June 6, 2023 • 33 mins
Arnie Spanier and Aaron Torres are joined by NBA Insider Mark Medina for all the latest on LeBron James and the NBA Finals. Plus, a college baseball coach sparks controversy by starting top MLB Draft pitcher just three days after lengthy complete game.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Jason Smith Show with Mike
Harmon podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weeknight
ten pm to two am Eastern seven to eleven pm
Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for
The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon at Foxsports Radio
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Speaker 2 (00:23):
If you're listening to Fox Sports Radio, oh.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
That is us. It is the Power hour of the show.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
We're broadcasting live from the tire rack dot Com studios
tire rack dot com. We'll help you get there an
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ten thousand recommended installers tirerac dot com.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
The way tire buying should be. He's Aaron Torres.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I'm Arty Span your in for the guys, Jason Smith
at his best friend Mike Harmon here on Fox Sports.
By the way, Torres, this Friday, going out to dinner
with my wife. It is her birthday. Happy birthday, Beth. Well,
you know I have my rules. I spend a dollar
for every year she is and that includes for dinner
(01:14):
and a present. So I'm spending fifty nine dollars this
time around, I gotta squeeze in dinner and a present.
So if you have any ideas, please let me know.
That's not a lot to work with out there. Fifty
nine dollars, though I should be able.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
To pull that off, shouldn't I taco bill in a
new shovel. I think you can do that in an
under fifty nine dollars. I will say, you're evil.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
I mean, sharing fifty dollars a lot of money. What
do you want bearing your beautiful wife's age.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
After everything she's done for the entire staff of Fox Ports,
she looks.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Good for fifty nine. I do say that. I mean
people think she's like fifty eight. I mean, no, I'm
just kiddy. I'm just I'm just kidding, kidding Frost.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
She brought up a good point, was that I think
you could just buy a restaurant in Vermont for like fifty.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Bucks, my own restaurant and take her there.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Huh yeah, well usually I just.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
I'll go to the local area and get some flowers
for her.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Uh, you know, see the local areas at like your
neighbor's yard.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Or yeah, I'll go to park or what. No, there's
a cemetery. So no, I'm kidding. I'm joking. I'm joking.
It's a joke. For crying out loud, I think it's.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Yeah, you steal your neighbor's shovel, go to the cemetery
for flows.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
No, my wife's got the best shovel. I bought it
for to shovel the snow. It's like, it's like the
Ferrari of shovels. I didn't hold back on that trud.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
She didn't hold back on that.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
Uh on that elliptical that's now being used as storage
for you.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
No, we we go to Orange Theory, so we we
got to do that.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yeah, we've been doing that for a while. Go to
Orange Theory and play basketball. Wow.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Yeah, look at me, I gotta I got a lot
going on in my life.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Hey, can I get to it?
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Because I know we have Mark Medeena coming up at
about fifteen past the hour, so we got a lot
of basketball to get to. Can I get to a
topic that nobody else is going to talk about in
Fox Sports Radio. It's probably not that big of a deal,
but it's kind of bothering me.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Let's do it.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Remember when we made such a big deal about Tua
with the concussions, right of course, yep. And some people like,
this guy's gotta quit. You know, you can't put him
back out there. You gotta do it for his own good.
It shouldn't be up to him. It should be up
to the doctors, you know what I mean. Yep, if
the doctor's clear him. Were you outraged the way he
was handled with the with the concussions. Did you think that,
(03:32):
you know, we should have done a better job of
taking care of him medically, I guess to say, in
that whole thing, or what.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
The first situation, Yeah, I think the Christmas Day game
against Green Bay when we found out after the fact
that he had had a concussion. I think if he's
not feeling right, it's on him to go to the
neurologists or the doctors. I don't think every time the
quarterback hits the ground it should be assumed that something happened.
I thought the first one was bad. And by the way,
(04:01):
let me let me add this. And I know I'm
going along on this answer, and I'm sure there's a
point you're trying to get to. I would also say
the first one with the bills only looked it looked
bad in real time, but it obviously looked way, way,
way worse in hindsight because of what happened on Thursday
night football standalone, audience, all that good stuff. So if
(04:23):
he I'm not saying it was the right decision to
let him play Thursday night football. But if nothing had
happened on Thursday night football, that doesn't become a story.
But what happened on Thursday night football did happen, and
then he had the incident on Christmas Day against the Packers.
So to your point, I don't think it was as
bad as many people said, but it wasn't a good look.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
We're so cognizant now of people's health. That's why when
I saw this story, especially because it's in college, and
I know.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
You watched the college, it's an interesting story.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Yeah, well you're talking about the Southern mis pitcher. Yes,
Tanner Hall, who pitched on Friday. I believe he threw
one hundred and twenty three pitches, and he throws at
eighty eight to ninety miles an hour. He went the
full nine innings, he struck out nine, and he just
(05:10):
had a fantastic game. Well, they needed him to come
back today. They needed him to come back after throwing
one hundred and twenty three pitches to come back. And
this is a guy that those you know fastballs ninety
miles an hour also.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
And top a MLB draft.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Oh, he's the number one prospect in the MLB draft
for pitchers, okay, number one.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
And now you have to ask him to come back.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Why are we not protecting this kid?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
It should?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
It really be up to him, because if you ask him,
he'll run through a wall for anybody. If you ask him,
he'll start every day until his arm falls off. But
I was reading the comments about this, you know, after
the story, and people are like, get him ready for surgery. Now,
might as well get Tommy John. Now they're gonna make
the kid's arm fall off right now. He's gonna be
new to arm whatever right now. There was a one
(06:02):
person that said, good for you. Make a pitch again. Now,
I only went two winnings. I believe he gave up
two unearned runs and then they yanked him. But I'm
not sure that's in the kids' best interest to go
ahead and put him out there after throwing one hundred
and twenty three pitches there.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
And you know, so I guess So, by the way,
this actually happened a few years ago. You should know
this as a Mets fan. Remember the name Kumar Rocker.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Yes, absolutely, yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
And Vanderbilt who lost in their regionals this weekend, but
they're known. Their coach Tim Corbin is the same way
is I'm trying to win a championship at this level, right,
and you had Lighter too, he had yep, Jack Lighter
out Lighter's son. Let me let me so this is
one Arnie. I'll say this. I actually don't I see
(06:47):
both sides. Okay, I think, yes, you are putting this
guy's future at risk.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Okay, but here is my question.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
Yes, does that now mean that at any level other
than Major League based ball, in a championship setting, you
can't push a pitcher because you know, some would say
it's college, not a college.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
Finish.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
Let me finish the whole point though some would say
it's college, you gotta worry about the MLB. Okay, but
then what if it's in high school. Well, it's it's
in high school. I mean he might have a pitching future.
Well it's little legal, he might have a pitching future.
So I guess my point is is that if your
argument is, like I guess, if your argument is you
(07:30):
shouldn't overuse a pitcher, then the argument kind of has
to be you should never use a pitch over use
a pitcher at any level prior to Major League Barton, we.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Have a pitch count for little league.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Sometimes you can't pitch over fifty pitches, sixty pitches, whatever
it is. We're very cognizant. Matter of fact, some little leagues.
I remember when when I used to play, so you
weren't allowed to throw curve balls.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
So then let me jump in on that. Don't Yeah,
you're bringing up a great point. Here's the thing though,
If that's the case, then don't blame the Southern miss
coach and don't blame the player. Blame the rule book
that doesn't have any limitations on how much a guy
can pitch. Because, by the way, the same thing would
happen in little league, because when I was in little league,
the rules were a lot more vague, and I remember
(08:13):
guys and it was the same thing. You know, you
bring them back for the championship and he pitched last week.
But it's it's a warrior mentality.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
You know.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
You used to see it, especially in the bigs all
the time. I mean, I remember, you know, Randy Johnson
pitching Game six of the World Series and then coming
into close Game seven in two thousand and one.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
So literally, he.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Paid a lot of money for that era, and you're
getting paid a lot of money into.
