The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - Lakers fire HC Darvin Ham

Episode Date: May 3, 2024

Colin reacts to breaking NBA news with the Lakers firing head coach Darvin Ham and insider Ric Bucher joins the show to share who LA is targeting to coach LeBron JamesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Listen to look back at it on the IHeart 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, 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, unfiltered 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 I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast'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 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 on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific.

Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRadio.com, or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio. or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, hour three, live in LA, it's the herd. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Getting ready for a weekend.

Going to see the dogs this weekend. Write some ATVs. Hang out. ATVs. I guess I better be ready to be the starter on Monday, huh? You're going out and having a good time. No alcohol with the ATVs. No. It's like this weekend is, what's the schedule?

What's on the Mavs Clippers tonight, right? In Dallas. I'll watch that. All we got tomorrow. Saturday is Denver, Minnesota game one. I'll watch that for sure. Oh, don't forget about Orlando Cleveland tonight. Yeah, I may not be able to get to that one.

And then Sunday is, if there's game sevens, they'll be Sunday. All right. So I guess the Celtic series doesn't open. I'm sorry, Nick's Pacers opens on. Monday. That's a bummer. So basically tonight, you're getting Mavs, Clippers, and tomorrow night, Denver. See, in my world, all these series would be three games until the finals.

You would have to watch Denver, Minnesota, Saturday. I will, but you don't have to in a seven-game series. By the way, how do you handicap that one? So many people say Minnesota in the series that it's almost like, I think Denver takes care of this. Where's it at? Denver. Okay. So I think it's...

Denver played the Lakers. I wouldn't be shocked if this goes seven. I think it's going to be a really interesting series. Nobody's best Denver. I know. I'll take Denver and six, but I think it's really interesting. I think they're going to have some trouble defending Edwards,

and I don't think they're going to shoot as high a percentage around the rim. I mean, Minnesota's just, they're a problem. They have just huge team. Yeah. Number one defense in the league for much of the season, yeah. 76ers eliminated last night at home. And it comes down to this. A school just down the road in Philly played a major role in ending Philly's season.

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. There was a sense that old guys didn't like to play for him. Tibbs was rough. It was just a little bit too much. but this team is young Randall's out it's a bunch of guys with a chip on their shoulder that have been overlooked

Deep Vincenzel's on his fourth team Josh Hart went to the G-League route I think he was a Lakers G-League team at one but he's on his fourth team Jalen Brunson Dallas shipped him out second rounder so what you're getting is the rare New York team

and the rare NBA team that in a very weak Eastern Conference looks like they could get to the Eastern Conference finals with a bunch of like B guys, Villanova guys. And I think one of the things that's cool, of all the great

college basketball programs in the country, of all the great programs, there's only one program that you can use a term like this, Villanova guys. And when you say Villanova guys, everybody understands what you're talking about in the NBA. You know, Kentucky guys, basically, you think one and done guys, some hit, some miss, very fewer leaders.

They're really good, talented players, but very few Kentucky guys that feel like are bedrock foundational leader guys. They're just really talented guys. But you say Villanova, Villanova guys. Everybody in the league knows what you're talking about. Smart, resourceful, work hard, can fit with anybody. And what makes New York interesting is that I think Tibbs would wear out like Milwaukee's roster, Dame and Brooke Lopez and Janice and Stars and older players, or the Phoenix roster with Tibbs. where you've got Bradley Beal's been around

and Devin Booker and KD's been around. I don't think Tibbs I don't think Tibbs necessarily works in every locker room. I think he really works here. And the Knicks are showing that the one thing that is undervalued in the NBA

and I have been on this for years is college basketball. Adam Silver years ago just decided college basketball is the enemy. And let's get all our guys AAU, G League. I like Steph Curry, went to college,

and Draymond Green was a great long-term college, and all these guys in the Knicks, you went to college. And even the Kentucky guys who go for an hour and come into the league, they're never really leaders. They're very rarely their leaders. They're just super talented guys. John Wall was really talented. Anthony Davis is really talented.

I'm not denying that. But if you look at the history of the NBA, most of your great teams, even in this day and age, there's college guys. I mean, the Warriors are all college guys. Clay Thompson, Draymond Green, Steph Curry. There's a lot of college guys. San Antonio, like guys who had been in international basketball or gone to college.

So this idea of like, and I think Adam Silver made a big mistake. I mean, all you have to do is look at Caitlin Clark. Look at what Caitlin Clark did. Women's basketball. It's not the dunking league. It's not as dynamic. Women's basketball. Caitlin Clark, I believe, will change the WNBA.

