Sean Johnson on Being Misunderstood and Why Consistency Pays Off I #AskASoccerPro Show Ep. 059
We were joined this week on the #AskASoccerPro Show by Sean Johnson, goalkeeper for NYCFC. Sean is a member of the USMNT and has the distinction of being included in every camp for the past decade!
Listen in as Sean and Quincy talk about being misunderstood and reminisce on their time playing soccer together! Here is what they cover:
00:00 – 02:44: Intro
02:46 – 08:47: Sean Johnson Joins the Live!
08:53 – 11:59: How Quincy and Sean Met
12:00 – 14:24: When the MLS Vets Do a Tell All
14:32 – 18:10: MLS Has Been A Learning Experience
18:13 – 23:13: Not Being Afraid to Ask Questions
23:15 – 28:35: Extract Knowledge in Every Situation
28:42 - 32:35: Which Players are Open to Feedback?
32:39 – 38:38: The Mistakes Quincy Made
38:40 – 42:56: Consistency Pays Off
43:00 – 45:26: Sean’s Workout
45:29 – 48:15: On Diet
48:19 – 50:31: Sean Takes Your Questions!
50:35 – 54:53: That Time with the Lambo
55:02 – 57:49: Do Sean’s Gloves Smell Bad? Quincy in Goal?
57:50 – 59:58: Outro
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*Interview transcript is unedited and machine-generated. There will be errors. For further clarity please refer to the audio or video.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:00:15):
Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm. Yeah. You, you, you, you [inaudible] George. Aaron, what's going on brother? Welcome England. 2130. What's going on Eli? Aka 'This Week in MLS' joining in, loving that you've, you know what it is guys. You know what it is? Sean Johnson, the man of the hour will be joining in today Cincy Tucky underscore soccer. What's going on? Welcome. Welcome dad for life, soccer dad for life. I'm liking the consistency soccer dad for life. Love and seeing that, your avi come up every single time as always. England 2130. What's going on brother? All the way out in England. What time is it over there? What time is it over there? Uh, the K bro said hello Quincy. What's going on, Joe Jackson? What's going on brother? Love seeing you guys join in so consistently the loyalty of our followers and uh, MSL army members is impressive, but you guys know what it is.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:01:22):
You gotta show up. That's what, that's what it's all about. That's what the mentality is about. That's what it takes to be successful. Showing up day in, day out, week after week, Joe, things are going well, spiritual athlete, what's going on brother? Welcome to the live. Just saw you dropped a another episode over on YouTube. I haven't had a chance to watch it, but I saw some of the highlights and I haven't seen it, but I like it. You guys go ahead and keep spamming that heart button if you can hear me. Okay. Last week we had a little bit of technical difficulties towards the end of our live there. For some reason when we had a Alexi Lalas on the show last week, if you guys weren't able to check that out, this episode, 58 of the Ask A Soccer Pro Show, make sure you go and listen to that replay. There's a lot of gems in that one. Uh, but today
Quincy Amarikwa (00:02:10):
it's a new day and a new episode. Episode 59 of the #AskASoccerPro show. If you guys didn't know it is Sean Johnson week. Sean Johnson, yeah I'm loving that, seeing you guys spamming that heart button. Love that. Give me some of your I'm in your head emojis. Oh, Sean is already joined in on the live cause he's, he's, he's ready. He's always coming prepared. Sean, I will, I'll buzz you in here in a minute, but making sure I'm uh, welcoming the guests and telling everybody I said what's up. But you know what? Let's do it because Sean's already ready to go. We go on the fly here. You guys know what it is. Look, I love to look y'all emojis. So this is my favorite emoji of all time.
Sean Johnson (00:02:53):
Your boy's here.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:02:55):
He's here bro. He's here!
Sean Johnson (00:03:00):
I was going to put, push the button and queue my own music, have the speaker ready.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:03:07):
I'm going to have to mix it. We just keep slowly upgrading each week I'm having mixing work, prepare half of the shows is give maybe press in the mixer board and just music stuff flashing on the screens can be stupid man. What's going on man?
Sean Johnson (00:03:21):
Not much man. Not much. Just a crazy crazy weeks here. But uh, I think just starting to slow down a little bit. So it's uh, so it's nice.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:03:27):
Well that's good. Uh, the graphic says tomorrow, but whatever.
New Speaker (00:03:35):
Hey, but it's really today,
Sean Johnson (00:03:36):
But it's tomorrow today. Okay. Cue to cue the music.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:03:44):
Whew. Well no, there's so much. I'm glad you just called an early because there's so much stuff that we could get to. Uh, I like, I haven't that we have a solid structure for the show. We definitely, we've refined it down. I think many people understand and know what the MSL is and if you're, you've been living under a rock MSLs and mental strength league, um, that's the game that I've come up with in my own mind to survive and make it to year 11. And, uh, Major League soccer. I'm currently in my free agency year, so we'll see if we get to year 12 even though the season starts, what, like in two days or something like that. Better than that.
Sean Johnson (00:04:25):
Better late than never, but never late is better. Let's go.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:04:27):
Yeah bro. Successfully ducked however many preseasons whatever. We'll just keep it going.
Sean Johnson (00:04:32):
No sweat bro. No sweat.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:04:34):
Easy. Um, but yeah, man. Okay. You're saying winding down. So that's actually good cause we'll, we'll just hop straight into it. So, uh, and then get into the mentality section of the show after that. But you saying toning it down. So what are, what's, what's tone it down? Like for those who don't know, what, what have you been, where have you been these last couple of weeks? What's been going on in your world?
Sean Johnson (00:04:55):
Yeah, so this, this year started off, uh, pretty fast with the national team. So it started off January 6th, uh, had a national team camp and then that basically lasted the entire month of January. So those are kind of new to the, the January camp and how that process works. Uh, you go in for, you know, train for three weeks. Uh, there's a, there's a week lead up, um, where you basically preparing, uh, for one match or two matches. This year we play Costa Rica. So, um, basically preseason before preseason. It's kind of a good gateway to get straight into your club and be at a good level. So did that play against Costa Rica. My team happened to be in LA, stayed there for a few extra days, uh, finished out that phase of pre season. And then, uh, also for those who didn't know New York city FC, my club is in Concacaf champions league. So the team also reported a bit earlier than most MLS teams and, uh, they were in LA preparing for what would be our first game in Costa Rica. So basically all of then, uh, all of February prepared for our first game in, in Costa Rica on the 19th. And uh, yeah, we just had our second leg of that match last night. And basically that, that for me is kind of toning it down. Once you get to the point where you're actually back home in your own bed, you can kind of reacclimate uh, it's, you know, it's good to get done, unwind, you know, mentally, um, clear things out a little bit and refocus and get ready for the big, uh, big season ahead.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:06:24):
Nice man. Um, I mean, that's a great summary. I know it kind of a wrench got thrown into it because originally you guys were supposed to head to Qatar, correct?
