The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast - .Calvin Johnson, Jr. on Stafford Relationship, Early Retirement, Detroit Connection, Super Bowl Pick

Episode Date: February 8, 2022

Colin explains why the L.A. Super Bowl is everything about what the NFL wants to be in the next 20 years, and why any NFL star would be eviscerated for making the equivalent choice of KD to the Nets (3:00). Then, Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson joins Colin to discuss how his family has kept him grounded (19:00), what he's been doing since his early retirement (22:00), When he realized Matthew Stafford was different than the rest of the QB's he's played with (23:00), what Stafford is like during crunch time (24:00), how he feels he could have been even more dangerous (25:00), what impresses him most about Cooper Kupp (26:00), why he chose Georgia Tech with so many options (28:00), the downside of the new transfer portal (29:00), why his Lions weren't able to contend for championships (30:00), the moment he realized he wanted to retire (31:00), why he has invested in cannabis as a form of pain management (38:00), and his Super Bowl pick (40:00).Make sure to Subscribe and follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates and check out FanDuel for the best wagering and daily fantasy action! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Hi, everybody, and welcome into the Tuesday morning podcast. One of the great wide receivers in the history of the league is Calvin Johnson. He played with Matt Stafford. But he retired early, like Barry Sanders did, because he was tired of their nonsense. And we'll have in about 10 minutes Calvin Johnson stopped by. So I was thinking about this Super Bowl. being at SoFi Stadium. And years and years ago, I had a lunch with an NBA executive. And it was during a very wokey time in America. And he was talking about how the NBA was really connecting.

And I warned him that I thought they were connecting to Twitter, not like the real world, 23% of the countries on Twitter. 6% are super users. That's not the real world. On Twitter, nobody likes me. In real life, I see my race. ratings. A lot of people like me. So Twitter is not real life. But he was going on and on about how the NBA was the future of sports. And I needed to understand that. And I said, I actually think

the NFL is underachieved over the last 50 years. I said, they've embraced places like Buffalo and Green Bay and Jacksonville. And there's a lot of cities that are not dynamic, vibrant, or going to be a centerpiece for the next 50 years of America's economy. And so Jerry Jones of the Cowboys saw this years and years ago. The story goes that many people inside the NFL were watching the Espies. And they were seeing Peyton Manning host it and Jamie Fox host it and all those pro athletes in the crowd. And many in the NFL said, we're in the entertainment business. Is Buffalo?

Is Tampa? Is Green Bay? Is that the entertainment business? Jacksonville? And that's not to say that there aren't redeeming qualities about Charlotte. It's a banking center in the South. Or Seattle, although it's geographically isolated. It's a very vibrant dynamic economic city.

But what you're watching with this Super Bowl is the future of the NFL. A lot of crypto ads and gambling ads and Sean McVeigh coaching tree and offense and quarterbacks and Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of North America. And I felt this for some time. What you're seeing over the last couple of years is what the NFL is going to be going forward. Dumb coaches are done. Young coaches are on the way in. Analytics, lots of gambling, the new economy.

And Los Angeles has to be part of it. I mean, just think about this. Can you imagine any franchise business not being in Los Angeles? It's the fifth biggest economy in the world. During the pandemic, when most of the economy went into the tank, the state of California had a $75 billion surplus. 40 of our 50 states need a check, a bailout from the federal government every year to pay their bills. In California, we have to write the government, the federal government, a big check. Now, if you watch news networks and listen to conservative blogs and websites, you'd swear nobody wants to live in California.

As people in football have more mobility, the coaches, the GMs, the owners can move franchises. California teams keep getting stronger. New York state teams keep getting weaker. I mean, Buffalo now is the best. The Buffalo bills are easily the best New York State sports franchise, professional sports franchise. Easily. What does that tell you? The big city of New York, the weather, the egos, the expense, when people have choices overwhelmingly, they're choosing California.

