Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
We're back our number two here on The Herd.
Speaker 4 (00:30):
Jason McIntyre in for Colin Cowherd joined today by Alex Curry. Alex,
you know NBA Finals start tomorrow. I know you're really excited.
We haven't talked a lot about the Stanley Cup finals,
like here, hockey is happening this week or something like that.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, I mean we got something.
Speaker 5 (00:52):
It's funny though, because obviously I used to work in hockey,
so I love it and I follow it, and I
was following the Kings playoff run they.
Speaker 6 (00:59):
Got yeah put it once again, Yeah by Edmonton Oilers.
But yeah, it's similar.
Speaker 5 (01:06):
It's kind of having a similar feel to this NBA
Finals right now, where everyone's like, oh, yeah the finals
are this way, opposed to like, oh my god, I
can't wait for this day because a final start so it's.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Yeah, it's a rough one.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
We have a really nice guest coming up in thirty minutes.
Alexi lallis US national soccer team legend, also a soccer agitator.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Can I call them that?
Speaker 4 (01:29):
I'm on a text thread with some soccer dads and
they're like, oh, I can't stand that lallss Oh my goodness.
But first we got to start here. Obviously, the Knicks
fire Tom Thibodeau yesterday bit of a shocker, and we
decided to we come up with five potential names to
replace Tom Thibodeau. Now, we just had Mitch Lawrence on
(01:49):
and he broke it down in an interesting way. He's like, listen, man,
MSG is a pit full of vipers you because it's
so insular and they don't talk to the media. Really,
nobody knows who's really making this decision. Like Leon Rose
had hired his guy, Tibbs, Well, did Leon Rose fire
his guy or did Dolan step in? Is Jim Dolan
(02:10):
back in charge and he's gonna flex and throw his
weight around and so there's a bit of a mystery
as to will Rose get his guy, Will the players
have a say, we know what's the players league?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Or is the owner just gonna steamroll everybody and say
this is what I want.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
So I came up with five guys and then we'll
have like a special mystery guy at the end, which
I'll go a little longer. But the first guy that
to bring up is Mark Jackson. Nobody's talking about Mark
Jackson whatsoever. He's yah him on the right side. But listen,
this is a guy who was in Golden State for
the early Splash Brothers and he got run off. The
(02:45):
worst part for Mark Jackson was right after he got
run off, Steve Kerr made a little tweak right he
put Draymond Green into the death lineup. They want small
ball and they made the jump to light speed and
the Warriors never looked back. They became a dynasty. And
depending on who you talk to, it's like, oh, oh,
Mark Jackson couldn't figure it out. We needed Steve kur
(03:06):
to do that.
Speaker 7 (03:07):
Now.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Mark Jackson is a legend in New York City, Okay,
born in Queens like myself, I thought I was a
point guard. He actually was a point guard, went to
Saint John's. Legendary player at Saint John's. What with the Knicks,
Mister Shimmy I mean, Mark Jackson needs no introduction. The
problem is he had some off court stuff that kind
(03:30):
of carried over and then the Warriors thing. Never he
never was able to rebound from that, and he never
got a second chance, which I think is kind of bs.
He went to be an announcer, then he got shoved
out of that. So Mark Jackson's just out there. And
my gut tells me Dolan, wanting to win over the fans,
is gonna bring in Mark Jackson for an interview. I
don't know if he'll get it, but he's on the list.
(03:50):
I think the next guy you got to bring up
is Michael Malone. Now, Michael Malone won a title in
Denver a couple of years ago, and we talked with
Mitch Lawrence a little while ago talking about Thibodeau getting fired.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
He raved about Michael Malone.
Speaker 8 (04:05):
It's a treacherous place if you're a coach, because you're
the guy who's the face of the franchise. They don't
let Leon Rose talk. Dolan doesn't talk. So Tom Thibodau
was the guy who had a talk. Nobody's held accountable
in terms of Leon Rose or Jim Dolan. It's run
differently than any other organization, and it's been unsuccessful in
a lot of ways. You know, it's the anti Spurs,
(04:27):
anti Miami, whatever you want to call it. They do
things their own way, and for the most part, before
Time came on board, they were irrelevant and a dumpster
fire and they I think Nick fans probably fear now
that's the road they're headed back on.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
So if you listen closely, Mitchell's like, listen, they don't
like dealing with the media. Thibodeau did not like dealing
with the media. He just wouldn't give much, wouldn't talk
a lot. You know who doesn't mind mixing it up
with the media. Michael Malone. He'll go right back at
you guys. And you know why because he won a
title with Denver and he talked trash and backed it up. Now,
(05:04):
the interesting thing is I had a Knicks fan. Tell me, listen,
who was yo kitch when he came into the league
second round pick? Give me a break, Carl Anthony Towns.
You don't think Michael Malone could work with him and
take his defense from a D plus to a B minus.
Could he get him to a C plus? Michael Malone
really did help your kitch a lot. Why couldn't you do.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
That with Kat and I?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
You know, remember I was pushing Michael Malone during the
Detroit series. You know we could pull that video if
you really want to. I know you don't care, but
then I backed off when he beat the Celtics, and
I don't Malone really does feel like Thibodeau two point zero.
