The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Astros Lose Again... What Is Going On? Does The NBA Even Think The Rockets Are A Threat?

Episode Date: April 17, 2025

Astros Lose Again... What is going on? Does The NBA Even Think The Rockets Are A Threat?

Launch timers. This is the Matt Thomas show. I mean, it's literally feaster famine, but there isn't a hard-fought loss in the mix. There isn't a give-up two in the ninth and rallying and come back. There isn't a small little midgy little two-game win streak. There's not in a small little two-game losing streak. I mean, this is the epitome of Avarage.

Mediocrity at its finest. The quintessence, Matt. Of mediocrity. The quintessence. Hey, it's Ross. I'm Matt. We are with you today for a full four hours. It's just to be nice to hang out with you guys today. We've got a lot to get to the day on the radio show.

We will start off with the little Astros chatter. As the Local 9 do not win a series against the Cardinals dropping two out of three. Now, since it is an off day today and they have a three game series with the Padres, congratulations Ross to the Astros, who will win two or three. against San Diego starting tomorrow night. I hope so. It'd be cool. How about this?

I got it. Well, San Diego Padres are pretty good. Really good. How about a sweep? Can you sweep somebody? Giants did. Well, you have to bring that up. But yeah, win some games.

Let's go. With Ryan Gusto going. Hey. Have we had a stupid nickname for Gusto yet? No, we haven't. Thought of? Come on now. Go with the.

Yeah. Go for the? You don't live for gusto, so that would be... He's blowing in the wind. Excuse me? What? Okay. It's a Bob Dylan song.

What are you talking about? I'm not a Dylan guy. Oh, that's true. You know. Oh, please. You know everybody hates Bob Dylan, except people... Everyone hates Bob Dylan? 75 years old.

People hate Bob Dylan. I don't know. I haven't gotten into his music, so I don't really have a judgment on Bob Dylan. Let me give you a little sample. There you go. Sounds like somebody's starting up a chainsaw. Yeah. I would explain probably Bob Dylan past age of 30.

I would say Bob Dylan is the most overrated performer in the history of music. Wow. Oh, yeah. I said it. Come at me, Bob Dylan fans. Well, people disagree. Oh, I'm sure they do. And Bruce Springsteen, you're not far behind.

I'm saying it. no Bruce Springsteen is way worse I don't know Ross how the hell are you I'm great it's still like you're fighting the sniffles a little bit I got a little bit of a cold or some allergies or possibly both

but we're making it through I think I'm in the same spot now I think I went from COVID to allergies so I'm just a beauty full of health at this point but actually I feel really good I look forward to hanging out with you tomorrow as long as we have a window separating ourselves

we don't get it so there's other allergies or colds or whatever yeah we're going to both do show the show with masks on it's going to be able we know what we'll do Bob Dylan radio I don't know I don't put a bit of it I don't think we're going to Bob Dylan

conversation this early in the show but we did yeah that's what makes this show so good by the way shout out to Steelers wheel I mean stuck in the middle with you is a good one it's also kind of a Bob Dylan type of rip off the way they're singing yeah I mean Bob Dylan look is a great songwriter I will give you that like a Rolling Stone is still a

an outstanding song. And it's got a couple of ones, but largely speaking, and he's inaudible. He really is. Okay. I'll take your word for it. I'll do a book report for you on Bob Dylan, coming up in a couple weeks.

Do kids even do book reports anymore? I feel like they have to now. Can't you just have chat GPT to it for you? Yeah, that's what I'm saying. That's why you've got to write stuff now. I remember when I was a kid, they were just starting up with these services to see if people were plagiarizing.

stuff. Yeah, we were born in the golden age of plagiarism, or at least I was, man. I was ripping stuff off the internet, and nobody was none the wiser. See, we didn't have the internet. We had, oh, there were books

with yellow, cliff notes, right? Cliff notes, yeah. And that was the best, because if you were given a book to read and you didn't want to read it, you would just get to go get the Cliff Notes book and you could knock it out in but 45 minutes. The beauty was you could just get spark notes online and it was basically cliff notes but it was free online yeah i was the spark notes was

basically my home page so my daughter who is now part of obviously this generation uh wrote a paper and uh one of her teachers is about a year ago claimed that she was plagiarizing something and so she had to go prove that she didn't and carly won the case but it was again you have these teachers that are very hypersensitive let's face it today's kids don't want to write papers She was probably cheating. That's not nice. Not nice at all. And if she was listening right now, would she wouldn't because she doesn't like you,

she would expect an apology from you. I'd just mean if she's anything like her father. Now, that is actually accurate. I mean, I did. I mean, I can't lie to you. I mean, I'd lie to you about all the things, but that wouldn't be one of them. All right, back to the issues at hand. So Cam Smith had another error yesterday.

Look, I'm not doing a Cam Smith Air Watch. It's just, it's going to come with the trials and tribulations and playing a position. He's played less than 25 games in his entire life. I mean, it is what it is, right? I mean, I can't kill the kid. His bat's starting to pick up a little bit, which I'm very excited about. He's going to go through some growing pains. And he ain't the only one out there.

I mean, you got a lot of guys, a lot of inexperience in the outfield right now. It is what it is. growing pains are going to be there, Matt. And the Astros offense had four hits yesterday. Is that good? Well, I mean, is that their average? I guess it is. About, they scored one run.

Yeah, I don't check their OPS and stuff, usually, because... Oh, it's one of the worst in baseball. Don't you worry? It usually is either 29th or 30th? No, they've actually been hanging around 23rd recently after that 14-inning explosion. See, you said the term 14-inning explosion. I mean, sorry, 14 run explosion. Yeah, 14 run explosion.

And we could have been 14 in innings except for that to happen. Altube's Ops has dropped considerably in the last week or so. Uh-oh, they're back down to 26 and baseball. Oof. And can we wait for, when's Christian Walker going to wake up? I'd like to ask that question.

Is that fair? I'd like for it to happen soon. It'd be nice. We had Brian Bogus Evick on yesterday on the on-deck show, normal Wednesday guest. He said he thought he thinks. thinks Christian Walker is pressing. Man, I know how much you love bat speed statistics.

Oh, here we go. Statcast. Sure, why not? He's down just a small tick from the last two years. I don't know if that is just a small sample size, if it's just an oblique lingering issue. Right. Or age or much ado about nothing. Oh, boy.

It's funny because I'm seeing this a little bit on Twitter, not the Twitter. should be telling us how we should feel about a person or a subject matter, but it is just a small sample size of the society. People are asking why ain't there any heat on Christian Walker like there certainly was with Jose Abrae. I would say if we went back and looked at Jose Abraeu April 17th of his first year with the Astros, which would have been, what, two years ago, right? Mm-hmm.

I don't think there was heat on him at this point, like people are waiting for heat on Christian Walker. the heat on Arbrew came probably, you know, 45, 60 days into the season. And he was sitting there not batting half his weight. Yeah, I remember didn't he get his first home run against the A's and he like slid into first. It was like months into the season. Yeah.

I mean, it wasn't like he was 0.84. He just was providing no pop. Honestly, I hate to say this. But my gut tells me that maybe even Walker start is worse than a brayu start as an astro. It is right now, first 15 games. I'm pulling up Walker. I mean, Jose Brayus, 2023. He started out hot, and then he got super cold.

Yeah. Did not hit his first home run until the 52nd game of the year. It was against Oakland. And he slid into home plate. Yeah. Or under the... May 28th.

Ooh. Now, Christian does have at least have a home run. Yeah, he has one home run. But it looks, he's as pronounced, uh, poorly swinging as, as a brerier did. But look, again, everything to me, and I know you're going to go, I'll get mad at me, but it's just the truth. This is the sample size is still too small.

We're not even in a month in the season. Well, he needs to get better, and we talked about this, Matt, on the Crawford Boxcast, which you can find for free in the IHeart Radio. I did listen to that for a minute yesterday. Myself and Chris Gordy. Yeah, I think to me, the biggest hitters I'm keeping my eye on the most, I should say, are Christian Walker and Yonerdier-D-S. Yeah.

Your heart of the order has got an OPS of, Let's go. I mean, come on. I just looked at it, and I turned it off immediately. I couldn't even bother. All right, radio show today. Brian McTaggart, 11 o'clock. Shut yo bum ass up at 1130.

The news at noon. We're pushing. I just don't get it to 1230 today because we got shut Joe at 1130. E. May Adoka's going to be with us at 1 o'clock today. Wow. Yes, is a show. And then we've got, believe it or not, today, Lee Horso. He announces he's going to retire after the week.

one episode of Game Day this fall. Hmm. 90 years young. Well overdue. Very, very entertaining in his prime. Frankly, ESPN

did him no favors the last decade by putting him out there. So, I don't know if his doctors told him he can't do any more. Lee Corso said it to himself. Kirk Herb Street.

I don't know. But... They didn't have, like, an intervention with him? no i'm no i'm sure they were having to scoop him up and pick him up and put him on a plane and goes on me and he started grabbing the brutus buck i had you're like put that down lee you're not going to oh house in every week let's go relax he's looking for og everywhere horserica where's okay all right uh 1014 on the mat thomas show with raw 713 212 5 790 if you

want to get in with us today 713 212 5 790 nick casario did speak today or yesterday uh we have to debate about Ross, whether we even play a soundbite of it. Because I just have some theories behind that. Also, no one, I shouldn't say no one. Very few people think the rockets are going to meet the Warriors. We'll get at that. And who had the worst week for a Nico? The quarterback or the general manager of the Dallas Mavericks?

A lot to get to today between now and two o'clock. 713-212-5-7-9. 10-20. Sports-Torpegat. 10-20. I'm Sports Talk 7-90. Matt and Ross with you here on this Thursday. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90.

If you want to visit with us on Twitter, you may do that as well at SportsMT and at SportsRV. A lot of different moving elements on the show today, and we will get to that, including the Rockets, I wouldn't say, perceive lack of respect. I think it's more of if you've been there, done that, people are going to believe you. And Golden State has been there and done that, and the Rockets have not.

But there is an overwhelming sentiment that Vegas is going to be right about this Rockets Warriors playoff series. All right. Yesterday, Rossi, when we went off the air because it was an Astros Day game and you were recording the very successful Crawford boxcast, Casario spoke for 40 minutes. Wow, 40 minutes? And I was on my computer and I went to the Texans website to listen to some of it. how do I put this delicately?

It was horrifically bad. And it's not his fault per se. I know that we thirst in media for access and availability from our coaches, our players, our general managers, our owners. And every team has to have this kind of pre-draft availability by the team. and Ross, as I talk about this, pull up just a randol cut. Let me know when you have it ready. I don't really care what it's about. It doesn't even matter, but just pull one out.

Point being is this. It was 40 minutes or 45 minutes of complete and utter rambling about absolutely nothing that you got. No real insight. And then you'll have your fake Texans, Homer Media, say, well, you didn't dig deep into the comments. Yeah, I did. I've been around a long damn time.

And I would say this about Dana Brown. I would say this about Rafael Stone the night before a draft. They don't want to give you anything. They don't want to tip their hand. And if anything, if they do give you something, you go, oh, I want to nibble on that. It's because they're probably the line to probably take you off the cent. So under the category Ross of I just don't get it,

which will have coming up at 1230. Okay. I understand why you have to do it And it's the right thing to do And I'm glad the league does it As compared to say, We don't let our front office people meet with you But there ain't a damn thing

You're going to learn about yesterday. Nothing. Okay, well, here's Nick Casario On players available at number 25. If we pick it 25, we're going to get a good football player. I mean, honestly, we feel good about this draft. I mean, there's players later throughout the draft,

so we're pretty well positioned. We'll have an opportunity we think throughout the draft to add players that we think We're going to create some competition on this football team. I'd say whoever we bring in, I mean, it's going to be hard to make this football team. We feel good about the players. I mean, our board's probably smaller than some other boards, and that's okay. But there'll be players that pick on Thursday.

There's going to be players that are going to be players to pick on Saturday that we actually feel good about. We're going to get a good player if we pick at 25. And if we don't pick it 25, then wherever we pick next or whenever we do pick, we think we're going to get a pretty good player. Good player at 25, unless they trade down. Or trade up. Feels like he was hinting more to trade down than the trade up, though, man. Oh.

See, you're not reading between the lines, man. You know what? Shame on me for not reading between the lines. Let's guess and discuss. He shouldn't make the serial trade 25. Maybe. Oh, did he, did he take us off the scent, or is it giving us something we can do a four-hour YouTube show about? Hmm.

Hmm. Okay. Here you go, Matt. You want some more? Duh. Nick Casario on drafting need over talent. Oh, here we know. We never draft of need around here. I mean, we're never going to. So we're going to pick the best player that we feel fits our program,

regardless of the position. I'd say other than a quarterback, I mean, I'd say pretty much any position's on a table. Everything's on the table. Here's what I want you to do, Ross. I want you to save these clips and put them in a secret file. Just play them year after year. And then next year we're going to play. Did he say this this year or last year?

Play that last cut again. Okay. We've never drafted for need around here. I mean, we're never going to. So we're going to pick the best player that we feel fits our program, regardless of the position. I'd say other than a quarterback, I mean, I'd say pretty much any positions on a table. So, Rossi, he says he's not going to draft for need.

What exactly do you do a draft for then? Personality? For the best player available, like he said. What do you mean? What do you mean? You don't draft for a need. What the hell is that mean? You don't draft for a need.

Well, of course you need people. You don't take a draft just because you're trying to add to the population of Houston, Texas. They're going to stay true to the board, Matt. All right, Rick Smith. I hear you. What? Now you're just trying to agitate me and it's working. I'm not trying to agitate you.

This is what every GM says. They're not going to draft for need. They're going to go ahead and get the best player available. Now, of course, they lie to an extent. So if you don't draft for need, So if that's the case, then just start picking a bunch of kickers. Keep your payroll down. Well, you don't normally draft kickers, Matt, so they're not going to do that.

Oh, my God. You're missing my point. Of course you draft for need. Everybody needs things. You need to stockpile positions. You need to add depth. Yeah, but what position would they draft outside of quarterback, as he said, you would be completely shocked if they took in the first round?

I mean, maybe pass rusher? Yeah, probably. but he doesn't they don't need anybody so you know what go throw people off for us off ascent let's go with a punter nobody's drafting a punter in the first round oh come on it'll help this isn't uh in the 1960s who isn't there's some sebastian jenikowsky field go kicker available yeah he was in the first round oh my god i just i just i think it's it was comical and again it's not nick's fault per se now nick's never going to be very glib to begin with but This is the kind of wheelhouse press coverage.

