On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff dives into Jalen Brunson’s incredible rise and the underdog mentality that has helped define his career. John breaks down why leadership, toughness, and mentality often matter just as much as raw talent when building winning teams.
John also gives a reality check on Victor Wembanyama, discussing the sky-high expectations surrounding the young superstar and what fair expectations should actually look like.
Plus, why the NBA Finals genuinely mattered this year—not just for basketball, but for the league’s broader narrative—and what made this championship run feel different. John also admits where he was wrong about Team USA Soccer and reflects on how his perspective has changed.
The episode also includes a moment to remember Aldon Smith and the impact he had on football during his career.
To wrap things up, John discusses whether firing a great coach ever truly works and what the Knicks’ championship meant to New Yorkers, a fan base that has waited decades for a title.
From sports psychology and player evaluation to championship legacy and coaching philosophy, it’s all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.
Follow John on Twitter, and Instagram for the latest.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume. What is going on? My people? How are
we doing? John Middlecoff Three and Now Podcast. Congratulations of
(00:21):
Jalen Brunson the New York Knicks. Uh, congratulations as a
soccer guy, because he's been telling me this is our year.
We're good John. He might be right. He might be right.
So I did want it Jalen Brunston and Victor Weber Yama.
Compared to some NFL stuff, the World Cup game was
pretty incredible. I mean that was not a huge soccer guy,
(00:41):
but that was that was fun. Some sad news in
the NFL, and I wanted to I wanted to make
a little list of my five teams that because the
impact and the reaction to the Knicks, the drought, the
passion their fan base, what it would look like in
the NFL. So I found five teams that I think
(01:06):
I want to do a little ranking of teams that
would just elicit that emotional response of just over the years,
such let down and futility to we sting a trophy.
So we'll talk about that at the end. But other
than that, you guys know the drill. If you listen
on Collins Feed, make sure you subscribe three and out
Its own feed. We're we're up on Netflix, so you
(01:28):
can check that out as well, and let's dive in.
But I did want to start with I actually think
the most relatable the crazy thing is like the New
York Knicks. Their franchise relative to pro sports is not
that relatable. They have an enormous fan base in a
day and age, specifically in basketball and baseball, where their
(01:52):
television revenue is not like the NFL where everyone is
under this umbrella of taking in these huge media deals
because they all share it. In the NBA, you have
these local rights. Nicks run faced, massive market owner, super rich. Honestly,
everyone told me the guy was the village idiot. He
does the sphere, which I've never been, but everyone I
(02:14):
know that has been say it's like a religious experience
going you check out the stock price and the thing that
guy's involved with their skyrocketing. So James Dolan's on fire now.
And we talk a lot in football how an owner,
and it starts at the top. Whatever he's done. I mean,
things are going well for James Dolan. There's no disputing that.
With the people he's hiring. Some of the moves they've
(02:35):
made in Vegas, which I read recently that's gonna spawn
throughout the country, the sphere. I need to go sooner
or later. But I would say one of the most
relatable things to most human beings, the overwhelming majority, is
being somewhat of an underdog, being told yeah, I don't
(02:56):
know if you're quite good enough. Yeah, I don't think
you can get that done. Most of us are going
to there's a difference between adversity and like, yeah, I
don't know about this. I don't know about this guy.
And most of us at one point in time in
our life professionally have been told yeah, this might not
be the you know, the right role for you. This
(03:17):
might not be the right job for you. Yeah, we're
not gonna do business with you because of X, Y
and Z. Obviously personally and in your personal relationships dating,
most human beings at one point in time, unless you
marry your like high school sweetheart, are gonna be told no.
And those are the type feelings and emotions. You know.
(03:40):
What's funny is as you get older, what you get
in your forties, some memories in your life fade, and
you could argue even disappear. And there are music or
things in life that can trigger thoughts in your head.
But sometimes I think back, like did I used to
think about this thing a lot? And now I no
longer think about it. But there are certain moments in
(04:02):
your life that you never forget until you're dying days.
And Jalen Brunson has this chip on his shoulder of
being told you're too small, and you know, in the NBA,
unlike the NFL, when you're drafted pick thirty three, if
you're drafted thirty third in the NFL, you're a fucking baller.
(04:23):
That team that just took you thirty three, you know
has dreams of you becoming a Pro Bowl player. The
amount of guys that have been drafted in that slot
of like thirty three to thirty eight that have become
impact players just over the last like ten years in
the NFL let alone historically is really really high. Some
gms would say that is the sweet spot because we
(04:45):
don't have thirty two first round draft picks granted on
our draft board, and we get a guy thirty three,
thirty four to thirty five, and we don't have to
pay first round rates. We get them a second round contract,
and Jalen Brunson, we should debate this a lot when
I worked in personnel. It's still a debate in talk
radio in personnel departments. What does being a winner mean? Like,
(05:09):
just because you were a winner before the pros, does
that guarantee that you're going to be a winner in
the pros, in the NFL, in the NBA, in the
NHL wherever. No, it does not. It simply does not.
I mean, Tim Tebow is one of the greatest college
players that will ever play the sport. He was not
(05:33):
good in the pros. John Elway couldn't move off him
quick enough, and the guy just won a playoff game.
There's no shot of tea ba. I have a lot
of respect for him, but he wasn't an NFL quarterback
because you do have to have certain characteristics to be
viewed as a good NFL prospect. But sometimes when you
don't have the characteristics, And for Jalen Brunson, it's simply height.
(05:57):
He's like, well, he's not a great athlete. Well, when
we're there six to one, you're not gonna play above
the rim. Looks pretty athletic to me. But I think
it's fair to say that he hangs his head on
Obviously skill, but toughness, will just guile, just having khonus
and worked on his craft over the course of his life.
(06:20):
But he was the best player on a dominant college
team where he had already won a national championship in
twenty sixteen. He won another one in twenty eighteen. Player
of the Year consens it's all American, And I was
thinking about football because football and basketball have this alike.
What can really separate guys are the things that you
(06:44):
can't measure. Your drive, your desire, your focus, your heart.
And when I think about the greatest players that I've
watched as just a sports fan, I would say, what
really separated them? Like, obviously they had Michael Jordan was
incredibly skilled. The Michael that I kind of remember mid
(07:06):
nineties or late nineties was no longer like the greatest
athlete in the world. You know, you go back to
YouTube Michael Jordan, like nineteen eighty eight, You're like, I
don't know if I've ever seen anything quite like that.
The Michael I remembered was much more. His skill was special,
but what really separated him was his mentality is competitiveness
(07:28):
in his drive to win. Obviously, that's a defining characteristic
for guys like Tom Brady and Tiger Woods, and you're
watching Jalen Brunson. What he lacks in height because relative
to the NBA he would be considered very short. He
makes up for the intangible stuff now, just because you
have that. If you don't have the skill, it doesn't matter.
(07:50):
But like you look back, clearly he was a catalyst
for a program when I lived in Philadelphia. I vividly
remember one off season, you know, right around the tournament.
Villanova's right down the road. One of our guys in
our department, Mike Bradway, who is now Veitch's number two
guy in Kansas City, played football at Villanova. He's actually
(08:12):
a Kansas fan, but like Andy Reid, was buddies with
Jay Wright. We used to have the tournament on, you know,
during the draft free agency time of year, when you know,
Thursday Friday was not much going on. All the games
are on. Every office has a TV. And I vividly remember,
I can't remember it was the first or second round.
It it was probably Thursday of Friday. Villanova was like
(08:32):
a top two or three seats lost in the first round,
and there was a period of time whereas like Jay
Wright can't get it done until that fucker showed up
and they won two and three years and by his
third year, the year that they were just I mean,
kind of cemented the legacy of the program. Google who
their best player was. And I think it happened sometimes
(08:55):
in football because I was thinking about this, like, these
guys aren't as good as as you know as Jalen Brunson.
I mean, Jalen Brunton is clearly one of the best
players in the league and one of the most dominant
short players in the history of the NBA at offense
and at offense that also wins. Like I've been watching
basketball enough, there's been a lot of great, small, little
(09:15):
offensive players. I wouldn't call them winning basketball players. Jalen
Brunson's a winning basketball player. He's actually been Sins High
school where we want to state championship. But I was
thinking about football and quarterback. Think about Dak Prescott, who
went in the fourth round. If you google some of
his stats at Mississippi State and just relative to the SEC,
(09:38):
he is one of the more heralded SEC quarterbacks in
the history of the conference. At one point in time
during his college career, he took Mississippi State, not exactly Alabama,
Georgia or LSU. They were number one in the country.
This is no shade. Program's kind of a fucking joke,
(09:59):
especially relative to the conference. They got no shot and
back then they had divisions, So you gotta play LSU,
you gotta play Alabama. Not easy, and Dak Prescott had
them right there in the mix. It's one of the
best teams in the country. Shouldn't be the case, you know,
and he did that. Brock perty went to Iowa State,
(10:23):
and Matt Campbell has said this changed the course of
the program. But what did Dak Prescott? You know, I
threw it a little funny. You know, he's not he's soggie, six',
five he's six', to two more of an athlete than.
A player brock, too short not. Good enough who's he?
Actually playing i'm not saying, either Guys But, jalen brunson
they're clearly not but Both Got dak prescott's gonna Be
(10:45):
The dallas cowboys starter for. Fifteen Years brock purdy at
minimum is going to be a decade long starter for
the forty. Nine ERS and i think Sometimes Like tim
tebow WAS an, Nfl quarterback josh McDaniels thought. He was
Turns out josh McDaniels has no clue what he's doing
when he's a, head coach, good coordinator, head coach. Stay
away so just because you win in COLLEGE to, a
(11:06):
one wouldn't have drafted. THEM five i said it at,
the TIME like i don't really, see it and he,
Was INJURED BUT i i do think with football there
is an intangible aspect. To players you're, acquiring PEOPLE and
i think this goes for. All positions what really separates.
These guys and IN, the nba most of the great
(11:30):
players are kind. OF freaks, I mean i mean look AROUND.
The Nba lebron james is one of the biggest freaks
in the history of. The league but who was his
contemporary over the course of the majority of. His career
You Know, steph curry who was six, foot three who
his father's. Alma, mater, so yeah we're not gonna offer you,
a scholarship so we had to Go. To davidson when
(11:54):
you're told you're not. Good Enough, TOM brady i mean
fell to the. Sixth round who's crying? About it midway
THROUGH his, nfl career after he'd Already Won. Super bowls
you never forget those moments and you carry it. WITH
you i still think about the guy that fired me
in radio, and listen this is No. Sour gray at
(12:17):
THE time i, thought THIS when i DIDN'T think i
was gonna. Get fired Biggest buffoon i'd ever. BEEN around
i couldn't believe in my early THIRTIES is i was.
