The Herd with Colin Cowherd - MVP, NBA awards, Kawhi Leonard, Lakers, and Celtics

Episode Date: June 25, 2019

Colin agrees with Giannis Antetokounmpo being the MVP and gives his thoughts on the NBA awards. Colin goes on to share a good reason why he feels Kawhi Leonard will stay with the Toronto Raptors, his thoughts on Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss' recent comments, and the Boston Celtics having trouble signing top free agents. Guests include Ric Bucher, Arash Markazi, Daryl Morey, and Doug Gottlieb.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Great to have you in today on a Tuesday, Darry-Rockets GM next hour. Doug Gottlieb final hour. really enjoyed doing a show in the last week, week and a half from the same radio studio that Casey Kasem broadcast America's top 40 premier radio networks. It has been an absolute pleasure back on TV tomorrow as the women's World Cup does not knock me off. It has for the last couple of weeks. Fox has the World Cup, men's and women, so it knocks me off occasionally. It is great to have you in.

And so I'm watching NBA awards last night. And I'm just going to name the cities of the award winners. Most valuable player played in small market, Milwaukee. The defensive player of the year played in Salt Lake City. The most improved player played up in Canada. The sixth man of the year played for the second most popular team in Los Angeles, the Clippers. The teammate of the year is a former small market Memphis Grizzly who was recently traded to small market Utah. And the coach and executive of the year in small market Milwaukee.

The stigma about the NBA is stars don't want to play for smaller markets. doesn't appear to hurt competitive balance. Unlike baseball were the Yankees, Boston Red Sox, L.A. Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, because of no salary cap, have completely separated financially from the sport. Let me give you the winning percentage last three years of these small market teams. Oklahoma City has won 59% of its game, Portland 58, Indie 56, San Antonio 63, Milwaukee, 60% of its games. And the winning percentage the last three years, Chicago's won 36%, New York, 31%, Los Angeles, 39%, Atlanta, 39%.

Oh, DC, one half. In baseball, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Kansas City, San Diego, Oakland, or a second team in Los Angeles, they get overwhelmed. They can't compete. Briefly relevant was one angel team. one royal team, then financially overwhelmed. But kind of the stars don't want to play in small markets. Well, they don't have a choice for seven years.

They often get drafted. And because of the way the NBA sets it up, financially they make so much more money that LeBron stays in Cleveland for seven. Anthony Davis stays in New Orleans for seven. And then when Anthony Davis decides, I want out, listen to the hall of players. The Pelicans got for Anthony. Anthony Davis. Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, draft picks Jackson Hayes, who by the way,

my scouts say is the sleeper in the draft, Marco Silver, a kid named Nikile Alexander Walker, no idea, a 2020 first round pick, a 2021 first round pick, a 2021 first round pick another, and a 2023 pick swap. I'm not counting Zion. That's what they got after seven years of having to move the star. Baseball gets a pass on things that are real issues. Maybe it's because it's national pastime, right? America's pastime.

The NBA gets labeled with problems that aren't real problems. I'm watching last night the NBA Awards, and it's all small market guys, Canadian team, the second best team in L.A. They won in all the awards. The sole big market last night, the Dallas Mavericks have the rookie of the year. How dominant have they been?

they've got as a big major market, one title ever. And it was a quirky weird title where they took a German star and teamed him up with nine guys named J.J. Berea and won a title. Like, folks, if you don't like the NBA, don't like it. I don't care. But baseball, we have a massive gap of financial tsunami that overwhelms a third to a half of the sport. I watched the NBA Award show last night. it's Utah, it's Milwaukee, a Canadian team, the number two brand in Los Angeles. It dominated the awards.

Dominating. Let me shift to this. So Janus won the MVP. And that's who I would have voted for. You know, I get it. I mean, he did get the bucks to the Eastern Conference finals. The awards don't count the playoffs. They should.

But I felt Janus had the greatest impact. And what I felt about Janus all year was he was he was the most. valuable player for his city. Take away Janus and the Bucks don't make a show. They don't make SportsCenter. They don't make my show. They don't make any show. He made them valuable.

He made the owner money. He made the GM money. He makes them attractive to free agents. Janus is really the most valuable player in the league. He was the best defensive player with Rudy Gobert. He's offensively continues to be great. But here's the funny thing about Janus. He's now been in the NBA, what?

five years, he's just now relevant. Conversely, Zion Williamson is a star this morning at 19 years old. Why? Because of college basketball. We have so marginalized college basketball because the basketball culture in America is find the talent and pay him. Can we wait for him to mature? Pay him. It's outrageous.

You have got to pay the 19-year-old or it's ethically compromise. That's not the culture of baseball, hockey, soccer, football. There's development. There's maturity. There's physical growth. Zion Williamson's exploding shoe is nothing more than an internet meme. But he plays at Duke. So it was the topic, the topic of conversation in America.

on every show, on every radio network for three weeks. We bang on college basketball because they don't pay the players. But college basketball is what makes the players money. Yes, sometimes you have LeBron, simply too gifted to waste time collegiately. I get it. But look around the NBA right now. When you tell me college basketball has no value. Steph Curry, three years of college,

Draymon Green 4, Kauai 2, Clay 3, Paul George 2, Westbrook 2, James Hardin 2, Al Horford 3, Jimmy Butler 4, Damian Lillard 3, Donovan Mitchell 2, Victor Oladipo 3, Kimball 3, Chris Paul 2, most of the guys running the league.

Most of the guys. a couple of years ago with the Lakers. The idea that there's no value in college basketball. Kuzma and Josh Hart went to college for multiple years. So ask yourself, do you think there's a difference when you were 19 and 22? Do you go back to your life? Think you're a little more mature at 22 than 19? I once, I'm not joking at 19 in college.

waited for a domino's pizza delivery guy to leave his truck and then me and a friend stole a pepperoni pizza. I would not have done that at 22. I was 19 and hungry. That's what you do. But Coosma and Josh Hart, according to Laker sources, told me both were excellent leaders. Both were physically strong, weren't overwhelmed by their initial NBA season. Conversely, Lonzo and Brandon Ingram were one and done guys. Their bodies fell apart. They simply at 19 were not ready for the rigors of the NBA, and neither ever showed great leadership skills. How could they?

They were 19, not 22. The one-and-done culture is glamorized. Kentucky! What about Kentucky? Show me all the Kentucky guys in the NBA finals. We have so stigmatized college basketball, I would argue it makes players more money once they get drafted, because they're already names.

I don't know who Zion Williamson is other than an internet sensation, if not for Duke. The shoe explosion is simply an internet story, where my son at 13 would have more relevance with it, more connection to it than I would. There is this rush in our American basketball culture. Spot the talent and pay the talent. There is no concern for maturity. there is no concern for physical growth. That's why so many of these one and done guys come to the NBA and fall apart physically.

They're just not ready for it. They need two more years in a college wait room. Ask yourself this. Did college? Did you grow in college? As a freshman, I was stealing a pizza from Domino's. As a junior, I was majoring in my current career. maturity, body development.

Janice won the MVP. Outside of Milwaukee and diehard slam magazine NBA fans, nobody knew who Janice was three years into the league. Zion is inches from an American superstar at 19 because of his college March Madness, rivalry games with Carolina. Connection to Coach K. experience.

College basketball and March Madness is tremendous brand building. The G League never will be. So it is a pleasure to have you in today. My final radio only day, I am wearing readers, a grandma's readers, because I forgot my contact

lenses this morning. So I am doing some sort of will end a high wire of visual act today. John, you might as well be a Yeti. I just see a big face of hair. I can't make out eyes. I can't make out skin tones. I am virtually blind. Just think about the poor grandma whose glasses you stole. God. It's just pathetic. Nice to have you in today. Rick Bueker stops by Daryl Mory, Doug Gottlieb stopping by.

I did hear, or Jeannie Buss of the Lakers finally talked. So we'll talk about what she talked about coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where sports slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the 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.

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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, 42. A rep, my mom will want you to wave at her.

What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown

and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and return to, to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio

app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Great, Tevi, in. Back on TV tomorrow. By the way, aluminum carry-on, away luggage. It's incredible. Awaytravel.com slash Colin, 20 bucks off. Enter the promo code

calling at checkout. Away Travel. Their luggage is great, by the way. It's a Newport, California company. It's supposed to be a very impressive company. I have to make my way down to Newport. That's Gottlieb territory. So a Jeannie Bus, the Lakers owner, has not really talked during this messy last Magic Johnson quits. Rob Polinka elevated.

Linda Rambus now in the room. I would say to be diplomatic, it's been a little messy. So Jeannie Bus last night talked a little basically saying, yeah, we were shocked when Magic resigned. But we don't need the media to validate us. I'm happy. We're on the right path. There's a lot of work to do. But I like where we're at.

Here was Jeannie Bus last night. I've always had confidence in Rob it. It's, you know, whatever the speculation is out there, we don't need the outside media to validate the things that we do. I'm very happy. I think we're on the right path. There's still more work to be done. I don't have a problem. I think that's fairly healthy.

I don't think teams do need the media to validate them, so I agree with that. And I do think the Lakers, between the weather and the brand, have an ability to write the ship very quickly. The Yankees were a mess in the 80s. Michigan football was a mess with Brady Hoke. Alabama had forgettable years. If you get the right coach, the right stars, these traditional powers, these legendary historical iconic brands, they bounce back very quickly. Here's what I would be concerned about. if I was a Laker fan.

The big eight on the market, Kyrie, Kevin Durant, Kauai, Clay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Kemble Walker, DeAngelo Russell, I'll throw Al Horford in there. He's a nice piece. B player, but a nice piece. That's kind of the big eight.

If I'm a Laker fan, I'm concerned that the Lakers are so obsessed landing the big fish that they get beat on what they really need, which is veteran shooters. And I'm going to give you a theory on this. So years ago, I'm a passive owner, a part owner of a couple wine stores in Connecticut. A maximum beverage.

Still own them. And just got into that retail business. And it's been fine. I'm not an expert on wine, but I thought it was a good business model. And so I would work in the stores about once a week. I'd put in two or three hours, especially the big holidays. And I always had a theory when I worked the floor. And I'd never been really in retail before.

but what I would do when I was in these stores, 10,000 square foot stores, beautiful stores, I'd watch people walk in and I'd try to size them up, a little bit of a psychological profile. And if the people were good looking and attractive, I ignored them because my theory was people have paid attention to them their entire lives. I would try to find people that would walk in the stores that were overweight, disheveled, lumpy, not put well together. put together well. And I would go right up to them and I would give them attention. And my theory was people don't pay attention to those kind of people in society.

And so when you do give those type of people attention, they really appreciate it. And that I could find that consumer and elevate him. And instead of two bottles would buy four because he felt the customer service often ignored as a consumer, somebody finally paid attention to him. And so I would size people up when they came in the store and say, who gets attention all the time? Ignore them. Who's a consumer that nobody pays attention to? The short guy, the heavyset guy, disheveled guy, disheveled woman. And so I would, I know this sounds very manipulative, and it was.

But my takeaway is nobody ever pays attention to those people in society. Go up, talk to them, listen, spend 15 minutes talking about wine. They'll really appreciate it more than the hot 28-year-old. the studly stock broker in Connecticut, people pay attention to him all the time. And this leads me into my fear about the Lakers. They have always attracted the star. Everybody pays attention to the star.

