The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 12/16/2020 - HOUR 1 - NCAAFB, Giannis, Harden

Episode Date: December 16, 2020

Colin discusses the new NCAAFB rankingsThe NBA would have been fine if Giannis Antetokounmpo went to a big marketJames Harden is a great scorer but he's not a leaderGuest: Nick Wright 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. On the Look Back at it podcast.

In 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. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford 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, unfilled conversations 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 Sports Radio.

Or stream us live every day on the iHeart Radio app by searching Heard. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we are. What a day. Let's argue. Live in Los Angeles, this is The Hurt, wherever you may be. However you may be listening, we're on Fox Sports Radio, IHeart Radio, and FS1. Such a pleasure to be here today. Joy Taylor is joining me. Nick Wright, Joel Clatt today, yell at me. you, Joy. I'm great. We have our, we have our festive winter scene. Yes. Now. A little snow. Heard for the holidays. Very nice. Our staff does a great job on this. They do. So I've got a couple of things today, Joy, I want to start my show with. Let's start with number one. The college football

playoff rankings came out today. And I don't care that Bama, Notre Dame, Clemson, Ohio state of the top four. Duh. That's why we don't need to expand the playoffs. I've been arguing this forever. There's never been more than really three teams in my life that I think can win it this year. I really don't see. It's Alabama Clemson to me. I don't think Ohio State's defense is good enough, but let's move on to the really important stuff to me, is that Florida has two losses, Georgia has two losses, and they're ahead of Cincinnati, and yes, they are better than Cincinnati. One of Florida's losses is to the fifth-ranked team in the country, Texas A&M. Yes, they are better, and that drives you crazy.

Colin, why play the games? Well, games are important. But I always tell Joel Clathis, and he is outraged, and you are outraged. Games are not 100% of it. I consider a lot of things. What college football is trying to do, and they are right for doing this, is to encourage the powerhouse schools to put it out there a little. Alabama, go play Oklahoma.

Ohio State go play Oklahoma. Texas, you go play a USC, a Miami out of conference. Put it out there, and we will not punish you. You can lose that game. We're not going to make it all about going undefeated. And that is the right thing to do. Because these schools control 30% of their schedules. And for the betterment of you, the consumer, and me, the media person,

and the sports overall health. You don't want Alabama playing Panera bread four times a year. You want USC, you want Tennessee, you want LSU, Georgia. Notre Dame didn't have to schedule Georgia. They were two great games, and Notre Dame's going to do it again. Notre Dame's on Ohio State schedule two times in the next three or four years. They're going to be underdogs in those games, but it makes the sport better. So I don't just look.

We're trying to encourage that, not have all the big dogs petrified at records and ducking that. So you get a September of college football that is just awful, you know, 68 to 8. That's the first thing. I want Oregon Auburn a couple years ago in the opener, Justin Herbert, Bo Nicks. Come on. I'm sitting there Saturday night like, how great is this? We're not even in conference play. The second thing about records is the Steelers had a better record than Buffalo.

Who was the better team? The Browns had a better record than Baltimore, Monday Night Football. Who was obviously the better team? Records, even in the NFL, records don't mean anything. But we know they don't mean anything in college football. The three factors I consider have always been this. The games, watch the games, do you win most of them?

And what do you look like? Number two, what conference are you in? Okay, 7 and 1 in the SEC is a hell of a lot harder than 7 and 1 in the Pac-12. and I live in L.A. and I'm a Pact 12 fan. You lose a game in the SEC or two. You're playing in front of 104,000 people. Humid, crazy. You can smell bourbon in the air.

And you lose by a field goal. And I'm supposed to be punitive against that. No, I'm going to be punitive if you lose a Pact 12 game on the road, played at noon in front of 41,000 people. Where you can hear your coach talking the sidelines. So I watch the games. What is your conference? And I also pay attention to what is happening today.

