The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Steelers, and MLB contracts

Episode Date: May 2, 2019

Colin breaks down why the best thing for the NBA isn't the best thing for Golden State Warriors F Kevin Durant. Colin also goes into why the Celtics-76ers playoff series is so important, the problem with Sixers C Joel Embiid, why the Pittsburgh Steelers will win their division, and the issues with MLB contracts. Guests include Doug Gottlieb, Eddie House, Reggie Bush, and Cuttino Mobley. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world. can do anything. I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart women's

sports. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multimillion dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last. Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast.

Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Heard. We're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. On a Thursday, this is The Herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. We're on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio. We're on FS1 in beautiful Los Angeles, where Tom Brady was working out yesterday,

about five minutes from here. Joy Taylor is joining me. Would have died to see Tom Brady yesterday. That would have been to my favorite day of all time. You notice that picture, how big. He is. How much bigger Tom Brady is. He said he's bulking up this year, right?

Yeah, he looks younger and bigger than he's ever looked. It's great to have you in today. You have a very spring look today. Yeah, I'm trying to, you know, bring the sunshine. You really are. I'm over this cold. It's not really cold, but I'm in the sunshine. It's good to have you in.

You know, what's the old, Maya Angelou said when people talk, they tell you what they're thinking, listen to them. I think it was her. Somebody said that before listen to people. They'll tell you what they're thinking. So I don't want Kevin Durant to leave the Warriors. I think it's a classic mistake. I think if he wants to be the goat,

I don't think he ever will be, but I think he can get close. And I think the gateway to that is San Francisco and Oakland. I do not think leaving smart by him. You know, if you want to win four for four, you're not going to do that in New York. But I listen to people when they talk. And Kevin Durant likes to talk, and he's got a lot to say.

He's very present. He said this quote yesterday. He goes, man, this is where this blank is full. I mean, this is when it's serious, and I'm just embracing it. I'm having so much fun right now. This time of the year is what I'm geared for. You go through such a long season to get to this point, and now it's time to have fun. Oh, you mean the regular season is a grind and a long season?

Interesting. Just remember those words. I want to take you back a couple years when Kevin Durant wasn't having as much fun. It was called Oklahoma City. Do you remember his stats there when he wasn't having as much fun? In Oklahoma City, it should be noted. These stats are playoff numbers. Hardin was there for some of it.

Westbrook was there for some of it. He shot 45% from the floor, 33% on threes. He now shoots almost 52% from the floor and 39% on threes. And they're in the playoffs where he just told me that's where it's fun. I'm having so much fun. long regular seasons. Does everybody get if he goes back to New York, even with Kyrie? Because those playoff numbers, I gave you an OKC, that included Westbrook and Hardin.

They had good players. They had a coach that won coach of the year. He wasn't the same player. He was great. He wasn't having this much fun. I just want to remind you, I'm watching the Blazers in Denver last night. How much talent there is in the NBA? This idea that he's going to go to New York with a lottery pick and Kyrie Irving and it's just going to be fun.

Portland, I don't consider to be a championship team. They have six dudes who scored in double figures last night. C.J. McCullough, Enas Canner, Enas Canner, Damian Lillard, Rodney Hood. They got Zach Collins. They have six NBA dudes, double figures. The Philadelphia 76ers, I do not believe, are a championship team. They have five guys who are legit NBA players. M. B. Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, J.J. Reddick.

I don't think Milwaukee is a championship team. I think they're very good. They've got Janice and Chris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. And they're getting Malcolm Brogden back. And they got Brooke Lopez and Meritage. Okay, now let's get to the championship teams. I believe Houston is a championship level team. Harden, Chris Paul, Kemp, P.J. Tucker, Farrie, J. Tucker, Farid, Gerald, Green, Eric Gordon. That's seven dudes and a great coach.

Let's go to Boston. Great coach. Tatum, Horford, Kyrie, Gordon Hayward, Jalen Brown, a rose ear, Marcus Morris. That's seven guys. So you think a lottery pick, you and Kyrie are going to go to New York and change the world? Oh, that's adorable. Where are your other four guys? Where are your other four double-digit scores?

Because I got your numbers when you played with Hardin and West. Brook, and that wore you out. Now you're at Golden State, and your quote is, I'm having so much fun. It's not like the long regular season. You think a lottery pick, I don't care if it's Zion, John Morant. You think a lottery pick and Kyrie, who, by the way, injury prone and sort of himself tired of the regular season, that's a game changer. I believe people when they talk.

Ask LeBron James, with four talented young guys and people we'd see. in the playoffs. Rondo, Lance, Michael Beasley, Javale McGee, they lost a team that were tanking. This idea, does everybody understand, does Kevin Durant understand how much talent

there is in the NBA? Let me remind you that Utah with a great coach and Rudy Gobert All-Star and Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingalls and Ricky Rubio won a game in the playoffs. Oklahoma's

City with a veteran head coach and Paul George, who was an early MVP, and Westbrook and and Stephen Adams, won a game in the playoffs. You talk, I listen. You only have to go back a couple of years with Kevin Durant. He was playing with an all-star like Kyrie Irving would be in New York. He was miserable. His efficiency numbers weren't close to today. Yes, of course it's fun now, because you win and you'll always.

a second round and your playoff stretch is longer and you don't go home and get criticized. Life's fun when you work with smarter people and better people. And when I go to work now, I got a much bigger staff than I had at the other place. Now, I work with Joy. It's a lot more fun doing my show today than it was eight years ago. My staff's smarter. My staff's better. My teammates are better.

It's a lot of fun. I just don't think, Kevin Durant, look around the league. Portland had six guys last night in double figures. Do you know who the leading score right now in the New York Knicks is? No, I'm not joking. Emmanuel Moodye. Okay, dokey. Kyrie Irving, a 19-year-old, Kevin Durant and Emmanuel Moodye.

Bra, that's not winning a second playoff series in the East. And I'm not sure it's winning a playoff series. in the West. Listen to your own words. There's a reason you're so happy now. It's the dudes around you. Okay, big game tonight. A series that I'm into, Philadelphia, Toronto, tied at one.

I have said before, sports is about making choices. The New England Patriots have a dynasty. They make really good choices. They get rid of guys, even good players, pro-bow level players, get too expensive. They do it every year. It's hard. NBA, same thing. Warriors got rid of Monta Ellis an all-star.

Chose Steph Curry, not an all-star. All these dynasties, all this winning is choices. Boston Celtics got rid of Isaiah Thomas, MVP candidate, brought in other guys. It's all about choices. Philadelphia has four players. They're not going to be able to pay all of them what all of them want. Jimmy Butler's going to want a max, Tobias Harris,

Ben Simmons, Joel M.B., JJ Redick wants it. You're not going to be able to pay all these guys. You can have to make choices. I want to remind you tonight about Joe L.M.B. I'm going to read this verbatim. This is not an opinion. His health has been working against him. He's now required to take fluids before the game. He continues to suffer from tendonitis in his left knee that caused him to miss 14 of the Sixers' final 24 regular season games after the All-Star break.

He missed playoff games last year in Miami and already has missed one this year. Philadelphia, when the world gives you a medical warning, you know, you've seen cigarette boxes. It says on the side, smoke these and die a painful death. That's enough for me. It's why I don't have a great deal of sympathy for chain smokers. The box is telling you, scale back, smoky, it's going to hurt when you die. The NBA gives you, on the side of its box, a big warning. Seven-footers get hurt early.

It never gets better. Sam Bowie, Greg Oden, Yao Ming, Bill Walton, Brad Dordy, Ralph Samson. Do you see Shaq deteriorate late? Kwamey Brown, not a great player, thought he had a great body. Joel M. Bede has missed 63% of the games in Philadelphia, and he's an All-Star, and you're going to have to make a choice eventually. He needs six treatments to play the day of the game. And M.B.'s got back, knee, and foot issues.

I'd like to repeat, back, knee, and foot issues. I'd like to repeat. back, knee, and foot issues. That is what they call the big man injury bingo. That is the kryptonite trifecta. That's not a sprain wrist or an ice cream headache. Back knee foot issues for a seven-footer. I'll tell you, you're going to lose this series.

And you're going to think firing your head coach is solving all your problems. That solves everything in the NBA, right? Let's just fire the coaches. All right. Phoenix does that all the time. How they rolling? You think firing your coach is your big issue in Philadelphia. It's not.

It's a shooter's league. You're getting a warning on the side of your box. And that box is, dude, I love Ambide. I love his personality. I love his game. He look around, medical history. This series is fascinating to me on so many levels. I think Philadelphia has got much better players.

I think the pieces fit better with the Raptors. But Embed's the real story of this series. Six treatments per day. Missing playoffs again. Even the nights he plays, not 100%, IV fluids. This series is not just about these games, because if Philadelphia loses this series,

most think they will, they're going to fire the coach. And they think that's the magic elixir for wins. Go look around professional sports. The teams that can identify obstacles and problems before they surface and move off them, trade them, get other players for them are how dynasties are formed. Go look at the Spurs early history. Go look at the Patriots early history. Go look at the Golden State moving off Montailles.

Sometimes you've got to move All-Stars. Oklahoma City did. They got rid of the wrong All-Stars. Oklahoma City could be the Warriors right now. Does everybody get that? That KD and James Hardin could be playing together. They made the wrong choice. Now they're a one and done.

And I say one and done. I don't mean first round. They're one win in the playoffs and done. Philadelphia has a chance to be, they have a chance to be incredible, or they have a chance to be OKC and just pick the wrong guys. I can love MB the dude,

love MB, MBE the player, and be petrified about M. Beade's physical reality. Watch this series tonight, not just the games, but this is the next OKC. Three, four, great players. Look at the choices of the Thundermade. Sixers, don't kid yourself.

They're not signing all four of these guys. They're not. You can keep convincing yourself. They're not. They're not going to keep all four or five of these guys. If you count JJ Redick. choices. It's the difference between the Warriors and the Thunder. Will it be the difference between the Celtics and the Sixers?

Game three in the series tonight. Coming up next, speaking of warnings, the Pittsburgh Steelers, I just want to remind you, their GM came out yesterday and said, there's no expiration date on Big Ben. We signed him. It's not ending soon. I think Pittsburgh has another Super Bowl. in them. And I just want to give you a heads up on something that I thought was obvious, that appears to be obvious. We have proof that it's obvious, but everybody's arguing about it.

The Steelers are going absolutely nowhere. That's coming up next. 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to

hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action, with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

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,

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, Keel. gains 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. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. And Lombonies, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Life throws hurdles big and small.

The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. from the WMBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain.

It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeke. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. at our level at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world.

Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. By the way, just quickly on the Pittsburgh Steelers, I have them winning the division. And it's amazing how much pushback I got on this, because people say they lost in

Antonio Brown. We've all worked with somebody like this. They're really talented. Maybe they're loud. They're needy. A little bit of a diva man, woman. Gender doesn't really matter. That when they are in the room, you're walking on eggshells. They're productive, but they're a lot of weight. There's a certain gravitas. There's a certain pressure. They're eggshell employees. Everybody's a little being quiet. They leave the room. I've said this about Westbrook before. When Paul George was leading the Thunder this year, they were lighter and more fun. He got hurt Westbrook. took over, it gets a little tense and rigid. So I just want to remind everybody,

Antonio Brown left the Steelers, and suddenly now everybody's bailing on them. You do understand that, and he would be classified as a talented but high maintenance receiver. His own teammates have said that. Ryan Clark, on the other network, said that. Like, he warned teams.

He'd go go high maintenance once you give him money. Does everybody remember the Philadelphia Eagles 2006? they actually won the division when T.O. left. The 2009 Cowboys, T.O. left won the division. I'm giving you a list on the screen of teams that left when they had star receivers. Colts, 2009 Marvin Harrison left, go to the Super Bowl. Actually, the Patriots had their best year ever when they traded Randy Moss in week. Second best, Tom Brady year ever, the year they traded Moss. T.O. Chad left the Bengals in 2011. The following year, they began making a playoffs for five straight years. Calvin Johnson wasn't even high maintenance. Left the lions. They got better. Des Bryant left the Cowboys.

They got better last year. Even guys that aren't high maintenance, Andre Johnson left Houston. Following year they won the division. Receivers values are always. overrated. These are stars. These are dominating guys. There's no guarantee Odell Beckham, Jr. translates to wins in Cleveland, and there's no absolute guarantee.

In fact, I'd argue the opposite, that A, B, leaving Pittsburgh means they plummet. We've all worked with a high-maintenance, strong opinion, co-worker. And they leave the room. Everybody takes a deep breath, and now everybody gets a voice

at the table. I'm giving you a list. T.O. Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, Chad Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Des Bryant, Andre Johnson, Andre Johnson, Andre Reisen, by the way. You can go all the way back to Andre Reisen.

