First Things First - 100 days until 2026 World Cup, Kyler Murray to be released, Chris Richards joins, King of the Hill

Episode Date: March 4, 2026

(0:00) Most to Gain/Lose for 2026 World Cup (24:06) Giannis returns, Will Tatum impact the Celtics’ chemistry? (40:45) Rashid Shaheed, Mike Evans linked to Bills (44:29) Chris Richards joins (56:33) King of the Hill (01:17:19) World Cup 2026: Who Ya Got? (01:24:01) Kyler Murray to be released, Danny’s Top 10 NBA Teams (01:47:43) Maurice Edu joins (01:57:06) Contenders or Pretenders (02:05:42) Messi’s Top 100 World Cup Moment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi from New York. It's a show that is counting down to the World Cup. We are 100 days away, and Nick has World Cup fever. Man. To the point that he was yelling at us about all the research that he was doing last night, just because he did several solo segments that he demanded. I'll do it. I'm like, all right, you chime in.

I said, that's fine. But I am excited. I can't wait. For 100 days to World Cup. We've got Chris Richards coming up on the show. We have got highlights. We're counting down 100 greatest plays. Drew, are you excited for the World Cup?

I'm hyped up. Okay, hold on to that one second. We also have the mascots of the World Cup. Maple the Moose, representing Canada. Maple the Moose. I can't believe they keep doing it. Say you the Jaguar. And clutch the bald eagle representing the United States.

Wow. Clutch. Welcome. Oh, I got you. Come on up. This is just sight issues. Fantastic. These folks look fantastic. This is going to be wonderful.

Oh, man. How many days? 100 days to the World Cup. Bam. Wow. Just excellent. Oh, I got to move a little bit. Triple.

Triple banner. That's hot. And I will say this, KW. This is my favorite sporting event. Now, part of that is because it is special. and it's every four years. Sure. But the fact that only eight countries

have ever won this thing, the fact that this is the world's, more people play this sport than any other, and more people care about it than any other, it is, I can't really put to words because obviously soccer on a day-to-day basis is not my favorite sport, but this is my favorite sporting event.

And in fact that Fox has it, that it's in the U.S., that maybe our boss is sitting there, We go to a few games. Yeah. The show. There's one at Gillette, I don't know.

There's one at Jerry World, the final is in New Jersey. Kansas City's hosting Argentina. I don't know. I'm just saying. France is in Gillette. I can't wait. We've got these sick mascots.

Yeah, it's pretty good. First hour, first things first coverage over the full three hours here. Today, US men's national team player of the year. Chris Richards joins the show. He talks about our group stage. He had members had some choice comments for He's Paraguay.

He's spicy. Oh, I love him. Meanwhile, why did one head coach laugh at the Eagles when they talked about A.J. Brown? We discussed whether A.J. Brown should still be on the Eagles when the season starts. And finally, the latest edition of King of the Hill. Is SGA going to be? Big changes. There was a lot going on on King of the Hill.

Friendly a segment in all sports alongside Chris Bessar and Kevin of the House. Not a movement. Nick, too much movement on King of the Hill? So here's the deal. King of the Hill coming up in a little under 90 minutes, I made an executive decision because unlike the tiers where there's a committee or Mahomes Mountain where there is a rich history of precedent,

I decided that King of the Hill needed to be more fluid story than rich tapestry. And it's not a little bit of a player, a little more player of the week than Mahomes Mountain is mountain is because or best player in the league in the NBA is something somebody just sometimes holds for four years it's just the guy and so if I was just held to Yokit or Shay has to be number one every it loses a little bit of the flare got to move so and I open myself up to it is a new person at number one

someone who's never been at number one but has the pedigree of someone who could be atop the mountain so like it yeah it'll be good or loss is spot it everybody, okay. Droker lost his spot. I didn't love the flopping around yesterday. Didn't help. You beat the jazz by three, you're out. Yeah, exactly right.

Just one of the rules. Yeah, exactly. All right, first hour, first things first coming your way. We are, of course, starting with the countdown to the World Cup. We are 100 days away. Starting on June 11th, it runs to July 19th, the final across the river. 48 teams, 104 matches, all on Fox and FS1. 40 in prime time.

Here's what Team USA. USA is looking at group stage schedule. June 12th against Paraguay in LA, June 19th, against the Aussies in Seattle. Then June 25th will be in LA, but we are still waiting to see who our opponent is going to be. We've got, there's another tournament in Europe coming up. So we'll figure out of those four

to Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkey, or Romania. Nick, to see a lot to gain here, a lot of legacies for entire countries to see who has the most to gain. many countries most a game. Right. So when we were in Miami, when a year out from the World Cup is why we were there, we did the players with the most to game.

And that list is mostly unchanged. So I didn't want to just run it back the same as before. So instead, and these were the players. You have maybe the best player in the world, Jamal, the two all-time legends, you know, Messi trying to go back to back. We're all trying to get his first. America's guy. and then four guys from the best player, arguably,

on four teams that absolutely could win. And so that's what it was, but now. Is that when Alexi was jumping on you? That is exactly right. That's when Alexi Lalas was jumping on me. He didn't, I don't know which one of these he took the most issue with, but he took some issue and we were all sweating

through our suits. We are now in an air condition studio. The eight countries with the most to gain with maybe a little historical update for any folks that are parachuting into the world Cup about why these teams have what they have to gain. Number eight, the country I grew up rooting for in this tournament, Italy. But they got to make the tournament first.

So this is unbelievable. So they are one of the teams that is fighting to get in, like Turkey A that we showed. So they have to beat Northern Ireland and then beat the winner of Wales, Bosnia, just to get in. They have won this tournament four times. My life growing up, it was Brazil. Germany and Italy as the teams for this tournament. But now they've missed two cups in a row. They're on the cusp of missing another one.

And so they have a ton to gain just by getting back in the World Cup for the first time in more than a decade. Number seven, Portugal. Now, Rinaldo, Cristiano Rinaldo is banged up, but we expect him to play, and that would be his sixth World Cup. They co-host this event in 2030. They have made the semis twice in the nation's history.

They've never won it. And pre-Cristiano-Rinaldo, they were never really a threat to win it. This is almost assuredly his final tournament. See how Cristiano-Rinado and Portugal can do. Number six, Germany, which, you know, previously West Germany. They have been to eight World Cup finals, post-World War II until 2014. There were 16 World Cups play. They made the semis, meaning the final four or better, in 12 of the 16.

They made the final in 8 of the 16. They won four of the 16 from again 1954 until 2014. Since then, though, they have failed to get out of the group stage the last two tournaments. They are once again one of the favorites, but after being the defining European team of this tournament, The last two World Cups, massive disappointment, try to bounce back this time. A very similar story to Germany except on the Western Hemisphere side.

Brazil. This is, to me, the soccer nation in the world. From 1958 until 2002, there were 12 World Cups. They won five of them. They had a stretch from 94 to 02 of going first, second, first. But since 02, 2, 2. But since 2002, they have only gotten out of the quarters, meaning the final eight, one time.

And that actually led to a humiliating home defeat 7-1 to Germany in the semifinals. So after being the dominant team brew for basically 50 years from Pele, the original Ronaldo, everybody. The last 25 years, it's been disappointment. Go ahead. You have an opinion on the decline, if you will? I don't because it would be such Monday morning quarterbacking by me, because if you checked either my betting history or my take history dating back to my college radio show,

I think I've picked Brazil every single World Cup. You have. Yeah, every year, I'm like, well, obviously. Like, they just always feel like they have the most talent. And again, my whole life growing up, that was Brazil versus the field. Brazil was basically the smart bet. And again, it's not like the situation Germany's in

where they're not getting out of the group stage, but they are just getting knocked out early. And then the one time they went on deep run was when they hosted the World Cup and Germany was up, I think, six nothing at halftime. It was just horrifying. All right, number four, Spain.

They are the favorite. They have the best player. Along with Portugal, they host the next World Cup. The last time there was this much optimism surrounding a Spanish team in the World Cup. They were the defending champs. It was the final tournament for their golden generation in 2014, and they lost in mortifying fashion in the group stage to not get out.

This Spanish team should win. They are the Vegas favorite and deserving Vegas favorite, but again, the last time they were in that position, they did not even make it to the knockout round. They're at number four. Number three, the defending champ, The only back-to-back champions in this tournament's history is Italy, pre-World War II, and Brazil with Pele. They would officially, in my opinion, if they were to win it, take the mantle from Brazil of the Western Hemisphere Soccer Nation.

North America, South America. Well, I mean, they would have two with Meridana, two with Messi. Brazil is in this downstretch. Like they would have that real validity and going back to back in this tournament. Like I said, it hasn't been done in 60 years. Messy would increase his goat lead. Oh. Like you wouldn't believe.

No, it would be. I think it would. Here's a take on the fly. Take on the fly. I think there's an argument that to this day, the world's most famous athlete is Michael Jordan living. Like I think there's a take that he is still the. I think that if they were to do this,

that would, he would, messy would undeniably become the most famous athlete in the world. That is a take. No, I'm not setting up most to lose. I'm not, I'm not,

I'm not. I totally know. I'm totally. We know what's coming up. Three in a row now as far as I got the World Cup. Number two, England. So nothing but disappointment in major tournaments, aside from the 1960s.

66 World Cup. This is a, their World Cup history is just tattered with gut-wrenching, heartbreaking losses for a team that multiple times has had enough talent to win it. But you could argue this is their most talented team. They, they are friends at Draft Kings have them with either the second or the third best odds to win the entire tournament. They have the second most to gain. But no one has more to gain.

And I don't mean to be a homer than the United States. of America and what that win would mean for soccer. Forget the fact that if within six months, we peel off a gold medal and hockey in the World Cup, which are not either one of our main sports, but since World War II, we have only, we've gotten out of the group stage just five times. We've only made the quarterfinals one time. However, there is no greater, and this applies to Mexico and Canada as well in this tournament, there is no greater home field advantage.

than home field in the World Cup. There have been 22 World Cups held. 13 times the host nation has made at least the semis. Six times the host nation has won the entire thing. England's only whenever they were hosting. Sweden's only final ever they were hosting. Chile and South Korea's only semifinal ever. They were hosting.

Switzerland, Mexico and Russia's best finish ever, they were hosting. There is a real. edge and the U.S. for a time, its best finish ever was when it was hosting in 94, they then trumped it in 02. There is a real edge. I don't know if it's the crowd. I don't know if it's officiating. I don't know what it is to being the host nation.

The U.S. while it's sharing it, obviously, the final and the final games are in the United States and what it would mean for worldwide soccer and soccer in the U.S. if they were to win, they have the most of game. Great most of gambling. Well done. I love the energy. I love this

tournament, man. It would be like for the final. It was if he's like, SGA could be the best effort, four times 30 points of games. All right, but that was good, Nick. And look, we're not expected to win it, but once upon a time there was the miracle on ice. I won't go with what we just did in hockey because we weren't as big of underdogs as our soccer team. But we'll see. Maybe we can get it done. All right, I'm going to start off with a question for you because you've got the top six.

almost all the top six or seven teams in the world in there, except France. So why isn't France in there? So I thought about that and they were probably the team that could have replaced Italy. I felt like Italy just like not making the tournament is so jarring. France has won two in the last 30 years with two different generations, if you will, of players. Like they had the Zenadine Zadhan team with the famous headbutt. They obviously had Mbapé's run a few, you know,

a couple World Cup of, two World Cups ago. So it doesn't feel like it would be, like they are in a drought, and it also doesn't feel like this would be dynastic, so to speak. And so that's, now maybe it could be, I mean, and by the way, they definitively can win it. Oh, yeah. And they are one of the, you know, they are, they have a legitimate claim that they, this century, have been Europe's premier team.

Since Germany, as I described, falling off a bit, Croatia, oddly, has been very good in this tournament, but it's not up to that level. And England's never done won this tournament. It's probably them or Spain. But go ahead. My addition is Senegal. Wow. All right. I have a soft spot in my heart for Senegal.

I'll spend some time over there working on a story about basketball over there a couple decades ago. So, but Nick, they, I mean, they're obviously a long time. They're 12th in the country in the world. in the world, I'm sorry, in the latest FIFA rankings. And Morocco finished fourth in 2022. They just beat Morocco in the African Cup of Nations tournament. So they are like for any of the long shots and you throw in the United States and that, if they win it, obviously they got a ton to gain.

But I feel like Senegal, because again, right, 12th coming off the big win against Morocco, and they've been in the last three World Cups. I've only been at four, but their last three ones. So soccer's on the uptick there. I feel like they, I wouldn't say have a great chance to win it. They're in France and Norway is in their group, so that's going to be tough. But I think they've got more of a chance than most of the long shots. So I think Senegal would have a run.

This kind of dovetails into mine. And I think it's hard for us to maybe wrap our heads around it because we have been trained on the Vince Lombardi. Winning isn't, you know. Everything, it's the only thing. We've been trained on it. We've been trained on it. It's been drilled into my head.

