July 4, 2025 • 32 mins
Trent Balley fills in for Shep, discussing the young and exciting teams in sports, and when that excitement goes stale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Where are we at in society today? Come after me.
I'm a man, I'm forty. Go ahead, make my dad.
Every single week I put my freaking heart and soul
into this. I don't go out there and laugh. It's
not funny. Nothing's funny to me. I don't wanna go
out there and get embarrassed on Monday night football. For everybody,
I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
(00:24):
So I ain't nothing changed from yesterday. Still the same
person I was yesterday, and I got the same thing
for you that I had yesterday. You know why I'm here.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
You play to win the day. You don't play to
just play it. That's a great thing about sports. You
play to win, and I don't care if you don't
have any witch. You go play to win. When you
start telling me it doesn't matter, can retire, get out
(00:55):
cause the Nats.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Great morning to you, Michigan, West, Michigan, East Michigan, Northern Michigan,
wherever you are up north.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
As they say, happy fourth of July.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
I gotta admit, when I drove in this morning, the
highway was pretty empty.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Trent Balley in for.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Matt Shepherd today, just doing one hour taking you to
seven o'clock here on the fourth of July, as shep
enjoys the time with the family. Tigers lose to the
Nationals eleven to seven last night. Score doesn't indicate the game.
The Tigers, I think, scored four runs in the eighth
and ninth innings, so came on strong at the end.
Made it interesting. I guess you know. That's how you
(01:37):
choose to look at it. Positive spin. Is the sky
falling because they lost this series? Of course not. They
haven't lost many all season. Still the best record in
the American League. Glabor Torres, Parker Metals each have two hits. Great, wonderful.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
I want to.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Not necessarily enlighten, that's not the right word, but I
do want to bring up a conversation I had with
a good friend yesterday, my good friend David Moulton, and
he called the American League in MLB right now.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
He called it a grease fire.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
There are only six teams above five hundred in the
American League. And I don't know how closely you all
have been following baseball. I don't know if you all
have been in tune with that, but there are only
six teams above five hundred in the American League. So
for the Tigers to have the best record out of
that group, I don't think it necessarily says that the
(02:37):
Tigers are making the most of a bad situation or anything.
I think you got to strike while the iron's hot.
That's how I choose to look at it. You have
one of the best offenses in all of baseball, not
just the American League, but you also have an opportunity here.
We just saw the Oklahoma City thunder burst onto the scene.
(03:01):
They had a good year last year and then this
year in a Western conference that was a little.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Bit down, they pounced.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
They smelled blood in the water when they got to
play the Indiana Pacers, the four seed in the NBA Finals.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Right.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Granted, they had the MVP of the league and Shay
Gilgers Alexander and you can say what you want about
his style play. I'm not a huge fan myself. Free
throw merchant, foul merchant, whatever, but still they got there,
and when they got there, there was a sense of urgency.
Like I said, don't want to overuse the cliche, smelled
(03:38):
blood in the water, pounced. Is this the Tigers chance
to pounce? You got an American League. Like I said,
six teams above five hundred, not many are very good.
They're all making the playoffs, right, And then you get
into the discussion and the you know, if you look
at the power rankings, the Lion Lions, Tigers probably won't
(03:59):
be at number one because they just lost the series
to a Nationals team. I would actually argue that Nationals
aren't very good, but so recency bias might tell you
the Tigers aren't the best team in baseball, but there's
definitely an argument to be made there. But it got
me thinking, when does a team become young and exciting,
(04:21):
which we obviously have right now pretty much across the city,
with the exception of the Red Wings. People are getting
a little fatigued of the iSER plan, right, But a
team becomes young and exciting, and Shep and I always
talk about this, it's not necessarily linear. It's not like
it's just gonna be you're gonna, oh, you're gonna make
the playoffs, and then the next year you're gonna make
the conference finals, and then the next year you're gonna
(04:43):
make the finals, and then the next year you're gonna
win the championship. Not necessarily the case, right, We love
the Bad Boys example, But when does a team stop
becoming young and exciting? And the Thunder are what kind
of open my mind to that? And you can apply
this principle across sports. The Thunder have all this young depth,
(05:07):
all this young excitement, all these draft picks. They built
through the draft, right, they did it the right way,
and then they made the playoffs for the first time
in a few years. And then they go to the
finals and then they win it, and it's great and
it's exciting, right, But this was the year they had
to do that, because I'm telling you right now, if
(05:29):
Shay Gil just Alexander wins MVP and the Thunder win
all these games, sixty plus games, they play an Indiana
Pacers team in the NBA Finals and then go to
the finals and lose, what are we talking about all
next year? Oh, the Thunder squandered their opportunity. Are the
Thunder going to get back to form all this stuff?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Right? You gotta strike while the iron's hot. They did so.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
And I'll give you an example of another team in
that league that might be in that situation, and it's
the Minnesota timberwol Young Fun, Anthony Edwards, everyone loves them,
They make the move for Rudy Gobert. They go to
the conference finals last year. This year probably let some
people down, let some fans down. What's the narrative going
(06:17):
to be about the Minnesota Timberwolves going in the next season.
Can Anthony Edwards? Can this team? Can this nucleus actually
get this done while they're young enough and exciting enough
and good enough. Thank you, Sammy Hagar and Van Halen.
But I just wonder to bring up full circle. I
(06:39):
know it's a different league, but I just wonder if
the Detroit Tigers are in that situation right now with
an American league with only six teams above five hundred,
one team at five hundred, you have the best record
in that league. Do you have to get it done
this year? When does a team stop being young and
exciting as a team, lose that juice, lose that luster,
(07:02):
lose that excitement. Right there's so much buzz with the
Detroit Tigers downtown right now, and we all see it,
and we all feel it, and we all go to,
you know, the ballgame on a Friday night and we
enjoy it. Hell, people are going to West Michigan white
Caps games over here in Grand Rapids, if you're listening
on ninety six point one in the game and they're
enjoying that too, as they should, watching Max Clark and
(07:25):
having McGonagall and the like. But when does a team
stop being young and exciting once you reach the top
of the mountain, so to speak, Once you are this good,
is there pressure to actually get it done? I think
there is pressure on the Tigers, and like I said,
all these power rankings are gonna see won't have the
Tigers at the top anymore because of the last week.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
They just had whatever. Move on. I know, long season.
I'm just wondering.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
You can always text your thoughts twenty one thousand Text
Sports Radio to twenty one thousand. Trent Valley filling in
for my good friend Matt Shepherd here on the fourth
of July. You know, I probably should have thought this
(08:21):
through and loaded in Proud to Be an American or
Living in America by James Brown or simply anything by
America for comeback music. Happy fourth of July, everybody. Trent
Valley filling in for Matt Shepherd on X'es and Bros.
