The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 3 - Jeff Monken

Episode Date: December 23, 2021

In this hour of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Doug Gottlieb--in for Colin--welcomes Army head football coach Jeff Monken to the show to discuss rebuilding the program, how his team responded after the late-season loss to Navy, and the Black Knights' win over Missouri in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Plus, The Athletic's Laker insider Jovan Buha joins The Herd to explain what plans could be next for the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. Finally, Doug's "Best for Last!" Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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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, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes,

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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 year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians,

and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. 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 iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. We're listening to Fox Sports Radio. What up?

Welcome in. This is The Hurd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening. Thanks so much for making this part of your day. I'm Doug Gottlie. In for Colin Cowherd, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Hope you're great. We've got a lot to get to this hour. We'll get you ready for Thursday night football.

Got some hoops on the docket. It appears as though those Christmas Day games will go off for the NBA, but we'll have to wait and find out. I think, look, I love bowl season, and I hate the diminishing by some of what are considered the other bowls. We had to know this was, this was in fact coming, right? That because you have the college football playoff, that's diminished some of the bowls.

Some players opting out to protect their bodies for the future, that's diminished some of it. The expansion of more bowl games, that's diminished some of it. And I think as the playoff expands even more, it's going to diminish it even more. But that doesn't mean there's not great stories and great games. Last night was just such a game. Missouri came in with a 500 record, but out of the Mighty SEC. Army came in at 8 and 4, and the Black Knights were fresh off a loss to the Naval Academy. You can couple in all the other losses, and they lost a game.

One of the most fun watches all year was they lost to Wake Forest 70 to 56. But then they went on a streak, won four in a row and lost a Navy in an unbelievable football game. But to pick yourself up and, as they say, fight some more and come from behind and Missouri last night was awesome. So we thought we'd reach out to Jeff Monkin, who's their head coach, and he joins us in the herd on Fox Sports Radio. Coach, how are you? I'm great, Doug.

If you don't mind, I'm at the Newark Airport, so you're going to hear a little bit of background noise, but I'm really glad to be on with you today. Thanks so much. Well, I appreciate you joining us in short order. When you arrived at West Point, okay, you'd been the head coach at Georgia Southern, you guys are really successful.

You arrive at West Point. point, what was the program like? Well, it wasn't where it needed to be. It wasn't where it should be to represent the great academy that we have. And really, what I consider America's University, we needed to have a football program that matched the excellence of the institution. And frankly, we just weren't there at that time. And so it was a great challenge and a great opportunity.

and I was just thrilled to be able to be the coach at West Point. And it's been some years now, and I think we've got it in a better place. We're not perfect. Not completely where we want to be yet, but it's better, and it's all the result of our kids and the culture that they've built in a program and just how hard they've worked. Well, you had been at the Naval Academy before as an assistant for five years. How much did that help you in?

There are certain things about West Point. There are certain things about that academy specifically, which you kind of have to know and you have to feel like how did spending time at the Naval Academy help you rebuild the Army's program. Well, that is the only blemish on my resume. Let me just throw that out there to start off with. But I mean, but like to work at a service academy, you had to have worked at a service academy because it's just such a start. it's so, like what these kids go through, what these young men go through, is so different than what they go through at any other school in terms of, you know, being plebs and learning what it's like and going through basic well before they get to you.

I don't think there's any question just to have that experience and to kind of understand the ways of these academies. They are very different. They're similar to each other, yet they're very different from each other as well, but more similar than they are to any other school. and it was a good experience for me. I worked for Paul Johnson, and he was just a tremendous head coach, and I learned so much from him. 13 years as an assistant for Paul,

and it really gave me the opportunity to come to West Point, probably without that experience, I may not have been there at all. You're Jeff Monkin joining us. They fresh off their third Armed Forces Bowl win. Okay, they're 4-1 in bowl games under his tenure at West Point, 96 and 59, which is outstanding. But year two, you only won two games. Was there a moment where you're like, I don't know.

I don't know if this thing's going to work. I 100% knew we were a better team in year two than we were in year one. And year one, we won four games. We went four and eight. And year two, we went two and ten. And we were just so much a better football team. We were playing a lot of young guys. So we had our first full recruiting class.

and we were playing 20 plus freshman every week and taking our lumps for it, but we were getting better. We lost seven of those 10 games by seven points or less. So we were one drive away or one stop away from really turning the season around. And I knew it had turned. Other people couldn't see it.