But the Lakers are a huge brand. And I think if the Lakers made J.J. Reddick and Darren Collison and Patrick Beverly and Malcolm Brogden and Danny Green and Bojan Bogdanovich and Kyle Corver and Seth Curry feel like, no, you're really important. I think you could get those guys at a discount. Everybody tells AD he's great. Everybody tells Jimmy Butler he's great.

Everybody tells Kyrie's great. Everybody tells Durant, Kauai Leonard now, you're great. The Lakers as a big brand, I don't think they need another star. LeBron and Anthony Davis are two of the top five guys in the league. They've got their stars. Kyle Kuzma is their talented young emerging star. What they need now are smart veterans that can shoot. And for a legendary franchise psychologically to go to a Seth Curry, a Darren Collison, a Malcolm Brogden,

and make them feel like, hey, you really matter to us. because as a Laker fan, I would wake up this morning and think, you know, we've been dysfunctional for a long time. We may not have quite enough money because of the situation with the date and the free agency. You got your stars. You have your emerging young, talented player. Go get smart veterans who often get ignored in this league who are really valuable. Sergea Botka.

You know, we just watch Danny Green. You know, Andre Iguidala. You guys have watched all these NBA finals the last 10 years. There's a lot of Shane Badiys, Mike Miller's, you know, guys that kind of forgotten guy that play pivotal roles in the conference in NBA finals. And, you know, I just look around this league right now. If you got two stars, Anthony Davis-Lebron, an emerging super talented young guy, Kuzma, I don't need another star. That may stunt Cusma's growth. You're going to ask Campbell Walker, who's been ignored in Charlotte to be a third?

No. You're going to ask DeAngelo Russell, who still, I think, is a little immature, to be a third off an All-Star year? Why don't you make Darren Collison a good player that played in L.A.? Why don't you make him feel like he matters and say, no, you're our third. You're going to get his best career year. pay attention to people that society ignores. They will pay you back tenfold. They'll appreciate it.

You don't need to slobber over another All-Star. Everybody's telling Jimmy Butler he's great. You think Jimmy Butler's going to come to L.A. and be satisfied being a third option. You've got to be kidding me. He struggled being a two everywhere else. Veteran newsman John Goulay. No, no, no, no.

Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. I'm a little offended. I came into your wine store once and you came right up to me. That's because I knew you. Well, maybe, or maybe I'm just an overweight disheveled customer. So Warriors Forward, Andre Iguado, was on CNBC yesterday and predicted not only the future of Kevin Durant and Clay Thompson,

but also the New York Knicks offseason. I think they'll both be back with the Golden State Warriors. We all keep, we're like brothers. We keep in contact. But regardless of any of that, if both did decide to leave, they would still be my brother. I still keep in contact with them as much as possible. And I just wish the best for both those guys. They come back full strength.

You're crushing the Knicks fans out here with this kind of. Nobody. Nobody's going to the Knicks. Sorry. Nobody. Nobody. Do you agree with Andrea Godala that the Knicks might end up with nobody when this is all said none? Yeah, I think it's, it makes a lot of sense.

I, if you're an NBA NFL baseball player, and you don't consider ownership, then you're just not paying attention. Ownership is what makes the Spurs good every year and the Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles. And look around sports right now. Who's good? Well-run teams. Who's a mess? The Mets.

The Wilpons. Poorly owned teams. Like, I don't know how any agent could send their player to James Dolan. I don't get it. Speaking of which, there are some new odds out regarding where Kevin Garant will sign next month. According to Caesars, the Nets are now the betting favorite to land KD, followed by the Warriors who are pretty close behind them.

There's a big gap to the Knicks at third. So the Nets are minus 125, Warriors plus 200, Nix plus 500. So that means they're not really close. There have been some reports out that Durant and Kyrie have continued to discuss their future together. So this may be a, they think it's the Nets because Durant and Kyrie want to play together, and that seems to be where Kyrie wants to go. Yes. I was told by an NBA player and a former NBA player, in fact, a former NBA All-Star,

that Kyrie had already made his mind up. He's playing in Brooklyn. I said that about a month ago. That's the only thing. I don't know any of these moves. I'm not going to NBA locker rooms. But the Kyrie to the Nats, I was told, and I said it on the year a month ago, I was told it's 75, 80% certain.

And I don't think, I think if Durant's going to go east, he would go and join an All-Star, right? Because he just played with severally notes of value. It could be that it's either Kevin Durand, you know, maybe he wants to go to the Knicks, but it's go to the Knicks alone or go to the Nets with Kyrie. I'd rather at least have somebody with me, even if it is Kyrie. I would take the Russian oligarch over James Dolan. So I would go to the Nets.

And finally, LeBron James is shooting Space Jam 2. And can't even believe it's really happening. He tweeted this yesterday. Man, this really just hit me. I'm really shooting Space Jam 2. This is so surreal and doesn't even make sense to me. where I come from man and what I saw growing up, this doesn't add up to me. I'm truly grateful and beyond blessed.

This is craziness. And then a series of emojis. I know you're a big emoji guys. So he went basketball emoji, rabbit emoji, camera emoji, crown emoji, prayer emoji. Five's a little much, but okay. LeBron has been pretty quiet this offseason, considering you had the kind of down spring of the Lakers where they're a total mess. And then the last couple of weeks where they get Anthony Davis,

Should LeBron have maybe been a little more vocal as a team leader? Or do you like the way he's backed off and just he's doing his personal business and he's not really saying much? Well, I was told very early when LeBron got to the Lakers that they passed basketballs around in the locker room and everybody signs him. LeBron initially wouldn't sign him because LeBron was hesitant to go all in. He wanted to kind of like join the Lakers, get his business stuff right, kind of watch the players develop. He wasn't sure about all the acquisitions, the Lance Stevenson's, the Michael Beasley's. So I think he's been a reluctant Laker, despite what he'll tell you for the last year. I think he's a much less reluctant Laker this morning with A.D. Kuzma and a possible free agent coming.

A veteran newsman, John Goulet. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. Rick Buecker, NBA analyst for FS1, Bleacher Report, senior NBA writer. Friends podcast. Well, the odds in Vegas have changed. Kyrie, Kevin Durant, Rick, it looks like Brooklyn's the favorite. You had told me on the air and off that Kyrie and Kevin Durant have, like three weeks ago, I think you told me they met. So you would not be surprised by this.

No, not at all. They've met a couple times since the cast train by KD and most recently after the surgery in New York. And this is not like the first two times that they've met. My understanding is they've been talking about this for a couple years off and on ever since they got together on the national team. They've talked about potentially playing together. So everything that I'm hearing right now, it's a matter of who's going to win the battle? KD prefers the Knicks.

Kyrie prefers the Nets. if they are going to play together, which place is it going to be? Or is that friendship going to hold up and are they ultimately going to play together? Maybe in New York, but maybe not on the same team. If you had to guess today, I'd guess Brooklyn. Where would you guess? I'm going to go New York just because it's really hard for me to believe that KD ultimately is going to pull the trigger and play for Brooklyn. He has so many ties to the Knicks organization.

He's the godfather of Royal Ivy's daughter. Ivy is also a Texas alum, was a teammate at OKC. Those guys are really good friends. He's still an assistant coach with the Knicks. There is a battle over. Who thought there would be a battle over DeAndre Jordan, and he could potentially determine where KD and Kyrie play. because there was a report which fits with what I've heard that DeAndre Jordan played for the Knicks last year.

He's close with both guys, closer with KD, and the Kairi is trying to recruit him to the Nets to add fodder to KD coming over to Brooklyn. The Kauai story has, you know, I had noted this yesterday. The Clippers did everything right in the last year and a half and could get stoned, Stonewalled on Kauai. the Lakers have been somewhat dysfunctional and were able to land A-D. And it shows you the value of brand, the value of winning titles. This morning, you know, the more I read, he could do a two plus one. It does seem like there's momentum that Kauai is at least a coin flip to stay in Toronto, does it not? No doubt about it.

There is concern. I don't know, panic might be a little strong. but the Clippers have been quietly pretty confident all along. Yeah. We're going to be able to get this done. And what I'm hearing is that they are now showing signs of concern that it's not going to go their way. Kauai signing the sponsorship deal with the Canadian private jet company, that raised some alarms in Clipperville because that's the same company that basically gave Drake a private jet company.

because that's the same company that basically gave Drake a private jet for free. Wow. And it doesn't make a whole lot of sense that you would be a sponsor. Would that work with Kauai's name Carrie in Canada still if he moves to L.A.? I mean, maybe there would be some continued good and appreciation for him being part of their championship run. but I don't know if it has the same finash and be playing elsewhere. I didn't hear that story.

If that is true, he has signed on with a private jet company, that means he's a raptor. He's doing that so he can get free flights to L.A. Yeah, well, and if you're the private jet company, are you really wanting to, you know, sign him up and do a sponsorship deal with him if he's not going to be playing for the home team?

So what I'm hearing when it comes to L.A. is that, and the Lakers in particular, is that Jimmy Butler would go there, and he might even go there if they can't give the full max. That to me right now is the likeliest third star that they could pull in there from what I am hearing. So if the Laker, I don't love that move, I don't love trying to convince Jimmy Butler to be a three. What would the Clippers do? Al Horford? It's a great question. I don't know what their plan be. is at this stage, which may be why they're so nervous, because this is the danger when you go all in on one guy, and you don't get that guy. When you're now clearly going to plan B, every stud out

there is going, well, wait a minute, I'm your plan B, I'm your plan C, you know what, you're my plan B. You're my plan C. I'll get back, I'll get back to you that when there's a whiff of desperation, there's a lot of guys who can feel it. And if they're not the first choice, I mean, we saw a little bit of this with Paul George, with the Lakers. You presume that, hey, if we don't get this guy, we can get these guys because of who we are. Sometimes that can get you in trouble.

You know, I have Daryl Morey on next hour, and, you know, I text him occasionally. The Chris Paul James Harden rant, I think where there's smoke, there's generally some fire. I think that, I think that, I think this story is somewhat overstated. But I could make the argument after the Clay Thompson, Kevin Durant, injuries, that Houston's a frontrunner in the West.

Are we wildly... I mean, isn't Houston in the running for Butler? Aren't they in the running for Al Horford? Aren't these players? Why would they not consider Houston? Darry's in the running for everybody, always. He's always looking to find a way to add pieces, and he finds a way to have the rockets in the comments.

conversation. All that said, the only way that I see that they can create space is to either move Capella or to move Chris Paul. And by all indications, they're not going to be able to move Chris Paul. That's a hundred million some three years remaining at age 34, people kind of having a sense that it's going to get worse, not better, as far as what Chris is able to contribute. I mean, they are who they are. But that said, being who they are, if they can hold together the band that they have, they have as much of running. I mean, it's wide open in the West.

So there's no reason. And honestly, James Hardin needs this badly because right now he's being looked at as a guy who is a great player, but not a winner. and the only way he's going to cure that is if they end up going to the finals and possibly winning a race. You know what James Hardin's becoming? Carl Malone. And I'll give you an example. Carl Malone, bunch of stats, no titles, and not a fun style to watch.