(08:41):
Whether you're listening in Grand Rapids ninety six point one FM,
the game, Lansing WVFM, Traverse City and Cadillac Wkid Patoski, Charlotvoyd, WMBN.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Thanks for being with us.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
For the few of you that are on your way
to work, Hope you're having a good commune. Maybe you're
on your way up north. Save travels to everybody. Hope
everyone is going to have a great day. I got
my red, white and blue shorts on this morning. Even
though you can't see me, this is radio. I know, Trent,
but I'm in the spirit. Fourth of July one of
the greatest holidays. Tigers lose to the Nationals eleven to
(09:17):
seven yesterday. They actually lose the series to a team
that most would consider I think everyone with half a
brain would consider to be inferior.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
So that kind of stinks.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
But they do salvage one in the first game of
yesterday's doubleheader, or two days ago, that would be Wednesday's doubleheader.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
I do want to shift gears.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I want to talk a little Pistons and the spirit
of fourth of July, Red, white, and blue. NBA free
agency is in full swing, and the Detroit Pistons are
going to look a lot different than twenty twenty five.
For some reasons, honestly out of their own control. We've
talked about it a little bit on the show yesterday,
the Malik Beasley saga. He's not gone yet, I understand,
(09:58):
but he is a free agent and we have to
let things unfold. But he might not play another game
in the NBA gambling scandal, apparently betting on prop bets,
and it didn't happen while he was in Detroit at least.
The incident that the FBI is looking into in the
NBA is looking into is not related directly to the Pistons,
(10:21):
but it's related to the player and Malik Beasley last
season six million for one year. My friend Ben Boscher
yesterday filling in for Huge on The Huge Show, mentioned
it might have been the best contract in the in
NBA history for a role player given the value that
Malik Beasley brought you last season, not only in leadership,
(10:43):
but he did set a franchise record for threes made
in the season, and you only paid him six million
a year.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
And now I would be shocked, shocked if.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
The Pistons bring him back based on what's going on
with all this gambling stuff. So set losing him, you
already lost Tim Hardaway Junior, That is Tim Harley Junior,
the Wolverine one year deal with the Nuggets. He had
a nice little one year stint here in Detroit. I
know a lot of fans will point to that clip
(11:14):
in Game three and he hits that three to go
up four points in the second quarter, and yet the
crowd is on its feet like it's Game seven and
there's thirty seconds left. Man, I love Detroit, but you
lose him. You lose Tim Hardaway junior one year deal
to the Denver Nuggets, and you lose Dennis Schroder. Now
(11:35):
that is kind of the jury still out on exactly
what that deal is going to look like. Schroders headed
to the Kings. There's some sign and trade value or
something that's going on there. I don't exactly know, Matt,
Matt Shepard, and I will update you next week or
whenever the details of that get smoothed out. But the
(11:55):
point is you're losing Maleak Beasley, Tim Hardaway Junior, Dennis Schroder,
one starter, two very valuable bench players, and a ton
of your rotation. Now the contrarians would tell me, hey, Trent,
calm down. Jaden Ivy's coming back. He's going to be healthy,
all right. I'll hear you out. I'll hear you out
(12:15):
on that, and I can find some solace in that. Absolutely,
Jaden Ivy, I'm a big Jade and Ivy guy didn't
necessarily love him at Purdue. That's a different story. So
it took him a while to win me over, just
because of that implicit Michigan state bias that I so
often bring up, that chef so often checks me on.
(12:37):
But the Pistons are just gonna look a lot different.
That's the point. Now, what do you bring in? Like
I just mentioned, you're getting Jaden Ivy back from injury,
so that's one big thing. You bring in Duncan Robinson,
You bring in Karris Lavert ironically to Wolverines. We talked
to de shaun Te yesterday of Tate's take hoops and
(13:00):
he's a spartan himself, so he mentioned how he doesn't
necessarily love the moves from that standpoint, but he does
think that these are two guys that can bring shot creating,
shot making to this Pistons team. And one your best
player is Kate Cunningham, and one of his best assets,
one of because he's got many of them is facilitating.
(13:21):
You want to space the floor. Not to mention when
you lose you're an out franchise record holder and Malik
Beasley for threes in a season. You lose Tim Hardaway Junior,
an excellent shooter. Dennis Schroder hit probably the biggest shot
in Pistons the entire season last year in that playoff.
Was it game two or was it game four? Can't remember.
(13:42):
Wasn't game four because that would have been in Detroit.
I think it was Game two against the Knicks, and
Dennis Schroder knocks down that three from the left wing.
So you're losing that type of production from beyond the arc,
but you're bringing in Duncan Robinson, Karris Lavert. It's extremely
important that these guys come and contribute.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Now.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
As someone who lives in Michigan, as a Michigan or
a Michiganian, I don't really know what the exact term is,
what the term should be, but we're familiar with these
guys right from Michigan, but we're not necessarily familiar with
them in terms of NBA lower and I do have
a Miami Heat fan who's a friend of mine, and
(14:22):
I have a Cleveland Cavaliers fan who is a friend
of mine, And that's where these two guys are coming from, respectively.
Now I'll go through it real quick. I reached out
to those guys just to kind of say, Hey, what
am I getting in Duncan Robinson? What am I getting
in Karis Lavert? Heat fans said, I'm probably getting one
of the best catch and shoot shooters in the twenty twenties.
(14:44):
And I don't think that's a stretch to say, no
pun intended, Duncan Robinson might be one of the best
catch and shoot guys of the last five years. I
don't think that's egregious at all to say, huge part
of that team in twenty twenty that went to the
NBA Finals and went back in twenty twenty three. Duncan
Robinson can shoot the rock. Harris Lavert a little bit different.
(15:10):
My friend who's a Cavs fan not a huge fan
of Karris Lavert, so that one might be a little
bit more up in the air. But the point is,
I mean, coming off the year I just talked about
the last segment about how teams are young and exciting
and when do they stop being considered young and exciting?
And I talked about the Tigers and how they might
have to strike while the iron's hot. You only got
(15:31):
six teams above five hundred in the American League, But
the OKC thunder just won the championship. For crying out loud.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been knocking on the door for years.
The Indiana Pacers, hell, I know they're not gonna have
Tyree's Halibert next season, but they're young and exciting. When
does a team stop being young and exciting? When do
they lose that Moniker? The Pistons are going to look
(15:53):
a lot different in twenty twenty five, and these guys
coming in Duncan Robinson, Carris Lavert gonna have to do.
