The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd-HOUR 2-Carmelo Anthony, UConn

Episode Date: August 5, 2020

Carmelo Anthony is a better version of himself and UConn was right to cancel their football season.Guests: Tom Telesco, Michael Rapaport Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games.

This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. Fox Sports Radio. Oh, here we go. It's hour two. We are rolling along live in Los Angeles. This is The Hurd. Wherever. You may be, however, you may be listening. Fox Sports Radio, FS1. My good friend Nick Kahn, been my agent for years, got a new job.

Now the president with Vince McMahon of the C, WWE. This is kind of behind the rope, but Nick has guided my career for the last half decade. Best agent I've ever had, perhaps the best friend I've ever had in the business. And it's not goodbye. It's see you soon. He is now running the WWE, which of course is on Fox. So if he can get me Charlotte Flair on the show, we're all good. Congrats, Nick.

Nick has been very great for me in my career as well. It's wonderful news. Huge, huge news. Congratulations. Unbelievably, peerless in his talent perception. He's the absolute best. And work ethic. Congratulations to Nick Con.

We'll see you soon and get me Charlotte Flair. The Queen rules the Internet. So listen, a lot of you think I don't like Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo Anthony frustrated me. But last night, he hit big shots for Portland. And at 36 years old at the end of the road, he's finally shape and he has found a perfect spot to play in. You know, I always tell my wife, you got the good me. There was me in my 20s. That was my first wife. And I was so obsessed with my career and I was so

tunnel vision. And now I'm older. I'm beaten down as a broadcaster. I'm like, you get the good me. I'm more fun. I like vacations. I like to hang out. I, you know, I can not think about work all the time. Damien Lillard got the good Carmelo Anthony. He doesn't have options. He's He's not the player he once was. He knows he's not Dame. And this Carmelo I like. It's a little late, but I like it. And Damian Lillard talked about his performance.

He hit the big shot of the game last night. Here's Dame. He's a Hall of Famer. You know, I think it's more disappointing that people are surprised by it. You know what I mean? He's a Hall of Famer, like I said. He's a great teammate. And that's what we expect from him.

You know, we put him in those positions because we expect him to make those shots. We believe he's going to make those shots. shots and we brought him here because we knew he would make a difference for our team and he's been doing that first of all he is a hall of famer that's not even disputable it's called the basketball hall of fame and even if it wasn't he would make it but he's Syracuse national champion 10 time all-star top 20 all-time score three gold medals in the Olympics and he was very good in the Olympics of course he's a hall of famer um and again dame's getting the good mellow right we all mature we all grow, he's not getting the 23-year-old Mello.

Here's the interesting thing. When I think about NBA stars, and Mello's certainly a star, they always fall in two categories. Now, I'm not talking NBA players. Those fall in multiple categories, but stars. Dames a star. LeBron's a star. Ad's a star. Kauai, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony. They always fall into two categories. Winning stars and stat stars. And the difference is not talent. The difference is not talent. The winning stars are Kobe and LeBron and Steph Curry and Dwayne Wade and Magic Johnson and Bird. The stat stars are Tracy McGrady and Dominique Wilkins and Carmelo Anthony. I wrote a few down this morning. T-Mack, George Gervin, who I loved as a kid. It is not talent. Carmelo is more talented than Steph

Curry, bigger, stronger, more talented. Dominique Wilkins, to me, is more gifted physically than even De Wade. It is not about that. It is about self-awareness. And the winning stars have it at a very early age. Do I give them credit or their parents? Hell if I know. But this league is about kids coming in.

This is not college football when you come in at 24. You're coming at 19, 20, 21 years old. do you have at 19, 20, 21 years old, late as 22, do you understand how valuable coaching is? Do you understand how hard you have to work to be able to be good on the offensive and defensive end? Do you understand some nights, take fewer shots,

even though you can get the points to get teammates involved? Do you have the self-awareness to understand how valuable everybody is beyond yourself? Because to get to the NBA at 21, you were the best high school player, the best AAU player, the best college player. I mean, you are literally like a prodigy. I mean, think about this. In America every year, there's about eight basketball players.

