October 19, 2021 • 26 mins
Chris and Rob explain why Ben Simmons' self-sabotage in Philadelphia is actually hurting his chances of getting traded by the 76ers, discuss why Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry has a legitimate chance to 'break the mold' and win the NFL MVP (even though recent history says it's become a 'Quarterback Award'), and tell us how the Los Angeles Dodgers were able flip the entire NLCS series against the Atlanta Braves in one inning.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox sports
Radio dot com and within the iHeart Radio app. Search
f SR to listen live. Ben Simmons And remember when
he showed up last week. I brought it up. I said, look,
everybody was home. He you know, his tail between his legs.
(00:22):
Here he comes. I was like, well, let's see, let's
see what he's there for. Is he there number one?
The ball all right? Is he there to play? Or two?
Is he there just to collect the paycheck and maybe
Fike Facon injury? Or three? Is he there to act
out Ali, James Harden, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis. Be a nuisance,
(00:44):
a pest until you get trained, right, I think we
have the answer, Rob. It was three and today at
practice Doc Rivers asked him to get into a defensive
drill I believe it was, and Ben said no, and
Doc said Ben get in and Ben said no, and
(01:08):
Doc said just leave and being walked out and that
was that. Here's Joel embian on it after the practice.
This fine. I don't care about the man, but honestly,
he does whatever he wants. Uh, you know that's not
my job. You know, that's those guys jobs. You know,
I'm only focused on trying to make the team better.
Our job is not to baby see somebody. Uh you
(01:30):
know we got we get paid up. We're just on
the car. Go on, play hard, win some games. That's
how we get paid for it. Bravo for real. Chris,
enough enough already, Like I'm Joel Embiid, he's right, and
it ain't fair to the other guys on the team. Chris,
(01:53):
you can't do that. It's in subordination. No, if you're
out there at practice, you got a uniform or get
out there in practice. Otherwise, don't show up. Don't show
up to get a paycheck. Tell them you're not playing,
and you won't play until they trade you, and they
don't have to pay you. Do that. That's being a man.
(02:16):
It's standing on, standing on your ground and say I
don't want your money, I don't want to be here,
I'm not gonna play, I'm not gonna practice. Find me,
do whatever you want and I'll sit and I'll wait
until you decide to trade me. But to put on
a uniform and go out on the court and tell
your coach no, you're not gonna participate. That ain't that
(02:38):
ain't demand, Chris, That's not what you're there for. You're
wasting everybody's time. Everybody sees through it. They suspended him
for one game and a bigger one should come. And
if I'm the Sixers, I would make him rot. I
wouldn't trade him. I'd make him rot. I dare you
to sit out and not be the professor. When we
(03:01):
signed you to that, that four year extension, for all
that money, it was between two professionals, an organization and
a player. And at that time you could have said
you didn't want it or you didn't want to be here.
And people have been criticized in sports for years forever, Chris,
So what you played poorly accepted in the postseason? Doc
(03:25):
Rivers protected your but time and time and time again, Chris,
how many times do we talk about it? Doc Rivers
protecting him? Doc actually was. I thought he was getting
to the point where he's embarrassing himself. It was ridiculous.
And finally they asked him, after he played so poorly,
can you win with him? He said, I don't know,
(03:48):
I'm not sure. And now his panties are in a
bunch and he doesn't want to He don't want to
do anything. Man, come on with this, this is ridiculous. Yeah, Rab,
I can't really disagree with anything you said, and I
would add to it that Ben Simmons may have Well,
it'll be interesting to see how this goes. But Ben
(04:08):
Simmons may have made a grand mistake in refusing to
go into the drill, because now Philadelphia may be able
to say, look, he didn't want to play, he broke
the contract, he refused to work, and so now he
would have probably been better off. Not that I would
(04:30):
have respected this, but you might have been better off
going in there to the drill and just half, you know,
stepping and not giving it. You're all being lethargic and
all that, but now that you've refused to practice, they
are they may have a leg to stand on and
trying not to pay you. But Rob, look, I gotta
(04:52):
be honest with you. I think you're right. And you
know from day one I said, Look, what I don't
like about the Ben Simmons situation is that he's refusing
to look in the mirror. Right, he won't accept it, Chris, right, right?
I mean, you can be mad about what Doc said
and I do think you're right if you got if
you look at it, honestly, Doc had your back all year.
(05:16):
And we've criticized Doc Rob. We're not Doc apologists. We've
said we do well and with the Clippers we questioned
this hiring all of that. But the fact is Doc
did have your back. I mean Doc, remember when he said,
anybody who's saying we should take Ben Simmons out because
this hacker Ben, they don't know what they're they don't
(05:38):
know the game of basketball. That was embarrassing for Doc.
And then a few games later he's taking Ben out
and so he had stood behind him. Then you, Joe
l embad, Okay, you didn't like what he's said. But
the fact of the matter is this Rob. At the
end of the day, I've wanted Ben Simmons to look
in the mirror say, you know what, I didn't get
(06:01):
it done. I didn't get it done. I've got to
get better. I've got to get a jump shot. I've
got to improve my file shooting. I've got to work
on my mental toughness, mental strength, whatever it is that's
holding me back. Michael Jordan didn't right. What did he
do when Detroit kept beating him. I gotta get in
the weight room. I gotta be stronger. What did Magic
do when he became tragic Johnson in the nineteen eighty
(06:23):
four finals. He went to the lab and got better.