They're not choosing New York. And the NFL absolutely loves this. They love it. They love the idea of the entertainment capital of the world having a Super Bowl and a great, maybe the coach of the future. building a coaching tree. NFL is totally been gearing for years ever since watching the SPEs and realizing, why does the NBA have all the stars and all the glamour? Why can't we have some of that?

But if that's the case, why did Lincoln Riley choose worse taxes to move to California? Bigger, broader, progressive, smart, the future of football, smarter, people win. Offensive coaches win. Young beats old. So I think what you see is going forward the NFL and Jerry Jones, who's been training with the Cowboys north of Malibu for years, I think what you're seeing going forward is the NFL's got a 30 to 40 percent growth margin going forward. In fact, if you look at the NFL's ratings last year to this year, the margin in which they've increased is greater than the ratings for the NBA finals last year. I think the NFL going forward is going to benefit from the explosion of sports gambling.

I also think the NFL much more than baseball is a much more nimble sport in terms of pivoting off certain policies, pivoting into safety, pivoting into new technologies. So I think what you're going to see from the Super Bowl and what you're going to see from the NFL going forward is smart, progressive, gambling, crypto sponsors, lots of offense, quarterbacks. And it's not that it's going to marginalize defense. You'll still need great defensive players. But I've always thought when people talk about how popular the NFL is, we don't even talk about regular season baseball games.

Go on Twitter. People talk about NBA plays or NBA players. How often do fans get into a breakdown of the games? We watch football. We break it down. We just don't talk about individuals. We talk about schematics and strategy. And I think the league has honestly underachieved over the last 20 years.

And don't tell me glamour doesn't work. The Dallas Cowboys remain the number one brand. And it's not due to winning. And the most popular teams in my lifetime have been the 80s 49ers. and Troy Aikman's Dallas Cowboys. Now, the Patriots won more than weren't as popular. And those two teams, the Niners and the Cowboys, were glamour teams. So I just like where the NFL is going.

I think it's getting younger and smarter. I think it's getting more into analytics. I think it's wrapped its arms around gambling like the English Premier League did eons ago. And I love the future. The future is going to be young, smart, offensive coaches, terrific quarterback talent, healthier players. Once again, we get to an end of an NFL season as they've cut back on hitting

at practices, hitting in games. Once again, we get to an NFL season near the end. And these two teams are overwhelmingly healthy. Overwhelmingly. I think the NFL is just scratching the surface. You know, I'm watching the Brooklyn Nets essentially burn on the side of a freeway. They've lost eight straight. And I will say this, that I've always felt one of the underrated parts of LeBron James game is his decision making.

I mean, many believe the worst decision he ever made was hosting a press conference, giving a million dollars to the boys and girls club, and choosing Miami. Now, the commissioner at the time, David Stern thought it was too public, too harsh. But if that's the low point of his career socially, I'm good with it. But it is remarkable. I think a lot of people in the media, and I understand this, the NBA is so star-driven that reporters don't want to lose access to the stars because there's only six to eight players you can really write about that anybody reads your stuff, truthfully. So there's a lot of handholding, a lot of.

lot of pandering, I think, by the NBA media. Can you imagine if Tom Brady in his prime with the Patriots would have chosen an injury-prone, selfish, delusional teammate and left the Patriots for the Detroit Lions? It would have been the most mocked, panned move in sports for a year. We hold our NFL stars to an incredibly high level. We're harsh when they fail. If Aaron Rogers just went for a money grab, instead of going to the Denver Broncos or the Steelers, well-run organizations with good rosters, we would look at him as less of a guy, less of a player. Has anybody really sat back for five minutes that covers the NBA and said this out loud? Kevin Durant chose Kyrie Irving over a dynasty with Steph Curry.

It goes down as so egregiously poor a decision. It's the second line of his basketball career. All-time great talent, all-time horrible decision. I mean, think about that. Think about a football star. If Patrick Mahomes said, you know, I'm going to leave Andy Reid. I'm going to leave this great franchise. and I'm going to go to the Jaguars

because I can make a little more money and I'm going to go with Antonio Brown. We would go, are you out of your fucking mind? See a therapist. The Warriors had an A owner, an AGM, an A coach, an A star. He didn't even have to do the heavy lifting. Draymond Green has always been the bully at the bar for the Warriors, the tough guy.

