January 31, 2019 • 41 mins
RJ Bell and the Straight Outta Vegas crew broadcast live from radio row at the site of Super Bowl LIII and weigh in on the shocking trade that sent Knicks superstar Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks! RJ draws a parallel regarding the trade that nobody is talking about and the guys share the Vegas angle on the Warriors impressive winning streak. Finally, RJ is joined by 2x Super Bowl champion Hines Ward!
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports Vegas. This is straight out
of Vegas with the voice of Vegas. Your host r
J Bow correct all the pregame show America has always
(00:29):
wanted from the Vegas trip. Here's r J Bow You
heard it. I'm r J live here on Radio Row.
But with the ethos the mentality of being straight out
(00:52):
of Vegas. Joined by Jonas knocks right there my left,
Steve Feazick to my right. What a show, guys. We
are literally a couple of days away from the big
Game and we're gonna be breaking down what is the
Vegas market doing? What is it telling us? I think
it's telling us some very interesting stuff. Also end of
(01:13):
the show and the hour another best bet Prop, Best
bat from the best prop player in the world, Steve Azik.
But first, Jonas. One of the great things about radio
is it's live and as things happen, Fox is here
to comment on them. Big news in the NBA. Yeah,
the NBA trying to steal some glory from Super Bowl
(01:35):
Week and a major trade is about to go down
as a trade call has been announced for coming up
later on the Dallas Mavericks and the New York Knicks
Chris Stops. Porzingis number four overall superstar in New York.
He's been out with that knee injury and recovering from that,
but he is on his way to Dallas. According to ESPN.
(01:56):
In return, Dennis Smith Jr. Is the center p of
the package that is going back to New York. So
r J. How does Vegas look at a major move
moving forward for both Dallas and for New York. Well,
let's get the obvious stuff out of the way. Quite frankly,
most shows spent a lot of time on the obvious stuff.
We want to get past that quickly and get to
(02:19):
the Vegas depth of and a poltical analysis. I guess,
I guess analysis. Analysis can be analytical, no doubt. Here's
what's obvious. Porzingis is an elite player. He's also injured,
and you could start to say injury prone. I mean,
would you say that at this point? I mean, he's
(02:39):
a big who's had an early knee injury in his
career that usually doesn't end. Well, yeah, that's a good point,
and he's he's kind of nimble for a big. But
if anything, that's scary because if that goes, then now
he's got to go in the blocks, and yeah, a
lot of debate there, but let's assume he's healthy. But
let's eventually soon enough. But let's acknowledge there's some risk,
(03:02):
there's some injury risk when it comes to this trade
for the MAVs. Also, let's acknowledge that Luca in the MAVs.
Just having Luca is an interesting solid base the They
literally could have two of the six best players in
the NBA the MAVs in a couple of years. Would
anyone disagree with that? Assuming Porzingis is healthy in two years,
(03:28):
I think it's pretty reasonable to think Luca is gonna
be a top six, top seven players. We're not certain
of either. But all you can do is load those
dice up to your advantage the best you can and
let those dice fly. The MAVs have done that in
this case, I think in a wonderful way. Also, what
have they given up? The MAVs a lot of expiring
(03:52):
contract dollars, many of those dollars, which means the MAVs
are saying Porzingis is where we want to spend the money,
and boy, is there gonna be a better You know,
we could say Dan or Anthony Davis is slightly better
now with less injury concerns, But boy, oh boy, it's
not much difference between the two. And obviously Davis seems
(04:12):
to want to go to the Lakers. So this is
by far the MAVs best option. Meaning of all the
people viably you could have traded for or paid for,
who's better than porzingis if you're the MAVs, you can't
think of anybody right now. I can't either, So A
plus A plus, A plus. Now let's acknowledge the negative,
(04:35):
not only the health risk, but also we're not sure
the MAVs aren't shure he'll sign, so yes, you're it
would be one thing to sign him to a five
year deal or whatever. This would be a home run here,
This fellow could this player could leave. I think we've
done the obvious recap. Any thoughts on that, because this
(04:56):
is where most shows are gonna stop, this is where
we're gonna start. As any thoughts, just think, with Luca
being nineteen years old, I don't think that this is
a risky dight role at all. That in a couple
of years from now he's clearly gonna be a top
ten player, all right, And again I agree, I mean,
but you just never know. I mean, but because Davis
(05:17):
is a top ten player, Like there's guys now that
are top ten players. To say something, because I've gotta
be honest with you. If you made a list of
all the young guys that that a lot of people
are confident are gonna be top ten players, and you
count who's already a top ten player, there's gonna be
about twenty two people on that list, probably enough, right, So,
but I would agree Luca is as well regarded. You know,
(05:40):
that's an interesting question. If you were redrafting the entire
n b A, where's Luca go in this past draft? No,
I'm saying if the whole n b A went into
the middle, like it's a pickup like a pickup game, right,
the whole NBA sitting in the middle of the court,
and there's thirty people picking, he's a top up, fifteen
(06:00):
to twenty player. I think in the NBA right now, especially,
I think Luca goes higher because of his youth. If
you were draft forward, if you were redrafting for a career,
I agree, where's Luca? I agree he's a he's a
top ten moving forward, top ten talent. Moving forward, and
where's Porzingis go healthy? No, it's today he's there, He's
there in the draft man, but for the next ten
(06:24):
years he's nowhere close to Luca, which which goes to
the they must feel like he's going to be healthy
or else they don't do the deal. Or even if
they think the odds of him being healthy's only seventy,
you still do the deal because you have a seventy
percent chance then to have two of the best players
in the NBA. And I think you've got to give
(06:45):
the MAVs a gigantic thumbs up for that. I'm RJ
both straight out of Vega's breaking down the MAVs trade
or pretend you I think likely trade now for Porzingi
a trade call left, and then it's just a formality.
I'm gonna add one or point that I don't think
anyone is touching on. I believe you can draw a
straight line from Mark Cuban getting the TV gig on
(07:11):
Shark Tank two this trade. Now, close your eyes unless
you're driving, and think how am I gonna do that?
Right here we go In the NBA, it's all about brand.
It's all about the brand of the team. The brand
of the city, the brand of the owner. I mean,
(07:32):
think about Lakers, Showtime, Clippers five years ago. Oh there's
that racist owner. And even though it might not have
been public, it was certainly whispered about in the league.
All right, So it's not just city, it's not just winning,
it's how attractive in two thousand nineteen, is this NBA
(07:53):
destination New Orleans? For whatever reason? I love that city,
all right, but this is different than me eating food
and four day trip, you know, during Mardi Gras or whatever. Right,
that place for the Pelicans is not appealing. Thus, it
doesn't matter how lucky they got with Anthony Davis in
that draft. He's just not gonna be there that long.
(08:13):
And also what city is Mark Cuban and owner in
and what other well known owners in that city who's
done as good a job is branding his team as
anybody else in sports? Jerry j Yeah, Like they don't
have conversations exactly. So so what's fascinating is that as
appealing as Cuban has been from day one as being
(08:33):
a maverick, right both has the team name and his ethos,
his what's in his heart? It was always kind of
like yeah, but that's a dangerous decision to make. And
maybe if I'm an outlaw two, but now he's on
Shark to I mean, if we ranked owners by brand
in the n b A, I mean, is am I
(08:54):
missing someone even a number of competition for number one?
Steve Bomber's Boisterous doesn't have the title to go with it.
Bombers Bomber's got more money, of course. So to me,
it's the fact that Cuban has done such a good
job with his brand that makes it so they're willing
to roll the dice on poor zingis because if they
were just the old Dallas Mavericks, maybe that chance to
(09:16):
sign would be and they don't roll the dice now
it maybe se so they do. Thus the brand of
Cuban off of Shark tank quite frankly, and I get
there has been some issues too, but you add it
all up. The MAVs in Dallas is a very part.
It's one of the ten NBA cities I think that
(09:37):
can land and keep a really top tier free agent,
and because of that they take this chance. And I
think it's interesting how something like a TV show could
drive something like signing one of the best NBA or
in this case, training for one of the best NBA players. Fays,
You've got to point about something else about the MAVs
(09:59):
A appealing for Porzingis. Yeah, if I'm Porzingis, I look
at the success of Dirk Nowitzky, another big man that
had such great success in Dallas, and I can draw
a parallel. I can have a similar career. More likely
that he's gonna be pleased to be playing for Dallas. Yeah,
because you remember, if your culture is so dim where
you imagine just showing up in China, right, I don't
(10:20):
speak Mandarin, and but let's say I was getting paid
thirty million a year, I'd be very happy in some
ways in China, but I'd be like, Oh, I want
the American TV shows, and I want this, and I
want to Cuban has had over a decade to figure
out with Dirk how to make it comfortable for a
non American superstar. Probably Dirk is what the greatest non
(10:44):
American superstar, right, greatest. So if any player knows how
to create an environment, if any owner that Porzingis is
gonna be happy, it's Cuban. And it's also you see
us in baseball. If there's a picture who's got a
personal catcher and that's his guy. You want to land
that picture. Tell him you'll sign the catcher. How did
(11:05):
the Cubs get John Lester? Yeah, we'll bring in David Ross.
