The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 1 - MVP, Sixers, Warriors-Grizzlies

Episode Date: May 9, 2022

Joy Tayler in for Colin   Nikola Jokic has won his second straight NBA MVP Joel Embiid is showing how valuable he is Thoughts on game 3 of Warriors-Grizzlies  Guest: Antoine WalkerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Welcome to the herd. Joy Taylor in for Colin Cowherd all week. He is taking a luxurious vacation. I haven't been following Colin's Instagram for his entire trip, but he did post today.

He's in Tuscany. So he is enjoying himself with his wife, Ann, getting some much-deserved time off. So I am in with Alex Curry all week on the herd. Hey, Alex. Dr. Joy. Can we just start with that? Congratulations. Thank you. Does it feel different? Do you feel like a doctor?

I do feel like a doctor. Heck yeah, you do. No, I am not a medical doctor. So if you are with me and there is a medical emergency, you should still call 911 as soon as possible. But I'll jokes aside. Thank you, Alex. I gave the commencement speech at my alma mater this weekend at Bury University at Lone Depot Park, formerly Marlins Park, so a big stadium, which I'm not going to lie, was a little daunting when I was walking in. I was very prepared. Of course. It's different, obviously, than, you know, I was saying I was nervous leading up to the speech all week. And everyone was like, why are you nervous? Like, you talk on TV every day.

But I talked to you and Ryan. You talked to a camera. Shannon and Skipper here in the studio and, you know, obviously our amazing crew, but there's not 4,000 people here. Staring at you. Give me all the advice. Let me soak it in. Right. This next chapter of my life, Joy. Tell me how it's going to be. Right. And I've been there. I've been in that seat before. So you know how it feels. And it's like, I said it's like speaking at 2,000 people's wedding. Like this is a huge life moment. It's a little pressure. And this is just a tad bit. But you crushed it. I was walking out, thank you. I was walking out and you know I'm not a huge crier. And I was walking out onto the field and I was like, you know, you start to feel that little thing. And I was like, oh no.

Oh gosh. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Did you imagine? All feelings. Capricorn engage. We are not getting emotional right now. But no, it was, it was, it was really cool. It was a thank you very much to Barry University for having me and everyone listening to my speech which feels, it does feel weird sometimes still giving people advice. I'm like I feel that all the time. I'm like,

I don't know, right? I'm just trying to fake it to you make it. We kind of do know. Yeah. We've been through some things. But you know, you feel a lot of responsibility. Obviously giving someone advice on the next chapter literally of their lives. But they did, they gave me an honorary doctor and a doctor of humane letters, which was very exciting and a very

beautiful, framed. Where's it going? I'm going to put it in my office. Yeah, that's nice. Seems like the right place. That's a good place. Or I probably should put it like in my...

Yeah, I'm like the guest bathroom. Like just so you know. Oh, yeah. You're at Dr. Joy's house. You better watch out. Bathroom is probably a weird place for that. But no, it was great. And it was F1 weekend in Miami,

which was insane. Insane. So I went to the qualifying races on Saturday, which is my first... I've been to NASCAR races and truck races. But I've never been to a Formula One race. And it was, I mean, I can't use the words

to describe it. Like if you have the, it's going to be in Vegas next year. It's going to be Miami every year. So you should definitely go. Always a great excuse to go to Miami. But they did an amazing job. They need a few more extra pedestrian bridges, my note. But it was an amazing scene and there were so many people there. And it was a pretty incredible weekend

in Miami. But exciting stuff. So we have a fun show today. Obviously, it's still the NBA playoffs. So we will talk a lot of NBA today. And get a little, get a little NFL NFL news in as well. We'll talk to Antoine Walker, NBA champ, three-time NBA All-Star, Ryan Hollins, former NBA Center, and Rockets TV analysts and a friend of the show. Megan Triplett, Memphis Grizzlies reporter, so there's a lot of controversy going on with John Morant's in the knee.

Jordan Poole is a dirty, so we'll find out what Memphis Grizzlies fans are feeling about all of that in the team as well. And then Justina Anderson, who had a very juicy, interesting report about Baker Mayfield and the Browns and how the NFL is reacting to the trades and the Deshawn Watson situation, which I assumed was going to be how NFL owners were going to react to that contract or that $230 million guaranteed.

