Between the Mob Football of medieval Europe and the the game of football that we know today, there was a rather turbulent period of codification.

Starting from the 14th Century, schools would play their own variation of football. These games would differ greatly from campus to campus; so much so that intercollegiate play was virtually impossible.

Eton College became the first school to write down a list of basic laws of the game in 1815, but Cambridge and Sheffield had the greatest impact on the moder

When Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes arrived in present day Mexico he encountered the Aztecs; a massive civilization with a dynamic and thriving culture

In his pursuit of power, fame and a fortune of gold Cortes decimated a welcoming civilization with war and pestilence. Mistaken for the god Quetzalcoatl, Cortes was given access to the Aztec Ruler Montezuma (Monctezuma) II and took full advantage of his instant status among the upper echelons of society.

Keywords:

Shrovetide, Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Lent, Ash Wednesday, Ashbourne, England, Medieval Football, Soccer, Hug Ball, Mob Football, Hugball, Henmore Brook, Derby, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, Tom Boulton Lear, Tom Boulton-Lear, Plasters

The evolution of soccer has been dependent on the evolution of the ball used to play it.

Charles Goodyear was one of history's greatest innovators. Sadly, he was also one of history's most tragic figures. His pursuit of vulcanizing rubber did not cease even thru unimaginable hardship. He lost his fortune and his family to give us the world we know today, and perhaps the most important thing he gave us was the leather soccer ball.

There's a lot of people out there that claim their country or region...or even empire, invented soccer. They might not be wrong. 

Soccer is that unique universal game that saw it's origins evolve independently across the globe. It seems there's nary a culture that's ever trod the earth that hasn't been filled with the uncontrollable urge to kick stuff.

It's been about 23 years since the proclamation that soccer has arrived in America and twenty one years since the birth of Major League Soccer.  

This episode we talk to Shakara Robinson, a non soccer fan, about her awareness of soccer in America and how it's grown over the last couple of decades.

Has soccer reached the level of pervading the everyday lives of the gridiron fans? We know soccer has more action than the more popular American games, so what would it take to get a new fan interested?  

Join us as we discuss personalities, marketing and lackluster media coverage of the beautiful game.

 

Keywords: Soccer, Football, Footy, Gridiron, America, American Football, Baseball, Basketball, NBA, MLS, NFL

Camus said "Everything I know about morality and the obligations of men, I owe it to football".

With guest Juan Fernandez we discuss the formative years of Albert Camus, philosopher, journalist, Author and Nobel Laureate. 

Camus spent his formative years playing what he considered to be the most isolated of positions; goalkeeper.  The dichotomy of absenteeism and sole blame that a keeper endures is what Camus credits with his ideas of Absurdism.

Sidelined by illness, Camus was able to pursue philosophy full time. And we all may be the better for it.

 

In our inaugural episode we talk with Jason Hicks, founder of Niyakko Rush Soccer Club, and Goshen Carmel, Filmmaker and Niyakko Alum.

Niyakko Rush was started when Jason found a group of refugee children playing soccer in a dirt lot at their apartment complex. The kids didn't have proper grass or footwear, but the soccer would not be stopped.

Conflict in their native countries brought them to Colorado but football brought these kids together.  Not speaking the same language or sharing the same culture, they found a common bond in soccer and they found a team with Jason Hicks.

This is the first episode of Footylosopher; a podcast meant to show you all the ways soccer explains life.

Footylosopher   It’s a clumsy portmanteau but I couldn’t imagine anything more appropriate.   Philosophy is the love of wisdom. And a philosopher is one who pursues wisdom. The inherent fault in our pursuit is the assumption that there is a universal truth to all things. That cultural variances and personal experiences don’t shape our every opinion and color our world view.   But the lucky ones of us love soccer. It gives us something in common with people in every corner of the world. No matter how different our daily lives are; no matter the chasm between our experiences. If a bad day for you is getting stopped by 3 red lights in row or not knowing where your next meal will come from, we find common ground on the pitch.   With or without manicured grass and meticulously painted white lines, soccer happens. It’s played in dirt, it’s played in mud. It’s played with cleats, with flip flops, or with no shoes at all. People find a way to conjure a game of soccer. No ball? Kids can improvise a sphere. No goals? Trees too close together or light posts too far apart will do just fine. Soccer will happen.   It’s said that at any given time more than a million people are playing soccer. Factor in the millions more watching, reading or thinking about it. This elevates the sport beyond a pastime. It makes it a way of life. It’s alive and it shapes how we see the world. It forms our philosophies.   It pulls us together and pushes us apart and is the single greatest metaphor for human life on this planet. It’s a battle, it’s a war. It’s the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat or an exercise in futility. Just like all the parts of life.   But it reminds us 90 minutes at a time that we need each other. You take the ball and you venture out on your own attack. You can because you know there’s people all around you waiting to help you if you need it and cheer for you if you succeed. Because your victory is their victory. Just like all those people that love you.   In soccer, just like in your life, there are superstars. People to look up to and to get excited about. You know who yours are. But yo