The Herd with Colin Cowherd - What's Wright - Best Of - Tyreek Hill RETURN to Chiefs? Cam Newton x Jalen hurts BEEF, WNBA All-Star PROTEST

Episode Date: July 26, 2025

Nick Wright reacts to Tua Tagovailoa's comments on Tyreek Hill at Miami Dolphins training camp. Is Tua right for publicly calling out Tyreek after the star wide receiver's controversial remarks follow...ing the Dolphins' Week 18 loss to the Jets last season? Later, Nick breaks down why he believes Tyreek will return to Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2026 NFL season. Later, Nick reacts to former Carolina Panthers star Cam Newton leaving Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts off of his top 10 NFL QBs list. Is Cam right? And which of the two QBs is better? Lastly, Nick shares his thoughts on the WNBA All-Star Game protest and what the future holds for Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese, and the rest of the league in their fight for more pay. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas.
Starting point is 00:00:12 We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.
Starting point is 00:00:26 Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the ice.
Starting point is 00:01:00 Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear.
Starting point is 00:01:28 Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garris.
Starting point is 00:01:55 Jen should win. She's an outsider to win the French friend. and she likes Clay. Listen, Leonard Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports.
Starting point is 00:02:15 Welcome to the best of the week for What's Right with Nick Wright, the best takes and moments from this week on the show. Enjoy. Tua isn't exactly welcoming Tyreek back with open arms after Tyreek. did that little thing at the end of 2024. Tarreek took some accountability and saying, I need to be better as a leader. I feel like he probably should have said as a star player.
Starting point is 00:02:39 But with things already off to a bad start, how do you see Miami's season going? I want to believe in Miami a little bit. I think that they are, you know, I like the team that used to be overvalued that now I think people have gone too far in the other direction on. I tend to like those teams. And I really like the Jalen Ramsey Minka Fitzpatrick trade.
Starting point is 00:03:07 I think they got better there. Tyreek, I think will be better this year. So there, and I think that that last playoff spot in the AFC should be pretty open. So there are some reasons that I kind of was leaning. You know, maybe I'll believe in the Dolphins as a playoff team this year, especially because speaking of the hot seats, I think, you know, Mike McDaniel, the GM, I think they know we got to start putting some pelts on the wall. You know what I mean?
Starting point is 00:03:37 We got to get back on the right track. This is where you might think I'm being unfair. So Tua's comments yesterday were basically, yeah, speaking for me and for the team. He wasn't speaking for himself. He's like, you know, Tyreek. what Tyree did is not something that you just say my bad about and you know we're all good like you got to you know work on yourself you got to earn back trust i'm paraphrasing but he said all this publicly to the media so here's where i mean the exact quote is when you say something like that
Starting point is 00:04:22 you don't just come back with my bad you got to work that relationship up he's working on himself i didn't love that being a public comment from tua so here's what i'm all say. And De Manza, you can tell me Tyreeks said it in public. No. That's why I thought you were going to say I'm being unfair. So just hear me out on this. Okay. What Tyreek did was way out of line. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:04:52 There is no excusing it. He was a bad teammate. He was immature. It was, you know, it was bad. He's also Tyreek Hill. He's your receiver. Oh, okay. He's cut. He's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's,
Starting point is 00:05:09 He's a receiver. He's a kind of known at times knucklehead. He has, he, you know, just this week, he was like, you know, I talked with my dad and, you know, I thought it was really important that this offseason I just do football and family stuff. Meanwhile, you know, I'm pretty sure he's in a legitimate beef with I show speed. and like about the racing and like so Tyreek is just a superstar he's a jock dude yeah like a bit of a doofus a bit of a doofus and it got a lot of stuff okay it does not excuse what he said but we're also I don't think you're not getting in the Tyreek Hill business for maturity professionalism and leadership
Starting point is 00:06:08 You're getting in the Tyreek Hill business because he's freaking awesome, right? Tua's your quarterback. And Tua and Tariq have to work for the team to work. So I wouldn't care at all if at the first day of training camp, Tua got up in front of the team and was like, Tariq, you betrayed all of us. You have a lot of, you know, making up to do. That was wrong. you know, read in the riot act privately. But publicly, I think the answer has to be either.
Starting point is 00:06:49 Yeah, listen, I think Tyreeks addressed that any feelings I have on that, I'm going to keep between me and Tyreek and me and the team. But, you know, we know that he and I got to get back to what we were two years ago for this team to have a chance. And I believe we're going to do that. You either do that or, and Tua might not be comfortable with this because I know he's like a deeply religious guy. You just flat lie.