And it seems as if that is the case. But the big news this morning, Wode reported that Adrian Wojernowski that the league MVP is Nicola Yokic. So congrats to him. back-to-back MVP. Now, I will start this off by saying he's absolutely deserving of the league MVP. So everything I'm going to say is not to discredit the incredible season that he had, the unbelievable level of player that he is, and what he did to contribute to that team's

success in the regular season. That said, I always had MB as MB'd as my MVP. And the issue with the league MVP for the NBA is the same every single year. year. It is truly a regular season award, but we don't judge the value and the success on the grand scale of professional athletes' careers based off of just what they do during the regular season unless you're talking about a 20-year career or someone who is on the next level of skill, which obviously Yokoj is. But we can't put him in that other category until he has the postseason success to match with it. And him getting back-to-back MVP's when you see, see what happens in the postseason against the best competition, who, by the way, are also

dealing with injuries, are also dealing with players missing, you truly see who is on the next level and who is the MVP. And that's my issue with this award every single year. It's become really unfun to talk about because we're arguing these semantics. We're arguing between levels of greatness that seem a bit silly. But it also is kind of the NBA's fault. Stop giving this award out when we're in the middle of the post-sense. season. It takes away all of the lust of the award. It takes away the polish when you start to see what these teams do in the postseason. Give it as soon as the NBA is, NBA regular season is over. Before we start getting tainted by what happens in the postseason, they always wait. Now we know

it's Yokic. Where's Yokic? Did we watch Yonkich this weekend? We did not. Yes, it's a regular season award. But here we are watching Yonis be the best player in the world. And Joel come back and have the impact that he's had on this series. He would have swept the Sixers without Joelle M. Bede on the floor, without question, even with Hardin's performance last night. When you're talking about back-to-back MVP's, you're in a rare air of greatness. It should be special.

It should be sacred when you're talking about back-to-back MVPs. And you'll notice the name on here that everyone always brings up when you talked about back-to-back MVP's. Bill Russell, Wilts Chamberlain, Kareem, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Janice, Nikola Yokic, and of course, Steve Nash. Now, Steve Nash has been argued that he should have been back-to-back MVP forever. And I'm not saying that Yokic is going to end his career in that space, but it does kind of feel

like, all right, it's great during the regular season. I know everyone's going to argue about the injuries, and that's fair, and they wouldn't have been there without Yokic and that's fair. But man, I mean, you're looking at the Sixers who are a good team up against the Miami Heat without Joelle Embed. And it's not close. And you've got Harden out there. So I just, I really struggle to, uh, to feel super excited about this MVP.

It is obviously still an incredible award and an incredible accomplishment to win a league MVP, to win back-to-back MVP's next level. But it's like, I can't not, I can't unsee what I'm watching with Joel M. Bede. I can't unsee what I'm watching with Yannis. Give it as soon as the league season, the regular season is over, and maybe I'll feel differently about it. But you drag it out through the postseason and you really just start to see Greatness separate.

And I get it, it's a team game, but this is an individual award. And when you see the impact that Yonis is having without Chris Middleton and Joelle M. Bid is having when he's out up against a team like the Miami heat, it's really, really hard for me to sit here and say that I wasn't completely right about Joelle and Vee this whole time. Anyway, speaking of Philly, they won 116,108 last night. I'm going to get to my heat in a second, but James Hardin had a vintage James Hardin game. He had anything he wanted, 31 points, six threes, and obviously the MVP, Joel Embed out of 24 points and 11 rebounds. but it was just a recipe for disaster for the heat last night

and you really saw what Hardin is still capable of in that performance. Here's what gives me pause while we're all going crazy about James Harden. And listen, from the jump, I said that the Sixers won this trade. I thought that Hardin was going to be an immediate contributor to this team, that he was going to be of huge value. And while he has struggled throughout this series and did not last night, the heat couldn't possibly shoot worse than they did. 20% from three.

You live by the three, you die by the three. And you're looking at what James Hardin was able to do. That's vintage James Hardin. That's just what it is. But is he able to put this together for an entire series, is the question. And that is why, when you look at his numbers, this series, it's pretty obvious. One, he obviously plays better when Joe Beatt is on the floor. And two, he is doing better when he's not in Miami,

which is going to hopefully be the same. giving grace for the Miami Heat that if this game goes seven, they do have home court advantage. But getting to the Miami Heat really quickly, if you're going to shoot that terribly from three, I'm going to need Spolstra to make an adjustment or two. Everyone's talking about Duncan Robinson this morning, which I think is completely fair. I am aware that he is a defensive liability, but if you're going to pay a three-point specialist, five years, $90 million when you're shooting 20% from three, I don't know, maybe just try it, change it up, give it a whirl. no one's going to freak out.