I just look at this Brooklyn situation. And I think, what in God's name was Kevin Durant thinking? I mean, I never thought it was going to be a great move. It's a disaster a year and a half in. It's an utter disaster. Do you know how hard it is to lose eight games in a row in the NBA? I mean, you can lose eight games in a row in the NFL if you have a bad quarterback. There are so many bad teams at the bottom of the NBA pool.

To lose eight games in a row is virtually important. possible. So somebody in the NBA that covers the league, has anybody ever written a story about that decision? A harsh story? No pandering. We would crush our star quarterbacks if they went for a money grab or they went from a dynasty if they chose a weird, selfish, delusional teammate. With Kevin Durant, it's more like, well, you know, it's his choice. Come on. Whole. NBA stars to the same standard you hold NFL stars. A bad decision is a bad decision. And KD.

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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 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and, at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. You use the promo code Colin. That's right. You get your

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or call 1-800-9 with it at Indiana. 1-800-70-7-1-17 for confidential help in Michigan. Tennessee Redline is 1-800-9-9-9-7-89. Or go to 1-800-gambler.net in West Virginia. Or call 1-800- Next Step or text Next Step to 533-4-2 in Arizona. Well, he really needs no introduction. He's the best college football receiver I've ever seen, Calvin Johnson at Georgia Tech.

He became one of the great NFL receivers I've ever seen. But as I've often said on my show, a person's brand or popularity is disproportionately based on where they land and not who they are. And Calvin Johnson did not land at an elite organization, got banged up, had a great career, six-time Pro Boulder, and retired early and has a very fulfilling life. You know, it's interesting, Calvin. I did an event years and years ago with you and Cam Newton. And it was in New York City, and I remember doing it. And I said, I talked to somebody and I said, man, that guy is just class and grace.

And I said, he must have had good parents, man, because to be that good and good looking guy and he's got his money. And he's just like a really seems grounded. So I don't ask a lot of, you know, athletes about this. But you must have had some rock solid foundational pieces in your early life. If I could, mom, dad, brother, sisters. I mean, it just felt like when I met you for that hour, I just came away so impressed with you, the guy. So if I could be nosy, you know, for a second, what were those pieces?

Appreciate that, man. That means a lot to me because I got a – I feel like I got a great family. Mom, dad, still together. I have an older sister. I'm the second of four siblings. Older sister, myself, little brother, little sister. Two of my siblings are doctors. My mom's got her doctor in education.

So it's just – my dad worked for the railroad for a 30-plus. years he's retired now but you know just constantly see but seeing the folks go to work day in day out you know to to to to build upon uh their success and build our family up you know it just left instilled a foundation in me that you know you got to work for whatever you want and you got not just work for you're not not just go to work and practice you know you got to put a great practice together a perfect practice together in order to get those things that you want you got to dream you got to visualize and so all those little bit of things and then plus i got my siblings always try to keep me humble, you know, so that always, that always helps too.

Well, like when you retired, I always think how somebody retires says a lot about them. I was a fan growing up of Johnny Carson, and his last couple of shows were just elegant. And he just like, goodbye everybody. And I'm like, shit, man, that's how I want to retire. I don't want to be one of these guys, desperate guys out there doing Winnebago commercials trying to pay my rent. And when you retired, I remember. remember thinking he may not even watch football he'll just do Calvin's going to have a big broad life um you obviously do watch football but like your average day now what to consist of

well let me start go back and you did say something that was right at first you know i didn't watch football in my first year year and a half out of the league i was just i was done with football i was tapped out but i love football now but usually today i mean i got my obviously i got my obviously got a family and that comes comes first faith family. I have a foundation. I have a business that I'm running. You know, that keeps me totally busy, totally ground.

