The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 3 - Durant, Warriors-Celtics

Episode Date: June 1, 2022

Kevin Durant wasn't wrong for taking the "easier" path The advantages that the Warriors and the Celtics have going into the NBA Finals Guest: Mario CristobalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but the show. celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what

went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 iHeart Radio app by searching Herd. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Sports Radio. Ah, here we go. Live in L.A. It's the Hurt. Wherever you may be, third hour. However you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. Joy Taylor's joining me.

Miami Hurricane Head Coach Mario Cristobald's coming up. So we were talking about this, Joy and I during the break. So I think I'm a hypocrite. If I rip K.D. For leaving the Warriors' Great Culture, but I don't give him credit for picking the Warriors' great culture. And we talked about this. If you look at all the, I'm not really a jealous person or an envious person, but I can remember going to college.

Senior year of high school, I went to boys stayed, and then I went to college, and being envious of kids who had it easier than me. Now, I think that struggle helped me, but in the moment, you know, parents divorced, I mean, no money, working in college, constantly broke, car breaking down. It's hard. My first couple years out of college in Vegas is hard. And there are times I just thought, I just, I wish it was easier. Now, that's created something in me that has benefited me. Although there's no proof that if I'd have had it a little easier, I wouldn't be doing the show.

We don't know that either. And so, you know, this idea that you had it tougher than me and I had it tougher than you, in life, there's nothing wrong with choosing a path which appears to be a little smoother. For the record, when LeBron chose Miami, well, LeBron knows it's much easier to get players around the NBA to Miami than Cleveland. He was tired. Pat Riley has a better history than the Cavaliers and picking players.

By the way, LeBron also recruited Bosch. Can you go down there? LeBron didn't want to go down there just with D. Wade. He wanted two All-Stars because he'd played in the Olympics. He saw what it was like to play with highly functioning, great players. like I got none of those in Cleveland. I'm going to go to Miami. So LeBron chose the easier path.

The idea, by the way, all you fans love it are Ohio State Buckeye fans. Don't kids go to Ohio State because they're going to win immediately? They don't go to Purdue. They're not going to Maryland. They choose Ohio State because the facilities, the history, the players around you, it's a winning culture. It's easier than going to Maryland and be in the top 10 pick. So just look in your life.

Don't you celebrate kids who choose your favorite alma mater or college team if it's a powerhouse? Because it's easier. It's easier to go to Kentucky. It's packed. They got big money. You're going to play with great players. It's easier than going to Arizona State basketball than it would be Kentucky basketball. Now, what you make of it is up to you.

But this idea that, I mean, I think it's easier to recruit players to USC in Los Angeles than convince them to move to Oklahoma if they're from Texas. Lincoln Riley moved out here. Maybe a little easier to get. I mean, God, you've seen they've turned the program around in 15 minutes. So it's like easy is not always wrong. And by the way, when I say easy, I mean easier. It's easier for these players.

It wasn't like winning those titles in Golden State was just, you know, that easy. Houston at one point in October. The second year, they were losing playoff games and weren't quite the same team. So you have to manage different things when, you're, you know, you think it's easier. But when it's easier, like KD to the Warriors, expectations get ramped up. And you've got to win. How much heat did LeBron get in Miami the first year they lost?

He got crushed. So there's a different set of expectations when you go the easier route, which is you better win now. And too often I hear people arguing for, my path was tougher than yours. It's a struggle competition. It's a struggle competition. And my takeaway is, I'm. raising my kids. I think every generation's got a slightly easier life. My kids don't have to worry

like I did about figuring out a way to make money to eat lunch at college. They're not going to have to worry about that. I'm working hard every day so they don't have to worry about that. I want my kids' life to be a little easier. Whether it's better is up to them. But I'd like their path to not have as much turbulence as my college path had where I was moving all over the place, couldn't afford anything. I don't feel guilty at all about that. Look, we could spend hours talking about this concept of struggle competition, and I find like it's a colossal waste of everyone's time.

LeBron spent seven years in Cleveland, Ohio with the Cavaliers. He doesn't deserve to make a choice to go to Miami and play with good players with an organization that's won a championship. He didn't earn that. He didn't earn that. He spent seven years in Cleveland. He earned the right to be able to do that. The greatest player of our generation, right, this version of basketball that we're watching,

didn't earn the right after seven years. Seven years is a long time. I haven't even been in LA seven years. Seven years. You didn't have the right to do that. Durant was in Oklahoma City with Seattle for nine years before he went to Golden State. Went Orlando to L.A. Why?