Really ambitious this IS who i am taking. Directions from,
i'm like this is really what my life is. Right
now and then the guy. Fired me and it's not because,
(12:38):
YOU know i look BACK and, I go i couldn't prove.
Him right it's not EVEN because i think that he.
Is right you just never forget that moment that someone looks, at,
you yeah you're not quite. Good enough it Happened To
jalen brunson IN the nba When the Mavericks And mark
cubanan denied all. He, wants yeah we're not gonna pay. You,
that okay, You'll see and they did a couple, years
(12:59):
Later And jalen brunson wins the Finals Before luke. Everett, did,
Now ironically luca's not even on that. Team anymore but
my point is that when you're evaluating. These guys and
this is why the draft IN the nfl isn't exact
science is because you can never measure all the stuff
that really separates. The soul it's no different than in
(13:19):
all of. Our businesses who really. Wants it like when
you see some of these stories, about, like yeah that
guy worked seven days a week for years. On end
there's no guarantee there's gonna be. An outcome there is.
NO guarantee i was just playing with my good buddy
yesterday we played golf and he got IN on SpaceX
(13:41):
in the, private market and we were just talking and,
he's like, you know it's obviously done well for him
and he's in the financial world and he's. Crushing it
but he, was like, trust me we have. Made deals
he's been in that business now for multiple decades in
the quote unquote. Private market, he's like where does not go?
That way and the. Money disappears there are no guarantees
(14:05):
and there are certain guys that just have it and
we can overlook it because of. WHATEVER measurable i think
a good example this year IN, THE nfl i think
most people agreed in this draft, just football just, pure
football and when it comes to over the course of,
several years the best couple players in the draft not
(14:28):
where they were gonna, get drafted just the best pure
football Players Were caleb Downs And. Ruben Bain, caleb downs
we had countless guys on his own team get drafted before.
He DID and i UNDERSTAND why i like The rfl
rees pick because his ceiling is sky. Freaking high but
(14:52):
we see that, every year this guy's gonna be the.
Best player this guy's ceiling, sky high and then it.
NEVER materializes I love sony. Stops love love would. Be
Strong carnell tate's a really. Good player but never once
over a course of two years when they stepped on,
the field did Anyone Go carnel tate is a better
(15:12):
football player than. The safety, never once well? What, happened
well he's just a, little shorter not the. Fastest guy,
you know it's like he's Not Exactly. Ed reid, you
know he's not an athlete Like Fucking dion Sanders Or.
Charles woodson i'll promise you this will look back in.
Ten years is gonna be one of the best players
in the league over the course of. His tenure ruben
(15:33):
bade his arms are, too short which is a. Real
ARGUMENT but i, know this whenever they played a, big
game and they played a shitload of them, last year that,
game ended, you went is that guy's the best player on?
The field, was like his arms? Too short what's he? Gonna,
do yeah it's gonna show up every once in. A
WHILE but i would be stunned if that guy is
(15:57):
not a big. Impact PLAYER and i think we overthink
this stuff even once they get into. The league in
basketball more than football, and football once you established you
can play a, little bit your draft status kind of
gets thrown out the window if it. Was negative if
it was good and you, can't play you survive a little.
Bit longer IN, the Nba the MAVs had. The guy
(16:20):
he literally won them a playoff Series when luca, got
Hurt and, i'm, like yeah, we don't. Don't no what
were they calling him last night on the on the
podium bring up? THE captain i mean they talked about
him like He was Derek, fucking jeter because clearly his
intangible impact is equally as big as his, tangible impact which.
(16:45):
IS massive, i mean the guy Turns Into michael jordan
down the stretch of. These games so it was a really,
EN listen i get sappy have and losing. My dad
like the moment with his dad being. On staff it's
not like his dad some random guy and his dad
played IN. The, nba hell he played For the knicks
in nineteen. Ninety nine but it was just it was
a really really. Cool moment and watching this guy who
(17:07):
is just it Felt like ben a. Little overlooked even
once he's kind of hit. A stride, it's like how good?
REALLY is, i mean a couple of, years ago, it's
like can you really do It With jalen brunston as a?
Number one the answer, is yes we know that now for.
A fact and on the, FLIP side i said this
a couple of, weeks Ago and i'm not trying to
(17:28):
just like shit on. The Guy and i'm not even,
trying to, you know hang a left when everyone's. HANGING
right I just i couldn't believe Everyone Going victor wenbinyama's
got a chance to be the best player of? All
time in what world can we? Say that, you know
the Chances That victor wenbinyama's ever better than anyone in
(17:48):
the top ten right now IN the nba is slim.
To none the Chances That victor wenbinyama is considered a top.
Twenty player we got, a long long way. To go and, You,
Know shack i'm a Sucker. FOR shack i grew up.
On him, you know, He said victor's gotta get in
the weight room and. Get stronger i'll Never Forget Rip.
(18:10):
Howard mudd he thought that your play strength on tape
as an, offensive lineman you could get stronger in the
weight room with, you know specific weights like your bench press.
Or squat those things can rise over the course of
your career in, professional football but your actual functional strength
(18:31):
on the field never changes. That MUCH what i see at,
twenty one twenty two, years old it's gonna look very
similar at thirty. Years old AND when i see this
guy's gotta get in the weight room and, Get stronger, it's,
like guys we have a long anyone been. Watching basketball
over the course of the last three, four decades we
(18:51):
have seen several guys with his type, body type that
skinny bean pole. Type look they typically five, years later
don't all of a sudden Look like. Alonzo morning not
the way. It works i've been around the highest level
athlete for a. Long Time and i've just. Watched basketball
(19:12):
if We think, victor now maybe he gets a, little
stronger but he's never gonna look that. Much different his
frame is kind of his frame chet the guy in which.
He owns those guys are gonna look like that the
majority of. Their career remember when people Laughed A kevin
durant because he couldn't bench what was like one, Thirty
five like he's gotta get in the weight room over
(19:34):
the course of his career to. Get Stronger kevin durant
basically looks the same twenty. Years later you, know why
because that's kind of his. Body type when you have
A thicker i don't even want to say stubbier, body
type But Like, lebron james. Your natural he's longer than
a LOT of, nfl players but filled out over the
course of. His Life steph curry dramatically. Filled out does
(19:57):
Anyone think victor Wim min yama is filling Out, over
no that's who. He is, if anything you Know What
victor wembenyaman needs. To Do Study like Kareem abdul jabbar
shoot a. Hook shot no one will. Ever block it's
not cool. To do, it's, like, well fine you're just
gonna have. No moves you're just gonna be a no
move seven to. Six guy i'll promise. YOU this i
(20:19):
will bet against you ever being a TOP ten. Nba
player anyone worth their salt will. As WELL so i
just think this notion you can just go in the
weight room and. GET stronger i think that's easier said.
Than DONE when i Was, in Philadelphia De sean jackson,
was there like his body type was kind of his.
Body type i'm not saying he was some, gym rat
but he was never gonna Look Like. Antlin bolden so,
(20:42):
some guys some people listening to this, right now like
you're forty five, years old don't even lift, that much
and you're just under ten percent. Body fat everyone's metabolism
and body type is. Traumatically DIFFERENT so I just i
think we gotta look at this guy a little. BIT
different i think this is also it's a good, example
too of this is the first time a lot of
(21:03):
people have talked shit about him and, been like, you
know he's basically had everyone on their knees, doing whatever,
you know just anointing him the greatest thing since. Sliced
bread EVER since i first heard, about him or if
you look on the, flip Side the knicks are full.
Of guys jalen's, Too short kat's. A pussy you traded
(21:27):
too Much, for bridges think about. The, mind Honestly the
knicks have a lot of patriot vibes in terms of
the discussion, about them the hatred, toward them the overrated
nature of how they've built it in the. Individual players
team sports is about the outcome of the sum of.
Its parts this is not an. Individual sport SO when
(21:51):
i Looked At, san antonio, It's, like oh everyone's been
blowing this guy since he was like fourteen, years old
and now you're watching like he's kind. Of dirty he's
like More Skilled draybond green in terms of. His dirtiness,
you know, it's like what is this? Guy Likable maybe
i've just gone the. OTHER way i FELT like i
was rooting For. The knicks this guy's. Not likable but
(22:14):
this notion that he's gonna come out and Look Like
khalil mack in, FIVE years, i mean put down the
pipe that that is one hundred percent. Not happening that's
not the way the. Body type that's certain body types will.
Never react he could drink protein shakes till he's blue in, the,
face creatine do whatever. Needs testosterone he's never gonna look that.
(22:35):
Much different i'd be stunned with that. Body. Type stunned uh,
So again congrats To the Knicks And jalen brunson's story
is IS everything i enjoy. About sport today's show is
(22:55):
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(23:17):
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bet in, THIS series i didn't watch it. Last year,
(24:06):
you know The The Indiana okay see like did nothing,
for me and the numbers. Reflected it it was like
one of the lowest rated series in the history OF.
The nba this series was a. Different Animal why, because,
stories narratives, they matter they. Interest people, you know why
are there Shows like i've said this Forever about Game.
OF thrones i don't, do DRAGONS don't i don't do magical.
(24:28):
Fake worlds but if you tell me millions upon millions
of people, are watching it's culturally, Really, matters, LIKE yeah
i checked, it OUT like i watched them all even
though it wasn't really. For me you couldn't pay me
to say that's the Greatest show i've. Ever, WATCHED honestly
i thought a lot of it was just it's just
not my. Type SHOW but i understood. It mattered and
(24:51):
Last year Indiana Against okay see just did not, Matter
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(25:14):
Tune in it's Like The. WORLD cup i got asked
a lot, Coming in so congrats To, the knicks like
through gambling and some of our, different partners LIKE if
i want to do stuff With The. World cup, it's,
LIKE honestly i know nothing. ABOUT soccer, I know I, Know, Messi,
ronaldo ronaldinho the dude that died a couple of years
(25:35):
ago that Played. For columbia what's, his name did a bunch.
Of cocaine. YOU know i had some issues like that's.
About it You, KNOW maridonna i think that's. HIS name
I don't i don't follow. THE sport i don't Watch The.
EUROPEAN league i got no clue what's. Going on but
When The world cup, Is on. I'm glued when when,
(25:56):
WE'RE playing, i mean there's some, other Games like i'm
NOT really I thought germany was up seven to. One
today but That was, And listen i've talked some shit
BECAUSE when i worked For the eagles in, twenty Ten
The world cup was about to go on and we
were hosting At the link a Friendly FOR. Team usa
and so one day it must, have been, you know
(26:17):
around this time. Of year they were gonna practice at our,
practice facility so it must have been Like a Wednesday.
