May 15, 2024 • 38 mins
Chris and Rob debate whether the TV ratings (2.1 million viewers) for Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut were a good or bad indicator of what’s to come, why the NFL decided to put the New York Jets on primetime six times in the first 11 weeks of the season and take a trip out to Shekel City for Rob’s nightly bets. Plus, New York Knicks legend John Starks swings by to discuss why he believes Jalen Brunson is the best closer in the NBA right now, what makes the ‘Nova Boys’ Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart so tough, the buzz around Madison Square Garden these days and much more!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
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Yeah, it is The Odd Couple.
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(01:33):
However you may be listening, you will not be sorry.
It is a worship Wednesday, so we are all excited
to be here.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Let me welcome in my partner Rob Parker, what's up man?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
What's happening to mister Christmas Shawn? How are you?
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I am great? How you doing?
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I'm doing great on this Wednesday? All good? All quiet
on the Western front.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Yes, Rob, we got a special guest for our in
about thirty minutes, he'll be on and uh he is
a Nicks great our man, John Starks, I cover John Starks.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Yes, yeah, yeah, so that is great. Be fun to
talk to one of the.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
All time great dunks on Michael Jordan and Harace Grant
baseline Chris yep, change.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
Hand, wasn't it lefty?
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yeah yeah, change hands, change put put the ball in
his left hand, went up, dunked over Jordan.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
And has Grant.
Speaker 6 (02:33):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
If you have not seen that, please go to YouTube.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Yes, yes, well Rod, let's introduce the I Couple crew
and get this party started. The super producer Rob g
of course, is in the house on the Ones in Tuesday.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
It is not Mary.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Mary, it is our man back by popular demand, DJ
Alex Tight Shirt, ak Alex, the Vegan Alex.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Good to have you here, my guys. It's an honor
and privilege. You know.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Every time I come here, I like to boost the
ratings and I left a beautifulman in my bed to
be here, so please be appreciated.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
What what man, tam? I my man?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
I'm sorry. No, I'm excited about what you said. You
know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
But how does that make you feel, Alex that Rob
is excited over there about your your tails?
Speaker 7 (03:25):
All right?
Speaker 4 (03:26):
We also have on the updates the loquationous mister Brian
Finley and on the social media our man Elijah Sabuna.
All right, Rob, we talked about it a bit last night.
It was happening during our show. Caitlin Clark makes her
w NBA debut and the results, I mean, they lost handily.
(03:54):
She had twenty points, but it was not you know,
that's misleading. She had ten turnovers, so it wasn't, you know,
a debut to write home about. But nevertheless, twenty points,
ten turnovers in a loss in her first game.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
But the ratings, Rob, Rob g two point one million?
Is that what it was?
Speaker 3 (04:20):
That is correct?
Speaker 4 (04:21):
And that is the highest rated WNBA game, regular season
or playoff in the past twenty years, twenty three years.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
I mean, how has the WNBA been around.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Almost thirty So it's not the all time.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Yeah, but I mean twenty three years, My goodness, that's
pretty good.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
I think that's a good start.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
She's going against NBA All Star games, I mean not
all star games, playoff games, and she gets their highest
rated show in twenty three years. I think that's pretty good.
I mean, obviously she could play better. She's gonna need
to play better. But what are your thoughts on that route?
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Chris, I'm in the minority. I'm on the outside looking in.
If you're WNBA fans, WNBA hierarchy, WNBA commissioner, and you
had the dreaming goal and hopes that Caitlyn Clark was
gonna turn this league around, I got news for you
is this on her WNBA debut was a flop and
(05:31):
Kitlyn Clark, Chris Broussard is dead on arrival for the WNBA.
