The Kevin Sheehan Show - RFK Deal Problems + John Wall

Episode Date: June 25, 2025

Kevin opened with a Wizards/NBA Draft preview. John Wall jumped on with thoughts on the NBA Finals, what it was like 15 years ago when he got selected #1 overall, and his hopes for the Wizards tonight. Eric Flack/WUSA TV 9 jumped on with the latest on what a potential delay on the RFK Stadium vote will mean for everyone involved. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don't want it. You don't need it. But you're going to get it anyway. The Kevin Cheon Show. Here's Kevin. Two guests on the show with me today. John Wall is back. He'll join me in the next segment.

And then Eric Flack from Channel 9 will jump on in the final segment. Eric just spoke with a D.C. City Council member. And he's got an update on when they will vote on the stadium deal and whether or not the time frame in which they have that vote will be pleasing to the football team. Window Nation is the presenting sponsor of this podcast. If you need new windows, call them. 86690 Nation or go to windonation.com.

Mention my name. They'll come out and give you a free in-home, no obligation estimate. They'll take good care of you, I promise. Tonight is the NBA draft far different than the NFL draft. I mean, completely different. Starting with just the interest level, the number of people that watch the NBA draft tonight and tomorrow night. They're into a two-night situation, first round tonight, second round tomorrow night.

I don't really think they need two nights for the NBA draft. I don't even know when that started, maybe last year. but tonight is just round one, 30 picks in round one. But the number of people that watch tonight's NBA draft is a fraction, a tiny fraction, of the number of people that watch the NFL draft. But they're so different for so many different reasons. First of all, there are many more job opportunities in the NFL than there are in the NBA, and that's because of roster sizes.

I mean, the NFL has 53 on the final roster. 90 end up going to camp. And the NBA roster is just much smaller. So the available jobs are much greater when you're talking about an NFL draft than they are with the NBA draft. So the players that get drafted at the end of April in the beginning of May are players that we're going to see for many, many years to come. Whereas with the NBA draft, you know, the percentage of players that get picked. tonight that are out of the league in five years is much higher than those that will still be in the league in five years. You know, there's a big difference, too, in just the evaluation of the

players. It's hard projecting 18 and 19-year-olds. And a league that, by the way, doesn't typically see, you know, stars emerge or contributors emerge until they're at least, you know, 23 or 24, or older. It's physical maturity, its mental maturity, probably more the latter than anything else. Plus, you don't have much to evaluate college players on. You've got a year of college, typically, sometimes too. NFL players have been in college for three years or longer. By the way, just an interesting note, this year's mock drafts anyway have mostly college players being taken in the first round. Most mocks have 10 to 11 of the top 12 picks being players that played in college basketball last year.

Last year's draft, five of the top 12 were foreign players who didn't play in college. We've seen, you know, the draft get dominated by foreign players, not necessarily foreign-born because some of the college players are foreign-born players. but just foreign players who didn't play college basketball, but not this year. But it is hard to get the NBA draft right. If you go back, and I did this for you, but if you go back eight years to the 2017 draft, which I would kind of look at as a good period of time to measure the overall production of an NBA draft, because, again, most of those players selected were super young, you know, didn't play a lot,

lot in college, needed to physically mature, mentally mature, and now in NBA terms are just either entering their prime or they're in their prime. If you go back to that 2017 draft eight years ago, that draft produced out of the 60 players that were taken in the two-round draft, 30 players, 30 teams each round. Just two true star players. Jason Tatum taken three overall. Donovan Mitchell taken 13th overall. That's it. Two true stars. You know, you could certainly say Jason Tatum a top five-ish superstar. Mitchell, not that far away. Overall, in that draft. Listen to this. 17 of the 60 players taken in those two rounds of the 2017 draft played in the league and are still playing in the league. So they've played in the league for eight

seasons and they are projected to play in a ninth season next year. Just 17 out of the 60. 30 of the 60 were out of the league in five years or less. So remember that tonight. that the overwhelming majority of players will not turn into stars and half the players will be gone by the end of the decade. With that said, you know, the reason that some of us, you know, like to watch and like to kind of read up on it and have opinions about it is somebody, if not two teams or three teams, are going to pick a player tonight that will. ultimately transform their franchise or maybe another. You know, like SGA didn't get picked by Oklahoma City,

but at 11th overall ended up, you know, totally being an MVP and a champion in Oklahoma City. But there will be a few players picked tonight that are going to make massive impacts on either the team that picks them or the team they eventually get traded to. You know, Jason Tatum led his team last year to the NBA title in his seventh season in the league. Donovan Mitchell hasn't won at all, but he led Cleveland this year to the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. You know, if you took and you went sort of a couple of drafts further or closer to now, 2018, Luca went number three overall, Shea Gilgis Alexander number 11 overall. That was it.

two true stars. 2019 didn't even produce a star. Not as of yet. Zion Williamson hasn't stayed healthy. John Morant can't seem to stay out of trouble. 2020, Anthony Edwards number one overall. Tyrese Halliburton, you know, went in the middle portion of that draft. These drafts, especially for the teams who aren't close, like the Wizards,

it's about getting it right. It's about hoping the draft produces two to three guys, and you get one of them, you know? And it's not always about just keen evaluation. It's about getting a bit lucky. You know, it's about being at 15 and picking Janus. It's about being at 7 and picking Steph Curry. It's about picking SGA at 11 or in Oklahoma.

the city's case, trading for him at the right time. Kauai Leonard at 15. Yokic at 41 overall in the second round. The wizard's goal tonight has to be, given their current situation, which is bottom of the barrel franchise, is to be the one, you know, team out of two, maybe three, that land on one of those superstar, players. That five, six, seven years from now, we say they got it right at number six in the

2025 draft, or they got it right when they traded up from 18 to 14 in the 2025 draft. They got to land on somebody. They had three picks last year. Maybe one of them will end up being a star player. Maybe Carrington's a star player. Who knows? Doesn't seem like it, but it was only one season, and it takes time. Belal Kulibali's played two years. It doesn't seem like he is going to be a superstar player. But they've got tonight and then they've got probably next year. And they'll have multiple picks in the first round more likely than not next year as well.

And, you know, starting with the Kulabali draft, the draft last year that had three first rounders. By the way, they traded for another and A.J. Johnson. And then, you know, and then this draft and then next year's draft, they got to land on a superstar and then another one to two guys that are right there on the edge of being a star player. I mean, how fun would it have been tonight if they had won the draft lottery and they were getting ready to select Cooper flag? But you know what? There's no guarantee flag is going to end up being, you know, one of the two or three. that becomes stars. Maybe it's Trey Johnson at number six to the Wizards. Maybe it's Derek Queen after the Wizards trade up to 11 or 12 and take him. Tonight is a crapshoot of the highest

order. I watch a lot of basketball, college basketball, but not as much as I used to. I did spend some time yesterday and last night kind of looking at the players that are to go in the general area in which the wizards are picking at number six and number 18. So let me give you some of the players that I like and a few that I don't like. I really like Trey Johnson from Texas. I think he could be there at six. He is, you know, a guy that's 6-5 played as an 18-year-old true freshman last year with incredible high-level motor and competitiveness.

