The One with the Trash Talk
Never kick a man when he’s down, unless his name is Dolabella because he really deserves it.
Okay, technically every Lou City match involves some trash talk, but this weekend, Louisville hosted the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the usual expletive sort while Aiden McFadden hosted a crew for the clean kind. Actually the clean-up kind. Aiden hosted the first ever Trash Talk with his Collective Arc community-impact organization. This write-up features bonus content from those efforts at no extra charge! Next time you’re at Beckley Creek Park, be sure to check out the cleanest, most band-aid-free soccer field ever.
But back to business. We all know the Boys in Purple have struggled in their last few matches, but as Sean Totsch confidently reminded everyone after the Rowdies match, it’s early in the season. We would rather experience hurdles now than in the Fall, and everybody needs to chill. I may be paraphrasing a bit.
Totsch is right. We do need to chill and focus on the positive. Of course I miss winning every week, but let’s face it, we are spoiled. It’s like the mouse in that book, Who Moved My Cheese, or the mouse in the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. (Yes, our generation is doomed to get our wisdom from mouse books.) Anyway, we are just upset about our cheese being moved. We had all the good cheese, every week, for years, and now that it’s been moved, we are mad little mice. We just need to find where the cheese has moved to, and we will all grow together to be more patient, strategic mice. (I may have had to read that book for work.)
Besides, the recent losses have just been a couple of blips. We don’t have enough data for an actual trend or root cause analysis. (That’s right, Work Elizabeth has been awakened and she’s getting up on her soap box.) The best thing that we can do whilst we wait for data and look for our cheese is to show up for our team. Be positive, dependable fans/mice. Support the lads however we can, with cheering and vibes and tailgating and banner painting. Just don’t take pictures of the matches and then try to write funny things about them, that’s my thing.
For more on Aiden’s trash talk, check out @collective_arc_ on Instagram or collectivearc.org
We’ll start off this match recap with side-by-side pictures of Kyle warming up with/ without his wind machine. Fans would’ve enjoyed a wind machine Saturday night. The early-summer heat landed at Lynn Family at 7:01 pm and didn’t budge. Funny how 78 can feel like 86 when it’s only 92 degrees out.
Also during warm-ups, Aiden McFadden showed off his Thriller dance moves. That’s right, folks, nary a ball in sight. Just dancing.
Let’s check out some other shots of practice because a) these guys warm up well, and b) I was playing around with some new camera angles.
Davila the Meaner explains to Manny Perez that the team has to wear shin guards during every match. This was news to Manny, who initially thought the team was being gifted new iPhone cases.
News about the shin guards traveled fast, as Hugo explains to Quenzi the use of “protege tibias” which of course is French for “iPhone case.” Yes, they both speak English as well, but when they converse in French, they can talk about the other players and who they want to trick into wearing a PSG jersey if Arsenal loses the UEFA Champions League final. Tola should definitely learn French.
Captain Kyle Adams escorts the Superhero of the match to the pitch and admits that he does enjoy how the firework smell lingers in his hair.
“Hey Aiden…why doesn’t fire ever take a night off?”
“Muk, I told you I don’t like dad jokes…”
“Because fireWORKS” (polite chuckle from Aiden as he makes a mental note to put shaving cream in Akale’s locker when he’s in the shower.)
Speaking of fireworks… Amadou Dia looks like a vampire rising from the smoky crypts as his name and video are shown on the large screen. I guess fireworks placement decisions are super tough.
Walk-out…announcements…huddle…see the galleries way below for all the deets because the Rowdies were quick to start the action and put our boys on the ground. Let the battles begin!
Safety first! Davila the Elder checks to make sure everyone has their shin guards on before his first corner kick.
Strong effort from Dia and McFadden post-corner kick seems to be an early indication of goal-scoring to come. Sit tight, mice. No cheese yet.
Since Lou City is threatening to score, the Rowdies decide that some jersey pulling is in order. At least the captains know better than to get involved in this nonsens— never mind.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a…submarine? Where even is the ball?
There even is the ball. Everyone thought it would end up in the net except the Keeper. All I can say is, we kept him on high alert for like 70 minutes, at least.
We have another go at the goal, but don’t worry about the Rowdies Captain, he didn’t even realize how close we got. He just thought he saw a spider.
Time is ticking down in the 1st half, and the arrogant Rowdies defender thinks he is going to slow-play things until McFadden sets him straight. He steals the ball and crosses to Dia for another run on the goal.
I mean, I’ve been missing Dayes and his vertical but here comes Dia to remind us that he can also touch the stars. Possession Lou City.
Can we get any closer without scoring? I don’t think we can. Whatever Tampa Bay is paying this dude, they need to double it. Any other day, any other Keeper, Lou City would be on the board by now.
Need further proof? I present Exhibits A-G of our charging prowess and goal-contending runs that should’ve been at least half a goal each.
Meanwhile, our goal is in the very capable hands of Danny Faundez.
What? Major save? No big deal. Let’s get back to business.
