Ball Watching

Ball Watching, LLC

Ball Watching is a fan podcast focused on providing end to end coverage of St. Louis CITY SC. The podcast posts biweekly preview and recap episodes of each match, and  even highlights the non-sporting elements of the club including community outreach and administration. The podcast also features exciting guest interviews with some of STL's finest people! Thanks for tuning in!

  1. 2D AGO ·  BONUS

    (Road to '26) Paul Tenorio, Senior Writer at The Athletic for USMNT & MLS

    Send us Fan Mail Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, continue their "Road to '26" interview series with the undisputed "Dean of the Press Box"—Paul Tenorio, a senior writer for The Athletic. Paul doesn't just report on soccer; he explains the complex machinery, roster rules, and boardroom politics that actually make the sport move in this country. With his highly anticipated book, The Messi Effect, set to hit shelves on June 2, 2026, he joins us at the ultimate moment to dive into his reporting. We challenge the insider with some analytical rigor just days ahead of the high-stakes May 26 roster reveal to cover: The Messi Effect & The Business of Soccer: Has the arrival of Lionel Messi permanently rewired Major League Soccer's financial ecosystem, or are we operating in a temporary bubble that risks bursting post-retirement? Paul shares behind-the-scenes boardroom insights from his upcoming book.The Soccer Paradox: We take a hard look at soccer's perception both domestically and globally. Are we really looking at a "golden generation"? Do others see it that way?Defining Success & The Post-World Cup Horizon: Is a Round of 16 exit an objective failure for this generation? We explore where the line sits between a respectable run and a missed opportunity, Poch’s future past July, and whether U.S. Soccer infrastructure is genuinely prepared for the post-Messi reality.Follow the show on X and/or Instagram (@BallWatchingSTL)! Find our guest interviews and all episodes in video form on YouTube by searching https://www.youtube.com/@ballwatchingSTL. Be sure to hit subscribe and turn notifications on! Hoffmann Brothers is the 2025 presenting sponsor of Ball Watching! Headquartered right here in St. Louis for over 40 years, Hoffmann Brothers is a full-service residential & commercial provider, providing Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Drains, Sewer, Water Heaters, Duct Cleaning, Electrical and Appliance Repair services. Visit them online at hoffmannbros.com! Make The Pitch Athletic Club & Tavern (thepitch-stl.com) your St. Louis CITY SC pregame and postgame destination for all your food and drink needs! Tell them your friends at Ball Watching sent you... Shop in-store or online at Series Six (seriessixcompany.com) and receive a 15% discount  on all orders storewide using code "BALLWATCHING" at checkout!

    43 min
  2. 5D AGO ·  BONUS

    (Road to '26) Sunil Gulati, Former President of U.S. Soccer

    Send us Fan Mail Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, continue their "Road to '26" interview series with the ultimate insider—the longest-serving President in the history of U.S. Soccer and current Senior Lecturer of Economics at Columbia University, Sunil Gulati. Known as "The Leader" of the modern American soccer infrastructure, Sunil's reign saw the sport take its most significant strides in our nation's history. From the "soccer in a desert" era to spearheading successful World Cup bids, he has quite literally lived it all. We challenge the professor with some analytical rigor and dive deep into his legacy, covering: The 1994 vs. 2026 Contrast: How the global "sales pitch" changed from an era when the American soccer market was purely theoretical to the reality of the upcoming World Cup.The Economist’s Lens: The exact economic hurdles and incentive structures that had to be cleared during the early days of MLS and the professionalization of the USSF.Highs & Lows of the Presidency: The proudest moments watching the USWNT reach legendary status, the true directive behind hiring Jurgen Klinsmann, and a candid look back at how the trying times of the 2017 collapse in Trinidad changed his view on player development.Aspirations for 2026: What a "successful" tournament actually looks like for this country on July 20th, 2026, beyond just the performance on the pitch.Whether you want to understand the business behind the beautiful game or get a masterclass in where American soccer has been and where it’s going, this is an episode you cannot miss. Follow the show on X and/or Instagram (@BallWatchingSTL)! Find our guest interviews and all episodes in video form on YouTube by searching https://www.youtube.com/@ballwatchingSTL. Be sure to hit subscribe and turn notifications on! Hoffmann Brothers is the 2025 presenting sponsor of Ball Watching! Headquartered right here in St. Louis for over 40 years, Hoffmann Brothers is a full-service residential & commercial provider, providing Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Drains, Sewer, Water Heaters, Duct Cleaning, Electrical and Appliance Repair services. Visit them online at hoffmannbros.com! Make The Pitch Athletic Club & Tavern (thepitch-stl.com) your St. Louis CITY SC pregame and postgame destination for all your food and drink needs! Tell them your friends at Ball Watching sent you... Shop in-store or online at Series Six (seriessixcompany.com) and receive a 15% discount  on all orders storewide using code "BALLWATCHING" at checkout!