It was easier. When do you get to make a decision that's good for you before being called a sellout? It's not like they just came in the league after one year and we're like, nope, I want to go to the best place. They earned the right to make those decisions. Also, Kevin Durant had been in the league. I always said this. I felt this. He gets drafted by Seattle.

The owner of Seattle says, I'm not moving. And they move it. So he saw no loyalty from the owner of the Sonics. No loyalty. Well, there is no loyalty in professional sports. It's not what this is about. It's a business. His first coach got fired who he liked.

So he saw no loyalty from his front office to the coach. James Hardin got traded. He saw no loyalty. loyalty to the player. So he saw no loyalty by an owner, no loyalty by a GM. You know who else he would get no loyalty to if he stayed in that situation and didn't win a championship in his entire career? The media and fans, because they would say he wasn't an all-time great because he didn't win a championship. I am for player empowerment. I just think Katie got a lot of heat for going to the Warriors. And I think, listen,

there's a reason high school kids want to go to great universities with great coaches. You know what? You should have all the choices in the world and pick the one that's the hardest. And then everyone will respect it. Mario Cristobal, Joy Taylor is our new guest booker on the show. She got Mario Cristobal on the show, the former Oregon coach, and Mario, the new coach of the Canes. You know, it's funny, you're the coach of Miami, and you just look right in that shirt. You look like the coach of Miami. This is where you should be.

But I will say, you had built something special at Oregon. I mean, I covered them for years and years, Mario, and I think people think, oh, it's easy. You left friends, you left relationships. Were there nights in this transition that were not easy for you moving to Miami? Well, I don't think any move is ever easy, and especially when your kids are 10 and 12, and they have their friends, and they've been playing on the same football teams and basketball teams. And really, you were just about to hit what's supposed to be your best years after, you know, your classes are not going to be juniors and seniors and maybe fifth year guys.

So it's difficult leaving situations like that, but I played at Miami. I was born and raised in Miami. My entire existence has taken place over here. And I think we all know how different and special Miami is when Miami is on. So this is the right choice for myself, my family. And I think I also owe it to this city and this community. Is building Oregon different than building Miami? Are there similarities or real differences?

Like, you don't have to leave the state as much. I know that to get players. I mean, there's always a similarity. are some similarities, I should say, when you're building or rebuilding a program. When we arrived at Oregon, we were four and eight, okay? Arriving over here, Miami's previous season was seven and five. Geographically, it's a whole different animal. Accessibility as well, and it's two different, again, almost stratosphere is because you're looking at public school versus private school, really nice facilities. We're about to get nice facilities. Those are the similarities,

but the region, like you mentioned, there's a ton of football and population density on this side of the country with football players is amazing. And access to that is something that is, well, let's just say there's a reason why the entire country comes down to this part to recruit and fill their rosters. You know, I'm a big fan of the transfer portal, although I would for the integrity of college football's regular season. Labor Day to the end of the regular season, I don't think you should be able to. transfer. By the way, there's a trade deadline in the NFL. So I'm for players moving and having power. Coaches do. Administrators do. I think players should move. Just let's have some integrity.

Also, I'm for the NIL. But again, I don't, I think you should have to be on a campus before you get paid. I don't want to be bidding for high school players. I think that's kind of gross. That's not what it was intended to be. But the NIL is freaking a lot of people out. And the transfer portal is, but I would argue, you'll be able to build your program much faster with his transfer portal than maybe Sabin could at Alabama. He lost a Louisiana Monroe's first year. It took him like three years. So is there anything about the NIL though?