It is the early signing day today. What's your personnel look like? Who do you recruit? Cincinnati undefeated, they average 48th best recruiting class in the country. There has not been a national champion over the last couple of decades, not one that I can find that was not a top 10 recruiting power. That hasn't happened in 20 years. I watched today.

today's big. I watch where all the best high school players go. The kids know who have the better players. They want to play with the better players. And you're all arguing about it as media and adults. The best quarterbacks in the country are going to the best schools because they want to throw to the best receivers and be protected by the best left tackles. The 17-year-old kids know where all the good players are. And you're trying to tell me Cincinnati's got more than Florida?

Then why isn't Cincinnati beaten Florida for players? Because the kids know where all the good players. guys are. So as an adult, try to be smarter than 18-year-olds because they're telling you where all the good guys go. By the way, if a kid didn't throw a shoe in the Florida game, we wouldn't be having these conversations. That's the only reason we're having them.

Some young kid made a mistake and threw a shoe. But what we're trying to do in college football is encourage big games. Next three years, the Ohio State Buckeyes play Oregon, Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Bama in the next five years plays Miami, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida State. We want more of that. You can't be totally beholden to records. Hell, you watched Sunday night football. The Steelers had the better record than the Bills.

Who was better? Easley Buffalo. The Browns had the better record. This is the NFL over the Ravens. Who was better? If Lamar doesn't go out with cramps, that game's not close. You can't be beholden to records. Stop all the whining by the media.

18-year-old kids today are telling you they want to go play with the best players. And you're 48 and whining about Cincinnati's record. grow up. By the way, Cincinnati has two great NFL players. They're brothers. Travis Kelsey, Jason Kelsey. I'm going to go with genetics over the power of Cincinnati football. Stop making arguments that 18-year-olds can figure out. 18-year-olds today are going to the best programs because they want to play with the best players and the best players historically win the national champions. If you're 48 and can't figure out that Florida's got more good players than Cincinnati, that is a you problem, not mine.

Go Gators. And Georgia. I live in L.A. and I'm an SEC Homer. All right, let me get into this story. There's always this feeling, and I understand, we want everything to be fair. Life isn't fair. I didn't grow up with a lot of money. I had good parents, but divorces.

I mean, I had to work two jobs to get through college. Some kids, their parents are rich. It's not fair. And I didn't have any of that money. Well, the kids have the perfect white picket fence family. Families got money. Kids go to Stanford and it's an easier path perhaps than me going to a directional school. But that's okay.

There's the advantage to sometimes not getting that is that you grow some calluses. You're a little tougher. You can deal with it. I wouldn't want to be a trust fund kid. I like my journey. I like my life. I like the struggle. You know?

I get off on the pain sometimes. So Janice yesterday signs the Super Max with Milwaukee, the Supermax contract. And there's a feeling that, oh, this is good for the league. And it does feel more fair. I would acknowledge that. And I do think big picture. It's nice to have some geographical, you know, balance around the country, have a good. I like the NFL's got Kansas City's good and little small town buffalo's good.

And then the Rams are good too. I like that. But that doesn't mean it's better for the NBA. If Janus is so great in Milwaukee, then why do they put their playoff games on at noon where you can't drive revenue? It would be much better for Janus to go to Chicago, L.A., New York, and Miami because then they'd put him on it prime time. And that's why the NBA makes $3 billion a year. They put their stars in prime time. I've watched the NBA my entire life.

I watched it in the 70s, and not even the 70s, the early 70s, the Lakers with Jerry West, Wilton Gail Goodrich. The two complaints about the NBA have always been, the stars have too much power, and they only want to play in the cool cities. Long before MJ made us watch the league, Lu Al Cinder left Milwaukee for the Lakers, and it was all good, bro. It was just fine. The league's making $3 billion a year now just on their national TV contracts. It doesn't count tickets. It doesn't count parking. It doesn't count food.

It doesn't count advertising. It doesn't count sweet. The league is swimming in cash. The league would have been fine wherever Yonis went. The key to the NBA, though, is the more thrilling it has been at the top, the less we give a rip and complain about the bottom. When Magic and Larry Bird in the 8th, 80s were in the finals every year for a decade.

Nobody gave a rip about the bottom. Movie studios don't care about the bombs if you got Star Wars or Jason Bourne and you're making hundreds of millions or billions for the Avengers. Then they don't care that a movie lost $23 million because they're making that in a Thursday on the Avengers. And by the way, the NBA has always out of Hollywood field. Hollywood's a very unique industry, and the NBA in sports is very unique. The power structure is different.