Leaves Atlanta? They made the playoffs the next year. More people get a voice in the room when the biggest voice leaves the room. And metaphorically, a star receiver, you've got to feed him constantly. You got to constantly take care of them early, feed him. It's not that I don't like OBJ. It's not that I don't think Antonio Brown has, doesn't have great talent.

But we have history here. Pittsburgh's not going backwards. They're going forwards. Joy with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So Draymond Green shook off his early season struggles and is now playing his best basketball after getting his body back in shape.

He's turned back into the two-way monster, just right in time for Golden State. And when talking about Drayman's in-season adjustment, Joe Lekob had quite the statement. He told the athletic, I want Draymond Green to be here forever. Oh, good. Okay. He's a warrior as they come.

In two games against Houston, he's averaging 14.5 points on 68.4% shooting. Now, I think we all agree, Draymond Green is a very important part of this organization. and this team and the chemistry of this team. When Draymond Green is off, it seems like the entire team is off. As strangely as that sounds, considering you have Steph and Durant and Clay Thompson. Oh, there's value there.

I don't know what this team looks like without Draymond Green. That said, I don't know what Draymond Green looks like on another team either. I do. He's like on Detroit and they're winning 31 games. I think he has more value. How about if I argue this? his greatest value is with the Warriors. He does not that valuable a player.

But on the skinny jeans NBA dynasty, he's incredibly valuable. I don't think Julian Edelman on 30 other teams is nearly as valuable as he is with a very precise Tom Brady. No, sometimes the fit in the moment and the people around you matter and it all comes together. He's always had sort of a Rodman feel to him and this is what they need.

So it'll be interesting to see what happens with him moving forward, considering they clearly still want him there. But he's a part of their winning. And when he was out for game five, we all know what happened. After that, changed the series and got plays on championship. So the Portland Chairblazers evened up the series with the Nuggets last night, 9790. C.J. McCollum led the way with 20 points.

Lillard added 14. Yeah, they had balance scoring. Yes. And after the loss, Yokic had this summarization. It was a weird game for us. They played extremely good. They didn't even play that good, to be honest. they can play really

I mean better than that so it was kind of a weird game where they were aggressive than we are weird game weird day well he said they didn't they didn't play that well I mean you don't expect Lillard to only have 14 points so he is right about that and now they're heading back to Portland

so it's going to the intensity is going to pick up because that's a very hard place to play it's a nice story for Portland and they got a big injury to Nurkich in the middle of the season and everybody thought myself included okay they don't have it big then they go out and make the Ennis Canner and the Rodney Hood deal and you're like they're well coached they sprinkle

around they got six guys that can when McCullough's hitting it's a pretty interesting team when it's all Damien there feels like there's certain limitations when they have balance and they're scoring they're basically unstoppable because there's so many shooters on that team very good offensive team yes so you know like I said

Lillard's not going to have 14 points next game they did manage to at least somewhat control Yokch. He had 16 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists. So I guess if you call that controlling Yokic, but the intensity is definitely going to pick up in the next game when they go back to Portland. And finally, the Cowboys won the NFC East last year, but we all know Jerry Jones wants more than a division title. He said the Cowboys ought to be even better than they were in 2018, which means he's expecting better than 10 and 6 and going past the divisional round. He says, we've made some improvements coaching-wise. We're going to do that scheme-wise. We're going to

have real scheme changes on offense that is going to improve us. Everything we were about was improving from where we were last year. There's no tangible reason why we shouldn't be expected to be better than we were last year. Now, they did change from Scott Linehan to Kellynne Moore, picked up Randall Cobb, and then obviously they're going to see what they can do with their draft picks. But I don't know that I feel that the Cowboys are considerably better than they were last year. I looked it up this morning, Joy.

They were 10 and 6 last year. Guess they're over under. What's the Vegas over under? 10. That's what I would think. 8.5 to 9. So Vegas doesn't see them as... Sorry, Jerry.

I'm not getting better. I mean, I don't know what the big move was that, I mean, other than offensive coordinator. Carson Wentz is back. They'll face Carson Wentz, not Nick Foles now. So they get Carson Wentz. Right. I think their schedule's tougher this year. It's a division winning schedule.

So I think their schedules tougher early and late than last year. They feel like an 8 or a 9 win. team. I always think I think Dallas is good. I think their ceilings low. I think Philadelphia is good. They have a much higher ceiling. Look, we love for the Cowboys to be good around here. Sure. Of course. I don't think they're going to be worse, but I just don't see what improvements they've made that have pushed them over the top. I agree. Yeah. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. By the way, the best young GM arguably in the NFL, Chris Ballard of Mike Colts will be joining us next hour. I did go to dinner last night with an NFL executive. It was a lot of fun. Gottlieb's ticked off because I didn't invite him.

Here's the Dugger. Doug Gottlieb, Fox Sports Radio after our show. I don't want to give names away anyway. Listen, I was doing some heavy intel. I didn't have time to talk with you. That's not true. You called me at 6 o'clock. Yeah.

I have a basketball workout. Yeah. My fourth and fifth graders at 6 o'clock. I said, I'll call you back. Call you back. I went straight to voicemail. I figured, all right, you went to sleep or you're watching NBA. No.

You're right down the street from my house. Yeah. I'm right down the street from your house. Come out and have a drink with us. I was talking to an NFL. executive heavyweight, and I did not want you to get in the way with your basketball talk. We were breaking down sleeper picks on the sixth round. By the way, you love Chris Ballard.

I love him. Chris Ballard, huge basketball guy. It's actually true. What's the coach of Matt Nagy? Matt Nagy's yours. But with Bears, they were together in Kansas City. Apparently their sons were on a great AAU team in Kansas City. No, Ballard will text me once in a while during NBA games.

They're all big basketball football. They all like each other and picks them each other. So I was thinking about this this morning. So we're in the topic business, right? You do a three-hour show. I do a three-hour show. And you have to fill that time, right? And, you know, so I think you and I both know, your show is as good as your topics, right?

And I was thinking about this this morning. I said this as we were preparing for the show. I said, you know, it's funny. Like Kevin Durant has done what very few people have done. Michael did it, Magic did it. I think LeBron did it. They separate. You're like, oh, they're way better than the second best player in the league.

Like MJ and Barclay. It was like, that was a gap. And I thought LeBron and Kevin Durant seven years ago, you're like, there's a gap. Magic and Bird felt like they'd kind of moved above the third best player. So, KD. to me, has done that. There's a little separation between him and Hardin and Janus. And it's funny, I said to the staff this morning, you know what topic I've never done, and I've never thought about it until this morning?

Is Kevin Durant getting close to a top 10 player ever? Am I wrong on that? I don't think you're wrong at all. there's a bunch of different ways you could look at it. I actually offer this up to Joy and you the other day during a break in between one of the two segments. I think he's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of this generation. Stick with me because Joy pointed out, and she's completely right, his mid-range jump shot, is pull-up jump shot. It's unblockable.

Unstoppable. Right? It's basically you've got to force him off his spot. It's a lot like Tom Brady where you've got to force him off a spot and hope he's out of rhythm and misses because you can't stop it. You couldn't stop Karim's sky hook. You hope he missed. You can't stop his pull-up jump shot because he's seven feet tall. He shoots it so high. He elevates.

He releases him such a good shooter, right? So there's that parallel. They both changed locations from their initial destination because they weren't comfortable there, right? Karim won a championship in Milwaukee. KD obviously did not. But different, they both have this weird thing with the media. I think part of it is they're very, very intelligent. Yeah.

And they're also kind of uncomfortable in their size and in their stature. Yeah. Right. Kareem has never been comfortable with how people look up to him and how they look at him, whether it's an educated black man or whether he's more than a basketball player. And I think KD is much the same way. He oftentimes is the smartest guy in the room, which is kind of hard to handle and answer questions the right way and not talk down to people while you're educated people. Yeah, no, I mean, Kareem is just a unique personality, a unique guy.

But think about this. when we have discussions about the greatest players of all time, and I will grant you that Kareem, because we're in the post-center era, and I don't like getting into the wilt stuff or into any of that area, the Jerry West, I'm going by my dad's word, right? It's a completely different sport. No one ever brings up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the best player of all time. He's a six-time MVP and a six-time champion,

and he's the all-time scoring leader in NBA history. He's so good in college that they wouldn't let you dunk because they were trying to take away his incredible advantage. And when you bring up LeBron, I mean, when you bring up this era, nobody ever points out like, hey, KD faced off with LeBron in the finals, last two years, he was the better player. Forget about who had the better team, he was the better player. And then here's the other part. When you think of the Lakers and Showtime Lakers, whose team was it? I always thought it was magic.

Correct. When you think the Golden State Warriors, whose team is it? I think it's Steph Curry, right? Like it almost feels like he's living, there's a parallel life there. Really kind of interesting. So I was doing this morning, I said, these are like my top 10 NBA players ever, and I didn't see Russell play. But I always go, MJ, LeBron, Magic, Wilt, Kareem, Bird, Kobe, Russell, Shack,

probably Tim Duncan. I mean, that's kind of off the top of my head. Those are the 10 best players ever. I got news for you. Kevin Durant is doing what those guys did. He's separated from the league. if he hoist his third straight MVP final trophy, is he not as good as Tim Duncan?

I'll do you one better. I'll do you one better. I don't know how effective Tim Duncan is in this league. Today. Today. You know, like, could he be Yokic in terms of his ability to pass maybe? But like, where is the, Tim Duncan is the center. Everybody's the greatest power for it of all time. Right. He's a center.

He played center 85% of his NBA career. As an NBA center now, he doesn't defend ball screens that well. He's not a great shot blocker. Now, he was incredibly dominant in a different style of basketball. So let's just do this. We'll all do this together. Let's take centers out. Okay, let's just take them out all time.

And I, by the way, Guleo is jokes. Whenever I do my top 10 players, I don't, I call it the genetic lottery. You're 7.3. I mean, it's just, so let's take all the centers out. Who are your top 10 players ever? So we would agree on the top three. Bird and LeBron. Michael.

And Michael. So those four in. Yes. I put Kobe in there. Yeah, okay. Okay, there's a five. Yeah. But Kobe hasn't been as dominant in this important basketball as, you know.

But would you agree, the five best non-centers that I've ever seen play? Yeah. And no order. M.J. Magic. LeBron, Bird, and Kobe. Uh-huh. And I would put, I would easily put Kevin Durant in that conversation. Okay.

That's where I get to. You and I are actually agreeing. What I think is interesting about Kevin Durant is... Does this sound crazy to you, Joy? She has a podcast call. Maybe I'm crazy. Maybe I'm crazy. Well, I mean, you get to about six, and now I'm arguing...

It was a really good synergy by me, by the way. I just don't want to tap myself. Okay, so after you get out of the five, after you get out of the Kobe and the Michael and the LeBron and the magic, okay, we get out of those five. At six, I'm getting to Charles Barkley, Kevin Durant. I mean, that's... I'm sorry. I mean, Kevin Durant is not... Kevin Durant has so much more basketball left to play. I know, and I'm already there.

I'm already at six with him if you take centers out. Well, you know, look, the rap on him for a good portion of his career is, you know, in the NBA playoffs, you could be super physical with him, and you could push him off his spot and you could limit him. Okay. And if you've watched his game, one, he's added, you know, he's much better off the dribble now where when you put a PJ Tucker on him, he takes him off the dribble to use his length and his quickness. Additionally, though, he's added some dirt to his. his game. The one-foot shots, those are Dirk Novitsky, right? Where you can push him all you want, but as long as he gets his elbow where he wants underneath the basketball and he can see it, you can't stop it.

So he's continuing to Joy's point. Not only does he have basketball to play and he's only about 30 years old, but he's continuing to add to his game. And I would argue every player, Magic was not a great jump shooter. But he got to where he could make it, but yes. He didn't even shoot a jump shot, he shot a push shot. Barkley was Barkley didn't play any defense

nor did he practice LeBron had no low post game for the first nine years in his career still kind of doesn't she said awkward fadeway that he's a streaky three shooter Michael Jordan didn't have a ton of range as a shooter then he evolved and he

Jordan went from the best driver in the NBA to the best mid range mid range and then he had then he became a three point shooter member against Portland he had six threes in the first half and then late in his career became the best post player. But everybody, everybody has that thing. Yes. And Kevin Durant's thing is no longer much of a weakness, which is you can push him around. Not really. Yeah. You know, listen, I think what I was getting to is I think he actually translates into other eras, right?