Because you're a great recruiter. Is there anything about it right now that worries you where you really think it needs guardrails? I mean, I wish we all knew more about it to talk about what it really needs, right? I mean, we're in a great situation because Miami is a situation. city that's ascending, right? University of Miami and our program is also ascending. There's a lot of unknowns. It's caused a lot of friction, uncertainty, but it's also created a lot of opportunities. So what's that next step? What are the answers? Well, I think everybody

wants to know. Everybody wants to maximize its potential. And there's the fear of the unknown of what are the ramifications, what comes with this that we haven't experienced yet. So I'm all for it like you. I think the transfer portal is a good thing. I think deadlines and the requirements are important as it relates to coaches as well. When guys can move on and when they are required to stay past a certain

date. So there's a lot of answers we don't have yet, but I was hoping you would have them on this. You know, Mario, there are, and I've said this for years, that it's not just that you win in Los Angeles. The Great Laker teams have also been a little, they've been

showtime. They've had a glamour to him. This is a very distracted market. Beaches, mountains, multiple pro teams. You got to have a little flair here. Sean McVeigh, Stafford. Los Angeles just isn't about winning. It's how you win. Miami feels that way to me is that I like how the dolphins have pivoted to an offensive franchise. They were with Marino. He rarely had a great defense. I feel like the Miami Hurricanes to win to really sell the program. I think a little Flash is fun. They feel like that as a program. I miss, I miss as a fan the Miami Hurricane Swagger. I really do. I think it's your brand. How do you balance that some of that high-end glamour and fun with the fact that that maybe not, maybe that's not your personality?

I mean, you're looking at a guy that walked into a locker room with, I see a couple of my former teammates bouncing around today with guys like Michael Irvin and Alonzo Highsmith and the Randall Thrill Hills of the world. that, you know, ran up the tunnel at the Cotton Bowl up against the University of Texas. It's, you know, the energy and passion at the University of Miami, it was never about the facilities here. Right. I mean, I hope people recognize that, right?

Remember, it was all about a brotherhood. People always wondered, why does Miami have so many people on the sideline? Why is there a sideline littered with NFL pro bowlers at every single game, every possible occasion? Why? Because it was almost like we took it personal, personally, that everyone else had so much of these nice facilities and these unbelievable amenities and we didn't so we're going to make up for that with hunger and drive and determination and go out and kick some butt so that's part

of it the second part is now we're getting those facilities now the resources are in place so i think that's a great combination you know so how do you balance that i think jimmy johnson was a master of that he knew how to instill discipline how to instill toughness and physicality but at the same time let the guys play right when it came down to kicking the ball off he let them cut it loose. Yeah. And they cut it loose with discipline, and they played at a really high level and set, you know, made history.

Yeah. So I want to ask you about a couple of players because you and Nick Saban are the only active head coaches in college football with a top 10 pick in three straight drafts. So you develop talent, you evaluate it at a high level. That's it. You and Nick. That's it. I want to ask you about Kvon Thibodeau.

Obviously, he's an electric dynamic player. Some have said he doesn't have the Chase Young presence. What's the selling point? How did you use him and how do you think he'll be as an NFL player? How would he be most effective as a pro? Well, I think he saw himself in the Coliseum a couple times, right? I mean, he was outstanding as a competitor, as a worker, and as a teammate. And everyone knew he was a natural pass rusher.

I mean, you have to have explosiveness, a quick first step, learning how to play with leverage, natural power. he has that, his ability to dissect, often to tackles or sets, understand the game itself. Like, when are you to the sword side, the zone side, when do you have the man side? One's a guy short setting you, one's he deep sending you, and once he's soft setting you. He understands the use of hands technique. And you know what? You combine all that with the fact that he knows and takes pride in playing the run and you have

yourself a complete player who has only played three years of college ball. And in reality, only two and a half because the pandemic year, right? You only play, what, six, seven games? And his last year to Oregon, due to his injury, only played five or six games. His best football is ahead of him. He's going to be a superstar. Your quarterback, Tyler Van Dyke, is, I saw him play two or three times last year. He's obviously an NFL quarterback.

Where can he get better? Where can you take him? He is an incredible, I mean, an exceptional leader. He's a relentless pursuit of excellence guy. And his decision-making is on point, his accuracy. his arm strength. He understands protections, the run game. He is a complete player.

He really is, and he's very mobile. His pocket presence is off the charts. He understands defense as well as anybody I've been around. He reminds me a lot of what we had at Oregon and Justin Herbert a few years back. And again, he only played, I believe, in seven, eight games last year. And you saw how Miami's offense just really took a huge upturn, you know, uptick when he was in there. So we think he's going to be one of the best players in the country right now. He's done a great job in the off-season with our team.