It's like, Nick, can you speak to the media about this? Do I have to? Do I have to talk about this signing that time of this trade? Hey, Nick, the NFL is going to make you go up there and do a pre-draft for a media availability. Can you just use your best word salad? Yes. Can't wait. Let's get up there and do it.

Matter of fact, he probably has another availability today. Does he? No, he doesn't. I'm just kidding. That won't be there. there. Well, at least you went yesterday. No, I didn't.

Very busy. Okay. I don't know. General managers, this is their time to just go up there and just throw a bunch of spitballs, right? Is that what you throw? I guess.

I mean, yeah, he's not going to give anything away. He's even more boring than most. And he's just going to kind of stick to his GMisms. Mm-hmm. And it worked. and that will and the question should we play some more

Casera Sondbites between now and 2 o'clock today if you'd like in the interest of keeping people interested in this radio show we could ask him about the offensive line he's got answers on that well I don't know how deep the answer is all right

here's we'll do we'll do it we'll come back when we come back when we come back you will hear how concerned he is about the offensive line let me guess is he somewhat concerned very concerned or not concerned at all. We'll have the answer for you momentarily. All right.

To wrap up the Casario conversation, we're going to get back to the Astros here. How does he feel about the offensive line? I mean, honestly, it's the same every year. Every year is different. We didn't go into the offseason and say, okay, here are the things that we're going to do. I think some of this is, you know,

you have to be adaptable, you have to be flexible, and just take the information in and then just make the decisions that you feel our best for the football team, which is what we did. If we didn't make any changes, if we had to go into the season with the group that we had, we would have done that. But that wasn't the case. I'd say each case was a little bit different. Each situation was a little bit different. Yeah, I wouldn't say there was anything specific that we said, well, this is what we're going to do,

this is what we need to do, and then even moving forward, are we going to add some players that potentially they can help our football team? That's always the goal. drafts no different than free agency than it is in the training camp process you know we lost some players or moved on from some players at a lot of different positions we've added some players it's other positions including the offensive line so you know once the players are here once we have an opportunity got in the field we'll kind of see how it all fits together okay here we go shooh brilliant oh unbelievable I give him credit I really do do you think he has like a stopwatch his left hand he's like all right if i just go for 50 seconds no matter what i say at some point

people will just tune me out i think that's what he figures remember that's how this show goes if i just talk for long enough will people either stay with me no not this show oh man look he's imagine him getting an argument with his wife oh my god she's just like yeah he doesn't raise his voice he's just going to continue to just talk and talk and talk and talk she's like all right i'll do the dishes oh i know know hey honey why don't we change things up let's put some salt and pepper on our chicken breast and broccoli oh he doesn't do that and then it becomes an hour of you know salt's not good for you it now the thing about that is you got a number of different toxins and various

sourcing of the sodium pressure oh okay fine and studies have shown long-term damage arterial damage as possible. I mean, you could have congestive heart failure, other resultant issues from that. So at the end of the day, that's not really something that I want to do. And we're just going to move forward on that, and the decision has been made. I mean, the thought is we maybe we put some lemon juice

on it, but maybe we don't. Then if we do, we have got the lemon, do we use the rind? Do we use the juice? Do we worry about the seeds? I mean, he's going to beat you up by just out talking you. And there's got to be some credit to that, correct? I mean, there's got to be, that's an art. the art of BSing?

Or just it, no, I think, I don't think it's BS. I think he's, it's, because in some ways he believes what he says, but it's just word salad. It's just, let's just, I mean, that's how you win a negotiation. Like, Jalen Petrie

probably wanted $40 million in her day. Ross, and we got 39. I think Jalen Petrie is just fine. By the way, for a nickelback. he did get paid I mean he had Stingley both got paid I mean that that Texas

secondary has been very well compensated for the next couple of years at least mm-hmm but you think J-Lapidger's like man I must get 41.5 million dollars I'm leaving okay you win now 39 I'm done I'm good I'm out

he just gives up Drew Rosenhouse just gives up or whoever he's been eating is I mean we love our guy Drew right Could you imagine Girrod versus Cassario? It would be a showdown for the ages.

In a talk show? Would either one get a chance to speak? Well, the show would be over in five seconds. They'd run through every break. Yeah. Crazy. It'd be absolutely crazy. You have to prep anything for that show.

Nope. You just go up there and just talk. All right. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. Astros of an off-day. Brian McTagger to join us coming up in about to 20 minutes here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross.

Let's talk to JW on 790. J.W., good morning. How are you guys doing? Good. Hope you're going to have a good Easter. You too. Is there any rumor?

I'll put it this way. I hear the rumor that Astros are going after the Si Young when you're out of Miami. Is that true? I have not heard of any rumors about any pictures, especially and you're not going to hear much in the

middle of April. Yeah. Where did you hear that from by asking? On the guy by the name of Miller. Oh, Matt, is it Matt Miller maybe? Yeah, I sure believe so. Hmm. Yeah, I have

I have not heard of the you're talking about, you're talking about Alcantara? Yes. Yeah, okay. I have not looked at it. his numbers this year so far. Yeah, thanks, J.W. for the phone call. I appreciate it.

It sounds like you're in a boat. He's at point blank. Where's point blank, Ross? Do we know where that is? I have no idea. It sounds, quite frankly, it sounds made up. It's a movie, in it? It could be.

I don't know. Maybe that's point break. I have not seen the Astros linked to Ascendi, Alcantara. I mean, not recently. I think maybe a year ago. Looking right here at Yahoo. I just happen to do a... Let's see.

Yeah, it sounds like to me three starts from returning from Tommy John's surgery. It looks like he's completely back. He's under club control through 2027. This is another one of those aggregate, ridiculous things. Bleacher reports, Kelly Miller, listed Marlins pitcher as a potential trade target. This is where something gets aggregated,

and then there's a misleading headline. Newsweek is doing it, Sports Illustrated is doing it, all these other things are doing it. And then people have, this is the most, like we've been getting three, four calls in the last few months about these fake bait headlines. So yeah, somebody listed, somebody did an article, basically.

who could Sandy Alcantara go to if he's going to get traded and one team lists the Astros as a possible team then somebody else runs with the headline says Astros listed as trade partner with Marlins yeah Will Salmon writes for the Athletics says no decision has been made yet by the Marlins he says quote the Miami Marlins have not decided

on Alcantara how do you pronounce it again Alcantara Arcantra He had the Marlins view their current pitching improvements optimistically aren't ruling on a mid-season push. By the way, is professional baseball in Florida should it just be extinct, basically? Did you see the photo in the Marlins yesterday?

They had 7,500 people at their game. That many, huh? In Miami. And they're not bad this year, apparently the Marlins aren't. And it's a beautiful day. They're playing decent baseball. As a matter of fact, I'm looking at the Marlon Sannings right now. They are 8 and 9, which is they're two and a half out.

The Mets aren't crushing it in the National League East. And they had 7,500 people. And that's a nice stadium, too. If you ever flown to Miami Airport, it's very close to Miami's airport. Beautiful facility. I'll take your word for it. We always have to go to Fort Lauderdale. That's fine.

It's cheaper. Fort Lauderdale is. I don't know. We're on budget. We are budget. Imagine we flew to Miami. that drive to West Palm from there. That'd be quite a haul, Rossi. I feel like it could happen.

We'd definitely be on that turnpike going about 100 miles an hour. Yeah. So, yeah, this is floated by somebody in an article where they're just listing teams and trades. This is not real news. This is, you know, unfortunately, all people are faking, getting faked out by this type of stuff. So I would just say when you see stuff like this, try to vet it out, folks. Yeah. By the way, getting movies in gross point blank is the name of the movie apparently it was out.

1997. Oh, okay. Starring. John Cusack. John Cusack is in it. Dan Aykroyd and Mini Driver. Oh, wow. Must have been amazing.

7.3 out of 10 according to IMDB. That's pretty good. What's a mini driver doing these days? I don't know. What do you put on your list? I mean, I was a fan of her in Goodwill Hunting. Sneaky, right? What's sneaky about it?

I'm just saying, you know what I mean? Not her acting ability. Yeah, I'm a pro-money driver. Oh, yeah, I'm going to say something crazy. She's attractive. She's not crazy, not crazy. All right, Jolton Joe's sports show says, we are going to trust the process.

We might trade up, we might trade back. We got our eye on some talented restaurants. our needs. So yeah, there's many different directions we can go. That of my cover it? Yes, it will. That's exactly what it is. That's what it is. All right, 713, 212-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. It is the Matt Thomas show at Ross. Brian and McTaggart will join us here in about 15 minutes here on Sport. 1048, Brian McTaggart is going to join us in just a couple of minutes. 713-2-1-2-1-1. We will get to some serious Astros conversation. Rossi, this is a bigger issue that I want to bring up,

but I just want to localize a little bit of the Houston side. The Cougars announced yesterday, my beloved Cougars, that Jojo Tuckler is coming back next year. He is the very talented big forward and defensive player of the year, blah, blah, blah. I mean, he's excellent. I mean, his improvement from his freshman to sophomore year was amazing. So U of H sends out a tweet yesterday, probably around this time, and since we have a major announcement coming up at 3 o'clock today.

And I'm like, oh, this is going to be the big news. Maybe we're playing somebody cool or we're opening up the season with a big double header on a cruise ship or I don't know, something goofy. And the announcement was, Jojo's coming back. And it just kind of just dawned on me that the world of collegiate sports certainly has changed because no one had ever heard that he was contemplating going to the NBA draft. I mean, there may have been some rumors and some innuendo among the real, real diehard Cougar fans. And most draft boards had him as a late second round draft pick or not being drafted at all. He doesn't have the offensive skills to play right now in the NBA.

He has the defensive skills for sure, but he doesn't have the offensive skills. I was also disappointed to hear he fouled out of the press conference. Oh, God, that felt real personal right there. I mean, a good line by you, but that's still terrible for you to say that. I couldn't help myself. So it made me think of two things. One, Jojo's getting a bump in his NIL. It's basically the announcement of him signing a one-year deal, right?

Isn't that basically what it is? And I'm thinking myself, is this what we're doing now, is we're going, these kids are signing to go to these schools and get these scholarships and ultimately NIL. And then when someone stays, we're supposed to celebrate it? I was a little, I wouldn't say bother, but it just kind of struck me as not funny, but just, it was just weird that you would have the, you know, the eyes. emoji big news coming from you of age and then at three o'clock everyone's sitting there by the computers and looking to see what social media is like jojo tugler's coming back well he was supposed to that's what the scholarship's about he didn't say he wasn't deciding whether he was going to stay or not he wasn't thinking about it was like they must have put enough money in his piggy bank or

Kelvin said hey brand you go to the NBA draft you're going to have a very disappointing night they cut the check yet it's just the latest form of this ain't your college sports that you watch up growing as a kid it is just completely 5,000% changing than it used to the way it used to be yeah he got the re-up he just re-up his deal that's what they're that's what they're announcing isn't that weird though that you mean if you because if you come back you're like when uh players play four years you don't wait for the obligatory he's coming back. You just assume he's coming back. Right. Unless somebody's

declaring for, unless somebody's like a, it's supposed to be a lottery pick. Right. Like Milo Zuzan made an announcement that he is going to declare for the draft. I don't believe he's going to sign with an agent because he wants to see what his value is before he come, you know, whether he decides to go to the draft or come back. And that's

a news item. To just tell me he's coming back when you have, when Jojo didn't say like, hey, but I need to, I'm going to, I've been thinking about this for a while. I don't know, but I'm I was like, hey, we took care of him. We took care of him. That's good.

He's staying in the building. I mean, yeah, I'll take his 12 rebounds per game without an issue. Get the shooting percentage up a little bit. Maybe that foul tripled down a little bit, and it won't be really in a good spot. 53.8% free throws? 5.5 rebounds, 6. I mean, sorry, 5.5.6 rebounds a game. 53% free throws and an announcement that he's returning.

Yes. You do got to love that he's an adult that goes by Jojo. Well, it's Joseph as his groaning. I think he just goes by, you know. If my name was Joseph, what? Should we call Joseph D'Worte, Joe Doorte? I think you should. I just feel like nobody does that anymore unless you're like a baseball player in the 1930s.

Really? Okay. I got you. I got you. So which Nico is having the worst week, Rossi? Go ahead. The former Tennessee quarterback or Nico Harrison who had a press, well, he didn't have a press conference.

It was not. It was a press availability where the Mavericks general manager invites some members of the Dallas media, and not all of them. And he tells him, you can come in and hang out with me, and you can take all the notes you want, but there'll be no audio or video recording of anything I say. And then he gets basically undressed by Tim McMahon. Yes. Apparently, and now that more things are coming out about this meeting they had a couple

days ago, it got quite contentious on a couple of different occasions. Yeah, I bet. Well, Tim McMahon's probably pissed. He spent all this time researching and writing this Luca Donchage book. Remember he wrote that book? He's doing like the press tour for his book and they announced that he's traded?

Yeah. Yeah, who's exactly buying the Dallas Maverick version of Luca Donchage's? Yeah, I mean, oof, that's kind of hurt sales, folks. I mean, think about it, he's probably working that bad boy for years. Rossi. That's what I'm saying. Look, Maverick fans are holding the grudge.

Like Tim McMahon's holding probably the biggest grudge. Yeah, it's funny. I saw Tim about a month ago and he came over and apologized because, man, I didn't return your text. I said, I know. I said, I could have sold you some books. And he's like, yeah, I could have used your help. Poor guy. What's another bad example that would be? Oh, I don't know, Breggman threw and through a a Houstonian. Yeah, seriously.

Bregman Astro for Life, the Alex Bregman story. Garrett Cole only had eyes for Houston. Oh, man. Oh, poor guy. Yeah, I mean, you blood, sweat and tears your life, you're writing, I don't know how McMahon's written a book ever before, but, because, I mean, Theronryson, you had to go through his history as a kid. He wrote a book on Dirk or something. I'll go look. Yeah, I mean, and by the way, Dirk, you noticed that Dirt Novitsky? has gotten sideways with the Dallas Mavericks organization.

