March 27, 2025 • 42 mins
Colin reacts to the LeBron's game winning tip in for the Lakers against the Pacers and why LA is all about the postseason at this point
Thoughts on the return of the NCAA Tournament and what stars like Cooper Flagg mean to the sport
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Oh March Madness resumes tonight. Duke in Arizona, My bracket
mayam plode, all fired up for it live in Los Angeles.
It's The Herd. Wherever you may be listening, however you
may be listening, Thanks for making us part of your day.
I watched some NBA hoops last night. You know it's
(00:46):
getting they always call it in baseball the dog days
of summer, and some of these teams that are good,
like Cleveland, they're like, let's give that guy the night off,
let's get reduced the minutes. Lakers are not in that
situation because they could go up in the seeding or
down if they don't get their act together. But it
was very interesting last night. So Lebron had his worst
(01:07):
half of NBA basketball in the first half on the
road at Indiana. He didn't do anything. It was. I
watched the first half, I'm like, this is awful. But
h and a lot of people think the NBA should
cut it. Scheduled through about sixty five games. Last night
was Laker game number seventy two, and they want the
playoffs to start. These are the dog days. It's like
senioritis in high school. We got accepted to college. Can
(01:30):
we just wrap her up? I don't want to go
to the Spanish class anymore. Geometry, I'm done. I don't
need the credits. You know what it is. We all
did that right, And so that's where the Lakers are.
But they're in a precarious situation because they're the four seed.
They could move up to the two they're not getting
past okay see, or they could fall down to a
playing game and their schedule's brutal. They play the Thunder twice,
(01:53):
a young team that's deep and plays hard. They play
their Rockets twice, a young team that's deep that could
beat him twice. They play the Warriors, they go to
the Grizzlies. By the way, They play the Mavericks Chicago
at home. Chicago's had some weird games. They beat the
Lakers in La so they got to be very careful.
They cannot mail it in here. And here's the thing
to remember about this Laker team as we move into
(02:15):
the dog days. So you know, Luca and Lebron, these
guys can score and do what they want to do.
But this team, Luca has only played nineteen games with
the Lakers, and he's only played twelve when it's been Luca, Lebron,
and Austin all available. So now they're finally healthy and
it didn't take until the fourth quarter last night when
they really really played well. But teams like the Calves,
(02:37):
the Celtics and the Nuggets, they have roster rhythm. They
can rest guys now now Tatum's really hurt, but Boston
can rest guys and still win by thirty. Porzingis plays
well on the road, they win by thirty. It's a
whole different ball. That's not the Lakers. Historically, teams that
make a big sweeping trade at the deadline, like getting Luca,
(02:59):
they don't hold. That's not the way it generally works.
And so Lakers, remember they just lost seven to ten.
Why Lebron was gone and he came back and he
wasn't ready to play. So they need Lebron to be healthy.
They need Lebron to be engaged. And these are the
senioritis days of high school in the NBA for legendary players,
(03:19):
even now Steph. Now, Steph's gonna take some time off.
Steve Kerr is like he's tired. So you see it
in baseball a lot, you're seeing it in the NBA.
They came back to win. Here's the game winner by
Lebron and the King after Lebron's got it with Paul
Quick three. Look time.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Is gonna or.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Lebron at the buzzer. They won't look at it talking
about winning it at the buzzer. Look at this thing?
Who my good hell be Jack with the winner.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
I really couldn't really have him too much emotion because
I was trying to see if I got the ball
off in time. To be honest, you know, it's always
tricky when you know you kind of touch the ball,
you kind of see the rail light around the backboard,
and you don't quite know if you've got it all
the time. I thought I had it on time, but
you never know. After they showed to replay on it,
it was definitely gratifying, and know, especially where we were,
(04:18):
you know the way we've been playing, and to come
to know how they've been playing, you know, and to
come here and get a good win in a very
hostile environment. That's a big time for our ball club.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah. So the young teams like Indiana and OKC are
playing their butt off. The teams that have some aide
like Boston and the Warriors and the Lakers, and now
Cleveland now has got guys who have been around. Denver's
got guys that have been around. These are dog days.
You're trying to get everybody rest and reduced minutes. But
the Lakers got to be careful. Thunder twice, Rockets twice, Warriors, Mavericks.
(04:49):
Tricky game in Chicago. So tonight the tournament resumes. Arizona, Duke,
I tried to get really smart. I had a great
first weekend. I have fifteen of the sixteen teams left.
I got him, So my best bracket ever. It's probably
gonna go up and smoke tonight because I got real clever,
and I don't think Duke, they'll They've got all these
(05:11):
great freshmen. Freshmen don't win the tournament. So I think
Arizona's gonna beat him tonight. Do I really think that well,
I did, I did two weeks ago. I'm not sure
if I do now. But here's what's interesting. Since Coach
K took over Duke and John Shire, they've had ninety
guys in the NBA. I think Cooper Flag is going
to be their best NBA player ever. So Grant Hill
(05:32):
is the best Dukey ever. His first six years five
times all NBA seconds. Jason Tatum excellent player, Kyrie Irving
to me only played eight games at Duke would be third.
I think Cooper Flag. And by the way, the NBA
right now twenty four Dukies second best of Kentucky. It's
a factory. And think of all the guys that have
come in since Coach K started. Remember he came from
(05:54):
like Army to Duke, had some turbulent early years. They
almost got rid of him. He stayed built in him
than John Shire's been a great, great candidate and a choice.
And I think now Grant Hill is the best Dukie ever.
And his injuries shortened his career, but he was an
unbelievable player. But he entered the league at twenty two.
(06:15):
Cooper Flagg is entering the league at eighteen. He was
seventeen when the season started. So I think he's going
to be much better early than Jason Tatum, and I
think he'll be better late than Grant Hill. He won't
be as good as Grant was first year in the NBA.
Grant was an All Star. But I do think Cooper
flag when you watch him tonight, IQ shooting, passing, He's
(06:38):
an excellent defender. He's got to become a better ball
handler in the pros, no question, But everybody's game needs work.
The kid is just fantastic. He is a finisher. He's
got more of a chip on his shoulder than Jason Tatum.
In fact, Jason Tatum's dad, as Rick Buker told his
stord he Other this week, Jason Tatum's dad acknowledges that
he's got everything, the chip, the EQ, he's tough, a finisher,
(07:02):
can shoot scores at all three levels. Just gotta handle
the ball better. But he was seventeen, not long ago,
and he'll enter the NBA at eighteen. But here's the
classic NBA dilemma. So years ago when Patrick Ewing went
to the Knicks, and you know how fans are, we
weren't even in a conspiracy theory era, but it was
like the frozen envelope theory, because you know, gosh, what
(07:25):
do you know? A good player went to a New
York team. It should be noted that the Orlando Magic
won the lottery twice. Nobody wants to bring that up
or Cleveland's won it, but yes, at one point the
Knicks with Ewing won it. So here's what's funny. If
you look at the NBA lottery yards, there are three
landing spots. Either perfect perfect would be maybe Chicago or Philadelphia,
(07:55):
or hey, San Antonio with Wimby Okay would be Utah,
great GM, great coach, a lot of draft picks, they
got some players they're gonna be. They're gonna be okay,
see if they land Cooper Flag, they're gonna be Oka. See,
and Utah is a great NBA market. And then there's
just god awful Washington, Charlotte, Toronto's Aacramento. And so if
(08:19):
Cooper Flag, the odds are right now it's mostly awful
teams he's gonna go to. And this has always been
the NBA's dilemma. If he ended up going to Chicago,
it's rigged. I'll say it again. The Magic won the
lottery twice. The Knicks won at once, but he is
an all time player, and here's his coach. As he
(08:40):
enters the game tonight against Arizona.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Cooper is about to move on with something incredibly special.
The next step he's gonna go after this. But happiness
doesn't necessarily equate to, you know, just becoming a pro
or just making money. And although they're making money either
way now, but I think it's important for guys to
(09:04):
each Each guy's their own individual So I think, depending
on the situation, guys should make the decisions for themselves.
But Cooper's thing is different now. Cooper's thing is that's said,
and that's going to happen and as it should.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yeah. Now, So if you're twenty years old or in
your early thirties and watching this show, first of all,
thank you. Second of all, what's happening with Cooper flag
leaving a big brand, going to the pros and being
good immediately. That's why everybody used to love the NBA,
because that's the way it always was. Twenty five years ago,
Tim Duncan would go to school, be an All American
(09:38):
and he would come back two more years and Ewing
would at Georgetown would be dominant as a freshman. He'd
come back two or three more years. Chris Paul Duncan,
Grant Hills. They didn't leave after a year. So you
would watch them for years and years and years, and
you'd build up this fascination and visceral connection with all
(09:59):
these plays. Then they'd go to the NBA and they
were very good. Year one. We are starving for it
and we're getting Cooper Flag and it's so exciting because
we don't get this anymore. Great player at a big
brand can walk in and be a nineteen pointing game guy. MJ.
People forget this. MJ hits the shot at North Carolina right,
(10:25):
Oh my god. They made the movie Air. He came
back two more seasons after it and didn't win a
college title. It's as if they evaporated. Michael Jordan, Dean Smith.
He was so great yet James Worthy Dean Smith's like, now,
let the freshman shoot the game winner. He came back
two more seasons. Everybody did. The Worthies, the Ewings, the MJ's,
(10:49):
the Duncans, they all came back and back. And I've said,
if you want to know about the NBA's popularity, you
know people are gonna go Oh, it's the politics. It's
the fact that we don't know any of these guys
until they're twenty eight years old. We have no connection.
That's why Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese was such a
TV ratings home run. They'd formed a rivalry in college.
