December 25, 2025 • 40 mins
Aaron Torres and Monse Bolanos believe the NFL is experiencing some karma while trying to steal Christmas Day from the NBA. NBA insider Mark Medina stops by and Chet Holmgren is given the impossible mission of stopping Wembanyama.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, thanks for listening to the Coveno and Rich podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from five
to seven Eastern to the four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Find your local station for Coveno on Rich at foxsports
Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on
the iHeartRadio app like searching FSR.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Welcome to everybody, Coveno and Rich Show, Fox Sports Radio,
Covino and Rich. My understanding is the rare day off.
Usually they're always in for Dan Patrick, for Colin. I
am told that they took a much deserved Christmas day.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Good.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I hope they are spending a lovely Christmas with their
friends and family and loved ones. Yep, Manzi has Christmas dinner.
She's speeding out of here the second that we are done.
I am, I did my Christmas dinner last night, so
today I have okay, So I got the tamalae, the
leftover tamalay for lunch. But my wife makes lasagna. Love
(01:02):
and Tamali's and a lot of Pacifico's were that was
part of it is.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
That is that the preferred beer that you're drinking because
your in laws, your wife is Latina.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
She's from Guatemala though, so so what was I mean.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Guyo gyo? I think that's the famous Guatemalan beer.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I see. It was so good.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
When I was in Guatemala, I drank a lot of them.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
The Pacificos is what they're drinking.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Here, No, you know, I think, so, all right, little
little confession time here. Out of like the ten people
that get together for Christmas, I am by far the
one that drinks the most.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
So like, uh so, like it was just very nice.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
We were at my wife's aunt's house and I think
her uncle knew that I liked to drink, so he's like,
let me make sure we have beer. And I'm sure
he probably was, like was was given a list of
like two or three that I would prefer.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
So i'll tell you what. Don't tell anybody. I know
we're on national radio.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
But he had a couple as well. I saw the
eyes get a little glassy at them.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
I was like, I never said, I don't know if
I've ever seen you quite like this before, uncle Rob.
So my Christmases are very different than your christmases.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
They used to be like that and then everyone just
got old and responsible, and I'm like, I'm still the
one that's just trying to keep the party going.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I mean, I'm gonna tell you my mom and dad,
you said you were in Vegas all this week. I'm
so chuck. I was in Vegas and my parents made
us stop.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
My parents are not young and I but they're a
young hour and there, and they will be drinking after me.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
They will outlast me, that's right.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
So jealous, So everybody used to be fun and do whatever.
I will say in defense of my wife. We were
in Nashville two weeks ago. I think she's still hung
over from that trip, so I'll defend her. I have
not seen my wife drink like that on a It
was one night, but she had like the full two
day hangover.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Oh those rough, So she's taking a little bit easy.
My sister in law the same. So up. So yeah, but.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Merry Christmas to you, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to Iowa,
sam Lee, Chris Preffett. They'll be joining us here throughout
the next two hours. H And as always we were
saying this, we were filling in the previous slot as well.
Tweet us let us know how you're listening to the show.
Where you're listening, why you're listening. Are you at work?
You can tweet us at Aaron Underscore, Torres at Moncy Belognia.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I got a tweet for us. Actually, yeah, so, Bartley S.
Hill at bart Meticulous is the twitter handle said, Merry Christmas, guys,
listening in the backyard from Tampa Bay. Oh, I wish
the Bucks defense at least one defensive stop in the
last two games for the love of Christmas.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
There we go.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
We were gifting and we're still going to be doing
that in these two hours. If you want to tweet
at us gifting items to your favorite teams or just players.
Do you know what I had something for Jackson dar
a concussion Concussion for Dummies book so that he relaxes
and uh stays healthy.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
So he can actually play.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
You know.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
So if you have any gifts that you want to
send out, let us know. Yeah, let us know your
favorite team.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
We had a Lakers fan asking for a defense for
the Lakers.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Yes, we had a Raiders fan asking for a great offensive.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Line, which I thought was kind of burying the lead
of they need to do every everything right right? Oh,
how great is that? On the drive into Vegas when
you just see the stadium it's really great. It looks good.
It looks good. Have you been to a game there
yet or no? I have not been to It looks
amazing though.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I've been a T Mobile like four times in the
last six months, but I have not been to.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
The Raiders stadium. Been to T Mobile, but not the Raiders.
We've been to a Nights game at Team Mobile. Have
you been? I've been to T Mobile.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Not too great place to watch it is the game. Yeah,
Knights have the best intro in all of hockey. Not
that I've been to very many hockey games, but it's
pretty cool. So anyway, all right, So it's Christmas and
a couple things. One, we are one and a half
NFL games in Cowboys took care of business against the
(05:10):
Washington Commanders thirty to twenty three, late first quarter, Detroit
and Minnesota nothing.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Nothing.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
So I bring it up because it's a very interesting
scenario with the NFL is that they kind of I
mentioned it when we were on in the previous time slot,
but kind of lucked into a situation on Christmas where
there was one year it was the coming off of
the NBA bubble season and they weren't sure if they
were to start on Christmas Day. The NFL puts this
(05:41):
Vikings Saints game on crushes in ratings, good game, whatever.
And then I remember the next year I was on
Christmas was on a Saturday, and I remember it was
Packers Browns. It was Baker Mayfield was on air. A
Baker Mayfield was on the Browns and so they were
like a story, you know, in the Packers with Aaron Rodgers.
And I remember saying at that point, I'm like everyone
(06:02):
on my social media timeline, everyone in my social circle
is watching this game. No one cares about the NBA.
And I was like, Oh, the NFL just hijacked Christmas
Day from the NBA. Well, fast forward, we have a
great Okay, see San Antonio Spurs game on right now
with the San Antonio Spurs leading.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
The it's it is officially over. It just happened.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
So it did just go final. You're right one seventeen
one oh two. Should mention Cooper Flag and the Dallas
Mavericks are facing Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
The next game. Jimmy Butler, so new versus old love me.
I know you do.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I'm not a fan, but but the NBA games are
no doubt more intriguing than the NFL games.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
By the way, is that Kenny Smith that's walking around
the barefoot? Yeah, yeah, I don't know. I don't never okay,
never okay to walk barefoot. My Christmas gift to Kenny
Smith is new shoes. I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Yeah, But you brought up a great point earlier is
that I don't know if momentum is like permanently shifted
back to the NBA. But NFL the games are late
in the year. You're oh, I think it's inevitable. You're
gonna get beat up teams, right, m you have essentially
five of the six teams playing today have been eliminated
from the playoffs. And I think to a point that
(07:22):
you brought up earlier, I want to give you credit,
is it'd be one game. If it's a third, it'd
be one thing. If it's a Thursday, we always have
the Thursday game. But three games on Christmas Day. I
don't know that it's having like the cultural impact that
I think the NFL thought it would have. And it
does feel like there's more buzz about the NBA games
here on this specific Christmas Day.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, this is just an eye opening moment for the
NFL that you can't have everything every single time.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
And it's like the oldest cliche that your parents told
you too much of anything is not I think it's
the coast cliche. Ice cream is great seven in the
morning every single day, Probably you shouldn't be eating it
for breakfast.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
That's a perfect example, because that's what I think. That's
what we're seeing right now in the sense, I don't
know if momentum. You mentioned momentum. I don't think it
has completely shifted, you know, back to the NBA. I
don't think it ever will. I just think that we
are seeing that the NFL can have a bad slate
of games, and no doubt, and a lot of things
obviously factor into it, injuries, the situation with the playoffs,
(08:27):
all of the things that the NFL wasn't prepared for.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Netflix was not expecting this.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
But you got a little bit too greedy, and if
you would have just had one game, you still probably
could have dominated the day. But as we talked about
in the last hour ear two hours ago, Arin, the
reality is that you cannot compare the day that is
Christmas to the day that is Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
They're really really different. And again, NBA, you could just
have it on in the background. You don't have to
pay attend to the whole We didn't, and.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Yet don't you feel like, man, we saw the Spurs
have good moments throughout four quarters. I didn't watch the
whole thing, but it looked like the Spurs were gonna
win just because they kept pushing. They didn't take their
foot off the gas. And okay, so you can never
get back in it with the NFL. It's like I
would have to ask you questions, Wait, how did the
Cowboys get here? Who scored? Like, that's what I want
to watch it, you know what I mean. You could
tell me Victor win Byama haw a great game off
(09:18):
the bench, twenty two points, whatever, where I'll be like, yeah,
I can envision it. When it comes to the Cowboys,
I want to know. Okay, but who's scored because it's
affecting my fantasy team and I want to know. You
want to watch the NFL a little bit more up
close and personal. The NBA is not like that, especially
in the middle of the season when there aren't implications
like the playoffs or seating or MVP talk or anything
(09:41):
like that this is just supposed to be for fun
and that's supposed to be Christmas.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Well, and it's the interesting point is to me, and
I was thinking about this, so, like we said, Thanksgiving
you because football has been so synonymous with Thanksgiving, like
you just sort of build even if you're not a
like like my mom doesn't care about the NFL, but
she kind of understands, like, oh the cow the Lions
play here, the Cowboys play there, Like well, have dinner
(10:05):
and the Cowboys game will be on in the background.
And I was saying about this way you were talking
the other day on the calendar that is synonymous with football. Besides,
obviously every Sunday is New Year's Day, and that's another
one where like you're on the couch, probably a little hungover.
You were certainly out late. Seriously, you were out late. Yeh,
you wake up late. Nobody on New Year's Day has
(10:26):
like stuff to do. Nobody's like, oh, I got to
run to Grandma's house for our New Year's Day celebration.
