The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Kobe. Bean. Bryant

Episode Date: January 27, 2020

Colin reacts to the tragic news of Kobe Bryant's death and talks about what he remembers most about Kobe and his career. He also talks about it with FS1 NBA Analyst Chris Broussard and Jim Jackson who played with and against Kobe in his long NBA career. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ah, live in Miami. This is The Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. Joy Taylor to my side. She has spent a great deal of time here, me far less, but it remains one of my favorite places in North America to visit. We'll be here all week. We have a massive staff. We have people watching us off to the left and the right, the beach, the Atlantic Ocean off to our right.

Thank you so much for stopping by. And it's going to be an incredible week for us. Yes. Of course, today is a bit more somber for everybody. I learned of the news yesterday flying from Atlanta. And let me just start with this. I think I read everything you could read last night, got into my hotel room. And like a lot of you struggle to get my feet.

beneath me. And I watched all the videos. There's a video out there of Michael Jordan and Kobe, how their games often mirrored each other that is unbelievable. It is mesmerizing. But I want you to think of this. When Kobe Bryant retired, it just blows me away. When Kobe Bryant retired, he had been an NBA player longer 20 years than he had not been an NBA player in his life, 17 years. So Kobe, of course, grew up right in front of our eyes. And when people grow up in front of our eyes, we see all of it. Right? It's an imperfect life. To give you some framing on how much of Kobe's life he lived in front of our eyes, nobody asks most 18-year-olds and 19-year-olds to grow up with a camera. There were two different versions of Kobe and Phil.

two different versions. There was the Shaq Dynasty, then Kobe shot too much, and then there was the Powell-Gosal dynasty. There was the 81 points, OMG, and then the 60 points in the final game, W-T-H. There was the number 8, Kobe, there was the number 24, Kobe, there was the Staples Kobe,

There was the forum Kobe. There was the sort of skinny Kobe. There was the more buffed Kobe. The Afro, the ball, the mamba. Byron Scott was his teammate, and then Byron Scott was his coach. And then Jerry Bus was his boss. And then Jim Bus was his boss. And then in the end, Jeannie Bus with his boss.

Those are the versions of Kobe. And we watched all of it from 19 years on. Nobody else has to have a camera in front of them. Imperfect, flawed, and vulnerable. And I'll get to vulnerable in a second. But I think one of the things I always appreciated about Kobe, and he learned this after a while. When Kobe broke into the league, he was aloof.

He couldn't go to the bars or the nightclubs. And there were stories that he'd, didn't connect with teammates. People may forget the Shaq and Kobe version. People really wanted Shaq to stay if you had to choose. But Kobe learned from that. He always evolved. He made mistakes. But Kobe then started giving more of himself the last 10 to 15 years. He gave a lot of himself. He went from teenager to teammate to hard to coach, to a pleasure to coach, to a doting father. And the more Kobe gave of himself, the deeper I felt the connection was. It is hard to leave it out there when you're a public figure. And Kobe did a lot. And you saw all of it,

and there were times you loved him, and there were times you didn't, and there were times you screamed for him. But in a world we live in today, which is to, I mean, I'll say it's divided. That's as diplomatic, as I can currently say America is divided. There are years ago, somebody asked me if I wanted to host a political show. And I said it was so toxic. This was 10 years ago. So angry. I said, I'd rather be part of something that unites us. And music and sports do it. And it's hard to explain the loss of Whitney Houston or Michael Jackson or Kobe Bryant. You don't, you can't really explain what they mean when they leave us too soon, right? Your heartbroken, you're shaking, you cry, you'll weep, you're sick. Don't try to explain it to people because music and sports

are really different. I have gone to concerts more than a dozen times of my life and sat or stood next to a total stranger and I'm dancing and I'm singing and you don't want to hear it. And I've gone to sporting events and sat similarly next to a total stranger. And I'm high-fiving and I'm yelling and I'm emoting and I'm a complete and utter wreck. And only sports and music does that. They're the great unifier. And Kobe Bryant gave us for 20 years all these memories and marks in our life. You don't have to explain it.

You're shaken. I was, I am, we get it. In terms of Kobe's game, Kobe, to me, of the 40 years I've watched NBA basketball, he is the great artist. The canvas was empty, each possession he was a painter. He was more fluid than Jordan, less physically overpowering than LeBron. But he was the artist. So it was not a coincidence when he left basketball. He won an Oscar in Hollywood. That's who Kobe at the end was. But there was something incredibly relatable to Kobe Bryant. And it's not this way with All-Stars. I may love my favorite band, rock star, hip-hop star musician, but I don't always feel like I relate. And sometimes the NBA feels like a genetic league. I mean, I've seen

guys in college that look like Julian Edelman or Mike Trout, but NBA guys are sick. 6, 6, and 6, 7, and 6, 8, and they can jump and they can – you may never, ever, ever be in a court or a field or a diamond with anybody that plays and has the athletic ability of an NBA player. DNA-wise, they're different than us, right? But Kobe, in the end, was very relatable. There's 50 guys in the NBA now that are just as athletic as Kobe. but what really connected to me was mamba mentality. First of all, nobody's allowed to give themselves a nickname and it sticks. Kobe did and it stuck.

That was Kobe, force of nature. But what mamba mentality was telling you was that even though he was a Laker and even though he was a celebrity and even though he had a net worth over $300 million, The mama mentality was telling you it's about the work. LeBron James told the story yesterday. He said, when I first met Kobe, I was 15, there's video, you media people can go find it. And we sat in a gym and we all looked up to Kobe. And Kobe had just gotten into the NBA and he had a game that night in Philadelphia.

But earlier in the day, there was some tournament. And Kobe came and talked to LeBron. He didn't know who LeBron was. Nobody at 14, 15 did. and Kobe said, if you want to be here, it's about the work. And when guys give themselves nicknames, it's often about themselves. But really, it was about what Kobe gave us, these markers and these moments and the work. It hurts.

It should. No reason to explain it. With that, I'll take a break. In Miami, it's the hurt. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard 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

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Podcast Network available on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Make 2020 your year a year. Start your new life as an IT pro. Little as four months. Classes are on campus or live online. Go to My Computercareer.D.U. Take a free career evaluation today. That is a shot of Miami Beach. I feel like we're the tourism agency today. We're going to be selling condos all week. We should get a commission for it. And Chris Bruce Sard, my good friend joins me, Fox Sports NBA analyst. Rough day for all of us yesterday. Rough opening segment for me and Joy and everybody. You know, I was thinking about this, Chris, and I want you to, I didn't give you a heads up on this, but mostly the way it works for icons

is that it could be messy, it could be Gretzky, it could be Brady. They become icons. It's a slow, gradual process. We don't anoint them as I. icons until they're ready. Right. Because of our deep love for Michael Jordan, Michael career was ending, and Kobe played and sounded so much like him, we annoyed Kobe an icon before he started for the Lakers.

He made an all-star team at 19. Right. He started an all-star game. He didn't start for the Lakers. So unfair is probably not the right context. But Kobe's iconic career started before because of his artistry and the way he played and looked like MJ. We said, you're an icon. Let's go back to the early Kobe years.

I don't think people, many don't remember. He sat on the bench. He didn't play. He had a rough early All-Star game. It was not easy for him early. He averaged seven points a game as a rookie, to your point. And I think the reason people elevated him so quickly. I got to be honest, and the NBA may not like me saying this, and this is probably not true,

but my feeling was that they put him in the All-Star game before he really was ready. As you say, he wasn't starting for the NBA, and if you looked at the voting, he wasn't one of the starters until like the last week or so. And so I kind of felt like, you know what, they kind of put him in there. Oh, they rushed him. Right, right. That's not the way it works for ICON. No.

We made him one before he was ready. He was the first guard, first non-big man to come directly out of high school to the pros. He had been Moses Malone, Bill Willoughby, Daryl Dawkins, and then Kevin Garnett. And so that was part of what people want. They were rushing him. And then he won the dunk contest the second year. Yes. Following MJ, won it right there in Cleveland in front of the 50 greatest players of all time.

And I think when he really solidified himself. as a great player. And I think this followed him throughout his career with his clutch reputation was in the 2000 finals. He was in his fourth year in the league and game four at NBA finals.

He had hurt his ankle. He missed game three of the finals. Only played eight minutes in game two because he injured the ankle in that game. Game four, they're playing Indiana. It's a tight game. Shack files out with like three minutes left.

and the game is tight, and Kobe at 21 years old takes over. His three big shots, they win the game, they go up 3-1, the series is over. And he's 21. Yes, and that solidified. No matter how many game winners he may have missed after that, no matter how many times he passed, he passed the ball to Shaq for the Big Alibupe when they beat Portland in game seven, right? Darrell, Robert Ory, Derek Fisher, hit some of the big shots for that Lakers' champion.

team in that run. But Kobe, even if he may not have taken the big shot or may not have hit the big shot, he was solidified. He was a made man in terms of his reputation as a clutch player. And early on, that follows you because LeBron, no matter how many shots he may have hit, because early in his career he would pass it off, people say he doesn't want it. You know, so it follows you. By the way, Michael Jordan hit the big college shot at Carolina. So he came into the league with a reputation. This guy is clutch. LeBron statistically has been, but those early, you know, those first impressions are very, very powerful. You know, there's so much of Kobe.

To me, one of the things, I got into this conversation the other day, and we were talking about Zion. And I said, Zion feels like to me he could be Dr. Jay. I don't think, and Kobe's got some of this. Kobe had referenced Dr. Jay. Dr. Jay averaged 25 a game and eight rebounds. Flaws in his game. But there was a style and a cool to Dr. Jay. Michael Jordan was relentless.

Kobe felt to me always like he was the artist in the league. Like he could mimic some of Michael's, but his game was more fluid. That's why I think he was held in, not just his points, but like a Dr. Jay, there is an iconic nature to his being, his style. Kobe had style.

Kobe was cool. I totally agree with you. And I think Jordan's game was graceful and pretty, but that is part of Kobe's attraction. His game, not to keep bringing up LeBron, but he's compared to LeBron. His game is prettier than LeBron's. Yes, much more.

LeBron's a Mack truck. Kobe is graceful. His dunks. I think Kobe's one of the greatest game. game dunkers ever. People don't put him in that category, but he has some game ducks that are fabulous, powerful and graceful at the same time. He's what most people have said, the best tough shot maker we've ever seen. Yeah, by far, the best tough shot maker of all time. So his, your game being pretty and graceful, that is a part, that's part of what made him an icon is people love the

way he looks. When he makes a move, it looks great. It's like, Michael Jackson. I might be able to mimic some of his moves, but it's not going to look as good as when Michael Jackson does it because the way his body moves and his grace. That's how it is with Kobe. He can do the same move as another player and it's going to look better when Kobe does. You know, if you look, what is fascinating about basketball, think about Kareem, uh, Wilt, Magic, Shaq, and Kobe. So Wilt was the ultimate play. boy. He loved Los Angeles. Karim was aloof.

Right. Almost at times embarrassed by his size. Prickly at times. Here comes magic. Totally embrace Los Angeles. I want to live amongst the stars. Kobe, I'm going to go live in Orange County. I will dabble

in it, but this is a basketball life. And then LeBron, from that, comes in more like magic, end of his career. That Kobe, to me, there were elements of Kobe that were like Kareem and that he was really bright and very introspective. Kobe made a choice, Chris, to not live in Beverly Hills or Bel Air.

And I think, I mean, just your thoughts on that. It's really interesting that Kobe chose to keep L.A. Right. At bay. At bay until the end. Do you ever think about that? That's a great point. That's a great comparison to Kareem.

Because Kareem, as you say, highly intelligent. but aloof. I think that hurt Kareem in his post-N-Ba career. And I think it hurt Kobe in his early career. That's the thing. Remember, Kobe grew up, and I think you said this earlier, right before our eyes. From 17 to 37 and maybe even 40 years old, he grew up in front of us.

So we watched him. And I remember approaching Kobe early in his career. And there was like a little social awkwardness and maybe a little aloofness or whatever. and then midway through his career, as he got more comfortable in his own skin, as he matured like the rest of us do, except we don't have to do it in front of the spotlight.

