5-14-23 Hour 3

Doug Gottlieb coaching D-1 and hosting a show... who does that sorta sound like?
Jets vs 49ers is really this?
Albany Firebirds Coach Damon Ware
The Dump features Levack's new rival and Goz's plea to give MLB some credit for once

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
It's Lavak and Guz on ninety fivenine Fox Sports Radio. Ah y five
o'clock dinner time. What's up everybody, how you doing? What do you
what do you been? I wantto get to the Colin Cowhard take I
too. But I feel like thereare still some people and that's okay.
You can have your preference of whoare Doug gottlieb fans, Like we have

(00:21):
taken over the Why did you sayit like that? Like like it's you
know, I feel like there's somepeople who are racist, Like that's the
way it's not like like I feellike there's there's people who are secretly Nazis.
Here's like there's people who are DougGottliebbins. Like here's my thing about
Golly. I do because he's beenso anti Syracuse since the moment he entered
the media realm. But and Idon't know how many people really care about

(00:44):
this stuff. I found my sofaover the last two years becoming very fascinated
by the sports agent world, howpeople what happens behind the scenes, and
athletes and coaches with the sec gettingall these hundred million dollars deals and these
may performers will call more so thanmedia members getting these opportunities. I bring
this up because Doug Gottlieb airs hisshow on Fox Sports Radio. But when

(01:06):
we made the change, like Iguess i'll do a little inside baseball,
we didn't get a lot of pushbackabout Gottlieb. They're like, oh,
you want Gottleeb slot right. They'relike, yeah, okay, great,
We're like, oh that was nothow that ever goes. Here's why,
though I believe Fox Sports Radio knewthis. Doug Gottlieb has been trying to
become a basketball coach at the collegelevel. His dad was a coach.
He wanted to be a coach multipletimes. It had been rumored by him

(01:32):
that he wanted to be the OklahomaState basketball coach, where he played.
He went on the air when hedidn't get the gig the second time and
said, well, I talk tothe athletic director. He basically said,
I can't hire people back to backtime with no head coaching experience. Well,
according to a report today, DougGottlieb has been hired is the new
head coach for Green Bay, notthe Packers, the Division one green Bay.

(01:53):
I don't know what they're called,but here's what's being reported by Matt
Norlander. Gott will be a Divisionone basketball coach with no coaching experience in
the past at the D one leveland a media member at the same time,
because his show on Fox Sports Radiowill continue. That's dude, that's

(02:15):
so. That's so irresponsible to belike a radio talk show host and like
a high ranking official on a sportsteam. That's irresponsible. How how in
the world could you manage to doboth of those things. I feel like
you're just there's no way you canbe good at both. There's probably probably
not good at it either. Iwould I would say your hmm, I

(02:37):
would say your Vegas apples and oranges. Compared to Gottlieb, I would say,
it's a lot different. I wouldsay, please don't leave. I
would say your's a lot different.Find they got back on the air.
There's games midweek, there's games forlong. I would say it's gonna be
a lot longer than that. Uh, Gottlieb. The thing that blows me
away about this, and this isprobably why I didn't even think about you

(03:00):
when the story was brought up.What typical his agent's unbelievable think about what
Gottlieb did Lavac. I didn't knowwho he was as a college basketball player.
He went for Whoever. I believeit's IF. I think it's if
management. This guy went from ano name college basketball player to being one
of the lead voices on ESPN.Then he said, you know what,
I'm done with ESPN. I'm goingto CBS. So then he jumped to

(03:23):
CBS. Then he jumped to theafternoon drive on Fox Sports. Trade.
So I'm telling you, I don'tknow anybody else who's done ESPN, CBS
and Fox Sports. He also doesthings for Westwood One. So now his
agent has worked out a deal wherehe got him to be a Division one
head basketball coach and he's not givingup the show. That is remarkable.

(03:45):
What is that? Is that jealousyI smell in the air. I think
it's jealousy. I smell. Iam I'm a little bit jealousy. Pulled
this off, not because like,hey, uh, that's a lot of
work you've got to do. Butman, do I need this agent?
Do we all need this a whoeverthis person is, I believe from IF
management, we all should walk themin our quarner. What a move by
Gottleeb today, Like I get it. We joked around a little bit that

(04:09):
you're doing the same thing. You'rehosting a radio show and you're the president
of the league. But like I'mthe media director for belfour Property Restoration.
I would say this is unprecedented ona national stage for a daily talk show
on a national feels like now you'rejust trying to distance me from it.
But it's I mean, listen,there's days, just definitely days you get

(04:30):
a call it. Hey, dude, I'm not I'm not leaving my office.
If you want to do this show, you better dial in, Andrew
saying till the voice of the Firebirdsjust texted me, goes. I wonder
if Gottlieb will do the coaches showwith himself. That's almost as crazy as
a team president being a radio cohost. All right, there's a ninety
second delay. That's well, ifthat got to that very funny, I

(04:50):
mean, kind of Troe like theonly thing I make remember like also,
don't forget twenty one and twenty two. I still don't all the on field
stuff too. I had no problemwith god leaves. If he's willing to
spread himself, then go ahead.I can't. I'm just I just wanted
to be called thin somewhere, soI spread myself thin. That's what I

(05:10):
do. I got told by oneof my bosses, one of the one
of the people. They were like, you're gonna need to make a choice
soon. And I went, allright, what do you want? What
do you want me to do?Whatever? They're like, not right now,
And I went and I looked atthe other guy, and I go,
that means they don't want to paythe difference. They don't want,
you know, go ahead and gotry to find some money wherever you can,
for now, for now, sooneror later, we'll make you make

(05:31):
a choice. I think it's it'sdefinitely listen all kidding aside. It is
very difficult. And what makes itdifficult, I think, is it's just
set time. I mean, ifwe were doing a podcast, if we
did it, even if we dida daily podcast, and it's like,
hey, at some point during theday, well that gods will be out.

