The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 1 - The debut of Victor Wembanyama

Episode Date: October 26, 2023

Colin reacts to the highly anticipated debut of Victor Wembanyama with the Spurs why it's clear he will be a star in the NBA He looks at the refreshed Celtics in their win over the Knicks and why this team looks like they're ready to win a championshipSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

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

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes.

Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of the world. of two. Listen to Stuff to Bole Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

You're listening to You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go. It is a Thursday. Live in Los Angeles, it's the hurt. Wherever you may be in, however, you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Now, one hour from now, whether you gamble on football, fantasy football, you just love football and want to get smarter.

Greg CoSell in one hour from now. Now, Seymack, he arrived last night. You were very excited for last night. Wemby. How good was he? Let's give him that nickname. Wemby? How about you and I call him Wemby?

Because it's a big long name. I was going to go with Inspector Gadget because his arms are so long. I mean, blocking Kyrie Irving on the very first play of the game while I was like, oh, who, who. No, it was nice indeed. So 15 points for Wembe, 6 for 9 shooting, 5 rebounds. and he was very good in the fourth quarter. And he only played 23 minutes, foul trouble, so he was totally out of rhythm. And I think more importantly than anything, here's the real story.

You can sense him. He has a presence. You could tell when Kobe was on the floor. Michael, LeBron, not just size-wise. Steph Curry, you sense he's on the floor. You watch the defense maneuvering toward him. You watch Steph orchestrating the offense. you can feel this kid on the court.

He has a presence. Now, he's 19, so he can't legally drink in the hotel bar. It's a different world than basketball. Duncan came in 21. David Robinson came into the NBA 24. And the difference between Wembe at 19 and Robinson at 24, for anybody that's got kids, it's a different human being. I mean, back when I was watching college basketball,

Patrick Ewing came in, four years in the Big East, the best basketball conference in the country, four years of people banging on Patrick Ewing at Georgetown, NBA guys everywhere, 23 years old. I wanted him to be a star day one with the Knicks. Wemby's a skinny 19-year-old kid, first game that officially counts on our soil, and I thought he had a presence. He absolutely looks apart. And for the record, what's interesting about this, generally if you draft a point guard with a number one pick or number two pick, there are not a lot of busts.

There are some, but not a lot. a lot of busts for Biggs. Hashimtha beat. You could tell three games in, five games in, eight games in, not going to work. Kwame Brown, three weeks in, it's not going to be a star. There's something about, there's a lot of bigs that bust, and there's a lot of reasons for it. They're bodies. Bodies probably aren't made to be 7, 273. You know, the psychology have been stared at when you're in eighth grade and you're 611. A lot of these guys come in and they're just their personalities are different, takes them a while to fit in. Also, because when you're so big and physical and dominant in junior high and high school, you don't need to have a refined game.

You can just score on everybody without work. So a lot of bigs in this league do not work, and they don't work really quickly. And if they do, they get banged up. Wemby, to me, he's got a presence the first time I saw him play. I thought like, oh, you can see him on the court. So perspective is important. He is 19 years old. The basketball world over the last 15 years has absolutely changed.

He did put on 18 pounds from the time he was drafted until last night. but I was impressed. He was also in and out of the game because of foul trouble, so hard to get any sort of rhythm. But in the fourth quarter, they got him some minutes. They got him some time, and I thought he was good. Also, what's working against him. This is like the youngest roster in the league.

So he doesn't have this star veteran presence to guide him. Duncan had Robinson. Kauai Leonard had Duncan. He doesn't have that. He's got Pop, who's a great coach. a legend, but he's in his 70s. So who's the guy to guide him? He's going to have to do some of this just on himself, his instincts, his intelligence.

I mean, he was a Spurs fan overseas. So the kid, this is the team he wanted to play for, right? This is the franchise he wanted to play for. But you can't expect a lot of 33-point nights. He's going to have limited minutes, as he should. Don't expect a lot of wins. Youngest roster in the league. So their best players got limited minutes.

it's the youngest roster in the league in the arguably better Western Conference just going to lower your expectations but I felt when I watched when he was on the floor there was a presence about him and I don't care how big or small I mean listen when Kyrie was in his peak with Cleveland you knew Kyrie was on the floor

you could watch the way the defense would shade toward Kyrie Irving when he played with LeBron the great ones you can turn the TV on and you know instantly, Luca's on the floor. And Luca was really on the floor late in the fourth to win the game. But here's pop after. I think it was great. One of the toughest things for a player is you get into foul trouble and you never get in a rhythm

and you're in and out of the game and that sort of thing. So I thought his maturity showed even at a young age where he came in with the last, I think, seven minutes and just played. We ran some stuff for him. He executed. It's going to be really fun. Cross your fingers. Kid stays healthy.

