The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 3 - LeBron James

Episode Date: June 16, 2023

More on the Nuggets winning the NBA Championship The animosity for LeBron James   Guest: Will BlackmonSee 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.

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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.

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Or stream us live every day on the IHart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Simply Safe doesn't rest on its laurels, innovating new 2-1 smoke and CO detector. Right now, 20% off your new system. SimplySafe, Colin.com, no safe like Simply Safe. Will Blackman, 12 years, a Super Bowl, former Packer, Giant, Jaguar, Washington, friend of Aaron Rogers. Have you been in a text relationship with Aaron this offseason? That's classified.

Texting's classified? Yes. He seems happy. He seems excited, yeah. I mean, to go from Green Bay Nightlife to New York, he's at the Tony Award. He said Green Bay Night Live. We had a club back then called Club 5-6, and it was owned by Nick Barnett, a linebacker. Yeah, the former Oregon State guy.

Yeah. He owned a club in Green Bay. He owned a club in Green Bay. Like, what kind of club was it? Like an actual club. Because you get bottled service. Yes. You might get a cheese curd with it, but it's like... Wow. So, yeah, no, he said Tony Awards and NBA. In New York, like, when you were a giant, did you, like the first year, were you going out and having a good time?

You know what I noticed when I was a giant, like we had to be to the facility by, I don't know, like 630, 645. And when I was in Green Bay, we always showed up in like, you know, our sweats or issued gear. But guys came to work dressed up like they were going to go out. Like they were, I mean, dressed to the nines. And sure enough, after practice, guys will go to the city because they were going out. that was and i exactly i came from green bay went to new york so yeah i get it you totally get it um it is a it'll it'll be fun though it's a little younger team i i've theorized that aaron knows it didn't play well nationally when he was more into randall cobb and bactiari and the older guys and there was a sense that come on dude you got to connect with young guys so he goes to new york

and he's made it very clear he's hanging out he likes the young guys it feels like he's learning Like I said, when you get a divorce, what didn't work here? I want to correct what I did there. It does feel like he's embracing the youth and young teammates. Yeah, 100%. I think that's the glaring thing is like, hey, when he came over here, he's really trying to let it be known that despite whatever everyone heard in terms of his leadership, his commitment, like he's here, he's all in to make this thing work.

So that's really cool to see that from afar. Yeah. So DeAndre Hopkins, you're a star receiver. Titans have Vrable, tough kind of run game coach. Patriots have that defensive culture. Why do you think those two? Like I think he fits New England perfectly. For sure.

If you had to choose one, where would you go? Well, I would say why those two is because they were in Houston with him. So they witnessed his greatness when he was arguably the best receiver for like three years in Houston. But I look at New England. And of course, you have Bill O'Brien, his coordinator who understands, you know, what he likes to do. DeAndre understands the terminology. But it's still a question in terms of, you know, can Matt Jones get him to football? You worry about that?

I don't say I worry about it, but it's still, it's not like for sure, for sure. All right. You know what I'm saying? Just big picture. I think Mac is a capable quarterback, but it's just still big picture. And then you look at Tennessee, and then, right, you have, I think the defense is going to be much better this year. You have the run game for sure. And, you know, for Avao's there, but also there's even more of a glaring question in terms of quarterback there.

So it's a matter of what is he want in terms of that. And obviously, I don't know the money situation as well. Right. What he's looking for. When you, you know, it's funny about when you come into the league, I was talking about, I've flipped my, I've changed. my mind. So I did my NFL predictions pre-exhibition season and I flipped my mind

on the Ravens and the Steelers. I'm going to put the Steelers and Ravens out. Mostly because out of what? In the AFC I have seven playoff teams. I came down to the Ravens and Steelers. Initially picked Lamar and the Ravens. Now I've gone to the Steelers. And my reason was this. You take the Steelers

top eight players, seven of them never get hurt and T.J. Watts been hurt once. If you take the top seven players for the Ravens, outside of Mark Andrews, they all have an injury history. For sure. And it's like at some point in a longer NFL season with 17 games, I'm going to go with Pittsburgh's health.

