July 3, 2026 • 56 mins
On this edition of the Best of Stugotz and Company LIVE!: Dan and Monse in for Stuand the guys as they react to a comment by Lebron's agent Rich Paul who claims the Knicks would have been the choice if they wouldn't have won. Mark Medina joins Dan and Monse to weigh in on the dispute about Lebron. Dan and Monse weigh in on the latest development in the Caitlin Clark controversy.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the best of Stegotson Company Live podcast.
Find your local station for Stug Gottson Company Live at
Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day
on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
This is the best of Stu Gotson Company Live on
Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
You made it to the end of the week, you
made it to the holiday weekend, and tomorrow we say
Happy birthday, America.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Happy birthday.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
How are you? How are you? Are you? How are you?
Two hundred and fifty? All right there it is for us, Hey, America.
How does it feel on your last day of two
hundred and forty nine? How does it feel you ever
(00:49):
do that one? How does it feel on your last
day of prior to the year. I'm going to be
fifty in January, so on that January fifteenth day, it'll
be like, how do you feel your last day of
your forties?
Speaker 5 (01:00):
You can say your son is two hundred and forty
nine months. I feel like there's parents to still do that.
And then you have to do the math.
Speaker 6 (01:09):
You're like, wait, what is that? So you could definitely
use that.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I wanted to do the quick math, but I've showed
out stupid. I am in Americanapolis two fifty over these
last couple of days, so I don't even want to
put the math portion of this at risk. We'll just
keep it at that. Welcome in. She is Monte Milonios.
I'm dan Byer our company today. Chris Burfett, you heard
at the news desk who is locked in on Egypt
and Australia, as is Jason Stewart for some purchasing some
(01:34):
interest as well with the Egyptians.
Speaker 7 (01:36):
By the way, you know, I'm a big fan of
like small talk tactics. I make fun of small talk
tactics all the time, and a big one around birthdays.
Is this one one of my favorites. I wonder if
there's another country in the world right now that's looking
at us saying, you know what, you don't look a
year over two forty.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
You looking good? America looking good?
Speaker 6 (01:56):
Look better.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I haven't been captivated by the the tourists who have
come to the United States or the soccer fans and
how they've loved America. And then I saw one of
a guy who went to a Golden Corral buffet, and
then then that one got me like that one reeled
me in. He was because he was he was, he
was so shocked, and he said, and then they give
(02:19):
you a drink like a cup to go, so it's
it's unlimited refills and a cup to go, which a
lot of establishments do, but that's the one that reeled
me in. We are hungry, we are hungry for more.
And you heard him this morning and you'll hear him
this afternoon. Iowa Sam is here on a Friday.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Iowa Sam.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
We made it. Folks. Uh, you say you can only
stay here for two hours?
Speaker 8 (02:41):
Yeah, you're done, and then Alex Teicher comes in and
he'll do a dang fine job.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Well, we've we've had fun this week Monty and I
filling in for a Cavino and Rich and today we
are on four hours here on Fox Sports Radio in
for Stu Gotson Company, and we'll be in for CNR
who were doing there at Dan Patrick. It was earlier
in the week, Monci where you and I had a
discussion that ended up going on social media. And let's
just I'll just say this. When you can't attack the message,
(03:10):
you attack the messenger. So I get the tweets, but
when we're talking about the lying, that's going on in
the NBA. It isn't just Lebron, James Yeah, and Rich
Paul and Clutch Sports. It's everywhere. It's the Lakers, it's everywhere.
But in another instance of Lebron and his people talking
(03:33):
about what is his future, they are now talking so
much that they're getting caught in their own lies. I'm
not calling them liars. I just let's be real, let's
tell the truth. It's not that hard to decipher. And
you're about to hear in a little bit another instance
where Lebron and Rich Paul get caught in their words.
Speaker 6 (03:53):
Oh so it's okay to calm liars. It just feels fun.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
It feels really harsh to sit there and say, because
if I were to call you a liar, I would
be you're a liar, You're a liar.
Speaker 8 (04:03):
And I.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Would if you were if it was joking, they'd be like,
come on, you know, come on. But if I was
really in a fight and I really wanted to say
something and say, you're a liar, you lie, you lie,
that's what you are, And that's not what I'm doing
with Lebron. But it's just a lot of it comes
with the territory of course, and do I do I
need to set up again what I said a year ago.
I feel like I'm just taking victory lap after victory lap,
(04:28):
and I don't want to do it, but I do
want to reset it for the audience, of course. Jason Stewart,
you're the I mean, I'll let you know.
Speaker 7 (04:34):
It's like an old radio mentor once told me, my man,
there were new listeners every other minute. There. You know
you got never never of Uh would you hesitate to
reset your take? So I know that there are new
listeners every minute.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
If if Sam, I know he's sending a text message
from his computer right now, but if.
Speaker 8 (04:53):
You no, I was retweeting you Dan with a picture
of fireworks.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
That's an inside joke. Because Sam's want sold, he has
to send the messages from the computer.
Speaker 8 (05:02):
I'm running out of storage too, so it's like you
cannot use this app because you have no more.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Storage on your phone phone. I know, there's like a
light bar on it. I can barely use. It's an
awful phone. Yeah, it's pretty beat up. Do we do
you have my comments from a year ago that we
played earlier in the week readily available to you. Because
I just wanted to set the scene. Moncene again, it's
not to take a victory lap.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Yes, it is, especially since you've been losing to Isaac
kN you need a victory.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Yeah. He read all four in a row on me yesterday,
Jay Edgar Hoover, I had no chance, no chance whatsoever.
But it was again on Fox Sports Sundays a year
ago when we found out the news that Lebron James
was opting into his contract with the Lakers. This is
what I said June twenty ninth, of twenty twenty five.
(05:52):
This is what I had to say. I paused for effect,
look at first, and then this is what I had
to say. He's gonna let everybody know about it. And
the point is is Lebron's gonna want a farewell to
or as well, Mike, and you know, darn well is
gonna let everybody know about it, and it's gonna be
(06:14):
a year of celebrating Lebron like this is your last chance.
I don't necessarily blame him. I would love that as
well if I was, you know, put as much into
the league that I could. So if there's anybody that
deserves it, it's probably him. But this just didn't sound
like a farewell for Lebron, and I think at some
point that's what he's gonna want. But this statement sure
(06:34):
sounded like it's a farewell to the Lakers after this season.
It wasn't even a Lebron is excited for the twenty
five twenty six season, running it back with Luca. Yeah,
trying to bring a title back to LA and win
number eighteen. Now, there was none of that. He knows
they're building for the future. He understands that he values
(06:56):
a realistic chance thanks to the last eight years, it's
been great. That's the statement. So to me, Lebron, Rich Paul,
keep it going, keep it going. I'm sorry, that's all right,
you know, I just wanted to hear myself talk for
a minute. Me and Mike Carmen a year ago. The
point that came up, which I later said, is Lebron
(07:18):
is likely headed to a couple of different destinations outside
of LA and New York is one of them. In
Cleveland is another one of them. And Monci, well, I
know you're sick of me saying that I was right
on this one. When Rich Paul comes out and says
what he says to Max Kellerman on a recent podcast.
This is the lying that we are talking about. Here's
(07:41):
Lebron's agent.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
If the Knicks hadn't a wand this wouldn't even there
would be no Bore.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
He'd be going to the next He'd be going to the.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Knicks, simple as that. That's what Rich Paul said to
Max Kellerman. So you know what wasn't a part of
that equation happiness, which is what we were told earlier
this week that Lebron is searching for happiness in twelve
to fourteen teams in the NBA. Well, if he would
have just gone to the Knicks, because that's if they
(08:10):
wouldn't have won, it is that where he's most happy
or is that just where he wanted to go? And
to me, it's not about happiness because if you're trying
to find your happiness through twelve or fourteen teams, you
wouldn't have wanted to go to the Knicks if they
didn't win at all. And that contradicts what everything that
we're hearing. So if we're taking shots at Lebron, it's
(08:33):
only because they're talking out of both sides of their mouth,
and that's this isn't this isn't rocket science. There's only
four or five teams that Lebron could play for, and
two and three of those really aren't realistic. So it's
really down to like one or two teams that Lebron's
likely going to play for. And that has been the
case for the entire year in looking ahead the next season.
(08:53):
And so that's why anything they say of all these
teams that are interested. I'm even looking at a headline
right now that says the seventy six ers are interested
in the Lebron James. There's no reason for Lebron to
go to Philadelphia, absolutely none. Even with the acquisition of
Jaylen Brown, it would do nothing for Lebron. That's not
realistic news. And that's why when we say just tell
us the truth, that's all we're asking for.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
Okay me, Meana, you were right a year ago in
saying that he maybe wasn't gonna be a Laker. I
guess I'm trying to meet you halfway because.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
I think that what happened in between is not what
you think.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
I think we've landed here to make you right, but
you weren't actually right a year ago. Like we've landed
here and now you're right, But I don't think that's
actually what went down.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
There's a lot of things that you're saying where I
agree with you that.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
No, Lebron cannot go to the seventy six ers, No
Lebron cannot go to many places.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
Is he gonna be a journeyman? Is that what we're
gonna label him as? If he doesn't go back to
Cleveland or Miami, like anywhere he goes besides those two,
he just can't. I will give you credit. I think
it was you and I. It was you and I.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
Right before the postseason of the NBA ended, you did
say the loser between the Caves and the Knicks will
get Lebron. You did say that not long ago, but
a year ago. I don't think you were right at
the time. I think you ended up being right. And
the reason it feels like they're talking out of both
sides of their mouth is because I think the plan
was for Lebron to always be a Laker, even after that,
even after he opted into his final year, even after
(10:27):
they got Luca.
Speaker 6 (10:27):
The way the final season ended with the Lakers, with
him being so available and leading the.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
Lakers passed their first round series in the playoffs, I
think the plan was to be a Laker, and so
now everything that they are saying, specifically Rich Paul, it
does seem like it's a bunch of lies because they're
figuring it out as they go. They didn't think they
were going to be in this position because Lebron James
thinks that everyone wants him. As you said, it's all
about ego and he wants to feel wanted. I don't
(10:53):
know when Lebron swallowed the pill that it wasn't gonna be,
that he wasn't gonna be a Laker. Whenever that was,
there are lies coming, but these.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
Lies came because they're figuring it out as they go.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Why would you think Lebron would want to be a
Laker when he only did all of that because Luca
didn't play.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Because Lebron thinks that he is a Laker.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
Like Lebron, Lebron wants.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
To be accepted, as you said, so, I don't think
Lebron's plan was to not retire as a Laker.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
I think that he knew he was never going to
be accepted. And if you hear the if you if
you hear the comments that people have made now that
he has left, that and people that people are are
happy that he's gone. It's the reason why he wanted
to leave. He knew that winning those people over was
was a losing battle. So he's going to go out
(11:43):
on his own terms and be a good, good player,
good soldier, be in line with the team, and then
when he leaves saying, hey, I hope I made a
few people proud. Like that's his way of saying, nobody's
really fully accepted me, but I hope I made a
few of you you happy. He had no intention of
playing second fiddle to Luka.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
Donc You're you're portraying Lebron James to be logical, and
I don't think he is.
Speaker 6 (12:07):
I think Lebron.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
James has been in this situation where it's like he
does not understand what it's like to be told no,
or what it's like to be told like you know what,
we're okay without you. What you're presenting is a logical person,
and I don't think Lebron has ever been logical because
of the stardom that he has had for so.
Speaker 6 (12:25):
Long in this business. And so I'm telling you, like
I think like.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
Maybe maybe people were saying this to him, but to him,
he was like, you're crazy. I'm Lebron James. This just happened,
and I really do think I'm putting it. When the
Lakers officially extended Austin Ravesen gave him that contract, I
feel like that was the beginning of Lebron swallowing the pill.
And I agree that there's a lot of lies being told.
(12:50):
Is it happiness? Is it money? Is it a championship?
What is it that you're going for? Because all of
those would lead you to different teams. Do you just
want to say goodbye to the to the sport in
a way where like you are happy, then you probably
go back to Cleveland. That makes the most sense. It's
competitive and you get to go home. Are you trying
to play with Steph Curry? Because you guys, you want
to play with another goat and it's your buddy, and
(13:10):
you want to go.
Speaker 6 (13:10):
To the Warriors. That's also different.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
If you're trying to compete, I don't I don't know
what team takes you to compete. I it makes all
of this just to me, sounds like they are figuring
it out as they go, and Rich Paul doesn't know
how to keep his mouth shut because it's not even
Lebron that's saying this.
Speaker 6 (13:25):
It's Rich Paul.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
I think, I think he's the most logical player in
the NBA.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
And the reason is is because it's why you could
see it from a year ago, this this path of
he's not going to just go to a random team.
But that's that's that's why the twelve to fourteen teams
were out of it. There were three to four, but
there's just a lot. Even for Rich Paul to say
what he said about the Knicks in a way is
(13:53):
also saying, well, see, he was never going to go
back to the Lakers, like that was out of the picture.
Like once the Knicks won, like that was that was
going to be an option.
Speaker 6 (14:01):
How is that not saving face?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Though?
Speaker 5 (14:03):
As something you've said, like this is all about saving face.
So him, what he's saying now about the Lakers.
Speaker 6 (14:08):
Isn't that him saving face? Like no, no, no, like
he would have gone to the Knicks. No, yeah, you
don't know that.
Speaker 8 (14:13):
I know.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
And I again, I'll give you much credit because you
really did say that. Luser readurwing the Cavs and the Kicks.