They just saw us losing games, but I knew that the tide was turning. And then the next year we won eight, and then we went 10, and then we went 11. and the guys just did a great job of building the program. Our players, they deserve the credit. What is it like to have to get those guys back up and ready after you lose to Navy? I think anytime you're in that game, it's an emotional game, win or lose.

But when you're on the losing end of that game, there's a hangover. It lingers because it is so emotional and so tough to lose that game. And it lasts. It'll last beyond this game. I mean, this didn't completely wipe that away. That's a rivalry like no other. But just the resiliency of our players, the toughness of these guys, that's what really showed up last night.

They came into this game. They prepared. They wanted to win desperately. They worked really, really hard all week and right up to game time. And they were just determined to find a way to get to the victory circle last night. And I'm just incredibly proud of their effort. It was a lot of fun to win that game, especially the way we did it. Yeah, and to the way they did it, for people who didn't watch the game,

Jabari Laws, he was your starting quarterback two years ago, hurts his knee, doesn't play last year because of knee surgery. He's your third stringer, yet, you know, minute 11 to go, down a point, got to get some points. What did you say to him before the drive? I didn't say a thing. I knew he was ready to go. We practiced that scenario every day.

and he's one of the quarterbacks that does it. He and Christian Anderson are the two guys that get the most reps in that one-minute drill. And we do different scenarios every day, and it's offense against defense, good on good. And so we get a lot of work on it. It's good for both sides. And I just, I knew he'd be ready. He's a winner. He's tough.

Got a really good arm. I mean, if you watched the game last thing, you see what a quick release and how confidently he throws the ball. I was just so proud of him. To battle back, he not only had one ACL surgery, he had a second ACL surgery. So he got hurt in 2019 and then in preseason camp of 2020 towards ACL again, the same one. And so that set him back a whole bunch, both physically, mentally, emotionally. And to see him go out there and perform like he did last night, it was just incredible. our players were just overcome with emotion after the game,

celebrating with him. And that's fun. That's what's fun about this brotherhood. It's what's fun about this game and the relationships we build. And to see him do that was really something special. You're standing there on the sideline. And this is the powerless part, right, where it's not just you're letting the kids go. But now you've got Cole Talley, who's from Texas, you know, lining up to kick a 41-yarder to win the game.

What is your – what do you do during those? kicks. Do you say something to yourself? Are you silent? Like, what are you doing while they're lining up getting ready to kick in your mind? And in reality, you know, your inner monologue, what's going on? In reality, I'm counting to make sure we got enough guys trying to see where the rush is coming from. I've got a responsibility to watch a certain part of the protection. So I try to put my eyes there and try to keep from looking at the kick, looking at the snap and the kick and really concentrating on the thing that I'm supposed to. But you just, in your mind, you're biting your nails down to the quick.

I mean, it's nerve-wracking. And he had missed a field goal from the other hash about the same distance earlier in the game. And there he is lining up with three seconds to go to win the thing. And, you know, he's a great kid. He works really hard at his craft. And I was so happy for him. And he just nailed it. He got up there with a lot of confidence and nailed that kick.

And, you know, you're related. I mean, what do you say? There's no words to describe that feeling. It's incredible. Two more, Coach. I know you're busy and you've got to go catch a flight. Jeff Monkin joining us in the herd here on Fox Sports Radio. Wake Forest needed a game.

Now, they may have Rutgers coming to fill in for him, but one of the best games in college football all season was you guys against Wake. did you at least have any discussion with your coach about, you know if we win this, like, we can go play again. Have you had at least any sort of discussion about that? Oh, I'm all for it. I'm ready to play right now. And I don't know if we could work it out.

But I love to compete, and I love to compete with this team. These guys are such great competitors. That game early in the year against Wake. I mean, it was entertaining if you were watching it on TV or in the stands. But, my, golly, think it was agonizing to stand on our side. sideline and watch their offense operate like they did. They just an incredible performance that day. That quarterback is really special.

He makes everything go. And what they do is so unique. It's so different from, from everybody else. It looks mainstream, but, but it's different. And Dave's a really smart coach.

And he's got a system that's different than everybody else. He's got a recruiting pool that's different than everybody else. And so he, he fits a stop. and a system to the guys that he signs there, and he's just done a remarkable job. And I mean, we couldn't stop them. We just could not stop them that day.