(11:12):
I'm watching the HBO Simmons series on the Celtics, Magic
and Bird at a rivalry in college, and it just
pivoted to the NBA. So the fact that what we're
getting with Cooper Flagg is what we used to get
a surplus of. It was a conveyor belt great players, mature,
ready to crush, maybe make second team All NBA right
(11:33):
out of college. So that's why this is so exciting
for me. It's a little old school in the NBA.
And if you just and I said this one of
my only complaints about Adam Silver, put your arms around
college basketball. Put your nobody's watching the G League. If
Cooper Flag dropped thirty eight tonight, I'd actually watch him
(11:55):
if he went to Charlotte, you know, like, that's what
the NBA used to be. The whole politics thing, maybe
that's five percent. It's the fact that guys come into
the league. Can you name the top five guys drafted
last year in the NBA. Nobody can. I'm not sure
GM's in the NBA can. That's the problem is that
football and now women's basketball is doing this. They provide
(12:19):
us with stories, identifiable stars and rivalries, and then you
just microwave them at the pro level and they're ready
to go. I mean, Reggie Bush had a huge following.
Tim Tebo had a huge following in college. I mean,
if Zion could have controlled his weight, if John Morant
was more mature, maybe you could have had that. It
(12:40):
wasn't they weren't. It looks like Cooper Flag could be
all right, J Mack, we've got I got a little
tip last night. You know, we worked the phones. I
called you last night on something you weren't available.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Oh shoot, I'm sorry, I remember. See, Yeah, I had
something going on. Wait did you get added to a
group tex chain acts? Where did you get this info from?
What's going on?
Speaker 1 (13:03):
I don't get on Drew as CARRISA. Thompson knows if
you put me on one. I got on an NFL
Sunday text chain and I immediately eliminated myself apparently offended
the whole building. He removed yourself. I don't like being
on text chains.
Speaker 6 (13:16):
Why you just mute the chain?
Speaker 1 (13:17):
I don't I don't even know how to do that.
All I know is my thoughts cannot be shared with
forty seven people simultaneously. If you can get me one
on one, you want to meet a phone call. I
don't want things coming out of my head should not
be shared.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Universal something interest?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Okay, what does this theory have to do with NFL, NBA,
NFL Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
It's variant. It's not just about Aaron, it's it. It
could affect Aaron got a little tidbit last night. Don't
go anywhere live in La. It's the hurt.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Eastern not a em Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Aaron Rodgers is still considering retirement, but if he doesn't,
it would probably be the Steelers. So I talked to
an NFL exec last night, very well connected and this
is a keep your keep your head in the swivel
Aaron Rodgers. I'm told the Steelers really like Jalen Milroe
(14:16):
twenty first pick, first round. So if Aaron signs with Pittsburgh,
it's going to become Kirk Cousins. They're taking a quarterback
because I've been told the Steelers they're looking around at
all these AFC quarterbacks and Milroe is the most athletically
gifted guy to come out of this draft at that
position since Lamar Jackson, and they feel as an organization
they need special. They just don't stack up. They need
(14:39):
special at quarterback. And I've said he's a better version
of Anthony Richardson. Great kid throws a deep ball, and
now at DK Metcalf they have a deep threat along
with Pickens. So now, but this is potentially a Kirk
Cousin situation. I am told the Steelers really like Milroe.
Great kid, by the way, and this is Aaron's reality
in twenty twenty five. He is a stopgap. The other
(15:01):
thing is I was told by an NFL exec is
they thought the Steelers did some very poor general managing
by paying DK Metcalf, and they've already got a player
that's very similar all that money and they don't have
a quarterback yet. And the problem is they don't have
a lot to pay Aaron Rodgers, and Aaron's got pride.
He wants to sign a contract that's at least Sam
(15:23):
Darnold thirty three to thirty five million. He didn't want
to sign the Russell Wilson deal with the Giants. That
Russell Wilson contracts tided playing time and performance. It's ten million.
Aaron's not going to play for that. Aaron wants to
get mid thirties. At least he's got pride. He's had
a better career, he believes than Russell Wilson. So it's
been a very choppy decision making time for the Steelers.
(15:46):
But I am told Aaron's basically down to the Steelers
who don't have a lot of money, crossing his fingers
on the Vikings who aren't currently interested, they may be
later in retirement. So this is the market that Aaron
has ate it. Tom Brady ended it on his terms. Aaron,
unless he retires, is not It's either going to be
(16:07):
a less than ideal offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers. And
if the twenty first pick, if Milroe's not taken, Pittsburgh
is leaning now and taking him. It is not a
good draft. Most of the teams drafting in the twenties
and beyond, I am told would rather trade out of
the first round. There's probably not going to be a
(16:28):
lot of takers, so Pittsburgh may get trapped a little
like they did with Kenny Pickett. Kenny Pickett was a
third round talent, but they didn't have a quarterback and
so they reached on him. Now, I think Milroe is
the opposite of Kenny Pickett. Kenny Pickett was not this
athlete and was not a good deep ball thrower. Pickett
was a local kid. Millro's not. Milroe's an insane athlete
(16:51):
who throws a beautiful deep ball, big time athlete, wonderful kid,
great family, but he's incredibly inconsistent and probably needs to
sit for a year to be ready to play at
the NFL if it even works. So this is what
I'm being told right now. This is the market Aaron's
created for himself. So you can talk about retirement and
do darkness retreats, but you're not gonna end the career
(17:13):
on your terms. You're gonna have a very very small market.
I mean, even Indianapolis that's desperate at quarterback, they're not
interested in ar. So that's where we are right now.
Jmack with the.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
News, No no turn on the news.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
This is the herd Line news.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Tull gets here. Let's start the show.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I like it. It's telling you what I'm told.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
Yeah, let's get started.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Calling Opening day for Major League Baseball today. Very exciting.
The Dodgers are going to defend their World Series title.
Vegas thinks they will, as Los Angeles opens as the
shortest favorite to win the World Series since the two
thousand and two Yankees. We have the odds on the
screen Dodgers plus two to seventy five.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I'll tell you about the Phillies. At those odds, that's
the best bet plus twelve hundred Phillies. Phillies are a
real team.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
I actually would consider the Mets, but I couldn't look
myself in the mirror as a fan. I just can't
do that. I think the Mets have I have a
bit of a roster and some momentum.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Well, they're fun. The Mets are fun. Sodo makes them
a really good watch.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Interesting that there's a lot of National League teams on
this list.
Speaker 6 (18:19):
Where's the al talent?
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Well, but by the way, I think the Yankees here
at plus eight fifty are over valued. They're not a
World Series I don't know if they're a playoff winning
team without without Garrett Cole.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
Yeah, couldn't they make a move at the trade deadline.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
I saw a story about two weeks ago they got
about thirty million to play with. But John Carlos Stanton's hurt.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
That's like the payroll of the Marlins like like that.
Speaker 6 (18:41):
That's not jump change. They can do some damage.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
I don't think they're gonna stand past, especially it's based
on this Odds column.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
The old the talent's in the lee here.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Oh no, no, the national. You know, when I was a
kid growing up, most I always remember in the seventies,
the Phillies were great, the Pirates were great, the Dodgers
were great, the Reds were great. It goes back and forth.
It does feel like right now. I mean, we don't
even have the Podrays listed on that and the Podreys
are a really good team, so I think the Podreys
should be one of the five favorites. The problem is
(19:11):
they'd have to get through the Dodgers. Arizona's a good team.
They got to get through the Dodgers. So it's just
a national leg's better right now. That's why it was
interesting when Sodo went to the Mets. Many people said,
if you're not gonna go to the Yankees, stay in
the American League because it's just easier to get to
the World Series, which is good for your marketing.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
But if you're a betting man, you want to take
the Yankees because the path for them is easy, easy,
and if you go with your phillies, like, the Yankees
dominate the.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
American League Central. I mean, I couldn't say the last
time the Twins beat them in a big series, like so,
I mean, the Yankees have owned and this is about
all they've owned in the last twelve years. They've owned
the American League Central.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
Take your shots, now take your shots.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Now, let's move on to the NFL Draft in Ashton genty.
He sat down with Fox Sports dot Com ahead of
the draft and set his goal in the NFL is to.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
Be the quote best to ever do it.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
He's got some confidence, obviously, he's got a lot of talent.
He had his Pro day yesterday. Every NFL team was
president Jent. He had a monster year at Boise and uh.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Did you see some of his Pro day stuff?
Speaker 6 (20:14):
Yeah, a little bit, I meant, dude, but like the
best to ever do it. Like I listen, I like
that shoot for the stars.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
But I will say when you looked and again, I
think pro days are nonsense. Yeah, but some of the
stuff he does man does not look normal. It's not
normal stuff even for a really good player.
Speaker 6 (20:31):
Like you, would you take him top ten colin a
running back.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
I think this draft when the Lions took Jimier Gibbs,
they looked at it and thought, we have a great
old line. We have our quarterback, we have bomber On
Saint Brown.
Speaker 6 (20:46):
He was like the missing piece.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Yeah, and their take was we need to be more.
And the other thing the Lions said is our old
line is so good that even if he's not as
good as we think, and we think he's great, he
will succeed because of our own line. That's why the
Eagles said, go get Saquon. He our own line is
so good it's going to guarantee thirty percent better than
(21:08):
the Giants, where Saquon was great with a terrible old
one years. So to me, the Chicago Bears have gone
out Drew Dolman, Joe Tooney, Jonah Jackson. So the Bears
and the Vikings both, but the Bears went out and
upgraded a singular unit more than any unit by any
team in the league. So could you argue that almost
(21:33):
ensures that gent will succeed at a high level with
the bet because now they got their tight end, they
got two receivers, they have the quarterback and offensive coach.