In fact, they are freaking out. Twitter is going insane last night that Duncan couldn't get a minute in that game last night. I get it, but you squandered a 40-point performance by Jimmy Butler, a certified star, by the way, two-way player. I'm not going to question Spose greatness, of course,

but maybe make some adjustments. I'm looking forward to seeing how James Hardin maintains this level of play throughout the rest of the series, but that was a huge game for him last night. And it was awesome to see the past, in James Hardin again. I mean, he was really electric. He really had a lot of soul in his performance last night.

And this is why I've liked Philly all along, because I think obviously Joelle Embed is the MVP, but James Harden, when he plays up to the level that we know James Harden can, he's impossible to guard, even if he isn't as fast as he used to be. But that series just got very interesting. So Joy Taylor and Alex Curry, in for the herd with you all week as Colin is on vacation.

We'll get to Antoine Walker a little bit later in the show. But these NBA playoffs have been incredible. They've been extremely physical, though, and some of the animosity is pouring over into some incidents that have led to injury. Are we going to keep that same energy when we critique the eras in basketball? We'll talk about that next on The Hurt. Be sure to catch live editions of the HARD 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 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.

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Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple. podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, 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, Tript Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in

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iHeartRadio app search learn the hard way and listen now welcome back the herd joy taylor in for calling cowherd all week he is on his european vacation which i cannot wait to hear about it's going to be very interesting oh it's going to be epic he said he hasn't been to europe ever or in a while um i don't know i i would imagine he's he's never italy yeah i'd imagine he's been to he's been to europe um he's a big him and are big travelers, but never to Italy, which you spent some time in Italy. I studied abroad in Italy. So I lived in Italy for six months in college. And then I went back 10 years after. And it's kind of like my favorite little place. I'm going again in June for a family wedding. So I'm just like, who. I actually, when Alex first told me that she was going, I was like,

how can I go with you? Maybe I should crash. I have actually crashed a wedding, not crash, but I've gone to a wedding that I was not technically invited. to and a bachelor's party that I wasn't technically invited to. The wedding

did not go as well as the bachelor's party. I guess I'm a better hang on a bachelor's party. I mean, they knew I was coming.

I didn't just like show up, but I wasn't originally invited. Anyway, Joy Taylor and Alex Curry in for Colin this week. There's been a lot

of physicality in these NBA playoffs. A lot of animosity. A lot of fouls. In fact, through Sunday's games, including the playing games. There's been 75 technical fouls,

20 flagrant fouls, and nine player ejections. So for perspective, through the playoffs, 2020 through the first two rounds, 68 technical fouls, 28 flagrant fouls, and four player ejections.

The last postseason with more ejections was the 2019 playoffs with 12 ejections. So we're already at nine. So this is, there's a little added tension this year with the ejections and the fouls. And there's been some incidents where there's been some controversial ejections, obviously the Draymond Green situation, most recently Dylan Brooks. And, well, not most recently,

Jordan Poole was most recently, but Dylan Brooks as well. In the first round, there was Jimmy Butler and Trey Young. And now we have this Jordan Poole, John Morant, situation. So I don't think that the Dylan Brooks foul was meant to. with intention to be hurtful. But the outcome was that. I don't think that Jordan Poole necessarily meant to hurt John Morant. But it appears the outcome is that. So you can have a dirty play and not be a dirty player,

just like you can do something wrong and not be a bad person. Your reputation does matter. But it does seem to be a theme throughout these playoffs that people are sort of towing the line of what is dirty and what could put people in compromising situations to cause injuries and just the normal level of tension that you have in the playoffs. So the Jahn-Morant thing is significant, obviously. J-A-M-R-W-K would probably miss the next game.

And here's Taylor Jenkins after game three on the pool knee grab of J-Moram. Coach, when you say Jordan grabbed his knee and yanked it, are you saying he did it on accident on purpose? Was he trying to do the phone? I don't know. Well, you know, you said that happened. They triggered it. Okay.

But are you saying, I'm asking, are you saying that he did it on purpose or accident? No, I didn't say that it went on purpose. I said the play happened. No, I know. Which one is it? There was a grab. I'm just curious what happened. Look, you can argue the semantics of whether that caused the John Moran injury.

No one knows but God. Okay. Or jaw if he immediately felt injured. But if you're arguing that, like, I don't know, you don't have enough stuff to do today. I can't get into that with you. There's no way for you to know if that's true or not whatsoever. Now, we can talk about whether or not that play is dirty. It looks dirty to me.

