September 16, 2020 • 38 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd
Couple at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f
(00:21):
s R. You're listening to the Best of the Odd
Couple with Chris Brush and Rob Harker. Yeah, it is
(00:42):
the R Couple. I'm Chris Brusard alongside my partner Rob Parker.
We are coming to you live from the Geico Fox
Sports Radio studios. Good live fifteen minutes could save you
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dot com for a free rate. Quote what rock? What
are you? What are you talking about? Live and we'll
(01:05):
do it, law, We'll do it lad. You don't think
we're live, No, we're love. We're definitely. We're all the
way live, all the way live. And you know who's
not all the way alive? The LA Clippers dead after
that pathetic performance in Game seven last night in the
(01:27):
Western Conference second Round against the Denver Nuggets. We will
get into that for certain We also got Big Ten news.
Of course, they're playing football. We've been hitting at it,
or they've been hitting at it, and we've been talking
about it the last few days. Now it's official. The
Big Ten will be back in October with college football.
(01:48):
So we'll talk about that and so much more and
joining us at the bottom of this first hour, we'll
have all the insight in the college football and of
course pro as well. Fox college football analyst former vikings
in Ohio State running back was a great one too.
Robert Smith will join us. Let me welcome in my partner,
(02:08):
Rob Parker. What's up man? How are you? What's happening.
I just want people to know, you know, Chris, Chris,
I know you. You know people on Twitter and social media.
First of all, I did not cry myself to sleep
last night. I'm not a fan of the Clippers. Just
because I picked them to win and I was wrong
(02:29):
doesn't mean that it's the end of the world. I
just sometimes I don't understand if people actually get or
do they think like because you make a pick, or
because you pick against somebody else, you hate that person
or that team, or or you're a fan of it.
So I just want people to know. No, I'm not
a Clippers fan. I don't have any gear. I've never
(02:51):
been a Clippers fan. But I did pick them to
win the championship and they didn't do it. That's it. Yeah,
I think I get what you're saying. Um, And you know,
I was on the shows today First Things First and
uh undisputed, so I felt the wrath of Nick Wright
and Brandon Marshall and the first things first, which is
(03:11):
you know what, and then Shannon of course skipping eye
felt the wrath or undisputed. But yeah, I was thinking
about because you're right. I mean, like I said yesterday,
we're not cheerleaders. I'm not. I've never been a Clippers fan.
I mean, obviously we try to be objective generally, but
you've never been a Clippers fan. But you do pull
for the team your picks because you want to be
(03:32):
right right, talk about it all the time, and we
bragging rights and all that. So that's our job is
when we pick these things, you want to have some forthight,
you want to be right. It's a big deal for analysts.
That's what we do right right, But we're wrong sometimes
and it's all right. Like like I said, there's no
(03:53):
skin up, my up. I've been right a lot, I've
been wrong. I've been wrong too, So you've been wrong
a lot too. No, I said, don't make it, don't
make it better. Now you're wrong a lot too. But
everybody's been right and everybody's been wrong, and it's all
in fun. But yeah, you know, hey, fans, bring it.
I heard that I was getting killed on social media.
(04:15):
I haven't looked for you. That's what I hear people
people been saying that. People say, block guys. This is
what you block some people today. Yes, I did shocked Rob, honestly,
because you are obviously on this show, we go at it.
You know all the time callers you know, some of
(04:37):
them go at you, some of them don't. We've been
trash talked on our own show. Um, you seem to
be a guy that you know. Somebody going at you
or disagreeing doesn't bother you. So I'm not surprised that
you block people. It's not about disagreeing with me, if
you were to make your case, it's when people try
(04:58):
to tell you what you say and and they have
a false narrative that's going quick. That guy can't get
through too. Do you see what I'm saying he has
a false narrative. He's saying something that I never said
to that guy. I don't have any time for him.
If you just have a criticism a lot of people,
that's what everybody, that's what everybody that you block is
(05:20):
creating a false narrative. Yes, and here's the other part
that to me, I don't get. Then they go on
my Instagram and say, unblocked me? Why did you block me?
If somebody blocked me, I leave it at that. I
would go on my Instagram and then block me. Right
if I block why would you go on your Instagram
and ask me to unblock you. On Twitter, I generally
(05:43):
don't block people. What it is rob The reason people
do that is because there's something called I call them
Twitter muscles, but it probably is more aptly defined as
social media muscles. Because I have never and you know
how it is when we go out, you know, obviously
people recognize you, they want to and I've never I
(06:06):
mean and I've been on TV now almost twenty years,
National TV. Never one time of the thousands of people
who have come up to me for a picture. You know,
obviously not many people ask for autographs anymore. But just
whatever to talk whatever. Nobody has ripped me, nobody has
been like rude, not seing them. And yet on Twitter,
(06:30):
you got all these people killing you, right, But I
never see any of them in public, so I'm sure
that it's some of these guys they got Twitter muscles,
but if you ever see them in person, they want
to be friendly. And one thing I had and I
don't respond to a lot of them, but a few
times when I have robbed, like if somebody saying something
(06:52):
and you go back at them, but you know, now
obviously you're conversing with them, then they're like, hey, you know,
it's almost like they they want to be cool now
because they got a dialogue with you right right, and
it's like almost like they were just trying to say
something to get your attention. So now I really don't
even respond because, as you said, you're giving them more attention. Right,
(07:13):
you might have a dude with thirty followers who rips you,
and if you respond now of a sudden, you're you know,
you're giving him a big platform that he normally wouldn't have.
So that's kind of how I handle it. While the
Clippers didn't handle their big platform last night. No, they
did not, And we are about to get into the atlas.
First introduce the I Couple crew. Of course, he's back
(07:34):
on the Worship wins Day dj Alex tischert Aka Alex
the Vegan. We got lead to Lap the super producer
in for Rob g and hey, it's mister Bryan Finley
with the updates. All right, Rob, let's get right to it.
Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers go down meekly. Not only do
(07:56):
they lose in the second round, but they lose a
three one lead. And on top of that, they had
double digit leads in each of the last three games,
including last night. They were about twelve in the second quarter.
And so what Here's the question I wanted to throw
(08:16):
out to you, Rob, Does this change your view? I mean,
and you said it last I think it's about a
week ago, week week and a half ago. You said
Kawhi Leonard is the best player in the world. Does
this change your view of Kawhile not necessarily going forward,
you know, I mean, he's got years to rewrite his
(08:37):
legacy or add to it or whatever. But for the
time being, does this change your view of Kawhi le
Sure he was what he was six with twenty two
with fourteen points in the fourth, but he was he choked.
It was a choke job and it was as shocking
as anything I've ever witnessed in sports. I've been covering
sports for thirty five years. Wow, No Kawa, because that's
(09:06):
why they got him, because he is a cool customer,
because he is a guy who could call on He
was the guy in Game seven last year for Toronto
that made the big shot to beat the seventy six ers.
That's why you got him, Chris that that that was
the reason. And to not show up in the biggest
game of the year, he's a choke job and I'm
(09:26):
not gonna mince words, or and it does that mean
that he can't play in the gates everything that he's
done in his career or what will he do? No?