In baseball, in football, in hockey, you know, the league, the teams, the owners control it. In the NBA and in Hollywood, Tom Cruise is significantly more important than any studio president, any CEO. In fact, sometimes in its prime, Mission Impossible and Tom are big. than an entire movie studio. They are the profits center. Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, are more important, sometimes, some years, some decades for a movie studio, if you can carry that kind of weight.

So there's no argument here that Janus, the league, would have been in deep trouble since the 70s. Lou Alcindor, Wilk going to the Lakers, Lough Alcindor going to the Lakers, shack going to the Lakers. you'll whine the whole time about all the league. And then we get an MJ or a Kobe or a LeBron and a Durant and a great player and a D. Wade and we fall in love and we watch and the league makes money. I don't think the league is necessarily better the more I think about it that Yonis went to Milwaukee.

It does feel more fair. There's some symmetry here that I think is good. I like to see Midwest teams. It gives it texture and fabric that I think is important. The NBA's bigger problem is not the bottom. of the league. It's the top isn't quite as thrilling as we want it to be. KD. got hurt and Steph got hurt and Zion's not quite there. And there is a little LeBron fatigue going on. It doesn't bother me, but there's a little LeBron fatigue, the downside to a guy that seemingly

is going to play for a quarter of the century and probably for two decades be the best player. But the idea that the NBA would have been in trouble if Janus went to Miami or L.A., No, they'd make more money off it. We've never, this league's never been driven by the bottom. Hollywood's never been driven by independent films. It's driven by the Avengers. It's driven by Star Wars. I know, I know the critics roll their eyes at it.

The critics roll their eyes at the Avengers and the rock and superhero movies. It's what drives all the revenue, not your quirky little independent film about Napa. or pari. That's not what drives the industry. All right. James Hardin, I mean, seriously? Get on a treadmill once in the off-season?

I don't know. So I saw something yesterday with James Hardin. And another story out about James Hardin. I got this thing. This is from Tim McMahon. What a circus. The Rockets were with James Hardin. and I'll discuss that coming up.

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. 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. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm 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 what you need to be. 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. 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 on day, but just so y'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. 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, 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. Trip 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, Keer Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway.

Open your free, our heart radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Casper.com. Life-changing comfort. Only a Casper mattress makes you feel the way they do 1,500 perforations, cooling system when you sleep. good to have you back. Nick right around the corner. So I'm not going to make fun of James Hardin's puffiness that showed up on the internet. He is a little out of shape, but whatever. There's just no reason to go there. I'm a professional. But this story, Joy is my witness.

Goulet when he pays attention is my witness. I have been on this for two years. This is what I've been told by several sources. It now is out. congrats to Tim McMahon for writing this. The Rockets essentially, according to his story, basically the plane left when James said it left. The practices started when James said it started.

It was his organization. One of the quotes, we knew who the boss was in the organization. It's just part of the deal. The players, coaches, GM, the owner, they all knew it. It goes on to say, Westbrook wouldn't tolerate tardiness. nothing ever starts on time said a former rocket staffer the plane's always late the bus is never on time it's an organized aAU team westbrook would bark start the film start without him dan tony would say we have to restart it when he gets in here anyway this is what we've been saying for two years there's an imbalance in the organization hardened controlled everything

practice times film session times when the plane took off often late because he'd been partying James Harden is MVP, James Hardin, top 10 player all time seriously. He's just a score. That's the minimum in the NBA. LeBron, Kobe, Shaq, Larry Bird, Kevin Durant. Scoring's the minimum.

If you can't score in the NBA at a high level, you're not a star. That's the minimum. Then I'm looking for reliability physically, leadership, elevating others, An adult. Listen, if it was just about scoring and getting a bucket, I could make an argument, Kevin Durant for the last 10 years, you'd choose him over LeBron situationally.

If you needed a bucket, LeBron KD takes the shot. I'd probably choose KD. But where LeBron completely separates from Kevin Durant is physical reliability, leadership reliability, emotional reliability. That's what makes LeBron not just the points. What's funny about the NBA is that you think scorer is synonymous with leader. It's not. Scorer's scorer and leader is leader.

