June 26, 2023 • 37 mins
Bernie Fratto fills in for Ben Maller and talks about his perspective of the Athletics planned move to Las Vegas as Vegas local, is joined by NBA reporter Mark Medina to discuss Victor Wembanyama & other NBA offseason news, What Kind of Brand New Fool Are You, and What My Name?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the best of the Benmaler Show podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weeknight from two
to six Eastern eleven pm to three am Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio and to find your local station for
the Benmatherers Show at Foxsports Radio dot com. You can
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(00:20):
the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
This is the best of the Ben Maler Show on
Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Greetings, salutations, and a warm welcome to the Malar Militia,
your families, your friends, your close associates, intimate strangers, Grandma
and all the rest of the Western Hemisphere. I am
not Ben Maller, i am not Archie Billing the Drells,
and I'm not Kim Kardashian. My name is Bernie Fratton. Yes,
we're coming to you live from the tyraq dot com
(00:54):
studios here in Las Vegas. Tyreq dot com. We'll help
you get there an unmatched selection, fast free shipping, free
roadazard protection, and over ten thousand recommended installers tyreq dot com.
The way tire buying should be Now, after you're scoring home,
or even if you're just by yourself. This is my
(01:15):
ninth Ben Malor Show. And you know, I have real respect,
mad respect for the mount of Militia. There are plenty
of fan bases in the planet. The Raider Nation and
the Cheeseheads and the Bill's Mafia, Cameron Crazies. They're all cool,
but they're not the mal of Malaysia, are they? These
(01:35):
are not empty words, So you get to prove your metal. Tonight,
we're gonna be taking your calls. I honor the Ben
Mallar format. We'll be taking your calls all night tonight
eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox. And don't be shy,
bring it, bring it early and off and have a
little fun. The summer is here. Let's chop it up. Now.
We are at the halfway point of the calendar year.
(01:56):
My goodness, how time flies and the sports year were
halfway basically through the calendar sports year. Do you get
the feeling we're living in bizarre world? I've said it
a thousand times. Sports are the greatest reality showed. You
can script everything but the ending. You don't believe me.
(02:18):
Take hockey and yeah, I live in Vegas. You know
those poor Canucks north of the border, they haven't won
a Stanley Cup since Clinton was president. Meanwhile, who wins
this year's Cup? A team from the desert, a team
from the desert that didn't even exist six years ago,
and a team from the desert beats a team from
(02:41):
the beach? Did I mention we're talking hockey? We're talking
hockey here and we're talking deserts and beaches. Now, word
has it people in Toronto and Buffalo are pissed. Yeah,
I get it. Buffalo's never won the Cup. They did
have a near miss in nineteen ninety nine against Dallas.
Toronto hasn't won a Cup up since before Nixon was president.
(03:03):
I'll have to get Eddie's thoughts on the Golden Knights.
We've even had Jonathan Quick on the roster by Wait,
what's his fixation with presidents? Who the hell writes this stuff?
All Right? You know mel Brooks once said it's good
to be the King. Well, it's even better to be
stan Kronk. Are we living in bizarre world? Stan Kronk
has won NFL, NHL, and now NBA titles and back
(03:26):
to back to back seasons. The Denver Nuggets their first
championship a couple of weeks ago. On a Monday night,
gave owner Stan Kronk another title. Is La Rams won
the Super Bowl two years ago, and of course his
Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup last season. Bizarre world. Yes,
(03:47):
how about the Cincinnati Reds. Not long ago, they were
drawing seven thousand fans a game. They were sold out
Friday night, they were sold out Saturday night. They're in
first in their division, hanging on by a thread. And
their young star, Ellie de la Cruz, well, he was
five years old when Joey Vado made his debut back
(04:10):
in two thousand and seven. Bizarre world. How about the
PGA and the LIV You know, not long ago they
were pissing on each other's shoes and burning up legal
fees to the tune up, I need one hundred and
fifty million. Now they're in bed together. And Roy McElroy
is a suckerficial alum. Yes, he's a suckerficial a lamb.
I just feel awful for Roy McElroy's suckerficial lum. Hey,
(04:34):
desperate people do desperate things. Man. The PGA was bleeding money.
They were becoming desperate. Don't act like they weren't. Meanwhile,
the LIV is hungry for a seat at the world table.
They want to be part of the world of sports.
They want to be part of the world of culture.
They're willing to pay plus the liv the Live tour.
(04:58):
They want more eyeballs, they want more legitimacy, and they
want a bona fide TV contract. But redle me this batman,
They say, the PGA will still get to call the
shots while they live pays all the bills. Huh, they
pay the bills, the Live pays the bills, but the
pg gets to call the shots.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Can you say collision course? Yep, it was our world.
How about those lovable Oklan a's. We're gonna get into
that later tonight, barring unforeseen speed bumps, market calendars for
twenty twenty eight, and you too can watch Major League
Baseball in the Mohave Desert. Yup, they pulled it off.
(05:41):
Were they invited? No, this ain't the Golden Knights of
the Raiders. Frankly, the a's showed up uninvited, hat in hand,
and they asked for three hundred and eighty million dollars
of public money. Well it goes like this ask and
you shall receive it. Made no mistake. I go out
(06:02):
to the ballpark I love baseball, but the backstory of
how this happened is bizarre but true. You'll hear how
it happened coming up. Meanwhile, there's a new singing in Phoenix.
Try the Bial Hey, I'm here, I wink yes, try
the Beal. Bradley Beal. Oh yeah, he's the answer to
all your problems in Phoenix. Another big three. Thank you,
(06:23):
Bradley Beal. You were rumored and you came through. You
were a walking trade rumor. And the Wizards, less than
a year after giving him a super Max contract, agreed
last week to send him in his giant contract with
the Suns. So much dunpack. We'll get to some of
the NBA stuff later. Half your head. You'll be scratching
your head. And by the way, you got to give
(06:44):
some credit, a lot of credit actually to the new
Phoenix owner, Matt Eshbia. If you haven't heard that name,
you may have seen him on HBO Real Sports. He's
in Michigan State alum. He was on the two thousand
Michigan State Tomazo team that beat Florida for the national championship.
One of those raps diving for balls on the floor.
Got a few minutes here and there, came out of college,
(07:04):
got into the loan business. The mortgage business, made billions
and I mean billions with a B. And he came
to prominence a couple of years ago when he gave
mil Tucker that giant contract. He had football coach at
Michigan State to prevent him from going to LSU. Tucker
beat Michigan back to back. And if you live in
Michigan and Michigan State beats Michigan back to back, well,
(07:26):
well you can walk on water. So matt Eshbia, he's
he's going for it. Okay, he's going for it. Another
Big Three. Though forgive me for my cynicism, but if
I had a nickel for every new NBA Big Three
and all the predictions of greatness, Elon Musk would be
moing my long And did I mention Bradley Beal has
(07:46):
missed only seventy four games in the last two seasons. Well,
hopefully matt Eshbia gets his one hundred and sixty three
million dollars worth it because he's committed to bial Durant
and Booker and DeAndre Ayton. No pressure new coach Frank Vogel. Hey,
remember Frank Vogel is a defensive minded coach? Does Beale
(08:10):
make the Suns better defensively? Is there anything Phoenix really
did to close the gap between them and Denver? We'll
unpack that later. I would see. I have no idea.
Now comes Victor wembin Yama. He's already in the Hall
of Fame. Doesn't need to play a game. By the way,
I did see him play here in the G League.
Scored thirty six points. It's the G League did pretty
(08:32):
well in France. But can we pump the brakes just
a minute. I'm not rooting against the guy. I like
to see him do well. He is a genetically gifted
human being. We will see if a seven foot five
frame eighty two nights a year, ninety four feet up
and down, back and forth, getting bumped, getting hit, fighting
(08:54):
through picks, getting banged, can that seven foot five frame
defight the There have been seven players in the history
of the NBA that were seven foot five. Only one
average ten points a game. His name the venerable Yao Ming.
Twenty years ago, a kid named Lebron James was the
(09:14):
chosen one cover of Sports Illi Street. I actually think
he was more hyped. We'd actually see him play. I
saw him play. I was living in Detroit at the time.