And that the NBA has had this position that, yeah, we're not into the college basketball. College basketball bad. If you told me today, I could stay in college for two years and get NIL money or go to G League and make a little more money. You're going to get way better coaching in college basketball. And you're also going to get good marketing. Nobody watches the G League. Everybody watches March Madness. I would stay in college.

So I think I like Adam Silver. I think it was a big mistake to do that. And I think you're seeing the Knicks are so likable because they're college kids from Villanova. All right, this story just broke. The Lakers have officially parted ways with Darvin Ham. Sort of just broke seconds ago. Sources tell Shams Sharanya and Jovan Buhha. Apparently the candidates are Mike Boodenholzer, who won a title with Milwaukee and is twice one coach of the year.

Kenny Atkinson, JJ Redick, if he becomes available, Ty Lou, if he was available. So they have gotten rid of Darwin, what's interesting is, I'm really surprised by this, is a week ago, the Lakers leaked it. The Lakers leaked it out a week ago that Darvinham was safe. So the Lakers tried to get in front of this because a story only gets out if somebody wants it out.

So the Lakers tried to get ahead of this, and they leaked, hey, Darwin Ham is coming back, and the agents and LeBron came in and said, and I think what LeBron said is, I can go to Philadelphia. I can go to a much better roster. I think that's my guess what it came down to is LeBron now can move. And LeBron's like, I'm not coming back for this. I think that's what happened.

You don't go from the Lakers getting in front of it to he's fired and five, six days later, something happened. And I think that happened is, I'm not. not coming back for this. That is my guess. By the way, Budenholzer did a good job, although the knock on him, if you

recall, he made some weird strategy situational moves. Very Darwin Hamish when he was in Milwaukee where I can remember there were a couple of moments in that series. You're like, what is he doing? So again, get ready if you hire Boodenholzer for some strategy questions. I know people that know Mike and think he's a

great guy, a really, really nice guy. I think he's a good coach He's fine JJ Redick That'd be weird Ty Lou Ballmer's You would not think Steve Steve Balmer would be embarrassed for the Lakers

I mean They're paying They're paying $7 million for Ty Lou I don't think the Lakers will pay that much for a coach I just don't think they will How much do they owe Darvin Ham still

So they signed him to a four-year contract I believe So they got 10 million at least they owe Darvin Ham or close to it. And Jeannie Bus is one of the poorest owners. She didn't want to pay somebody else $6, $7, $8 million. So, Kenny Atkinson, that's the guy in Golden State that used to be in Brooklyn, highly thought of, Kenny Atkinson, highly thought of. Kenny Atkinson, you might recall, was runoff by Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn when Kenny

Atkinson wouldn't play DeAndre Jordan. Who's Kyrie's guy? Kyrie's, you got to get up out of here. So let's just be honest, outside of Thai Liu, there are questions about Boudenhul's strategy. We don't know if Tyloos available. Let's be real. I don't think.

Steve Balmer's highly competitive. LeBron likes him, but money talks, right? You think Tyloos leaving 5-mill on the table? Come on. Listen, you know I was banging on Darvinham most of the season and the rotations and you would laugh at me. And it's weird now. I almost feel bad for the guy.

They were so good in that Denver series, Colin. they were right there too I called him fluky shots substitution in the second quarter well it was mostly the early fourth quarter some of those lineups losing the lead I don't know I feel a little bit bad for him

and my Laker fans who are listening now are going to kill me because I crush him on text chains I'm like Darwin Ham is clueless I feel bad for the guy a little bit Colin I feel bad for anybody who gets fired well I feel less bad if you get nine million dollars to walk out the door but I don't want he's married kids

I feel bad for anybody. He probably relocated his family out here from Milwaukee and like, you know, two years later, he's dusted. This JJ Reddick thing's going to be, listen, you know, I'm pro-Lebron. I'll defend him. It is really risky to be like, hey, be my podcast partner. Now come coach the Lakers. And if they flame out in the first or second round, who are you going to blame?

There's only one guy to blame. LeBron James. Don't blame Reddick. You can't. He's absolved of blame. This is like a chess match that LeBron's playing right now. It's a little dangerous. LeBron, what he does in these situations, he rises above it.

I don't know what happened. It's not my call. I mean, this is LeBron's game plan, his playbook. But this was the Lakers leaking a week ago, Darvindham's not going to he's fired. Yeah. Okay. And LeBron has options now. It doesn't have to resign.

