The Kevin Sheehan Show - The Why of the WFT Run

Episode Date: December 9, 2021

Kevin and Thom today on the why of Washington's surge towards a postseason berth. They also talked Montez Sweat, vaccines, polls, Loverro Island, Daniel Hudson, the Wizards and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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 Cheehan Show. Here's Kevin. The show today is presented by my good friends at Window Nation. December cold has arrived, and that's going to mean much higher energy bills for you this winter, especially with the price of natural gas.

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Tommy is with me today. We are approaching one of the biggest games Washington's had in a long time. You know, I just got off the phone with Babe Laufenberg. Tommy, I recorded an interview with him for tomorrow's radio show. Such a nice guy. I mean, you know, you and I had him on the radio show many times, and he's been, on everybody's radio show, you know, over the years, because he's been calling cowboy games with Brad Sham now for a long time. And I actually, I had Brad on the podcast yesterday. So if you

miss that, Brad was really good. You can go back to yesterday's show and listen to it. But, you know, he, like, I got the impression from him that they think they're in for it this Sunday. You know, they're hopeful that they're getting healthier and they may be as healthy as they been in a while, but they kind of have this sense that they're running into a buzzsaw, named the Washington football team. It's kind of amazing. I mean, so it's the name of the Washington football team, at least for right now, the call the team you don't want to play.

Is that who they are? So I was doing this on the radio this morning. It was kind of a segment, and you and I can talk. about it right now, actually. And that is there is this sense that they are surging towards a playoff berth. There is a all of a sudden a large group of believers in this team. And I'm not just talking about locally. You know, the national shows on NFL network and ESPN have been talking about this game and talking about this team all week. And it's amazing how many people are like, this team's playing at a high level and they've got a formula that works and they've got a defense that's been rejuvenated and they can run the football.

And yeah, like I think that there is this sense that Washington's one of those teams you don't want to play right now. Don't you feel the same way or not? Yes, I think they are. I think that's what they've become remarkably. You know, you don't want them on your schedule in December. remember. So why did this happen? Can you put your finger on it? Well, I mean, I have many fingers. I'll try to spare one. They're all rather chubby. I've seen them before. Yes, they are. They're very thick. Yes. I would say that to me, one of the reasons is that this is Ron Rivera's modus operandi.

I mean, we've talked about this and before, and we kind of dismissed it early in the year because they were so bad, and we just didn't see a turnaround happening, particularly without Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starting quarterback, but his teams play better late in the season. That's his track record. So in a way, it shouldn't surprise us, because this is what Ron Rivera. it does. I mean, you just got to wonder if, I guess when we looked at the schedule and we looked at the murder's row of quarterbacks, we didn't see a way for them to dig out of the hole that they would be in once they got to Ron Revere's, we're going to play well time.

Right. We thought they be buried maybe more than they actually were. Well, but Seattle wasn't as good as we thought they were, you know, and a couple of other instances came into play. And so this is where Ron Rivera teams usually wind up. The murderers' row of quarterbacks, they basically lost to most of them. You know, Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rogers. The key game, and a caller pointed this out this morning on the radio show.

I don't necessarily think that this is like a big, you know, revelation. But I think it just, it hit me. It's like the key game of the season was the Tampa Bay game. Yes. You know, they came out of this. Absolutely. Like, they came out of this by week with no expectations. They may have had some.

And Ron obviously did a hell of a job of convincing everybody, hey, we're close. Not Bruce Allen close, but Ron Rivera close. But, you know, your face. Tom Brady, you're facing the Buccaneers, who, by the way, were also coming off their buy week, and they had lost going into their buy to New Orleans in big fashion. So they were coming out hungry, and somehow Washington's new model of controlling the ball and controlling the clock, you know, totally paid off. They ran like 25 more plays in the game than Tampa, and they won a game that none of us expected them to win. Nobody had Washington beating Tampa that week.

And without that, even if they, you know, started to play well and won the last three, they'd be five and seven. And they'd be on the outside looking in and the division wouldn't be in play, even with two games left against the Cowboys. The Buccaneers game was the incredible, you know, jump start to this thing and the most unexpected because it was another quarterback. on the murderers' role of quarterbacks, and somehow they won that game. And by the way, they deserve to win that game. Yes, and, you know, I mean, that's what I said when we talked the last time, and when we talked about Taylor Heineke, that was the game that turned me around about Taylor Heineke.

Yeah. But that was his answer game. I mean, we believed that if he continued to turn in the performances that he had in the previous couple of games, he was going to be on the bench. following the Tampa game. And I think he knew that. So yeah, the Tampa game, considering you're playing the Super Bowl champs and the greatest quarterback in the history of the league who, you know, is still performing at a high level. The chances of Washington winning that game, nobody gave them a chance. Yeah. And if you lose that game, two and seven, and like we've said before, very possible that

Kyle Allen starts the game of Carolina the following week. And even if they're good enough with Kyle Allen to beat the Panthers, Seahawks, and Raiders, three games in a row, five and seven against an eight and four team. You're not talking about this game being a big game like it is now because right now the division's within reach. So in answering the question about putting a finger on it, there are a couple of things for me. You've already mentioned one of them. I do think that a lot of this is Ron Rivera, and the people he's picked staff-wise and even player-wise. I'll get to that in a moment.