Because in an older era, he's a small forward that is unguardable and he can play the ISO ball. This is really good. Whereas I don't think Tim Duncan translates to this era. And I'm not sure LeBron translates as well to the previous era because there's a power forward in the lane and a center in the lane and he didn't have a pull-up jump shot. Yeah, you're not for a long time. Yeah, you're not saying LeBron wouldn't be great, but there is

something to be said. He would be a lot more like Magic Johnson, like a more athletic Magic Johnson, but Magic Johnson, there was nowhere to go in the lane. Whereas I think Jordan would be as good or better because remember when to stop Jordan used to have, you know, Bill Lambere was the power forward.

He wasn't the center. They'd have two guys to knock him on his ass every time he drove to the basket. The NBA has changed. Now the lane is wide open. And so, yeah, you got to be able to shoot. And Jordan evolved into being a better shooter. But the lane would be opened up because you'd put shooters around him, much the way they have with Janus. And he was the best penetrator we'd ever seen. I think Kobe also would be good in this era.

Wouldn't you also consider putting Steph in that guy's story? Yes. No, I put Steph in the top 10 players of all time, take centers out. But I guess my whole point was, we've never really had this top 10 Kevin Durant thing. And I'm sitting there thinking, this morning, I'm like, after the big four or five, I actually said this stuff when you were off last summer. I don't watch that shows. And then I, yeah, and then I said he's the best player in the league.

He's kind of on vacation. Nick Wright starts throwing stats at me, stats at me, stats at me. I'm like, okay, I saw them play against each other. One guy was better in the second half. All right. Well, come back, Rockets, Warriors, Sixers. I would move Joel Embed, and I think he's great. And I think he's funny.

I think he's smart. I think he's talented. And I trade him. We'll talk about that with Doug Gottlie. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody's. gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down,

give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo SlicLife 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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, 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. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back.

Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I'm ever come across. When Jacob met Levan this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. Life throws hurdles big and small.

The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain.

It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals.

At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the I-HartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I-Hart Women's Sports.

Great to have you in. Let me read a commercial here. Ditch your old worn-out underwear. Go to Tommyjohn.com. Code Hurd, H-E-R-D, 20% off your first order. I've been keeping a secret for nine months. I'm going to break that later next week. I can't tell you yet.

and I had dinner next to Doug's house last night, didn't invite him, he's upset. Hey, listen, when you get executives and you have to get inside information, I can't have a bunch of guys fluttering around the table and talking hoops. I thought we were friends. Okay. So, okay, so I want to throw this at you, is that everybody in Philadelphia, if they lose the series, let's fire the coach that will solve all our problems. And it won't.

The chemistry here's not great. When Embed's in the lane, Simmons can't finish in the lane, and he can't shoot. Jimmy Butler is kind of a corrosive personality who I don't think long term would work with Embed and Simmons. Tobias Harris is good, not great. He wants great money. I know everybody in Philadelphia thinks all four are staying forever. It's not going to work that way. So you're going to have to choose two.

Maybe you get lucky on three. If you had to choose to, and I say, I love Embed. I think he's smart, funny, social, interesting. He's struggling to get. on the floor, he missed the first two years with injuries. Hello, there's a warning label here. Who would you keep of the four? Now, Reddick will both keep Reddick because the number's good.

Yeah, I just, and look, I love JJ, and there's an incredible article about his work ethic. Yeah. I'm still not convinced you can win a championship with JJ Redick as a starting guard just because it's so hard to hide him defensively, even though he has such gravity offensively. Clippers found that. I mean, they had, what was the weak link and he could constantly be attacked? Look, I think InBeed is the most talented at the best part of his career. He still doesn't necessarily know what a good shot is.

And, you know, it's a lot like how he is on social media and how he is. Like, because he wasn't brought up here, like, all the basic constraints don't really apply to him. He doesn't know what he should say, what he should. Yeah, press conferences, he's hysterical. It doesn't matter, right? Well, it's the same thing on a basketball court. Like, he literally has no fear of taking a shot. But at some point, like, hey, dude, like, this is not a Wednesday game.

in Miami. This is the NBA playoffs. You've got to take good shots at the right. Understand time score situation. But he can shoot. He can defend. He plays both ends. Can defend the rim. Can shoot, can handle. He has unbelievable feet. In terms of talent, he's the guy I want to keep the most. Right. But the health thing. And I think Philadelphia has hurt themselves. And I know they've had a change in management. But the second he got there and he came in with injury issues. and like look, no one knew what he was like before he got to Orlando, Florida to play prep school basketball. You should have had somebody assigned to him to be his dietitian and to cook food for him and another guy to be his body guy. Because, you know, I don't know if it was a lack of nutrition.

I don't know if it's just because he's so big and that's what happens to big guys. But, I mean, he's falling apart. It does. At this age, when you have knee, it's not knees, hips, back feet, you're done. It's hard to fix. No, they say that. They actually say there's certain things. We all know this.

There are certain, you know, illnesses or body types that they're kind of unfixable. And like big guys' feet and back and hips, it's not a lot you can do. Not what doctors can do. You weigh 313 that you're just, Shaq just kept deteriorating. And he had the world's best doctors. So, I mean, like, I say, I would go Simmons and Butler. That's where I'd spend my money. I would probably, I know, Butler was incredible in game two.

don't call him James, by the way. I only call him Jimmy. His name is Jimmy. Just so uncomfortable with that. Even Jimmy Butler can't like, his coach was giving him a compliment, and he can't take a compliment. He's just a difficult.

And I do think, look, I personally love Brett Brown, even love, like, disheveled Brett Brown after that game, you know, look like a nine to fiver who was thrown into this executive board meeting and just kind of came out. But he wasn't hired to do this job. Yeah. Right? He was hired to be positive guy, to be developmental guy.

And now he's thrown into the wolves where it's about, scoring ATO after a timeout. It's about reading the team and making the proper adjustment and finding, creating the mismatch. And so I do think it's a big challenge to him and his staff. I would hold on to Simmons because you can fix a jump shot. You can't fix somebody's feet. So you do the same thing. And I don't think. And I don't have the medical. I don't have, I don't have the doctor's notes with me. But I've had, he's missed enough games now in important times to where he still hasn't played a whole season to where you're like, do he miss? 14 to 24 games after the All-Star break.

They're giving them six treatment a day to get on the floor. I can love a guy but not love his future. Yes. I mean, like, you know, you're asking me to some degree, and it sounds harsh, but players are commodities. They are, to some degree, stock, and there's times to buy and sell different stocks. The Patriots have mastered. They've made some mistakes, but they've mostly mastered these. You know, Belichick watches film.

He's like, that cornerback lost a step. Dorel Rivas, I'm out. Jets overpay for him. And you're like, oh, God, he knew exactly what. a year early instead of a year too late. I will point out, though, that if the doctors say this is not a long-term deal, I mean, he checks

every box, Colin. Like, of the, we talked about Tim Duncan on how he would be limited, he would be limited because he can't do, he doesn't move the way that Jojo Embed moves. He can't shoot and shoot the way that Joel Embed can shoot. Like, this guy can switch onto a point guard, can defend the rim, can score

out 30 feet from the basket, and is virtually unstoppable in the low post. He doesn't necessarily know when to do what yet. So to me, it would come down to what the doctors say. And the doctors say, like, look, it's feet and it's not getting better. It's knees and it's not getting better. Then, yeah, I would swallow hard and find a way to get a, you know, to get a pirate's bounty for Joel Embed. Doug Gottlieb joining us.

I got a couple of things I've talked about. I've talked about Durand. I've talked about the Sixers. Oh, I'll just throw this out there. This is not, this is a minute topic. I hate baseball contracts. Joey Votto Reds won. They signed Votto.

Big deal. Never made the playoffs. were very, very good signed Joe Mower, went into the tank, one in 13 playoffs. Robinson Canoe, Albert Pooleholz, long-term contracts. Manny Machado is now hitting 236 and Bryce Harper's getting booed and just had his worst three-week stretch of his career. When you give a power hitter, not a contact hitter like Trout, when you give a power hiter 13 years and a zillion dollars and say, home runs or else, if you've seen Bryce Harper

and Manny Machado, they can't hit. Well, I'm not a Machado guy because he's not, what did he call it? did Johnny Hustle, whatever? I do think the Padres, the idea is you have these young players, and next year and following years going to do it. How about Bryce Harper getting booed in Philadelphia? Look, you didn't know you're going to get booed in Philadelphia? It's Philadelphia.

He told everybody 13-year deal. I want to live in Philadelphia. He is 24. I'll say this. I say everyone is different. I'm generally against them. And I'll support Trout, not just because I'm an angel guy, but because they need a new stadium.

And he was going to get whatever he wanted from the Yankees. or the Phillies or whomever else, the Mets, in order to go back home. They had to do that deal. And he's actually the one guy I will pay to go see. He generates energy. What is it that Manjini said he's a force multiplier? Yeah. And I don't think that Bryce is that guy.

He hasn't been consistent through his career. And I know that Mani isn't that guy because we saw him in Dodger Blue. And he was a dog last year in the playoffs. Dodgers keep passing on all these big contracts. They lead their division again. Yep. They've won their division six straight. And the Dodgers keep passing on Harper's.

Zach Granky, Machado, got to go. Third. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeard radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear.

The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kier 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, 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 hard way and listen now.

Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know.

Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them

and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel like you don't feel like you don't feel like that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeke. The ability to show gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile.

That means the world to me and that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports.

Ah, here we go, hour two. This is The Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we are live in beautiful Los Angeles on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, on FS1. Joy Taylor is joining me. You got that spring look, that Hollywood spring look today, jumping off the TV stream. So obviously, right now, draft is over. Next two months are heavy NBA as we're watching the Great Dynasty, one of the two or three best teams of my lifetime, the Warriors play.

I think they're the greatest offensive team I've ever seen in my life. I thought the Showtime Lakers were second. I thought Michael Jordan's Bulls were the best team and the best defensive team I've ever seen, length, toughness, all that stuff. There's been four or five great teams in my life. The Warriors are certainly one of them. I'm not sure if they translate to bygone eras, whatever. I still think they'd be really good.

I think in a hand-check era, Steph would not be quite as dominant. But, you know, there's a narrative out there. I think the media, and let me just talk a little media and some fans, what's best for the league is not best for Kevin Durant. does everybody realize Kevin Durant staying is the best for Kevin Durant? Because then he wins two more titles. Nobody's ever done that. Nobody's ever been the MVP four straight times won four straight titles.

Nobody's done it. Okay, Shaq and MJ, I think, have done the three thing. They haven't done the fourth thing. So that's the best for him. If you want to get into the goat conversation, well, Colin, he's got to prove it that he can do it on his own. No, he doesn't. No, he doesn't.

Michael Jordan was one and nine without Pippin. We don't hold it against him. Michael Jordan washed out in Washington. We don't hold it against him. We don't hold it against Kobe that in between Shaq and Gasol, he was on a horrible team. We do not hold it against superstars. We don't hold it against LeBron his first seven years in the league. He didn't have an all-star.

That's nonsense. We don't hold that against them. People are confusing what's best for Kevin Durant, staying and winning titles and being the MVP, and what's best for the league. There's a lot of winners of Kevin Durant leaves. Let's list them, the Houston Rockets. Yeah, if they don't have to go through Golden State, the Houston Rockets, Darry, Chris Paul, James Hardin, win the championship.

It's a big benefit for Houston that KD leaves, and they know it and they'd admit it. It's great for the New York Knicks. They've been a dead franchise for 20, 25 years. It's fantastic for the New York Knicks. By the way, it's great for LeBron James. He's now, like, not flying coach. And that's what he's flying right now in the West. He's flying coach.

He's not first class. He's not business class. He can't get into the playoffs. It's great for LeBron if the Warriors break up and Katie goes east. It's great for the NBA. Parody returns to the NBA. We'll have seven really good teams, not one great one, and six others playing for the runner-up trophy.

I think it's good for the viewers. Ratings were down this year. I think there is a fatigue factor because it's not that Golden State is just the best team. It mostly doesn't feel like it's that close. And also the Eastern Conference would win. A lot of people out east. Most of the American population, like 65%, is east of the Mississippi. It would be nice if the Eastern Conference isn't a speed bag for the Warriors.

