April 19, 2024 • 25 mins
Chris and Rob discuss whether Kyrie Irving’s off-court social activism had any impact at all on him being left off the Team USA Basketball Olympic roster, explain why they had such a big problem with Gregg Doyel’s inappropriate exchange with Caitlin Clark at her introductory press conference and tell us which teams make the most sense for Trae Young in a potential trade.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brushad and Ron Harker.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
One of the top players from America who is missing
and there are several is Kyrie Irving. And Kyrie was
asked about, you know why he wasn't on the team.
He was on the team in twenty sixteen that won gold.
And of course Kyrie is a fantastic player and would
have been worthy of being on the team.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
But here's what he said.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
I wish my brothers well and I just didn't fit
into this team. And I think the deliberation process was.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
A tough one.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
But again, I have nothing but respect for those guys
over at USAB. You know, at this point in my career,
I think my focus should be on winning the championship,
and you know, in the summertime, just going to support
those guys when I get a chance.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I grew up in a time too.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I wanted to say this. I grew up in a
time too where we actually had to try out for
USAB and we did meet up as a group and
as peers, and there was a mutual respect that we
earned from one another and trying out and then seeing
what five meshed well. So I think obviously the timing's
a little bit different. But yeah, I kind of missed
those days of just being able to get everybody together,
break bread and then compete against one another, and then
(01:35):
the deliberation process happens at the end of like the
four days and five day process, even though people know
who's gonna be on the team, you know what I'm saying.
So I missed that fun part of it of just
getting together. But I wish my brothers.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Well because he's like I would have been breaking ankles.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Ain't no way I would have.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Left me off the team after I was wrecking shop.
But nah, that was a very polite and solid answer
from Kyle.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I agree. I just said, what a mature answer. Yep, yep, No,
I have no issues.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
What I throw at you is this rob do you
think let me we know Kyrie has had obviously, you know,
a lot of issues off the court, a lot of
controversy off the court. This year, he's been great. There's
been no issues. I will say this though. We obviously
know what's going on over in Israel and Palestine and Kyrie,
(02:26):
who has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinians. He
wore and I may mispronounce this, or please forgive me
if I do a fake kafaya. Kafaya kafiyah is k
e f f i y a h. It is a
head gear that is a sign of Palestinian solidarity. He
(02:49):
wore that to a game when the Mavericks played the
Bucks in November.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
And he wore it to the game, and then he
wore it.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
After the game during his prescott of it, and Rob
and this is kind of we don't have to get
all into this, but you're not talking about this. Nobody
asked him about it, Nobody asked him why he was.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Wearing it, and he didn't volunteer it.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
So it was just like people look at it, Okay,
that looks like that's a sign of Palestinian solidarity.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
And so that in November, where where was it? I'm
just curious.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I think it was Dallas.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
If he was in New York, they would have asked
him about it. Yeah, you know what I mean, Dallas
or you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
They would have asked I mean a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Of places, honestly, I mean, I don't know how you
don't ask him.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
That's not a.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Thing that somebody wears in America. So you would just say,
what's what's up? What do you want to see your
head here, Kyrie? Do you want to explain why you're
wearing it or whatever?
Speaker 5 (03:54):
Is that fashion that is that? Is that a fashion
statement or you made a statement?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
So but that's the you know, he called a little flak.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
On social media from israel people, you know, Jewish people,
and then they also got some support from Palestinians and
some other Muslims and people that support Palestine. So that's
the only thing, Rob, that you know, it's even remotely
controversial with Kyrie this season, it's it's possible that you know,
(04:31):
Team USA USA Basketball just was like, look, we don't
want you know, we don't aren't predicting Kyrie would do something,
but we right, we don't want any controversy. And the
bottom line, Rob, I can name a lot of American
players that could say, well, I could have made that
(04:54):
Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brunson, Damian Lillard.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
You know it's not.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Zion, Paul George Karl, Anthony Towns, Draymond Green, Dare Fox
like you know, So I don't.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I honestly don't know if it was, if that played
any role.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I think it's possible, But it also is possible that
they just you know, it's a solid team.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I mean, you can't can't really criticize the roster. Yeah,
I you know, it's always got to be.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
A part of everything in the evaluation. And uh, and
I don't doubt that it was thought about Chris. I'm
just saying I'm not saying it's an ultimate But we
just you already know Kyrie and you know his beliefs
and what he wants to do and his activism and
all that is a part of who he is and
(05:44):
he's expressed that. And so I think that, you know,
in these delicate situations internationally or whatever, they're always going
to opt for the safest route. That's just how it is,
not it has It's always been done that way, not
just to Kyrie.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
And you know what, I'll say this and you don't
know how things turn out in life.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
If somebody would have told you, Chris, that Muhammad Ali
would like the Olympic torch for the United States back
in the sixties, when you know what I mean, when
he was changing his name and you know, and.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Just changed his religions, changed his name and just exiled
from boxing, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah, everything where his life was being.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
Changed, and he was living a different life that most
people didn't live and weren't quick to acknowledge or change,
you know what I mean. And yet he wound up
being an American hero. So you just never know how
things work in the moment. Though he wasn't embraced in
(06:55):
the moment, And that's kind of like the Kyrie thing.