Starting point is 00:07:12 Oh, no, Tyreeks, Tyree. We're all good. We knew it was emotional right after the season. Nobody cared. I think those are your two best options. Rather than telling the media, no, everyone was really bothered by that. And actually, we're still working on it.
Starting point is 00:07:30 Because then it continues, like, I'm going to need an update on that. You know what I mean? And so, again, Tyreek put Tua in a terrible position. And he was flustered throughout that. Like, it seemed like he seemed pretty nervous. I don't want to say nervous, but constantly walking back stuff and like thinking super hard about the stuff he was saying.
Starting point is 00:07:51 Oh, you're talking about Tyreek at the end of the year? No, I'm talking about Tua in the press. I mean, I felt like he was sweaty. But, well, you were Miami right off practice field. But yes, I agree. I agree with you on that regard. But I also thought Tariq, when he gave this initial thing right after the playoff loss,
Starting point is 00:08:10 didn't exactly know what he was trying to say, and it was like, ah, I'm out. I just think that there is, sometimes when you are the face of an organization and you get put in bad spots by people, and publicly, you got to just present a united front. That's the, you know, that's all that I'm, or you can go
Starting point is 00:08:38 Peyton Manning about was it Mike Vanderjack the kicker so this you'll love this to Monzae because you have no recollection of this
Starting point is 00:08:48 whatsoever Mike Vanderjad who's a pretty good kicker for the Colts and the aughts went on some radio show after another Colts
Starting point is 00:08:58 playoff loss and took shots at Peyton the kicker and then yeah the kicker and then Peyton was asked about it at the Pro Bowl, like during a sideline interview. And Peyton's like, yeah, I mean, I really didn't expect that I was going to get asked about our idiot kicker, getting all liquored up and popping off at the mouth on the radio.
Starting point is 00:09:27 I'll deal with that if he's still a teammate in the future. Like, this guy's gone. This guy's gone. I'm not dealing with him. I have no interest in him. And so that's the other option. The other option is if Tua would have been like, yeah, I don't think it's going to be a problem because I think Terry is going to be on the team. Like, that's the nuclear option.
Starting point is 00:09:55 But so, but if he's going to be on the team, then you got to, you got to sometimes clean up somebody else's mess. That's the only, even if it's not fair. It's tied in with the first topic. It sounds like the Chiefs and Tyree Kill kind of miss each other. Well, I told you guys a year ago that I'm very excited for Tyree Kill wearing a Chief's uniform in 2026. Because that's, I think, going to happen. It's not going to happen this year. But that I think is going to happen.
Starting point is 00:10:32 It's looking pretty likely. Maybe that's enough to get Kelsey to come back for one more year. A little defiant old Tyree. Bringing back the band. Right off to the sunset together. Yeah. I think that's absolutely on the board. Nothing says summer.
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Starting point is 00:12:17 Bet must win to receive reward. Minimum minus 500 odds required. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. Four additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkng.com slash audio. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new? huge news. We created our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts around there. But this one's extra special.
Starting point is 00:12:47 So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And... Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas. brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast,
Starting point is 00:13:11 people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy,
Starting point is 00:13:31 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, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. Help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app,
Starting point is 00:13:56 Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not. 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.
Starting point is 00:14:16 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in.
Starting point is 00:14:40 I'm Timbo. Every episode we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions
Starting point is 00:15:04 everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. So Siriani does not want to think of this year
Starting point is 00:15:24 as going for a repeat. Jalen Hertz is also focused on the present. You won't even wear a super rolling. You're saying that moment is behind. behind us. Hold on real quick. Before we get to the other thing. What's your take on Jalen Hertz not him refusing to put on the Super Bowl?
Starting point is 00:15:42 I mean, he sounds like Danos or something in that in that quote. But, uh, but yeah, I mean, he's put it on. He's warranted. He says he hasn't. He's, he's, he's warranted. I mean, he's definitely put the ring off. He's saying he hasn't. I mean, why not?
Starting point is 00:15:58 Like, it's not. I don't know. I mean, maybe not wear it out. But like, I mean, he's... No, of course, but like put it on once, press the little button so the stupid wings come out. Like, I don't know. Like, whatever. All right, keep going.