He's obviously done this before. He did it last year. He, for whatever reason, is able to look people in the eye and lead at the worst of times. And people believe him. They believe in him. And by the way, the Tampa game, he probably needed badly. because getting that Tampa win made all of the discussion about we're close, you know, we're getting better, which he was saying even publicly, you know,

after losses to Green Bay and to Denver, that he got validation, you know, inside that locker room with that win over Tampa. I also think that they have become a very physical team. You know, this is one of these things that I think for most. most of us that didn't play football at that level or at any significant level. Sometimes, you know, are a little bit skeptical about what it really means. But, you know, you and I have been around people like Doc Walker, you know, our whole, much of our professional lives.

And they are taking it to people physically on offense with that offensive line and on defense as well. And they're kind of, to use the expression, kind of imposing their will a little bit physically on their opponents. And then the last part of it for me is, and I give Ron credit for this too, because, you know, a lot of people have been skeptical about him as the general manager, as the lead voice on personnel, final voice on personnel. But, you know, the people, and he didn't draft John Allen, I understand that. And he didn't draft Terry McClure, I understand that. but he has gotten through to the mature guys in his locker room, and they're preaching the gospel.

You know, John Allen, Terry McLorn, you know, guys like that are pretty good guys to have as believers in what you're selling, because like he had with Keekly and Thomas Davis and others in Carolina, you know, they are, they're perfectly suited to be leaders. I mean, you know, Chase Young had to see on his jersey. John Allen's the real leader of that defense. Yes, yes, he is. And so he's got some really good quality, you know, people, tough people that believe in him,

that, by the way, are playing at a super high level and leading on offense and defense as well. I was going to mention something else. You know, I spent yesterday probably too long for some of you, but I thought it was interesting. Just the third down numbers and how they're a little bit backwards. Like they had a great first and second down defense for the first seven games, but the worst third down defense in the league. And what was going on is for whatever reason,

they couldn't get off the field on third and long. And yet in the last four games, their first and second down defense hasn't been that great. And the teams that they're playing have much shorter third and makeables. 62% of the third downs have been third and four or shorter. A third of them have been third and two or shorter. But somehow they're getting off the field on third down. I had Kime on the show this morning.

And Kime goes, well, you know, their run defense has been really good. And I said, yeah, John, but you're not going to give them eight yards. So they've got a third and two so you can be in a round. run defense formation. Like that's going to eventually catch up with you, which it will. But beyond that, there's something else that's a little bit interesting about this four game win streak. They're minus one in the turnover differential over these four games.

They only have three takeaways in these four games. You know, most times when just call them an average team, you know, not an overwhelmingly good team, which I think everybody can still agree on right now, usually when you you get a big swing in a season, a four games, you know, winning streak, five game, it is turnover differential infused. More times than not, you can go right to turnover differential and you can see, whoa, they got three takeaways in this game. They were plus three. They got three in this game, gave up one. They were plus two. And over that four game stretch, they were plus six or plus seven. They're minus one right now. They only have three defensive takeaways. Now, to be fair,

The defense has barely been on the field for these four games, too, because the offense has dominated time of possession. So that's part of the reason. But I just thought that that was interesting, too. They have not been a good takeaway team this year. And if they start getting turnovers, imagine what will start to happen in terms of points scored, too. You know, they're not getting short fields. They're not getting defensive scores.

No, they're not. I mean, look at some of these drives that they've had, these lengthy, long drives. I mean, they started from deep in their territory. Right. Yeah. Right now, Washington's 27th in the league in takeaways, 27th. And, you know, their turnover differential right now is minus, they're minus five on the season. Like, if you start looking at the teams that have a negative turnover.

differential. Some of these teams are very much in the hunt, which is unusual, actually. But the leaders in turnover differential are the Colts, and they're still in it, the Cardinals, best record in the league, the Patriots, second best record in the league, the Bills, the Packers, the Buccaneers, the Cowboys. You know, there are your top seven in terms of turnover differential. And right now, you know, all but really Indianapolis for sure are going to be in the playoffs. although Buffalo certainly has a tough road a little bit right now at 7 and 5 with Tampa on deck Sunday. But Washington's minus 5. They're 27th in the league in turnover differential, and they are 27th in the league in takeaways.

So if that starts to turn in their direction, they could really get onto a role and become a much more difficult out than even some people think they are right now. But anyway, I'm looking forward to Sunday. I'm really looking forward to it. Oh, my. I'm going to be there at the stadium. Well, they're going to have the biggest crowd. And let me just real quickly, because, let me see if I can find this now.

I had it up earlier, but I'll paraphrase here. This guy Saul tweeted me. I think the first time I mentioned this was with you two days ago. I, he's like, it sounds like you're, you know, I'm paraphrasing, you're really pushing ticket sales now for the team. Like, why are you doing this? It was kind of that kind of a tweet. And I think I did this with you the other day,

but I mentioned that the new capacity, the revealed capacity. Yes, he did. 67,000. Yeah, 67,017. And that, you know, there are still lots of tickets available for the Philadelphia game. Which, yes, I was told that, and I was not asked necessarily, but they're like, man,

this is the opportunity, is the Philadelphia game for Washington fans. to that are disappointed at the lack of availability for the cowboy game. And by the way, the prices, which apparently are very high for whatever's left. They have standing room seats that they're selling, I think, for 200 bucks or something like that, that the Philadelphia game. Look, yeah, I guess I was kind of pushing it a little bit, but I don't really care. I'm not, you know, no one's paying me to push it.