What is it again? If France wins and England gets close, that's still a win for England. Oh, I guess. Absolutely. I disagree on England. Yes, but if we'll take, if Norway, if Norway gets the semifinals, that's an amazing run. There's wins in here. A lot of like Chicago Bears types teams in here.

Hey, you didn't get to the final. A lot of times if you get to the finals and lose all of a sudden, your season didn't even matter. No, hold on. Can I say something about a single goal before you go? I just want to add to Bruce Point. So Ghana was kind of carrying the torches, the best African nation in this tournament. Well, just African nation in general, I would argue.

Because Ghana had real success. And, you know, they had surpassed. Egypt or Saudi Arabia or any of the other countries that have made the tournament in the past. Senegal, an African nation winning this tournament, I think would have a similar effect as the United States winning it, as far as what it would mean for a shake of who can win it. You know what I mean? Because this has this, this understandably has been a tournament tournament that Europe and South America take turns and winning because those are the two. continents where the best soccer players have come from forever to the most historic soccer nations. But we see now a ton of the best players in Europe.

Yes. Are African-born who are, you know, naturalized, you know, into European teams, European countries. So I think an African nation winning it in Senegal's got as good of a shot as anybody to be huge. Go ahead. Before I give my answer, I just want to put some stakes in the ground. Oh, my. Because I know there's going to be a bit of a land grab.

here as we go through the World Cup. Oh, this is my team. This is my guy. I'm not stealing your team. I'm just saying, I don't know your team. Is it Frank? Is it? Is it France? Yes. He just, he just said it. It's in the document. I put, you didn't have France. I put France in there is my pick. I liked him Bella and I like him Boppe a lot, but I will give you the nod to France since they are also sponsored by Jordan and you have a relationship. And Broussard is a French name. Yeah, everybody knows. Okay, that's, okay, that's like Smith.

It's like in France. Right. Okay, so I need a new powerhouse team. I'm gonna go with Spain then. Well, who, who, all, you're all very similar like a young, a young, great. No, it's a powerhouse team. Yeah.

But this is my underdog. Oh, I was gonna say, I assume you're doing your power house team here. No, not doing my powerhouse team. No, not doing my underdog team. Smart. If you remember, a weird and wonderful back in November. And I said, you know what?

This is my squad. Curacao! Wow! Oh, yeah. That's right. And again, Curisal is not going to win everything. No, but Curacao making it out of the group stage would be unreal. If they can win two games, it would be marvelous. They're in Group E with Germany, tough, ranked 10th.

That's Curacao. Ivory Coast is ranked 37th. Ecuador is ranked 23rd. They're ranked 81. Yeah, that's a tough spot. Here is their profile. They are the smallest country ever to reach the World Cup by population and land area. I like that one by land area. They did go unbeaten in Concaf.

They had some big victories. And they're playing in their first ever World Cup. So if Curisal can get a few wins, if you're looking to root for an underdog, that'd be huge. Join me, join Team Curis. And let me just add one other note. Also, I can get there quickly, you know? Yeah, and getting out of the group stage this year,

is different because you mentioned, Brew, I think for Senegal, how it has two very good teams in its group, but some third place teams will make it out this year. Because there's 12 groups of four, so 48 teams, and 32 make it. So top two in every group,

plus the best third place teams from every group, or eight of the best third place teams will make it. So you could come in third and still make it out depending on how you do. So there will be some, Cinderella's that make it to the knockout.

All right, you can't have rain without a little bit of rain. It's time now, unfortunately, for the most to lose. But again, it's all countries. So Michael George- Is it? It is. It is, and to God, it's all countries. You're going to see.

Number five is Italy, for all the reasons I said before. Like, they got to make the tournament. Like, if they don't make it. If they don't make the tournament, if Italy misses three straight World Cups, and this field is 48. Like you just said, no disrespect to Kiersel. We're in. We're in.

Yeah. Time to understand. focus on the world baseball classic. Yeah, yeah, and our guy, pass basketball. You know the manager? What? Posada. Oh, really?

I didn't know that. Number four, us. You just got to, at a minimum must make the knockout round. You're hosting. Yes. You got a great draw as far as your group with no team ranked in the top 25 other than you and your group.

Minimum threshold is make it out of the group stage. Number three, my squad, Brazil. Another disappointing World Cup, and starting to feel a little cowboysy. Great brand. Once upon a time, the dominant force. People like me, it's like, I grew up rooting for him. Are you Brazilian? No, had you been there?

No, do you know? No, but Ronaldo had the sickest Nike commercial ever, and I loved it. And then Ronaldinho. Now, don't reveal it because Bruce is going to think he knows, because number two on Most Toulouse is always same guy. But it's always countries. But this is countries. Yeah.

The country with the second most to lose. Jordan. There. Listen, everyone is rooting for you. You are a huge underdog. You're in Argentina's group and one of the toughest draws imaginable. Just don't get embarrassed. Just don't get beat up, Jordan.

You have the second most to lose. And number one, Spain. Because you're hosting next year, you're the favorite. The last time you were the favorite, you got mortified in the group stage. You have a stacked roster. Even though you won in 2010, people thought thought of that Spanish kind of era of soccer, a little under achieving golden generation. You had all the, and at least under achieving in the World Cup, only winning the one.

And now you're the favorites. You have you them all. Just you got it. I feel like it is semi-final or bust for Spain. And anything short of that is going to be a massive disappointment. That's the most to lose. Excellent. Excellent Jeff.

See, George wasn't on there. Yeah, I told you. I heard about Michael Jordan being on it. Oh, no, no. 100 days to the World Cup. We've got highlights coming up. We've got the massive. We've got an interview with a defenseman Chris Richards.

Yes. The top of the hour, 100 days to the World Cup. This is great. And more first things first on FS1 in the Fox Sports Show on Sirius X-F. I got you. There you go. I'm a feather. I'm a feather.

Yeah. Check out our podcast. Gianna just told me we have the best podcast in the world. Now, I don't know if that was. was statistically based or just her opinion. Also, our YouTube channel has a billion views total. And right now we're on the path to, what did you see? We're almost that two billion, Giaz said?

We're not almost. But we're more than halfway there. Exactly. I would consider that. Al, I've learned on this show, you can literally say anything. Afternoon headlines. Sponsored by Hilton Garden. And Hilton for this day.

Al Harrington here. Thanks for joining us again now. Janus returned after he missed five weeks with his cap injury. Tatum was out, Jalen Brown was out, Cato was out. Celtics win by 27. Yonis had 19 and 11 in 25 minutes. Here he was after the game. Right now, be honest with you, I'm just happy that I'm out there.

Now I've dealt with three injuries this year. And I'm just, I'm just happy that I'm doing what I love. Obviously, I think we got 24. games left. It's 24 finals. We just got to take it the game out of time. Brew, I'm almost scared to ask. What did you make of Janus's return? Well, look, I believe what Janus said.

Like, there is an element of just loving the play. He knows their team's not going to do anything. They might make the play in, maybe, probably won't make the playoffs. but I think he really is sincere about just I'm out there having fun doing what I love to do. So I think that was sincere. I also want to applaud him because a lot of people are saying, why is he even coming back? Well, I think you're going to be far more costing.

No, because look, we can't sit on here as media and rip guys for low managing or not playing right when they're healthy. This guy's healthy. And look, the fans still paid their money. they still go to the game, even though they know their team isn't going to be, you know, anything in the postseason. And so I do think if a player is healthy, he should play. And so I applaud Yonis for going out there and playing. I also think, look, we know a few months ago he had the issue with the fans. He kind of booed them when they were booing him.

We know how much he loves the fans in Milwaukee, how much he loves the franchise. guys, I hope this should be kind of his swine song to those fans. I'm going to give it my all for the next month or two, whatever is left in the regular season. And this should be his last run in Milwaukee, though. For them, too. For the, like, he should want to go somewhere else to play in meaningful games the rest of his career. And the bucks, it's time to move on. They have arguably the best player in the world, and they're still not any good.

And so they should trade him for a young star, some draft picks, and move on. So this should be kind of his last hurrah there in Milwaukee. I applaud him. Obviously, you hope he doesn't get injured. But, you know, I'm with Janice on this. Yeah, I agree, man. I think that he has been an unbelievable global ambassador for the game of basketball, not just the NBA.

And to the point of like, you know, he hasn't ever adapted to the whole low management thing. Whenever he's available, he's out there playing and he's laying it all out on the line, giving everything for his organization, his team, the fans, and even for his family. So, you know, with that being said, I was not shocked and I'm not shocked that he decided to come back. What I am a little shocked about is the way his team kind of responded, right? Oh, that's interesting. With him coming back and you know, like, you know, this might be the last hurrah, and this might be the last time you play with a level of that,

a player with that level of talent, you would think that, you know, they would have played just a little, little bit better, right? You know, to lose to Boston with their best player out and lose by that many points, I think it just kind of shows that there's probably a lot of wear and tear on that team. You know, I think they've been through a lot with him being in and out of the lineup, probably all the trade talk, different things like that. It looks a little bit, a little bit like a team that's probably maybe checked out a little bit. And so I think that's a great day.

Like they're ready to move on. They're ready to move on. Well, and or maybe that the other players on the roster are not as, you know, you know, you know, just dead set on fighting our way into the playing, and that it feels like it's a lost dead season. And the shame of it for Milwaukee is, if this is the Swan Song, in the end. A week ago, they were right there for the 10.

A week ago. Hornets. You know what? The Hornets have been so good for two months now. I'm putting them almost in a different category. I know they're 10, but a week ago, Atlanta hadn't started its three-game winning streak and Milwaukee hadn't started

its three game losing streak and right now there are four losses, three losses back of Atlanta I think. And if they could, and Milwaukee had a couple grisly losses right before Janus came back when everyone knew he was coming back. And then to Al's point, I totally agree

that credit to Joe Missoula, credit to what they built in Boston, which almost seems to be star player impervious. Like, no Jason Tatum, we're the two-season. No Jalen Brown, we win by 30. They're six and one without Jay.

Right. And they hit 23s last night. They're going to do that. So maybe you were going to lose no matter what when Boston shoots that way. But I don't think it is a fade accompli that Yannis is gone. I think he should be. I think what's best for Milwaukee is that he leave. And I think what's best for Yonis is that he leave. But Milwaukee is not going to pull the trigger without Yonis demanding it.

I don't think they will. And Janus has shown a lot, giving us real evidence, he might not flat out demand it. I don't think he's going to. And so... Right, I would think he's not even. And so the reason I mentioned that is, I do think these last two dozen games are important.

Because I think that if Janus is anywhere on the fence and they show a pulse in these, if they were to fight their way into the play-in, Again, Brew, I think it might be foolish for him to stay. But that might be enough for him to be like, ah, I'll give it another year. But if they look like this the rest of the way, Al, I think that Janus's hand will almost be forced.

Like, there's no way for me to compete here. Right. I think it's something to be said for him, like, playing with one organization this whole career. Yeah, that's what he clearly feels. That means something to him. You know what I'm saying? There's like a level of loyalty in him that is like showing through it during this

time, right? Because most stars would have been kicking and screaming saying, get me out of here. Especially, I mean, as soon as they made the Dame Lillard trade, you know what I'm saying, that would have been the first time you would have probably heard something. But I think for him, like, he kind of trusts this organization. I think he really loves this city. He won a championship there. I think his family is obviously very comfortable there because, you know, we think most guys be trying to get the heck out of Milwaukee at a, you know, drop of a hat if they had the opportunity. But for him, it seems like he wants to be there. So to your point, I think that if they can kind of corral

and put together some games and get into that playing game, maybe win a game, you know, maybe it will go a long way and maybe, to your point, keep him kind of down and maybe see what moves they can make this summer. If he stays there, you can't kill him. Because obviously it's just like, hey, he's loyal,

like you said to his franchise, a small market franchise at that. Okay. But it would be a huge mistake. It reminds me of Kevin Garnett. Yes. Remember, he didn't want to leave Minnesota. Like he loved Minnesota. They had Paul Pierce, you know, ready and Ray Allen got there,

and he still was apprehensive about going to Boston. He goes there, obviously wins the championship. And he's now has said, you know, many times he wishes he had been in that situation earlier. So Janus is, what, 31? 32, mate. I know he's played 13 years, right. He played a long time. But guys are playing longer today.

He looks like he's got many great years left. he should be playing in meaningful games. And I bet out if he goes to a Houston or, you know, some team where they can compete for the championship every year, he's not going to regret it. He's going to. I think the only difference is that he won the championship. That's a lot of sake.

Right. He does have that. You can't ever take that from. And I agree with you. Like, best option one, stay in Milwaukee forever, contend for championships there. That's not going to happen. Best option too, I think. Go somewhere else.

