testing testing testing testing testing testing testing testing. Hey, how's it going? Can you hear me? We will find out momentarily. Okay, okay. Hi, Charlotte. Good day, Madeline. We're back with another episode of the Sports Gossip Show presented by eBay live. If I had like a longer one today, I like a longer one. It felt like um, a Disney Channel original theme song. Oh, nothing would bring me greater joy than if we were hired to write a Disney Channel original theme song for like a sports TV show sitcom for tweens. It would be, do they still even make them? I don't know. I don't know, but they got to make like, brink part two. Yes. Yes. The beads gating one. Yes. We're for hire. And it was brink with an exclamation point. That was important. It was an important distinction. It really was. It really was. Madeline, how are you doing? I'm doing great. Happy belated 4th of July, everyone. I hope everyone had a fabulous 4th of July if you're here in the United States. We'll soon to the podcast. And if you're not, you know what? I hope you still had a great 4th of July. It just wasn't a holiday. Exactly. He hope you just had a lovely weekend. How are you, Charlotte? Oh, just phenomenal. Um, dandy. Yeah, we are still remote. I still, I'm, uh, you know, just not in New York right now. And I'm holding down the 4th in New York for the two of us in this. Thank you. Rain or shine. You know, just hold me down. Thank you for watching a lot of soccer. Yes. Um, I think that's a very important thing to be doing. I have also been watching a lot of soccer and something. We talked about this a couple episodes ago, but something about those triangles and way they pass that ball just, just mesmerite, just clicks right into the old brain, Madeline. It's like pop in bubble wrap, something about something satisfying about that. Yes. No, what I mean, hear me out. It's soccer, the ASMR of sports. Okay. Maybe yes. Yes, because it's smooth. It's just smooth. I mean, sometimes it's not. It's dramatic too. Very dramatic, but it's also that it's like, it's like the same satisfaction you get from watching ice skating in some ways. Yes, not as much contact sport or contact in the sport. It's true. It's a flow state. It's a flow state. Yeah, that's true. That's what it is. Um, well, we will be talking about some drama in the world of the world cup. Um, and of course, the biggest storyline coming out of this July 4th weekend is Taylor Swift married Kansas City chief's tight end Travis Kelsey at Madison Square Garden. We'll be talking about that as well. Um, we have lots of thoughts on both. We do, which is good because we have to do a show. Exactly. Can you imagine? Can you imagine if we had no thoughts about either? We're just like, so yeah, that's that. And this episode is fine. We're like, so I don't know if you heard but Taylor Swift got married. And please rate and review like and subscribe makes a huge difference. And we'll see you next week. And that's our show Thursday, rather, whatever. Thursday. Yeah, yeah. Time is an illusion. Time is an illusion. Um, little admin, we're recording this episode on Monday. So some things will not have happened yet by the time we finish recording that will have happened by the time's episode comes out tomorrow. So just that just prefacing that with our world cup updates. Yes. Thank you. So I do share a little bit of bearing with us. I've got some stuff going on and we had to record today and that's what you do when you do a show. You roll the show, the show goes on and it's going to go on. And I'm so sorry that once again, by the time you're listening to this, we don't know, but you are going to know if the US beat Belgium or lost to them. Yes. And a key story line with that is the red card heard around the world that has been rescinded. It's been fought against. It's the president's made calls. We need to talk about it. Madeline. What's going on here? I know you're going to say that. You sent me up for it. You did send me up for it. So for those who don't know, USman's national team star, Fullerian Balagan was suspended one game after he received a red card in their round of 32 match. Yes. Now that would have been round of 32 match. Again, Spasian, Herzogovina, which meant that he is not playing or wasn't supposed to play in the game that has now happened yesterday as of when this episode comes out. So he. Did you like that? Yeah. No, this is really in the future, but also in the past and also when people are listening to this. That was profound. You have to think in the future, but also in the past. You do. This is wild because this has never happened before, just so people know or if it has the last time the red card was rescinded was like 1962, like basically in the World Cup, if you get a red card, that's it. You're out for the next game. You're out of that game. Your team can't replace you. So they're down to 10 guys, 10 gals, who whatever World Cup we're talking about. And then you're bounced for the following game. And yet, Madeline, somehow corruption, corruption called and corruption said, hey, do you want Flow Baligan back? Yes. So let's go through the timeline of events. So he's given the red card. And according to the New York Times, President Donald Trump made a call. And who did he call, Charlotte? Well, I'm so glad you asked because you know who he called. He called Johnny Infantino, who is the president of FIFA, which is the governing body of a worldwide soccer, I suppose you could say. And and and FIFA is corrupt. FIFA is like, you know, if you talk about the mob, you don't have to say like the mob is corrupt. Yeah. If you say FIFA, it's like that you don't have to say that FIFA's corrupt. Like it's whole deal is that it buys and sells favors and they're human rights issues. And it is a it is it is a total mess. And Johnny Infantino, I think it's worth noting, has been courting Donald Trump and his favor for a while. Last December, he went, remember when Trump really wanted the Nobel Peace Prize? Unfortunately, I do remember that. Yes. Well, he didn't get it, but he did get the first ever FIFA peace prize, which is like when a little kid eats their vegetables and you say, you know what, you get a gold medal and you give them like a fake gold medal because it's the only way to get indeed their vegetables. That's essentially what happened last December. And it seems that it paid off for Trump and I guess the United States because it worked. It unfortunately worked. So basically Trump decided to call Mr Infantino after the World Cup Task Force executive director Andrew Giuliani. And if that name sounds familiar, Charlotte, it is Rudy Giuliani's son. He is the head of the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force and the executive director of that. So he was at the game and he informed Trump of this and was like, hey, this player got a red card. He's a star for the team. It does not seem like, I mean, based on, we'll get to some quotes from Trump. He doesn't seem to know a ton about soccer. It appears. Doesn't really understand how a red card works. So I don't know if he didn't know that it was a big deal. But anyways, Andrew alerted Trump to the fact that star player got a red card. And then Wednesday night after this happened, there was just drama unfolding within the White House. And apparently Andrew and then Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik and senior US soccer federation officials according to Politico, they began trying to work to figure out how they could possibly appeal the red card. And apparently Giuliani and Lutnik even offered to make White House attorneys available to help with any legal analysis that the federation needed to appeal the red card. Which, no. Has that happened before? I'm like, I feel like this is the first for American sports. And maybe wrong, maybe I'm wrong, but I can't think of another time that something like this has happened. Well, I think that we, that the president we currently have, Donald Trump is obsessed with sports because he doesn't really know anything about them, but they seem cool. And he likes anything that seems sort of like male and cool and to him sports are male. And so, so any, we've seen it time and time again. He went to the next game. Now he's involving himself in FIFA. He in his first term, he was tweeting about NFL players who were protesting the national anthem for, you know, again, human rights. And it just any time he can insert himself in something that everybody cares about too. He does that. And right now everybody happy.