Sean Johnson (00:06:35):
Yeah. So
Sean Johnson (00:06:36):
crazy. So it was wild in the middle East for a little bit. Um, you know, I think there's a heightened security, heightened sense of security risk, uh, over there and then that part of in that part of the world and just for safety precautions, um, you know, and we will would've liked to be, um, you know, and Qatar, um, you know, great, great facilities. But um, we ended up with in Bradenton and Sarasota training, IMG and it was kind of a last minute thing, but just kind of one of those things and you know, talking to know some of the staff about it, you know, things happen that you can't really control and we talked to, talked about it, you know, basically controlling what you can control. And there's so many moving pieces in a short amount of time that they had to scramble and basically prepared for, you know, a month leading up to this camp supposed to kick off, you know, the next day. Then all of a sudden something happens, equipment man is on the ground. He's got to pack things up and, and bring things back immediately. So, uh, the really good job of bringing things together, but just kind of one of those, one of those lessons that, you know, you can never be too prepared and you can never have too many plan Bs for, for what may happen. So it was wild, wild a start to the year crazy man. Like I'm packing my bags, like ready passports, ready to go. So all of a sudden it's like, no, no.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:07:55):
Hey Bradington.
Sean Johnson (00:07:57):
yeah, clear your mind for two more days before this fitness test. Huh? Oh wait, wait. Actually, actually, yeah.
Sean Johnson (00:08:07):
And I got, I got to the airport to fly out, so I was frazzled trying to scramble. So, so they've got everything together and I forget my backpack home, which has my, like my ID, everything in it. So I have to go back, back home, basically schedule a flight for later. It was, it was a nightmare. It was a nightmare, but it worked out.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:08:28):
I like that. You know, your MSL sayings, one of those is adapt or die. Um, yeah that is right. That is 1000% true. Uh, what do you think? Uh, actually I'll save that when we were transitioning in and all that cause I already, you know, already want to get down into how that relates to mentality and how you're breaking that down, which uh, which is the part I always enjoy, enjoyed most. But I'm kinda setting the stage a little bit in terms of how we know each other and our initial relationship when that started and kind of how that, how that came to be when I kind of reflect back and go, wow, okay. 11 years playing pro is a long time and we spent what I was, I was in Chicago for like three years and was there with you, especially when you're kind of on, on the up and coming and getting, getting into your rhythm as a professional, as a professional player. Um, what would you, I'm sorry. So I'm making sure I'm making sure I'm going through in order bro. This way. Say we're keeping it and keeping it going. Cause you know me, I can go off on tangents.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:09:34):
Uh, yeah. So how do you maybe set a little bit of tones of how we know each other. Like when did we meet? When was the, when do you remember us meeting for the first time?
Sean Johnson (00:09:43):
Yeah, I think, you know, my first memories of us being together as basically just coming together in the locker room, um, you know, in Chicago and know we, we knew each other from, you know, from previous times, obviously through, through playing, playing together in the league. Um, you know, when you were in Colorado, um, my first memory of actually seeing you and knowing who you were, um, and for those who go, no, like you'll see so many, you'll see so many faces, you know, in the league over the years. And then you'd be like, all right, I know that face, I know who he is, but I had never hung out with him, you know, and then all of a sudden like, you know, you're, you're grabbing dinner together, you meet each other and then, you know, you forge these relationships with the super, super dope. And then, you know, we probably never guessed that we'd ever play together on the same team. Um, but then, uh, yeah, Chicago early days in Chicago, um, fantastic locker room. You know, there'll be the name of Mike Magee, Bakary Soumaré . Like it was crazy team Alec Kann, Ross LaBeaux, you name it.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:10:46):
Um, Matt Polster.
Sean Johnson (00:10:48):
Polster still. He's frazzle listening to this right now, for sure. He's listening. Um, there is, it was, it was amazing. Amazing times.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:10:58):
Grant Ward. Matt, Matt Watson.
Sean Johnson (00:11:02):
Watty yeah, Watson was there. Lavelle Palmer.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:11:04):
Oh, bro. Yeah.
Sean Johnson (00:11:07):
It was a squad. It was a squad.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:11:09):
It was just debauchery and just a man. I was listening to you. Uh, what does it BSI? So Ike Opara.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:11:18):
Oh yeah, yeah. They just, yeah, they just did their season two season two episode once a day. They had an Allen Gordon on and because he's retired now, he's really telling like all the stories of like what was going on behind the stuff all bro bro. No like, no filter. Just like, yeah, you know, when you're not here, who cares? It doesn't matter. Like,
Sean Johnson (00:11:39):
By the way, do you, do you remember when he had the uh, the soccer ball picture? The, the picture. I mean, my man, my man was a legend, so he's never, he's never been afraid of doing anything. Never ever been afraid of any type of real
Quincy Amarikwa (00:11:51):
At all. And he brings it up, bro. He brings it up and he talks about it. So everybody, uh, I know you're here on this podcast to hear what I'm talking about, but definitely go check out that one and let them know we sent you because Oh man, the amount of stories that are going to start coming out over the next one, two, three, four years of like older school, MLS vets who are finally making that transition. It's post career. Talking about the, just the, just the distance,
Sean Johnson (00:12:18)
the raw stories, things, the things you would never, never hear otherwise. 100% 100% cause you got, you got all your, all the characters in that generation. I feel like, you know what I mean? All the characters bro.
Sean Johnson (00:12:35):
I'm so excited to hear,
Quincy Amarikwa (00:12:36):
Oh dude, I'm so juiced for what is coming because MLS is making that transition into a league where like people want to know what's, you know like Jermaine Jones is now out here just, just whatever he's saying. Cincinnati's just got head coaches dropping the n-bomb in the locker room.
Sean Johnson (00:12:58):
These are things you never ever would have thought that you would have heard.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:13:03):
Um, stuff you heard, you heard all the time. Right. Stuff that. If it even got out, no one cared and now people are like, wait, huh? What people are paying, paying attention now.
Sean Johnson (00:13:19):
Before you know, there'll be a reality show associated with like your past MLS vets.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:13:26):
And it's good because MLS is still going to be trying to figure it out. This stuff that is going to be like, like 10 years from now, we're going to look back and be like bro, they like they allow to a reality show like that for guys, like in the middle of thing. But yeah, we, we didn't know like this is the first thing. Yeah, for sure.