We'll get Lebron because.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
It fits the story. That's what makes it ill logical, right.
Speaker 6 (14:22):
But but Lebron being logical, it's not no. He he
wants to.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Be loved and liked and accepted like he If he
would have been logical, I feel like he would have
handled the last season, which I said sitting here two
days ago with you, that if he knew he was
not going to be a Laker, we would have heard
about that throughout the season because he would have wanted
people to know, this is the last time I'm wearing
the purple and gold.
Speaker 6 (14:43):
So he's so about himself.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
He would have wanted people to know, this is the
last time you're gonna see.
Speaker 6 (14:48):
Me wearing purple and cold. Come watch me play one
more time.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Do you remember when how he went out in Miami?
Like do you remember like how that ended, like after
the four years when they lost to the Spurs in
the finals. Basically basically it was Lebron James and everybody
else like it was Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh and
the heatles that they were. Lebron was carrying that team.
And so he leaves Miami on a high note because
(15:12):
it's truly when he was at the top of his
game throughout his career. But just he couldn't meet the
San Antonio Spurs, he couldn't do it by himself. He
gets the cramps, and it was Lebron I felt was
peak Lebron at the end of that heat run, and
then early on with the Cavaliers when he left the
Cavaliers to go to the Lakers again. The announcement was
(15:33):
made for him to go to the Lakers on just
a statement, but when he left in that NBA Finals,
I think both he and Cleveland were ready to leave
each other, and so that was kind of on good terms.
I think that he the backlash that he got from
the decision, I think still plays into the part. I
don't think he wanted to be hate. I didn't think
(15:55):
he wanted to be reckless. I think that if he
would have tried to stir everything up with the Lakers,
with it being Luca's team, that would have looked poorly
on him. And he just wants to be loved and
him stirring up the pot, which is something we talked
about earlier behind the scenes, saying I want out or
I want a different team. It's just not doesn't fit him.
And I think Luca's injury allowed Lebron to be like, Okay, good, Now,
(16:16):
maybe I can get some love from the Lakers if
I turn it on at this stretch run without their
star player, and I can leave on a high note.
That's what I think happened, and I think that's what
worked out for him. But I don't think it would
be in his best interest to try to change things
or to become a nuisance to the Lakers. I mean,
he was at some point in making comments earlier in
(16:37):
the season, but to want to leave on a good note,
I think that's what he likes. He doesn't want to
leave a bad taste in people's mouth because he wants
to be liked. And that's why I think that he'd
never wanted to go back to the Lakers. And now,
like if you were to go to the Sixers, if
you were to go to the Knicks when they want it,
it's Boston that would work out. That's why there's only
like two places that he can I think now three
(16:58):
places he can now really go Cleveland, Miami, and Golden State.
And Cleveland's the best option. I don't think that Golden
State gives you as much. Many miles and the heat
are still a ways away. Even with Lebron and Jannison Bam.
Speaker 5 (17:10):
I think the decision once the decision happened with Lebron
and how much he's moved.
Speaker 6 (17:15):
I feel like everywhere he goes.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
He leaves a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
I just think it just happens with him. He's just
been around for so long.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
But if you truly felt, if you truly feel like
Lebron wanted to leave on a high note with the Lakers,
and after helping the Lakers in a situation where their
star went down and their other players there are other
star also.
Speaker 6 (17:34):
Went down, eventually came back. Austin Reeves, You.
Speaker 5 (17:36):
Don't think when it was all said and done, at
that point, Lebron would have said something like, I'm just
I'm glad that I was able to give the Lakers
a series when you know it's it's good to leave
like this. You don't think something like that he would
have said, because then at that point everybody would have
been like, Lebron's eaving.
Speaker 6 (17:56):
Oh my gosh, he's leaving the Lakers, and he likes that.
That's his stuff.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
He wants us, as we said, he wants a farewell tour.
He wants people to talk about him. I think he
would have said something at that moment. If you're saying
he wanted to leave on a high note with the Lakers,
and he did that by winning the series when their
stars went down, Like, I think he would have leaned
into that, and he didn't.
Speaker 6 (18:17):
He was any of that.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Jason Stewart's our executive producer.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
No, I was just shaking my head during that.
Speaker 6 (18:23):
Yeah, yeah, I saw you shaking your hand.
Speaker 7 (18:24):
I don't think he could do that, and I respect
the take, but I don't think he could have done that,
Because he would it would have just taken all the
oxygen out of the room. Everyone would have kept asking
him about the next step in the middle of the season,
and he would have been the disruptor. I think him
pointed the way he did him winning that first series
got him a lot of like great faith, people started
(18:46):
loving Lebron again after winning that first series before he
threw Luca under the bus the next day. But like,
I don't know if he says that anything like that
in the middle of the season, referring to this is
my last season, I think he would have been looked
at as a disrupt and I think to Dan's point,
that's the last thing he wants to be.
Speaker 6 (19:04):
Though everything no.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Blood on accounts' zero blood Genie Buss the article that
came out, I don't know if it was in the
winter about how they had a falling out, maybe it
was in the spring. And then Lebron announces that Rich
Paul says he's not going back to the Lakers. All
of a sudden, there's a Genie Bus statement. Lebron is
quote tweeting that statement like playing all good when by
(19:28):
the accounts that we entered previously is that they weren't
on good terms with each other. That's all window dressing.
That's all to make everything look fancy, and that's again
goes along with the with the lying portion of it,
the cover up. But this is just playing out and
that's why we It's why I felt like you could
see it from a mile away or a year ago.
This is all the steps and it's leading us to
(19:50):
the same point, which I think again will ultimately be Cleveland.
But there aren't twelve to fourteen teams, and it's not
about happiness because rich Paul says if Lebron he would
have gone to the next if they didn't win an
NBA title. Well then he had his mind made up.
Or is he saying that his happiness would have been
in New York. I don't buy that for a second.
It's all it's all what does it call it, it's all
(20:12):
a ruse. It's all a ruse? Is that the phrase? Well,
we'll see, I said, Manzi yesterday when you were dealing
with the crazy nutty people at Dodger Stadium, that I
picked Wednesday of next week. July eighth is the day
he makes the announcement because that's the day that there
are no World Cup matches. You can't do it on
(20:35):
the weekend. Jason thought maybe yesterday was going to be
the day to try to beat the fourth of July
and to beat America's birthday. But I think just just
wait till mid next week after the US has played
against Belgium. There's no World Cup matches on Wednesday. That
if something goes down on Wednesday. This is all going to.
Speaker 5 (20:51):
Be part of the plan for having a plan a
year ago. This plan's not going very well. I feel
like we would have already know going I.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Think it's going right according it's a plan.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
This is all all the lives This is all the
what they wanted, say all the wrong things, and that
can show them.
Speaker 6 (21:07):
We had a plan a year ago.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Hey, Rich Paul has already contradicted himself.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Be sure to catch live editions of Stu Godson Company
Live weekdays at three pm Eastern twelve pm Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
All right, we are in the mix with Mark Medina
for the next hour here on Fox Sports Radio. Welcome in, Yeah,
turn that micro on, Mark Medina, I got you. This
is something new that we're doing here on this day
before America's birthday. By the way, is there any date
on the calendar that gets more short change than July third? Right? Like,
(21:45):
it's I mean cause it's July fourth, It's coming up tomorrow,
it's America's birthday. But Mark Medeena's here. You can call
in eight seven, seven nine nine on Fox eight seven
seven nine six six three sixty nine if you have
any questions about the NBA anything you want to ask Mark.
But I figured over the next hour, considering what's happened
in free agency, that Mancy, we would get to pick
(22:05):
the brains of someone who is locked in and can
really put into perspective of what's going on so far
in free agency, and then.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
Some I think he needs a gabble because he's going
to be judgment.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
We get it out of the way.
Speaker 6 (22:18):
Of course, we get it out of the way. You
said I was whack.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Mark first of all, welcome happy early fourth.
Speaker 9 (22:25):
Yes, mons, So I have to pay judge and jury
referee yellow cards.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
You can, you can.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I almost don't want him to hear our opinions from
each other, because I think that leads a bias into it.
Nothing towards you, but everybody sides with Manzi like like,
that's so I am already at a disadvantage.
Speaker 4 (22:48):
You don't want to lead the witness.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
I almost want like an impartial party like Jason Stewart
to give you the two sides of the argument. Are
you good with that? Monster?
Speaker 10 (22:59):
Sure?
Speaker 6 (23:00):
He better explain it right.
Speaker 7 (23:01):
Well, I don't know if I want to articulate both sides.
I do have a suggestion, though, how about we just
kind of leave it open ended. Now. You don't have
to give away your opinion by setting it up, so
to just say.
Speaker 6 (23:13):
Like one of us thinks this and the other one
thinks this.
Speaker 7 (23:16):
Like Mark a year ago when Lebron put out that statement.
Take it from here was what did Mark think at
that point about Lebron's future in.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
LA when Lebron announced he was going to opt into
his contract, What did you think was happening a year
ago at that time?
Speaker 9 (23:31):
At that time, I thought it's the final year with
the Lakers. It may or may not be the final
year of his NBA career. But with that huge caveat,
I've also taught myself that everything can always change because
of circumstances. But at that point, it seemed clear by
to handicap this, I put money on it. Lebron's time
(23:53):
with the Lakers is only this season.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
I think that that is a great caveat because he
brought up the point of change. Did you think things
changed throughout the season.
Speaker 9 (24:03):
Yes, and so even as of last week my opinion
and some folks around the league that I've talked to, executives,
different scouts, there wasn't a unanimous thought, but most thought that,
you know what, I think he will come back to
the Lakers because even though it's not Max money, it's
still more money than most teams can are willing to offer.
(24:27):
And the Luka Doncic fit wasn't perfect, but they saw
a lot of growth and there wasn't any personality tensions
with Lucas specifically.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
They got along fine.
Speaker 9 (24:39):
There's a lot of respect for each other. The tension
is more about for an office dynamics, what's the priority
with roster moves around Lebron and his contract. So with
all those variables, there was a feeling I could see
Lebron come back, but I want to be surprised if
he also leaves.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Manci has got a look on her face, but up
until that last line, I thought the the the look changed. Well,
I think there was a bit of a there was
a bit of a I told you so.
Speaker 5 (25:08):
Well, no, because it starts off with him stating what
you thought a year ago and I I did not
think that a year ago.
Speaker 6 (25:17):
I let's just put it out there and we'll keep
it simple.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
We've been kind of arguing as to what Lebron and
his camp, everything that's been said, as Dan said, seems
to be full of lies. And the reason I think
it sounds like it's full of lies is because I
think the plan for Lebron was to be a Laker,
and then up until they signed Austin Reeves I think
is when that became the reality was at that point,
(25:40):
you don't want to pay me what I what I
would want as a Laker. Now I'm gonna move on.
But I think this entire time, especially because how he
helped the Lakers win a series in the playoffs without
Luca and Austin Reeves being you know, half injured, because
he did come back that I think he he thought
I'm gonna I'm gonna be a Laker again. I'm gonna
come back, and it just now it's reality and he's not.
Speaker 6 (25:59):
And that that's why these are, oh, twenty sevent teams.
There's not twenty seven teams who have asked about Lebron.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
There's not.
Speaker 5 (26:05):
But the reason it sounds like everything is kind of
like you're just throwing things to the wall and seeing
what sticks is because I thought the plan was he
wanted to.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
Be a Laker.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (26:13):
I think the challenging thing with the Lakers and Lebron
is that everything can always evolve change and both parties,
whether you agree with one side or the other, or
you look at it circumstance by circumstance, they all embrace
and are used to the soap opera dynamics that there
can always be a pivot point that can be that
(26:36):
turning point toward a decision, but there can also be
a detour. So, for example, when there were the ESPN
story earlier in the season that laid out the latest
dynamics with the front office and Lebron, and just the
feeling that Genie bust didn't think Lebron was appreciative enough
that they drafted Browny, you could have thought, you know what,
this is the end of the road here. Lebron the
(26:58):
next day was clear irritated with it. When I asked him,
what's the diet, what's the collaboration partnership Like with Genie,
he said, well, I thought it used to be good.
Pat past tense and you think, you know what, like
this isn't gonna be good. But then from a on
court chemistry standpoint, things were getting better, like Luka Dodge
(27:19):
ch Austin reeves, the health was improving, the trade deadline
moves and the continuity is improving.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
The bottom line results were.
Speaker 9 (27:26):
Improving in March where he thought, okay, like this can
be salvageable. But then the injuries happened, the contract negotiations happened,
so everything is always subject to change, and there's so
many a million potential pivot points. It makes for one
great soap opera to file.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
I'll I'll just say this, he held a grudge with
pat Riley over chocolate chip cookies, so that grudge of
them not doing a one in one with him a
year ago, which is why I think. I think the
decision was made at that point, and I don't think
anything happened. I think the Lakers wanted to move on,
and Lebron said, fine, I'm going to opt in, pay
me fifty million dollars for what was this past season,
(28:04):
and then I am going to go elsewhere, And no
matter what would have happened over this past year, I
felt that then teams would know that he would be available,
Like if he would have just opted out of his
contract last year, there weren't teams available for him to
go to at that time because it was so late
in the game. And I think that this was all orchestrated.
So I think his decision again is fifty to fifty
(28:28):
in signing with you and me, and I don't believe
all of those executives who thought he would go back
to the Lakers. That's why you have bad gms. They
can't read the they can't read the room at all.