What did Lebron do in twenty eleven after he fell
apart against Dallas? He got better. They can do it,
but Ben Simmons can't. So many players Chris have gotten
better when they've had meltdowns or not played well in
a postseason or a playoffs or in some big spot
(06:46):
to get better. And the whole notion that he's above
it and you can't say anything about him, and he's
gonna think he could. He thinks he's gonna get get
your ass, come out on the court and say no, yeah,
I mean again, his his m is clearly I'm gonna
(07:07):
be a nuisance and I'm gonna force them to trade him.
But here's the problem, Rob, He's hurting his trade value now.
When James Harden did it with what ten years of
excellence behind him in Houston, everybody knew, okay, he's just
you know, he's not playing hard, all right. We saw
(07:27):
him the first five games of the year average thirty
three and ten or whatever it was. We know he's
not playing hard. They knew when you trade for him,
he's gonna be James Harden showed up looking like the
Pillsbury Domember. I don't know how he lost all that
weight on. It was that a fat suit had I
know you're right, it was crazy. It was crazy. But Rob,
(07:49):
I've talked to some people around the league and it's
just common sense. There are people around Derek. Now, there
are those that won him. So it's you know, it's
thirty two. There's always gonna be somebody who think, what
do they say, One man's trash is another man's tragically,
So I'm not saying nobody wants him, but Rob, there
are people that are like, I'm not. Look, he clearly
(08:10):
had a mental block in the playoffs, and you could
you could argue throughout his career because he's not, you know,
been afraid to take jump shots, but certainly in the playoffs, Rob,
have we seen any evidence that that mental block is leaving. No,
it's gone. If I mean, if anything, this could be
(08:31):
making you think it's gonna be there and maybe even stronger.
How about if he came out was a good soldier
played to play the great fifteen twenty games that I
really don't want to help him win. Do whatever. I
don't really want to be here, but look I came.
I tried to put on a show so that you
guys could get your maximum value out of me. Let
people know that I can play. I've changed my game,
(08:54):
but I don't want to be here. That's a mature
way of handling it, Chris, And this way the Sixers
a more app because I got we got a tradeable commodity. Okay, Ross,
the guy teld me, but you can't sabotage your trade value,
so I can't get anything. I can't give you away. Absolutely,
you're right, And I think I think that's you say
(09:15):
that behind closed doors. Rob as we wrap up about look,
I still want out, but I'm gonna you know, I'm
gonna put on a good face and I'm gonna try
my I'm gonna play my butt off. I think publicly robbed.
I think here's what I think he should do. I
think he should hold a press conference and say, look,
I'm I was upset at myself the way I played
(09:38):
in the playoffs. I was upset with what Doc said
about me. I was upset with Joel said about me,
I knew I had let those guys down and my
teammates and myself, and you know I didn't respond. Well,
you know, I understand now that I'm under contract, I
gotta go out and play, and I'm I'm now I'm
(09:59):
back and I'm gonna do my best and if he win,
He's asked Rob by the media, So, Ben, does this
mean you don't want to be traded? I think you
say this. I say, Look, I don't know what the
future holds. I just know I've got to play better.
I played up to my ability and I'm gonna do
that now. Whatever happens in the future happens seventy six
(10:20):
or yeah, and I'm giving my all to this team.
That's it. Be sure to catch live editions of The
Odd Couple with Chris Brussar then Rob Parker weekdays at
seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeartRadio app. Hey, I'm Doug Gottlieb. The podcast
is called All Ball. We usually talk all basketball all
(10:41):
the time, but it's more about the stories about what
made these people love their sport and all the interesting
interactions along the way. We talked to coaches, we talked
to players, we tell you stories. You download it, you
listen to it. I think you'll like it. Listen to
All Ball with Doug Gotlieb on the iHeart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or ever you get your podcast. The story
(11:06):
of the game outside of that last sequence was Derek
Henry Rob and you and I grew up in a
time when this might be shocking even for people Rob
geez age Rob, but certainly for the younger you know,
the fifteen year fifteen to what twenty five year olds
(11:26):
and on that. We grew up in a time when
the glamor position in the NFL was running back. Not
that quarterbacks weren't big, but there were stark running backs
who were as big, if not bigger. Barry Sanders, Chris
you could talk about Barry Sanders, Emmett Smith and all
(11:50):
the even even back to your stealing Frank O'harris, Frank
Jim Brown. Jim Brown was a bij Simpson. Yes, you
know Earl Campbell at that time. So you're right, I mean,
obviously you had huge quarterbacks, Roger star backs. Yeah, we're
not saying they were, but it was probably even would
(12:12):
you say more so far what was the face of
the game. It was the running back in the quarterback
and it depended on what team, Chris, you were talking about,
which guy would get top billing. Barry Sanders was top
billing for the Lions. You they no matter who was
the quarterback. Who was the biggest guy there was Barry Sanders.
