The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd for Sep 30, 2020

Episode Date: September 30, 2020

-Lakers Championship teams have usually been built just like this one-Patrick Mahomes has gotten a lot of breaks in the NFL-The Cowboys might be having an identity crisis-Colin plays an NBA Finals edition of 'Two Truths and a Lie'Guest: Nick Wright, FS1's Firsts Things FirstChris Bosh, 2x NBA Champion 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.

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. 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 Podcast, 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 Best of 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.com Or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Heard. This is the best of the Heard. with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

Ah, here we go on a Wednesday NBA finals start tonight, live in Los Angeles. This is The Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we're on Fox Sports Radio. And right here on FS1, Joel Clatt will yell and argue with me in an hour. Nick Wright will do the same in 30 minutes. Finals, LeBron takes on his former team. Pat Riley and Spolstra take on their former star. It begins tonight in the bubble to wrap up

what has been an amazing, weird, strange, disjointed NBA season, but it's been great so far in the playoffs. And Joy Taylor is joining me. Joy, how are you? I'm doing great considering watching the collapse of modern society last night. But other than that, you know, the heater on tonight, thank God. I'm excited for the finals.

What a show it was last night. It was something. glad we've got stuff to watch not called Trump or Biden. Okay, let's start with this. History matters. And it doesn't mean history always repeats itself, but it matters. And the NBA's history is really clear. If you got like a couple great players and a good enough coach, they beat the team of depth. That's just the way it works. There have been some 1970s, 6 Seattle Sonics, the Dallas Mavericks, the Detroit Pistons years ago, like 15 years ago with Rip Hamilton, but generally the stars win.

I like the Lakers to beat Miami in five games it starts the night. I think they're going to roll. I do think Miami will shoot their way from three-point land to a win in the series, potentially two, but I like the Lakers. One of the things I always do with football, basketball, I give you top 10. Who are the 10 best players? And this matters a lot in the NBA.

When I look at the Lakers and I look at the Miami Heat and I write down their top players, The two best players in this series are both Lakers. LeBron James is one, and then Anthony Davis is number two. Then after that, it's a bunch of a Miami Heat players. Jimmy Butler would be three. Bam, out of bio would be four. Goran Dragage would be five. Tyler Hero would be six.

Then it gets really, you know, inches not feet. I'll go Rondo, KCP Kuzma. Number 10, I'll put Andre Igwoodala of Miami because he's been in this game so many times. I think his experience will be really vital. By the way, that has been the Lakers story for the entire bubble as they've blown through it, blown through Portland, blown through Houston, and blown through Denver. They have the two best players in every series, and then three through seven or eight. It's the other guys, and then maybe a Laker or two at the end.

That's actually what's always won for the Lakers, whether it was Kareem and Shaq, and then everybody else had like three through six, Shaq and Kobe, everybody else had three through seven. That's NBA history. That formulas worked for the Lakers this year. Number one seat in the West, blown through the playoffs, two stars every single night. They are clearly the Dupest players for the Lakers on the floor,

and they win. That's very Shaq and Kobe. Miami had five different guys lead them in scoring in the playoffs. That's very much the Pistons. But if you look at Miami's history, even they've done it, the Laker way. Shack, Wade, Gary Payton, Bosch, Wade, LeBron.

So what you're asking Miami to do is what they've never really done. The Pistons way, the Sonics way, that Mavericks with Dirk and JJ Berea. We know what wins in the NBA. Now, it is the bubble. The bubble's been quirky. The bubble's been weird. Young players have done very well in the bubble

because there are no toxic road crowds. They play basketball, they play video games, they hang out. It feels like a big AAU tournament. And of all the teams that have some young guys mixed with old guys, Miami's been the best. Dragget's been around a while. Jimmy Butler's been around a while. Andre Igwadal has been around a while surrounding young stars like Bam and Tyler Hero. But I will take the Lakers because I will take LeBron.

I have not seen him. This is the one old team that got a break with the bubble. Why? Anthony Davis has a history of getting hurt. He got his body totally healthy for four months. Anthony Davis loved that four months off because he's had nicks and bruises and cuts and injured. Oh, he got four months off to get healthy. Healthyeth Anthony Davis has ever been, has been in this bubble.

