Extratime

This is not your distraction. It’s not your escape from real life. For some, this is everyday life.

These words adorned the shirts worn on July 8 by nearly 200 black Major League Soccer players, coaches, and staff who gathered for a showing of unity during a summer of historic racial tension in the United States. In the debut episode of The Movement Podcast, host and former MLS player Calen Carr examines how the Black soccer community in MLS embraced the Black Lives Matter movement and formed the Black Players for Change organization. Founded by a collection of prominent players with their own sobering stories of life as Black men in America, the BPC orchestrated a series of demonstrations in July as well as a boycott of nearly all MLS games on one historic night in August, all to raise awareness of racial injustice and police brutality.

Carr offers a candid look at life for these Black players across the North American soccer spectrum via months of interviews with MLS players Warren Creaville, Raymon Gaddis, Jeremy Ebobisse and Ike Opara, as well as passionate supporters eager to join the fight for justice. From the Minneapolis corner where George Floyd died, to a protest in Atlanta following the death of Ahmaud Arbery, to the night when MLS play suddenly stopped after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, players and fans share their experiences from an unprecedented and transformative moment for soccer and social change.

0:00 - Formation of the Black Players for Change organization

8:45 - Warren Creavalle recounts one agonizing night in Houston

14:20 - Ike Opara on life in Minnesota after George Floyd’s death

18:05 - Jeremy Ebobisee on systemic racism and the relationship between the black community and the police

25:42 - Atlanta United Supporters refocus their resources on social justice

35:12 - Ray Gaddis reflects on the death of Breonna Taylor and his personal story of protests and pandemic

45:33 – Reggie Cannon and Ryan Hollingshead discuss a fateful night in Frisco and a historic night when sports stopped across the country

Gonzalo Higuain is reportedly the highest paid player in MLS. What should Inter Miami expect from that investment? How much pressure is on the Argentine goalscorer? Andrew, David, Doyle and Calen discuss, then hit topics around the league, from Jack Harrison’s goal against Liverpool, Montreal Impact’s CanChamp quest, Doyle’s Supporters’ Shield woes, Rapids’ big Rocky Mountain Cup win and Doyle’s Freddy Adu comparison for Efra Alvarez. Plus, Rodrigo Carvalho gives you the Portuguese perspective on Nashville DP Jhonder Cadiz and Alberth Elis and Reggie Cannon’s prospects at Boavista.

8:45 – Higuain will reportedly be highest-paid player in MLS

17:31 – Wild win for Montreal opens CanChamp door

27:35 – Next phase of schedule is out! Does the Shield matter?

32:13 – Miles Robinson’s comments, Nashville’s win

39:29 – Portuguese analyst on Nashville DP singing, Elis/Cannon to Boavista

51:58 – Why Andres Ricuarte is the missing piece for FC Dallas

56:01 – Colorado Rapids finally hit back in Rocky Mountain Cup

1:07:40 – Efra Alvarez-Freddy Adu comparison explained

1:15:20 – The Movement podcast screener

Atlanta United and LAFC are looking more like expansion teams than Cup contenders. Who should be more worried? And who more petty than Jozy Altidore? Andrew, David and Charlie dig into the big takeaways from midweek action then go over the MLS academy products to watch in Europe this season, biggest club disappointment so far and a playoff race between Miami and Nashville.

3:31 – Charlie Davies on Jozy Altidore quietly trolling Impact fans

5:02 – LAFC and ATL look more like expansion teams than Cup contenders ... Why?

25:01 – Why Bebelo Reynoso can be a special player for Minnesota United

28:22 – Are Real Salt Lake the deepest team in the Western Conference?

36:16 – Most disappointing team in MLS?

49:28 – Which MLS academy product is set for European stardom?

57:24 – Charlie gives his MLS power rankings + Weekend preview

1:08:38 – Mailbag! Reactions to Hall of Fame vote

What are we doing?! WHAT ARE WE DOING?! We’re not talking about the World Cup. We’re talking about National Soccer Hall of Fame voting and the process that continues to deny players their rightful place in the Hall. Wiebe rants, then David, Doyle and Calen dig through a busy MLS weekend: Galaxy’s El Trafico dominance, Sebastian Blanco’s injury, Crew and Dynamo excellence, Reynoso’s debut and much more. Plus, Brenden and Paxten Aaronson on MLS Next and the plan for their futures in Philadelphia (and beyond).

2:24 – Hall of Fame voting is broken, and the voters ought to take the blame, too

15:06 – Why Red Bulls fired Chris Armas and what comes next

28:16 – The Galaxy are good again! And that’s good for MLS…

37:02 – What Sebastian Blanco injury means for the Timbers

42:52 – The Dynamo are good, too! How good? TBD

49:02 – Rest of the MLS Weekend…

56:22 – INTERVIEW: Brenden and Paxten Aaronson on their path to MLS, someday Europe

Adios, Pity Martinez. We barely knew you. Atlanta United are selling their big star (and reportedly making $4 million, too) after a disappointing season and a half. Andrew, David and Charlie try to figure out what happened, what it means and what’s next for the Five Stripes. Down the road in Miami, it looks like the Gonzalo Higuain deal is almost done. Is he the right signing for Inter? Who is his MLS comparable? Tom Bogert (MLSsoccer.com) also joins the guys to talk transfers, plus the LA Galaxy’s Julian Araujo calls in to explain what’s going on with the Galaxy and his international future.

11:48 – Why Atlanta United is selling Pity Martinez & what’s next

25:52 – Is Gonzalo Higuain the right DP for Inter Miami?

31:57 – Tom Bogert on Reggie Cannon, Union duo, Reynoso and more

47:31 – INTERVIEW: Julian Araujo on LA Galaxy resurgence, his international future

1:07:19 – What we took away from midweek games … Lassiter! RSL! Crew!