They got big shoes to fill Sports Radio to twenty
one thousand. If you want to chime in, one more
segment here along the network and then we'll hit best
of on this fourth of July. Trent Balley filling in
for Matt Shepherd on Axis and Bros.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Happy fourth of July.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Everybody, like I said, when I drove in this morning,
highway was completely empty. So if you're on your way
up North, or if you're on your way to work,
you're one of the rare people that's on your way
to work.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Have a great work day.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Trent Balley here filling in for Matt Shephard, doing a
little bit of work even though it doesn't feel like
work because we're talking about sports, fun stuff. What do
they say if you which you love you don't work
a day in your life. That's kind of where I'm
at right now. So that's good. Thanks for listening Sports
Radio to twenty one thousand. If you want to chime in,
one more segment here along the network before we hit
(17:10):
a best of for the last two hours and I
get to go get my barbecue on. I got my red,
white and blue shorts on this morning.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Feeling good.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Hope you all are fired up for a great Independence
Day holiday. It's always nice when this kind of thing
falls on a Friday. Maybe that's just me, but it's
like when you have your birthday and your birthday falls
on a Saturday.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
You get lucky like that. It's like I won the lottery.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
We've been talking a lot this morning about young and
exciting teams, and we talked about the Tigers who lost
to the Nationals yesterday eleven to seven. A team that
Tigers have the best record in the AL, Nationals are
whatever below five hundred and they lose the series, and
you don't have to overreact long season. But the idea is,
(17:56):
you know, the AL isn't necessarily great, the American League
isn't necessarily great. So the Tigers need to strike while
the iron's hot and pounce on this opportunity. Talked about
the Pistons. If next year the Pistons regress, oh you
bet there's going to be phone calls and texts into
this show saying Kate Cunningham's gotta get it together.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
JB.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Bickerstaff. Last year was great, but what's going on? You
better believe there's pressure on the Pistons because they're young
and exciting. There's a team in the city that I
think this applies to even more than the other two,
and that's your Lions, our beloved Detroit Lions.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
And I'm a season ticket holder.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Trust me, I'm the biggest Lions fan.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
I know.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
You lose Frank Ragno out of retirement, You lose Kevin
Zeitler to the Tennessee Titans. You lose Carlton Davis your
number one corner. Now you do add DJ Reid, you
re up Marcus Davenport. You are getting Aiden Hutchinson back
from his compound fracture and his leg. He broke his leg.
(19:02):
I know I use big terms there. He broke his leg.
He's coming back. So you lose quite a bit, but
you're also adding or reupping quite a bit. And health
is always the key with the Lions, right, I mean,
we saw that last year, maybe the best example I've
ever seen in any sport. I know I'm biased, but
my goodness, what do the Lions have twenty two guys
(19:24):
on il It's ridiculous by the end of the season.
It was absolutely ridiculous. And ironically, it didn't bite him
in the butt until the playoffs, until that Washington game,
because we all know after they lost to the Buccaneers
in Week two, they didn't lose again until they played
the Buffalo Bills in December. But you want to talk
(19:47):
about young and exciting teams that have to be ready
to not squander their opportunity or strike while the iron's hot.
I know I'm using that cliche quite a bit this morning.
How about the Lions, man, and I believe they can
do it. I'm not trying to be negative. Nancy I'm
not trying to be Debbie Downer here. I'm simply just
(20:08):
looking at if we're gonna talk about teams in this
city and they're all good at the same time, which
is great. But if we're gonna talk about teams in
the city that are young and exciting, and the Tigers
and Pistons both fit that bill, the Lions do as well.
But you lose both coordinators. I didn't even mention that yet.
You lose both coordinators. And I know if Chef's listening
right now, he's gonna roll his eyes because that whole
(20:31):
topic has been discussed at nauseum already and it's only
the fourth of July. Both coordinators are gone. So the
Lions have a lot to prove. There's pressure. Now, Do
I think that's gonna get to Dan Campbell or get
to Jared Goff or Jamiir Gibbs or I'm gona Ross
Saint Brown or a not just of course not. Those
guys know what they're doing. They've now won in this league,
they've won the division twice. The NFC North completely runs
(20:56):
through Detroit until proven otherwise. But again, if we're talking
about young, exciting teams that need to get it done.
Now the Lions are maybe number one on that list
in all of Detroit. How concerned are you? The text
line is twenty one thousand tech sports Radio to twenty
(21:18):
one thousand. That's sports radio all one word, no spaces.
How concerned are you about the Lions' losses this offseason?
And of course I don't mean losses as in the
lost column. I mean losing Frank Ragnout to retirement, losing
Kevin Zeitler to the Tennessee Titans, losing Carlton Davis and
(21:40):
both your coordinators. That's what most people are talking about
when they talk about the Detroit Lions. Now, I will
say this as a season ticket holder, I know a
couple things. Prices have gone up, so I mean there's
still interest. People are still putting their fannies in the seats,
as they like to say. You still have Jared Goff,
(22:03):
you still have Dan Campbell, you still have I'man Ross
Saint Brown, you still have Sam Laporta, you still have
Jamier Gibbs, you still have David Montgomery, Sonic and knuckles right,
one of the best nicknames in all of sports.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
I think definitely the best nickname duo. I can't think
of another.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Okay, the Splash Brothers, but they're not together anymore, so
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. They can't take that mantle anymore.
You still have a lot going for you, that's the
whole point. But young and exciting teams. How about the
Chicago Bears. I mean, hell, I'm broadcasting from ninety six
point one the game here in Grand Rapids. Chicago's almost
(22:45):
equal distance from Detroit right now where I'm at.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Not to mention, you got Ben Johnson.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Who a lot of Lions fans are absolutely cursing his
name over the last few weeks months since he departed
and had some choice words about what Jared Goff can
and can't do and what he's excited about what Caleb
Williams can do. And the Bears have re upped quite
a bit in this offseason. They've gotten a lot better.
(23:15):
So I'm just saying the pressure's on. I believe they
can do it. The Lions, I believe they can do it.
I believe they can get this done. I believe they
can win the division for the third straight year now
in all likelihood, and ideally it won't take until Week seventeen.
Playing the Minnesota Vikings to do so, and you want
(23:39):
to talk about a team that has lost some excitement
the Minnesota Vikings, My goodness. I mean, I'm sure there
are fans there that are excited about JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
I get it.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
But you know, you guys know, if you've listened to
the show, you know how I feel about Sam Darnolder
and how I felt about him all last season. Not
a huge fan, but I guess my point is just
I think it would be fair to expect that team
to take a step back. That's all winning fourteen games
(24:09):
last year, and you've now got essentially a rookie quarterback
step in. And I know he's been around NFL locker
rooms now for a year. There's something to be said
for that. He's been in the meetings, he's seen the playbook,
he's been in practice, he's done all that. JJ McCarthy.