You might not be embraced now, but you don't know
down the road it could. And so sometimes you just
have to follow your heart and do what you believe
is right. And and then that might mean you're gonna
miss out on some things. And then again you might
have a conscience of being able to sleep at night
because you feel like your beliefs.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's fair.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Yeah, when you take stands like this, you it's wise
to count up the costs because I want to wear
I do support the Palestinian people. I want to wear this. Okay,
some people not gonna like it. I might be asked
about it, I might be criticized for it. It could
cost me in other ways. But I really want to
(07:41):
do this. You know, I've taken stands, Rob for my faith,
and I count the costs, okay, But I'm willing to
live with that cost, you know, and I think it's wise.
You know what's interesting too, you bring up Ali. Let
me make two points about Ali one, Rob and this,
This really separates him from just about every other athlete
(08:03):
who has been outspoken in that Rob, and I think
we all forget this. We tend to forget this when
we think about Muhammad Ali when he you know, would
not go to fight in Vietnam because he disagreed with
the war, and he lost his heavyweight title and was
(08:24):
exiled from boxing for three years. Rob, for all he
knew he was never gonna fight again, you.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
It's not it wasn't guaranteed in three years you'll be back,
you know what I mean? Or in you know, we'll
we'll see if you can fight again. In three years
or you know, you're just being suspended from boxing.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
For three years.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
For all he knew, everything he had worked his entire
life for was.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Gone, went up in smoke right then and there. Right.
So that's a heck of a sacrifice. Now, I'm gonna
get Kyle.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And Kaepernick somewhat made a similar sacrifice. You know he
I mean it dash cost him his career, you know,
his stance and so that his and his.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
Stance was so just I mean, oh yeah, both of
them were just what were so question about it?
Speaker 3 (09:14):
But I need to even be respectful about it. Yep.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
With with kneeling, he actually talked to an army you know,
veteran about that.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
But the but the but the military vetter.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Ali think Chris, you know, back then to be a
draft dodger, right, not taking part in the draft, right.
And then the light the Olympic torch. I think that's
I mean, what a turnaround.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
I think it's But I also think there's a history.
I think it's great. I was there in uh late
ninety six in Atlanta. Well you did a day to
buy covered the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
I was there for the bombing, bombing and when Ali
lit the torch. I was in the stadium. But there
has been a history Rob of a Erica embracing African
American freedom fighters, either once they're dead or in Muhammad
Ali's case, now he was you know, popular in the
(10:13):
seventies when he was still fighting US.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Obviously there was something like as well.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
But it was like once he you know, when it's
Parkinson's really kicked in and he no longer you know,
obviously was nearly as wasn't verbal, wasn't really able to
talk about these issues anymore, and really wasn't you know,
someone who was could because of his health really talk
(10:41):
about a lot of these causes anymore, and the things
he had talked about before, and then he was wholly embraced.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
So there is a history of that too.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I don't want to take away from Ali, but yeah,
that that needs to be said.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Though.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
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your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Rob very interesting situation in Indianapolis where, of course Caitlin
Clark was the number one pick of the WNBA draft.
She will go to the Indiana Fever and at her
introductory press conference in Indiana, there was some controversy with
(11:59):
Greg Doyle, who's a long time columnist at the Indianapolis
Star and Rob Gie give us kind of a little
bit more of the background, and then we're gonna hear some.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
Sound sure, well before we get to the specific controversial point.
Before this was even done, Greg Doyle at the press
conference getting introduced Kayln Clark, asked a question of Indiana
Fever coach Christine Sides, and his question was you were
just giving the keys to that and pointed at Kaitlyn Clark,
what are you gonna do with it? People kind of
(12:30):
thought that was a little weird way to phrase it,
but they moved on. Later on, Doyle is asking another question,
this one to Kaitlyn Clark, and before he starts his question,
he makes his hands in the shape of a heart,
the hearthands thing that's the EMOGC on your phone. Nowadays,
DeMar Hamlin does it and Kaitlyn Clark does it to
her family during every IOWA game, usually at the end. Well,
(12:50):
listen to this exchange and tell him which.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Think of it? Hi, Caitlin, Greg Doyle and the Star
real quick, I'll we do this.
Speaker 6 (12:59):
You like that.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I like that you're here, like.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
That, You're I do that in my family after every game.
Speaker 6 (13:05):
So okay, well we'll start doing it to me and
we'll get along just fine.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
So the question is.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Chris, go ahead around just totally inappropriate, just just like
like you're you're a columnist right in the town. I
get it's Indianapolis. Uh, it was awkward. That's why it
came off that way. He's doing a hard to her.
