Will Cain Country - Falling Stars: Dallas Gets Bumped By Connor McDavid On Stanley Cup Quest 

Episode Date: May 30, 2025

On this edition of The Will Cain Show’s Friday sports episode, Will and the Crew take a scattershot look around the world of sports as the Dallas Stars' journey to the Stanley Cup ends and Will's soccer idol Kevin De Bruyne moves to Italy for a new start.  Will and the Crew also play a game of Buy, Sell, and Hold: Was Cam Newton's college football career the best of the century so far? What was the Cowboys' best off season move? Are the windows closing or closed for the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs? And Will gives an update on his next appearance at the New York City Navy SEAL swim. Tell Will what you thought about this podcast by emailing [e-mail] Subscribe to The Will Cain Show on YouTube here: Watch The Will Cain Show! Follow Will on Twitter: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One, down go the stars. Goodbye to Kevin DeBroina, scatter shooting around the world of sports while asking what is a successful season. Two, buy, sell, hold in sports. Three, an homage to the greatest sports television show of all time and an update on training for the New York City

seal swim. It is the Will Kane show streaming live every Monday through Thursday at 12 o'clock Eastern time at Fox News.com on the Fox News YouTube channel and the Fox News Facebook page. But always on demand, as is this episode, our Friday edition of Kane on Sports,

by subscribing at Apple or on Spotify. We got the crew. We got two a days, Dan, we got tinfoil pat. We've got a jam-packed episode of sports for you today, a day where I wake up and say goodbye. Goodbye to Kevin DeBrona and goodbye to hockey. Let's get to it all with story number one. The Dallas stars give up three goals in the first eight minutes.

and say goodbye to their season as contenders for the Stanley Cup. For this third straight season, the stars have made the Western Conference Finals and failed to find a birth in the Stanley Cup final. It is four Western Conference Finals in six years. One Stanley Cup final birth in those four semifinal appearances. It was excruciating last night. Stars goalie, Jake Ottinger, was pulled seven minutes into the game.

That's shocking, considering that he is their team. He was their team. He is their MVP. It's a bold decision by Stars coach Pete DeBore. One, I really can't find a precedent for yanking your goalie seven minutes into the game in a season where he is the reason. He is largely the reason you're there in the first place. it brings up some real questions about honestly the offseason,

but maybe even in the future and the relationship between Jake Ottinger and Pete DeBoer, perhaps Pete DeBoer and the Dallas Stars. I just never seen anything like that. And I don't know of a sports corollary. I can't think of benching your quarterback after maybe two interceptions at the beginning of the game, going to your backup.

I know hockey is a little more apt to pull their goalie if they think he just doesn't have it that night. DeBoers said, you know, he's played the Edmonton Oilers, Jake Ottinger, and he's lost six out of seven games in Edmonton, I believe, was the qualifier, but basically highlighting a poor performance by Ottinger against Edmonton in general. And they just need to shake it up. It was live or die. It was three to one Oilers going into this game.

And the Stars made a game of it. Hockey's always a bit of a bummer when you don't watch the game and you just look at the box score, look at the results, and you see six three or six one. but really those are four, three games. Those are three-one games that turn into empty netters at the end. You know, there's always, it feels like in every game against the Oilers, the stars were giving up one, maybe two empty netters at the end of the game, making it look like more of a blowout than it actually was.

But that being said, the Oilers dominated. The Oilers are really good. And by the way, Patrick, your Panthers are set for a rematch in the Stanley Cup final against the Edmonton Oilers. And I have no idea which way that will go. because I, after watching them for two years, believe the Oilers are really good. They have two of the best players in the NHL in Connor McDavid and Leon Drysidal. And now they're much deeper than they were a year ago.

But your Panthers just keep winning and finding ways to win. I imagine the Panthers will be favored, but it's going to be close. I think it will be a close final. You're shaking your head. You think the Panthers run away with the stand. The Oilers are favored from what I've seen. Is that right? In betting markets.

Oilers are already favored. You know, the thing about it is, when you have McDavid and Drysiddle, you get the benefit of the doubt on almost every betting on. And the betting on usually always will favor, by the way, public sentiment as well. And the public's going to ride stars. And really all you have is Matthew Cich. Chuck.

Tchuk. All you really have is Matthew Cuch. Cuch. Cuch. Cuch. Cich. Cich. To Chuck.

Cuch. Kachuk. Kachuk. Nor the Tee. Now it's all wrong. What kind of name is Kachuk? You should look that up. I think they're Czech.

Native American. Is Czech or Polish? That area? Yeah, I looked it up a couple months ago, I think. Yeah, we did it on the show. They're, uh... Oh, yeah, yeah. Ukrainian, that's right.

Ukrainian, we did this, yeah. During the Ukraine. We did? Yeah. The big four. The All-Star Break series, yeah. Because the Kachuk brothers were tearing up the ice. Yeah, definitely Eastern Europe.