He's got guidance, but it's a coach. not a star player, but I like what I saw. Okay. So the first game, the early afternoon game, one of the best things about living in the West Coast, it really is an advantage is that at 4.30, I got NBA games. I can come home, I can take a nap, I can work out. It's 4.30. Boom, turn an NBA game on.

So I'm watching Celtics and the Knicks. And here's all I needed to see. Porzinga scored 30 points. Shut the TV off. I don't even need to watch the Celtics until May. Seriously. How many fourth best players on a team can drop against the good defensive team on the road can drop 30? Let's start with none. So the Porzingis acquisition was considered, yeah, but he's always hurt. Yeah, he wasn't last year an average 23 on 50% shooting. He had his best year. He's only 28.

There's no pressure to be the man. Yeah. When Porzingis landed, it's like, yeah, but yeah, but that's fine. but it's like Tatum Brown. Who else are we getting? Drew Holiday, that's exciting. Drew Holiday's not 7-2. Drew Holiday didn't have four blocks last night. We never called Drew Holiday the unicorn. That's what we called Porzingas.

He was the first guy we used that term for. So I'm guilty of this too. I liked him. I think he's a big slasher who's hurt a lot, but he does add an offensive energy and juice that Al Horford couldn't. Robert Williams certainly couldn't. He's a rim protector.

So he's kind of a throwing. guy. And it's like, let me give you a number that's pretty interesting. Two guys in the NBA last year averaged over 20 points, over one block, and shot 35% from three. Two guys in the league. One's KD. The other is Porzingis. If that's your throw-in guy, 30 points last night. And also, and this is a real thing, is that you got to have generally two stars to win in the NBA. Remember a couple years ago, though? Wiggins, he's not Steph, he's not Draymond, is he as good as Clay. It was Wiggins in the finals. Wiggins was a number one pick.

If you look at Denver last year, well, they got their one, Yokic is the star, Jamal Murray's the two. But Aaron Gordon was a number four pick by Orlando before they got him, and he took over halves. Right? You forget about Wiggins. Wiggins was a three for the Warriors. He was a number one pick.

Aaron Gordon is a three. You could argue after something, Porter's more talented. A four for Denver. He was a number four pick. Porzingis, we view as the four, he was a number four pick. So Boston, to me, feels a lot like Denver. They got their two guys.

You're Yo, Jokit, you'll, Jamar, Jamal Murray. You got your two guys that you know are going to be great. There's another guy, Michael Porter, who's really talented. And you sort of look at Gordon and you're like, guy's a defensive guy. Oh, no, he takes over halves. He guards the best player.

When Porzingis against the good defense can drop a 30, you got what, you, me, everybody got way more excited with the Drew Holiday pickup. I mean, Porzingis didn't even lead our show. Eh, he's that guy, I don't know if he's good for chemistry. He's hurt a lot. I can't trust that guy. I'm just telling you, you go back to the Wiggins, who was a three for the Warriors, how big he was.

Aaron Gordon, a three. Again, Porter was the Ballyhooed high school guy, college guy. Michael Porter is considered the three, but it's actually Gordon, who on some nights is the two. So I mean, if I am a Celtic fan after last night, 30 points, opener, efficient, four blocks, Jason Tatum took notice. KB is hungry and excited to be here and knows how important he is to this team and, you know, what we need him to bring each and every night. obviously with his size ability to shoot you know make plays off the dribble you know they go to double

me late make the right play find open man obviously he can shoot from wherever I mean he's really good he's really really good and we are lucky to have him when he's healthy seven two four blocks shoots threes who can guard him he's the guy we called unicorn before we call it guys unicorns. I mean, I'm just watching the Celtics and I'm like, this is the throwing guy. This is the guy nobody got excited about. Because I know what Tatum and Jalen Brown are going to give me. Drew Holiday last night.

It's already given Julius Randall problems. You know Drew Holiday is going to be always going to be an irinent to the other guy's first or second best player. You know all that stuff. That's the throwing guy. Denver Celtics. They're starting to look like each other. they kind of feel like each other.

You got your two, then you got your supposed three, Drew Holliday and Michael Porter, but your four can take over games. Celtics Nuggets, I'm not moving off that. Barring a big injury, I'm not moving off that. I've seen enough of the NBA. Well, let's check back May 12th. 30 points for Burzing gets four blocks. Like, wow.

