July 24, 2023 • 36 mins
Chris and Rob debate whether Nick Chubb is correct when he says NFL running backs are helpless when it comes to combating their depressed marketplace, use Kylian Mbappe’s record-setting contract offer from the Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal to discuss how they would feel if the Saudis tried to poach NBA stars like LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo to a separate league, and argue over whether or not Steph Curry had nefarious intentions when he left LeBron James off his all-time starting five (again).
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
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Speaker 1 (00:31):
Big news recently, obviously, Saquon Barkley the latest running back
to be franchised tagged or at least you know he's
he and Josh Jacobs. Tony Pollard signed his franchise tag
He's gonna play for the Cowboys. But Josh Jacobs and
Saquon Barkley may not show up to training camp.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
We'll see.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
And so a lot of the top running backs Barkley,
Nick Chubb, Josh Jacobs, Derek Here, and Christian McCaffrey at
least those guys were on a Zoom rob on Sunday
yesterday and they discussed, you know, just the the fact
that obviously they believe running backs are underpaid and undervalued,
(01:18):
and so they discussed that. But Nick Chubb came away
thinking there's very little they can do here.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
He is, well, I mean, right now, it's just tall.
You know, there's really nothing we can do. We're kind
of we're kind of handcuffed with the situation. But I mean,
I feel what I took from it. McCaffrey and Derrick
Henry and Say Cornell had a lot of good points.
But the biggest thing is that we're on the position
that our production hurts us the most. You know, if
we go out there and run for two thousand yards
with so many carriers, the next year, they're gonna say,
(01:46):
you know, you're probably worn down. That's the biggest thing
that I took from it. It's just it's tough. You know,
it hurts us just to go to go out there
and do good. It hurts us at the end of
the day.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Nick Chubb, Hello, is this on. You're not hamstrung? What
do you mean you can't do anything? Yes, you guys
can do something. Stand together, be united, push back you
guys all you ever hear.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
The blue flu? Chris?
Speaker 6 (02:14):
Do you ever hear the blue flu?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
No?
Speaker 5 (02:17):
That's what the cops do. We're they're not happy with
their contract. They all call in sick on the same day.
It's called the blue flu. How about the running back flu,
Nick Chubb? How about week one, all the running backs
decide they got a pull, Hammy. How are they gonna
(02:37):
tell you whether or not you do or not? And
you all of you guys sit out game one to
let them know that we're not going to accept this.
Speaker 6 (02:46):
That's what you have to do. Stop the show.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Hello, you want to get people's attention, stop the show,
stop the money flow. This is why you guys were
in this situation. They have you bamboozled in. They're thinking
you have no leverage. You can't do anything when people
(03:11):
feel like they're oppressed or not given the right opportunities.
That's how unions got started. They all worked for the
same companies, Chris, and you know what, the owners didn't
do right by them. They formed together and they stopped working.
And guess what, unions were formed and better working conditions
were made for people. I'm not saying that they're all perfect,
(03:34):
because God knows, the NFL Players Association is garbage, and
I wish one of them was the union on the call, Chris,
or maybe they were hiding because they set these guys
up to where they can't do it, you know what
I mean, they were in a trick bag because of
this ridiculous franchise tag that they agreed to.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah, and you and I have talked about this before
with the collective bar in an agreement. How the NFL players, Uh,
they got the worst agreement of the three leagues. The
three major leagues Baseball, Basketball and football and.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
Hockey has guaranteed contract churse just so, Yeah, they even
have guarantee contract.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So I hear what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
And if every running back got together, even the best fifty,
uh and sat out.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
The first game of the season, that would make a difference.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
There's no doubt about it. Or or they maybe they'd
all have to do it because maybe the honestly, maybe
the third string running back for some team would go
go berserk and play well. But I don't think that's
unfortunately going to happen. I mean, look, I think they're
more they're stronger things for them to fight for than this.
(04:53):
If the players were going to stand up again, we
talked about their lack of health care, we talked about
their lack of guarantee tracks. We've talked about the lack
of black front office executives or head coaches. To me,
those are bigger than this. And the fact that we
were we talked about it all year. Deshaun Watson had
(05:14):
the first fully you know, Kirk Cousins had one years ago,
but Deshaun Watson set a new precedent, and none of
the other quarterbacks stood on that. They didn't come together
and stand on They say, Okay, at this point on,
we're all getting fully guaranteed deals. The president has been set.
So I don't think they're going to do that. I
(05:37):
think Chubb is in he's in the middle of a
three year, thirty six million dollar contract. He's in a
different position. He could obviously sit out or something. But
Sa Kwan Barkley, who's on the franchise tag, Rob, if
he sits out this year, it does him no good.
(05:59):
All it would do is just save a year of
wear and tear on his body. But that franchise tag
would essentially roll over to the following year, and so
he it's not like he can sit out and then
become a free agent. And Rob, it's not like he
can even sit out like say, I was thinking, Okay,
(06:20):
sit out the first two games or so, you know,
sit out the start of the season and if the
Giants struggle and go oh and two.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
We saw Himiss Smith do it back in nineteen ninety three.
I believe it was.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
You know, they're oh and two, oh and three, whatever
it might be, and then they're like, Okay, we gotta
go ahead and give him this deal.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
They can't.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
They can't give him the new deal, like a long
term deal, because he's already been.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Franchised and they missed that deadline both sides.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
So all he would be doing by sitting out is
basically losing ten million dollars. And again we see how
valuable it might be to not have a year of
wearing tear.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
He could get hurt or whatever.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
So if I would say kwembera, I just don't see
the benefit of sitting out unless it's a group. You know,
all of the running backs did it, which I don't
think they're gonna do. I think Rob Unfortunately, Look, you
and I have talked about how unfair the franchise tag is.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
What it is. In general, we think it's unfair, but.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
For running backs it's horrible because a lot of them,
their best years are within those first five and then
like Chub did say, if you have a great year
and you carry the ball three hundred plus times, then
they're gonna think you're overworked.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Then you're you're worn down. You're not gonna be the same.
Speaker 5 (07:48):
Josh Jacobs led the league and in rushing doesn't have
a contract. Dalvin Cook, I don't know what. I don't
know what he Dalvin Cook's done. He don't have a job.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
It don't even Chris there, wait there there like I think,
I mean, the offers he getting are way below.
Speaker 5 (08:03):
No, they're waiting for somebody you heard in training camp
and then maybe they might offer him something.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
It's awful.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
I think they like look and I don't know that
they can even do this. But it's almost like the
CBA should be different for running backs, where they they
could enter free agency after three years or something, because
five most people think the running backs begin to decline
at twenty seven, all but the absolute all time greats,
(08:32):
and some of them declined by twenty seven, and so
by the time they can really get the huge money,
they've been used and abused, so to speak. But Rob,
I think the fact of the matter is this, the
running back position has been devalued, and I don't just
(08:54):
mean that people teams are, you know, not looking at
it as as valuable, but it is just not one
of the most critical positions Anymoreal I'm looking.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
At this in Yahoo. On Yahoo, they had a list
of the highest paid positions.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Running back was tenth quarterback, defensive lineman, wide receiver, edge rusher,
offensive line and mainly left tackles, cornerbacks, linebackers, safeties, tight ends,
running backs, then kickers, punters, and long snappers. And the
fact is, Rob, when they started having running back by committee,
(09:40):
and now instead of that Earl Campbell that carries it
twenty five times a game, or Eric Dickerson or Barry
Sanders or Walter Payton, you got a couple of dudes
that carry it twelve times each fifteen times max. And
that lowered the value on the position. And then some
(10:01):
of them look Look at.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
The Chiefs, Rob. They drafted Clyde Edward Hilayer in the
first round.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Ultimately he lost the job to a seventh rounder, Isaiah Pachecko.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
They won the Super Bowl with Pachecko.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
So teams are looking at it like I can get
a running back, I can find it. Really there are exceptions,
Derrick Henry, Nick Chubb, I think you know there are
an elite few, but you can get a good running
back later in the draft Kareem Hunt, Alvin Kamar.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Third round picks.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
It's look, there's always been positions like this, Rob the
center or the right guard, guys that work their butts
off and every play they're hitting and they haven't gotten
paid a lot of money. And the way the game
has changed, unfortunately, it's hit running backs like this.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
I just the.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Running game is so important in the NFL, and you
could pooh pooh it and act like you're throwing every down.
