July 10, 2024 • 37 mins
Chris and Rob discuss whether Kawhi Leonard should have ever agreed to join Team USA basketball knowing that he likely wouldn’t be healthy enough to play in the Olympics, debate whether it’s a bad sign that LeBron James being the best player at Team USA minicamp is a bad omen and tell us if the NBA’s decision to air national TV games every night of the week starting in 2025-26 is a good idea.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:24):
Let's get this, punnies, you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
It is The Odd Couple. I'm Chris E's Rob.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
We're live from the tirerack dot Com studios. Tyrek dot
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way tirebne should be. It's a worship Wednesday here on
(00:55):
The Odd Couple. And we talked Rob in the first
hour about how now Jalen Brown was snubbed. There's really
no other way to look at it when you don't
put Jalen Brown on the Olympic team and instead put
his lesser teammate. With all due respect to Derek White,
but we know that Jalen Brown is a star and
(01:16):
Derek White is not. And they put Derek White in
on the team over Jalen Brown.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
But the reason, of.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Course that they had to do that was because Kawhi Leonard,
after practicing for a week or so with Team USA,
the Clippers brass was their watching, Clippers coach ty Lewis
on the coaching staff their watching obviously, and it was
(01:46):
determined by all of them that Kawhi it's better for
him and the Clippers if he continues to rehab his
knee instead of playing on Team USA. And Rob, if
anybody was surprised at this decision or that this is
(02:07):
the way things ended for Kawhi this summer, I don't
know where you've been.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I don't know where you've been.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I look, Kawhi Leonard is a future Hall of Famer,
Kawhi Leonard is one of the best players of this era.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
But I don't know how if they wanted to give.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Him, as you said earlier, the honor of being invited
to be on Team USA.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Okay, I understand that, but.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Outside of that, Rob like for basketball reasons, for his
best interest, for the Clippers' best interest, for the NBA's
best interest, I don't know how in the world anybody
could have thought it was a good idea Kawhi Leonard
on this team, and I think it's darn near the
(03:04):
same thing for Joe LMBI when guys can't stay healthy
during the season and there appears to be a wear
and tear.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Issue with them.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Because Kawhi played sixty eight games this year is most
in like seven years, but when the real important games
came along the playoffs, he wasn't able to go. He's
only able to play two games. And it was essentially
the same thing last year, right, I mean, he did
only play two in playoff games last year, So it
(03:36):
seems like they're Unfortunately, at this point in his career,
there may be only a certain number of games in
Kawhi Leonard's body, and when that's the case, I don't
think he needs to be playing in the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
And so I think it's the best.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Move for the Clippers, for Kawhi, for the NBA. I
think we can still win with or without him. Uh So,
I just think from the get go, Rob, it didn't
make any sense to have Kawhi on the team.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Yeah, I think it was an honor Chris, I just
I do I mean otherwise, I mean, the most obvious
thing would be, I was hurt last year. I couldn't
even play barey played in the playoffs. It doesn't make
sense to rush myself back and playing this, Chris, when
you could take the rest of the time and be
ready for the NBA season. But because he was never
a member right of an Olympic team, I think that
(04:28):
that's why they pushed to say because remember, Kawhi had
a good year, Chris when he played.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
The first sixty eight game, ain't an issue, right, But
I'm just saying like, and I think that's why.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
And again he's gonna go down as being like a
guy who was picked for the team. And and and
I don't know if he gets a gold medal, you
know what.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I mean, because he couldn't. That's a good question. I'm
gonna think he does know, but I'm not.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
I'm gonna say yes, if you if you're injured, Chris
and you were on the team and they feel like
you can't play, I bet you he's gonna get one.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I would think that that might be the case.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
I certainly believe that would be the case if he
got injured during the games.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
The actual games are taking.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Place, but they haven't even played an exhibition game, yet
they are tonight.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
He's on the team though he was officially on the team.
Is what I'm saying. I would I would assume that
once you're on the team.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
I don't see why he should I got I mean,
I'm not gonna raise, you know, Kames if he does.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
But I don't know why he would get a ring
or whatever. Metal.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
I got no issues if he gets your he.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Was I'm not gonna raise. But he wasn't on the
team for the games, but he was on. It's not
a regular team.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
He was on the team. He just got hurt, Chris,
or he's not able to play.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
If he got hurt, he just isn't able to play.
They're determined that's not the best interest for him to play.
I mean, I'm not gonna care one way or the
other if he gets a gold medal. I'm just saying
I would definitely give a gold medal to a player
that got hurt during the games once once start starting
exhibition game.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
So so let me ask you if he if if
there was if he twisted his leg in practice, would
you feel different, like, you know he got hurt in practice,
you still don't think he deserves.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I mean, you don't play like no, that might be
a little different, but I don't. I don't thankfully he didn't.
But I, like I said, I'm not gonna care if
he does.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
But I probably would feel a little differently if that,
if that happened.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
But it did either way, I mean once, So if
he doesn't get a gold medal, you're not gonna be
ticked off or you're not gonna think it's a snub
if he doesn't.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah, yeah, my pantings will be in a bunch if
you don't.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Okay, So you're good if you get Yeah, I mean,
I'm more good either way.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
If he does, I'm fine.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
But I don't think they should feel any obligation to
give him one if he If they choose to do so,
that's cool, and they might you know what I and
and but I don't even know. I mean, I think
he would take it. I'm sure he would take it.
But are you gonna feel great about that gold medal
(07:19):
if you get it? You didn't contribute. I mean, Kawhi
is a competitor. You didn't contribute to that gold medal?
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Well, and didn't because I couldn't contribute. I was hurt.
I was, Yeah, one of the best players who got picked.
So Chris, if you're let me ask you this. So
you're you're you're picked for the Dream Team or the
Olympic team, and you played three minutes, mop up.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I think if you play, I think once the game start,
and I mean not getting hurt.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
You know, yeah, you're not getting hurt, but you don't
play at all.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
You're you're yeah, you're you're on the team. Everybody can't play,
but you're on the team, and you're what you did
in p this helped us get better the whole way through.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
So it just to me.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
I mean, maybe they did do it as an honor.
Maybe they knew Rob they were gonna do this. I
think if they only had him on the team because
they wanted to honor one of the greatest players of
this generation, then maybe they knew this was gonna be
the way it ended. You know what, he won't be
able to go, but we want to honor him. He's
(08:28):
been a great player, he's a champion. We'll put him
on the team.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Now.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Obviously you don't announce that it's not gonna last, but
I don't that may have very well been the case, Rob,
and maybe he will get a medal because of that.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
I really think, I really think Chris, that that was
the ultimate plan. Anyway, you just said it like like
are you shocked that? You know, considering like even when
he was named you questioned it at that time, Right,
how was why on this team?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Well, think about it again, that might be You're right,
maybe that is what happened. And if that's the case,
I would imagine he definitely gets a gold medal.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
But Rob, here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Even if Kawhi were able to play throughout the Olympics
and they win gold or whatever, they you know, finish.
If you're the Clippers, are you feeling good about that?
I mean, you're glad your player got to go ahead
and win an Olympic gold medal and compete in the
(09:34):
Olympics and all that.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
But clearly.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
He needs to be low managed. And you know, man,
this so when's he gonna go out now?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
January? He's got sixty games.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
In him, seventy games in him, so he's not gonna
make it for us. So I just like I said,
from the get go, and what do you think about him?