How many times do you watch people play basketball, young people? Eight of them a year from America make the NBA. I mean, like play. You're a prodigy. You're like a music prodigy. Like the kid that goes to Harvard at 15 years old or MIT at 17, right? 15, 17. So, and that's my knock.

This is not a knock on Carmelo Dominique, but there were moments in time that Carmelro kept showing me. He just didn't have the self-awareness. I'll give you an example. When LeBron went from Cleveland to Miami, Miami back to Cleveland, he didn't demand trades because he manipulated the situation so he would join good players. When Carmelo left Denver, instead of just being a little more patient,

he demanded a trade and the Knicks had to give up all sorts of talent and all sorts of pick, all sorts of players, guaranteeing they weren't going to be a championship team. Self-awareness. LeBron had it. Mello didn't. How about the fact that LeBron, I mean, 13 years ago, watched the game and went, I'm going to start working on my three-point shot. Carmelo begrudgingly, never wanted to take an extra step and a half back. He didn't like it.

He wouldn't do it. He wouldn't embrace it like LeBron did. How about the fact that when he went to Oklahoma City? Off the bench. I'm a bench player. Well, actually, on that team, you were a bench player. It's not that Mello's lacked talent. I mean, he's a 10-time All-Star.

Three golds, Syracuse. But there have been multiple instances where Jeremy Lynn, remember when the Knicks for about a month caught fire? They were the talk of basketball with Jeremy Lynn. Mello came back instead of embracing Jeremy Lynn and the winning streak. He's like, no, I'm not going to play that off there. Dude, this is about winning games. time and time again,

mellow lacked the self-awareness. And this is the gap to me between the Kobe's, the Wades, and the George Gervins, and their nice guys, and the Niques and the Mellos. Now, they may have the self-awareness at 28 and at 34, and now in their 50s.

But when they were 22 and 23 and 21 and 20, and they were building that reputation, they turn people off. Remember, your prime in this league 22 to about 28, maybe 2930. Now, LeBron's like Brady exceptional. But that's the difference. He's a Hall of Famer.

Dame is now getting the good mellow, the more mature mellow, that not as talented mellow. We don't need you to score 20 mellow. You've got to occasionally play some defense mel. And this is a good mellow. I mean, he can fill it up. He's talented. I mean, they got no wing scores. They need mellow bad.

They got a great back court in Nurkage. So they have a humongous hole in their team. I mean, I talked to somebody up in Portland that covers them when they got mellow and they're like, no, this is going to work. Like, we just need a guy in the wing, the six, seven guy that can shoot jumpers. So it's that cell phone. Sports is incredibly cruel. In almost every business in the world, you become a millionaire. Your prime is 42 to 55.

You can make all those mistakes when you're 20 years old. Pro sports is different. You have to be smart. self-aware, focused. You don't get to have a social life like an average 22-year-old. Oh, you're carrying the franchise. Figure all the difficult stuff out. For guys like me, I didn't have to worry about that.

That was 40. Pro athletes have to figure it out at 19, 20, 20 years old, like Luca Donchitz. 20 years old, dude, you were the face of the Dallas Mavericks. Mark Cuban's number one business. You're the face. The hell, I wasn't ready for that at 20. Were you? Luca is.

And that was Mello's. thing. He's now, it just took longer for him to kind of get the big picture. Now he's perfect. But there was a lot of years in there where forcing a trade, not embracing Jeremy Lynn, kind of laughing at those who suggested you come off the bench, not really working on that 15 years ago, working on that three-point shot. That was clearly the future of the league. And that's why he'll make the Hall of Fame, but he won't be in that other category of stars, to me, the winning stars. I saw another story that I think is interesting.

Yukon became the first FBS football team to cancel the college football season. So Yukon said we're out. Now, the reason this happened is Yukon was kind of an independent. The way their schedule worked, they had multiple road games that got canceled because of other league schedules.

So Yukon really didn't have a, you know, they're just like, listen, we don't feel like losing $25, $30 million. Now, 20 minutes after that was announced, the Big Ten announced there, schedule. And let's be honest about this college football season. And let's be honest about COVID. It is really separating some have and have nots. In the MLS, two teams couldn't get it right, didn't even show up. In baseball, the Marlins are lost. The Dodgers, the twins,

the Yankees, the Cubs, they're not getting guys getting tests. The reality is some UFC fighters couldn't be disciplined enough. They got pulled off cards. College football has always been have-and-have-nots. There is a massive gap in money, in-state recruiting, passion, history, commitment, resources, and Yukon is a have-not. Notre Dame, Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Clemson, Oregon's. Those are halves. And those programs have the money and the resources.

