The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 3 - LeBron

Episode Date: February 23, 2022

More on the rift between LeBron James and the LakersThe insane popularity of Michael JordanGuest: J. A. Adande 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.

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

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me.

84 was 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. 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. 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 Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart radio app by searching Heard.

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Fairety got good news best-selling legend sweater shirt is back all new colors check it out Fairety brand.com use the code heard 20 for 20% off I'm excited for the second half of the NBA season

I've said this I was talking to a friend about this last night the NBA has always been it's a long regular season and there is a little bit of a Netflix effect happening for Monday through Friday sports in America for baseball for soccer for the NBA.

People are watching Netflix Monday through Friday. Networks put their biggest games on Saturday, Sunday. Biggest WNBA, biggest NBA, biggest NBA, biggest NFL, biggest college football are on Sunday. Those ratings are great. They're all doing great. The NBA weekend ratings are fine.

So the Monday through Friday stuff where people are choosing streaming services, Hulu and Amazon Prime. And then on the weekends, when the networks put on their best games and promote it. So the NBA or baseball or any sport that has a proponderance. of games Monday through Friday, if you're competing with these streaming services, you've got to have good stories. Stories a win. NBA's first half, no good stories.

Second half, interesting stories. Can Golden State overtake Phoenix and the West? Can Milwaukee get their defense back? James Harden, Philly, all these moving talented parts in Brooklyn. Chicago is it a real team? So I think it's going to be a good second half of the NBA. I do. There's some really, really interesting story.

Alex Caruso comes back for the Bulls. that's a very interesting. I like when Chicago's good at basketball. It's a great football city, but like when the Bulls are great, it's just a fierce cold weather, winter, tough guy town. I miss it. Jay Adonde had the unique experience. He is now a professor, director of sports journalism at Northwestern.

He had a unique experience. He covered Michael Jordan in the Bulls dynasty for the Chicago Sun Times and the Kobe Bryant Lakers for the LA Times. So two great newspapers. He's joining us live. You know, it is interesting. Michael Jordan got a bigger ovation in Cleveland than LeBron, and he tormented those great cab teams for years.

He was a villain. I mean, that would be like a Red Sock going back to Yankee Stadium or something. Like a Johnny Damon and getting a bigger cheer than like Jeter. It's like, I mean, you covered Jordan. Did you think he would endure like this? I mean, most athletes don't age like this. Did you know at the time this is going to be our Pelae? Great, popular for over.

I mean, winning over places like Cleveland, I'm not sure the same applies in Detroit. We'd have to see if they hosted an all-star weekend. Colin, the thing we didn't take into account was the enduring popularity of the Air Jordan's shoes, which I think goes a long way toward explaining Michael Jordan's relevance and resonance with younger generations today. And then, of course, the last dance and what that did for his memory and preserving his memory intact.

But I will say it felt like for a moment, Colin, that there was no goat debate that, Colin, if I was going to ask you, okay, it would feel more incomplete if LeBron wasn't there or if Michael Jordan wasn't there. And it just felt necessary that Michael Jordan show up to have that ceremony feel complete, didn't it? No, no, absolutely. That's a great point. You know, it's funny, Iverson, his ovation, what did you make of that for Alan?

It was a great reflection of the progress. So, Colin, I was there in 97 when the All-Star Game in Cleveland celebrated the NBA's 50th anniversary. And one of the themes that weekend was a lot of the legends who had been assembled for that weekend. They were all talking bad about Iverson. To them, he represented everything that was wrong with the modern NBA, the hip-hop generation, Generation X. and a lot of it was directed at Iverson. And, you know, I think he was wounded by that. It got back to him.