Contend for championships there. But the worst option, I believe, is go somewhere else, bad luck, bad injuries, bad whatever, and still not contend for champions. Yeah. So that is the, you know, he's had injuries, teammates can have injuries. So, like, that is the, you know, it is not the ideal, but if Janus isn't the only place where he can play and not win a chance, championship the rest of the way and it not feel like that part of his career was, you know,

wasted is Milwaukee. If he leaves and seven years from now, it's like, oh, he only won the one title, that feels less, it is something than if he just stays in Milwaukee the whole time. Atlanta, Utah, Orlando, and Phoenix all at home for the bucks coming up. The win over the bucks means the Celtics have won seven of their last eight, currently in second place, five behind the Pistons, all without Tatum. released a new YouTube video about his journey back from his Achilles tear. Take a listen. Calh looks fantastic. He's strong. His position is great. His tension's good. You're as good as

anyone has ever better. So six weeks, I'm Caliphate. I'm going to go back and be Jason Dan when we were one before. The young guy, the Catholic's great. Come ahead and be on roadplay, Doc. Okay. Chances Tatum's return if he returns. hurts the Celtics chemistry is the official question. Also your reaction to the role player comment. Let me do it in reverse order, if I mean. Because I think if people just read this and they don't know the timing of it, it could be disarming.

If they think Jason Tatum said that recently, I ain't coming back to be no role player, that could be like, oh, is he not going to be okay with the fact that when he comes back, you know, he's not going to be 100% yet? That's not how I read this at all. This is very fresh after the surgery saying, we need to do everything we can do. So whenever I am 100%,

I am the same player I was before the injury, a la Kevin Durant. And I think that's totally reasonable and exactly how you should feel. To answer your question, chance Tatum's return hurts Celtics chemistry. I think it might, and I do not think that matters at all.

Right now, you know, we've become something of a motor racing show. Oh, yeah. They were big in Daytona, the Indy 500. The Celtics right now, to me, are a car near the front of the pack. It's called the Daytona 500. And the pit crews radioed the driver, and he's like, hey, that right front tire is going to blow. And he's like, well, if I pit, I'm not going to be at the front of the pack anymore.

It's like, got it. But if you don't, you have no chance of winning the race. So you got a pit. Let us fix it. and then see if you can make up the ground. That's Tatum coming. The Celtics, as presently constituted, are a very good team that are overachieving.

I'm not going to call them a cute team like you. But they have no chance of winning the championship. So the rocky stuff that might come with the first few weeks with Tatum back is the tax on giving yourself a chance to win the championship. And I do think the Celtics are a championship-only organization. So I don't really care if for a few weeks they play 500 basketball while Tatum's getting acclimated. It gives them a chance to be in the mix to actually win the title. Yeah, I agree.

I mean, listen, he is no role play. Let's just start there, right? He's obviously a superb talent, you know, generational kind of talent. What's unique about their team is that they've been able to survive all this time with two number ones. And what I'm so happy about is that the fact that Jayland has been able to show the world that he is a number one. Right. And he should be in every discussion. for MVP talk. I don't care who where we at in the country of the world. He's been playing

at that level, right? This team is really unique from the standpoint that their role players have been playing like above average, right? And that's maybe cute, right? But that's what makes them like special this year. Bringing Tatum back will allow those guys to kind of almost settle back in their role a little bit. But then if Tatum is lagging, coach can put him on the bench, sit them down, tell them, but those guys can get back out there and continue to play at the level that they've been playing at. You understand what I'm saying? So I feel like if he comes back, he doesn't hurt the chemistry. He just gives them an opportunity to maybe make a special run in these playoffs.

But he will not be himself. It's just not enough games. You know, whenever you come back from major injuries, I came back from ACL, back surgeries, different things like that. It takes about a year to get your confidence back. And I can imagine off an Achilles when that's how you, you know, you're driving and every move comes off of that Achilles, it's going to take him some time. You know, those workouts I'm watching his YouTube stuff, and that stuff is like maybe 60, 70% speed. He's not going all out. So that's going to take him some time to get back.

So he'll need that time anyway. And I feel like these role players will allow him to do that because they're playing at such a high level. No, that's an interesting perspective. Look, I agree with what both of you are saying. They have nothing to lose. They've won a championship. They've been to two of the last three finals.

He's been to six conference championships at least, When you've done that, it's championship robust. So going to the conference finals without Tatum, oh, that's a nice story, but that's not going to satisfy people in Boston. So bringing him back just gives you a legitimate chance, we think, of maybe winning the championship, which you have none without him. Now, unfortunately for him, when he comes back, assuming he comes back this year, the expectations are going to go to championship.

They're already the favorites in the East based on people thinking he's coming back. So it's going to put pressure on him that's probably not fair because most people aren't going to look at it like you're looking at it, at most you can only expect him to be 75% or whatever. They're going to look at it. Jason Tatum's back. And if they don't get to the finals or maybe the conference finals,

people are going to maybe be critical of him again, unfortunately. I think it'll be unfair. But here's where, like, if you look at the Celtics, their system is the same. The players are different. So that's No Al Horford there. Drew Holliday is gone. Porzingis is gone. So they got to all adjust to each other.

But the system's the same. Defend your butt off and shoot threes. It's five out for the most part. So that'll be, he's used to that. But here's the thing. Like you said out, everybody's moved up, including Jalen. Jalen will be fine. His points will come down a little.

He'll average 25, 26, whatever, instead of 29. Look, Derek White, and we all have respect for him and how good he is. He has moved into that second guy, he's second leading score. He's shooting 39%. That's a career low. He's never been, he's 44 before his career. He's shooting 33% from three. That's his worst in years.

He'll be better. Right. So he's had to go up and he's not fully equipped. to be a number two guy. So now he moves back into his comfortable role. Pritchard, they smartly, a few weeks ago, they put him on the bench now. So I don't think it really will affect him as much because assume Tatum's going to start, Pritcher can stay doing what he does.

So I think that was smart to move him. I don't know if they were thinking about Tatum with that. No, I think they were. But yeah, it makes sense. And so I think they'll be able to adjust after maybe a few Rocky games. Also, happy birthday, Jason Tatum. Today's his birthday. All right, 35 most interesting rumors heard at the combine.

Matthew Berry said one team that definitely needs a wide receiver is Buffalo. Issues their caps face, so it depends on costs. But two names I heard from them were either Rashid Shaheed or Mike Evans. That's from Matthew Berry verbatim. And this made Wilde cry. It didn't make me cry. I was a celebrity. Put the camera on him.

He's crying right now. How should Josh feel about this? Josh Allen, that is. Great. I mean, unless they're going to get a better receiver out there. But if he, Josh Allen should. be telling them privately. You don't want to upset your receivers.

Get me a number one. Get me a number one. And Mike Evans obviously is a number one. Unless you think Evans at 32, I think he is, is not going to be the same guy. But I think he'd be great in Buffalo. I think he's just what the doctor ordered there. Shahid is not a number one.

No, that's the thing. He would be good there. I think he's probably a slightly better maybe version of then Shakir, Khalil Shakir, obviously brings the punt, the kick return aspect of it. Receivers, I think they're probably the same level.

But they're very, they're just different in that. Shaheed does almost all his damage on deep passes. Yes. Yes. And so he could. So he could. Does most of it on, you know, passes caught at the line of scrimmage after. So they could be a decent tandem.

But I would rather Evans. I think that's perfect for them. But what's not to like about that? I'll go very quickly so that Wiles can go. I don't think there's any bigger Rashid Shaheed fan in the media than me. I love the trade for Seattle. I think he's awesome. Worked out.

He is also not what Buffalo needs. Like, he would help any team. He would help, but he's great. The Buffalo needs is a possession receiver. What they haven't had since Diggs left, to be totally honest. And so I do think Mike Evans is a great fit there, a guy that you can, Keenan-allin-Allen type. You know what I mean? That you can rely on on third and sixth.

that he's going to run the right route and get open. She heeds more of an explosive big play guy. But Kevin Wilde's, who's the guy that we have to thank for free agency? Who? Baseball player. Kurt Flood. Oh, Kurt Flood, of course. Kevin Wilde can't stand.

Wishes there was no free agency. No, I love free agency, but as you know, I have my finger on the pulse of everything that's going on in media. Yeah. And Mike Evans' agent said, you know what we're looking at? All 32 teams. I think you are? Really?

you're going to go out you're looking at what the saints are up to Mike Evans agent you're looking to see what the Raiders are going to look like with Mendoza I think this whole thing and then later on it was reported like oh you know what we're looking for a championship a great coach a great quarterback a team to win okay so you went from all 32 so now we got the list whittled down if Mike Evans leaves Tampa Bay I will cook this into a donut and eat it wow the script think there's no there is zero There is zero chance that, like Evans, who loves the Bucks, who won a championship with the Bucks,

who is going to be a, have a statue outside the stadiums if the Bucks do statute, that he leaves the Bucs. It's all this kind of posturing. If you say you're leaving, you're looking at all 32 teams. You think it's just posturing for money. Well, the Bucs better give up the Bucks. If the Bucks don't give up the Bucks, he could go to a contrarian. Yes, the Bucs should compensate Mike Evans. for all of his work and a little bonus,

a little bit of team legend bonus. I was rooting for Mike Evans to stay, but now I want to see you. I wouldn't want to see him in Buffalo with Josh out. I think that would be fascinating. I think it would be horrible. I don't even like the box. Live from New York is a show that is celebrating 100 days until the World Cup. It's the second hour of first things first.

Today, we're making our World Cup picks, even though Brew is picking France and I wanted to pick. pick France. Too late. I'll be in a tough spot. Meanwhile, who's the new King of the Hill? A lot of action in the NBA, a lot of movement. Not too much action from my take, but would be. Well, he may have over corrected a little bit.

A little bit. Literally. Yeah, it was fine. But right now. Bags under my eyes. What's that? Most again and King of the Hill. Yeah.

Playing poker to late night. Well, that too. Joining us now live from London. He's the US men's national player. year. Star defenseman Chris Richards, Chris, thanks for joining us. We're 100 days out from the World Cup. This is sort of a silly question. How do you prepare 100 days out? Are you just locked in on Crystal Palace or there's sort of benchmarks for you to do as you prepare for your first game? Yeah, you know, you kind of try to take it one game at a time. You know, I still have the rest of my

season here at Crystal Palace and still have a lot to play for it. But I think, you know, everybody's North Star is this World Cup is coming up in a few days, you know? So, no, I'm super excited for it. But right now, I'm just trying to take it one game at a time, one training at a time. So one of the cool things about the World Cup or the Olympics is sports that people, you know, a lot of people watch our show, maybe their favorite is the NFL or the NBA, but they get to know athletes, whether there's the U.S. men's national hockey team or soccer team this time of year in their stories. So I want you to kind of tell us a little bit about yourself in this regard. So you're a kid from Alabama whose dad was a pro basketball player throughout Europe, I think.

And you're also a big guy. So I would imagine growing up, a lot of people assumed you might play, you're from Birmingham. You might play football, American football, you might play basketball. How did you go from, you know, a kid born in Birmingham, to Germany and now to Crystal Palace in England as a professional soccer player. What was that journey? Yeah, I mean, I played every sport growing up. But I primarily played basketball and soccer.

And so I was about 16 years old. And, you know, I was, believe it or not, I was, you know, always kind of a smaller kid. You know, I didn't really hit my growth spirit until the year I moved away from home. So the year I quit basketball, that summer, I grew like seven inches. Wow. And so my, yeah, so my dad came to see me and he was like, oh, like, like, you sure you don't want to keep playing high school? My decision was already made.

But I went to Hoover High School, you know, so it's very much, you know, football is, you know, powerhouse. And so for some reason I decided to not play. But I love going high school football. I love watching college football. You know, I'm an Alabama fan, Roll Tide. But, you know, I just, you know, I had a unique journey, you know, not many people from Birmingham make it to make it to where I am right now. So, you know, I'm really glad. I'm really thankful for how I got there.

You may not know the answer to this, but has your success and fame as a soccer player, has that led to any more popularity of soccer in Birmingham or maybe more young kids playing it? Yeah, I mean, selfishly, I want to say, yeah. I don't know if it's just me, but I think now that I guess soccer is becoming a lot more mainstream back home, especially with the World Cup coming,

you know it's it's really important for me that I also continue to grow the game you know I think one of my kind of matros I live by is you know like aspire to inspire so I'll be the reason why a kid from Birmingham or anywhere around the world but I guess specifically in Birmingham picks up a soccer and so you know for me it's nice to go back home and now see more kids playing soccer more people speaking about soccer so if you want to attribute it to me then so be it but I think it's just kind of the culture that we're living. All right, so you guys opened up with Paraguay on June 12th. All right.

Last time you played them in a friendly, it ended in a bench clearing brawl, all right? And then you got Australia a week later, and we know when you played them in October, it got chibi. You actually said they're lucky it was a friendly. So like, is there bad blood between you guys and these nations or, you know, what should we expect in these matchups? Yeah, I'm glad you didn't get the full quote on that. I was going to say that. I had the full quote.