No problem, that's your guy, Come sign here. It's simply
I think that analogy is good. Like Seattle had uh
an Asian player, and then it became a destination because
they understood, Hey, here's how you get the translator. Here's
how you make them comfortable. Another advantage for Cuban guys.
Want to let you know, Fox Sports Radio is giving
(11:26):
away five Fire TV Edition smart TVs in honor of
Super Week and the Big Game to enter for a
chance to win and keep listening this hour as we'll
be announcing the keyword for U to text. For more
info and rules, visit Fox Sports radio dot com. I
tell you we're gonna be talking Golden State here at
(11:46):
the end of the show because it's a big t
NT game. I want to take a minute and talk
about their eleven straight wins. Pretty amazing, Fez. You actually
feel like that it's not just on the court with Book,
but there's been even a bigger factor with Boogie joining
the Warriors on the court. Yes, so Boogie has been
there playing for five games. Now they're five and oh
(12:09):
straight up, four and one against the spread with a
Boogie in this eleven and o run, but major change.
What's their criticism of Golden State? They're great apathy, apathy,
and they're a little they're a little soft. Wake us
up in the conference five, shoot a bunch of threes
and will win. So what's happened since Boogies arrived points
in the paint? Golden State was last in the NBA
(12:30):
till Boogie arrived. The last five games with them, they're
top ten in terms of scoring in the paint. They've
gotten tougher, so schematically they're not just an outside team.
And I also think it excites them. It's almost like
if you're doing the same job every day, doing the
same job every day, and now all of a sudden, oh,
there's a TV crew here, or maybe it's hey, there's
(12:51):
a different secretary. You're single, and you're like, man, she's
kind of cute. So now you've got a little bit
of hop in your stuff. You've probably had this, of course.
It's like you and Brad Power is on a road trip.
At a certain point you get tired of each other.
So well, yeah, you know, we're seeing him on a webcam.
(13:12):
He's not even smiling. It's like it's the truth herd, baby,
So listen, I agree with you. I think for a
couple of reasons. One, I think the Boogie is a
great player when he's at his best. All right, now,
that's hit or miss number two. He adds something the
Warriors didn't have inside play number three elites for the
short term, it excites the team, the novelty of playing
(13:33):
with Boogie. If we look at the numbers, though, and
those eleven straight wins, seventh three and one against the spread,
covering by almost nine points a game, right, so the
exceeding expectations, you're making money with the Warriors. But even so,
even so, this season, Golden State is five games below
five hundred against the spread. So it goes to show
(13:54):
you Golden State is considered unequivocally beyond debate to be
the best team in the NBA. But if you had
bet them every game this year, you would have lost
a lot of money. The great equalizer is always the
point spread. It's not about the best team, it's about
an underrated team. And right now, based on the recent
against the spread Gold States underrated. We'll see tonight here
(14:17):
in about forty five minutes if Fest thinks they're underrated
in the spot on T n T. When we come back,
I am gonna go aggressively of Colin Cowherd, not once,
but on two different topics. That's coming up next. He's
r J Bell, the Voice of Vegas. I'm Jonas Knocks,
the Voice of You the Fan, live from Super Bowl
fifty three in Atlanta, and it's a pregame show you
(14:40):
always wanted right here on Fox Sports Radio. Be sure
to catch live editions of Straight Out of Vegas weekdays
at six pm Eastern three pm Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio and the I Heart Radio app. I'm r J. Bell.
We are Straight out of Vegas live in Atlanta from
Radio Row and I'm Jonas Knocks, Voice of You the Fan.
And with r J and myself and Steve Psik in Atlanta,
(15:02):
we couldn't let the weather go by without throwing to
our special correspondent Brad Powers for the latest from the
Vegas Strip. Yeah, each and every day we love to
bring the heart of Vegas straight to you guys, and
right now on the strip, the temperature is sixty one
degrees and the neon is to Brad's alone and its throbbing.
(15:24):
But we'll say, is this so the first time he
it sounded like he was far away from the mic correspondents.
And then I said, let's get a fan so our
vegas producers sleep. He had a small fan yesterday we
see the video of it, and today he had one
of those like four ft fans over his head. I mean,
(15:45):
they don't mess around. It looked like Brad was doing
the weather report in front of an airplane. Let's just
say it did his hair no favor. It did his
hair no favor. So, guys, we obviously are here. We
obviously are here at Super Bowl fifty three in Atlanta,
and we do want to give a market update on
where we're at right now. The line is still Patriots
minus two and a half. The over under is fifty
(16:05):
six and a half on pregame dot com. Steve NFL expert,
you read the screen, the odd screen as well as anyone.
What are you saying, I am seeing a flat two
and a half across the board. R J. All right,
so it's not really leaning towards three. It's not really
leaning towards two. It's two and a half and half
is the number. All right, So we told you we
(16:26):
were going after calling. There is no sacred cows, no
sacred cow herds. We tell it the way it is.
Why because if we're wrong, we lose money. And I'm
not okay with that, not for the audience, the listeners,
or for myself or if I have any children. Eventually,
all right, it's gotta win. Here's what Colin said, because
(16:47):
he he wants to pick the Rams, right, I can
tell I can listen to him and know who's gonna pick.
By the way we do our weekly podcast, it will
be out Saturday where he gives us the Super Bowl pick.
I break it down, we talk props all that on
my Twitter at our Jane Vegas. We'll put that out
Saturday morning with Colin and I. But that said, I'm
gonna tell you the truth. This is what he said.
(17:08):
He said, Oh, were the odds bakers in Vegas. They're
so smart, and they had the Rams open up as
a favorite. And then the the the masses came in,
the unwashed, uneducated masses, and they said, oh, Tom Brady,
Tom Brady, he's he's got some dimples and he's got
a supermodel wife. We're betting the Pats they're good in
(17:29):
the super Bowl. I've seen him win super bowls. And
thus it went to two and a half misrepresentation of
the facts, calling cowherd. Here's the reality. In the first
hour where no unwashed masses were betting. It was literally
an hour after the conference final of the a f
(17:51):
C when the matchup was set. The line went from
the Rams at one point favor to the Patriots being
a two a half point favor, all in that hour.
So it wasn't any anyone other than professionals saying this
line was wrong. And as we've taught you, the oddsmakers,
those are middle managers with Middland intellects. Quite frankly, all right,
(18:16):
it's the betters, guys like physic with mansions and yachts
and don't have to go anywhere they don't want, whenever
they don't want. That's the next level. The reason when
people say, quote unquote Vegas is so smart by the
line closing three and it fell three kind of thing. No,
the oddsmaker puts out the first line like an opening bid,
(18:38):
and then it's the it's the collective i Q are
the betters that together move the line in a certain direction.
So Collins making the point that the smart guys thought
it should be Rams minus one, and the dumb guys
are making it New England. I's two and a half.
But it was the smart guys, the smarter guys that
made it two and a half, almost instantly after the
(18:58):
odds makers made him as take with the opening number. Agree,
go back ten days ago, this line comes up. Rams
are favored, and it is a feeding frenzy of wise
guys pro betters that are bet in New England plus one.
They're betting the Patriots and pick them. They're betting the
Patriots minus one. Blink almost all the way up to
where it is now. And let me ask you this question. Fast,
(19:19):
come super Let's assume the line stays two and a half,
come Super Bowl Sunday kickoff. What percentage of the action
do you think would have been beat at two and
a half where it got too within an hour? And
what percentage was better at numbers other than that the
vast majority like will have been bet at minus two
and a half on New England. So think about that. Jone.
(19:41):
It's the idea that people was gonna say, oh, it
opened rams one, then it went to two and a half. Yeah,
but of the money likely in this case will be
of will have been bet at two and a half,
and less than one percent bet at all those other numbers.
Thus the significance of those other numbers is very So
when the sharps, the smart guys see the rams at
(20:06):
minus one, they pounce on that. Don't you look for
something like that? How many of those are there? Are
there a year in an NFL? See so, But it's
easy to say that in hindsight, because now the lines moved,
and and and fees, you've got to plus one on
the Patriots in your pocket. That looks really sexy right now?
Why not necessarily in his pocket sexy? But the fact
that he has it is sexy. We even got the
(20:30):
laugh the weather, the weather was throwing sorr. That's true.
It's true, Brad oh buy himself back in Vegas. If
we could only see his computer screen, he god forbid.
So so to me, yeah, you're right, in hindsight, the
number looks wrong, and and and maybe the better way
to ask that question is and let me ask your
fest how often even from the opener, when NFL line
(20:52):
move Uh three points like this. You usually see one
game a week, r J. And oftentimes we predict line
movement we've done very well or you do excellently. Yeah,
so it's not unusual. Yeah so, but only about twenty
times a year or less. So you're right, this was
a particularly bad line. I'm r J B straight out
of Vegas. Now the second disagreement with Colin, he's getting
(21:14):
beating this. Well, let's it's just the truth. I mean,
if the truth is hard on you, then take it
up with the truth, don't take it up with me.
But here's what I'm gonna say about Colin's other take,
which was, Hey, this Super Bowl means so much for
the Rams. Imagine Golf finally not finally, but wins his
first one, right, number two, McVeigh wins his first one.
