The Ryen Russillo Podcast - True CFB Title Contenders and Week 1 Thoughts With David Pollack. Plus, Adnan Virk Wrote a Book!

Episode Date: August 28, 2025

Russillo is joined by David Pollack to share his thoughts on the SEC, preview LSU-Clemson, and break down his favorite QBs. Hear more from David Pollack on his show See Ball Get Ball. Then, Adnan Virk comes on to discuss his new book, how it felt being at the 2017 Oscars, and the feeling of chasing his white whale interview. Plus, Life Advice with Ceruti and Wargon! (0:00) Welcome to The Ryen Russillo Podcast! (0:50) David Pollack joins the show (4:40) What do you expect from Carson Beck and Miami? (7:43) Do you expect Georgia to be improved? (10:24) Why Texas will win the SEC (12:41) Arch Manning breakdown (18:06) LSU-Clemson preview (21:44) Just how good is Clemson’s D-line? (23:02) What was the hardest thing to deal with as a player? (25:27) Did people have a hard time with Pollack's energy as a rookie? (28:10) Does Pollack like Drew Allar? (32:56) Does Pollack think that Penn State will win the Big Ten? (35:49) Three teams that David thinks are national title contenders (38:46) What are the chances that Arizona State can replicate last season’s success? (41:13) David is all in on Utah this year (45:37) Russillo welcomes in Adnan Virk (58:55) On Adnan covering the 2017 Oscars (1:05:43) What was it like talking to Paul Giamatti? (1:14:41) What was the most surprising thing about writing a book? (1:32:16) Life Advice! (1:36:46) A Cat-sitting Cat-astrophe (1:50:24) How do I get over my ex? Check us out on YouTube for exclusive clips, livestreams, and more at https://www.youtube.com/@RyenRussilloPodcast. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Host: Ryen Russillo Guests: David Pollack and Adnan Virk Producers: Steve Ceruti, Kyle Crichton, Mike Wargon, and Jonathan Frias Shopping. Streaming. Savings. It’s on Prime. Visit Amazon.com/prime to get more out of whatever you’re into. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's podcast has a big announcement. David Pollock is back on the show. He is going to talk all things college football, his perspective on Carson Beck now in Miami, and then, of course, Gunner Stockbrook back in Athens, so he should know those quarterbacks pretty well, his picked for the SEC, the three teams he's considering for the national title winner,

and he gives us his pick for it. So we've got that. We've got life advice, and don't forget, a bonus edition of Adnan Verk. He wrote a book, and he's promoting it, and he was good. I was worried he was going to read the book to us, and there was going to be 1,000 shoutouts, but we kept on under 100, so I'm proud of my friend. David Pollock, our good friend, ready to talk some college ball, the host of Seaball, get ball, and also the voice of NCAA football for the third.

25 season. Good to see you, man. What's up? Great to see you, big dog. You stay, you're staying in that weight room? This is usually the lightest time of the year for me because I'm traveling. It's just hard to get those Tebow lunches in, just a slice of avocado with some olive oil and salt, you know, just walking around, pounding that good protein. I don't want to hear any excuses, Ryan. I expect you to, I expect you to stay swall. That is one of your gifts that you've always done. Come on now. Don't worry about that. We'll be right back to it. Hopefully we get out on the road. Are you doing any, like, are you going to go to any games? Where are you with that at this stage of your career? Do you still get out there? I mean, I might go very few, but like, I don't

know if you know this or not, but my wife, she has brain cancer. And so, like, we've been navigating this and, like, she's starting to drive again, which is awesome. But, like, with our schedule, I think it's just really hard, man. Like, it's just going to be difficult. And then, listen, I got high school kids, man. Like, that's how you know you're getting old. But, like, I got a 17-year-old that's playing on Friday nights, and then my daughter's 15. And so, like, right now I think family's the priority, but you know as well as I do. Like, this is going through my veins. Like, this stuff is so much fun to why.

And this kickoff is stupid. Like, all the years you've done it, Ryan, I wonder, like, this is a playoffs. We get playoffs in September, in August. Like, the first week of the season is going to be playoff matchups that you'll see teams that you're going to see at the end of the year, which is so cool. So definitely be following. It probably sneak down the road to Athens a couple times. and maybe get a few games and get right back.

Yeah, maybe I'll see you for that Texas game. And how's your wife doing, by the way? She's doing great. She's doing great. It's definitely a, you know, it's, as when I broke my neck, like it was me, you know, and it was my struggle. And I was like, I could go and I could have a good attitude. It's a whole other animal man when it's your baby doll.

And you don't have any control. And it was so, we've been a couple surgeries in, but she's, my kids have always thought, like, I was the superhero because I played football and stuff. and she's showing like, no, like, that's the real superhero. And then my kids, my kids are watching it 17 and 15 and being like, man, that's, that's how, that's how you face hard. Like, that's, that's what I want to be when I grow up.

So it's been nothing but good things for her. And she's got, she chooses faith over fear every single time. And the kids are doing okay with that. I mean, that's going to be. Welcome to the real world, right? Like, I think that, you know, listen, we've talked about that as a family since we were younger. Like, how do we create hard? Right?

because, Ryan, we've dealt with hard in our lives and difficult situations, and you want them to handle, you know, those things well because it's coming. It's a matter of if, not when. And so they've had to grow up a little bit. And I'll never forget how my son called me when I was on the road with my baby girl. And we were doing basketball. And he was like, Mommy, Mommy don't want to take her pills. And I was like, buddy, it's not an option.

Like, Mommy has to take her pills. And he was like, what do I do? And I was like, you got to tell her that you've got to do this. It's time to take your pills. And so, like, just stuff like that and having to cook and maybe do more around that. Shoot, man, I've grown up a lot. Like, I'll be honest, this is a bad thing to admit. I shouldn't admit this to a national audience.

I didn't do laundry. I didn't even know how to do laundry. So, like, now having to do that and understanding how to cook and clean and stuff, like, it's definitely made all of us have to pick our game up and realize that mom does a lot more than we think. Yeah, man. You're one of the toughest guys I know. and it makes sense that you and your wife hit it off the way you did because I can't imagine how tough that is, man.

And like I said, yeah, maybe we'll link up and I'll get to see everybody when I'm planning on getting down to Athens for that one. Heck, you hit me up, for sure. Let's talk some ball. Let's talk some great stuff. Okay. I want to start with Miami, and it's because I want to start with Beck, a quarterback that I would imagine you have a lot of insight on.

And that was always my favorite thing about you on game day, as you just said, hey, this is how I feel. I think you were one of the guys that were the least likely to have a blind allegiance to where you've played for a lot of people that do this job. And so, you know, Beck played 13 games last year. The Bama game, huge numbers, you could have had even more interceptions. I think the huge numbers had to do with, hey, we're down huge. You just get to sling it all over the place. The Texas game, I don't think he was very good.

The Ole Miss game, he wasn't very good. The rematch against Texas, he gets hurt. And so when you look at the numbers, you could look at some numbers that are declining significantly for two. years ago to last year, completion percentage, yards per attempt, the rating and all that kind of stuff. So I've heard like, no,

there was more of a lingering injury before the surgery this passed off season. This is somebody that was at the top of the mock drafts a year ago. And I don't want to be unfair, but I just, I don't know how we saw a guy that once you saw his confidence early on at George, you're like,

okay, I get it now. I totally get all the hype to what we saw over the bulk of the season last year. The talent, the physicality, you'd imagine it's all still there. Like, you think of him now at Miami and Miami's chances of winning the ACC? That's such a great question because you put in context the perfect amount of information about what you saw a year ago. But here's what I'll say. I'll say go back the year before that

and you get the best glimpse of what Carson Beck can be and what he is. He can't play outside of schedule very well. That's not his strength. Like his superpower is anticipation, you know, and in order for him to be great, you have to protect him. You have to run the football. Last year, that was the worst, worst rushing offense at Georgia since I was there. Like, since I was there. That's how long ago it's been since they were that bad. And they asked him to do it. They asked him to create.

It was a known passing situation almost all the time. And I think you saw him struggle. Now, you also saw him have some big moments and carry his team. And they still won the SEC. And Georgia fans talk about being spoiled, man. Like, you won the SEC and you're like, God, you're stunk. Like, that was a terrible season. They still did pretty well.

Enter Miami. Here's what I love about Miami, one of the best offensive lines in all of college football. We're not getting past three. Like, that's how good it is. So big, physical unit, they're going to be able to run the football. So if he can get on board with his receivers and get on the same page, get some of that rhythm, get some of that timing, I feel like it's a perfect spot. And you'll see the return of Carson Beck to the guy you saw a couple years ago because he doesn't have to try to do more than he's capable of doing. He's not that guy. He's just not. And that's okay. but he can really dissect you from the pocket. Week one, Miami, like they've got a bunch of talent.

They're hosting Notre Dame. Like, this is such a moment and a big feel for Miami to go. Like, I can change the whole perception of my program. Like, Christopal, we know can recruit? Can he go coach? Can he go get a big win in a big spot to start the season? And that could catapult Miami to being a playoff team.

All right, that's a good pivot then to Georgia because we saw Gunner Stockton barely at all. last year. I think there was like this juice to him once Beck went out, but I think sometimes it's a little overrated, you know, his actual impact in that game. Like maybe there was there was kind of an emotional response to it, but I don't know him that well. You know, I know that he's a four-star. I know that he's from Georgia. I know that he's been around for a million falls. I know Mike Bobo would said, like, we got to just figure out a way to have him dial down the fastball, which I thought was like a very telling thing of, yeah, he's got that, but we don't need it all the time.

And that definitely happens with the quarterbacks that haven't had a lot of experience out there. So consider your connection to it. Give us the full breakdown of how you see Gunther Stockton going to his first full year. If Gunner Stockton's put in the same position as Carson Beck from a year ago, I don't think they'll have a lot of success. Now, again, one of the highest drop rates in the country, Georgia-wide receivers, couldn't run the football. Like, that's a lot of things that are working against you that work against Carson Beck. Here's what I'll tell you about his personality. Ryan, you would freaking love the dude.

Like, you would absolutely love him. If he was sitting next to us at a game, you wouldn't even know it. The most chill, flatline guy drives a 1980-something forward, like just ordinary dude. But like he's got a little bit of something in him, a little fire in him when he competes. It's a little bit different. And I'll never forget, half time of that Texas game. One of the tight ends for Georgia goes to Gunner Stockton and be like, If you believe in you, as much as we believe in you, like, you're going to go out here

and dominate this football game. And that's how everybody feels about Gunner Stockton and his personality. Like, great leader, great dude, absolutely right about the fastball. Like, he has a long windup. He's not a tall guy. He's got really good, he's got good mobility, not elite. But I'll say this after watching Georgia a little bit, the receiving core goes from a C minus a year ago to at least this year of B plus.

like and with upside like branch from USC like you watch him break like there's very few guys that you have to throw the football a couple steps before he breaks he's one of those guys he's so in and out quick out of his break Kobe young is a guy that last year when he played he was Georgia's best receiver and it wasn't close he was on pace for you know 12 to 15 touchdowns kind of a deal big strong contested catch guy Noah Thomas both tight ends back with Delpen lucky so the supporting cast, the run game, if they're really, really good, it allows Gunner Stockton to be great. If he has to carry the load consistently,

I don't think this Georgia offense or this Georgia team will get where they want to get to. Who do you think wins the SEC then? I got Texas. I think Texas is roster, man. Like, if you're picking a roster and you go, I want the best defense in the country, okay, check, I got Texas. You want continuity. I got both coordinators back.

Like, I got a lot of guys I can trust. And has there been a bigger benefit? of NIL than the state of Texas. Texas, Texas, Texas, Texas, A&M. That money, that oil money's different, bro. Like, they go in their car and they open up that middle trunk. We find maybe a $20 bill that we left. They find, you know, a couple million, right? Like, they've got the money to spend. And so I think Texas is reloaded at good spots, at tight end at wide receiver. And I think Arch is going to be really good because every Sarkesian quarterback is good. And you had his ability to run. Obviously, the big showdown with Ohio's

state we're going to learn a lot but texas and the experience and then the defensive personnel at every line the best defensive line in the country okay colin simmons best linebacker anthony hill junior best safety taft like all of them are in texas with a good scheme a system that's coming back so you're not worried about any of the drop off on the offensive personnel then no i don't think the offense first of all i don't think quarterback play was elite by any stretch a year ago i thought it was manufactured well. Now listen, I worry, the most thing I'm worried about with Texas is the offensive line.

Like four or fifth of those guys are gone. A top 15 pick obviously gone off the roster. But I do think, you know, you just go to Cal and get a better tight end. You go get receivers like in the transfer portal. They're fine. Wingos is a guy that can jet, that can run. And again, the way they develop offense, I think they'll be just fine with that Texas offense because Sark is one of the best in the business at that.

And I think Arch is really, really good. And I think Arch brings the deep element to the offense that you didn't see a year ago. And he's got the running ability. So to mix match those pieces will be fun. But the biggest key will be the offensive line. I'm not worried about the skill and I'm not worried about the quarterback. Yeah, I think Wingo's a stud. It was kind of easy to get lost in the Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams stuff, you know,

where it's like, hey, Texas got a guy. And he just had some vets ahead of them, you know, transfer bond and gold. And, you know, like there was just other guys that were going to be a priority. So his numbers are not eye-popping from last year, but at least receiver-wise. I think the arch thing is going to be kind of funny for those that aren't paying like that much attention to it. Because I don't know how much people really get to see them last year. I would agree that the quarterback play from viewers, the expectation. It was just kind of flat.

Wasn't terrible. I mean, they're in the playoff. They're somehow in that game with Ohio State, although it didn't feel like they were at Ohio State's level. And then they have the turnover and, you know, the final score is a little bit different with that one. and I did think it was interesting in that Georgia game the first time they played that it was like you could tell Sark and it was just hey

we got to maybe get Arch out there because we can't block these guys. Is there a way that he gives us some kind of energy there? But Arch in the limited time they've seen him he is not afraid to take the deep shot. Now I don't know if it's because of the teams he was going up against when he had a chance other than that Georgia game where it's like man I'm just going to sling this thing

and the fact that I was reading some preview that was terrible this morning and it was like I was lineage I mean, it was just bad. It was like an awful quote that didn't mean anything. It's like the quote was almost set up as if the rest of us aren't reminded daily who his football family is. But I've always seen him going back to high school

just because it paid more attention to him and some of these other recruits is that he'll get out there and run. So I don't know if he's going to be a young guy that looks at a reed that tucks it, which I don't know is sustainable over the course of his season. You know, is he going to default to that because I think a lot of young quarterbacks

that have it in their game? and like, well, I can still run it. I can run it all over a place. I think there's going to be a lot of people watching him closely for the first time that if he's played like he has in the past, again, limited reps, he's so much more athletic than what you would think. He's compared more to his grandfather than he would be to either of the uncles here. Or is he going to be like a completely different, very contained, less wild version of a guy that

was like, let me make the most of these possessions that I'm getting here. because I'm, you know, other than you were being her, I'm still behind him. Well, and I think it's fair to say that. Like, if Arch was the answer and it was elite last year, then why didn't he play over yours? Like, because they were, they had a championship roster. So I think that's a, that's a legitimate thing. Here's what I saw from him. You're talking about, like, reading and throwing the intermediate stuff.

