The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 07/02/2021 - HOUR 2 - Suns, Chris Paul

Episode Date: July 2, 2021

Recapping the Suns-Clippers seriesPaul or Pass: Colin explains which situations he would like to see Chris Paul inThe Cowboys will be the next team on Hard KnocksGuest: Cameron Johnson Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to.

Listen and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversation.

with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRodio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching herd you're listening to fox sports radio ah here we go on a

friday it's the herd wherever you may be however you may be listening fox sports radio i heart radio fs one great first hour very lively the economy is roaring having so much fun today i just drove into work today. I like the 4th of July weekend. Joy Taylor's joining me. And I'm just going to hang around Los Angeles. The weather's going to be cool. It's coming down. It's going to be 80 degrees. Today, a marine layer of fog came in by my house. It's my favorite weather in America. The fog. Oh, I love the fog. You sit there. You put a hoodie on in the morning. I got my dogs. It's like a country song. I got my coffee. I got my dogs. I got my fog. And I got my hoodie on and I sit there and I go to my phone and see what my dogs. It's like a country song. I got my coffee. I got my

to my phone and see what my adoring public said to me. It's really quite a life. Oh, the fog is cool in the morning. Yeah, I don't love it at noon. Yeah, okay, yes. No, nice fog in the morning. Oh, and then you go for a little jog in the morning. Okay, that's a lot. Is that a lot?

Are you a morning jogger? Oh, morning jogger. I was a jogger during the lockdown. Love it. Because that was my way of excuse for getting outside. I'm on the road by 7.45 in the morning. Wow. Good 40 minute jog.

You know why I don't like jogging me in the morning. morning. Why? Well, one, because I was a sprinter, so the long-distance stuff was never really my thing. Yeah. But I don't like when it's like the cold air is hitting your lungs, you know? I get it. I understand that, but I'm from the Pacific Northwest. I need my fog and my coffee and my cool mornings. That sounds like home. That's, that's retirement to me someday. Just let me live in the fall. Can you retire somewhere cold? Well, somewhere with fog. Oh. Some people go. I'm retiring, Key West. I have a whole plan. I'm going to buy a whole corn. I'm going to buy the house next to me on either side.

So not to deal with neighbors. All right. You get a bunch of cats and dogs. There you go. Yeah. So Janus didn't play in the buck still hammered Atlanta. That's what I thought they should do. Listen, it looks like Phoenix is already in the finals.

And I think they should be favor over anybody in the East. In Milwaukee, I think is a better team with or without Janus, they're better than Atlanta. And so I think Milwaukee, Janus, they won last night. And by the way, with Janus out, they had better ball movement. They're fine without Janus short term. long term. But I would like Phoenix. Listen, with the Bucks, I like the team with more answers than questions. With the Bucs, every game I get questions. Is Chris Middleton going to show up or be awful? Is Bood and a holder going to make any adjustments? Is Yonis going to hit his free throws?

I never have any of those questions. Chris Paul's the best free throw shooter in the league. They make tons of adjustments. Booker shows up every game. So with Phoenix, you don't get any questions. You get the same team every night. When you watch the playoffs this year, what's become incredibly clear. And anybody who's reasonable, anybody who is not a fanboy would admit, the West has been better than the East for 25 years. Since Michael Jordan retired, the West has been way better than the East. And the East is getting worse.

The gap is bigger. I mean, Boston and Toronto were good two years ago. They're both a mess. Philadelphia has been good for years. Now with Ben Simmons, they're a mess. Miami's out of the championship window. They know it. They're going after Kauai Leonard.

And now LeBron has left the East. Kauai has left the east. It's bad. So I don't think it'd be a very quick series. I think, listen, here's all you need to know. If Phoenix played Milwaukee, who's got the better coach? I'm taking Monty Williams. Who has home court?

Sons. Who has the healthier star? Sons. Whose star late in the game is better at the free throw line? Sons have the best free throw shooter in the league. Janus is the second worst free throw shooting star in the league. What team is more consistent offensively? Sons.

What team is like overall healthier? Sons. Which team plays, and this is a big thing. Which team plays with urgency every game, Phoenix? I mean, Phoenix has had one, I wouldn't even call it a stinker. I thought the game against, at home against the Clippers, they were tight. I don't think they played poorly. I think they were tight.