Or THURSDAY and i used to, you know it's probably
a little skinnier. BACK then i would go out three
or four days a week and run gassers around our. Practice.
Fields right we had several practice fields and you can
get a good sweats hot. AND humides i would get some.
(26:39):
Cardio IN so i had gone down there and all of,
A sudden i'm out there running And THEN team usa,
shows up And so, I'm like i'm just gonna stay
and watch them practice for a. Little BIT and I
remember i was kind of standing on the field and
their warm up was like a light jog around the
outside of the, fence line and they did a couple
of times just to warm. Their legs and this Is Like,
(27:01):
Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey. Tim HOWARD now i REMEMBER thinking
i don't know that much. About soccer we do not look.
The PART and i, understand soccer this, Isn't football like
you don't need to Look Like khalil Mack Or. Trent williams,
You know messi's what. FIVE' six i, just, KNEW like,
(27:21):
i know we're not that good and we definitely do not.
Look apart and then we went over there and it was.
NOT good i don't know much about this team beside,
the HYPE and, i, Said like i'm not, buying In
like i'm not buying In because i've done. This before
AND then i, WATCH us, i go we. Just don't
we've never looked. Like that now you can Tell me
paraguay's one of the worst teams in. The tournament they
showed the ranking before the tournament and you know they
(27:44):
were the lowest rated team in. Our group that was a.
REMARKABLE performance i was jaw on. The floor i'm not,
a hater, because like once the, Game starts i'm, Fired up,
I'm singing. I'm chatting I'M just i was not expecting
that we look like a real deal. Football TEAM like i,
(28:08):
SAID that, i mean we look like. We belonged and
one thing we've, NEVER had i felt like is like,
legit firepower and it felt like we had, fucking firepower,
and that to me is what like soccer. Get boring
Like when floyd Is fighting De la joya and they're just,
Dancing around IT'S like i. Just paid i'm broke. COLLEGE
(28:31):
kid i just paid two hundred bucks to watch these
guys dance around the ring for. Twelve rounds. IT sucks
i want to see some. GUYS swinging i want to see.
It happening it just feels like we always struggle, to
score and now it, feels like do we got like
some of the best players in? This tournament Unless maybe,
i'm OVERREACTING but i had said something and SOMEONE to,
(28:51):
dm Me, Like john i'm telling you that this team,
is different and if we're gonna look, like that we're
Gonna be we're just gonna have a chance to go
farther than we've, ever gone and we're gonna have a
chance to really Draw the american public because the one
thing the hockey team did for us, is, like listen
we know we're we've been good at, Hockey before we've
(29:13):
been much better at hockey than we've ever been. In
soccer but like when we Pay play canada or back in, The, Day,
russia like no one really expects us, to win but
when you, watch us, you're, like wow all these guys
on our team are IN. The, nhl right these guys
are IN, THE nhl a lot of them thriving IN.
The nfl like these are. Real PLAYERS so i don't
(29:37):
pretend to note that Much About jack Hughes BEFORE, team
usa but you're watching you get. To know, you, like
oh he's plays With the devils brothers and they're all IN.
The nhl, it's, like okay these guys are this is,
legit right our. Goalie sick you're watching back in, The day,
you're like how many of our guys are playing Over
Like real madrid And man City And manchester United and
liverpool and All these, schools're like remember we. NEVER happened i,
(30:00):
was like all these guys are moving. That way, it's,
like okay you're giving me. Real players i'm in and
uh not to not to get ahead, of myself, you
know he did cross, my mind like could we Win The.
World cup It's Funny stands palace Down In los angeles
for a guy That's from missouri that Owned the rams
(30:20):
when they Were In saint louis to just. Move Them remember,
missouri's like, oh my how you'll take THEM To la
it's like one he just thinks is a way bigger
market and gonna make. More money he paid five billion
dollars for. That stadium that thing. Looks sweet i've been.
There once. It's incredible obviously he didn't want to change
the turf and fought BACK. With fifa he was a
pain in, the ass but that. THAT worked i mean.
(30:42):
That worked so congrats to our. Men's team on a
little bit more of a, Sadder Note alden smith, died yesterday,
and uh, YOU know i was thinking about he, obviously
troubled troubled, young man thirty six, years old just been
(31:04):
in a lot, of trouble, self inflicted clearly battle, some
dark dark DEMONS that i as of, RECORDING this i
don't know how he, You know i'm sure they'll be,
you know take him to, The corner tux callege your report.
And everything the report so far has. Just been he
was handed out, some pizzas, you know the homeless and
(31:27):
the people that couldn't. Afford food an, hour later some
guy came and checked. On him he was unresponsive in.
An hour, you know they take him to the hospital
and he's, you know they confirmed. He's dead so there
was a report Out that shanahan had him talk to
their rookies last week with the forty. Nine ers, you
know we do this a lot in, sports talk like,
(31:48):
what IF's like What If JaMarcus russell would, have studied
What If terrell davis never would have messed up? His knee?
What if? WHAT if i think this truly is one
of the great what ifs in the history OF the
NFL because i saw the stat that he's the fastest
(32:09):
player in the history of. The league just record thirty
sacks took him twenty. Seven games he had thirty three
and a half sacks his first, Two seasons and clearly
he benefited from being on a. Stacked defense He Had,
Justin smith, Ray, McDonald, Navarro Bowman, patrick willis they Were In.
AHMAD brooks, i mean they. Were Stacked but i've been
(32:32):
lucky enough to be around a LOT of. Nfl players
he looks. Completely different he was honestly kind of the.
Total package in what if you could drop a, pass
rusher he would kind of be at, six,', five long arms,
powerful but fast could bend and just had a natural
(32:52):
feel for. Getting the, quarterback you know we talked About.
This with brunson some guys. Just have it, he had
it and it got derailed really really fast after those,
couple of years and within a couple of years He's,
on the raiders. Then he's off it was just a
disastrous career after just. An INCREDIBLE start but i truly
(33:14):
believe he could have been one of the greatest players,
of all time, because you know some pass rushers are more.
Speed than power some are more, Power than speed like
when it, comes To size like i've spent a lot
of time just Close To like Khalil Mack. Or nick
bosa those guys look nothing like. This guy looks and
(33:37):
when both those guys are, healthy and rolling they're as
good as a pass rusher as there IS. In the
nfl but if you put if you just stood him
next to, those two guys my Mother Would. Pick alden
smith so it's just a very. Very sad story and
it's one of those that you know when it really
(33:57):
went off the rails early and just felt like it got.
Worse and worse but he had a chance early on.
IN his career i mean he was part of A Draft,
With Jj, WATT Julio, Jones Aj. GREEN von, miller i
mean the way we talk, about those guys he was
the best player out of. That Draft. IMMEDIATELY tyron, smith
(34:19):
i mean it Was crazy. HOW dominie was i saw
this clip. On Social media joe staley was interviewing like
he was kind of doing a screw round interview for
the forty Nine Ers, with trent williams and, he, asked
him like who's the toughest pass rusher you? Ever win
against and they, were Both thinking or. Trent was, thinking
he's like let's. Play a Game i'll go i'll say,
(34:41):
One two three you, say The name and i'll say
the name at. The Same time so joe goes one
two three and They Both. Say Aldon smith, AND joe's
like i only had to go up against, him In practice,
AND trent's like i still think, about IT sometimes and
i mean that. JUST shows, you i mean there's just it's.
Just just, terrible you know some guys you just battle
(35:03):
demons and you just you. Never shake them whatever, they
you know for, most of us they, come you know,
from from, younger younger years and you're just never able to,
shake IT because, LIKE i said i do believe that
he could have been one of the best players. OF
(35:24):
his generation i mean he was immediately and then it just,
kind of ended came to. A SCREECHING halt can i
tell you about my friends. AT seak geek i love,
going to games love, going to concerts and that's what
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(35:47):
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i have a COUPLE questions that i want to answer
(36:53):
and then we'll get. OUT of here i know you're
a football, man at heart but tapped into. Sports at
Large with the knicks winning the title after a Controversial
firing of. TIBs last offseason that, got me thinking how
often in your lifetime does firing your great coach in
order to get over the hump and win a? Championship
actually work think of, MANY football examples i would say
(37:17):
the majority of the time it backfires. In your face
uh What Just when mike? Brown Just Accomplished and mike
brown was. Kind of unique he's won countless championships as
an assistant coach Multiple. WITH the warriors i think he's
One One. With, san antonio Uh he's Coached Kobe, and
(37:39):
lebron like he's kind of. Seen it all he's not, your,
typical like uh didn't. See this coming he also has
A Little bit pete. Carroll Had this pete carroll was
like their FIFTH choice at usc in two, thousand And
One like mike brown was the fifth or sixth Choice
For The. New, york Knicks sometimes like i'm probably wasn't my,
wife's first choice worked out pretty, well for, us YOU
(38:00):
know so, i think, sometimes you know you get dead
set in wanting to do something and it, doesn't work
out and it can lead you to. The RIGHT place
when i, think of times he's a forty, nine ers
Example They. Fired jim harbaugh they didn't think he was
gonna be able to get him. Over the Hump they Hear.
Jim tom sula they fired him. After one year Then They.
(38:21):
Hired chip kelly they fired him. AFTER one, year i mean.
Think about that there are two pretty good examples right
now in football that the heat is on, from day one,
which is awesome But it's the Ravens. And. The Bills
now John harbor and sean McDermott are a. Little bit,
Different you know harbaugh had the championship in, his back
(38:44):
Pocket but the. SEAN McDermott, won i mean there is
like that they've made championship games in. The playoffs constantly
it's gonna be like get To the super bowl Or
Bust for JOE brady, MENTOR i mean i think there's
More pressure On. Brady THAN mentor but i would say
most of the time it. Does not WORK it's why
(39:08):
I think the steelers for so, long are like we're
not even gonna. Mess with it who's Gonna? Ride with?
TOMLIN you Know i the packers did a, pretty good
job but. It didn't work they got, rid of McCarthy,
they got lafleur and he's had. Success at once he
been to three, conference championship games so two could be could.
(39:28):
Be given them one too many happens, in college football
probably more OFTEN. Than the, nfl but yeah it's it's
risky because if you think about It In sports joe
tory as, ANOTHER good example i don't he was not
When They fired buck showalter back in. The mid nineties
he was definitely not. Their first choice if you're making the,
playoffs every year and even if you're not getting, maybe
(39:50):
the conference you're typically gonna. Keep your job if you're
making because you're your owner's making a. Bunch of money things,
are going Well like the knicks last year making it to.