I had the full quote, I'm ready to go, put you on the spot. It was worse, but it was like, oh, here we go. There's. No, but that's the thing, though. You know, like, this is something I'm passionate about. And, you know, I think it makes it even more passionate whenever you have the USA on your, on your chest. So for me, you know, you can call it bad blood.

but every team we go out there and play against, we want to beat, you want to beat badly. So, you know, if they want to bring a fight to us, so be it. But I think that's one of the things that makes us American is that we're not afraid of any fights. So again, that's kind of the mentality that we've adopted over the last few years

and especially now playing on home soil. I feel like we have a lot more to play for. So again, you know, it's just, you can call it bad blood, but I think every team we play as a rivalry, we want to beat every team, and we want to make a statement while doing it. So let's go! I like it.

I like it. Yes. Is there any carryover strategically from playing Australia and Paraguay now that they're also in the group stage? They're like, oh, they did this or is it too much change? Is there anything you can take away from those friendlies? It's kind of hard because in friendlies sometimes, you know, teams might not want to show their full face. So, you know, you tend not to think too much about the players, but you tend to think about kind of how they play and the style that they play in. you know again the world cup everything's even more elevated so you know i guess tensions are going to be higher pressure is going to be higher so um you know you tend not to think too much on the

friendlies but it does give us some sort of comfortability knowing that we have played them within the last six or so months so again i think once you get to the world cup it's it's a bit different but um overall i think it gives us like i said a bit of comfort knowing that we played these teams i'm interested in something you alluded to in your first answer which is it's such because you're in the EPL and so many of the best players in the English Premier League are on their nation's World Cup rosters. You know, and it is a very unique, it happens every four years, but thing in sports where there is, it's the toughest league in the world, winning that championship is,

somewhat argue, the most prestigious regular season, you know, title across all sports in the world. but all the best players in the league know that here in a couple months, something far greater and bigger is taking place. And it's not like it's only a couple of you guys going to the World Cup. It's the vast majority of the best players. So I know this is your first experience being involved in both in the league and the World Cup.

But how does that impact these next couple months of EPL play where guys, nobody wants to. to get dinged up right before they're playing for their country, but also your team is paying you. Like how does it's such a unique thing to your sport. How does that work? Yeah, like you said, it's unique, you know, and it's something that I think I'll quickly find out, you know.

I think like you said, nobody wants to get hurt, especially going into a World Cup that's right when the season ends. But, no, like I said, there is still a lot to play for. So I think it's fine, that medium, you know. I think it's almost when you don't go hard, that's when no injuries start to happen. So me personally, I plan on, you know, going into the wheels fall off and then going a little bit more. Because like I said, this could be a career defining year for me.

And, you know, not just that, but it could also be a nation defining year. You know, hopefully, you know, winning a World Cup on home soil would be a beautiful thing. And that's what I plan on doing. And that's what I know our group of guys wants to do as well. So you mentioned the home soil. I don't know how much you're familiar with like the, you know, nitty, gritty. history of the World Cup, but 13 of the 22 host nations have made at least the semis. There are eight countries where their best finish ever was the year they hosted the World Cup.

So what would you attribute that to? Is it a legitimate home field advantage of the crowd of the energy? Is it the added, I don't know, pressure in a good way of? This is our, we're hosting. our moment. Like, why do you think it has been such a decided home field advantage for host nations? I think pride, you know? I think, you know, you can talk about, you know, fans and this and that, but at the end of the day, it's the World Cup and there's going to be fans from every country in the world there. So, and it's going to be majority split. So I think knowing that you're playing in front of the country that, that, you know, whose flag you're wearing, knowing that, now you're playing for more than just yourself, I think it has to be pride.

That's the only thing I can think of. I mean, I think, again, you can speak about quality of players. You can speak of fans. You can speak of no, A through Z. But I think just knowing that you're playing at home, knowing that everybody's going to be watching you, knowing that your family is going to be there supporting you, knowing that the whole nation has your back.

I think that's what it is. So you're going to likely be playing against some of your Crystal Palace teammates. And obviously, as we saw earlier, you're not afraid to talk trash. So has the trash talk? already started in the locker room? Man, it has to. It has to. As soon as everybody saw the drawls, you know, we were texting.

So, you know, it's going to be a lot of fun. You know, I think, you know, one of my, one of our assistant coaches at Palace, he's, he's, used to play for Australia. And so I've given them a little bit since the draw came out. But, you know, regardless, you know, it's all fun in games until he gets the World Cup. And then there's no teammates. So, you know, it's right now, you know, I'm enjoying, I'm enjoying all the banter,

all the jokes, this and that. But like I said, once summer comes around and we're playing for our countries, and we know it's time to go. I don't want to gloss over what we have in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. You were our nation's team player of the year. What was your reaction when you heard that? And who was the first person you called to tell you had won it? I was kind of stunned, to be fair.

I feel like some people saw my reaction and I think that I didn't think too much about it. but I think I was more stunned than anything. I feel like I had a good year, but, you know, I feel like I still have another level to go. I'm not content, I guess, with the year I had. I always want to keep doing more. So, you know, for everybody to have voted for me to be player of the year, it meant a lot. Especially with the group of names that was on there before me, it really was really special to me. I remember calling my mom and, you know, my family, they were all nearby.

So I told them all at once. You know, it was just, it was great. It was amazing because, again, like you said, not many people think of Birmingham as this kind of soccer hotbed. And I guess with all the adversity, with all the stigmas, I think being able to come from Birmingham and being the first one from Birmingham to have won this award. It means a lot. Well, thanks for your time, Chris. Best of luck. We'll see you on the friendly March 28th against Belgium, right?

You're going to play that one? Excellent. Definitely, definitely. All right. Well, we are all rooting for you the entire country. So best of luck and go beat Tottenham for Crystal Palace. Thanks, Chris. In the meantime.

Thank you so much. Thanks, Chris. Thank you. 100 days to the World Cup. Our coverage continues right here on FS1. The stage is set. The Desert Double on Saturday. Alex Polo just keeps on winning everything.

So he's going to try to win Phoenix here Saturday at 3. And then it's NASCAR where Tylock Reddick is trying to win four in a row, bro. Holy cow. I think New Garden could get a win here sometime. One of my guys. Reddick is special. What about Stingray Rae? Three feet?

Stingray Rob just needs to finish race. Okay. Time now for the friendliest segment in all of sports. Al Harrington is back. Janice is back. The Lakers are winning. Shingoon at 32 last night. It's a sea of good news.

So let's find out who has it best in this week's edition of King of the Hill. Thank you for the introduction Kamals. Before we get to the Hill, I'm going to break the fourth wall. Awesome. Trey Hendrickson news. No, that's the, Trey Andrickson, by the way, did bid farewell to the Bengals via IG. We'll keep you updated on that story.

It's your nation's number one capital for Trey-Hendrickson News. However, I am more important first things first news. So these butterflies on the screen and the friendliest segment in sports TV. I've hated that branding since the moment Wilds did it. I've tried to have him get rid of it. And he has claimed it's good. He's claimed he likes it. And then all of a sudden, we have 16.

year NBA veteran Al Harrington out here. Yeah. And Kevin Wilde feels the need to be like, hey Al, I just want to explain, here's why we do the butterflies, don't judge us for it. Like, here's the old background. Al's totally confused. He doesn't know because

KW. deep down knows it's dumb. I mean, the snow makes sense for Mahomes. Yeah, that's what I've always said. The butterflies, once you have to explain it to someone. Exactly. That's what I said. I thought you were going to go bad, boy. Yeah, once upon a time, He also during this segment put on a leather jacket and a biker helmet and tried to pretend it's weird.

Doesn't matter. Top 28 players in the league. Here's thing. It's fluid list. Fluid list. It's not. This is even more confusing. Is fluid just a way of saying?

What? Have you ever seen who's hot and who's not? I won a reward since the last time we were on the air. I mean, the last time we did it a week ago. Bottom of it. We need more volatility in the second. We got some volatility. What's up, Dust?

Oh, in the valley. Sorry, injured. Step off the mountain, off the hill. Because he's been out so long and he's just getting re-evaluated again. He can come back. 10 days. Halliburton, AD, Jimmy Butler, Kyrie, not coming back this year. You might notice, however, someone not injured and eligible who was a week ago,

who might be showing up on King of the Hill. Oh, Janus? Nope, Janus was on it last week. You'll see. You must not have noticed, through, because you were too busy ripping my mountain. Bonus take. Seven throw. Another, a guy who's bordering on becoming injured and eligible, Denny Obdia.

He, you miss another week of games. You're off the mountain, the hill, Denny. Carl Anthony Towns, just not a great, efficient week, even though the team's been winning, he drops a bit. Bam stays where he is. Chet, KW's guy. The defense is unimpeachable. The offense hasn't really gotten there.

He's a good, he's a good, he's doing fine. He's a very good player. He's a good player on a really good team. Evan Mowbly pops up. First Hornet on the Hill. We made it. Brandon Miller. Charlotte.

I think he's the best player on that team. I think Con Cinnibble might have the highest upside. Maybe. His upside's pretty high. I think Brandon Miller is better than Lamello Ball and the most reliable player on that team. Fair. And the Hornets have been a legit, very good team for six weeks.

I think so. You locked that draft of him, though. You didn't like that. Oh, hold on a second. Was that Jordan? I think that was Jordan's last draft. Hold on a second here. I didn't mock the draft.

This is a guy has out. That was Jordan. That was Jordan. That was Jordan is basically on the hill. Enderson take. And all of a sudden. Was that the Scoop draft? Yes.

He loved Scoot. I did like Scoot a lot. I'm not closing the book on Scoot. I totally agree. And Palo made the Hill after we put, we said he missed it last week. He scored 36 against the Lakers. Yeah. With like 24 against a normal team.

It makes the hill. But still. Sixth row. Devin Booker. Another guy, now he almost got off because of injury, but I read this morning, they expect him back, I think, tonight. Nice. So he should be back.

Joel Embedde is shocked. He got banged up. He's going to miss a little bit of time. A little bleak injury. He's been awesome, bro. He's been awesome. He still scores with the best. He still scores.

And the team. It is amazing. He could take time off like that and come back. Oh, yes. He's the best shooting. I mean, he's jump shot. So that's a unique thing. We have right now active in their primes,

the best passing big ever and the best shooting big ever, which is pretty undeniably, right? If you call him just, no, I'm talking about him, B. True sinners. True centers. Yeah, you take like, you know, Durant.

And Dirk out. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. He's in phenomenal. Keep going. Bron and Hardin. Hardin broke his hand, but he's fine.

Shingoon, I moved him up. Thank you. You demanded I moved him up. Jalen Duren, really, really good player. Really, really good player. Don't have the run plays for him. No, and he gets you his 20 points and toughness in defense and rebounding. All right, top 15.

Donovan Mitchell, again, the missing time is tough for these guys. Jalen Brown is totally unfair. I had him third an MVP a week ago. I see the Celtics won by 30 without you. I move you down. That's not. I'm just telling you. I'm just telling you.

They're six and one without me. A big part of my jail and Brown is helping is it. A big part of my jail and Brown argument is he is carrying this team and then he's not there and they're fine. He's sitting against the bad teams. I get it. I'm just saying it's what happened. A lot of volatility.

A lot of volatility. Kawhi Leonard stays where he is. Jamal Murray. How many have you have last night? 45. 45. It's not insane. barely beat Utah more on them later.

And that's who's new to the Mountain, Brew. Jason Tatum. That's big time. He not even played. KW's buddy, Bill Simmons, just said as an aside, Sunday night.

I think Tatum's coming back Friday. And I don't, I don't, I feel like Bill's pretty plugged into the Celtics. So I have penciled him in that I think by this time next week, Jason Tatum likely could be back. And you got, He got him awfully high.

Well, a little respect for what the man's accomplished. Maybe he, maybe once it comes back and we see him, he drops a bit. But if I'm going to put him on the mountain, I feel like he deserves to be alongside his teammate, Jalen Brown. Top 10. Janice back, but going to be, see, he was, you know, back a little rusty. That's fine. Wimby. So here's the thing.

Well, you know what? I'm going to save it. I'm going to save my Wimby discussion because I think there's no one to talk Wemby. Wimby drops a bit after I saw. saw him in person at MSG, one minor concern that I will bring up in a bit. Kevin Durant, no, not too skinny. Too tall. She's speaking of too tall and too skinny.

Kevin Durant, who I think since our last mountain has scored 125 points. And listen, is the guy a leader? Probably not. Does he have questionable texting and tweeting have a to sure see you like it. Is he just a bucket in every situation? No matter what, absolutely. And Maxie's just great. Great, maybe he's too, a touch strong.

He's very, very, very good. And so much, I don't know how many people are watching the Sixers. He's so much fun because he just, every game, it's like, well, he's the fastest guy on the court. Every time, no matter what, no matter how many minutes he plays. Third row, I dropped Luca almost as a PR. Like, you know what? The last week was so bad for him from a public relations standpoint. drop him. And I mostly blame JJ for that interaction, but it wasn't great. And the Lakers,

nobody thinking that they can win, that they have any shot at winning a championship, even though they have Luke in his prime, not great. I still, I still believe he is clearly one of the five best players in the sport, but you want to five best players in the sport that's about where you should be. Ant stays where he is. He's awesome. Jalen Brunson and the Knicks on this red hot tear. He moves up. Row two. Joker moves down just a touch. That team is 17 and 18 in the last 35. He's awesome.

