June 12, 2026 • 27 mins
Rob and Kelvin tell us if a deep run in the 2026 World Cup would make soccer mainstream in the United States. Plus, actor and producer Leon swings by to discuss Rob's ridiculous 'Everybody Knows It's Wemby' song, why it's become so trendy to be a New York Knicks fan these days, the agony and ecstasy of Game 4 of the NBA Finals, his pick for the NBA Finals MVP award so far, and much more! Later, FOX Sports Radio NBA insider Mark Medina swings by to discuss all the biggest headlines surrounding the NBA Finals.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
So okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, I listen, rob I surrender.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
I don't care. I don't care.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Whatever it is you want to say, It's all cool
with me.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
Please just don't play that song again.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I tell you, I'm.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Throwing in the white flag. That was my kryptonite right there,
that song.
Speaker 6 (01:01):
There is you.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
I got you hey on the real tip, where were
you watching it? Were you at the guard Where were
you when the Knicks came back to twenty nine point?
Speaker 6 (01:14):
Were you at home?
Speaker 5 (01:14):
Where were you second row? Then look at that right
behind your girl?
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Who that which girl? Taylor?
Speaker 5 (01:26):
When they who else? Who else? They talk about?
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yeap Taylor?
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Okay, because then they're now like questioning whether she's a
Knick fan or whatever.
Speaker 6 (01:36):
I don't know, but.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
You know, you know the thing is look, just life
in general is a trendy team. So you know, we
got Nick fans from all around a country where every
famous person now has been a Knicks fan their whole life.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
You know how that goes.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
When I see Jimmy Johnson wearing a Nick T shirt
as an eighty year old man, I'm I'm okay.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
I'm like, wow, yeah.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
I'm telling you something.
Speaker 7 (02:03):
It's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
Is bringing people together. You know, it's like every walk
of life, you know, everybody's just so happy. You know,
I got Jimmy Fallon hugging me for one side of me.
I got who else hugging me for the next side?
Speaker 7 (02:18):
Win, the former Nick players jumping on me.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
It's like, it's crazy.
Speaker 6 (02:22):
Let me ask you.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
But leon okay, so they win, but they were down
twenty nine points. Be honest, where were you were you
calling Mike Brown, Charlie Brown? Were you distraught? Were you
like we're going to blow this? We went up two
oh in San Antonio. We lose this game. We've given
it right back to them, and we're in trouble. Where
was your head?
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Give it?
Speaker 6 (02:43):
Give me the mental part right there? First half?
Speaker 5 (02:46):
Well, first I want to just give this game a
proper name and definition. Okay, it was the agony and
the ecstasy.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Okay, that was this game.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
If he had to give this game a name, that
was it. Because the agony that we were feeling at
halftime and in that third quarter was beyond. We waited
for this final moment, and here we are down twenty
nine points. We're all looking at each other like you
got to be kidding me, You got to be kidding me.
(03:22):
And then everyone's talking to me like, well, a lot
of people leaving, they're going home, I says, do you
know the price of them tickets?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Ain't nobody going nowhere?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Ain't nobody going home.
Speaker 7 (03:32):
Ain't nobody going home to see they rautther roof for
the other team.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
They go home with that price.
Speaker 8 (03:39):
Speaking of the other team, Leon, let me ask you.
You got to be their second role. What's it like
to see Wenby? I haven't seen him in person. I
pretty much seen everybody at least in rob seven foot five,
gangly are skilled, though not like a big guy, you know,
can't move, he's not lurch. What was it like to
witness him? And then he like, man, this judas out
(03:59):
of that alien.
Speaker 5 (04:02):
Yeah, you know, I've seen him a couple of times
and it's yeah, it's it's amazing.
Speaker 7 (04:06):
You know.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
It's specially because of how.
Speaker 7 (04:07):
Long his limbs are and how easy it is to
just throw the ball up to him and you can
just put it in from anywhere. I mean when his
when his skill level and cruise and he puts on
some weights like, yeah, it's gonna be crazy. But what's
really amazed me was his jumper.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I mean, yo, he pulls up from anywhere and you
know you're not blocking it. That's why I don't understand
why anyone gets a foul on him when he choose
a jumper, Like, were you really thinking you're blocking it?
Speaker 6 (04:36):
Right?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Right? Why are you jumping into him?
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Like how you jumping into him?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Touching him?
Speaker 6 (04:40):
Like what is that about?
Speaker 5 (04:42):
Okay, not to waste the time, Hey, let me ask you.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Okay, I'm not trying to drink the nicks and say
it's over whatever, But right now, who's leading in your
mind to be the MVP if they do go on
to win, because obviously they need to get another win
and we're not jinxing them they have not won anything.
But just uh, in the beginning, I think it was
Cat because the first couple of games he kind of
helped win me down. Then I think it was you know,
(05:11):
Brunton was kind of there. Now og uh So who
do you have if we were to say, okay, they
win the next game and we got to pick an
m v P.
Speaker 5 (05:22):
Okay, are you asking me who I think they would pick?
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Yea, yeah, yep, yep, yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Who I think they will pick is Jalen Brunton.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
See, I agree with you, I know.
Speaker 9 (05:31):
No.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
The reason why I'm going to say Jalen Brunton because
they want to pick Jalen Brunton.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
He's the star of the team.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
He's a story and he's done nothing to take himself
out of that competition. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (05:43):
He's only he's only.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
Improved itself as far as that category is concerned. Now,
do you have a case for O G. Well, if
you're looking at the entire body, well, the game is
played on both sides.
Speaker 7 (05:55):
Of the court, right right right, and he is Stella Stella.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
On defense. I mean, everyone keeps talking about that tip
and it's gonna go in history. But without without the block, there.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Is no was that a block or foul? I've seen pictures, Kelvin,
I sent you the picture you did.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
I've seen pictures too, But you know what it is.
It's the block.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
If they don't call it, no, I can't.
Speaker 8 (06:19):
By the way, they came out and said the NBA
said that it wasn't the foul.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
I was shot. The NBA has come out, Kelvin.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
You saw the picture and and and Leon you saw
it too right after it.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Yeah, I saw.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
But I'll tell you one thing.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
I didn't see Fox complaining.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Yeah. I think he knew he shouldn't. He was supposed
to drive it that out, like.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Uh, you know basketball, You played basketball, dude, Come on,
like that is elementary basketball.
Speaker 6 (06:46):
You have the lead and the ball with ten seconds ago,
you do not take a shot?