They got into a hole. They came rushing back with, I think, a 16 to 5 run. And they just always felt like they were chasing the Clippers. And let's be honest, the Clippers late in that game, hit every three seemingly they threw up. So it was one of those things that the Sons did not play poorly in that game, but they got themselves into a hole, dug themselves out, and the Clippers just kept them at bay. It's a football team that gets a lead, and they just kind of control the clock and keep you at bay. So our pleasure, Cameron Johnson, is one of the new guys from the Phoenix.

sons. And we said what makes the sons to me comparable to the Seattle Seahawks the year they won the Super Bowl. Phoenix reminds me a lot of that is that the year before the Seahawks won the Super Bowl, they were good. And then they showed up the next year and they looked so much better than the rest of the league. And you're like, oh, that's lightning in a bottle. No, it wasn't. All their star players, they're Richard Sherman's, their Russell Wilson's, all their star players, young players, popped at the same time. And that's Phoenix. We knew Devin Booker was good

and DeAndre Aiton, McHale Bridges, and now they got Cam Johnson, but they've all popped. They've all really flourished at the same time. So I think Phoenix is going to be good for a long time. I don't think this is one of these Miami heat in the bubble. They get to the finals. That was a lot of weirdness.

I mean, Tyler Hero, Duncan Robinson, kind of limited players. I look at Phoenix and I think they're the Seahawks. Like all their young players, players, they got them under contract, they got the right coach, they got the right quarterback, and they're good, and they're deep, and they play nine guys. And Cameron Johnson, second year with this team is now joining us live. So, you know, Cam, it's funny.

You're a young guy. You come to Phoenix, and here comes Chris Paul. And Chris Paul's kind of a legend, right? And Chris Paul's tough on guys. He'll bark. He'll direct traffic. Is Chris Paul different playing with him than you think? thought he was, his reputation to what he really is. Is there a difference? Is he what you thought

he'd be? No, he's exactly what you think he'd be. I remember playing him last year in the bubble, and he was just talking, talking to everybody, talking to the rest, talking to our coaches, talking to our players, talking to his players. I was like, man, this guy really talks a lot. He got a lot to say. So that's exactly what I expect him to be like. And he's just like that as a teammate, and it's very helpful. You know, you played at a great college program. And And when you come from, like, you know, the big programs, the Kansas, the Carolinas, the Dukes, there's an expectation. Phoenix, we've had really no expectations because for 11 years until this year, there wasn't

much there. So last year, the bubble, we're all kind of like looking at Phoenix going, all right, they're kind of interesting. Did you have a feeling this year when Chris got signed, before you played a game, did you have a feeling? you were at practice every day thinking this team has got a lot of talent. Yeah, I mean, I thought we were special from the jump.

And I really think the bubble was big for us last year just to build that momentum, get us rolling into this season. But I think we're on record saying that, that we have something special in our building. Obviously, there's a lot of us that haven't been deep in the playoffs, but from the practice perspective, it looked like we had a really good chance to be pretty good this year.

So the guys just, worked hard all season. I think we have a great staff. I think we have a great front office, and it's really starting to come together. Cameron, you played a Clippers team, which I believe is the second best in the NBA. I think Phoenix is the best. I thought the Clippers were the second best, and this happens a lot of times where the two best teams play on the same conference. It's nothing against Milwaukee or Atlanta, but I think the Clippers were a real test for you guys. They're older, they're physical. They got, you know, they got Patrick Beverly. They got tough dudes. Take me back to the Clipper Series and how difficult it was. I mean, they have a lot of guys

that played in this league 9, 10, 11, 12 years. You guys don't. It's Crowder. It's Chris Paul. Go back to the Clipper Series and just the difficulty of getting through it. It's a veteran team. It's a scrappy team. And we knew we had a fight on our hands. You watched out they finished out the Jazz Series and they played really well. And they came back from 25 plus down and they fought and they showed a lot of that. So one thing we knew going into this series was they were going to fight no matter what the circumstance was. And we saw that in game five. We saw that in game three, I think it was.

And they fought and they were good. And they gave us a lot to handle. But one thing that we talk about all the time is poised and how we handle that and how we, you know, throw our punches back. And I think we did a good job with closing that one out. You know, you guys are going to have an incredibly long break, which you don't get in the regular season. and this was a condensed season, so the games were tighter together. Are you a little concerned? I mean, games can't be practiced.