Certainly in spring practice, he was off the charts as a competitor and as a leader. So big things expect of Taliban. Did you know when you watch Herbert now, you obviously knew he was talented. Joey and I said there was a lot of doubts about him. And we watched the Rose Bowl, because I watched a lot of Oregon games because I covered him. And we watched the Rose Bowl. And that Wisconsin defense was good.

And he made linebackers in open field miss completely. I'm like, we don't get the questions. When was the moment with Justin, you were like, wow, this kid is, because you had him, you saw all the growth. Oh, upon arrival. I mean, actually on the way there on the iPad, just watching him and watching the armed talent, and then getting to know him, you know, over at our time at Oregon, and watching him at practice, some of the things he would do was incredible. And a team that was growing, I think people don't give him enough credit for taking the range of a team that was starting to rebuild,

a team that had been four and eight, and then two years later, you're 12 and two, you win the conference and you win the Rose Bowl while the pieces are still coming along. While throwing for whatever he threw for, 34, 3,500 yards, and 29 plus touchdowns, very little interceptions. This guy, he showed it.

We really, really impressed upon every team that came around, he's the best we've ever been around, and the right team picked him for the right system with the right coach, the right players, and sky's the limit, man. And he's just getting started. So I always thought Jason Taylor, Joy's brother, was one of the nicest guys I ever work with. I mean, I always thought if I was that good looking, I'd be so obnoxious.

And yet he's like, I mean, so literally the guy like is a Neutrogena commercial. He's the best-looking human ever. And he was like the nicest guy. And I was always like, and he's just really a decent guy. So you brought him on the staff. And Joy here's blushing, of course. And Joy is one of the nicest people I've ever worked with. But I love the fact that you're, and this is what Pete Carroll did at USC.

he brought the family back. He brought everybody back. And tell me a little bit about Jason Taylor because I know what a good duty is, Joy obviously does. And just what he brings to the program and what kind of guy is. You're right. You know, we were going to have a women's coaching clinic. We had a cancel due to just overflow of application. People want to come see Jason Taylor.

So the best way to describe Jason Taylor and everyone in the building will echo this is I've never seen a guy. that who wears a gold jacket really has nothing to prove, has done it all up until this point of his life, but yet he shows up every single day as if he has everything to prove. I was blown away, and everyone is by the fact that he's even a better person than he was a player. That's hard to imagine. Just the ability to connect, communicate, inspire, teach, unbelievable knowledge. I mean, his impact has been felt immediately by everyone. one in the building. People gravitate to him.

And he's a special, special human being. Finally, you know, I was thinking about this. So you won coach the year in the PAC 12 and 2019, obviously had great success. But I hear coaches sometimes, you know, coaches move in their second job and third job. And they, you know, they learn things. If I said, Mario Cristobal today is coaching against Mario Cristobal first year at Oregon. where have you made the biggest leap that Miami will benefit from? Where have you made your big leap as a coach?

You know, I think the things that Jimmy Johnson, I'll even go further back, Dennis Lovell, my high school coach, except that he reinforced. Back then was reinforced here at the University of Miami. It was reinforced coaching for Nick Saban at Alabama was that at the heart of all of it, it's connection and relationships.

Combined with intensity and passion, You know, and we pour an insane amount of time with this stuff. And as years go on, any time you stray from those principles and values that you know are true to being successful and winning, not only on the field, but in developing these young men for that next step in life, we are their last pit stop, right? After this, it's the real world. Tough job market, relentless, right? Unforgiving economy. to never, ever stray from those principles and values. And when you, if you could coach against yourself,

and if I could coach against myself, I'd always say, don't ever, ever, stray from the principles of emphasizing discipline, physicality, culture, relentless effort. Because with those things, if you stick to those principles, you emphasize those things, and you make sure that how you do anything is how you do everything and that is your culture always to every single person in the building you're going to do

well Mario Cristobald well joy uh listen she's going to get real obnoxious if you guys start winning 10 11 games i'm going to have a lot to deal with maria i'll tell you that right now but i am i love i've said it multiple times the sport needs miami they feel different than every other program uh they are just polarizing and fun and full of personality and i appreciate you taking time wish of the best of luck. You're not going to need luck because you're going to get good real fast. And thanks. I really appreciate you stopping by. Appreciate you. Joy, thank you very much for having me. Go Keynes. It's going to be so much fun. It really is. They are one of those things. We've said this.