Yes. I mean, what more can Nico Harrison do to piss off an entire section of a fan base? I mean, is there anybody that's a Maverick fans like, man, I like the direction Nico Harris has taken our team. Yeah, that's the funny, yeah. You know, there's always at least some split. Matt, we've seen some people back Dana Brown, some don't, Joe spotted, some don't. Is anybody backing Nico Harrison?

anyone. It's crazy. Speaking of Dana, he spoke to Sean Salisbury. We'll play some of that for you in the next hour of the show, but we're going to get right on the beat next,

and we'll do that with our friend Brian McTaggart of the Houston Astros website and MLB.com. He'll join us after Ross tells you how you can help with your taxi. It is one of our favorite parts of the week. We get to spend 10 quality minutes with the established,

well-beloved beat rider for the Astros, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. Brian, first and foremost, you have gone to St. Louis a lot in your life covering the Astros, especially when they were in the National League. It was like clinically depressing watching Cardinal Baseball area. I know yesterday the crowd was pretty good, but what the hell has happened in St. Louis? That used to be like an automatic 40,000 they're building every time.

Yeah, I mean, I've never seen the stadium as empty as it was. And I actually asked that question of one of their beat riders, and he said, you know, opening day, it was magical. They had, you know, the Clydesdales and that whole thing. And then beginning with the second game of the season, the fans have just checked out. I mean, they really didn't make any upgrades in the offseason other than signing Phil Maton. And, you know, they weren't a good team last year. Don't look like they're going to be a good team this year.

So I think the fans have just checked out. It was sort of a depressing three days. Usually you go to St. Louis, and it's, you know, it's this baseball. like it's supposed to be, but not this time. All right. We looked at the graphic on Twitter, and a lot of people are doing this as well. I have, and look,

everybody goes through a stretch where you're winning and paying 500 baseball. But even when you play 500 baseball, Brian, you maybe win three in a row or drop four in a row or win to. This continued streak of up-down, up-down, it is legendary right now for the local nine. Yeah, I think somebody said,

I'd have to confirm that it's the longest streak in Astros history where they haven't won two consecutive games or lost two consecutive games. So I guess that's the definition of mediocrity when you're just, when you're going to win loss, win loss. So, you know, they're 8 and 10. It feels like their record should be a little bit worse, I think, just with the way they've played, especially on offense. But they've picked the ball pretty well.

And that's sort of why they're at where there are, because right now their offense is really tough to watch because you've got, guys in the middle of the lineup who just aren't producing and they need to get a turn around quickly because the schedule is getting really tough here with the Padres coming in and then the Blue Jays. They got to go to Kansas City. So this is not an easy stretch for them. And they got to figure out a way to start stacking up a couple of wins in a row, which they haven't been able to do yet. Any hints from your perspective about maybe a little bit of a lineup change because right now Walker slash Diaz is providing you just about nothing in that

four or five spot. Yeah, and after the game yesterday, Joe Espato was asked about any possible changes to the lineup, and he said he seemed to indicate that wasn't going to be the case, at least, you know, anytime soon. He, you know, he said all nine of these guys have to come up and hit at some point no matter the order. And I get what he's saying. I mean, I mean, you can move Walker and DS to other points in the order, and, you know,

they're still going to have to hit for this lineup to work and click and be successful. And I still think they will. I mean, Yonder Diaz didn't forget to hit in the offseason. Christian Walker is a guy who hits 30 home runs every year. So, you know, not sure what's going on with those guys. I know that Christian Walker looks increasingly frustrated by the day. But it is only 18 games. They got a long way to go.

They've got to get this thing turned around. And I think they will just because the track record of those guys and they can't really get much worse at this point. Brian McTaggart with us here on Sports Talk 790. Let's just go to Cam Smith, 18 games into his major league career, both in the field and at the plate. How are you feeling about the way he's looking? Well, better in the field than at the plate. I mean, he looks a little more natural in right field with every game. I mean, I thought he had a pretty good defensive three days in St. Louis.

He looked pretty fluid down there. I ran one ball down. His throws have been pretty good. I think he's going to be fine out there. You know, offensively, I think he's still trying to figure it out. I mean, you got to remember this is a guy who played five games above Class A ball prior to this year. And now all of a sudden you're in the big leagues facing the Mets on opening day. That is not easy.

And so there's going to be some growing pains. Did not have a good series against St. Louis. But, you know, again, they got to get him going a little bit as well. You know, he's still got a runway here to try to figure this thing out. He does seem to take walks from time to time. He doesn't look overwhelmed at the plate, but the results haven't been there. So I think that's something they're going to have to watch here closely in the next couple of weeks is just to see where he's at and then decide whether they want to keep running him out there

or send him to AAA and get some momentum and get some more bats under his belt where he gets some confidence and maybe bring him back up. Back to Christian Walker real quick. Just if you had to guess, do you think there is any sort of lingering issue with the oblique that could be hampering that he could be playing through, or do you think most of his problems are just mental and some bad luck? Yeah, I don't think the obliques is an issue because he's still, you know,

he's still taking his hacks and taking his swings. If there was pain there, especially with his history, I mean, I think he would shut it down. You know, he's, they're pitching him to the point where he's chasing a little bit more than he normally does, and I think he's getting frustrated. And when you start pressing, you start chasing pitches off the plate a little bit more. and I think pitchers are realizing that, and they're pitching him to try to get himself out,

and he's doing that so far. But, you know, that's just the adjustments he's going to have to make. He's been in this league a long time. I don't know if he's ever been through a stretch this poorly, but when you join a new team, there's a lot of pressure on you, especially when you're making that kind of money, and you're hitting in the forehole, there's a lot of pressure on you to produce.

And the longer you don't, I think all that builds. So how's he going to handle that? How's he going to respond? You know, he's got a chance Friday to get a couple of hits. have a good series and then he'll be on the right track but he hasn't been able to do that so far Brian McTaggart MLB.com with us here every Thursday on the Matt Thomas show with Ross tags there's one player that equals the mark of the team it might be Framber Valdez one night you're ready to go all right Astros let's get into a deep conversation on extension

the next line is look forward to seeing where you pitch in 2026 he is he is a literally just like the squad right now. Yeah, he's an enigma. I think the team right now is an enigma. When friend Framber's on, he's the best there is. He's got one of the best curveballs there is in the game, but he just tends to lose it at times. And, you know, we've seen that this year.

He's got a couple of good starts, a couple of not so good. And, you know, again, the second half last year, he was piling up those good starts. And when he does that, you know, he's won the top two or three. three left-handed pitchers in the game. And so it's going to be really interesting to see what they do with him. If this season progresses and they're not contending in the division, which I don't think is going to happen, the division's not that strong,

I think they will play better. Do they consider trading him? Because I don't think they're going to resign him. I don't think they should resign him, you know, let someone else pay him, you know, the money. But that's something they're going to have to entertain. And I just don't think they'll get to the point where they're so far out. going to trade him because if they're going to contend, they'll need him.

But they're going to need the good Framber and not the one that we've seen on and off. But you're right. He's sort of like the team now. You don't know what you're going to get from day to day. What do we know about the health status and the latest on both Forrest Whitley and Lance McCullors? Yeah, Lance is throwing Saturday for Corp. Christine. I think what could be his final rehab start there in Midland.

So I hope he likes spending. a night or two in Midland. Nice place I hear. But I think that will be his last one. And at that point, I think they're going to consider activating him. And Dana Brown, I think, said last week, maybe when they go to Kansas City next weekend, he could be back by then in the rotation. So that's going to be a big storyline. Whitley through back-to-back games.

I don't know if the second one was today or yesterday, but he's really close to being activated. I think he's a little ahead of Caleb Wark, who's going to be activated soon, too. So I think we're about to see a couple of new relievers in the bullpen with Whitley and Ord. I think we'll see them both up here within the next couple of weeks. I mean, within the next few days and then probably Lance within the next week or so. Get your crystal ball out for me on Lance. If everything works out well, and like I said, you know he must be really ready to go because he's going to go to middle in the pitch of baseball game.

What do you think ultimately he will look like? Forgetting about performance, but just about length and pitch count and whatnot, What do you think could be his forecast for the next 30 days? I think he's going to get up to the goal is to get up to 75-80 pitches in this start on Saturday. So you're looking at a guy if he makes his first start for the Astros, you know, could do 80, 90 pitches, four or five innings. I don't think we're going to see him go out there going seven, eight innings. But it's going to be interesting to see because his numbers have been pretty good in his rehab starts.

I mean, his V-Lo was down quite a bit. his last start, but I asked the round about that to some people, and no one seems too worried about it. You know, they think that once he's in a big league environment and the adrenaline is gone, you know, he's not going to throw 97, 96 anymore, but they need him at 95 and not at 91, 92. So if he's at 94, 95 with the fastball, Lance has got a track record at when he's healthy, he's really good. So I'm really anxious to see after, what, two and a half, one and a half, one and a half, half years, whatever it is, what he can do against a big league lineup. And I think we're going to get to see that shot here pretty soon.

All right. Ross, anything else from you? Oh, sorry, I'm good. I'm good. Thank you, Matt. Y'all awake? Yeah, this is my, we're on. It's a split site.

That's my bad. I'm just going to say, I think I'm done with McTaggers. We can do some bullpen. How about to this point anyway? Yeah, that's true. We are talking a lot of rockets. You back off. You got your jerseys.

You got your jerseys are going to put on. I already have several jerseys, but thank you for asking. Yeah, didn't you get one, Matt? You got to pick it up at some point. Yeah. You know what? How about a bullpen question? When Ort and Forrest Whitley do come back? I mean, who are the guys you think aren't going to be the ones who are going to get shut down? And how are we just feeling about the middle innings, especially the bullpen in general,

and really kind of a bray who's been a little bit shaky? Yeah, I mean, you know, Nick Hernandez just came up. I mean, I could see him, you know, he's a guy that's probably going to go up and down quite a bit this year. I think he could probably go back down at this point. Contreras has been up and down and he's back down. So, you know, there's moves they can make there pretty easily. Brian King has settled into that seventh inning roll pretty good, a left-hander and pitch really well. You know, I mean, O'Krit has emerged as a weapon. Again, he came in yesterday and pitched well.

He's been really, really good. So Josh Hader's been terrific. No one's really paying attention to his numbers because he hasn't had a ton of save opportunity. but his numbers across the board are really awesome. So he's having a good year. Abraeo's been up and down. You know, he's walking too many guys, but, you know, I think his last daddy was a little better.

So their pitching's fine. I mean, if I'm in the Astros, I'm not too worried about the pitching right now. They just got to start hitting, bottom line. Well, leave it that, friend. Thank you for the visit, as always. And I'll be sending you my Rocketsters if you'd like to have one. And we'll talk with you next week about the same time. All right. See you later, guys.

Got it. That's Brian McTaggart, MLB.com with us every Thursday. And they get the boys on, they do the On-Dak show. Remember that he's supposed to be on Fridays with them too. I'll be doing Friday with Brian McTaggart tomorrow. I'll be doing Saturday games as well, and I'll be doing the Rockets on Sunday, Matt, here on Sports Talk 790. You're home. Well, actually, Saturday, Sunday with the Rockets will be on news radio 740K-T-R-H. Oh, I definitely have to call you on.

Sunday then because that could be a little lean late start to. Public service announcement folks. Rockets coverage. Sports Talk 790. Late night on I'm excuse me on News Radio 740 KTRH. Late night on a Sunday. Listen, learn, love.

All of those things. And now seriously when we do have the rockets and Astros playing still with the rockets in the playoffs, just always look for, if you're looking for one or the other, it'll be 790 or 740 generally 99% of the time. We should flip it over to 790 when the Astros are done, too. don't you think it'd be smart.

That'd be nice. But it's a Sunday night game too with the Astros, so who knows. Oh, that's right. Man, we get a lot of national run here. You've got the game of the week. You got the Apple games. You got the Fox games. You got the Sunday night games.

For a 500 baseball team. Yeah, you know what? It could be worse. Under 500. Slightly. My glasses have full. Is it? There are only three games back at first.

That's right. feeling good. Your jersey looks good, by the way. They got Villarreal spelled correctly and everything on the back of that bad boy. You're like the third person to say that to me. It was the first thing that I looked at just because I have a long history of people misspelling it. But yes, shout out to the PR department of the Asht, I mean of the Rockets with those great gifts. And appreciate them getting my name spelled right.

I think people misspell, when I first started spelling your name, I got it wrong because it didn't end a second R at the end towards the end. That's okay. It's a common name. and there is a lot of people who spell it with just one R. All right. 713-212-5-7-90. You want to tell us people to shut their bum ass up, Ross? We could do that.

Sure. In about 15 minutes here on Sports Talk 7-90. Shut your bum-ass up, but ain't nobody got time for that coming up at the bottom of the hour on Sports Talk 790. Matt and Ross with you here on Sports Talk 790. 7-19. 7-1-3-212-5-790. 713-212-5-7-90. Congratulations to you 36 officials, named for the first round of the NBA playoffs. Ross's critique, I had to say criteria for the name 36 people, NBA ref upgrades, rankings, player-calling accuracy and team rankings. How about that? Scott Foster at the very top of that list.

Wow. 255 playoff games Scott Foster Good for him Mark Davis 204 playoff games Okay Tony Brothers

201 playoff games This is all from Wexler By the way Did he count every one of these? I probably did by hand Lord, it's a lot of work A lot of free time Woof

A lot of free time By way, a lot of folks I wouldn't say a lot. Maybe three or four people have sent me tweets about the various ESPN and other prognosticators' predictions of the Warriors Rocket Series. I think it's going about 80-20 Warriors. Is that how you're kind of seeing it too? That's probably about right. Yeah.

I'm not mad about it. That's fine. I understand. The Warriors have been one of the hottest teams in basketball. What are they? 23 and 7. Yeah. With Jimmy Butler starting?

Four titles. I mean, you know, that. they actually are playing better probably than they did last year with Clay there. I mean, I could get upset. I mean, do you think Emey Adoka gives zero? I mean, how many Fs does he give about the fact that Dave McMiniman thinks that the Lakers or who I'm just throwing a name out there, that the wars are going to beat the Rockets in a playoff series? I don't think he cares that much. Ramona Shelburne picked the Rockets.

Hmm. Friend of Adam Clanton's. Yes. Adam's best friend. You know what? When you work for a media site, they ask us every year, give us your predictions on variety of things. How many games the Astros are going to win? How many games are the Rockets going to win?

You have to do it. I don't think unless you have some sort of deep-seated hatred towards a team, you're going to try to be as fair as you can. Yeah, the Rockets are underdogs. If you think they're going to win, I had two hours east and laid out. I mean, it's not that difficult. Yeah, I mean, if you and I were doing a show in Cleveland, what do we think we're going to win the series? Probably picking the Warriors.