So it's pretty obvious. And now LeBron will get his people, his agent. Hey, LeBron doesn't make the call here. You can't go from this to that in a week without a call being made. It's not like Jeannie Bus was like, he is coming back. And then after two conversations, she's like, my bad, he's terrible. Like, you don't go from that to that. So you made a great point about Kobe and Polinka.

Palinka was his former agent. During the commercial, I'm going to look up the timeline of how that happened. Did G.D. Bus let Kobe hire his agent to be the GM? No, I think they'd work with Polink. Alinka so long that Jeannie considered him almost family by association, and Jeannie likes that and said, let's just bring him in house. I trust him because she'd had so many negotiations on so many things with Kobe. Right.

That Rob had built this really nice relationship with Jeannie, and she's like, you know what? I like him more than the other candidates, and I know him. Or was there a Kobe Haley? And Kobe likes him. Maybe I'm going to go elsewhere. Because you're right. LeBron, Jeannie bust probably called LeBron in the days after the season. Maybe LeBron was ghosting her.

I don't even think that happened. I think LeBron's people made a call. Again, it'd be one thing if Jeannie Bus said a week ago, we're going to sit down and discuss Darvinham and he's fired. You don't go from, Garvinham is coming back to let's get him out of here, one of the first guys fired. That's a phone call.

And it's not like something happened, right? There was no incident that anybody's been aware of. They got in a parking ticket. You got about six a week of those in LA. So this makes the Olympic recruiting more. interesting. Forget about bringing LeBron to your team, Golden State, or whoever. Now it's who's LeBron

looking at on that Olympic team and saying, come out to L.A., I'm running the show now. It's my show. I got Darwin Ham out of here. I don't think other stars. If you're a young star, you don't want LeBron's brand to overshadow yours. And Edwards doesn't play with LeBron. No, no, no. I'm talking about Kevin Durant specifically. I don't think they'll play to you. No, that doesn't feel right. Paul George. How about LeBron says this?

Paul. you love L.A. You don't have to move. I played 71 games. Kauai couldn't show up for the playoffs. You think I'm crazy on that? What do the Lakers need? Wing defenders. It just feels very odd.

I mean, I'm LeBron James. Hey, how's that Hardin thing working out? How is Kaui available tonight? You come over here. I'm playing 71 games. We got a rim defender. What if LeBron flips it on Curry and says, Hey, Curry's not...

You guys want to me sorry, not happening. Curry, it's a sinking ship there in Golden State. Why don't you try to get to L.A.? No shot. He is of their DNA. No, Paul George is the interesting one, because Paul loves L.A. And you just go over to him and say, bro, I know you have a cute new arena. Crypto's on the way back.

A cute new arena. Bitcoin is on fire. Just stay in L.A. come here. But LeBron feels like he's this shoot-his shot guy. You know, you see this Vegas 10 at the bar. You're just like, I'm going in. It doesn't. I got to make a move.

By the way, what does LeBron work well with? Shooters. LeBron's always been great with guys who can score on the wing. Kyrie could do it. J.R. Smith could do it. Badiye could do it. Love could do it. By the way, you think LeBron is told Jeannie Bust this week,

hey, look at Kyrie dominating with the Mavericks. We sure could have used him. And I was against that move, and I think you would. I'm LeBron James. I go to Paul George. You tried to go to a franchise. to save them. Over here, we win them. You tried to build something that's never happened. We're trying to add to something, another title that happens all the time here. That's a pretty

convincing sales job. That's the difference between you're a football coach at Michigan, and you say, hey, you want to come to Michigan? We win Natty's here. We win the Big Ten. Or you're at Purdue. Tell you what, be the start of something great here. I would want to start something great. as I know you would to. No, I wouldn't. I'm lazy. Give me a big freebie. Give me a bunch of great players. I can just mail it in.

I'm telling you, it's a pretty easy sales job. How's that clipper rebuild going? We've got a new arena, LeBron. It's going to be fired. Why don't you come over here? I'll give you new Bentley. I don't need another Bentley. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific.

What do you get when you combine a three-time, manager of the year at a three-time national sports writer of the year. It's the Book of Joe podcast. Hey, this is Tom Verducci from Fox Sports, MLB Network, and Sports Illustrated. And I'm Joe Madden, and we're going to be around to talk a little bit about managerial decisions, playoff games, and what may have occurred in the dugout, maybe in the 1980s. I can't wait for this, Joe. We're going to dive into what goes on in the dugout and behind the scenes in Major League Baseball. Cars, wine, whatever else we want to talk about. Listen to the Book of Joe podcast on the iHeart Radio app on 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 what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliford 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 Cliverts 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 Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at a podcast. I'm Sam Jek. 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. 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 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. 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, Keer Gaines. 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 hard way and listen now. It's almost Darvindham just got fired by the Lakers. It's almost like even if you're successful, like Spolstra and Steve Kerr are Popovich, that's just an island onto itself.