(21:36):
He overcomes the genius. It's the passing of the torch.
Right Because Brady to Golf in theory, I disagree with that. Also,
Belichick to McVeigh, I disagree with that. I think Belichick
is gonna be as good the number one coach as
long as he wants to be in the league, or
at least until he gets eighty maybe right, remember Momhammed
(21:58):
Ali after the Rumble and the Jungle. There's an interview
on YouTube where he's, you know, he was a Ford
to one underdog against Foreman and these points out there
goes you oddsmakers in Vegas. You maybe an underdog. He goes,
don't ever do that again? So maybe I'm about sixty. Well,
you know, I guess he's kind of sad to watch
that now. But the idea one day, maybe Belichick isn't
the best, but he's gonna be mighty old before that
(22:20):
day comes. But here's what I disagree with. He goes
and the Patriots if they win, if they lose, what's
the difference to them. They're still great. Brady is still
the greatest, right, And that's an interesting point. If Brady
loses this game, does that in any way make him
not to goat No one would think so. I don't
think any reasonable person if Belichick loses the game, is
(22:41):
he not to go? So he said, what's the stakes? Now?
I think Collins right when it comes to talk radio topics,
meaning it's much more interesting to talk about the Rams
because the steaks are so high for them relative to
the Patriots. And thus if you're signing on segments on
talk radio. That's a pretty good idea that you know,
(23:05):
to focus on the Rams in that way. But when
it comes to what Brady and Belichick are thinking themselves,
we know enough about both of them to think there's
nothing on their mind right now other than winning this game.
And if you think, oh, here's an example of where
there might be a motivational edge, because it means so
(23:28):
much the Rams and not the Patriots, I think that
is faulty, faulty, faulty thinking, because though it's not an
interesting talk radio topic, how much this means that the Patriots.
I think the Patriots want this game just as much,
if not slightly more. But let's say just as much
as the Rams. Jonahs, as a fan, does that sound
(23:50):
right to you? You think the Rams have a motivational edge. No, no,
no, no no. I think the Patriots have more of a
motivational edge. And I know somebody to your point how
focused they are. I know somebody that's staying at the
same hotel as the Patriots. He said it is on
total lockdown. At total lockdown. They are focused. They've used
the doubters all year. I would if you were to
(24:10):
bet right now, who's more focused, Who's more into this game?
Who wants it more? I would bet New England in
this spot. And this is where there's the disconnect between
what makes an interesting talk radio topic and Collins right
about that, versus the truth of the situation, which is
that minimum the Patriots are as motivated as the Rams,
(24:32):
even though it might not be as interesting on talk radio.
Speaking of good talk radio, in just a minute, hinds
Ward talks about what makes the Super Bowl different for
a player that's coming up next year on Fox Sports Radio.
But for the latest, it's stand by. It's now official.
The deal is done, Nixon Mavericks making the swamp today,
(24:52):
the Nicks sending forward Chris Stomps Porzingis to the Mavericks
in a deal at his point, guard dennism with Junior
heading to New York. Knicks also receiving Wesley Matthews Junior
and DeAndre Jordan is part of the deal, and two
first round picks. Dallas gets Tim Hardaway Junior and Courtney
Lee as part of the trade. Now, the Lakers and
Pelicans apparently still talking about Anthony Davis, so much so
(25:13):
the l A Times reports to the Lakers said the
Pelicans five different scenarios on a possible trade to acquire
the all star forward. Comboys officially named Kellen Moore's the
team's offensive coordinator, with John Kittness serving as the team's
quarterbacks coach. Reports A Jerry Jones won't extend the contract
of IT coach Jason Garrett, who has one year left
on his deal. Some college football notes. The Associated Press
(25:34):
reports the College Football Oversy Committee will look into making
changes to the current overtime rules this offseason. On the
m C double A place, the Missouri football program, along
with their baseball and softball programs, on three years probation,
including a one year postseason ban because of academic misconduct
involving a tutor at the waste management open in Phoenix.
Justin Thomas and Ricky Fowler share the lead at seven
(25:56):
under part Harold Varner the third, also at seven under
in free Jennal fielder Price Harper meeting with the Padres
later this week, according to Ken Rosenthal of the MLB
on Fox Back to you guys, Thanks Dan straight out
of Vegas here on Fox Sports Radio Live from Atlanta
at Radio Row for Super Bowl fifty three. As Dan
mentioned in the update, the Kristap Porzingis trade is now final.
(26:16):
He is a Dallas Maverick. If you want to get
our breakdown and a very very well done breakdown and
all the aspects of this trade moving forward for both franchises,
go to Fox Sports Radio dot com after the show
goes final and you can listen to the podcast Their
outstanding job by r J Bell and Steve Zik on that.
R J earlier had a chance to catch up with
(26:36):
two times Super Bowl champion Hens Ward and asked him.
Heinz representing Hyundai here at the Super Bowl, And r
J asked him what the key qualities artists succeed in
a big game like we have coming up on Sunday.
It's how people deal with pressure because this game is
not like a regular season game game. It's not like
a playoff game. I remember playing in my first Super
(26:59):
Bowl and literally I got to the stadium maybe four
hours early, went out on the pregame warm up, and
the stadium was getting full. I mean Detroit, Detroit super
Bowl forty And I got there and then I'm warming
up and now the celebs are coming in on the sideline.
Now I'm saying some celebs on the field of screaming,
come on, Highs, you could do it. I'm like, now
(27:20):
I'm trying to show out like Odell Beckham in my
pregame warm up. I'm out there killing in one hand,
catch and got the music, and I hear I hear
the celeb screaming my name. I wore myself out. I
came back in the locker room to a pregame warm up.
I was drenched. I was I was like, man, I
haven't even put on my uniform yet, and I really
(27:41):
wore myself out because I didn't know what they expect.
You know, you dream about this moment as a little kid,
as a child like it's the opportunity of a lifetime
playing in the super Bowl. I gotta make all the plays.
I gotta do this, I gotta do that. And then
I wore myself out. I ended up throwing up. I've
never thrown up before a game ever in my life.
So you don't understand the matter. It was front. It
was totally different. It's totally you can't even simulate playing
(28:04):
in the super Bowl. And then I had to get
I V because I felt like I was getting dehydrated. Man,
it was it was not a great start to my
first ever Super Bowl that I played in. But then
once maybe like the midway through the first quarter, things
started to settle down, and then it becomes like a game.
And that's my question, because I've heard the first quarter
in the fourth quarter is what's so different, and that
(28:25):
specifically the first quarter, you're just so nervous you don't
even remember the Yeah, you almost blank out. You're just
out there. And that was your experience, that was my experience.
But then when when did that start clearing up for you?
Probably about the end of the first quarter. Then the
first quarter, things are going and stuff. And I remember,
as receivers, we always we remember our drops more than
I catch. And I had a routine play, an opportunity
(28:48):
in a lifetime. I made the cash ten out of
ten times in the corner end zone. I'm wearing my
dragging my feet and getting the end. I took my
eyes off, the ball, clinks off my hand, I messed
it for the dance. Said, oh no, I blew it
blood blood, and I just oh my mind. I just
kept replaying and I remember Jerome, But I say, now
you're gonna get another opportunity. Don't worry about I don't
(29:09):
worry about it was drone first, super Owldo exactly. But
he was the he was the emotional leader, the heart
and soul of our team. And I was like, I
blew Jerome bo, you blew it. You didn't want to
be that guy to blow it for Jerome because you
knew he was gonna retire. But it's how do you respond?
How did you respond back from that mishap that you had?
And Uh, Luckily for me, I got more opportunities down
(29:31):
the road. But the first quarter is like no others.
It's a different animal when you're playing in the super Bowl. Now,
the fourth quarter, I hear because the halftime is so
long because you spent so much energy nervous before the game.
Fatigues a big issue. As you played your second game
against Arizona, how did you pace yourself differently? Well, I changed,
(29:52):
I cut everything off. I put on another jersey, so
I had two Super Bowl jersey. I put on my
backup jersey and I redid it? Were you getting ready
for eBay later? I just wanted to reset myself and
not be drenched in my clothes sitting there for thirty
minutes waiting for the halftime. Show to get up, So
I got my ankles retape, I kept my pants on,
but I got a new jersey and stuff like that,
(30:14):
and that's how I prepared a second time. I wanted
a fresh, new look like it was the start of
the first quarter. How much did you benefit from the
experience of the first question, So you would say the
Paths have a big advantage here, no question, because they
know what the routine is. They know what to expect
during halftime. A lot of guys they tell you about it,
but unless you've experienced, you have no clue what it's like.
(30:36):
You're tired on time. So two last questions for you.
One is, and I'm a Steelers fan, I should say,
by the way, Meryl Hodge was the other athletes yesterday,
so all Steelers so far as athletes you and I
was only able to read from the press reports. I
want to hear it from you. My understanding is when
you retired, there were other teams in the league you
(30:57):
could have signed with, and you made a decision where
you said, yeah, that's a lot of money, but I
want to retire a Steeler. Could you tell me what
the truth of that thought process was. Well, for me,
it was. I felt like I couldn't give what I
I couldn't give another organization what I gave the Pittsburgh Steelers,
and I felt like I wasn't gonna be fair to them.