Bill Russell didn't score. Magic average 19 a game. It's not. We just think they're the same. Oh, if you score 30 points, you're the leader of the team. No, you're the best shooter. Every decade of my life, I've been watching it since the 70s. Wilts Chamberlain was never a leader.

Jerry West led the Lakers. Wilt scored 100 points. Wilt was never a. Barkley was a score. He wouldn't know it was the best leader. Clyde Drexler was a score. You go every decade, you've got a guy that's his score, and we just say, oh, he's the leader. That's not the way it works.

Now, it does often. LeBron, M.J., Kobe, Bird. Yeah, it works a lot. Probably seven out of ten times it works, maybe eight out of ten. but Hardin is a score. That's it. That's what he doesn't defend. He doesn't elevate others.

He's not reliable in the playoffs. But Colney plays, he plays every night. All right. Sure, great. Yeah. I mean, that's, again, isn't that kind of the minimum? You're around 75 at 82 games a year? It's the old Chris Rock joke.

I love my kids. That's kind of the minimum. We should start with that. I love my kids. I take care of my kids. Well, yeah, again, that's kind of the start with there. Do you elevate them? survival is hopefully the goal to be a good parent.

And so this is why I've never really taken Hardin seriously. He's a score. Maybe I haven't watching it too long. I'm cynical, but he's just a score. Not a leader. I'm not building my franchise around him. I'll make him my two. There's Anthony Davis has a little bit of this.

Anthony Davis has never shown us he wants to be the leader. He wants to go to the arena, get his points, play some defense. More complete player than Hardin, but we, this thing that, they're synonymous. They're not. Some guys just fill it up. And that's all they do. Joy with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news.

This is the Herdline News. Jalen Hertz rushed for 106 yards in his first game as starting quarterback. A big part of Hertz's success was his ability to make plays with his legs. And Doug Peterson said that defenses often have trouble adjusting to a mobile quarterback. A lot of times they don't account for him. Anytime you can create a passing lane and you've got a quarterback that can push up in the pocket and then separate from there, It just stresses the defense. And so that's where some of the big plays, you know, can really show up.

It's kind of what you were saying with the Saints. I saw Brian Baldinger is a former NFL player, NFL Network. He goes online and does these videos. And he really teaches me football. He had one yesterday on Lamar Jackson that was so good. And they ran this play twice. Nobody accounted for Lamar. And they made it look different.

And Brian does, I don't know Brian, but he does a great job of breaking down film. And it's the point is football. defenses aren't designed to defend a great athlete quarterback because they want to double a receiver. There's certain situational areas where if a quarterback's fast, we don't have a defensive player who matches up. He's matched up on the receivers. And traditionally, the best athlete does not play quarterback. So that's why the league is becoming more of a scoring league rules.

And you don't really want to have to face a quarterback who's faster than your safety's linebackers and corners. I would be, I'd be interested to talk to some defensive coordinators who, like moving forward. forward, what is the plan for that? Because this is just a trend that's going to continue. The best athlete is now playing quarterback. Well, you know what the plan is? When they're out of the pocket, hit them a little late, and hopefully psychologically, they get tired of running.

But, by the way, that does work. They penalize them for an ad now, too, so it's very risky. Yeah, it's a risky. But one of the propositions is make sure you add a little elbow. Do that four or five times. Put a little fear in them. Yeah, after about three years, guys are like, I'm going to stay in the pocket.

I mean, there's really no way to stop it. it's done efficiently. I mean, no. We talked to Hakeed Dahlib yesterday. He's like, they hate it. Defense's hate going against running quarterbacks. It's very hard to account for them. And this weekend, they're going to be playing another running quarterback.

So that'll be a, that'll be an exciting game, Eagles and Cardinals. So the Packers are currently in the top spot in the NFC and everything, have everything working on offense. And Aaron Rogers is very happy with the way his team is playing right now. Yeah, we're playing great football. Now we can say it. We're 14 weeks in, 13 games in a buy. So yeah, now we can say it.