(05:55):
I would be I think I wouldbe fine and probably be an hour,
maybe two whatever, and then thatwould be. But because I literally
have to leave my office every dayby two thirty to get here to do
this or to kick everyone out ofmy office by two thirty to you know,
plug in and dial in from there. It changes everything because like if

(06:15):
there's a meeting on a league levelat three three pm, Mike Korda or
Indy Gelcher or Richie said that theyhave to take it in my place.
There are higher ranking officials in thisbuilding than me. They're I have bosses.
I know I would get Yeah,you know how we know that your
lips are attached to their rear ends. Look like you went to the gym
today hour? You know, Chris, you look so pretty today. Have

(06:39):
you done the curls for the girls? They're getting great shape, first of
all, But if they aren't listeningright now, I would probably be pushed
back on this. And I reallywant to know truly, Like at the
Jeff Lovak, at Tom Gons,tymg Iss at Wolf X ninet eighty.
I see our podcast numbers. They'revery good. I'll put them up against
anybody. They're that good. Isfantastic. Guy is really really good.

(07:01):
But they do it a little bit. You have also a good busted your
ear. Does live stuff matter topeople as much anymore? Like I don't
know anything that's on at any timeanymore. Like television, I couldn't tell
you what time the bear airs.I don't know what day. I think
people consume it differently now, likeif to Gottli's thing right, let's say
it airs three to five, butit's recorded two hours earlier, or it's
a podcast ords. I don't knowif that matters too much to people anymore,

(07:24):
Like maybe maybe we have to dothat look act like, maybe we
have to record more stuff or canrecord more stuff because someone listening right now
could be listening at seven o'clock orfive o'clock or eleven o'clock. And maybe
that is just what it is now, and this audio medium has it understood
that to a degree. Locally,I would say, I don't know,
maybe it's just the old school.I mean I do like I like doing

(07:46):
the afternoon drive in the afternoon,you know me, I would love do
mornings. You're just like, oh, I've got babies, I can't do
mornings, which is like I justdon't whatever, Just pin at twenty to
them. It will be fine.I used to bring my kid to work.
She was awesome, was helper,you know, sitting down giving hot
takes. There was you're country thatpoint. I'm yeah, but I did,
I would do. I would doa daily there's a three minute daily

(08:09):
sports feature called Jeff Levac with sports, beer, sandwiches, and other life
essentials. Do we get that music? Can we steal that? Because that's
a great theme song. Richie wouldgive it to me. Richie made it
for a price. No, maybe, why are you? Are you talking
about the national like his heritage.No, he won't give it to us.
Now, you're cheap, dude,I don't know. You can never

(08:31):
pick on anybody for being cheap.I'm not buying it, Richie. Listen,
if we take richieut to play golf, I'll give it to it,
but you gotta pay for golf.Anyways, back to then, No,
I I so my daughter did that. She we we set it up where
we you know, when she wasa little kid. I still have it
somewhere where it's like she did thewhole stories and talked about whatever and did

(08:56):
a great job. See morning showradio, so way to live. I
would do mornings all day long becausethen I could leave here by like eleven
at the latest, and go runa football team. It'll be perfect.
I'll run that up the flag pole. We'll see what it can do.
I already have permission. Need youjust stop being a wimp in in the
mornings. I can't do that.Got you suck, You're the worst.
Didn't want to talk about Colin Cowherd, somebod who's on before us, not
in the mornings, but say,yeah, well there's a couple of things

(09:18):
out there. But so Cowherds hashe has a theory that and for lack
of a better term, this isme using my words for what he said
that the Jets starting their season Mondaynight football against the forty nine ers is
basically a sacrificial lamb. It's likethe the league is so sick and tired

(09:41):
of Rogers being controversial that they're goingto bury him early. So you're going
to take a a team where aquarterback is rehabbing, where three fists of
their offensive line are new, haven'thad a chance to gel together yet,
and you're going to feed them tothe forty nine ers in San francisc Go
when they're ready to go. Sobasically, Niners are good. They don't

(10:05):
do a lot of there's not alot of talk. It's all straightforward,
go kick your butt on the fieldkind of stuff. So we'll feed the
Jets and the over controversial Aaron Rodgersto the Niners. We'll get the Jets
started with a loss or two fromthe rip, get the Niners a couple
wins out there, but we're gonnabury the Jets in a very hard schedule
right from the rip. Nah,I think it's a lot of West Coast

(10:26):
bias there from Cowhurd on that take. Are the Niners better than the Jets?
I would say so right now beforethe fifty three man rosters, so
I would say San Francis is better, will be favored in that game,
of course, But the Jets dohave some strengths that would work well against
the Niners. They have a reallygood defensive line that could slow down McCaffrey.
They've got a very good secondary thatcould make life difficult for Party.

(10:46):
The defense versus Rogers would probably bewhere the advantage would be for San Francisco.
I don't see them getting smoked.We've got four months to kick off.
My opinion can change between now andMay until I don't think the NFL
thought I got a great idea.Here we go. Let's let Rogers get
toasted. Let's let him get crushed, and that'll give us more attention for

(11:07):
the league. Then I'm not experiencing. We point the attention towards the things
we want. You need to payattention. Oh so they Okay, So
maybe I misundersted you. So you'resaying that the NFL would like Rogers to
go away, like if he ifhe's stopped playing, and he's not talking
about Jimmy Kimmel and he's not talkingabout conspiracy theories that any other type of
drug, Like, let's make thisa headline rather than Rogers's nonsense. Correct.

(11:31):
So, but here's the question foryou. Shanahan knows Sala. Sala
knows Shanahan. Who knows the otherone better because remembers big game Bob Sala
defensive coordinator for Shanahan in San Franciscobefore he got this job. So there's
a lot of that's because I thoughtof three storylines before. Uh Cowherd's theory.