I mean, Phil Jackson had problems, you know, battling people in the Lakers front office, Pat Riley had issues. If you start winning big, then you have a different set of issues, expectations, egos, owner wants more credit, GM wants more credit. Even if you win big, it's very rare that you can win titles, Spolstra, Popovich, Kerr, and the ownership has patience. Not a lot of that in the NBA. Can I ask, you think this is a good job as of right this moment looking at the Lakers roster? Well, it depends.

If I can get a third star, it's a good job. So during the interview process, can you ask that? I don't think it's a great job. LeBron's not going to probably play 71 games a year, and Anthony Davis had his healthiest season ever. Probably doesn't happen again, and the teams in the West that are better are younger and getting better. I think the LACOs are kind of this.

Unless they can pull off a big deal, they're kind of what they are, Denver's getting better, OKC, Minnesota. Do you think they also got rid of ham to beat the Phoenix Suns to the punch? hey, if Phoenix runs off Vogel, we're in like a competition. Who can get a better coach in the West? I don't know if the Phoenix job is better than the Lakers job. Phoenix will pay more.

Because the owner is just... Oh, he's loaded. Ridiculously well. Balmer and the Sons owner are loaded. But is that a good... Okay, let's say the Sons jobs open up. And you got offered both of them. They would offer me eight. Lakers would offer three and a half.

I'll go to Phoenix. And the taxes in Phoenix, you know the situation there for SELA. People talk about that stuff. But again, I don't think that's your number one thing. I don't think it's number one, but if you're giving me double the money to go somewhere in a league that fluctuates wildly on the interpretation of how you did your job, I'd take the money. It's not like college football where you go. If you go to a big program like a Michigan or Ohio State, you almost always succeed. You have a four-year deal.

Colleges don't like to buy out contracts usually. NBA will just run you off in an hour. Well, the problem is in college, the fans actually have a say because they're so crazy and fanatical. they wanted to run off Ryan Day at Ohio State, remember? Well, that's the lunatic. That they have a say in college. In the NBA, I don't think it's a fan's as much as the stars. And we know Magic ran off a coach that was chronicled, well, chronicle.

I mean, Michael Jordan's done it. Like, this happens everywhere. Let's not totally wait. Well, it happens in the NBA everywhere, absolutely. I mean, one of the reasons LeBron got a little testy in Miami is that Pat Riley is like, No, this is... Spolster and I aren't going anywhere. Jay Macklin News.

No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, we have some breaking news in the NFL. According to Ian Rappaport and Tom Pellasaro, O'Dell Beckham Jr. is signing a one-year $8.25 million deal with the Miami Dolphins. Bit of a surprise there.

His third team in the last three seasons, he's only played in 28 games. The guy's always hurt. Jalen Ramsey, who teamed up with O'Dell in L.A., tweeted, you remember what happened last time, right? O, referring to when both of them went to the Rams. Brett Ramsey was there, and they added Odell. Beckham's stats were modest with Baltimore last year,

three touchdowns, 565 yards, but we'll say this. Dolphins got some playmakers. Tyreek Hill, Jaylon Waddle. The winner in this is Tua. He's looking to get paid. I got all those weapons and that coach. I mean, you got Tyreek, Wattel. Baccom, Molster at the running back.

A. Chan, who was a revelation at running back. So, I mean, the winner in this is Tua. Tua's going to put up big numbers. Whereas, Dax, the opposite. The Cowboys didn't even draft the running back, and they have no run game. So the Cowboys are saying, yeah, we want to pay you, but we're not going to load up for you.

The dolphins may be saying, we're not going to pay you, but we want the best toua in the last year you're our quarterback. In the grand scheme, I think, this doesn't change the trajectory of the dolphins. They're still second or third best in the division, right? Yeah, yeah, Yeah. They're not a contender for first.

No. The defense is... Well, no, they'll be in the... They'll be a wild card team. The Miami Dolphins? Yeah. Oh my gosh. Okay.

By the way, the Lakers will be hiring their eight head coach in 14 years since Phil. I just saw that. What a circus. Second story is Anthony Richardson. This is a team to watch for me. His back-in-action Colts off-season program. They're very excited. His rookie year was cut short due to his shoulder injury.