The conference championship that was. A Huge success but timms
was a. Little too stubborn i've been LISTENING to your
nfl commentary for. A couple years HIGHLY respect that I
Live In. New york city what are your thoughts and
Feelings on the knicks? Winning A championship while i was,
(40:11):
thinking about this because it. Felt really special it felt, like,
It mattered right it felt like it really mattered to
everyone in the area That, loves the knicks. That loves,
Basketball You know new york's always been viewed as as,
a basketball city and, IT felt big i mean because,
(40:32):
it is big because. It WAS important so i actually, got,
to thinking like what is the EQUIVALENT? In, the nfl
like Who are the knicks if they were to? Win
a one you go fifty three years they basically have
been there what twice over the course of that time
and one ninety nine to nine wasn't that a? Strike
(40:54):
shortened season and they were, the eight, seed you know
so really they've had one shot to do it where
they Got There with PATRICK ewing when i was a
kid in a team just gave. Him THE business but
i started thinking ABOUT football because i don't think there's
there was anyone even in the same Stratosphere as the,
knicks in Basketball right the lakers have. WON a ton i,
(41:18):
saw This Guy my marcus thompson Who Writes for THE
Athletic Who i love marcus wrote an article about the
economics with basketball and how you know some of, these
bigger Markets like THE knicks or la, or You Know,
the bay area can take over a road arena and
(41:39):
pay you so much money that you. Sell THE tickets and, i,
was like well if It was the lakers Instead, Of
the knicks like if it was the Equivalent of the
lakers Playing obviously san antonio Is, in the west but
YOU know, what i Mean playing the, HAWKS or whatever
i don't think it would have. Been the same like
how many Championships advising the lakers Win three With, shaq
(42:01):
and kobe Two. MORE with kobe i guess if you,
COUNT the, bubble i mean we've seen him, win A.
Lot san antoni You've seen san antonio. Win a lot
this guy's a season ticket older and he was getting
offered his season tickets for the year cost. Ten thousand
dollars someone Offered him for game FIVE Of The nba
(42:22):
championship knicks fan twenty grand a ticket. Forty thousand dollars
the guy refused to, sell, his seats like. You're fucking
nuts if, you're my age you're older you've. Seen your
team how Many Championships did tim? Duncan win five your
(42:43):
team was good for. Twenty five, years Be like If i'm,
a Patriot fan If i've seen brady win all These
championships and i've Win Into, Some super bowls i've BEEN
all these. Afc championship games if someone one day offered
me twenty x by seat thirty, X, my seats Like
let's say i've seen as good. As it gets if
you want my seats, for a game. Fucking, take it
(43:04):
no you gotta remove the emotion. A little bit the
guy's quoting the, Article WAS incredible like i couldn't let.
My guys DOWN You're, Not rc Bufort you're fucking bill
in Row one five wemby couldn't point you out. In
the Lineup worst businesscision. I've ever seen it's like up
there with like The secretary at apple that had a
(43:25):
Bunch of h if you would have kept his stock
would have been worth, like two billion but sold because
he needed seventy. Grand Or, something uh so. Here's my
list these are THE teams that i think would have
the biggest cultural IMPACT. In The nfl uh and there
are a lot of, factors here right Never Winning. A super,
(43:47):
bowl long, droughts rough. PLAY rough stretches, i would say
the number one TEAM, in the nfl that just what
you feel in, this and listen it's different because it's,
a smaller market because but it. WOULD feel big i
think WE underestimate and i don't, really. Remember this Honestly
(44:10):
The FIRST super bowl, i remember watching like vividly WATCHING
was when. I was ten It was the Niners. PLAYING
the chargers i Don't remember the Bill's Four. STRAIGHT super
bowls i don't remember any. Of THOSE games and i.
Think we underestimate think how crazy this stretch has Been
for the bills the last, five, plus years, right devastating
(44:35):
losses some of the worst losses. You've ever seen it
culminated with the entire, team in tears the owner going,
this is insane the next day firing a coach that
was in. The second, round This year the bills lost
four straight Years In. The super bowl if you just
met a, random football fan he'll take any SPORT World,
(44:59):
see Nba. Finals SUPER bowl if i said you're gonna,
make four straight what are the likelihood that you? WOULD
win one i would say most fans, would, be like
well that would mean you're one of the best teams,
every single year, like ninety percent you're gonna win one.
Of the four think about the likelihood of losing all
(45:20):
those and now they've had. These devastating losses they can't
even Make It, the super bowl but they clearly have.
THIS generational talent I think the bills would be like
the number one, feel good everyone because even if you
Kind Of, hate new york it was kind of cool, to,
Watch them right it, was just like this is. An
awesome story. This is fun that to me kind Of
(45:42):
Like the World. Cup watching, america it's like this, is
fun sometimes like rolling it back. To our roots why
we watch this shit, when, we're, ten. Twelve thirteen, fourteen
it's fun it's enjoyable, because back, then you know it's
like you, gotta do tours you. Gotta DO homework can
I just? Watch MONNY football can I Just? Watch michael
(46:03):
jordan or maybe You watch Picker Woods play the masters.
With your, dad it's like, this IS fun and i
think That's. What the knicks it, just FELT fun and
i Do think the bills winning it would. Feel pretty
Fun so the bills to, me number one number one
by far of just like would be the best in
terms of. Just that's awesome number two Would. BE the
(46:25):
browns i think We underestimate the browns have never been To.
A super bowl they won Some Championships pre, super bowl
era they have never been To. A super bowl and for,
most of us when we Think About, the cleveland browns unless,
you're really old you. Think they suck, and they clearly
more than likely this year are not going to. Be
(46:46):
any good so it's not like it's coming. Around the
CORNER but when i think, who loves football the most
first GROUP of people i think of as The southern Region.
TEXAS through Florida i PUT ohio and. Pa right there
they Love, football in Ohio and the browns fan base
rabid would. Be an understatement think about some of those
(47:08):
games over The course of lebron's career with just their their,
love of sport or Some Of the peak indians games.
OVER the Years i guess guardians now how passionate They are.
About Ohio state if cleveland ever got good And Won.
A super bowl at one, Point In time bill belichick
was their coach, and they're like We're moving to baltimore
(47:30):
and they just stole, Their team, away you're like what?
Teams is, leaving, it's like Well the, Seasons, i've done
yeah we're out at the end. Of. THE year piece
i kind of miss sometimes, IN the nineties. I really
do i was telling someone, the other day if this,
WAS the Nineties I think kyle shanahan Would just make
ayuka report and then like someone in the locker room.
(47:51):
Would fight him like that's obviously not happening in this,
Day and age but in the nineties you're just getting
your ass kicked. Like with this so to me it Would.
Be the. BROWNS number three i think have To. Be
the jets like you see The Power. Of new york there's.
Market sizes matter it's just. A numbers game there are
(48:12):
way more people That Live In La new york chicago
than live in some of. These smaller towns and that's
the outlier Thing, About THE bills like i don't think
it WORKS in the nba or baseball like a dozen Football,
like the bills the equivalent would not, be, Number ONE
right but I think the jets the power. Of their
market they last they've Been To, one super bowl they
(48:36):
won it and it was in. NINETEEN sixty nine i
was thinking about it Today like the knicks had won.
Since seventy three in nineteen sixty nine is right. Around
that time think how many, generations, of people right if,
it's seventy three if you were born, in seventy three
you would be, what eighty, three ninety three two, thousand
(48:57):
and three you'd, be fifty three fifty. Three, YEARS old
YEAH i guess i already knew the. Number fifty three.
I'm an. Idiot fifty three so for you to remember,
watching that championship what's, The earliest eight so what, would you,
be sixty one, sixty sixty two kind. Of that range so,
anyone under that anyone under let's just be let's, just be,
(49:19):
conservative sixty three, just sixty one does Not remember. The,
knicks winning well if it's, nineteen Sixty, nine the jets
you're talking about a guy sixty five. Ish years old
anyone under that has no Recollection of. The jets, Winning
big underdogs, joe name, it they WIN and then, i
(49:40):
would say definitely the last fifteen year they become the
biggest joke. In THE league but i do think they're
a little bit of, A sleeping giant. I really do
i Would say the lions Because, like the browns they
have never Been To the super bowl because when they
made the conference championship game couple of years ago to
(50:02):
the when they play in the, forty nine ers it
was the first conference championship game they had made in.
Three plus decades they hadn't been to the conference championship
game in. Three plus Decades They had barry sanders on
their team for ten years and. They mainly sucked so in,
a little, bit You, KNOW, like ohio pa they Left.
(50:26):
Football in michigan you, see the, passion the power you
Know behind The. University of michigan how Much when the
Pistons or the, tigers are good like they love, sports
Up There and damn campbell's kind of awoke in. This
FAN base but I, Think The lions bill's lions would
be a pretty incredible matchup because The thing With, cleveland
(50:47):
the jets they're a year away from being a year
away from probably being a year Away like The. Bills
and lions if things go right like that Could Be
a super, bowl this. Year YOU know, and i last,
BUT not least i Would. Put in minnesota they are
one of the most well run franchises. In the sport
they have been pretty consistently good most of my going
(51:09):
Back To like junior high to, the mid nineties they
have just been. A, solid franchise now they went to
A Lot of super bowls, in the, seventies but again
if you just, do the math people hundred fifty. Don't
remember that, so to me the Lasting memories of minnesota
are just devastating playoff losses and the last TIME they
(51:29):
Were i guess they've been to two conference championship games
in the last twenty, five plus years and one they
ans are Ass kicked in philly and the other One
Is the. Brett FAAR play so i just think they
have consistently. BEEN well run i think this year could be,
a little rocky, but big picture you just their ownership
speaks for itself that there were some other ones. IN
(51:52):
the conversation i Would, say the bears but like they
Were In a super bowl twenty plus years ago That
They played peyton manning in two, thousand and seven so
it's like they were really good throughout, the two thousands,
You KNOW now and i Would, Say the Cowboys like
the cowboys haven't been to a conference championship, in thirty
(52:13):
years but they've been really. Good you know, and to Me, It's,
the Bills, cleveland The Jets and lions minnesota would be
my ranking of Kind of that, knicks just, like holy,
shit that matters and, anytime something matters you get more people.