It's self-serving. Number one, our relationship, Tommy understands this, and I'm not going to sit here and bore you with all the details. We've done that in the past. The relationship between the station and even this podcast and the team has not been real good over the years. So it'd be nice if it got better. So I'll do my part on that. But number two, from I'd love to see for that Philadelphia game, which, by the way, it has a chance to be a massive game for Washington. It might be the game of the five to close the year. a game between Washington and Philadelphia, which may mean a wild card birth in the NFC,

I just think it would be nice to see a lot of Washington fans there and have a legitimate home field advantage for the first time in a while. Because I don't think Sunday is going to be a massive home field advantage. I'm sensing that it's going to be split 50-50 best case. I hope I'm wrong, and I could be wrong, but I was told that most of the tickets for this game were sold before the four-game winning streak, you know, sort of evolved. And that would be an indicator that the cowboy fans had bought them. Right.

Like I said, we said before, that's not unusual. Cowboy fans fill a lot of visiting stadiums. You know, they make their presence known in a lot of visiting stadiums. So that's not particularly unusual. Yeah. All right. We've got some other things to get to, including some Washington football team stuff. I also want to weigh in on the Wizards game last night, which I did watch.

We'll do that and a lot more starting right after these words from a few of our sponsors. This segment of the show is presented by My Bookie. Everybody's trying to cash in on the next best crypto. But if you want a guaranteed way to double your money, all you need to do is use my promo code, Kevin D.C. at MyBooky. It's simple. Sign up at My Bookie. Again, my promo code is Kevin D.C. If there's something already written in the promo code when you get there, erase it and write Kevin D.C. And your first deposit will be immediately doubled all the way up to $1,000. That's a pretty quick turnaround on your investment. The NFL playoff race is heating up.

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Just a quick recommendation. Read Nikki Javala's story in the Washington Post about James Smith Williams, Washington's defense event. I won't say anymore, just trust me, it's a really, really good story. Also, that reminds me, always follow Tom Levero on Twitter at Tom Laverro and get the latest story that he's written, which you can always find on my Twitter account because I retweet it in timely fashion after I've read it.

Okay. You know, how many weeks will have to go by where I won't have to remind you? I don't know. I want you. It's like a mental block. I want you to keep reminding me, okay? Okay, so... Okay, so you're not offended.

You're not saying, Jesus, this guy's an asshole. Keep bugging me. No, no, no. It wouldn't be that I was offended. It would be that I'm annoyed by you're constantly texting me to say, well, you retweet my column. There are times, as you know, where I will read your column and do it without you having

to ask me. But you know this. I'm not sitting there on social media as much as you. are all day or as much as other people are all day. And maybe that's a weakness of mine, considering the business that I'm in. I just don't really enjoy it as much. So I don't always know when you've written. You don't write every day. It's not like there's a predictable pattern to your writing. And then, no offense to the website that produces your content, but it's a little difficult.

So when you send me your story cut and pasted by email, I prefer that. That makes it so much easier. By the way, when is your paper going to get a website that's easier? Seriously. You know what? Here's my thing with the paper. I write columns.

That's it. Yeah, but you should be... That's it. No, no, no. Yes, because the more... The more... Such a lone ranger. The more you get in...

Mm-hmm. the worse it'll get. The more you jump into the pool, the more problems you'll discover, the more things you'll know that you don't want to know. And I have found over the years just to keep, I call it Laverro Island. I know.

You've told me about it. Things are good on Laverro Island. The rest of the world may be imploding, but Laverro Island is fine. I don't. So I don't want to know how to fix it. website. I don't want to know what the problems are. I just want you to listen to the music. That's it. You know, you are such an example of kind of a lone ranger. You've always been that way.

You know, you on Laverro Island, whether you've been an independent contractor or been an employee for whomever you've worked for, your mode of operation is to just steer clear of anybody in management. You don't want to be anywhere near any decision makers. You just want to write your columns. And occasionally you like people to say, I really liked your column the other day. Great job. You want the checks to clear.

And that's it. You don't want to be bothered. You like to do, look, a lot of people are this way. You know, I think a lot of people out there listening that are salespeople, in particular in various businesses, a lot of you are that way. like the freedom to be able to do what you want to do. And as long as you're getting your job done, as long as you're producing, you know, you hope that management won't bother you.

But with that said, I think you could have contributed so much more over the years to your employers. Because you're smart, you have a really good sense of what your readers and your case in your business what your readers or your listeners think and want. But you just steer clear of any of that. And part of that is because you just fear like the more you get involved, the more you're at risk. That's your, that's part of it. But I didn't come to that conclusion, like from reading a book or something like that. You know, I wasn't born into the business afraid of challenges. I mean, that comes to. I used to be a boss, okay?

And I used to get involved, and I've seen the needle and the damage done, as Neil Young would say. And I don't want the junk anymore. I've kicked the junk. That attitude comes from years of being burned of trying to work with dumber people in management positions and realizing that not on my forehead is from banging it against the wall. And I think that your experience is, look, I know the experience you've had because for this part of my professional life, the last 16, 17 years, I understand what management has been in this kind of business.