(11:54):
You know, Aaron Rodgers hates theforty nine ers because they didn't draft
him. Uh Sala coached for Shanahan. Why does my series turn on?
Did I say conspiracy theory and seriesturned on? God, that's creepy as
all hell and then just you know, Roger's Redemption Tour, like all those

(12:16):
things before this. But it's likeit's an interesting thing because you've the NFL.
Does you think about it like theythe news dump happens when it hurt
hurts the NBA. The games arescheduled to compete with the NBA. They
ignore the NHL, they don't carewhatever, it's not the same, but
they don't mess with high school football. There's never a game on a Friday

(12:37):
night, Like they know who they'remessing with and they go right after them.
I don't know when that Brazil gameis, but you're right, like
they try to make their own windowsstand out if they can, but now
they've gotten so big it doesn't matter. They are the window. I know.
I said this earlier in the showwhen we talked about some leaks that
were going on. I will stillstick by this now less than two hours
since I've said it. If Iwas a Jet fan, I'd still be

(12:58):
ticked about that. Like Jet fan, if you got to hope for what
you wanted. And sure, thewhole schedules coming out over the week as
we get leak after leak after leak, but I would have wanted redemption week
one. I would have wanted Rogersagain with the flag running through the tunnel,
having that moment. It was likea bad movie when like the savior

(13:18):
of the quarterback position for the Jetshad the moment happen, he blow out
his achilles and was done for thisseason because the excitement for a New York
sports fan was so high in thatmoment. Let's play your theory out here,
vacuum Colin Coward, where Colin waswrong, where Klein is right.
Let's play the theory out Let's saythey get smoked by San Francisco in Week
one. I don't think they're gonnacould change my opinion. Let's say they

(13:39):
get smoked, they'd say they loseby like twenty eight points. Really get
buried. How much different Week twois for the Jet fan base, Like,
it's not the exciting kickoff nine toeleven America, We're gonna win the
super Bowl moment. It's uh sameold Jets. Rogers is a bum.
They couldn't find an offensive line.I don't want the negativity from Jet fans

(14:01):
annoying as it was. Gosh,I want to be cut because of how
annoying it got. Is annoying asjet Fan got about hard Knocks last year
in the media coverage and how farthey were gonna go. You were so
negative. No no, no,no, no no no. I had
to turn it down a little bitbecause it was too ridiculous. I will
take that. I will please bringit all back, Jet Fan. I

(14:22):
will take your over the top outrageouspositivity that Rogers has never thrown an incompletion
and he's gonna lead you to multiplesuper Bowls somehow in one season. I
will take the over optimistic jet Fan, then the negative Nancy jet Fan.
I'll take that again. That Nancy, you hear that? Please, I
don't I don't need jet Fan.Rather, Jimmy Kasaki, we love you.
I don't need you on Week onesaying the season's over, although we

(14:45):
did that last year when Rogers's leggot busted up. I don't need two
seasons in a row the seasons over. So that's why I'm rooting against all
of those blowout potentials, against Gangreenand weak one. I don't need negativity
for four months again, Positivity thatcome on, hey, listen, I'm
extremely positive. I've found a wayto think that a quarterback battle between Aidan

(15:07):
O'Connell and Gardner Minshew is gonna payoff in my favor. Okay, I'm
I'm fired up. Don't don't cometo me with this nonsense about one legged
quarterbacks. He'll be fine. Let'sgo Jets. Jay E ts Man.
That's it's gonna be fun. It'sgonna be a fun year. I can

(15:28):
feel it already. I'm getting very, very very hyped up. Football is
starting to you know, sort ofmakes sense to me again. The world.
It's making sense to me again.Jared Gos's making fifty three million dollars
a year does not make sense tome. Yeah, let's talk about this
real quick about I know he justcame off the topic about gottle you having

(15:50):
a great agent. But Gough,like there was a point in his career.
I know he did this. Iremember doing it. Remember when Gough
first started and Wentz was playing aheadof golf. So Wentz had started,
I believe golf came like game sixer, game seven into the season,
and Wentz was great his rookie season, and everyone's like, hey, we
gotta admit it, right, Wentzis better than golf. It's like no,

(16:12):
no, no, we just started. We can't do that right now.
No, No, we gotta admitlike Archie three did that with Andrew,
Look that one's not as strong.Marcus Mariota did it with Jameis Winston.
Like some of these guys are tiedwith each other because of how high
of a pick they are. JaredGoff has been so much better since he
left. Like, yes, hegot the Rams to a Super Bowl,
but everyone thought it was because ofMcVeigh. He got the Lines to the

(16:33):
best record in franchise history. Youcould look at what happened for the Stafford
Golf trade, which some thought waslaughable at that point that golf was gonna
be the one who was traded.Golf has been so much better. I
don't want to say he's exceeded expectations, but he's better than average. Is
he worth what he just got paid? Probably not, But Detroit saw the
overall results and thought, why wouldn'twe pay this guy right now? Like

(16:56):
he got us. They had adouble digit lead in the NFC title game.
Oh he almost was the reason why. And they're gonna be pushing for
a potential Super Bowl bit of betagain. So you know what, Jared
Goff good for you? Man,I don't think you're a top five quarterback,
but you're Kirk Cousins land, You'rebetter than average and get paid a
lot of money to be better thanaverage. He's now if you just go

(17:17):
annual money, he's the second highestpaid quarterback in the NFL. So fifty
three a year, And again itdoesn't break down exactly that way, but
this is the This is the averageon his four year, two hundred and
twelve million dollars extension. There arefive quarterbacks making over fifty million dollars a
year. Joe Burrow fifty five,Jared Goff fifty three, Yeah, boy,

(17:44):
Justin Herbert fifty two and a half, Lamar Jackson fifty two, Jalen
Hurts fifty one. In the forties, Kyler Murray forty six point one,
Deshaun Watson forty six, Kirk Cousinsforty five, Mahomes forty five. How
many I had to go through toget to mahomesost a half a billion dollar
contract? And then there's Josh Allenat forty three. What a steal buffalo

(18:06):
got with Josh forty three million ayears. Someone smarter than me is gonna
make a chart about like what percentageof the salary cap is taken up by
the quarterbacks payment. So for along time, I've done the same take
of like, eventually one team's gonnasay, we're not gonna do this.
We've lost twenty five percent of ourcap to one position or thirty percent to
one cap to the position that dayis not now, like I've done it

(18:27):
before, but like there's a reasonwhy they're overpaid for quarterbacks because they should,
because it's worth it, because theywant to. So yes, I've
been the guy that said, eventuallysomeone's not gonna pay their quarterback that much
money. Hasn't happened yet, It'shappening right now. Yeah, underpaid for
their quarterback. Yeah, who's underpaidfor their quarterback? Got I think he's

