Tag: ted-lasso

The Rewards of Playing Sports, A Diva Athlete List, and Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 2

On this episode we discuss the Rewards of Playing Sports, Wild Card Athletes, and Season 3, Episode 2 of Ted Lasso. It’s the episode where Roy returns to Chelsea and Coach Lasso’s team goes after the mercurial fictional football legend, Zava.

For me, I took note that St. John’s won the Big East tournament since 2000, it’s NCAA selection Sunday. I have so far failed to pump the water out of the pond in my driveway caused by the blocked culvert, Season 3, Episode 2: (I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea

  • The episode opens with a song from Pomplamoose. It’s a song that combines Lizzo’s “Good as Hell” and Bill Wither’s “Lovely Day.” Click here for info.
  • The first big news is that Trent Crimm is going to follow the team and write a book. This makes me think of John Feinstein, who passed away last week and wrote A Season on the Brink. Compare and contrast what Crimm might come up with compared to the book Feinstein wrote.
  • We get the news that a fantastic but maybe wild card, mercurial player is leaving his team. His name is Zava. Anne, I think you knew right away who the player was based on.
  • There is a lot in this episode related to luck or jinxes. We’re got mention of a psychic. Rebecca says Higgins jinxes it when he says there is nothing Rupert can do to get Zava. Ted wishes at 11:11 and so does Danny. I have never heard of that. In the pub, Mae tells the “boys” that their hats are bad luck. Would you say you are superstitious?

If Zava is a wild card athlete, what’s your list of wildest card athletes?

  1. Dennis Rodman – Did wrestling during the NBA finals. Tats. Wedding dress.
  2. John Daly, golfer. Pants. Smoking. What he ate and drank. Anger. Gambling.
  3. Mike Tyson. Biting off an ear.
  4. Ron “Meta” Artest.
  5. Terrell Owens. Sit ups in his driveway while holding out
  6. Lance Stephenson blowing in LeBron’s ear
  7. Chris Andersen “The Birdman” for The Heat. Mohawk and colorful tattoo.

Keeley is up for Zava because he has 50 million Instagram followers. I’ve got the top 10 people with the most Instagram followers. Want to take some guesses? Three strikes and you’re out?

Let’s see how many of the top 10 people with the most Instagram Followers:

  • Keeley and Roy have broken up. It becomes a thing that everyone knows Roy is the one who did it and everyone seems to think it was a big mistake.
  • Anne, Roy and Jamie are teammates. Any guidelines from you about whether Jamie can ask her out?
  • Keeley hires her friend Shandy Fine. Her CFO Barbara doesn’t like it. What do you think Barbara’s deal is?
  • Barbara collects snow globes of the places she’s been. Anne, would you say you collect anything?

What movies featured what could have been stalking but it wasn’t because the interest was reciprocated?

  1. Say Anything – the boom box
  2. Sixteen Candles – Michael Anthony hall the bus, the dance
  3. Sleepless and Seattle – she hears him on the radio
  • Roy and Trent make peace. Roy rips up the article. I thought that end scene was the best of the show. What was it like being back at Chelsea? Roy says it felt sad. Roy can’t enjoy himself. I guess that’s not who I am. Ted: Not yet.
  • Trent says sport is quite the metaphor. Ted says it’s a heck of a nickname too. Anne, what would you say were the rewards of sport?

How would I rank the rewards of my time playing sports?

  1. Go do my job with effort and enthusiasm.
  2. Keep going through failure.
  3. Learning to enjoy the journey.
  4. Ability to handle and use criticism
  • #TorgStories #We are Richmond @tedlasso tweeting

Thank you for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!

Dealing with Doubt, Our Work Personas, and Ted Lasso Season 3 Premiere

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast at TheTorg.com. I’m Bill Torg. I’ve got round 3 of North Carolina girls basketball playoffs coming up next Tuesday. It’s the last week before spring break at App State, Gene Hackman his wife and dog are mysteriously dead, and I’ve got more interested in Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy than I usually do. Anne, how do you orient yourself to this time and place?

On this episode we’re talking about dealing with doubt, our work personas, and the Ted Lasso Season 3 Premiere titled “Smells Like Mean Spirit.”