I can see defense. Well, it's very good argument. In
a better draft, I can see the Bears going, let's
go pass rusher because they have Jalen Johnson and sweat
(21:54):
the defensive lineman. But in a draft that's average, Ben
Johnson goes, let's see what did we do in Detroit
that we got criticized for but actually was a great move.
We went and took a first round running back because
we had a very capable on line. I could see
the Bears doing it.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
So let's say the kid Graham is available at eight
or wherever the Bears are picking in the top ten.
I think you could get eighty percent of genty with
running backs in the second and third round.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
I don't know that you can get eighty percent of Graham.
Graham is a superstar waiting.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
To Mason Graham.
Speaker 6 (22:27):
He's awesome. Yeah, Mason Graham from Michigan. Yeah, I don't
think you can find other.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Awesome you can't tackle. No, he's the best defensive texts.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Why a lot is who's going to be on the
board when the Bears pick Listen. I know we both
like genty a lot.
Speaker 6 (22:39):
I just don't know.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
What this draft is really good for. It's not good
for bad teams to get better. Right, last year's draft,
Washington got Jayden Daniels got better. Denver got bow Nicks better.
Last year's draft was good enough that bad teams could
make the playoffs if they drafted well. That is not
(23:00):
this draft. This draft is an icing draft. There's not
a lot of cake in it. Last year there was
all sorts of cake. Jayden Daniels is a fifteen year
cake starter. This is an icing draft. So if you've
got pieces but are missing, like one piece, Bears like
we need an explosive running back, this is the draft
(23:21):
for it.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
And this whole Raiders potentially taking Ashton Gentiet's they're not
even remotely close And I know the Raiders fans hate
when I take shots.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Let's be real cool.
Speaker 6 (23:30):
Whoa whoa whoa wo say more? Are they close to
a wild card spot in the Akay?
Speaker 1 (23:34):
If you're the Raiders and you're looking at all these
quarterbacks in your division and you have Geno, you have,
you have excellent tight ends. Your old line's got young
players that are good. There's an absolute argument. Pete Carroll's like,
when was I great in the NFL? Marshawn Lynch. I'm
just saying, when was I great in college? Reggie Bush?
(23:57):
I could absolutely see Pete Carroll saying, guys, we need
a star out of the backfield. We have the old line,
our star tight end, weapon, a veteran quarterback we need.
We need a home run in our division. I can
see Jenty get it. You talk yourself into a superstar
running back. For the record, All these first round running backs,
(24:17):
everybody craps on they've.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
All hit Well, wait a minute, John Robinson, what has
he done?
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Well? No, he's a good He's a top ten back
in the league. Is that all his fault? Well, I
mean you look at Zeke and you look at Peterson
and you look.
Speaker 6 (24:32):
Zeke is like fifteen years Well he was great.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Saquon Barkley, on Jamiir Gibb, all these first round running
La Dani and Pomlinson, they're all excellent.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Well, you're falling in love with the accessories in your
war room over there.
Speaker 6 (24:47):
Huh, we take it a wide receiver eight.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
I may start I may start wearing cuffling store.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
Oh my gosh, give me a all right.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Final story is a little crazy and I refuse to
believe it. So Adam Schefter went on TV yesterday and
has said said that the Browns are looking hard at
Abdual Carter. His herbiage was interesting, but he made it
sound like he was in the No.
Speaker 6 (25:09):
Now, we're still a month ago and a lot that happened.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
I just refused.
Speaker 6 (25:12):
I will be totally floor if they passed on a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
Okay, So we talked about this as a unit this
morning as we prepped for the show. I'm with you,
I don't believe it. I think people put stuff out
because they want stuff out. You get lied to. But
here is the one and I'm not This is not
a knock on Chefty. He does a great job. Here's
the one thing where you could see Andrew Berry the GM,
talking himself into it. Okay, we're in a division with
(25:37):
Lamar and Burrow. What if we have the two best
defensive ends in the division. Miles garretton at Carter, Well,
I'm just saying there's a reason Buffalo went and drafted
Mario Williams because Tom or did they have did they
go buy him or they ended up with him right
and then they went and didn't they go buy him
in Buffalo? Yes, the take was, well, we got Tom
(25:57):
Brady in the division and when you played against Peyton,
people in that division were draft in rush. And so
I think you can make an argument, you can talk
yourself into listen, we're not gonna be great at quarterback.
Then the other thing, the only thing I would think
about this if this rumor is true, but they signed
him as a free agent. Things, guys. The only thing
that makes me think about this is if Kevin Stefanski,
(26:20):
who is an offensive coach, passes on Shador Sanders whoa
whoa whoa hold on? So, Shadur is a pocket quarterback
that is accurate. Those are not disputable. Kevin Stefanski likes
pocket quarterbacks that are accurate. That is his brand. So
(26:43):
if he passes on Shador, start looking at the draft board,
where would Shador fall to? Because the Giants now have
a surplus of quarterbacks. It just it always makes me
wonder when offensive coaches move off quarterbacks.
Speaker 6 (26:59):
It's like if they don't want him.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Hey, hey McVeigh and I love GoF. McVay moved off
GoF to Stafford. That told you who was better? Right
when Kyle Shanahan moved off Trey Lance, that told you,
I can't make it work because it makes me look
bad that it doesn't.
Speaker 6 (27:15):
You see Trey Lance is now in like the CFL.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Yeah, so it told Shanahan if shannaan Bale's on a quarterback,
shocker the Cowboys bit you don't go get the quarterback.
Speaker 6 (27:25):
So lol, indulge you here. Raiders at six couldn't look
at your doors.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Okay, let's talk to the Raiders. So the Giants now
have Jamis and Russell. Now maybe they're like, okay, well
let's get the kid. But that feels weird to me,
like they have so many needs. I'd have three.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
They can dump Jamis, he's only like a four million.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Dollar captain, then why did just sign him?
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Well, in case that Chador's gone, I'll give you a
truth bomb here in a second. But Jets at seven
would certainly look at you do be careful. Thinks at
nine would look at.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
The Geno contract. They're only working on guarantees. That's gonna
be a three year deal, so you're gonna have Chadors
for three years. You can move off.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I mean they moved off Kirk Cousins' deal to get
Pennix in there. So this is my theory on why
this is happening. Everybody in their mom knows Brian Dable
needs a quarterback. The Giants need a quarterback. It doesn't
matter that they signed Russ. If you're the Browns, we're
not taking Shador. But if you want him, you've got
to trade up to two to get him before the
Giants get him in three.
Speaker 6 (28:21):
So to me, this was a hey, last call for
Shador Sanders.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Anybody out there, you got to come and trade with
us to get him because he's going to the Giants
at three.
Speaker 6 (28:29):
That's what I Well, here's where're pushing.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Here's what's interesting about the Giants. If they signed Shador Sanders.
Russell Wilson's contract is overwhelmingly tied to playing time, so
you could just get rid of him. Yeah, Jamos, you'd
eat about ten million. You can get rid of him.
So the Giants signed two veteran guys, but both contracts
you could move off of by August, and it wouldn't matter.
(28:54):
You wouldn't move off both. But you may move off one.
Somebody's gonna get hurt. You'll have you know, you'll have
a surf bause to quarterbacks. Somebody will take Jamis or Russell.
So the Giants are still very much in that. The
more I think about it is the Russell contract is
that compensation is overwhelmingly tied to playing time.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
And I know, listen, did Deshaun Watson stuff were past him?
But he's still on the roster right, He's not going anywhere.
But you end that era, it's done, the disgustingness of guarantee,
all the embarrassment that's done. The second you draft should
dors hitters and you move on new quarterback, new era,
forget Watson.
Speaker 6 (29:26):
I think they need that, that cleansing.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Yeah, no, I think you're right on that. I do
think you're right. J mcklenews.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
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Speaker 7 (29:37):
Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David and together we're
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Speaker 1 (29:43):
You could catch us weekdays from five to seven pm.
Speaker 7 (29:45):
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Speaker 1 (29:50):
Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.
Speaker 7 (29:52):
We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on
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Speaker 1 (29:56):
We have a lot of fun talking about the stories
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Speaker 7 (30:04):
And the fact that we've been friends for the last
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Speaker 1 (30:09):
So check us out.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
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And if you miss any of the live show, just
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Speaker 1 (30:31):
Media that's Cavino and Rich. Ring.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Football is back with the UFL Kickoff weekend starting Tomorrow,
Saint Louis takes on Houston at an eight pm Eastern,
then Saturday at San Antonio versus ARLNKEDN at four Eastern
all on.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Fox, so Jmax. Dark horse in the tournament was Texas Tech.
They played John Calipari in Arkansas and I should be
a good game. I think text better, but whatever, so
I coach Calipari, I I've had them on the show before.
I have two strong opinions in his career so far.
At first, I defended him. A lot of people banged
on him for the one and done stuff at Kentucky.
(31:08):
I defended him. I said, you don't want to be rigid.
Coach k initially was rigid. Bobby Knight. Bobby Knight was rigid.
He's like, hey, I'm at Kentucky. It's a great program.
I'm a good salesman. His team's played hard, the kids
were good kids, they went the class. I totally defended him,
and so I pat him on the show. Then I
turned on him, and I was right. He started losing
(31:29):
in the tournament, and he was losing to bad teams early,
or teams that he shouldn't lose to. And then he
started selling us. And I'll give you the quote he
said on his goals at Kentucky. You may think he
said it's a it's a national title. That is not true.
My job is bigger than that. I want to get
players drafted, like John Wall couldn't get drafted without Calipari.