It's not the same thing. What are the practices going to be like? Do you think Monty's going to ratchet up the practices, the intensity? We had this last series, right? So when we swept Denver, we were right back into that week of waiting for our opponent and into the next series. and what I think we did a good job of was balancing that, ratcheting it up, and also, you know, taking that rest, because we haven't really had much all season. Like you said, the games have basically been every other day for the past six, seven months.

So that time for us was good to decompress a little bit, but there's also times in practice where we turn it up, compete a little bit, and just try to keep sharpening the iron. So we'll probably do that same thing in this upcoming week and get ready for the finals here. What did you make of the Patrick Beverly shove of Chris Paul? Your immediate reaction to that? I was confused because it didn't look like Chris said anything. And talking to Chris, he didn't say anything. So it's just, you know, emotions run high at that point in the game. Series is over.

See, I don't even think he said anything. And it's just, it's an emotional time. And that's just how he decided to react in that instance. I give our guys credit for not letting that spark anything bigger. and letting it die out with that. And that would be handled accordingly, I'll assume. You know, Jay Crowder doesn't get a lot of love on this team because Chris Paul is on every commercial.

Devin Booker's the go-to score. And so Jay Crowder's a guy that's been around forever, always on winning teams, and he's a forward, you're a forward. Has he ever put his arm around you and said, listen, young man, I'm going to tell you the ways of the NBA world, because he knows it. He's played with stars. He's been everywhere. Does he have an influence with you just as a guy that you know,

seen this path you're going to be on for the next decade? He does. And he has a big impact among us in our locker room. He's a big voice before every game puts his arm around my shoulder and says, don't think, just react. So that's just really helpful stuff. And I have a guy that's been through so much that played in the finals last year, that's a big guiding light for guys like myself, Mikhail.

Even Tori, Tori, Tori's been in the situation. last year and a couple times with Denver. So there's just a lot of guys with this experience that's good to lean on, good to hear, and you're here. Yeah. By the way, DeAndre Aiton is spectacular. It's really interesting about the NBA. His first year in the league, there were people saying it doesn't work.

He's a bust. He's just talented. I mean, there were a lot of people I knew scouts that were like, it doesn't work. And then all of a sudden he gets the right coach. He gets Chris Paul. And it's like in the last 40 games of his career, you're like, the hell's going on? This guy is dominant.

Your first impression of DeAndre Aiton, did you think he would be this dominant? Yes. You look at his physical profile, and it just screams of a guy that can be dominant. He's so agile, so good with the ball on his hands, great touch. And he's just the big thing, Colin, that he's done in this playoffs. That has really taken to another level is just the small things. defensive positioning, offensive positioning, offensive rebounding. And one big thing we talk about is, you know, how he sets his screen. So all these little things that we talk about, he's just

been executing them to a T and is, you know, showing up in the box score for him. But it's just having really a devastating effect on anybody we've played. I feel like he's been very dominant. And this guy's really the limit for him. This guy's a limit for him. By the way, Phoenix crowds are crazy. Now, North Carolina, that's one of the loudest places in the world, right, for basketball. And then you go to the NBA, and some NBA teams draw, some don't, some fans are, and then you go to Phoenix, and they're crazy town. It's just crazy town.

It is not to compare Carolina and Phoenix, but what has it been like to play for the first time in two years in front of fans there? Well, any noise in the arena after playing in front of none is pretty crazy now. But my little brother, who's currently playing at North Carolina, he called me after the game, and he was like, he went to one of the games in Phoenix, and he was like, man, that was the craziest crowd I've heard since one of your Duke games. So he puts it right up there with the Duke games, which is quite defeats. And our fans have been absolutely incredible this whole postseason, this whole season. And really since I got there, they've been. incredible and they're a big part of our home court advantage and you know we have a nice arena

renovation and they're packing it up i'll say they're doing a great job Cameron johnson phoenix sun second year what a pleasure you have an amazing amazing career in front of you i appreciate you taking time you're a busy dude and thanks and good luck and we'll talk again we'd love to have you on again thanks palme appreciate it you bet cam johnson who is just one of boy they've drafted well they just get smart dudes hardworking dudes long dudes they have great length by the way. I know everybody always makes fun of me for saying football players. I like trunkey football players. Big butt, big thing. I like length and basketball. When I look at a player, first thing I look at is length. James Jones. That's an amazing job there. Is he long? Basketball guys

length. I had a scout, an NFL scout tell me. First thing I look at, wrist and ankles. Yeah. Can you take a beating? Your gate is very important. Like how you're built, you know. We kind of overreact, too. That is not an NFL wrist. I have the tiniest wrist. That's a big thing in the NFL. No, it is. Well, it's really in all sports.