And for all of the Laker fans celebrating, they they
have short memories when it comes to Lebron, because if
that's the case, we could have buried Lebron. When they
lost to Dallas and he melted down in that series,
(09:47):
Chris and said that was it for Lebron, right, But
it wasn't it. He rebounded and won some Championships after
that terrible series against the Mavericks, which they should have won,
or most people thought they should have won, and Lebron
played poorly. Do you know what I'm saying? So to me,
you gotta be careful before you write somebody off. But
(10:09):
he choked last night and everything that they had put
in their basket. And I'm not saying he has to
be the almighty savior. Chris and and Paul George didn't
do his part either. But but the one guy if
you would have told me that that that ninety percent
of the team wouldn't show up, the one guy I
would be hard to believe wouldn't show up would have
(10:32):
been Kawhi Leonard And he didn't show up last night.
You're right the bottom. There's no way to sugarcoat it.
And and a few things. Number one, he is not
the best player in the world. Would you agree with that,
Rob or you still on set? No? I said after that,
it's hard to make an argument for right. The best
player in the world is still Lebron James. I mean,
(10:52):
let's look at the candidates. Yannis at the Kombo obviously
is limitations in his game, Kauai great obviously still a
great player. Nobody saying he's not great, but you know,
he didn't deliver, couldn't even get his team out of
the second round against an inferior opponent. NICOLEA. Jokic's not
there yet, Luka done. James hardened, Harden did a did
(11:14):
Harden like things and as they lost in the second round.
Lebron James is still the best player in the world.
We'll see if that ends up in the championship. But
that's number one, number two, Like you said, Rob, the
Kauhi's twenty nine years old. His legacy is not written now.
He's already got two championships, so he's a made right.
(11:38):
He's got right. But Magic Johnson had this moment, Tragic Johnson.
They called him in nineteen eight for best point guard ever,
dribbled out the clock. Think about that. Isaiah Thomas had
his moment by Larry Bird yep. One of the child
(12:00):
in my book, the third fourth best point guard ever
um Larry Bird first Finals. Rob he had an eight
point game, an eight point game in a twelve point game.
Think about that. Three games, eight, eight, twelve and one
of the great one of the great greatest players ever.
So in Lebron, as you mentioned twenty eleven against Dallas,
(12:20):
So it happens will Kauhi and I think we both
believe he will. But Willie learned from this and bounce
back the way those guys did and become a stronger player.
Now here's what I have to say about his legacy,
and it's you know, like I said, it's not set.
But as I began to think about this rod really closely,
(12:43):
I looked at it and say, you know what, this
is actually the first time I believe that Kawi has
had to carry the burden of expectations and Lebron James
has carried it BA basically his whole career. And I'm
not trying to make this about Lebron, but that's just
an example. This is the first time I believe Kawai's
(13:08):
really had to carry it as a favorite as now
we expect it from you. Now we're saying had Colin
Kyle hurt our buddy was saying he'd be a top
five player of all time when they win it. And
if you look at his first championship, yes he was
the finals MVP, but it wasn't his team. He didn't
carry him. He was a role player. Yeah, average thirteen
(13:30):
points that year. It was Tim Duncan, Minujenobli and Tony
Parker and even Greg Popovich. That was the team. There
was nothing expected of Kauai. Yes, he was a great
defender at that point and did a good job on Lebron,
but anything he gave you was gravy Toronto. He goes there,
nobody's expected him to lead him to anything. You know, yeah,
(13:53):
make the playoffs, you go deep. Nobody was expecting a championship,
and he was great. I'm not taking anything away from
but he did in the playoffs, but you know, it
was house money. It was like, you know, nobody was
saying they're gonna win the East, They're gonna win the championship.
No one expected anything, and he went through some immature
(14:13):
young guys in the East, the Philadelphia seventy six ers.
We know how immature they are. Yannis, we know he
wasn't ready. And then when he gets to the finals,
again not taking it away from him, but Rob, you know,
we knitpick with the greats, and Durant's hurt and then
Clay gets hurt, and so that's a great championship, no asterisk,
(14:33):
but those were the facts, and this was the first time.
Now he's coming in as the king or one of
the kings, him and Lebron and Yannis. He was on
that level. We're expecting it from you, Kauai. You're gonna
deliver most of us, right, you me, most of the analysts,
ex players, most picked the Clippers. You got commercials now
(14:58):
where you're saying, I'm the king of la Right, you
got a new shoe everything, you got the commercial where
you say, oh, you know how it ends. You know,
all of that expectations and he crumbled. Doesn't mean he'll
crumble the rest of his career, but he crumbled under
the weight of expectations, which I say was the first
(15:20):
time in his career he really had to carry him
because he's been kind of the underdog his whole career
San Diego State, lower, you know, not much of a
ballyhoo draft pick, you know, role player with the superstars
in San Antonio. No one expects anything in Toronto, And
this was the first time he had to carry that
weight and it didn't end well. All right, eight seven
(15:44):
seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven seven nine nine
six sixty three sixty nine. What do you guys think, well,
does this effect impact the way you view Kawhi at
least for the time being. I know a lot of
you thought he was the best player in the world.
Where what are you thinking right now? Eight seven, seven
(16:07):
ninety nine on Fox you'll be able to discuss it
with Rob and myself. Hey, Chris, we got a comment
from Kawhi Leonard about his performance last night. I think
that was crying instead. Be sure to catch live editions
of The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard and Rob Parker
weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox
(16:30):
Sports Radio and the iHeart Radio app. The news of
the day, outside of the Clippers going down, is that
the Big Ten is going up. In other words, they
are going to be playing football again. Remember auguste Levins
they announced that they were they were postponing all fall sports,
of course, including college football in the Big Ten. But
(16:54):
now today their counsel of Presidents and Chancellors voted unanimously
to resume the football season starting October twenty three and
twenty fourth. That weekend, Rob, you'll play about eight games
each team, and that'll be enough for them to you know,
get that in right before they picked the college football
(17:15):
you know, the four teams that may get to the bowl,
the Bowl championship series, so, um, the playoff? What what
are your general thoughts? Well, let me let me start
and should say I think Kevin Warren, the Big Ten commissioners,
also said that news about other sports Chris could come
as soon as tomorrow, you know, like okay, because you know,
(17:37):
like like you're bending on college football. You know, the
other sports are saying what about us? Do you know
what I mean? Like like like this can't be just
about so I'm sure that's why that announcement because otherwise
what does it look like the money grab for just
college fo? Well, and I think this robe we know,
we know it's some money grab, that's all it is.
(18:00):
And look, I'm not I will I don't know if
I'm expecting the other sports to play, um, but I
won't be surprised if they don't. And I think that
while the other athletes might be upset, and I guess rightfully,
So this will let you know if you didn't already know,
(18:21):
right right, this is what it's about. So so again,
when all the other stuff comes up, pay to play,
you know, pay paying their athletes obviously they can now
capitalize on their likenesses and things like that. But when
all this other stuff comes up, I don't want to
hear about student athletes, No neither. Why I'm with you.
(18:41):
This makes the case stronger, Chris, that they were school employees. Yep,
because you're asking them to be essential workers and work
during a pandemic. Whatever you want. That's right, absolutely right,
you're because why the people that count on the money.