You could see him get more and more comfortable with the media, more and more comfortable making comments and things like that. So he just matured and grew, Kareem, we never really saw that. But Kobe did do it. And the thing that I actually think is going to be a big part of Kobe's legacy, as great as it was physically on the, the court, I think mentally it is just as powerful, if not more. And the thing I take from him

is whatever you do, whatever he did, he did it to be the best. He didn't have step on anything. He didn't do anything to be mediocre. He didn't do anything because, hey, I'm Kobe Bryant. I can do it. It'll make money. If his heart wasn't in it, he didn't do it. So when he played basketball, it was all basketball. He wasn't in movies and doing things like that. that he was focused on basketball. Now he did rap, but for the most part, it was straight basketball. Then once he moved on, he took the obsessiveness.

And then he took that obsessiveness to other areas, coaching his daughter, kids basketball, his short documentary. And that's why he could excel in everything he did. He excelled because he focused on that thing. So when he left the league, like you said, he coached his daughter, he did the details. but he didn't have to be on every TV show broadcasting and commenting on the game. He could have easily.

He wasn't that many Laker games because he's with his family. So I think people can learn from that. And a part of his legacy is whatever you do, go full bore at that thing. Go all in or you're in the way. And that was Kobe. Chris Broussard is joining us. It is great to have you here, Joy Taylor as well. We are in Miami, Miami Beach, one of our favorite places,

one of the most beautiful places in the world. So as we go in and out of breaks for the next week, we'll be giving you these vistas and these views. I just want to show people who are dropping in. We are not working for the Chamber of Commerce, although it will feel like that, and we're so happy to be here and treated so well. People are getting jealous.

Listen, I'm jealous. I can be in the beach in two hours. Chris Broussard joining us on the passing of Kobe Bryant and Gianna, his daughter, and others in a tragic event yesterday. one of the things this is a it's so sudden and it's so painful and I use Whitney Houston

Michael Jackson Kobe Bryant they're taken too early and we have all these moments and markers in life where we connected with them so it's okay to cry I got off a plane yesterday and from Atlanta and I had a text from friends and I went and found my next gate

I went in the back of a restaurant and wept I had to be by myself then I got on my plane and I sat down and I was sitting where in the aisle so people were walking past me and I'm like they're going to know who I am I'm crying close my eyes and just and I thought to myself you know get it together and I thought no this was 20 years of being in in this guy's galaxy when you heard yesterday for the very first time if I may your initial thoughts the first to reach out to you and the reactions from your or encyclopedia and your rolodex. Just take me to the first four to five minutes of it. Well, I was actually in the air myself. I was flying. I was on my way here through Chicago.

So I was about to land in Chicago 15, 20 minutes before we landed. I started getting phone calls. The same person or people calling me several times. I'm going, what's going on? And then I get a text that just says, OMG from a good friend. OMG. And I'm like, I text back a question mark

and they said Kobe died. And I'm thinking it can't be Kobe Bryant. I know of no other Kobe, but it can't be Kobe Bryant. Right. And then I text Kobe Bryant question mark and they said, you know, the helicopter and all that. And

I mean, I almost cried myself. I mean, I was distraught and I couldn't believe it. Yeah, it was like a punch to the gut. And even to this moment when I really think of the finality of it, that Kobe's not coming back, I feel that same feeling in my gut. You know, and so then, you know, you start texting with people, people around the league, related to the league, and everybody has the same reaction. They're devastated. They can't believe it. Is it true? And, you know,

let me throw this, Chris, if I may. We were talking about. talking about this earlier is that as many great players as the NBA has had. And I, you know, I'm old enough that I remember watching the Lakers in 72 with Gail Goodrich, Jerry West, and Will, the Bill Sharman coach team. That's, I'm aging myself. Millennials, I'm kind of old. There's been about seven to eight players who have really crafted the image of the league. I think Dr. J is one. No doubt. I think it's a very short list. I think it's a very short list. I think it's a it's magic and bird. I think it's Michael. I think it's Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, and Steph because of the three-point shot. I have a very small list of people that when I think of the NBA and its style and its coolness

and its relatability to young people, Kobe's like one of eight to me. Am I short? Dr. J is the first person that made basketball to me, I would go out and mimic him in the yard. Right, made it cool. was the first guy, and there was a guy before him named Spencer Haywood, I'm going way too far back that had some of the same qualities. But I think Kobe's in that class. No, I agree because to this generation, he is there, Michael. Yes. Now, whether you not, you think LeBron's better, whatever, Kobe's the guy they look at, because as we said, the grace, the beauty of his game. And we can't, we can't belittle this. He won five rings. Like, we, that's one. One, reason we say Jordan's the goat is he won six.

We may, who knows when the next time we'll see a guy win five rings? Steph's got three. LeBron is arguably the greatest we've ever seen. He's got three in 16 full seasons. Durant has two. I don't know when we'll see a guy be the best player or the second best player on his team and win five championships. So Kobe is associated with grace, with toughness.

with killer instinct and with winning. You can't get a better combination than that. And I'll say this, Colin. And again, I won't criticize the NBA if they don't do it. I think they'll handle it the right way. In my opinion, the NBA should retire Kobe's number eight and number 24 across the league. Totally agree. They've never, here's the reason.

None of their icons, none of their superstars has ever passed away in the prime of his life. Moses Malone and Wilk Chamberlain, I believe, are the only MVP winners who aren't still alive. And they were in their 60s when they passed away, which most would look at as, okay, they lived a full life for the most part. This is the first icon in the NBA that was cut short so early. And I think it's appropriate for them to honor him by retiring his jersey throughout the And an immediate induction into the Hall of Fame. The NHL, if I recall, did that for Gretzky. There are several steps. They were like, what's the point of waiting for the vote? Immediate induction into the Hall of Fame for Kobe and retired the number. And I know this is

a time when we're all very emotional. And there's a lot of suggestions. Those feel right and baseline right to me. Yeah. Chris, I appreciate this. Tough day for you. We're really glad you're here. Thank you. Chris Broussard. Joy with the news. This is the herd line news. So the NBA world is mourning the loss of Kobe Bryant's, and there were several games played last night and a lot of raw emotion during those games. And Doc Rivers faced Kobe many times in his coaching career

and got very emotional talking about him yesterday. There's just so many people he touched, you know. And, you know, it's looking at my young players and seeing how emotional they are. I ain't even know him, you know, and it just tells you how far his reach was. And this is just shocking news for all of us. Sorry, I don't have a lot to say. I just can't have to go talk to a team before a game and tell me,

I play. Wow. Yeah, there was a lot of raw emotions yesterday. You could see a lot of the guys crying before the game and during the game. It's one of those rare moments in life. where, as you said, you know, we're in a divided society where we all not only agree on something, but we are all feeling the same thing. Well put.

Which is very rare. You know, you mentioned MJ and Whitney and, you know, I think of Aaliyah and Prince. And, you know, we not only remember them passing, but where you were, like how you experienced it asking Chris, how did you find out? And I mean, when I, our producer, Sam told me about it, and I didn't even think it was real. I thought that, you know, TMZ had been hacked or it just, it didn't. feel real because he's Superman, right? And it makes you feel like if this is Kobe, it's not possible. It brings you to a mortal place very quickly. And there's also his young daughter was with him. And I think that, as I went on social media yesterday, it was the gut punch

and then it got worse. It got exponentially worse, of course, because as we were getting more details and then we find out about obviously the seven other people that were on the plane. And you know, obviously, their condolences go out to their families as well as devastating and is going to impact so many people. But, you know, I think the biggest perspective on all of it, and when someone of this iconic nature passes, is you want to focus on the memories that they gave you and what it was about them that inspired you in the first place. Like you mentioned Mamba mentality. It's something that will live on through generations. I saw Honey Badger yesterday, the Kansas City Chiefs went there and he said, it was really cool. He's like, man,

We all gave a little more when we play. And a big reason for that was Kobe. And I loved other sports star reaching in and they're like, oh, no, no, no. I watch Kobe as a football player. Like I, he, that mama mentality is not a basketball thing. It's a life thing. No, it's a lifestyle. And you saw that, you know, I think it's, it's meaningful that his film was called

your basketball, right? Because he was really an artist and a poet. And like you mentioned, art, music, sports are the great. It's something that travels through all of us, no matter what our, you know, political opinions are, where we're from in the world, or what language we speak, we can all relate to the emotion and the, you know, the highs and lows of sports and art. And he really affected that many people. And you're feeling that yesterday and you're feeling that yesterday. So as you mentioned, there's obviously sent waves throughout the sports world. The news of Kobe's death actually broke right before the pro bowl kicked off yesterday. And the players found many different ways to honor him throughout the day. Russell Wilson led a prayer in Kobe's honor before the game. The end of the end. The NFC defense celebrated with Kobe's fadeaway jumper on the field. Devante Adams pointed to the sky and put up number 24 after a touchdown catch. And there was also a moment of silence for Kobe at the two-minute warning in the first half. We're showing some video of them honoring Kobe yesterday.

And then fans broke the moment of silence, actually, by chanting Kobe when they did during the game. So the AFC actually beat the NFC in the Pro Bowl 38 to 33. The AFC MVP was Galeas Campbell. Who won that game, by the way? AFC. AFC one. Yes, and Calais Campbell was the AFC MVP, and NFC MVP was Lamar Jackson. Russell Wilson actually gave up his starting quarterback spot to Drew Brees,

who we will talk about later because he is kind of talking about retirement. And finally, we are here in South Beach in Miami for the Super Bowl. Chiefs and 49ers, and Andy Reid will get his second chance at a Super Bowl win this weekend. And many feel like a ring is the one thing missing from his legacy. his impressive coaching resume. He's not so worried about that. He said instead he's focusing on the work he puts in every day. He spoke to our friend Peter King about the 3 a.m.

start to his day, which I can relate to having worked on undisputed before. He said, it's calm, it's dark. And then I go into this building and I study. Then when I leave, it's dark. It's calm. And I go home and sleep and rest and then come back and do it again. That to me is what's real. That's what I enjoy.

Everyone's going to have their opinion on whether you can or cannot coach. Everything else, eh, it is what it is. That sounds like a Mamba mentality there too. Yeah. No, I mean, listen, it doesn't matter if you're watching me and you're an actor or you're working on the crew here or anything in any life, the process wins. Nick Saban talks about the process. That sometimes you see these stars and they're glamorous, but if you get down to the nuts and bolts of all people public or not, you got to put in the work. And Kobe did. That was Joy with the News. Coming up next, it's interesting. Kobe Bryant was the third.

13th pick in the NBA draft. And Patrick Mahomes was only the 10th pick in the NFL draft. Both, one was already asked, and one is about to be asked, to be the face of the league before they're 25 years old. And the two, Patrick and Kobe, have some things in common. We'll talk about that coming up. Folks, we've got an incredible new deal from Tocovus boots. This is a company new to the show from Austin, Texas. This is only available until January 31st. Now, why do I love Tachovus? Each pair of boots handmade, high quality, full-grained leathers.

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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. 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 Slica 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,

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person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about on 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. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee.

We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at?

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Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice.

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the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrat as part of the MyCultura podcast network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Unless you're in Miami, winter is still in full force. Mead you can still upgrade those wiper blades. Michelin Endurance XD silicone wiper blades. Real World Proven lasts two times longer.

available at Walmart, Michelin Endurance, XT, silicone wiper blades. By the way, I flew in, got here last night. This is the herd. Joy Taylor is joining me. And so a couple of people asked me

if I wanted anything on the set. And so I asked one of the guys for Diet Red Bull, and then I asked somebody else for a double espresso. So if at some point I have to be strapped down to the desk to finish the show today,

I'm a little caffeinated. That's a lot of caffeine. On a day that it has somber. We will transition throughout the course of the show. We are in Miami for the Super Bowl. I thank you so much for joining us. You know, it's okay to be emotional. These are emotional

times and we lost a dear friend. I was thinking today, Doug Gottlieb, who knew Kobe very, very well. In fact, they had recently gone to dinner. We'll be joining us top of next hour. A lot of guests here today. Jay Glazer, Kurt Menofee, Jim

Jackson, who played with Kobe Bryant, Trent Dillfer on a Monday. Again, this is heard on Fox Sports Radio. Kobe Bryant was drafted 13th, and that just seems crazy, right? But he did not play college, so you had to guess at some point. You knew he was gifted. I've told the story before where Tim Legler, a former NBA player, once told me that he walked into a gym in Philadelphia. He was a member of the Sixers and said, who's that kid? I've never seen him in the NBA yet. And they said he's about to be a junior in high school that's Kobe being Brian. So you can spot talent, but Kobe and Mahomes are being asked very quickly to be the face

of the league because of our love affair with Michael Jordan and Kobe's game, which often mirrored Michael, there were elements. I can remember interviewing Kobe very early in his life. He sounded like MJ. You know, it's like when I started being a broadcaster, I would mimic Bob Costas or somebody that I had great reverence for. And then as Kobe aged, his game became more of his game. But the League asked Kobe very early to be an icon. Michael was leaving. There was nobody really ready to take it.

