Remember That Game

Emmy and Peabody-winning writer/comedian Jeff Maurer (creator of I Might Be Wrong on Substack and former writer for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver) and host Thomas Emerick revisit the 2002 World Cup Round of 16 soccer matchup between the USA men’s national team and Mexico. 

Setting the Stage:

• How Jeff handled catching a match with a 2:30 a.m. Eastern kickoff live from Jeonju, South Korea
• Being a soccer fan in the '90s in Virginia
• British and American soccer fandom at Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
• The historical rivalry between the USA and Mexico in soccer.
• Pre-match expectations: Betting odds, media hype, and the national sentiment.

Key Moments of the Match:

• Brian McBride’s Early Goal: How the U.S. took the initiative.
• Landon Donovan’s Iconic Header: Breaking down the play that sealed the win.
• Rafael Márquez’s Red Card: The turning point that cemented the upset.

Analysis & Commentary:

• Tactical breakdown: What the teams did well and where they faltered.
• Reflections on how the game influenced the trajectory of both teams and reshaped the narrative of American soccer.

Cultural Impact:

• The broader legacy of the match in expanding the tent of U.S. soccer fandom.
• How the game is remembered today by fans and its influence on the USA-Mexico rivalry.

Additional Threads:

• Late Night TV landscape in 2002 and today
• Substack as a comedy platform and as a disruptor in news and social media

RotoViz contributor Thomas Emerick

Emmy and Peabody-winning writer/comedian Jeff Maurer (I Might Be Wrong)

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Michael Salfino (The Athletic, Topps) and host Thomas Emerick take the 7 train to Shea Stadium as Bill Walsh's upstart Niners bring an early form of the West Coast offense to New York City. Steve DeBerg is starting at quarterback, but his voice amplifier is malfunctioning and Joe Montana will have to step in a bit. Visiting a young Jets team expected to make some noise in the early '80s, are the Niners ready for their close-up?

This is Remember That Game, the podcast about sporting events that take you on a journey and chart the path of the zeitgeist.

I'm your host Thomas Emerick, enjoy the show.

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More from Michael Salfino:

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RotoViz contributor Thomas Emerick (@ThomasEmerick)

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Peter Overzet (Deposit Kingdom, Fantasy Life, Ship Chasing) and host Thomas Emerick travel back to Pete's first Vegas high-stakes draft in 2016 — and hopefully avert danger, as there will be a weekly RotoViz column to be written about this squad. Check out his first appearance on the show when we revisited the conventional wisdom of 2013 fantasy football drafts. We're playing by Back to the Future time travel rules, and Part II picks up where we left off at the end of Part I.

This is Remember That Game, the podcast about sporting events that take you on a journey and chart the path of the zeitgeist.

I'm your host Thomas Emerick, enjoy the show.

Follow Remember That Game for the full archive:

More from Peter Overzet:

More fantasy football background from 2016

RotoViz contributor Thomas Emerick (@ThomasEmerick)

Fantasy Life creative lead Peter Overzet (@peteroverzet)

BetterHelp - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ROTOVIZ and get on your way to being your best self.

Underdog Fantasy – Get a 100% deposit match on your first deposit up to $100 when you sign up at Underdogfantasy.com using this link or the promo code ROTOVIZ.

Listeners of RotoViz Radio can save 10% on a one-year RotoViz subscription by visiting RotoViz.com/podcast or by using the promotional code "rvradio2024" at the time of purchase.

Gametime - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code ROTOVIZ for $20 off your first purchase.

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Rich Hribar (Sharp Football Analysis) and host Thomas Emerick catch the BART over to Candlestick in January 1999 for an all-timer. The Swami of Konami is rooting for Steve Young here, second in the league in QB rushing at age 37. Garrison Hearst is carrying that load for the Niners today. However, Jerry Rice isn't getting on the board and Terrell Owens keeps is struggling. Green Bay bounced San Fran three straight years, will this be the fourth?

This is Remember That Game, the podcast about sporting events that take you on a journey and chart the path of the zeitgeist.

I'm your host Thomas Emerick, enjoy the show.