Canadians. Yeah, it's awkward to always ignore the first letter in a name. That's always a little awkward. But you have Kachuk and they have McDavid and Drysadle, which is going to influence the betting odds. But it will be, it will be to the extent that we tune in for teams that we do not care about in the NHL, and I would suggest to you,

I might even tune in a little bit more than I would say a World Series of two teams I don't care about. It will be a good series. That being said, it does bring up the question for me of what is a good season. Weirdly, after three straight failures to make the Stanley Cup final

and going to the Western Conference Finals, I don't feel as a fan of the Dallas Star, is like a failure. I don't feel this huge disappointment. I mean, I am disappointed, but I don't have this angst that I would in other sports with other teams like the window has closed, the window is closing, and you have dropped the bag. One of the fan bases I feel the most empathy for in history is fans of the Buffalo Bills. I look back at the 1990s and I say, What a squad? Like, honestly, what a potential dynasty.

And if we can crown a team who never wins a title of dynasty, you would have to give it to those 90s Buffalo Bills. What was it, four Super Bowls, but 0 and 4 in Super Bowls? For real. And history will forget, sadly, those Buffalo bills and never give full credit to guys like Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas, or maybe even Bruce Smith defenders don't get the credit. or the blame as much when their team doesn't win at all.

So Bruce Smith will more readily be remembered as one of the greatest defensive ends of all time than Jim Kelly will be remembered as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. But that's wrong. Kelly is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. I mean, to make four Super Bowls, that's incredible, even if you lose. And you could do easily the same thing in basketball, right? We could do this with the Utah Jazz and Carl Malone and John Stockton. We could do it with Charles Barkley and the, and the,

Phoenix Suns. There were amazing teams with amazing superstars that will never get their full historical credit because of the presence of Michael Jordan. And I feel really bad for the fan base of Buffalo. But I don't feel that way about myself yet when it comes to the stars. Patrick, you texted us on our group chain the other day. Pete DeBore himself has been in what, six of the last seven Western Conference Final with the Dallas Stars and the Las Vegas Golden Knights. And then one more team. He was three with three teams. I think that's right.

There is one more team in his career in that stretch that he took to the Western Conference final. That is studly, man. I mean, like that is incredible. And sadly, what you begin to ask the question of, though, is he incapable of getting over that final hump? And I'm not sure that's fair. I'm not sure that's right. And I sit here and ask myself, what are the stars missing? What do the stars need?

And the answer sometimes is, you just ran up against a better team. And the Oilers are really good. Like, what could the Jazz have done? You ran up against Michael Jordan. And it is what it is. And not that Connor McDavid is necessarily yet Michael Jordan. And the Oilers are certainly not the Bulls. But I don't know.

What I'm asking you guys is I'm weirdly not as disappointed as one might be. and I would say I was more disappointed that the Longhorns couldn't get past the semifinal the last two years to get to the college football final because I guess I feel a more immediate window closing like whatever it is the era of Quinn yours or you only get players for two to four years one year in the era of the transfer portal it feels like everything is more like sand in your fingers constantly losing volume in the sport like football I guess I feel like you know what's most likely the stars will be back in the western conference final again next year I really think that's probably true and maybe they break through but for

whatever reason I actually feel like as a fan it's a successful season I had a great time I had a wonderful time going to games watching the stars being emotionally invested even if it fell you know whatever it ends up being what was it um seven games short seven games short of winning the stanley cup i don't know i think it's a successful season what do you guys think i mean you don't want to be fans of the buffalo bills that's true i mean i'm a i'm a ranger fan and i feel like hockey's becoming a little bit like college football for me because two years ago the rangers were fantastic and they were making a playoff run and then the year after they're dumping everybody on their team and they can't even make the playoffs and they're one of the worst teams in the east

it's become this thing where I feel like it's a little bit that way for me. But, yeah, it's a successful season for the stars. I mean, if there's future. And that's been the model, for example, of the Florida Marlins. You know, how many times have they won the World Series and then completely tore apart the team and immediately rebuild? That's a little bit what's happened now with the Texas Rangers. You know, they won it all.

And that one season will never be replaceable. but now, I mean, meaning it's not replaceable in terms of where it lives in my heart. You know, it's going to be one of the greatest sports seasons as a fan that I've ever experienced. But now here we are, and I get, I get what's going to amount to at least half a decade, more, probably a decade of contention for the stars. And I don't know. I feel positive about that experience. I feel good.

I'd rather have that. consistency, then like that flash in the pan. I mean, you know, that same season that the Rangers won the World Series, the Braves were the best team in baseball during the regular season. And it was a gut punch when you, you know, go out in the second round of the playoff, you know. And now it's like you're sitting there and you want your team to be that team. And it's like, and all the pieces are still relatively in place. But it's like, it's just not the same.