And for advertisers and the style and the league and its advertisers and its fans, they annoyed Kobe is the next guy. And he was voted an All-Star before he started as a Laker. Patrick Mahomes. And remember, M.J. wasn't out of the league, but the end was near. Similarly, Brady is not out of the league, but the end is near. And Patrick Mahomes will now be asked commercially ads. He'll be offered a lot of things to be the face of the league. And I think in both instances, their dads having been

athletes is a big bonus. They watch the life before they live the life. Before they live the life. I think to ask a 19 year old or a 20 year old to be the face, not of his team, but of a league is a daunting experience. But Kobe, I thought, had a unique view of that world before he got in. And I think Mahomes, same thing because of his father. And there's a temperament I like about Patrick Mahomes. I said this. I have watched the NBA tried to make a variety of players the face of the league. and they have swung and missed several times. I said it's not Zion's game that will make him a perfect face of the league. That's not what it is.

I don't think he's a magic, a LeBron, or a Kobe. I don't. But he has the temperament. He is relatable and he's likable and he loves the game and he is fun and he's a little flashy, but he's serious when it comes down to basketball. And I think Kobe and Mahomes have that. Mahomes is innocent yet experienced, fun yet serious. Ad libs a lot, but can play within the structure of a highly complex system.

And not only have the fathers of Kobe and Patrick Mahomes given them a view of the life, I think this is also important. When my father, there was a divorce, he left the house. My coaches became surrogate fathers in my high school. Steve Bridge, my high school football coach, Jim Connors. my high school basketball coach. I think it's very advantageous to Kobe that he very quickly inherited. Adele Harris was a grown-up and Phil Jackson,

kind of stoic, cerebral, mature coaches. Similarly, Patrick Mahomes inherits Andy Reed, a stable, workaholic, highly cerebral, sort of stoic personality. So you need some breaks to go your way when you become the face of a franchise, we've said this before. If Tom Brady doesn't end up in New England, there's a different book written. He would certainly be great. But I really think it was important for Kobe and Mahomes. When I look at Mahomes, I see the temperament. It's right. The personality's right. He's fun but serious. Ad libs but can do complex. Can be silly, but feels like a 24-year-old grown-up. And I think his dad deserves credit. And I think the Andy Reads and the Phil Jackson's and the Dell Harris is he deserves. He deserves. credit too, are very important when we ask 23-year-old people, Kobe was 19, hey, be the face of the league. Remember, Tom Brady, when he was winning Super Bowls in New England initially, it was Belichick and the defense and the kicker. I mean, it was sort of like, yeah, we're winning

with Brady, but that's not with Mahomes. Mahomes is front and center. He's going to carry Kansas City, and Kobe was front and center. Wasn't about the coaching. It was about the kid. So we're going to watch these experiences and I thought by and large Kobe handled it very well. Anybody that would have a camera on them and wealth very early would have stumbled and had bad moments. He did. Let's not hide those. Kobe's life was imperfect. And Patrick Mahomes will have some missteps. This is going to be okay. We don't ask our kids to be in front of the, you know, the camera at 18, 19 years old. But I really like what I see with. homes. I like the stability in his coaching staff, the stability in his family. He played some

college football. He was a three-star prospect. He was a grinder. He did not go to a football power. Texas Tech offered. No other big school did. If you qualify that as a big school, it's in the Big 12. So I think the NFL's in really, really good hands. It's very difficult for these teams. Steph Curry has this component. His dad lived the life before Steph lived the life. So the Warriors can feel very comfortable handing the franchise to Steph and then essentially at some point handing the league to him. We ask a lot of our music stars and our Hollywood stars and our athletic stars. And occasionally when you're really gifted, you're asked to carry an industry. And the first thing I look at was Zion is not his game. It's his temperament. He is really built to be the face of the league

if you watch him. He really handles himself with grace and class for a kid. I wasn't nearly that mature at Zion's age. And so I think the NFL is in really good hands with a lot. And I've said this before about the NFL. The best athlete now plays quarterback. And so it used to be quarterbacks dropped back and then gave the ball to the great athletes and they did a lot of the spectacular things. Now the quarterback is the best athlete. He does the spectacular things. And that's very attractive to advertisers and fantasy fans. We're going to have multiple mega stars in football over the next 20 years at the quarterback position. They'll make the plays. They won't need the backs and receivers. And what I will look at with Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes or a Sam Darnold is the temperament

not the game. Can you handle it? Because it is a lot to ask. I've said this before. I was a late bloomer in life. There is no way you could have given me a franchise like Kobe Bryant at 19. I was simply not ready for it. I would have been emotionally, forget physically, I would have been emotionally overwhelmed. Mahomes is a baby, but it feels right to me. That he's got it, he's smart, he's got all the elements,

he's got a great support system at home and a remarkable support system with Andy Reed. Doug Gottlieb, who had a really interesting relationship with Kobe Bryant. Doug actually one time worked out, had a tryout with the Lakers in Hawaii, played some international basketball, ball was a college basketball great.

I know it was incredibly painful for him. He had recently spent some time with Kobe Bryant. We'll talk about that. We have Trent Dilford, Jay Glazer, Kurt Menafee on a Monday in beautiful Miami Beach. Thank you so much for joining us one hour down. Hour two next. It's the herd. One more herd?

The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Ah, this. live in Miami is the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we're on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. Joy Taylor is joining me today on a bit more somber day because of the passing of Kobe Bryant, his daughter,

and several others in a helicopter crash yesterday. Difficult for everybody, myself included. And we all kind of grieve and process differently. I do appreciate you stopping by today and we'll try to add context to it. In a couple of minutes, I'm going to bring on my friend Doug Gottlieb, who had really an interesting relationship with Kobe. Kobe had respect for Doug.

Doug, had played the game. It was a great college basketball player. And I want to talk about this. Yeah, I've been covering sports for a long time, Joy. And I covered, I felt I looked back at, you don't really know sometimes when history is happening. I cover the Portland Trailblazer Shack Kobe series. To this day, I would argue,

Portland would have won the finals. Portland was a deeper team. Portland was a more athletic team, but it felt inevitable. It was Shaq and Kobe. And the alley-oop now is part of lore and part of history. I was right behind the basket, and I remember after that basket, looking at the general manager of the Blazers Bob Witsitt,

and he gave me this look like, we knew it was coming. It was just a minute left in game seven. It felt inevitable. This was a very unique dynasty. There was no Robin. This was two Batman. Both average 28 a game.

In 2001, the NBA ranked Shaq is the best player and Kobe number two, and it depended on the night. I always understood this was the band that was not going to last forever. There was a lot of criticism when they broke up. There was a lot of finger pointing and blame. You cannot have a great all-time band and two all-time lead singers. It is not designed for 10 years. MJ and the Bulls needed a break, and Scotty always relinquished the ball and the spotlight to MJ. Look how long Magic and Kareem lasted because Kareem didn't like the spotlight.

McHale relinquished the ball and the spotlight to Bird, although Bird himself never really wanted it. These two, Shaq and Kobe, were not designed to last 20 years. It is the most unique dynasty ever. You had the immovable interior force and the best next fledgling superstar on the perimeter, Kobe Bryant. He was the closest thing to this day, whoever played like magic. So there were a lot of criticisms about the Kobe Shack breakup, but sometimes you just realize there are marriages that are not built to last. It is the greatest single basketball series I've ever covered.

It was, everybody was a star. Phil Jackson and Kobe and Shaq and Rashid Wallace. Staples was newer. These were rock star events. It was a tug of war with one of the best, probably the best team I ever covered daily, the Portland Trailblazers, who went nine deep with the two greatest players

who I ever covered regularly, Shaq and Kobe. And with that, I bring on the Doug or Fox Sports Radio, Doug Gottlieb, who know Kobe very well, both living down in Newport, CA, and California. Doug is joining us. Let's go into a little Shaq and Kobe. You were a point guard, so you were a natural distributor. If you would have been a 28 point a game score, that's just going to be harder for you.

Were there times when you talked to Kobe Bryant, Doug, that he shared with you that, listen, man, it wasn't easy. Oh, no. And look, and he was the one that was always in shape. He was the one that spent off-season working on his game. Whereas Shaq, Shaq could have been the great. greatest player in the history of the NBA because he was so remarkably athletic and had speed athleticism for his for his size but shack wanted to be shack in the offseason yeah you know they both

want to do movies and and rap videos whatever but Kobe was Kobe in the off season adding to his game where Shaq would play his way into shape and so I yeah I think and I think Kobe sometimes caught the brunt of the criticism um look I think he carried a lot of burdens I think some he brought on himself obviously for his behavior some he brought on himself obviously for his behavior some he brought on himself because he wanted to be the next Jordan. Remember, when he got into the league, he talked like Mike, he walked like Mike, and he damn well played like Mike.

So last week we were discussing Eli Manning, and Eli carried the burden of the Manning name, right? Eli, standing on its own has had a hell of a career. Compared to Payton, Payton's a lot better. Big Brother's a lot better. It's kind of the same with Jordan and Kobe, right? Kobe's never going to match up

to Jordan. Plus, he always had to have Shaq, right? And the similarity is neither of them could win until they got Phil Jackson is their head coach. And, you know, Phil would have to manipulate, you know, would have to manipulate Shaq and then kind of be honest with Kobe, because Kobe was so, he's off the charts smart. Like five languages, you know, I mean, as much as we rave about LeBron and even Shaq in business, Kobe's the same thing, right? Like, you guys do the same sports drink. He made $200 million on it. I don't think you made $200 million on it. So,

I mean, like, he's a really remarkable story, but you're right. It's not as easy as, hey, Two guys, you guys go figure it out. It took a lot of cajoling from Phil Jackson and some trial and error in order to make it work. You know, it's interesting, Doug. I thought about this. You know, your personality, you become your personality. So Kareem was more aloof. Did a little bit of Hollywood.

It was an airplane. Magic just jumped right in. I am L.A. LeBron's more comfortable. Kobe chose. Kobe could have lived in Bel Air, but Kobe chose to live in Orange County. and I always theorized he wanted to keep Hollywood at arm's length so we could say no. And then on his terms, he would run in and embrace it.

But, you know, he did choose to be a little bit separate. Yes. Yeah, a little bit. Like, he's in Newport Coast. That is not a hop, skip, and a jump from Staples Center or from El Segundo where they practice, you know? Yeah. And that's why he had the Mamba Chopper was to avoid traffic, whether it was going to practice or going to Staples. Like he was a bit of a recluse.

Look, I think today and yesterday, while it's incredibly sad, you mentioned Newport Beach, you know, my daughter knew not only Gianna, but Alyssa, all the girls, Peyton, those are the three players that died on board, as well as, you know, there's parents that left kids behind as well. So it's an absolute tragedy. But Newport Beach is not, you point out, it's not L.A., but he was kind of a recluse. And if you think about the transformation and how we look at Kobe now and how he was, and how he viewed for the most part when he played. Remember, we used to have discussions. Can you get another star to go play with Kobe? Because Kobe's always going to be Kobe. Right. Right. Like he ran off

coaches. Heck, when he got married, his own parents didn't show up. Yeah. You know, obviously he had Colorado. He was going to get a divorce and they got back together and now they have two two younger, beautiful children as well. You know, and he went from a guy who held on too long. Heck, his last contract was the big reason the Lakers were so bad. Right. Right. And it's like, his fault that, you know, that, uh, that Jim Bus gave him that deal. Yeah. When he had a torn Achilles tendon, but he could have said like, hey, I'm making plenty of money. Let's go out and get some other dudes. He didn't because that's Kobe. That's right. He is the ultimate competitor. Doc Rivers said it yesterday. I've never competed against anybody like him. And you know what,

Doug, in life, often our strengths. Yep, is our biggest weakness. Are become our, so his rigidity, but I will say this. Now he's embraced for it, though. Yes. Now it's the mama mentality. Now it's Jason Tatum, like, how can I get more of this information? And Kyrie Irving and, and, you know, college players, female women's college players, women, WNBA players come and talk to him because that indelible self-confidence, self-belief, as well as the work ethic to back it up. Like, there's two parts to it. And that, by the way, is Jordanesque as well, right?