Not to mention, he's won a national championship with Michigan,
(24:30):
and it pains me to even bring that up because
I'm a Spartan, but whatever, My point is simply that
team might win. Hell, if the Minnesota Vikings win ten
games next year, I think that's a great season because
they've got talent, but you're dealing with a quarterback who's
starting in his first season in JJ McCarthy, and you're
(24:51):
playing in a division that has the Detroit Lions. So
and you guys know how highly I think of the Lions.
And then of course you've got the Green Bay Packers,
who everyone's gonna turn to Jordan Love.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
And say, well, is he the guy? Is he a
top ten guy?
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Is he gonna carry on the legacy of Brett Faarr
and Aaron Rodgers and guys of those ILK time will tell,
I guess, but so far not great. Shep and I
have been on this for months, almost a year now,
on this show. What is Jordan Love proven? I mean,
(25:38):
he's one bed half away from going to the Super Bowl,
I guess, or going to the NFC Championship Game rather,
and the Lions actually would have been hosting that back
in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
But what is Jordan Love proven? In this league? Young?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Exciting? Are the Packers young and exciting? Is every team
in this division young and exciting? I would argue the
Lions are the most exciting, just based on the electricity
of that offense. But you lost your coordinator and Again,
I'm not saying that John Morton can't step in and
(26:14):
fill those shoes just fine, because I do believe he can,
and I believe he will. I believe he has the
tools to do it. I think if you screw up
an offense with Jamir Gibbs, David Montgomery, Sam Laporta, I'm
Gonnaron Say Brown, everybody, if you screw that up, put
it this way. It's hard to screw that up. So
(26:34):
a guy like John Morton, who Dan Campbell obviously trusts
and has worked with, and he's you know, been around
a little bit in the NFL, I absolutely think he
can step in and they'll be just fine. But I'm
just saying I think the Lions are probably the most
exciting team in the division, and I would give the
Bears a close second, just based on the fact that
they have a.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
New head coach.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
They've got Caleb Williams, who you know, after the Bears
four and two start, they only won one game last year.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
But Caleb Williams was fine.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
I know, I like to rag on him, I like
to give him crap, but he finished the season pretty good. Actually,
if you look at the numbers, and I do think
maybe not a whole lot to be said, but I
do think there's a little bit to be said about
the fact that they finished the season with a win
because they had lost twelve in a row.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
They started four and two, they finished five and twelve. Okay,
so you finish the season with a win.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Great. You roll into this season. You've got a new
head coach.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
So Bears fans, and I know if you, I'm sure
you know a few as well. Bears fans are feeling
pretty excited about their team. So they're young and exciting
as well. Vikings are young and exciting from the sole
standpoint of JJ McCarthy. And of course you have maybe
the best receiver in football. I know Shep would say
it's Jamar Chase splitting hairs. Jamar Chase, justin Jefferson. They're
(27:59):
both right there, and ironically both guys LSU Tigers as well.
The Packers, to me are I gotta choose my words
carefully here because when I talk about the Green Bay Packers,
I get all fired up. I think the Packers are
the most I don't want to say overrated, but I
don't think they have nearly as much going for him
as there are other three teams in the division. Granted,
(28:21):
you could say, Trent, it's probably the best team in
the whole NFL or the best division in the entire league,
and it might be. In fact, it probably is, because
I know before last season we all said it was
the AFC North and look how that turned out. So
there you go. So the NFC North might be the
best division in all of football. So being the quote
(28:42):
unquote least exciting team or the worst team in this
division might not be all that bad. I get it.
I'm just saying if I'm a Packers fan, and again
I know a lot of you know Packers fans too,
God they're insufferable. But if you're a Packers fan, you
have to be looking at this division and saying, they've
(29:03):
got all these other teams have more talent than us
and are probably more exciting and more juice than us. Now,
if you were the Green Bay Packers and you could
just pick them up with a crane and drop them
in the AFC South.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
With C. J.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Stroud, maybe Jordan Love can go toe to toe with C. J.
Stroud and maybe the Packers would be the best team
in that division. Or Trevor Lawrence or Anthony Richardson that
would make a little more sense. So I know it
sounds like I'm just lighting the Green Bay Packers. Not
the case, because, like I said, I think the Lions
(29:42):
are a part of the best division in football in
the NFC North. Let's get to our results from yesterday's
poll question. I know shep had teased that yesterday. So
before we get out of here, just doing one segment
here this morning, one hour this morning, on the fourth
of July, Trent Valley filling in for Matt Shepherd on
Axis and Bros. We asked you which Tigers players most
(30:05):
deserving of his All Star selection? Is it Hobby or Bias?
Is it Glaber Torres? Is it Riley Green? Not surprisingly,
Riley Green gets seventy percent of the vote, Hoavier Bias
with twenty percent, Labor Torres with ten percent.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
And I guess I suppose we maybe.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
Should have added a fourth option for they're all deserving,
because I think that's really the right answer. They're all deserving.
Like I said, there's only six teams above five hundred
in the American League this season in MLB, and the
Detroit Tigers have the best record of those six. And
you can make a really credible argument that the Detroit
(30:41):
Tigers are the best team in all of baseball. So
you got that going for you too. You're naturally going
to have contributors those three guys, particularly in my opinion,
Labor Torres. What he's brought you here on a one
year deal as a veteran on the right side of
that infield, he's brought you it's on a production and
(31:01):
he might be and he finished last in that poll,
he might be most deserving of all three.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
I agree with the consensus the seventy percent that said
Riley Green, I do agree with you.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
That would have been my vote.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
But the point is it's a good problem to have,
and the Detroit Tigers have stars. Not to mention Trek Scoople,
you got the best pitcher in baseball. But we were
just going for you know, everyday players. Here our poll
question today you can vote X ME mornings on X.
What are you watching on the fourth of July? Are
you watching Tigers baseball? Are you watching Wimbledon, the hot
(31:37):
dog eating contest, Joey Chestnuts back.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Or nothing?
Speaker 3 (31:41):
I'm off the grid, which I would totally respect. And
so far eight percent of the people are voting for that.
It's not a ton, but it's not zero. Hey, it's
been fun chatting with you this morning. Happy fourth of
July to all of you. Safe travels, God bless America.
Trent Balley filling in for match Eppart here on Exus
and Bros. We got a best of show coming for
(32:03):
you the next two hours. Thanks for listening.