To pay attention and that's what just Happened. With the
(52:34):
knicks that's what it now feels Like With. The, world
cup yeah have, a great day. Doct you tomorrow the
volume
The volume. What is going on? My people? How are
we doing? John Middlecoff Three and Now Podcast. Congratulations of
(00:21):
Jalen Brunson the New York Knicks. Uh, congratulations as a
soccer guy, because he's been telling me this is our year.
We're good John. He might be right. He might be right.
So I did want it Jalen Brunston and Victor Weber Yama.
Compared to some NFL stuff, the World Cup game was
pretty incredible. I mean that was not a huge soccer guy,
(00:41):
but that was that was fun. Some sad news in
the NFL, and I wanted to I wanted to make
a little list of my five teams that because the
impact and the reaction to the Knicks, the drought, the
passion their fan base, what it would look like in
the NFL. So I found five teams that I think
(01:06):
I want to do a little ranking of teams that
would just elicit that emotional response of just over the years,
such let down and futility to we sting a trophy.
So we'll talk about that at the end. But other
than that, you guys know the drill. If you listen
on Collins Feed, make sure you subscribe three and out
Its own feed. We're we're up on Netflix, so you
(01:28):
can check that out as well, and let's dive in.
But I did want to start with I actually think
the most relatable the crazy thing is like the New
York Knicks. Their franchise relative to pro sports is not
that relatable. They have an enormous fan base in a
day and age, specifically in basketball and baseball, where their
(01:52):
television revenue is not like the NFL where everyone is
under this umbrella of taking in these huge media deals
because they all share it. In the NBA, you have
these local rights. Nicks run faced, massive market owner, super rich. Honestly,
everyone told me the guy was the village idiot. He
does the sphere, which I've never been, but everyone I
(02:14):
know that has been say it's like a religious experience
going you check out the stock price and the thing that
guy's involved with their skyrocketing. So James Dolan's on fire now.
And we talk a lot in football how an owner,
and it starts at the top. Whatever he's done. I mean,
things are going well for James Dolan. There's no disputing that.
With the people he's hiring. Some of the moves they've
(02:35):
made in Vegas, which I read recently that's gonna spawn
throughout the country, the sphere. I need to go sooner
or later. But I would say one of the most
relatable things to most human beings, the overwhelming majority, is
being somewhat of an underdog, being told yeah, I don't
(02:56):
know if you're quite good enough. Yeah, I don't think
you can get that done. Most of us are going
to there's a difference between adversity and like, yeah, I
don't know about this. I don't know about this guy.
And most of us at one point in time in
our life professionally have been told yeah, this might not
be the you know, the right role for you. This
(03:17):
might not be the right job for you. Yeah, we're
not gonna do business with you because of X, Y
and Z. Obviously personally and in your personal relationships dating,
most human beings at one point in time, unless you
marry your like high school sweetheart, are gonna be told no.
And those are the type feelings and emotions. You know.
(03:40):
What's funny is as you get older, what you get
in your forties, some memories in your life fade, and
you could argue even disappear. And there are music or
things in life that can trigger thoughts in your head.
But sometimes I think back, like did I used to
think about this thing a lot? And now I no
longer think about it. But there are certain moments in
(04:02):
your life that you never forget until you're dying days.
And Jalen Brunson has this chip on his shoulder of
being told you're too small, and you know, in the NBA,
unlike the NFL, when you're drafted pick thirty three, if
you're drafted thirty third in the NFL, you're a fucking baller.
(04:23):
That team that just took you thirty three, you know
has dreams of you becoming a Pro Bowl player. The
amount of guys that have been drafted in that slot
of like thirty three to thirty eight that have become
impact players just over the last like ten years in
the NFL let alone historically is really really high. Some
gms would say that is the sweet spot because we
(04:45):
don't have thirty two first round draft picks granted on
our draft board, and we get a guy thirty three,
thirty four to thirty five, and we don't have to
pay first round rates. We get them a second round contract,
and Jalen Brunson, we should debate this a lot when
I worked in personnel. It's still a debate in talk
radio in personnel departments. What does being a winner mean? Like,
(05:09):
just because you were a winner before the pros, does
that guarantee that you're going to be a winner in
the pros, in the NFL, in the NBA, in the
NHL wherever. No, it does not. It simply does not.
I mean, Tim Tebow is one of the greatest college
players that will ever play the sport. He was not
(05:33):
good in the pros. John Elway couldn't move off him
quick enough, and the guy just won a playoff game.
There's no shot of tea ba. I have a lot
of respect for him, but he wasn't an NFL quarterback
because you do have to have certain characteristics to be
viewed as a good NFL prospect. But sometimes when you
don't have the characteristics, And for Jalen Brunson, it's simply height.
(05:57):
He's like, well, he's not a great athlete. Well, when
we're there six to one, you're not gonna play above
the rim. Looks pretty athletic to me. But I think
it's fair to say that he hangs his head on
Obviously skill, but toughness, will just guile, just having khonus
and worked on his craft over the course of his life.
(06:20):
But he was the best player on a dominant college
team where he had already won a national championship in
twenty sixteen. He won another one in twenty eighteen. Player
of the Year consens it's all American, And I was
thinking about football because football and basketball have this alike.
What can really separate guys are the things that you
(06:44):
can't measure. Your drive, your desire, your focus, your heart.
And when I think about the greatest players that I've
watched as just a sports fan, I would say, what
really separated them? Like, obviously they had Michael Jordan was
incredibly skilled. The Michael that I kind of remember mid
(07:06):
nineties or late nineties was no longer like the greatest
athlete in the world. You know, you go back to
YouTube Michael Jordan, like nineteen eighty eight, You're like, I
don't know if I've ever seen anything quite like that.
The Michael I remembered was much more. His skill was special,
but what really separated him was his mentality is competitiveness
(07:28):
in his drive to win. Obviously, that's a defining characteristic
for guys like Tom Brady and Tiger Woods, and you're
watching Jalen Brunson. What he lacks in height because relative
to the NBA he would be considered very short. He
makes up for the intangible stuff now, just because you
have that. If you don't have the skill, it doesn't matter.
(07:50):
But like you look back, clearly he was a catalyst
for a program when I lived in Philadelphia. I vividly
remember one off season, you know, right around the tournament.
Villanova's right down the road. One of our guys in
our department, Mike Bradway, who is now Veitch's number two
guy in Kansas City, played football at Villanova. He's actually
(08:12):
a Kansas fan, but like Andy Reid, was buddies with
Jay Wright. We used to have the tournament on, you know,
during the draft free agency time of year, when you know,
Thursday Friday was not much going on. All the games
are on. Every office has a TV. And I vividly remember,
I can't remember it was the first or second round.
It it was probably Thursday of Friday. Villanova was like
(08:32):
a top two or three seats lost in the first round,
and there was a period of time whereas like Jay
Wright can't get it done until that fucker showed up
and they won two and three years and by his
third year, the year that they were just I mean,
kind of cemented the legacy of the program. Google who
their best player was. And I think it happened sometimes
(08:55):
in football because I was thinking about this, like, these
guys aren't as good as as you know as Jalen Brunson.
I mean, Jalen Brunton is clearly one of the best
players in the league and one of the most dominant
short players in the history of the NBA at offense
and at offense that also wins. Like I've been watching
basketball enough, there's been a lot of great, small, little
(09:15):
offensive players. I wouldn't call them winning basketball players. Jalen
Brunson's a winning basketball player. He's actually been Sins High
school where we want to state championship. But I was
thinking about football and quarterback. Think about Dak Prescott, who
went in the fourth round. If you google some of
his stats at Mississippi State and just relative to the SEC,
(09:38):
he is one of the more heralded SEC quarterbacks in
the history of the conference. At one point in time
during his college career, he took Mississippi State, not exactly Alabama,
Georgia or LSU. They were number one in the country.
This is no shade. Program's kind of a fucking joke,
(09:59):
especially relative to the conference. They got no shot and
back then they had divisions, So you gotta play LSU,
you gotta play Alabama. Not easy, and Dak Prescott had
them right there in the mix. It's one of the
best teams in the country. Shouldn't be the case, you know,
and he did that. Brock perty went to Iowa State,
(10:23):
and Matt Campbell has said this changed the course of
the program. But what did Dak Prescott? You know, I
threw it a little funny. You know, he's not he's soggie, six',
five he's six', to two more of an athlete than.
A player brock, too short not. Good enough who's he?
Actually playing i'm not saying, either Guys But, jalen brunson
they're clearly not but Both Got dak prescott's gonna Be
(10:45):
The dallas cowboys starter for. Fifteen Years brock purdy at
minimum is going to be a decade long starter for
the forty. Nine ERS and i think Sometimes Like tim
tebow WAS an, Nfl quarterback josh McDaniels thought. He was
Turns out josh McDaniels has no clue what he's doing
when he's a, head coach, good coordinator, head coach. Stay
away so just because you win in COLLEGE to, a
(11:06):
one wouldn't have drafted. THEM five i said it at,
the TIME like i don't really, see it and he,
Was INJURED BUT i i do think with football there
is an intangible aspect. To players you're, acquiring PEOPLE and
i think this goes for. All positions what really separates.
These guys and IN, the nba most of the great
(11:30):
players are kind. OF freaks, I mean i mean look AROUND.
The Nba lebron james is one of the biggest freaks
in the history of. The league but who was his
contemporary over the course of the majority of. His career
You Know, steph curry who was six, foot three who
his father's. Alma, mater, so yeah we're not gonna offer you,
a scholarship so we had to Go. To davidson when
(11:54):
you're told you're not. Good Enough, TOM brady i mean
fell to the. Sixth round who's crying? About it midway
THROUGH his, nfl career after he'd Already Won. Super bowls
you never forget those moments and you carry it. WITH
you i still think about the guy that fired me
in radio, and listen this is No. Sour gray at
(12:17):
THE time i, thought THIS when i DIDN'T think i
was gonna. Get fired Biggest buffoon i'd ever. BEEN around
i couldn't believe in my early THIRTIES is i was.
Really ambitious this IS who i am taking. Directions from,
i'm like this is really what my life is. Right
now and then the guy. Fired me and it's not because,
(12:38):
YOU know i look BACK and, I go i couldn't prove.
Him right it's not EVEN because i think that he.
Is right you just never forget that moment that someone looks, at,
you yeah you're not quite. Good enough it Happened To
jalen brunson IN the nba When the Mavericks And mark
cubanan denied all. He, wants yeah we're not gonna pay. You,
that okay, You'll see and they did a couple, years
(12:59):
Later And jalen brunson wins the Finals Before luke. Everett, did,
Now ironically luca's not even on that. Team anymore but
my point is that when you're evaluating. These guys and
this is why the draft IN the nfl isn't exact
science is because you can never measure all the stuff
that really separates. The soul it's no different than in
(13:19):
all of. Our businesses who really. Wants it like when
you see some of these stories, about, like yeah that
guy worked seven days a week for years. On end
there's no guarantee there's gonna be. An outcome there is.