He had the self-confidence, but he also had the remarkable work ethic. And I think that's now been embraced where it wasn't when he was playing. Yeah, I mean, we really watched Kobe grow up. I think he became much more of a giver later in life. You know, I think a lot of us in our 20s and 30s, we can be takers. We're looking for whether it's self-preservation or stardom. And then as we grow up and we have kids and we look at legacies, I feel much closer to the older Kobe.

I can relate to the older Kobe, the parent Kobe, the Hollywood, the Oscar Kobe, the vulnerable Kobe, the often injured Kobe. I felt really at the end of his career. He became a human being. Yes. He became a human being. I mean, think about it. He quit.

on his team. Remember in the playoffs when he wouldn't shoot the basketball? He quit on his team. He said, I want to be traded. Get me out of here. Right. Right. Not Chicago wouldn't come up. Lou all dang to trade for Kobe Bryant. When the all time, I cannot believe you didn't trade for Kobe Bryant. Otherwise, he would have been a bull. He was almost a

clipper. Right. He was, I'm going to take my ball and go home. Right. And and yet, here he is, end of his career. And the moments that we remember are Kobe shooting two free throws with a torn Achilles tendon. Which, by the way, like buried in that memory, that team made the playoffs because of one dude alone.

Kobe Bryant willed them into the playoffs and then his body just gave out towards the Kennedy's tenant. Then he takes a year off. That year off, I believe, changed him. You know, at the time, our daughters were in school together, and he was a constant presence around the kids, you know, serving lunches, and that's when he started to develop further plans for what he wanted to do. I would say, you know, obviously he lost his life yesterday, but he got his second life

during that year off where he tore his Achilles tendon. And then he came back and he wasn't good. He wasn't, he was, remember last year people were talking about, well, he should come back and play in the playoffs of LeBron. And he was like, listen, dude, I'm done. No, he told you that. I have nothing left. Right.

I didn't quit because I wanted to. I quit because my body, I had the, in order to get ready for the 60-point game and then after he said, I couldn't move for a week. I was done. But he did score 60 in a real NBA game. No, in his last game. You know, it's really funny. I look at, I think Peyton Manning, it was a little choppy in Denver, but, you know, when he was bench,

but he's segued brilliantly. He is now the funniest pitched man in the world. Derek Jeter, the Marlins thing hasn't been perfect, but he moved into Players Tribune, which just got purchased. It's very difficult. Celebrity is almost always a choppy ending. And I remember reading a quote about Kobe Bryant. Doug Gottlieb joining me here for the radio audience.

and Kobe said, listen, I'm a really intense guy. Yes. I have got to figure out the next thing to take this obsessive nature and place it on that, because I can't go half in on everything. And I thought to myself, oh, my God, that's tough. That's a tough ask. But he did it. And he's really, he's had an elegant segue to retirement.

You take the team Mamba, which, of course, they lost three players yesterday, including his daughter, a star, and Gianna. How did that happen? Well, he was doing Mamba for his oldest daughter as a volleyball player, and Gianna won a basketball team, so she put her friends together. Well, they got blown out. They got blown out in a tournament by like 40 points. So he pulled them out of any tournament,

and he said, we're going to practice five days a week for four months. He hired a coach. They started running triangle, and they turned around. They beat that same team this year by like 85 points, you know, without pressing. They just drilled them. Yeah, he just poured his passion into coaching. Correct. And, you know, he has this book series, which is going to come out.

He has movies that are going to come out. Like, it's really interesting on how somebody who is so hyper-focused on being the greatest basketball player ever could then transition and hyper-focus on other things. But that's exactly what he's done. Look, it's a complicated legacy. When somebody dies tragically and seven other people outside of his and his daughter lose their lives, like all we can think of is the people that are left behind and the memories that we have.

It's complicated. It's not all pretty when you look at Kobe Bryant. But the fact that at the end of the day, we're talking about how remarkable a parent he was, how remarkable he was in business, how remarkable bride he was, should only be a life lesson to all of us that it's a long book, man, right? Everyone's just a chapter. And until that book is closed, unfortunately, his close yesterday, there's still chapters to be written. Think about the different quitting on the team, the Colorado, the wannabe traded.

Nobody's going to talk about that today, rightfully so, because he put the heart on the eye when he dotted it at the end of the sentence. Doug Gottlie, the Dougger Fox Sports Radio. I love watching this video. Sorry for the radio audience, but this is Kobe and his home gym playing with Gianna. She actually, by the way, he may have mimicked Jordan.

She was mimicking him. She had a couple of moves. Yeah, listen, and he lived in incredibly, you're like this, and I know Joy as well. Incredibly disciplined life. Like, he can't play basketball anymore, but he was getting up at 4 in the morning, every morning, going to Equinox and working out.

He told me a couple stories. He told the story where, Tiger, when he was in town, would work out there. And he's like, and I'll never forget, one day, this guy's next to me, and he's benched press, he's got headphones on, and now I'm working out next to him, and all of a sudden, Tiger's on the other side, and the guy sits up and takes his headphones up, and look, Toby on one side and Tiger and the other, and just some random equinox, right? So, but, but look, the ego was there.

Sure. I mean, he straight up told me, like, I could take George. Mike knows he doesn't want any part of this. That's great. And I was like, stop it, dude. But that's okay. And he's like, you don't understand, full-scale psychological warfare. I was like, what are you going to say to Michael Jordan?

He's everyone's talk trash to Michael Jordan. It didn't work. He's like, I research. What do you mean? He said, look, his dad, Michael always had kind of a complex about Larry. Larry was only six feet tall. He always felt like his dad gave more love to Larry because Larry wasn't his skilled, whatever. He's talking about Larry.

Call him Larry. Talk to him about his dad love Larry more. I was like, you would not do that. He goes, absolutely. He goes, like, listen to the books that Phil would give you. We're talking about full-scale psychological warfare, and I absolutely bought into it. Yeah, Doug Gottlieb, great stuff. Great having you on the show today.

Thank you so much. Good to be here. And, of course, Joy is going to be our tour guide for the entire week. Listen, we got, we have a beautiful weather. No, no club scene during the week. We've got to do. We're disciplined. This week, we are disciplined.

By the way, I do have a Diet Red Bull and a double espresso. Strap me down. Be a rocket ship flying off this set. Doug Gottlieb, thanks so much. Coming up next, Jay Glazer. Kurt Menafee, thoughts on that. It is Super Bowl week. San Francisco's in town. Most of the Chiefs and 49er game plans are in. This is distraction week. We'll talk about that coming up next. If you're big on Valentine's Day and Valentine's Day surprises, all right, don't do the

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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,

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Can't wait for that. By the way, I was just looking up some Kobe Bryant numbers. We talked about the Mamba mentality. People always consider Michael Jordan a great defender. Kobe is actually tied for first. nine time first team all defense. So when you talk about it's the process, it's the work, you think about this cool, suave, stylistic, offensive player.

In the history of the sport, nobody has made all team defense more than Kobe Ryan. It's amazing. That is a mentality. Defense, offense is fun. Defense is work. Yes. There's a lot of great players who didn't do it on the other end.

And Kobe's tied for the most ever joy with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So there's been an outpouring of love for Kobe Bryant over the last 24 hours. His former teammate, Shaquille O'Neal, tweeted there's no words to express the pain I'm going through with this tragedy of losing my niece, Gigi, and my brother, Kobe Bryant. I love you and you will be missed. My condolences go out to the Bryant family right now and the families of the other passengers on board. I'm sick right now. Magic had a lot to say on Kobe. One of the things he tweeted was he gave his knowledge, time, and talent to tutor so many at the youth level, collegiate level, and NBA and WMBA players. Words can't express the impact that he had on the game of basketball. I know basketball fans all over the world will miss him, especially the city of Los Angeles. We Love You Forever, Number 8 and number 24. And Michael Jordan released this statement. He said, I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe and Gianna's passing. Words can't describe the pain I'm feeling I loved Kobe. He was like a little.

little brother to me. We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force. Kobe was also an amazing dad who loved his family deeply and took great pride in his daughter's love of the game of basketball. Evette joins me and sending my deepest consolances to Vanessa, the Lakers organization, and basketball fans around the world. There was, I mean, really the whole world had something to say about it. Yeah, we have some sound from the Grammys last night. They did a very nice tribute to him. Alicia Keys talks about it.

being in the house that Kobe built. There was, you know, we live in Los Angeles. We're in Miami now, obviously, but I mean, I can't even imagine what people in Los Angeles are going through. And if you saw the scene at Staples last night with all the fans, you're bringing flowers and they had a tribute outside of Staples to him, I mean, obviously Kobe meant a lot to fans and people all over the world. But the city of Los Angeles is hurting extremely deeply right now.

And, you know, I mean, our hearts with them, obviously, we both live there. about music and sports connect with us i mean when you listen to music it often is during sad times and it takes you to a different place sports does the same thing there are so many markers and moments that Kobe i mean there are people that have been lakers season ticket holders they raised their kids through Kobe they took their sons and daughters to watch Kobe and their relationship built through Kobe so uh you don't have to explain i mean i a lot of people yesterday and social media or I can't explain how I feel. You don't have to.

No, because we all are all feeling the exact same thing. Collectively, together, we're experiencing it and trying to find a way to express how we feel because even if you had never met Kobe and you've never even seen Kobe play, if you just experienced him as a basketball fan or even if you got to know him after basketball, it's just, you know, certain people throughout history have the ability to affect millions of people without ever meeting them. They're just given that gift of, inspiration and they have that that it factor, whatever it is that you want to call it, that

allows them to transcend generations and, you know, political lines and where you're from or your gender or anything and just affect you on a deeper level. So everything everyone's going through, we're all going through the same thing. We're experiencing it together. And Kobe was a great risk taker. He, I remember the LA Times. He came out in one off season and he wore this white outfit. Remember the hats? Yes. And people say, what is this? That was Kobe's style. That was Kobe saying you're going to look at this and you're not going to see me in this. I always appreciate that about Kobe when public figures put it out there and Kobe did. You know, he's just, he's an all-timer.

He's a he is the reflection and the reaction of the Grammys last night. Right. Kobe transcends sports. Yes, he's an icon. So the chiefs are obviously happy with their choice of Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 draft. You were just talking about this comparing Patrick. Mahomes and Kobe and putting the league on their back.

Well, GM Brett Beach says he was actually sold on Mahomes after a huge 66 to 10 loss to Iowa State in 2016. Beach said knew Mahomes was his guy, but he had a little trouble convincing coach Andy Reid. He said at one point that December, I remember coach calling me into his office and showing me a

Mel Kuiper, Todd McShay mock first round. And he said, your guy's not even in the first round. They didn't have Patrick in the first round. And I just said, coach, it's perfect. Don't worry. You don't want him on these lists now. It sets us up perfect. It sets perfect for us.

So he actually had, was 18 to 36, 218 yards, one touchdowns, and two interceptions in that game. But he left the game early with a shoulder injury. And he returned. And Beach said he was about to leave the game. And he saw Mahomes warming up. And he's, you know, we're talking a lot about Mamba mentality today. You respected his resilience. And that's what convinced him to take him home.

By the way, they just had a senior bowl in Mobile, Alabama. And Justin Herbert plays for Oregon. And I had a general manager a month ago. And he said, I have a feeling the secret on Justin Herbert's going to come out at the senior bowl, is that you watch some of these young players. In football joy, sometimes you can hide talent. Half the league is undrafted. In basketball, great players usually pop at about 16.