Richardson's going to use. to protect himself more in year two, which probably means less running. But Colts OC, Jim Bob Cooter, doesn't want him to completely change his playing style. I mean, he's got extreme athletic talent, like we talked about. You don't want to restrict that. You don't want to, you know, you don't want to say, hey, never, ever move around because, gosh, he's so special. He's so special at it. It's finding that, finding that balance, finding that sort of sweet spot of being able to use our athleticism, use his athleticism. But like I said, sort of be able to sort of get up and play that next play and play that next game.

And that's what we're all trying to get this thing done and what the emphasis is for him. He is really fun to watch. Like one of the five most dynamic, YouTubey, if you wanted to watch a highlight reel of him last year and he didn't plan that many games, he's crazy talented. I would also add the reason I like the Colt so much besides his schedule is, and Shane Steichen is an amazing offensive mind. He doesn't get the hype that the other guys do. I think he does now. People get how good he is.

They get how good he is. I hope so. Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs was a nice receiver last year, a kid out of UNC. The kid Mitchell, they drafted out of Texas. I think this is a by team. I have them as my shocker to win the division.

I don't think it's that shocking. If Anthony Richardson played 16 games, I got no problem. You had a third. Well, that's because I don't think he's going to, I think his style worries me. Probably won't last. Final story is this. Puka Nakua of the Rams.

Such an amazing rookie season in the NFL, but he's not the only family member getting recognition. Colin, this is crazy. His older brother, Kai, plays for the U.S. Michigan Panthers and has been named a mid-season defensive player of the year candidate. That's amazing. Puka's brother, Kai, made the Browns as an undrafted rookie, briefly played for the Niners in Jet. They have a third brother who also plays for the Michigan Panthers.

Well, he looks rangy as heck. How wild is that that the NACUA family is just stacked with athletes? Well, the NFL has a history of that. So I would expect the Rams family, the Watt family. Rams to make a run maybe at one or both of these brothers after the... I don't think you have to play with family. I think a lot of people do it. I mean, this guy's dominating in the U.S.L.

Renegates Panthers Sunday, one Eastern on Fox. I told you, when you watch the U.F.L, there's NFL players there. Now, they're not on the O line. But if you watch the DBs and the receivers, there's all sorts of speed in the U.S. You watch those highlights, and if I put NFL uniforms on those highlights, you wouldn't know. You guys are a playmaker. Oh, the league has talent. Now that you've converged both these leagues, these are some NFL dudes.

Rams could probably use a defender. I'd like to see the college national champion face the UFL champion. It can't happen because of schedules. That's what I'd like to see. The college national... Against the UFL champ. That's interesting. UFL champion.

up, there was a college all-star team that would face an NFL team or an NFL team that would face a call years and years ago. I remember there was a game once in Chicago. It ended because of a lightning storm or something. I don't remember it was like in the 70s. Oh, 70s. Okay. You get so upset. I mean, nobody knows what you're talking about. Come on. Hey, I can recite the Dodger infield in the 70s. Did they have cable TV back then? Did HBO exist? Colin, 1970s? It was the, make America the 70s again. Oh, wow. Oh, here we go. Massa.

Where's your red hat? Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Line news. Darwin Ham has been fired. Let's bring in Rick Buecker again. Buker's sitting there.

I want to get lunch. I want to stretch out. We're like, no. Look out. Yeah, I had all kinds of plans. So much for that. So what's the line? This is the eighth coach in 14 years.

Yeah, and I was trying to figure out how many coaches has LeBron had now? There was seven, I think seven or eight. Yeah, because there was, I feel like I'm missing one in Cleveland. There was Paul Silas. There was David Blatt. There was Ty Lou. Then Spoh. There's Luke Walton in L.A.

Anyway. Darvinham. I think you could get to 10 before he's done, the way we're going. Well, you are knowing. J. Mack had mentioned this earlier. I don't see you as this, but apparently Laker fans see you as tough on LeBron. Yes. Yeah.

I have high expectations for him based on where we place him in the hierarchy of NBA players and what he's accomplished. So is he hard to coach? Hard to coach? Yeah. Yeah, I think it's a challenge. It's without question. Because he wants to sub himself in and out. Well, it's not just subbing himself in and out, but you, to take advantage of LeBron and what he does,

You have to make your team LeBron-centric. Yeah, he very much, you said this yesterday, LeBron team's the ecosystem. Yes. Kevin Durand will come and get pockets. Yes, and when he was winning you championships, that was worth it. Then you, without question, what do I need to do?

