John: Hello and welcome to hankgames without Hank, where the AFC Wimbledon Wimbly Womblies are swimming in an ocean of cash and it's raining in England. As you can see today we're taking on Huddersfield, Huddersfield playing in the Premier League in real life, but down here in the Second Tier of English football in, uh, 2020 in FIFA. Which, to be fair though, probably playing the Second Tier of English Football in actual 2020 as well. You can see right here they're in second, we're in sixth, this is a big game for us.

We're trying to get up in those automatic promotion spots, uh, finishing one or two. That's what Mr. Managerinio's been about all season.

But it sure is gonna help now that we have a gajillion dollars. Uh, I don't know if you saw our last episode, but we're rich. Uh, I learned a trick where you can hit the right stick and spend fake money, or it could be real money, I have no way of knowing.

By the way, you'll notice that Huddersfield have tie-dyed, uh, kits, which is the worst thing I have ever seen in my life. Uh, so congratulations to Huddersfield on the ugliest kits in FIFA. That's really sayin' something.

I-- today I'm going to solve a problem. I'm in the business of solving your problems. Today's problem comes from Suburban Son, I'm not sure if that's their real name. But, uh, it could just be their username. It's an interesting problem and, uh, one that fascinates me. And I actually think I have a solution for it.

So, I'm gonna read you the problem, but first I  have to stop Huddersfield from scoriiiiiiing... Oh! And also we don't have to sell Roffo, which is good news.

I mean, you know, I don't like to criticize, you guys know I don't like to criticize my players; it's not who I am. But if I had a criticism of Roffo and Hodor it would be that neither of them is able to catch the ball. They both seem good at stopping shots, but neither of them can, like, stop the ball from rolling away from them for an obvious opportunity.

And, uh, that's what I'd really like to see. Um, there's a good catch! Alright, so Suburban Son says, "I want to apply to West Point and join the army, but my parents said they would not support me at all and I would be on my own to do it."

Well, here's the deal. Uh, if you apply to West Point, I'm pretty- Meredith, isn't West Point free? If you get in. Will you google that for me? Because I would think the army would pay for your education if you go to West Point. It seems like they should. Uh, I mean we spend 69 million dollars on the army per hour. So surely they can make an- they can afford the occasional free West Point-

No! It's gotta be in! It is. It's a goal. It's a phenomenal goal. It's from other John Green who scores a goal in his first game since signing that big three year contract. Big money. No whammies. John Green with the goal, from bald John Green to I think that was outer field player to Vinny Thrill to John Green finishes. 

Is West Point free? Yeah it seems like it should be free. If it's not free, I feel like I've gotta have a conversation with um, with our newly elected congress. 

Uh, so your parents are saying like you have to do this all on your own. But like this is actually something that you can do all on your own, right? Like, um, you can go- you can apply to West Point by yourself. And in fact, like I think that's a good thing to- like I think that's a good habit to get into. Like doing things by yourself.

Um, you know doing things with sort of minimal support. I think it's a good habit to get into. So my solution to your problem is that I'm gonna strongly encourage you to apply to West Point. Now for those of you who don't know, West Point is like the United States military academy. There's one for each branch of the armed services I think. I know there's one for the navy, and uh and the air force. But I don't know if there's like a marine college. But obviously it's not my area of expertise.

I uh- But West Point is very prestigious school, very difficult to get into. A lot of people apply, not that many people get in.

You need a letter from your congressperson, or a congressperson, uh that recommends you in order to get in, but then you also need you know, just to get in and it's not easy to get in and a lot of people want to go. So, uh, I think you should apply. Does that mean I think you should go, not necessarily, um, because I think you need to continue having this conversation with your parents.

I think you're imagining it and—that was a terrible shot (?~4:26)—maybe even your parents are imagining it as a dichotomy. But in fact, like, you know, applying is part of a process and I think it is a good thing for you—I don't think much would be hurt by you applying to West Point. Applying doesn't mean you have to go, it also doesn't mean you're going to get in.

I, you know, it's funny that this should come up now, because my son is eight, so obviously it's a little premature to be making, you know, career plans of any kind, but, you know, one of the things that he's interested in is serving in the military. He has members of his family, of our family, who've served in the military and it's something we've had a lot of conversations about.

It's complicated for me, you know, even that thought at the age of eight is complicated for me. And I think you've gotta understand why it might be complicated for your parents. You've gotta understand why it may be difficult for them. Some of that may have to do with politics, some of it may have to do just with the fact that they don't want you to be in harm's way, because you know, that's parents. They want to take pain and worry away from their kids .

Every parent wants their kid to have a great life. And, you know, like I said, I've had family members in the military who've had really wonderful experiences. I also have had friends and family in the military who had bad experiences. You know, I think in the US we tend to imagine serving in the Armed Forces somewhat monolithically; that there is like one job that people in the Armed Forces do, and there's a lot of strong opinions about that job.