We're having, you know, a lot of success on offense. I think we're number two in yards, not sure where we're at in points per game. We're number two in third down percentage, number one now in the red zone. You ever know someone who, like, it's the worst person to be wrong around? It feels like if you say something in Aaron Rogers knows you're incorrect, you're going. going to get the, like, the most, like, calm undressing by Aaron Rogers. Like, you're, like, you're, like, you're ragging about something and then, like, you're like, I was wrong and I got to run into this guy tomorrow.

Aaron also has this thing where he wants you to think he's cool and doesn't care about stuff. But he went on to talk about the goat thing, and he's got it all in his head. He just wants you to think he doesn't care about. When people say they don't care about stuff, they care more than they're willing to let on, they care about stuff. Yeah, I mean, if you don't care. care about something, you just simply don't talk about it. The idea that Aaron wouldn't care about some goat conversations,

well, he's in some of those, so of course he cares. And as he should. He's somebody who's going to leave a very storied legacy on the NFL. Of course he's thought about it. And he's right. They are playing good football. I just love the way he talks about it. It's like I would hate to like be bragging to Aaron Rogers about something and then

find out later I was wrong. You're going to run into him the next day? He's definitely going to let you know. But they are atop the division and atop the NFC right now. The NFC playoff picture is kind of interesting because the in the hunt teams, obviously, we're not taking seriously at this point, but Vikings and bears, like, no one's really considered it. The top of it's too good to take them seriously. Yes, exactly.

The Seahawks, Bucks, and Cardinals are in the wildcard positions right now with a little bit left to play. And obviously, Rogers is having an incredible season. Now, I would say this. I think you really have to take the Seahawks seriously. I was texting with a member of the Seahawks last night, not going to give it out. And he said, we're getting healthier. Watch out. Yeah, they're a real team.

The Seahawks are just very inconsistent. Chris Carson's healthy. Rashad Penny is supposed to play this week. So they'll have their top two running back talents and the three backup running back talents. Watch Seattle's run game starting this weekend. So finally, as you just mentioned earlier, Janice signed his five-year Supermax deal worth $228 million yesterday. LeBron also got a new contract earlier this month. And he had an interesting response when he was asked about Janice's situation.

I don't know if I can relate to his situation. All of our situations are different. Totally different, actually. You know, they tried to build something great for him. And obviously, they did enough to keep him there. And, you know, I think it's great that he, if he's staying there, he's committed to that franchise. Well, he's right.

He can't relate to that situation because Cleveland did not do everything that they could do to keep him in Cleveland. Milwaukee has done a very good job considering the market and it's lack of glamour. They've done a very good job to give him. They drafted Chris Middleton. They got Drew Holiday. So they've done about as much as they can. It's not a free agent hotbed.

It never will be. So Milwaukee's done a much better job than Cleveland did with LeBron. Not close. And I don't look at Milwaukee as an organization the same way as Cleveland. No, Cleveland is like Loserville. Functional organization. for a very long time. Milwaukee's just had limitations based on market.

Like Utah. Utah's a very well-run organization. There are certain limitations in the free agent market. But you know, Milwaukee's well-run, the coach, the scouting. Yeah, no, it's a class organization. 100%. That was never my question with Janus there. It's a matter of, as you said earlier,

is Janus going to put himself, A, in a situation where there's a lot of pressure on him, like LeBron did, going to Miami? You left your, and it's not Yonis' hometown, obviously. but you left Milwaukee a small market to go to a bigger market. That's going to add pressure to your career. Like you then have to win. Really, if he never wins a championship in Milwaukee, is anyone really going to blink an eye?

No. He's just going to have a great career. Yeah. Joy with the News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. My buddy, Nick Wright, brought to you by Mercedes. Ben's the best or nothing every Wednesday at this time. So I said this earlier, the onyx extension.

You know, people say, oh, it's better for the league. I could make an argument. put him in Miami. The NBA puts him in prime time. It gets massive ratings. It's not better for him to play at noon in the bubble on the playout. The league is telling you nobody cares. So what do you make of the extension? Well, I do think it's good for the league in a number of ways. One way is that I think we need great players staying in the east. And, you know, it's crazy what's happened. LeBron goes out west and all of a sudden, everybody wants to go east. James Hardin says send me out east.