And we often saw running backs drafted. The best running
(12:33):
back was the first pick in the draft. Now, I
will say this, a great running back, and I think
teams have gotten some more smart. A great running back
doesn't mean you're gonna have a great team. And they
figured that out. Now. O. J. Simpson. Robb played in
one playoff game, right, and he was great. Uh, Barry Sanders,
(12:55):
what are you playing? Three ye teams? They were in
the NFC championship game that Chris. They got one playoff
wins his nineteen fifty seven they beat the Dallas Cowboys
with Emman and Michael Irvin and Troy Yakman in nineteen
ninety one. That was it, Chris, They you know what
I mean? They beat them. Eric Dickerson arguably the best
(13:16):
ever to do it, to carry the ball, and he
didn't win a ring, didn't win a Super Bowl. He
did play in seven playoff games but never won a
Super Bowl, so I get that. But still it was
a day where the running backs ruled, or at least
rained right next to the quarterbacks. And Derek Henry's a
(13:37):
throwback round. They used to get it twenty five to
thirty times, the real dope running backs they get it
twenty five to thirty times a game, and they'd run
for over a hundred yards. And now, in Derek Henry,
you have really the last one standing. Even Zeke is
not like him, Nick Chubb is, but Nick Chubb still
(14:01):
shares the backfield right with Kareem Hunt. No, this is
Derrek Henry's a one man show, and he is the
focal point of that whole team. And he is, uh,
he is a real You just said it a throwback
to what we were accustomed to, and they've gotten away
from it because this is just a throw happy league
(14:24):
now and everything is throwing the ball, just everything. And
that's why all these quarterbacks Chris who aren't that great,
are shattering. Yep, the numbers of quarterbacks who were really
good Troy a Right, who are passed up by by
a few also ran Journeyman's I mean if Fitzpatrick. Right,
(14:45):
his numbers at least touchdowns are better than Troy Aikman.
So yeah, um, but here's the thing. So here's the
question route Because the last running back to win the
MVP award was age In Peterson in twenty twelve, and
he ran for over two thousand yards. He didn't break
(15:05):
the record. The all time record is Eric Dickerson two thousand,
one hundred and five yards in a season that was
nineteen eighty four. Now, for what it's worth, Dickerson did
not win the MVP that year. But that was really
only because Dan Marino. It was like he came from
another planet that year. Right, the first quarterback ride to
(15:25):
throw for five thousand yards, No, he was unbelievable. You
know who the first quarterback to throw for four thousand yards?
Give me, you know, give me hit. I mean, this
is why he's in the Hall of Fame because his numbers.
It's because of names. Joe Namith claims Joe Namath was
the first to throw for four thousand yards. When you
(15:46):
look at names, uh numbers, you go cuny in the
Hall of Fame, right, You're like, his numbers aren't that great.
But Cridge first to throw for four thousand and be
the guarantee that the Jets would be and you know,
the Baltimore Colts were like fifteen point favorites. Like it was.
It was like JV versus varsity as far as the
(16:08):
Colts versus the AFS, the AFL's Jets, you know, and
the Jets wind. It was like a USFL team beating
the NFL champion, right, and it helped force the merger. Yeah, exactly.
Well here you mentioned nameless numbers, rob Are you ready
for this? Do you know his touchdown the interception situation.
I bet you had more interception than touchdowns. I'm just
(16:30):
not only more forty seven more? Wow, he threw one
hundred and seventy three touchdowns in two hundred and twenty
interceptions only a fifty percent completion presentation. But again, if
all you young kids that are gonna run around saying
Joe's name is stunk, No, it was a different game.
Quarterbacks could get colloberate back four thousand. Do you have
(16:52):
nineteen sixty seven? Yeah, they weren't throwing the poll like that.
That was huge, right, and that was as you mentioned
in the a f fell right the NFL. Yeah, but
uh yeah, so a lot a lot of young listeners,
they don't even realize it was two leagues, right, right, right,
But so the question is this, Rob, and and right now,
(17:14):
Derek Henry's on pace to break Adrian or not Arian
Eric Dickerson's single season record. He's on pace to run
for two thousand, two hundred and eighteen yards, so he
would break the record. Now again, Rob, it's seventeen games.
We couldn't hurt him because he's not on pace to
break it in sixteen. So let's keep that. That's not
(17:37):
going to count for me. I'm sorry. Seventeen games, Well, no,
I thought. I agree. I think that's gonna hurt him.
If he breaks it, and he breaks it in seventeen games,
people are gonna be like, Okay, you got the record,
but it's not the same. You know, if he breaks
it in sixteen is different. He's also on pace quickly
to tie Ladanian Tomlinson's all time single season touchdown rushing
(18:00):
record twenty eight. He would break it in seventeen or
tie it, tie it in seventeen, but wouldn't break it
in sixteen. There were people who tried to discount Hank
Aaron when he broke Chris Babe Ruth record. Babe Ruth
played one hundred and fifty four baseball was one hundred
and fifty four games, and baseball turned into one sixty two. Right,
(18:20):
So they're saying, well, he had more games than Babe.