I mean, the NBA is spending $75 million on all this COVID testing. Like, it's expensive. Yukon can't afford it. And probably 60 teams in college football. They probably just can't afford it. Plus, there's no fans. There's no revenue. So I think college football this year, I think it's going to work for the SEC.

I think the strong are going to get stronger. I've seen this in restaurants and I've seen this in airlines. Delta, I've flown them 12 times. They've been virtually flawless. Low-cost airlines? some are not going to make it. Most may not make it, and they're really struggling. So Yukon's news today is not the story of college football.

It's the story of a college football have not in an incredibly restrictive time, and it's going to test those schools that don't drive big revenue in football. Yukon doesn't, and they're probably doing the smart, right thing canceling their season. Coming up next, Michael. Rapaport in 30 minutes. Tom Telesco, the GM of the Chargers. Many believe it's a top three roster. Here we go. Camp is starting. He's got Justin Herbert, that young star quarterback, who's going to learn this year. We presume sit this year. Talk about the challenges of an NFL GM. That's coming up next. One more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app.

Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. in 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, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at It podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, learn the hard way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

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

And we're still chasing it. and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on Earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid?

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

Open your free. iHeartRadio app search learn the hard way and listen now today MLB on FS1 continues as Bryce Harper and the Phillies take on Aaron Judge and the Yankees it all starts at four Eastern one Pacific on FS1 and the Fox Sports app I'll be watching you know yesterday we had Chris Ballard on the GM of the Colts and they obviously acquired for one year Philip Rivers and it's interesting and he was talking about Philip and he said Philip is so intense and he loves the game so deeply and that that's Brady that's Russell Wilson When you get that, some of it's luck, that you literally find somebody who, as they age, they love the game more.

Philip Rivers once told me on their show, he goes, I like practice more than games. And I'm thinking that is a guy that loves football. And his former general manager is Tom Telesco, is the youngest Charger GM ever when he got hired. He is joining us. Eighth years, the Chargers GM via the Coward Global Satellite Network. And, you know, it's interesting. And I'm sure, Tom, you've thought about this before. I mean, Philip was the Chargers.

emotionally, his intensity, his love, his passion. Are you concerned that we didn't just lose a great guy? But good Lord, we lost an emotional part of our tapestry, and that's tough to fill, right? Yes, yeah, no, it's a big void. Someone of that stature that, what you just mentioned about the passion that goes into it and the leadership and everything that comes along with that,

everybody else feeds off that, and they see that's how your leader works. they fall in line. But what that gives us is we'll have other people work into that void. Now, is it going to be one person? Probably not. But we have a number of players here that I think will become those next leaders, have that same energy. And like you said, too, a lot of us on the practice field, in the meeting rooms.

If you have a passion for what you do and love what you do, this game's a grind, and you won't get better, you won't improve. So you have to have that part of that mindset to love what you do just to keep improving. and I think we have a number of players here that will kind of fill that void. You just signed Joey Bosa to a contract. Now, he's an unbelievable talent, as is his brother. So when you sign him before the season, I was just thinking to myself, you know, you lose Philip, and this is a really good signing.

This sends a message to the organization. Listen, man, we're all in on this stuff. Was that part of the signing that, you know, he is a leader, he is vocal, and that it sent a message to your locker room. We're keeping our stars here. This is a big guy. This is a big signing. Well, that's always been our philosophy is to draft players develop them and

re-sign our own. Now, can you do that 100% of the time? No, you can't. Not in a salary cap era. But certainly with Joey, he falls under that. And he'll continue to grow into that leadership role. But in this league and certainly in our division, you need edge rush and you need interior rush.

And obviously, Joey can help. help us there big time. It's a very important signing for us to have that done moving forward. But, you know, football is going to look different and feel different this year, but, you know, we're going to have a trophy at the end of the year, and we're competing for that with everybody else. So, you know, football operation is still moving on. We just have to adapt and change a little bit with it. But now that was very important for us to get that done for this football team and the organization. So Justin Herbert doesn't need to play because Tyrod Taylor, who we've said multiple times on the show, has always been a much more competent starter than he's been given credit for.