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More from Rich Hribar at Sharp Football Analysis:

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RotoViz Contributor Thomas Emerick (@ThomasEmerick)

Sharp Football Analysis Author and The Swami of Konami Rich Hribar (@LordReebs)

BetterHelp - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ROTOVIZ and get on your way to being your best self.

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Listeners of RotoViz Radio can save 10% on a one-year RotoViz subscription by visiting RotoViz.com/podcast or by using the promotional code "rvradio2024" at the time of purchase.

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Jennifer Eakins (4for4) and host Thomas Emerick climb back to Mile High in September '99 where the reigning two-time champion Denver Broncos are celebrating the retired John Elway on opening night. How much does the 38-3 January playoff loss still sting for the Fins, especially since that was Dan Marino and John Elway’s final head-to-head? Jennifer was a Dolphins fan in the stadium for Elway Commemoration Night, where Miami looks for some measure of vindication against a largely intact Broncos squad in Brian Griese's debut.

This is Remember That Game, the podcast about sporting events that take you on a journey and chart the path of the zeitgeist.

I'm your host Thomas Emerick, enjoy the show.

Follow Remember That Game for the full archive:

More from Jennifer Eakins at 4for4:

More from the 1999 Week 1 Monday nighter between the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins.

RotoViz Contributor Thomas Emerick (@ThomasEmerick)

4for4 Fantasy Content Manager Jennifer Eakins (@jeneakins)

BetterHelp - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ROTOVIZ and get on your way to being your best self.

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Listeners of RotoViz Radio can save 10% on a one-year RotoViz subscription by visiting RotoViz.com/podcast or by using the promotional code "rvradio2024" at the time of purchase.

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Alex Katson (USA Today, Patreon) and host Thomas Emerick figure out how the 2010 San Diego Chargers finished first in total offense and total defense while still missing the playoffs, through the lens of a game where they really Charger it away.

This is Remember That Game, the podcast about sporting events that take you on a journey and chart the path of the zeitgeist.

I'm your host Thomas Emerick, enjoy the show.

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More from Alex Katson:

More from the 2010 Week 7 game between San Diego Chargers and the New England Patriots:

RotoViz Contributor Thomas Emerick (@ThomasEmerick)

USA Today Chargers Wire author and Renowned Spreadsheetsmen (@alexkatson)

BetterHelp - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ROTOVIZ and get on your way to being your best self.

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Listeners of RotoViz Radio can save 10% on a one-year RotoViz subscription by visiting RotoViz.com/podcast or by using the promotional code "rvradio2024" at the time of purchase.

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Ian Hartitz (Fantasy Life) and host Thomas Emerick want you to get in, because we're headin' back to Wildcat Season. Did it feel like a fever dream on rewatch? A question we'll try to answer, while the 12.5-point underdog Dolphins snap New England's 21-game regular season win streak — despite being on a 1-21 stretch(!) That all changes when Tony Sparano signs off on a play design where Ronnie Brown receives the snap and either runs, hands off to Ricky Williams, or passes to Anthony Fasano. And they debut it in Foxborough.

This is Remember That Game, the podcast about sporting events that take you on a journey and chart the path of the zeitgeist.

I'm your host Thomas Emerick, enjoy the show.

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More from Ian Hartitz:

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RotoViz Contributor Thomas Emerick (@ThomasEmerick)

Fantasy Life Senior Analyst Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz)

BetterHelp - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ROTOVIZ and get on your way to being your best self.

Underdog Fantasy – Get a 100% deposit match on your first deposit up to $100 when you sign up at Underdogfantasy.com using this link or the promo code ROTOVIZ.

Listeners of RotoViz Radio can save 10% on a one-year RotoViz subscription by visiting RotoViz.com/podcast or by using the promotional code "rvradio2024" at the time of purchase.

Gametime - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code ROTOVIZ for $20 off

RotoViz Radio provides the power for Remember That Game: Subscribe to the RotoViz Radio on YouTube

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RotoViz Radio executive producer Colm Kelly joins host Thomas Emerick for one of the Packers-Cowboys playoff thrillers that the 2010s gave to the world. Dak Prescott's first playoff game doesn't begin well — and Tony Romo's in pads — but the rookie rallies his team back. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers finished the regular season hot yet were still considered underdogs in Dallas with the No. 1 seed hosting. This rematch from two divisional rounds prior does not disappoint. These teams just like meeting the playoffs it seems, though it depends on who you ask and in which decade.