That and they played their R-SOP at the end of last year, that and they have six quarterbacks who are sort of in the Jordan Love, CJ Stroud class, you don't know what you're getting. How long do you think, because they played well at the end of the year, when you had a young quarterback around, do you think the veterans look at Kenny as the guy? Like, how long did it take you to go? Oh, he can play.

Because you can tell with a receiver at the second practice. You can tell with a corner. But quarterback is leadership, resilience, guile. It's a lot of stuff, hard to quantify. How long is it for a roster full of dudes to go, that's the dude for the next 10 years? Yeah, I mean, it can take a week. It could take a few days. It could take one throw.

I'll go back to Boston College when we had a freshman, come in and he was on the scout team and Matt Ryan and he was dicing us up every practice and we haven't had that at Boston College. He was a freshman. He was a freshman, like lighting us up. And there was a game when he finally started to play. He was about 19 years old. There was a game where we were on national TV versus

NC State and they had the number one defense of the country. We had a delay a game because the call got in late. So Matt Ryan goes over to Coach Tom O'Brien. and Dana Bible, who were two guys that struck fear in all of our players. And he went and lit them up on the sideline because he didn't get the call in on time. And all of us were like, we never seen this. Like no one talks to our coaches like that. And he went off. Then he gets back in the huddle, gets the play, looks at me. He's like, get ready to score. And I'm a senior. I'm like, all right? So I run, get open, touchdown. And I felt that. So I think,

in terms of like his commitment, this is Kenny Pickett, his commitment, how he is in terms of just how he goes about his business. And you can just, it's a feeling. It's kind of like you just, as a child, when you, when you know someone is for you or not with you. So I think for him, it's just more of an energy of feeling. And then you really get to find out how he handles adversity. You know, that's, that's the biggest thing when it comes to a quarterback evaluation. Like, How is he when he is facing adversity? Yeah. Playing from behind, four to go, good defense.

Right. You're Matt Ryan's story. Right. So I look at the 49ers as the best roster in the league. And I also look, just in terms, I mean, Fred Warner is going to be a Hall of Famer. George Kittle, Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Debo, Samuels. Funga, who is arguably part of the best safety. I watched his tape.

Bosa. Bosa. These are Hall of Famers. Right. No team has eight potential Hall of Famers. Havunga's really good. He's really good. And then you have Brock Purdy.

And are you surprised that the seventh round pick in the draft came in with all those dudes from Iowa State and like, all right, it's my team. Isn't that kind of surprising? Like, I never once thought

he's nervous. Now, there are throws he can't make like other guys. I never once watched him and set nervous feet. He's out of his element. not, I've seen first round picks do that. Were you surprised at all? That locker room is full of rich Hall of Famers, dudes that have gone to Super Bowls.

Like dudes. I mean, the GM's a Hall of Famer, too. I know. I was, I did not expect him to come in and play well like that. At the same time, I am not surprised just based on, like you said, the players, the culture, and the coach that is around him that will put him in position to succeed. So, no, I wasn't, I didn't expect anything, but I wasn't surprised. Also, too, like, I felt like in the, I feel like in the Big 12, like, that's just a, you know,

a quarterback dicing everybody up type of. Well, they throw it 58 times again. That's what I'm saying, yeah. So you saw that a lot with him. Like, he's like, I'm just going to throw it, run around in circles, throw it, all the unorthodox throws that you're not supposed to do. Like, that's what he is comfortable doing. is comfortable doing and sure enough you know Kyle encourages it.

What did you make of the Stefan Diggs drama with the bills? What do you make? To me it's like when stuff, I always say if if you go to a party and a couple's fighting, they can't even restrain themselves publicly. It's way worse in the car. It's way worse driving home. Like they can't even stop arguing at a party publicly. If Stefan Diggs is going public with stuff, something's up, right?