(31:17):
I wasn't gonna be fair to myself. And at what point, yes,
I was disappointed because I didn't never want it. I
wanted to retire. I didn't want to get cut by
the organization I played fourteen years for. But I understand
it's the business, right, But I felt at that time,
I've gotten everything I wanted out of football. You know.
I I made Pro Bowls, I made some decent money.
I played in three Super Bowls. I won two Super Bowls.
(31:39):
I have a Super Bowl m v P. I can't
ask for anything more. And that's why I couldn't have
envisioned my career going as good as it did for
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Very very few people make that decision correct.
But I was already prepared for life after football. I
had gigs set up and that I wanted to NBC
was there, CNN was there and and asked any stuff,
So I had I created an opportunity for myself while
(32:03):
I was playing to open up many open up doors
while I was playing. Hey, when you retire, you have
a gig here. You tire, you have a gig here.
So I was already preparing for life or at the football.
I just didn't think it was in right then and there.
But uh, I just felt like, you know me, um,
I just felt like I couldn't put on another uniform.
I felt like I wouldn't be the same. So I
(32:24):
admire that greatly. Last question, you're known rightfully so I
think as a very physical receiver with your blocks. As
the NFL evolves, how obviously it's too simple to say, oh, look,
they should be wearing girdles, you know the or it's
also too simple to say that, oh, none of this matters.
People like offense anyway. I think the answer is somewhere
(32:46):
in the middle. Where's the answer for you? What is
the ideal amount of violence of aggression in an NFL game?
Football is a violent sport. It's not for everyone. You
can you can try to protect the game as much
as possible, but you can't protect grown man running full speed,
colliding heads and helmets and stuff. Is this impossible when
you watch today's game, do you think it's a lesser
(33:07):
version of the game you play, it is it is.
I mean, you can't really touch receivers now. I mean
I hate to be a defensive player because I don't know,
you can't touch him. You ever think how many? Do
you ever think? How question you can add on some
more yards? But hey, it's a different time. I mean,
imagine playing against mel Blunt and those guys back in
the day. They changed the rule as well, So I
mean it's just a change. Our game has evolved, uh,
(33:30):
you know involved and um, you know, they want to
clean it up. They want to make it safer for
players and things like that. So I get it. I'm
I'm all for, you know, cleaning the game up, but
it's still the game of football, and you still have
grown men colliding each play, especially after interception. They should
just say let's cancel. You get an interception, you're down
by contact. You can't try to run it because you see,
you see guys getting cracked back, laid out all the
(33:52):
times or interception. And to me, the interception plays just
as worse as the kickoff flat. That's a good point,
I'm telling you. But they don't they won't do that,
but they're they're trying to clean up the game with
the kickoff, but every interception on a run back for
a touchdown. You see guys getting clobert on on an
interception return, but they won't do about it. So still
the game of football is still a rough game. That's
(34:14):
hines Ward. It's been an honor thanks to hines War
two time Super Bowl champions, stopping by with r J.
Bell here live from Radio Row at the Super Bowl.
Hines Ward On behalf of Hyundai and their new Shopper
Assurance program and makes car buying an easier experience for everyone.
Hines Ward Up next Steve Zik with another prop best bet.
(34:36):
This is my favorite one of all of his prop
best bets, and it is next right here live from
Radio Wrote the Super Bowl. He's r J. Bell, I'm
Jonas Knocks. It's the pregame show you always wanted, right
here on Fox Sports Radio. Be sure to catch live
editions of Straight Out of Vegas weekdays at six pm Eastern,
three pm Pacific. I'm r J. Bell. We are Straight
out of Vegas live in Atlanta, and I'm Jonas Knocks
(34:58):
Voice of You the Fan. We have got a double
header on T n T tonight in the n B
A tipping off a little over an hour from now
eight Eastern time. It is the Bucks at the Raptors
and Steve Feesick right now, Toronto a two and a
half point favorite, and I leaned to Milwaukee plus two
and a half perception versus reality. The perceptions these two
(35:20):
teams are roughly equal. Toronto's favorite because they're at home.
The reality is Milwaukee right now is the significantly better team.
They're outscoring their opponents on average by nine and a
half points per game, Toronto only by five and a half.
Milwaukee has been four points better. I will lean with Milwaukee, guys.
After Milwaukee and Torontogo final, we've got the seventies sixers
(35:41):
at the Warriors right now on pregame dot Com Golden
State and nine point favorite, and I will lean to
Golden State. What's the book on Golden State handicaps motivation?
When this team is motivated, you want to bet on them.
Since Boogie Cousins has come back high energy with Golden
State a team you're looking to back. Wow, Wow, that's
(36:02):
that's that's why you're not liking it though, right I'm
not liking it because it's the first game back since
a five game road trip historically a bad spot for
the home team margin because you're thinking the mail powered up,
they got to talk to their mistress, all that kind
of stuff family wants some time. I don't think that's
what they're focused on. Guys. Here at Fox Sports Radio,
(36:23):
we want to thank you. We want to say thank
you to view Sonic for partnering with us for the
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Our Fox Sports Radio broadcast center stands out not only
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(36:46):
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Log on to view Sonic dot com right now, that's
(37:07):
view Sonic dot com and get your monitors today and
just see what a difference it makes. On Straight out
of Vegas, the last segment of the show, right before
seven Eastern We always break down the biggest TV games,
maybe quick, maybe long, based on how much we like them.
But we arm you with the knowledge you need to
enjoy and watch the games and maybe even bet them.
(37:27):
But once a week we give Brad Powers a little
bit of rope. If you like a game so much
that you're like betting huge on it, even if it's
not the biggest TV game, we'll let him break it down.
Brad Powers. Yeah, and tonight we're gonna go to East
Carolina minus five. And this is an important teaching moment
when it comes to college basketball. Where's the value in
(37:47):
college basketball? A lot of times it's with these smaller conferences.
I'm gonna take East Carolina minus to five. Y. Yes,
they're the two worst teams in the conference, but two programs,
two teams this season heading in completely opposite directions. East
Carolina first year coach, a lot of excitement, they're much improved,
they've been good at home. And on the other side,
(38:08):
Toulane East Carolina asn opponent, lane duck coach that looks
like they've quit on their coach. Nine straight losses for Tulane,
I like East Carolina and nine at home minus five
that's Brad Powers. Now for a Super Bowl fifty three
prop bet, we go to Steve Zick. We're gonna go
to the Rams. Brandon Cooks, We're gonna fade him. We're
gonna go under seventy. All about Belichick, he likes to
(38:31):
take away your best weapon. We saw it last week.
He took away Hill, and he took away Kelsey for
Kansas City, and Cooks has been the best weapon for
the Rams in the playoffs. Cooks has been averaging eighty
six yards. Wood's the number two wide receiver only fifty yards.
I think Belichick chooses to take away Cooks. Well, that's
a debato, and it's the question no one wants to answer.
(38:52):
What happened to Todd Gurley because in general, you would
say the analogy is Marshall fault right, is take the
queen off the chessboard. That's what Belichick did against the
Rams a long long time ago. You would think if
Girley were a hundred percent mentally physically whatever is limiting him,
he'd be what Belichick would want to stop and maybe
(39:14):
free up the receivers. I agree, though Gurley hasn't shown
as anything near being acent. Thus it seems very possible
Belichick is gonna try to take away, as you said, Cooks.
I think even if it's not Belichick's number one priority, Fez,
I still like your pick. Here's why. Who is the
(39:36):
defensive head coach most like Belichick right now? Matt Patricia
in Detroit had been in New England a long long time. Well,
Detroit played against the Rams this year and what did
they do. They had a very specific pressing Cooks at
the line, which Cooks doesn't particularly like. And Cooks had
(39:57):
a very poor statistical game. So if there's any analogy,
any analog, any idea of this game is gonna be
indicative of what happens against the Patriots. I think it's
a Lions Rams game, and we saw Cooks get shut down.
I think that bodes very well to shut Cooks down
Patriots into Super Bowl. Thoughts on that. Let's face it,
(40:20):
if you play for a year for the genius Belichick,
he's gonna know what your weakness. You bring up another point,
Not only have we seen what Patricia is doing against Cooks,
Belichick knows Cooks better than any coach. How scary would
that be thinking Bill Belichick understands my weaknesses, and now
I gotta try to beat Bill Belichick. Let me tell
(40:42):
you something, You're not gonna make a living doing that.
By the way, speaking of making a living, Sunday noon,
right here on Fox Sports Radio, Super Bowl Sunday, the
first prop betting special on a major national radio network
ever one hour, Jonas me R J. Bell, Brad Powers, Ephezic.
We're gonna break him down all the key prop bets
(41:03):
for the full hour noon Eastern Super Bowl Sunday. Can't
wait for that. The Odd Couple is next here on
Fox Sports Radio for the latest on the Kristap Porzingis trade.
We are straight out of Vegas back tomorrow six pm
Eastern Time at three o'clock Pacific, right here on Fox
Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app.