What do you need, LeBron? I'm good with all that. Now, the problem that I have is when it doesn't work, like when they don't win a championship, or he doesn't win a championship, now it's everybody else's fault. It's like, no, no, no, we're catering to. you. It's a little bit like Janice in Milwaukee. Like, we're catering to you. If it doesn't, if it doesn't work, I'm not going to blame other people. We did what you asked us to do. We got you who you wanted to get. And then there's nothing wrong with failing. It's just abdicating the responsibility of that. And so this is another case where I just look at their roster and I look where LeBron is in his career. And Darvindham by no means was was perfect in the the job that he did, but you're not going to find somebody who's going to fix this roster,

this group with a 39-year-old LeBron James as your closer still and win a championship. That's just not realistic. So he, and J-MAC said, is it a good job? And I said, well, if you're looking at it from 30,000 feet, LeBron's not playing 71 games again. And Anthony Davis has had a year and a half stretch where he hasn't been hurt. Yeah. The odds are telling you that's going to do.

deteriorate. Yes. Yeah, it's not going to get better. And you're going to be left holding the bag. And also, they're going to get a third star. It could be a player that coaches struggle with

Trey Young. Yeah. And I don't, again, I don't see how that you're going to have you can't just acquire him. You're going to have to trade pieces out to get him. And I don't know that Trey changes the equation. I don't know that he moves the

needle for you in terms of where you need to go. Defensively, they had issues. They had issues particularly defensively on the perimeter. Trey Young certainly doesn't help you in that regard. So I do not see a coach coming in and solving this. Darvinham wasn't the reason. I could make as strong a case that Darvinham was the reason that they actually got to the playoffs. If you look, if you look at the team, the similar teams, Golden State didn't get there, right? Yeah. The Lakers did. Those two rosters to me are pretty comparable in the challenges that they had.

Yeah. Age and injury. Yes. So they made their run. They got there and then they came up against the defending champs who have your number and have the matchups. I would argue Golden State has more overall talent. But they had issues this year that were difficult to overcome. And so...

I mean, Draymond, Steph. Okay, but that's even more reason to say... That's what I'm saying. The Lakers made it and the Warriors didn't. That's what I'm saying. My takeaway is, I like, if you gave me both rosters, I'd take the Warriors. Right, right. So I'm just, look, obviously there's been talk about Ty Lou.

I heard you guys discussing that. The one element that you didn't mention is the fact that they low-balled Ty Lou the last time they went after him. Who did? The Lakers did. Oh, I didn't know that. They low-balled him. And, I mean, they made an offer, and he was like, that's not good enough. And they said, well, we're not going to do better than that.

And Balmer came in and doubled it. And Balmer paid him, and Phoenix would do the same if they ultimately make a change. They would go, Tyloo? They would, I would, I could see them going Tyloo. He's good. By understanding is that he would, he's on their list if they make a change. Well, Tylo is very good with dysfunction. He's good with coaching stars, too.

Okay. Yeah. I mean, do you call the Lakers dysfunctional? Clippers are dysfunctional. Suns felt dysfunctional. No, I would not call them dysfunctional. I just think they're impaired. I just don't think they're a great team. And the expectations are always in Lakerville that they're supposed to be great. And with LeBron, you're supposed to play for a title. And AD's healthy, so you're supposed to play for a title.

And as we know, when we look at teams, first of all, the West just being stacked, young and coming, it's just, it's not realistic. It's not a realistic expectation. And I don't want to be a coach walking in to a situation that I don't have full control over and that has unrealistic expectations. Okay, so I'm going to get, let's take Tyloo out of it. I'm going to give you these names. Okay. Kenny Atkinson, J.J. Reddick. Yep.

what was the other one jemak uh mike budenholzer which one would you take I well for entertainment purposes j jrack me personally I'm taking j jrattick please give me j jritsch probably go Atkinson

wouldn't they love him in Brooklyn they love him in golden state he's very much an analytics guy butanholtzer and Atkinson are very different in their approach I would say because of Bud's experience working with Janus.

But Janice got tired of him. I'd lean that direction. Yeah, well, look, you're finding a coach for the next year or two with LeBron. That's embarrassing. And then you're moving on anyway. So the argument I've made is that I even think guys like Kenny Atkinson

would go, you're not going to give me $3 million. Because remember, Jeannie Bus is one of the poorest owners. She's not paying seven for a coach and Darvinham's last two years. Yeah, and if I'm Kenny Atkinson, I, like, I need this. And I need that next job to be better, like, put me in a better situation. It's like, it's almost like the Yankee job with Aaron Boone. You think to yourself, oh, it's the Yankee job.