Starting point is 00:16:11 So he is now in a one-sided debate with Cam Newton. Yeah. What's your take on this whole situation? Okay, so when I say one-sided, I mean, he hasn't chimed in, but Cam, Cam has. So this is kind of the back and forth of it. And full disclosure, again, I really like Cam. cam was one of my me betting on cam
Starting point is 00:16:35 was pre what's right show betting on the Jags where I just couldn't every week I was like you know what line I like I think the Panthers are underrated or undervalue I also think Cam had the single greatest
Starting point is 00:16:52 college season of all time and I think that 15 and one year in the pros was one of the great individual accomplishments any players ever had given his supporting cast. So Cam didn't have Jalen's top 10 quarterbacks. And then people got mad of them. And Cam, you know, it's the old, it's another version of the Charles Barkley or you know, bus driver or bus rider discussion is what we're having here.
Starting point is 00:17:25 And I do find these two players, a Cam Newton versus Jalen Hertz, debate fascinating just because it really reveals a lot about what you value. Because I don't think there is definitively DeMonsea a wrong answer, right? but and I what I think is interesting is I I am certain to my core that Jalen Hertz could not have gotten that Panthers team to 15 wins in the Super Bowl. I don't think that's unfair. I don't think that is me taking a shot. I don't think there's 10. 12 quarterbacks in NFL history that necessarily could have gotten that Panthers team to have that season.
Starting point is 00:18:30 With that said, I also am not sure that Cam could have had this sustained success that Jayla has had with the Eagles. And so obviously these are all hypotheticals. I think very similar players. I mean, I feel like Cam Newton is a little bit more of a of an athletic freak than Yes. Then Jalen hurts. Yeah, I mean, he's just so huge and he was faster. Now, Jalen has, Cam didn't have a lot of years of high level passing numbers, but neither does Jalen.
Starting point is 00:19:14 Right. It's really interesting. I also think, I mean, again, the year they went 15 and 1, his receivers were Ted Ginn, Jericho Contri, Devin Funchess, and Corey Brown. And he won league MVP. And obviously, Greg Olson was an awesome tight end, but that, you know, is his receiving court. I think Cam looks at it as, man, put me on that type of team. and we're the greatest team ever. And I understand that line of thinking.
Starting point is 00:20:02 Again, Jalen's not commenting on this, but if I were Jalen, I would be like, well, I was on that team, and we were pretty good. We won the Super Bowl and the NFC championship game, like 100 to 40. we won 13 games in a row to finish the year if you exclude the game that I got hurt.
Starting point is 00:20:26 Like, what more do you, did you want from us from a team perspective? And so I understand, now, do I think that there has been a weird media, I don't know, if overcorrection is the right word, there has been to me a there's been some patronizing almost is the word I would use in the discussion of Jalen. So like I saw Orlovsky's video about Jalen Hertz. Now Orlovsky's video, he is not calling Jalen Hertz the best quarterback in football, to be clear.
Starting point is 00:21:12 But his caption of it, and this isn't like a newspaper where. You know, you don't write your own headlines. Let me see if I can find this. Hold on. And I'm trying to find. Sorry, I just clicked on it. And do you guys still have my audio? Am I still good?
Starting point is 00:21:32 I just clicked on something. Okay, good. Sorry. Let me find the exact caption. Because it was, he wasn't calling him the best quarterback in football. And, but the caption was, really don't care where you were. rank hurts, he sits at one. So if somebody was like, wait, are you saying he's the best quarterback at football? Like that, again, if you watch the video, he's not saying that. Um, but there is to me a,
Starting point is 00:22:06 there has been an interesting, uh, what's the right word? An interesting shift in how. We have talked about quarterbacks the last decade or so when it comes to Jalen specifically, which is usually if people think quarterback's good, the team is amazing, then we lead with the team as the driving force. And that's what I think Cam is getting at. I think with Jalen, and I think understandably, it's because some of his best games ever have been these monster Super Bowl performances. There has been a reclassification of, well, maybe Jalen is way better than his numbers suggest, and he simply is kind of suppressing his own individual accolades for team success, which I understand that line of thinking,
Starting point is 00:23:36 but it does kind of contradict his own teammate from the end of last year. It's like, hey, we got to get better in the passing game. and it kind of goes against what we saw when the Eagles were unbelievable in 2022. They won the Super Bowl in 2024. And the one dip, 2023, was a year that they really tried to open up the passing game more. And so it is, this is one of the fun things to me about kind of sports debate is this isn't really defy. Like, it's not provable, at least in the short term. here and now, we don't know what Jalen would look like if he played for the 2015 Panthers.