If you go to the last four or five years, he's been with rebuilding teams and won a lot of football games, Cleveland and Buffalo. So Herbert doesn't have to play. That's good news. Let's talk about rookies. Let's talk about no OTAs, no preseason. Let's talk about how difficult it is. Tom, how do you make up that ground with rookies?

Look, if you can't adapt or if you're resistant to change, the year 2020 may not be for you. So that's what we all have to do. I mean, it's just, it is what it is. You know, we're less focused on what we can't do and the challenges and just figuring out different ways to do things. So with young players, yes, there may be some less opportunities on the practice field, or not in the practice field, but just in preseason games. But for young players, they've gotten a lot of work in the classroom,

a lot of work on Zoom meetings. They should know the playbook well. And if you're unsure or don't know what to do on the field and you play slow, you won't play in this league very long. So they should know the playbook well on paper. Now, processing that in real time on the practice field, that does take time. That's what we've got the next five or six weeks to work on.

And we'll put them in a lot of competitive situations in practice. Anthony does a great job with that to try and get a feel for these players and evaluate them. But don't forget, too, we've got a 53-man roster and 16 practice sports this year. So that's 69 jobs. That's the most jobs on an NFL team that I've ever been around. So there may be less actual opportunities on a practice field to show coaches what you can do, but there's more jobs available.

So, you know, we've got to glean one or two things from these players, get a good feel for that, and hopefully the opportunity to maybe even get on a practice squad and then work your way up from there. You know, years ago, it was funny watching teams that had to face Peyton Manning for 10 years in their division or Brady for 10 years, 20 years in the AFC East. you could watch teams draft pass rushers because they knew they were going to have to face Peyton Manning and Tom Brady and possibly would be trailing in games. You're going to face Patrick Mahomes for a decade.

Is it going to, Tom, when you're sitting in these draft meetings with your scouts, is Mahombs so influential, it may change the way you draft your team? I mean, how could it not? I mean, you know, the first way into the playoffs is to win your division. So that's our number one goal. and as you build your football team, you have to look at your whole division on how you match up with those teams.

And you also have to look at how they match up with you. So it goes both ways. But certainly, yes, you know, as a fellow team builder, it was nice to see Canada City be able to get that done in this challenging environment. As a division foe, I don't have the same opinion, really, obviously. But, yeah, we know we're going to be facing him for a long time, and we've got to build, you know, a balance,

team, not just defense. We've got to build a balanced team to go against them in Oakland and Denver because the division is goal number one, when the division won and everything comes from there. Yeah. Listen, you're not going to hold Kansas City in the team, so you're going to be in some shootouts. And let's talk, Justin Herbert. I think he's really good. I mean, you've seen him. I have not. Our audience has not seen Justin Herbert. What do your eyes tell you? Well, our eyes so far, and we've only had a couple walkthroughs with these players. But, you know, He has the combination of the physical talent that we're looking for and then the makeup. And at the quarterback position, you really need to have both.

Now, there's a lot of work that needs to be done. You know, he's not the perfect quarterback. We don't expect them to be right now, and he'll grow at his own pace. And I think every team when he drafted, I think everyone has different philosophies how you want to develop that quarterback, but I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all when it comes to that. It depends on your team. It depends on your roster.

You know, it's with the Colts when both Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck were drafted. they played right away. And part of it was because they were the best quarterback on the roster at that time. When I was with the Carolina Panthers early in my career, when Bill Pullian drafted Kerry Collins, he had signed Frank Rick to come in and be the starter. And Frank started the first three or four games. And then Kerry came in from there.

So you have to be ready when that opportunity presents itself. I don't think you tell any player that, hey, look, this is a redshirt year, especially this year with what's going on, because you've got to be ready to moments notice. So we're going to let Justin grow at his own pace. I love our coaching staff, their teachers, their communicators. And I used to get a lot of good work, you know, this training camp, and we'll take it from there. By the way, this is maybe a weird question.