And we were trying to play keep-up the whole day. But everybody liked another shot. Last thing is, thankfully, you answered when we called and when we reached out. But the Army, West Point is different, right? The people that that place touches, the people that watch when they play is really amazing. just for people who don't understand the reach of coaching at Army

and winning a bowl game in the Armed Forces Bowl, who's the biggest name person who texted you this morning who congratulated you on the win? You know, from West Point grads, soldiers, those are the ones that mean the most to me. But guys like Raleigh-Stitchway, guys like Chuck Shretzman, I mean, former players, guys that we, We've coached here since I've been here and just the pride that they have and being associated with West Point.

It's such a unique place and just an honor and privilege for me to be the coach there and to represent all those men and women that serve. There's over one million men and women who served on active duty in the United States Army. And when we go out there and play, we represent every one of them and their families. and it's just an incredible sense of responsibility and a spirit that goes along with competing in those colors. Well, you better be nice to those Navy pilots, you know, or maybe Air Force pilots.

They may be flying you today out of Newark. You've got to say nice things about all the academies. In the meantime, thank you so much for joining us and leading those men and on all that you guys do. We appreciate to join us on Fox Sports Radio. Congratulations on the win. Thanks a lot. I appreciate the opportunity.

Merry Christmas to everybody. and thanks again for having me on beat navy. All right, that's that's Coach Monkin, who of course Army won last night. And he said, we'll play. So I may, music we can get, could we be, you know, listen, I want a little piece of the action. But if one of these bowl games, if the Rutgers thing doesn't work, Jeff Monkin says the Black Knights are ready. If somebody else doesn't work, the Black Knights are ready. But I would love to see Wake and Army again.

If you saw that first game, you like me were absolutely. Absolutely blown away. Can the Lakers fix their issues and get back into contention in the West? Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment,

and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to? do a little kill. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack 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. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking.

Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way.

Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Doug Outleaving for Colin, this is The Hurt. Fox Sports Radio, IHeart Radio app. Wolf and Shepherd is Colin's favorite shoe brand. Wolf and Shepherd's shoes are designed for comfort. whatever your field may be, wolf and shepherd.com for some amazing comfortable shoes. So, so here's where the Lakers are, they're kind of screwed, right?

I do think those guys are figuring out that every game you roll into town with the Lakers jersey on, it's, you're getting everybody's best shot. Like when they went into Minnesota and they got stumped by the Timberwolves, you know, they were like, man, they got to act more professional. Like they've been there before like, dude, the Timberwolves have been a laughing stock franchise. They smell blood in the water. Guys start hitting shots. That's their Super Bowl.

That's their NBA finals. Additionally, they've made some adjustments in trying to figure out how to use Russell Westbrook within their offense and they're putting them what's called the dunker or the dunk spot, which is kind of on the baseline, below the level of the backboard. Rondo sometimes plays there. But if you can't, without Anthony Davis, you can't use Dwight Howard in the dunker and have Russell Westbrook in the Dunker. There's no space.

So it's the personnel is messed. You keep having older players that can't guard anybody. The question becomes when they get Anthony Davis back, can they fix it? Is there a move that they can make? Is there talk of moving Russell Westbrook?

Let's get to Yovon Buha who joins us. He covers the Lakers for the athletic. He joins us here in the herd on Fox Sports Radio. Yovon, Merry Christmas to you. Happy holidays. LeBron said we don't really have an identity because we haven't all played together. But how much of it is they don't have an identity because they went from being the best defensive team in the league two years ago to being just a bunch of jumbled former all-stars now? I think it is more the latter than the former.

You know, I think we've seen, I mean, we're 32 games into the season, right? Like at some point you have to start judging what you've seen. And no, we have not seen the full Lakers group yet. We have not seen Trevor Reza and Kendrick not. I mean, Trevor Reza just returned two games ago. And now right before I'm speaking to you, he just got ruled out for tonight's game with health and safety protocol. So that's the type of season that it's been for the Lakers.

