Latest news with #BrianMcBride
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
What If ... the U.S. Wasn't Robbed in the 2002 World Cup?
The United States men's national team could have made the 2002 FIFA World Cup final — in fact, they should have. And yet, they didn't. Why? An obvious handball that wasn't called in the quarterfinal against Germany. The rest is history. But WHAT IF we could rewrite history? After being eliminated in the Round of 16 in 1994 and not making it out of the group stage in 1998, the U.S. was primed for a run in 2002. They were able to finish as runners-up in their group, most notably defeating Portugal 3-2 and drawing with group winner South Korea. In the Round of 16, they faced Mexico for the first time at a World Cup — and recorded a 2-0 victory behind goals from Brian McBride and Landon Donovan. Next, it was on to the quarterfinal against powerhouse Germany. Michael Ballack got the Germans out to an early 1-0 lead in the 39th minute, but the Americans responded with several attacking plays to start the second half. But in the 50th minute, everything changed. _____ Off a U.S. corner kick by Donovan, a German player attempted to head the ball away from goal— only to have it find a wide-open Gregg Berhalter, who took a shot at goal from just a few yards out. German keeper Oliver Kahn was able to barely save the shot, but the ball would bounce off the arm of midfielder Torsten Frings who was defending the post. Immediately, U.S. players began clamoring for a handball, and when the replay was shown — it was clear as day. However, referee Hugh Dallas didn't call it. And with VAR not yet in existence, the call was irreversible. Had it been called, the U.S. would have been awarded a penalty kick, and Frings would have been given a red card. As mentioned, the U.S. were dominating the first 10 minutes of the half, and surely would have taken advantage of the 10-man German side. But WHAT IF the handball was called? Would the U.S. have lifted its first-ever World Cup trophy? Would soccer in the United States be viewed in a different light today? Let's dive in. _____ If the handball had been called, the best-case scenario would have resulted in Claudio Reyna scoring the game-tying penalty— and Germany would have had to fend off a momentum-driven American attack with just 10 men. So many of the legendary Americans could have subsequently scored the game-winning goal— with Donovan, McBride, Reyna, Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, and several others headlining the squad. Had they advanced, they would have faced South Korea in the semifinal, whom they had drawn with in the group stage. A win against the co-hosts would pit the U.S. against Brazil, and the U.S. would have made its first men's World Cup final ever. While the Brazilian squad was filled with superstars like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo— the exposure from such a massive stage could have changed the landscape of American soccer for the next two decades— regardless of the result. _____ Few can forget the dominant fashion in which the USWNT won the World Cup in 1991 and 1999. This sort of success undoubtedly influenced young American girls watching the tournament, leading to the likes of Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach— and current stars like Sophia Wilson, Trinity Rodman, and Naomi Girma. Such an emphasis on women's soccer in the United States has led to them winning four of the nine World Cups ever held. So what would a win over Germany in 2002 have resulted in for the men? Just imagine all the young boys who would have participated in soccer during the early 2000s instead of the usual suspects— Pop Warner football, little league baseball, and AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) basketball. For perspective, in a study done by the National Federation of State High Schools in 2022, there were 374,773 participants in girls soccer for that school year— the third-highest of all sports. On the boy's side? Soccer participants ranked fifth, behind football, track & field, basketball, and baseball. _____ No U.S. coach has coached or won more matches in the team's history than Bruce Arena, with 148 and 81 respectively. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2010, but what would his career have looked like if he had taken down Germany in that 2002 World Cup quarterfinal? Arena had already won two MLS titles with D.C. United in 1996 and 1997 before spearheading the 2002 national team past the Round of 16 for the first time ever. Considering that two Arena's successors – Bob Bradley and Gregg Berhalter – were able to coach abroad, it's not unreasonable to think he could have done so as well. Had he taken a potential offer in Europe, that could have also changed the team's fortunes at the 2006 World Cup. The U.S. did not make it out of the group stage in 2006, finishing last in their group and ultimately leading to Arena's exit three weeks after the tournament. He'd go on to win three more MLS titles with the Galaxy in 2011, 2012 and 2014 and was again hired by the national team in 2016. In his second