You can argue that John Morant's could be stronger and that wouldn't happen. I don't know what the point of that is either. Pulling at someone's knee when they're awkwardly on the corner of their ankle could potentially cause an injury. And when you talk about dirty plays, if there's a pie chart and if I do this play, 10% chance no one gets injured and it just costs. causes a little scuffle, 90% chance someone gets injured. Okay, it's a dirty play. It doesn't necessarily make you a dirty player, but it's a dirty play. And when it's causing you to lose

stars in playoff series, that's the problem. But I would say, and I don't want anyone to be injured. I love jaw. I don't like it. This happens. I do think there is a bit of a bit of a contradiction when it comes to fans and media, though, with what we're watching and what is constantly argued with this era of basketball. All I ever hear is, this is AAU basketball, everyone's friends, there's no rivalries, everyone wants to play together, all these players are soft. Then you have this level of animosity tick up. You have the flagrant fouls go up. You have the ejections go up. You have incidents like this happening in multiple series, and everyone's complaining. So what is it that you want? Because this was nothing compared to old school basketball

are tackling each other in the 80s. And that's all I hear is that that was the better brands of basketball. Now, I disagree. I think basketball is better now. I think the ability to have multiple types of players that you don't have to be a bruiser in order to be successful in the NBA is better for the sport. I think it's a more global sport because of that. And I think the game is more fun to watch.

And I am a MJ zealot. It's not that I didn't enjoy old school basketball, but I do think you should be allowed to allow shooters to shoot. and skilled players to have success without getting tackled. They were punching people in the face. Well, Chuck and Shaq talked about it on the greatest show on television, and they don't like hearing about all this code stuff. Listen, Dylan Brooke, that was a flagrant too,

but the notion he tried to hurt that kid, I'm not going to live with that. And now they're trying to come, this is the cold. Man, give me a break, man. You know, man, are you getting frustrated? frustrated Chuckster. Every call, Ernie, I'm watching the basketball game. Let's see if it's a flagrant. Let's see if it's a flagrant. Let's see if it's a flagrant.

I'm like, yo, man, I've been kissed harder than that. So we learned a little bit about Chuck as well in that, in that quote. I don't have any desire for anyone to get hurt. I don't want dirty players. For the most part, think that they're obnoxious unless they're on my team. And I don't want to watch a series without John Moran. We want stars out there. But I do think you need rivalries.

And I think you need a certain level of animosity. I do think that playoff basketball should have more tension, and there should be villains real or imagined. I'd prefer it, and they do it in a way where players don't get hurt. Not that I'm biased, but I feel like a healthy level of animosity was Trey Young and Jimmy Butler. You know, you do the forehead fighting. You know, there's not going to be any real scrapping going on here. But there needs to be enough that the fans can get involved.

They have someone to root against more than just the team that they are going against. but just do it in a way that keeps people safe. And I don't know how you do that. I don't really have the answer for it. I know I'm a doctor, but I don't have the answer for everything. I just, I don't. I think the referees have to set the tone early. Because whenever you allow things to get chippy,

eventually something's going to go over the line. You're allowing that line to be flexible with the amount of physicality and animosity and tension that you're permitting in the series. Eventually, someone is going to go over the line. Someone is going to try something a little extra. Someone is going to get in their emotions. there is a lot that they're playing for right now.

It's different. So I don't know how you keep this contained, but it is obviously a thing, and it's not just in one particular series. So personally, I like the tension level. I don't like the dirty plays, and I do think they are dirty plays. If you hit someone while they're in the air, that's dirty.

If you pull it someone's knee, that's a dirty play. Code, I don't know, we can debate that. I think that depends on what you prefer, what style of basketball you prefer. if you like this kind of next level aggressiveness. But I don't think this is going to go away. I think we're going to see this throughout the rest of the NBA playoffs. And we'll see how it carries over into next year when it comes to the rivalries.

Because that seems to be the thing that everyone's asking for. The NBA needs a villain. We need more tension. We need more animosity. We need rivalries. It was better in the old school. Well, you're getting the old school kind of play. And everyone's unhappy with that as well.

Let's get to Alex Curry with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, maybe you have an answer for this one, because this next story was a dirty play. Several of Chris Paul's family members were reportedly harassed and physically contacted by someone in the crowd at game four between the sons

and the Mavericks yesterday. The fan reportedly put hands on Paul's mother and pushed his wife before they were removed from the arena after the game. Chris Paul addressed the situation on social media saying, want to find players for saying stuff to fans, but the fans can put hands on our families. F that.

