17 Dec 2025 · 3 min
Brian Johnson takes his son Emerson to watch Toronto FC play Houston. Federico Bernardeschi kicks a ball to Emerson during the match, a moment that sparks Johnson's reflection on what it means to flip the switch between intensity and kindness.
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another heroic one. Last weekend the kids and wifey and I hopped in the car and made a little road trip to Houston. Two hour drive. We checked into our hotel and headed over to Shell Energy Stadium where the Houston Dynamo FC of Major League Soccer play. It was time to watch them play our favorite team, Toronto fc. As you know, if you've been following along, John Herdman has become a dear friend over the years. He's been following me and our work for over a decade and we've been blessed to do some heroic work with his team and the team behind the team this season. Now, Emerson and I have watched nearly every one of their games and he's become one of their biggest fans. So John and his team gave me and the Johnson family team a special day. Thanks Ted and Jordan for your help. Emerson got to connect with some of his favorite players, including his absolute favorite, the Italian superstar Federico Bernadeschi. We got to have fun on the field watching the guys warm up and all that. Now, as we were watching them warm up and execute their drills with surgical precision, one of the most fierce competitors on the team. Seriously, this guy is a beast. Gave Emerson the warmest and kindest smile as he kicked him a ball. It was a little thing, but a really special moment. In fact, I got tears in my eyes typing that feeling into the pure joy Emerson felt when the ball rolled up to his feet and he picked it up. Can I keep it? He asked. I'll see what I can do, I said. Note number one, we got to keep the ball. And it is now the official soccer ball for the one on one matches the kids play on the micro soccer field. I weed whack car for them on our property the following day. Note number two, they play those one on one matches wearing the goalie gloves they got from TFC's incredibly thoughtful goalie coach, Simon Eady. Thanks, Simon. Fun fact, the gloves are nearly bigger than Delano, but that's not quite the point of this plus one. This is after the match. TFC1, let's go. I thank this player that kicked the ball over to Emerson and told him I really admired just how hard and rough he plays and just how kind and thoughtful he was with Emerson. I told him that I thought the juxtaposition of his ferocity during the game and his kindness in that warm up was really special. He smiled and said, when I'm on the pitch, I flip the switch and that's today's plus one. Here's to embracing the full range of our humanity as we flip the switches and play our roles with all the wisdom, discipline, courage and love we've got all day, every day, especially today.