B Look, I'm not gonna huff and puff because he's
on the team. But if I'm the Sixers, I'm I'm
a little bit like.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
But nothing, and they can't the teams can't do anything.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
But I think I think that Team USA should talk
to these teams. And ultimately it's gonna be the player's
decision if he wants to play and all that, but
I just think Rob that Team USA should take it
into consideration.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
You can't let a team keep.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Its guy out because they just don't want him to
risk getting hurt, right, I think that's the spirit of
the rule that we get. You know, these guys playing
in the Olympics, high level competition.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Anything could happen. A guy could get hurt. We saw
it with Paul George.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
They don't want teams pulling guys out for those res
And I get that, like he's healthy, he's fully healthy,
but you don't want to risk it. But when a
guy has an injury history and it's unwavery like it
won't go away, I think you should take that into
(11:18):
consideration if you're USA basketball, because as important as these
Olympics are, and gosh, god forbid, we lose, the NBA
season is more important. And whether you agree with that
or not. The NBA teams are the ones playing these
guys hundreds of millions of dollars, so they should take
that into consideration.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Yeah, if I'm an owner or I'm a fan, Chris
and I have season tickets and you have a banged
up player who's going to play the Olympics, I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Hey, you know, great for America, but you're killing my
pocket and my team and my season. I'm just not
interest to what is the point of it. Let the
college kids go. Let's go back to when the college
kids used to go.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Well we would then we'd be getting stumped.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Okay, I mean I hear you, because even if there
aren't stars like I used to say, Rob, I mean,
now we just if we want to have a chance
to win, we have to send like our best guys.
But I used to say, and just a few years
ago that I thought what we should do is send
(12:27):
our best college age to players, like, say, our best
players twenty two even twenty three and under, because I
thought one of the reasons we stopped winning, or at
least our college kids couldn't win the Gold anymore or
beat the international teams was because many of our best
(12:47):
college players still college age were in the NBA to
the late eighties, and so you know, guys were leaving
after a year, two years whatever. I said, if you
just keep the college age players, even if they're in
the NBA on the team, we could still win.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
That's not the case. Now.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
We couldn't send a twenty three and under team, our
absolute best twenty three and under Americans and win goal.
So now I still think we should send the pros.
But I hear you, Rob, because even if you don't
send your best players, even if a role player gets hurt,
that role player.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Might be making ninety million dollars.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
Right, It's a slippery slope. It's tough.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Yeah, well, you wonder if we start losing like regularly.
I mean we won't know that obviously for years and
years and years, but if we start losing regularly, maybe
they should just go back to the guys.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Yes, I'm serious.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
If we're gonna lose anyway, don't put the you know,
these teams in jeopardy that they might lose a player
that they're playing two hundred million dollars to right.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
And that people have bought season tickets and all the
other stuff that goes with it. Chris's yeah, it affects
a lot of people.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Oh yeah, absolute, You're right. And it's not just the teams,
it's the fans too. Yeah. I mean, can you imagine Rob,
if you know.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Anthony Edwards gets hurt, right, I mean, obviously the front office,
the coaching staff with the Timberwolves will be ticked off.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
But the fans too. Fans will be upset. So all right?
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox You're turned away
in we're talking Olympics Team USA, mainly Kawhi. Should he
have ever been on the team? Should he get a
gold medal if they win?
Speaker 7 (14:46):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (14:47):
And maybe should we rethink these Olympics just because of
the potential cost if guys get injured?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Your thoughts next, Chris and Rob theak couple. Fox Sports Radio.
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Speaker 8 (15:20):
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Speaker 3 (15:47):
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Speaker 3 (16:11):
Seven seven ninety nine.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
On Fox, you'll turn the way in with the odd
couple on Kawhi being on the Olympic team and now he's.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Not on the Olympic team all thoughts, Chris, let's kick
it off with Jolo.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
In Dallas. You're on the couple of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Which up y'all doing? Man, How y'all doing the airwaves?
How y'all doing?
Speaker 9 (16:31):
Man?
Speaker 4 (16:31):
We good?
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Yes, they're doing well.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Man.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
It's gonna be a rough week next week with y'all
being there. Man, Yeah, I got hed, Chris.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
I'll be there next week. I'll be here next week.
Then the week after I gotta fare you.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
I'll be I'll be in Dallas for the All Star
Game on Monday and Tuesday. I'll be back on Wednesday.
So just a couple of days.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Oh yeah, but no, man, Hey, kawhi Leonard, this deal, man,
because I'm tour my atl before. Man, he needs to
take it easy, man, with all this. He's getting older,
and you know, I don't I don't think he should
get a gold medal or see. He doesn't play a
minute on the team. I mean, he couldn't make it
through the through the you know, preliminaries. You know what
I'm saying. It's just, uh, it was kind of a
(17:13):
sugar enough you know what Rob would say for us
and invite him there, you know, just say all right,
looka while we feel you, you know, you've done a
good deed for the league, so we'll try to help
you represent the country. But like y'all were saying, I
think he should take it easy, and y'all gave it
a good perspective when you're talking about the ticket owners
and stuff like that, Like man, I think, yeah, he
needed if you if you own.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Season tickets for the Timberwolves, and Anthony Edwards got hurt.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Chris, I'm holding my breath.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
But what right?
Speaker 3 (17:43):
And I'm trying to get my refund if I you know,
if I.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Like it, And like like y'all said about sending the
under twenty three and under team, I wouldn't even mind
seeing a player like Cooper Flag just go out there
and try to drop buckets on you know what I'm saying.
We give him a couple of big send them some
bigs out there. I mean.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
We could win. I don't think we could win.
Speaker 5 (18:08):
Said this is gonna be our last time trying to
win it, you know, and we have to get played.
Like joelan b really shouldn't even be playing for the
USA team.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
He got to choose.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I don't know how it works because he got to choose.
He could have chose France. I think Cameroon has a team.
He really should be playing for Cameroon.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Right exactly. That's what I would be trying to team
up and created. You know, that's the NBA. But stuff.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
But yeah, we was like, looky man appreciated.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Yep, all right, how about Gator in Phoenix. You're on
the couple of Fox Sports Rader. What up Gator man Fellas?
Speaker 9 (18:43):
What's going on?
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Man?
Speaker 9 (18:44):
I love the show, I love the show.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
Appreciate you.
Speaker 9 (18:47):
I've been trying to get in contact with y'all for
a few weeks when especially for you'll be talking about
Dak Preshcott. I'll tell you what. I'm from Chicago, that
hard cup fan. He's just sending the week, was sending
back to Chicago Cubs. We can transfer him to a
picture because we can need a picture. So that's what
he should do with that west Ud.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
We'll love to have them, all.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Right, I'm sure God, oh Chicago, you didn't.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
You're talking about about making them a picture.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Christ your quarterback problems should be you're talking about that?
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Yeah, okay, all right, what you got on about the
about the basketball My thing is you are talking about
them in the community.
Speaker 9 (19:32):
They shouldn't you know, or considered the kids and all that.
You know, Plak can always say no, you know, just
because they voat you on the Olympic team doesn't mean
you have to go. So the Olympic teams doing their
job by getting the best player. Now, but I know
he's gray.
Speaker 5 (19:46):
Prom you know that for them in the team.
Speaker 9 (19:49):
As far as Kawhi Leonard, no, he shouldn't get no championship.
I mean, you're not playing you you you made the practice,
that's it.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
He was picked for the team though.