The only problem is that Hank Aaron actually did it
Chris and less at bats than Babe Ruth. Wow, Okay,
you know what I mean. So you can't take the
record from him, right or say or put any kind
of asterisks or say it ain't legit he had less
(18:40):
at bats. Right. That's a great point. And the thing is,
and you noticed right over time and you're right, well,
if if Henry breaks it in seventeen games, initially is
gonna be like, you know, you give him crazy, he
had a fantastic year, but it won't feel like, you know,
he did it in sixteen. But over time, just get
used to it. Right in the next generation will be like,
(19:03):
that's hey, that's the all time leading rusher in a
single season. But here's what I'm want to throw at you, Rob,
does Henry do you believe he's got a legitimate chance
to win the MVP? It seems like I should just
say no because I know he from we had our
earlier from Salam said, no, ain't happening. It would take
(19:25):
something very extraordinary, or Chris where you have it could
happen this way. Either he's off the charts or there
are three quarterbacks who are so good that they split
the vote. Do you know what I'm saying? Oh? Yeah,
but here's the problem with that. They would split a
(19:45):
vote with a running back to you know what I mean, Like, no, no,
people are voting by position. No, I know, but I'm
saying like, if there's no clear cut quarterback, the votes
might get split up. So say, I'm just throwing out
Lamar gets four, Justin Herbert gets four, Okay, Aaron Rodgers
(20:08):
gets four, Patrick Mahomes gets four, and Derek Henry gets five.
I hear you. That's what I'm talking about, Like, like
that's how it could happen, right, Not that's fair, that's fair.
I think, like you said, number one, he'd have to
be extraordinary. He probably does have to break the record,
even if it's just seventeen games instead of sixteen. But
(20:32):
I think Rob also no quarterback, and maybe this plays
right into what you said. No quarterback can have a
spectacular year because if a quarterback has a spectacular year,
he's gonna win it. Like right now, Tom Brady's on
pace to throw for six thousand yards, right and he
and we've looked at their schedule. It's not that tough.
(20:54):
If he throws the six thousand yards forty five touchdowns
and you know, and then he'll win, right, He's gonna
win with you. But if no quarterback, obviously you're gonna
have quarterbacks who have great years. But if none does
anything like historic and Henry does, he's got a shot.
He's got a shot, and they gotta keep winning. Two.
(21:15):
They're four and two after a slow start to the seasons.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox sports
Radio dot com and within the iHeart Radio app. Search
f SR to listen live. But first, Rob, I know
you want to address this thriller that just took place
(21:35):
in LA The Dodgers come back from a five too
deficit in the eighth inning to win six five and
move within two games to one in the National League Championships.
The National League Championship Series has been scripts written by
(21:58):
Hollywood Chris. All three wins have come in the last
at bat of the three teams. Of the two teams
the Braves won in their last at bat, right, And
now the Dodgers did it tonight with a four piece
in the bottom of the eighth and they secured it
in the top of the ninth and when six to five,
(22:20):
huge comeback. I mean, this was this is why I called.
I wrote a column today in Dead spidd and it said, like, uh,
don't celebrate too quickly at you know, Atlanta or whatever.
Don't don't don't celebrate two prematurely because they have a
history Chris Atlanta being called choke Lanta because they have
(22:43):
had leads in Super Bowls, National Championship Game for Georgia
when they played in Atlanta, right, the Braves were up
too old. They demolished the Yankees in ninety six in
the first two games of that World Series. Chris came home,
lost three straight games in Atlanta and then got knocked
out in fourth straight. Yet they never won another game.
(23:06):
Last year, they were up three to one against the
Dodgers and choked that down. The Dodgers won three straight.
And now tonight it's not the end of the world
the Dodgers. You know, if the if the Braids would
have sweepd the Dodgers, that would have been a story,
a huge story. It's just the way. Not that the
Dodgers won a game, Chris, but how you're in total
(23:26):
control and you cough it up that lake. That's the
first game in Los Angeles Dodger history where they were
down by more than three runs, three runs or more
that late in the eighth inning and came back to
win a playoff game. It's never happened to the Dodgers organization.
(23:47):
They've been around since Boby Dick was a guppy the
New Ones. Wow, yeah, I know, would you get time?
I've heard that. I hadn't said it in about eight months,
so I just figured out drop it. But anyway, eight weeks.
But I tremendu No, I haven't said in a while.
Tremendous game, Chris. And a big win for the Dodgers.
(24:10):
They're back in the series. Yeah, big win, man, And uh,
this is getting exciting. I think the other series in
the AL is good too. Yeah. If Houston wins tonight, Uh,
and it's two to one Red Sox right now, Chris,
then you got a two two series, best of three
Dodgers tribe. Dodgers play tomorrow. They tried to uh even
(24:32):
up the series and you got to see how this
affects Atlanta. Do they come out tomorrow like they let
it get away, you know and heads held low and
and they they just could turn the series that quickly.
What do you think about the watch you know, or
I should say dame time stuff going on with Boston.
(24:52):
Did you see that where uh they were kind of
mocking because Houston Correa had pointed to his watch after
hitting the home run like the game time, and then
Boston started doing it and Alex Core the manager told
him not to and so they apologize. The Korea was like, yo,
I like it. I think that's where the game should
(25:14):
be going. I agree, Like I don't like Cora telling
Neil it's his team, but you know what I mean, like,
I think that's fine for them to do that. Yeah,
I mean I don't have like like you can as players,
you can dictate that stuff by stopping people from right
hitting home runs or beating you or whatever it is.
(25:34):
So as long as you know people aren't throwing at
people's heads Chris head hunting right now, it's something like
like doing the dance in the end zone or something, right,
I don't. I don't have a problem with it. If
you if you want to flip your bat, you know,
and after a big home run, you know. I'm not
mad at those guys. It's a game. Have some fun.