All right, next name on the list again, kind of
going off the board here. Steve Nash any won. Steve
Nash coached in Brooklyn. It's funny because Steve Nash was
(05:53):
great with the Warriors as like a specialty coach. Kevin
Durant loved him, and then Kevin Durant pushed him when
he got to Brooklyn with Kyrie. But what Kevin Duray
didn't know is Kyrie Irving was kind of sort of
losing his mind at the time and wanted nothing to
do with Steve Nash. He famously went on like an
Instagram live or whatever and was like, KD and I
(06:15):
with Riq, we don't even need a coach. And I
told the story how Steve Nash.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Was in New York.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Kyrie said, oh, yeah, come to my place to meet me.
And Steve Nash in the rain went there and Kyrie
just left him on the doorstep for like twenty minutes,
ringing the doorbell, just wouldn't answer. It as like a
hey man, I know you're the coach, but I'm the
guy I built this super team, and it was like whoa,
they got off on the wrong foot. Nash did not
last long in Brooklyn, but he's now partner with Lebron
(06:42):
Lebron on a podcast, and we know that worked out
well for Lebron's last podcast partner, JJ Reddick.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Let's see who else we got? We got Mike Brown, anyone.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Mike Brown's kind of been around the league, smart guy,
I don't want to say, got Railroad in Sacramento, but
it just didn't really pan out for him. Obviously a
very good coach in Cleveland, He's been around the league.
Is considered a defensive guy, which is pretty good, especially
when you factor in how bad the Knicks defense was
(07:13):
against the Pacers. I believe they gave up one hundred
and twenty six points per game in the losses in
the series, and it's like that was Tibb's calling card.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
He couldn't deliver.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Can Mike Brown get the defense up to stuff, and
finally I'm going off the board here.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Sam Cassell. Everybody knows him.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
Great celebration guy, Sam Cassell. We won't talk about the celebration.
Haliburton mimicked it. But Cassell is known as a players coach.
Colin always last when I say this phrase. But Sam
Cassell is a cool guy. He's funny, he was a
great point guard, and I do believe he could connect
with these guys in a way. Tibbs, who's sixty seven
and much older than Kassel. Tibbs didn't really connect with
(07:53):
Bridges at heart, and now that came out in the media,
could Cassell be the guy? So those are the five
guys that I think we'll certainly get interviews in Deep Looks.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Michael Malone obviously everybody loves that. Mike Brown.
Speaker 4 (08:05):
I haven't heard as much about Nash. I don't know
if I was the first to float him yesterday right
after it broke. Sam Cassell and Mark Jackson. So now I'm.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
Gonna go with the other guy.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
And I was not convinced of this, and we had
a heated four minute debate in the meeting this morning
about whether or not Jason Kidd is a viable candidate
for the next job. Jason Kidd was the point guard
with Carmelo Anthony when the Next had a really good
run ten years ago. The problem, of course, is Jason
Kidd is currently under contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
But let's be real, Jason Kidd may not love it
in Dallas.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
They get to the finals to Luca and then don't
consult Jay Kidd and they trade Luca to the Lakers
and Jason Kidd. We don't have video of it, but
if you look at the post Luca trade press conference,
Jason Kidd is staring straight ahead like he saw a ghost. Yeah,
we're doing one ghost reference an hour people, And I
don't I'm a Knicks fan. I don't know if the
(09:09):
Knicks next season is an upgrade from the MAVs.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Let me explain.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
Yes, the Knicks are in the East, notatum Celtics pull back.
Knicks are gonna be one of the three best in
the East. Dallas gets Cooper Flag, they have Anthony, Davis
Gafford for now, Derek Lively, PJ Washington, and Kyrie Irving's
hurt and will be out. I'm gonna generously say the
(09:35):
All Star Break, maybe March first, so there will be
some struggles. Here's why I think Dallas is interesting given
the number one pick of Cooper Flag. I believe they
will be active in free agency and they will be
making trades. I think Gafford is gone. I think you
could probably trade Gafford to a team looking to off
road salary. And hello Drew Holliday and the Boston Celtics.
(09:59):
So now, now, if you're just looking at a playoff
lineup in Dallas, potentially Drew Holliday, Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, Lively,
an ad that's maybe a truck in the West, and
my main man, Cooper Flag future NBA MVP. Cooper Flag
would be your sixth man, super Max Christy seventh man.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
I know, super Max. Hahaha, folks. That's a hell of
a lineup.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
The Knicks have some flexibility this offseason, but when you
look at the roster, it's like, are they too top heavy?
And I don't know how much movement they'll actually make.
So could you convince Jason Kidd, hey man, we're going
to trade for you. Then the other problem is that
Dix don't have a ton of assets to trade for
Jason Kidd, and oh, by the way, they owe thirty
(10:46):
million dollars to Tom Thibodeau. So now you're giving up assets,
then you've got to pay j Kid, and you still
got to pay Thibodeau. It just it doesn't seem like
a winning play for the Knicks.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
It's weird.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
I didn't like the MAVs trade at all, but then
they get Cooper Flag and the lottery, and now I've
got to get back to being a MAVs fan.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
I loved them when they had Luca, just because I
like Luca. But the Knicks. Everybody's painting this is this
is a great job, is it?
Speaker 7 (11:15):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
The Phoenix Suns just.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Hired a guy named Jordan not just kidding, Jordan Ot.
I have no idea who that guy is. The Phoenix
Suns are clearly hitting the detonation button on the franchise.
He's probably gonna be Devin Booker and a bunch of
dudes because Bradley Beal's gonna wave his no trading clause
and be gone. But like that's what the Sons were
picking Jordan Ott. So why are we mentioning for the
(11:38):
next Michael Malone? Maybe he wants to go into TV.