So it's just kind of baked into the cake of like, oh,
this college football all day is like actually the perfect thing.
Like I go back to work tomorrow I've had off
for a week. I just want to chill. And it works.
And I don't get the vibe that the NFL and
that football specifically works on Christmas Day for the same
(10:48):
reason that you said. You know, we brought up the
point earlier. But people have kids. So you know, we
wake up on the West Coast. That Cowboys game starts
at what ten am Pacific time? You know, something like that,
kids are opening gifts. You gotta go to Grandma's house.
You gotta come back from Grandma's house. You you know,
the kids are playing. You gotta help the kids put
the toys together, The kids are playing with the toys,
the kids want to go outside. It's just the NFL
(11:12):
is always going to be king. But it's just I think,
and I will say this too, and I'm not even
being sarcastic when I says I don't think.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
The Netflix thing helps either. No, it does not.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Where again, Grandma and Grandpa, you go over their house.
You just put on CBS on Thanksgiving. Oh there's the Lions,
you know, or there's the Cowboys or whatever. Here It's like,
I'm not even being sarcastic. We talked about this when
we were on in the previous slot. Is like I
went to put the game on and I was like,
oh crap, what's my password? Twenty minute? You know, it
took me twenty minutes to figure out what the past.
(11:43):
It's just I'm not saying that the NFL isn't awesome,
but for some reason, it's just not vibing on Christmas
Day the way that I would think that it would.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
That's exactly it. It's of course it is awesome, it
is king. We all know that, but it's not hitting
the spot the way it does on Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
It's just not in the spot. I almost wish all
of these.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Games weren't on today because maybe I would have tuned
in had you have them on a different day.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
But today it's like, no.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Even a sitting here. It's like there's so many other
things when I feel like for Thanksgiving, everyone already knows
how it's gonna go. Like you plan around the games,
like you said earlier, you really do plan around the games.
What games you want to focus on the most. We're
gonna plan a lunch dinner around that.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Well, and here's the other thing too.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
I was just thinking about, imagine if the games were
good today Okay, imagine.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
How frustrating it would be that you can't actually watch them.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
And then how about this, how much Sunday would suck
if you were just like, imagine if the Chiefs were awesome,
but the Broncos were also awesome, and it's like, oh,
they played that big game on Christmas Day and I
couldn't totally watch it. And now you look at the
Sunday slate into a point that you brought up. We
are in whatever week seventeen right now there is what
(12:53):
essentially one game, what one you can't say with playoff implications,
But I mean, I'm just let me just read off
the Sunday schedule to you right now.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
I'm just gonna read it. You just blind taste test. Okay,
go for it.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Cinci Arizona, how excited are you for that?
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Six?
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Seven Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, New Orleans.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Oh my god, that's the one. Tyler Shuck, that's who
I want.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
To see, Indianapolis hosting Jacksonville. No, thank you, Miami with quitting.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
You want to see Philip Rivers? Hold on, that's the
one you're missing. We all want to see Grandpa Philip Rivers.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Say yeah, hold on hold on, Dan literal father time
is still playing?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Yes, still playing? What else? Patriots Jets? No? I mean
the Patriots are interesting.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
But no, okay, the Jets are not even a little
bit Yeah, no offense.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Ian Roddy, who is our editor right now, Seattle with Carolina,
I guess is.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Okay, sure because both of because Carolina is trying to
do something out of that.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Also, that should be like the third best game of
that window, not the best game right right then, I
will say, you do have Philly Buffalo late obviously, and
then San Francisco and Chicago is the Sunday night game.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
So they did you even mention the Giants and the Raiders?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I didn't. How about this, there's only two games in
that late window. Now, it's going to be a great
audience for Philly Buffalo. Let's just hope we get a
good game. But so that's the other thing. So you know, listen,
I think we've made the point the NFL. You know,
they're going to be just fine whether they get a
couple of duds on Christmas Day. But it does just
feel like they kind of what do they say, bite
(14:24):
off more than you can choose or it's just like
man dude, it's.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Just like, yeah, hopefully this is a learning experience for
the NFL.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I hope so well. I mean they'll still have games,
there's no doubt, of course, But on Christmas Day well.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
And the other thing is too, I think it's inevitable
that when you get to week seventeen of the NFL
guys are going to be hurt. So it happens that
there's a lot of teams with a lot of injuries today,
headlined by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
But I think it's I think.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
It's going to be pretty inevitable that no matter how
good the games look, when the schedule comes out in
May or June or July, that there's going to be
a couple duds, just because it's not realistic to have
six teams fully healthy, fully functioning at the highest level
this late in the year.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Yeah, but you only have one one game that's a dud.
Most people will still tune in, That's what I'm saying it. Yeah,
you know, And that's the big thing here is like
you looked at the slate going into Christmas there and
you're like, and then you looked at the it's like
that meme of that girl where she's in the first
one she looks like throst out and then the next
one she's like, oh that was when you looked at
the NFL slate and then you looked at the NBA solate.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
You're right, Oh, okay, the Alonza morning You ever seen
that one when he's on the bed, Yes.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yes, yes, okay, Yeah, Well.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
I will say the NBA slate is awesome. We got
the third game coming up here, Cooper Flag. I definitely
want your Cooper Flag takes at some point.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Yeah, let's talk about that.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
He has been awesome. Oh, by the way, Steph Curry
averaging thirty one points, thirty one in the month of December.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
And still in the most exciting way possible.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Yes, Warriors is just tipping off the third game of
a busy NBA slate, and we will keep you covered.
Speaking of NBA, nobody better covering the NBA than our
good friend Mark Medina.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
He will join us in just minutes.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Mark Medina joins us in just a few minutes to
talk to two games that we've seen, the three games
that are coming up. Mark Medina next here on Fox
Sports Radio. Before we get to Mark Medina, though, should
mention have you heard about Trainer Games. Add this to
your binge list. Ten athletes go head to head for
a chance to win an i Fit trainer contract where
(16:34):
two hundred fifty thousand dollars Trainer Games on Prime Video
January eighth. Watch the trailer on Trainer Games dot Com.
Should also mention we talked about college football New Year's Day.
Also New Year's Eve, we get college football playoff games
and feeding off the success of our college basketball bracket
challenge each March, we have decided here at Fox Sports
(16:56):
ready to do a bracket challenge for the college football playoff.
That's right, teams left standing, It's bracket challenge time. Compete
against our Fox Sports Radio host that's me, that's Manzi,
that's Dan Bayer, that's everybody, and against fellow listeners as well.
To see you as the best bracket. Here's cool part
thousand dollars cash prize to the winner. So visit Foxsports
Radio dot iHeart dot com to register, get rules, and
(17:18):
to fill out your bracket. Entry will be open until
just before kickoff at seven thirty Eastern New Year's Eve.
That's obviously the Ohio State Miami game. Again, fill out
your bracket at Fox Sports Radio dot iHeart dot com
for your chance to win one thousand dollars Mark Medina
Next Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live. Paulli Foods Go here with Tony Foodsco. Yeah,
as everybody knows, we're of the hosts of the award
winning Polly and Tony Foodsco Showy.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
But instead of us telling you how great we are,
here's out Dan described us when he came on our show.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
Quick, knowledgeable and funny, opinionated.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
What are you doing?
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Were interrupting our promo? Yeah, you wasn't talking about you.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
You took those clips totally of context.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Oh yeah, well after this promo, I'm gonna take you
out and beat you.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Let me put this into context. Shut up.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Yeah, anyway, just listen to the Pauli and Tony Fusco
Show on Ihart Radio, Apple Podcasts O wherever you get
your podcasts. YEA, welcome back, everybody, Covino and Rich Show,
Fox Sports Radio, Air Torres and Manzi Blanios.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
We are wanted to say j mar didn't you.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
You know, it's such a default thing. It is such
a default thing. Yes, I did that with I forget
who I was on with not long ago, but I
definitely did.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
That me in the last hour.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
It wasn't just you last hour, it was somebody else
as well. We aren't for Covino and Rich though, and
be sure to check out Covino Rich's new YouTube channel.
Just search Covino and Rich FSR on YouTube. Again, that's
Cavino and Rich fs are. The Road to Milan goes
through Saint Louis see Ilia Milanan. Alyssa lou and Amber
(19:14):
Glenn compete at the twenty twenty six Revugen US Figure
Skating Championships January seventh through eleventh. Be there as the
twenty twenty sixth US Olympic Figure Skating team is named.
Live tickets at US figure Skating dot org.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
And also to forget that, this show is sponsored by
Draft Kings sportsbook and official sports betting partner of the
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Our Show to claim your special offer at DraftKings. Again,
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Speaker 1 (19:45):
At DraftKings. The Crown is yours all Right, it is
Christmas Day, which of course.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Mes a lot of NBA. That's right, Manzi is fired
up her Clipper play at not today?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Shut up? They've won two and a iron. Ask Mark
about it.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Mark, listen, we got to get to the real teams
in the NBA in a second. But first of all,
Mark Medina is joining us. First of all, Mark, Merry Christmas.
I'm sorry I keep putting a lup of Cole and
Monty Stocking over her over her Clippers, But.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Mary Christmas, how are you? Mark?
Speaker 3 (20:22):
What's going on in Mark Medina's world here on Christmas Day?
Just watching a bunch of games?
