On today’s episode of Over the Ball, we’re thrilled to welcome Professors Rick Burton and Dr. Norm O’Reilly, two of the foremost authorities in sports business and marketing. These accomplished scholars bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the show, having authored several influential books on the sports industry. Their latest collaboration, *The Rise of Major League Soccer*, is set to become a definitive guide on the meteoric growth and impact of MLS in the global soccer landscape. With past works like *Sports Business Unplugged* and *20 Secrets to Success for NCAA Student-Athletes*, Burton and O’Reilly have consistently offered deep insights into the sports world, making today’s discussion a must-listen for anyone passionate about soccer and sports business. In this episode the boys also discuss the recent hiring of Mauricio Pochettino as the coach of the US National Team and touch on topics such as the performance of American goalkeepers, the start of the English Premier League season, the retirement of Anson Dorrance, and the careers of Dax McCarty and Hope Solo. They also express their frustration with the term ‘golden generation’ being used to describe the current US Men’s National Team.