And LeBron is in his 17th year. He could have used four months off to hang out with his family in his pool in Brentwood and get. So this is the one old team that actually the two stars benefited greatly from time off. and I also think not only is LeBron the most energized I've seen him, I swear to God, in about five years, listen to him. He's the most focused I've heard him perhaps ever. I'm here for one reason and one reason only, and that's to compete for a championship.

And that was my mindset. Once I entered the bubble, once I entered the quarantine process, the first two days, that's just been my mindset. You know, throughout these, I don't even know how many days it is, whatever how many days it is, it feels like five years. So it really doesn't matter. But I've been as locked in as I've ever been in my career. The one old team that has flourished in the bubble actually got two breaks.

They're called LeBron and AD. The brittle player, healthiest he's ever been going into the playoffs. And the 17-year star needed a little rest and got it. I'll take the Lakers in five. Peter King's been around football for a long time. He was talking about Patrick Mahomes' performance on Money Night against the Great Ravens defense. We thought it was great.

It didn't look great. It looked like pick up football seven on seven in a park, and Mahomes picked it apart. And Peter King had this to say about the performance. This is going to sound idiotic, okay? And it's going to sound way too early. I thought we were watching the Michael Jordan of football last night. that was that's an unbelievable performance by Patrick Mahomes against honestly against one of the best defenses in the league easily imagine how much better he's going to be with Andy Reed

he's he's really something by the way they both dominate the same way but here's the big difference it is okay to admit you had it easy than somebody else. Your journey was easier. I mean, it's easy for me to say, I'm glad I wasn't a trust fund kid, but that could have been a fun life too. Trips to Europe, two or three times a year, on yachts and stuff, but that's not the life I got. But it's okay to admit, I don't have any envy for that or jealousy. It's okay to admit your parents were successful. Things were easier. The difference between MJ and Mahomes is the journey. Michael joined a totally dysfunctional organization. They were called the traveling cocaine circus. They were one of the worst teams

in the league. They had an owner who liked baseball more than basketball, a GM with a chip on his shoulder. He had a couple of ball hogs who wouldn't pass Michael the ball. And oh, by the way, his first two coaches, Kevin Lockery and Stan Albrecht, have been fired over 10 times. Mahomes entered the league with a highly functional franchise. The chiefs were 12 and 4 the year before. They haven't had a losing season in eight years. They have great weapons, a serviceable to above average offensive line, one of the great play designers in NFL history, very little pressure, take the year off, and a ownership group that is so fantastic,

the AFC championship trophy is named after them. Now, they dominate the same way, but there's a reason Michael Jordan has that metal and that body armor, his journey was incredible. It's okay to admit it's been a lot easier for Patrick Mahomes. Andy Reed, great weapons, fastest receiver, best tight end, a B-plus offensive line in a division with lots of dysfunction. The Raiders, the Chargers. Michael Jordan entered the league with the formidable pistons and the formidable Celtics,

legendary coaches, legendary players. It's okay to admit Mahomes got the key keys to a Mercedes man but not brand new it was used it had like 32,000 miles on it but it was mostly a Mercedes I watched the 10-part documentary

on Michael Jordan Joy and I sat here in the most remarkable thing about the documentary how damn hard it was for MJ he was the best looking most glamorous best player everything he fought his GM he fought the owner he fought his teammates He fought everybody until Phil Jackson.

Dennis Rodman would just go to Vegas right before a game. Patrick Mahomes, by the way, he's going to have a 10-part documentary too. We just got the trailer to it. Here's what it sounds like. What if I told you a quarterback inherited a stable franchise, a great offensive head coach, had no pressure on him, and had an entire year to learn the system before he had to play.

What if I told you? That quarterback was really good immediately. A new documentary. Easy Street. The Patrick Mahomes story. It takes nothing away from how brilliant he is. But this has been grooved for him a little. Some guys get Adam Gase,

some guys get Andy Reed, Tyree Kill, Travis Kelty, the Hunt family, a dysfunctional division, a great play designer. It's not a knock. But what makes Michael Jordan so endearing is what he had to go through. Mahomes was in that left lane in the freeway with an easy pass. 85 miles an hour, just don't wreck it into the median. Michael Jordan was on a dirt road. A storm had knocked a few trees in the way and somebody sliced his tires before he got in the car.

that's what makes the Jordan story to me so special. That's what made the documentary so gripping. Good God, Michael had a lot to go through. Thank God he had a good mom, a great college coach, and eventually a great head coach. Otherwise, he doesn't get there. Mahomes is great. But boy, this has been to this point, really nicely grooved for him to succeed. And to his credit, he has taken that.

focused, head down, work hard, go forward, and produced. But the past so far are quite different. In fact, I'll read you a funny line. This is Michael Jordan when he first got to the Bulls. I just want to read you this line. He said I had a preseason game. I think we were in Peoria. I was in the hotel trying to find my teammates.