A couple of businesses that I'm part of, you know, ambassadors for. So, you know, just, you know, just keeping my head on straight, keeping my image clean because I got a lot to represent my family and my businesses. So you go back to your Detroit years. First of all, there were playoffs. There were a lot of wins.

Let's not just marginalize it as there wasn't success. When did you know, know. I mean, obviously, you had high school quarterbacks and Georgia Tech and then you get to the NFL with Matt Stafford. How many practices did it take? How many throws to go, all right, this guy's a little different. This is a pretty lively arm. Literally, I'll have to say like, first week, if not the first day, I've never seen an arm like Matthew. I've never seen any throw on the field. Literally, no by, no quarter. I'll tell you what Cole Pap for a year during Detroit. I mean, didn't have a whole. a lot of, you know, quarterbacks that up, I mean, I can say, on the caliber of Matthew, of course.

But nobody can reach the throws that he could reach. Nobody, I saw the grit in Matthew from the injuries that he had. You know, I saw the toughness there, the perseverance, you know, so just all around skill,

you know, I still don't see anybody that could throw the ball like him in the league. I mean, there's guys that to throw the ball, but young Matthew, that guy had Ken. Sean McVeowell was talks about

sort of his emotional intelligence, EQ. And, you know, he's got a lot of come from behind wins. What was he like in the huddle, fourth quarter, down four, two to go? What was he like, Calvin? Come on, guys. That's the void. You know, just come on, guys. Just go. Hey, do your job. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Never, never this. Never the ups and downs. Matthew is consistent. And he can consistently getting better and better as we see now. But that was Matthew. Hey, hey, hey, big guy. Like, come on. Nietzsche. Or hey, big guy, hey, you know, You should have had that. Like, yeah, I know.

And I'm like, oh, yeah, I know. Should it should have caught a ball or whatever it was. You know, never is the one that jump down your throat breaks you because he knows that we're a team. You know, we need, he needs everybody on that field to make this thing go. Yeah. So, you know, the NFL, one of the things I like about the league right now, I think it's smarter than it's ever been. We have more offensive coaches. It's younger.

It's progressive. People are doing things. I mean, football now, I mean, there's these jet sweeps and McVey and Kyle Shanahan. There's so many different things I see. And, you know, do you ever think to yourself just schematically like, man, I just didn't use about 30% of my game or are you happy with how you were mostly used? You know, there are sometimes where I'm like, man, I wish I got to run the ball a little more sometimes. hit the reverse sweeps. My biggest thing is that one thing I noticed for myself is I love to play in the slot.

I wish I would have played in the slot my whole career. Why? But you think about it. You're on the outside. You're the number one, number two receiver. You're on the outside. You have the extra defender in the sideline. You have that boundary.

And you're in that slot, I have almost like a three-way go. If I got an option route, I can go in, I can go out, I can sit it or I can take it up the middle. You know, there's so many different options. And it just literally, when I see Cooper Cup or nose guys line up in the slot, I remember back in my day is like when you're in the slot I got all these go you can't stop it you're at my mercy when I'm in the slot what is it about Cooper Cup I always joke I'm like do doping almost every play what is it the schemes is it the speed like why is he so open so often um the guy

he's a great receiver he has good speed um the slot the lineup the trips that they do or the bunches that they do that doesn't allow you to get a good you know double team on the guy and they cover a 101. You cover that guy one-on-one. He's going to eat you up. And if they haven't found that out by now, I mean, business gracious, go look at the film. Do you, of all the gifts a wide receiver can have, like Jamar Chase is really fast, Cooper Cup, top of his route tree, you know, Amari Cooper, some guys are just great route runners. What did you take most pride in when you play? I'm not saying it was your best gift, but you just took a lot of pride in it. Yeah, just being able to move around as a big guy in a tight space.

So being able to get in and out of the top of my routes. Or, I mean, that and just being able to go up and dunk on guys whenever the ball is in the air. So those two things. The balls in the air is mine. And as a big guy, 240 out there running routes, being able to get in out of my routes like a little guy. Those are the things that I really took most probably in. When you, even the college game now is so offensive leaning. It's just crazy.