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Okay? Will you stunned?
Speaker 5 (06:53):
Okay? So this would have to stay from a basketball professor.
When you're in a game, and especially a tight game,
last in a game like that, and there's a loose
ball and the ball is going towards your bucket, you
usually try to scoop it up as quick as you
possibly can and just put it in the bucket. Done, okay,
(07:15):
And that's what I think he was doing. He thought
there's no way Fox and one of the fastest guys
in the league.
Speaker 7 (07:21):
He said, this is a lay up to him. I
don't think he even thought, oh, he was gonna get
to him.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
But it doesn't.
Speaker 7 (07:31):
No, No, I'm not saying you shouldn't have pulled it out.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
What I'm saying is that you're not thinking then when
the ball is moving to the bucket and you're rushing
at full speed to get it and realize you have
a layer.
Speaker 7 (07:42):
So what I'm saying instinct took over there, not thought.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Is that the right thing here?
Speaker 7 (07:47):
In hindsight, we can kill him for it. But I'm
telling you, as a ballplayer.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
When that ball is moving and you're moving at the
quakest speed to grab and you think there's an open
lay up here, you take it.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
You Yeah, I can understand that too. Real quick. We
only got a second.
Speaker 8 (08:04):
I was gonna ask Game five tonight if I can
san Antoni, is it a rap?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Do y'all tomorrow? Do y'all win it tomorrow? Or are
we going back to New York?
Speaker 5 (08:14):
I want us to win it tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (08:16):
I wanted you don't want the series to go on, right?
Speaker 5 (08:19):
I wanted to win tomorrow. I mean, you know, oh great,
we can win it in magis great guard. That's no guarantee.
That's no guarantee. You saw the last game. It took
us a tip to win it. Yeah, Okay, that's no guarantee.
Speaker 7 (08:33):
Only one team is even one on their floor. I
don't want to take.
Speaker 5 (08:38):
If you're watching the same series that I'm watching.
Speaker 7 (08:41):
Okay, he's San Antonios Furs.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
These young boys, they buy a.
Speaker 7 (08:45):
Game away from figuring this out.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
Okay, and I don't want to be playing that.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
When they figure it out. Okay. That's a great point.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
That's a real basketball And when you started this segment,
you talked about that agony and the ecstasy of the Knicks.
Uh that come back when and I'm gonna tell you
about my ecstasy at agnony. It say I have the
reverse because I was in ecstasy until the bag fell
off of her head and then it was agony.
Speaker 6 (09:13):
So you know, we're kind of close, you know, Rob.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
Rob, I was so so happy that you have a
steady job and that you don't venture offense these other
things that.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
No comedy and no sign comedy. Just stick to radio,
all right. Radio.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
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.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Hey, it's Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington from The Odd
Couple on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 8 (09:56):
And in addition to hearing us live week nights from
seven to ten pm on Fox Sports Radio, we are
excited to announce brand new YouTube channel for the show.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
That's right, you can now watch The Odd Couple live
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Speaker 8 (10:12):
All you gotta do search Odd Couple FSR on YouTube
again YouTube, Just search Odd Couple FSR.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
Check us out on YouTube and subscribe.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Is well underway, and even if they're ready to play
in Los Angeles, right.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Oh yeah, it's going down.
Speaker 8 (10:28):
We had Obviously, Mexico won their game last night, their match,
and everybody's excited about that, obviously us living in Southern California,
large Mexican, Mexican American population, so folks are excited, and.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
You start to do anything wrong with that, No, no, no,
we love it.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
But so now obviously everybody's excited about the United States
men's national team, their first matter kicking it off. That's
gonna be today of course, going against Paraguay, and so
this begins it begins to me, Rob, which what they've
been trying to do and you know this, You've been
in sports for years. Really get America on the mainstream
(11:07):
when it comes to soccer or football, to get people
into it, to really have a team that can compete,
not just throw somebody out there, throw a team out
there and they get Miley watch. So this is supposed
to be the team ROB that has a chance to
really do that.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
So it is led by Christian Pulisic. He is one
of the better players.
Speaker 8 (11:24):
Of course, he plays for ac Milan Series A, and
he's supposed to be the young superstar to feed on
for them to really get this team going. You also
had the coach Marciano Pachita Pratchettino, who jinked this roster.
Thank you appreciate that, who picked this roster. Some people
a little skeptical of him. But the point is a
larger point, Rob. This team has been together for about
(11:46):
eight years now, since most of them were teenagers. You
got a group of guys that they put an emphasis
on saying, all right, you are going to be the future.
You guys are going to be the team that gets
Americans into soccer, that gets Americans excited.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Because we know the World Cup is coming.
Speaker 8 (12:00):
So we're gonna put a lot into you, give you
the resources, and a lot's gonna be rid on this
because again, matches are here all across North America, but
specifically in Los Angeles.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
You've got a lot of people are watching.
Speaker 8 (12:11):
This team's been together for a long time, and people
are gonna hope that they can finally get past the quarterfinals,
which they've the last two times we've been in it.
That's as far as we've gotten. We didn't make it
a few years back, you know. So the question is
Candice be the team to ignite something where my daughters
Rob Gi has daughters you know, who are younger little boys.
(12:33):
People can get excited about it and start to formulate
where American kids are playing soccer all the way through
because the fineings to be weird, rob everybody kind of
played soccer here in America is like you the first
sport you throw a kid into, but it doesn't stick,
you know what I mean? Like, oh, little Tammy, little Bobby,
little Derek is playing.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Little All they're doing is running around and the parents
just to have them run around so that they can
fall asleep at night.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Donect don't disrespect our parenting like that.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Okay, no, we became everybody get into soccer just run
around for two hour energy.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
So you're gonna be to night. But that's what's gonna
be interesting.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
This team is really gonna be the one people are saying,
can this start some type of boom? I don't ever
think it'll be as it is in other countries because
for them it's life or death. We know that, we've
seen how serious they take their soccer. We don't take
it that seriously here, But can it be the one
that gets it going, that maybe goes further than expected
pastor quarterfinals for once it actually starts some type of
(13:32):
where kids like, oh, I actually want to ride through
with soccer, not just enjoy it when I was five, six,
eight years old. And that's what's going to Ligne tonight,
rob not just tonight, but obviously through this whole entire
World Cup, and it'll be interesting to see. I don't
fully expect them to go past the quarterfinals. It's gonna
get too difficult. You're gonna play teams that have the
best players in the world, that have been doing this
year in year out.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
So I don't expect it. But this is why you hope.