I was knocking on all these hotel doors. And I knocked on the door and I could hear somebody inside the room say, shh, somebody's outside. And then I heard a deep voice say, who is it? I said, MJ. And they all went, ah, he's just a rookie. Don't worry about it. I opened the door.

I walk in and practically the whole team was in there. It was like things I'd never seen in my life as a kid. Lines of Coke, weed smokers, women over there. The first thing I said is, look, man, I'm out. Because all I kept thinking was, what if the coaches walk in? Said Michael, from that point on, I was more or less on my own. That is not the Mahomes story. Both deserve credit.

Both are amazing. Both are dominating. Both are going to be first ballot. Hall of Famers. One is, one will be. 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 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 a little kill. 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 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but yeah, yeah, yeah.

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. 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.

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, iHeartRadio app.

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. His name is Nick Wright. First Things First. Okay, NBA Finals, the history of this league is when you've got multiple star. Oh, brother. What? What? What? What's wrong? Can you acknowledge how? Oh, I forgot. My bad. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Hold on. I forgot. Sorry, we got to be real professional over here. No fun. Nothing going on. Sorry. What were you saying?

Okay. So all to the history of the league, even in Miami. We know the Lakers have always done it with stars, not role players. But even in Miami, it's been with stars when they've won. I like the Lakers in five. I think it could be, it looked a lot like Denver, that it could be kind of a steamroll effect where you really never, feel after game one, you really feel like the Lakers are clearly the better team. Your thoughts? I agree with you almost wholeheartedly with the only tweak being. I think the Lakers might lose tonight. The Heat have to win tonight to have any shot in the series.

Joy Taylor's beloved Miami Heat are a great story and a very good team. They know they have to, if they're going to win a championship, they have to do it within six games. Because if they're playing a game seven against LeBron, that's a loss. no one has done that, one in that scenario since George W. Bush was president. So that's not going to happen. For them to win in six, they got to win game one. The Lakers, on the other hand, lost in game one against Portland. There was a very, very smart, relatively good-looking radio television host,

so I think Portland to win the series after that. I can't remember who that is. They lost game one against Houston, they didn't lose again that series. So the Lakers can lose tonight and still win the series. I just, I understand folks want to bring up the 04. Pistons when a great collection beat, you know, a great top two talent. But the reason everyone has to bring up the O4 Pistons is because how rare that is. And the difference between the 2004 Lakers and the 2020 Lakers is the 2004 Lakers hated each other. And this team seems to really, really love each other. And oh yeah, by the way, they've got a guy who hasn't lost a playoff series where he's been the

favorite since 2011. So I'll go with him. I also agree with you. I think. it's Lakers in five. By the way, Clippers moved off Doc Rivers. I said this. When Doc, I think in the NFL you have to have a great quarterback or even Andy Reed, Pete Carolyn Belichick get fired. You don't win titles without it. In the NBA, you need a clutch number two. A lot of people have great stars in this league. But when Phil had Kobe as a two to Shaq or Pippin as a two to MJ or Gassal a two to Kobe and they were reliable, well, they won titles. When Doc had a reliable two, and Paul Pierce and a hell of a three in Ray Allen and then he won when he had Blake Griffin and Paul George as is two. He didn't win. This to me is a Paul George issue more than a

Doc Rivers issue. Your thoughts. So a couple things. One is you're right about the history there, but you shouldn't need a great number two to in seven years with the Clippers make a single conference finals. Like here's a stat that I'm going to tell you, Colin. you're not going to believe me, but I promise it's true. Frank Vogel has won as many playoff series with the Lakers as Doc Rivers won with the Clippers. That's a true story right there as amazing as that sounds. And Frank Vogel's been there one year. With that said, yes, this meltdown is more on the players than the coach.