We saw him during uh I think it was a
West Yeah, Western Conference Finals. He saw him on TV
talking about how SGA was the real MVP. Thought it
was a shot of Joker. I digress, but it's like,
is the NIXT job that good on the surface?
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Hell yeah, just.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
Went to the conference final, two games from the NBA Finals.
So Jason Kidd's an interesting name. My guess is it
doesn't happen, but we know his history with the Knicks.
He's a Hall of Fame point guard. If you're making
a list of all time great point guards, Kid has
to be top six, right. I mean, this is one
of the great point guards in NBA history.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
So I don't know. It's gonna be fascinating.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
Nick's head Coaching Watch can't wait coming up next. Adam
Silver gave the guys on Breakfast Ball this morning a
big update on potential change coming to the All Star Game.
Alex Curry will have that for us next in herdline.
That's next year on the herd. For hot water that
never runs out, go tankless with Navian right now, say
(12:46):
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Speaker 2 (13:01):
One more Heard. The Herd streams twenty four hours a day,
seven days a week. Within the iHeartRadio app, Search Herd
to listen live or on demand whenever you like.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Back here on the Herd. Alexi Lawless coming up in
studio to talk soccer. Oh got it the first. Let's
go to Alex with the news.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Turn on the news. This is the Herd Line News,
So Jmac.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
Let's kick things off in the NFL with the number
one overall pick camp Ward, who has been flying under
the writer I've bit in Tennessee, but his teammates have
been entressed with him at Camp. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley
has played with a bunch of teams, but he says
his rookie QB stands out.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
On his calm relax. So I mean you need that
at the quarterbacks that yeah can be. It can't just
be an overthinker jivery guy.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
You just gotta kind of, you know, be okay with.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
You know, you know, doing good and you know.
Speaker 7 (13:55):
You just gotta have that.
Speaker 5 (13:57):
So he has the right mentality. You know, you're hearing
all the right things you want to hear about your
number one overall pick, but again, like this is not
a great roster. I had the number one overall pick
for a reason. I had three wins last season. They're
over under for wind totals to set a five and
a half this year. They don't have a great offensive line,
and you just hope that he can stay healthy. And
(14:18):
you really never know what you're going to get with
the rooky quarterback anyway.
Speaker 6 (14:22):
I just hope he has a solid rookie season.
Speaker 5 (14:25):
It's just it's not like a sexy topic team.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Have they ever? Well, I guess when they had Derek
Henry they had some juice.
Speaker 5 (14:32):
Yeah, but even even having like one of the top
players in the league at the time, like he was
in commercials running through brick walls, like.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Still not. They almost need a Tennessee Tech that's what
they were hoping.
Speaker 5 (14:44):
Like cam Warton's going to be like the coal the
whole city was behind, like similar to Chicago with Caleb Williams.
Like you have the number one picks, this is the
guy you have to take.
Speaker 6 (14:53):
This is going to save our franchise.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
So but again, like it wasn't like a super strong
quarterback draft. As we talked about, he was definitely the
the top candidate, but it also still not the most popular.
But I love talked about rookie Quat.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
It's funny.
Speaker 4 (15:09):
I feel like two years ago he was at Washington
State being as a quarterback there and then upgrade it
to Miami and now here he is number one pick.
Like that's quite a meteoric rise, and he's largely anonymous.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
I mean, if you walk into the studio, would you
know Kimbell?
Speaker 5 (15:24):
Uh No, he's not a He's not a like a
face brand, right He's not a face brand right now.
But again, if he has an incredible rookie season, which
is hard when you're not on a great team where
every position on your team is below average, especially the
offensive line because that's who protects.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Here, and it's a usual schedule. Denver and Rams defense
are top.
Speaker 6 (15:47):
Trudal and both it's like put on a.
Speaker 5 (15:51):
Like that was I think a big rookie surprise last
year that took everybody no expectation. So that's when I
think rookies can kind of surprise and rise. But there's
not high expectations for Cam, but there are expectations as
a number one overall by.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
The way you've played sports. Yes, what is the e
fitt mentality is? Can we put that for the layman,
for the for the folks at home in Cincinnati watching, what.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Is the f it mentality?
Speaker 5 (16:21):
Like you just kind of do whatever it takes to
get there, Like there were other reports like he's like,
you know, first one there, last one to go, Like
he's he's in the coaches room, they have to kick
him out, Like so he's doing whatever it takes to
get there. But there's two different ways, Like there could
also be the ethitic mentality, like we don't really care
whatever happens. But like, yeah, but this felt like and
(16:42):
what we're hearing and reading is like no, like what
everyone else is saying, I'm going to do whatever it
takes to help turn this franchise around. So that's the
way I was taking it largely. Yeah, all right, let's
switch to the NBA. Adam Silver was on Breakfast Ball
this morning, and he's a change that we've all wanted
to see.
Speaker 6 (17:02):
J Matt, I can't wait for you.
Speaker 9 (17:04):
To hear this.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
About the concept of USA versus the world.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Is that something that.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
We will see possibly next year? As you continue to
try to tinker with the weekend.
Speaker 10 (17:16):
I'm not exactly sure what the format will be yet.
I mean, obviously paid a lot of attention to what
the NHL did with the which was a huge success,
which was a huge Frozen four.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Yeah, it was awesome.
Speaker 10 (17:26):
But also you know, going back, you know last summer,
our Olympic competition was a huge success.
Speaker 5 (17:34):
Anything would be better at this point than what they
were doing at the NBA All Star Game. And as
you mentioned, we saw the NHL.