Kevin Durant goes out east. Yonis is like, I'm good. I'll stay right here. Now, Miami would have been out east as well. It's just wild how that works. But what I will say is this. If you are a fan of the Mavericks and you're a little nervous about Luca, even though I don't think you should be, or the Pelicans, and you're a little nervous about Zion or Charlotte,

if Michael Jordan ever drafts a great player, which he probably won't, You're happy about this. You're happy that, you know what? Here is a sign that if we draft the right guy, he might choose to stay more than just the seven years. He's basically tied to us with his rookie deal. Now, one other difference, I heard you play the LeBron audio between Janus's situation and LeBron's is not just that LeBron and this first time around in Cleveland got to the finals in year three, or year four, pardon me. But it was also, LeBron lost a conference finals when he averaged. 39, 8, and 8. Janus has lost these playoffs, in part because Janus has not been good enough. And I adore Janice. Yes. But one of the reasons I think he can be confident staying in Milwaukee is I think he can look himself in the eye and say the team was good enough.

I wasn't. I need to be better in these big spots. And he just turned 26. I believe he will be at some point. Story on James Harden. I'd been talking about this on the air for about a year, about he runs practices, the plane takes off. Forget the fact that he came in a little puffy.

What do you make of the culture that really was so beholden to his every whim? That's not, to me, that doesn't feel like a championship culture, Nick. Yeah, I get that. I also think that, and I know this is in the article, but I believe it to be true, they were with that culture, a Chris Paul tweaked hamstring. away from winning a championship, from beating one of the most talented teams ever put together the KD. Staff Clay Warriors. But I think that the Rockets made a trade-off, which is to James's credit, no matter how tequila-soaked he may have been, he was dropping 40. He wasn't missing games.

He wasn't load managing. He was always there. He was playing through injury. He was playing heavy minutes. But I do think that it is something of an indictment when a guy like Russ who really likes James as a person gets there and says, you got to be kidding me. This is how you guys do business. And I know people can fairly criticize Russ's game, but his approach, his work ethic, those types of things are unimpeachable. And so I do wonder if he gets his wish and he gets traded, that team is not going to be as beholden to him. Like, let's say he were to get his wish and get traded to the net, which I don't think is a real holistic possibility, but say it happened.

That team is beholden to Kevin Durant, not to James Harden. And so I do think there might be a be careful what you wish for aspect with James moving forward as far as he has it about as good as anybody can get it. They pay him the most money they possibly can. They let him pick the damn near pick the coach, certainly pick his teammates, and pick the practice and flight schedule. It's not a bad gig, similar to the one you have. Now, let's stop with that.

Okay, so, you know, people in Cleveland just want me to give Baker credit. And it's like, I was sitting here this morning thinking you do realize he was the second best quarterback Monday night. I mean, if Lamar doesn't get cramps, no, he wasn't. Oh, you don't think he. Lamar Jackson's so much better than Baker Mayfield. Are you really think? Overall, overall, but not Monday night. Oh, look, I, yeah, Lamar's the defending MVP, but Monday night he wasn't.

Lamar had 80 yards in the first three and a half quarters. He completed six passes. I like Lamar a lot, but come on. Baker against the Titans, the best first half anyone's done all, against any team all year. Files it up against the Ravens. They score 42 points. He scores three fourth quarter touchdowns, a go-head touchdown,

and then a drive in the final two minutes where his only flaw was he scored too fast. 47 seconds down the field. Like, come on, man. come on by the way listen to this Baker was really good listen to this

yeah aFC alone just the AFC if I you're the GM AFC for the next five years Mahomes

just answer you know Mahomes or Baker yeah Josh Allen or Baker Johnner Baker John or Baker

Justin Herbert or Baker Baker Justin Herbert okay Deshawn Watson Joe Burrow The Jets number one pick, the Jags number two pick. Josh Allen.

I have nine minimum. I choose over Baker next five years. And I'm not counting Ben or two. Ben's old and two. I give me another seven, eight games. That's all I'm saying. I mean, again, he's got the best offensive line. He's got a fortress of offensive talent.