(13:34):
I don't think Chris, if there was a female columnist
who did that to a player who was going to
play for the people would be like, what what is this?
Speaker 3 (13:43):
You know what I mean? Like, I just I don't.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
I don't understand what he was trying to do, trying
to be too cute, trying to be too much.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I'm surprised, Greg Doyle. Didn't you work at Yahoo too? Chris?
Speaker 6 (13:54):
Was?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
He was?
Speaker 5 (13:55):
He was?
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Rob G? Was he on at Yahoo? He was on
a national platform as well. No, he's a he's a
big time.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
But I'm saying yeah, but I'm saying he had the
national platform as well. It was at CBS, Chris and
wrote there and then came back to Indianapolis.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
I don't know. I just it just felt awkward and
and appropriate to me.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
I mean, you're if a female said to Lebron James
did a heart sign and that if you do that
to me, we'll be good. Chris look the whole and
I guess on Twitter, you're here. He's getting criticized. And
he actually ended up Rob writing a retraction column. It's
(14:40):
It's tight. Here's the title of it. Caitlyn Clark, I'm
so sorry. On Wednesday, I was part of the problem
and he was. But just the first thing Rob G
told us, you're you just been given that.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
What do you gonna do with it?
Speaker 6 (15:00):
Now?
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Look, Rob, A lot of times we.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Refer to as you know, he's a beast, right, mb
was a monster last night, and you know, if people
wanted to criticize that, and you know, but now it's accepted.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
It's a figure of speech. People know what you mean.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
I think years ago, robbed, decades ago, maybe when you
were saying if you said that about an African American player,
people took umbrage, you know, But now obviously it's just
it's kind of an innocent, you know, figure of speech,
and that actually kind of is a compliment, you.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Know, But.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
I don't know if I'm overacting, but it objectifies her,
not in a sexual way, but it objectifier.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
It.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Well, do you know what I mean, rather than you
just been you know, I mean, I don't know it
even minute negatively, but.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
It came off that way, but it means like you've
been given the keys to this sports car, you know
what I mean. So that's call it objectified, right, exactly right?
And it just but Chris, don't you think And again
I get it. It's Indianapolis. That one newspaper, He's the Big.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Dog was actually the first newspaper. Well, I was an
intern there right at the Star.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Yeah. Oh, yeah, and then they have a star.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
I was their first African American employee other than like
a secretary.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Are you serious? Ever?
Speaker 1 (16:24):
One year was that nineteen ninety and I was just
an intern. They did offer me a job, but I
went to the Cleveland Plain Dealer instead.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
But it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
But and the secretary was she was wearing mini skirts too.
That's like, wow, the news had a black writer.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
There was news, yeah, in Annapolis News.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
But here's the thing, Chris, I just think he was
trying to be too cute and become a part of
the press conference. It ain't about you that day, It ain't.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Now do you think he was trying to be a party?
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I agree that he was trying to be too cute,
but you actually think he was like trying to become
a part of kind of the story.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
Well, because he's injecting himself in it, you know what
I mean, Like all these things are about him.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Hey, if you do this to me, will be good.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
Hey, you know, like it just it just seemed like
he was trying too hard, like like there's a time
in the play. God knows, Chris, I've asked some questions
in press conferences.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
I'm just saying, yes, God knows, And it wasn't about me.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
I was trying to be I was trying to get
a quote. I really was, Chris, I really really was.
It wasn't about me.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Well in this case, I think Rob And again the
criticism on Twitter, some of it robs. You correct me
if I'm wrong, but some of it was like you're
treating women's sports like it's not legitimate. And when I,
you know, heard the story about what he said, I
was like, Okay, I don't know if he's doing that.
(18:01):
When you listen, Look, when you listen to that excerpt,
it did come off that it came off like.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Here's the cute little girl.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
And I don't even mean in a sexual way, but
here's the cute little women's players. Oh, I'm gonna I'm
gonna play around with you know, like pat like you
do to a little kid, patting them on the head.
If I'm interviewing little nine year olds and hey, you know,
what'd you think you know about?