But when you had John Carlos Stanton and Aaron Judd, before you had Garrett Cole, you're like, it's not a World Series roster. Houston is, Atlanta is. but you think it's a great job. When Brian Kelly took over Notre Dame, oh, it's Notre Dame. They have very many good players. Now Notre Dame was a good job because Kelly recruited him.

So the Lakers job, the brand makes you believe what a, it's not necessarily a great, your two best players, one is historically brittle, and one's in year 22. Yeah. And you need the authority when you walk into that locker room of having a ring behind you because there are guys who do have a ring in that locker room.

If you're Kenny Atkinson, you don't walk in with that. Bud does walk in with that. J.J. Reddick lived here. He's got some L.A. fields. I think he moved to Austin, Texas or something at one point, but he's done some L.A. stuff. He'd take the game in a second. I think he, I mean, if he's doing a, if he's based in New York now.

But if he's doing a pod with LeBron, he's got to be in L.A. sometimes. Yes. Yeah. Well, yeah. Please give me that. Is there any chance that Lebron would leave? if they don't hire who he wants. No.

No, he's not leaving, but they're not hiring somebody he doesn't want. So that means it's JJ Redick or? I mean, he would want Ty Lou. Yeah, but he's not going to get him. I just don't think he can get Ty Lou. Palmer's not going to be embarrassed going into his new arena. Well, and he's not going to give up Ty Lou to the Lakers. He's not going to give the Lakers what they want.

That's not happening. And again, I would go back to, and I don't know how Ty feels about this. but do you, for all things considered, the Lakers job, you... I don't know that the Lakers job is something that anybody really... That's what I really said. That's what I'm saying. I think Kenny Atkinson, maybe I don't know Kenny,

but I could look at it and think, you're 22 for LeBron. They're on their eighth coach. Yeah. I mean, look, I'm drawing a blank in terms of who they went after, but I don't recall that Darwin was necessarily their first choice. Well, he was on Charlotte. wanted him and the Lakers hired it. There wasn't a big

list for him. Yeah. And the knock was he's a rookie head coach with LeBron. Yeah. And I think he's been fine. I think there's some substitution patterns that are wacky. But this is, I mean, you think it's going to, the idea that because JJ Reddick sounds intelligent on a podcast, that he's going to make in-game decisions that are going to be perfect.

Look, Kevin Durant wanted Steve Nash. Wanted Steve Nash. Who did? Steve Nash is one of the most cerebral. Who wanted him? Kevin Durant. Oh, and that didn't work at all. In Brooklyn. Well,

it didn't work initially. He got better. But it didn't work. It ultimately did not work. And so, again, that's why I... It's not because I don't want to see it not work. You know what's funny about that?

I think I can tell this story. Steve Nash took that job. Yeah. And let's just say, sources tell me that he couldn't... He wanted to be fired at the end. And I believe... It was...

It was... He was like... According to sources, this is no fun. Yeah. Let me go back to Manhattan Beach and surf. You know who else feels that way? Who? Dharvan Ham.

Some of the things that he said in the last few weeks indicates to me. He's over it. He's like, if you're, I'm okay with it. I'd like to continue to coach, but if I'm not, this is, I'm in a no-win situation. I'm always a little jealous of people. People who get fired and get that parachute.

Yeah. And it's like, which he has. When's the last time you took a month off? A month? I think he's got like at least a year or two at $5 million per. Like, sign me, sign me up for that. A little jelly on. All right. Rick Buecker, good stuff.

Good seeing you. Thanks again. Same. Back in a second, The Hurt. Be sure to catch live editions of the HARD weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Rural. 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, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes,

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

you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode, with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, 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, or 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, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose.

on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Round one and two of the NBA playoffs are here. Jay Mack, we've been playing this game for a long time. You ready to roll? Let's go. Former newspaper guy, blog king, here we go.

Tomorrow's headlines today. What's going to be the headline for Magic Cavs series? We haven't done a lot of Cavs Magic on the show. Don't worry. It's going to go seven. The headline will be. Do you believe in magic? No, I don't.

I think the Cavs win in seven. Magic tonight are the play, for sure. They're very good at home. Cleveland's been hit and miss these last five. They're not looking good. They've got some internal dysfunction. We'll see about the Jared Allen injury, their center. Mowley's played well.

