We at Constantly Offside see ourselves as a tiny part of a much larger movement, the push to move soccer to the front of every American’s consciousness. As part of this goal, we get to interact with those who are making much more noise than ourselves, people who are leading the charge on a national stage. Justin Brunken, Vice President of the white-hot American Outlaws is one of these people. In LA, we got to see firsthand the sort of movement we want to both contribute to and be a part of, as the AO gathering was like the Constantly Offside crew, both in attitude and energy, but in numbers multiplied by the hundreds. We reached out to the ballerific Brunken, and he kindly responded to our questions, many of which are ridiculous. We do pride ourselves on giving you a new spin on information that you won’t get anywhere else, including the scoop on his love life (sorry ladies, you will have to settle for the oh so single Biggy or Chamo, as our boy Brunken is quite content). We break it down for you after the break…

 

Constantly Offside’s Biggy: First off, how do you grow such a glorious mustache? Look at the man’s gloriousness, and follow him…

Justin Brunken: Well, it takes a few months of hard work and a lot of sacrificing my credibility and respect from others.  But, thanks.

CO: Outside of your extreme talent at mustache growing, tell us a little more about you...what you do, where you are from, why you love American Soccer, how many ladies you generally pull at a time?

JB: I am born and raised in Lincoln, NE, the hotbed of Soccer in the US.  Well, not really, that is why we started The American Outlaws, to help fans in Lincoln and every other city like Lincoln.  I am a co-founder of The American Outlaws.  I grew up playing soccer, playing music, and other random “super cool” activities.  I also went to school for Marketing with the intention of using the degree and education to help promote either music or soccer, and sure enough I get to do one of them at a part/full time basis, on top of my bill-paying 40 hour/week job, which is marketing for a company out here in Nebraska.

As for ladies, from what I remember I did alright, but I can’t really remember.  I have been with the same wonderful woman for 5 years.

 

How did you become involved with the American Outlaws? What exactly do you do? Tell us an embarrassing story about Korey that will allow us to help you move up to president by us publishing it and him being forced to step down....you scratch our back, we scratch yours if you know what I mean....

JB: Me, Korey, and a few other friends always talked about starting something to help grow, unite, and excite the US soccer fans in this country, because we were a little frustrated with what was going on at the time.  So one day we just decided to just do it in 2007, and the rest is history.  Korey and I split most all of the tasks of American Outlaws, but I do a lot of the Marketing and Growth opportunities of American Outlaws.  But our Chapters and members also help grow American Outlaws, so they deserve a lot of the credit for the growth. 

Korey won the coin flip fair and square, so it is his Presidency forever unless being the Tyler Durden of American Outlaws becomes too much for him.

As for embarrassing stories about Korey, there are a lot, but I will let Korey handle this one.

 

CO: Well, I guess this means we are going to have to target Korey next. I like that, target Korey. We don’t really interview people, we target them. And then crush them with our awkward and unrelated questions…No wonder we can’t get many targets.

What is your vision for AO long term?

JB: We want to continue to grow and have chapters in every major city in the US, and yes, Lincoln is a major city.  In the stands, we want to fill an entire stadium with US Soccer Supporters, every home game.  I think this is possible, it just might take a little bit of time, but we are here to be the catalyst.

CO: Your favorite thing about American soccer fans?

JB: The passion and the brotherhood/sisterhood.  It’s like nothing else.

 

CO: Having attended a number of US games, I can testify to this. My favorite US moment ever was a little more than a year ago at the Home Depot Center in LA, where in the parking lot, a group of US fans pulled up, saw us juggling, and asked if they could join. They explained they forgot their ball, we welcomed them right in, and they offered us some beers to shotgun with them. Brotherhood at its finest.

What is something that US soccer games have that no other sporting event does?

JB: There is a passion that other sports can't match, that lasts from the first whistle to the last, without any breaks.  You lose yourself in the action on the field, and are free to react to it however you want in the stands.  If you bring someone to their first US game, make sure they get tickets in the Supporters Section, they will see this too.  Trust me. This is what we are striving to do, so everyone can experience it.  There are also people who travel all over the country to every game, and that bond is unlike other sports.

 

CO: Chamo here, do you think Bob Bradley (affectionately known as Bad Decision Bob here at Constantly Offside) has what it takes for a successful 2010?

JB: No matter what you think of Bob Bradley, it is too late to change coaches at this point.  I guess, if the US has their line up in the Confederations Cup for the World Cup, he can coach them well.  But they are probably coaching themselves.  Since he is coaching players that generally aren't world class, I think he lacks the innovation to change things for players that aren’t experienced at that level. 

 

CO: Certainly an assessment that I feel Chamo would agree with him, I’m sure he will chime in on the comments section.

What are you most scared of heading to South Africa in terms of real life...and where did you book your flight? I still need to book mine...

JB: I don’t think I am scared of anything, but my flight being cancelled on the way to South Africa and forcing me to miss the US v England game.  That is my biggest fear.

CO: Chamo again, thoughts on Jose Francisco Torres, Edgar Castillo and Jermaine Jones?

 JB: I love Jose, since he could have chosen to play for the US or Mexico, and he chose the US first and I think he can make a very good contribution to the USMNT in the future and maybe in the World Cup. 

As for Edgar and Jermaine, I think they could both be great additions to the USMNT, but I really don’t like the fact that playing for the US was their second choice.  It tells me that their heart isn’t fully into it.  So if it came to picking someone for the World Cup roster, I would pick a player that is worse but tried his whole life to play for the USMNT.  That, I can cheer for.  This is either “your country” or not, it’s not a choice.

 

Thanks to Justin Brunken of the American Outlaws for speaking candidly with us, and I encourage you to not only to check out the American Outlaw’s website, but to join today. Not only will you cop a sick shirt and an incredibly legit American flag bandanna, but you will be supporting US soccer in the finest way, joining a grassroots fan movement that stands behind our boys every time they touch the pitch. I cannot stress how important it is for us to support soccer on the home front to continue the meteoric growth of the sport in the US. Not only it’s fistpumpingly cheap at $15. Again, thanks to Justin Brunken, VP of the American Outlaws for an inside look both at himself and AO, and now it’s time to target Korey and see if we can get some embarrassing stories out of him. We will, and I emphasize WILL, get some dirt for our loyal readers. If they are willing to share that dirt…so maybe some dirt.