Chris Big plays in games that are determined every day,
every game on running the ball and being able to
keep the clock running and getting first downs.
Speaker 6 (11:16):
Running Backs are big parts of football.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
If you can't run the football, most quarterbacks are going
to be in trouble. If you if you just can't
pass and you become one dimensional. I just think it's
a loophole, but they taking advantage of.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
You don't have to have the best running back game.
Speaker 6 (11:32):
I agree, I just really, I just yeah, I do.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Some of the best running backs in his O. J.
Simpson played one playoff game. That's fine, but that doesn't
mean that.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
But you watched him in Detroit.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
How many that that doesn't mean you, But that doesn't
mean that other guys. Emms Smith was one of the best.
He won three out of four right team, No, but
he was.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
He was.
Speaker 6 (11:51):
He had the most yards in the history of the NFL.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
Whether you think he's the best running back or not,
he does and he could. He was also able to
catch passes out of backfield block and he was able
to run.
Speaker 6 (12:04):
They were very difficult to beat. Emmon Smith was a
big part.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Of years ago. It's a different game now.
Speaker 6 (12:10):
I'm just saying I don't agree with this. To take that.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I think anybody game isn't agree with that. The running
game is important. But but for a.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Couple of dudes, I can get a good running There's
a lot of great running backs out there.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
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Speaker 1 (13:05):
Interesting story about the Saudis in their soccer league. You
know obviously live golf. They they got into golf. They
dipped their toe in that Mortan dip their toe right,
They've changed golf and now they're not now, but they're
looking at doing soccer. But it's gonna tie into the
(13:26):
NBA because Giannis once he saw this, he kind of
jumped in there and put in his two cents. So
Rob G's gonna break it down and summarize it for us.
Rob G tell us about it.
Speaker 8 (13:38):
That's right. According to multiple islets, including Front Office Sports
and CBS Sports, Soccer Start Killing and Babe has been
offered a one year, one point one billion dollar package
by the Saudi club Al Hilal to join their club
next season. The terms of the deal are as such,
(13:59):
three hundred thirty two million American dollars as a transfer
be transfer fee to his current club PSG Paris Saint
Germain and a one year, seven hundred and seventy six
million dollars salary to play for Alkalal next season, which
prompted Jannis Undertakoumpo, who is definitely not struggling financially, but
(14:22):
to chime in on the situation on Twitter with the
photo of himself zoomed in throwing up a one finger
thumbs up sign saying al halal, you can take me.
I look like Killian and babe.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
All right, Rob, I just a simple question.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Let's say, for sake of argument, if they were to
get into basketball and they'd have to create their own league,
I guess.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
And you were.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yannis or some other superstar player, would you consider going
over there for you know, the types of money that
they're talking about.
Speaker 5 (14:58):
Absolutely, we saw it before. We saw it in golf
just recently, and we saw it in the United States
Football League. I'm talking about the original one that had
Reggie White and Steve Young and Jim Kelly and Chris
collins Worth. Chris we would be on the radio for
the next hour talking about the good players who played
in that league. Herchel Walker was the number one pick
(15:20):
out of Georgia. He went to the New Jersey Generals
owned by Donald Trump back then, Chris, because they were
paying money and competition is good. And if I was
a player and I had an option, just like we
said with the Saudi's and the golf, Dude, what if
you're playing the same thing Tiger turned out like a
eight hundred million dollars and then got left hold in
(15:42):
the bag with nothing while everybody else cashed out. What
is the difference. I've always said this in my career, Chris.
You know I moved around a lot in the newspaper business.
It wasn't because I was terrible, maybe a little terrible, but.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
Because it was terrible.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Quite terrible, right, not terrible.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
It's okay.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
He always say, you mean to tell me you're gonna
pay me twenty five thousand dollars more to send my
story to a different phone number?
Speaker 6 (16:06):
Is that? Is that what the difference is?
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Like?
Speaker 5 (16:09):
Like, I'm just if you can make a lot more
money doing something, I just don't understand why you wouldn't.
And the other league, right, either either this league could
eclipse it, or if this league didn't last or fold
you if you're a good player, you could go back
to the other league like they did. In the USFL.
In the NFL they got cashed out and then they
(16:32):
went back to the NFL and had career. So I
would take the cash if it was significant, not nickels
and dimes, more crispy, but significant.
Speaker 6 (16:41):
It's gotta be significant.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Yeah, I mean, let's just for the sake again, for
the sake of argument, let's talk this type of money
that they're paying for in Bope, right, and requis quick
eight million dollars?
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Yeah, I don't know what what does he make? What
does he make now? You know what I mean? Like,
what's is he saying in France?
Speaker 6 (17:00):
Right?
Speaker 5 (17:00):
So what's his salary now that they're offering him seven
hundred and fifty million dollars?
Speaker 6 (17:04):
You know? And Rob G I would like look that up.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Yeah, I'd also like to know, Rob Gi, if you
can with Reggie White or Jim Kelly or Steve Young
what they were making in the NFL at that time
and what they signed for in the USFL.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
Chris, I'm just curious.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Remember Herschel went straight from college right from Georgia to
the USO Young, did you Steve Young?
Speaker 5 (17:28):
I don't know because it was with the La Express, Yeah,
Rob Young, But I don't know.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Go go ahead, rob you on.
Speaker 8 (17:35):
So killing and Babe again. The reason why the Saudi
clubs are offering this much is because they're trying to
make a big splash. They offered a huge deal to
Lionel Messi turned them down. They offered a huge deal
to christ down Ronaldo and he took it. So and
Bope currently is on a three year, two hundred and
twenty three million dollar contract.
Speaker 6 (17:57):
Two year what three years?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Year?
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Threep?
Speaker 8 (18:00):
Oh god, all right, but he's viewed as like the
next big thing or he has the most World Cup
goals of any person in history before the age of
twenty four.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Here's where I'm at on this route.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
If I were because we're talking about it in relation
to basketball since Gianni's brought it up. If I were
Lebron James, Let's say they start a league, right, they
got their professional Basketball League.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Maybe they got a bunch of international.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Players and some lower level but still professional NBA players.