Speaker 6 (20:26):
I assume, yeah, and hey, spending time with family, right,
that's kind of important too. But yeah, definitely getting the
NBA fixed. Aaron Monse, Merry Christmas. Love the intro music,
but you know I would gladly also take the Christmas songs. Yes, Monson,
you got a lump of hole that the Clippers aren't
playing today. But guess what, Aaron. The Clippers played to
beat two teams that are playing right today, and the
(20:47):
Lakers and the Rockets, So I guess they have something
going for them.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Yes, we do.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Nobody does consolation prizes quite like the Los Angeles Clippers.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Yes, yes, better luck next year.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
I'll tell you what though, Zazi is a huge NBA fan.
She just brought up a great point to me during
the break. Oklahoma City Thunder are now twenty six and
five after today's lost to San Antonio Spurs. Three of
their five losses are to San Antonio. Do the Oklahoma
City Thunder, who everybody was just handing the Larry O'Brien
(21:19):
trophy to, do they officially have a San Antonio Spurs problem,
Mark Montina.
Speaker 6 (21:24):
They well, they do have a San Antonio's first problem.
But is it a problem enough not to win the
NBA Championship. I don't think so, but don't write them off.
I think that you're likely going to see the Thunder
and the Spurs in the playoffs, and if I had
to guess which series, it would be the Western Conference Finals,
and I want to be surprised that goes six even
(21:45):
seven games. I would give the nod to the Thunder
or send me no major injuries, just because they have
the experience, the continuity depth, their core players are still
very young in their prime. And the Spurs, you would think, hey,
that they have a good thing going. They're going to
end that playoff streak or and that playoff drought so
(22:06):
to speak. But now they need to get battle tests
in the postseason before making the next step. But Aaron
the Spurs is a real deal. We know obviously Victor
wan Bama is a special player. But their whole back
court with dearon Fox, all short caliber players. Defon Castel,
Dylan Harper two really good young players. They have really
good chemistry, a lot of good depth, and even when
they've had injuries, whether it's with Wemby be with Fox,
(22:30):
it doesn't matter. They're plug and play and they just
have that Spurs culture around them that really make them go.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Mark's so good to be talking to you on Christmas, Ada.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
Likewise, very Christmas, Fons.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yes, let's chat about Cooper Flag.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Are you surprised at the quick change that he had
from the start of the season to what thirty games in,
because now it looks like he's been in the NBA
for years.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
Yeah, not surprised at all. Monts now Here's the thing,
we knew he was number one for reason. He was
very well hyped to do kind of you know, a
great skill sets a score pat Thor defender a human
highlight reel. Excuse me? Really coachable. But really, the only
struggles he had was playing at the point guard position,
(23:17):
and that's something that he wasn't ever used to doing,
and a lot of people around the NBA think that
that was malpractice, that that put him in a bad
position to succeed. And even though the MAVs, you know,
had some point guard issues, not having Kyrie Irving D'Angel
Russell is a struggle. They didn't understand that. Now, talking
to Cooper Flagg's trainer these last few weeks, Matt McKenzie, like,
(23:41):
they never thought that, hey, what are you doing to
his game? This is hurting him. They thought that this
was a good burning experience and a new skill for
him to get. But no doubt it was a learning curve.
And now that he's not having to worry about that,
you're seeing him being a lot more comfortable.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Mark Medina joining us here on Chris Day Fox Sports Radio. Marcus,
of course are Fox Sports Radio NBA insider.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Mark. I forget it.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
I don't know if this was even a conversation on
or off air. Kate Cunningham, So I was telling MANSI
with my college hoops background. I interviewed this kid when
he was probably about sixteen years old, and it felt
like I was talking to a thirty five year old.
And I'm sure you've probably experienced the same since he
got to the league. And I just feel like, is
it because I mean, he did come in during the
(24:27):
you know, he played college during the COVID year, and
it was just a weird time when he came into
the league. The Pistons had that big losing streak. But
we're talking about Cooper Flag, We're talking about Wenby, We're
talking about all these young, dynamic players. And maybe I'm
missing the Kate Cunningham conversations, but I don't feel like
we're talking about him enough as one of the future
faces of this league there.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
And I mean, look, the Detroit Piston should be playing today.
They're the best team in the East, and they're not
because the NBA put the schedule out beforehand. I don't
think that there was an anticipat the Pissons will be
this good this early. But with the diminished Eastern Conference
and the fact that Kate Cunningham is the real deal,
shouldn't be surprised. He's now in the MVP conversation. I
(25:11):
think most of the edge still goes to Shakeyadis Alexander
because he won last season, ta Kola Jokic because he's
won three years, and Luca Dodgics because you know he's
in better shape and it's the Lakers and he's a
star player. But Kate Cunningham will be in the conversation.
Has I think a legitimate case for him. You look
(25:33):
at win loss records, obviously you check that box. He
makes his teammates better, He is competitive as hell. He
really sets the culture there in Detroit, which you know,
talking to JB. Bickerstaff and players these last two seasons,
it's about, you know, this culture of like a joy
to be at work. You know, he makes people, you know,
(25:55):
enjoy being around each other. But there's accountability to it.
There's day to day routine. All that trace is back
to Cade. So yeah, he's lost in that mix. But
I predict Aaron that as this season goes on, his
MVP stock is going to get higher and higher. Now
the problem is you do think, okay, is that going
to then take it away from Shay Nicola and Luca.
(26:20):
We'll see, because they're still playing at a high level,
but I want to be surprised if he eclipses Luca
just because the Lakers they're in the mix, but there's
a lot of question marks on where they fit in
the championship contention picture here where I think with the Pistons,
it's probably going to be mix and pissons in these finals,
and either team has a good case mark.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
You just said that people like to work with Cad Cunningham.
He makes people want to come to work. We make
people happy.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Does Draymond Green do that? I'm just curious. I'm just
like curious, you know, like, does he do that?
Speaker 6 (26:53):
I think if you ask Jordan Pool, the answer would
be no.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Capital Ever, Jordan Poole was happy to go to work
as long as it was anyone other than Golden State.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (27:02):
Give the Draymond Green experience with the Warriors. It's well
documented and I think that, you know, people right now
are understandably asking like, why did the Warriors put up
with this? Yeah? And I think it's one of these
things where they're in a long committed relationship and they
hate each other, but they also they there's times they
(27:24):
can't stand each other, but they also can't stand without
being around them because they need them. And so here's
the thing. The Warriors aren't nostalgic about Draymond. They're not
clinging to something that's not tangible. They've really handled everything
throughout his whole tenure with the Warriors, through the good
and bad, through a practical lens. They think that he's
(27:46):
a big driving force on why they've been an elite
defensive team during their championship runs and they need him.
So keep in mind here, when he punched Jordan Poole,
they initially sided with Jordan Poole like they had given
him an extent mentioned and you know, he and Klay
Thoms were going to be free agents. If he wasn't
still playing at a high level the rest of the season,
(28:10):
they would have chosen Jordan Poole. But what happened is
Raymond still played on his mind. Jordan was showing, you know,
ups and downs of any young player, and they made
the practical decision, Okay, you know, we're going to stick
with Raymond. And right now, I think it's the same thing.
They're a team that's barely in the mix because of
Steph Curry, and when you're looking at the rest of
the supporting cast. Yes, Jimmy Butler is always a net positive,
(28:32):
but everyone else is a question Mark Jonathan Kaminga, they
don't quite are convinced that he is a guy moving forward.
So that's really how you view this through the lens
of why they're putting up with Raymond's ongoing behavior.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Mark Madina, R Fox Sports Radio NBA Insider is joining us. Mark,
I'm gonna throw a little bit of a curveball at you,
and by all means you can please feel free to
plead the fifth if you just have no strong opinion
on it. Has the buzz in NBA circles started to
mount yet about this twenty twenty six NBA Draft class,
because as a college basketball fan, we are seeing freshmen
(29:11):
do things that we have never seen before. Aj De
Bonsa just the other night was the youngest player ever
with a thirty ten to ten triple double. Cam Boozer
might be National Player of the Year. I don't want
to put you on the spot. I know you're focused
on the thirty teams in the association, but it's just
curious if you're starting to hear buzz about how good
this upcoming draft could potentially be.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
I think there's a buzz for cam Boozer, but I
don't think that there's buzz on the draft class yet.
It felt like anecdotally that there was definitely buzz the year,
you know, before the season even started with Victor Womeniama
being out in space or being out in France being
this international phenom. During Zion Williamson's rookie season. Same thing
(29:54):
I don't feel just from someone in the NBA circles.
I think it's same caliber. But in fairness, it's Christmas
Day and that'll start picking up, I think in February
and once conference tournament start. But I think generally speaking,
the twenty twenty six class is considered really good, a
(30:15):
lot of depth, but it's not one of those things
that right now people are thinking, you know what, next
year there's going to be this generational talent available and
watch out. It's good. It's more about, hey, there's a
lot of good young prospects and that's why teams are
valuing draft picks even more so, But not a singular trends,
(30:35):
you know, transformative player that's you know, getting a lot
of people talking just yet, Mark, I don't want.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
To put you on the spot either, but since we
are on well.
Speaker 6 (30:47):
By all means, it's Christmas.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
It's Christmas.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Are you familiar with the story with James Naji, the
guy who was drafted in twenty twenty three by the
next but now is has committed to Baylor, so he's
got four years of NCAA eligibility, but he was drafted
and barely the nick still own his rights.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
I'm so confused.