The Mavericks also acknowledged the incident and issued a statement saying the fans' behavior was unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Now, this is when fans get scary. It's almost like they forget that you are a human being. And I know you have personal experience with this having a brother who was a professional athlete. Right. But what can these franchises and organizations do to make a statement, to make sure that this doesn't happen in the future? I know they take them out of the arena. Arrest people.

Do you ban them from the arena? Arrest people. If you put your hands like that on somebody outside of an arena, you would get arrested. Yeah. If I walked up to you in front of a police officer and pushed you, what would happen? Would I get kindly escorted to my car? Banned from the arena? No.

I mean, this is assault. I'm tired of hearing about this. I'm tired of hearing about the, oh, like, families shouldn't go to arenas. That's what they should expect. Oh, no. Keep your hands to yourself. It's not hard. It is not hard.

None of these people have ever had hands really. put on them before because they would not be behaving this way. First of all, so your parents failed you. One. Two, when did this become appropriate behavior? It's not. We just saw this with the Chappelle show. Stop letting the internet gas you up into thinking that you have this bubble protection.

You don't. You're going to run into the wrong person. What? You're going to mess around and found out. Find out that's exactly what happened right down the street. Somebody on the internet told him too many times he was tough. Yep. You're not. No. This is real life. This is not the metaverse, y'all. Okay.

this is real life. You could really get touched. I don't, I don't, I don't, on Mother's Day. I know. Not on Mother's Day. I know. Happy Mother's Day, by the way, 12 months. That's freaky. All right, let's move on. The Celtics and the bucks were neck and neck as game three winded down on Saturday. Boston was trailing by three with about five seconds remaining and Marcus Smart was

fouled during what he believed was a three point attempt. However, the refs said he was sweeping his arms and not in the act of shooting. So Smart was given two free throws instead of three. Now, Boston went on to lose 103, 101. And after the game, the team was very unhappy with this call. Martin Jalen Brown both lobbied that it was an obvious shooting foul. Now, this was an unbelievable game that came down to the wire. Whether you believe it should have been two or three free throws, my motto in all of sports

is you shouldn't say that you lost an entire game based on one call. You have the entire game. You have four quarters to get the job done. You had plenty of opportunities. Yes, there was, in your mind, an unfortunate call and an unfortunate situation, but you had plenty of time to create that lead and create that space throughout the entire game. Yeah, I'm with you. I do think there are outlier situations where it's an obvious bad call. It's an obvious pass interference or, you know, the refs just get it wrong and it changes the outcome of history.

but those are very rare outlying situations. This is not one of those situations. I'm with you. You had the opportunity to not be in that situation. Obviously, Boston fans don't want to hear this. We get it. So we're not speaking from that perspective. But I can also unbiased look at that.

I don't care if Boston wins a series or Milwaukee wins a series. If that was a shooting foul, then that's what it was. But it's pretty obvious that he didn't get his arms around. Now, he, you know, exaggerated up into the shooting motion. But I don't think if this was any other point in the game that they would have given him that call So I don't have the problem with the refs making that determination there I mean it was a great game it shouldn't come down to that Yeah situations and you know I get it Boston fans are gonna say that until the end of time

Yep, but I agree with the refs in this spot and look there's been some There's been some questionable calls and some questionable officiating and those are very obvious Yes, this is this is not I would not say this is one of them no and the game was spicy which is what we want to see, which is what you were just talking about. It's making the playoffs fun. It is, but like, don't be in this situation where you need that call. The one call that determines the game. If you have a shot and you miss it, I can live with that.

But putting it in the referee's hands is always a bad idea. No, you have to account for that. You go into a game knowing that you're not going to get every single call you want. You're not going to get every call you want. And at the end of the game, you shouldn't expect the refs to bail you out in that situation. And that was not a shot. You had the whole game. Yes.

All right. Switching gears. The Broncos are hoping to make a big jump with Russell. Wilson at quarterback next season. It's been years since Denver has had a true franchise quarterback, and GM George Payton explained what having a player like Russ can do to an organization. He said, I think you look at teams that have one and what's the common trait. Typically, it's a quarterback. And then you look at Russ's record. He's a winner. The proof is in the pudding. Now they had a lot of good players around him. I get it. And we're going to need to get

a lot of good players around it. And hopefully we have enough around him where we can take that next step. Now, there is a big difference between a player who will do whatever it takes. Whatever it takes to take care of his body, whatever it takes to connect with his teammates, going out early before camp and connecting with your new receivers. That is what it takes to be a winner. And Russell Wilson is a winner. And they haven't had really a franchise quarterback since Peyton Manning retired in 2016. So this is big.