Speaker 5 (28:41):
Do you think that if Lebron really a year ago,
because this is the other part of my argument with
this with Dan, if a year ago when he opted
into that contract he knew this is my final year
as a Laker, wouldn't he have leaned into that so
that the fans knew was going to be his last
time were in.
Speaker 6 (28:56):
Purple and gold.
Speaker 9 (28:58):
Yeah, here's the thing that we have to keep in mind.
No doubt Lebron has calculated. He thinks big picture, but
there have been a I think play by play details
because he's human and just life itself, that's made it unpredictable.
So I think that he did opt in so he'd
get his money. It's fifty two million dollars. If he
(29:19):
opted out, he won't get the same. I think at
that point in time, he didn't truly know if he
was still capable of prolonging his career without relegating his
role to be like Vince Carter where he's prolonging it.
But now he's a six man, he's a reserve. He
doesn't want to do that, and so I think part
of the reason why some of this change is that
(29:41):
he wasn't a perfect player, certainly defensively, but from an
offensive standpoint, role standpoint, he still could make the case
that he can prolong his career and still be not
the number one option, but a focal point for a team.
So I think that's the other thing. As I was
thinking about this whole dynamic with the Lakers and Lebron,
(30:03):
three t words come to mind with how to sum
it up. It's always been transactional from both sides. It's
there's occasionally been tension, but there's it's there's never been toxic,
any toxic environment. And so with that always transactional. There's
(30:23):
some tension, but it's never toxic. It's made it for
this really gray relationship where there was never a lot
of warmth. There's been disagreements, but when there's been disagreements,
there's been respectful parting of ways here and that's it's been.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
Fascinating, which is honestly different than any of the other
Lakers stars have been treated in the past. I mean,
because it felt like Magic and Kobe they were all
family to the bus family, and this was feels different.
Speaker 9 (30:52):
Yeah, and three years ago this was the Lakers are
at the Western Conference Finals, Lebron is justing after they
lose the Nuggets. You know, I'm not sure if I'm
going to keep playing, you know, my body, et cetera.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
So there was.
Speaker 9 (31:06):
Technically this period of uncertainty, and he then announced that
the S piece is coming back. I connected with Genie
Buss a few weeks after that about state of the
team things, and I was asking Genie for her perspective,
what would it mean if Lebron retires as a Laker,
and her answer, I think forecasted what happens.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
She said, it would mean a lot. We value Lebron,
but we're.
Speaker 9 (31:30):
Also aware that, you know, there's been other players that
haven't retired as a Laker, like Shaquille O'Neal, but that
didn't change our appreciation for what he provided the franchise
at the time, and with Lebron, it was the twenty
twenty NBA Championship ending that six year playoff drought or
worst stretch of franchise history, and obviously the revenue that
(31:53):
he helped produce with the Lakers. And then she mentioned,
you know, we still retired Chaquis O'Neil's number, and so
I said, well, given that, will Lebron's jersey beer retired?
Speaker 4 (32:05):
And she said yeah.
Speaker 9 (32:07):
Our criteria is when you're in the Hall of Fame,
you're deserving of having a retire jersey. And there's no
doubt he's going to be there, so we will retire
his jersey once that happens.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
Now here's the other thing. Lebron's going to get his
jersey retired. But what I asked, is it both numbers?
One are the numbers.
Speaker 9 (32:26):
That's a subject for another time. So it's very well
possible they will retire one of his jersey numbers, just
not both sure and the statue. I would be surprised.
I almost think of it like Welt Chamberlain. He is,
obviously this iconic player stillhood holds the best scoring record.
He got his jersey retired, but he wasn't seen as
(32:47):
a Laker. I mean he was with the Lakers, but
he was more associated with Philadelphia. I don't think he's
getting a statue, and he obviously hasn't had one yet.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
James is in Virginia wants to join into the conversation
and ask Mark Medina our NBA in chatter, it's an
hour in the of in the Mix with Mark Medina
here on Stu Gotzy Company Live on Fox Sports Radio. James,
welcome to Stugatzi Company. What's going on?
Speaker 10 (33:09):
Oh, thanks for taking my call, Happy Friday, Happy fourth
of July. Man, big time, all the time, every time,
sult the commanders for me.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Man.
Speaker 10 (33:17):
My question is if Lebron is about trying to win
a fifth title and he's willing to take a vet minimum,
and I'm looking at the league, like, where could he go?
What are the odds that he could end up to me?
In Okac or Denver? And Denver certainly close, like a
two hour flight from la and around Arizona where his
little boy's playing. So I'm curious to see that. I
think in Denver would be a great with Yo Kitsch.
(33:39):
They can play off each other nicely. I'll take it
off the air. Thank you again, Joning y'all and the
Firecracker Bilanos break fourth of July.
Speaker 4 (33:49):
You too, James, appreciate it, Happy fourth.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
What do you think about Denver Okac for Lebron?
Speaker 9 (33:54):
So I checked in technically the twenty seven teams, you know,
unless it's not that, But are you sure?
Speaker 3 (34:02):
I am sure? Yes?
Speaker 9 (34:04):
I asked for what's the criteria, and it's very open
ended because I don't I think Lebron's criteria is now
shifted because he's not making max money and he is
about winning, but at the same time, it comes with
preconditions of he doesn't want to take a vet minimum
and join a team that's already catered made to win
(34:25):
a championship. So I think you can eliminate teams like
the Knicks, the Spurs, the Thunder, the Nuggets, maybe because.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
He's not going to Denver.
Speaker 9 (34:34):
They want a championship, but there are more roster questions
in OKC, the Knicks and the Spurs. The Spurs right now,
the Thunder and the Knicks as constructed can win a championship.
It's not like they're a piece like Lebron missing the Nuggets.
They have an outside chance, but it's not the same
as it was in twenty twenty three. So I would
(34:55):
rule those three teams out definitively. I wouldn't rule out Denver,
but I would also be surprised. I think it's coming
down to the likely candidates Golden State, Cleveland, Miami.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
There is a feeling that even though the Warriors isn't
the best basketball decision because.
Speaker 9 (35:13):
Steph Draymond are old, Jimmy Butler's coming off a cl injury.
This isn't a team in twenty sixteen, but there's still
is a feeling that they're in their driver's seat because
of even if they're not a favorite to win, they
could still be in the mix. The respect for Steph
and Draymond, the proximity to the Bay Area where theoretically
(35:38):
he wouldn't have to move like he could do the
whole flying back and forth where you know he comes
for home games. They are going to practice, but because
this team is AAR eligible, yeah they're ARP eligible, there's
not gonna be a lot of practices. So there's times
that he can be in LA while in a Warrior's
(35:59):
uniform because they're notctice to go to.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
But I liked Olden State. I heard that one on
social media.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
Shaken credit for that is a good one.
Speaker 9 (36:09):
Old Levey also plant some things here. It's it's uncertain,
but one thing I am certain about is you are
making Fourth of July plans. We are not going to
hear Lebron James news this weekend. You are not going
to be a.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
Barbecue where you get the Texas.
Speaker 9 (36:26):
You are not going to have fireworks, and all of
a sudden you see fireworks on Twitter. I asked for timelines,
and it's like, look like Lebron's going to be patient
all this stuff. But I said, people should be prepared
that this is a week's thing, not a day's thing,
and they affirm that's likely.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
I told Manti, I think it's going to be on Wednesday,
July eighth, because there's no World Cup match that day,
very well, and that could be his opportunity to then
grab some of the spotlight. Because also if Lebron doesn't
go to your team, and again it's not twenty seven,
and I don't think it's twelve to fourteen. I think
it's the three that Mark said. Those teams also then
(37:08):
have to figure out, Okay, we don't have Lebron, Now,
how do we run the rest of this off season?
How do we fill these certain spots. I don't think Philadelphia.
I think I think for Today for a headline heading
into the fourth of July weekend saying, the seventy six
ers are eyeing Lebron, but there is no way that
that is happening. There's zero chance he goes to Philadelphia.
I think so I think that when it comes down
(37:30):
to it, it is going to be those three teams.
But it's just a matter of when. At least we're
in lockstep on the timing of it as well, that
it's not going to be up against America's two hundred
and fiftieth. If it was America's two forty nine and
it was on a Tuesday, then maybe, but not on
an extended weekend.
Speaker 9 (37:48):
Yes, if he does go to the Warriors, he is
not going to replicate Kevin Durant's path In twenty sixteen
July fourth, that is when the players tributing article dropped
that he is leaving OKAC to go get a Golden State.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
All right, so who won? Who do you think? Side
ad Jason Sam I would love to.
Speaker 7 (38:07):
Hear from the listeners on Twitter and phoning in.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
I don't no, I'm not putting it in their hands.
I'm just.
Speaker 7 (38:16):
Which Mark choose, because I think it's like a there
was so much gray area. I think in our pre
show meeting, I was asked how I thought Medina would
come out on this, and he was going to be
right in the middle, and he was going to offer
up all this gray area, and he wouldn't choose one
or the other. He actually chose both of your answers
(38:36):
as I predicted. Don't don't get me wrong, there's a
lot of nuanced facts in here. But what Mark doesn't
quite understand is that sports talk radio is not about nuance.
You need to be black or white, there is no gray.
He never chose a side. So I guess maybe I
want to Pinmark down who was more right. Was it
Dan Bayer who predicted a year ago that he was
(38:58):
never coming back to the Lakers, or was it Moncey
Wright who he didn't really make up his mind until recently.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
Wow.
Speaker 9 (39:07):
To be clear, Jay stew I hope I was not
coming across as playing both sides of the fence, being
this conventional politician. It was more about giving all the
information that makes this complicated but down bite sports talk
radio form. I think that at that point he made
up his mind, but all the things that happened in
(39:28):
between crystallized the decision.
Speaker 4 (39:30):
So it's not absolute.
Speaker 9 (39:32):
He's never going back, but he thought, you know what,
I'm likely leaving, and everything that's happened the year ago,
good bad somewhere in between crystallized wise on.
Speaker 3 (39:42):
So the line was drawn in the sand a year ago.
Speaker 6 (39:44):
Not right, That's that's the question. A year ago, he wasn't.
He knew he wasn't going to be a Laker.
Speaker 9 (39:50):
He drew a line in the sand, but it wasn't
a red line, so you know, in the sand, you
can get.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Over it, like seriously, like we've got some commercials to like,
I just need to But that's that's the whole crux
of my argument is it was on June twenty ninth
that he said, you're dead to me no matter what. Yeah,
that he made up his mind when they said we're
not going to do another one plus one. That all right, fine,
(40:17):
tell him he's whack.
Speaker 9 (40:18):
I don't think there was ever no going back. It
was more, yeah, I'm leaning toward this. Everything that happened
crystallized it. But there would have been a way to
salvage it. So if I have to choose, I guess
he wanted.
Speaker 6 (40:29):
To be a Laker. He wanted to be a Laker.
Speaker 4 (40:32):
Under certain conditions.
Speaker 6 (40:33):
Right, Like I don't think his was to not retire
as not a Laker.
Speaker 9 (40:36):
Yeah, I mean it was under certain conditions. Clearly, Hence
he's not here, he's not taking this huge discount. He
didn't want to repeat the same role. And also, I
think the other thing that was a huge source of
discontent is how the front office moved that. They'll both
say they want to win championships, but from Lebron's perspective,
they were thinking more long term future than these win
(40:58):
now moves during trade line offices.
Speaker 3 (41:00):
I would also argue that it's actually the day the
Lakers got Luka Doncic that signified the end of the
Lebron era with the Lakers because he was no longer
going to have the power over the organization that he
had when he was the top dog.
Speaker 6 (41:14):
How convenient.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
Yeah, and that's who are you were?
Speaker 6 (41:17):
Your argument?
Speaker 3 (41:18):
I think it's But I think it's true. I think
that changed everything. And here and that happened five months
prior to Lebron's decision, Like when the Lakers were given Luca,
everything changed.
Speaker 9 (41:30):
Without a doubt. And here's the thing with this. Both
sides were interested in a reunion, but only under certain preconditions.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
So that's where that.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Were I think impossible to mention, that were impossible to meet.
And that's why I just don't Yeah, and was it just.
Speaker 6 (41:49):
The money because of his ego?
Speaker 9 (41:52):
It wasn't just the money. The money is a factor,
but it was also the front office. I think that
even though Lebron isn't blameable, from his perspective, he's talking
to the front office like some other stars are of Hey,
here's what I'm hearing. Here are some suggestions, but you're
the decision makers, and when decisions were made. It was
put on him that he had the overt influence, But
(42:14):
I think the bigger thing was more of when he
looked at these pre tried deadlines and off seasons. Russell
Westbrook aside, the Lakers clearly always valued draft capital, financial flexibility,
so they weren't mortgaging the future. Or from Lebron's end,
he's thinking, well, I don't know how many years I
(42:34):
have left. I want win now moves. As long as
I'm here, there's still a chance to win a championship.
So if I had a handicap, it's more that than
the money. But the money is always a factor.
Speaker 3 (42:44):
And now it's all about happiness.
Speaker 9 (42:45):
So who on the bet? Or was I too evasive
and long window with this?
Speaker 3 (42:50):
I don't even know. I'm even sick of talking about
Lebron though, Like I'm like I'm sick of hearing me
talk about Lebron Like I guess what good news lister
thirty seven minutes of Lebron free radio coming up here
on Fox Sports Radio. Gat you got Jalb Brown talk,
we got Kawhi Leonard, I you know, want some Janni's
talk and just the state of the NBA. Are the
Sixers the favorite? We'll get into all of that. You
(43:12):
can ask Mark as well on X hit Mancy up
at Monte Bolognos. You can find me at Dan Byron
Fox or Mark at Mark g Underscore Madina.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Be sure to catch live editions of Stu gottson Company
Live weekdays at three pm Eastern twelve pm Pacific.
