The Best Of 2 Pros & A Cup Of Joe

On this episode of 2 Pros & A Cup Of Joe, Jonas Knox & Brady Quinn go over the Vikings signing Kyler Murray on a one-year minimum deal to potentially be their QB1. Plus, the guys react to Miami (OH) losing to UMass shockingly, chat with Jon Paul Morosi, and much more!!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, thanks for listening to the Two Pros and a
Cup of Joe podcast with LaVar Arrington, Jonas Knox, and
myself Brady Quinn. Make sure you catch us live weekdays
six to nine am Eastern or three am to six
am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. You can find your
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Joe show over at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream

(00:20):
us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.

Speaker 2 (00:27):
Give this you're listening to Fox Sports.

Speaker 3 (00:30):
Radio and just like that, we are off and running
here on Two Pros and a Cup of Joe Fox
Sports Radio. He's Brady Quinn, I'm Jonas Knox, No LeVar Arrington.

(00:56):
Thank god for that. We're kidding. LaVar back here coming
up on Monday's show. But it would be b Q
and I taking you all the way up put until
nine am. Right out the gate six o'clock said, but
go ahead and listen to you having fun, a little
ball breaking to get the show started early. Yeah, you
can listen to us on the iHeartRadio app. You can

(01:17):
find us on hundreds of affiliates all across the country.

Speaker 4 (01:20):
As we do. Take you live for the next three hours.

Speaker 3 (01:22):
If you're listening on the podcast, we appreciate you doing so,
and away we go here, What up?

Speaker 4 (01:28):
Quinn?

Speaker 5 (01:31):
What up? Notice? I'm not really sure, like, do you
guys probably do something when I'm not here?

Speaker 4 (01:36):
Yeah, try and fire them up. That's our that's our
rallying cry.

Speaker 3 (01:42):
It's like the defensive alignment who used to get us
smacked in the face to get fired up?

Speaker 5 (01:46):
Yeah?

Speaker 6 (01:47):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (01:48):
Was that John Henderson? Yeah?

Speaker 4 (01:50):
Didn't he did? He go in the College Football Hall
of Fame recently or something along those lines. I want
to run.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
He was a gigantic human being. So that was I
had Joe Sheehan, the trainer. He used to slap him.
He was in Jacksonville. He came to Cleveland and I
remember we saw that clip. We asked him about it
and I said.

Speaker 5 (02:10):
Were you ever scared? Like he was just gonna snap
on you one day? He's like, yeah, yeah, pretty much.
Every time, I was like, I don't have to do this.

Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yeah, well whatever it takes to get you rocking and rolling.
But listen, we were all waiting around trying to see
when the move was going to be made. It felt
like a foregone conclusion. There was some rumblings out there
that maybe the Steelers could be in the mix. But
as it turns out, what a lot of people expected
would be the ultimate end goal here was Kyler Murray

(02:41):
being in Minnesota Viking and congratulations to our friends listening
on the Yalla Horn of the Twin Cities on Kfan
right now, you got yourselves a brand new quarterback. Kyler
Murray is the guy inks a one year deal a
little over a million dollars. It is since the Arizona
Cardinals are on the hook for the remainder and Kyler

(03:04):
Murray is the brand new starter for I don't want
to jump to conclusions, but Kyler Burray is the brand
new quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

Speaker 1 (03:11):
Well, he's gonna have to jump to conclusions. I'm not
sure he's tall enough to do otherwise. Oh no, I
will say this. He is extremely talented. When healthy, he
can change the game with his legs. He's a capable passer.
Within this system, I will be curious to see how
Kevin O'Connell uses them. Only because we've talked about this before,
you know he's not gonna I'm not saying he can't

(03:34):
play from under center. But if he is under center,
the run pass split is gonna be heavily favored towards
run because if they are gonna pass, it's gonna be
hard to be drop back. I mean, nowadays the NFL
doesn't have your typical three step drop back anyway, but
it would be really hard for him to do that,

(03:54):
So that's not gonna happen. It's gonna be any sort
of boot, deep play action or run like. Those are
the three things that would probably end up being. And
that's what's going to give away some of those tells
of those signs. But Kevin o'colln' is a smart play caller, man,
I mean, he's he's as good as it gets in
the NFL. So I'm sure they're gonna be able to
find ways of scheming up Kyler Murray, put him in

(04:15):
positions to succeed, continue to find ways of isolating Justin Jefferson.

Speaker 5 (04:19):
And this offense will roll on.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
What's what I'm really the most curious to seek is
with this one year deal, he's got a no tag clause,
so if he plays well enough, he can couple this
into maybe.

Speaker 5 (04:31):
A longer term deal.

Speaker 1 (04:33):
And that's why you sign a one year deal some
people would be like, oh, well, maybe the Vikings aren't
sure of this, or or maybe Kyler Murray or whoever,
whatever side. When you're signing a one year deal, you're
saying to the team like, I'm gonna come there, start
and play and prove it to you so I could
sign that big money deal that I think I deserve.

Speaker 5 (04:53):
That's what this is setting up for.

Speaker 3 (04:55):
And I look at it from a Minnesota standpoint. Honestly,
what do you got to lose? Like if it's a
million dollars in change and Arizona's on the hook for
the rest, like that's a bargain considering, Hey, it's a
clear upgrade at the position. I don't think anybody would
argue that it's a clear upgrade there. I know he

(05:15):
didn't finish off the season last year on the best
of terms with the Cardinals, but a lot of that
was just shutting him down to keep him healthy in
case there was a move that was going to be
made or whatnot. I just look at it and I go,
you know, why not last year didn't work. It's clearly
not working with JJ McCarthy. It feels like there's all
sorts of stuff going on. Health other things happening there

(05:38):
with that guy, And I look at from a Minnesota standpoint,
I go, why wouldn't you take a chance? As you mentioned,
talented guy, It's not like that's why when the conversation
about Tua or Kyler Murray comes up, people just kind
of dismiss them as all, of course they're available, who
would want him? There's been a lot of quarterbacks who
have played a lot worse football in the NFL than

(05:59):
those two guys, Like they've played really really good. No,
I'm just I'm I'm saying in during their time, in
their era, there's been a lot of quarterbacks that you
look at, there's a reason why they got two hundred
plus million dollar contracts.

Speaker 4 (06:13):
It just didn't work out there and it fell apart.

Speaker 3 (06:16):
And it's not like Kyler Murray was a part of
this real successful organization that's known to have be all
buttoned up and they've got everything figured out. They were
a mess too in Arizona, so were the Dolphins. So
I look at it, I go from a from a
Minnesota standpoint, what do you got to lose? Like this
feels like a no brainer, And he ends up in
Minnesota with Kevin O'Connell and an opportunity to win that

(06:38):
job and get a bigger contract on the back end.

Speaker 1 (06:41):
To that point, I mean, Arizona's not viewed as one
of the better organizations and that's where Caler Murray got drafted.

Speaker 5 (06:47):
And honestly, they were on the right path.

Speaker 1 (06:51):
Unfortunately, once they got rid of Cliff Kingsbury, once they
got you know, governd of that pairing, you saw what
happened this organization. They've been kind of floundering trying to
find their way since. And that's unfortunately what happens with
bad organizations. They have one step back and they can't
handle the pressure. They want to find a way.

Speaker 5 (07:11):
Of moving on.

Speaker 1 (07:12):
And the truth is, you know, now Cliff Kingsbury's one
of those offensive coordinator candidates that gets head coaching interviews. Again,
Calum Murray's signing with you know, the Minnesota Vikings. If
he plays I think the way he's capable of, I
could see him if if it's not signing in Minnesota
sign somewhere else. I mean, that's really what it's about it.
I should just say this is for like a one
year proven deal from Minnesota. It's a one year proven

(07:33):
deal everywhere else, And I think the toughest part for
signing a one year, proven deal with Minnesota is again,
I keep going back to this, and people are gonna
get tired of hearing this.

Speaker 5 (07:45):
That draft class next year is so damn good.

