The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - Thoughts on the March Madness so far, the Lakers have turned it around

Episode Date: March 23, 2026

Colin is back from vacation and explained why NIL continues to change college basketball for the better after seeing so many veteran head coaches advancing to the Sweet 16. Luka Doncic has put himself right in the middle of the MVP race and we dove into what’s been the key to the Lakers 9-game win streak.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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 Fox Sports Radio. Chicago, it's the herd, wherever you may be. However you may be listening. Colin right, Colin wrong, one hour from now. Thanks for making us part of your day. J. Mack joining. I got to tell you, I saw a headline in the athletic this morning.

I just smiled and laughed. The headline in the athletic. Three seasons ago, college basketball had no juice, no household names, and now it's better than ever. And we have the NIL to thank. Here, here. It's what I've been preaching. College sports, it's different now. I think it's better. You may argue it's not, but what it really is, it's different. And I'm watching this tournament. There's like seven freshmen that are, it's college basketball now is such a global sport, because the NIL money, you can go by 20 kids, 30 kids from Europe because our economy is so much bigger than Europe.

So this sport, I mean, Rick Petino told us a month ago, there's no valor in complaining. Adapt or die. And there's three big winners in the NIL Transfer Portal era. Number one is the Big Ten. There's a lot of money at the Michigan's and Michigan States, and those are big schools with rich graduates. there are six of the final 16 teams, six of 16 are Big Ten. They've got three straight football national championships and six quarterbacks next year that may go in the first round.

Big Ten is rolling. The second big winner is the older coaches, Rick Barnes, Calvin Sampson, Petino, you know, Tom Isso, why? Because it used to be college basketball. You had to pound the pavement. you're going to six AAU tournaments over the course a day and a half. You're going to high school. Now it's administrative.

Now you write a check. So Patino and Izzo, you can be in your late 60s or 70s. A lot of great older coaches and elder statesmen. They're big winners here too. That's why Belichick would never have worked in college football 10 years ago. I'm not sure he's going to, but he has a chance to work now in college sports. and the third winner, the players. I never bought into the G League.

Name one NBA star that comes from the G League. College basketball's got better facilities, better exposure, you know, better coaching, better travel, better development. I mean, I'm watching Michigan. Their front line looks like an NBA front line. So I've been preaching this now for several months and years is that when we're ratings are through the roof, this is the most watched college basketball season in a decade, when the ratings are up and the revenue is up, my eyes don't lie, you can't tell me the sports broken. It is different now. You know, players are less loyal, not less passionate. They still

love the Spartans. They still love the Wolverines. They still love Alabama, Tennessee, but they're a little less loyal. And that's not a terrible thing. If coaches can skip town, so can players. Players are going to go where they have the best opportunities. And I, you know, everybody told me about the NIL. Well, the rich will get richer. I just watched Iowa. This one shocked me beat Florida last yesterday.

Iowa was middle of the pack in the Big Ten. They beat the defending champions. And I don't know if you remember, but the Indiana Hoosier, is a basketball school just won the football national championship. So I want to hear about the rich get richer. Indiana could have never won a national championship in football with the old way, paying kids through the churches, paying kids at the car lot, putting money in the globe compartment.

Indiana couldn't compete. They can now, they just want a natty. And I'm watching, you know, is Iowa a big money school? I mean, there's some rich farmers, but I'm watching Iowa last night. They're beating Florida. That was to me, forget High Point. High points well coached. They got good.

High points good. Iowa beat Florida? Wow. So, you know, you got to be careful with all the social media platforms, listening to the very loud fringes. The ratings, Fox's ratings for college basketball are up 38% this year. The quality of play is, this is going to be the best draft, the best NBA draft. I don't even, I don't even remember the one where you have 12 guys at the top that can all play immediately in the NBA. That kid from Arkansas, Darius A-Cuff, wow. It's like if Russell Westbrook was a great shooter too.