Speaker 8 (13:55):
And you watch Olympics, you watch World Cups because you
hope for miracles. You hope for things you unexp back
to shoot. You watch that on NBA finals to see
things you never thought you'd see. So uh, these sta
odds are stacked against them past the quarterfinal, passed around
the sixteen.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
But this is the best team, the best chance we've
had in a long time. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I just I think you have some lofty goals that
are just don't seem obtainable to me. And I don't
care how long they've been together. These other countries with
the World Cup or whatever, they're not the favorite, you
know what I mean, Like it would.
Speaker 6 (14:26):
Be a miracle on ice. Yes, sorry, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
It would be of that if the United States were
able to win a World Cup here in the United States.
Speaker 8 (14:38):
Just let me Hollywood would there would be twenty six
movies in nine months.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
That's how fast they would get those movies out.
Speaker 6 (14:45):
No, right, I just I don't I don't know. It
just seems an awful task.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
The women you got you just mentioned you have daughters
and getting them interested and Rob g has a couple
of daughters, right, and the women have won the World
Cup move the needle as popular as they are. And
I'm just I'm not saying Kelvin that they're not popular,
right because they are, right they are. The women's soccer
(15:11):
in the United States is booming.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
They won, and.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Yet it didn't move the needle like you would have
thought every little girl should be running around kicking a
soccer ball, right, right, right, I don't think we're there.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
I do think I just think it's a go ahead.
Speaker 8 (15:27):
I was just gonna say, I think the I think
women are a little bit more advancing than men, Like,
I think they're more into it, we're more we're more successful.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
As a whole when it comes to soccer.
Speaker 8 (15:38):
It's kind of like gymnastics, right the women team is
always competitive, always good versus our men's gymnastics team.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Yeah, I get that, but I just.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
I'm you know, so you're saying if they win a championship,
this is going to turn the country, like like, well,
oh no, no, if they won the.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
World the entire world up, absolutely right, because they're there.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
If they could win the World Cup, and I still
don't think it's going to turn the country. I just
don't I think people will sit up and take notice,
take great pride in an American team winning, you know
what I mean, and saying how awesome it was. But
do I really believe this country is fractured? And that's
why either with team no just people care more about
(16:27):
New York and Detroit than they do the United States.
They do, and they care about their teams and what's
closer to them, not that they wouldn't enjoy.
Speaker 6 (16:37):
Don't give me. I'm not saying that we're different.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
A lot of these countries are small compared to Howard,
and they don't have a professional league right or or
leagues of that we have. So their allegiance is with
their country that do you You know what I'm saying,
more so than their than their league, local league that
they have. It's not of dismagnitude. I think that's the
(17:05):
difference in what makes it so hard for people to
fully embrace soccer. Kelvin, I'm sixty two. When I was
a kid, they were telling me how soccer was coming.
I'm not forty years ago, right, No longer than that
fifty years ago. All soccer is going to be bigger
than baseball and football. I'm telling you everybody around the
world plays soccer. They told me that and tried to
(17:28):
convince me that also the leader system was going to
be the way that we determined our beverages. No, the
new math that was taught that, Oh no, it's not
a quarter anymore, it's a leader or whatever. How much
is a leader. It's like a weird number. And all
we got out of that system. Kelvin's a two leaders soda,
nothing else.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
And Michigan came out of me. I said, two leater pop.
You know what's what we call it?
Speaker 6 (17:52):
Michigan exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
So all right, eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox
eight seven seven nine nine six sixty three sixty nine.
Would a deep run in the World Cup make soccer
mainstream in the US of A. We'll continue that conversation
next with you. It is the odd couple where we
deliver insight and not noise, and we value your phone calls.
(18:18):
You want to hear from you your opinion. This is
not a podcast, this is a radio show. We want
to hear from you. Eight seven to seven ninety nine
on Fox, Rob Parker, Kelvin, Washington, And you know what
you need to do, stick and stay.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
To start watching the glory of US Soccer in the
US of A.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Rob Parker and kelvin Washington weekdays at seven pm Eastern,
four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
We are the our couple.
Speaker 8 (18:50):
He's Rob, I'm Kelvin on a funky flashback Friday. Make
sure you stream us live wherever you happen to be.
Just get the iHeart at Catch us in all your
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Speaker 4 (19:01):
Search Fox Sports Radio in the app.
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The streamers live all day, every day, and be sure
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In the iHeart app. It's always gonna pop up. There
he is now.
Speaker 8 (19:10):
We're now joined by Mark Funky Cote Madina, Fox Sports Radio,
NBA Insider Mark g Underscore Medina give a follow.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Up, X Mark, What something Man?
Speaker 9 (19:19):
Alvin? Rob been enjoying your passion debate about these finals
to contribute to it.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
Thank you, buddy. You know that the Odd Couple. Passion
is our middle name.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Rob.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Where do you want to start with it?
Speaker 6 (19:33):
Let's start. Let's let's go backwards. Before we go forwards.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Mark, and you know Kevin and I we you know,
of course, the Spurs led the door open and the
Knicks had to make plays and make baskets. And no
one's taking anything away from the Knicks having to make
the plays in the baskets to win that game. I
just thought that was as bad of a coaching job
and that I had seen. I can't believe you would
(19:58):
be up twenty five, take nine straight threes and you
shot the lights out of it. You know how it works, Mark,
You know, basketball is a way of even evening out
the percentages. You're not going to shoot seventy five percent
from three the entire game. What what what did you
take away from that?
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (20:18):
Was was that coaching?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
To you?
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Was that?
Speaker 9 (20:21):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (20:21):
The Aaron Fox making like the biggest bonehead playoffs scene
where you have the ball and the lead.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
What what did you take away?
Speaker 7 (20:28):
What?
Speaker 6 (20:28):
What what did you leave?
Speaker 7 (20:30):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (20:31):
After seeing that?
Speaker 9 (20:32):
Yeah? What I took away is all these things can
be true. Nicks are resilient, but the Spurs, you know,
coughed it up and handed all these things. The silver plattern.
They didn't get in their own way. They would have
secured the lead. You mentioned about t Aaron Fox. That
was I think one of the most boneheaded players I've
ever seen in NBA playoff history. You run out the clock.
It doesn't matter how fast you are. You have the lead,
(20:53):
you got to protect it.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
You got them. You have the lead and the ball
mark And that even makes sense.