Because people wouldn't say, oh, it's the bubble. It was lack of continuity. Y'all were up 19 in game 5 and couldn't close, up 16 in game 6. up 16 in game 6 and couldn't close, and then up a dozen in game 7 and fell apart. I never believed this team could win the title, but while I picked the nuggets to beat them, they clearly could have beaten the nuggets

and would have beaten the nuggets if just either Paul George or Kauai sees the moment. But if you want to blame Paul George, it's fair, and I will add something to it, Colin. I wonder if Paul George's commentary after the series of we never viewed this. is championship or bust, how do you think that sat with Steve

Balmer? And what do you, I think it's totally in place. Steve Ballmer said, wait, what? My message was not getting communicated then. Because I didn't buy 20 million backpacks to distribute to the children of Los Angeles

to try to turn them to Clippers fans so we could lose in round two. It absolutely was championship or bust to the owner. And so when the second best player says it wasn't, I wonder how much that hurt, Doc. And I also wonder how much he was, Balmer was waiting to see, well, let's see how the Nuggets do against the Lakers. Like, if the Nuggets had beaten the Lakers, maybe Doc still has his job.

Ryan Hollins made that point, I think it's a good one. But when the Lakers dispatch of them easily, it's harder to keep Doc. So Monday Night Football, I said it's one of those things you can't unsee. Last year, I saw the Niners crush the Packers. I mean, it looked like a mismatch in an Octagon UFC fight. I could not unsee it. It didn't matter the Packers won their next five. It didn't matter.

It didn't matter they got to the NFC Championship. I couldn't take him seriously. They physically got thrown. It was like Big Brother, Little Brother. I can't unsee Monday night. I can't unsee the fact that Lamar Jackson, when trailing and everybody knows he's going to throw, is not, the gap's getting bigger between him and Mahomes. Is that fair? Is that fair?

I do think, and I said this too, I said, I said that Mahomes is on an escalator going up, and Lamar's on a people mover at an airport, going faster, but you can't. can't get to the top floor and a people mover. Like, am I wrong? That's a great one. No. And I hope, I really hope you asked me about the Chiefs rant you went on earlier. Okay. But on the Ravens, I want to give you credit.

Because I think it was you who first said, was it you that made the Lamar Janus comparison? I think you said that a few weeks ago. Probably I'm usually brilliant. Yeah, sure. Go ahead and give me credit for it. You'll take it. You bet. Okay.

All right. Well, listen, if it wasn't you, it was me, I can't. can't remember. I thought I stole it from you. Maybe you stole it from me. Who knows? It's a perfect comparison, which is, I don't think LeBron included, there is a player you would rather have in the NBA over the course of the entire regular season, and there isn't a player who you'd rather have with a 10-point lead than Janus on Denikunpo with everything working going downhill. But I think there might be six, seven, eight guys you'd rather have if your team was trailing 10 going into the second half of a playoff game. That's where I'm at with Lamar right

now. On any given week, he's probably the most dangerous player in the league, and he is without a question, even over Mahomes, the guy you would want if the team is up 10 at halftime. But when you're 0 and 5 in games, your team's trail by double digits, when you're 21 and 1 in your career in the regular season, except for against the Chiefs, and 0.5, and 5, you're 10, your team's, you're 205, and 5, you're, in your career against the Chiefs or the playoffs, which are your biggest games essentially up to this point. It's concerning. It doesn't mean you write him off.

It doesn't mean he won't get better. It just means like Janus, he is a guy right now that while is the number one draft pick in certain scenarios, I think Mahomes, Russell, you could say Deshaun. There might be a long list of quarterbacks where it's like, man, we're down 10, midway through the third quarter. Can you come back? He hasn't shown us that yet.

And that's not hating on Lamar. That's just recognizing right now he has a hole in his game like Janice's lack of a jump shot. Yeah, no, I totally agree. I think that was your idea first, not mine. Very good. So money is now pouring in on the Patriots, pouring in on New England. I'm going to stay away. I'm not betting against Kansas City until they lose, okay?

