The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Astros Avoid Arbitration, Rockets At Memphis, Penn State Vs. Notre Dame In CFP Semi

Episode Date: January 9, 2025

Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" react to the Astros avoiding arbitration with Jake Meyers, Bryan Abreu, Chas McCormick, Isaac Paredes, Mauricio Dubon and others. Matt and Ross also:preview the Rockets facing the Grizzlies in a big Western Conference matchup with head coach Ime Udokadiscuss the Texans hosting the Chargers to open Wild Card weekend with Chris Hayre, sports anchor and reporter for KCAL News in Los Angelespreview the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between Penn State and Notre Damereview the NFL's worst teams in "Ross' Rotten Five"retell the feud between Dwight Howard and Shaquille O'Neal in another edition of "MT Theater"say "I Just Don't Get It" and more.

Lunch timers. This is the Matt Thomas show. 10-0-1 in H-town. What's happening in lunch timers? Well, or brunch timers. Good morning to you, and welcome to a Thursday edition. Or is it winning? It's Thursday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross.

This is Sports Talk 790. A 59-yarder. Snap, placement, sweeps the leg. Fair bear. 23 to 20 the final. They knock off the bills at the buzzer. Cary's 22 yards before that 30-yard run. And now Mixin again, sweeps the left side into the end zone for a Houston touchdown.

Situational ball in these spots. First and go out is strong. Beat drop, rolls out, Stroud on the run. It's caught. Touched. Miami needs to win and get help. There's a one pass looking for Hill. and it's big goals.

It's intercepted. Rossi, we told the audience it would take us a couple of days to kind of get into the mood of the big playoff game, Saturday 3.30 inside the NRG Stadium. I ask you one simple question at 104 on this glorious Thursday. Can you feel it? The city is a buzz. Everywhere you go, people are wearing battle red and liberty and white.

All we can talk about is the Houston Texans taking on the Los Angeles Chargers 3.30 Saturday. Or the endless rain for the next 20 hours. Yeah, apparently it's supposed to rain a lot as well. And snow in Arlington and Dallas. Yikes. Ticket price is going down, Maddie. You don't. But promise, I don't want you to ditch you.

I'm not going to ditch you, Matt. No, no, no, no, no, no. That is the thing. That's fine. I wouldn't just leave this show out of nowhere. in the middle of the week. That'd be weird. Oh, no, you've known for a couple weeks about these days off, this day off.

Oh, what are you talking about? That's different. No, I'm saying I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't, that's why I sent a calendar out three weeks ago. Yeah, we're on the same page. Yeah, I wouldn't just leave and then talk about people never being there and then just be gone all the time? That'd be crazy. Well, apparently we get vacation time at 790, and thus

we're going to take it. You're trying to get my goat, and that's fine. No, there was a certain 790 member prodded me to do that. And then I will not necessarily say who. Oh, my God. Do you mean the guy who's going to work probably, I don't know, 50 the next 150 days because of Astro Spring Training? I said I'm not saying. Oh, I know who it is.

You know what he can do? He can take his razy ranch rips and eat that all day long as he sits at his home and relaxes. Great to have you back, Matt. You're ahead of a huge Saturday wildcard weekend. Which, by the way, they're not calling it super wildcard weekend. more quietly. Why is that? They just took the super off. It's just wildcard weekend.

Is it because people, you know what it is? I wonder if they just like the word super to be attached to the last game of the year. I think it's just because it was kind of special to add the extra wild card, so they started calling it wild card, and now it's just the norm, so it's not super, it's just regular. Okay, so, ladies and gentlemen, it's

regular wild card weekend. Yes. You know what? I, we always argue about not you and I, but just generally, do you have too many teams in the playoffs? I don't know. This feels about right. I don't know if the NFL should go to any more, but to have, you know, all these games this weekend, it's not bad.

Yeah, it's more money. More playoff. Every league figured it out. NBA, oh, we're got to go to seven-game series in the first couple of rounds. Let's get half the league in the playoffs. Major League Baseball has 17 wild cards now. And NFL did what they did. Yeah.

I would suggest if, if, if, if, Adam Silver was listening to show, which I believe he does on the regular. I would suggest the NBA going back to the five-game first round. Oh, college football, college basketball, by the way, adding teams. Yeah, how long do you think we're stuck at 68 for the NCAA basketball tournament? Not as long as you'd think. It feels like there's been strong push to continue to add to the field. Yeah.

Just stupid. You know why that is Rossi B. More money? Everybody wants more money. They're either putting more money in their treasured. chess or they're trying to distribute more money. Case and point, I saw a story today about the University of Houston's got, I want to say, at least $10 million locked and loaded for paying student athletes in the next couple of years. I mean, legitimately cutting them checks. Well,

they've got to make up that money somehow. I mean, as cash flushes, I would like to say my alma is, we're not. I mean, the reality is we've got to figure out other ways to do it. So if they can get a bigger piece of an NCAA tournament that goes from, say, 68 to what's the next next level. 96, is that right? Would that be the... Yeah, sure, well, let's go with that. You can just add a couple of more and make extra plans. I don't know exactly what they would do. I mean, the reality,

Ross, how about this? Why does college football stop at 12 games? I mean, we're worried about college time and kids missing classroom time, I mean, they miss Fridays. Yeah, what is the FCS championship? Is that 32 or 16? I don't know what it is, but it's...

They go a long time, too. Yeah, and those are actually more... There's more serious students in the FCS in Division I, 2, 3 bracket, than there are in FBS. Probably so, probably so. LSU doing general studies. You're not going to take a jab at LSU academics, are you? I'm just kidding.

Are you really, though? No. I didn't think so. I mean, there's about, look, we talk about 10 or 15 schools every year that are playing for a national championship, and about those 10 or 15, probably 11 or 12 of them, are open enrollment. And I think probably LSU is right in that category. Looks like FCS is 16.

Okay. I think? No, that's not accurate. I'll shut up. They get buys as well. All right. Hey, we are with you today until 2 o'clock. I'm coming to you today from Memphis.

I did want to work yesterday. And look, the travel schedule just, you know, I can't control some things. I would like for the Rockets to live on my travel schedule, but they don't like to do that. So I have to go in the team says we've got to go. So I'd like to say I listened to the show yesterday, but that would be false. That's okay. It was great. By the way, 24 teams into the FCS championship.

Yeah, it was good. Let's see. It was an hour solo, then two hours with Gordy, and then an hour with Adam Clanton. Okay. And who was your favorite person to tell they shut their bumasses up yesterday? Oh, who did I go with? I don't even remember. Oh, I think it was SI.com.

I told them they shut their bumasses up. They put false and misleading headlines on all their articles now. Isn't it everybody, though? No, but this is blatant. This is more blatant. Yes, number one, you're right, but this is blatant. Like, they're putting out there, New York Mets emerge as favorites to sign Alex Bregman. And then it's like one blurb from Bob Nightingale saying don't rule out the Mets.

So not only are they writing bad headlines, but they're aggregating other people's stuff. They're aggregating and then lying on the headlines. And then there was another one. It was like Astros, Astro's Strong. handed it to re-sign Alex Breggman to 175. Remember we had that caller last week and we're like, what are you talking about? He was talking about the $175 million deal for Alex Breggman and the Astros. That was some New Jersey writer making his preseason predictions and he made like 32 things coming up in next year. And one of them was like, I predict Breggman's going to do this.

And then SI runs with the headline and they say, oh, Astros close to signing. Like, it's what? It's just flat out lies. Huh. As Sports Illustrated used to be one of the heritage outlets for sports news. Let me give you the SI history, Rossi. This is in the last 45 years. Excellent journalism, in-depth pieces, great covers. Swimsoot edition.

And that one swimsuit edition, okay? And then you fast forward to about 25, 30 years later, it was an occasional nice story, an occasional printing, and of course the swimsuit issue. Now in the last five years, it's just a swimsuit issue, right? It's a joke. It's a joke, and it's sad. I need to figure out, I literally have been trying to figure out how to block a website completely from my browser. You really are. The anger towards S-I.

I mean, I respect the game. I do. I do. There's no standards and practices. Yeah, it's like putting, it's like being a news reporter and putting information on Twitter. If you get it right, you brag, if you get it wrong, oops. These are blatant lies in headlines for clicks, like sensationalizing and, clickbaiting. Yeah, I mean, it's kind of the norm. This is just flat out lies.

Yep. All right. On the radio program today, we're going to talk at 11 o'clock with Chris Haney. He is with K-Cal 9 sports in Los Angeles. And apparently my good friend John Ireland, who's the voice of the Los Angeles Lakers, says this is a guy that goes to practice every single day with the L.A. Chargers. So Chris Hayre is going to join us at 11 o'clock. And frankly, Rossi, to me, it's probably as much about what's going on in California with the fires and it is about the charger game. I mean, I don't, I mean, we've had a really ESI, 2025, between thousands of people losing their homes in California to what happened in New Orleans on New Year's Day. I mean, can we restart 2025?

We can't. I guess some bad news, Matt. What now? It's going to get only worse and worse. Okay. It was the driest nine-month period, they said, in California history, I think, on record. Right. Hmm.

That's a shame. That's just... And then the 80 mile... Why are 80 mile an hour winds breaking out in January in California? It is crazy. And then, apparently, late last night before I went to bed, there are people setting fires by the Hollywood Hills just to do it. I mean, I didn't realize evil infiltrated our world. I knew evil hit Twitter.

No, people would the rest of the world. It's getting worse and worse. And, yeah, I have a friend who lives in Long Beach. They're like 40 miles away, and their cars are covered in ash. Oh, my God, it's terrible. I was telling my wife, I was talking on the phone with her yesterday. There's just nowhere in the world, at least in the United States, that just is not immune to some sort of weather issues.

Yeah, I'm trying to think. The earthquake, the mudslides. They've got these fires that are happening. We have hurricanes and tornadoes and, you know, know you got people in the mid i mean dc got absolutely bamboozled by six inches of snow yesterday and now i'm here in memphis where they're expecting snow and ice today that the snow that's in ices in dallas right now is headed this way and then it's going to atlanta or we're going after tonight's game so we just can't check mother nature's always winning at this point here

in two thousand twenty five all right uh so we will talk to uh chris harry from kcal sports at eleven o'clock i just don't get it's coming up at eleven thirty we'll have the news at noon at 12 noon. Ema Adoka is going to be with us at 1 o'clock today as the Rockets take on the Grizzlies and a matchup of two versus three in the Western Conference. Did you anticipate me saying that? I don't know. Two months ago?

Well, we are. We got the Rotten 5 coming up at 130. It's your last rotten 5 in the year, Ross. Your thoughts? You know, I'm sad to see it go. I don't believe it for a second. You don't have to leave it, Matt. Not for one second.

And believe it or not today at 150. So we got a lot to get to do. It is Matt, it's Ross. It's you. It's Conardee McGovern, our producer, and it's you on the phone lines. I'm going to ask you a simple question. Can you feel it? The Texans Chargers, Saturday, 3.30.

713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-790. This is the Matt Thomas Show with Ross on Sports Talk 790. It is 1018 on Sports Talk 790. Matt Thomas and Rossville. We're out with you. And we've got some interesting people coming up on the show today, including again and check on what's going on in Los Angeles.

We'll back in with Eme Adoka, rotten five and so much more. But this is an opportunity for you guys. Very few radio shows in the marketplace like to take phone calls because they find them annoying. We do not. We enjoy visiting with you. So if you would like to come in and be a part of our radio show about a variety of things, whether it be about the Texans Chargers game on Saturday, any of the NFL games.

We've got a college football semi-final matchup tonight down in Miami. We've got the Longhorns tanking on Ohio State tomorrow in Dallas, where the weather apparently is not good. Have you been actively looking

or just kind of seen what the prices? I mean, I've seen a couple tweets here and there saying the prices are dropping. Yeah, I've been checking the markets. It's got to be simply about the weather, right? It's something about the interest itself. Correct. I mean, look, prices drop normally anyways. You'd draw closer to the game and then closer to kickoff.

But this has been like this is about half the price from a week ago, although it looks like it's bouncing back up. Get in price a few days ago was 97 bucks for standing room. Now it's back up to 200. So I guess I missed my window. Can I ask a stupid question? Yes. How do people, like if I wanted to, let's say Rossi, I said,

hey, I'm going to take my boys up to Arlington for this national semi-final game. not knowing when the teams were. You just can't go to your local ticket master and buy the tickets, can you? Or could you have done that? You could have before they sell out, I think. But I guess I'm not trying to, I have a hard time connecting the dots here because if these tickets are already on the resale market, who got a hold of them? I think they have deals with some of these resellers?

I don't know. This is above my head. That's what I'm saying. and they have official partners, for example, meet meek, I believe is the official resale partner with the Mott and Mole. Right. You can say Cotton Bowl. Okay. Just don't put the corporate sponsor.

With the mud deer cotton mole. There you go. Much better. Yeah, these prices are already doubled. Bottom level end zone yesterday, literally two days ago was $400. Now it's back up to $900. I wonder if it's because they're thinking the worst of the weather is going to be there today. Yeah. It looks like the time.

to buy was or maybe you can find some Joker who forgot to re-raise their prices these are decent oh this is without fees this is how they get you I hate this so why is there a $200 fee on a on a ticket for you to process

an online transaction correct what is this yeah so 20 years ago back in the day you had all these ticket brokers that you'd have to go to their physical location and grab the tickets yes they would charge you the upsell those are all gone. Those are long gone now.

Now you just have these. So what you have again, I'm trying to guess here on this, you have all of these big national games that have these deals with the secondary ticket market. So really when they say the face value is $75 or $100, they were never

face value to begin with. You could not go up and say, hello, Cotton Bowl. I'd like two of your $75 tickets. Correct. The only way you get that now is if you're associated with the school. For instance, if with Penn State and Notre Dame tonight, my guess is they were each given, I don't know, 6,000 tickets.

Right. Those probably were given to the school for them to sell back at a fair market value. Everybody else in the building is paying some sort of upcharge. Correct. So, yeah, it's funny. You never hear of these ticket companies offering PR people to explain how great their values are. because you can't justify him. That's ridiculous.

I hope. I mean, wasn't there an antitrust suit? Wasn't the government trying to break up ticket master slash in the Live Nation? I don't know who they were trying to break up. But it's not working, whatever it is. I mean, I like our dogs at Live Nation up here at Eyehart. It helps me. So as long as it doesn't hurt you and you get the free tickets, you're all for the company.

But if it's for anybody else that doesn't get the free tickets, you, want to admonish them. Welcome to America, Matt. If it works for me, I love it. If it hurts me, I hate it. Okay. That seems, that seems brutally honest and fair. USA.

Yeah, what you know what we ought to do is we ought to, where's the championship this year in Atlanta, right? Yes. If Texas goes, I'm going to call, I'm going to call the Reddy Rens Stadium. I'm going to say hi. My name is Matt. My friend Ross wants to go. I'd like two tickets, please. All right.

Let's do it. At the face value. Yeah. The Rick Relay would be open since it would be a Monday. Oh, that is true. You at least get a decent chicken sandwich at a low cost inside the stadium. The flights are going up. Let me tell you that.

You know, you probably could drive to Atlanta. I may go out on the – it's 12 hours. I looked into that, too. Oh, did you really? Yeah. God, I love how you're thinking about this. Because I – you know, look, I don't get this – you know, Rossi? Because I am a graduate of the University of Houston.

I'm not a graduate of the University of Texas, so I don't get to think like this. Well, I'm not a graduate either, Matt. You can come with me. My chance. Well, I know, it's fine, but you're an alum. You went there for like three semester, so it sort of counts. But I don't get to do this. So if I have to live vicariously through you, I'll do it.

Yeah, actually, you can find some decent seeds here. That's why when you of age with the final four years ago, I'm like, I got to get there somehow some way. I know. And you regret it. It's like when I went to the, when I went to the, I didn't regret it necessarily, but I went to the Sugar Bowl last year and they got their ass beat. and it wasn't fun. Oh, I regret it because I was in Indianapolis,

and it was a, it was COVID, so you had to separate by a bunch of seats and whatnot. I watched my team get their ass kicked by bailing in the first half. Yeah. It is what it is. But yeah, I just, it's unfortunate

that America and whatever it is, just can't call up and say I'd like a seat. Because you've only got, let's say of the cotton. What does the, what does AT&T Stadium seat? 100 plus.

100 plus. 100 around there. My guess is those, the number of people in that building paying an authentic face value amount for that ticket is probably what, 20% tops? I was, yeah, we were thinking the same number. I was thinking 20K, but maybe you have people who are vendors and stuff like that. Like if they're, you know, executives or friends that are good deals with mud year. That's right. Or you are a client of re-rest, re-in, you know what I'm saying?

Right. That's how the Super Bowl's always been. I mean, we've been accustomed to that. I mean, you just can't ask for a regular old Super Bowl ticket and not expect to pay thousands of dollars. But now it's everything. Now it's college football semifinals. Yeah, the fee bid is the worst, especially when you have a concert, like you get online and you've been waiting to get the concert tickets of your dreams.

