Latest news with #Ream
Fox Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
U.S. players stress 'communication' at Gold Cup: 'This is our group right now'
United States men's national team players have been having small group conversations this week following Tuesday's alarming 4-0 defeat to Switzerland. With the Gold Cup fast approaching – the USMNT's first match is Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago (6 p.m. ET on FOX) before finishing group play vs. Saudi Arabia and Haiti – the squad's more experienced players are trying to manifest confidence in the younger ones in order to create some kind of pre-tournament spark. "It's one of those [games] that you look at, you analyze it, and you recognize it wasn't good enough," veteran defender Tim Ream told reporters Friday afternoon. "But you can take so many different learning experiences from it. What is it going to take to get to that level for a lot of these guys? And, what do you have to do day in and day out to be able to put those things right? "As hard as it is in that immediate moment after and how terrible it feels to lose the way we did and play the way we did, it's something that you just have to take on board and understand what it takes to get to that level and compete at that level." The USMNT hoped to gain momentum before the Gold Cup with two send-off matches against quality opponents last week. While the team was able to take positives out of the first match, a 2-1 loss to Türkiye, the Swiss sliced up a youthful U.S. side and scored four goals in the first 36 minutes of the match. The result created an overwhelming amount of concern and criticism, especially given that a World Cup on home soil is now less than 365 days away. While Ream, 37, hasn't experienced this exact kind of situation in his career, he has endured plenty of highs and lows mixed with an abundance of outside negativity. He can impart some wisdom to his younger teammates on how to get things going back in the right direction. "I think the overarching message for us is like, this is our group right now. This is who we have to rely on," Ream said. "Each one of us has to have each other's back and we all have to stick together. Anything that's being said outside is, you know, it's cliché, but it's noise. There's nothing we can do about what people say there. No matter whether you play the greatest game of your life or the worst game of your life, there will be opinions on each of them. "It's just a matter of, let's put our heads down and back each other up, communication is as high as it possibly can be, and we get through it. It's a storm and you can either run from it, hide from it, or you put yourself back out there and you say, 'OK, we're going again. This is it. What are we doing today to get better? What are we doing tomorrow to get better? What are we doing in this game that will help us win the game?' And that's all you can do." John Tolkin, who came on as a second-half substitute vs. Switzerland, echoed a similar sentiment. "The biggest thing is not beating ourselves up too much," the 22-year-old defender said. "Obviously we're very disappointed and we know it's not good enough and it's not the standard we want to be playing at. But the second you start getting too negative and kind of self-defeating yourself, I think things can go very south." Tolkin has only appeared five times for the USMNT. He may be one of the newer faces on head coach Mauricio Pochettino's roster this summer, but that doesn't mean he hasn't experienced adversity in his career. For example, he said going through relegation with German side Holstein Kiel in its first year in the Bundesliga has given him a unique perspective on what the U.S. squad is going through right now. "It's kind of a chaotic time right now," Tolkin said. "It sounds maybe like we're lying or something, but you really just have to look to the guy next to you and just fight for the guys each training session, each match. Because what you see online, all that media, all the opinions – it's impossible these days not to see it – but you really have to lean to the guys to the left and right of you and trust that they're going to work their ass off for you. "We have a huge opportunity right now to kind of change the narrative and set the focus towards the World Cup coming up next summer, and that's [by winning] this [Gold Cup] tournament and that's what we want to do. And in order to do that, you have to block out all that other noise and focus on all the people in the locker room and the coaching staff and training staff and all the people we're traveling with together who are working really hard to get us prepared for these games. So if we can do that, I think you're going to see success on the field. And hopefully lighter spirits all around." Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman . recommended Get more from Gold Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Indianapolis stained glass artist is building community one shard at a time