And I like all the hype that's around it. There's a lot of hype, a lot of pressure, but I think Russ is a guy that can handle it. I think he is, absolutely. I mean, Russ is one of the faces of the league. Oh, yeah. I just... Give it to me. I mean, well, first of all, it's a very tough division.

Yeah. Which is not new for Russ. He's used to playing in a tough division. So I don't really want to use that excuse. But, like, you had Tom Brady switch teams and win year one. Yeah. Matthew Stafford. Yeah.

Year one. Now you're the next in line. So I'm saying a lot of pressure. It's a lot of pressure. Now, personally myself, if they don't win a Super Bowl this year, I'm not going to call this a failure. But they've got to make it to the playoffs and they've got to win. I'm going to say they have to win a playoff game. Okay.

Okay. That's fair. That's fair. That's the bar for having a successful season in year one. They do have a new head coach. Yep. It's his first year there, but also, you know, it didn't matter for Brady or Stafford. But they do have a new head coach.

They did not have a new head coach for Stafford and for Brady. Okay. Ariens was there. McVeigh was there. That's a big. So the rest of the team did not have to make a massive adjustment. Yes. It's a big difference.

So, so I will give them a bit of grace in that situation. It's not exactly the same situation as Brady. I hate to put the Super Bowl. I'm not saying Super Bowl. You're just playing playoffs. Oh, no. They have to make the playoffs this year. That's a huge failure if they don't.

It's a disaster. How I say the Packers do not get enough credit for what a disaster this season was, the way that it ended, they need to make it to the playoffs. That's without question, which I think they will. Like, I think they will be good to great this year. But, look, the AFC is stacked. Like, this is not going to be an easy road. Not that it ever is, but there's nothing grooved for you here.

But I just, I am so interested to see how it all works. out because I think that we will hold him to the same standard as as Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford which is fair like you forced your way out you're in a new situation that you asked for we've been talking about how good Broncos are without a quarterback for a long time now they needed was that quarterback all they needed a quarterback next level I mean that's what he just said yep we were missing the quarterback the missing piece so I mean I like Russ I don't think he's washed I think he's he's still a Super Bowl level quarterback and a Hall of Famer but I This year will be interesting because it's not the same situation.

No. The new coach is not a, that's a big one. Yeah, because the rest of the team has to adjust to it as well. It's not just Russell Wilson in a new space, but man. It's going to be fun. It's going to be some interesting storylines this year to follow. That's Alex with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd Lie News. Have you ever had a fan incident? Oh, yeah. When I worked at Angel Stadium, I, I would have security with me, like walking through the crowd. But that's different. I mean, we're on social media.

But you're on social media. They feel like they know you. People have had a couple drinks at the game. So they're just trying to talk to you. It's not, it's not. It's, it's, they feel like they, like you're in your personal space. Right. I never got negatively physically assaulted.

Yeah. So it was just more. It was just more, yeah. Yeah. No, I'm with you on there. Yeah. I'm not a huge hugger, guys. Oh, I'm a big hugger.

but not after the whole. No. I mean, for people that I know, I hug them. I'm not a lunatic most of the time. But for strangers, you know, pre-COVID. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Pre-COVID. Oh, no, I was pre-COVID.

I was like, yeah, bring it in for a hug. I also got to be in the mood, you know, for the affection thing. I'm always. You are. I'm always, I'm like happy as my mind. I am always here for a smile, a hug. Come on in, guys. Let me bring you some joy.

I've had a hot dog thrown at me at the A hot dog? Which as you know, I hate hot dogs more than anything on planet Earth. So it was extra disrespectful. I don't think the fan knew that I hated hot dogs. I think that's just the only thing that they had around to toss. Well, yeah.

So I had a hot dog thrown at me at the Washington Stadium when Jason was playing for the commanders. Wasn't the commanders at the time. And then at Pittsburgh. and Pittsburgh actually was a pretty intense incident because it was the Steelers playing the Jets and I was, no, actually I'm not going to make any excuses for them. I was simply cheering a lot, but I was cheering for the Jets

and I knew that it was going to be an intense situation. I'm from Pittsburgh. I root for the Steelers when they're not playing the team that my brother was on. And so I knew what I was walking into, and I was happy to do that. I can play the villain. That's no problem for me. But they were unhappy with me. I mean, stuff thrown at me.