Like when my daughter and my wife went to go see Taylor Swift in New Orleans, she got in. She got in at the dollar amount on face value. Didn't have to go to a secondary market. And then all of a sudden the charges come in off of that. I mean, they just make the charges up. Yeah, it's completely made up. Convenience fee. I feel like what does that even mean?

A long guy, yeah. Convenience fee. There's no justification to it. Administrative fee. Like, what? That's to make sure the administrators make their number. Yeah. It's tough.

It's tough. It makes you, you know what it makes you do, Rossi? It makes you just not you want to go to the games. I'm with you. Makes you want to get in front of a big screen TV and relax in your couch and eat your food for free and get instant replays and not have to fight traffic and crowd noise. That's the thing. When I went to the AT&T Stadium, now it was for a boxing match. A ring is obviously smaller in the football field, but we were in the 200 second.

We paid a lot for those tickets and we watched the TV the whole time. Yeah, it's crazy. That is crazy. All right. 713-212-5-790 7-1-2-5-7-90 7-1-2-2-5-790 it is the Matt Thomas show with Ross the Texans injury report is out from yesterday we'll give you some of that we have the rockets and the grizzlies tonight here in Memphis which is a really intriguing matchup between two of the three best teams in a Western conference the best team of the West last

night play the best team in the East did you catch any of that I think I know the answer, but it doesn't mean we can't at least bring it up. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-2-790. It's a Matt Thomas show with Ross, and this is Sports Talk 790. Matt Thomas, Ross via Real. It's the Matt Thomas Show with Ross on Sports Talk 790. 1031 on Sports Talk 790.

It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. We will get to the recent Astor departure in the next segment of the show. But as advertised, the Texan's practice report, at least from an injury perspective, was out yesterday. Shaq Mason did not partake.

My guess is he will not play. DeNico Autru was out there. John Metsch was out there among those. Also, Jeff Akuta and Christian Harris were among those that were full participants. I'm trying to think, if anybody on the

Chargers side that would be of a huge issue, Jake K. Dobbins played a little bit yesterday in practice, so too did Gus Edwards. Meanwhile, full participation for cornerback Eli Apple, and linebacker Denzel Perryman was also a full-time participant. That kind of gives you an update of what's happening between the Texans and the Los Angeles Chargers. So it felt like yesterday Ross was a day that some of the Texans players were kind of reacting, or at least the last day or two, about what Rex Ryan said that basically the Chargers have a buy.

this week. Now, they were all saying the right things yesterday and the day before practice. Do you believe them? Do you believe that they're thinking who, first of all, is Rex Ryan? Number two, he's got a toe fetish, get away from me. And number three, I don't need Rex Ryan to motivate me to try to win a playoff team. That's how I would take it. So you think Rex Ryan is going to have his foot in his mouth after this?

I don't think it would matter if the Texans won or loss. He'd still have his foot in his mouth. Or he'd have somebody else's foot in his mouth. I'm sorry, I took the low-hanging fruit. I like to apologize to everyone in Houston for listening. I don't think it matters that much. No. I think at this level, if you need Rex Ryan to get you up for a playoff game,

you've got problems getting motivated in the first place. So the Texans are going to be focused. They're going to be locked in. They're going to say all the right things for the most part. I don't think anybody's going to come out. Now, after the game, if they win, you're going to see somebody on IG or somebody in a post game, like shout out Rex Ryan or something like that. Definitely.

It would be talked about. but I don't think they're putting up a 8 by 10 of Rex Ryan and throwing darts at them and that's what's motivating. What's motivating them is going on and trying to win a Super Bowl. Yeah. What's motivating them is the fact that they have not performed up to expectations for much of the regular season and that the postseason is a brand new beast. It's an opportunity for you to be in a tournament where you have to be really good for four weeks.

I mean, that's right? You got to get together your best four games. You got to get lucky, too. by the way. Yeah. No matter who you are. And we'll see what happens. You said, did you mention Shaq Mason?

Yeah, Shaq Mason, a DNP as well. Right. Something to keep an eye on that you might have him out of the fold at guard. Then it would be what, Jared Patterson, Juice, Struggs, and then Blake Fisher as the right side of your line. Yeah. Which I don't think is something we should have a tremendous amount of faith in. No. But wasn't last year.

And again, I hate to keep going back to this, but didn't we spend a last time bitching about last year's offensive line and CJ was able to survive all that? Well, not to this extent. It just doesn't feel like it was that. But good thing was it. Well, I don't say good thing. It's kind of rude. But Kenyon Green was out for the season last year. Oh, yeah.

Terrible. But also Kenyon Green isn't on this offensive line right now. And you're absolutely right in that I was looking at our good friends at Pro Football Focus did their final offensive line grades. they had the Texans at 29th. They had the Bengals at 30th, Matt. How has Joe Burrow look this season? Well, you know, Joe Borough has been hit more than anybody else. It feels like since he's started in his NFL career.

I mean, the Bengals have had for about 10 years a wretched offensive line to matter who the quarterback was. And that was really one of the comparisons that we made with how good that C.J. Stroud was playing with bad offensive line play. But also it helps that, I mean, you got Nico Collins. here, but T. Higgins and Jamar Chase also helped matters.

Yeah, honestly, I mean, Nico's going to have to have a big game tomorrow on Saturday. I mean, that goes without saying, right? So let me give you this. Do you have to have Mixon and Collins have the huge games because you just don't trust the rest of the guys in the skill position category to make that big of a difference?

I would say Mixon number one. Winning this game, this game is going to be old school to Miko Ryan's formula. Stop the run on the other side. Limit them scoring. C.J. Stroud makes four or five plays and Joe Mixon controls the game. By the way, man, I was doing some fun digging for some stuff I got coming up for draft kings. We'll get more on that tomorrow.

When the Texans, I was pulling up some stats. When the Texans run to the left tackle, it's 7.6 yards per carry. Joe Mixon, when they run to the right tackle, it's 2.5 yards per carry. And you know the Chargers know that. Yes, they do. But it's just funny how bad it's been on the right side for them trying to run over there. So I guess the question I would be then asking you, and I don't know if you have the answer to this, is that who's been on the other side? Are we just talking about the right side of being so atrocious?

Or are we saying that the better players, the Texans face on the defensive front are on the left side of the opposing team's defensive line? Yeah, it's not fully contextualized. Look at, man, I'm so proud of you, Matt. You're asking for context on a number. This is great. That's a great important question. I don't know, but the difference is so stark that it has to be that the right side is just not anywhere close to run blocking than the left side. So that's why Laramie Towns was like, hey, bra, I'm good.

I mean, I know I've been committing a few false start penalties, but, you know, my man, Rossville, or I just gave us a stat that made me sound good. Yeah, so obviously they've been running a lot more to the left side than to the right. Other teams know that as well. From my game theory perspective, this is Matt, and you just run left every time, but it's not. Madden. You've got to run right a little bit, try to keep everybody honest. Right. So, we'll see what happens, but a very interesting how starkly different it is running to the left side from the right for the Texans.

This is actually Joe Mixon's numbers. For Joe Mixon this year. Yeah. So let's put this in perspective then. Then honestly, you can't play action to the right because that's going to come across as that was never going to happen to begin with. You can play action to the left because if there's been that kind of success on the left side, they'll actually have full defenders.

Or you have to say, you know what, we're just going to have to try to earn some yards and maybe we can catch him off guard. So you definitely have to mix it up if you're Bobby Sloick. Do you think Sloick, and I'm just saying this off the top of my head, do we have a panic button with Sloick and D'Amico this year on the offensive side that maybe we didn't have last year, that they just this year gave up on the run when Joe wasn't doing his thing, that they didn't stay true to it, to try to establish it at least deeper in games

because that's kind of the sense I got is that some of the numbers that CJ would put up this year was simply because he was taking more dropbacks than he ever did a year before. No, I think they still run the ball as much as anybody else on first down and throughout the game. So it's not necessarily

to me that they've been abandoning the run. It's just the run hasn't been good and they've ended up on like third and 12 all the time and then that's when what you need, you need third and four, third and five. When you are third and 12, guess what? They know you're passing. So guess what?

They're bringing pass rushers and they're bringing different guys. They can give you different looks. And that's exactly what this offensive line has struggled at. Communicating. Who's picking up this guy? Who's picking up that guy? And then they can disguise their pressure and then you end up with free runners on third and 12. So it kind of all lends itself.

It's complimentary football. It's really not that difficult. If you're running the ball better, you're better on schedule on third down. You can't have them bringing as much pressure. and then the offensive line, you can kind of hide the warts, as it were, that they have there as well. So if the Chargers blitz a lot, Rossi, that means there's going to be nobody covering

or maybe covering Dalton Schultz and single coverage. Okay. I like that. Is he going to get open, though? So let's put the number at number of catches for Dolts. How about this, number of targets for Dalton Schultz on Saturday afternoon? If I put the target number at 60, like the over or under? Under.

I think the real number is probably around three and a half. I don't know, target. but yeah six sounds like a good number for target wise that's right 713 212 5 790 713 212 5 790 we'll start our visits today with Kyle and Pearland at 1040 in the Matt Thomas show with Ross it is Kyle good morning to you sir good morning gentlemen hope you are doing good uh got a question for you I watched some of that game last night you were talking about with Cleveland and Oak City yeah two very good teams two very good teams uh play good defense they didn't show

a lot of defense last night, but dad, gum, everybody on that team can score for both teams. I don't know how Houston's going to match up with them in the future, but that was fun basketball last time. I don't know if you got to watch it. I saw a little bit of it. It was a back and forth a seesaw game

for a while, and then Cleveland kind of pulled away. You know, the NBA did its best to really try to show them out. They put all their main broadcasters on. They did a lengthy kind of a pre-game visit. They talked with the guys before. It's got to be smart, Ross, in the NBA, because these two teams are spectacular.

And, you know, Oklahoma City had, what, a 14 or 15 game winning streak, a snap last night, Cleveland's. Those two teams have less than six losses between the... Yeah, I think they said only the third time, was the third or fourth time in NBA history. Two teams with 10-plus game win-streeks played each other. Yeah. It was a great game. I watched three quarters of it. Hey, man, I got a question for you.

Yeah. You know, I know Chabarie. Smith got hurt. How in the hell do you get hurt on a shoot around and break your hand? I mean, you could get hurt in playing in a practice. I mean, I don't, you know. You might have dunked and hurt his hand or something. Who knows? I don't know the extent of what it was. But it was not considered serious when it first happened, and it just got worse. The one thing I can tell you is it never swole up. So that's why I don't think there was an initial amount of concern on it. But yeah,

he has not had surgery yet. He's with us here this week. And I think they're still going through some second options as to whether or not he's going to have that surgery. But, yeah, it's one of those situations that, you know, it could have happened in a game, it could happen in a shoot-er. And shoot-arounds, again, they're like 80% shooting, but there is 20% of a practice-type atmosphere. So it would not be completely foreign for a player to suffer some sort of injury. Yeah, that sounds good. Hey, I appreciate it, buddy. You have a good day.

Thank you, Kyle. Nice to hear from you. 713-212-1-2-5-790. 7-1-2-1-2-7-9-0. Our time is at 10-42. It is a Matt Tomajela Ross. We will check in in Los Angeles, not only to find out what's going on with those horrific fires,

but to get a sportsman's perspective on what's going to happen for the Chargers and the Texans this Saturday at NRG Stadium. When we also return, we're going to, I'll put a little PS on the announcement of a couple of days ago that Justin Verlander is now a San Francisco giant. It's Sports Talk 7. Honey, Ross, back to you. Yes, where I have to ask you a question.

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Limited time offer. See terms at pick6.draftings.com slash promos. Matt and Ross return. Return on Sports Talk 790. It's 9 o'clock on a seat. Ross said I brought the house down last night. There's an old man. We're all proud of you, Matt.

No, you're not. What do you mean? You did great. You know, the one realization of singing karaoke is that when there were songs as a kid and as a young adult you could sing because of the high notes. Father time has hit me with some higher stuff. I'm sorry, Matt. And it never sounds as good. When it's in your car and the song is blasting and the song is at a 10 and you're at like a 2,

you're like, man, that sound great. Then when you're on karaoke and it's all you? You're like, oh, wait a minute. I don't sound like Adele. I did sing Sweet Caroline yesterday, what I thought was good. But there were just some songs we tried last night. Oh, man, you were playing all the hits then. You're playing all the 2 a.m. jams.

Sweet Caroline? Tiny dancer was a bad example of me. Oh, my God. You went with the homoclava. Yeah. And unfortunately, at my age, and just because you're voice, I mean, that happens. Would you have a lot of famous people as they get old, they can't hit the high notes. Oh, I know.

Paul McCartney tries to sing, maybe I'm amazed. That's not a good look for him. He just goes out there and talks. Yeah. So I'm learning to refine my karaoke game to sing songs that are in my octave. Mm-hmm. So. Yeah.

Yet another song. of getting old sucks. Sorry, Matt. You look great. A good time was had by all. It's Memphis, Tennessee. What are you going to do in this town? Except avoid criminals.

This is probably the worst city when it comes to criminals that we travel to. Memphis? Oh, yeah. What happened? You got robbed? No, but all my friends get robbed here. Who got robbed? That's not good.

Yeah, it's the number of break-ins and vehicles, especially in the inner city is at an all-time high here. Not that every city doesn't have these issues, but it just feels like it's magnified when we come here. But the food is good. Bill Street, to me, is fine. I wouldn't say it's overrated, underrated properly, right?

I would just say it's okay. Okay. There is some good jazz, some good blues, good barbecue. People generally speaking are nice here. It's just, you just, it's no regulation of like one street in downtown Memphis. It looks great. and looks like you feel safe, the only one,

you just can't run away from fast enough. Oh, so it's like a Houston sister city. I mean, I guess, if you wanted to say it that way, that's true. But that one thing I learned about last night is,

as we went with a bunch of people to sing some songs, was that there's some songs in my library in my karaoke library that I will no longer be performing, and tiny, the answer will be working. Yeah, you've got to whittle down the set list.

You got that right. All right, Verlander, one-year deal to San Francisco at $15 million, is he just going to spend the rest of his career just catching those one-year deals? And again, he's not out of the ordinary doing that. Teams are not going to want to give him multi-year deals for a guy especially 40-plus.

Look, $15 million. What does that get you? About a four-starter now, Major League Baseball, give or take? Yeah. Good for him. I mean, if there's anybody that would like to seek it to 300 to be him, I think he's not going to get there. He's going to play at least 60.

and you're going to count some of those with the Savannah bananas or something. Right, right. But point being is that it's, you know, I knew from the day that he was saying his farewells here that he wanted to still play. I think last year for him was disappointing because he couldn't stay healthy and he said, look, remember he kept saying all the time that he wanted to rev up and get himself going, he's going to probably think to himself, I need to get into spring training, be healthy, have a full year, and either reinvent myself and be that 40-year-old scrappy. mid-level starter or my body is telling me

I need to retire. Yeah, you can kind of, as you know, Matt, when you're in like an immediate scrum in a locker room, especially at the end of the season, you can kind of tell a direction somebody's leaning and stuff like that. And it's like, you know, we're all standing there and like, he still wants to play.

He's going to play. He's, you could tell that, he's still got that fire in his eye. Yeah. And sometimes, and again, every athlete is built differently, but athletes sometimes they want to get out before it's too late. Some will stay maybe too long. I feel like Justin's probably going to stay about the right time. Again, I think in his mind, whether it's accurate or not,

he's thinking last year because of all the ailments that that was not a real way to end it. As compared to, let's go to training camp, let's go to spring training with a new team, a team that doesn't have the expectations that obviously maybe other teams would have of me, and we'll see what I got left. He's broken, he's just breaking down the last couple of years. Yeah. But it is incredible that a guy that has had as many injuries as JVs had the last couple of years can still get $15 million.

So the demise of Major League Baseball Rossi is largely exaggerated. Greatly exaggerated for sure. 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-90. We've got to Los Angeles coming up in less than 10 minutes. Right now, Rogers, with us on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Roger, thanks for holding. Good morning.

Good morning, Matt. My concern right now is for Terry Easton. Nobody seems to be saying anything about his soreness. This Kyle Tucker level type sortness that we don't know about. He's a big part of what we're trying to get accomplished, and his presence is solely missed. That depth just doesn't look to. I mean, kudos to Deshaunate for doing a bang-up job,

but I don't know how long that's going to be sustained because it's Jay-Chant-Tate. So, yeah, I just want to know if you know anything, have you heard anything. And, yeah, as far as Verland is concerned, he could go pitch and batting practice somewhere, and I really appreciate everything. watch of the team. Yeah, for sure. Thank you for the phone call, Roger.

You know, they're trying to get him back in there. This isn't a question of, you know, the NBA, unfortunately, Ross has a series of players of the last 10 years that have gotten these ailments that have just said, you know, I'm going to kind of milk this for all that it is. Tari is very anxious to get back out there. I don't know how much this has to do with last year. I think it'd be fool of something. I think there has got to be some connection to it. There was no new injury, and if they was, the Rockets would obviously report that. So this is still going off of what they did last year.