(25:57):
I don't want it to be so stuffed shirt that
you can't have any fun with it. So yeah, I agree.
I agree.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox sports
Radio dot com and within the iHeart Radio app. Search
f SR to listen live. Ben Simmons And remember when
he showed up last week. I brought it up. I said, look,
everybody was home. He you know, his tail between his legs.
(00:22):
Here he comes. I was like, well, let's see, let's
see what he's there for. Is he there number one?
The ball all right? Is he there to play? Or two?
Is he there just to collect the paycheck and maybe
Fike Facon injury? Or three? Is he there to act
out Ali, James Harden, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis. Be a nuisance,
(00:44):
a pest until you get trained, right, I think we
have the answer, Rob. It was three and today at
practice Doc Rivers asked him to get into a defensive
drill I believe it was, and Ben said no, and
Doc said Ben get in and Ben said no, and
(01:08):
Doc said just leave and being walked out and that
was that. Here's Joel embian on it after the practice.
This fine. I don't care about the man, but honestly,
he does whatever he wants. Uh, you know that's not
my job. You know, that's those guys jobs. You know,
I'm only focused on trying to make the team better.
Our job is not to baby see somebody. Uh you
(01:30):
know we got we get paid up. We're just on
the car. Go on, play hard, win some games. That's
how we get paid for it. Bravo for real. Chris,
enough enough already, Like I'm Joel Embiid, he's right, and
it ain't fair to the other guys on the team. Chris,
(01:53):
you can't do that. It's in subordination. No, if you're
out there at practice, you got a uniform or get
out there in practice. Otherwise, don't show up. Don't show
up to get a paycheck. Tell them you're not playing,
and you won't play until they trade you, and they
don't have to pay you. Do that. That's being a man.
(02:16):
It's standing on, standing on your ground and say I
don't want your money, I don't want to be here,
I'm not gonna play, I'm not gonna practice. Find me,
do whatever you want and I'll sit and I'll wait
until you decide to trade me. But to put on
a uniform and go out on the court and tell
your coach no, you're not gonna participate. That ain't that
(02:38):
ain't demand, Chris, That's not what you're there for. You're
wasting everybody's time. Everybody sees through it. They suspended him
for one game and a bigger one should come. And
if I'm the Sixers, I would make him rot. I
wouldn't trade him. I'd make him rot. I dare you
to sit out and not be the professor. When we
(03:01):
signed you to that, that four year extension, for all
that money, it was between two professionals, an organization and
a player. And at that time you could have said
you didn't want it or you didn't want to be here.
And people have been criticized in sports for years forever, Chris,
So what you played poorly accepted in the postseason? Doc
(03:25):
Rivers protected your but time and time and time again, Chris,
how many times do we talk about it? Doc Rivers
protecting him? Doc actually was. I thought he was getting
to the point where he's embarrassing himself. It was ridiculous.
And finally they asked him, after he played so poorly,
can you win with him? He said, I don't know,
(03:48):
I'm not sure. And now his panties are in a
bunch and he doesn't want to He don't want to
do anything. Man, come on with this, this is ridiculous. Yeah, Rab,
I can't really disagree with anything you said, and I
would add to it that Ben Simmons may have Well,
it'll be interesting to see how this goes. But Ben
(04:08):
Simmons may have made a grand mistake in refusing to
go into the drill, because now Philadelphia may be able
to say, look, he didn't want to play, he broke
the contract, he refused to work, and so now he
would have probably been better off. Not that I would
(04:30):
have respected this, but you might have been better off
going in there to the drill and just half, you know,
stepping and not giving it. You're all being lethargic and
all that, but now that you've refused to practice, they
are they may have a leg to stand on and
trying not to pay you. But Rob, look, I gotta
(04:52):
be honest with you. I think you're right. And you
know from day one I said, Look, what I don't
like about the Ben Simmons situation is that he's refusing
to look in the mirror. Right, he won't accept it, Chris, right, right?
I mean, you can be mad about what Doc said
and I do think you're right if you got if
you look at it, honestly, Doc had your back all year.
(05:16):
And we've criticized Doc Rob. We're not Doc apologists. We've
said we do well and with the Clippers we questioned
this hiring all of that. But the fact is Doc
did have your back. I mean Doc, remember when he said,
anybody who's saying we should take Ben Simmons out because
this hacker Ben, they don't know what they're they don't
(05:38):
know the game of basketball. That was embarrassing for Doc.
And then a few games later he's taking Ben out
and so he had stood behind him. Then you, Joe
l embad, Okay, you didn't like what he's said. But
the fact of the matter is this Rob. At the
end of the day, I've wanted Ben Simmons to look
in the mirror say, you know what, I didn't get
(06:01):
it done. I didn't get it done. I've got to
get better. I've got to get a jump shot. I've
got to improve my file shooting. I've got to work
on my mental toughness, mental strength, whatever it is that's
holding me back. Michael Jordan didn't right. What did he
do when Detroit kept beating him. I gotta get in
the weight room. I gotta be stronger. What did Magic
do when he became tragic Johnson in the nineteen eighty
(06:23):
four finals. He went to the lab and got better.