And, you know, and that is, that is more of a gut punch that, that feeling of falling well short of your potential, right? Like, if you had, if the stars had lost in the first or second round, it would have felt much worse. It's in football, maybe the corollary for the stars is the Minnesota Vikings for so long, who made, I don't know how many. Kirk Cousin years, yeah, but couldn't get over. the hump. It's certainly more enjoyable than watching the Cowboys losing the first at best second round of the playoffs. And you walk away as a fan with a totally different feeling about your team, like a warmth as opposed to a cynicism about your team. And here's another corollary. So right now in the NBA, your New York Knicks just won game five to make it

three, two against the Pacers. Now my suspicion is the Knicks will ultimately fall short and the Pacers will win this series. but I don't think I talked to a Knicks fan yesterday and there was like this disappointment in his voice and I'm like I actually don't think you should feel disappointed like this is a great season for the Knicks you took down the Celtics you're not honestly you're not better than the Pacers

and you're certainly not better than the thunder and if you did this miracle run and you made it it would be magic for you but don't act like you should expect it like sports is about exceeding expectations or meeting expectations and you have met them you might as a Knicks fan have even exceeded them

you're not you have no right to expect to be one of the top two teams in the NBA and I'm not being mean I'm trying to be like real I would think Dan if the Knicks go down in game six game seven is going to put a different pressure on it

because then it's almost in your grasp but if they go down in games if they go down in game six I just think you have to feel somewhat happy like that's a good successful season it's a successful season but it's not a success for the future i feel like i mean you're putting an entire team on jela brunson's back and in carl anthony towns i mean it's just not a good business model for a team moving forward i mean it's a great flash

in the pan i feel like for me but it doesn't make me feel excited for next season or the season after that um but you know it'd be fun to see but i think you're right i think game six they they go down in indiana the pacer's are better team for sure. More of the Will Cain Show, right after this. Fox News Audio presents unsolved with James Patterson. Every crime tells the story, but some stories are

left unfinished. Somebody knows. Real cases, real people. Listen and follow now at Fox Truecrime.com. It is time to take the quiz. It's five questions in less than five minutes. We ask people on the streets of New York City to play along. Let's see how you do.

Take the quiz every day at thequiz. then come back here to see how you did thank you for taking the quiz welcome back to the will cane show i also have to say goodbye as i've mentioned i've given a couple of omages to one of my favorite players maybe my favorite player in all of sports maybe all time the only real debate would be d'art novitsky and people in texas and dallas will never understand me saying this but it is kevin de broina of manchester city it's because he's been such a part of my relationship with my sons and he's also just incredible in a way that I appreciate incredible athletes. I've said this before.

I'm more in awe and more appreciative of intellectual genius than I am of physical dominance. I will always be more attracted to the game of Kevin DeBrona over Ronaldo. I will always be attracted more to the game of Kevin DeBrona over Ronaldo. I will always be attracted more to the game of Nicola Yokic over Shaquille O'Neal. That's not to say Yokic is better than Shaq, but he may well be when this whole story is written. But I just love seeing guys see things that nobody else can see and execute passes and offenses in surprising and innovative ways more than you simply can't stop me without fouling me. And DeBrona, as I've said, my analogy is a time traveler.

He lives three seconds in front of everybody else on the field and makes passes and sees the game in ways nobody else can. And he has now left Manchester City on a free transfer. There was rumors he would come to America. Chicago Fire. There was talk for some time of going to the new expansion franchise in San Diego. but he is signed with Napoli and Syria of Italy. And now I'm a fan of Napoli.

You texted me the other day asking the Brooklyn brunch crew want to know who I, who I'm a fan of in the Premier League. And the answer was, is Manchester City. And that's in no small part because of DeBrono. But now I'm actually excited to watch another league as well. I don't watch Syria. I don't watch La Liga in Spain. I don't watch Bundesliga in Germany, not much, maybe a game or two every season.

But now I will. I think it's on ESPN Plus is where I can get Syria. Napoli is the reigning champion. They're not a traditional powerhouse. I mean, they're good. They're the one that signed Diego Maradona. They're South Italy. Naples is South Italy.

So it's a different culture. Italian soccer has kind of been dominated by the north. And I flirted with picking a team in every. league so that I could have something to root for. And you've got Inter Milan and A.C. Milan has been like historically the dominant team franchise. They today have a lot of Americans. So kind of fun to watch A.C. Milan in that way.

Juventus has been a big one as well. Roma, I love the colors, which is maroon and gold. And I've been to Rome and I like, I like the city of Rome. But now it's going to be Napoli. That's what I'm going to root for because of Kevin DeBrono. And I'm excited about that. Now I've got to pick a team. By the way, I don't have any idea what that says about me as a fan.

Like, Siri Off fans will be like, oh, you're a fan of Napoli. Like, your Brooklyn brunch crew judges me for liking Man City, as every fan does. Because they're like, oh, you're a glory hunter. I got a new money. You got a yuck. I'm sure. Like, because they win. They didn't this year.

They got third. They have a lot of money owned by, I think they're owned by Dubai. Abu Dhabi I can't remember Abu Dhabi not sure but I don't care I have my reasons

why I root for someone but in Italian soccer the history is fascinating like Lazio which is in Rome or just outside of Rome I believe it's considered

the team of the fascist party historically of Italy Mussolini's team so I don't know particularly it was Mussolini's team but teams Because teams have historical political ties. Same thing in Spain.