But the stories of Mahomes, the NFL is filled full of those where you're trying to hide. hide this kid down in the rural south or Texas that you know is great. Mahomes' story is, remember they traded up because they were petrified. Somebody was going to draft them. And he's the classic NFL diamond in the rough drafted town. I mean, arguably the greatest quarterback of all time went in the sixth round. Russell Wilson, third.

Yeah, there's plenty of examples of it. Thank you for that transition, Colin. Oregon quarterback, Justin Herbert helped his draft stock at the Senior Bowl this weekend. And he was named both the practice player of the week for the South team and the MVP of the game on Saturday. Joy, he looked good. He led the South to an early 7-0 lead completed his first seven passes. His team ended up losing 34-17, but he finished 9 for 12 with 83 yards on a touchdown. He also ran for 22 yards.

We're showing some video of it now. The Bengals coaching staff is actually coaching them in the Super Bowl. I don't think that that's going to sway them either way on Joe Burrow. But he looked really good. And he was also praised a lot for his leadership by his teammates during the week. And yeah, so that's, I mean, look, that's part of the reason why if you're a prospect like Justin Herbert, you want to play in the Senior Bowl. Get more tape out there. People are on the fence about, you know, where you should go.

Or if you're capable, go out and there and give a great performance. And by the way, the Senior Bowl is coached by NFL staff. Yes. So Cincinnati may not take him. But there's a lot of friends around the league who knows scouts for Cincinnati. And they're saying, this is the NFL is a big family. So Justin Herbert did himself, made himself a lot of money at the Rose Bowl and a lot of money at the Senior Bowl. Yeah, this is a good choice.

Joy of the News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lie News. Two of my favorite guys, Fox NFL, Jay Glazer, Kurt Menofie, brought to you by Mercedes-Benz. Come on up, guys. The Best or Nothing. Jay Glazer and Kurt Menofy.

By the way, I've got to ask you about this, guys. So, Kurt, did you write this book? Is this your book, or is it Glazers? Which one? Which one? The great Brady Heist. No, no, no. It's not a book. It's a show that we have. It's a documentary. It's a documentary on Fox before. Actually, we came and broke most of the news on your show.

Hey, Colin, which one of us is supposed to be punch you here? It was on your show. We broke all the news. So, by the way, I want to watch this. So it's, this is when Tom Brady's jersey, you broke the story, was stolen from... On your show. Yes. Thank you for the ratings booth. So you guys did a documentary on it. Is that it? Yes. And when is it air?

It airs before our pregame show. It is Saturday, actually. It does? I think. Well, that's before a pregame show. Well, we're not hosting this show. We don't have to know when that is. You're hosting this show.

Read the plug. I'm just Saturday. Saturday at 7 Eastern. It's called The Great. Thank you, Sam. The Great Brady Heist. You know, by the way. It was, if you remember, it was a wild day because right before we went on your show to,

we broke different pieces of the news throughout. You had video. If we had the video, right. And we had a couple different videos we had throughout the couple of days. But I remember when we originally first got, you know, found the person's name. I was up there with Eric Shanks, our boss in his office. And we got the guy's name. And right off the bat, I was like, wait, let's make sure this guy has like nothing to do with the cartel.

Because if he does, he does not get his jersey back. Like, sexy, we got kids. So we immediately called some of our MVP veteran guys who were pretty high up there in the intelligence. feel, I guess you should say, just making sure. Because if they were, he was not getting his jersey back. It was after the Super Bowl against the Falcons in Houston. And after the game, his jersey that was game worn disappeared.

And he said a reporter had come in and they caught him on camera and then Jay broke it down. But for a lot of people, they were like, what are you talking about? That's when it happened after the Super Bowl come back against the Falcons. Yeah, this guy who's an international reporter, been around for years and years and years, stole Brady's jerseys, both two different Super Bowls. He had Von Miller's helmet. Actually, I have on my phone through the FBI, all these pictures of stuff that was in the guy's house.

There's like Walter Payton jerseys. There's, man, it goes old Montana jersey, all a different thing. But they only took Von Miller's helmet back and Brady's two jerseys, and they left the rest of it. I don't know why. Like the public doesn't trust the media enough. Like we need people who are stealing Tom Brady's jersey. Kurt Menofy and Jay Glazer joining us.

So I'll start with some news yesterday. I did not watch the Pro Bowl because of the tragedy with Kobe Bryant. I was told by Joy this morning about Drew Breeze in retirement. Kurt, put your news hat on for a second. What is the story on that? Well, I think Jay is as close to Drew and Sean Peyton, those guys down in New Orleans as anyone. So I'll let him take it.

I mean, I don't know them. Really basically he's trying to decide whether or not he comes back for another year. His contract is up. So if he comes back, I think he's been public and saying, he's coming back to New Orleans or he's going to retire. He's not going to go and bounce around and do that kind of thing. And I think people are wondering, he's turned 41 years old this year. I think those five weeks off certainly benefited him, but nothing lasts forever.

So I think that this is a crossroad for him as he tries to decide, can I get in this for another couple of years while the Saints still have a chance, or is it time for me to go out on top, if you want? This is interesting. So Eli, very nice, tidy ending. I don't think there's a huge market for Philip Rivers. I have suggested Tom should retire. he won't and now Drew Breeze.

The league is changing a quarterback. It is becoming a very dynamic position. I think Drew Breeze, I mean, listen, Tom and him both feel emotionally. One more year we can win a ring. Today, if I ask you about Drew Breeze, Jay, do you think he comes back? So Drew's in a different position than anybody else.

The Giants have moved on from Eli, the charges moved on from Phillip Rivers. Brady has a choice where he's going to want to go. Breeze, it's Saints or nobody. And Sean Payton's already said, yeah, if he wants back, he's back. Like, it's not a question in his mind. It's just the question of what Drew wants to do. They do have their quarterback of the future on the roster, too.

That quarterback will be Taysam Hill. Taysam, they believe, is a franchise quarterback, and especially you've seen what, you know, Lamar Jackson's been able to do. So they think they have them there. But Sean has been very, very clear. If Drew wants it, like we want Drew. We still want Drew as long as Drew wants to go. So this isn't a situation like the other guys where they're kind of pushing them out the door.

they're welcoming him with open arms if he wants to come back. Yeah, there are very few quarterbacks in my life. I've said this before. I always felt this. Russell Wilson feels, my sister doesn't love football, fell in love with it because of Russell Wilson. He is Seattle. Drew Breeze, maybe more than any quarterback in my life,

feels like his city, which is ironic because he didn't start there. He is so. But he saved. Yeah, a lot of people look at it. He saved that city, that franchise. Yes. People forget when the Hurricane Country to happen. It was all done. They were moving to San Antonio. There was no revival. There was no

coming back. He came there instead of going to Miami. Obviously, people have heard the story that the doctors in Miami say, hey, his shoulder's not good enough. He wound up not playing there. Goes to New Orleans. The rest is history. But he committed himself and his family did and became a part of rebuilding New Orleans, not just from a football standpoint, but from a city standpoint. In that town, that city, I believe, will forever be indebted to him no matter what he does in the future. John and him and Steve Gleason is just incredible what they did. And that was one of the selling points that Sean had for Drew. Drew went on

his recruiting visit, if you will. Sean knew how charitable Drew is, so they went and drove around to areas in need. And he thought, so it wasn't the money part that he knew to be able to sell. It was the human factor, the blessing factor that

they thought Drew would really kind of touch him to go to New Orleans and it worked. By the way, I want to also, if I may, segue into Tom Brady. There are a lot of reports and there's a lot of different NFL reporters. Jay, I've got great admiration for you. You are not in the volume business. You're in the accuracy business. Damn right. Same for you, Kurt.

Damn right. The Tom's, I do believe, though, and I'm in the speculation business often because news breaks. I think the Tom's story feels fluid to me. I have moved cross-country four times and have made a decision in the very last day. I feel like with Tom, he has not made up his mind yet, and there's a wife to consider. And is it fluid? Because it feels fluid to me, Jay. Absolutely.

Yeah, that's what people keep wanting an answer now. Free agency is still a month and a half away. A lot happens between now and then. Look, when Peyton Manning went on his free agency tour, all right? There was a lot of people thought, oh, maybe he's going to go down to Tennessee. Because that's where he's, you know, he's obviously tied in over there. and there's so many different things that happened.

When he went down there, they gave Peyton a playbook. They said, hey, here's going to be our playbook. We need you to learn it. When the Broncos brought him in, they said, it was John Fox said, we know you're going to throw everything into your rehab. You decide the playbook. Like, it's your playbook. So don't worry about that.

And that really swayed him and go into Denver. So you don't know what's going to happen between now and, you know, any of these visits and what happens behind the scenes. You know, people are trying to speculate where he's going to go. and, you know, there is, he's not going to fit in everywhere because, you know, there's going to be a lot of systems he's not going to want to be part of. And in his age, he doesn't want to start off over with a team that's, you know,

not going anywhere or rebuilding. He needs a winner. There are very few places that are winners right now. And I also think that if I'm Tom Brady, I'm in a situation also where if I've got control for the first time, I'm going to wait and see what the Patriots do. You know, maybe the Patriots go out and do something different than they've done in the past and they sign a free agent on, they need some help on offense.

Yeah. You know, if they go out and they sign the right, pieces and they say, hey, can you come back for one more run? Then it's a much better situation to stay there than to go to the chargers or somewhere else trying to chase it. But if they don't do that, then the door, I think, is open. And I do think it's fluid from that standpoint, because he doesn't know what the offers are going to be. He doesn't know what the Patriots are going to do. And so there's a lot of moving pieces that I think people want answers to in January. We probably won't have answers to until March. And he, for decades, have given

the Patriots a hometown discount. You know, I don't know how much that's going to player partner here because he's not going to have to. But if I'm the Chargers, too, just business model, I go, here's a check. And then you write in all the comments you want. Let us know. I don't see if it's up to Robert Kraft, money

being the difference. I think if he comes back and says, I want to come back, but here's the number, I cannot imagine. Now, Ballot Check's a different story, but I can't imagine Kraft moving on based off of money. But I think there's so many other factors other than money this is going to come down to. By the way, I'd be remiss if I did not ask, Kurt, you

are a California native Los Angeles, Jake Glazier yourself, you have those remarkable performance centers. You deal with athletes and training. One of the things we've discussed with Kobe Bryant today was his devotion and his passion and his work ethic. There are countless stories of people coming to the gym at 6 a.m. and Kobe's leaving after a two-hour workout. Whether it's Kobe or not, you watch athletes, you push athletes to the discomfort level constantly. Push their breaking point. I read so many stories last night about Kobe, literally outworking the hardest guy in the gym. And you see that from pro athletes regularly. Yeah.

You know, greatness is what you do when no one's watching. And that's what Kobe did. You know, I would always tell these athletes, hey, find out who the best is and do more than them. It's pretty easy. And you think it is. You think it's simple. And most of them aren't willing to do it. But we bring up Drew Brees the time we walked in on him in the Saints facility at 1045 at night,

who's the only one there? and I looked at him, I said, what are you doing? He's like, sometimes trying to be great as lonely. Great line. And I told him, I said, I'm so stealing that from you. But that's what makes Kobe different. The Drew Breeze is different. But Kobe really took it to a different level.