What did Lebron do in twenty eleven after he fell
apart against Dallas? He got better. They can do it,
but Ben Simmons can't. So many players Chris have gotten
better when they've had meltdowns or not played well in
a postseason or a playoffs or in some big spot
(06:46):
to get better. And the whole notion that he's above
it and you can't say anything about him, and he's
gonna think he could. He thinks he's gonna get get
your ass, come out on the court and say no, yeah,
I mean again, his his m is clearly I'm gonna
(07:07):
be a nuisance and I'm gonna force them to trade him.
But here's the problem, Rob, He's hurting his trade value now.
When James Harden did it with what ten years of
excellence behind him in Houston, everybody knew, okay, he's just
you know, he's not playing hard, all right. We saw
(07:27):
him the first five games of the year average thirty
three and ten or whatever it was. We know he's
not playing hard. They knew when you trade for him,
he's gonna be James Harden showed up looking like the
Pillsbury Domember. I don't know how he lost all that
weight on. It was that a fat suit had I
know you're right, it was crazy. It was crazy. But Rob,
(07:49):
I've talked to some people around the league and it's
just common sense. There are people around Derek. Now, there
are those that won him. So it's you know, it's
thirty two. There's always gonna be somebody who think, what
do they say, One man's trash is another man's tragically,
So I'm not saying nobody wants him, but Rob, there
are people that are like, I'm not. Look, he clearly
(08:10):
had a mental block in the playoffs, and you could
you could argue throughout his career because he's not, you know,
been afraid to take jump shots, but certainly in the playoffs, Rob,
have we seen any evidence that that mental block is leaving. No,
it's gone. If I mean, if anything, this could be
(08:31):
making you think it's gonna be there and maybe even stronger.
How about if he came out was a good soldier
played to play the great fifteen twenty games that I
really don't want to help him win. Do whatever. I
don't really want to be here, but look I came.
I tried to put on a show so that you
guys could get your maximum value out of me. Let
people know that I can play. I've changed my game,
(08:54):
but I don't want to be here. That's a mature
way of handling it, Chris, And this way the Sixers
a more app because I got we got a tradeable commodity. Okay, Ross,
the guy teld me, but you can't sabotage your trade value,
so I can't get anything. I can't give you away. Absolutely,
you're right, And I think I think that's you say
(09:15):
that behind closed doors. Rob as we wrap up about look,
I still want out, but I'm gonna you know, I'm
gonna put on a good face and I'm gonna try
my I'm gonna play my butt off. I think publicly robbed.
I think here's what I think he should do. I
think he should hold a press conference and say, look,
I'm I was upset at myself the way I played
(09:38):
in the playoffs. I was upset with what Doc said
about me. I was upset with Joel said about me,
I knew I had let those guys down and my
teammates and myself, and you know I didn't respond. Well,
you know, I understand now that I'm under contract, I
gotta go out and play, and I'm I'm now I'm
(09:59):
back and I'm gonna do my best and if he win,
He's asked Rob by the media, So, Ben, does this
mean you don't want to be traded? I think you
say this. I say, Look, I don't know what the
future holds. I just know I've got to play better.
I played up to my ability and I'm gonna do
that now. Whatever happens in the future happens seventy six
(10:20):
or yeah, and I'm giving my all to this team.
That's it. Be sure to catch live editions of The
Odd Couple with Chris Brussar then Rob Parker weekdays at
seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeartRadio app. Hey, I'm Doug Gottlieb. The podcast
is called All Ball. We usually talk all basketball all
(10:41):
the time, but it's more about the stories about what
made these people love their sport and all the interesting
interactions along the way. We talked to coaches, we talked
to players, we tell you stories. You download it, you
listen to it. I think you'll like it. Listen to
All Ball with Doug Gotlieb on the iHeart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or ever you get your podcast. The story
(11:06):
of the game outside of that last sequence was Derek
Henry Rob and you and I grew up in a
time when this might be shocking even for people Rob
geez age Rob, but certainly for the younger you know,
the fifteen year fifteen to what twenty five year olds
(11:26):
and on that. We grew up in a time when
the glamor position in the NFL was running back. Not
that quarterbacks weren't big, but there were stark running backs
who were as big, if not bigger. Barry Sanders, Chris
you could talk about Barry Sanders, Emmett Smith and all
(11:50):
the even even back to your stealing Frank O'harris, Frank
Jim Brown. Jim Brown was a bij Simpson. Yes, you
know Earl Campbell at that time. So you're right, I mean,
obviously you had huge quarterbacks, Roger star backs. Yeah, we're
not saying they were, but it was probably even would
(12:12):
you say more so far what was the face of
the game. It was the running back in the quarterback
and it depended on what team, Chris, you were talking about,
which guy would get top billing. Barry Sanders was top
billing for the Lions. You they no matter who was
the quarterback. Who was the biggest guy there was Barry Sanders.