Yeah, I mean, I can't get mad about that. I mean, of, look, first of all, you have what, Orlando's in the playoffs, relatively an unknown team. I mean, among the, how many of our teams left? There are 18 teams left in the playoffs? Let's see. 860, yeah, there's two playoffs. There's two playing games left.

Of the 18 teams that are left, what are the Rockets, probably 16th or 17 in terms of familiarity around the league? I mean, who is more well-known around the league? The Pacers are the Rockets right now? Rockets. Significantly? Not significantly, but I love the Rockets. Tyreys Allerburt and still pretty good star.

I guess so. Fine. People know. You know, if we went to 100 people, who's the rocket that would be named most? Ooh. In Houston or across the country? across the country Dylan Brooks If you and I went to a sports bar

Let's go a rando city Let's try Charlotte Okay We went to a Charlotte sports bar Name a rocket I would have to probably lean Jalen Green Maybe because of the commercials

He's doing for the food for the sandwich place Because he's on Ming Mop Yeah Yeah, and I have a sandwich. It's the chicken wing. I forgot about that. It would be...

I don't know. Maybe you get a bunch of hands in the air? I don't know. You know, Matt, I'm a fan of net rating, which is your points per 100 possessions subtracted by your points given up. As all of us are, yes. Since Jimmy Butler joined the Warriors,

yeah? You could probably guess number one. For sure you can guess number one in net rating. it's the Oklahoma City Thunder. Okay. Then it's the Celtics. Then it's the Warriors.

So since he's joined them, they've been by net rating, which I really like as a good metric. Third best in basketball. Here's the thing, and I watched every single second of that Memphis game. Did you see the same amount? Yeah, I think I watched 95% of it, including the end.

If it ain't Jimmy Butler or any Steph, it ain't much. Well, in that game, yes. But Brandon Pachimski has scored some. It's typically been good. Good, that's right. Kavana Looney, quite frankly, has given the Rockets fits throughout the years. But a little bit of Moody, a little bit of Gary Payton, but it was those two guys.

The one wild card, and we're going to talk to the voice of the Warriors tomorrow on the show, I like Jonathan Camingo. Why does he just, why is he falling on a favor there? I don't know. He was D&PCD on Tuesday. I don't care. It's one of those I just don't get it. because, man, he has toasted the rockets multiple occasions this year.

Mm-hmm. Would you do a John the Cominga for Camdena for Cam Whitmore trade straight up? Yes. Something like that, right? Yeah. I think there are two teams that are like, man, maybe a change of scenery for these guys. Wouldn't be the worst thing the world? Camingo's average 16 points per game last year, 15 this year.

But doesn't even play. I mean, in a playing game, where you need offense. I don't know. It must be something we don't know about them. We'll find out more tomorrow. All right. So we'll talk to Tim Roy, the Voice of the Warriors, as part of it, anything goes Friday.

And we all use from Dana Brown. We'll get to that coming up in a little bit in the show. We may have that as part of the news at noon. And then we have, I just don't get it. But, yeah, if you're looking, I would just say this for the Rocket fans that are out there, you're not going to get the majority of the people are going. And maybe, as I said before, has there ever been a seven-seed be a two-to-one favorite over a two-seat ever in an NBA playoff series?

Now, we've seen some 12s be favored over fives in incidentally basketball games, tournament games, but those are one-offs. I mean, that's a one-and-done. That was a serious price to say that a seven-seat. could beat a two seed four times out of a possible seven tries. Well, they don't play the games at the betting window, Matt. We'll see what happens. And it just goes to show you that, again, they're basically saying that A, Golden State has the playoff pedigree,

B, the Rockets don't, and C, they're a different basketball team with Jimmy Butler than they were beforehand. All right, time for people to help us tell some people to shut their bumasses up. Hey nobody getting time. Hey nobody getting time for that. Hey nobody getting time for that. And for that. 34.

Matt Thomas Show with Ross continues. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. What are you bothered about? You call this show 7-1-3-2-5-79 and tell us people to shut their bum-ass is up. There it is. Or if someone is just going on and on and on, like Ward salad, if you will, say, ain't nobody got time for that?

Hey nobody got time for that. You don't have to take shots at Nick Casario like that. How did you think I was not doing that? It seems like you might have been. I might have been, but I wasn't. To the NBA, 830 start time on Sunday really means about 850. ain't nobody got time for that that's too late ain't nobody got time for that

gotta keep these warriors fans up on west coast time matt we've been through this drill before because here's the thing Mavericks Grizzlies winner play the thunder Sunday at 12 all right 2.30 Magic Celtics uh huh

you could play heat Hawks winner versus Cavaliers at 5 Warriors Rockets 730. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, right? Sunday night. Why are we waiting to start Heat Hawks Cavaliers until six? Ain't nobody got time for 850 star time.

It's going to suck. Thank you. Well, don't I have this correct? Isn't there only one West Coast team in the playoffs? Or at least, I'm sorry, on Sunday, at least that is going to play Sunday? Yes, that would be the worst. Warriors. That's it.

But I mean, why are you waiting an extra hour? Like, if you're going to go, you should go back to back to back to back to back. If you want all these games in their national by themselves window, you could play the Magic Celtic, which you're playing at 2.30. You play the heat hawks at five as compared

to six. Push everybody up an hour. I'm going to tell you, Matt. I'm sure they have data on this. I know. They know how to get the most eyeballs on this. I'm sorry to you again. All right. We're hearing from league offices, they're saying,

shut your bum ass up. Shut your bum ass up, man. Get an extra cup of coffee. Exactly. Another thing. I got another one for you here. Okay. You rocket fans,

you better show up and you better not sell your tickets to warrior fans because I'm deadly afraid of me 9,000 Steph Curry people in the stadium on Sunday night. We'll see. In advance, ain't anybody got time for you selling your tickets off. Ain't nobody got time for that? It's just tough economy. there right now, Matt.

Well, it can't be that tough if you're buying the tickets, unless you're just using them as like a stock. Yeah. Don't check the NASDAQ or the Dow Jones. I'm just, I'm really worried that it's going to be San Francisco Bay Area East at the Toyota Center. I, at least I'm confident that the Rockets fans will be in their seats in time since it's 830. So that's a good news.

Yeah. Oh, and a Sunday night? Yeah, come on, you've got to be there for that, all right? I've seen these wins. Don't read your voice to me. Just saying, you know I'm right. We've been in the same building. I see the seats that are empty like, do you see them?

All right, all right, all right. Just get, I'm just saying, Houston, you better get there. And it better be full of Rockets gear. I mean, I don't have to wear, like, jerseys and stuff. But if I see Steph Curry jersey everywhere, it's going to make me vomit. but I'm going to see it. It's going to happen. It's just to what extent.

Let's go Rockets. All right. What's you got this week? What's matter with you? You know what? I'm just going to go with Houston drivers in general. You know, man, I told you I went to Kansas City last week, and I was driving around at a rental.

It was pleasant. Now, maybe I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and there's crazy Kansas City drivers, but nobody was acting like it was a NASCAR race. I didn't have any jacked-up F-250s, like, tailgating me and acting like their mothers in the ambulance and they need to go to the hospital.

It wasn't like an F1 track, a city track either. So you know what? I got back here in Houston and then it's back to the same. People are zooming in and out, like acting like we're playing need for speed video games. Ain't nobody got time for these Houston drivers.

After a pleasant weekend in Kansas City driving around. I was actually a florist. And then it was a culture shock again when I came back here to Houston. The worst drivers I've been around in my entire life were in Salt Lake City, Utah. Explain. Just pound for pound horrific. Like just aggressive?

No. You know when you're in a parking department store parking lot or any kind of lot like Walmart or whatever and you lean out to turn, they put out 80% of their car. You have to swerve to avoid hitting them. Geez. That happened no less. I lived in Salt Lake City for two and a half years. It happened no less than about 50 times. The worst drivers, pound for pound, Salt Lake City, Utah.

I stand by my statement. I'm not going to dispute you. Thank you, Frank. Houston's are pretty bad, though. Oh, Houston's bad. Oh, don't kid ourselves. Let me tell you, I get out of 59 leaving Toyota Center at night. Oh, that's right.

You're always in the drag races down there. I'm about the drag races for some reason. and then I would call and get up in the middle of night to go to the bathroom and I check on the local news. Yep, three died on 59 at Laura Koppi because of a terrible accident involving drag racers. What is it? When did we decide that we are as Americans needed to drag race at any point in our life? Do we just, do we not get hugged enough as a child? Maybe not.

I used to go check out the drag races on the Good Night Trail when I was in high school. I lived in Katie back in the day And there were long stretches of Like Katie Clodine Road And stuff like that That you could really If you wanted to go out and drag for a little bit You could get away with it

You're on a major Interstate or highway now 69, 59, whatever it's called I mean that You're just You're just playing Russian roulette Are you not? I guess so

We went a few times The old Rankin Road Yeah but we Rankin Road's no big loss It is what it is until it started getting busted up by the police. Let's check it with Jonathan. Jonathan, something matter with you this week?

It's about the Nico trade. I just thought he went to UCLA to transfer. And I just had to get this off. I've been waiting for the whole week. Look, it looks bad. All right, I understand that. But he's making himself like the icarus of the whole NCAA trade. So we're going to have a bad example for the kids going forward.

He's flying close to this. son? Yeah, he just bit the hand that fed him. He's going to get paid like not even close to a million after taxes

going to UCLA when he had 2.5 million sitting there. But this is just going to show the future kids and athletes what not to do and the program

like, all right, this is our biggest case we can do it now and now we can focus on contracts, one year deals and all that stuff. But I don't know

that time for all you all the people and begging for more money dude, I don't understand it. I just don't understand that he made it look bad. I don't like it.

Hmm. So he's going to UCLA, making, is it a million? Is that what he's making, basically? Which is, in California money, it's terrible. He's from there, so I guess he might get the NIL sponsors and deals in. Oh, he's from the LBC. LBC?

LBC? Mm-hmm. Long Beach College? Long Beach, California is where he's from? Oh. Long Beach is actually nice these days. I like Long Beach. I have friends that live there.

I don't know what I tell you how many millions their house is. I haven't heard the turn. term L's B.C in a long time, by the way. Once you're not listening to enough Snoop D-O-D-O-D-G. Exactly. That's what I was thinking. All right, 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-21-2-5-7-90.

Christian, what's the matter with you? Dick Nelson, Thomas, by the way, go I do my normal... Scheduling this shoes with a rocket. You talk about... Shit, so bum-ass-up, man. I really realized. Is this our phones?

I think it might be ours. I don't know. Hey, anybody got time for these phone issues. Everybody got time for that. Maybe it's just line one. I think line one is the worst problem of them all. It seems like line one is the worst. It seems like two does it too.

I don't know. I'll put it in another trouble ticket and then it'll work for three weeks because now these people, these IT people think I'm nuts because everything fixes once I put in a trouble ticket. They start getting really terse with you. Oh, my God. Yeah, they're like, all right, this idiot here. All right. We will take a short time out and hopefully Jason.

and Katie's line will be much more clear than Christian Lamar. Maybe Lamarck's got bad phone lines. You never know these things too. 713-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross. News and noon is coming up. E. May I doke at 1 o'clock.

Before that at 12.30. I just don't get it. Hold on a second. All right. Let me tell you right now about two creeks crossing resort. if you want some downtime, if you want to relax, if you want to get out in nature. Ross's problem is sometimes it presses too many buttons. That's not true. All right. Let's get back out on the phone.

713-212-1-2-5-790. 7-1-3-2-1-2-5-7-90. The news at noon is coming up in about 10 minutes from now. Jason, thoughts and prayers. What's the matter with you, Jason? Well, first off, that Long Beach stuffyard, Highland, that place is nice. We went on a cruise out of there, and the airport's fast and clean, and everything's nice. Oh, the airport's great.

At little airport's badass. But anyway, and nobody got time for the roundabout in Katie at Cane Island Parkway where the Buckey's is. There's more honking going on there than an entire downtown Houston. Hey, I've got time for that. I've been to that Buckees. I don't know that roundabout being such a big problem, though, huh? Well, I ain't got time for my car to be vandalized at Eleanor Tenney. Presley Park this past Saturday.

Let's throw that out there. Welcome to H-Town, baby. $563 in damage later. That's tough. This is tough. Especially when deductibles, $500. You can pay that. Go ahead and knock yourself out.

At least everything got recovered. That's rare. Honestly, you guys are lucky. Very, very lucky on that. Because she has a little stuff animal she's been sleeping with it, and she was a baby. Really? Yeah. That's what teenage girls do.

They still sleep with stuffed animals. They don't have a movie. Man, you have to put her business in the streets like that, Matt. No, is she? She's 17. It's fine. What if her friends clip that, dude? Next thing you know, she's had that for the rest of their life.

Her friends just have ammunition. Nah. I got a lot worse things on her than that. Trust me. Let's go to Roger on 798-11. 52. Roger, what's the matter with you?

well i'm a little uh don't have time for certain passengers um i'm an uber driver i've done like 20 000 rides over the last six years yeah and one of my passengers was certain that she had to talk to me the whole way with non-stop because because um normally i'm okay with that but she said that she was afraid that her drivers would fall asleep. That's why she always talked to them the whole way without nonstop. So she must have some PTSD going on with her some previous driver or something because it was actually made the ride up actually not as safe because I have this person rambling. Roger, I'm sorry for you on that.

By the way, are you both an Uber and a Lyft or are you just an Uber? Both, both. Between the two of them, I've got over 20,000 rides. Well, first of all, congratulations. Second, I'm sure you got a great star reading. And third, what up with Uber at way more expensive than Lyft these days? That's a good question because they actually give the drivers less than Lyft, so I don't make, it doesn't make any sense to me. Okay, well, if you get me, you'll be getting a five-star review and a ginormous tip. So how about that?

All right. Sounds good. Yeah, pick me up today, some less. I'll go anywhere with you. Thanks, Roger, for the phone call. Ross, I, hello to the driver and maybe a little bit of small talk if neither one of us needs it, but most time I get in the back and I just close my eyes or I get on my phone, right? Yeah, that's me.