Speaker 5 (08:33):
I'm not saying I'm not I'm not disagreeing. I'm saying
that's the mentality that players have. So Little league has rules,
most high schools have rules. Yes, so in this case,
it hasn't happened before because you got common sense. You
can't be throwing you can't be thrown.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
No, you.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Can't be throwing a kid out there after one hundred
and twenty three pitches the number one prospect for the
baseball draft, and then say get out there a couple
of days later and let's do it again. Now they
only kept them in for two things, but could you
imagine if he went another nine. I mean, I mean,
really that that's not healthy for the kid's arm. It
can't be healthy. There's a reason why otherwise all the
(09:15):
even pitchers would be doing that. You'd have a two
man rotation. Like in softball. They could do that in softball.
You can't do it in baseball.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
You just can't. So you're adamantly against this. I'm adamantly
against it.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
I don't think it's for the well being of the kid,
and I think they're doing it just to win a championship.
And the kid can't just say no, I'm not gonna
go out there and pitch.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
He wants to do it first coach, he wants to
do it for his teammates. He wants to help the
school win. I don't blame him for going back out there.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
They won today, by the way, eleven to seven, so
they were looking to pull out. Let me ask you
what more think, well run college baseball. Why would a
kid use a wooden bat in college baseball?
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Did that happen? Yeah? I didn't know that.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Yeah, we us.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I think he used it most of the year.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
I mean, I don't have an answer to that one.
I mean, I just don't have an It's not even
that I don't have an opinion. I just don't have
an answer to it.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Well, the only answer I could think of is that
maybe he wants to get ready for the major leagues
and thinking using a wooden bat would help them get
used to that. But isn't that kind of being selfish.
It was. I mean, if if you're it's not a
top tier team and you know you're you're playing in
some important games, I watch you using the aluminum bat.
I don't care if you're getting ready for the for
(10:26):
the major leagues, I need you using the.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Best bat possible.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
You know, it's funny that actually happened last year. So
Tennessee last year was the number one team in the country.
They were number one seed in the College World Series,
the tournament, and they were ripping through the SEC and
they had like literally the best start in SEC history.
The SEC is the best conference for baseball whatever. And
then they decided they were playing a midweek game against
(10:50):
like Central Tennessee or something, and decided to play with
wood bats. They ended up losing the game, and then
they went on like a five game losing.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Streak after that. So you gotta be careful.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
But I don't have an answer as to why a
player would unless it is again about getting ready for
the BIGS or professional baseball, I should say, to which
I would say already, I actually would agree with you.
I think that is a little bit selfish. I think
that's a little bit because there's a.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
Kid on Oregon that uses the wooden bat, because I
thought I was watching the Arizona in the back twelve tournament.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
I'm like, why would he use a wooden bat?
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Now, some people were telling me that you could drive
a ball just as far with a wooden bat as
an alluminum bat. I'm not so sure I buy that.
That's whyever you get uses it a little bit of bat,
you know what I mean? Could you imagine you got
a runner on third important game, all you need to
sackfly and you're gonna go up there with a wooden bat.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
I don't think so.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Man, you better grab yourself some some of aluminum and
send out as far as you can. They'll get the
winning run home. I mean, geez, I can't believe that.
That's that's crazy. You know.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
If there's no and I don't think there would be,
what would be a legitimate reason for.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
That is that is the only reasoning I could think of.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
Yeah, I would think that that's a little bit selfish.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
I don't I don't know. I don't have a good
answer to that.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
Usually, like usually all these topics I've either seen or
have an opinion on. That's just what I'm just befuddled
by to go back to the picture.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
I found that by accident, just by watching the Arizona
baseball game. That's how I found that one out.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
But let me ask you a question.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
If it was Arizona and it was an elimination game
and your ace could come back on two days rest,
you wouldn't want it at all.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Oh, I would want it.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
If that doesn't mean it's good for their picture, though,
I would say we're showing no regard for his health.
Though I'd say I'm just as bad as everybody else.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I would admit it, though I do go.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
Boy, that's not good for his r but he's gonna
be a number one pick of the draft. Boy, I
don't think I would do it, but I Avey wants
to come back. Let's do it for a good old
U of a. Yeah, so it's one. I know you
want me to be fired up and give the other side.
If the player wants to do it, it's it's hard.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
You know.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
And sometimes and we've talked about this, aren't he in
the past. Is Yeah, Sometimes the people around the player
that aren't the head coach or manager whatever have to
look out for the player's best interest. I mean, I
remember arguing with you about this over Tom Brady when
it was clear that his now ex wife Jazelle wanted
him to retire and he didn't want to retire. And
I and your argument was the player, you know, the
(13:10):
player has to put something besides the team's best interests,
you know, at the top. And you were talking about
Tom Brady at that point. So it's tough because I
think you're probably right, but it's so hard for me
to tell an athlete don't play. It's like, it's like
it's not the perfect analogy, but it's like college football
players playing in bowl games.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Another thing that you and I have argued about is.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
I get like, I'm I'm past the point of criticizing
any player for sitting out of out of a bowl game.
But if a player wants to play, I don't know
that I blame I don't blame him, but I do
think this is a little bit different because it's pitching
and it's one hundred and twenty three pitches. You know,
it'd be like if you know a player had to play,
(13:52):
you know, somehow, some way was playing like like two
football games in a week period. Like when it's clearly
hazardous to his health. I don't, no, Arnie, I will.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
We worry about Thursday's games, right, don't worry about Thursdays.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
We never said it. Never stopped anybody from playing them though,
if they're healthy.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Enough to go, Yeah, no doubt about that. All right,
we're gonna come on back. We're gonna speak to Mark Medina. Medina.
We got a lot of NBA to get to. We'll
talk about what Kareem had to say, the NBA Finals,
all that coming up next. Torres and Spaniard in for
Jason Smith and Mike Harmon right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
All Right, good ething, everyone are and Torres, Arney Span
you're right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
In for the guys.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
Jason Smith is his best fread Mike Harmon, Uh, Torres,
We'll get back to Twitter in a little bit. We're
getting a lot of them, a lot of them, I
mean a lot of them, So we'll get to that.
I want to get to our guest right now. You
can check about it Sportsnot dot com, also the Sporting
Tribune dot com, Fox Sports Radios, NBA insider Mark Medina,
(15:08):
How you doing, Mark, Thanks for stopping on by my friend.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
I'm doing well. I'm just I'm just getting ready for
this Lebron Kyrie partnership to be fun.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
All right, right off the bat, let's get to that.
What did you think about the story? You know, Sham
had it out there and a lot of people were
jumping out. A lot of people think it's absolutely ridiculous,
but I'm like, hey, you know, there could be some
truth to it.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
What did you think of the story?
Speaker 6 (15:31):
I think it's just Kyrie Irving sharing his Christmas wish list,
And as you guys probably can attest, we had a
lot of things on our wish lists when we were
kids and we didn't necessarily get it. So I think
it's I think it's nothing more than that. I think
no doubt that, you know, Lebron heading at retirement. Maybe
there is an endgame of putting pressure on the Lakers
front office, but I very much doubt that would ever
(15:54):
get to the point that he leaves the Lakers because
of his you know, family roots that he's set up
in recent years here with Brouny going to USC and
the fact that you know, it is the entertainment capital
of the world. But if he were to leave, I
can't imagine though it would be with the Dallas Mavericks,
given their terrible roster, that they'd have to somehow make
(16:16):
good with Lebron, Kyrie and Luca in the mix. I mean,
the idea of Lebron like playing for the mid level
just doesn't seem to make any sense.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Is there a thought mark that maybe this was It
felt to me like it was a dual leak by
Kyrie's camp and Lebron's camp to maybe let the Lakers
know that, hey, you know, Lebron has other options if
you don't want to shake this thing up the way
that Lebron wants, he has other options. Is that a
fair potential assessment, and.