But I do think at some point, like, you got to look at the record with the big three. And that hasn't been that encouraging. And I think, you know, they've had the 30s. schedule up to this point in the NBA and for them to still just be 16 and 16. I know LeBron has missed 12 games. I know Anthony Davis has obviously missed the last few games with his knee injury, but at some point, you know, you have to look at what has happened and not just look

at what could be on paper. And what has happened is this has been a mediocre team all season. And I think you could almost go game by game in the schedule and be like, is this opponent above 500? Okay, the Lakers are probably going to lose. Is this opponent below 5? 500, okay, the Lakers have a shot to win this game. And that's just kind of the season it's been.

So I agree. And in theory that, yes, we have not seen the full complement of players, but there's no guarantee, especially with how old most of the supporting cast is, that we ever see this team be healthy. And, you know, look at last season for them, it was kind of a, let's wait until we get healthy, you know, we're finally going to put it together. And even last year's team showed more than this year's team had. Like they started out 21 at 7.

there was a two seat in the West before Anthony Davis went down. They were up to one in that series against Phoenix before AD went down again. Last year's team actually had more of a shot, I think, at winning a championship than this year so far. So I do agree in theory that we have not seen this team at full strength yet. But with what we've seen, I think it's hard to be encouraged as far as a contention standpoint for this group. I mean, right now we just have not seen that from them. Okay, so what options are on the table for Rob Polinka?

I think you have to look at trading, you know, potentially Russell Westbrook, depending on what you could get, although I don't think, I just don't see a trade, you know, because of his contract and, you know, the dollar amount and the years remaining, I just, I don't see a natural fit there. You know, like, I mean, you could trade him for John Wall, right? Like, you could trade him back to Houston and get John Wall, but, like, I don't think that's an upgrade. I think that's a downgrade. And, you know, does Philly want to trade Ben Simmons for Russell Westbrook?

Daryl more you want to trade for Russ a second time? Like, I don't think so. So looking around the league, there just isn't a natural fit for Russell Westbrook. I think that would be probably the most ideal scenario is just that. I mean, Russ, I think it's played better than people have given him credit for. It's just the fit is never going to be perfect alongside LeBron and AD. And I think they've figured out ways to use him more effectively and to maximize. maximize it to the best of the three players' abilities.

But still, it's just it's not a clean fit. Russ is one of the worst fitting third stars you could put next to LeBron and AD. So I think if there was a way to get out of that, I think they would do that and they would jump on that. But aside from that, I think you do have to look, I guess, that trading potentially Talon Horton Tucker, because you really don't have, like, if you look at the Lakers salary cap, it's all, you know, LeBron A.D. Russ, then there's a huge drop off to Tailing Horton Tucker, and there's another huge drop off to Kendrick Nunn, and then everybody else is a vet minimum guy. So you can't really trade those contracts or anything. So if they do move someone, it probably has to be Tailing Horton Tucker. The issue is he hasn't been that great this season. He started off really well, had like 71 points in his first three games, and then since then has really been struggling, hasn't really improved as a shooter. So I don't, I mean, he is only 21, and I think there is some potential there. longer term, but I don't know that he's necessarily getting you a difference maker, which is why I think the Lakers would try to get on the trade market.

So I think they're going to be aggressive. They're going to go for a Jeremy Grant, a Miles Turner, someone like that, a long, athletic, bigger player that can boost the front court and give them some more athleticism. But again, with their available assets, you know, they don't have many picks to trade. They don't have many young, intriguing players to trade. I think they are kind of stuck with the roster that they have. and maybe they got a buyout guy, and I think they will be in the mix with Brooklyn and a couple other places for the top buyout guys. But usually buyout guys aren't really a difference maker.

And young athletic players aren't going to be on the buyout market. So I do think for the most part, barring a team really loving Russell Westbrook or Taylor-Torke or Taylor, they are most likely going to be kind of with this roster at least through the rest of the season. Yeah. And then, you know, I mean, LeBron's not going anywhere. and he's going to, and he wants to keep playing, he wants to play with Bronny, right? That's like the worst kept secret. I don't even know it's the secret that he wants to do. How do they fix it going forward?

Because it does feel like Polinka, whether it's his choice or not, you know, it's like everything's got to be run by LeBron. And LeBron likes his guys. And, you know, it just, it feels, deals kind of hard to even fix it in the future. How difficult do you think it will be to reconfigure this thing? I think next season they have to do a better job of targeting younger players and constructing the roster with a better two-way balance. And it's funny because they've actually been better defensively than offensively. They've actually still been a top 10 defense, which I think is a testament to Frank Vogel and his system. But they went out and the last two seasons, one of their biggest issues aside from health had been three-point shooting.