Would you have gone to social media? No, I don't say anything on social media when it comes to personal stuff. But I don't know, there was that moment of playoffs where he raised his hand up to Josh. And I saw that. I was like, man, like, I wonder what that is. But, like, test the season for all-season drama. Like, this is, right now, this is where people are trying to figure things out. Everyone's getting emotional.

You know, I think it was it June 1st where you can cut somebody and they won't, you know, destroy. you cap-wise. You saw, you know, Davin Cutt get released, which... What did you make of that? That was mind-boggling. I think he's great. I think he's awesome. Yeah. I don't quite get it. Yeah. So, again, this is the season where a lot of things are going on.

So I just, I mean, he's there now, and usually what I learned is that when you have when you lose or you have tough losses, other things are magnified. You know, and so I think right now, guys are figured out,

but this is the time of year where teams have these tough conversations and figure it out before September rolls around. Does it get personal with money and stuff? Like how personal? It does get personal with money in terms of when a player knows his worth and his value. Because then it makes, then you look at the front office and you're like, hey, well, apparently you don't respect me or my value or what I'm worth. So it does become personal.

Was there anybody in the front office? You resented at some point in your, career. That I resented? You just, you just, they didn't treat you right or you don't have to love every coach. But I always think the money things, because your, your money's public. If I'm in a law firm, money's not public. Right. Your money's public. No, I want to say this in whatever. I don't resent anyone, but I did, you know, I didn't like when I got released from teams. Like, how do they do it? I would say this. Most teams, I would say every team pretty much called me and had a conversation When I got released from Green Bay, I met what, you know, the late Ted Thompson.

And I remember he, he couldn't get a word out. Like, he was really emotional about it. Because he drafted you. He drafted me, yeah. And so that was a tough one. I remember when I, the last time I got released, when I got released from Washington, remember they called me in the building. And I was like, I'm not coming to building.

They're like, why? I was like, because anything you guys could have told me now, you could have told me a month ago. Yeah. And I would have asked that got released then, and I could have went somewhere else. You knew you were getting, oh, I see. You know what I mean? Like, if you told me earlier, like, if you knew I was going to be, because they signed Sweringer, Suea was going to be a safe, and they signed David Bruton, too.

And so I'm like, I remember I called Bruce Allen, like, hey, you sign these guys? Like, what's up? Because I just moved to safety. And so at towards the end of the year, when I got released, I told him I was coming to building. I remember Bruce called me. And he's like, hey, you know, I still want to. to sit down and meet. So he's like, pick a place. We'll meet. So we end up having dinner,

Bruce Allen and I, and we just talked about it. And, you know, he was honest. I respect that he did that. Yeah. It was cool. Those are tough conversations. They are. But at this point, I already had so many tough conversations. I already been through so much where, you know, the one thing that I always say, if I could pat myself in the back is I try my best not to take it personal. Yeah, it's hard, though. And just knew it was business. Yeah. Like, when I got released from Seattle, I knew, I knew John Snyder didn't do it because he didn't like me as a person. Right.

He just, he made a business decision. So, yeah. Then I got released a lot now that I'm talking about it. Well, I mean, I'm not trying to bring up bad memories. It's just a reality. It is what it is. So now what do you, uh, what are you doing right now? Anything we should know about?

Nope. Nothing? Nothing. Nothing? Nothing. Nothing? Nothing. There's a lot of stuff on the street?

There's a lot going on. Nothing? No. Besides the wine business? Besides the wine business? Nothing. All right. Well, you know, there's opportunity if you have anything to promote.

I have nothing to promote. All right. Just making sure. Do you have any NFL questions you got for Will? Yeah, yeah. You know, we haven't talked about the Cowboys a lot lately, Coward. Oh, come on. I wonder what Will thinks about what's going on.