And I'm not just talking about the coaches getting rich
and all that, the other people that regular administrator, secretaries,
(19:05):
all the people that work in the athletic department and
count on that money. They need you to play because
they need you to go to work. They do to
go to work, Chris, you said it. And and you
gotta remember those schools, quich when that big money TV
money started rolling in, they started taking the money from
the schools the athletics budget and like, oh no, they
(19:30):
don't contribute anymore. Now it's got to come from the
football money right now, you know. And now that's what
they say, we don't have any money. No, you have money,
you just don't contribute anymore. And you don't want to
what what what university could doesn't have money. They got endowments,
they got money, all of them. And I'll tell you
this right, this just came in to me, um, Kevin
(19:52):
Warren when he announced that, you know, the announcement about
the other sports will be coming in this uh tomorrow.
Maybe this is this was overheard on an open mic.
What about the others? Oh yeah, oh yeah, finally, oh yeah,
you know what'll well, we'll see, right, And I ain't
even thinking about the other sports. I know Kevin Warren, Chris,
(20:16):
he was an executive with the Lions. Got to know him,
great guy, Happy for him. You know, do you think
he's put he's been put in a bad position because
obviously it wasn't just his decision alone. Not his decision, Chris,
it's not. I mean, and he's a commissioner, but you know,
those presidents are the one that dictate. And I don't
care if it's Kevin Warren or somebody else who's in
(20:39):
that chair. It's just like the pro commissioners. You work
for the owners. Yes, yes, so you're you're you're right,
And I think hopefully, I don't you know, this won't
cost him job or anything like that. But it's unfortunate
that it looks, you know, when people put a name
to kind of the way, maybe they feel the Big
ten is bungled this right, his name's gonna be associated unfortunately,
(21:02):
you know what. I don't look at it that way
from from the standpoint of better to be safe than sorry.
And at that time I thought that that was the
right decision and they were gonna be leaders, Chris, not followers.
And just because the other schools decided that they were
gonna do something and do it quicker, you know, and
put it out there. I'm not mad at him. I'm
(21:25):
really not. To me. The key and Robert Smith touched
on this the last hour. The key is the mylecarditis,
you know, if if that's what When they announced this
on August eleventh, and they had the corresponding information supposedly
that what was it sixty five, we were reading the
high percentages of the athletes were showing inflammation of the heart,
(21:48):
could be mylecar divers things like that. When Nat came out,
rib I thought, okay, you can't play right. You can't
put these because even if they're not showing symptoms, even
if they get over it in a couple of weeks
and it seems like no big deal. If the chances
are great or good that they could get myocarditis down
(22:09):
the line, you can't play. But now apparently a lot
of that reporting has been debunked or turned back, and
so if they don't have signs of long term health damage,
then I'm okay with it, because, like I said, in
a lot of these states, you just can't tell me
(22:29):
that ten year olds can play little league football and
high school kids can play high school football, but the
college kids can't play. And so that's when I'm sure,
you know, it just doesn't It just doesn't seem to
make sense. And so I'm fine with them playing as
long as you know everything's on the up and up,
and if you know there aren't the signs of the
(22:51):
long term damage to the heart from COVID, yeah, I mean,
I still think it's fluid. I still don't think we
will know what the long term effects are. But it's
just all over the place and it's open for determined
for interpretation, Chris, and there's no hardfast evidence on one
(23:12):
side or the other. So that's why I think that
they're going to chance it, you know what I mean,
I think that's why they'll they'll they'll roll the dice
with it, especially when there's an incentive that's money that's
on the table. Look, I think the money, obviously, it
was a huge part of this. I think the medical
situation clearing up to you know, to at least as
(23:33):
far as the mildcard diitus is concerned. That's a huge part.
And you know what else I think is a huge
part ROB and maybe arguably the biggest part. Fomo. You
know what fomo is? No, what is that? Fear of
missing out? That's what the young kids, you know that
the social media savants say, fomo fear of missing out
(23:58):
because you're looking at somebody else's social media and they're
partying and right, everything's looking grand. I thought you were
about to say a slur or something. I don't know
what would but I think that's a big part of this, ROB.
I mean, you're looking at the SEC is playing, the
ACC is playing, you know, other conferences are playing, uh,
(24:22):
high school kids are playing, the NFL cut off to
a great weekend, pop warners playing in our state. Fear
of missing out? You looked bad, you look like what
why why can't you play? I think that was a
part of it, Rob, I don't disagree. And and all
(24:44):
the people who just refused to give up and h
you know, as I told you, all these coaches and
all the speeches and all the places and all the
rallies or whatever they were putting together, it just never
with the way they didn't accept it, like like say
some of the schools and maybe um, the Nebraska. Well
(25:07):
I'm saying like the package they did because like the
state of California, you couldn't even practice, Chris right, So
that made it easier, you know what I mean, like
easier to accept because it was a state mandate, not
a school mandate or a conference mandate. Well, speaking of that,
I mean USC now their football players wrote a letter
to Governor Gavin Newsom saying they want to play. They're
(25:30):
asking for clearance so they can practice and play. And
it's interesting, Rod, because and I'm not jumping on the kids,
you know, but before the ruling came down that they
weren't gonna play in the Pac ten, I mean the
kids we were. And again I don't want to say
this in a way it's gonna sound like I'm mocking them.
(25:51):
I'm not, But for lack of a better phrase. They
were talking tough, you know about about you know, we'll
sit out and and we better get this, and we
better get that, you know what I mean. And now
it seems like they're all but begging to get back
in and play. And again, they're kids, Okay, so I'm
not eighteen, nineteen twenty year olds. I'm not jumping on them,
(26:16):
but it is a serious about face. It seems that
they've done yep, because you know what, ultimately, players want
to play, no, right, So if you're in the PAC ten, right,
if you're in the PAC twelve and you're seeing every
all the other Power five conferences are playing, and you're like, especially,
(26:38):
you know, you're a guy and obviously some of the
guys don't need this season to get to the pros,
but a lot of them do, most of them do,
you know? So you're You're a guy that's banking on
getting to the NFL and you want to show your stuff,
and so, uh you you want to play, and I
get it, you know. So it's a fluid situation. So
(27:01):
gut feeling, obviously we don't know. Gut feeling, Rob does
the PAC twelve Are they next within the next week
or so do you think we'll hear an announcement from
them that they're going to be playing. Yeah, I think so.
I think so, because it it would be hard for
them to be able to totally justify. And then again,
(27:22):
you got the governor now taking a look at it,
if he if he was so hell bet against it,
and he could have just said it ain't happening, you
know what I mean. And they gave the NFL and
exemption in the state of California, and it would be
hard pressed to be able to legitimize that. Chris, once
you've said that that the football teams get to play,
you know what I mean, And they're playing the same
(27:44):
sport and doing the same thing, and and there's a
potential of the same risk. Yep, you're right on the money.
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 s R to listen live. Kawhi Leonard and the
LA Clippers had not only an ugly week, Oh it was,
(28:10):
it was fucking it was. It was um And here's
what I say, Rob, because look, Kahi, he definitely still
a top five player in the league. There is no
question about that um. But he didn't deliver six for
twenty two in the game, seven zero points in the
(28:31):
fourth quarter. In fact, he and Paul George, the two
stars for the Clippers, actually had more turnovers in the
second half than they had points. Five turnovers four points.