You get all this athleticism. He didn't want to play a lick of defense, but I'm telling the kid is so special offensively. So Rick Petino, is that guy a great coach? They beat Kansas. His team can't shoot. And they beat Kansas. He talked about this a couple of weeks ago about all the changes in college sports. I think I can adjust to just about anything because you have to adjust today.

You see it all the time. All the sports change. The coaches that don't want to change get out. And I wasn't ready to get out. Okay. Now let's shift to the NBA. So before I left on vacay, LeBron was a distraction.

Luca couldn't stop complaining to the refs. and Laker fans were ripping him. Lakers were a bad defensive team and they couldn't beat any good teams. They just beat up on the Sacramento's. I go on a week vacation. I come back that on a nine game heater, Lucas is the MVP. LeBron's now playing the best defense in probably half a decade for him and setting screens and J.J. Reddick may get votes for coach of the year. Laker fans have called Fox Sports and asked that I go back on vacation. I don't even know. what I'm watching. They're in a nine game here. First of all, LeBron listens to his critics. He always has. And I don't think it's a bad quality, but LeBron is playing screen setting,

moving off ball, intensity, leadership. I mean, we said LeBron's individually great. I'm not sure he's a third wheel on any team. LeBron's been sensational the last nine, ten games. he's kind of LeBron's moved in to his Harrison Ford role, which he's more supporting actor than leading man, but he's still good on the screen. Number two is Luca has stopped barking as much of officials and now is taunting and mocking fans and opposing players. I like that, Luca. The other thing is, JJ Reddick deserves a ton of credit.

He's an offensive guy. He can be a little snarky at times. I like that. in the media. I like the funny sound bites. I think JJ's done a very good job. I think his, and the NBA is a tightrope. When you deal with stars in the NBA, you got to pander a little. You got to kiss some butt. I mean, Steve Kerr, Steve Kerr is always supporting his players. And Steve Kerr is a very opinionated guy. There is a tight rope you have to play as an NBA head coach. NFL coaches have all the power. NBA coaches don't. The players do.

So JJ's messaging early in his career was a little harsh and a little critical, and it's not. His messaging, he has softened it. It's hard to get, because the Lakers are not a great defensive team, but they're playing very good defensive basketball. So to get superstars in the NBA, like a LeBron and a Luca, to collaboratively play about as well defensively as they can at this spot in their career is a real effort by JJ Redick. He softened his messaging. He's got everybody buying in.

They're all golfing on days off. They're buying in. It's collaboration. Now, again, it is a regular season NBA winning streak. You know how the NBA playoffs go. It's the only professional league in America that's officiated differently in the postseason. Okay, the whistles, you don't get them. Austin Reeves won't get to the free throw line and you play the same team six, seven times.

So they hunt you down if you're a week. defender and the Lakers have several of them. So it is a regular season win streak. But I got to tell you, J.J. Reddick, they're taking better shots. LeBron's moving off ball, diving for balls, playing real defense, DeAndre Aiton, who's always been a little up and down and inconsistent mercurial and moody. He's playing. He seems to be, you know, there's a connective tissue with D'Andre Aiton. Portland couldn't do it. Phoenix couldn't do it. And maybe it doesn't last forever. But all in all, I mean, what are they, I mean, you look around and you're like, it is, it is more of an offensive league today than seven years ago, like the NFL, they've moved

into offense, the rules favor the offense. And right now, they're the second, third, best offensive team in the league. This nine game winning streak, Luke could be MVP, Reddick could be coach of the year. LeBron's plan, I mean, for him to play defense like this, off, ball screening. I mean, he's doing it all. And here is a little snarkster, JJ Redick, recently. It's not just the fact that he responds to a rough play or trash talking. It's that he can, he can channel it, and he can channel it while still doing all the other things that needs to be done. He's playing as well as anybody in the NBA right now. And I, I think that's, you know, it's probably not being talked about enough, but I'm going to talk about it.