And when I was a driver, you kind of have played it by year because you want to get a five-star rating. Some people want silence. Some people want chat. So I would just kind of say hello and then maybe one other thing. And if the chatting kept going, that was cool. If not, I'm more than having. happy to sit there in silence. Yeah, you know, there's on the Rift app, you can ask for, I guess, you can, you can detail

what you want. Like, if you want the car to be cool, if you want to be warm, if you want quiet, like no music, all of the above. They can custom of that bad boy for you. That's great. And yeah, as a writer, I don't ever want to chat with my driver. Yeah, the only thing that ever kind of bothers me in it. it's is the music choices

sometimes well you're there you're in their car bat I know but they're the they're one they're one a good tip so putting on this outrageous terrible music from 1994 that goes of that sounds pretty good and they're trying to educate you on some music Matt

I don't have time for education hey nobody got time for that exactly I did have a driver by the way who kind of started to knot off at a light. Uh-uh. But we were, like, so close to home, I didn't really want to, like, start an incident. He got up. When the light turned green, he kind of woke up, and I was just, like, watching him.

I was like, okay, if this guy starts a nod off or something. Yeah, I have not, by the way, taken the car with no driver yet. I was supposed to do that this week in California, but I got started getting six-ups to do it. I'm good. I guess my question is, what's the charm in it? Is it just because... The charm is it saves them money.

They don't have to pay drivers. But I'm talking about, does it pass savings along to me? I would imagine so. It should. I mean, you wouldn't have to talk to the driver at that point. That's for sure. Yeah, especially, yeah, when they're going in the middle of traffic, getting in a wreck, you can't tell them to stop. I don't know. How, have there been a high accident rate on those things?

I don't know. I imagine it's lower than humans. But these things, they're like a little flying saucers on top of the hood of the car. Yeah, so we're just continuing to automate. the working class let's go well as long as i'm safe i'll pay for it somebody's making some money off of it who is it what do you mean the big companies okay well i mean somebody's got to get paid just get me there safely make sure the car doesn't smell hmm have a terrible edm music on from nineteen ninety four woof you sound like a hater not a hater just i just want peace and quiet

and not to die on the drive there worst uber i ever took was for a from downtown San Fran to the airport. My wife and my oldest, who you know Cameron, they were bawling. We're going to die, Dad. We're going to die. I'm like, we're going to barely make it. We barely made it. Yeah, you're fine.

You made it all right. Quit your whining. Tell them to shut their bomb ass stuff. Not me. I was fine during the whole thing. I've been in worse overs for sure. Yeah. All right.

Tell me what that. Tell them to try a Taiwanese cab driver. How was that, by the way? Woo! Moving and shaking, Maddie. You felt like you were on an Indy car race. Speaking of NASCAR. Are those cars that small?

Do they take you in when you go over there? It depends. Yeah, the cars are a lot smaller. Like, we would get an Uber XL, and it would just be like a regular car in America. Really? Yes. At least you got good value. I mean, it was cheaper.

But also everywhere in Taiwan, there's a million people driving in their little motor scooters, weaving in and out of everyone. Oh, Bob, I got one for you. Real quick for wrapping stuff, I was in California for the last week. motorcycle drivers just in general on freeways in and out of people's lanes going high speed ain't nobody got time for that just terrible

all right uh that starts uh actually it wraps up this week's edition of uh shut your bum ass up 713 212 5 790 719 713 212 577 9.0 on Twitter at SportsMT, at SportsRV. Much timers. This is our number three of the Matt Thomas show with Ross on a Thursday.

As we do every time at this spot around 12 o'clock, we present to you the news at noon. And we'll do that with the Hugh Downs of the Houston Sports Journalism. We present to you the one and only, Ross, Willery. Well, Matt, what a great compliment. I appreciate it.

A lot of stuff to get to here. all the news at dude. Let's go ahead and start with your use at Astros, scoring all of one run yesterday in St. Louis. Runner goes again, the O2, and that's backed in the right field, but that is right at

Scott, reaches up, makes the catch, and that is the ball game. St. Louis Cardinals take two out of three from the Astros, as Houston still looking to win back-to-back games. Cardinals, victorious 4-1. a bunt, then a bloop, then a Lars Newtbar three-run homer.

The difference in this one, other than that, Rinal Blanco was pretty solid and the bullpen did their thing. But the bats, again, quiet for the Houston Astros. Only four hits. Only one run scored. Oh, for five with runners in scoring position a day after, I believe they were one for seven with runners in scoring position. The Astros for 13 straight games have alternated wins and losses. You added up, they are 8 and 10 on the season. And, well, as mediocre as it gets right now, Matthew.

The reality is this, Ross, and we now have a little bit of a better sample size than we even did a week ago. This pitching staff, generally speaking, with the exception of the implosion that Framer had a couple days ago, is saving the Astros bacon right now. I mean, this offense just cannot get stuck out of neutral, or in that case, low speed. Yeah, it has been a lot of the pitching. I mean, even if you go to ERA, they're still like 10th or 12th in baseball, so it's not like they've been completely dominant like they were maybe earlier on in the season.

But team OPS right now, 26th, they're better than the White Sox, Royals, Pirates, and Reds. That's it. If you took that 14 run came out, how bad would it have been? Good. I don't even want to know. At least those runs still count, even though they're against the Angels. Although the Angels still in for second place now? Yeah.

I mean, it's a very winnable division. The Astros are as mid as possible. There were three back of first place. You can knock that out in 10 days. There's still only one division in baseball where nobody has a positive run differential. It's your American League West. Oh, you know what? Why does the American League West and the AFC South mirror each other?

It's a pile of bleh. That's what you've got. Elsewhere, Matt, well, let's go to the NBA quickly. We know the Rockets and Warriors will be facing off at 8.30 p.m. on TNT. And, of course, on our sister station, News Radio 740, KTRH. No games today. You'll have the heat and hawks taking on each other. at 6 o'clock tomorrow and then the Mavericks and Grizzlies. Grizzly six and a half point favorites,

while the Hawks are home dogs to the Miami Heat favored by one and a half. By the way, I just saw a tweet. If you'd like to go to the Mavericks Grizzlies game in Memphis, right now, you can walk in for $9. That's a deal. Are you serious? Anthony Davis, Clay Thompson, John Morant, Sharon Jackson Jr., nine bucks.

I'll go. You're going to fly up there, Maddie? No. Oh. No. No. But that, either that is that the playing doesn't have the bucks or that no one in Memphis wants this season to continue on

and don't want to see it firsthand. Well, it's basically for the right to get destroyed by the Thunder, correct? So here's what you do. You play the late game on Friday night. Your reward, you leave your building. and you fly right to Oklahoma City where you get to play the very first game on Sunday. You get basically 30 hours off

before you get pummeled by Jake Yilders Alexander and Friends. By the team, yeah, your reward is the team with the greatest point differential in NBA history. Yep. We've been resting for a week. Oof. Well, good luck to the Memphis Grizzlies or the Dallas Mavericks.

There, all right, let's keep it moving, Matt. Your general manager of your Houston Texans, Nick Casario speaking to the media yesterday. Guess what he said about players that are going to be picked number 25? They're going to be good. If we pick it 25, we're going to get a good football player. I mean, honestly, we feel good about this draft.

I mean, there's players literally throughout the draft, so we're pretty well positioned. We'll have an opportunity we think throughout the draft to add players that we think are going to create some competition on this football team. I say, whoever we bring in, I mean, it's going to be hard to make this football team. We feel good about the players. I mean, our board's probably smaller than some other boards, and that's okay, but there'll be players that pick on Thursday.

There's going to be players to pick on Friday. Honestly, there's going to be players for us to pick on Saturday that we actually feel good about. We're going to get a good player if we pick at 25. And if we don't pick it 25, then wherever we pick next or whenever we do pick, we think we're going to get a pretty good player. Very profound stuff there from Nick Casario. They're going to get good players in the draft, he thinks.

It would have been so much funny if you had said, look, we're so good that we might just skip picking 25. Because we can't find 25 good players in this draft. Play the first, can you play at Ross the first five seconds of that sound bite again? If we pick at 25, we're going to get a good football player. I mean, honestly, we feel good about this draft. I mean, there's players literally throughout the draft. Okay.

Here's what we wanted to say. Oh, God. This draft blows. We're at pick 25. I mean, we might as well just put a blindfold on and just throw a judge. dart at the border, whoever we throw it, and whoever it hits we just pick. Give him a first round, graph, give him a first round contract and say, congratulations, you got lucky. Could you imagine him saying, yeah, we picked a 25 and, man, we suck.

We have no chance. Whoever says that. Nobody ever does. Nobody. All right, man, well, go ahead. Sorry. I was going to say, he was going to say, what at the, The Texans first pack

draft pick was at 87. We're at 87 and we love our spot. I mean, we just cannot. Then it's time to take Davis Mills. Money Mills. Let's trade front of our overrated offensive linemen and give up two drafts for it. They got picks back for Laramie Tunsell,

who you're calling an overrated lineman. Pro bowler Laramie Tunsell. He's properly rated. Properly rated. A couple of college football notes. Matt. Let's start with this. The NCAA has implemented a new rule to address injury faking.

The playing rules oversight panel has approved changes to the rules where a team will be charged a timeout if medical personnel enter the field of play to evaluate a player for an injury after the official has spotted the ball for the next offensive play. The team does not have any timeouts remaining. They will be charged a five-yard delay of game penalty.

I applaud the idea. The execution can get a little murky, Ross. And most importantly, these coaches are going to tell these players is, if you have any owies, you better tell us really fast. You better run your ass off the field. Or stay down quick. Because if you stay down quick, we can get out there faster before the ball is spotted, and we've done dust don't get caught in charge.

So if the medical personnel comes on the field before the ball is spotted, they're good? Yeah. If they enter the play of the field after the official has spotted the ball. Interesting. Yeah. So that's what I'm saying. So what they're basically telling you is don't try to get up and fight it off. Just sit there and basically be a soccer play.

Okay. So they can still fake injuries. Yeah, of course. It's just going to be a little bit. You get to do a lot of faster. Yeah, it does happen in soccer. And obviously it happens in so much in college football. They're making rules about it.

Oh, I know. Could you imagine a new penalty in college football? personal foul, 15 yards, offense, offensive linemen, fat and out of shape, faking a penalty. Faking an injunction city. Now, they do give out yellow cards in soccer for flopping. They call it simulation.

But it's kind of like the NBA. For every 100 flops, they penalize it just a couple of times. Ross, I did an 80 NBA games yesterday. I think I called three. Three flopping calls. Two against, I think I'm pretty sure. good. It's what it is.

Oops. All right. Anyways, Matt, elsewhere in college football news, Alique Corso. We'll sign off as college game day analyst in August.

Ending his career that began with the family networks in 1987. 38 years doing it on ESPN. Would you put him on your Mount Rushmore

of, I shouldn't say Mount Rushmore. If you want to ESP, Hall of Fame personality group is Corso in that

inaugural class I would guess so here'd be my inaugural class of ESPN personnel you ready I'd go tell

I just don't he was just much more stick than he ever Okay you blipped a little Dick Vital yeah Dick Vital okay I go Dick Vital

I'd go Corso I'd go Burman anybody else I'd put in my hall of me? Stephen A. Smith? No. Just saying the accomplishments are there. You don't have to like him. You cannot.

Sorry. I'm sorry, Matt. If we were on the committee together, I'd have to overrule you. All right, all right, all right. Because I understand you don't respect him, but he has been that network for like 20 years now. Or maybe 10, 15 years. I know. I know.

it's true but if I'm building my Hall of Fame ESPN class am I putting Stephen in that first group with the other three guys? Yes Are you sure? I'm sorry to say

You win You win By way I cannot wait for him to run the president I cannot It's not happening He cannot please Oh he's already opened it up He's going to consider it now

No Politics are enough of a farce This is ridiculous. I would literally, I don't care who it is. I would vote for Jimmy Carter over him. His court, Jim Carter's corpse? I would vote for Jimmy Carter's corpse over Stephen A. Smith. Well, I will just be like every other presidential election.

I will not be voting in it. And that, my friends, was the news that new. 1215 sports talk 790 coming up at the bottom of the hour. I just don't get it. 713-212-5-7-90. I don't get while some of you are having tax issues. We still are using Dana Brown. We'll get that for you coming up in just a few minutes here on the program.

We have, I just don't get it coming up at the bottom of the hour. We have EMAID-Doka at 1 o'clock this afternoon. And if you missed a conversation with Brian McTaggart, that's shameful on you. We'll be playing some of that coming up for you in about, 130, so about an hour from now. So we got a lot going on. We got another person, and we were talking about Stephen A. Smith wanting to run for politics. Roman Reins may want to run for politics when his WWE contract is done.

This is crazy. Everybody wants to jump in the political waters. I want to go far away from it. Who was that wrestler that was governor of Minnesota? Jesse Ventura. Jesse the Body Ventura? That is correct. Whatever.

It is interesting how our society is we go. from we need experience in our in our office and then we need oh we need a fresh blood we need somebody that's non-political and now we're looking back we can't figure what we want uh yeah you say interesting i'd say disappointing and disheartening okay i think it's probably right that's probably right all right uh 713 212 5 790 uh astros with a day off tomorrow san anago podrays are coming to play here's the thing it worries me rossi the san diego podrays can score some runs here i mean This is going to be, either the pitching's got to be amazing or the potteries better be off or whatever the case may be, because the San Diego Padres are in first place in the National League West.

They are 15 and 4. They have a plus 37 differential. They've scored 88 runs. I've only given up 51. It's pretty good. Yeah. Damn, that American League West, San Diego 15 and 4. National League, you mean.

17 and 4, San Diego. San Francisco is 13 and 5. The Dodgers are 14 and 6. The old Lola, Arizona Daback's, are 11 and 7, and then you have got Colorado 3 and 15. Rockies, what's going on there? Rockies are like, man, we're the bitch of this division. Yeesh.

Yeah, they are. Three and 15? Come on. The National League West is the anti-American League West. Have the Rockies ever been good? The Rockies? They made the World Tour. in what,

2004? Four and eight? One of those two, one of them. They played the Red Sox one of those years. They also, I want to say, took a wild car away from the Astros back in the 90s. But I wouldn't, I mean, if you were to go to the most nondescript

Major League Baseball team, Zaka'a Rockies were like right at the top. Probably. I mean, here's what they have. They won one pin at night. In 2007. Oh, seven. Yeah, so it was 07, they lost this to the Red Sox.

They have a beautiful city, an amazing ballpark. They just don't spend any money, I don't think. Man, it is a gorgeous ballpark. It's very nice. And you can't get pictures to go there. Nor should you. Like, you know, Eric Cole's like thinking about where should I go to York? Mike can't do one over there, I guess.

