December 17, 2025 • 32 mins
Joe Vardon covers the NBA via The Athletic. Joe talks about Adam Silver announcing that expansion is coming in 2026, how important is expansion of two teams, when will this announcement happen next year, plus much more. MJ plays audio of Puka Nakua talking about the NFL officiating w/ streamers and how bad it has become.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
He went on and said, I want to be sensitive
about this notion that we're somehow teasing these markets, because
I know we've been talking about it for a while.
It's a much more difficult economic analysis in many ways
and requires predicting the future. Okay, And he went on
(00:21):
when he talked about the possibility of Memphis relocating could
relocate to Seattle or New Orleans, and Adam Silver said,
relocating a team requires that team to desire to be
relocated specifically, because the governors and there is a process.
(00:42):
Just because some markets don't generate the same revenue as others,
it doesn't mean they are markets that are not worthy
of NBA franchises. If you look in our constitution, the
factors that the owners are required to look at and
making determination on whether to relocated team is to look
at the support that that team has historically had in
(01:04):
that community, the operation of the team, the competitive opportunity
in that market. And we live in a big country.
So I think if we are able to relocate team,
I don't think the right way to do it would
be to rank the teams from one to thirty of
market size or economic opportunities. So that's from Joe Varden
(01:25):
from The Athletic and Adam Silver said one more thing
about relocation. He calls that quote a separate issue from
expansion for the NBA.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
So I get it. It's not.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Exactly the big announcement that we're really waiting for, but
it's something and for everybody celebrating Hanukkah, it's a Hanikah
gift for everybody. Now he celebrates Christmas, it's a potential
early Christmas gift out there to everybody in Seattle and
(02:05):
the PNW. Just give us, throw us some chum in
the water. That's all I'm asking for. Throw us some
chum and we will come up and we will eat it.
But I need it to be substantial. Listen, I think
it's happening.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I do.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
I think you know, and I get it. I understand
all of your skepticism. I've been here for ten months.
You guys have been here your whole lives. I get it.
But now that it's out on the table, and specifically
he's referencing thirty one and thirty two Seattle and Las Vegas,
I think that's a good thing and potentially will be
(02:45):
a great thing. I think I believe, and I told
kid our boss before the show. All Star, All Star Weekend,
All Star Weekend, that's when it's gonna happen. And he said,
I I February. I go, yeah, Rich, I'll star weekends
in February. Yeah, I'll star weekend. That's when it's gonna happen.
(03:06):
NBA has a big platform. Then football's over, and you know,
obviously the college basketball heads like myself, you're still a
month away from March Madness. That's the time for the
NBA to kind of get on their pulpit and announce it.
But I'm a prophet about something and it's not about
a pick that I made on a game. But we
(03:30):
will get to that coming up next segment. The aforementioned
Joe Varden, senior NBA writer from The Athletic who broke
this article, Adam Silversu's NBA expansion decision coming in twenty
twenty six with Las Vegas and Seattle the focus joins
us right now. He covered the Emirates Cup with the
Knicks taking care of the Spurs last night. So Joe,
(03:52):
I got to tell you for everybody out here, it's
kind of a Hanukkah in an early Christmas gift that
you're our co last night kind of got people here
in Seattle and throughout the PNW. I know you were
just doing your job, and you do a great job
as it is, but you got a lot of people
around here kind of it's it's starting to feel maybe
(04:14):
that something could be happening. My question to you is
that do you believe this is a matter of when
and not if and why or why not?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
No? So okay, first of all, I mean, I don't
know if your readers would be interested in this, but
like you know, we're all sitting there in this press
conference that he does before most of these major events,
and you know, the questions are plentiful and the answers
can be long, and you know he had been talking
(04:47):
about expansion off and on for years. I mean, this
is my twelfth NBA season and I've I've heard that
speech ten times and most of everybody else in the
room did too. But then he goes and we'll have
a decision in twenty twenty six. I almost stay out
of my chair, like, WHOA did you just say that
(05:08):
You're gonna you guys are gonna let us know finally
on expansion. And so I was able to follow up
with him. You could see it on the Amazon clip
and that's when I'm like, you know, did you say this?
Yes he did. He confirmed that, and I'm like, is
it fair to say that Seattle and Las Vegas are
(05:30):
the targets? And he's like, well, you know, we've looked
at some others, but it is fair to say those
are the two cities where we are focused.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Boom.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
So it's like, look, boom, Joe Varden, you were like
Johnny Cochran.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
In the OJ trial. You nailed it.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
So yeah. So like I'm standing there knowing, like this
is a major story. This is something we've been talking
about for years and now now it could happen. Now
to your question, what it comes down to is do
the thirty owner believe that the buy in from a
perspective Seattle team and a perspective Las Vegas team will
(06:07):
cover the losses from dividing an already negotiate and TV
package by two more owners than the package was designed for.
That's it. That's the whole question. That media deal is
why we haven't gotten expansion yet and why we're still
(06:29):
not sure.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Okay, all right, so yeah, no, and I get that,
but they just got seventy six billion dollars. Joe, I
think there's enough to subsidize the league and especially you know,
and I like how you put in your article.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Great article. You got to check it out.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
You put in your article about potential relocation expansion Memphis,
New Orleans before we get to that, because you can understand, Joe,
I've only been here ten months.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
I'm not from here. I'm a newbie.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
I'm still you know, getting, you know, trying to earn
my Sea card, my Seattle card.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
And but I understood. But but I understand, Joe.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
And I've watched Sonics Gate enough times and in our
afternoon show host Softie Dave Mahler is one of the
biggest stars of Sonics Gate, and so is Chris Daniels
from the local news station here in town Como.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
And it's just like people here.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
In Seattle, I mean, this is this is one of
could argue we'd be the biggest travesty in the history
of sports, the Sonics being stolen away from Seattle. And
everybody here, including me, you just got here. But I've
studied this from afar and watched it. It's like, you know,
people like well, the Cleveland Brown Cleveland got a team
back in three years.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
They got the Browns back in three years.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Don't give me the Browns and I could I think
you could say.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Well, what about LA with the Raiders and the Rams.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Fine, but then they did get teams back in LA's
not a real sports town anyway. So that being said,
all that being said that do you win? I mean,
I got so many questions for you.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
When?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
How do you particular see at the earliest, if there
was domestic expansion, when would it happen? What season would
it's be the start of twenty twenty seven or twenty
twenty eight or what.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
I would guess that the NBA just is trying to
get the European League started, and they keep floating that
date of October twenty seventh, So let's say maybe twenty eight.