He's talking about Luca there. So, listen, if you want me to go back to the Caribbean, I will. I mean, you know, it is March, but college basketball, I sat and watched it all weekend. I thought it was fantastic. Now, you like Arizona, I think, to win it all. I had Michigan beating Florida. I was shocked, and it's not a knock on. I mean, Florida was kind of a flawed team in the back court, maybe a little bit,

but I tell you, that was a, the Big Ten is on fire. I mean, UCLA in the first half until the very end of the first half led Yukon. I thought, are they going to get 45% of the Sweet 16? But I got to tell you, I just thought, I think the tournament so far has been so much fun. Yeah, excellent tournament. Colin, though, that Lakers ran, I don't know that I'm mentally prepared for a world. Cup that starts in Los Angeles and the Lakers in the finals in June. I don't know how I'm going to handle this.

No, kids get out of school. It's going to be chaos out here in Los Angeles. Maybe you'll come back over here and hang out and keep that nice tan going. I don't think the Chicago sun's going to help you for the next four months. Well, it is basketball season. So 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. Hi, this is Jay.

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Colin right, Colin wrong, plenty of both. Top of hour number two. So talent alone in pro sports absolutely has a ceiling. So the Seattle Seahawks

let four starters go. Four starters from the Super Bowl team. team, let him go. And yet, they paid JSN, Jackson, Smith, and Jigba early, a year before they had to. And they just set a new NFL-wide receiver contract record. So why did they pay them early? And why did they let four guys go? Well, let's just concentrate on JSN. Because a lot of young players are productive, but teams don't sign them a year early. Why did they do it with JSN? No drama, no big ego. He is what every CEO is seeking.

He is what every GM is seeking. He gets along with teammates, quarterbacks, coaches, coordinators. He never steps in it. Okay? So many young athletes get terrible advice. JSN, huge talent, no drama. It's like Amaran St. Brown. you don't have to worry about him.

You don't have to babysit him. He's a grownup. Puka Nakua, by the way, is great. But he has stepped in it multiple times with the Rams. The Rams are going to take a wide receiver, I believe, early in this draft. Just in case he steps in it again. What you'll want to be, and I love Puka, and so do the Rams. Maybe he should stream less.

Okay, this is why Steph Curry is a multi-decade building foundational block. Ego and drama always punctures talent. So you want to be Steph Curry, J.S.N. Amaran St. Brown. I'll give Justin Jefferson credit. He hasn't had the best quarterback plan the last year. No complaints.

Shows up. Highly productive. Justin Jefferson's numbers should be 30% better than they are now. And uncomplained, he's never had his Joe Burrow. So this is a prime example of Seattle had to make big decisions. And where do they set the record with JSN? You think it's just talent? There's not just talent.

No babysitting him, no drama. He cares about the right stuff. He carries himself like a professional. Sorry, it matters. See, Larry Fitzgerald. He just lasted. That's what everybody's looking for. I can name 10 guys in this league, play wide receiver who have as much talent as JSN.

But he is the model of what every GM is looking for from a position wide receiver, and there's probably reasons why it tends to attract very dramatic personalities. I'm not exactly sure why, but it does. but he is just absolutely a foundational piece. Good for him. Earned every penny of it. I love to see guys get paid earlier than later. Where to go, John Snyder and the Seahawks and J.S.N.

JMAQ with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Con, let's start with the big upset yesterday in March Madness, Iowa, taking down mighty Florida in a major stunner. Unbelievable game. Great finish, Colin.

And Bennett Sturts, my guy, the point guard was the hero. Sped up the court, hit Alvaro Fulgaris in the corner who buries the three. And they hold on for the win. I looked up some stats on Fulgaris. He was in a major funk. He was three for his last 19 from Deep, Colin. He couldn't make anything. And then with the game on the line, buries it.

You know, I live for this March Madness stuff. Huge upset. Had it in a couple of my brackets. And I think Iowa was going to be live to take down Nebraska. Colin in their next meeting. You know those two teams hate each other. They play, obviously, in conference play. They split the season series.