Speaker 3 (18:32):
How in this stadium the day? Wow? You know, like
that's what it came off to me like.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
And I think some people have been critical on Twitter
and saying this is why women's sports isn't as popular
as men. No, stop that, This is not why women's
sports is not as popular as men.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
All right, It's just that's not it, all right.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
But it did come off off Rob like he was
patting her on the.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Head, so to speak.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Or it's the little you know, the little they play
basketball too. You know, they're so cute when they play
and you know, let me. I mean it just you
wouldn't do that to a man.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
No, And Chris, am I right. If it was a
female reporter doing that, it would be questionable her got
her credibility would be questioned, Chris. And oh, you know,
there's another chicken in the locker room. They just want
to be around the guys and find a husband, Rob.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
There are there have been.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Instances of you know, female reporters getting in relationships with
doctor J had a baby with one of the writers
who come.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
From the New York Times, right, and she was a
tennis player. His daughter became a great tennis player.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
But I, I, but I haven't seen anything blatant, even
when you know, I've been around situations where I knew
the stuff happened, But I've never seen anything like that.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Right.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
It was always a way, you.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Know what I mean, Rob, I've never seen like even
in a scrum in the locker room.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
I've never seen a female. Maybe you have.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
I haven't seen a female ask a question like that
or flirt like you know what I mean like or
I haven't seen that.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
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listen live Rob.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Last night, in the nightcap of the play in doubleheader,
Chicago took out the Atlanta Hawks one thirty one to
one six team. Trey Young dropped twenty two points ten
assists for the Hawks, but he was a team high
or team low, I guess minus twenty seven when he
(20:59):
was on the court. They were blown out anyway, but
nobody else was was really close to minus twenty seven.
That's caused a lot of speculation, really, and the way
the Hawks played without him, Rob, They they played pretty
good basketball without Trey Young when he was hurt this season,
and so now they're speculation that they made trade Trey
(21:22):
and I Rob, I.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Gotta be honest, and I like Trap.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
I think he's very talented, I like him to be
a lot more efficient. That's for darn shure. He's a
forty three percent career shooter only. I mean he's a
very he's a good shooter, but he's only a career
thirty five percent from three. His numbers are gaudy even
this year, twenty five and a half points, ten point
(21:46):
eight re assists, with a challenge for the lead in
the league had he played you know, the requisite sixty
five games.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
But Rob, he he hasn't.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Helped them in terms of winning. Now we all know
in the playoffs, you know he did some damage to
the Knicks.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
He was Reggie Miller up in the garden.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
That was That was a couple of years ago. He
was a talk of the league.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Yep, he was great in that regard. But overall, he
just hasn't really helped him win. If I'm them, Rob,
I am open to trading him, and I'm not giving
him away, but I'm definitely shopping him and seeing what
the best deals I could get. I want to ask
you what are some places, because I think teams would
(22:33):
be interested in him. The Lakers, you know, their ideal,
their dream would be to get Kyrie Irving, but he's
working out well in Dallas, so I don't see that happening.
But what about I mean, look, we'll see what the
Lakers do against the Nuggets. I don't think they're gonna win.
I got the Nuggets, I said five yesday, I'm going
six Nuggets and six. But if the Lakers lose, Rob
(22:55):
you know what they do, especially with Lebron, they make changes.
And would you if they should lose, how do you
think Trey Young would fit in with the Lakers.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
I think he could fit in, I really do. And
they do need somebody maybe, and it could give him Chris,
excuse me, a new lease on life as well, you
know what I mean. Atlanta seems to be kind of
played for him and they probably could use.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
A fresh start, right And I think.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
I think Lebron can help him mature and maybe you know,
learn how to.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Yeah, I don't, I don't see that. I know, I
know Rob G.
Speaker 5 (23:33):
Everybody's a future Laker, so this would just be up
his alley to get Tray Young. But if I'm the
Lakers and I really could could make a move for Chris,
it's worth a try because he's still a good player.
I just I just think maybe there things have worn
out and it's just time to move on. Because you're right,
(23:53):
when he wasn't there, they still they played well without well, you.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Know where I like him Rob stan in Tone, Oh wow,
with Wimby.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
With Wimby, everybody knows it's Wimby young. Yes, No, but
I think he'd be a great fit there. I think
he'd be a fit in Golden State, learn under Steph Curry.
A lot of people made comparisons between those two when
he came out, so I think that's another place that
(24:23):
I would like to see him. But yeah, I think
it's time for them to move on, and you should
be able to get something, you know, solid for him.
He like you said, he is a good player. His
numbers are great as far as the points per game
and assist per game. He's not nearly as efficient as
he as you want him to be, and that's been
(24:45):
kind of one of the challenges. But san Antonio, you know,
Popovich obviously is gonna help him learn how to play
winning basketball.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
Be much more structured for him.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
There, and he's got to understand it's the Wimby Show.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
It's not the trade show at best.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Rob, it be great if Trey Young, I mean he
should if that were to happened, Rob, he should look
at it like, look, I gotta I can attach myself
to this guy and we could be a dynamic duo.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
That's how he should look at it, because they need.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
A point guard and he can pass, but he's gotta
be more learn how to be more efficient.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Winby might not work out Quis because I think he
still thinks he's a star, and I don't know if
he could just acquiesce and be a part of the web,
that would be.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
A prerequisite for me if I'm the Spurs, you know,
like we all make it known.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Look, you understand whose show it is.
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd
Couple at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brushad and Ron Harker.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
One of the top players from America who is missing
and there are several is Kyrie Irving. And Kyrie was
asked about, you know why he wasn't on the team.
He was on the team in twenty sixteen that won gold.
