The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - Colin Right / Colin Wrong, Dianna Russini

Episode Date: July 15, 2024

Where Colin was right and wrong...with plenty of both! Thoughts on Jaylen Brown not being on the US Men's team, andhow Anthony Davis has drastically changed (for the better). Guest: Dianna RussiniSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It is a Monday. We're on FS2, by the way. A little Canada, Australia game basketball. USA Australia, my bad. I was just watching the highlights. Jason Tatum had a nice dunk. Not to send you to another channel, but I just... You don't need to see that bloodbath.

USA already have like 15. Yeah. I was watching some of the highlight. Australia is for some reason playing Zoned. By the way, Canada is having a run. Soccer, basketball. Indeed. Our friendly neighbors to the north are having a run, man.

They got good coaching, some young, young stars. By the way, did you see Serbia beat France? Yokic basically took down Wemba and Yama and company. He fouled out and Serbia still won the game. Tell you, Olympic men's basketball is going to be fired. I can't wait. So will women if Caitlin Clark plays. With fact, yes.

Let's just put her on the game. team. Get her off the team. I mean, last week, you weren't here, but we were talking about the men's team. And I've said this about Caitlin Clark. Whether she earns it or not, when you talk about Olympic men's and women's basketball teams, the first five or six players are the best.

You know, your Steph Curry's and your aunts and your Jason Tatum's. The middle down has always been political. Michael Jordan didn't want Isaiah on the team. He didn't get on the team. You got a Nike-Jalen Brown issue. Diana Tarasi is a great player. She's been there before.

Get Caitlin Clark on the team. They're going to win the gold. They always win the gold. Olympics, World Cups, where you put World Cups, where you put Olympics, Olympic men's and women's basketball teams, there's always been a political component to it. Get Caitlin Clark. Triple your television ratings. She's Taylor Swift in sneakers.

Get her on the team. It's good for women's basketball. She's probably going to play very limited numbers. but for the record, she was 1 and 8 to start because of the schedule. But have you noticed in the last like 10 games, she's taking over games. Imagine a college kid's growing up in the pros and it takes it longer than a minute. But I'll say this on the U.S. men's side, like this whole Jalen Brown Derek White thing is bizarre. I mean, Jalen Brown's a finals MVP.

Three of his teammates are on the Olympic team and he's not? What the hell is that about? And then he claims it's because of Nike. Well, it's swoosh related. That is spicy. I'm not picking on Nike. I was in Portland over the weekend, but this stuff's very political. You ever see that movie air?

Oh, that was awesome. You recommended that, by the way. I've seen it three times. It's great. I liked it. But it's okay. The shoe wars are very political. Business is politics.

Politics is sports. Sports is both business and politics. We all know that. But the average fan doesn't realize that. And when they see the finals MVP, and Easter Conference Finals MVP, snubbed and he puts out the emoji with the monocle and he's like,

what is this about? Come on, that's not a good look for the league, Colin. I mean, you don't think so? Well, I just think it illustrates the reality of Olympic men's and women's basketball. Get Caitlin on the team. Here we go. Colin right, Colin wrong in a Monday.

Where Colin was right. Let's start with this. Caitlin Clark, 10 points in the fourth, we had said, once her schedule lightens up, She's going to be Andrew Look. She is going to take a bad roster to playoff level sports. And she's been terrific.

She's averaging 17 and 8. Actually, a couple of her teammates now. She is elevated. They play better defense. She leads the league in assists. She's third and three-pointers made. The league did her no favors with the first seven or eight games against New York and Connecticut. Caitlin Clark.

She's good. And take advantage. This is your Connor McGregor to the UFC moment. Bryce Harper to baseball. Get her on television as much as you can. Where Colin was wrong. The Clippers let Paul George go. I still do not get it.

Do you realize he shot 41% on three-point shooting? He's a little bit like a poor man's Jason Tatum out west, and they let him go. So they have now James Harden and Co-Wall. why Leonard who's never available. I still don't get it. I think he's an elite wing defender. He's an elite wing three-point shooter. The whole league could use Paul George.

The whole league could use Paul George. The Clippers, hard pass. Where Colin was right? What do you know? NFL executives and coaches and scouts named Jared Gough, the second best quarterback in the NFC. I never get the Goff slander. Folks, he threw for 5,400 yards last year and had a higher passer rating than Patrick Mahomes.

I know he doesn't run around. He's the last of the true young pocket quarterback. For the record, C.J. Stroud doesn't run around either much. This league is won from the pocket. Scouts get it. The critics don't. Goff, after Stafford, name best NFC quarterback. where Colin was wrong.