Sean Johnson (00:13:43):
But we had no idea.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:13:46):
It's like internet. It's like, yeah, we let six year olds use the internet. Like, yeah, like 20 years from now they're gonna be like, bro, that's like letting a six year old have like 10 cartons of cigarettes and just like smoking them all day. Like, Oh bro, we didn't know. You know what I mean? Like.
Sean Johnson (00:14:00):
100%.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:14:01):
We're just, what do you want us to do now? We know crazy things.
Sean Johnson (00:14:04):
The viewerships is going to doo dooo dooo do doo dooo all the way, bro.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:14:12):
I'm excited.
Sean Johnson (00:14:14):
I'm just going to be a run of like just just alive reality show and then back to regular scheduled program. Second half kicks off in five minutes. It's going to be great. It's going to be great.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:14:30):
Oh, bro is going to be bananas. It seriously give me bananas. And, uh, I guess, Oh, this is good. Okay. This is good. Cause, uh, for me, I've been preparing for this time and what's coming, what I believe to becoming right for a long time. And I think anyone who probably would know have a best understanding of like who I am or like how my mind has been working or how I've been operating, right. Especially at that time was probably, that's a lot of the time that we spent together and in Chicago. And, uh, today's theme of the show is, um, misunderstanding of what to do when you're misunderstood.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:15:05):
Right. And I'm sure I listened to, obviously I listened to your perfect soccer podcast episode on Monday. If you guys haven't checked that out, Sean's kind of giving the origin story of how he's gotten to where he's at. So, uh, and then now today's show is going to be more about breaking down the mentality of what he, what he felt has been the contributing factor to getting there. But, uh, you, you had, you had said in the podcast that being in the MLS has definitely been like a learning experience, right? Which means which, which is why I was like, you know what, I feel the theme of today for being a misunderstanding and, and what to do when being misunderstood would be a great way to tie it. Like all the lessons you've probably learned over the course of your career. Um, cause usually you learn a lesson cause you find out that you thought you understood something that you found out, you didn't, there was more to the story. Um, so when we're starting in Chicago, right? So before we kind of go, what we're going to start there from at least that point and move kind of move forward in time. What are your initial thoughts of me? Like honest, like what is this guy who is this guy? What, what, what are you thinking of me at that point in time? Yeah.
Sean Johnson (00:16:13):
Yeah. One thing that kind of drew us close together. Um, you know, like when we were roommates on the road, lived about five minutes away from each other. Um, when we first were in Chicago. And just one thing that you can appreciate is like the realness factor, right? You know, having a, having a friend, a teammate who will always give it to you real no matter what. Um, and we're just always talking about, you know, no matter what it was, you know, sit down, have a conversation about, you know, you give us a topic, we'll, we'll dissect that, we'll break it down, we'll just have, you know, just a super candid talk about, um, you know, anything related to the topic. And to me that was like the biggest appreciation was, you know, this guy is always going to be truthful, you know, on and off the pitch, no matter what it is, he's always gonna hold me accountable.
Sean Johnson (00:16:58):
Um, and he's always gonna, you know, have my back no matter what. And I, that was, that was a really important thing for me. So, um, with our, with our relationship and in how it all started, um, that was for me, the biggest trait that I look to is like, alright, you know, is, is this a reliable teammate? Is this guy going to be truthful with me? And I think that's a big thing, right? Like figuring out things after the fact. Kind of ties in, you know, if one, if you know, if somebody is truthful with you, it's a lot easier to, to embark on that path of, of knowledge, of, of, you know, kind of seeking out your own truth of what actually is rather than somebody kind of giving it to you in a sugarcoated way, in a way that may make you feel good or something like say something that you want to hear.
Sean Johnson (00:17:41):
And then all of a sudden, you know, two years down the road you're like, wait a second and you take a step back and you're like, I just got bamboozled and that and then, you know, and then you like put like, this guy's not even in my locker room anymore. You know what I mean? Like, and you start, you start the point, you start the point things over and over again. So you, you, you can learn to appreciate them. And when you find somebody who's, who's, who's real and, um, it's, it's important then like just to, just to hold accountability is everything. And you need real friends to do that.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:18:14):
No, bro, I appreciate that a lot. And, um, no, I appreciate you saying that cause I think that was, that was something I recognized in you, especially at that time. Uh, I definitely, I think the thing that stood out, obviously our ability to, what's funny is you can always have banter with your boys and you're killing each other and you're trying to make each other look stupid and win every single day. But you, you knew that it was coming from a place of like, I want you to be better. Right.
Sean Johnson (00:18:23):
For sure.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:18:24):
I felt like I felt that's what you were doing as well to you. But what I also really appreciated was watching how you operated and moved off the field. You weren't, even though you knew you, you had the ability and the talent to play at theU , at the men's national team level and play over in Europe if that's what you chose, choose or wanting to do. Uh, it still didn't, you still didn't make the excuse of I can't do other things to prepare for my post career while I'm doing these things.
Sean Johnson (00:18:38):
For sure.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:18:39):
And I think that's something, I think it's a, I think it's an excuse most players make to justify just like being lazy and you know, playing FIFA for 15 hours in a day instead of, you know, 10 and spending five, five go in there at that time. Obviously we're still kind of up and coming.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:19:30):
What do you feel now? Sorry, I'm thinking about how you said like you go down two years down the line and you're like, yeah, I've been bamboozled.
Sean Johnson (00:19:40):
Yeah, for sure. Yeah. I didn't know that. I had no idea back then what I know what I don't know.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:19:46):
Yes. So like when you, when you look back then, what was it that you knew that you didn't actually know?
Sean Johnson (00:19:53):
Yeah, so I think, you know, on terms of, on and off the pitch, right? Um, and you can start like on the field, right? There's, there's so many, there's so many things you can start from a soccer standpoint. Like, tactically, you're like, all right, you know, I was, I was playing the game a certain way and when your eyes are open to, you know, a different way of playing it and why you're doing certain things, you're like, ah, okay. So you have the ability to do them and you have, you have the physical ability of the mental capacity, um, but also the understanding of time, those things together. And so the why, why you're doing them and being able to actually apply them is super important. Um, so that was one of the biggest things for me, you know, my Chicago days and you know, you talk about my time from Chicago, um, you know, with the national team and my evolution then to coming to New York city, um, those, those two experiences are massively different for me.