I remember at Georgia Tech. I remember saying this on the air. I'm like, you guys, they don't even run a friendly wide receiver offense. I'm like, if you looked at most of your highlights, you were coming back for the ball. And I said, this guy is just going to explode in the NFL. When you chose Georgia Tech, I mean, there were programs. There were programs throwing the ball a lot. Why did you choose them?

Well, you know, I went to Georgia Tech. They weren't doing the option at the time. I had Chan Gaylee. He was my head coach. So he still had a pro-style offense. And I love Georgia Tech just because, I mean, one, I wanted to stay close to my family because he played. So it was either there, Georgia Tech or Georgia.

And honestly, I wanted to Georgia Tech just because I had a better feel there. You know, I like the guys there a little bit more than I did at Georgia. My visit went a little bit smoother there than it did at Georgia. So I just felt more comfortable there. And then I love Atlanta. I love being by the Atlanta University Center where all the schools are. So, I mean, all that was just played into it. And at the end of the day, I mean, my decision wasn't because of football.

My decision was if I go to Georgia Tech, I get a job or I get my degree from Georgia Tech. I can work wherever I want to work. I don't have an issue. You know. Yeah, it's like a great engineering school. Yep. The, with the transfer portal today, I've said this. Everybody just says, oh, the kids get rich.

And I'm like, the problem is a school that can pay you more, it may have a bad, coach, a bad coordinator. When you look at stuff like that, I mean, were there times in your life, even in your professional life, when you turn down money, you turn down, I mean, just it didn't make, because I always tell everybody in my business, don't chase money, chase management. There's a sea of money. They're not a lot of good managers in my business. Like when you look at the transfer portal, do you see problems or do you think it's about time?

Man, that's a tough question. Do I see problems? I mean, I see guys where they're able to run away from their problems. You know, they might not, maybe it's not like the old day where you have to, you know, be forced to stick it out and really, you know, see what kind of resilience and perseverance you got to work through your issue. You know, now you can just run and go here, you know, and if you don't work out there, I don't know.

Maybe you can run somewhere else, too. You know, I don't know how exactly it works. But I think the big thing, if you do run, though, is really just about finding that right culture. You know, it's culture game. like management, but yeah, it's just the culture. Who is the manager? Who are the managers? How is that environment?

You know, it's funny. When you were in Detroit, there was a time, I think, with Jim Caldwell. It did feel like you guys were getting really close to turning the corner playoffs. And then what happened? The band broke up. The band was broke. I mean, the guys, the leaders on the team, the vets on the team that D-Line, some of the offense are the line. You know, they kind of got broke up.

And then at that point, you know, you've got to either fill those spots or it's like a rebuild at that point. And that's what kind of would have turned into almost is really almost a rebuild. I think Matthew might have got to the playoffs one more time there with that team. But yeah, at that point, I felt like the D-Line was gone. It just wasn't enough there to say that these guys are going to take it to the championship. Do you remember the moment that you decided, could have been a car ride home, could have been a bad practice? maybe it was rehab or something that you could you take me to the moment that you just decided man

like Brady I mean Brady had a great season and there was a moment this year at some point he just he was driving home to see his family and he's like I don't want to go back to work do you remember that moment for you man that moment came after my eighth year I love telling the story because you know after the season's over with you know first thing smoking back to Georgia you know because it's cold. It's gray up here in Michigan, trying to get out of here.

Go back and sit on my dad's couch. I'm sitting there like, man, dad, I don't know if I got it anymore. It's just, you know, just talking to him. Just like, it's not fun. You're like, what you mean? You know, just running around and playing in pain. Kind of just zapsed all the fun out of it. I think I'm done.

And he asked me a question. He was like, well, sat there asking me, he was like, you think you got one more in you? And I didn't say, now, I sat there and he was thinking about it. And he was like, well, since you're thinking about it, you can do it one more time. So honestly, it's that eighth year. After that eighth year, I already made it my mind. I was like, I just don't have the love.