Greg Burhalter won 69% of his games as a United States men's national team coach. And they axed him. He got to the round of 16 at the World Cup and a draw against England with the second youngest World Cup team. And they axed him. By the way, I've said, I think there needs to be some house cleaning in the U.S. Soccer Federation. Here's Canada's coach on if he'd be.

interested for Greg's job. I have no interest in the U.S. job. And to be fair, unless there's a big shift in the organization, I don't think that I'll ever have interest in that job in the future. What is that telling you? It's not a Greg Berhalter thing. It's a soccer federation thing in this country.

Where Colin was right? Love Jalen Brunson from the beginning. I said he had self-awareness. I said, this is a kid you. build around. There's a lot of fake New York stars. This is the best quarterback in the city. He's a leader. He's tough. He embraces it. He just signed a contract which was very team friendly and with the new CBA, big advantages for New York to stock that front court. Jalen Brunson is the most likable NBA player arguably in this sport. Self-awareness, leader, toughness,

Villanova guy. I mean, I don't know what you can say about, that's what leadership looks like. A willingness to sign a contract that's not Jalen friendly, although I'll make $157 million. It's team friendly, city friendly, organization friendly.

Where Colin was right? Ronnie James, how can you draft him? Have you seen the Summer League attendance? Now, he can't shoot, but he's not a shooter. He's been a very good defensive player. He's selling merch. He's packing the Summer League games.

Listen, it was a terrible draft. LeBron's carried the sport along with the Warriors for 20 years. You couldn't do him a solid? He's actually been a very good defensive player. He runs the court well. He's a tweener. He's not a true point. He can't shoot from the outside like you'd like a two guard to do.

But is he an NBA rotational player? Yes, the overreaction to him being drafted. The kids selling out arenas. This is a business, right? Where Colin was wrong. The Denver Nugget, second straight off season, lost a key role player. I thought this could be a dynasty after that title. But KCP to Orlando, excellent wing defender,

excellent three-point shooter, second year in a row, Denver's lost a really important piece. I don't love it. Where Colin was right? The Chicago Bulls are trying to give Zach Levine away. And nobody wants him. The Warriors were offered Zach Levine for Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul, who they were trying to get rid of.

And the Warriors declined it. He has become an increasingly inefficient player. He's a highlight reel. But his three-point shooting's gone backwards. He's not a winning player. He's just fun to watch on YouTube. His teams don't win. His three-point shootings going backwards.

The Bulls are trying to give him away. and even the Warriors said pass. Where Colin was right? I said this a couple months ago. If you watch the Phillies play, that's the best team in baseball. Tremendous power, starting pitching. They have eight all-stars times the all-time record ties it. And that doesn't include, you know, Aaron Nola got snubbed.

Their ace got snubbed. So this is just a tremendous baseball team. 37 and 16 at home. Another Bryce Harper team is captive. looks and feels like a team that's going to get to the World Series. Very rarely does home field advantage feel impactful in baseball. The old Yankee Stadium absolutely did. You watch the Phillies play at home.

You can't get your TV remote and go through the channels. If the Phillies are playing, they jump off the television. Best team in baseball just swept the Dodgers last week. Colin right, Colin wrong. and with that, Diana Rusini. Her summer's over. Yeah, I hope you had a good time vacationing. Do you know, Diana, your summer's over.

You know that, right? Oh, I know. I'm trying to be the Phillies of TV reporters at this point. I'm just trying to pop right onto the screen here with everything I've been thinking about on the beach the last few weeks. But Colin, I've realized this as I've gotten older, and I'm not sure if you can relate to this. But relaxing has become harder.

And I don't know if that's just how busy we are. how online we all can be. But I turned into someone that could hang at the Jersey Shore for, you know, seven, eight days, not have a worry. I care in the world to, I'm like two days in. And I'm like, well, you should probably go home and paint a room in my house or maybe take up gardening and do something. So I'm trying to get better.

But here's what I have been working on all summer. I'm launching my new podcast, Scoop City tomorrow. It drops the first episode. So I'm really pumped to join. join the world in and I've spent my whole career trying to learn from you. So I hope I make you a proud, my friend. Well, I'm happy for you. You're a hustler.

You know, I love that. You love hustlers. I do. Let's talk Brandon Ayyuk. So the Niners draft two things here. They drafted a couple receivers. Debo and Christian McCaffrey, they're very reliant on their physicality. Both players have a bit of an injury history.

Brandon Ayuk doesn't as much. The Niners are getting old. Trent Williams, Kittle, Iyuk. And I think to myself, oh, they need Brandon. Like, they need it. Like, he's one of the young guys. Debo's not old, but there's a lot of injuries there. And I think to myself, they need him.