He's the best player in the league, but he's not just going to stay atop the mountain. Shea stays where he's at. And you know what? Rich Tapestry, fluid movement, team that's on a nice winning streak. He's the best player on the team by a lot. I'm sorry, is on a nice run,

not a nice winning streak. Cade Cunningham, atop the mountain. Number one pick, MVP candidate. Yeah, the legitimate MVP candidate. Love it. The Pistons have the best, this is what I've meant to say, Pistons have the best record in the whole league.

Yeah. He's the only certified superstar on the team. And prior to Duren, he was the only all star on the team. He's atop the top of the mouth. I think this is a great change up. Thank you, Kate. I think it was great. Otherwise, we just sit there with Joker,

like he's, we do the same King of the Hill for five years. That's exactly how I feel. That's the thing is true. Now Al's going to tell me why I'm wrong. Well, now I've been hearing your explanations. You know, maybe I might. No, it's okay. You can rip me.

I won't be as aggressive. No, be as aggressive as you want, Al. Rip you, man. But I mean, listen, come on, man. Joker is the king of the hill, period. I don't care if there's another five years, six, seven years. Like, listen, three-time MVP, I think he's leading the league and rebounded and assists. Yeah.

First time, first person ever if he completes the season. Like, are you, like, this guy is just like, he's unbelievable. You know what I'm saying? So he's the king of my hill. Okay. Right. after that I would probably go SGA and reason why I like SGA

man like have you ever seen that guy sweat? Right. I mean he does. Like have you guys, have you ever seen him sweat? So what I That usually doesn't weigh into my No, but he does he does He's so cool. You can't speed him up man like this kid

dictates the game. He does what he wants to do He gets where he wants to go. He does it like it's just is his game out there. What I want to do want to give SGA a shout out for is this because it went totally under the radar. He broke. broke a Wilk Chamberlain record, which those records, it's usually like the Wilk Chamberlain record book

and then everything else. Didn't sweat. Most consecutive game scoring 20. Wilt had had that record for 60 years, and SGA just broke it. So I, you know, credit to him for that. Yeah, so SGA, another one, all world talent, and then you got to go look up. So I, here's the thing.

I agree those are the three best players in the world. And this is a little unfair to Al, because historically, that's exactly how we did King of the Hill. Yeah. Okay. I, however, decided this is kind of a, you know, what do you call that? Universal decision? Executive decision, pardon me. That we wanted to have a little more diversity atop the hill.

And let me just ask this hypothetical, okay? If the Detroit Pistons win the championship, can Cade Cunningham? say, can Kate Cunningham say, why am I not the best player in the world? He can say it, but I don't know how many other people will say it. He's great.

I was the number one pick of the draft. I'm the only superstar on the team. I'm the only go-to offensive option on the team. He would hold the belt. But Halliburton, had they won that game last year, Game 7, you wouldn't have said he's the best player. As great as he is. No.

You wouldn't say he's the best player in the world. No, but had the Celtics when they won the title, if Tatum was awesome in that finals, I think people, I think he could have said it. Yeah. I think he could. They all can say, once you win it, you can legitimately say it. You get the summer.

Yeah, exactly. You get the summer. You get the crown for the summer or whatever. I need more consistency. That's fair. Yeah. Because you're right. And it's interesting now that King of the Hill,

It's too, it's always yoke it. It is too. We have to switch it up a little. That's never been a problem with Mahomes. Well, it's named after a guy. I mean, the Mahomes is number one for like years. Yes, years. And it's never been a problem.

I get killed for it. I get yelled. I get heckled in the street. And where's the integrity on the Holmes Mountain? So I adjust and I get attacked anyone. That's problem. People get fatigued with great players. Exactly.

You get that fatigue. I don't know what the criteria. I don't know if this is player of the week, player of the two weeks, whatever it is, but no matter what the criteria is, with all due respect to the great Jalen Brunson. Bruce never believed in Brunson. I do.

But you can't have him ahead of Victor Wimbunyama. Under no circumstances. They played. Wimbunyama, I get it. He had two back-to-back 12-point games. Yeah. So what? And then got beat.

Because he's so good defensively that he can score 12 points and still have a phenomenal game. Huge impact on the game. Yes. In those three games where he was subpar offensively, he had 11 blocks. Okay. That game you went to, Nick, where you're about to rip him the shreds for being skinny. He had 25 points, 13 rebounds, and four rejections. And seven turnovers.

Okay. eight and seven turtles. Now, his game, here's the thing about Wimby, he does have a lot of like room to grow. I would love to see him play more inside or closer to the basket, not quite as much perimeter stuff, even though he's very good at the perimeter stuff. That's a classic. You got a clap. Right, right, right. But still, and here, in all serious, Nick, though, his defense is. Right. And he's still a very, he's obviously a great. He's obviously a very good offensive player too. But I think with Brunson,

and I chime in after Nick and tell me if you agree with this. Brunson is great. And I get it. He's a scoring point guard. But I'll just say this. He is the point guard, okay? Sometimes I think like Carl Anthony Towns

as the point guard, I think is somewhat your responsibility, as well as Mike Brown, to get him involved. We see Cat Faden. sometimes doesn't get enough shots, five shots against, was it Detroit recently? Yep, that's a good call. The point guard, I get it.

You know you're a score first, but still, get your big man some touches, right? Like, make sure he's involved, keep him engaged and all that. So because Kat was low on the mountain, that actually should drag, that's actually Jane's fault. I just think overall that's something Mike Brown and Jalen could do a better job. I agree with you. I mean, point guards, you know, is their responsibility to like, you know, manage the entire yes right and I think that he has that in his game right because when he was at villanova he wasn't like a scoring guard like this it's like when he got to new york he's got

so locked in on scoring that that's like kind of all that he kind of focuses on but I agree with you like if he can try to figure out how to pull guys along the way you know what I'm saying early in the game right get cat a couple touches inside make him feel good about itself you understand what I'm saying that'll go a long way you know what I'm saying in the game and it probably helped him win some more games and make him feel a part of Jose Alvarado does do that for the record No doubt. He actually. He has to.

Listen, let me, since you guys did the Bronson part, let me talk Wembe for a moment. Sure. Who is the guy offensively that Wembe seems to have modeled his game after? I thought it was Duran. A little Duran.

Correct. More handled in Duran. I did too. So, Al, you might not know this since you're new. But there are a few things in Bruton. sports watching career that are just seared into his memory, and he can't get over. And one of them, Bruno's what I'm about to say. And one of them for Kevin Durant is one playoff series against the Boston Celtics,

where they roughed him up, where the Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum, the physical basketball, and all of a sudden he was inefficient and whatever it is. And I'm just telling you, sitting there at MSG Sunday and watching O'Brien, O. G. Ananovi and Carl Anthony Towns and a lot of Mitchell Robinson. Roth Wimby up. Yeah, he got his 25, but with the seven turnovers. I was like, this might be my Kevin Durand against the Celtics for Wimby for Brough. I need to see Wimby excel when guys are trying to beat him up.

And until then, it's just a minor concern for an obviously great player. That's what we're going to say. That's a fair. That's fair. Listen, he's obviously a great player and he might win MVP this year. But that is, what we know is whoever they play in the playoffs, they're going to try to do this. They're going to see if that gets to him.

Okay, W. First of all, about the Wemby Brunson over Wemby, this is exactly what King of the Hill needs. What's that? That when two guys play and one guy plays better than the other guy, he moves up the mountain, the other guy moves down. I don't know if he played better. In that game, the game was not close.

I'll tell you when Wemby wasn't efficient. When the Knicks run like a 26 to 2 run. Lock some of those shots. 24 to 2. I like that Brandon Miller finally made the mountain. Yeah. That being said, I wanted to just add Brandon Miller in friends. Because I don't think Lamello or Khan deserved to be on the mountain.

But it's a little bit. Club's superstar adjacent, like I got, I got two guys. You got two with you? You got two with you? Yeah, two guys. You kidding. No. Oddly.

Sorry, that's what it is? That never works. The club's all guys and they're all wearing basketball uniforms. It worked fine. Hornets, this season. I also want to stake my claim to the Hornets, which is all of a sudden contested ground. Wait, the Hornets, the Hornets rate. Holy!

Just go ahead. Just keep going. Hornets are good. Conniffle's been awesome. Lemell's 19. I think Hornets are even better than that. He doesn't play every game. Miller, since the All-Star Break 23.

Point two points. Thank you, Troy, for that. Point two. I appreciate that. And Khan set the NBA rookie record. Also, probably can make an argument. Khan is best three-point shooter in the league right now. A little early on that tour. He might be rookie in a year, too.

Yeah, he's now the favorite because of Cooper. Yeah, Kuwlegs injury. So that's a good. That was my Hornets fandom fault. I apologize. So that's it. I like that Brandon Miller's there. Just want to throw the Hornets on there.

When the Hornets aren't playing team and I. It's a compelling case. It would have been more compelling if about 90 minutes for the show, I didn't hear you say, gosh darn it. I didn't. There is a Hornet on the Hill? I didn't realize. He didn't.

No, he didn't really. He was going to do this whole thing because he assumed there were no hornets on there. But then Brannan Miller's on there, that's fine. I will believe that the Hornets are more than a cute team if and when I hear Lamello has used some of his max contract to hire a driver. You would think, you can solve the fancy cars. You can ride shotgun. You can't get me fun of.

Coming up next, Kyler, coming up next, Kyler, bids adieu to the car. Cardinals and we play who you got, World Cup Edition next. We are 100 days away. The biggest tournament on the planet comes to America. And you can see it all right here on Fox. Get ready for the 2026. FIFA World Cup all kicks off on June 11th on Fox and right here on FS1.

You don't even have to change your channel. Well, you should flip it during the Fox games. During the Fox game, you should flip over. You know what's not big anymore? Picture and picture. No, it's not. Why not? This is going to be the new thing.

I would love that. Now it's multi screen. I got to buy another television? No, that's, no. 100 days away from the World Cup. Let's take a look at the odds. Spain at number one. England.

We're going deep on these odds. France and Brazil tied at three. Argentina, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands at eight. Norway. They're up in Jolette. I might go see that game. Belgium and Italy. Italy's not even.

Italy's got to make it. We talk about it. No, but that. That means, so I'm just telling you right now, if you think Italy is going to win, its little, the little tournament it's in, they've got to beat Northern Ireland and the winner of Wales or Bosnia. 30 to 1 is good value. Because if they win it, they will immediately go to 25. Columbia, Morocco, then it's the USA and Uruguay. Number 16, Mexico.

Urugu I won the first World Cup ever. I won one other since then, I believe. I mean, yeah, I guess the Packers are still good. Who do you Louis Suarez is pretty good he's a contiguous I'm just saying I don't think Uruguay has I'm not an Uruguay guy

Okay well they certainly have a chance I'm not saying they don't have a chance or tie with the United States of America I think Bruce should be able to pick first because seniority Not on the show but who you got This is in pen chest

10 toes down Gimme France Well we also have USA's just in general Yeah I love. USA is our team. We all love to see America. But yeah, but it picked to win it.

But France is who I think will win the cup. Yes. All right. Last time, 2022, they finished second. Tough match with Argentina. Obviously, they got. All time great. Arguably the best player in the world in Mbapé.

And Nick, I think you forgot this or just didn't fail. It didn't register with you. You didn't think it was as big of a deal. The head coach, kind of a French soccer legend, Didier Deshawn announced before, you know, a while ago, this will be his last World Cup. That's a good one. So I wonder, I would imagine that the players are going to be like, oh, let's send them out on top. They obviously came close last time.

So I think they're going to have even more motivation to send them out on top. So I like France. And obviously their team is stacked. So they got a great chance. Because KW also loves France. But you go. No, I was just going to, I want you to go. The, um, he probably did.

You didn't know about TV. What I will just add to it is one of evidence of how stacked France is. Mboppe might be the best player in the world. He might not be. Also might not be the best player on his own team. That's what I was going to say. Well, that's what I. You know, I'm a Dembelli guy.

Yeah. Yeah. So, but unfortunately, you can't pick them. I don't think that's true necessarily. Go ahead. Are you picking them? I didn't know that you were taking France. And I think it would be good for the camaraderie of the show

if you and I were together, like how we believe in due dates. That's really brought us closer together. Yes, that's fine. Well, we also both picked the patrons and you can have a side team. Thank you. Because he does have an affiliation to France as well. So that's fine. Outside of Curacao.

Yes. Okay. And one of the big dogs that you were old. Then I will take France and Spain. Okay, well, going out on a living. Yes, I will say I am taking the youngest and most dynamic player in the tournament. Can we let that go, though? He needs a win.

I get it if you're taking France and Carousel. I am. Or Spain and Carousal. I'm taking Spain, France, Carousel in the United States and Mexico. Let him happen. Because there's a great chance either France or Spain wins it. I will now cede France. I will now cede France and just become a young guy.