I don't feel like I don't feel like going through the pain to do all I got to do to get ready for this season anymore. It hurts. The fun was zapped out of it. I was done with it. I always had a disdain for the game. That's why I told you I didn't watch football after I got done. I didn't want to see anything football. I didn't want to watch football.

I didn't care. But, you know, I love seeing my guys, the guys I played with. I'm still a fan of those guys. So, I mean, it's football. I love football. So, of course, I'm watching now. But it's just at the time I just didn't have any more love for it. Yeah, I totally get that.

I mean, listen, it was breaking you physically. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I mean, that changes your quality of life. Right. I mean, people that live in pain change your quality of life versus, you know, being happy, you know, having the things that you need to make you feel good, to be happy, your family, all those things, you know. It's all about quality of life for me.

And that's why, I mean, my business ventures reflect that. When, you know, sometimes like a guy like me, I would watch your career and say, oh, that may have been as happiest or that may have been as happiest. But if you, you know, categorized the moments that it could have been a win, it could have been a moment. Do you have one or two where I would be surprised that I would be like, really? and there was just there was something about a relationship or a moment that just as I say it, it comes into your head and you think, God, that was when football was at its best for me. Yeah, I thought to say it's easy. That's easy.

When we were playoff bound, we were over in England playing like the Falcons and stuff like that. You know, it was awesome because we were all hanging out in London, you know, partying, just the whole, all the starters on the squad really. And I'm like, this is where it's at. This is a squad that's going to take us to the Super Bowl. This is the squad that's going to get us to the playoff. If we want to go where we want to go, these are the guys here in this room. Maybe there's another addition to two, but that's when we're feeling like, yeah,

we got what we need right here in-house to take it where we want to be. Was that a mix of old and young guys? Yes. Yep. You know, you got the Dominic Rialas. You got the Indomicon Sews. You know, it's probably like older, middle range, and then a couple young guys, too. Yeah.

when you see coaches in this league now getting really young. I mean, the Dolphins hired a guy who looks like he looks like he's 31 years old, 29 years old. Right. Do you how, because I do think certain coaches have a presence. I think it's really valuable, Calvin, like in college football, like Mario Cristobal or Jim Harbaugh, they walk into a room to recruit you. They have a presence. Right. Maybe it doesn't matter as much in the NFL.

but I do look at some of these coaches and I'm like, man, they look like they would be one of my kids. And how much does that matter, presence, personality, beyond the schematics, does that stuff matter? I think that, yeah, you want to have a presence. But I think at the end of the day, as long as you're honest with your guys and your guys have a sense of authenticity for you, you know, I think that they can give over the fact that, hey, a couple of them might be older than you. I think about Kellyn Moore. Kellen Moore is like a baby out there. Kellen Moore is in our, and we're in the same locker room.

I can't fathom him being a head coach, but he's on that track, though. You know, so I mean, kudos to him. But I think that for him in that situation, he's not the biggest guy, but he can command respect to the locker room if he communicates with all of his players. And he keeps it real.

He doesn't treat one player or a group of players different than the rest. By the way, you're involved in a business, researching how cannabis helps players with pain. So my mom was a nurse. When she was from Great Britain, she moved over here at 14 years old to the States and then, you know, had me years later. But she was pretty progressive on that kind of stuff because she'd seen people in chronic pain. And in your research, if I didn't know anything about cannabis, when you started research,

searching it. What are the one or two things that initially surprised you? First thing that never surprised me about cannabis is that we have a system built into our bodies that accepts cannabinoids. You heard of your endocannabinoid system? So that's why I started out with people. I tell them to understand your endocannabinoid system and how cannabis interacts with the human body. That's the first thing. And then we have further conversation beyond that and really get into the different cannabinoids and the different things that make cannabis have the effect it has on the body. And another thing, people think about cannabis as, you know, you just smoke it. Okay, you have a negative stigma. You know, we're here to highlight the healing powers of the plant. And there's different applications of the plant, too. It's not just the, just to go smoke it and roll it up. There's topicals. You know, there's textures that kids use to help them with seizures. You know, we've heard of Charlotte's Webb. You know, those guys are doing a great thing because they're allowing, you know, kids that have issues to actually consume. And the kids aren't getting high, but it's calming them down and doing what they need to do.