Speaker 6 (17:42):
Do this kind of tournament.
Speaker 5 (17:44):
Style All Star Game where it was USA, russ Canada
and all these other countries and it was a huge
success and guys were fired up more. The thing with
the NBA All Star Game, it's sounding like it what
would be, like you say, versus everybody else, USA versus
the world, or would it be tournament style. We don't
(18:04):
know exactly yet, but it sounds like they're definitely going.
Speaker 6 (18:07):
To do something. Also because the All Star.
Speaker 5 (18:09):
Game is going to be in the middle I think
you were saying of the Winter Olympics and it's back
on NBC, so it's.
Speaker 6 (18:15):
Going to be in the middle. Yeah, it's going to
be in.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
The middle of Olympic coverage, so it kind of makes
sense to have it be like a country versus country.
And I've covered a lot of tournaments. I've covered a
lot of championship, will cover the Olympics, I covered the
World Cups. Oh yeah, there's nothing compared to playing forward
representing the country.
Speaker 6 (18:36):
It's a different level.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
And you know, I don't know if Alexi lost in
the studio, but given what's going on politically in the world,
this is not the worst format.
Speaker 6 (18:46):
Could be a good thing.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Yeah, I mean you could get all those.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Canadian guys and they would would really want to win
the game against US.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
I am curious though, will it just be like a regular.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Basketball game, because like, I don't want to be a
negative guy here, but like it's a regular, regular basketball game.
I don't want Lebron log in thirty five minutes and.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
Well I don't think he will.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
But again, like basketball and the Olympics did well, people
wanted to watch it.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
Like, and you had superstars on other teams.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
Yeah, that's like representing their country. And again, people are
going to be in the Olympic spirits. I think it's
happening during the Winter Olympics, all on NBC, So.
Speaker 6 (19:24):
It kind of makes sense to keep it in that theme.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
You also have to remember, like it's funny to be like, oh,
these guys need more incentive because each player wins one
hundred and twenty five thousand dollars when you win the
NBA most start most of these guys.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
That's pocket chy, it.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
Is, but still it's like it's get make it a
pride thing. And I think when you represent your country
and something like that, it becomes more of a pride, okay,
because it's not just about that.
Speaker 6 (19:52):
Okay, last story here.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
The Ravens had a disappointing finish in the playoffs last year,
and it's part because of wide receivers. A Flowers missed
a game with a knee, and but Flowers now back
in action and he's feeling good.
Speaker 11 (20:03):
Take a listen, My need great. I feel one hundred percent.
I feel like I'm ready to go. I feel like
I'm ready for the season, no limits. When you play
seventeen games just to get to the first playoff game
and you can't play in it, it's always hard. So
that was kind of I think that was my first time,
second time missing a game ever and was missing the
playoff game is different.
Speaker 5 (20:23):
Yeah, It's a big deal when he ranks first on
the team at targets, receptions, and receiving yards. But Lamar
Jackson has weapons now right, He has say Flowers. They
just picked up DeAndre Hopkins, a veteran this offseason. They
have Derrick Henry.
Speaker 6 (20:39):
We need to see some.
Speaker 5 (20:40):
Playoff results from Lamar Jackson and the rape.
Speaker 7 (20:44):
Careful.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
He is three and five in the playoffs. He's an amazing,
incredible MVP regular season quarterback, so we have not seen the.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
Results in the in the playoffs. That's what needs to happen.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
You got to be careful, lexic. You say stuff about
Lamar Jackson, not I love in the playoffs are coming out.
Speaker 5 (21:04):
I love Lamar Jackson. He is a one of a
kind dual threat quarterback who is an MVP player twice
during the regular season. But we need to see that
carried over into the playoffs and he has the weapons
he should be able to do it. I mean, three
(21:24):
and five in the playoffs as a two time MVP, Yeah,
we need totally.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
I totally forgot Zave Flowers was injured and missed that playoff. Yahame,
I totally forgot.
Speaker 5 (21:33):
That was huge, especially since he ranked first in.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
All the team seven months ago. But all right, Alex
with the news.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the
Herd line news.
Speaker 4 (21:47):
All right, Alexi Lalas coming up here on the Herd
in a moment real quick. You know, obviously, you guys know,
I'm a humongous soccer fan. I own a minority share
of a soccer team. Just so happens we are playing
against Leonel Messi in uh later this summer. Obviously, I'll
be there very excited. I've seen Messi live against here
(22:08):
the Galaxy out here. It was just a phenomenal experience.
But USA soccer is going through a little tumult.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
So that's what I was like. Listen, we got to
get Alexi Lalas out here.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
Christian Poulisik obviously was being compared to Messi Alex by
the coach, right, the head coach, and it was just like,
what are we doing here? So Alexi Lallas is ready,
Come on in. Alexi Lawalas, one of the great soccer
players in the history of American side.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
Hello, let me let me go to the brains of
the organization.
Speaker 7 (22:37):
First, Hello, beautiful, how are you all right? Hello, young man,
how are you. By goodness, they're scraping the bottom of
the barrel here. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
So so Alexi is just such a big deal.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
So behind the curtain.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
So my daughter does like a dance thing, and she
was in this performance at the end.
Speaker 7 (22:55):
Of the year.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
And I park and I roll up, and who do
I see? Alexei Lawalas and his wife. And you should
see when he walks into a building, how many people
are like, oh, my go, that's a soccer legend.
Speaker 7 (23:05):
That guy owns me money.