Maybe you know that that's had to leave the year
before the players can opt out of the CBA, and
(08:34):
then that's an Olympic year. You know, they're going to
want new arenas and I'm not going to talk about
the Seattle arenas because you guys know that a hundred
times better than I do. You know, I'm aware of
what's going on. You know in Las Vegas, which is
where I still am right now. They're talking about moving
the NBA Cup out of Vegas, and I think it
(08:57):
has something to do with them not being crazy about
the arena that is here, so there might have to
be a little bit of time to build these new
venues for the new team. So you know, it's not
we're not obviously not looking at next season, and they
are trying to start a new league in Europe with
October twenty seven, soft target, So let's talk about twenty
(09:17):
twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Okay, I was hoping. I'm just hoping, you know, Kanye
was a little sooner than later. But then again, find
how important is it that it's going to be thirty
one and thirty two and it's not just going to
be Seattle then Vegas. It will be Seattle and Vegas. Oh,
I think that's vitally important. And I think, you know,
for one.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I mean that's those are two entry fees with billions,
that's the first thing. And then you know, they really
value schedule balance and conference balance, and I think they
could probably even use these two markets to shift some
(10:00):
teams that are currently in the Western Conference over to
the East, where they're a lot closer in.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Terms of time zones.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
You know, so those two things alone may get almost certain.
I would have to say it's certain that if they expand,
it would be two teams instead of one.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I will tell you, since you asked about the arena,
CPA has been completely updated. I did talk to somebody,
Joe Varden, by the way, the man who broke this
story last night from the Athletic joining us here on
MJ in the midday sports radio ninety three to three KGRFM,
Seattle Sports Leader, and he just said that there are
certain things that the NBA will come in and like
(10:39):
the showers will have to in certain modifications. But he
said it can be done in like a week. But
in terms of the actual arena with the suites, it
is state of the art. I will tell you, I
mean this thing could be. You know, I think the
world's greatest arena is the world's most famous arena, Madison
Square Garden. I mean, this thing could be the Madison
(10:59):
Square of the West. It is that nice. It is
totally stated the art. It is exactly like And here's
the thing about it. Uh, you have the Bonderman. Uh
you have you know, obviously the guy who brought the
crack in here, Uh toddlight WICKI who's who's obviously in
charge of that. So they're gonna they will spare no
expense to make sure that the NBA and the Sonics
(11:21):
get whatever it will be. They will this will be
a gold standard type franchise, like hey, we should do
it like Seattle. So that one is certainly true. What
other hurdles or obstacles that you think could be in
the way? And after that, I have a follow up
for you regarding uh, the timing of this announcement by
(11:42):
the NBA. But are there any you know, hurdles or
obstacles that you think could get in the way.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Well, yeah, I mean it's just like the the temperature
of the owners was certainly for a time luke warm
to this. Otherwise it already would have happened.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
So yeah, Like so we have got to see what
the numbers are well, and I don't know if we will,
but they have to decide, you know, if the value
is there. Certainly the momentum was there, and then it
felt like the NBA Europe venture was taking over this
(12:23):
and so I'm pleasantly surprised that it has not and
that they're operating on dual tracks, and I think that
represents a restart of the momentum towards this expansion thing.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
I really do.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
I mentioned this and we're going to play this coming
up in the next segment. Back on October twenty fourth,
which was the day after the NBA gambling scandal, regarding
Chauncey Billips, Terry Rosier, Damon Jones, I actually said this,
and do you think that someone said to me, this
is sort of what they do in politics, if hey
(12:56):
don't look over here at this gambling scandal, We're going
to grow and expand the league within the United States.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Isn't that great?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Do you think this perhaps is something that expedited expansion
now with this gambling scandal and the FBI breathing down
Adam Silver's back.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
No, I don't think so. I think that there is
a lot going on in the NBA, and gambling has
one big problem. And then we have the ongoing issue
with the Clippers and the investigation there did they circ
event the cap? They also are dealing with a perception
(13:37):
of injuries.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
This is a really.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Interesting point of contention here within the league, Like our
star player is getting hurt more often the NBA definitively
says no, but the average fan just knows that. Right now,
you know, there's no Jason Tatum, there's no Tyree Haliburt,
there's no Dame Willard. Those guys are all hurt last year.
And then you added into all the cap injuries we've
(14:02):
had this year, and it looks different than what the
numbers say. So there's a lot going on here. But
we have to realize, we have to understand that they
have been looking at this for a long time, and
they even at one point considered Mexico City, and they
studied Nashville and so like they've been doing the work
on this. So I don't want to be those cynicals
(14:25):
to say that Seattle is going to have luck go
its way because of the gambling thing. I just think
it's time for them to make a decision and they
have to commit to it. They have to commit to
being okay with slightly less money from that TV deal,
And how do you make it up?
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Do you think in a or speaking of Joe Varden
from The Athletic, who broke this story last night on
the NBA looking at domestic expansion, do you think that
there's any chance, Joe that this could potentially that's the
operative word here be expedited to the beginning of the
October twenty twenty seven season. Oh and here's here's the
(15:03):
reason why the Vegas Seattle thing. You mentioned the arena,
So a lot of people here in Seattle will be like, hey,
we're on standby.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
You know, we got you know, mister Liwicki and the Bonderman's,
they're ready to go.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Or do we have to wait for Vegas to get
their act together and get a new arena or would
they be willing to say, you know, is it imperative
to start Seattle in Vegas simultaneously or can they do
it and you know, back to back years, or do
we have to wait till Lebron James ownership group or
(15:37):
whoever is part of the Vegas. Does Seattle have to
wait for Vegas? Is basically the question.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Oh yes, I think so. I don't think you would
have a sun good expansion. I just don't think I
just because that's the whole year of that's the whole
year of schedule and balance. So you know, look, this
is up to them. And if they made the decision
today today, then you would have less than two years
(16:09):
to stand up two teams if they did it today
and you want to open in the fall of twenty seven, okay,
so if the expedited timeline is important to them, they
could do it. There are venues right now that are
NBA ready in these two sits. So if getting the
team launched is more important than making sure you know,
(16:31):
so it's it's possible, Okay, I just I don't I
don't see Yeah, I don't see it, but you know
what do I know?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
No, it's interesting to see what to and so were
you just sort of like thinking that this was going
to be a standard kind of Q and A and
you know whatever, And then when you went into he
announced twenty twenty six, and then you mentioned Seattle in
Vegas and you were like, holy crap. Right at that
point you were like, oh wow, I've got a store here.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Oh for sure, I just thought I thought it was
a major story beyond you know what normally comes out
of those things, which is they're always good. You know,
Adam is pretty forthcoming as a as a commissioner and
doesn't mind being critical of his own products at times.