Speaker 6 (31:09):
Yeah, I'm really confused too. I honestly need to dive
deeper into that before it given some education hit insight
on it, only because that caught me by surprise the
other day when I read about it and didn't quite
understand it. But I think generally, and Aaron correct me
if I'm wrong here, I think until you sign with
some sort of representation, technically you can still be eligible.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Right Mark, there are officially no real rules and no,
I told Manci this is the NCAA has been sued
so many times from so many different things that they're
really pretty much afraid to enforce anything. And so where
we had been at prior to yesterday was basically if
a guy was so. The last year or so, colleges
(31:57):
have kind of gone over to Europe and they'll sign
a twenty one year old. He just wants to come
over to the States and get an education. Okay, they
were clearly professionals at twenty two, twenty three, And then
we started having these guys that were in the G
League but had never been drafted, and that was kind
of a weird gray area. This was like a weird
line in the sand where it's like, this guy was drafted.
(32:19):
To Manzi's point, his rights are owned by somebody, yet
he'll be playing college basketball. And then I think, and
we're gonna let you go, Mark, And I know you
need to go because it's Christmas Day, but it's this
weird thing of you know, I would think, in theory,
if he's awesome at Baylor in the first month, the
Knicks could in theory call them up if they needed
a draft pick.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
But then the op well, but the opposite is true
as well.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
Now is if if you're letting this guy play play
college basketball, what's to say Mark Medina is the twenty
sixth pick in the draft. But knows, you know, Oklahoma
City's got all these first round picks, not all of
them are gonna be able to play next year, right,
So like what's to stop a kid from saying, Oh,
I'm going back to douke Er, I'm going back to Baylor,
or you Connor whatever. So it is a crazy gray
(33:04):
area as a college basketball fan, I think it's a
step too far. But I'll tell you what, Mark Medina,
you got families stay. You don't need to be worrying
about Baylor eligibility issues.
Speaker 6 (33:15):
Okay, So this is a whole new meaning to draft
in stash. I know you know that was something as
soon as used to do when it came to these
like really intriguing overseas prospects. But this is a whole
other level.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Mark Medina. We appreciate your time, my friend. When you
need all those answers, you could text me privately. I
won't have them, but we appreciate you. Happy holidays, and
thank you for making some time on a Christmas Day.
Speaker 6 (33:38):
Thank you, Mark, Aaron Monster, Mary Christmas all the best.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Merry Christmas, Mark, Mark Medina.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Follow him on Twitter at Mark g Underscore Medina the
best in the business covering the NBA knows the best
in the business. Chris Purfet, What is trending right now?
Speaker 1 (33:53):
My friend?
Speaker 5 (33:54):
All right, guys, let's start with some NFL action the
Lions on the doorstep the line. Detroit's fumbled twice in
this game when turned into an Aaron Jones touchdown. Currently
the score seven to nothing Minnesota seeing if Detroit maybe
got the first down they were stopped a little bit short.
They are is gonna be fourth and one? You know
what Lions are going for it. Pine School was injured
earlier in this game as well, walked off in his
(34:15):
own power. But that's something to really keep an eye
on there for that pro bowler current. Earlier we had
on NFL Action, Dallas Cowboys took down the Commanders thirty
to twenty three, two touchdowns for Dak Prescott and afterwards.
You know, if Fox has the has those you know,
turkey legs, they do on it. So I guess Netflix
(34:35):
has decided to Tomahawks stakes or in the German language.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
Lets kim st Netflix, Tomahawks MVP State Moony. That's how
it sounded on the That was Netflix German feed again,
I think I understand German. Yes, pretty easy, pretty easy.
Speaker 5 (34:54):
NBA Action Golden State two minutes to go in the
first quarter with a twenty seven to twenty four lead
over the the Dallas Mavericks. Earlier on the day, Spurs
closed out the Thunder one seventeen, one oh two Victor
Wembinyama with nineteen points ten rebounds. Nick's put up a
forty two point fourth quarter to power pass the Cavaliers.
One twenty six, one twenty four. Sham Sharani reporting rockets
(35:16):
for Dorian Finney Smith expected to make his debut against
the Lakers coming up here at eight pm Eastern And
this from the NFL. Broncos are putting center Luke Wattenberg
on injured reserve. Back to you guys, Thank.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
You very much, Chris Prefett. This is Fox US MIT's
radio and the Coveno and Rich Show.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
Go ahead, Chris, take it away. I gotta get this
right before the end. Okay. Sesame Street helped raise all
of us.
Speaker 5 (35:39):
Now it's our turn donate this holiday season at sesame
dot org because the world needs Sesame and Sesame needs you.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Prefet You're the man. Thank you guys. Thanks Chris.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
He is Chris Preffett. I'mritrres Manzi Belanios. We are filling
in for Cavino and Rich. We will come back wrap
the hour and we got plenty more Chris miss gifts
to give to your favorite athletes and latins.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
We'll do all that next Fox Sports trety Please you're.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
Listening to Fox Sports Radio Radio behind his back screen
from Cornette, Fox weeds.
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Into the paint, pull up jumper.
Speaker 4 (36:15):
No the heldon Johnson, Toddy on the spot, follow up Slam,
Nobody boxed up change and he makes some.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Pain Keldon Johnson and the San Antonio Spurs with a
one to eleven one to oho two win that my friends,
you're Tyraq play the day. For over forty years, Tyraq
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Speaker 1 (36:45):
The way tire buying.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Should be that call by the way courtesy of Spurs
Radio Network should mention by the way, miss any today's
show this is the Coveno and Rich Show. You want
to catch the podcast, just search Coveno on Rich wherever
you get podcasts. Right after the show, Today's podcast will
be hosted. Be sure to follow the podcast rate at
five stars and you can even provide a review. Again
to search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts,
(37:07):
and you'll find today's show and they best of best
of version. As we get off there, you know what
I just thought of, what do you think about MANSI?
Speaker 1 (37:15):
What's on? What's on? Maazi? But what I just thought
this is not plants. I was just you know, I
just thought of, I would hate to be Chet Holmgren.
Why I would hate And I just I literally just
thought of this.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Everyone nobody probably can guard Victor one Banyama, but.
Speaker 1 (37:32):
You're the guy that's supposed to be there. But you're
the you. It is on you.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
No other team has a player that is like, okay,
you go, you go handle Victor. Sure, everybody else is
gonna struggle. So you're probably switching on Victor one Banyama.
You're probably trying different things if you aren't Chet Holmgren.
There is no other person that they're gonna put on
Victor one Banyama.
Speaker 1 (37:50):
So how about this.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
Think about it like this, imagine being like a any
job whatever, a totally un and we use the word
unicorn like way too much in sports, but che Hoolmgren,
take pretend Victor one money I was ever borne. Che
Hoolmgren truly is a unicorn, right, he really is. And
so your entire life, there has been no one as
(38:12):
big as you that's able to do the things that
you do, and there just comes along a guy that's
literally bad. You're you're like one of one, but there's
like one of one that is literally better than you
and every single thing that.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
You do and has a British accent.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Sure like how you know, like here America, Like here
in America, you hear it and you're like, oh, what.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
A pretty accent because we don't hear it. So not
only is this guy competing against he also has an
accent makes him stand out even more.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
The guy at the bar, Yeah, you're flirting and then
all of a sudden the British accent.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
Yeah, oh my gosh, you have no chance.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
If we're if we're casting a movie Victor one, Bama
is the leading man and Ched Hoolnggren would be the buddy.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
Sure like unfair to him, unfair to him, It is unbelieved.
I just really is that how unfair of a situation.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
I'm trying to think if there's even like a radio equivalent,
Like I'm so good at what I do, but there's
a guy that like played in the NFL. Who's funnier
than me, handsomer than me, has like a better voice
for radio than me. Like my writings are like number
two in the entire building. But I just will never
be that guy. And it's like that really is Chet Holmgren?
And now that I is there any equivalent because there's like,
(39:27):
you know whatever, Like there's nobody that people are like, oh,
you should be eighty percent of Steph Curry.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
It's like, no, we acknowledge Steph Curry's a one of one.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
Correct, even like the Katie Lebron stuff, Like we knew
that Katie wasn't Lebron, but Katie was so unique that
it was like, oh, we're just gonna appreciate Katie for
who he is. And I just feel like Chet Holmgren
is just gonna be Victor Wiembayama's whipping boy for the
next like fifteen years.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
Especially with Chet Holmgren being a part of the Thunder,
Yeah gives next to each other. They you have Sga
who is the face of the Thunder.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
And so it's just like I never I really never
thought of how unfair of a situation Chat Holmgren is.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
It's literally the exact same person, just the other one
is better at literally everything that you're really good at.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
But everyone's putting it on you because you're the closest
one to match him.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
Yeah, well, unfair didn't match him today because the San
Antonio Spurs won one eleven, one oh two one.
Speaker 1 (40:26):
The one I'm not getting old. It's Christmas. Christmas.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
Yes, you brought this point up by the way, Spurs
and the thunder Thunder have lost five games all year. Yep,
the Spurs have beaten them three times. So I'll tell
you what. This is what we're gonna do. We're gonna
come back. When we do, We're gonna hand out some
Christmas gifts.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Maybe Chet Holmgren we give him an extra answer two
or three on the wingspan or whatever. But we're handing
out Christmas gifts to your favorite athletes and teams. That
is next Aaron Torres, Manti Belanios, and for Cavino and
Rich Fox Sports twenty
Hey, thanks for listening to the Coveno and Rich podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from five
to seven Eastern to the four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:09):
Find your local station for Coveno on Rich at foxsports
Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on
the iHeartRadio app like searching FSR.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Welcome to everybody, Coveno and Rich Show, Fox Sports Radio,
Covino and Rich. My understanding is the rare day off.