But, yes, for the NFL and for basketball, how your bill is very important. Because you're going to put on weight as you get older. You put on weight in your body changes. So where are you going to carry that weight? How are you going to carry that weight? How that's going to affect your hips? It affects your knees. So Aaron Rogers and I are the same size, 6.1.5, 62.

But if you look at Aaron's calves, Like one time I was at a party with Peyton Manning I've always told you this Everything about Peyton shoulders head but Brady the same thing Brady's just he's very much Got an NFL He's trunky

Solid I like that's I like You can make fun of my trunky stuff It's true and you can make fun of my length stuff In the NBA I had a That's why they measure all these guys at the combine Mark Warkentine

He said you know When Jordan and Pippin played together he was an executive in the league. He said, you know, Pippin was good for two deflections a game and a steal. Well, then that meant Michael Jordan got two more possessions and he hit on one. He goes, how many of those bull games came down to a basket? And how much does that add up? The bulls were not only the best NBA team I've ever seen.

They were the longest. I think a good example of this is Lonzo Ball. Because remember, LeVar kept saying he doesn't have his ball body yet. And LeVar is a big guy? Yeah. And Lonzo looked so small and frail. And like, is he ever going to put on weight? Like, yeah, just give him a couple years.

Boys continue to grow as they get older. You put on more weight as your body changes. We fill out. We got a lot of stuff today. A lot of stuff. How great was Cameron Johnson? He was wonderful. Great interview.

I don't interview a lot of kids under 25. I feel like this is too big a stage. They get nervous. He was just like, boom, let's talk. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart Radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

Imagine an 11. Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions,

my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes, of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations,

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes,

follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84's big things, to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack.

So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tript Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch.

Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust.

I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app, Search learn the hard way and listen now.

The rated R Superstar Edge is backing out for vengeance on Roman Rains. Plus Kevin Owens versus Sammy Zane in a last man standing match. It's an all new Friday night smackdown live at 8 Eastern tonight on Fox. I'm smacking down some coronas this weekend. That is what I'm smacking down. Some corona lights with my dogs. I'm going to have some fun. Fourth of July is one of the holidays.

I'm not a holidays or. You know, they're okay. I always said Thanksgiving, you wear sweaters. It's too hot in the house because you're making food all day. What? Thanksgiving is the best holiday. It's all the people. It's like cousins and third cousins and eighth cousins.

I argue Thanksgiving is better than Christmas. And the ski slopes aren't open yet. So you're stuck with relatives. You get all of the food, all of the family, all of the booze and football without having to worry about gifts. It's the better holiday. I don't know. So that's your favorite holiday? Well, my favorite holiday is Halloween.

I know. You really get it all crazy into that. It's fun. But I do love Thanksgiving, though. And then Christmas. I know it's like sacralic. I like Christmas. I do.

I like the spirit of Christmas. So do I. But I have 10 nieces and nephews. A lot of gifts. And a great niece. Yeah. Christmas is great. And I ski with the kids on Christmas.

It's my favorite day of the year, but not because of the presents because of the nobody on the ski. slopes on Christmas. He goes, there's nobody on the ski slopes. Now, there'll be everybody, because we say there's nobody on the ski slopes. By the way, Discover matches all the cash back you earn on your credit card end of the first year. No limit. Automatically, get used to hearing yes. Discover.com slash yes. Joy Taylor with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Right, the Clippers lost. Kauai was out. So let's let the rumors begin to swirl.

He has a $36 million player option for next season, but he can decline it. Yes. Become a free agent. If he does choose to hit free agency, two teams are already in the mix to go after him. The Heat and the Mavericks reportedly plans make a hard push to acquire Kawhi

if he does not return to the Clippers. By the way, the Mavericks also recently hired a Nike executive who knows Kawhi very well. Well, Kawhi is with new balance, but he does have a relationship. Yes. that he has a relationship with a lot of players. The Mavs are considered to be the biggest threat to potentially land him.