As you know, it's never stopped me from at least, you know, throwing some ideas and making some pitches every once in a while to try to make things better. But I do understand sort of, you know, hitting your head up against that same wall over and over again and just realizing that you may not make much progress. I think different industries are different. Like, I do think in any industry that you would have gone in, any profession you would have gone in into, you would have, you would have been a contributor. You would have been a producer. And I think had you been in businesses that had many, like a lot more in terms of smart people and secure people that you would have found your way closer to, you know, places where you would have been made more contributions as like, you know, a lot more. real decision maker. And I know you said you've been a boss. But I just...

There's there. There's there. One thing, the key word you hit there was secure people. That's usually the problem. Of course. Especially in the business... Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's often. Well, let me ask you, how many times can you remember where you felt rewarded

for getting, for contributing and being involved as opposed to being frustrated? More times than not. not. Rewarded. Yeah, more times than not. I'm surprised at that. Well, but remember, I haven't been in this business my whole life. Okay, that's true. That's true. You were in real business as opposed to this business.

Well, I mean, by the way, with people who in many cases were more secure. Because that has, that seems to, look, I'm sure that that is a hallmark of many businesses and industries, right, where management is insecure and there, it's hard to work with people who are insecure, you know, and the worst is to work with people who are insecure and dumb. Like, that's really a problem. But I don't know. I think, you know, there have been some people in our business over the years. Like, I can think of one in particular, very much so right now.

Bruce Gilbert, you know, who we worked for for, I don't know, four years, three years, four years, whatever it was. Bruce now runs Westwood one. I think it's Westwood one. By far and away of the CEOs that we had, he was by far in a way the most secure. And by the way, the most kind of understanding that he didn't have all the answers and nobody did, but he was much more of sort of welcoming of anybody that, you know, had different ideas. I actually, you know, not everybody. I actually, you know, not everybody made out well when Bruce was our CEO. I always liked him and I always really respected him. I mean, I think the list is really short of those people in this business.

Well, you know, I didn't work for Bruce nearly as long as he did. And he wasn't there very long when I was there. Right. And then he was God. So I didn't have the pleasure of working with him. Go ahead, clear your throat. Clear your throat, please. Thank you.

I'm not going to edit that out. All right. Whatever. Okay. Whatever. One more thing. What? What's the...

One more thing. The problem of insecurity is even worse in a creative business, as opposed to a business. Why? A business? Well, because people take their abilities to create personally, much more personally. In other words, when I'm writing something and an editor decides, well, that's not the way I would have written it, so I'm going to change it. That's something that doesn't happen if you're making widgets, I don't think, as much. Yeah, I hear, I know why you're saying that.

I'm not saying that I disagree with it because I don't think that I do, but I'd have to think about it more. I think that, I mean, making widgets is, you know, that's sort of the extreme on the other end. But I think in a lot of businesses that aren't necessarily creative businesses, there's still creativity in those businesses or a need in many people excel because of their creativity. I don't know if that made sense to you or not. I know what you're saying to a certain degree, maybe, that artists are more insecure. than business people is kind of netting it out, right? Yes. Yes, I mean, because in one aspect, that's how business people got where they are,

because they're secure and confident in their abilities. And artists, this is not a trade I'm familiar with, but artists have a lot of self-doubt. Yeah. I think that's probably true. Yeah, it's the, you know, it's kind of the left brain, right brain thing, right? I mean, so you're more of a right-brainer. I think that's what it is, right? Is right-brainer creativity and left-brainer is more sort of analytical, mathematical, whatever?

I don't know. Okay. How about no-brainer? How about Montez Sweat speaking of no-brainer? Brainer. I'm kidding. So Montez-Sweet. Yeah, did test positive for COVID.

I think we know that now. It wasn't just a close contact. I'm pretty sure that that's the case. I think Kime told me that this morning. That means 10 days of quarantine and then two negative tests required before he can play. So he's going to miss this game for sure. More likely than not, you know, given the late in the week or later in the week diagnosis, the chance of him playing in the game against Philadelphia might be a long shot.

although it's doable. This was the guy that in July training camp, I think it was training camp, said that he wasn't going to get vaccinated until he got COVID. He seemed to be a little bit confused that the vaccine was not like a medicine you take after you get COVID. It's not a therapeutic. It's actually a preventative. He didn't really understand that. No matter how many doctors were on, you know, Zoom calls with.

the team, it didn't really sink in. So there you go. I think actually the more interesting part, Tommy, is that Montes Sweat may have played this week had he not tested positive for COVID. I don't know that we know that for sure, but let's just assume that he had a chance of playing this week. Okay, so he's not playing this week. Is anybody that upset? I'm much more upset about Logan Thomas not playing. Yes. No, you're right. I mean, it's, it's, I'm sure there's no simple line, direct line of the correlation, maybe, between the two events, but they've played their best defense without Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Right.

Yeah. You know, now I'm not saying that's a direct line correlation. I'm sure there's other things that come into play, and, you know, the possibility exists that if they were playing, they still be playing great, you know, good defense like they are. but, I mean, this guy is just, this is one of his quotes from July. I probably won't get vaccinated until I get more facts and that stuff. I'm not a fan of it at all. This is part of what I don't get.

I mean, this guy had a broken jaw, okay? When the doctors worked on his jaw, did Montez sweat say to the doctors, Well, what are you doing now? You know? And let me research first on the Internet to see if the best, this is the best way to fix my jaw. Yeah, that's apples. You know, let me, no, it's not. It's the same thing.