Speaker 1 (07:49):
They're gonna he's gonna have to go somewhere where that
maybe they sign him, but it's gonna be hard to
find a long term commitment because most long term commandments
are gonna come in the form of a first round
draft pick with one of these qbs, So that's gonna
be the issue. I do think there'll be a heavy
enough need for quarterbacks amongst NFL teams. Maybe there's some
teams hanging on to some guys or giving them one
more year, or guys who are getting older that they're

(08:11):
gonna say, we need to start thinking about someone maybe
after him, whatever the case may be. Next year is
going to be a tough year if you're a free
agent quarterback, because you've got this draft class of quarterbacks
that the NFL have used highly. And I'm saying that
in twenty twenty six because that's what I know from
watching those guys who played in college this past year
who will be draft eligible then and for what everyone's

(08:33):
talking about too in the NFL. So that's the only
issue with the duration of this contract. You kind of
wish you could have gotten a longer term deal done
at this point, but clearly I wasn't gonna work for
both sides now.

Speaker 3 (08:47):
Kyler Murray did talk yesterday with the media in Minnesota.
He spoke about his relationship with Kevin O'Connell and then
whether or not he views himself as the guy now
the number one QB in Minnesota.

Speaker 7 (09:00):
Me and k will go back to the lead eleven days.
I remember, you know, during the combine, I did, uh
you know, I had an interview with the Redskins at
the time commanders and he was with them, and he
pulled me aside after my meeting with him, And ever
since then our relationship, he's always made sure to uh
check in on me, whether it was after a game,
you know, things like that.

Speaker 5 (09:20):
So I always respected that.

Speaker 7 (09:21):
I always appreciate his opinion of me and the support
that he's given me. So for now, you know, getting
to play for him and have that relationship with him
means the world. Obviously, He's had a lot of success
with quarterbacks, different quarterbacks and he's he's one of the
best offensive minds in the game. So I'm looking forward to,
you know, going to work with him.

Speaker 4 (09:39):
Do you view this as as you're coming in at
the starting quarterback?

Speaker 5 (09:42):
Do you view this as a competition.

Speaker 7 (09:44):
Yeah, No, Like I said, I'm just grateful for the opportunity,
grateful for the opportunity. You know, I look forward to
coming in and competing and getting to learn the offense,
getting to be with coach O'Connell. Obviously he's had a
lot of success and uh again, I'm just looking for
looking forward to the opportunity coming in here and competing.

Speaker 3 (10:00):
Uh. Now, Kevin O'Connell has not will not name a starter.
He would not name a starter as well, and I
can understand the approach, but I don't think anybody.

Speaker 5 (10:08):
Is nine in the mix which one is going to.

Speaker 3 (10:12):
Be because that that's where you know, things get real
twisted here, because you know it's there's there's.

Speaker 5 (10:17):
Two different quarterbacks in the mix.

Speaker 3 (10:18):
Yeah, there's there's a lot. I I don't think that.
I do wonder for JJ McCarthy. This is this had
to have been a really really and it's not even
over yet, but this has to have been a really,
really uncomfortable off season because it's literally the place that

(10:40):
all available quarterbacks want to go, but they just don't
want you.

Speaker 4 (10:46):
That's got to be a.

Speaker 3 (10:47):
Really awful feeling to know, even justin Jefferson's out talking
about Hey, Kirk Cousins, they're to all these all these
quarterbacks there that have been thrown out there in the mix.
Everybody wants that spot because the talent, the guy calling
the plays, the organization, but the guy that they drafted, Yeah,
we're good here, man, we're good here, and we'll just

(11:09):
continue to move on and try and improve the quarterback room.
I just I wonder what his thought process is, like.

Speaker 5 (11:15):
Yeah, maybe stop calling himself nine.

Speaker 1 (11:17):
You know, maybe that'll be the first thing, you know,
so don't you don't have an alter ego that'd be
that'd be great to start off with.

Speaker 3 (11:22):
It's what what's interesting about it is, say Kyler Murray
comes in play as well. All right, so the JJ
McCarthy era in Minnesota is over, and that's probably it
as far as his best shot to be a starter
in the NFL.

Speaker 4 (11:37):
Like that's he's gonna have.

Speaker 1 (11:39):
He's gonna have a hard time, you know, catching on
and again people are gonna pick guys who are in
the you know, draft class coming behind him next year,
and they're probably gonna look at other guys who have
played and just and then and that's the unfortunate reality
of the NFL.

Speaker 5 (11:55):
In today's day.

Speaker 1 (11:56):
Ah right, this is going to be a league that
it's doesn't have patience for quarterback development, that doesn't have
patients for quarterbacks to display that they can plan this
league and have value. And so besides a few moments,
that's it for JJ And he's gonna have to find
himself in a situation where he's probably going to back
up and if someone gets hurt and looking than Kler,

(12:16):
Murray's had.

Speaker 5 (12:17):
Some injury issues, but if Caler Murray gets hurt.

Speaker 1 (12:20):
Then he could hopefully come in and play well and
prove that he's capable of playing this league.

Speaker 5 (12:24):
Like that's the position that he's in.

Speaker 1 (12:26):
And I think the tough part is Murray's had his
own injury issues, but so is Jaj McCarthy. So whether
or not Jaj McCarthy can stay healthy is kind of
a bit of a question.

Speaker 3 (12:36):
Yeah, it's uh so, McCarthy's only twenty three years old,
and I just wonder if they're also at the same time,
because Kevin O'Connell is one of the more respective play
callers in the league right as far as his dealings
with quarterbacks and whatnot. And I just wonder how many
teams will also look at this and say, well, christ

(12:56):
if you couldn't make it work with him, like, what
does that say about the rest of the league. And
so now he just you know, kind of finds himself
in a little bit of no man's land, you know,
with an opportunity to quote unquote compete, but nobody really
thinks he's got the gig. And then I wonder from
a Minnesota standpoint, I think people get lost in the

(13:16):
fact that they had their issues at quarterback. They get
lost in the fact that, you know where they finished
in the division, et cetera.

Speaker 5 (13:23):
Et cetera.

Speaker 3 (13:24):
Minnesota wasn't a bad football team last year. It's not
like this is a bad team. They just couldn't figure
out the quarterback position. There were some tough breaks and
tough losses, and Kevin O'Connell even said, he's like, look, man,
the window kind of changed a little bit. You know,
we had to kind of speed things up. You've still
got justin Jefferson. There's still a ton of talent there.

(13:46):
They restructured Aaron Jones's deal, so he's going to stick around.
I just look at it, and I go, this is
an opportunity for Minnesota to all of a sudden be
back in the playoff mix. We don't know what Chicago's
going to look like. Green Bay's had a bunch of
turnover there. Detroit, you know, lost David Montgomery. They've still
got some talent, but you know, there's some questions whether
or not they've peaked. I just look at it and

(14:07):
I go from Minnesota upgraded a quarterback at the quarterback
position for a team that wasn't nearly as bad as
I think a lot of people might might consider them
at what they were last year.

Speaker 1 (14:18):
Yeah, yeah, well said, I mean I think that. The
The other thing is, at the end of the.

Speaker 3 (14:24):
Day, well J Murray, to be honest here that it
wasn't that well said, all right, let's just be honest here.

Speaker 4 (14:28):
It wasn't.

Speaker 5 (14:29):
Okay, it just wasn't whatever you want to say.

Speaker 1 (14:32):
At the end of the day, though, only the only
thing JJ McCarthy can control is what he does and
how he performs.

Speaker 5 (14:37):
When he gets that opportunity.

Speaker 1 (14:38):
And I think that's the toughest thing for you know,
any player in his position is you don't know when
it's gonna come. You got to stay ready and you
have to make sure that you're locked into this and
the pressures on. As a guy who you know, I
would say that Caler Murray's going to go in there.
He's gonna you know, while some people as much as
he's you know, smaller in size and stature, which everyone
seemed to make fun of. That was one of the

(15:00):
the funny things about yesterday's signing was just being relentless,
I mean ruthless with the comments about his height. But
when he gets in there and then the defenses are
trying to you know, sack him and bring him down
everything else, it's it's gonna be impressive to watch him
escape and watch him create and watch him do the
things he does.