1:13:55 – MAILBAG: D.C. United, home-field advantage, Pity takes

An American at Juventus. Four words we’ve never uttered before. The guys discuss Weston McKennie’s big move to Serie A and his chances for success, then shift to the biggest story in MLS. That’d be the breaking news at Real Salt Lake and the development that owner Dell Loy Hansen will sell the team. Utah soccer insider Brian Dunseth joins the show to walk you through all the details: past, present and future. Plus, Daryl Dike looks like the No. 9 Orlando City needed, teenagers get the job done over the weekend and LAFC starts to spring real leaks.

3:49 – Weston McKennie moves to Juventus

13:40 – INTERVIEW: Brian Dunseth on Real Salt Lake & Dell Loy Hansen

39:33 – Daryl Dike’s coming out party with Orlando City

48:03 – Teenagers star around MLS: Busio! Aaronson! Bassett!

58:38 – What’s wrong with LAFC?

1:10:19 – Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami lookahead

Boycott. That’s the word of the moment in the sports world and the United States. The Bucks and NBA started a chain reaction of peaceful protests across courts, fields and stadiums in American sports. MLS players stood up for what they believe in, too, boycotting five of six games on Wednesday night. Andrew, David and Charlie welcome six players – Kei Kamara, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Ryan Hollingshead, Earl Edwards Jr., Jalil Anibaba and Stefan Frei – to tell the story of a historic night from the men who took action then discuss what it means and what’s still to come.

5:20 – INTERVIEW: Kei Kamara, Colorado Rapids

20:37 – INTERVIEW: Mark-Anthony Kaye, LAFC

32:10 – INTERVIEW: Ryan Hollingshead, FC Dallas

49:47 – INTERVIEW: Earl Edwards Jr., D.C. United

1:06:23 – INTERVIEW: Jalil Anibaba, Nashville SC

1:23:43 – INTERVIEW: Stefan Frei, Seattle Sounders

Carlos Vela’s return was the story, but it was the Galaxy that landed all the El Trafico blows. Are Los Angeles’ original powers back? Are LAFC in trouble? Or was it just a mirage? The guys also chat with The Athletic’s Felipe Cardenas about Frank de Boer’s Atlanta United exit, Pity Martinez’s suddenly blistering form (coincidence?) and which South American manager might take the reins of the Five Stripes. Plus, gloating over Alphonso Davies’ inclusion on MLS Mount Rushmore, Inter Miami’s first-ever win, Sounders payback on the Timbers and constructive criticism for Calen in the Mailbag.

0:53 – Mount Rushmore, baby! Alphonso Davies wins the Champions League

13:25 – Galaxy did what?! What El Trafico win means for LA (and loss for LAFC)

30:42 – INTERVIEW: The Athletic’s Felipe Cardenas on ATLUTD culture & coaching search

50:06 – Pity Martinez is feeling good again, and maybe it’s because a certain Dutchman is gone

52:27 – Inter Miami get their first win thanks to Julian Carranza, Rodolfo Pizarro

57:54 – Are Toronto FC the best team in the East … or are they just playing Vancouver?

1:06:45 – Sounders hit back at Timbers after MLS is Back disappointment

1:10:33 – Mailbag! FC Dallas’ attack, Calen critique & context-less emails

Minnesota or Columbus? Where should the USMNT host Mexico in the Octagon? And will Canada join the Americans there? Andrew, David and Charlie dive into Concacaf’s World Cup qualifying draw and schedule with history to be made. The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio also joins the guys to talk transfer season, why MLS could have opportunities to buy but trouble selling, Inter Miami’s third DP spot and Reggie Cannon’s immediate future. Finally, Galaxy GM Dennis te Kloese on the club’s recent struggles, state of his project, helping Chicharito settle and what MLS can do to compete with the rest of the world.

2:49 – What do Canada and the USMNT face in World Cup qualifying?

15:32 – Minnesota or Columbus? Where should US host El Tri?

17:57 – The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio talks MLS transfers, Miami DP spot, Reggie Cannon

41:40 – Galaxy GM Dennis te Kloese on LA struggles, Chicharito and how MLS can compete w/ the world

1:08:15 – Rivalry games galore in packed weekend of MLS!

1:17:25 – Mailbag: Gass pitches new MLS travel/food show

Alphonso Davies is a gift to us all, and he may have helped usher in the biggest transfer in the history of the game should Leo Messi depart Barcelona after an 8-2 shellacking by Bayern laid the truth bare at Barcelona. So … Messi to MLS, anyone? Is the time right? (Always.) And where would he fit best? (TBD). Plus, the guys dig into Davies’ meteoric rise and future, for club and country, and go 2v2 with the US and Canada’s biggest and brightest prospects. Who would you take to have the better careers? Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams or Davies and Jonathan David?

Also in this pod … Another big result for Nashville and a summer transfer for Reggie Cannon? Should Jozy and Ayo partner? What are the New York clubs doing exactly ahead of the Hudson River Derby? What now for Revs without Carles Gil? And, in the mailbag, best food in MLS.

2:49 – Two road games, two big results for Nashville SC

10:25 – Is Reggie Cannon on his way out of Dallas? Where should he go?

21:01 – Alphonso Davies has no ceiling! Celebrating another high point

36:43 – DEBATE: Pulisic/Adams vs. Davies/David … Who you got? USA or Canada duo?

40:16 – Why Canada and Lille’s Jonathan David is the next big Concacaf star

52:21 – Should Leo Messi come to MLS this summer? Why not?

57:49 – Big questions from midweek matches: Jozy + Ayo? State of NY Derby?

1:13:45 – Mailbag! Which city has the best food in MLS?