happens to be really, really into the World Cup and this men's national team. Yes. No, people are very into it. And so he was like, I want to look like a hero here and make a call to my pal who gave me the peace prize to help out America, even though it's truly the most corrupt thing he could possibly do, but on brand for FIFA, as we talked about, they have a long history of corruption. So according to political, Politico, they then spent the next four or so days coordinating like lobbying, making a bunch of calls, you know, Politico spoke to half a dozen US government and soccer officials who were either directly involved or briefed on the situation. So people were in crisis mode to try to get this red card overturned. And obviously then Trump made a call and FIFA has been saying though, they're like, well, a call didn't matter because it's really FIFA's disciplinary committee, which is made up of 18 people who are an independent body who make the decision about the red card. They're the ones who are deciding from calling had nothing to do with it, which I'm like, so the president of the United States just made a call just to chit chat and complain. Right. I truly, I just, it's really hard to believe that that is the only reason he wanted to call his pal to just chit chat about what's going on. It's also hard to believe that he has no influence over Johnny and Fantino when Johnny and Fantino made up a fake prize to give to hit. It's like, no, you wanted this like this is what we've been like this was this whole relationship has been set up for like a quid pro quo. Also I want to say real quick about the red card. The reason that this is sort of a unfortunate situation is because the red card, it shouldn't have been a red card like it, it really wasn't Baligan. It was not an intentional move to hurt the guy he was playing, you know, like it, it just he stepped on the back of his ankle while going for the ball. Yes, it looked bad in replay, but it was the wrong call. But that doesn't, doesn't really matter in this situation because they never overturn them. There have been other calls for red cards that probably shouldn't have been red cards. Right. That's how the game goes. Right. Right. No, yeah. This is unfortunately the name of the game. Sometimes you don't get a call in your favor while it was an extreme call. I mean, the only thing you could compare it to recently I guess would be if the NBA had given a suspension to Wembee when he had gotten how many what was it, how many wasn't it technical fouls. He needed one more point for a flagrant foul to be suspended for the next game. And it should have been a flagrant, but they didn't do it. Right. So it's the only thing you could kind of compare it to and you kind of want the best guys on the field. So unfortunately, this is a great outcome for you as soccer. It couldn't be a better outcome. However, you might imagine Belgium, their opponent is not pleased with this and the athletic has some great exclusive reporting as to what has been going on. And as of recording this, Belgium announced that they were challenging the decision and were granted a right to the appeal, basically meaning FIFA appoints an independent investigator to hear their case. However, they gave them a deadline of five a.m. Pacific time today Monday morning to put in their appeal, which basically TLDR was not enough time, obviously. And so the Belgian Royal Belgian Federal Football Association were like, guys, we this isn't enough time to do this. This game is Monday. You're really going to you are returned as red card. And now we get like five minutes, basically, to do an appeal. And basically they release a statement in part of their statement. The Royal Belgian Football Association said, quote, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared an admissible. They essentially made the process so confusing and nonsense that they were just like, well, you can appeal. But good luck, good luck with that. You know, you know, what I think is this is the most American experience. Actually, the Belgium could have because this is like trying to work within the United States healthcare system. Do you know what I mean? Yes. Yes. It's like, oh, Belgium, welcome, welcome to North America, welcome to Seattle, where you'll be playing a game. Oh, you have a claim you'd like to file? Well, unfortunately, there's no time because your pre-existing condition is that we don't care. Right. Right. No, yes. Yes. Exactly. Exactly. It's like welcome to being in America. Belgium. Right. And Belgium clearly, I think, is sensing that they ended their statement by saying, quote, regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days and months in defense of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole, which, listen, I agree, however, I do feel like European federations. I don't know. Belgium's history with corruption in the world of soccer, I don't, I don't know. I am not the expert in that. However, historically, lots of federations have had things ruled in their favor because of soccer corruption. And this is just maybe the first time America has had their own taste of what it's like to have a little bit of corruption in the world of soccer on their side. Because their team is actually good. That's such a great point. The, you know, it really does feel like soccer has arrived in the US when, when a corrupt situation works out in America's favor in soccer. It's like, okay, so we are a soccer country now because we're crooked. Right. We're crooked. Our president made a call and got the, and got the red card overturned. How unbelievable is that? It's really, it's really just, it also is just very fitting with the vibe of corruption in America in general. The government has never been more corrupt. I don't think that it is right now. So it's like, well, look, if we're going to be dealing with these levels of corruption and a reminder that everybody should vote in your midterms, at least, at least our soccer team gets something out of it. Maybe that's, maybe that's the silver lining is that we benefited in some way. And what a shame that it happened at the hands of Donald Trump. What a shame. It really is a shame that he's the one