Okay, so now he's just Spain, but he also is kind of rooting for France. This is easy for me. I am for Carousel. I am for the ninth consecutive World Cup picking Brazil. If you guys remember, I talked about it on the show, but I've talked about it probably a little more on the podcast. The last time the World Cup came around, I bet probably certainly at the time, and maybe, yeah, an irresponsible on one of the podcast. on Brazil to win it and then told my wife, we are going to Brazil with the winnings,

a great trip to Rio with the winnings from them winning the World Cup right after they win it. Like we'll be in Brazil during the celebration, it'll be sick. Brazil then didn't win it. Their rival Argentina won it. And my wife was still like, trip to Rio on the docket. And we went.

So it cost me twice. It was great trip by the day. the way, beautiful country, amazing people. I loved it. So in for, what is it? In for a penny, in for a pal. We're running that sucker back. She wants to go back. It's a big country. You only went to Rio, there's South Paulo, there's so many great places. So I'm getting plus $750? Oh, my. They can do seven trips. I feel like you should also have a free roll. I know it's weird. On Argentina? Just from the LeBron. I just, you factor. Older guy, making a run. I just feel like And I do love the kind of South American style of play, which is what the Brazil was always great when I was a kid.

And I thought it was so cool that Ronaldo was the best player in the world. Then a guy named Ronaldinho was the best player in the world. And the Nike ads were great. And Messi, obviously, is kind of taken that mantle. But no, I will, I will, I believe Brazil can win, obviously. And they are my pick. So France, Spain, Curis out, Mexico, and the United States. Okay, well, we're going to do a whole draft of all the teams.

So you get one pick, and I'm rocking with Brazil. France, Spain, Brazil. Or England, just out there. England's not winning the World Cup, bro. You know how I know? Because it's a major soccer tournament. England's not winning it. They don't win big tournaments.

Tough ones, right? They don't, sorry. Live from New York, it's first things first overtime. News out of Arizona. Kyler Murray says goodbye. Where does he go next? Meanwhile, special edition of top 10 Tuesday, Danny's top 10 NBA team. I regret to report.

What happened? Rife with issues. Oh, perfect top 10. I feel like, yeah, it was a, you thought is NFL this were questioned? I loved it. I loved it. I was going to be nice, but they were right. ripped King of the Hill so much.

I've got to. I saw that. It all flows. I got to get back at somebody. And finally, we are 100 days away from the World Cup. I heard that. We are counting down. And Danny, are you going to make a World Cup pick?

Oh, happy to. Are you going to do it right now or later on? Give us a teaser. Chris Bessart, Kevin Wilde, Nick Wright, Danny Parkins. Maybe the coolest fan atmosphere sporting event I ever attended, Spain, Germany, World Cup, 1994. in Chicago with my dad. Oh, nice.

Bought a Spain hat, then was in Spain, living with a family in high school when Real Madrid signed David Beckham. Sick. So I don't want to interrupt you, but earlier in the show, Ruiz France, I actually have Spain. So despite the great memory.

Despite the actually having a time to Spanish soccer. Despite the, I also have been to one Real Madrid game. It's not quite doing a semester. It's not quite doing a semester. semester over there in high school. I've been to a Spain World Cup game. Also, hold on.

I've been Spain already. I've known you for almost 25 years. France, Spain. Your high school was so fancy. You did semester abroad in high school. Summer program. Summer abroad in high school. What kind of high schools?

My gosh. Wow. That is awesome. I didn't know that was a thing. Certainly not in the 90s. Yeah. I was selling ice school. 2000s.

Oh, yeah, early 2000s. I had to Arizona where the Cardinals are going to release Kyler Murray, not totally unexpected, but all of a sudden kind of sad. Here's what Kyler wrote on social media. To everyone that supported me and showed kindness to my family and I during my time in Arizona from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I wanted nothing more than to be the one to end the 77-year

37 year drought for the organization. A long drought. I'm sorry. I failed us. I wish this community and my brother's nothing but the best. He goes on. He says he's prepared for wherever he's next. He trusting God in my work ethic.

I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving at God's speed from Kyler Murray. That really touched you. I just thought it was like like if I got released, I'd be like, deuces, I'm out of here. But I thought this was really sweet. I thought it was a great letter, but I think it's what most people do. Yeah, but I say I'm sorry for not being able to deliver it. Look, if that's a sign of kind of humility and understanding, okay, blowing it might be a little too strong.

But, you know, look, I'm not making the most of my career. Then I love it. That wherever he goes next, he's going to be like, okay, I didn't do the right things in Arizona. I wasn't as studious as I need to be. I've learned my lesson. I love it if that's a lot. I mean, I don't think blowing it is too strong. Like, yes, he's a number one pick.

He got a second contract. So in that sense, he's been a success. But, I mean, he got hurt and then they just didn't bring him back this year. Like, I mean, they were like, oh, Jacoby Brissette, Kyler Murray. We'll go with Jacobi percent. Like, it ended very poorly for him in Arizona. And it's just before we get to like the main, just to add to that, I do think it is very a profound experience in anyone's life

the first time they actually fail. And Kyler Murray's never failed. No. I know you guys, Joe gave me a hard time yesterday, but he is regarded as the greatest player in the history of Texas high school football. He then went to college, was unbelievable and won the Heisman trophy. He then was the number one pick. and very early in his Cardinals career was that best year they had.

And he was a first round pick in baseball. That's what I'm going to say. He's one of the best athletes. Little kids that want to play baseball. And Carla Murray's thinking, I don't play professional baseball because I choose not to. Oh, yeah. He's one of the best athletes to come to the NFL. And so to your, like, so, and then early in his career that was the year they started.

He's made some pro bowl. Right. They started 9 and 0. That was the year when they had J.J. Watt and DeAndre early on there. He got that huge deal. and then basically everything since the... Ever since this isn't why, but the moment the story came out

that they put the study clause in the contract. Call a Duty Clause. Yeah, it has been a different arc in his career that led to this, which is his first sports failure that I'm aware of in any regard. But go ahead. So here's my question for you, Danny.

With the specter of Sam Darnold's Super Bowl championship looming over really every quarterback's career outside the great quarterbacks. How much of Kyler Murray's failure is on Kyler Murray and how much of it is just on, hey man, you're drafted by the Cardinals. That's how this organization rolls. Yeah, I think while he is not like Sam Darnold in terms of he does not have typical size, everything else about Kyler does kind of scream Sam. Donald. Bad franchise, a couple different offensive coordinators, relative stability at head coach.

He's only had a couple. But like if you said, hey, he's mobile, he's fast, he is a cannon for an arm, and he still is young and in his athletic prime, I absolutely think that a franchise could talk themselves into, we can turn Kyler Murray into a Super Bowl winning quarterback. I absolutely believe that. And so to answer that question anyway, like, I'll tell you the team I don't want to see him go to because it would be in the Bears Division and it's Minnesota. Like, so if I was Kyler, I would be trying to go there, even if it meant there was the spectacle of a competition, at least at the beginning, with J.J. McCarthy. He would be, I don't, I'm not a big Kyler Murray guy. He would beat out J.J. McCrary. No, I, I, I know, but there, but if he went to the,

but it would be a competition. Right. If he went to the Jets, there is no competition. If he goes to the Steelers and Will Howard, there is no competition. But if I were him, I would say, well, Kevin O'Connell had Kirk Cousins have monster years. He had Sam Darnold have a monster year. I'm in a dome with a great play caller, with arguably the best receiver in football and a lot of other talent on offense and an elite defense that at the end of the year was shutting down the lions, was shutting down the Packers. Like, Kyler Murray ends up in Arizona. They are in Minnesota. In Minnesota. In Minnesota. Excuse me. They are a playoff contender immediately, and we will talk about him through the Sam Darnold prison.

Before you go, Brew, can I... I like that. How much of everything you just said there also applies to Atlanta? A lot of it. Like a lot of it. A competition with Pinnix. You're in a dome. You know, you have... I think Stafansky is a pretty good offensive, you know, mind as well. You have talent. Like, so that I think a lot of... Certainly an easier division. Easier division. The Pierce legal stuff, more defensive questions in Atlanta

than I would say Minnesota. No doubt. I would absolutely apply Atlanta, same type of lot. I think that makes sense. I think, look, I do think Atlanta may be a little more in on Pinnix. Like, I think they want him to play.

But he's injury prone, just like JJ. So that's a question. But I was looking more, look, if I'm him, I'm crossing out the Jets. Cleveland, I don't know that, you know, they still got Watson, they got should do it. I don't know if that they'll go after him. Miami, if I'm him, I'm probably not really high on going there.

Pittsburgh could make some sense because he, they can, it really be the same thing as Justin Fields for them. Like, okay, this is a guy got, he has probably more talent than Justin, but I'm saying they're like, oh, let's take a shot on him and see if he's our guy in the future. But I agree with Danny. Minnesota makes all the sense in the world. And you're right. It would be a competition. He should be out J.J. McCarthy. and I mean, they won nine games with abysmal quarterback play.

If he really has, is really soul searching and saying, okay, I'm really going to lock into the things that can make me a good quarterback, which are the studying and maybe attitude things like that. We know he has the physical ability. And so I would love to see him in Minnesota. It's a tough division. He could play well there and they could not make the playoffs. but he could play well there

and they could go deep into the playoffs. So yeah, I think Minnesota makes all the sense of the world. Can I hold on? Good. I'm going to throw a total wild card out there. So if you want to ask a follow up first, go ahead. I was wondering, because I agree with Brew, if I was with a organization that was not a plus,

let's just say, I'm crossing off the other organizations that are either rebuilding or might be a little bit funky. if I'm Mike McCarthy I don't know if I'm like waiting on Aaron Rogers any longer Oh shouldn't be I'm like you know what Kevin O'Connell

God bless him up in Minnesota I can coach an offense too I've got a better playoff record than you do we might not have Justin Jefferson but we got DK. Metcalf our division is also tough No I think I think the NFC North

is tougher than the AFC North I agree Even though there's not a Lamar in that division. It's stable. Vikings are, you know, fire their GM, but are considered stable. But I like Mike McCarty. I like Kyler. I think it's interesting in Pittsburgh.

So I, all right, so here's the, you've got a wild card. Because I wrote down Pittsburgh slash Cleveland as ones that I knew people bring up, Minnesota and Atlanta, because those are, he is probably going to one of those four teams. I understand that because Kyler Murray probably right now is like, no, I want to start next year. Oh, yeah, absolutely. I don't know if he should. I, if my number one job was ensure Kyler Murray has the best chance at reaching his full potential

and his next stop be his last stop and he actually be excellent one day, I would tell him, go to the Rams. I know you were going to say that. Don't play. You know you won't play this year. And what you're going to do is the study habits you didn't learn, you're going to learn. Sitting at the, you know, learning from Sean McVeigh and Matt Stafford, you are going to, you know, kind of quietly rebuild, you know, your confidence, whatever it is. And it will be a direct handoff from Matt Stafford to you in a year. And by the way, you might play this year because I know Stafford was healthy this year. but going into the year, the guy was hanging out in the immortal chamber, because we were worried about his back.

And that, to me, would, the Rams, because the Rams don't have, as no team really does, a path after Stafford, and they shouldn't worry about a path after Stafford. They're trying to win Super Bowls right now. But that would be, I think, the best thing for him. Because I am, I think Kevin O'Connell's a really good coach. A lot of that has to do with good offenses, but I know Shaw McPhase a great coach.

I know the Rams have great talent. I know that's an excellent organization. And I know that it's really important for Kyler that the next stop work. Because if the next stop doesn't work, it's a couple years before you get another shot. You know, like it is then all of a sudden you're on. It feels like the Justin Fields path, though. It doesn't feel like. It's exactly like the Sam Darnel path.

Everybody talks about the Darno path. Yeah, but Donald didn't have an opportunity to start, right? So he went, right? He was like, I'm going to go to the best coach and learn with Shanahan, and then Brock Purdy happens. But you're trying to avoid the Carolina's pit stop. Correct. I don't think it's a bad idea. I'm trying to go to the Rams than the Jets, but I would rather go to the Vikings and start than the Rams and back up.

But so I understand that, but I also would need if I, if I am, let's just say the Rams are an option. then any place I choose over them, they need to tell me this is not a company. I'm not running the risk of all of a sudden being the backup here. No, because I suffer. The J.J. McCarthy thing has to be.

Right. Because the other thing is you can lose a competition because you get outplayed or you can lose a competition because you tweak your hamstring of a second day of training camp and you're out three weeks. Like I need to be if the, I need to be told beyond a shadow of a doubt you're the starter. or else, I don't know, and maybe I'm just, it's too much Sean McVeigh-Pixie dust, but I just, McVeigh had Baker for two weeks.

Literally, for like that one-year-game. Quickly can put you on the spot here. How does the money work? So I think his contract has offsets. Do you know the answer to this? I'm pretty sure he can sign for the minimum because Arizona's paying. He's going to have $35 million from Arizona. And so now, by the way, some guys don't, even though they're not going to pocket any extra

money. Some guys don't want to do that because you need an investment from the team. Right. Because you want the team to show they're invested or the ego hit of it. But it is, most of these contracts, if Arizona is him 35 and the next team pays him 5, then Arizona only goes him 30.

