right out.
27:19
SPEAKER_02: We have a Florida Gator in the control room who played college soccer.
27:22
SPEAKER_02: Cam, show yourself.
27:24
SPEAKER_02: Don't be hiding.
27:25
SPEAKER_02: Stand up.
27:25
SPEAKER_02: No.
27:26
SPEAKER_02: We gonna stand for that?
27:27
SPEAKER_02: The chomp?
27:28
SPEAKER_00: I didn't like you.
27:28
SPEAKER_00: I didn't know that.
27:30
SPEAKER_04: How are how are how are how are they gonna do?
27:32
SPEAKER_04: What's your prediction from?
27:33
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, of course.
27:34
SPEAKER_00: We should move on from that subject.
27:35
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
27:36
SPEAKER_00: I'll just be over here.
27:38
SPEAKER_04: That was a quick pivot.
27:40
SPEAKER_00: I'm very worried about my seminals, right?
27:42
SPEAKER_00: Oh my god.
27:44
SPEAKER_04: I mean, yeah, I feel like you mentioned NIL, like college sports.
27:49
SPEAKER_04: It's out of control.
27:49
SPEAKER_04: It's it is.
27:50
SPEAKER_04: It's wild.
27:51
SPEAKER_04: It's it's the wild, wild west.
27:52
SPEAKER_04: Anything goes, yeah.
27:54
SPEAKER_04: Talk about having your word or or standing by your word.
27:57
SPEAKER_04: That that means nothing for these college kids these days.
27:59
SPEAKER_00: Can you imagine being in college now and they would have recruited you to come play at South Carolina?
28:02
SPEAKER_04: Well, I mean, it's for what, maybe three months, and then three months later you're off to somewhere else, and I'm gonna enter the portal and I'm moving on to another school.
28:10
SPEAKER_04: And yeah, the the loyalty.
28:12
SPEAKER_02: It's somebody like they would have offered you a Lamborghini somewhere in the out west.
28:16
SPEAKER_02: You would have been like, I'm I'm out.
28:17
SPEAKER_04: I don't know where we go.
28:18
SPEAKER_04: I'm a man of my word.
28:19
SPEAKER_04: I hey, if I'm committed, I'm in.
28:21
SPEAKER_00: How did you wind up in the south too after coming from Chicago?
28:24
SPEAKER_04: Uh I wanted to go somewhere warm because playing indoor soccer on turf back in the late 90s.
28:31
SPEAKER_04: It was not kind to your body.
28:33
SPEAKER_04: And so I said, you know what, I gotta get off this turf.
28:35
SPEAKER_04: I need to go somewhere warm.
28:37
SPEAKER_04: And Columbia was.
28:38
SPEAKER_00: And and did you have any idea like what college football was?
28:42
SPEAKER_04: No.
28:42
SPEAKER_04: I remember going to like my, I think it was on my maybe official visit.
28:47
SPEAKER_04: I went to like a game at Williams Bryce Stadium, and I was like, oh my gosh.
28:52
SPEAKER_04: Right.
28:53
SPEAKER_04: And listen, being from the Midwest, it's the Big Ten.
28:55
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, yeah.
28:56
SPEAKER_04: They you know, they've obviously some big schools.
28:58
SPEAKER_04: Chicago, not so much, Northwestern wasn't great.
29:01
SPEAKER_04: Um, and so I was like, this is unbelievable.
29:04
SPEAKER_04: Now I know what SEC football is all about.
29:07
SPEAKER_04: And it was, I mean, it's a thing.
29:09
SPEAKER_04: Have you have you been to still haven't?
29:10
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
29:11
SPEAKER_02: Still haven't been to a dogs game.
29:12
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
29:12
SPEAKER_02: I have not been baptized SEC style yet.
29:15
SPEAKER_02: I need it.
29:15
SPEAKER_02: It's like air.
29:16
SPEAKER_03: Wild.
29:17
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, just grew up, same thing.
29:18
SPEAKER_02: All Big Ten football games and the environment.
29:21
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, what I've seen of Stanford is unbelievable.
29:24
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's just something in the South.
29:25
SPEAKER_00: And I that's why I always love to talk to folks that aren't from here and were like, y'all are so cute, you have no idea what's about to happen.