Yankees. Yankees wins better for baseball. It's just good. Cubs win, I think, is better for baseball. You don't have to win World Series, but be viable. I think when the Raiders win, they're a fun brand. Miami football, it gets the East Coast. So many people in Miami are from New York. They're from Philly. So you get the Northeast crowd, a lot of them, you'd be amazed how many people that go to Miami are from New York. You kind of get New York. No, Miami will definitely tell you. There's more New Yorkers there now than ever.

So when the canes are good, you'll see New York TV ratings for college football go up. We need New York to care a little bit about college football a little. They're not going to, they'll always love the Mets and the NFL and the Yankees. But when Miami's rolling, New York is engaged on the sport a little bit. And that's important. Well, yeah, it's important to have it not be such a region. sport. That's why it's become a little difficult when you have the same four teams when the championship are being competitive every year. You got to spread it out. You have to have the West

Coast, Los Angeles, Miami, and those two brands that have, you know, historical significance to the sport. If you told me, let's just take a number five, five teams have to be great in college football. The five I would pick is Denver West, USC one. Because when USC is, rolling. When Oregon's rolling, they can win a bunch of games. When USC is rolling, they win national title. So I would say, USC, I'll start west, not in any order. USC, I would say Texas, because, first of all, it's the second biggest economy in the country, the brand of Texas. Texas is cool. USC is cool. I would say, not in order. Three Miami, let's get it again, like USC. it feels more big city, I would say Notre Dame, it's got the biggest sidewalk alumni in the country.

So a lot of people that didn't go to Notre Dame, route for Notre Dame. So those four is where I start. A West Coast power, Miami, Texas, Notre Dame. Now, it's hard for me. I can't, I think we think now Alabama, let's just throw Alabama in. That's good. And then I have to choose between Michigan and Ohio State, which I. I'm supposed to say Michigan and Ohio State are going on.

And I will say this. I think both matter. Yeah, I do too. I can't pick one without the other. I can't. They're really, I grew up more of a Michigan fan than Ohio State because I saw them live in the Rolls Bowl a couple of times. So how many is that? Michigan, Ohio State.

That's six. That's six. And I would say somebody in the SEC, I do think Bama's brand is bigger than everybody, so let's just take Alabama. Yeah, I think it's just Alabama. Just Alabama. That matters that much. Yeah. If those six, and it's almost never happened, almost never happened.

those six are great and battling for titles. The sport's in really good shape. And right now, USC hasn't, Miami hasn't. Texas has those three of the six have been, and Notre Dame's darn good. But USC, Texas, and Miami have just recently taken big aggressive swings. New coaches that can recruit. Very, very exciting.

Very, very exciting. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, untoward. filtered 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 Clivert 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. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot. or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two.

Listen to Stuff to Bole Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Good stuff today.

I watched four innings of the Yankees Angels yesterday. I watched two baseball games. I watched Argo. I watched 15 minutes of hockey. There was like 15 goals. I watched it for 15 minutes. I got two goals. And then I watched Argo last night.

I came out so energized when I woke up this morning. My head filled with so much drama and baseball and hockey and Argo. And I'm here. I could not believe this morning in our makeup hair room. I mentioned Argo. And one of the people in our makeup room had not seen it. It would one best picture. Oh, we talked about Top Gun yesterday.

I would acknowledge that Argo is significantly better than Top Gun, which I haven't seen Top Gun too yet. Now, that I would acknowledge. Forrest Gump and Top Gun to me are much closer. A lot of people feel that the new Top Gun is better than the first Top Gun. Now, there are some people that have said what you said, that there's some cringy moments with dialogue. Well, look, if you're going to Top Gun because you take yourself seriously, find better things to do with your time.

It's not a good use of your time. Yeah. It's very alpha. I mean, it's fun. You hate fun. Don't go see Top Gun. There you go. Yeah.

And there's one time I remember I was on a plane and there was some Hollywood guy there. Hollywood takes itself very seriously, very seriously. And he said, oh, we just started talking movies. I said, you know, I saw one recently Shawshank Redemption. That's a top tenor for me. And he goes, oh, it was so simplistic. And I'm like, I don't go to movies to figure out math equations. Entertain me, which is, by the way, become increasingly a problem in Hollywood.