NO guarantee i was just playing with my good buddy
yesterday we played golf and he got IN on SpaceX
(13:41):
in the, private market and we were just talking and,
he's like, you know it's obviously done well for him
and he's in the financial world and he's. Crushing it
but he, was like, trust me we have. Made deals
he's been in that business now for multiple decades in
the quote unquote. Private market, he's like where does not go?
That way and the. Money disappears there are no guarantees
(14:05):
and there are certain guys that just have it and
we can overlook it because of. WHATEVER measurable i think
a good example this year IN, THE nfl i think
most people agreed in this draft, just football just, pure
football and when it comes to over the course of,
several years the best couple players in the draft not
(14:28):
where they were gonna, get drafted just the best pure
football Players Were caleb Downs And. Ruben Bain, caleb downs
we had countless guys on his own team get drafted before.
He DID and i UNDERSTAND why i like The rfl
rees pick because his ceiling is sky. Freaking high but
(14:52):
we see that, every year this guy's gonna be the.
Best player this guy's ceiling, sky high and then it.
NEVER materializes I love sony. Stops love love would. Be
Strong carnell tate's a really. Good player but never once
over a course of two years when they stepped on,
the field did Anyone Go carnel tate is a better
(15:12):
football player than. The safety, never once well? What, happened
well he's just a, little shorter not the. Fastest guy,
you know it's like he's Not Exactly. Ed reid, you
know he's not an athlete Like Fucking dion Sanders Or.
Charles woodson i'll promise you this will look back in.
Ten years is gonna be one of the best players
in the league over the course of. His tenure ruben
(15:33):
bade his arms are, too short which is a. Real
ARGUMENT but i, know this whenever they played a, big
game and they played a shitload of them, last year that,
game ended, you went is that guy's the best player on?
The field, was like his arms? Too short what's he? Gonna,
do yeah it's gonna show up every once in. A
WHILE but i would be stunned if that guy is
(15:57):
not a big. Impact PLAYER and i think we overthink
this stuff even once they get into. The league in
basketball more than football, and football once you established you
can play a, little bit your draft status kind of
gets thrown out the window if it. Was negative if
it was good and you, can't play you survive a little.
Bit longer IN, the Nba the MAVs had. The guy
(16:20):
he literally won them a playoff Series when luca, got
Hurt and, i'm, like yeah, we don't. Don't no what
were they calling him last night on the on the
podium bring up? THE captain i mean they talked about
him like He was Derek, fucking jeter because clearly his
intangible impact is equally as big as his, tangible impact which.
(16:45):
IS massive, i mean the guy Turns Into michael jordan
down the stretch of. These games so it was a really,
EN listen i get sappy have and losing. My dad
like the moment with his dad being. On staff it's
not like his dad some random guy and his dad
played IN. The, nba hell he played For the knicks
in nineteen. Ninety nine but it was just it was
a really really. Cool moment and watching this guy who
(17:07):
is just it Felt like ben a. Little overlooked even
once he's kind of hit. A stride, it's like how good?
REALLY is, i mean a couple of, years ago, it's
like can you really do It With jalen brunston as a?
Number one the answer, is yes we know that now for.
A fact and on the, FLIP side i said this
a couple of, weeks Ago and i'm not trying to
(17:28):
just like shit on. The Guy and i'm not even,
trying to, you know hang a left when everyone's. HANGING
right I just i couldn't believe Everyone Going victor wenbinyama's
got a chance to be the best player of? All
time in what world can we? Say that, you know
the Chances That victor wenbinyama's ever better than anyone in
(17:48):
the top ten right now IN the nba is slim.
To none the Chances That victor wenbinyama is considered a top.
Twenty player we got, a long long way. To go and, You,
Know shack i'm a Sucker. FOR shack i grew up.
On him, you know, He said victor's gotta get in
the weight room and. Get stronger i'll Never Forget Rip.
(18:10):
Howard mudd he thought that your play strength on tape
as an, offensive lineman you could get stronger in the
weight room with, you know specific weights like your bench press.
Or squat those things can rise over the course of
your career in, professional football but your actual functional strength
(18:31):
on the field never changes. That MUCH what i see at,
twenty one twenty two, years old it's gonna look very
similar at thirty. Years old AND when i see this
guy's gotta get in the weight room and, Get stronger, it's,
like guys we have a long anyone been. Watching basketball
over the course of the last three, four decades we
(18:51):
have seen several guys with his type, body type that
skinny bean pole. Type look they typically five, years later
don't all of a sudden Look like. Alonzo morning not
the way. It works i've been around the highest level
athlete for a. Long Time and i've just. Watched basketball
(19:12):
if We think, victor now maybe he gets a, little
stronger but he's never gonna look that. Much different his
frame is kind of his frame chet the guy in which.
He owns those guys are gonna look like that the
majority of. Their career remember when people Laughed A kevin
durant because he couldn't bench what was like one, Thirty
five like he's gotta get in the weight room over
(19:34):
the course of his career to. Get Stronger kevin durant
basically looks the same twenty. Years later you, know why
because that's kind of his. Body type when you have
A thicker i don't even want to say stubbier, body
type But Like, lebron james. Your natural he's longer than
a LOT of, nfl players but filled out over the
course of. His Life steph curry dramatically. Filled out does
(19:57):
Anyone think victor Wim min yama is filling Out, over
no that's who. He is, if anything you Know What
victor wembenyaman needs. To Do Study like Kareem abdul jabbar
shoot a. Hook shot no one will. Ever block it's
not cool. To do, it's, like, well fine you're just
gonna have. No moves you're just gonna be a no
move seven to. Six guy i'll promise. YOU this i
(20:19):
will bet against you ever being a TOP ten. Nba
player anyone worth their salt will. As WELL so i
just think this notion you can just go in the
weight room and. GET stronger i think that's easier said.
Than DONE when i Was, in Philadelphia De sean jackson,
was there like his body type was kind of his.
Body type i'm not saying he was some, gym rat
but he was never gonna Look Like. Antlin bolden so,
(20:42):
some guys some people listening to this, right now like
you're forty five, years old don't even lift, that much
and you're just under ten percent. Body fat everyone's metabolism
and body type is. Traumatically DIFFERENT so I just i
think we gotta look at this guy a little. BIT
different i think this is also it's a good, example
too of this is the first time a lot of
(21:03):
people have talked shit about him and, been like, you
know he's basically had everyone on their knees, doing whatever,
you know just anointing him the greatest thing since. Sliced
bread EVER since i first heard, about him or if
you look on the, flip Side the knicks are full.
Of guys jalen's, Too short kat's. A pussy you traded
(21:27):
too Much, for bridges think about. The, mind Honestly the
knicks have a lot of patriot vibes in terms of
the discussion, about them the hatred, toward them the overrated
nature of how they've built it in the. Individual players
team sports is about the outcome of the sum of.
Its parts this is not an. Individual sport SO when
(21:51):
i Looked At, san antonio, It's, like oh everyone's been
blowing this guy since he was like fourteen, years old
and now you're watching like he's kind. Of dirty he's
like More Skilled draybond green in terms of. His dirtiness,
you know, it's like what is this? Guy Likable maybe
i've just gone the. OTHER way i FELT like i
was rooting For. The knicks this guy's. Not likable but
(22:14):
this notion that he's gonna come out and Look Like
khalil mack in, FIVE years, i mean put down the
pipe that that is one hundred percent. Not happening that's
not the way the. Body type that's certain body types will.
Never react he could drink protein shakes till he's blue in, the,
face creatine do whatever. Needs testosterone he's never gonna look that.
(22:35):
Much different i'd be stunned with that. Body. Type stunned uh,
So again congrats To the Knicks And jalen brunson's story
is IS everything i enjoy. About sport today's show is
(22:55):
brought to you by our, presenting Sponsor Hard. Rock bet
we talk a lot of, football here but it's now
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bet in, THIS series i didn't watch it. Last year,
(24:06):
you know The The Indiana okay see like did nothing,
for me and the numbers. Reflected it it was like
one of the lowest rated series in the history OF.
The nba this series was a. Different Animal why, because,
stories narratives, they matter they. Interest people, you know why
are there Shows like i've said this Forever about Game.
OF thrones i don't, do DRAGONS don't i don't do magical.
(24:28):
Fake worlds but if you tell me millions upon millions
of people, are watching it's culturally, Really, matters, LIKE yeah
i checked, it OUT like i watched them all even
though it wasn't really. For me you couldn't pay me
to say that's the Greatest show i've. Ever, WATCHED honestly
i thought a lot of it was just it's just
not my. Type SHOW but i understood. It mattered and
(24:51):
Last year Indiana Against okay see just did not, Matter
culturally and it shows you the Power Of. New york
it shows you the power, of markets it shows you
the Hour, of clearly they have one of the biggest
fan bas this is in all, of sports and it
FELT like i had. To watch i'd want. To watch
i'm a, sports FAN BUT i i wanted to watch
because it, fell big and when things, FEEL big i.
(25:14):
Tune in it's Like The. WORLD cup i got asked
a lot, Coming in so congrats To, the knicks like
through gambling and some of our, different partners LIKE if
i want to do stuff With The. World cup, it's,
LIKE honestly i know nothing. ABOUT soccer, I know I, Know, Messi,
ronaldo ronaldinho the dude that died a couple of years
(25:35):
ago that Played. For columbia what's, his name did a bunch.
Of cocaine. YOU know i had some issues like that's.
About it You, KNOW maridonna i think that's. HIS name
I don't i don't follow. THE sport i don't Watch The.
EUROPEAN league i got no clue what's. Going on but
When The world cup, Is on. I'm glued when when,
(25:56):
WE'RE playing, i mean there's some, other Games like i'm
NOT really I thought germany was up seven to. One
today but That was, And listen i've talked some shit
BECAUSE when i worked For the eagles in, twenty Ten
The world cup was about to go on and we
were hosting At the link a Friendly FOR. Team usa
and so one day it must, have been, you know
(26:17):
around this time. Of year they were gonna practice at our,
practice facility so it must have been Like a Wednesday.
Or THURSDAY and i used to, you know it's probably
a little skinnier. BACK then i would go out three
or four days a week and run gassers around our. Practice.
Fields right we had several practice fields and you can
get a good sweats hot. AND humides i would get some.