Usually they're always in for Dan Patrick, for Colin. I
am told that they took a much deserved Christmas day.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
Good.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
I hope they are spending a lovely Christmas with their
friends and family and loved ones. Yep, Manzi has Christmas dinner.
She's speeding out of here the second that we are done.
I am, I did my Christmas dinner last night, so
today I have okay, So I got the tamalae, the
leftover tamalay for lunch. But my wife makes lasagna. Love
(01:02):
and Tamali's and a lot of Pacifico's were that was
part of it is.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
That is that the preferred beer that you're drinking because
your in laws, your wife is Latina.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
She's from Guatemala though, so so what was I mean.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Guyo gyo? I think that's the famous Guatemalan beer.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
I see. It was so good.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
When I was in Guatemala, I drank a lot of them.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
The Pacificos is what they're drinking.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Here, No, you know, I think, so, all right, little
little confession time here. Out of like the ten people
that get together for Christmas, I am by far the
one that drinks the most.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
So like, uh so, like it was just very nice.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
We were at my wife's aunt's house and I think
her uncle knew that I liked to drink, so he's like,
let me make sure we have beer. And I'm sure
he probably was, like was was given a list of
like two or three that I would prefer.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
So i'll tell you what. Don't tell anybody. I know
we're on national radio.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
But he had a couple as well. I saw the
eyes get a little glassy at them.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
I was like, I never said, I don't know if
I've ever seen you quite like this before, uncle Rob.
So my Christmases are very different than your christmases.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
They used to be like that and then everyone just
got old and responsible, and I'm like, I'm still the
one that's just trying to keep the party going.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I mean, I'm gonna tell you my mom and dad,
you said you were in Vegas all this week. I'm
so chuck. I was in Vegas and my parents made
us stop.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
My parents are not young and I but they're a
young hour and there, and they will be drinking after me.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
They will outlast me, that's right.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
So jealous, So everybody used to be fun and do whatever.
I will say in defense of my wife. We were
in Nashville two weeks ago. I think she's still hung
over from that trip, so I'll defend her. I have
not seen my wife drink like that on a It
was one night, but she had like the full two
day hangover.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Oh those rough, So she's taking a little bit easy.
My sister in law the same. So up. So yeah, but.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Merry Christmas to you, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to Iowa,
sam Lee, Chris Preffett. They'll be joining us here throughout
the next two hours. H And as always we were
saying this, we were filling in the previous slot as well.
Tweet us let us know how you're listening to the show.
Where you're listening, why you're listening. Are you at work?
You can tweet us at Aaron Underscore, Torres at Moncy Belognia.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
I got a tweet for us. Actually, yeah, so, Bartley S.
Hill at bart Meticulous is the twitter handle said, Merry Christmas, guys,
listening in the backyard from Tampa Bay. Oh, I wish
the Bucks defense at least one defensive stop in the
last two games for the love of Christmas.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
There we go.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
We were gifting and we're still going to be doing
that in these two hours. If you want to tweet
at us gifting items to your favorite teams or just players.
Do you know what I had something for Jackson dar
a concussion Concussion for Dummies book so that he relaxes
and uh stays healthy.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
So he can actually play.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
You know.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
So if you have any gifts that you want to
send out, let us know. Yeah, let us know your
favorite team.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
We had a Lakers fan asking for a defense for
the Lakers.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Yes, we had a Raiders fan asking for a great offensive.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Line, which I thought was kind of burying the lead
of they need to do every everything right right? Oh,
how great is that? On the drive into Vegas when
you just see the stadium it's really great. It looks good.
It looks good. Have you been to a game there
yet or no? I have not been to It looks
amazing though.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I've been a T Mobile like four times in the
last six months, but I have not been to.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
The Raiders stadium. Been to T Mobile, but not the Raiders.
We've been to a Nights game at Team Mobile. Have
you been? I've been to T Mobile.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Not too great place to watch it is the game. Yeah,
Knights have the best intro in all of hockey. Not
that I've been to very many hockey games, but it's
pretty cool. So anyway, all right, So it's Christmas and
a couple things. One, we are one and a half
NFL games in Cowboys took care of business against the
(05:10):
Washington Commanders thirty to twenty three, late first quarter, Detroit
and Minnesota nothing.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Nothing.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
So I bring it up because it's a very interesting
scenario with the NFL is that they kind of I
mentioned it when we were on in the previous time slot,
but kind of lucked into a situation on Christmas where
there was one year it was the coming off of
the NBA bubble season and they weren't sure if they
were to start on Christmas Day. The NFL puts this
(05:41):
Vikings Saints game on crushes in ratings, good game, whatever.
And then I remember the next year I was on
Christmas was on a Saturday, and I remember it was
Packers Browns. It was Baker Mayfield was on air. A
Baker Mayfield was on the Browns and so they were
like a story, you know, in the Packers with Aaron Rodgers.
And I remember saying at that point, I'm like everyone
(06:02):
on my social media timeline, everyone in my social circle
is watching this game. No one cares about the NBA.
And I was like, Oh, the NFL just hijacked Christmas
Day from the NBA. Well, fast forward, we have a
great Okay, see San Antonio Spurs game on right now
with the San Antonio Spurs leading.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
The it's it is officially over. It just happened.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
So it did just go final. You're right one seventeen
one oh two. Should mention Cooper Flag and the Dallas
Mavericks are facing Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
The next game. Jimmy Butler, so new versus old love me.
I know you do.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
I'm not a fan, but but the NBA games are
no doubt more intriguing than the NFL games.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
By the way, is that Kenny Smith that's walking around
the barefoot? Yeah, yeah, I don't know. I don't never okay,
never okay to walk barefoot. My Christmas gift to Kenny
Smith is new shoes. I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
Yeah, But you brought up a great point earlier is
that I don't know if momentum is like permanently shifted
back to the NBA. But NFL the games are late
in the year. You're oh, I think it's inevitable. You're
gonna get beat up teams, right, m you have essentially
five of the six teams playing today have been eliminated
from the playoffs. And I think to a point that
(07:22):
you brought up earlier, I want to give you credit,
is it'd be one game. If it's a third, it'd
be one thing. If it's a Thursday, we always have
the Thursday game. But three games on Christmas Day. I
don't know that it's having like the cultural impact that
I think the NFL thought it would have. And it
does feel like there's more buzz about the NBA games
here on this specific Christmas Day.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, this is just an eye opening moment for the
NFL that you can't have everything every single time.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
And it's like the oldest cliche that your parents told
you too much of anything is not I think it's
the coast cliche. Ice cream is great seven in the
morning every single day, Probably you shouldn't be eating it
for breakfast.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
That's a perfect example, because that's what I think. That's
what we're seeing right now in the sense, I don't
know if momentum. You mentioned momentum. I don't think it
has completely shifted, you know, back to the NBA. I
don't think it ever will. I just think that we
are seeing that the NFL can have a bad slate
of games, and no doubt, and a lot of things
obviously factor into it, injuries, the situation with the playoffs,
(08:27):
all of the things that the NFL wasn't prepared for.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
Netflix was not expecting this.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
But you got a little bit too greedy, and if
you would have just had one game, you still probably
could have dominated the day. But as we talked about
in the last hour ear two hours ago, Arin, the
reality is that you cannot compare the day that is
Christmas to the day that is Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
They're really really different. And again, NBA, you could just
have it on in the background. You don't have to
pay attend to the whole We didn't, and.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Yet don't you feel like, man, we saw the Spurs
have good moments throughout four quarters. I didn't watch the
whole thing, but it looked like the Spurs were gonna
win just because they kept pushing. They didn't take their
foot off the gas. And okay, so you can never
get back in it with the NFL. It's like I
would have to ask you questions, Wait, how did the
Cowboys get here? Who scored? Like, that's what I want
to watch it, you know what I mean. You could
tell me Victor win Byama haw a great game off
(09:18):
the bench, twenty two points, whatever, where I'll be like, yeah,
I can envision it. When it comes to the Cowboys,
I want to know. Okay, but who's scored because it's
affecting my fantasy team and I want to know. You
want to watch the NFL a little bit more up
close and personal. The NBA is not like that, especially
in the middle of the season when there aren't implications
like the playoffs or seating or MVP talk or anything
(09:41):
like that this is just supposed to be for fun
and that's supposed to be Christmas.
Speaker 3 (09:44):
Well, and it's the interesting point is to me, and
I was thinking about this, so, like we said, Thanksgiving
you because football has been so synonymous with Thanksgiving, like
you just sort of build even if you're not a
like like my mom doesn't care about the NFL, but
she kind of understands, like, oh the cow the Lions
play here, the Cowboys play there, Like well, have dinner
(10:05):
and the Cowboys game will be on in the background.
And I was saying about this way you were talking
the other day on the calendar that is synonymous with football. Besides,
obviously every Sunday is New Year's Day, and that's another
one where like you're on the couch, probably a little hungover.
You were certainly out late. Seriously, you were out late. Yeh,
you wake up late. Nobody on New Year's Day has
(10:26):
like stuff to do. Nobody's like, oh, I got to
run to Grandma's house for our New Year's Day celebration.
So it's just kind of baked into the cake of like, oh,
this college football all day is like actually the perfect thing.
Like I go back to work tomorrow I've had off
for a week. I just want to chill. And it works.
And I don't get the vibe that the NFL and
that football specifically works on Christmas Day for the same
(10:48):
reason that you said. You know, we brought up the
point earlier. But people have kids. So you know, we
wake up on the West Coast. That Cowboys game starts
at what ten am Pacific time? You know, something like that,
kids are opening gifts. You gotta go to Grandma's house.