I was having to know my Michian drove down two
hours of Cleveland March in twenty oh three. I said,
I gotta see this Saint Vincent, Saint Mary. I take
a look at him, and the first thing I see
is an NBA body. He said, wooh. He's got the frame,
he's got guard skills, he's got handles, he's got court
(09:37):
Since he's unselfish, I said to myself, Yeah, I think
he could put this guy in an NBA game and
he'd be all right. Well, they put him in some
NBA games and he was all right. Twenty years later,
can we say that about Victor Wimbenyama. We're gonna find out.
Don't tell me, show me now. He may very well
(09:58):
do it. He as a boy playing in a man's game,
and he may not have success right away, or he
may have some success right away, or he'll block some shots,
he'll do something. Ooh A, here we go. And how
many games is San Antonio gonna win? I don't know,
but don't forget to try the beal, and while you're
at it, drink the kool aid to wash it down.
(10:20):
Bombastic sports stories. We got a ton of them tonight.
I promise you we are all over the map. And
we're only halfway through the calendar year at twenty twenty three,
and we're only halfway through the sports here, so we're
just getting started.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Ben Meller
Show weekdays at two am Eastern eleven pm Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
It's amazing how the news cycle in the NBA never
ends twenty four to seven, including today. Free agency starts
next Friday. We just had a draft. We've got everything
from breakfast tacos to trying the beal to well, it
looks like DeAndre eating going anywhere. Oh my god, who
(11:06):
writes his stuff? That's why we bring in this gentleman
at midnight. It's that time. Oh it's about a little
Medina magic. Medina covers the NBA. He's all over the
NBA like a hole bo on a ham sandwich. He's
got his finger on the pulse. He's got his whole
body on the pulse. Mark, can you believe it? There's
news today. After we talked last night about the thought
(11:30):
that the Bradley Beal deal in and of itself wouldn't
be enough. And now they're saying DeAndre eating going anywhere.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
Your thoughts, well, my thoughts, there's two things. As far
as you know, the news always having something new every day.
Just buck up this week. It's going to be like
that every single day. But the thoughts on that development,
I don't get it. I mean, they're gonna be top heavy.
I think DeAndre Ayton will be a better player under
Frank Vogel. But if any of those guys get hurt,
(11:59):
it's just gonna be like a house of cards crumbling
down fast. So we'll see what happens.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Let me ask you a question, mark, could it be
a head fake? Because there have been gams, there have
been gms who have said we're not trading this guy
and then they do.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
It could very well be a headsake. I mean, look,
at the end of the day, general managers do two things.
They negotiate trades. Three things they negotiate trades, they sign players,
and they lie. They lie to agent, they lie to players.
So yeah, it very well could be a head fake.
The key words is when they say intend, plan, want,
(12:37):
those aren't definitive words. So maybe it was something along
those lines that they told them, but at least maybe
for this upcoming season open the season looks like DeAndre
and will be in the Sun's uniform, but that could
always be subject to change leading into the trade deadline.
But we'll see.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
So the draft is forty eight hours in the rear
view mirror. But now are when the real start, you know,
stories start to come out in terms of the analysis
and who ostensibly did well. And now you're hearing the
comments coming from you know, Greg Popovich setting expectations for
Victor wiman Yama. What has been your biggest takeaway coming
(13:18):
out of this draft?
Speaker 5 (13:19):
Well, I think the biggest takeaway is the fact that
Portland decided to use their number three pick on Scoot
Henderson instead of trading the pick in lieu of the
fact that Damian Lillard's made it clear that he doesn't
want to be on a young team right because suddenly
he's sealing the urgency of wanting to win a championship.
And I don't think that means that the Portland Trailblazers
(13:41):
will ever say, look, we're going to trade you, Damian.
That will really hinge on Damien pounding on the door
and saying I want out, which I don't know if
he'll do, but at least send a message that the
front office is going to make decisions that they feel
is best fit for the organization as opposed to what
a player wants. So that's the most interesting. But I
think with Victor Wee Minyama, we knew he's gonna be
(14:03):
the number one pick, but it's just cool to see
how he's immediately buying into everything. I mean, he's getting
dinner with all the Spurs luminaries, you know, David Robinson,
Tim Duncan, Sean Elliott. He's making Tim Duncan and David
Robinson look like small guards in this photo that he shared,
you know, the breakfast taco bit that you talked about.
(14:23):
That's been amazing. It's already showing that he knows what
resonates with Santonio. So it just feels like this is
the beginning of a twenty year marriage that's gonna yield
a lot of winning, a lot of championships. So you know,
Spurs fans are ready to enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Well, here's the thing. The Denver Nuggets, very you know,
deservedly so, are on the top of the heap. So
if you are a Golden State, if you are Phoenix,
can you really honestly say you did anything to close
the gap between where you're at and catching the Denver Nuggets?
And I haven't even brought up the Lakers yet. Amazingly,
(15:01):
we didn't talk about the Lakers the other night. What
are your thoughts on the Lakers going forward? And is
it true that there's a rift between Lebron and the
front office.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
Again, Yeah, as far as the Lakers go, I mean, look,
I don't think they realistically could have done anything in
the draft as far as using those picks to land
a blockbuster deal. They had a seventeenth pick and a
forty seventh pick, like the mid first round and second
round picks aren't going to land to a star. So
I think that they did well with the draft all
(15:32):
things considered. But I think the bigger question is moving forward.
Are they all about going all in or are they
trying to retain a lot of their players? And I
think that that's really what's going to happen. They're going
to retain Rulyatchamora, Austin Reefs for sure, D'Angel Russell. I
think it's going to be continial if they can find
signed in trade suitors and then if not, can they
(15:56):
sign him in a reasonable deal. Now, as far as
the rift between Lebron James in the front office, I mean, look,
he's going to stay a Laker for you know, under contract,
so he might be frustrated if they make moves that
aren't in win now, but it's not going to change anything.
He's going to show up, he's going to punch in,
punch out, He's going to be ready to play. He's
(16:17):
going to be a professional, and I don't think that
he's going to get involved in the front office. But yeah,
he might be upset, but I don't think it's going
to change the course of anything here. I think the
front office is going to do what they feel his
best and Lebron James, whether he agrees with it or not,
will do what he can to get healthy next season
and still delay Father Times somehow in his twenty first
(16:40):
NBA season.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
So as far as the quest for a championship, when
you look across the league and obviously free agency is Friday.
But the one big name that you know, I think
it was a Cya deal Draymond Green. Can you see
any scenario possibly where Draymond Green is not a Golden
(17:04):
State Warrior next year, especially in light of the fact
that the Warriors have moved on from Jordan One punch Pool.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
That's a good nickname there. Look, I think the larger
part of them trading Jordan Poole is the size of
the contract and them getting flexibility of, you know, being
under some of these repeating taxes because of this new
labor deal. Gives them more money to maybe keep Raymond Green,
gives them more money to keep Klay Thompson after next
(17:33):
summer when he becomes a free agent. But no doubt
there is a little bit of the elephant in the
room that you know that there was that awkwardness after
the punch. Now, I think what listeners have to understand
here is this is a professional sports league. So it's
about basketball. It's a business at the end of the day.
So the Warriors, they're not faulding Jordan Pool whatsoever. Like
(17:54):
he did nothing wrong, he did nothing to deserve this punch.
But with that they're going to value, you wait, everything
from a basketball standpoint, And so with that, they clearly
made a line in the sand after the season ended
that for all the strength that Jordan showed as a
player and the weaknesses. It's about further leaning into the
(18:15):
players that got them championships because they felt like they're
more dependable. So as a result of that, they're clearly
prioritizing Draymond Green. That's not to say they condone his behavior,
but it's a business. They're valuing the winning products at
the end of the day, so that's what they did.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Talking with Mark mendena are five Sports Radio NBA guru,
you hear him all around the networking for a good reason.
He has his finger very much on the pulse. So
when we get to Friday, Mark, what do you anticipate
which teams might be the most active? Will Dame stay
in Portland? What's the one blockbuster signing we're not seeing
(18:53):
right now that maybe you can prognosticate.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
Yeah, that's the thing that's interesting. I feel like that's
free and seeing. I might be wrong when we talk
next week, because there's always things that happen, but it
feels like a lot of these moves are all like
fake hustle, Like these guys opted out of their contracts
and he think, oh no, maybe they leave, but it
was really because the CAP's going to go higher and
they can get a better deal and they'll wind up staying.