Notes and Discussion prompts for Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 1: “Smells Like Mean Spirit”

  • The episodes always start with a black screen and sound. Ted looks bummed at the airport. Seems like he gets a text from his wife Michelle. Tricking us a bit. Ted’s son Henry flying home. He was playing Super Smash Brothers. What are your favorite Nintendo games?
  • Cut to Ted in the cab talking to Doc Sharon. He has a Ted Lasso lego set. Is a sense of automomy good for Henry at age 10, flying across the earth by himself? What do you remember about childhood play around the age of 10?
  • Sharon saying: Doubt can only be removed by action. Sharon has a young man in her bed.
  • Rebekah sits in her office with Higgins angry about predictions about the upcoming season. Anne, who goes to the NBA finals? Who wins? Ted comes in and talks about his kid flying home. Charlotte two flights to Milwaukee. Megan drove there.
  • “Tinkle on your toenails,” said Ted. “I predict their predictions are wrong.”
  • Gene Hackman is talked about because Roy watched Hoosiers. He liked the drunk geezer. Gene opens our show every week: “Team!”
  • Roy says it’s more important to be solid than clever when you’re the underdogs. This seem true?
  • Nate arrives to coach in his little green car. He doesn’t greet anyone. He’s the anti Ted Lasso. Anne, how are you entering the building?
  • Training. Paddington Bear Twitter pretty funny. Ted decides to take the team somewhere. I remember a story of Coach K having Duke play volleyball.
  • Crying is the best, said Rebecca. Keeley cried all over Rebecca’s shirt. Keeley says, Let Ted be Ted. What would you say that means?
  • Nate at training. “The dumb dumb line.” Then hops to it to go see Mr. Mannion. Just because my name is Disco, doesn’t mean we get to party?
  • The majesty of the London sewer system. Henry wanted to take the tour to face his fears. How are we at facing our fears? Any clown fears?
  • Nathan panics and spits. How would you do at the press conference Anne? He gets a grip and gets back to his snooty, smarter than you self.
  • My biggest laugh from Jaime: “Coach, we’re surrounded by poopy.”
  • A great bottle of wine doesn’t need to be an expensive bottle of wine.
  • Roy was told by the bus driver to ask the earth to help him carry some of his burden. What would that mean? What is Roy’s burden? Does he have a problem to work on? Who else? Jamie: “Lads, remember…it’s just poopy; let it flow.”
  • Rebecca is mad at Ted. Everyone is laughing at us Ted. Rupert is laughing at me, Ted. I am begging you, “fight back.” Emotionally moving.
  • The woman brings in a package for Nate. She says, “It’s a car.” It’s an Aston Martin. Looks like at least 300K.
  • Roy and Keeley are going to try and give Phoebe the talk. Oh, not the talk I expected. They tell her they broke up. She asks why they broke up. Roys says they are both busy. Phoebe says one of her core beliefs is nothing lasts forever.
  • In the car, Phoebe asks, “Are you sure you are doing the right thing?” She’s right? This is his call? She says, “I think you are being stupid.”
  • “Ring the Alarm” by Beyonce plays at the end. I didn’t know that one.

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!

The Cars We’d Pick, Favorite TV Couples and Goodbyes with Ted Lasso

Anne went to the Pacers at Clippers game this week at Intuit in LA and we use Ted Lasso Season 2, Episode 11 to talk about cars we’d pick to start our fleet, name our favorite TV couples, and discuss if we’re any good at goodbyes. (hint: not really)

If money is no issue, what couple of automobiles do you want?

  1. 77 Trans Am with the eagle on it.
  2. 70 Chevelle
  3. Carolina Blue G Wagon
  4. Ford Raptor truck
  5. Escalade / Mercedes van

Favorite TV couples?

  1. Alex Keaten and Ellen Reed. Fox’s real wife Tracy Pollan. Bill Vera and the Beater’s song. Billy Vera and The Beaters “At this Moment.” What did you think I would do at this moment?
  2. Seinfeld and Elaine count?
  3. Jim and Pam
  4. Maddie and David on Moonlighting

Notes and Discussion Questions for Ted Lasso “Midnight Train to Royston” from Season 2, Episode 11:

  • Crowd chanting. Sam scores a hat trick. At least Nate looked happy for him. Rebecca texts him congratulations. Collin drives a lime green Lambo. Anne, if money was no object, what are a couple autos you would pick?
  • Keeley has an interview and photoshoot with Vanity Fair. Ted comes in to Rebecca’s office. Dr. Sharon is leaving. Ted is collecting cash. Higgins comes in. Edwin Akufo owns Ghana tech firm. Inherits 1.2 billion pounds. He’s coming for a visit.
  • Nate and Beard in the office. Will the kit man brings in Nate’s suit. Roy comes in and asks if his eyebrows are crazy. Ted comes in coaches office. Nate has a new tactic, a false nine. Nate says here we go again. His idea and Coach Lasso gets all the credit. The forest is a socialist community.
  • Out on the pitch, the team is working on a goodbye dance for Dr. Sharon. Beard says, “The team is not NSYNCH.” The album, No Strings Attached. Edwin Akufu’s helicopter arrives. He has people who shake hands for him. Weighted blanket. “Chop it up with Ms. Welton,” Ted says. I said that in a team meeting the other day! Dramatic pause by Beard. “That was it!”
  • Rebecca, Ted, Keeley, Higgins, meet with Akufu in Rebecca’s office. He wants to buy Sam. Edwin wants Sam to play in Africa. “A sad white man is still a white man.” Sam comes in. Edwin is willing to shake Sam’s head. Higgins wrote a play about a footballer who eats at a museum.
  • Nate was waiting in Keeley’s office. He wants help picking out a suit.
  • Roy goes to pick up Phoebe from school but school is out. She draws breasts for some reason. There’s an art fundraiser. Reminds me of the Buckley fundraiser. He offers to help the teacher set up the art.
  • Rebecca comes in and tells Ted she had an affair with Sam. Limbo, Ted says, great party game but terrible relationship status. Ted says Sam and Rebecca are already one of his favorite TV couples. Anne, what are your favorite TV couples. Ted tells Rebecca to listen to her gut and on her way down to her gut to check in with her heart. Ted reminds Rebecca a year ago she told him she hired him so that he would fail. They agree to meet again next year. Third season!
  • At the clothing store with Nate and Keeley. Keeley does a Roy Kent impression. Nate has on a plaid suit. The seller is concerned the crotch is too loose. They check it out intensely.
  • Ted thinks he’s running into Sharon’s office but she has left and Higgins has returned to his office. He says he knows everyone’s birthday: Liam Neeson, Tina Turner, Chuck Norris, Sharon Stone, and Osama Bin Laden. Ted is angry about the letters. Higgins, “Don’t let-her get away with it Ted.” Ted comes running back in. Love it when this happens. Anne, how are you at goodbyes? Let’s try to remember some.
  • Edwin and Sam at the museum. Edwin bought the piece. Edwin wants to make things better. Banksy is there.
  • Nate settles on an all black suit. Nate asks, Do you ever want to be the boss? She is straightening his tie. She pumps him up about fighting hard for there dreams. Go for it, she says and Nate leans in for a kiss. At least he is very apologetic. Why does he need to spit there?
  • Roy is still talking to the teacher. Roy asks why the other classes pictures are shit? The best teachers are the toughest ones. Who were your best teachers? She asks if he’s married. Roy says no. How about Karen the teacher’s sweater? What is on there? Looked like popsicles.
  • Ted waits outside Sharon’s apartment. Ted is really mad and talks about being abandoned. Is a bunch of cash a good gift? His wife left him… His dad left him… Ted agrees to read the stupid letter. LOL, he corrects her spelling. Funny to moved by a scene where I don’t know what the letter said. Friendship is a theme of Ted Lasso. She is going to Royston. Her train leaves at midnight. She asks him if he wants to go get a drink.
  • Edwin and Sam are out to eat eating South African food. Sam is the fourth person to know that Edwin is buying a team. He wants to build up the African club. Take all the time you need. You have 72 hours.
  • Roy arrives for the photoshoot. It’s at Keely’s house. Keeley is really nervous. Roy comes over and gives her a pump up speech. Reminds me of when she pumped him up before going on to be a pundit. They kiss. We get a montage of the photoshoot. Cut to Sharon and Ted in the pub. Cut to Sam walking through town. Roy and Keeley are told to look at each other. She says Nate tried to kiss her. Thank you for telling me. He was talking to Phoebe’s teacher for three hours. She tells him that Jamie told her he still loves her. Roy looks ready to cry.
  • Roy and Sharon play pinball. Favorite arcade games? Putting your name on a machine. The boys come up, You’re the shrink for the team, eh? The big guy is afraid of snakes. Anne, what are you afraid of? Ted left and wrote her a letter. (goodbye or the glass could be the pic)
  • Sam arrives home and Rebecca is on his doorstep. She says she hopes he doesn’t go.
  • Ted gets back to his apartment, which is seeming less like a premiere league coach’s apartment. Trent Crimm texts him that an article is running in the paper about the panic attack. Nate was his source. Ted decides not to comment.
  • Trent sends a bunch of short texts. I prefer one long text. That’s the end of the episode. I think that’s Radiohead at the end.

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!

Panic Attacks, Luka Trade, and Ted Lasso No Weddings and a Funeral

Panic attacks, the Luka to the Lakers trade, and Ted Lasso Episode “No Weddings and a Funeral” are some of the topics on this week’s Torg Stories Podcast. We also give our initial thoughts on the upcoming Super Bowl.