How about this stat, Colin? Florida was the number two team in the country in offensive rebounding. Iowa, 10 offensive rebounds, Florida 9. You know offensive rebounds are all heart and hustle and effort and try hard. Just a great game. I guess your thoughts on Florida

and the first number one going down. Well, I had Florida playing Michigan in the national championship and the Wolverines winning it all. I still feel Michigan's going to win it. And I thought one of the teams that could match up with them is Florida. Florida had been playing very well. I think the big winner in that is Michigan.

I think Michigan, that's one of those teams that I didn't know. There's a couple of teams that match up pretty well with Michigan. Not great. I don't think anybody matches up with them really, really well. But Florida is one of the ones you thought could be competitive. And they're out of the way. So I'll tell you, the Vans. The Sandy Nebraska game was one for the ages.

We'll talk about that next hour. Yeah, that was. A lot of hate going around over the weekend. Oh, the tournament's boring. Look at all these 20, 30, 40-point games. I don't know. Did you find it like a snoozer of a weekend? I mean, obviously, there were a couple buzzer-beaters yesterday.

Yeah, I mean, listen, I'm really up front about this. I don't root for High Point. I root for the Caliparis. I root for the Michigan's. I root for the Dukes and the Danny Hurley's and my Zags went down. I like the big brands, the recognizable coaches, and I like the teams that have the most NBA bodies. So it's the same way in college football. It's like I like watching the big brands.

So this doesn't bother me at all. We've had just enough. Keep your eye in Illinois, by the way. Yep. I mean, all these Big Ten teams, they beat up on each other. I mean, Iowa was a middle of the pack Big Ten team. Yeah. I mean, honestly, it's like if you just told me before the tournament,

The biggest upset, Florida's going down, pick the team. Like Iowa, so when you say there's no upsets, there's not as many, but there's plenty. Yeah, and you mentioned this NBA draft at the outset. Colin, we're looking at like four of the top eight picks are probably going to be playing. Maybe five of the top nine are we're going to be playing Thursday and Friday. Like, that's what you want, right? I get it, high points of fun story, but you want the ballers and the superstars. So I'm totally on board with this.

All right, let's move on to the NBA. and Nicola Yokic not just a triple double yesterday. It's crazy. That was just 35th triple double of the season. And afterward, the big story wasn't necessarily beating up the Blazers, but it's what Yokic said on the team's YouTube channel about leadership. I think you're going to like this. Leader is like sometimes you need to be a bad guy,

and I think that's something that I cannot be. And I think when I start, when I get over that border or the next step is that they're going to be like sometimes you need to be a bad guy yeah i think that's my next step hmm you're well-versed in being the bad guy as a leader uh are you surprised that a guy like yokech is just admitting hey i can't do that that's i don't have that in my bad in basketball i'm not sure what's leadership like lebron's obviously been around forever he can provide wisdom and iq and EQ yeah um but not

everybody's I asked Jimmy Johnson that years ago. I'm like he said Troy Aikman was a great leader and I said what what is it? He goes I don't I can't necessarily define it. He was just a great leader. And I don't think you have to be a bad guy to be a leader. Sometimes you have to deliver bad news as a leader. You don't have to be a bad guy. I don't believe that. But sometimes you have to say stuff that is like to a friend. It's harsh. It's harsh. But I don't think that makes you a bad guy. Sometimes you just have bad news to deliver. And that's the problem like if you've got to deliver bad news, people perceive you as a bad guy. LeBron has this knock.

Oh, he's harsed him. Look at how he treated Mario Chalmers. Mario Chalmers is eating for life because LeBron had him a couple titles in Miami. You know, like sometimes you've got to be Kobe Bryant was a harsh leader. Michael Jordan punched out teammates. He's considered one of the great leaders in NBA history. Like I don't see why it's like a knock to be a harsh leader, you know? No, I don't think it is.