I think they unlocked something with Darius Garland last game. He was excellent. Ultimately, I think the Magic Lose in seven. I think the Cavs will probably win the final game at home. But you like Orlando tonight. I do like Orlando, especially first quarter. Tomorrow's headlines today. That was a betting reference.

Clips Mavs headlines. We watch this game together, whatever that was called. I mean, it was a beatdown. Tonight's game, the headline will be. Luca Mom! No game seven. Mavs closed it out tonight. They're big favorites by eight at home.

We know James Hardin good early in the series historically. Gets later in the series and favorites. I saw a stat that he's had 13 playoff games in his career where he shot 20% or worse from the field. Listen to like a Hall of Fame or former MVP. I don't think the Clippers show up tonight. I think the Mavs get them. That Mavs OKC series is going to be very interesting. A lot of people like OKC.

I think they're in for a rude awakening with this Dallas team, which is deep, man. They got like eight or nine guys that can cycle through led by Luca and Kyrie. Tomorrow's headlines today. Looking forward to this. Nuggets T. Wolves. say you. Saturday night's main event, right? This should be a good series. A lot of people like Minnesota, the headline will be Joker 2. Nugget sequel rules the boxed out office. I like Yokic here in game one. I was looking at some of the numbers. For all the Rudy Gobert

rim protecting, Joker averaged 33 a game against them this season. And I know Anthony Edwards is going to be a problem. KCP probably guards him. Jaden McDaniels is fascinating against Jamal Murray, because then you need Porter to step up again. But Nuggets are just too good. I think that wolves are close, Colin. Carl Anthony Towns is the guy to watch. Like, he could swing this series, and if he doesn't, I think we've got to keep an eye on the New York Knicks and Cat in the offseason.

Speaking of the Knicks, tomorrow's headlines today, Nick's Pacers series, I don't know who I like. Yeah, I think I'm overthinking this one a little bit. You might be as well. The headline for Nick's Pacers will be boom, boom, see Akam Laka. Pacers can't turn off Bunsen Burner Brunson Burner of course Jalen Brunson

So I look back at this this is interesting So Rick Carlisle Coach of the Pacers used to coach the Mavs Yes In 2021 he benched Jalen Brunson Down the stretch Against the Clippers in the first round Barely played him

Carlisle ended up getting fired And you just have to wonder Brunson's been doubted all his life People have been like Oh Jay he's too small We heard Becky Hammond Come on TV he can't be the number one He's too small small

Small guards don't win A lot of people doubting Brunson, Colin, I think the Knicks are the side here. Yeah, they could struggle early in the series. Yeah. Finding their legs after that Philly, that grueling series. But I think the Knicks ultimately, I'm going defense over offense. And I'll go with the Knicks in six. And the one I'm waiting for.

Tomorrow's headlines today. Where is LeBron going to be next season? Well, the Darvinham News here kind of changes things, right? Darwin and him didn't see eye to eye. I remember LeBron chewed him out in that Nuggets game. Call. Challenge a call. He wouldn't do it.

The headline will be the big Lebronsky. the dude abides in L.A. Look at our graphics team. Is that chocolate milk? No, that is absolutely not chocolate milk. I think LeBron stays in L.A. I can't see him leaving. First of all, you don't run off the coach and then leave town.

That would be an awful look for LeBron. I think he finds a guy, whether it's Atkinson or Redick, I don't see Boutenholzer. but they're going to have options. I think LeBron stays. Colin, I'm being optimistic here, glass half full. They went to the conference finals against the defending champs. Then this year, they played him extremely tough in the first round. Three games, all four games go down in the fourth quarter.

They're not that far off. They're maybe a piece away. I don't think you need to over. You think LeBron's going to play 71 games again? I don't think he needs to. Do you think AD's not going to get hurt? That was the most A D's played in forever. And then he suffers that injury.

He suffered him. A stinger. It's very strange. But I think he stays, and I think they reshaped the roster. Just keep Austin Reeves, please. I've ordered the Austin Reeves jersey. I don't want to have to return it because he gets traded. Is that your gun show, summer jersey?

Yeah, I haven't worked out in a couple weeks because of the ankle. But I'll be back hitting the gym hard, started today. I haven't worked out because of gin. So we worked out. Because of gin. All right. First things first is obviously around the corner. Hope you had a great Friday.

So breaking news, our last hour, which is always welcome. don't like to see people lose their gig, but Darvin's, I think, is going to be okay. And I thought it was okay as a coach. We will see you Monday. Have a great weekend. Be safe. Live in Los Angeles, The Hurt. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is 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. 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. 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, 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 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal,

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

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.