(26:39):
Cardio IN so i had gone down there and all of,
A sudden i'm out there running And THEN team usa,
shows up And so, I'm like i'm just gonna stay
and watch them practice for a. Little BIT and I
remember i was kind of standing on the field and
their warm up was like a light jog around the
outside of the, fence line and they did a couple
of times just to warm. Their legs and this Is Like,
(27:01):
Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey. Tim HOWARD now i REMEMBER thinking
i don't know that much. About soccer we do not look.
The PART and i, understand soccer this, Isn't football like
you don't need to Look Like khalil Mack Or. Trent williams,
You know messi's what. FIVE' six i, just, KNEW like,
(27:21):
i know we're not that good and we definitely do not.
Look apart and then we went over there and it was.
NOT good i don't know much about this team beside,
the HYPE and, i, Said like i'm not, buying In
like i'm not buying In because i've done. This before
AND then i, WATCH us, i go we. Just don't
we've never looked. Like that now you can Tell me
paraguay's one of the worst teams in. The tournament they
showed the ranking before the tournament and you know they
(27:44):
were the lowest rated team in. Our group that was a.
REMARKABLE performance i was jaw on. The floor i'm not,
a hater, because like once the, Game starts i'm, Fired up,
I'm singing. I'm chatting I'M just i was not expecting
that we look like a real deal. Football TEAM like i,
(28:08):
SAID that, i mean we look like. We belonged and
one thing we've, NEVER had i felt like is like,
legit firepower and it felt like we had, fucking firepower,
and that to me is what like soccer. Get boring
Like when floyd Is fighting De la joya and they're just,
Dancing around IT'S like i. Just paid i'm broke. COLLEGE
(28:31):
kid i just paid two hundred bucks to watch these
guys dance around the ring for. Twelve rounds. IT sucks
i want to see some. GUYS swinging i want to see.
It happening it just feels like we always struggle, to
score and now it, feels like do we got like
some of the best players in? This tournament Unless maybe,
i'm OVERREACTING but i had said something and SOMEONE to,
(28:51):
dm Me, Like john i'm telling you that this team,
is different and if we're gonna look, like that we're
Gonna be we're just gonna have a chance to go
farther than we've, ever gone and we're gonna have a
chance to really Draw the american public because the one
thing the hockey team did for us, is, like listen
we know we're we've been good at, Hockey before we've
(29:13):
been much better at hockey than we've ever been. In
soccer but like when we Pay play canada or back in, The, Day,
russia like no one really expects us, to win but
when you, watch us, you're, like wow all these guys
on our team are IN. The, nhl right these guys
are IN, THE nhl a lot of them thriving IN.
The nfl like these are. Real PLAYERS so i don't
(29:37):
pretend to note that Much About jack Hughes BEFORE, team
usa but you're watching you get. To know, you, like
oh he's plays With the devils brothers and they're all IN.
The nhl, it's, like okay these guys are this is,
legit right our. Goalie sick you're watching back in, The day,
you're like how many of our guys are playing Over
Like real madrid And man City And manchester United and
liverpool and All these, schools're like remember we. NEVER happened i,
(30:00):
was like all these guys are moving. That way, it's,
like okay you're giving me. Real players i'm in and
uh not to not to get ahead, of myself, you
know he did cross, my mind like could we Win The.
World cup It's Funny stands palace Down In los angeles
for a guy That's from missouri that Owned the rams
(30:20):
when they Were In saint louis to just. Move Them remember,
missouri's like, oh my how you'll take THEM To la
it's like one he just thinks is a way bigger
market and gonna make. More money he paid five billion
dollars for. That stadium that thing. Looks sweet i've been.
There once. It's incredible obviously he didn't want to change
the turf and fought BACK. With fifa he was a
pain in, the ass but that. THAT worked i mean.
(30:42):
That worked so congrats to our. Men's team on a
little bit more of a, Sadder Note alden smith, died yesterday,
and uh, YOU know i was thinking about he, obviously
troubled troubled, young man thirty six, years old just been
(31:04):
in a lot, of trouble, self inflicted clearly battle, some
dark dark DEMONS that i as of, RECORDING this i
don't know how he, You know i'm sure they'll be,
you know take him to, The corner tux callege your report.
And everything the report so far has. Just been he
was handed out, some pizzas, you know the homeless and
(31:27):
the people that couldn't. Afford food an, hour later some
guy came and checked. On him he was unresponsive in.
An hour, you know they take him to the hospital
and he's, you know they confirmed. He's dead so there
was a report Out that shanahan had him talk to
their rookies last week with the forty. Nine ers, you
know we do this a lot in, sports talk like,
(31:48):
what IF's like What If JaMarcus russell would, have studied
What If terrell davis never would have messed up? His knee?
What if? WHAT if i think this truly is one
of the great what ifs in the history OF the
NFL because i saw the stat that he's the fastest
(32:09):
player in the history of. The league just record thirty
sacks took him twenty. Seven games he had thirty three
and a half sacks his first, Two seasons and clearly
he benefited from being on a. Stacked defense He Had,
Justin smith, Ray, McDonald, Navarro Bowman, patrick willis they Were In.
AHMAD brooks, i mean they. Were Stacked but i've been
(32:32):
lucky enough to be around a LOT of. Nfl players
he looks. Completely different he was honestly kind of the.
Total package in what if you could drop a, pass
rusher he would kind of be at, six,', five long arms,
powerful but fast could bend and just had a natural
(32:52):
feel for. Getting the, quarterback you know we talked About.
This with brunson some guys. Just have it, he had
it and it got derailed really really fast after those,
couple of years and within a couple of years He's,
on the raiders. Then he's off it was just a
disastrous career after just. An INCREDIBLE start but i truly
(33:14):
believe he could have been one of the greatest players,
of all time, because you know some pass rushers are more.
Speed than power some are more, Power than speed like
when it, comes To size like i've spent a lot
of time just Close To like Khalil Mack. Or nick
bosa those guys look nothing like. This guy looks and
(33:37):
when both those guys are, healthy and rolling they're as
good as a pass rusher as there IS. In the
nfl but if you put if you just stood him
next to, those two guys my Mother Would. Pick alden
smith so it's just a very. Very sad story and
it's one of those that you know when it really
(33:57):
went off the rails early and just felt like it got.
Worse and worse but he had a chance early on.
IN his career i mean he was part of A Draft,
With Jj, WATT Julio, Jones Aj. GREEN von, miller i
mean the way we talk, about those guys he was
the best player out of. That Draft. IMMEDIATELY tyron, smith
(34:19):
i mean it Was crazy. HOW dominie was i saw
this clip. On Social media joe staley was interviewing like
he was kind of doing a screw round interview for
the forty Nine Ers, with trent williams and, he, asked
him like who's the toughest pass rusher you? Ever win
against and they, were Both thinking or. Trent was, thinking
he's like let's. Play a Game i'll go i'll say,
(34:41):
One two three you, say The name and i'll say
the name at. The Same time so joe goes one
two three and They Both. Say Aldon smith, AND joe's
like i only had to go up against, him In practice,
AND trent's like i still think, about IT sometimes and
i mean that. JUST shows, you i mean there's just it's.
Just just, terrible you know some guys you just battle
(35:03):
demons and you just you. Never shake them whatever, they
you know for, most of us they, come you know,
from from, younger younger years and you're just never able to,
shake IT because, LIKE i said i do believe that
he could have been one of the best players. OF
(35:24):
his generation i mean he was immediately and then it just,
kind of ended came to. A SCREECHING halt can i
tell you about my friends. AT seak geek i love,
going to games love, going to concerts and that's what
the summer. Is For, Concerts season baby with over thirty,
(35:47):
five million downloads see geek is the number. One Ticketing
Ap major league baseball is, in FULL swing the nfl
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Here in. America seek geek. As you covered each ticket
is rated on a scale of, one to ten so
you know if you're getting. A good deal so look for.
The green dots, green means good. Red means bad it
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does not get any easier to, Use Any, Concert World Cup.
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use it later thanks to my friends. WITH seat geek
i have a COUPLE questions that i want to answer
(36:53):
and then we'll get. OUT of here i know you're
a football, man at heart but tapped into. Sports at
Large with the knicks winning the title after a Controversial
firing of. TIBs last offseason that, got me thinking how
often in your lifetime does firing your great coach in
order to get over the hump and win a? Championship
actually work think of, MANY football examples i would say
(37:17):
the majority of the time it backfires. In your face
uh What Just when mike? Brown Just Accomplished and mike
brown was. Kind of unique he's won countless championships as
an assistant coach Multiple. WITH the warriors i think he's
One One. With, san antonio Uh he's Coached Kobe, and
(37:39):
lebron like he's kind of. Seen it all he's not, your,
typical like uh didn't. See this coming he also has
A Little bit pete. Carroll Had this pete carroll was
like their FIFTH choice at usc in two, thousand And
One like mike brown was the fifth or sixth Choice
For The. New, york Knicks sometimes like i'm probably wasn't my,
wife's first choice worked out pretty, well for, us YOU
(38:00):
know so, i think, sometimes you know you get dead
set in wanting to do something and it, doesn't work
out and it can lead you to. The RIGHT place
when i, think of times he's a forty, nine ers
Example They. Fired jim harbaugh they didn't think he was
gonna be able to get him. Over the Hump they Hear.
Jim tom sula they fired him. After one year Then They.
(38:21):
Hired chip kelly they fired him. AFTER one, year i mean.
Think about that there are two pretty good examples right
now in football that the heat is on, from day one,
which is awesome But it's the Ravens. And. The Bills
now John harbor and sean McDermott are a. Little bit,
Different you know harbaugh had the championship in, his back
(38:44):
Pocket but the. SEAN McDermott, won i mean there is
like that they've made championship games in. The playoffs constantly
it's gonna be like get To the super bowl Or
Bust for JOE brady, MENTOR i mean i think there's
More pressure On. Brady THAN mentor but i would say
most of the time it. Does not WORK it's why
(39:08):
I think the steelers for so, long are like we're
not even gonna. Mess with it who's Gonna? Ride with?
TOMLIN you Know i the packers did a, pretty good
job but. It didn't work they got, rid of McCarthy,
they got lafleur and he's had. Success at once he
been to three, conference championship games so two could be could.
(39:28):
Be given them one too many happens, in college football
probably more OFTEN. Than the, nfl but yeah it's it's
risky because if you think about It In sports joe
tory as, ANOTHER good example i don't he was not
When They fired buck showalter back in. The mid nineties
he was definitely not. Their first choice if you're making the,
playoffs every year and even if you're not getting, maybe
(39:50):
the conference you're typically gonna. Keep your job if you're
making because you're your owner's making a. Bunch of money things,
are going Well like the knicks last year making it to.