Speaker 9 (20:57):
Yes, and even in today's NBA statistically they'll say, Okay,
it can be for a championship, you got to make threes.
But if you're not making him, you got to play percentages.
I was there when the Rockets and the Warriors played
in twenty eighteen, when Houston missed twenty seven consecutive threes,
at some point you got to go to Plan B.
So Rob, I know that you've loved it giving Mike
(21:19):
Brown nicknames as Charlie Brown. But I'm not sure if
you're aware of this, but Mitch Johnson apparently was known
as the Maestro growing up because he was seen as
this person that knows how to make all these intelligent decisions.
That was the opposite of Mais Strow decisions of the
three point ball. And look, I get through the series,
(21:40):
maybe at least Game one, giving him some grace of
going with the Aaron Fox of the VET having trust,
but at some point you got to go with what's working,
and Dylan Harper's clearly the better players.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Not time to be.
Speaker 9 (21:52):
Political that you did that during the regular season. So
it's been a lot of shortcomings across the board.
Speaker 8 (21:58):
Yeah, you mentioned that Dylan higher when I brought it
up to Rob after I believe it was Game one
where he didn't play him down the stretch and he
had played so well, he didn't play him at all,
and I think he's stuck in that.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
Well, these are my starters.
Speaker 8 (22:11):
I have to close the game with my starters when
it's really like, use him like mine new Genobili, you
got the proto type. He might not start, but Dad
gone for sure he's gonna finish. And that's what I
would like to see with Dylan Harper. He's been incredible.
But let me also ask you this. I go to
the next side of things, and I don't know if
there's been a more resilient team over the last two
or three years where they just keep doing that. Rob
(22:33):
bought up of Boston Celtics last year. The next down
twenty in Game one and Game two. They come back
in both of those they come back against Cleveland last series.
I mean, what is it about this team that until
is triple zeros? They are like, we can still win
this team.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (22:50):
Well, to be clear, I mean both things can be true,
but I have to establish the copy of both. Last
season this season, you know, their playoff opponents had a
lot of flaws, in jury, these shortcomings, so that was
a factor. But as far as what's controllable with the Knicks,
their efforts always consistent. And you know they have quote
unquote stars with Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthone Towns, but
(23:13):
a they aren't always playing like stars. But be they
play as a team. It's not about who's getting the ball,
how many shots are people getting their identity starts on
the defensive end as well as you know, making hustle
plays and having good ball movements. So you know, that's
helped them overcome leads, help them overcome Karnthone Towns foul trouble,
(23:36):
overcome slow starts for Jalen Brunson from a shooting standpoint.
So all those things are good and you need that
in the NBA playoffs. And you contrast that with the Spurs.
They're not handling adversity. Well, they're getting by because they're
very talented, they're very athletic, and they have depth. But
(23:56):
you know, to my surprise, I knew, okay, this is
our first playoff experience. But they seemed pretty mature for
their age during the regular season, and they also have
some established veterans like Daron Fox. But during these playoffs,
even with the thunder series, I haven't seen their resiliency
or you know, their kind of mental Ford serature together,
(24:18):
and it's being a factor. It's been more about their
talent tearing everything.
Speaker 6 (24:22):
Let me let me say this.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
When you talk about even the Knicks coming back from
these leads when they beat the Celtics, the Celtics miss
seventy five out of one hundred three pointers. You know,
like Kevin, when you talk about teams coming back, there's
always a factor of when you shoot threees, you give
people easy baskets on the other end of the floor,
Like it's a recipe to give.
Speaker 6 (24:44):
Up a big lead if you're not making them, and
you just keep forcing the issue. How about.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Jalen Brunson has not been efficient by any stretch of
the imagination, but I think they would go out of
their way unless he has an awful clinching game to
give him the MVP.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
Would would Og be somebody you would vote for or would?
Speaker 1 (25:11):
I think Kat was to talk the first couple of
games when they held win be down, where are you
was as far as potentially being.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
An MVP.
Speaker 9 (25:21):
Yeah, I don't. I mean, look, voters might vote for
him because of the whole clutch part, and you know
his leadership and the narratives about oh, he's undersized, he
can't win a championship. But I think if you're going
on performance, he's third at best, maybe even fourth because
Victor Wabanama's playing. But with exception of Jerry West in
(25:42):
nineteen sixty nine, you know, player on losing team rarely
wins it. I think the Necks are going to win it.
So I think it's between Oja Deanobi and karl Anthion Towns.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Og.
Speaker 9 (25:51):
Yes, yeah, we all know the game winning tipping that
he had, as well as the block on deeron Fox.
But he's been very consistent throughout the series and with
karl Anton Towns, even with that slow start in Game
four with the foul trouble. Defensively, he's been mostly good
against Victor one Bama, and he's been very aggressive on
(26:12):
both sides of the ball, and he's been a great
team guy. So I think it's a toss up early
between Kat and o g. Now, some voters may go
for or Bronson, but even even with that, I would
be very surprised if he winds up pointing it all right.
Speaker 8 (26:27):
We gotta leave it there. Mark, Appreciate you as always, man.
Game five should be great. Tomorrow we got we got
real quick. Oh.
Speaker 9 (26:35):
I think Spurs only because home court. But nixt will
close it out in six on Tuesday, New York. And
I'm looking forward to next week, Rob, you said, the
Knixt one Championship. That's when you'll you'll sing your flowers
to Charlie Brown. So I'll be sure.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
You know what.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
It's so unfortunate. I'm on vacation next.
Speaker 9 (26:53):
Week, of course.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Yeah, we're gonna call you, Rob, your phone up. Uh,
we're gonna call you. Absolutely, Thank you. Guess Mark. If
the Smurts come back and win it all your vacation.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
Wow.
Speaker 8 (27:09):
Oh that's so Rob of you. Thank you, Mark, appreciate
it all right, Appreciate you guy, no doubt.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
All right.
Speaker 8 (27:15):
So the economy some things making a world Cup. It's
been a little difficult for some people. Rob, we're breaking
down what we mean. It's the Eye Couple on a
funky flashback Friday shot. Up to Mark for joining us.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Stick with your Boys Fox Sports
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Radio on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
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 Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live
every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
So okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, I listen, rob I surrender.
Speaker 4 (00:43):
I don't care. I don't care.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Whatever it is you want to say, It's all cool
with me.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
Please just don't play that song again.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
I tell you, I'm.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
Throwing in the white flag. That was my kryptonite right there,
that song.