for the kids to have a quality of life. That's what it's all about. Endocannabinoid system knows where I'll start. Yeah, I don't even know how to spell that, Calvin, but I'm going to Google it the minute I get off this. When did you first connect with it? When did you start being interested in that business? I first started being interested in the business, say,

probably six, seven, eight years ago. Shortly after I retired, around when I retired, I was deaf. I always had an interest in it. I experimented with cannabis. college but it really wasn't until I really got to understand that hey this thing has different applications oh really let's get down to the science of this so it's funny you you have a mom in the medical field what was her reaction to your parents and you know you've got said you had doctors

in the family and it's like you know Calvin's getting into the cannabis business and what was their initial reaction I was shunned my mom didn't like it 100 my mom did not like it one bit but really it's just all about educating people. My mom's from the South Bible Belt, you know, obviously my mom's black, but we've been disproportionately affected by this. So obviously in black families in the South, it is really probably not going to be okay to be messing around with cannabis. But after educating her on the Hill of the Pals of the Plant, mom's now asking me, hey, can you bring that topical down when you come? My knees are a little sore. You know, I mean, it's been working for her. Uncle's, hey, can you see me some of that topical?

You know, it's just, it's working. There's applications. And it's working. It's for people's pain and swelling and different variety of issues. Now, you're in Michigan right now, right? Yes, sir. Now, you're from the South. You chose Georgia Tech for the South. My wife's from Michigan. And you stayed up in cold Michigan.

Why? What was it about the state that attracted you? Business keeps me here. I mean, all my adult life has been here. I've been here since 20, 21 years old. So I've lived my whole adult life up here. I've grown to love Michigan. My wife has gotten me.

I don't know. Snow. You know, I'm from the south, so I don't do anything on ice. But my life, I'm a snowboarder now. I love it.

You know, so Michigan is home for me. Yeah, it's great right now, but business is great. You know, it's keeping me up and up and up. And that's why I'm here.

Yeah, it's, I mean, from food to music, to sports, to politics, it's really an incredibly vibrant state.

I don't think a lot of people, they just don't understand it. They don't, people don't, I mean, the musical history, is incredible. I remember going to the Super Bowl in Detroit.

I forget who played in that. And the Greek food. My God. And I remember coming home and telling friends, I'm like, I just think I just had the best Greek food. And then you have Dearborn, Michigan, which I think has Middle Eastern food, if I recall. I think it's the highest population of Middle Eastern folks outside of actually the

Middle East. And the food is wonderful. Great. So finally, having watched the Rams some and the bingles some, do you have a lean in the game? Do you have kind of a lean how you, what will you feel? Man, I like both quarterbacks. Matthew's my guy. I really hope Matthew gets it because I think he deserves it. I've seen him work. Been around a guy, great guy, great person, great pro. You know, keeps his nose clean, does his job. I just hope he gets it, man. I really do. But I'm not. I'm a fan. I'm a fan of the game. I'm a fan of great talent. And there's some great talent on both sides of that ball. But I really do hope Matthew gets it. Calvin, an absolute pleasure is always, man. Appreciate it. Good to see you, Colin.

Good to see you. Calvin Johnson. Thunderstruck, adjective. Shocked and amazed by the power of fun on Carnival. Riding Bolt, the world's first roller coaster at sea. Brian got thunderstruck so hard, his 93-year-old grandmother felt it 3,000 miles away in Nebraska, and immediately. booked a cruise. Hooray! Get funder struck starting at 289. Carnival. Choose fun.

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going inside the coaching tape and giving fans the answers. Regardless of what the hierarchy is, folks need to be servants to the head coach. Listen to tapeheads on the IHeart Radio app on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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, reader Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

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