But I would argue Brock Purdy's not a deep ball thrower. Does he, 27 million? Like, what are you hearing on? Why did they draft two receivers? What's going on with Brandon Iyuk in the Niners? Well, let's just start with the fact that they were open to taking calls and calling around right before the draft, possibly open to moving Brandon Iyuk. And yes, that's contractual. But you know how this works.

If a player like Christian McCaffrey, let's say, had interest from another team, they are not touching Christian McCaffrey. They love him. The San Francisco 49ers are obsessed with Christian McCaffrey. So when you start hearing right around that draft time that players like Debo, and Iyuk were available, we'll call it. That tells you a little bit. But here we are now, right, just a few days out from the start of their camp.

And I can tell you, the Niners want to keep them. They do. But the price for receivers has gone up so much. That number, that's not sitting great. Now, this is a team that has always done deals late anyway. Remember last year, the Nick Bosa situation, both sides were telling me the whole time. I remember being on your show,

the day the deal was done and walking out of your studio in New York, and I got the text that the deal was done. I'm like, finally, because I went on talking to you, telling you, they want to keep this guy. Of course he do. He's the best offender right now outside Miles Garrett, right? So that being said, they want to keep him. The price said that the Niners feel was a good number for him.

We're talking that $26, $27 million range. Ayuk's looking at the market going, I'm worth a lot more than that. And when you look at the 49ers, they're actually in a really good position with him. because they could just let him play out this year and most likely use the tag on him next year. So Iook's making 17 now, right around there. The tag next year, 22, 23 mil. So the Niners are in a good spot for him. So in terms of this deal getting done, I see them either working it out that way or just doing a small deal.

I think that's how it's going to get done. But in terms of IUC's interest around the league, there are definitely a lot of teams paying attention. You know, I said this earlier that Bill Belichick was all about winning for years. And then at the end, it kind of pivoted to he wanted to be comfortable. He brought back coaches that he knew they weren't necessarily the top coaches on the market. He had told Urban Meyer, I'm going to coach guys, I want to coach. Well, winning's not comfortable. Winning's uncomfortable.

Aaron goes to New York. I got Nat Hackett. I got Lazard. I got Cobb. I get it. But that doesn't make the team better. That makes you more comfortable. kind of I do feel like they gave the team to Aaron.

But in the end, Sala, his job's on the line. Okay? So Aaron's job isn't on the line. Salas is. What's going on behind the scenes? Is there politicking? Where are you on the Jets? Yeah.

So, you know, you make the point about Belichick bringing in his people because it's comfortable. The way I always read that and understood it, is it's a language, right? You and I both are at ESPN. I could hop off line with you and give you a phone call, and we could just rip through the issues in our lives and the battles and challenges we're dealing with on the video side of things, the editorial side of things,

at Fox, at the athletic now. And just we just know what the others talking about because our language is ESPN. That's where we spent most of our time. Right. So to me, that's kind of the comp to how I always read Bill and how he went along in his business. there with making sure the guys that just speak the language.

Because look, the guys that speak that New England way that are across the league, they're the same way. They love bringing in people that do it their way because it just makes, it's one less teaching moment that they have to go through one last layer. So for Aaron, that's more about comfort. That's not speaking a language. That's Nathaniel Hackie is going to let me do what I want to do. Right.

We're going to keep Nathaniel Hackett here. Now look, inside the building, there's a belief here that. he lost his fastball. Hackett's not the same play caller he was in Green Bay when him and Aaron were having all that success. They spent the offseason early on looking around the league to see if there was anyone that would maybe come in here

and improve the team. Keeping Hackett with this group, but bringing him maybe another contributor. I'm a believer in when you have too many cooks in the kitchen there, especially in the play calling business, you're not going to find success. You need the guy. And if you don't think it's Nathania Hackett, move on. But that's not what they

were going to do. Why? Because Aaron Rogers is going to make that final call, right? And Aaron Rogers wants Nathaniel Hackett. They were all in last year. We know what happened. It didn't work out. So here we are now. The Jets have done an incredible job of just quieting the noise.

Colin, remember this time last year? We were going bonkers. I was on your show like every other day talking about the Jets. Aaron looks amazing in camp. And look, he's going to put on show a show on Flor and Park again, right? We're going to see it again where he's going to be making these throws that social media is going going to clip and slow mow it. and add the most beautiful, you know, top gun music to it.