Speaker 5 (15:21):
And that's you know, and that's one of the things.

Speaker 1 (15:24):
It'll also be interesting to watch how Caler Murray grows,
you know, understanding the game of football. You look at
a lot of the guys that spend time in Minnesota,
Sam Donald, Daniel Jones, I.

Speaker 5 (15:34):
Mean, look at the paydays they've got they've gotten. Look
at the success they've had.

Speaker 1 (15:37):
I mean Jones only half a season, but still it
got him that new contract you just signed.

Speaker 5 (15:42):
Sam Donald wins a super Bowl.

Speaker 1 (15:44):
You start going through the list of guys who you know,
spend some time in Minnesota, they got paid.

Speaker 5 (15:49):
I mean Kirk Cousins an example of that too.

Speaker 1 (15:52):
So I think this is a great opportunity for Caler
Murray to revamp his image of what people think he
is as a quarterback.

Speaker 5 (15:59):
And for Jaji McCarthy, you know.

Speaker 1 (16:01):
It's probably his last opportunity he's gonna get to have
any chance of starting, and then that might come as
a backup if Murray gets hurt or maybe it doesn't
play well.

Speaker 5 (16:13):
But I look at it just say you better take every.

Speaker 1 (16:16):
Moment now to prepare yourself and hopeing that opportunity comes,
because if not, it might be a while.

Speaker 3 (16:22):
If ever, Yeah, the the short memes and stuff that
are going around about Kyler Murray, can't the guy just
celebrate the landing spot with the team that he grew
up rooting for, and instead, you know, people are just
bearing him all over the place.

Speaker 4 (16:36):
I mean, you know, you found.

Speaker 3 (16:37):
A couple what was the one they're walking through the
airport and he's like high fiving. People are making Kyler
Murray out like he's Peter Dinklice. Okay, he's not all right.

Speaker 5 (16:48):
He's They had basically a little kid walking to them.
There was once Saul it was it was age troll toy.

Speaker 1 (16:58):
Car and they're like, look at caw, I'm really pulling
up the biking facility is bad.

Speaker 3 (17:04):
I just think, you know, at a certain point, you
got to put some respect on the guy's name. Do
people understand how difficult it is to get drafted top
ten in two different sports. Okay, he was drafted top
ten NFL and Major League Baseball. I guess you got
to be something to have that happen. I don't know
if that's ever happened before, but Kyler Murray did it,

(17:25):
and now he's going to be presumably the brand new
starter for the Minnesota Vikings on a team trying to
get back to the postseason. I think we should celebrate
that and people just stop picking on the guy because
of his height. Nothing you can do about it now
and go get stretched out.

Speaker 5 (17:37):
There's nothing he can do about it.

Speaker 1 (17:39):
But what we do know is he can get the
job done, just like Granger and for the ones who
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Speaker 3 (17:52):
It is two Pros and a cup of Joe here
on Fox Sports Radio, Brady Quinn, Jonas Knox with you here.
We are going to have the usuals coming up later on,
we got another edition of In case you missed it.
We're also going to have the leftovers. We're going to
have a real Italian field of this show because John
Paul Morosi is going to be an ultimate I Tie
Homer when he joins us later on, talking World Baseball
Classic and all the usual fun stuff. All that is

(18:14):
yours here on this three hour extravaganza. We mentioned our
friends listening on the YALLAHRN of the Twin Cities kfan, Uh,
you know Kyler Murray probably listening to this show right now.
This one's for you. We know you're into video games, celebrities,
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(18:37):
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important of note.

Speaker 4 (18:49):
It's time, It's time.

Speaker 3 (18:51):
Come on, yeah, yeah, come on, Brady, Yeah, I'm here,
hoop up those.

Speaker 4 (18:59):
Seas, game on wiling.

Speaker 8 (19:03):
Yeah, don't go to the other one. This one's probably this.

Speaker 4 (19:16):
You think you think Levars dancing to the song right now? No,
probably I'll dance for him. Thank God for that. All right,
Here we go the o G.

Speaker 3 (19:32):
This one staks a little last boy scout when a
guy rides out on horseback, rock them.

Speaker 5 (19:38):
Suck them, and shoot.

Speaker 4 (19:40):
Somebody on the field.

Speaker 3 (19:42):
It is two Pros and a Cup of Joe here
on a Football Friday on Fox Sports Radio. Coming up
next though, we are going to tell you about somebody
who just couldn't hide the pain, real distraught about the
state of things for their team, and it's yours right
here on f s R.

Speaker 2 (19:58):
Be sure to catch live editions of Pros and a
Cup of Joe with Brady Quinn, LeVar Errington, and Jonas
Knox weekdays at six am Eastern three am Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

Speaker 9 (20:13):
Steve Gotts here, I have a podcast empire. It continues
to grow, and I have brought it here to iHeart.
I'm also doing a live radio show from three to
five pm Eastern because my wife wanted to kick me
out of the house. It's called Stegotson Company Live, which
is available in podcast form right when the show finishes
every single day. Some of the biggest names in sports,

(20:37):
a lot of phone.

Speaker 6 (20:38):
Calls, I love you guys a show it's one of
my favorites.

Speaker 9 (20:40):
A lot of interact shit guys not taking themselves too seriously.
Those are just some of the things that you could
expect from Stu Gottson Company and Stegotson Company Live. So
listen to Stu Gotson Company Live and ouri original podcast.
Please subscribe, rate and review Stu Gotson Company and God
Bless f Ball. Taylor's livelihood depends on it. You do

(21:02):
it today and you can check all of those out
on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get
your podcast.

Speaker 3 (21:14):
Two Pros and a Cup of Joe, Fox Sports Radio,
Brady Quinn, Jonas Knox with you here, coming out, but
a little over fifteen minutes from now, we will have
another edition of In case you missed it, somebody thought
they were fixing a problem in the NFL. Nope, we'll
get into that for you right here on FSR. But
right now it is time for a tradition here on
this show, and it's called the tire Rack Play of

(21:37):
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Speaker 10 (21:38):
Down to three fires. It so good you mass wins.
Ununbelievable that the Red Haunts comes thirty one to zero
and they get beat today.

Speaker 4 (21:51):
So spoiler, that is not the UMass side of things.

Speaker 3 (21:54):
That is a courtesy of our friends at Fox Sports
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Speaker 4 (22:02):
That's your tire I raqt play of the Day.

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of Ohio not thrilled with what happened to start the
attorney there. And if you finish the regular season undefeated,

(22:26):
you get into the conference attorney, you lose your first game,
and so now, all of a sudden, even though I
don't think this is a possibility, I don't think this
is happening at all, but all of a sudden, this
does lend to well, maybe maybe they're going to be
on the outside looking in. I don't think that happens.
But selection Sunday, when it comes around in a couple
of days at least, there's some sort of an argument

(22:48):
to be made as to why people feel like they're
not deserving. I don't know if that's an actual real thing,
because I would disagree.

Speaker 1 (22:55):
Well, okay, I think there's two conversations to be had,
and this is where we venture or are venturing into
the whole like college football debate that occurs during their
playoff and their season and what's happening now in college basketball.
And you heard Bruce Pearl do this. We talked about it, which,
by the way, his son gives the worst, the worst

(23:16):
pregame speeches.

Speaker 5 (23:18):
I digress.

Speaker 1 (23:19):
If you haven't seen Bruce Pearl's son, head coach at
Auburn him a pregame speech, yeah you've you've. I mean,
I've never been more unimpressed with the pregame.

Speaker 5 (23:28):
Speech before in my life. Yeah, well, I mean, it's
just this what it is.

Speaker 1 (23:34):
I would say this though about Mind of Ohio, and
we've talked about this a little bit before. What has
made March Madness great or is, you know, is the
history of teams like Mind of Ohio. I mean Wally
Zurbiak back in the day when he took Mina of
Ohio on a run. You know, those are those memorable
moments that people recall and that make the tournament and

(23:55):
make March Madness what it is. So if you're not
going to have this team be a part of it,
you're taking away from that chance of an opportunity of
David versus Goliath.

