00:00Funny Tonight here, running with the Wolves, Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa returning to the country where Mark spent much
00:05of his childhood, Italy, investing in a team and a town long forgotten.
00:10They're hoping you'll cheer on that team too.
00:14Ciao.
00:14Ciao.
00:15On the set with Kelly and Mark, but this is no ordinary visit.
00:19You've really done it.
00:20You've really done it.
00:21You've gone and bought a team.
00:23Good to see you.
00:23Americans have known Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos since their days on All My Children, their acting careers.
00:29Kelly becoming a fixture in the mornings and then Mark joining her.
00:33All right, we're here.
00:34But their newest challenge.
00:35It's beautiful.
00:36To lift the hopes of an entire town back in the country where Mark grew up.
00:41You grew up in Italy for part of your childhood.
00:43The first six, seven years in Italy with your parents and speaking Italian.
00:48My mom really, I attributed her my love for this game.
00:52I remember her crying when the Italians won the World Cup in 1982.
00:56So for me to be able to share these games with her and she gives me post-match critiques
01:03and discussions were very close, but it brought us also very much closer.
01:06She's actually very good.
01:08She should be in team management.
01:09We bought a piece of this soccer team in Italy.
01:12Initially, this all seemed like a good idea.
01:14Be careful what you wish for.
01:16That should have gone in, man.
01:17The two of you root for the underdogs.
01:19Anyone who comes on this show, you take care of them.
01:21You root for them.
01:22You root for the audience.
01:23And I see real parallels with what you're doing in this small town in Italy.
01:30We've always viewed ourselves as underdogs as well, you know, on the other side of the
01:33road for a little bit.
01:34We love that about us.
01:36It's how we all found each other, I mean, really.
01:38This town in this little-known region of Italy, often forgotten, was in danger of losing
01:44their football club that they've had over a hundred years.
01:47In Italy, football is everything.
01:48Everything.
01:50The team is Campo Basso, formed in 1919.
01:54The last time they soared was back in the 80s, then largely forgotten.
02:00The townspeople there cannot believe Mark and Kelly are now there because they believe in
02:06them.
02:06I just want to be a lucky charm.
02:08I don't want to be an unlucky charm.
02:10The dream in the eyes of the children.
02:16When you watch those moments of Mark walking through that town, when they saw this is the
02:22guy who believes in us again, and the Nona's from the balconies waving down to you.
02:27It's so amazing.
02:28It must have been incredible.
02:29It's incredible for them.
02:32They've given players who were once stars a second chance.
02:36And it's not just the players they believe in.
02:39Even the guy who takes care of the pitch.
02:41He's very particular.
02:45There's a moment where you're flat out on the pitch.
02:49This is like my dream.
02:52You must feel sort of the weight of the connection now, this town 4,000 miles away.
02:57The weight is an honor.
02:59It really, really is.
03:00Oh, thank you so much.
03:02Say hi to Kelly for me.
03:04People have been fans for 40, 50 years, come up to you and say thank you, and then conversely
03:09see the little kids who are just now wearing the jerseys and having something to root for.
03:15It's not work.
03:16Again, it's an honor.
03:17And we really want to win for them.
03:20Obviously, we want to win, but we really want to win for the town.
03:24Well, anyone who knows the two of you, they're going to win.
03:26They're going to keep winning.
03:27How are you on the pitch?
03:29We're recruiting.
03:30I can take care of the pitch, baby.
03:33Running with the Wolves premieres tonight and Thursday night, 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
03:37You can then stream it on ESPN+.
03:39Go Wolves.
03:40Good night.
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