No, it isn't. No, it's not. It's the same thing. You don't believe that a doctor or science can help you without first you investigating it. Okay. Well, they've been fixing jaws forever. They just came up with a vaccine. Well, yeah, but this vaccination.

But they've been vaccinating you forever. I understand that. But, you know, the information and how you get your information based on where, you know, your circumstance is for something new, like a vaccine, is far different than, you know, the information you're getting on a jaw surgery that's been done, you know. But the essence is the same. You doubt what health officials are telling you. Look, everybody now, regardless of your political persuasion, is doubting a lot of what people have told us medical people. No, they're not.

Hold on. Hold on. Of course they are. No, they're not. No, they're not. I mean, what a blanket statement that is. A lot. What you're saying? Which part of it do you have a problem with?

The lot? They're doubting a lot. A lot of people are doubting. Let's take the degree out of it. People are doubting a lot. I see I can't even say it without saying it a lot because I guess I believe it's a lot about what's coming out from our nation's medical leaders in regard to this disease. I think there's a handful of loud people who are doubting it. There's a handful of stupidly loud people who are doubting it.

The trust in the medical information polling continues. to decrease in terms of the confidence level they have in the medical advice we're getting on COVID. By the way, let me just make one thing clear. Information changes, data changes, and therefore opinions and direction change. I don't know why people have a problem with that. I've never had a problem with the fact that one month they're saying yes on masks, next, no, mandates over, now it's back on Vaccines, you're not going to get the disease. Vaccines, you will get the disease. This is an ever-evolving situation.

So I want my leaders, certainly my medical leaders, to be flexible enough to say, hey, you know what? That information we gave you two months ago is no longer valid because we've got more data. So I want them to take the latest data and then give us the best direction they can in the moment. But I think you are completely off base to think that people haven't lost confidence. Maybe not a lot of people or a lot of confidence. But people have lost confidence in the medical direction as it relates to this disease since the beginning of it. And the information that comes out. I don't think that's true.

I just think that simply is not true. Okay. We disagree on that. The polling would back me up on that. I can't pull a poll. Really? Yes. I'll find a poll.

poll before the end of the show, but there have been polls about the confidence level in things like Dr. Fauci or the CDC or what's her face in the current administration. And it's not nearly where it was a year ago. Not nearly where it was a year ago. Why should it be? I mean, the information changes a lot. I'm looking at a few research analysis from September that says public polling on COVID-19 vaccination has tracked the CDC rate fairly closely. Yeah, you're focused just on the vaccine. I'm focused on the overall disease and the directions related to the disease, which by the way, the primary direction is vaccines. Because this discussion is about Montez-Swed and the vaccine.

Yes. Well, that's not what I was saying, though. You were, I was saying that the confidence level in the public's confidence level in the medical direction on the disease is less than it was a year ago. That's what I'm saying. Less than it was when the president was dismissing the actual disease. Right, the president that fast-tracked it

with Operation Warpspeed to get an actual vaccine and took the vaccine. Yeah, oh my God. Oh, my God. So is that not true either? What was his option? to slow roll it? Well, you just suggested that one of his options could have been to continue to dismiss it.

But whatever, slow roll it, not slow roll it. He publicly dismissed it at the beginning, true, and then they developed a vaccine. I don't even want to give him credit for it. His administration developed a vaccine in record time and he took the vaccine. Is any of what I just said inaccurate? No. Again, he was the president of the fucking United States. I understand.

What were his options? Well, you know, you know, what? When they came home and he says, I want you to get this vaccine as quick as possible because it's going to cost me to frigate election. Well, his lack of leadership among many things cost him the election. But whatever, the current vice president at the time was telling people that you shouldn't trust a vaccine produced by that administration. That was really helpful too. Did you say that while she was vice president? No, she said it during the campaign.

Oh, okay. So that could be campaign rhetoric. Right. Anyway, what started this conversation? I think that the confidence level among the American public has decreased as far as the medical community's direction and communication of this thing, and you think it is not. So whatever, I'll try to find some polling that backs me up. Anyway, what started this conversation? Montez Sweat.

By the way, before we get back to Montez Sweat, which I think we're going to do, let me just make one thing. in case anybody's confused. I'm pro-vaccine. I'm absolutely pro-vaccine, and I wish Montez sweated taking the vaccine. Well, he's not a good teammate. He's not a good teammate by not doing it. I mean, he, you know,

I mean, if you think he's good, if you think the team is better with him, then, you know, he costs his team at least one, possibly two games of his talent out there. Right. I don't know how I feel about that. I think on one level, there is a requirement when you're part of an overall effort to win because everybody benefits if you win, people's incomes, people's well-beings are dependent upon everybody performing. And on one level, you know, it's kind of. I mean, it's not a perfect apples to apples, but it's the same way I've kind of felt about the whole paternity leave thing with athletes. Like, I just can't imagine that a football player who's significant

would miss a big game in an NFL season because he's going to be there for the birth of his child. I mean, there are too many people's lives in livelihoods at stake. I think that there's a level of selfishness there. At the same time, you know, it's unique because of the business that they're in and you can't change the date of a game. You can change the meeting date if you're in a business to say, hey, we're going to have to change that meeting date. I can't make it. My wife is having a baby. I'm going to be there. But we haven't really seen that manifest itself. Like in a big player missing a massive game, like a playoff game, due to, you know, paternity leave. I think we did see it, though, in the, well, we did see it in the World Series or the playoffs.