He wasn't great at it yet. Like, the timing and the rhythm, that obviously will get better in an in an offseason. You can improve on that. The deep ball and the touch is great. The running is good. And then there's so much. screen and quick game in that Texas offense. And so much stuff is is predetermined and easy by shifts in motions because of the job Sark does. I don't think it has to like it has it's that

it's that season, Ryan. Like we're going to get the manning, manning and everybody wants to get clicks and all that stuff. Like he was he's a good quarterback. Should he be ahead of the high asman odds of club nick and Nussmeyer and some of those guys that we've already seen do it? I don't think so. I don't think he's proven anything to that element. But you do feel like with his mindset, his lineage, like you feel like he's going to improve and get better with his squad. And if he does, and their quarterback play is just a notch higher than it was a year ago, they're a team that can win a national championship. Yeah, I like what you said about the intermediate throws too,

because I think it was Jordan Rogers that had a clip up that I was looking at, was like, look, I did a film breakdown, and I'm not like, it wasn't great. And I think the fair thing is to say it was kind of a weird scenario of when he was going to play and when he wasn't. And then again, those two earlier games against lesser competition. I think the fair thing would be, I'm not looking at that and holding it against him, but to say that from what you saw last year, that it's like, oh, my God, like, that's not accurate either. It's who he was as a recruit.

It was every single school wanting him. But I don't really know what to expect. I don't know what to expect, even though I think. I'll tell you this, too, Brian, you'll like this. You'll like this story. I remember talking to an SEC school. And I was like, so tell me about, tell me about Manning. Tell me about how good he is.

They're like, listen, he's a good player. He's not the top quarterback in this class. And I wouldn't put him in the top four or five in this class. But here's what I'll say. When I get him, or if I get him, the guys that follow because of the name and because, like, and it absolutely happened. As soon as he went to Texas, man, five-star Paloosa, wide receivers, running backs. People wanted to go and join him because of the name.

So like, that carried weight and that's got Texas to help them reload and rebuild. and he sat and bide his time, and that's good. But I like the way he talks. I like his moxie. I like the way he runs. And this offense is going to be just fine. And he's going to be one of those guys that we're talking about week in and week out. I have, like, a lot of the stories, like one of the, I think, I forget.

So I shouldn't say the school. But it was another like just blue blood, the short list of five programs, you know, that had him in. And it was, it was just a monster program, but it was too small in place. And it was like, I actually can't. be a college kid here. And that was a big, big part of the Texas decision. And I think it was really, you know, I don't know if that means he's going to be great on third and seven this weekend. But I thought it was a really nice perspective for somebody that's just been in the public eye a lot sooner than you would hope your kid would be that he knew, well, I still would like to go

somewhere where I'm not going to be like rushed in and I'm the only attraction in town. And I'm still, I'm sure it's still hard for him, but Austin made more sense for him, and I just always thought that that was a mature decision. LSU at Clemson this weekend, so I think LSU loses this weekend, I don't know, you know, who knows? They've got seven ranked teams. It could be one of those deals where they lose the opener, and everybody's going to get pissed because Kelly just keeps losing the openers, but then could that be a good thing if they lose the open? Because, first of all, with this playoff scenario, nobody's going to be out. Nobody's eliminated.

this weekend. They've got seven ranked teams in the schedule. I don't know if all seven of those teams would be ranked, but there's a really curious thing that's happening down to Baton Rouge with this group. So it's an offensive line unit last year that went into it being like, hey, that could be the best unit in all of college football. And they didn't play that way. Four of them ended up in the NFL. Yet they were last in the SEC rushing the football. And now they're going up against this D-line combo in Woods and Parker where, you know, you were talking about, well, their front at least. Two players that are projected to be two of the top six picks at the worst two of the top ten picks in the draft or whatever. So there's an assumption that because

LSU turned it over at the offensive line, this is a problem in that matchup. But that line, despite the pedigree, didn't really play the way I think a lot of people expected them to play going into 24. No, I think they underperform. But I do think what you said was spot on, though, the balance. Like when it's a known passing situation as a defendant, you know how easy it is to rush the passer. But when you give me that opportunity to have balance and run the football and throw, and I got to guess a little bit

and I can't just fire off the ball as fast as I want, like you make your life harder. So Durham looked like he could run the football. They've got weapons. Nussmeyer I think he's one of the he's one of the most boom or bust guys I've ever seen. Like just, that dude will throw it through a car wash, like right

through a window, right? Like, and just find a way to fit it in a tight spot. And it'll make a really bad decision and do too much. You've got to put him in a better position. He has an old miss throw. I'm sorry. There's a throw in that old miss game where I, like, I cannot believe he throw. As he's getting hit, right? Yeah.

Like before he breaks. Like he does that stuff. And he's got, he's got that swag to him. But you got to help. Hey, listen, I know Joe Burrow had Jamar Chase and all of those guys and all those weapons, but they ran the football to create balance. And that's what made Joe Burrow and that offense impossible to stop. have to have something. If I'm an LSU fan, I'm looking at two things in this season, Ryan. I used to be called DBU. For God's sakes, like I was in the conversation with the best defensive backs every single year, year in and year out. They ain't stopped the nosebleed the last

couple years, man. Like, every game is a shootout. Like, they've been able to score the football, but they've not been able to stop people consistently. Again, transfer, transfer, transfer, new five-star cornerback. That's one of the best in the country. Like, that has to get better. They have to be more physical, and they have to close games. Like, plenty of opportunities in games to win, and they have not made play, especially early in the season that we've seen time and time again, whether it's Florida State, whether it's USC, like those moments. Because Brian Kelly, I know he's won a lot of games,

but the last three coaches at LSU, there's a standard, right? They've all won national championships, even at O, even less miles. And obviously, saving built it. So LSU is going to be an interesting team to watch, but going to Death Valley and Brian Kelly called it. Death Valley Jr., by the way, going to Death Valley Jr., that crowd with an offensive line that's breaking in a bunch of new dudes against two of the best linemen in the country. Like, if you don't have balance, you might as well go ahead and not ride the bus over.

How good are those two dudes from Clemson? So good. I mean, just disruptor. And how about you have a big guy in the middle like Woods that he's disruptive? You played him on the edge. Like, he could play on the edge a year ago because the pass run. you know, needed it. He can be inside. He can be out. You got Parker. Like both of those two cats, man, they just, they have the ability to play the run. They have the ability to be disruptive,

play the past. Like just, and then, and then that's not it, though. Here's the thing. When you saw Clemson have their heyday, they had defensive linemen, right? We could go through Dexter Lawrence and Colin Farrell and all the Christian Wilkins, right? All of those guys, like, that they had all those years. They also had corners. Terrell in the back end, he's a first-round pick. Like Sammy Brown in the middle is going to be a first round type picket linebacker. Like they've got speed. When I watched Clemson a year ago, Ryan, I saw a bunch of dudes, but I did not see the right scheme all of the time. Making the change to Tom Allen, there is no better fit in all of college football than Allen with Clemson. Like he fits to

them like a glove. They talked about bringing in Knowles from Jim Knowles from Ohio State. But like Allen was a great fit for Clemson. That's their kind of. kind of a guy. That's why they brought him in. And I expect that defense to immediately turn around because I didn't think it was talent. Let's go back to your playing days then. You mentioned it, you know, when you're talking about like going up against LSU, who is the hardest to deal with? You know, and maybe these coaches aren't even, aren't even, you know, on sidelines on a Saturday anymore. But like the stuff that you found the most challenging, whether it's a story about a quarterback or it's a play caller or somebody that you were going up against where it's like,

damn like I know I can beat my guy but I feel like I'm more confused because you're right when you're not confused you're not thinking you're just quicker now you play you play so much faster when you have a good grasp of what's going on in front of you and I that's I'll go to saving when we played saving at LSU the ability to run and throw like the their offensive line becomes so much better because you don't know if it's a run you don't know if it's a pass so it's just it's all of those things as an offense as a defensive guy you always find tendencies. You always find squealers up front

and guys that tell you something. Every time you watch a tape, if you study it longer, I'll never forget I was in the NFL. And I was watching this clip of Franey and Mathis, remember for the Colts. And I'm sitting there watching it.

And I put it, Ryan, I put it in slow motion 3,000 times. And they kept moving before the ball was snapped against the Vikings. And I'm sitting there for hours. I'm like, they have something. What the heck is it?

Like, what is the tell? Next thing I know, After a couple hours, I look up and I see the quarterback's hands. Every time his hands moved under center, the ball came right after. Every single time. And I was like, that's it. That's the squealer. So, like, that's the tendency.

That's the thing I have to follow. Never forget, we're playing the Colts. Four weeks later on Monday night football, Carson Palmer. I was like, I'm Dwight Freeney in practice. This is my rookie year. I'm like, Carson, if you don't flash your hand some and change that up, you're screwed, bro. Like, they're going to hit you in the back of the head a lot. First play, we draw them off sides.

First play by using your hands. So, like, you find those tendencies, man, in a football game that will absolutely help you become successful. And the crowd noise always helps. There was nothing better than being at home as a pass rusher. Because on third down, it's going bananas. It's a silent count, Ryan. So I know the snap count every play.

There is no downset, hut, hut. It's literally the same thing. Quarterback, hands. Okay, one 1,000, 2,000. The ball's going to come out. I get that little extra six inches and I make a play. You as a rookie, just because I've got to know you, we're like you have this massive profile.

You come in as a first rounder, but like I know you well enough that I don't think you were going to be like, all right, I'm just going to be quiet. And just like, did people have a hard time with your energy and exuberance? Yes. And I didn't know how to control. it yet so it kind of sucked like for me if i could go back obviously i would do things better we had

an incident in the playoff game and i'm going to try to be as vague as possible because this person is still very prevalent but like we had a guy that was very upset at half time of playing the steelers and he comes in the locker room and he's going bananas like it was with the cincinnati bangles hadn't got his touches was not happy was upset probably not a fullback no definitely not a fullback. You can probably use your imagination to figure this one out. Like, coming in, going nuts. We're up at halftime. I'm a rookie. I'm playing. And he's going nuts. And I'm like, I'm sitting there and I'm going. I'm like, what are we doing? Like, what the heck are we do? We're winning. We're winning a playoff game in halftime. This dude's going bananas because

he ain't touched the football. And I'll never forget what happened. Like, he's throwing his temper tantium going crazy. And coach tries to grab me and he pulls his hands off. And this dude accidentally slaps the coach in the face, like just kind of on accident, cross the grill. And I was like, oh my gosh. But I was like, are we not winning? Literally, just, I'm an idiot. I was like, we're winning a playoff game and you're worried about that. Like, what are we doing here, dude? Like, we're trying to go win a Super Bowl and it was not well received. It was not, it was not good. So you definitely learn, man, as a leader. You got to pick and choose your spots. And, hey, when you're a rookie, shut up. When you're a freshman, shut up, fill your role.

file into the leadership that's there. It's not your team. Like, that's not your job. Yeah, I could see that one coming. But I think the thing that would ultimately, like, work in your favor is anybody that got to know you would be like, hey, this is all coming from like a good place. This isn't somebody who's just pretending,

hey, I have all this energy and the energy's misplaced and it's for the wrong reasons. You're like this, though. But you're like this, too, I think. I don't give a dang about being liked in life. Like, I'm about being respected. Like, I don't care if you like me. Some people don't like happy people. some people don't like sad people, some people don't like rich people, some people don't like

poor people. And then some people just don't like people. I mean, you know those people. If you don't know them, you're probably one of them, obviously. So like, it's going to happen. So like commanding respect and like doing your job at a high level consistently, that's all you can worry about or care about. And I don't care if you like me. Let's talk some Big Ten then, speaking of the Heartland. Do you like Aller? I do. I like Aller. Now, I don't like Alar throwing the ball 35 times. game. That's not what I would want Aller to do. But I think big, strong, has the arm. I think the biggest growth he took, the biggest jump he took a year ago was Alar was ability to scramble

and get out of troubled situations. Like, it was really impressive to watch him because he's so huge. I mean, he's 235 pounds, big boy, but he would break tackles. He would make people miss in the pocket, go get a first down, another possession. I think Coltonecke was huge for him, just giving him a thought process. His deep ball is one of the best in the country. He attacks the seams as well as anybody in the country. I mean, he just, he's got a big arm now. He's got to continue to learn to go through his progressions

and check the football down and sometimes make the easy play. But I think another year of experience with all the guys he has back with Coltoneki, I expect a big jump in Drew Allen this year. Yeah, this is interesting because you brought up the past attempt thing. And, you know, again, I don't know. none of us have liked the receiver group out of Penn State now for a while. So Alah hasn't played, I think, with any receiver that's actually gone for over 800 yards the entire time he's there.

And they bring in three more transfers. Like, let's see. You know, last year when you were looking at the transfer of the receiver, it's like, you're this excited about this guy. And so now there's like three. And we go, okay, you know, like there's something else to work with here because they just haven't able to get that position right the last couple years. And because Warren was such a stud, too, like the stuff that he would make up for with

the lack of just explosiveness. and, you know, you just need, like, especially these college kids. It's like, can I get one guy that gets separation? So when I look at the pass-attempt thing, it's funny because we're talking about some of these guys. Like, number one pass attempts last year was McCord for Q's, who threw it almost 600 times. I mean, he's almost like 70 throws more than number two, Nussmeyer, to your point, couldn't run the football. Club Nick was fourth in attempts at 46. And then another guy.