That's why so many, there was so much respect. When you have other athletes and other great athletes who are going to you for advice for anything, what books do you read, what do you eat, what do you do for sleep, that's when you know you're the best of the best and you're, you transcend everything. Yeah. Kurt, absolute pleasure to see you both. You guys too. Sorry, it's under these circumstances we have to end,

but I think it's a moment that everybody all around the country, they felt emotional when they heard the news yesterday. And, you know, we kind of live in a world where we are in touch with celebrities. We feel we know them, who they are, who they are as people. And especially after Kobe retired, we felt we got to know him

maybe even better than we did when he was a player. So I think it hit people maybe a little bit harder than we might have expected when you go, hey, it's just a professional athlete, blah, blah, blah, because he did transcend all of sports. It's almost like, you know, you guys were talking about earlier, maybe like a Michael Jackson or someone where you didn't have to be a basketball fan to know Kobe Bryant and the field attached to him. And I think that's the reason, because of the emotional attachment that so many people had, that it hit them hard yesterday. And, you know,

it's been a pall everywhere we've been today, whether it's here in South Beach, in the hotel, you're out on the street. There seems to be a mood that's darkened over the entire country, over the death of Kobe Bryant because people felt, I don't know, I go back to it, not trying to get too deep, but it's a poem, my A.E. Hausman on an athlete dying young, that I always go back to whenever you get to these moments, and it's about how we see athletes

as the epitome of youth and vibrancy and vitality. And when they die, when they're young, it takes a piece of all of us away because there's that hope and there's that magic that we know is all gone, but if you're an athlete at a certain level, that legacy will always live on, and it will carry on in the people that you touched and the people you affected. And I go back to that whenever I get in moments like this, because I think it's important

to remember. Just because the body isn't here, the spirit can still live on. And the impact that you can have on people, not just an athlete, as an individual, can still live on after you're gone if you do the right things while you're here. Well said. Kurt Menafee, very well said. Jake Ledger, thank you both. Fancy of both. Always welcome back in Miami. It's the herd. weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Definitely winter. Think about winter. It's cold outside. Get cozy inside. Casper.com. Code cozy. 10% off any purchase with a mattress today. I want to think everybody. Chris Broussard, Doug Gottlieb, Jay Glazer, Kurt Menifee, Jim Jackson will be joining us last hour, played with Kobe. Tread Dilfer as well. It is great to have you in. We were talking

today. When I was a kid growing up, my idols were not old as sports figures. Johnny Carson. I watched Johnny Carson as a kid. And I, very early watched, you know, my sister was six years older than me, so we didn't hang out together. I go into high school. She's out of high school. So there were a lot of times where I'm watching TV and that's how I got into radio. It was my companion. Johnny Carson was somebody I watched.

And one of the things I always loved about Johnny Carson was that his last show was one of his best shows. And when you age, you don't have the ability or personality. perhaps the stamina or energy to be great every night. But for the late Johnny Carson to come into his last show, and I remember watching how emotional, and he brought on his favorite people, and I thought, what a great way to close it. For Kobe Bryant to score 60 points in his final game,

many athletes, it ends very sloppy. You know, you see a Michael Jordan in a wizard's jersey, or Johnny Uninus or Joe Namath. And here's Kobe against the Utah Jazz team that was playing for something, score 60 in his final game. I can remember my daughter's not a big sports fan and she's like, can we get tickets to that?

And I'm like, honey, that's the one game. It's going to be hard to get tickets for it. It's really a remarkable achievement. I've said this about LeBron. His durability for LeBron has to be Chapter 2 after Chapter 1 is great. greatness. Kobe really understand. He had a Johnny Carson ability. He understood the moment. You know, Kobe years ago, the Eastern Conference had lots of bad centers, and you had Shaq.

So Kobe was very necessary. There were good centers in the West, Arvita Sabonis. So Kobe could play one way against the West, but when they got into the finals, Phil Jackson and had to ask Kobe, listen, I don't need 40 from you tonight. They don't have the bodies to defend Shaq. So Kobe many times had to wrestle with this, knowing that when the Lakers and Shaq played Eastern teams, feed it to Shaq, he'll get everybody in foul trouble, and Kobe stepped back. It was against often those Western rivals that had better centers that Kobe had to carry them. Shaq would get in foul trouble. Shaq, you couldn't trust to hit a free throw late. So when they're, you know, Derek Jeter's greatness is amplified by the Yankees and who was around him.

But that adds a burden to Derek Jeter. He came up in big spots in playoff games with runners on. Yes, Derek Jeter with the Yankees is greater than Derek Jeter with the A's, right, and that payroll. But there is a burden being with the Yankees and the expectations are high. You can say, well, Kobe had Shaq, and there's a burden with Shaq. is that you were now expected to win, and the pressure was immense. This was a very rare combo deal. There were no Robbins.

It was Batman and Batman. They both averaged 28 a game. Shaq was considered number one and Kobe, too. And the Lakers had a very difficult choice. They could not afford both. It was a gut-wrenching decision. And they chose Kobe because they felt Kobe was early to work, late to leave. body wouldn't at that point break down. It was a tough choice because Shaq was so wildly

dominant and so incredibly popular that, and it was tough because, you know, Shaq went to Miami where he was going to win immediately and the Lakers knew it. So I guess the message with Kobe is he was really a performer who always knew when to pull back, when to push in. He kind of knew in the big moments, but it was not always easy for him. There was, the post-Shack pre-Gasol. I remember reading the Los Angeles Times, and it was the letters to the editor. People were, he's a ball hog. He shoots too much. And I think Kobe learned from some of his missteps with Shaq, he had a much better start to the Gasol relationship. It always felt pow, his maturity. He was a different Kobe. He was an older maturity, Kobe. And so there's just so much

to his life. So many angles on it, so many markers and moments. Okay, hour three's coming up. We're in Miami. Two down one to go. Beautiful sights and sounds of Miami Beach. One more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeart radio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. 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,

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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, of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because

you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me. Kear Gaines is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, Hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What?

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You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently I've become quite the helper myself.

And on my new podcast, Hope I'm a Hippocrat, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice, One ring is too scary.

Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrat, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Cultura podcast network available on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ah, we are live. It is Hour 3 from Beautiful Miami. This is The Herd, wherever you may be.

however you may be listening, IHeartRadio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and Sirius XM Channel 83. Special thanks to our production staff and the people of Miami. I've been to multiple Super Bowls here. Joy Taylor is joining me. Nobody treats you better than Miami. It's a melting pot of interesting personalities and people. 75-degree weather. No Super Bowl site I'd rather be at than Los Angeles.

And Joy Taylor spent some time here in Los Angeles so that you have many. Any special friends here? Yeah, well, I went to college here in Miami. I went to Barry University, which is about 15, 20 minutes up to 95. And, yeah, I mean, obviously my brother played here for 13 years of his 15-year career. Hall of Fame brother. Yes, big part of my life, Miami is. I'm happy that we're here, and I'm glad that Miami is treating you out.

And we have beautiful weather. Perfect. Gorgeous. Oh, just everything, just beautiful here. And I want to start the show, obviously. We are here for the Super Bowl, and I thank the city of Miami for hosting us, and the city of Los Angeles is dealing with something very difficult today. And so we start our third hour talking about the passing of Kobe Bryant. I think I read everything you could read last night, got into my hotel room, and like a lot of you struggle to get my feet beneath me.

And I watched all the videos. there's a video out there of Michael Jordan and Kobe, how their games often mirrored each other that is unbelievable. It is mesmerizing. But I want you to think of this. When Kobe Bryant retired, it just blows me away. When Kobe Bryant retired, he had been an NBA player longer 20 years

than he had not been an NBA player in his life, 17 years. So Kobe, of course, grew up right in front of our eyes. And when people grow up in front of our eyes, we see all of it. Right? It's an imperfect life. To give you some framing on how much of Kobe's life he lived in front of our eyes, nobody asks most 18-year-olds and 19-year-olds to grow up with a camera. There were two different versions of Kobe and Phil.

Two different versions. There was the Shaq Dynasty. Then Kobe shot too much. And then there was the Powell Gasol dynasty. There was the 81 points, OMG. And then the 60 points in the final game, W-T-H. There was the number 8, Kobe. There was the number 24, Kobe.

There was the Staples, Kobe. There was the forum Kobe. there was the sort of skinny Kobe. There was the more buffed Kobe. The Afro, the ball, the mamba. Byron Scott was his teammate, and then Byron Scott was his coach. And then Jerry Bus was his boss. And then Jim Bus was his boss.

And then in the end, Jeannie Bus with his boss. Those are the versions of Kobe. And we watched all of it from 19, years odd. Nobody else has to have a camera in front of him. Imperfect, flawed, and vulnerable. And I'll get to vulnerable in a second. But I think one of the things I always appreciated about Kobe, and he learned this after a while. When Kobe broke into the league, he was aloof. He couldn't go to the bars or the nightclubs. And there were stories that he didn't connect with teammates. People may forget the Shaq and Kobe version. People really.

wanted shack to stay if you had to choose. But Kobe learned from that. He always evolved. He made mistakes. But Kobe then started giving more of himself the last 10 to 15 years. He gave a lot of himself. He went from teenager to teammate to hard to coach, to a pleasure to coach, to a doting father. And the more Kobe gave of himself, the deeper I felt. the connection was. It is hard to leave it out there when you're a public figure. And Kobe did a lot. And you saw all of it. And there were times you loved him. And there were times you didn't. And there were times you screamed foreign. But in a world we live in today, which is to, I mean, I'll say it's divided. That's as diplomatic as I can currently say America is divided. There are years ago,

somebody asked me if I wanted to host a political show. And I said it was so toxic. This was 10 years ago. So angry. I said, I'd rather be part of something that unites us. And music and sports do it. And it's hard to explain the loss of Whitney Houston or Michael Jackson or Kobe Bryant. You don't, you can't really explain what they mean when they leave us too soon, right? Your heartbroken. You're you're shaking, you cry, you'll weep, you're sick. Don't try to explain it to people, because music and sports are really different. I have gone to concerts more than a dozen times of my life and sat or stood next to a total stranger and I'm dancing and I'm singing and you don't want to hear it. And I've gone to sporting events and sat similarly next to a total stranger and I'm high-fiving

and I'm yelling and I'm emoting and I'm a complete and utter wreck. And only sports and music does that. They're the great unifier. And Kobe Bryant gave us for 20 years all these memories and marks in our life. You don't have to explain it. You're shaken. I was. I am.

We get it. In terms of Kobe's game, Kobe, to me, of the 40 years I'm, I've watched NBA basketball. He is the great artist. The canvas was empty. Each possession, he was a painter. He was more fluid than Jordan,

less physically overpowering than LeBron. But he was the artist. So it was not a coincidence when he left basketball. He won an Oscar in Hollywood. That's who Kobe at the end was. But there was something incredibly relatable to Kobe Bryant. And it's not this way with All-Stars. I may love my favorite band, rock star, hip-hop star musician, but I don't always feel like I relate.

And sometimes the NH NBA feels like a genetic league. I mean, I've seen guys in college that look like Julian Edelman or Mike Trout, but NBA guys are 6-6 and 6-7 and 6-8, and they can jump and they can – you may never, ever, ever be on a court or a field or a diamond with anybody. that plays and has the athletic ability of an NBA player. DNA-wise, they're different than us, right? But Kobe, in the end, was very relatable. There's 50 guys in the NBA now that are just as athletic as Kobe. But what really connected to me was Mamba mentality.

First of all, nobody's allowed to give themselves a nickname and it sticks. Kobe did, and it stuck. that was Kobe, force of nature. But what Mamba mentality was telling you was that even though he was a Laker, and even though he was a celebrity, and even though he had a net worth over $300 million, the Mamba mentality was telling you it's about the work. LeBron James told a story yesterday. He said, when I first met Kobe, I was 15. There's video.

You media people can go forward. find it. And we sat in the gym and we all looked up to Kobe. And Kobe had just gotten to the NBA and he had a game that night in Philadelphia. But earlier in the day, there was some tournament. And Kobe came and talked to LeBron. He didn't know who LeBron was. Nobody at 1415 did. And Kobe said, if you want to be here, it's about the work. And when guys give themselves nicknames, it's often about themselves. But really, it was about what Kobe gave us. these markers and these moments and the work. It hurts, it should, no reason to explain it.

And with that, Trent Dilfer around the corner, thank you for letting us in your home today, and on your radios, it's the herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio, Capturing her heart, this Valentine's isn't complicated. When you go to my friends at 1800flowers.com, make it fast and simple. Right now, a dozen multicolored.

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And Trent Dilfer is joining me a decade and a half of my football friends, you may be, Trent, as big a basketball fan, and I believe you're a Laker fan. So for you yesterday, I think, I don't like to speak for others. I think we were all sick and shaken. Shook. I mean, it literally shook me. I feel so awful, obviously, for all the people that Kobe influenced in a positive way. And I think the narratives last night and the storytelling this morning have been fantastic,

talking about his legacy more than just a basketball player, but as a father, the ones he left behind. And that's where I hurt so bad for him because I'm one of those. You know, we lost his son and he was five, and we've dealt with loss, and we know what that left behind feeling is like. And I feel so bad for the family. And it's just a tough time,

but I do appreciate how you open the show. I appreciate some of my other friends in the media, how delicately they've handled this last night today. and he was a great player, but a great man. I was just at a volleyball tournament last spring that he was at. You know, he did the volleyball circuit too, just like I did for 13 years as a dad, and so invested as a parent.