Starting point is 00:24:26 And we don't know what Cam would look like if he had played for the 2024 Eagles. I do think that there is an element of, even for a lot of Jaylon's biggest supporters, if you were just asking me like, hey, who's the better quarterback? Cam Newton or Jalen Hertz, I think most people are like, well, Cam Newton. And if the question is why or what's your evidence, I honestly think the answer is, he's just better. And sometimes, like, I know that can feel like a cop out, but it does feel real here. And where I will, and I know it might sound like, I don't know, I should. I don't usually go back and listen to the pods.
Starting point is 00:25:21 But I might go back and listen to this segment because there's a possibility. I'm not making a lot of sense. But I am, I find this topic fascinating because it is to me layered and nuanced. Because like I said, if you asked me who was better, Cam or Jalen, my snap, answer is like, obviously it's Cam. But the, with that said, if you asked me, am I certain that Cam would be better for this Eagles team? I don't know that I would say yes. I think when you have a team as stacked as the current Eagles, having a quarterback who doesn't seem that focus on his individual accolades or success
Starting point is 00:26:22 could really play in your favor. And I think Jalen deserves a huge credit for that. It can be willing to do a tush push, man. I don't know. Sorry. Well, I mean, I think that's probably a bad example because Cam was arguably the greatest short-yardage player in NFL history. Now, they wouldn't do a tush-push.
Starting point is 00:26:47 They just did regular either. quarterback power, jump over the line or quarterback sneak. You know what I mean? So it was different. But I am really interested because one day in Jalen's career, he's not going, you know, you're not going to have Sequin, A.J. Devante. You're not going to have this amazing supporting cast. And there will be a time where the Eagles are in a position where it's like, listen, man,
Starting point is 00:27:19 Our defense isn't, you know, what we had hoped. We don't have this great running game. If we're going to win, we're going to need you to do it, you know, the old school quarterback style, drop back 30 sometimes and throw the ball. I think there's real question, like there is a real question over whether or not he can do that. And so we, this is my ultimate endpoint on this. and I am definitely at times guilty of this, which is why probably I'm a little circular in my reasoning here.
Starting point is 00:27:55 We give guys a ton of credit for doing more with less. The LeBron dragging the 07 calves to the finals, you know, that type of thing. Like look at you had so little help, look at what you did. We don't always do a good enough job of recognizing just because you can do more with less doesn't mean you can do the most with a ton. And Jalen has proven he can do the most with this great situation.
Starting point is 00:28:40 And not everybody can do that. And so, and this is something I, I'd be interested at some point in talking to Cam. about. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.
Starting point is 00:28:57 We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember.
Starting point is 00:29:13 I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And, well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys.
Starting point is 00:29:41 Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy. Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. Help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-heartedly.
Starting point is 00:30:15 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.
Starting point is 00:30:40 I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I Heart 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, Keer 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, Tript Fontaine, Ryan Clark.
Starting point is 00:31:05 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
Starting point is 00:31:26 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,
Starting point is 00:31:40 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. Yeah, so the ladies of the WNBA All-Star Game were protesting with shirts that read pay us what you owe us. And Kelsey Plum took a little bit of a shot at Caitlin Clark after and said that
Starting point is 00:32:03 zero members of Team Clark were very present. It could have been an inside thing, could have been a dig. What did you see here? Okay. So the Kelsey Plum thing, I think, was totally misconstrued. not the real story, but I want to address it because Ramona Shelburne also I thought did a good job addressing it this morning. So Kelsey Plum is up on the dais with, was it Sabrina? Who was the other player alongside her? Yeah, okay. So what Sabrina? Sabrina, by the way, is on Team Clark. And they talk about
Starting point is 00:32:34 the meeting that morning about wearing the shirts. And Kelsey Plum says like now no members of team Clark were there taking poking fun at Sabrina and also I think or I thought poking fun at the fact that they had all been out partying the night before and that team didn't get up in time. That was my initial reaction. Ramona Shelburne then reports out on it today. WMBA players, including Kelsey Plum, had been discussing the pay us what you owe his t-shirts for over a week, according to multiple sources. They settled on the idea at breakfast Saturday morning that very few players, on Team Clark attended because of the early start. But just to make sure, sources said,
Starting point is 00:33:17 Brianna Stewart and Nefisa Collier and others went by the team Clark locker room before the game to make sure they were on board with the IDM plan. Romona writes, I thought it was fairly obvious. Kelsey Plum tried to make a joke that didn't land. The meeting where players decided to wear the shirts at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday, understandable that not many from Team Clark made it
Starting point is 00:33:37 after what we saw on stud buds from the night before. Now, I am not locked in enough on WMBA lore to know about this stud bud stream prior to WMBA All-Star Weekend. It seemed very popular during All-Star Weekend, but I was, I am logical enough to know Kelsey Plum was not in a moment of WMBA player unity taking a shot at half of the All-Stars. But because Caitlin Clark's name was involved, people took it and ran with it. That's not the story. The story is how many people are such utter losers. And here's what I mean. Folks, general rule of thumb, blind.