I can't run the football either. Right. And then it's, guess what? It's Carson Beck, 12th last year. year in attempts at almost $4.50 couldn't run the football. I think the positive here, especially at the running back position here for Penn State, is you'd think, okay, even though Alar's throwing it a little bit more without these receivers, he's still behind like 30-something guys. They're likely because of their identity to everything else and that they know they're

going to be a really good defensive team. They're likely going to be able to stop most of the teams that are on their schedule. I don't know if the receiver thing works out for him this year, but at least they're not as one-dimensional as some of these other quarterbacks. A couple of these guys are going to end up doing the exact same thing this year because they just won't be able to figure out how to run the football. And I think we're in a state now with this game too where I'm all four or not, hey, nine guys in the box, let's establish our identity and run power eye and just smash into each other. Because I look at stuff like that, especially at the start of a football game and you're like,

it's just a waste of a play. Like nothing's going to happen there. Like all you did was smash into each other. But now it's veered into a way of like there's just some of these coordinators that do not care about balance at all. And, you know, look, some of these guys are going to put up some huge passing numbers. And I won't even know if they're any good. But at least Aller feels like on the more balanced approach to what they've done there with him last year. And I think there's a couple things you can bank on.

Obviously, the running backs you already mentioned. I think you can also bank on the offensive line. That's why if I'm, when I was deciding being national championship, Penn State was absolutely. in the mix. Like, I had three teams. They were in the mix. They were one of them because of the experience and the experience at the right spots. Like, they've got really good guys coming back in leadership roles and guys that's going to touch the football consistently. When you have the ability to rotate backs and keep them healthy and keep them fresh, that's a big deal, obviously. But the offensive line, why was the offensive line so much better a year ago? It was

better because of the system. The system now, it protects their offensive line with the misdirection, with the shifts, with the motions. It's not as predictable, man. That's why that offense took a big leap forward, even without a true number one ride receiver. So I think they'll bring in guys. I think when I watch Fenya from Syracuse, like he does a real good job of like, he's crafty and knows how to run routes.

So I think that will be very good for them. And then I think they bring in speed as well. So I think this Penn State offense is going to be really hard to deal with, the two-headed monster, but the offensive line being so much better all. being returners, like Penn State's going to be a national championship content. Yeah, and the running back is just complimenting each other, like, perfectly. You know, there's some really nice two running back setups in the country, and you just hope they cop, you know, you just, I look, if you have two studs, you have two studs, but it's really

nice when you feel like you have two different styles, and Penn State has that. Do you have them, then winning the Big Ten if they're on your list of three? I do. I think Penn State's going to win the Big Ten. Now, I might be like Georgia, Alabama, a couple years ago, where they might lose at the in the regular season, I think they're going to lose in the regular season to Ohio State because they play at Ohio State. Like, that's a tough place to go on the road. But then you play them in Indianapolis. Oregon has to come to them. Penn State schedules really, really good. I do.

I think Penn State's going to win the Big Ten. And I think it's going to be a year of prove it. Because here's the thing, James Franklin, rightfully so. He deserves criticism. Like his top five record is not great. But Ryan, there's also a difference. I'm a high school football coach now. You know how much better I am when I have better players? How many of those top five fights did he have better players? Like, not very often. Almost never. Yeah.

I mean, that was, yeah. So that's not fair. Like, right? That's a part of it. But now they have the best one two punch at coordinator in the country with Koltenecki now and Jim Knowles. Last year, Ohio State had it with Chip Kelly and Jim Knowles. So I think James Franklin can recruit, can motivate, can do his thing.

Both sides of the ball are taking care of. The schedule sets up great. experience at the right spots, that leads to a winning formula and a winning season. I think the frustration for the Franklin record part of it is that, like, and it's kind of been the Ohio State thing that I've talked about before we had all this expansion. It's like, okay, you, the only team generally that's even close to your level would be Michigan when it's right, right? And so you're just, you're just like walking to 11 wins, right? And Penn State at a different level, if they would get Michigan and Ohio State,

And again, the schedules, I mean, with 18 teams in this conference and you look through it, like you can have an entirely different schedule experience, even though you're playing those nine conference games, which I've said far too many times, but I just don't feel like it's emphasized enough because you're like, oh, that conference is good. This conference is bad. It's like, dude, they're playing in the same conference with a completely different conference. Like, it's, they're not, they're not doing the same thing. And they haven't had the QB. That's been their biggest weakness every time it's like, oh, it's Sean Clifford. He's going to be good. Oh, it's, you know, the next guy, it's like,

I'm looking for that guy, and now they have a guy that's going to be a first-round pick at quarterback. Like, there's no excuse. Yeah, there really isn't any excuse on the schedule part of it this year. It doesn't feel that way. And maybe that has been, well, I can tell you, you know, the frustration of the past is like Penn State, like you maybe have the two teams that are on your level. And then you win all these games and then nobody really wants to take you seriously. It's just like if there was another, you know, if there was more depth a couple years ago. But now with Oregon there.

So clearly there's some really top tier talent in the Big Ten as far as like how many teams, could you say, or at least still in this national championship conversation, maybe Oregon's getting too much credit because of the landing. And if you want to make it because of landing, there's worse guys that you can give the benefit without the Dan Lanning. So I'm totally fine with people thinking that they're just going to roll it right over here again. But we'll see. We'll see because I like Aller a lot too. So you said the three teams that you were contemplating as your national championship were who again? Penn State. We just talked about Texas. and then eventually I settled in on Clemson

because of the, the personality Davo had when he won was never the ground and pound, which I don't know how good they're going to be able to run the football, which is going to be interesting to watch. But they got four receivers that are going to be drafted, like dudes out wide. They got the quarterback stud. They got the two defensive line in their first round picks.

They got the corner. That's what they had, man. That's exactly the recipe that they had. They don't need to have the ground and pound. I'm very curious to watch Randall because I think he's like, Nobody's talking about him at running back yet for Clemson. But this dude, man, Ryan, he's 6-4, he's 240, 6-3, 6-4-2-40. He moved from receiver to running back.

So in every formation we go as a defense, we hold up those signs, right? Like you hold those signs and you go, okay, they're in this personnel. You know, one receiver or one running back, one tight ends, 11 personnel. Well, now if you come out with him and you put him out wide, like he's run the whole route his last three years at wide receiver. So he knows how to do, you're going to match him up with a linebacker. You're going to match him up with the safety.

He's got good speed, like a really good trump card and a fun piece to utilize and move around like a Debo Samuel type of a guy for their offense. So that's why I think Clemson's set up, man. They finally went to the transfer portal. Ryan, we've been talking about that for years, right? Like, you can't lose five to 15 guys every year and not replace them. Like, that doesn't work.

Those numbers don't add up in any way, shape, or form. So I don't think Davo compromised at all. I think he was smart. Bring in Clemson-type guys that you want on your roster, they were able to do that to add to their depth. And now I think it just makes them take that next step, the balance with this roster, and then in the ACC, I think they're going to dominate, quite frankly.

I think especially with their schedule. Okay. I didn't like doing this last, but it ended up happening last. It's going to be tough for Arizona State now that everybody's away. of what's going on. There's a lot of teams you go, hey, they were five and one and one score games. So, you know, the expectations are they going to be that lucky again?

But that team really turned it on. It'd be one thing if they just skated through this whole thing and then, you know, Texas it looked like early, it was like, okay, the fairy tales over here. And they get back into that game. And I'll tell you, like, really watching Levitt as you started realizing, like, I've got to get a TV

screen up here on Arizona State. Like, I didn't think I was going to have to do this all season long. And now I've got to start watching them, whether it's the deep shot, I think he had eight passes of 50 more yards, tied for second best in FBS. There's a difference on scramble and just rushing yards from a quarterback. So if you're talking just scramble yards, Leavitt is one of the, I think, the five best from that stat last year. I think he was actually second, but again, that stat can be a little weird there. That guy, there's just something about him.

And it's so much fun. And sure, they're going to be the hunted now. And I love this conference because I have no idea. And it feels like at least in August, you know, we're going to be. wrong about this, but it's like, are they kind of seven deep, but you're not sure how much difference there is between one through seven? So it's going to be hard to replicate what they did, but at least that guy's back there with another year of seasoning. Well, the big 12, almost 50% of their games last year were decided by seven points or less. Like, it's a freaking

awesome watch every week. Like so many really good teams, do they have a great team consistently? No. Is Arizona State on their way? Absolutely. And Sam Levitt. And remember, Ryan, they lost last year when he got hurt and he missed some time. So, and then they're without their best guy, Tyson and receiver, who was an absolute superstar in the playoff. And then by the way, they score over 30 against Texas, who, I mean, Ohio State got a late sack, fumble, run it back to the house to get to 28. So, I mean, this was a team that was a problem.

And Sam Levitt, man, that dude is tough. He's got wiggle to him. He's got power. He's got speed. He can throw the football. And Dillingham was a great hire, a ridiculous hire. He's from Arizona State. That's where he wants to be.

He's got that energy, man. I don't think Arizona State's going anywhere. I think if you say you're picking them to win the Big 12 every year for the next several years, like I'm not going to complain because I think they're on that way. They bring back 17, 18 starters. They go to the transfer portal. Like I think Arizona State's building something. It feels like Oregon with Laning from a couple years ago.

That's how much faith I have in what they're building to become a power in college football. I'm not going to tell you I'm super locked into the defensive projections for Arizona State on all of this. But when there are still, what, 40th and opponent's yards per play defensively last year, like that's one of those teams. You look at that story and you go, okay, well, how bad was that number? Like, actually the number was a lot better than you would think. The Utah part of this is where it's like, man, Utah is probably one of the first round picks you would have for like, I'll just give them the benefit of the doubt that hasn't worked. the whole sham rising situation with the injuries do we have them do not have them do we have the next guy and all this kind of stuff uh we know the old lines probably one of the best units in all

of college football i'm all in on you saw it feels like yeah i'm glad you said it because it feels kind of like utah's dude to kind of remind everybody at what kind of program they have up there i mean Kyle winning him he's at two losing seasons he's been there 400 years like this is not something that happens so like this doesn't happen that's not who he is and the injury bug obviously bit him, but their physicality, and then don't forget about Devin Dampeer. They brought him in as a transfer, and I'm telling you, you're going to see why really quickly. That dude is so fun to watch, like makes people miss, can run through him.

He'll be one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in all of college football, new offensive system, but I think they'll be able to be physical. I think they'll be able to eat the clock. They always play good defense. They always play good special teams. I think their schedule is pretty damn good. A lot of the best competition coming to them. I think Utah is one of those teams that goes from five wins a year ago.

Like, I'm comfortable saying they're going to get to 10. Like, they're going to be a college football type of a playoff team because they'll be great on both lines of scrimmage. And Kyle Whittingham getting towards the end of his career. Like, I've heard rumors for the last, like, year and a half about him stepping away. And this might be his last squad. And this might be his best that gets to get in the playoff and possibly win the Big 12. Just to give the Big 12 a little bit more love here, anyone else that you love. like or is there someone you don't like you know that at least it's like hey i don't because that's a

tough conference for me like i wouldn't feel comfortable going actually i think that team sucks yeah i don't i don't know i don't know what i learned from farmageddon you know other than rocko rocko answers the bell man man man i just the big 12 it's so good like a week we could go down the i think there's i think there's five legit contenders i think baler's going to prove that against albair like that's a that's a first one you get to watch like baler's really good with Sawyer Robertson at the quarterback position. Like, he gives them a chance to run the football, to throw it, to spread it around. But the quarterback play in the Big 12 is what's most impressive.

We saw Avery Johnson. We saw Rocco Beck. Like, how about Jalen Daniels from, or Jay, how about Jalen Daniels from Kansas? Like, that dude is as exciting as anybody. You watch him dance and throw and be tough. Like, he's really, really good. And then you got TCU who's good. Like, you got Utah who's good.

But Texas Tech, we haven't even mentioned. Right. I think Morton is, no one even talks about that kid. He's a baller. Like, you would love that kid just to spend time with him because he's going to, yes, sir, you to death, like so dialed in, locked in. They spent a lot of money.

I've already got the injury bug. Unfortunately, at running back, that they spent a lot of money to get him there. But I think they're absolutely going to be a contender. I think the Big 12 consistently is one of the best, you know, most competitive conference. That's absolutely not going to change because there's so many good teams, aside from like four or five that have completely flipped their roster.

Like Oklahoma State, what the heck do we expect? West Virginia, what do we expect? Like literally, Houston, what do you expect flipping the whole roster and trying to figure out kind of who they're going to be? But otherwise, all the games are competitive. On politeness, southern politeness, I respect. Northern politeness concerns me. Maybe that's just the Yankee and me.

Like if a young kid is really polite to me, I'll be like, all right, he's from Eastland, Texas, okay. But if it's, and then we can get into this whole conversation about is Texas the South. I'm reading a gunfighter book right now that tells you a lot of the Texas stuff is from the South. So we'll leave that for another guest. Another round. Yeah. But you're right.

When I got to Ohio, bro, you exact. I called them ma'am. And they're like, sir, I'm not old. And I was like, whoa. Like, I'm sorry. This is what we do, especially at females. They're like, I'm not old. You don't call me ma'am.

I was like, yes. Gotcha. Like, won't do it again. I'm sorry. they definitely did not like that a little bit more north yeah right we're like what's wrong with this guy you try to get out of me hey congrats on the NCAA football thing thanks for sharing the stuff about the family at the beginning i'll be thinking about you and i know uh saturday a nice little distraction for us so let's do it again all right appreciate it my friend thank you

this episode is brought you by amazon prime when i get into something i go deep like seeing how I can improve my sleep routine or finding a TV show that I can get lost in. Prime helps me find everything I need, plus offering fast-free delivery. Whatever it is, Prime helps you get more out of whatever passions you're into or getting into. Head to Amazon.com slash Prime and follow your obsession wherever it goes. This may set a record for shoutouts. So we'll see how this goes.

You know him from MLB Network. You know him from NHL Network. You know him as one of my favorite co-host back at ESPN. he has a book out. It is called Cinephile. It is available wherever books are sold is out now. And I love that it's north of 200 pages, 220, 240. This thing isn't fucking around. Adnan Verk is with us. Great to see, Ryan. As always, you were a big influence on Cinephile as a fellow voracious reader yourself and a writer. I'm glad you mentioned the length because I made a plea to myself that I would not go over 300 pages. The original fact, I think, was around 280, and we chopped it down to 248.