That's James Harden, is that whereas Kobe not only has the titles, much more enjoyable to watch, much more vertical, much more dynamic. We compare Kobe and Hardin because of their offensive. ball-centric, dominating ways. And you can make an argument that Hardin's better than Kobe statistically. The difference is 30 years from now we'll talk about Kobe because he was fun to watch. We're not going to talk about VJ Singh. We'll talk about Dustin Johnson and we'll talk about Phil Mickelson.

Their styles are more fun to watch. We talk McEnroe. We don't talk Pete Sampras. Is that if Hardin, if Hardin doesn't, because I think Chris Paul's knees are an obstacle to a title. if he is a one and done again next year in the playoffs, he becomes Carl Malone. We never talk about Carl Malone. He's the second or third leading score in NBA history. Hardin's game's not fun to watch.

He's a stat compiler at this point who looks fatigued in the playoffs. I am with you. I think that James Hardin narrative is shifting, declining rapidly. Yeah. No, it's a great comparison because people resented the way Carl Malone played. They thought he was a bully. They thought he was too. physical. And the comparison is apt because because there was a certain resentment about the way

Carl played, they thought it was, they didn't think it was really great basketball and they thought it was kind of cheap and self-serving. And there's that sense around James, too. Great numbers, great offensive threat, all of that. But you have to have, ultimately, you have to have a ring behind it to validate the way you play, then all is forgiven. I mean, it wasn't that long ago. Kevin Durant was kind of in this same position. Great score, gets it done, can't get it when it can't do it when it matters most. And this is where it's a little bit unfair because like KD, KD got the opportunity to show that he could do it and did on the biggest stage. I don't know that James and the team that he's playing on. It's easy.

easy to look at it and say, well, it's his style. It's his fault. I don't know that he's been given the ideal vehicle to get to that platform. No, I'm not denying that, but I do think style matters. And I do think Jack Nicholas, being long off the tea, made him fascinating. And Tom Kite and Tom Watson were not as fascinating. I don't think Carl Malone or Hardin styles, they're not, they're not enjoyable to watch. I think Kobe was one of the great shot makers. Phil Mickelson's one of the great shot makers in golf. I think style matters.

Hardin, its game feels like manipulation to get to the free throw line. And so I think like Carl Malone, there is resentment around the league. I mean, we've heard it for two years. People don't like watching him play. Well, and you had Kobe doing it at both ends. There was an appreciation that it wasn't just his numbers that he was getting. He was playing a complete game.

And Harden, the matter of, you know, for, he's gotten better at times defensively. but he's always going to have that hanging over him. Rick Bueger, good talking you, buddy. You got it. Bukes today. I am wearing glasses. You know, I have thought about wearing glasses on television.

It would take away from my enormously large nose and forehead. So maybe we'll move on that. Last radio only day, don't skip meals, drink Soylent, complete meal in a bottle. Go to Soylent.com. Heard 20, 20% off your first case. Coming up next, Bill Moore made me think of the NBA. That next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific.

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

and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody 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. Follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist,

Kier Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough

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

And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast. Learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app.

Search Learn the hard way 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? Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42. A rep, mom, I'm a one. You want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker.

Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. 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 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. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and 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 a chicken suit. Hey, cream, cream a chicken suit. This is help from a hair. Hippocrat, 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 IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Braves Battle of Cubs. Discovery card key matchup. Go further than ever with a Discover at Miles card. Match the miles you earned at the end of the first year. 35,000 could become 70. Discover at limitations apply. Go to discover.com slash travel.

What's that, what's that sound there, John? What was that? That was very with it. That was very street. It was very street. It was very turn. It's an older song. It was very lit. Eric B. and Raquham. Oh, thank you. That's what I thought.

Daryl's on next hour. He's the loquacious Rockets GM. His daughter, by the way, is going to New York University. He just made some cool documentary. I want to watch that on the James Harden O.K.C. trade. I may watch that during the break. There's been this story. He was on the NBA Awards last night that Chris Paul and James Hardin are feuding.

he said it's definitely not true. I don't think it's as bad as everybody says. But I will tell you, the Chris Paul James Harden relationship is actually what makes the NBA. It is a soap opera. Is that you've got to have a slot. The hotels that work in this country are Ritz Carlton.

That's at the top end. Marriott slotted in the middle and Motel 6 and Days in at the bottom. They all succeed because they have a slot. It's why Fox News works, MSNBC works, Fox News is right, MSNBC is left, and CNN is struggling because they don't have a slot. What are they? You need an identity.

You need a slot. The NFL is the sport we watch and bet on. And the NBA is the sport we talk about. We don't watch it that much. We talk about it. It is a living, breathing soap opera. And Bill Maher was talking about that the way to beat Trump was actually by finding somebody that could rival Trump in what we've become as a country.

Never underestimate the power of being in people's living rooms for decades. That's what got Trump elected. This is now a as seen on TV kind of country. Oprah Trump are celebrities. And the reason I play that clip is America's become a more celebrity-driven country. culture. We are. That's indisputable. The NBA is perfectly positioned to benefit. It's a living, breathing soap opera. What you need in professional sports is the same thing you need in the airline industry, the tech industry, the newspaper industry in New York. The New York Times is the

global voice. The New York Post is the tabloid voice. And the New York Daily News is neither. And the Post makes money and the Times makes a fortune. What's your slot? What's your identity? The NBA has an identity. It's never been about the deep, dark secret of the NBA is we don't really watch the league much outside of the finals.

We don't. The league knows that. But we talk about it. We talk about it because it's egos and vanity and stars and soap operas and feuding and combining converging stars. It doesn't happen in football. It doesn't happen in soft. He doesn't have three stars going together in the NHL, the NFL, Major League Baseball, every man for himself.

So the two strongest sports in terms of media coverage in America have the two best slots. They have the two strongest identities. The NFL, we watch it and we bet it. And the NBA, we talk about it. Stars, NFL gives us urgency, games matter, and the NBA gives us stars. always matter. And when I was watching Bill Maher talk about that, I thought, we do live in a time now where when Donald Trump got elected and all the conservatives were laughing, I told my conservative friends, don't laugh for long because in four years, you opened the door to Kanye West,

to Leo DiCaprio. You open the door to celebrities. If Trump's in, what if you get a better looking younger version that connects with Democrats? I said, you can laugh about Trump. But he has opened the door to music stars, former sports stars, The Rock, and you have no idea which way politically they lean. You've opened the door up to this. So Trump wasn't qualified. He was a businessman, like him or not. So be careful what you laugh about in politics. It may come back to beat you.

And I think Oprah is an incredibly viable candidate. But she's a celebrity. and we're a celebrity culture. And so for the people that say, Colin, you talk a lot of NBA. Yes, and NFL. The two strongest identities in American sports today. Daryl Morey around the corner, just starting out, our one, hour two, radio only. No coasters.

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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in.

I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kier Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many

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

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

I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose. On my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Clifford 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, rep, my mama want you to wave at her.

What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. 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 that.

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 Hippocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. 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 Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite

as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Ah, this is The Hurd. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, tomorrow, like it or not, we return to television FS1. A lot of people say, Colin, does it drive you crazy

that you get knocked off for a couple of weeks? Doesn't actually, when I came over for, from the other place to Fox Sports. My podcast, my digital, my radio numbers, my Facebook stuff, all hit within three months. Television takes people a long time to find TV stations. My mom never switched off the NBC affiliate in Seattle for 30 years. So I knew it would take a long time for people to find FS1. And the way to empower FS1 was these marquee events that move people over to us like the World Cup,

10 football. And then if you can keep them for a couple of weeks watching, if you can retain 5 to 6% of those people, every year, every other year you have these big events, that's the way to grow. So I am more than willing to go off the air for two weeks for the continued growth of Fox Sports, FS1. So it's just part of the deal. I knew it coming in. I watched parents and step-parents stay on the same TV channels forever and watch the same news forever and the same highlights forever. So it takes a long time. Podcast, radio, digital, XM, serious. My audience found me eight days in, weekend, boom, all the numbers. But TV takes a long time to get people to come over. So I'm okay with it. We're back on TV tomorrow. Very excited, by the way. This next 10, 12 days

is crazy. It's just crazy. It's so much fun. Last night they had the NBA Awards. I would like to say, I do not deem myself as controversial. Never have, never been a label I wanted. I think controversial people flame out. I'm not a schick guy. I try to do a radio show and make it interesting and captivating. And it sits where it sits. I don't want to be a pro wrestler, okay?

It sits where it sits. And so when I come out three years ago and say, giving Russell Westbrook the MVP is the silliest thing I've ever heard, you're giving it to him because you feel sorry that Katie left him and because it's a stat. It's not most statistically superior player. It's most valuable player. And he doesn't do two things that valuable players do. Shoot threes and play well with others.

He's not valuable. He's just talented. There's a lot of things in my life that are really valuable. My phone is valuable. My health care, my transportation. Those are really, really valuable. things. My jacuzzi in Utah is not valuable.

It's a luxury item. It's nice when it's cold to jump in the jacuzzi. I could take a hot shower. I'd be fine. Last night, MVP voting, and Russell Westbrook was 10th, despite averaging a triple double, proving our point three years ago. The triple double is meaningless. And now everybody in the NBA is again.

acknowledging it doesn't mean anything. It's never meant anything. First round out, first round out, first round out, first round out, doesn't mean anything. And by the way, the Oklahoma City owner and the GM have put Steve Adams on the trading block. What does that tell you? That tells you the owner and the GM are over Westbrook. They're not going to pay a luxury tax. They realize he's an Uber.

talent, but he doesn't play winning basketball. When you put a top 28 player, 30 player in the league on the trading block, because you may have to pay some luxury tax, anybody that thinks they can win a championship does not put that guy in the trading block. You do it when you realize Westbrook is fun and he's flashy

and he's talked about and that's it. He's not a winning player. And again, he's HBO in your whole. hotel room. You know, it's a luxury. It's not a necessity. The bed and the shower are the necessities.

And we have a new Russell Westbrook entering the league, Jha Morant, who is a much better shooting, much better passing version, and now much cheaper. So you'll continue to see Westbrook's stock erode and his value decrease. He has gone from Mr. MVP to tough to coach, hyperathletic, rigid, unravels during the playoffs and doesn't play winning playoff basketball. The shiny new toy, the kids were fascinated with, the fidget spinner, people are quickly over it. And Westbrook now, despite a triple double, 10th an MVP voting.

10th. Valuable in today's NBA is A, playing well with others, and B, hitting threes. He doesn't do either. He's bad and below average at both. By the way, everybody that's played with Westbrook, this is not for clicks. This is not to be controversial. I was right three years ago. I've been proven right last night.

Everybody that plays with him and leaves gets better. Durant's more efficient. Hardens better. Victorola Depot went from, That's a bad contract to All-Star. Sir Jabaka just won a title. Demontas Sabonis got better. and as canters, numbers went up.

Finally, I don't do stuff for clicks. I don't like my quarterback grabbing their junk and being in police videos. I don't rip Baker for clicks. I don't get paid for clicks. Okay, I have a guaranteed contract. I don't make money on clicks. And Westbrook was never haid. It was never to get attention.

If I was trying to get attention, why wouldn't I go after athlete to New York and Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, L.A. Why would I go after an athlete in Oklahoma? That's not a major market. I'm not going to get major clicks, right? Like it pays me? Finally, being proven right, it is tiresome to carry America on your shoulders. Here's another story that's interesting to me. Darryl Morey this hour, Arash Marcosi, L.A. Times, too.

