Is Timi Wea where he is today because of his last name and his father's connection and who he is?

Sure, it's okay.

There's already a bit of a compare and contrast with Messi in this feeling that someone might actually be a better ambassador for the league.

Regardless of where you fall on the Christian ballistic debate, I think everybody recognizes how good he is and that this U.S. team needs him to be good.

Hello, Sunshine. I'm Lexi Lalas and welcome to the State of the Union podcast. We look at the beautiful game on and off the field through the lens of red, white, and blue colored glasses. This show will be talking, well, Policicic off and running, poach scouting, sergeant, man-used low expectations, messy slash son slash Mueller watch,

John Tuturo, sports nepotism, unlimited subs,

MLS consequences, deep cover, and so much more.

But first joining you as always my friend, my colleague, my guiding light,

David Mossy, a soccer savant and a Fox Soccer researcher and writer extraordinaire.

Massey, how you doing on this Monday, August 18th in the year 2025?

I'm doing well, but this is starting to feel like a long-distance relationship. I miss you.

I miss you, too, buddy. You are back in Los Angeles holding down the fort with everybody behind the

camera. And I, again, am on the road. My East Coast swing continues on. I am in the basement here in

Connecticut. And I will be for the foreseeable future. I appreciate you guys adjusting, but it's,

it's fun. I'm seeing a lot of different

people, meeting a lot of different people, and having a fun end of the summer here as we get

into August and September is right around the corner. Have you watched anything or done anything

or seen anything you want to tell the folks about? Last night, I went to the Arrow Theater in Santa

Monica.

They had a Q&A with the actor John Torturo talking about his career.

And in honor of that, they did a screening of an episode of Severance from this past season and of the movie Quiz Show, which is one of my favorite movies of all time.

It actually sent me down this deep dive of the 1995 Oscars Best Picture Race, which is considered one of the best ever. Forrest Gump ended up winning. Also nominated were

...