And it's so strange that, you know, he gets off to that really fast start, top five in steals. He's a good finisher at the basket. They started calling him and a men, Thompson, the Terror Twins. And then all this, it has just stopped at its tracks. And so whatever it is, you're battling, you know, working out and then waking up sore the next day. You know, taking a day off, then try. I mean, they're literally going through every part. possible option as to what schedule works so he doesn't wake up the next day, feel like you can't

move. And that's a pretty bad feeling for a young man who's, you know, still very much in his young 20s. Yeah, it's an unfortunate reality is, you know, you always, you're projecting the season and thinking about how things are going to go. You always picture everyone is 100% healthy, but that's just not the way that it goes. Luckily, the rockets and the way this roster is built, they do have a good amount of depth and to where you do miss Tari, but J. Sean Tate has filled in in, and And he's done very good. Maybe that means you're getting a little bit more Stephen Adams. Of course, some Kent Whitmore.

And I'm in Thompson doing his thing in the starting line up now, especially with Jabari Smith, Jr. out. They, dare I say, they just about haven't skipped a beat, but they got some tough games coming up starting tonight against Memphis. 7 o'clock tip here on Sports Talk 790, Matt. Yeah, and who has the launch pad tonight at 6 o'clock? That would be yours truly. Can I tell you a secret?

Well, can I guess it? Sure. Give me a hint. It's hard to give you a hint. I'm just going to tell you this. Go ahead. This is the most excited I've been to do a pre- and post-game show in a while. I'm really excited on like a road game.

So let me just tell the audience then. Folks, look, I am the voice of the Rockets and love it and I'm at the site. And I'm calling the game and I'm in the atmosphere. And I live a very, very blessed life. my man Ross tonight it's going to be raining in Houston it's going to be cold he's going to be sitting at the studio

at 9.30 at night was it going to be raining hard it might be at home whatever you're going to be somewhere where you're not going to be watching God knows what you like to watch when you're not watching sports call the man tonight

in good or bad it's okay if they lose and you want to call and if they win you can call I like that thank you Matt but Ross's life right now is basically waiting for Gerard to call to kill three minutes of the show. I think we got, I got biscuit. Biscuit called too last time.

It was Gerard and Biscuit. Appreciate y'all. Okay. So, Geron and Biscuit, we, massive shout out to you guys. No, Luke and Peraland calls a lot. We got some regs actually back now. Okay, so let's, you know what else that is? Let's just diversify the group.

We were all of our regulars in plus the diversity. Mm-hmm. So, do me fair, just call Ross and just say, hey, man, watch the game, enjoy it, great experience. I wish this would have happened. which this would happen, why did this happen? And just make Ross feel like his valuable time is actually valuable. Thank you, Matt.

As compared to sitting in a cold studio with probably the Internet not working and a massive delay of some sort. Maybe the phones don't work. I mean, you never know these things. And say a small prayer for me as I go through the snow between Memphis and Atlanta on a flight tonight. Hope you make it, Matt. That'll be fine.

You'll be great. Great. 713-212-5-790 7-13-212-5-7-90 Chris hang tight We'll get to you coming up in a little bit We're going to go to Los Angeles next And let you hear

From a reporter in the Southern California area Who covers the Los Angeles charges on a regular basis And sadly we're going to actually have to ask him What has life's been like being a news reporter In sports reporter in Los Angeles Having to cover the catastrophe that is those terrible fires Out in the Los Angeles area 713-212-5-790.

7-13-212-5-7-90. If you want to follow us on Twitter, you may do that as well. It's at SportsMT, at SportsRV, and at Connor D. McGovern. Again, 7-13-212-5-7-90, 7-1-3-2-2-5-7-90. I want to tell you right now about Scott Callahan and Associates. The reality is, and I hate saying it, but it's just the truth, there are going to be some people that are going to, with this bad weather we've got coming to Houston today, we'll be lousy drivers.

And hopefully, I pray that you're not a part of that. But sometimes unexpected things happen. And you've got to call a firm to help you if it's specially if it's not your fault. And that's Scott Callahan and Associates. 25 years of experience voted as a Texas super lawyer. Only the top 5% of Texas attorneys are selected each year for that. And the mission over at Scott Callahan and Associates is to help people get treated fairly after serious injuries or wrongful death. Let me give you their phone number.

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I cannot recommend Scott to you enough. The number again, 713-888-9,000. We HelpTexis.com for Scott Callahan and Associates, principal office, Katie, Texas. Lunch timers. This is the Matt Thomas Show. 1103 on Sports Talk 790, the Matt Thomas Show today. With Ross, we are coming to you.

at least I am from Memphis, Tennessee, where tonight the Rockets will take on the Memphis Grizzlies. We're going to spend more on the Rockets coming up with EMA. Adoka, he'll join us at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Right now, we're going to spend a few minutes with Chris Hayre, who is a sports anchor and reporter for K-Cal 9 in Los Angeles. He also hosts a weekly Chargers podcast, and unfortunately we're going to probably spend a little bit of time talking about

life's events as compared to the Chargers' Texans game with Chris. Chris is Matt. Thank you for joining us. First of all, and again, I hate to paint with a broad brush on this, but you have been working with a TV station and a group there that have been doing nonstop coverage of this. How has this been for your colleagues? How has it been as a citizen of Southern California with all the fires? And please tell us what areas are safe, what are not, and what is your current situation if you don't mind? Well, Matt, I appreciate you having me on. I think the best word is just surreal. It's just the surreal scene out here.

I can't say enough about not only my colleagues, but everybody out here just in the field and reporting. And, you know, people don't know if they have homes. I mean, the Pacific Palisades in Malibu is destroyed. Altadena, parts of Pasadena, destroyed. There was a fire in the Hollywood Hills last night. I mean, it's pretty devastating. I've lived out here for 18 years. I've never seen anything like it.

And, you know, you have wildfires all the time out here in California. you. But this one, it's just, it's a different beast right now. There are, you know, I, I, my, me and my family are safe. We live about 20 to 25 miles from the out of the arena fire. And you can just see the cloud of smoke in the sky right now. And it's just, it's just amazing. You're 20 miles away. And, you know, you go to that, that scene. It looks, frankly, like a war scene. A war zone. It's, it's just, it's devastating. And, you know, our hearts are with everybody that's affected right now. Pardon my ignorance on this, but I'm assuming that people that live in those areas,

and this area we're speaking of is growing by the day. People are grabbing what they can, can't be much, getting in their cars and getting out. I mean, how are roads, how are people able to circumvent leaving neighborhoods that are on the precipice of these fires destroying their homes? Well, you know, I think fortunately a lot of people did get out when they were supposed to get out. when the evacuation warnings came, I do think people got out. But you're right. I mean, it's, you know, like the Hollywood Hills, just imagine trying to get out of there last night.

Just the gridlock on the road, because there's not many ways in and out. So the roads obviously were gridlock last night. And, you know, it's you just hope that this thing gets contained. And, you know, I know that the winds have let up a little bit. and the hope is that we get some good news up the next couple of days. And again, I was being this week, just so excited to talk football. And obviously we're going to talk football here in a minute and get ready for this wildcard game. But I'll tell you, this last couple of days puts a lot in perspective for people.

Last question about this. Is Metro Los Angeles of ultimate concern? And I know, again, this has been most of the coast, but it's going a little bit more in the inland, some of the valley areas. and obviously mentioned Pasadena. I heard Chavez Ravine was in conversation a couple days back. How about the intercity downtown Dodgers Stadium, you know, Beverly Hills, are those areas of ultimate concern for the folks there?

You know what? It's a good question, and I'll be honest, I don't even know. As of this morning, I saw a little bit of our coverage about an hour and a half ago, and I haven't heard anything about downtown. You know, the Palisades in Malibu, if, you know, If you've ever been to Los Angeles, it's very close to Santa Monica. There's some just wild images of the fire behind the Santa Monica pier that I saw this morning. Online, somebody had a picture from yesterday.

It's just, I don't know. There's really no words for it. But I don't know what the status is of downtown L.A. at this point, Chavez Ravine, as you mentioned. And I do know that there's a Monday night football game that's supposed to be played at the soapyke stadium. And, you know, the contingency plan is Arizona for that. And, you know, I think they're fortunate that the game's Monday and not, let's say, Saturday, like the Texans and Chargers, because I don't know if you could play that game. Yeah. Chris Hayre, with K-Cal Sports in Los Angeles, joining us here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross.

So let's get to some football now. You cover the Chargers. You have a podcast, but you have to balance it with the other professional sports teams. Have the Chargers been able to make inroads with Southern California sports fans? Because it feels like to me, and maybe it's a generic name. narrative that Charger games are largely full, but they're full of fans of other cities. You know, it's a good question. I do think that they have made tremendous Enroads since they moved here in 2017 to present day. And the thing is, you can say the same exact thing about the Rams that people do about the Chargers nationally.

Like when there's a San Francisco 49ers Rams game where, you know, a Vikings, Rams game. There's going to be a ton of opposing fans. I think that's part of Los Angeles, is that, hey, you know, when the schedule comes out in April or May, you circle LA is a potential road game for you and your buddies or you and your family. But I'll say this. Since Jim Harbaugh was announced as head coach of the Chargers on February 1st of last year, the last 11 months, I've seen probably the biggest shift in terms of fans, buy-in. You have a franchise quarterback and you have a head coach coming off a national championship. A team that won five games last year that won 11 this year.

And the culture that Jim Harbaugh has established has really, I think, brought some life to this fan base. And, you know, going back to fans in San Diego, Jim Harbaugh was a San Diego Charger. So I think you're seeing a lot of fans from San Diego and Los Angeles come together. The fan base is energized. And, you know, I worked at the Lakers for nine years. So I always tell people that's like the Dodgers and Lakers, they're the show in L.A. But everybody else can have a piece of pie if you win.

And right now I think the Chargers have that upwards trajectory of potentially having some sustained success over the next few years with Herbert and Harbaugh in tow now. Herbert's numbers first, I want to say, the quarter pole this season, were probably down from years past. It was that Harbaugh trying to establish a running game, a little more of a balance. And overall, from start of the season to where Justin comes into today's, or Saturday's game,

where has his development been as a quarterback with Harbaal running things? Well, it's been remarkable. And you're right. I think at the beginning of the year, it was a product of, hey, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Expoor out the door. I have a bunch of new weapons, a brand new offense. And then, by the way, in week two, he had a terrible high ankle sprain that took him out of that game in Pittsburgh in the second half. And basically he was playing on one leg against Kansas City the following week before

the buy week. So the one thing is I'm sure you guys have discussed this week that Justin's just so good at is taking care of the football. He, you know, I think he only had three interceptions this year. And he's built chemistry with these receivers who, you know, I don't think a lot of people had high hopes for this receiving corps coming into the year. And then you see what Rookie Lab McCawkey has done and just the chemistry that Justin has developed with him. Quentin Johnson, who a lot of people were down on after his rookie year coming off a 13 catch, 186-yard performance against the Raiders. You know, Joshua Palmer, who's heard at the moment, but Darius Davis, the emergence of J.K. Dobbins, who's, you know, comeback player of the year nominee for sure.

So there's just a lot of different weapons that Justin has seemed to find week in a week out. You don't know whose week it's going to be. It could be a Lab McConkey week, could be a Quentin Johnson week, could be a Wolf Disley week. I mean, it's just been remarkable how Justin has been able to trust and spread the ball around to a bunch of different guys that at the beginning of the year, you weren't sure who it was going to be. And now, I just think the comfort your ability with his receivers and just having that full year in Greg Rovin's offense has really done wonders for him. All right.

Lastly, if we'll let you run, actually, I'll probably get two things in. Since offensive line has been adventuress, I would be maybe the most polite way of saying things. Tell me about Oibosa this year as compared to the last couple of years. Denzel Perryman, obviously, is starting to practice again? Is there enough pass rush from the Charger Front 7 that's going to, to cause the Texan some issues on Saturday. I think that's the key of the game, Matt.

How much pressure can the chargers... I look at Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Tuli, Tui Poloto, and Bud Dupree. Those are four starting caliber edge rushers that the chargers keep fresh throughout the course of a four-quarter game. You mentioned Denzel Paraman. You know, they certainly have missed Denzel. and you guys know him as well as anybody, just his hard-hitting nature, his ability to stop the run. But it's really going to come down to can Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack be superstars on Saturday? And Tuli-Polotu, second-year guy from USC who's just been a fantastic player since he stepped onto the football field with the Chargers.

And then that veteran presence of Bud Dupree, can the charges get after Stroud? make him uncomfortable against that offensive line. And, you know, I know that Joey has had some injuries throughout the last several years, but I do think that he's come on, especially the back half of the year. And, you know, Khalil has had some pretty dominant games. But I think just keeping those guys fresh, that's been kind of their go-to. And then Darwin James up front, you know, Durwin James has five-saxes this year, him playing close to the line of scrimmage.

That's presented problems for teams throughout. the season. All right. Lastly, and we always don't mean to put you on the spot when it comes to predictions, but the folks in Vegas have the Chargers about a field goal favorite. Rex Ryan thinks it won't not even count this is a buy week for the Chargers.

Clearly, I don't believe the Chargers think that. But from what you have seen, and look, one of my best friends in my life is a lifelong Charger fan, and he says, Matt, they always invent ways to lose games when you think they're ahead for 90% of them. So with all that being said, And again, it's a new regime.

And obviously, Harbaugh has really changed the feeling of what it is to be a Los Angeles Charger fan and a team that follows him, what your gut feeling right now, not holding you to it completely, but your gut about what's going to happen on Saturday and how things will play out. Well, let me just say, nobody thinks what Rex Ryan thinks here. That's just not the case. The Texas are a very good football team. I think the Chargers won in the five-seat because, hey, you don't want to go to Baltimore in January, it's breathing.

You know, and B, you know, if you're the five, see, who knows if you get a divisional playoff game, depending on how it shakes out in the second round. I think that the Chargers right now are playing their best football of this season, right? The second half that Denver game on Thursday night to present day is when they've really hit their stride. All three phases have played really, really well. This is not going to be an easy game by any stretch for the Chargers.

I think if they can kind of withstand the momentum, the early momentum with the crowd, and maybe get off to a fast start. I think the Chargers have a good chance to win this game. So I would give the slight edge to the Chargers. But I do think that sometimes we look at one game of the Houston, Texas season on Christmas Day, and think that that's what happened all year, and this is not the case. You know, 31 to 2 didn't happen at the beginning of the year where you almost beat the Lions, and you had some dominant games against other teams.

So I give the slightest to the charges just because of the coach and the quarterback. I know D'Amico and C.J. Stroud are some of the brightest young stars in the coaching rank and quarterbacks, but I think Justin right now the way he's playing and just having Jim Harbaugh, going back to the scene where he won his national championship exactly a year ago, just the slightest of edges to the Chargers. All right, we'll leave it at that. Chris, our thoughts are with you, your viewers, entire Southern California, We, as I was telling the audience last hour, there's no part of the country that doesn't have to go through something, whether it's hurricanes or blizzards or earthquakes or mudslides or tornadoes.

We just can't. We have these elements sometimes get in the way of our normal lives. And so please be safe to you and your family in the citizen Southern California. Thank you for your analysis. And we really appreciate your time on the show today. Hey, man, anytime. Appreciate you guys. We'll get on a plane here soon.

So we'll see you in a bit. Sounds good. Chris Hayrie, joining us from K-Cal Sports in Los Angeles on the, the, chargers be we take a time out bottom of the hour we've got i just don't get it that's something in your life that you simply don't get and ross connor myself try to help you understand what you just don't get 713 212 5 790 719 719 your phone calls are also welcome next it is the matt thomas show ross it's sports talk 790 the matt thomas show with ross continues on sports talk 790 1121. I'm Sports Talk 790.

It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. We've got, I just don't get it coming up at the bottom of the hour. The news at noon will be up in about 40 minutes. We'll have the Rotten 5 at 1.30. E.M.A. Doca with us at 1 o'clock. Rockets right now on the floor over at the FedEx form. Getting ready for tonight's game with the Grizzlies. We'll have it for you here on 7.90 with a Emeadoka largely driven launch pad at 6 p.m.

Is that close to being fair to say? What do you mean? I think you're going to take probably 12 minutes of it and just run it and just take a break and do a couple stats and call today. We don't normally get him for a full 12 minutes. Okay, well, then I'll make it nine minutes then. Yeah, we'll see. We'll play a little bit of it. We'll recap the last game against the Wizards.

We'll preview the game. Injury reports, yeah, it's going to be an informative, fun, entertaining. Rockets Launchpad coming up at 6 p.m. Here on Sports Talk 790. No one's going to say it's fun and entertaining. It's maybe informative, but I want people are like, man, I've got to stop at my, I've got to quit dinner plans. I mean, Ross has got the launch pad. Yeah, people are going to forget to stir their soup.