This is a dude that walked into college believing that he was the best player on his team, and man, did he put up some games? His first game as a college basketball player in Vegas against Ohio State, played 39 to the 40 minutes, scored 29 points on 10 of 20 from the floor, five of 10 from behind the arc. That is a guy that did not ease his way into the sport. Um, he had some big time games against really the best league in the country. I mean, Tennessee, Bama, you know, Auburn, Kentucky, A&M, Mississippi State. You know, he played Yukon early in the season

last year. Uh, you know, was nine of 17 from the floor, three of eight from behind the arc had 24 points. He can score in so many different ways. He's a great shooter. He's a great shooter. He's a great shooter off the bounce. He's a great shooter off the catch. He can post and hit a turnaround fade away, turn around shoot over you. He can get to the rim. He's athletic. He's just really competitive and plays with a level of urgency that I love and then has all of the skill as a scorer around that. Fearless as a player. I really like Trey Johnson in terms of a guy that is projected to be there at number six. I think he's going to be a big time score.

You know, remember, these opinions are based on knowing nothing about the people themselves, the individuals, and it's based on them being 18 or 19 years old, and we have no idea what they will look like physically and from a mental maturity standpoint in four or five years. You know, by the way, in this draft, I am a Cooper flag guy. I think he's going to be an excellent NBA player, a star player, if not a superstar. I really love Dylan Harper. Those are the top two guys projected to go one and two overall to Dallas and San Antonio.

I do like the Baylor kid a lot. You talk about an athlete. He may be the best athlete in the draft, and he is going to be a great defensive player, VJ Edgecombe. I like Canuppel from Duke. I'm not super high on fears. I've already talked to you about Ace Bailey. I'm not super high on Ace Bailey. The reason being, not because I don't think he's talented, he's obviously talented.

In terms of overall gifts in this draft, he may be number one. I just didn't like the one impression, and I wouldn't judge completely based on one impression, and it was the worst of the year for him. The game at Maryland in which he was dominated and then left the game with four points, that he was sick in the game. But I saw the game at Northwestern. I've watched the highlights of the game at Indiana. He's ridiculously talented.

But, you know, I watched him enough to see moments in which it looked like he was way too out of it and casual. And the Maryland game sticks. And look, this is a guy in the pre-draft process that has gotten criticized. He hasn't done interviews. He hasn't done a lot in the pre-draft process. He's trying to dictate where he goes. And on one level, very simple level, he was projected to be the number two or number three player picked in this draft for the last two years.

Why is he all of a sudden being projected in many mocks to go number six overall to the Wizards? I think that's a bit of a red flag. So, you know, he would be the guy that just it's a gut and it's based on. the things that I said. I understand the talent, but I don't think that I'd take him at 6. I would take Trey Johnson over Ace Bailey. There are other

players that I like as we move down to 18. I think the Wizards would have to, you know, trade up to get a couple of these players, but they did that last year, remember. I love Derek Queen. Most of you know this by now. I think Derek Queen's going to be an outstanding

NBA player. I think in terms of overall feel for the game, overall skill level for a big, nobody can touch him in this draft. He's got, you know, they call them the baby Yokic before he played in his first game. And he plays like Yokic. You know, that would be quite the, you know, the stretch to say he's going to be the next Nicola Yokic, a guy who, you know, we can safely say is one of the top big men in the history of the game. but he has great basketball feel, IQ, and skill. He didn't test well, nor was he going to test well,

because he's not overly athletic. He just can play, and he's 6'10, and he's going to get bigger and stronger. You know, his weakness is defense. He was targeted in a lot of games. I think there were some games in which he just kind of was out of it at times and had, you know, some real casual, careless turnovers. But that's, you know, 18 years old playing in the Big Ten. I love Derek Queen. I think he's going to be a really good, if not star, at the NFL level. I also really like

Yeager Demin, the player at BYU, the Russian player at BYU. I think he's the best passer in the draft. He's 6-8-69 and is probably a point guard. I think he's got a great stroke. He's a even though statistically he wasn't a great shooter. Another basketball player that just has incredible vision, incredible feel. Derek Queen, an incredible passer, for somebody his size. And Yeager Demen is much more of a backcourt player, but he could be a 6-8-69 point guard. Phenomenal passer. I love his skill level.

I think he's going to develop into a really, really good player. Who else is on my list? I like Walter Clayton Jr., you know, the national champion from Florida. I don't get why he's been projected near the end of the first round. I think he's a guy that can get his shot off and create space against anybody. I think he's clutch. I think he's high IQ. I think he's very competitive.

I like Nick Clifford, the guy that played for Colorado State Terp fans. Remember, we watched him and we're like, I don't know who he is, but he's an NBA player. He's, you know, 6-6, wiry, but really athletic and can really play. I like Will Riley from Illinois. I like Kalkbrenner from Creighton a lot. He's projected late first. I like, you know, if you get into the second round, a guy like Chuck Eppburn from Louisville and who was at Wisconsin before, I think he can play. I think he's going to be around.

I'm not talking about a star player, but I think just a player. late first. I like Danny Wolf from Michigan as one of those late first round guys. Maybe, you know, if you get into to the second round. Jace Richardson, you know, the fact that a guy like Tom Izzo relied so much on a freshman player, uh, I watched him a lot. There were nights where I thought offensively he was a little bit ragged, um, but you know, this is Jason Richardson's son. Uh, I like him a lot. You know, that's kind of the list. I'd love. to see like a Tray Johnson Derek Queen combo to the Wizards tonight. That would be awesome to see something like that happen. I think you got to trade up to get Derek Queen. I don't think you're

getting him at 18. Walter Clayton Jr. would be awesome to see Yeager Demen as well. I think that guy's just watching him play basketball. You just see this incredible basketball IQ. And yet he's 6-8 and a half, 6-9, and might be really a point guard at the next level. I think that's it. I do like the players at the top of this draft. I think the players at the top of this draft are really good. I think Cooper Flagg's going to be a star. I think Dylan Harper is a potential star.

I think this is a really deep draft. I do like Knupple from Duke. If he fell to 6 and the Wizards took him, I wouldn't be unhappy with that at all. I just don't think he'll be there. All right, that's it. One quick thing before we get to John Wall. Last night, the Nats lost to the Padres, 4 to 3. By the way, they're just getting ready here in a few minutes to play their final game with San Diego.