If I'm a Lebron James who's about to turn thirty
nine next season, I would, after like another year or
two in the NBA, I would go over there. I mean,
(18:49):
when he's forty one, forty two he obviously won't be
the same player, but guess what, He'll still be Lebron James.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
He'll still be a huge name. And that goes with
Deph Curry. Not now.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
I would not do it now if they started their
own basketball league, because I do think what you and
I you're talking about writing, that's different because in sports,
like if I'm a star basketball player, I want to
play against the best and beat the best and be
(19:24):
in the best league.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
So after I've.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Done that and made my mark and my money and
now I'm on the downside. Look, I've I can't guarantee
because I'm not the one with the money, but I
would be stunned if they wouldn't offer Lebron James, at
forty one, forty two years old, a ton of money,
(19:50):
more money than he's probably ever made in the NBA.
And so I would do that. If I'm Yannis Rod
at this stage of where I'm at, I'm not I'm
not going It's not like I'm making pennies in the NBA.
So I wouldn't go over there to make a billion dollars.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Some people might think I'm crazy go over there to
make a billion dollars dominating who.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
You know.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
And again I think that money would be there later
on too. Let them build the league up.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
We're talking basketball.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Let them build the league up to where it's reputable,
where some good players and it means something to win
that and play over there, and then we can talk
if I'm in my prime like Giannis or Yokic or
somebody like that, but as an older player, after I've
done everything in the NBA and reach my pinnacle in
(20:42):
the NBA.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Yeah, that's that's how I would look at it.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
Yeah, I mean, they want you because they're trying to
build the league, so to take washed up players that's
not a good business modeled.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
You don't think if they got Lebron James in three years.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
It would be huge.
Speaker 5 (20:59):
No, I don't think it would be the same. I
don't think it seemed to be the same player. He
wouldn't They might They might offer him. They might offer him,
uh that he gets a franchise that's not a guarantee
in the NBA or something like that.
Speaker 6 (21:11):
But I'm just talking about some star player.
Speaker 5 (21:13):
If they were to offer him, if he's making two
hundred million in the NBA and they say we'll give
you seven hundred.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
And fifty to leave the NBA. Dude, I'm taking that.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
I'm just I am because uh there have been uh
like you say, I think that you could always go
back if you're a talented player.
Speaker 6 (21:30):
So that's not the issue. Cash out.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
You're doing one year, that's that's that's a fair. You
go over here for one year, make your money, and
leading I'll just take a leak.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
That's not a bad idea. I mean I would do
it and say, let's see where it goes. It was
just like, uh, I think I think that kind of money.
This is not like you're making two hundred million and
they're going to offer you two hundred and twenty five.
You're not going anywhere Chris for that. But you're talking
about tripling or while drupling my salary. I mean, that's
(22:02):
a once in a lifetime opportunity. And I think that's
why we thought some of the golfers were crazy to
stand by and not take a piece of that pod.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, and maybe it's because I'm not as in the
golf I feel like I get that the PGA is
a big deal and always has been, you know, for
decades and all that, But I also think in golf,
you're often competing against the course, and who you're playing
with may not be as big of a deal because
(22:34):
you're competing against the course and they were getting you know,
some bad you know, they were in a bad situation.
The PGA, sometimes you gotta pay for your own way
to the tournaments.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
And stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
But I just if I'm a great basketball player, I'm
trying to make my mark in the NBA. I'm not
trying to make it in Saudi Arabia. Now, I like
your idea. If I went over for one year, that's
a whole different story. I'm twenty four, I go over
there one year, make my seven hundred million, and come
(23:09):
back to the NBA.
Speaker 6 (23:09):
After that.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
I don't dislike that idea. That's something I think I'd
look at doing.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
But I'm not trying to go over there like I'm
trying to ball in the NBA. And I get it,
you're right, like they I would want them to build
the league up where it's reputable.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Well, but that's what But I if just say this,
I'm just as hypothetical. Obviously, the ten eight of the
ten best players go over to that league, that's a bit.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
That's a whole different. Yeah, then you're because remember I'm
saying I want to play against and beat them, but
that's what I'm saying. But if they do that, they
were the lure.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
If they were the loure eight of the ten best
players over there, right, then you then that league is
better that I'm becomes better than the NBA.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Like, Man, I'm gonna be honest, Row, if I were
the players, now, first of all, they.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Should try to do that. Saudi Arabia. The way they
throwing around money, they got plenty of money.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
If I'm the players too, I'm getting together and talking
amongst ourselves, right and saying, look, because Lebron Rob wants
to own an NBA team, Bill Young.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Right, And it's no guarantee even if he's in the running, Chris,
that he's gonna get it.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
You know what I mean. There's a lot of rich
people in this country.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
It wouldn't be surprising if the NBA, as a discouragement
to guys that go over there to a league like that,
would say, if you.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
Go over there and play, we're not giving you a team.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
That would be that they would, Chris.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
They might not say it publicly, right, right, but they
would because they because they're trying to hold on. Now
you gotta remember, say it's okay, say it's the new league.
And now NBC gets involved, right the NBA on NBC
the old days, and they say, hey, we're gonna have
the games. Yeah, okay, Now now you got your television.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
How you got competition?
Speaker 5 (24:57):
How you got now you got competition. The NBA is like, oh,
wait a minute, you know what I mean? It changes
everything like that, it's dual. It's definitely doable.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
If they no, if.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
You're talking about all the best or you know, ten
of the best players going over.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
App why not.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Like I said, I want to beat the best so
my accomplishments are recognized. I can feel like, you know,
if I'm one of the best players in the world,
I want to play with the best players and against
the best players in the world.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
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Speaker 1 (25:36):
Steph Curry recently gave his all time starting five.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Now did you have you seen this? Rob? Do you
know what it is? Which is all time starting five?
Speaker 6 (25:49):
I saw it.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Yeah, okay, uh well one, uh let's let the uh listen,
just hear it.
Speaker 6 (25:56):
We'll let the do we have sound of Steff.
Speaker 4 (25:59):
Rob?
Speaker 6 (26:00):
No?
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Sound? Okay, so give us.
Speaker 8 (26:04):
Well you need the context first, guys. So he's doing
this promotional tour for his documentary where Rob. You know,
he mainly says it's not an underdog story them.
Speaker 6 (26:15):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
So in any event he.
Speaker 6 (26:17):
Did this, he was.
Speaker 8 (26:21):
Asked a similar question seven months ago. I don't know
what it was for, but they said, hey, who's your
all time starting five? You had to pick a team,
and in December his five were Shack, Magic, Jordan, Dirk
Novitzky and himself. I don't recall if there was any
pushback at that time, maybe in the middle of the
d and we just missed it completely. Well, during the
(26:44):
promo tour for his documentary, he's asked the question again
and he would think he's a flip. He must have
wised up. He's like, I'm not going to put myself
in there because that just looks bad.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Right, terrible, right, So it was his first one was Steph, Jordan.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Bird, and Shaq. Yes, it was correct.
Speaker 8 (27:03):
So he was asked again and this time he took
himself off, so he kept the original three. Shack, Jordan
and Magic were still there. He replaced Dirk Novitzky with
Tim Duncan. And then he's listening a small forward and
he says, I'll go with Larry Bird. Actually, you know what,
scratch it that. So you think, oh, it's gonna be
Lebron James right right, No, I'm gonna put Kobe Bryant
(27:25):
at small forward wow, and take Lebron leave him completely
off the list.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
It's really interesting, Rob because he left Lebron off twice.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
But Chris, this is this is what's so surprising.