(19:19):
I really think the only like dominant free agent that
could be on the move and likely on the move
is Fred Van Vliet with the Toronto Raptors because he
opted out of his deal. While he owes a lot
of allegiances to Toronto, they signed him as an undrafted player.
He flourished under the organization, becoming an All Star, winning
(19:40):
a championship. The writing on the wall is clear. The
Raptors are in rebuilding mode, and I think Fred van
Vliet is in winning mode and he's going to get
a lot of suitors that have the cap space to
get him, or maybe they do sign in trade because
Toronto's about collecting assets. So if I had to guess,
you know this marquee free agent that's going to leave,
(20:00):
it would be him. But I think a lot of
the other guys you look at James Harden, Kyrie Irving,
Draymond Green, like, I don't think any of those guys
are going anywhere, But look, anything can happen in the NBA.
So maybe we talk next week and I'm proven wrong.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Well, your insights are always very good, and the final
thing I have for you. It feels like all of
a sudden now after the fact, the Marcus Smart to
Memphis deals being called into question somewhat, and people are
asking did Boston get better swapping basically Christap porsingis and
moving Marcus Smart when Marcus Smart was kind of the
(20:37):
heart and soul of the team. Is that were kind
of the heart beat of the team. What are your
thoughts about Boston next year and what kind of impact
can Marcus Smart have in Memphis?
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Yeah? I think that I like chrisoffs Forerzengis. He's a
complete offensive player. I do have some questions about his health,
but I do also understand that he had better health
last season with Washington. Explained to me when I talked
with him for a substantial period of time this last season,
how he's done a lot of things to improve his
(21:07):
body and that the injury issues weren't as a result
of his body composition, they were just specific injuries. But
Marcus Smart that by losing them, the Celtics became a
worst team.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
That's thank you.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
That's not to say they can't win a championship because
they still have Jason Tatum and Joe and Brown on
the team, But yeah, Marcus Smart was their heart and soul,
great defender, occasional three point shooter, great passer. He held
those guys accountable. So yeah, what he brings to Memphis
is he's going to reduce all the bs that's been
(21:42):
plaguing Memphis, So John Morant's nonsense, some of the immature behavior. Look,
Dylan Brooks is probably not going to be back with
the Grizzlies anyway, So maybe it's a mute point, but
I think the larger point is Sean Morant and just
kind of be enabling culture that they had around that team,
and I think that Marcus Smart will eradicate some of
that and that will also fit in with the on
(22:04):
the court play because that grit and grime mentality that's
Marcus Smart's game. So yeah, they really need him for
every reason. Unmatchable and he's gonna do wonders for them.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
All right, buddy, great stuff as always, enjoy your week ahead.
It'll probably be a slow news week, don't you think.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
Yeah, nothing's gonna happen in the NBA this week at all. Well,
I think we have nothing to talk about when we
link up on the airwaves again.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Thanks so much. My man, That of course is Mark
Medina our Fox Sports Radio and via Guru Medina Magic.
He's on my show every Saturday night at midnight, because really,
the new cycle in the NBA is always twenty four
to seven. I appreciate the Mallard Militia family allowing Mark
in tonight.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Ben Meller
Show weekdays at two am Eastern eleven pm Pacific.
Speaker 6 (22:57):
Bally Fusco, Hey with Tony. Of course, you know us
as the host of the number one rated Bally and Tony.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Fusco show world Right now.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
We all know you're sick and tired of these stupid
sports shows where the hosts say stupid things like Tom
Brady's the Goats.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Or Lebron James is good at basketball, which he is
clearly not.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
See.
Speaker 7 (23:17):
We give you smart takes.
Speaker 6 (23:18):
Yeah, and we also bring on so called famous guests
from across the sports world and show them why we
know much more than they do.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
You're off the show.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
Listen to the Baly and Tony Fusco Show on the
iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Every day, every minute, every hour of every day in
this great country of ours, and across the globe from
seed to Oily Sea. We find that people engage in odd, weird,
questionable behaviors. Sometimes they're very innocuous, innocent, just stupid. Sometimes
they're very nefurious. Many times they are criminal. But regardless
(23:59):
of the regardless of the event, you find them engaging
in activities that only leave you scratching your head and
asking yourself, what kind of brand new fool are you? So?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
What kind of brand new fool are you?
Speaker 3 (24:19):
This one is an absolute beauty because it's right out
of the Shawshank Redemption playbook. Folks meet Arley Nimo and
John Garza. Both of them were inmates at a county
jail in Newport News, Virginia. But and this is just
a minimum security prison. And I don't even know what
(24:41):
the hell they were in jail for, but will actually
take that back. They were both in jail for probation
violations and credit card fraud things of this nature. That's
why they were in a secure, minimum security prison. But
I digress. Guess what they did last week? Well turns
(25:02):
out they again this is right out of Shawshank Redection Redemption.
They managed to tunnel through a hole in a cell
wall and escape from the city jail by using a toothbrush.
And once they got outside, they were able to scale
the wall, the security wall, and they were escaped and
(25:23):
they were home free. Here's what's interesting. Instead of blowing town,
getting the hell out of there, getting the hell out
of Dodge, getting the hell out of Newport News, Well,
they were hungry. They wanted to have a little nash
so how convenient they decided to stop in at ihop
in nearby Hampton, Virginia, and they were enjoying their food
(25:47):
around three am in the morning. That's the Department of
Redundancy department. I don't know what they were having, maybe
a rudy twoty freshman fruity breakfast or hell, I don't know,
maybe Moon's over Miami. But whatever it was, some somehow
they got spotted and thanks to the tip of a citizen,
not sure how or why, they were taken back into
(26:10):
custody and rearrested. And now they are back behind bars
and facing a whole new series of new charges. Now,
I like a hop not a sponsor here. Maybe they
should be, but I will tell you, if you escape
from jail, if you're dumb, enough to be in jail,
dumb enough to escape from jail, dumb enough to engage
(26:32):
in these type of behaviors. Why the hell do you
stop at I Hop a few blocks away when you're
home free and too stupid to know it? And it
leaves you asking yourself what kind of brand new fool? Arley,
Nemo and John guards of what kind of brand new
fool are you? Thanks for playing, folks? All right? That
(26:53):
segues into my second favorite bit on the weekends that
we lovingly refer to as what my Name? I got
a feeling Eddie and Coop will do very well at this,
so I will share with you a simple factoid and
ask the question what my name and see if they
can identify Sam Marisi. Some are a little bit more difficult.
(27:14):
We are all over the map here, all right, We'll
start with this, dude. I'm you know, stealing bases in
the major leagues has actually kind of gone by the
way of the Dodo bird. So I'm the last Major
League baseball player to steal at least seventy stolen bases
in a season. I did it back in two thousand
(27:36):
and nine. Coop, what my name.
Speaker 7 (27:41):
Is? De Gordon?
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Hey, it's an excellent guest. It's not Dee Gordon. Kevin
wired guess de Gordon last night as well, But it's
a good guess. I'm the last major League baseball player
to steal at least seventy stolen bases in a season.
I did it back in two thousand and nine. Eddie
what my name?
Speaker 8 (28:06):
No, are we already first time? I apology. Let's start over. Okay,
let's start over. Go ahead, Mark, put the kibosh on
the clock. By the way I should have explained, it's
a it's a five second clock if you just keep
it moving, all right, let me apologize that.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Let me start over. Okay, I'm the last Major League
baseball player to steal at least seventy bases in a season.
I did it back in two thousand and nine. Eddie Garcia,
what my name?
Speaker 4 (28:36):
Ricky Henderson?
Speaker 3 (28:38):
Again, not a bad guess.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
No, that is a bad guess.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Actually, well, I guess he didn't play in two thousand
and ninety. Yeah, you're right, bad comment by me, bad
job by me. All right, I'll give you guys a clue.
He played for the Boston Red Sox. Anybody want to
take a stab?
Speaker 7 (28:55):
Jacoby Elsberry, Jacoby Ellsbury.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
See I were yes off and running. All right, this
one is a beauty. This one is just pure trivia.