29:31
SPEAKER_00: Like, get ready.
29:32
SPEAKER_04: But I mean, Michigan, the Michigan's got the big house.
29:35
SPEAKER_04: Massive, you know.
29:37
SPEAKER_02: Spartan Stadium is, yeah.
29:38
SPEAKER_02: We're a little more humble on our side.
29:39
SPEAKER_02: It's okay.
29:39
SPEAKER_02: It's okay.
29:40
unknown: Yeah.
29:42
SPEAKER_04: Oh my goodness.
29:43
SPEAKER_04: Um, Sandra, I hear you've got uh a bit of a wine night that you have with with ladies around the city.
29:50
SPEAKER_04: Tell us about that.
29:51
SPEAKER_04: What what what what does that entail?
29:53
SPEAKER_02: And did you bring any by the way?
29:55
SPEAKER_04: All good things, um, of course.
29:57
SPEAKER_04: But is this something I should be telling my wife about, or is this something I should be?
30:01
SPEAKER_00: Yes, it's so funny because tonight is one of them.
30:04
SPEAKER_00: We've got a birthday party, my friend Shannon.
30:06
SPEAKER_00: So we are all going, we're we used to go to restaurants, but now we're like, let's just go to somebody's house and we're gonna, I'm going to get Gio's chicken.
30:12
SPEAKER_00: Y'all know Gio's chicken.
30:14
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
30:14
SPEAKER_00: We do a whole spread, and uh off we go.
30:16
SPEAKER_00: Everybody brings a bottle and we sit and we we talk about life and we solve world problems.
30:20
SPEAKER_00: That's what we do.
30:21
SPEAKER_00: Amazing, amazing.
30:22
SPEAKER_00: I do have a big, big group of wonderful friendships.
30:25
SPEAKER_02: Is he getting the honorary invite now that you've been on the show, Harrison?
30:28
SPEAKER_02: I think it's a ladies' night.
30:29
SPEAKER_02: Hey, listen.
30:30
SPEAKER_02: I mean, my goodness.
30:31
SPEAKER_00: Listen, many a man has tried to enter.
30:35
SPEAKER_00: Or like, I don't think you want any of this.
30:37
SPEAKER_00: This is no.
30:40
SPEAKER_04: I can't I can I can see probably why you had to move it from the restaurant to the to the to the whole environment.
30:45
SPEAKER_00: Well, it kicked out.
30:46
SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
30:47
SPEAKER_04: It's all about perspective.
30:49
SPEAKER_04: It's all about perspective, you know?
30:51
unknown: Right.
30:52
SPEAKER_02: Sandra, I'm sure you've talked to a lot of different former pros before and guys you've even interviewed, and you've said, oh, this guy's got a future in broadcasting.
30:59
SPEAKER_02: Maybe storytelling, maybe in radio or TV.
31:02
SPEAKER_02: What do you think it is that this guy has that makes him so special when it comes to the city?
31:07
SPEAKER_02: I said when I walked in.
31:08
SPEAKER_00: Uh first of all, I I saw you on TV as interviewed, and you're gonna be on a national desk.
31:12
SPEAKER_00: You're gonna be doing that.
31:13
SPEAKER_00: I can only imagine for the World Cup.
31:15
SPEAKER_00: Who's your agent?
31:16
SPEAKER_04: Speaking of, I don't know I don't know.
31:18
SPEAKER_04: I'll be your agent, yeah.
31:19
SPEAKER_04: Sign up.
31:19
SPEAKER_00: So you're you're just a natural and you know when you especially when y'all are talking to people, don't you just know like who's authentic and they're so good, and you know, that that's a that's a winner.
31:27
SPEAKER_00: That's a done deal.
31:28
SPEAKER_00: I remember meeting Jeff Rencourt, played for the Braves.
31:31
SPEAKER_00: Amazing.
31:32
SPEAKER_00: He's a star.
31:32
SPEAKER_00: Great dude.
31:33
SPEAKER_00: He's a star.
31:33
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he's a good one.
31:34
SPEAKER_00: He's just he's got it.
31:35
SPEAKER_00: John Smoltz, couldn't and I had the in the Braves Clubhouse, it was Smoltz, Glavin, Chipper, who didn't say boo back then.