And just the floor spacing wasn't great. And in that series against the Sun, they shot 28% on threes for that entire series. And Phoenix was basically like, we're just going to pack the pain and we're going to leave KCP open, Alex Caruso, Kyle Kuzma. Like, we don't think you guys can shoot and we're going to prove that. And they went out and proved it. And the Lakers lost and, you know, an embarrassing fashion down the stretch of that series. So I think they went out and we're like, let's go get Carmelo Anthony, let's get Wayne Ellington, let's get Malik Monk. Let's get Kendrick Nunn.

Let's get all these guys who are 38% plus shooting. who can space the floor around LeBron and AD. And that works in theory, but I do think the Russell Westbrook trade obviously added a non-shooter, a non-spacer. And, you know,

a lot of this season, they've been going with a big, you know, two bigs and Russell Westbrook, which now you're having three non-spacers out there, which really messes up your offense. So I think they need to kind of modernize their system. I think they have discovered that in recent weeks

where we just need to play 80 at the 5, LeBron at the 4, and go with three perimeter players, around them. And I think with the next season's team, there needs to be a better emphasis on some more size and athleticism and shooting in the front court and some better defense in the back court. And I think you do those two things. And maybe you can win a championship next season. But with the way that this team is constructed, it's really hard to see it as is. What's the status of LeBron's relationship with AD? And I say that because obviously

LeBron wanted AD. They now share Rich Paul as an agent. yet the way in which they attack rehab is different, right? Yes. Like LeBron, here's how it's been described to me. You tell LeBron he's out for four weeks, he's like, I'll be back in two, and he's a fanatic about getting back in two. You tell Anthony Davis, you're back in four to six weeks. We're like, all right, I'll see you in four weeks, right?

Is that so, so. And Kobe famously didn't know how to deal. I couldn't deal with guys that weren't as, motivated as him. What about LeBron? How has he handled this portion of their relationship? I mean, to my knowledge, they have a good relationship. I don't think they are necessarily best friends.

But you see it post-game, they tend to do their post-game availability together, and they're joking off to the side and, you know, talking about TV shows they're watching and referencing different stuff. And obviously, that's in front of the media, so I don't know, you know, how much of that, You never know how much that's genuine versus, okay, we're in front of the cameras. Like, we're going to do that. But I mean, look, LeBron traded half the Lakers roster to get Anthony Davis. They won a championship together that first season.

They are both represented by clutch sports and Rich Paul. And, you know, obviously 80 re-signed, you know, extended with the Lakers and has basically committed to being a Laker for, you know, the next several seasons. So I do think it's good. I'm sure LeBron isn't, you know, that's probably a difference, right? Like, as you just said, and, you know, it does kind of maybe remind you a little bit of Kobe Shack with the way they kind of approached that stuff where, as you said, Kobe, you know, couldn't deal with being injured and would play through stuff. And Shaq was more, you know, I got injured on company time.

I'm going to rehab on company time. And I don't think 80 is to that level necessarily, but 80 is obviously brittle. like there's just no way around it and I know that that bothers him he's been candid about that that he doesn't like that injury prone label but it's just I mean year after year the guys you can pencil them in for 15 plus miss games it's just that's just how it is so I do think with AD I mean maybe the pain it does feel like maybe the pain tolerance is a little lower like when 80 strains his ankle he goes back to the locker room and and maybe comes back with LeBron he just tightens his you know you see him on tie his shoes and tighten it a little

a little bit and then he's ready to go. So I do think that's a difference in them, but I, you know, to my knowledge, I don't know of any, you know, issues that they've had. And, you know, from everything I've seen from covering the team, they seem to have a pretty good relationship. All right. So

they brought Isaiah Thomas back and all these older players that are just available because the G league's been officially rated, right? Like they even lost Mac McClung to the Bulls. Any old former Lakers hanging around that we could expect to see in the purple and gold in the coming

weeks because they're down numbers? Oh, I mean, look, anything's on the table, right? Like, I mean, half the roster now is basically former Lakers. I think you can't rule anything out. But, I mean, I would like them to sign someone, like, often, like, they have one of the best scouting departments in the NBA. I mean, looking at finding in Austin Reeves that, you know, hit the game. winning shot in Dallas and was an undrafted rookie, even identifying Taylor and Horton Tucker