It's the thing. I'm You'll get this one. This past
week in nineteen seventy, while pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates,
I pitched a no hitter while high on acid. Eddie Garcia,
(29:20):
what my name?
Speaker 4 (29:21):
Well, it's Doc Ellis.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Spam play you guys, just show it off now.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
I'm a Pirates fan. That was a pretty famous story.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
So, and you know what's funny, Eddie, he's like proud
of it. It's a badge of honor. He's never denied it.
He's he's you were gonna say something. I think I'll
cut you off. Right after you said, Doc Allis, it
felt like you were gonna add some commentary.
Speaker 9 (29:40):
No, I just I'm a Pirates fan, and that's a
pretty famous story. So I'm not gonna felt my chest
too much of that one.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
All right, All good, it still counts. All right. Moving on,
Let's try a little football. Believe it or not. I'm
the all time New York Jets quarterback leader when it
comes to playoff road winds. I've got four four playoff
road wins. Coope, what my name?
Speaker 7 (30:06):
Chad Pennington or like Chad, great player out of Marshall.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
So I'm hooked up with Randy Moss their final college
game at the Silver Dome. Not not Chad Pennington. All right,
I'm the all time New York Jets quarterback leader when
it comes to road playoff wins. I've got four road
playoff wins. Eddy Garcia, what my name?
Speaker 4 (30:27):
I was that one of them? Is it? Mark Sanchez?
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Look at you guys? Three for three and we roll
right along and we're walking. All right. I'm the only
player in NBA history to win a League MVP, an
NBA Finals MVP, and a Sixth Man Award? Coop? What
(30:51):
my name?
Speaker 7 (30:56):
What was the first one? What was the first?
Speaker 3 (30:57):
Start over? We'll start the clock over, Mark, all right,
I'm the only player in NBA history to win a
League MVP, ohez, a Finals MVP, and the Sixth Man Award? Coop?
What my name?
Speaker 4 (31:14):
No idea?
Speaker 7 (31:15):
I was gonna say Andrea Goodala, but he's never won
league MVP, so I have no idea.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
All right, I'm the only player in NBA history to
win the League MVP, the NBA Finals MVP, and the
sixth Man Award, Edy Garcia. What my name is it?
Bill Walton bam four for four. The kicker on that question.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Is yea with the Celtics at the end of his career.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Yes, yes, because you don't see that combination ever. Right,
An MVP and then a sixth Man Award. By the way,
pretty interesting thirty for thirty on him, called the luckiest
man alive. Bill's an interesting guy and remember his days
at UCLA very interesting guy. All right, here we go.
You guys are gonna get this one too, because I
tease it earlier in the show. In the history of
(32:01):
the National Basketball Association, there have been seven players seven
foot five who played, but only one averaged ten points
per game. It was me. What my name? Coop?
Speaker 7 (32:15):
What my name YAO mean?
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Look at you guys, Look at you guys, just making
a mocker. You're tearing this course apart. All right, here
we go. Back in the day. Now, I'm a legendary
football player. Keyword is legendary. Now back in the day.
I was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of college,
but I shunned them and instead signed with the Kansas
(32:41):
City Royals. Coop, what my name.
Speaker 7 (32:50):
Bo Jackson.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Bo Jackson, you guys are back in one thousand, Eddy,
I think I should have gone to you there. That's
my bad.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
That's all right. I knew it as well.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
I know you did. I knew you did, all right.
Speaker 9 (33:02):
You know what's funny, The first one was by far
the hardness. Usually these, the way Ben does, it is
harder as we go along. But I thought that first
one was the hardest.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
You know, I'm not smart enough to think of these things.
Speaker 7 (33:12):
I just.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
Put names on. I got a few holes in my game,
you know. So anyway, all right, and they might actually
these next three you're gonna be a little harder. Actually,
ad you mentioned that, all right? Saturday night, Cincinnati Reds
rookie Ellie Day La Cruz hit for the cycle. I'm
the last one to hit for the cycle before Ellie
(33:36):
Da La Cruz. I did it on July second, nineteen
eighty nine, as a player for the Cincinnati Reds. Eddie Garcia.
What my name?
Speaker 4 (33:43):
I'm sorry? What was the year again?
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Real quick? Nineteen eighty nine?
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Let's go Eric Davis?
Speaker 7 (33:50):
Eric Davis, Wow, I would have never got that.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
Of Crenshaw High. Also, Darryl Strawberry, I played on a
Winter Cincinnati is rookie team with Daryl Strawberry. Story for
a different day.
Speaker 7 (34:03):
All right, I was I was less than a year old.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
No excuses, Well.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
You know, I mean, I studied the War of eighteen twelve.
I wasn't born then yet, but I get it, all right.
Speaker 7 (34:15):
Nobody studies the Reds.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Well, there might be one or two people out there,
actually nobody studies. All right, here's another one. Now, this
just happened, and you guys are probably gonna get this.
I'm the only major League baseball player in history who
have actually played a regular season Major League baseball game
(34:39):
in five different countries. Coop, what my name?
Speaker 7 (34:45):
Oh wow, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
All right, we move on. I'm the only major League
baseball player to play a regular season Major league baseball
in five different countries. I think I see it. What
my name?
Speaker 7 (35:04):
Paul Goldschmid, Look at you guys, just showing off.
Speaker 9 (35:07):
I just saw it on the MLB network, did Suta Graphica? Yeah,
this hat is going to the Hall of Fame after
playing in London.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
Yes, he's played in of course, the United States, Canada, Mexico,
Australia and then London.
Speaker 4 (35:21):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
London. You and I gotta kick out jolly good ol
jolly old time. Now I want the street to continue.
You guys have got one, two, three, four, five, six,
seven eight. We're gonna have to do this again tomorrow night.
But this one is a toughiet and you might be
pissed at me when I give you the answer, but
we are going to roll along because that's what we do,
all right. Saturday night, Chase Anderson of the Colorado Rockies
(35:47):
surrendered three home runs on three consecutive pitches. But this
was also done back in twenty twenty by a pitcher.
I also gave up three home runs on three consecutive
pitches back in twenty twenty. Cool, what my name?
Speaker 7 (36:08):
Hmmmmmm, No, it's Yinderguard.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Not no, it's kindergarten. But I love, I love the effort,
love the effort. Okay, here we go, last one on
the board. See if we go for a back to
bat a thousand. Saturday Night, Chase Anderson of the Colorado
Rockies surrendered three home runs on three consecutive pitches. Now,
I also gave up three home runs on three consecutive
(36:35):
pitchers in a game back in nineteen or check that
twenty twenty, Eddy Garcia, what my name?
Speaker 5 (36:42):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (36:43):
Is it rich Hill?
Speaker 3 (36:44):
Oh? I love Rich Hill. I saw him pitch at
University of Michigan. How old was he?
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Not?
Speaker 3 (36:47):
About sixty?
Speaker 4 (36:48):
He hold the pirates and he gives the home runs
all the time.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
So still effective? Still well maybe not so not so much.
Still finds and giants gotta be like forty five? Isn't
he rich? Or isn't he yety?
Speaker 9 (36:57):
I'm sorry, he's a forty three?
Speaker 3 (37:01):
There you go, all right, So it's not Richiel, It's
not no Cindergarten. Let me redo the question. To set
this up. Saturday night, Chase Anderson of the Colorado Rockies
gave up three home runs on three consecutive pitches. I
also gave up three home runs on three consecutive pitchers
in twenty twenty. Here comes the answer, and I'm gonna duck.
(37:23):
Believe it or not, guys, it's Chase Anderson. He's the
last one.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
To do it.