Speaker 9 (19:58):
But you know he didn't play. They didn't play one
game yet.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Yeah, they haven't even they haven't even played an exhibition
and they played.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Tonight.
Speaker 9 (20:07):
No, he shouldn't get nothing. And that changed. If you
want to ring, as long as you get picked on that,
I really don't want to play.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
I just want to ring.
Speaker 9 (20:14):
I'm gonna let them guys play, and I just you know, hey,
take Moneame out of the head and just give me
a ring. You guys can do that.
Speaker 7 (20:22):
Appreciate you, love you, yank you.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Uh, Chris, let's go to Josh in Arizona. You're under
odd couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up, Josh?
Speaker 7 (20:35):
Appreciate y'all letting me on on this worship Wednesday, No doubt,
I'll say this. I thought it was strange that uh
Kawhi was even on the team with his injury history.
And I think it's even stranger that he's coming off
the team because I kind of realized he never played
for the Olympics and he's one of the greatest players
in recent time to have played basketball if he's actually healthy.
(20:58):
So I need towards what y'all was saying that this
might have been a whole setup. You to give him
his honor and to give him that that goal for
the people that's saying, oh, he shouldn't get a goal
because you know he ain't play well. Y'all ain't really played.
If you understand how good this man is and for
him to come in and do the practices and everything
like that, then I get why, Okay, you would give
(21:22):
him one if that was the case. I think they're
just trying to recognize who Kawhi is. And then I'm
gonna leave with this. I love Eddie House man, I
met him, I know him. Uh, but press that man,
he be coming with them softball answers on some of
that stuff y'all be coming with and I know I
see you. We're all trying to press him a little bit.
But press that man when he come on a great dude,
great dude, But just press that man.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
He's gonna, you know, he's gonna ride for the Celtics.
He's gonna.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
He's actually we get it.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
But yeah, all I appreciate it, thank you. But Chris,
we pushed back, right, we pushback.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I mean now he yeah, we have pushedback, so we
know where he's coming from. All right, it is the
Eye Couple Chris and Rob. Rob doesn't like it. He's
got beef with Lebron being the best player on the
Redeemed Team Remix.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
That's what I'm calling them, the Redeemed Team Remix. I'm
cool with it. That's next.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
But first, be sure to catch live editions of The
Odd Couple with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at
seven pm Eastern, four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
All right, Rob, So after training camp, we'll call it that.
With the Olympic team, they had their camp out in
Las Vegas. The players, now, the Athletic did this poll
and the players were asked who is the best player
in camp? Lebron James received five of the possible fifteen votes.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, and Drew Holliday Drew must have
been ding up. They each got two votes.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Apiece and Joe lm beat Anthony Davis, Kawhi, Leonard and
Bam out of by you all got one vote. So, Rob,
you think this, you think this is a sign. This
is a bad sign? Is that correct?
Speaker 4 (23:26):
Where's the Tatum and Edwards and those young bucks?
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Edwards got two votes, Tatum got none.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
I mean, where are those young bucks who are supposed
to be a forty year old guys the best guy
in camp? Yeah, I'm not happy about that.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
I'm just I'm just not And so you think that's
bad for Team USA? Yeah, I mean, why.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Aren't the other guys coming in feeling like, Yo, let's
take this team over. We got the young guns, We're
not the old, tired beat up you know what I mean.
Let's let's let's take we're supposed to take it to
the next level. I know, let's let Lebron and and
KD and Steph let them just hang out for the ride,
(24:08):
get on the ride with us. As we take it
home for the USA and let Lebron and them just
enjoy the the fruits of our laborer.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
You still play.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
And this is Tes's first Olympics, so you know he's
out there balling.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
So I mean, look, here's my thing.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
I don't I don't think it's a bad sign that, oh,
we could be in trouble if Lebron's our best player.
Because in this type of setting, rob, where you've got
all these stars together, you need one of them to
take control. You need one of them to tell everybody, okay,
(24:51):
this is where you know, you here, you here, you know,
talking on defense.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
You need a guy that's gonna move the ball.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
I think with Lebron's back basketball IQ, he's perfect for
this setting because I don't think he's going in there
thinking I have to score a ton of points. I
think he's when he's when it's there, or when he
wants to. He'll drive and we know he can still
drive to the buckings score. He's become a better three
point shooter and this line is shorter, this three point line,
(25:20):
so he can you know, hit the three when it's there.
But I think he's also going to be a ball mover,
which is not what he is in the NBA.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
He's a guy that you know, dominates the ball.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
But in this setting, I think he understands, I got
all these stars around me, I need to make sure
this ball is popping and set an example in a tone.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
For everybody else.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
So I think that I'm not surprised, but I don't
necessarily expect, and I don't.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Don't ask me why.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
I just don't necessarily think Lebron's gonna be the best
player or the leading scorer during the Olympics. But I
do think he could be. Let me restate that. I
don't think he'll be the leading scorer during the Olympics,
but he could be our best player because of his intelligence.
And you're gonna need a selfless leader to really play
(26:14):
a strong role on this team. So everybody falls down.
We know he's got the most you know, notches on
his belt if you will, on the team, and so
if he sets the right tone verbally and the way
he plays, I think that'll help our team.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
So I think that's what that's what's happened.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
Yeah, I just I just would love to see other
people Chris rather than a forty year old who doesn't
quite impact. We know he can score, and we know
he can play and put up numbers, but he doesn't
impact winning as much. I just expected Anthony Edwards or
or Jalen What am I thinking? Edwards or Jason Tatum
(27:02):
to just try to reclaim, you know, or claim the
lead role as the younger players. That's all I just
it's just it's weird that the oldest guy on the
team they're saying is the best player the past week.
That just doesn't speak.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
He's still I mean, he's still a great player.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
And when we at least with me, when I say
he doesn't impact the game the way he used to,
that's the way he used to, like, I mean, he
used to be at the control games.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
You know he doesn't do that anymore.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
But I mean, if we're talking about him not impacting
the game because they can't get out of the first round,
or do y'all need they've been.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Hurt, but he been out, he ain't. He been out
in the first round.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
The last two year, not just the first round, Chris.
I mean, he needs they need to play in him
and Anthony Davis need to play in two of the
last three years to get in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
No, that's what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
He doesn't packed the game like he used to. And
I'm not saying he impacts it as much as Yokic,
although Jokic went out in the second round.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
I'm not saying he impacts it as much as you know,
the absolute like Luca.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
But you get after those guys and we know rop
like when you talk about like Lebron was third team
I believe all NBA this year, I mean it was
how many Americans? Does that mean we're ahead of him
one on the first team Jason Tatum and I gotta
get the teams actually in front of me.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
But I mean, you might only be talking about six
guys that were.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Definitively in front of Lebron this year when you're talking
about strictly Americans, and so, you know, he is still
one of our best American players by far. He's one
of the best in the league still overall, but certainly
among Americans.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
At some point, I have to imagine that Lebron's gonna
start falling off to the point where he's not one
of the best ten fifteen players in the league.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
But it really hadn't happened yet, so I'm not too surprised.
I'm not too surprised. Doesn't mean he's gonna be our
best player. He may.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
I think he's got a shot, but I certainly don't.
I'd be shocked if he was the leading scorer.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
I'd be shocked if.