And of course Kyrie is a fantastic player and would
have been worthy of being on the team.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
But here's what he said.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
I wish my brothers well and I just didn't fit
into this team. And I think the deliberation process was.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
A tough one.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
But again, I have nothing but respect for those guys
over at USAB. You know, at this point in my career,
I think my focus should be on winning the championship,
and you know, in the summertime, just going to support
those guys when I get a chance.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
I grew up in a time too.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I wanted to say this. I grew up in a
time too where we actually had to try out for
USAB and we did meet up as a group and
as peers, and there was a mutual respect that we
earned from one another and trying out and then seeing
what five meshed well. So I think obviously the timing's
a little bit different. But yeah, I kind of missed
those days of just being able to get everybody together,
break bread and then compete against one another, and then
(01:35):
the deliberation process happens at the end of like the
four days and five day process, even though people know
who's gonna be on the team, you know what I'm saying.
So I missed that fun part of it of just
getting together. But I wish my brothers.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Well because he's like I would have been breaking ankles.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Ain't no way I would have.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Left me off the team after I was wrecking shop.
But nah, that was a very polite and solid answer
from Kyle.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I agree. I just said, what a mature answer. Yep, yep, No,
I have no issues.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
What I throw at you is this rob do you
think let me we know Kyrie has had obviously, you know,
a lot of issues off the court, a lot of
controversy off the court. This year, he's been great. There's
been no issues. I will say this though. We obviously
know what's going on over in Israel and Palestine and Kyrie,
(02:26):
who has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinians. He
wore and I may mispronounce this, or please forgive me
if I do a fake kafaya. Kafaya kafiyah is k
e f f i y a h. It is a
head gear that is a sign of Palestinian solidarity. He
(02:49):
wore that to a game when the Mavericks played the
Bucks in November.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
And he wore it to the game, and then he
wore it.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
After the game during his prescott of it, and Rob
and this is kind of we don't have to get
all into this, but you're not talking about this. Nobody
asked him about it, Nobody asked him why he was.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Wearing it, and he didn't volunteer it.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
So it was just like people look at it, Okay,
that looks like that's a sign of Palestinian solidarity.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
And so that in November, where where was it? I'm
just curious.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I think it was Dallas.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
If he was in New York, they would have asked
him about it. Yeah, you know what I mean, Dallas
or you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
They would have asked I mean a lot.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Of places, honestly, I mean, I don't know how you
don't ask him.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
That's not a.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Thing that somebody wears in America. So you would just say,
what's what's up? What do you want to see your
head here, Kyrie? Do you want to explain why you're
wearing it or whatever?
Speaker 5 (03:54):
Is that fashion that is that? Is that a fashion
statement or you made a statement?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
So but that's the you know, he called a little flak.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
On social media from israel people, you know, Jewish people,
and then they also got some support from Palestinians and
some other Muslims and people that support Palestine. So that's
the only thing, Rob, that you know, it's even remotely
controversial with Kyrie this season, it's it's possible that you know,
(04:31):
Team USA USA Basketball just was like, look, we don't
want you know, we don't aren't predicting Kyrie would do something,
but we right, we don't want any controversy. And the
bottom line, Rob, I can name a lot of American
players that could say, well, I could have made that
(04:54):
Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brunson, Damian Lillard.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
You know it's not.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Zion, Paul George Karl, Anthony Towns, Draymond Green, Dare Fox
like you know, So I don't.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I honestly don't know if it was, if that played
any role.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I think it's possible, But it also is possible that
they just you know, it's a solid team.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
I mean, you can't can't really criticize the roster. Yeah,
I you know, it's always got to be.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
A part of everything in the evaluation. And uh, and
I don't doubt that it was thought about Chris. I'm
just saying I'm not saying it's an ultimate But we
just you already know Kyrie and you know his beliefs
and what he wants to do and his activism and
all that is a part of who he is and
(05:44):
he's expressed that. And so I think that, you know,
in these delicate situations internationally or whatever, they're always going
to opt for the safest route. That's just how it is,
not it has It's always been done that way, not
just to Kyrie.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
And you know what, I'll say this and you don't
know how things turn out in life.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
If somebody would have told you, Chris, that Muhammad Ali
would like the Olympic torch for the United States back
in the sixties, when you know what I mean, when
he was changing his name and you know, and.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Just changed his religions, changed his name and just exiled
from boxing, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah, everything where his life was being.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
Changed, and he was living a different life that most
people didn't live and weren't quick to acknowledge or change,
you know what I mean. And yet he wound up
being an American hero. So you just never know how
things work in the moment. Though he wasn't embraced in
(06:55):
the moment, And that's kind of like the Kyrie thing.