They were two to eighteen and second half. Here's what
I'm gonna say about Kawhi rob he has entered and
it really started this year. He entered a new level.
(28:56):
And this is appropriate since his worship Wednesday. What we
say in church robe is new levels, new devils, new levels,
new devils, new levels, new challenges. And one of the
new challenges for Kawhi Leonard as he's gone to another
level after leading Toronto to the championship last year, is
(29:20):
the devil, if you will, of expectations, great expectations, because
let's and I'm not saying Kawai will never be able
to handle him, and I'm not saying that's necessarily what
crippled him last night, but he obviously buckled and crumbled
(29:41):
for some reason. And to me, this is the first
year that he's really had to carry the burden of
great expectations and not saying, this first year he's been great,
but the first year it's been you've been expected to
not only be great, but maybe the the best player
in the world and lead your team to a championship.
(30:04):
His first title in San Antonio, he wasn't expected to
do it. He was a role player. He averaged twelve
points a game. It was Tim Duncan's team and Manu
Janobli and Tony Parker, and you had Greg Popovich. Anything
you gave us was gravy, and he gave us a lot,
but it was still gravy. He was the finals MVP,
(30:24):
but it was gravy. Nobody expected it. Whatever you did
was wow. Look at Kawhi come out of nowhere. Obviously
he went to San Diego, States, so he wasn't this
huge superstar coming out of high school or even college. Yeah,
we knew about him because of the tournament and all that,
but he wasn't Ballyhood. Then he goes to Toronto and
(30:47):
we know by that point he's a great player, but
you know, nobody's expecting you to win the championship. It's Toronto,
you know. Then you got the immature Philadelphia seventy six
ers in the second round, and you got to find
his way. He made a great shot, So I'm just
(31:08):
saying that's what he hadn't been great, but I'm saying,
but that that's what ramps up the expectations that he
made the shot right in the game seven to win,
do you know what I mean? Like so you're viewed
his clutch exactly right, right, and so but you know,
and then you get to the finals and you got
Kevin Durant hurt, eventually Klay Thompson hurt. Not taking away
(31:33):
no asterisks, great championship, but still it was gravy. It
was Wow. Kawhi goes to Durando one year and wins
a championship. My goodness. This year. It was expected. This year.
You were, in some people's eyes, better than Lebron James,
(31:54):
best player in the world, the favorite to lead the
team to the championship, gonna be a top five player
of all time, like in a month, and the expectations,
new levels, new devils, And in this case, the devils
got him because he didn't deliver. We'll see what he
(32:14):
does in the future, but they got him this time.
Roight yep. And you know you can't sugarcoat it. I
never do. I've seen great players, Chris, and great teams choke. Uh,
there've been a big there's been a number of chokes,
uh that we've seen, and uh, you know a lot
of people last night they were trying to compare it
(32:36):
to different things and where does it fit you know, Um,
when I right off the top of my time, yeah, right,
the all time great choke jobs and when when I
right off the top of my head, Chris, there's a
couple that just jump out at me. And obviously Golden
State won the seventy three games, right, said, a league record.
(32:59):
Hadn't lost two games all year, more than two games
in the row, Chris, all year. They're up three to
one against Lebron and the Calves. They choked down the
next three games, including losing two at home, including losing
Game seven at home, which was their first three game
losing streak of the entire season. There's a choke the
Atlanta Falcons greater than last night. Yeah, that is because
(33:23):
there's a championship, right, there's a championship right there, and
they had just set the record as far as the win,
so I don't even think it's close, all right. Uh.
Then you had the uh, Falcons up twenty eight to three,
Chris in the third quarter. Light It's it's a rap, right,
they choked that down. All that, dude, is run the ball,
(33:46):
because you would have limited the amount of time by
eating up the clock. And they just they only ran
the ball, Chris, four times in the second half after
Russian Crazy over one hundred yards in the first town.
So they were running the ball, they stopped, they started
on the ball. Uh, then there's as a series. The
Yankees were up three to nothing in the World in
(34:06):
the Alcs against the Red Sox Chris, two thousand and four.
No team in the history of Major League Baseball ever
choked down a three ye old league. Never Derek Jeter's
New York Yankees, Mariano Rivera, all those guys, Chris, we
all know a legendary they choked it down. Yep, that's
another one yea. So I'm just wondering, where do you
(34:29):
now the Clippers by Oh, you would put all of
those above the Clippers last night? I think those are
as big as they get because they were all like, like, well,
the Yankees were in the Championship, but it was alcus
to get to the World Series, and nobody had ever
done it before. Same thing with the Warriors. No team
had ever given up a three one lead in the
(34:50):
finals ever, that was the first time that happened in
the NBA. But some people look at this as the
way that they went down three to one, the way
that they they lost, and where the expectations were on
this team, And not just me, not just you, not
just skip, I mean go through the ranks of people
who watch and follow and cover basketball, talk about basketball.
(35:14):
This was one where we were all got hook line
and sinker. We all couldn't believe what we saw last night.
That's why I put it this way. And as you said,
I just saw a video today. I mean it was
Paul Pierce, Jalen rose Um. I mean, most people at ESPN,
you know, pick the Clippers. And here's what I'm gonna say.
(35:36):
We've been had hood, We've been took, hood, winked, bamboozled.
Let us straight run the UK. That's what happened to us.
But I'm I agree with you. I think every choke
job you mentioned was worse than the Clippers last night.
And I'm actually gonna throw in a few more robs.
(35:58):
Yeah what you got, uh Seattle? I got the beast
mode in the backfield? Who who Chris? Who had rushed?
Who had rushed for thirteen yards to get to the
one and a half deadline, and then they don't give
them the balls and you throw the So I think
that was one. I think Oklahoma City three one in
(36:19):
the Western Conference Finals up against Golden State with with
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and as your superstars. I mean,
and I put that ahead of the Clippers for this reason.
Rot It was the Western Conference Finals, That's why I
put it. And it was seventy three nin and I
(36:40):
know they lost to a better team obviously, but they
and you got two all time great shows. All you're
gonna do, say, d take one game over, win one game? Yep.
I think Miami in twenty eleven, even though they weren't
up three one, they were up to one, and you
just come on, you had Lebron, James, d Wayne Wade,
(37:01):
Chris Bosh against Dirk and all do respect Jason Terry
and older Jason Kidd Seman. You know what I'm saying,
they were the better team. If Lebron's himself, there's no
question they win that serious. So I think that was
worse as well. You know you talk about expectations. Um,
so yeah, those are three that I would throw in there.
(37:24):
And and again it's just the stage. I mean, this
was the second round outside of Kauai. No one else
had done it, right, Paul George, I mean a lot
of people they almost expect him to struggle in the playoffs. Playoffs, right, um,
Pat Bath, as much as we love him, he never
(37:45):
been there. Mantras Harold if I, Vika Zuba, you know
what I mean, Like it was, they haven't been there,
and so it was a big choke job. But I
actually think all those six we named or were bigger
just because of the stage. I'm just curious. Yeah, I
just like how it resonates, you know, sometimes we could
be prisoner of the moment. I think it's the worst
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd
Couple at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f
(00:21):
s R. You're listening to the Best of the Odd
Couple with Chris Brush and Rob Harker. Yeah, it is
(00:42):
the R Couple. I'm Chris Brusard alongside my partner Rob Parker.