at the end of the second round. Most of those end of second round guys never stepped foot in the NBA, let alone find their way into a rotation and making double-digit millions after their second season. So I think that's one thing I would like from them is, you know, like Isaiah Thomas, I think has actually helped and books to me maybe like he should find a home in the NBA. I don't think it'll be with the Lakers, but maybe with another team. but they don't need a 5-9 scoring guard. They need a 6-foot-8, 6-foot-9 athletic forward

that can play multiple positions and defend and shoot threes. I'm like, those guys are hard to find, but there are some of those types in the G-League, and I would like to see them give somebody like that a chance. So I do think it has been funny to see how many former Lakers they have signed. And, I mean, with the way things have gone, that they probably will sign another one. But for me, I think they have a really impressive scouting department.

They have identified young guys that become rotation players year after year. And I would like to see them pluck someone out of the G League and give them a chance that can maybe fill a role that they need. So that's what I would like to see. But again, based on the way things have gone, it probably will be a former Laker. Yeah. I mean, I don't know. Big shot, Bob. I said those names.

Big game James. Yeah. Bring back meta. Whatever. I mean, they're all at the Laker games. anyway, just go, hey, we got some shoes and we can tape you up if you want to go. Yovon, thanks for joining us. Merry Christmas

to you. Happy holidays. Thanks for being our guest. Appreciate it, Doug. Merry Christmas and happy holidays. That's Yvobobuha, who covers the Lakers for the athletic. Let's get to Ryan Music with the news. Turn on the news. This is the Hurdline News. All right, Doug. A lot of great NBA Lakers talk there.

So we're going to do some NFL quick little news here. tonight's Thursday night football game. I got good news and bad news. Okay, go. The Titans. Left side of their offensive line, a mess. Roger Saffold and Taylor Luan will be out.

That's the bad news. Got to start with the bad news, Doug. So that way you can deliver on the good. What's the good? They are activating AJ Brown. He is making a return from the IR and is expected to play tonight against the 49ers. In addition to Julio Jones.

I get this team has always been about Derek Henry and he's still incredibly important and probably what makes that offense go at the heart of it. I feel like the part that's been undersold, not to defend Ryan Tannahill, he has not been playing well, but not only did he lose Derek Henry, but he's also been without Julio Jones and A.J. Brown.

So I feel like people just kind of forgot that in the whole mix of like, oh my gosh, look at the Titans' offense. They're not the same without Derek Henry. They're not. but they're also horrible if you have your starting running back missing and your two best wide receivers. Correct. Correct. I mean, like, look, who's healthy is as important as who's good.

Right. We've talked about the Niners. The Niners, when they didn't have George Kittle, it changed them. When they, when they haven't had, when, I don't think Debo Samuel played when they, he didn't play when they lost to Seattle in Seattle. There's a difference there. There's a reason that some guys make, you know, eight figures and some guys make seven, right? There's a difference in talent. I mean, look, what's happening to Tampa where, you know, you lose Chris Gobwin,

Mike Evans is out, they're shutting guys down for the rest of the regular season. They're not going to be the same. Just going to try and get through the finish line hope guys are healthy. So I agree with you. But I do think that the way this team is constructed from the inside out, running the football with a great offensive line, it's really hard when you don't have the left side of your offensive line. For especially, it's not like the Niners don't have,

arguably the best past rush for in football in Nick Wilson. Oh, man. Which side do you think he's going to line up on it? Yeah, I don't know. Maybe they might just, like, put him right where they have a total deficiency right now. All right, Doug. Adam Schaefter with a little bit of an interesting nugget earlier today. Talking about the New York Giants, a lot of questions about what their offseason is going to look like.

Are they going to get rid of Dave Gettlement? Are they going to get rid of Joe Judge? Are they going to get rid of Daniel Jones? Are they going to get rid of all of them? Clean House, start over. According to Adam Schaefter this morning, the Giants do feel good about Daniel. Jones as their quarterback plan on bringing him back next year and going through this operation again.

I believe it. I believe there's a little bit of the Sam Donald thing where you're like, well, maybe it's not him. It's everybody else. I also wonder if it's Dave Gettleman. He's like, yeah, that's my pick. I'm going to ride or die with him. And like, we don't know if Dave Gettelman's going to be running the franchise.