Anne and I use episodes of the Apple show Ted Lasso to spark discussion questions for the podcast. Here are some of my notes and discussion topics from Season 2, Episode 10 of Ted Lasso:

  • Rebecca’s father has died to open the show.
  • Coaches office. They speculate after death. Everyone states their belief. R0y drawer of funeral home. Ted used to Heaven and Hell. Higgins likes to imagine a heaven where animals are in charge and humans are pets. Do pets have it good? What if our brains were in there? Nate wants to be a tiger and ravage anyone who looks at him wrong.
  • Rebecca’s childhood home. Together Forever by Rick…what’s that new song that used it? How does that song make you feel? Or, when/where do you play music? What songs did you love that are now ruined? Rebecca’s mom keeps her room because it reminds her of when they were close.
  • Sassy arrives. Did you sneak out Anne?
  • Roy and Keely. Funerals are weird. They are like parties but you have to be sad. Keeley thinks maybe she’d like to fertilize a tree.
  • Ted getting dressed to She’s an Easy Love. A favorite of mine! Nice effects on sound and Ted has a panic attack over his son and his father’s death. (darts with his father)
  • Cut to the funeral. Rupert comes and says, Paul (her father) is family. Let’s get to the root of why dad no funeral. Remember Becks dated Sudeikis. Team arrives. Emotionally moving. They all came. Sam is obviously hurt. Beard last off the bus. No Ted.
  • Sassy doesn’t tolerate Rupert.
  • Ted calls Sharon. Incredible view. 4-7-8 breathing.
  • Keeley to Rebecca: That baby sucks. Sassy and Keeley love each other. Sassy asks about Ted. Keeley feels Rebecca is secretly dating someone. Ted bought Nate’s suit. Keeley, Roy and Jamie something brewing.
  • Sharon goes to Ted’s. I see the army soldier on his table. Sharon hates tea. Ted, “I’ll tell you anythying.”
  • Rebecca and Keeley are being loud. Sassy has brought alcohol. Sassy’s daughter likes Sam. 20 questions. TENSE. She seems okay with it.
  • Rebecca’s mom asks what she will share in her eulogy. She’s got nothing to say. Wow, just occuring to me how much the episode (this whole show?) is about fathers.
  • Friday the 13, 1991. September. Rebecca saw her dad cheating. Ted’s dad also killed himself. Very cool plot twist that intensely connects Ted and Rebecca. They wove the telling of the stories together. Probably comes from somewhere but I can’t remember seeing it.
  • Where were we on that date? My kids could likely pull up a social media post close to that date.
  • 25:10 nicely dark picture mom and rebecca
  • Rebecca tells her mom she hates her too. What would you say to Ted? Dr. Sharon asks what he was like. That seems so smart. Ted tells a story about his dad staying up all night reading Jonny Tremain. Wow, Ted tells Sharon he wasn’t going to let anyone get by him without realizing they might be hurting inside. And he’s saying this in London away from his son.
  • I think I’ve given a lot to be around my kids. Maybe that just keeps going?
  • Think if you listened to, watched, or read everything this show mentioned.
  • Mom tells Rebecca she wasn’t as strong as her. Mom handles Rupert like I try to. What’s more important? Being loving or being right? Right about what? I’ll take your anger over your indifference any day.
  • In the church. good pic here about when ted comes in.
  • Ted arrives to the funeral. Rebecca sings Never Gonna Give You Up. Ted joins in. We could analyze these lyrics. Organ plays the song. Rupert is going to give his shares to Rebecca. He stops and talks to nate.
  • At the reception, Rebecca thinks she needs to break it off with Sam. Jamie and Keeley talk. He says he came back to Richmond also for Keeley and that he loves her. Roy arrives. We only got this one life. He tells Keeley he loves her. About 10 seconds between loves?
  • Sam pulls Rebecca into a closet. Sam line and joke: “I hate big butts and I cannot lie.” Rebecca says she needs to figure out her fear on her own.
  • Sassy, named Florence, does like wounded birds doesn’t she?” says Rebecca’s mom. What about her daughter?
  • Rebecca and her mom looked at a lot of pictures. I looked at a lot of pictures. Why? They have a VHS player?
  • What we choose to remember and not remember. It’s Rick Astley, Never Gonna Give You Up. She thought he was black. Show’s over.

Luka from the Mavs for Davis from the Lakers trade:

  • Seems like an obvious yes for the Lakers Anne. Why?
  • What are the risks for the Lakers?
  • How many reasons can we think of for the Mavs to do this?
  • Who will have the best record from here to the finish?
  • FanDuel has the Lakers twice as more likely to make the finals.