You gotta come back from Grandma's house. You you know,
the kids are playing. You gotta help the kids put
the toys together, The kids are playing with the toys,
the kids want to go outside. It's just the NFL
(11:12):
is always going to be king. But it's just I think,
and I will say this too, and I'm not even
being sarcastic when I says I don't think.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
The Netflix thing helps either. No, it does not.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
Where again, Grandma and Grandpa, you go over their house.
You just put on CBS on Thanksgiving. Oh there's the Lions,
you know, or there's the Cowboys or whatever. Here It's like,
I'm not even being sarcastic. We talked about this when
we were on in the previous slot. Is like I
went to put the game on and I was like,
oh crap, what's my password? Twenty minute? You know, it
took me twenty minutes to figure out what the past.
(11:43):
It's just I'm not saying that the NFL isn't awesome,
but for some reason, it's just not vibing on Christmas
Day the way that I would think that it would.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
That's exactly it. It's of course it is awesome, it
is king. We all know that, but it's not hitting
the spot the way it does on Thanksgiving.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
It's just not in the spot. I almost wish all
of these.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Games weren't on today because maybe I would have tuned
in had you have them on a different day.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
But today it's like, no.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Even a sitting here. It's like there's so many other
things when I feel like for Thanksgiving, everyone already knows
how it's gonna go. Like you plan around the games,
like you said earlier, you really do plan around the games.
What games you want to focus on the most. We're
gonna plan a lunch dinner around that.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Well, and here's the other thing too.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
I was just thinking about, imagine if the games were
good today Okay, imagine.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
How frustrating it would be that you can't actually watch them.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
And then how about this, how much Sunday would suck
if you were just like, imagine if the Chiefs were awesome,
but the Broncos were also awesome, and it's like, oh,
they played that big game on Christmas Day and I
couldn't totally watch it. And now you look at the
Sunday slate into a point that you brought up. We
are in whatever week seventeen right now there is what
(12:53):
essentially one game, what one you can't say with playoff implications,
But I mean, I'm just let me just read off
the Sunday schedule to you right now.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
I'm just gonna read it. You just blind taste test. Okay,
go for it.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
Cinci Arizona, how excited are you for that?
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Six?
Speaker 3 (13:09):
Seven Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, New Orleans.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Oh my god, that's the one. Tyler Shuck, that's who
I want.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
To see, Indianapolis hosting Jacksonville. No, thank you, Miami with quitting.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
You want to see Philip Rivers? Hold on, that's the
one you're missing. We all want to see Grandpa Philip Rivers.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Say yeah, hold on hold on, Dan literal father time
is still playing?
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Yes, still playing? What else? Patriots Jets? No? I mean
the Patriots are interesting.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
But no, okay, the Jets are not even a little
bit Yeah, no offense.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Ian Roddy, who is our editor right now, Seattle with Carolina,
I guess is.
Speaker 2 (13:43):
Okay, sure because both of because Carolina is trying to
do something out of that.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
Also, that should be like the third best game of
that window, not the best game right right then, I
will say, you do have Philly Buffalo late obviously, and
then San Francisco and Chicago is the Sunday night game.
Speaker 1 (13:59):
So they did you even mention the Giants and the Raiders?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I didn't. How about this, there's only two games in
that late window. Now, it's going to be a great
audience for Philly Buffalo. Let's just hope we get a
good game. But so that's the other thing. So you know, listen,
I think we've made the point the NFL. You know,
they're going to be just fine whether they get a
couple of duds on Christmas Day. But it does just
feel like they kind of what do they say, bite
(14:24):
off more than you can choose or it's just like
man dude, it's.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Just like, yeah, hopefully this is a learning experience for
the NFL.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
I hope so well. I mean they'll still have games,
there's no doubt, of course, But on Christmas Day well.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
And the other thing is too, I think it's inevitable
that when you get to week seventeen of the NFL
guys are going to be hurt. So it happens that
there's a lot of teams with a lot of injuries today,
headlined by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
But I think it's I think.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
It's going to be pretty inevitable that no matter how
good the games look, when the schedule comes out in
May or June or July, that there's going to be
a couple duds, just because it's not realistic to have
six teams fully healthy, fully functioning at the highest level
this late in the year.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Yeah, but you only have one one game that's a dud.
Most people will still tune in, That's what I'm saying it. Yeah,
you know, And that's the big thing here is like
you looked at the slate going into Christmas there and
you're like, and then you looked at the it's like
that meme of that girl where she's in the first
one she looks like throst out and then the next
one she's like, oh that was when you looked at
the NFL slate and then you looked at the NBA solate.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
You're right, Oh, okay, the Alonza morning You ever seen
that one when he's on the bed, Yes.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yes, yes, okay, Yeah, Well.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
I will say the NBA slate is awesome. We got
the third game coming up here, Cooper Flag. I definitely
want your Cooper Flag takes at some point.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Yeah, let's talk about that.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
He has been awesome. Oh, by the way, Steph Curry
averaging thirty one points, thirty one in the month of December.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
And still in the most exciting way possible.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
Yes, Warriors is just tipping off the third game of
a busy NBA slate, and we will keep you covered.
Speaking of NBA, nobody better covering the NBA than our
good friend Mark Medina.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
He will join us in just minutes.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
Mark Medina joins us in just a few minutes to
talk to two games that we've seen, the three games
that are coming up. Mark Medina next here on Fox
Sports Radio. Before we get to Mark Medina, though, should
mention have you heard about Trainer Games. Add this to
your binge list. Ten athletes go head to head for
a chance to win an i Fit trainer contract where
(16:34):
two hundred fifty thousand dollars Trainer Games on Prime Video
January eighth. Watch the trailer on Trainer Games dot Com.
Should also mention we talked about college football New Year's Day.
Also New Year's Eve, we get college football playoff games
and feeding off the success of our college basketball bracket
challenge each March, we have decided here at Fox Sports
(16:56):
ready to do a bracket challenge for the college football playoff.
That's right, teams left standing, It's bracket challenge time. Compete
against our Fox Sports Radio host that's me, that's Manzi,
that's Dan Bayer, that's everybody, and against fellow listeners as well.
To see you as the best bracket. Here's cool part
thousand dollars cash prize to the winner. So visit Foxsports
Radio dot iHeart dot com to register, get rules, and
(17:18):
to fill out your bracket. Entry will be open until
just before kickoff at seven thirty Eastern New Year's Eve.
That's obviously the Ohio State Miami game. Again, fill out
your bracket at Fox Sports Radio dot iHeart dot com
for your chance to win one thousand dollars Mark Medina
Next Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live. Paulli Foods Go here with Tony Foodsco. Yeah,
as everybody knows, we're of the hosts of the award
winning Polly and Tony Foodsco Showy.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
But instead of us telling you how great we are,
here's out Dan described us when he came on our show.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
Quick, knowledgeable and funny, opinionated.
Speaker 6 (18:06):
What are you doing?
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Were interrupting our promo? Yeah, you wasn't talking about you.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
You took those clips totally of context.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Oh yeah, well after this promo, I'm gonna take you
out and beat you.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Let me put this into context. Shut up.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Yeah, anyway, just listen to the Pauli and Tony Fusco
Show on Ihart Radio, Apple Podcasts O wherever you get
your podcasts. YEA, welcome back, everybody, Covino and Rich Show,
Fox Sports Radio, Air Torres and Manzi Blanios.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
We are wanted to say j mar didn't you.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
You know, it's such a default thing. It is such
a default thing. Yes, I did that with I forget
who I was on with not long ago, but I
definitely did.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
That me in the last hour.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
It wasn't just you last hour, it was somebody else
as well. We aren't for Covino and Rich though, and
be sure to check out Covino Rich's new YouTube channel.
Just search Covino and Rich FSR on YouTube. Again, that's
Cavino and Rich fs are. The Road to Milan goes
through Saint Louis see Ilia Milanan. Alyssa lou and Amber
(19:14):
Glenn compete at the twenty twenty six Revugen US Figure
Skating Championships January seventh through eleventh. Be there as the
twenty twenty sixth US Olympic Figure Skating team is named.
Live tickets at US figure Skating dot org.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
And also to forget that, this show is sponsored by
Draft Kings sportsbook and official sports betting partner of the
NFL and NBA. Right now, use the promo code cee
Our Show to claim your special offer at DraftKings. Again,
that's promo code c our Show.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
At DraftKings. The Crown is yours all Right, it is
Christmas Day, which of course.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Mes a lot of NBA. That's right, Manzi is fired
up her Clipper play at not today?
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Shut up? They've won two and a iron. Ask Mark
about it.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Mark, listen, we got to get to the real teams
in the NBA in a second. But first of all,
Mark Medina is joining us. First of all, Mark, Merry Christmas.
I'm sorry I keep putting a lup of Cole and
Monty Stocking over her over her Clippers, But.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Mary Christmas, how are you? Mark?
Speaker 3 (20:22):
What's going on in Mark Medina's world here on Christmas Day?
Just watching a bunch of games?
Speaker 6 (20:26):
I assume, yeah, and hey, spending time with family, right,
that's kind of important too. But yeah, definitely getting the
NBA fixed. Aaron Monse, Merry Christmas. Love the intro music,
but you know I would gladly also take the Christmas songs. Yes, Monson,
you got a lump of hole that the Clippers aren't
playing today. But guess what, Aaron. The Clippers played to
beat two teams that are playing right today, and the
(20:47):
Lakers and the Rockets, So I guess they have something
going for them.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
Yes, we do.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Nobody does consolation prizes quite like the Los Angeles Clippers.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Yes, yes, better luck next year.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
I'll tell you what though, Zazi is a huge NBA fan.