Starting point is 00:34:21 If workers are trying to extract more money from owners and management, general rule of thumb, you should be on the workers' side. Now, I know some of you listening are like, well, what about me? me, I own an 18-person habit-astery business and I'm an owner. Okay, good. You, I guess, can be management. But the vast majority of us, and I say this, by the way, as a silent partner, owner of a small business. Now, it's very small. It's my wife's boutique.
Starting point is 00:35:01 But, like, I guess I technically have my hand in both pots, worker and business. owner doesn't matter the people that create the product create the value those people trying to extract more money at the very least you shouldn't be rooting against them and if you are going to try to be like well actually here's the thing actually know what the hell you're talking about so here's the reality does anybody at does anybody intelligent actually think think that, well, max contract in the NBA in the NBA is around 50 million a year. So I guess max contract in the WNBA should be about 50 million a year. No, nobody's making that case.
Starting point is 00:35:55 Nobody with a platform that matters is arguing NBA and WMBA players should be paid dollar for dollar the same like the purses at Wimbledon can be. But it makes sense for the purses at Wimbledon to be the same men's and women's. They get similar TV ratings, the tickets sell for the same. They're generating the same money. The issue that the WMBA players have that is a fair and correct issue is multifold. And again, so many losers are just bootlicking management sellouts because they think one day they might actually be, it's the same folks that are like, well, you know, right now, a tax policy that helps out the lower class would help me. But what about when I have $50 million and I want to pass that
Starting point is 00:36:56 down to my kids? It's like, buddy, probably not getting there. You probably should worry a little bit more of the here and the now than the estate tax. But I digress. What people are? What people are? arguing is in the NBA de Monzae if it's a 50-50 split of BRI basketball-related income. So if the league generates $10 billion, the player salaries get $5 billion, and that's how you pay the players, the owners get $5 billion, and that's how they run the league. You know what I mean? Pay all the bills that come associated with running the league, and they hope there's money left over. It's 50-50 in the NBA. Do you have a guess? What again, the size of that pie doesn't
Starting point is 00:37:47 change. The size of the pie can change, pardon me. The split does not. It's 50-50. It used to, Brew told me the other day it used to be 63-37 in the players' favor. And the owners have kind of chipped away at it or whatever, but it's 50-50 now, which feels pretty fair. Like, okay, I'm not going to act like owners don't do anything. I'm not going to act like they're unimportant. Now, I would always again. Yeah, I would always. But listen, I'm a union guy.
Starting point is 00:38:18 I'm a union kid. My dad was the president of Firefighters Union for basically my entire life. I, you know, I am a union guy. My first term paper I ever wrote my life was about Lech Walesa and the Polish Solidarity Movement. It's colored my politics. It's colored who I am. It's, I think, when I, A lot of people talk about, man, you know, we see these stupid old tweets.
Starting point is 00:38:43 They're like, you know, in the 70s, you know, people were able to, the man worked, the wife stayed at home, you had a car, you had a house, you sent your kid's school. It's like, what changed? And people, because they're dopes, are like, what changed is immigrants. What changed is the union jobs and factors and stuff like that. But again, sorry for being political this morning, but this is kind of a political thing. So go back to you, DeMonze. What do we think, or what is your guess?
Starting point is 00:39:14 The WNDA split? Yeah, the split. Players. Owner to player. What do you think the split is as of this moment? I think it's like 70-30. How about 9-19? Oh, wow.
Starting point is 00:39:29 9-9 owners? 9-9 owners. Now, what folks' reaction is going to be, but the league loses money. But 22, two-thirds of the league. It lost money last year. Got it. Okay, so quick question on that.
Starting point is 00:39:47 Honest question, because the world has changed in the last two years in the WMBA, thanks in large part to Caitlin Clark, not solely to Caitlin Clark, but she's the driving force and the success of women's college basketball, and the eyes and the ratings, all of that. Guys, you think right now WMBA teams are worth more or less than were two years ago? You think that if you bought the WMBA team two years ago and you offered it up for sale today, that you would get more or less money. Do you think if it's such a bad business that, oh, my God, you can't claw any more money away from?