We are coming to you live from the Geico Fox
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dot com for a free rate. Quote what rock? What
are you? What are you talking about? Live and we'll
(01:05):
do it, law, We'll do it lad. You don't think
we're live, No, we're love. We're definitely. We're all the
way live, all the way live. And you know who's
not all the way alive? The LA Clippers dead after
that pathetic performance in Game seven last night in the
(01:27):
Western Conference second Round against the Denver Nuggets. We will
get into that for certain We also got Big Ten news.
Of course, they're playing football. We've been hitting at it,
or they've been hitting at it, and we've been talking
about it the last few days. Now it's official. The
Big Ten will be back in October with college football.
(01:48):
So we'll talk about that and so much more and
joining us at the bottom of this first hour, we'll
have all the insight in the college football and of
course pro as well. Fox college football analyst former vikings
in Ohio State running back was a great one too.
Robert Smith will join us. Let me welcome in my partner,
(02:08):
Rob Parker. What's up man? How are you? What's happening.
I just want people to know, you know, Chris, Chris,
I know you. You know people on Twitter and social media.
First of all, I did not cry myself to sleep
last night. I'm not a fan of the Clippers. Just
because I picked them to win and I was wrong
(02:29):
doesn't mean that it's the end of the world. I
just sometimes I don't understand if people actually get or
do they think like because you make a pick, or
because you pick against somebody else, you hate that person
or that team, or or you're a fan of it.
So I just want people to know. No, I'm not
a Clippers fan. I don't have any gear. I've never
(02:51):
been a Clippers fan. But I did pick them to
win the championship and they didn't do it. That's it. Yeah,
I think I get what you're saying. Um, And you know,
I was on the shows today First Things First and
uh undisputed, so I felt the wrath of Nick Wright
and Brandon Marshall and the first things first, which is
(03:11):
you know what, and then Shannon of course skipping eye
felt the wrath or undisputed. But yeah, I was thinking
about because you're right. I mean, like I said yesterday,
we're not cheerleaders. I'm not. I've never been a Clippers fan.
I mean, obviously we try to be objective generally, but
you've never been a Clippers fan. But you do pull
for the team your picks because you want to be
(03:32):
right right, talk about it all the time, and we
bragging rights and all that. So that's our job is
when we pick these things, you want to have some forthight,
you want to be right. It's a big deal for analysts.
That's what we do right right, But we're wrong sometimes
and it's all right. Like like I said, there's no
(03:53):
skin up, my up. I've been right a lot, I've
been wrong. I've been wrong too, So you've been wrong
a lot too. No, I said, don't make it, don't
make it better. Now you're wrong a lot too. But
everybody's been right and everybody's been wrong, and it's all
in fun. But yeah, you know, hey, fans, bring it.
I heard that I was getting killed on social media.
(04:15):
I haven't looked for you. That's what I hear people
people been saying that. People say, block guys. This is
what you block some people today. Yes, I did shocked Rob, honestly,
because you are obviously on this show, we go at it.
You know all the time callers you know, some of
(04:37):
them go at you, some of them don't. We've been
trash talked on our own show. Um, you seem to
be a guy that you know. Somebody going at you
or disagreeing doesn't bother you. So I'm not surprised that
you block people. It's not about disagreeing with me, if
you were to make your case, it's when people try
(04:58):
to tell you what you say and and they have
a false narrative that's going quick. That guy can't get
through too. Do you see what I'm saying he has
a false narrative. He's saying something that I never said
to that guy. I don't have any time for him.
If you just have a criticism a lot of people,
that's what everybody, that's what everybody that you block is
(05:20):
creating a false narrative. Yes, and here's the other part
that to me, I don't get. Then they go on
my Instagram and say, unblocked me? Why did you block me?
If somebody blocked me, I leave it at that. I
would go on my Instagram and then block me. Right
if I block why would you go on your Instagram
and ask me to unblock you. On Twitter, I generally
(05:43):
don't block people. What it is rob The reason people
do that is because there's something called I call them
Twitter muscles, but it probably is more aptly defined as
social media muscles. Because I have never and you know
how it is when we go out, you know, obviously
people recognize you, they want to and I've never I
(06:06):
mean and I've been on TV now almost twenty years,
National TV. Never one time of the thousands of people
who have come up to me for a picture. You know,
obviously not many people ask for autographs anymore. But just
whatever to talk whatever. Nobody has ripped me, nobody has
been like rude, not seing them. And yet on Twitter,
(06:30):
you got all these people killing you, right, But I
never see any of them in public, so I'm sure
that it's some of these guys they got Twitter muscles,
but if you ever see them in person, they want
to be friendly. And one thing I had and I
don't respond to a lot of them, but a few
times when I have robbed, like if somebody saying something
(06:52):
and you go back at them, but you know, now
obviously you're conversing with them, then they're like, hey, you know,
it's almost like they they want to be cool now
because they got a dialogue with you right right, and
it's like almost like they were just trying to say
something to get your attention. So now I really don't
even respond because, as you said, you're giving them more attention. Right,
(07:13):
you might have a dude with thirty followers who rips you,
and if you respond now of a sudden, you're you know,
you're giving him a big platform that he normally wouldn't have.
So that's kind of how I handle it. While the
Clippers didn't handle their big platform last night. No, they
did not, And we are about to get into the atlas.
First introduce the I Couple crew. Of course, he's back
(07:34):
on the Worship wins Day dj Alex tischert Aka Alex
the Vegan. We got lead to Lap the super producer
in for Rob g and hey, it's mister Bryan Finley
with the updates. All right, Rob, let's get right to it.
Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers go down meekly. Not only do
(07:56):
they lose in the second round, but they lose a
three one lead. And on top of that, they had
double digit leads in each of the last three games,
including last night. They were about twelve in the second quarter.
And so what Here's the question I wanted to throw
(08:16):
out to you, Rob, Does this change your view? I mean,
and you said it last I think it's about a
week ago, week week and a half ago. You said
Kawhi Leonard is the best player in the world. Does
this change your view of Kawhile not necessarily going forward,
you know, I mean, he's got years to rewrite his
(08:37):
legacy or add to it or whatever. But for the
time being, does this change your view of Kawhi le
Sure he was what he was six with twenty two
with fourteen points in the fourth, but he was he choked.
It was a choke job and it was as shocking
as anything I've ever witnessed in sports. I've been covering
sports for thirty five years. Wow, No Kawa, because that's
(09:06):
why they got him, because he is a cool customer,
because he is a guy who could call on He
was the guy in Game seven last year for Toronto
that made the big shot to beat the seventy six ers.
That's why you got him, Chris that that that was
the reason. And to not show up in the biggest
game of the year, he's a choke job and I'm
(09:26):
not gonna mince words, or and it does that mean
that he can't play in the gates everything that he's
done in his career or what will he do? No?