Speaker 3 (23:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (23:08):
And also he's going after a certain US soccer star
for sitting out a big upcoming tourim I'll let you
take it away because you said it great on your podcast.
Speaker 12 (23:18):
Well listen, we are you know, let's for all intentsive purposes.
We're a year away from what I think is going
to be the biggest soccer summer ever from a United
States perspective, the World Cup.
Speaker 7 (23:29):
In twenty twenty six.
Speaker 12 (23:31):
This summer we have the Gold Cup, which, by the way,
you can see on Fox will be bringing that to you.
Christian Polisic, who is not arguably I think he is
our biggest star and absolutely is a in pen starter
for this US Men's national team has decided that he
needs to rest. Now, Look, athletes, I get it, at
(23:51):
times you need to rest. The problem is that, you know,
way back before you guys were born, if I had
thought about what the summer of Tiach five would look
like relative to the summer of twenty six when we're
going to host the World Cup, I don't think that
I would have envisioned the negativity and the cynicism. And
this is probably the worst part, the apathy relative to
(24:13):
this team, given their recent failures and given the worry
about what's going to happen next summer. And so, look,
Christian Pulisk is going to be fine. He'll get his
rest and I think he'll start next summer. But this
was an unnecessary own goal in that this was a
summer where you had the opportunity, through the Gold Cup
(24:34):
to come in, do well and kind of regain some
of that momentum and that belief that I think is
necessary and is missing right now, not just the soccer public,
but the greater public that we need to cultivate over
the next year to have the best damn World Cup
ever on the field and off the field.
Speaker 4 (24:52):
By the way, I'm just curious do you think internally
USA Soccer when they heard that, they were like alarm
bells going off, like guys, come on, Why is it
he like load management?
Speaker 2 (25:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 12 (25:02):
Oh, load management is such a load of cri look,
And I know I try not to grumpy old man things.
I recognize that I played in a different time, but
I cannot fathom or understand or relate to ever saying
no to my country when they call me. And I
don't think that this is a generational type of thing
because I see plenty of other players that play every
(25:25):
single game for their country and would move heaven and
earth to get on that plane to go wherever. It is,
not for nothing, but MESSI plays a lot of games,
so I think it is. It's concerning it. I think
it was weak, like I said, And I also think
that Pochettino, who is the new coach of the US team, in.
Speaker 7 (25:44):
A strange way, I think he kind of played this wrong.
Speaker 12 (25:47):
Maybe maybe not, maybe this lights a fire and said,
all right, Christian, you're going to get the summer off,
but you better bring it for this next year and
obviously next summer, or he could.
Speaker 7 (25:55):
Have played it or you know what, I'm going to
take the heat for this.
Speaker 12 (25:58):
I'm going to say, Chris, you wanted to come in,
but I'm going to make you go rest and I'm
gonna take the heat for it.
Speaker 7 (26:05):
But he didn't do that.
Speaker 12 (26:06):
So it's going to be very interesting the dynamic that
exists this summer. Hey, look, I'm all in on this
group that's going to be this summer because they have
a great opportunity again a year before the World Cup,
to show their wares, to prove to Mucio Pocheccino, who
you're seeing on your screen right now, the new coach
of the US national team who's been paid six million
dollars a year.
Speaker 7 (26:23):
But this is a short term type of thing.
Speaker 12 (26:25):
He has to make sure that he assesses this group
and make sure he has the best collection of players now,
the best players, the best collection of players.
Speaker 7 (26:32):
So we hit the ground running next summer.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
So is there a world where there is a positive here? Hey,
you know what, we don't need him for the Gold Cup.
Let's see some new young guys, some fresh blood in there.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
New coach.
Speaker 4 (26:42):
I'm sure some of these young guys who are itching
to get on the field are like, hey, this is
my opportunity.
Speaker 7 (26:47):
Yeah, I mean there's a Dumbo that you can fly
without the feather.
Speaker 12 (26:50):
Don't worry, You're gonna be good, and you can do
this without Christian Polisic And and just augments it when he
comes back to the team. But to your point, I
think what we're going to see here at maybe the
last chance saloon for guys to step up.
Speaker 7 (27:01):
Guy like Diego.
Speaker 12 (27:02):
Luna who's playing over in Salt Lake. Young guys like
Sebastian Berholter. Yes, you might recognize that game name because
he's the son of previous coach Greg Burholter who got fired,
who Rusho Pocheccino took his position.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
But he's playing really.
Speaker 7 (27:17):
Well up in Vancouver.
Speaker 12 (27:18):
I think this is an opportunity for them to step
up and say, you know what, I would never refuse
a call with my national team. I'm going to show
you what I can do and next summer, come next summer,
I'm gonna put on that red, white and blue and
do good things.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Now, historically we've dominated the Gold Cup, but.
Speaker 4 (27:35):
Is it fair to say we're not a locke this
year given some of the guys who are not playing
for us.
Speaker 12 (27:40):
Well, we have gone to Gold Cups in the past
with what would not be considered our a team and
still won it.
Speaker 7 (27:45):
So yes, this is if.
Speaker 12 (27:48):
We were to win the World the Gold Cup this summer,
it's and again the Gold Cup is just regular relative
to our region, so North America and the Caribbean. So
you know, you have your usual suspects in terms of
Mexico Canada, which is doing a really good job right now,
but usually we are you know, winning it or going
to the final, and I would expect nothing less in
(28:08):
terms of this group. Now you get a pat on
the back, well done and I feel good type of moment,
but obviously you have greater aspirations and it gets much
much more difficult to win an actual World Cup. But
you know what, you play the tournament in front of you,
and if we've won it so many times in the past, fine,
this group go out there and prove to everybody that
you are worthy of our time, because that's what people
(28:29):
want to see.