The Nix also would reportedly pursue any superstar that would become available. I don't. Why, remember, this is a guy that does not have 10 years left to play with his physical health issues. In fact, according to Skip Bayless, Kauai's got problems right now with somebody on the, on the Clippers medical staff. You're not going to go. I mean, he didn't like. I don't think New York is an option for Kauai. He didn't like plan out east.

He wasn't a cold weather. That's not who he is. Yeah. And he has roots here in L.A. So like in Southern California. So why would he move across the country to basically take on what he's already taken on with the Clippers? Rebuilding. Rebuilding.

Yeah. I actually don't think he's going to leave the Clippers. I don't see why he would. Like he's in control right now. They've done overall a really good job of handling his injury. Like we still don't know what's going on. So at least the privacy that he requested he's getting from the Clippers. I don't actually think that he will leave the Clippers.

I would love to have you on the heat, Kauai. Please go to Miami. But I don't think that's actually what he would do either. The Mavs do make the most sense of those three teams for Kauai. Yeah. But again, like, it's just Kauai is such a unique personality. He's so unpredictable. He doesn't follow the-

But we do know Kauai does what Kauai wants to do. He'll leave anybody. But who knows what Kauai wants to do. That's right. But he will. Don't think he'll, if you tell him he'd be crazy to leave. He'll leave. Like, he's his own guy. He's an assassin. He goes to organizations, wins, leaves. I'm with you there. Just who knows what he wants to do in this situation. I do think that the family elements, the being home elements, you know, those sort of things probably making him more comfortable with the Clippers. Also, I don't know that it's a better situation necessarily, even though it would be better to play with Luca, I think.

Yeah. I don't know that it's overall a better situation right now. They have a new coach in Dallas. There's a lot of turnover that just happened there. There's at least some stability here. Tailu did an incredible job with the circumstances that he was dealing with this postseason. So I don't know that it's not necessarily a better situation for him to go there as far as winning goes. Like I would, if Kauai was healthy, I still think the Sons would have won, but I don't know.

Like he's really that good of a player. And Tailu was coaching. Like he was doing his thing. So I don't know. I just, I don't see him leaving, but the MAVs do make the most sense if he dies out of those teams. So it's not hard to identify the best quarterbacks in the league,

but what about the best overall divisions based on the quarterbacks? I try to find a list for calling all the time. So CBS Sports ranked the eight divisions based solely on the quarterbacks. And thanks to Patrick Mahomes, the AFC West took the top spot. So the AFC West has Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Derek Carr, and Drew Locke, or Teddy,

Bridgewater. I think the NFC West is the better overall quarterback division, though. Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford, and Jimmy Garoppolo or Trey Lance. It's close. I mean, the West, my entire life is where quarterbacks are. My entire life, the PAC 12 didn't matter if it was Lway or California is where Clemson and Alabama come to get their quarterback. So it's like, I don't know, the West, I always feel like the weather allows us to just quarterbacks, they just end up out here.

I mean, Justin Herbert was available to more teams than the Chargers. Well, it's definitely easier to play quarterback in California. It is.

And the coaching is better. The coaching out west for quarterback play is great. A lot of former NFL quarterbacks, I mean, Drew Breeze has a place out here. Aaron does and Brady does.

Well, a lot of people train out here in the off season. A ton. So I just, I think the NFC and the AFC West are the best. The NFC East is ranked

is the worst division in this list. Oh, that's not, it's not even close. It's a disaster. Patrick, Jalen, Heardson, Daniel Jones. Bad. The AFC East is the second worst of Josh Allen, too, Zach Wilson, and Cam Newton or Mac Jones. Just think when Denver upgrades, which they will.

Then how good is it going to be? Oh, if Aaron Rogers goes there? Separating. So sprinter, Shikari Richardson was set to compete in the 100-meter race at the Olympics in Tokyo this month. However, the U.S. anti-doping agency announced that she tested positive for marijuana.

and has been suspended for one month, which started on June 28th. They said she has accepted the suspension, and she went on the Today Show this morning to address the situation. I apologize as much as I'm disappointed. I know that when I submit a track, I don't represent myself. I represent a community that has shown me great support, great love. And to y'all, I feel you all. And so I apologize for the fact that I didn't know how to control my mind.

emotions. Don't judge me because I am human. I'm you. I just happen to run a little faster. By the way, does pot make you run faster? No, it doesn't. It's still listed as an illegal substance for the U.S. doping agency. They got to, I'm sorry, but I don't think pot. It's a, it's a, if you've been on the internet at all in the past 24 hours, this has been a very heated debate amongst everyone. Patrick Hulmes tweeted about it. Pot makes me run in the wrong direction. I don't even understand. Well, look, she's taking full accountability for it. She blamed the positive tests for the marijuana use because she was using marijuana to cope with the unexpected death of her mother who passed when she was in Oregon for the Olympic trial.