You might not be embraced now, but you don't know
down the road it could. And so sometimes you just
have to follow your heart and do what you believe
is right. And and then that might mean you're gonna
miss out on some things. And then again you might
have a conscience of being able to sleep at night
because you feel like your beliefs.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's fair.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Yeah, when you take stands like this, you it's wise
to count up the costs because I want to wear
I do support the Palestinian people. I want to wear this. Okay,
some people not gonna like it. I might be asked
about it, I might be criticized for it. It could
cost me in other ways. But I really want to
(07:41):
do this. You know, I've taken stands, Rob for my faith,
and I count the costs, okay, But I'm willing to
live with that cost, you know, and I think it's wise.
You know what's interesting too, you bring up Ali. Let
me make two points about Ali one, Rob and this,
This really separates him from just about every other athlete
(08:03):
who has been outspoken in that Rob, and I think
we all forget this. We tend to forget this when
we think about Muhammad Ali when he you know, would
not go to fight in Vietnam because he disagreed with
the war, and he lost his heavyweight title and was
(08:24):
exiled from boxing for three years. Rob, for all he
knew he was never gonna fight again, you.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
It's not it wasn't guaranteed in three years you'll be back,
you know what I mean? Or in you know, we'll
we'll see if you can fight again. In three years
or you know, you're just being suspended from boxing.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
For three years.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
For all he knew, everything he had worked his entire
life for was.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Gone, went up in smoke right then and there. Right.
So that's a heck of a sacrifice. Now, I'm gonna
get Kyle.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And Kaepernick somewhat made a similar sacrifice. You know he
I mean it dash cost him his career, you know,
his stance and so that his and his.
Speaker 5 (09:09):
Stance was so just I mean, oh yeah, both of
them were just what were so question about it?
Speaker 3 (09:14):
But I need to even be respectful about it. Yep.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
With with kneeling, he actually talked to an army you know,
veteran about that.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
But the but the but the military vetter.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
Ali think Chris, you know, back then to be a
draft dodger, right, not taking part in the draft, right.
And then the light the Olympic torch. I think that's
I mean, what a turnaround.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
I think it's But I also think there's a history.
I think it's great. I was there in uh late
ninety six in Atlanta. Well you did a day to
buy covered the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
I was there for the bombing, bombing and when Ali
lit the torch. I was in the stadium. But there
has been a history Rob of a Erica embracing African
American freedom fighters, either once they're dead or in Muhammad
Ali's case, now he was you know, popular in the
(10:13):
seventies when he was still fighting US.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Obviously there was something like as well.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
But it was like once he you know, when it's
Parkinson's really kicked in and he no longer you know,
obviously was nearly as wasn't verbal, wasn't really able to
talk about these issues anymore, and really wasn't you know,
someone who was could because of his health really talk
(10:41):
about a lot of these causes anymore, and the things
he had talked about before, and then he was wholly embraced.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
So there is a history of that too.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I don't want to take away from Ali, but yeah,
that that needs to be said.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Though.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app two NBA Insiders podcasting twice a week to
plug you right into the NBA grape Fine.
Speaker 6 (11:13):
All happening in only one place. This League Uncut the
New NBA podcast with Me Chris Haynes and me Mark
Stein join us as we team up to expound on
everything we're covering. Hearing and Chason.
Speaker 2 (11:28):
Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haynes and Mark Stein.
Speaker 6 (11:31):
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get
your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Rob very interesting situation in Indianapolis where, of course Caitlin
Clark was the number one pick of the WNBA draft.
She will go to the Indiana Fever and at her
introductory press conference in Indiana, there was some controversy with
(11:59):
Greg Doyle, who's a long time columnist at the Indianapolis
Star and Rob Gie give us kind of a little
bit more of the background, and then we're gonna hear some.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
Sound sure, well before we get to the specific controversial point.
Before this was even done, Greg Doyle at the press
conference getting introduced Kayln Clark, asked a question of Indiana
Fever coach Christine Sides, and his question was you were
just giving the keys to that and pointed at Kaitlyn Clark,
what are you gonna do with it? People kind of
(12:30):
thought that was a little weird way to phrase it,
but they moved on. Later on, Doyle is asking another question,
this one to Kaitlyn Clark, and before he starts his question,
he makes his hands in the shape of a heart,
the hearthands thing that's the EMOGC on your phone. Nowadays,
DeMar Hamlin does it and Kaitlyn Clark does it to
her family during every IOWA game, usually at the end. Well,
(12:50):
listen to this exchange and tell him which.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
Think of it? Hi, Caitlin, Greg Doyle and the Star
real quick, I'll we do this.
Speaker 6 (12:59):
You like that.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
I like that you're here, like.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
That, You're I do that in my family after every game.
Speaker 6 (13:05):
So okay, well we'll start doing it to me and
we'll get along just fine.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
So the question is.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
Chris, go ahead around just totally inappropriate, just just like
like you're you're a columnist right in the town. I
get it's Indianapolis. Uh, it was awkward. That's why it
came off that way. He's doing a hard to her.
(13:34):
I don't think Chris, if there was a female columnist
who did that to a player who was going to
play for the people would be like, what what is this?