So publishers, by the way, they love first-time authors sending them something with 300 pages because they're like, nobody wants to hear from anybody's first book for this much. It's sort of a rule that I've seen quite a bit. So to me, I was like, if I can get under 250, which we did, 248, I was thrilled with that. And as you mentioned, Cinephile is really, it's a book, I think, for everyone because we've got interviews and a lot of it is interviews. So those will fly by De Niro, your buddy Miles. Teller, Marissa Ali, Billy Bob Thornt, you name it. Essays. My thoughts, obviously, on Marty, but also

Pacino, Giamati, working the Oscars of Ben Lyons. And as I said, Tells in the Red Carpet. So I appreciate coming on to your very popular podcast. I'm sure book sales will go through the roof. But more importantly, speaking of books, let's get to Ron Chernow and Twain. All the years they lived in West Upper Connecticut, people would come visit. And I'd say, we're going to go to the Mark Twain Museum. Number one attraction, you were born in Hartford. You know how popular Mark Twain is. I'm dishonest. As many times as I went to the Mark Twain Museum, I was not aware of Mark Twain's predilection for young girls. Unbelievable interview, you and Ron Chernobyl, especially when Ron tried to gloss over it.

He said, you know, well, there was issue with the women. And you go, well, since you mentioned, you might as well go into detail, Ron. And then he goes into detail, various women between the ages of 11 and 17, just Twain's girls, just festooned across his home, that compound. Astonishing information. I don't think I could think of Mark Twain the same way. Like, every time I was like, oh, he's so funny, so witty. You went into detail, but like, his financial mishaps.

I was just in California visiting my wife's family in San Jose. we went to San Francisco. And I said, you know the famous Mark Twain line? The coldest summer, the coldest winter I ever had was summer in San Francisco. And now I can't think of that line

without thinking of Ron Chernow. So thanks for passing along that detail. I thought it was a great interview. And you and him clearly bonded. I think he appreciated how much you loved his writing. As an author, nobody can appreciate that more than someone like yourself.

Yeah, look, I'm a huge fan of his, like so many people are. And his work is, it's incredibly thorough, you know, but I'll, I'll admit, Twain, that book, I was getting depressed at the end of it. You know, it was so depressing that I kind of was like, hey, you're going down to the beach to read for an hour. What's, what's the problem? And I'd be holding this thousand page tome. And I'd be like, oh, I got to read about how fucking bummed out Mark Twain

is to prepare for this interview. So do you think we need to at least go into a bit more depth and fairness to Twain that you're now pouring over all of the communication that there was nothing sexual. There was nothing that was ever found to be like really fucked up. It just was that it was

really weird that he had a thing for being surrounded by young girls for these groups where he would read and they would write and they would read to him and he would send these letters and they were, they're creepy. So I'm not defending him, but I just think

that the way you set it up, we needed to at least clarify that a little bit, that Chernow was pretty exhaustive in trying to find, was there anything that would be looked at where you're like, what are you doing? And his wife was around for most of it before she had died. Yeah, I mean, you know, it's like if you ever tackle a biography, as you said, if you write a book about a topic as big as Mark Twain, you've got to do something different.

So I'm sure when Ron found it goes, hey, this is something different. And clearly it was something that I wasn't ready for. Also speaking about it. Hold on. Hold on. Just to finish on Twain, because I'm reading, I'm just about to finish Lonesome Dove, which is long. And because I was traveling to Banff, which we can talk Alberta if we want to at some point, I brought a new book with me because I knew I would finish Lonesome Dove and then I would

just have another huge book. And so I was like, I'm trying to just keep it to one book here. So I grabbed the gunfighters that just came out by Brian Burrow. So it's just a history, how Texas made the West Wild. Sorry to promote another book while we're promoting yours. But he has an excerpt of Twain talking about this famed gunfighter where he is. You know, this is early Twain after leaving Hannibal. And you're reading Twain's description of the just awe of the gunfighter, the respect.

And that's really the only thing that matters is like how many men you've killed. And yet Twain is educated enough to realize like how fucking stupid this whole concept is for how enamored the public is with the legendary killer in his town. and the writing is just impeccable. It's like the excerpt, I love the book by Burrell, and we'll have him on, I hope, at some point, but to have this twain piece in there, and then I was like, oh, yeah, that's right, because he was this good of a writer on top of everything else,

and it still holds up, too, like to read it more than a century later. But now I feel like I'm defending a guy for having a bunch of young women over. So let's just pivot into the next topic. So Craig Kilber was a great guest on with you. I think it's so great you to have developed the friendship, obviously is someone I deeply respect to admire,

not only from being on Sports Center, but the late, late show. I love how deep Craig was going with you as far as the movie knowledge. He's trapped at three days of the Condor, Sidney Pollock, and I'm like, and I was so happy you watched Casablanca and you enjoyed it. As you said, it was an eminently quotable movie. You thought it still held up all these years later. It's a remarkable piece of work. The action sequence at the end would be tough for some people.

Right. But at least you appreciate the well-worn cynicism of Bogart. And that final climactic scene, I think, still holds up. And that speech he gives a Bergman is as good as it gets. that is a script written by twins as you know and the Epstein's I mean they nailed it and by the way they didn't even know how it was going to end they didn't know is she going to go with Laszlo is she going to go with Bogey

and you know that whole speech you gives from the Hill of Beans on I think it's remarkable screenwriting yeah great I'm into I'm in a seven samurai like I'm on one right now with the classics you know this is this is sprinkling in a little bit of baseball that Blue Jays game the other night are you kidding me but one more he didn't ask you you told him you saw

Lawrence of Arabia and then you didn't get to go into detail he's he sprinted to the next topic. So I want to know, what did you think of Lawrence of Arabia? Well, it's such a massive undertaking. And to think that they're like, hey, here's the idea for the movie. And I haven't read anything. I haven't researched. It's not like we're doing a rewatchable's on it. Yeah. But the scale of it is incredible. But I also think that it's, it's cool that Peter O'Toole's character, like they set him up to be this absolute rebel that's just not going to listen to anybody. But I think it's, it's pretty impressive that it felt like,

the whole point of it was sympathy towards a group that would have zero sympathy from some of the more developed parts of the world. Yeah. No one's ever feeling sorry for the Brits. No. But you see what I mean? He immediately embraces the culture and really their point of view, which can be even unpopular in today's storytelling, never mind over 50 years ago.

I just thought the cinematography of the directing is. Yeah. If you watch it on a widescreen, like, forget about it. That shot of Omar Sharif coming out of the desert, remarkable. Yeah, I have more on the to-do list. But let's, maybe we'll put BAMP at the end of this. Let's talk about your book because, first of all, I can't imagine how much fun you had reaching out to people to give you the blurb.

I noticed I was never asked to give a blur on a pre-read. If Miles Teller said, no, you were the next one. I'm like, I've got to get rid of book there. But how did Miles Teller say yes? Was it an emphatic yes or was it like, I guess so? So I was stunned because I said, they go, you know, 15 to 20 people. And I said, I really don't want to do this. Like, this is, you know, the best part of the book, as you know, is writing the book.

I mean, because it was just an extension of doing the podcast rather than talking about it. But I was writing it. The worst part of the book is prosecuting yourself like a two-bit whore. That's the part nobody wants to do. And I said, you know, I really don't want to have to bug people for blurbs and all this and that. And they said, well, you don't think of anyone when you can. So as always, as always, as always, the great, great Ben Lines comes through.

He goes, listen, here's a bunch of people, just hit him up. So he sends me Miles' cell, and I said, God, there's no way he's going to say, yeah, he doesn't even know why I am. Like, this is so nauseating to be even doing this. So I worked up the courage. I said, just keep it brief for God sakes. Hey, Miles, it's Adnan, Newark. Not sure you remember me.

Interviewed you a few years ago to ESPN, celebrity softball, fellow Eagles fan. I wrote this book. I almost want to say, I know this is annoying to you, but please help me. If you could just contribute a verb, it would be awesome. I'm not kidding within an hour. No problem. I'm happy to help. I go, oh, my God.

like I was so right shout out miles teller and then and then so the mango people the publisher goes okay you we're going to reach up to them miles can i get your email sends to the email they reach out he didn't get back right away so then i'll do it again sorry to buggy man just in a quick blurb he writes back because hey i'd just been on set you know 16 hour days i'm like no i get it so then i just listen i'll do it for you because he goes can you send me some more stuff i'll do it for you how about this how about this from one eagles fan to another buy this book go birds miles is like love it Great. Miles Teller, checkmark. And we got the blurb.

Josh DeMille. Ben Lines goes, here's Josh DeMell's number. I go, he's not going to know who I am. I interviewed the guy 10 years ago. Like Josh, the same thing. I'm like, God, you know, I have to work up the courage to write this guy. Josh, it's on you. You don't know who I am.

I interviewed you 10 years ago. Ben Lines gave me your number. I raved about your movie. So I did use this. I raved about your movie Space Moch, which I did do. A great, great movie about Bill Lee, which Josh DeMell did, Ben Lines, Executive Bruce. Yeah, I went to the premiere of it.

Exactly. So I raved at your movies, too, you know, what the hell it's called. Maybe you can help me out now, too. Spaceman. Immediate, Adnan, big fan of yours, happy to help. Of course, whatever you need. Same thing. Give me email the mango.

Doesn't get back to them. I'm not going to call them. I'm literally at the Humdingers, which is a bowling alley slash arcade with my kids. Can I text it, Josh? I ain't about these. Adnan, Burke. Hey, it's Josh. I'm like, I have to leave my kids.

I can't have a conversation with the movie star right now in the middle of humdingers, as long as frenetic activity. We go outside. All right, tell me a little bit more about the book. Okay, there's no sports stuff. No, it's just movies. But our interview is in there. You're talking about, you know,

working with Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, the way you approach acting, sir, he's like, okay, no problem, dude. I'm going to say something later today. Josh Jamel sends a fabulous blurb. It's such a good, we had to put it in the back. It was so good. I always thought Adnan was an expert in sports, but after spending some time with him,

he's one of the most knowledgeable fans of cinema that I've ever met, love this guy and love this book. And I go, oh, my God, Josh DeMel's in. So now we've got to get the big one. I said, I got to get it. That's a love you can't replicate, though, to still be in love 10 years later. We're never talking to each other.

That's amazing. That's what I'm saying. The fact he said, big fan. You don't even know why any of the years. I know exactly who we are. I'm like, all right, fair enough. So then the big one I said, I got to get an Academy Award winner.

And one thing about me is I will file things away. A couple years ago, J.K. Simmons is throwing at the first bitch. And Harold Reynolds, my partner in crime on MLB tonight, half choking, somewhat serious, because how come out of doing the interview? And they said, well, he saw JK was at a game. He reached out to the desk.

He reached out to the desk. He said, sure. Harold's like, man, I know J.K. Simmons. I got tickets to the Tigers. I know he's a big Tigers fan. Of course, Tigers in the World Series 06. Filed that away. Two years later, this summer, JK Simmons came to MLB Network. I wasn't in that day. I text Harold when I came in. Can you might pass along JK's number? He's like, he didn't get it from me. I'm like, no problem. I text Jenkins Simmons, deep breath. Sorry, I missed at MLB Network. Not sure you remember me. Ingrid 10 years ago, celebrity softball writes back. Of course, man, happy to help, whatever you need. So his blurb is on the cover. A wonderful book full of my favorite kinds of stories. J.K. Simmons, Academy Award-winning actor. I already love J.K. Simmons, Ryan, but we got an Oscar on the cover. My eternal gratitude to J.K. Simmons, Josh DeM.L. Miles Seller, among others. From that last story, I wonder, is there any tension between the egos at MLB Network with you and Harold Reynolds?

Wise Verk. Why is Verk doing the interview? The other thing, as you know, is once you get the blurb. Like, I just want to delete Miles' number. Like, I never want to speak to him again because I'm going to be too eager at some point, like I'm taking it. Right? Because I'm going to take the kids to the Eagles game, September 21st, Eagles, Rams. I'm going to text a picture of me and my kids. Oh, my God, Cooper DeGine, he just shut down Pooka Niccoa. He's like, why are you texting me? Like, you got what you needed?

I helped you out. Let's move on. So I have to delete his number three. I think so that. J.K. Simmons and I are keeping up a correspondence because he is a legit Tigers fan. And I texted him a couple times. He texted back right away. So if you're into his thing, how good's Cole Keith looking?

J.K. Simmons will respond. So I'm keeping that number. I love that. Okay. So I've read a few chapters. Yeah. And I think we need to start with where I, you know, look, the book, you were smart to start it with the Moonlight Story because as I'm reading it, I'm thinking about you and I know you

and probably, I don't know that there's anything that ever makes you nervous. You've been doing TV. You've been on air for such a long time. But there are those moments where you're like, okay, well, this is entirely different. So you're invited into the online coverage of the Academy Awards, which I have to imagine you never thought you were going to get. And next thing you know, you're gearing up for the Oscars. It's what you say it? I can't even help but laugh. I don't even know how it happened. It's so surreal. But I know what happened. As always, it's Ben Lyons. And it was because of you.

We did your show so much. Ben would listen and then Ben DMB and said, hey, man, I love your work. Are we going to hook up some time? I host this thing at the Oscars. We're going to do it together. I'm like, I know who Ben is, Ben of his work, but I was like, all right. And then I couldn't believe it. When Nick Con called me my agent at the time, of course, now running WBE also gave me a great blurb. When Nick called and was like, you're sitting down, I'm like, yeah, and he starts reading the letter. I'm like, this can't be happening. And it's full credit to Ben. As you described it, Ryan, I think sports fans understand it with college football, you know, the second screen experience. You're watching the game,

national championship on ESPN, with the ESPN 2 is the coaches room or whatever. Similar to thought process. You're watching the Academy Awards with Jimmy Kimmel's hosting. But then on Oscar.com, Facebook Live, it's me and Ben, Sophia Carson, who's now, since, by the way, performed at the Oscars, is a huge recording artist, Troy Gentilly, who was on the Goldbergs. The four of us are backstage commenting on the action as it happened. So this actor just won the Oscar. We started talking about their filmography, etc., and going into detail. So I never imagine what happened, dude. When I think about it now, it's still surreal to me. I can still picture the red carpet. I'm so indebted to Ben. And as you pointed out,

it wasn't just the Academy Awards. It was one of the most storied and or controversial Academy Awards ever. Like, we were there when the wrong name was read, the wrong envelope was given to Fay Donaway and Warren Bade, as we now know, which said Emma Stone, La La Land. It was the wrong envelope. The best picture was Moonlight. And then afterwards, after they're upstairs, understood the whole kerfafel. We were as shocked as anybody. And that kind of became like my Oscar call because, you know, we all thought it was indeed La La La Land. And then the four director was kind of pointed to the camera. I just looked over. Again, we're commenting as the actions happening. Imagine you're talking about the college football national championship while

you're watching the game. So I just looked over and I just saw the famous shot of the producer holding the card and going, wait, now there's been some sort of mistake. Moonlight won best picture. And then you see Barry Jenkins and everyone reacting. And I was so happy for Barry because I had mention him on Sports Center, the fact he's a huge sports guy running back at Florida State, and then I'd had him on Cineophile. And I saw him on the right carpet. Now, I got a hold to his publicist, agent, et cetera. I said, we're going to meet. And when I saw Barry on the right carpet, I said, I'm so happy for you, man. There was such a great interview. Did he be back in November. He said, oh, thanks so much. I said, listen, I think Lala Land's

going to win, but I think he got a puncher's chance. And he's like, yeah, I hope so. And to fast forward a few hours, then to see Boatlight winning Best Picture was unbelievable. And the thing I was happy just about was we had Barry on later on Cineophile. And I said, him. Did you at least get to hear my call? And he said, yeah, I went back to Florida State to be receiving awards, et cetera. And they played me your call. So I got to hear just how excited and how fredic you were. It was an unbelievable moment. So in that moment, in your screaming, Moonlight wins best picture, Moonlight won best picture. Yeah. And everybody thinks it's Lala Land just because of the card. I'm glad because in the book, I don't know that I fully

remembered everything with Warren Beatty, just looking at best actress Emma Stonehood already won, but he just sees Lala Land. So he's like, what am I supposed to do? like pick something else and then there was also another part of it because i'd heard some from people that were kind of in the industry after that because it was such a big deal yeah that was the la la land crew up there knowing they actually didn't win it by looking at the card and then went ahead and just did this wasn't there some other element of like they had to have known at some point or they i don't know i don't know i don't know how they actually had of discovering until they saw the car.