They're making movies for themselves, not for us, the consumer. Yeah, I mean, it needs to be entertaining. That's why Top Gunn is so awesome and the, you know, the money reflected it. How much it make? A lot. I think it was one of the biggest Memorial Day weekend openings ever. 150 something maybe. Lots of millions.

Joy Taylor with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, the Texans traded the Sean Watson to the Browns this offseason. And despite being one of the better quarterbacks in the league, new head coach, Lovie Smith, said it was definitely the right move. Sometimes divorce is good. And that's my statement that I've made a lot of times when, you know,

split's going to happen and both parties are going to win once it does. Again, I don't know exactly what all happened. The accusations are there. And if they have merit, that will all come out in time. But for our football team, we need it to move on. Yeah, he's right. I don't know what the Texans are going to be this year. And they're not going to be particularly interesting.

but they couldn't continue on in the situation that they were in with Deshaun Watson. He didn't want to play there. And quite frankly, other than the Browns, I don't know why you would want a player that has 23 open civil sexual harassment lawsuits. And the other thing is, Deshaun appears to be very rigid on not willing to kind of clean up the situation financially. Well, yesterday there were 22 cases. Yesterday a 23rd civil case was brought against Watson.

It's been reported by radio host and attorney Mike Meltzer that the latest lawsuit against Watson has a footnote that makes the claim that Watson has been willing to settle because I was under the understanding up until this point that he didn't want to settle. Because again, this is not a class action lawsuit. While they are represented by one lawyer, each lawsuit is its own lawsuit, which means you have to go to court for each individual person. A class action suit means that all the plaintiffs are in one suit. That's not the case. So he said, of course, we now know that Deshaun Watson offered each plaintiff $100,000 to settle their cases, but not all would accept that amount due to the aggressive non-disclosure agreement that Watson's team proposed. So basically Watson's team said, well, give you 100 grand, but you can't say anything that ever happened.

You can never talk about it. And they said, no, I want to talk about it. Which is generally what happens in cases like this. There is some sort of non-disclosure that you can't go. on and write a book or I didn't know that show or anything like that. No, this is new. If that turns out, I mean, it was in

the end of the lawsuit. I just think to me, even if you're allowed to play, do you want 20 cases hanging over you? I mean, if I'm an owner, I don't want any part of it. And now you're seeing a 23rd person has joined into these civil cases.

Who knows if there'll be more? And who knows what else is going to come out? Like, when there is this amount of involved in a situation. There is some level of recklessness associated with, right? I feel that that's fair to say. So the NFL is still doing their investigation, but as Peter King said earlier, they could suspend him and then still reserve the right to suspend him again after these civil cases are finished because they're not going to be done by the time of the league year starts.

So it's just a mess. But from Houston's perspective, Lavi's right. It needed to happen. Whether you're losing the talent or not, there was too much toxicity around the situation to begin with. And they have to rebuild and move forward. So the Celtics are back in the finals for the first time in more than a decade. But first year coach Imaudoka said the team isn't intimidated by the Warriors finals experience. We know what's in front of us. We know what we're here to play for.

And I don't think any of our guys are odd or, you know, intimidated by the moment at all. And so we understand what it is. We know the opponent in front of us. And for us, as always this year, It's been business as usual going on the road, not phased by that at all. And so we're really looking forward to it. So not a lot of anxiousness and nervousness. And we have this time that we'll take advantage of as far as rest and preparation and be ready to go by game.

The Warriors players have a combined 123 finals games. No Celtics players have appeared in a finals game. So now, now let's note this, though, the Warriors first title, they had significantly less experience than the team they beat. So experience is, it's just so lobsided, but experience is not the end-all be-all. A lot can happen throughout the postseason. A lot can happen in the series. I do think that when it comes down to, when I look at the Celtics team and the way that they've gone through the postseason, people are talking about their game seven experiences as if that's more valuable than all of the finals experience that the Warriors have.

That's what's confusing to me. Like if you're going to put the positives on the Boston side of things that they've been in recently in game sevens, well, then you have to consider the overwhelming amount of experience that the Warriors have had in the finals. I think experience matters when it comes down to big moments, decision making, nerves, playing on the road. All of those things obviously matter. What it comes down to me for me with Boston is if you don't respect the heat at all, you've got to be terrified for Boston. Right?