Speaker 4 (29:24):
He was the leader. I would be shocked too, Yeah,
because he might be the leading scorer, but there would
be no goal for the US if he is.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Yeah, well, certainly.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
And that's the other thing, right, They're not going to
just cater to Lebron, and nor should they. Like, they're
not just gonna run a you know, one of those
old school Lebron offenses where he dominated the ball and
everybody had to play off him.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
But yeah, I mean, it would be him being the
leading scorer. I don't. I don't see that happening. So
here's what it was.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Rob Jason Tatum was the only American on first Team
All NBA. Second Team All NBA was five Americans Jalen Brunson,
Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Kawhi, and then Lebron
made third team. Four Americans made thirteen. So you know,
he's one of the top ten Americans still in the world,
(30:20):
in the in the league. And yeah, I'm not surprised,
and I don't think it's a bad sign. All right,
it's the Eye Couple, Chris and Rob. Rob thinks the
NBA could be making a mistake.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
We'll get into that next The Eye Couple. Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
All Right, it's the Odd Couple Chris and Rob broadcasting
live from the tire reg dot com studios.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Tirereg dot com will help you get there.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
They've got an unmatched selection, fast for shipping, free row,
has a protection and more than ten thousand recommend it installers.
Tyrereg dot com is the way tirebind should be.
Speaker 3 (31:10):
All right, Rob, the NBA.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
You've heard Befens say all night that the NBA. I
think their last TV deal was worth twenty four billion dollars.
This new one eleven years seventy six billion dollars.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Rob.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
We think that salaries are high now. They're about to
skyrocket within the next two years because of this new
TV deal. But Rob g summarize kind of some of
the things that will come about because of this new deal.
Speaker 10 (31:47):
Well, it's not just the number amount that's gonna blow
your mind here. Starting in the twenty twenty five to
twenty six season, when this new deal kicks in a place,
once the NFL sees is over, So that would be
what February February, yeah, third, probably after the all start break,
right exactly. The NBA will feature nationally televised games every
(32:14):
night of the week. Monday will seven nights, seven nights.
Monday will be Peacock Tuesday and NBC Wednesday, ESPN, Thursday, Amazon, Friday, Saturday, Sunda.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
You get a double dip.
Speaker 10 (32:26):
You get ESPN and Amazon Friday and Saturday and then
Sunday primetime, NBC and ESPN.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Wow.
Speaker 10 (32:34):
So they got me thinking, guys, is there's so such
a thing as too much of a good thing? Rob Parker?
Speaker 4 (32:40):
Absolutely, And what you do is you take away stuff
that's special when you overdo it and oversaturate the market.
First of all, when you talk about a national game,
I'm usually expecting to see some pretty good teams or
some rivalry or something that I'm looking forward to So
now if you're telling me you got to get a
national game every night of the week, there's gonna be
(33:03):
some duds in there. We're gonna have to see the
Lakers a lot, you know what I mean, and teams
like that. So you just take away what happens is
you don't make it special. I say it all the time.
We love ice cream until you start working at the
ice cream factory. Then it's not as appealing of ice cream.
But no, but it ain't. It's appealing, cris you know
what I mean. When you don't have it that often.
(33:24):
When you're a kid and they take you out to
get Carvel ice cream, it's a big deal because you
don't get ice cream every night. But if you're getting
it every night, it just feels a little different, that's all.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
There's truth in what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Right Sometimes when we talk about not even you and me,
because we didn't necessarily even see these guys, but like
the previous generation when they talked about the Mickey Mantles
and the Wilt Chamberlains and you know, Willie mays Is
even of that era, they didn't have nearly as much
(33:58):
access to them as we have to the athletes today,
you know, so.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
That made them even larger than life. So I was.
Speaker 4 (34:08):
Like before we had Interleague played Chris, if you were
in an American League city, you didn't see the National
League players. You didn't see Willie Mays. He never came
to Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
I didn't see him, especially when you yeah, went back
then when at TV wasn't you know, and you like the.
Speaker 4 (34:25):
Game of the week, all right, the San Francisco Giants
are playing. I could watch Willie Mays finally.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Right right now.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
So I get where you're going with that, but I
disagree overall.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
And here's why.
Speaker 7 (34:39):
One.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
NBA games are on every night anyway. And I know
everybody doesn't have League Pass, but.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
You can watch.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
You know, you don't even have to necessarily have League Pass.
Your local team is on or you can catch another
team on a station here or there. So the games
are on every night anyway. Secondly, Rob remember it's not
all year, it's post All Star. And I believe I
(35:12):
mean they played it's like All Star Breaker is more
than halfway through the season.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
It's not like forty one games.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
So they may have I don't know, forty something, forty
seven games or whatever, forty six games they've played before
the All Star Game.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
So by the.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Time they start showing a big game every night, a
game of the week every night though or national game
every night, I.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Should say it's going teams are gonna be like.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Jocking for playoff seeding. They're gonna be jocking to make
who's gonna make the play in MVP race is going
to be heating up, and so these are going to
be big games.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
And so I think that there'll be big games.
Speaker 1 (35:57):
I think we already are watching games every night, you know,
a lot of people and the space. You know, when
you have a game of the week, you know usually
and this is the key, it's not gonna be Barkley
and Shock every night. So are they going to get
good pregame shows, good announcers that make it feel large,
(36:18):
because the game of the week or you know, a
T and T game feels bigger than just watching those
teams play on the local station. And so that's on
these stations to really get good supporting people around them.
Speaker 3 (36:34):
To make it feel big. So I think it'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Like I said, we're we're already saturated with everything.
Speaker 3 (36:42):
The die hards are watching games every night, you know, they.
Speaker 4 (36:45):
Try to build them as national games is what I'm
talking about, Chris. I agree games are on, but really,
what you're gonna have a national game? When they talk
about a national game, that's usually the game we're looking
forward to. When when the Lakers take on you know.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
The Nuggets or something.
Speaker 4 (37:04):
You know what I'm saying. Yeah, but you can get
the game right.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
But you'll have I think what could hurt it, Robin?
This is where the league needs to be talking with
the players and the teams. I don't think oversaturation would
be the problem. The problem would be if if a
lot of the star players aren't playing. We saw that
this year, Rob without the oversaturation, you're like, man, another
(37:28):
night and no Kawhi or Paul George Right, another night
and no Steph Kurk Wow, another night and no.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Zion Williamson or something.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
If the players aren't playing and the games or blowouts,
that would be the problem, not the fact that they
got a game every night. I look forward to it.