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!

The Last Time We Danced, Worst Days, and the End of Consciousness from the Ted Lasso episode “Beard After Hours”

It’s the last time we danced, thoughts on the end of our consciousness, some of our worst days, and before it gets too somber, fields or courts we’d most like to mess around on for this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast. It’s all inspired by the Ted Lasso episode from season two, “Beard After Hours.”

Beard After Hours Summary and Discussion Questions:

  • This episode is so far from the plot that they actually show us the end of the previous episode where Beard is going to go out and blow off steam after the blowout loss to Manchester City.
  • What do you make of the full moon?
  • What are your London experiences?
  • The football pundits on television address Beard directly. What do you make of that?
  • Nice transition he slams down beer #1 and Mae sets down beer #2 in the pub. Beard told Jane he loved her and she did not say it back.
  • Jane texts beard to come find her. I don’t remember a show with more texting and phone screens in it than this.
  • The three football fans come over: Baz, Jeremy, and Paul. I thought you needed a hug. Anne, do you ever need a hug? They ask three questions: (1) Been to Vegas (2) What’s Ted like? (3) How do you cope knowing consciousness can end in a second? As Beard finishes his answer that it’s all a simulation, there are probably close to 20 beer glasses on the table. We’ll give him 6 and say he’s had 7 on the night.
  • What counts as a date for you? I go with Say Anything: pre-arrangement with a chance for love.
  • They go to Bones and Honey, evidently a reference to London’s Milk and Honey click here. They have kind of a Good Will Hunting scene like when Ben and Matt go to the bar near Harvard. If we were going to remix favorite scenes from TV and film and make a show episode, what would we do? Paul hilarious singing Cher: Would you believe they did such a thing? Why does Mae have all those clothes under the bar? They get in by telling the hostess her flat is on fire.
  • If you could be anywhere, where would you want to be?
  • Beard knows so much about Oxford that he convinces the men they meet they studies at Oxford.
  • Beard keeps making eye contact with a girl in a red dress. He says he learned about Oxford because he listens more than he talks. He does, right?!!!
  • Beard goes into a private room with old TVs in it. He’s drinking at least beer #8. All the TVs are showing the game, then the commentators come on and talk about him again. Beard is thrown out. The woman is out there in the alley. She offers to fix his trousers. She keeps people’s pants and says the rack of trousers is like her memoir. Beard is having trouble hanging on to his keys. Beard says, “In all my happiest memories, I’m single.” Is that love, or do I just have a problem? Woman’s man calls. He seems like a different iteration of Roy.
  • Beard jumps into a garbage bin. The man chases him. He gets on a bus. He has lost his wallet. The man at the hotel won’t let Beard use any phones.
  • Beard runs into Jamie Tartt’s dad and his buddies who have been drinking after the game. Mr. Tartt has a bandage on his eye from what beard did to him before. I had a lesson in fighting three people: try to just fight one at a time attacking to the side. LOL. Tartt picks up a pipe. Jeez. The red dress girl’s (Mary) man arrives and saves Beard.
  • Cheers. Should we start saying that? Or, you be lucky, yah? Beatles song.
  • Jane does love him. The three fans pull up in a limo.
  • Beard sends the guys somewhere and tells them to tell Renee that Beard said it is okay.
  • He brakes his key off in the door. It’s a longggg day. Reminds me of the time I saw the 76ers guard in Indy. Worst days you can remember…Maui, drive home from dad’s funeral
  • Beard prays about Jane. The people in the stain glass appear to be crying because of the rain. Does this episode say anything about love or relationships Turns out he’s in the club.
  • The fans go to the address. Where did you think they were? Have you been on important fields or courts? Market Square Arena, Madison Square Garden, Hinkle, Hoosier Gym. Beard has sent them to Nelson Road, home pitch of Richmond. Queen’s We are the Champions. If you could go onto a field or court, what would it be? I think golf at Augusta for me. Maybe 3v3 at MSG. Fenway.
  • Beards finds himself in a club and dances alone. Dances to “Hello” by Martin Solveig and Dragonette. Last time you danced? Have I danced since I got married 20 years ago? Jane is there! Beard hula hoops.
  • What’s your take on Jane and Beard? I feel happy for Jane and Beard at the end of this.
  • Beard brings the coffee to the coaches in the morning. Ted plays the video from the match over the music to Benny Hill.
  • #WeAreRichmond

NFL Conference Championships Discussion:

  • Washington vs. Philly
  • Buffalo vs. KC

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!