Goat Post: Issue 10

Soccer ally of the Century, Adam Jones’ ascent & meeting Babe ‘no big deal’?

August 16, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Sometimes greatness is as simple as a headline. Assault with a deli weapon. No matter what side of the aisle you’re on, that’s one rye sense of humor. You get it.

Happy Saturday, everyone. This week, we have an out-of-this-world partnership to share. The Metropolitan Oval, a storied soccer training and development program in Queens, is celebrating 100 years in existence and is doing so with Goatnet as an all-in tech and media sidekick.

The oldest continuously used soccer field in the United States.

Already, we’ve had the opposite of the old days’ so-called SI jinx.

Side note: Sports Illustrated published its first issue on this date in 1954.

Anyway, since we started working with the Oval to document the stories of players, coaches and the organization as a whole, all they’ve done is win.

The collective blend of angles and success journeys, timed in synch with next summer’s World Cup, puts us front and center with tens of thousands of people in a globally compelling community. This includes regional collegiate programs, worldwide professional organizations and a track record as a springboard for coaches, trainers, data analysts, nutritionists and executives.

Here’s a look at the type of content the Oval and its beautiful game have inspired. And this, before we’ve delivered Goatnet’s proprietary media-day format that’s on deck.

Next, we bounce from soccer to the ballyard. Camden Yards, to be exact.

That’s where friend of Goatnet Adam Jones let us in on his ascent to the Orioles Hall of Fame. Before his induction last weekend, Adam opened up about his road to the Major Leagues from a side of San Diego not everybody sees.

He’s an extraordinary success story, and we’re fans of his for life.

We mentioned the once famous magazine’s birthdate 71 years ago. There’s a flip side, which can only be described as a downer. Aretha Franklin passed away on this date.

Side note number 2: An exquisite Aretha timelapse IG for your forever and ever.

Elvis Presley and Babe Ruth also died on this date. I prefer to position it as the day they and the Queen got their wings.

Which leads us to this anecdote and an associated observation. Babe Ruth was and is one of the most fascinating figures in sports history.

The Bambino. The Sultan of Swat. The Yankee Stadium “House That Ruth Built” GOAT. But a telling thing happened recently in a conversation with Ray Crone.

What a treasure Ray is, still super sharp and a pitcher with legendary memories, moments and teammates tucked in his memory bank.

But don’t let anyone get away with painting today’s young players as uniquely being insufficiently awestruck by the superstars paving their way.

Ray, as a rising high school prospect, had a chance to meet The Babe shortly before Ruth was called to the great beyond. But Ray, even now, recalls it as a matter-of-fact photo op.

IT WAS BABE FREAKING RUTH.

In any event, it makes sense. Kids with promise, with stuff, can’t be expected to fawn over legends. It’s not what a lot of greats in the making do.

Listen to Ray.

But being not as exceptional as Ray or Babe, I do think in hindsight, it also is ok to realize when you get to interact with, say, “A” or “THE” GEORGE HERMAN BABE RUTH!

To be clear, though, our onboarding session with Ray - as part of a Texas themed baseball appreciation project made possible by Joel Bradley (scout, coach, author and entrepreneur) - was riveting.

He’s a giant, and his stories fit right into our unprecedented, burgeoning database of takes, posts and streams.

Goatnet isn’t just growing. It’s throwing hands.

(Not sandwiches)

As I like to close, GOAT BIG!