What do you make of their personnel? That's all my only question about them. What do you make it? Of their roster? Okay, let me ask you. C.D. Lamb twists an ankle. Who am I thrown to? Brandon Cooks.

What? 15? Huh? And a thousand like every team, right? Okay. All right. Yeah. I worry about them.

I always worry about, like I said this about Buffalo. Stefan Diggs twists an ankle. Who we thrown to? Jamar Chase got hurt. I got T. Higgins. I'm good. I got a good tied end. I always worry about that.

You got to give me a second guy. I just gave you, you're like going, I just gave you an answer. But Dalton Schultz has gone. Zeke is done. So to Calhurt's point. continuity matters in the league. For sure. No question. So they lose their O.C.

They lose the heartbeat of that team in Zeke Elliott. He is the guy behind the scenes, the party animal. Everybody looks up to him. They lose Dalton Schultz. That's three big pieces on that offense. That's a lot to replace in an offseason where you went to the playoffs. And you're looking kind of good. Played the Niners tough.

You don't think there's any questions. This is true. I mean, the only thing I would say adjustment-wise is, you know, just cut down the turnovers. That's the biggest thing because the past two years, the defense led to league and turnovers. I would say right now the energy, like in terms of what the defense is doing, like they keep doing that and just cut down the turnovers.

You know, they were 12 and 5, two years in a row, and again, led the league and turnovers. And that's going to be the big difference. If they can just protect the football better, you know, that's going to help them a ton. All right. What are you going now? A wine event? U.S. Open?

I was going to go to U.S. Open. And my son has a tournament, basketball tournament tonight. So I'm going to hang out there. Be a dad. Oh, good for you. That's the best job. Yeah, sure is. At least that's what they say.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. 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 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 which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball. 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 a little kill?

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 just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed cracks.

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.

J-Mac for the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. That coward, Father's Day weekend. I'm in a volleyball tournament. Well's at a basketball tournament. This is what we do as fathers.

I'll be with my wife going to ride the horses this weekend. Oh, yeah. You'll be riding horses and great wide open. Yeah. I'm a little Yellowstone. I'm like a Costner out there without the talent. I love riding horses. It's fun.

It is fun. I do it in Napa and sometimes in Paso. I've done it in Napa before. It's like a blast. It's gorgeous out there. Hold on. Riding horses or like the horses walking? No, no.

Get on the horse and you ride. The horse is galloping. There's a place up near Los Olivas, California, I rode. Have you ever ridden that? Not that one. I'm going to tell you something. That's the most beautiful area in America. Los Olivas.

It's about an hour north of... Santa Barbara, right? It's a Santa Barbara area. Above Dells? He thought Wisconsin Dells was a mall. You play you're in Wisconsin. You know Wisconsin Dells? Yeah, I never left Green Bay.

I know. Never? 126. He was up in the clubs. He's not a Dells. whatever that is. Anyways, all right, let's get to this stuff. Bears, you got a number one target for Justin Fields this offseason,

adding DJ Moore. Former Panthers wide out coming off seven touchdowns last year, career high. Yeah. So Fields and DJ Moore that Bears' offense could be overpowering. Here's what Fields had to say about his chemistry with DJ Moore. I mean, it did come quickly. I didn't really expect anything because it's different for each guy, but I feel like with DJ, it's, you know, his body language is pretty easy to read.

And really early on, we communicated on, you know, how we want, you know, each route's rain and stuff like that. And, of course, you know, he's a lot of experience. He's been in the league for, you know, a good period of time now. So, you know, he's played a lot of football, so he knows, you know, different coverage is really well. You know, he's been great, and, you know, the chemistry is definitely picked up. I'm more bullish on this team than you. You and I are a little divided on Packers Bears.

No, I've come to your side on Green Bay. I'm not a, I think Chicago's got too many questions and not enough answered. Huh. So you and I, so I'll be going to Vegas. What's there over under, seven? Six and a half, what's there over under? Too low, that's what. What is it?