Starting point is 00:40:24 Are there a bunch of WMBA teams for sale? It's like, oh, my God, nobody will buy one. Or are they expanding the league? Is it a league where more people want to get in? again, I don't want to With them expand in the league, doesn't it also make it pretty weird to up it right now?
Starting point is 00:40:43 Wouldn't it make sense for like once all the teams are there? Because then there's going to be some other split taking away from the teams. When those two teams do get there is that now? No, I, the split because like in the NBA, they're going to expand. The split stays the same.
Starting point is 00:40:56 You're bringing in more money. There's expansion fees, all that. And I don't, I'm not going to, I have to be careful on what I say here, but I actually have a little bit of insight into what it costs for a new WMBA team because Kansas City is trying to get one, and I have had very casual conversations about being a very, very small part of an investment group. And I got to tell you, it ain't cheap.
Starting point is 00:41:45 Right now people think WMBAs on the uptick. They think it's a growth industry. It is. Because it is. And so this idea that the players should just be satisfied, and this idea that the poor WMBA owners, like, ah, think about the owners that are losing money, when with most pro sports, the real profit is in the appreciation of the team that in over years, when you eventually cash out, you know what I mean?
Starting point is 00:42:22 You make 10, 20, 100 X on what your initial investment was. That's what it is. And then there is this other very basic. logical point. Is there any other capitalistic endeavor? So I'm not talking about social workers. I'm not talking about kindergarten teachers. I'm not talking about firemen. The capitalistic endeavor where someone of Caitlin Clark's quality, and I will use her as an example because she is the most visible place. in the league.
Starting point is 00:43:04 Is there any other field in the world where someone of Caitlin Clark's caliber would make less than $80,000 a year? Think about it. Just for real, think about it. And the answer is no. There is not. So it is a little right now out of whack.
Starting point is 00:43:32 It is why Brittany Greiner a few years ago was over in Russia, playing ball, and got caught up because you can make more money overseas, which is another point. Is there proof of concept that you can pay women athletes more than the WMBA pays them and still be a functional business? Yeah, because leagues across Europe do it. So, again, nobody serious is arguing that the WMBAs, players and the NBA players should make the same amount of money.
Starting point is 00:44:09 But nobody serious can actually think that Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and Paige Becker's, making 70-some grand a year, is a proper payment for services rendered. And again, just a rule of thumb, if there is a labor dispute and you, you don't know much about it. I'm not saying the workers 100% of the time in every labor dispute across the border and the right. I'm not saying that. What I am saying is if there is a labor dispute and you don't know much about the actual
Starting point is 00:44:57 details and your gut reaction is to side with ownership, you're a sucker. Or you're a sexist. Well, in this instance, there's a lot of that. In this instance, there is a lot of... Yeah, there is... You're being more specific to the WMBA. Yeah. And I mean, so I... Guys, this is where, and I am not, you know,
Starting point is 00:45:29 Adam Smith in that I am not a true market zealot. However, there is a beauty to an actual marketplace, which is, if it's such a bad deal for owners, why is no one selling their teams? Huh? Like, why? By the way, people who are, like, concerned about the long-term trajectory of the NBA, if you are, you have a few like, ooh, data points of the MAVs sold, the Celtics sold, the Lakers sold. Like, why did those ownership groups get out? Now, the flip side to that is they sold for these insane amounts of money, so maybe that's a sign in favor that it's healthy.
Starting point is 00:46:23 But it is just outrageous the amount of people. that were like, pipe down, ladies, be happy. When the truth of the matter is, in America, celebrity is super valuable. And over the last couple years, the WMBA players have become celebrities. And Caitlin might have been the driving force, but she ain't the only celebrity. Hell, the, oh my goodness. Sophie Cunningham is a legit star Angel Reese is a legit star
Starting point is 00:47:07 Paige is a star Turns out the stud buds crew Have this huge Twitch or stream Following again pretty big So oh yeah absolutely I was trying to mention more of like the newer players But yeah Sabrina's been But yeah all those folks
Starting point is 00:47:23 Asia Wilson is a legit star And she's been around for a while Like, obviously the money's not right. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick.
Starting point is 00:47:35 And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it.
Starting point is 00:47:51 But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.
Starting point is 00:48:19 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 Act. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened.
Starting point is 00:48:39 That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo. And every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories,
Starting point is 00:48:53 their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice. on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive.
Starting point is 00:49:12 I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no-nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players and the moments that define Roland Garris. Jenchian win. She's an outsider to win the French fame. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lennarabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now
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