I mean, the heat were hobbled. Kyle Lowry was all over the place. They didn't have Tyler Hero. Jimmy Butler's playing all the minutes. They're missing players. And Jimmy Butler had a chance to win the game at the end in Game 7. So if you think the heat are nonsense, how can you be confident in Boston at all? Now, I don't think this is going to be a short series.

I think it'll be competitive. I think Boston has great defense, which will matter. But the offensive side of things in the Heat Celtics series is what Murr, worried me for the heat. That is what worries me in this series with Golden State. What happens when I feel strongly about something, but everybody I respect feels the opposite side. Should I go with my gut or their gut? I always go with my gut. Okay, because I think the Warriors win game one and cover the spread. I love Boston in the first half to lead.

Yeah, you do love that. But they're favored by three and a half the Warriors are in game one. Yeah, so I would take the Warriors to win and cover. That's my bet. However, first half, I think Golden States had so much time off, and they're not a great first quarter team. Yeah, I think the first half under. Okay, you said the under. That may be the better bet because I've been told by two pros, take the Warriors, first half wins, almost like it'll be comfortable. And I just can't see Boston's first game in the finals melting. I think they're going to play great defense.

They did come out a few times with my. Sammy. And we're not great. Yeah, I don't. I'm going to do that. I think it's going to be a physical series. How about this? I'm going to check the under in the first half. I like that bet. Yeah, I like that too. So now I don't, not only don't, do I not believe me versus pros, I don't believe me versus you. So I literally have no conviction because I think the under is the bet. Because both teams have a time off. They'll be choppy. They'll just, it'll be inartistic first half. Wait, so you do, you do like the first half under. I do. I think that's good. Yeah, I like that too. That's probably a better bet than Celtics plus the points first half.

Because nobody I know likes that and people I trust that know a lot. I mean, it's just, I think it's risky to go with the Celtics when you haven't seen them in this position before. Yeah, you're probably right on that. But that's what gambling is. I'm a guy without conviction. That's been proven in this segment. Joy with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. Summer's here. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the I-Hard Radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Hey, what's up, everybody?

It's me, three-time Pro Bowl of LaVar Arrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game. What is Up on Game, you ask? Along with my fellow Pro Bowler, T.J. Hushman Zada and Super Bowl champion. Yep, that's right. Plexico Burris. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game.

We're going to be sharing our real-life experiences loaded with. with teachable moments. Listen to Up On Game with me, LeVar Arington, T.J. Hushmanzada, and Plexico Burris on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right

what you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember when Diana

Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George. George Bush got to do a little kill. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick you 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 all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When your car breaks down, you can count on CarShield. Lock it in today. Carsield.com slash herd. Get rid of your expensive repairs or call 800, 391, 888.

Save 10%. All right, Joy, our NBA finals face off. You give me a category, and I'll tell you who I prefer in this category. Here we go. Okay. Which team has the advantage in the points in the paint? Well, this is an easy one. This is the Celtics. No player for the Warriors averages more than seven points a game in the paint. Three different players for the Celtics do. They're a bigger team. They'll score more close to the basket hoops, Celtics. Which team is the better three-point shooting team? That's an easy one. The Golden State Warriors. By the way, the Celtics only ranked 12th in three-point percentage this season,

so they can be hot and cold. Jalen Brown, though, was really good so far in the playoffs beyond the arc. Which team has better creativity? Well, I think it's the Warriors. I don't think anybody looks like the Warriors. Their ball screens, their constant motion. Steph is the most fluid player in the league. That's why it's hard to defend.

them, they're hard to trap. They're hard to play for. There's nobody else. It's like almost when Lamar Jackson came in the league. How do you prepare for him? You have nobody on your roster during practice that can play like Lamar Jackson. There's nothing else like the Warriors in the league. I think they're very hard to prepare for.