Speaker 6 (16:45):
Very well could, But I think for what it's worth.
When Lebron, you know, hinted after the season ended that
he was considering retirement, people in his camp said had
nothing to do with any sort of pressure that he
wanted to exert on the front office, about the fact
that he was just exhausted and frustrated that the season lost,
and all those things kind of piled up together. I
(17:07):
think that there was an admission internally within you know,
people around him that they dramatically improved when they had
the trade deadline moves, and part of that was having depth.
And so as much as Lebron wants to play with Kyrie,
I don't think it would ever get to the point
that he'd be willing to sacrifice all the steps. So
I think it mostly came from Kyrie's wishless with the
(17:29):
idea that if he were to want to join the Lakers,
he would have to take the substantial paycut, and he
doesn't want to do that, so he's trying to do
a role reversal. Hey Lebron, how about you come to
my house and you take the pitcutt I think it
takes a lot of stones number for a few reasons.
Number one, Lebron is higher than Kyrie on the hierarchy,
and number two, Kyrie is acting like this is his
(17:51):
team with the Dallas Mavericks last time I checked. As
Luka Doncic's teams, I can only imagine how he's feeling.
No doubt Luke would love to play with Lebron. But
the idea that you know, the Maats didn't really have
any pieces to make this happen anyway, So like, how
on earth would this happen? It's impossible. So it's just
one of Kyrie's shenanigans once again coming to fruitions.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
You know, Mark, After the four nothing sweep of Denver
over the Lakers, Lebron did the oh, I may have
to think about retiring. Kareem talked about that. Kareem actually
had some interesting things to say about that. Did he
matter what?
Speaker 6 (18:27):
Yeah, I was at I was in Koreatown and near
downtown LA. Today. You know, they're unveiling a mural of
some sort of community event. But there were a few
Laker luminaries, including Kareem, and because of that, myself and
a few others were wondering what he thought of Lebron's
retirement consideration. He you know, expressed platitudes about, Look, he
(18:47):
doesn't have to prove anything. It's about what he wants
to do. But you know, I was curious, how did
he decide when he played twenty years, his twentieth season
was the final season. Basically, he said once he failed
the ice test, he knew it was time to go. Now,
what does the ice test mean? It basically means that
(19:09):
when he started looking forward to gain a postgame ice
treatment after every single game, that's when he knew, you
know what, it's time to waste it up because for
most of his career he hated having to put ice
you know, on his legs after the game. And the
fact that he was looking forward to that was a
writing on the wall that his body's breaking down and
he can't you know, further risk getting damage moving forward.
(19:32):
So that was that. But look, Kareem played twenty years.
He played up to forty years, forty years old, so
it took a lot for him to reach that point
because he was playing an elite level and he was
taking so good care of his body from a training
and nutritional standpoint.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
So Mark Arnie and I were talking earlier and something
I think maybe I've even talked with you on Saturdays,
Jason Martin about all that stuff, is that, like the
idea of the Laker roster as it stands, and obviously,
look after the you know, Western Conference Finals, you get swept.
I think that the automatic reaction is if you get
(20:08):
swept in the Western Conference Finals is something's drastically wrong
and you need to shake it up. I look at
it as best record in the NBA after the trade deadline.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Yeah, yeah, I get that.
Speaker 5 (20:21):
Lebron is always in championship mindset, especially at this point
in his career. I think the smartest thing you can do,
if you want to put yourself in a position to
win a championship is run this thing back as much
as you possibly can.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Am I crazy to think that?
Speaker 4 (20:36):
No?
Speaker 6 (20:37):
I mean, look, Rob Polinka is thinking the same thing,
and he's expressed it out loud. Now. I think, knowing
the Lakers and knowing their cap situation, I don't think
it's going to be an either or construct. I think
that they want to retain a lot of the players,
but it's not like this year's roster is going to
be the exact same roster next season. So what does
that mean. I think you can pencil in that Austin
(20:57):
Reeves and a really hot Chamor coming back that are
two proven road chation players. They're restricted free agents, so
they can keep them and go over the cap. I
think that, you know, when you're looking at role players,
maybe some people will be like, well, why would he
spend this amount of money on a role player. But
I think the Lakers are also looking at through the
lens of well, we have Lebron James's championship window. How
(21:18):
much do these pieces help maximize that, even if the
role players and those guys in particular substantially maximize that.
So I think you can pencil those guys. And now
when it comes to D'Angel Russell, I think on one hand,
they want to keep them because he really helped organize
the offense, improve how it was flowed. But he was
inconsistent the playoffs in terms of his shot selection and
(21:40):
ability to make shots. And so I think here there's
a willingness to retain them, but at what price? And
so I think the larger point is something that you
hit on. You got to look at how the Lakers
looked post trade deadline. They the third best record in
the league. I think they had the second best defensive rating.
Their team chemistry was on point, and I think that
(22:01):
when you look at it moving forward, if they retain
most of the guys, they'll have more continuity, they have
extra time with training camp. And then you also have
to look at this, these guys were exhausted at the
end of the year, but you can also attribute that
to the fact that they were terrible to start the
year with a Russell Westbrook addition, as well as a
depleted roster and post trade deadline. They had to treat
(22:24):
every single game like it was a playoff game because
it affected their standings. Here fast forward to next season,
they're not going to have that kind of workload. Obviously,
they're going to be refreshed from the offseason, but to
start the regular season, even if Lebron James is another
year older in his twenty first season, he's going to
have a substantially significantly less workload, as well as Anthony
(22:48):
Davis to start the first half of the season. As
a result, much better performances and I think through next
postseason they won't be as burnout as.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
Much, Mark, are you in the Miami Denver series a
little luster taken away because it's not big names.
Speaker 6 (23:05):
Out there or what well, look, I mean, Lakers Celtics,
that's the best rivalry in the NBA. I mean, you
can't replace that, but I think that thankfully, it's been
good basketball. The Denver Nuggets have played really well. The
Miami Heat CounterPunch and you know, as Aaron can attests
and we chat on the radio the other day. I
think that the Denver Nuggets are overwhelmingly better than Miami,
(23:27):
and that thought hasn't changed even with Miami winning Game two.
But I think what the heat at least showed in
Game two is they're going to make it competitive. The
Nuggets are gonna have to work for this. So with that,
I think I don't think it's gonna be a sweep.
I don't think it's gonna be five games. I think
the Nuggets winning six, But there is a recipe for
Miami to win number one and number two. Even if
(23:47):
they don't, these are going to be compelling games. It's
not gonna be boring games. So tune in and watch.
It's gonna be at least good competitive basketball, even if
it's not the Marquis teams that maybe other people were
hoping for in the finals.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Mark does the follow.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
But what they can the Lakers afford the keep reeves
suppose somebody outbids them for it.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Can they afford the good match it?
Speaker 6 (24:08):
Well, they certainly can, because I think with restricted free
agent they from a cap standpoint, they have the ability.
They have his bird right, so won't count against that.
I think what the Lakers are going to try to do, though,
is give him an offer that he feels like it's
fair enough, that pays his respect for his value with
his growth. But maybe he is more of a team
(24:30):
friendly deal. My hunch is Austin Reeves will decline that
just to see what else is out there in the market.
But the reality is, because he's restricted, the Lakers are
going to do whatever they can to match him. And also,
I think they've learned their lesson with letting Alex Carusoe
walk of the idea that there is value in trying
(24:50):
to have depth around Lebron James, even if he's not
a Marquis Starr.
Speaker 5 (24:56):
So Mark earlier, Ernie and I got in a little
bit of a you know, debate is a delicate word. Yes,
he gave me twenty players that he would rather have
over Jimmy Butler. The list included Lowry market In, which
immediately made it null and void, although I like Lowry markten.