stint, the U.S. failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup— the first time that had happened since 1986. One can't help but wonder how all of this would have changed if the handball was called in 2002. _____ It's incredible to think about how a win over Germany would have changed the landscape of the MLS and American youth academies. Such an upset could have sparked massive national interest in soccer, leading to unprecedented investment in the U.S. youth soccer system. With never-before-seen pressure from both public and corporate entities, we could have seen high-level sponsorship in the MLS and a complete overhaul of youth academies— which has often been faulted for its pay-to-play model. The next five to ten years could have allowed for a network of talent aggregation modeled after the European youth system, emphasizing technical development and scouting in underserved communities. In turn, it's possible that an entire generation of world-class players would have emerged— with players like Christian Pulisic appearing in much greater numbers. Just imagine what the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cup results would have looked like for the U.S. had this occurred after 2002. It's totally in the realm of possibilities that the U.S. would be a consistent soccer powerhouse had this foundation been set. _____ Possibly the biggest question of all that arises from this hypothetical exercise, is just how much bigger soccer would be in this country had the U.S. taken down Germany with the correct call. It's hard to imagine that Landon Donovan wouldn't have become even more of an icon than he already is, and that he would have inspired several people to become fans of the sport. While it's hard to say that this single result would have propelled soccer as the top sport among Americans, there's little doubt that the millions of potential viewers a final or semifinal match would have generated would have changed the trajectory of the sport. For perspective, 26.7 million people watched the USWNT take down Japan in the 2015 World Cup final. The 2022 men's final between France and Argentina had over 25 million viewers. Just imagine a world in which the four-and five-star high school basketball and football recruits that colleges fight over grew up playing soccer instead. We'll never know. More Sports History "WHAT IFs?": What if ... Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe never got injured in 2001? What if ... the 49ers drafted Aaron Rodgers instead of Alex Smith in the 2005 NFL Draft? Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from United States Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
From Glasgow to Global: Brian McBride on leading in the age of AI and digital disruption
From the streets of Glasgow to the helm of global tech giants, Brian McBride's story is one that began right here in Scotland. His rise from local roots to international boardrooms makes his insight especially valuable to Scottish businesses navigating today's fast-changing economy. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Now one of the UK's most in-demand business speakers, McBride brings a rare combination of boardroom experience and digital vision. He served as UK CEO of Amazon, played a pivotal role as Chairman of ASOS, and currently chairs the board at Trainline. His leadership has helped scale businesses during some of the most disruptive phases of the digital era, and his advisory work with the UK government on digital strategy places him at the heart of national innovation policy. Whether helping global brands or advising emerging enterprises, McBride is known for distilling complex digital shifts into practical strategies leaders can act on. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In this exclusive interview, he shares expert insights on how organisations can adapt to digital disruption, embrace AI responsibly, and leverage mobile technology to enhance customer experience. Drawing on decades of experience, he also reflects on how companies can future-proof their workforce and leadership approach in an increasingly AI-driven economy. Brian McBride - Champions Speakers Agency Q: As digital innovation accelerates across every sector, how can businesses in Scotland position themselves to harness emerging technologies and stay ahead of the curve? Brian McBride: 'Well, I think it's really mandatory for businesses to recognise what's happened. Customer behaviour has changed—people's digital and online preferences have become clear. I see it in my business at Trainline, where people have moved straight to digital ticketing. 'In retail, much of the research is usually online. You see your NHS appointments are now online. So really, digital and mobile use is the way things are going, and businesses have to recognise that and adapt accordingly.