Which team is the better perimeter defense? I think Boston just does not allow a lot of open threes. In fact, they allow the fewest, lowest three-point percentage in the league. They have the defensive player of the year. They also have a lot of versatility defensively. the Celtics. Which team has the better paint defense? That's the Celtics as well. They've got greater size. If Robert Williams is healthy and he isn't always healthy, they're going to shut down Golden State's offensive game overwhelmingly, so that's an easy one. Perimeter

defense, overall defense, defense in the paint, big lean Boston. Better coaching. Well, Golden State has been in this a lot. Cur is an underrated defensive coach. He just simply got more experience. So Steve's been around. Steve, you will show nothing to Steve he has not seen. Yeah. His experience is noteworthy. Better leadership. Well, I would say Golden State, the Celtics don't have a team captain. I mean, I'll be honest with you. There are times that I feel like Marcus Smart is the soul of the team. Whereas Steph and Draymond, Kerr, I kind of know where the leaders are. I don't with Boston. Tatum's the best player.

Is he verbal? He's not that verbal sometimes. Which team has better chemistry? Well, again, you're talking about who's played together longer. This is a slam dunk. This is just like who has the best interior defense, Boston. The better chemistry right now is Golden State. Their chemistry with KD was good, but it was prickly at times.

They've lost that prickly element with these three. Which team is more clutch? Well, let's just go to data. The Warriors average 11.5 clutch time points in the playoffs. Nobody's close to that. In fact, my concern about Boston is they're so good outside of clutch time. At times, they look really tight. The Warriors don't.

Which team has more depth? This is a weird one. Everybody keeps telling me, oh, Boston got a lot of depth. They played seven guys in the last two games against Miami, so they don't trust anybody beyond that. The Warriors, by far and away, have the best. bench scoring. I mean, pool averages over 17 off the bench. So I've heard a lot about the depth of Boston, but I can tell you this, Uma didn't trust the depth. He played seven guys in those last two games. And by the way, who you play in the last game or two of a series, you're telling me

who you trust. Well, your benches do get shorter as you go into the postseason. No, they should. Seven guys? Is nothing. All right. You're going to make Boston fans mad, I think. Which team has a better home court advantage. Well, the Warriors are 9 and 0 at home. Seltings that are 5 and 4. So, you know, it is interesting. Just visually, when you watch the Warriors, it feel, and I know this isn't true, it feels like the warrior crowd is on the floor. No, it does. I mean, you feel closer and the playoffs is more intensity. Like it feels very tight. But there's something about that particular building. you really feel like there's no room at all. Like they couldn't fit another person in that building.

And it's a young crowd because those tickets are expensive and Silicon Valley is unique that young people make a lot of money there. So the younger the crowd, the louder the crowd. And that warrior crowd for the expense of those tickets is a lot of kids. And they are lubricated before opening tip. There you go. Endless hot water that is easy on the environment. Go tankless with Navian, the leader in green technology.

You go to tankless, made simple.com, 15-year limited warranty, durable and efficient. And there we go. I was so nice to have Mario Cristobal on. You know, you and I both love college football. But as I've said this multiple times to my audience, there are things I watch but don't talk about because they just don't rate. And I'm sorry, but it matters in our business, right? Like if you worked in pharmaceutical sales, you got to push the stuff that sells. We talk a lot of football, college football, NBA.

but over the last seven, eight years, I have talked less college football, and I love it because it wasn't good for my business. I watch every segment. It really does matter who wins in college football. And Miami, Texas and USC. I know Ohio State and Michigan, Notre Dame will be fine. I know Bam will be fine.

Clemson will be fine. The sport so attendance is down seven straight years. Ratings are going down. Like for all the Southern fans who don't care about that, do you really care about the sport? And if you do, you'll want it to be vibrant and dynamic and have more games on. And so, yes, I want Miami. I'll be rooting for USC Miami and Texas this year.

I'm not rooting against Oklahoma because I think Oklahoma is going to beat Texas. But maybe a little bit. But the point is, if you love something, you know, you root for your kids, you root for your business, you root for your friends. You want it to thrive. I want college football to get less regional. I don't care if Alabama wins the national title. Yes, but everyone needs to be competitive. And it just hasn't been. His big brands need to be competitive.

We've had it. We've had about eight, ten years here where I kind of, I know who's going to play for the title. It's not good for the sports or the sport. All right. We'll see you tomorrow. Live in L.A., it's The Herd. 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 acapella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast. The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. On The Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down. and try to make sense of how we survived it with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.