With the National. With the Nationals pitcher. Yeah, with Daniel, what's his name? Yeah, the relief pitcher, the closer that they had. John a blank here. Yeah. Yeah, him. Him.

But whatever. Where are we going with this? What do you? I don't know how I feel about it. But Monta Sweat being a terrible teammate for not getting vaccinated. I think that there is a level of responsibility that these players have to get vaccinated for the purpose of it because of their jobs and being a part of a team and part of a bigger thing that isn't just themselves. At the same time, I really am a strong believer in your body, your choice. But not everybody's your body your choice should be the same based on their profession and commitment and money that they're earning.

I'm a big believer in that we are part of a global village. And, you know, you have a certain responsibility to your friends, family, and neighbors as well. Yeah. Well, everybody in my family is vaccinated, and yet my wife and son had COVID last week. I know that. Hold on. Why are we blanking on the pitcher's name? It's driving me nuts.

Daniel Hudson. Daniel Hudson. Jesus, God. And I think he missed a game in the league championship series against the Cardinals. I think that's what it was. I think that's what it was. But it didn't see the delay on them, did it? No, no, he was great, and he closed it out in Houston in Game 7.

Well, I tell you what, one of the things we're going to be talking about once football season is over and next baseball season starts is the health of the national franchise. because there is a lot of grousing going on. Not a lot. I am hearing some grousing going on there from national fans about the team moving into the 20-22 season and raising ticket prices while they're in this reboot. That's going to be a story moving forward in come opening day.

You know it's not a story today? other than the current Washington football team and their game Sunday. But that's not going to stop me from talking about the Wizards game. And we'll do that right after these words from a few of our sponsors. All right, let's finish up Daniel Hudson. Let's finish up with I want to talk about the Wizards game last night. And I also want to talk about Bradley Beale here for a moment. So the Wizards beat last night the worst team in the NBA, Tommy, the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons had lost nine in a row coming in. They've now lost 10 games in a row because the Wizards, you know, survived the Pistons somehow, winning in overtime 119 to 116. They were down 14 in the first half. They were up 13 with like four and a half to go and blew the lead in regulation and then won the game on a Kyle Kuzma, three from the corner in overtime, 119, 116. So the tremendous start that the Wizards had, you know, they started off 10 and 3, and there was this really good feeling.

And by the way, you and I talked a lot about how, my God, these home crowds, like their playoff atmospheres, you know, at Capital One Arena. And that made me happy because I would love to have a great NBA season for the hometown team. And by the way, when they started this, the football team was doing so poorly. It was like, hey, we might have something else to talk about. And I told you back then, and this is not to pat myself on the back, but when everybody was saying how great they were on defense and all of the analytics were showing how great and improved they were on defense, I was telling you,

I was like, I see that they are, you know, taking it more seriously and they're playing with great urgency and they're better defensively. I'm not going to deny that. But I've also watched some games where. where I don't think they've been great defensively. I just think the other team has really played poorly on offense. And I held out declaring that this was like going to be a great defensive basketball team. Because I didn't feel that in my gut watching them.

I thought that they were much better and that Unsell Jr. is taking it more seriously than Scott Brooks ever did. And all that's a good thing. And they've got really, you know, they've got a deeper team and all of that would play out. They have really fallen on hard times here recently. You know, going into the game last night, they had lost four or five. They were giving up, you know, a lot of points. They were getting beat by double digits on the regular. Even their one close game the other night against Indiana really wasn't a close game.

They lost by six. They were down, you know, they were never really in the game. And then last night, I forget if I said it on the podcast yesterday, I'm like, this is a massive game for this team. because if they don't beat the worst team in the NBA, a team that got beat by the second worst team in the NBA, Oklahoma City, on their home floor a few nights earlier, they're going on this unbelievable stretch of schedule

where the season could really turn around in a quick hurry and they could have a losing record by the end of the year. And they won the game last night, Tom, but it was not pretty. Well, I mean, they played a team that has a lot. lost ninth straight or something like that or 10th straight yeah they're four and 20 the pistons are the worst team in the league yeah worst team in the league and they i mean they're a bad team like they have they don't come close to winning games i mean they they hadn't won since um you know they hadn't won in like three weeks and so i i watched a lot of the game although i was

flipping back and forth with uh that in indiana wisconsin i had indiana plus five last night and Indiana was up 22 and lost by five. That's one of the worst pushes you'll ever have. But I, you know, they built, they came back, they took a big lead and then I thought the game was over except it wasn't. They just played silly basketball down the stretch and regulation. Bradley Beale up to, up 106, 104 late in the game, had a possession. where he went back court, turned the ball over by going back court with the ball in his hands. It was such a terrible play. They were up to 106-104. The shot clock was off. All you had to do was wait to get fouled or if you got trapped, call the time out. And it was one of those Bradley Beale turnovers where you're like, are you serious? You're going to go back court and then they tied the game up on their next possession, went to overtime.