So I was on vacay when this story came out. Kyrie Irving simply, quote, didn't like living in Boston. And let's look at this big picture. Anthony Davis told his agent Rich Paul, I will not sign long term in Boston. Al Horford just bailed on Boston. Kevin Garnett initially didn't want to go to Boston. Kyrie Irving, no thanks, Boston. Not sure if you're noticing, we have a trend here.

Now, Boston is the number two NBA brand behind the Lakers. They have an excellent owner, an excellent GM, a very smart coach, and a remarkable history. Current players don't want to play there. I don't want to play there. Horford, see ya, AD, won't resign. Kyrie didn't want to go there, couldn't stand being there. LeBron's never considered it. Kauai's not considering it.

Kevin Durant now could go anywhere. He's not considering it. Clay Thompson's not considering it. Jimmy Butler has no interest. You see in a trend here? And what is really interesting is this should be the decade when they should mop up. Because if you look at their rivals, their northeast rivals, Brooklyn Nitz. Nicks, excuse me, Nets, Nicks, Wizards,

and until recently the Sixers, were all tire fires for the last decade. I mean, part of Nick Saban's success in the SEC was until the last year, the big rivals all had lousy coaches. Florida finally got their act together. Texas A&M finally got their act together. Looks like Tennessee may have their act together.

So Saban took advantage. Pete Carroll did this. UCLA and Washington, Stanford were a mess when Pete Carroll was in the PAC 12. He took advantage of it. Boston should be just owning free agents because the rest of the East is a mess. Sixers now have turned it around. So they should be just soaking it up right now.

Their rivals, their geographical footprint, a mess. And I don't know what it is. Danny Aange made a Trump comment. That could be it. Brad Stevens didn't work well with Kyrie a start. Maybe that's it. Isaiah Thomas players think he was treated poorly because they didn't give him a max deal, although frankly, if you think Isaiah Thomas is a max player, never go into a front office.

Maybe it's the cold weather. But whatever it is, we got a trend. NBA guy, when you have everything going, their owner's good. Their history is amazing. They're GM smart. Their coach is excellent. Nobody wants to play there. I mean, what is it?

That just doesn't work that way in sports. Like, and again, it's not a, it's, you know, it's funny. Here, you know, I was thinking about this this morning. So I lived, uh, equidistant between New York and Boston for 11 years. Went to New York constantly. Went to Boston twice. My wife is Irish. She didn't like Boston.

And we always kind of had this theory. that Boston is parochial and very political and cranky and very tribal. And you always feel like, unless you were born there, you feel like a visitor. New York, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty is very welcoming. I went to New York first time. I'll give you an example. So I had a friend, casual friend, who owned a gym. So he opened a gym.

The state of Connecticut is split right down the middle. Upper half, the northern part connected to New England, Boston, Vermont. And the southern half, New Canaan, Dary Ann, Westport, Greenwich is kind of a suburb of New York. So it's Red Sox fans north, Yankee fans south. So my friend opens up a gym in the southern part of Connecticut, closer to New York. He said it was a very competitive market, and we were concerned the gym wouldn't work. He goes, but the New York attitude is, if anything's good, restaurant, gym, pizza place, business, New Yorkers are very welcoming. They just want the best stuff.

They don't care. They're not, they just, are you good at this? We'll try this. So their gym had immediate success, even in a crowded market. So they decided to open up a second gym in the northern part of Connecticut. and I lived there and there were no good gyms. It was just a, you know, I'd come from Vegas and Tampa and Portland. People were recreational.

They were athletic. There were good gyms. There were no good gyms. They opened it up there and he said, we almost went under. We knew we had clearly the highest quality gym in the area. They did. My ex-wife worked there. It was really good.

Spin classes, yoga classes, space, equipment. It was great. He goes, but the northern part of Connecticut is very standoffish. It's very parochial. Fences make good neighbors. People are not willing to accept new. And I remember him telling me that story, and I think about this Boston thing, does Boston feel welcoming, open-armed to new, to new people?

And I can make the argument, New York does. And I can only tell you my personal experience, as a West Coast guy, I always felt welcome in New York. Now, people in New York, because the city is so frenetic, they're in a hurry. But you can ask anybody in New York for directions. Anybody. And they'll give them to you. Now, they'll talk a mile a minute, and they don't have time to tell you a second time.

But I never felt New Yorkers were rude. I just felt they were in a hurry because of the pace of the city. Boston walked down the streets of Boston. eyes down, you don't connect with people. I never felt when I went there, I never felt connected to the city. So I don't know what it is. But when you're the second biggest brand in the NBA,

your owner's great, your coach is great, your GM's great, your history's great, your facilities are great. You know, it's considered a great American city, and players don't want to play there. What is it? But it's something. Like, it's something. I said this for years and years about the Dallas Mavericks.

How come they don't get more good players? Middle of the country, no state tag, Mark Cuban pamperes his players with facilities. It's a nice city. Beautiful women everywhere for young 20-year-old guys. And they don't land players. And I had a player once, or it was an executive once, tell me he said the problem is Cuban is so big and famous

that he casts a shadow over the organization. That it's too, Cuban needs to step back and let the basketball. The identity of the Mavericks isn't players. It's Cuban. And Dirk Novitskyy was a lot of, okay with that. But a lot of people feel the Mavericks are Cuban.

They can't star as much because the owner is too well known. He's so public, Shark Tank and, you know, his businesses. Anyway, I find it incredibly odd that none of these free agents appear interested in Boston. Now, you could say, well, Boston's not interested in them. Yes, they

are. You don't think they're like CoI Leonard? Really? Okay. All right. Yeah. Al Horford walked out I don't know. They'd take Kauai Leonard. Arash Marcosi, L.A. Times. Jeannie Bus talked to her. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where sports slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the 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 SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so rapidly. up in the chase, that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway.

Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. 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 of 42. Hey, Brett. My mama want you to wave at her. What?

Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please!

But there's so much more. mortar 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. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, and 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 Coutura podcast network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What is that new track, John?

It's not really new. It's a fresh track. What is that? It's not so fresh. but it's Obie Trice. That's just brand new to the market, Ryan. I love playing with the kids. They think Uncle Colin is not with it.

I am now turnt and lit simultaneously. Although I'm wearing a 58-year-old woman's glasses. Not great. I forgot my contacts this morning. Arash Marcosi, L.A. Times columnist, a regular on our show. So you interviewed Jeannie Bus last night on the bougie red carpet at the NBA Award show. What kind of mood was she in, Rosh? She was in a good mood.

I was actually surprised that she talked. You know, we knew that she would be there. But again, she has not talked since last season. She has not talked since the surprise resignation of Magic Johnson. She hasn't talked since Magic was first taken, all that stuff. So we really haven't gotten to talk to her. And so she was, I guess, I'm happy. to stop by and chat. So it was good to finally hear from her.

You know, this is part of me that is the Clippers did everything right this year. And all indications are they're in a dog fight to just get Kauai. Forget anybody else. The Lakers had enigmatic to say the least. And now reportedly they have AD and are very viable in the DeAngelo Russell sweepstakes. is it possible the well-run clippers get Zippo and the marginally run Lakers nailed two free agents. Do you sense that today?

I will tell you, it was interesting last night at the award show, the Lakers table and the Clippers table were right next to each other. They were very cordial. I would say the clippers are cautiously optimistic that they will have a good summer. Now that they get the sense that they're going to keep, or that they're going to get Kauai. You know, I think their sense is if he doesn't stay in Toronto, he's going to the clippers.

So, you know, you're going to hear a lot of talk about the Lakers, the Knicks, all these other teams. They view it as a two-team race. So there's no doubt that it would be a very disappointing summer if they don't get him. They're still kind of cautiously optimistic that they will get their guy. Yeah, I mean, it goes back to something in sports that's true, though. Nick Saban once coach Michigan State, but it's not a landing spot. Harbaugh would stay at Michigan forever, right?

Like there's certain jobs in college football where you just don't leave. It's the late night show of TV. My takeaway is I look at the Clippers and I think to myself they've done everything right, but there is a reality with their brand in Los Angeles. When I go to a Laker game, it's a Ritzie crowd. It is a lot of prominent people, business people,

and it's a lot of 45, 55, and up, a lot of LA wealth. When I go to a clipper game, it's fun, but it's a much younger crowd, cheaper tickets. That to this point is Jalen Rose yesterday apparently was saying, be careful about going to the clippers. I do sense a little bit now. You heard the story about Kauai Leonard signing a deal with a private jet company in Toronto. Why in God's name, but he signed that? It sounds like to me that's giving him free flights to Los Angeles.

I mean, I don't know. I look at the Lakers, DeAngelo Russell. Do you buy into those rumors? That, you know, the man who wanted to trade him or didn't want to have anything to do with him is no longer with the team. And the old coaching staff has gone. Right. I do think he's a new player. He has matured.

He has a fantastic season. If the price is right, I mean, Colin, like, I don't think he's a max guy, right? But I think he's a fantastic point guard who's really developed, obviously played with Kyle Kuzma. I think he would be a fantastic point guard with the right. price, whether that's, you know, 20 million or whatnot. But I think you'd be the perfect point guard for this team. And to your point about the clippers, I will say this. I think for a majority of people, that would be a detriment.

They would not want to go to the clippers because of that. But I'd always get the sense, if you tell Kauai, Kauai, if you go to the clippers, you're going to be lost. No one's going to talk to you. No one's going to bother you. He'd be like, oh, my God, that's me music to my ears. I mean, you mean that I could go to the clippers, play in Los Angeles and no one's going to talk to me, no one's going to bother me.

That might be the one player that I think would be intrigued by that. By the way, you talked to Mark Cuban last night. What did he say? New dream team. And again, he was referencing Carl Malone. I mean, yeah, Carl Malone and Gary Payton, Dwight Howard Steve. She was like, I hope history repeats itself with this dream team that they have put together. But he was like shaking his head.

Like once again, the Lakers get their dream team. Yeah, no, I mean, it's, by the way. way Polinka gets just savaged by the media. When Polinka is in public at events like this, is he friendly? Is he talkative? Was he there? When I've seen him out in the public, he's a very, he does his own thing. Like, he's not with a big group. He's not with his friends. I mean, I saw him in Charlotte at the All-Star weekend at two events, and he was kind of the guy who makes laps around the room by himself. That's not a bad thing. I've been in that position so many times. But, you know, a guy who doesn't

necessarily roll with a big crew. Okay. Arash, Marcosi, L.A. Times columnist. If you get stuff, call us. We'll put you on. Arash, I appreciate it. Thanks, Colin. I'll talk you soon. All right. Veteran newsman, John Goulet. He's really veteran. And a newsman. No, no, no, no, no.

Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Too fast for me, Colin. Sorry. Sorry about that. Janice Santekupo won the NBA MVP last night over James Hardin. The voting results were revealed afterward. really wasn't all that close. 78 of 101 first place votes went to the Greek freak.

Every single voter, all 101 of them, had Hardin and Janus won too. So there wasn't a third guy getting random votes. Here's some of Janus after he won the award last night. I want to thank the front half is the ownership for believing in me. And I was 80 years old. I'm getting married. You know, they allow me to lead this team. Trust me.