They're good. Now. All right, Jay Mack. I'm getting a little hyper. Greg Kossel 50 minutes. I know I'm getting hyper on these first couple games, but you do see things. A little hyper. You see Wemby, and you're like, oh, he's got a presence. It's the year of big skinny guys.

Chet Holmgren, Porzengis, Wemby. Did Holmgren play last night? He did. He didn't do much, but they won. They rolled over Chicago. But they also have, he's not a one on that team. Like Wemby's going to be a one. They've got some dudes over there. Yeah, by the way, Sons Lakers tonight.

Sons are not happy that you're picking the nuggets coming out of the West. Phoenix, it's like, hey, coward, we got Bradley Beard. We got Bradley Beal. I know. Slow down. Can you see us at full strength? So this is, I sat next to a Laker fan last night. He was not happy with AD.

And I said, you just got to, I was so frustrated with AD for like four years in LA. I had him traded 12 times. And then I'm just like, you know what? Great defender. Half the time he's great offensively. LeBron likes him. Got a ring. He's got to pull it down on AD.

By the way, tonight would be a matchup problem without AD. Kevin Durant size. You got some size with now Phoenix. Thanks. So you just got to... We got Austin Reeves to defend, Katie. There you go. Yeah, sure we do. All right, good stuff. I have a great parlay for you this weekend.

Thanks to Draft King's Sportsbook. Let's have some fun. New users, please use the code heard. When you download the app, it takes about 90 seconds max to download it. Now my parlay picks of the week via Draft King Sportsbook. Jags minus two and a half at the Steelers. I like Pittsburgh, but they've been outgained in every game. Jaguars are a bit undervalued.

I think they win by about a field goal to four points. I'll take the Jags. Saints plus one and a half at the Colts. Derek Carr's been struggling. He's hearing about it. There's too much talent not to beat a backup. Colts come on of a very, very trying, difficult, physical game against Cleveland. I think they pull back.

I'll take the Saints plus one and a half. 49ers at home minus five and a half against the Bengals. I like Cincinnati, but they're winning and being outplayed. 49ers in a bad mood after two road losses, come home and lean on them. I'll take the Niners by about 10. Jags, Saints, Niners. You want to take the herd parlay. Check out Draft King's Sportsbook.

New users, the code is heard, H-E-R-D. When you download the app, have some fun. 21 plus in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Gambling problem. Call 1-800 gambler. In New York. Call 8778-8 Hope and Why or text Hope and Y for success.

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

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions,

my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes,

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

you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're now entering the No Bull Zone, sponsored by credible great rates.

None of the Bull. Greg CoSell, 40 minutes from now, 15 minutes NFL meat sandwich. A bet football, fantasy football, just want to get smarter with football. I love Greg CoSell for our radio or our TV audience. So, you know, I watched Philadelphia. my favorite bats of the weekend was going to beat Miami, and I had said that I didn't think Miami had the chin for it. And I just think Philadelphia in Philly night games. And I've also lauded Philadelphia because I think the Eagles are very unique. When the Warriors started doing that small ball shoot threes 10 years ago, whether it was going to win titles or not, you had to

appreciate the effort and the vision on it. Philadelphia is very unique. I didn't grow up in Philadelphia. I'm not an Eagles fan per se, but I can look at them and think they're the only team in the National Football League that moves off winning head coaches, Super Bowl winning head coaches that moves off Super Bowl winning quarterbacks. Everybody else in the NFL's paralyzed by fear, terrified. They overpay for quarterbacks. They reach on quarterbacks. Philadelphia is so confident in their operational excellence. They're always willing to move off even winning bets. that doesn't happen in this league. It just doesn't happen at all.

I mean, San Francisco with Shanahan and the Rams with Goff also moved off Super Bowl quarterbacks. But I mean, they didn't move up their coach if they lost a Super Bowl or won a Super Bowl. Philadelphia has done all of it. They move off anybody. And so Philadelphia is now 6 and 1. Jalen Hertz got a little feisty yesterday. He was talking to the media.