A man was sitting right in front of me, this giant person with this huge beard. And by like the third quarter, he had had enough of me. And he turned around and got like in my face and told me to like shut the bleep up. And it was like very, I mean, I was laughing because, I mean, what are you going to do? Yeah. What are you going to do? That's my toxic trait. I laugh in really uncomfortable, horrible situations.

Oh, I was laughing because I generally thought it was funny that he was this mad. But like everyone around me did not think it was funny. So then I could then, then the tables kind of turned. because he was like being very threatening. And they're like, yeah, you can't, you can't do that. You can't talk to her like that. And then he was like, he calmed down. He was like, oh, I'm just a fan.

But yeah, it happens all the time. Like, people start to get a little too comfortable with the, what's happening on the field or the court, and then things pour over into the stands. But once again, I remind everyone that, like, there's this invisible bubble that's on the internet is not real life. There's like anonymous troll account that you have where you feel like you're safe to say it and do whatever you want. It's not real life.

in the real world where like stuff exists, not the metaverse, things can go badly for you. Yeah. That's how it goes. Check out the Chappelle Show. Like that is, that's what happens when you take this internet life you have and try to apply it to the real world. It goes badly. Obviously, we're referring to the Chris Paul situation, which is attractive. Scary.

Family should be allowed to go to games and not have to worry about their safety. Cheer on your loved ones who have worked their entire life to get to this moment. Correct. We'll take a break. We'll talk to Antoine Walker on the other side. get his thoughts on this dirty plays that we're seeing in the NBA playoffs. And if he likes the tension and ask him about the Chris Paul situation as well, that's next on The Herd.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straightfire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports. Headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sportsbook, and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre 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 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 where 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

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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 is 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

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Open your free Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Welcome back to the herd. Me and Alex are just making a concert plan. Jinx, you owe me a soda. Joy Taylor in for Colin Coward all week alongside Alex Curry. Just back from Miami, I was down there this weekend, giving the commencement speech at Barry University,

and also went to the F1 race Saturday to the qualifiers. And someone who knows Miami well, Antoine Walker, Fox Sports NBA analyst, is joining us now. All right, I'm worried. I'm not going to lie. As I should be, I picked James Arden to win the MVP, I'm sorry, Joel M. B to win the MVP, and I thought James Hardin was going to be significant for the Sixers. I liked them a lot, so maybe I spoke this into existence.

But it is a seven-game series, so we'll start with the heats. What do you make of Spowe not having Duncan Robinson in the rotation at all? Is that strange to you? I know he's a defensive liability, but they were shooting 20% from three. I definitely think it's strange. I think, you know, we always talk about how good of a coach Spoe is, and his adjustments and things he do. But I'm starting to wonder a little bit why he's one, he's not in the lineup.

I know Vic Delo dept has played well, so I think that's one of the reasons. But I think he has to make a real gutsy decision, and I think it has to come from Cal Lari. I just think Cal Lari is not playing at the level that they need them to play at. He's not making shots. He's not making threes. And you may have to limit his minutes and put Duncan Robinson back in the

lineup. The heat of one of the best three-point shooting teams. They live in doubt the three-point shot and they need to start making something if they want to win this series because Embedg gives them more presence of the inside to defend. So they're going to have to put some shooters out there. But I do believe this is one of those scenes where home court advantage, it's going to really matter. I like the heat in seven to take care of business. I don't think Philly can get a win on the road, even with Embed back. What do you make of Hardin's performance last? night. Do you think that that is an outlier or that's something that he can string together for multiple games? It was refreshing to see him make some shots and to be aggressive. We haven't seen that from him

throughout the playoffs for long periods of time. So it was good to see it in their retrospect. But I wouldn't bank on it. That's something I wouldn't. If I'm a failure that I would bank on. I mean, obviously you want him to be aggressive, but you want to NB to continue to get comfortable wearing the mask. Obviously, we know about his hand, but you want him to continue to play at a high level. But Hardin has to do it consistently. Can he take this show on the road? And not saying it's easy to do at home, but can he put this type of performance up on the road? They're going to need it from him.