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Q: As digital tools become increasingly embedded in day-to-day operations, what emerging challenges should Scottish business leaders be especially vigilant about in the technological age? Brian McBride: 'There are a number of obstacles out there—some internal, some external. Externally, there are new technologies emerging all the time. Three, four, five years ago it was all about data science and machine learning. Now it's about artificial intelligence. Machine learning is actually a subset of AI, but AI itself is a big revolution—and it's coming. 'At the end of the day, if you're still writing physical cheques or using expense forms, you might have a problem competing with companies that have a much more modern back office. AI will transform almost every industry and pose a threat to almost every company out there. 'Another challenge is the changing world of work. Post-Covid, people don't want to work five days a week. Certainly in the UK and across much of Europe, we've got full employment—we've got more jobs than people. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The cost of labour is high, and people are able to demand a premium and choose their terms. That's why you'll see more and more jobs getting replaced with AI, where businesses can.' Q: With mobile devices now at the heart of how we live and work, how do you see this shift influencing consumer expectations and long-term behaviour? Brian McBride: 'Well, I think it's sort of symbiotic. Each needs the other. The mobile phone—particularly the smartphone—has only been around for about 15 years, but it's transformed society in many ways. People from the age of five up to ninety are now using social media. It's not just for the young—older people use it to stay in touch with family on WhatsApp and other platforms. 'If you walk down any street, there's almost nobody without a phone in their hand. We use them in all sorts of ways—much of it consumer-focused, such as social media and online shopping—but also for improving medical outcomes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Portable medical devices that would have been prohibitively expensive in the past can now be replaced with an app. Your heart rate and blood pressure can be monitored using your mobile phone. 'So mobile is transforming society. Human beings are adaptable and smart—once they see a capability, they learn how to use it and stretch it. The companies that create devices and apps then watch consumer behaviour and improve the product. It's an ongoing process that's constantly evolving.'
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
McBride, Skoe file for county seats
Koochiching County Commissioners Brian McBride and Wayne Skoe have filed for re-election. McBride, who has served since 2009, represents District 3. Skoe, who represents District 5, has served since 2013. A primary election will be held Aug. 9 if more than two candidates file for the county board seats, Auditor Bob Peterson said. Candidates must file with the county auditor. The official filing period runs through 5 p.m. May 31 for federal, state, county, and some local offices, and candidates must file for office during this period for their name to appear on the ballot. The general election is Nov. 8. Falls School Board Roxanne Skogstad-Ditsch has filed for the International Falls School Board position vacated by Tom Holt. A primary election will be held Aug. 9. The winning candidate will be sworn in at the September meeting and their term would end Jan. 7, 2019. Candidates can file through May 31 for the position. School district candidates must file with their school district clerk. There is a $2 filing fee. Administrative Assistant Sue Karsnia has said that, if passed, a legislative bill would push the election for this seat to run in conjunction with the November election. The bill's fate will not be known until the current legislative session ends Monday. The filing period for four school board seats runs from Aug. 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 16. Three of those positions are now held by Michelle Hebner, Mike Holden and Gordon Dault. A seventh seat on the board approved by voters will also be filled. All of these terms are for four years beginning Jan. 2. Municipal candidates must file with their municipal clerk. Candidates for special districts, such as hospital or park districts, should contact the district's office for information on the filing process. Candidates can find information about filing for office, along with information on campaign finance, filing a campaign committee, and fair campaign practices, at in the 'Election Administration and Campaigns' section. International Falls City Council The city does not have a primary, therefore the filing period for mayor and councilor at large opens Aug. 2 and closes Aug. 16. The position of mayor is now held by Bob Anderson; councilor at large is now held by Pete Kalar. Littlefork City Council The filing period is from Aug. 2 to Aug. 16. Up for election is the 2-year position of mayor, now held by Mike Fort; two 4-year positions of councilor, now held by Loren Lehman and Sandra Heem. Ranier City Council The filing period is from Aug. 2 to Aug. 16. On the November ballot will be the position of mayor, now held by Dennis Wagner; and two councilor positions, now held by Todd Coulombe and Tony Cole.