(25:17):
Here's my question, though, and I think there's two different conversations,
Like there's the whole like who would you rather have
over the next ten years versus who would you rather
have right now this second? If you need to win
one game is there And maybe they're like, like, how
do you qualify, quantify, classify Jimmy Butler because he's not
the quintessential superstar, but he's also like you can't say
(25:41):
he can't carry you on his back because he's done
it twice in the last four years with his team
to the NBA finals. How do you qualify and quantify
him in this modern NBA.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
Yeah, well, I need to do more studying as far
as word exactly I rank him in the league right now,
But no doubt he's a winner. He's a guy I
want to hit the you know, take the last second shot.
I think you have to quantify also the value with
being with the heat with the winning organization. That's not
a knock on Jimmy Butler. It's just more of he's
(26:14):
not having to navigate organizational dysfunction. They have good players
around him, and also they're allowing Jimmy Butler to be
Jimmy Butler or they're really loving his competitiveness in his
edge and it's not seen as a negative. It's also
not seen as a negative when he gets on his teammates.
So with that, you know, I take him any day
of the week. But as far as like most talented
(26:35):
and all that, I still feel at the end of
the day, even with all the injuries, Kevin Durant at
number one. But the problem is whether it's been self
inflicted or organizational. The teams that he's been on this
past year have been a mess. There's been lack of depth,
a lot of front office dynamics. So as a result
of that, his very stellar and efficient play hasn't been
(26:57):
enough to have a lot of success.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Mark, You're the best, my friend. I always appreciate you
coming on. We'll certainly do it again, all right.
Speaker 6 (27:05):
Looking forward to you guys with the best as well.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Thank you here, Mark Medina, everybody, you have to go
ahead check them on out Fox Sports Radios, NBA Insider.
I want to get to some of those tweets. I
got a Skip Ruber. Remember what I told you yesterday
was skipping Artie. I was just having fu with that.
Now there's a real rumor who Skip's gonna be working with,
so we'll get to that also. All coming up next
year on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Hey, it's me Rock Parker.
Speaker 7 (27:39):
Check out my weekly MLB podcast, Inside the Parker for
twenty two minutes of piping hot baseball talk featuring the
biggest names of newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe
in analytics or the icast, We've got all the bases covered.
New episodes drop every Thursday, so do yourself a favor
and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on
(28:03):
the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
All right, good evening everyone. Aaron Torres, Arnie Spanier in
for the guys, Jason Smith and his best friend Mike
Harmon here on Fox Sports Radio. We've been behind on
Twitter all night long. If you want to get in
Aaron underscore Torres, I'm a stinking genius. One bad job
by Torres keeping up on Twitter. Bad job by you, Torres.
(28:30):
Let's go back almost an hour ago when we're talking
about are you getting into the game or you're enjoying
Denver Miami, Doug Wrights wrong.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
People watch a sport for the love.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
Of the game. We don't care who plays. It's the
media pay check slaves who have to make heroes and
villains based on sponsorships. Sportscasters are mostly liberal art majors anyway,
which pretty much explains their intellectual level.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Wow, were you cover on the ground there. There's a
lot going on in that tweet.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Is that your major where? You're a liberal arts major? There, Torrez,
That's the first thing I want to know.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
And I was a communications major, so liberal arts, Liberal Arts,
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
Yes, I was a sociology major. But I did take
softball three times.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
Okay, I bet you did.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
Yeah, I'm not kidding around. I didn't take it. I'm
not going I took softball three times, and I took
windsurfing at Arizona. Huh. No, I took windsurfing when I
went to the University of Southern Colorado. Yay.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Yeah, And moving on, moving on, Yes, that's what Doug
got right in.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
Jason said, how do you have your top twenty NBA players?
Speaker 3 (29:36):
And there was no Luca.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
Luca was the second person I mentioned on there.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
And I did not have a problem with that one.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
Yeah, we can go through the was the last night
we got so much going on, Brandon Wrights. If people
get more concerned about their health why don't we just
cancel everything. My point is we can't coward in fear
of something bad happening, Otherwise nothing noteworthy would be achieved.
I was we were talking about the picture who went
through one hundred and twenty three pitches and was asked
(30:02):
to come back in a couple of days rest. I'm like,
this is getting ridiculous. We got a lot of tweets
on that one.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
Yeah, I don't know if most people seem to I
don't know that. I necessary like, I don't have a
fundamental issue. If the pitcher wants to pitch, it seems
like most people are on that side.
Speaker 4 (30:18):
Well, it should be up to the pitcher, the coach,
the doctor, the team doctor nutchauld to be.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Up to I mean that all three seem to sign
off on it.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
The pitcher signed off far because he just wants to
help the team. Emotional support, Cannibal says, steaking genius, My god, like,
eighty five percent of your takes are my numbing, ridiculous
eighty five percent. Though you're fanned outrage over this pitch
count non story is just buffoons. It's only two innings.
Could you imagine if you throw for another nine? No,
(30:49):
I can't because he'd never be asked to do that. Correct, No,
that's not correct. We didn't know he was only gonna
go two innings. He could have gone five evid. Nine.
He could have gone out there as long as they
needed him out there.
Speaker 5 (31:04):
Let me ask you a question, what if the guy
was in the major leagues? Because you're still putting your
health at risk one way or the other, but for
millions and millions of dollars.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
So because it's money, your health is is negligent. No,
it's because you're a professional.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
But what about if it was a school that has
good nil and the player is making a lot of money.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
You know what? That is a good point though.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
I mean it is almost like you're a professional, but
you don't want to go ahead and do that. I mean,
it doesn't happen a lot. There's a reason for that eron,
you know that, right, Because it's bad for the young
kid's arm, it's bad for development. What happened to you
brought up the picture for Vanderbilt he had to go
through surgery now, right, So I mean it's it's not
(31:45):
the best thing to have out there.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
And I don't know what to say.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
I think I agree with most most people is you can't.
I mean, if we're worried about injury with everything, we
just wouldn't play football.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (31:58):
Let me let me get to what Bilch we did.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
It says college baseball does not use wooden bats because
of the cost and they can often break. They are
more likely to cause serious injury or even death of
a players. Here with a flying piece of wood mental bata.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
Wow, well, but you know what.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
That's why I asked you, why would a player use
a wooden bat? Now, then there's a kid on organ
that uses a wooden bat, and I couldn't figure out
why he does that.
Speaker 5 (32:23):
You know, Yeah, there's a difference between why would you
use it versus why don't they use it? Why they
don't use it is for the cost reasons. I don't
know of anyone dying from a flying shard of wooden bat.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
If that is a.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
Whoa, whoa, whoa whoa. The catcher from the Dodger, Steve Jeger,
almost died from that, matter of fact, because of that.
They invented that piece that hangs down from your chin.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Matter, he wasn't what he was catching.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
He was on the on deck circle and a piece
of the bat went right into his neck.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I don't know if you were.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
I guess you didn't remember that.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
That's a long time ago. Yeah, well that's.
Speaker 4 (32:58):
A one time thing. I know you mean that one though,
did you?
Speaker 3 (33:02):
Yeah, I mean I I just I don't know of
anybody dying. I guess the point.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
Yeah, well, believe me, that was a scary situation.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
Dodge right now, Oh yeah, dodger right, sarcastic. Ya know
that he was in I believe it was.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
In the on deck circle. Somebody's bat broke. Uh, it's
got sawt off, and part of it went right into
his neck. And ever since then, that's when they invented
that part that comes down from the from the catcher's mask.
All right, look, three hours or in the books, the
bonus hour is coming up next. If you want to
get in real simple air and underscore tors I'm itstinking
(33:34):
genius one. That's how you go and do it. We'll
get back in the get you ready for games three
and four. We got a lot to get to. You'll
get our picks before we get out of here. Also,
all that coming up next right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Thanks for listening to The Jason Smith Show with Mike
Harmon podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weeknight
ten pm to two am Eastern seven to eleven pm
Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for
The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon at Foxsports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every night on the
iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
If you're listening to Fox Sports Radio, oh.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
That is us. It is the Power hour of the show.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
We're broadcasting live from the tire rack dot Com studios
tire rack dot com. We'll help you get there an
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ten thousand recommended installers tirerac dot com.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
The way tire buying should be. He's Aaron Torres.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
I'm Arty Span your in for the guys, Jason Smith
at his best friend Mike Harmon here on Fox Sports.