Speaker 7 (28:31):
People are forgiving, I.
Speaker 12 (28:32):
Think, especially when it comes to the soccer rule. They
want to see a team that they can sync their
teeth into and believe in that represents what I feel
is the greatest country in the world, both on and
off the field, in the way that they play in
what they give and you can you know, it's like
the Supreme Court definition of obscenity, right, I can't tell
you what it is, but I know it when I
see it.
Speaker 7 (28:51):
Well, we know it when we see.
Speaker 12 (28:53):
It on the field for the US men's national team,
and unfortunately we haven't seen it enough.
Speaker 4 (28:57):
Now. You and Stu Holden had a pretty good debate
about Polistic and I feel like he should be out there.
And I don't want to get you to say something
you don't want to, but in a way, he's kind
of letting us down, not playing like Fox obviously would
love him to play.
Speaker 7 (29:14):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. I'm is he.
Speaker 12 (29:17):
Letting us down only because of the moment Again, players
can take time off, And I don't get it, to
be quite honest, I don't get it. I don't know
if he's letting us down, but I think he is
putting actually more pressure on himself going forward.
Speaker 7 (29:33):
Maybe that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Speaker 12 (29:35):
And again, I just think it sends the wrong message
at the wrong time. I mean, look, World Cups are great,
but I am sitting here in this chair not just
because of a World Cup, but because of a home
World Cup. It is a whole different level. And yes,
guess what, Not only is it an opportunity, but it's
a responsibility. And for those of us off the field,
we have a responsibility to make sure that it is
(29:57):
the most kick ass tournament, not tournament event that the
world has ever seen. And on the field, Christian Polisic
and company, they have a responsibility to make sure that
we don't regress, not just in the eyes of the world,
but in the eyes of America.
Speaker 4 (30:11):
So realistic last one on the US A realistic for
twenty twenty six quarterfinals, Sure, semi finals reaching too much.
Speaker 12 (30:20):
I mean, look, in two thousand and two we were
arguably a handball away from going to a semi finals.
So that things can happen, soccer gods have to smile
upon you.
Speaker 7 (30:28):
Also, keep in mind this is the biggest World Cup.
Speaker 12 (30:31):
Ever, forty eight teams, which means there's actually another round,
So there's eight games now in order to win win
the World Cup. So absolutely, getting out of the group
that shouldn't even be a question, regardless of.
Speaker 7 (30:42):
Who they draw.
Speaker 12 (30:43):
And then you win that round of thirty two, I
guess it would be, and then you start facing some
real teams that you could look at as equal or
better than us. But at some point you got to
win a big game.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
So we talked a lot about Polisic. A certain guy
named Messi is playing.
Speaker 4 (30:57):
Way more than anybody thought he would, playing like full
game at this stage.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
In his career.
Speaker 4 (31:01):
Are you surprised because a lot of people thought it was, Oh,
he's just going to come.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
To the mL as to a victory tour, collect some
checks and be done. He's playing a lot. I'm personally shocked.
Speaker 12 (31:11):
I mean, what he's doing for soccer, obviously, for Major
League Soccer and for Inter Miami and that brand down
there is exactly what he's being paid a lot of money,
but that he is doing it at that level, that's,
you know, that's that's a pretty cool thing to see.
Speaker 7 (31:23):
Now.
Speaker 12 (31:24):
You know, we're about to do the Nation's League, by
the way, coming up on FS one today, Cristiano Ronaldo
and company playing with Portugal against Germany. So you know
Cristiano Ronaldo, but Christiano's forty, but it has always been
kind of about his physique and his physical abilities as
opposed to Messi, who you've seen him walking down the
streetf you don't know anything about soccer You're like, I
don't know, there does not go the greatest, potentially greatest
(31:45):
player ever to play the ever to play the game.
Speaker 7 (31:47):
But it's wonderful what he's doing for a club and country.
Excuse me, but.
Speaker 12 (31:53):
It's going to be really interesting to see a year
from now, not just Messi with Argentina, but Messi defending
his World Cup. Oh, by the way, in his new
homeland and backyard of the United States.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
That's pretty incredible. You mentioned Ronaldo. It sounds like he's done.
He had his little trip to Saudi Arabia.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
That's over.
Speaker 7 (32:12):
Maybe, I mean you got paid, that's for sure.
Speaker 12 (32:15):
Was it.
Speaker 9 (32:16):
Is there a world where he lands in the MLS? Yeah,
there absolutely is a world where he lands in the US.
I mean kind of the final frontier for him. And
when I say him, we're also talking about his brand.
Speaker 7 (32:26):
I'm here for it. Bring it, you know, I love it.
Speaker 12 (32:28):
I know that you know, the whole retirement type of
thing gets thrown around. But these are arguably two of
the best players ever to play the game, and that
we have them, and you just mentioned what Messi is
doing is great, but they've also their their brands are
relative to what they have done with each other and
against each other over the years, and to kind of
re rejuvenate that would.
Speaker 7 (32:48):
Be kind of cool.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
I got to ask about you know, everybody wants to
know who's gotten next, right, so we thought Messi would
probably have retired.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
He sounds like he's gonna play in twenty twenty.
Speaker 4 (32:56):
Oh yeah, Ronaldo, I'm gonna go ahead and get But
we're waiting on Himbape. And then this young kid comes
up at Euro's last year.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
I happened to be in Europe during end. It was like,
Jamal this.