(18:48):
fine right where he is. Theyhad a nice season. He had a
nice season. I think San Franciscocan win with somebody else besides that rock
party. I mean, but youhave to admit it is kind of it's
kind of interesting. Yes, itis how much less he makes than everyone
else. It's it's in I meanagain, you got drafted whatever it is,

(19:11):
what it is, but he makeshe makes less than Marcus Mariota.
Party is absolutely the right example,which makes it even more confusient. Of
Okay, so if the Niners areso good, why is anyone copied them?
Like if if someone's in the NFLis the ultimate copycat league. Hey,
if someone does something successful, we'regonna do it next. That's what
makes that one even more hard tounderstand. Of well, Saves has been

(19:33):
really good, why is nobody elsedoing it this way? Hendon Hooker makes
more than Brod Perdy. Phelipe Franksmakes more, Oh he doesn't. Frank
still in the league. He's makingHe made two million dollars. How many
quarterbacks in college make more money thanbrock Party a lot of them. Where

(19:56):
is he? I don't see him. We've got to get the coach aware
coach wear has been hanging on.Let's get the coach where. Before we
get the coach wear, let metell you about Lillian David Fine Juliers the
shops at Wilton. Guys, thatis your spot if you're looking for a
gift for her, whatever it mightbe. Mother's Day's past. Did you
fail on Mother's Day? Did itnot go well? We won't judge you,

(20:17):
But Lillian David Fine Julius is therefor you. Also, shout out
to Dan who might be listening.CALLI are a wonderful voice girl, wonderful
voiced lady woman. I don't like. I'm not into labels. Happy birthday
to Cali. I'm hopefully her husbandDan takes care of her at Lillian David
Fine Jueliers. Whatever it might be, maybe a upgrade on the arians.
Wonderful pair, shout the g lasttime I was in there. Wonderful pair
for my wife. The Pushkiff guys, we talked about this announced by pregnancy,

(20:41):
my wife and I this past weekend. Pushkiff baby on the way.
Lily, you're pregnant. We are, We are together, so you're you're
carrying the baby half the time.Mentally, I'm there. It's more of
a mental thing. Hers is physical. Me Mentally I'm pregnant. Lili and
David Fine Jeweliers. Can I meanyou look more pregnant? She no,
Well she's a she is coach wearson the way next, and please go

(21:03):
to Lillian and David Fine. Youthere's shops at Wilton Family owned and operated
business. More on the way next, Lavacan, guys. I think Fox
Sports ninety five, nine nine eightyit's Lavac and guys on ninety five nine
Fox Sports Radio. We are alivewith coach Damon Ware. He's also the
general manager and a lot more coach. I was I was thinking we pulled

(21:23):
the curtain back a little bit.Obviously, It's been a little bit of
a crazy couple of days for theFirebirds, the players and everything else.
But this morning, you and oneof our owners, Mike Quorda, got
to tell the entire roster that wedo in fact have a game come up
this Sunday, that we are setfor the for the year most likely.
I mean, I can't came aboutall the details, but what was what

(21:45):
was your takeaway from the guys takeawaywhen they found out you could play this
Sunday. I mean, we justwere ready to play. We were ready
to play last week and Minnesota pulledthe flim play on on us, and
that welcome fun and we just wantto play. We got a great football
team, We're excited. We puta lot of work in and we just
want to be a showcase it toour fans. I think the most interesting

(22:07):
part some people to wonder about islike, how do you keep these guys
motivated with almost like a bye weekthat wasn't scheduled. These guys must be
so hungry. But knowing you andknowing the players, that's almost easy.
It's these guys are always motivated totake the turf. I mean, we
bring the right guys, the guysthat want to win championships, guys that
work hard, guys that buy intothe team method. So that's never a

(22:30):
problem. We went out Saturday dida little team building just to keep us
you know, close and together andpositive and you know, eight together and
bold and had a little bowling tournamentso we you know, we had some
fun and you know, but that'sthe thing is we just you know,
try to insulate our guys from allthe drama that's happening in the league and
just tell our guys, hey,let's just focus on the tasket hand.

(22:52):
We got a championship to win.We got big rings, we want our
owners to buy this year, sowe just stay focused on the tasket hand.
Who's the best bowler on the team, by the way, my guess
is Darius Prince. I feel likehe's a good athlete at everything besides golf.
Boy Darius, Darius would love tohear you say that, but I
actually won the tournament, so itwas quite fun. Whoa coach coming out?

(23:15):
All right, The competition between thosetwo is fierce, like it doesn't
matter what's going on. That isa big brother, little brother situation.
I actually had the wager you know, on the line too, so you
know, I was extra motivated notto give away anything. So that's the
players got a good kick out andthey were like, oh, coach,
so you go to offer up thewager and then win it. So it

(23:37):
was it was a good time.So I use that as a tip and
it was all good. So itworks itself out. Firewors head coach David
Ware with us right now in FoxSports Radio ninety five nine. You know,
I can't I can't get over howmuch I love the way this team
is coming together. Is there anextra challenge? I mean, obviously it's
another week of practice, but youcould really see this team starting to click

(24:02):
and gel in that Nashville game.Is there an extra challenge to keep that
click and keep it advancing forward afterat a little downtime. No, because
we just know there's so much betterthat we can get and so it's just
a little details and continuing to getbetter. Every day, and that's just
really our motto, get better everyday and focus on the task at hand,
and so we've really been able todial in and do some different things

(24:27):
and things that maybe we didn't havetime to do otherwise. So been a
great you know, last week ofpractice. We had a great practice today
getting ready for Southwest Kansas Storm,and we're just excited to play this weekend,
especially in front of our home crowd. We'd love to be at home,
and it's been an interesting season ofbeing home so much. But we'll
continue to put on a great showfor our fans and and hopefully keep racking

(24:49):
up the WS coach. What dowe know about the Storm? I haven't.
I haven't heard much about them.I've been you know, obviously focused
on us, and they weren't originallyon our opponent's list, at least not
in the regular season. What dowe know? Yeah, so I didn't
know a lot about them, andwhen it was you know, said that
we might possibly see them, itwas dive into the film and get a

(25:11):
little idea of them, and it'syou know, they're they're part of the
Sift faction of teams that came over, so they still kind of run their
team a little bit more like anindoor team as far as the way they
set up their offenses. But youknow, we're goind of have some fun.
We've got a great group of guys. We just want to get after
it. It won't be a tonof time just to get prepared for them,