And it's just, it's going to be perfection and beautiful. But in terms of tempering the emotions and the expectations, we are not going to hear Robert Sala talk Super Bowl like we did last training camp. Remember that? We're like, what are you talking about Super Bowl? How could you possibly use those words when you've done nothing on the field? They've learned. That is the one thing.

That's my biggest takeaway of the offseason from my conversations with coaches, with players. they've been humbled. Yeah. They've been humbled. They know it's going to take more than what they were doing last year. And it's going to take a lot more than just talking about it. So a team last year, I didn't buy into them nor Deshawn Watson.

There's some personal stuff I'm not into. But be that as it may, he's talented. There were injuries. It's the only time I remember a quarterback being given the go-head to play. And the quarterback's like, I don't want to play. So it's like, okay, what's going on here? This is odd. Where are we on his health?

Because I love Stefansky. I love Andrew Barry. I love their offensive line. There are a lot of things here I really like about Cleveland. It's a top 6-7 roster. But it doesn't work if Deshaun's not ready to go. None of it matters. Where are we on this?

Yeah, it's almost like, you know, we're just talking about the Jets, right? They stay healthy. We're talking about them in the postseason, right? Because their roster is just built their defense. is that good. And I look at the Browns the same way, right? They've got this stout defense run by Jim Schwartz. They add Mike Bramel, right? They're not the issue. They were so healthy last year on defense. And I know parched, that's that's luck. But on offense, they obviously dealt with some of those injuries, not just the running back position, but at quarterback as we saw with Deshaun Watson having that

shoulder situation and Joe Flacco coming in. So now you got James Winston back there. I've heard great things about him in the Browns building in terms of him understanding this to fancy offense and doing just a really good job there. But Watson, it's all about his health. And during OTAs, he wasn't fully participating in team drills. He was doing some small work, right? Seven on seven stuff. The expectation, though, is as camp ramps up, we will see more of him.

That has been the thought process, even going back to the spring of, we're giving him the summer. He's training. And he should be 100% by the end of August, if not anytime sooner or at least the hope is sooner at that point. But in terms of just that entire team coming together, there are a lot like the Jets from a, all right, let's keep our heads down

because if we just do what we're supposed to do, we're going to be really good. And I'm with you on Stefanski. Look, he's the most even-keeled coach in the NFL. If you ever observe him on the sideline, you very rarely see highs or lows. I mean, he gets amped up a little bit here and there. He gets disappointed.

But he's just really controlled. controlled. It's a really good skill set. He's obviously really bright. And he's obviously also very confident and open to getting the thoughts of other coaches and other people that know what they're doing. So the fact that him and Andrew Barry got that extension, that had been in the works for over a year. That made all the sense of the world from Brown's ownership, which we've known, we have criticized for years, Colin. But I call that one a really good decision. Diana Rusini. All right. Well, I hope you enjoyed your 45-minute summer. with your beautiful children, your husband.

I hope you enjoyed that, but it's over. I say that as I have another 10 days later in August. Not to rub it in because, you know, whatever, but I know. What a jerk. What a schmuck. Who am I? All right. I'll just go back to hustling.

You go back to laying out in the sun, having a margarita or two, enjoying the wife. You keep doing that. You've earned it. I'm the one who has to go out here and grind. I got to earn it. I have earned it. Jay Mack, do you hear that? I have earned it.

Diana said I earned it. Good seeing you as always. Diana Rusini, the Athletic. All right. Thanks, guys. Thanks, Jay. Have a good summer. You bet. Now, those NFL reporters, they get a few weeks in June, a couple in July.

Boom, back to work. You're out here traveling abroad, going to soccer matches. And me? I just heard you say you're taking more time off in August. I was like starting to email the fifth floor. Hey, guys, I'm going to need some time off as well. I don't know where I'm going, but maybe I'll go to a Jets camp or something. That'd be fun.

No. It's Hofstra, isn't it? Yeah, I've been to one before. Camps, you know. Back when I was a real journalist, now I'm just a talking. Camps are bigger than, you know, the Steelers is big for years. You go to these NFL camps. It's amazing the crowds they get.

Those camps are, like, people take vacations. They do. That'd be kind of fun, don't you think? It's a big, it's a big, son or daughter. It's a big world out. there. I spend four months a year with the NFL. If I'm taking a vacation anyway, such a scene. I'm saying the average

family, they work their tail off and you got some teenagers who like the NFL. How much fun would that be? It might be fun. I would highly recommend just traveling the world seeing what's out. Like languages a lot of people, come on, man. A lot of people can't travel the world, but they can go

two hours to watch the Steelers or the Bengals or the Saints. That would be kind of fun. Maybe. You know, I told you this. When I was going to college at Eastern Washington University, the Seahawks at that point, that's pre-Kirkland, they trained in Cheney. It was great. I would go every single day.