So it's not like these things don't have value. But
(17:21):
I just yeah, I just can't stress enough. We've all
been sitting there for years listening to this, and to
have a deadline targeted, and then to sort of and
then to clarify that there actually are two markets they're
looking at, when all along the discussion has been let's
add two teams instead of one. I think it's an
(17:42):
exciting thing, and I think it's good that.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
We don't have to.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
It doesn't have to be Vegas or Seattle. I would
hate to see those two markets have to fight it out.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
It's great and you both get one.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, and you want to make it even right,
who wants thirty one teams? You want thirty two in Vegas?
Listen for Vegas. I you know what's crazy about this, Joe.
I never thought the NBA would be last to Vegas.
I thought they would have been first. And they're going
to be last to Vegas after the NHL, the NFL
and major League Baseball with the A start and there
in like a year or two.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Yeah, yeah, no. I mean, you know, the metropolitan area
here is two million people. The city is about it's
not that much. I mean the city itself is like,
let's say seven hundred thousand, so that's not as Vegas, Columbus, Ohio.
But but you know they they shout out to h
(18:34):
Jackson Smith and JIGBA.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
You know that's right, Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
So you know, uh, there's there's there's plenty of plenty
of that going on. But yeah, I just think, yeah,
I just think it's a it's an exciting time and
you know, I'm very much looking forward to see what
the next part of the story is.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
All right, do you think the next announcement comes, which
to me would be the where the NBA kind of
has the spotlight and there's no college football and no
NFL All Star weekend February.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Yeah, that would be one. I mean, you know, this
is something that the NBA governors have to approve. So
I'm just going to be straight with you. I don't
know when the next Board of Governors meeting is, and
I don't know that they are ready to make their
final presentation yet. There are several of these meetings throughout
the year. You know, Adam will be giving a press
(19:34):
conference in London or Berlin. I'll be there, but that's
gonna be about NBA Europe. Probably you could hear more
on on domestic expansion. Then you have All Star and
then you have the Finals. You have game one of
the finals if we get that far. Now we're into
June and you're you know, that's halfway through twenty twenty six.
(19:56):
Then the Board of Governors they meet, you know, in
the summer is fall in New York, and then.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
We have a new season that starts.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
So yeah, you know somewhere in that All Star Finals
windows sounds pretty good to me.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
All right, Joe Varden from the Athletic, I really appreciate
you making the time, and especially on such short notice.
We will we will be looking forward to all of
your future pieces of work. Check it out on the Athletic,
follow him on Twitter, and again, thanks for doing your job.
And that's kind of put a smile on my face
(20:33):
and a lot of people's faces here. But also a
lot of people are like, Okay, is this just more
of a word salad, you know, from Adam Silver. But no,
when he actually mentioned the name of the cities and
then he said in twenty twenty six, it kind of
feels like it's all happening Joe.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
For you guys, I hope so, I mean, at least
there's no one who doesn't think the NBA should be
in y. I think everybody thinks that, you know, So yeah,
I can't be the one that awards this to you guys,
but there is more momentum than I have seen in
yearsh love it.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Joe, Thank you for your time.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Happy holidays to your to your mom who I spoke
with this morning, and your family. Absolutely thank you, all right, Joe,
thanks man, all right, Joe Varden from The Athletic who
broke that story last night. So it's something rather than nothing,
because I felt like after the summer meetings in Vegas
(21:35):
we got nothing and then and then last night there's something,
and I feel like, now, okay, they're starting to get
some smoke.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Now we need to get the fire. MJ.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
In the Midday, this guy you might have heard of
by the name of Softy Dave Maler will join us
coming up at eleven, Mike Betting at eleven thirty, and
Mike Dugar at.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Noon Action Pack Show.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
There you go, your thought on the article and how
do you feel MJ and the Midday Christopher Kid in
six years with so much on the line, going back
to twenty nineteen when the final regular season game of
the Year for the Division against the San Francisco forty
nine ers and Jimmy Garoppolo, and I've really analyzed this
(22:23):
game in so many different ways, not only from a
football standpoint, from a gambling standpoint. And you know, I
said that I think the Hawks would have been better
if a healthy Daniel Jones started on Sunday rather than
a retired for five years forty four year old grandpa
(22:49):
named Philip Rivers.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
But I gotta say this, the Hawks got.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
A lot of flack, a lot of flack, and with
Philip Rivers starting on Monday night football against the San
Francisco forty nine ers.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
By the way, go Colts right.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
That they they kind of It was of, in my opinion,
an extremely disappointing, an underwhelming win. But I'll take an
ugly win over a pretty loss. So now I believe
I'm not giving any predictions today. You'll have to wait
for tomorrow. On that one, I believe we will see
(23:31):
the best version of the twenty twenty five Seattle Seahawks
show up tomorrow night at five point fifteen with Richard
freaking Sherman in the house with Prime. That's the team
that's going to show up tomorrow night, not the team
who showed up on Sunday against the Colts that looked
(23:52):
like there were a bunch of seniors in high school
after spring break who really didn't even want to our
need to show up for class, because that's what happened
on Now. Defensively, they showed up, but to a certain extent, yes,
they only gave up, you know, like two hundred and
(24:12):
seventeen total yards one hundred and twenty seven passing yards.
But against a forty four year old grandpa. You know that,
you know, And if it wasn't for Jason Myers, I
just think goodness for Jami for hitting not one, not two,
(24:32):
not three, not four, not five, but six field goals,
including a game winning fifty six yarder, because if it
wasn't for him, tomorrow Night's game would have a little
bit of luster off of it. Now, I want to
mention to you tomorrow night, why from a Vegas standpoint,
(24:58):
this is the game of the year.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
This is the biggest game of the year. And it's true.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
And it's not even just because it has anything to
do with gambling, but it's really is true. Listen, no
disrespect to the Denver Broncos. They've won eleven in a row.