Speaker 6 (01:01):
There is you.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
I got you hey on the real tip, where were
you watching it? Were you at the guard Where were
you when the Knicks came back to twenty nine point?
Speaker 6 (01:14):
Were you at home?
Speaker 5 (01:14):
Where were you second row? Then look at that right
behind your girl?
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Who that which girl? Taylor?
Speaker 5 (01:26):
When they who else? Who else? They talk about?
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yeap Taylor?
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Okay, because then they're now like questioning whether she's a
Knick fan or whatever.
Speaker 6 (01:36):
I don't know, but.
Speaker 5 (01:37):
You know, you know the thing is look, just life
in general is a trendy team. So you know, we
got Nick fans from all around a country where every
famous person now has been a Knicks fan their whole life.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
You know how that goes.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
When I see Jimmy Johnson wearing a Nick T shirt
as an eighty year old man, I'm I'm okay.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
I'm like, wow, yeah.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
I'm telling you something.
Speaker 7 (02:03):
It's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
Is bringing people together. You know, it's like every walk
of life, you know, everybody's just so happy. You know,
I got Jimmy Fallon hugging me for one side of me.
I got who else hugging me for the next side?
Speaker 7 (02:18):
Win, the former Nick players jumping on me.
Speaker 5 (02:21):
It's like, it's crazy.
Speaker 6 (02:22):
Let me ask you.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
But leon okay, so they win, but they were down
twenty nine points. Be honest, where were you were you
calling Mike Brown, Charlie Brown? Were you distraught? Were you
like we're going to blow this? We went up two
oh in San Antonio. We lose this game. We've given
it right back to them, and we're in trouble. Where
was your head?
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Give it?
Speaker 6 (02:43):
Give me the mental part right there? First half?
Speaker 5 (02:46):
Well, first I want to just give this game a
proper name and definition. Okay, it was the agony and
the ecstasy.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Okay, that was this game.
Speaker 5 (03:01):
If he had to give this game a name, that
was it. Because the agony that we were feeling at
halftime and in that third quarter was beyond. We waited
for this final moment, and here we are down twenty
nine points. We're all looking at each other like you
got to be kidding me, You got to be kidding me.
(03:22):
And then everyone's talking to me like, well, a lot
of people leaving, they're going home, I says, do you
know the price of them tickets?
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Ain't nobody going nowhere?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Ain't nobody going home.
Speaker 7 (03:32):
Ain't nobody going home to see they rautther roof for
the other team.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
They go home with that price.
Speaker 8 (03:39):
Speaking of the other team, Leon, let me ask you.
You got to be their second role. What's it like
to see Wenby? I haven't seen him in person. I
pretty much seen everybody at least in rob seven foot five,
gangly are skilled, though not like a big guy, you know,
can't move, he's not lurch. What was it like to
witness him? And then he like, man, this judas out
(03:59):
of that alien.
Speaker 5 (04:02):
Yeah, you know, I've seen him a couple of times
and it's yeah, it's it's amazing.
Speaker 7 (04:06):
You know.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
It's specially because of how.
Speaker 7 (04:07):
Long his limbs are and how easy it is to
just throw the ball up to him and you can
just put it in from anywhere. I mean when his
when his skill level and cruise and he puts on
some weights like, yeah, it's gonna be crazy. But what's
really amazed me was his jumper.
Speaker 4 (04:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (04:24):
I mean, yo, he pulls up from anywhere and you
know you're not blocking it. That's why I don't understand
why anyone gets a foul on him when he choose
a jumper, Like, were you really thinking you're blocking it?
Speaker 6 (04:36):
Right?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Right? Why are you jumping into him?
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Like how you jumping into him?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
Touching him?
Speaker 6 (04:40):
Like what is that about?
Speaker 5 (04:42):
Okay, not to waste the time, Hey, let me ask you.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Okay, I'm not trying to drink the nicks and say
it's over whatever, But right now, who's leading in your
mind to be the MVP if they do go on
to win, because obviously they need to get another win
and we're not jinxing them they have not won anything.
But just uh, in the beginning, I think it was
Cat because the first couple of games he kind of
helped win me down. Then I think it was you know,
(05:11):
Brunton was kind of there. Now og uh So who
do you have if we were to say, okay, they
win the next game and we got to pick an
m v P.
Speaker 5 (05:22):
Okay, are you asking me who I think they would pick?
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Yea, yeah, yep, yep, yeah.
Speaker 5 (05:27):
Who I think they will pick is Jalen Brunton.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
See, I agree with you, I know.
Speaker 9 (05:31):
No.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
The reason why I'm going to say Jalen Brunton because
they want to pick Jalen Brunton.
Speaker 7 (05:35):
He's the star of the team.
Speaker 5 (05:36):
He's a story and he's done nothing to take himself
out of that competition. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 7 (05:43):
He's only he's only.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
Improved itself as far as that category is concerned. Now,
do you have a case for O G. Well, if
you're looking at the entire body, well, the game is
played on both sides.
Speaker 7 (05:55):
Of the court, right right right, and he is Stella Stella.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
On defense. I mean, everyone keeps talking about that tip
and it's gonna go in history. But without without the block, there.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Is no was that a block or foul? I've seen pictures, Kelvin,
I sent you the picture you did.
Speaker 5 (06:13):
I've seen pictures too, But you know what it is.
It's the block.
Speaker 6 (06:16):
If they don't call it, no, I can't.
Speaker 8 (06:19):
By the way, they came out and said the NBA
said that it wasn't the foul.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
I was shot. The NBA has come out, Kelvin.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
You saw the picture and and and Leon you saw
it too right after it.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Yeah, I saw.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
But I'll tell you one thing.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
I didn't see Fox complaining.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Yeah. I think he knew he shouldn't. He was supposed
to drive it that out, like.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Uh, you know basketball, You played basketball, dude, Come on,
like that is elementary basketball.
Speaker 6 (06:46):
You have the lead and the ball with ten seconds ago,
you do not take a shot?
Speaker 4 (06:51):
Okay? Will you stunned?
Speaker 5 (06:53):
Okay? So this would have to stay from a basketball professor.
When you're in a game, and especially a tight game,
last in a game like that, and there's a loose
ball and the ball is going towards your bucket, you
usually try to scoop it up as quick as you
possibly can and just put it in the bucket. Done, okay,
(07:15):
And that's what I think he was doing. He thought
there's no way Fox and one of the fastest guys
in the league.