So I'm staying away from it. But I will say this. Peter King yesterday said MJ is Mahomes. And they are like, they look like just different than everybody else that plays their sport. But I do think that you have to at least acknowledge. And it's okay to admit I'm not a trust fund kid. Maybe I wish I was. That between Andy Reed and the Hunt family and the weapons and the O line and the dysfunctional division,

it's been a little easier for Mahomes than most quarterbacks enter in the league. No? Okay. So there's a lot to unpack here. One is just so America knows when Colin Coward says money is pouring in on the Patriots and the line is moved, that probably just means Colin made a medium-sized wager

by his standards and moved it. So just so everybody knows. That's what he means. That's first of all. Second of all, on the Jordan part, I really love how you've painted Michael Jordan's story of rags to riches because he had to overcome, you know,

the coaching from Dean Smith. then Phil Jackson and getting Scotty Pippen by year four. I mean, the mountains Michael Jordan had to climb. It's just unbelievable. I just love it. I love that. How could he do it? In college, he's got the greatest coach ever and James Worthy to his right.

Can you imagine they even made the tournament? Now on Mahomes. Obviously, Mahomes being drafted by Andy Reed with a team that has Tyree Kill and Travis Kelsey has set him up for massive success. No one would deny that. But your idea that he went to this pristine franchise, I will not let you write that history. I went to those playoff games.

Before Patrick Mahomes took over, the Chiefs were 1 in 10 in their last 11 playoff games, and the one was a win over a Bill O'Brien coach team, so I don't think it counts. They hadn't been to a conference championship game in a quarter century, hadn't been to a Super Bowl in a half century. So this idea that's like, oh, well, the trophy's named after the deer departed Lamar Hunt. So this is one of the just pristine franchises in the league.

It's nonsense. And Mahomes has solved quite a bit for them. And while the offense has been very good, they had those weapons with Alex Smith, and they lost a Marcus Marriota in the playoffs. And the defense up until this year was mediocre at best. So Patrick Mahomes does get quite a lot of that credit, even though I'm not. I understand he has certainly had it easier than, say, Deshawn Watson, who's dealing with the mess down in Houston. All right. That was very. You know, Nick is from Kansas City, so he's got that labyrinth of stats. He can just, you know, look at that. I mean, you were so good. And now, look at you. I got a new hat to it.

Oh, that's even worse. Oh, that's even worse. You put it on. I mean, not even hireable now. I mean, not even employable with that look. I'm all right. Sorry. My bad. See you later, Colin. 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. Cleveland's at Dallas this weekend. They both have an identity. The question is, which identity? Which identity would you rather have? So Cleveland runs the ball a ton. Second most in the NFL. Dallas throws the ball.

a ton, 66% of the time. So here's what's interesting. The teams that run the most are the Rams, Browns, Patriots, Ravens, Titans. And this is where the problem is. They both have an identity. All winning teams. Here's the teams with the highest pass percentage.

They're all losing teams. The Giants, the Bengals, the Texans, the Cowboys, and the Broncos. You feel like actually, you think to yourself, well, Cleveland has to run because they have two good backs on an average quarterback. Dallas doesn't have to pass because Zeke is great and Dax pretty good. They just have amazing weapons. So when you say it out loud, do you think to yourself, well, I'd rather be Dallas. Dallas could run and win games, but they elect a pass because the receiving core is the best in football.

And then you hear Cleveland, you're like, we can't, they could not pass the ball 45 times and win. We saw that last year. Baker Mayfield's not good enough. They make too many bad throws, too many turnovers. You think to yourself, wow, Cleveland is limited. And I think actually they are limited. They're not Pittsburgh. They're not Kansas City.

They're not Baltimore. They're not the Packers. They're not the Seahawks. I do think Cleveland is more limited. But the choice they make to run the ball clear wins games in the NFL instead of just throwing it a ton. And this is the problem. Dallas and Mike McCarthy have gotten into a really, really bad habit.

In 2016, the Cowboys were 13 and 3. They led the NFL in running. In 2017, they were very good. They were third in running. In 2018, they ranked 10th, last year, 12th, now 29th. You've got a bad, bad, bad. reboot needed in Dallas. The more they asked

DAC to carry them, the less they win. They can run the ball. Mike McCarthy, this was the knock on him in Green Bay. He never developed a running game. What has Matt LaFleur done in a little over a year

in Green Bay? Developed Aaron Jones and a great running game. It sounds like Dallas has a much better higher ceiling. Cleveland runs because they have to. They're limited at quarterback. Dallas passes because they want to. They're not limited at quarterback mostly or running back.