Sean Johnson (00:20:50):
And I think Chicago prepared me from a mentality standpoint. Right. Okay. Um, so I could, I could basically look back and go, okay, I have these things in my back pocket and how to, you know, approach different situations. I know how to handle, you know, good moments, bad moments, good locker room, bad locker room. And I was fortunate enough to go into a good locker room, but it was a completely different system is, and it's not something that you immediately panic and you go, Oh, what is this? Um, you know, if you're, if you're actively seeking out the WHY, um, you start asking questions, not being afraid to ask questions, I think is a huge thing. Um, not being afraid to get a clear understanding of exactly what, what's needed in a situation. Um, I think that's what's different from my time now, um, with, with the club is not, not being afraid to say like, I don't know, or, you know, can you, can you clarify exactly.
Sean Johnson (00:21:41):
You know, what you want done rather than going out and, you know, essentially playing with a free mind and relying on different things, you know, experiences, athleticism, teammates, these, these types of things. But it's a really simple question. Like, Hey, Quincy, like, you know this in this moment on this goal kick, you know, do you, are you gonna run left? You're gonna run, right? What, what's easier for you? How do you prefer to do this? And which in turn like a simple conversation rather than assuming that, you know what I'm thinking, I know what you're thinking and it's all just going to click the world outside doesn't know that we've had plenty of discussions about it and we have a really solid game plan of how we're going to do this. Um, so that's, that's probably the biggest thing is, is asking questions when you don't know so that you don't get to that point further down the road where you're like, man, I really should've just, just simply asked if it's a team meeting, if it's in a, if it's in a room full of people, you know, people may feel inclined just to be hush, but, um, if you gain a sense of clarity just for yourself, that may be enough for, for you to be successful in an environment otherwise that, you know, you may not have had, you know, tidbits of information that are going to be holding you back.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:22:53):
Got you. So, all right. So I'm going to ask you a couple of questions here as well too, because, uh, something that you'd pointed out that I feel is very under, uh, not fully understood is, uh, the internal dialogue and relationship versus the outward perception of what's happening, right? So like you said, okay, we've had multiple conversations, so we are on a level of understanding of what we want to do and why we're doing what we're doing. Right. But a lot of people on the outside might not understand why. So if you're asking them why it can be seen as questioning their authority, for sure. Okay. So how have you dealt with, how have you dealt with those moments
Quincy Amarikwa (00:23:46):
where you want to understand, but asking, asking to understand is seen as a negative, right?
Sean Johnson (00:23:57):
Or you're, or you're afraid that it's going to be seen as a negative. So I think, you know, there's, there's plenty of different ways to kind of approach it, right? I think part of it is, um, taking the time to, to get to know the people around you. Um, you know, so familiar, familiar, familiarizing yourself with the environment you're in. Um, with, you know, the guys who are around with, you know, everybody's different personalities, everybody responds in different ways. And the easiest way to kind of do that is, or to kind of explain it as a goalkeeper is that, you know, my left back, my left central defender and my right center defender and my right back are all completely different people. Right? And if, I don't know, you know, if, if for instance, my right back, if I, if I ask him a question or if I, if I yell at my right back, there's a certain response it's going to be warranted in a positive moment, in a negative moment.
Sean Johnson (00:24:48):
There's a certain player on my team that may need that no problem in any moment. Just yell at me, tell me exactly what you need, I'll respond. No problem. Some players, you know, are just, are mostly positive reinforcement. Um, and it kind of isn't, it works in the same way when, when asking questions, right? Um, you know, some people are um, inclined to a certain way of thinking. Um, you know, maybe their view, they, they view, I word this, they view their own view as being, um, you know, the only way to see a situation. And that's the situation you're probably talking about. And I think, you know, I think almost finding a way to ask a question in a way that's non, um, non-confrontational, it doesn't say, you know, you're stupid, your way of thinking is completely insane. It's idiotic. Like, you know, if you, if, if I came to you the coincidence, like, you know what, what you said is just absolutely absurd and I don't know how you came about it that way.
Sean Johnson (00:25:52):
Like explain to me exactly what you're thinking and about this situation because what you said to me was just completely outlandish. That's going to be perceived as an attack, a personal attack on your view. Right. But I could also say, look, you know, I totally understand point a and point B like that makes complete sense. Um, and it's actually pretty brilliant, you know, the way you came came about it. But what I, what I'm thinking of is, you know, I was just thinking about maybe this, this situation, this, this, you know, situation, see, um, as a little bit confused, um, because point a and point B, we're so clear in this aspect, but I just need to clarify just so I'm on the same page. Um, and we can, you know, just, just to basically, if that's how you have to have a conversation with somebody that said you have to have a conversation and in life, not only in the locker room, not only through friendships, uh, relationships, bosses, people who work underneath you, you have to learn how to, to coexist one.
Sean Johnson (00:26:51):
Um, if that's your choice and to, um, if you're working on a team, you know, with, with all the other guys, it's not just yourself, um, that you need to be successful. There are a lot of moving pieces, so everybody has to be on the same page. So you always want to make sure that, um, you're approaching every situation in the right way. And I think everybody kind of has to learn their own mannerisms and learn how to kind of adapt to different personalities but also not be afraid. If you do firmly believe in something, um, that your, your question or your comment is going to be taken, you know, the wrong way. Because I think, you know, there's, there is also that aspect of having a strong sense of, um, you know, uh, belief in your own way that you found to think about something and not thinking that your own thought is stupid because everybody, everybody's thoughts are what they are.
Sean Johnson (00:27:45):
And you know, like, like I said, no question's a dumb question because it also may make you think, you know, initially you may think, man, that was, I can't believe you asked me that. And then all of a sudden you're like, wait a second, hold on. But, but was he really did, he really means this? And like you start breaking it down in different levels. So like in every situation that you're taking in with experience. Uh, you put these all in your memory bank, but like everything that somebody like tells you or asks you, you can always break down and kind of, you know, take it to another level of another question and maybe like dissect it in the more levels you can kind of break down. You kinda develop this whole new way of thinking. Um, and that's kind of what I think creates a crazy environment once you can actually get there of, you know, creativity of, uh, you know, just, just having the ability to extract knowledge out of any situation. So,
Quincy Amarikwa (00:28:40):
No, I, I liked that a lot and I think a lot of people are going to get a lot of value out of that because, because it's literally a process of thought, right? And like what you pointed out is many, a lot of people I believe have not, don't understand this and haven't learned this yet, and that is the person who's the dumbest is the smartest in the long run, right? Because if that person says something that you perceive as completely stupid and dumb, either notice, yes either they are completely stupid and dumb or they're so smart that they see the irony and how stupid it is. Right? So now either way you have to think about it in the levels of complexity that you're talking about, right?