31:42
SPEAKER_00: And now Chipper's so you know profound that didn't say boo, but I knew right then I was like, okay, you know who to go to for the interviews.
31:49
SPEAKER_04: For sure, for sure.
31:50
SPEAKER_00: You'll see.
31:51
SPEAKER_04: You you tend to gravitate towards the guys that one are gonna speak to you.
31:55
SPEAKER_04: But speak to you, I think, too, like in a genuine way.
31:57
SPEAKER_04: And understanding that whether it's media personnel or reporters, right, everyone has a job to do.
32:03
SPEAKER_04: They're trying to do their job to the best of of their ability.
32:06
SPEAKER_04: And that's something that you were, as you mentioned, with your word, your integrity, you you covered it so well for for so many years.
32:14
SPEAKER_04: And um, you know, Sandra, we can't thank you enough for coming on this show, taking time out of your day.
32:21
SPEAKER_04: I know it's only three days a week, and and you know, so to squeeze up.
32:26
SPEAKER_04: Exactly, to to squeeze us in.
32:27
SPEAKER_04: We really, really appreciate it.
32:29
SPEAKER_04: It's been an absolute pleasure having you on.
32:31
SPEAKER_04: Um, and we can't thank you enough.
32:32
SPEAKER_00: Thank you, thank you, thank you.
32:33
SPEAKER_00: Like I said, I really flattered.
32:35
SPEAKER_00: And anything y'all ever need, you're killing it.
32:37
SPEAKER_00: I mean, he's got a where's your picture up here?
32:39
SPEAKER_02: He's got a whole this is the goose and show.
32:41
SPEAKER_00: Is he the talent?
32:42
SPEAKER_00: He's the guy.
32:43
SPEAKER_00: That's right.
32:43
SPEAKER_02: I'm just along for the ride.
32:44
SPEAKER_04: That's what the agent says.
32:45
SPEAKER_04: That's what the agent says.
32:46
SPEAKER_00: You know, I'm just the world cut we didn't even discuss.
32:48
SPEAKER_00: So no, thank you so much for having me.
32:50
SPEAKER_00: International Women's Day, and keep doing your thing, girls.
32:52
SPEAKER_00: Anything I can ever do to help you, reach out.
32:54
SPEAKER_00: I really mean that.
32:56
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
32:56
SPEAKER_02: Thank you so much.
32:57
SPEAKER_02: On behalf of the Goozan show, we want to say a massive thank you once again to Sandra Golden over there at Steakhouse 929 the game, an absolute staple bride of ATL.
33:05
SPEAKER_02: And you can just tell she's a pro.
33:07
SPEAKER_02: As soon as she sat down, she just had that that aura.
33:10
SPEAKER_02: It was crazy.
33:10
SPEAKER_04: The energy, she was electric.
33:12
SPEAKER_04: I mean, the the insight into um her experiences as a broadcaster here in the city of Atlanta and and a trendsetter for so many women in sports to be able to, you know, be recognized um, you know, so close to a day, International Uh Women's Day the other day, right?
33:29
SPEAKER_04: And so to have her on the show, absolute honor.
33:33
SPEAKER_02: Speaking of, guys, this coming weekend we have got women and girls in sports night.
33:37
SPEAKER_02: Come join us at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this Saturday, the 14th, as Atlanta United takes on Philly.
33:43
SPEAKER_02: Each ticket includes an Atlanta United water bottle, by the way, sticker pack, okay, and access to a special pre-match women's in sports panel.
33:51
SPEAKER_02: Don't miss it.
33:52
SPEAKER_02: Get your tickets now and be a part of the celebration at atl-utd.com.
33:57
SPEAKER_02: And before we go, we have got the fan favorite.
34:00
SPEAKER_02: Guys, don't go anywhere.
34:01
SPEAKER_02: Brad is back with his mailbag.
34:03
SPEAKER_02: Goose, you ready?
34:04
SPEAKER_02: Let's do this.
34:05
SPEAKER_02: Let's get into it.
34:06
SPEAKER_02: First one is going to come from Jason Montero, who would like to ask you, this is a pretty profound one, when did you realize you made it?
34:15
SPEAKER_04: Jason, great question.