Beale had another bad turnover and overtime, but he also made a couple of big shots, including the go-ahead shot late, and then Cade Cunningham real quickly, the top pick in the draft, placed for the Pistons, had not watched him play at all this year. I was really impressed with him. Anyway, Kyle Coosma ends up hitting a three, they win the game. Okay, they won the game. They've got a tough schedule coming up. I mean, a schedule in which they're going to be an underdog in a lot of these games coming up.

They play really good teams. they have the West Coast swing, the whole thing. And then on the way back from the West Coast swing, they play Brooklyn and the Knicks. There's something going on, though. And there's something going on, and I had Chris Miller on the radio show this morning. Chris is one of my favorite people of all the media people in town.

And he alluded to this a little bit. We're in a stretch here with Bradley Beale where if things don't go well and he's not confident that they're going to go well, I don't think he's going to be back here next year. Really? I think he's frustrated right now. I think he's frustrated with the supporting cast.

I think he's frustrated with, you know, how much does the offense go through him versus others? There was a game that Chris pointed out to me. I didn't watch this game. I think it was on during NFL football. They were playing Toronto a few days ago. Maybe it was last week. It may have been last Sunday.

and he only took 12 shots from the floor. That's not a lot of shots for Bradley Beale. Okay, that's not enough shots for Bradley Beal. I think it's the fewest number of field goal attempts in the game. And Chris sort of alluded to the fact that he was very frustrated after that lost to Toronto and trying to figure everything out offensively. Now, he came back and he had 34 in the game against Indiana. And last night he had 25.

but it wasn't the best game Beals played. But he was on some podcast, and excuse me for not knowing Chris Haynes, but apparently he's got a very popular NBA podcast, and he was on this podcast the other day, and he was asked about whether he's ready to commit to the team in the form of a long-term deal. And he said, quote, I got time, I kind of hold the cards right now.

I've never been in this position before. I'm kind of embracing that, being able to kind of dictate how I want my future to be and where I want it to be. And at the same time, I'm not going to make the grand commitment and have it not work.

Ultimately, you've got to be selfish at some point for probably the first time in my career, year 10, I am. And so I'm kind of taking advantage of it in a way. Obviously, my full commitment is to the team. I want it to work. I've contributed to being here. I've contributed or committed, I'm sure he was trying to say, to being here.

I've been committed twice to being here. Now I want to see that commitment to me, as well as that we create a winning team here, a winning environment here. I'm a part of that, so I've got to make sure that I'm stepping up and doing my thing too. But I think this is a crucial stretch the next couple of months. like I think they've got to be play well. I think he's got to feel confident that the team around him is the right team to win, maybe not a championship, but to have a chance to be playing in a lot of big games in May and June,

certainly May. And if not, I hope that he is able to say to Tommy before the trade deadline, I'm not going to sign here so that the Wizards can get the most back. for him prior to that trade deadline. I think it's going to be a really interesting, you know, couple of months, you know, before the NBA trade deadline, because they haven't played well here over the last couple of weeks, and they're going to have to play well, and they're going to have to prove to him, Tom, that they, that this is a place he can win, or I think he's going to go somewhere else. Well, one of the places he's not going to get traded to is Toronto, since he's

can't even set foot in Canada come January because he's not vaccinated. Oh, that's right. So, yeah. So he's off your list. He won't be he won't be betrayed to the rasters. Look, from what

I know about Bradley Beal and doesn't necessarily mean it's right, but since we're discussing this, I'll give it my best shot. He's not a strong personality. Okay. His wife is, and she's a bit of a loose cannon.

I didn't say she was, just a bit of a loose canon. I mean, in the sense that unpredictable, she's the one who, when Hank Aaron died, went on social media and claimed Hank Aaron died because he got the vaccine. She did? You know, yes, to which Mrs. Aaron, Hank's widow said absolutely no such thing. Is that true? I don't remember that. Really?

Yes. What do you think I'm making it up? Sometimes I think you're going to read this story now. Bradley Beal's wife mocked for suggesting MLB icon Hank Aaron died due to COVID-19. Okay, you didn't make it up. Okay. I mean, why want to make that up? I mean, I'm talking about a guy's wife.

I'm not going to screw around with something like that. Okay, so, I mean, Bradley Beal's conversation in that podcast interview, I hear somebody pulling the strengths. Okay. Bradley Beal, from what I know, is very close to Tommy Shepherd. I mean, they're tight. And this team was assembled in part to support Bradley Beal. That was part of the reason for putting this unit together. He can't think that last year's supporting cast was better.

he can't possibly think that. I mean, you know, so I'm just kind of surprised. And it's the way, look, behind every man, there's a strong woman. Behind every successful man, there's a strong woman. And that could be the case here. That's a big thing. You're basically suggesting that when Brad's home, he doesn't have a vote. I mean, the only time he has a vote is if he's home alone.

So I, by the way, I think you're right about that. I also, look, he has really been committed to here a lot more than anybody else has over the years. I mean, it's not been the ideal place for NBA players to come and win. And so, I mean, on one level, like, I've kind of had this level of respect for him that he keeps, that he continues to stay here. continues to talk about D.C. being his home, how much he loves it, et cetera. But I think we're now on the verge of it's a put up or shut up moment for the organization. And I don't know what else they can do. Like this was a phenomenal deal that Tommy Shepard made for Russell Westbrook.