(31:51):
He said, for me, the mission is to be the
vehicle that helps others reach their dreams. Oh, give me
a break, Give me a break. Why didn't just say
that when you got the job? You said it's all
about winning Natties. That was for you because you were
losing in the tournament. To shift the narrative to hey,
I'm beyond winning Natty. Could you imagine taking the Ohio
(32:14):
State football job, the Georgia football job. Said, you know,
my job isn't to win bowl games or Natties. It's
just to get these kids to the NFL. Even bad
Georgia football coaches get guys to the NFL. Even bad
coaches at Kentucky get guys to the NBA in the
first round. So that was a bunch of nonsense. And
by the way, to add to that, the mission he
was selling at the end, he was selling it. I
(32:36):
didn't buy it. I started calling him John Calipanzi because
it's all a scheme. Now, okay, So that's what I
say now he didn't like me, that's fine. But the
mission at the end at Kentucky, which got him fired
because he wasn't winning enough. In March, Duke started beating
him on one and done players using his mission, which
(32:56):
is it's more than basketball, it's about life. Calipari took
a not so thinly veiled shot at Duke for selling that.
It's like, wait a minute, John, that's your whole thing.
When you couldn't win Natties, you couldn't even beat Oakland
in the first round, your whole thing was well, it's
beyond march A. It's not Kentucky basketball or Ohio State football.
(33:19):
It's not beyond that. Bad coaches get guys to the
league in the first round of those schools. Okay. So
I'm just like, okay, it's just a Ponzi scheme. Here,
give me a break. But that said, he's great for
college basketball, great at the podium, great recruiter, excellent job
building up programs, deserves all sorts of credit. Now, most
(33:40):
of college basketball media is toothless, so they're not gonna
call him out on stuff like that. Pivot to I'm
not here to win titles, which yes, at Arkansas, you
need to win titles, right, Like Arkansas basketball hasn't been
relevant since, like Sydney Moncrief, so it matters, especially in
the SEC, which is stacked, it matters. Well, they had
(34:00):
Todd Day at one point. Yeah, there you go, big deal.
I mean, when's the last time you and your buddies
at a bar talked about that? I mean, come on,
Sidney Moncrief was great. He was on the cover Sports
Illustrated when people used to read that magazine. So my
point being is I turned on him, but I do
think this team has had to overcome a bunch of injuries.
He's great for the tournament and I'm gonna be rooting
for him tonight. I'd rather have Calipari in the tournament
(34:23):
in the Elite eight than I would Texas Tech. And
he was on Dan Patrick Show yesterday talking about the Razorbacks.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
What's happened for us this season has been the most
rewarding season. I've had seasons where we won more games
and won national titles and final fours and Elite eights.
I've had all those, but what this team has been
through to survive it, It's been as rewarding as any season.
(34:49):
These kids, all of them have pianos on their backs
because of nil. Well, they're paid, they should do this,
and they're trying to live up to X.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
So this again to all coaches in Division one. I
think it sounds wonderful that your mission is greater than
winning in March. But if you coach UCLA or Kentucky Kansas,
you know ukon your job is to win in March. Okay.
The bottom line, those kids are going to be fine
without you. They were great in high school, they were
(35:23):
great in AAU, They're gonna be great in college. For
about forty five minutes. They're gonna be fine in the NBA.
The mission is to win. For college coaches. Nobody's paying
these guys eleven million dollars a year because they're good
with the Pelicans. That's not why anybody's paying these guys.
You gotta win big games that I'm not paying you.
I'll pay you two million at Kentucky to coach if
you don't win in March, but they're good kids. I'm
(35:43):
not paying you nine million. And that's what the big
jobs are. Same with Michigan football and Ohio State football.
Now it's I will say this. There are institutions like Duke,
which is so rigorous academically, or Notre Dame football or
Duke basketball, where I do think I do think it
is beyond just playing there. The Duke family and the
Notre Dame family academically is greater than just your playing time.
(36:08):
Kentucky basketball, that's not an academic powerhouse. Kentucky's about basketball,
playing March, get money, be a good pro, help your family.
That's a great mission too. But if anybody can sell,
I'm about more than you know, winning in March. I
get that for some academic powers, like Notre Dame football
is bigger than Notre Dame football. Look how many Notre
(36:30):
Dame football players have been CEOs of companies all throughout
the country. I know like four Notre Dame guys who
are now like running companies. That's not typical for football
programs to be have that many great successful guys. So
blah blah blah. I will tell you this. I watched
last night, so I had said this about Steph Curry
(36:51):
before they got Jimmy Butler. I said, he's kind of
on a treadmill to nowhere. And then Jimmy Butler arrived
and Steph's number all went through the roof because he
was engaged. And if you've been great and you've got
multiple titles and five hundred million dollars, it's hard to
be playing for a play in game. I mean, Lebron
(37:11):
the minute Luca arrived was totally energized. At Steph the
minute Jimmy Butler arrived, totally energized. We saw Michael Jordan
at the end in Washington, treadmill to nowhere. If some
Knight's good, some Knights didn't care. So it's very interesting
what's happening to KD. So he scores thirty last night
and the Suns lose by at thirty. He's on a treadmill.
(37:33):
You would think to nowhere, but it's not so. I
watched this game last night. Katie was amazing. Last three games.
KD is auditioning for the league. The guy's been the
best player in the league the last three games. Thirty
seven a night, sixty percent, shooting sixty three percent. He
was great last night against the Celtics, and he wanted
(37:55):
to show the New York Knicks or maybe the Celtics.
You know, if you want to get rid of poor Zingis,
I'm still pretty good. He was auditioning to the Celtics
last night. He was auditioning for the New York Knicks
last night. So the Knicks are a bad fourth quarter team,
and the Knicks are a terrible come from behind team.
They don't have enough shot makers. That's why Giannis isn't
(38:16):
a great fit. He's not a shot maker and he
can't hit free throws. Katie is both. So as I
watched this game last night, my takeaway is k D
came totally zoned in. He was showing the Celtics that
poor zingis guy and porzingis was good last night. If
you want to make a move, I don't need the
ball in my hands. I don't need the ball in
(38:38):
my hands. You can have Tatum and whoever have the ball.
Just get the ball to me. Late. But you could
not watch that game and not see how engaged and
attacking Kevin Durant was. Nick Wright talked about some Celtics
KD rumors.
Speaker 8 (38:57):
Two totally unrelated people, both of whom have reputations for
knowing things that other people don't know, have said to me,
watch out for Durant and Boston.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
It doesn't make I.
Speaker 8 (39:09):
Don't know even the pieces that would work and it
feels a lot like what Durant got killed for with
Golden State before.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
So it doesn't make sense. But it's different, Kadi to
the Warriors were different. Why because Steph was the soul
of the city, right Like it was Steph's team. Steph
was beloved. Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum are excellent players,
(39:39):
but I'd argue, you know, they've had Bill Russell, and
they've had Halcheck, and they've had Larry Bird and no,
I mean, Steph is the all time Warrior so and
Draymond is a pretty combative personality. So, and Clay Thompson
was excellent, and when he went to that organization, there
(40:00):
was always this kind of weird thing where it's Steph's team,
but Katie's winning MVP, and I'm not sure if Draymond
loves him, and it was a weird fit. It's different
in Boston, Okay, So to get kd the Sons would
probably get like a platter of poor Zingis and Derreck
White and picks. And in Boston, where they've had you know,
(40:24):
multiple great players, multiple dynasties, and Tatum isn't Stephan Golden State.
He's not like the Godfather of basketball. He's just a
very good player. So I think Kd's got the kind
of personality he has no problem just coming and hitting
shots in Boston. Hey man, I'll be your third guy
(40:45):
hitting shots. Remember Katie's leaving Phoenix. Why is he playing
like that last night? Why has he been so good
in the last week when a lot of stars are
resting That dude is auditioning for jobs. There is no
question watching him last night, he was on a heater,
he was making a point, and I've said this, keep
(41:07):
your eye on the Knicks as well. The Knicks are
a bad fourth quarter team. They do not play well
from behind. They don't have shot makers, and we're not
sure if Brunson's a one or a one A or two.
The Jannis is a great player at this point, does
maybe more things well than KD. But he can't shoot,
and so he doesn't. He didn't help you when you're
behind because Giannis can't hit free throws and he's got
(41:28):
no jumpers. KD is the kind of guy you can
bring in, give him the ball late in the shot
clock and he ends up with thirty four points. I mean,
last night, Celtics play real defense. Dude was great. It
was great, So j Max kind of rolling his eyes
at this stuff. Just keep your eyes on kd Is.
He was great last night.
Speaker 6 (41:48):
I like it. I don't know how he gets to
the Knicks or Celtics because.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
You're not giving up a lot for a thirty seven
year old who could only get a buckets.
Speaker 6 (41:56):
I'm not giving up a lot for Kevin Durant. I
give him a lot for Gianni's He's thirty seven, Colin.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
He's a shooter, so he shoots. I watched him last night.
Speaker 6 (42:06):
Houston Rockets seem to be the perfectly have draft picks.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
No, I don't have to give up that much. Houston
is a very interesting landing spot. I can see Houston they.
Speaker 6 (42:15):
Get bounced in the first round by somebody. You know, hey,
we need we need a star. Let's get Kevin Durant Veterans.
That makes sense.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
Where would you like him to go?
Speaker 6 (42:25):
Houston?
Speaker 1 (42:25):
So I look good, No, give me Nicks could use
that shot.
Speaker 6 (42:30):
Let's see how they do in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
All right, all right, I'll be patient.
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Oh March Madness resumes tonight. Duke in Arizona, My bracket
mayam plode, all fired up for it live in Los Angeles.
It's The Herd. Wherever you may be listening, however you
may be listening, Thanks for making us part of your day.