Where are we at in society today? Come after me.
I'm a man, I'm forty. Go ahead, make my dad.
Every single week I put my freaking heart and soul
into this. I don't go out there and laugh. It's
not funny. Nothing's funny to me. I don't wanna go
out there and get embarrassed on Monday night football. For everybody,
I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
(00:24):
So I ain't nothing changed from yesterday. Still the same
person I was yesterday, and I got the same thing
for you that I had yesterday. You know why I'm here.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
You play to win the day. You don't play to
just play it. That's a great thing about sports. You
play to win, and I don't care if you don't
have any witch. You go play to win. When you
start telling me it doesn't matter, can retire, get out
(00:55):
cause the Nats.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Great morning to you, Michigan, West, Michigan, East Michigan, Northern Michigan,
wherever you are up north.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
As they say, happy fourth of July.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
I gotta admit, when I drove in this morning, the
highway was pretty empty.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
Trent Balley in for.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Matt Shepherd today, just doing one hour taking you to
seven o'clock here on the fourth of July, as shep
enjoys the time with the family. Tigers lose to the
Nationals eleven to seven last night. Score doesn't indicate the game.
The Tigers, I think, scored four runs in the eighth
and ninth innings, so came on strong at the end.
Made it interesting. I guess you know. That's how you
(01:37):
choose to look at it. Positive spin. Is the sky
falling because they lost this series? Of course not. They
haven't lost many all season. Still the best record in
the American League. Glabor Torres, Parker Metals each have two hits. Great, wonderful.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
I want to.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Not necessarily enlighten, that's not the right word, but I
do want to bring up a conversation I had with
a good friend yesterday, my good friend David Moulton, and
he called the American League in MLB right now.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
He called it a grease fire.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
There are only six teams above five hundred in the
American League. And I don't know how closely you all
have been following baseball. I don't know if you all
have been in tune with that, but there are only
six teams above five hundred in the American League. So
for the Tigers to have the best record out of
that group, I don't think it necessarily says that the
(02:37):
Tigers are making the most of a bad situation or anything.
I think you got to strike while the iron's hot.
That's how I choose to look at it. You have
one of the best offenses in all of baseball, not
just the American League, but you also have an opportunity here.
We just saw the Oklahoma City thunder burst onto the scene.
(03:01):
They had a good year last year and then this
year in a Western conference that was a little.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
Bit down, they pounced.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
They smelled blood in the water when they got to
play the Indiana Pacers, the four seed in the NBA Finals.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Right.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Granted, they had the MVP of the league and Shay
Gilgers Alexander and you can say what you want about
his style play. I'm not a huge fan myself. Free
throw merchant, foul merchant, whatever, but still they got there,
and when they got there, there was a sense of urgency.
Like I said, don't want to overuse the cliche, smelled
(03:38):
blood in the water, pounced. Is this the Tigers chance
to pounce? You got an American League. Like I said,
six teams above five hundred, not many are very good.
They're all making the playoffs, right, And then you get
into the discussion and the you know, if you look
at the power rankings, the Lion Lions, Tigers probably won't
(03:59):
be at number one because they just lost the series
to a Nationals team. I would actually argue that Nationals
aren't very good, but so recency bias might tell you
the Tigers aren't the best team in baseball, but there's
definitely an argument to be made there. But it got
me thinking, when does a team become young and exciting,
(04:21):
which we obviously have right now pretty much across the city,
with the exception of the Red Wings. People are getting
a little fatigued of the iSER plan, right, But a
team becomes young and exciting, and Shep and I always
talk about this, it's not necessarily linear. It's not like
it's just gonna be you're gonna, oh, you're gonna make
the playoffs, and then the next year you're gonna make
the conference finals, and then the next year you're gonna
(04:43):
make the finals, and then the next year you're gonna
win the championship. Not necessarily the case, right, We love
the Bad Boys example, But when does a team stop
becoming young and exciting? And the Thunder are what kind
of open my mind to that? And you can apply
this principle across sports. The Thunder have all this young depth,
(05:07):
all this young excitement, all these draft picks. They built
through the draft, right, they did it the right way,
and then they made the playoffs for the first time
in a few years. And then they go to the
finals and then they win it, and it's great and
it's exciting, right, But this was the year they had
to do that, because I'm telling you right now, if
(05:29):
Shay Gil just Alexander wins MVP and the Thunder win
all these games, sixty plus games, they play an Indiana
Pacers team in the NBA Finals and then go to
the finals and lose, what are we talking about all
next year? Oh, the Thunder squandered their opportunity. Are the
Thunder going to get back to form all this stuff?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Right? You gotta strike while the iron's hot. They did so.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
And I'll give you an example of another team in
that league that might be in that situation, and it's
the Minnesota timberwol Young Fun, Anthony Edwards, everyone loves them,
They make the move for Rudy Gobert. They go to
the conference finals last year. This year probably let some
people down, let some fans down. What's the narrative going
(06:17):
to be about the Minnesota Timberwolves going in the next season.
Can Anthony Edwards? Can this team? Can this nucleus actually
get this done while they're young enough and exciting enough
and good enough. Thank you, Sammy Hagar and Van Halen.
But I just wonder to bring up full circle. I
(06:39):
know it's a different league, but I just wonder if
the Detroit Tigers are in that situation right now with
an American league with only six teams above five hundred,
one team at five hundred, you have the best record
in that league. Do you have to get it done
this year? When does a team stop being young and
exciting as a team, lose that juice, lose that luster,
(07:02):
lose that excitement. Right there's so much buzz with the
Detroit Tigers downtown right now, and we all see it,
and we all feel it, and we all go to,
you know, the ballgame on a Friday night and we
enjoy it. Hell, people are going to West Michigan white
Caps games over here in Grand Rapids, if you're listening
on ninety six point one in the game and they're
enjoying that too, as they should, watching Max Clark and
(07:25):
having McGonagall and the like. But when does a team
stop being young and exciting once you reach the top
of the mountain, so to speak, Once you are this good,
is there pressure to actually get it done? I think
there is pressure on the Tigers, and like I said,
all these power rankings are gonna see won't have the
Tigers at the top anymore because of the last week.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
They just had whatever. Move on. I know, long season.
I'm just wondering.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
You can always text your thoughts twenty one thousand Text
Sports Radio to twenty one thousand. Trent Valley filling in
for my good friend Matt Shepherd here on the fourth
of July. You know, I probably should have thought this
(08:21):
through and loaded in Proud to Be an American or
Living in America by James Brown or simply anything by
America for comeback music. Happy fourth of July, everybody. Trent
Valley filling in for Matt Shepherd on X'es and Bros.