We're talking to Antoine Walker, Joy Taylor in for Colin Cowherd on the herd. So we pretty much knew this was coming, but Woj tweeted out today that Nicola Yokic is the league MVP. He has won back-to-back MVP. Now, I had Joelle Embed as the MVP this season. I have lots of thoughts on this, but do you think that Yokic deserved to win back-to-back MVPs? No, I don't think he deserved to win it. And I know Yolka's had a great year, but I think it's hard to pick a team that finishes in the six-seat. I know they won 48 games, but in history, this award, usually you reward guys that win

and also put up great individual numbers and carry their team. to a good playoff seed. And Yolkus didn't do that. I know the analytical numbers, and I know he's off the chart with that. But I had Yonis, my personal, I had Yonis to be the MVP. And if he didn't,

I was very happy with Joel Embed being, because I thought last year, if Embed did not get hurt, he would have won it last year, but to bounce back the way he did this year with the Ben Simmons situation and getting hard and late, just everything that he had to deal with,

we finally saw Embed, fight through that, play through injuries, a complete season, I thought he deserved it more than any of the three that was in the running at the end. So even though Yolkas had a great year, don't want to take anything away from him, but I thought those other two guys were more deserving because their team were more successful. Yeah, I agree. So this NBA postseason has been a little chippier than usual, which I'm okay with. You know, I'm a heat fan. We're okay being goons. But I do think there is, there's a line

that you kind of have to to ride when you allow players to be a little physical and have that kind of animosity. Somebody's going to take it over the line. And we've sort of seen that over the past couple games and most recently the John Morant Jordan Poole situation. Do you think that was a dirty play?

Do you think it was a codebreaker type of situation? I don't think it was a dirty play, but I think about when you suspend Dylan Brooks for his play, and we know that play was a more physical play what Dylan Brooks play was. You set the presence that every team is going to be looking for someone to get kicked out no matter what.

And I think that was Memphis just, you know, crying out. They were upset that they lost one of their best players. And Dylan Brooks is not that type of player. And Jordan Poole is not that type of player. What are out trying to hurt people. And I think when the league suspended him, and I think the league suspended Dylan Brooks because of the outcome of what happened, the result of, you know, Gary Payton getting hurt.

And I think that's why he got suspended. and Steve Kurt lobby for that, and they end up getting it. And I think that's where Memphis is just trying to, you know, throw something back at them. But I love the fact that this is a physical series. I'm old school. I'm used to physical play. But the game is not called like that no more. So we're seeing so many.

I know you get frustrated like I do. Every time somebody gets hit, they go to the monitor to see if something's wrong. It makes basketball crazy now. Every game you stop in the game six and seven times for a foul. So the game is not they're not going to let you be as physical as you want to be But I think the suspension of Dylan Brooks has just got everybody looking for that one the run bad foul to try to turn it around Yeah, I kind of set the tone for everything for the postseason I agree with you. It was an outcome decision there So there was a bit of an incident last night with Chris Paul and some fans in Dallas

I've had incidents with fans I think people need to keep their hands themselves. It's a very simple solve But, you know, we're seeing more and more of this around. You know, we just saw this with a Chappelle show out here, someone jumping on stage and people feeling really entitled. What do you think the consequences should be for a fan who does something like this, puts their hands on a family member? Oh, this is tough. I mean, especially when you have made a word of it and you on the court.

I mean, I don't blame Chris for being aggressive and wanting to get involved. But I think all you could do at that point is get them removed. I had a situation like this in Boston. where I was playing in Boston, but I called my boys down. They was in the stands, and I called my boys over to address the situation with a fan, not to get involved with a fan. So it happens. I mean, obviously, that's all you can do is ask for the arena security and NBA security

to handle it right away so you don't have to get involved. But this is what comes to playoff basketball. So it's unfortunate, but you do got fans once they get them two, three, four, five, six drinks in them. they're going to say and do things that you may not want to do. So you got to just handle it with the right, with the right people with the security. I don't know if he was old enough to drink. He looked pretty young.

I would have been checking his ID. Thank you, Antoine, for stopping by. I always love having you on. All right. Thank you. That's Antoine Walker, NBA champ with the Miami Heat. Maybe feel a little better. I mean, look, I'm nervous.

The heat are the last team that allow, that I allow to make me feel. Really? That's your one. Yeah, I can't. This is too much. Well, first of all, like, things change when you do national shows, obviously, you talk about everybody. But, you know, I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, so always root for the Steelers.

Miami Dolphins, obviously, have ties with them. But, you know, the heat are just the last ones. I had to, it was too much. I only have enough, so much emotional energy to give out, you know. You're in the heat of the moment. We'll talk to Ryan Hollins, Joy Taylor, and Alex Curry. Inver calling Cowherd on The Herd all week. We'll get Ryan's thoughts on the postseason.

some of the stuff we talked about with Antoine and get his thoughts on the MVP coming up next here on the herd. Thanks for joining us. 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

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Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

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

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