All right, we got an hour left, y'all know what
to do.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
Lock it
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to catch us live every weekday from seven pm to
ten pm Eastern four to seven pm 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 (00:24):
Let's get this, punnies, you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
It is The Odd Couple. I'm Chris E's Rob.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
We're live from the tirerack dot Com studios. Tyrek dot
com will help you get there. They've got an unmatched selection,
fast free shipping, free roll hazard protection, and more than
ten thousand recommend to installers. Tirereg dot com is the
way tirebne should be. It's a worship Wednesday here on
(00:55):
The Odd Couple. And we talked Rob in the first
hour about how now Jalen Brown was snubbed. There's really
no other way to look at it when you don't
put Jalen Brown on the Olympic team and instead put
his lesser teammate. With all due respect to Derek White,
but we know that Jalen Brown is a star and
(01:16):
Derek White is not. And they put Derek White in
on the team over Jalen Brown.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
But the reason, of.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Course that they had to do that was because Kawhi Leonard,
after practicing for a week or so with Team USA,
the Clippers brass was their watching, Clippers coach ty Lewis
on the coaching staff their watching obviously, and it was
(01:46):
determined by all of them that Kawhi it's better for
him and the Clippers if he continues to rehab his
knee instead of playing on Team USA. And Rob, if
anybody was surprised at this decision or that this is
(02:07):
the way things ended for Kawhi this summer, I don't
know where you've been.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
I don't know where you've been.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
I look, Kawhi Leonard is a future Hall of Famer,
Kawhi Leonard is one of the best players of this era.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
But I don't know how if they wanted to give.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Him, as you said earlier, the honor of being invited
to be on Team USA.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Okay, I understand that, but.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Outside of that, Rob like for basketball reasons, for his
best interest, for the Clippers' best interest, for the NBA's
best interest, I don't know how in the world anybody
could have thought it was a good idea Kawhi Leonard
on this team, and I think it's darn near the
(03:04):
same thing for Joe LMBI when guys can't stay healthy
during the season and there appears to be a wear
and tear.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Issue with them.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Because Kawhi played sixty eight games this year is most
in like seven years, but when the real important games
came along the playoffs, he wasn't able to go. He's
only able to play two games. And it was essentially
the same thing last year, right, I mean, he did
only play two in playoff games last year, So it
(03:36):
seems like they're Unfortunately, at this point in his career,
there may be only a certain number of games in
Kawhi Leonard's body, and when that's the case, I don't
think he needs to be playing in the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
And so I think it's the best.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Move for the Clippers, for Kawhi, for the NBA. I
think we can still win with or without him. Uh So,
I just think from the get go, Rob, it didn't
make any sense to have Kawhi on the team.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Yeah, I think it was an honor Chris, I just
I do I mean otherwise, I mean, the most obvious
thing would be, I was hurt last year. I couldn't
even play barey played in the playoffs. It doesn't make
sense to rush myself back and playing this, Chris, when
you could take the rest of the time and be
ready for the NBA season. But because he was never
a member right of an Olympic team, I think that
(04:28):
that's why they pushed to say because remember, Kawhi had
a good year, Chris when he played.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
The first sixty eight game, ain't an issue, right, But
I'm just saying like, and I think that's why.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
And again he's gonna go down as being like a
guy who was picked for the team. And and and
I don't know if he gets a gold medal, you
know what.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I mean, because he couldn't. That's a good question. I'm
gonna think he does know, but I'm not.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
I'm gonna say yes, if you if you're injured, Chris
and you were on the team and they feel like
you can't play, I bet you he's gonna get one.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I would think that that might be the case.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
I certainly believe that would be the case if he
got injured during the games.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
The actual games are taking.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
Place, but they haven't even played an exhibition game, yet
they are tonight.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
He's on the team though he was officially on the team.
Is what I'm saying. I would I would assume that
once you're on the team.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
I don't see why he should I got I mean,
I'm not gonna raise, you know, Kames if he does.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
But I don't know why he would get a ring
or whatever. Metal.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
I got no issues if he gets your he.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Was I'm not gonna raise. But he wasn't on the
team for the games, but he was on. It's not
a regular team.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
He was on the team. He just got hurt, Chris,
or he's not able to play.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
If he got hurt, he just isn't able to play.
They're determined that's not the best interest for him to play.
I mean, I'm not gonna care one way or the
other if he gets a gold medal. I'm just saying
I would definitely give a gold medal to a player
that got hurt during the games once once start starting
exhibition game.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
So so let me ask you if he if if
there was if he twisted his leg in practice, would
you feel different, like, you know he got hurt in practice,
you still don't think he deserves.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I mean, you don't play like no, that might be
a little different, but I don't. I don't thankfully he didn't.
But I, like I said, I'm not gonna care if
he does.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
But I probably would feel a little differently if that,
if that happened.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
But it did either way, I mean once, So if
he doesn't get a gold medal, you're not gonna be
ticked off or you're not gonna think it's a snub
if he doesn't.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah, yeah, my pantings will be in a bunch if
you don't.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Okay, So you're good if you get Yeah, I mean,
I'm more good either way.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
If he does, I'm fine.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
But I don't think they should feel any obligation to
give him one if he If they choose to do so,
that's cool, and they might you know what I and
and but I don't even know. I mean, I think
he would take it. I'm sure he would take it.
But are you gonna feel great about that gold medal
(07:19):
if you get it? You didn't contribute. I mean, Kawhi
is a competitor. You didn't contribute to that gold medal?
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Well, and didn't because I couldn't contribute. I was hurt.
I was, Yeah, one of the best players who got picked.
So Chris, if you're let me ask you this. So
you're you're you're picked for the Dream Team or the
Olympic team, and you played three minutes, mop up.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I think if you play, I think once the game start,
and I mean not getting hurt.
Speaker 4 (07:47):
You know, yeah, you're not getting hurt, but you don't
play at all.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
You're you're yeah, you're you're on the team. Everybody can't play,
but you're on the team, and you're what you did
in p this helped us get better the whole way through.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
So it just to me.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
I mean, maybe they did do it as an honor.
Maybe they knew Rob they were gonna do this. I
think if they only had him on the team because
they wanted to honor one of the greatest players of
this generation, then maybe they knew this was gonna be
the way it ended. You know what, he won't be
able to go, but we want to honor him. He's
(08:28):
been a great player, he's a champion. We'll put him
on the team.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
Now.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Obviously you don't announce that it's not gonna last, but
I don't that may have very well been the case, Rob,
and maybe he will get a medal because of that.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
I really think, I really think Chris, that that was
the ultimate plan. Anyway, you just said it like like
are you shocked that? You know, considering like even when
he was named you questioned it at that time, Right,
how was why on this team?
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Well, think about it again, that might be You're right,
maybe that is what happened. And if that's the case,
I would imagine he definitely gets a gold medal.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
But Rob, here's the thing.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Even if Kawhi were able to play throughout the Olympics
and they win gold or whatever, they you know, finish.
If you're the Clippers, are you feeling good about that?
I mean, you're glad your player got to go ahead
and win an Olympic gold medal and compete in the
(09:34):
Olympics and all that.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
But clearly.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
He needs to be low managed. And you know, man,
this so when's he gonna go out now?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
January? He's got sixty games.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
In him, seventy games in him, so he's not gonna
make it for us. So I just like I said,
from the get go, and what do you think about him?
B Look, I'm not gonna huff and puff because he's
on the team. But if I'm the Sixers, I'm I'm
a little bit like.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
But nothing, and they can't the teams can't do anything.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
But I think I think that Team USA should talk
to these teams. And ultimately it's gonna be the player's
decision if he wants to play and all that, but
I just think Rob that Team USA should take it
into consideration.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
You can't let a team keep.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Its guy out because they just don't want him to
risk getting hurt, right, I think that's the spirit of
the rule that we get. You know, these guys playing
in the Olympics, high level competition.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Anything could happen. A guy could get hurt. We saw
it with Paul George.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
They don't want teams pulling guys out for those res
And I get that, like he's healthy, he's fully healthy,
but you don't want to risk it. But when a
guy has an injury history and it's unwavery like it
won't go away, I think you should take that into
(11:18):
consideration if you're USA basketball, because as important as these
Olympics are, and gosh, god forbid, we lose, the NBA
season is more important. And whether you agree with that
or not. The NBA teams are the ones playing these
guys hundreds of millions of dollars, so they should take
that into consideration.