They're going to be so entrenched in what I'm talking about. That makes sense. That makes sense. All right, 713212-5-7-90. Rossi has a line moved bunch on this Chargers game at all? I keep seeing it. Now, ESPN bet. I always go to ESPN as a default.

So, I mean, you know, that's just one source. But I've been seeing it flip from two and a half to three kind of back and forth. Yeah. At the moment, it's back to three. It was three, then two and a half, then now it's three again. Hmm. Total keeps going a little bit lower. It was, I think, 44.5.

Now it's down to 42 and a half. And you got a little extra juice on there, the 115. Instead of 110. Yeah, that's, uh, if we, if we got any betters out there, Ross is giving you the information you need on a recorded line. I've hit 15 paulays in a row, madam, taking the Houston Texans plus the three, lock it in. It's in it funny.

You never, they never have like Greek accents. yeah you should do that bad how does even Greek go this is more difficult oof yeah I think we probably stay away from the accents period unless it's Louisiana baby we used to do Louisiana locks on this show

we that was a segment until we lost a producer yeah we didn't lose him losing we just left yeah he was he went back home to Baton Rouge I ran into him by the way in my trip in New Orleans he drove down to New Orleans to come say hi to me

he really did yes he did and i appreciate him for that do you buy him a drink while he was there uh no he oh that sobby he slipped me some cash on his way out and then ran away i couldn't give it back to him i know one of the great producers uh a hall of fame group of producers that have once been i mean my goodness we we should put a mount rushmore together of course i'm at the top of it we're uh we're we're locking in connor he doesn't know this but he signed the five-year contract

uh well yeah there you know there are many facets of producing that connor far surpasses me like paying attention being one of them showing up on time another one yeah that's two you're for those that will occur in back not huffing and puffing every time you tell me to do something Connor the show used to be at noon and then at two and there was probably a time where he was probably batting about seven 50 on being there on not accurate. This is not accurate.

I was literally late, like, twice, and then Matt's going to over, in 10 years, and so Matt's acting like it was every other week. Like there's like five seconds left in the spot block? Okay, let's find them. No, I don't have the receipts. I don't get rid of text quickly. That's funny.

Now, but Conner's always there early now, putting in the hours. I mean, I don't know, whoever taught you, but, man, it's refreshing. most everybody else has been much more punctual than me yeah it's fine but you but you have a certain cachet with you I mean I can't expect perfection from our co-hostess I mean Lord knows I'm not perfect and I'm close don't even get me started

quick news I'll go ahead I'm just gonna say it's part of your charm Ross oh thank you I appreciate that quick quick news item Matthew the Astros and Maricio Dubon have settled at five million dollars they will be avoiding arbitration good for them yeah today is an arbitration are you going to get that stuff done or they're going to have to go to hearings and those things don't ever turn out well? Ask Kyle Tucker.

Kyle Tucker. Ask the Chicago Cubs Kyle Tucker. Kyle Tucker told the Estos shut their bum ass up. Well, I mean, think about it for a second. We've all negotiated things in life, right? Yes. Do you imagine that if you can't get a negotiation resolved, you then have to go to get a third party involved. So you get that third part. This is called classic arbitration, obviously.

and you have to go in front of this arbiter or this arbitration board and you have to sell yourself, I hit, you know, $2.95 and I hit 31 home runs and I had 84 RBIs and guys at this level have made this much money based off my production and I'm going to be here for the long term and I'm under team control but I'm outperforming my numbers expected for a guy that's been the league three years or four years. And then the other team, whether it's the Astros or anybody else, comes in and says, Yeah, you know, we got this game against the Phillies back in April where you went 0 for four with three strikeouts and left seven men on base. You basically have to dog cuss them and make them feel bad.

And most teams don't want to do that because they know there is some long, not resentment, but forgive but not forget kind of thing. Jeff Luno, to his credit, Rossi, I think may have had one arbitration case his entire time as a general manager. Now, granted, there were some years that were pretty lean here, but he always would tell me. me, please, you've got to stay away from arbitration because, again, there are going to be some hurt feelings one way or the other. Even if the guys win the case because they're like, man, you made me waste my time

with this. Just paying me my damn money. Yeah, didn't end up going to arbitration with Brendan Barnes and the gang. How did the, let's see, arbitration go for Matt Dominguez.

Giovanni Meyer says hello. No, no, not a lengthy... Not a lengthy hearing. Dr. Maxwell, Bell, I think it's a dentist. What? Yeah. Great for him. Legendary Justin Maxwell.

We're a legendary Astros number, number 44. Yeah. Who else will be in the Arbitration Hall of Fame for the Astros? Like actual or making fun like we are now? No, we're making fun. We can't be serious. Yeah, let's move on. All right.

Hey, Ross, what don't you get? your entire existence I mean that feels rude but I No I get that You're doing a great job You have a story to hear career here in Houston You got my vote for the Texas Sports Radio Or Texas Radio Hall of Fame

I have not been nominated How do I nominate you? I don't have to pay do I pay the entry fees No I'm good Can you spot me? I mean if I get in I get in That's fine Can you spot me?

I mean you're saying you want me to pay for your entry fee to get me nominated so that would be basically isn't that like illegal oh it does cost money yeah i don't think it's a really super formal thing i i think it's a very um all right it's 50 bucks to become a member and become give me 50 bucks and i'll vote for you nice nice all right 713 212 5 790 if there's something in your life you just don't get that's all simple we speak here on the matt thomas show with ross 713 two one two one two 5-790. If you're something you don't get, we're here to help. It is Sports Talk 790 with a word for Uptown appliance repair. I don't get why you would go buy a new refrigerator when you can get it

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Do you have something in your life that you just don't get? No need to worry. No need to fret. The things that may confuse our friends, it's time to say I just... 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Ladies and gentlemen, something in your life you just don't get. Let us know what it is.

7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Mine, Rossi, is on a form of social media. Why do husbands and wives share Facebook accounts? I say to you both, I just don't get it. I don't get it either I see I see couples do that on Instagram they have like they make a shared account I'm like unless you are a celebrity couple

I don't think you should be doing that guys I don't need to see double super easy answer I think can I guess what you're thinking yes the other spouses and trust the other one insecurity watchdogging

possible history of cheating as well whoa okay so you're saying like you totally get it then. You're saying the wife doesn't let the husband have his own account? Or the husband doesn't let the wife have her own account. Correct. I was not thinking that.

I was thinking they had their separate accounts, but they also have one together. And at what point would you put something on your together account that you wouldn't put on your individual account? Exactly. That's why I don't like, I don't understand it. But now Ross is. I mean, Kim has her own friends. I have my own friends. We do have a lot of mutual friends.

So, duh. So if you want to. make sure that your spouse is a part of the conversation, you just tag them. But sometimes you just don't need the tag because it doesn't relate to her or her friends. But man, it's just weird.

Having a husband-wife Facebook account, it's just weird. I just don't get it. That's my theory anyways. I don't know anything about anything. I don't think it's terrible, Ross. I got to be honest with you. I think it makes a lot of sense. I didn't mean to call anybody out. So the wives can make sure their husbands aren't

following like Instagram models. Right. Okay, I get it. They're keeping an eye on each other. Through social media? Okay. And then you got to make a burner. Then what happens if somebody sneaks in the DMs?

What are you supposed to do at that point? Nobody's going to do that when it says, Jan and John Simpson. Hey, hey, Jan, sit this one out. I want to talk to John real quick. I know somebody that has to, That doesn't communicate through Facebook because this person thinks the spouse has the password. Hmm.

Be careful out there, folks. Just be careful. Just behave yourself. How about that? Is that a little bit you just behave yourself? Stay true to your woman. Or man. Or man.

Do you think Emmanuel Acho and Joy Taylor share a Facebook account? No, they're not married, Matt. Do you think Joy Taylor and the Fox Sports One executive shares a Facebook account? No, they're also not married, Matt. She was getting married to Earl Watson. His wife probably share a Facebook account. When is Earl Watson going to speak up about all this? He's like, man, get me out of this conversation. I want no part of it.

Connor, what don't you get? So for Christmas, I bought my brother hockey tickets to, he lives in near D.C., so I got in Washington Capitals tickets. His work schedule changed, so he's no longer able to go, unfortunately. So I went on Ticketmaster, Micketmaster, to put the tickets up for sale. and I saw similar tickets in my section go for a little bit of higher prices. So I'm like, okay, I can sell them for a little bit more than what I got. Maybe make a little bit of profit.

Yeah. And it turns out I'm still going to lose money based off, you know, I pay the service fees for the tickets in the first place, but they also take some off for the sale of the tickets. I just don't get that. I'm selling them for more than I bought them for, but I'm still going to lose money. So how much to make a profit or even break even, how high do I got to list these tickets? Nobody's going to buy them.

They get you twice. They get you coming and they get you going. It's a huge grift. Why they got to get me twice? I get it for money. So let me ask you this. Can you see your brother's like, man, I'll take this job. I can't wait to be a part of this company.

But man, my brother, my bro, my flesh and blood gave me this really awesome set of caps tickets. Can I at least have the night off? of that. I mean, is he a waiter? What kind of work does he do? He's a broadcast engineer and the job that he got in early February you can't really deny if you get what I'm saying. Oh, damn. So he'll be in New Orleans

working that game. The big game? Yeah, he can't say no to that. I didn't realize the McGovern family was full of broadcasting people. I mean, you got offensive guards to the bills. I did know he had his brother had a broadcasting job. That's got to talk to Connor, Matt. I talked to Connor, too.

I don't just ask him prying questions about his woman. I ask him about his life. No. I respond to his text. What did I ask you? What did I, uh, you texted me something yesterday.

Did you not Connor? I did, yes. I asked Matt for Texas A&M basketball tickets. I was going to say. I asked if he had a connection. I was a life advice or, you know,

help us some things. Nope, nope, nope, got your hand out for some tickets. That's right. That's where you go to Matt Thomas for, though. That's what I'm used for.

I'm just for. I'm just everybody's ticket, bitch. All right. Ross, what don't you get? Thank you, Matt. You're the best. We love you.

Actually, I was going to go in the same realm. Now, I guess I was looking it up. The Justice Department did suit Live Nation slash Ticketmaster to try to break up their monopoly. But I was looking at the tickets for the Cotton Bowl, classic,

and the tickets that I mean, I just clicked on some random ones. There's $759. Now, I guess my answer to getting this is the same for Connor, but the fees are $283. Almost $300 in fees for a ticket that is $759. What is happening here? A single ticket, $750? How does this, yes.

Oh, my gosh. So a $759 ticket becomes $184. I'm sorry, $1,042. Right. How is this allowed? I'm not going to say what I want to say. I'm not going to say what I want to say. I don't want to get on a watch list because it would be a joke,

but you get where I'm going, I think. Like, something needs to happen here. This is ridiculous. This is for Section 200, by the way, or like by the goal line on the side. This is not premium tickets. God, that's crazy. You know what it's doing?

This is going to give you more reasons why to stop going to sporting events. It just is. That's 37% by the way. 280 of 760 is 37% fee. How does that make sense? And no one can regulate this at this point. No. I guess people are going to pay it.

I don't know. It's embarrassing. And I don't have an answer. You know what, Rossi? I just don't get it. I don't get either. I just don't get it. And I'm not a big fan of government oversight,

but like somebody has to do something. Somebody has to defend the people. And then why are you something dealing with win there? That was really weird. Oh, but Matt, the tickets to the Cotton Bowl classic. Oh, but Matt, you cannot pay the fees. That's inside baseball and the Matt Tom. That is way inside, but here, I got you, Matt.

Better if we get Tom Brady instead of Matt Shub. I heard the Raven. She has a. They have a bounty on me that you're trying to take out my ACL. I'm just going to keep coming. Humility and restraint. No, this is the best one, I think. I was down at Texans practice and I couldn't tell if it was a football team or a bunch of school girls.

That clip is at least 10 years old and it's so good. You can always use it. Even if the team is 15 and 1, you could use it. That's right. That's right. Yeah. God, oh, I love Dylan. It's a regular season award, Dylan.

This has tickled you. This makes me. Oh, my God. I love it. Dylan, I totally get you, my man. I miss you. I totally get it. All right, phone calls are next.

If you guys living in your life, you just don't get. Let us help you. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. More Matt Thomas show with Ross. Now on Sports Talk 790. You know what we don't get. What don't you get?

713-212-5-790. It's a Matt Thomas Show at Ross. The news at noon is coming up at the top of the hour. We have EMAID Don't Get 1 and the Rotten 5 at 130, the final one. And believe it or not today, at 150. Jacob, I have one simple question for you. What don't you get? I don't get how Rex Ryan could say that it's going to be a.

a buy week for LA. I think the criticism that the Texas are getting from CJ and Coach Ryan were all the injuries. CJ's wide receivers injured. This is top receiver after the third game. Injured.

Deeds. Injured. The little guy. Injured. Offensive line. Trash. Tight ends. Trash. And he then ended up winning his division with a 10 or 7 record. I just don't get in. And I got one for you, Matt. How could you keep saying that Joe Burrow,

uh, Joe Burrow is the guy. Joe Burrow, man, is done. He's in the wrong division. He might go to the NFC because he, as long as he in there with Pittsburgh and the Ravens, he is not going to be making it to the playoffs. All right. Thanks. That might be the case, but Joe Murrow is an excellent, excellent quarterback. I could easily build my franchise around Joe Burrow, not think twice about it. And as far as the national disrespect, I mean, Rossi, the Texans had

two opportunities on a national stage to prove that they were better than their 10 and 7 record indicated. And losing to Kansas City on the road is no, you know, it's not an embarrassment, but you were embarrassed by Baltimore on Christmas Day 31 to 2. And then you roared back to beat the Tennessee Titans.

Davis Money Mills roared back Damian Pierce roared back Hey CJ Straw got a touchdown They looked good in the first series But you had one last opportunity To improve to show folks That maybe you were going to be a serious playoff contender And you fell flat

So you shouldn't be surprised That people are expecting you to Not win this playoff game So I get it No stop You don't get it to the extent of Ryan calling it a buy. Of course not.

That's absurd. I get it. That's hot takeiest at its hot takeiest best. Yeah, I get it. How many times when we said Rex Ryan, the entire year of 2024 on this show, Matt? Zero. How many times when we said it this week? 50.

Yeah. So, yeah, I get it. We've also said toe fetish multiple times this week. The instructions from whatever network and whatever show he was on, not even going to mention it. Right. are to make waves. And he made a wave, and we're talking about it. And he's being, and Domingo Ryan's being asked about it in the media and all this type of stuff.

Again, publicity isn't always good. Yeah, publicity isn't always good. A former NFL coach knows that there's no such thing as a buy in the regular season, let alone the playoffs. Yeah. If you're the Jets and you hear him say that, does that make them think twice about trying to hire the guy? Well, he said he thinks he's getting the job. Maybe he's just deletionion. Maybe he's just got STTE.

Maybe this guy he's been inhaling too much toe jam. Well, he didn't really play in the NFL, right? He just played in Oklahoma something or other A&M. Right. I mean, directional something. He's sucking off of the daddy teeth. Hey, buddy rest. Matt, Mike, on 790.

Mike, what don't you get, my friend? Well, I have two of them that are real close, and they don't take long. When I was in school in the 50s, hazing. Hazing is not as prevalent today as it was when I was. in school, but I was traumatized by having to eat mustard out of a dirty baby diaper. And the other one that I don't like is shooting guns in the air. Why don't they shoot them in the ground? Save a human, kill a worm.

That's it. Thank you. Ross, let's go first to the mustard and the dirty baby diaper. Your thoughts on that. Mike, well, yeah, that's the reason that hazing isn't as prevalent as it used to be because people went through a lot of trauma. I mean, when I was on campus at UT, somebody died. at one of the fraternities.

And I am so sorry that you had to eat mustard out of a used diaper. That's one of the most disgusting things I've ever heard. Sorry for those you heading to lunch. Yeah. God. In the 50s. What were they doing in the 50s? Hazing.

I thought I was just leaving to Beaver. And let's go to the hop. God. And then the old shotgun down up in the air. Yeah, I don't think fire any. any sort of weapons unless you absolutely have to is probably the best thing to do. Yeah, people like to do that for whatever reason to celebrate New Year's and things. And it's a waste of. Ammo's expensive, man.

Maybe it's the solution that Chris Rock came up with in his stand-up routine ages ago. Make every bullet $1,000. You see a lot less needless killings. That's right. That's right. All right. All right. Are we done?

I think so. Or is Mike and Cleoleck new? Help me out. No, Mike, Cleaver is who we just talked to. Okay, Mike, thank you very much. All right, let's turn this down. Rossi, you know as part of this show, and I want to do this for the news at noon, we talk about Blackjack a lot of the show. Yes.

