Mic'd Up: The Soccer Hall of Famer discussed Colorado's move for Paxten Aaronson, why Pulisic was right to stand up for himself
Marcelo Balboa had his No. 17 retired in a fitting ceremony by the Colorado Rapids, and with good reason. The former U.S. defender, who starred in three World Cups, is often seen as a foundational piece for both the national team and Major League Soccer.
Balboa kicked off his career at a time when there were no domestic leagues in America, and professional-level talent had to play for scraps in local semi-pro competitions to keep the dream alive.
"Together, [we] were fighting and scratching to get what we had to get," Balboa told GOAL. "We didn't get to play at AC Milan, we didn't get a door open to play at Juventus or at Dortmund. Most of us were playing in local leagues. We didn't get to really experience Europe or South America until after 1994, that's when the doors finally opened up for us."
After a 1994 World Cup run that defied all expectations, the National Soccer Hall of Fame member was one of the many American stars who helped launch MLS as the face of the franchise for the Colorado Rapids. Son of Argentine parents, Balboa acknowledged that playing in the U.S. made them proud.
"Never played this game for trying to make the Hall of Fame. I didn't play this game to have my number retired. I played it because I saw the smile I put on my mom and dad's face when they watched the Argentine national team play [when I was growing up]," Balboa said. "Now my son was there. He saw the ceremony. Maybe one day, my grandkids and great-grandkids will see that. And they'll think that grandpa did something pretty special."
Balboa, now an analyst for Apple TV, discussed the Rapids' addition of Paxten Aaronson, the impact of Son Hueng-Min's at LAFC and the ongoing criticism of the USMNT in the latest edition of Mic'd Up, a recurring feature in which GOAL taps into the perspective of broadcasters, analysts, and other pundits on the state of soccer in the U.S. and abroad.
Getty Images SportON THE RAPIDS AND AARONSON
GOAL: The Rapids are signing Paxten Aaronson. Considering your ties to the organization, were you as shocked as everyone else?
BALBOA: I think everybody's still shocked, you know? I mean, you just got rid of Djordje [Mihailovic]. This franchise isn't used to right away going and getting that player. So you sell one and within three weeks, you've already got a guy in Aaronson… a young kid trying to get playing time, trying to make the World Cup team. He's got a lot to prove in the next year. Anytime you can go get a player like this, you have to do it. It is maybe what the Rapids needed, that No. 9, No. 10, because if you look at their midfielders, between Oliver Larraz and Cole Bassett and Josh Atencio, when he's back, and [Connor] Ronan, you still don't have that No. 10. You had Djorde, but now you're missing that No. 10.
Yeah, and I think Paxten fits that. He's a little bit more creative than than the other guys in that role. Most of them are No. 6s or No. 8s, and are double pivots. He fits the role and he's young too. Because we have a young team. I think it fits the profile that this club, that [Rapids President] Pádraig Smith and those guys are looking for.
GOAL: The Rapids have traditionally struggled to gain traction in a crowded Denver sports scene. Is Aaronson someone who can be a box office draw?
BALBOA: I think he'll create a buzz, but let's be honest, you can't put Pax at a Djorde level. You can't put him on a Tim Howard level or a John Spencer… With all due respect, unless you brought in a Beckham or something like that, you're in Bronco country, bro! Listen, I learned it the hard way. I thought the same thing. We're going to come in and we're going to light this town up. And then, as soon as Bronco season starts, it is Denver Broncos, the state of Bronco nation, whatever you want to go with, let's be honest. It's reality… But you are bringing in a player who is trying to break into the U.S. national team and a name, as he's got a brother who also plays in Brenden [for Leeds].
GOAL: While the Rapids have moved on, are you surprised at how the whole Mihailovic thing went down?
BALBOA: This is the world we live in. In sports, you get traded, you get moved on. It's just part of it. I think where the fans are coming from is they didn't want to see it happen right now, OK, because we're in a in a decent spot, trying to fight for the playoffs… You've also got to give them credit, on the other hand, because it did move Djorde on for big money, and we're not used to spending it right away. We usually take a little time…
That's, that's, that's a sign that this club's fighting to to make the playoffs and fight for this championship. That's where I was happy that they quickly responded with a name, they quickly responded with rumors and everything they put out there. It's not a starter on the national team, but it is a guy who's going to break into the national team. His future and his ceiling are endless. Colorado's moved on. That, to me, shows what a nice job Chris Armas has done. Because as a coach, you've got to be able to manage players, not just coach them. You've got to be able to manage them and their expectations. And I think people were questioning, "OK, now, Djorde left, what's going on?" And Armas is such a positive dude that he didn't allow that to happen. He kept these guys focused on the task at hand.