So what is it? It's the identity. I believe Dallas needs a reboot of their identity. The last five years, they run it less and less and less. And then you combine that with my, Mike McCarthy's history in Green Bay, where he ran it less and less and less and less. And put it up again, the teams that run in this league control the clock, control the score, control the tempo. All five teams, Rams, Browns, Patriots, Ravens, Titans.

Those right now would be playoff teams. I know it's early. All five passing teams make more mistakes, balls in the air, you don't eat the clock, you don't control the tempo. It's all the bad teams. It's the Giants. It's the Bengals and it's the talented cowboys. So they both have an identity. Cleveland's got an identity and I think there's a ceiling on it, but they have found theirs very early.

Dallas has an identity too. I just think it's the wrong one. But I think their ceiling is much higher. So I think it's time for a reboot. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. All right. It's called Two Truths in a Lie. The NBA Finals begin tonight.

And Joy gives me three statements. two or true and one is a lie. Let's play this together, shall we? All right, let's start with the Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler. He has a cameo in a Taylor Swift video. He eats dessert first when he goes out to eat. He removed the rearview mirror in his car because he doesn't like to look at the past. Two or true and one's a lie. I think he removed the rear view mirror in the car because he doesn't like to look in the past is a lie. That is true. Yeah, that would be dangerous.

It is dangerous. It's true, though. The lie is that he was in a Taylor Swift video. He loves her, but he has not been in any videos. That seemed the most obvious because you could check that one. So I need to watch more videos. Every single one of Taylor Swift's videos to check for that. Yes.

My grandmother always told me to eat dessert because you never know what's coming next. So she should order that first. Bam, out of bio. Loves Katie Perry and her music. So maybe he's beefing with Jimmy Butler. declined in an invitation to a Nike basketball camp because he had chemistry homework, got his nickname because his mom loved Emerald Adasi.

I'm going to say the lie is he loves Katie Perry and her music. He loves Katie Perry. He loves Katie Perry. He did not get his nickname because his mom loved Emerald Agassi. And he's very dedicated to his homework. He's getting Nike basketball camp for chemistry homework. I kind of like that. That's a good kid.

Tyler Hero. his senior quote was Catch Flights Not Feelings. He was Homecoming King and Prom King of his senior year in high school. He was booed by Native Wisconsinites the first time he played the Bucks.

So which one's a lie? He's too much of an athlete to be homecoming and prom king his senior year of high school. That's a lie. Correct. That was a lie. He's too busy. He's playing basketball. He's traveling all the time. That's not true. I played four sports in high school and I was still homecoming queen. And you were petty

Maybe he wasn't popular I grew to be petty as I was older I was actually nice in high school You have a lot of awards I find out about The more I know you You won a bunch of awards Well I am awesome

Pat Riley owns a line of cigars Called Champion Had his own video game Didn't miss the playoffs Until his 20th season As a head coach That's a lie

The third one's a lie That is true Pat Riley is Excellence Personified he does not have his own line of cigars called Champion, although that is a very good business idea, Pat. You should try that. Who came out with that on our staff?

That's smart. So he does not own a line of cigars called Champion. No, but he should. He also had his own video game, Pat Riley basketball on Sega Genesis, which was probably my favorite video game. Yeah, yeah, I remember that. I love Sega Genesis. All right, now to the Lakers.

Anthony Davis has a twin sister named Antoinette. has his own flavor of Ruffles potato chips, played high school baseball until his growth spurt. So one of those is a lie. Yes. No, I don't, I think it's a lie that he played high school baseball until his growth spurt. Got one right. He did not. He has his own flavor of ruffles, potato chips called Ler Lime and Halapeno.

That sounds a good, actually. That's funny. That's real. Okay. Yes, that is real. All right. Dwight Howard wears. number 12 in honor of Kevin Garnett. He has a Superman tattoo on his chest.

I think that's true, yeah. First player directly out of high school to start all 82 games his rookie year. I think it's a lie that he wears number 12 in honor of Kevin Garnett. That is true. He reversed his number 21. That is true, not false. Yeah, he does not have a Superman tattoo on his chest. He doesn't?