So there's like six different winners minimum if Kevin Durant leaves. The Rockets, the Knicks, the Knicks, LeBron, the League, the viewers, the Eastern Conference. Don't confuse what's good for all those people for what's good for Kevin Durant. okay because he absolutely cares and he has said it before let's believe him let's take him at his word it does bother him that the world loves lebron and overlooks him he's called media people nickwright fanboys you guys love lebron it's there it bothers him so you're not getting to the goat and i don't think he'd ever be called the goat but you're not in the conversation if you leave go to the nicks and wash out never forget michael didn't do anything but

4 Pippin, and we've never held it against him. He didn't do it on his own. He didn't do crap on his own. And he didn't do anything in Washington when he only had Rip Hamilton. He didn't do crap in D.C. in his own. And we've never held it against him. And we've never held it against Kobe that in between Shaq and Gasol, he didn't do anything. They couldn't beat Phoenix in the playoffs. We've never held it against Kobe. We're not going to hold it against Kevin Durant if he doesn't go to the Knicks.

if he stays with the Warriors, MVP of the finals, four straight years, you will not be able to mention the goat conversation and not put him in it. So I think a lot of people are confusing what's good for him, what's good for business, and don't kid yourself. And the other thing to remember is that the NBA, more than any league in America, is a star-driven league. The NFL is kind of a system league. Hockey's got a tight salary cap.

It's about goalies in the playoffs. baseball is about pitching staffs and bullpens and analytics. The two sports in the world that are really about stars. Soccer, Messi, Ronaldo, NBA. So let's think of the one business that's not an athletic business that's also star-driven. Hollywood. Do you hold it against Marlon Brando that he was in seven bombs? No.

Do you hold it against Robert De Niro that he was in a movie with Zach Efron? No. Do you hold it against Will Smith that he hasn't been in a hit movie? I don't know in years. You don't. We never 20 years later hold it against stars. We don't hold the bombs against Brando or the fact that De Niro is doing stuff with Zach Ephron or Will Smith hasn't had a hit in years.

On the Tombstone, we don't mention that. We don't mention the Wizards with MJ or the one and nine with Pippin or the between Shaq and Gassal with Kobe. We don't even mention that Charles Barkley played in Philadelphia. It's all television, Charles, funny Charles, and Phoenix Charles. So I just don't buy that. I mean, you go look at Robert Downey's career. Folks, Robert Downey's career was disappointment, discouraging drugs, arrests.

Tombstone's going to say Iron Man. That's how we treat stars. We don't care that Johnny Unitas came out west or Joe Namath was limping at the end. We don't care. He played for the Rams. Nobody cares. It's not the way it works.

And, you know, I just don't think Kevin Durant, having to, quote, prove he can do it on his own. No. I don't think that's going to be held against him. We don't hold it against Messi, Ronaldo, Durant. We don't hold it against movie stars. When they're in bombs, it just gets washed away. And I think that will get washed away.

By the way, so I had dinner with a, how could I put this? High-powered NFL executive last night. And we were talking about the draft. And we were talking about teams. And it's funny how it sort of works with teams. So I'm talking to this NFL executive last night at dinner. and I threw some theories at him. And I've said this before.

I think the Colts have a chance to be the next Patriots. There are certain traits. Good with personnel, smart, thoughtful, culture building, resourceful, right GM, right quarterback, and also, let's be honest, right division. Andrew Lux, 25 and 7 against his division. There's been some rebuilding during it. They feel like the steadiest ship in the waters in the AFC South. And I think, you know, this is not a knock on the Patriots.

but it does help they've been the least chaotic team in their division. And you've got to win your division. And if you can go five in one or four and two in your division, that's a big advantage that the chiefs and the Chargers, they're going to split a lot of games. Denver's going to get a quarterback and get it right. And so I was talking to the executive last night. And one of the teams he liked that was on his own was he said,

listen, the Colts are doing some, they're really good. They're just going to be really good for a decade. And I think it all starts with Andrew Luck and their GM Chris Ballard, who was named executive of the year last year. And he is joining us via the Coward Global Satellite Network, one of my favorite guys in the NFL. So now, Chris, now the draft is over. You can take your family on a trip.

Does it feel like now that you can kind of go, okay, all right. Do you get a little break now? Well, no. There's no such thing as a break. I figured that out, you know, two years ago when I took this job. We'll take a break in June, you know, after OTAs are over and veteran minicamp are over. That's when I'll get about five or six weeks to get away from my family. But it doesn't slow down for us.

You know, it's interesting. I feel bad for general managers who are rebuilding and they don't have their quarterback yet. I think there's a certain freedom with you. You have Andrew and you can go really attack other parts of your team. Talk about what Andrew allows you to do going forward. Well, I mean, look, we both know that in this league having a franchise quarterback is everything. And then the ability to be able to, when you have that player, you know, being able to build around him to the style of not only the quarterback, but also the head coach, that allows you more freedom to be able to explore those avenues. do it through the draft, free agency, street pickups.

I mean, there's a lot of different ways to acquire talent in this league. I always laugh when people act like free agency and the draft are the only ways to acquire talent. There's many ways to acquire good players in this league. You just got to be looking for them. And when you have a quarterback, it allows you to use every avenue. You know, Chris, you're good friends with John Dorsey at Cleveland. The way you're building your culture, I know, and I beat up on Dorsey a little bit,

and I love you, but it's interesting because you're very, very tight. Dorsey has taken a few more personality risks in his build. You've taken fewer personality risks. And it's interesting because you kind of have a little different worldview on this. And yet you're very close friends. When you look at Cleveland, what do you see? Well, look, I'll say this about John. John is an elite talent evaluator.

I didn't really, I mean, I always knew it when I worked in Chicago and he was in Green Bay, but when I went and worked side by side with him in Kansas City, he is truly amazing with his ability to recognize talent and then not be scared to go acquire it. And, you know, he really doesn't worry about what the outside world thinks. He worries about what internally, what they think and how they're going to handle it. So, you know, look, I look at a very talented person. I know John's got a plan on how to manage it. And they're definitely a force to be reckoned with because of all the town he's acquired here in the last two years since he's been at the helm.

Last year, you were recognized as having the best draft. You had guys that not only came and played, they were pro bowlers, Darius Leonard, Quentin Nelson. It's funny about drafts. You have a bunch of players. You obviously went after speed. Everybody on your board that I saw can run. I mean, that was clearly one of the things, you know, even I can figure out. But when you do your drafts, when do you truly know, Chris, all right, this is going to work?

Isn't there even this morning a little fear that one guy won't step up? Or when do you know this class works? Well, I mean, look, you do. We put so much on our scouts. And we have such a collaborative effort here in terms of get, look, the key to the draft is information. That's the key. Whoever gets the best information is usually good at drafting. And that's in every area, from, you know, talent evaluation to medical, to character, to intelligence, all those things, you know, have to measure up. And the closer you can get to the hole,

the better chance for success you're going to have. And, you know, we always feel good, but there's always, I guarantee if you talk to every team, they're going to say, well, we did great, but at the end of the day, every player you draft has to earn it. They have to come in the building and they have to be what we said they were. Are we going to be 100%? No, that's impossible. But we want to be as close to the hole as we can. And every guy's going to earn it. And even back to like one of the big messages I had the last year's draft class was, okay, this was unbelievable what you just did, but you got to do it again. You can't rest on, not in this league. You got to be pushing forward at all points trying to get better.

Somebody's going to catch you. I've had two NFL general managers tell me that you drafted Paris Campbell right before they did. And both of them said, we just got sick to our stomach when Ballard got Paris Campbell. He is a remarkable athlete. Talk a little about him because now that you have a quarterback, I look at your class and I think, man, Paris Campbell could be the best guy taken after the first round.

Give me your thoughts about him the player and the process of drafting him. Well, look, we exhausted Parrish because we went A to Z on him through the process. And we liked him. From coaching to scouting, we all liked him. And he checked all the boxes of everything we stand for. And then sometimes on draft day, you just get lucky. I can't sit here and tell you. I thought he was going to be there with the 59th pick of the draft.

And I remember looking up around pick 57 and looking at Frank and saying, we probably need to take Paris now. But look, his skill set fits our offense very well. He's still got some refinement to do, you know, as a route runner, but just because of how they used him at Ohio State. But we'll use him in some of the similar ways. He's very dangerous and explosive with the ball in his hands. So I know Frank and them will work to get the ball in his hands quickly

and let him use his God-given talent, you know, in terms of his runability and explosiveness. with his speed. You know, it's interesting about wide receivers. I've said this before. I can point to seven or eight all-time great ones that actually Marvin Harrison left the Colts and they went to the Super Bowl and Tio and Dez and Ocho, that

receivers are valuable, but they can, sometimes, if a receiver is so gifted, a quarterback can feel almost a burden to get them the ball. So I've always said I like receivers, but I'd rather have centers out than sideline in to build my team. Give me your, I mean, like, that's my goofy theory about it.

Like, or some people believe it's become a wide receiver league. Where do you fall on receivers in general? Well, look, I mean, the great ones don't just fall off a tree. I think it's the hardest, I think it's one of the hardest positions to evaluate. Why? Every year it's overgraded. You, you know, you go into our, when we go into our draft meetings in February, I'll look up in every position.

has a pretty even number, and then all of a sudden we'll have 500 receivers graded. And then you've got to sort through them because in college, they're throwing the ball so much. There's a ton of guys that have 80 to 100 catches a year. Yeah. So I think it's very difficult to evaluate the position, and then what they're going to have to do at our level, I think is different. They're not going to get the same free access that they do in college football. Saying that, I've always believed that you build from inside. out. You build with your fronts. The bigs are the hard ones to find. Over the course of a season,

if you're not good on the O line and D line, it will absolutely show up and it will bite you. And I think that's where you start and then you build from without, you know, on your outsides. And that's kind of how the plan we've taken it here. And it's been successful. You know, other places I've been, and I think you can look through the league. And I think when you've got a really good quarter. Does he want Alpha stars at Whiteout? Absolutely he would like them. But saying that, he wants to be protected first. Are you ever blown away by Brady? I just saw a picture of Brady at UCLA working out yesterday. I think he's now 29 years old. He looks younger. I mean, what a people that face Brady? What are you guys saying your building about Brady? Special.

I mean, Tom Brady's a, I mean, I think you can take in any sport. He might be the one of the best athletes ever. And I don't know how you can, anybody can dispute that. I mean, even looking at Jordan and all the LeBron and all the great things that they've done, Brady's still doing it in his 40s. That is pretty amazing what Tom's been able to do. And, you know, we're like every other team. You want to beat him.

But it's not easier said than done. Yeah. Chris, good luck to you, executive of the year last year. Another great draft. Most believe it's a top five draft again. you success. Thanks, man. Thank you. Thanks for having me on. I appreciate it, Colin. Yeah, Mike Colts. Well, they're Chris's Colts, but they're my Colts.

I think they, my takeaway is they have traits. I think they're the next Patriots. Now, I'm not saying they're going to win eight Super Bowls, but if they have, and I really believe this, your division is so big in football. Don't kid yourself. A lot of Nick Sabin's success is the SEC had a string for about eight years of bad coaches. Now the SEC's got more good coaches. Well, you've been on Andrew Luck for a while now, though. I love him. I think he's, I think he's, I think he overcame.

I like to, I saw him, I saw him live at sophomore at Stanford. And I told people then, I'm like, it's the best college quarterback I've ever seen since John Elway. So, yeah, it's very interesting. And you're going to go see him play, right? Yeah, they open the season in Los Angeles. Yeah. I told you, I'm going to get a sideline pass. I'm going to make eye contact.

You think it's funny. I'm not. I'm on, if I can make some initial early eye contact and we can connect. And I think that's the beginning of a relationship. You have a whole plan? Yeah. with me and Andrew Luck. Twitter buddies.

No, I'm not going to run out in the field. I want a sideline pass. I want to connect this way. I think if he sees... You know, he asks for his towel or something? Yeah. What did you say? I don't seek autographs.

That's not my... That's not how I roll. I just need to make eye contact, and that's when the relationship starts. A bunch of stuff. Eddie House is around the corner as well. Jerry Jones says the Cowboys are taking it to a new level. And by the way,

By the way, and I know I'm obsessing over Kevin Durant, but there is another Durant angle on this thing where I think he's making potentially a massive mistake leaving the Warriors. That's coming 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 I-Hard Radio. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves.

Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants.

answer. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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. Trip 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 just, 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 Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman, catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud.

But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Life throws hurdles big and small.

The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WMBA standout, Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that.

Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs, Gabby Thomas, and Katie Ladeke. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile,

that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard.

Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Discover a literature if they find your social security number on any of the thousands of websites. It's free for card members. Sign up online, discover.com. Discover.com slash free alerts. Limitations apply. Jerry Jones said yesterday, there's no reason the Cowboys won't be better next year. And it's interesting. I was telling Joy earlier. The Cowboys won the division and were 10 and 6 last year. Vegas, the over under, is like nine games. So Vegas does not think some sites have eight and a half. They don't think Dallas is getting better. So every year in the

NFL, I've been doing this for years. I pick two teams that double their wins and I pick two teams that pull back. Last year I said, Minnesota and Jacksonville are going to pull way back. They both pulled way back. This year, I've said there's three teams that are going to pull back. New Orleans, Chicago, and Baltimore are not going to be as good. And I have a reason for all of them. And so I, last year, New Orleans won 13. I think they win 9 to 10. And Vegas's prediction, the overrunner in Vegas is 10 and a half wins. So Vegas has them winning two and a half fewer games. Chicago, 12 wins last year. I predict nine.

Vegas over under. Nine. Baltimore, 10 wins. I predict 7 to 8. Vegas has them at 8 and a half. Folks, these are not hot takes. There's reasons for all of them. And my reasons are Vegas's reasons.

Let's start with Baltimore. Did you see Lamar Jackson when the Chargers got to face him a second time? He wasn't very good. Lamar Jackson, a lot of that offense is power-based. It's about controlling the line of scrimmage. I don't believe Lamar Jackson. Exxon's ever going to be the kind of quarterback that can play from behind. You can ask to throw 38 to 44 times, get in wild shootouts.

When the Chargers saw him a second time, it looked like a college quarterback playing NFL. Vegas saw the same thing. They think they pull back. So do I. Also, their divisions better. Cleveland's going to be better. Let's go to Chicago. Chicago 12 wins to nine.

That's what Vegas thinks. Did you watch them at the end of the year? In the last four games, as people got. more and more film on Mitch Trubisky, four touchdowns, three picks, and average 180 yards passing a game. It's a lot of smoke and mirrors. He, like Lamar Jackson, is a limited arm talent who's a really good athlete. Vegas has them losing three more games. Vegas doesn't have any other team dropping three wins except Chicago. It's not a hot take. I feel the same way. New Orleans, 13 wins last year. I think they're at the 9-10 level. Vegas has 10 and a half.

Why? Did you watch Drew Breeze at the end of last year? They started the year 10 and 1. They finished their last 7, 4 and 3. They did not look good at home against the Rams, and they did not look good at home against Philadelphia. Vegas saw it. Drew Breeze is aging. He looked tired.

His arm looked tired. End of the year. They didn't throw the ball down the field. I picked pullback teams. These are not wild. I mean, if you look at my pullback teams, they're Vegas's pullback teams. By the way, the teams I think will double the Jets.

Vegas thinks their win total will double and the 49ers. Vegas thinks their win total will double too. Here's Joy with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So Jimmy Butler had a team high 30 points in game two to steal a win and even the Sixers Raptors series at won all. So even now, though they hold home court advantage, Butler says the heat is on.

but even more on brand for Jimmy Butler is him being petty and he kept that same energy this morning. According to Eric Corrine of the athletic, Toronto Beat Rider, before game one, Kauai Leonard shot around on his home court despite the team not doing it, pushing opponents shoot around back. This morning

Jimmy Butler is doing the same. So he went around to get in there and mess up their shoot-around time. Kauai Leonard at 35, 7, and 6, last game, Jimmy Butler at 30, 10, and 5. Game 3 is tonight. It's a fascinating series because more high-end players for the Sixers, better chemistry and depth with the Raptors. So in the NBA, generally join our lifetime.

The stars have beaten the depth. That's the way it's almost work our entire life. So you got the stars with Philly. You got the depth in one star with Toronto. And most people like Toronto, it's hard for me. If I get better players in May and June, I just almost take better players. I know. Well, we both left the Tobias Harris move during the season. And I like the Sixers, but I just think there's a lot of pressure on the Sixers.

You would think there's a lot of pressure on the Raptors as well, but it's kind of more of an internal pressure. Like, is Kauai Leonard going to stay if they end up losing more than is this long-term situation? If Philadelphia doesn't win this series, a lot of happens. People are getting fired. Yes, there's people getting fired. Jimmy Butler's likely leaving. Yes. There's a lot of things that can happen.

This is literally, Joy, this is for Philadelphia in the last 10 years. tonight could be the biggest game for their franchise and their history in a decade tonight. They go down one, two. Series is open. They're not coming back and winning all these games in Toronto. Philadelphia loses this series. Toronto loses this series. Kauai may leave, but nobody's getting run out of town.

No. Philadelphia could, they could go Oklahoma City and just move pieces. There's very real repercussions to losing the series for the Sixers. It's time now to see who's going places, sponsored by Toyota. Let's Go Places with the 2019 NFL draft officially in the six. the books. Vegas has already set their sights on next year. They've opened their odds with which player will be the first overall pick. And the top of the list is very quarterback heavy. They have Tua from Alabama. Jake Fromm from Georgia, the quarterback from Georgia,

Justin Herbert from Oregon, Chase Young, defensive end from Ohio State. Yeah, he's good. And Jerry Judy's wide receiver from Alabama. By the way, I'm the only, I'll just tell you my early opinion on Tua. We're too high on him. I don't. I think Kyle Miller Murray has a much better chance. I'll say it right now. Kyler Murray to me is going to be a better NFL player than Tua is going to be in Alabama. I absolutely believe that. You know, I'm not in level Tua either.

Kyler and Tua had a 69% completion rate percentage last year. They had the same completion. No, I'm not saying there's a huge gap. But I think Kyler, there are doubts. Tua, everybody's all in on Tua. I am not. I'm not either. I've seen him play two big games.

And maybe it's just, maybe it's he's a quarterback for Alabama. He got hurt. He tends to, by the way, at Alabama, you get a lot of time to throw football. You don't face like, that's not real football, right? You're playing with all Americans.

They had nine guys drafted next year. They think in the first round. He was one rep for the Heismans. So maybe we're being a little too critical, but he is, he's favorite to go number one overall next year. And he probably will go high. Everybody loves him.

I mean, I'm not, it's like, and I like him, But I just have to watch him play another 15 games. Finally, food at the ballpark makes the experience of going to games so much better. Pro tip, you should get the garlic fries at Dodgers Stadium and the Cheecherone's at Marlins Park. Maybe the food isn't so expensive at Oracle Park because, as we just show, that Dodgers fan risked it all going for a foul ball. Last night, his fries went everywhere. 13 bucks.

But he did get the ball. I mean, gone. Just gone. He did get the ball, though, so I guess it's worth it. We're showing it again here. Look at this. Oh, dude. ballpark food

He got it Now it's not over though Because obviously he was still hungry Because he just dropped all his fries So he went and got pizza This is where he loses me So another foul ball comes that way During an inning later

No And this time he fails And he gives the lady in front of him a pizza shower You gotta be kidding me I mean that is just so rude But I mean you just You should throw your pizza on people You already got a foul ball

What are the chances of that happening? I don't know but I can't promise you how I would react if someone dumped a pizza on my head. I've actually dumped an entire pizza on someone before on accident. It was very embarrassing. I used to work in a pizza restaurant, and I kind of lost my balance and just the whole pizza just went.

Did I ever tell you my San Diego Qualcomm story? No. Years ago, I had the first seats in the second deck. I went to a Padres game, just like 20 years ago. And I got a gigantic footlong hot dog. It had relish everything on it. And they had to jam it into the box. When I got it there, I opened it up.

and it sprang out and went over the railing. Hit a guy right in the head. And he, like, pointed his fist at me. And I was like, I'm not going down there. Were you so scared leaving the part? No, I wasn't, but I thought, yeah, maybe I should change seats. I was by myself. I was in a Padres game.

It literally went over the railing. It sprayed him with everything. I mean, like, relish, and he turned around. He looked at me. He was yelling. I'm like, it's not my fault. They jammed it in his box. I mean, it's kind of your fault.

It was like a slinky. It was like a slinky. and flew out and yeah I could have gone and apologize but I didn't he was probably smart you didn't he looked he looked drunk and angry yeah enjoy the news well that's the news and thanks for stopping by the herd lie news okay I got to show you these Tom Brady pictures am I the crazy so a picture came out yesterday of Tom Brady at UCLA working out he's Benjamin Button he looks younger today than 10 years ago like I don't even understand it Brady's not aging

Look at him. He's not aging. His hair line, his eyebrows, his... Look at him right there. There's no gray hair. What's happening? What is, honestly, it's incredible. Well, he's married to a supermodel,

so I'm sure he gets all the best, like, skin treatments. Yeah, and all that kind of stuff. He's going to be on Kimmel tonight. Here's a funny preview of the show they put out. Watch this. Okay. So, you see that window?

Yeah, you think you could throw the football through that window. Yeah. Let's see. You got this, Tom. Very well done. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Oh, oh, no. Kimmel.

Oh, my gosh. Did you do that? Do you live here? You know I live here. That's Jimmy Kimmel, good dude tonight. All right, Eddie House around the corner. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, Week days in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down,

give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist. Kier 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, Destin, 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 Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sex. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life.

Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards.

If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel like. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile,

that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. By the way, welcome back. Eddie House played over a decade in the NBA. Guy could shoot. Best basketball player, maybe you and Hardin in the history of Arizona State University. We go down, we can say that.

You could say that. I think I just said it right there, live on TV. So, by the way, you have the rare distinction. You had to guard MJ and guard Kobe, and you faced LeBron, probably got manned up. KD, you probably didn't guard. You've been on the floor either with LeBron too, but against all four of those. And I said earlier today, Kevin Durant feels like it's just he's separated from the league.

Now, maybe that's not the case when LeBron returns healthy next year, and I don't feel that, but I do feel it now. If Yonison Hardin of the second best players, I don't think they're close. I think Katie is unstoppable. Break them all down. Let's start with Jordan. You had to guard Michael. And you were known more as an offensive guy than a defensive guy. hardest part about guarding Michael.

Well, I really didn't have to guard him because the size difference. You know, 6-6, I'm 6-foot, and I was on the wing. That was Eddie Jones job. Tough job for him, by the way. But watching his game, MJ, he's a tenacious competitor, right? And he's a straight killer. Like, he doesn't care about it. He's going to get his money however he has to get.

And on the other end, he's going to lock you up too. I think when you look at his competitive nature, put him over the top. I think his skill set is not as good as LeBron's, but that killer instinct, second to none. Okay, Kobe. Closest thing to Jordan. Same carbon copy, just not the original. Just not quite.

I always felt Michael was a little stronger than Kobe. Hands were a little stronger. You know, not that Kobe's not strong, but I always felt Michael was a little more intimidating on the defensive end. Oh, yeah, well, you know, Mike got the defensive player at a year. You know, so, I mean, you know, he played defense. Kobe played defense too, but Mike was just different, man. Mike was a different beast.

Kobe, on the other end, on the other hand, as close as you're going to get to Mike without it being Mike. A little bit more because he worked on it. I think Mike, if he was in this era, he would have eventually developed that. Let's talk about LeBron. You didn't guard him being on the same floor. Other team compare him all-time great to what's he do that separates him. I mean, his passing ability, his leadership, quality, skills. he gets everybody involved into the game.

And that's the unique thing about him is that most stars, and it's crazy for him to be on the list for the top five scores, right? Because those guys are killers. They just want the ball scored. They're not looking to pass at all unless they have to out of a triple team. This guy is a willing passer and able to score that way. That's the uniqueness about him. That's why he's in the conversation of greatest of all time because of his skill set.

What about Kevin Durant? Stonecoat. The best. The breast score that we've seen. The reason being is because there's not a shot out there that he can't make. It's amazing. I mean, there's nothing that he can't do on the court. And then on top of that, he doesn't take a bad shot.

Like, all of his shots are a good shot, and they're his shots. You know what I'm saying? Like, he's just, he's amazing. I mean, you know, it is interesting. A lot of people are saying, you know, we'd like him to go. And my takeaway is Kevin Durant looks like he's finally happy. It's like. Winning does that.

Well, don't try to get happier than happy. This is the happiest Kevin Durant's ever been. Well, he's winning. Yeah, but why screw it up? Why leave happy? You know, people always think the grass is greener on the other side. Oh, relationships, businesses. And when you, you know, go over to.

What was the happiest you were? The happiest I was playing? In your NBA career, happiest you ever were. I'll say from the time I was playing with Phoenix, and I was on a bunch of different teams. So from the time I played with Phoenix to our retirement, So about a five-year stretch there, we were competing every year for a championship. And winning takes care of everything.

That's the thing. If you're winning, it's fun. You lose. I was on a team with the Clippers, and we were so garbage. It was miserable. Everything was miserable. Practice was miserable. And then just flying, even the flights was charter.