You're listening to Fox Sports Vegas. This is straight out
of Vegas with the voice of Vegas. Your host r
J Bow correct all the pregame show America has always
(00:29):
wanted from the Vegas trip. Here's r J Bow You
heard it. I'm r J live here on Radio Row.
But with the ethos the mentality of being straight out
(00:52):
of Vegas. Joined by Jonas knocks right there my left,
Steve Feazick to my right. What a show, guys. We
are literally a couple of days away from the big
Game and we're gonna be breaking down what is the
Vegas market doing? What is it telling us? I think
it's telling us some very interesting stuff. Also end of
(01:13):
the show and the hour another best bet Prop, Best
bat from the best prop player in the world, Steve Azik.
But first, Jonas. One of the great things about radio
is it's live and as things happen, Fox is here
to comment on them. Big news in the NBA. Yeah,
the NBA trying to steal some glory from Super Bowl
(01:35):
Week and a major trade is about to go down
as a trade call has been announced for coming up
later on the Dallas Mavericks and the New York Knicks
Chris Stops. Porzingis number four overall superstar in New York.
He's been out with that knee injury and recovering from that,
but he is on his way to Dallas. According to ESPN.
(01:56):
In return, Dennis Smith Jr. Is the center p of
the package that is going back to New York. So
r J. How does Vegas look at a major move
moving forward for both Dallas and for New York. Well,
let's get the obvious stuff out of the way. Quite frankly,
most shows spent a lot of time on the obvious stuff.
We want to get past that quickly and get to
(02:19):
the Vegas depth of and a poltical analysis. I guess,
I guess analysis. Analysis can be analytical, no doubt. Here's
what's obvious. Porzingis is an elite player. He's also injured,
and you could start to say injury prone. I mean,
would you say that at this point? I mean, he's
(02:39):
a big who's had an early knee injury in his
career that usually doesn't end. Well, yeah, that's a good point,
and he's he's kind of nimble for a big. But
if anything, that's scary because if that goes, then now
he's got to go in the blocks, and yeah, a
lot of debate there, but let's assume he's healthy. But
let's eventually soon enough. But let's acknowledge there's some risk,
(03:02):
there's some injury risk when it comes to this trade
for the MAVs. Also, let's acknowledge that Luca in the MAVs.
Just having Luca is an interesting solid base the They
literally could have two of the six best players in
the NBA the MAVs in a couple of years. Would
anyone disagree with that? Assuming Porzingis is healthy in two years,
(03:28):
I think it's pretty reasonable to think Luca is gonna
be a top six, top seven players. We're not certain
of either. But all you can do is load those
dice up to your advantage the best you can and
let those dice fly. The MAVs have done that in
this case, I think in a wonderful way. Also, what
have they given up? The MAVs a lot of expiring
(03:52):
contract dollars, many of those dollars, which means the MAVs
are saying Porzingis is where we want to spend the money,
and boy, is there gonna be a better You know,
we could say Dan or Anthony Davis is slightly better
now with less injury concerns, But boy, oh boy, it's
not much difference between the two. And obviously Davis seems
(04:12):
to want to go to the Lakers. So this is
by far the MAVs best option. Meaning of all the
people viably you could have traded for or paid for,
who's better than porzingis if you're the MAVs, you can't
think of anybody right now. I can't either, So A
plus A plus, A plus. Now let's acknowledge the negative,
(04:35):
not only the health risk, but also we're not sure
the MAVs aren't shure he'll sign, so yes, you're it
would be one thing to sign him to a five
year deal or whatever. This would be a home run here,
This fellow could this player could leave. I think we've
done the obvious recap. Any thoughts on that, because this
(04:56):
is where most shows are gonna stop, this is where
we're gonna start. As any thoughts, just think, with Luca
being nineteen years old, I don't think that this is
a risky dight role at all. That in a couple
of years from now he's clearly gonna be a top
ten player, all right, And again I agree, I mean,
but you just never know. I mean, but because Davis
(05:17):
is a top ten player, Like there's guys now that
are top ten players. To say something, because I've gotta
be honest with you. If you made a list of
all the young guys that that a lot of people
are confident are gonna be top ten players, and you
count who's already a top ten player, there's gonna be
about twenty two people on that list, probably enough, right, So,
but I would agree Luca is as well regarded. You know,
(05:40):
that's an interesting question. If you were redrafting the entire
n b A, where's Luca go in this past draft? No,
I'm saying if the whole n b A went into
the middle, like it's a pickup like a pickup game, right,
the whole NBA sitting in the middle of the court,
and there's thirty people picking, he's a top up, fifteen
(06:00):
to twenty player. I think in the NBA right now, especially,
I think Luca goes higher because of his youth. If
you were draft forward, if you were redrafting for a career,
I agree, where's Luca? I agree he's a he's a
top ten moving forward, top ten talent. Moving forward, and
where's Porzingis go healthy? No, it's today he's there, He's
there in the draft man, but for the next ten
(06:24):
years he's nowhere close to Luca, which which goes to
the they must feel like he's going to be healthy
or else they don't do the deal. Or even if
they think the odds of him being healthy's only seventy,
you still do the deal because you have a seventy
percent chance then to have two of the best players
in the NBA. And I think you've got to give
(06:45):
the MAVs a gigantic thumbs up for that. I'm RJ
both straight out of Vega's breaking down the MAVs trade
or pretend you I think likely trade now for Porzingi
a trade call left, and then it's just a formality.
I'm gonna add one or point that I don't think
anyone is touching on. I believe you can draw a
straight line from Mark Cuban getting the TV gig on
(07:11):
Shark Tank two this trade. Now, close your eyes unless
you're driving, and think how am I gonna do that?
Right here we go In the NBA, it's all about brand.
It's all about the brand of the team. The brand
of the city, the brand of the owner. I mean,
(07:32):
think about Lakers, Showtime, Clippers five years ago. Oh there's
that racist owner. And even though it might not have
been public, it was certainly whispered about in the league.
All right, So it's not just city, it's not just winning,
it's how attractive in two thousand nineteen, is this NBA
(07:53):
destination New Orleans? For whatever reason? I love that city,
all right, but this is different than me eating food
and four day trip, you know, during Mardi Gras or whatever. Right,
that place for the Pelicans is not appealing. Thus, it
doesn't matter how lucky they got with Anthony Davis in
that draft. He's just not gonna be there that long.
(08:13):
And also what city is Mark Cuban and owner in
and what other well known owners in that city who's
done as good a job is branding his team as
anybody else in sports? Jerry j Yeah, Like they don't
have conversations exactly. So so what's fascinating is that as
appealing as Cuban has been from day one as being
(08:33):
a maverick, right both has the team name and his ethos,
his what's in his heart? It was always kind of
like yeah, but that's a dangerous decision to make. And
maybe if I'm an outlaw two, but now he's on
Shark to I mean, if we ranked owners by brand
in the n b A, I mean, is am I
(08:54):
missing someone even a number of competition for number one?
Steve Bomber's Boisterous doesn't have the title to go with it.
Bombers Bomber's got more money, of course. So to me,
it's the fact that Cuban has done such a good
job with his brand that makes it so they're willing
to roll the dice on poor zingis because if they
were just the old Dallas Mavericks, maybe that chance to
(09:16):
sign would be and they don't roll the dice now
it maybe se so they do. Thus the brand of
Cuban off of Shark tank quite frankly, and I get
there has been some issues too, but you add it
all up. The MAVs in Dallas is a very part.
It's one of the ten NBA cities I think that
(09:37):
can land and keep a really top tier free agent,
and because of that they take this chance. And I
think it's interesting how something like a TV show could
drive something like signing one of the best NBA or
in this case, training for one of the best NBA players. Fays,
You've got to point about something else about the MAVs
(09:59):
A appealing for Porzingis. Yeah, if I'm Porzingis, I look
at the success of Dirk Nowitzky, another big man that
had such great success in Dallas, and I can draw
a parallel. I can have a similar career. More likely
that he's gonna be pleased to be playing for Dallas. Yeah,
because you remember, if your culture is so dim where
you imagine just showing up in China, right, I don't
(10:20):
speak Mandarin, and but let's say I was getting paid
thirty million a year, I'd be very happy in some
ways in China, but I'd be like, Oh, I want
the American TV shows, and I want this, and I
want to Cuban has had over a decade to figure
out with Dirk how to make it comfortable for a
non American superstar. Probably Dirk is what the greatest non
(10:44):
American superstar, right, greatest. So if any player knows how
to create an environment, if any owner that Porzingis is
gonna be happy, it's Cuban. And it's also you see
us in baseball. If there's a picture who's got a
personal catcher and that's his guy. You want to land
that picture. Tell him you'll sign the catcher. How did
(11:05):
the Cubs get John Lester? Yeah, we'll bring in David Ross.
No problem, that's your guy, Come sign here. It's simply
I think that analogy is good. Like Seattle had uh
an Asian player, and then it became a destination because
they understood, Hey, here's how you get the translator. Here's
how you make them comfortable. Another advantage for Cuban guys.