It's a 4 o'clock Eastern start. But James Wood in the second inning last night got walked on five pitches with the bases loaded. If anything says teams are fearing pitching to him, it wasn't an intentional walk with the bases loaded, but man, did they pitch around him with the bases loaded and the Nats took a 2-0 lead on his RBI walk? He is really something else. He's worth the price of admission.

And I have not yet been to a Nats game this year, and I was looking at their schedule when they get back. They have the Red Sox on July 4th weekend. July 4th is a Friday. I'd love to go see the Red Sox and see James Wood play. And there will be other moments. But he's really, really striking fear into opponents, clearly an All-Star this year. No real NFL news today.

I'm going to talk to Tommy about the thing that came out of the arbitration with the arbitrator talking about the NFL owners colluding back in 2022 not to give guaranteed contracts out. I will do something on that with Tommy on tomorrow's show. Rogers said late yesterday that this is the final year. he said that on the Pat McAfee show. Okay. I mean, if he has a great year, I mean, it's Aaron Rogers.

You don't know how it'll turn out, but it probably should be his final year. And yeah, and Shaq Griffin, by the way, the corner that was still out there in the market, the Seahawks signed him today to a one year, I think $4 million deal. I was not interested in any of the corners for Washington of the remaining free agents.

I still look at the edge guys that are still out there and think about the possibilities of a Zadarius Smith or a Jadavian Clownie or a Von Miller, you know, a Matthew Judon, who I did not think played very well last year in Atlanta. I still think that, you know, if you get into camp and defensively, you start to worry that you don't have what you thought you may have had

in Dietrich Wise, in Javon Kinlaw, in Duran Payne this year, you know, in Dorrance Armstrong, and you want to add somebody, that's where I would still look at the possibility of a roster ad, because there's some talent, you know?

In addition to Judon Zadariah Smith, Clowny, Von Miller, Shaq Barrett, Preston Smith is still out there, and Gokwe is still out there. Yeah, but Corner, not so much. I think they're pretty happy with what they have heading into the season at Corner. All right, John Wall next after these words from a few of our sponsors. Hey guys, basketball season's over, but the action never stops on prize picks because baseball

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who 15 years ago, basically tonight, was the number one pick in the NBA draft. What do you remember about that night? Probably the best night in my life, you know what I mean? All the hard work, all the sacrifices. My mom made. to let me be able to play basketball growing up and get opportunity to be on the biggest stage.

And go number one. You know what I mean? Everybody wants to get drafted. That's the dream of being in the NBA. But to be the first name call, that's nothing you could do better than that. So that was a blessing. And thinking of Washington Wizards

for giving the opportunity to get drafted there and be the franchise guy. And it was a great birthday gift to my mom. Everybody knew you were going to go number one overall. The Wizards had the number one pick. do you remember, you know, sort of leading up to that draft, even before you met with the team, what your thoughts were about the Wizards and going to Washington?

Not really, you know what I mean? Like, I knew that Gil was there. I knew Antoine Jamieson was there. Ron Butler was there. I knew there was a team that's been in the playoffs a couple of years, made it to the second round and lost. You know, they had their own personal problems. They had one on later on that season before I got there.

and I really didn't pay too much into it because everybody kept saying New Jersey next was going to get a number one pick so my mind was like okay I'm going to be in New Jersey that's what I always thought but then when I was watching the lottery and I seen well it was between the Philly the Philadelphia 76ers and the Washington Wizards getting them one pick and then the Wizards got out like all that's dope like I'm going to go to D.C. where my dad was from and I'm only four hours of the road on a drive from my family in an hour hour 30 minute flight away so yeah right that was dope when I thought about that.

I mean, growing up in the Carolinas, you weren't that far away. And I do remember, John, being super excited. You know, in watching you in the one year that you were at Kentucky, I do remember that tournament. You know, it was only a couple of months prior to you getting picked number one. And I'll never forget that West Virginia game. Those Huggins teams were really, really tough defensively. And you guys, you know, in the elite eight and you're, you know,

that's your freshman year. You led Kentucky in scoring. Cousins was on that team. DeMarcus cousins was on that team. But, God, I'm forgetting maybe Patrick Patterson was on that team, Bledsoe. But that what? Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe. Yeah. Yeah. But that Huggins, as a college coach, they were unbelievable on defense, weren't they? They were great. They mean, they had a lot of juniors. They had a lot of seniors. And they had a long-outed team. You know, I mean, Debbie E. Banks, Kevin Jones. Deshawns, Sean Butler, you know what I mean, Joe

Missoulau, the coach of the ball. Right. ...stons on that team. Yeah. So they had some veterans on that team that was there before. But it's crazy because I just seen one of their coaches that was on their staff at the NBA Top 100 camp, and he was like, he came up to me. He was like, man, we started off guarding you and men.

And they said, Debbie EBA came to him. And the time I was like, yo, I can't guard that guy. He's too fast. So they stopped playing us in man. They went one-three-one. Right. And that was a perfect zone against us. because we started off O for like 25 from three.

I mean, that was the biggest downfall for our team, was that we had to make a lot of threes. That would be a night that were hurt us and haunt us. But we were still in the game and still had a chance to win it. But, you know, just to even start off over 20-something three. And I think they started off not making those two-point basketball in the first half. All theirs was threes. And now we had a great lead at one point in the first half,

and Sean Butler hit like three-threes in a row and had a big four-point playing. So, yeah, he'd give a lot of credit. We know why Bob Luggan was a great coach. had a great team and Deshaun Bull is one of those All-Americans that year. But we just fell short of our dreams, and it kind of sucked. I just pulled up the box score from that game. First of all, Huggins, you know, has been known for that one-three-one zone. And, you know, that leaves those corner threes open, you know, when you go against a one-three-one.

You guys were four for 32 from behind the arc in that game. I mean. And we didn't make our first, we didn't make our first three to the second half when we subbed in Darnell Dodson. So I think that's when he made our first one. He was our best shoot on our team. Yeah.

And that kind of honored, they're honest. That was a great thing. I think, to be honest, I think Joe Missouly even went to, Bob Huggins was like, you know, we should run the one through one against him, you know what I mean? So I think he's the one that kind of implemented that

Bob Huggins runs the one through one, and it was a perfect thing for them to do at a time. Interesting. Joe Missoula, for those of you not following along the head coach of the Boston Celtics played on that West Virginia, Bob Huggins team that beat Kentucky in the Elite 8 back in 2010. Going to the one-three-one zone, which was, you know, a trademark for Huggins teams. And you guys went stone cold shooting a lot of threes. You know, it's actually interesting because you're such a basketball junkie. So I want to ask you about zone in the NBA.