He lost Monday. I mean, what do you want from me? I scored 42 points. What I want from you is common sense. He scored 42 points. We're blaming him. In? Okay.

Hold on. And you said Josh Allen, are we going to be able to talk about the bills? Are we going to be able to do that? Okay, let's do it right now. Let's segue to this. Is that I have never bought into this nonsense with record. By the way, I have been saying last six weeks, Pittsburgh's not that good. I don't care of they're undefeated.

And by the way, I said last year with the Patriots, end of the year, I'm like, they're not good to the slowest team in the league. Right now this morning, Buffalo is better offensively in the red zone. Buffalo is better defensively. Buffalo is getting fewer penalties. Buffalo is trending better. Than who? Than who?

Better than who? Kansas City. Oh my God. I'm wrong. You didn't say that. No, they're number one of my heard. They're the better team today. You're wrong.

No, they're not. And in fact, you know what? I can't even put you, I have too much love, respect, and adoration for you to actually try to do a Kansas City versus the Bill's debate because it's too galaxy brain insane. So I'm going to do something much more straightforward.

I'm going to test your medal on how much you believe in the best team in football the Buffalo. I'm ready for it. So I'd like to make a wager with you, Colin. Let's set the Bill's playoff victory over under at one, meaning if they win zero playoff games, I win, and if they win two or more, you win.

One is a push. Those would be the, that would be the stakes. I only win if they are, if they don't win a single playoff game. Do you win if they get to at least the, I guess it would be the conference championship game or further? Do you, do you agree with that terms and then we can discuss stakes? I agree with those terms. Does that seem fair? Yes.

Okay. I'm so glad you said yes. So obviously, there's no sense in betting actual dollars with you. You wouldn't know if you lost it. So let's bet this. Can we show this? The loser has to do this in homage to the Bill's Mafia. I really hope we have this video ready,

or else this entire bit is not going to work. Yeah, there we go. There we go. On TV, if the Bills make the conference championship game or further, I will do that. And if they go one and done in the playoffs, you will do that. Preferably joy with the mustard and ketchup in hand, but you can negotiate that on your own. You can wear the goggles they wear in championship celebrations.

That's the wager. Are you in? Well, first of all, I am, I think this feels like a zany FM radio bit. I would have to do it the last two minutes of the show, obviously. Am I willing to go here? No, Nick, I think you missed the bar on the audience. That is not a calling coward thing. I would do that.

Joy. I mean, I'm not, I don't want any part of this bed. Okay. Your premise is, you don't think I have the courage or guts to say the bills are going to be in the AFC championship. And I'm saying they are going to be in the AFC championship. And they're going to meet Kansas City. Absolutely. That's what's going to happen.

Right. And I'm not even going to ask you to pick them. to beat the Chiefs because that's a bridge too far, even if right now you have them ahead. I'm not even asking you to do that. And the only way I win is if they win no playoff games. They have to go there. I almost want to do a who wins more playoff games, bills or Browns. Okay, time out, time out. But I don't want this to be polluted with bacon. Time out. Yeah. So if they win one playoff game, it's just a push. Yeah, you don't have to do it. It's a push. Okay. You're saying they're going to win none. And you have to do that.

Correct. Okay. I'll do that. If they win a single playoff game, I, yes! Yes! So basically... Oh, I can't believe I got you to do it. Okay, okay. I can't believe it. So if it's one, neither one of us. No, no, no, no. If it's one, you have to do it. Correct. If it's one, it's a push. Nothing happens. If it's zero, you do it. If it's one, nobody. If it's two, three, or four, it's all on me. Hits me right in the forehead. Okay, I'll do the bet. That's how it works. So right now, Buffalo.

Joy's so mad. I can't believe that I allow that to happen. Basically, they have to win a playoff game. They play the Colts today. Yeah, that's all. That's all. I tend to lean towards Nick on this. I am not fully sold on the bills.

I think they're a great team right now. They are a great team, but. Okay. I'm so happy. Can I just say something real quick, Colin? I do you remember when the chiefs were struggling with the Raiders a few weeks ago? Yeah. And you called me mid third quarter and I gave you the bleep you button because I didn't want to hear your mess.