And now to see him at the 75th anniversary embraced, celebrated, ensconced in the Hall of Fame, a full member of the establishment, and the recognition of what he meant for these younger generations that have come up. We've now had two or three NBA generations that came up intrigued by Iverson, that were fascinated by Iverson, that looked up to Iverson. And the influence that he has on the game's popularity with Younger's younger people. And I would say to some degree the style of the game and helping him making a young, a small man's game. You know, Michael Jordan maybe made it, took it from a center to a shooting

guard. And Iverson, you know, made six footers and people close to six foot like Chris Paul and and Stefan Curry. I think he helped open the game up for people his size or closer to his side. You know, the other thing I've always felt basketball is the only sport. Soccer's got a little bit of this, the international soccer especially, where our basketball players are artists. There's artistry to it. And like a lot of artists, they age. They get more popular with age. And I think Iverson is the classic.

Nobody, you know, we bought his art a little bit when he played. But when he left, culturally, we appreciated what he brought to the table. And, you know, another thing about the NBA, I didn't get Iverson. I didn't get him. I was like, I don't get it. Like, he's kind of, you know, his game. And now I look, I'm like, oh, stupid. You know what I mean?

Like I do feel he's got a little bit. He's the classic artist that we love his art. It goes up in value when he passes or he leaves. Well, Colin, the culture caught up to him, you know. And I was just a few years older than I ever said. And I don't think I recognized at the time how much he met to people who were younger than him coming up after him. And, you know, again, hip hop at the time we forget now. But in the 90s, hip hop was still outside.

Hip hop was still dangerous. And now it's very much the establishment. You could argue it's the currency of pop culture. And so that's the case of the culture catching up to where Alan Iverson was 25 years ago. You know, J.A., you, again, you have such a unique perspective, having covered Jordan and that dynasty and COVID. In fact, I think you're probably the only person that's done that. I could be wrong on that. But they were such glamorous teams.

And I don't want to be an old guy yelling at clouds. But Ben Simmons, basically, I refuse to play. Zion, you know, obviously, he knows. not going to play. James Harden, you know, got heavy in Houston. I've always sided with athletes because I worked really hard in college, and that gave me more options the minute I hit the market. In basketball, you know, you got about seven years to make your, you know, seven years, 24 to 31, you're in your prime, maybe a little longer now with better nutrition and training. But the harder you work, the worst team you go to. So I've always kind of defended the employee like

they get traded. I never get traded. You get traded a different. people. There's GMs that are bad, owners that are corrupt. But it is a little bit. I understand the average fan going, you know, Simmons pouts and hardened pouts and Zion and you can't do that in football. I just wonder where you land on that stuff. Like Zion clearly has made his mind up a little bit like, I'm not playing here. Like I'm going to go rehab in Portland. Like I'm, I'm disconnecting from the Pelicans. How does it land for you somebody that's older and appreciates the league? Colin, I do think it's unfair that, yeah, you work hard in college to put yourself in the best position, and then you have to go to a team, probably the worst working environment, right?

The team that was most likely the worst in the league that previous year, depending on how the lottery plays out. So I'd be in favor of abolishing the draft, but because that's what we have, you know, you have to do the best with where you are. And it is unseemly, you know, seeing people play or not play their way out of a team not show up, not report to work. And, you know, we do have to be sensitive with, with, with, with regard to, you know, the mental health claims that he is making. And we certainly don't want to discount those. But, you know, just generally the lack of participation. And we've seen it now twice with James Hardin. You know, as we go forward into the trades, it's interesting

because I still feel like you can count on Hardin more than we know what we're going to get from Simmons. Yeah. And that's why I like Philadelphia going forward because I feel like, okay, there's fewer unknowns with the 76ers than there are with the Nets after this trade. You know, I was saying to start my show today, and I talked about it at top of this hour as well, Los Angeles in any industry, tech, music, entertainment, sports, the most talented people in the country want to live here.

We're New York with great weather and beaches, right? And so the Lakers have never been held hostage. They have ultimate leverage. Wilt, Kareem, LeBron. You know, they draft Kobe or they trade him from Charlotte Magic. But they just go get the next guy. Matt Stafford said, I want to play. I have a house in L.A.