Oh, we love Daniel Jones. We also love Daniel Jeremiah, which I almost said. But we love Daniel Jones. We're absolutely bringing him back. We feel like he's done great things. Well, thanks for touting your own pick, Dave. Well, you know, it reminds me of the famous Rodney Dangerfield had a great line. My wife's a bad cook, a bad cook, I tell you.

You know, just the other day, she told me to take out the garbage. I told him you cooked it, you took it out, take it out, right? Yeah. So Dave Gettleman, if he's, you know, if Daniel Jones is garbage, he cooked it, he can take it out. I think people would do the parallel. I want to see that. And we're going to wrap it up with this, Doug. I don't, people are making this out to be like it's some sort of harsh trash talk.

I don't see it that way. Ravens defensive coordinator, wink Martindale, talking about their matchup against Joe Burrow and the Bengals and Jamar Chase saying he doesn't see them creating a double or triple team coverage on Jamar Chase like they had done against Devonte Adams in their game against the Packers. Adams is one of the top two receivers in the league and he's not number two. Aaron Rogers is a Hall of Fame quarterback and I don't think we're ready to buy a gold jacket

for Joe Burrow yet. Some people are trying to be like, ooh shots fired, trash talk among division rivals. I'm like, no, it's actually a fair, accurate analysis of where those players are right now. Nobody likes fair and accurate analysis, Ryan. Yeah, apparently. Nobody likes

matter of fact fair and accurate analysis. Nothing he said was wrong. They're not going to put two guys over there. Okay, maybe they should think about it. But they're not going to put two guys over there. I do like that wink Markendia says what he thinks, you know. Totally. And he'll fire zero blitzes as much as possible against inexperienced quarterbacks.

And I also think he knows what he's talking about. And oh yeah, by the way, even if it was trash talk, all right. Pro wrong. Yeah, exactly. Back it up then. You know, it's not like after the game where something we saw is like, and he's like, no, no, no, no, what really happened? He said it. Okay.

If you're really that good, prove there should be a double team. If Joe Burroughs as good as we think he can be, prove it. But nothing he said was wrong. But we are in, we have, it's like we've regressed. Okay. One of the things, when I started covering college basketball 20 years ago, I can't tell you how many people were like, dude,

I just, we're so used to Vital. Oh, it's awesome. And Dick Vital has his entire stick, which is amazing, is all about the positivity, how great everything is. But there's a lack of kind of reality. And I always thought people wanted just the real stuff, you know? But we've reached this point. Kevin Durant got criticized because overtime put out this travel.

How sick is this move? So Kevin Durant commented on the post. And now he gets raked over the coals for saying the move was trash. Like nobody wants anybody's honest opinion anymore. I do. I like what winked Mark Dail had to say. I said, just had to say, if the Bengals don't like it, hang half a hundred on them. And that's my music.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd Lie News. I may have the funniest, it ain't, it wasn't me story I've ever read. It's part of our best for last. It's next in The Hurd. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, I'm Doug Gottlieb.

The podcast is called All Ball. We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's more about the stories about what made these people love their sport and all the interesting interactions along the way. We talk to coaches, we talk to players, we tell you stories. You download it, you listen to it, I think you like it.

Listen to All Ball with Doug Ghalib on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashed. 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.

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

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

Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a 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 you're just so you're not. But just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode

where we've discussed, correct. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year

for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host. and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience

in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough.

Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on Earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. in for Colin. This is the herd, wherever you may be, and however you may make it as part of your day. Thanks so much. We got stories we sit on. I will tell you that I don't like. I love the San Francisco 49ers tonight. There are three-point favorites on the road at Tennessee. This is more a factor of who Tennessee doesn't have, the left side of their line and Derek Henry, and who San Francisco does have. As they start to get really healthy and outside of the Seattle game, it played very, very good

football. That would be my pick of the night. get to the best for last. It's almost the end of the show, but that doesn't mean we're phoning it in. Nope, we grind to the very last segment. It's time for best for last. I swear we wouldn't make fun of Florida and Florida stories if they weren't such good stories. This one from Clearwater, Florida, okay?