Sean Johnson (00:29:22):
Right. Was it, was it so dumb that he even, why would even ask the question if it was that, you know what I mean? You started thinking of that in different ways and then you're like, ah, well maybe he asked that question just to get my attention because he really does understand yet. For those who were thinking, Aw man, this is just done. Now they've, they've taken on this, this person and whatever he says they might be listening for the next dumbest thing he's got going on
Sean Johnson (00:29:50):
to ask or say if he drops knowledge and the next time he opens his mouth and now he's got everybody's attention, then maybe he's maybe succeeded in what he wants to do.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:30:01):
So a thousand percent so, okay, so I want to, I'll take your dropping knowledge bombs on, right?
Sean Johnson (00:30:16):
So explosions on the screen in about a month's time, don't worry about it guys.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:30:20):
People are, people are spamming the heart button right now. They're loving, they're loving the knowledge that you're dropping, bro. And the experience that you're sharing, I'm loving it to you. Uh, we've got a question. Which players have you played with that are most receptive to different opinions?
Sean Johnson (00:30:37):
Ooh, that's a good question. Most receptive to different opinions. Um, wow. Play with a lot of players, uh, into the Chicago locker room. That came through as I was about to say. Um, currently I would say, um, different opinions. Um,
Sean Johnson (00:31:00):
that's a really good question.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:31:02)
I'm just getting you to think that's a the whole point.
Sean Johnson (00:31:04)
It is. It is. It is. That's, that's a really good question.
Sean Johnson (00:31:09):
Um, most people, most people have been quite open, I would say in my locker room now is actually, um, a younger player that we have, uh, James Sands. Um, and, uh, you know, James is tremendous player. Uh, and he's, uh, he's been playing for a few years now with, with our club. He's, he's that guy who, you know, always, you know, always listens, always dissects, um, is always open to learning and you know, he's very, very calculated and when he does decide to, to speak or say something, you know, it's because he's taken on information and it's, it's a question that makes you go, aha, like you for sure, for sure. Taken on that you've listened to this person, this person, this person, that person, and now you've, you know, you've kind of formulated something that you, you want to clarify for yourself, but it makes, it makes complete sense and it's, it's, it's a very, very high level of thinking. Um, you know, uh, I think Sebastian and Biega as well, um, it is a good one, uh, in the locker room. So those are probably two of the guys. Do the guys now at the top of my head and past years in the locker room, um, obviously, you know, Quincy, um, you know, been super, super open to, it's a multiple, multiple opinions, thoughts, uh,
Sean Johnson (00:32:31):
and see many for sure. For sure. Just complete, just like everybody just come on, just everybody just filter it in. Yeah, no.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:32:39):
Oh, okay. That's okay. So this is, this is helpful for me because this is a lot of feedback I've never gotten before. So my whole filter the whole entire time has literally been like, yeah, all information is great information. Like, I don't know. So when I'm thinking back, I'm going like, Oh, that person bamboozled me. so did that person. Right. Okay. That person was being honest and truthful. Yeah. What did you see? What do you think I wa was, what do you think were mistakes I was making while we were playing together?
Sean Johnson (00:33:10):
Mistakes you were making while we were playing together?
Quincy Amarikwa (00:33:12):
What did you think I was making mistakes in or what you you didn't agree with or I'm going to leave it like that. So,
Sean Johnson (00:33:18):
Yeah, that's fair. That's fair. I think, I think there were a lot of, a lot of good things. Um, obviously over a time together. I think, you know, like reflecting on our time together and what potentially could have been like better. Um, and this is just, you know, off the top of my head, except I had to pick something I would say I would say is, you know, it's kind of like kind of what we spoke about, right? Like you, you make, you make a decision, make a decision, right? You make a decision on whether or not, um, you know, you're, you want to be calculated in, in some moments you want to be open. In some moments I think you were completely open, candid. Uh, no matter what the moment was, no matter, no matter what the type of person was that was going to receive a question or a comment sideways, no problem.
Sean Johnson (00:34:04):
And it was unbelievable, right? Like you want, you want someone like that, you know? And it's like everybody said, well, you Quincy, Quincy, Quincy, Quincy e-brake, you're like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Like I'm going to tell you and you're going to listen. I'm going to tell you and you will listen. And, uh, it was, it was amazing to see just you talk about mindset. This is, this man was relentless and getting his message across no matter what. Um, and uh, you know, whether, whether it's, you know, whether it was staff or players, you just didn't want to hear it. Um, there was no, there was never, there was never a moment where he goes, ah, okay, you don't want to hear, it's okay. Maybe, maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow you'll be pro.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:34:00):
What do you think I was missing? What do you think I was missing then?
Sean Johnson (00:34:54):
You know, I think, I think, uh, I think at, at the time, I think once, once you, once people, once people understand you and once people get to know that what, what you were doing and what you were saying is totally meant to be constructive and helpful and you're trying to extrapolate like things for yourself and knowledge and you're trying to share things to help. And it's never, it's never meant to, you know, it's never meant to degrade or to break down. Um, I don't think everybody understood, understood that. And I think, I think in, in moments where, you know, somebody, God, I hate this guy, I just, I hate him because he's, he just doesn't, he doesn't understand when did this, that and there. But the reality is if you really slowed down, like, you know, some people have different personalities, but if you really slow down and listen to what you were saying and what you were trying to get your point, any of the points you're trying to get across, it was going to be helpful to allow people who didn't understand that, you know, the like the aggressive manner and maybe some times it didn't like what you did it, you know, pitching selects, walking off and just like, like just chucking and just like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Sean Johnson (00:36:07):
You listen, you listen.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:36:10):
I, okay, I understand. I didn't understand them. Right. Yeah. And to what I didn't know was it was being perceived as aggressive because I was talking to people the way that me and you talk behind closed doors, you know, for sure. Again, you didn't beat me up cause you're better. You beat me because FIFA was broken and it's cheating.
Sean Johnson (00:36:40):
All right, but to clarify, you were trying to make yourself better because I was clearly better. Hey, which we can do. We can set up, we can set up. No problem.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:36:49):
I was playing the long game bro. Okay. Oh Hey, I think he's figuring me out. Let me let him score go. Oh man. What are you going to do?