34:16
SPEAKER_04: Um, honestly, I don't think that that ever crossed my mind of making it because when I look at my career, when I look at all of the experiences that I've that I've had and been fortunate enough to be a part of, um I always go back to the fact that I'm just this kid from the south suburbs of Chicago living his dream and and doing wild and crazy things and and getting to play soccer all over the world.
34:42
SPEAKER_04: Um and so I never actually I think allowed myself to think that I made it because I think if you start thinking that, then complacency sets in, and guess what?
34:51
SPEAKER_04: Then the the end is near.
34:53
SPEAKER_04: And so um I don't know if I ever let that creep in.
34:56
SPEAKER_02: Stay hungry.
34:57
SPEAKER_02: I love it.
34:58
SPEAKER_02: Next one comes from Alex Berardi.
35:00
SPEAKER_02: Uh she asks, let's talk NWSL.
35:03
SPEAKER_02: Who are some of your favorite female goalies currently?
35:06
SPEAKER_02: And anyone you'd like to see on the team in 2028.
35:10
SPEAKER_02: Oof, oof.
35:12
SPEAKER_04: Great question.
35:13
SPEAKER_04: Um, I think first and foremost, I think when you look at the team itself, you know, and knowing that a Mr.
35:20
SPEAKER_04: Arthur Blank and what he wants to accomplish, what he wants to create for the women uh of this city in terms of the team, uh no stone is going to go unturned in terms of trying to bring in the biggest names, the best players worldwide, and and looking to make uh NWSL Atlanta a powerhouse from the start.
35:43
SPEAKER_04: And, you know, when you look at goalkeepers, obviously, you know, a former goalkeeper myself, you know, I I immediately think of someone like Alyssa Nair in in terms of her experience, you know, probably on the back end of her career, um, but someone that was always counted on, someone that always came up in the big moments for the U.S.
36:02
SPEAKER_04: Um, and you know, still applying her trade with with Chicago and and what she does and and her ability to be a leader, uh, be someone that, like I said, come up with the big save in the big moment.
36:14
SPEAKER_04: That's that's what you need from a goalkeeper.
36:16
SPEAKER_04: And so um, you know, being able to watch her throughout these iconic moments in her career with the women's team, it was uh it was remarkable.
36:25
SPEAKER_02: Insane that teams are gonna be here in two years as well.
36:27
SPEAKER_02: So that's crazy.
36:28
SPEAKER_02: I cannot wait for that.
36:29
SPEAKER_04: I know, I know.
36:30
SPEAKER_02: Next one comes from the football fanatic.
36:32
SPEAKER_02: They'd like to ask you, Brad, what is your all-time favorite kit that you've ever worn?
36:37
SPEAKER_02: Favorite kit?
36:39
SPEAKER_02: Oh man, it's tough to shoot keeper.
36:41
SPEAKER_04: So I know.
36:42
SPEAKER_04: Well, we've had some we've had some wild goalkeeper kits.
36:46
SPEAKER_04: Um, we've had some others, not so much.
36:49
SPEAKER_04: Um I would always joke with our with our equipment, you know, department here at United.
36:55
SPEAKER_04: And, you know, for me, it's not so much what it looks like, but I guess the the color, you know, and and color is obviously a big part of it.
37:01
SPEAKER_04: You've got to stand out, you've got to be different.
37:03
SPEAKER_04: And then there was a a science behind the kit department in terms of goalkeepers.
37:08
SPEAKER_04: If you're a bright color and you're closing in on a 1v1, can you catch the eye of the striker?
37:12
SPEAKER_04: And now they're they're actually striking the ball into the goalkeeper as opposed to trying to avoid the goalkeeper.
37:18
SPEAKER_04: There was there was a lot of yeah.
37:19
SPEAKER_04: There, I mean, listen, there was I had so many conversations about you know kits, probably more so than I needed to, really.
37:26
SPEAKER_04: Um, but blue, blue was one of my favorites.
37:29
SPEAKER_04: Um, but then I think when you look back at the the US jerseys, you know, I think the the retro, I want to say it was the Centennial uh kit.
37:39
SPEAKER_04: It was like an all-black, clean, simple, uh big, big uh US logo on the on the the chest.
37:48
SPEAKER_04: Um I like that one.
37:49
SPEAKER_02: So uh a bit of both, really.