Want to let you know, Fox Sports Radio is giving
(11:26):
away five Fire TV Edition smart TVs in honor of
Super Week and the Big Game to enter for a
chance to win and keep listening this hour as we'll
be announcing the keyword for U to text. For more
info and rules, visit Fox Sports radio dot com. I
tell you we're gonna be talking Golden State here at
(11:46):
the end of the show because it's a big t
NT game. I want to take a minute and talk
about their eleven straight wins. Pretty amazing, Fez. You actually
feel like that it's not just on the court with Book,
but there's been even a bigger factor with Boogie joining
the Warriors on the court. Yes, so Boogie has been
there playing for five games. Now they're five and oh
(12:09):
straight up, four and one against the spread with a
Boogie in this eleven and o run, but major change.
What's their criticism of Golden State? They're great apathy, apathy,
and they're a little they're a little soft. Wake us
up in the conference five, shoot a bunch of threes
and will win. So what's happened since Boogies arrived points
in the paint? Golden State was last in the NBA
(12:30):
till Boogie arrived. The last five games with them, they're
top ten in terms of scoring in the paint. They've
gotten tougher, so schematically they're not just an outside team.
And I also think it excites them. It's almost like
if you're doing the same job every day, doing the
same job every day, and now all of a sudden, oh,
there's a TV crew here, or maybe it's hey, there's
(12:51):
a different secretary. You're single, and you're like, man, she's
kind of cute. So now you've got a little bit
of hop in your stuff. You've probably had this, of course.
It's like you and Brad Power is on a road trip.
At a certain point you get tired of each other.
So well, yeah, you know, we're seeing him on a webcam.
(13:12):
He's not even smiling. It's like it's the truth herd, baby,
So listen, I agree with you. I think for a
couple of reasons. One, I think the Boogie is a
great player when he's at his best. All right, now,
that's hit or miss number two. He adds something the
Warriors didn't have inside play number three elites for the
short term, it excites the team, the novelty of playing
(13:33):
with Boogie. If we look at the numbers, though, and
those eleven straight wins, seventh three and one against the spread,
covering by almost nine points a game, right, so the
exceeding expectations, you're making money with the Warriors. But even so,
even so, this season, Golden State is five games below
five hundred against the spread. So it goes to show
(13:54):
you Golden State is considered unequivocally beyond debate to be
the best team in the NBA. But if you had
bet them every game this year, you would have lost
a lot of money. The great equalizer is always the
point spread. It's not about the best team, it's about
an underrated team. And right now, based on the recent
against the spread Gold States underrated. We'll see tonight here
(14:17):
in about forty five minutes if Fest thinks they're underrated
in the spot on T n T. When we come back,
I am gonna go aggressively of Colin Cowherd, not once,
but on two different topics. That's coming up next. He's
r J Bell, the Voice of Vegas. I'm Jonas Knocks,
the Voice of You the Fan, live from Super Bowl
fifty three in Atlanta, and it's a pregame show you
(14:40):
always wanted right here on Fox Sports Radio. Be sure
to catch live editions of Straight Out of Vegas weekdays
at six pm Eastern three pm Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio and the I Heart Radio app. I'm r J. Bell.
We are Straight out of Vegas live in Atlanta from
Radio Row and I'm Jonas Knocks, Voice of You the Fan.
And with r J and myself and Steve Psik in Atlanta,
(15:02):
we couldn't let the weather go by without throwing to
our special correspondent Brad Powers for the latest from the
Vegas Strip. Yeah, each and every day we love to
bring the heart of Vegas straight to you guys, and
right now on the strip, the temperature is sixty one
degrees and the neon is to Brad's alone and its throbbing.
(15:24):
But we'll say, is this so the first time he
it sounded like he was far away from the mic correspondents.
And then I said, let's get a fan so our
vegas producers sleep. He had a small fan yesterday we
see the video of it, and today he had one
of those like four ft fans over his head. I mean,
(15:45):
they don't mess around. It looked like Brad was doing
the weather report in front of an airplane. Let's just
say it did his hair no favor. It did his
hair no favor. So, guys, we obviously are here. We
obviously are here at Super Bowl fifty three in Atlanta,
and we do want to give a market update on
where we're at right now. The line is still Patriots
minus two and a half. The over under is fifty
(16:05):
six and a half on pregame dot com. Steve NFL expert,
you read the screen, the odd screen as well as anyone.
What are you saying, I am seeing a flat two
and a half across the board. R J. All right,
so it's not really leaning towards three. It's not really
leaning towards two. It's two and a half and half
is the number. All right, So we told you we
(16:26):
were going after calling. There is no sacred cows, no
sacred cow herds. We tell it the way it is.
Why because if we're wrong, we lose money. And I'm
not okay with that, not for the audience, the listeners,
or for myself or if I have any children. Eventually,
all right, it's gotta win. Here's what Colin said, because
(16:47):
he he wants to pick the Rams, right, I can
tell I can listen to him and know who's gonna pick.
By the way we do our weekly podcast, it will
be out Saturday where he gives us the Super Bowl pick.
I break it down, we talk props all that on
my Twitter at our Jane Vegas. We'll put that out
Saturday morning with Colin and I. But that said, I'm
gonna tell you the truth. This is what he said.
(17:08):
He said, Oh, were the odds bakers in Vegas. They're
so smart, and they had the Rams open up as
a favorite. And then the the the masses came in,
the unwashed, uneducated masses, and they said, oh, Tom Brady,
Tom Brady, he's he's got some dimples and he's got
a supermodel wife. We're betting the Pats they're good in
(17:29):
the super Bowl. I've seen him win super bowls. And
thus it went to two and a half misrepresentation of
the facts, calling cowherd. Here's the reality. In the first
hour where no unwashed masses were betting. It was literally
an hour after the conference final of the a f
(17:51):
C when the matchup was set. The line went from
the Rams at one point favor to the Patriots being
a two a half point favor, all in that hour.
So it wasn't any anyone other than professionals saying this
line was wrong. And as we've taught you, the oddsmakers,
those are middle managers with Middland intellects. Quite frankly, all right,
(18:16):
it's the betters, guys like physic with mansions and yachts
and don't have to go anywhere they don't want, whenever
they don't want. That's the next level. The reason when
people say, quote unquote Vegas is so smart by the
line closing three and it fell three kind of thing. No,
the oddsmaker puts out the first line like an opening bid,
(18:38):
and then it's the it's the collective i Q are
the betters that together move the line in a certain direction.
So Collins making the point that the smart guys thought
it should be Rams minus one, and the dumb guys
are making it New England. I's two and a half.
But it was the smart guys, the smarter guys that
made it two and a half, almost instantly after the
(18:58):
odds makers made him as take with the opening number. Agree,
go back ten days ago, this line comes up. Rams
are favored, and it is a feeding frenzy of wise
guys pro betters that are bet in New England plus one.
They're betting the Patriots and pick them. They're betting the
Patriots minus one. Blink almost all the way up to
where it is now. And let me ask you this question. Fast,
(19:19):
come super Let's assume the line stays two and a half,
come Super Bowl Sunday kickoff. What percentage of the action
do you think would have been beat at two and
a half where it got too within an hour? And
what percentage was better at numbers other than that the
vast majority like will have been bet at minus two
and a half on New England. So think about that. Jone.
(19:41):
It's the idea that people was gonna say, oh, it
opened rams one, then it went to two and a half. Yeah,
but of the money likely in this case will be
of will have been bet at two and a half,
and less than one percent bet at all those other numbers.
Thus the significance of those other numbers is very So
when the sharps, the smart guys see the rams at
(20:06):
minus one, they pounce on that. Don't you look for
something like that? How many of those are there? Are
there a year in an NFL? See so, But it's
easy to say that in hindsight, because now the lines moved,
and and and fees, you've got to plus one on
the Patriots in your pocket. That looks really sexy right now?
Why not necessarily in his pocket sexy? But the fact
that he has it is sexy. We even got the
(20:30):
laugh the weather, the weather was throwing sorr. That's true.
It's true, Brad oh buy himself back in Vegas. If
we could only see his computer screen, he god forbid.
So so to me, yeah, you're right, in hindsight, the
number looks wrong, and and and maybe the better way
to ask that question is and let me ask your
fest how often even from the opener, when NFL line
(20:52):
move Uh three points like this. You usually see one
game a week, r J. And oftentimes we predict line
movement we've done very well or you do excellently. Yeah,
so it's not unusual. Yeah so, but only about twenty
times a year or less. So you're right, this was
a particularly bad line. I'm r J B straight out
of Vegas. Now the second disagreement with Colin, he's getting
(21:14):
beating this. Well, let's it's just the truth. I mean,
if the truth is hard on you, then take it
up with the truth, don't take it up with me.
But here's what I'm gonna say about Colin's other take,
which was, Hey, this Super Bowl means so much for
the Rams. Imagine Golf finally not finally, but wins his
first one, right, number two, McVeigh wins his first one.
(21:36):
He overcomes the genius. It's the passing of the torch.