He said, listen, my injuries, this is the last time I'm going to speak on it. Jalen Hurt said, I never get hurt as a runner. I always get hurt in the pocket. There's no right. This narrative, he said, is an illusion. I don't get hurt running. Now, I do think the impressive thing about Philadelphia is that last year he was hurt and went toe to toe with Mahomes in the Super Bowl,

and I don't think he's healthy this year. And I don't know when he got hurt with either. I remember when Baker got hurt. Baker Mayfield tried to square up a safety. I remember that one. Sometimes you'll see Garoppolo one time got hurt by a ghost. Running up the sideline didn't get hit. by anybody. I don't know. Jalen Hertz has been banged up for it feels like a year and a half,

and he's still great. But I was thinking about this this morning. If you take the playoff teams right now in the NFL, AFC, NFC, each conference to me as one team, I have no concerns. Baltimore and the AFC, the quarterbacks, the receivers, the O line, the D line, the coach. I got no worries with Baltimore. Kansas City, very reliant on Travis Kelsey, Bolton their best linebackers now out for two months. Miami can't take a punch. Jaguars still feel like they're young. Steelers offensively, they've been outgained in every game. Cleveland, forget it. Buffalo regressing. Over in the other side, it's the Lions. You know, Jared Gough on the road out of the dome bad weather. 49ers. It's Brock Purdy. Falcons, who are we kidding? Seattle,

Gino Smith. Dallas shrinks in big games. Bucks, pretender. Only Baltimore and the Eagles, I'm like, yeah, everything works. Strong O-Line, D-line, star quarterback. And the J-Lan hurt's thing, and this is one of the reasons I really like him. And this matters a lot to me. He's always good at the podium. He gets better every year, not too high, not too low. I mean, just never ends up on the internet doing dumb stuff. Just a smart guy, never in trouble. And you know what? I think he's been hurt most of the last year and a half. I don't know how. I don't know when, but he doesn't look 100% right. And he keeps winning all the games. I just looked up this morning. He's 23 and 2 in his last 25 starts. And we have all this consternation about the Eagles. I'm like, they're good here.

Baltimore, they're good. I got no, I mean, they got everything. Even San Francisco, the quarterback. Detroit, golf and cold weather. Kansas City. It's all Travis Kelsey. Here was Mark Sanchez yesterday on having a plan to just keep Jalen Hertz healthy and upright. Right now, they're thinking long term. Okay, we got to, we got a, this is a marathon, not a sprint. We got to, we got to, to keep this guy healthy. He gives us a chance to win, which means if he's not going to run as much, then he's going to have to beat you from the pocket. And that is not his first or best attribute. So what are teams doing? They're trying to like mush rush, basically like mirror the ends and keep them in the pocket. This is going to change, change their formula to win every week. If they had their

druthers, they'd rather just run it the way they've run it before. But you can't necessarily do that. And I think part of the red zone struggles with Philadelphia. And to some degree, Baltimore, the two teams that I think have no holes, is, you know what? We're going to try to score in the red zone. We're not going to be completely Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hertz, dependent in the red zone. We're going to win these games regardless if we're perfect there or not. But I just have no concerns at all with Baltimore, none with Philadelphia as of today. I think they're winning despite Jalen Hertz, losing an OC, and not being healthy for most of the last year.

J-Mac with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So right after our show yesterday, big news broke that Brock Purdy had entered the concussion protocol, Colin. There was an overhead view in the fourth quarter, Purdy did a sneak. Let's be clear, it was not a bush push or tush push or whatever you want to call it. He just did the quarterback sneak.

a linebacker came over the top, drilled him in the helmet. And you look at the play chart, and it was like very quickly after that, he threw an interception. And then he threw another one later in the quarter. One report claims that Purdy was showing concussion symptoms on the plane ride home. That's from a San Francisco reporter. Yeah. And so this year, I looked at it. I didn't notice in the game.

No mention on the telecast. Here's a shot over the top. Like, that's a hit, man. Linebacker helmet right on the helmet. Not great. anyways I looked this up no player who entered the concussion protocol in the season this week this season has played that week so Sam Darnold plays right Darnold's gonna start because of Tua last year remember he was in and then they played him and then yeah so the league is being very safe which is good Sam Darnold in line to start against the Bengals okay so I want to ask you what happened to the line line went down so this is interesting the line was five and a half it's now three and a half there are some threes okay so that's telling you that Brock Purdy is good.

Didn't say great. Oh, yeah, yeah. He's two and a half point difference from Sam Darnold. I think it's going to be a little, probably end up three. I would not be surprised if this closes like two and a half. So that tells you, we don't think he's very good. But Vegas is telling you, Sam Darnold was a first round pick. And Pretty is at least a field goal value more at home.