And we often saw running backs drafted. The best running
(12:33):
back was the first pick in the draft. Now, I
will say this, a great running back, and I think
teams have gotten some more smart. A great running back
doesn't mean you're gonna have a great team. And they
figured that out. Now. O. J. Simpson. Robb played in
one playoff game, right, and he was great. Uh, Barry Sanders,
(12:55):
what are you playing? Three ye teams? They were in
the NFC championship game that Chris. They got one playoff
wins his nineteen fifty seven they beat the Dallas Cowboys
with Emman and Michael Irvin and Troy Yakman in nineteen
ninety one. That was it, Chris, They you know what
I mean? They beat them. Eric Dickerson arguably the best
(13:16):
ever to do it, to carry the ball, and he
didn't win a ring, didn't win a Super Bowl. He
did play in seven playoff games but never won a
Super Bowl, so I get that. But still it was
a day where the running backs ruled, or at least
rained right next to the quarterbacks. And Derek Henry's a
(13:37):
throwback round. They used to get it twenty five to
thirty times, the real dope running backs they get it
twenty five to thirty times a game, and they'd run
for over a hundred yards. And now, in Derek Henry,
you have really the last one standing. Even Zeke is
not like him, Nick Chubb is, but Nick Chubb still
(14:01):
shares the backfield right with Kareem Hunt. No, this is
Derrek Henry's a one man show, and he is the
focal point of that whole team. And he is, uh,
he is a real You just said it a throwback
to what we were accustomed to, and they've gotten away
from it because this is just a throw happy league
(14:24):
now and everything is throwing the ball, just everything. And
that's why all these quarterbacks Chris who aren't that great,
are shattering. Yep, the numbers of quarterbacks who were really
good Troy a Right, who are passed up by by
a few also ran Journeyman's I mean if Fitzpatrick. Right,
(14:45):
his numbers at least touchdowns are better than Troy Aikman.
So yeah, um, but here's the thing. So here's the
question route Because the last running back to win the
MVP award was age In Peterson in twenty twelve, and
he ran for over two thousand yards. He didn't break
(15:05):
the record. The all time record is Eric Dickerson two thousand,
one hundred and five yards in a season that was
nineteen eighty four. Now, for what it's worth, Dickerson did
not win the MVP that year. But that was really
only because Dan Marino. It was like he came from
another planet that year. Right, the first quarterback ride to
(15:25):
throw for five thousand yards, No, he was unbelievable. You
know who the first quarterback to throw for four thousand yards?
Give me, you know, give me hit. I mean, this
is why he's in the Hall of Fame because his numbers.
It's because of names. Joe Namith claims Joe Namath was
the first to throw for four thousand yards. When you
(15:46):
look at names, uh numbers, you go cuny in the
Hall of Fame, right, You're like, his numbers aren't that great.
But Cridge first to throw for four thousand and be
the guarantee that the Jets would be and you know,
the Baltimore Colts were like fifteen point favorites. Like it was.
It was like JV versus varsity as far as the
(16:08):
Colts versus the AFS, the AFL's Jets, you know, and
the Jets wind. It was like a USFL team beating
the NFL champion, right, and it helped force the merger. Yeah, exactly.
Well here you mentioned nameless numbers, rob Are you ready
for this? Do you know his touchdown the interception situation.
I bet you had more interception than touchdowns. I'm just
(16:30):
not only more forty seven more? Wow, he threw one
hundred and seventy three touchdowns in two hundred and twenty
interceptions only a fifty percent completion presentation. But again, if
all you young kids that are gonna run around saying
Joe's name is stunk, No, it was a different game.
Quarterbacks could get colloberate back four thousand. Do you have
(16:52):
nineteen sixty seven? Yeah, they weren't throwing the poll like that.
That was huge, right, and that was as you mentioned
in the a f fell right the NFL. Yeah, but
uh yeah, so a lot a lot of young listeners,
they don't even realize it was two leagues, right, right, right,
But so the question is this, Rob, and and right now,
(17:14):
Derek Henry's on pace to break Adrian or not Arian
Eric Dickerson's single season record. He's on pace to run
for two thousand, two hundred and eighteen yards, so he
would break the record. Now again, Rob, it's seventeen games.
We couldn't hurt him because he's not on pace to
break it in sixteen. So let's keep that. That's not
(17:37):
going to count for me. I'm sorry. Seventeen games, Well, no,
I thought. I agree. I think that's gonna hurt him.
If he breaks it, and he breaks it in seventeen games,
people are gonna be like, Okay, you got the record,
but it's not the same. You know, if he breaks
it in sixteen is different. He's also on pace quickly
to tie Ladanian Tomlinson's all time single season touchdown rushing
(18:00):
record twenty eight. He would break it in seventeen or
tie it, tie it in seventeen, but wouldn't break it
in sixteen. There were people who tried to discount Hank
Aaron when he broke Chris Babe Ruth record. Babe Ruth
played one hundred and fifty four baseball was one hundred
and fifty four games, and baseball turned into one sixty two. Right,
(18:20):
So they're saying, well, he had more games than Babe.