Yeah, and then he saw his, Darryl Kyle went there. Yeah. It's not a, even when they. I mean, they could put like buttered coating on those baseballs. It wouldn't make any difference. I don't know what, yeah. The humidor is not working. The humidor ain't working.

They've scored 52 runs in 18 games. Oh, their run differential Rossi is a minus 51. They've scored 52 and have given up 103. Makes the Astros offense who's scored 66, look like the 27 Yankees. Here are their top 10 career leaders for a pitcher war for pitchers.

Yubaldo Jimenez won. Can I even name 10? No, no. These are Kyle Freeland, Aaron Cook, Jorge de la Rosa. Wasn't there a Jennings at some point there? Hermann Marquez.

Who? Julius Chasin? What? Oh, John Gray, I know him. Pedro Estacio, I know him. Jason Jennings. There you got. I know there's a Jennings somewhere in the mix.

Ooh, this is bad. Yeah, their all-time leader in wins is Jorge de la Rosa. How many does he have? Uh, hold on. 86. And how many years? Looks like he was at Colorado for nine years. So nine divided of 86 is a little more

than nine. Do they retire Jorge? I mean, I can, look, I can name some offensive players. Larry Walker, Dante Bichette, Vinnie Castilla. I mean, there are plenty of guys on the offensive side I can name. I can't name pitchers. No. Yikes. It's got to Corey New Orleans at 1227 before we get to. I just don't get it. Hello, Corey. Hey, guys. You can't have an inaugural ESPN Hall of Fame class without the guys that made that network what it is. and that's Dan Patrick, Stuart Scott, and Bob Lee.

Those guys... No question. Took it to another level. Yeah, you're right. Dan Patrick... Matt was... You were saying personality, so I was thinking maybe not SportsCenter anchors.

No, I thought that's why you were going. Mine was much more Ross with a broad brush. I was going with, if you were to create an ESPN Hall of Fame, you know how you have these Hall of Fame and the Astros, unfortunately, probably burned too many too early? If you would have, like, that inaugural class of three or four, right at the top. How long does it take before Corso gets in?

Even like the second class, second class would be guys like Peter Gamens, maybe, Oh, Chris Mortensen. You know, on Sunday night baseball for so long. Yeah. Chris Mortensen, John Miller, Joe Morgan. Exactly.

Yeah, yeah. But inaugural, you got to at least have Stuart Scott. Yeah, he was the first really, thank you for the phone call. He, Keith Oberman and Patrick were probably the first. Would you say Ross, the first personality-driven sports anchors? Yeah, I guess so. Put them in there. But yeah, I guess when you were naming off people, I was just thinking non-sports center

anchors because you were saying like personality. So I was thinking like show. I didn't really define it very well. Yeah, I just, I mean, all the things. names we brought up are all, if you had this ESPN Hall of Fame would all be in it. I mean, we're not going to argue at that point. What about Sean Salisbury? Sure.

John Clayton, I mean, when those two guys did four downs together, that was some great television. It was. Michael Wilbon, Tony Cornheiser. Yep, yep. On there, on there. Michelle Beatle? How long was she there? Not long.

Pam Ward? Okay. Now we're getting deep into the list. No, I think Kornheiser and, yeah, I mean, that's why if you have an ESPN Hall of Fame, you got a select train down. Like, who is left for the Astros Hall of Fame? Is there anybody left? We know Wagner, well, he's already in. I think Charlton Jimerson is in the next. That is not true. It's not true. Will he Adonis and Astro? I always forget these names.

Willie Tavares? Tavares. Tavaris. Tavarra's their longest hit streak of all time. I mean, if Tony O'SAbio's getting in the Astros Hall of Beat. Hey, hold on now. Hold on now. Astros Clipper needs to be in.

I knew you were going to say that. I knew you were going to say that. All right, 713-212-5-7-9. Do you have something in your life that you just don't get? No need to worry. need to fret. We will discuss the topics to see if we comprehend the things that may confuse our friends. It's time to say, I just don't get it. All right, what don't you get, ladies and gentlemen? 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-790. There's something that bothers you in terms of, hey,

I'm just kind of confused by situations, or I am befuddled by something, or there's something I saw on the road or you know in your life ross and myself we have a lot of years of experience as a father as a friend as a brother as a resident of our town things i just don't get i would say i have a question for you when you have three young teenagers at eleanor hensley tinsley park that have a car vandalized and it takes a police five hours to get there to take a look at the scene i would say Ross, I just don't get it. Uh-oh. You're out to tell me some bad news, aren't you?

I don't want to be mean. I mean, I'm not trying to be mean. It's just police have a lot to do. There are. And while your property is very important, Matt. Yes, sir. It's probably low on their priority list. They deal with...

I don't think it's a probably. I think by waiting five hours is definitely or probably. Stolen vehicles, stolen property. happens, I don't know, how would you guess, hundreds of times a day in the city? But isn't supposed to be Saturday at 5.30, not supposed to be an issue? Don't they, don't, don't the hoodlums usually wait until like 10 o'clock at night to Craig? I don't think the hoodlums are on a schedule.

You don't get early bird pricing on the victimization things. Okay, I got you. I mean, we've all been there. I had a car randomly, I think it was just a random act of violence. I don't know if there's kids down the street or whatever. I had a window smash in the back of my car, and it took them hours and hours to get, and the guy was like, he's like,

do you even want me to write this up? Like, he wanted to be idiot. And you know, you kind of have that realization, like, yeah, they don't really care about this. This doesn't really matter to them. They got bigger fish to fry. So in a way, I mean, look, I wish it were better. I wish we lived in a world where there weren't thousands and thousands

of murders and serious crimes being committed. to where... That's why burglars do it because they know that I can get in trouble. That's a huge part of it. Absolutely. Is that there's going to be a very low rate of them finding stolen cars or stolen properties, stolen property and chasing all that down because in their mind and they're probably right.

For the most part, they got bigger fish to fry, unfortunately. Well, I know. Thanks for helping me out of that. I'm sorry. So really, the burglars get away with the, it for the most part. Well, they did not get them up. They didn't get caught. I had to spend almost $600 getting a window replaced, and my daughter's and her buddy's overnight trip to Galveston was basically ruined. Although they got freeze cheesecake at the restaurant they went to to have

steak, so there was a small consolation. I mean, if actually the cheesecake, they wouldn't free, it was $575 with the cheesecake. Oof, that's the way I think of it. Oof. I mean, I'm sorry it happened to you, Matt. Like when I go to the casino and I lose like $800 at the blackjack cable and I go like, that was a $100 $100 mickle of ultra. I've had some $800 beers for sure. It's not fun. No.

You know what's the worst part? And you start looking up the nearest ATM on your phone. That's the, oh. Oh, don't do that, Rossi. I already know where the nearest ATE is. You know what's really bad is I already know where the nearest make of America ATM is to the

Circa Sporta Casino. Yeah. We've got to continue to work. work on that, by the way. Oh, we'll be fine. I think we're good. Okay, good. I think we're in good good hands. By the way, I'm proud of myself. The amount of money I have paid in ATM fees, what do we mean, 2025? Mm-hmm. I bet you in the last 25 years of my life. I have spent less than $50 in ATM fees. I'm proud of you, Matt. It sounds like you're not going to enough strip clubs.

That may be fair. 713-212-5-7-90. Jonathan, anything you don't get this week, my man? Hmm. All right, I'll let you think about it. When you go, hey, I got one, then we'll go right to you. I got one. I'll let you think about it.

Let's go to Geo in Atascata C. Atastica C.A. 1240. Geo, what don't you get, my man? Okay, guys First and the most great show is always So I don't get this So Adele and Elton John They are from the UK

Are you correct from that? Geo, you sound like you are calling us from a tin can All right, how's that? Oh, much better, much better There we go, there we go Okay, now the question So Adele, the singer and Elton John the singer They're from the UK, correct?

I know Adele is for sure Yes, they're both are. Yeah, Elton John is, yes. Now, they speak in their normal U.K. accent, but when they sing in an American accent, I don't get that. And the U.K. rappers, like Central C and stuff like that, they rap in their U.K. accent. So, like, I don't get why the rappers can rap in their U.K. accent, but the singers, they sing in an

American accent. I just don't get it. Ross? I have no response to that. I can answer this. Okay, there we go. John, we go through our linguistics. The reason why is because just paint it simple, it sounds, you're not going to sell records singing in a UK accent. And it's really hard to sing big songs like a

DEL does in that UK tone with your tongue and how you pronunciate the words and those different vowels. That's why a lot of people go to English to sing is a lot easier on some of these songs and like that slang and talk. So he's going with ease is what he's saying. He's going with selling

records. Google says just because accents flattened out when you sing? I mean, that's part of it, yes. Like, when you hear Adele, I couldn't tell that she's from

Great Britain. When I listen to the Beatles, they sound like they're from Great Britain. Depending on the song, I guess. What about the Rolling Stones? They don't sound like they're from... No. No? Do you think that... Freddy Mercury? Sounds American.

That's a good one. Do you think Celine Dion sounds French-Canadian when she sings? No. It is weird, isn't? That's what I just... I'll give you, I'll just don't get it, how all of a sudden, no matter where you're from,

you get into this more American tone. Now, John Lennon had a... I thought a pretty distinct British sound to his voice. What's the band Linyard-Skinyard? Or if you listen to him... Lanyard-Skin-yard. Or the one that died in the plane crash? Leonard Skinnerd, yeah.

Yeah, yeah. They have the American accents as well when they sing. Weren't Leonard Skinnered American? Yeah, they were American. Oh, they were British. I don't get it. We're getting there. Maybe you're a lead to Zeppelin?

Nobody died in a plane crash at a Led Zeppelin, though. There's one guy choked on his own vomit, yeah. So did him on a ham bone. No, what was he? a ham bone or a ham sandwich mat John Bottom choked on the drummer, the greatest drummer of all time, by the way. Did we say Amy Winehouse? Oh, Amy Winehouse?

She didn't really sound... Yeah. She didn't really sound British. She just sounded like she was shooting up heroin. And she was. Well, may she rest. Shout out 27 Club. All right, we'll see one more for getting here.

One more international performer that sounds... when she's, he or she sings. Sting? Sting is British, isn't he? Yeah, Sting is British. Oh, how about, what's his face? Eric Clapton.

He sounds American. That's true. All right. We're done. Mic drop. Phil Collins. Oh, good one. Wow, this is a good, I just don't get it because now I'm making it.

It was. The question was about rap. That's what we couldn't give you answers to. Well, I think it's, yeah, maybe this is more talking than singing. And I don't know, like I said, Google says the accent that kind of flattens out when you sing, and the American accent is as flat as it gets. It is flat. All right, James and Manuel and Gerard.

We'll get to all of you coming back. I'ma doke in 15 minutes here on Sports Talk 790. 713212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-9. All right, here we go. Final segment here of I Just Don't Get it. We've got EMA Adoka coming up in about 11 minutes here on Sports Talk 790. 713212-5-790.

7-1-3-212-5-790. If something in your life you just don't get, we're here for you. Let's talk to James and Klein. James, what don't you get? Yeah, with expansions of the NBA and the UFL. Why don't they ever consider Austin as an expansion team? It seems like that would be an ideal place to start a team.

In what sport? Well, UFL would be great. I mean, using roughnecks to play Austin Steers or whatever you want to call them. I mean, even in the NBA, the Rockets going over to Austin to play would be good. I don't understand why Austin's got a huge population. I don't know why they're never considered for an expansion team.

Honestly, I had not thought about that. First of all, the UFL doesn't mean anything. I mean, it just doesn't. Their ratings are horrific. The tenants is terrible. It's just, it's bad. It's not good.

And then when we're going with the other one? Oh, three teams in Texas with NBA is plenty. And even though Austin's population is growing, doesn't necessarily mean you want to support from a corporate standpoint-wise an NBA franchise. Look, and this is a mood conversation. I just don't. I just don't get the Austin vibe to it.

It is the, I think, either first or second biggest metro area in the country without any major sport. Honestly, if Austin was going to get a team, Rossi, don't call me nuts. Wouldn't it be hockey, be the one that would go get it? Hockey. I don't know. I mean, you can't, you're too close to San Antonio. You're 75 miles from San Antonio. That ain't happening.

Baseball and not enough people in the area. football. Their second. So the Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, California, Metro areas has 4.7 million, that's 12th. Which is like super, super, super east L.A., is what that is. Yeah, they have no major team,

but I guess I imagine that the L.A. teams are claimed there. Yep. So from there, Austin is 25th, bigger than Portland, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Columbus, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Nashville. By the way, the latest numbers are out.

Do you know that the Pittsburgh, I don't know if it's a media market or just overall size is 27th in the country? The Pirates AAA team is in Indianapolis. They're 25th. Their minor league city is bigger than their major league city. Isn't that weird? It is. Yeah, nobody.

When I mean this and they're very nice people at the UFO, but nobody cares. I just, I, they had an idea and they just, people just Ross openly reject minor league football. They just do. And I'm surprised. That's one of those ones

that are like a 1999-2000 gut feeling I would have had. Hey, minor league spring football can work. It just doesn't work. The product is so bad. It's just, it's just a terrible product. Because the uniforms look cool. They get plenty of media attention on the network. major production, lots of spots for it.

I mean, there is decent marketing for it. People don't like it. When you watch, you go, geez, this is terrible. Manuel, what don't you get? Okay, real quick, why your accent changes when you're seeing this because you're using a different part of your voice box. You're going up, octaves or going down octaves. You're getting different notes.

So your accent tends to fade out over. over time. And then when you're rapping, of course, you're just using your regular voice and you've got a skill to rap, so that's why his accent still stays when you rap. Okay. But, yeah, what I don't get is,

what's all this, Apple Bull Rocket fans? I'm hearing that you're saying that guy, you're hoping people get in the stands and they're not selling their tickets to Warrior fans. I mean, come on, guys. I want that place filled up. I want them to fill up.

the full brunt of Red Nation, man. We got to be there. I don't want nobody selling tickets to seeing a bunch of warrior fans there and fake warrior fans and just wearing curry jerseys. And it's time to just, you know, it's just time to pay them all back to.

You know, we got enough of them back to and we had hardened. And I'm just, I'm tired of it. I don't get them why people would want to sell their stuff and not want to support the team. They've been waiting this long for the team to be good. And finally, we're here. The rebuild's done.