Sean Johnson (00:37:01):
Which people are, people understand we had probably one of the most competitive groups that people, and you know we talked about setting up people and we were S we were talking about mindset and, and you know your, your term be, it'd be in your head. It's been there for such a long time and if people have no idea, I could remember, I would just the stories, I can use these guys names cause I know they'll, there'll be cool that Alicon Ross Lebow sitting, sitting, sitting in a place playing FIFA and just the celebrations or lack there of once you won a game. And I'd just sit in the couch looking at the remote control as it is. If it was broken or it was, it was amazing. And then they start thinking about way, way, way, way. Wait, is Quincy really in my head? Why? Why did I, why did I push the long ball button to shoot and probe? These are the real questions. I swear the real questions that you asked yourself. But we were all, we were all trying everything at all costs, just get inside each other's heads and it made it, it made everybody mentally stronger was the best part about it.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:38:24):
So much better.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:38:26):
It's a win win for me. I'm going to meet, you know, the shirt bro, longterm winners mindset. I'm going like, how can we win now and in the future, not just now. I don't want to, I don't want to win now at the expense of losing later. I want to win and all the boys to win later. So, uh, a great stat that I saw was you are the only player to have been a part of every single U S men's national team camp for the last, what was that, 10 years?
Sean Johnson (00:38:55):
Yeah. So, uh, it would be the last calendar year and then, uh, basically under every coach dating back to Bob Bradley. And I think every, every year since then, I've been a part of the national team.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:39:08):
Which is an amazing achievement. And one that I, I, I think what I want to make sure happens and what I've been adamant about making sure happens is I don't like the whole saying, uh, you don't know what you got until it's gone or you don't, you don't appreciate or pay homage until afterwards. I want to, I want it to be you give credit where credit is due as it's happening. Right. I think that is something that should be highlighted much more and even much more praise for, and I think the reason it doesn't is, is just because people don't understand what it is you're actually doing. Like to, to make that, to be at that level, that consistent over this long period of time means you understand something and some things on a level that most people just don't understand. Yeah. I appreciate that. Yes. How do you, how do you balance, how do you balance not getting too far ahead of your own understanding?
Sean Johnson (00:40:08):
Yeah, I think, you know, you have to kind of take a step back, you know, sometimes just kind of reflect on exactly where you are, what's gotten to that point. Um, and you won't always build on those things, but if you never really reflect on the negative things, um, and use those as like building tools or learning tools to bring all of those experiences where they need to be with, with the good, then you almost start to create this gap in between. Talking about consistency is for me it's, it's bringing, you know, all those, those negative things as learning moments, right? And building them to positive, getting, making them strong suits instead of, uh, you know, weak points or turning learning moments into things that are now consistent things that you're doing on a daily basis. Making them habits and routines. Um, you know, for me the gap when it, when it's when it's big is when you see the inconsistency, you see a flash of this and then you come back to this point and you don't really address, you know, the things you need to address.
Sean Johnson (00:41:07):
Cause you're like, man, I'm so good at a, B and C, but what's really dragging you down is you know, things way down the alphabet, X, Y, and Z. Cause you never even look at it. You go, Oh, I don't need those things. I'm good here. But then if all all these things are good, but you keep doing X, Y, and Z, bad, then you'll never find happy medium. So for me, it's always been about, you know, every single, every single moment. Um, no matter if it was good or if it was bad, um, one, my mindset has just gotten stronger. Um, and I've worked on that as well. You know, we touch on that not only your, your physical ability, uh, not only your, uh, your mental capacity as well. You have to make sure that, um, that you continue to progress and continuing to better yourself and finding ways to better yourself to, to stay at a certain level.
Sean Johnson (00:41:59):
And for me, that's, that's what the name of the game is, is consistency really is just that. And you know, for those who ignore certain aspects of, of their lives or their careers, just because like, I don't need to bring how many to bring the negative. Um, but it's not always going to be a negative. Right. You know, to, to other people from the outside looking in, they may go, Oh yeah, that one moment or this one thing, but you may be working on it, you know, behind closed doors in the dark when nobody knows. And then all of a sudden you hit the scene in 2020 and they're like, wait a second. Yeah. You know, like 20, 2016 they see, you know, the time of time in Chicago and then in 2017 it's like, wait, I didn't know that he could, you know, play with his feet because of this way that people's perception is one thing.
Sean Johnson (00:42:47):
But you know, you've been, you know, aware of what you needed to do to adapt to the next situation and to get yourself to the next level. And you do it. You don't make excuses, you, you find a way to get it done.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:42:59):
So, no, these are great insights. Spiritual athletes. The one question we need to know is how do we get those shoulders, bro?
Sean Johnson (00:43:09):
You can't, is the real, the real answer is you just can't. On our account. We, we share no lies, bro. I'm keeping, I'm keeping it real. I don't, you know, I don't, I don't know you, I hope to get to know you, but the honest, honestly, I, my routine is, uh, is pretty, it's pretty key. I mean, if we're goalkeeper, shoulders are very important to strong, strong shoulders, stability. Um, doing honestly, lots of yoga. Uh, you know, I don't do a ton of weighted exercises.
Sean Johnson (00:43:45):
Um, most of my, most of my routine is mobility, um, and resistance bands, um, just to, to kind of work on maintaining, uh, explosivity and flexibility through my movement. So, um, you know, you'd be, you'd be honestly super surprised if you, but if you do like a yoga challenge, and I challenge you to do a yoga challenge every day for the next, let's say 30 days, um, just, you know, find, find online, find it, find a good yoga class or yoga class or you do yoga every day and you'd be surprised at how much muscle you build, you know, through strength, stability, um, exercises rather than hitting a gym full force and just becoming, you know, a block of muscle. You'll be, you'll be defined, there'll be stronger. Um, and not many people, how many people take that on board? You know, not, not all the people think about Pilates or yoga or different types of, you know, mobility, stretching. It's all, you know, gym based and I need to, it's leg day or it's, it's arm day. You know, I'm going to go gonna knock some knock some bench presses and smoke overhead press and like my shoulders just gonna grow. But if you don't, you don't take care of yourself. You're not gonna be able to use those shoulders for forever.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:44:57):
I agree. No, I, uh, I agree with that. Just in, I definitely as my career has progressed, I've gone almost strictly bodyweight exercises only, you know, that's, uh, I'll go, I'll do the gym. Right. You'll do the jam, especially stuff that you have to do, the workouts that they're putting around for you. But I've definitely found the body weight thing and body weight stuff like the plots that you're talking about. Um, uh, [inaudible] and stuff like that has, has been the way to go, um, for myself as well personally. But I also realize and recognize a lot of people, I feel like a lot of people just been so sold on all these just weird gym things because of like Instagram influencers trying to just make new content all the time.