It's not the same. We know that. College doesn't have a defensive three-second rule, which the NBA does. That means you know, you can't play zone exactly the way you play it in college and in high school, et cetera. But do you think that we have seen in recent years an increase in zone? I'm curious as to whether or not you think I'm right about that, that we've seen a lot more of it in recent years than we used to see. And then why? Is it because it's more effective? I don't think it should be, but what do you think? I think it's in a lot more zones, but I don't think it's really effective too much, you know what I mean? Because you have a lot of guys that's skilled and very talented in the league now. And it's so much spacing.

You know, I mean, you have so much space in the league. And you have defense in three-section you have to worry about. So I think that kind of simulates them from running the zone. The way they want you, like you saying, Polly, you can pack the paint. There's no three seconds. So it makes it a little bit more difficult. And you guys have IQ in college, don't get me wrong,

but you have so many more guys that's on a professional level and probably have a better IQ, you know what I mean? At the time being because they have been around the college level, they probably played overseas or they've been in the league for a couple years. So unless you have a great team that loves to be active and move a lot and do the little things, like I think the Miami Heat might have the best zone defense in the league, but they practice it a lot. They have a lot of guys that does the 30 work and does a little thing that you need.

Yeah, I've often thought, John, like two things. One, like we saw it in the NBA finals. We saw full court pressure, you know, by both teams, which is pretty rare to see both teams full court pressing. We didn't see it in the final two games, but we saw it in the first five, that sometimes, you know, if you can pressure a little bit, even like three-quarter court or even half-court, you know, zone trap,

to make them burn six, seven, eight seconds of the shot clock and then drop into a zone, that that can be effective. because sometimes it takes a little bit longer to get a shot against zone defense than it does against man defense. I'm surprised more teams don't do that. Yeah, for sure it does. But, you know what I think at the same time with Indiana, I think like Nimbar was doing a great job to trust me on She, the best you can. And he's been for those guys. But I think in some of those games with Nimbar pressing up full court so much, he didn't have the legs or the energy to make shots on the other end.

So, you know what I mean? I think they made it a good judgment in Game 6 of picking up Shea a lot lesser. and give an opportunity to switch a little better, you know what I mean? Because when Shay was getting picked up so far, they started saying screens higher. And that was putting a big at a disadvantage where she had an opportunity to beat them around the corner or have an opportunity to split the pick and rolls. And he was getting to the basket. So I think that adjustment for game six kind of stumbled okay shit a little bit

and didn't know what to do because they haven't been guarded that way. But anyway, a lot of times anybody else, it's just fine the matchup you want, you know what I mean? It's not too many sets really ran. It's a lot of pick and roll. and try to get the ice that you want and attack the pain and find your shooters or the guy be great and creative and making plays. So it's really not too much really worry about with zones, but you've got a guy like Jalen Williams or a guy like Shea or guy like check

or guy like Yolke or those type of guys. You can put the right at the fruit alone. You know what I mean? Get in the ball. They can make plays. So that turns and basically turn and with the ball hit in the middle of four, your base you're one-on-one with shooters around. So it can work in different ways,

but you know, you've got to be very active and have those guys that's really committed to do the little thing in the zone offense. I want to talk to you about the finals. In fact, just in thinking about what you mentioned about games 6 and 7 where they didn't pick up Shea full court, I thought the adjustment in game 5 when Oklahoma City didn't use Shea to bring the ball up court, which I thought physically wore him out in the early portion of the series

using whether it was Caruso when he was in the game. I mean, hell, they used home. at times to bring the ball up court. Jalen Williams, I actually thought that was a good adjustment in game five. I didn't like SGA having those ball handling responsibilities against full court pressure early in the series. What did you think? Yeah, I think, you know what I mean? They made adjustments. I mean, I would have definitely gave the ball to like Caruso, Jalen Williams, all those other guys, they, Casey and Wilders could have brought the ball up, you know what I mean, to make those guys work. I feel like, you know what I mean, you do those things so she can have

energy and well-rested. Because you kind of think in game one, I think he had those same shots he usually made, but I think he was just fatigued. I mean, for the full-court pressure, trying to create all day against that. A lot of his shorts feel short. So I think they made an adjustment and you can see Shea be more efficient. Definitely was better in game four, you know, I mean, 15 points for the last 16. To have to win the game, he looked like he was more in the flow, more well-rested

and catching his breaking breath. So, yeah, when a guy's being that physical and trying to pick up that full court like that, you make those adjustments. So I think both of those coaches did a great job and putting their chest moves and making those adjustments. And you know what I mean? You look at game one, okay, see,

they felt bad and they let that one slip. And then you can look at Indiana of game four when they was up, having an opportunity to go up 3-1 and letting that game slip, you know what I mean? So it's here to the way. And I think you get to a game seven, you just hate the Halliburton had to get hurt.

And that's the worst thing about it, but that comes with a game of basketball. You're wishing the best and a speedy recovery with what he goes through. But you got to give him a lot of heart a lot of credit for going out there and competing. And given everything he could have good for the team, but you wish you could have just seemed to finally be played out with no injury.

But, you know, that comes with the game of basketball. I'll come back and I'll ask you about if Halliburton had stayed healthy. But I'm just thinking about you. And I always felt like, you know, the good teams that you played on here, that you guys were at your best when you were in transition, when you turned people over, when you took it off the glass, and you guys were running. and I just thought, my God, the worst thing that anybody could have done to you

was full court pressure you man to man. Because it was bad enough when you got downhill on a half court set, but if you got downhill with, you know, 90 feet or 60 to 75 feet, they were going to be in trouble. You know, you were completely different player than some of the players we saw in these finals. But do you feel the same way that you guys were at your best once you, got downhill and you guys were playing fast? Yeah, even in half-quarter of full court, whenever I got downhill, like my mindset was,

always try to touch the pain, always be aggressive. It wasn't for me always trying to score and get shot. Right. It would just be aggressive and try to touch the pain. But I wish a guy would pay me up full court. I'm just going to run right by. Exactly. And he's at my mercy now.

And it's four on five, and it's now, I'm a guard that can come down lane, dunk on your center, throw the live to my big man to find my shooters on the perimeter. So a lot of guys knew not to pressure me that far. And that's what I was saying. And don't give you wrong, I'm like, I get what they were trying to do, where's Shay down. But he can make three, but he's not a great three-point shooting. You know what I mean?

Yeah, like a step-currier, damn of those guys, they shoot from deep. So I would have been picking them up at the three-point line. You know what I mean? So now I can go on the screens if I needed two. I can make my switch a little better because you're picking him up so far out. Staying crappy. You're not going to speed him up. He's going to play at his own pace.