Speaker 3 (43:29):
Stu Gotson Company Live here on Fox Sports Radio. You'll
get a World Cup update in no matter of seconds.
As Chris Purfett is at the news desk. I'm not
Stu gottson now there's Monte Bologno. So I'm Dan Byer.
We are in for Stu Gotts and Company. And our
company is Chris Jason Stewart and I was Sam hanging
out for the next ninety minutes or so, and in fact,
in thirty minutes we're gonna have a guest full hour
recapping the NBA off season with our good buddy Mark Medina,
(43:53):
talking about this, that and everything.
Speaker 5 (43:55):
When it comes to we're gonna ask him about Lebron
and he's going to tell you that I'm right and
you're wrong, and this is going to be lost number
three after Isaac Blohencron, I had a rough.
Speaker 3 (44:04):
Day in trivia the last couple of days, and so
it is a difficult bounce back to me. But I
do believe that I am correct, and I feel that
the steps that we have seen from Clutch Sports and
Lebron James have proved that my spidy senses have been
on point.
Speaker 6 (44:20):
I wait to talk to mar Vidin about it.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
Well, I'm sure he's going to be the judge, because
when Monty and I get together, everyone sides with me,
or that that never happens again. When we send out
a pre show tweet, can't wait to listen Moncey, it's
Friy love Moncey.
Speaker 6 (44:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (44:38):
Hey, I don't need to be first, trust me. I
just want to be recognized. I feel like I'm ignored
by these people except the one who said the not
at all.
Speaker 6 (44:48):
Can't do this without you?
Speaker 5 (44:49):
Dave mcminnimon did tweet sixteen minutes ago who Covers the
Lakers that after examining ten potential spots for Lebron on
a whiteboard on his podcast Friday, Rich Paul told ESPN
that twenty seven teams have inquired.
Speaker 6 (45:01):
Every day things change. This is the first time that
Lebron James is making a decision pressure free.
Speaker 3 (45:07):
Oh jeez, twenty seven teams. Well, the Lakers would be
twenty eight because he told them he's not going back
to them. So the two other teams would be probably
the Bucks because there and who else.
Speaker 5 (45:21):
Does this not tell you that the plan was not
to be a Laker and they're figuring it out as
they go.
Speaker 3 (45:27):
I think your theory is so whack that it just
it doesn't make sense if you followed Lebron throughout his career.
Lebron has never played second fiddle to anybody, right, Yes,
so he's gonna do it. So he's gonna do it
with Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves.
Speaker 5 (45:44):
I I mean, I would hope he realizes that he
doesn't have a peppen his step the way a guy
that's ten years old.
Speaker 3 (45:51):
He can be the hero that comes back home to Cleveland,
or the guy who was gonna bring the Knicks their
first NBA championship in fifty four years if they didn't
win it this year.
Speaker 5 (46:00):
We all know Lebron is not the number one on
any team anymore, Like that was never going to be
any team.
Speaker 6 (46:06):
You're not. Lebron's not the number one on any team anymore.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
All Right, Mark Madeena's going to have the last word
on this, which I'm sure he will side with you.
I am. I am given, and it has nothing to
do with Mark Medina's journalistic integrity, but it's just how
the way things go with me.
Speaker 6 (46:24):
You're wow.
Speaker 3 (46:24):
That didn't mean to be an awkward pause. I was
just trying to figure out a way to transition to
Caitlyn Clark. Let's just hear it from hers since the
first time she talked in a while.
Speaker 11 (46:31):
I'm sure you guys have a lot of questions, and
obviously I haven't been available for like a week or so,
so the league just got to do better protecting our
players in that regard. I don't really think that it
was up for debate. Obviously, it wasn't called in real time.
To go back and watch the clip, I think it's
pretty straightforward. It's kind of been a discussion for like
three years now, and I think we really need to
do a better job protecting the people in this league.
(46:52):
It frustrates me that it takes away so much from
the product that's being put on the floor. And we've
done so much to grow the game over the course
of the last three years, and it's just like we
keep kicking ourselves, kicking ourselves when we're down, and that's
that's that stinks. Like we've done so much work. This
is the thirtieth year of the WNBA. We're in a
great spot. You know, the talent level is as high
as it's ever been. Viewership is as high as it's
(47:14):
ever been. Every arena is selling out. That's not just
for us, that's for teams across the league. And we can't,
you know, just beat on each other, beat on each
other and put each other down. And you know, we
just have to continue to fid and find ways to
uplift and then everybody just get better. At the same time,
Like I said my points about the refs in the
league overall, like we have to improve, like league office,
(47:34):
you got to do better, have to find ways to
do better.
Speaker 3 (47:39):
You have a look at in your face. I'm just
going to say, you can't say everybody needs to do
better and then specifically say league office needs to do better.
They named the league about three times, and I just
don't think it's a league problem. I think I'm getting
so tired of talking about this because it's the same
argument over and over. I'm not saying that the league
has got it right. They don't at some point, like
(48:04):
the players also have to take some sort of change.
And Caitlin Clark saying it's a league problem is also
saying that this isn't in Alyssa Thomas or any other
WNBA player problem. And I think that everybody bears responsibility,
including Caitlin Clark in a little bit of this, and
I know people are shocked to hear that, but like
(48:26):
everybody's got to be better.
Speaker 5 (48:27):
I'm with you, I'm so tired of this and my
look is just kind of like I I'm really disappointed
in the entire WNBA in the last couple of years.
And I feel like what you're saying is like even
though the office, the league, whatever, the officials, whoever's running
(48:48):
at they are one hundred percent I think deserve most
of the blame in the pie chart, if I'm being
completely honest, But I agree that it also goes to
the players. And I think the big difference here that
I see with the WA or the NBA or other
like baseball whatever is I feel like the players at
least respect the sport, and it seems like the WNBA players.
Speaker 6 (49:08):
Don't respect the game.
Speaker 5 (49:10):
That's that's where I'm at now, because it seems like
all of the WNBA is holding onto grudges, and listen,
I hold on to grudges.
Speaker 6 (49:19):
I'm petty. Women, we are petty. I feel like with.
Speaker 5 (49:22):
Dudes, it's like if you piss each other off, you
guys are gonna fight. But once that fight's over, you're
moving on. You're moving on to the next thing, and
you're gonna play the game because you respect the game.
Like very often, very often in the WNBA, I feel
like moments so it's like you're not respecting the game.
You just want to go attack of chick because you're mad,
Like you're not playing basketball as a Thomas. That's not
a basketball play. You don't respect the game. And that's
(49:45):
that's where I'm at now. Like the WNBA players very
few of them seem to respect the game and now
the product, Like, I just don't even know why you
would watch the WNBA honestly, because it's not basketball. You're
watching it for the wrong reasons. Gossip, drama, cat fights.
What is Sylvie Cunningham gonna do? Because she's funny like
it's it's just y'all don't respect the game. And I
(50:05):
think that's where I'm at.
Speaker 3 (50:06):
I think that there's I think that the cop out
is what she's saying, and that the league has to
do better. You Dan, right, Well, yeah, but it's just
such a broad statement because such a such a it's
such a broad statement, like if we need to say,
like you know, and I think she said more, did
she say more about the officials in in what they need?
(50:28):
Do we have that cut, Jason, I'm not sure if
we've got that, but she did say that, you know,
they need full time officials. Here's more of Caitlin Clark.
Speaker 11 (50:39):
I think a lot of people sometimes think I'm a robot.
I'm not a robot. I have emotions, I have feelings,
and it can be really difficult to go through a
lot of that. And you know, I'm twenty four years old.
Trying to navigate a lot, and I think at times,
I you know, I've I've been in this world for
four years now, and you've never change any of it.
But there are times that it is hard, and there
are times that you know, it probably affects me a
(51:00):
little bit more than I do put on and you know,
I would never change any of that for the world,
but I think it's important that people do remember that
part of it too. Even I turned the TV on
on Sunday and that game was on Wednesday, and that's
all people are still talking about. And I feel like
that's just a real disservice to our league.
Speaker 2 (51:18):
Like it, and I get it.
Speaker 11 (51:19):
You talk about it, you talk about whether it's flavoring,
you talk about whatever it is. But to continue to
be down, be down, and then for the narrative to
be taken other places that is really just not accept
It's just really not acceptable. I think it's just it's
hard to see, you know, and it's a disservice to
my team, but it's also a disservice to the other
teams in this league and other players in this league.
Speaker 3 (51:40):
I think that says a lot. And that's the point
that I'm saying, is what was the league going to
do to stop Alyssa Thomas from using a closed fist
in that scenario.
Speaker 5 (51:52):
To me, that comment has to do with what's been
going on the last couple of years, like the league
has allowed it to keep progress scene and keep pushing,
which is something you said, you know, in our pre
show where it's like, well you no one's.
Speaker 6 (52:05):
Going to eye for an eye. You said that you're
gonna push the next level. Yeah, and that's what's happening.
Speaker 5 (52:09):
And I think that's why she's putting it on the
league officials because it's like you have continued to allow
this to happen from from day one of this, and
the League, in my opinion, hasn't done a lot to
come in and help the situation. And Kaitlyn Clark, I
would hate to be her because I don't think she
can say anything right. Whatever she says, some people are
(52:30):
gonna hate it, some people are gonna love it. She's
in such a tough position, and like we want to
talk about hatred and people being absolutely awful. I'm sure
Alyssa Thomas got a lot of hate. I'm sure she has,
and that sucks. Nobody should ever have to experience that.
Caitlyn Clark's been getting.
Speaker 6 (52:45):
That for years. I bet you she's still getting it.
Speaker 3 (52:49):
Yeah, but it's the same thing over and over again.
And I think your point is, if it's the same
thing over and over again, shouldn't the league step in
and do something? But I think that this is bier
than the league. I think that her point is like,
if people like us are still talking about it four
days after the fact, it's because it's run like wildfire,
(53:09):
and we'll put it just look at Fox Sports Radio,
look at Fox Sports Radio's Instagram page, look at the
views on the Caitlin Clark stories and the non Caitlin
Clark stories, and it just ends up going back to
the same thing every single time. So when I say,
like the league, when I am critical of Caitlin Clark
saying the league has to get better, I don't know
what the league could do. Like if they call the
(53:32):
foul and ejected Alyssa Thomas in that game, at that point,
the same discourse is happening because somebody put a fist
to her throat. They're not saying good job and ejecting her.
I think that added on to it. But I think
the same visual image and the same replay would have
gone on to the two polarizing sides that always seem
(53:53):
to this ends up coming to three and four days
after the fact, and it's why you and I are
sick of it, because that's just where it ends up going.
One side feels they're right, the other side feels their right,
and the matter at hand doesn't even matter anymore. So
if they would have teed up Alssa Thomas, if they
would have ejected Alyssa Thomas, yeah we could have said
(54:14):
that the league was doing better, but it wouldn't stop
this side from saying what they're saying about the closed fist,
and it wouldn't stop that side from saying what they
were saying about Alysa Thomas. And that's like to the
point that we're at and I don't know how to
change that.
Speaker 6 (54:27):
I was just going to say, so there's nothing that
can be done correct, Like, we're just stuck here.
Speaker 3 (54:31):
I have a feeling we are for who knows how long,
you know why, because.
Speaker 6 (54:35):
When the players don't respect the game, well.
Speaker 3 (54:36):
Because she didn't play last year and we weren't having
these discussions, we just didn't pay any mind.
Speaker 6 (54:42):
To it, right, We just exactly. We weren't even paying attention.
Speaker 3 (54:44):
To it, right, so now it kind of and that's
the issue. I think that the league does have issues,
and officiating has been one for a couple of years.
But I just don't know when you're saying this is
like the league needs to get better. If that's her
coded language of saying the players as well, then I'm
then I'm down with it. But I think ultimately, no
matter what happens, we are just to the point that
(55:08):
when when dramatics happen, it's going to somehow filter into
those two polar opposites.
Speaker 5 (55:14):
I hear what you're saying, Yeah, about the about the
league and what they're doing.
Speaker 6 (55:17):
You're right, You're right about that.
Speaker 5 (55:18):
I just I think what she's saying is like this
has continued on because of you. But if I go
back to the point of the players themselves aren't respecting
the game, then nothing's going to change.
Speaker 4 (55:28):
Like when they have to change.
Speaker 3 (55:29):
Yeah, I think I think that's a really good point.
And when Stephanie White says what she has to say
and saying like it needs to be called, that the
foul needs to be called at the time, she's also
talking about a head coach that would want to listen
Thomas out of the game, or would want free throws
like a delayed flagrant foul does them no good. The
game's over, right, so I think her message as a
coach is saying that. But ultimately the two sides will
(55:53):
take Stephanie White's comments and use it to their at
their advantage, even if it was had nothing to do
with what she was talking about. Bob
Thanks for listening to the best of Stegotson Company Live podcast.
Find your local station for Stug Gottson Company Live at
Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day
on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
This is the best of Stu Gotson Company Live on
Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
You made it to the end of the week, you
made it to the holiday weekend, and tomorrow we say
Happy birthday, America.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Happy birthday.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
How are you? How are you? Are you? How are you?
Two hundred and fifty? All right there it is for us, Hey, America.