She just brought up a great point to me during
the break. Oklahoma City Thunder are now twenty six and
five after today's lost to San Antonio Spurs. Three of
their five losses are to San Antonio. Do the Oklahoma
City Thunder, who everybody was just handing the Larry O'Brien
(21:19):
trophy to, do they officially have a San Antonio Spurs problem,
Mark Montina.
Speaker 6 (21:24):
They well, they do have a San Antonio's first problem.
But is it a problem enough not to win the
NBA Championship. I don't think so, but don't write them off.
I think that you're likely going to see the Thunder
and the Spurs in the playoffs, and if I had
to guess which series, it would be the Western Conference Finals,
and I want to be surprised that goes six even
(21:45):
seven games. I would give the nod to the Thunder
or send me no major injuries, just because they have
the experience, the continuity depth, their core players are still
very young in their prime. And the Spurs, you would think, hey,
that they have a good thing going. They're going to
end that playoff streak or and that playoff drought so
(22:06):
to speak. But now they need to get battle tests
in the postseason before making the next step. But Aaron
the Spurs is a real deal. We know obviously Victor
wan Bama is a special player. But their whole back
court with dearon Fox, all short caliber players. Defon Castel,
Dylan Harper two really good young players. They have really
good chemistry, a lot of good depth, and even when
they've had injuries, whether it's with Wemby be with Fox,
(22:30):
it doesn't matter. They're plug and play and they just
have that Spurs culture around them that really make them go.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Mark's so good to be talking to you on Christmas, Ada.
Speaker 6 (22:40):
Likewise, very Christmas, Fons.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Yes, let's chat about Cooper Flag.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Are you surprised at the quick change that he had
from the start of the season to what thirty games in,
because now it looks like he's been in the NBA
for years.
Speaker 6 (22:55):
Yeah, not surprised at all. Monts now Here's the thing,
we knew he was number one for reason. He was
very well hyped to do kind of you know, a
great skill sets a score pat Thor defender a human
highlight reel. Excuse me? Really coachable. But really, the only
struggles he had was playing at the point guard position,
(23:17):
and that's something that he wasn't ever used to doing,
and a lot of people around the NBA think that
that was malpractice, that that put him in a bad
position to succeed. And even though the MAVs, you know,
had some point guard issues, not having Kyrie Irving D'Angel
Russell is a struggle. They didn't understand that. Now, talking
to Cooper Flagg's trainer these last few weeks, Matt McKenzie, like,
(23:41):
they never thought that, hey, what are you doing to
his game? This is hurting him. They thought that this
was a good burning experience and a new skill for
him to get. But no doubt it was a learning curve.
And now that he's not having to worry about that,
you're seeing him being a lot more comfortable.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Mark Medina joining us here on Chris Day Fox Sports Radio. Marcus,
of course are Fox Sports Radio NBA insider.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Mark. I forget it.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
I don't know if this was even a conversation on
or off air. Kate Cunningham, So I was telling MANSI
with my college hoops background. I interviewed this kid when
he was probably about sixteen years old, and it felt
like I was talking to a thirty five year old.
And I'm sure you've probably experienced the same since he
got to the league. And I just feel like, is
it because I mean, he did come in during the
(24:27):
you know, he played college during the COVID year, and
it was just a weird time when he came into
the league. The Pistons had that big losing streak. But
we're talking about Cooper Flag, We're talking about Wenby, We're
talking about all these young, dynamic players. And maybe I'm
missing the Kate Cunningham conversations, but I don't feel like
we're talking about him enough as one of the future
faces of this league there.
Speaker 6 (24:49):
And I mean, look, the Detroit Piston should be playing today.
They're the best team in the East, and they're not
because the NBA put the schedule out beforehand. I don't
think that there was an anticipat the Pissons will be
this good this early. But with the diminished Eastern Conference
and the fact that Kate Cunningham is the real deal,
shouldn't be surprised. He's now in the MVP conversation. I
(25:11):
think most of the edge still goes to Shakeyadis Alexander
because he won last season, ta Kola Jokic because he's
won three years, and Luca Dodgics because you know he's
in better shape and it's the Lakers and he's a
star player. But Kate Cunningham will be in the conversation.
Has I think a legitimate case for him. You look
(25:33):
at win loss records, obviously you check that box. He
makes his teammates better, He is competitive as hell. He
really sets the culture there in Detroit, which you know,
talking to JB. Bickerstaff and players these last two seasons,
it's about, you know, this culture of like a joy
to be at work. You know, he makes people, you know,
(25:55):
enjoy being around each other. But there's accountability to it.
There's day to day routine. All that trace is back
to Cade. So yeah, he's lost in that mix. But
I predict Aaron that as this season goes on, his
MVP stock is going to get higher and higher. Now
the problem is you do think, okay, is that going
to then take it away from Shay Nicola and Luca.
(26:20):
We'll see, because they're still playing at a high level,
but I want to be surprised if he eclipses Luca
just because the Lakers they're in the mix, but there's
a lot of question marks on where they fit in
the championship contention picture here where I think with the Pistons,
it's probably going to be mix and pissons in these finals,
and either team has a good case mark.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
You just said that people like to work with Cad Cunningham.
He makes people want to come to work. We make
people happy.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
Does Draymond Green do that? I'm just curious. I'm just
like curious, you know, like, does he do that?
Speaker 6 (26:53):
I think if you ask Jordan Pool, the answer would
be no.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Capital Ever, Jordan Poole was happy to go to work
as long as it was anyone other than Golden State.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (27:02):
Give the Draymond Green experience with the Warriors. It's well
documented and I think that, you know, people right now
are understandably asking like, why did the Warriors put up
with this? Yeah? And I think it's one of these
things where they're in a long committed relationship and they
hate each other, but they also they there's times they
(27:24):
can't stand each other, but they also can't stand without
being around them because they need them. And so here's
the thing. The Warriors aren't nostalgic about Draymond. They're not
clinging to something that's not tangible. They've really handled everything
throughout his whole tenure with the Warriors, through the good
and bad, through a practical lens. They think that he's
(27:46):
a big driving force on why they've been an elite
defensive team during their championship runs and they need him.
So keep in mind here, when he punched Jordan Poole,
they initially sided with Jordan Poole like they had given
him an extent mentioned and you know, he and Klay
Thoms were going to be free agents. If he wasn't
still playing at a high level the rest of the season,
(28:10):
they would have chosen Jordan Poole. But what happened is
Raymond still played on his mind. Jordan was showing, you know,
ups and downs of any young player, and they made
the practical decision, Okay, you know, we're going to stick
with Raymond. And right now, I think it's the same thing.
They're a team that's barely in the mix because of
Steph Curry, and when you're looking at the rest of
the supporting cast. Yes, Jimmy Butler is always a net positive,
(28:32):
but everyone else is a question Mark Jonathan Kaminga, they
don't quite are convinced that he is a guy moving forward.
So that's really how you view this through the lens
of why they're putting up with Raymond's ongoing behavior.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
Mark Madina, R Fox Sports Radio NBA Insider is joining us. Mark,
I'm gonna throw a little bit of a curveball at you,
and by all means you can please feel free to
plead the fifth if you just have no strong opinion
on it. Has the buzz in NBA circles started to
mount yet about this twenty twenty six NBA Draft class,
because as a college basketball fan, we are seeing freshmen
(29:11):
do things that we have never seen before. Aj De
Bonsa just the other night was the youngest player ever
with a thirty ten to ten triple double. Cam Boozer
might be National Player of the Year. I don't want
to put you on the spot. I know you're focused
on the thirty teams in the association, but it's just
curious if you're starting to hear buzz about how good
this upcoming draft could potentially be.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
I think there's a buzz for cam Boozer, but I
don't think that there's buzz on the draft class yet.
It felt like anecdotally that there was definitely buzz the year,
you know, before the season even started with Victor Womeniama
being out in space or being out in France being
this international phenom. During Zion Williamson's rookie season. Same thing
(29:54):
I don't feel just from someone in the NBA circles.
I think it's same caliber. But in fairness, it's Christmas
Day and that'll start picking up, I think in February
and once conference tournament start. But I think generally speaking,
the twenty twenty six class is considered really good, a
(30:15):
lot of depth, but it's not one of those things
that right now people are thinking, you know what, next
year there's going to be this generational talent available and
watch out. It's good. It's more about, hey, there's a
lot of good young prospects and that's why teams are
valuing draft picks even more so, But not a singular trends,
(30:35):
you know, transformative player that's you know, getting a lot
of people talking just yet, Mark, I don't want.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
To put you on the spot either, but since we
are on well.
Speaker 6 (30:47):
By all means, it's Christmas.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
It's Christmas.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Are you familiar with the story with James Naji, the
guy who was drafted in twenty twenty three by the
next but now is has committed to Baylor, so he's
got four years of NCAA eligibility, but he was drafted
and barely the nick still own his rights.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
I'm so confused.