I love what Doug said about that year off from basketball where he regained his life as a parent. I thought that was so beautifully said by Doug, and just has a lot of layers to it, and I think it's hard for a lot of people, but it's not as hard for us. Obviously, it is for his beautiful family that he's left behind. Yeah, you know, I was saying this.

In terms of icons, Trent, we usually don't ask our icons to be icons before they're ready. Kobe was voted into an all-star game and didn't start for the Lakers. And I can't think of another icon where we said, you're going to be a face of the league and he's not a starter. But I think his dad had played the game, so he saw the life before he lived it. He also had very mature leadership. Del Harris is a real grown-up into Phil Jackson. Seguing into Patrick Mahomes, his dad was an athlete. He saw the life before he lived it. And I do look at Patrick, and he is going to be asked to be the face of the league, very young. And I want you to tell my audience, I covered the Buccaneers when you were simply asked to be the face of a losing franchise. And how difficult is it? You were 23? And how difficult for Kobe and Mahomes? They were asked to be the face of a losing franchise. And how difficult is it? You were 23. the lead. I think it's overwhelming. I think it breaks many of us. It broke me early in my career.

I wasn't ready for it. And I had great parents and great mentors in my life. And I still wasn't ready for it emotionally. I do think there's a level of sophistication that Patrick has because of his pedigree, Kobe the same way, that there are certain ones that just growing up where nothing's too big. And so they can take on huge things. And being the face, of a franchise and in Patrick's case going to be the face of the league is a huge deal but I think because that sophistication he had growing up he saw it at the highest levels he was always exposed to it even the 17 year old when you saw him at these camps and stuff he just carried himself differently and you're talking about Mahomes you're talking about Mahomes so he did you now you work with this stuff

so you saw him at 17 we thought it was going to baseball I say this all the time it's the greatest whiff we ever made in our camp series but we we were all convinced he was going to be a baseball player because he was a freak. I mean, he was going to be a first round pick in baseball. Why would you turn that down? And then he goes to Texas Tech to play football. And it was like, it's kind of a head scratcher. But, you know, obviously he made the right decision.

He's killing it in football. But most of us, the way he carried himself. You can see it. You walk into a room. There's guys that, you know, you can feel their energy. You can feel their presence. He's always been one of those guys. And I think that's why he's ready for something like this.

He has that great balance on the. football field, he's edgy and he's tough and he's fiery. He's also loose and carefree and has fun and nothing seems heavy to him. Whereas I remember as a young player, it sometimes just got heavy. It wasn't fun anymore. You press. Yeah, you see that. I've seen it in Aaron Rogers late in his career where it just gets heavy. I've seen it to a lot of great players. It's never heavy to Patrick Rooms. It's still fun. It's still free. But yet there's that, that razor's edge of intensity as well. Now, Jimmy Garoppolo is a different story. He's a different story. He's He comes into the league, plays behind a legend, doesn't have to take many snaps.

It's interesting. Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo, in terms of ages, are very close. We see Garoppolo feels so much older to us, right? Do you know Jimmy at all or people close to him? What do you expect going into a game? I want you to take me from your career. So Jimmy goes into a game facing this iconic kid. I would believe if I'm Jimmy, with my running. game and that sort of narrative, I could go in very loose to a game. Hey, I'm the second best

quarterback on television today. Do you sense, do you sense part of that? I was that guy in every game. I think Jimmy G. has an advantage in this game. He got his PhD in winning with the Patriots. And I think there's something to be said for that, that he sat there and watched Tom and his approach to winning more than any player in the history of football and got his PhD in that just by observation and was able to sit there and realize that the game was won within the preparation. And I think that's where Jimmy will go into this.

He understands his team is better. They're more complete than Kansas Chiefs. He's not trying to be a superhero. He's not going to try to be the MVP. He's just going to go try to do the same things he's done every game that's led him to a bunch of wins. And I think that's the advantage of 49ers have here. They're a better football team.

I don't think many people would doubt that. They're playing against an iconic player. And the fastest man in the NFL and a really good tied in. But outside of that, they're just, they're an average football team that has superstar power. Where the 49ers are a great football team. And I think Jimmy G understands that. He's going to go into this thing and play that way. And there's a freedom in that.

There's a freedom, much like I had playing with the greatest defense in the history of football, you're just out there and you're just playing to win the game the same way you've won your last games. It's no bigger than any other game because, you know, you can lean on something so special. Let's talk about your Raven Super Bowl. So I can remember a couple of huge throws you made in that game, but they didn't ask a ton of you, similarly to Jimmy G. That said, there's also, though, the burden of, hey, Dilfer, don't screw this up. So Jimmy G, there's the burden. We know Kyle Shanahan, it would love him to throw 12 times.

did you feel going into that with the better roster in Baltimore, though you wouldn't be asked to throw 28 times, did you feel a little pressure to deliver on a historic defense? Yeah, the pressure you feel is to not take chances, and it's counterintuitive because as a quarterback, you grow up as the dude. The ball has always been your hands. You're aggressive by nature. You want to be a playmaker.

And then the hard thing about being a game manager is now of a sudden you, it's counterintuitive to the way you were brought up playing the game. And sometimes you make mistakes because you're trying not to make mistakes. I don't want to make a comparison between myself and Jimmy and G in this game, though. And I'll push back on one thing, Colin. I don't think Kyle only wants to throw it 12 times. I think Kyle wants to throw it 35 times. I think Kyle wants to put up a 50 spot in this game.

They're going to have their way with the Chief's defense. The Chiefs either have to play the run or have to play the pass. They're not good enough to play both in their same setups, structures. and Kyle's a master in these types of games, calling games when, okay, you're adjusting too much outside zone to the field, great, we have naked boot to the boundary with a three-layer concept,

and we're going to be able to break and Tane, and they'll be able to drop back and throw out, they'll have the quick game going. I actually think Kyle's going to come out really, really aggressive with the pass in this game, and I think Jimmy has a chance. If he just does his job well, Kyle will set the table for him

to have one of those great quarterback moments. And by doing that, more plays, more first downs, more possessions, more runs at the end of the game. So it may end up being a 50-50 pass-run game, but I'll be shocked if they don't come out throwing the ball. By the way, did you enjoy Super Bowl week? I did.

It's a lonely week to handle it right because you really have to separate yourself from the noise. And this was 20 years ago. I had hair back then. That's how long ago. That was a bad kind of fake Clooney thing I had going on. as transitional period of my life. But it was 20 years ago.

Now with all the noise, with all the social media, with all the awareness, with all the media outlets, you really have to distance yourself from it. A lot of guys take the TVs out of the rooms. I did that. We stayed in the hotel. I've heard stories of the same thing where you just kind of isolate yourself and hang out with your tribe. Because if you get out there and you start hearing it too much, you start believing the hype,

it can really take away from your mental edge. So you took your television out of your room. Took television out of my room. a single thing the entire. Now, they're also saying horrible things about me. But one of my best friends, Steve Young said, I set back quarterbacking 20 years. So this is one of my best friends. So I was trying to protect my ego a little bit. But it's a valuable tool. The more stuff you put in, right, the more inputs that aren't focused on how you're going to win this game, the more weird narratives you're hearing, the more opinions you're hearing, it only can take away from what you're

supposed to do on Super Bowl Sunday. So I think it's a really good exercise for players to do to eliminate themselves from the social media from the TV from basically the noise of this week. Winston Churchilloa said, it's too bad we waste youth on the young. As Kobe Bryant, I talked about this earlier, how he really became, he went from a kind of aloof teenager to a doting father. And I've known you for a long time. What's interesting about the Super Bowl, we have so many interesting. We have the Young Star Mahomes and Richard Sherman on the other end. There's a lot

there's a collection of a lot of good young players. But for the older players, your Ravens team had a handful of these. Not a lot of years left. I think that Richard Sherman influence in that locker room is a real thing. Heck, yeah. Priceless. I think

the two most interesting things about this game are what you just mentioned, Richard Sherman's influence in that locker room. his narrative to his team, the edge he will keep, the edge he will create for that team, because that's what you want this week. You want that sharp edge. It's so easy to lose it to start pouring perfume on yourself, to hearing all the good stuff and forgetting how you got there. So I think Richard will be the team spokesman for that, the moral authority of the locker room, let call him the Ronnie lot of the great Niners, which helps me segue into this.

I think the second most interesting thing of this game is, go back to when the 49ers great teams, played the Miami Dolphins and the Denver Broncos in those Super Bowls. They were talking about Marino and Elway, just like we're talking about Mahomes. Those were teams, Moreno's Dolphins, Elway's Broncos that the 49ers smashed in those Super Bowls that were quarterback-centric teams only. They didn't have the full depth of a football team. They weren't whole. They were carried by one player or an assortment of superstar power. I think that's the chiefs. I like Chiefs. I want it to be a great Super Bowl, but I'm looking at this thing on tape and the 49ers, excuse me, this could be like those 49ers wins and Super Bowls against the Dolphins against

the Broncos, where it gets out of hand early and it's really not even a game. Finally, I did not watch the Pro Bowl yesterday, and it sounded like there were several storylines. One of them drew Breeze in retirement. He was really good, so I think he should play. I'm a believer. If you love something and you're good at it, keep doing it. that over simplistic? I don't know what we're talking about it. Honestly, I asked the producer behind the scenes when he said, we're going to talk about Drew Brees.

I'm like, what's going on, Drew Brees? He might return. He's not going to retire. He's one of the best in the game still. Sure, there's limitations as you get older. Absolutely. But that's why you have great players around. So I have great coaches around them.

I'd still put him in the top five of guys with two minutes left in a football game. You've got to go win the game. So why would you leave the higher of your career? He's a great husband. He's a great father. He's found a way. to balance the whole thing. A lot of guys lose balance. Drew never has.

He's super involved in his communities. I mean, he's kind of the ultimate dude. I think a lot of NFL players would say that he's kind of the best guy in the NFL, both as a player and as a person. Why would you stop being that? Yeah. Great seeing you, man.

All right. Thanks for having me. Trent Dilfer. By the way, this Valentine's Day, ditch the chocolate and roses. Give the gift of comfort. Tommyjohn.com. Code heard 20% off your first order. And here is Joy with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. Well, sticking with Drew Brie's, he hasn't made a decision on his future yet. He is a free agent this year and it's going to take some time to decide what he wants to do. All right. I'm kind of just taking it one moment at a time. I always like to take a little time at the end of each season to reflect a little bit and also decompress and just kind of gather my family close and spend quality time. with them and then once maybe mid-February into February rolls around then we'll make that final decision it's kind of interesting that the thought of drew brief is retiring and not even crossed my

mind until this and then at pro ball practice last week he said at this stage of my career it's not a given that I'm coming back every year right but when that time comes I'll always be a saint so he's basically saying he's going to be a saint or he's going to retire yeah it's I think it's one of those things where you take a deep breath you take your requisite three weeks off And then you ask yourself, because it's not playing. Right. It's camp. It's going back to the OTAs.

And to me, I feel like with Breeze and Brady, like Philip Rivers has said, I miss the game. I don't want to quit. I think Breeze has that. I think there's a depth of love for the game. And that's why I think it's really hard. You know, Trent Dofer told me this years ago, Joey, he said, you know, some people love football and some people love what football provides them. Right. Drew feels like.

He loves football. Russell Wilson has this. He loves competing. But I guess just the way the season finished for the Saints, it didn't feel like it was done for Drew Brees. But Drew did have an injury in the middle of the season. He did miss five weeks of the year, so we don't know how his body is feeling.

It was a hand injury, though. Right. It wasn't a catastrophic injury, obviously. But, you know, he did miss some time. We don't know how his body is feeling. I feel like there's always a different reason why people retire. Sometimes the game just lets you know you're retired. You have no more options.

Sometimes it's your body. Sometimes, as you said, it's camp, it's the preparation. Do I want to go through another whole season of this? Sometimes it's just your family and you're just ready to spend more time with them. But again, I think just the way the saint season ended, I hadn't thought of Drew Brees is retiring. Whereas, you know, Philip Rivers were kind of like all retiring him without him actually retiring. Obviously, Eli Manning just announced he's retiring. We know Tom Brady's coming back for another year, but that was a conversation also.