You know what I mean, once he gets you on his side, or you try to be even when he give you a shoulder bump. into a stepback. He has, if not the best season as a guard, every in the big history of, damn sure, one of the best in a long time, you know, I mean? So you can't speed him up. He's always going to play in his face. He's always crappy. So, but yeah, I like to play in an open court and get out and run. You have to get easy baskets, but you also have to learn how to develop and be a great half-court team, too, to make shots and make plays. I mean, when you guys were running on those 2014-2015 teams, 2017, I mean,

what you said is true. Once you got downhill, it wasn't about you scoring, although you were great at finishing. But you found, you know, Brad, you know, Areza, you know, all these guys just spotting up off of the defense collapsing around you getting downhill. And they had so many, you know, open looks during those years. It was always fun to watch. You know, speaking, just going back quickly to 20, 10 when you got drafted. You're clearly going to be the number one pick in the draft. Your athleticism was off the chart. Your speed. Your vision is a passer. Your ability to finish. You know, you were the number one pick. There was not, you know, anybody else in the mix for number one overall. But I'm wondering if you remember specifically what the critiques of you were,

what the flaws, the perceived flaws were of your game. I remember the one thing, and I'm pretty sure I'm right about this. You can back me up on this, but you were not considered to be a very good shooter, and that was one of the things it was talked about as a negative. Is that true? Do you remember it that way? And then were there any other things that people were, you know, sort of critiquing when it came to your game, even though there was no chance you weren't going anything but number one overall.

No, that was fair. I think the other thing you could say is two other things you could say is change of pace. I mean, finding out how to play at a better change of pace, not at one speed all the time, and turnovers, you know what I mean? Because the way I play so fast, turnovers and change of pace. But no, shoot-in wasn't a bad thing to say. It was the honest truth, and I could say that about myself. And I knew that I needed to work on that, and it was great to have Sam Cricel there.

to help mentor me master how to knock down the mid-range and things like that. But I never had to work on it. I mean, like I always say, I was always a guy that can get wherever I wanted on the floor. I never needed to learn how to shoot jump shots, you know what I really got to the league. And even when I got to the league, I was still able to get to the pain at will and do what I wanted to. Even when guys was going under. But for me to take my career to the next level and to better myself and to help my team be better, I had to learn how to knock down mid-range jump shots.

and I started to do that at a high clip, and you can see my game evolve, and you can see our team started taking the next jump. But no, those were the right things that criticized me off of at the time. Yeah, I mean, you know, we talked about it last time, but the game six in Atlanta, which I think is one of the great playoff games in franchise history,

they were going underneath that screen, and they hadn't learned that you could knock down that shot, and you just kept getting better at that throughout your career. There's no doubt about that. quickly back to these just completed NBA finals. If Halliburton doesn't get hurt in game seven on Sunday night, does Indiana win? To me, I had O'KC winning. I still take O'KC.

Don't get me wrong, Halliburton came off to a great start. Making three big threes, you know what I mean, doing those things. But I still had O'KC winning. And I think, you know what I mean, at the time when he did get hurt, OKC won in the shell shot because now you got the game. playing differently for what other guys going to be. Everybody else is going to be aggressive when they probably wouldn't have been aggressive with Halliburton playing.

You see what I'm saying? Yep. And also at the same time, no knock against Halliburton, great player. I mean, I wish the best for him and everything. Hope it became better. But he's not that great on the defensive end. So that's who they was kind of targeting a lot. And now you come in with Ben and Matthew or he come in with somebody else.

That's a better defender. And then they're a better defender team. But now you've got to worry about their offense differently, where it's not just flowing through Halliburton and the ball is not moving and popping and him hitting the ball ahead. And then you got to worry about Nimbar being the point. Or those guys have been more aggressive. I think it would have been a classic game seven, though.

I think it would have went down to the wire. And you probably would have got one of those matches like you did when he played this version for game seven after Ray out and hit a shot in game six. I think you would have got when it went down to the wire to the final minute to 30 second and who would have took that game. Yeah, I was hoping for that because other than game one, there wasn't, you know, that memorable moment in what was. was, you know, an intense finals. I mean, those games were incredibly, you know, high-level defense,

both teams. I, like you, thought Oklahoma City would win the series. I thought it was going to be much faster before it started. But it didn't take long to kind of figure out that Indiana was up to it. Why were they up to it? A team that was one of the best defensive teams, John, I think I've ever watched in the postseason. Why did Indiana stretch it to set? against a team that was such a massive favorite to start the series. Well, like I told a lot of people before, you know what I mean? A lot of people watch basketball on the fans and watch it, but when you're breaking down stuff and telling them about the game,

like, they can watch it and see exactly what you're telling them, but can you tell them a walk? Can you break the game down? And I already told my friend that I was like, they're not going to start Harkinstein because it wouldn't be a good matchup for them early on. You know what I mean? When Miles was trying to pick and pop, the UFC outcome there, they went with Pace and Wilders start

and I thought they would have won with Alice Caruso but I see why you bring him off the bench but you had an opportunity to switch everything you know what I mean they could switch everything and the main post play that they had was the Aukam and he was able to give him some advantage but Indiana has guys that can make shots to a great three-point shooting team

I mean they defend just as well as OKC they can switch out but you gotta give a lot of credit to the guys off the bench that play well that they started to play well too but Obie Topping had a hell of a hell of a series and T.J. McConnell. I think those two guys, I think that's what shocked a lot of people of them not being able to contain T.D. McConnell

kind of open the floor for Indiana, you know what I mean? Because you didn't want to help off their shooters when T.M. McConnell was pushing the pace and doing a little crafty dirty work that he does. Yeah. And then you had Obitop and shooting the ball of the high club, bringing that energy. And those guys made it a tough of a series,

I think that we know it started that was going to be a great matchup you know what I mean two stars going at it but I think they bench kind of out play O KC bench a lot better at times and when Aaron Wiggins and Caruso and Casey Wallace had those big games those are the times they won

and went Indiana bench with Opie Top and Jim O'Connor and Bennett Matthew when they had big games they won those games it was all about who had a better bench that played well on those nights so are you a believer that this is the beginning of a major run where OKC is going to win titles, plural, and be in the NBA

finals for the next several years? Yeah, it can be. I mean, they have all the pieces to do it. They still have draft picks. They can add pieces of trade. They add more pieces to their team than I think a lot of people forget about. And also, you know, I mean, we have a couple of teams that's dealing with injuries next year. You know what I mean?

So some teams that would be contenders towards them or might be an opportunity to compete against the championships might not be there. But, you know, we have to draft the night. We got to see what teams do. And also, you know, a couple of trades have been going on this summer. What's going on is going to keep going on? I mean, what God's ball can determine what goes on. Okay, she can keep that run going on.