Speaker 5 (24:06):
Be able to show everyone that they can play with
the best teams in the country.

Speaker 1 (24:09):
Now, that's one side of the argument that's been the
history of the tournament. Maybe the tournament doesn't want it
to be that anymore, you know, maybe the tournament wants
it to be the teams that actually have the best
basketball players, the most money from their collectives or their
school that they're putting into the basketball program. Maybe that's
what the tournament wants because they look at their tournament
and they say, we want to have actually a legitimate.

(24:31):
You know, teams play off for this and not have
these Cinderella stories where there may be blowout. So there
may be games that are lack of competitiveness. I'm not
sure where they're at with all of this, but I
would say this if Mia Ohio, if you stack them
up next to some of the best teams in the country,
and this is an example of that. Like watching that
game yesterday, first off, Mia bhow had no business losing.

Speaker 5 (24:55):
It kind of choked it.

Speaker 1 (24:56):
Away there in the final eight minutes or so when
they had about eight nine point lead. Then you mass
slowly start to peck away. But more so than that,
you just like I don't look at that mind of
Ohio team. And maybe there's some people who are fans
would disagree. There's there's no Wally Zurbiak on that team.
There's no player on that team that look at and
say he's going to go in the NBA and have

(25:17):
a long, successful career. Maybe I'm wrong, Maybe one of
those guys will prove me wrong, but that's one of
the biggest differences I see.

Speaker 5 (25:25):
And outside of that, it.

Speaker 1 (25:26):
Is hard to acknowledge when you do watch them and
you hear everyone talk about their strength to schedule. Yeah,
I could see that, Like, how did this team get
to thirty one and one at this point, Probably by
playing a software schedule and to find a way of
winning in the final moments, which is what the game's
all about. But the truth of the matter is they
had They're probably not one of the best teams, but

(25:47):
are they deserving to be in the tournament? I think
so after that loss, though according to ESPN's whatever saber
metrics are crap they do, they say there's like a
thirty eight thirty nine percent chance they get in, which
is disappointing here, but I can understand if they're changing
the criteria of what they're looking at.

Speaker 6 (26:04):
Now.

Speaker 3 (26:05):
I just the part that because when you make you know,
we start discussing, well, they're trying to turn this into
a college football argument, which is true, and they're trying
to do that. And I can understand the argument if
we're talking about just the twelve teams, Like, are they
one of the twelve best teams in the country.

Speaker 4 (26:22):
No, you could.

Speaker 3 (26:23):
Probably argue they're not one of the twenty five best
teams in the country, even though they're a top twenty
five ranked team. Like that, all of that is fair.
Nobody thinks, my I don't even know what their odds
are to win the national championship, but it's it's you know,
five dollars wins you aller jet It's not going to happen.

Speaker 4 (26:39):
Everybody acknowledges that.

Speaker 3 (26:41):
But man, in a tournament where you got over sixty teams,
like the idea that you couldn't carve out a space
for a team that went.

Speaker 4 (26:48):
Thirty one and one is mind boggling to me.

Speaker 3 (26:51):
And the fact that that really is on the table
at this point and that you know, they've got a
percentage up there of you know, their to get in
and it's basically you know, thirty something percent that you
mentioned for them to even get into the tournament.

Speaker 4 (27:05):
That that's kind of crazy. And you know what if
they get in?

Speaker 3 (27:09):
And I can understand the pushback on, well, you know,
do you really want Cinderella teams going that far because
you want name brands? I got news for you and
you and I have talked about this for a while.
It is the most difficult tournament, the most unfair tournament
to a higher rank seed in all of sports. I
don't care what playoff format you want to talk about
There really is no true advantage other than, hey, you

(27:30):
get to play in your region suite. But what a
region that is. Look, I got news for you. I
grew up in southern California. They would consider my region
San Francisco. We were there kind of a different place,
kind of a different place from where I grew up.
So the idea that you would have a Miami of
Ohio get into the tournament and then it's well, you know,

(27:53):
if they lose the first game, you know, it just
shows that they're not deserving.

Speaker 4 (27:57):
Man.

Speaker 3 (27:57):
If you get into the tournament and you're a Cinderella team,
but you do go on a run in that tournament,
in that format, you deserve all the credit you get.
I don't want to hear anything. Well, it's bad for ratings,
it's bad for this, Then you go do it. There's
been a lot of Man, you've criticized Calipari. There's been
a lot of one and done's awful performances by John Calipari.
And then you have had teams like Oakland or Vermont

(28:20):
and some of these other schools, Gonzaga, Butler, when Brad
Stevens did it back to back years.

Speaker 4 (28:26):
You've had other teams go on runs.

Speaker 3 (28:28):
If you get into that tournament, which I think they should,
and they go on to run there, I don't want
to hear anybody say, well, it's, you know, benefit of
the doubt, they shouldn't been there. If you get there
and you have an opportunity and you go on that
run and win a tournament like that, which is a
giant pain in the ass to me.

Speaker 4 (28:43):
I just think, I think you've earned your stripes.

Speaker 3 (28:45):
So that's why I like the Cinderella aspect of it,
and I hope it continues because everybody, somebody makes a
run every year.

Speaker 1 (28:51):
Yeah, I think the hard thing is the bigger schools
and programs, and maybe some blue bloods are pushing now
more than ever for a like almost promotion relegation because
there's three hundred and some teams that you got to
select from, and so how do you go about creating
a format where it makes sense and not make the tournament,
you know, a month and a half long. I mean,

(29:12):
you've got sixty eight teams. Now we've got pushing for
how many more teams? They're going past seventy two? I
think it would go to seventy six.

Speaker 4 (29:18):
I mean, whatever it is, seventy six.

Speaker 1 (29:20):
Yeah, it's like they're going to add what eight more teams,
And I can understand that because you've got so many
teams that are up for this.

Speaker 5 (29:27):
I mean, it is cool.

Speaker 1 (29:28):
It's like, you know, as a dad, and I'm not
sure if you're doing this with Andrew because some of
the games might be on kind of early for you guys.
But I said to my girls the other day, I
was like, hey, like, do you remember it's March Madness?
And they're like, yeah, we get to fill out those brackets,
like that's right.

Speaker 5 (29:43):
And they're like, wait, is this it right now? Are
we too late?

Speaker 1 (29:45):
I said, no, these are the conference tournaments. I was like, so,
when my dad was young, we would always try to
sneak off in school to try to turn on a
TV and we try to watch the games that were
onto the conference tournaments to prepare to pick our teams
for the brackets, and just seeing like they're excited and
kind of understanding of how this works, Like wait a minute,
should they be in school and you're trying to explain
it all to them and as like a young kids,

(30:05):
it's hard for them to understand exactly how this all works.
But there is like a sense of just a different
feel and excitement about it. And I'm not sure if
you expand it to make it even longer, if that
would work or not, because with all these conference tournaments,
it's like, I mean, how long we talking about here?

Speaker 5 (30:23):
Right?

Speaker 1 (30:23):
Like if you go to seventy six or whatever it
pick your number ninety two.

Speaker 5 (30:27):
Who knows? It probably provides more inclusiveness.

Speaker 1 (30:30):
It probably creates more of an opportunity for these teams
where all right, my how is not even going to
be debated.

Speaker 5 (30:36):
That they should be in or not.

Speaker 1 (30:37):
And you get the room for those blue bloods that
play a tough conference and play a tough schedule and
they can still be a part of it too. But
you got to draw the line somewhere. And then even
more so than that, you keep watering down and diminishing
the conference tournaments. Yeah, like those are eventually going to
go away. We talked about in college football conference championship
games is gonna go away?

Speaker 5 (30:55):
Well, if they're gonna expand the.

Speaker 1 (30:56):
Playoff in college football, yeah, you're probably right expand march
madness in this tournament.