So she can't compete in the 100 meter race. There's still a chance she can compete in the relay if she's named to the team. She obviously, we're showing the video of her winning the 100 meters at the trials running its time of 1086. So the media. She's going to have to hug her grandmother now. I mean, she exploded, like, immediate, I knew of her because I followed track, but immediate superstar comparisons to Flojo, and everyone's, obviously, the Olympics are approaching. And, you know, the sprints and the 100 meter race is one of the biggest events in the Olympics. So this is a very big deal.

And to your point, it feels ridiculous that we're still even testing for marijuana. Everyone's like rules or rules. She knew this was a rule, and she's taken accountability for it. And she's admitted she used it because she was dealing with the death of her mother while she was. in Oregon at the trials. This is something that needs to be changed. It's ridiculous that you're shoving pills for anxiety

and all kinds of pain management and toward all shots at athletes all day long in all sports. But marijuana use, which is legal in many states now and many places, is not allowed. It's a very heated debate on the internet right now. She's done an amazing job

handling it. It's obviously disappointing as far as her being able to run. But let's work on that rule. I don't know. Maybe I'm crazy. I'm not really a permissive parent, but it's like if you told me of 20 bad things that could happen to my kids and you said, yeah, one of them occasionally smokes pot, I'd be like, all right. I mean, I just, maybe I grew up in the Northwest. I don't think about it. Maybe I seriously, I know I'm in my 50s, so I should care. But my takeaway is it helps chronic pain. It helps with anxiety. If you got to smoke a little pot, who cares? I mean, I mean, I know I sound like a California guy, but I felt like that my whole line. Well, it's also going to be legal all over the country very soon. I remember arguing, literally arguing, I could say his name right now with the most powerful guy at ESPN. He said it's a gateway drug.

And I said, why don't I do heroin? That's a gateway to what? Good times? I mean, that was a very popular term during the just say no era. And I think we all remember how that came about. I'll tell you what's a gateway to, my hunger from what I've heard. I argue, but he was like, whoa, because I came on a radio show, very popular show, and I was at the other place, and I talked about like, we got to get over pot. And literally a big honcho, very conservative.

He's like, hey, it's a gateway drug. And my retort was, gateway to what? You know what are gateway drugs, opiates. Yes. That opiates are. Which are prescribed to people for pain management. Thank you. Listen, you can feel however you want to feel about marijuana.

and this isn't a moral competition. But at the end of the day, there are things that are legal for a reason and there are things that are not legal for a reason and it is becoming legal almost everywhere. It will be legal everywhere. And it was used for a specific reason. She's taken full accountability for it.

So it's not like, there's a lot of like, oh, like take accountability for your actions. She 100% did. She's not making excuses for it. It's disappointing for, you know, fans who are looking forward to watching her run. And sometimes it takes something, a star like this, not being able to participate

for a rule that should be changed to make that change happen. Any time people say it's a gateway drug, just use this line and credit Uncle Colin. It's a gateway to Doritos. That's the only thing it's a gateway to. There's no proof of that gateway nonsense. We don't know that.

There's so much research on marijuana use. I encourage people to read. You can generally solve most of your confusion. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd Lie News. Again, the tough guys are always scared.

of everything. Oh, my God. Marijuana, sports gambling, N-I-L, name image-likeness. All the tough guys are always scared. Oh, this president's a socialist. Oh, everybody's just, I'm older than you. It all works out.

It always, hell, we got through a pandemic. And the economy's doing fine. All right. Oh, this is very interesting. Should I, should I, NFL rosters rank one to 32. Interesting.

I'm going to on the other side. It's good. Plus, I'm trying to find time to play Paul or pass. Chris Paul game. We'll try to get to it. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, what's up everybody? It's me, three-time Pro Bowl of LaVar Arrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game. What is up on game, you ask? Along with my fellow pro bowler, T.J. Hushmanzada and Super Bowl champion. Yep, that's right. Plexico Burris.