Even with the trades going on and all these picks and moves going on, I feel like, okay, she has the opportunity and the right players to make things work and get back there again and try to repeat. But, you know, it's hard to win. Like Shade said, he got a lot of relief to finally get it done and being the opportunity and space. So, yeah, it's rule for them to build a dynasty if they want to. I mean, I think if they get two in a row or get two in the next three years,

they can definitely start trying to build a dynasty. But it's not easy. I mean, I never got that far, but I know it's hard to get there, and I know it's hard to win just a playoff game. So I know it's even hard to go try to win the championship. If I told you that they were not in next year's finals, and it wasn't because of injuries, who's the team that's there from the West?

I wouldn't be able to tell you the other team right now. I wouldn't believe it. You wouldn't believe that it's not okay. See? No, I wouldn't believe it. It wasn't them like, what's going on right now? What's going on right now? I wouldn't take nobody else right now.

I mean, until I see what trades be moved or things like that, I would have them going back to be telling me there's no injuries or anything like that. I would give Houston and if Denver can add some pieces and add some depth. I would give both of those teams a chance next year. See, I was going to get it. with you, but, you see, I wanted to say that, but I don't know what else he's going to add, you know what I mean? Yeah. And also, I don't know what the move, them are going to do, you know what I mean?

So until I see that, those will be my two top teams I would consider, you know what I mean? But we don't know what other teams are going to do. So Minnesota can go make the move and make something to happen. Right. All right. Let's take a quick break and we'll find out what John thinks of tonight's NBA draft and what the Wizards will do at number six and at number 18 overall. that right after these words from a few of our sponsors.

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See website for full details and important safety information. This segment of the show is brought you by MyBooky if you want to bet on sports. How about tonight's NBA draft? Go to MyBooky.orgie.org. Use my promo code Kevin D.C. And MyBooky will give you a cash bonus on your initial deposit. How about an over-under on first-round trades? number is three and a half.

You can bet on that and a lot more on tonight's NBA draft. Again, my bookie.ag promo code, Kevin, D.C. We continue with John Wall. So what do you want to see the Wizards do tonight? They've got number six overall. They've got number 18 overall. What are you hoping they get? I don't know.

I mean, they have a new front of offense guys, and I hope they can go get somebody that's very talented for them. and if it's Alice Star that's there now, if it's Bud Carrington as there near, that's going to be their franchise guy. I hope they can go out there and find their next franchise guy and started to get that team back to winning and give that city some of the hope

and something to really cheer for. I think they was happy with some of the young guys and how they played this year. But I know that city loves sports. They love basketball. They want to be committed. And I hope they get the opportunity to be committed and be able to cheer for a team

that has an opportunity to go win games and be in the playoffs. and try to hopefully bring him a championship one day. I probably should have asked you. Are you following the draft? Have you looked at the players that, you know, are projected to go, you know, in the top 10 tonight? Do you have any feel for it,

or is it not something you've been paying attention to? Yeah, I pay attention, man. You know, I'm excited for all the guys to get opportunities to reach their goals and dreams. And, you know, I mean, everybody wants to go where, everybody wants to go super high. But like I always tell everybody, as long as you get a draft,

get opportunity to be in there, you gave yourself a chance. And now it's all about the commitment you put to yourself and all the work you put in. So, yeah, I'm just ready to see what's going on. So it's going to be a lot of interesting thing. I think it's going to be a lot of trades and stuff tonight. Actually, I'm reminded as you're talking,

you did tell me the last time we talked, you really like Derek Queen, the kid from Maryland. He's kind of mock drafted. Yeah, he's kind of mock drafted after six. But you like him a lot. So why do you like him a lot? and then there is another player that you're convinced has a chance to be a star? I think a lot of guys have a chance.

I mean, like I always say it's all about the right opportunity. Like, if you get to go to an opportunity team that give you an opportunity to play and develop, you can be anything. But if you end up on a team that don't want to give you a chance, but they like you and you just be a role player, then that might be your role in the career, the role for your career. You know, that's how it goes sometimes. But you have a guy like Dillardner that can go there.

You have a guy like A's Bailey that can put, maybe go there. You got a guy like Jeremy. I fear they can go there. You know what I mean? It's all the type of guys. Trey Johns can go there. I don't know which way they want to go and what route. They want to go. You know what I'm not in that room. Hopefully one day I can be in the room and be a GM and have to sit down and make these decisions and build a roster out. That's one of my ultimate goals. That's how much I love basketball talking about it, being around it. But I think they'll make the right choice and make the right decision at fifth and a team.

And the most thing with Jim is like you, I feel like you can't just take the best player there. You know what I mean? You got to take what's the best player. that fits with your team or what you're trying to go in your direction. I think that would take you a long way. If you were a GM, forget about this draft tonight and forget about, you know, the physical side of it. After you've identified a player that's, you know, got incredible upside and would be a good fit, what's the most important thing you need to learn about that individual? Well, first of all, I think you learned that, learned about that individual when you're at the combat. You know what I mean? When you're having those meetings, you ask those questions. You're trying to see how

his race, his personality, his character, his work ethic, you know what I mean? Talking to his parents, talking to his coaches from high school, talking to his coach from college. You kind of figure all those things out. And then when you get him there, you put him to the test. You know what you give him those tests and see if he's really built for it, if it's what he really want. And it's kind of how you do it with your kid.

If you've got a kid that's going through high school process and you tell you want to go to the league or he want to go to college, okay? I'm going to give you the blueprint how to get there. And you tell me if you want to be great or you just want to be good. That's how I go about it. I think one of the things you look for is you look for somebody like John Wall, who you know from day one loves basketball, and that it is a priority, which it was always for you. John's done some great work as an analyst, NBA TV, and other places. You can follow them on X on Twitter at John Wall. Appreciate you doing this again and look forward to maybe trying to get together sometime next NBA season.

John. Thank you so much. John Wall, everybody. Up next, Eric Flack from Channel 9 just spoke with somebody on the city council about the stadium. We'll find out what he learned right after these words from a few of our sponsors. If you get a chance to rate a review the show, especially on Apple and Spotify, it'll take you about 30 to 60 seconds to do it. It's huge for us, especially this time of year. We've got proposals. out in front of potential advertisers before football season begins, and ratings and reviews are very much looked at. So if you haven't rated us on Apple and Spotify, and you can take a minute to do it, that would be great. Also, follow us on Apple and Spotify as well. Hit the

plus button, hit the follow button. All right. Joining me right now is our friend Eric Flack from WUSA Channel 9 at Eric Flack. Black TV on X on Twitter. He is a Murrow and Emmy Award winning chief investigative reporter. And I reached out to Eric in just the nick of time because he literally just talked to a DC council member who got real about what the team wants out of a timeline to approve the stadium deal and what's really going to happen. and you tweeted, and the commanders might not like what I heard. So set it up for us. Where have you been today?