(25:33):
but you know, we've broke downall their film and their personnel and
things, and so just a pulletthat you just don't know a lot about.
So it'll be fun. Just getinto the game, and I'm sure
we'll have to make some adjustments,but they're gonna have to make some adjustments
to us as well. You know, we're a little different than all the
other teams ourselves, so we shouldbe a fun game and just want to
be some gracious hosts to them andshow them how we do it up here

(25:53):
in the Capitol region when fans cheeron the Firebirds this upcoming weekend. Last
time we spoke, we asked aboutthe satus of Philip Barnett. The timeline
is changed a little bit and nowwe have a little few more days for
Pardon to get healthy. What isthe status are we gonna see were on
the outside helping out the firebird offense. Yeah, we really have gotten you
know, that's the one positive outof all this is we you know,

(26:14):
we've had some soft tissue injury things, and so we've been able to get
healthy and get a lot of treatmentover the last you know, several days.
So everybody is in pretty good health. And so you'll see, uh,
you know, you could see justabout anybody on the roster coming up
this Sunday, coach, I noticed, you know, payperwork goes across the
desk, I get to catch thename here and there we added Justice Smith.

(26:37):
What do you know about the bigfellow? What can we know about
him? Yeah, Justin Smith,another big athletic kid out of Grand Valley
State. You know, he's powerfulathletics, but new and and getting to
learn just how we do things hereand and the challenge we take on every
day. So but again, justanother good body to put into the mix

(27:00):
and uh and work in and we'llsee if he's ready to go by Sunday
as well. What changes if itall for the schedule with a Sunday kickoff
is practice walk through? You know, I like asking about schedules because you
and love I could test it everysingle week by an adjusting schedule. What's
to look like over the next fewdays for you and the team. We'll
uh, we'll practice fully over thenext couple of days Wednesday, Thursday,

(27:25):
Friday, we'll do a walk throughon Saturday, get the guys off their
feet, and then ultimately, uh, you know, it's it's just different.
Our our pregame meal is more it'sjust more breakfast than than this week.
So it'd be interesting playing a littlebit early. You know, it's
kind of fun to get done earlyenough where you can still go to dinner
and do some things with the familyand those kinds of things. So it's

(27:45):
you know, I think we'll allhave a bunch of fun with it and
and hopefully uh, everybody comes andshows out. I mean, it's it's
obviously, uh not a Saturday.I know, we're you know, we
play, you know and do ourbest on Saturdays, but Sunday is still
a good day. We're off,get up, go to church, come
come out to the arena, youknow, support us, and then you
still got you know, the restof the day to spend with your family

(28:07):
or do your honey do list orwhatever it is. So we just want
to pack the house again. Wehad a great crowd that first game,
and we just want to duplicate thatand have some fun this Sunday. I
love that you lomped me in therefor the changing schedule, like legitimately,
my question to coach was, hey, so you want me to order like
breakfast for the guys pregame mail insteadof lunch, Like that's he's the one
who has to change everything. God, so I still just get to this.

(28:30):
If I had to do more work, I might not be here.
Coach, we do. We dohave a couple events though, because so
Flock University gonna be over at Oneten Grill tomorrow and it's a good chance
to come meet the players, andthere's a rumor we might be able to
shed a little more light on theseason. Yeah, very possible. We'll
have the rest of our announcements toclose out the season coming up at Flock.

(28:52):
You so another motivation to get onout to One ten Grill, come
out. The whole team will bethere, players, coaches, every body,
So it'd be a great chance toyou know, get out there and
get to know your your Firebirds playersand coaches, and so hopefully everybody will
come over for that, and we'llbreak bread and enjoy the night. And
here's some announcements. We've got anotherchance to meet your Firebirds as well,

(29:17):
coming up on Saturday one to fourat Dutchess. Obviously one of our owners
places another event that to come outand get to know us and see each
other out in the community. AndI think we've done a great job of
being out there and being visible inthe community this year. And so two
more opportunities and just this week alonefor you to come out and get to
know us and hang around and getsome autographs and things. So a lot

(29:38):
of cool things happen this week.We'll add one more to that list too.
On Friday, Levac and I willbe broadcasting live from MVP Arena.
I know it's the fire Wolves andthe Firebirds on Sunday, but I enjoy
spending time with you, Coach andLevac so much. I've decided we're moving
the ship. I don't even knowif we'll be the at trip. I
kind of like to be in theoffice to get to hang out with you
and Coach Hollis and Levac and badand there Nick I met. I enjoyed

(30:02):
it. I took a prime outof Coach's fridge, just walked in like
I owned the place. So Coach, we're coming back on Fronday. Hey,
come on aboard. You know welove our crew and uh, hey,
you guys do a great job andgetting us out there and you know,
over over the air, so weappreciate you. Come on by,
hang out with us a little bit, and uh, let's go get us
another w this coming weekend, andI'll get you that Fox Sports ninety five

(30:25):
nine ninet eighty gear. Once itarrives, I just don't see it,
but maybe I'll leave it on thisI know I'll get it to coach.
The only, the only, theonly Fox Sports gear we have and stuff
I bought myself, Coach, solet me know what you want. It's
coming. I will say this,it was the weirdest thing. It actually
made me feel better. I say, like, we had a lot of
weird stuff going on, obviously,you know, coaches changing practice, schedule,

(30:45):
fixing things. I'm in here tryingto, you know, handle some
paperwork, get some things done.Do with here comes guys, just like
like a parade flow, just happilybouncing around the place. It did.
It cheered me up a little bitcoach, so I'm all right with him
being back. If you are,I got you. You can come on
back. And if you can't bringgears and bring free golf. I know

(31:06):
Fox Sports probably have connections all overthe city. I'll take golf qu ponds
as well. That I actually cando that I'm capable of doing. Coach,
Here you go. Looking forward toseeing you again soon wherever it is.
Looking forward to being a part ofall these great events. Best of
luck to you and the teammates,and best of LUCKI to back tomorrow at
Flock University. Appreciate it and wealways have fun. I'll flock you.