No. I've seen him without a shirt. before in a Laker locker room. I thought he did. I think he has a Superman tattoo on his shoulder, I believe, but not on his chest. Rajan Rondo was almost straight to the Celtics to OKC for Russell Westbrook in 2012. He played quarterback in high school, made it to the final four two times like Kentucky. What's a lie? You know, Greg Anthony played quarterback in high school. I covered it. It was the first high school football game in Vegas ever went to, Rancho High School. Greg Anthony was the quarterback, little left-hander.

So Rondo looks like to me he could be a quarterback. Did he make the final four two times? I'm going to say number one, almost traded by the Celtics to OKC for Westbrook is a lie. That's true. He did not make it to the final four two times like Kentucky. Finally. He was there before Califari. Oh, yeah, yeah, okay.

It was before Calipari when they used to get there all the time. I see what you're saying, Goulai. LeBron James petitioned the. to enter the NBA without finishing high school. He went to high school with Agent Rich Paul. He wore number

6 in Miami in honor of his two sons, one born on October 6, the other one born in June. I thought I knew everything about LeBron, and one of these is a lie. One of these is a lie. Two Truths and a Lie. NBA Finals edition. I'm, here's

the lie. He went to high school with Maverick Carter. I think he met Rich Paul later. So I think went to high school with Agent Rich Paul, who I know is a lie. That is a lie. He met Rich Paul at an Akron airport and started talking to him

because he liked his throwback Warren Moon jersey. He had a throwbook Warren Moon jersey? Do you really? Yes. How many did I get right? Not a lot. I think you got LeBron rights and you got Anthony Davis right.

Oh no, you got three right, because you got Tyler Hero right as well. Want more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHard radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. 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 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 where 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 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's 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, 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, or 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 Hardway. Open your free, Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. He's going to get into the Hall of Fame. Played 13 years, was an All-Star 11 times, multiple championships.

They retired his number one jersey. Great player for the Raptors. He's number two all-time sky. scoring for the Raptors. He wouldn't even there that long. He's going to be a Hall of Famer when they can vote. Chris Bosch is now joining us, which is interesting. You know, you've played on both of these kind of teams. You've been on a star-studded team like LeBron and A.D.

And then you've been on, you know, and then you've been on teams in your career where you're the best guy, you're the Jimmy Butler in Toronto, and then you have a bunch of other good players. My gut tells me, Chris, I go with the stars in this league. I know you live in Miami. It does feel like the Lakers. It's their series to lose. Is that fair?

Yeah. I mean, I think that's fair to say. I mean, let's be honest. I think a lot of people expected the Lakers to be in this position. Not too many people really expected the heat to be in this position. And, yeah, sometimes that does give you a little bit of angst. It can be more pressure on the team with the most to lose. But like I said, they've been here.

before they're built very similar, you know, in terms of star power as we were, I mean, three number one picks and Rayshon Rondo being the great NBA point guard that he is. But, you know, it's a game and it's a reason that they play the series. And, you know, that's what makes me excited about it. I love storylines. I love seeing guys go out there and playing hard. And I don't think this is, there's no doubt that these are the two best teams in the NBA. Can you explain the secret sauce with Eric Spolstra. We didn't think they'd be here. In fact, I didn't, I thought Philadelphia had more talent, Milwaukee, Boston.

What does Spolstra do to elevate? This is a mix of Droggetch is old and Bam is young. What is his specialty? I think just preparation of working every day and understanding what your identity is. You know, everybody talks about the heat culture and it's beginning to be a buzzword. But when you really get to the core of it, it's really just coming to work every day. It can be as simple as that. But having the mindset to come in and do what you need to do to be successful, you know,

having conditioning, being a huge part of the atmosphere in the team, running those five on those sets and practicing when you do not feel like practicing, getting those weight, you know, getting that weight room in when you don't feel like it. I got a shout out to my God Bill Ferran, you know, because, you know, it's a team effort in keeping guys together. And it's just those things in the mentality that make really that organization just great. And you see these guys expressing that on the court every night. You know, I'm really, it's pretty remarkable.