And how I believe I am a player, not A plus, but an A. Okay. I would consider you an A player as well. Thank you. Most of the people, I don't know why that is in my life, I get stuck with C-minuses and D-pluses. And sometimes borderline Fs, but if you're a $5 table, you kind of expect the F to be a problem. part of the category. Yes. You're $25 a table or higher. You should have some

sort of basic rule indication of how to play the world of blackjack, right? Were you gambling recently? No. Okay. Do I want to? Yes. But no. I got to tell you something. A funny little clip happened. You know, I go through these Twitter reels and catch me. Here's a comedian talking about blackjack and

not how to play it, but his own way he wanted to play. And by the way, Connor, what is the gentleman's name that said this? Hannibal Burris. I saw this as Well, is this clean? Yeah. It is clean. It is clean.

Here is Hannibal Burr. Is he funny, generally speaking, Rossian? Because I laugh at this. He's kind of... Yes and no. Sometimes he makes me laugh. And sometimes he kind of does that, like, non-comedy, straight-faced, deadpan comedy that...

And it doesn't resonate with me. But I would say funny, yes, but he's not my favorite. This made me... Chuck. You're not supposed to hit on 17. But if I have... I have 17 and the dealer's showing 10. I'm supposed to assume the dealer's other card is a 10,

so I'm staying on 17 because of 20. I'm going out like a bitch. That's not how I like to live. So sometimes I hit on 17. Situation came up, pack table. I had 17, dealers show in 10. I was the last one to go before the dealer port again. I said, hit everybody at the table gas.

Oh no. This dude is on tilt. He's on full tilt. He's out of control. Even the dealer said, are you sure? sure yes I'm sure hit hit I'm hitting on 17 I busted out 27

turns out bill his other car was a 5 I took his 10 he would have busted out with 25 his next car was a 6 he got 21 everybody lost I took everybody down with me Rossi that happened to me in New Orleans not this previous trip but the time before somebody

hit a 17 somebody hit a 17 he busted was it Hannibal worse He was wearing an LSU cap, which I should have never been playing cards with an LSU because they don't know what 21 is except maybe their IQ levels. That's rude, Matthew? It's not, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding.

But I was not happy. Doesn't seem like you're kidding? I think I called, didn't I call you or text? You wouldn't believe what just happened. You might have texted me. Oh, God. You just got, Matt, you got to let it go. You know what I got to start doing?

honestly, which is not great because it's the odds go back to the house even more so than they before. I got to play by myself. Well, it's not only that. Yeah, it's just that you play so fast. And, well, what I'm going to do is if I have the money, I will play by myself and play two hands, at least to slow it down. Oh, when you play by so fast, you're like, man, I just lost $700 in six minutes. This is great. It's happened before, Rossi. It has.

The news at noon starts the third hour, the Matt Thomas show with Ross. This is Sports Talk 790. Lunch timers. This is the Matt Thomas show. Here we go. It's 1202 on Sports Talk 7-90. Shout out to my friend Cajun Tiger. Yes, you are a Tier 1 research school, LSU. I believe the Tier 1 research is in, I believe, gumbo production, Ross.

Is that correct? And they hand out to anyone. Didn't you of H get that designation recently, too? Yeah, but we just pay a fee. We have a great new medical school. We've got a great law school. We've got an outstanding. Broadcasting School should be the Thomas School of communication, but they call it the Valenti.

I'm going to go to Nance. That's fine. Whatever. Shout out to Jim Nance, by the way, going to call us 500th NFL game. Wow. This Sunday when the bills take on the Denver Broncos. Congratulations to him. Great job.

Great friend of the show. Wonderful friend of the show. It really admires your career, Matt. He said it before, remember? Yeah. He was, yeah, I remember. he's like Mick I just admired your career for so long

I know I think he did call me by the wrong name but that's fine that's okay Matt you're doing great two guys that have told me that they follow my career is Kevin Harlan and Jim Nance I don't know is that one of those things when you become a big time network career

anytime you're going to show you're supposed to follow the guy's career no Matt it's because you're so great they're actually following your career Kevin Harlan's probably listening right now what's up kev kev what's up dude great calls per usual on the NBA on TNT hopefully you'll be doing some games

I'm going to presume Amazon because you can't work for NBC because you work for already for CBS. You know, I should turn to the play by play nerd on this, Matt. I saw an argument breaking out on Twitter the other day. Mike Breen's Bang versus Kevin Harlan's Good. Can I plead the fifth on this? You could say they're both equally deserving? Yeah, they're both great. Because first of all, they're really, really nice people.

that's the thing about we're very and not the I mean just trust me when I tell you that I and Eagle who's doing the Texans game against the Chargers

on Saturday is super nice I've only Jim Nance amazing Kevin Harlan the best of the best I don't know who would you like to know if I know these people or not

I know nobody I don't know Toreko we're going to have to start getting a name dropping cow for you too now no chance no chance All right, ladies and gentlemen. That's another deep inside baseball on the Matt Thomas show of Ross.

That was more proper gentleman. Yes. That's funny. All right, time down for the news of dude. And with that, we go to the news desk. Yes, Matthew. Edward R. Moral of journalism. Not here.

Instead, it's Ross. I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm filling in this week. So the Texans getting ready for the Los Angeles Chargers. maligned offensive coordinator for your Houston Texans. I have a couple of bites from him. Let's start with an easy one. Bobby Slowick, what's going on with you and the New York Jets?

I have no idea that's not even allowed this week, so that's far from anywhere on my radar. Believe him or not, the Jets job, not on Bobby Sloick's radar. Not. He's like, dang, I better call a good game this week. trying to get that 6, 7 milly or whatever you get for being a head coach. If I call a good game,

I'm in the top of the list. If I am, if I call a bad game, I got fan boys looking for my job. And you know, that's another reason to believe in Bobby Sloat this weekend, right? Right. Bobby Sloak, this is good news,

says he has seen the defensive scheme from the L.A. Chargers that he's going to face this weekend. Seen it before. You know, anytime you have similar type systems that you're going against, you know, just familiarity with it. I think helps breed confidence for the entire offense and not just coaches, but players just as much, maybe even more so. And we've really faced this type of tree or system.

I feel like five times in the last seven weeks or so, like Tennessee's kind of from the same fold. So I think we have a pretty good handle on what we can expect, especially when you get to situational football. Like I said, they're a little different with the charge. do in first second down and in particular in the middle of the field and kind of how they play that. So that's some adjustments will have to make. Coaching for his Jets head coach life, familiar with the scheme, home game?

Let's go Texans. You don't want that job. The Jets job? Nope. It's kind of cursed, right? Let me let's go to this really quick. I know you got other headlines to get to. Let's go to the job that are open.

Raiders job you want that? Nope. Jets job, do you want that? Nope. Jaguar's job, you want that? Nope. Who else got let go? Bears? You want that job?

Maybe. That seems to be, I mean, the best of the worst? Patriots? Drake May? Rastres horrible, by the way. And by the way, a one-and-done coach just got finished there. New Orleans Saints. Let's flip it around.

What's the most attractive of all those jobs we just brought up? I mean, the first thing you think of is quarterback. I'm going to go with the Bears. They have a good secondary. They have some defensive pieces. And they have Caleb Williams who, I mean, his raw, he has a lot of bad numbers. But at the end of the day, what was it? Like 19 touchdowns, three picks or something.

So those numbers are good, something to work with. He can get better in a second year. I'd go with the Bears, I guess. Best of the worst is the Chicago Bear job. Maybe if you. Worst of the worst would be. have to be probably the Raiders. The Raiders, yeah, you're right.

Raiders. All right, what else is happening? The Saints aren't in the next. The Saints have like a horrible, horrible cap situation, and Derek Carr is their quarterback. And no quarterback. I mean, a lot of money tied up into him. You know what, let's put the Saints last, just to make Gordon mad.

Okay, that's fine. I like that. All right, let's keep it moving along. Let's go to some baseball here. Mentioned this earlier on the show. Chandler Rome of the Athletic reporting that the Astros and Utility Man, Maricio Dubois. Bon have settled at $5 million

avoiding arbitration. Astros have settled with some other players, including Luis Garcia, Framber Valdez, Chas McCormick, I'm sorry, no. Luis Garcia is the only one they have settled with at this moment. The ones that remain

unsettled, Fromber, Chas McCormick, Jake Myers, Jeremy Pena, Brian Abraeu, and Isok Paredes. I think they'll all get resolved. I don't think we should be sitting here worried at 1209 that these things are not been resolved yet. Yeah, six of them wins the deadline. It's today, correct? Right, yeah.

They usually come pretty fast and furious. You will see a plethora of people tweeting it out and the yield of a bunch of other people that will say, I've confirmed with other legitimate media have said. Yeah, and sticking quickly with the baseball angle, Justin Verlander, one year, $15 million. Some people wondering, Matt, if the Astros should have been interested in a one- year $15 million deal with Justin Verlander. This may be an unpopular belief.

I would have offered it to him. I'm good. Worst season of his career, 42 years old, been hurt last two years. Not like his injury health is going to get better. When you're 42, Matt, you're injury prone.

But you know what the Ross? I have to start realizing that that's basically about average compensation for a mid-level starting picture. As crazy as that sounds. Yeah, it depends on where Luis Garcia is in his rehab.

Same thing for Lance McCuller Jr. J.P. France. But you do have some options. Dana Brown has come out and said Hayden Wed Zaneski, the trade piece back from the Cubs is going to be in line to start. Then you've got Frumber. You've got Hunter Brown, Renel Blanco, Spencer Ergetti. You do have some names.

Not necessarily them that carry the weight of Justin Verlander. Don't forget that JP France. He's like, hey, I'm still here. I didn't say JP France. All right. So, I mean, I wouldn't say it was the craziest thing ever. One year, 15 million is, you know, that's not the craziest contract ever. But he is now a San Francisco giant. But as you say all these things, and I told you all, it was either a gut feeling or to tell the truth that the tech,

the Astros should try to move from, you can't move them now. Not unless things fall apart here before the end of the season where you may make him as a trade deadline. Yeah, unless you're punting on the season, which clearly, they're not with the signing of Christian Walker. Yeah, you absolutely need a veteran innings eater, and that's what Farmer Valdez is. All right, Matt, moving along, this is kind of offbeat, but this is kind of onbeat because it is sports news. Dan Hurley, did you see what happened to Yukon as Alex Caraban, the red shirt Jr. on the Yukon Husky Squad missed three clutch free throws at the end of of the game as Yukon lost 68 to 66.

Well, Dan Hurley, take it away. You know, when you've had, you know, the incredible moments, the fairy tale, you know, the fairy tale, back-to-back national champion, coming back for a third, it's like life. Sometimes you've got to go, you know, sometimes you got to eat shit. You know, like sometimes, you know, you're going to have bad moments. What I told him to do, though, is when he feels sad tonight, just get off the bus and get back to campus and do what I did after Maui. Just pull your boxing rings out and maybe just kind of play with your back-to-back national championship rings and get ready for Georgetown. Sometimes you got to eat bleep, says Dan Hurley.

Dan Hurley was thinking about going to an NBA. I think the Lakers wanted him. Did they not? Yes. Dan Harley would have lasted 40 games in the NBA. As soft as these guys' egos are at the NBA level, it would have never, ever, ever lasted. By the way, did they lose that game at home or was that on the road? I don't know.

I can go back and look it up. Because I want to say, I'm going to look this up right now. I believe the longest division on the road, yeah, at Villanova. Yeah. Let me take a look here. I think the longest national longest run for

consecutive wins at home would happen to be to belong to the University of Houston Cougars. You don't seem impressed. That's great. Good for them. At least they're tied, yeah, because I'm looking at Yukon's record. They've lost a home game yet, so. Cougars poised for another,

they keep climbing the rankings, I assume. Yep. Playing Kansas State this Saturday in Manhattan. Hmm. What a day of Saturday. You got Texas. You've got rockets in the afternoon game. You got the Cougars an afternoon game.

You got the Texans playing at 3.30. Oh, man. Prime napping weather. Our friends at Ken Palm, big believers in the University of Houston Cougars again, got them as the number three team in the country behind Duke and Auburn. Love it. Best defense in the country right there. Stifling, as a kids would say.

Yeah, and actually got shooters this year, correct? Yes, they do. Shooting involved very, very well. That's what they feel like that's what they've been missing. Back, yeah. It's good. LJ. Carson, okay, for himself. Wonderful. I want you to get a board.

I want you to love on them. A what? They need your love, yeah. Get a board? No, get on board. Oh, get a board. I got you. I'm stupid.

What kind of board do you want? Skateboard? Monopoly board? Snowboard? No, okay, we're good. You made it as Dallas people who named me a snowboard. And Matt, there is your news at news.

Thank you very much, Ross, at the news desk. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-2-1-2-5-7-90. We will have EMA-A doka coming up in 45 minutes. Now, Ross, you have a, let me just give you, make sure of planning out the rest of your day. Rotten 5 at 1230, or at 130, excuse me, 130. Oh, thank God. And believe it or not, today, at 150.

The category is? Um, you know what would be actually kind of funny. What to do? Hazing incidents. I said funny. Oh. You should do things and we should have the people figure out if you're talking about Jim Harbaugh or John Harbaugh. Jim or John?

I'm good. Yeah. Like you'll give a statement about somebody and you'll say it's a Jim or John. Kind of a little bit of a differential, a different way to do, believe it or not today. I'm good. What about Jack the Dad? Is he so alive? That's a great question.

I'm going to say no. I'm going to say he's alive. And then their sister married, yeah, see, their sister married Tom Crean, who used to be a college basketball coach. I think he works for ESPN now, I think. Don't hold me to that. All right, 713-212-5-790.

7-13-212-5-790. I have one question for you that I need to get a response from from you on the phone lines at 7-13-212. 5790. Can you feel it? The it is a Texan victory. 713-212-5-790. Want to tell you about the folks at the Shell Federal Credit Union. Auto low rates are available at 3.99% for up to 36 months today from the Shell FCU. If you have a new vehicle, you want to purchase a pre-owner, you want to refinance a vehicle that you're in. You can get a couple, skip a pays a year. You can ask, about 90 days of deferred payments and you'll get

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That's shellfcU.org for the Shell Federal Credit Union. Back to Matt Thomas and Ross via real. On Sports Talk 790. 1222 on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. I'm here in Memphis, Ross, back in Houston. And I forgot something, Ross. And that's my fault. We have a sports empty theater coming up on the show today.

Wonderful. And it's at 1230. I cannot. Yes. Can we give it? audience of the little hint as to what it's going to be about? I would say

two Hall of Fame big men? Yes. That should give it away for those have been paying attention. Real quick, before we go to the phones, I sent you a text about something about one of your sponsors that I think is interesting at least worth reading about, since they do

spend money on our radio show in this station. You're more than welcome to read it. Okay. Oh, you sent me a text? I certainly did. I'm sorry. you know, I focus on the show, you know, man. I'm not on my phone during this. That's what I'm telling you right now, live on the radio. Organic, baby.

Let's go. In case you missed it, Draft Kings and Delta announced a partnership that will include Draft Kings powered gaming options on the back of Delta seatback screens. Further details have not been released, but federal law prohibits real money sports betting while in the air. Then what are they doing?

Well, somebody's going to have to make a phone call to a special interest group, right? I guess. Isn't it interesting how you can... I honestly think unless you get massive internet, better Wi-Fi coverage, I think it's a very slippery slope

that your friends over there at draft kings are going through right now. Don't you think? I mean, we've... How many times you've been... You thought you had something done, connected, and purchased, and all of a sudden the internet just goes away?

The Wi-Fi is horrible. You know what? God, this is how... they got me. I forgot to tell American Airlines I wanted a refund. On the way back from Korea, I spent $30 on that internet. You can still argue

it, can't you? I didn't tell somebody. It wasn't even working. It wasn't working at all. Now, Schmited is using Elon Musk new satellites for their better Wi-Fi. Okay. Is that working? I don't know. I don't know if they've done it yet, but that's the plan. So

every airline is trying to do their best, and Elon and Musk is helping out Schmited. What a grift is that, by the way? They keep taking more and more of your leg room. They give you worse and worse food. They take away, I mean, they charge you more and more for bags. They charge you for Wi-Fi that doesn't work. Right.

And they're not as hot. What do you mean? They're fun attendants. Hmm. Maybe, maybe. Why are you worried about that? Because don't you want a pleasant, smiling face when you're on an airplane? No, I just want good service, Matt.

I'm on an airplane. What are you going to do? Well, I mean, maybe you're a single guy. You're like, well, What's up, girl? Lay them down sweetly in the bathroom? No, what do you mean? We cannot mile high at it anymore.

That's not going to happen. You're so weird. I'm just bringing it up as a conversation piece. I guess. You know what I heard, by the way? I wasn't able to fly on Korean Air, but I heard it's like a huge thing to be, like there are auditions to be a Korean Air flight attendant.

So maybe you should fly Korean Air. To go where? You can't fly Houston. Atlanta and Korean Air. You could fly like Dallas to L.A. because the flight's going over there from L.A. to Korea anyways. They're going to drop me off? Maybe.

Okay. I see how you're working it. I'm just, you know, one of my very good friends married a flight attendant on a flight one time. They met on a flight? Yeah. Hmm. You know, there's a song called Love is in the air and it makes a lot of sense. Is that what it's about? The Mile High Club?