NBA does a really good job. NBA has more guys crying than any league awards or draft. Like it's a real thing. Like if you watch the first 10 minutes of that NBA draft, 15 minutes, I mean, it's incredibly emotional. Do baseball players do that? I mean, to hockey guys? The NBA...

Well, the MLB doesn't have an award show, so you just kind of get notified. But I mean, even the draft. Anytime the NBA is doing something public with a personal transaction, remember Kevin Durant when the NBA, and his mother. I mean, it's just incredibly visceral. Like, I find myself, the draft, the first 15 minutes of that draft, I was just, like, that was the most emotional sports draft of my life.

It's just incredible. Amari Cooper, or among the high-profile players that the Cowboys need to get paid soon, is Amari Cooper, their wide receiver who basically saved their entire offense last year. He certainly did. But Cooper isn't all that concerned. with becoming the top paid wide out in the NFL. Take a listen. Not now. I'm definitely looking forward to earning that respect and looking forward to coming into this year and just putting up those numbers for my team and really showing what I can do

in a full season as a Dallas Cowboy. I know that I have the skill set to be one of the highest paid receivers. I'm just all about going out there and brooding it. To me, this is a refreshing take from the wide receiver. is that most of them are a little bit self-centered and some of them can be divas. He's not. He very well could sit there and say, I need to be the highest paid wide receiver because he's the next one to come up.

While I'm sure he will maybe become that, he's not necessarily worried about it. Is it possible that he's more of a priority more than some of the other guys the Cowboys have to sign? They have two great linebackers, so you can theoretically just keep. Vander Esch is you have on a rookie deal and it's a first year. So you have three years

or at least two before you really have to worry about him. Jalen Smith is older and was a second round pick, so he's the first guy to come up. And then there's Zeke, and then obviously there's Dak. I think, and this is a rare instance, I'd pay the running back. I like Amari, but I'd pay the running back. I think there's obvious limitations to Dak, and I think a strong running game is the answer to giving him a legitimate contract. Now, are you comfortable with that after watching what happened?

of Todd Gurley. Yes, because I don't see... Remember, Zeke is, so Zeke is one year behind Gurley in the draft, right? So Gurley started breaking down at the end of last season. Yes. I think the fear would be, what if Zeke starts breaking down at the end of this season? The Rams really

made a mistake on Gurley. They paid him a year early. And by the way, that's not just my opinion. When they signed Todd Gurley, I talked to two people in the NFL who I trust, and they're like, what are they doing? They could have done it this office. There's certain positions, quarterback being one Carson Wentz, you pay early.

You generally wait and to watch the running back take another beating. The Rams paid them a year before they had to. And I'm, again, left tackles, get them locked up. Quarterbacks, locked up. Running backs, wait. And finally, this is kind of a weird story that could become a really big story. So follow me on this one. The California State Assembly is attempting to pass a bill.

that would allow college athletes within the state to get compensated for the usage of their likeness, name, or image. Yep. The NCAA president, Mark Emmer, implied in an interview that this could mean California schools could be prohibited from winning NCAA championships in the spirit of fairness. Yeah. Now, the bill still has a few more steps to go through before it could be passed.

It will be passed. Okay, so do you think the NCAA would really ban schools in California from being able to win titles? Well, this is something I've been talking to friends about for like a year. It's going to pass. And the NCAA is going to have to sit down at some point because forget just football. California schools, Stanford, UCLA, USC, went a lot of national championships and stuff like water polo, volleyball, softball, that kind of stuff. A lot of the second-tier sports, they're not the big revenue sports.

Women's sports. The Pac-12 does, you know, unbelievable numbers. So you think about it and say, well, it doesn't matter because USC, UCLA are not playing great football. But it's a huge issue. Baseball, water polo, volleyball, track. I don't know the answer to it. I mean, the Pac-12 has got enough issues. Like, this is a real thing.

What top coat? Forget the players. Because I still think California universities offer great educations, warm weather, visibility. What world-class coach? would take the USC football job knowing I can't compete for a national title. You're not getting a good coach. You're not getting an elite staff.

Where's the line? Okay, you can't win a title? What about inner, you know, can you play teams out of state? Are either the NCAA not going to recognize games if it's a California team against a team from somewhere else? I mean, it seems really muddy. Oh, yeah. And it could keep getting worse and worse. What do you do if you're the PAC-12?

Because you have schools that aren't in California. Is your PAC 12 title? Is it still Oregon, USC, or is that not going to be allowed anymore? This is the boring legislative story that nobody wants to talk about. It is a massive problem. Of the many, the PAC 12 faces, the PAC 12 faces some issues. Just geographically, they face some issues because on the West Coast, college sports are not as big as they are, say, in the Midwest or the South.

There's just more options, mountain beaches, pro teams. this is a whammy. This is a big issue going forward. I mean, USC football. Nobody's really happy right now with the coach, right? Like, nobody's truly happy. Well, this thing passes. Urban's not taking that job.

What legit top end coach? Yeah, holiday bowl. You're not getting a guy. You're not getting a top coach. Better newsman, John Goulet. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news.

I have never done a show on bifocals. So we are setting new ground. By the way, I chose today to work Fourth of July. I don't know about you stiffs, you lazy, summer-loving coworkers. Are you working on the fourth, John? I'm working on the fourth, but I'm anticipating the fourth might get a little rough, so I'm not working on the fifth. Same here. Yeah, there you go.

So I'm taking off next Friday. Are you working, too? I am not working on the fourth. I have kids, though. Remember young kids? Oh, yeah. Sure, you bet. Like, I don't. Like, I don't have kids. I got moving parts. Sam, are you working on the fourth?

Sam is. 50s out. Fourth he's working. How do you take the fourth off? Everybody's home, and it's a free agent frenzy. It's going to be crazy. We're all terrified because two years ago, Kevin Durant, or three years ago, Kevin Durant signed on July 4th. So we're all freaked out about it. Darrell Mori, Rockets GM around the corner. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game.

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

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

Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo SlicLife 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch.

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

Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. 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 walks up to me, he goes, Hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out.

Quarterback on office, Blue, 42. A rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clipper Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down.

Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives of Housewives show. I think it looks like it's going to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real House Wise franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the team everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this.

At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Good to have you in. Darrell Mori, Rockets, GM. Got his master's from MIT. It's very impressive. I feel a little intellectually overwhelmed here. I'll try to just bail water and keep up.

Darrell, how are you? I just watched your daughter, who is a young documentarian, Karen. I just watched from Sixth Man to MVP about James Harden. Very impressive. You must be proud. I am, yeah. Obviously, a little biased. Yeah, she did a great job.

She worked at school at NYU and came out pretty good. Yeah, it premiered. It's on YouTube, so it's called From Sixth Man to MVP. Good for you. I've got a college daughter who's 19, so that warm my heart. Same age. Yeah, yeah. All right.

you feel this year you went for everybody loved darrell morey and then at the end of the year it's kind of you became a villain and everybody's saying you're the heel turn yeah you became roman rains or something did lebron said he was never comfortable being a villain are you comfortable being a little bit of a villain i'm comfortable just winning so i mean i think whatever it takes to win we'll we'll do uh that's my job and if it means we're going to be not popular at times That's fine. No problem. You do get talked about a lot.

The latest is the Chris Paul James Hardin's story, which I've said multiple times in the last two days. I think it's overplayed. I think all families argue, especially two guards. You know, they both want the ball. Could I at least make this, because I don't have any insight here beyond what I read, but could I say this, Chris is demanding. Hardin's Uber talented and that it wasn't always ideal. deal. There are occasional arguments.

Yeah, they're both hyper competitive and shocker in game six, one of the most important games of their lives. You know, it's going to be intense on the bench. I don't see it as much different from a lot of times during the season. I mean, if you got two very smart, very competitive people, there's going to be disagreements. And for us, it was just weird that it became a story, honestly. And I'm glad that it seems to people have sort of figured out that it was nonsense. So there is no fissure. You did not have to step in at any point? Well, you didn't see me on the bench, jump in between them and have to hold them apart. No, I did not have to step in between them, no.

The NBA can be very cruel. Windows closed quickly. The Sacramento Kings 15 years ago looked like a championship team, and you wake up the next morning. morning and the window closes. The Seattle Seahawks, we thought we're going to be a dynasty. One and the window closes. Are you at all, how fearful are you that with Chris Paul's body, the aging, your window is closing very quickly? Yeah, I have to focus on that.

That's a real thing that, you know, we've got to make sure that we can stay competitive. That's why we're chasing some of the top free agents again. Hopefully, I think we got a real show. shot at one of them potentially. And we feel very good about it. Obviously, Golden State is probably not going to be as good next year. So that's going to help us. I do think the West is wide open. But most teams are trying to keep their starting five from last year together right now. We've got our starting five. We're going to add a mid-level. If we can get a top level guy, we'll get them. And I think we're the favorites in the West next

season. And I think Vegas will show that when we go, when they start doing the overrun and all that. Yeah, no, I don't disagree. We said that earlier today. Listen, it was, I like Mike Dan Tony. I think he's a really good guy and a good coach. There's a butt coming, it sounds like. Well, I have, I always worry about coaches that have systems. I am a believer in the Andy Reed Belichick style, which is your players become the system. You just work around them. I'm, I'm always reticent to embrace systems. Right. Mike, Mike has had, Mike has had some play. off bumps. Are you concerned about that? I'm definitely not concerned about that.

So I'm concerned about our window, but not this. And I would respectfully disagree that he's about a system. I think Mike's actually one of the all-time great gets the most of your players. I mean, if you look at how his Phoenix teams played versus how we play, it's sort of night and day. And he's taking the strength of Chris Ball, the strength of James Harden, and really optimize that. I mean, we do play a lot of isolation, and the reason we do that is because that's the skill level.

One of the all-time great skills of James Hardin, so he's using that. That's not something he really did back in Phoenix. So I think he's one of the all-time great guys actually using his players to their maximum. How come Hardin wasn't at that MVP shindig last night? He had something in China with Adidas, so yeah. He couldn't make it. What do you have been there if he was going to win it? Maybe.

That's quite a commitment. Yes, it's not quite the not quite the Oscars. Fair enough. I thought we had a shot if they got that Brian Cullen and DWC guy in the back. I thought that might have given us a shot last night. That was about it.

Let me, this, my next question doesn't bother me, but I hear this narrative, and I do think it's, it doesn't bother me, so I may overlook it. But I do think a league is as strong as it relates. I think it's one of the NFL's great strengths. We watch it, we bet it, and it's very big in the Midwest. Players play hurt. Players can get cut. There's a relatability to it. Do you worry at all with 20-something-year-old employees, NBA stars, having too much power? And it's

always been a player league, so it's never bothered me. It was in the 70s. But it does feel like players have more political power. They have more mobility. Do you ever think that's a problem for the league, the optics that small teams, small markets can't compete? Yeah, I don't think it's a problem. I think, look, the players are the top players, especially by far the most important thing in the league. So I think they should have power. I think people are uncomfortable having power in places they're not used to it. But why should, you know, why should 50-year-old, you know, 60-year-old aging executives have all the power? I mean, what's the difference between that and a 20-year-old?