Jimmy Butler was starting to get a reputation. And I'm guilty of it. I was like, he's difficult. Then he goes to Miami and he's the ultimate team guy. And Joey and I have been saying this. You talk about flip the narrative, flip the idea of what he is. How do you think he did it? Because I was starting to think this guy can't get along with teammates.

How did he flip it? Well, I think, you know, sometimes you can rub the people the wrong way when you know a situation isn't right and you're not winning. And that's what I was kind of, you know, alluding to earlier and thinking about, you know, everybody kind of gives Jimmy a tough time. Maybe that's because he wasn't in the situation he wanted to be in. And he was losing, you know.

He seems to be a winner. He is a winner. And he's just a tough-nosed old-school player. And he's one of those guys that don't mind if you don't like them. You know, he actually thrives in that. And I think that's kind of a lost starting in NBA. But, you know, with that said, he believes they should be there. That team believes they should be there.

And I can speak for every NBA player. And if you're watching, you don't get to the championship to lose. You get there to win. So regardless of what the outside. perceptions are, they're there to win. You know, as you get older in life, I'm certainly, this is my life. You get into habits. I like to go home, hang out with the dogs, see my wife, see my kids. Young players, young players in the bubble have flourished. A lot of the older players have not. Milwaukee, the clippers, they weren't as comfortable in the bubble. I think it's been harder for the

Lakers because it's a roster of old guys. They got wives and kids and habits and families. I'm kind of blown away by how good the Lakers have been. Are you surprised the ease they moved through the West? Actually, yes. You know, I think we're all surprised that we didn't get that L.A. battle that we ended up waiting more than a year for. But, you know, regardless of that, it does seem very difficult, you know, to be in that situation. But when you're trying to win a championship, you know, I have a little bit experience with it. things are going to happen that you don't want to happen.

You know, it's not so much about whether you want or not. It's about fighting through what you need to fight through to get the, you know, to get the accomplishment and accomplish your goal, you know. I think it does get harder when you're older because, yeah, you have your favorite restaurant, you know, your bed is a little nicer. I mean, you know, I know that the fabrics that I had in my rookie year as opposed to my last year. Totally different, you know. Right.

But you miss those things and you establish your home, you build your home. A lot of guys have children. You have a routine and you're already away enough. And when you're away even more, it kind of, it can be tough. Well, you've been such a credit to the game. You're going to get into the Hall of Fame. So it's LeBron against his former team. And you are good friends with LeBron, but you live in Miami. And joy, the same thing is I'm happy regardless of what. happens. But, you know, LeBron's a very interesting personality. He's moved and moved and moved,

and I think he's generally made the right decision. When LeBron left you in the heat, were you mad, were you anxious, were you shocked? What was your emotional moment when you heard for the first time? Oh, hell yeah, I was mad. I was mad, man, you know, but it's a part of the game. And, you know, I've actually told LeBron about that. We talked about it years ago, and I told them, like, yeah, I was mad because, you know, one, you're watching the best player in the world go and play for somebody else. And then, two, they're pretty good. You know, I couldn't get mad too mad at the move. I eventually had to get over it.

But, you know, all in all, everybody still had the success that they earned. We still, that year was tough, bouncing back. but regardless, it still gave us, I guess it re-sparked the excitement that was going on. I had another chip on my shoulder, another reason to get up out of bed and try to, you know, prolong my career. But, you know, all in all, we talked about it. You know, he's still a great dude. It obviously worked out for him and it worked out for me as well.

But, you know, I was going to say, you've had a very good post-basketball life, which surprises nobody. You were always one of the more thoughtful. You're smart dude. You have a music single coming out in, is it that it's Friday, tomorrow or Friday, you have a music single coming out. I believe Friday, I believe Friday we're, I mean, you know, I've been on the phone all day. It's been super exciting just with the heat back in the finals and LeBron back in the finals. It's a lot going on.

But, yeah, I've been producing music for four or five years now. So I've been working with some great artists and we're really, really excited about the product that, that we're putting out and that we have. Chris, I love having you on the show. You are one of the best guys this league has ever had. I just love when you come on and thank you so much and enjoy yourself. I appreciate it. And I got a book coming next year, so I'm going to make sure I send you guys a copy.

Please do. We'll read it and we'll promote it. Thanks. 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 headwriter, 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 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.

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. Before it 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 you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th.

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 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.