And for all of the Laker fans celebrating, they they
have short memories when it comes to Lebron, because if
that's the case, we could have buried Lebron. When they
lost to Dallas and he melted down in that series,
(09:47):
Chris and said that was it for Lebron, right, But
it wasn't it. He rebounded and won some Championships after
that terrible series against the Mavericks, which they should have won,
or most people thought they should have won, and Lebron
played poorly. Do you know what I'm saying? So to me,
you gotta be careful before you write somebody off. But
(10:09):
he choked last night and everything that they had put
in their basket. And I'm not saying he has to
be the almighty savior. Chris and and Paul George didn't
do his part either. But but the one guy if
you would have told me that that that ninety percent
of the team wouldn't show up, the one guy I
would be hard to believe wouldn't show up would have
(10:32):
been Kawhi Leonard And he didn't show up last night.
You're right the bottom. There's no way to sugarcoat it.
And and a few things. Number one, he is not
the best player in the world. Would you agree with that,
Rob or you still on set? No? I said after that,
it's hard to make an argument for right. The best
player in the world is still Lebron James. I mean,
(10:52):
let's look at the candidates. Yannis at the Kombo obviously
is limitations in his game, Kauai great obviously still a
great player. Nobody saying he's not great, but you know,
he didn't deliver, couldn't even get his team out of
the second round against an inferior opponent. NICOLEA. Jokic's not
there yet, Luka done. James hardened, Harden did a did
(11:14):
Harden like things and as they lost in the second round.
Lebron James is still the best player in the world.
We'll see if that ends up in the championship. But
that's number one, number two, Like you said, Rob, the
Kauhi's twenty nine years old. His legacy is not written now.
He's already got two championships, so he's a made right.
(11:38):
He's got right. But Magic Johnson had this moment, Tragic Johnson.
They called him in nineteen eight for best point guard ever,
dribbled out the clock. Think about that. Isaiah Thomas had
his moment by Larry Bird yep. One of the child
(12:00):
in my book, the third fourth best point guard ever
um Larry Bird first Finals. Rob he had an eight
point game, an eight point game in a twelve point game.
Think about that. Three games, eight, eight, twelve and one
of the great one of the great greatest players ever.
So in Lebron, as you mentioned twenty eleven against Dallas,
(12:20):
So it happens will Kauhi and I think we both
believe he will. But Willie learned from this and bounce
back the way those guys did and become a stronger player.
Now here's what I have to say about his legacy,
and it's you know, like I said, it's not set.
But as I began to think about this rod really closely,
(12:43):
I looked at it and say, you know what, this
is actually the first time I believe that Kawi has
had to carry the burden of expectations and Lebron James
has carried it BA basically his whole career. And I'm
not trying to make this about Lebron, but that's just
an example. This is the first time I believe Kawai's
(13:08):
really had to carry it as a favorite as now
we expect it from you. Now we're saying had Colin
Kyle hurt our buddy was saying he'd be a top
five player of all time when they win it. And
if you look at his first championship, yes he was
the finals MVP, but it wasn't his team. He didn't
carry him. He was a role player. Yeah, average thirteen
(13:30):
points that year. It was Tim Duncan, Minujenobli and Tony
Parker and even Greg Popovich. That was the team. There
was nothing expected of Kauai. Yes, he was a great
defender at that point and did a good job on Lebron,
but anything he gave you was gravy Toronto. He goes there,
nobody's expected him to lead him to anything. You know, yeah,
(13:53):
make the playoffs, you go deep. Nobody was expecting a championship,
and he was great. I'm not taking anything away from
but he did in the playoffs, but you know, it
was house money. It was like, you know, nobody was
saying they're gonna win the East, They're gonna win the championship.
No one expected anything, and he went through some immature
(14:13):
young guys in the East, the Philadelphia seventy six ers.
We know how immature they are. Yannis, we know he
wasn't ready. And then when he gets to the finals,
again not taking it away from him, but Rob, you know,
we knitpick with the greats, and Durant's hurt and then
Clay gets hurt, and so that's a great championship, no asterisk,
(14:33):
but those were the facts, and this was the first time.
Now he's coming in as the king or one of
the kings, him and Lebron and Yannis. He was on
that level. We're expecting it from you, Kauai. You're gonna
deliver most of us, right, you me, most of the analysts,
ex players, most picked the Clippers. You got commercials now
(14:58):
where you're saying, I'm the king of la Right, you
got a new shoe everything, you got the commercial where
you say, oh, you know how it ends. You know,
all of that expectations and he crumbled. Doesn't mean he'll
crumble the rest of his career, but he crumbled under
the weight of expectations, which I say was the first
(15:20):
time in his career he really had to carry him
because he's been kind of the underdog his whole career
San Diego State, lower, you know, not much of a
ballyhoo draft pick, you know, role player with the superstars
in San Antonio. No one expects anything in Toronto, And
this was the first time he had to carry that
weight and it didn't end well. All right, eight seven
(15:44):
seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven seven nine nine
six sixty three sixty nine. What do you guys think, well,
does this effect impact the way you view Kawhi at
least for the time being. I know a lot of
you thought he was the best player in the world.
Where what are you thinking right now? Eight seven, seven
(16:07):
ninety nine on Fox you'll be able to discuss it
with Rob and myself. Hey, Chris, we got a comment
from Kawhi Leonard about his performance last night. I think
that was crying instead. Be sure to catch live editions
of The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard and Rob Parker
weekdays at seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox
(16:30):
Sports Radio and the iHeart Radio app. The news of
the day, outside of the Clippers going down, is that
the Big Ten is going up. In other words, they
are going to be playing football again. Remember auguste Levins
they announced that they were they were postponing all fall sports,
of course, including college football in the Big Ten. But
(16:54):
now today their counsel of Presidents and Chancellors voted unanimously
to resume the football season starting October twenty three and
twenty fourth. That weekend, Rob, you'll play about eight games
each team, and that'll be enough for them to you know,
get that in right before they picked the college football
(17:15):
you know, the four teams that may get to the bowl,
the Bowl championship series, so, um, the playoff? What what
are your general thoughts? Well, let me let me start
and should say I think Kevin Warren, the Big Ten commissioners,
also said that news about other sports Chris could come
as soon as tomorrow, you know, like okay, because you know,
(17:37):
like like you're bending on college football. You know, the
other sports are saying what about us? Do you know
what I mean? Like like like this can't be just
about so I'm sure that's why that announcement because otherwise
what does it look like the money grab for just
college fo? Well, and I think this robe we know,
we know it's some money grab, that's all it is.
(18:00):
And look, I'm not I will I don't know if
I'm expecting the other sports to play, um, but I
won't be surprised if they don't. And I think that
while the other athletes might be upset, and I guess rightfully,
So this will let you know if you didn't already know,
(18:21):
right right, this is what it's about. So so again,
when all the other stuff comes up, pay to play,
you know, pay paying their athletes obviously they can now
capitalize on their likenesses and things like that. But when
all this other stuff comes up, I don't want to
hear about student athletes, No neither. Why I'm with you.
(18:41):
This makes the case stronger, Chris, that they were school employees. Yep,
because you're asking them to be essential workers and work
during a pandemic. Whatever you want. That's right, absolutely right,
you're because why the people that count on the money.
