The last two months have been big ones for soccer and for the Raising Her Game soccer docuseries. RHG went live on Tubi as of July 1 and they included it in their World Cup content hub. Meanwhile, the state of Texas, where the docuseries was shot, hosted 16 Men’s World Cup games in Arlington and Houston. Raising Her Game’s director, Rush Olson, sought out stories related to the event that built on themes covered in the docuseries, writing about them in his Fort Worth Weekly newspaper column. The pieces include quotes from some big voices, including team owners, national team players, NFL players, and even professional cricketers. Here is a compilation of the articles along with his notes on them.
Texan Golden Boot
Read it here
I interviewed a statue. We talked about Maradona. Really. He has strong opinions about the game, too.
Legacy Beyond the Pitch
Read it here
I enjoyed watching the action on the fields – elite athletes performing spectacularly on a huge stage. But my favorite thing about the event was the way strangers came together as friends. I wasn’t the only one who noticed, either. The whole world saw it. I’d like to think every free refill, bottle of ranch dressing, and community embrace of visitors from another country did its own little part to make the world a better place.
Atlético Dallas and Chicharito
Read it here
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández holds his new Atlético Dallas jersey – photo by Jenna Burress
When Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, one of the biggest names in soccer, announced he would play for a team that has not yet played a match, Atlético Dallas, it was indicative of how the sport might take advantage of its World Cup momentum.
Barry Switzer, Darrell Royal, and President Gerald Ford discuss Title IX
A Photo from the Ford Library
Read it here
On President Gerald Ford’s birthday, we made note of the materials we received from his presidential library that enhanced the Raising Her Game storytelling. They’re cool and they involve football (gridiron version). The docuseries delves into the influence the two codes of football have on each other and women’s sports generally.
Eddie Lewis and Rush Olson
Brandon Aubrey, Eddie Lewis, and TOCA Social
Read (and watch) it here
Brandon Aubrey and Eddie Lewis both played college soccer. Aubrey became the Dallas Cowboys’ placekicker after not making it to Major League Soccer. Lewis took what he learned at UCLA and used it to start a business. In Raising Her Game, we explore the college soccer path past and present. This article and the video interviews that accompany it add high-level insights to that discussion, with implications on and off the pitch.
U.S. cricket fans at a MLC game
What Cricket Can Learn from Soccer
Read it here
Major League Cricket staged its season during the World Cup, and I went to matches in Grand Prairie, a few miles from where the local soccer extravaganza was happening. Those involved in cricket in the U.S. would love to see their sport mirror soccer’s growth. I talked to several players; a team owner, Anurag Jain; the MLC CEO, Johnny Grave; and an MLS owner, Dan Hunt. They provided their nuanced thoughts on the roadmap to relevance.
Texas Health Mansfield Stadium
The Soccer Building Boom
Read it here
The growth of soccer has led to a corresponding rise in the number of facilities dedicated specifically to the sport. FC Dallas and REV Entertainment opened one in the city of Mansfield, Texas during the World Cup. I took a look at what that says about the big picture of the game.
American Tifo Exhibit at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History – photo courtesy The Footy Museum
Tifos
Read it here
Supporters groups often create large banners they display before games to send messages of allegiance. An exhibit at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History included a unique collection of these works of art. I explored the tifos and the stories behind them, including one that specifically ties into the impact of the U.S. Women’s National Team.
Rush Olson, Ashley Dozier, Mike Rhyner, and Michael Gruber on the Your Dark Companion Podcast
Your Dark Companion
Read (and watch) it here
Mike Rhyner and Michael Gruber of the Your Dark Companion podcast had pro soccer player Ashley Dozier and me on to talk about Raising Her Game. It was a great session discussing how the game grew for men and women while tying in experiences Ashley had playing the game.
World Cup pregame
Observations From a World Cup Game
Read it here
I attended a contest between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Houston. What I saw provided context regarding the popularity of players and national teams, along with the value of a shared experience.
Samurai armor at the Crow Museum of Asian Art
Crow Collection
Read it here
The Crow Museum of Asian Art held a soccer-themed event while also hosting an exhibition of works from Japan. This article helps us understand the Japanese team’s “Samurai Blue” nickname while also showing how local institutions can take advantage of the buzz around a World Cup.
The Orange Walk through Arlington, Texas
Orange Walk
Read it (and watch) here
When the Netherlands played in Arlington, their orange-clad fans gathered to walk, march, and stroll around the baseball stadia to the match venue. They had brought a bus from Holland to follow. If you’re an American who considered yourself skeptical of the passion you’d heard international soccer fans bring to a game, this should bring you around. I shot a video, too.
Visuals of the Beautiful Game
Read it here
This piece looked at the enhanced soccer presence we saw through local museums, public art emplacements, and even the Peticolas Brewery.
Dan Hunt Speaks at the FWC Press Conference
Widespread Impact in North Texas
Read it here
This article covered how the North Texas FIFA World Cup™ Organizing Committee looked to ensure the event had a regional impact beyond just the city of Dallas.
Howdy Fort Worth sign
The Texas That Soccer Was Hoping For
Read it here
The North Texas FIFA World Cup™ Organizing Committee held its opening media party at Billy Bob’s Texas in the Stockyards Historic District of Fort Worth. It made sense for a number of reasons, including live armadillos and line dancing.