So I guess Drew Brees will let us know within the next couple weeks. Yeah, and you put it best. Sometimes your body lets you know it's time to go. That's not the case with Drew. He can play. I don't, that it's not a... He can play, but maybe his, we don't know how he feels. So maybe that's why, you know, we don't know what the answer is as to why he's even talking

about that. So there was a full slate of NBA games yesterday after Kobe Bryant passed away. And many of the teams paid tribute to the Lakers legend by starting the game with either 24-second shot clock violations or eight-second back court violations. Of the eight games yesterday, the only one to not start with teams trading clock violations was the Rockets against the Nuggets. and said they had a moment of silence before the tip-off. We saw a lot of videos from that game.

Obviously, a lot of the players were extremely emotional. Trey Young being one of them, we're showing him right now. He wore a number eight jersey to start the game. He was the first player to have a 45-point double-double with under 25 field goal attempts against the Wizards since Kobe Bryant on December 17, 2006. Trey specifically was very emotional yesterday. He tweeted that he was able to meet Gianna Marie,

and she'd only been to three games this year and two of them were his and she told her told him that he was her favorite player to watch. So he was obviously showing him now very emotional. The average NBA players, 26, so they were born in 1993. Kobe is their MJ.

Absolutely. I don't know if I could have played yesterday. For some of these players, I totally understood it. There wasn't a lot of conversations about whether the NBA should have canceled games and, you know, in a lot of cases, it's not that simple to just cancel a game. Right, right.

There's a lot of logistics behind it. You were not considering the, you know, thousands of workers that are there to work. And it was more that goes into it and canceling games. But I also heard from a lot of players yesterday that there was no way they wouldn't play because Kobe would have wanted them to play. And I get that. Carmelo said that. Yes, yeah, Carmelo did say that.

And in these moments, obviously, we were extremely emotional yesterday having to go and then work and play basketball, of all things in that moment, obviously, very stressful. And, you know, Austin Rivers was talking about, you know, his mind wasn't there in the game, which is totally understandable. But, you know, sometimes, as we know, sports can be very therapeutic as well. It's an activity. It's a lot to them for playing through that. And then finally, the Grammys took place at the Staples Center yesterday,

and many stars paid tribute to Kobe Bryant throughout the show. Alicia Keys opened the night with the touching speech. And then DJ Khalid gave a shout out to Kobe at the end of the Nipsey Hustle tribute performance. Here's some video of that. And we're literally standing here, heartbroken. in the house that Kobe Bryant built. Right now, Kobe and his daughter Gianna and all of those that have been tragically lost today

are in our spirit, they're in our hearts, they're in our prayers, they're in this building. And I would like to ask everybody to take a moment and just hold them inside of you. Rest of peace, Nipsey Hustle. Rest of peace, Kobe Bryant. Keanu, long-lived Nip.

Lord live Kobe. The Manetor continues. Keys and Boys, the Men also saying it's so hard to say goodbye. Yesterday at the beginning of the show, Lizzo dedicated her performance to Kobe. Kobe's jerseys were lit around the arena. And then obviously outside of the arena, outside of Staples,

there were thousands of fans from Los Angeles coming to bring flowers and showing some video of that now and pay tribute to Kobe bringing jersey. and candles, and I'm sure Los Angeles is going through it right now. As we all are all over the world, we both live in Los Angeles, so we know the impact that Kobe Bryant has on the city of Los Angeles. It's a very emotional day for everyone. Yeah, I mean, Los Angeles, from the outside, you see this massive entertainment capital,

but I have found in my travels, all cities are small towns, Dallas, Atlanta, and there are a handful of people that we grow with. And Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, more than any Lakers to me, sort of embodied the spirit of the organization. This is a tough day for a lot of people, but for the Los Angeles who listen to our show and watch, it's a rough time. Well, absolutely. And I mean, also, you know, you talk about Los Angeles. People think of just Hollywood and superstars. And as we know, it's so much more massive than that. Right. And Kobe was just a part of the community there. I mean, he wasn't even living near Stapel. as we know, he's in Orange County. So he really covered the entire spectrum of the area.

There was a video out about a month ago. Sometimes you get fog in these beach communities and Newport about a month and a half ago. Kobe, there was a car accident at Newport. And Kobe had gotten out of his car and was directing traffic and an intersection for all his neighbors who were struggling. Goby was part of a Newport. He was Los Angeles. He was Los Angeles. Joy with the news. That's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News.

A Jim Jackson, a former NBAer for a decade and a half, New Kobe played against him, played with him. He'll be joining us coming up next. Well, every night, local police departments, they get calls, all right? Across America, hundreds of calls from burglar alarms. The vast majority of the time, they have no idea whether the alarm is real. Is there a crime truly going on? All the alarm company can tell you is the motion sensor went off.

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We are lucky today to have Jim Jackson, who works on the NBA circuit as well. Jim played in the NBA for 15 years. You were a teammate of Kobe Bryant, 2005, 2006. Let's start with his legendary work ethic. You're a worker yourself. You hear stories about Kobe. at practice, take me there?

It's, you know, it's interesting, Colin, because let's not get a twist. A lot of guys in the NBA work hard. Yeah. And they put it into work. But it's the attention to detail, I think that separated Kobe, Michael, guys of that ilk

of how they perfected their sport. It was just like little things that he would dissect in practice when he's working out individually watch tape, understanding how to create space, what he could do on the court, how guys is going to defend him, how he's going to defend people. And he would incorporate that into his workout, whether it was training, shooting, whatever it was. It was real methodical,

but it had purpose to it. You know, it's interesting. You played against Michael, and you played with and against Kobe Bryant. Kobe was a better defensive player than people give him credit for 12 times all defensive team. We know about Michael's defensive prowess. when they guarded you, you were a dominating high school college score and a very good NBA score. Them defending you, were there similarities or differences? It was similarities. Michael was probably a little bit stronger. Yeah.

Okay, from that perspective. But Kobe, what he tried to do is really get up into you, make you uncomfortable. Okay, I mean, really get up into you. And a lot of times he had, you know, help in the background, especially when he played with Shaq. Right. So that gave him a little bit more leverage to really, take away what a player did. But it went back to, here's what Michael and Kobe did so well. And a lot of great defensive players. They understood the strengths of a player and they try to

take that away. Okay. Now, in the NBA, I don't care who it is. It's tough to stop somebody individual, especially when you have talent. Even the great defensive players can. Even the great, because you're going to get so many touches. That's like guard, Michael, and Colb. I don't care what you do. Eventually, they're going to get their points. This is the matter. Can you make him less efficient? Kobe was the type where he was great off the ball, defenders. playing the passing lanes. But on the ball, he kind of just got up into you, got lower than you, tried to force you to help, force you away from what you did. Well, and that's what made them special defensively. You know, it's the Kobe Shack marriage. I said this earlier. I always

kind of defended it when it broke up. It was a band with two lead singers. There was no Robin. No. I mean, Pippen always relinquished the final shot. So did Mikhail. We saw a little Steph and KD, but Steph again, really hoisted up, KD. It's your team now. You had Shaq and Kobe in their primes. This was bound not to, in my opinion, what we got out of it is more than we could have ever hoped for. Yeah, but, you know, it's difficult to, when you look at the history of the game,

even when you had Oscar and Kareem, Oscar was a little bit older, okay? So he couldn't quantify. Earl Monroe, Clyde, Frazier, they're both a little bit. bit older so they understood it. Okay. So when you had Shaq and Kobe, this was a dynamic where they were still relatively young, even though Shaq was older. He came out of my class in, you know, 92. So we haven't seen that dynamic where you had two alpha males at the height of their careers. 20-80 game both. That had to kind of get along with two different personalities. You had one who loved to play was fun, joking, and Shaq. You had this serious young guy that was all about winning and

just take the job serious and you can't have any days off. And that was an interesting dynamic. But the linchpin to that was having Phil Jackson to bring that marriage together to make it work. You retired and you love, you have a deep passion for golf and cigars. Yeah. Kobe, I read a quote as he was moving into retirement. He said, I have to take my obsessive personality and I just have to put it in a another basket, and it became coaching and fatherhood.

Talk about, he transitioned very well, almost a Derek Jeter, Peyton Manning segue into retirement. You had to do it. It's not as easy as people think. No, because here's a dynamic. In sports in general, and Joy, you can relate to this with Jason. It's a small percentage of guys that can walk away from the game the way they want. I don't care what sport it is.

Small percent. It was extremely hard for Peyton Manning to walk away, despite what he accomplished in his career because he was injured on the back side. What Kobe was the same way because even though he went out and said, I'm going to retire, he didn't go out the way he wanted because he was injured.

So you got to keep that in mind. People say, well, you got all this money, you should just retire. That's it. No, you've been doing this your whole life and then all of a sudden, a lot of times it just comes to an end. Right.

And you have no control over that. This is something, you know, you're accustomed to in the summertime, working out, getting ready for training camp. That's your routine. for 20 years, then all of a sudden it comes to an end and it's just supposed to be like, oh, okay, I'm just going to go do something else. No. So that's why the preparation part of when you're playing helps to transition a lot more. And I do believe Kobe the last two years,

the immortality feeling of my career is coming to an end started to sink in because you saw it how he reacted to his teammates a lot more. If you watch him in his interviews, he was a lot more open and giving. And giving. He was a giver. at the end. But I will say this. The things that happened in his life prepared him for fatherhood and also that transition post-basket because within his stories and his animation, it was filled with what happened to him and why he was Kobe Bryant while he was playing. So that prepped him for getting that Oscar because it was all deep feelings on what happened and how he prepared himself and how now he's a better father.

a better husband, a better friend because of that journey that he went through the NBA. What do you think, you run the NBA today, you're Adam Silver. Right. How do we immortalize Kobe? Well, right now it has to be strategic because when something like this happens, immediately you want to put pen to paper and say, we got to do this. But you have to make something that makes sense long term,

not just for the short term. It's easy to have a memorial for Kobe today tomorrow like David Stern. But you got to make sure once you immortalize them that this thing makes sense forever because of what their legacies, I think, leave behind. And you have to be able to do it justice. You just can't give them something here to say, okay, yeah, Kobe, this is how we want to do. No, this has to be special because what we were able to witness, and I caution people about this all the time, and I use LeBron as an example. When greatness comes about, you better embrace it and enjoy it.

Thank you. Because it's not going to be here for long. So to have what we've been able to see in our lifetime, the Tom Brady's, the Joe Montana's, the Jerry Rice's, when you go to Wayne Gretzky's, the Tiger Woods, and the list goes on. But when you put that in the vacuum of all of the athletes, it's a small few that really touch us like that.

Yes, we can critique them. Yes, that's our job. but embrace the greatness while we have it, not when they leave. You know, and I think too many times we do that. Yeah, and music, we're very good at celebrating the greatness while it's on the radio. Yep. While it's in the stadium. And then in television, we tend to be a bit more comparative, cynical, and punitive.

And Kobe's life was imperfect. I will say this. He was an icon by about 19 to 20. That's a lot to ask. a minute left. We made him an icon. We put him on an all-star team. He wasn't a starter. But you know what I think about Kobe I love? I love the people that I admire to be flawed, okay? Because being flawed allows you to be human. And the beauty about Kobe is that he accepted those flaws. I mean, with the best of him. He said, yeah, this is who I am. Put it out there.

I'm going to put it out there. And those flaws made him who he is, what's going to be today before the death, okay? A lot of people will go away from that and try to hide some things. Kobe tell you flat out, no, I'm gonna be the best. I don't care who it is. I don't care what you think. Shaq, he didn't work hard, so what?

I'm all about championship. This is who I am. He didn't hide behind it. The stuff that happened in Colorado, you know what? Made him a better father and husband. That's why I love Kobe Bryant. Well said. Jim, thanks for stopping by today. Jim Jackson, well said.

Caps, Canadians today, Discover Card Key matchup, folks. Discover matches all the cash back you earn in your first year automatically go to Discover.com slash cashback match millions getting cash back. We'll see you tomorrow. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports slice 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 after. athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. 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. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite.

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