This isn't Darnold on the road. It's good weather, West Coast, at home. Kyle Shanahan, great weapons. Purdy's a field goal more valuable than Darnold. So he's pretty good. So I don't know how you handle this one. Trent Williams, we don't know. We don't know yet.

Listen, if you're talking about backup quarterback, no Trent Williams. Debo Samuel already ruled out. It's not a good spot for Sam Darlin. And it's not like he's had like, oh, we got two weeks, a bye week to put in the playing game plan. Maybe on Tuesday they were like, hey, you know, Purdy's not in great shape. Sam, get ready to go this weekend. Like, that's not five days, down a couple guys. I think this is probably Bengals are passed, right?

I don't know. Can you take the Niners here? Well, at three and a half, it's Bengals. Yeah. At three and a half, I would take Cincinnati. Okay. It was five and a half with Purdy. So that, to me, I thought San Francisco was the play there.

But this is one of these that I would struggle to bet now because I don't know. I don't like going into games where I don't know. Like there's a game this weekend that I think I can't believe the number on it, and it's my favorite play. I'm not going to talk about it now. But the number doesn't make any sense to me. Like this number, there's too much unknown with Darnold. He could be great. I mean, if we said Monday, he ran for a touchdown, passed for two, pass already in 94, and was generally, got rid of the ball quickly to the weapons.

And you'd be like, and they beat Cincinnati by a touchdown. Nobody would be shocked by that. By a touchdown? I would be shocked by that. I'll just say the Cincinnati defense has been susceptible in the secondary, right? And the one thing they do, I just look this up. They're 27th by one metric defending tight ends. This is going to be a George Kittle game.

Mark Andrews Torstom touchdown earlier this year. Like, this should be a kiddle game, but do you trust Darnold throwing deep balls? Do you think Shanahan does? Like coming in, first start, and he's throwing deep trying to attack that secondary? Well, remember, they went and got Sam. Sam didn't fall to them. They sought Sam Darnold. So Kyle and John Lynch like Sam Darnold a lot.

They like his locker room. They like his athleticism. I mean, Sam's a big, strong kid. Yeah. If it's 27-20, San Francisco wins, and Darnal goes two touchdowns, no-picks, 94-passer rating, runs for 24 yards. I'm not shocked by that.

You think they'll get, I would be surprised if they get 27 on this Bengals defense off by Bengals. I don't know. This is a really tough game for the Niners. And then if they lose, Colin, all of a sudden, it's like, ooh, quarterback out, lost three in a row, kiss home field goodbye if you lose three in a row at this stage in the season.

All right. Next up, let's go to the NBA. Zion Williamson. I know you saw these highlights last night. Look at this big fellow. Boom! Flushing on Jaron Jackson. I mean, he just abused these guys. Tillman, you got no chance, young man. Zion had an awesome game.

23-7 and three assists. Two huge dunks. I mean, nobody could guard him. Look, there's Marcus Smart. No chance. Nobody could guard him his rookie year. No, no, that's the defensive player of the year, Jaron Jackson right there.

And he just took him off the bounce. First of all, there's virtually nobody. The league's gotten very European, it's gotten very skinny. So as the league's gotten younger with 19 and 20-year-olds, what happens? They're not physically developed. The league's gotten more European. Now, Yolk is an exception, but a lot of European bigs are skilled. They run the floor well.

It's a skinny jeans league. And so when you get Zion's body that's basically a bigger, stronger Ben Wallace with better handles, it's just there's not a lot of physical matchups against him. I mean, forget. Remember his first rookie year? He was breaking Wilts numbers. Yeah, he was basically putting up Shack in the paint efficiency numbers. Like, he's that unstoppable inside.

We just need him healthy, man. It stinks. This was his first game since January 2nd. Like, come on, do we need Zion in the league. Now, I'll say this. With Zion, Ingram, and C.J. McCollum, they have like a big three. Oh, yeah, yeah. And that's an efficient team.

They beat the Grizzlies. No John Moran. Obviously, no Stephen Adams. Grizzlies are hurting early. But I like Zion, man. I think he's, I mean, it was Zion and John Morant came out. And I think we all said, I remember saying, is Jaws going to star? And Zion will if he doesn't get hurt.

And he had, let's be fair with Zion, he has starred when he's not hurt. His numbers are, go back to his rookie year. I can remember reading stuff on the air. It was like, Wilt, Shack. There's just not a lot of bodies in the league that match up with him. Anthony Davis is one of the few guys that's sturdy, long, and could defend him. There's just not. And then he had the off-season stuff with the multiple ladies in his life.