I want to play for the Rams. OBJ is like, I want to play for the Rams. Paul George, Kauai. And I said this. It would have sounded crazy five years ago. I don't think it's crazy today. And you cover the organization to say, listen, we got a title out of LeBron. He's missed like 70 games in four years.

we can rebuild this puppy and move him. That sounds absurd four years ago. I don't think it's absurd. I don't think it's crazy to send LeBron just like, hey man, you left teams. We're moving off you, your thoughts. You also have to consider from a business perspective, it hasn't worked out. They won a championship, so it's all good. It's a success.

As far as I'm concerned, LeBron to L.A. is a success. I'm sure he got what he wanted to off the court. They got a championship. it's a success. But from a business perspective, remember, they didn't make the playoffs this first year. When they won the championship, it was in the bubble, so you didn't get the home game revenue. And then they only had a couple home games with them in the playoffs last year. So, you know, you think you get LeBron, you're going to have home playoff games, which is when the teams really make their money because they're not responsible for the player salaries at that point,

and they can wrap up the prices. But they've only had like two or three home playoff games with LeBron. So they haven't got the business payout. that they wanted. And LeBron, we thought this was going to be his last act, but he's clearly restless. And I think being back in Cleveland and all the nostalgia that came with this All-Star weekend, and you heard his comments to the athletic, I think there's a lot in play that maybe we didn't take into consideration. And also we have to take in the fact that he likes creating new pathways, right? No one's ever had anything close to approaching the career journey that he's

been on, Cleveland, to Miami, back to Cleveland, out to Ellis. LA, winning championships in all three cities. So maybe he's curious as to what the next act is. And I think if you're the Lakers, okay, this happened. We got the championship. But long term, we need a full reset, right? So I think on both sides, it makes sense that maybe their futures lie or their best served by taking a split. Boy, that's a really good point on revenue.

I'd never thought of that. They haven't gotten any home games. By the way, I don't remember you dressing this professorial when you were a columnist. I don't know what you're... You know, it was, Colin. I saw all the people wearing turtlenecks during All-Star weekend. I think Magic and Michael were wearing turtlenecks. I only have one turtleneck, Colin.

This is not a regular part of my wardrobe. But I broke it out today. Yes, you look very all-star-ish. Great seeing you, my man. Jay Adonde. Congrats, buddy, and all your success. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard Radio app.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. 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 get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and

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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. 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.

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iHeartRadio app search learn the hard way and listen now really really good point there i had never thought of it from that perspective like you bring him in the good thing with lebron you get like 15 home playoff games i've got like two so from a financial standpoint lakers always sell out you know they always sell tickets that's not the issue where's the revenue bump now it's been great for lebron his his net worth has exploded l a la has been great for lebron but has he been great for business for them i mean they've won 1718 titles So it's like the Yankees. It's like Alabama football.

What makes Saban work is Alabama always sells their tickets, but the merchandise was saving, the consistency was saving. You get all this added value. Alabama's always winning games and always selling their tickets. Yeah, the Lakers were not, though. Were they not? I thought they were still. Three seasons before LeBron, they were 78 and 168.

But weren't they selling out? Lakers just a tardigate tickets. The Lakers are going to sell tickets, but not like they are now. I mean, right now, they're pre-Lebron. They're not that interesting. They're not going to be a playoff team. Where's my bump? You got rich.

Where's my bump? I mean, they got a championship. No, no, no. But it's not like they're Cleveland. Like, we got 17 of these puppies. We got a big trophy room out back. Yeah, but I mean, to go from being 78 and 168 to winning a championship. No, I'm not saying there's not, there's not value, but we were bad before you.

We're bad again. We sold out before you. We sell out again. We've won titles before you. We won title again. They're not as desperate as Cleveland or some of these other teams. LeBron got way more out of this, I would argue, than the Leckhurst did. LeBron's got like 13.