I love the irony of this picture because it’s so casually epic. I would bet my entire shoe collection that Aiden doesn’t even realize that a) he’s standing in front of this banner, or b) that this banner exists, because c) he made such a profound statement that it warranted a banner. I think that’s what irony means, but I’m no Alanis Morrisette.
Josh Jones is here, to remind you, of the mess that he left went he went away. Sorry, sorry. He’s actually here to demonstrate that Dia and Dayes are not the only Boys in Purple capable of out jumping the occasional Rowdy. You, you, you, ought to know.
I don’t remember exactly when Kyle got his yellow card, but it was either before or after this moment when the Ref needed a stern talking to. Kyle decides to settle for a stern glance in his general direction, but I think the Ref got the message.
Now the Rowdy Keeper takes things a step too far and decides to taunt the ball for failing to get past him yet again. I think he’s on to something, though. It’s not Lou City’s fault. It’s the ball. It should be 3-0 by now.
It’s time for one of the best parts of any match - time to cover the net and other defenseless areas.
Ouch, someone forgot to cover Josh Jones’ face.
Josh survived the encounter pretty unscathed and directed any residual anger towards his teammates who weren’t in position for his throw-in.
I think it’s worth revisiting the Adams-Dolabella rivalry with a quick cruise down memory lane, stopping for gas and Celsius at that June 7th, 2025 match when Tampa visited Lou City for a 2-1 beating. This is one of my all-time favorite pictures, used by teams everyone when preparing to face Lou City and Kyle Adams.
This may also become an all-time favorite moment captured forever in digital form as Dia makes a heroic effort to get the ball in the net or maybe just not get cleated by Air Jordan.
McFadden decides to punish a Rowdy with a dad joke. “Hey Deuce, what happens to nitrogen when the sun rises?”
“Hunh?” [incoherent grumbling, has probably never heard of nitrogen or oxygen or the sun]
“It becomes day-trogen.” -Aiden for the win!
While the Rowdy is still trying to understand the joke, Aiden rallies to steal the ball and give Lou City one more shot at the goal before halftime.
Jones invites all players from both teams to calm down as we head into half time.
***Captain America voice*** “I can do this all day.”
Now that we’re at halftime, let’s look back at some fun moments from the huddle. If you look closely, you can see the fear in Jones’ eyes (will he have to give the warm-up talk?) as he waits for Adams to join them. He was Captain at UofL so he can certainly get the players riled up if needed, but he doesn’t have the rich vocabulary that Adams has. (wink wink)
I’m playing around with a new nickname for Chris Donovan because he really is just a relentless force of energy for 90 minutes. How do we like “Energizer Donny"? No? Me neither. Let’s try it out anyway. Energizer Donny wakes up the crowd to start the 2nd half with some fast-paced action. No, you’re right, it doesn’t roll off the tongue like McBatman did. I’ll keep working at it. (That chest bump with Man Bun was pretty sweet BTW.)
Also to keep the crowd engaged, McFadden borrows Adams’ wind machine for a quick run down the pitch.
Tampa Bay coach appears to be resting his eyes while Coach Bird watches the match like a hawk. (Or maybe an eagle. Vulture, perhaps.)
You all know that I love a good dance off, and so does Taylor Davila. His prize for winning? Lou City possession, of course.
You know when you’re twenty minutes into an 8-hour drive, the kids are fighting in the back seat, and you calmly yell at them not to touch each other?
Josh asked if he could throw in some pictures of that awesome sunset. Of course you can!
Yellow card be darned to heck! Kyle Adams has patiently waited for his chance to chat with the ref. He doesn’t even have a call to disagree with here, he’s just been trying to tell the Center Ref he’s got something stuck in his teeth.
Finally, Lou City gets in the net! Donovan was right on target, but the ball went elsewhere.
First Lou City subs are coming in! Jansen Wilson blesses the pitch with his presence. Literally.
Tell me you flunked out of spy school to be a soccer coach without telling me.
Moment of truth: grab the ball and run back to the locker room or head quietly to the bench? Why is it so hard to be well-behaved all the time?
Taylor Davila demonstrates the effectiveness of ball control using the tongue-sticking-out method.
Sean Totsch demonstrates the effectiveness of ball control using the method of being Sean Totsch.
Somebody check on Dayes because Manny is stealing his moves.
Gleadle and Davila the Meaner wait to enter the match while Coach finishes his Bird calls.
So close, and yet so far.
Davila to the west, Gleadle to the east, where do you think you’re going? We’ll just take that ball, please and thank you.
The last-minute rallying by late subs was worthy of a Gallery if not a goal, and also I haven’t met my Kyle Adams’ quota yet, as imposed by my editor.
Post-Match Media and Match Fan Gallery, all rolled into one!
Bonus content: Some snapshots from Aiden McFadden’s Trash Talk, Sunday, May 31st. Join us next time! Watch for info from @collective_arc_ on Instagram or collectivearc.org )