You know, Real Madrid is the federalist team. It's the crowns team where Barcelona is the separatist team, you know. Fascinating. Imagine that happened here. Yeah. Isn't that interesting how they have so much more like political and ideological ties to who you root for than we do in America? But I don't know what it says about me. I literally don't know enough about Italian history to say, what does it say about me?

if I say I'm a fan of Napoli. I have no idea. But the answer is going to be Kevin DeBrona. If you had to compare Kevin DeBrona to an American, right? Let's say in another sport, who would he be? Like in basketball or football? I've said Luca before because I think Luca sees the game in that way. But I think Luca is a little more, it's weird to say this,

but he's a little more physically dominant, meaning put the ball in my hands and I'm going to make it happen. and Yokic might be a better comp because he's such a facilitator in addition to his ability to score. DeBrona is, he scores goals, but he's tied, I believe, for the all-time record in Premier League assists.

And so he makes the passes that you're like, whoa, and perfect weight. That's such a try-hard stat. What? Assists. What? Be like, I'm such a team player. I assist the most.

I think it's my favorite stat. And you know what? I'm going to be honest with you. I love that hockey counts two assists for every goal. Yeah. The pass before the pass. This is what I love about sports, man. I love the guy that sees it that sets up the thing that sets up the thing.

Like, that's what I love about hockey. I mean, truly in sports like hockey and soccer and to a lesser extent to basketball, scoring is two to three passes ahead of when it happens. you know what I mean and I love that hockey credits that DeBrona is more the last pass guy like he makes the last pass that gets the literal assist

not the uncounted assist and if you ever go watch highlights you guys should do is just watch highlights of Kevin DeBrona and watch the assists because they they are in basketball it would be the Luca pass where he goes behind

his head and you're like how did he see that guy standing back there DeBrona It's like, whoa, how did he put that pass across that entire acre of space at exactly the right pace speed and land at his teammates' feet? It's incredible. That would probably be my comp. It might be actually Gretti. If you think about it, because like Gretzky, Ovech can just beat Greske's goal record.

But Gresky, if you took out all goals from his point total, he actually would still be the league leader in points in the NHL history. So like, and he had a, he had like this vision that nobody else had. So, I mean, it might actually be something like that. I'm watching now he's so nonchalant with his passes. Oh, yeah. DeBrona. That's crazy.

I'm not sure nonchalant's a compliment. No, just like looks easy. Like it looks effortless. Effortless. Sorry. Effortless is a better word. That's what it's, that's what it literally means. But the kids are using nonchalant in a way that I'm not sure is 100% of compliment.

I've heard my boys use it and it's like they say it like it's a kid trying hard to look like he doesn't care. Oh, that's stupid. Do you see what I'm saying? That's so dumb. I think I've heard my boys use it in that in that way. Hey, as we continue to scatter shoot around the world of sports and staying on soccer, Rexum, the team owned by Ryan Reynolds has been promoted for the third straight year. Pretty incredible, right, to make three straight jumps in English, professional soccer, you have to finish in the top two. They have a playoff in several of divisions to get a third spot to jump up into another level of league.

The top, of course, is the Premier League. Rexam has jumped three. I believe now putting them in the championship, which is the second level. I believe that's where they've arrived at the second level of England, which is huge. And this is what it made me think about. I haven't watched the documentaries. I don't really care about the star thing with Rexam, but at this point I'm getting interested in this story as they climb.

I actually, this is one of my favorite things about soccer and sports. And it's really missing from American professional sports. If you or I could own a team, I do believe soccer would be the most fun sport to own a team in this way because of this. And a lot of guys like J.J. Watt and I believe Tom Brady at this point and other American stars have bought into teams. but you know MLS is just like the NBA in Major League Baseball it's a cartel

it's not a true meritocracy it's a cartel right because the owners want to ensure their slice of the revenue they will never accept promotion relegation because once you're relegated if you're promoted there's also two to three teams that are relegated in English soccer

you lose a massive amount of revenue because all of a sudden you're out on the TV deal right whatever NBC and Sky Sports pay to the premier league that's split up among the 20 teams in the premier league but if you're no longer in the premier league you're out of that revenue if you get relegated and correspondingly if you're promoted you now get a big revenue jump for being in the premier league and on and on and on well in american sports no owner's going to agree to that like they want the safety of being terrible and making a lot

of money so there is a upstart league in america called the u s l that's going to try to compete against the MLS. And it's a tiered promotion relegation system. I know there's going to be a team in Dallas. There's probably going to be one in Fort Worth. And we'll see which level at which they slot in each of these markets. But I just think it would be so fun to own a team. And let's just for the fun sake of it, say, you buy in fairly cheap, right? I don't know. Fairly cheap in American sports now, honestly, is like $20, $30 million. Connecticut has one. And, uh, U.S.L team.

Mm-hmm. Hartford Athletic, yep. Okay, and we'll see where they are, right? Are they, are they top division? But to see your business grow like that and to be promoted like Wrexham, I mean, that would be incredibly, incredibly fun, I don't know, owning a major league baseball team and being assured of always being one of, what is it, 32? in baseball? That's embarrassing.