(08:41):
Whether you're listening in Grand Rapids ninety six point one FM,
the game, Lansing WVFM, Traverse City and Cadillac Wkid Patoski, Charlotvoyd, WMBN.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Thanks for being with us.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
For the few of you that are on your way
to work, Hope you're having a good commune. Maybe you're
on your way up north. Save travels to everybody. Hope
everyone is going to have a great day. I got
my red, white and blue shorts on this morning. Even
though you can't see me, this is radio. I know, Trent,
but I'm in the spirit. Fourth of July one of
the greatest holidays. Tigers lose to the Nationals eleven to
(09:17):
seven yesterday. They actually lose the series to a team
that most would consider I think everyone with half a
brain would consider to be inferior.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
So that kind of stinks.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
But they do salvage one in the first game of
yesterday's doubleheader, or two days ago, that would be Wednesday's doubleheader.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
I do want to shift gears.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
I want to talk a little Pistons and the spirit
of fourth of July, Red, white, and blue. NBA free
agency is in full swing, and the Detroit Pistons are
going to look a lot different than twenty twenty five.
For some reasons, honestly out of their own control. We've
talked about it a little bit on the show yesterday,
the Malik Beasley saga. He's not gone yet, I understand,
(09:58):
but he is a free agent and we have to
let things unfold. But he might not play another game
in the NBA gambling scandal, apparently betting on prop bets,
and it didn't happen while he was in Detroit at least.
The incident that the FBI is looking into in the
NBA is looking into is not related directly to the Pistons,
(10:21):
but it's related to the player and Malik Beasley last
season six million for one year. My friend Ben Boscher
yesterday filling in for Huge on The Huge Show, mentioned
it might have been the best contract in the in
NBA history for a role player given the value that
Malik Beasley brought you last season, not only in leadership,
(10:43):
but he did set a franchise record for threes made
in the season, and you only paid him six million
a year.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
And now I would be shocked, shocked if.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
The Pistons bring him back based on what's going on
with all this gambling stuff. So set losing him, you
already lost Tim Hardaway Junior, That is Tim Harley Junior,
the Wolverine one year deal with the Nuggets. He had
a nice little one year stint here in Detroit. I
know a lot of fans will point to that clip
(11:14):
in Game three and he hits that three to go
up four points in the second quarter, and yet the
crowd is on its feet like it's Game seven and
there's thirty seconds left. Man, I love Detroit, but you
lose him. You lose Tim Hardaway junior one year deal
to the Denver Nuggets, and you lose Dennis Schroder. Now
(11:35):
that is kind of the jury still out on exactly
what that deal is going to look like. Schroders headed
to the Kings. There's some sign and trade value or
something that's going on there. I don't exactly know, Matt,
Matt Shepard, and I will update you next week or
whenever the details of that get smoothed out. But the
(11:55):
point is you're losing Maleak Beasley, Tim Hardaway Junior, Dennis Schroder,
one starter, two very valuable bench players, and a ton
of your rotation. Now the contrarians would tell me, hey, Trent,
calm down. Jaden Ivy's coming back. He's going to be healthy,
all right. I'll hear you out. I'll hear you out
(12:15):
on that, and I can find some solace in that. Absolutely,
Jaden Ivy, I'm a big Jade and Ivy guy didn't
necessarily love him at Purdue. That's a different story. So
it took him a while to win me over, just
because of that implicit Michigan state bias that I so
often bring up, that chef so often checks me on.
(12:37):
But the Pistons are just gonna look a lot different.
That's the point. Now, what do you bring in? Like
I just mentioned, you're getting Jaden Ivy back from injury,
so that's one big thing. You bring in Duncan Robinson,
You bring in Karris Lavert ironically to Wolverines. We talked
to de shaun Te yesterday of Tate's take hoops and
(13:00):
he's a spartan himself, so he mentioned how he doesn't
necessarily love the moves from that standpoint, but he does
think that these are two guys that can bring shot creating,
shot making to this Pistons team. And one your best
player is Kate Cunningham, and one of his best assets,
one of because he's got many of them is facilitating.
(13:21):
You want to space the floor. Not to mention when
you lose you're an out franchise record holder and Malik
Beasley for threes in a season. You lose Tim Hardaway Junior,
an excellent shooter. Dennis Schroder hit probably the biggest shot
in Pistons the entire season last year in that playoff.
Was it game two or was it game four? Can't remember.
(13:42):
Wasn't game four because that would have been in Detroit.
I think it was Game two against the Knicks, and
Dennis Schroder knocks down that three from the left wing.
So you're losing that type of production from beyond the arc,
but you're bringing in Duncan Robinson, Karris Lavert. It's extremely
important that these guys come and contribute.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Now.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
As someone who lives in Michigan, as a Michigan or
a Michiganian, I don't really know what the exact term is,
what the term should be, but we're familiar with these
guys right from Michigan, but we're not necessarily familiar with
them in terms of NBA lower and I do have
a Miami Heat fan who's a friend of mine, and
(14:22):
I have a Cleveland Cavaliers fan who is a friend
of mine, And that's where these two guys are coming from, respectively.
Now I'll go through it real quick. I reached out
to those guys just to kind of say, Hey, what
am I getting in Duncan Robinson? What am I getting
in Karis Lavert? Heat fans said, I'm probably getting one
of the best catch and shoot shooters in the twenty twenties.
(14:44):
And I don't think that's a stretch to say, no
pun intended, Duncan Robinson might be one of the best
catch and shoot guys of the last five years. I
don't think that's egregious at all to say, huge part
of that team in twenty twenty that went to the
NBA Finals and went back in twenty twenty three. Duncan
Robinson can shoot the rock. Harris Lavert a little bit different.
(15:10):
My friend who's a Cavs fan not a huge fan
of Karris Lavert, so that one might be a little
bit more up in the air. But the point is,
I mean, coming off the year I just talked about
the last segment about how teams are young and exciting
and when do they stop being considered young and exciting?
And I talked about the Tigers and how they might
have to strike while the iron's hot. You only got
(15:31):
six teams above five hundred in the American League, But
the OKC thunder just won the championship. For crying out loud.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been knocking on the door for years.
The Indiana Pacers, hell, I know they're not gonna have
Tyree's Halibert next season, but they're young and exciting. When
does a team stop being young and exciting? When do
they lose that Moniker? The Pistons are going to look
(15:53):
a lot different in twenty twenty five, and these guys
coming in Duncan Robinson, Carris Lavert gonna have to do.