By the way, Torres, this Friday, going out to dinner
with my wife. It is her birthday. Happy birthday, Beth. Well,
you know I have my rules. I spend a dollar
for every year she is and that includes for dinner
(01:14):
and a present. So I'm spending fifty nine dollars this
time around, I gotta squeeze in dinner and a present.
So if you have any ideas, please let me know.
That's not a lot to work with out there. Fifty
nine dollars, though I should be able.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
To pull that off, shouldn't I taco bill in a
new shovel. I think you can do that in an
under fifty nine dollars. I will say, you're evil.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
I mean, sharing fifty dollars a lot of money. What
do you want bearing your beautiful wife's age.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
After everything she's done for the entire staff of Fox Ports,
she looks.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Good for fifty nine. I do say that. I mean
people think she's like fifty eight. I mean, no, I'm
just kiddy. I'm just I'm just kidding, kidding Frost.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
She brought up a good point, was that I think
you could just buy a restaurant in Vermont for like fifty.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Bucks, my own restaurant and take her there.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Huh yeah, well usually I just.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
I'll go to the local area and get some flowers
for her.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Uh, you know, see the local areas at like your
neighbor's yard.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Or yeah, I'll go to park or what. No, there's
a cemetery. So no, I'm kidding. I'm joking. I'm joking.
It's a joke. For crying out loud, I think it's.
Speaker 5 (02:22):
Yeah, you steal your neighbor's shovel, go to the cemetery
for flows.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
No, my wife's got the best shovel. I bought it
for to shovel the snow. It's like, it's like the
Ferrari of shovels. I didn't hold back on that trud.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
She didn't hold back on that.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
Uh on that elliptical that's now being used as storage
for you.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
No, we we go to Orange Theory, so we we
got to do that.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yeah, we've been doing that for a while. Go to
Orange Theory and play basketball. Wow.
Speaker 4 (02:50):
Yeah, look at me, I gotta I got a lot
going on in my life.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
Hey, can I get to it?
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Because I know we have Mark Medeena coming up at
about fifteen past the hour, so we got a lot
of basketball to get to. Can I get to a
topic that nobody else is going to talk about in
Fox Sports Radio. It's probably not that big of a deal,
but it's kind of bothering me.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Let's do it.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Remember when we made such a big deal about Tua
with the concussions, right of course, yep. And some people like,
this guy's gotta quit. You know, you can't put him
back out there. You gotta do it for his own good.
It shouldn't be up to him. It should be up
to the doctors, you know what I mean. Yep, if
the doctor's clear him. Were you outraged the way he
was handled with the with the concussions. Did you think that,
(03:32):
you know, we should have done a better job of
taking care of him medically, I guess to say, in
that whole thing, or what.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
The first situation, Yeah, I think the Christmas Day game
against Green Bay when we found out after the fact
that he had had a concussion. I think if he's
not feeling right, it's on him to go to the
neurologists or the doctors. I don't think every time the
quarterback hits the ground it should be assumed that something happened.
I thought the first one was bad. And by the way,
(04:01):
let me let me add this. And I know I'm
going along on this answer, and I'm sure there's a
point you're trying to get to. I would also say
the first one with the bills only looked it looked
bad in real time, but it obviously looked way, way,
way worse in hindsight because of what happened on Thursday
night football standalone, audience, all that good stuff. So if
(04:23):
he I'm not saying it was the right decision to
let him play Thursday night football. But if nothing had
happened on Thursday night football, that doesn't become a story.
But what happened on Thursday night football did happen, and
then he had the incident on Christmas Day against the Packers.
So to your point, I don't think it was as
bad as many people said, but it wasn't a good look.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
We're so cognizant now of people's health. That's why when
I saw this story, especially because it's in college, and
I know.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
You watched the college, it's an interesting story.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Yeah, well you're talking about the Southern mis pitcher. Yes,
Tanner Hall, who pitched on Friday. I believe he threw
one hundred and twenty three pitches, and he throws at
eighty eight to ninety miles an hour. He went the
full nine innings, he struck out nine, and he just
(05:10):
had a fantastic game. Well, they needed him to come
back today. They needed him to come back after throwing
one hundred and twenty three pitches to come back. And
this is a guy that those you know fastballs ninety
miles an hour also.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
And top a MLB draft.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Oh, he's the number one prospect in the MLB draft
for pitchers, okay, number one.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
And now you have to ask him to come back.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Why are we not protecting this kid?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
It should?
Speaker 4 (05:40):
It really be up to him, because if you ask him,
he'll run through a wall for anybody. If you ask him,
he'll start every day until his arm falls off. But
I was reading the comments about this, you know, after
the story, and people are like, get him ready for surgery. Now,
might as well get Tommy John. Now they're gonna make
the kid's arm fall off right now. He's gonna be
new to arm whatever right now. There was a one
(06:02):
person that said, good for you. Make a pitch again. Now,
I only went two winnings. I believe he gave up
two unearned runs and then they yanked him. But I'm
not sure that's in the kids' best interest to go
ahead and put him out there after throwing one hundred
and twenty three pitches there.
Speaker 5 (06:18):
And you know, so I guess So, by the way,
this actually happened a few years ago. You should know
this as a Mets fan. Remember the name Kumar Rocker.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Yes, absolutely, yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (06:27):
And Vanderbilt who lost in their regionals this weekend, but
they're known. Their coach Tim Corbin is the same way
is I'm trying to win a championship at this level, right,
and you had Lighter too, he had yep, Jack Lighter
out Lighter's son. Let me let me so this is
one Arnie. I'll say this. I actually don't I see
(06:47):
both sides. Okay, I think, yes, you are putting this
guy's future at risk.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Okay, but here is my question.
Speaker 5 (06:54):
Yes, does that now mean that at any level other
than Major League based ball, in a championship setting, you
can't push a pitcher because you know, some would say
it's college, not a college.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
Finish.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
Let me finish the whole point though some would say
it's college, you gotta worry about the MLB. Okay, but
then what if it's in high school. Well, it's it's
in high school. I mean he might have a pitching future.
Well it's little legal, he might have a pitching future.
So I guess my point is is that if your
argument is, like I guess, if your argument is you
(07:30):
shouldn't overuse a pitcher, then the argument kind of has
to be you should never use a pitch over use
a pitcher at any level prior to Major League Barton, we.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Have a pitch count for little league.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Sometimes you can't pitch over fifty pitches, sixty pitches, whatever
it is. We're very cognizant. Matter of fact, some little leagues.
I remember when when I used to play, so you
weren't allowed to throw curve balls.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
So then let me jump in on that. Don't Yeah,
you're bringing up a great point. Here's the thing though,
If that's the case, then don't blame the Southern miss
coach and don't blame the player. Blame the rule book
that doesn't have any limitations on how much a guy
can pitch. Because, by the way, the same thing would
happen in little league, because when I was in little league,
the rules were a lot more vague, and I remember
(08:13):
guys and it was the same thing. You know, you
bring them back for the championship and he pitched last week.
But it's it's a warrior mentality.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
You know.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
You used to see it, especially in the bigs all
the time. I mean, I remember, you know, Randy Johnson
pitching Game six of the World Series and then coming
into close Game seven in two thousand and one.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
So literally, he.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Paid a lot of money for that era, and you're
getting paid a lot of money into.
Speaker 5 (08:33):
I'm not saying I'm not I'm not disagreeing. I'm saying
that's the mentality that players have. So Little league has rules,
most high schools have rules. Yes, so in this case,
it hasn't happened before because you got common sense. You
can't be throwing you can't be thrown.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
No, you.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
Can't be throwing a kid out there after one hundred
and twenty three pitches the number one prospect for the
baseball draft, and then say get out there a couple
of days later and let's do it again. Now they
only kept them in for two things, but could you
imagine if he went another nine. I mean, I mean,
really that that's not healthy for the kid's arm. It
can't be healthy. There's a reason why otherwise all the
(09:15):
even pitchers would be doing that. You'd have a two
man rotation. Like in softball. They could do that in softball.