30. 30. Oh, shoot. It's just less, it's less exciting, I feel like. You know, show up at the park every day and know that the downside is limited on losing. If you said to me, Will, here's some extra income. What sport would you like to buy into? I'd like to buy in at a low-level soccer club and see if we couldn't grow that thing through promotion. Go ahead to it.

There's no fun and no consequences to live. losing. I mean, like you said, you're still making money. So where's the fun in that? Like, it's like getting participation trophy when you're a kid. You know, it's way more fun. And it's way more on the line. It's way more exciting when you win and way more sad when you lose. But not only that in baseball, like if you're, you know, the owner of the pirates or the athletics, you're actually getting, people are giving you money and the luxury tax for sucking. Like you're getting paid, you're getting rewarded for being bad. It doesn't, like, there's no benefit, you know, I hate that.

There is a, there's a Westchester County, New York, USL team. Maybe I'll buy into that. Yeah. All that discretionary income become the, at least a minority owner and get yourself into the owner's suite. Here's a hundred bucks, guys, buy some cleats. If you were a minority owner, how far would you press your power? Like, I would say, hey, I need some sidelines.

Yes. I need, you're not going to be making any decisions, but what you're going to get is access. And, like, you'd stand on the sideline. I'd be having dinners on the field after games with my family. Well, I think the theme of this scatter shooting around the world of sports is, I think, for me, it's the ride. It's the ride. It's not just the trophy. And I know that anybody that says, but you're a fan of Manchester City.

Okay, I get it. But it really is the ride. It's for Manchester City, quite honestly, it's falling short in the Champions League and coming back the next year and seeing if you can go further. and then finally winning the Champions League for the first time. For the stars, if and when that breakthrough ever happens, I have to tell you, it will be weight sweeter because of this ride. Just like that World Series championship for the Rangers was sweeter because of the decades of struggle. Just like the 2011 championship for the Dallas Mavericks was sweeter because they were lost and robbed in 2006 against the heat.

It's the ride. And right now, I got to tell you, you know, Brad Albert, President of the, the Stars, Jim Nill, the GM of the Stars. It's a great ride. It's a fun ride. And I hope that the ride ends with the trophy. Right now, I'm appreciative of a team in Dallas that takes me along for a good ride. So successful season for the Dallas Stars. Let's take a quick break. In just a moment, we'll be back on the Will Kane Show. Hey, I'm Trey Gowdy host of the Tray Gowdy podcast. I hope you will join me every Tuesday and Thursday as we navigate life together and hopefully find ourselves a little bit better on the other side.

Listen and follow now at Fox Newspodcast.com. Following Fox's initial donation to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, our generous viewers have answered the call to action across all Fox platforms and have helped raise $6.5 million. Visit go.combe forward slash TX flood relief to support relief and rebuilding efforts. Welcome back to The Wilcane Show. All right, let's play a game of buy, sell, or hold. Story number two.

All right, we're going to let the boys take this away. They're going to present me a couple of options and ask what I'm going to buy, sell, or hold these narratives in the world of sports. Who is our leader today? Is it the most electric man in broadcasting tin oil panel? That's right, Will. So today we have a list, a new music by the way, a new music. A list by Bruce Feldman of the Athletic.

He ranked his top 25 players of the 2000. thousands. And at number one, he put Cam Newton. You buy seller, hold that. Cam Newton had one just for really, really good season. Just for the audience's perspective, since you set this up so perfectly. Best 25 players of the last 25 years in college football. Correct. According to Bruce Feldman. Bruce Feldman. And number one, Cam Newton. Cam Newton. Okay. Now, you're going to sell that. You're going to sell Cam Newton his entire college career. So how do you, how would you rank players?

Would you rank them by their overall career or like, I mean, like college football is hard because, you know, usually, especially quarterbacks, you know, you're not starting until junior senior year until recently, you know? Yeah. So for me. really didn't have much of an option you know one season is simply not enough for me and that season by cam was absolutely incredible it was and by that same token i believe feldman ranked joe burrow number four yes and that's also built on one incredible season and they were both

incredible but for me if i'm picking the best 25 players of college football for a quarter of a century i want to see more than one season i'm not going to say they're not in the running it's just that guys that did it for more multiple years um get more credit in my book so look obviously i'm a massive homer and the most dominant player that i've ever seen in any sport any sport most dominant you cannot stop this guy he is going to make sure this team wins is vince young of the texas longhorns in the mid-2000s that and that was not one season now vince had two years i believe as a starter and started begin starting halfway through his freshman year and his freshman year was okay but people forget his sophomore season which

he was absolutely incredible against Michigan in the Rose Bowl I think he ran for over 200 yards passed for let's call it another 200 he was incredible against Michigan and that game and by the way he had other great games that season you're like whoa next year is going to be incredible as well and it was and they won the national championship in that dominant performance by Vince Young against USC to win the national championship again at the Rose Bowl so acknowledging a bit of Homer bias

but a bit more as well of a track record, I'm going to put Vince Young above both Burrow and Cam Newton. It's hard not to hold Vince's pro career against him. And I think that's what people do. I really do. Burrow and Newton had better pro careers. And I think that retrospectively gives credit to those guys. That being said, Newton was as close to Vince Young

and maybe even better in that one season than anybody we've ever seen. And it's hard to come with burrow to the You're going to say I would counter with Lamar Jackson I mean he had No I mean I James had a outstanding 2013 season And what about you know went 29 straight

But like I understand You know you could probably discredit his entire career But Jackson was amazing I'd put Johnny Mansell up there with anybody You know What did he rank Johnny football? Did he come in with his time?