Speaker 5 (31:02):
Those conference champions are they're meaningless.

Speaker 1 (31:05):
Because all you're trying to do is create what a
that large bid for whoever wins that conference tournament when
and when in reality you've got ninety some teams or
seventy six teams whatever they're gonna expand to. So I
could see the argument for both sides just that would
make for such a long season.

Speaker 6 (31:20):
Man.

Speaker 3 (31:20):
By the way, to your point is well well stated,
because that really conference tournament week really was the crash
course to try and get ready for the tournament.

Speaker 5 (31:31):
Yeah, that's what it is. I mean, I'm trusted out.
I did that right now.

Speaker 3 (31:34):
It's like you're you're watching teams and players and games
that you would have never watched all regular season. But
I can remember, you know, Greensboro, that was the site
of the ACC Championship, the Big East Tournament, always at
Madison Square Garden. There was those places that you would
watch and you would just you would start to get
familiar with all of these teams so that at least

(31:56):
you had some sort of an understanding of what you
were getting when you go on and even now, look
it doesn't feel quite the same. It's still fun, it's
still exciting because you've got basketball on.

Speaker 4 (32:07):
You know, early throughout the course of the day.

Speaker 3 (32:09):
You can get Mattine action and all that, and you
know the Big Ten Tourney's going on in Chicago. But yeah,
back it was really the Hey, I haven't really studied
for this test.

Speaker 4 (32:20):
Anybody got anything for me?

Speaker 3 (32:21):
Yeah, watch these games and then you would just go there,
you'd fill out your bracket and then ultimately you just
you know, end up wiping your ass with it, you know,
on day two.

Speaker 4 (32:28):
Like that's that's usually that went for me. But it's a.

Speaker 5 (32:32):
Hey, it's crazy that things haven't changed for you.

Speaker 1 (32:35):
Like, at no point in your life have you been
good at betting or picking games.

Speaker 3 (32:39):
I will say this because I grew up I was
I rooted for Duke. You know, really went on on
a limb there. College basketball wise, I rooted for Duke.

Speaker 5 (32:48):
You might be the biggest front running fan I've ever
heard of my life.

Speaker 3 (32:51):
That's not true that I grew up a Cubs still
cancels out everything else.

Speaker 1 (32:56):
No, it doesn't, because you also have rooted for the Celtics,
the Penguins.

Speaker 5 (33:02):
You're now saying.

Speaker 1 (33:02):
Duke in college basketball, you really didn't have a college
football team.

Speaker 5 (33:08):
You'd say South.

Speaker 1 (33:08):
Carolina because you spent some time there for a little bit.
You were it for the Bears back when they won
in eighty five. I just outside of baseball.

Speaker 3 (33:17):
Hold on, hold on a second. A lot of that
was I was born into. It's not like I chose.
Do you think you think when the White Sox were
winning the World Series and five, I was thinking to myself, Yeah,
but f them, I'm so glad I picked the team
the other team in Chicago.

Speaker 1 (33:31):
How old were you in five I'm talking about your childhood. Well, look,
you were a child in nineteen eighty five.

Speaker 4 (33:37):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (33:37):
Now, the reason I liked Duke is because I loved
Bobby Hurley and I loved and I can still remember
that you.

Speaker 5 (33:44):
Took shots of Bobby Yes, for you know, being Canna's
the head coach.

Speaker 4 (33:47):
No, listen, he had an okay run.

Speaker 3 (33:50):
But you know, when you were in the same state
as Arizona and Arizona basketball is what it is. Arizona
State's always going to play second fiddle to them. It
just that is what it is.

Speaker 5 (33:59):
But yeah, some people who are UNC fans would say
that about Duke.

Speaker 4 (34:03):
You know, just now, come on, let's not get care to.

Speaker 1 (34:06):
When I was growing up, wake Forest was a bigger
piece of that conversation. Wake Force with Chris Paul and
Tim Duncan like that. That was a completely different.

Speaker 3 (34:12):
Point also, and people forget Maryland had some really good
teams with Gary Williams back in the day.

Speaker 5 (34:17):
What happened. By the way, I love buzz Buzz.

Speaker 1 (34:19):
Williams is one of my favorite coaches of all time.
But I mean, I he'll get a second year, I
would assume. But it's like, man, that was a that
was a rough season.

Speaker 3 (34:28):
Yeah, ACC was sweet back in the day. That was
a really really good conference and really good basketball and
then you know, but but things have changed. But the
point is, uh, I was usually good at the NCAA
Tournament brackets. I would just ride Duke the whole way
and they would usually make a deep run. But yeah,
it sucks, man, That's all right, You're gonna get it
this week. I'm telling you right now, Oh, I will

(34:51):
finish in first place on this show when we do
our bracket challenge and that stuffs Knocks Loucks.

Speaker 1 (34:58):
Let's just go to the history here, folks, and I
know we're up in against the Lorna. I will get
to this, but in recent history, and I want to
say recent as in like three years ago, Jonas didn't
even submit one half of the side of his bracket,
so he basically only filled out half the bracket, couldn't
figure out how to save it, and then unfortunately had
to sit there and talk about why he was not

(35:19):
a part of the bracket challenge because he only filled
half the bracket out. That was a networking of the
how many years have been worked together? Eleven years now,
a long time?

Speaker 5 (35:28):
Okay.

Speaker 1 (35:29):
Of those eleven years, you have not had a team
that you picked to win it actually win. You have
had maybe maybe two Final four teams twice, and you've
never had more than fifty percent of your team's at
best making to the Sweet sixteen. You have been by

(35:51):
far the worst picker of March madness I have ever
been around.

Speaker 3 (35:55):
Okay, Well, I did win the Fox Sports Radio Bracket
Challenge back in twenty fifth team because that was a
year that Duke won.

Speaker 4 (36:02):
Okay, so that's a fact.

Speaker 5 (36:04):
It's not a fact, and I did have I don't
think we're working.

Speaker 3 (36:06):
To the other then, so but I'm just pointing out
I do have a history of success here. It was
a long time ago. But it's almost like I'm Mike Tomlin,
you know, I did win early on. You just want
to point out all the shortcomings recently, and I think
that's a negative approach. I'd also say this, Brady has
this thing where he waits until my bracket is all
filled out, and then he goes in and fills out

(36:28):
his so he can cancel out some of my picks,
all right, So that that is a story.

Speaker 1 (36:33):
Just so people understand the process. You have to log
on fill out a bracket before you can actually look
at anyone else, and.

Speaker 5 (36:38):
They just look at other people and they make it easy.
So what you said is literally just like you just
lied and.

Speaker 4 (36:44):
They make it easy here. Okay.

Speaker 3 (36:46):
And the year that I forgot to fill out half
the bracket, that was a network air Okay, that was
an air a Wi Fi glitch. I had nothing to
do with Wi Fi glitch. I had nothing to do
with that. So but the fun will start coming up
on Mondays. We will have the brackets and we'll be
able to pick and choose and run our mouse and.

Speaker 4 (37:04):
Have a good time with it.

Speaker 3 (37:05):
It is two pros and a cup of Joe here
on Fox Sports Radio, Brady Quinn, Jonas Knox with you
up next. We are going to have another edition of
in case you missed it and an NFL team thought
they had fixed a problem, they did not.

Speaker 4 (37:16):
It's yours here on FSR.

Speaker 2 (37:18):
Be sure to catch live editions of Two Pros and
a Cup of Joe with Brady Quinn, LeVar Errington, and
Jonas Knox weekdays at six am Eastern three am Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

Speaker 5 (37:32):
I think you're going to like next week's song, I'll
leave it at that.

Speaker 4 (37:36):
Yeah, this was interesting, interesting choice.

Speaker 1 (37:39):
I got to mix it up sometimes. I mean, you know,
when you're like you, you stay in one lane and you
never really get out of that lane, so it's kind
of boring.

Speaker 4 (37:47):
It's not true, basic.

Speaker 5 (37:49):
And just all the things that's not true.

Speaker 4 (37:51):
I've brought out the Narcos theme.