Clearwater, Florida is actually most known for that dolphin aquarium where, what's the, what's the one with a prosthetic, not flipper, but Finn is actually that the dolphin died. They made like two movies, two movies about it. Anyway, now it's known for a man named Patrick Florence, who's 34 years old. He was riding in a car that was pulled over. Police says he was driving without its lights early Saturday morning. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for DUI and possession of marijuana. A search of the car uncovered a gun under Florence's seat. Huh. So Florence was arrested and they found bags of meth and coke around his yeah.

Yes. So he had bags of meth and coke around his personal region taped there to stay there. Here's the kicker, though. Here's the kicker. Apparently, Patrick Florence did the, remember the Eddie Murphy bit? It wasn't me? Right? Or the song, it wasn't me?

Yeah, that's what he did. He stated that the package wrapped around his, was not his. He wouldn't say who belonged to. He just said it wasn't his. Somebody. He's 34, so he's a little young for the Eddie Murphy is raw. What, me?

Or even that song, which I think is like 20 years old, right? Remember that? Wasn't me? But that was his defense. It wasn't me. That's the best for last. If that's not the best for last, I don't know what is. I don't think that one's going to fly.

Do you think that one fly with the judge? Maybe I'm not not sure. Can I rhyme music. So I grew up in Southern California. I moved away. I was in play basketball in foreign countries. I came back. I was in Connecticut for nine years.

I was in Southern California for two years. And in Southern Connecticut for three years. I came back. So I was gone for, I don't know, 15 or so years, 17 years. Most of the lifespan of the Staples Center named the Staples Center. But I've basically seen obituaries for the Staples Center now that it's called the Crypto.com Center. Crypto.com arena, whatever. But they're not tearing the place down. They're not even redoing the place. Nothing is changing outside of the signage outside. Am I missing something?

Why are they doing these obituaries for an arena that still stands? Doug, I am with you 100% of the way. don't get it. And much like you, I've born and raised in Southern California, however different from you, I went to college locally and have basically lived my entire life and adult life in Southern California and have been a Lakers fan, born and raised, and have many a great memories of going to Laker games and watching championships be won at the Staples Center. And I don't quite understand all of the like emotional outcry as if like something is coming to an end. It was a sponsored arena. So first of all, I totally agree with you in.

Nothing is, listen, literally nothing has changed other than the name staples to the name crypto.com. Nothing else is changed. The building is remaining there. Exactly same. And it wasn't as if it was called a different name like Lambo Field. or, you know, soldier field. You're replacing one sponsor for the next.

Right, you're just changing the sponsor. You're not even, like, changing it from, like, it wasn't called, like, Kobe Bryant Arena. And then they're like, yeah, you know what? We'll sell out and call it crypto.com now. Like, it's just changing sponsorships. Like, I don't know, maybe it's because you and I work in sports, so we understand. No, no.

I think that people want to think it means something. Like it's more like LAP 1 Like no we got a special arena too Like the forum was really cool Okay it has and it still stands It's now a concert venue It's right next to where the new stadium is built Okay where SOFI is built

And that whole complex Don't change SOFi Doug And it's it's right But think about this like in 20 years If SOFI goes away as a sponsor And I don't know something What like 20 years jet packs becomes a sponsor

Like right? Like are we really going to This one it just strikes me is the rest of the country laughing at Los Angeles? I would agree. They laugh at us because we're freaking out over a couple of inches of rain. They should laugh at us for a couple of inches of rain. Although, look, in the south, when they get a dusting of snow, people in the Northeast

laugh at Atlanta because Atlanta's just not built for snow. They get an inch or two inches, and people freak out and the whole thing shuts down. So the laughing over people with weather is kind of a universal thing. And, of course, everyone who's in the snow belt thinks they're hardened and they're tougher than everybody because they live in a place where it snows. Congratulations to you. I would like to thank Colin for the support of my proposal that NFL goes to regular season games during the holiday season during the weekday. I don't want a Wednesday off.

I want games all through the week. We can work that out. And among the picks that I'm confident, if I had my blazing five, I do five for five and I'm actually hitting at 62% for the year in the NFL, the Niners are part of my picks. I like the Niners tonight. Teams going one way, teams going the other, and a lot of it is health-related. A lot of it is health-related. Remember when there was a time

where people were questioning Kyle Shanahan and his ability to coach? Yeah, not anymore. We'll see tonight. I'm Doug Gottlieb. This is The Hurt. 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 helped make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and headwriters, reader Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform?

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

Either way, the podcast'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, 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 Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at a 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. 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.