The only problem is that Hank Aaron actually did it
Chris and less at bats than Babe Ruth. Wow, Okay,
you know what I mean. So you can't take the
record from him, right or say or put any kind
of asterisks or say it ain't legit he had less
(18:40):
at bats. Right. That's a great point. And the thing is,
and you noticed right over time and you're right, well,
if if Henry breaks it in seventeen games, initially is
gonna be like, you know, you give him crazy, he
had a fantastic year, but it won't feel like, you know,
he did it in sixteen. But over time, just get
used to it. Right in the next generation will be like,
(19:03):
that's hey, that's the all time leading rusher in a
single season. But here's what I'm want to throw at you, Rob,
does Henry do you believe he's got a legitimate chance
to win the MVP? It seems like I should just
say no because I know he from we had our
earlier from Salam said, no, ain't happening. It would take
(19:25):
something very extraordinary, or Chris where you have it could
happen this way. Either he's off the charts or there
are three quarterbacks who are so good that they split
the vote. Do you know what I'm saying? Oh? Yeah,
but here's the problem with that. They would split a
(19:45):
vote with a running back to you know what I mean, Like, no, no,
people are voting by position. No, I know, but I'm
saying like, if there's no clear cut quarterback, the votes
might get split up. So say, I'm just throwing out
Lamar gets four, Justin Herbert gets four, Okay, Aaron Rodgers
(20:08):
gets four, Patrick Mahomes gets four, and Derek Henry gets five.
I hear you. That's what I'm talking about, Like, like
that's how it could happen, right, Not that's fair, that's fair.
I think, like you said, number one, he'd have to
be extraordinary. He probably does have to break the record,
even if it's just seventeen games instead of sixteen. But
(20:32):
I think Rob also no quarterback, and maybe this plays
right into what you said. No quarterback can have a
spectacular year because if a quarterback has a spectacular year,
he's gonna win it. Like right now, Tom Brady's on
pace to throw for six thousand yards, right and he
and we've looked at their schedule. It's not that tough.
(20:54):
If he throws the six thousand yards forty five touchdowns
and you know, and then he'll win, right, He's gonna
win with you. But if no quarterback, obviously you're gonna
have quarterbacks who have great years. But if none does
anything like historic and Henry does, he's got a shot.
He's got a shot, and they gotta keep winning. Two.
(21:15):
They're four and two after a slow start to the seasons.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox sports
Radio dot com and within the iHeart Radio app. Search
f SR to listen live. But first, Rob, I know
you want to address this thriller that just took place
(21:35):
in LA The Dodgers come back from a five too
deficit in the eighth inning to win six five and
move within two games to one in the National League Championships.
The National League Championship Series has been scripts written by
(21:58):
Hollywood Chris. All three wins have come in the last
at bat of the three teams. Of the two teams
the Braves won in their last at bat, right, And
now the Dodgers did it tonight with a four piece
in the bottom of the eighth and they secured it
in the top of the ninth and when six to five,
(22:20):
huge comeback. I mean, this was this is why I called.
I wrote a column today in Dead spidd and it said, like, uh,
don't celebrate too quickly at you know, Atlanta or whatever.
Don't don't don't celebrate two prematurely because they have a
history Chris Atlanta being called choke Lanta because they have
(22:43):
had leads in Super Bowls, National Championship Game for Georgia
when they played in Atlanta, right, the Braves were up
too old. They demolished the Yankees in ninety six in
the first two games of that World Series. Chris came home,
lost three straight games in Atlanta and then got knocked
out in fourth straight. Yet they never won another game.
(23:06):
Last year, they were up three to one against the
Dodgers and choked that down. The Dodgers won three straight.
And now tonight it's not the end of the world
the Dodgers. You know, if the if the Braids would
have sweepd the Dodgers, that would have been a story,
a huge story. It's just the way. Not that the
Dodgers won a game, Chris, but how you're in total
(23:26):
control and you cough it up that lake. That's the
first game in Los Angeles Dodger history where they were
down by more than three runs, three runs or more
that late in the eighth inning and came back to
win a playoff game. It's never happened to the Dodgers organization.
(23:47):
They've been around since Boby Dick was a guppy the
New Ones. Wow, yeah, I know, would you get time?
I've heard that. I hadn't said it in about eight months,
so I just figured out drop it. But anyway, eight weeks.
But I tremendu No, I haven't said in a while.
Tremendous game, Chris. And a big win for the Dodgers.
(24:10):
They're back in the series. Yeah, big win, man, And uh,
this is getting exciting. I think the other series in
the AL is good too. Yeah. If Houston wins tonight, Uh,
and it's two to one Red Sox right now, Chris,
then you got a two two series, best of three
Dodgers tribe. Dodgers play tomorrow. They tried to uh even
(24:32):
up the series and you got to see how this
affects Atlanta. Do they come out tomorrow like they let
it get away, you know and heads held low and
and they they just could turn the series that quickly.
What do you think about the watch you know, or
I should say dame time stuff going on with Boston.
(24:52):
Did you see that where uh they were kind of
mocking because Houston Correa had pointed to his watch after
hitting the home run like the game time, and then
Boston started doing it and Alex Core the manager told
him not to and so they apologize. The Korea was like, yo,
I like it. I think that's where the game should
(25:14):
be going. I agree, Like I don't like Cora telling
Neil it's his team, but you know what I mean, like,
I think that's fine for them to do that. Yeah,
I mean I don't have like like you can as players,
you can dictate that stuff by stopping people from right
hitting home runs or beating you or whatever it is.
(25:34):
So as long as you know people aren't throwing at
people's heads Chris head hunting right now, it's something like
like doing the dance in the end zone or something, right,
I don't. I don't have a problem with it. If
you if you want to flip your bat, you know,
and after a big home run, you know. I'm not
mad at those guys. It's a game. Have some fun.
(25:57):
I don't want it to be so stuffed shirt that
you can't have any fun with it. So yeah, I agree.
I agree.
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!