Speaker 5 (37:54):
Buddy, you didn't even know who Neo was. You didn't
know even how to pronounce Neo.

Speaker 4 (37:59):
I mean, why would why would you have known that?

Speaker 5 (38:02):
Though? Because I listened to a variety of music.

Speaker 4 (38:05):
Yeah, but I mean why would you Actually I almost.

Speaker 1 (38:07):
Picked Neo one of Neo's songs for one of my songs.
Maybe it will at some point, but why would you
have known that? I didn't know who that was? How
would you have known that?

Speaker 5 (38:16):
Why would I have known?

Speaker 1 (38:16):
Because you're so concerned about reads that I had to
check up to make sure that you knew how to
pronounce the names of those artists.

Speaker 4 (38:24):
Oh so it had nothing to do with Raddy sweeka
behind the scene.

Speaker 5 (38:28):
Actually it was.

Speaker 1 (38:30):
Actually that is professionalism of our producer Patti Sweet. When
I asked him, I said, hey, does Jonas need help
with some of the reads today? Being that LeVar is
out and I know that Jonas probably isn't aware of
some of who some of those artists are.

Speaker 4 (38:45):
Okay, all right, well, and there.

Speaker 1 (38:46):
Was feedback given that thanks for being a good team player.
Jonas says he's got it covered, even though he skipped
over Neo's name on the first reet.

Speaker 4 (38:53):
Interesting. Yeah, I like Rady sweeks. Raddy Sweeks.

Speaker 5 (38:57):
I like when Jonas gets since.

Speaker 3 (39:00):
It's not sensitive, it's just you know, apparently apparently that's
what's going on.

Speaker 4 (39:04):
Behind the scenes.

Speaker 5 (39:05):
Oh yeah, that's what's going on.

Speaker 4 (39:06):
Really it is.

Speaker 3 (39:07):
Well, listen, it is two Pros and a Cup of
Joe here on Fox Sports Radio and with the iHeartRadio app,
you can stream us wherever you happen to be. Catch
us in all of our Fox Sports Radio shows live
twenty four to seven in the new and improved iHeart
Radio app. Search Fox Sports Radio and the after streamers
live all day, every day, and be sure to select
Fox Sports Radio is one of your presets in the
iHeart app, so we'll always pop up at the top
of your screen. And right now we welcome in a

(39:29):
man who it's been way too long. I don't know
if do we have any Italian music we can fire
up real quick for the great John Paul Morosi, who
is joining us here live from Houston. I've never seen
somebody so thrilled. Obviously being a professional, you know, not
showing any favoritism, but John Paul Morosi, who you see

(39:50):
on the MLB Network, you hear him here on Fox
Sports Radio, analyst, insider if it's the NHL, if it's
the Olympics, but a true, true, proud member of the
family here and a proud fan of the Italian culture. JPM,
good morning to you. Shots of espresso for everybody as

(40:11):
you've been covering Team Italy and the World Baseball Classic.

Speaker 6 (40:15):
Bon Gioro Gomevava. They're going to be the convoy.

Speaker 5 (40:25):
To speak with you.

Speaker 6 (40:26):
Uh when you think about the Italian national team, which
at this moment in time is four and zero having
beaten the United States. We talk about great music, either
your your celebratory song or your walk up song. When
the Italians win the game, which has happened now four times,
they play Gonde partierro by Andre Bocelli, and it is

(40:49):
a it is a very emotional moment. It is just
a beautiful way to end the baseball game. It's We've
heard a lot of a lot of great music. It
is right now a tie between that song by Bocelli
and the fact that earlier on in this in this tournament,

(41:13):
Paull Schemes, of course attended the US Air Force Academy
for two years, took the mound to the top gun theme.
That was a Goosebub's moment too. We've had a lot
of great music, a lot of great moments here in Houston,
and there is more to come, my friends, if.

Speaker 1 (41:32):
You could JP and obviously good to have you on,
going to be talking with you again. Just summarize the
excitement that the World Baseball Classic has created. It feels
like after the Olympics for hockey, there's that huge moment
for the US and maybe the momentum behind that and
how that's going to impact the youth and the NHL
moving forward. Is this one of those events that maybe

(41:53):
baseball can capitalize off of as well.

Speaker 6 (41:55):
Yeah, Brady, it is a great point, and it absolutely is.
I was very honored my parents were able to fly
down from Michigan to watch some of the games here
in Houston, and and you know, they've been watching sports
their whole lives. They've seen a lot of great sporting
events and just to see their eyes light up at

(42:16):
what this atmosphere is like. And they were meeting fans
from Mexico that were sitting all around them during the
US Mexico game. But they had such a great experience
spending time with them, and that is the essence of
this tournament. There's social media now is lighting up with
great images of the Dominican and Venezuelan players embracing and

(42:37):
just enjoying compete against each other. That's what this is about.
Of course, everybody here wants to win, but it is
being part of it, and that is so much of
what the Olympic spirit is, of course, and we saw
that in the US being able to win both gold
medals and hockey and the way that Alysslu won it

(42:57):
figure skating, and just it is. It is certainly that
the honor and the competing. Obviously everybody wants to win,
but it is being there and being part of it.
It is not possible, in my opinion, to watch World
Baseball Classic games, whether it's on TV or especially in person,
and not have your heart moved by the players, the fans,

(43:19):
the spirit of those that love this tournament and watch it.
The crowds here in Houston have been unbelievable. In Miami,
of course, it is the same in San Juan, Puerto Rico,
with the Puerto Rican national team being able to qualify
for the next round. Extraordinary environment there. And of course Japan.
I say this, it's my wish that all baseball fans

(43:42):
have a chance to see baseball games in Japan because
it's a very moving and emotional experience. So it's you're right, Brady,
it's it's been great baseball. But on top of just
the great baseball, the great pitching, the great hitting, it's
been an almost spiritual experience of sport that we've seen.
And we're not done yet. We got us Canada tonight

(44:04):
so put part three in the trilogy, US Canada Women's Hoaki,
US Canada Menzaki, and now we've got US Canada Baseball.
So the trilogy of the early part at twenty twenty
six ends tonight and then of course some amazing matchups
the Italians against Puerto Rico tomorrow as well.

Speaker 3 (44:22):
John Palmmerosi joining us here on Fox Sports Radio, Fox
Sports Radio, MLB analyst and insider MLB Network. You can
see him as well too, live from Houston covering the
World Baseball Classics. So let me ask you this, because
I think everybody kind of feels the same. You watch it.
It's fun, people are fired up. It sort of, you know,
gets rid of any dividing line between rooting for teams.

(44:43):
You're rooting for your country, not so much your individual teams.
So that being said, why is it only every three years?
Why wouldn't they want to work this into the rotation more?
And has that been a discussion?

Speaker 6 (44:54):
Well, Jonahs, it's an excellent question. I think, first and foremost,
it is a big undertaking to host it is It
is a lot of work just on the capacity of
the Commissioner's Office. The MLBPA, of course, is involved in
it two. There's also and we've already seen it with
the conversation about Trek Skouble and his agonizing decision about

(45:18):
going back to the Tigers camp because he felt like
he had to make sure that he was there with
his team. It's a lot on the pitching. You have
to get ready earlier than you typically do. And so
I'm with you, Hey, I'd love it every year too,
But I think that that MLB feels like every three
or four years is about the right interval. Of course,

(45:41):
we have the potential of baseball being back in the
Olympics in twenty eight. The CBA expires after this year.
There's a lot of conversation about where the labor negotiations
will go, so I would love to see it more routinely. This,
I think feels like the right the right interval. The
one thing I would say is that the next step

(46:05):
to make it even bigger than it is right now
is to play the finals in the middle of the season,
and whether you have an express version of this at
the All Star break, or maybe you play the preliminary
rounds in March, then you play the quarter semifinals in
July and elongate the All star break that I think

(46:26):
is the next step. The other thing you could see
and I would love to see this too, is a
routine showdown series between Team USA and the Dominican Republic
or Team USA and Team Japan, and that way there's
more consistent playing of this national team Jersey with the

(46:47):
other titans of global baseball. Certainly, the games at this
point have been amazing, but you can also just distill
it to a seven game series. Maybe you play three
games in la and then four in Tokyo. However you
want to do it. But the general point you're making,
Jonas is spot on, which is international baseball best done best,
just like international hockey best done best is magic. And

(47:11):
we got to capitalize on it and do it more often.
And to the NHL's point, they're going to now do
it every other year. You're going to have a major tournament,
either the Olympics or the World Cup of Hockey. It
was the Four Nations a year ago with the amazing
game in Montreal, with the three fights and nine seconds
that we'll always talk about that that is and I

(47:32):
was fortunate to be in the building for that too.
I'm pretty lucky as a fan those moments the idea
there for hockey is every other year, so twenty six Olympics,
twenty eight World Cup. I think hockey is figuring it out. Baseball,
hopefully it's getting there too. That best done best is
one of the best ways, as Brady said earlier, to

(47:52):
grow the game. And there are going to be kids
that watch the Olympics. They're gonna be kids that are
watching this tournament right now now who are saying, I
want to play for Team USA. And it is getting
easier and easier now to recruit players to play because
they all see on which fund it is.