Speaker 6 (27:41):
And it's not just I gotta say this, and I
think you'll agree.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
I get Look, Lebron is a contemporary of his. I
get that.
Speaker 6 (27:52):
I do.
Speaker 5 (27:53):
I understand that. But he's the all time leading scorer
in the NBA. Like you don't respect that at all, Like, Chris,
you don't. You don't respect that at all and all
of the stuff. You know, I'm not the biggest Lebron
guy for you know, other reasons, but I but I
respect his numbers, Chris, That's why he's second on my list.
(28:16):
Everybody's always shocked when I say he said I respect
that he's played, he's put up the numbers. What what
what part I ripped it? I ripped the other players
when they didn't vote for it for the All Star Game, Chris,
the one hundred and thirty players that left them up.
That's jealousy. Seriously, Steph doesn't respect what he's put together.
(28:38):
Dirk Navinski on his first Lebron no business on that list.
Shame on that. I mean with Larry Bird, My god, Chris,
where's Larry Bird?
Speaker 1 (28:51):
If you go if you're not going with Lebron, right,
you can go with Bird and then Jay.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
There's a lot before Dirk.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
And then the to leave him off again and put Kobe, Well,
Kobe's not even the three.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
I get it. He can play it.
Speaker 5 (29:07):
Right, but you know what I mean. But I just
think it's disrespectful. I'm just gonna say it. And they
keep disrespecting Lebron. And this is where his complex comes in,
that even guys who have competed against him don't respect him.
Speaker 6 (29:22):
For whatever reason. I don't get that. I don't.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
I don't think it's a lack of respect from Steph.
I think it's this rob and you kind of touched
on it as you began speaking. If you notice both
of those lists, whichever one you want to go with,
none of them are Steph's contemporaries. He is not competing
(29:48):
against any of them.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
And I think that he is saying, Look, I'm.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
Still competing against Lebron or whoever you want to throw
Yannis or Jokic or whoever.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
And I'm not gonna give I'm not gonna put them on.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
A pedestal while I'm going against them. I don't want
Lebron James have any little inkling obviously they know how
great each other are, but I don't want him to
have any inkling of I think he's this or that
and I and I actually want to get in his
head a little bit because here's what I want him
(30:22):
to question, Wow, does Steph really think I can you know,
I'm all that, I'm that guy, and that's what I
think this is?
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Right, I don't.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
I don't think it's like a lack of respect for Lebron.
Although look they've had a his they've had a strange
relationship early on, Remember Lebron went to Davidson to watch
stuff play and they hung out a little when Steph
was a younger player at Lebron's house, and then when
they began competing against each other, you know, they had
(30:51):
some run ins during the finals. And remember the Halloween
party Lebron had where you know, Stephan Clay. It was
like and Clay cookies or something like tombstones or something
like that.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
And then of course lately.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Lebron's been very complimentary of Steph and all that. So
they kind of had an up and down relationship.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
But I think they're cool. But I think that's what
this is, right.
Speaker 5 (31:14):
See, this is why I'm a pushback and say I disagree.
Ray Allen came out with his list. He played with
Lebron and won a championship. Lebron wasn't on his in
his top five. Ray Allen like, seriously, Chris, okay.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
But you're not. That's not pushing back on my steps. No,
you're just saying. I'm just saying, like disrespect.
Speaker 5 (31:35):
Okay, all right, Charles Barkley and those guys who didn't
play not a contemporary of theirs.
Speaker 6 (31:40):
They don't have them in their top ten. Kenny Smith in.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
The Kenny's Now I think top five.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
No, what I'm saying at the time, how was he
not in the top ten? Come on, these are NBA
guys who know the game. Chris, He's one of the
all time greats, and you just go this player after
player who go out of their way not to not
to put him in the top five or top ten.
Is mind boggling to me. And I think that's where
(32:07):
the respect lack of respect. So that's why I look
at it as more than just stuff being being a contemporary.
I get the contemporary part, but this keeps happening. Aren't
you shocked that Ray Allen, who won a championship with Lebron,
doesn't have enough. He's in the same locker when we
play with the guy competing with the guy.
Speaker 6 (32:26):
He doesn't think he's a top in his top five.
Ultimely he's scoring the NBA.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Well, I don't think it looked.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
I respect Lebron's breaking that record and that's great, but
you know, we don't. I mean, we're not just saying, oh,
just because he's all time now, No, I'm not saying
just that. But obviously, look, you and I both have
him second only to Michael Jordan. He is the second
greatest player ever in my book and in your book.
(32:54):
So I'm with you there. I think raph the disrespect
if we want to call it that, and you can,
because as you said, a lot of guys don't have
him in their top five, top three, whatever it might be,
a lot of we've talked about it before, how a
lot of players that face both of them put Kobe
(33:17):
ahead of the right. I think Rob, and again, clearly
we don't agree with this just because of where we
have Lebron rank. But honestly, Rob, I think this is
what it boils down to because most of those guys
are from an earlier era.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Obviously STEP's not.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
But I think Rob what it comes down to, and
it's just my opinion.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
No player has told me this. I think.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
It is the fact that Lebron joined like kind of
created his own super team and then continue to do
that and even to this up to this past summer,
was you know, vocally recruiting Kyrie. I think players look
(34:08):
at that and say, I just think that that And again,
this is just my guess. I think that is where
it stems from. I don't know where else he could
come from. You can't his game. I get it, Okay,
he's not, you know, as smooth as Mike or Kobe.
He's not an awesome shooter, a great shooter, but he
(34:29):
can score with the best of him. He was a
great defender in his prime. He's a great rebounder for
his position. He's obviously a tremendous passer. Like what is
not to like about his game? And that's I think
it boils down to that, Rob, Like guys are like
(34:52):
he was stacking the deck and look at Kobe.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Kobe never did that. Kobe pushed back out.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
In fact, now Kobe did you know, talk about going
to the Clippers or the Bulls?
Speaker 3 (35:08):
Did right? He did want to.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Shot, you know, guy, it's just unique that Lebron did that.
Durant did that obviously, Steph. You know they recruited Durant,
but it was his team, Like Wade doesn't get that
pushback because it was his team. So I don't know, Rob,
That's all I can fathom that it might be.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Do you agree with that?
Speaker 6 (35:35):
It might have a little to do with that, but
it just it's mind boggling, Like.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
What else could it be?
Speaker 6 (35:44):
Jealousy? What else it has to be? What else could
it be?
Speaker 5 (35:49):
Chris, It doesn't make sense, like either you expect the
league that he's in and what he's been able to accomplish.
You might not like the way he did his business,
but he did play hard and he.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Did, you know, when fantastic.
Speaker 6 (36:03):
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (36:05):
Like there's there's a degree of that that's weird to me,
That's all I'm saying. And I think that them doing that,
uh and and discounting him, and that's why he's always
asking for his respect, Like that's remember that after they
won the in the bubble. Now what I want now,
y'all want y'all to give me my damn respect.
Speaker 6 (36:24):
That's what he said.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
Who says that unless you really feel like people don't
respect you,
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
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Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brusha and Ron Harker.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Big news recently, obviously, Saquon Barkley the latest running back
to be franchised tagged or at least you know he's
he and Josh Jacobs. Tony Pollard signed his franchise tag
He's gonna play for the Cowboys. But Josh Jacobs and
Saquon Barkley may not show up to training camp.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
We'll see.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
And so a lot of the top running backs Barkley,
Nick Chubb, Josh Jacobs, Derek Here, and Christian McCaffrey at
least those guys were on a Zoom rob on Sunday
yesterday and they discussed, you know, just the the fact
that obviously they believe running backs are underpaid and undervalued,
(01:18):
and so they discussed that. But Nick Chubb came away
thinking there's very little they can do here.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
He is, well, I mean, right now, it's just tall.