I am going to FaceTime you the entirety of the second half of a Bill's playoff game. When you realize, oh my God, I have trusted Josh Allen for my dignity and reputation. You're going to be watching Josh Allen throw behind the back laterals and try to throw left-handed passes. and you're going to say every decision I've ever made in my life has led me to this point. Mustard being sprayed in my eyes. All right. I'm so happy right now.

All right, Nick Wright. Yes. I'll get to be honest with you. Talk to you later. Talk to you later. Look at it. That's going to be calling. Yes.

I need Buffalo to beat the Colts. At home. I would not have made that bad. Do you know the only way it's better? Oh, I'm gone now. Yeah. I don't know if I'm still in the air. You are, Nick.

The only way it's still bad. better as if they play the Browns. Can you imagine if it's Baker who does it to him? Oh my God. I said I wouldn't, I participate in zany FM shenanigans like that and I wouldn't have done that. All right. I'm way late. I got to take a break back in a second. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. 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 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 which I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clipper 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 what you need to be.

Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart 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. 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 a little kill?

Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. 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 on day, but just so y'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, 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. 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, 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, Keir Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose. On my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. I'm not really a bit guy. I used to work at a network with a morning show. was like a bit show, and I'm not like into bits.

But if the Buffalo Bills win one playoff game, I think they're arguably the second best team in the league. I watch them dominate the Rams. I watch them dominate Seattle. I watch them dominate Pittsburgh. I watch them dominate the Raiders. To me, arguably, the first or second best team in football. They have to win one playoff game.

And if they do, it's not so much that they have to win one playoff. game. It's that if they don't win the playoff game. First of all, great coach, great quarterback. Their defense concerns me, but they'll be playing in Buffalo. The stakes concern me. Not the

bet itself. It's the stakes that concern me. For the record, on the Baker Mayfield thing, even when you compliment Cleveland, they have such low self-sports esteem. They can't figure it out. Cleveland has either the first or

second-best offensive line in football. I think it's the best. Colts are second. That's a compliment, Cleveland. With the best offensive line in football, Baker Mayfield has the 31st-highest completion percentage. 18th in yards, 12th and touchdowns, with great tight-ins and great wide receiver talent. He was the second-best quarterback in the game Monday.

Ask yourself this, you're a general manager. Next five years in the NFL, I would take Patrick Mahomes over him, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrell, Lamar Jackson, DeShon Watson, and I love Derek Carr. He's more of a grown-up. I would also take the Jets number one pick and the Jags number two pick and give me five more games, and I like the maturity and accuracy of Tua. That would be 10 of 16 AFC quarterbacks. Cleveland's got the best offensive line in the league. Do you remember what Dak Prescott looked like when he had the best offensive line in the league?

he was 13 and 3 as a rookie. The last time a player, a quarterback in this league, had the best running game and the best offensive line was Dak Prescott's rookie year. He went 13 and 3 in the better NFC. Baker's 31st in completion percentage with a star receiver and two star tight ends and two starbacks and the best offensive line. I'm just saying, I don't see this.

He is Case Keenham with a better arm. he's capable of Case Keenham won 11 games one year. It's not a bang on him. But the last time we saw the combination of best O-line in football and best running game was DAC as a rookie. It was 13 and 3. So right now they're 9 and 4. So, and, you know, it's not a knock. I really honestly, sometimes I'm like, it's not a criticism.

Cleveland is built around Kevin Stefansky and this O-line. That's what they are. And by the way, I like the running backs. But Nick Chubb couldn't do anything. This offensive line. We've seen Zeke, as the cowboy offensive line has deteriorated, Zeeke's not special. Like you do need some help on the offensive line.

Cleveland's O line is stacked. Stacked. They're paying a swing tackle $5.5 million. They're stacked. Joel Clatt next hour. It's the streaming service you'll love. Discovery Plus. Exclusive or

It starts next year. U.S. only. Plus, some favorite brands like HGTV and the Food Network. Discovery Channel. The Hurt. 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 helped 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 I-Heart 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 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, 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 Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations 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. On The Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to be. 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. 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.