Speaker 1 (48:10):
I guess the only question I have in that regard
JP is, you know, how much is too much?

Speaker 5 (48:15):
You know?

Speaker 1 (48:15):
I feel like one of the issues with baseball, one
of these is really that basketball is dealing with right now,
is because basketball doesn't have a signature event like this.
I think they'd like it to be The All Star
Game doesn't really feel like it becomes that, you know,
they try to do that middle of the season, and
the NBA Cup what if they call it. I mean,
that's kind of falling flat on its face. But with
hockey and baseball, they've really got something here. And I

(48:37):
also I kind of feel like the scarcity of it, though,
is what makes it such a big deal. I mean,
if you start making it every year, does that take
away a little bit from like the luster of it
or the intensity of it, because it's not every year.
You don't have that shot next year, you got to
wait another two years. Isn't that part of the conversation
it is.

Speaker 6 (48:56):
It's an excellent point, and that's why I think probably
two years as hockey is doing it, or whether it's
every third year for MLB, and we don't know, I
should be clear, we don't know when the next WBC
will be, that there will be another one, and I
think that everybody's realizing how important it is, but we

(49:17):
don't know exactly when. And I think to your point,
it will more than likely never be every single year.
I think every other year is from hockey standpoint, it's
probably the soonest that you would.

Speaker 5 (49:30):
Ever do it.

Speaker 6 (49:31):
And obviously now we've got twenty six with the World
Baseball Classic, and we could have the twenty eight Olympics
with major league players. We don't know that for sure,
it's still being discussed, but the potential of major league
players in that Olympic tournament I think is so enticing,
and Brady's sort of you know the Olympic spirit so

(49:52):
well and through your family. It's just it's the it's
there's nothing like it. There's there is nothing like it.
I mean, this is the World Baseball Classic. Is extraordinary.
I think that if you have major league players in
the in the Olympics and you're playing at Dodger Stadium
and it's Paul Skins against Otani and and you're deciding

(50:14):
the gold medal with with that matchup, which you know,
you could say it sounds a little improbable. Well, we
thought of it that way until Otwani struck out Mike
Trout and it proved it that that the baseball guys
are keeping an eye on all this for us. And
it's been a lot of fun. So it really is.
It's been It's been great and to your point, it

(50:37):
could still even get greater. H if we have a
chance to watch the gold medal game at Dodger Stadium
and all these same stars are back there with the
Olympic rings. It's just it's been so much fun and
I feel like every couple of years, let's let's make
sure we keep having this great meeting of the of
the best baseball players and best baseball fans in the world.

Speaker 5 (50:58):
I love that idea.

Speaker 1 (50:59):
There's only an issue of again with that, JP is
is the eligibility requirements to be a part of each country.
I mean, what's happening with Italy. I'm looking at the roster.
These guys are born like half of them are born
in the Midwest. The problem we got guys from Florida
and Calia. We're looking through what it qualifies to be
and it feels feels a little flimsy.

Speaker 3 (51:19):
You know.

Speaker 1 (51:19):
It's like, all right, my my name ends in a
vow and apparently I can play for Italy.

Speaker 5 (51:23):
It feels like it's as simple as that.

Speaker 3 (51:25):
If it sounds Italian, why can't it be considered Italian?

Speaker 5 (51:27):
You know what I mean.

Speaker 1 (51:29):
Just I'm just saying, like, what are we doing here
with these the whole eligibility for these various countries.

Speaker 11 (51:34):
It feels like it's like, all right, like maybe the
espresso thing, yeah, I get it, But like some of
these guys are born in the Midwest and like from Michigan,
and yet all of a sudden they're they're They're a part.

Speaker 6 (51:45):
Of Team Italy, right, No, so here so basically, Brandy,
it's it's a very fair question and it absolutely has
come up. I'll give you the the the eligibility answer,
the quick one, which is that in the World Baseball Classic,
unlike with the Olympics and the WBC, you just have

(52:06):
to prove that either you have a parent born in
that country, which is why they're for example here with
Canada tonight, there'll be players who are American passport holders
but had parents born in Canada. They can play for Canada.
So that's that will be the case for some of
the players tonight. So that's that's one way of doing it,
if you have a parent born in that country. Or

(52:28):
with with the Italian situation, if you can prove that
you're eligible for citizenship, now the same thing of having
the actual passport, but if you can prove that you're
eligible and and Brady, this is this is I say
this as an Italian American myself. The rules to be
an Italian citizen are a little more flexible than basically

(52:51):
every other country in Europe.

Speaker 4 (52:54):
It's not.

Speaker 1 (52:56):
My father in laws try to do this for my
wife and his son, and it feels like outside of
some fall through on his port it's a done deal.

Speaker 5 (53:05):
Like if they want to be citizen in Italy, they
can have dual citizenship.

Speaker 6 (53:09):
Right, so Brady, you can and so you know, we're
we've been friends for a long time. When we're offline,
if you want to give me a shout, I will
I will help you knok you through the process as
an Italian American myself on this to help you and
your face basically, Brady, at some point in time, uh,
you know, uh, if Alicia gets to gets the passport

(53:31):
and the kids all get it, the only thing and
my wife has gone through this too, then you if
you want to get the Italian passport too. There's this
one small little step, which is you'd have to pass
the Italian fluency test. All right, that's a small step
for you. You're a brilliant man, Notre Dame graduate.

Speaker 5 (53:49):
You could do it.

Speaker 6 (53:51):
You would just have to take So you'd have to
just take the test. But but so for the Italian rules,
which admittedly and we don't have to go too far
deeply into it, they've gotten a little bit harder to
qualify for it. There's been some changes in the Italian
Parliament in the last six to ten months. So the
rules are changing, but Italian citizenship, if you have a

(54:13):
grandparent born in the US whose whose parent was still
an Italian citizen at the time they were born, they're eligible.
And so that's how you get Sam Antonacci from Springfield, Illinois.
That's how you get Dante Nori from Northville, Michigan playing
for the Italians. And so all of those all of
those rules, that's all, that's all legit. And the other

(54:35):
thing I would say on this is, you know, I
have not looked into this, Brady, but I think that
there's you know, you're a busy man, but there might
be a calling out there for you. If the Irish
national baseball team needs a great general and leader, I
think Brady Quinn is the man to do it. In
the future World Baseball Classics.

Speaker 1 (54:56):
I'm with you on that sentiment, but this is for
a conversation off lines, so we'll get that at some point.
The details somethings up in the old family tree there.

Speaker 2 (55:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (55:09):
Yeah, all of a sudden, uh you know, things changed.
I started to rethink, uh, you know, growing up and
how how we looked at Brady Quinn. But I would
say this, I've I've actually picked up food from Buca
to Bepo. Would that qualify me for potentially getting on
the roster for next WBC for the attack.