There's plenty of business books written on leadership. And, you know, it is taking stands. and you have to fight the Gail Headwins, Gail Force Headwins. That's just the reality of all leaders. Yeah. All right, Colin, final story is to the NFL. Obviously, you were on vacation last week working on that tan when a Max Crosby deal got flipped on its head.

He's headed back to the Raiders. Interestingly, a recent podcast, Aaron Donald was talking about the Crosby disaster. And I'm surprised by this. Take a listen. How we fell through it didn't fall through And now I'm back Back in your household again For me I'll feel uncomfortable

Now I don't know how I feel like What I want to be there What I want to stay there I'll be like I'll kind of be more Trying to figure something else To try to go elsewhere Somewhere else That's just for me

I don't know how Max feel But me personally I don't know if I'll be comfortable In that building It's a weird take I don't well I get both sides I listen I You know I

I always think about this like it's jet fuel. You know, like if you're an actor and, you know, you were not the first choice. They wanted to pick Denzel, but Denzel had another role and you're an actor and you're like the third choice for a role. Well, it's employment and it's a great opportunity. And when you're a pro athlete, you're a little like an actor. You've got kind of a shelf life of being in your peak.

And so to me, like if somebody wants me, I'm not even sure I care if an hour ago they didn't want me. Like I would bring in the chip on the shoulder like, I'll show you that your consideration to move me was a mistake. But I, you know, that falls differently for different personalities. So I could see Max Crosby stand to hell with it. I don't care. And I also get Aaron Donnell being like, no, you turned your back on me.

Like loyalty matters to a lot of pro athletes. You know, I mean, it does. I mean, being a pro athlete and a great one, is a big sacrifice and you want to feel like everybody's got your back. Unfortunately in life, even in your own family sometimes, not everybody has your back. So I get Aaron Donald's change. Well, the only problem that Donald didn't address was that Crosby's the one who asked for the trade.

Crosby's like, get me out of here, I want to contend, right? So then the Raiders obliged him, shipped him, and now he's back. I mean, it just felt weird. Crosby has Raiders stuff tattooed on his body. He is a Raider for life. Maybe, you know, not to sound all hokey, but maybe this was meant to be. He had to ask out. They had to say, no, it's not going to happen because they don't want you.

And now you come back and I don't know, maybe they win a Super Bowl with Max Cosby. Wouldn't that be a story? Yeah, it's not going to happen. Well, wait a minute, wait a minute. We've seen some quick turnarounds, Colin. I mean, the Patriots won four games. The next year we're in the Super Bowl. Well, the Patriots have better ownership than the Raiders.

And the Patriots had a, you know, we knew that Drake May was good, going into year two. We think Fernando Mendoza is going to be good. We know. Obviously not Super Bowls. New England winning games in January is never going to shock me the rest of my life. They have too good of stewardship and leadership in the building. Well, just regarding the Raiders last week, I was crunching the numbers.

I think the Raiders could probably win as many games as the Ravens next year, Colin. When you look at the rosters, the opponents, I'm bullish on the Raiders. Is that a crazy take of mine? No, because I think I don't understand the over-under on the Ravens. right now. It's way too high. It's the best underbet on the board to me. Totally agree. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Ly News. So St. John's Rick Petino is an unbelievable coach. What is this,

the fourth team he's gotten to the Sweet 16? The number one draft pick, in a loaded draft, is going to be Darren Peterson, we presume, from Kansas. And it's been a weird year. It's kind of a Ben Simmons vibe. Does he love the game? And, you know, I mean, I'm watching Cohen Carr for Michigan State. I'm watching Darius Aikoff for Arkansas. I'm watching Yaxel Lindenborg for Michigan. You can just see the passion. I mean, these are good players.

They care so deeply. The head coaches are intense. They're barking at each other. They're barking at officials. I mean, March is intense basketball. With Darren Peterson, I mean, super talented. And I guess you've got to take him number one. There's some durability issues.