Like they had a great off season. This is the best circumstance around Beale in a while. It's certainly better than last year's situation. with Russ. By the way, in that podcast, he talked about how, let me find it, about Russ going to the Lakers. And remember, according to reports, Russell Wilson told Bradley Beal, he needs to get out of Washington. Russell Westbro. He said, quote, he needs to get out of D.C. I was happy for Russ because he wanted to, because he wanted to leave, I'm always happy for a player that they do what they want to do and what's best for their fans. family. My initial thing was, okay, if I'm going to be here, what are we getting back? That was my first

thought. It wasn't like, okay, I'm out of here too, which it could have been. It could have very well been. What are his options that he wants to go or what teams are looking to offer us the best package? So, yeah, you know, when they traded Westbrook, he may, you know, he, look, he could have said that multiple times over the last couple of opportunities before, you know, inking a new deal or an extension. But let me just be clear about this. They better trade him if he's not going to sign. Okay?

Now, the trade deadline is what? It's usually right around the All-Star time. So that's February, right? So if they're not going to get him signed and he's not going to be a wizard for the rest of his career, then they've got to trade him. You can't be left at the altar with nothing. You've got to get a lot back for them. And I think Tommy Shepard knows that.

But I think that their goal is to get Bradley Beal to sign, you know, the long-term deal and, you know, have a good team around them. And, you know, maybe get lucky with, you know, Rui coming back and being a star player or somebody like if Dia developed. I don't know. They're going to need another big-time star player if they're ever going to be a legitimate deep into the postseason contender. I've said this many times. Beale can't be your best player and win a championship. I like Bradley Beale as a player. I've never loved Bradley Beals a player. I like him a lot as a player. But if he's your best player, you're not going to win a championship. Look, the unpredictable part is who's whispering in his ear.

You know, I mean, and I'm not just talking about his wife. I'm talking about, you know, the reports that Russell Westbrook was telling him that he needs to get out. I'm sure there's a lot of NBA players that tell that. guy, dude, you got to get out of here. This is a mausoleum. This is a place where careers go to die. And no matter what you think about how good Tommy Shepard is doing, that is true. This has been a place where careers go to die. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I don't even know what they would get back. But I hope, I have more confidence in Tommy Shepard than I've had in anybody per while, although nobody was... So do I.

But hold on for a second. Ernie was pretty good at the trade. He was pretty good at trading. Wasn't real good at drafting, but he was pretty good at trading. No, he wasn't. But... Yep, the arsonist fireman. Yeah, that was always your...

He sets the house on fire, then he gets credit for putting out the fire. Right. Okay. What else you got for me today? Well, let's talk about what I think is going to happen on Sunday. Oh, right. You need a... to predict on Sunday's game. Go ahead. Yeah.

This would be good news for Washington fans if they think I have any vision, which I'm not sure I do I do or not. By the way, we finished our betting contest in the class, my sports betting class. Right. Sports betting class. This is sports media. Right.

And I lost $400 over five weeks. Right. But you didn't get charged juice, did you? No. No, I didn't. So you really lost at least 440 more likely than not. Yes. Who won it? I don't know who won it yet, but I just know what mine is.

I started out with 1,000, and now I've got 600. Okay, got it. All right. Who do you like in the game Sunday? I like Washington. I like Washington by the score of 27 to 17. and I like Antonio. As a side slide, I like Antonio Gibson to run for 140 yards rushing.

I kind of like them too. I kind of like them too. I'll have my prediction on the show tomorrow, but I kind of like them too. All right. I'll be back tomorrow. Definitely at least one guest, but it'll be a lot of Washington, Dallas preview.

to get you ready for Sunday's game. This is one last thing. Yes. Have you watched the show Succession? My son loves it. He's been trying to get me hooked on it. Well, I've started watching it about two weeks ago, and I'm hooked on it. Well, so, I am hooked on it. I haven't watched it. My oldest son swears that I will love it. He loves it.

I've mentioned it to a couple of my friends who have said, yeah, you're going to love the first season, but then it doesn't, you know, it doesn't get better after the first season, but, you know, who knows? Oh, I was going to... Well, I just finished the second season, and there's one episode in there, episode nine called D.C. That really hits home in light of the Washington football sexual harassment scandal. Oh, really? Yeah. Yeah.

Like, how close to home? Well, not close to them. In the sense that when you're watching it unfold, you're thinking this is probably what would happen to Dan Snyder in Washington football if they had to appear before a congressional hearing on sexual harassment. What's happened to Logan Roy is what would happen to Dan Snyder, probably. It's not pretty. Also, a Harris poll end of October, so that would have been a month and a half ago. Democrats, 12 percentage point increase in lack of confidence in Fauci, Republicans, which were already at a high level of lack of trust in Fauci, a 9% increase. Fauci was the biggest focus of the poll.

And that's really what I was referring to, not the vaccine confidence level, because that has gone up since the vaccine first came out. In the overall medical leaders. I'm just referring to the lunatic fringe devil, and that would be Fauci. Well, both parties represented, lunatic fringe or not. Both parties have decreased confidence in Dr. Fauci, according to this Harris poll at the end of October. By the way, some of these polls to deal with the loss of trust in him because of the whole gain-of-function research issue. Anyway, do me favor. Just go back to Laverro Island and enjoy the rest of the...

of the day by yourself, please. Okay. Bye. All right. We're done. I'll be back tomorrow.