I was back in two days. They had Jack Patera. Here we go. I think he was the coach. Maybe he wasn't the coach. Wait, let me ask you. Did your parents take you to a lot of sporting events growing up? No.

Yeah, I went to like two or three or maybe four. We didn't have any money. Yeah, we couldn't afford it either. So we sure as heck, we're not going to go when we could afford it to a sporting event. But I remember going to college, Seahawk camps. I remember Mike Tice, the tide end out of Maryland. And I remember Eugene Robinson, a safety out of Colgate. I know that name, yeah.

So they would give you a card, you know, of the players. And you knew Steve Largen or Jim Zorn or they had a, you know, you knew certain guys. And then there was this rookie out of Colgate lighting the receivers up. named Eugene Robinson. And I remember watching him. And I'm like, this Ivy League guy. You could tell first practice, you're like, who is that out of Colgate? And he was blowing people.

You're not supposed to really crush your teammates. So I always love going. If you go to a training camp and you're really a diehard fan, you're going to see an undrafted free agent do some. You know, half this league is undrafted free agents. Yeah. It is pretty interesting when you go to a camp. You know, you can kind of play scout.

And you see guys and you're like, who's this like seventh round wide receiver from Louisiana Tech? And he's beating your top corner on route. When I say the name Steve Largent, what's the first thing that comes to mind? And I know the audience is going to agree with me. I don't know what you'll say. Well, number 80, I always remember how much trouble he gave the great Lester Hayes with the Raiders. He gave the Raiders, great teams and great secondaries, fits. Yeah.

What do you remember? The face mask. He did not have like the current face mask. You know, everybody has like a lot. He had just one. And I was like, whoa, that's pretty tough. Steve Largent went to, where did he go? Is it Tulsa or something?

He, he got him in a, he was, I think he was with like Houston. And the Seahawks were an expansion team. And they got him in some deal. I swear it was from the Oilers. He was great. It was great. First game for best hands in football. And for some reason, those bad Seahog teams gave great Raider teams fit.

And Largent gave Lester Hay. Dave Craig? That was post Jim Zorn. But they had Sherman Smith. Not much on the defensive side. Remember Tampa Bay and Seattle came out, same 76-77. Tampa had all good defense. A great defense, Selman.

Leroy Selman. The Seahawks had a terrible defense. It was all offense. But it was left-handed Jim Zorn. It was fast. I mean, we lost a lot of shootouts. But the Seahawks were wildly if the Kingdom was packed. The Huskies were big, but the Seahawks very quickly became the game in town.

Let's see. Largent went to Tulsa. I was right. And he was drafted by the Oilers, but traded to Seattle after the preseason. So I was right on that. And he was, I mean, game one, it felt like it was like Jim Zorn number 10, the left-hander. from like Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or something to Steve Largent. And they were immediately an elite combo in the league.

Like an expansion team. I'm going 70s rain, man. Yes, you are. And I'm starting about Tulsa. Well, it is an all-star baseball week, right? So this is like the time when you're going to turn back the clock to your 70s nostalgia. Why can't have a little fun? You can.

Be sure to catch live editions of the. The HARD weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, gang, this is Jay Glazer, host of Unbreakable, a mental wealth podcast, and every week we will have on leaders from sports entertainment like Sean McVeigh, Lindsay Vaughn, Michael Phelps, David Spade, Guy Fiami, and also those who can help us in between the ears, anyone from a therapist to someone like Ed Milet or John Gordon. We've all been through some sort of.

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Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves,

I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense.

And when IT's friends stop by like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick.

Oh, yeah. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcast presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne.

Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. Now a redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips, wider. This is a podcast.

We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. With all the snacks and drinks. Sidebar. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they had a bogo. Well, then you got it. Do you want a white collar or something here? Just hit it.

Oh, what are y'all doing? Microphones? Are you making a rap album? Oh, I would. Come on. Could you imagine? I would buy. Cutts through the defense like a hot knife through sponge cake.

That sounds delicious. Oh, you're lucky I'm not a drug addict. You're lucky I'm not an alcoholic. You're lucky I'm not a killer. I love this team and I'm really trying to be a figure in their lives that they can rely on. Oh. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. By the way, Seattle peeps correcting me, I stand corrected.

Zorn and Largent played together for four or five years, but Dave Craig actually played with him longer. So I thought it was, my memory is it was so much about Jim Zorn, because that's kind of 76, 77, 78, 78, 79 when the Seahawks break in. But he actually played longer was Dave Craig. Not that anybody beyond me and my Seattle friends care. J. Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. is the herd line news.