I don't think that is the truth. There are multiple branches of the military and there are many ways of serving in the military, within each branch of service. So, I think that should also be part of the conversation you have with your parents. What kind of service do you see for youself, what kind of career path do you want that to lead to? Oh no, I've been injured. Do you have a plan for that path after your period of service ends, you know, whether you want the military to be your career.

Even if you want it to be your career, for most people it's a 15 to 20 year career, not a full career for all of adulthood. Obviously that isn't the case for everybody, but yeah. So, I think asking your parents to be open to those conversations and talking to them about it, you know approaching it—oh no he's injured he's badly injured, we need to get him out of the game—approaching it from the perspective of: 'I want to have these conversations with you, and I want you to be part of these conversations,' but ultimately that stuff is your choice.

That's the way that the system works in the United States; you turn 18 and you are an adult and you make your choices, and I think that's the way that  it—oh my God I've scored another goal, oh my goodness gracious me. Oh boy, I'm so—and it's a little heart-shaped excitement. Who was that? I don't believe I know him, who are you? Mm, you should feel bad with that haircut. 

Was that, it wasn't Frankenstein was it? Who was that barging out of central mid-field with so much enthusiasm and passion? Was it the substitute I just brought into the game? Could it be, that I'm that much of a genius? Oh, they've made a substitution.

Meredith, I've made a substitution. I've brought off Vinnie Thrill(?~8:51), who wasn't having a great game, and then Dean Parrett scored a phenomenal goal because I am a managing genius. What's the problem? Oh, I get a free kick. I'm gonna make my other two substitutions. I'm gonna preserve my beloved John Greens because they've been through a lot.

And I'm gonna bring on Will Grigg. Will Grigg, who's played 400 different times for me and has not scored a goal, is gonna get another chance. Um, now that we've got a lot of money, I gotta tell you, having Will Grigg on the books looks worse and worse. I can't help but think that we could get a better, uh, there might be a better attacking player out there who offers us a little more than Grigsy's offering us right now.

But yeah, look ultimately this is gonna be your decision, but your parents love you. They have put a tremendous amount of time and love into your growth as a person. And I think because of that, I think it's important to listen to them. You don't have to agree with them. You don't have to, in the end, do what they want you to do, but I do think it's important to listen to them.

and to respect their opinion, and to take it seriously, and to understand that there are, always gonna be things that you don't yet know about yourself that your parents, in some ways, do know about you. Because they knew you when you were 1, and you didn't know yourself then, if that makes any sense.  You know? Like-

Oh! Score! Score! Oh my god. Oh my god. Nope it's Solanki. [laughter] I thought for a second it might've been Will Grigg. But it wasn't. It wasn't. It was Solanki, who's had a great season to be fair. It's unfortunate that he's on loan, because I feel like he fits in with the Wimbly Wombly model really well. And- I mean that's a good finish.

Um, anyways- Um, yeah. I mean that's a really good finish. And we're up 3-nil. Things are looking really good against the second place team. This is the kind of performance I was looking for after a massive, uh, financial investment that I made into this club. I was looking for premiere league football, and we're definitely one giant step closer to that now. 

So, I mean it's hard not to start to feel excited! I mean we're definitely on pace for the playoffs, but I think with the new players that we're gonna be able to purchase with (?~11:19)Rotho and Hordor holding it down in goal, with our fairly strong central defense, with Solanki for the rest of the season, with the John Greens, I mean you've gotta think- You've gotta think that we've got a chance.

And- ugh, Will Grigg has been dispossessed in hideous circumstances. I've been very hard on him. But he also hasn't been very good.

So yeah, that's what I would say. I would say nothing is gonna be hurt by you applying. Uh, listen to your parents, even if you don't agree with them. Listen to them respectfully. I think that's a huge part of life. I mean that's- There are a lot of cases in my life when I disagreed with my parents.

and they were right in the end, but the process of disagreeing with them was very-was very productive for me. Like, I learned a lot about  myself. And there were also a few times, for the record, when i think they were wrong.

It's gotta go to Will Grig, it's gotta go to Will Grig, you gotta finish that. *inhales* oh, it's the best possible ending to the game. It is the most wonderful ending to the game. Will grig is on fire. Your defense is terrified Will Grig is on fire yes, he did it, he did it, he scored a goal. Admittedly it was a tap and selanki(?~12:40) did all of the work but I mean it's a nice run from Will Grig and then a solid finish, you know.

It was a tight angle, it wasn't- it wasn't a guaranteed goal. It was a solid finish. It's four nill to the good guys. Huddersfield in complete collapse and actually it was Will Grig's second goal he scored in a game where I simmed the game so I didn't see the goal but I'm very- I'm proud of him nonetheless and I mean is he part of our future? Maybe he's gonna grow into the game. Maybe Will Grig is only now getting good and is about to light the world on fire. I don't know. Probably not but you know, hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.

Anyway, A wish you luck suburban son. Ahh and I'd be interested to know how it goes like I'd love to check in in ten years and see how the arc of your life looks and how you feel about it. Uhh, try to take the long view. Listen to your parents. Respect them but also sometimes you gotta disagree with them and uhh do what you think is best. Alright, thanks for watching, best wishes.