It was ugly. But hopefully he rebounds and he stays healthy. Final story, James Hardin did not travel with the Sixers for this Bucks game tonight. Again, he showed up with his bags. Hey, guys, nice to see you again. I'm back. They were like, thank you, but we're going to have you hang behind. I don't know, man.

Now, the Clippers. Here's the next thing. According to Woge, the clippers are stepping back from the James Harden discussions. They may restart it, but they want to see what they have with their current roster, Colin. You know what that is? Hey, Daryl, don't try this crap. We're not giving up, man. Just stop asking.

By the way, paper clips last night. They throttled Portland. They were up 20 at the half. Come on. Come on. Let's be fair. We know Portland's going to be wildly entertaining this year, but they're built for about three years from now to 10 years. The clippers have like stars.

They're just never healthy. Portland's all about the horizon. Debuting Portland was two thumbs down. He was terrible. Scoot Henderson struggled a little bit. They're kids. You know, young kid.

But we got to monitor the paper clips. You know, I'm not a huge fan. And I know you don't like the Kauai Paul George load management stuff, which is excessive. I'm okay with sitting out some games. You took a lot of heat yesterday. We don't need to revisit that today. We can do that next week. But like, I mean, like, okay, so they won.

So what do we do? Is Kauai going to play on Friday? I don't know. No, I think that stuff is all, a lot of stuff in life and in sports is not a big deal, but it wears on people. And I think when you don't show up to work in any business, people start to resent you. And people go, well, I'm, I don't care if you're a pipe fitter. And it's like, I'm here every day busting my arse. Where's Bob?

I think you have to show up the work and put in the time because I think most Americans, work very hard. And I don't care if you're rich or you're poor. I don't care if you're the lawyer not showing up on time and you're just always 15 minutes late. You're the talk show host, the landscaper. People, it may not be a big deal in the moment, but it creates resentment in rooms. Lubricate, don't agitate. Show up to work, work hard, put in the time because everybody else is. So I think the whole load management thing, I always defend players on the back-to-backs. I defend players demanding a trade when they have a lousy owner. But man, it's sad. night. You're ready to play. It's show. Saturday night's the big NBA night my entire life.

Like Saturday night is when I would take, I'll take into an NBA game a couple times the year. It's Saturday night. We're in Salt Lake City. Lakers in town. That's Saturday night. You want to take a Tuesday off on a back-to-back, be my guest. But come on these TV games, Sunday afternoons, come on play. Well, after football, Sunday afternoon NBA. It says it's the best. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. Third Line News. So I'm reading an article this morning.

Man, some things are so predictable. Step aside, Herschel Walker. Deshawn Watson of Cleveland is the worst trade in NFL history. Now, that could be hyperbolic, but it is interesting. Cleveland did it to themselves. Aaron Rogers, nor Brett Farb, never got a guaranteed contract in Green Bay. Mahomes has never gotten one in Kansas City. Lamar didn't get one in Baltimore.

more. Brady never got one in New England. Either did Peyton Manning in Indianapolis. Desperate businesses do desperate things. We've all got that buddy. He goes in a date. It goes well. He wants to propose on date too. Slow down, cowboy. Take a deep breath. Don't overreact. Little impulsive. So it's funny in this division. I've said this before. The Steelers and the Ravens must look at the Cleveland Browns and just laugh at them. Privately. Just laugh at them. I mean, the Steelers take Kenny Pickett. Don't give up anything. He's. falls to them. Kenny Pickett is now won 11 of 18 games and appears to be gaining confidence by the Sunday. Lamar Jackson, they take him in the first round in Baltimore, sits for the first

10 weeks, I think. Then Joe Flacco struggles. They put him in. He's won 78% of his game since. In fact, he is 19 and 3 in his last 22 games. What's Cleveland done over the course of time? Reach on Mansell. Reach on Baker. and then trade three first rounders for a quarterback with legal issues that hadn't played in a year and a half. Shocking. $230 million guaranteed, a $64 million cap hit next year, and his current passer rating since he's been a brown. 79. Cleveland did this to themselves.

And I know you can't stand me, but I was right on Mansell, right on Baker, and I'm right on Watson. Poorly run businesses do it to themselves. And what's interesting about this, Deshawn Watson, do you remember this? He didn't want to be a Brown. He told you, don't sign me. He wanted to be a falcon. I remember going on this show. I think we almost said he's a falcon.