When Alyssa Ream, 30, first became interested in learning stained glass art, she was working as a bartender and considering going back to school for physical therapy. She looked around Indianapolis for a class, but was unable to find an affordable one. Using YouTube videos and referencing other artists on social media, she recalls instead teaching herself. 'It's been a little bit of a journey,' Ream said. Four years later, Ream owns and operates her own stained glass studio, Groovy Greenhouse Studio, on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis. She teaches a variety of classes to beginners, including stained and fused glass. She also hosts open studio hours for glass artists to work collaboratively on projects. Ream said she saw a need for a stained glass community in Indianapolis when first starting her small business. She said while she was able to connect with other business owners, there was a lack of other artists working in the same medium as her. 'I was kind of thinking, okay, there's got to be some stained glass artists in Indy and I just don't know about them and hopefully I can bring them in,' Ream said. She said she enjoys making stained glass art because of the combination of her artistic side and the ability to work with her hands. 'I have never gotten bored with stained glass,' Ream said. 'I can always get better at it. I can always learn a new skill.' To schedule a class at Groovy Greenhouse Studio, you can visit the studio's website. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis stained glass artist is building community one shard at a time
Indianapolis Star
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Indianapolis stained glass artist is building community one shard at a time
When Alyssa Ream, 30, first became interested in learning stained glass art, she was working as a bartender and considering going back to school for physical therapy. She looked around Indianapolis for a class, but was unable to find an affordable one. Using YouTube videos and referencing other artists on social media, she recalls instead teaching herself. 'It's been a little bit of a journey,' Ream said. Four years later, Ream owns and operates her own stained glass studio, Groovy Greenhouse Studio, on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis. She teaches a variety of classes to beginners, including stained and fused glass. She also hosts open studio hours for glass artists to work collaboratively on projects. Ream said she saw a need for a stained glass community in Indianapolis when first starting her small business. She said while she was able to connect with other business owners, there was a lack of other artists working in the same medium as her. 'I was kind of thinking, okay, there's got to be some stained glass artists in Indy and I just don't know about them and hopefully I can bring them in,' Ream said. She said she enjoys making stained glass art because of the combination of her artistic side and the ability to work with her hands. 'I have never gotten bored with stained glass,' Ream said. 'I can always get better at it. I can always learn a new skill.'
Chicago Tribune
15-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: For Boys Baseball of Aurora, funding is down while requests for assistance are up
For more than 70 years, Boys Baseball of Aurora has been giving kids in this community – no matter what their economic status, gender or disabilities – a chance to take part in America's favorite pastime. Now it needs your help, but not because the program itself is in trouble. On the contrary, enrollment continues to grow, with numbers back up to pre-pandemic levels after the organization lost half its participants. Here's the problem: More families are struggling to pay the enrollment fees, which remain reasonable compared to other sports leagues but have increased to keep pace with the rising costs of, well, pretty much everything. Throughout its long history the organization has always offered scholarships to ensure that no child is denied the opportunity to play baseball. But as costs have gone up, grant money from the city of Aurora has gone down, in large part, said Boys Baseball of Aurora Board President Joshua Ream, because there are more groups requesting funding from the city. Numbers of those asking for assistance from the baseball organization have doubled, said board member Mary Walton, 'with a few more coming in with late registrations.' Emails have gone out to other parents: Boys Baseball of Aurora has long-considered itself a tight-knit family who help each other. But 'a lot of people are hurting financially,' said board member Joel Wyeth, who has been associated with the group for four decades and whose 15-year-old son is now coaching at the Minor League level. 'It's just the cost of everything,' he noted. 