You know, there's really nothing we can do. We're kind
of we're kind of handcuffed with the situation. But I mean,
I feel what I took from it. McCaffrey and Derrick
Henry and Say Cornell had a lot of good points.
But the biggest thing is that we're on the position
that our production hurts us the most. You know, if
we go out there and run for two thousand yards
with so many carriers, the next year, they're gonna say,
(01:46):
you know, you're probably worn down. That's the biggest thing
that I took from it. It's just it's tough. You know,
it hurts us just to go to go out there
and do good. It hurts us at the end of
the day.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Nick Chubb, Hello, is this on. You're not hamstrung? What
do you mean you can't do anything? Yes, you guys
can do something. Stand together, be united, push back you
guys all you ever hear.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
The blue flu? Chris?
Speaker 6 (02:14):
Do you ever hear the blue flu?
Speaker 3 (02:16):
No?
Speaker 5 (02:17):
That's what the cops do. We're they're not happy with
their contract. They all call in sick on the same day.
It's called the blue flu. How about the running back flu,
Nick Chubb? How about week one, all the running backs
decide they got a pull, Hammy. How are they gonna
(02:37):
tell you whether or not you do or not? And
you all of you guys sit out game one to
let them know that we're not going to accept this.
Speaker 6 (02:46):
That's what you have to do. Stop the show.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
Hello, you want to get people's attention, stop the show,
stop the money flow. This is why you guys were
in this situation. They have you bamboozled in. They're thinking
you have no leverage. You can't do anything when people
(03:11):
feel like they're oppressed or not given the right opportunities.
That's how unions got started. They all worked for the
same companies, Chris, and you know what, the owners didn't
do right by them. They formed together and they stopped working.
And guess what, unions were formed and better working conditions
were made for people. I'm not saying that they're all perfect,
(03:34):
because God knows, the NFL Players Association is garbage, and
I wish one of them was the union on the call, Chris,
or maybe they were hiding because they set these guys
up to where they can't do it, you know what
I mean, they were in a trick bag because of
this ridiculous franchise tag that they agreed to.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Yeah, and you and I have talked about this before
with the collective bar in an agreement. How the NFL players, Uh,
they got the worst agreement of the three leagues. The
three major leagues Baseball, Basketball and football and.
Speaker 5 (04:12):
Hockey has guaranteed contract churse just so, Yeah, they even
have guarantee contract.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So I hear what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
And if every running back got together, even the best fifty,
uh and sat out.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
The first game of the season, that would make a difference.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
There's no doubt about it. Or or they maybe they'd
all have to do it because maybe the honestly, maybe
the third string running back for some team would go
go berserk and play well. But I don't think that's
unfortunately going to happen. I mean, look, I think they're
more they're stronger things for them to fight for than this.
(04:53):
If the players were going to stand up again, we
talked about their lack of health care, we talked about
their lack of guarantee tracks. We've talked about the lack
of black front office executives or head coaches. To me,
those are bigger than this. And the fact that we
were we talked about it all year. Deshaun Watson had
(05:14):
the first fully you know, Kirk Cousins had one years ago,
but Deshaun Watson set a new precedent, and none of
the other quarterbacks stood on that. They didn't come together
and stand on They say, Okay, at this point on,
we're all getting fully guaranteed deals. The president has been set.
So I don't think they're going to do that. I
(05:37):
think Chubb is in he's in the middle of a
three year, thirty six million dollar contract. He's in a
different position. He could obviously sit out or something. But
Sa Kwan Barkley, who's on the franchise tag, Rob, if
he sits out this year, it does him no good.
(05:59):
All it would do is just save a year of
wear and tear on his body. But that franchise tag
would essentially roll over to the following year, and so
he it's not like he can sit out and then
become a free agent. And Rob, it's not like he
can even sit out like say, I was thinking, Okay,
(06:20):
sit out the first two games or so, you know,
sit out the start of the season and if the
Giants struggle and go oh and two.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
We saw Himiss Smith do it back in nineteen ninety three.
I believe it was.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
You know, they're oh and two, oh and three, whatever
it might be, and then they're like, Okay, we gotta
go ahead and give him this deal.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
They can't.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
They can't give him the new deal, like a long
term deal, because he's already been.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Franchised and they missed that deadline both sides.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
So all he would be doing by sitting out is
basically losing ten million dollars. And again we see how
valuable it might be to not have a year of
wearing tear.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
He could get hurt or whatever.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
So if I would say kwembera, I just don't see
the benefit of sitting out unless it's a group. You know,
all of the running backs did it, which I don't
think they're gonna do. I think Rob Unfortunately, Look, you
and I have talked about how unfair the franchise tag is.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
What it is. In general, we think it's unfair, but.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
For running backs it's horrible because a lot of them,
their best years are within those first five and then
like Chub did say, if you have a great year
and you carry the ball three hundred plus times, then
they're gonna think you're overworked.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Then you're you're worn down. You're not gonna be the same.
Speaker 5 (07:48):
Josh Jacobs led the league and in rushing doesn't have
a contract. Dalvin Cook, I don't know what. I don't
know what he Dalvin Cook's done. He don't have a job.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
It don't even Chris there, wait there there like I think,
I mean, the offers he getting are way below.
Speaker 5 (08:03):
No, they're waiting for somebody you heard in training camp
and then maybe they might offer him something.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
It's awful.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
I think they like look and I don't know that
they can even do this. But it's almost like the
CBA should be different for running backs, where they they
could enter free agency after three years or something, because
five most people think the running backs begin to decline
at twenty seven, all but the absolute all time greats,
(08:32):
and some of them declined by twenty seven, and so
by the time they can really get the huge money,
they've been used and abused, so to speak. But Rob,
I think the fact of the matter is this, the
running back position has been devalued, and I don't just
(08:54):
mean that people teams are, you know, not looking at
it as as valuable, but it is just not one
of the most critical positions Anymoreal I'm looking.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
At this in Yahoo. On Yahoo, they had a list
of the highest paid positions.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
Running back was tenth quarterback, defensive lineman, wide receiver, edge rusher,
offensive line and mainly left tackles, cornerbacks, linebackers, safeties, tight ends,
running backs, then kickers, punters, and long snappers. And the
fact is, Rob, when they started having running back by committee,
(09:40):
and now instead of that Earl Campbell that carries it
twenty five times a game, or Eric Dickerson or Barry
Sanders or Walter Payton, you got a couple of dudes
that carry it twelve times each fifteen times max. And
that lowered the value on the position. And then some
(10:01):
of them look Look at.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
The Chiefs, Rob. They drafted Clyde Edward Hilayer in the
first round.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Ultimately he lost the job to a seventh rounder, Isaiah Pachecko.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
They won the Super Bowl with Pachecko.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
So teams are looking at it like I can get
a running back, I can find it. Really there are exceptions,
Derrick Henry, Nick Chubb, I think you know there are
an elite few, but you can get a good running
back later in the draft Kareem Hunt, Alvin Kamar.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Third round picks.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
It's look, there's always been positions like this, Rob the
center or the right guard, guys that work their butts
off and every play they're hitting and they haven't gotten
paid a lot of money. And the way the game
has changed, unfortunately, it's hit running backs like this.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
I just the.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
Running game is so important in the NFL, and you
could pooh pooh it and act like you're throwing every down.