They still was miserable. There was no food on the plane. So, I mean, it was just, if you're winning, that takes care of everything. When you look, I want to shift gears to the Sixers. and I said this. Oklahoma City could be the warriors right now. They choose KD and Harden and let Westbrook go, who was a relentless guy, but hard to play with,

they just made the wrong choices. And they know it. If they had put their arms around KD and not move Hardin, they would now be the Warriors. Because Kevin Durant wouldn't be on the Warriors, right? Philadelphia similarly has all these guys. They got a big. It's not healthy much.

Simmons can't shoot, but he's 610 point guard. Butler's a great athlete. Tobias Harris can play more of a B. If I told you, all things considered, you're not going to keep all four. You're not. You're not paying all these guys max. You can say you are. You're not.

Who would you choose? Because I think they make the wrong choice. They become Oklahoma City. I would choose Jimmy Butler. And if you talk about pick two. And you have to pick two of those guys. I will go with Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons. The only reason why I wouldn't go with Joel Embed is,

let's use it, I use a car analogy, okay? You got a Phantom Rose Royce. Okay. You hop in it every time you're in it, the check engine light comes on. You take it to the shop. You get it out of the shop, ride it for two days. Check engine light comes back on. Take it back to the shop.

You're getting your other car. Happens to be a Ford F-150, right? Reliable. Never, the lights never, Ben Simmons. Light never comes on. You know what you're going to get from it. Eventually, you're going to say, you know what, I'm just going to ride this truck.

I'm going to get rid of this Rose Royce because it's more of a problem than anything else. And I can't figure out what the problem is. I keep taking it to the shop. They can't figure it out. So I got to get rid of it. So your check engine light comes on in the Bentley. Yeah. That's a very good analogy.

I like that. Thank you. If you can't figure it out and the light keep coming on, even though it's a Bentley, it becomes more of a headache. Yes, no doubt. Six treatment today to keep M-Bed into games. His whole lower body is bad right now. I mean, you ever play with a big?

You ever play with a big that got hurt a lot? No, I didn't play with a big that got hurt a lot. I played with Lonzo Morning, took care of his body. He got to end up having a kidney issue. That's the only thing. But everybody, yeah, no. Well, Kendrick Perkins was a little heavy, but he didn't have injury problems. He understood that he needed to lose some weight.

Yeah, no, no, some big guys. I grew up with certain big guys when it was more of a big guy league. I don't remember David Robinson, but Ralph Samson, Bill Walton, Sam Bowie. When they get these things young like this, too, it's not cool. It's not like, oh, I'm going to get older and get healthier. No, more things are going to start compounding on top of those. I think this is the thing. If Philadelphia wants to keep Joelle and beating, obviously, I think he wants to stay there,

they have to have a serious conversation with him and say, okay, we've been trying this, we've been trying the same thing over and over and it's not working. Let's work with you on your diet. Lose a little weight. Change your diet up. See if this helps. And if he's willing to do that, then you've got to stick with him. But if he's not willing to change his diet and see if that can help him stay on the court longer,

then you definitely have to move on from him. Yeah. Because he does get, you do get to a point. Sounds weird. But if I kept Embed, let's say I couldn't trade him on the market, let's say it gets hurt again and I can't trade him. I think I just go to him and say, listen, we're going to make you a 50 game regular season player rest of the last three weeks. And I would just come to him and I'd say, listen, we're going to play 50 games. You can pick them.

Don't play the last 10 of the regular season. because the reality in this league is Westbrook's legacy is taking a hit because he can't do anything in May. And at some point with, and I just keep looking at Embed and I keep seeing Bill Walton and Yao Ming. And I'm like, at some point,

you keep telling me, Philly, you're going to keep all four of these guys. If you guys lose tonight, you know they're blowing this thing up. They have to. You can't just keep doing the same thing if you can't get past Toronto in the east. Well, Toronto's a good team.

Good. I think they're good. A real good defensive team. Who's winning in the east? I'm going to go, I said Toronto, but the way I think Boston. Thank you. You know, you and I have agreed on virtually everything today. By the way, here is this your top, here's your top 10 players of all time. MJ LeBron, Kobe Durant, Madge.

Oh, so you got Durant way up there. Yeah, you have to put him up there. That's what I keep, yeah. Well, I mean, look, that's this era. Now, that list, same list right there will look different if we're talking about late 90s early, late 80s, early 90s basketball. But right now in this era, I got to put the bigs on the bottom.

No disrespect to them at all. No. They don't have, they need somebody to get them the basketball. They're also, over the next 20 years, in the last 7 to 8, bigs are less relevant.

So your top 10 list is incredibly fair. You do this in the 70s or 80s. It's different. You do it today moving forward. It's absolutely. And the reason why I got Kobe over. We got to go. All right.

We got to go. We love you, Eddie. He got more to say. We got less time. Back hour three next. Want more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Hurd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Ah, here we go, hour three. This is The Heardt. Live in Los Angeles.

However, you may be listening wherever. You may be listening. However, wherever, whatever. It's the herd. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. Also on Sirius XM Channel 83. So fired up. Chris Bowler to the Colts. Your Colts. My Colts. I love the NFL so much. I can't even put into words how much. I just love it.

I loved having dinner last night with an execant of the league. It was in town. I love the league. I feel like when I watched Tom Brady, Tom versus Time, and he sits and says I could watch film all day, I've watched the draft over. I have watched the draft. No, anytime it's on, like any reason.

plays of it? Anything that's on with a draft? Colin. I've watched, I've gone to YouTube and watched clips of it. No, you have. No, you have not. I have. Listen, by the way, everybody's got a nerd thing. A lot of people like watching Game of Thrones at Sorcerers and Make Believe, and people love that. Why can't I love the draft?

It's real. Okay. Why can't I love that? There's something you have to love out there. Yeah, I love Game of Thrones. Well, Earl and Game of Thrones. Yes, obviously. I love Earl more than Game of Thrones. And I love that Earl watches Game of Thrones. Okay. He doesn't watch Game of Thrones. But Game of Thrones is mainly.

make believe. It's not even real. As opposed to your favorite movie of all time, Mission Impossible 75? Well, that very good movie. The point is what I love is real. I love draft picks. The draft is real, yes. I had a piece of halibut last night and broke down the seventh round picks with an NFL executive. He thinks I'm a loon. I told him before. Yes. When the executive thinks that you're crazy, you may have taken it too far. God, it was so much fun. That's why I didn't call Gottlieb. I didn't want Gottlieb there, even though. was next to his house. You didn't want to share your nerd. I'm not going to share. You know, because Gottlie would start breaking down college basketball and I'd want to punch him in the forehead.

I just want to talk NFL sleeper picks in the sixth round. I don't want Gottlie bothering me. I mean, you know what? Whatever makes you happy. Later and best for last, I'm going to do something. I almost never do pat myself on the back. Well, well, well, I want to get into something. I saw yesterday from Kevin Durant. There was a story on Yahoo Sports where he said about the playoffs. This is where this blank is fun. This is when it's serious, and I'm just embracing it. I'm just having so much fun right now.

I want to take you back a couple years. When Kevin Durant wasn't having as much fun, it was called Oklahoma City. Do you remember his stats there when he wasn't having as much fun? In Oklahoma City, it should be noted. These stats are playoff numbers. Hardin was there for some of it. Westbrook was there for some of it. He shot 45% from the floor, 33% on threes.

He now shoots almost 52% from the floor and 39% on threes. And they're in the playoffs where he just told me that's where it's fun. I'm having so much fun. Long regular seasons. Does everybody get if he goes to New York, even with Kyrie, because those playoff numbers I gave you an okay seat, that included Westbrook and Hardin. They had good players.

They had a coach that won coach of the year. He wasn't the same player. He was great. He wasn't having this much fun. I just want to remind you, I'm watching the Blazers in Denver last night. How much talent there is in the NBA? This idea that he's going to go to New York with a lottery pick and Kyrie Irving and it's just going to be fun. Portland, I don't consider to be a championship team.

They have six dudes who scored in double figures last night. C.J. McCullough. Enos Canter, Enis Canter, Damian Lillard, Rodney Hood. They got Zach Collins. They have six NBA dudes, double figures. The Philadelphia 76ers, I do not believe, are a championship team. They have five guys who are legit NBA players. M. B. Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, J.J. Reddick.

I don't think Milwaukee is a championship team. I think they're very good. They've got Janice and Chris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. And they're getting Malcolm Brogden back. and they got Brooke Lopez and Meritage. Okay, now let's get to the championship teams. I believe Houston is a championship level team. Harden, Chris Paul, Clem, P.J. Tucker, Feree, Gerald Green, Eric Gordon.

That's seven dudes and a great coach. Let's go to Boston. Great coach. Tatum, Horford, Kyrie, Gordon Hayward, Jalen Brown, a rose ear, Marcus Morris. That's seven guys. So you think a lottery pick, you and Kyrie are going to go to, New York can change the world. Oh, that's adorable.

Where are your other four guys? Where are your other four double-digit scores? Because I got your numbers when you played with Hardin and Westbrook, and that wore you out. Now you're at Golden State, and your quote is, I'm having so much fun. It's not like the long regular season. You think a lottery pick, I don't care if it's Zion, John, John Morant. You think a lottery pick and Kyrie, who by the way, injury prone and sort of himself tired of the regular season, that's a game changer. I believe people when they talk.

Ask LeBron James with four talented young guys and people we'd seen in the playoffs. Rondo, Lance, Michael Beasley, Javille, McGee, they lost a team that were tanking. This idea, does everybody understand, does Kevin Durant understand how much talent there is in the NBA? Let me remind you that Utah with a great coach and Rudy Gobert All-Star and Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingalls and Ricky Rubio won a game in the playoffs. Oklahoma City with a veteran head coach and Paul George who was an early MVP and Westbrook and Stephen Adams. Won a game in the playoffs. You talk, I listen. You only have to go back a couple of years with kids.

Kevin Durant. He was playing with an all-star like Kyrie Irving would be in New York. He was miserable. His efficiency numbers weren't close to today. Yes, of course it's fun now, because you win and go a second round and your playoff stretch is longer and you don't go home and get criticized. Life's fun when you work with smarter people and better people. And when I go to work now, I got a much bigger staff than I had at the other place. Now, work with joy. It's a lot more fun doing my show today than it was eight years ago. My staff's smarter. My staff's better.

My teammates are better. It's a lot of fun. I just don't think, Kevin Durant, look around the league. Portland had six guys last night in double figures. Do you know who the leading score right now in the New York Knicks is? No, I'm not joking. Emmanuel Moodyeer.

Okay, dokey. Kyrie Irving, a 19-year-old, Kevin Durant and Emmanuel Moodye. Bra, that's not winning a second playoff series in the East. And I'm not sure it's winning a playoff series in the West. Listen to your own words. There's a reason you're so happy now. It's the dudes around you. Okay, big game tonight.

A series that I'm into, Philadelphia, Toronto, tied at one. I have said before, sports is about making choices. The New England Patriots have a dynasty, they make really good choices. They get rid of guys, even good players, pro-bow level players, get too expensive. They do it every year. It's hard. NBA, same thing. Warriors got rid of Monte Ellis an All-Star.

Chose Steph Curry, not an all-star. All these dynasties, all this winning is choices. Boston Celtics got rid of Isaiah Thomas, MVP candidate. brought in other guys. It's all about choices. Philadelphia has four players. They're not going to be able to pay all of them what all of them want. Jimmy Butler's going to want a Max, Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons, Joe L.M.B., J.J. Reddick wants to, you're not going to be able to pay all these guys. You're going to have to make choices. I want to remind you tonight about Joe L.M.B.

I'm going to read this verbatim. This is not an opinion. His health has been working against him. He's now required to take fluids before the game. He continues to suffer from tendinitis in his left knee that caused him to miss 14 of the Sixers' final 24 regular season games after the All-Star break. He missed playoff games last year in Miami and already has missed one this year. Philadelphia, when the world gives you a medical warning, you know, you've seen cigarette boxes. It says on the side, smoke these and die a painful death. That's enough for me. That's why I don't have a great deal of sympathy for chain smokers.

The box is telling you, scale back, Smokey, it's going to hurt when you die. The NBA gives you, on the side of its box, a big warning. Seven footers get hurt early. It never gets better. Sam Bowie, Greg Oden, Yao Ming, Bill Walton, Brad Doherty, Ralph Samson? Do you see Shaq deteriorate late? Joel Ambide has missed 63% of the games in Philadelphia, and he's an all-star, and you're going to have to make a choice eventually.

He needs six treatments to play the day of the game. And MB's got back, knee, and foot issues. I'd like to repeat, back, knee, and foot issues. That is what they call the big man injury bingo. That is the kryptonite trifecta. That's not a sprain wrist or an ice cream headache. Back knee foot issues for a seven-footer. I'll tell you, you're going to lose this series.