'But if you want to play, we want you to play and we will figure it out.' It should be noted that this nonprofit youth group opened up to girls back in 1984, long before Title IX went into effect. Today there are six divisions for ages 5-14, including Pony, Major, Minor, Rookie and Instructional leagues, as well as the Aurora Starz tournament team program. Also, in 2014, BBA formed the Adaptive Recreational League, which is made up of players with cognitive or physical challenges and is staffed with volunteers, both adults and players, from the regular leagues who work with these kids during their weekly games. What's not to love about this all-inclusive organization that is so deeply woven into the fabric of Aurora? Indeed, talk to any number of its 200-plus volunteers and chances are they played there as a child, and now have kids and/or grandkids in the program. Ream's own family is one such three-generational story. Joshua, a board member for 15 years, began playing at age 8. His father Kevin, who managed a team in college, then returned when his son was 11 and has been coaching ever since, has been on the board 25 years. And, no surprise here, Josh's boys, ages 14 and 9, have been playing since they were 6. Ream points to the strong 'connection' that is made as a kid playing Aurora baseball. And it's those fun memories and strong friendships, he insisted, that often bring people back to Aurora in their 20s who want to 'give back and make those memories for another generation.' Unfortunately, costs over the years have gone up in order to keep pace with such necessities as rental fees, equipment replacement and uniforms, Ream said. Today's fees start at $120 for Instructional League and go to $180 for Pony League. And for many families, especially those with multiple children, that number can be a tough hill to climb. A dedicated group of team sponsors continues to make this program as successful as it is. But this season, Boys Baseball of Aurora leaders hope a few more businesses, families or individuals will step up to make sure no kid who wants to join is turned away, including those who could play tournament ball. While the Aurora Starz is considerably less expensive than most traveling teams, it is still not reachable for some families, noted Wyeth. Interested in helping? Go to boysbaseballofaurora@ If nothing else, consider sponsoring a kid in memory of four dedicated volunteers who passed away since the beginning of the year: Charlie Essig, who died Jan. 12 at age 94, began coaching in 1977 and, with his sons, continued doing so through 2016; coach Jose Acevedo, who was a coach/manager and member of the board, died March 1 at age 55; Donnie Jungels, a former player/coach/manager and member of the board, died March 20 at age 56; and George Kackert, 87, who dedicated decades as a coach and manager, passed away April 1. In yet another example of the family connection this group has formed, Ream pointed out, Jose's daughter Sarina Acevedo is stepping up to manage her dad's Aurora Police Pony League team in his memory. When it comes to Boys Baseball of Aurora, he told me, 'that's just the way it is.'
New York Times
20-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
With new perspective, Josh Sargent is primed for this USMNT opportunity
LOS ANGELES – Josh Sargent has a greater appreciation now for these opportunities. He has seen how quickly doors can open and close. The red-headed striker from St. Louis burst onto the scene in 2017 as a 17-year-old who became the first player in U.S. men's national team history to earn calls to the Under-17, U-20 and senior national team in the same calendar year. He scored four goals for the U.S. at the U-20 World Cup and another three at the U-17 World Cup a few months later. Sargent made his debut for the USMNT in 2018, becoming the second-youngest goal-scorer in program history in his first cap. Advertisement Everything was in front of him. His national team future seemed predestined. But sports rarely gives you a linear path. Sargent has seen form and fitness stifle his national team career. He went from highly-touted prospect, to a player sometimes on the outside trying to break into the team, to a World Cup starter in Qatar in 2022. Another ankle injury limited his time with the U.S. since then. Now, the 25-year-old enters the Concacaf Nations League finals – the U.S. faces Panama in Thursday's first semifinal – as the presumed starter at the No. 9 position. Injuries to Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi have made the path to minutes clearer. Sargent also arrives in blazing form. He has eight goals in his last 10 games with Norwich City. His confidence is high. The hope is that the form and confidence will carry over with the U.S. For those who have watched Sargent's path to this point, it is no accident that he is now playing some of his best and most productive soccer. U.S. veteran center back Tim Ream, 37, is a St. Louis native who attended the same high school as Sargent — though he jokingly pointed out it was quite a few years before the striker. The former Fulham defender said he and Sargent often find each other in camp and sit to chat about home, life and soccer. 'I think he's a better player and person because of the ups and downs that he's gone through,' Ream said. 'Everybody expects players to continue on this amazing trajectory and constantly move up and up and up the ladder, and life and sport isn't like that. And I think he's better off for it, because of the challenges that he's faced. Maybe some of the setbacks, not just injury-wise, but career-wise and club-wise. 