Speaker 3 (13:43):
You know what I mean? Like, I just I don't.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
I don't understand what he was trying to do, trying
to be too cute, trying to be too much.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I'm surprised, Greg Doyle. Didn't you work at Yahoo too? Chris?
Speaker 6 (13:54):
Was?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
He was?
Speaker 5 (13:55):
He was?
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Rob G? Was he on at Yahoo? He was on
a national platform as well. No, he's a he's a
big time.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
But I'm saying yeah, but I'm saying he had the
national platform as well. It was at CBS, Chris and
wrote there and then came back to Indianapolis.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
I don't know. I just it just felt awkward and
and appropriate to me.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
I mean, you're if a female said to Lebron James
did a heart sign and that if you do that
to me, we'll be good. Chris look the whole and
I guess on Twitter, you're here. He's getting criticized. And
he actually ended up Rob writing a retraction column. It's
(14:40):
It's tight. Here's the title of it. Caitlyn Clark, I'm
so sorry. On Wednesday, I was part of the problem
and he was. But just the first thing Rob G
told us, you're you just been given that.
Speaker 3 (14:59):
What do you gonna do with it?
Speaker 6 (15:00):
Now?
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Look, Rob, A lot of times we.
Speaker 1 (15:03):
Refer to as you know, he's a beast, right, mb
was a monster last night, and you know, if people
wanted to criticize that, and you know, but now it's accepted.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
It's a figure of speech. People know what you mean.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
I think years ago, robbed, decades ago, maybe when you
were saying if you said that about an African American player,
people took umbrage, you know, But now obviously it's just
it's kind of an innocent, you know, figure of speech,
and that actually kind of is a compliment, you.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Know, But.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
I don't know if I'm overacting, but it objectifies her,
not in a sexual way, but it objectifier.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
It.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Well, do you know what I mean, rather than you
just been you know, I mean, I don't know it
even minute negatively, but.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (15:54):
It came off that way, but it means like you've
been given the keys to this sports car, you know
what I mean. So that's call it objectified, right, exactly right?
And it just but Chris, don't you think And again
I get it. It's Indianapolis. That one newspaper, He's the Big.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Dog was actually the first newspaper. Well, I was an
intern there right at the Star.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Yeah. Oh, yeah, and then they have a star.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
I was their first African American employee other than like
a secretary.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Are you serious? Ever?
Speaker 1 (16:24):
One year was that nineteen ninety and I was just
an intern. They did offer me a job, but I
went to the Cleveland Plain Dealer instead.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
But it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
But and the secretary was she was wearing mini skirts too.
That's like, wow, the news had a black writer.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
There was news, yeah, in Annapolis News.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
But here's the thing, Chris, I just think he was
trying to be too cute and become a part of
the press conference. It ain't about you that day, It ain't.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Now do you think he was trying to be a party?
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I agree that he was trying to be too cute,
but you actually think he was like trying to become
a part of kind of the story.
Speaker 5 (17:06):
Well, because he's injecting himself in it, you know what
I mean, Like all these things are about him.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Hey, if you do this to me, will be good.
Speaker 5 (17:14):
Hey, you know, like it just it just seemed like
he was trying too hard, like like there's a time
in the play. God knows, Chris, I've asked some questions
in press conferences.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (17:26):
I'm just saying, yes, God knows, And it wasn't about me.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
I was trying to be I was trying to get
a quote. I really was, Chris, I really really was.
It wasn't about me.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
Well in this case, I think Rob And again the
criticism on Twitter, some of it robs. You correct me
if I'm wrong, but some of it was like you're
treating women's sports like it's not legitimate. And when I,
you know, heard the story about what he said, I
was like, Okay, I don't know if he's doing that.
(18:01):
When you listen, Look, when you listen to that excerpt,
it did come off that it came off like.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Here's the cute little girl.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
And I don't even mean in a sexual way, but
here's the cute little women's players. Oh, I'm gonna I'm
gonna play around with you know, like pat like you
do to a little kid, patting them on the head.
If I'm interviewing little nine year olds and hey, you know,
what'd you think you know about?
Speaker 3 (18:32):
How in this stadium the day? Wow? You know, like
that's what it came off to me like.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
And I think some people have been critical on Twitter
and saying this is why women's sports isn't as popular
as men. No, stop that, This is not why women's
sports is not as popular as men.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
All right, It's just that's not it, all right.
Speaker 1 (18:57):
But it did come off off Rob like he was
patting her on the.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Head, so to speak.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
Or it's the little you know, the little they play
basketball too. You know, they're so cute when they play
and you know, let me. I mean it just you
wouldn't do that to a man.