This is going to be a falcon. He didn't want to go. And then what a desperate businesses do? Blank check. Do things that historically generally fail. You can bang on the Broncos acquiring Russell Wilson, but you can move out of that contract. you're trapped in Cleveland. Cleveland, Hail Mary, blank check. He wanted to be a falcon. I mean, I looked up the headlines today. Cleveland Browns out of running to trade Deshawn Watson.

Deshawn Watson chooses Browns in a stunning reversal. They give up three first five years, two 30 guaranteed. Desperate business. Hail Mary. And so I've gotten, apparently I'm getting feedback on the inner web. Colin, you don't respect the Browns. No, I don't. I don't. I don't. when I, as a talk show host, can say, yeah, Mansell Baker's not going to work, Watts, and I'd be very careful. Like, I get in the AFC, I understand. You look at Mahomes. You look at Burrow. You look at Allen.

You look at Lamar. Like, I get Trevor Lawrence, Herbert. I get it. I get why you do that. But it's like, is it any coincidence it was Cleveland? And now we've got a tear. he's not playing. Maybe it's karma.

I just feel like if you had told me somebody guarantees three first round picks, and I had to guess, they would have been on one of the four teams that would have gone after him. And it may work. And I think he is talented. But he had legal issues, a year and a half. These are pro. And I, you know, with Deshaun, he was always talented. I never disputed that.

Wasn't one of my favorite quarterbacks. I didn't think he threw the prettiest ball, more of a playmaker. but this thing looks like an absolute mess. And I am always cautious about situations like where the story changes every week. Like I feel like every week I'm getting kind of a different story. Medically cleared to play won't play. Doesn't it feel like somebody's kind of hiding something, sort of kind of? The medical stuff changes every week.

That just doesn't happen to the Packers and the Steelers and the Ravens and the Niners and Kevin's Tafansky on Deshawn being out this week. I just feel like with what happened in the game, landing on a shoulder, there's residual swelling that's affecting his throwing. I think it's the best thing for him to rest this week and focus on the rehab. Okay. Another story next week. By the way, J. Mack loves the Seahawks.

I'm not sure I do, but it's, it's, um, well, Do you think they should consider putting them on the IR, Colin? Why not just keep them away? It's no distraction. Hey, four more weeks, get healthy for the stretch run. Why not just do that? A fully guaranteed contract. We're past that.

We can't look back. Only look forward. You know this. Come on. Arguments with the wife. Hey, you can't look at the past. Got to look forward. What can we do right?

You're right. Let's put him on IR, get him healthy. We need to Sean White. You're right. I'm being negative. You can't make a playoff run with PJ Walker. That's not happening. Like, I understand looking at the AFC and you,

Butchered Mansell, which who I would have never drafted. You reached Don Baker, who I would have never drafted. So the situation you put yourself in, I got looking at Deshaun and being attracted. I got that. I wouldn't have drafted Mansell. I wouldn't have drafted Baker one. Right. Like, so they put themselves in that.

I get after that you watch Mahomes, Burrell, Alan, Lamar, Herbert. Like, I get going, the hell we can't come. We can't. But the truth is, Pittsburgh waited, didn't reach Cincinnati, took a more guaranteed first round pick and Baltimore got their guy moved up late first round. Is it a coincidence? The other three teams in the division did it right with their quarterbacks? Do we know Kenny Pickett's the guy in Pittsburgh?

Well, he's won 11 of his 17 games. Like I say what you want about him. They're winning games with him. I mean, I know Watson's not playing well, but if I told you, hey, next 18 months, who do you have more confidence in that quarterback? Kenny Pickett or Deshaun Watson? I'll be honest with you. Can he pick it?

Really? Because I think he's great for the room. He feels like the Steelers. They're not paying him a penny. They can go get help if he needs it. I'd take Pickett over to Sean. Huh. Now, now, now,

Deshawn over Jordan loved this morning. I'd probably take. But I mean, you're saying like, Kenny Pickett, would you take him? I don't know. He's healthy, cheap, winning games, very good in the fourth quarter, available every Sunday.

Y'all take that. Okay. Am I nuts on that? I don't know if you're nuts, but... He's basically, you know, these rookie quarterbacks. You can go buy anybody. I just watched the trade deadline scenario this morning. The Steelers were in two of them.

They'll buy great players. Let's go to the sample size for Watson. Okay. Yes, he's been bad in Cleveland. Those numbers are staggering. He was awesome in Houston. Like, if you're awesome, like he was legitimately awesome for what, like four or five years in Houston? Can you not rebound?