'I think it's allowed him to kind of have a better perspective on what he has, and the ability that he has. And the confidence that you see in him now to just go and do his thing and literally just put balls in the back of the net constantly, it comes from a lot of those learning experiences.' Sitting in the sun on a patio outside of the U.S. team hotel this week, Sargent didn't seem to carry much of the weight of those down moments in his career. To Ream's point, he has found the 30,000-foot view and learned to find the positives in each experience. Asked about the injuries and the disappointments, he nodded. They are moments that have pushed him to get better, he noted, to find ways to come back and be just as productive. Advertisement 'It's just kind of how you bounce back from those setbacks,' he said. Sargent's high work rate and industriousness in and around the box have not only helped make him uber productive in the Championship, but could also fit well with what Mauricio Pochettino wants to see from his strikers. Sargent also has shown an ability to drop in and find play to combine on goals, as he did at the World Cup in Qatar on Tim Weah's opener against Wales. Sargent said he feels comfortable in Pochettino's set-up. He knows that an ability to put the ball in the net in this Nations League is ultimately what will determine his future with the team. For all of Sargent's goals at the club level, he hasn't scored with the national team since 2019. It's a crazy stat for a player who has looked the part when playing for the U.S. Sargent is trying not to overthink it. 'It's obviously going to be in the back of my head a little bit, but at the same time, it's just been a weird run for a while now with injuries and whatnot,' he said earlier this week on a press call. 'I've been very happy with the goals I've been able to score at the club level, but definitely want to produce the same stuff on the national team.' His teammates don't seem concerned with his goal-scoring record. 'Josh is a top, top striker,' U.S. midfielder Yunus Musah said. 'I think a lot of people are sleeping on him. I think he's underrated. A lot of people need to speak about him more. He's doing a lot of stuff week-in and week-out throughout a few seasons now in the Championship. He's a great talent, a strong striker, a great finisher. A great guy to have in the team, as well. I just hope he keeps it up in the future and also gets more goals for the national team.' It was notable that Sargent lit up the most when talking about his two daughters, aged 3 and 1. He wears a beaded bracelet made by his oldest, Romy, that has her name, the word 'dad' and a heart. Being a father has a way of resetting what is truly important in life. For Sargent, it has reframed why he plays the game. Advertisement 'It changes everything,' Sargent said. 'I think anybody knows that when they have kids, nothing else is as important as your kids. You're not just playing for yourself, selfishly. You have people that you know you're looking after and are playing for. I think it definitely helps put things into perspective, especially if there's a bad game, whatever it is, you always have your kids and your wife, they're at home waiting for you, and they put a smile on your face right away, and everything kind of just seems to disappear. So it's been the best thing in life, for sure.' The answer provides an interesting wrinkle to discussions around what will come next in Sargent's career. His productivity in the Championship has made him an intriguing prospect for other teams in Europe and the UK, including potentially in the Premier League. It's also made him a target for some MLS teams, who see Sargent as a top American player who can be one of the faces of the league. The price won't be cheap. FC Cincinnati made a significant offer for Sargent this past winter, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions. The asking price from Norwich was around $25 million, those sources said. FCC ended up buying Kévin Denkey for $16.2 million. Atlanta United bought another striker scoring goals in the Championship, Middlesbrough's Emmanuel Latte Lath, for $22 million this winter. Whether another MLS team will come in to make a bid, or whether Sargent finds an opportunity at a Premier League or another European club remains very much in the air. Sargent said he tries to keep the possibilities out of his head during the season. 'If I do my job at Norwich, then those things will still be there in the summer,' Sargent said. 'I believe whatever happens in life is meant to be. So if a transfer doesn't go through, then it just wasn't in my plans. It's decisions that me and my wife have to make together. Again, it's not just for me. I can't be selfish. It's for our family. So we'll see what happens this summer. I have a contract with Norwich for a couple more years. It's an exciting time, obviously, with a lot of interest. And we'll see what happens.' For now, the focus is on finding the back of the net against Panama. And then again, hopefully, in a Nations League final. Even then, Sargent knows there are no guarantees. He's learned to just try to enjoy the moment. Advertisement 'I know it's a big opportunity,' Sargent said. 'Obviously, I don't want to make it anything bigger than it is, put more pressure on myself. But at the same time, I've been doing really well at the club level and I want to do the same at the national team level … and hopefully put myself in a good position to make that roster for the World Cup.'