And I'm not just talking about the coaches getting rich
and all that, the other people that regular administrator, secretaries,
(19:05):
all the people that work in the athletic department and
count on that money. They need you to play because
they need you to go to work. They do to
go to work, Chris, you said it. And and you
gotta remember those schools, quich when that big money TV
money started rolling in, they started taking the money from
the schools the athletics budget and like, oh no, they
(19:30):
don't contribute anymore. Now it's got to come from the
football money right now, you know. And now that's what
they say, we don't have any money. No, you have money,
you just don't contribute anymore. And you don't want to
what what what university could doesn't have money. They got endowments,
they got money, all of them. And I'll tell you
this right, this just came in to me, um, Kevin
(19:52):
Warren when he announced that, you know, the announcement about
the other sports will be coming in this uh tomorrow.
Maybe this is this was overheard on an open mic.
What about the others? Oh yeah, oh yeah, finally, oh yeah,
you know what'll well, we'll see, right, And I ain't
even thinking about the other sports. I know Kevin Warren, Chris,
(20:16):
he was an executive with the Lions. Got to know him,
great guy, Happy for him. You know, do you think
he's put he's been put in a bad position because
obviously it wasn't just his decision alone. Not his decision, Chris,
it's not. I mean, and he's a commissioner, but you know,
those presidents are the one that dictate. And I don't
care if it's Kevin Warren or somebody else who's in
(20:39):
that chair. It's just like the pro commissioners. You work
for the owners. Yes, yes, so you're you're you're right,
And I think hopefully, I don't you know, this won't
cost him job or anything like that. But it's unfortunate
that it looks, you know, when people put a name
to kind of the way, maybe they feel the Big
ten is bungled this right, his name's gonna be associated unfortunately,
(21:02):
you know what. I don't look at it that way
from from the standpoint of better to be safe than sorry.
And at that time I thought that that was the
right decision and they were gonna be leaders, Chris, not followers.
And just because the other schools decided that they were
gonna do something and do it quicker, you know, and
put it out there. I'm not mad at him. I'm
(21:25):
really not. To me. The key and Robert Smith touched
on this the last hour. The key is the mylecarditis,
you know, if if that's what When they announced this
on August eleventh, and they had the corresponding information supposedly
that what was it sixty five, we were reading the
high percentages of the athletes were showing inflammation of the heart,
(21:48):
could be mylecar divers things like that. When Nat came out,
rib I thought, okay, you can't play right. You can't
put these because even if they're not showing symptoms, even
if they get over it in a couple of weeks
and it seems like no big deal. If the chances
are great or good that they could get myocarditis down
(22:09):
the line, you can't play. But now apparently a lot
of that reporting has been debunked or turned back, and
so if they don't have signs of long term health damage,
then I'm okay with it, because, like I said, in
a lot of these states, you just can't tell me
(22:29):
that ten year olds can play little league football and
high school kids can play high school football, but the
college kids can't play. And so that's when I'm sure,
you know, it just doesn't It just doesn't seem to
make sense. And so I'm fine with them playing as
long as you know everything's on the up and up,
and if you know there aren't the signs of the
(22:51):
long term damage to the heart from COVID, yeah, I mean,
I still think it's fluid. I still don't think we
will know what the long term effects are. But it's
just all over the place and it's open for determined
for interpretation, Chris, and there's no hardfast evidence on one
(23:12):
side or the other. So that's why I think that
they're going to chance it, you know what I mean,
I think that's why they'll they'll they'll roll the dice
with it, especially when there's an incentive that's money that's
on the table. Look, I think the money, obviously, it
was a huge part of this. I think the medical
situation clearing up to you know, to at least as
(23:33):
far as the mildcard diitus is concerned. That's a huge part.
And you know what else I think is a huge
part ROB and maybe arguably the biggest part. Fomo. You
know what fomo is? No, what is that? Fear of
missing out? That's what the young kids, you know that
the social media savants say, fomo fear of missing out
(23:58):
because you're looking at somebody else's social media and they're
partying and right, everything's looking grand. I thought you were
about to say a slur or something. I don't know
what would but I think that's a big part of this, ROB.
I mean, you're looking at the SEC is playing, the
ACC is playing, you know, other conferences are playing, uh,
(24:22):
high school kids are playing, the NFL cut off to
a great weekend, pop warners playing in our state. Fear
of missing out? You looked bad, you look like what
why why can't you play? I think that was a
part of it, Rob, I don't disagree. And and all
(24:44):
the people who just refused to give up and h
you know, as I told you, all these coaches and
all the speeches and all the places and all the
rallies or whatever they were putting together, it just never
with the way they didn't accept it, like like say
some of the schools and maybe um, the Nebraska. Well
(25:07):
I'm saying like the package they did because like the
state of California, you couldn't even practice, Chris right, So
that made it easier, you know what I mean, like
easier to accept because it was a state mandate, not
a school mandate or a conference mandate. Well, speaking of that,
I mean USC now their football players wrote a letter
to Governor Gavin Newsom saying they want to play. They're
(25:30):
asking for clearance so they can practice and play. And
it's interesting, Rod, because and I'm not jumping on the kids,
you know, but before the ruling came down that they
weren't gonna play in the Pac ten, I mean the
kids we were. And again I don't want to say
this in a way it's gonna sound like I'm mocking them.
(25:51):
I'm not, But for lack of a better phrase. They
were talking tough, you know about about you know, we'll
sit out and and we better get this, and we
better get that, you know what I mean. And now
it seems like they're all but begging to get back
in and play. And again, they're kids, Okay, so I'm
not eighteen, nineteen twenty year olds. I'm not jumping on them,
(26:16):
but it is a serious about face. It seems that
they've done yep, because you know what, ultimately, players want
to play, no, right, So if you're in the PAC ten, right,
if you're in the PAC twelve and you're seeing every
all the other Power five conferences are playing, and you're like, especially,
(26:38):
you know, you're a guy and obviously some of the
guys don't need this season to get to the pros,
but a lot of them do, most of them do,
you know? So you're You're a guy that's banking on
getting to the NFL and you want to show your stuff,
and so, uh you you want to play, and I
get it, you know. So it's a fluid situation. So
(27:01):
gut feeling, obviously we don't know. Gut feeling, Rob does
the PAC twelve Are they next within the next week
or so do you think we'll hear an announcement from
them that they're going to be playing. Yeah, I think so.
I think so, because it it would be hard for
them to be able to totally justify. And then again,
(27:22):
you got the governor now taking a look at it,
if he if he was so hell bet against it,
and he could have just said it ain't happening, you
know what I mean. And they gave the NFL and
exemption in the state of California, and it would be
hard pressed to be able to legitimize that. Chris, once
you've said that that the football teams get to play,
you know what I mean, And they're playing the same
(27:44):
sport and doing the same thing, and and there's a
potential of the same risk. Yep, you're right on the money.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
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Radio dot com and within the iHeart Radio app search
f s R to listen live. Kawhi Leonard and the
LA Clippers had not only an ugly week, Oh it was,
(28:10):
it was fucking it was. It was um And here's
what I say, Rob, because look, Kahi, he definitely still
a top five player in the league. There is no
question about that um. But he didn't deliver six for
twenty two in the game, seven zero points in the
(28:31):
fourth quarter. In fact, he and Paul George, the two
stars for the Clippers, actually had more turnovers in the
second half than they had points. Five turnovers four points.