How does it feel on your last day of two
hundred and forty nine? How does it feel you ever
(00:49):
do that one? How does it feel on your last
day of prior to the year. I'm going to be
fifty in January, so on that January fifteenth day, it'll
be like, how do you feel your last day of
your forties?
Speaker 5 (01:00):
You can say your son is two hundred and forty
nine months. I feel like there's parents to still do that.
And then you have to do the math.
Speaker 6 (01:09):
You're like, wait, what is that? So you could definitely
use that.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I wanted to do the quick math, but I've showed
out stupid. I am in Americanapolis two fifty over these
last couple of days, so I don't even want to
put the math portion of this at risk. We'll just
keep it at that. Welcome in. She is Monte Milonios.
I'm dan Byer our company today. Chris Burfett, you heard
at the news desk who is locked in on Egypt
and Australia, as is Jason Stewart for some purchasing some
(01:34):
interest as well with the Egyptians.
Speaker 7 (01:36):
By the way, you know, I'm a big fan of
like small talk tactics. I make fun of small talk
tactics all the time, and a big one around birthdays.
Is this one one of my favorites. I wonder if
there's another country in the world right now that's looking
at us saying, you know what, you don't look a
year over two forty.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
You looking good? America looking good?
Speaker 6 (01:56):
Look better.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
I haven't been captivated by the the tourists who have
come to the United States or the soccer fans and
how they've loved America. And then I saw one of
a guy who went to a Golden Corral buffet, and
then then that one got me like that one reeled
me in. He was because he was he was, he
was so shocked, and he said, and then they give
(02:19):
you a drink like a cup to go, so it's
it's unlimited refills and a cup to go, which a
lot of establishments do, but that's the one that reeled
me in. We are hungry, we are hungry for more.
And you heard him this morning and you'll hear him
this afternoon. Iowa Sam is here on a Friday.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Iowa Sam.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
We made it. Folks. Uh, you say you can only
stay here for two hours?
Speaker 8 (02:41):
Yeah, you're done, and then Alex Teicher comes in and
he'll do a dang fine job.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Well, we've we've had fun this week Monty and I
filling in for a Cavino and Rich and today we
are on four hours here on Fox Sports Radio in
for Stu Gotson Company, and we'll be in for CNR
who were doing there at Dan Patrick. It was earlier
in the week, Monci where you and I had a
discussion that ended up going on social media. And let's
just I'll just say this. When you can't attack the message,
(03:10):
you attack the messenger. So I get the tweets, but
when we're talking about the lying, that's going on in
the NBA. It isn't just Lebron, James Yeah, and Rich
Paul and Clutch Sports. It's everywhere. It's the Lakers, it's everywhere.
But in another instance of Lebron and his people talking
(03:33):
about what is his future, they are now talking so
much that they're getting caught in their own lies. I'm
not calling them liars. I just let's be real, let's
tell the truth. It's not that hard to decipher. And
you're about to hear in a little bit another instance
where Lebron and Rich Paul get caught in their words.
Speaker 6 (03:53):
Oh so it's okay to calm liars. It just feels fun.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
It feels really harsh to sit there and say, because
if I were to call you a liar, I would
be you're a liar, You're a liar.
Speaker 8 (04:03):
And I.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Would if you were if it was joking, they'd be like,
come on, you know, come on. But if I was
really in a fight and I really wanted to say
something and say, you're a liar, you lie, you lie,
that's what you are, And that's not what I'm doing
with Lebron. But it's just a lot of it comes
with the territory of course, and do I do I
need to set up again what I said a year ago.
I feel like I'm just taking victory lap after victory lap,
(04:28):
and I don't want to do it, but I do
want to reset it for the audience, of course. Jason Stewart,
you're the I mean, I'll let you know.
Speaker 7 (04:34):
It's like an old radio mentor once told me, my man,
there were new listeners every other minute. There. You know
you got never never of Uh would you hesitate to
reset your take? So I know that there are new
listeners every minute.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
If if Sam, I know he's sending a text message
from his computer right now, but if.
Speaker 8 (04:53):
You no, I was retweeting you Dan with a picture
of fireworks.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
That's an inside joke. Because Sam's want sold, he has
to send the messages from the computer.
Speaker 8 (05:02):
I'm running out of storage too, so it's like you
cannot use this app because you have no more.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Storage on your phone phone. I know, there's like a
light bar on it. I can barely use. It's an
awful phone. Yeah, it's pretty beat up. Do we do
you have my comments from a year ago that we
played earlier in the week readily available to you. Because
I just wanted to set the scene. Moncene again, it's
not to take a victory lap.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
Yes, it is, especially since you've been losing to Isaac
kN you need a victory.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Yeah. He read all four in a row on me yesterday,
Jay Edgar Hoover, I had no chance, no chance whatsoever.
But it was again on Fox Sports Sundays a year
ago when we found out the news that Lebron James
was opting into his contract with the Lakers. This is
what I said June twenty ninth, of twenty twenty five.
(05:52):
This is what I had to say. I paused for effect,
look at first, and then this is what I had
to say. He's gonna let everybody know about it. And
the point is is Lebron's gonna want a farewell to
or as well, Mike, and you know, darn well is
gonna let everybody know about it, and it's gonna be
(06:14):
a year of celebrating Lebron like this is your last chance.
I don't necessarily blame him. I would love that as
well if I was, you know, put as much into
the league that I could. So if there's anybody that
deserves it, it's probably him. But this just didn't sound
like a farewell for Lebron, and I think at some
point that's what he's gonna want. But this statement sure
(06:34):
sounded like it's a farewell to the Lakers after this season.
It wasn't even a Lebron is excited for the twenty
five twenty six season, running it back with Luca. Yeah,
trying to bring a title back to LA and win
number eighteen. Now, there was none of that. He knows
they're building for the future. He understands that he values
(06:56):
a realistic chance thanks to the last eight years, it's
been great. That's the statement. So to me, Lebron, Rich Paul,
keep it going, keep it going. I'm sorry, that's all right,
you know, I just wanted to hear myself talk for
a minute. Me and Mike Carmen a year ago. The
point that came up, which I later said, is Lebron
(07:18):
is likely headed to a couple of different destinations outside
of LA and New York is one of them. In
Cleveland is another one of them. And Monci, well, I
know you're sick of me saying that I was right
on this one. When Rich Paul comes out and says
what he says to Max Kellerman on a recent podcast.
This is the lying that we are talking about. Here's
(07:41):
Lebron's agent.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
If the Knicks hadn't a wand this wouldn't even there
would be no Bore.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
He'd be going to the next He'd be going to the.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
Knicks, simple as that. That's what Rich Paul said to
Max Kellerman. So you know what wasn't a part of
that equation happiness, which is what we were told earlier
this week that Lebron is searching for happiness in twelve
to fourteen teams in the NBA. Well, if he would
have just gone to the Knicks, because that's if they
(08:10):
wouldn't have won, it is that where he's most happy
or is that just where he wanted to go? And
to me, it's not about happiness because if you're trying
to find your happiness through twelve or fourteen teams, you
wouldn't have wanted to go to the Knicks if they
didn't win at all. And that contradicts what everything that
we're hearing. So if we're taking shots at Lebron, it's
(08:33):
only because they're talking out of both sides of their mouth,
and that's this isn't this isn't rocket science. There's only
four or five teams that Lebron could play for, and
two and three of those really aren't realistic. So it's
really down to like one or two teams that Lebron's
likely going to play for. And that has been the
case for the entire year in looking ahead the next season.
(08:53):
And so that's why anything they say of all these
teams that are interested. I'm even looking at a headline
right now that says the seventy six ers are interested
in the Lebron James. There's no reason for Lebron to
go to Philadelphia, absolutely none. Even with the acquisition of
Jaylen Brown, it would do nothing for Lebron. That's not
realistic news. And that's why when we say just tell
us the truth, that's all we're asking for.
Speaker 5 (09:15):
Okay me, Meana, you were right a year ago in
saying that he maybe wasn't gonna be a Laker. I
guess I'm trying to meet you halfway because.
Speaker 6 (09:27):
I think that what happened in between is not what
you think.
Speaker 5 (09:31):
I think we've landed here to make you right, but
you weren't actually right a year ago. Like we've landed
here and now you're right, But I don't think that's
actually what went down.
Speaker 6 (09:41):
There's a lot of things that you're saying where I
agree with you that.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
No, Lebron cannot go to the seventy six ers, No
Lebron cannot go to many places.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
Is he gonna be a journeyman? Is that what we're
gonna label him as? If he doesn't go back to
Cleveland or Miami, like anywhere he goes besides those two,
he just can't. I will give you credit. I think
it was you and I. It was you and I.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
Right before the postseason of the NBA ended, you did
say the loser between the Caves and the Knicks will
get Lebron. You did say that not long ago, but
a year ago. I don't think you were right at
the time. I think you ended up being right. And
the reason it feels like they're talking out of both
sides of their mouth is because I think the plan
was for Lebron to always be a Laker, even after that,
even after he opted into his final year, even after
(10:27):
they got Luca.
Speaker 6 (10:27):
The way the final season ended with the Lakers, with
him being so available and leading the.
Speaker 5 (10:33):
Lakers passed their first round series in the playoffs, I
think the plan was to be a Laker, and so
now everything that they are saying, specifically Rich Paul, it
does seem like it's a bunch of lies because they're
figuring it out as they go. They didn't think they
were going to be in this position because Lebron James
thinks that everyone wants him. As you said, it's all
about ego and he wants to feel wanted. I don't
(10:53):
know when Lebron swallowed the pill that it wasn't gonna be,
that he wasn't gonna be a Laker. Whenever that was,
there are lies coming, but these.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
Lies came because they're figuring it out as they go.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
Why would you think Lebron would want to be a
Laker when he only did all of that because Luca
didn't play.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Because Lebron thinks that he is a Laker.
Speaker 6 (11:14):
Like Lebron, Lebron wants.
Speaker 5 (11:16):
To be accepted, as you said, so, I don't think
Lebron's plan was to not retire as a Laker.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
I think that he knew he was never going to
be accepted. And if you hear the if you if
you hear the comments that people have made now that
he has left, that and people that people are are
happy that he's gone. It's the reason why he wanted
to leave. He knew that winning those people over was
was a losing battle. So he's going to go out
(11:43):
on his own terms and be a good, good player,
good soldier, be in line with the team, and then
when he leaves saying, hey, I hope I made a
few people proud. Like that's his way of saying, nobody's
really fully accepted me, but I hope I made a
few of you you happy. He had no intention of
playing second fiddle to Luka.
Speaker 5 (12:02):
Donc You're you're portraying Lebron James to be logical, and
I don't think he is.
Speaker 6 (12:07):
I think Lebron.
Speaker 5 (12:08):
James has been in this situation where it's like he
does not understand what it's like to be told no,
or what it's like to be told like you know what,
we're okay without you. What you're presenting is a logical person,
and I don't think Lebron has ever been logical because
of the stardom that he has had for so.
Speaker 6 (12:25):
Long in this business. And so I'm telling you, like
I think like.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
Maybe maybe people were saying this to him, but to him,
he was like, you're crazy. I'm Lebron James. This just happened,
and I really do think I'm putting it. When the
Lakers officially extended Austin Ravesen gave him that contract, I
feel like that was the beginning of Lebron swallowing the pill.
And I agree that there's a lot of lies being told.
(12:50):
Is it happiness? Is it money? Is it a championship?
What is it that you're going for? Because all of
those would lead you to different teams. Do you just
want to say goodbye to the to the sport in
a way where like you are happy, then you probably
go back to Cleveland. That makes the most sense. It's
competitive and you get to go home. Are you trying
to play with Steph Curry? Because you guys, you want
to play with another goat and it's your buddy, and
(13:10):
you want to go.
Speaker 6 (13:10):
To the Warriors. That's also different.
Speaker 5 (13:13):
If you're trying to compete, I don't I don't know
what team takes you to compete. I it makes all
of this just to me, sounds like they are figuring
it out as they go, and Rich Paul doesn't know
how to keep his mouth shut because it's not even
Lebron that's saying this.
Speaker 6 (13:25):
It's Rich Paul.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
I think, I think he's the most logical player in
the NBA.
Speaker 5 (13:30):
I don't.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
And the reason is is because it's why you could
see it from a year ago, this this path of
he's not going to just go to a random team.
But that's that's that's why the twelve to fourteen teams
were out of it. There were three to four, but
there's just a lot. Even for Rich Paul to say
what he said about the Knicks in a way is
(13:53):
also saying, well, see, he was never going to go
back to the Lakers, like that was out of the picture.
Like once the Knicks won, like that was that was
going to be an option.
Speaker 6 (14:01):
How is that not saving face?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
Though?
Speaker 5 (14:03):
As something you've said, like this is all about saving face.
So him, what he's saying now about the Lakers.
Speaker 6 (14:08):
Isn't that him saving face? Like no, no, no, like
he would have gone to the Knicks. No, yeah, you
don't know that.
Speaker 8 (14:13):
I know.
Speaker 5 (14:13):
And I again, I'll give you much credit because you
really did say that. Luser readurwing the Cavs and the Kicks.
We'll get Lebron because.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
It fits the story. That's what makes it ill logical, right.
Speaker 6 (14:22):
But but Lebron being logical, it's not no. He he
wants to.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Be loved and liked and accepted like he If he
would have been logical, I feel like he would have
handled the last season, which I said sitting here two
days ago with you, that if he knew he was
not going to be a Laker, we would have heard
about that throughout the season because he would have wanted
people to know, this is the last time I'm wearing
the purple and gold.