Speaker 4 (33:08):
Guys, does he have next? Is he on that stage?
He's only seventeen Durns eighteen next month.
Speaker 12 (33:14):
It's incredible And I think we were actually just talking
about this in the green room because we're going to
be talking about it on our nation zy coverage today.
I think that he is he is hurt by the
fact that he's a teenager, and it's it's unfair because
not only do I believe he's the best player in
the world today, but he's the best player in the
(33:34):
world today who just happens to be a teach. And
that's how quickly this has happened. The other thing is
we were just talking about Messi at their height, Messi
and Ronaldo.
Speaker 7 (33:43):
We talked about how well, we're.
Speaker 12 (33:44):
Never going to see this again, nobody's ever going to
perform at these types of levels.
Speaker 7 (33:49):
And yet, and this is a great thing for the sport.
Speaker 12 (33:51):
Whether you're La Liga, whether you're Barcelona, whether you're FIFA,
or whether you're just into the sport, that it can
happen that another player can burst on the scene, young player,
grab our hearts and minds and do things.
Speaker 7 (34:06):
That we thought never would be done again.
Speaker 12 (34:08):
I think that says a lot for the player, but
also says a lot for the sport, the sport of all.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
Now, listen, I know you're a hot take guy, but
Jamaal over in Bape right now? Oh yeah, oh yeah,
like no question.
Speaker 12 (34:19):
Oh yeah yeah, Bope is great. And I'm talking about
a relative to the Bologne or or if we were
just doing a pickup game here, who who you picking?
Speaker 3 (34:28):
Right, I'm going I like speed, so I'm going to Bappe.
Speaker 7 (34:31):
That's fine. But you know, pickup games are usually never
as much small as thing.
Speaker 4 (34:35):
Yeah all right, Alexei lallis seem are UEFA Nations League coverage.
Speaker 12 (34:40):
Yeah, today we have Portugal against Germany and tomorrow Spain
against France.
Speaker 7 (34:44):
So you're in Bape.
Speaker 12 (34:45):
Back to dance by the way, yama So that's gonna
be that's gonna be fun to say.
Speaker 4 (34:48):
We get Rinaldo and then we get Jamaal. I mean,
it doesn't get much better than that.
Speaker 12 (34:51):
And then Gold Cup kicking off here in a couple
of weeks. So we got a lot of stuff going on.
You're still gonna hang out with him or what?
Speaker 7 (34:56):
What's what's going on?
Speaker 3 (34:57):
She's got bigger things going on.
Speaker 7 (34:58):
I mean, yeah, you got much bigger They have much
bigger thing. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 12 (35:04):
Yeah, I mean you're gracing him and us with their
presence here, all right.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
Alexei Lola is great stuff coming up next year. On
The Herd, one NBA star currently in the finals think
super teams are done for good?
Speaker 3 (35:16):
His answer doesn't make sense.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon eastern nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 13 (35:32):
Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David and together we're
Covino and Rich.
Speaker 7 (35:36):
On Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 14 (35:37):
You could catch us weekdays from five to seven pm
eastern two to four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and
of course the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 7 (35:44):
Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.
Speaker 14 (35:46):
We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on
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Speaker 13 (35:50):
We have a lot of fun talking about the stories
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time to discuss.
Speaker 14 (35:59):
And the fact we've been friends for the last twenty
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Speaker 13 (36:04):
So check us out. We like to get you involved too,
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Speaker 7 (36:12):
Most interactive show on planetar.
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Be sure to check out Cavino and Rich live on
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Speaker 7 (36:18):
To seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific.
Speaker 14 (36:21):
And if you miss any of the live show, just
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Speaker 5 (36:29):
Of course, racing's greatest test returns as sovereignty and journalism
face off in the one hundred and fifty seventh Belmont Stakes,
two of the season's biggest names one race to settle
it All. Coverage begins Saturday at four pm Eastern.
Speaker 6 (36:42):
Live on Fox.
Speaker 3 (36:47):
All right, I uh, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (36:50):
I got two kids at home when we're young, and
they like to speak in Internet lingo like NGL.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
No gonna lie. I'm sure everybody knows that. Obviously I'm
not gonna lie.
Speaker 4 (37:01):
But the take I had yesterday on give me super
teams are gonna be death. It's kind of been a
big deal on the internet. It's approaching two million views
and people are angry with me.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
Obviously.
Speaker 4 (37:13):
Oh my god, Jason, you are anyway elitist. You only
want to see the best. Yeah, of course you think
I'm going to the Mission Impossible series when they replace
Tom Cruise.
Speaker 11 (37:22):
Good luck.
Speaker 4 (37:24):
But Miles Turner, the center of the Indiana Pacers, was
asked about super teams, and I don't think he understands
super teams because here's what he had to say.
Speaker 15 (37:35):
I think the years of the super teams, and you know,
stacking is just not It's not as effective as it
once was. You know what I mean? This NBA says.
I've been in the league. You know, the NBA is
very trendy you know, it just shifts. But the new
trend now is just kind of what we're doing. Okay,
see does the same thing. You know, young guys get
out of run, defend and you know, use the power
of friendship is how they how they call it.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
The power of friendship? Yeah, okay? That they be the
trend in the NBA. Is it a winning trend?
Speaker 7 (38:04):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (38:05):
Baseball seems to be inching closer back to Hey, give
us the super teams NBA?
Speaker 3 (38:10):
You don't want them?