You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on game. We're going to be sharing our real-life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with me, LaVar Arrington, T.J. Hushman Zada, and Plexico Burris on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast, Rob. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal

but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever. wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode, with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 was big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we, are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person

while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing,

growth, fatherhood, pressure, and personal. purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. NFL roster rankings for all 32 teams for 2021 came out today. I agree with the first four. Tampa 1, Chiefs, 2, Browns, 3, Buffalo 4.

I totally agree. I agree with the bottom four. Eagles, Jets, Lions, Texans. There's one thing, though, that jumped out to me. Green Bay is six. The grass is not always greener. When Brady left, it was a good year to be a star quarterback looking for teams. You had Tampa had a B plus coach in Ariens, a great roster, great weapons.

You had the Colts, great offensive line for an old quarterback, very good B, B plus coach, all they needs about one more receiver. You had San Francisco, Kyle Shanahan, good offensive line, not quarterback dependent. So you had a lot of teams. it was a good time to be a veteran quarterback, same with Peyton Manning. He had Harbaugh with the Niners. Pete Carroll was interested in Peyton with the Seahawks. Their roster was getting good.

He went to Denver a good roster. This is where Aaron Rogers has to be careful. Teams that would be very interested in Aaron Rogers, Miami Dolphins, the roster is ranked 22. Raiders, rosters ranked 26th. Denver is the only one you think that's a pretty good roster. there at 10. But it is not a good year this year or probably next to be a quarterback looking to land softly with a great team. Washington could be interesting. I cannot see Aaron wanting that deal. I think Aaron would retire. I just can't see Aaron in Washington with Dan Snyder and some of his

nonsense. So it's interesting. When you look at the best rosters, Green Bay is at six. Pretty good place to be. Now, now, you don't have to love everything they do in Green Bay, but that, that roster, that offensive line, that running back, that receiver, those linebackers, Kenny Clark, those safeties, that's a good team. That's why I say with Jordan Love. If Aaron left, if Jordan Love couldn't win some with this roster, then he's a disaster. All right, I want to play game, Joy. Let's do it. It is called, you know, Chris Paul is one of my favorite players ever, at least in the last several years because he's been crapped on by everybody. So he's heading to his first NBA finals.

We're going to play a game called Paul, Chris Paul. Paul or pass? Are you ready to go? Yep. Would you pick Chris Paul to take a game-winning shot or pass for another player? I would pass for another player. As much as I like him, Chris Paul shoots 30% game-winning shots last 20 seconds a fourth or overtime in his career.

He's not a shot maker. He often creates great shots for others. Would you pick Chris Paul to guard the opponent's best player or pass for another player? I would pass. Chris Paul's six feet tall 175 pounds. He's not going to man up on a Luca. He's not going to man up on a Paul George or a Kauai. That's not his strength.

Now, he is for about the first seven, eight years of his career, he was an excellent defensive player. But like LeBron, get to that year 10, 20, that's not where you spend your energy. Would you pick Chris Paul to draw a foul or pass for another player? That's actually a great question. I would take Chris Paul. He draws 6.5 fouls drawn per game in his playoff career.

That is the highest among all active players. Chris Paul draws fouls and then hits free throws better than any single NBA player, including LeBron, including Kauai, including Luca. He is the best draw, foul, hit a free throw player in the league. Okay, so then I think I know the answer to this one. Would you pick Chris Paul to take a free throw or pass another player? I would take Chris Paul shooting 94% from the free throw line in the fourth quarter in the playoffs highest among all players.

Would you pick Chris Paul to take a contested shot or pass for another player? Well, this is interesting because I like Chris. I mean, Chris can shoot great mid-range game. But he's not great in contested shots. Why? He's a smaller player. He shoots 49% on contested shots, and that's 169th in the NBA among all players. Would you pick Chris Paul to mentor a rookie or pass for another player?

This is the easiest one besides the free throw question. You would take Chris Paul. It's like DeAndre Aiton said. He was the one guy that got after me. that demanded more, it was like a brother. There is no question. Chris Paul is the best player in the league. If you've got a talented rookie who needs guidance or a push, Chris Paul is the answer.