Speaker 4 (37:29):
That's pretty impressive.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
That's what you call a body of work. Guys. You
were absolutely outstanding. You just you know, grabbed me by
the neck and threw me around them. You know, we're
gonna do this again tomorrow. Night, So you guys are
outstanding at this game. Another rousing edition of what kind
of Brand New Fool, followed by what my Name
Thanks for listening to the best of the Benmaler Show podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weeknight from two
to six Eastern eleven pm to three am Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio and to find your local station for
the Benmatherers Show at Foxsports Radio dot com. You can
find it there or stream us live every night on
(00:20):
the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
This is the best of the Ben Maler Show on
Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Greetings, salutations, and a warm welcome to the Malar Militia,
your families, your friends, your close associates, intimate strangers, Grandma
and all the rest of the Western Hemisphere. I am
not Ben Maller, i am not Archie Billing the Drells,
and I'm not Kim Kardashian. My name is Bernie Fratton. Yes,
we're coming to you live from the tyraq dot com
(00:54):
studios here in Las Vegas. Tyreq dot com. We'll help
you get there an unmatched selection, fast free shipping, free
roadazard protection, and over ten thousand recommended installers tyreq dot com.
The way tire buying should be Now, after you're scoring home,
or even if you're just by yourself. This is my
(01:15):
ninth Ben Malor Show. And you know, I have real respect,
mad respect for the mount of Militia. There are plenty
of fan bases in the planet. The Raider Nation and
the Cheeseheads and the Bill's Mafia, Cameron Crazies. They're all cool,
but they're not the mal of Malaysia, are they? These
(01:35):
are not empty words, So you get to prove your metal. Tonight,
we're gonna be taking your calls. I honor the Ben
Mallar format. We'll be taking your calls all night tonight
eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox. And don't be shy,
bring it, bring it early and off and have a
little fun. The summer is here. Let's chop it up. Now.
We are at the halfway point of the calendar year.
(01:56):
My goodness, how time flies and the sports year were
halfway basically through the calendar sports year. Do you get
the feeling we're living in bizarre world? I've said it
a thousand times. Sports are the greatest reality showed. You
can script everything but the ending. You don't believe me.
(02:18):
Take hockey and yeah, I live in Vegas. You know
those poor Canucks north of the border, they haven't won
a Stanley Cup since Clinton was president. Meanwhile, who wins
this year's Cup? A team from the desert, a team
from the desert that didn't even exist six years ago,
and a team from the desert beats a team from
(02:41):
the beach? Did I mention we're talking hockey? We're talking
hockey here and we're talking deserts and beaches. Now, word
has it people in Toronto and Buffalo are pissed. Yeah,
I get it. Buffalo's never won the Cup. They did
have a near miss in nineteen ninety nine against Dallas.
Toronto hasn't won a Cup up since before Nixon was president.
(03:03):
I'll have to get Eddie's thoughts on the Golden Knights.
We've even had Jonathan Quick on the roster by Wait,
what's his fixation with presidents? Who the hell writes this stuff?
All Right? You know mel Brooks once said it's good
to be the King. Well, it's even better to be
stan Kronk. Are we living in bizarre world? Stan Kronk
has won NFL, NHL, and now NBA titles and back
(03:26):
to back to back seasons. The Denver Nuggets their first
championship a couple of weeks ago. On a Monday night,
gave owner Stan Kronk another title. Is La Rams won
the Super Bowl two years ago, and of course his
Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup last season. Bizarre world. Yes,
(03:47):
how about the Cincinnati Reds. Not long ago, they were
drawing seven thousand fans a game. They were sold out
Friday night, they were sold out Saturday night. They're in
first in their division, hanging on by a thread. And
their young star, Ellie de la Cruz, well, he was
five years old when Joey Vado made his debut back
(04:10):
in two thousand and seven. Bizarre world. How about the
PGA and the LIV You know, not long ago they
were pissing on each other's shoes and burning up legal
fees to the tune up, I need one hundred and
fifty million. Now they're in bed together. And Roy McElroy
is a suckerficial alum. Yes, he's a suckerficial a lamb.
I just feel awful for Roy McElroy's suckerficial lum. Hey,
(04:34):
desperate people do desperate things. Man. The PGA was bleeding money.
They were becoming desperate. Don't act like they weren't. Meanwhile,
the LIV is hungry for a seat at the world table.
They want to be part of the world of sports.
They want to be part of the world of culture.
They're willing to pay plus the liv the Live tour.
(04:58):
They want more eyeballs, they want more legitimacy, and they
want a bona fide TV contract. But redle me this batman,
They say, the PGA will still get to call the
shots while they live pays all the bills. Huh, they
pay the bills, the Live pays the bills, but the
pg gets to call the shots.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Can you say collision course? Yep, it was our world.
How about those lovable Oklan a's. We're gonna get into
that later tonight, barring unforeseen speed bumps, market calendars for
twenty twenty eight, and you too can watch Major League
Baseball in the Mohave Desert. Yup, they pulled it off.
(05:41):
Were they invited? No, this ain't the Golden Knights of
the Raiders. Frankly, the a's showed up uninvited, hat in hand,
and they asked for three hundred and eighty million dollars
of public money. Well it goes like this ask and
you shall receive it. Made no mistake. I go out
(06:02):
to the ballpark I love baseball, but the backstory of
how this happened is bizarre but true. You'll hear how
it happened coming up. Meanwhile, there's a new singing in Phoenix.
Try the Bial Hey, I'm here, I wink yes, try
the Beal. Bradley Beal. Oh yeah, he's the answer to
all your problems in Phoenix. Another big three. Thank you,
(06:23):
Bradley Beal. You were rumored and you came through. You
were a walking trade rumor. And the Wizards, less than
a year after giving him a super Max contract, agreed
last week to send him in his giant contract with
the Suns. So much dunpack. We'll get to some of
the NBA stuff later. Half your head. You'll be scratching
your head. And by the way, you got to give
(06:44):
some credit, a lot of credit actually to the new
Phoenix owner, Matt Eshbia. If you haven't heard that name,
you may have seen him on HBO Real Sports. He's
in Michigan State alum. He was on the two thousand
Michigan State Tomazo team that beat Florida for the national championship.
One of those raps diving for balls on the floor.
Got a few minutes here and there, came out of college,
(07:04):
got into the loan business. The mortgage business, made billions
and I mean billions with a B. And he came
to prominence a couple of years ago when he gave
mil Tucker that giant contract. He had football coach at
Michigan State to prevent him from going to LSU. Tucker
beat Michigan back to back. And if you live in
Michigan and Michigan State beats Michigan back to back, well,
(07:26):
well you can walk on water. So matt Eshbia, he's
he's going for it. Okay, he's going for it. Another
Big Three. Though forgive me for my cynicism, but if
I had a nickel for every new NBA Big Three
and all the predictions of greatness, Elon Musk would be
moing my long And did I mention Bradley Beal has
(07:46):
missed only seventy four games in the last two seasons. Well,
hopefully matt Eshbia gets his one hundred and sixty three
million dollars worth it because he's committed to bial Durant
and Booker and DeAndre Ayton. No pressure new coach Frank Vogel. Hey,
remember Frank Vogel is a defensive minded coach? Does Beale
(08:10):
make the Suns better defensively? Is there anything Phoenix really
did to close the gap between them and Denver? We'll
unpack that later. I would see. I have no idea.
Now comes Victor wembin Yama. He's already in the Hall
of Fame. Doesn't need to play a game. By the way,
I did see him play here in the G League.
Scored thirty six points. It's the G League did pretty
(08:32):
well in France. But can we pump the brakes just
a minute. I'm not rooting against the guy. I like
to see him do well. He is a genetically gifted
human being. We will see if a seven foot five
frame eighty two nights a year, ninety four feet up
and down, back and forth, getting bumped, getting hit, fighting
(08:54):
through picks, getting banged, can that seven foot five frame
defight the There have been seven players in the history
of the NBA that were seven foot five. Only one
average ten points a game. His name the venerable Yao Ming.
Twenty years ago, a kid named Lebron James was the
(09:14):
chosen one cover of Sports Illi Street. I actually think
he was more hyped. We'd actually see him play. I
saw him play. I was living in Detroit at the time.
I was having to know my Michian drove down two
hours of Cleveland March in twenty oh three. I said,
I gotta see this Saint Vincent, Saint Mary. I take
a look at him, and the first thing I see
is an NBA body. He said, wooh. He's got the frame,
he's got guard skills, he's got handles, he's got court
(09:37):
Since he's unselfish, I said to myself, Yeah, I think
he could put this guy in an NBA game and
he'd be all right. Well, they put him in some
NBA games and he was all right. Twenty years later,
can we say that about Victor Wimbenyama. We're gonna find out.