who, it appears that he was influential in this decision. Whether FIFA claims he was or not doesn't really matter because I also feel like anytime they say there's an independent body, doesn't ever help the situation. You might as well just say their full-time employees for FIFA, whether they're 1099 or W2, doesn't really matter. I'm like, just say you made the decision. Don't justify it. You can justify it all you want. Say, he didn't have an influence, please. The president of the United States didn't have an influence over the decision over an American player. I don't believe that. It's also just, it's like, don't insult our intelligence. Yes. You know, right. I agree. I agree. We everybody, we know what's, we know what's happening here, but, you know, look, we all know. We all know. And here's the thing, I don't know what Belgium thinks they're going to do. They did give another statement from, to the athletic, where they basically said this quote, leaves all further actions open, another vague follow up of like, well, we're going to do something. It's like, well, the game's happening. So if he plays, what are you going to do at Burnabalagan, Jersey? Like I don't know what on live television and Belgium, I don't know, well, like what, what does that mean? I don't know. You could take it up with the, what is the, the Swiss? I know I was going to look this up, but I, I'm going to look it up the Swiss sport body. The, the, not the, I, when we talked about this earlier, said the Hague, and you said no. No. What's Swiss sport? Federation. How? It's what they, oh my god. Which is like where the Olympics go when, yes, yes, it's like the Hague of sports. Where? What? What are you googling? It does. Sports rulings. How are you googling? Oh, the Court of Arbitration for Sport. That's what it's called. Is it real? The, yes, the Court of Arbitration for Sport. I looked up, what is the organization that does sports rulings in Switzerland called? That's what it is. The Court of Arbitration for Sport. So I believe that they could potentially take it up with them. Again, sure, they take it up with them. And then they rule like, yeah, shouldn't have been. Shouldn't have overturned that, but then what happens because ultimately, it's not going to change the out. You know what I mean? Especially like a bunch of wins, wins the game, which by the time this comes out, we will know the answer. It really doesn't matter. Then they've won. So why would they care to fight it anymore? You know? I love that we just keep saying, we just keep saying, which will know, which we don't know now, but which we will know. No, you know, I mean, yeah, it reminds me a little bit. I guess we had sort of a taste of this a little bit with the Afcon situation when Senegal beat Morocco. And then their win was repealed and then given to Morocco because Morocco, not because, but you know, draw your own conclusions. It just so happens at Morocco is a host country of the next World Cup. So I guess they could rescind something. But then by that point, it's like, you can't really put a different team in. It's sort of over. No, it's sort of over. There's nothing you can do. Huh. Missile. Anyways, we'll see. Okay. It'll be juicy.
a couple other quick world cup updates for you. Norway, be Brazil, Charlotte. I texted you immediately and I said, your hot take that you thought Norway could potentially win the world cup. I mean, they're moving on. It's looking more and more likely. I mean, Erling Holland, who is this star of Norway, who we talked about last week when Hannah Van Biber so graciously came on the show, he is the six five foot blonde haired and Viking gentlemen. And he, I saw a, did you see this on Twitter? It was like a film, someone in the stands took a video just of him right before, like tracking him right before he scored the first header in their game against Brazil and he's basically just walking. He's walking and then all of a sudden just like snaps into gear and heads the ball into the goal. And someone was like, it's like a shark in the water watching this guy. He's just, he's just sort of circling and then all of a sudden he strikes and it's like, what are you supposed to do about that? I mean, there's not much you can do. He's giant and he's unbelievable. So yeah. And as you said, I mean, their vibes couldn't be better amongst the players, but then also the fans like I just, they do have a lot of momentum in ways that sure are they playing teams that maybe they shouldn't beat perhaps, but I don't know. I think like the vibes and the confidence there and team cohesion goes a long way as we talk about on the show. All it all you need is for things to come together at the right moment. And that seems to be happening for Norway and Erling Holland just banging the drum and the whole stadium of Norwegian fans doing the rowing thing after the game on the field. I mean, it's really, you can tell that there is some sort of communion between the team and the people of Norway. And it's such a small country that they all, it feels like they're a part of it. Yes. In a really cool way. No, it really does. And they are set to play England on Saturday. We will see. I think Norway's going to win. I think I'm on, I'm not sure if I'm fully on, that they're going to win the World Cup, but I do think that they could potentially win and beat England. Well, can I tell you a problem that I'm now coming up against? What? I want my hot take to be correct very badly. Like I really, I really would like to be right in a way that has nothing to do with sports. I just really want to be right that Norway wins. But I also want the US to win. But I'm also like, I can't really root against the US. Yeah, but think of it. Let's be real. The US isn't winning the World Cup. Be serious. We just experienced our first taste of corruption. You think we're then going to go win the World Cup? I mean, it would be an unbelievable story of corruption if they won the World Cup because the whole will be completely tainted with the Trump Astrid. But you think they're not winning the World Cup. Be serious. Let's say it's going to be Norway. It's going to be Norway. I mean, trust me. Of course, I would love to see America win the World