Was he in the top 25? I don't think he did either. I mean, he threw over 4,000 yards in 2013 with 37 touchdowns. Okay, but here's the thing on Lamar Jackson and Johnny Football. I do think you, you know, I'm not going to say you're not in the running because you didn't win it all. But if you do win it all, you have to put those guys. I mean, championships have to matter. And I get it.

How do you win a championship at Louisville? I get it. How do you do that? And if Lamar Jackson had been on Florida State, Texas, Auburn, would he have done the same? Would he have won at all? Possibly. Here's a feather in Cam Newton's cap. Everybody points this out. If you look back to those Auburn rosters, they were not impressive. Like, it was a lot of a one-man team with Cam. The other people around him were not studs. And you got to give Cam credit. And that's going to hurt the argument for the guy I'm going to end up giving this to because I'm actually not giving it to Vince. young. I think ultimately you do have to give it to Reggie Bush. I think he's not a quarterback. He was surrounded by a ton of incredible talent at wide receiver at running back and at quarterback. But Reggie did it for three seasons, two national championships, and in the one season he didn't win a national championship, he won the Heisman. Now, that's the season that Vince should have won the Heisman, but Reggie won the Heisman. And that's, I really believe that the Heisman should have gone to Vince Young that year.

But three years of that, man, three years of being one of the most dominant players in college football, I have to give credit. So my ranking would probably go Reggie one, Vince two, acknowledging a level of homerism there, cam three. What about I would have to throw another name out there,

Baker Mayfield. Did it three years around? Four years, I think. Didn't win. Didn't win. Did have a fair amount of talent around him

but definitely deserves to be in the conversation. Yeah. All right, what else you got, 10-4, Pat? All right, so Mike Sando over at the Athletic

also had a list of his favorite offseason and moves by every NFL team. And I thought it was interesting. Do you buy, sell, or hold on his favorite signing by the Dallas Cowboys? The re-signing of defensive linemen. I'm going to probably butcher this. Osa O'Di-Zawa.

Pretty close. Not bad. Yeah. Okay. Osa-Degizua. I really just owned it. Just went for it. That's good.

Confidence. I mean, that's a huge move. They're thin of defensive tackle, but you got to say it's George Pickens. That's a make-or-break move. Like, if George Pickens, I mean, works out, it could be huge for the Cowboys and it could also bust. I looked through this list. Here's what I thought were the biggest off-season moves. And I looked at his nomination for every team.

And my biggest takeaway was, man, there's not that many big moves in the NFL compared to NBA, And by the way, college football. There's bigger moves than college football now that changed the destiny of a team with the portal. So I had to go coach-wise, and it came down to two for me, like the biggest moves that could change the trajectory of a team. It's Ben Johnson being hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. If Ben Johnson is truly the genius that gets credit for the revitalization of the Detroit Lions offense, what can he do with Caleb Williams, what can he do in Chicago? But also, I actually really like Mike Vrable with New England Patriots.

I think that's a big move. I think he fits perfectly that culture. I think Vrable's a good coach. I think you prove that with Tennessee. And he's actually the kind of coach you want when you don't have elite talent. I think he elevates average talent, a little bit like Dan Campbell. You know, he elevates average talent to above average results. Now can you give him more than average talent and see what he can do like we've seen with Dan

Campbell in Detroit. What else, tinfoil? So this last one is going to be, we're going to talk about some NFL windows. So contender windows for two teams. Do you buy sell and hold that the window is closed, closed or closing on the Dallas Cowboys? Hmm. Yeah, I mean, listen, I think, I think, I think. I think. think everybody like if you listen to radio sports talk radio and dallas and the feeling is it's closed but there you know for all the shenanigans on first take i have realized there is a true narrative and i am as guilty of it as everybody else every offseason i do convince myself oh no now we're finally going to be able to do it classic cowboy's mentality

it's in part because I am still a believer in Dak Prescott and I do think he's still criminally underrated and if you just maneuver the right parts around him it can add up and it could do it and so it's hard for me to come to the conclusion it's completely closed but how about this I told you in the opening segment today it's about expectations my expectations for the Cowboys, at this point, would be fulfilled with the second round of the playoffs. That's where I am now. Huh. Like, the NFC championship game would be exceeding my expectations.