So come on. Man, they should get there. get there early, sell it out, and just represent, no matter what happens. Thanks, Manuel. There you go. We're going to have lots of... We're going to have... I wouldn't have...

When I'm going to have Dub Nation Ross in the building, we're going to have Curry Nation in the building. A lot of it. Yeah, not a lot of Brandon Pajemke... Pajimski jerseys, you're saying? There'll be very little Moses Moody Nation in there. Okay. Well, we'll see.

I can't imagine a lot of Gary Payton. the second gear bumping around the Toyota Center on Sunday night. Chris, Jersey Village. Chris, what don't you get? Yeah, I don't get why I hear on this station and other places that the Rockets

don't have a superstar. They do have a superstar. His name is Amman Thompson. He may not score a whole bunch of points, but he does everything else really, really well. So I'm sick and tired of hearing that the Rockets don't have a superstar when they clearly do. And whoever

says they don't, they need to shut their bum-ass up. Hi, my name is Ross. They don't have a superstar. I mean Thompson is a very good player. He's been on zero all star teams. He's been in zero all NBA teams and hopefully he will be as his career goes along. But superstar means top 10, 15 player

in the league and all over advertisements and globally known and I'm in Thompson is not that. I'm sorry. Hopefully next year he's in that spot. That'd be great. He's very affable, good interview, fun, hilarious. He's not a superstar. Let's not be stupid.

Yeah, I'm a I am a ridiculously big fan of a man. Huge. Love him in Thompson. We talk about him with Emandauka every week. Can I get an oh man? No, we don't do that on the show.

But I cannot brag about how awesome a man Thompson is. Over and over and over and over and over again. But the reality is if you're looking at superstar, think what a superstar. Think what a superstar definition is.

I mean, and a man would be the first tell you, look, I'll get there. We've got work to do. And hopefully it starts this weekend. Before we get to E-May, oh, nice little here. Our buddy Gerard.

Gerard, good afternoon, 1257, Sports Talk 790. How the hell are you? I'm going all right, Matt. How you doing? Good. All right. How's going, Ross?

Great. I'm glad you asked about Roll. Boss Obama. That was nice to do that. I know both y'all, both y'all are taking the Rockets and how many games are you taking the Rockets in this series? Four, three. Four, go to state. They're going to win by 40 points in the first three games and the Warriors are going to quit. Oh, okay, okay, okay.

Yeah, I do believe the winner of this series is going to be in the Western Conference finals playing in Oklahoma City. I do agree with that. But I think it's going to be a long series. Both of these teams are great defensive teams. I think the Rockers have the advantage inside. They should be able to pound them on the boards. That's going to be a key. I think the number one matchup is going to be Dillon Brooks against Jimmy Butler, man.

Because Butler has shown in the playoffs, he takes his game to another level. So they're going to need to get Dillon on him to kind of slow him down. He's going to put up numbers, but he can't put up the numbers like he did when they went on that run from the playing and went to the NBA finals when he's with the heat. So if Dillon Brooks can kind of slow him down, you put a mean Thompson on Steph Curry, They don't fight through those picks and try to bother the step curry shot with his limp and that level system. And I think position is going to be a key guy to try to slow down, too, because he played well

against the Rockets in the regular season. So maybe we see a little bit of Aaron Holiday. Jalen Green kind of pay a little bit more attention. They try to cut his effectiveness down. All right. Looks like Imei Doca is still practicing with the rockets right now. Yeah, they're still practicing. Huh.

I'm just getting word that he is still practicing. So we will have to push that back a little bit. Welcome to the final hour of the show. Hello, Matt. Yeah. I'm just, I'm trying to respond to 15 people texting. I'm at practice. He's practicing.

I'm like, okay, we get it. I get it, I get it, I get it. So Ross, we're going to entertain the people for a while here. Okay. We can handle it. We can do that. We're got Brian McTaggart replay coming up in a few minutes. I'm going to assume that's going to be

Maybe we'll get closer to 130 on email, but we'll hopefully have that coming up here in just a little bit. Hey, we're going to call out a certain suburb of our town. We do? It's not a call out.

It's more like a You've been warned. Tomball, it's time for you to just associate yourself with Jimmy Butler. Wait, he's from Tomball? No way. Yes, he is. What? What?

Tomball, Texas is his own, Jimmy Butler. Not Houston, by the way. He doesn't claim Houston. He claims Tomball. He never claims Houston under any circumstances. I mean, he's right. People call it, when people, you meet somebody somewhere else and they're like, yeah, from Houston, and you're like, oh, yeah, what part? They're like, Tomball.

You're like, oh, come on. Do we even as Houstonians claim Tomball? I don't know. Love all you great folks out of Tomball. Let's play a game called. Do we, as Houstonians, claim this part? part of town ready woodlands sure yeah okayy it's not houston though it's not houston either katy sure yeah but rather than explaining it to everyone you just say houston i so i get that

okay but i'm just saying we're gonna run through a few more here okay in this jersey village sure yeah yeah i don't say that's in town parisland yeah no no baytown no no no I mean, Bayton, you're lovely... You're all Houston area. Yes. Including you, Matt. King, what is not a Houston area?

You were in the... You're deep in the Piney Woods. Guess what I got, my man? My address is Houston, Texas. Okay. Guess what your commute says. Your commute says it takes you an hour and a half to get here. My commute says utter hell.

If it takes you hour and a half to get from one point A to point B, point A is not in Houston. and we're just a sprawling metropolis sports. You're in the suburbs. And that's okay. Yeah. But there's a lot of different cities. For instance, let's see.

Stafford. Your friends in Long Beach, what do your friends say they're from? They say they're from L.A. No, they normally say Long Beach, but Long Beach is technically L.A. It's like saying Bel Air is not Houston. It would be the same thing. I don't know. I've been to Long Beach.

plenty of time in and around the corner from downtown L.A. Long Beach to down from downtown L.A. has got to be an hour. It's close to that. Well, that's what traffic. How many? Westchester over there. Yeah.

It's 39 minutes. 24 miles to, I just put in downtown Los Angeles. Okay. Now, I'll say this. The only exception I think that is if you say where you're from Orange County, I don't think you can be from L.A. and Orange County at the same time.

I don't know. I don't have my county map of California out right now. Well, like, people in Crenshaw only claim Crenshaw, and then Inglewood only claims Englewood and stuff like that. They don't even claim their own big city. That's because they're busy fighting each other. Englewood is something else, though. You got the SoFi Stadium, you have the arena,

you get the Hollywood Park Casino. It's quite a sprawl metropolis over there. A wise man once said Englewood is always up to no good. And you got 48 drive-thru hamburger joints. that sounds great i'm telling you you get some fat burger oh my god so we did the game against the clippers last week and i'm like you know you when you worked the NBA life you want to eat at 10 30 at night you've got no reason to you've done nothing to earn the energy for it but you get in that you're getting your bus and you get back to the hotel and you're like oh my god we could have stopped off

on inglewood fat burger just a burger del taco with the burger with the tacos with the tacos and the cut fries. You have in and out. You got jack in the box. I mean, you could gain 20 pounds going from the arena to every one of the, the, uh, the, uh, fast foods in Englewood itself. I'm just hungry thinking about it right now. Yeah, are you hungry right now? What's going on? I'm starving. I haven't nothing to eat all day. That makes a lot of sense, actually. I know. All right. So, uh, E-May Duk is going to join us here. Today? Today or tomorrow? I mean, I'm looking, what's he doing tomorrow? We can get him tomorrow.

I'm just looking, I mean, I sent him a text. I said, do you want to do today or do you want to do yesterday or today? And he's like, let's take a look here. I keep his tweets because he's like, Matt, wish you the very best help you feeling. I said, are you available Thursday or Friday at 1 o'clock? He says Thursday works. I said, well, text you in the morning. He says, thanks.

Calling you at 1 o'clock, thanks. That just means they're getting the work in Matt. You should be happy. You know what they're right? He's so, he is so upset about the fact that all these national media pundits are picking the Warriors with the Rockets. He's like, I'm going to work these guys hard. Let's talk

to Dave in Spring at 1-11 on 790. Dave, good afternoon to you. Hey, Matt, hey, Ross, enjoy the show as always. I want to run a conspiracy theory by you guys real quick. See what you think. I called another

radio station the other day and they kind of listened to me and then started making fun of me after I hung up. Now, wait a minute, Dave, Dave, first of all, we love you. I know. I know. We love you. But if it's a terrible, if it's terrible, we're going to make fun of you. That's okay. Okay.

See what you think. All right. And first of all, to set it up, you know, you have to remember, give you some context. Remember when Jim Crane bought the Astros, they were in the National League, and there was a lot of talk that Major League Baseball said yes to Jim Crane. But the condition was he would agree to move the team from the National League to the American League. So it was kind of conditioned the purchase was. because a lot of Astro fans that had the National League history

that didn't like the idea of moving to the American League. But Jim Crane, if you weren't about the team, that was what he had to do. So now let's look at the Luca Anthony Davis trade. Okay, and again,

conspiracy theory guy, I'm looking at this, I'm thinking it's very odd. Everyone says the dumbest trade ever made. So, you know, I mean, and they're talking about Nico Harris being so dumb

and Rob Polinka being so smart. And what I'm going to suggest is that those guys had nothing to do with this, that this decision was made much higher up the food chain. And here's why. Lakers are, they're a critical franchise. They're not the Yankees of the NBA. And so it's important that they stay good. Well, their best player

is aging out, LeBron. So they needed another superstar out in L.A. So Maverick were being sold to the Adelson group, which they own casinos and everything else. I don't think they're that interested in the basketball. I think they're more interested in the gambling part, maybe expanding their reach into sports gambling. So the league goes to the And so we'll approve this sale on the condition that you push through a trade. Luca Donchich to the West Coast, to the Lakers, and you have to say yes to that, and then we'll approve this sale. And again, I think everyone's focused on. Nico's so dumb, Rob, so smart, I don't think they had anything to do with it.

I think it was way up the line. So just my theory, I want to see what you guys think of it. Go ahead, make fun of me, whatever you want to do. well you're very eloquent in your conversation i don't buy a minute of it though i have my and i'm going to just give it to you in a real dumb down way i think the mavericks were tired of telling nico or telling lucca to get into shape and they did not want to spend crazy money on a guy they worried about was going to have a history of injury issues for the foreseeable future if i'm going to pay the guy seventy five million dollars a year and if you really wanted to

believe this that you believe that luca it wasn't worth it. At least open it up that everybody got a shot and you got a great rate of return. Not only did you trade him, but you got Jack Squat back. Ross, quickly, 30 seconds, agree, disagree.

What do you want to add to it? I don't think there's a conspiracy now. I think Nico is just incompetent. And it overrevelling Anthony Davis. Yeah. All right. Brian McTagger conversation up next and hopefully email after that.

Ross, let's get some folks from taking care of when it comes to their taxes. I would say don't listen. to that. Seriously. Dub Dynasty podcast? No, I'm good. We have 9 million great podcasts listen to. That ain't the one you want to listen to.

Is there an episode on Jemann Green, kicking everyone in the nuts and ranking in the eyes? How about we do an episode called The Nationals, greatest road team of the 2019 season? Seriously. What are we doing here? No, I'm good. 86 Mets team of destiny and catch that one too

podcast for Houston listeners Frank Rake the great fourth quarter comeback Yeah maybe they want to erase that one in the Houston market I mean man we are so tone deaf for us I mean everybody's tone deaf And look we didn't promote these things They're given to us by our parent company It's national yes

It's not our fault And those are running in Sheboygan Gainesville, Florida. Yes, right. People in Dayton, Ohio, hearing the same thing where you're doing. Oh, look. Oh, look.

It's coach. All right. Let's go. 122 on Sports Talk 790. I am, I'm going to tell you right now, I'm going to repeat this again. Do not listen to the Dubnation podcast. I have zero interest in that whatsoever. We got like a 5 million pocket.

Listen to some music. Listen to a jazz podcast or something like that. but don't listen to that thing. Let's literally off the practice court to say how to us for a few minutes is the head coach at Houston Rockets. Ime Adoka. Amy, it's Matt and Ross. Thanks for coming on.

How was practice today? It was good. It was very eventful and lively. Guys are getting after it the last few days. Happy to be back on the court after a few days of rest and looking forward to the series. All right, lively and eventful, meaning that anybody getting elbows throwing each other, anybody fighting with each other, just all competitive. competitive spirited practice.

Competitive spirit overall, like we always do, especially when we go out of each other. But I think Alpi got a little liver shot from Fred. Other than that, we're good. Somebody protecting you too. I don't need you down. I was down last week. I need you ready to go for this week. I'm good.

I'm good with the kids out there. All right, I got you. Hey, have you had that quote-unquote talk yet about life's about the change for you, boys, in the next handful of days, playing the same opponent, at least four times, maybe as many as seven? I mean, we talked about the playoffs

and the experience for the guys for the first time, and, you know, how it's a privilege to be playing at this time of year. So half of our guys have been there. Obviously, the young guys haven't, but what we're trying to do is overall simplify it, keep it simple, keep it basketball,

and talk about what we do and how it carries it well into the playoffs. And so not make it more than it is, it is an opponent we'll see multiple times but our guys have played in high pressure situations throughout this year at times and we'll be prepared for that but like I said keeping it simple keeping it basketball and not trying to overthink it you threw the kitchen sink defensively at Steph Curry

went one for 10 a week ago Saturday against Golden State how much of that was spent looking at that film viv in the memory of the guy's minds and what can you do beyond just the fact just irritated best you can to replicate that? Well, understanding that it's not a one-on-one thing, it's a full-team defensive scheme. When you have four guys on their team hunting shots for him, you have to have four or five on your team preventing those shots.

So it's not just one guy denying him being all over him, taking away, pick and roll, and all those things, especially with all the off-ball screens, is everybody being on the same page, the communication being great. And when we're doing that, we're in good shape. When he gets off the ball, relocates, and guys get caught standing. He gets those relocation threes and a lot of, like I said, they're all hunting shots for him. And so we have to be on point. And that's what we were in that game.

So I have to duplicate that effort. What is it like for you as a coach and with the staff as well, just preparing for this one opponent going into game one as far as like adjustments that could happen as well? Maybe not even wanting to over prepare, not wanting to underprepare. What is that like for you? It's busier at this time of year, of course. You have all these days to prepare for one opponent, multiple games, like you said. And so during the season, you play one team and you're on to the next and, you know, you're not going as in depth. You have to do that here.