They got big shoes to fill Sports Radio to twenty
one thousand. If you want to chime in, one more
segment here along the network and then we'll hit best
of on this fourth of July. Trent Balley filling in
for Matt Shepherd on Axis and Bros.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Happy fourth of July.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Everybody, like I said, when I drove in this morning,
highway was completely empty. So if you're on your way
up North, or if you're on your way to work,
you're one of the rare people that's on your way
to work.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Have a great work day.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
Trent Balley here filling in for Matt Shephard, doing a
little bit of work even though it doesn't feel like
work because we're talking about sports, fun stuff. What do
they say if you which you love you don't work
a day in your life. That's kind of where I'm
at right now. So that's good. Thanks for listening Sports
Radio to twenty one thousand. If you want to chime in,
one more segment here along the network before we hit
(17:10):
a best of for the last two hours and I
get to go get my barbecue on. I got my red,
white and blue shorts on this morning.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Feeling good.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Hope you all are fired up for a great Independence
Day holiday. It's always nice when this kind of thing
falls on a Friday. Maybe that's just me, but it's
like when you have your birthday and your birthday falls
on a Saturday.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
You get lucky like that. It's like I won the lottery.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
We've been talking a lot this morning about young and
exciting teams, and we talked about the Tigers who lost
to the Nationals yesterday eleven to seven. A team that
Tigers have the best record in the AL, Nationals are
whatever below five hundred and they lose the series, and
you don't have to overreact long season. But the idea is,
(17:56):
you know, the AL isn't necessarily great, the American League
isn't necessarily great. So the Tigers need to strike while
the iron's hot and pounce on this opportunity. Talked about
the Pistons. If next year the Pistons regress, oh you
bet there's going to be phone calls and texts into
this show saying Kate Cunningham's gotta get it together.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
JB.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Bickerstaff. Last year was great, but what's going on? You
better believe there's pressure on the Pistons because they're young
and exciting. There's a team in the city that I
think this applies to even more than the other two,
and that's your Lions, our beloved Detroit Lions.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
And I'm a season ticket holder.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Trust me, I'm the biggest Lions fan.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
I know.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
You lose Frank Ragno out of retirement, You lose Kevin
Zeitler to the Tennessee Titans. You lose Carlton Davis your
number one corner. Now you do add DJ Reid, you
re up Marcus Davenport. You are getting Aiden Hutchinson back
from his compound fracture and his leg. He broke his leg.
(19:02):
I know I use big terms there. He broke his leg.
He's coming back. So you lose quite a bit, but
you're also adding or reupping quite a bit. And health
is always the key with the Lions, right, I mean,
we saw that last year, maybe the best example I've
ever seen in any sport. I know I'm biased, but
my goodness, what do the Lions have twenty two guys
(19:24):
on il It's ridiculous by the end of the season.
It was absolutely ridiculous. And ironically, it didn't bite him
in the butt until the playoffs, until that Washington game,
because we all know after they lost to the Buccaneers
in Week two, they didn't lose again until they played
the Buffalo Bills in December. But you want to talk
(19:47):
about young and exciting teams that have to be ready
to not squander their opportunity or strike while the iron's hot.
I know I'm using that cliche quite a bit this morning.
How about the Lions, man, and I believe they can
do it. I'm not trying to be negative. Nancy I'm
not trying to be Debbie Downer here. I'm simply just
(20:08):
looking at if we're gonna talk about teams in this
city and they're all good at the same time, which
is great. But if we're gonna talk about teams in
the city that are young and exciting, and the Tigers
and Pistons both fit that bill, the Lions do as well.
But you lose both coordinators. I didn't even mention that yet.
You lose both coordinators. And I know if Chef's listening
right now, he's gonna roll his eyes because that whole
(20:31):
topic has been discussed at nauseum already and it's only
the fourth of July. Both coordinators are gone. So the
Lions have a lot to prove. There's pressure. Now, Do
I think that's gonna get to Dan Campbell or get
to Jared Goff or Jamiir Gibbs or I'm gona Ross
Saint Brown or a not just of course not. Those
guys know what they're doing. They've now won in this league,
they've won the division twice. The NFC North completely runs
(20:56):
through Detroit until proven otherwise. But again, if we're talking
about young, exciting teams that need to get it done.
Now the Lions are maybe number one on that list
in all of Detroit. How concerned are you? The text
line is twenty one thousand tech sports Radio to twenty
(21:18):
one thousand. That's sports radio all one word, no spaces.
How concerned are you about the Lions' losses this offseason?
And of course I don't mean losses as in the
lost column. I mean losing Frank Ragnout to retirement, losing
Kevin Zeitler to the Tennessee Titans, losing Carlton Davis and
(21:40):
both your coordinators. That's what most people are talking about
when they talk about the Detroit Lions. Now, I will
say this as a season ticket holder, I know a
couple things. Prices have gone up, so I mean there's
still interest. People are still putting their fannies in the seats,
as they like to say. You still have Jared Goff,
(22:03):
you still have Dan Campbell, you still have I'man Ross
Saint Brown, you still have Sam Laporta, you still have
Jamier Gibbs, you still have David Montgomery, Sonic and knuckles right,
one of the best nicknames in all of sports.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
I think definitely the best nickname duo. I can't think
of another.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Okay, the Splash Brothers, but they're not together anymore, so
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. They can't take that mantle anymore.
You still have a lot going for you, that's the
whole point. But young and exciting teams. How about the
Chicago Bears. I mean, hell, I'm broadcasting from ninety six
point one the game here in Grand Rapids. Chicago's almost
(22:45):
equal distance from Detroit right now where I'm at.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Not to mention, you got Ben Johnson.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
Who a lot of Lions fans are absolutely cursing his
name over the last few weeks months since he departed
and had some choice words about what Jared Goff can
and can't do and what he's excited about what Caleb
Williams can do. And the Bears have re upped quite
a bit in this offseason. They've gotten a lot better.
(23:15):
So I'm just saying the pressure's on. I believe they
can do it. The Lions, I believe they can do it.
I believe they can get this done. I believe they
can win the division for the third straight year now
in all likelihood, and ideally it won't take until Week seventeen.
Playing the Minnesota Vikings to do so, and you want
(23:39):
to talk about a team that has lost some excitement
the Minnesota Vikings, My goodness. I mean, I'm sure there
are fans there that are excited about JJ McCarthy.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
I get it.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
But you know, you guys know, if you've listened to
the show, you know how I feel about Sam Darnolder
and how I felt about him all last season. Not
a huge fan, but I guess my point is just
I think it would be fair to expect that team
to take a step back. That's all winning fourteen games
(24:09):
last year, and you've now got essentially a rookie quarterback
step in. And I know he's been around NFL locker
rooms now for a year. There's something to be said
for that. He's been in the meetings, he's seen the playbook,
he's been in practice, he's done all that. JJ McCarthy.