And over the last couple of years, that wouldn't have been the case. I would have said that is my expectation to go that far. So I have readjusted my expectations down on what is successful for the Cowboys. Maybe that says then, okay, well, you're admitting their championship. window is closed. So this is another team. Great success. Three straight Super Bowls.

One, two of the last three. AFC champions recently. Do you see the window closing for the Kansas City Chiefs? I mean, Travis Kelsey starting to fade out. By-seller hold of the beginning of the decline. Really? No. No.

No. Are you going to really quickly on this, I'm going to tie this into. another topic, but are you going to ask me about the face of the NBA on this buy-sell hold? I wasn't, but you want me to? Okay. Well, no.

That was on the list of potential that Dan had talked about, right? Yeah, yeah. What you had talked about, Dan, I believe, was is Luca versus somebody else? Oh, Anthony Edwards. The true face of the NBA, not Luca or Wembe or anybody else. Okay. No, no, and no. And this is also going to sound homer.

the face of the NBA and again six to six months ago during the Luca trade I said he was going to be the face of NBA right so you know call me a fraud if you want and at this point Anthony Edwards is in the you know the Jordan phase where Jordan couldn't

break through and couldn't beat the pistons and then he did well that's where Anthony Edwards is right now and he's got to break through if he's going to be the face the NBA and right now I don't know that he can and it's not about him it's about parity it's about that wolf's roster

and whether or not it can fully ever get there I don't think the thunder are going anywhere I think they're going to be around for a while I think the nuggets are going to be contenders I think that the face of the NBA isn't yet in the NBA I think

listen I think this is where the Homer calls I think it could be Cooper Flagg well so my wife just did a photo shoot with him and I saw the I saw the pictures, the prints before they came out. It is a very, the face stays the same.

He doesn't have much character for, you know what I'm saying. So I don't know if that's going to care. Personality? Much personality, you're saying? Yeah. Well, he's 18, though. I mean, I was, I have a 17-year-old. I did.

Like, they, you know how, like, people get to a place in their life? You know, Patrick's still work on this. Where their highs and lows are real obvious on their face and their tone of voice, you know? Like, a teenager, you know, you can't tell a lot. he's 18 man like his ability to emote is still developing so maybe that grows in his personality Bron did also by the

by the teenagers are nonchalant like I think teenagers the picture I saw he was just like trying to not be cool like not you know the first white American NBA player taken number one overall since the 70s guys and he's sponsored by new balance

that's awesome I love that I love that also American that's the classic thing he could be though sponsored by I really mean it

now he has to live up to expectations on the court but if he does he the only thing doesn't keep him from being the face of the NBA is what we talked about the other day

all these race debates are going to overtake first take and he can't be the face right here's why bring up Cooper Flag. The model for the Mavericks, if they're really going to do this, is to keep Cooper Flag for 10 to 15 years at a minimum, right? And right now, he's got

older players around him like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. And you hope that that adds up to a window in the next three years. But when that is over, you would hope to reform a new window around Cooper Flag because he's that good and he's with you that long. There was a reason I brought us up. That is Patrick Mahomes. Patrick Mahomes is that good. good and the window doesn't close on a player like that, you have to reinvent the team around him. And as long as you have him and you can do that, the chief's window remains open. Maybe the window is closing on the current iteration of the chief's dynasty, but I don't

expect them to go away and perhaps be reinvented. How many times were the Patriots reinvented around Tom Brady? How many times? That's true. three or four times, right? That's what I think happens with. Totally different offenses. That's true.

Totally different offenses, not just players, like, the way they ran the team. And I think as long as they have Mahomes, they will continue to cycle windows of contention. Is Patrick McHombs the face of the NFL right now, though? Yes. I don't know. I would say Lamar Jackson. No. You don't think so?

It's Mahomes. I mean. He's in all the commercials. Mahomes is like, what is he right now, the second best quarterback of all time, maybe the third? I mean, it's Brady. And then it's a debate between Mahomes and Montana. And people that are older are listening to say, oh, my God, how can you put Mahomes? Look at Mahomes' record so far.

By the way, has Mahomes never not made the AFC championship game? Isn't that his worst season? Yes. His worst season is losing in the AFC championship game. That was pretty wild. That's wild. All right, go ahead, tinfoil. Well, that was it.

That's it for buy cell holes. Okay, thank you. Boom, all right. More of the Will Cain Show, right after this. For a limited time at McDonald's, enjoy the tasty breakfast trio. Your choice of chicken or sausage McMuffin or McGrittles with a hash brown and a small iced coffee for five bucks,

Cost tax. Available until 11 a.m. at participating McDonald's restaurants. Price excludes flavored iced coffee and delivery. This is Jason Chafetz from the Jason and the House podcast. Join me every Monday to dive deeper into the latest political headlines and chat with remarkable guests. Listen and follow now at Fox Newspodcast.com or wherever you download podcasts. Welcome back to the Will Kane Show. Let's get to an update on the New York City Sealswim training and an ode to the greatest sports television show of all time. Story number three. Inside the NBA is, is it over?