You can't do it in baseball.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
You just can't. So you're adamantly against this. I'm adamantly
against it.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
I don't think it's for the well being of the kid,
and I think they're doing it just to win a championship.
And the kid can't just say no, I'm not gonna
go out there and pitch.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
He wants to do it first coach, he wants to
do it for his teammates. He wants to help the
school win. I don't blame him for going back out there.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
They won today, by the way, eleven to seven, so
they were looking to pull out. Let me ask you
what more think, well run college baseball. Why would a
kid use a wooden bat in college baseball?
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Did that happen? Yeah? I didn't know that.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Yeah, we us.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I think he used it most of the year.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
I mean, I don't have an answer to that one.
I mean, I just don't have an It's not even
that I don't have an opinion. I just don't have
an answer to it.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Well, the only answer I could think of is that
maybe he wants to get ready for the major leagues
and thinking using a wooden bat would help them get
used to that. But isn't that kind of being selfish.
It was. I mean, if if you're it's not a
top tier team and you know you're you're playing in
some important games, I watch you using the aluminum bat.
I don't care if you're getting ready for the for
(10:26):
the major leagues, I need you using the.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
Best bat possible.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
You know, it's funny that actually happened last year. So
Tennessee last year was the number one team in the country.
They were number one seed in the College World Series,
the tournament, and they were ripping through the SEC and
they had like literally the best start in SEC history.
The SEC is the best conference for baseball whatever. And
then they decided they were playing a midweek game against
(10:50):
like Central Tennessee or something, and decided to play with
wood bats. They ended up losing the game, and then
they went on like a five game losing.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Streak after that. So you gotta be careful.
Speaker 5 (10:59):
But I don't have an answer as to why a
player would unless it is again about getting ready for
the BIGS or professional baseball, I should say, to which
I would say already, I actually would agree with you.
I think that is a little bit selfish. I think
that's a little bit because there's a.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
Kid on Oregon that uses the wooden bat, because I
thought I was watching the Arizona in the back twelve tournament.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
I'm like, why would he use a wooden bat?
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Now, some people were telling me that you could drive
a ball just as far with a wooden bat as
an alluminum bat. I'm not so sure I buy that.
That's whyever you get uses it a little bit of bat,
you know what I mean? Could you imagine you got
a runner on third important game, all you need to
sackfly and you're gonna go up there with a wooden bat.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
I don't think so.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Man, you better grab yourself some some of aluminum and
send out as far as you can. They'll get the
winning run home. I mean, geez, I can't believe that.
That's that's crazy. You know.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
If there's no and I don't think there would be,
what would be a legitimate reason for.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
That is that is the only reasoning I could think of.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
Yeah, I would think that that's a little bit selfish.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
I don't I don't know. I don't have a good
answer to that.
Speaker 5 (11:59):
Usually, like usually all these topics I've either seen or
have an opinion on. That's just what I'm just befuddled
by to go back to the picture.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
I found that by accident, just by watching the Arizona
baseball game. That's how I found that one out.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
But let me ask you a question.
Speaker 5 (12:12):
If it was Arizona and it was an elimination game
and your ace could come back on two days rest,
you wouldn't want it at all.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Oh, I would want it.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
If that doesn't mean it's good for their picture, though,
I would say we're showing no regard for his health.
Though I'd say I'm just as bad as everybody else.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I would admit it, though I do go.
Speaker 4 (12:30):
Boy, that's not good for his r but he's gonna
be a number one pick of the draft. Boy, I
don't think I would do it, but I Avey wants
to come back. Let's do it for a good old
U of a. Yeah, so it's one. I know you
want me to be fired up and give the other side.
If the player wants to do it, it's it's hard.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
You know.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
And sometimes and we've talked about this, aren't he in
the past. Is Yeah, Sometimes the people around the player
that aren't the head coach or manager whatever have to
look out for the player's best interest. I mean, I
remember arguing with you about this over Tom Brady when
it was clear that his now ex wife Jazelle wanted
him to retire and he didn't want to retire. And
I and your argument was the player, you know, the
(13:10):
player has to put something besides the team's best interests,
you know, at the top. And you were talking about
Tom Brady at that point. So it's tough because I
think you're probably right, but it's so hard for me
to tell an athlete don't play. It's like, it's like
it's not the perfect analogy, but it's like college football
players playing in bowl games.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
Another thing that you and I have argued about is.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
I get like, I'm I'm past the point of criticizing
any player for sitting out of out of a bowl game.
But if a player wants to play, I don't know
that I blame I don't blame him, but I do
think this is a little bit different because it's pitching
and it's one hundred and twenty three pitches. You know,
it'd be like if you know a player had to play,
(13:52):
you know, somehow, some way was playing like like two
football games in a week period. Like when it's clearly
hazardous to his health. I don't, no, Arnie, I will.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
We worry about Thursday's games, right, don't worry about Thursdays.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
We never said it. Never stopped anybody from playing them though,
if they're healthy.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Enough to go, Yeah, no doubt about that. All right,
we're gonna come on back. We're gonna speak to Mark Medina. Medina.
We got a lot of NBA to get to. We'll
talk about what Kareem had to say, the NBA Finals,
all that coming up next. Torres and Spaniard in for
Jason Smith and Mike Harmon right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (14:39):
All Right, good ething, everyone are and Torres, Arney Span
you're right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
In for the guys.
Speaker 4 (14:44):
Jason Smith is his best fread Mike Harmon, Uh, Torres,
We'll get back to Twitter in a little bit. We're
getting a lot of them, a lot of them, I
mean a lot of them, So we'll get to that.
I want to get to our guest right now. You
can check about it Sportsnot dot com, also the Sporting
Tribune dot com, Fox Sports Radios, NBA insider Mark Medina,
(15:08):
How you doing, Mark, Thanks for stopping on by my friend.
Speaker 6 (15:10):
I'm doing well. I'm just I'm just getting ready for
this Lebron Kyrie partnership to be fun.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
All right, right off the bat, let's get to that.
What did you think about the story? You know, Sham
had it out there and a lot of people were
jumping out. A lot of people think it's absolutely ridiculous,
but I'm like, hey, you know, there could be some
truth to it.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
What did you think of the story?
Speaker 6 (15:31):
I think it's just Kyrie Irving sharing his Christmas wish list,
And as you guys probably can attest, we had a
lot of things on our wish lists when we were
kids and we didn't necessarily get it. So I think
it's I think it's nothing more than that. I think
no doubt that, you know, Lebron heading at retirement. Maybe
there is an endgame of putting pressure on the Lakers
front office, but I very much doubt that would ever
(15:54):
get to the point that he leaves the Lakers because
of his you know, family roots that he's set up
in recent years here with Brouny going to USC and
the fact that you know, it is the entertainment capital
of the world. But if he were to leave, I
can't imagine though it would be with the Dallas Mavericks,
given their terrible roster, that they'd have to somehow make
(16:16):
good with Lebron, Kyrie and Luca in the mix. I mean,
the idea of Lebron like playing for the mid level
just doesn't seem to make any sense.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
Is there a thought mark that maybe this was It
felt to me like it was a dual leak by
Kyrie's camp and Lebron's camp to maybe let the Lakers
know that, hey, you know, Lebron has other options if
you don't want to shake this thing up the way
that Lebron wants, he has other options. Is that a
fair potential assessment, and.
Speaker 6 (16:45):
Very well could, But I think for what it's worth.
When Lebron, you know, hinted after the season ended that
he was considering retirement, people in his camp said had
nothing to do with any sort of pressure that he
wanted to exert on the front office, about the fact
that he was just exhausted and frustrated that the season lost,
and all those things kind of piled up together. I
(17:07):
think that there was an admission internally within you know,
people around him that they dramatically improved when they had
the trade deadline moves, and part of that was having depth.