He's got a production company. LeBron crushed it out here. Lakers could go, we won titles with like 19 different players. We sold out before you got here. We're bad again. So why would I not? I don't think they're bad. They're not great.

They're not bad. Boy. Bad? The Lakers aren't bad. By Lakers standards, yes. They're the 20th best team in the league. Is that crazy? My bad.

16th. Ryan says they're disappointing. Yeah. Yes, I think disappointing. Depending on what your expectations were, because expectation breeds disappointment. Okay, give me a team in the NBA. Right now, give me a team and I'll tell you better or worse than the Lakers. Don't count the clippers.

They got none of their employees healthy. Give me a team. Milwaukee, Milwaukee. You give me a team. The defending champions. You can't use Milwaukee. Well, that's one of them. Hawks.

Give me another one. We just gave two, three. Well, I mean, you gave me the Clippers. Nobody's healthy. That's not fair. Right now, Celtics are better. Celtics are playing some good basketball. I'd feel better if I was the Celtics.

At least my guys are healthy. Celtics are sixth in the east. Lakers are not a playoff team today. I'd take the Nats. I got Kevin Durant. I'd take the Nats. Who else? That's unfair.

Now you're just bringing the dregs in, trailblazers. The Trailblazers are 10th in the West. The Lakers are a ninth. Prime example. Dame's not playing and trades CJ McCullough and the Lakers are an inch higher than them. I'm not saying that the Lakers are having a great season. I'm not saying they're a great team. I'm just saying they're not a bad team.

A bad team is the Rockets. the thunder. No, those are terrible teams. The rockets are terrible. The pelicans. Terrible. I don't think the Lakers are very... Here's one.

How about the Pacers? Well, I got LeBron, so I'd say Lakers are better. Hornets? Boy, that is a go-either-way one. What? You know, whoa, whoa, what? They got a rising, ascending star. What's the record for the Hornets right now?

The Bron James, Anthony Davis. Yeah, they're ninth in the east. The only reason I like the Lakers is LeBron. Look at this roster. It's like seven free agents who are 36. Pretty good reason to like a roster. They have one young player I like. Malik Monk, I like a lot.

I am not arguing that the Lakers are good right now. I'm just saying bad is not an adjective I would use to describe the Lakers. I'm not Mr. Negative here, but you guys. The drama is bad. I'm not coming tomorrow. I'm not going to shave. I'm not going to do my hair. I'm just going to say, I'm not bad.

I'm just average. You get this with work and effort. All right. We're running out of time here. I've blown the show up. Joy with a news. I just blown the show. Turn on the news.

This is the heard-line news. I'm not going to rethink it. I think they're the 15th best team in the NBA. And if you're the 15th best team in the NBA... You're average. That's average. That's the definition of average. No, the 15th best NFL team is average.

The 15th best NBA team is nonsense. because the bottom seven are atrocious. There are not seven atrocious teams in the NFL. I mean, Detroit gave you everything they had. The Texans beat the Chargers. The Jags beat the Bills. If you're a bottom seven team in the NBA, you are atrocious.

Anthony Davis has missed 21 games this season. If Anthony Davis and LeBron James were healthy, you think they're in this or even having these conversations right now? Well, I mean, if. Yeah, you know, I get it. If this, if that, I don't want to do the same. If the Steelers had Aaron Rogers. What about the Mavericks?

Mavericks are better than the Lakers. They've got an ascending star. Dinwiddie trade, we'll see. I think they've got a collection of solid players and a superstar. Lakers have old players, bad chemistry, awful Westbrook contract. Am I being negative here? Yes. Am I being negative?

Mr. Honesty Broker, glass half full. I just think that you, I think bad is a very aggressive way to describe what's happened with the Lakers. I think it's very limiting. Okay, you know what? I'm going to go out and have a steak tonight. The good thing is we have a show to do tomorrow. Reboot my mind.