So I actually like it. It's been a big edge for us. You know, we're all about the players and it's worked for us. You know, I have talked about this a little bit offline in the past. I think if I had a player with a lot of power, it wasn't smart, it could be a problem. But, you know, James Hardin and Chris Paul are two of the smarter guys in the league. Obviously, Chris running the players union. And James, people don't know as well.

because he's pretty quiet, but he's just super, super smart, especially on the basketball court. Yeah, what is your relationship with Hardin? How often do you have to talk, need to talk, or do talk? We keep it pretty professional. I mean, at the end of the day, we're about winning. And so we talk a lot, but it's mostly about free agency who we're going to go after, guys are going to add to the team. And, you know, I see my job is to be in partnership with Chris and James and put together a great team,

them and the best way to do that is to do that in collaboration with them. Okay, a direct question. I know you can't mention names. Are you going to get a meeting this weekend with wink wink a potential free agent? Well, definitely some free agent, but I think you mean a top one. I would say, yeah, I'd say yes, yes. So you are confirming to me. I'm breaking, this is a big breaking. I think so. I can't say for sure because we can't schedule them yet, but I feel good. I feel good that we'll be with top creation in the early days. By the way, you are at some level, just a highly compensated working stiff like me. You have a new owner, the Fratita family.

I grew up to some degree. Some of my great years were in Las Vegas. Fortitas are very known, very smart. And by the way, they can be demanding. That's not a negative term to me. When you lose in the playoffs, is it uncomfortable with a new owner? Is it tough for you for the next two weeks? Yeah, I think it should be.

I mean, my job is to win, and to your point, you know, I do get paid well, so to you. I mean, your job is obviously to get rating, so if you didn't, I think you'd find it appropriate if they were on top of you. I think my job is to win, and, you know, the Fertita family is demanding what they should be. I mean, that's what the Houston fans would want. Someone who's pushing hard, someone will pay anything like Tijuana, and I'm excited for his ownership. Darrell Morey. Good talking to you. Hey, thanks for a amount.

Appreciate it. You bet. 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 is the herd. Hour 3, live in L.A. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, wherever you may be and however you may be listening.

One hour to go, back on TV tomorrow. I'm wearing bifocals. Not even mine. By the way, I saw this. It's not really a big deal, but it just always geeks people out. Emery University, School of Business Professor Mike Lewis, used a statistical analysis to determine the NFL's best fans. And they considered three criteria, fan equity, social equity,

and road equity. Fan equity is how well fans back up their words with dollars. Social equity is a team's social media reach, and road equity measures how well a team draws on the road, adjusting for team performance. So based on those three criteria, how big are you at home, how big is your reach on social media,

And when you go on the road, do you bring people? I think those are three very reasonable criteria. Do local fans fill the stadium and spend a lot of money? Do you have national, global reach? And on the road, are you popular enough that you draw a crowd as well? And the results, Cowboys won, Patriots, Eagles, Giants, Giants, Steelers, Packers, Broncos, Bears, Niners, Saints, Top Ten. Should be noted, a lot of cold weather cities.

The last 10, a lot of warm weather cities. Bucks, Vikings, cards, chargels, browns, bingles, jags, Titans, Chiefs, Rams. The bills at 19 feel a tad low. The Falcons at 13 feel a tad high. The Chiefs, Kansas City at 31, feel a tad low. And the Rams were at 32 and I have no problem with that. By the way, people freaked out about the Chiefs, but the Chiefs until Patrick Mahomes got there

probably didn't draw particularly well on the road. And they're not a team until Patrick Mahomes got there that anybody talked about on digital social media. So whenever they did this, they probably did this over the last couple years. You know, it's funny, the Rams are at 32nd. is L.A. is just so distracted. Two major league teams, two NFL teams, two major colleges, two NBA, two hockey, two MLS.

L.A. is an incredibly crowded, distracted market. I actually think the Vegas Raiders will hit faster than the Rams than in Los Angeles, because Vegas has one NHL team and, you know, marginally interesting college university nearby. The Rams have actually been fortunate. The Lakers have been dysfunctional for years, and USC has underachieved for most of the last decade. So if USC was humming and the Lakers were humming, I think the Rams would have an even harder entrance into the L.A. market. But right now, Cowboys, Patriots, Eagles are the best. And Jags, Titans, Chiefs, Rams near the bottom.

Now, by the way, the Browns are 27th and the Steelers are fifth. So for anybody who thinks I'm negative toward the Browns, when I say they do not have a national audience, they don't. That's why OBJ is a big pickup for them in terms of overall discussion, social media, and reach. He's a global star. It will make the Browns, if you did this study in one or two years, they would be in the teens. or higher. But they have not been really a national team for the last 20 years before OBJ and Baker. Just have not.

We're all kind of waiting. This is a time of the year. I take my vacations overwhelmingly based on one thing. When does the market slow down? So, you know, Labor Day until February 2nd, 3rd, 4th, you know, outside of Christmas week, you know, you just work. And then you got like two months. And then you come back in April and you go NBA playoffs, NFL draft,

and then you work to the end of the finals. Then you take a week off in that space. And then you come back, which is right now, and you kind of wait for the shoe to drop on all the NBA free agents. You know, I'm not going to spend a lot of time breaking down regular season baseball. I had John Smoltz on yesterday. but we are in sort of a holding pattern with all the NBA stars. And, you know, Kauai Leonard obviously established himself this year as the rare individual star

that could carry a team without a second star to a championship. And Rick Buecker was on earlier today on the Clippers now being a little worried about signing Kauai and an interesting nugget about why Kauai could be staying in Toronto. The Clippers have been quietly pretty confident all along. Yeah. And we're going to be able to get this done. And what I'm hearing is that they are now showing signs of concern that it's not going to go their way. Kauai signing the sponsorship deal with the Canadian private jet company,

that raised some alarms in Clipperville because that's the same company that basically gave Drake a private jet for free. Wow. And it doesn't make a whole lot of sense that you would be a sponsor. You know, would that work with Kauai's name Carrie in Canada still if he moves to L.A.? And if you're the private jet company, are you really wanting to, you know, sign him up and do a sponsorship deal with him if he's not going to be playing for the home team? I may be crazy on this, but that makes me believe the deal's done.

There are rumors and then there are signs. If Kauai Leonard is signing a deal or has signed a deal with a Canadian private jet company, then he's a raptor. I mean, aren't we all looking for these little signs? Weren't people talking about Kevin Durant buying a house? in New York. Okay, buying a house in New York for a rich person is much less of a sign

than a basketball player from California signing a private jet deal in Canada who currently plays in Canada. Maybe I'm nuts. He's staying in Toronto. That's not even a little sign.

That's not even a little sign. I mean, that would be like, Like if, let's say, I mean, there was rumors I was leaving and suddenly I just joined a super expensive golf club in Los Angeles. Wouldn't that be telling you I wouldn't be doing that if I was leaving California? I would tell you I would be staying here. Like if you're signing a massive deal with a private jet company in Canada, that's, sounds like Kauai Leonard saying you can fly me back and forth to my house

in California. It's what it sounds like to me. Or his endorsement is if you want to leave Toronto for L.A., use this plane. Remember years ago, Randy Moss played for the Patriots. And if I recall, there was a Monday night game. And he had a very successful

career. But I remember going on the air after the Monday night game. And it wasn't that Randy Moss didn't have a catch. it was that Randy Moss was only targeted one time in the game. And I came on the air the next morning. I was on the other place, the radio network. And I said, he's gone.

He's out. It's over. Well, I mean, the double coverage, I said, no, no. It's not that he had one or no catch. He wasn't targeted. He's the best receiver in football. They eliminated him from the playbook. They had never done that in any previous game.

That was a sign Moss and the Patriots were ending. And I went on the air that Tuesday morning and said it, got major blowback, and within the week, Randy Moss was gone. Like, that private jet story sounds like to me, Kauai's made a decision. He's staying for at least one year, at least one. I don't know why you'd sign that deal. I don't know why you'd sign it. you would sign that deal because they'll fly a back and forth for free private jet travel,

Toronto to, you know, Los Angeles. You know, I don't know what it is, but back and forth, it's probably 45,000 bucks, which doesn't seem like a lot for a rich guy, but Canada taxes are brutal to begin with. And you get free travel, the free penthouse that was offered, the free food in every restaurant. You know, Canadians are doing a really good job here on affording him, all the obstacles that would push him out of Canada. No house payment, no transportation payment,

no food payment. I mean, that's the way to do it. That's, I mean, that's what some college football programs do. They're just not allowed to. Can I just say it? Kauai's going to be a raptor. There's your sign. That doesn't seem like a little thing to me.

Am I overreacting on that? And that seem significant? I mean, if I gave, if you're dating a girl and you give her a rock, it's a sign you're committed to her and it will probably end in marriage. That would not be an egregious jump. That would not be a conclusion that would be hard to fathom. Right? And the bigger the rock, probably the more urgent the relationship is. If you cheap out, you just maybe stringing her along.

But if you drop like, you know, turnt money. Like if you drop 10 grand, 15 on a ring, Candace is saying more. 30,000, 40,000? Good, who does that? Really? Your crowd, not mine. I mean, the bigger the rock, the sooner the marriage, right?

Unless they feel that he is so beloved in Canada that they could endorse him even if he left. But that seems like a stretch. Yeah. I mean, they're nice people, but they're not doing backflips if he leaves. I don't know. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. I am wearing thank you to Lillian, the head of HR at IHeart. She let me borrow her glasses today.

I would not be able to read about them. Lillian is very, very thoughtful. Unlike Gottlieb, who just joined me, is mocking my glasses. Well, at some point, how are you old are you? 40? Sure. You're going to need these things, too. You know what?

I have, I actually have glasses, but I don't need them for reading. I need them for distance for driving. Okay. I can. At 44 years old, I was in a steakhouse, Fleming's. Yeah. And I looked down and there were ants all over the menu. And I was like, what happened?

And from that point forward, I couldn't read prescriptions or menus. So I can see for miles. Well, it's amazing about you. You've had that picture when you were in Vegas. Yeah. And you were like 22 years old. and you look 40 when you're 22 years old. Now, in your 70s, you look like you're in your 40s.

Like you haven't, you've done kind of the Benjamin Button thing. I don't know how to explain it. With the exception, obviously, of when you had that amazing hair and you came to Fox. Yeah. And it's a beautiful Auburny color. That was... I've told the story about that. I know.

You know who I'm doing a podcast with tonight? Who? Simmons and Rosillo. You are you? At 7 o'clock, it's called Sharkies. He called Sharkies. Where Sharkey's is. Yeah, he called me two months ago, and he said, would you do it?

If you get divorced, that's the spot you'll be hanging out at. Well, I hope that's not an issue. No. So I'm going to hang out with them tonight. That'll be fun. They're doing a live podcast? I don't know what they're doing. They just said show up, and of course, I'm a huge star, so I'll sell it out.

Okay. Okay. So you Uber there or you drive there? No, I'll Uber. Yeah. I don't drive anywhere. So let me throw this at you. Boston.

Yes. AD won't play. Kyrie, not interested. K.G. initially didn't want to go there. Horford Bales. LeBron's never shown interest. They have a great coach, great GM, great history, solid owner. They won a bunch of games. They have a nice roster. What is it? What shouldn't? I mean, if I told you, there's this baseball team, second most titles, GM coach. But tell me, tell me the team that is the free agent attractor. Like the LACA

Lakers are the Lakers. They had LeBron. They couldn't get a meeting with Paul George last year. Not a meeting. George didn't turn them down, you have to have a conversation in order to be turned down. You know, it's like, you know, it's like you text somebody. You know, do you want to hang out? And if that, the girl doesn't text you back, that's basically what Paul George. He put them on ice and didn't text back. You know, it's different once you text back and now you engage a little bit. So you're saying there is no real.