I watched some NBA hoops last night. You know it's
(00:46):
getting they always call it in baseball the dog days
of summer, and some of these teams that are good,
like Cleveland, they're like, let's give that guy the night off,
let's get reduced the minutes. Lakers are not in that
situation because they could go up in the seeding or
down if they don't get their act together. But it
was very interesting last night. So Lebron had his worst
(01:07):
half of NBA basketball in the first half on the
road at Indiana. He didn't do anything. It was. I
watched the first half, I'm like, this is awful. But
h and a lot of people think the NBA should
cut it. Scheduled through about sixty five games. Last night
was Laker game number seventy two, and they want the
playoffs to start. These are the dog days. It's like
senioritis in high school. We got accepted to college. Can
(01:30):
we just wrap her up? I don't want to go
to the Spanish class anymore. Geometry, I'm done. I don't
need the credits. You know what it is. We all
did that right, And so that's where the Lakers are.
But they're in a precarious situation because they're the four seed.
They could move up to the two they're not getting
past okay see, or they could fall down to a
playing game and their schedule's brutal. They play the Thunder twice,
(01:53):
a young team that's deep and plays hard. They play
their Rockets twice, a young team that's deep that could
beat him twice. They play the Warriors, they go to
the Grizzlies. By the way, They play the Mavericks Chicago
at home. Chicago's had some weird games. They beat the
Lakers in La so they got to be very careful.
They cannot mail it in here. And here's the thing
to remember about this Laker team as we move into
(02:15):
the dog days. So you know, Luca and Lebron, these
guys can score and do what they want to do.
But this team, Luca has only played nineteen games with
the Lakers, and he's only played twelve when it's been Luca, Lebron,
and Austin all available. So now they're finally healthy and
it didn't take until the fourth quarter last night when
they really really played well. But teams like the Calves,
(02:37):
the Celtics and the Nuggets, they have roster rhythm. They
can rest guys now now Tatum's really hurt, but Boston
can rest guys and still win by thirty. Porzingis plays
well on the road, they win by thirty. It's a
whole different ball. That's not the Lakers. Historically, teams that
make a big sweeping trade at the deadline, like getting Luca,
(02:59):
they don't hold. That's not the way it generally works.
And so Lakers, remember they just lost seven to ten.
Why Lebron was gone and he came back and he
wasn't ready to play. So they need Lebron to be healthy.
They need Lebron to be engaged. And these are the
senioritis days of high school in the NBA for legendary players,
(03:19):
even now Steph. Now, Steph's gonna take some time off.
Steve Kerr is like he's tired. So you see it
in baseball a lot, you're seeing it in the NBA.
They came back to win. Here's the game winner by
Lebron and the King after Lebron's got it with Paul
Quick three. Look time.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
Is gonna or.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Lebron at the buzzer. They won't look at it talking
about winning it at the buzzer. Look at this thing?
Who my good hell be Jack with the winner.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
I really couldn't really have him too much emotion because
I was trying to see if I got the ball
off in time. To be honest, you know, it's always
tricky when you know you kind of touch the ball,
you kind of see the rail light around the backboard,
and you don't quite know if you've got it all
the time. I thought I had it on time, but
you never know. After they showed to replay on it,
it was definitely gratifying, and know, especially where we were,
(04:18):
you know the way we've been playing, and to come
to know how they've been playing, you know, and to
come here and get a good win in a very
hostile environment. That's a big time for our ball club.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah. So the young teams like Indiana and OKC are
playing their butt off. The teams that have some aide
like Boston and the Warriors and the Lakers, and now
Cleveland now has got guys who have been around. Denver's
got guys that have been around. These are dog days.
You're trying to get everybody rest and reduced minutes. But
the Lakers got to be careful. Thunder twice, Rockets twice, Warriors, Mavericks.
(04:49):
Tricky game in Chicago. So tonight the tournament resumes. Arizona, Duke,
I tried to get really smart. I had a great
first weekend. I have fifteen of the sixteen teams left.
I got him, So my best bracket ever. It's probably
gonna go up and smoke tonight because I got real clever,
and I don't think Duke, they'll They've got all these
(05:11):
great freshmen. Freshmen don't win the tournament. So I think
Arizona's gonna beat him tonight. Do I really think that well,
I did, I did two weeks ago. I'm not sure
if I do now. But here's what's interesting. Since Coach
K took over Duke and John Shire, they've had ninety
guys in the NBA. I think Cooper Flag is going
to be their best NBA player ever. So Grant Hill
(05:32):
is the best Dukey ever. His first six years five
times all NBA seconds. Jason Tatum excellent player, Kyrie Irving
to me only played eight games at Duke would be third.
I think Cooper Flag. And by the way, the NBA
right now twenty four Dukies second best of Kentucky. It's
a factory. And think of all the guys that have
come in since Coach K started. Remember he came from
(05:54):
like Army to Duke, had some turbulent early years. They
almost got rid of him. He stayed built in him
than John Shire's been a great, great candidate and a choice.
And I think now Grant Hill is the best Dukie ever.
And his injuries shortened his career, but he was an
unbelievable player. But he entered the league at twenty two.
(06:15):
Cooper Flagg is entering the league at eighteen. He was
seventeen when the season started. So I think he's going
to be much better early than Jason Tatum, and I
think he'll be better late than Grant Hill. He won't
be as good as Grant was first year in the NBA.
Grant was an All Star. But I do think Cooper
flag when you watch him tonight, IQ shooting, passing, He's
(06:38):
an excellent defender. He's got to become a better ball
handler in the pros, no question, But everybody's game needs work.
The kid is just fantastic. He is a finisher. He's
got more of a chip on his shoulder than Jason Tatum.
In fact, Jason Tatum's dad, as Rick Buker told his
stord he Other this week, Jason Tatum's dad acknowledges that
he's got everything, the chip, the EQ, he's tough, a finisher,
(07:02):
can shoot scores at all three levels. Just gotta handle
the ball better. But he was seventeen, not long ago,
and he'll enter the NBA at eighteen. But here's the
classic NBA dilemma. So years ago when Patrick Ewing went
to the Knicks, and you know how fans are, we
weren't even in a conspiracy theory era, but it was
like the frozen envelope theory, because you know, gosh, what
(07:25):
do you know? A good player went to a New
York team. It should be noted that the Orlando Magic
won the lottery twice. Nobody wants to bring that up
or Cleveland's won it, but yes, at one point the
Knicks with Ewing won it. So here's what's funny. If
you look at the NBA lottery yards, there are three
landing spots. Either perfect perfect would be maybe Chicago or Philadelphia,
(07:55):
or hey, San Antonio with Wimby Okay would be Utah,
great GM, great coach, a lot of draft picks, they
got some players they're gonna be. They're gonna be okay,
see if they land Cooper Flag, they're gonna be Oka. See,
and Utah is a great NBA market. And then there's
just god awful Washington, Charlotte, Toronto's Aacramento. And so if
(08:19):
Cooper Flag, the odds are right now it's mostly awful
teams he's gonna go to. And this has always been
the NBA's dilemma. If he ended up going to Chicago,
it's rigged. I'll say it again. The Magic won the
lottery twice. The Knicks won at once, but he is
an all time player, and here's his coach. As he
(08:40):
enters the game tonight against Arizona.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
Cooper is about to move on with something incredibly special.
The next step he's gonna go after this. But happiness
doesn't necessarily equate to, you know, just becoming a pro
or just making money. And although they're making money either
way now, but I think it's important for guys to
(09:04):
each Each guy's their own individual So I think, depending
on the situation, guys should make the decisions for themselves.
But Cooper's thing is different now. Cooper's thing is that's said,
and that's going to happen and as it should.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Yeah. Now, So if you're twenty years old or in
your early thirties and watching this show, first of all,
thank you. Second of all, what's happening with Cooper flag
leaving a big brand, going to the pros and being
good immediately. That's why everybody used to love the NBA,
because that's the way it always was. Twenty five years ago,
Tim Duncan would go to school, be an All American
(09:38):
and he would come back two more years and Ewing
would at Georgetown would be dominant as a freshman. He'd
come back two or three more years. Chris Paul Duncan,
Grant Hills. They didn't leave after a year. So you
would watch them for years and years and years, and
you'd build up this fascination and visceral connection with all
(09:59):
these plays. Then they'd go to the NBA and they
were very good. Year one. We are starving for it
and we're getting Cooper Flag and it's so exciting because
we don't get this anymore. Great player at a big
brand can walk in and be a nineteen pointing game guy. MJ.
People forget this. MJ hits the shot at North Carolina right,
(10:25):
Oh my god. They made the movie Air. He came
back two more seasons after it and didn't win a
college title. It's as if they evaporated. Michael Jordan, Dean Smith.
He was so great yet James Worthy Dean Smith's like, now,
let the freshman shoot the game winner. He came back
two more seasons. Everybody did. The Worthies, the Ewings, the MJ's,
(10:49):
the Duncans, they all came back and back. And I've said,
if you want to know about the NBA's popularity, you
know people are gonna go Oh, it's the politics. It's
the fact that we don't know any of these guys
until they're twenty eight years old. We have no connection.
That's why Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese was such a
TV ratings home run. They'd formed a rivalry in college.
(11:12):
I'm watching the HBO Simmons series on the Celtics, Magic
and Bird at a rivalry in college, and it just
pivoted to the NBA. So the fact that what we're
getting with Cooper Flagg is what we used to get
a surplus of. It was a conveyor belt great players, mature,
ready to crush, maybe make second team All NBA right
(11:33):
out of college. So that's why this is so exciting
for me. It's a little old school in the NBA.