I didn't know that. No, no, no. they didn't mile high it by way do you really want to do that is that one of those checklist things in your life no ramped bathroom no that's zero yeah it was a much more

weren't there bigger bathrooms on the planes like in the 60s well I wasn't alive so I can't really give you the answer to that well that was around your time it's not around my time no thanks though 713212 570 I asked you all

in just a few minutes ago, a few minutes ago, can you feel the buzz, the energy? Now, naturally, it's playoff time. You're going to be optimistic. You're going to say, look, the charges don't have this deep playoff history. You know, it's not like Justin Herbert has loads of experience. It's not like the charges have not lit an egg over the course of the year. And the Texans, typically, with exception of the Baltimore game and the Tennessee game, have played significantly better at home than they have on the road.

There's no reason why they can't. can't beat the chargers. They're going to beat the chargers. Let's go. I believe. Okay. You heard it from Sports RV? 713-212-5-7-90. Robert and Katie at 1227 on 7-90.

Robert, good afternoon to you. Hey, guys. I guess you were talking about love at first flight. Yeah. I believe that the Texans are going to win. That's if, because we got home field advantage. so Tunsell is not going to have illegal motion three times. He shouldn't have any.

Our quarterback is going to be protected, and he's going to be throwing accurate without any interruptions. And our defense, it's just going to have the turnovers like they do always. So I'm really optimistic about our team. And last year, we barely made it. This year, we clinched it, and we're going to go further than we did last year. So I'm just happy for our team. Once again, we're in the playoffs and excited.

We've got a good team. Well, I'd say what, Robert, if they go further than they did last year, that means they would play for the AFC championship, and that would mean a significant victory over Kansas City that would rock the world. So, you know, that man's glasses have full of Rossville or Yale. I'm spilling over, baby. Let's go.

Yeah. Have they done lines on divisional playoff games, even though we haven't known or not at the division around you? Yes, there are prospective lines. I believe Texans would be seven and a half point dogs to the chiefs. Okay. Not that that's everything, but you know. It's not.

But I'm glad you're asking to get a feel. Yeah, I mean, it's by no means what I go off my analysis strictly off a point spread. But it's just a, it's just a note that unfortunately in Texas can't take advantage of this point until we get legalized betting full all the way through. We'll get there someday. Don't hold your breath. You're probably right. All right, sports, MT Theater is up next. Now, we've not done it in a while.

Ross, are we like a couple of cagey actors that have been away from our TV series for a while? And it's going to take us a while to get back into this, doing this again? I don't think so. You think this is going to be a masterpiece right off the top? Absolutely. So I like to hear. It is 1230 on Sports Talk 790, 7.19. 713-212-5-790.

7-1-3-212-5-790. Do you want to feel your very best? Do you want to have better energy? Do you want to sleep better? Do you want to avoid libido problems and issues in a bedroom? Then I think it's very important for you to get your T-levels checked with Game Day Men's Health. Successful across the country. Now they've opened up a plethora of offices in the Houston area.

And you can find the one near you by going to Game Daymen'shealth.com slash Houston. That's Game Daymen'shealth.com slash Houston. You can get your T-Levels check absolutely free. If your levels are low, you can then start TRT. And if you do that, the great folks at Game Day are going to give you a free vitamin boost. But the ultimate plan is for you to get regulated, so you're feeling better, so you're working out harder, you are not falling asleep middle of the day at the office, and you're feeling a little more friskeyer at night when the special time comes. All with Game Day, men'shealth.com slash Houston.

Again, locations all throughout the Houston area, find the one near you, and get those T-levels checked absolutely free. That's Game Day, men'shealth.com slash Houston. Matt Thomas, Ross Villariel. It's the Matt Thomas Show with Ross on Sports Talk 790. Afternoon, 1235 on Sports Talk 790. It's time to present to you another edition of SportsMT Theater. Today, we celebrate the lives of two big men. in the National Basketball Association.

Playing the role of Dwight Howard is Matt Thomas. Playing the role of Shaquille Neal on Twitter. Rossville Real. And now, without any further ado, represent to you, Spaltz, MTA, theater. Matt Thomas playing the role of Dwight Howard. That's a thing. Should I go with an accent here?

Let's see here. No. No? Okay. That's a thing that I hate. most is the fact that he being shack always thought I was trying to be him or be like him but again if I wanted to be you or be like you shouldn't you take that as a compliment and to show you how great you are as a player or a person I never

wanted to be shack at any level now I wanted to take certain things from him his life and implement into my life hell yeah I do that with Michael Jordan Magic Johnson LeBron James all these people the fact you think I care about you is funny, but I would never bring your name up again, sensitive, big man. A joker that can't take a joke. Shack wrote, Monday on X. Won't ever say your name ever, ever again. Have a great day, and now you have been deleted.

Have a great day. Hashtag I never cared. Hashtag, trust me. Hashtag, I don't need validation. You do. Hashtag stay out podcast. Hashtag the fact you think I care is funny. Hashtag, you got to show respect to get.

respect hashtag now you're dead to me hashtag sore throat shack I know you care because you'll insecure ass has been hating and talking blank for 20 years you're too big to be this insecure I hope you didn't bring up my name up again 52 years old tweeting me and still hating all this time you were joking you always been jealous of Kobe Penny Dwayne you jealous of Charles too go move around big lazy and secure ass i still live that long five paragraph direct message you sent me a couple years ago telling me that i'm not that great to hate you still doing it's 2025 grow the hell up and move on may still don't care nice move i see what you're doing your legacy

is now your podcast that's how you be remembered you need views damn i taught you well great job hall of fame cod podcaster but still don't care you need to sit down you need my validation i don't need yours. How will you be remembered? Think about that, podcast boy. I have an empire to run now. Leave me, son. I've been talking 20 years, but you want to squabble at 50? Well, I decline. I'm too old. Nice move. Love you, son. And that my friends was another rousing rendition of Bolt's empty. Yata! Your shack was quite impressive, by the way. And I'm glad you chose Shaq because that would hurt my throat. Thank you. I've been working on it for about three minutes.

So how do we side on this argument between these two behemists? Well, Dwight Howard would hold the age advantage if they did fight, as Shaq said, trying to squabble up with an old man. Shack, do you think... Now, obviously,

when you're one of the all-time greats, you're sensitive in a way. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Keele O'Neill, I mean, those types of guys you want to take what's yours. You want the credit that you feel like you're due. You have to have some kind of edge like that

to reach that level of greatness. But it does seem like, Shaq, just leave Dwight Howard alone. I kind of understand where Dwight's coming from. It's like, yeah, they called me Superman and Shaq got all mad about it, but Dwight Howard was like paying homage. That means he respects Shaq, as he said,

and wants to implement some of the things from his game and tried to be as great as Shaquille O'Neal, and Shaquille O'Neal took it as disrespect the entire time. I honestly can tell you this, Ross. I don't think Dwight Howard thinks he's in the same category of Shaquille O'Neal. And there's nobody in America that puts Shaq and Dwight in the same category. I mean, Dwight, for a five-year run,

probably 90% of his Orlando tenure, some of his Laker tenure, and some of his rocket tenure, was as dominant of a big manager to find the NBA. But there were certain things about, about he wasn't at the best of Shaq versus the best of Dwight was not even close not even close not even

nothing about I mean because Dwight didn't shoot further back his free throw percentages wasn't significantly better he just wasn't a yeah shack was just the most dominant he called himself the MDE most dominant ever and that's probably him or Wilt as far as you know big man right right

Dwight was great but he never was really good yeah he won at least he won at least The scoring championship, maybe two. Let me go look this up. Dwight Howard is never winning a scoring championship. Two scoring championships.

I think Shaq just was just barking up a tree that, you know, the wrong tree out. Who knows? 22-year-old Shaquille O'Neal won a scoring championship. And why is Shaq messing with Dwight? Dwight is not in the headline. Shaq, you're on the headlines every week because something crazy you say on the TNT show. They were arguing about Jimmy Butler the other day. Charles Barkley was like saying,

this is about money, and he's absolutely right. Jimmy Butler went to the Miami Heat and said, I want another extension to pay me 50 plus million dollars a year. And Pat Riley's like, man, shut your bum ass up. You ain't that good anymore. The number one thing that Charles Barkley said

during this whole conversation when they were arguing about Jimmy Butler was that the NBA player, the mega star player, and I put Jimmy Butler in that category. I mean, he's been doing it for a long time. Megastar. Not a mega player, but a mega star. is that they don't understand that there is a certain level of depreciation.

It's like a vehicle. He still thinks he is Jimmy Butler of 2012 when he wants to be paid like Jimmy Butler in 2025, and they're not the same player. Yeah. He's old. He gets hurt. He takes games off. He has a terrible history of getting sideways with three different organizations while he played.

Doesn't necessarily scream $50 million a year. But yet the only team that's showing any interest right now, again, if you believe what the Twitter streets are saying are the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix Suns like, we can give you Bradley Beal in the spam. He's like, I don't want, why do I want Bradley Bill? He said, shut your bummed ass up. Pat Riley's been saying a lot of that. He's because I'm 80 years old, I'm old, but shut your bum ass up.

I can say that. What does that tell you that if there's only one team that's even if you begin, if you believe the Twitter Streets, there's only one team that's showing a little bit of interest, and it's a team that's got a player that's making a zillion dollars, and he's underperformed. They're essentially trading one underperforming player for another with the only guarantee that Butler goes to Phoenix at Butler would get a new contract. Yeah. Apparently, Brian Winhorse has said no team really wants him because Butler is basically already said

he's not going to sign an extension with anyone. Right. And by the way, quick NBA news while we're on it, Sham Sharoni reporting the Lakers Hornets game tonight at Crypto Arena has been postponed. You know what? I got to be honest with you, Ross. that's the easiest decision they can make. Why would you want to put any L.A. Police Department folks?

Workers, players. Players. Yeah. Yeah, it's not smart. Not smart at all. 7-13. And by the way, how about this? What do you do for Monday night?

Those fires Rossi are not going to be done Monday night. What are they going to do with that? Oh, the L.A. game? Yeah. Should you go to Phoenix and just call today? Get the guys out of the time? That's a good question. They're going to have to figure something out.

Now, I know that L.A. has to resume life eventually, but it feels like it's not going to be in the next 24 hours. Crazy. All right. 1244, Sports Talk, 790. E. Mae Adoka joins us in 15 minutes here on the program. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-9. Tonight is Thursday, which means you are going to build, enjoy buy one, get one free executive chicken nuggets at any of the 13 big city wing locations.

Big on wings, big on bowling. Bownless Wings, it's buy one, get one free tonight. As you watch the Rockets, as you watch the college football playoff game between Penn State and Notre Dame down in South Florida, as you watch hockey and college basketball, buy one, get one free on the boneless wings at any of the 13 Big City Wing locations. For more details and to find the location near you where they have a great expanding menu, they were just the other day on their website. They were making their amazing chicken egg rolls. If you like salads, if you like burgers, if you like desserts, if you like fried pickles and fried cheese and the great wings, great selection, big, big menu.

And remember tonight is buy one, get one free boneless wings at any of the 13 locations. Go online to bigcitywings.com. That's bigcitywings.com. Matt Thomas, Ross Villarreal. It's the Matt Thomas Show with Ross on Sports Talk 790. All right, it is the Matt Thomas show. with Ross, we've got Eme Adoka coming up in about 10 minutes from now.

713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. If you want to jump in, Eme-a-Doka at 1 o'clock, the Rotten 5 at 130. And we've got, believe it or not, today, at 1-50 this afternoon. Did you see the story, Rossi? You and I didn't talk since we worked together last on Tuesday. There are NFL teams that are kicking the tires on Bill Belichick

and that he's got a pretty significant buyout pre-June 1st, but after June 1st, it's much more manageable. Do you think he would take the job and then ultimately never stepped foot, at least on a coaching standpoint, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina? Dang, I forgot about that for I just don't get it. Why would you sign on with the North Carolina Tire Hills? I mean, he did not do any vetting or talk to anybody

about how interested people would be in his services as an NFL head coach? so crazy. How stupid do you feel like, if you're like a recruit and you believe in Bill Belichick, not stupid, you've got bamboozle, it's not your fault.

Right. You know what I mean. But like how foolish to, if you bought into this UNC Bill Belichick thing, you transfer into the program and then Bill Belichick leaves you for the Raiders, which is the big rumor

because the obvious tie with Tom Brady. Right. And apparently Tom and Belichick have made up. I mean, whatever, a strain relationship they had when he was still playing is long gone. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, Matt. And that and a celebrity rose to the forum, too. Don't forget that. Yeah, they had a good time there.

And I think, you know, when you work with someone every day for 15 years, I mean, I'm telling you, Matt, it wears on you. Need a little time off. I know, what was I going to tell you? Oh, I know what we're going to do. Okay. I need to put your name on something right now. Really? I really, really truly believe this, and I have no inside intelligence on this.

I'm going to put my name on it that in less than three years, Tom Brady's off Fox. Less than three. I think you put that as a gut feeling. Let me look. Well, I'm upgrading it to putting my name on it. Oh, you did it. November 7th, 24, Tom Brady does not see out his Fox contract. Is that a gut or is that I put my name on?

This is on the no-shur-wrongest file. I'd put an addendum. I think he is going to get this taste of ownership life, and he is going to love it. He is going to love that the rate of return on NFL ownership is crazy. Mark Davis has got to be Rossi, what, mid-70s, something like that? So you say not within, so three more years of Fox or under three more years of Fox? I'm just trying to get the fact.

I'm going to, yeah, I'm going to say with less than three years, so either one more year or two more years. But within three years, he will tell Fox, thanks, but no thanks. And he will get into a bigger, whether it's responsibility-wise, or he will purchase a larger group of percentage of that, or get an investment group together to purchase a larger group of the, of the raters. Hmm. Okay. I'm just throwing that out there.

Somebody like him, yeah, it needs to be around the game somehow. And if you're, I guess you're a part owner, you are around the game. I'm not saying you're crazy. I can see him getting bored. How long is Mark Davis here? Let's see. He is the owner of the Raiders. Let's see how old.

Because, I mean, hell is dead. 69. He looks 80. So you think he's going to get more of a controlling interest? I thought he only bought like 3% of the team. Yeah. I'm saying, I think he's going to own. I think the NFL and Fox are not comfortable.

More so on the NFL side. I think there's a lot of uncomfortableness with Tom Brady being involved in the Raiders hiring, and yet he's supposed to be an objective broadcaster when he's working the games of the week. Yeah, it's too much. I'm sorry, his stake is he and a partner bought 10%, so 5% is Brady's. Okay. I don't even know what the net value of Bradys. Brady is, but I'm going to assume.

I mean, he's probably going up. It's certainly going up for the next couple of years. Maybe he needs two more years to buy a bigger chunk. Mark Davis's net value, net worth is $2.3 billion. Is that sick? Oh, my God. Could you be imagined worth... You're just not normal.

I mean, he's so handsome, too. Ugh. You know, it's crazy to me. They've got so many of these people. I mean, think about the NFL owners groups. These are kids that are now grown adults that are inheriting all these teams. Amy Krunk-strunk inherited the Titans from Dad. Cal inherited the team from Janice and from Bob.

Al Davis, who was in his heyday Ross, was one of the pioneers of professional football. As a player, as a scout, as a general manager, as an owner. I mean, these guys did a lot of the heavy lifting. and now all these kids are just bumbling around, screwing up, messing things up, until Cal did the right thing and said, Hannah, this is yours,

let me go play my video games and leave me alone. Yeah, I think it was it. Mike Floreo floated the idea. You know, when an owner wants to buy a team, everybody, he has to be approved. And would you want the same procedures if an owner is bequeathing their team to,

but then that's just going to cause fighting, right? Do you know why they're not arguing because these kids that are running these teams are not doing a good job. I mean, Call and Han are doing great. Since Hannah stepped in. Well, since Hannah stepped in. But had the Texans ever been a serious contender for a Super Bowl championship? I mean, they have not even made a championship.

They don't care about that. They keep printing money, Matt. They don't care about winning Super Bowls. You want owners in there that will not threaten your supremacy as a great team. That's true. But honestly, though, I mean, Lamar Hunt's son runs the, the Chiefs. Did the Broncos sell

Pat Bowlin that he went before he passed? Did he sell the team? Did he give it, bequeath it to one of his kids? I don't remember on that situation. The Rooney family has owned the Steelers forever. We know about Amy Adams Strunk. Ugh. What a mess.

All she does is fire coaches and general managers up to two years. This is from last year in February. An article says 16 of the league's 32 owners inherited their teams from family. So essentially did nothing to deserve it. They're just getting it. Six in the NBA, 16 in the NFL. That's crazy.

Yeah, the NFL's been around longer, I guess. But let me tell you this, Ross. If you and I own the NFL team, we give it to our kids, right? Unless the kids said we don't want it. Like Drake McLean, when he sold the Astros, the kids are like, Dad, no. I wouldn't have given it to Cal. Although all the business interests went to Carrie controls those.