Cooper Flagg has talked about this, Duke to the NBA. It's like they play a lot of basketball in the NBA. You got three times as many games. In the NBA, you've got the longer game clock. It's a much more physical sport. So if you have durability issues in college, I don't know if I think it's going to end up getting fixed in the NBA. He also, with Darren Peterson, you know, he kind of plays for him. himself. He doesn't, despite how often he has the ball in his hands, he doesn't average many assists

a game, under two assists a game. He is kind of six, five, a little bit of a tweener. I know he's talented, but I'm watching this draft, and I'm watching the kid at Arkansas, the kid at BYU. I mean, say what you want about the kid at BYU. That kid didn't leave a bucket on the, on the editing floor. I don't know what to make of him. People have said he doesn't get the lift that he did early in the season. I can see that. But I got to tell you, there's a 10-15% Ben Simmons vibe.

And I really worry about durability because, I mean, and I'm not saying he's Ben Simmons. I'm just saying, you know, does he love the game? Now, Bill Self is saying all the right stuff after. But when I watched Kansas this year, my takeaway was kids are a remarkable player. He may be kind of a loner. He doesn't necessarily elevate others in no assist. That was a big Kauai issue for years and years. Kauai would give you 39 minutes and one assists.

LeBron, like, plays eight minutes and gives you four. Like, it's just some players elevate others. Some players are sort of silo players. I mean, if you watch Kansas, when he's on the floor, he's got the ball. And then when he's not on the floor, it's a totally different offense. in a totally different feel. So it's a different thing. He's remarkably talented.

But this is not the draft to have durability issues and passion issues because there's so many great players. Here's Bill Self at Kansas saying all the right stuff on coaching, Peterson. He competed hard. I was really proud of his effort. You know, he's had moments where he's looked great and moments where obviously his health didn't allow him to play like we all know he's capable of playing, but I hope the year was enjoyable for him. I know I enjoyed being around him an awful lot.

Listen, his last, I looked at it this morning, his first nine games of the year, he was one play. I was told by a college coach, go watch the kid at Kansas. He had major lift. He was shooting like over 40% on threes, over 50% from the field. Last 15 games, he was kind of beat up. He didn't have the lift. He wasn't the same player. And again, I'm not saying he's dogging it. I just, if I was an NBA general manager, and I'm watching Darius A-Cuff, and I'm watching all, you know, the kid at BYU, you know, some of it's like maybe he's a bit of a loner,

doesn't necessarily elevate others. You know, again, he's probably going to go number one. He seems like a fine guy, but it was weird. It just doesn't quite feel right. But, I mean, Bill Self said he likes coaching him. The kid has talked and said, you know, I kind of keep to myself. That's fine. Not everybody's to say, Kevin Durant's got a different personality than LeBron James.

That's okay. But Jeff Goodman was on our show recently. He covers college basketball, obviously, and talked about, and this was weeks ago, about his midseason struggles. Load managing. He would have shut it down six weeks. ago. There's no reason he would have played. He was the clear number one pick. He wants to play. I think it's gone from physical, Colin, talking to people and kind of known the situation well

enough. I think it's gone from physical to now mental. Okay, that's not great. Not the end of the world, but not great. And I still think he goes number one, but this draft, I mean, there's six or freshman I'm watching in this tournament, man, you just know they're going to walk into the NBA. They may not be Cooper Flag, but they're going to be like midway through second year and you're looking at a guy posting 20 a game. There is unbelievable talent in this sport. And Darren, my staff just put this on the screen. This is the quote from earlier in the season. He said, I've kind of been antisocial loner my whole life. Not the end of the world. not the end of the way.

I don't know if that's something great leaders possess that loner DNA. But that may not mean anything. Probably still go number one. Coming up next. He doesn't have a filter and he may offend people, but this coach is not wrong.

Next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys?

I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And, well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast.

But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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. 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 Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in town. and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris.

Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchian went. I mean, she went down to three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck.