And if you just and I said this one of
my only complaints about Adam Silver, put your arms around
college basketball. Put your nobody's watching the G League. If
Cooper Flag dropped thirty eight tonight, I'd actually watch him
(11:55):
if he went to Charlotte, you know, like, that's what
the NBA used to be. The whole politics thing, maybe
that's five percent. It's the fact that guys come into
the league. Can you name the top five guys drafted
last year in the NBA. Nobody can. I'm not sure
GM's in the NBA can. That's the problem is that
football and now women's basketball is doing this. They provide
(12:19):
us with stories, identifiable stars and rivalries, and then you
just microwave them at the pro level and they're ready
to go. I mean, Reggie Bush had a huge following.
Tim Tebo had a huge following in college. I mean,
if Zion could have controlled his weight, if John Morant
was more mature, maybe you could have had that. It
(12:40):
wasn't they weren't. It looks like Cooper Flag could be
all right, J Mack, we've got I got a little
tip last night. You know, we worked the phones. I
called you last night on something you weren't available.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Oh shoot, I'm sorry, I remember. See, Yeah, I had
something going on. Wait did you get added to a
group tex chain acts? Where did you get this info from?
What's going on?
Speaker 1 (13:03):
I don't get on Drew as CARRISA. Thompson knows if
you put me on one. I got on an NFL
Sunday text chain and I immediately eliminated myself apparently offended
the whole building. He removed yourself. I don't like being
on text chains.
Speaker 6 (13:16):
Why you just mute the chain?
Speaker 1 (13:17):
I don't I don't even know how to do that.
All I know is my thoughts cannot be shared with
forty seven people simultaneously. If you can get me one
on one, you want to meet a phone call. I
don't want things coming out of my head should not
be shared.
Speaker 6 (13:30):
Universal something interest?
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Okay, what does this theory have to do with NFL, NBA,
NFL Aaron Rodgers.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
It's variant. It's not just about Aaron, it's it. It
could affect Aaron got a little tidbit last night. Don't
go anywhere live in La. It's the hurt.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Eastern not a em Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Aaron Rodgers is still considering retirement, but if he doesn't,
it would probably be the Steelers. So I talked to
an NFL exec last night, very well connected and this
is a keep your keep your head in the swivel
Aaron Rodgers. I'm told the Steelers really like Jalen Milroe
(14:16):
twenty first pick, first round. So if Aaron signs with Pittsburgh,
it's going to become Kirk Cousins. They're taking a quarterback
because I've been told the Steelers they're looking around at
all these AFC quarterbacks and Milroe is the most athletically
gifted guy to come out of this draft at that
position since Lamar Jackson, and they feel as an organization
they need special. They just don't stack up. They need
(14:39):
special at quarterback. And I've said he's a better version
of Anthony Richardson. Great kid throws a deep ball, and
now at DK Metcalf they have a deep threat along
with Pickens. So now, but this is potentially a Kirk
Cousin situation. I am told the Steelers really like Milroe.
Great kid, by the way, and this is Aaron's reality
in twenty twenty five. He is a stopgap. The other
(15:01):
thing is I was told by an NFL exec is
they thought the Steelers did some very poor general managing
by paying DK Metcalf, and they've already got a player
that's very similar all that money and they don't have
a quarterback yet. And the problem is they don't have
a lot to pay Aaron Rodgers, and Aaron's got pride.
He wants to sign a contract that's at least Sam
(15:23):
Darnold thirty three to thirty five million. He didn't want
to sign the Russell Wilson deal with the Giants. That
Russell Wilson contracts tided playing time and performance. It's ten million.
Aaron's not going to play for that. Aaron wants to
get mid thirties. At least he's got pride. He's had
a better career, he believes than Russell Wilson. So it's
been a very choppy decision making time for the Steelers.
(15:46):
But I am told Aaron's basically down to the Steelers
who don't have a lot of money, crossing his fingers
on the Vikings who aren't currently interested, they may be
later in retirement. So this is the market that Aaron
has ate it. Tom Brady ended it on his terms. Aaron,
unless he retires, is not It's either going to be
(16:07):
a less than ideal offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers. And
if the twenty first pick, if Milroe's not taken, Pittsburgh
is leaning now and taking him. It is not a
good draft. Most of the teams drafting in the twenties
and beyond, I am told would rather trade out of
the first round. There's probably not going to be a
(16:28):
lot of takers, so Pittsburgh may get trapped a little
like they did with Kenny Pickett. Kenny Pickett was a
third round talent, but they didn't have a quarterback and
so they reached on him. Now, I think Milroe is
the opposite of Kenny Pickett. Kenny Pickett was not this
athlete and was not a good deep ball thrower. Pickett
was a local kid. Millro's not. Milroe's an insane athlete
(16:51):
who throws a beautiful deep ball, big time athlete, wonderful kid,
great family, but he's incredibly inconsistent and probably needs to
sit for a year to be ready to play at
the NFL if it even works. So this is what
I'm being told right now. This is the market Aaron's
created for himself. So you can talk about retirement and
do darkness retreats, but you're not gonna end the career
(17:13):
on your terms. You're gonna have a very very small market.
I mean, even Indianapolis that's desperate at quarterback, they're not
interested in ar. So that's where we are right now.
Jmack with the.
Speaker 5 (17:22):
News, No no turn on the news.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
This is the herd Line news.
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Tull gets here. Let's start the show.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I like it. It's telling you what I'm told.
Speaker 6 (17:32):
Yeah, let's get started.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
Calling Opening day for Major League Baseball today. Very exciting.
The Dodgers are going to defend their World Series title.
Vegas thinks they will, as Los Angeles opens as the
shortest favorite to win the World Series since the two
thousand and two Yankees. We have the odds on the
screen Dodgers plus two to seventy five.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
I'll tell you about the Phillies. At those odds, that's
the best bet plus twelve hundred Phillies. Phillies are a
real team.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
I actually would consider the Mets, but I couldn't look
myself in the mirror as a fan. I just can't
do that. I think the Mets have I have a
bit of a roster and some momentum.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
Well, they're fun. The Mets are fun. Sodo makes them
a really good watch.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Interesting that there's a lot of National League teams on
this list.
Speaker 6 (18:19):
Where's the al talent?
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Well, but by the way, I think the Yankees here
at plus eight fifty are over valued. They're not a
World Series I don't know if they're a playoff winning
team without without Garrett Cole.
Speaker 6 (18:30):
Yeah, couldn't they make a move at the trade deadline.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
I saw a story about two weeks ago they got
about thirty million to play with. But John Carlos Stanton's hurt.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
That's like the payroll of the Marlins like like that.
Speaker 6 (18:41):
That's not jump change. They can do some damage.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
I don't think they're gonna stand past, especially it's based
on this Odds column.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
The old the talent's in the lee here.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Oh no, no, the national. You know, when I was a
kid growing up, most I always remember in the seventies,
the Phillies were great, the Pirates were great, the Dodgers
were great, the Reds were great. It goes back and forth.
It does feel like right now. I mean, we don't
even have the Podrays listed on that and the Podreys
are a really good team, so I think the Podreys
should be one of the five favorites. The problem is
(19:11):
they'd have to get through the Dodgers. Arizona's a good team.
They got to get through the Dodgers. So it's just
a national leg's better right now. That's why it was
interesting when Sodo went to the Mets. Many people said,
if you're not gonna go to the Yankees, stay in
the American League because it's just easier to get to
the World Series, which is good for your marketing.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
But if you're a betting man, you want to take
the Yankees because the path for them is easy, easy,
and if you go with your phillies, like, the Yankees
dominate the.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
American League Central. I mean, I couldn't say the last
time the Twins beat them in a big series, like so,
I mean, the Yankees have owned and this is about
all they've owned in the last twelve years. They've owned
the American League Central.
Speaker 6 (19:48):
Take your shots, now take your shots.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Now, let's move on to the NFL Draft in Ashton genty.
He sat down with Fox Sports dot Com ahead of
the draft and set his goal in the NFL is to.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
Be the quote best to ever do it.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
He's got some confidence, obviously, he's got a lot of talent.
He had his Pro day yesterday. Every NFL team was
president Jent. He had a monster year at Boise and uh.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
Did you see some of his Pro day stuff?
Speaker 6 (20:14):
Yeah, a little bit, I meant, dude, but like the
best to ever do it. Like I listen, I like
that shoot for the stars.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
But I will say when you looked and again, I
think pro days are nonsense. Yeah, but some of the
stuff he does man does not look normal. It's not
normal stuff even for a really good player.
Speaker 6 (20:31):
Like you, would you take him top ten colin a
running back.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
I think this draft when the Lions took Jimier Gibbs,
they looked at it and thought, we have a great
old line. We have our quarterback, we have bomber On
Saint Brown.
Speaker 6 (20:46):
He was like the missing piece.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
Yeah, and their take was we need to be more.
And the other thing the Lions said is our old
line is so good that even if he's not as
good as we think, and we think he's great, he
will succeed because of our own line. That's why the
Eagles said, go get Saquon. He our own line is
so good it's going to guarantee thirty percent better than
(21:08):
the Giants, where Saquon was great with a terrible old
one years. So to me, the Chicago Bears have gone
out Drew Dolman, Joe Tooney, Jonah Jackson. So the Bears
and the Vikings both, but the Bears went out and
upgraded a singular unit more than any unit by any
team in the league. So could you argue that almost
(21:33):
ensures that gent will succeed at a high level with
the bet because now they got their tight end, they
got two receivers, they have the quarterback and offensive coach.
I can see defense. Well, it's very good argument. In
a better draft, I can see the Bears going, let's
go pass rusher because they have Jalen Johnson and sweat
(21:54):
the defensive lineman. But in a draft that's average, Ben
Johnson goes, let's see what did we do in Detroit
that we got criticized for but actually was a great move.