So we can discuss this at, you know, at length. Am I negative? You guys think they're okay. You think they're average. I think Anthony Davis has missed 21 games this season. LeBron has missed time. Russell Westbrook has been Russell Westbrook. They had the oldest roster coming into the league.

I've literally blown through. They clearly had some disagreements about. how this roster was going to be assembled and who should be on this roster. Okay, let's take a break. I got to take a break and come back for your herd line. I blew up this whole show. I screwed the whole thing up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports

Radio, FS1 and the IHeard Radio app. I'm George Reister, host of the Reister or Wrong podcast. This is the intersection where sports, business, society, and pop culture meet the truth. absolute fire on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays facts only. Make sure you check your feelings at the door because no BS is allowed. We keep it 100. This is where real conversations happen. Listen to the Rights or Wrong podcast on the IHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or 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 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, 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 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-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George 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 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 on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you 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 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, 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,

as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. Endless hot water, easy on the environment. Go tankless, tankless made simple.com to get a Navian tankless water heater. Save money, save the planet.

Enjoy with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, let's talk more Lakers. Why not? So many rumors have surfaced about LeBron and his camping unhappy with Lakers' GM, Rob Polinka recently.

Rich Paul has denied those reports. But even if LeBron wanted Polinka out, it doesn't sound like the team would make that move. According to Mark Stein, Rob Polinka has the unwavering support of Jeannie Bus and is a pillar of the team's brain trust alongside Jeannie. Well, she tends to be very loyal. And Linda Rambus. She knows. She's loyal to Linda Rambus. Yes.

Best friend. Kurt Rambus, Magic, and Rob Polinka. So they're part of the Laker family. So that Jeannie is very, very loyal. The Lakers, people forget this. It's like the Steinbrenner family and the Yankees. It's a group of family members, and there's a handful of people the family members trust. Rob Polenka, it's a small, you know, it's like the Cowboys.

The biggest brand in America is Charlotte Jones, Stephen Jones, Jerry Jones. Absolutely, that's Cowboys. And a handful of the Yankees are the same thing with the Steinbrenner. So it's not a big corporation. These are family-run businesses. By the way, when you had like the Patriarch, when you had George Steinbrenner, who was a winning was everything,

they won more. And with the Cowboys, when they've relinquished power to the coach, they've won more. And so my takeaway is if I was the Lakers, and this is nothing against Rob,

he's a bright guy. I would go out and get outside voices, but that's not how the Lakers operate. Look, I mean, we're not really in positions where people are trying to be around us for our influence and money at the level that Jeannie Bus is.

That's right. Or, you know, one of the Jones family members would be or Jerry Jones. So having people around you that you trust is obviously very important. However, in a structured situation like this, like this isn't, you know, deciding where we're going to invest the family money. This is running an organization that has structure and levels and job titles and paychecks. Like there's a system to how to win in this league. It's not just, you know, some random business. So having outsiders and having people with other opinions,

is actually very beneficial. Now, I think you and I are aligned in that. We don't like a certain amount of yes people around us because it's not beneficial in the long term to your growth and to keeping up with an ever-changing society. Yeah, I don't like yes people. So I agree with you. And I do also believe that certain positions have to be empowered.

Like your head coach, they have to be empowered. There has to be an alignment between the front office and the coaching. And we've seen that throughout all these leagues now when that starts to splinter, how quickly the end. entire structure of the organization can fall apart. For all my criticisms of the Lakers, I will tell you I respect this, that they are telling LeBron, we're not giving you everything they want. I completely utterly respect that because I do think five years ago you would have.

What's confusing to me is who is actually making the calls? Because there's so many names with so many different kind of it. Of course, Jeannie, but the basketball calls. Like, Jeannie is trusting someone. Rob Polinka. Is it Rob Polinka or is it the Rambuses? Because depending on who's reporting, they are making the decisions. They have the final say or they have the most amount of influence.