I think they go up there. They think they won. They start talking. They look down and go, uh, this is the wrong envelope. Because the car, the envelope is best actor.

So the card says Emma Stone, La La Land. They're going, this is not the right car. Like, this is the best act. Where's the other envelope? And then the envelope comes best.

Oh, that's the one, Moonlight One. Like it's, I mean, as you said, the cascade of emotions, imagine being on either side of that. Like, if you're Barry Jenkins,

if you're Mahershala, if you're Jeremy Kleiner, you just won. But conversely, imagine you're Damien Chiselle. You just thought you won Best Director and Best Picture. No, sorry. Error.

Speaking of emotions, you were paid. Actually, I love that you shared what you were paid for that. You're like, I got $4,000 in a clothing allowance. And then Ben Lyon said, buy it. You're going to be doing this the next 10 years. Yeah, the clothing allowance, I think, was, I want to say, $500,000 that I can't remember. Four years was for the show.

And I remember thinking, well, you know, I'll just rent it. And you're right. Ben was like, dude, we're going to be doing this. The next 10 years buy it. We did it one more year, and that was it. But the tuxedo still thankfully fits. I've awarded it to the Baseball Writers Association for America Dinner. I've had other events that I could wear it. But it was not the 10 years I was hoping to get out of it when I bought it. I don't want to bring up like something that's going to bum us all out here.

But when you were out at ESPN, because ABC is also the Academy Awards, like it was all packaged together? Was there any way, was there any way, to keep that alive. Is there any chance that you get back to something that probably bothered you as much as everything that had happened? No, because I was already out prior to that, because 2016 was the Oscars that we hosted. So that's February of 2017. We then did February of 2018 and then February of 2019. So like basically, we were supposed to do it. We did it back to back years and that I remember because there was around national championship time that I hadn't heard yet. And

I check with my agent and they said, they're not bringing you guys back. And then I called Ben and Ben goes, we're not back. And I said, why? He said, I don't know. I said, wait, two years ago, we did this thing and we won an Emmy. It sounds like it made up Emmy. Like, it's a technical Emmy. I don't actually have a-

I can see it right now. No, that's Miami for MLB tonight. For this. Oh, sorry. It's okay. We got a piece of paper, which just says, best use of interactive media within a social media contract. Something like that sounds made up.

And you go, and they gave me a certificate. Me and Ben both got framed services. And you go, okay, thanks. I don't even know where that is. The next year, we got nominated, didn't win. and now you're telling me year three we're out there like yeah so then i asked my so it wasn't related to ESPN at all even though it was under the same the same umbrella okay all right i didn't know so year three and then we asked them why they go they just want to go in a different direction and as

you know and as hubby brown famously said your whole life in broadcast you get like here good job good job and then one day you don't have a job you go i thought i was doing a good job they'd never tell you why i will say the people we got i'd argue hubies actually never heard that also perhaps a good point but i remember like one thing you want to get rid of me but like Ben's Hollywood royalty. I mean, his dad's a famous film critic, Jeffrey Lines. Ben worked at E-News for over a decade. He's ripped by 15 red carpets. If you go, okay, this Verk guy, we had him for a couple years. We're done. I was astonished. They didn't bring Ben back, but they didn't bring any of us back. Sophia Carson, as I mentioned, has now gone on to

actually perform at the orchestra. So she's kind of busy. It's worked out. The people they replaced us with, I mean, if I had to guess right, I'd say they're significantly younger and cheaper. Like, I think they just got some people who were on TikTok and had them do it. Okay. All right. Well, I'm glad we cleared that up for the Adnan convert fans out there that may have never I guess look at one of your closest friends and I forgot the timeline of the entire event so

I read the Giamani chapter and it's so you okay because and I'm even thinking back to the night like you talk about walking across from Lowe's and like are you freaking out like does your

wife have to tell you hey just try to be a nine like don't be a 10 because you get so excited like your excitement isn't any sort of character flight it's it's just you're so incredibly passionate about this and anybody that's ever listening to you're watching but now when you're in this world and you're you're rubbing shoulders with all of these people do you have to tell yourself to try or is it impossible is it impossible for you to control yourself it's a great question i i think you know it's challenging because

there's no finite amount of time that I'm being given. Like, if I'm interviewing Margo Robbie, I know I have 15 minutes. So no matter what happens, I've got 15 minutes, whether or not I'm overly exuberant, overzealous, or whatever the case may be, I have my time allotted. With Giamati,

this could be a 10 second interaction. Like, he might just blow me off. And this is your white whale, right? So explain the whole thing. Right. So I would never have a guest, say, no at the last bit with the exception of Paul Giamatti. Katie Mirvaldis, who does a phenomenal job, one of the talent reps at ESPN.

This is when Billions was first coming out. We started the podcast in 2016, me and the great Dan Stansick. And this was shortly their actor. And she said, would you be interested in Paul Jim? I'm like, oh my God,

he's one of my favorite actress. She was great. And we were supposed to have him Friday at 430. And, you know, Stansick has other responsibilities, as do why. He had other things to do, but we both came in Friday after we're sitting there in the studio. And he goes, I don't have a good feeling about this.

I'm like, yeah, what do you mean? He's like, dude, we've had, we've had De Niro. We've had Mark Wahlberg, had Kevin Hart. He's like, no, no, no, no, Friday at 4.30. And so sure enough, she's like, he's running 10 minutes light. He's running 10 minutes light. This is from the rep. And eventually, unfortunately, he can't, he can't do it.

We have to reschedule. That's like the big short when the guys go from Brownfield Fun to meet a chase. And they're like, 450 Friday meeting. We should have known. So Josh Drew, who's also one of our talent reps, he starts engaging G-Body's people. At first, politely, like, hey, when can we reschedule? He's not really sure he's busy with shoot-a-da. And then I think Josh got a little abrasive.

I don't remember the last response, but you kind of was like, well, you know, Adnan looks forward to telling the story on the pod. It's just kind of like, I'm not sure what that's supposed to. What? Yeah. I mean, at that point, it was already done. And then she's like, well, I'm not really sure what that means. And we were trying to sort this out. Perhaps in the next picture we could do this. I'm like, well, that ship has sailed. So we were never able to get Giamati. He was making the rounds. He was making the rounds. He was making the rounds. I double checked with my buddy Josh Horwitz, friend of Ben Lyons. I said, are these

Giamati's reps? He's like, yep, emailed them, didn't hear back. So I'm like, I've never had a And by the way, he's on, like, he's doing the rounds. He's on Mark Maren. He's on, Josh's spot. He was on, he was on with Howard Stern, which is a great lesson, really, really funny. Listen to those guys chop it up. So I've never had the chance to meet him, talk to him. I've got all my notes.

So at the Critics Choice Awards, which me, Ben and Josh went to, I'm there, you know, simply as a fan, I'm not working it. I'm just like, maybe I'll get 30 seconds with him. So we're chatting it up, and then Giamani walks by. Ben's like, there he is. There's a guy. And he was, he was being taken some of the publicists to go some interviews or whatever. I'm like, all right.

So I said, you know, I'm very casually waiting for the right moment to strike. And these guys are all very friendly. I know Karen Calkin walks by and I'm like, hey, man, love succession. Oh, thanks, buddy. I love your speech, speaking about a Patriot, oh, thanks, buddy. Like those quick 10-second interactions are great. Seth Rogen walks by, hey, fellow Canadian, hey, what's up, man, where are you from? Toronto, I'm from Vancouver.

Okay, I get a picture. Of course you can't. Like, those 10 seconds are very quick. Oddly enough, the one guy froze, it's probably one the nicest guys in Hollywood, which is Henry Winkler, because I love arrested development so much. And I love that character, plays a lawyer who's in love with transvestites. I was like, I don't know how I can say to Henry Winkler. I love your work on the rest of development because everyone just says happy days to him.

So I remember Henry can walk by. Gene Parmesan. Right, Gene, but also a great character. And so I remember Ben Lines is like, Henry Winkler is like being nicest guy. Like you should have no apprehensions about approaching him. Anyways, Giamani is being spoken to a couple of people. And one of them is, if you think I'm aggressive, she's very excitable as she's talking to him. And I'm just waiting and kind of hovering for the right moment to just interject.

And she's telling him how much she's into cartoons and stuff. And I can overhear Paul Giamani saying, yeah, you know, I actually want to be a cartoon. at 1.2, you know, that character I played Harvey P. Card, American Splendor, like, that's in a lot of ways, not the character, but that lifestyle I liked. Like, I hope you're not an absolute misoble, like that guy. So, waiting for the right moment, and then she says, I want to get a picture. So I go, I'll take it for it. She goes, sure, take the picture. So I swoopred in, can you get one for me? I haven't even talked to Yamada yet. I'm around the bag. I got a story for you. He's like, okay, got the picture.

And I said, Paul, I've listened to you on all these podcasts. I start listening to them. He's like, uh-huh. And I said, the holdovers is great. And I love private parts. and you won't find a bigger fan of Sideways. And I said, but I'm going to tell you, the movie that nobody has asked you about, which I wish I could ask you about if I was interviewing you on my podcast, is the movie Barney's version. And he laughs and he goes, that's a fucking great movie.

I go, that's what I'm talking about. And he goes, nobody asks me about that movie. I said, I know. And I said, I'm Canadian. He goes, of course you're Canadian because the movie's set in Montreal. He goes, the only people ever mentioned that movie to me are Canadians and Italians for some reason. He said, yeah, but that's a great movie, man.

I said, God, I go, Dustin Hoff, and so good with you playing your dad. And I said, I'll never forget your Golden Globe speech, because you endeared yourself forever to all Canadians. When you won the Golden Globe for Best Actor, Comedy, Comedy, Musical, you went up there and you said, I want to thank the great people of Montreal, one of my favorite cities, and the wonderful people of Canada. And he goes, well, I meant it, dude. He goes, I love that city.

I love that country. And you guys were awesome. So at that point, I've gotten my 30 seconds with him. How much more can I extract in this conversation? So I said, I've got one more for him that nobody ever talks about. I wish I could talk to me and say, I go, win, win. And he goes, that's another fucking great movie. I know.

Wrestling movie. You, Jeffrey Tamber, Bobby Kennedy. He goes, yeah, yeah. because I did that with McCarthy, Tom McCarthy, a film that you and I love Spotlight. And he goes, yeah, he goes, McCarthy was great. I love that script. There's a lot of fun.

He goes, you know, man, I really appreciate that you like these movies of mine because, yeah, I don't really get to talk about them that much. And then we carried on for another minute or two. And then I said, hey, I'd love to have you on my podcast. He goes, yeah, we can talk parties version. And I said, is your publicist still their names, which I said, and he goes, yeah, yeah, they're the ones.

And as he walked away, I'm thinking, they've already said no to me again before. I'll try again. And they said no. But I still get to have my moment with him. No, and I said to Josh and Ben, I said, should I say that I talk to Paul at the Critics' Choice Awards? And they said to, and they go, yeah, you can say it, but they're not, I mean, for whatever reason, they weren't having it. Did Giamati know that you worked for MLV tonight or MLB Network and then did, you know, Facebook?

No, and I made sure not to mention that because I went to a very expensive event. Last year, Stephen Colbert hosted it. It was right around my birthday. So it was my birthday present to myself in Montclair, New Jersey. And I was with Paul Giamati. And by the way, you mentioned my wife earlier. She does not understand my love and fascination of Giobadi. So I told her, hey, I went to this event, by the way, Black Tie, that's $2.50 a ticket.

That thing was sold out. So you think I'm the only guy that loves Paul Giobai. Like, people love this guy. Alex Interpain even said, he goes, he's a movie star. Like, I know he's not what you think of as Denzel Washington, but Paul Giobadi is a movie star. People love Paul Giobadi. And he was awesome, hour and a half of great stories, you name it.

By the way, voracious reader like yourself, at one point, he used to read a book a day. It's ahead of my pace a bit. Yeah, he now reads him. two or three books a week. Like, Stern was like, dude, you're a voracious reader. He's like, oh, yeah, he's, he said his place in Brooklyn. All this is just books. Like, his favorite thing to do is read, read, read.

He goes, now I read mystery stuff and nonsense, but he's, he's an avid reader. Anyways, I forgot my trade of thought. But yeah, at that event. Well, it was still a no after all that. But I do like that you get into Giamani, the star, because, I mean, this is a conversation for anybody that loves movies. I'm just, look, I'm a huge fan of anyone that is told. they can't be all of these things that then becomes the thing that everybody said that they

couldn't do. So can you imagine Paul Giamani in the beginning going to read, right? And by the way, like, however you're casting a show, not everybody, you know, you're not casting the OC here. So you need somebody to look like a slob. And he played the slob forever. You point out in this book, he's sure, you know, it's not like he's not aware of the whole thing. But to then go, hey, he's going to be a leading man, and it's going to be accepted. I agree. Payne said he goes, you know, he's a leading man the way Edward G. Robinson was in a different era. Look at Edward G. Robinson and Little Caesar played all those gay gangsters, short, balding.