The next team pays him 15, then Arizona and he goes him 20. I'm not 100% certain if his contract had it, but if he agreed to study habits clause, I think he probably agreed to offset clause. Really interesting. All right, we'll have more on that all week in between our Trey Hendrickson news. But right now.

Trey Hendrickson, why didn't we get his farewell letter on the show? We got to do top 10. Unfortunately. All right, Yannis is back. I don't think the Bucks are making the top 10. But we'll see where the Celtics fared. They held the Bucks to 79 without Yannis, 81 with Yonis. Because they are a great defense.

Where do the Celtics fall in top 10 Tuesday? Let's find out. We'll get to the Celtics in just a little bit. And yeah, Yonis would be top 10 player. but the buck's not a top 10 team. I will say, though, coming in at number 10, the Los Angeles Lakers, I don't think. It feels about right?

Yeah, I don't think they can win, but in the sixth game since the All-Star break, when Luca, LeBron, and Reeves have all been starting, those guys are averaging 67 points a game, the three of them. Their goals to outscore everybody since the All-Star break. It's been working. I mean, they pounded the Kings. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

They pounded the Kings. Exactly. Coming in to number nine, the Rockets. The Rockets are a little too similar to last year's version of the Rockets for my liking, which is weird, even though they added Kevin Durant. Shingoon's amazing, a big who does everything and is efficient. They're the best rebounding team in basketball by far, but they still don't seem versatile enough to me.

I think they easily could lose in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, but they are the three seed right now, so they come in at number nine. Coming to number eight, the New York Knicks. My skepticism of this team is, is what they're doing recently on the defense. end real? Or is it just Mike Brown has some buy-in from a team that is playing hard in the regular season and getting them to overachieve on that end? I'm skeptical. But if their defense is real, they can win because when they hold teams to under 100 points, they're one of two teams in the NBA that's undefeated. So like when the defense shows up, their offense is good enough to beat basically anybody. I just have my skepticism that that will actually continue in May and into June. Coming in at number seven, the try hard pistons. They're young, they're fun. I love Cade Cunningham. We just have seen so many teams in the NBA that they play the regular season like it's the playoffs. And then when everyone else is playing the playoffs like it's the playoffs, the gap closes. Brew, you always talk about how Cade Cunningham, they don't

have a true second score. They also don't really have a second playmaker. Cade Cunningham accounts for 33% of their assists, which is the highest percentage of any one player in the NBA. At number six, Wilds, your Boston Celtics. They're going to get Tatum back. We'll don't know when, but since the end of January, since January 31st, across the board, best team in the NBA. It's kind of wild and that opponent points per game. I know people are talking about, I know they're talking about the chemistry when Tatum comes back.

They've dealt with that before with Jaylon Brown being the finals MVP. They'll figure that out. I'd be worried about what Tatum coming back does to the defense for Boston if he's anything less after the. Wilds is wildly distracted by the little. Noteline. Second best. Wasn't nothing.

It wasn't. Hornets. And he's wondering if they're about to show up in your top five. 11. 11 horns. Take it. Yeah. You should take it.

Yeah. Right on the bubble. Coming in at number five, the Minnesota Timberwolves. I give them a ton of credit for what they've done in the playoffs the last couple of years. Like back to back Western Conference finals is obviously impressive. They just beat the nuggets. 117, 108. Sunday. It's a team that plays its best basketball late in the season. And even if they're

going to go in as a road team in round one in the West, I still think that they can end up coming out of the conference. Coming in at number four, my Cleveland Cavaliers. Right now without Donovan Mitchell, you know, they've won and two in the last couple of games without him. But Jared Allen's been playing great since Hardin's been there. Hardin coming back and battling through the broken thumb. I think they actually have the ability like we've talked about to be a great offensive and defensive team going into the playoffs. Great defense of front court. Coming to number three, the San Antonio Spurs. Question for them down the stretch. Can they get the one seat? They are two back of the thunder in the west right now, but they have,

the thunder of the third toughest schedule the rest of the way. Spurs are middle of the pack. So we talk about a young team. They've never won a playoff series. If imagine if they, we got a Spurs Thunder series and game seven was in San Antonio when they've had all that success. So San Antonio is playing for a lot, obviously, in the playoffs. They also are probably playing for the one seed in the Western Conference the rest of the way. Coming to number two, the Denver Nuggets. Best player in the sport, best offense in the sport, and quietly, I know you guys were talking about Jamal Murray. He came up earlier in the King of the Hill conversation.

Jamal Murray's having the best season of his career. Finally came into the year in shape. Amazing what it does. And he's taking the most shots, and he is producing at the highest level. and we've already seen him, obviously, be the second best player on a title team. If this is the version of Jamal Murray that they're going to get the whole year, which has been the case, that is a very scary team. They're the best offense in the sport.

But coming into number one, it's the thunder. So many ways to point out that they're the best team, point differential, historic point differential, best offense, best defense, all those things. But SGA right now, if we put this up, he's averaging over 31 points a game with a better than three to one assist to turnover ratio. It's never happened in NBA history. I mean, we've been tracking it since the early 80s. Because normally when you have that volume of scoring,

you're going to have more turnover. So the ability to be that efficient, not turn it over, and score at that clip, he would be the only player ever to clear those thresholds. So he probably, he's got a shot at MVP because of the 65 game thing, but he's having a remarkable. We're running a little short on time. I know you have 10 takes here.

No, it's got to be perfect. I'll cut the bonus takes. I'm going to say Detroit should be higher. I would switch Detroit and, Cleveland. Look, Detroit is seven and one against the other three top four seeds in the East. All right. I think their physical brand about the Knicks looked physical against the Spurs and finesse

against Detroit. Like Detroit, that's playoff basketball too. And everybody's, they've beaten the Knicks six straight times in the regular season. Everybody talks about the Knicks beating them in the playoffs. That was a really tough series. I don't know the Knicks won in six games, but a couple of those games could have went either way, and Detroit might have won.

So I think Detroit's going to do some damage in the playoffs. So I will put them in the top five. So, oh, do you want to say? No, no, no, no, go ahead. I know we're sure. I understand, because I have been, I have this affinity as well, to look at Nikoliyokic and be like,

well, his team's got to be one of the best teams. Look at what a great season he's having. Look at what a great player is, especially when his wingman is having, to your point, the best season of his career. The NBA season is 82 games long. In the last 35, the nuggets are 17 and 18. And they almost lost last night to the Jazz. They have the same number of losses this year as the 10th ranked Lakers.

And their defense is right now bottom 10 in the league. So I understand the idea that once they get Peyton Watson back, once they get Aaron Gordon back, their championship tested, they took the Thunder 7 games last year, that they have upside. But there is just to me no argument that right now there are a top two team in the league. I just think that they have not earned that. I think there's a number of teams on your list that right now have a better resume than Denver. Well, Denver, listen, the Thunder thing in the playoffs definitely sticks with me. That series was remarkable. Took them to the break.

Where are the Pacers on the? Well, come on. The Nuggets this season, even with all that, they lead the league in points per game, assist the turnover ratio, three point percentage, and offensive rating. Like, just being the best offensive team in the sport with the best player, that matters. Hard sealing. You think it's a hard, oh, so you're out on your nuggets. I'm not out.

You just said hard ceiling. But I'm, I asked my wife where the coats are. Let's just say that. Not out. Or thinking about leaving. I'm glad you explained that. Yeah, it's quite a bit. I got it.

You go to a party, you go through your coat somewhere. I mean, I get it now that you explained it. The best, the best quips is out of nowhere. That's not my fault. Common thing. Are you saying? Slow? No, if you pile up the coats in like a spare bedroom.

Polisic, 100 days through World Cup. He's not going to be on the show, but I wish he was, maybe eventually. Welcome back to the OT, Danny Parkins, Willie Colon, and you might have heard we are 100 days from the World Cup kicking off right here on Fox and FS1. The studio is decorated. The extravaganza has been going on across the network all day. And it is time to welcome in our Fox Sports Sports. sports soccer analyst and our friend Maurice Adieu here with us on the OT.

100 days, we're counting it down. And Mo, it's actually, and thank you for joining us, it's actually 101 days till the U.S.'s first match against Paraguay, June 12th. And I love some bad blood in my sports. And the last time they played, there was the benches clearing and the whole thing. And that matters.

You see the passion in these World Cup matches. How much of that animosity do you think carries over? into the opening match of the World Cup. Well, first of all, it's good to see you, fellas. Appreciate you for having me on, and I know you're sharing the same excitement that I have for the kick-up of this World Cup this summer. But to your question directly,

you've seen rivalries, you've seen the passion when you play for your respective club teams across sports, right? But when you put on that country's, your country's colors, and you have that crest across your chest, it's just a different feeling. And that game against Paraguay,

we needed that. This group needed that. That little moment to kind of galvanize a group, You see Sebastian Burrhalter. He's the first one running in there trying to protect his teammates. These moments, they last. They linger. They kind of feel your fire.

And for Paraguay to be our first opponent in the World Cup, I can't wait. And on the opposite side, Paraguay is looking back at this moment too, thinking like, yeah, we want that get back. Because as much as this melee played out, at the end of the day, we also got the win. We got the dub. And so, yeah, I can't wait for that opening game. It's going to be something special. Mo, June 19th, USA versus Australia. we're going to stay on brand.

Things got chippy back in October. I'm a former office alignment. I played in the NFL. I love chippy. I love me a good chippy scrap match. How does chippiness impact the sport, especially in the World Cup? Chippiness, it's especially on home soil now, right?

You do something, when that starts getting infused into the game, that brings the crowd more into it. Sometimes that's enough to just get into the opponent's mindset a little bit. But for me, this U.S. team, they need that. they need that bite. This is a talented group, maybe the most talented group of individuals we've ever had on the national team. And in, I guess, in the run up to this World Cup, at times they've been questioned, do they have enough grit? Do they have enough bite? I would say this last year, especially the second half of this last year, you saw that.

This team fighting for one another, getting scrappy in the moments when they need to, putting in tackles when they need to. So I think you'll fully appreciate this version of this national team that we've seen, especially over the last five or six months, because they've put together a combination of good play, good football, good skill, but also not backing down from any opponent. So Mo, U.S. Men's National Team Player of the Year, Chris Richards was on the show earlier. And I want to read a quote to you because I love the mindset. He said, every team we play is a rivalry. We want to beat every team and make a statement while doing it. And he also spoke to like, we're going to the World Cup with the expectation of trying to win it. And

that is obviously would be an incredible thing. It would be the biggest story that come out of the World Cup. But what is the correct mindset for a team to take into this thing when there are a lot of ways to judge success in a World Cup? But he's talking about winning it and treating everyone in their path

like it's a rivalry. Amen. Amen to Chris Richards. I echo those same sentiments. Honestly, fellas, that has to be the way you approach it. If you go into it setting the bar any lower than that, well, then you kind of lower your own standards. If you go in and say, yeah,

we're going to approach it one game at a time. but our goal is to win this tournament. It gives you the best chance for success. Now, that's not ever looking past any opponent or taking anything for granted. But I want this group to believe they can win the World Cup. I want this group to set that as their goal, as their standard, as their North Star,

and see how it plays out. So I'm all on board with Chris Richards, and I would bet a lot of money that if you were to quiz the rest of his teammates and this group of players, they all have that same mindset, and that can take you a long way, especially in this kind of competition. Mo, one of USA's biggest stars is Christian Pacific.

He has having a big year for A.C. Milan, but he's going through a drought. So would we be concerned with that? In Christian, I trust, man. Listen, this guy, we all go through ups and downs. You guys have played sports. You know it's a roller coaster. Sometimes you're doing the right things. You're getting in the right positions, but you're just not finding the back of the net.

And for Christian, that's kind of what he's going through right now. Still playing well, still impacting his team. just hasn't scored this calendar year. But every time Christian puts on the red, white, and blue, this guy is a beast. He's an animal. He's a leader by his play. His teammates believe in him.

We as fans, as analysts, as commentators, we believe in trusting him. And I've seen him on the biggest stage shine. So, no, I'm not concerned. I know when it comes time for him to put on the USA's jersey, he'll be ready to go and he'll lead his team in the right direction. I want to ask you about one of his teammates, Weston McKinney. He, who, yeah.

Exactly. He just signs his extension with his team in Italy where he's balling. It's like goals, assists, points in every game. They're playing in like five, six different positions. So Swiss Army Knife? What type of role do you see him having for this World Cup team? I love Weston. Honestly, I've loved Weston since he's been part of this national team because the kid just brings this kind of bounce to the team. The team has a different kind of feeling.

a different kind of balance when he's on the pitch. And part of it is because he's just a good player overall. Yeah, he can play various positions and that's not easy, but he's adaptable and he's always a key contributor to this team. Honestly, when I look at the form of these players on this for this group of players currently, if you were to ask me today, I think Weston has the potential to be the standout player

when this tournament's set and done for the US team. I think he could be the most impactful because of like you mentioned, his versatility. But there's also this kind of passive and energy that he brings, this motivation where he can pick up his teammates, instead of bring the best out of them and going back to the conversation earlier about chippiness and bite, he's got all that. So I think Weston's going to play a key role for this team come summertime.