This is Remember That Game, the podcast about sporting events that take you on a journey and chart the path of the zeitgeist.

I'm your host Thomas Emerick, enjoy the show.

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More from Colm Kelly at RotoViz:

More from the 2016 NFC divisional round between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys:

RotoViz Contributor Thomas Emerick (@ThomasEmerick)

RotoViz Radio Executive Producer Colm Kelly (@OvertimeIreland)

BetterHelp - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ROTOVIZ and get on your way to being your best self.

Underdog Fantasy – Get a 100% deposit match on your first deposit up to $100 when you sign up at Underdogfantasy.com using this link or the promo code ROTOVIZ.

Listeners of RotoViz Radio can save 10% on a one-year RotoViz subscription by visiting RotoViz.com/podcast or by using the promotional code "rvradio2024" at the time of purchase.

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RotoViz co-owner and podcaster Shawn Siegele joins host Thomas Emerick for a 54-51 Monday nighter that was somehow even more wild than you remember. Kansas City and Los Angeles have some of the same faces, but very different looks to these teams. Patrick Mahomes playing a style that makes us a bit wistful. The seeds planted for Jared Goff to Josh Reynolds. Don't sleep on Robert Woods. Tyreek Hill back there somewhere. Travis Kelce wide open, shocking no matter how many times it happens. All that explosive offense present even with Cooper Kupp on IR. Also, are Andy Reid and Sean McVay the great re-inventors?

This is Remember That Game, the podcast about sporting events that take you on a journey and chart the path of the zeitgeist.

I'm your host Thomas Emerick, enjoy the show.

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More from Shawn Siegele at RotoViz:

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RotoViz Contributor Thomas Emerick (@ThomasEmerick)

RotoViz Co-owner and Podcaster Shawn Siegele (@FF_Contrarian)

BetterHelp - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ROTOVIZ and get on your way to being your best self.

Underdog Fantasy – Get a 100% deposit match on your first deposit up to $100 when you sign up at Underdogfantasy.com using this link or the promo code ROTOVIZ.

Listeners of RotoViz Radio can save 10% on a one-year RotoViz subscription by visiting RotoViz.com/podcast or by using the promotional code "rvradio2024" at the time of purchase.

Gametime - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code ROTOVIZ for $20 off

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Direct message: @ThomasEmerick

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Daniel Schmidt (Der Spiegel, This Is America) takes the train with host Thomas Emerick to Euro '96 in England for Die Mannschaft vs. The Three Lions. Frankfurt to Manchester and then Manchester to London provides plenty of time to examine the soccer balance between these countries in the century leading up to and since this UEFA European Championship semifinals thriller. Also, whose side to take on '90s Britpop beefs, confluence with political tides of Labour and the Tories, and the influence of British pop culture on Daniel while growing up in Northwest Germany and going to school in the UK. In 1996, Germany was the betting favorite and spoiled the party in England. Will the Brits return the favor in 2024 as the Germans host?

This is Remember That Game, the podcast about sporting events that take you on a journey and chart the path of the zeitgeist.

I'm your host Thomas Emerick, enjoy the show.

Follow Remember That Game for the full archive:

More from Daniel Schmidt:

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More on the Battle of Britpop

RotoViz Contributor Thomas Emerick (@ThomasEmerick)

Der Spiegel Contributing Writer and Author of "This Is America" Daniel Schmidt (@dcschmidt)

BetterHelp - This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ROTOVIZ and get on your way to being your best self.

Underdog Fantasy – Get a 100% deposit match on your first deposit up to $100 when you sign up at Underdogfantasy.com using this link or the promo code ROTOVIZ.

Listeners of RotoViz Radio can save 10% on a one-year RotoViz subscription by visiting RotoViz.com/podcast or by using the promotional code "rvradio2024" at the time of purchase.

Gametime - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code ROTOVIZ for $20 off

RotoViz Radio provides the power for Remember That Game: Subscribe to the RotoViz Radio on YouTube

Direct message: @ThomasEmerick

Email: [email protected]

Subscribe: Remember That Game on YouTube

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