Right Because Brady to Golf in theory, I disagree with that. Also,
Belichick to McVeigh, I disagree with that. I think Belichick
is gonna be as good the number one coach as
long as he wants to be in the league, or
at least until he gets eighty maybe right, remember Momhammed
(21:58):
Ali after the Rumble and the Jungle. There's an interview
on YouTube where he's, you know, he was a Ford
to one underdog against Foreman and these points out there
goes you oddsmakers in Vegas. You maybe an underdog. He goes,
don't ever do that again? So maybe I'm about sixty. Well,
you know, I guess he's kind of sad to watch
that now. But the idea one day, maybe Belichick isn't
the best, but he's gonna be mighty old before that
(22:20):
day comes. But here's what I disagree with. He goes
and the Patriots if they win, if they lose, what's
the difference to them. They're still great. Brady is still
the greatest, right, And that's an interesting point. If Brady
loses this game, does that in any way make him
not to goat No one would think so. I don't
think any reasonable person if Belichick loses the game, is
(22:41):
he not to go? So he said, what's the stakes? Now?
I think Collins right when it comes to talk radio topics,
meaning it's much more interesting to talk about the Rams
because the steaks are so high for them relative to
the Patriots. And thus if you're signing on segments on
talk radio. That's a pretty good idea that you know,
(23:05):
to focus on the Rams in that way. But when
it comes to what Brady and Belichick are thinking themselves,
we know enough about both of them to think there's
nothing on their mind right now other than winning this game.
And if you think, oh, here's an example of where
there might be a motivational edge, because it means so
(23:28):
much the Rams and not the Patriots, I think that
is faulty, faulty, faulty thinking, because though it's not an
interesting talk radio topic, how much this means that the Patriots.
I think the Patriots want this game just as much,
if not slightly more. But let's say just as much
as the Rams. Jonahs, as a fan, does that sound
(23:50):
right to you? You think the Rams have a motivational edge. No, no,
no, no no. I think the Patriots have more of a
motivational edge. And I know somebody to your point how
focused they are. I know somebody that's staying at the
same hotel as the Patriots. He said it is on
total lockdown. At total lockdown. They are focused. They've used
the doubters all year. I would if you were to
(24:10):
bet right now, who's more focused, Who's more into this game?
Who wants it more? I would bet New England in
this spot. And this is where there's the disconnect between
what makes an interesting talk radio topic and Collins right
about that, versus the truth of the situation, which is
that minimum the Patriots are as motivated as the Rams,
(24:32):
even though it might not be as interesting on talk radio.
Speaking of good talk radio, in just a minute, hinds
Ward talks about what makes the Super Bowl different for
a player that's coming up next year on Fox Sports Radio.
But for the latest, it's stand by. It's now official.
The deal is done, Nixon Mavericks making the swamp today,
(24:52):
the Nicks sending forward Chris Stomps Porzingis to the Mavericks
in a deal at his point, guard dennism with Junior
heading to New York. Knicks also receiving Wesley Matthews Junior
and DeAndre Jordan is part of the deal, and two
first round picks. Dallas gets Tim Hardaway Junior and Courtney
Lee as part of the trade. Now, the Lakers and
Pelicans apparently still talking about Anthony Davis, so much so
(25:13):
the l A Times reports to the Lakers said the
Pelicans five different scenarios on a possible trade to acquire
the all star forward. Comboys officially named Kellen Moore's the
team's offensive coordinator, with John Kittness serving as the team's
quarterbacks coach. Reports A Jerry Jones won't extend the contract
of IT coach Jason Garrett, who has one year left
on his deal. Some college football notes. The Associated Press
(25:34):
reports the College Football Oversy Committee will look into making
changes to the current overtime rules this offseason. On the
m C double A place, the Missouri football program, along
with their baseball and softball programs, on three years probation,
including a one year postseason ban because of academic misconduct
involving a tutor at the waste management open in Phoenix.
Justin Thomas and Ricky Fowler share the lead at seven
(25:56):
under part Harold Varner the third, also at seven under
in free Jennal fielder Price Harper meeting with the Padres
later this week, according to Ken Rosenthal of the MLB
on Fox Back to you guys, Thanks Dan straight out
of Vegas here on Fox Sports Radio Live from Atlanta
at Radio Row for Super Bowl fifty three. As Dan
mentioned in the update, the Kristap Porzingis trade is now final.
(26:16):
He is a Dallas Maverick. If you want to get
our breakdown and a very very well done breakdown and
all the aspects of this trade moving forward for both franchises,
go to Fox Sports Radio dot com after the show
goes final and you can listen to the podcast Their
outstanding job by r J Bell and Steve Zik on that.
R J earlier had a chance to catch up with
(26:36):
two times Super Bowl champion Hens Ward and asked him.
Heinz representing Hyundai here at the Super Bowl, And r
J asked him what the key qualities artists succeed in
a big game like we have coming up on Sunday.
It's how people deal with pressure because this game is
not like a regular season game game. It's not like
a playoff game. I remember playing in my first Super
(26:59):
Bowl and literally I got to the stadium maybe four
hours early, went out on the pregame warm up, and
the stadium was getting full. I mean Detroit, Detroit super
Bowl forty And I got there and then I'm warming
up and now the celebs are coming in on the sideline.
Now I'm saying some celebs on the field of screaming,
come on, Highs, you could do it. I'm like, now
(27:20):
I'm trying to show out like Odell Beckham in my
pregame warm up. I'm out there killing in one hand,
catch and got the music, and I hear I hear
the celeb screaming my name. I wore myself out. I
came back in the locker room to a pregame warm up.
I was drenched. I was I was like, man, I
haven't even put on my uniform yet, and I really
(27:41):
wore myself out because I didn't know what they expect.
You know, you dream about this moment as a little kid,
as a child like it's the opportunity of a lifetime
playing in the super Bowl. I gotta make all the plays.
I gotta do this, I gotta do that. And then
I wore myself out. I ended up throwing up. I've
never thrown up before a game ever in my life.
So you don't understand the matter. It was front. It
was totally different. It's totally you can't even simulate playing
(28:04):
in the super Bowl. And then I had to get
I V because I felt like I was getting dehydrated. Man,
it was it was not a great start to my
first ever Super Bowl that I played in. But then
once maybe like the midway through the first quarter, things
started to settle down, and then it becomes like a game.
And that's my question, because I've heard the first quarter
in the fourth quarter is what's so different, and that
(28:25):
specifically the first quarter, you're just so nervous you don't
even remember the Yeah, you almost blank out. You're just
out there. And that was your experience, that was my experience.
But then when when did that start clearing up for you?
Probably about the end of the first quarter. Then the
first quarter, things are going and stuff. And I remember,
as receivers, we always we remember our drops more than
I catch. And I had a routine play, an opportunity
(28:48):
in a lifetime. I made the cash ten out of
ten times in the corner end zone. I'm wearing my
dragging my feet and getting the end. I took my
eyes off, the ball, clinks off my hand, I messed
it for the dance. Said, oh no, I blew it
blood blood, and I just oh my mind. I just
kept replaying and I remember Jerome, But I say, now
you're gonna get another opportunity. Don't worry about I don't
(29:09):
worry about it was drone first, super Owldo exactly. But
he was the he was the emotional leader, the heart
and soul of our team. And I was like, I
blew Jerome bo, you blew it. You didn't want to
be that guy to blow it for Jerome because you
knew he was gonna retire. But it's how do you respond?
How did you respond back from that mishap that you had?
And Uh, Luckily for me, I got more opportunities down
(29:31):
the road. But the first quarter is like no others.
It's a different animal when you're playing in the super Bowl. Now,
the fourth quarter, I hear because the halftime is so
long because you spent so much energy nervous before the game.
Fatigues a big issue. As you played your second game
against Arizona, how did you pace yourself differently? Well, I changed,
(29:52):
I cut everything off. I put on another jersey, so
I had two Super Bowl jersey. I put on my
backup jersey and I redid it? Were you getting ready
for eBay later? I just wanted to reset myself and
not be drenched in my clothes sitting there for thirty
minutes waiting for the halftime. Show to get up, So
I got my ankles retape, I kept my pants on,
but I got a new jersey and stuff like that,
(30:14):
and that's how I prepared a second time. I wanted
a fresh, new look like it was the start of
the first quarter. How much did you benefit from the
experience of the first question, So you would say the
Paths have a big advantage here, no question, because they
know what the routine is. They know what to expect
during halftime. A lot of guys they tell you about it,
but unless you've experienced, you have no clue what it's like.
(30:36):
You're tired on time. So two last questions for you.
One is, and I'm a Steelers fan, I should say,
by the way, Meryl Hodge was the other athletes yesterday,
so all Steelers so far as athletes you and I
was only able to read from the press reports. I
want to hear it from you. My understanding is when
you retired, there were other teams in the league you
(30:57):
could have signed with, and you made a decision where
you said, yeah, that's a lot of money, but I
want to retire a Steeler. Could you tell me what
the truth of that thought process was. Well, for me,
it was. I felt like I couldn't give what I
I couldn't give another organization what I gave the Pittsburgh Steelers,
and I felt like I wasn't gonna be fair to them.
(31:17):
I wasn't gonna be fair to myself. And at what point, yes,
I was disappointed because I didn't never want it. I
wanted to retire. I didn't want to get cut by
the organization I played fourteen years for. But I understand
it's the business, right, But I felt at that time,
I've gotten everything I wanted out of football. You know.