Speaker 5 (19:16):
No, And Chris, am I right. If it was a
female reporter doing that, it would be questionable her got
her credibility would be questioned, Chris. And oh, you know,
there's another chicken in the locker room. They just want
to be around the guys and find a husband, Rob.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
There are there have been.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Instances of you know, female reporters getting in relationships with
doctor J had a baby with one of the writers
who come.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
From the New York Times, right, and she was a
tennis player. His daughter became a great tennis player.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
But I, I, but I haven't seen anything blatant, even
when you know, I've been around situations where I knew
the stuff happened, But I've never seen anything like that.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Right.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
It was always a way, you.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Know what I mean, Rob, I've never seen like even
in a scrum in the locker room.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
I've never seen a female. Maybe you have.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
I haven't seen a female ask a question like that
or flirt like you know what I mean like or
I haven't seen that.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live Rob.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Last night, in the nightcap of the play in doubleheader,
Chicago took out the Atlanta Hawks one thirty one to
one six team. Trey Young dropped twenty two points ten
assists for the Hawks, but he was a team high
or team low, I guess minus twenty seven when he
(20:59):
was on the court. They were blown out anyway, but
nobody else was was really close to minus twenty seven.
That's caused a lot of speculation, really, and the way
the Hawks played without him, Rob, They they played pretty
good basketball without Trey Young when he was hurt this season,
and so now they're speculation that they made trade Trey
(21:22):
and I Rob, I.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Gotta be honest, and I like Trap.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
I think he's very talented, I like him to be
a lot more efficient. That's for darn shure. He's a
forty three percent career shooter only. I mean he's a
very he's a good shooter, but he's only a career
thirty five percent from three. His numbers are gaudy even
this year, twenty five and a half points, ten point
(21:46):
eight re assists, with a challenge for the lead in
the league had he played you know, the requisite sixty
five games.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
But Rob, he he hasn't.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Helped them in terms of winning. Now we all know
in the playoffs, you know he did some damage to
the Knicks.
Speaker 3 (22:04):
He was Reggie Miller up in the garden.
Speaker 2 (22:05):
You know.
Speaker 3 (22:08):
That was That was a couple of years ago. He
was a talk of the league.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Yep, he was great in that regard. But overall, he
just hasn't really helped him win. If I'm them, Rob,
I am open to trading him, and I'm not giving
him away, but I'm definitely shopping him and seeing what
the best deals I could get. I want to ask
you what are some places, because I think teams would
(22:33):
be interested in him. The Lakers, you know, their ideal,
their dream would be to get Kyrie Irving, but he's
working out well in Dallas, so I don't see that happening.
But what about I mean, look, we'll see what the
Lakers do against the Nuggets. I don't think they're gonna win.
I got the Nuggets, I said five yesday, I'm going
six Nuggets and six. But if the Lakers lose, Rob
(22:55):
you know what they do, especially with Lebron, they make changes.
And would you if they should lose, how do you
think Trey Young would fit in with the Lakers.
Speaker 5 (23:08):
I think he could fit in, I really do. And
they do need somebody maybe, and it could give him Chris,
excuse me, a new lease on life as well, you
know what I mean. Atlanta seems to be kind of
played for him and they probably could use.
Speaker 3 (23:25):
A fresh start, right And I think.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
I think Lebron can help him mature and maybe you know,
learn how to.
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Yeah, I don't, I don't see that. I know, I
know Rob G.
Speaker 5 (23:33):
Everybody's a future Laker, so this would just be up
his alley to get Tray Young. But if I'm the
Lakers and I really could could make a move for Chris,
it's worth a try because he's still a good player.
I just I just think maybe there things have worn
out and it's just time to move on. Because you're right,
(23:53):
when he wasn't there, they still they played well without well, you.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Know where I like him Rob stan in Tone, Oh wow,
with Wimby.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
With Wimby, everybody knows it's Wimby young. Yes, No, but
I think he'd be a great fit there. I think
he'd be a fit in Golden State, learn under Steph Curry.
A lot of people made comparisons between those two when
he came out, so I think that's another place that
(24:23):
I would like to see him. But yeah, I think
it's time for them to move on, and you should
be able to get something, you know, solid for him.
He like you said, he is a good player. His
numbers are great as far as the points per game
and assist per game. He's not nearly as efficient as
he as you want him to be, and that's been
(24:45):
kind of one of the challenges. But san Antonio, you know,
Popovich obviously is gonna help him learn how to play
winning basketball.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
Be much more structured for him.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
There, and he's got to understand it's the Wimby Show.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
It's not the trade show at best.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Rob, it be great if Trey Young, I mean he
should if that were to happened, Rob, he should look
at it like, look, I gotta I can attach myself
to this guy and we could be a dynamic duo.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
That's how he should look at it, because they need.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
A point guard and he can pass, but he's gotta
be more learn how to be more efficient.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Winby might not work out Quis because I think he
still thinks he's a star, and I don't know if
he could just acquiesce and be a part of the web,
that would be.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
A prerequisite for me if I'm the Spurs, you know,
like we all make it known.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Look, you understand whose show it is.
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