That's why Cal's like, maybe Robert C was like, well, you can't mess up an NFL team. We'll give that to Cal. You really can't. You tried to mess it up. They've been printing, no matter all this stuff

and these Jackie used to be in controversy, blah, blah, blah, blah. They continue to print money. Yeah, yeah. You have to be basically doing illegal activity to lose money at the end. Even Shad Khan who runs a Jaguars. Crappy Stadium, crappy team.

Fan base small. fan base is smaller than everybody else's combined, you know, around the end, and he's still printing money. Yeah. I had to be lucky. Lucky enough to be the kid of a team owned by Dad did all the heavy lifting, and you just come on in and inherit.

Well, we're all lucky to be here. Oh, how about Jim Mersey and Indianapolis? Another example. Yeah. Must be rough. Must be rough. All right, let's talk to E. Mae Adoki. He'll be with us next. Start the final hour, the Matt Thomas show with Ross. This is Sports Talk 790. Lunch timers.

This is the Matt Thomas show. 102 on Sports Talk 790. 790 tonight here in Memphis. The Rockets will take on the Grizzlies. It'll be a matchup of two versus three in the Western Conference. And to preview that and to recap what the Rockets have been the last week or so is our friend, E. Me Adoka, head coach of your Houston Rockets. Coach, it's Matt and Ross. Good afternoon.

Kind of excited about tonight, this Memphis team, along with you guys, probably the two greatest, not surprises, but most improved teams in the Western Conference. It's got a good measuring stick against this very good team. Yeah, I mean, it's another game, but, you know, due to our position in the standings, means a lot, obviously, and then we haven't seen them since the second game of the season when they didn't have Jan Jackson Jr. Some guys were missing, so it would be a good test for us, but, yeah, more about what we're going to do anyway, and on to the next.

Does it feel like that was the situation? First quarter, I think you guys were down 10 to the Wizards. he kind of, I don't know if it was because the arena was stale, there was not a great crowd, a hard to get, kind of get motivated for them because they've gone through so many injuries. But when you got going in the third quarter, especially Jalen, it was a nice and easy way

to finish things off against the Wizards a couple nights back. Yeah, we definitely looked a little sluggish coming out of the gate. You know, got down to town. They were just playing much harder than us. We were moving the ball. And then even the second quarter to be up to a half time, obviously we went plus 12 in the second quarter.

and you know third quarter was obviously a tail of two games we came out with the energy went on a crazy run out for and jalen got going and we and we guarded the way we're capable and stretched the lead 30 points per game for jalen the last three nights shooting 48% from the floor 43 from three just seeing the ball go through the hoop a little bit more better shot selection and i feel like we kind of always ask about this but you know the alpha dogs on the team the main go-to guys always get this kind of microscope looked upon him, but it has been a nice run for him as of late. Yeah, I mean, sometimes just made or missed shots. He had really good looks in other games that he's knocking down now,

but I do say his recognition has continued to improve, understanding how teams are guarding him when they're trying to double team when he's handling them. The blitz is better. He's recognizing guys going under to try to take away his driving lane, and he's shooting the ball extremely well, which opens everything up for himself and everybody else. Man Thompson is 6, 7, and 2.15 measurable-wise. He has 31 rebounds in his last two games. Man, I hope America, E. May, catches on to how good this young man is,

and it feels like he's doing something different, whether he's come out of the bench for you, and now he's been starting because Jabari's out. He just knows what the basketball is, knows where he is on the floor, and I just think his on-court IQ just continues to grow and grow. Yeah, he's obviously a special athlete. So if he was 6-1, 200, he'd probably get the same rebounds with that athleticism. So it has a knack for the ball, it impacts the game in several different ways. And obviously, we know who he is, and a lot of people are getting to see it now that he's in the starting lineup.

But he was doing that stuff off the bench for us all season. And so he gives us a ton of versatility with matchup-wise. Defensively, him and Dillon out there can kind of tag team different guys. And he's doing what we've seen him do pretty much since the guy here. teams been keying on Alper and Shingoon more and more as he's gone along in his career we've been seeing some fronting defense some doubling as well what has it been like going through those types of things with him where sometimes he's struggled and what do you want to see from him as he goes along and the conversations you guys are having

and what you want to see from him yeah I mean he got to take it as an honor obviously he's one of the best low post scores one of the scoring big men one of the best scoring big men in the league in general from all over the court and so teams are just paying them that respect going after him quite a bit putting different smaller guys on him doubling with the big and so he just has to see a quicker adjust and what he's been doing is picking the gym apart lately so it's sometimes just simplify it like make the right play whatever that is if they don't double you go score if they double make the right read and so he's been doing that great especially lately

watching and went after him a ton and even in the games before that just making the right read he's a he's a hub for us that it creates shots for everybody else and so we'll welcome that all the time because we love the open shots that he creates for us. Especially like in double teams, you have to coach everybody on that because when he passes out of him and there's four on three situations and get everybody prepared to score in those situations? Yeah, I mean, we understand what our spacing is and where we want specific players on the court.

But, you know, we'll feed them with the guys that we like to initiate the action out of the kickout. And a lot of times, that's Fred and our shooters, you know, being more of a threat right there. And then they can swing it and we have numbers and advantage on the back side. So the thing is for Alman, to read it and our guys to react off of that. Anytime we know he can create an advantage with the double teams on the post,

we've been really good when the ball is popping, moving, and then it loosens it up for him and he can go to work. Eman Adoka with us here on Sports Talk 790 coach. When I run into Rocket fans, they always ask me, how's Tari doing? How's Tari doing? And I don't mean to make you a doctor on the radio here, but to the best of your generalization, where are we on Tari?

I know it's got to be frustrating for you as a coach to see a young man who played so well for you first quarter, point of the season, have to miss as much time as he's done the last month or so. Yeah, so we're just being cautious and being smart about it. You know, he went through obviously a surgery last year, and so for us, we want to be smart with it. You know, the pain is lessening day by day, and so he's trended in the right direction, and when he's ready to play, he'll be ready to play. And so I'm not going to make a hasty decision and rush anything in December, January.

I want to be smart about it and have them when it really counts late in the season. That's where our depth comes into play. Other guys have stepped up, but obviously he'll be a welcome. sight when he comes back. Is there a threshold email that he's got to wake up two, three days in a row, not feeling sore? Is it a workout then followed by a good wake up in the morning? What is your sports medicine team?

You've got great folks that work with you. What have they said about when it's time to push it a little bit further into a different level than maybe he was, say, three or four days ago? Yeah, he's going harder on non-game days and seeing how he feels on game days. And so that's been the plan as of now and sometimes a little more sore than others. they're being cautious, like I said, being smart about it and really ramping up his off days. And when we have two, three good days of the pain lessening and lessening,

he'll be back out there. And so that's the plan right now. He's been really good at, you know, attacking the rehab, getting after it in the workout sessions. And so I anticipate to come back soon. Do you catch you in the OKC Cleveland game last night? Yes, I did. What do you think?

League going to do a good job of, I mean, look, I want the Rockets to get as much publicity as possible because that's a team we love here in this town, and you guys certainly deserve it, but it was kind of nice not to have, you know, LeBron, James, and Golden State on television for like the 19th consecutive night. Yeah, I mean, that's a good matchup

with the two top teams in the West and East right now, so, you know, with really good records and obviously a talented player. So we'll see Cleveland coming up in the next few weeks twice, and obviously I've seen OKC a few times, so it's good to kind of see what they're doing, how they're playing, and obviously shoot to aim to try to catch these guys.

And so good game, back in the first. fourth, obviously two of top teams, and it panned out like you thought it would. Are guys on the squad and maybe today's NBA players, are they use measuring sticks against other opponents, or is it just what's ahead of me now, and we'll just keep winning games that are right in front of us?

Well, obviously, you've got to play consecutive games, and you've got to play who's in front of you, so that's really how the NBA goes. You're on to the next pretty quickly, but matchups and team, you know, personnel wise and teams in general are good measuring sticks all the time. And so we've had a tough stretch of games at times and had teams with tougher with lesser records.

And so for us, we want to always measure ourselves against the better teams. And regardless of who we're playing, we want to play the same way, but it's always good to have measuring stick. And I know guys get ramped up and amped up for certain matchups. And so that's just human nature and it's always going to be like that. Rocket's head coach, IMA Adoka, was here on Sports Talk 790. We had you on last week talking about the comments from Kim Whitmore since then. How things been with him, what you've seen off the floor and on? counseling good he's been you know playing hard you know i heard people mentioning body language or whatever

it seems like people are kind of looking for something now but um very efficient last game in washington um 18 points and 17 minutes on six for a shooting continue to uh obviously score is natural like i said i'm always harping on the little things the defensive things and you know recognizing who was where on the court and how you got the guard specific guys and so that's always going to be the thing with him and the young guys is um defensive coverages schemes and knowing your personnel. So that's the big thing there. Shot selection has improved vastly. And he's scoring it like he always doesn't.

So I think people are making a little bit too much out of nothing. Before I let you run, Reed Shepard, I mean, my goodness, as soon as we finished playing the game against the Wizards, everybody on the bus was like watching the highlights and Jock Landell's giving me like minute by minute of there's another three-pointer for Reed. He's got, what do he finish

with 49 points? I mean, I don't know if you want to put that on the all-time great RGV Hall of Fame scoring from one night, But obviously he got down there and got some of his mojo back. Yeah, it was good to see. We wanted to see some things from him to be aggressive, confident, run the team, and hunt his shots,

you know, guard defensively as well, and I think he did all the above. And so it kind of took, and it was pretty natural. It wasn't like he was forcing. He took what they gave him, had a bunch of walk-in threes, and he got to go in there. And so loved his aggressiveness. Didn't miss a beat from not playing much with us. And so obviously a good sign,

one of our most talented young guys going forward and have big plans for him, obviously. So with the lack of time with us, it was good to see him go down there and play a little bit, and looking forward to getting them back as well. How much do you guys talk on a daily basis about how long you think he needs to be there? Obviously, injuries could play a role up here, rotation times, opponent's number of games in a certain days. But anything right now, or is that kind of a fluid situation?

No, we looked at the three-game road trip we were on. It went perfectly with their schedule of three home games, and so we'll reevaluate it after that, but that was the plan as of now. He'll be back with us when we played Memphis at home and go from there. Last question. Where are we on Jabari? I know he was with us on the trip here now.

What have they told you in terms of, I know that you mentioned a couple days ago, the media, that there was not surgery scheduled. Is that an option that maybe he can't avoid that, or is that ultimately going to be the plan of action? No, he's looking at both options. You know, one takes a little longer than the other, but they're both available.

and I think the rehab process is different with no surgery versus getting a pin in there. And so he's figuring it out, looking at some second opinion doctors, and he'll make a decision soon. Sorry to get so medical on you, but you've got a couple of key guys out, so that's what I had to be asked.

Hey, thanks for the visit. We'll see you tonight, and good luck against the Grizzlies. All right, thank you guys. We'll see. That's EMAOCA, don't go with us here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Our time is 112.

We will have the rotten five, the final rotten five of the year. the five worst teams in the NFL. You will hear it from the only person that absolutely can give you the worst five teams, and that, of course, is Rossville Real. Up next, some astro arbitration updates. 113, Sports Talk, 790.

Lunchtimeers. It's the Matt Thomas show with Ross. On Sports Talk 790. All right, Ross. We're going to send you to the G League. We're going to see if we can work on your sports talk game. Let's go, baby.

I'm dropping Fitty. Let's see. Let's, where should we send you to for a couple hours? Let's send you to Lufkin. Maybe get you that What are we talking there? Is that Aggie country?

I don't even know. SFA sports? What are the lumberjacks up to? Axum Jax, baby. Yes, I don't know. By the way, a couple news items. General Manager of the Raiders, Tom Telesco has been fired after one year

on the job. One year? That's Tom Brady making that. What are they doing? Wow. Wow, wow, wow, wow. Rams, Vikings' Playoff game Monday, still scheduled for SoFi Stadium. The NFL has a contingency

playing at the event the changes needed, which we knew about it before, but as of this moment within the last hour, they have said it is still happening. There. What else? I saw a bet that somebody made in Vegas on the UT game with Ohio State. I wanted to, it was on the 4 U-Tab and it went away quickly, so I don't know what. I hate it.

Don't you hate when that happens? Well, I mean, it was something informational that I wanted to pass along. Let me try to put in Texas bet and see if it'll help out. Texas plus six. You heard you hear first. Oh, here it is. It worked out. A better at a certain casino, wager $90,000 on Texas plus $1,8,000.

to beat Ohio State. Oh, money line. I'm not going there. Yet, personally. A $90,000 bet would win $1665. Nice. That's not a bad payout, right? I'm rooting for them. Very hard. Well, again, you don't believe me when I tell you this, but I believe it.

I'm rooting for it too. I don't believe it. Why don't we have somebody, we have a rooting interest? Because, again, honestly, is Ohio State versus either Penn State or Notre Dame going to move the needle for us as Houston sports fans? The answers, no, it's not. This is the national championship game, in my opinion. I think whoever wins this game is going to win it all.

Now, the only issue I'm concerned about is if you are going to be basically unworkable, I mean, you'll be hard to work with. Why? Like, if you're wearing, like, I mean, could you imagine being a fan of a team and jumping in lay and then wearing the gear of that team every single day you came to work? I don't do that. but others at our station do oh no not me I've got my I've got my 2019

NIT championship shirt to prove it yeah and folks for those of you that don't know it doesn't really fit well he still tries to pull it off but it's it's not a great what do you mean I mean it's a little snug

no actually that one's loose because the only size they had left at that it was so sold out Matt they only had What? That's a lie. You don't know what you're talking about. I'm telling you, they didn't have any XL left. They had to get the double X. That's ridiculous. That is absolutely ridiculous. All right, let me give you some arbitration.

I'm growing into it. And we're not going to mention the dollars unless people really care. Okay. Dubon's arbitration deal, $5 million for this year. Easek Peretti is $6.65 million at $3.5 million at $3.4 million. and for the members of the Jake Myers fan club, he also avoids arbitration at $2.3 million. Jake is back, baby. Underpaid.

Right of Rayu avoids arbitration, $3.45 million. You know what, Ross? I think we should, as an act to segue between our show and baseball. Ross, let's do an arbitration. case for you. Let's say what you're looking for me right now yeah okay and Connor you play the role of the eye heart and Ross you play the role of Ross where you're trying to sell us while you're worthy of more money. Let's see you added another hour to my work week I also do spot fill in when asked perhaps in the A team other places I believe it was over 80 games.

games I did last year combined with the Astros and Rockets, pre and post games. So that is like literally extra on my plate. I don't get paid extra for those. And I think I'm a good talent. Well, we appreciate all that hard work that you do and the passion that you have for Sports Talk 790 and I aren't being a team player. However, budgets are tight. Yeah.

So you've been laid off. Be happy with what you got. And your bonus will be keeping this job. This is remarkably accurate, actually. Connor's got it nailed. I am the arbiter, and I've listened to both of your arguments very closely, and I slide with eye heart. You'll get nothing. I'd like it.

We're going to spit at your feet and tell you thanks for having it. Your reward is having a job. So as soon as you become a free agent, you're out of here. Like, I'm Kyle Tucker and his bad boy. I don't know if I'm getting Kyle Tucker money, but we're going to try. uh by the way there are hundreds of arbitration cases still to be settled today those expected to get super big money would be vlaig guerrero at 29.6 million dollars mm-hmm fromber valdez at 17.8 really uftah yish

ufta uh-huh that's a lot of money what is it what is ufta that's that yiddish Yeah, it's Yiddish. We are your official Yiddish sports radio. This is his last year of arbitration. So usually the numbers go, especially for a player of his caliber, they go up and up and up. So guess who's not going to make as much money as Framber Valdez in arbitration? Who? Chicago Cup great Kyle Tucker.

Their numbers were similar last year. Oh, what's his number? His arbitration number is expected to be about $15.8 million. Okay. So close. who's more valuable to their respective teams? Valdez or Tucker? Now, again, it's two different positions, obviously.

I would go with the position, the everyday position player to me. Yeah. But you take Framber off this team? Oh. I mean, Hunter Brown was ace level for half a season. Can he keep that up? Spencer Erigetti was very, very good for half a season. Can he keep that up?

Yeah. And let's face it. This is last year for Fromber with arbitration. He's going to be a frangent after next year. And what's going to help you get to that big dollar you want is by winning, you know, maybe 17, 18 games for the Astros in 2025. Contract year, baby. Let's go.

Oh, I'm a huge fan of Gavin Gisner contract year. Now, sometimes it doesn't work out per se. Stefan Diggs. Is it working out for Bregman right now? He had a good year. He won a gold glove and he got you 26 bombs. It's pretty good. Yeah.

Yeah. Do you wonder if he's texting Scott Boris every year, every day going, man, what's going on? And he just responds back, new phone who dis? See in a week? Or be patient? Or I got you? Yeah, that's what he says. G-O-T-C-H-U.