And so as much as Lebron wants to play with Kyrie,
I don't think it would ever get to the point
that he'd be willing to sacrifice all the steps. So
I think it mostly came from Kyrie's wishless with the
(17:29):
idea that if he were to want to join the Lakers,
he would have to take the substantial paycut, and he
doesn't want to do that, so he's trying to do
a role reversal. Hey Lebron, how about you come to
my house and you take the pitcutt I think it
takes a lot of stones number for a few reasons.
Number one, Lebron is higher than Kyrie on the hierarchy,
and number two, Kyrie is acting like this is his
(17:51):
team with the Dallas Mavericks last time I checked. As
Luka Doncic's teams, I can only imagine how he's feeling.
No doubt Luke would love to play with Lebron. But
the idea that you know, the Maats didn't really have
any pieces to make this happen anyway, So like, how
on earth would this happen? It's impossible. So it's just
one of Kyrie's shenanigans once again coming to fruitions.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
You know, Mark, After the four nothing sweep of Denver
over the Lakers, Lebron did the oh, I may have
to think about retiring. Kareem talked about that. Kareem actually
had some interesting things to say about that. Did he
matter what?
Speaker 6 (18:27):
Yeah, I was at I was in Koreatown and near
downtown LA. Today. You know, they're unveiling a mural of
some sort of community event. But there were a few
Laker luminaries, including Kareem, and because of that, myself and
a few others were wondering what he thought of Lebron's
retirement consideration. He you know, expressed platitudes about, Look, he
(18:47):
doesn't have to prove anything. It's about what he wants
to do. But you know, I was curious, how did
he decide when he played twenty years, his twentieth season
was the final season. Basically, he said once he failed
the ice test, he knew it was time to go. Now,
what does the ice test mean? It basically means that
(19:09):
when he started looking forward to gain a postgame ice
treatment after every single game, that's when he knew, you
know what, it's time to waste it up because for
most of his career he hated having to put ice
you know, on his legs after the game. And the
fact that he was looking forward to that was a
writing on the wall that his body's breaking down and
he can't you know, further risk getting damage moving forward.
(19:32):
So that was that. But look, Kareem played twenty years.
He played up to forty years, forty years old, so
it took a lot for him to reach that point
because he was playing an elite level and he was
taking so good care of his body from a training
and nutritional standpoint.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
So Mark Arnie and I were talking earlier and something
I think maybe I've even talked with you on Saturdays,
Jason Martin about all that stuff, is that, like the
idea of the Laker roster as it stands, and obviously,
look after the you know, Western Conference Finals, you get swept.
I think that the automatic reaction is if you get
(20:08):
swept in the Western Conference Finals is something's drastically wrong
and you need to shake it up. I look at
it as best record in the NBA after the trade deadline.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Yeah, yeah, I get that.
Speaker 5 (20:21):
Lebron is always in championship mindset, especially at this point
in his career. I think the smartest thing you can do,
if you want to put yourself in a position to
win a championship is run this thing back as much
as you possibly can.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Am I crazy to think that?
Speaker 4 (20:36):
No?
Speaker 6 (20:37):
I mean, look, Rob Polinka is thinking the same thing,
and he's expressed it out loud. Now. I think, knowing
the Lakers and knowing their cap situation, I don't think
it's going to be an either or construct. I think
that they want to retain a lot of the players,
but it's not like this year's roster is going to
be the exact same roster next season. So what does
that mean. I think you can pencil in that Austin
(20:57):
Reeves and a really hot Chamor coming back that are
two proven road chation players. They're restricted free agents, so
they can keep them and go over the cap. I
think that, you know, when you're looking at role players,
maybe some people will be like, well, why would he
spend this amount of money on a role player. But
I think the Lakers are also looking at through the
lens of well, we have Lebron James's championship window. How
(21:18):
much do these pieces help maximize that, even if the
role players and those guys in particular substantially maximize that.
So I think you can pencil those guys. And now
when it comes to D'Angel Russell, I think on one hand,
they want to keep them because he really helped organize
the offense, improve how it was flowed. But he was
inconsistent the playoffs in terms of his shot selection and
(21:40):
ability to make shots. And so I think here there's
a willingness to retain them, but at what price? And
so I think the larger point is something that you
hit on. You got to look at how the Lakers
looked post trade deadline. They the third best record in
the league. I think they had the second best defensive rating.
Their team chemistry was on point, and I think that
(22:01):
when you look at it moving forward, if they retain
most of the guys, they'll have more continuity, they have
extra time with training camp. And then you also have
to look at this, these guys were exhausted at the
end of the year, but you can also attribute that
to the fact that they were terrible to start the
year with a Russell Westbrook addition, as well as a
depleted roster and post trade deadline. They had to treat
(22:24):
every single game like it was a playoff game because
it affected their standings. Here fast forward to next season,
they're not going to have that kind of workload. Obviously,
they're going to be refreshed from the offseason, but to
start the regular season, even if Lebron James is another
year older in his twenty first season, he's going to
have a substantially significantly less workload, as well as Anthony
(22:48):
Davis to start the first half of the season. As
a result, much better performances and I think through next
postseason they won't be as burnout as.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
Much, Mark, are you in the Miami Denver series a
little luster taken away because it's not big names.
Speaker 6 (23:05):
Out there or what well, look, I mean, Lakers Celtics,
that's the best rivalry in the NBA. I mean, you
can't replace that, but I think that thankfully, it's been
good basketball. The Denver Nuggets have played really well. The
Miami Heat CounterPunch and you know, as Aaron can attests
and we chat on the radio the other day. I
think that the Denver Nuggets are overwhelmingly better than Miami,
(23:27):
and that thought hasn't changed even with Miami winning Game two.
But I think what the heat at least showed in
Game two is they're going to make it competitive. The
Nuggets are gonna have to work for this. So with that,
I think I don't think it's gonna be a sweep.
I don't think it's gonna be five games. I think
the Nuggets winning six, But there is a recipe for
Miami to win number one and number two. Even if
(23:47):
they don't, these are going to be compelling games. It's
not gonna be boring games. So tune in and watch.
It's gonna be at least good competitive basketball, even if
it's not the Marquis teams that maybe other people were
hoping for in the finals.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Mark does the follow.
Speaker 4 (24:02):
But what they can the Lakers afford the keep reeves
suppose somebody outbids them for it.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Can they afford the good match it?
Speaker 6 (24:08):
Well, they certainly can, because I think with restricted free
agent they from a cap standpoint, they have the ability.
They have his bird right, so won't count against that.
I think what the Lakers are going to try to do, though,
is give him an offer that he feels like it's
fair enough, that pays his respect for his value with
his growth. But maybe he is more of a team
(24:30):
friendly deal. My hunch is Austin Reeves will decline that
just to see what else is out there in the market.
But the reality is, because he's restricted, the Lakers are
going to do whatever they can to match him. And also,
I think they've learned their lesson with letting Alex Carusoe
walk of the idea that there is value in trying
(24:50):
to have depth around Lebron James, even if he's not
a Marquis Starr.
Speaker 5 (24:56):
So Mark earlier, Ernie and I got in a little
bit of a you know, debate is a delicate word. Yes,
he gave me twenty players that he would rather have
over Jimmy Butler. The list included Lowry market In, which
immediately made it null and void, although I like Lowry markten.
(25:17):
Here's my question, though, and I think there's two different conversations,
Like there's the whole like who would you rather have
over the next ten years versus who would you rather
have right now this second? If you need to win
one game is there And maybe they're like, like, how
do you qualify, quantify, classify Jimmy Butler because he's not
the quintessential superstar, but he's also like you can't say
(25:41):
he can't carry you on his back because he's done
it twice in the last four years with his team
to the NBA finals. How do you qualify and quantify
him in this modern NBA.