I believe they're all been come from behind victories. It's
never been done in the history of the National Football League.
So you got to take your hat off to Sean
Payton and Bonix and that defense there. I mean, they're sick,
(25:30):
but Denver this season is six and eight, save a
losing record ats against the spread. The Seattle Seahawks and
the LA Rams Tomorrow night two teams battle of eleven
and three, but they're each ten and four against the spread.
(25:53):
This is the game of the twenty twenty five season.
I hope it lives up to the hype and the expectations,
but also there's a part of me that doesn't. I
hope the Hawks come out and shut them down. And
I believe if the Hawks are gonna win this game,
there's a number that they cannot allow Matthew Stafford and
(26:17):
the Rams to get past that threshold. And I think
the number, to me, and I'm being very generous on
this twenty two and a half twenty three points. I
think if they can hold the Rams to under twenty
two and a half to twenty three points, the Hawks
(26:37):
win this game. Obviously, they're gonna have to score more
than that. But if the defense does its job, and
I believe it will, are they gonna are they you know,
are they gonna be able to you know, overcome fore
interceptions by their quarterback?
Speaker 3 (26:51):
No?
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Well, let's hope Sam Darnold doesn't turn the ball at
all over tomorrow night. But when a lot of people
and we'll talk to Mike Dagar about this coming up
at noon. Yes, Matthew Stafford won't have a bad game.
DeVante Adams isn't gonna play. So that's one less that's
a huge weapon you don't have to worry about.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
But here's another thing too.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
What happens to the Rams if and win knock on
wood or whatever the hell this is. Sam Donald does
not turn the ball over. How are you gonna beat
this team in that defense? If they go turnover free?
And that to me is the key to the entire game.
No fumbles like JSN had against the forty nine ers,
(27:34):
no turnovers like Sam Donald has had, and Jesus seems
like almost every other game this year. And that is
the hawks recipe for success under twenty two and a
half to twenty three points and no turnovers. And then
the Hawks will be in a position to win, take
control of the division, and then have a chance to
(27:55):
not only clinch it over the next two weeks, but
get the one seed and a buye. Could you imagine
that this team getting a bye and then hosting a
home playoff game on divisional playoff weekend. That would be unbelievable.
That's the key to me tomorrow night speaking of the Rams. Oh,
by the way, and I knew it.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
I knew it. I knew it. I always said it.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
And it's good to have my conspiracy theory validated by
one of the best receivers in the NFL, not name
Jackson Smith and Jigba. We'll get to that next. On
hitting to all fields, Softy at eleven, Mike Betton at
eleven thirty, Mike Dugar at noon, Christopher Kid MJ in
the midday.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
Percent, I'm like, yes, the rest of the worst because
there's just some of the rules aren't then, like, because
our lawyers and relive they want to be on TV too, brother, Like,
you don't think he's He's texting his friends in the
group chat, like, yo, you guys just saw me Sunday
night football Like that that wasn't p I like, but
I called it.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
I was seriously, did you do that?
Speaker 4 (29:00):
I mean, these guys are noble human beings too, brocheters,
bro I don't care, all right.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
D was Puka Nakua with some of his buddies. I
think one of them's name is Aidan Ross. He's some
social media influencer. Never heard of him. Don't care. These
guys are social media influencers. Are like cockerroaches. There's so
many of them you can't kill them. And I don't
know who any ofm are. And most of them, I
don't really care who anym are because they're here today,
gone tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
But the most important part about that, I knew it.
I knew it. I knew it, and I've said this
for years.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
And one guy in particular, kid is is that Puke
and Hocu Lee's son who now has taken over for
his old man, who used to wear this medium ref
jerseys to make his arms his biceps look bigger.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
I knew it.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
I'm telling you him, and a guy named Bill Vinovich.
And there's another guy they always and especially on Thursday
night because you will listen to al Michael out Michael's
they called like nineteen penalties the other night or what
it was last Thursday night, whatever game that was, I
knew it, and I'm glad Pooka Nakua is putting that
out there because I know they want that camera time.
(30:12):
I know they do. Do you agree.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
I don't know where to stand on this.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
It's become I remember Hugh talking about it because he
was the first that shed light on that some of
these guys have other full time careers yep, and they
do this as a side hustle. So yeah, it's just
one of those things where, yes, refs make bad calls.
I don't want to poop on all of them for
the few that don't do a great job, because I
(30:39):
know there are guys that take it seriously, but they
got to find a better way to get this product
on the field and do a better job of officiating.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
There have been games where it's like this is really bad.
Speaker 5 (30:50):
Then there's games where you don't say anything about the
rest because they do the job and they do a
good job at it. So I don't know how they're
gonna figure it out. Maybe someone can come up with
a grand idea. I know you're big on the AI
the bots, but I don't think you can put bots
for such a game like the NFL because there's just
so much to the naked eye.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
That fair enough, Okay, fair enough, But for baseball balls
and strikes, you definitely can do it. I understand, right,
that's why you know, you know it's robot arms, man,
let's do it.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
So, yeah, the.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
NFL is just gonna have to maybe figure out can
you can you find people that are dedicated and this
is their only job, but maybe start there like this
is the only career path you're doing, and it's just officiating.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
You go to.
Speaker 5 (31:29):
Camps, you work on your game year and year out
to be better at it, as opposed to, oh, well
he hosts a radio show, but you know during the
NFL season he hosts the radio show and he's an NFL.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Well, I'm just that's fine. But I'm just saying I
think some of these guys really will throw extra flags
just to get camera time. That's what I'm saying. I mean,
I know all that, Yeah, they should be full time.
That's a whole different that's a different story that that's
that's apples and oranges. I'm talking about guys who are
who are just trying to yet extra camera time. I
(32:01):
agree with Pooka Nakua. I've said it for the longest
time and they do it and it just is what
it is, you know. So like for me, I'm with you, Pooka,
I'm with you. I hope you lose tomorrow night and
you get your ass kicked by Reek and Witherspoon and
Julian Love.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Coming up next.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
This guy you've heard of, mister Softy Dave Mahler right
here on MJ in the midday
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
He went on and said, I want to be sensitive
about this notion that we're somehow teasing these markets, because
I know we've been talking about it for a while.