Was that the last of it, by the way, in the Eastern Conference Finals? When do we get the last episode of Inside the NBA? All the articles started to appear this week. Shaq, Chuck, Ernie, and Kenny. The pre-post and halftime show of the NBA on TNT is the greatest sports television show of all time. And perhaps, we could debate this real quick, the greatest studio show of all time.

News, politics, sports, is there one that's ever been better than that show? and here's how I would you, no matter what they're talking about, no matter what game has been played, that show was entertaining and was great. Bill O'Reilly dominated cable news ratings for 20 plus years, right? Tucker Carlson took it over and made it his own and did his own thing and dominated and became a cultural icon. There are great shows. The five absolutely dominant for an incredibly long time now

and based around the same things as inside the NBA. College game day? College game day is really good. By the way, so was Big Noon kickoff, which is now rivaling it in ratings, but not on the same levels inside the NBA. Just not. It was another one.

you think what do you mean at its peak at its peak i think college game day might be i don't think now it does but like i think it's like you know but don't you think that's in part because you like college football better than NBA do you think you're informed by that oh no i like barkley and shack and those guys i mean those guys are very i love waking up on a Saturday and you know then seeing college game day and watching it for a long time i just think it was By the way, there's another one. You guys, Dan, you're picking up soccer. You like Aston Villa.

I do. I'm just trying to remember what it's on. Is it on CBS? I think it's C. I know I'm talking about this show. This show is CBS. So it has Champions League. I think that's right.

And I don't know the name of it. But it is Kate Abdo, Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher, and Tieri-Henri, they're awesome. They're the closest to inside the NBA. They're funny, no matter what game, they bust each other's balls. It's just a good hang. It's fun, fun to watch. I forgot about it.

That show is really, really, really good. You need to watch this one then. You need to watch, it's better. That's where you have the two Jamies, right? Rebecca Lowe, the two Jamies. No, this is a different level. And I'm going to tell you why. Okay, why is Inside the NBA so great?

And the answer is pretty simple. It's Charles Barkley. It is Charles Barkley. Terrible. Now, that doesn't mean the rest of them aren't great. Shaq is hilarious on that show. But have you ever seen Shaq on other shows or a show when Chuck isn't there? Not near as good.

Ernie is the perfect host for Inside the NBA. Perfect host. but it still is Chuck that is the star it's because he's 100% authentic never have I ever seen somebody more comfortable with themselves period in the he's not always right I disagree with Chuck a lot but I don't care I'm watching Chuck in his level of pure raw authenticity forces the same out of everybody else and Shaq and Chuck are a comedy duo to together it's it's incredible um oh fox and friends weekend was pretty good on these as well

it's okay um but it does look like sometimes shack tunes out and my we were watching last night my wife was like why is shack just not like paying attention like that's his thinking face and then he'll say something funny like he looks like he's just but i like that i know it's great because you would tune out yeah in a lot and at times in a conversation and he's being himself like I'm tuned out right now. On that soccer one, Micah Richards is a super funny guy. He's a little over-goofy compared to Barclay, but he and Jamie Carragher have that back and forth like Shaq and Chuck.

And then Tierra Henri is the smart, serious one, but wry and funny. It's great. I don't know. I think it's the best sports and maybe period studio show of all time. I want to give you a quick update. So mid-August is the New York City Navy SEAL swim. I'm signed up for it. I've got a group of guys in Dallas who all said they want to do it, including both of my brothers.

I'm concerned. Not just for them. I'm concerned for me because so far I have swam zero yards. And I did that last year and it hurt. But now I would be going on two years of not swimming. And if I do that, that's going to. be real bad and so i have got to get i've i've gotten to the gym pretty regularly lately and that's good i'm trying to start dialing in the diet but i would put the concern meter for me

pretty high right now like we got to get on it this week i've got to find a pool and start swimming and for the rest of the guys involved in this the concern meter is at nine or ten because they didn't grow up swimmers most of them and i don't know if they're training but they've all said that they're going to do it. And I'm going to have to cut some guys if I don't get some proof, proof of life on some of the swimming. Because it's not a marathon.

You can't get tired and pull over to the side of the road. You, you drowned if you're done, if you're done. You know, and I can't get them in if they're going to die. It's just not going to work.

You know, so. A lot of liability. I'm real concerned at this point. but for myself as well. So we'll have to give you an update in the next week or two how many yards I've gotten under my belt because right now it's sitting at zero. Just promise.

That's bad news. Promise you'll be careful. We need you here at the Will Kane show. So, you know, just take care of yourself. You know, the first two years I was assigned a swim buddy and I left him. This may be a situation where I'm going to need my swim buddy. Do they hold your hand?

I left him because, well, I was, you know, I was too fast. I had to go. I'm sorry. My swim buddy was slower than me. Tinfoils muted himself while he's talking. That was my fault. That was my fault.

I muted him. It's better this way. It was better this way. I might have to get a seal swim buddy for some of these guys, but they still got to pass a test first. All right, we'll see how it goes. That's mid-August, the New York City Navy SEAL swim. That's going to do it for us today here on the Will Kane Show.

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