Do players wear masks during practice? I literally saw a practice video yesterday with receivers in Seattle wearing masks. What does a practice look like? Do you got masks? Do you have hand sanitizer everywhere? What does it look like? It's different. So right now we're in more of a walk-through pace.

So in a walk-through pace, a lot of our players are wearing masks. When we get the full speed running and maybe a little bit more difficult to do that, but right now, most are wearing masks in the walkthrough. We all have our contact tracers that we wear, which is helpful, especially for coaches and staff on the sidelines, because it does indicate to you where you may be too close to somebody for too long. Because right now our protocols are really good. They're very stringent.

Obviously, we have daily testing. That doesn't protect us from the virus, but it will protect us from the outbreak. But as far as hand washing, wearing masks, physical distancing, the contact tracers that we wear, that's all preventative. And I've been really proud of everybody, how they've taken us so seriously. I've been really pleased with everybody with the protocols are following. We've got 180 people here, you know, 80 players and coaches and staff that are all following these protocols. And they're doing a great job. Let me see that thing again on your wrist.

What is that, the tracing thing? Let me see a picture of that. Now, what is? Yeah, so. Okay. What is that? So all the players, coaches, all of us staff, we wear these. And it really has two functions.

One, if somebody does test positive, we can go back and look at the data and see who's been close to that person for how long and then probably pull that person out, isolate them, and retest them. So it helps that. And it really just helps because it will start blinking red if you're too close to somebody within six feet for too long. And that's really good for us because we're used to working close with each other, shoulder the shoulder many times.

And it's different for us to have to take a step back and give that distance. Like I said, and it's really important. I mean, this is all preventative measures. I mean, testing can only take you so far. So it really has not been an issue wearing these tracers. When they first brought it up, it sounded like it's going to be a little bit restrictive. It really hasn't been at all. And I think it's going to be a big help.

Yeah, Tom, Telesco, Chargers, young GM. Good talking to you, coach. We'll talk soon. Go to dinner. All right. Great talking to you. All right. All right.

He's one of the smartest guys of ever. met in that sport. He's GM at like 39, 40 years old with the Chargers. There's not going to be any fans at SoFi. So, I mean, the Chargers have had a weird kind of fan experience the last couple years anyway. They've been playing home road games. Right. So they're kind of equipped to deal

with an odd home field disadvantage. I am so impressed. Like, I can't say enough how impressed I am with all of these professional leagues and I'm blown away by that. The protocols they put in place and how everyone is just doing what they're supposed to do.

focusing on protecting everyone and making sure that the season happens. It's remarkable. Okay, the Marlon screwed up. We were going to have a perfect year? No, nothing is going to be perfect. Nothing in life is perfect. So that's impossible. Let's not trying to achieve the impossible.

Let's manage the situation. Like, everything that I've heard from the NFL has been so positive about these protocols and everyone buying into it. It's really impressive. Well, working from home, working on the road, binging your podcast, biraycon.com. 15% off by Raycon.com, wireless earbuds. The code is H-E-R-D.

Joey Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, the best or nothing. Warren Rogers wasn't the only Packer that was surprised at the decision to draft Jordan Love in the first round. Wide receiver, Devonte Adams, says everyone thought that Green Bay was going to go

in a different direction. Then bringing in a rookie quarterback. I mean, extremely solid quarterback and, you know, it may have shocked. You know, we were all expecting, there's no secret. We were all expecting to have a receiver drafted, but, you know, that wasn't the case. Also, they don't, they're not great at tight end right now. If they would have had a great, I mean, if you gave them Travis Kelsey, you probably wouldn't have to go get a, I mean, he's such a volume receipt. Right.

But they don't have a big tight end presence. And it's just Avanti Adams. So I think I didn't mind the Jordan Love pick. I was deeply bothered by no wide receiver pick with the next four. I did not love the Jordan Love's pick. Not that I don't think that Jordan Love is a good prospect. I do. I didn't like how he was drafted,

meaning that they moved up in the draft to get him. If he had fallen to them, it would have been a different situation, but that's not what happened. They were in the NFC championship game last year. There's no comparison to the FARV Rogers situation. They lost in the wildcard game the year before they drafted. Aaron Rogers. It's not the same thing. The NFC championship game is a great accomplishment. They had

a 13 and 3 season. To me, it's kind of significant that Devante Adams said that everyone thought that they were going to take a wide receiver. There's a little bits of messaging to the team there that like, no, we're taking, we're moving up to take Jordan Love.