It's a much more difficult economic analysis in many ways
and requires predicting the future. Okay, And he went on
(00:21):
when he talked about the possibility of Memphis relocating could
relocate to Seattle or New Orleans, and Adam Silver said,
relocating a team requires that team to desire to be
relocated specifically, because the governors and there is a process.
(00:42):
Just because some markets don't generate the same revenue as others,
it doesn't mean they are markets that are not worthy
of NBA franchises. If you look in our constitution, the
factors that the owners are required to look at and
making determination on whether to relocated team is to look
at the support that that team has historically had in
(01:04):
that community, the operation of the team, the competitive opportunity
in that market. And we live in a big country.
So I think if we are able to relocate team,
I don't think the right way to do it would
be to rank the teams from one to thirty of
market size or economic opportunities. So that's from Joe Varden
(01:25):
from The Athletic and Adam Silver said one more thing
about relocation. He calls that quote a separate issue from
expansion for the NBA.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
So I get it. It's not.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Exactly the big announcement that we're really waiting for, but
it's something and for everybody celebrating Hanukkah, it's a Hanikah
gift for everybody. Now he celebrates Christmas, it's a potential
early Christmas gift out there to everybody in Seattle and
(02:05):
the PNW. Just give us, throw us some chum in
the water. That's all I'm asking for. Throw us some
chum and we will come up and we will eat it.
But I need it to be substantial. Listen, I think
it's happening.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I do.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
I think you know, and I get it. I understand
all of your skepticism. I've been here for ten months.
You guys have been here your whole lives. I get it.
But now that it's out on the table, and specifically
he's referencing thirty one and thirty two Seattle and Las Vegas,
I think that's a good thing and potentially will be
(02:45):
a great thing. I think I believe, and I told
kid our boss before the show. All Star, All Star Weekend,
All Star Weekend, that's when it's gonna happen. And he said,
I I February. I go, yeah, Rich, I'll star weekends
in February. Yeah, I'll star weekend. That's when it's gonna happen.
(03:06):
NBA has a big platform. Then football's over, and you know,
obviously the college basketball heads like myself, you're still a
month away from March Madness. That's the time for the
NBA to kind of get on their pulpit and announce it.
But I'm a prophet about something and it's not about
a pick that I made on a game. But we
(03:30):
will get to that coming up next segment. The aforementioned
Joe Varden, senior NBA writer from The Athletic who broke
this article, Adam Silversu's NBA expansion decision coming in twenty
twenty six with Las Vegas and Seattle the focus joins
us right now. He covered the Emirates Cup with the
Knicks taking care of the Spurs last night. So Joe,
(03:52):
I got to tell you for everybody out here, it's
kind of a Hanukkah in an early Christmas gift that
you're our co last night kind of got people here
in Seattle and throughout the PNW. I know you were
just doing your job, and you do a great job
as it is, but you got a lot of people
around here kind of it's it's starting to feel maybe
(04:14):
that something could be happening. My question to you is
that do you believe this is a matter of when
and not if and why or why not?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
No? So okay, first of all, I mean, I don't
know if your readers would be interested in this, but
like you know, we're all sitting there in this press
conference that he does before most of these major events,
and you know, the questions are plentiful and the answers
can be long, and you know he had been talking
(04:47):
about expansion off and on for years. I mean, this
is my twelfth NBA season and I've I've heard that
speech ten times and most of everybody else in the
room did too. But then he goes and we'll have
a decision in twenty twenty six. I almost stay out
of my chair, like, WHOA did you just say that
(05:08):
You're gonna you guys are gonna let us know finally
on expansion. And so I was able to follow up
with him. You could see it on the Amazon clip
and that's when I'm like, you know, did you say this?
Yes he did. He confirmed that, and I'm like, is
it fair to say that Seattle and Las Vegas are
(05:30):
the targets? And he's like, well, you know, we've looked
at some others, but it is fair to say those
are the two cities where we are focused.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Boom.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
So it's like, look, boom, Joe Varden, you were like
Johnny Cochran.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
In the OJ trial. You nailed it.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
So yeah. So like I'm standing there knowing, like this
is a major story. This is something we've been talking
about for years and now now it could happen. Now
to your question, what it comes down to is do
the thirty owner believe that the buy in from a
perspective Seattle team and a perspective Las Vegas team will
(06:07):
cover the losses from dividing an already negotiate and TV
package by two more owners than the package was designed for.
That's it. That's the whole question. That media deal is
why we haven't gotten expansion yet and why we're still
(06:29):
not sure.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Okay, all right, so yeah, no, and I get that,
but they just got seventy six billion dollars. Joe, I
think there's enough to subsidize the league and especially you know,
and I like how you put in your article.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Great article. You got to check it out.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
You put in your article about potential relocation expansion Memphis,
New Orleans before we get to that, because you can understand, Joe,
I've only been here ten months.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
I'm not from here. I'm a newbie.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
I'm still you know, getting, you know, trying to earn
my Sea card, my Seattle card.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
And but I understood. But but I understand, Joe.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
And I've watched Sonics Gate enough times and in our
afternoon show host Softie Dave Mahler is one of the
biggest stars of Sonics Gate, and so is Chris Daniels
from the local news station here in town Como.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
And it's just like people here.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
In Seattle, I mean, this is this is one of
could argue we'd be the biggest travesty in the history
of sports, the Sonics being stolen away from Seattle. And
everybody here, including me, you just got here. But I've
studied this from afar and watched it. It's like, you know,
people like well, the Cleveland Brown Cleveland got a team
back in three years.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
They got the Browns back in three years.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Don't give me the Browns and I could I think
you could say.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Well, what about LA with the Raiders and the Rams.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Fine, but then they did get teams back in LA's
not a real sports town anyway. So that being said,
all that being said that do you win? I mean,
I got so many questions for you.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
When?
Speaker 2 (08:00):
How do you particular see at the earliest, if there
was domestic expansion, when would it happen? What season would
it's be the start of twenty twenty seven or twenty
twenty eight or what.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
I would guess that the NBA just is trying to
get the European League started, and they keep floating that
date of October twenty seventh, So let's say maybe twenty eight.