Consider this your court-side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. 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. The United Football League returns with a new season of pro football in the spring. UFL kickoff weekend starts Friday at 8 Eastern and continues Saturday at 4 on Fox. UCon. It was a very UConn-like win,

a very much a Dan Hurley win. They were more points in the paint, very physical. I love UCLA's guards, but they couldn't hit threes. They couldn't score in the second half. They really have good guard play. But after the game, their very outspoken head coach,

Mick Cronin, made news. And here it is. Big picture-wise, third consecutive season, not get into the second weekend of the tournament. I know different seasons, different reasons, but do you feel like anything needs to change with the approach, roster construction, or the way you're... Yeah, I have no... Right now, I'm worried about tonight, consoling the guys.

We'll stay here in the front row. I'd like about five more million. There's my answer. Jim Alexander from the Orange County Register. Watching Tyler on the bench... Not for me for players. Yeah, like, he's not wrong. He's a very good coach. He's not wrong. Now, UCLA is very liberal. They'd like their coaches to have a filter, be a little more PC. He's a Midwest guy off the patina staffs at Louisville. Like, he's just an outspoken guy. It's why it's such a great guest on our show. And he's not going to filter it. He's not wrong. So UCLA, I think I can speak to this. So UCLA is a weird contradiction. So it's located for the uninitiated here in Holmby Hills and Bel Air. It's the rich, one of the richest neighborhoods in the richest or second richest city in America.

I mean, the California economy is like fourth or fifth biggest in the world if it was a, if it was a country. So it's in this very rich place. Yet UCLA is essentially in the NIL world broke because it's more of an international university that competes now in the Big Ten, which lives for sports. And in most Big Ten or SEC universities, the university is the crown jewel of the neighborhood. UCLA and Bel Air feels like a zoning issue stealing prime real estate. The baseball stadiums off campus, the football stadiums 45 minutes away and not enough space.

And in the NIL world, they are broke. So in a prime example of this is a daimara. who was the Big Ten defensive player of the year for Michigan, he was a Bruin last year. And they couldn't keep him. And if UCLA had a DiMara on the floor last night, they could have likely won the game because they had great guard play. So a public school within their own conference, Michigan stole a guy that becomes their best, the Big Ten's best defensive player. So, you know, he's not wrong. USC is private.

Anybody can give money to USC? It's none of your business. UCLA is public. All the coaches' salaries get published. That's why UCLA can't keep football coaches. Chip Kelly said, I'd rather be an assistant at Ohio State than a head coach at UCLA. That is weird. It's one thing for Jeff Halfley to go from Boston College to the Green Bay Packers.

It's another to go from a head football coach in the Big Ten to a quarter. coordinator in the same conference. But that's the reality of UCLA. So Mick Cronin doesn't have a filter. He's being brutally honest. UCLA's got a thousand wealthy boosters. But at Michigan, they give to football and basketball. And at UCLA, maybe they give to art galleries. I don't know. Or start tech companies. But he's not wrong. And by the way, his best guard dent. they'll struggle to keep him. He's a tremendous player. They'll struggle to keep him.

So just because somebody says something that offends the media does not make it wrong, the media doesn't like Mick Cronin. And I always think this is why I defend Aaron Rogers. Aaron Rogers is very good content to me. I have a hard time. I can rip Aaron, but I don't like necessarily ripping him after he says something controversial because it provides content for me. Mick Cronin is great content.

You know what's not good content? cliches from coaches. So Cronin gives you great content, so I'm not going to rip him. Probably better served at UCLA, which can be touchy-feely. Better served to have a filter. They don't have any money. You think I'm crazy. I don't know what Iowa's NIL is for football.

It's way better than UCLA's. I thought this was interesting. So Kevin Durant, it's just crazy to think about that. I guess it's not because he's such a great player. He passed Michael Jordan for fifth on the all-time scoring list. And he's such a unique personality. So it's LeBron, Kareem, Carl, Kobe, Kevin Durant, and Michael. And he's just in a league where everybody kind of acts the same and talks the same.