While we still have Aaron Rogers who, despite the fact that, you know, the team obviously had holes, they weren't able to get past San Francisco. Aaron Rogers had that season last year, despite all that we're still going to move up and take Jordan Love. I understand the strategy from Matt LaFleur and the front office's perspective, but how does the rest of the team look at that? It's not great. Players matter.

It's kind of interesting. So the Suns have been a surprise team in Orlando, and that continued yesterday against the Clippers. Devin Booker had a terrific game, 35 points, four rebounds and eight assists, and he capped off an amazing night by hitting a buzzer-beating shot over Paul George and Kowahillow. kind of to give the Phoenix Suns a 117, 115 win, and a 3-0 star in the bubble. That could have been their biggest win in five years. I could be wrong on that. When's the last time they had a win that big? I mean, I can't even remember it.

Five, seven years? I just think that they're finally trending in the right direction, and that's exciting. Deming Booker is a star in the NBA. They have their dame. They've got their star guard. I don't want to go crazy because it's still the Sun's organization and we know how they do things. but I thought this was a nice night for for Devin Booker and the team

and a nice moment. Obviously they're the 3 and O in the bubble which is great. I don't think it's a significant win over the Clippers as far as the Clippers side of it for the Sons it is but we know what the clippers are and what they're going to do. But I think it's building blocks when you have young teams and young stars.

We know what Devin Booker is but this is a big moment and it was fun for the NBA like having these moments in this couple weeks, Spain, And finishing the end of the season going into the playoffs is great. So many last second games. Yes, it's been amazing games. Five to six last second shot games. Amazing games.

And then everything that's happening with Mello is awesome, too. He came up clutch for the Blazers last night. Zank a three-pointer to give his team a two possession lead with less than a minute to go against the Rockets, which was a really great game. And that put an explanation point on a strong performance, 15 total points and 11 rebounds. Portland also got a big game out of Damien Lillard, who nearly had a triple double with 21 points, nine rebounds. I'm sorry, eight assists in the 110. Most intense game I'd seen in the bubble was that one. That was the most single, most intense game I've seen in the bubble was that game last night.

Yes, because this one really kind of was a playoff game for Portland. So they're ninth in the West. They're one and a half games behind Memphis. CJ McCullum also had 20.7 rebounds and five assists. I really like both these teams. I feel like Houston is really the team that is sort of my sleeper to possibly make something happen. and if, you know, a few things go awry. Like, they are a championship team.

They're a factor in the bubble. I know everyone's very high on Portland and they're kind of afraid that the Lakers match up with Portland. I love the Blazers and everything that they're doing. They don't have anybody that can guard the wrong. Yeah, I just don't think that they have enough for, I mean, you know what AD is going to do,

what he's going to do in the fourth quarter or who knows, but I just don't think that they have anything for LeBron at the end of the day. I think it would be an amazing series. Yeah, because they're big. They're like the Lakers and the Blazers. have like multiple seven footers. And it would just be such an intense series. So I would love to see it.

But in the end, I would still take the Lakers in that spot. Joy Taylor with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. By the way, you should show the Western Conference as of now. Joy was talking about this. So they showed it last night.

Was the game on TNT last night? I forget. So they were showing the Western Conference right now. So Memphis is in the eight spot. Portland's in the nine. Memphis just lost one of their best players. So Portland's going to get their way back in if they can win. What's also interesting is the way the bubble works out, what is it, John, if you're within, when it's all done, the regular season part.

I think you're within four games. If you're within four games, Portland then gets a playoff series with Memphis. And Memphis would only have to win one game, Portland, two, and a three game series. It's very clever. So the nine team is going to get in to a playoff. off series, a mini-microseries with the eight team. So Portland's better than Memphis, I think, to begin with, they've had a lot of injuries. Nerkitz didn't play forever.

But now with Nerkich back, Mello playing well, Portland's better than Memphis. Portland's better than Dallas. What a fun mini-series that's going to be. Yeah. I think, honestly, I can make the argument. Clippers, Lakers, Nuggets, Roggots, Portland. Those are the five best team. But Portland's a deceptively great nine seed.