Maybe you know that that's had to leave the year
before the players can opt out of the CBA, and
(08:34):
then that's an Olympic year. You know, they're going to
want new arenas and I'm not going to talk about
the Seattle arenas because you guys know that a hundred
times better than I do. You know, I'm aware of
what's going on. You know in Las Vegas, which is
where I still am right now. They're talking about moving
the NBA Cup out of Vegas, and I think it
(08:57):
has something to do with them not being crazy about
the arena that is here, so there might have to
be a little bit of time to build these new
venues for the new team. So you know, it's not
we're not obviously not looking at next season, and they
are trying to start a new league in Europe with
October twenty seven, soft target, So let's talk about twenty
(09:17):
twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
Okay, I was hoping. I'm just hoping, you know, Kanye
was a little sooner than later. But then again, find
how important is it that it's going to be thirty
one and thirty two and it's not just going to
be Seattle then Vegas. It will be Seattle and Vegas. Oh,
I think that's vitally important. And I think, you know,
for one.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
I mean that's those are two entry fees with billions,
that's the first thing. And then you know, they really
value schedule balance and conference balance, and I think they
could probably even use these two markets to shift some
(10:00):
teams that are currently in the Western Conference over to
the East, where they're a lot closer in.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Terms of time zones.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
You know, so those two things alone may get almost certain.
I would have to say it's certain that if they expand,
it would be two teams instead of one.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
I will tell you, since you asked about the arena,
CPA has been completely updated. I did talk to somebody,
Joe Varden, by the way, the man who broke this
story last night from the Athletic joining us here on
MJ in the midday sports radio ninety three to three KGRFM,
Seattle Sports Leader, and he just said that there are
certain things that the NBA will come in and like
(10:39):
the showers will have to in certain modifications. But he
said it can be done in like a week. But
in terms of the actual arena with the suites, it
is state of the art. I will tell you, I
mean this thing could be. You know, I think the
world's greatest arena is the world's most famous arena, Madison
Square Garden. I mean, this thing could be the Madison
(10:59):
Square of the West. It is that nice. It is
totally stated the art. It is exactly like And here's
the thing about it. Uh, you have the Bonderman. Uh
you have you know, obviously the guy who brought the
crack in here, Uh toddlight WICKI who's who's obviously in
charge of that. So they're gonna they will spare no
expense to make sure that the NBA and the Sonics
(11:21):
get whatever it will be. They will this will be
a gold standard type franchise, like hey, we should do
it like Seattle. So that one is certainly true. What
other hurdles or obstacles that you think could be in
the way? And after that, I have a follow up
for you regarding uh, the timing of this announcement by
(11:42):
the NBA. But are there any you know, hurdles or
obstacles that you think could get in the way.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Well, yeah, I mean it's just like the the temperature
of the owners was certainly for a time luke warm
to this. Otherwise it already would have happened.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
So yeah, Like so we have got to see what
the numbers are well, and I don't know if we will,
but they have to decide, you know, if the value
is there. Certainly the momentum was there, and then it
felt like the NBA Europe venture was taking over this
(12:23):
and so I'm pleasantly surprised that it has not and
that they're operating on dual tracks, and I think that
represents a restart of the momentum towards this expansion thing.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
I really do.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
I mentioned this and we're going to play this coming
up in the next segment. Back on October twenty fourth,
which was the day after the NBA gambling scandal, regarding
Chauncey Billips, Terry Rosier, Damon Jones, I actually said this,
and do you think that someone said to me, this
is sort of what they do in politics, if hey
(12:56):
don't look over here at this gambling scandal, We're going
to grow and expand the league within the United States.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Isn't that great?
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Do you think this perhaps is something that expedited expansion
now with this gambling scandal and the FBI breathing down
Adam Silver's back.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
No, I don't think so. I think that there is
a lot going on in the NBA, and gambling has
one big problem. And then we have the ongoing issue
with the Clippers and the investigation there did they circ
event the cap? They also are dealing with a perception
(13:37):
of injuries.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
This is a really.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Interesting point of contention here within the league, Like our
star player is getting hurt more often the NBA definitively
says no, but the average fan just knows that. Right now,
you know, there's no Jason Tatum, there's no Tyree Haliburt,
there's no Dame Willard. Those guys are all hurt last year.
And then you added into all the cap injuries we've
(14:02):
had this year, and it looks different than what the
numbers say. So there's a lot going on here. But
we have to realize, we have to understand that they
have been looking at this for a long time, and
they even at one point considered Mexico City, and they
studied Nashville and so like they've been doing the work
on this. So I don't want to be those cynicals
(14:25):
to say that Seattle is going to have luck go
its way because of the gambling thing. I just think
it's time for them to make a decision and they
have to commit to it. They have to commit to
being okay with slightly less money from that TV deal,
And how do you make it up?
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Do you think in a or speaking of Joe Varden
from The Athletic, who broke this story last night on
the NBA looking at domestic expansion, do you think that
there's any chance, Joe that this could potentially that's the
operative word here be expedited to the beginning of the
October twenty twenty seven season. Oh and here's here's the
(15:03):
reason why the Vegas Seattle thing. You mentioned the arena,
So a lot of people here in Seattle will be like, hey,
we're on standby.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
You know, we got you know, mister Liwicki and the Bonderman's,
they're ready to go.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Or do we have to wait for Vegas to get
their act together and get a new arena or would
they be willing to say, you know, is it imperative
to start Seattle in Vegas simultaneously or can they do
it and you know, back to back years, or do
we have to wait till Lebron James ownership group or
(15:37):
whoever is part of the Vegas. Does Seattle have to
wait for Vegas? Is basically the question.
Speaker 3 (15:45):
Oh yes, I think so. I don't think you would
have a sun good expansion. I just don't think I
just because that's the whole year of that's the whole
year of schedule and balance. So you know, look, this
is up to them. And if they made the decision
today today, then you would have less than two years
(16:09):
to stand up two teams if they did it today
and you want to open in the fall of twenty seven, okay,
so if the expedited timeline is important to them, they
could do it. There are venues right now that are
NBA ready in these two sits. So if getting the
team launched is more important than making sure you know,
(16:31):
so it's it's possible, Okay, I just I don't I
don't see Yeah, I don't see it, but you know
what do I know?