Speaker 6 (11:40):
Yeah, if I'm an owner or I'm a fan, Chris
and I have season tickets and you have a banged
up player who's going to play the Olympics, I'm sorry.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Hey, you know, great for America, but you're killing my
pocket and my team and my season. I'm just not
interest to what is the point of it. Let the
college kids go. Let's go back to when the college
kids used to go.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Well we would then we'd be getting stumped.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Okay, I mean I hear you, because even if there
aren't stars like I used to say, Rob, I mean,
now we just if we want to have a chance
to win, we have to send like our best guys.
But I used to say, and just a few years
ago that I thought what we should do is send
(12:27):
our best college age to players, like, say, our best
players twenty two even twenty three and under, because I
thought one of the reasons we stopped winning, or at
least our college kids couldn't win the Gold anymore or
beat the international teams was because many of our best
(12:47):
college players still college age were in the NBA to
the late eighties, and so you know, guys were leaving
after a year, two years whatever. I said, if you
just keep the college age players, even if they're in
the NBA on the team, we could still win.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
That's not the case. Now.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
We couldn't send a twenty three and under team, our
absolute best twenty three and under Americans and win goal.
So now I still think we should send the pros.
But I hear you, Rob, because even if you don't
send your best players, even if a role player gets hurt,
that role player.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
Might be making ninety million dollars.
Speaker 4 (13:33):
Right, It's a slippery slope. It's tough.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Yeah, well, you wonder if we start losing like regularly.
I mean we won't know that obviously for years and
years and years, but if we start losing regularly, maybe
they should just go back to the guys.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Yes, I'm serious.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
If we're gonna lose anyway, don't put the you know,
these teams in jeopardy that they might lose a player
that they're playing two hundred million dollars to right.
Speaker 4 (14:02):
And that people have bought season tickets and all the
other stuff that goes with it. Chris's yeah, it affects
a lot of people.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Oh yeah, absolute, You're right. And it's not just the teams,
it's the fans too. Yeah. I mean, can you imagine Rob,
if you know.
Speaker 1 (14:19):
Anthony Edwards gets hurt, right, I mean, obviously the front office,
the coaching staff with the Timberwolves will be ticked off.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
But the fans too. Fans will be upset. So all right?
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox You're turned away
in we're talking Olympics Team USA, mainly Kawhi. Should he
have ever been on the team? Should he get a
gold medal if they win?
Speaker 7 (14:46):
Uh?
Speaker 1 (14:47):
And maybe should we rethink these Olympics just because of
the potential cost if guys get injured?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Your thoughts next, Chris and Rob theak couple. Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
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. Paulie Fosco here with Tony Fusco. You know,
as the host of the number one rated Paul and
Toni Fusco show. We get tons and tons of fanmail
every day, piles of it in fact, Tony, why don't
(15:17):
you open up one of those letters right now and
read what's inside.
Speaker 8 (15:20):
Hey, listen to this, Dear Pauliantni, your sports takes the
dumbest and most terribly that.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Wait, why open this other one?
Speaker 8 (15:28):
Dear Pauli and Toni, you suck more than anyone.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Wait, try this one.
Speaker 8 (15:32):
Dear Paulie and Tony, you guys are the absolute best.
There you go coming up with the stupidest take.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
Forget it.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Just listen to the poll and Toni Fusco show on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Yeah, all right, Where do you are?
Speaker 1 (15:49):
A couple live from the tirerag dot com studios. If
you're ready for a new job, let Express Employment Professionals help.
Express is hiring for jobs in a variation might of
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Speaker 3 (16:02):
Never pay a fee at Express.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Check out expresspros dot com to find your location. That's
Expresspros dot Com eight.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Seven seven ninety nine.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
On Fox, you'll turn the way in with the odd
couple on Kawhi being on the Olympic team and now he's.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Not on the Olympic team all thoughts, Chris, let's kick
it off with Jolo.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
In Dallas. You're on the couple of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 5 (16:27):
Which up y'all doing? Man, How y'all doing the airwaves?
How y'all doing?
Speaker 9 (16:31):
Man?
Speaker 4 (16:31):
We good?
Speaker 5 (16:33):
Yes, they're doing well.
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Man.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
It's gonna be a rough week next week with y'all
being there. Man, Yeah, I got hed, Chris.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
I'll be there next week. I'll be here next week.
Then the week after I gotta fare you.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
I'll be I'll be in Dallas for the All Star
Game on Monday and Tuesday. I'll be back on Wednesday.
So just a couple of days.
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Oh yeah, but no, man, Hey, kawhi Leonard, this deal, man,
because I'm tour my atl before. Man, he needs to
take it easy, man, with all this. He's getting older,
and you know, I don't I don't think he should
get a gold medal or see. He doesn't play a
minute on the team. I mean, he couldn't make it
through the through the you know, preliminaries. You know what
I'm saying. It's just, uh, it was kind of a
(17:13):
sugar enough you know what Rob would say for us
and invite him there, you know, just say all right,
looka while we feel you, you know, you've done a
good deed for the league, so we'll try to help
you represent the country. But like y'all were saying, I
think he should take it easy, and y'all gave it
a good perspective when you're talking about the ticket owners
and stuff like that, Like man, I think, yeah, he
needed if you if you own.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Season tickets for the Timberwolves, and Anthony Edwards got hurt.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Chris, I'm holding my breath.
Speaker 5 (17:41):
But what right?
Speaker 3 (17:43):
And I'm trying to get my refund if I you know,
if I.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
Like it, And like like y'all said about sending the
under twenty three and under team, I wouldn't even mind
seeing a player like Cooper Flag just go out there
and try to drop buckets on you know what I'm saying.
We give him a couple of big send them some
bigs out there. I mean.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
We could win. I don't think we could win.
Speaker 5 (18:08):
Said this is gonna be our last time trying to
win it, you know, and we have to get played.
Like joelan b really shouldn't even be playing for the
USA team.
Speaker 3 (18:16):
He got to choose.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I don't know how it works because he got to choose.
He could have chose France. I think Cameroon has a team.
He really should be playing for Cameroon.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
Right exactly. That's what I would be trying to team
up and created. You know, that's the NBA. But stuff.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
But yeah, we was like, looky man appreciated.
Speaker 4 (18:35):
Yep, all right, how about Gator in Phoenix. You're on
the couple of Fox Sports Rader. What up Gator man Fellas?
Speaker 9 (18:43):
What's going on?
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Man?
Speaker 9 (18:44):
I love the show, I love the show.
Speaker 4 (18:46):
Appreciate you.
Speaker 9 (18:47):
I've been trying to get in contact with y'all for
a few weeks when especially for you'll be talking about
Dak Preshcott. I'll tell you what. I'm from Chicago, that
hard cup fan. He's just sending the week, was sending
back to Chicago Cubs. We can transfer him to a
picture because we can need a picture. So that's what
he should do with that west Ud.
Speaker 3 (19:06):
We'll love to have them, all.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
Right, I'm sure God, oh Chicago, you didn't.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
You're talking about about making them a picture.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
Christ your quarterback problems should be you're talking about that?
Speaker 4 (19:25):
Yeah, okay, all right, what you got on about the
about the basketball My thing is you are talking about
them in the community.
Speaker 9 (19:32):
They shouldn't you know, or considered the kids and all that.
You know, Plak can always say no, you know, just
because they voat you on the Olympic team doesn't mean
you have to go. So the Olympic teams doing their
job by getting the best player. Now, but I know
he's gray.