Like, we're not all going to look like matinee idols. They can't all be McConaughey. But I'm with you. I mean, I think Paul Giamani is one of those great actors because, as you're pointing out, he doesn't have the looks. So it's purely talent alone. And his versatility is unbelievable. As you know, I don't watch TV shows, you know, years ago when you and I were growing up,

people will say, what's the last movie you saw? What are you going to see this weekend? Now everyone says, what are you binging? You know, what's on Netflix? I really don't know. I watch Criterion is the movie app that I normally watch. I want to watch HBO Max, but I don't watch these shows. But I will tell you, I stumbled across. I was bored one day. I don't know how the hell he was on Netflix, BlackBerry. And I go, wait, Paul Chi Maiz had an episode of Black Bearer and I told me. And I watched that blew me away, Ryan. Like one self-contained episode of Black Bear and you go, dude, Paul Jimati is such an enormous talent. I'm glad that people recognize him. And I'm glad you appreciate what a great actor is as well. What was surprising about this process for you?

It's been pretty straightforward, to be honest with you. I don't think anything. I mean, I suppose just how relatively easy it was. The first thing that says everyone goes, how hard is it to write a book? And I go, not very hard. My kids go to school. I sit my butt down.

And as you know, it just takes discipline. Like, just write. You know, Hemingway said, write 700 words or lunch, whichever comes first. I never had a strict theory. Some days it would be 500 pages, 500 words. Some days it would be 1,000.

Some days it would be cooking me at $50. Sometimes it was $2.50. Wasn't very good. I go, man, we're just not very good today. Generally on the weekends, I'm too busy with the kids. I wouldn't write then. So generally, it was money through Friday. When they were at school, I had the time to myself.

I would do it in the morning. I don't know about you, but I found writing. When I was younger, I would write some times at night. I thought that would be, you know, more fun or enlivening, but it wasn't. I think the best time is once I got a little time to yourself. Write it in the morning, write it fresh and kind of go from there. And I wish I had a better answer for either. I really wasn't.

That actually is a good answer, though, because everybody else seems miserable through the process. And you were like, yeah, it's pretty easy. It's fun. But when you read it, when I, you know, I haven't read the whole thing, as I said, but when I'm reading it, it's, it's different for me because I've known you this long. Yeah. But it did dawn on me. I'm like, this is probably as much fun as he's had doing anything. So he's not looking at this daily chore of like, how do I find my voice?

Because the voice has already existed. Right. It'd be like for you, if you were giving life advice, but. rather than vocalizing it, you were just writing it. Like, it would just be second nature to you. Yeah, I don't know. I always feel like the audio version, you can let things fly a little bit more when you actually see the word on a page and it's still there forever.

Like you want it to have a little bit more staying power. You want it to have a little bit more meaning. So I don't know. I don't know if I would agree with that part of it. But yeah, I don't know. I mean, everybody has a different process that tries to do it. For me, I usually just pick. I just pick, I pick, it's different.

I mean, to me, writing a book was a lot harder than screenwriting. Like, it's not even close. You think writing the book is a lot harder? For me, it was. It was, but, you know, screenwriting is hard because even when you think you're done, you're kind of never done. Well, that's definitely true. My buddy R.T., who's a terrific director, you should all see his movie called 40 Acres.

As stars Daniel Deadweiler, he shot it in Canada. We premiered the film festival last year in Toronto. It was released in the U.S. here. He opened Fourth of July weekend. How about that? Superman in 4,000 theaters, 40 acres and 100 theaters. but his movie was released. And he said to me,

it goes the hardest part two to do it is you make the movie and you edit it and then it's the jigsaw puzzle is maddening. Because you add one scene and you take out one scene and then you ask a producer.

I thought it was better with that scene, maybe with the scene. The rewrite the process is in paint. Yeah, that's the thing too. It is a lot like Jenga because you go, hey, well, we need to do this. It's like, yeah, but if I do this and he says this,

that means that earlier than this doesn't mean anything. Or if we take out this, this thing that this guy said earlier, now it doesn't land anywhere. Like the whole reason I had him say this is the 20 pages later, he's then doing this. So if we're getting rid of that,

then that point, the scene we all really like is actually, so I think it has more to do with pilot stuff where once you get into a season on a show, it's just like, look, we're going to get a script done. So in a way, the deadline and you have no choice where the open-endedness of working on a pilot, it's kind of like, you know, tweak here, tweak there.

So I probably, I know I like screenwriting a lot better than having to write a book. Yeah, I know, I just could picture you. a cabin in Vermont, just pounding away. Like, just chopping wood and then write the book. Like, I think it'd be, I have that image of you. I do. I've thought about that image.

Just take a year off from everything. Absolutely. Because I'm sure the podcast audience would be psyched. Just wait around. Like, yeah, you just pick it right up. You won't lose any momentum. And then what would be better than spending a month or a year in the woods and then having some Richard Brodagan type shit where you're not even, you're like, oh, this wasn't

even that good. that would be that would be pretty disappointing to take a year off for creative reasons so let's um if i did get a cabin in the woods i just got back from calgary i didn't go to calgary i went to bam but i'll tell you right now i didn't spend any time in calgary but landing at calgary maybe taking that ride north to edmonton for four hours would be something i do a little hockey road trip maybe get a sponsorship for the podcast for it i went to british columbia last year spent some time in vancouver honestly i think Vancouver is beautiful to look at. I think the city itself pretty overrated. I then made my way north. Go ahead. I was going to say, what is it about the city that you find overrated? Because I'm

with you on it. It's aesthetically pleasing. It's aesthetically pleasing. There wasn't anything about the city that like, look, I did the whole waterfront area and walked all the way around over to that island and the history and all that kind of stuff and looped it back. Like, I walked forever the first day that I was in Vancouver just to kind of take it all in. Maybe I had too high expectation. I think I went in a little too hot, you know? I think that was the issue, but ultimately it was just kind of a crowded summer touristy city that it didn't, you know, and it is a little weird that there's a handjob place right next to the CVS right there. So you're like, man, there's another, like the strip club deal, they don't have, they need a zone. They need a zone

for it. It needs to be a way. The element of slaciness was permeating a little too much for you, Like a red light district, very specifically cordoned off. That's fair. North Face. And then over here is what? It's the purest of it. I like it. And look, it's not like I'm, yeah, right, right, right.

Like, I was so offended. It wasn't that I was offended. I was just kind of surprised by the whole thing. Anyway, made it to Squamish, really like Squamish, small town. You only needed a couple days there. Whistler, beautiful little setup. Great stuff. And then honestly, Victoria was really kind of beat up by the time I made it to Victoria in the

way back. and I really should have brought my car with me. I didn't want to take it over on the ferry. As a ferry vet, I should have known better, but I didn't want to deal with the logistics of getting back to Vancouver to the flight and worrying about getting the car back over on the ferry. So I went passenger ferries.

The whole point is, like, bring a car to Victoria. Don't do what I did because walking around the city of Victoria for a couple days actually wasn't, wasn't. Anyway, the whole reason I'm saying this is that there was so much a Whistler that I loved. When I got north of Whistler, I was checking out some of those towns, loved it, loved it, the whole deal. Bamp, an entirely different level.

Now, if you want to tell me that Whistler, ski season, go with your friends, a group of people, party, you're right in the ski village, you stay right there, you're right on the mountain. You don't have to go anywhere logistically. It's super easy. That's great. But Bamp, the town is spectacular. And you can't stop looking around in amazement that in every direction. As soon as you get on the highway, you're like, all right, we're going to this lake. We're going to this river. We're going on this trail. We're heading over here. I went horseback riding. I did a fly fishing boat down the bow river. every time you give yourself just a minute to look around the scenery on top of Banff and then Canmore, which is 20 minutes back towards Calgary. So I was in Canmore a bunch of the days as well. Found a gym over there because the facility at the hotel I was at wasn't all that great. I love Banff. I can say that. I know it's, you know, there's, I've checked a lot of the Instagram travel boxes over the years. I've done Positano. I've done Talum. I've done some other places. I know Banff is on that list. It is. worthy of any praise.

One of my favorite places I've ever been. Oh, dude, that's awesome. I'm so happy to hear that. I've never been until last year myself because with this new gig with Amazon, hopefully with a little bit near two, we're traveling for games Monday night within Canada. So the game in Calgary says,

so great. I'm going to go see my buddy Cabby, one of my closest friends, and I want to go check out Banff. And when I landed there, you know, the game is obviously on Monday. I flew in a Sunday. I'm talking to the one at the customs.

And I said, you know, I'm going to rent a car. I'm just going to drive to BAM. And she's like, I wouldn't do that. I go, why? And she goes, how long are you going to be there for? I go, I go, I go visit my buddy for dinner. And then I get a game tomorrow.

I'm flying home Tuesday. And she said, you've got to go for at least three days. And I said, I don't have that luxury. Like, I mean, I don't, if somebody said, hey, the Eiffel Tower's here, I've got two hours. Well, really, to do it properly, need three days. But if I can get two hours in Eiffel Tower, I'll still take it. And she's like, so I'm texting to my buddies. I always go on Calgary Sports Radio.

Shout out to the guys at 960, Logan, Gordon, Pat Steinberg. I'm like, all right, $130, let's get in this car. And it was from Calgary, as you know, maybe an hour and a half. Like, it's a short drive. And you got an hour and a half. It's easy. And it's beautiful. Yeah, Cammore, after an hour already I was being taken aback.

And then when I got there, I think it's $10 to enter. I just said, I've got literally two hours. Where do I go? And she told me the most picturesque place. And like you said, Ryan, it takes your breath away. I mean, when I'm sure, when you've shown people these pictures, they think it's all CGI. They go, that can't possibly be real.

That landscape, that pure, that gorgeous. And quite frankly, to be there for a few hours. that just wets the apt to go for longer. As you said, you were there, however you were there. I'm going back. Like, I, it is, rarely do I go a place where I'm like, okay, I'm absolutely coming back here. Santerpay would be on that list. I would likely go to New Zealand again.

I don't know that anything will ever top Milford Sound as far as the visuals and the plane ride in and all that stuff. But Bamp was at like, I was there five days, and I still feel like there's all these other things. Like, I didn't even make it up to the Fairmont, which is essentially, it looks like this castle filled by the Scottish and the original hotel had burned down a few times, but it's at the back end of the town. So you cross over this bridge and then you head up and you think like you can't believe, you feel like you're in the Alps all of the sudden. And it's just nonstop, whether it's moraine or the ink pots. I went fly fishing down the Bow River. I did. I'm not going to call out anybody here, but there was a mishap where I booked a fly fishing trip. And I talked to

one guy that said, hey, I'll need the deposit. And then I called the guy the next day and said, hey, can I give you the deposit? I'll pay for the whole thing. Like, I'm not going to burn you. And he was like, no, don't worry about it. He's like, you don't need to do it over the phone. You're good to go 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. But you know we're like an hour away. I was like, no problem. So woke up out of the house, out of the hotel at like 645 and drive down to Brad Creek. And there's no one there. And I call and he goes, I left you a voicemail last night. said that I go yeah but the other guy said we're good no issues he's like I left you a voice man I go do I'm in the mountains there's no service anywhere why would the guy I was like I understand

what you're saying but why would the guy tell me I'm good when I offered to pay the entire amount yesterday he's like well he shouldn't have done that and I went okay okay so you know I wasn't entirely blameless but the thing is is now I'm just driving around Alberta again that's not So that's the only one's looking for, though. That's frustrating. I hate that. Travel adventures when you get scams slash what. But I didn't get scammed.

It just, I ended up missing out on an opportunity. And then luckily, the guy's over at with Petey and Canmore hooked me up with a float. But I got out to Wade as well. So it wasn't sometimes you do the fly fishing and you're just in the float the whole time. You never get to get out. It's not as much fun as like getting out and actually getting into the water a little bit.

So I can't say enough good things about it. And I think I'd like to go in September when it's not in July and August. August, because the town part of it, just cranking, made it to pump and tap, I think, which is their dive bar, British themed. I was like, do you take credit cards? No, cash only. And I was like, I think I only have American dollars. And they were like, look, we don't even do the conversion.

If the bill is 10 bucks, it's 10 bucks, it's 10 bucks American or Canadian. Yeah, 30%. Wow. Okay. Yeah, right. And she's the girl Barton. She's like, we just don't want to deal with any of the conversion stuff. What a surprise.

It's been depending on you. through the tone of 30 cents of the dollar. I wouldn't want to bother that either. Great. Give me your American dollars. There was an ATM and it was fine. And you know what? In classic Canadian fashion, I think the ATM fee was $2.95 inside of a bar.

So that's incredible. Canadian hospitality only charge you $2.95 for an ATM transaction. Howard, look, I just, I know how much, look, I know you're an Ontario guy. I don't know if you're going to have to start giving me some spots in Manitoba. Churchill's definitely on the list. I love the name for Winnipeg. You're in Churchill, Manitoba. That's next level by you.

You know, the one that America City, everyone always loves is Regina. That's when people always say, they go, God, tell me about Regina. It's awful. Like, it's got a funny name. That's it. What about Saskatoon? That's okay. My cousin lives there.

I've been there once. I was there for the Vanier Cup, which is the equivalent of the national championship for Canadian college football. It was late November, and it was very cold. I can recommend the Bisonburgers are excellent. What about Fort McMurray? Alberta, I have not been to Fort McMurray. I've heard of good things.

I mean, you might like Fort McPurray. Fort Nelson. Are these active forts? Not active forts. We're not. Although I'm curious how you felt there's an American considering tensions with our countries, tariffs. Did that come up at all?

No, and I don't mean to, well, I'm just going to say it. Americans in the Canadian thing that was going on, we've moved on. Yeah. Americans probably don't even remember that there was this two or three week window where, you know, look, the hockey thing was going on. people were booing each other's anthems. We have more going on day to day in this country that I think we've turned the page

onto the next thing that we're obsessed with like Shador Sanders right now. So I didn't feel I felt zero hospitality or excuse me, that's zero hostility. I had forgotten because somebody actually brought that up to me and I go, you know, I, when was that?

Was it five years ago or was it earlier this year? Right. So that's, there was no simmering tensions at least. That's good news. No, none, none whatsoever. I'm happy for you. I do think it's harder than you're saying, but it also speaks to your passion

that it was this easy for you to write this book. So Cinephile, available wherever books are sold. Adnan, Verk. Great catching up. Thanks, Ryan, as always. I will say probably the hardest part for anybody wants to be. No, we're not done.