And you're going to think firing your head coach is solving all your problems. That solves everything in the NBA, right? Let's just fire the coaches. All right. Phoenix does that all the time. How they're rolling. You think firing your coach is your big issue in Philadelphia. It's not.

It's a shooter's league. You're getting a warning on the side of your box. And that box is, dude, I love Embed. I love his personality. I love his game. He look around, medical history. This series is fascinating to me on so many levels. I think Philadelphia has got much better players.

I think the pieces fit better with the Raptors. But Embed's the real story of this series. Six treatments per day. Missing playoffs again. Even the nights he plays, not 100%, IV fluids. This series is not. just about these games because if Philadelphia loses this series, most think they will, they're going to fire the coach. And they think that's the magic elixir for wins. Go look around

professional sports. The teams that can identify obstacles and problems before they surface and move off them, trade them, get other players for them are how dynasties are formed. go look at the Spurs early history. Go look at the Patriots early history. Go look at the Golden State moving off Montailles. Sometimes you've got to move All-Stars. Oklahoma City did. They got rid of the wrong all-stars.

I can love M-Bed the dude, love M-Bid the player, and be petrified about M-Beed's physical reality. Reggie Bush around the corner. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup kicks off June 7th, and all eyes will be on Alex Morgan, Carly Lloyd,

and the U.S. Women's National Team as the defending champions head to France, looking to win a historic Fourth World Cup. All the matches will be live here on Fox and FS1. They only have three more games, and they go to France, and 12 of the players that were on the last World Cup team for the women are on this team. They're number one in the country. France, who hosts the World Cup, is number two. So, okay, Reggie Bush joining us.

So, you know, it's funny. My mom, I went to Europe when I was a kid. And there was a guy named Johan Kroyf. He played for, like, Holland. He was a great player. And I got this, they bought me this little soccer game. Okay. So I got into soccer as a little kid.

I actually liked hockey as a little kid because I had a hockey game. And then I grew up, I lived in the Pacific Northwest where soccer was a big deal. Yeah. Okay. And then I started my stepboys, step sons, they started really getting in. into these video soccer games. FIFA. And then I just started, you know, somewhere in the last eight, ten years,

I just got into it. I got the bug. Yeah. And I bought LAFC season tickets. I can't wait for the women's world cup. I can't wait, man. And people always think if you're a guy and you say that, like if you like soccer,

oh, your company or your PC, it will all be glued to the TV for three weeks. Not at all. I went to the Women's World Cup when it was in Vancouver. And I had an amazing time. And they're just amazing. I mean, our women's soccer team, you know, they show up

and they play hard. Huge personalities. Huge personalities. Vancouver is the reason I came to this company. I was sitting with my daughter, Naples, Florida, on couch, and I was watching the World Cup on this network, and they were having so much fun. I turned to my daughter and I said, I'm going to work for that company.

Yeah. She like, really? I'm not going to get in negotiations. I'm going to go work for that company. Reggie Bush. By the way, Joey and I were just talking about this. So usually, like I saw Andrew Locke and I was like, oh, that'll work.

Yeah. And most of the time I see a quarterback, and if everybody else likes him, I get it. Matt Stafford out of college, I'm like, that's going to work. Okay, this Tua kid, it Bama. Joey and I agree. I like Kyler Murray as an NFL prospect more than Tua, and there's not an NFL exec that probably agrees with me. Yeah.

Okay, talk about both of them. I think Murray is a better athlete. Oh, for sure. I mean. Do you buy into Tua? I think that's an understatement that he's a better athlete. I love watching Tua, but I think the one thing you think about when you watch him is that he has so much talent around him. Yes.

Like their team is so great that you wonder how he would be with maybe a little less talent around him, right? When you've got to be the franchise quarterback of an NFL football team, how is he going to be as a leader? How is he going to be? Because it seems like every position they're stacked, right? They got two or three guys. Like their second and third team player could go on and start at any other university. By the way, he also plays with the lead in virtually every game. Always.

He's playing with a huge lead. In the games that he's had to come from behind, it's not the same quarterback. And I told Matt Leinard this years ago, I struggled getting a beat on Matt because I'm like, Matt, you never got touched. Never. And you never played with the league. You didn't trail big late. Yeah, no, we didn't trail. We did have some games my last year there.

We were trailing at halftime. Yeah. But we never had games where we were trailing in like, I don't think, in like the fourth quarter. Maybe like one or two that I can think of. The Notre Dame game, obviously. And there was one against Arizona State where we had to come back. I remember that. We ran the football into winning the game.

Yeah, no, it's just an interesting thing as if we've talked about this before, Reggie Bush joining us, if you look at the NFL, there's not a great quarterback from most of the big powers. Tell me the great Ohio State, the great Bama. Now we have Sam Darnal, USC. Oklahoma has won, but for years, generally the best quarterbacks in the league come from NC State. Cal.

NC State last year at one point I think had four quarterbacks in the NFL. Cal has Goff, Aaron Rogers. So, you know, I'm just Davis Webb, I think, backing up in the New York Giants. So there you go. So the draft just happened. And

I'm going to address something you talked about last time you were on the show. Is that just take the running back position. A kid will now show up to an OTA, and he's been a dominant high school and college running back, and now he's an NFL running back.

What is his reality? His reality is there's going to be two or three guys that are just like him in his position that he's going to have to compete with. He's going to be faced with, to me, the biggest

transition was the speed of the game. I mean, it was so much faster. Like in college, those holes, they stayed open for a while. In the NFL, it's timing, you have to hit them when you see them. And if you don't, if you wait a split second, that hole will close up. And that can be the difference in an eight-yard game or a negative run. At the college level and the NFL level, were you coached differently? You were seen as almost a Messiah at USC. was Sean like when you got to the NFL more barking more demanding yes there was more barking more demanding for sure 100% and there's more responsibility as well on you the individual you know as a professional

athlete you know I actually felt like you know Sean Payton is a great coach but some of our position coaches that I had like my running back coach I had my first two years in the league was not that good and thankfully I had deuce McAllister in front of me deuce was such a great veteran presence that he taught me a lot about the NFL, how to, you know, make that transition to college athlete to a professional athlete on and off the football field. And so I attribute a lot of my early success and a lot of things that I learned from Deuce, you know, having a guy like him. But I felt like, you know, there was definitely more barking. There was more responsibility put on your shoulders to go out and to do the extra on your own. When I was at the college level,

it was kind of like, you know, these are your guys, they're all young, it's still very genuine. Then the business side kicks in when you get to the NFL. By the way, you started getting, you know, now you start and go pro. You got a lot of money. You got a lot. Did you ever see young guys in the NFL change when they got paid? 100%. I still see it now.

It happens all the time. You know, you see a guy get a big check and all of a sudden his personality starts to, you know, go a little bit further and further away from, wait, is this the same guy? Like, who is this person? You know what I mean? And I feel like, you know, listen, money changes people. And I hate to say that, but it is true, you know. And we gave Joy a raise last week.

She's a totally different person. Joy's still the same. No, joy's never changed. Spring joy. No. No, but, not money. But, yeah, I've seen that happen before a lot. Yeah, Antonio Brown's teammate, the guy that works over at the other place, Ryan Clark,

was it? Came out and just said, he literally went on the air and said, listen, I told the Steelers, you pay A-V, he's going to change. And it does this. I mean, listen, man, you give a, we'll, you give a, we will. Sometimes we forget. These are 24-year-old guys. Yeah.

If you had to give him me $19 million at 24. Yeah. And that's the part of it that, you know, especially at the college level, you know, you're expected to be, you know, I think fans look at you to be this professional, right? Or they look at you to be this sophisticated athlete, man. And you're not. You're 18, 19, 20 years old. Did you know what to do with your money? Heck no.

I don't know. Luckily, I had the right people around me. Okay. So you had good age. I had good people around me. I had good smart agents. I saved my money. I invested my money the right way. I didn't just, you know, go out and buy a bunch of things for no reason, houses all over here, cars here, vacation homes, private jets. I stayed away from all that stuff. You didn't do a private jet? I did a private jet, but I didn't, no.

You just leased one. I didn't even, just for the day, right? Like maybe once or twice, and there were times where, because those private jets get expensive, man. I remember one time we... Tell me, come on, go. Let's go. Remember one time, me and a couple of my teammates went from New Orleans to Las Vegas. Let me think. It was from Memorial Day weekend. And then back.

And then back. Okay, how big was the flight? It was 40,000 one way. One way. And I was like, yeah, we got to split this. Well, that's because they have to fly it back. Yeah, exactly. So you think one way it's 20, but they have to fly the plane.

That's a lot of money. But you weren't splitting it? Huh? You weren't splitting it? No, 100%. I wasn't about to fly on that plane. with my teammates. So, by the way, how did you get back to New Orleans?

Did you fly the private? Private. We flew back private. But we all split it, though. And it was about five of us. And so that obviously made it a little easier. But I'm just thinking, like, you know, when I think about some, like, professional guys and NBA's, right, some of the best talent in the world. And I hear that they always only fly private jets. I'm like, that's a big ticket.

That costs a lot of money. Somebody told me, I don't know, should I say this? Can I see if something's published, so I'll feel better way. Hold on right here. Can you guys talk amongst yourself? I want to see this. I don't want to call it out if it's not published. But I will say, though, that, you know, I've seen guys go broke quicker from just vacation homes, bad investments, private jets here and near.

I feel like less and less of that is happening now. I think all the leagues have made a concerted effort to not only. talk to guys about money, but there's also been a lot of examples of where it's gone very badly. And rookies are not getting those big contracts from the NFL standpoint, right? But also you see guys like LeBron and Brady and Durant and like guys are investing in businesses outside of the sport. I'm not going to say it on the air. There's a legendary basketball player who got addicted to private jets. And he's legendary.

I'm not going to mention his name. He is a. and it set him way back. He got addicted to him. Yeah. Flying private is very expensive. Very expensive. And it's ridiculous that it even cost that much money, you know?

And now you see a lot of these private jet companies are trying to do these deals where you can buy in. It's still expensive. Thank you. It doesn't make it any cheaper. Good to see anybody. You too. Reggie Bush, try with the news.

No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. That was a big of Philbuster right there while you were on the Google. I did not want to call the pro athlete out, and there's no story about this online, so I'm not going to go there. But it wrecked him. It wrecked him. And I think, by the way, I'll say this, he now has to work, and he should not be working.

I know a lot of guys that have played in NFL who were great players and made a lot of money that were hitting me up for money. And be like, hey, can you help me out here and near? Oh, my God. You get that too? I just be like, oh, man. You're like, you my guy. I love you, but I got my own family defeat. I can't, I got enough people.

Damien Woody, Damien Woody's a friend of mine, you know, over at the other place. Damien says, yeah, I get those calls. Because he's where to go with his money. It's really, it's really disheartening and depressing, like when you have to, when you see that kind of stuff happens. That's why they should always take the most amount of money and not take any deals. You know what you do when so many calls and says that? You say, listen, Linerd, stop calling me. Stop calling my phone asking me to borrow money, Matt.

All right. Well, Jemon Green shook off his early season struggles and is now playing his. best basketball. And when talking about Jemann Green's in-season adjustment, Joe Lacob had quite the statement. He told the athletic, I want Jemond Green to be here forever. He is a warrior as they come. In two games against Houston, he's averaging 14.5 points and 68, 4% shooting. Jainon Green would not be Jemon Green on another team.

I think we all pretty much agree on that. But he is incredibly important to the fabric of this particular organization. Yes, he's more valuable to the Warriors than any other team in the lake. Whereas you could argue KB is valuable, but would be more valuable to other teams than the Warriors who could win a title and have without it. Yeah. That's the perfect example. I mean, everyone talks about them as being like the Skinny Gene franchise or the Hampton Spy. He brings the toughness and edge to this team.

But he is also kind of an energy creator. Yes. Like, while this is Steph's team and everyone kind of follows Steph's. demeanor, Draymond does bring that to this team. And when he wasn't there in game five, as we know, against the series with Cleveland, it ended up costing them a championship, I believe. You know what? I don't, I'm not a believer in conspiracy theories at all. I was listening to something, Joy.

Oh, I am. So you're a conspiracy theory. Nothing is as it seems. You really believe, like, the Jeopardy guy is getting fed the answers. This hot Jeopardy guy? I mean, what it's, I'm not saying that I'm not going to discredit his streak and, like, I'm sure he's very smart. Because I believe, and I don't believe any conspiracy theory ever.