Sean Johnson (00:45:42):
100%, you know, you'll, you'll see, you'll see people jumping over each other then doing back flip over a box and you're like, that's it. That, that is, that is it. I need that.
Speaker 2 (00:45:52):
That's how, that's how I played pro for 11 years.
Sean Johnson (00:45:56):
Yeah. Right. And then you sell a program. Everybody's buying it. It's like, you know, the latest, the latest diet or the latest workout video that goes viral. And it's, it's interesting, you know, like you've talked about diets like the new craze of, uh, you know, that documentary game changers with, with, uh, you know, people going vegetarian or plant-based. Um, you know, most, um, probably 80 to 90% plant based if that's what you want to call it and the way I eat. But at the same time, you know, through a lot of people that are doing diet, a diabetes diet, see, you know, at the Atkins or low carb or keto or, uh, Mediterranean or vegetarian or you name it. Um, there's so many diets out there, um, weight Watchers, but a lot of it just comes down to calories in versus calories out, but it's who can market, who can market the, the one thing that can, can make you enjoy or make you reel you in to get you to do their program. You know, like a lot of people don't realize they can basically craft something on their own. You can, you can, you can eat Cheetos for, you know, a month straight. As long as you stay within a certain caloric intake, you might not be the healthiest.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:47:09):
Exactly. It might not be that way. I've seen, I've seen many people play at a very high level surviving off of like Jack Daniels and hamburgers. I've seen other teams, I've seen other dudes eat nothing but like a tofu and a seltzer water and they're the best player on the field bro. Like
Sean Johnson (00:47:33):
The FIFA energy meter would just be just red and then just disappear. Um, uh, no. Um, and if for anybody, Cheetos she knows are great. I haven't had them in probably two months, but you give me, you give me a bag of Cheetos. Tell you what.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:47:50):
Well I did Sirena bought like ruffles chips and I, they're just, they're calling me now, bro. I'm just like, get those out of my house.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:47:59):
You do what you want. I want to know. I want to know, give me like, you know, the throwback there. Cause now there's all sorts of commercials with your athletes, you know, doing different commercials with different shifts and everybody has their own type of chip and that's the newest craze. But the old school chips like what was your favorite ship back in the day? Like
Quincy Amarikwa (00:48:21):
[inaudible] I mean you sent Cheeto but straight up and this is good. We'll go up the last, we've got the last 10 minutes. We'll go random questions to throw in your, I know we've been going on the mentality train, which is awesome. I think we've dropped plenty of knowledge bombs over there. I appreciate everyone's questions in. So let's get some fire routes, stuff, more fun stuff like this. But Sean, I liked that. Uh, you sent Cheetos but old school Cheetos back before they put more chips in the bag than air. Now it's like, I'm like, what is this? Oh yeah, open the bag. And then I go, there's like three chips at the bottom of the bag of money. They're still going to buy the same bag. What's just put less stretch our profits, there's a dude at Cheetos with Mike Cheeto bags from like 2001 just one big cheer and then he has like 10 new bags and he just, he just goes a little bit out into 10 bags bro. Just blows them up with air.
Sean Johnson (00:49:17):
Oh the day. The days where you got a ton a ton of chips in a bag is, it's over those days. Those days are done. I feel bad for the new generation cause they won't, they won't know
Quincy Amarikwa (00:49:28):
for a Snickers. A Snickers bar is like, it's like a fourth. It's like a fun size the sneaker bar now. Regular is like the fun size candy ones that we had when we went trick or treating section them off by two and one. It's like just give me the, give me the full Snickers bar. It's fun sized Snickers now and they're just putting it in the thing. And you know those little mini ones, those are just, those are the ones now.
Sean Johnson (00:49:56):
Yeah. But the little, the little little ones in the Halloween bags [inaudible] ones you just tear. And then pop in and by the time you finished chewing it, it's like you're already, like, you've already burned it off by just cheering it.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:50:10):
Oh bro. All of a sudden anyone remember bump, bubble jug?
Sean Johnson (00:50:15):
I don't know. Bubble Jug, you know, bubble jug,
Sean Johnson (00:50:17):
Bubble jug. That's not, that's not the, is that the little like grenade looking juices with the little foil tops like, little juice.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:50:28):
Romeo? Is that what he's talking about? I don't even know. I haven't heard of that one before. Oh, uh, you know, that just reminded me of a story. So for those of you who don't know, John is a huge, uh, avid car enthusiast to say the least. Right? You've got it. You've got to deal with continental tile, tire still. Yeah.
Sean Johnson (00:50:50):
Yeah. So we're, we're, we're working on 20, 20, um, some cool things in the works. Hopefully we can, we can get those sorted out, but they've been, uh, a long time. Um, good sponsor for, for me over the years and we've done some really cool things. Um, blogs, races, um, you know, the, what you got driving competition. It's been through pretty dope.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:51:13):
No, that's awesome. And we, we won't say that there's any, there's any Quinspiracy going on with you happening to win the a was the continent, was it continental tire that did the uh, did the race Lamborghini? It was Continental tire.
Sean Johnson (00:51:28):
Hey, to be fair. You might as well just tell all start telling all. Because we spoke about the dumbest person in the room. Yeah.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:51:37):
Yes, yep.
Sean Johnson (00:51:38):
The car. And I'm like, what's this? What's kind of steering wheel? Like how did it get, is the gas? Is gas left or is it right? Is it, how do you, how do you do this? And then I bet the Q, the edits and I'm just sliding around the track and everybody's like, wait a second, this is, this is the same guy who had no idea.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:52:01):
What do you, Oh well what's happening?
Quincy Amarikwa (00:52:04):
Tokyo drift. Music's going on. Like VIN diesel comes out and starts like jumping across the hood of your car and be like, Oh man, this is my first time driving. Oh God.
Sean Johnson (00:52:12):
What is it was, it was dope man. But yeah, I mean
Sean Johnson (00:52:17):
I've always been a car guy and a always enjoy getting behind the wheel of cool cars over the past years. And um, yeah man, that's, it's definitely a different rush.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:52:28):
I like that. Quick, a quick story for me. Uh, yo, shout out Brian Ryder. Shout out Ryan rider. Dude. Dude, he uh, he let me rent his car. I think it was like a BMW. What was it like something it's like in 19, I don't even know. 87 or like 93 BMW. And I remember, um, I'm going down, I go out to the parking lot to start the car car dead battery in, in this car. The battery is in the back. So, um, I'm going in there and I'm like, Aw crap. The battery's dead. I hit you up and I call you. Cause this is when we're living near the South loop. Sean, uh, a car batteries day. Can you come pick me? You're like, Oh, I already went to, I'm already at the stadium. And you took your, was it your GTR? You didn't have a GTR? Is your Nissan 370z and bro, before I even finished your sentence and the phone even hung up, I was already half, I was already halfway up the stairs to your home, which was like two miles away. Sean had more because he won that race. He got the Lamborghini for the whole year. Right. And you're like, you know, I left the keys to the Lamborghini over in the... No more club, bro. You should skedaddled so quick over to your place.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:53:46):
Pop that thing. I was whipping the Lambo. I was putting the Lambda that whole day and that's when I realized, Oh, this is why people pay like $300,000 for this car. Like people down the road will see the rear view mirror and go, Oh, that's a Lambo. And they will literally, it's like every one.