Cup, but that is we are not there yet. The fact we've made it this far and the fact that our team even has a chance to make it further is unbelievable, considering our past history with this men's team. So I'm like, slay America, but you're not slaying with the trophy at the end. Sorry guys. It's such a good point. It's like we have to have done at least 15 more corruptions before we get that at least trophy. At least 15 more minimum 15 more. Because here's the thing. Let's say they beat Belgium. They will be playing the winner of again, another game that little part happened. It's happening right now between Portugal and Spain. I'm assuming Spain will probably win. You think the US, I believe they're in their bracket. They will then play Spain. If I'm not mistaken, the US is going to beat Spain with one of the next faces of global soccer, Lemini Amal. Lemini Amal, that is, I have to tell you, that is a name ever since we had to do, we did that ad read for McDonald's with the World Cup cups. Yes. I have been, I have been waking up with the name Lemini Amal stuck in my head. I walk around the house going, Lemini Amal, Lemini Amal. I'm trying to say it fast. Yeah. So if the US wins, they will play the winner of Portugal's Bay. And then if they somehow win that somehow, let's say they win that, they then would play, I believe the winner of, am I making this up? France, Morocco. So I think that's right. Is that right? Actually, the bracket hold on. I just want to get this correct. Lemini Amal, I just like, I just like very much that we're talking about hypotheticals here that have been decided by the time everybody listens to this. I think it's just, it's like time travel. I know. Yeah. They would play the winner of France, Morocco. If they beat, if they somehow beat Belgium and then go on to beat the winner of Portugal's Bay. So again, I just, that's why, I don't know who would play Norway. Oh, Norway. The final could be Norway, France, right? Like that. Hold on. Hold on. One second. Yeah. Norway. So they're playing England. And if they beat England, they will play, well, we'll see the winner of either the winner between Argentina, Egypt, likely Argentina versus Switzerland, Colombia. I'm going on Colombia. And then I feel like Argentina. Yes. I think they'll probably would play Argentina if my prediction holds stands if they beat England with Messi. So again, yeah. I don't know, but I don't know. You never, I mean, Argentina, they almost lost to Cape Verde. I know what it's not forget. Three, two, they barely won. And I do think there's a chance Egypt could beat Argentina, but I also think here's a hot take. What? Messi on one hand versus Irling Holland on the other. Yeah. I'm sorry. I'm taking Irling Holland right now. Okay. At his age, the way he's playing, I know Messi's been playing very well too. I just, I just want to be, I want to be right so badly. I mean, I think there's a chance. I would take that chance again over the US winning the World Cup. So unless the US is going to like, Tanya Harding, every, every star player on every team they play, it's not there. They're not ready for all the corruption that they need to do to make that possible. The US had a taste of corruption and they call up what's his name Galulie, the guy who did the Tanya Harding. And they're like, yes, are you free? They're like, hey, can you message me on signal real quick? I mean, encrypted note. Yes. So anyway, yeah, I'm still okay. So anyways, my point is I think it's more likely that Norway could win the World Cup than the US win the World World Cup. Sorry, America. Sorry, because I would love that to happen. We're not corrupt enough yet as a soccer country. Do you know what I like about what just happened is that we just, we just, that was the sportiest thing we've ever done. That was, that was just a pure sports packet. We just argued with each other about guys playing sports on the field for like five minutes. And it felt great. It felt great. We're just two guys, two gals being guys, this Gavin it up for five minutes. Just two gals being guys. Of course, all right. We should be, should we be two gals talking about Taylor's this wedding? It would be my pleasure. I mean, this really was the royal wedding of sports gossip. I mean, I mean, of America too, but it's more specifically the show. I mean, there's no wedding, no athlete wedding that I think could ever top this. No, this, this also all of our main characters, except for Aaron Rogers, as far as I could tell we're there. Yes. Yes. The first one. Yes. Well, first of all, as of recording, saying it again. We do not have any photos of the wedding. Charles check. Yeah. Okay, just do a quick check, but I'm going to guess we don't. And we have not gotten an email from tree pain or someone from Taylor's was team about doing a little flower exclusive, but hey, you can email us at
[email protected]. You also know how to get in contact with us. Your people do know our people. So let's make it happen, but yeah, we're not yet. So we're going off the information that we have, which is Charlotte correct me if I'm wrong, but no photos. No photos. No photos. So we don't have any photos. None of the guests were allowed to bring their phones in. We've seen a couple like leaks, but they haven't been confirmed. I don't, you know, there were a couple daily mail photos of what looked like maybe a ceremony set up, but again, it's like, I don't even know if they're worth talking about those because I'm like, are they real? Also, you can't really tell what's going on there. There were some leaked photos too. Actually, I mean, we haven't talked about this yet. There was a photo that was, quote, leaped of Taylor and Travis like during a wedding toast, but I'm pretty sure it's AI because there's a random red-headed man like screaming in the background. Yeah, those are AI. I've seen those. And I thought you'd be proud of me for being like, I don't think that's real. It's not trained dog. Train dog is real. Train dog. No, yeah, those were not real. But we have seen, we saw a lot of photos of guests arriving at the wedding with like weird blurry photos of them either getting into a car, getting out of a car, walking in or out of a hotel.