(31:29):
Come on out and enjoy the atmosphere. It's fun, exciting, get a
lot of news. One ten grillat Cross Gates Mall. We'll see you
there. Yeah, we've already coveredthe ball topic, so I don't have
to get back to that. Idon't think we'll be good coach. Yeah,
I think we've had enough of theballs. Coach. We love you,
brother, can't wait to see u. I'll see you tomorrow morning and
then again flock you. It isthe head coach, the general manager of

(31:52):
your Albany Firebirds. Damon Ware havea great day, coach, Thank you
appreciate it. He's the man,he is best. It's just it's it's
one of those things like again,you know, I hate that the flowers,
like you gotta get your flowers.Like, but I think it's important
to point out that the Albany program, whatever, the logo on the side

(32:15):
of the helmet, whatever, sincetwenty one isn't a fraction of what it
was. It wasn't for him,like he's just since he's been here,
he's been a common influence no matterwhat else going on, every player,
every young guy that I talked to, So, yeah, what made you
decide to come to Albany whatever wellcoach ware called. It's like like he
has he's like the pied piper ofyoung talent. It's amazing, it really

(32:37):
is. I know I don't havethat much time right here post coach where,
but there's something about the evolution ofcoaching, of what a coach is
in twenty twenty four, especially infootball, I think more so football than
any other sport, of how doyou find success, how do you recruit
I'm gonna do across to Fran Brownat Syracuse right like Fran Brown is known

(32:58):
for recruiting coach where I think isknown for both recruiting an offense. But
yeah, there's a way you treatpeople in the media, your players,
your staff. Spending time with coachwhere away from a broadcast, away from
a game, and seeing how weinteracted with his former players now coaches,
seeing how he interacted with Ben,seeing people coming in out like it's easy
for people to be nice to meand you and the microphones in their face

(33:20):
and the cameras in front of theirface, but actually getting to spend hours
at envy period and be like,that's somebody I want to play for.
Well, it's respect, Yeah,you know what I mean. Like he
he can be your buddy, hecan golf with you, and he can
bowl with you and do that stuff. The second you cross the line,
you know it, and there's nothere's no nonsense. It's taken care of,
you know. So it's it's again, it's above all else. I

(33:43):
respect that man, but I trulytruly love him. I think we have
this this this group that we've gotwith ownership and coach and obviously the players,
but it's just I've we we again, we joke about me doing different
things and all that fun stuff.But like, that's why I want to
do it. I want to hangout with those guys. So coach,
where there he is? What havewe got coming up? We got to

(34:06):
get the dump? Levak, youtexted me something about like what seven I
think I have? I have?I have been besmirched one of my one
of one of my most prized prizedpossessions has been dookieed on repeatedly. Okay,
next right here, Fox Sports Radionine. It's Lovak and Guz on
the voice of the Capitol Regions SportsFan Fox Sports ninety five, nine and

(34:29):
nine eighty What no music? Huhmusic? All right? Original sports talk
theme song here. What I wantto know is you're the speaking of the
dunk? All right? I thinkthere's like have you ever ticked off Mother

(34:55):
Nature? Wildlife? Have you ever? Have you ever liked? I remember
one time when I was a kid, my dad and I were out working
in the yard and I was alittle kid, and this giant like toad
decided it was gonna it was.It was not gonna be moved. My
dad was putting together a new firepitout by the pool and this, I
mean the thing you know at thatage, it looked like it was a

(35:17):
size of a football, but itwas. It was a big It was
chasing my dad around the yard.You know. My dad's like walking slow,
laughing like look at this like whatever. Have you ever had that situation
where something in mother nature or somethingin the wild has just decided like,
oh, I'm coming for you.Yes, Mine's usually waves. When I
go to the beach where I wasa kid, you know, it was
a boogie boarder. I think thewaves don't have any kind of like cognitive

(35:40):
ability. There's water. Have youseen the movie Moana? So I disagree
with you about that take. Butwaves, if you think you can boogiey
board and surf, you will behumbled quickly by the waves, and then
Grandma will pop out and become adevil. Ray wa. Yeah, so
I'd say waves. Okay, allI didn't watch the documentary, but go

(36:02):
on with your story yet, waittill the live action one comes out.
You're gonna be really messed up.Like all right. So when I,
I mean one hundred years ago andI bought my house, I still had
an Android phone and the whistle thatit would do when you get a text.
A bird in my neighbor my likein my yard, had figured out

(36:23):
how to do it. So I'dbe sitting out at the fire, you
know, or in the yard orwhatever, and also you hear like,
you know, whatever it is,and all of a sudden you hear it
again. I'm like, one time, that's weird, and then would just
keep doing it. So I keptlooking at my phone, I'm like,
what the heck is and then finallyI realized it was a bird. I'm
like, yeah, I'll get you. You know, I start, you
know, old man yell at acloud. So the reason I bring this

(36:45):
up is about a week ago wehad to we didn't I mean we didn't
have to, but we talked aboutthe fact that like a pterodactyl dud dude
on the windshield of my my Silveradoscar Joe of a black widow Silverado,
and there was like a feather init. It was like this massive dude
and it was like right in theline of sight for where like the second

(37:07):
you sit down, it's right likein front of it, like it's obstructing
view. It's that large, Soyou go get rid of it. Took
a picture again because there's feathers init. Like I was like holy holy
cock co literally holy holy poop Batman. So this morning, I go out,
get in the truck, same thing, same exact spot. I think

(37:30):
that I have wronged a bird insome way, and it's like bombing runs
on the windshield of my truck.I think it knows. It's like,
oh, he's always got that thingclean, like let's get him like whatever,
like strafing run go. I thinkI think this is an ongoing thing.

(37:52):
I'm gonna have to document it.I'm gonna have to continue to take
pictures of the of the Pooh andsend it to you and Boston Dan every
morning it happens. I think sotoo. I think this needs to go
even further. Thursday, you andI are at Mohawk Chevrolet. You love
Scar Joe. There's a person outthere named Carl Bravo. I can imagine
like you driving into Mohawks Schevley,What have I done? What have I

(38:15):
armed? Here? Carl Bravo,kam here, let's sit you down.
He's almost like your therapist, likeit's not it's not the vehicle, it's
you that's not helping, that's noteciting. So I think this Mohawk Chevrolet
needs to be informed. About what'sgoing on the poor scar Joe this morning
Boston Dan and I like rewrote jawswings and it was all about this.