Don't tell me, show me now. He may very well
(09:58):
do it. He as a boy playing in a man's game,
and he may not have success right away, or he
may have some success right away, or he'll block some shots,
he'll do something. Ooh A, here we go. And how
many games is San Antonio gonna win? I don't know,
but don't forget to try the beal, and while you're
at it, drink the kool aid to wash it down.
(10:20):
Bombastic sports stories. We got a ton of them tonight.
I promise you we are all over the map. And
we're only halfway through the calendar year at twenty twenty three,
and we're only halfway through the sports here, so we're
just getting started.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Ben Meller
Show weekdays at two am Eastern eleven pm Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
It's amazing how the news cycle in the NBA never
ends twenty four to seven, including today. Free agency starts
next Friday. We just had a draft. We've got everything
from breakfast tacos to trying the beal to well, it
looks like DeAndre eating going anywhere. Oh my god, who
(11:06):
writes his stuff? That's why we bring in this gentleman
at midnight. It's that time. Oh it's about a little
Medina magic. Medina covers the NBA. He's all over the
NBA like a hole bo on a ham sandwich. He's
got his finger on the pulse. He's got his whole
body on the pulse. Mark, can you believe it? There's
news today. After we talked last night about the thought
(11:30):
that the Bradley Beal deal in and of itself wouldn't
be enough. And now they're saying DeAndre eating going anywhere.
Speaker 5 (11:37):
Your thoughts, well, my thoughts, there's two things. As far
as you know, the news always having something new every day.
Just buck up this week. It's going to be like
that every single day. But the thoughts on that development,
I don't get it. I mean, they're gonna be top heavy.
I think DeAndre Ayton will be a better player under
Frank Vogel. But if any of those guys get hurt,
(11:59):
it's just gonna be like a house of cards crumbling
down fast. So we'll see what happens.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Let me ask you a question, mark, could it be
a head fake? Because there have been gams, there have
been gms who have said we're not trading this guy
and then they do.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
It could very well be a headsake. I mean, look,
at the end of the day, general managers do two things.
They negotiate trades. Three things they negotiate trades, they sign players,
and they lie. They lie to agent, they lie to players.
So yeah, it very well could be a head fake.
The key words is when they say intend, plan, want,
(12:37):
those aren't definitive words. So maybe it was something along
those lines that they told them, but at least maybe
for this upcoming season open the season looks like DeAndre
and will be in the Sun's uniform, but that could
always be subject to change leading into the trade deadline.
But we'll see.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
So the draft is forty eight hours in the rear
view mirror. But now are when the real start, you know,
stories start to come out in terms of the analysis
and who ostensibly did well. And now you're hearing the
comments coming from you know, Greg Popovich setting expectations for
Victor wiman Yama. What has been your biggest takeaway coming
(13:18):
out of this draft?
Speaker 5 (13:19):
Well, I think the biggest takeaway is the fact that
Portland decided to use their number three pick on Scoot
Henderson instead of trading the pick in lieu of the
fact that Damian Lillard's made it clear that he doesn't
want to be on a young team right because suddenly
he's sealing the urgency of wanting to win a championship.
And I don't think that means that the Portland Trailblazers
(13:41):
will ever say, look, we're going to trade you, Damian.
That will really hinge on Damien pounding on the door
and saying I want out, which I don't know if
he'll do, but at least send a message that the
front office is going to make decisions that they feel
is best fit for the organization as opposed to what
a player wants. So that's the most interesting. But I
think with Victor Wee Minyama, we knew he's gonna be
(14:03):
the number one pick, but it's just cool to see
how he's immediately buying into everything. I mean, he's getting
dinner with all the Spurs luminaries, you know, David Robinson,
Tim Duncan, Sean Elliott. He's making Tim Duncan and David
Robinson look like small guards in this photo that he shared,
you know, the breakfast taco bit that you talked about.
(14:23):
That's been amazing. It's already showing that he knows what
resonates with Santonio. So it just feels like this is
the beginning of a twenty year marriage that's gonna yield
a lot of winning, a lot of championships. So you know,
Spurs fans are ready to enjoy it.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Well, here's the thing. The Denver Nuggets, very you know,
deservedly so, are on the top of the heap. So
if you are a Golden State, if you are Phoenix,
can you really honestly say you did anything to close
the gap between where you're at and catching the Denver Nuggets?
And I haven't even brought up the Lakers yet. Amazingly,
(15:01):
we didn't talk about the Lakers the other night. What
are your thoughts on the Lakers going forward? And is
it true that there's a rift between Lebron and the
front office.
Speaker 5 (15:11):
Again, Yeah, as far as the Lakers go, I mean, look,
I don't think they realistically could have done anything in
the draft as far as using those picks to land
a blockbuster deal. They had a seventeenth pick and a
forty seventh pick, like the mid first round and second
round picks aren't going to land to a star. So
I think that they did well with the draft all
(15:32):
things considered. But I think the bigger question is moving forward.
Are they all about going all in or are they
trying to retain a lot of their players? And I
think that that's really what's going to happen. They're going
to retain Rulyatchamora, Austin Reefs for sure, D'Angel Russell. I
think it's going to be continial if they can find
signed in trade suitors and then if not, can they
(15:56):
sign him in a reasonable deal. Now, as far as
the rift between Lebron James in the front office, I mean, look,
he's going to stay a Laker for you know, under contract,
so he might be frustrated if they make moves that
aren't in win now, but it's not going to change anything.
He's going to show up, he's going to punch in,
punch out, He's going to be ready to play. He's
(16:17):
going to be a professional, and I don't think that
he's going to get involved in the front office. But yeah,
he might be upset, but I don't think it's going
to change the course of anything here. I think the
front office is going to do what they feel his
best and Lebron James, whether he agrees with it or not,
will do what he can to get healthy next season
and still delay Father Times somehow in his twenty first
(16:40):
NBA season.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
So as far as the quest for a championship, when
you look across the league and obviously free agency is Friday.
But the one big name that you know, I think
it was a Cya deal Draymond Green. Can you see
any scenario possibly where Draymond Green is not a Golden
(17:04):
State Warrior next year, especially in light of the fact
that the Warriors have moved on from Jordan One punch Pool.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
That's a good nickname there. Look, I think the larger
part of them trading Jordan Poole is the size of
the contract and them getting flexibility of, you know, being
under some of these repeating taxes because of this new
labor deal. Gives them more money to maybe keep Raymond Green,
gives them more money to keep Klay Thompson after next
(17:33):
summer when he becomes a free agent. But no doubt
there is a little bit of the elephant in the
room that you know that there was that awkwardness after
the punch. Now, I think what listeners have to understand
here is this is a professional sports league. So it's
about basketball. It's a business at the end of the day.
So the Warriors, they're not faulding Jordan Pool whatsoever. Like
(17:54):
he did nothing wrong, he did nothing to deserve this punch.
But with that they're going to value, you wait, everything
from a basketball standpoint, And so with that, they clearly
made a line in the sand after the season ended
that for all the strength that Jordan showed as a
player and the weaknesses. It's about further leaning into the
(18:15):
players that got them championships because they felt like they're
more dependable. So as a result of that, they're clearly
prioritizing Draymond Green. That's not to say they condone his behavior,
but it's a business. They're valuing the winning products at
the end of the day, so that's what they did.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Talking with Mark mendena are five Sports Radio NBA guru,
you hear him all around the networking for a good reason.
He has his finger very much on the pulse. So
when we get to Friday, Mark, what do you anticipate
which teams might be the most active? Will Dame stay
in Portland? What's the one blockbuster signing we're not seeing
(18:53):
right now that maybe you can prognosticate.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
Yeah, that's the thing that's interesting. I feel like that's
free and seeing. I might be wrong when we talk
next week, because there's always things that happen, but it
feels like a lot of these moves are all like
fake hustle, Like these guys opted out of their contracts
and he think, oh no, maybe they leave, but it
was really because the CAP's going to go higher and
they can get a better deal and they'll wind up staying.
(19:19):
I really think the only like dominant free agent that
could be on the move and likely on the move
is Fred Van Vliet with the Toronto Raptors because he
opted out of his deal. While he owes a lot
of allegiances to Toronto, they signed him as an undrafted player.