Would you pick Chris Paul to lead your franchise or pass for another player? Well, there are others we could argue. But I would take Chris Paul, and here's a really interesting stat. So you know with Chris Paul what you get. You get leadership. Great ball handler. Almost never turns it over. Lots of assists.

But this is interesting. Somebody, this is why I've always struggled with Kauai, who I think is a great player. He doesn't make others necessarily better. He's just get a stop, get a basket. Chris is the only player with 100 plus assists to three different teammates this season. Booker, DeAndre Aiton, and Mikhail Bridges. He also rarely misses games in the last two years. So this is why magic.

Isaiah, Chris Paul are so much more valuable than a highly skilled Westbrook. Westbrook gets assists, but they're not really, a lot of it is a little bit of a fool's gold assist. Marbury used to do this. Chris Paul literally gets great shots for all his teammates. He's the best lob point guard in the league. He gets guys on the perimeter, young and old. So Chris Paul, this is why he takes young guys, and they, go from lousy tanking to the playoffs, everybody gets better with Chris Paul. Would you pick Chris Paul to become a coach after his playing career ends or pass for another player? I think he will be the best coach because he's had to work so hard for his success.

Some guys are just naturally gifted. Like magic six eight point guard, not that magic didn't work hard, but Chris Paul's doggedness and his ability to confront things, he's not passive aggressive. He's aggressive. The great coaches. That's what hurts Mike Dan Tony. He's passive aggressive. He doesn't want to confront players. Jason Kidd, say what you want. We'll get after a player. Right. And so Chris Paul,

when he leaves teams, each of the teams he's left, their winning percentage has decreased. Each team he's entered, the winning percentage is increased. So that tells you the influence he has beyond just stats and himself. All right. I think this is probably easy one. But would

you pick to see Chris Paul, win an NBA title or pass for another player. Chris Paul. Chris Paul is the last guy in the league that I think really deserves one. I mean, Luke is going to get one. Well, yeah. I mean, I think you have to put this question in perspective with guys like Mello and like guys have been playing a long time that don't have.

But I don't think Mello ever put the time or commitment in then Chris Paul did. Chris Paul. And also, Mello had a lot of things go his way. I mean, there were a lot of things in his career that went his way. it's like Chris Paul every single step. He gets sent to it. I mean, we forget how bad Phoenix was before he got there. He had gone from tanking Oklahoma City to the losing his franchise in the league the previous nine years Phoenix.

Like now we look at Phoenix and go, it's great. It was a mess. They were not good for a long time. A decade. They were terrible for a decade. Worst winning percentage in the NBA for nine years before Chris got there. So for the average player, it would have gone into 10. Hanking Oklahoma City to terrible Phoenix.

He made both a playoff team. By the way, Casper Sleep, 4th of July sale, bed, white, and blue. 30% off mattresses, sheets, bundles. Go to casper.com slash promo. They have all the details. They have the end date. Very exciting times. Oh, we should mention again, the Dallas Cowboys are going to be on hard knocks.

Yes. And I'm just going to read. read you what the team here gave me. The Cowboys are the only team to appear three times on hard knocks. Six of the previous 16 teams to participate made the playoffs.

Six of 16. The trend is bad. Five of six have been a disaster. The only team since 2015 to not be egregiously bad was the Rams. They went 10 and 6. And part of me thinks with the Rams, it's

LA. You know, You've got cameras everywhere. I don't think it was that disruptive to the Rams. Nobody cares if, I mean, cameras are everywhere. I mean, you walk out of a restaurant in Los Angeles. You have TMZ crews everywhere. I do think it will, from that perspective, it may not disrupt Dallas as much because I'm sure they are doing like a lot of content and stuff.

Actually, I think that this might start trending in the other direction now that I think about it. Because normally it means really bad stuff, depending on what organization it is. but we're having cameras and you have content crew and social media crews around all the time now. It may just be Jerry Jones. The whole time.

I mean, well, Jerry's going to take a lot of it. You don't think Jerry's going to be all over it? Jerry's good about that, though. Jerry's good about when something's going on. He'll take the attention away from it. He knows what he's doing there. Almost a positive spin on it from Joy.

I don't know how to Skip feel about it. I'm sure he's just rolling his eyes at that. That's his cowboys. All right, hour three on a Friday in L. Next. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band

with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host, Keer Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional

who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. On The Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me.

84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.