Speaker 6 (14:43):
So he's so about himself.
Speaker 5 (14:45):
He would have wanted people to know, this is the
last time you're gonna see.
Speaker 6 (14:48):
Me wearing purple and cold. Come watch me play one
more time.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Do you remember when how he went out in Miami?
Like do you remember like how that ended, like after
the four years when they lost to the Spurs in
the finals. Basically basically it was Lebron James and everybody
else like it was Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh and
the heatles that they were. Lebron was carrying that team.
And so he leaves Miami on a high note because
(15:12):
it's truly when he was at the top of his
game throughout his career. But just he couldn't meet the
San Antonio Spurs, he couldn't do it by himself. He
gets the cramps, and it was Lebron I felt was
peak Lebron at the end of that heat run, and
then early on with the Cavaliers when he left the
Cavaliers to go to the Lakers again. The announcement was
(15:33):
made for him to go to the Lakers on just
a statement, but when he left in that NBA Finals,
I think both he and Cleveland were ready to leave
each other, and so that was kind of on good terms.
I think that he the backlash that he got from
the decision, I think still plays into the part. I
don't think he wanted to be hate. I didn't think
(15:55):
he wanted to be reckless. I think that if he
would have tried to stir everything up with the Lakers,
with it being Luca's team, that would have looked poorly
on him. And he just wants to be loved and
him stirring up the pot, which is something we talked
about earlier behind the scenes, saying I want out or
I want a different team. It's just not doesn't fit him.
And I think Luca's injury allowed Lebron to be like, Okay, good, Now,
(16:16):
maybe I can get some love from the Lakers if
I turn it on at this stretch run without their
star player, and I can leave on a high note.
That's what I think happened, and I think that's what
worked out for him. But I don't think it would
be in his best interest to try to change things
or to become a nuisance to the Lakers. I mean,
he was at some point in making comments earlier in
(16:37):
the season, but to want to leave on a good note,
I think that's what he likes. He doesn't want to
leave a bad taste in people's mouth because he wants
to be liked. And that's why I think that he'd
never wanted to go back to the Lakers. And now,
like if you were to go to the Sixers, if
you were to go to the Knicks when they want it,
it's Boston that would work out. That's why there's only
like two places that he can I think now three
(16:58):
places he can now really go Cleveland, Miami, and Golden State.
And Cleveland's the best option. I don't think that Golden
State gives you as much. Many miles and the heat
are still a ways away. Even with Lebron and Jannison Bam.
Speaker 5 (17:10):
I think the decision once the decision happened with Lebron
and how much he's moved.
Speaker 6 (17:15):
I feel like everywhere he goes.
Speaker 5 (17:16):
He leaves a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.
Speaker 6 (17:21):
I just think it just happens with him. He's just
been around for so long.
Speaker 5 (17:24):
But if you truly felt, if you truly feel like
Lebron wanted to leave on a high note with the Lakers,
and after helping the Lakers in a situation where their
star went down and their other players there are other
star also.
Speaker 6 (17:34):
Went down, eventually came back. Austin Reeves, You.
Speaker 5 (17:36):
Don't think when it was all said and done, at
that point, Lebron would have said something like, I'm just
I'm glad that I was able to give the Lakers
a series when you know it's it's good to leave
like this. You don't think something like that he would
have said, because then at that point everybody would have
been like, Lebron's eaving.
Speaker 6 (17:56):
Oh my gosh, he's leaving the Lakers, and he likes that.
That's his stuff.
Speaker 5 (18:00):
He wants us, as we said, he wants a farewell tour.
He wants people to talk about him. I think he
would have said something at that moment. If you're saying
he wanted to leave on a high note with the Lakers,
and he did that by winning the series when their
stars went down, Like, I think he would have leaned
into that, and he didn't.
Speaker 6 (18:17):
He was any of that.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Jason Stewart's our executive producer.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
No, I was just shaking my head during that.
Speaker 6 (18:23):
Yeah, yeah, I saw you shaking your hand.
Speaker 7 (18:24):
I don't think he could do that, and I respect
the take, but I don't think he could have done that,
Because he would it would have just taken all the
oxygen out of the room. Everyone would have kept asking
him about the next step in the middle of the season,
and he would have been the disruptor. I think him
pointed the way he did him winning that first series
got him a lot of like great faith, people started
(18:46):
loving Lebron again after winning that first series before he
threw Luca under the bus the next day. But like,
I don't know if he says that anything like that
in the middle of the season, referring to this is
my last season, I think he would have been looked
at as a disrupt and I think to Dan's point,
that's the last thing he wants to be.
Speaker 6 (19:04):
Though everything no.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
Blood on accounts' zero blood Genie Buss the article that
came out, I don't know if it was in the
winter about how they had a falling out, maybe it
was in the spring. And then Lebron announces that Rich
Paul says he's not going back to the Lakers. All
of a sudden, there's a Genie Bus statement. Lebron is
quote tweeting that statement like playing all good when by
(19:28):
the accounts that we entered previously is that they weren't
on good terms with each other. That's all window dressing.
That's all to make everything look fancy, and that's again
goes along with the with the lying portion of it,
the cover up. But this is just playing out and
that's why we It's why I felt like you could
see it from a mile away or a year ago.
This is all the steps and it's leading us to
(19:50):
the same point, which I think again will ultimately be Cleveland.
But there aren't twelve to fourteen teams, and it's not
about happiness because rich Paul says if Lebron he would
have gone to the next if they didn't win an
NBA title. Well then he had his mind made up.
Or is he saying that his happiness would have been
in New York. I don't buy that for a second.
It's all it's all what does it call it, it's all
(20:12):
a ruse. It's all a ruse? Is that the phrase? Well,
we'll see, I said, Manzi yesterday when you were dealing
with the crazy nutty people at Dodger Stadium, that I
picked Wednesday of next week. July eighth is the day
he makes the announcement because that's the day that there
are no World Cup matches. You can't do it on
(20:35):
the weekend. Jason thought maybe yesterday was going to be
the day to try to beat the fourth of July
and to beat America's birthday. But I think just just
wait till mid next week after the US has played
against Belgium. There's no World Cup matches on Wednesday. That
if something goes down on Wednesday. This is all going to.
Speaker 5 (20:51):
Be part of the plan for having a plan a
year ago. This plan's not going very well. I feel
like we would have already know going I.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
Think it's going right according it's a plan.
Speaker 5 (21:00):
This is all all the lives This is all the
what they wanted, say all the wrong things, and that
can show them.
Speaker 6 (21:07):
We had a plan a year ago.
Speaker 3 (21:08):
Hey, Rich Paul has already contradicted himself.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Be sure to catch live editions of Stu Godson Company
Live weekdays at three pm Eastern twelve pm Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
All right, we are in the mix with Mark Medina
for the next hour here on Fox Sports Radio. Welcome in, Yeah,
turn that micro on, Mark Medina, I got you. This
is something new that we're doing here on this day
before America's birthday. By the way, is there any date
on the calendar that gets more short change than July third? Right? Like,
(21:45):
it's I mean cause it's July fourth, It's coming up tomorrow,
it's America's birthday. But Mark Medeena's here. You can call
in eight seven, seven nine nine on Fox eight seven
seven nine six six three sixty nine if you have
any questions about the NBA anything you want to ask Mark.
But I figured over the next hour, considering what's happened
in free agency, that Mancy, we would get to pick
(22:05):
the brains of someone who is locked in and can
really put into perspective of what's going on so far
in free agency, and then.
Speaker 6 (22:12):
Some I think he needs a gabble because he's going
to be judgment.
Speaker 3 (22:17):
We get it out of the way.
Speaker 6 (22:18):
Of course, we get it out of the way. You
said I was whack.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Mark first of all, welcome happy early fourth.
Speaker 9 (22:25):
Yes, mons, So I have to pay judge and jury
referee yellow cards.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
You can, you can.
Speaker 3 (22:33):
I almost don't want him to hear our opinions from
each other, because I think that leads a bias into it.
Nothing towards you, but everybody sides with Manzi like like,
that's so I am already at a disadvantage.
Speaker 4 (22:48):
You don't want to lead the witness.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
I almost want like an impartial party like Jason Stewart
to give you the two sides of the argument. Are
you good with that? Monster?
Speaker 10 (22:59):
Sure?
Speaker 6 (23:00):
He better explain it right.
Speaker 7 (23:01):
Well, I don't know if I want to articulate both sides.
I do have a suggestion, though, how about we just
kind of leave it open ended. Now. You don't have
to give away your opinion by setting it up, so
to just say.
Speaker 6 (23:13):
Like one of us thinks this and the other one
thinks this.
Speaker 7 (23:16):
Like Mark a year ago when Lebron put out that statement.
Take it from here was what did Mark think at
that point about Lebron's future in.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
LA when Lebron announced he was going to opt into
his contract, What did you think was happening a year
ago at that time?
Speaker 9 (23:31):
At that time, I thought it's the final year with
the Lakers. It may or may not be the final
year of his NBA career. But with that huge caveat,
I've also taught myself that everything can always change because
of circumstances. But at that point, it seemed clear by
to handicap this, I put money on it. Lebron's time
(23:53):
with the Lakers is only this season.
Speaker 3 (23:55):
I think that that is a great caveat because he
brought up the point of change. Did you think things
changed throughout the season.
Speaker 9 (24:03):
Yes, and so even as of last week my opinion
and some folks around the league that I've talked to, executives,
different scouts, there wasn't a unanimous thought, but most thought that,
you know what, I think he will come back to
the Lakers because even though it's not Max money, it's
still more money than most teams can are willing to offer.
(24:27):
And the Luka Doncic fit wasn't perfect, but they saw
a lot of growth and there wasn't any personality tensions
with Lucas specifically.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
They got along fine.
Speaker 9 (24:39):
There's a lot of respect for each other. The tension
is more about for an office dynamics, what's the priority
with roster moves around Lebron and his contract. So with
all those variables, there was a feeling I could see
Lebron come back, but I want to be surprised if
he also leaves.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Manci has got a look on her face, but up
until that last line, I thought the the the look changed. Well,
I think there was a bit of a there was
a bit of a I told you so.
Speaker 5 (25:08):
Well, no, because it starts off with him stating what
you thought a year ago and I I did not
think that a year ago.
Speaker 6 (25:17):
I let's just put it out there and we'll keep
it simple.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
We've been kind of arguing as to what Lebron and
his camp, everything that's been said, as Dan said, seems
to be full of lies. And the reason I think
it sounds like it's full of lies is because I
think the plan for Lebron was to be a Laker,
and then up until they signed Austin Reeves I think
is when that became the reality was at that point,
(25:40):
you don't want to pay me what I what I
would want as a Laker. Now I'm gonna move on.
But I think this entire time, especially because how he
helped the Lakers win a series in the playoffs without
Luca and Austin Reeves being you know, half injured, because
he did come back that I think he he thought
I'm gonna I'm gonna be a Laker again. I'm gonna
come back, and it just now it's reality and he's not.
Speaker 6 (25:59):
And that that's why these are, oh, twenty sevent teams.
There's not twenty seven teams who have asked about Lebron.
Speaker 3 (26:05):
There's not.
Speaker 5 (26:05):
But the reason it sounds like everything is kind of
like you're just throwing things to the wall and seeing
what sticks is because I thought the plan was he
wanted to.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
Be a Laker.
Speaker 3 (26:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (26:13):
I think the challenging thing with the Lakers and Lebron
is that everything can always evolve change and both parties,
whether you agree with one side or the other, or
you look at it circumstance by circumstance, they all embrace
and are used to the soap opera dynamics that there
can always be a pivot point that can be that
(26:36):
turning point toward a decision, but there can also be
a detour. So, for example, when there were the ESPN
story earlier in the season that laid out the latest
dynamics with the front office and Lebron, and just the
feeling that Genie bust didn't think Lebron was appreciative enough
that they drafted Browny, you could have thought, you know what,
this is the end of the road here. Lebron the
(26:58):
next day was clear irritated with it. When I asked him,
what's the diet, what's the collaboration partnership Like with Genie,
he said, well, I thought it used to be good.
Pat past tense and you think, you know what, like
this isn't gonna be good. But then from a on
court chemistry standpoint, things were getting better, like Luka Dodge
(27:19):
ch Austin reeves, the health was improving, the trade deadline
moves and the continuity is improving.
Speaker 4 (27:25):
The bottom line results were.
Speaker 9 (27:26):
Improving in March where he thought, okay, like this can
be salvageable. But then the injuries happened, the contract negotiations happened,
so everything is always subject to change, and there's so
many a million potential pivot points. It makes for one
great soap opera to file.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
I'll I'll just say this, he held a grudge with
pat Riley over chocolate chip cookies, so that grudge of
them not doing a one in one with him a
year ago, which is why I think. I think the
decision was made at that point, and I don't think
anything happened. I think the Lakers wanted to move on,
and Lebron said, fine, I'm going to opt in, pay
me fifty million dollars for what was this past season,
(28:04):
and then I am going to go elsewhere, And no
matter what would have happened over this past year, I
felt that then teams would know that he would be available,
Like if he would have just opted out of his
contract last year, there weren't teams available for him to
go to at that time because it was so late
in the game. And I think that this was all orchestrated.
So I think his decision again is fifty to fifty
(28:28):
in signing with you and me, and I don't believe
all of those executives who thought he would go back
to the Lakers. That's why you have bad gms. They
can't read the they can't read the room at all.