It's to get the publisher. So I will shout out Hugo at Mango Publishing. That probably was the hardest part, is getting somebody to actually publish your book. So honestly, that is something I'm very grateful for. And I want to close with this. I was just on vacation. I got a little bit of a tan.

It reminded me the hardest I've ever seen you laugh. We were doing a show together. And you read the tweet aloud in the break. I said, what is it? You go, I have to read it on the air. You go, okay. And you said, somebody tweeted in, where did that name, vacation, Mars? And it was the hardest I'd ever see you laugh because I didn't have a pretty good tan.

And one of the story, you've got to tell. Because I was just on Tim Kirchon's podcast. Is this a great game or what? Him and his son might be my first. favorite moment of radio ever, which I was not involved with, you and Peter Rosenberg asking people all day who their favorite MC was, which then led to Tim Kirchton's answer, which was Bob Euker. Yeah.

Because he was so confused, but then he was like, well, I've got one for you. Because literally I've heard it so many times. If I could do the voice, but he go, hey, Tim, before I let you go, who's your favorite MC? He goes, what's that? And you go, favorite MC, he goes, master ceremonies? And before you guys could clarify, he goes, oh, but. Bob Euker. He goes, I wouldn't saw Bob

Euker do 30 minutes without any notes, and it was unbelievable. People were on the floor laughing. He's so soft that. He's the best MCI've ever seen. Pause, and then you looked at Rosenberg and go, yeah, that's the first one we've had for Euker. Okay. Yeah, first, it was the only vote for Euker that day, but that was good. That was good.

I mean, those kerching hits every single week were so much fun. Say hi to him when you run into them. Yeah. Thanks, buddy. It's great. Thank you to Ceree. Thank you to the whole team. Appreciate you. We'll have you on in the baseball playoffs. All right. Thanks, thank you. It's that time of year again. As college football gets started,

the alliance will return. So if you've been on the Fanduals Sportsbook page, there's even more stuff going on right now, as we've talked about numerous times throughout this. I did not have a great year last year. And it's disheartening for me. But you know what? I'm competitive, but not so competitive that I can't appreciate my friend Kyle doing well, or Wargon, being on an absolute heater. Just Big Ten win after Big Ten win. I don't know if he's going to move on from this podcast and become a Big Ten insider. I'd be happy for him if he did. He was great last year. A couple of the games that I was looking at here, look, it just feels like if Texas is going to get Ohio State or if anybody's going to get Ohio State and get him early. I guess you

could probably make the same argument with Arch in his first game at the shoe. Like, that doesn't feel great. But just the value of Texas plus a point a half, which is not going to happen again the entire season, unless it just becomes a disaster in Austin, which I wouldn't expect. Plus a point in a half there at Ohio State is what I'm looking at here. I would likely take Clemson on the money line in the game against LSU. I like Minnesota. I've talked about Minnesota a few times this summer. I don't know that I'm picking him to go to the playoff, although PJ Fleck had a great quote the other day, limitless, open the jar. We're not rowing the boat anymore, folks. So look, the line is kind of too big at the beginning

season, some of these lines scare the hell out of me. Like, do you really want to lay 39 and a half from Missouri? Yes, it's central Arkansas, but, you know, you just start off. You're like, cool, I'm down 39 points to start the game. But the total on Minnesota Buffalo is 43.5. So that'll be my over. Kyle's cooking up a big one for you. Wargant's probably just going to go straight Rutgers picks.

And, of course, Sir Rudy's just picking from a palette of entertaining options. So you can check all that out, sportsbook.fandle.com. want details by i drive a ferrari 355 cabriolet what's up i have a ridiculous house in the south fork i have every toy you can possibly imagine and best of all kids i am liquid so now you know what's possible let me tell you what's required okay life advice r r at gmail dot com that's usually the email that we get life advice submissions from we've got warragone we've got serudi i know I know some of you are wondering, and I know Sir Rudy is, like, what's up with a tailor-made crew sweatshirt? Oh, is that what it said? I didn't even know what it said. Interesting.

I want to thank the good folks at Taylor-Made and specifically Brian Kendrick for doing the fitting when I was back home in Massachusetts, hit, I don't know, a lot of balls up at Granite Links and got fitted for clubs. And he was like, you know, a lot of people make the mistake. They think I have to get better to get fitted. It's like, no, get fitted when you're not good. So yeah, we did some testing, figured some stuff out. And I'm thrilled. So like, I don't know that I can put it on my Instagram bio. I've been meaning to change that from baseball player slash model,

former professional baseball player. Because I just think there's a lot of people that say former professional baseball player and you're like, were you? So it was a joke for like a couple people. And now I don't know how to change it. So that's part of getting old. And I don't think I should put tailor-made athlete in the Instagram bio. I just want to get rid of the other thing.

But I got fitted and I want to thank everybody over there again. And I paid for the clubs, by the way. So, yeah. One, I think you should definitely put it in your bio. And two, are you blades, I would assume? Do we settle on blades? That feels like it is like making your life hard. It's daring.

Yeah. Let me work. up to these uh if you did not go with blades oh okay they did see me swing with uh their their blade their shot shaper they're here i do have some just because i was like let me see because i felt like well if the if the iron faces that much smaller it just means i'm going to lock in and boy it you'll grow into it yeah right yeah just start with blades you know you have no there's no way it yeah you can't you can't think like oh the club will fix it you have to fix it that's how i would be as a parent.

So. Yeah, what about the dudes in like, you know, in like the 60s hitting one irons that would like literally sting your hands? Like I almost feel like golf. I mean, I guess the courses have gotten longer. So I guess that makes up for it a little bit. But like the dudes back in a day hitting literal wooden clubs and one irons or like that one iron where it's like you could adjust it like pitching wedge through one iron just like on like a little tilt thing. Like dudes just were built different back in the day playing golf. Like, it was basically just a rock too. Yeah, we're soft now. yeah i love looking at those videos of those one irons just i mean you know even when i first

first i had that summer that i played it was like the one summer i was like i'm going to play in my twenties and everyone had a three iron and now it's like you have a three like yeah lose their minds like five is high now but dudes have like hybrid wedges it's like what that. Yeah. So, but hey, good for you,

man. Yeah, I enjoyed it. The guys, the guys were awesome. It was, it was actually a really fun experience. And so,

yeah, I was going to be looking for some, some stuff, you know? Ray, got some extras now? Yeah, what are you doing with your extras?

Exactly. That's what people in the streets are saying. We're gone, hey, you know, you never know. Might have to get, you know, that's,

you know, short and a bit, but, ouch. I don't know if the blades, I don't know if I'll work pregnant to the blades. I don't know. There's a, there's a few sets over here. I felt like just sample a bunch of different products, different companies and figure out what fits best for you,

you know? And then my brother decides to get into the game. Hey, come on over to the warehouse. All right. Let's read a couple of emails here. So what do we have? We have a lot of ones I'm not going to read. We have a really long one here. I don't know. Do we start with something? and long. Let's start with a cat. All right. Cat sitting catastrophe. Cat slash catastrophe. You love that work on. I was going to ask if they did that. Yeah, they did. They did it and they well. Ryan and crew got a moral dilemma that's been eating heavy faster than two unfed cats would eat literally anything right now. I live in one of those cool converted apartment buildings to the early 1900s in Seattle. It's a tight-knit group of 25, 35 years old who've all bonded over a shared

love of overpriced rent and pretending we're adults. The couple directly above me are solid people. We're not best friends, but we've grabbed drinks a few times and do the whole Hey neighbor wave thing without it being weird. As a matter of fact, I'd love to be more official friends of them since they're a sweet couple and have similar interests. But nevertheless, we're more on a water your plants while you're on vacation basis than bail me out of jail and a pinch tip.

Okay. So here we go, scenario. Sunday night, they text me in full panic mode. their cats that are bailed last minute and they're leaving at 5 a.m. Monday for an overnight backpacking trip returning Tuesday around 4 p.m. Cats are pretty independent, man. What? That's right.

One night? I don't even see my, I have a cat on see it for like three days. That's not even a joke. Like, it's just, you know, he just kind of keeps himself. Yeah, well, I mean, does it go outside, though? No, it's an indoor cat. But he just, he just kind of does his own thing. And I do, I guess I do feed him.

him every day, but, like, just leave out a bunch of food and water, isn't that? It feels like the way to go. I don't know. I would think you'd be able to leave out food and water if you're gone. What are we talking about here? 35 hours? At least. Oregon, you're the cat guy, or I don't know?

No, I don't have a cat, but I've heard of people, like, gone for, like, a long weekend and just, like, fill up the bowl all the way. Yeah. Like, litter box? Like, you could get a couple days on. of that right i don't want any feel one that their feelings hurt here but i just feel like this is where we need kyle yeah that's true should i text them yeah text him because this might take a while so yeah when i was shoot him a text be like what's the longest you think you can go without

feeding a cat if you own one i don't know if rabbits there's probably a different equation there you know remove the x plug in the y but he also is Kyle, so he's just going to go, I mean, he would be freaking out. I think, yeah, we're looking at, what, 35 hours? So the assets to feed their two cats Monday night and Tuesday morning. These are pretty, so, okay, two cats. I don't know if that changes anything. Of course, I say, yes, I'm a good neighbor.

State farm. I like cats, easy money. Low key, I've always wanted to see what their apartment looks like, since it's the exact same as mine, but has a nicer, a better view of Mount Rainier. Monday night rolls around. I completely forget to go upstairs and feed him. I blame my post-10-hour workday and the devil's lettuce.

I may or may not have smoked after work to relax and wind down. Tuesday morning, 7 a.m. I remember I sprint upstairs only to discover their door needs both a key and a keypad code. I have the key. I do not have the code. I'm standing there like an idiot contemplating breaking into their apartment. I immediately text them about the code, but they're somewhere in the wilderness, so I don't hear back until 10.30 a.m. when I'm already at work,

you can't escape the corporate prison to save these cats from their negligent cats that are me. Here's the kicker. Tuesday afternoon, I get a text that says, hey, thanks again for feeding our cats, exclamation point. By the way, we left you $20 in the envelope on the counter. That was for you. So now I'm sitting here with three options, each more morally questionable than the last option one, come completely clean. Hey, funny story, I never actually fed your cats because I'm an idiot forget Monday night and didn't have your code Tuesday morning. Your cats hate me. I hate me. We're all disappointed. Option two. Take the money and run. Just reply, no problem. And hope their cats don't hold grudges or learn how to talk, send cryptic messages to their owners about me.

Option three, the hybrid lie. Quote, I fed them Monday night, but lock myself out Tuesday morning, which is why I asked for the code. It makes me look slightly less incompetent, but still fundamentally dishonest. The cats are fine, by the way. They had plenty of water. We're only unfed for 24 hours. but I'm spiraling about whether I should confess to being a shitty cat sitter. What's the play here? Thanks, gentlemen. My question is, how did he get to $20 if it was in an envelope on the counter? Right?

Well, they gave him the code that morning that he went to work, so he could have gone back, right? Yeah, but how would they get into his place or their place? And then he's just back there with them while they're back. That seems strange. Update from Kyle, by the way. Yes. He said three days seems to be reasonable. Not a cat guy, though.

That's what I was thinking, three days. He wanted to emphasize not a cat guy. I think a lot of the cat. I mean, Kyle is the epitome of a dog guy. Okay. Right? He's a rabbit guy, technically. Well, yeah, technically.

Not by choice. Yes. Single Kyle doesn't own eight rabbits, is my right. but Kyle with a maybe half acre a half acre and a wire fence somewhere he's buying a dog I mean that guy that guy would have a dog if we're up to him we know it's not up to him

so he's just more of these I just think he's more locked out what do you got two dogs Rudy? Yeah I have two dogs I have uh they're both cats I have one cat and this is where the problem starts because like Kyle, not being a rabbit guy, I'm not a cat guy, but I have a cat. That's important. I think that's important for your brand because there were some people we were talking about your cat that were like. Like, I don't want a cat.

In fact, I've tried to give it away multiple times. Because when it was making the rounds that I didn't necessarily love dogs at ESPN. Ooh, that's a tough. Yeah. And then. Yeah, right. I mean, that was really bad. but I had, you know, I had reasons.

You know, his little kid. It sounds better to say that you don't like kids than you don't like dogs. Totally. Yeah, it's way more acceptable. Yeah. No one is ever saying like, when I meet somebody who doesn't have kids, like in this world, like, all right, fucking relax. Yeah.

The world the way it is today, bringing a kid into this world, you never hear dog people say that. So does that mean that dog owners, you know, I don't know. Lifespans are a little shorter, you know. It's not the longest term thinking. But yeah, I have two dogs. I have a doxin mutt, and I have like a border collie mutt. And they're great. But yeah, I've tried to give the cat away multiple times.

I just don't like it. I'll be honest. It's a mess. Is it the cat or just cats in general? Like, is it this specific cat? I don't really have anything against cats. I just don't want a cat. Like, if you have a cat, I don't care.

I'll pet the cat. I just litter boxes are just, that's like people like, you know, people that they don't. I won't ignore the cats. and gross. Yeah. No, I do ignore the cat. He honestly doesn't really, like I said, there would be three days where I just,

we just won't see him. He just kind of keeps him himself. He doesn't like to be touched either. So it's kind of like we don't even have one. But I've tried to give it away multiple times and it just hasn't really worked out. Oregon, sure or false you've owned in iguana at some point? False. Wow.

Any reptiles? No reptiles. No. You seem like a reptile guy, but I don't always know you. You know, surprise us all the time. One a fish at a carnival once. Other than that, just a dog. You have a dog in the city?

No, no, no, my parents had one grown up. But you're trying to get a dog. I'm trying to get a dog, yeah. That was on the registry. On the registry. Thank you. We're moving in June, hoping to get one then. Nice.

Moving in June. Yeah. Hoping to get one. How much is the dog you're looking at? Couldn't tell you. Ballpark. I haven't even started looking yet. I have no idea how much a dog.

I thought there was like a picture of the dog on the wedding thing. Just like a stock photo. Oh, I thought you were trying to get that. No, it was kind of like an imaginary fund. Okay. So it was like buying a frame. One day. Right.

No, but I mean the picture in the frame, that's the dog picture you used in the registry. Yeah. Because that'd be really weird and maybe not funny if it were the dog you wanted and you didn't get enough money in your wedding gifts. Sorry, buddy, back to the pound. Or people were like, oh, my God, how great is that dog? Send us a new picture. And you're like, we actually weren't able to close in time.

