If you're on any social media these days you'll bump into someone who claims "Ted Lasso isn't a soccer show, it's a show about empathy, respect, curiosity, whatever."
They're wrong, because these are people who don't understand soccer, or sports. Sports and soccer are about fellowship, friendship, family, empathy, respect, curiosity, love, all those things that the shows and movies featuring sports are supposedly about instead of sports.
Whether it's the nature of loving a sport because you were raised into it or the people who meet through it, the way you become a better you because of a kids’ game played by amazing adults, the sport of soccer is not about the lines on the field or the Laws of the Game.
Soccer is about us.
Players come and go. Coaches come and go. Owners come and go.
Our relationships with the people we meet through the beautiful game last until reality rips them way from us. No matter how bad a season is, there is beauty in the people you are with, being accepted no matter what your past, your present and future might be.
Being accepted when you accept.
Through the Sounders I’ve met so many wonderful people. Through soccer I met a couple getting married this weekend. Through soccer I met a mentor and a co-host and Aslan's (my dog's) best friend, who passed away last weekend. Through the Sounders I met a D&D friend who passed away last year.
Through soccer I met Jeremiah and Aaron and Likkit and Susie and a near infinite number of people. They've helped me and I hope I've helped them.
This is the point of it – meeting people, helping people, being friends, becoming family, supporting family. Growing to be better, even if never being good enough.
Every pass. Every tackle. Every panenka. Every trophy. Every sombrero. Every loss. Every draw. Every season-ending injury.
They help bond us, mold us.
We are Sounders, mighty Sounders.
And together we're going to be okay.
Call a friend this week. Talk to them about the good times. Enjoy their presence, because they'll be gone someday.
Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Sounders
Next match: Saturday at Colorado Rapids at 6:30 pm PT on Apple TV.
Sounders have a 31% chance of making the postseason, per Playoff Status. Yes, that went up after the draw. The Rave Green would need significant help to finish above 7th.
- What went right and wrong during summer transfer window
- Still winless: Sounders claim 4th straight draw
This newsletter was made possible through the support of Full Pull Wines, a boutique wines reseller that has been sponsoring us since 2011.
Reign
Next match: Wednesday at Angel City FC at 7 pm PT on NWSL+.
Reign have a 72% chance of making the playoffs per NWSL Labs. They still can finish in the top 4 and host a playoff match, but would need to win out or get some help.
Defiance
Next match: Sunday hosting Timbers2 at 2 pm PT on OneFootball and YouTube.
Defiance will make the postseason by earning more points than Earthquakes II in the final matchday. They can finish as high as 7th or as low as 10th (which would miss the playoffs). MLS Next Pro uses a "pick your opponent" playoff format.
- Defiance loss to Ventura County puts playoffs on the line
- Academy competes in Liga BBVA international youth development tournament
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
NWSL and women's soccer
- Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn, Marta among players calling for FIFA to move U-20 Women’s World Cup (New York Times)
- Orlando Pride sign forward Barbra Banda to new contract (All for XI)
- Houston Dash fire head coach Fabrice Gautrat, technical director Twila Kilgore (The Equalizer)
MLS and men's soccer
- NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, NHL band together to crack down on betting-related harassment (Yahoo Sports)
- Dallas grab a 9-point week, Nashville show the good & bad, and more | Matchday 25 (Tactics Free Zone)
- Thrive Capital led VCs into pro sports ownership; Collaborative Fund just upped that play with DC United investment (TechCrunch)
- Kickback launches MLS media network following 1M$ seed round (Sports Business Journal)
Puget Sound culture and news
- Tom Biro – Eternal Blue, Forever Green (We Are ECS)