Speaker 1 (55:26):
Also terrible bio it smells like garlic. I feel like
that can help the qualification.

Speaker 3 (55:31):
I mean, you know, we don't want to be judgmental.
I'm just trying to get a you know, get a
spot on the roster here.

Speaker 2 (55:35):
James, I will.

Speaker 6 (55:37):
So here's the thing we'd have to We'd have to
see Jonahs. I think that the biggest test. Now, if
you've noticed how the Italians are arriving to the ballpark
is is they're all arriving in Armani suits. Oh so
we I think the biggest test is Jonas, how would
you arrive on the arrival like the TV arrival shot?

(55:58):
How how how smooth did you pull off the Armani look?

Speaker 3 (56:02):
You know, you know what is funny about about watching
Italy games, so when they show the crowd because my
wife is Mexican, So when Mexico was in it, I
mean they really showed out, especially in Houston there and
and they I mean it was Luca Libra masks and
cowboy hats and all that stuff. When the when the
Italians are breast all, yeah, everything you would want, everything

(56:23):
you look for in something like that. But when the
Italians are playing, when they show the fans and attendance,
I don't think anybody's wearing an Italian baseball jersey. It's
like all Fabio Cannavaro soccer jerseys. Everything is a soccer jersey.
I don't even know if they make baseball jerseys. So
there is a sort of momentum building towards supporting the team.

(56:44):
But I still feel like, you know, like, hey, you know,
when's the soccer break? A soccer game gonna break out
here in the middle of a baseball field.

Speaker 6 (56:50):
No, it's a it's a fair question. First of all,
I will say that the Thesuri jersey, and of course
that the Italians the flag is white and red and green.
But we we wear these, the beautiful we of the Italians.
They have these these blue and white, gorgeous jerseys because
the House of Savoy, the royal family that used to

(57:13):
the rule Italy centuries agoes. They've always worn blue, including
for the Italian soccer team. That's by tradition, So I
would recommend I do think as a souvenir, the jerseys
are are quite nice. The other thing is is the
big picture here, and this is this is sincere as
an Italian American, if you're if you're going to represent

(57:36):
a country, even if you didn't grow up there, but
you're doing it because of your family. That's also really important.
And there are a number of players on Team Mexico
who were born or raised in the US but have
Mexican parents, and for them it's their way of honoring
their heritage. And so it's not exactly the same thing
as the Olympics. You're right, For the Olympics, you have

(57:56):
to be a passport holder. You have to be a
passport holder. There are European based fall tournaments that happen,
you've got to be a passport holder for those. But
for this, the MLB and the MLBPA, the way they've
written the rules, they allow you to represent your your family.
And I do think as someone who's Italian American, my
wife's Mexican American too, So I get the full, the

(58:19):
full experience of this group here where you've seen all
these things play each other. It's it is representing your family,
and I do think that is a noble part of it,
and it's been in addition to noble entertaining as all. Heck,
as we're watching these games play out and the cultures
are coming together, So Italy Puerto Rico tomorrow will be fascinating. Certainly,

(58:40):
we've unfortunately lost the Mexican presence from this tournament because
there have been so the fans there are just unbelievable,
So it'll be that the ballpark won't be the same
without them. But now up to the Americans and the
Canadians to show up tonight and then the Italians and
Puerto Ricans here in Houston tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (58:58):
Yeah, say, outside of ice, I mean, I don't really
see anything standing in the way of the World Baseball
Classic here in the States. I think it's going to
be a slamming success.

Speaker 5 (59:06):
I do.

Speaker 1 (59:07):
Do you want to ask you this, JP, Can you
get us some betting advice, help the listeners.

Speaker 5 (59:11):
Out, help them win a little bit of money.

Speaker 1 (59:14):
How do you foresee the games going that you just
mentioned in particular USA Canada?

Speaker 5 (59:18):
I know USA is a heavy favorite. Is that what
you're leading on this one?

Speaker 6 (59:22):
So it's it's a great question, Brady. I'm I'm I'm
terrible at advice on this in this area of the world,
and by the way, to this point, talking about the
randomness of this tournament, the two pool winners that are
meeting here in Houston, those pools were won by Canada
and Italy, which is just how everybody had it drawn up.

(59:43):
Where you've got Puerto Rico and the US are the
number two seeds and the number one seeds are Canada
and Italy. Remarkable. I think Canada is I think Canada
has a better chance than a lot of people. Realize
that they've got a major league start Mike Seroka on
the mound, their lineup, I think hasn't even gotten good

(01:00:05):
yet from the standpoint of the really big run scoring
that the offensive dynamics in Puerto Rico were somewhat depressed
because the wind was blown it every day. It was
a hard place to hit and they still were able
to get through and finish first. So what the final
score is tonight, I can't even guess. But I do
think that Canada's got a much better shot at winning

(01:00:28):
than you might expect, and I think the same thing
is true for Italy tomorrow. I mean, Italy's played exceptionally well,
so I think tonight's game, yes, still probably the US
favored you'd expect the US to win, but I think
Canada's got a legitimate shot. I think tomorrow is a
complete toss up between Italy and Puerto Rico. It's total
toss up. I think Italy's got to And by the way,

(01:00:49):
the starting pitcher for Italy tomorrow Brady Domuel al de
Gierty from Verona. Oh yeah, yeah, Samuel Aldegery we got
I think just the coatural Dynamicsons team. There you go,
go Partiro and Molli Maosa, Opportunity Squadra Taliana. This is

(01:01:19):
their big moment tomorrow. Uh and uh Squadra talian I'm very,
very honored as to be here.

Speaker 3 (01:01:29):
Unbelievable job, bol Barossa. You talking about culture. You talking
about a man who can do it all. MLB Network,
He'll cover the NHL, the Olympics, He'll talk Michigan, Ohio State.

Speaker 4 (01:01:44):
As he is a proud member of.

Speaker 3 (01:01:47):
The ann Arbor family and he joins us here on
Fox Sports Radio JP. Always appreciated, enjoy the games hell
of a job here today, Thank you, sir.

Speaker 6 (01:01:58):
I appreciate it. But also also the grand son of
a very devoted Notre Dame fan, as I've shared with
Brady before. So there's an Irish component there in my
heart as well. And there's the gold Brady. As I've
been telling my dad, is the Michigan State grad, is it? Dad?
We got to get you to South Bend for Notre
Dame Michigan State in the fall. So I hope hopefully
we see you there, all right.

Speaker 5 (01:02:18):
I'd love to help you out with that. If you
need any help. I got you covered.

Speaker 6 (01:02:21):
Appreciate Thank you so much. Thank you.

Speaker 4 (01:02:23):
Get him on X at John Morosi.

Speaker 3 (01:02:25):
He is the best John Paul Morosi with this year
uh and appropriate Andrea Bacelli sending him out with time
to say goodbye. That's uh, that's real Italy there.

Speaker 5 (01:02:36):
You know.

Speaker 3 (01:02:36):
I I shizamed that song at a funeral because it
was so good.

Speaker 4 (01:02:40):
That's how good that song was. By the way, that's
a true story.

Speaker 5 (01:02:44):
Not even you took out your phone at a funeral.

Speaker 4 (01:02:46):
Yeah, I had to. It was so good, Sam, Yeah,
it was so good.

Speaker 3 (01:02:49):
I was sitting in the back of the church and
my buddy's grandma just passed away and everybody's really emotional.
I'm like this and they're playing this song as they're
bringing the casket in, and I was like, so I
just like kind of reached for it real quick, almost
like something bit me.

Speaker 5 (01:03:04):
Sure I'm sure no one noticed, Yeah.

Speaker 4 (01:03:06):
Like something bit me.

Speaker 3 (01:03:07):
And then I just kind of you know, pulled the phone,
you know, hitched his am got the song and I
bought it afterwards. So you have problems, man, Hey, got
respect is what I got. By the way you into
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(01:03:29):
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Speaker 4 (01:03:35):
All right, it's coming up next here.

Speaker 3 (01:03:36):
The Shenanigans continue on this Football Friday, and it's yours
right here on FSR