We went and took a first round running back because
we had a very capable on line. I could see
the Bears doing it.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
So let's say the kid Graham is available at eight
or wherever the Bears are picking in the top ten.
I think you could get eighty percent of genty with
running backs in the second and third round.
Speaker 6 (22:22):
I don't know that you can get eighty percent of Graham.
Graham is a superstar waiting.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
To Mason Graham.
Speaker 6 (22:27):
He's awesome. Yeah, Mason Graham from Michigan. Yeah, I don't
think you can find other.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
Awesome you can't tackle. No, he's the best defensive texts.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
Why a lot is who's going to be on the
board when the Bears pick Listen. I know we both
like genty a lot.
Speaker 6 (22:39):
I just don't know.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
What this draft is really good for. It's not good
for bad teams to get better. Right, last year's draft,
Washington got Jayden Daniels got better. Denver got bow Nicks better.
Last year's draft was good enough that bad teams could
make the playoffs if they drafted well. That is not
(23:00):
this draft. This draft is an icing draft. There's not
a lot of cake in it. Last year there was
all sorts of cake. Jayden Daniels is a fifteen year
cake starter. This is an icing draft. So if you've
got pieces but are missing, like one piece, Bears like
we need an explosive running back, this is the draft
(23:21):
for it.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
And this whole Raiders potentially taking Ashton Gentiet's they're not
even remotely close And I know the Raiders fans hate
when I take shots.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
Let's be real cool.
Speaker 6 (23:30):
Whoa whoa whoa wo say more? Are they close to
a wild card spot in the Akay?
Speaker 1 (23:34):
If you're the Raiders and you're looking at all these
quarterbacks in your division and you have Geno, you have,
you have excellent tight ends. Your old line's got young
players that are good. There's an absolute argument. Pete Carroll's like,
when was I great in the NFL? Marshawn Lynch. I'm
just saying, when was I great in college? Reggie Bush?
(23:57):
I could absolutely see Pete Carroll saying, guys, we need
a star out of the backfield. We have the old line,
our star tight end, weapon, a veteran quarterback we need.
We need a home run in our division. I can
see Jenty get it. You talk yourself into a superstar
running back. For the record, All these first round running backs,
(24:17):
everybody craps on they've.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
All hit Well, wait a minute, John Robinson, what has
he done?
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Well? No, he's a good He's a top ten back
in the league. Is that all his fault? Well, I
mean you look at Zeke and you look at Peterson
and you look.
Speaker 6 (24:32):
Zeke is like fifteen years Well he was great.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
Saquon Barkley, on Jamiir Gibb, all these first round running
La Dani and Pomlinson, they're all excellent.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
Well, you're falling in love with the accessories in your
war room over there.
Speaker 6 (24:47):
Huh, we take it a wide receiver eight.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
I may start I may start wearing cuffling store.
Speaker 6 (24:51):
Oh my gosh, give me a all right.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Final story is a little crazy and I refuse to
believe it. So Adam Schefter went on TV yesterday and
has said said that the Browns are looking hard at
Abdual Carter. His herbiage was interesting, but he made it
sound like he was in the No.
Speaker 6 (25:09):
Now, we're still a month ago and a lot that happened.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
I just refused.
Speaker 6 (25:12):
I will be totally floor if they passed on a quarterback.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
Okay, So we talked about this as a unit this
morning as we prepped for the show. I'm with you,
I don't believe it. I think people put stuff out
because they want stuff out. You get lied to. But
here is the one and I'm not This is not
a knock on Chefty. He does a great job. Here's
the one thing where you could see Andrew Berry the GM,
talking himself into it. Okay, we're in a division with
(25:37):
Lamar and Burrow. What if we have the two best
defensive ends in the division. Miles garretton at Carter, Well,
I'm just saying there's a reason Buffalo went and drafted
Mario Williams because Tom or did they have did they
go buy him or they ended up with him right
and then they went and didn't they go buy him
in Buffalo? Yes, the take was, well, we got Tom
(25:57):
Brady in the division and when you played against Peyton,
people in that division were draft in rush. And so
I think you can make an argument, you can talk
yourself into listen, we're not gonna be great at quarterback.
Then the other thing, the only thing I would think
about this if this rumor is true, but they signed
him as a free agent. Things, guys. The only thing
that makes me think about this is if Kevin Stefanski,
(26:20):
who is an offensive coach, passes on Shador Sanders whoa
whoa whoa hold on? So, Shadur is a pocket quarterback
that is accurate. Those are not disputable. Kevin Stefanski likes
pocket quarterbacks that are accurate. That is his brand. So
(26:43):
if he passes on Shador, start looking at the draft board,
where would Shador fall to? Because the Giants now have
a surplus of quarterbacks. It just it always makes me
wonder when offensive coaches move off quarterbacks.
Speaker 6 (26:59):
It's like if they don't want him.
Speaker 1 (27:02):
Hey, hey McVeigh and I love GoF. McVay moved off
GoF to Stafford. That told you who was better? Right
when Kyle Shanahan moved off Trey Lance, that told you,
I can't make it work because it makes me look
bad that it doesn't.
Speaker 6 (27:15):
You see Trey Lance is now in like the CFL.
Speaker 1 (27:16):
Yeah, so it told Shanahan if shannaan Bale's on a quarterback,
shocker the Cowboys bit you don't go get the quarterback.
Speaker 6 (27:25):
So lol, indulge you here. Raiders at six couldn't look
at your doors.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
Okay, let's talk to the Raiders. So the Giants now
have Jamis and Russell. Now maybe they're like, okay, well
let's get the kid. But that feels weird to me,
like they have so many needs. I'd have three.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
They can dump Jamis, he's only like a four million.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Dollar captain, then why did just sign him?
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Well, in case that Chador's gone, I'll give you a
truth bomb here in a second. But Jets at seven
would certainly look at you do be careful. Thinks at
nine would look at.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
The Geno contract. They're only working on guarantees. That's gonna
be a three year deal, so you're gonna have Chadors
for three years. You can move off.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
I mean they moved off Kirk Cousins' deal to get
Pennix in there. So this is my theory on why
this is happening. Everybody in their mom knows Brian Dable
needs a quarterback. The Giants need a quarterback. It doesn't
matter that they signed Russ. If you're the Browns, we're
not taking Shador. But if you want him, you've got
to trade up to two to get him before the
Giants get him in three.
Speaker 6 (28:21):
So to me, this was a hey, last call for
Shador Sanders.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Anybody out there, you got to come and trade with
us to get him because he's going to the Giants
at three.
Speaker 6 (28:29):
That's what I Well, here's where're pushing.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Here's what's interesting about the Giants. If they signed Shador Sanders.
Russell Wilson's contract is overwhelmingly tied to playing time, so
you could just get rid of him. Yeah, Jamos, you'd
eat about ten million. You can get rid of him.
So the Giants signed two veteran guys, but both contracts
you could move off of by August, and it wouldn't matter.
(28:54):
You wouldn't move off both. But you may move off one.
Somebody's gonna get hurt. You'll have you know, you'll have
a surf bause to quarterbacks. Somebody will take Jamis or Russell.
So the Giants are still very much in that. The
more I think about it is the Russell contract is
that compensation is overwhelmingly tied to playing time.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
And I know, listen, did Deshaun Watson stuff were past him?
But he's still on the roster right, He's not going anywhere.
But you end that era, it's done, the disgustingness of guarantee,
all the embarrassment that's done. The second you draft should
dors hitters and you move on new quarterback, new era,
forget Watson.
Speaker 6 (29:26):
I think they need that, that cleansing.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Yeah, no, I think you're right on that. I do
think you're right. J mcklenews.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon Eastern non am Pacific.
Speaker 7 (29:37):
Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David and together we're
Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
You could catch us weekdays from five to seven pm.
Speaker 7 (29:45):
Eastern two to four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and
of course the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.
Speaker 7 (29:52):
We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on
in the world.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
We have a lot of fun talking about the stories
behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture,
stories that well other shows don't seem to have the
time to discuss.
Speaker 7 (30:04):
And the fact that we've been friends for the last
twenty years and still work together, I mean that says something, right.
Speaker 1 (30:09):
So check us out.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
We like to get you involved, to take your phone calls,
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And if you miss any of the live show, just
search Covin on Rich wherever you get your podcasts, and
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Speaker 1 (30:31):
Media that's Cavino and Rich. Ring.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Football is back with the UFL Kickoff weekend starting Tomorrow,
Saint Louis takes on Houston at an eight pm Eastern,
then Saturday at San Antonio versus ARLNKEDN at four Eastern
all on.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Fox, so Jmax. Dark horse in the tournament was Texas Tech.
They played John Calipari in Arkansas and I should be
a good game. I think text better, but whatever, so
I coach Calipari, I I've had them on the show before.
I have two strong opinions in his career so far.
At first, I defended him. A lot of people banged
on him for the one and done stuff at Kentucky.
(31:08):
I defended him. I said, you don't want to be rigid.
Coach k initially was rigid. Bobby Knight. Bobby Knight was rigid.
He's like, hey, I'm at Kentucky. It's a great program.
I'm a good salesman. His team's played hard, the kids
were good kids, they went the class. I totally defended him,
and so I pat him on the show. Then I
turned on him, and I was right. He started losing
(31:29):
in the tournament, and he was losing to bad teams early,
or teams that he shouldn't lose to. And then he
started selling us. And I'll give you the quote he
said on his goals at Kentucky. You may think he
said it's a it's a national title. That is not true.
My job is bigger than that. I want to get
players drafted, like John Wall couldn't get drafted without Calipari.