Chris Big plays in games that are determined every day,
every game on running the ball and being able to
keep the clock running and getting first downs.
Speaker 6 (11:16):
Running Backs are big parts of football.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
If you can't run the football, most quarterbacks are going
to be in trouble. If you if you just can't
pass and you become one dimensional. I just think it's
a loophole, but they taking advantage of.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
You don't have to have the best running back game.
Speaker 6 (11:32):
I agree, I just really, I just yeah, I do.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Some of the best running backs in his O. J.
Simpson played one playoff game. That's fine, but that doesn't
mean that.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
But you watched him in Detroit.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
How many that that doesn't mean you, But that doesn't
mean that other guys. Emms Smith was one of the best.
He won three out of four right team, No, but
he was.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
He was.
Speaker 6 (11:51):
He had the most yards in the history of the NFL.
Speaker 5 (11:54):
Whether you think he's the best running back or not,
he does and he could. He was also able to
catch passes out of backfield block and he was able
to run.
Speaker 6 (12:04):
They were very difficult to beat. Emmon Smith was a
big part.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
Of years ago. It's a different game now.
Speaker 6 (12:10):
I'm just saying I don't agree with this. To take that.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I think anybody game isn't agree with that. The running
game is important. But but for a.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Couple of dudes, I can get a good running There's
a lot of great running backs out there.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
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Speaker 7 (12:42):
All happening in only one place this league Uncut. The
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Speaker 2 (12:56):
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Speaker 7 (13:00):
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get
your podcast.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Interesting story about the Saudis in their soccer league. You
know obviously live golf. They they got into golf. They
dipped their toe in that Mortan dip their toe right,
They've changed golf and now they're not now, but they're
looking at doing soccer. But it's gonna tie into the
(13:26):
NBA because Giannis once he saw this, he kind of
jumped in there and put in his two cents. So
Rob G's gonna break it down and summarize it for us.
Rob G tell us about it.
Speaker 8 (13:38):
That's right. According to multiple islets, including Front Office Sports
and CBS Sports, Soccer Start Killing and Babe has been
offered a one year, one point one billion dollar package
by the Saudi club Al Hilal to join their club
next season. The terms of the deal are as such,
(13:59):
three hundred thirty two million American dollars as a transfer
be transfer fee to his current club PSG Paris Saint
Germain and a one year, seven hundred and seventy six
million dollars salary to play for Alkalal next season, which
prompted Jannis Undertakoumpo, who is definitely not struggling financially, but
(14:22):
to chime in on the situation on Twitter with the
photo of himself zoomed in throwing up a one finger
thumbs up sign saying al halal, you can take me.
I look like Killian and babe.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
All right, Rob, I just a simple question.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Let's say, for sake of argument, if they were to
get into basketball and they'd have to create their own league,
I guess.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
And you were.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Yannis or some other superstar player, would you consider going
over there for you know, the types of money that
they're talking about.
Speaker 5 (14:58):
Absolutely, we saw it before. We saw it in golf
just recently, and we saw it in the United States
Football League. I'm talking about the original one that had
Reggie White and Steve Young and Jim Kelly and Chris
collins Worth. Chris we would be on the radio for
the next hour talking about the good players who played
in that league. Herchel Walker was the number one pick
(15:20):
out of Georgia. He went to the New Jersey Generals
owned by Donald Trump back then, Chris, because they were
paying money and competition is good. And if I was
a player and I had an option, just like we
said with the Saudi's and the golf, Dude, what if
you're playing the same thing Tiger turned out like a
eight hundred million dollars and then got left hold in
(15:42):
the bag with nothing while everybody else cashed out. What
is the difference. I've always said this in my career, Chris.
You know I moved around a lot in the newspaper business.
It wasn't because I was terrible, maybe a little terrible, but.
Speaker 6 (15:54):
Because it was terrible.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Quite terrible, right, not terrible.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
It's okay.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
He always say, you mean to tell me you're gonna
pay me twenty five thousand dollars more to send my
story to a different phone number?
Speaker 6 (16:06):
Is that? Is that what the difference is?
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Like?
Speaker 5 (16:09):
Like, I'm just if you can make a lot more
money doing something, I just don't understand why you wouldn't.
And the other league, right, either either this league could
eclipse it, or if this league didn't last or fold
you if you're a good player, you could go back
to the other league like they did. In the USFL.
In the NFL they got cashed out and then they
(16:32):
went back to the NFL and had career. So I
would take the cash if it was significant, not nickels
and dimes, more crispy, but significant.
Speaker 6 (16:41):
It's gotta be significant.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Yeah, I mean, let's just for the sake again, for
the sake of argument, let's talk this type of money
that they're paying for in Bope, right, and requis quick
eight million dollars?
Speaker 5 (16:53):
Yeah, I don't know what what does he make? What
does he make now? You know what I mean? Like,
what's is he saying in France?
Speaker 6 (17:00):
Right?
Speaker 5 (17:00):
So what's his salary now that they're offering him seven
hundred and fifty million dollars?
Speaker 6 (17:04):
You know? And Rob G I would like look that up.
Speaker 5 (17:08):
Yeah, I'd also like to know, Rob Gi, if you
can with Reggie White or Jim Kelly or Steve Young
what they were making in the NFL at that time
and what they signed for in the USFL.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
Chris, I'm just curious.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Remember Herschel went straight from college right from Georgia to
the USO Young, did you Steve Young?
Speaker 5 (17:28):
I don't know because it was with the La Express, Yeah,
Rob Young, But I don't know.
Speaker 3 (17:34):
Go go ahead, rob you on.
Speaker 8 (17:35):
So killing and Babe again. The reason why the Saudi
clubs are offering this much is because they're trying to
make a big splash. They offered a huge deal to
Lionel Messi turned them down. They offered a huge deal
to christ down Ronaldo and he took it. So and
Bope currently is on a three year, two hundred and
twenty three million dollar contract.
Speaker 6 (17:57):
Two year what three years?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Year?
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Threep?
Speaker 8 (18:00):
Oh god, all right, but he's viewed as like the
next big thing or he has the most World Cup
goals of any person in history before the age of
twenty four.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Here's where I'm at on this route.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
If I were because we're talking about it in relation
to basketball since Gianni's brought it up. If I were
Lebron James, Let's say they start a league, right, they
got their professional Basketball League.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Maybe they got a bunch of international.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Players and some lower level but still professional NBA players.
If I'm a Lebron James who's about to turn thirty
nine next season, I would, after like another year or
two in the NBA, I would go over there. I mean,
(18:49):
when he's forty one, forty two he obviously won't be
the same player, but guess what, He'll still be Lebron James.
Speaker 3 (18:57):
He'll still be a huge name. And that goes with
Deph Curry. Not now.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
I would not do it now if they started their
own basketball league, because I do think what you and
I you're talking about writing, that's different because in sports,
like if I'm a star basketball player, I want to
play against the best and beat the best and be
(19:24):
in the best league.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
So after I've.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Done that and made my mark and my money and
now I'm on the downside. Look, I've I can't guarantee
because I'm not the one with the money, but I
would be stunned if they wouldn't offer Lebron James, at
forty one, forty two years old, a ton of money,
(19:50):
more money than he's probably ever made in the NBA.