    28 min
  3. MAY 17 ·  BONUS

    (Road to '26) Francisco Carlos, Founder of the USL

    Send us Fan Mail Ball Watching hosts, Jake Koenig and Justin Graham, kick off the "Road to '26" interview series with a foundational figure in American soccer, Francisco Carlos. As the founder of what became the United Soccer League (USL) and a 2024 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, Francisco provides a masterclass on how the "machine" of the American game was built from the ground up. In this conversation, we dive into: The $15 Investment: How a simple idea and a trip to City Hall in 1986 birthed the Southwest Indoor Soccer League (SISL), the precursor to today’s USL.The Architect's Journey: From arriving in the U.S. from Portugal at 16 to his time at Hartwick College, where he balanced the pitch with student journalism and radio, shaping his future in sports PR and publishing.Building the Pyramid: Francisco discusses his role in creating a multi-tiered league system, including the first national youth leagues (Super Y) and the W-League for women, and why the "pyramid" is essential for soccer to thrive in cities like Des Moines and Boise.1994 vs. 2026: Reflections on how the 1994 World Cup redefined the sport's trajectory and what he anticipates for the 2026 tournament, including concerns about ticket prices and the "sheer magnitude" of the event.The Business of "Soccer Wars": Candid thoughts on the friction between competing leagues (MLS and USL) in the same markets, citing examples like St. Louis and Austin, and the need for a unified "soccer family" in the U.S.Lamar Hunt and Legacy: Stories from his time working with Lamar Hunt and the importance of instilling a "24/7 football culture" across the country.Whether you're a tactical nerd or a business-of-sports enthusiast, this episode traces the legacy of American soccer through the lens of one of its most influential builders. Follow the show on X and/or Instagram (@BallWatchingSTL)! Find our guest interviews and all episodes in video form on YouTube by searching https://www.youtube.com/@ballwatchingSTL. Be sure to hit subscribe and turn notifications on! Hoffmann Brothers is the 2025 presenting sponsor of Ball Watching! Headquartered right here in St. Louis for over 40 years, Hoffmann Brothers is a full-service residential & commercial provider, providing Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Drains, Sewer, Water Heaters, Duct Cleaning, Electrical and Appliance Repair services. Visit them online at hoffmannbros.com! Make The Pitch Athletic Club & Tavern (thepitch-stl.com) your St. Louis CITY SC pregame and postgame destination for all your food and drink needs! Tell them your friends at Ball Watching sent you... Shop in-store or online at Series Six (seriessixcompany.com) and receive a 15% discount  on all orders storewide using code "BALLWATCHING" at checkout!

    36 min
4.8
out of 5
138 Ratings

About

Ball Watching is a fan podcast focused on providing end to end coverage of St. Louis CITY SC. The podcast posts biweekly preview and recap episodes of each match, and  even highlights the non-sporting elements of the club including community outreach and administration. The podcast also features exciting guest interviews with some of STL's finest people! Thanks for tuning in!

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