Speaker 5 (19:46):
Prom you know that for them in the team.
Speaker 9 (19:49):
As far as Kawhi Leonard, no, he shouldn't get no championship.
I mean, you're not playing you you you made the practice,
that's it.
Speaker 4 (19:56):
He was picked for the team though.
Speaker 9 (19:58):
But you know he didn't play. They didn't play one
game yet.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Yeah, they haven't even they haven't even played an exhibition
and they played.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Tonight.
Speaker 9 (20:07):
No, he shouldn't get nothing. And that changed. If you
want to ring, as long as you get picked on that,
I really don't want to play.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
I just want to ring.
Speaker 9 (20:14):
I'm gonna let them guys play, and I just you know, hey,
take Moneame out of the head and just give me
a ring. You guys can do that.
Speaker 7 (20:22):
Appreciate you, love you, yank you.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Uh, Chris, let's go to Josh in Arizona. You're under
odd couple of Fox Sports Radio. What's up, Josh?
Speaker 7 (20:35):
Appreciate y'all letting me on on this worship Wednesday, No doubt,
I'll say this. I thought it was strange that uh
Kawhi was even on the team with his injury history.
And I think it's even stranger that he's coming off
the team because I kind of realized he never played
for the Olympics and he's one of the greatest players
in recent time to have played basketball if he's actually healthy.
(20:58):
So I need towards what y'all was saying that this
might have been a whole setup. You to give him
his honor and to give him that that goal for
the people that's saying, oh, he shouldn't get a goal
because you know he ain't play well. Y'all ain't really played.
If you understand how good this man is and for
him to come in and do the practices and everything
like that, then I get why, Okay, you would give
(21:22):
him one if that was the case. I think they're
just trying to recognize who Kawhi is. And then I'm
gonna leave with this. I love Eddie House man, I
met him, I know him. Uh, but press that man,
he be coming with them softball answers on some of
that stuff y'all be coming with and I know I
see you. We're all trying to press him a little bit.
But press that man when he come on a great dude,
great dude, But just press that man.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
He's gonna, you know, he's gonna ride for the Celtics.
He's gonna.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
He's actually we get it.
Speaker 4 (21:53):
But yeah, all I appreciate it, thank you. But Chris,
we pushed back, right, we pushback.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
I mean now he yeah, we have pushedback, so we
know where he's coming from. All right, it is the
Eye Couple Chris and Rob. Rob doesn't like it. He's
got beef with Lebron being the best player on the
Redeemed Team Remix.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
That's what I'm calling them, the Redeemed Team Remix. I'm
cool with it. That's next.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
But first, be sure to catch live editions of The
Odd Couple with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at
seven pm Eastern, four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
All right, Rob, So after training camp, we'll call it that.
With the Olympic team, they had their camp out in
Las Vegas. The players, now, the Athletic did this poll
and the players were asked who is the best player
in camp? Lebron James received five of the possible fifteen votes.
Speaker 3 (23:02):
Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, and Drew Holliday Drew must have
been ding up. They each got two votes.
Speaker 1 (23:09):
Apiece and Joe lm beat Anthony Davis, Kawhi, Leonard and
Bam out of by you all got one vote. So, Rob,
you think this, you think this is a sign. This
is a bad sign? Is that correct?
Speaker 4 (23:26):
Where's the Tatum and Edwards and those young bucks?
Speaker 3 (23:31):
Edwards got two votes, Tatum got none.
Speaker 4 (23:34):
I mean, where are those young bucks who are supposed
to be a forty year old guys the best guy
in camp? Yeah, I'm not happy about that.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
I'm just I'm just not And so you think that's
bad for Team USA? Yeah, I mean, why.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Aren't the other guys coming in feeling like, Yo, let's
take this team over. We got the young guns, We're
not the old, tired beat up you know what I mean.
Let's let's let's take we're supposed to take it to
the next level. I know, let's let Lebron and and
KD and Steph let them just hang out for the ride,
(24:08):
get on the ride with us. As we take it
home for the USA and let Lebron and them just
enjoy the the fruits of our laborer.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
You still play.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
And this is Tes's first Olympics, so you know he's
out there balling.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
So I mean, look, here's my thing.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
I don't I don't think it's a bad sign that, oh,
we could be in trouble if Lebron's our best player.
Because in this type of setting, rob, where you've got
all these stars together, you need one of them to
take control. You need one of them to tell everybody, okay,
(24:51):
this is where you know, you here, you here, you know,
talking on defense.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
You need a guy that's gonna move the ball.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
I think with Lebron's back basketball IQ, he's perfect for
this setting because I don't think he's going in there
thinking I have to score a ton of points. I
think he's when he's when it's there, or when he
wants to. He'll drive and we know he can still
drive to the buckings score. He's become a better three
point shooter and this line is shorter, this three point line,
(25:20):
so he can you know, hit the three when it's there.
But I think he's also going to be a ball mover,
which is not what he is in the NBA.
Speaker 3 (25:28):
He's a guy that you know, dominates the ball.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
But in this setting, I think he understands, I got
all these stars around me, I need to make sure
this ball is popping and set an example in a tone.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
For everybody else.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
So I think that I'm not surprised, but I don't
necessarily expect, and I don't.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
Don't ask me why.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
I just don't necessarily think Lebron's gonna be the best
player or the leading scorer during the Olympics. But I
do think he could be. Let me restate that. I
don't think he'll be the leading scorer during the Olympics,
but he could be our best player because of his intelligence.
And you're gonna need a selfless leader to really play
(26:14):
a strong role on this team. So everybody falls down.
We know he's got the most you know, notches on
his belt if you will, on the team, and so
if he sets the right tone verbally and the way
he plays, I think that'll help our team.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
So I think that's what that's what's happened.
Speaker 4 (26:34):
Yeah, I just I just would love to see other
people Chris rather than a forty year old who doesn't
quite impact. We know he can score, and we know
he can play and put up numbers, but he doesn't
impact winning as much. I just expected Anthony Edwards or
or Jalen What am I thinking? Edwards or Jason Tatum
(27:02):
to just try to reclaim, you know, or claim the
lead role as the younger players. That's all I just
it's just it's weird that the oldest guy on the
team they're saying is the best player the past week.
That just doesn't speak.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
He's still I mean, he's still a great player.
Speaker 1 (27:19):
And when we at least with me, when I say
he doesn't impact the game the way he used to,
that's the way he used to, like, I mean, he
used to be at the control games.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
You know he doesn't do that anymore.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
But I mean, if we're talking about him not impacting
the game because they can't get out of the first round,
or do y'all need they've been.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
Hurt, but he been out, he ain't. He been out
in the first round.
Speaker 4 (27:48):
The last two year, not just the first round, Chris.
I mean, he needs they need to play in him
and Anthony Davis need to play in two of the
last three years to get in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
No, that's what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
He doesn't packed the game like he used to. And
I'm not saying he impacts it as much as Yokic,
although Jokic went out in the second round.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
I'm not saying he impacts it as much as you know,
the absolute like Luca.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
But you get after those guys and we know rop
like when you talk about like Lebron was third team
I believe all NBA this year, I mean it was
how many Americans? Does that mean we're ahead of him
one on the first team Jason Tatum and I gotta
get the teams actually in front of me.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
But I mean, you might only be talking about six
guys that were.