Got you. He's not going new phone who-d-d-s, huh? I don't think he's going new phone who-diss on one of his prized clients, Matt. Could you imagine that? I mean, he might have done that to Jordan Montgomery. memory. How about the one? Do you like when people send you automatic text replies saying, sorry, I'm driving, I'll get back with you when I can. What's wrong with that? Oh, no. Don't tell me that. I'm not saying. There may be nothing wrong with it.

I'm just saying it's, I don't have an, I don't have an automatic text response. Because me and Siri are tight, although Siri has not been, she hasn't been behaving herself. What does that mean? Well, I've been sworeing a lot of my twek and my text tweets, uh, text back and she's not catching the whole thing. She catches all my. My curses. Oh, she does. I mean, she's still batting like 920. You got to, you got to nunciate, Matt.

Yeah. So then when she, when she miss it, I read it back again. I'm like, you know, it's hard. When you are swearing at somebody, you typically do it in a very fast fashion. Mm-hmm. Like, if I want to call you a certain name, Ross, I don't slow it down and go, hey, Ross, you're a blank blank. Sometimes you've got to slow it down for emphasis. Well, for Siri, it works.

But if you're in a rush, trying to respond to a bunch of people, tell them to F off, you've got to be really quick about that. Let's get to a call before we get to the Rotten Fybel. We'll say hello to Augustine in Friendswood at Sports Talk 798-198-128. Augustine, good afternoon. Hey, listen to the thing about Breggman, do you think teams are kind of like hesitant on them because of how spring air and Korea are performing? Nothing to do with it. To everybody's individual, Jesus.

Nothing to do with it whatsoever. You know what it really is to me, Augustine? I'm going to give you the true honest. I think Scott Boris is looking for the $200 million contract. That's the sexy number. And how many years it gets to get that number is where I think he's waiting for. And at this point, I don't think anybody's giving him that $200. That's what I think is a slowing down point.

And all the team are just following what the Astros give them, huh? They're not kind of bustling that. No, no, no. I think every team has their own interpretation. I think the Matt Chapman deal is a pretty good sign of what third basemen are worth. If you think he was worth that, then he's going to get more than what Matt Chapman got. I think you look at the contracts of the last five years of what free agent's infielder's got that played multiple positions. I think the age plays a role in it.

I think the Breggie's slow starts in the first couple months have played into it. And they're also thinking, you know what, do I want to tie up somebody for seven or eight years? and that's why Rossi and I made the bet that I think he's going to get a deal of five years or less and Rossi thinks it's going to be seven years or higher. So we'll see. But again, it's all about a waiting period. And remember

to this, Augustine, if somebody gets hurt, he's going to be an addition no matter what team he goes to. He's a gold glover. Gold glove third baseman just aren't sitting around. He will get compensated and he should be compensated. But I do believe the $200 million number has been something that has been in their heads

They won, and I don't think at this point they've received it. Do you think he's going to go to like a non-contender team for the $200 million? Or are you just going to wait and see who he can best offer? Rossi, I've not heard anybody that's not a contender being associated with him. No, I haven't either. So, I mean, I'm not hearing the Marlins are in on Bregman. I'm not hearing that the Royals are interested. The teams that are being talked about are Boston, the Mets to a smaller extent,

the Yankees, the tigers, the diamondbacks, I think. But hell, who knows? It's all speculation at this point. All right, guys. Appreciate it, man. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. I mean, you tell me, Ross, am I misreading it? I believe the $200 million was the magic number that made them twinkle in their eyes. I think when Juan Soto got his deal, Scott Boris said, Juan Soto reset the market. And team said, not for Alex Bregman.

and that's i wonder if the that did the met's overpaying as much as they did for won so to slow things down i thought they would speed things up for bregman i wonder if they slowed them down yeah i don't know that's a good question real quick jonathan wants a question we'll answer it hero i'm not a big baseball what exactly is arbitration just nearing a contract ends you have to renegotiate why just go straight to open market jonathan to be a open market free agent you have to have six years of service time meaning six seasons essentially. The final three years of your arbitration, of your years are called arbitration years,

where you sign one-year contracts year after year after year for the final three. And that's where the arbitration, the market sets the dollar value for these guys based on their performance and what other guys are getting. Now, some teams, Jonathan, I mean to be pointing directly to him, but in case you don't know, some teams will buy out your arbitration years.

the Astros bought out Yordon Alvarez's arbitration years. The Astros bought out Alex Breggman arbitration years. They have bought out Jose Al-Tube, meaning they will pay above what they normally would have paid for arbitration in order to sign them to a longer contract. So it's essentially

three individual one-year contracts, the final three years before you become a true free agent after six seasons. Yeah, and you have to agree on the terms. If the player says one number and then the ownership says another, and you can't come to an agreement, then you go to an arbitration hearing. You go an arbitration hearing, and that's where, again, you don't want to do that

because you have to go in and argue why you don't think this guy is worth the money, and it can cause some resentment. Ladies and gentlemen, it takes absolutely no ability whatsoever to you who the five best teams are in the NFL. Who are the five worst this NFL season? You'll hear the Rotten Five next on Sports Talk 790. Lunchtimers. It's the Matt Thomas Show with Ross.

Sports Talk 790. 135 on Sports Talk 790. Ross, the voice of the Tennessee Titans is living to become the voice of the Tennessee volunteers. Really? That touchdown Titans guy. Yes.

I don't know his name. Mike Keith. He's been there for years and years, right? I believe since the team moved from Houston. Is there something rutting in Nashville? I mean

GM's getting moved, coaches not liking it there. This guy's going to take the volunteers job. I mean, maybe it's more money, but probably not, right? Or comparable? I don't really

pocket watch other people's broadcast jobs. Just in general, though. I mean, do you think in the NFL? I mean, I wish I had some at first blush. So what Mike Keith does, is he calls the games,

and then he's, He does what Vanamere does. He works for the team 12 months a year and does other things. So there's probably a salary that would be just for that as a full-time Titans employee. You're going to call more games at Tennessee. You're going to do football, basketball, baseball. You might host some coaches shows. You might do some speaking engagements.

But I would say it's probably a. salary drop, honestly? Yeah, that's what I'm saying. That's interesting. Seems like everybody's fleeing from that organization as fast as they can, or getting fired from it, or, I mean, it just seems like a mess. I mean, he did. Now, this guy, Mike Keith did go to Tennessee, and it's a heritage broadcasting job. The guy he's replacing him been there 26 years, so it's not like it's, you know. Interesting. Okay.

Guys out in it left. You know, I would say professional jobs pay more than collegiate jobs. But I've always said this. I wanted to get into play-by-play broadcasting because I want to do as many games as possible. And it'd be hard for me just to do the NFL while the NFL is awesome. You only call 18 games a year or 19 games a year plus some playoffs. I like doing basketball because you get to do 85 or 86. You do some baseball here and there and you kind of get your play-by-play fix. Maybe that's what he's doing.

Or maybe Tennessee's like, man, we love you and we want to make your, I mean, Knoxville's got to be probably a little. cheaper to live in the Nashville, my guess? I don't know. Who knows? It's closer to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Maybe that's what he's focused on. Tennessee underrated state, generally speaking, would you say? Okay. I've never been, so I'll take your word for it.

But I am planning a Nashville slash Great Smoky Mountains trip at some time. Okay. Ladies and gentlemen, our final time of the year, a little tear. Actually, we're here we are in early January, but it's our final time this season. A little tear in the eye as we present to you, Ross's Rotten Five. They've gone bad Hey, they draw flies Ooh, it's Ross's Rotten Five

This don't smell quite right Yes, Matthew It is a bittersweet end To the 2024 regular season of the NFL With the Rotten Five Oh my goodness, what a season For the Jacksonville Jaguars, They started off the year with their owner Shad Khan saying,

Quote, winning now is the expectation for the Jaguars. Well, apparently winning three games or four games wasn't exactly what he was talking about. He is now fired head coach Doug Peterson and inexplicably kept general manager Trent Balke. What is going on over there in Jacksonville? The Jaguars do have a promising young wide receiver in Brian Thomas Jr. Some other pieces, but team looking to rebuild now with the new coach after their awful season as they finish. 24 as the fifth worst team in the NFL and in honor of them being here most of the season. Here is the entire Jaguars Lady interview.

Certainly not. The first year, we took it to the limit. And I was in Miami with my new beach house. Well, it was a couple minutes from the beach. It's been 20 years since then. We haven't been too strong in the last few years. Oh, we've been strong. We're just playing by the rules. You can't have a newcomer come in and steal a show. Oh, I miss you. I'm going to miss you in the offseason Jaguars lady.

Any chance she's alive at this moment? Man, you're just really, I'm not answering that question. No, you don't have to. I'm trying to get me in trouble. I had a joke pop up in my mind. I'll tell it to you off here. Why don't you just say yes? It makes it easier.

Yes, she's doing great. She's in perfect health. All right. move on, man, do the New England Patriots have egg on their face? The season started with extremely low expectations, but somehow they fell short of that. At least as Robert Kraft is concerned, shockingly firing at Gerard Mayo after just one season as the headman in Foxborough. Gerard very little to work with. Patriots, one of the worst rosters in all of football, a rookie QB finding his way in an offensive line that ranked 32nd in the league since the beginning of the season. disgraceful that Robert Kraft would spend all that time talking about Gerard Mayo is their heir apparent only to fire him in a bad situation.

The New England Patriots were the fourth worst team in the NFL. This whole situation is on me. I feel terrible for Gerard. Yeah, we weren't going to blame anybody else, Robert. Okay, good God of things gone downhill for the seemingly, well, forever for the Cleveland Browns. They started off the season with playoff aspirations, functional defense, getting back to Sean Watson, from injury turns out, well, just about about every metric you can find. Deshawn Watson, the worst quarterback in football.

Then he tore as Achilles. Then they went to James Winston experience. Then they went full tank mode with Dorian Thompson Robinson and Bailey Zappy. The Browns sticking with Watson don't really have a choice with the way the cap has been. They did restructure his contract, an absolute mess of a franchise that deserves every bit of it. The Cleveland Browns, the third worst team in the NFL this year. You are a factory of sadness. Let's keep it moving along.

The New York Football Giants coming into the season. Bounce back ear from Daniel Jones. Well, they straight up cut the dude in the middle of the season. Brian Dable and Joe Shane keeping their job. So the Giants are going to run it back and hope they can rebuild around some of their defensive pieces and star rookie wide receiver Malik neighbors. It'll be interesting to see if they take a QB at the top of the draft.

A lot of decisions to be made. The New York Football Giants, though, horrible. The second worst team in the NFL this year. Oh, no. bad. It's real bad. Oh, we come to the bottom of this list and it's satisfying the Tennessee Titans. How about a team that spent a ton in the offseason building pieces around a mayo-loving quarterback that would get benched multiple times throughout the season? Despite a vote of confidence in GM Ron Carthon last year, Amy Adams Strunk deciding to fire him and move on, which begs the question, what's going on in Nashville? Well, I tend to say the fish

Rots from the head down. Mike Vrable has to be thankful he got out of that dumpster fire. And, well, the Titans also ended their season decorating their stadium in Oilers' logos, wearing their uniforms, only to lose for this second straight year in those cursed uniforms to Case Keenham and Davis Mills. You know what, Tennessee?

You deserve the Oilers. You can keep them because the Tennessee Titans were the worst team in the NFL. Yes, they were number one on this list. The Titans, you suck. And Matt, that's your rotten five. Oh, God bless you. Sorry to hear about it.

Really fast before we go to break, Rossi. As you were starting to do, your rotten five, I went and check the Google app on my phone. Okay. First story that came up. Couples who live together, but sleep in separate beds, usually display nine traits, according to psychology. Okay.

You ready? No. They value their sleep. that's number one they appreciate personal space number two they communicate openly three

number four they have a strong sense of security number five they prioritize each other's needs number six they adapt to changes number seven they often have a vibrant

intimate life number eight they'll respect boundaries and number nine they're happy number ten one through nine are all false and life Number 11, one of them is in the closet. Well, number 12, one of them sleeps around on the other. Number 13, one previously slept around with the other,

but hopes that didn't get caught. I sleep with my wife. I don't know where this came from. Why is this showing up on my algorithm? I don't need that. Jeez, crazy. All right, that's it. We're moving on now, believe it or not.

What are we playing for? We plan for a monster jam ticket still? Oh, yeah. Okay. Topic today, Rossi, he is? I'm Memphis. I'm working on it right now. Shut up. All right.

It's a... Wait, you talk. I'm shutting up. Wait, me, I was going to say, I have to shut up because you have to talk about some great folks. Oh, that's true. I do have to talk about some great folks. I do have to talk about the folks over at Draft Kings. Have you played pick six from Draft Kings yet? What are you waiting for? You better get on it.

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You're listening to the Matt Thomas show on Sports Talk 790. And to think I was talking about how great of a singer Craig was on karaoke until he put that liner out there. Not nice at all. What's wrong with it? How's that not nice? He says he follows you. He didn't follow me. Doesn't always have to be about you, Matt. Just because he says he follows me. That's not mean towards you. you. But he was doing a liner for this show. Yeah. Matt Thomas show with Ross.

All right. You make me laugh. You make me laugh. All right. Real quick, we're getting a new area code in Houston, apparently. Oh, I think I saw this recently. What is it again? 6-1. Okay.

Ugh. You all right? It's like 8-2. It's like 281. 6-1. Okay. whatever. 621. All right. That's it.

We've given you nothing information. We give you nine reasons why people don't sleep together. We give you a new area code. We've given you arbitration numbers. We've gave you the Rockets update. We've given you sports entity theater. This has been a great radio show. I mean, my goodness.

Give yourself a hawk eye on your, a buck eye on your helmet there, Rossi. Cochidocco was great. Did you say that? He was good. It was good. Five minutes left to go on the show. What should we do? We should play.

America's fastest growing sports radio game, shall we simply call it B. Believe it or not, and here's how it works. You call 713212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-90. Today's category, and believe it or not, oh, it's about Memphis. How about that? Why don't we have a little Mark Cohen singing walking in Memphis to close out the show today?

That'd be a good way to add a little production value. I'll read your statement about Memphis. Statements completely utterly accurate. You'll say this. Believe it. If the same as your or a phone can make up, you'll say this. Not. Two believe it or not in a row on all things about the city of Memphis, Tennessee, win you a prize.

What are we playing for today, Connor? A four pack of tickets with pit passes to Monster Jam on Sunday, February 2nd at NRG Stadium, and some 790 t-shirts. Victor on 7-90. You ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it. Victor, the population of Memphis is about 620,000, the city of Memphis. Believe it or not. Not.

Believe it. Try to start with it. That's on the first line of the Wikipedia page. Scott on 790. Scott, you're ready to play Believe it or not? I am. Memphis, Tennessee is named after Memphis, Egypt. Believe it or not.

Not. Believe it. Oh, my goodness. I thought I pretty knew that. I didn't know. I didn't need it. John on 790. John, what was your favorite part of today's radio show?

All the fact you give us Matt every day. Thank you, sir. The southern border of Memphis is also the state line between Tennessee and Mississippi. Believe it or not. Believe it. There you go. Statement number two for the win. Sister cities from Memphis, Tennessee include Liverpool, England, and Keolak, Senegal.

Believe it or not. Believe it or not. Believe it. There you go. Nicely done. You're going to see Montefatian. Very proud of you. Thanks for listening.

Chris. on 790, Chris, you're ready to play believe it or not? Nothing but nylon. The of Memphis is classified as humid subtropical the same as Houston. The climate of, I don't know if I did that wrong.

Yeah, the climate of Memphis is classified as humid subtropical. It's exact same as Houston. Believe it or not. No. Believe it. Oh, I'm so sorry. Duh. Sats, fires, and misses.

Oh, well. Hi, Bill. Happy New Year, man. Whatever. According to TripAdvisor, the number one thing to do in Memphis is visit Bill Street. Believe it or not. Bill Street, that sounds for me. Believe it.

Not. Graceland, Bill, come on now. C on 790. C, what was your fair part of today's radio show? One where the Titans are the worst team in the NFL on Ross's Block 5. All right. Memphis is home to the world's first holiday inn. Believe it or not.

Believe it. That's right. Statement number two for the win. The Jersey sponsor, the Memphis Grizzlies, is the same as their arena sponsor, FedEx. Believe it or not. Not. Not. It's right.

It's Robin Hood. Congratulations. All right, Rossi. That's it for today. We had a great show today. Thank you, everybody for to listen. Spending the next four hours with us. We want you to spend the next four with this radio station that we call 790 because it'll be Clinton.

It'll be Wexler. Ross, where do you put this on your one-hit wonders? A deaf far down the list. Really? Marky mark number one. Wait, he had two hits, actually. Yeah. By the way, word coming in the last two minutes,

Jeremy Pena, arbitration settled at $4.1 million. That's topic A with Wexler and Clinton. They are. The A team. Talk to you tonight for Rockets and Grizzlies at 7 right here on Sports Talk, 7. be you