And what did you learn? I'm down at D.C. Council trying to peel back the layers of the onion, so to speak, on this stadium deal and what D.C. council members find so troublesome and why they're having some reluctance to approve it, even though, and this is what fans have to remember, It still appears that though the deal is headed to approval, but the question is, is it going to be approved on the commander's timeline or on D.C. Council's timeline or some world in between? The deal that the mayor had struck with the commanders had, as many people know, a July 15th deadline for D.C. Council to approve the deal. As I spoke with this council member who was in between meetings that are going on right now at the Wilson building to approve the budget, and this is not just the commander stadium, this is the entire budget.

That person looked exhausted. He called that timeline ludicrous. He said it is absolutely impossible that that July 15th deadline is going to be matched. Now, we've been hearing that for some time, but the commanders have been sort of raising a red flag, so to speak, saying, well, if you're not going to be that timeline, that's okay. But you really, D.C. Council has to approve the deal by August because if they don't, our timeline for opening the stadium by 2030, which is the timeline that all fans have been expecting, is going to start to be threatened. And it doesn't just matter because of, you know, the commanders opening their season in the fall of 2030 in that stadium. But, oh, by the way, the Women's World Cup is coming to North America in 2013. And we're not going to be able to bid to be a host city if this stadium isn't underway.

That is where things get dicey with the council. and council members who question whether or not if this discussion extends into September, which is something that I'm hearing is more and more likely at least some council members sides, will that really prevent the team from not having this stadium up by 2030 and not being able to bid on things like the Women's World Cup? And I don't think anybody knows for sure the reality of who is, kind of, you know, bluffing and what's real with all this. And that's what they're kind of working through right now. Okay. So I think every normal person understands that the city's going

to try to get the best deal they can get, and the team's trying to get the best deal they can get, and that the term sheet was just that, a term sheet. It has to be, you know, approved by the city council for it to become a full-fledged deal. So I think we all understand that the City Council needed to be made aware of a lot of different things that the mayor had a responsibility to bring to them. They had meetings with the team. We read about those. The team was willing to be as helpful as they could with city council members so that they could grasp the deal and even come back with ideas for a better deal. I think the issue here, correct me if I'm wrong, is the term sheet was agreed to on April 28th. These guys are talking about three.

months now, two and a half to maybe three months plus, and it doesn't even sound super, you know, optimistic that, you know, even two and a half to three months, they'll be able to vote on this. Why? What's taking them so long? That is a question that I think I just had posed to me literally minutes ago by somebody from the mayor's office, Kevin. You know, I think that's a good question to be asked to council members. I think that's a fair question.

I think they might argue that they were still, even though they had not been given the budget, they were still in the midget middle of the budget process. And because the term sheet and the stadium deal was wrapped up in the budget, and they had not received the budget at the time that you're representing. that it was impossible to address or consider one without the other. And I know that's something that Chairman Phil Mendelsohn has referenced, that without the overall picture, which is the budget that the stadium deal was a part of, it was impossible to consider the finances of the stadium deal a la carte.

Now, whether that's fair or not is up to people to judge. But, you know, if the argument that we're, where we're going to end up is something that might make that argument a little bit stronger, which is if this deal were a standalone deal and not part of a larger budget, would they not be able to argue that we couldn't consider it back on April, you know, whatever that? date was when the term sheet first came out because it was a standalone deal. As it turned out, the council was very much moving towards stripping the stadium out of the budget, passing the budget, and then taking up the stadium once the budget is passed and locked and loaded, and considering

it as a standalone deal already. And if we had started there, I think ultimately the council may lose kind of their their explanation to the question that you just posed. Okay. I mean, when will this budget pass with the stadium potentially being a standalone and separated from it? When will the budget pass? So they're talking about, they have to have the budget passed in July, but they're going to strip the stadium out of it all together.

The idea is that the stadium would not be part of the budget of Washington, D.C., which passes. The idea would be that it's stripped out as its own project and then taken up as a different piece of legislation after the budget is already approved and off the plate of the council members. But so much of this, as you know, is politics on both sides. And council members who feel like, and, you know, maybe in reality were kind of, painted into a corner by the mayor and the team by saying, hey, we got this stadium. Everybody loves it. Everybody's happy about it. Now, go approve it where, you know, I think they didn't like, I think we know it's not being included in the process. And I think they're going to,

many of them feel like they have the right to take their time that they were elected to do a job and take their time to scrutinize this. deal, even if they ultimately want to pass it. I had a council member tell me, it's going to be part of this piece we're going to be tomorrow. You know, if your wife wants lupiton shoes, you may realize the lupiton shoes are too expensive and don't make a ton of financial sense,

but it's what you're going to do because you realize you're ultimately going to do it because it's what your wife wants, and it's what's going to make everyone happy. And I think a lot of them see the stadium as the same way. It's like we're not sure there's a good financial deal. Ultimately, I think the city is going to buy the stadium. We're going to pay for the stadium. But we just want some time to figure out exactly what we're comfortable with,

even in a deal that we're not even convinced is financially the right thing. Yeah. Again, you know, you're right. They're elected to scrutinize to do its best for the constituents of the city, the taxpayers of this city. But you got to do that without creating the perception that you're lolly gagging. You know, you've got to be able to do that without creating the perception of what most people's, you know, in the private sector's default is of bureaucrats to begin with, which is they just move at a glacial pace.

And I would imagine that this is, you know, we read about it in the post story a few weeks ago that the team, you know, the mayor said that the team's outraged, the process and the potential delays, etc. That guys like Josh Harris and Mitchell Rails and Mark Ine who are used to working at a much different pace and hey, there's a massive deal with a big client. We better get this done. And I think in part of that article, the team was essentially said to the council,

look, we'll come in and we'll work morning night, 24-7 to answer all the questions, we could wrap this thing up in a weekend. I think you've got to steer clear of creating that perception, while, by the way, also doing what's in the best interest of the city and getting the best possible deal. And I think that's what they should be leery of. Your thoughts on that? I agree, and this is where I think the politics and the egos come in a bit. where they do not feel, well, I cannot speak to them.

I think it is possible that they are now feel like they're being told, hey, snap to it, we'll work nights, weekend. And in their minds, I think they would say at this point, they're already working nights weekends dealing with the budget at a time of budget deficit. they are consumed morning, noon, night, and weekend with their budget. Now, what could have been done before the, you know, in May, I think is really what we're talking about. That, that, I think, is a better question and one that is, you know, explained away with

the inability to move forward on a stadium deal without having seen the larger budget. As far as nights and weekends now, I think they would probably argue that they're already working nights and weekends on the budget itself. But certainly the perception is there, especially when you're talking about something that the people want, for lack of a better term. The people want it. And they want to see it done. And they're not as concerned for the most part with the details. But the council members, I think, feel like, you know, at this point, the devil is in details. Sure.