Speaker 2 (16:38):
No, it's interesting to see what to and so were
you just sort of like thinking that this was going
to be a standard kind of Q and A and
you know whatever, And then when you went into he
announced twenty twenty six, and then you mentioned Seattle in
Vegas and you were like, holy crap. Right at that
point you were like, oh wow, I've got a store here.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Oh for sure, I just thought I thought it was
a major story beyond you know what normally comes out
of those things, which is they're always good. You know,
Adam is pretty forthcoming as a as a commissioner and
doesn't mind being critical of his own products at times.
So it's not like these things don't have value. But
(17:21):
I just yeah, I just can't stress enough. We've all
been sitting there for years listening to this, and to
have a deadline targeted, and then to sort of and
then to clarify that there actually are two markets they're
looking at, when all along the discussion has been let's
add two teams instead of one. I think it's an
(17:42):
exciting thing, and I think it's good that.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
We don't have to.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
It doesn't have to be Vegas or Seattle. I would
hate to see those two markets have to fight it out.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
It's great and you both get one.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, and you want to make it even right,
who wants thirty one teams? You want thirty two in Vegas?
Listen for Vegas. I you know what's crazy about this, Joe.
I never thought the NBA would be last to Vegas.
I thought they would have been first. And they're going
to be last to Vegas after the NHL, the NFL
and major League Baseball with the A start and there
in like a year or two.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Yeah, yeah, no. I mean, you know, the metropolitan area
here is two million people. The city is about it's
not that much. I mean the city itself is like,
let's say seven hundred thousand, so that's not as Vegas, Columbus, Ohio.
But but you know they they shout out to h
(18:34):
Jackson Smith and JIGBA.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
You know that's right, Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
So you know, uh, there's there's there's plenty of plenty
of that going on. But yeah, I just think, yeah,
I just think it's a it's an exciting time and
you know, I'm very much looking forward to see what
the next part of the story is.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
All right, do you think the next announcement comes, which
to me would be the where the NBA kind of
has the spotlight and there's no college football and no
NFL All Star weekend February.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
Yeah, that would be one. I mean, you know, this
is something that the NBA governors have to approve. So
I'm just going to be straight with you. I don't
know when the next Board of Governors meeting is, and
I don't know that they are ready to make their
final presentation yet. There are several of these meetings throughout
the year. You know, Adam will be giving a press
(19:34):
conference in London or Berlin. I'll be there, but that's
gonna be about NBA Europe. Probably you could hear more
on on domestic expansion. Then you have All Star and
then you have the Finals. You have game one of
the finals if we get that far. Now we're into
June and you're you know, that's halfway through twenty twenty six.
(19:56):
Then the Board of Governors they meet, you know, in
the summer is fall in New York, and then.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
We have a new season that starts.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
So yeah, you know somewhere in that All Star Finals
windows sounds pretty good to me.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
All right, Joe Varden from the Athletic, I really appreciate
you making the time, and especially on such short notice.
We will we will be looking forward to all of
your future pieces of work. Check it out on the Athletic,
follow him on Twitter, and again, thanks for doing your job.
And that's kind of put a smile on my face
(20:33):
and a lot of people's faces here. But also a
lot of people are like, Okay, is this just more
of a word salad, you know, from Adam Silver. But no,
when he actually mentioned the name of the cities and
then he said in twenty twenty six, it kind of
feels like it's all happening Joe.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
For you guys, I hope so, I mean, at least
there's no one who doesn't think the NBA should be
in y. I think everybody thinks that, you know, So yeah,
I can't be the one that awards this to you guys,
but there is more momentum than I have seen in
yearsh love it.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Joe, Thank you for your time.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Happy holidays to your to your mom who I spoke
with this morning, and your family. Absolutely thank you, all right, Joe,
thanks man, all right, Joe Varden from The Athletic who
broke that story last night. So it's something rather than nothing,
because I felt like after the summer meetings in Vegas
(21:35):
we got nothing and then and then last night there's something,
and I feel like, now, okay, they're starting to get
some smoke.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Now we need to get the fire. MJ.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
In the Midday, this guy you might have heard of
by the name of Softy Dave Maler will join us
coming up at eleven, Mike Betting at eleven thirty, and
Mike Dugar at.
Speaker 1 (21:57):
Noon Action Pack Show.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
There you go, your thought on the article and how
do you feel MJ and the Midday Christopher Kid in
six years with so much on the line, going back
to twenty nineteen when the final regular season game of
the Year for the Division against the San Francisco forty
nine ers and Jimmy Garoppolo, and I've really analyzed this
(22:23):
game in so many different ways, not only from a
football standpoint, from a gambling standpoint. And you know, I
said that I think the Hawks would have been better
if a healthy Daniel Jones started on Sunday rather than
a retired for five years forty four year old grandpa
(22:49):
named Philip Rivers.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
But I gotta say this, the Hawks got.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
A lot of flack, a lot of flack, and with
Philip Rivers starting on Monday night football against the San
Francisco forty nine ers.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
By the way, go Colts right.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
That they they kind of It was of, in my opinion,
an extremely disappointing, an underwhelming win. But I'll take an
ugly win over a pretty loss. So now I believe
I'm not giving any predictions today. You'll have to wait
for tomorrow. On that one, I believe we will see
(23:31):
the best version of the twenty twenty five Seattle Seahawks
show up tomorrow night at five point fifteen with Richard
freaking Sherman in the house with Prime. That's the team
that's going to show up tomorrow night, not the team
who showed up on Sunday against the Colts that looked
(23:52):
like there were a bunch of seniors in high school
after spring break who really didn't even want to our
need to show up for class, because that's what happened
on Now. Defensively, they showed up, but to a certain extent, yes,
they only gave up, you know, like two hundred and
(24:12):
seventeen total yards one hundred and twenty seven passing yards.
But against a forty four year old grandpa. You know that,
you know, And if it wasn't for Jason Myers, I
just think goodness for Jami for hitting not one, not two,
(24:32):
not three, not four, not five, but six field goals,
including a game winning fifty six yarder, because if it
wasn't for him, tomorrow Night's game would have a little
bit of luster off of it. Now, I want to
mention to you tomorrow night, why from a Vegas standpoint,
(24:58):
this is the game of the year.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
This is the biggest game of the year. And it's true.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
And it's not even just because it has anything to
do with gambling, but it's really is true. Listen, no
disrespect to the Denver Broncos. They've won eleven in a row.