They're not really a nine seed. Mello's in playing well, Nerkich is back. Well, that's what all the buzz is about now. If they get into that spot and they match up with the Lakers, people are afraid. It's a real series. Lakers would have swept Memphis in four. This is going to be a six-game series, which is going to be taxing. You're going to, and, you know, LeBron, remember, Avery Bradley's out.

And how does that affect the Lakers as they go deeper into the playoffs? Remember, the one team you needed Avery Bradley against was Houston because of their guards and Portland because of theirs. Avery Bradley was huge. You can get away with it not having Avery against the clippers who are more forward dominant. Houston, Portland, Avery Bradley was going to guard a Hardin, going to guard a dame. So that's a huge now. People just like, oh, it's no big deal.

No, no, no, no. Avery Bradley and Rondo now, that's 35 minutes of defensive activity flushed out. It's gone. And it's just, this is also great because we're going to have exciting first round series of the NBA playoffs. First round. Yes. All right, Michael Rappaport's crazy. The producer, comedian, NBA thoughts next.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. 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, 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. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on The Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but yeah, yeah. But just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table.

right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field. and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing.

And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid?

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Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. I got to give Michael Rappaport, the actor-writer comedian credit. He looks better on his Skypey thing he's got here than he does in studio. Let's go to him right now. Michael Rappaport, Fox Sports One contributor, diehard basketball, and sports fan is joining us.

I mean, look at him. His hair looks glorious. It looks like Vidal Sassoon products. You look very, very good. So let's start with this, though. Wait, wait, wait, wait a second, man, because that's a backhand compliment. What?

So you're trying to tell me at home, I look better than the three-dimensional, in-life persona that we're used to. I mean, you're like, oh, I got to give them some credit. What do I look like I'm displaced when I show up over there? Yeah, you look like you just rolled out of this bed. Now you look like an actor.

This is crazy, man. I enjoy. This guy's taking pot shots out of me. I haven't seen you guys in months. You know, I think that's what Colin does. He's trying to give you a compliment. But he really misses having you in studio. He wants to make you feel more comfortable of being at home because he misses having the studio.

Next time I come to the studio, I'm showing up in my pajamas and flip-flops. All right. So let's start with this. And Nick Wright was on. He's freaking out about the clippers. And I'm like, they don't even care about the regular season. They got to get stars in a title to take this city over. Your thought about the clippers losing to the lowly sons.

Well, I don't think that they don't care. I agree with him about that. But I agree with you that they're not peaking right now. So I don't think it's that they don't care. But I think that the Lakers were seeing them. peak. You know, Anthony Davis and LeBron, of course, you know, they're coming. LeBron is coming hard. He's coming, you know, nothing could stop him. I'm not worried about anything stopping LeBron James. The Lakers are going to do that. But the clippers right now with the sweet sauce, Lou Williams

and the Montrez mystery, the mystery of Montres, and Kauai's just starting it, you know, get it going. they're going to start morphing in the next week and then throughout the first round. And I don't think it's that they don't care. I just think it's a different environment. They've been a little dismantled, you know, with Lou and Patrick Beverly. But Kauai's going to get his rhythm. And I think that the Lakers and the Lakers and the Laker fans, and, you know, Los Angeles is my second home, they need to get ready for a big, big Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron.

James Heartbreak. They're not winning the championship. Now, if you ask me today, who's going to knock them out? I would say the Los Angeles Clippers, if they make it that far. So what do we may not make it that far? I'm very critical sometimes of Westbrook. Last night, we got bad Westbrook. A couple of nights ago, we got great Westbrook. What do you make a small ball Houston? They're captivating team to watch. What do you make of them? I think that that back court is probably the most disliked back court by fans and opponents ever. Yeah. They're criticized.

They're scrutinized. Players do not like playing against them because they just keep coming after you. I mean, you and I have had the Russell Westbrook conversation for years. I think that him and Hardin, James and Russ, they sort of level each other out and they kind of you know, he calms Russell down a little bit, and he also toughens Harden up a little bit. Now, we know Hardin's had his disappearing acts in the playoffs, but they're playing very well. Also, I don't think they're peaking yet, but their defense is scrappy. Their defense is tough.