He flourished under the organization, becoming an All Star, winning
(19:40):
a championship. The writing on the wall is clear. The
Raptors are in rebuilding mode, and I think Fred van
Vliet is in winning mode and he's going to get
a lot of suitors that have the cap space to
get him, or maybe they do sign in trade because
Toronto's about collecting assets. So if I had to guess,
you know this marquee free agent that's going to leave,
(20:00):
it would be him. But I think a lot of
the other guys you look at James Harden, Kyrie Irving,
Draymond Green, like, I don't think any of those guys
are going anywhere, But look, anything can happen in the NBA.
So maybe we talk next week and I'm proven wrong.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Well, your insights are always very good, and the final
thing I have for you. It feels like all of
a sudden now after the fact, the Marcus Smart to
Memphis deals being called into question somewhat, and people are
asking did Boston get better swapping basically Christap porsingis and
moving Marcus Smart when Marcus Smart was kind of the
(20:37):
heart and soul of the team. Is that were kind
of the heart beat of the team. What are your
thoughts about Boston next year and what kind of impact
can Marcus Smart have in Memphis?
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Yeah? I think that I like chrisoffs Forerzengis. He's a
complete offensive player. I do have some questions about his health,
but I do also understand that he had better health
last season with Washington. Explained to me when I talked
with him for a substantial period of time this last season,
how he's done a lot of things to improve his
(21:07):
body and that the injury issues weren't as a result
of his body composition, they were just specific injuries. But
Marcus Smart that by losing them, the Celtics became a
worst team.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
That's thank you.
Speaker 5 (21:20):
That's not to say they can't win a championship because
they still have Jason Tatum and Joe and Brown on
the team, But yeah, Marcus Smart was their heart and soul,
great defender, occasional three point shooter, great passer. He held
those guys accountable. So yeah, what he brings to Memphis
is he's going to reduce all the bs that's been
(21:42):
plaguing Memphis, So John Morant's nonsense, some of the immature behavior. Look,
Dylan Brooks is probably not going to be back with
the Grizzlies anyway, So maybe it's a mute point, but
I think the larger point is Sean Morant and just
kind of be enabling culture that they had around that team,
and I think that Marcus Smart will eradicate some of
that and that will also fit in with the on
(22:04):
the court play because that grit and grime mentality that's
Marcus Smart's game. So yeah, they really need him for
every reason. Unmatchable and he's gonna do wonders for them.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
All right, buddy, great stuff as always, enjoy your week ahead.
It'll probably be a slow news week, don't you think.
Speaker 5 (22:22):
Yeah, nothing's gonna happen in the NBA this week at all. Well,
I think we have nothing to talk about when we
link up on the airwaves again.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Thanks so much. My man, That of course is Mark
Medina our Fox Sports Radio and via Guru Medina Magic.
He's on my show every Saturday night at midnight, because really,
the new cycle in the NBA is always twenty four
to seven. I appreciate the Mallard Militia family allowing Mark
in tonight.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Ben Meller
Show weekdays at two am Eastern eleven pm Pacific.
Speaker 6 (22:57):
Bally Fusco, Hey with Tony. Of course, you know us
as the host of the number one rated Bally and Tony.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Fusco show world Right now.
Speaker 6 (23:06):
We all know you're sick and tired of these stupid
sports shows where the hosts say stupid things like Tom
Brady's the Goats.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Or Lebron James is good at basketball, which he is
clearly not.
Speaker 3 (23:17):
See.
Speaker 7 (23:17):
We give you smart takes.
Speaker 6 (23:18):
Yeah, and we also bring on so called famous guests
from across the sports world and show them why we
know much more than they do.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
You're off the show.
Speaker 6 (23:28):
Listen to the Baly and Tony Fusco Show on the
iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Every day, every minute, every hour of every day in
this great country of ours, and across the globe from
seed to Oily Sea. We find that people engage in odd, weird,
questionable behaviors. Sometimes they're very innocuous, innocent, just stupid. Sometimes
they're very nefurious. Many times they are criminal. But regardless
(23:59):
of the regardless of the event, you find them engaging
in activities that only leave you scratching your head and
asking yourself, what kind of brand new fool are you? So?
Speaker 2 (24:16):
What kind of brand new fool are you?
Speaker 3 (24:19):
This one is an absolute beauty because it's right out
of the Shawshank Redemption playbook. Folks meet Arley Nimo and
John Garza. Both of them were inmates at a county
jail in Newport News, Virginia. But and this is just
a minimum security prison. And I don't even know what
(24:41):
the hell they were in jail for, but will actually
take that back. They were both in jail for probation
violations and credit card fraud things of this nature. That's
why they were in a secure, minimum security prison. But
I digress. Guess what they did last week? Well turns
(25:02):
out they again this is right out of Shawshank Redection Redemption.
They managed to tunnel through a hole in a cell
wall and escape from the city jail by using a toothbrush.
And once they got outside, they were able to scale
the wall, the security wall, and they were escaped and
(25:23):
they were home free. Here's what's interesting. Instead of blowing town,
getting the hell out of there, getting the hell out
of Dodge, getting the hell out of Newport News, Well,
they were hungry. They wanted to have a little nash
so how convenient they decided to stop in at ihop
in nearby Hampton, Virginia, and they were enjoying their food
(25:47):
around three am in the morning. That's the Department of
Redundancy department. I don't know what they were having, maybe
a rudy twoty freshman fruity breakfast or hell, I don't know,
maybe Moon's over Miami. But whatever it was, some somehow
they got spotted and thanks to the tip of a citizen,
not sure how or why, they were taken back into
(26:10):
custody and rearrested. And now they are back behind bars
and facing a whole new series of new charges. Now,
I like a hop not a sponsor here. Maybe they
should be, but I will tell you, if you escape
from jail, if you're dumb, enough to be in jail,
dumb enough to escape from jail, dumb enough to engage
(26:32):
in these type of behaviors. Why the hell do you
stop at I Hop a few blocks away when you're
home free and too stupid to know it? And it
leaves you asking yourself what kind of brand new fool? Arley,
Nemo and John guards of what kind of brand new
fool are you? Thanks for playing, folks? All right? That
(26:53):
segues into my second favorite bit on the weekends that
we lovingly refer to as what my Name? I got
a feeling Eddie and Coop will do very well at this,
so I will share with you a simple factoid and
ask the question what my name and see if they
can identify Sam Marisi. Some are a little bit more difficult.
(27:14):
We are all over the map here, all right, We'll
start with this, dude. I'm you know, stealing bases in
the major leagues has actually kind of gone by the
way of the Dodo bird. So I'm the last Major
League baseball player to steal at least seventy stolen bases
in a season. I did it back in two thousand
(27:36):
and nine. Coop, what my name.
Speaker 7 (27:41):
Is? De Gordon?
Speaker 3 (27:43):
Hey, it's an excellent guest. It's not Dee Gordon. Kevin
wired guess de Gordon last night as well, But it's
a good guess. I'm the last major League baseball player
to steal at least seventy stolen bases in a season.
I did it back in two thousand and nine. Eddie
what my name?
Speaker 8 (28:06):
No, are we already first time? I apology. Let's start over. Okay,
let's start over. Go ahead, Mark, put the kibosh on
the clock. By the way I should have explained, it's
a it's a five second clock if you just keep
it moving, all right, let me apologize that.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Let me start over. Okay, I'm the last Major League
baseball player to steal at least seventy bases in a season.
I did it back in two thousand and nine. Eddie Garcia,
what my name?
Speaker 4 (28:36):
Ricky Henderson?
Speaker 3 (28:38):
Again, not a bad guess.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
No, that is a bad guess.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
Actually, well, I guess he didn't play in two thousand
and ninety. Yeah, you're right, bad comment by me, bad
job by me. All right, I'll give you guys a clue.
He played for the Boston Red Sox. Anybody want to
take a stab?
Speaker 7 (28:55):
Jacoby Elsberry, Jacoby Ellsbury.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
See I were yes off and running. All right, this
one is a beauty. This one is just pure trivia.
It's the thing. I'm You'll get this one. This past
week in nineteen seventy, while pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates,
I pitched a no hitter while high on acid. Eddie Garcia,
(29:20):
what my name?