AdvertisementON DENVER'S EXPANSION NWSL TEAM
GOAL: What are your thoughts on Denver's incoming NWSL team, the Summit, and do you think internally that the Rapids are concerned about their market share in the sport?
BALBOA: I think it's absolutely awesome. Absolutely awesome. Because you know what, in our sport, there's not men and women, it is soccer, and we both want to see it grow. So this is an opportunity to grow the league. This is an opportunity to create more jobs so little girls can dream of playing in the NWSL, that is huge. Just like when we started, we wanted a future. We wanted a league where our great grandkids, our kids, other upper other kids, had an opportunity to live their dream.
So I think it's awesome… The only way soccer is going to succeed in our state is to do what we've always done, and that's to work together. If we don't work together with the Rapids and the Summit, don't work together, we're going to be fighting to pull fans apart from one side to the other side. Is that helping our sport? No, so I hope that they both find a common ground to help each other out, because we have the most beautiful game in the world. I would hate to see MLS and the NWSL trying to pull fans from each other – and we don't need to do that. For me, this is going to be a huge thing for Denver. Now we just have to get them both to work together to promote this beautiful game that we've been blessed enough to play.
Getty Images SportON MLS TRANSFER DEADLINE
GOAL: Thoughts on MLS season so far?
BALBOA: It's been a very competitive league… When you look at a team like FC Cincinnati, you look at a team like Inter Miami, and what they're doing, they're going to always be up there. They're going to be contenders. When you get a guy like [Lionel] Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, please. I mean, how much more? And I'm sure there's another surprise or two on the way [in the transfer deadline]
GOAL: Speaking of Miami, as someone of Argentine descent, what do you make of the way they build their squad? Young, talented homegrown players such as Benjamin Cremaschi are struggling to find a fit due to the club continuing to sign players from Argentina. Are Miami missing out on stars due to their recruitment strategy?
BALBOA: It's difficult because Cremaschi is a good player. There's no doubt about it. But at the end of the day, our business is to win, and the coach's job is to put the best team out there that's going to win. So I can guarantee you there's a bunch of other teams in this league that would take him in a heartbeat if he's not getting the minutes that he wants. When we talk about Miami, we talk about Cincinnati, we talk about other teams [like LAFC], their game models are different than let's face it, a San Jose, a Colorado, a Real Salt Lake. There are other opportunities. The problem is you're playing with Messi. Do you really want to leave Miami, [Luis] Suarez, [Jordi] Alba, and DePaul? So I get it, the kid's in a pickle right now… It's just a matter of going somewhere where maybe they're not looking to create or not build an all-star team.
GOAL: But what about the fact they've already had talented players leave, like Alex Freeman, who was in their youth system? He's now the best right back in MLS.
BALBOA: Right, but Alex left where? And where is he now?
GOAL: On Orlando.
BALBOA: And he’s also playing where?
GOAL: On the U.S. national team.
BALBOA: And he made the Gold Cup squad right? See what I'm saying. Sometimes a move is important. Maybe you don't fit the game model that Miami has, but you're an excellent player. And I can guarantee you, if you put his name out on the market, there's going to be quite a few teams they're going to try to pick this young man up because he'll be a starter on their team.
Getty ImagesON SON'S IMPACT FOR MLS
GOAL: What's your take on Son Hueng-Min and his impact on LAFC and MLS so far?
BALBOA: Let's see … the No. 1 selling jersey in the world, right? Let me think, the No. 2 selling jersey in the world is Messi. I love the vision that LAFC has. They know what they want, and they're going to make mistakes on the way. Everybody's going to make mistakes… But what a good pickup. It fits the mold they want, that No. 9 that doesn't play just as a point. He can drop into the midfield, receive the ball, he can run out at players. It's absolutely fantastic, man. It is fantastic that we have guys like this in this league that are going to help push this game to the next level… So I'm excited.
GOAL: You can tell he's really bought in too, from the sense that he's doing postgame opportunities and seems really visible where he can be.
BALBOA: You can easily tell when players aren't bought in to MLS because of the way they do things, their attitude. Even Thomas [Muller at Vancouver], he bought in the other day, didn't he? He stepped on that field. I've never seen a guy finding pockets and putting his hand on the floor saying, 'Give me the ball. Give me the ball. Give me the ball!' I love it. And that's, that's what we need in this league. We don't need the older guys that come and are kind of on a half break, and we've had quite a few of those. But when you guys see Muller, and you see a guy like Son come into this league and embrace it? They want to win a championship just as bad as everybody else. So I think it's awesome.