Speaker 6 (25:52):
Yeah, well, I need to do more studying as far
as word exactly I rank him in the league right now,
But no doubt he's a winner. He's a guy I
want to hit the you know, take the last second shot.
I think you have to quantify also the value with
being with the heat with the winning organization. That's not
a knock on Jimmy Butler. It's just more of he's
(26:14):
not having to navigate organizational dysfunction. They have good players
around him, and also they're allowing Jimmy Butler to be
Jimmy Butler or they're really loving his competitiveness in his
edge and it's not seen as a negative. It's also
not seen as a negative when he gets on his teammates.
So with that, you know, I take him any day
of the week. But as far as like most talented
(26:35):
and all that, I still feel at the end of
the day, even with all the injuries, Kevin Durant at
number one. But the problem is whether it's been self
inflicted or organizational. The teams that he's been on this
past year have been a mess. There's been lack of depth,
a lot of front office dynamics. So as a result
of that, his very stellar and efficient play hasn't been
(26:57):
enough to have a lot of success.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Mark, You're the best, my friend. I always appreciate you
coming on. We'll certainly do it again, all right.
Speaker 6 (27:05):
Looking forward to you guys with the best as well.
Speaker 4 (27:07):
Thank you here, Mark Medina, everybody, you have to go
ahead check them on out Fox Sports Radios, NBA Insider.
I want to get to some of those tweets. I
got a Skip Ruber. Remember what I told you yesterday
was skipping Artie. I was just having fu with that.
Now there's a real rumor who Skip's gonna be working with,
so we'll get to that also. All coming up next
year on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Hey, it's me Rock Parker.
Speaker 7 (27:39):
Check out my weekly MLB podcast, Inside the Parker for
twenty two minutes of piping hot baseball talk featuring the
biggest names of newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe
in analytics or the icast, We've got all the bases covered.
New episodes drop every Thursday, so do yourself a favor
and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on
(28:03):
the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 4 (28:08):
All right, good evening everyone. Aaron Torres, Arnie Spanier in
for the guys, Jason Smith and his best friend Mike
Harmon here on Fox Sports Radio. We've been behind on
Twitter all night long. If you want to get in
Aaron underscore Torres, I'm a stinking genius. One bad job
by Torres keeping up on Twitter. Bad job by you, Torres.
(28:30):
Let's go back almost an hour ago when we're talking
about are you getting into the game or you're enjoying
Denver Miami, Doug Wrights wrong.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
People watch a sport for the love.
Speaker 4 (28:39):
Of the game. We don't care who plays. It's the
media pay check slaves who have to make heroes and
villains based on sponsorships. Sportscasters are mostly liberal art majors anyway,
which pretty much explains their intellectual level.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
Wow, were you cover on the ground there. There's a
lot going on in that tweet.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Is that your major where? You're a liberal arts major? There, Torrez,
That's the first thing I want to know.
Speaker 5 (29:04):
And I was a communications major, so liberal arts, Liberal Arts,
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
Yes, I was a sociology major. But I did take
softball three times.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
Okay, I bet you did.
Speaker 4 (29:15):
Yeah, I'm not kidding around. I didn't take it. I'm
not going I took softball three times, and I took
windsurfing at Arizona. Huh. No, I took windsurfing when I
went to the University of Southern Colorado. Yay.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Yeah, And moving on, moving on, Yes, that's what Doug
got right in.
Speaker 4 (29:33):
Jason said, how do you have your top twenty NBA players?
Speaker 3 (29:36):
And there was no Luca.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
Luca was the second person I mentioned on there.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
And I did not have a problem with that one.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
Yeah, we can go through the was the last night
we got so much going on, Brandon Wrights. If people
get more concerned about their health why don't we just
cancel everything. My point is we can't coward in fear
of something bad happening, Otherwise nothing noteworthy would be achieved.
I was we were talking about the picture who went
through one hundred and twenty three pitches and was asked
(30:02):
to come back in a couple of days rest. I'm like,
this is getting ridiculous. We got a lot of tweets
on that one.
Speaker 5 (30:07):
Yeah, I don't know if most people seem to I
don't know that. I necessary like, I don't have a
fundamental issue. If the pitcher wants to pitch, it seems
like most people are on that side.
Speaker 4 (30:18):
Well, it should be up to the pitcher, the coach,
the doctor, the team doctor nutchauld to be.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Up to I mean that all three seem to sign
off on it.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
The pitcher signed off far because he just wants to
help the team. Emotional support, Cannibal says, steaking genius, My god, like,
eighty five percent of your takes are my numbing, ridiculous
eighty five percent. Though you're fanned outrage over this pitch
count non story is just buffoons. It's only two innings.
Could you imagine if you throw for another nine? No,
(30:49):
I can't because he'd never be asked to do that. Correct, No,
that's not correct. We didn't know he was only gonna
go two innings. He could have gone five evid. Nine.
He could have gone out there as long as they
needed him out there.
Speaker 5 (31:04):
Let me ask you a question, what if the guy
was in the major leagues? Because you're still putting your
health at risk one way or the other, but for
millions and millions of dollars.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
So because it's money, your health is is negligent. No,
it's because you're a professional.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
But what about if it was a school that has
good nil and the player is making a lot of money.
Speaker 3 (31:22):
You know what? That is a good point though.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
I mean it is almost like you're a professional, but
you don't want to go ahead and do that. I mean,
it doesn't happen a lot. There's a reason for that eron,
you know that, right, Because it's bad for the young
kid's arm, it's bad for development. What happened to you
brought up the picture for Vanderbilt he had to go
through surgery now, right, So I mean it's it's not
(31:45):
the best thing to have out there.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
And I don't know what to say.
Speaker 5 (31:50):
I think I agree with most most people is you can't.
I mean, if we're worried about injury with everything, we
just wouldn't play football.
Speaker 4 (31:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (31:58):
Let me let me get to what Bilch we did.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
It says college baseball does not use wooden bats because
of the cost and they can often break. They are
more likely to cause serious injury or even death of
a players. Here with a flying piece of wood mental bata.
Speaker 3 (32:11):
Wow, well, but you know what.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
That's why I asked you, why would a player use
a wooden bat? Now, then there's a kid on organ
that uses a wooden bat, and I couldn't figure out
why he does that.
Speaker 5 (32:23):
You know, Yeah, there's a difference between why would you
use it versus why don't they use it? Why they
don't use it is for the cost reasons. I don't
know of anyone dying from a flying shard of wooden bat.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
If that is a.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
Whoa, whoa, whoa whoa. The catcher from the Dodger, Steve Jeger,
almost died from that, matter of fact, because of that.
They invented that piece that hangs down from your chin.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Matter, he wasn't what he was catching.
Speaker 4 (32:49):
He was on the on deck circle and a piece
of the bat went right into his neck.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I don't know if you were.
Speaker 4 (32:54):
I guess you didn't remember that.
Speaker 3 (32:55):
That's a long time ago. Yeah, well that's.
Speaker 4 (32:58):
A one time thing. I know you mean that one though,
did you?
Speaker 3 (33:02):
Yeah, I mean I I just I don't know of
anybody dying. I guess the point.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
Yeah, well, believe me, that was a scary situation.
Speaker 3 (33:09):
Dodge right now, Oh yeah, dodger right, sarcastic. Ya know
that he was in I believe it was.
Speaker 4 (33:14):
In the on deck circle. Somebody's bat broke. Uh, it's
got sawt off, and part of it went right into
his neck. And ever since then, that's when they invented
that part that comes down from the from the catcher's mask.
All right, look, three hours or in the books, the
bonus hour is coming up next. If you want to
get in real simple air and underscore tors I'm itstinking
(33:34):
genius one. That's how you go and do it. We'll
get back in the get you ready for games three
and four. We got a lot to get to. You'll
get our picks before we get out of here. Also,
all that coming up next right here on Fox Sports Radio.
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Jason Smith
Mike Harmon
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