All right, let's go back to Caitlin Clark. The fever we're playing the Minnesota Links yesterday. Actually, good game. Tied with like four minutes left. I turned it on. A good drama there at the end. But the Minnesota Links coach is Cheryl Reeve. She also coaches Team USA.

She was asked about Caitlin's future on the national team. Reeve, who's very ornery and not happy with the question. Why the hell would I answer a national team question? she said. I'm wearing links and I'm the head coach of the national team but I'm not the chair of the committee. Anybody want to venture into anything else? Ooh, feisty.

What is that about? I mean, I'm not being harsh here to Cheryl Reeve, whoever that is. But had you heard her name before, I don't know, like two weeks ago, two months ago? Before Caitlin Clark came one. No, we know who she was. And now she doesn't want questions about Caitlin Clark when

that's all anybody's talking about in the league. Why is it so hard? I just think women's basketball as a whole is not still, they're still bailing water on Caitlin. Why? Well, it's just, so I have a theory on this. Let's hear it. There are certain sports that are very insular because they feel ignored.

Soccer fan. Soccer fans, you need to pass code to be able to talk soccer with all the nerds. Because they've been ignored. And they've never won as much as they keep telling everybody they're going to win. So they're very prickly, very insular. You don't know it like we know it. NFL fans, nobody cares. Join the party.

Join my tailgate. Here's a bourbon on the rocks. Nobody cares. They're secure with themselves. Same with NBA fans. You want to talk hoops? Let's talk hoops. College football fans, same thing.

Come one, come on. But soccer fans and women's basketball fans, WNBA and women's basketball, they feel ignored. So therefore, they get very tribal. very insular, we know better than you. That's very soccer fan. By the way, you get less of that with the United States women's national soccer team because they've been successful.

They're more secure with themselves. Their revenue drivers, their ratings drivers. So the women's soccer fans are much more secure in themselves than the United States men's national team fans. Because more successful people tend to be a tad more secure. But I find that women's basketball is very precious, very rigid, very insular, very defensive on Caitlin Clark, because they've been ignored, and you can't just jump into our sport and have a big opinion or ask tough questions,

and it's aggravating. I think it's a great theory. I think it's dumb, not calling your theory dumb, but it's just that idea to me is stupid. I saw Stadden. The last 16 years, the WNBA did not have one game with a TV audience of 1 million. Not one in 16 years. Every game for Caitlin Clark this season, except for one, has had over a million. Yes.

What does that tell you? Well, again, it's a psychology is that if you'd been ignored, okay, I'll give me an example. Let's say you go to high school and your growth spurt is later and you don't, you know, you're not, you're not very cool. And you ask a lot of girls out and they all say no. They all reject me. Okay. And then all of a sudden you get a big job and you, you know. Now the ladies want to come talk to J-Mack.

And J-Mack's like, talk to the hand. I think there's a lot of that with soccer fans in America, not women's fans, because they've been successful forever. Men soccer fans, they get so precious, will tell you who we should have as a coach.

Yeah, Berhalter won almost 70% of his games and got us to the round of 16 in the World Cup with the second youngest team. I don't think he's as clueless as you, Beckett. Do you remember the movie Teen Wolf from Michael J. Fox was kind of a nerd, and then he started to a world. and he's dominating and all of a sudden like the hot girl in school he wants him.

And he's like, oh, hey, hey, hey, but then his ride or die who would like him when he was a nobody, kind of he pushed her to the side and it, I don't want to give a spoiler on a 1985 movie. But that's kind of what you're saying, right? It's like they've been ignored for a while and now that they're getting attention. They don't want anybody's advice. No, thank you. No, they don't want anybody's advice. Take mine.

You whiffed on Caitlin Clark being denied the Olympics the first time. Don't double down on that. get her on the team for no other reason than to give free marketing and publicity to the other young women so they can get shoe deals. And we can fall in love with all these players. This is a moment in time. It's not selfish. Caitlin Clark doesn't have to play. She's going to triple the ratings and give the entire sport.

And these young women shoe companies are like, oh, she's fun. Like so much of this is introductory. We have not watched women's basketball to this extent. Like professional women's basketball, we have. I went to a WNBA game this season, and I voted for the All-Star Game. I'd never done either of those in my life. Those are both Caitlin Clark impacted. You went online.

Yeah, I voted. I voted for the WNBA All-Star game. I know that's like, dude, what's wrong with you? I think it's great. But it was like out there, and did you see the numbers? Like last year, like the number one vote getter had like 96,000 votes. Caleb Clark had like 702,000 votes leading the vote. kidding. It's crazy.