hotel or they posted on Instagram with some clever version of a TNT caption that implies that they were obviously attending the festivities. But the first one we need to talk about that I gasped when I saw is New England Patriots head coach and recent topic of the of the pod and common topic of the pod in general. Mike Vrable attended Taylor Swiss wedding with his wife and they were spotted getting into a car on the way to MSG. He did. He did. For those not familiar, you can go back and listen to several episodes that we did about this. Mike Vrable, there were pictures that came out of Bayon Racini who is then a reporter for the Athletic Sheets since resigned, interlocking fingers and at a resort with Mike Vrable. A guy she reported on, he is married, they're both married. He seems to be doing a bit of a, you called this a PR tour, Madeline, because this was, was this the first time he and his wife have been seen publicly? Well, I guess it's not the first time, but this was like a big event to go to together. I think in terms of a big event, this was the only one outside of that 4th of July, whether that America, Robert Kraft photo you sent me, which I believe that was his wife with him in the photo, correct? Yeah, can we talk about that photo real quick? Please. It was a picture of Mike Vrable and Jen Vrable. It was Robert Kraft and his wife and then just Julian Edelman by himself, who played for the Patriots. And they all are dressed to go to different events and they are standing in front of some like Frankenstein, 4th of July backdrop. And it is just one of the strangest pictures I have ever seen. So those two things combine Vrable going to the wedding with his wife and then that very strange picture. They're both kind of fever dream PR decisions. Like you feel like you're a little bit high looking at both of the images, but you're like, okay, I guess you want your Taylor Swift wedding. And I guess this is whatever this is. Right. Well, to me, what it indicates is again, one of the problems as we discussed with the scandal a couple of months ago is that Mike Vrable doesn't really seem to have a grasp on the best way to handle PR because it was, they both felt a little bit random. Again, not just like, listen, if I was invited to Taylor Swift wedding, I would be attending. Of course. So there's that. But also another kind of poor PR move. Did you see he like, doesn't hold the door for his, have you watched the video? No, click the video. Click the link, giving Charlotte an activity. You gotta click the link a little computer test. So they are, it's a video from the post. They're walking to the car. Well, I can't watch it because X says I have to sign in. Okay. Well, I'll just tell you they're walking to the car. The door is opened by the staff. And then he just like, doesn't wait. He doesn't let her get in first. He just gets in the car. And I'm like, Mike, come on, you got a thing about the PR looks here. I'm just saying, you might have, you might have wanted to let your wife get in first. Make sure she's in. Then you get in a car. I get you didn't all the work because there was someone there at the hotel, presumably opening the door. But come on, you almost had it right. You almost, you almost said, and that's to me again, an indication of like, you guys don't, you almost had the PR right with that situation, Mike. But it just, it didn't quite work. And this like, it was like another like almost, almost worth a gel. Almost. It's also if you think about to bring it back to Taylor and Travis, some of the photos that endeared their relationship, most to fans was when they were seen getting in and out of cars. And Travis was always holding the door or holding her hand or helping to get in or walking with her that kind of body language goes a long way. Literally all fans knew about their relationship was that he was nice to her getting in and out of vehicles. Right. No, yes. And it's sold. It's it's vehicle PR. You know, we should call that car. What? That's the car door policy. Yes. Yes. Car door policy. That is a key element of being a public figure. You need to have good car door policy PR. And if you don't just optics don't look great. Shivalry goes a long way, gentlemen. Yes. Yes. Although then it's always funny. So I feel like sometimes if I'm in a situation where, you know, some guy who's not my husband opens the door for me, I'm like, I am a strong independent woman. And I can do it myself. Thank you very much. So I do see where sometimes car door policy came back fire. But if it's your significant other, you got to hold the door. You got to hold the door. Hold the door. So that was the first one that was surprising. Another thing I'm going to jump around a bit that I just would love is there were at least two that we know of guests who attended the wedding who have been guests on the sports gossip show. That's right. Very exciting. Tell the people who tell the shareholders who they were most recently Abby Womback, soccer legend who came on with Julie Fowdy. She attended the wedding with her wife, Glen and Doyle, very exciting. So one, one degree, I guess. Sure. They look great. They look great. And then Bo Allen, former NFL player, Bestie with Jason Kelsey. He came on. He was one of our first guests. He was. So he also looked very dapper. He looked great. His, his girlfriend looked amazing or fiancee pardon me. Sorry. His partner looked amazing. He also, I owe Bo Allen a public apology because when he came on her show, he talked about his pickleball team, the space weasels. Yeah. And then the space weasels sent us space weasels merch. And, and we posted it on our Instagram, but I don't think they saw it. And Bo texted me, did you get the space weasels merch? And I think I forgot to text him back. And that was heavy by heart. And I just want to say Bo and the space weasels. I'm really sorry. We love the merch. We love the merch. We did a whole unboxing of it. Yeah. So anyway, Bo for listening. Well, send him the timestamp of the YouTube. Yeah, we will. We will. We will. Just to clear the air. Another key player in the sports gossip, cinematic