Speaker 1 (28:40):
Definitively in front of Lebron this year when you're talking
about strictly Americans, and so, you know, he is still
one of our best American players by far. He's one
of the best in the league still overall, but certainly
among Americans.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
So we'll see.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
At some point, I have to imagine that Lebron's gonna
start falling off to the point where he's not one
of the best ten fifteen players in the league.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
But it really hadn't happened yet, so I'm not too surprised.
I'm not too surprised. Doesn't mean he's gonna be our
best player. He may.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
I think he's got a shot, but I certainly don't.
I'd be shocked if he was the leading scorer.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
I'd be shocked if.
Speaker 4 (29:24):
He was the leader. I would be shocked too, Yeah,
because he might be the leading scorer, but there would
be no goal for the US if he is.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Yeah, well, certainly.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
And that's the other thing, right, They're not going to
just cater to Lebron, and nor should they. Like, they're
not just gonna run a you know, one of those
old school Lebron offenses where he dominated the ball and
everybody had to play off him.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
But yeah, I mean, it would be him being the
leading scorer. I don't. I don't see that happening. So
here's what it was.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Rob Jason Tatum was the only American on first Team
All NBA. Second Team All NBA was five Americans Jalen Brunson,
Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Kawhi, and then Lebron
made third team. Four Americans made thirteen. So you know,
he's one of the top ten Americans still in the world,
(30:20):
in the in the league. And yeah, I'm not surprised,
and I don't think it's a bad sign. All right,
it's the Eye Couple, Chris and Rob. Rob thinks the
NBA could be making a mistake.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
We'll get into that next The Eye Couple. Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (30:48):
All Right, it's the Odd Couple Chris and Rob broadcasting
live from the tire reg dot com studios.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Tirereg dot com will help you get there.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
They've got an unmatched selection, fast for shipping, free row,
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Speaker 3 (31:10):
All right, Rob, the NBA.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
You've heard Befens say all night that the NBA. I
think their last TV deal was worth twenty four billion dollars.
This new one eleven years seventy six billion dollars.
Speaker 3 (31:28):
Rob.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
We think that salaries are high now. They're about to
skyrocket within the next two years because of this new
TV deal. But Rob g summarize kind of some of
the things that will come about because of this new deal.
Speaker 10 (31:47):
Well, it's not just the number amount that's gonna blow
your mind here. Starting in the twenty twenty five to
twenty six season, when this new deal kicks in a place,
once the NFL sees is over, So that would be
what February February, yeah, third, probably after the all start break,
right exactly. The NBA will feature nationally televised games every
(32:14):
night of the week. Monday will seven nights, seven nights.
Monday will be Peacock Tuesday and NBC Wednesday, ESPN, Thursday, Amazon, Friday, Saturday, Sunda.
Speaker 3 (32:25):
You get a double dip.
Speaker 10 (32:26):
You get ESPN and Amazon Friday and Saturday and then
Sunday primetime, NBC and ESPN.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Wow.
Speaker 10 (32:34):
So they got me thinking, guys, is there's so such
a thing as too much of a good thing? Rob Parker?
Speaker 4 (32:40):
Absolutely, And what you do is you take away stuff
that's special when you overdo it and oversaturate the market.
First of all, when you talk about a national game,
I'm usually expecting to see some pretty good teams or
some rivalry or something that I'm looking forward to So
now if you're telling me you got to get a
national game every night of the week, there's gonna be
(33:03):
some duds in there. We're gonna have to see the
Lakers a lot, you know what I mean, and teams
like that. So you just take away what happens is
you don't make it special. I say it all the time.
We love ice cream until you start working at the
ice cream factory. Then it's not as appealing of ice cream.
But no, but it ain't. It's appealing, cris you know
what I mean. When you don't have it that often.
(33:24):
When you're a kid and they take you out to
get Carvel ice cream, it's a big deal because you
don't get ice cream every night. But if you're getting
it every night, it just feels a little different, that's all.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
There's truth in what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Right Sometimes when we talk about not even you and me,
because we didn't necessarily even see these guys, but like
the previous generation when they talked about the Mickey Mantles
and the Wilt Chamberlains and you know, Willie mays Is
even of that era, they didn't have nearly as much
(33:58):
access to them as we have to the athletes today,
you know, so.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
That made them even larger than life. So I was.
Speaker 4 (34:08):
Like before we had Interleague played Chris, if you were
in an American League city, you didn't see the National
League players. You didn't see Willie Mays. He never came
to Cleveland.
Speaker 1 (34:19):
I didn't see him, especially when you yeah, went back
then when at TV wasn't you know, and you like the.
Speaker 4 (34:25):
Game of the week, all right, the San Francisco Giants
are playing. I could watch Willie Mays finally.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Right right now.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
So I get where you're going with that, but I
disagree overall.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
And here's why.
Speaker 7 (34:39):
One.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
NBA games are on every night anyway. And I know
everybody doesn't have League Pass, but.
Speaker 3 (34:50):
You can watch.
Speaker 1 (34:51):
You know, you don't even have to necessarily have League Pass.
Your local team is on or you can catch another
team on a station here or there. So the games
are on every night anyway. Secondly, Rob remember it's not
all year, it's post All Star. And I believe I
(35:12):
mean they played it's like All Star Breaker is more
than halfway through the season.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
It's not like forty one games.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
So they may have I don't know, forty something, forty
seven games or whatever, forty six games they've played before
the All Star Game.
Speaker 3 (35:27):
So by the.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Time they start showing a big game every night, a
game of the week every night though or national game
every night, I.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Should say it's going teams are gonna be like.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Jocking for playoff seeding. They're gonna be jocking to make
who's gonna make the play in MVP race is going
to be heating up, and so these are going to
be big games.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
And so I think that there'll be big games.
Speaker 1 (35:57):
I think we already are watching games every night, you know,
a lot of people and the space. You know, when
you have a game of the week, you know usually
and this is the key, it's not gonna be Barkley
and Shock every night. So are they going to get
good pregame shows, good announcers that make it feel large,
(36:18):
because the game of the week or you know, a
T and T game feels bigger than just watching those
teams play on the local station. And so that's on
these stations to really get good supporting people around them.
Speaker 3 (36:34):
To make it feel big. So I think it'll be fine.
Speaker 1 (36:38):
Like I said, we're we're already saturated with everything.
Speaker 3 (36:42):
The die hards are watching games every night, you know, they.
Speaker 4 (36:45):
Try to build them as national games is what I'm
talking about, Chris. I agree games are on, but really,
what you're gonna have a national game? When they talk
about a national game, that's usually the game we're looking
forward to. When when the Lakers take on you know.
Speaker 3 (37:03):
The Nuggets or something.
Speaker 4 (37:04):
You know what I'm saying. Yeah, but you can get
the game right.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
But you'll have I think what could hurt it, Robin?
This is where the league needs to be talking with
the players and the teams. I don't think oversaturation would
be the problem. The problem would be if if a
lot of the star players aren't playing. We saw that
this year, Rob without the oversaturation, you're like, man, another
(37:28):
night and no Kawhi or Paul George Right, another night
and no Steph Kurk Wow, another night and no.
Speaker 3 (37:35):
Zion Williamson or something.
Speaker 1 (37:37):
If the players aren't playing and the games or blowouts,
that would be the problem, not the fact that they
got a game every night. I look forward to it.
All right, we got an hour left, y'all know what
to do.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
Lock it
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Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.