I don't know off the top of my head. There are a seven-win team to me. That feels right. Green Bay and them both about seven wins. I mean, seven can become eight, but seven generally doesn't become nine. Solid draft, Fields year two with the O.C. DJ Moore's top huge upgrade. Chase Claypool.

No, they're tight ends. Robert Tanya and Colcombe. Tion. Tide end and wide receiver. They're one of the more improved teams in the league in terms of personnel. I feel like they got a good running back too. They're okay. In free agency. They're okay. O-lines not as bad as people think because they hit on the left tackle.

So their old lines not as awful as everybody contends. Okay. Next up, NBA, Victor Wembeyanama. He officially finished his tenure in the French League after getting swept by Monaco in the finals. Bit of a surprise there. Wemby, obviously coming to the NBA will be the number one pick.

Dude, he looked good in that finals. I saw some of the highlights online. I'm just telling you, man, this kid... 23 a game. I think that's reasonable. As a rookie. Like, that would probably be the highest scoring average for a rookie in a long, long, long time.

Maybe ever. Scoring's not going to be the issue. He's going to block a lot of shots and score a lot of points. The thing that worries me is the whole homegrin issue with the feet and, like, you know, you're shooting jumpers, somebody lands on your feet foot,

and it's like, yeah, he's, so thin. Body types like that don't generally last forever, although Kareem did. If you're the Spurs, does he play in the NBA Summer League? Nope. Not one game. I told you before, I'd play him 58 games. In the NBA? Yeah, I would pay, I would very rarely play him back to back. I'd play him a few back to backs at home, but I would play him, I would not pay him, I said the same with Chet Hongren.

When you go from international basketball or playing once a week, I'm not playing these guys three times a week because that body type. Now, it's different. Edwards, John Morant's different. Bencaro last year. I mean, that's a different body type. But you get me 7273 thin, not real stocky. I'm going to give you, I said what's at home. 58 games, a handful of back-to-back at home, never on the road.

58. The new rules, he will not be eligible. I don't think for rookie of the year if he plays 58 games. The new rules, you've got to play, I think it's somewhere in the 60s. John Morant will not be eligible due to his suspension. I don't think Victor Wambayama is worried a lot about rookie of the year. Come on. That stuff matters. To who?

And the players. Not Popovich. The European players are not into shoe deals and awards and all that stuff early. Maybe later, he doesn't give a rip about that. All right. Sticking with the NBA, Michael Jordan, finalizing the sale of the Charlotte Hornets, ending his 13-year run as a majority owner. We could call it a disaster, right?

I don't know if they won any playoff series. I know they didn't do well. Shuttle a bunch of coaches. missed on a lot of draft picks. Jordan is expected to keep a minority stake and will be a presence with the franchise, obviously, for easy reasons. He bought the team for 275 mil in 2010.

I haven't seen a final price, but I'm going to guess it's in the $3 billion neighborhood. He did well. He's a good business man. Of course he is. He's just a terrible GM owner. It's like making decisions. Yeah, I mean, it's hard.

He's not, you know, Michael likes to golf. Michael's a celebrity. likes to have a social life. Being a general manager and an owner is, this is hard. I've seen a lot of smart guys with. There have been a lot of mediocre owners and GMs. And it's hard.

The Kwame Brown pick. You know, he was all in on that. And it just didn't work. So one of the big, so the two names, the two guys that are taking over are Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnell. Now, I know a lot of,

that doesn't mean anything to anybody. But I did just open a link about a story. You remember the whole GameStop meme stuff that was going on with the stock market? Yeah, I do remember. Apparently, one of these owners is somehow connected. I haven't read this story, so I'm not going to go too deep. But I'm very excited to read this story because GameStop, you know, stock market. The way some of these owners think, you know, Tepper in the NFL, he comes in, you know, you look at his background and you can tell he's going to take some big swings.