There's a, look, we have loud voices in the media that create. narratives, which are frankly untrue. Boston's not a free agent destination. Al Horford went there. He was in Atlanta. His college head coach, we won two national championships with, was in the Western Conference Finals with the Oklahoma City

Thunder. You remember. Billy Donald. And this was before Kevin Durant bailed. Yeah. Right? And they wanted him, and he went to Boston. And then the next year they got Gordon Hayward. Like, they got two of the... Gordon Hayward was the prize free agent of that class. Now, granted, they had

and in with Gordon Hayward because he had played for Brad Stevens. But the idea of it is that it's not a free, okay, so the Knicks haven't gotten a free agent in how long? Is it because of New York or because of the owner? The Lakers, the Clippers, like tell me who, where every free agent goes. That's fair. It takes a specific guy in order to go there. No, I think that's fair. Like KG didn't want to go there because it was a racist town.

Then he goes there and they win title and then he loves Boston and they love him. It's like in so long, it's not a racist town. Don't get me wrong. They're a racist, I'm sure, in Boston. But I'm guessing they're probably small pockets of racist in a lot of different places. And most people are not racist that go to basketball games because it would be really weird to cheer for your team that's made up of predominantly black players from the states or from outside of the states and, you know, and secretly not like them. I don't know. I don't even, I have a tough time with the racism thing because it's not something that creeps into my life.

So I don't really relate to it. Yeah, no, I think your point. though is fair that there isn't one destination. LeBron clearly wanted to go to Los Angeles, but Dwight Howard didn't. Well, Dwight Howard did. Didn't he want to come back? And then Mark Haldridge didn't give him a meeting and Paul George

didn't give him a meeting. That's fair. Yes. I do think... You said chase management. Some of these guys chase management. Some of these guys have a coach or a workout guy or a connection with a couple guys in the team. There are all sorts of different reasons. The biggest thing is this. It's really hard to leave.

It just is hard to get a guy to leave because they can pay you more years and more money. And at the end of the day, there's, and you and I have moved a lot. I've moved more than you. Moving's hard. It sucks. Yeah. Right? Everybody likes change.

Nobody likes transition. You know, you got a new cable company, new doctor, new, new dentist. It stinks. For you, you know, periadontist, for your uppers and your lowers, right? Yeah, right. You know, new hair salon, obviously, clearly that first one didn't work. So I think that's part of what people don't talk about. It's like, look, Kemba Walker, Kemba Walker's from Brooklyn.

And if the Lakers get him, that's a huge win for the Lakers. But you're fighting against the fact that Charlotte, whatever they offer him, can be more money and more years than anybody else. And he seems to like it there. Yeah, I mean, he's the guy, right? And so it's like, can you fault him for, hey, not only can you make more money for more years and be the guy, but you also have two months off when everybody else is fighting out in the play.

and they don't take back money if you don't make the playoffs when you got a guaranteed contract. Yeah. I think, what is your gut feeling on Kauai? I mean, you got this thing where he signed a deal with a jet company, right? That's what Buehker said this morning. That feels real. I mean, it feels like it's also kind of a money grab, right? But now that it's a jet company, does he have to stay in Canada in order to have the sponsorship?

But I would think if somebody owns a jet company, they're smart, and you would have a qualifier, which is, if you don't sign here, you don't get it. if you do, we'll fly to LA seven times a year for free. You and your family back. That's what it sounds like. They did that to Drake. That's the Kevin Brown deal. Remember when Kevin Brown signed with the Dodgers? And the Fox owned part of the Dodgers then, right?

Yeah. And he got a deal where he got to fly in the Fox jet. How did you not get that deal? I don't have that deal. That's bad negotiations. Get Nick Con on the phone. Let's get this thing going. I fly back of the bus Southwest.

That very much, very much not true. Okay, so my gut feel on Kauai? I have no idea. Neither do I. No one has any idea. I think he just doesn't talk. No. I don't think some people telegraph stuff.

Some people don't. By the way, you and I have moved a bunch of times. I've always come down in every single opportunity with a yellow pad, pros and cons. I've done that. I've just simplified it. And you look down at the list and you're like, okay, I'll go to Portland. Okay, I'll go to Fox. I mean, it's always come down to the same thing.

Pros cons. you know, Damon Stoddemeier came on my show and said, I look back now, I could have owned Canada and been popular in the USA. I probably should have stayed in Canada. Yeah, well, look, I mean, he also didn't have the success elsewhere that he had, you know, so, look, there is something, this is the, do you remember Tom Brennan who I worked with ESPN? He's a former Vermont head coach? Yes, yes. So I would always ask him, like, TB, why do you live in Vermont? Like, it's beautiful.

Burlington's amazing, amazing town. Beautiful. But, like, it's cold in the winter. Why are you living for money? I said, my boy, it's 50 states in the union. I own one of them. Never forget that. I own one of them.

And he's right. Like, he's the mayor there. He's the mayor, the governor, the whatever. He's the all time. He's got the signature on the court. Don't ever, you know, leave if you're the king of your domain. And I would guess if you're Kwai, you could probably talk yourself into, like, you know, look, I live in L.A. in the off season.

In the regular season, I'm either in the gym or wherever I live, you know, I'm on a plane. And so you can talk to yourself into signing a one plus one and then getting the Supermax deal in two years when you have 10 years of service in the league and making more money than you can ever make. And maybe, you know, look, his uncle has chased L.A. because of the idea that he's more marketable. Newsflash, it's hard to market a guy

that doesn't really have much of a personality, right? But you know what you can market? You can market success. And you can market being the guy who stayed. This is the Russell Westbrook, why he stayed, no Oklahoma City, et cetera. I know there's other reasons, but you can be super marketable if you're the guy and own a franchise, and oh, yeah, by the way, that franchise wins.

So his uncle may have turned up something without even trying to. DeAngelo Russell, Laker rumors. He's not a max player. He may get max money. I don't think he gets max money. Here's my question. That one's going to be really hard. What's your question?

Do you sprinkle the infield, which I would? I think it's hard to tell young players you're going to be the third scoring option. I think it's much easier to tell Kyle Kuzma that. I don't think it's a great fit. I know he's a good player. Wasn't he immature two years ago? Now he's mature? Yes.

Sudden maturity. Like, wow, that was, he went through, you know, he went through social puberty all of a sudden, and he's the best. I was told by a former member of their staff that they felt like he was the worst Laker they had had in 20 years. In terms of... In terms of the whole package.

The expectations were very high because of the number two pick. He was kind of given the keys to the kingdom. And now he was not a hard worker, a high volume shooter. He didn't play defense. He blamed other people when things would go wrong. But then he was a hangout guy. And it's one thing to go and hang out and, you know, and be at no boo late at night. You're allowed to do that.

But bringing other younger players with you is bringing the entire team down. And then you show up with bad energy at practice and not being kind of locked in. They really didn't like them. Now, most of that regime is gone. There's like one person in the building. that was there when he was drafted, with the exception of Jeannie Busson and some of that upper management.

But that's a really hard one for me to think legitimately happens. They felt like he was a losing player. I mean, there's even, look, the Nets have him, and they're looking at Kairi and Kempa. Yes. So there's a limitation to what everybody thinks he is. So I like Spencer Dinwiddie,

a lot more as a teammate, and he's a little bit more efficient and far less expensive, and I think the Nets do as well. So that one's a hard pill for me. to swallow that all of a sudden he goes to New Jersey, they sprinkle some some pixie dust on him, and he's a different human being. No, I, you know, I've said this for years and years. You kind of, who you are at 12 generally is who you are at 22, 32, 32, 42, 42, 42. A slight variation of it. Selfish kid is selfish adult.

Immature kids, immature adult. Now, obviously people grow, but habits are created very early from your family. Yes. I mean, you... But look, you can't figure it out. I mean, like, look, everybody figures stuff out. I mean, I did stupid stuff early on in my broadcasting career. I wish I had not done.

Yeah. So... I once stole a pizza in college. Domino's. With a buddy. You used to go in to the cafeteria and you give the lady, what, 20 bucks at the start of the week or at the end of the week? Yeah, something like that. And just go and grab food and then run back because it was during a break.

I didn't have time to go through the commerce. Right, right. So, I don't know if you know this. I did the same thing and they're like, hey, got to be you got to pay there. I was like, I did pay it. They gave the lady $25.

I actually gave the lady $25. What did they say? I was like, they were like, well, who'd you give it to? I was like, I did the cowherd deal. Like, what's the cowherd deal? They're like, well, he's calling cowherd, he can do that. There was really, that's what they said? Yes.

It's a true story. It's a cowherd deal. I feel like, oh, a lady in a lunch line, some money. That's a terrible. I did it because I was on the air. I did it because I was on the air too, or I was on your show. or on SportsCenter or on my show. I actually did a six-hour show when I started there.

Six hours! So, what do I think? I think Kyrie ends up probably in Brooklyn. I agree. I don't know about KD. That one's a... But, again, they're two weird guys. So maybe weird guys end up together.

Canba Boston? Maybe. That would be amazing. I mean, look, they're clearing out cap space. Whoever's been kind of the go-to guy at the point guard spot has gotten the keys to the kingdom there. Like, go back and look. And look at Isaiah Thomas's success before Kyrie's success.

No, no, Brad works. It's like Lincoln Riley makes all quarterbacks work. Yes. If I was a quarterback, I'd play for Lincoln Riley. Yes. If Lincoln Riley makes Jaylen Hertz a Heistman trophy winner, he is officially quarterback Jesus. He's quarterback Jesus.

Well, no, and I said this about Kyrie. It's like, listen, you bailed on LeBron. After you hit the shot, you bailed on LeBron and bailed on Brad Stevens. Something happened after you hit that shot, you're you because you well you know look I heard you I was driving in I heard you say how there's a story that he wasn't happy

living in Boston and there's a very good possibility in Boston's cold you're not from the northeast and you don't you know you don't get it that's fine but I would also point out like you go back and he wasn't happy in Cleveland and he wasn't happy when LeBron showed up and he's a diaper

yeah he's he's the he's the sticky wheel does get the grease but he's one of those not happy unless he's unhappy he's super super talent. Yes. But he got to figure out how to get along with other people and to bring more positive energy on a daily basis to work because he's kind of a downer. I told the story last week while you're off that made some headway that that he walked in one day to film and he was the first guy in there. I'm like he was professional. Do his workouts. There was nothing not professional

but he didn't come in with liquor on his breath or any of that stuff. But he came in and he said, he shook hands with Brad and Brad said, Good morning. How are you? And he's like, what's the word government mean to you. Brad looked at him and went into some like long non-answer answer. It's like, what's mean to you?