Was Mary Tyler Moore on the air then? Was that mash? I mean, how long ago was that? It was not that long ago. Seriously. Do we have iPhones back then? I know it was a while ago, but come on. This isn't a Russell Wilson level bad, is it?

again, Russell's available every Sunday. I don't feel Russell's... You just can't get over the ickiness, and that's understandable. It's... I can't, yeah. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific

on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Two NBA insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA great buy. All happening in only one place. This League Uncut, the new NBA podcast with me, Chris Haines, and me, Mark Stein. Join us as we team up to expound on everything we're covering, hearing, and chasing. Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haines and Mark Stein.

On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashed. Leaching Human Potential. Either way, the podcast, Superhuman, documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions.

my journey from basketball to college football or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars. fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the

biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tomorrow on Fox, the fall classic begins. Corbyn Caron Carroll leads the D-Back. in their fight for the crown while Adolus Garcia and the Rangers look for their first title in franchise history. Coverage of Game One of the World Series begins tomorrow at 7 Eastern 4 Pacific on Fox. So I'm reading the latest about the scheme. That's what it's called.

The words being used by the lame stream media are scheme and scandal at Michigan. I want to read you this. Connor Stallions, the low-level staffer. suspected by Michigan was not the only person on staff aware of the scheme. An outside firm

gave the NCAA evidence of Michigan's sign-stealing scheme. It's funny how things sound different over time. Smoking pot, gay marriage, gambling on sports. Ten years ago,

stigma. I'm not sure that's appropriate. Now you look like a dork. I mean, you look like you're a hater, like you're a dinosaur. If you don't understand legalized gambling in America, Supreme Court rule in its favor. Cannabis sales are gay marriage. It's amazing, right? Think about this.

Three years ago, the most egregious thing you could do in college sports, just three years ago, actually two was by a high school player that was the most egregious thing blanked-blank school bought a high school senior you know what that's called today bennis it's called business it's not a stigma it's business it's funny isn't it so when i read stories about this connor stallions A low-level staffer was not the only person who bought tickets to several Big Ten games. Yeah, in the 90s, that would have taken road trips, sitting in line for hours for tickets. It would have felt sinister. Now, two words, seat geek, one click.

I've got all of them, five minutes. Camcorder setting it up, press box in the stands, 1994. That does sound sinister. Minister, iPhone at the game, taping a coach as the crowd moves. A lot of things just sound outrageous. Even three years ago, buying a high school football player. That was the worst crime you could do. Death penalty.

Close the school, disband the program. It's business today. Almost everybody's doing it. seat geek iPhone. You've never said those words and thought it was sinister because they're not. Folks, Joel Clatt talked about this outrageous scandal and scheme yesterday. Why are we in this gray area where everyone's saying like, no, this is actually rampant, but no, they kind of went over the line. So like, well, why are we in this?

Well, we don't have audio in the helmet of the players in college football like we do in the NFL. Yeah. Well, why is that? Do you know why, really why we don't have audio in the helmet of the players? Why, why? Coaches. They all say to each other, oh yeah, sign stealing is a problem. We need to do something about it. Then they go to their AD and they're like, no, no, no, no, no. We sign steal. So don't change the rules. What's the fundamental reason why we're in this scenario in college football is because we don't have an overarching governing body. We don't have a leader. If you think something sounds dumb, outdated, and has never really been enforced,

you can't pivot very quickly to outraged. Can't. Not interested in your outrage. The internet's full of it. I'm rarely outraged. About once a year, we have something that is sickening, disgusting. It can be international.

It can be domestic. This doesn't land like that. Even our courts punish crimes differently, unequally. The NCAA, this is a dumb rule that is outdated, why they initiated it was just because poor programs complained that rich programs had advantages, like Michigan didn't have an advantage over Iowa forever, Ohio State over Purdue forever. But going as a low-level staffer to get tickets, going to get tickets to multiple big 10 games. Seek geek, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, done three minutes.

That's what it takes. Nobody's going across town in a white van, jumping out, standing. standing in line, mask on, dark glasses, who are you? Boop, boop, boop, boop, got them all. iPhone, it's not a camcorder. 1994. Camcorder. That's what they didn't want, like video equipment.

Didn't know the iPhone was going to be around. So again, I'm sure, I'm sure something will be handed down. This is advanced scouting. I'm not denying that. But if you want me to be outraged on it, I'm not. And you can't talk me into it. You can't. Greg CoSell, hour two next.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. guests. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.