That's what some of these finance guys do. And I just wonder. The Zion Williamson swing. Lamello and... That's what I'm working up toward. I would go for it. I think in that market, which is a college basketball market, a NASCAR market, NFL market, you can get lost in that part of the country really fast with NBA.

I would go for Zion. How about Sun's owner takes over three minutes later they trade for Kevin Durant? Like these new owners, they want to put their stamp on the team. Hey, I'm here. We're going to contend. We're going to make big swings. We're going to miss on some, or we're going to try. And I applaud that.

Lamello and Zion, I would do it. It would be a fun one. We said before. I don't know if they're good. Fun watch. Yeah. Put them on TV so often as possible. Yeah.

I think it's really... And then maybe Zion gets a side show, reality show, with all the ladies in his life that he's juggled. Oh, boy. Yeah, I went there for people. Go look it up. Well, maybe don't write. Not if you're at work, but look it up.

It's not safe for work. Definitely. Neither of them are. I'll just say that. Yes. Sorry. Apologies. Yeah.

Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, this is Tom Verducci from Fox Sports, MLB Network and Sports Illustrated. And I'm Joe Madden, and we're going to be around to talk a little bit about managerial decisions and what may have occurred in the dugout, maybe in the 1980s.

It's the Book of Joe podcast. I can't wait for this, Joe. We're going to dive into what goes on in the dugout and behind the scenes in Major League Baseball. Cars, whine, whatever else we want to talk about. Yeah, well, there are no boundaries, right? Listen to the Booker Joe podcast on the IHeart Radio app, on 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. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered, competition. 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 Clivert 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 a little Kim?

Well, you can find out on the Look Back at a podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick you here, unpack what? went down and tried 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, 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, so. Thank you 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Get visibility and control over your financials inventory. H.R and more NetSuite by Oracle. No payments for six months. NetSuite.com slash heard. So during the celebration of the Denver Nuggets, all these years in the NBA, still somebody poking the ribs of LeBron James. Here was a local host, Vic Lombardi. He came into this world as the son of... Yes. You know, whether it's fair or not, there's a perception that LeBron's a bit of a media hog,

remember retirement stuff during the playoffs, and that when the going gets tough, he just bails to a safer landing spot. That's a perception, fair or not. Nobody doubts his talent, his legacy. Nobody doubts that. He's great, and he's a good teammate. But there's been these moments.

The decision didn't bother me, but bothered the late commissioner David Stern and others. They burned jerseys in Cleveland. It bothered a lot of people. It didn't bother me, but a lot. The chosen one is a tattoo called the King. King James. There was this moment in Miami when he joined the heat. You three kings came down here to win championships.

Not one, championships. Not two. LeBron, tell us about that. Not two. Not three. Not four. Not five. Not six.

Not seven. And when I say that, I really believe it. Now, to some degree, he has delivered three different teams he's won a title with and been the best player. Pat Riley looked a little uncomfortable, him saying that. But there was no resentment ever. Michael Jordan. There was awe, there was reverence, and there was fear. LeBron has created some resentment, some political stuff, probably a bit of it, the king, the chosen one, the decision, not one, not two, not three. And I think that's precisely why the debate with LeBron and MJ is so intense,

is that people really liked Michael Jordan. They really liked him. It was a slow growth story. he was a kid that went to a popular college program Carolina you know six titles with one team got tackled early in his career stayed put fought through the pistons fought through the Celtics he went and and posterized the dunk contest LeBron's avoided it he stayed out of politics LeBron didn't avoid it that's something so Michael Jordan has sort of become in the NBA he was the hero by staying put and joining things like the dunk contest.

And LeBron's a bit of an anti-hero pushing back the minute people fall in love with him and going to a new team. Even today, the silhouette of Michael Jordan is the greatest, most well-known sports silhouette in the world. And with LeBron James, if he had a silhouette, I'm not sure what it would be. Maybe it would be the block. Maybe it would be luggage because he's been instituted so much mobility in the league. but it is interesting. When Michael Jordan left the NBA, the ratings, half of them vanished. LeBron's been a star, and the ratings have mostly sunk.