Speaker 5 (28:41):
Do you think that if Lebron really a year ago,
because this is the other part of my argument with
this with Dan, if a year ago when he opted
into that contract he knew this is my final year
as a Laker, wouldn't he have leaned into that so
that the fans knew was going to be his last
time were in.
Speaker 6 (28:56):
Purple and gold.
Speaker 9 (28:58):
Yeah, here's the thing that we have to keep in mind.
No doubt Lebron has calculated. He thinks big picture, but
there have been a I think play by play details
because he's human and just life itself, that's made it unpredictable.
So I think that he did opt in so he'd
get his money. It's fifty two million dollars. If he
(29:19):
opted out, he won't get the same. I think at
that point in time, he didn't truly know if he
was still capable of prolonging his career without relegating his
role to be like Vince Carter where he's prolonging it.
But now he's a six man, he's a reserve. He
doesn't want to do that, and so I think part
of the reason why some of this change is that
(29:41):
he wasn't a perfect player, certainly defensively, but from an
offensive standpoint, role standpoint, he still could make the case
that he can prolong his career and still be not
the number one option, but a focal point for a team.
So I think that's the other thing. As I was
thinking about this whole dynamic with the Lakers and Lebron,
(30:03):
three t words come to mind with how to sum
it up. It's always been transactional from both sides. It's
there's occasionally been tension, but there's it's there's never been toxic,
any toxic environment. And so with that always transactional. There's
(30:23):
some tension, but it's never toxic. It's made it for
this really gray relationship where there was never a lot
of warmth. There's been disagreements, but when there's been disagreements,
there's been respectful parting of ways here and that's it's been.
Speaker 3 (30:40):
Fascinating, which is honestly different than any of the other
Lakers stars have been treated in the past. I mean,
because it felt like Magic and Kobe they were all
family to the bus family, and this was feels different.
Speaker 9 (30:52):
Yeah, and three years ago this was the Lakers are
at the Western Conference Finals, Lebron is justing after they
lose the Nuggets. You know, I'm not sure if I'm
going to keep playing, you know, my body, et cetera.
Speaker 4 (31:05):
So there was.
Speaker 9 (31:06):
Technically this period of uncertainty, and he then announced that
the S piece is coming back. I connected with Genie
Buss a few weeks after that about state of the
team things, and I was asking Genie for her perspective,
what would it mean if Lebron retires as a Laker,
and her answer, I think forecasted what happens.
Speaker 4 (31:27):
She said, it would mean a lot. We value Lebron,
but we're.
Speaker 9 (31:30):
Also aware that, you know, there's been other players that
haven't retired as a Laker, like Shaquille O'Neal, but that
didn't change our appreciation for what he provided the franchise
at the time, and with Lebron, it was the twenty
twenty NBA Championship ending that six year playoff drought or
worst stretch of franchise history, and obviously the revenue that
(31:53):
he helped produce with the Lakers. And then she mentioned,
you know, we still retired Chaquis O'Neil's number, and so
I said, well, given that, will Lebron's jersey beer retired?
Speaker 4 (32:05):
And she said yeah.
Speaker 9 (32:07):
Our criteria is when you're in the Hall of Fame,
you're deserving of having a retire jersey. And there's no
doubt he's going to be there, so we will retire
his jersey once that happens.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
Now here's the other thing. Lebron's going to get his
jersey retired. But what I asked, is it both numbers?
One are the numbers.
Speaker 9 (32:26):
That's a subject for another time. So it's very well
possible they will retire one of his jersey numbers, just
not both sure and the statue. I would be surprised.
I almost think of it like Welt Chamberlain. He is,
obviously this iconic player stillhood holds the best scoring record.
He got his jersey retired, but he wasn't seen as
(32:47):
a Laker. I mean he was with the Lakers, but
he was more associated with Philadelphia. I don't think he's
getting a statue, and he obviously hasn't had one yet.
Speaker 3 (32:54):
James is in Virginia wants to join into the conversation
and ask Mark Medina our NBA in chatter, it's an
hour in the of in the Mix with Mark Medina
here on Stu Gotzy Company Live on Fox Sports Radio. James,
welcome to Stugatzi Company. What's going on?
Speaker 10 (33:09):
Oh, thanks for taking my call, Happy Friday, Happy fourth
of July. Man, big time, all the time, every time,
sult the commanders for me.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
Man.
Speaker 10 (33:17):
My question is if Lebron is about trying to win
a fifth title and he's willing to take a vet minimum,
and I'm looking at the league, like, where could he go?
What are the odds that he could end up to me?
In Okac or Denver? And Denver certainly close, like a
two hour flight from la and around Arizona where his
little boy's playing. So I'm curious to see that. I
think in Denver would be a great with Yo Kitsch.
(33:39):
They can play off each other nicely. I'll take it
off the air. Thank you again, Joning y'all and the
Firecracker Bilanos break fourth of July.
Speaker 4 (33:49):
You too, James, appreciate it, Happy fourth.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
What do you think about Denver Okac for Lebron?
Speaker 9 (33:54):
So I checked in technically the twenty seven teams, you know,
unless it's not that, But are you sure?
Speaker 3 (34:02):
I am sure? Yes?
Speaker 9 (34:04):
I asked for what's the criteria, and it's very open
ended because I don't I think Lebron's criteria is now
shifted because he's not making max money and he is
about winning, but at the same time, it comes with
preconditions of he doesn't want to take a vet minimum
and join a team that's already catered made to win
(34:25):
a championship. So I think you can eliminate teams like
the Knicks, the Spurs, the Thunder, the Nuggets, maybe because.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
He's not going to Denver.
Speaker 9 (34:34):
They want a championship, but there are more roster questions
in OKC, the Knicks and the Spurs. The Spurs right now,
the Thunder and the Knicks as constructed can win a championship.
It's not like they're a piece like Lebron missing the Nuggets.
They have an outside chance, but it's not the same
as it was in twenty twenty three. So I would
(34:55):
rule those three teams out definitively. I wouldn't rule out Denver,
but I would also be surprised. I think it's coming
down to the likely candidates Golden State, Cleveland, Miami.
Speaker 4 (35:07):
There is a feeling that even though the Warriors isn't
the best basketball decision because.
Speaker 9 (35:13):
Steph Draymond are old, Jimmy Butler's coming off a cl injury.
This isn't a team in twenty sixteen, but there's still
is a feeling that they're in their driver's seat because
of even if they're not a favorite to win, they
could still be in the mix. The respect for Steph
and Draymond, the proximity to the Bay Area where theoretically
(35:38):
he wouldn't have to move like he could do the
whole flying back and forth where you know he comes
for home games. They are going to practice, but because
this team is AAR eligible, yeah they're ARP eligible, there's
not gonna be a lot of practices. So there's times
that he can be in LA while in a Warrior's
(35:59):
uniform because they're notctice to go to.
Speaker 3 (36:00):
But I liked Olden State. I heard that one on
social media.
Speaker 4 (36:06):
Shaken credit for that is a good one.
Speaker 9 (36:09):
Old Levey also plant some things here. It's it's uncertain,
but one thing I am certain about is you are
making Fourth of July plans. We are not going to
hear Lebron James news this weekend. You are not going
to be a.
Speaker 4 (36:22):
Barbecue where you get the Texas.
Speaker 9 (36:26):
You are not going to have fireworks, and all of
a sudden you see fireworks on Twitter. I asked for timelines,
and it's like, look like Lebron's going to be patient
all this stuff. But I said, people should be prepared
that this is a week's thing, not a day's thing,
and they affirm that's likely.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
I told Manti, I think it's going to be on Wednesday,
July eighth, because there's no World Cup match that day,
very well, and that could be his opportunity to then
grab some of the spotlight. Because also if Lebron doesn't
go to your team, and again it's not twenty seven,
and I don't think it's twelve to fourteen. I think
it's the three that Mark said. Those teams also then
(37:08):
have to figure out, Okay, we don't have Lebron, Now,
how do we run the rest of this off season?
How do we fill these certain spots. I don't think Philadelphia.
I think I think for Today for a headline heading
into the fourth of July weekend saying, the seventy six
ers are eyeing Lebron, but there is no way that
that is happening. There's zero chance he goes to Philadelphia.
I think so I think that when it comes down
(37:30):
to it, it is going to be those three teams.
But it's just a matter of when. At least we're
in lockstep on the timing of it as well, that
it's not going to be up against America's two hundred
and fiftieth. If it was America's two forty nine and
it was on a Tuesday, then maybe, but not on
an extended weekend.
Speaker 9 (37:48):
Yes, if he does go to the Warriors, he is
not going to replicate Kevin Durant's path In twenty sixteen
July fourth, that is when the players tributing article dropped
that he is leaving OKAC to go get a Golden State.
Speaker 3 (38:00):
All right, so who won? Who do you think? Side
ad Jason Sam I would love to.
Speaker 7 (38:07):
Hear from the listeners on Twitter and phoning in.
Speaker 3 (38:11):
I don't no, I'm not putting it in their hands.
I'm just.
Speaker 7 (38:16):
Which Mark choose, because I think it's like a there
was so much gray area. I think in our pre
show meeting, I was asked how I thought Medina would
come out on this, and he was going to be
right in the middle, and he was going to offer
up all this gray area, and he wouldn't choose one
or the other. He actually chose both of your answers
(38:36):
as I predicted. Don't don't get me wrong, there's a
lot of nuanced facts in here. But what Mark doesn't
quite understand is that sports talk radio is not about nuance.
You need to be black or white, there is no gray.
He never chose a side. So I guess maybe I
want to Pinmark down who was more right. Was it
Dan Bayer who predicted a year ago that he was
(38:58):
never coming back to the Lakers, or was it Moncey
Wright who he didn't really make up his mind until recently.
Speaker 2 (39:05):
Wow.
Speaker 9 (39:07):
To be clear, Jay stew I hope I was not
coming across as playing both sides of the fence, being
this conventional politician. It was more about giving all the
information that makes this complicated but down bite sports talk
radio form. I think that at that point he made
up his mind, but all the things that happened in
(39:28):
between crystallized the decision.
Speaker 4 (39:30):
So it's not absolute.
Speaker 9 (39:32):
He's never going back, but he thought, you know what,
I'm likely leaving, and everything that's happened the year ago,
good bad somewhere in between crystallized wise on.
Speaker 3 (39:42):
So the line was drawn in the sand a year ago.
Speaker 6 (39:44):
Not right, That's that's the question. A year ago, he wasn't.
He knew he wasn't going to be a Laker.
Speaker 9 (39:50):
He drew a line in the sand, but it wasn't
a red line, so you know, in the sand, you
can get.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
Over it, like seriously, like we've got some commercials to like,
I just need to But that's that's the whole crux
of my argument is it was on June twenty ninth
that he said, you're dead to me no matter what. Yeah,
that he made up his mind when they said we're
not going to do another one plus one. That all right, fine,
(40:17):
tell him he's whack.
Speaker 9 (40:18):
I don't think there was ever no going back. It
was more, yeah, I'm leaning toward this. Everything that happened
crystallized it. But there would have been a way to
salvage it. So if I have to choose, I guess
he wanted.
Speaker 6 (40:29):
To be a Laker. He wanted to be a Laker.
Speaker 4 (40:32):
Under certain conditions.
Speaker 6 (40:33):
Right, Like I don't think his was to not retire
as not a Laker.
Speaker 9 (40:36):
Yeah, I mean it was under certain conditions. Clearly, Hence
he's not here, he's not taking this huge discount. He
didn't want to repeat the same role. And also, I
think the other thing that was a huge source of
discontent is how the front office moved that. They'll both
say they want to win championships, but from Lebron's perspective,
they were thinking more long term future than these win
(40:58):
now moves during trade line offices.
Speaker 3 (41:00):
I would also argue that it's actually the day the
Lakers got Luka Doncic that signified the end of the
Lebron era with the Lakers because he was no longer
going to have the power over the organization that he
had when he was the top dog.
Speaker 6 (41:14):
How convenient.
Speaker 3 (41:15):
Yeah, and that's who are you were?
Speaker 6 (41:17):
Your argument?
Speaker 3 (41:18):
I think it's But I think it's true. I think
that changed everything. And here and that happened five months
prior to Lebron's decision, Like when the Lakers were given Luca,
everything changed.
Speaker 9 (41:30):
Without a doubt. And here's the thing with this. Both
sides were interested in a reunion, but only under certain preconditions.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
So that's where that.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
Were I think impossible to mention, that were impossible to meet.
And that's why I just don't Yeah, and was it just.
Speaker 6 (41:49):
The money because of his ego?
Speaker 9 (41:52):
It wasn't just the money. The money is a factor,
but it was also the front office. I think that
even though Lebron isn't blameable, from his perspective, he's talking
to the front office like some other stars are of Hey,
here's what I'm hearing. Here are some suggestions, but you're
the decision makers, and when decisions were made. It was
put on him that he had the overt influence, But
(42:14):
I think the bigger thing was more of when he
looked at these pre tried deadlines and off seasons. Russell
Westbrook aside, the Lakers clearly always valued draft capital, financial flexibility,
so they weren't mortgaging the future. Or from Lebron's end,
he's thinking, well, I don't know how many years I
(42:34):
have left. I want win now moves. As long as
I'm here, there's still a chance to win a championship.
So if I had a handicap, it's more that than
the money. But the money is always a factor.
Speaker 3 (42:44):
And now it's all about happiness.
Speaker 9 (42:45):
So who on the bet? Or was I too evasive
and long window with this?