universe that has not been a guest on the show yet. Never say never, Mr. Tom Brady, the most, the most divorced man in America. He looked like he left early. I, he was spotted. It looked like leaving based on this page six paparazzi car. There's really, kind of just isn't about the car photos. Not even car door policy, but there is something that hits like no other than seeing a paparazzi photo of a celebrity leaving an event late at night, because you really, no matter what you do, it's 100% invasive. Yes. Of course, it's invasive. You should be able to get in your Uber and go home without being photographed. But no one ever looks great. No one looks great. You know, and Tom Brady, I think love is looking great on the internet. All the shirtless photos. We did an entire episode that where we talked about a shirtless photos. And in this photo, again, I guess you can't open it. Oh, no, no, no, I can't open it. Well, we'll see. Well, it's also, I just, this is a key part of our show Charlotte can't open links because she's not crazy. Luggin. Sure. Like it's open. Oh, yeah. Oh, that's tough. It's not the best photo. I mean, it's fine. But I've seen better of him. Listen, he's a handsome guy. And I don't think it's his best angle. But I do, I do like seeing someone like Tom Brady just be like me. I'm like looking horrible in a photo, you know? Yeah. You know, there's nothing like a flash photo of someone in the back seat of a car at night. It also always makes me think of the plastic photo of Prince Andrew just looking kind of like dead in the back of a, in the back seat of a car. That's a bad one. Sorry. You know, but there is something where it's like if there's car door policy, there's also back seat flash paparazzi policy. And that is that stars are just like us that the best seat flash paparazzi photo is the great equalizer. So yes, I agree with you. I, I loved seeing all of these people look mortal coming out of this wedding. I know, I know. It really was my favorite. I mean, and truly everyone on the planet was there except basically Blake lifely. It was like every famous person was there clearly the relationship with her and Taylor has been tainted because of the Justin Baldini situation. We won't discuss that. Oh, I don't know why that was so funny. Baldini Justin Baldini, I was a kid of infant in Fentino, I don't know Baldini who's to say you don't need to make any apologies. That was perfect. But yes, that man. She wasn't there, but pretty much every famous a list sports star or not was at this. Yeah. Yeah. It felt like I'm sure Taylor is very good friends with a lot of these people because famous people are friends with famous people. It also did feel like Taylor doing her business woman thing, which is that I don't want to not invite someone that I might need something from in the future. And I don't mean that to sound quite as cynical as it sounds, but like she had all three Good morning, America, Anchor. She had George Stephanopoulos, Robin Roberts, and my
Michael Strand at her wedding. And then the three of them talked about it on Good Morning America. And I'm sorry, if that's not the smartest PR, you can do for your non-royal, royal wedding. It's like-- - Yeah. She's a master of her craft. And her craft is both songwriting and being a public person. - Yes, she has mastered the art of PR and crafting a narrative that you want put out in the world. And rightfully so. - She has the power and the capital to do so. So it's like-- - I did see-- - Go for it. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. - I mean, I think some of the street closures in a heat wave on the 4th of July, in your Penn station, that was tough. Some bars had to shut down. Hopefully she found a way to make those bars whole and maybe-- - Yeah. - I don't know. But, you know, it was, there are several things about it that I think still, the fact that you got married on a Friday, the napkin, I mean, the handkerchief, they handed out that said so it's going to be forever, dot, dot, dot, which is a lyric from her song, the next series of words in that song or it's going to go down in flames. Like, I think that there are several things about this wedding that, once again, maybe she's playing with her fans in terms of giving them things that seem not, not off, but sort of, she's, again, as we said in our episode before she got married, like, she's smart enough to know what she's doing. She knows that people are going to put, not smart enough to know what she's doing. She's very, very smart. She does know what she's doing. Like, she knows that people are going to put together the second half of that lyric and she knows that people are going to be like, "Oh, a Friday." Like, there are things here that I feel like, maybe wouldn't it be amazing if in the future, we got an album that addresses some of the, there's a lyric about like getting married on a Friday or something, you know what I mean? Like, I'm sure, I'm sure we'll get that. I, knowing that this being laid a little bit, it feels like. Yeah, no, 100%. I mean, even the fact there were crew members photographed, taking down some of the decor, I guess you could say, from the wedding and they had the, what looks like their logo for the wedding, looks like the Tortured Poets Department font, like one that didn't get picked or something. So again, it feels like it's a nod to the Taylor Swift, the business of being Taylor Swift that was present at our wedding. I mean, also, she quite literally got married at a venue that she's performed at. Yeah, she got married at a place she's worked. She's worked. That would be like if I got married at like the old espination offices. Yes. Valoranule. Never say never. Never say never. Never say never. No, it's true. It's true. So, yeah, I just think it's, it's her world. Like the business of Taylor Swift is so enmeshed with her personal life. Yes. Of course, as she says, she doesn't give a lot of East or no Easter eggs allegedly about her personal life, but I do think in this instance, her getting married at MSG, up plays to your point that she has worked. Yeah. And the font