Guy reading. Control. But there wasn't like, good morning. How are you? What's new? What do you want to work on today? What are you thinking? How you feeling? How's your body? Your knee? You know? Hey, Brad, has your kids. Oh, what a great day. What a terrible day? How's traffic? It was, what does government mean? He's just

kind of heavy. And he was one of these guys that would sit in the back of film and, you know, he would just crush some of these young guys. Meanwhile, they're playing the Milwaukee, go back and watch on tape. They play the Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs. Yeah. And he would just on his own switch

and he's guarding Janice. That's what Terry Rozier was talking about. Terry Rozier was like, that was not, the game plan is to hide Kyrie Irving on defense, right? Not for him to guard the best player on the other team, the MVP of the league. And of course, you know, Janus should just go buy him and make a

play and it wasn't just that. It was this is the game plan. This is what we're doing. We're all bought into it. And then Kyrie does Kyrie thing because Kyrie's ego is, hey, I'm the best player. I'm going to shut him down. That's what all the great players do. It's like, you're kind of a non-defender. Just go hide over there and try and get steals. And when we get the ball, go through your legs 15 times to make a play. But he's a tough one. And I think he's as talented as any person that plays in the NBA. Best two-hand closer for his size in my lifetime. Finisher, you mean? Finisher, yeah, at the rim, left to right.

Yeah, Rod Strickland is his godfather, and those are the two. Like, they just, it's called, you know, it's called your finishing package now in the NBA, best finishing package in the NBA. Like he, floaters, when he goes through his workouts, his individual workouts, he never shoots a shot on balance ever. And then all of his, I asked Brad once about it, and Brad's like, have you ever seen his work? I was like, no, he's like, it's crazy.

He does all these crazy. He knows every inch of the backboard, and he practices shots off it. And Brad asked him, like, why do you do it that way? He's like, I know I can make it just catching and shooting. I know I can make every layup. But those are the shots I get in the game. So I want to have taken every different shot. And I just kind of let my body decide what I'm going to do.

He's an unbelievable talent. Yeah. The Gottlieb show follows mine. Good to see anybody. Good to see you. Those are some beautiful spectacles. Like to thank Hillary again in HR at I Heart Media. Oh, Lillian.

What did I say? Hillary. I said Hillary? Yes. And is Lillian? I'm sorry, that's terrible. A Lillian, that's what I said, after Hillary. Veteran newsman, French newsman, John Goulin.

No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So for the first time since Magic Johnson abruptly resigned from the Lakers, owner Genie Bus spoke to the media at the NBA Awards. How come your voice is low and the music so hot? There we go. Is that better?

That's better. You want to hear the... I got to run the damn board, too? Jones. Jesus, like a. Oh, I'm not doing enough over here for you? Oh, God. Here's Jeannie Bus.

I'm excited about our new coach, Frank Vogel. I think that he is somebody that has not only led his teams to play great defense. They consistently played defense, and I think that's very important. We have a lot of other changes that are going to happen, but I can't talk about him because of NBA rules. She also talked about having confidence in Rob Polinka, and she does not need the media to validate the things that they do. Does Jeannie have any reason to be faithful in

Polinka? This is what she's got. I don't think... She's kind of forced. I mean, there's no other option. I don't think a top GM in this league is interested in that gig. I think Sam Presti gets paid too much in Oklahoma City. Just because, you know, there's a lot of these

big brands like the Dallas Cowboys. If you're a top GM, you're not going to work for the Cowboys, even though it's a great brand. Because of Jerry Jones tends to be a meddler. So I don't think the Lakers right now is a great executive job. So according to Chris Sheridan, the Mavericks are expecting to get a meeting with Kawhi Leonard.

Now, they have kind of an interesting pitch. They have the rookie of the year with Luca Donchich. They potentially are going to have a healthy Chris Saps Porzingis, no state tax. They have a head coach that's very well respected and is one a title. Yes. However, as you pointed out earlier today, the Mavericks never sign anybody. It's always been bizarre to me. They have the best, like every year, you go, they kind of have everything a free agent would want.

Yes. And they rarely even get slips. And the one guy they did almost sign, changed his mind and went back to the Clippers. I've never understood this. I was told once by somebody I trust that Cuban casts a shadow over the organization because he's so dynamic. If I was an NBA free agent, Dallas would be top three. No state tax. Middle of the country mean shorter flights all winter.

decent winter weather, nice arena. Cuban treats people great. There's a four seasons or a Ritz Carlton next to the arena. You could buy a residence and walk in. It's a great NBA, and they've got excellent fan support. And I would argue Cubans quieted down a little. I feel like he doesn't make the news as much as he used to. I think he's figured out that he sometimes is an obstacle.

I think he's stepped back smartly. I mean, and not just with Kauai, obviously, I don't know that he's going there, but it seems like they just can never really get in on anybody. And finally, there are some new odds out regarding Kevin Durant where he's going to sign potentially next week. According to Caesars, the Nets are the new betting favorite to land Kevin Durant, just ahead of the Warriors, and there is a big gap to the third most likely team, which is the Knicks at plus 500.

I hope the NBA media gets one of these right. It's going to be really embarrassing. If Kauai stays, Kyrie and Katie go, to the Nets. Clay leaves. Jimmy Butler leaves Philly. I'm just hoping the media gets one. This goes to your I root for chaos theory.

Yeah, no, I do. I'm looking for tire fires. I think the more crazy stuff that happens, the better. I'd like to see Dallas actually do something. I think Lucas is spectacular. He's a 25-point-of-game guy for the next decade. Porzingis, if he can stay healthy, he's remarkable. I'd love to see Dallas do something.

God, the West is going to be loaded. Dallas is good this year. Pelicans are fast. fascinating. Utah got better. What if Houston, what if Houston signs Jimmy Butler? God, the West is they need Kauai to stay in Canada. East is just... It doesn't feel

Norfolk, Bailing, if he goes west, Butler goes west, Kauai goes west. Zion and John Morant already drafted West. Yikes. It's not even. Veteran newsman, John Gullai. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news.

My staff is going to put me on the spot. was some game they came up with. They love it. It's best for last around the corner. 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. Welcome back. I was playing with my family last night, a game called five-second rule. And in the game, you get a category, and you have five seconds to come up with three things that fit the category, like they'd say.

name three Super Bowl winning teams, you know, Patriots, giant, Steelers, and you have five seconds to name the three teams. And it was pretty fun. I was playing it with my wife and the kids, that sometimes just because of the time restraints, you always think about one or two things quickly, and then you end up lunging and coming up with an absurd third answer.

So based on me playing a board game last night at home called the five-second rule, the staff said, we're going to put a special herd spin on the game. So the staff will put me on the spot. We haven't rehearsed this. They'll give me categories and then see the three things that would pop into my head. So this is the game, by the way.

You can look it up called the five-second rule game. It's a lot of fun to play with your family. So here we go. All right. All right, Colin, three best NBA players of all time go. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James. That's pretty good. All right, three most overrated NBA players currently in the league.

Westbrook, Gordon Hayward, John Wall. It's pretty quick thinking about you. I'm impressed. All right, three greatest players ever to wear a Lakers uniform. Go. Wilt. Kareem Magic. Shouldn't LeBron be on there?

If he's top three all time, he has worn a Lakers uniform. Yeah, see, again, if I had nine. seconds, that would have answered that correctly. And I left Kobe out. It's not as much of a fun game. All right, ready? Three best quarterbacks currently playing in the NFL. Patrick Mahomes, Andrew Luck, Tom Brady. Big Ben, Russell Wilson, no? No, Russell's close. Big Ben is Aaron Rogers. Don't trust them in big spots. That's right. I left off Aaron Rogers. I probably should have

mentioned him. Okay, three great quarterbacks who have played for the Cleveland Browns. Go. Brian Seip, Otto Graham, Bernie Cozar. How about that? That's not easy to do. That's pretty good. I think that was meant to stump you. That was, I went, I went Otto Graham. He played in his socks.

I mean, they didn't even tackle back then. Three, I'm sorry, three famous people, dead or alive you'd like to have dinner with. Go. Elvis Presley. Tom Petty. dead or alive? Couldn't you just give me dead then alive? So it was, why don't you just say three people all time you'd like to have dinner with?

That threw me off. Because I started thinking of dead people. Literally throw you off. It's literally everyone in history. It's dead or alive. Well, why didn't you ask the question like that? Three people of all time. Ask you a writer.

I didn't write these. God, the whole dead thing. All I could think about was corpses. It threw me off totally. By the way, if you just tuned in, I played a game last night called The Five Second Rule with My Family, which gives you five seconds to name three things that fit a certain category. Like last night, one of them was three herbs. Basel, Dill, time, that kind of thing.

It's tough. That's a weird first three that come to mind for you. Okay, got a few more. Three best movies ever made. Silent to the Lambs, Goodfellas. Cabin boy. Okay. See, I got to a third and I just, I had to get funny because I couldn't come up with a third.

Platoon is also very good. That's true. Three funniest comics ever. Go. Oh, hell. Gary Shandley, Albert Brooks. Norm McDonald. You are a big norm guy.

That's true. Seinfeld? Again, you're giving me five seconds here. I feel like you need one second. I'm still stuck on. the dead guy thing. I don't, you didn't give me enough time on that. Shandling's my favorite. It's called the five second rule. If I gave you 12 seconds, that wouldn't

fit the rules, right? I don't, and Albert Brooks was funny. Stand-up's not what won. I just thought he was eclectic and funny. Shanling's my favorite. We just said comics. Didn't have to be stand-up necessarily. All right. All right, two more. Three cities that nobody could pay you enough money to live in. Go. Lubbock, El Paso.

Ocala, Florida. I don't. It's just, though, I've been to those cities and I wouldn't want to live there. Ocala, Florida, I had to spend an afternoon. God, if you live in Florida in the summer, you've got to be close to water. It's like horse country. It's so hot. And that's my, is that my last question?

No, I got one last one. All right. You ready? Three foods that make you want to throw up at the thought of eating them. Go. Almond butter. That's it, one? I had almond butter last night.

It was disgusting. You like almond milk. No, I like coconut water. I'm for new things. Coconut water can't do. Almond butter don't like. And I'm for new stuff. I have a kale shake every morning.

I don't get coconut water and I don't get almond butter. I drink, I jiffy. I can't, I don't understand almond butter. Like who, what was wrong with peanut butter? Unless you've got an allergy, what was wrong with it? Well, that's, yeah, that's why. So you create a, there's that many people with a peanut allergy? It doesn't taste as good.

When were peanuts unhealthy? Like I get people worrying about dairy and having lactose intolerance. Why did we create all the other peanut butter? There's not that many people allergic to peanuts. What'd you say 60 what? Oh, 60 seconds till the show's over. I thought that was another question. All right.

I can eat almost anything. I really can't. My wife's vegan. I'm not. Never will be. But I can, let me tell you something. The last two years since she's gone vegan. I've tried everything.

I don't drink coconut water, but I've never heard of anyone like the things that's disgusting. I just don't get it. I've tried. You know, again, I'm always looking for stuff that's new. I don't get it. And I don't get almond butter. Why screw it up? Peanut butter was great.

I'd never had a peanut butter and said, you know, I'd like it to taste like almonds. I never once said that in my entire life. All right. We'll be on TV tomorrow and radio and I heart. And I hope XM serious. hopefully not knocked off by the Women's World Cup. If so, say, Levy. All right, great job, everybody.

And Doug Gottlieb, thank you. Daryl, thank you. Rick Bueker, thank you. Arash Marcosi, L.A. Times. This has been the herd. 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. In every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source the athletes themselves.

Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice 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. Unhumored me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funny.

This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Cliver 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 walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, rep, my mama want you to wave at her.

What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm conky. his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers.

We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.