The conference championship that was. A Huge success but timms
was a. Little too stubborn i've been LISTENING to your
nfl commentary for. A couple years HIGHLY respect that I
Live In. New york city what are your thoughts and
Feelings on the knicks? Winning A championship while i was,
(40:11):
thinking about this because it. Felt really special it felt, like,
It mattered right it felt like it really mattered to
everyone in the area That, loves the knicks. That loves,
Basketball You know new york's always been viewed as as,
a basketball city and, IT felt big i mean because,
(40:32):
it is big because. It WAS important so i actually, got,
to thinking like what is the EQUIVALENT? In, the nfl
like Who are the knicks if they were to? Win
a one you go fifty three years they basically have
been there what twice over the course of that time
and one ninety nine to nine wasn't that a? Strike
(40:54):
shortened season and they were, the eight, seed you know
so really they've had one shot to do it where
they Got There with PATRICK ewing when i was a
kid in a team just gave. Him THE business but
i started thinking ABOUT football because i don't think there's
there was anyone even in the same Stratosphere as the,
knicks in Basketball right the lakers have. WON a ton i,
(41:18):
saw This Guy my marcus thompson Who Writes for THE
Athletic Who i love marcus wrote an article about the
economics with basketball and how you know some of, these
bigger Markets like THE knicks or la, or You Know,
the bay area can take over a road arena and
(41:39):
pay you so much money that you. Sell THE tickets and, i,
was like well if It was the lakers Instead, Of
the knicks like if it was the Equivalent of the
lakers Playing obviously san antonio Is, in the west but
YOU know, what i Mean playing the, HAWKS or whatever
i don't think it would have. Been the same like
how many Championships advising the lakers Win three With, shaq
(42:01):
and kobe Two. MORE with kobe i guess if you,
COUNT the, bubble i mean we've seen him, win A.
Lot san antoni You've seen san antonio. Win a lot
this guy's a season ticket older and he was getting
offered his season tickets for the year cost. Ten thousand
dollars someone Offered him for game FIVE Of The nba
(42:22):
championship knicks fan twenty grand a ticket. Forty thousand dollars
the guy refused to, sell, his seats like. You're fucking
nuts if, you're my age you're older you've. Seen your
team how Many Championships did tim? Duncan win five your
(42:43):
team was good for. Twenty five, years Be like If i'm,
a Patriot fan If i've seen brady win all These
championships and i've Win Into, Some super bowls i've BEEN
all these. Afc championship games if someone one day offered
me twenty x by seat thirty, X, my seats Like
let's say i've seen as good. As it gets if
you want my seats, for a game. Fucking, take it
(43:04):
no you gotta remove the emotion. A little bit the
guy's quoting the, Article WAS incredible like i couldn't let.
My guys DOWN You're, Not rc Bufort you're fucking bill
in Row one five wemby couldn't point you out. In
the Lineup worst businesscision. I've ever seen it's like up
there with like The secretary at apple that had a
(43:25):
Bunch of h if you would have kept his stock
would have been worth, like two billion but sold because
he needed seventy. Grand Or, something uh so. Here's my
list these are THE teams that i think would have
the biggest cultural IMPACT. In The nfl uh and there
are a lot of, factors here right Never Winning. A super,
(43:47):
bowl long, droughts rough. PLAY rough stretches, i would say
the number one TEAM, in the nfl that just what
you feel in, this and listen it's different because it's,
a smaller market because but it. WOULD feel big i
think WE underestimate and i don't, really. Remember this Honestly
(44:10):
The FIRST super bowl, i remember watching like vividly WATCHING
was when. I was ten It was the Niners. PLAYING
the chargers i Don't remember the Bill's Four. STRAIGHT super
bowls i don't remember any. Of THOSE games and i.
Think we underestimate think how crazy this stretch has Been
for the bills the last, five, plus years, right devastating
(44:35):
losses some of the worst losses. You've ever seen it
culminated with the entire, team in tears the owner going,
this is insane the next day firing a coach that
was in. The second, round This year the bills lost
four straight Years In. The super bowl if you just
met a, random football fan he'll take any SPORT World,
(44:59):
see Nba. Finals SUPER bowl if i said you're gonna,
make four straight what are the likelihood that you? WOULD
win one i would say most fans, would, be like
well that would mean you're one of the best teams,
every single year, like ninety percent you're gonna win one.
Of the four think about the likelihood of losing all
(45:20):
those and now they've had. These devastating losses they can't
even Make It, the super bowl but they clearly have.
THIS generational talent I think the bills would be like
the number one, feel good everyone because even if you
Kind Of, hate new york it was kind of cool, to,
Watch them right it, was just like this is. An
awesome story. This is fun that to me kind Of
(45:42):
Like the World. Cup watching, america it's like this, is
fun sometimes like rolling it back. To our roots why
we watch this shit, when, we're, ten. Twelve thirteen, fourteen
it's fun it's enjoyable, because back, then you know it's
like you, gotta do tours you. Gotta DO homework can
I just? Watch MONNY football can I Just? Watch michael
(46:03):
jordan or maybe You watch Picker Woods play the masters.
With your, dad it's like, this IS fun and i
think That's. What the knicks it, just FELT fun and
i Do think the bills winning it would. Feel pretty
Fun so the bills to, me number one number one
by far of just like would be the best in
terms of. Just that's awesome number two Would. BE the
(46:25):
browns i think We underestimate the browns have never been To.
A super bowl they won Some Championships pre, super bowl
era they have never been To. A super bowl and for,
most of us when we Think About, the cleveland browns unless,
you're really old you. Think they suck, and they clearly
more than likely this year are not going to. Be
(46:46):
any good so it's not like it's coming. Around the
CORNER but when i think, who loves football the most
first GROUP of people i think of as The southern Region.
TEXAS through Florida i PUT ohio and. Pa right there
they Love, football in Ohio and the browns fan base
rabid would. Be an understatement think about some of those
(47:08):
games over The course of lebron's career with just their their,
love of sport or Some Of the peak indians games.
OVER the Years i guess guardians now how passionate They are.
About Ohio state if cleveland ever got good And Won.
A super bowl at one, Point In time bill belichick
was their coach, and they're like We're moving to baltimore
(47:30):
and they just stole, Their team, away you're like what?
Teams is, leaving, it's like Well the, Seasons, i've done
yeah we're out at the end. Of. THE year piece
i kind of miss sometimes, IN the nineties. I really
do i was telling someone, the other day if this,
WAS the Nineties I think kyle shanahan Would just make
ayuka report and then like someone in the locker room.
(47:51):
Would fight him like that's obviously not happening in this,
Day and age but in the nineties you're just getting
your ass kicked. Like with this so to me it Would.
Be the. BROWNS number three i think have To. Be
the jets like you see The Power. Of new york there's.
Market sizes matter it's just. A numbers game there are
(48:12):
way more people That Live In La new york chicago
than live in some of. These smaller towns and that's
the outlier Thing, About THE bills like i don't think
it WORKS in the nba or baseball like a dozen Football,
like the bills the equivalent would not, be, Number ONE
right but I think the jets the power. Of their
market they last they've Been To, one super bowl they
(48:36):
won it and it was in. NINETEEN sixty nine i
was thinking about it Today like the knicks had won.
Since seventy three in nineteen sixty nine is right. Around
that time think how many, generations, of people right if,
it's seventy three if you were born, in seventy three
you would be, what eighty, three ninety three two, thousand
(48:57):
and three you'd, be fifty three fifty. Three, YEARS old
YEAH i guess i already knew the. Number fifty three.
I'm an. Idiot fifty three so for you to remember,
watching that championship what's, The earliest eight so what, would you,
be sixty one, sixty sixty two kind. Of that range so,
anyone under that anyone under let's just be let's, just be,
(49:19):
conservative sixty three, just sixty one does Not remember. The,
knicks winning well if it's, nineteen Sixty, nine the jets
you're talking about a guy sixty five. Ish years old
anyone under that has no Recollection of. The jets, Winning
big underdogs, joe name, it they WIN and then, i
(49:40):
would say definitely the last fifteen year they become the
biggest joke. In THE league but i do think they're
a little bit of, A sleeping giant. I really do
i Would say the lions Because, like the browns they
have never Been To the super bowl because when they
made the conference championship game couple of years ago to
(50:02):
the when they play in the, forty nine ers it
was the first conference championship game they had made in.
Three plus decades they hadn't been to the conference championship
game in. Three plus Decades They had barry sanders on
their team for ten years and. They mainly sucked so in,
a little, bit You, KNOW, like ohio pa they Left.
(50:26):
Football in michigan you, see the, passion the power you
Know behind The. University of michigan how Much when the
Pistons or the, tigers are good like they love, sports
Up There and damn campbell's kind of awoke in. This
FAN base but I, Think The lions bill's lions would
be a pretty incredible matchup because The thing With, cleveland
(50:47):
the jets they're a year away from being a year
away from probably being a year Away like The. Bills
and lions if things go right like that Could Be
a super, bowl this. Year YOU know, and i last,
BUT not least i Would. Put in minnesota they are
one of the most well run franchises. In the sport
they have been pretty consistently good most of my going
(51:09):
Back To like junior high to, the mid nineties they
have just been. A, solid franchise now they went to
A Lot of super bowls, in the, seventies but again
if you just, do the math people hundred fifty. Don't
remember that, so to me the Lasting memories of minnesota
are just devastating playoff losses and the last TIME they
(51:29):
Were i guess they've been to two conference championship games
in the last twenty, five plus years and one they
ans are Ass kicked in philly and the other One
Is the. Brett FAAR play so i just think they
have consistently. BEEN well run i think this year could be,
a little rocky, but big picture you just their ownership
speaks for itself that there were some other ones. IN
(51:52):
the conversation i Would, say the bears but like they
Were In a super bowl twenty plus years ago That
They played peyton manning in two, thousand and seven so
it's like they were really good throughout, the two thousands,
You KNOW now and i Would, Say the Cowboys like
the cowboys haven't been to a conference championship, in thirty
(52:13):
years but they've been really. Good you know, and to Me, It's,
the Bills, cleveland The Jets and lions minnesota would be
my ranking of Kind of that, knicks just, like holy,
shit that matters and, anytime something matters you get more people.
To pay attention and that's what just Happened. With the
(52:34):
knicks that's what it now feels Like With. The, world
cup yeah have, a great day. Doct you tomorrow the
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Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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