And so I would do that. If I'm Yannis Rod
at this stage of where I'm at, I'm not I'm
not going It's not like I'm making pennies in the NBA.
So I wouldn't go over there to make a billion dollars.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Some people might think I'm crazy go over there to
make a billion dollars dominating who.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
You know.
Speaker 1 (20:15):
And again I think that money would be there later
on too. Let them build the league up.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
We're talking basketball.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Let them build the league up to where it's reputable,
where some good players and it means something to win
that and play over there, and then we can talk
if I'm in my prime like Giannis or Yokic or
somebody like that, but as an older player, after I've
done everything in the NBA and reach my pinnacle in
(20:42):
the NBA.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
Yeah, that's that's how I would look at it.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
Yeah, I mean, they want you because they're trying to
build the league, so to take washed up players that's
not a good business modeled.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
You don't think if they got Lebron James in three years.
Speaker 6 (20:57):
It would be huge.
Speaker 5 (20:59):
No, I don't think it would be the same. I
don't think it seemed to be the same player. He
wouldn't They might They might offer him. They might offer him,
uh that he gets a franchise that's not a guarantee
in the NBA or something like that.
Speaker 6 (21:11):
But I'm just talking about some star player.
Speaker 5 (21:13):
If they were to offer him, if he's making two
hundred million in the NBA and they say we'll give
you seven hundred.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
And fifty to leave the NBA. Dude, I'm taking that.
Speaker 5 (21:22):
I'm just I am because uh there have been uh
like you say, I think that you could always go
back if you're a talented player.
Speaker 6 (21:30):
So that's not the issue. Cash out.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
You're doing one year, that's that's that's a fair. You
go over here for one year, make your money, and
leading I'll just take a leak.
Speaker 5 (21:41):
That's not a bad idea. I mean I would do
it and say, let's see where it goes. It was
just like, uh, I think I think that kind of money.
This is not like you're making two hundred million and
they're going to offer you two hundred and twenty five.
You're not going anywhere Chris for that. But you're talking
about tripling or while drupling my salary. I mean, that's
(22:02):
a once in a lifetime opportunity. And I think that's
why we thought some of the golfers were crazy to
stand by and not take a piece of that pod.
Speaker 1 (22:12):
Yeah, and maybe it's because I'm not as in the
golf I feel like I get that the PGA is
a big deal and always has been, you know, for
decades and all that, But I also think in golf,
you're often competing against the course, and who you're playing
with may not be as big of a deal because
(22:34):
you're competing against the course and they were getting you know,
some bad you know, they were in a bad situation.
The PGA, sometimes you gotta pay for your own way
to the tournaments.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
And stuff like that.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
But I just if I'm a great basketball player, I'm
trying to make my mark in the NBA. I'm not
trying to make it in Saudi Arabia. Now, I like
your idea. If I went over for one year, that's
a whole different story. I'm twenty four, I go over
there one year, make my seven hundred million, and come
(23:09):
back to the NBA.
Speaker 6 (23:09):
After that.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
I don't dislike that idea. That's something I think I'd
look at doing.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
But I'm not trying to go over there like I'm
trying to ball in the NBA. And I get it,
you're right, like they I would want them to build
the league up where it's reputable.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Well, but that's what But I if just say this,
I'm just as hypothetical. Obviously, the ten eight of the
ten best players go over to that league, that's a bit.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
That's a whole different. Yeah, then you're because remember I'm
saying I want to play against and beat them, but
that's what I'm saying. But if they do that, they
were the lure.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
If they were the loure eight of the ten best
players over there, right, then you then that league is
better that I'm becomes better than the NBA.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
Like, Man, I'm gonna be honest, Row, if I were
the players, now, first of all, they.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Should try to do that. Saudi Arabia. The way they
throwing around money, they got plenty of money.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
If I'm the players too, I'm getting together and talking
amongst ourselves, right and saying, look, because Lebron Rob wants
to own an NBA team, Bill Young.
Speaker 5 (24:15):
Right, And it's no guarantee even if he's in the running, Chris,
that he's gonna get it.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
You know what I mean. There's a lot of rich
people in this country.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
It wouldn't be surprising if the NBA, as a discouragement
to guys that go over there to a league like that,
would say, if you.
Speaker 3 (24:30):
Go over there and play, we're not giving you a team.
Speaker 6 (24:33):
That would be that they would, Chris.
Speaker 5 (24:35):
They might not say it publicly, right, right, but they
would because they because they're trying to hold on. Now
you gotta remember, say it's okay, say it's the new league.
And now NBC gets involved, right the NBA on NBC
the old days, and they say, hey, we're gonna have
the games. Yeah, okay, Now now you got your television.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
How you got competition?
Speaker 5 (24:57):
How you got now you got competition. The NBA is like, oh,
wait a minute, you know what I mean? It changes
everything like that, it's dual. It's definitely doable.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
If they no, if.
Speaker 1 (25:08):
You're talking about all the best or you know, ten
of the best players going over.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
App why not.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
Like I said, I want to beat the best so
my accomplishments are recognized. I can feel like, you know,
if I'm one of the best players in the world,
I want to play with the best players and against
the best players in the world.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
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listen live.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
Steph Curry recently gave his all time starting five.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Now did you have you seen this? Rob? Do you
know what it is? Which is all time starting five?
Speaker 6 (25:49):
I saw it.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Yeah, okay, uh well one, uh let's let the uh listen,
just hear it.
Speaker 6 (25:56):
We'll let the do we have sound of Steff.
Speaker 4 (25:59):
Rob?
Speaker 6 (26:00):
No?
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Sound? Okay, so give us.
Speaker 8 (26:04):
Well you need the context first, guys. So he's doing
this promotional tour for his documentary where Rob. You know,
he mainly says it's not an underdog story them.
Speaker 6 (26:15):
Exactly.
Speaker 3 (26:15):
So in any event he.
Speaker 6 (26:17):
Did this, he was.
Speaker 8 (26:21):
Asked a similar question seven months ago. I don't know
what it was for, but they said, hey, who's your
all time starting five? You had to pick a team,
and in December his five were Shack, Magic, Jordan, Dirk
Novitzky and himself. I don't recall if there was any
pushback at that time, maybe in the middle of the
d and we just missed it completely. Well, during the
(26:44):
promo tour for his documentary, he's asked the question again
and he would think he's a flip. He must have
wised up. He's like, I'm not going to put myself
in there because that just looks bad.
Speaker 1 (26:52):
Right, terrible, right, So it was his first one was Steph, Jordan.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Bird, and Shaq. Yes, it was correct.
Speaker 8 (27:03):
So he was asked again and this time he took
himself off, so he kept the original three. Shack, Jordan
and Magic were still there. He replaced Dirk Novitzky with
Tim Duncan. And then he's listening a small forward and
he says, I'll go with Larry Bird. Actually, you know what,
scratch it that. So you think, oh, it's gonna be
Lebron James right right, No, I'm gonna put Kobe Bryant
(27:25):
at small forward wow, and take Lebron leave him completely
off the list.
Speaker 1 (27:31):
It's really interesting, Rob because he left Lebron off twice.
Speaker 5 (27:37):
But Chris, this is this is what's so surprising.