Take away certain actions, take away certain personnel. And you can dig much deeper into that. And so for us, it's great to have this time. Obviously, we earned it to not be in the plan to have these days of rest and preparation. And now it's our chance to get out there and execute. But for us, especially against the team like Golden State, that does a lot of, of different things, especially with their off-ball actions. We have to be on point, like I said, with our communication and coverage.

And when we do that, we're in good shape. We showed that throughout the year in our meetings with them, holding them to low points. I think Curry average 16 against us overall in those games, so we've done a pretty good job on him. But understanding that others are there as well, and Butler's added to the picture. We've only played against him once this year, so that'll be a newer challenge. Yeah, you mentioned Butler getting added to the picture. So they've obviously been a very good team, 23 and 7 with him in the lineup. what does he do and what does he bring to the table that that makes them so much better?

Well, another facilitator that, you know, can obviously take some of the pressure off of Curry. He's an isolation guy, which they didn't have much of without Curry and some of, you know, losing Wiggins and some of those guys. And so a guy that can create his own shot, obviously brings a defensive mentality. And you've seen all, seen the numbers as far as that with him in the lineup. But the main thing is that, you know, a 1A, 1B, Batman and Robin. whatever you want to call it, another guy that can create his own shot, command double teams, and he's a really good facilitator. So it's not just Draymond Green getting guys involved.

He's looking to pass the ball as well or create for himself. Eme, we were there last week. Dremont tried to poke the bear that was Alperin Schengoon, basically just praying for a technical foul, got one. That's going to be in play again. How much did Al-Pie learned from that experience, know more of that is coming? I would say he already knew. We talk about personnel in depth during the season.

So certain guys, you know, bring that edge and toughness and physicality and we'll talk as well. And so Green has been one of the best at that, and that's what he brings for his team. And so for Alpi is just keeping his composure, you know, not backing down from the challenge, but also going at it. And then when the chippiness happens, just continue to play through it. And so he did an excellent job of that, of course. The end of that half was a lot of back and forth. that last minute felt like it took five or so with all the fouls and looking at the reviews and all those things.

And so for us, it's to keep our composure, continue to play. We play a physical brand as well, so we know where it can get to. But especially in the playoffs, it's too important to have guys kicked out of games. And so you have to keep composure and play through everything. So many folks he may have discussed the double big lineup. You've thrown out there with Adams and with Shengun out there together. Of all the teams, you wouldn't normally play a lot of that. that would be against Golden State.

So I've asked you this once before, and it's worthy you certainly come playoff time. How much do you want to dictate that? How much do you want to surprise them by that? And how much are you going to see what they do and whether or not you can go without that double big lineup and when to use it in spots during the course of the series? I mean, for us, it's something that works very well.

You can see it on the court. The number showed as well, but that team has been very successful out there. And so we won't go away from that, of course. use the things that have worked for us throughout the season. And so we can do that, obviously, run some different things schematically, defensively to hide certain matchups and lineups. But it's something you definitely want to take advantage of.

But it's not just a piece of it. Obviously, in the last Golden State game alone, we went with the double big, we went traditional little start, and then we went small ball with Jabari at the five and a bunch of athletic long wings out there. And so the versatility that we have is just another piece of it and keeps teams off to art. I think keeps teams out of rhythm. you had the zone in there and some of the things we do offensively with attacking the glass,

it gives people problems. And so definitely something we'll use and continue to go to. And what is that like, especially when you're talking about rotations and things you're trying to do is in the playoffs. In a regular season, if you try something, it doesn't work out, okay, you move on. In the playoffs, I mean, you can only lose four games in a series and you're out. So kind of trying to figure out a sample size of something and trying to decide when something's working or when to go elsewhere, whether it be rotations

or things you're trying to do offensively or defensively. Yeah, I mean, you have to see what, like I said, what worked well during the season. And then understanding certain lineups that you'd like to kind of deploy it against. But at the same time, you still have to make adjustments in-game, and that's what the playoffs is about, seeing what works well, scrapping something if it doesn't, but also imposing your will.

If we're a team that plays big and they play a lot of small, somebody's going to have an advantage, and it's up to us to defend certain actions well, but also punish them on the other hand. And so we'll look at that. Like I said, we can always play the zone like we've done at times with that double big lineup. But we have some things we can go to. And I think if you're punishing them to that extent, they go back with their big lineups

and it kind of works in your favor. Last question, Amy, do you like the way the schedule lays out a couple days in off in between games one and two? Or do you like to get them kind of every other day if you could? Yeah, for us, I think it doesn't matter. I think rest is always a good thing. maybe you'd like to play them against an older team, you know, more frequent, but we've had this time off and we're ready to get back after it, especially with resting the guys in L.A. on the Clipper-L.A.

and so got a little bit of a half for three quarters, three runs in against Denver, and our guys are getting after now and ready to get to another series. So it really doesn't matter to us. The chance for adjustments, you have a little bit more time for preparation in between games if something doesn't work well. And so either or is fine with us, but it'll get to one day off in between pretty, pretty soon. Really appreciate the visit tonight. Congratulations on a fantastic season.

I look forward to catch up with you on Sunday and good luck in game one against the Warriors. Thank you. You got it. I.M.A. Adoka with us here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Brian McTaggart's visit is up next here on Sports Talk 790, and we appreciate you may jump in literally off the practice court to join us here on the radio show.

Earlier today, we talked to Brian McTaggart. And this seesaw ride continues. Yeah, I mean, if we can want to be glass-half-full on this, is that the bats are going to be better. How much better? Again, that's the question that remains to be seen. They will be better.

And the pitching has been good as it is, and the division continues to be winnable. So you're three games back, you're 8 and 10, that's fine. The Rangers are the best team in the American League West right now. I think that was a lot of people's preseason pick. But if you can just get this together, you just got to focus on the division. It's kind of like last year,

where you won 88 games. It's not the best season in the history of the world, but you want to win to your division. Priority one is to get into the playoffs. Hopefully now with these three wildcards, you're not ending up as the third seed, so you can be one of the ones that end up with the buy in the first round. But win the division, get in the playoffs,

and then anything can happen in baseball, even if maybe you're going to be dogs to certain teams who are in the American League and performing a little bit better right now. Yeah, I mean, the reality is they're not an elite team in the American League that we shouldn't be talking about who they mean playing in the playoffs. It should be about just the first and foremost. That is building some sort of consistency.

And right now the Astros just do not. They're consistent in a way. It is woefully inconsistent is what it is. It's like, who are you? Are you going to gain five pounds? You're going to lose five pounds. Well, they do them both. You're saying they're the Luther Vandross of baseball is what you're saying.

Is he the poster child for weight fluctuation? I would say he or Oprah. Kirsty Alley before she passed. May she rest? Well, may Luther rest as well? Yeah, the old... I think it's actually really bad for the heart, I believe. Oh, I would think so.

Yeah, if you're going to go, go, right? One way to stay one way or the other. Yeah, it'd be nice. Who is today's weight fluctuated of the world? Hmm. I don't know. Adel's lost a lot of weight. That's true.

She's keeping it off. Charles Barkley's gone up and down. Well, the kids these days got the Ozympic and the Mojaro's and whatnot. The Majeros and they're doing well for themselves. He did say that we're going to see Lance McCuller's pitch this weekend in Midland.

Boy, he's like, can I go anywhere else? Is there literally any other, is there like a 7-A team I can go pitch for that maybe plays games in? like, I don't know, sci fare? Maybe. He's got to go to Midland,

Midland, Texas to pitch. Now, I bet the weather's not terrible out there. Windy. It's going to probably affect his... Where do you fly in to get to Midland? Midland. Oh, how's that airport? How many flights today are going out there? Well, you got to remember, the Space Cowboys, my guess is

they, do they drive that one? Lance McCuller should get everybody flights. Well, you remember when we teased last year about how, oh, and the Tex, when Verlander pitched for the AA team, now I know a double A, they don't fly anywhere. But I knew he had to have flown there. My guess is they probably fly to Midland. I mean, it's Southwest.

It looks like there's a lot of flights, I guess, for the oil and gas folks. Oh, yeah. Very busy airport, actually. Hmm. Yeah, they probably fly dark breast. So, all right, well. Hopefully he's in the A group. Can I tell you real quick?

quick. I flew dark breast this weekend home. I got C-40. How did you do that? We bought the ticket late. Did you like a punch airline attendant? Put you in C-40? So I bought the A-Groom.

Okay. Well, how much did it cost you? I'll give you a range. Okay, they say... $5. Either way. I mean, it varies from flights. They always say, for as little as 15, and it's never 15. It was L.A. Houston. It was non-stop.

$30. $70. Woo! And it was well worth it. I got exit row window. I put my head back and I slept the entire way. As a matter of fact, they had to wait me up during the exit row conversation. No, I'll be fine.

Dude, C40 is the back row... No, I'll put me in the middle. I'll take you to the bathroom. Where people snore and make strange sounds in the bathroom. 70 bucks, it's a nice bottle of bourbon, Matt. It's in the middle. All right. Believe it or not, all things lead Carson next. 713-212-5-790

All right It is 150 Tomorrow on the radio show We will Have for you Tim Roy the voice Of the Golden State Orger is going to join us for a few minutes

We have I'm sorry to get to We have Anything goes Friday We have Oh by way I want to ask it's real quick We got 30 seconds Rossi Last week you and I did not work together.

You were off last Friday. What do you think about tomorrow's Fantasy 5 building a master's dinner for ourselves if we were on the Masters? Well, like a meal? Yeah. Who has the better meal? Okay. Two apps. Main dish.

Main side, dessert. Okay. You okay with that or no? I'm just going to have Fuzzy Zeller step in for me. I don't know if that's what you want to be. I guess you could. You want Fuzzy doing it? Probably not.

Oh, okay. It's like building a Thanksgiving meal, but different. Yeah, because when you win the Masters, the next year you get to choose what you want. Right. So yours is going to be the McRib followed by a filetal fish. You're rude. And with gas station nachos as the appetizer.

And one of those Mrs. Baird's pies for dessert? That's actually not bad. I used to love this. This is because somebody, this year's winter, in the last year's winter, put vanilla bean ice cream on top of his cob, but I'm like, you know what? That's a good man right there. That does sound good.

Vanilla bean. Do we have an official list of what they get to choose? Anything you want. Literally anything you want. Yeah, but how many quarters? courses it's it's it's it's it's like you could do a salad and an advertiser but we don't salad we see anybody got time for that masters so tomorrow fantasy five returns two apps the main dish aside and a dessert hmm you in okay well i'm looking at scotty shefflers

looks like you get three apps first course main course and then dessert Hmm Well, we have to alter it a little bit here. Okay. Because it's a fantasy vibe. Five minutes left to go on the show. What should we do? We should play.

America's fastest growing sports radio game show. We simply call it B. Believe it or not. And here's how it works. You'll call 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-7-90. Today's edition of Believe or not, I presume, it's about Lee Corso. received it yet.

Do you haven't? Nope. Oh my God, I got to hit the send button. I literally thought I sent it 30 minutes ago. Yeah, that's fine. That's hilarious. Just sent it. Okay.

The statement's completely utterly accurate about league corso. You'll say this. Believe it. If the statement it's erroneous photo bunk and made up, you'll say this. Nah. Two league corsels in a row when you prize. Jonathan, what's in the vault today? We got a sports talk seven that energy teacher always do in a pair of tickets to

the Grand National Tour with Kendra Lick-Look. and Sizzle on April 23rd at NRG Stadium. Tickets are on sale now. Oh, man. I'm asking for those again. Look at all those people dropping off. They want no part of it. Look at that.

What is this? We just had four people drop off. Literally sign me up for these. Does it say what section they're in? Because I don't want to be in like section 900 of NRG. Nobody wants to play. Look at this. Mike on 790, Mike, you ready to play, believe it or not?

Yes, sir. Lee Corso was considered. excuse me, was conscripted into the army in 1953, but was released from his commitment following the signing of the Korean armistice agreement. Believe it or not. Not? That's right. Not.

Staven number two for the way in Lee Corso play college football at Florida State, where he was roommates with halfback Bert Reynolds. Believe it or not. Not? He was. How do you not know that? Everybody knows about Lee Corso's relationship with Burrano. Do you.

Roger on 790 Roger. We're ready to play, believe it or not. Believe it. Lee Corso was also an excellent baseball player and even turned down a contract from Los Angeles Dodgers to play at Florida State. Believe it or not? Believe it. That's right.

Statement number two for the win. The first time Lee Corso put on a mascot's headgear. He used Florida's Albert Gator head to pick Florida against, excuse me, to pick Florida against Miami in September 1998. Believe it or not. Believe it? No, he took Brutus Buckeye in 1996. Duh.

Augustine on 790, you ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it. In addition to coaching at Louisville, Indiana, Leo Corso also coached the Orlando Renegades of the USFL. Believe it or not. Not. You sure did. Believe it. Man, may not know that.

Rich and swearing on 790. Rich, you ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it. In 2006, Lee Corso was censored by the Seminole Nation after donning a traditional headdress. He apologized by making a donation to their illegal defense fund. Believe it or not? Believe it. No, Ross made that off.

My goodness. That was a good one. That was really good. Josh on 790, Josh, you're ready to play, believe it or not? Believe it. Lee Corso's favorite sport outside of football is bowling, and for years, he participated. in competitive leagues in his hometown of Orlando. Believe it or not?

Believe it. No, he's a putt, putt golfer. He hates bowling. Goodbye. See it. One more. Let's go to Ken on 790. Ken, you ready to play Believe it or not? Believe it.

In 2002, College Football Hall of Fame inducted League Corso for, quote, significant contributions to the sport. Believe it or not? Believe it? No, not a part of it. And we're done. We gave away nothing. Ross, those tickets can't be yours.

I'm like emailing everyone I can. I'm actually so mad. I said I told my girl to go to go to here or something. All right. You know, say go to Big City Wings and enjoy some great delicious food. That's what you can do instead. All right, Big City Wings, 13 locations. Go there today for 999 crawfish.

Two pounds, 10 bucks. Big City Wings, do not miss out on that. Do not miss out on the buy one, get one free bonus today at any of those 13 big city wing locations. Do not miss out on. joining the next two gentlemen that will occupy these chairs that we call Sports Talk 790 for the next four hours. It's Clinton. It's Wexler. It's the A team. Talk to you tomorrow. Wake the strippers up at noon. And it goes Friday and 10 on 7 Maddie.