looks very similar to Tortured Poets. It all feels connected and that ultimately, at the end of the day, this in some ways, yes, is a very personal and private moment about you and the person that you're marrying. But it's also like an extension of your business in some ways, especially thinking about like all these people you invited, who you maybe have brought on tour, who've attended your shows, feel like she brought every single person who was in the VIP tent at the Harris tour. Attendant. Yeah. And I believe that she is someone, her brain seems to expand in a way that minds certainly can't, in terms of room for social interaction. And I say that as an extrovert. I believe that she is friends with all these people. And I think one of her superpowers is making people feel very close to her. She has managed to do it with billions of people around the world. So I can imagine in her actual personal life, she's very good at remembering things about people and making them feel, because it's genuine. I fully believe that. I do think that the billboard on the side that said just and T, like just TNT married. It felt like a lot of people get married and you don't know it. She wanted this to be as spectacle. She wanted there to be pictures of Tom Brady leaving her wedding. Because otherwise you just find a way not to do that. Like it's very possible not to do that. And I wonder if there's going to be some Disney plus special out in six months. Because she gives her fans access to a certain extent to her personal life by doing it this publicly, even though it was also private, you know, like I think. Yeah, well, yeah. No, I think you're right. And I also think her catalog of music has, I mean, so many references you can't count to her personal life or breakups or makeups, relationships, seeing people, not seeing people, et cetera, et cetera, that her personal life is inherently connected and tied to her work. And so for her getting married, I mean, she, that billboard, like all that again, feels like signals to that side of her that it's not like she, she's trying to shy away from that. And I think she knows it. I also just can't get over the fact that she married Travis Kelsey, like that is, I know. I mean, I really, the way that the sports world has infiltrated Taylor Swift's world and the way that she has, I mean, I think we've talked about this before, obviously, but the way she brought new fans to the NFL or the way that she made, well, like our show is probably partly successful because Taylor Swift started dating Travis Kelsey. Yeah. But I think that at this point, she is bringing even more of the sports world into her life in a way that feels like what we talked about before. And what we talked about with June Lee in his great YouTube episode, everybody should go check that out about how sports and athletes are the new Hollywood are the main engine of culture in a lot of ways, as it's the thing that we all watch at the same time. But can I tell you my, my absolute favorite part of the sports overlap that happened at this wedding? What? The whole Fox sports A package and B package, actually, because Greg Olson was there. This is, this is, first of all, folks, any shareholders listening, this is sick in the head stuff. It's this stuff that I am a broken woman. I've been in sports media for over 10 years. And these are the thing like. So there's a picture, Kevin Burkart, who is the main play by play guy, four Fox sports, Tom Brady is his color analyst. They're in the booth together, Tom sorry, Kevin posts a picture, you know, everybody posts a picture of their outfit, also Aaron Andrews, who is the main sideline reporter for the Fox A package, Karrissa Thompson, who is the main host of Amazon Prime, who does a lot of hosting stuff for Fox sports. Karrissa and Aaron were at the rehearsal dinner that was only 100 people like these are, these are like very close people now in Taylor Travis's life, the Fox broadcast crew. So Kevin Burkart posts his picture, Tim Greg Olson, who used to be his main color commentary guy before Tom Brady came along and took his job, which is controversial because let's be honest, Greg Olson is better at that job. But then there's another guy in this picture and that guy is a man named Dean Blendino. And you know Dean Blendino's name, if you've watched enough Fox sports NFL games. And I believe he does it for baseball too, where if there is like a horse collar or a low hit or something goes wrong on the football field and the refs make some call, Kevin Burkart will say, let's bring in rules analyst, Dean Blendino. And then Dean Blendino's voice, not Dean Blendino's face, just his voice and a thing that says voice of Dean Blendino comes on your television. That man was at Taylor Swift's wedding. And if that, that is not something I ever could have seen coming is Dean Blendino at Taylor Swift's wedding. No, I'm sorry that that was so far from the bingo card of Taylor Swift's wedding. And could only be possible because she is marrying Travis Kelsey. That is truly the only reason that this crossover is happening that I think to myself, if they had a Val Renewal, how much more specific are we getting with some of these? I mean, Stephen A Smith was there Pat McAfee was there like, I'm like, who what deep cuts are going to be at this wedding or at the Val Renewal? Maybe we'll be there by then who's to say Taylor, if you're listening Taylor. I love that. I think that there were enough Fox people there that to me, I think that, I don't, we talked about how Travis sent it through your extension, but I think that Fox is trying to lay the ground work for him to replace the former coach, Jimmy Johnson and Steelers, great Terry Bradshaw. We're both retiring on their main desk. I get they are putting on the full court press to say Travis Kelsey, come be one of our main guys on Sunday with Michael Strayhan and Howie Long and all those guys. So there's always a sports media tie in. I think that would be great. I think he would do a great job at that. So I hope that does happen up there also. Yeah. Was it the wedding? Julien Edelman? Yes.