Speaker 6 (27:41):
And it's not just I gotta say this, and I
think you'll agree.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
I get Look, Lebron is a contemporary of his. I
get that.
Speaker 6 (27:52):
I do.
Speaker 5 (27:53):
I understand that. But he's the all time leading scorer
in the NBA. Like you don't respect that at all, Like, Chris,
you don't. You don't respect that at all and all
of the stuff. You know, I'm not the biggest Lebron
guy for you know, other reasons, but I but I
respect his numbers, Chris, That's why he's second on my list.
(28:16):
Everybody's always shocked when I say he said I respect
that he's played, he's put up the numbers. What what
what part I ripped it? I ripped the other players
when they didn't vote for it for the All Star Game, Chris,
the one hundred and thirty players that left them up.
That's jealousy. Seriously, Steph doesn't respect what he's put together.
(28:38):
Dirk Navinski on his first Lebron no business on that list.
Shame on that. I mean with Larry Bird, My god, Chris,
where's Larry Bird?
Speaker 1 (28:51):
If you go if you're not going with Lebron, right,
you can go with Bird and then Jay.
Speaker 3 (28:57):
There's a lot before Dirk.
Speaker 5 (28:59):
And then the to leave him off again and put Kobe, Well,
Kobe's not even the three.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
I get it. He can play it.
Speaker 5 (29:07):
Right, but you know what I mean. But I just
think it's disrespectful. I'm just gonna say it. And they
keep disrespecting Lebron. And this is where his complex comes in,
that even guys who have competed against him don't respect him.
Speaker 6 (29:22):
For whatever reason. I don't get that. I don't.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
I don't think it's a lack of respect from Steph.
I think it's this rob and you kind of touched
on it as you began speaking. If you notice both
of those lists, whichever one you want to go with,
none of them are Steph's contemporaries. He is not competing
(29:48):
against any of them.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
And I think that he is saying, Look, I'm.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
Still competing against Lebron or whoever you want to throw
Yannis or Jokic or whoever.
Speaker 3 (29:58):
And I'm not gonna give I'm not gonna put them on.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
A pedestal while I'm going against them. I don't want
Lebron James have any little inkling obviously they know how
great each other are, but I don't want him to
have any inkling of I think he's this or that
and I and I actually want to get in his
head a little bit because here's what I want him
(30:22):
to question, Wow, does Steph really think I can you know,
I'm all that, I'm that guy, and that's what I
think this is?
Speaker 3 (30:30):
Right, I don't.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
I don't think it's like a lack of respect for Lebron.
Although look they've had a his they've had a strange
relationship early on, Remember Lebron went to Davidson to watch
stuff play and they hung out a little when Steph
was a younger player at Lebron's house, and then when
they began competing against each other, you know, they had
(30:51):
some run ins during the finals. And remember the Halloween
party Lebron had where you know, Stephan Clay. It was
like and Clay cookies or something like tombstones or something
like that.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
And then of course lately.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
Lebron's been very complimentary of Steph and all that. So
they kind of had an up and down relationship.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
But I think they're cool. But I think that's what
this is, right.
Speaker 5 (31:14):
See, this is why I'm a pushback and say I disagree.
Ray Allen came out with his list. He played with
Lebron and won a championship. Lebron wasn't on his in
his top five. Ray Allen like, seriously, Chris, okay.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
But you're not. That's not pushing back on my steps. No,
you're just saying. I'm just saying, like disrespect.
Speaker 5 (31:35):
Okay, all right, Charles Barkley and those guys who didn't
play not a contemporary of theirs.
Speaker 6 (31:40):
They don't have them in their top ten. Kenny Smith in.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
The Kenny's Now I think top five.
Speaker 5 (31:47):
No, what I'm saying at the time, how was he
not in the top ten? Come on, these are NBA
guys who know the game. Chris, He's one of the
all time greats, and you just go this player after
player who go out of their way not to not
to put him in the top five or top ten.
Is mind boggling to me. And I think that's where
(32:07):
the respect lack of respect. So that's why I look
at it as more than just stuff being being a contemporary.
I get the contemporary part, but this keeps happening. Aren't
you shocked that Ray Allen, who won a championship with Lebron,
doesn't have enough. He's in the same locker when we
play with the guy competing with the guy.
Speaker 6 (32:26):
He doesn't think he's a top in his top five.
Ultimely he's scoring the NBA.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Well, I don't think it looked.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
I respect Lebron's breaking that record and that's great, but
you know, we don't. I mean, we're not just saying, oh,
just because he's all time now, No, I'm not saying
just that. But obviously, look, you and I both have
him second only to Michael Jordan. He is the second
greatest player ever in my book and in your book.
(32:54):
So I'm with you there. I think raph the disrespect
if we want to call it that, and you can,
because as you said, a lot of guys don't have
him in their top five, top three, whatever it might be,
a lot of we've talked about it before, how a
lot of players that face both of them put Kobe
(33:17):
ahead of the right. I think Rob, and again, clearly
we don't agree with this just because of where we
have Lebron rank. But honestly, Rob, I think this is
what it boils down to because most of those guys
are from an earlier era.
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Obviously STEP's not.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
But I think Rob what it comes down to, and
it's just my opinion.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
No player has told me this. I think.
Speaker 1 (33:45):
It is the fact that Lebron joined like kind of
created his own super team and then continue to do
that and even to this up to this past summer,
was you know, vocally recruiting Kyrie. I think players look
(34:08):
at that and say, I just think that that And again,
this is just my guess. I think that is where
it stems from. I don't know where else he could
come from. You can't his game. I get it, Okay,
he's not, you know, as smooth as Mike or Kobe.
He's not an awesome shooter, a great shooter, but he
(34:29):
can score with the best of him. He was a
great defender in his prime. He's a great rebounder for
his position. He's obviously a tremendous passer. Like what is
not to like about his game? And that's I think
it boils down to that, Rob, Like guys are like
(34:52):
he was stacking the deck and look at Kobe.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Kobe never did that. Kobe pushed back out.
Speaker 1 (35:00):
In fact, now Kobe did you know, talk about going
to the Clippers or the Bulls?
Speaker 3 (35:08):
Did right? He did want to.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
Shot, you know, guy, it's just unique that Lebron did that.
Durant did that obviously, Steph. You know they recruited Durant,
but it was his team, Like Wade doesn't get that
pushback because it was his team. So I don't know, Rob,
That's all I can fathom that it might be.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Do you agree with that?
Speaker 6 (35:35):
It might have a little to do with that, but
it just it's mind boggling, Like.
Speaker 3 (35:42):
What else could it be?
Speaker 6 (35:44):
Jealousy? What else it has to be? What else could
it be?
Speaker 5 (35:49):
Chris, It doesn't make sense, like either you expect the
league that he's in and what he's been able to accomplish.
You might not like the way he did his business,
but he did play hard and he.
Speaker 3 (36:01):
Did, you know, when fantastic.
Speaker 6 (36:03):
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (36:05):
Like there's there's a degree of that that's weird to me,
That's all I'm saying. And I think that them doing that,
uh and and discounting him, and that's why he's always
asking for his respect, Like that's remember that after they
won the in the bubble. Now what I want now,
y'all want y'all to give me my damn respect.
Speaker 6 (36:24):
That's what he said.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
Who says that unless you really feel like people don't
respect you,
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Rob Parker
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