Speaker 4 (29:21):
Well, it's Doc Ellis.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Spam play you guys, just show it off now.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
I'm a Pirates fan. That was a pretty famous story.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
So, and you know what's funny, Eddie, he's like proud
of it. It's a badge of honor. He's never denied it.
He's he's you were gonna say something. I think I'll
cut you off. Right after you said, Doc Allis, it
felt like you were gonna add some commentary.
Speaker 9 (29:40):
No, I just I'm a Pirates fan, and that's a
pretty famous story. So I'm not gonna felt my chest
too much of that one.
Speaker 3 (29:46):
All right, All good, it still counts. All right. Moving on,
Let's try a little football. Believe it or not. I'm
the all time New York Jets quarterback leader when it
comes to playoff road winds. I've got four four playoff
road wins. Coope, what my name?
Speaker 7 (30:06):
Chad Pennington or like Chad, great player out of Marshall.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
So I'm hooked up with Randy Moss their final college
game at the Silver Dome. Not not Chad Pennington. All right,
I'm the all time New York Jets quarterback leader when
it comes to road playoff wins. I've got four road
playoff wins. Eddy Garcia, what my name?
Speaker 4 (30:27):
I was that one of them? Is it? Mark Sanchez?
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Look at you guys? Three for three and we roll
right along and we're walking. All right. I'm the only
player in NBA history to win a League MVP, an
NBA Finals MVP, and a Sixth Man Award? Coop? What
(30:51):
my name?
Speaker 7 (30:56):
What was the first one? What was the first?
Speaker 3 (30:57):
Start over? We'll start the clock over, Mark, all right,
I'm the only player in NBA history to win a
League MVP, ohez, a Finals MVP, and the Sixth Man Award? Coop?
What my name?
Speaker 4 (31:14):
No idea?
Speaker 7 (31:15):
I was gonna say Andrea Goodala, but he's never won
league MVP, so I have no idea.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
All right, I'm the only player in NBA history to
win the League MVP, the NBA Finals MVP, and the
sixth Man Award, Edy Garcia. What my name is it?
Bill Walton bam four for four. The kicker on that question.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Is yea with the Celtics at the end of his career.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
Yes, yes, because you don't see that combination ever. Right,
An MVP and then a sixth Man Award. By the way,
pretty interesting thirty for thirty on him, called the luckiest
man alive. Bill's an interesting guy and remember his days
at UCLA very interesting guy. All right, here we go.
You guys are gonna get this one too, because I
tease it earlier in the show. In the history of
(32:01):
the National Basketball Association, there have been seven players seven
foot five who played, but only one averaged ten points
per game. It was me. What my name? Coop?
Speaker 7 (32:15):
What my name YAO mean?
Speaker 3 (32:18):
Look at you guys, Look at you guys, just making
a mocker. You're tearing this course apart. All right, here
we go. Back in the day. Now, I'm a legendary
football player. Keyword is legendary. Now back in the day.
I was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of college,
but I shunned them and instead signed with the Kansas
(32:41):
City Royals. Coop, what my name.
Speaker 7 (32:50):
Bo Jackson.
Speaker 3 (32:52):
Bo Jackson, you guys are back in one thousand, Eddy,
I think I should have gone to you there. That's
my bad.
Speaker 4 (32:59):
That's all right. I knew it as well.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
I know you did. I knew you did, all right.
Speaker 9 (33:02):
You know what's funny, The first one was by far
the hardness. Usually these, the way Ben does, it is
harder as we go along. But I thought that first
one was the hardest.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
You know, I'm not smart enough to think of these things.
Speaker 7 (33:12):
I just.
Speaker 3 (33:15):
Put names on. I got a few holes in my game,
you know. So anyway, all right, and they might actually
these next three you're gonna be a little harder. Actually,
ad you mentioned that, all right? Saturday night, Cincinnati Reds
rookie Ellie Day La Cruz hit for the cycle. I'm
the last one to hit for the cycle before Ellie
(33:36):
Da La Cruz. I did it on July second, nineteen
eighty nine, as a player for the Cincinnati Reds. Eddie Garcia.
What my name?
Speaker 4 (33:43):
I'm sorry? What was the year again?
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Real quick? Nineteen eighty nine?
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Let's go Eric Davis?
Speaker 7 (33:50):
Eric Davis, Wow, I would have never got that.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
Of Crenshaw High. Also, Darryl Strawberry, I played on a
Winter Cincinnati is rookie team with Daryl Strawberry. Story for
a different day.
Speaker 7 (34:03):
All right, I was I was less than a year old.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
No excuses, Well.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
You know, I mean, I studied the War of eighteen twelve.
I wasn't born then yet, but I get it, all right.
Speaker 7 (34:15):
Nobody studies the Reds.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Well, there might be one or two people out there,
actually nobody studies. All right, here's another one. Now, this
just happened, and you guys are probably gonna get this.
I'm the only major League baseball player in history who
have actually played a regular season Major League baseball game
(34:39):
in five different countries. Coop, what my name?
Speaker 7 (34:45):
Oh wow, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (34:51):
All right, we move on. I'm the only major League
baseball player to play a regular season Major league baseball
in five different countries. I think I see it. What
my name?
Speaker 7 (35:04):
Paul Goldschmid, Look at you guys, just showing off.
Speaker 9 (35:07):
I just saw it on the MLB network, did Suta Graphica? Yeah,
this hat is going to the Hall of Fame after
playing in London.
Speaker 3 (35:15):
Yes, he's played in of course, the United States, Canada, Mexico,
Australia and then London.
Speaker 4 (35:21):
I like that.
Speaker 3 (35:22):
London. You and I gotta kick out jolly good ol
jolly old time. Now I want the street to continue.
You guys have got one, two, three, four, five, six,
seven eight. We're gonna have to do this again tomorrow night.
But this one is a toughiet and you might be
pissed at me when I give you the answer, but
we are going to roll along because that's what we do,
all right. Saturday night, Chase Anderson of the Colorado Rockies
(35:47):
surrendered three home runs on three consecutive pitches. But this
was also done back in twenty twenty by a pitcher.
I also gave up three home runs on three consecutive
pitches back in twenty twenty. Cool, what my name?
Speaker 7 (36:08):
Hmmmmmm, No, it's Yinderguard.
Speaker 3 (36:13):
Not no, it's kindergarten. But I love, I love the effort,
love the effort. Okay, here we go, last one on
the board. See if we go for a back to
bat a thousand. Saturday Night, Chase Anderson of the Colorado
Rockies surrendered three home runs on three consecutive pitches. Now,
I also gave up three home runs on three consecutive
(36:35):
pitchers in a game back in nineteen or check that
twenty twenty, Eddy Garcia, what my name?
Speaker 5 (36:42):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (36:43):
Is it rich Hill?
Speaker 3 (36:44):
Oh? I love Rich Hill. I saw him pitch at
University of Michigan. How old was he?
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Not?
Speaker 3 (36:47):
About sixty?
Speaker 4 (36:48):
He hold the pirates and he gives the home runs
all the time.
Speaker 3 (36:50):
So still effective? Still well maybe not so not so much.
Still finds and giants gotta be like forty five? Isn't
he rich? Or isn't he yety?
Speaker 9 (36:57):
I'm sorry, he's a forty three?
Speaker 3 (37:01):
There you go, all right, So it's not Richiel, It's
not no Cindergarten. Let me redo the question. To set
this up. Saturday night, Chase Anderson of the Colorado Rockies
gave up three home runs on three consecutive pitches. I
also gave up three home runs on three consecutive pitchers
in twenty twenty. Here comes the answer, and I'm gonna duck.
(37:23):
Believe it or not, guys, it's Chase Anderson. He's the
last one.
Speaker 2 (37:27):
To do it.
Speaker 4 (37:29):
That's pretty impressive.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
That's what you call a body of work. Guys. You
were absolutely outstanding. You just you know, grabbed me by
the neck and threw me around them. You know, we're
gonna do this again tomorrow. Night, So you guys are
outstanding at this game. Another rousing edition of what kind
of Brand New Fool, followed by what my Name
Host
Ben Maller
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