Speaker 7 (07:21):
He said, this is a lay up to him. I
don't think he even thought, oh, he was gonna get
to him.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
But it doesn't.
Speaker 7 (07:31):
No, No, I'm not saying you shouldn't have pulled it out.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
What I'm saying is that you're not thinking then when
the ball is moving to the bucket and you're rushing
at full speed to get it and realize you have
a layer.
Speaker 7 (07:42):
So what I'm saying instinct took over there, not thought.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Is that the right thing here?
Speaker 7 (07:47):
In hindsight, we can kill him for it. But I'm
telling you, as a ballplayer.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
When that ball is moving and you're moving at the
quakest speed to grab and you think there's an open
lay up here, you take it.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
You Yeah, I can understand that too. Real quick. We
only got a second.
Speaker 8 (08:04):
I was gonna ask Game five tonight if I can
san Antoni, is it a rap?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Do y'all tomorrow? Do y'all win it tomorrow? Or are
we going back to New York?
Speaker 5 (08:14):
I want us to win it tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (08:16):
I wanted you don't want the series to go on, right?
Speaker 5 (08:19):
I wanted to win tomorrow. I mean, you know, oh great,
we can win it in magis great guard. That's no guarantee.
That's no guarantee. You saw the last game. It took
us a tip to win it. Yeah, Okay, that's no guarantee.
Speaker 7 (08:33):
Only one team is even one on their floor. I
don't want to take.
Speaker 5 (08:38):
If you're watching the same series that I'm watching.
Speaker 7 (08:41):
Okay, he's San Antonios Furs.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
These young boys, they buy a.
Speaker 7 (08:45):
Game away from figuring this out.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
Okay, and I don't want to be playing that.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
When they figure it out. Okay. That's a great point.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
That's a real basketball And when you started this segment,
you talked about that agony and the ecstasy of the Knicks.
Uh that come back when and I'm gonna tell you
about my ecstasy at agnony. It say I have the
reverse because I was in ecstasy until the bag fell
off of her head and then it was agony.
Speaker 6 (09:13):
So you know, we're kind of close, you know, Rob.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
Rob, I was so so happy that you have a
steady job and that you don't venture offense these other
things that.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
No comedy and no sign comedy. Just stick to radio,
all right. Radio.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
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.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Hey, it's Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington from The Odd
Couple on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 8 (09:56):
And in addition to hearing us live week nights from
seven to ten pm on Fox Sports Radio, we are
excited to announce brand new YouTube channel for the show.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
That's right, you can now watch The Odd Couple live
on YouTube every day.
Speaker 8 (10:12):
All you gotta do search Odd Couple FSR on YouTube
again YouTube, Just search Odd Couple FSR.
Speaker 4 (10:18):
Check us out on YouTube and subscribe.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Is well underway, and even if they're ready to play
in Los Angeles, right.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Oh yeah, it's going down.
Speaker 8 (10:28):
We had Obviously, Mexico won their game last night, their match,
and everybody's excited about that, obviously us living in Southern California,
large Mexican, Mexican American population, so folks are excited, and.
Speaker 4 (10:40):
You start to do anything wrong with that, No, no, no,
we love it.
Speaker 8 (10:46):
But so now obviously everybody's excited about the United States
men's national team, their first matter kicking it off. That's
gonna be today of course, going against Paraguay, and so
this begins it begins to me, Rob, which what they've
been trying to do and you know this, You've been
in sports for years. Really get America on the mainstream
(11:07):
when it comes to soccer or football, to get people
into it, to really have a team that can compete,
not just throw somebody out there, throw a team out
there and they get Miley watch. So this is supposed
to be the team ROB that has a chance to
really do that.
Speaker 4 (11:20):
So it is led by Christian Pulisic. He is one
of the better players.
Speaker 8 (11:24):
Of course, he plays for ac Milan Series A, and
he's supposed to be the young superstar to feed on
for them to really get this team going. You also
had the coach Marciano Pachita Pratchettino, who jinked this roster.
Thank you appreciate that, who picked this roster. Some people
a little skeptical of him. But the point is a
larger point, Rob. This team has been together for about
(11:46):
eight years now, since most of them were teenagers. You
got a group of guys that they put an emphasis
on saying, all right, you are going to be the future.
You guys are going to be the team that gets
Americans into soccer, that gets Americans excited.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Because we know the World Cup is coming.
Speaker 8 (12:00):
So we're gonna put a lot into you, give you
the resources, and a lot's gonna be rid on this
because again, matches are here all across North America, but
specifically in Los Angeles.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
You've got a lot of people are watching.
Speaker 8 (12:11):
This team's been together for a long time, and people
are gonna hope that they can finally get past the quarterfinals,
which they've the last two times we've been in it.
That's as far as we've gotten. We didn't make it
a few years back, you know. So the question is
Candice be the team to ignite something where my daughters
Rob Gi has daughters you know, who are younger little boys.
(12:33):
People can get excited about it and start to formulate
where American kids are playing soccer all the way through
because the fineings to be weird, rob everybody kind of
played soccer here in America is like you the first
sport you throw a kid into, but it doesn't stick,
you know what I mean? Like, oh, little Tammy, little Bobby,
little Derek is playing.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Little All they're doing is running around and the parents
just to have them run around so that they can
fall asleep at night.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Donect don't disrespect our parenting like that.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Okay, no, we became everybody get into soccer just run
around for two hour energy.
Speaker 4 (13:08):
So you're gonna be to night. But that's what's gonna
be interesting.
Speaker 8 (13:10):
This team is really gonna be the one people are saying,
can this start some type of boom? I don't ever
think it'll be as it is in other countries because
for them it's life or death. We know that, we've
seen how serious they take their soccer. We don't take
it that seriously here, But can it be the one
that gets it going, that maybe goes further than expected
pastor quarterfinals for once it actually starts some type of
(13:32):
where kids like, oh, I actually want to ride through
with soccer, not just enjoy it when I was five, six,
eight years old. And that's what's going to Ligne tonight,
rob not just tonight, but obviously through this whole entire
World Cup, and it'll be interesting to see. I don't
fully expect them to go past the quarterfinals. It's gonna
get too difficult. You're gonna play teams that have the
best players in the world, that have been doing this
year in year out.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
So I don't expect it. But this is why you hope.
