Welcome back to 11 Questions presented by Piedmont Natural Gas — a weekly questionnaire series designed for you to get to know the people that make up Greenville Triumph Soccer Club. Each week, our own Marion Cole will ask someone from the organization the same ten questions, but the eleventh question will be from the previous interviewee. With players, coaches, and front office staff involved, we hope to bring you a fun look inside our club!
This week, I’m speaking with team manager and technical staff member, Josh Shaw. A resident of Greenville and graduate of Clemson University, Josh began working for the Triumph as the club’s Community Relations Manager.
1. If you had a podcast, what would it be about and why?
If I had to create a podcast, I would definitely do something with music. Anytime that I’m alone, I have some type of music going whether it’s EDM, Rap, Jazz, Indie, or in RARE cases, Country. There is rarely a silent moment. So yeah, I think it would be really interesting to have artists come in and talk about lyrics, new songs and any other topics we run across. So maybe a cross between music and cultural influence. I think it’d be pretty insightful and entertaining. My first guest would be Quinn XVII. He’s a great lyricist and talented musician.
2. How do you decompress after a long week of work or training?
To be honest, I have a lot of trouble with decompression. My week is pretty full with work, so the weekend is the only time I get to really get after my hobbies. Golf is near the top of my list, but often times that can just stresses me out more. But going out for a good meal with friends or trying something new always seems to make me happy. This past weekend, I went river tubing and that was super relaxing.
3. What’s the most memorable meal you’ve ever had and why?
Oof. That’s a toughie. I have had the opportunity to try all sorts of food and eat at tons of restaurants over the years, but I will never forget a meal that I had off the coast of Florida. I went deep sea fishing with my dad and few of his buddies, and I was super nervous because it was the first time I went fishing in the ocean, and I have a tendency to get motion sickness. As we it got late into the day, we started running on a hot streak and brought in close to 20 fish in less then an hour and a half. We were so excited, so we ended up eating so much ceviche, probably too much, and watched the sunset. Wahoo was the best ceviche we had. The memories created on that day will always have a spot in my mind.
4. What was the most nervous you’ve ever been?
I always try to keep a cool head under pressure, but honestly the most nervous I can remember being was during a summer semester in college. I had enrolled myself in Calculus for the third time in my academic career. Needless to say the first two didn’t go well… And I was failing by one point going into the final. I remember my heart beating out of my chest for the entire two hours, and I would literally pray after every question in hopes of passing the final and in turn the class. My shirt was soaked after I left the room. Within the next 48 hours, I probably checked my grades every 30 seconds. I passed by three points and properly treated myself to an entire $5 Little Caesars Pizza.
5. If you’re up at 2AM on a Saturday night, what are you eating?
Easiest question ever! I am getting into ice cream, it doesn’t matter what kind, but I do have a special place in my heart for Jeni’s. The Lavender flavor is tremendous. If you have never had that ice cream, you are really missing out. And if you’re curious, no there are no healthy options! There’s something about the consistency and how subtle all the flavors are, never too sweet.
6. What’s something you learned recently that blew your mind?
Anyone that knows me well knows that I am a Reddit fiend. That being said, I have come across some pretty interesting things. But the thing that blew my mind most recently is the fact that the average person will spend six months of their life waiting on red lights to turn green. No kidding, half a year! That’s astonishing that we spend half a year of our lives sitting in a car, much less at red lights. But, wait, I propose another fact: Five of those six months waiting on the light to turn are when you’re already running late!
7. Triumph SC announces they’re bringing a celebrity to the next match and wondering if you have enough time to say, “Hello.” Who’s the celebrity you’re most excited to have at a match?
Interesting question, assuming that they must currently be alive, I think I would go with Tony Dungy, former Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts. He is just an incredible person and exudes so many good quality character traits. I am a huge fan of anyone that sets a positive example with their platform, and he’s been through a ton of adversity and still has unwavering faith. I have read his devotional and it helped me through a tough time in my life. “Hello” is the least I would say. My first question to him would be, “What’s the biggest parallel between sports and faith?”
8. What’s the most memorable sports moment you’ve had as a fan?
Apart from the obvious choice of being at both of Clemson’s National Championship victories, right? In 2018, I went to visit one of my friends in Washington, DC. At the time he was working for DC United, and he got us tickets to a game. United was taking on Orlando, and it looked to be an entertaining game on paper. Plus I got to watch Wayne Rooney play in person, and even though he was with Man U, which is my least favorite team, he is a legend and deserves respect for how he plays.
But onto the actual moment you asked me about…It was tied 2-2, and in the last minute of stoppage time, Orlando broke pressure and created a breakaway. Right before playing the final pass, out of nowhere, Rooney makes an incredible slide tackle from behind! Then plays a 50-yard ball on a rope to the back post where Luciano Acosta finished to make it 3-2 as time essentially expired. The place erupted. I was jumping around, hugging random people, screaming. Best part was that slide tackle happened 20 feet in front of me. Absolute INSANITY!
9. What sporting event have you always wanted to go to and why?
The World Cup, no doubt in my mind. Everything about it seems to be perfect. The destinations, the venues, fans from all over the world and soccer of course! Being surrounded by so many different cultures all whilst being in a new place with the beautiful game uniting everyone. A truly ideal scenario.
10. If you’re part of a PK lineup, what number are you taking your penalty kick?
I am going 4th. PK’s are one of the most exciting parts of soccer and probably my favorite thing to take part in! Over the years I have taken thousands of penalties in practice, coaching, games, and so on. And the feeling of scoring one-on-one with a keeper is unmatched. I choose fourth because most of the time that’s the deciding penalty, and I love the pressure!
11. Triumph Golden Glove winner, Dallas Jaye, told me you are quite the golf aficionado. He wanted me to ask you, “How would you rank the Triumph technical staff as golfers? Yourself included. From best to worst.”
What an interesting and well thought out question, I know what’s been on Dallas’s mind…So, I present to you Josh’s Technical Staff Golf Power Rankings:
1. Alex “3 Jack” Blackburn
2. Josh “Red Stakes” Shaw
3. Marcus “Left It Short” Siler
4a. Rick “Not Wrong” Wright
4b. John “Shot in the Dark” Harkes
6. Ryan “Big Mac” McKie
If you want to know how they got their nicknames you can ask them. They’re really accurate is all I gotta say.
He also challenges the technical staff to one round, winner takes all. Any course, any time. Response?
Dallas and team: the Technical Staff responds by formally challenging the players to a Captain’s Choice Match at Fox Run Country Club aka Chambers Bay of the Upstate. Time and Date TBD. Winner gets bragging rights, champion t-shirts and a commemorative ball marker. Practice up, boys, you’ll need it!
Next week, I’m speaking with Triumph defender and former League One Champion, Cesar Murillo. What would you like me to ask Cesar?
As the Triumph’s resident barber, how much do you charge for a haircut? Also, I’ve seen a lot of fades, what else do you have in the bag?
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