Speaker 4 (38:11):
Will gladly take Yankees and Dodgers in the World Series
every freaking year. I'm sure you guys saw the numbers
from the Yankees Dodgers series over the weekend.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
Kind of massive. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (38:22):
Can I have the best two players in the sport
Otani and Judge going at it?
Speaker 7 (38:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (38:26):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 4 (38:28):
I mean again, I've said this for a couple of
years now. If you ask Adam Silver, Adam, who do
you want to see in the NBA finals?
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Undeniably?
Speaker 4 (38:37):
Well, I want Lebron versus Curry in the Conference finals
and in the East gonna be Boston in New York.
That's what That's what Adam Silver would want. Now, Super
teams seems to have gotten lost in the sauce. A
lot of people just don't seem to understand, or they're
being willfully ignorant, and they're trying to.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Act like, uh, this is not a super team.
Speaker 4 (38:55):
I don't care if OKSE wins this championship and the
next one and the next one. They're not a super team,
not as they are currently constituted. And NBA superteam is when,
as moles Turner said, friends get together and join forces.
Speaker 3 (39:11):
They leave their old team.
Speaker 4 (39:13):
Either by demanding a trade or through free agency, and
they go to join other dudes. Lebron created a super
team in Miami. The Celtics created a super team with
KG and Ray Allen to join Paul Pierce. Those teams,
because you've got stars suddenly joining forces, become instantly hated.
(39:36):
Nobody hated the Warriors, except maybe Charles Barkley kept calling
them a jump shooting, fraudulent team.
Speaker 3 (39:42):
Kind of wrong about that, Chuck.
Speaker 4 (39:44):
Nobody hated those Warriors until they got Kevin Durant, who
left OKC. Are we understanding now, like teams didn't don't
like when stars joined forces, and owners hate that, and
fans they get upset.
Speaker 3 (40:00):
But that's a winning formula. It's polarizing. Hence the interests.
Speaker 4 (40:05):
Okay, when Kevin Durant, Kyrie and James Harden joined forces
in Brooklyn and was.
Speaker 7 (40:10):
Like, oh, what do we have here?
Speaker 4 (40:12):
I gotta watch them on TV on Christmas, on Opening Night,
on every relevant night.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
I gotta see that. That's musty TV. Okasee is never
going to be musty TV.
Speaker 4 (40:23):
They will be the Spurs two point zero, a boring
group that was homegrown.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
And wins a lot. But they're not polarizing.
Speaker 1 (40:31):
No.
Speaker 4 (40:31):
I mean maybe just because I don't love SGA. I
think he's a really really good player. But if you
ask me j Mack, who you got you're building around?
Everybody's healthy, Jason Tatum or Sga. It's Tatum in a heartbeat.
It's not even clothes for me. Like I like SGA.
He's just in a great, great spot. He's on the
best college basketball team in the NBA. They got a
(40:53):
bunch of young guys. Alex Caruso is their old dude.
There is nothing super or polarized about Okay. See, so
Miles Turner, I just don't really think he gets it,
and he is right about one thing that the Super
Team era is over, so we had our staff put
together sadly the Super Team Graveyard where all the great
(41:16):
teams lie and there are the Heatles. You got the Celtics.
Remember those Rockets? Oh I forgot about those club Ah,
Charles Barkley, where.
Speaker 7 (41:27):
Are you at?
Speaker 4 (41:27):
Buddy Berkley and Clyde Drexler. Get me to a winning team.
I can't win in Portland, I can't win in Phoenix.
Get me to a winner. Charles Barkley forgets he was
on a super team in the nineties.
Speaker 3 (41:37):
I forgot.
Speaker 4 (41:38):
Thank you to our staff for putting that out there.
And again I have nothing against what, Okay he's doing.
Speaker 7 (41:44):
It's great.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
I just don't think it's that interesting.
Speaker 4 (41:48):
And I told you guys, I played men's leagues and
I got one guy who he played at Shamanat.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
He's a really good player.
Speaker 4 (41:53):
He just is obsessed with SGA now and he's setting
me out. Look at these stats for SGA.
Speaker 3 (41:58):
Oh my gosh, he's so good at this? Is it
okay to not like how's this?
Speaker 15 (42:04):
How's this?
Speaker 4 (42:06):
Derreck Rose to me was infinitely more fascinating than SGA.
Do you remember when he hit the league like a comet?
Speaker 3 (42:13):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 4 (42:14):
Steve Rose was incredible with the Bulls at first series
against the Celtics. I still remember it. He was unstoppable.
I don't remember any series of SGA at all. Well,
wiping the floor with the Grizzlies, okay, struggling to get
by Jokic and his merry band of middling players like
(42:36):
I mean, Aaron Gordon had one leg in Game seven,
Michael Porter Junior had one shoulder, Like, come on, Timberwolves,
I don't know. Anthony Edwards and company, like the thunder
are a really good team. They're probably going to destroy
Indiana and the finals.
Speaker 3 (42:53):
I will make a case for the Pacers tomorrow.
Speaker 7 (42:55):
That's what I do.
Speaker 3 (42:55):
Make a case for the underdog. But no super team
is just it just leaves me wanting a little bit more.
Speaker 4 (43:03):
Now, if the Knicks could somehow get Yannis, that's a
super team, my friends. I don't know how you pull
that off. I don't think it's possible. But coming up
next year on the show, let's go to New York.
What happened to Tom Thibodeaux, who's behind the firing the players,
the GM, the owner.
Speaker 3 (43:18):
That's excellent