Speaker 3 (42:50):
I don't even know. I'm even sick of talking about
Lebron though, Like I'm like I'm sick of hearing me
talk about Lebron Like I guess what good news lister
thirty seven minutes of Lebron free radio coming up here
on Fox Sports Radio. Gat you got Jalb Brown talk,
we got Kawhi Leonard, I you know, want some Janni's
talk and just the state of the NBA. Are the
Sixers the favorite? We'll get into all of that. You
(43:12):
can ask Mark as well on X hit Mancy up
at Monte Bolognos. You can find me at Dan Byron
Fox or Mark at Mark g Underscore Madina.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Be sure to catch live editions of Stu gottson Company
Live weekdays at three pm Eastern twelve pm Pacific.
Speaker 3 (43:29):
Stu Gotson Company Live here on Fox Sports Radio. You'll
get a World Cup update in no matter of seconds.
As Chris Purfett is at the news desk. I'm not
Stu gottson now there's Monte Bologno. So I'm Dan Byer.
We are in for Stu Gotts and Company. And our
company is Chris Jason Stewart and I was Sam hanging
out for the next ninety minutes or so, and in fact,
in thirty minutes we're gonna have a guest full hour
recapping the NBA off season with our good buddy Mark Medina,
(43:53):
talking about this, that and everything.
Speaker 5 (43:55):
When it comes to we're gonna ask him about Lebron
and he's going to tell you that I'm right and
you're wrong, and this is going to be lost number
three after Isaac Blohencron, I had a rough.
Speaker 3 (44:04):
Day in trivia the last couple of days, and so
it is a difficult bounce back to me. But I
do believe that I am correct, and I feel that
the steps that we have seen from Clutch Sports and
Lebron James have proved that my spidy senses have been
on point.
Speaker 6 (44:20):
I wait to talk to mar Vidin about it.
Speaker 3 (44:21):
Well, I'm sure he's going to be the judge, because
when Monty and I get together, everyone sides with me,
or that that never happens again. When we send out
a pre show tweet, can't wait to listen Moncey, it's
Friy love Moncey.
Speaker 6 (44:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (44:38):
Hey, I don't need to be first, trust me. I
just want to be recognized. I feel like I'm ignored
by these people except the one who said the not
at all.
Speaker 6 (44:48):
Can't do this without you?
Speaker 5 (44:49):
Dave mcminnimon did tweet sixteen minutes ago who Covers the
Lakers that after examining ten potential spots for Lebron on
a whiteboard on his podcast Friday, Rich Paul told ESPN
that twenty seven teams have inquired.
Speaker 6 (45:01):
Every day things change. This is the first time that
Lebron James is making a decision pressure free.
Speaker 3 (45:07):
Oh jeez, twenty seven teams. Well, the Lakers would be
twenty eight because he told them he's not going back
to them. So the two other teams would be probably
the Bucks because there and who else.
Speaker 5 (45:21):
Does this not tell you that the plan was not
to be a Laker and they're figuring it out as
they go.
Speaker 3 (45:27):
I think your theory is so whack that it just
it doesn't make sense if you followed Lebron throughout his career.
Lebron has never played second fiddle to anybody, right, Yes,
so he's gonna do it. So he's gonna do it
with Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves.
Speaker 5 (45:44):
I I mean, I would hope he realizes that he
doesn't have a peppen his step the way a guy
that's ten years old.
Speaker 3 (45:51):
He can be the hero that comes back home to Cleveland,
or the guy who was gonna bring the Knicks their
first NBA championship in fifty four years if they didn't
win it this year.
Speaker 5 (46:00):
We all know Lebron is not the number one on
any team anymore, Like that was never going to be
any team.
Speaker 6 (46:06):
You're not. Lebron's not the number one on any team anymore.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
All Right, Mark Madeena's going to have the last word
on this, which I'm sure he will side with you.
I am. I am given, and it has nothing to
do with Mark Medina's journalistic integrity, but it's just how
the way things go with me.
Speaker 6 (46:24):
You're wow.
Speaker 3 (46:24):
That didn't mean to be an awkward pause. I was
just trying to figure out a way to transition to
Caitlyn Clark. Let's just hear it from hers since the
first time she talked in a while.
Speaker 11 (46:31):
I'm sure you guys have a lot of questions, and
obviously I haven't been available for like a week or so,
so the league just got to do better protecting our
players in that regard. I don't really think that it
was up for debate. Obviously, it wasn't called in real time.
To go back and watch the clip, I think it's
pretty straightforward. It's kind of been a discussion for like
three years now, and I think we really need to
do a better job protecting the people in this league.
(46:52):
It frustrates me that it takes away so much from
the product that's being put on the floor. And we've
done so much to grow the game over the course
of the last three years, and it's just like we
keep kicking ourselves, kicking ourselves when we're down, and that's
that's that stinks. Like we've done so much work. This
is the thirtieth year of the WNBA. We're in a
great spot. You know, the talent level is as high
as it's ever been. Viewership is as high as it's
(47:14):
ever been. Every arena is selling out. That's not just
for us, that's for teams across the league. And we can't,
you know, just beat on each other, beat on each
other and put each other down. And you know, we
just have to continue to fid and find ways to
uplift and then everybody just get better. At the same time,
Like I said my points about the refs in the
league overall, like we have to improve, like league office,
(47:34):
you got to do better, have to find ways to
do better.
Speaker 3 (47:39):
You have a look at in your face. I'm just
going to say, you can't say everybody needs to do
better and then specifically say league office needs to do better.
They named the league about three times, and I just
don't think it's a league problem. I think I'm getting
so tired of talking about this because it's the same
argument over and over. I'm not saying that the league
has got it right. They don't at some point, like
(48:04):
the players also have to take some sort of change.
And Caitlin Clark saying it's a league problem is also
saying that this isn't in Alyssa Thomas or any other
WNBA player problem. And I think that everybody bears responsibility,
including Caitlin Clark in a little bit of this, and
I know people are shocked to hear that, but like
(48:26):
everybody's got to be better.
Speaker 5 (48:27):
I'm with you, I'm so tired of this and my
look is just kind of like I I'm really disappointed
in the entire WNBA in the last couple of years.
And I feel like what you're saying is like even
though the office, the league, whatever, the officials, whoever's running
(48:48):
at they are one hundred percent I think deserve most
of the blame in the pie chart, if I'm being
completely honest, But I agree that it also goes to
the players. And I think the big difference here that
I see with the WA or the NBA or other
like baseball whatever is I feel like the players at
least respect the sport, and it seems like the WNBA players.
Speaker 6 (49:08):
Don't respect the game.
Speaker 5 (49:10):
That's that's where I'm at now, because it seems like
all of the WNBA is holding onto grudges, and listen,
I hold on to grudges.
Speaker 6 (49:19):
I'm petty. Women, we are petty. I feel like with.
Speaker 5 (49:22):
Dudes, it's like if you piss each other off, you
guys are gonna fight. But once that fight's over, you're
moving on. You're moving on to the next thing, and
you're gonna play the game because you respect the game.
Like very often, very often in the WNBA, I feel
like moments so it's like you're not respecting the game.
You just want to go attack of chick because you're mad,
Like you're not playing basketball as a Thomas. That's not
a basketball play. You don't respect the game. And that's
(49:45):
that's where I'm at now. Like the WNBA players very
few of them seem to respect the game and now
the product, Like, I just don't even know why you
would watch the WNBA honestly, because it's not basketball. You're
watching it for the wrong reasons. Gossip, drama, cat fights.
What is Sylvie Cunningham gonna do? Because she's funny like
it's it's just y'all don't respect the game. And I
(50:05):
think that's where I'm at.
Speaker 3 (50:06):
I think that there's I think that the cop out
is what she's saying, and that the league has to
do better. You Dan, right, Well, yeah, but it's just
such a broad statement because such a such a it's
such a broad statement, like if we need to say,
like you know, and I think she said more, did
she say more about the officials in in what they need?
(50:28):
Do we have that cut, Jason, I'm not sure if
we've got that, but she did say that, you know,
they need full time officials. Here's more of Caitlin Clark.
Speaker 11 (50:39):
I think a lot of people sometimes think I'm a robot.
I'm not a robot. I have emotions, I have feelings,
and it can be really difficult to go through a
lot of that. And you know, I'm twenty four years old.
Trying to navigate a lot, and I think at times,
I you know, I've I've been in this world for
four years now, and you've never change any of it.
But there are times that it is hard, and there
are times that you know, it probably affects me a
(51:00):
little bit more than I do put on and you know,
I would never change any of that for the world,
but I think it's important that people do remember that
part of it too. Even I turned the TV on
on Sunday and that game was on Wednesday, and that's
all people are still talking about. And I feel like
that's just a real disservice to our league.
Speaker 2 (51:18):
Like it, and I get it.
Speaker 11 (51:19):
You talk about it, you talk about whether it's flavoring,
you talk about whatever it is. But to continue to
be down, be down, and then for the narrative to
be taken other places that is really just not accept
It's just really not acceptable. I think it's just it's
hard to see, you know, and it's a disservice to
my team, but it's also a disservice to the other
teams in this league and other players in this league.
Speaker 3 (51:40):
I think that says a lot. And that's the point
that I'm saying, is what was the league going to
do to stop Alyssa Thomas from using a closed fist
in that scenario.
Speaker 5 (51:52):
To me, that comment has to do with what's been
going on the last couple of years, like the league
has allowed it to keep progress scene and keep pushing,
which is something you said, you know, in our pre
show where it's like, well you no one's.
Speaker 6 (52:05):
Going to eye for an eye. You said that you're
gonna push the next level. Yeah, and that's what's happening.
Speaker 5 (52:09):
And I think that's why she's putting it on the
league officials because it's like you have continued to allow
this to happen from from day one of this, and
the League, in my opinion, hasn't done a lot to
come in and help the situation. And Kaitlyn Clark, I
would hate to be her because I don't think she
can say anything right. Whatever she says, some people are
(52:30):
gonna hate it, some people are gonna love it. She's
in such a tough position, and like we want to
talk about hatred and people being absolutely awful. I'm sure
Alyssa Thomas got a lot of hate. I'm sure she has,
and that sucks. Nobody should ever have to experience that.
Caitlyn Clark's been getting.
Speaker 6 (52:45):
That for years. I bet you she's still getting it.
Speaker 3 (52:49):
Yeah, but it's the same thing over and over again.
And I think your point is, if it's the same
thing over and over again, shouldn't the league step in
and do something? But I think that this is bier
than the league. I think that her point is like,
if people like us are still talking about it four
days after the fact, it's because it's run like wildfire,
(53:09):
and we'll put it just look at Fox Sports Radio,
look at Fox Sports Radio's Instagram page, look at the
views on the Caitlin Clark stories and the non Caitlin
Clark stories, and it just ends up going back to
the same thing every single time. So when I say,
like the league, when I am critical of Caitlin Clark
saying the league has to get better, I don't know
what the league could do. Like if they call the
(53:32):
foul and ejected Alyssa Thomas in that game, at that point,
the same discourse is happening because somebody put a fist
to her throat. They're not saying good job and ejecting her.
I think that added on to it. But I think
the same visual image and the same replay would have
gone on to the two polarizing sides that always seem
(53:53):
to this ends up coming to three and four days
after the fact, and it's why you and I are
sick of it, because that's just where it ends up going.
One side feels they're right, the other side feels their right,
and the matter at hand doesn't even matter anymore. So
if they would have teed up Alssa Thomas, if they
would have ejected Alyssa Thomas, yeah we could have said
(54:14):
that the league was doing better, but it wouldn't stop
this side from saying what they're saying about the closed fist,
and it wouldn't stop that side from saying what they
were saying about Alysa Thomas. And that's like to the
point that we're at and I don't know how to
change that.
Speaker 6 (54:27):
I was just going to say, so there's nothing that
can be done correct, Like, we're just stuck here.
Speaker 3 (54:31):
I have a feeling we are for who knows how long,
you know why, because.
Speaker 6 (54:35):
When the players don't respect the game, well.
Speaker 3 (54:36):
Because she didn't play last year and we weren't having
these discussions, we just didn't pay any mind.
Speaker 6 (54:42):
To it, right, We just exactly. We weren't even paying attention.
Speaker 3 (54:44):
To it, right, so now it kind of and that's
the issue. I think that the league does have issues,
and officiating has been one for a couple of years.
But I just don't know when you're saying this is
like the league needs to get better. If that's her
coded language of saying the players as well, then I'm
then I'm down with it. But I think ultimately, no
matter what happens, we are just to the point that
(55:08):
when when dramatics happen, it's going to somehow filter into
those two polar opposites.
Speaker 5 (55:14):
I hear what you're saying, Yeah, about the about the
league and what they're doing.
Speaker 6 (55:17):
You're right, You're right about that.
Speaker 5 (55:18):
I just I think what she's saying is like this
has continued on because of you. But if I go
back to the point of the players themselves aren't respecting
the game, then nothing's going to change.
Speaker 4 (55:28):
Like when they have to change.
Speaker 3 (55:29):
Yeah, I think I think that's a really good point.
And when Stephanie White says what she has to say
and saying like it needs to be called, that the
foul needs to be called at the time, she's also
talking about a head coach that would want to listen
Thomas out of the game, or would want free throws
like a delayed flagrant foul does them no good. The
game's over, right, so I think her message as a
coach is saying that. But ultimately the two sides will
(55:53):
take Stephanie White's comments and use it to their at
their advantage, even if it was had nothing to do
with what she was talking about. Bob
Host
Doug Gottlieb
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