And then you have magic. So, like, what is the structure of who says this is the right basketball decision? I am signing off on this. And then it goes to Jeannie. Jeannie's always been on the operation side. She trusts Rob Polink on the basketball side. Then everybody falls under Rob. That's what I've been told.

So then Rob is a source. responsible for this roster. That's right. And I don't like the roster. So if the failure is on the court. Yeah, again, I would, I am not. Rob was an agent. He agents represent stars.

I think he tends to like stars more than I do. But that's his prerogative. But that is my understanding is Jeannie has always been on the, you know, operation side. She leaves the basketball to the experts. Overall, I think Jeannie's done an amazing job. The Lakers were a disaster. The operation side's always been strong.

She is right at the ship in that regard. I think she's done an amazing job with that. I would love her on the show, by the way. She's been on the show before. Yeah, she's incredible. I would, you know, I'll ask journalistic questions and pry answers out. The issue for me with the Lakers, if there is one, because I think the expectations for this team are wildly out of control to begin with, if there has to be someone who's held responsible for what's happened this year, the drama aside with what LeBron's going to do. LeBron's going to do what he wants to do.

Like that's at the end of the day. Can you get her on the show? Can I get her on the show? Yeah. Colin, you're calling Cowher. You don't, no, no, no. You have way more influence with her. Jeannie, please come on the show.

We'd love to talk to you. No, but she's very open, and I don't like, right now, I feel there's too much. There is a lot of confusion coming from the, from, there's a lot of people leaking stuff out. And that's always when things get confusing to me, because what is the strategy here? Is everyone just trying to save their jobs? Because I are we trying to actually build towards some sort of winning. I like what Jeannie. Jeannie's the one that's saying, not Rob, Jeannie's the one.

Jeannie's telling Rob, we're not blowing this thing up. This is your roster, LeBron. You in Clutch Sports. You wanted it. It's a mess. It's on you. But then Clutch is saying that this isn't the roster that they wanted. I can assure you, I know this for, here's what I know to be true.

Westbrook was LeBron's guys. That was not something Vogel. Vogel likes big. He doesn't like inefficient guards past their prime. I mean, I see it's pretty obvious that that wasn't what was wanted. Well, we'll figure it out tomorrow, I guess. So Davis Mills was the starter for the majority of the Texans' 2021 season. He had a two and nine record.

And head coach Levy Smith said on the Mitch Eisen's show, they are confident in him continuing to be their starter. You don't give out starting positions in the spring. But, I mean, as I say it, I love what Davis has done. He's our quarterback going into the season. There are a lot of things, positions I'm worried about. Quarterback is not one of. And I love what Davis Mills does.

did last year feel real good about, you know, Davis, you know, leading our team. We just have to get better people around. I do think he's earned a second year. I think there's something there. I think he does too. It's a little Taylor Heineke for me where... I think he throws a better ball. I actually think he's got a pretty good arm.

There's something there and there's also not a whole lot of other options out there. And the Texans are in a complete rebuild and they're going to move on from Deshaun Watson this year. They're not going to pay him another year to not play. So it's an easy. transition into whatever else you're going to build around him. He's obviously, I don't think the future, but... He's a pretty easy thrower. Stanford Kitty's Bright, doesn't get in trouble.

I think he's earned a second year. I'd give him a... Listen, they got so many needs. Yes, exactly. They have so many positions. They have the 16th most cap space in the NFL. They have nine draft picks, including number three overall pick. Rebuild the team. Run it back with Davis Mills.

I'm comfortable with that. At the position that the Houston Texans are in right now, and they still have to figure out the Deshaun Watson situation. All right. Joy Taylor with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lie News. I'll say this about the Lakers. When LeBron's

off the floor, you tell me what that offense is. I'll tell you what it is. Bad. All right. There you go. I'm done. I kind of messed this hour up. I think we had a great hour. I disagree. Rividing. We'll go back and look at the ratings. See what we have to get rid of.

We'll see you tomorrow. Live in L.A. It's the third. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests

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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 Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

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