None? I don't. If you guys can tell me one and try to sell me on one, but I will tell you this. Mand does the NBA badly want Houston to win Saturday night against the Warriors? And I'm not a conspiracy person at all. But I'm watching that game the other night and I'm thinking they cannot have a sweep in this series. No, they're not going to sweep. And I'm not blaming Adam's still for anything.

I'm not that guy. And believe me, I listen to sports radio. Everybody's talking about conspiracies. The NBA needs Houston to win Saturday. Badly. All I'm saying is, just because I believe in conspiracies doesn't mean I lose my mind over them. But you should always just have a healthy dose of skepticism. Did man land on the moon?

So the Portland Trailblazers evened up their series of the Nuggets. That's night, 97 to 90. I'm just saying, just ask questions. It's all I'm saying. C.J. McCollum led the way with 20 points, and Damien Lillard added 14 and after the loss, Yokic had this to say. It was a weird game for us. They play extremely good.

They didn't even play that good, to be honest. I mean, they can play really, I mean, better than that. So it was kind of a weird game where they were aggressive than we are. He's absolutely right. They definitely can't play better because Damien Liller only had 14 points and they're heading back to Portland. So they are going to play better than they did. Now, they kind of slowed Yokin's down compared to game one.

He had 16 points and 14 rebounds, seven assists. So it's like slightly down. But I don't know what's going to happen when they go back to Portland because that is a very tough place to play. You know, it is. It's interesting. Damien's obviously the best player on the team. One of the things, I think Zach Collins is going to be really, really good, really good.

Portland's one of those teams. They got about six guys that can make buckets. And when you get Lillard and CJ, and Cantor, and they all start hitting buckets, Rodney Hood. They got a lot of, Oklahoma City found out. They spread the floor. They're well coached. They get hot.

They're a tough out. I actually think CJ is kind of the key. If CJ goes off, because you know that Damien is in general going to get his buckets. If CJ goes off too, they're pretty unstoppable. And finally, the Cowboys won the NFC East last year, but we all know Jerry Jones wants a little more than a division title. He said the Cowboys ought to be better than they were last year. which means he's expecting better than 10 and 6 and going past the divisional round.

He said we have made improvements coaching-wise. We're going to do that scheme-wise. We're going to have real scheme changes on offense. That is going to improve us. Everything we were about was improving from where we were this year. There's no tangible reason we shouldn't be expected to be better than we were last year. They did change from Scott Linehan to Kellynne Moore, an offensive coordinator, signed Randall Kopp, and, you know, they want to see what happens with their draft.

but I don't really know what they did from last year. I think Randall Cobb's a nice addition. I will say this. Their division is better. And I think the Giants won't be as messy as last year. Philadelphia gets Wednesdays back. Cowboys schedule. Goulet, you're a cowboy fan.

Their schedule is tough this year. They won their divisions. Yeah, I know. It's been a Patriots this year. You know, it's funny. Like, I think the Dallas feels nine and seven, and fans are outraged. But, you know, it's going to be a feel.

goal, winner loss against Philadelphia, 10 and 6, 9, and 7. I think Dallas feels like one of the easier teams to predict. They won't be great and they won't be bad. Philadelphia, I mean, they feel like an above-average football team in a pretty winnable division. Dallas feels so 9-7. But what's different from last year? That's my thing.

If they were 10 and 6 last year, I don't think they're better. I don't. I think they're Randall Cobbs fun. I still don't think they have the tight end they need. And I think their offensive lines expensive and now not as dominant as it was. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The herd line news. You are a conspiracy believer. Goulet, are you a conspiracy believer? I don't believe in any of them. Some of them, not, I don't know if I'm to Joy's level. Cook up a few. Because I don't think I believe in a single conspiracy theory. I bet I could find one.

That's a mission. That'll be our best for last tomorrow. Think of every single conspiracy theory. I'm trying to think of one I believe. But I'm saying this because I think Saturday night is a huge night for the NBA and for the networks that have the NBA. If Golden State wins that game, the West is done. It's done. Nothing against Portland and Denver.

It's done. They need this series to go at least. Remember, a network loses for a sweep in the NBA. The network will lose $25 million of revenue for every game. So when what networks do for the NBA, you promise advertisers six games. So if it goes seven as a network, you're above expectations. If it goes below that, you're in trouble. A sweep.

A couple years ago, ESPN had three sweeps, I think, in like the east or the west. It's a disaster for networks. You can lose $100 million in three weeks. And I'm not a conspiracy guy. But if Golden State won that thing Saturday, the West is over. No, I mean, it feels like it's just over. Like that game means too much to the league. Do you think I'm nuts?

No, I don't. Of course I don't think you're nuts because I think conspiracies, a lot of conspiracies are real. And if that game comes out and there's controversies about pro-Huston officiating, it's going to be hard not to. If someone tweeted at you, the refs are going to rig the game for the Rockets on Saturday, you would call them a booger eater or a weirdo. You call him tinfoil hat guy

And now you're becoming that guy But do you have to tell the refs that Or do they know that? Like you don't have to tell me If my wife says how do I look in this dress I don't need a note to know I'm going to say Perfect You don't have to tell the refs

Saturday Give it a little lean to the home guys I don't think you have to tell anybody You don't have to do a memo on that stuff Well in general when you're doing things like that You don't want to put it on paper Exactly well said.

Yeah. Dear referees. Okay, Cotino Mobley's all freaking out. Where's... Oh, somebody said he's all freaking out. Oh, brother. My God, get him over here in a second. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd.

Weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. By the way, in our best for last, I'm not a fan of these baseball contracts. I think they're horrible. I think they either limit your team, Joey Votto, with the Reds. They were a playoff team until they gave Joey all the money. It limits your bullpen. It limits how many good starters.

It limits your infield. Joe Maurer. Twins were a very good organization. Joe Maurer signed his contract. They go one and 13 in the playoffs. Again, it limits your roster. So Mike Trout signed a 12-year deal. Harper 13, Machado 10.

I don't care about necessarily the number of money. It's the idea that giving anybody a massive contract that many years in any business is assinine. It's terrible. Well, what do you know? We do a segment called Right and Wrong. Let's talk about Bryce Harper. He is batting 196 in his last 13 games. He's batting 231 in the year, a career low.

He's now getting booed at home. He's 25, 30 games into his contract. That's a 2,100 game contract minimum. So I think it's time. Colin was right. I'm going to create songs today. I'm so right. Here's my favorite first Colin is right song.

Colin Cowler got it right here. R-I-G-H-T. There you go. Very good. All right, how about the second one? This is Colin Wright, the musical. Manny Machado, career low batting average, 236. Career low slugging percentage so far.

Should be noted that Dodgers aren't getting sucked in by these contracts. They're in first, and they won six straight division titles. Machado's having a terrible year. Career lows. Colin Wright again. Colin gave his support. opinion, he is right. He's right. Mike Trout. Again,

Mike's a contact hitter. Contact hitters won't slump with a big deal. Home run hitters do. But it does limit for a team that's got low revenue in their stadium, what they can do going forward, giving him $430 million. The Angels, they won last night, so they're no longer in last, are 14 and 7. Colin Wright again. Oh, say, can you see? Colin Cowherd is right. Yeah.

And to recap this with one last graded Colin Wright hit. Right, right, right, right, right, right, right, right, right, right, right. Catino Mobley, get over here. Cotino Mobley. I'm sorry, but these baseball contracts are ridiculous. I mean, you had some facts to support that. What's up? I don't know.

I don't know what's going on right now. Okay, now you're getting all worked up in the back. No, I'm not really worked. Okay. Okay, so you don't like this whole, and Gottlieb and I have talked about it. Joy and I have talked about it. If this guy, Kevin Durant, holds a trophy. Yeah.

Third straight finals, MVP in the finals, he's a top 10 player all time. No, yes. He is. I mean, but that's not what was, the question was, my opinion. I love, first of all, I love Kevin Durant, okay? The best offensive player ever to play the game. I understand that. Okay?

He can do everything. Best offensive player ever. Ever, the best offensive player ever to play to get. He can do anything. Offensive. So what bothers you? What bothers me is comparing them to, the last time I checked, the NBA is a team sport.

Right. Okay. So I asked you this. If you played basketball before, who would you want to play with? LeBron James Magic Johnson, Corey Bryant, Michael Jordan. Not who would you want to watch?

Who would you want to play with? See, here's the white. Magic Johnson. There you go. I would want to play with Magic or LeBron. Right, right. See, there's the beautiful girl, and then there's the wife that's just, you know, she might not be as gorgeous and everything, but guess what?

She's beautiful to me. You know, she's independent. She's smart. She makes sure this done, all that, right? We get so caught up in the one-on-one thing, but we don't like the one-on-one thing when it's not our team, the Michael's. Hardin and a... the Hardens.

But LeBron James and Magic Johnson plays the right way. Now, Kevin Durant, you came to a team that already won 73 games. Right. You added 30 points to that team. So for me, it's how do you consider yourself, not him, but how everybody speaks about, oh, he's the best ever, or he can be the best over LeBron? I don't, to me, I don't understand that because it's like. Yeah, I don't think that's, I will say this.

I never think he'll be better than LeBron. But if you listen around, oh, no, no, that's starting to come out. I said this here today. When he won a title the first time, 10% of the people said it and we rolled our eyes. Last year he did it, he won, and about 20% of the people said he's better than LeBron rolled her eyes.

I said this year, when he wins, it's going to get up to about 50% of the people in a month here are going to say Katie's better than LeBron. He's 30 years old. What does that got to do with anything? I mean, what if he goes on to, win two more championships. You can't put him in that conversation? What if he goes to New York and wins two champions?

Oh, come on. That's not happening. What if he does? But even, Joey, even if he goes to New York and he wins one, you really think he's going to go to New York and win the championship. What if he does? No, no, no, no, no. Yes, I think he can. If they put the right people around and they can. They put the right people. LeBron won a championship in Cleveland. Things can happen.

That happened. No, I guess. LeBron James is totally different. LeBron James can take four guys from Home Depot and go. to the playoffs. Katie just dominated LeBron and back-to-back championship. She's dominated LeBron. You have Clay Thompson, you have Stefan Curry, you have Draymond Green, Boogie Cousins. First of all,

who won the MVP the year 2016? Who won MVP? Steph. No. Eagle Dollar got MVP or the finals, yeah, yeah. Eagle Dollar, he came off the bench. They started him for the finals. So you have literally a person, you have Stefan. Curry, you have Clay Thompson, you have Draymond Green, Eagle Dollar,

Sean Livingston, you have that core right there that won 70 degrees without the man. And a person who already won MVP, if you give LeBron James that team, what do you think will happen? See, this is why he has to go to New York, Colin. Well, you guys hold a lot of things against Kevin Durant.

I'm not holding anything against them. I just don't like the delusion of people. It's like if you have a child and I have a child, they're both the same age. And I spend like they do, like they're doing now, I spend $5 million for my child to go to Stanford. Yeah. And is my child smarter than your child?

Because my child got in your child. Well, my kid can't get into Stanford, so your kid is smarter than my kid. But I'm spending that money, right? Oh, if you buy your way into Stanford. Right. You kind of bought your way into something that's already established. They won a championship in the 73. Not saying he bought his way in a disrespectful way,

but to compare him to someone who didn't have as much on his plate since he came into the league. I think a lot of people are resentful of Kevin Durant, and I think it's misguided. We don't hold it against Michael that he was one and nine in the playoffs pre-pippin, or was a disaster

in D.C. We don't hold it against him. We don't hold it against Kobe that in between Shaq and Gassal, he couldn't beat Phoenix in the playoffs. He was talking about leaving. Couldn't I argue this? Kevin Durant's just smarter than all the other guys. He went to the right team, and that he has the right personality. By the way, the Warriors

didn't want Westbrook. They recruited KD because they knew he could work with them. I look at it like the ultimate compliment is NBA stars that didn't need him said, oh, we could play with him. They didn't go and get, they didn't recruit John Wall,

Russell Westbrook, Kaua Lent. They recruited Durant because they're like, dude smart, he fits. We like him. We can play with him. I think it's a pat on the back that he went to the Warriors. I don't think that by the way, I'm not sure they wanted to play with LeBron. I don't think the Warriors

wanted to play with LeBron. I think they do. LeBron James, just like the Olympics, when he has all those great players around him, he's the anchor. If you even look at the kind of like a documentary behind the scenes when it's Kobe, LeBron, Dwayneway, all them, he's the anchor.

All right, 1-800 Flowers.com, 24 roses, 24 bucks, 1-800 Flowers, Code Herd, H-E-R-D. Mother's Days, May 12th, get on it. The herd. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in.

I'm Timbo, and every episode we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast. podcast network on TikTok.

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Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them

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