Speaker 6 (31:09):
Yeah, I'm really confused too. I honestly need to dive
deeper into that before it given some education hit insight
on it, only because that caught me by surprise the
other day when I read about it and didn't quite
understand it. But I think generally, and Aaron correct me
if I'm wrong here, I think until you sign with
some sort of representation, technically you can still be eligible.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
Right Mark, there are officially no real rules and no,
I told Manci this is the NCAA has been sued
so many times from so many different things that they're
really pretty much afraid to enforce anything. And so where
we had been at prior to yesterday was basically if
a guy was so. The last year or so, colleges
(31:57):
have kind of gone over to Europe and they'll sign
a twenty one year old. He just wants to come
over to the States and get an education. Okay, they
were clearly professionals at twenty two, twenty three, And then
we started having these guys that were in the G
League but had never been drafted, and that was kind
of a weird gray area. This was like a weird
line in the sand where it's like, this guy was drafted.
(32:19):
To Manzi's point, his rights are owned by somebody, yet
he'll be playing college basketball. And then I think, and
we're gonna let you go, Mark, And I know you
need to go because it's Christmas Day, but it's this
weird thing of you know, I would think, in theory,
if he's awesome at Baylor in the first month, the
Knicks could in theory call them up if they needed
a draft pick.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
But then the op well, but the opposite is true
as well.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
Now is if if you're letting this guy play play
college basketball, what's to say Mark Medina is the twenty
sixth pick in the draft. But knows, you know, Oklahoma
City's got all these first round picks, not all of
them are gonna be able to play next year, right,
So like what's to stop a kid from saying, Oh,
I'm going back to douke Er, I'm going back to Baylor,
or you Connor whatever. So it is a crazy gray
(33:04):
area as a college basketball fan, I think it's a
step too far. But I'll tell you what, Mark Medina,
you got families stay. You don't need to be worrying
about Baylor eligibility issues.
Speaker 6 (33:15):
Okay, So this is a whole new meaning to draft
in stash. I know you know that was something as
soon as used to do when it came to these
like really intriguing overseas prospects. But this is a whole
other level.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Mark Medina. We appreciate your time, my friend. When you
need all those answers, you could text me privately. I
won't have them, but we appreciate you. Happy holidays, and
thank you for making some time on a Christmas Day.
Speaker 6 (33:38):
Thank you, Mark, Aaron Monster, Mary Christmas all the best.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Merry Christmas, Mark, Mark Medina.
Speaker 3 (33:45):
Follow him on Twitter at Mark g Underscore Medina the
best in the business covering the NBA knows the best
in the business. Chris Purfet, What is trending right now?
Speaker 1 (33:53):
My friend?
Speaker 5 (33:54):
All right, guys, let's start with some NFL action the
Lions on the doorstep the line. Detroit's fumbled twice in
this game when turned into an Aaron Jones touchdown. Currently
the score seven to nothing Minnesota seeing if Detroit maybe
got the first down they were stopped a little bit short.
They are is gonna be fourth and one? You know
what Lions are going for it. Pine School was injured
earlier in this game as well, walked off in his
(34:15):
own power. But that's something to really keep an eye
on there for that pro bowler current. Earlier we had
on NFL Action, Dallas Cowboys took down the Commanders thirty
to twenty three, two touchdowns for Dak Prescott and afterwards.
You know, if Fox has the has those you know,
turkey legs, they do on it. So I guess Netflix
(34:35):
has decided to Tomahawks stakes or in the German language.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
Lets kim st Netflix, Tomahawks MVP State Moony. That's how
it sounded on the That was Netflix German feed again,
I think I understand German. Yes, pretty easy, pretty easy.
Speaker 5 (34:54):
NBA Action Golden State two minutes to go in the
first quarter with a twenty seven to twenty four lead
over the the Dallas Mavericks. Earlier on the day, Spurs
closed out the Thunder one seventeen, one oh two Victor
Wembinyama with nineteen points ten rebounds. Nick's put up a
forty two point fourth quarter to power pass the Cavaliers.
One twenty six, one twenty four. Sham Sharani reporting rockets
(35:16):
for Dorian Finney Smith expected to make his debut against
the Lakers coming up here at eight pm Eastern And
this from the NFL. Broncos are putting center Luke Wattenberg
on injured reserve. Back to you guys, Thank.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
You very much, Chris Prefett. This is Fox US MIT's
radio and the Coveno and Rich Show.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
Go ahead, Chris, take it away. I gotta get this
right before the end. Okay. Sesame Street helped raise all
of us.
Speaker 5 (35:39):
Now it's our turn donate this holiday season at sesame
dot org because the world needs Sesame and Sesame needs you.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Prefet You're the man. Thank you guys. Thanks Chris.
Speaker 3 (35:50):
He is Chris Preffett. I'mritrres Manzi Belanios. We are filling
in for Cavino and Rich. We will come back wrap
the hour and we got plenty more Chris miss gifts
to give to your favorite athletes and latins.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
We'll do all that next Fox Sports trety Please you're.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
Listening to Fox Sports Radio Radio behind his back screen
from Cornette, Fox weeds.
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Into the paint, pull up jumper.
Speaker 4 (36:15):
No the heldon Johnson, Toddy on the spot, follow up Slam,
Nobody boxed up change and he makes some.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
Pain Keldon Johnson and the San Antonio Spurs with a
one to eleven one to oho two win that my friends,
you're Tyraq play the day. For over forty years, Tyraq
has been helping customers find the right tires for how,
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(36:43):
tire installation tyreck dot Com.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
The way tire buying.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Should be that call by the way courtesy of Spurs
Radio Network should mention by the way, miss any today's
show this is the Coveno and Rich Show. You want
to catch the podcast, just search Coveno on Rich wherever
you get podcasts. Right after the show, Today's podcast will
be hosted. Be sure to follow the podcast rate at
five stars and you can even provide a review. Again
to search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts,
(37:07):
and you'll find today's show and they best of best
of version. As we get off there, you know what
I just thought of, what do you think about MANSI?
Speaker 1 (37:15):
What's on? What's on? Maazi? But what I just thought
this is not plants. I was just you know, I
just thought of, I would hate to be Chet Holmgren.
Why I would hate And I just I literally just
thought of this.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
Everyone nobody probably can guard Victor one Banyama, but.
Speaker 1 (37:32):
You're the guy that's supposed to be there. But you're
the you. It is on you.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
No other team has a player that is like, okay,
you go, you go handle Victor. Sure, everybody else is
gonna struggle. So you're probably switching on Victor one Banyama.
You're probably trying different things if you aren't Chet Holmgren.
There is no other person that they're gonna put on
Victor one Banyama.
Speaker 1 (37:50):
So how about this.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
Think about it like this, imagine being like a any
job whatever, a totally un and we use the word
unicorn like way too much in sports, but che Hoolmgren,
take pretend Victor one money I was ever borne. Che
Hoolmgren truly is a unicorn, right, he really is. And
so your entire life, there has been no one as
(38:12):
big as you that's able to do the things that
you do, and there just comes along a guy that's
literally bad. You're you're like one of one, but there's
like one of one that is literally better than you
and every single thing that.
Speaker 1 (38:26):
You do and has a British accent.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
Sure like how you know, like here America, Like here
in America, you hear it and you're like, oh, what.
Speaker 1 (38:34):
A pretty accent because we don't hear it. So not
only is this guy competing against he also has an
accent makes him stand out even more.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
The guy at the bar, Yeah, you're flirting and then
all of a sudden the British accent.
Speaker 1 (38:48):
Yeah, oh my gosh, you have no chance.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
If we're if we're casting a movie Victor one, Bama
is the leading man and Ched Hoolnggren would be the buddy.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
Sure like unfair to him, unfair to him, It is unbelieved.
I just really is that how unfair of a situation.
Speaker 3 (39:02):
I'm trying to think if there's even like a radio equivalent,
Like I'm so good at what I do, but there's
a guy that like played in the NFL. Who's funnier
than me, handsomer than me, has like a better voice
for radio than me. Like my writings are like number
two in the entire building. But I just will never
be that guy. And it's like that really is Chet Holmgren?
And now that I is there any equivalent because there's like,
(39:27):
you know whatever, Like there's nobody that people are like, oh,
you should be eighty percent of Steph Curry.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
It's like, no, we acknowledge Steph Curry's a one of one.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
Correct, even like the Katie Lebron stuff, Like we knew
that Katie wasn't Lebron, but Katie was so unique that
it was like, oh, we're just gonna appreciate Katie for
who he is. And I just feel like Chet Holmgren
is just gonna be Victor Wiembayama's whipping boy for the
next like fifteen years.
Speaker 1 (39:54):
Especially with Chet Holmgren being a part of the Thunder,
Yeah gives next to each other. They you have Sga
who is the face of the Thunder.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
And so it's just like I never I really never
thought of how unfair of a situation Chat Holmgren is.
Speaker 3 (40:08):
It's literally the exact same person, just the other one
is better at literally everything that you're really good at.
Speaker 1 (40:14):
But everyone's putting it on you because you're the closest
one to match him.
Speaker 3 (40:19):
Yeah, well, unfair didn't match him today because the San
Antonio Spurs won one eleven, one oh two one.
Speaker 1 (40:26):
The one I'm not getting old. It's Christmas. Christmas.
Speaker 3 (40:29):
Yes, you brought this point up by the way, Spurs
and the thunder Thunder have lost five games all year. Yep,
the Spurs have beaten them three times. So I'll tell
you what. This is what we're gonna do. We're gonna
come back. When we do, We're gonna hand out some
Christmas gifts.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (40:43):
Maybe Chet Holmgren we give him an extra answer two
or three on the wingspan or whatever. But we're handing
out Christmas gifts to your favorite athletes and teams. That
is next Aaron Torres, Manti Belanios, and for Cavino and
Rich Fox Sports twenty
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Rich Davis
Steve Covino
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