People didn't step up. If you want for your wedding gift, we're going on it. I'll buy your dog. Melissa's aunt is really into buying us the dog. Oh, wow. Sounds like you know her brother. Pretty contentious. Okay.

I'll lay out then. We'll leave it. We'll leave it to her. Okay. She's got big time by work out of wife's aunt. I actually feel fine about it. She can owl for the shit out of me. Yeah.

Yeah. I think I made the right to see. decision. We've not answered this, though. I'm a little confused on the $20 thing. Okay. So we left you $20 in the envelope. So aren't they going to know that you never went in there when you never grabbed the 20 or is it that you never grabbed it? And then they're actually going to say like, hey, we're going to give you the 20 after the fact. So let's get to the bottom of this. I do like it when you kind of come clean on this one. But the fact that they were this crazy about feeding the cats twice and it was a 24 hour window. I mean, they own the cats. They shouldn't understand their habits, what you can and can't do. So if they were that concerned with the feeding pattern that they had a cat sitter, they freaked out, they hit you up, you admitting that you never fed them is likely going to ruin the relationship.

So I'm not saying like I'm pro-lie in a lot of these scenarios because I think, hey, you know, my bad or whatever. but they obviously really, really care about these cats to schedule this out and to freak out and not be like, I think most cat people being like, we're going to be gone for like a day plus. It will likely be irreparable, but you weren't super close with them. It seems like you'd like to be closer, as you've mentioned. So the lie that is not going to hurt anyone, the cats are fine, might be the move here, but the $20 part of it, I'm confused by and I don't understand if they're going to realize later on,

never went in there or maybe you were not aware that the 20 was in the envelope and that it was for you and they're going to give you the 20 anyway and now you have to take the 20 on top of the lie 20 is weird 20 does not have the impact it used to have a crisp 20 doesn't do it yeah like I did somebody did something for me and I was like do I can I even hand this person a 20 or are they kind of like a 20 so it costs me 40 and then I was like this is excessive I was like this shouldn't be a $40. Thank you. You're in like no man's land.

But 20, yeah, 20 felt wrong too. That actually, I've kind of had this thought for a while now because like, you know when you have somebody come over and you just don't know if you're supposed to tip them or not, like, there's just different services and you're like, do I give this, like, you know, like the HVAC guy comes over. It's like, do I, do I, do I, what do I do I do I do what do I do I do here? Like, you know, or like the, you know, anything. I feel like there needs to be like a database for that and then what the appropriate dollar

amount would be because I just, I, I feel like when you Google, it's all over the place. It's not good. Am I giving somebody a 20 and it's completely insulting them or am I even insulting them by giving them a tip? I don't know. No one's insulted by just getting a tip.

Now, sometimes it could be too low. Yeah, I don't know. I had guys from Restoration Hardware set up a bed and I didn't have any cash cash except all pesos like thousands of dollars in pesos.

And I was like, what is like pesos? Yeah. You guys see the conversion rate this morning? All right, we spent a lot of time on that one. Well, really quickly, I would just say, if you feel that badly about it, just don't take the 20, but I wouldn't tell them what happened. The cats are fine.

You know, if you're guilty, just don't take the money. Yeah. I just don't think you want to tell these people. I just don't think you want to tell these people that you didn't feed their cats, man. Because if they were that determined and make sure they were fed twice when they were. they were gone 24 hours. They have high regard for their cats. All right, this one's serious.

It's a little long. Hey guys, 510, 170, no real player cop. A retired college baseball player took running and golf afterwards bench 22. Oh, 255. Sorry, buddy. And look, a lot of you guys out there in the content game, you absolutely suck at talking about lifting. And I'm not saying that as a meathead.

But don't shit on Chet Holmgren when you can't figure out it's 28 kilogram dumbbells and you think it's 20 pounds. You're a sucker. you know and like chet's arms are the length of Rhode Island and he's not huge in the chest and dudes with arms that are that long you know using dumbbells at 28 kilograms like yeah if he doesn't work out a ton and he's skinny already or whatever it's he's not going to be ripping him maybe he will in five years but they're not 20 pounds that he's struggling with so you know look in the mirror ask yourself some questions by yourself after after ripping on

I'm sorry for the long email story includes many layers I recently experienced a breakup of the coworker I still have to see her every single day at work is tearing me apart some context I just turned 30 and she's 26 he's extremely beautiful smart funny we had a great time together because you always ask I'm not bad looking myself and normally do not struggle with the ladies I have attached pictures of both of us let's take a peek okay she is gorgeous you are a really good looking guy totally comfortable saying we both work for a prestigious finance company in a major city. Don't say it. All right, no problem. I've been working here for a year. She's been here about nine months. We met at work, a work event five months ago,

immediately hit it off. Fast forward. She shouldn't have given me her number two months ago. We immediately started going on dates and wouldn't you know it. Everything was going perfect. Every day we had was great and would spend all weekend together. But here's where everything changes about a month into us dating. One of her parents passed away unexpectedly in their sleep. Her parents are divorced. She did not have a great relationship with this parent. So once she finds out the news, she's obviously devastated by it. She's not dealing with just the loss of a parent, but also the guilt of never having the relationship get to a better place. While this happened, I was supporting her the best I could in my feelings and had gotten a lot stronger

for her. Seeing her having to deal with this terrible situation made me care and want to be there for her even more. She went back home for over a week to be with her family. I was unsure where we would be when she got back. But surprising when she was back, she took me to dinner for my birthday. The date went good. She was obviously sad. We had fun and even hung out along, excuse me, hung out for a long time that night. After this night, I had plans where I was traveling the next weekend for my birthday, and then the following Wednesday, Sunday for my mom's birthday, which looking at the timeline was the worst possible luck because I barely saw her for three weeks after her parents passing. So we hang out one more time, that dinner, and once again, the date seems

good. I cooked her dinner at my place. We laugh. She even tells me that we'll hang out when I get back from my trip. But while I'm on my second trip, she was being distant. And then I get the dreaded text, hey, sorry, I've been MIA. I've just been dreading this conversation, but I don't see us as a long-term fit, end quote. This is the first text below. I'm shocked by this. I'm shocked by this. And the last time I saw her, it seemed we had a good time, and she suggested hanging out when I got back. I asked what caused this and tell her I don't want to lose her. She acknowledged how great of a time we had. But since her father's passing, she hasn't been in the best headspace, which I completely understand. I give it three days until I reach back out because I wanted to

give her space and didn't want to press too hard. I asked her if she can talk that night, she sees us in a very harsh response saying that she wants to be honest that she still doesn't see it working long term. She's not going to change her mind and no matter what. And that sometimes people just aren't meant to be together. But she did agree to talk to me on the phone later that night to explain more. We end up talking that night on the phone for about an hour. Her reasoning was she doesn't think we share the same values that she could pick up on little things that would lead to problems in a long-term relationship. I was confused and asked what values, and she stated about four or five things that I don't really think were values. One was a joke

that I made the last time I hung out where I made fun of her team from work and how they did their job. She thought I was putting her down and not respecting her career. The problem I had with this is that I did make the joke, but she laughed at the joke even when I said, well, look, that she laughed doesn't really mean anything. Plenty of people laughed at something that is uncomfortable, and the laugh is a mechanism to get through the uncomfortable part. And the way I ended the joke was by saying my mom does the same job as her, and she's the smartest woman I've ever met.

If I would have seen that she was offended by the joke, I would have said, sorry, and that I didn't mean anything by it, which is exactly what I told her once I heard she was upset with it. Another value, why she didn't see us working long term, because I told her I hadn't been to a doctor in over 10 years, and I didn't plan on going to one. Yeah, women don't love that, man. I mean, it's one thing for you to go from 20 to 30 and not get a checkup.

You know, I'm not saying it's the right thing to do, but a lot of dudes do it. But when you start, because women are just so much better about that. And when you say, I don't plan on going to one, like, what are you? Yeah, be open to it, dude. Catalancher, like, you know. Yeah, I haven't been to. 10 years, fuck, not going. Nobody, no woman wants to hear that.

No woman's like, you know what I love? He's like, when it comes to health and medicine, he's so independent. He does his own research. This bothered her deeply because of her parents' unexpected death. Yeah. Kind of fair. Yeah. I'm on her side.

But the issue with this was that it was true until her parent passed away. Okay, once that happened, I had a change of heart, ended up booking a doctor's appointment because I wanted to make her feel better. I was planning on telling her after I went as a surprise because I knew this bothered her and I thought she'd be happy, but still after I explained that the difference in values she saw wasn't exactly who I was. She still told me she wasn't changing her mind. So now I'm here writing this email at work where I see her walk by at least five times a day. It's killing me. So my question to you guys is, do you think these values that she's using to break up with me

is just a way to protect herself and her emotions because of the trauma she's been going through? How do I handle seeing her every day? Currently, I'm trying to avoid her because of how hurt I am. but at the same time, I know that I do want to be with her long term. So I'm wondering what's the best way to give her space during this time, but also try to get back into a relationship with her in the future when I think she's in a better place. All right. Look, a couple different things here. She's gone through something and it was unexpected on top of everything else.

So for you to try to understand what she's going through, it's nearly impossible, right? And everybody's going to react to this kind of thing in a different way. But I think it is fairly predictable for something that's a, a very new relationship. It's like, you know, I can't take on whatever emotional commitment you need to make to be in a relationship that you think is going long term while you're also dealing with something that's tragic and disrupting and surprising and, you know, just a horrible scenario that she's certainly dealing with right now.

So I think the key thing for you is you got to stop bringing up any of the relationship stuff. You've got to stop talking about the values because she's only going to be looking at this is another conversation with you that she's going to dread and she's going to like you even less than she does now. right so maybe she broke up with you because she didn't like you maybe she broke up with you because the values thing that you don't seem to understand as well as she does or maybe i shouldn't frame it that way the priority of however you define values is different from the way she defines it um you know maybe all of these things are very real maybe she just doesn't like you um maybe she will

like you again but what you can't do is work this relationship in a way that's only about you hoping to get back together with her you know her fault well i don't know i don't know which parent So I don't know why I said father, I guess maybe dying unexpectedly in the sleep. Let me believe that. But whatever, I will just say, because I don't know, a parent dying like this, you, she needs to know that you'll be there for her in a way that has nothing to do with your real priority. You know, and I guess I'm not saying be devious, but you have to figure out a way where instead of you feeling uncomfortable and having it crush you every time you see her, you can't think that way. I know it feels almost impossible, but you're just going to have to be somebody that's there that is no longer somebody that's trying to date her. You're going to have to figure out a way to get there.

And whether you believe it or not, you're not going to. But she can't see you as somebody that's working the relationship angle while she's going through all of this. And if you ignore her for your own, like that's going to make it even worse too. So you've got to treat her like a friend. You know, you had this connection at some point. I don't know if it's ever going to come back. It's going to be really, really hard for you. but anything that you're doing that is about, you know,

hey, you have a couple friendly chats a month from now, and then you're right back to it being like, I miss you and I want to get back together. It's likely not going to work. She's going to have to get through this and process it, however she needs to, however long it's going to take. But you'll likely put yourself in a much worse position

if you're working the relationship angle. You have to ignore that completely right now. Yeah, the last thing you want to be is pushy right now. And that sucks because obviously you want to push for what you want, but you're just going to keep digging a bigger hole for yourself. Is it also possible, like, is she just kind of maybe making up some of these problems, red flags? Like, she just doesn't really want to tell you the real reason or, you know, like, and like people say stuff all the time when they're on dates and to just to pass, you know, to make conversation easy, to laugh. Like, it's easy to do that. And then you kind of get back home and you're like, I don't know if I really felt that, you know, the way.

I really wanted to. And, you know, obviously she was going through a lot of stuff. So maybe she said things and her headspace wasn't right. But is it just possible that she's just not really telling you the main things that she doesn't like about you? Not that she doesn't like you as a person, but that she doesn't want to date you. And she, you know, because maybe she cares about your feelings. It doesn't want to actually like crush you by telling you, hey, I actually, you know, I'm not into this thing that you do. And it's a little easier to say these little nugget things that kind of don't matter. Yeah, agree. I think that's a good point. I just, it doesn't really matter if it's, you know, her headspace or these value issues. There's an age gap,

right? Like, she's a, she's a bit younger. Maybe she's not ready for, like, a... It's only four years. Four years, but she's, what, 26 in a big city? Like, she might not want, like, a long-term serious relationship. But a relationship, too. It doesn't... Like, if you want to be in one, you can't force her to be in that relationship with you. And honestly, you wouldn't want that. So, yeah, you do just got to find a way to get back to normal life. If it happens, it happens. Otherwise, you kind of got to move on. Can you use the seeing her every day as like a good thing, though? Because yeah, you can just be kind of like, you can still be friendly with her.

You can still kind of be around in her life. It's kind of like to hang around the hoop and get buckets thing. Like maybe you're just around and like it comes around after a few months or a year or whatever. Maybe she just needs the time. Sometimes like people, it doesn't make sense, but you just need the time after something crazy happens in your life. And you're actually going to be there potentially seeing her multiple times a day. And if, and to you, to what you said, Ryan, like if that's like a friend from a friendly perspective and helping her and carrying her. and caring about her well-being,

maybe, you know, maybe it does come around. I'll add this, because only I've seen it. You might want to look at spelling. Oh. Some words. So like a your-your-your situation?

There was just a couple. I wasn't offended, but I know that there's people out there that are like, if you can't get your there, there is your years down. I don't even know if. I don't even know if any of the,

will matter in a few years but i'll tell you what i can be still it can still be a turn off to some people yeah i tell you what uh there was like a like a like somebody tweeted out essentially like i know i know no one less than me and my facebook wall in like 2008 and now you get those like memories so they'll send you things that you sent to friends in like high school and early college and i'm like my grammar was that bad what who is this guy and i'm just i'm embarrassed for myself, if you're honest with you. And the good thing about it is, like, you just go, all right, delete. No one's going to see that one again.

Not that people are checking on my Facebook page, but still, it's like, oh, man, tough scene. I'm on it. I'm on a weekly. Please don't. Screenshots. Shout out to Wargon. Sir Rudy.

Jonathan Frius is a video podcast on the Spotify app and our YouTube page. Ryan Rusilla Podcast, Bringer, Spotify. They were going to name me Michael Jordan. My dad was like, I don't think he can live up to it, so they named me Michael Jared. Must be 21 and older and present in select states for Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in D.C., Kentucky or Wyoming gambling problem. Call 100 gambler or visit RG dash help.com. Call 1888-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-9-7-7-7-7-7-7-7. or visit ccpg.org forward slash chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is there.

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