the whole fox family, yes they say, the list goes on and on. Wow, well, the other thing I want to talk about, and again, we still don't really have any photos from it are the flowers. We again, we haven't gotten the tree pain email at the exclusive, so tree for listening, we would love the flower exclusive, as we've said. So we haven't seen a lot of flower photos yet, obviously from the wedding, we are dying to see if the flowers are compressed, however, we did see what was reportedly Taylor Swift's bouquet, which was caught by Ashley Smith, who is the sister of Kansas City Chiefs player, Tray Smith. Posted a photo, I don't know if you could see it, Charlotte. Yes. A bouquet, and with the caption celebrated and enchanting love story with a TNT, with the bouquet. Obviously, I don't feel like it's actually Taylor Swift's bouquet in the sense that I feel like the once you walk down the aisle with is preserved somewhere already. Because this one looks a little thrashed, I must admit. It does, and it is not a tradition. No, right, exactly. But I will say if this is a hint of what the flowers are, I'm hoping they're not compressed, because even if this is the backup bouquet or not, like thematically, these don't feel compressed, so I'm really hoping that when we get more photos that they are not compressed. Well, you know what's interesting about these flowers to me is that these are Queen Anselace, and what I believe are, like, sweet pea flowers, which are both sort of a humble flower. Queen Anselace is actually a weed. And I know this because I used to pick them and give them to my mom, and she would be like, thank you so much. These are beautiful. However, they are weeds that grow in a field. And I would put them with gold and rod, which I think is a very nice combination. We'll be interested to see if there's Queen-- And because we are such sicko-swifty, brain-fried people can help but think, Queen An, what is that a reference to? I know. Queen Anselace, like there's Ann Bolin, who got the headed. It's just like you got to stay in your toes with the-- Yeah, with the references. It's a reference to Ann Hathaway. I thought that too. Was he an Hathaway at the wedding? No, you know, I don't know. She's doing press for the Odyssey, but I feel like she was probably there, because everyone was there. Everyone was there. Everyone was there. We knew several people there. We didn't know several people there. But you know what I was thinking about is that people, as we were saying, like, why do I get married to live fourth weekend, it's like shutting down a major transportation hub, a Penn station people, the street closures, which all true, yes, those are all true things that happen. But I'm also like, I guess logistically for famous people to get that many famous people who are probably going to be free. The only time they'd probably be free is over a holiday. You know? Very, very interesting to get that many famous people. And if you think of famous people, if there's that many athletes involved, those people also-- I mean, for the football world, July 4 is sort of your last taste of freedom. Yeah, then you got to go to prison camp. And then you get-- you get into-- Yeah, also, I guess the only, you know, for WMBA and tennis players, that's not great. Although, I guess for-- yeah, no, for football. That's a good point. That's a really good point. It's kind of-- yeah, kind of the only time. I'm not-- you know, listen again, the street closures very annoying for people. But I'm like, hell, it's kind of the most logical time. And Taylor Swift loves July 4th, as we know. So she didn't want to do it on the first. And she wants that big wedding with all those people there. So, you know-- Exactly. Exactly. That's how you got to do it. Also, we didn't talk about this yet. Lina Dunham, did you see this about the rehearsal dinner? Lina Dunham reportedly gave a speech to rehearsal dinner where she said that football is when straight guys act out gay porn positions. And I'm sorry, but she's a genius. I mean, an unbelievable line. I hope that's true. I mean, I don't think it's been refuted yet, but great. I want the full speech. It's just a taste of it. Give me the full speech, Lena. But don't give us the full speech. Oh, God. Having Lena Dunham talk at your wedding in front of a bunch of football players is the greatest thing I could ever imagine. That, I'm like, Taylor, that you nailed. No, that's an unbelievable crossover that, again, you couldn't have dreamed of on your most dreamy as bingo card if you wanted to. And everybody needs a friend like Lena Dunham who's just going to get up there and say something that no one expects her to say. Exactly. That's-- You got it. Yeah. And here's what I'll say. Every wedding needs something for you to talk about. Like someone who's like a size character, like, can you believe that person said that during that speech? Every wedding, no matter how big or small, needs a Lena Dunham moment. You just do. And that's what makes a wedding fun. Could not agree more. So not agree more. The last thing I want to say, which I kind of touched on this, is I have seen a lot of these Instagram captions with the T and T, like AT&T reference in the caption. I just want to give a shout out to the social media managers for all of these celebrities who have had to come up with original captions that have either maybe some sort of Taylor Swift reference or just a sweet caption using the T and T somewhere in the caption. Shout out to the social media managers, the hard job. And you have to come up with something quick. And it also has to be different from what other people have come up with. That's a hard job. Copywriting is not easy. So just want to shout them out. Shout them out, also Madeline is our social media manager. You work so hard. We, you've also done this job for people where you really got to be on. And we've been in the trenches and we just want to say, Madeline sees you. I see you. Hey, listen, someone at that wedding I ran their Instagram. I won't say who, but I did. So, and they attended. And I'm sure they're going to have a great caption. And you've got a lot of pictures of that. I do, and they're great photos. So just shout out. I just want to just as a former social media manager to famous people, just it's a hard job. And I hope to come up with a good caption. It's not the easiest. Yeah, but I'm sure they're great. Well folks, and that's our show. I think that's our show. I, this was one where I feel like I kind of blacked out for the. Like I think right now, I don't know. I think it was funny and I think it was good. I couldn't exactly tell you what I said. So I'm excited to listen to this one. Me too. I can't wait. It's going to be very exciting for everyone. Well, as always, please rate review. Like and subscribe. It makes a huge, huge difference. You can follow us on Instagram @sportsgossipticktock @sportsgossipshow. You can subscribe to our subsec @sportsgossipshow.supsec.com. You can send us an email
[email protected]. I think that's it. Wait. Is this something? No, I think that's it. No, it's nailed it. Yeah. And again, congrats to whoever won the game. Congratulations to everyone. I'm wishing everyone the best in the world of soccer and in the world at large. You know, just congrats everyone. Congrats everybody. Love and light. Love and light. Madeline, which is the song they're from Liliana and song, not related. I have no connection to that. Madeline, but it's not crazy that one of the biggest, can we just talk about that? One of the biggest songs to come out recently is my name. No, it's crazy. It never happens. Matt, the name Madeline is never, it's never on a key chain where you can get your name and it's never anywhere. So maybe now that it will be on a tourist wall with all the free with the license plates with people's names on them that you can buy. It could be, you know, when I was growing up, I think I knew of one other Charlotte. I didn't know any other Charlottes. And now, especially after William and Kate named their daughter Charlotte, there are a ton of little Charlottes. Like anytime I'm with the friends kids at a playground, I hear my name like constantly. So maybe this song will do for Matt, like Charlottes on key chains now. It never used to be. Maybe this song is, is the thing that's going to do it for you. I hope so. That's my dream. It's a great name. Great name. Oh, great name. Charlotte's a great name too. We have great names. We do. Sorry. Anyways. All right. Okay. Okay. Okay. Bye.
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