Speaker 8 (13:55):
And you watch Olympics, you watch World Cups because you
hope for miracles. You hope for things you unexp back
to shoot. You watch that on NBA finals to see
things you never thought you'd see. So uh, these sta
odds are stacked against them past the quarterfinal, passed around
the sixteen.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
But this is the best team, the best chance we've
had in a long time. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I just I think you have some lofty goals that
are just don't seem obtainable to me. And I don't
care how long they've been together. These other countries with
the World Cup or whatever, they're not the favorite, you
know what I mean, Like it would.
Speaker 6 (14:26):
Be a miracle on ice. Yes, sorry, you know what
I mean.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
It would be of that if the United States were
able to win a World Cup here in the United States.
Speaker 8 (14:38):
Just let me Hollywood would there would be twenty six
movies in nine months.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
That's how fast they would get those movies out.
Speaker 6 (14:45):
No, right, I just I don't I don't know. It
just seems an awful task.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
The women you got you just mentioned you have daughters
and getting them interested and Rob g has a couple
of daughters, right, and the women have won the World
Cup move the needle as popular as they are. And
I'm just I'm not saying Kelvin that they're not popular,
right because they are, right they are. The women's soccer
(15:11):
in the United States is booming.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
They won, and.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Yet it didn't move the needle like you would have
thought every little girl should be running around kicking a
soccer ball, right, right, right, I don't think we're there.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
I do think I just think it's a go ahead.
Speaker 8 (15:27):
I was just gonna say, I think the I think
women are a little bit more advancing than men, Like,
I think they're more into it, we're more we're more successful.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
As a whole when it comes to soccer.
Speaker 8 (15:38):
It's kind of like gymnastics, right the women team is
always competitive, always good versus our men's gymnastics team.
Speaker 6 (15:45):
Yeah, I get that, but I just.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
I'm you know, so you're saying if they win a championship,
this is going to turn the country, like like, well,
oh no, no, if they won the.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
World the entire world up, absolutely right, because they're there.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
If they could win the World Cup, and I still
don't think it's going to turn the country. I just
don't I think people will sit up and take notice,
take great pride in an American team winning, you know
what I mean, and saying how awesome it was. But
do I really believe this country is fractured? And that's
why either with team no just people care more about
(16:27):
New York and Detroit than they do the United States.
They do, and they care about their teams and what's
closer to them, not that they wouldn't enjoy.
Speaker 6 (16:37):
Don't give me. I'm not saying that we're different.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
A lot of these countries are small compared to Howard,
and they don't have a professional league right or or
leagues of that we have. So their allegiance is with
their country that do you You know what I'm saying,
more so than their than their league, local league that
they have. It's not of dismagnitude. I think that's the
(17:05):
difference in what makes it so hard for people to
fully embrace soccer. Kelvin, I'm sixty two. When I was
a kid, they were telling me how soccer was coming.
I'm not forty years ago, right, No longer than that
fifty years ago. All soccer is going to be bigger
than baseball and football. I'm telling you everybody around the
world plays soccer. They told me that and tried to
(17:28):
convince me that also the leader system was going to
be the way that we determined our beverages. No, the
new math that was taught that, Oh no, it's not
a quarter anymore, it's a leader or whatever. How much
is a leader. It's like a weird number. And all
we got out of that system. Kelvin's a two leaders soda,
nothing else.
Speaker 4 (17:49):
And Michigan came out of me. I said, two leater pop.
You know what's what we call it?
Speaker 6 (17:52):
Michigan exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
So all right, eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox
eight seven seven nine nine six sixty three sixty nine.
Would a deep run in the World Cup make soccer
mainstream in the US of A. We'll continue that conversation
next with you. It is the odd couple where we
deliver insight and not noise, and we value your phone calls.
(18:18):
You want to hear from you your opinion. This is
not a podcast, this is a radio show. We want
to hear from you. Eight seven to seven ninety nine
on Fox, Rob Parker, Kelvin, Washington, And you know what
you need to do, stick and stay.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
To start watching the glory of US Soccer in the
US of A.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Rob Parker and kelvin Washington weekdays at seven pm Eastern,
four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
We are the our couple.
Speaker 8 (18:50):
He's Rob, I'm Kelvin on a funky flashback Friday. Make
sure you stream us live wherever you happen to be.
Just get the iHeart at Catch us in all your
favorite Fox Sports Radio shows live twenty four seven in
the new would Improve Iheard app.
Speaker 4 (19:01):
Search Fox Sports Radio in the app.
Speaker 8 (19:03):
The streamers live all day, every day, and be sure
to select Fox Sports Radio as one of your presets.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
In the iHeart app. It's always gonna pop up. There
he is now.
Speaker 8 (19:10):
We're now joined by Mark Funky Cote Madina, Fox Sports Radio,
NBA Insider Mark g Underscore Medina give a follow.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
Up, X Mark, What something Man?
Speaker 9 (19:19):
Alvin? Rob been enjoying your passion debate about these finals
to contribute to it.
Speaker 6 (19:25):
Thank you, buddy. You know that the Odd Couple. Passion
is our middle name.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
Rob.
Speaker 4 (19:30):
Where do you want to start with it?
Speaker 6 (19:33):
Let's start. Let's let's go backwards. Before we go forwards.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Mark, and you know Kevin and I we you know,
of course, the Spurs led the door open and the
Knicks had to make plays and make baskets. And no
one's taking anything away from the Knicks having to make
the plays in the baskets to win that game. I
just thought that was as bad of a coaching job
and that I had seen. I can't believe you would
(19:58):
be up twenty five, take nine straight threes and you
shot the lights out of it. You know how it works, Mark,
You know, basketball is a way of even evening out
the percentages. You're not going to shoot seventy five percent
from three the entire game. What what what did you
take away from that?
Speaker 5 (20:18):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (20:18):
Was was that coaching?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
To you?
Speaker 4 (20:20):
Was that?
Speaker 9 (20:21):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (20:21):
The Aaron Fox making like the biggest bonehead playoffs scene
where you have the ball and the lead.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
What what did you take away?
Speaker 7 (20:28):
What?
Speaker 6 (20:28):
What what did you leave?
Speaker 7 (20:30):
Uh?
Speaker 6 (20:31):
After seeing that?
Speaker 9 (20:32):
Yeah? What I took away is all these things can
be true. Nicks are resilient, but the Spurs, you know,
coughed it up and handed all these things. The silver plattern.
They didn't get in their own way. They would have
secured the lead. You mentioned about t Aaron Fox. That
was I think one of the most boneheaded players I've
ever seen in NBA playoff history. You run out the clock.