37:51
SPEAKER_02: Thoughts on the 94 collection being re-released too?
37:54
SPEAKER_02: Did you see that?
37:54
SPEAKER_02: They're back with the the gene wave is back.
37:57
SPEAKER_04: I know, I know.
37:58
SPEAKER_04: I mean, I remess I remember that shirt, and I mean that was such an iconic jersey and and and and shirt, and the fact that they're bringing it back and they're kind of re-releasing it, um, it it shows you how how iconic it really was.
38:14
SPEAKER_02: It all comes back.
38:15
SPEAKER_02: Next one is from Scott Martin, who would like to ask you who's your dark horse to win the World Cup?
38:22
SPEAKER_04: My dark horse.
38:23
SPEAKER_04: My dark horse to win the world cup.
38:25
SPEAKER_04: I mean, listen, I don't know if they're a dark horse, right?
38:27
SPEAKER_04: And they're definitely not a dark horse.
38:30
SPEAKER_04: I I'm gonna go out there and say that.
38:32
SPEAKER_04: Um, but I I think what Spain is doing when they've got these young players coming through and how influential they are, I think that's really exciting to be able to see young players take this opportunity and and start to run with it.
38:47
SPEAKER_04: And I think if if Spain is able to go in and and win, I think it it potentially sets off a ripple effect for years to come.
38:55
SPEAKER_02: If you're a net in La Mina Mall is blistering at you 1v1, what do you do?
39:01
SPEAKER_02: Any advice?
39:02
SPEAKER_02: I hope for the best.
39:03
SPEAKER_04: Hope for the best and hope he he trips on a untied shoelace or something.
39:06
SPEAKER_04: Um a sprinkler head that's still up there.
39:08
SPEAKER_04: Exactly.
39:09
SPEAKER_04: I mean, you know, listen, in that in that moment, you're you're a sitting duck, you know.
39:14
SPEAKER_04: You're you're you're dead in the water and you're you're just hoping out of some miracle, you know, that that you're able to A, put him off just enough where he misses the target, slow him off, slow him up uh enough to have a defender recover and make a tackle, um, or come up with a huge save.
39:31
SPEAKER_02: Last one to send us home here on Brad's mailbag comes from Julian, who would like to ask you, Brad, what is something that helped you push through your darker times during your soccer career?
39:40
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I mean, listen, professional sports, it's it's not all the highs, right?
39:45
SPEAKER_04: There's there's certainly lows.
39:47
SPEAKER_04: And during those dark times, you need one, a really good support system.
39:50
SPEAKER_04: You need people around you that that love and care about you, and you know, some someone in a group of people that are able to get behind you and and understand when times are tough.
40:00
SPEAKER_04: Um, but you also have to be able to kind of separate, you know, have have that ability to take a look at the bigger picture, realize things aren't as bad as as they seem, um, and then just get back to the basics, get back to to what gets you to that level, to to where you're at in that moment, um, and get your head down and work hard and continue to to push through in that sense, because you know, I'm a believer that, you know, good karma, it comes to those that that you know believe in the process.
40:30
SPEAKER_04: And I always tell young goalkeepers, trust the process because there's gonna be highs, there's gonna be lows.
40:35
SPEAKER_04: And and goalkeeper is such a unique position in that sense.
40:38
SPEAKER_04: And so to be able to understand that in those moments, knowing that, hey, listen, things aren't going great right now.
40:44
SPEAKER_04: Um I'm conceding more than I'd like, make him making a mistake here or there.
40:48
SPEAKER_04: Um, but understand that that moment isn't going to define me or or define you, and you are gonna have brighter days, and you just have to continue to work through those those tough times.
40:59
SPEAKER_02: Smiles are free too, right?
41:00
SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
41:01
SPEAKER_02: Let's go, baby.
41:02
SPEAKER_02: Absolutely.
41:03
SPEAKER_02: And with that, that wraps Brad's mailbag episode four.
41:06
SPEAKER_02: We're four deep already.
41:07
SPEAKER_02: I know.
41:08
SPEAKER_02: We're flying.
41:09
SPEAKER_02: I'm loving it.
41:10
SPEAKER_02: I can't thank you enough, man.
41:11
SPEAKER_04: Thank you.
41:11
SPEAKER_04: Amazing.