(38:36):
It's like me going, like,you shut down the summer sales event Mohawk
Chevrolet because the poop is coming.The poop is the pirst And don't you
dare like you look at this GMTravis Horn in the corner rocking. Its
supposed to be good luck. It'ssupposed to be good luck. They try
to have like a rooftop lunch out. I'm like, shut it down.
Any galchers out there. Way,We're not shutting down the rooftop lunch and

(39:00):
and the birds are just sitting therewaiting, eating berries, getting ready.
It's the weirdest thing like that thismorning. At first, I'm like,
this is personal. It's in theexact same spot. And and they also
also got that door handles in theback of the truck. So when I
go to open the back door tothrow my bag in like I do,
it's just like it's like routine.I almost got a handful of of dookie.

(39:22):
I think the birds are out togive me. I think I've run
a foul. We need to havesome type of like not not seance,
but something to get the birds awayfrom you. Someone that ace vent sure
a pet detective would be called init. Gun Is that okay? Am
I allowed to do that? Chichensor whatever. I don't think so.

(39:44):
I'm just saying it's kind of acrappy way to start your day, like
you know, pun intended. AndI know this is called the dump not
for that reason, but like likeit's like I'm gonna have to stop it
and get the truck washed on theway home today. You know it is.
It's Top Gunner. It's the mascotfor the West Texas. Uh,

(40:05):
Desert Hawks. You think it's Spike. You think it's an inside job.
I don't. I think you thinkit's my Firebirds mascot. I think that
makes a lot more sense. Adesert hawk has been trained to sniff you
out against the firebird. White whitefeathers were in that do doo. I
see you, Top Gunner. You'reyou're coming here in two weeks, huh.
I'll be ready. I'll be prepared. I'm going to adopt four more

(40:28):
cats, make them all outside cats. Protection is needed, Mohawk Chevy,
Carl Bravo. If you're listening.Will be there Thursday to figure out a
game plan for this. Speaking aboutgameplanes, major League Baseball content, Levic.
Do you have Roku? I haveone. It's still in the box.
He's still in the box because Ihave fire sticks and all my TVs

(40:49):
are smart TVs, so I do. I bought a Roku because I was
going to switch cable companies, andthere's one that works well with cable with
Roku, I think with Spectrum,and I never ended up switching over to
them, so I just it justsits there in the box. Oh okay,
why do you need it? Youfound a different method to consume your
content. I barely understand Roku.I have to fully admit I barely understand

(41:12):
it. I thought Roku was justlike a firestick. If I'm not mistaken,
you just accidentally ripped a contact outof your head. So I'm not
shocked that you don't know how towork a remote control. WELLVAC is very
grossed out when I stick my fingerin my eye, I think, like
most people should be. But somethingjust happened. Where knock? All right,
that's what the contact was for?All right, We're good you Hello.

(41:34):
Here's why I asked did you seea story involving Major League Baseball inku?
No? Please please share. Withinthe last twenty four hours, Major
League Baseball is announced that it hasan exclusive multi year deal with Roku.
One game each Sunday, not SundayNight Baseball that ESPN was known for.
Not uh this game in America,I think it was called on Fox Sunday
lead Off. Eighteen games starting thisSunday between the Cardinals and the Red Side

(42:00):
box Wolves air exclusively on Roku Blackoutfree. By the way, if you
have an MLB TV subscription, Soeighteen games market focused for those broadcasts,
so like if the games in Chicagohave more like a Chicago twist to it.
The Roku deal going up against AppleTV also with like these like Diamond

(42:22):
Sports Group, the old regional sportsnetworks kind of the past. Now pretty
cool that one hundred and twenty millionpeople have Roku. Here's what I like
to say about the dump here forRoku. Baseball has Apple Plus. Even
though I usually laugh about the oldpeople not being all figured out, Baseball
has Roku. Baseball has MLB's TVpackage. They have all these things they're

(42:45):
trying to do to connect to ayounger fresher hipper audience. NBA right,
like the NBA, Oh my god, they're visionaries. They want to go
on Amazon. Geniuses with a weekago we were like, oh, the
NFL trying to ruin it going onNetflix and Amazon. But everybody says yeah,
but people will pay, and it'sgenius. It is five point fifty

(43:07):
on a Tuesday in May. Andthis is maybe for some of you,
the first time you've heard about MajorLeague Baseball going to Roku talk about double
standards. Baseball does this, Noone mentions it. Football goes to Netflix.
We did a whole segment on it. Basketball is gonna make billions off.
I feel again, I'm probably theleader of this take that. I

(43:29):
feel like, even when Baseball triesto answer their own critics, even when
Baseball tries to get innovative with stuff, they don't get the credit they deserve.
Whether people are just too stubborn togive baseball credit for being smart,
whether it's an easy take, whetherthe fan is too old. I'm like
the leader of give baseball credit fordoing something good, and I'll do it
again here in the dump. Greatsome people only have Roku and now they

(43:52):
can flip on a baseball game.Wonderful job by Major League Baseball. Let's
give them. Isn't Roku just avessel? Like Roku's not? Because that's
right? Like we so the theArena Football League. One of the things
that we were working on and we'restill working on in a different way though,
is like places that provide the gamein multiple locations. But like if

(44:13):
it's on YouTube and you just haveYouTube on your Roku, well then you
have then you have the game onyour Roku. Is it like a special
app that will be on Rokuroku channel? All right? Well, I just
I don't know. I guess,well, good thing. I got one
in a box somewhere I can openup. I still have, and I

(44:34):
become my kid makes fun of me. I've become that person who every time
there's like a sale on Amazon,I just I buy it. I just
buy anything on Amazon, not anything, but like if I can convince myself
I'll need it. At some point, it finds its way to my to
my back door. I have aI have a brand new Alexa in a
box. I need it. Ineeded to have it. I needed it