It doesn't matter how fast you are. You have the lead,
(20:53):
you got to protect it.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
You got them. You have the lead and the ball
mark And that even makes sense.
Speaker 9 (20:57):
Yes, and even in today's NBA statistically they'll say, Okay,
it can be for a championship, you got to make threes.
But if you're not making him, you got to play percentages.
I was there when the Rockets and the Warriors played
in twenty eighteen, when Houston missed twenty seven consecutive threes,
at some point you got to go to Plan B.
So Rob, I know that you've loved it giving Mike
(21:19):
Brown nicknames as Charlie Brown. But I'm not sure if
you're aware of this, but Mitch Johnson apparently was known
as the Maestro growing up because he was seen as
this person that knows how to make all these intelligent decisions.
That was the opposite of Mais Strow decisions of the
three point ball. And look, I get through the series,
(21:40):
maybe at least Game one, giving him some grace of
going with the Aaron Fox of the VET having trust,
but at some point you got to go with what's working,
and Dylan Harper's clearly the better players.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
Not time to be.
Speaker 9 (21:52):
Political that you did that during the regular season. So
it's been a lot of shortcomings across the board.
Speaker 8 (21:58):
Yeah, you mentioned that Dylan higher when I brought it
up to Rob after I believe it was Game one
where he didn't play him down the stretch and he
had played so well, he didn't play him at all,
and I think he's stuck in that.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
Well, these are my starters.
Speaker 8 (22:11):
I have to close the game with my starters when
it's really like, use him like mine new Genobili, you
got the proto type. He might not start, but Dad
gone for sure he's gonna finish. And that's what I
would like to see with Dylan Harper. He's been incredible.
But let me also ask you this. I go to
the next side of things, and I don't know if
there's been a more resilient team over the last two
or three years where they just keep doing that. Rob
(22:33):
bought up of Boston Celtics last year. The next down
twenty in Game one and Game two. They come back
in both of those they come back against Cleveland last series.
I mean, what is it about this team that until
is triple zeros? They are like, we can still win
this team.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 9 (22:50):
Well, to be clear, I mean both things can be true,
but I have to establish the copy of both. Last
season this season, you know, their playoff opponents had a
lot of flaws, in jury, these shortcomings, so that was
a factor. But as far as what's controllable with the Knicks,
their efforts always consistent. And you know they have quote
unquote stars with Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthone Towns, but
(23:13):
a they aren't always playing like stars. But be they
play as a team. It's not about who's getting the ball,
how many shots are people getting their identity starts on
the defensive end as well as you know, making hustle
plays and having good ball movements. So you know, that's
helped them overcome leads, help them overcome Karnthone Towns foul trouble,
(23:36):
overcome slow starts for Jalen Brunson from a shooting standpoint.
So all those things are good and you need that
in the NBA playoffs. And you contrast that with the Spurs.
They're not handling adversity. Well, they're getting by because they're
very talented, they're very athletic, and they have depth. But
(23:56):
you know, to my surprise, I knew, okay, this is
our first playoff experience. But they seemed pretty mature for
their age during the regular season, and they also have
some established veterans like Daron Fox. But during these playoffs,
even with the thunder series, I haven't seen their resiliency
or you know, their kind of mental Ford serature together,
(24:18):
and it's being a factor. It's been more about their
talent tearing everything.
Speaker 6 (24:22):
Let me let me say this.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
When you talk about even the Knicks coming back from
these leads when they beat the Celtics, the Celtics miss
seventy five out of one hundred three pointers. You know,
like Kevin, when you talk about teams coming back, there's
always a factor of when you shoot threees, you give
people easy baskets on the other end of the floor,
Like it's a recipe to give.
Speaker 6 (24:44):
Up a big lead if you're not making them, and
you just keep forcing the issue. How about.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Jalen Brunson has not been efficient by any stretch of
the imagination, but I think they would go out of
their way unless he has an awful clinching game to
give him the MVP.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
Would would Og be somebody you would vote for or would?
Speaker 1 (25:11):
I think Kat was to talk the first couple of
games when they held win be down, where are you
was as far as potentially being.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
An MVP.
Speaker 9 (25:21):
Yeah, I don't. I mean, look, voters might vote for
him because of the whole clutch part, and you know
his leadership and the narratives about oh, he's undersized, he
can't win a championship. But I think if you're going
on performance, he's third at best, maybe even fourth because
Victor Wabanama's playing. But with exception of Jerry West in
(25:42):
nineteen sixty nine, you know, player on losing team rarely
wins it. I think the Necks are going to win it.
So I think it's between Oja Deanobi and karl Anthion Towns.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Og.
Speaker 9 (25:51):
Yes, yeah, we all know the game winning tipping that
he had, as well as the block on deeron Fox.
But he's been very consistent throughout the series and with
karl Anton Towns, even with that slow start in Game
four with the foul trouble. Defensively, he's been mostly good
against Victor one Bama, and he's been very aggressive on
(26:12):
both sides of the ball, and he's been a great
team guy. So I think it's a toss up early
between Kat and o g. Now, some voters may go
for or Bronson, but even even with that, I would
be very surprised if he winds up pointing it all right.
Speaker 8 (26:27):
We gotta leave it there. Mark, Appreciate you as always, man.
Game five should be great. Tomorrow we got we got
real quick. Oh.
Speaker 9 (26:35):
I think Spurs only because home court. But nixt will
close it out in six on Tuesday, New York. And
I'm looking forward to next week, Rob, you said, the
Knixt one Championship. That's when you'll you'll sing your flowers
to Charlie Brown. So I'll be sure.
Speaker 7 (26:49):
You know what.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
It's so unfortunate. I'm on vacation next.
Speaker 9 (26:53):
Week, of course.
Speaker 4 (26:56):
Yeah, we're gonna call you, Rob, your phone up. Uh,
we're gonna call you. Absolutely, Thank you. Guess Mark. If
the Smurts come back and win it all your vacation.
Speaker 5 (27:08):
Wow.
Speaker 8 (27:09):
Oh that's so Rob of you. Thank you, Mark, appreciate
it all right, Appreciate you guy, no doubt.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
All right.
Speaker 8 (27:15):
So the economy some things making a world Cup. It's
been a little difficult for some people. Rob, we're breaking
down what we mean. It's the Eye Couple on a
funky flashback Friday shot. Up to Mark for joining us.
Speaker 4 (27:27):
Stick with your Boys Fox Sports
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Radio on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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