Mo, there was a lot of pressure on USA's head coach, Mauricio Pachino. To get this team into the World Cup, they've arrived. What can we expect from him? And what does he need to do to make sure this team has success? Yeah, I would say that the tough. part early on for Portchino was trying to figure out, one, who are the players that he can trust? Who is his best group of players? And then the fact that this team didn't have to go through World Cup qualifying, all they were going to play was friendlies in the lead up to the World Cup.

So it was a tricky moment, but I think especially the second half of 2025, this team has really come together in the right way. And part of it is because it's something that he did. He changed the tactics. He changed the formation a little bit. And now he got his best players on the pitch. he's able to get them in positions that are more suitable for, I guess, the cohesion of this group. And so now when you lead up to the World Cup, there's four more games, four more friendlies, where he's got to identify who his starting 11 are. But more importantly, on June 12th, when that first whistle blows, he's got to have this team in the right mindset. Playing on home soil can be such an advantage, but it can also be pressure.

So he needs to make sure that these players view all that support that they're going to have, all that comfortable nature of being in your home country as an advantage and not a, not a deteriorating factor, which I'm sure they will be, and I'm sure he'll have this team ready to go. So we're doing the 100-day countdown, but before the official opening match against Paraguay, there are four friendlies still to come, beginning at the end of March. There's a lot to accomplish, including setting the official roster, but what are the goals? What does success look like in those friendlies? Success, I would say, I mean, of course you want to win.

We're playing against some really strong opponents. So to round out these set of friendlies and golf. going to the World Cup, continuing this moment that they built towards the end of 2025, where they went five games unbeaten. So you look at the opponents we're playing. We're playing Belgium. We're playing Portugal. Christian Ronald and Portugal.

Senegal, one of the top African nation. They just won African Cup of Nations as well. And Germany, who's always the powerhouse. So four really good games that'll set the tone for what we should expect this summer. So success for me looks like we walk away from these four games. Hopefully we had a few wins in the bag. But more importantly, we're, we're confident. that this team is ready to compete.

Everything that we talked about, they're ready to scrap, they're ready to fight, but beyond that, there's the chemistry, there's a cohesion, and we have a group of players that we can believe are going to go and inspire this nation, galvanize this nation, and give us something to really celebrate and cherish when July 19th rolls around. Mo, it's 100 days. We'll see you at the World Cup, man.

Thank you so much. We're counting it down. Yes, sir. Appreciate you guys. I'm looking forward to seeing you guys in some games as well. Hey, love that. from your mouth of God's ears. We hope to be there. That's Mo Doe 100 days until the FIFA World Cup. Kicking off on Fox and FS1.

Welcome back to the O.T. We got Willie Colon and Al Harrington hanging out now. So let's talk some hoops and play a little game of contenders or pretenders. Pretty self-explanatory. Who we got up first? Are the calves contenders or pretenders? Contenders. I feel like I'm on an island on this one.

And I understand James Hardin's postseason struggles. And I understand that the calves have disappointed also. But they have had terrible injuries, including Darius Garland, who they just traded away. James Hardin has played 44 more games the last three years than Darius Garland. Say a lot of things about James Hardin. He laces him up. He shows up. And he does not have to be the number one scorer on this team because Donovan Mitchell is there.

And Evan Mowgli and Jared Allen are there. He just has to do what James Hardin's been doing this year, which is play great. And I think in a wide open Eastern conference, they can come out of it. Al, they're a contender. I mean, I say pretender. Okay.

I'm just, I just need to see it. You know, I think Donovan, you know, he's at the point where, like, we need you to get over that hump. And obviously, adding James Hart, a prolific score like that, definitely gives them a better chance. You know, they have a great back court

with the two big guys you just mentioned and Jalen Tyson coming on as an elite defender for them. So, you know, they have what, they have the players there, but I'm just not confident they're going to get it done. Yeah, I'm with you, Al. I think they're pretenders, 100%. And that's because they're fragile. We talk about Donovan mentioned now dealing with the groin.

People aren't mentioning that James Hardin is dealing with a thumb injury right now. You also got to realize, you know, they play their two bigs, but that's because they have no help in the wings. Matt Schroes has been out with a Jones fracture, right? So because of that, they're forced to play their two bigs and they're weak on the wings. I don't see how to sustainable going the distance into the playoffs. They're playing really well as it right now, but nevertheless, I don't see them as a contendent. Okay.

Don't say I didn't tell you so. All right, we'll see. Although I am the exact guy, sad. I am that exact type of guy. You usually have a costume to tell you. Yeah, exactly. Or maybe I get to James Harden Beard. That'd be excellent.

All right, what's up next? Are the Knicks contenders or pretenders? I'm glad Willie is on that side of the table here because I believe that the Knicks are pretenders. Wow. I just don't believe that a team with Jalen Brunson and Carl Anthony Towns is going to be a top five defensive team. I know their defensive rating for the last month is top five. I know Mike Brown is a great defensive coach,

and I know they have other really good defensive pieces around those two guys. But I have just seen them too often in the postseason. Both of them get targeted, and you can't take them off the floor. So until I see it in the postseason, Carl Anthony Towns be a plus defensive player, because I'll give him credit. He's been playing better. He's been giving more effort with higher stretch. of time anyway.

They've been calling them out because of it. I'm watching. And so I admit that this year it has been better. But until I see that in the postseason, I am just skeptical that your two best players can be defensive liabilities. I say pretender. But they're contenders to me, man. I think that, you know, obviously they had a little bit of heartache, you know, they, you

know, losing last year and, you know, conference finals. But I think they learned a lot. You know, I feel like, you know, they really get a lot of energy from the city. You know what I'm saying? spring come around. The weather gets nice. Everybody gets the outside and everything. But, you know, Kat is to me, you know, he's going to be the X factor, right? If he can be consistent, play smart, not getting foul trouble, I think Jalen can help him out by, you know, feeding the, feeding the big fella a little bit, make him feel good about itself. I think, you know, when he's

feeling good offensively, then usually a dual, you know, play defense and realize that he needs to stay in the game in order for, you know, for the Knicks to be able to, you know, win some of these series. Yeah, listen, I try to take a non-biased approach. I know you, I'm a Knicks fan die hard through and through, but I have to believe that they're starting to jail at the right time. And that was crucial. I recognize they've been inconsistent. I don't take that away from you. And I know it's one of their biggest critiques.

Nevertheless, man, they have been better defensively. They can make their own shot. And when they play in rhythm and when they're at home, they're a damn hard team to beat. And so when I look at the New York Knicks right now, momentum's on their side. They've played better. I even think that loss to the Pistons helped them. It made them fire in their heart and their pride because they got called out. People were crossing countries like,

how can you believe the Knicks if you're getting wonked by the pistons? The prisons are pretty damn good, right? And now they're looking at the Celtics, the calves and the piston saying, hey, man, you know, our goal was to win this thing. We brought Mike Brown in here to be the difference. Well, right now, we're not playing like that. I thought the loss of the pistons is giving a kick in the butt necessary for this time of year. I believe Big Cat, he's going to pull around.

I'm worried about Josh's heart slump. I feel like he's going to figure that out. But nevertheless, man, I think the Knicks are pretenders. Get Dusmic bride back for the playoffs. I think that would help. I'll just say Tibbs is also a great defensive coach. And they weren't great defensively in the playoffs with him. Well, you know, the problem with Tibbs.

You know, he burnt them out, man. We didn't have legs. You need legs in the playoffs. The Knicks did not have that. We got more talent this year. It's way more talent on that roster. You know what I'm saying? I think they can go deeper into the bench.

And I think because of that, they'll get over the hump and get to the finals this year. And Mike Brown is not afraid to change his rotation, right? He'll mix it up. He doesn't stay stagnant. All right. Well, again, let's go to a Nix game. Any town. You pay. I'm saying you pay. Willie Colon. You got Knicks hookups.

All right. What's the next one on contender or pretender? Are the Spurs contenders or pretenders? So I am going to say contender. And I am an NBA historian. I know that normally you got to crawl and then walk and then run. And these guys are really young and they haven't one in the postseason. And Michael Jordan had to get there and lose before he could break through. And LeBron had to get there.

and lose before he could break through. I know my history, but I've at least open to the possibility that that doesn't apply to a 7-foot-7 alien. It might just be completely different and standard NBA rules don't apply to this guy. It might be. It's going to be different for him.

You know, in the playoffs, the game slows down a lot. It's going to get way more physical. The rest allow you to, you know, pull and tug and bump into, you know, in that frame, is that frame going to be able to last, you know, for a series to get to win it all, you know? And then this team is young. You know, those guys are, you know,

inexperienced, you know, they're going to have to be able to, you know, shoot the three a lot better right now. I don't think they're a really good three-point shooting team. So I think that they're going to have some challenges that they still going to have to overcome and I just can't see this being the year for them. Yeah, I say pretenders. I'm not wild by the spurs. I think the biggest problem right there, they don't shoot the ball well behind the three-point mark, right?

The problem for me, outside of, you know, they don't get a lot from De Aaron Fox. They don't get a lot from Stefan Castle. And Wembe, honestly, is one of their best shooters, which is a problem for me, because I'm a tradition. I'm a traditional. You know how I am. If you're over seven feet, you belong in the paint. I don't like seeing a 7-6 guy dribble the air out of the basketball. He takes way too many threes for me.

If you're a Wembe, if you want this team to have a shot in the playoffs, you've got to get down in the box, big fella. You got to make hay in the paint. I think sometimes if he's not cooking, they fall flat. And when they go against a team that can shoot the rock and they can't, that's going to be the edge right now. So for me, the youth, I agree with, but they're pretenders. They're fun to watch. Oh, yeah, they're fun to watch. But in the playoffs, I just can't see them pulling it together.

I just don't need to see Wemby look like Magic Johnson at 7.6. But the game has changed. Like, you know, that's how we're old school, right? And this is a graphic right here to prove that. Like, this is against the Knicks. Like, one for seven. I don't need that. And I don't want to sound like the old man.

They were losing, so he was trying to bring him back. But I also know they were a little bit, that was on the road, he had a little fatigue, yet, yada, yada, yeah. Nevertheless, man, I just need when to be better, man. Be better with me. They're two back in the lost column of the Thunder. Yeah. They've whooped the thunder this year.

They seem to beat all of the good teams that they play. They seem to put out their best against the best teams. They're amazing defensively, especially him. Like, he's going to get defensive player the year. The problem with me right now, if you're going to be the elite guy for that, team, you got to show up on all physically. Regular season is different from the postseason. That's all I'm going to say.

Yeah, it definitely is. It's a totally different season. But he is 7-7. Yeah. So it might. You play like it. It might just be different. It might be different.

He need Tim Duncan to come down like the Raptors and come talk to him, man. You know, give him some. That would be incredible. Yeah, that's what I mean. Have you seen pictures of him next to David Robinson and Tim Duncan? He's towers over. They look like guards. We are officially 100 days away from the World Cup kicking off on Fox.

and FS1, we could not be more excited. So to celebrate, we teamed up with our Fox Sports Digital friends to count down the best all-time World Cup moments. Starting today with number 100, you may have heard of him, Messi's 2018 goal against Nigeria. Watch it and take a listen. This first touch from Messi is insane, and it saved Argentina's 2018 World Cup.

Elimination was looming for the Argentines. Stalled by Iceland, crushed by Croatia. even rumors swirled of Sampali getting sacked. They had to beat Nigeria. 14 minutes in, Banega drops a perfect ball into space. Messi cushions it with his left, takes one touch to settle the chaos, and fires right-footed rocket into the far corner. Pure control, pure class, pure Messi.

Messi opens the door, Rojo slams it shut. Argentina advances. Pretty remarkable moment, obviously, for arguably the greatest of all time. Willie, put this into context here. Messi will turn 39 during this World Cup. He's the captain of Argentina, the defending champs. You retired at 32.

Yes. He's about to play in his sixth World Cup, which is a record at age 39. Pretty remarkable. And he looks like you can keep going. The problem is I stumbled down the stairs, right? At this age, so I'm sure. But I think we're watching somebody right now,

as a guy who loved FIFA soccer. Yeah. I mean, forget about it. He was the chief guy. He was a cheat coach. So this is awesome to see. It's a pretty remarkable resume, obviously. But, you know, this goal, then the stretch of goals that he had,

then winning it last time as the captain, you know, it's adding to the goat legacy and all of that. But, I mean, if he's the captain of a team that wins back to back and he goes out like that, it's just the perfect send-off to the all-time career. Yeah, you get a tattoo of his face on your back. The thing is, he's so famous and so popular. He might be the most tattooed after. You know what I mean?

More people have a messy tattoo. Wow. 100 days. We're counting it down.