Not to mention, he's won a national championship with Michigan,
(24:30):
and it pains me to even bring that up because
I'm a Spartan, but whatever, My point is simply that
team might win. Hell, if the Minnesota Vikings win ten
games next year, I think that's a great season because
they've got talent, but you're dealing with a quarterback who's
starting in his first season in JJ McCarthy, and you're
(24:51):
playing in a division that has the Detroit Lions. So
and you guys know how highly I think of the Lions.
And then of course you've got the Green Bay Packers,
who everyone's gonna turn to Jordan Love.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
And say, well, is he the guy? Is he a
top ten guy?
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Is he gonna carry on the legacy of Brett Faarr
and Aaron Rodgers and guys of those ILK time will tell,
I guess, but so far not great. Shep and I
have been on this for months, almost a year now,
on this show. What is Jordan Love proven? I mean,
(25:38):
he's one bed half away from going to the Super Bowl,
I guess, or going to the NFC Championship Game rather,
and the Lions actually would have been hosting that back
in twenty twenty three.
Speaker 1 (25:46):
But what is Jordan Love proven? In this league? Young?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Exciting? Are the Packers young and exciting? Is every team
in this division young and exciting? I would argue the
Lions are the most exciting, just based on the electricity
of that offense. But you lost your coordinator and Again,
I'm not saying that John Morton can't step in and
(26:14):
fill those shoes just fine, because I do believe he can,
and I believe he will. I believe he has the
tools to do it. I think if you screw up
an offense with Jamir Gibbs, David Montgomery, Sam Laporta, I'm
Gonnaron Say Brown, everybody, if you screw that up, put
it this way. It's hard to screw that up. So
(26:34):
a guy like John Morton, who Dan Campbell obviously trusts
and has worked with, and he's you know, been around
a little bit in the NFL, I absolutely think he
can step in and they'll be just fine. But I'm
just saying I think the Lions are probably the most
exciting team in the division, and I would give the
Bears a close second, just based on the fact that
they have a.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
New head coach.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
They've got Caleb Williams, who you know, after the Bears
four and two start, they only won one game last year.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
But Caleb Williams was fine.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
I know, I like to rag on him, I like
to give him crap, but he finished the season pretty good. Actually,
if you look at the numbers, and I do think
maybe not a whole lot to be said, but I
do think there's a little bit to be said about
the fact that they finished the season with a win
because they had lost twelve in a row.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
Whatever it is.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
They started four and two, they finished five and twelve. Okay,
so you finish the season with a win.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Great. You roll into this season. You've got a new
head coach.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
So Bears fans, and I know if you, I'm sure
you know a few as well. Bears fans are feeling
pretty excited about their team. So they're young and exciting
as well. Vikings are young and exciting from the sole
standpoint of JJ McCarthy. And of course you have maybe
the best receiver in football. I know Shep would say
it's Jamar Chase splitting hairs. Jamar Chase, justin Jefferson. They're
(27:59):
both right there, and ironically both guys LSU Tigers as well.
The Packers, to me are I gotta choose my words
carefully here because when I talk about the Green Bay Packers,
I get all fired up. I think the Packers are
the most I don't want to say overrated, but I
don't think they have nearly as much going for him
as there are other three teams in the division. Granted,
(28:21):
you could say, Trent, it's probably the best team in
the whole NFL or the best division in the entire league,
and it might be. In fact, it probably is, because
I know before last season we all said it was
the AFC North and look how that turned out. So
there you go. So the NFC North might be the
best division in all of football. So being the quote
(28:42):
unquote least exciting team or the worst team in this
division might not be all that bad. I get it.
I'm just saying if I'm a Packers fan, and again
I know a lot of you know Packers fans too,
God they're insufferable. But if you're a Packers fan, you
have to be looking at this division and saying, they've
(29:03):
got all these other teams have more talent than us
and are probably more exciting and more juice than us. Now,
if you were the Green Bay Packers and you could
just pick them up with a crane and drop them
in the AFC South.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
With C. J.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Stroud, maybe Jordan Love can go toe to toe with C. J.
Stroud and maybe the Packers would be the best team
in that division. Or Trevor Lawrence or Anthony Richardson that
would make a little more sense. So I know it
sounds like I'm just lighting the Green Bay Packers. Not
the case, because, like I said, I think the Lions
(29:42):
are a part of the best division in football in
the NFC North. Let's get to our results from yesterday's
poll question. I know shep had teased that yesterday. So
before we get out of here, just doing one segment
here this morning, one hour this morning, on the fourth
of July, Trent Valley filling in for Matt Shepherd on
Axis and Bros. We asked you which Tigers players most
(30:05):
deserving of his All Star selection? Is it Hobby or Bias?
Is it Glaber Torres? Is it Riley Green? Not surprisingly,
Riley Green gets seventy percent of the vote, Hoavier Bias
with twenty percent, Labor Torres with ten percent.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
And I guess I suppose we maybe.
Speaker 3 (30:21):
Should have added a fourth option for they're all deserving,
because I think that's really the right answer. They're all deserving.
Like I said, there's only six teams above five hundred
in the American League this season in MLB, and the
Detroit Tigers have the best record of those six. And
you can make a really credible argument that the Detroit
(30:41):
Tigers are the best team in all of baseball. So
you got that going for you too. You're naturally going
to have contributors those three guys, particularly in my opinion,
Labor Torres. What he's brought you here on a one
year deal as a veteran on the right side of
that infield, he's brought you it's on a production and
(31:01):
he might be and he finished last in that poll,
he might be most deserving of all three.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (31:09):
I agree with the consensus the seventy percent that said
Riley Green, I do agree with you.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
That would have been my vote.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
But the point is it's a good problem to have,
and the Detroit Tigers have stars. Not to mention Trek Scoople,
you got the best pitcher in baseball. But we were
just going for you know, everyday players. Here our poll
question today you can vote X ME mornings on X.
What are you watching on the fourth of July? Are
you watching Tigers baseball? Are you watching Wimbledon, the hot
(31:37):
dog eating contest, Joey Chestnuts back.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Or nothing?
Speaker 3 (31:41):
I'm off the grid, which I would totally respect. And
so far eight percent of the people are voting for that.
It's not a ton, but it's not zero. Hey, it's
been fun chatting with you this morning. Happy fourth of
July to all of you. Safe travels, God bless America.
Trent Balley filling in for match Eppart here on Exus
and Bros. We got a best of show coming for
(32:03):
you the next two hours. Thanks for listening.
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