Anyways, let's move on to Jalen Brown and the Olympic team. Colin, I think this is a spicy story with potential down-the-road issues for Boston. But Brown made it clear that he was unhappy about not being asked to take Kauai's spot on Team USA. Spot went to his teammate Derek White. Instead, there still may be a chance, however, to see Brown in Paris. KD. has been dealing with a cap strain, has not played. And while Steve Kerr said he's not concerned, Brown could reportedly resurface as an option. if KD needs to be replaced.

Now, wouldn't it be something if Jaylen Brown was like, oh, now you want me? I'm all good. No thanks. But you think Brown would take KD's spot? Well, I... There's an argument that Kauai and KD shouldn't have been on the team anyway. You put LeBron and Steph on

because they're both still playing at a high level and both were very, you know, available last year. I never thought Kauai should have been on the team. Kevin Durant to me was go either way on it. I'd probably take a younger guy, but KD is great. He's a great Olympia. Like, he was phenomenal at the time he's playing. No, no.

Katie's great. I'm not anti-K-D. But I, the whole Jalen Brown situation is very weird. It's just odd. It's not great. Now, let me give you an outside-the-box. What if they go to the high school kid, Cooper Flag, and say, dude, we saw you go toe-to-to-to with our guys. I'm sure you saw a highlight.

And not give Jalen Brown the call? Well, listen, Cooper Flag is unfriken-belie-belie-I- know. He's only 17. But he's not as good as Jay-to-T-old. No, he's not. But Jaylen Brown was the finals MVP. And what if he's chained to the end of the bench and Jason Tatum is a six man? And now Brown's not playing. Is that going to look weird? I think it's interesting. I'm not opposed to it. Cooper Flag would just be happy to be there like Christian Leitner was back in the day. I think it'd be interesting.

People forget that Christian Leitner actually in the NBA could score. He didn't have the career you thought, but he could score. Yeah, it was a double double for like five years or something. Yeah. Yeah. He was a double. Oh, he was a bus. Not really? He could play. It's been like 10 years in the NBA. I know. Give me a break. Final story is Vikings' wide receiver Jordan Addison arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in L.A. on Friday. His car was blocking a lane and he was found asleep behind the wheel. According to the police report, Vikings released a statement saying they're aware and are gathering more information on the incident. Not a good look, especially given what happened with that organization recently.

Yeah, and it's also called Uber and Lyft. to get on those things. I was driving them all weekend. It's available. It's on your phone. It costs $22. J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'll say it. 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds.

Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. and finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series

because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's first, friends stop by like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing.

That man, hell get the flying. He run up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball like, after you go through a training camp with that Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcast presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne.

This is my best friend Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. Now a redacted amount of years later. We're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips, wider. This is a podcast.

We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. With all the snacks and drinks. Sidebar. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they had a bogo. Well, then you got it. Do you want a white collar or something here? Just hit it.

Oh, what are y'all doing? Microphones? Are you making a rap album? Oh, I wish. Could you believe? I would buy it. Cuts through the defense like a hot knife through sponge cake. That sounds delicious.

Oh, you're lucky. I'm not a drug addict. You're lucky I'm not an alcoholic. You're lucky I'm not a killer. I love this team and I'm really trying to be a figure in their lives that they can rely on. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know, watching Messy yesterday go down with an injury. that we have a little bit of a messy in our country's sports history.

It would be called John Elway. So John Elway and Messi were like literally prodigies in high school. From a very early age, they were considered potentially the best ever. And so Elway won an MVP. He got to three Super Bowls, but he didn't really have the team around him. He got crushed. And it was like, you know, what is John? He had all these fourth quarter comebacks.

He was wildly dramatic. He had sort of a cowboy feel to him. Like he was a hero in so many of these games, but he could just never win Super Bowls. Then he got Terrell Davis. He got better teams around him. As he aged, he was still very good, wins his Super Bowl last year and retires. He was still good, not as good. He didn't carry the teams like he had earlier, but it really capped off perfectly this prodigy's career.