He's a very unique personality. And I got to appreciate it. He has rabbit ears. I love his game. He may be the best catch and show. shoot guy in the history of the sport. He's kind of a different personality. But here he is.

I love this quote on passing MJ. It's definitely cool. I mean, it's hard to take in when you're still on the journey and you still care about getting better. Yeah, I mean, I don't ever want to downplay stuff like that.

But I got to get up and come to work tomorrow. He's such a he reminds me of Wilk Chamberlain. Yes, I'm old enough to remember that. That's why hair is gray. Is that they go to the beat of their own drummer. They're kind of like a man without a country. He's played for five different organizations,

and people will say, well, LeBron has two. But when LeBron goes somewhere, it always has a purpose. He went to Miami to win titles. He went back to Cleveland. He didn't want to be a villain. He went to L.A. for the business. He didn't go to L.A. for the team. They stunk before he got there.

And, you know, he's, I mean, this guy left a dynasty. to go play with a friend in Brooklyn, which is just nuts. But, you know, I mean, most of the great stars, like, are almost obsessed with winning. LeBron and Steph and Kobe and MJ and Duncan. It's, you know, this almost a competitive obsessiveness or sickness. And he's just a guy that finds happiness in a lot of different places. I mean, he got booed recently in OKC, which is kind of brutal. Like, I get it at sports.

It's kind of brutal because he was amazing. but I kind of feel like he's a man without a country. Like where has he been totally comfortable? He tells you, I don't want to be a leader. I'm a baller. I'm not a leader. I don't know like what uniform would he wear. He was never totally comfortable in Oklahoma City.

I'm not going to blame anybody, but he wasn't. He wasn't totally comfortable with the warriors. I'm not going to blame anybody what he wasn't. I love his game. He is a little, what's that line he's a riddle wrapped in an enigma

from JFK like he's just a bit of a riddle but I got to tell you this is a league where very rarely does a player step out and kind of say his own thing and do his own thing

for a great player to be like yeah I'm not a leader necessarily bro I just like I like balling I got to pay a respect to the man. Jay Mack, I don't know how you feel about him. I have said this. The great thing about KD. And this is an A-Cuff can do this, a kid from Arkansas, which is rare,

is that a lot of great scores have to get into a rhythm. You can give Kevin Durant the ball with two seconds on the shot clock, and he will get a great shot. I never forget Mark Few, the coach of Gonzag and I were having a beer one time, I think. I was in Spokane. We were talking to all the great players. team USA, either on the phone or I was up in Spokane, and I asked him about, like, what is it like with the 12 best basketball players in the world? And he's like, and I asked him about KD, and he's like,

because I, unstoppable, he literally gets a great shot in practice against the world's best basketball players on Team USA, a great shot anytime he wants it. That is, I mean, to be his size, those handles that length, that touch, 17 consecutive seasons averaging 25 plus. So I hope that he doesn't have the rings we want. I hope everybody understands. You are watching one of the great offensive player. And I mean, I'm going to the MJ class. You are watching one of the great offensive basketball players in the history of the planet in KD. Last week while you were working on that tan, KD lost to the Lakers twice. And it was so bad.

I don't know if you noticed. Yesterday, the Rockets, they just said, forget this KD point guard thing. We're putting Reed Shepard at point guard. So KD is now off the ball, which makes sense. So maybe they needed to lose that back-to-back to the Lakers so that KD's now not bringing it up. He had two violations in the back court over and back eight seconds. It was like, what are we doing, Katie?

Yeah, I mean, at his age, I don't want him bringing the ball up the floor. Like I did, go up, get your shot ready. All right, calling right, calling wrong. Rusard Hasselbeck today. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin.

And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions.

Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments.

If we didn't talk ever again, I was hungry. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming to you. He's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball.

So listen to Point Game on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The story I've told myself 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. 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.