(44:58):
just was on set. Yeah,it was super cheap compared to the one
I have in my kitchen, andthen I realized that I have one in
my kitchen and that's where I usuallyBetween that and the living room, that's
where I hang out, so youcan hear the same one from the same
place. I don't need another one. I'm like, oh, this will
become my new night my new clockfor an alarm and everything at night.
And I was like, I don'treally want Alexa listening to me snore,

(45:21):
So that's in a box. She'salways listening. She's my mother in law
tells me she's always listening. True. And then also it's also fun because
my kid used to have one inher room, but then she found out.
I knew how to do dropping whereI can start just talking to you
through it because it's on my account. But yeah, I have all kinds
of stuff, like random stuff.I'm not like, I'm not a hoarder,

(45:42):
but I have I have a Rocoin a box. I probably have
a brand new firestick somewhere. Youcall them your toys. I think people
are surprised about how many tech thingsyou have. You're more of a lucky
Yeah, I love tech text fun. I have a firestick in the truck
just in case where I like awatch party or something for the team and
the bar doesn't know how to useit. I was, I was,
that's amazing. I was se seatedon an email today about someone that you

(46:04):
need Wi fi, like a WiFi box that we bring out, and
I'm like, you know, Ithink Levac should be see seed on this
stuff. I think you enjoyed.It's like, I think you enjoyed being
this Also, by the way,you couldn't tell this unless you heard me
just sniffing into the microphone because ofwhere my face was. I took out
my contact three times while Lavac wastalking. For those of you who grossed
out, I was really awkward lookinglike it was really uncomfortable looking. If

(46:25):
your if your eye had popped outduring that transaction, I would not have
been shocked. It was long NowI can say got didn't even use solution.
You sick? Oh what are you? Good? God? Love,
gosh, gosh, clean up thecon I have contact solution here, person
I'm arguing with in my head.Yeah, I mean, if you have,
you've had contact for how many years? I just bought two things a

(46:46):
solution. They're at my house rightnow. I covered myself I will be
okay, but you didn't bring ithere. I'm about twenty five minutes from
my home. I will take theseout when I get home, and I
will put glasses on. And I'vebeen falling a seep with my contacts,
and I will admit it. Ifyou're an Tom Mitchris and you're listening,
baby Wes is on a great sleepingschedule right now, and I'm joining in
on it. I don't care whenhe goes down. It's tough. Parents

(47:08):
know this. When the baby's goingdown, just sometimes you go down with
him and the context has been inthe eyes and it's bad. They're dry.
I feel like I'm doing a readingnow, Hey, do you have
dry eyes? Context solutions for you? That's the dump. We talked about
a pterodactyl defecating on Leveck's beautiful vehicle. We talked about me yelling at the

(47:29):
clouds about major League Baseball never gettingcredit for tech hates old people. Is
like standing up for major League Baseball. I hate all you old people,
but Baseball needs your support now thatthey've gone to Roku. Just give him
credit. Can't we ever say Baseballit's gotta be Rob Manford? It is
Rob Manford that unlikable that no onejust wants to say he ever does something

(47:49):
well, I think it could playsomething to that factor. I don't know
the guy. Maybe he's more unlikablethan I realized. He's definitely unlikable,
like whether he should be or not. Like Bedford used to be the NHL
commissioner, everybody hated him. Hewas he like had his own like cartoon
like evil person music play when you'rewalking out of rooms like whatever, and

(48:10):
now it's now it's Manfred. Likethink about the number of times you've seen
Manford speaking like lightning is striking downin the background like he's he is.
He's a joy killer, That's whathe is, Rob Man for joy killing
man boo that man changed the rulesand changed baseball. We didn't like it
any I'm on new apps. Sowhat if he he gets rid of the

(48:31):
ghost runner, he gets rid ofsecond base in extra innings. I'll forgive
a lot of the other nonsense.I don't like that. I'm a green
with to take anti Manford to closethe show. After I did a few
minutes on a lot of what he'sa lot of It's changed, has made
a lot of sense. That thatrun around second again, if they're not
carrying a keg, that shouldn't youdon't start anything out there. I'm fine

(48:52):
with it still existing in high schoolsoftball. I'm okay with like other levels
where you're protecting an athlete. Yeah, everything I don't watch care about.
Fine do that, but like this, I both those things. I don't
want it. Like the worst partis when you still, like you go
to extra innings, you're like,okay, we're on the kitchen, grab
some water, and you come backon this to do it one second,

(49:14):
like miss time, you start rewinding, you can't get it, and
then you realize, oh no,that's right. These really stupid freaking rules
in place. Oh tomorrow. Tomorrowis our final show in studio Lovak.
We are live for the rest ofthe Rember. Everyone. We're okay.
If you're getting that tweet again,Levac and I are fine. Gosh one
tweet people freak out about, andImber We're like, we're gonna talk about

(49:36):
tonight in the future. Oh no, they're done now, guys. We're
talking about the Firebirds Thursday and Friday. Thursday were at Mohawks Everyley. Friday
we are at MVP Arena. Weren'tbreaking up the show? No, we're
not. We're not. We couldbe back into your office. We could
be in the A Trium. That'sthe fun of this. We'll find out
together throughout there want to be Iknow people, I would like to be
in the A Trium, But Iknow we need a promo crew and teams
and all that. We have alot of stuff coming up. But I

(49:59):
really enjoyed being in your office.I found the show to be like nobody's
like, you're not putting out fireswhen you're in that office. I don't
like being in that office. Igot all the juice, I got all
the tea. Coach where joined usabout what a half hour ago. We
had fun talking about him and maybeat one point I'll bring him some gear.
I send still all of your gearwhen I left, Yeah you did.

(50:19):
He left with a shopping bag.It was pretty impressive. Did the
kids get any of that? Ohyeah, they were all hyped. Rex
didn't understand why he couldn't play withthe football inside the kitchen. I'd explained
him, that's it's got to stayoutside. Eh wow, Wow, what
happened to you? All? Right? Uh? Tomorrow in studio, talking
to somebody from the firewalls. Yes, and who knows what else we'll do?
Who knows, Well, maybe we'llgive away some fire Birds tickets.

(50:42):
You never know, we can dothat. It's all coming up tomorrow right
here, Fox Sports Radia ninety five, nine and nine eighty. Wash your
hands, don't touch your face,talk to you guess tomorrow. I got the