Sebastian Salazar has done it all in soccer media, serving as a broadcaster, sideline reporter, studio host and podcaster.
Having covered multiple FIFA World Cups and graced sidelines across Major League Soccer venues, his enthusiasm for the beautiful game has only grown with every passing year that he has spent in soccer media.
As a media pro with over 20 years of experience under his belt, Salazar recently linked up with Men in Blazers to host Duel Nats alongside longtime Fútbol Americas co-host and former United States men’s national team forward Herculez Gomez.
Salazar spoke with Athlon Sports in detail about Duel Nats, which debuted Wednesday on the Men in Blazers media network.
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"As somebody who’s been in the business a long time, I have looked around and watched the business of soccer television and content unfold," Salazar said. "It’s not every day that you see ambition in the space or that you see growth in the space or that you see real investment in the space.
"As Men in Blazers has grown, expanded and created these verticals and all these successes and grown into this force, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t watching what they were doing and thinking about it and noticing it and in some way kind of jealously being like wow I’d like to be a part of something like that."
Gomez, Salazar Bring Real Soccer Conversations to the Table
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In an era where too many performative hot-take artists have dominated the sports debate space, Salazar and Gomez are striving to bring authentic conversations to soccer fans.
"I think a lot of times when you watch today’s hot take sports culture, you can question the authenticity of what’s being said," Salazar mentioned.
"When you watch what we do, I think it’s really hard to question our authenticity. These dudes are talking about something that they generally care about. They might be wrong as heck about it, but I cannot question how much they know or how much they care because I sense it, and hopefully, if they know us, they’ve kind of followed our careers for a while, and they know who we are and why we say the things that we do."
Gomez and Salazar’s chemistry can be compared to the passionate debates that Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert sparred over when reviewing films. At the end of the day, Siskel and Ebert were close friends despite the heated arguments that would unfold on Siskel & Ebert & the Movies.
"Herc and I are very natural together," Salazar said. "We enjoy being together. There’s an authenticity to that. We also annoy the hell out of each other at times like cousins do. From the viewer’s standpoint, when you’re watching us, you may disagree vehemently with one of us or both of us, but there’s no doubt about the authenticity from where the argument is coming."
Siskel and Ebert could never be accused of being inauthentic. Their debates were not manufactured, and what they said resonated with their audience. The same can be said when Salazar and Gomez tackle the latest happenings in the soccer universe.
"Ever since I started working at ESPN almost a decade ago, Herc and I were lumped together on projects," Salazar said. "The name of the project changed a variety of times. What never changed was the enjoyment of working with Herc and having somebody who was so like-minded to me in some ways but so different in other ways with whom to talk soccer with."
Men in Blazers have led the way in creating a space for real soccer conversations. Duel Nats follows in the success of European Nights, Friendlies, The Give N Go and other shows within the Men in Blazers' vibrant stable of programs.
"You’re seeing in the people that they’re hiring, the shows that they’re launching, there’s not just an ambition but a commitment to creativity that is unique and doesn’t exist everywhere," Salazar said. "I see all the investment that’s going in and the great content it’s creating for fans and the great opportunities it’s creating for broadcasters and content creators."
Duel Nats can be found weekly on Vamos on the Men in Blazers media network.