Well, Messi's the same thing, is that Messi came out. You know, he's 14, 15 years old, and people are like, this is it. This is Pele. This is that level of. player. And he, you know, he had lost in World Cup finals. And it, you know, sometimes did he have the right components around him? And now, now a couple of Copas, the World Cup, like Elway, he's banged up, doesn't quite appear to be what he once was, but he's got better teams around him. And now Argentina is finally winning when he is part of a greater collective. And that was where it was

with Elway. John carried good teams. A lot of the talent was on defense. offense. It wasn't until he got like a Hall of Fame running back and the right coach. And John then later in his career wasn't as dominant, but he won his championships. And it feels a little bit like that for Messi, the prodigy into the great disappointment and individual success into finally having better teammates, a better team, and then capping off his career the way Elway does at the top. I tend to think he's not retired and he'll come back. but if he did retire, what a run it's been in recent memory for Argentina. Argentina, to me, Argentina and Brazil, when I think of global soccer, those are the two

strongest brands. Brazil has had, you know, not beyond Pele, crazy skill level for players. Some of the most wildly dynamic players ever. And Argentina is like 1A. and just a rich history. And I mean, when in Argentina, you were talking about this earlier, for these countries, I mean, it just, you know, in America, we're so lucky. We have this labyrinth of college teams.

A lot of people don't even watch the NFL. They're college fans. They don't have that in Europe. They don't have that in other countries. A lot of people, you know, you go to college at Michigan, you're a Wolverine before you're a Detroit Lions fan or a Detroit Tiger fan. I have friends who are college football fans. They watch all day Saturday, and they'll watch a couple TV games maybe on a Sunday.

But, you know, for a lot of these countries, this is it. And I could see, you know, Messi's made a lot of money. Elway and Messi will make money for the rest of his career. This would be a way to end on top. This would be a way like John. I remember when John Elway retired thinking he's still really good. He wasn't as dominant. he'd had a few injuries.

He was a little creakier, but it was like, you know, John was like, yeah, I've got my health. Stanford, you know, then he went into car dealerships and, you know, eventually got into the front office. But it would be, I mean, if you were his agent, forget the money part, if you were Messi's agent, aren't you more of a legend leaving after all these championships, the World Cup, the Copas? Yeah, he could leave Argentina and still play in the MLS. It is a weird time, though. you're right. Elway walked away wisely at the top, but it's like LeBron's hanging on. When's he going to hang? When's it going to be the end for LeBron?

LeBron's a little like Elway. He's not as great as he was. But in any moment, Elway in his last year, in any second half or fourth quarter, he'd give you a nine play drive to win it. And you'd be like, that's Elway. Like Brady at the end, you know, even his last year, you're like, two minutes left. Tom gets the ball. He's driving down the feet. They're good. He just didn't want all the workouts and the training and the You know, at some point that same with Elway. Most of these guys like, Messi, I want to play the games. I don't want all the tune up for it. We're kind of at the end of the major social media superstar era.

Messi, Rinaldo's near the end, LeBron, Curry, even Kevin Durant is like kind of sort of. I mean, he's just not the same dude he was in the playoffs, right? He's not winning anything. It's just a weird time right now because social media pop with all those dudes. And now here we are 15 years later. It's like, oh, wow, they're all kind of getting near the end. Yeah. I was just watching some of the USA Australia game. Our players are really good. Yeah, we're stacked. Yeah, come on. And, you know, I was watching for about two minutes. I hope everybody appreciate. I am always willing to pivot on a player.

And Anthony Davis, in the last year and a half to two years, has been so good. We were trying to run him out of town, weren't you? I think he was never healthy. He didn't play. through injuries. He wasn't in good shape. Only big trade chip they have. Austin is a smaller way. I'm not moving AD now. Boy, he is. I'm watching some of these highlights. I'm watching it here in the back. Anthony's good.

Joel Embedd's kind of finding his foot. He's not off to a great start with this team. But I would take AD today over Embed. And I know all the analytic people say I'm wrong. I would take AD over Embed. Yeah, it's weird. The analytic guys love Joel Embed. I know. He scores a point minute. I will say this. Anthony Davis knows what he's not.

M. B. doesn't. M. M. M. Mbid can get in the way to your perimeter game. Anthony Davis, they tried to force him outside to shoot three. He's like, I'm getting closer to the 10. And the last, I mean, I thought he was the best defensive player in the league. Anthony Davis has spent more time in the weight room. He was bigger and stronger this year.

By the way, didn't get hurt this year. I think he played 72 games. I would take, I know it's, I know analytic people don't. I would, A.D. knows what he is and he knows what he's not. M.B. kind of thinks he's everything. And sometimes he gets in the way of the offense. I know it sounds weird for,

all his points, but it does. 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. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast, Point Game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments.

If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that Game 7, Mark keep coming to him. He's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs.

This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcasts. American Soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramos sending on the Ernie Stewart. The chip. Score!

I'm Tab Ramos. I'm Tom Boca. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines, the biggest decisions, and the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals

or potentially a great run into the semifinals. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me, or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure.

sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.