Sean Johnson (00:54:05):
Blinkers, hazard lights,
Quincy Amarikwa (00:54:10):
Bro. Sylvie is stupid bro. But yeah, I always, I even told you that. Yo, yo, that was dope man. I appreciate that. But definitely, uh, that was a good time then. It's a good experience, but I'm like first, first time in a super car is definitely, it's, it's one you always remember. Pretty sure I've gotten, I've kind of gotten hooked on these random like YouTube channels for these guys are like, I just got a supercar for fuck $3,000 at some auctions. Watch me fix it.
Sean Johnson (00:54:38):
Completely. Like a completely like total supercar. Yes. Yeah, yeah. Those guys are, those guys are special. I was like, if you pay, really can put together a supercar after being totaled and good for them. Yeah. Oh bro. The amount of money they're spending on half these cars. All these parts are like custom and like it crazy expensive. Yeah. It's stupid. It's stupid.
Sean Johnson (00:54:57):
Still watch it.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:54:59):
I still watch it. I'm like, Oh, this is so 15 minutes later I'm like, what am I doing? What am I okay. We'll see what he does with that. We got, what are your gloves? Smell like?
Sean Johnson (00:55:09):
Smell like roses, I keep those things smelling pristine, nah, gloves closer doesn't cover you. You have to take care of it and go back. To me that's like, that's my bread and butter. You know, that's, that's what gets me through every single day.
Sean Johnson (00:55:24):
So I take care of my gloves, I wash them. I'm pretty, pretty diligent about making sure that they don't, they don't go sideways cause they can smell pretty bad. And if you leave him in a way, even in a bag and you forget about them on, you know, a day and they're, they're cooped up for, I mean you, I mean you put on some goalkeeper gloves. I was watching the clip bro earlier today.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:55:41):
Did you see my tech bro? My tech Ben, you, I'm free. I'm a free agent. I'm available. I'll come up to New York right now and I'll put you through a goalkeeper session, bro. My tech is nice. My left was on levels so high you,
Quincy Amarikwa (00:55:58):
I challenge you to change your position in free agency to goalkeeper.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:56:01):
Listen, Sean, here's what I'm telling you. Straight. No, no, no BS. No, you can see I'm not playing bro.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:56:07):
I'm telling you right now. I've seriously considered just moving back into goal cause I'm like, I could do this for like 15 years. This is a simple like, what are you talking about? I played with my feet for please my feet for years and someone said, be honest bro. My level, listen, my communication level stupid high cause think about it, think about it. I was just telling everybody what I thought because I couldn't understand. I was like, I don't know why this person is so mad at me. I just, they asked me what the truth was and I just told them, right. I did that for like 10 years. I've now learned what that was. My mental strength is so high, bro. You know what I mean? I was stuff people were saying to me, I'm like, bro, that does not affect me at all.
Sean Johnson (00:56:49):
You try it before the game. You'd be in half the the team's head before the game.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:56:55):
Bro, if people start going back and looking at film and stuff from just the, like the limited times I was on the field, the amount of confusion amongst the other team and their inability to like do anything because it's like ask them a simple quick, Hey, Hey bro, come here real quick. Go look at the guys. We'll look at a couple of captains from a few teams. They're all cramping on the ground, grabbing their legs after 10 after 10 minutes of me just talking to them, exhausting mentally with my words was a goalkeeper.
Sean Johnson (00:57:22):
Hey, ref, hey ref. If I, if I slap people with my goalkeeper glove before the game, is it a yellow card? No. Quincy, no. Quincy. Quincy, bro.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:57:32):
Hey kid. Hey. He said that this is good, but I don't want you cry. I swear if I hear you crying about me, slap me with my glove on the field. Um, Oh my God. And then they start, Oh, Oh God.
Sean Johnson (00:57:46):
Shush hush with the goalkeeper glove. Don't do it.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:57:57):
I'm telling you. Uh, so we've got two minutes left before Instagram kicks us off, but Oh man. Sean, I'm telling you the things I've learned and things I understand, especially going through it the way that I had to go through it. I'm coming out now. It's crazy. Oh, it's going to be good. But Hey bro, I really appreciate you joining in on the live. It's been a pleasure. I just, even with this, I'm thinking we've got to figure out something where maybe we're doing some type of podcast here, uh, in the future. Something we need to be working on doing something in some capacity. Man, for sure, for sure. I'm down. The stories are good. Um, you know, good luck on the season, you know what I mean? If, uh, if I ended up being on your team, awesome. If I'm not, no, no luck when I'm playing against you and...
Sean Johnson (00:58:46):
You already heard it first if you are so,
Quincy Amarikwa (00:58:50):
I mean it's New York City. If they want speak it into existence.
Sean Johnson (00:58:54):
Last 10 seconds before 10 o'clock, give your pitch.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:58:59):
To give my pitch bro. It's the level of experience and level of a communication is very, very high when you talk to somebody who's made every single mistake you possibly could have in this career and they're still around. So that's valuable in itself.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:59:17):
Say less bro. Hey, but I appreciate it brother. I will talk to you soon. Thanks again and everybody, make sure you go follow Sean and show him love and, and show him the appreciation for joining in and dropping that knowledge.
Sean Johnson (00:59:28):
Yeah, I appreciate you guys.
Quincy Amarikwa (00:59:29):
We appreciate you guys are joining in later, brother. All right. All right. All right, so Instagram probably kicked me off here in a minute. I wanted to thank everybody for joining on my live. I want to thank Sean Johnson, the goat for 20 in dropping some knowledge and you know, Sharon, a lot of what he's learned over the course of his career. Uh, if you guys haven't made sure you go and re-listen to his Perfect Soccer podcast episode dropped on Monday, I think it's episode eight. Um, you can learn more about his story up to this point and then the replay of the show will be published over on Perfect Soccer.