I believe they're all been come from behind victories. It's
never been done in the history of the National Football League.
So you got to take your hat off to Sean
Payton and Bonix and that defense there. I mean, they're sick,
(25:30):
but Denver this season is six and eight, save a
losing record ats against the spread. The Seattle Seahawks and
the LA Rams Tomorrow night two teams battle of eleven
and three, but they're each ten and four against the spread.
(25:53):
This is the game of the twenty twenty five season.
I hope it lives up to the hype and the expectations,
but also there's a part of me that doesn't. I
hope the Hawks come out and shut them down. And
I believe if the Hawks are gonna win this game,
there's a number that they cannot allow Matthew Stafford and
(26:17):
the Rams to get past that threshold. And I think
the number, to me, and I'm being very generous on
this twenty two and a half twenty three points. I
think if they can hold the Rams to under twenty
two and a half to twenty three points, the Hawks
(26:37):
win this game. Obviously, they're gonna have to score more
than that. But if the defense does its job, and
I believe it will, are they gonna are they you know,
are they gonna be able to you know, overcome fore
interceptions by their quarterback?
Speaker 3 (26:51):
No?
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Well, let's hope Sam Darnold doesn't turn the ball at
all over tomorrow night. But when a lot of people
and we'll talk to Mike Dagar about this coming up
at noon. Yes, Matthew Stafford won't have a bad game.
DeVante Adams isn't gonna play. So that's one less that's
a huge weapon you don't have to worry about.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
But here's another thing too.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
What happens to the Rams if and win knock on
wood or whatever the hell this is. Sam Donald does
not turn the ball over. How are you gonna beat
this team in that defense? If they go turnover free?
And that to me is the key to the entire game.
No fumbles like JSN had against the forty nine ers,
(27:34):
no turnovers like Sam Donald has had, and Jesus seems
like almost every other game this year. And that is
the hawks recipe for success under twenty two and a
half to twenty three points and no turnovers. And then
the Hawks will be in a position to win, take
control of the division, and then have a chance to
(27:55):
not only clinch it over the next two weeks, but
get the one seed and a buye. Could you imagine
that this team getting a bye and then hosting a
home playoff game on divisional playoff weekend. That would be unbelievable.
That's the key to me tomorrow night speaking of the Rams. Oh,
by the way, and I knew it.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
I knew it. I knew it. I always said it.
Speaker 2 (28:17):
And it's good to have my conspiracy theory validated by
one of the best receivers in the NFL, not name
Jackson Smith and Jigba. We'll get to that next. On
hitting to all fields, Softy at eleven, Mike Betton at
eleven thirty, Mike Dugar at noon, Christopher Kid MJ in
the midday.
Speaker 4 (28:42):
Percent, I'm like, yes, the rest of the worst because
there's just some of the rules aren't then, like, because
our lawyers and relive they want to be on TV too, brother, Like,
you don't think he's He's texting his friends in the
group chat, like, yo, you guys just saw me Sunday
night football Like that that wasn't p I like, but
I called it.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
I was seriously, did you do that?
Speaker 4 (29:00):
I mean, these guys are noble human beings too, brocheters,
bro I don't care, all right.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
D was Puka Nakua with some of his buddies. I
think one of them's name is Aidan Ross. He's some
social media influencer. Never heard of him. Don't care. These
guys are social media influencers. Are like cockerroaches. There's so
many of them you can't kill them. And I don't
know who any ofm are. And most of them, I
don't really care who anym are because they're here today,
gone tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
But the most important part about that, I knew it.
I knew it. I knew it, and I've said this
for years.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
And one guy in particular, kid is is that Puke
and Hocu Lee's son who now has taken over for
his old man, who used to wear this medium ref
jerseys to make his arms his biceps look bigger.
Speaker 1 (29:50):
I knew it.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
I'm telling you him, and a guy named Bill Vinovich.
And there's another guy they always and especially on Thursday
night because you will listen to al Michael out Michael's
they called like nineteen penalties the other night or what
it was last Thursday night, whatever game that was, I
knew it, and I'm glad Pooka Nakua is putting that
out there because I know they want that camera time.
(30:12):
I know they do. Do you agree.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
I don't know where to stand on this.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
It's become I remember Hugh talking about it because he
was the first that shed light on that some of
these guys have other full time careers yep, and they
do this as a side hustle. So yeah, it's just
one of those things where, yes, refs make bad calls.
I don't want to poop on all of them for
the few that don't do a great job, because I
(30:39):
know there are guys that take it seriously, but they
got to find a better way to get this product
on the field and do a better job of officiating.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
There have been games where it's like this is really bad.
Speaker 5 (30:50):
Then there's games where you don't say anything about the
rest because they do the job and they do a
good job at it. So I don't know how they're
gonna figure it out. Maybe someone can come up with
a grand idea. I know you're big on the AI
the bots, but I don't think you can put bots
for such a game like the NFL because there's just
so much to the naked eye.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
That fair enough, Okay, fair enough, But for baseball balls
and strikes, you definitely can do it. I understand, right,
that's why you know, you know it's robot arms, man,
let's do it.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
So, yeah, the.
Speaker 5 (31:17):
NFL is just gonna have to maybe figure out can
you can you find people that are dedicated and this
is their only job, but maybe start there like this
is the only career path you're doing, and it's just officiating.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
You go to.
Speaker 5 (31:29):
Camps, you work on your game year and year out
to be better at it, as opposed to, oh, well
he hosts a radio show, but you know during the
NFL season he hosts the radio show and he's an NFL.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
Well, I'm just that's fine. But I'm just saying I
think some of these guys really will throw extra flags
just to get camera time. That's what I'm saying. I mean,
I know all that, Yeah, they should be full time.
That's a whole different that's a different story that that's
that's apples and oranges. I'm talking about guys who are
who are just trying to yet extra camera time. I
(32:01):
agree with Pooka Nakua. I've said it for the longest
time and they do it and it just is what
it is, you know. So like for me, I'm with you, Pooka,
I'm with you. I hope you lose tomorrow night and
you get your ass kicked by Reek and Witherspoon and
Julian Love.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
Coming up next.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
This guy you've heard of, mister Softy Dave Mahler right
here on MJ in the midday
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