PJ Tucker and Covington, they bought into the system. You never thought that a Mike Dan Antony team would be mentioned with any sort of defense, but I think they have a nice team. and they're going to be a challenge, man. They're going to be a challenge. Whoever they wind up matching up against, you know you have to get that sleep in the bubble. You need to find a way to get a good night rest

playing against that team because they're going to come at you. They're not going to bow down. And I think that James Harden is really looking to prove himself to have a great run throughout the playoffs. Now, you're an actor, and actors only work about two months a year. So let's talk about another guy who works infrequently, Zion. I love him.

I think he's my favorite young player. I mean, honestly, I don't remember a young player out. I didn't even like LeBron this much when he came into the league. So as somebody yourself who works infrequently as an actor, you guys get paid a lot and work like three, four days a year. What do you make of Zion's restrictions? I understand the restrictions now. It's been the craziest rookie season that you could ever imagine for any of the rookie players.

Obviously, he came off with the injury. and then he started playing and then we had the stop and now he's back. I think that Zion, we need to see if Zion Williamson is going to commit to being the best version of himself.

You know, we see it in spurts. You know, it's surprising. Defenses don't know what to make of it because they haven't really dealt with it. They haven't played against him consistently enough. But we don't know if this guy will ever be able to stay in shape. God willing, he stays healthy, but he's got to commit to being a professional basketball player, the hype and the excitement, we know it's all there, but can he play defense?

Does he have enough energy in the tank to play defense? When you're blocking shots out of bound in college, you know, we saw his highlights. We've been watching this young kid for years when he was in high school, bullying people in high school, bullying everybody in college. But this is the NBA. There's going to be other bullies. So I, I, like him. I like his temperament, but we got to see if he's really ready to commit and can he play a full season or close to a full season. But I've got a lot of young talent. Brandon Ingram is, you know, definitely stepped it up. But is Zion Williamson, it's his game going to translate to when there's eight seconds on the clock. Who do we give the ball to? Can he power his way to the

hoop the way he does? You're certainly not going to get alley-oops. Three-to-one buzzer-beat or alley-oops. So we have to see what he's going to morph into. But he's, he's still a young prodigy and an exciting prodigy. It's a matter of commitment and good fortune with the health. Okay, one minute left. Does it drive you nuts as a New Yorker that Mello's playing great basketball now at 36 in the Pacific Northwest? Drive you nuts?

No, it doesn't drive me nuts. I'm happy for him. It's a great system. He's stepped up to the plate. He's taken the step back. And I didn't like the way it was looking that they were going to end his Hall of Fame career. I was happy for him when he got signed and he made a great. great shot the other day.

CJ trust him, Dame trust him, and he's having fun. Carmelo looks like he's genuinely having so much fun playing. He does. He does. That's a good point. He looks like he's a joyful Carmelo Anthony. And by the way, that matters. LeBron always said, I hate being a villain.

LeBron hated being a villain. He wanted to have a joyful career. By the way, look at your hair today. It is salon perfect. You've done a really nice job. I've got to tell you something. You're a professional. I didn't come here to play games with.

you, Colin. Okay? And I didn't come here to take you to get to belittled and then the shots thrown at me either. So I'm ready for whatever you need. Speaking of great hair, Joy, yours is fantastic. I know. Look at it. Ridiculous.

She changes it. She changes. I'm getting a haircut today. She changes her hair every single day. Like she'll be a Hollywood starlet from the 50s one day. And then you get a new haircut and you look like the coolest college co-ed. And now you're your Joy Taylor. Well, Colin, make sure.

sure you tip your Barbara extra today because that's a lot of work to do for you, man. Just, I mean, just the hedge through there. Tip them extra. I have a haircut today at my house. That's very excited. 100 bucks for coming to my house and a tip. That's not bad. No, no, unacceptable.

Sorry, unacceptable. Too low. You got to go better today. I want you to double that up for them today. Oh, come on. Okay. Michael Rappaport, actor, director, producer, podcaster, do-it-yourself home projects.

All start at lows. More time at home than ever before. Go to Lowe's.com. Hashtag Lose Goals. I'm creating my own bar cart. You do the same. Hour three. We'll go to Tampa 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 I-Heart 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing.

How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam J.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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