They were two to eighteen and second half. Here's what
I'm gonna say about Kawhi rob he has entered and
it really started this year. He entered a new level.
(28:56):
And this is appropriate since his worship Wednesday. What we
say in church robe is new levels, new devils, new levels,
new devils, new levels, new challenges. And one of the
new challenges for Kawhi Leonard as he's gone to another
level after leading Toronto to the championship last year, is
(29:20):
the devil, if you will, of expectations, great expectations, because
let's and I'm not saying Kawai will never be able
to handle him, and I'm not saying that's necessarily what
crippled him last night, but he obviously buckled and crumbled
(29:41):
for some reason. And to me, this is the first
year that he's really had to carry the burden of
great expectations and not saying, this first year he's been great,
but the first year it's been you've been expected to
not only be great, but maybe the the best player
in the world and lead your team to a championship.
(30:04):
His first title in San Antonio, he wasn't expected to
do it. He was a role player. He averaged twelve
points a game. It was Tim Duncan's team and Manu
Janobli and Tony Parker, and you had Greg Popovich. Anything
you gave us was gravy, and he gave us a lot,
but it was still gravy. He was the finals MVP,
(30:24):
but it was gravy. Nobody expected it. Whatever you did
was wow. Look at Kawhi come out of nowhere. Obviously
he went to San Diego, States, so he wasn't this
huge superstar coming out of high school or even college. Yeah,
we knew about him because of the tournament and all that,
but he wasn't Ballyhood. Then he goes to Toronto and
(30:47):
we know by that point he's a great player, but
you know, nobody's expecting you to win the championship. It's Toronto,
you know. Then you got the immature Philadelphia seventy six
ers in the second round, and you got to find
his way. He made a great shot, So I'm just
(31:08):
saying that's what he hadn't been great, but I'm saying,
but that that's what ramps up the expectations that he
made the shot right in the game seven to win,
do you know what I mean? Like so you're viewed
his clutch exactly right, right, and so but you know,
and then you get to the finals and you got
Kevin Durant hurt, eventually Klay Thompson hurt. Not taking away
(31:33):
no asterisks, great championship, but still it was gravy. It
was Wow. Kawhi goes to Durando one year and wins
a championship. My goodness. This year. It was expected. This year.
You were, in some people's eyes, better than Lebron James,
(31:54):
best player in the world, the favorite to lead the
team to the championship, gonna be a top five player
of all time, like in a month, and the expectations,
new levels, new devils, And in this case, the devils
got him because he didn't deliver. We'll see what he
(32:14):
does in the future, but they got him this time.
Roight yep. And you know you can't sugarcoat it. I
never do. I've seen great players, Chris, and great teams choke. Uh,
there've been a big there's been a number of chokes,
uh that we've seen, and uh, you know a lot
of people last night they were trying to compare it
(32:36):
to different things and where does it fit you know, Um,
when I right off the top of my time, yeah, right,
the all time great choke jobs and when when I
right off the top of my head, Chris, there's a
couple that just jump out at me. And obviously Golden
State won the seventy three games, right, said, a league record.
(32:59):
Hadn't lost two games all year, more than two games
in the row, Chris, all year. They're up three to
one against Lebron and the Calves. They choked down the
next three games, including losing two at home, including losing
Game seven at home, which was their first three game
losing streak of the entire season. There's a choke the
Atlanta Falcons greater than last night. Yeah, that is because
(33:23):
there's a championship, right, there's a championship right there, and
they had just set the record as far as the win,
so I don't even think it's close, all right. Uh.
Then you had the uh, Falcons up twenty eight to three,
Chris in the third quarter. Light It's it's a rap, right,
they choked that down. All that, dude, is run the ball,
(33:46):
because you would have limited the amount of time by
eating up the clock. And they just they only ran
the ball, Chris, four times in the second half after
Russian Crazy over one hundred yards in the first town.
So they were running the ball, they stopped, they started
on the ball. Uh, then there's as a series. The
Yankees were up three to nothing in the World in
(34:06):
the Alcs against the Red Sox Chris, two thousand and four.
No team in the history of Major League Baseball ever
choked down a three ye old league. Never Derek Jeter's
New York Yankees, Mariano Rivera, all those guys, Chris, we
all know a legendary they choked it down. Yep, that's
another one yea. So I'm just wondering, where do you
(34:29):
now the Clippers by Oh, you would put all of
those above the Clippers last night? I think those are
as big as they get because they were all like, like, well,
the Yankees were in the Championship, but it was alcus
to get to the World Series, and nobody had ever
done it before. Same thing with the Warriors. No team
had ever given up a three one lead in the
(34:50):
finals ever, that was the first time that happened in
the NBA. But some people look at this as the
way that they went down three to one, the way
that they they lost, and where the expectations were on
this team, And not just me, not just you, not
just skip, I mean go through the ranks of people
who watch and follow and cover basketball, talk about basketball.
(35:14):
This was one where we were all got hook line
and sinker. We all couldn't believe what we saw last night.
That's why I put it this way. And as you said,
I just saw a video today. I mean it was
Paul Pierce, Jalen rose Um. I mean, most people at ESPN,
you know, pick the Clippers. And here's what I'm gonna say.
(35:36):
We've been had hood, We've been took, hood, winked, bamboozled.
Let us straight run the UK. That's what happened to us.
But I'm I agree with you. I think every choke
job you mentioned was worse than the Clippers last night.
And I'm actually gonna throw in a few more robs.
(35:58):
Yeah what you got, uh Seattle? I got the beast
mode in the backfield? Who who Chris? Who had rushed?
Who had rushed for thirteen yards to get to the
one and a half deadline, and then they don't give
them the balls and you throw the So I think
that was one. I think Oklahoma City three one in
(36:19):
the Western Conference Finals up against Golden State with with
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and as your superstars. I mean,
and I put that ahead of the Clippers for this reason.
Rot It was the Western Conference Finals, That's why I
put it. And it was seventy three nin and I
(36:40):
know they lost to a better team obviously, but they
and you got two all time great shows. All you're
gonna do, say, d take one game over, win one game? Yep.
I think Miami in twenty eleven, even though they weren't
up three one, they were up to one, and you
just come on, you had Lebron, James, d Wayne Wade,
(37:01):
Chris Bosh against Dirk and all do respect Jason Terry
and older Jason Kidd Seman. You know what I'm saying,
they were the better team. If Lebron's himself, there's no
question they win that serious. So I think that was
worse as well. You know you talk about expectations. Um,
so yeah, those are three that I would throw in there.
(37:24):
And and again it's just the stage. I mean, this
was the second round outside of Kauai. No one else
had done it, right, Paul George, I mean a lot
of people they almost expect him to struggle in the playoffs. Playoffs, right, um,
Pat Bath, as much as we love him, he never
(37:45):
been there. Mantras Harold if I, Vika Zuba, you know
what I mean, Like it was, they haven't been there,
and so it was a big choke job. But I
actually think all those six we named or were bigger
just because of the stage. I'm just curious. Yeah, I
just like how it resonates, you know, sometimes we could
be prisoner of the moment. I think it's the worst
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