It doesn't mean LeBron's not a better player. It doesn't mean LeBron did it the wrong way. I have supported LeBron from day one. I think he's a great teammate. I think it's remarkable, given his childhood, that he's never in trouble, a brilliant businessman, very, very loyal to the guy. around him like Maverick Carter and Rich Paul. But Michael was more beloved.

Michael was more popular. Michael was less polarizing. With Michael, there was awe, fear, and reverence. With LeBron, fair or not, there is some resentment. And there we go to shut out the week. To finish, there's my exclamation point to end the week. I don't resent him. The decision didn't bother me a bit, but it was a clunker.

It's wild that the biggest knocks on LeBron are over a decade old. Where was he against the Dallas Mavericks in the final? The decision. I mean, it was like, what, 15 years ago? I know. The biggest knocks on LeBroner, ancient. We don't have the time here. But this narrative that Jordan leaves the league and ratings fall off a cliff, Colin,

like, that's just what has happened in television. Ratings for TV, primetime TV, have cratered since the 90s. That's just happened because of, streaming, video games, like all the distractions. Kids don't watch TV. It's a different era. Yeah, no, I'm not disputing any of that. But I, having worked as a media member during the MJ era, I put that microphone in front of him multiple times,

Michael was the best player, the coolest player, a handsome player, the most stylish player, the most clutch player, the best player. And Michael, and LeBron has been many of those, but I don't think he's been the coolest guy or the most fashionable guy. But I do think, and it's a reality of it, is mobility offends a lot of people. It's amazing how powerful loyalty is. We get bothered. I don't, but you and I have moved around the country. 40% of people in America never leave their area code.

And they look at mobility as a lack of loyalty, disloyalty. And that's how a lot of Americans view it. So LeBron, to a lot of people, is just, when the going gets rough, he bails. I look at it and think D. Wade was getting old. The calves, the calves couldn't get him a second great player. Kyrie went AWOL. Like, I totally get it. On that, we agree.

But you said what? When you stuck the microphone in front of Jordan, he was the coolest, the best, the blah, blah, blah. You know what that was? That was after Magic Johnson left the league due to HIV. After Larry Bird's back was broken, after Isaiah Thomas was largely washed. Michael couldn't do anything against those great teams. Nothing. He was irrelevant against them in the late 80s.

He could not beat them. They beat him down repeatedly. And Jordan excelled after those three superstars were kind of done in the league. And, oh, by the way, the expansion era in the 90s, yeah. I had four expansion teams diluted talent, no international players. I mean, again, I know he was the best during that era, but he was not the best when Magic and Bird and Isaiah were in their prime. He was not.

He needed Phil and Scotty Pippen. Everything broke his way and that's fine. Like, obviously he's a great player. But, well, listen, you could say he needs. never won in college once James Worthy left, and he never won in the NBA until he got Pippin. And those were both factually true. He didn't win every year in college. James Worthy left. You never won an international title in college. I mean, that's not a knock. That's just the facts. The fact says, you didn't win a playoff series. I don't think. Yeah. And then every six

in the finals. Yeah, I get it. He only made the final six times in his 15-year career. LeBron's made it more in his longer career. By percentage. And I know I'm looking like a LeBron guy. I just think he's a better all-time player than Michael Joel. Yes. I defend LeBron, but I do sense there's always been a little resentment toward LeBron, and it was more reverence toward Michael for whatever reason. Your TV points a very good one. Enjoy the horses this weekend. Well, just chewy.

You've got chewy and maple. So they're galloping. You're not just like walking around. No, we gallop. Wow. Yeah, we gallop. Like Kevin Costner and Yellowstone. 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 I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway 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 whoever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.