I I made Pro Bowls, I made some decent money.
I played in three Super Bowls. I won two Super Bowls.
(31:39):
I have a Super Bowl m v P. I can't
ask for anything more. And that's why I couldn't have
envisioned my career going as good as it did for
the Pittsburgh Steelers. Very very few people make that decision correct.
But I was already prepared for life after football. I
had gigs set up and that I wanted to NBC
was there, CNN was there and and asked any stuff,
So I had I created an opportunity for myself while
(32:03):
I was playing to open up many open up doors
while I was playing. Hey, when you retire, you have
a gig here. You tire, you have a gig here.
So I was already preparing for life or at the football.
I just didn't think it was in right then and there.
But uh, I just felt like, you know me, um,
I just felt like I couldn't put on another uniform.
I felt like I wouldn't be the same. So I
(32:24):
admire that greatly. Last question, you're known rightfully so I
think as a very physical receiver with your blocks. As
the NFL evolves, how obviously it's too simple to say, oh, look,
they should be wearing girdles, you know the or it's
also too simple to say that, oh, none of this matters.
People like offense anyway. I think the answer is somewhere
(32:46):
in the middle. Where's the answer for you? What is
the ideal amount of violence of aggression in an NFL game?
Football is a violent sport. It's not for everyone. You
can you can try to protect the game as much
as possible, but you can't protect grown man running full speed,
colliding heads and helmets and stuff. Is this impossible when
you watch today's game, do you think it's a lesser
(33:07):
version of the game you play, it is it is.
I mean, you can't really touch receivers now. I mean
I hate to be a defensive player because I don't know,
you can't touch him. You ever think how many? Do
you ever think? How question you can add on some
more yards? But hey, it's a different time. I mean,
imagine playing against mel Blunt and those guys back in
the day. They changed the rule as well, So I
mean it's just a change. Our game has evolved, uh,
(33:30):
you know involved and um, you know, they want to
clean it up. They want to make it safer for
players and things like that. So I get it. I'm
I'm all for, you know, cleaning the game up, but
it's still the game of football, and you still have
grown men colliding each play, especially after interception. They should
just say let's cancel. You get an interception, you're down
by contact. You can't try to run it because you see,
you see guys getting cracked back, laid out all the
(33:52):
times or interception. And to me, the interception plays just
as worse as the kickoff flat. That's a good point,
I'm telling you. But they don't they won't do that,
but they're they're trying to clean up the game with
the kickoff, but every interception on a run back for
a touchdown. You see guys getting clobert on on an
interception return, but they won't do about it. So still
the game of football is still a rough game. That's
(34:14):
hines Ward. It's been an honor thanks to hines War
two time Super Bowl champions, stopping by with r J.
Bell here live from Radio Row at the Super Bowl.
Hines Ward On behalf of Hyundai and their new Shopper
Assurance program and makes car buying an easier experience for everyone.
Hines Ward Up next Steve Zik with another prop best bet.
(34:36):
This is my favorite one of all of his prop
best bets, and it is next right here live from
Radio Wrote the Super Bowl. He's r J. Bell, I'm
Jonas Knocks. It's the pregame show you always wanted, right
here on Fox Sports Radio. Be sure to catch live
editions of Straight Out of Vegas weekdays at six pm Eastern,
three pm Pacific. I'm r J. Bell. We are Straight
out of Vegas live in Atlanta, and I'm Jonas Knocks
(34:58):
Voice of You the Fan. We have got a double
header on T n T tonight in the n B
A tipping off a little over an hour from now
eight Eastern time. It is the Bucks at the Raptors
and Steve Feesick right now, Toronto a two and a
half point favorite, and I leaned to Milwaukee plus two
and a half perception versus reality. The perceptions these two
(35:20):
teams are roughly equal. Toronto's favorite because they're at home.
The reality is Milwaukee right now is the significantly better team.
They're outscoring their opponents on average by nine and a
half points per game, Toronto only by five and a half.
Milwaukee has been four points better. I will lean with Milwaukee, guys.
After Milwaukee and Torontogo final, we've got the seventies sixers
(35:41):
at the Warriors right now on pregame dot Com Golden
State and nine point favorite, and I will lean to
Golden State. What's the book on Golden State handicaps motivation?
When this team is motivated, you want to bet on them.
Since Boogie Cousins has come back high energy with Golden
State a team you're looking to back. Wow, Wow, that's
(36:02):
that's that's why you're not liking it though, right I'm
not liking it because it's the first game back since
a five game road trip historically a bad spot for
the home team margin because you're thinking the mail powered up,
they got to talk to their mistress, all that kind
of stuff family wants some time. I don't think that's
what they're focused on. Guys. Here at Fox Sports Radio,
(36:23):
we want to thank you. We want to say thank
you to view Sonic for partnering with us for the
second straight year in a row at the Super Bowl.
Our Fox Sports Radio broadcast center stands out not only
because of the live interviews on stage, but because the
broadcast center features twenty six flat panel display monitors featuring
videos along with an amazing seventy five in interactive touch
(36:46):
screen that gives us the chance to follow our live
social feed. And the pictures on these view Sonic monitors
are absolutely amazing. The features are sharp, vivid, four K
ultra HD images. Check out the photos at Fox Sports
Radio dot com. They're fantastic. And do what we did.
Log on to view Sonic dot com right now, that's
(37:07):
view Sonic dot com and get your monitors today and
just see what a difference it makes. On Straight out
of Vegas, the last segment of the show, right before
seven Eastern We always break down the biggest TV games,
maybe quick, maybe long, based on how much we like them.
But we arm you with the knowledge you need to
enjoy and watch the games and maybe even bet them.
(37:27):
But once a week we give Brad Powers a little
bit of rope. If you like a game so much
that you're like betting huge on it, even if it's
not the biggest TV game, we'll let him break it down.
Brad Powers. Yeah, and tonight we're gonna go to East
Carolina minus five. And this is an important teaching moment
when it comes to college basketball. Where's the value in
(37:47):
college basketball? A lot of times it's with these smaller conferences.
I'm gonna take East Carolina minus to five. Y. Yes,
they're the two worst teams in the conference, but two programs,
two teams this season heading in completely opposite directions. East
Carolina first year coach, a lot of excitement, they're much improved,
they've been good at home. And on the other side,
(38:08):
Toulane East Carolina asn opponent, lane duck coach that looks
like they've quit on their coach. Nine straight losses for Tulane,
I like East Carolina and nine at home minus five
that's Brad Powers. Now for a Super Bowl fifty three
prop bet, we go to Steve Zick. We're gonna go
to the Rams. Brandon Cooks, We're gonna fade him. We're
gonna go under seventy. All about Belichick, he likes to
(38:31):
take away your best weapon. We saw it last week.
He took away Hill, and he took away Kelsey for
Kansas City, and Cooks has been the best weapon for
the Rams in the playoffs. Cooks has been averaging eighty
six yards. Wood's the number two wide receiver only fifty yards.
I think Belichick chooses to take away Cooks. Well, that's
a debato, and it's the question no one wants to answer.
(38:52):
What happened to Todd Gurley because in general, you would
say the analogy is Marshall fault right, is take the
queen off the chessboard. That's what Belichick did against the
Rams a long long time ago. You would think if
Girley were a hundred percent mentally physically whatever is limiting him,
he'd be what Belichick would want to stop and maybe
(39:14):
free up the receivers. I agree, though Gurley hasn't shown
as anything near being acent. Thus it seems very possible
Belichick is gonna try to take away, as you said, Cooks.
I think even if it's not Belichick's number one priority, Fez,
I still like your pick. Here's why. Who is the
(39:36):
defensive head coach most like Belichick right now? Matt Patricia
in Detroit had been in New England a long long time. Well,
Detroit played against the Rams this year and what did
they do. They had a very specific pressing Cooks at
the line, which Cooks doesn't particularly like. And Cooks had
(39:57):
a very poor statistical game. So if there's any analogy,
any analog, any idea of this game is gonna be
indicative of what happens against the Patriots. I think it's
a Lions Rams game, and we saw Cooks get shut down.
I think that bodes very well to shut Cooks down
Patriots into Super Bowl. Thoughts on that. Let's face it,
(40:20):
if you play for a year for the genius Belichick,
he's gonna know what your weakness. You bring up another point,
Not only have we seen what Patricia is doing against Cooks,
Belichick knows Cooks better than any coach. How scary would
that be thinking Bill Belichick understands my weaknesses, and now
I gotta try to beat Bill Belichick. Let me tell
(40:42):
you something, You're not gonna make a living doing that.
By the way, speaking of making a living, Sunday noon,
right here on Fox Sports Radio, Super Bowl Sunday, the
first prop betting special on a major national radio network
ever one hour, Jonas me R J. Bell, Brad Powers, Ephezic.
We're gonna break him down all the key prop bets
(41:03):
for the full hour noon Eastern Super Bowl Sunday. Can't
wait for that. The Odd Couple is next here on
Fox Sports Radio for the latest on the Kristap Porzingis trade.
We are straight out of Vegas back tomorrow six pm
Eastern Time at three o'clock Pacific, right here on Fox
Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app.
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Rich Davis
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