And really, you know, the question is going to become, you know, what does the council want change? There's a host of things that they have concerns about, including revenues and PLA's labor agreements and things that really get in the weeds, but are really, really can be sticking points. and what are the commanders willing to change? The financial terms of the agreement are not going to change. What can be done within the community services agreement? Can some of that labor scuffs be the address to kind of move this fall forward, literally, and figure it. So real quick, I just want to make sure I heard something correctly.

You don't think that the actual financial terms, 3.7 billion the team at 2.7, the city at 1 billion plus. You don't think that's going to change. Oh, God. I don't think, no. I don't even think the council members think that's insane. They're going to want bigger labor agreement. They don't want things like, you know, Robert White told me something about, like, we want the team to move their headquarters into Washington, D.C. Also, something that's probably not going to happen. That's not a financial term of the agreement. But those are the, well, you have to bring your, you know, we want you to make sure you use union labor for all the development within the RFK site, not just the stadium itself. Right now, that's something the mayor stripped out and said they only have to use union labor for the stadium. For the rest of it, they can, they're not required to use union labor.

Obviously, Harrison Company are going to be developing a lot of that land. That would save them a lot of money. Things like that are going to be, you know, issues, not. how much the city is going to kick in. All right. So you've said at the very beginning that July 15th isn't the main issue with the team. It's that it gets done in August. August. Yeah.

So August, what? August is their drop dead. Okay. They're kind of, they don't have like in August. They don't have like on August, if the deal isn't done by August 22nd, on August 23rd, all applications to be a host city for the women's World Cup are closed. That's not what they're saying. I believe what they're saying is that if it extends past August into September, which is that one council member told me they very well, I've heard multiple council members and their staff say they could see this extending into September,

then you're putting the timeline for building the stadium so far back that we're going to lose opportunities to be considered for 2030. For 2030. Yeah. Correct. 2030's in jeopardy if they don't approve this until September, is essentially what you're saying? I think even more, yes, but I think even more specifically, like bidding the Women's World Cup is in 2031. And I think there's probably a deadline to bid. And if we don't have our stadium at a certain point in development, they're not going to give us a World Cup host site if they don't honestly believe the stadium is going to be done on time. So what would happen if the City Council continues to, I'll say it this way because this is the perception, I believe, drag its feet, and we get to September,

and they haven't voted on it. I think we're all going to find out, Kevin. Like, they're not going to go to Maryland. Virginia's out. I mean, that's the thing. It's like a family walks into a used car dealership, and everybody in the family is like, I want that car. That car's amazing.

And they're like, we'll pay for that car. And then mom walks in and is like, well, that's a terrible price for that car. Now, we're still going to buy the car, but we need to renegotiate the terms of the deal. Both sides don't really have much agreement like negotiating power. DC Council isn't going to kill the deal. And the commanders don't want to go anywhere other than the RFK side. Right. So the toothpaste is out of the tube on both sides.

So they're going to both have, the commanders, I feel like, are going to have all. ultimately more motivation to get the deal done because they're the ones with the timeline. D.C. Council does not have a timeline. And it's the commanders who have a timeline. Look, ultimately, if the D.C. Council, if this is strategic and they know for sure that Josh Harris didn't go on anywhere else and they can't possibly lose this deal, and maybe in the process, we're going to lose the 2031 women. Women's World Cup, which by the way, is beneficial to the city as well, not just to the owners

of the football team and the stadium and the land surrounding it. But that, you know, ultimately, if that means they ended up getting the best possible deal and it was good cop, bad cop all along with the mayor and the city council, then good for them. So my last question specific to this, and then I just have one other question about something you wrote the other. other day about the stadium itself. Where are the votes right now? I think, I mean, the only

person who's no vote is Nadeau, and then even Alan, Alan might be, Charles Allen might be a no vote, but like all, even all the people who are raising concerns ultimately say they're going to vote for it. Like the Louvitton

you know, a comparison comes from Robert White, who has all sorts of concerns. But he's ultimately like, well, they're all going to do it. They're all going to do it. Joe is the only definite no vote. So it's going to pass. The question is a timeline.

I think Alan may vote against it. Maybe. Maybe he won't. But I think, though, at most, those are the two no votes you're looking at. I mean, I think everybody else in some form or fashion understands that the tide is in favor of this stadium for better or worse, whether they like it or not. So now it becomes, how do they get the best? So out of 12 members, it could be like a 10-2-11-1 kind of a vote. Right.

And at Treon-White, there could be a special election. I still can't remember where Tray-on-White stands. And if there's going to be a Treon-White person in place by the time that vote happens. Okay, so it'll be 13 votes by the time we get there. All right. You wrote a story last week about, you know, you mentioned the, you know, they're growing concerns over council delays. But you mentioned, and I actually had Scott Abraham from Channel 7 on the radio show this morning, and he said the same thing, that a retractable roof has not been ruled out.

You and I have talked about this before. Retractable roof means, you know, 20%, 30% more in cost or whatever it was when we last talked about it. So tell me real quickly, why is retractable roof not, why has it not been ruled out? I was stunned when I talked to the team source. I almost asked the question, like a retractable roof is out, right? I almost was answering my own question. They're like, no, no, no, no, no, not necessarily. The only thing they stress, well, why is it not?

Because I think they're considering all options. They haven't hired a design firm yet. They've only got the bids out on the design firm. They're in the final stages, and they're considering kind of the usual suspect. when it comes to this sort of thing. But you know, they don't, they don't, not only do they not have rendering, they haven't even hired the design firm to kind of put the stadium together. The source also kind of stressed me that open your mind as to what a retractable roof or retractable sections look like. So I think, you know, when they said a retractable roof is, you know, still under consideration.

What I got the sense was equally likely was retractable sections of the stadium, sections of the stadium that could open to the air to give it a more open air feel. And this is something that they said, Legion is really good at right now out in Vegas, where you can have sections of just the stadium itself retract to kind of give it the kind of the feel of kind of an outdoor game while not necessarily having a full retractable route. So I think whatever they come up with certainly sounds like it's going to have kind of that

high-tech, new age, retractable aspect to it in some form or fashion. And certainly they have not, you know, kind of ruled that out. I mean, the bottom line is, is if Washington's going to host the 2033 Super Bowl, the roof is going to have to be closed because in February, our city is a cold weather city. And the NFL made it very clear after they avoided a disaster in 2013 by about 12 hours, that they're not going back to an outdoor cold weather city ever again. Absolutely not. I think the idea of the full-on retractable roof, like, you know,

Minutemade Park there in Houston, whatever it's called these days, I think that is the thing of the past. But I do think the idea of retracting sections of a stadium or a ballpark is a thing that is still very much under consideration. Thanks for doing this. As always, good job. Hope you're well. Talk soon.

anytime. All right, that is it for the show today, back tomorrow with Tommy.