(31:51):
He said, for me, the mission is to be the
vehicle that helps others reach their dreams. Oh, give me
a break, Give me a break. Why didn't just say
that when you got the job? You said it's all
about winning Natties. That was for you because you were
losing in the tournament. To shift the narrative to hey,
I'm beyond winning Natty. Could you imagine taking the Ohio
(32:14):
State football job, the Georgia football job. Said, you know,
my job isn't to win bowl games or Natties. It's
just to get these kids to the NFL. Even bad
Georgia football coaches get guys to the NFL. Even bad
coaches at Kentucky get guys to the NBA in the
first round. So that was a bunch of nonsense. And
by the way, to add to that, the mission he
was selling at the end, he was selling it. I
(32:36):
didn't buy it. I started calling him John Calipanzi because
it's all a scheme. Now, okay, So that's what I
say now he didn't like me, that's fine. But the
mission at the end at Kentucky, which got him fired
because he wasn't winning enough. In March, Duke started beating
him on one and done players using his mission, which
(32:56):
is it's more than basketball, it's about life. Calipari took
a not so thinly veiled shot at Duke for selling that.
It's like, wait a minute, John, that's your whole thing.
When you couldn't win Natties, you couldn't even beat Oakland
in the first round, your whole thing was well, it's
beyond march A. It's not Kentucky basketball or Ohio State football.
(33:19):
It's not beyond that. Bad coaches get guys to the
league in the first round of those schools. Okay. So
I'm just like, okay, it's just a Ponzi scheme. Here,
give me a break. But that said, he's great for
college basketball, great at the podium, great recruiter, excellent job
building up programs, deserves all sorts of credit. Now, most
(33:40):
of college basketball media is toothless, so they're not gonna
call him out on stuff like that. Pivot to I'm
not here to win titles, which yes, at Arkansas, you
need to win titles, right, Like Arkansas basketball hasn't been
relevant since, like Sydney Moncrief, so it matters, especially in
the SEC, which is stacked, it matters. Well, they had
(34:00):
Todd Day at one point. Yeah, there you go, big deal.
I mean, when's the last time you and your buddies
at a bar talked about that? I mean, come on,
Sidney Moncrief was great. He was on the cover Sports
Illustrated when people used to read that magazine. So my
point being is I turned on him, but I do
think this team has had to overcome a bunch of injuries.
He's great for the tournament and I'm gonna be rooting
for him tonight. I'd rather have Calipari in the tournament
(34:23):
in the Elite eight than I would Texas Tech. And
he was on Dan Patrick Show yesterday talking about the Razorbacks.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
What's happened for us this season has been the most
rewarding season. I've had seasons where we won more games
and won national titles and final fours and Elite eights.
I've had all those, but what this team has been
through to survive it, It's been as rewarding as any season.
(34:49):
These kids, all of them have pianos on their backs
because of nil. Well, they're paid, they should do this,
and they're trying to live up to X.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
So this again to all coaches in Division one. I
think it sounds wonderful that your mission is greater than
winning in March. But if you coach UCLA or Kentucky Kansas,
you know ukon your job is to win in March. Okay.
The bottom line, those kids are going to be fine
without you. They were great in high school, they were
(35:23):
great in AAU, They're gonna be great in college. For
about forty five minutes. They're gonna be fine in the NBA.
The mission is to win. For college coaches. Nobody's paying
these guys eleven million dollars a year because they're good
with the Pelicans. That's not why anybody's paying these guys.
You gotta win big games that I'm not paying you.
I'll pay you two million at Kentucky to coach if
you don't win in March, but they're good kids. I'm
(35:43):
not paying you nine million. And that's what the big
jobs are. Same with Michigan football and Ohio State football.
Now it's I will say this. There are institutions like Duke,
which is so rigorous academically, or Notre Dame football or
Duke basketball, where I do think I do think it
is beyond just playing there. The Duke family and the
Notre Dame family academically is greater than just your playing time.
(36:08):
Kentucky basketball, that's not an academic powerhouse. Kentucky's about basketball,
playing March, get money, be a good pro, help your family.
That's a great mission too. But if anybody can sell,
I'm about more than you know, winning in March. I
get that for some academic powers, like Notre Dame football
is bigger than Notre Dame football. Look how many Notre
(36:30):
Dame football players have been CEOs of companies all throughout
the country. I know like four Notre Dame guys who
are now like running companies. That's not typical for football
programs to be have that many great successful guys. So
blah blah blah. I will tell you this. I watched
last night, so I had said this about Steph Curry
(36:51):
before they got Jimmy Butler. I said, he's kind of
on a treadmill to nowhere. And then Jimmy Butler arrived
and Steph's number all went through the roof because he
was engaged. And if you've been great and you've got
multiple titles and five hundred million dollars, it's hard to
be playing for a play in game. I mean, Lebron
(37:11):
the minute Luca arrived was totally energized. At Steph the
minute Jimmy Butler arrived, totally energized. We saw Michael Jordan
at the end in Washington, treadmill to nowhere. If some
Knight's good, some Knights didn't care. So it's very interesting
what's happening to KD. So he scores thirty last night
and the Suns lose by at thirty. He's on a treadmill.
(37:33):
You would think to nowhere, but it's not so. I
watched this game last night. Katie was amazing. Last three games.
KD is auditioning for the league. The guy's been the
best player in the league the last three games. Thirty
seven a night, sixty percent, shooting sixty three percent. He
was great last night against the Celtics, and he wanted
(37:55):
to show the New York Knicks or maybe the Celtics.
You know, if you want to get rid of poor Zingis,
I'm still pretty good. He was auditioning to the Celtics
last night. He was auditioning for the New York Knicks
last night. So the Knicks are a bad fourth quarter team,
and the Knicks are a terrible come from behind team.
They don't have enough shot makers. That's why Giannis isn't
(38:16):
a great fit. He's not a shot maker and he
can't hit free throws. Katie is both. So as I
watched this game last night, my takeaway is k D
came totally zoned in. He was showing the Celtics that
poor zingis guy and porzingis was good last night. If
you want to make a move, I don't need the
ball in my hands. I don't need the ball in
(38:38):
my hands. You can have Tatum and whoever have the ball.
Just get the ball to me. Late. But you could
not watch that game and not see how engaged and
attacking Kevin Durant was. Nick Wright talked about some Celtics
KD rumors.
Speaker 8 (38:57):
Two totally unrelated people, both of whom have reputations for
knowing things that other people don't know, have said to me,
watch out for Durant and Boston.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
It doesn't make I.
Speaker 8 (39:09):
Don't know even the pieces that would work and it
feels a lot like what Durant got killed for with
Golden State before.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
So it doesn't make sense. But it's different, Kadi to
the Warriors were different. Why because Steph was the soul
of the city, right Like it was Steph's team. Steph
was beloved. Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum are excellent players,
(39:39):
but I'd argue, you know, they've had Bill Russell, and
they've had Halcheck, and they've had Larry Bird and no,
I mean, Steph is the all time Warrior so and
Draymond is a pretty combative personality. So, and Clay Thompson
was excellent, and when he went to that organization, there
(40:00):
was always this kind of weird thing where it's Steph's team,
but Katie's winning MVP, and I'm not sure if Draymond
loves him, and it was a weird fit. It's different
in Boston, Okay, So to get kd the Sons would
probably get like a platter of poor Zingis and Derreck
White and picks. And in Boston, where they've had you know,
(40:24):
multiple great players, multiple dynasties, and Tatum isn't Stephan Golden State.
He's not like the Godfather of basketball. He's just a
very good player. So I think Kd's got the kind
of personality he has no problem just coming and hitting
shots in Boston. Hey man, I'll be your third guy
(40:45):
hitting shots. Remember Katie's leaving Phoenix. Why is he playing
like that last night? Why has he been so good
in the last week when a lot of stars are
resting That dude is auditioning for jobs. There is no
question watching him last night, he was on a heater,
he was making a point, and I've said this, keep
(41:07):
your eye on the Knicks as well. The Knicks are
a bad fourth quarter team. They do not play well
from behind. They don't have shot makers, and we're not
sure if Brunson's a one or a one A or two.
The Jannis is a great player at this point, does
maybe more things well than KD. But he can't shoot,
and so he doesn't. He didn't help you when you're
behind because Giannis can't hit free throws and he's got
(41:28):
no jumpers. KD is the kind of guy you can
bring in, give him the ball late in the shot
clock and he ends up with thirty four points. I mean,
last night, Celtics play real defense. Dude was great. It
was great, So j Max kind of rolling his eyes
at this stuff. Just keep your eyes on kd Is.
He was great last night.
Speaker 6 (41:48):
I like it. I don't know how he gets to
the Knicks or Celtics because.
Speaker 2 (41:52):
You're not giving up a lot for a thirty seven
year old who could only get a buckets.
Speaker 6 (41:56):
I'm not giving up a lot for Kevin Durant. I
give him a lot for Gianni's He's thirty seven, Colin.
Speaker 1 (42:01):
He's a shooter, so he shoots. I watched him last night.
Speaker 6 (42:06):
Houston Rockets seem to be the perfectly have draft picks.
Speaker 1 (42:10):
No, I don't have to give up that much. Houston
is a very interesting landing spot. I can see Houston they.
Speaker 6 (42:15):
Get bounced in the first round by somebody. You know, hey,
we need we need a star. Let's get Kevin Durant Veterans.
That makes sense.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
Where would you like him to go?
Speaker 6 (42:25):
Houston?
Speaker 1 (42:25):
So I look good, No, give me Nicks could use
that shot.
Speaker 6 (42:30):
Let's see how they do in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (42:31):
All right, all right, I'll be patient.
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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