You could take a look at those numbers and go,
my god, it's the best ratings in twenty three years.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Here's my issue.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
It's outside the top ten of all time TV ratings,
outside the top ten for this woman. Yeah, Wnbaba, she's
outside the top ten. This is a woman who captured
all basketball fans, not just women's basketball fans. All basketball
(06:06):
fans had incredible numbers for the NCUBLEA, all those big
numbers and for her debut to be poor, shooting ten turnovers,
more turnovers than a bakery and they lost the game.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
That is a bad sign.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
They were expecting American idol ratings.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
They got old Barnaby Jones ratings. I'm talking about thing.
I'm talking about great ratings, well great ratings. Okay.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
I don't think they were expecting American idol ratings.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
They wanted.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
To show that, oh my god, the Messiah has arrived easily.
I thought Christy would be the all time ratings for
a WNBA game. It was on ESPN, it was up
against a non sexy Pacers Knicks blowout.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
That you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
The Knicks have had the highest rated games in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Okay, I'm telling you that if people had any curiosity
about her, she blew the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
It's just like I've said all the.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Time, the XFL, the USFL, the UFL, their best ratings
are Week.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
One, they only go down.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
And because she didn't play that great, Am I really
going now? If she had blew the lid off of it,
Chris and had these ridiculous numbers and the all time
leading TV ratings for the WNBA. People would be like,
oh my god, I missed it. I want to see
I gotta see this. If she has another poor game
or doesn't play that well, and as time goes on,
(07:54):
people will be like, she's not even that good. She
hadn't even been that great in a WNBA, Like there
was a missed opportunity. Chris, I'm not saying they should
have had a forty TV waiting.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Well what I am?
Speaker 1 (08:07):
I am stunned that she wasn't in the top ten
all time in the WNBA coming off the monster College numbers.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
That's what I'm shocked at.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
And even to sellout crowd, you want to parade eight
thousand people in the casino in Connecticut. Okay, they sold
it out great. It just was a flop. It was
a dud, and we needed her to have some fantastic
game to build and have people be like, oh my god,
(08:39):
I missed it. I have to see it next week
or her next game. I have to be there. It
has to be appointment television.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
NBA game stop. You know what's a dud and a flop?
That little monologue, I mean, but what what did you expect?
Really you threw out American idol. I don't think that
you meant that because Robs you what are American idols ratings?
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Chris, it's an analogy? Please?
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Well, I'm just saying you about the situation. Why don't
you just say great? Because I don't know if it's
an analogy or if that's really what you think they
were expecting. It was the highest rated WNBA game in
twenty three years. I mean, Rob Cheryl Miller did ratings
like Caitlyn Clark way back in the eighties. So should
(09:25):
we take that and say, oh, she wasn't even we've
seen this before.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
It's relative.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
All the other top games were in like the nineteen nineties,
so that's when the league was fairly new, and there
was a curiosity about the league. Those games were on
NBC and national television. They weren't on cable when you
look at the top ten ratings now, So I don't
(09:55):
know if you're are you saying it was a flop
because of how she played or because the ratings number
was so low, or do you think has she played
better the ratings number would have.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
Been, Like is it a mix or what? I'm just
trying to get what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Debut was a flop both for her the way she played,
we know.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
It and the numbers.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
The numbers she was coming off an eighteen point seven
million people watch it. I know, but two point one
ain't outside the top ten, Chris. Most TV numbers, when
you talk about the past or whatever, it's shocking that
she was outside the top ten. She went outside the
(10:42):
top ten. They've been averaging six thousand fans in the
WNBA the last decade, outside the top ten.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Nah, that's funny. Three years.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
That's a flip about that, the highest in twenty three years.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
What do you make of that?
Speaker 1 (10:57):
It ain't the highest, It ain't the gotta be in
the top ten. She's supposed to be a chick, a
game changer. She's supposed to move the needle, Chris. She
didn't move the needle enough on her day. But it
was a day, but not a debut.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
I disagree. I mean, she certainly didn't play well, So
I'm with you there.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Iowa against Iowa against Ohio State, Chris got a three
point three nine Iowa against Ohio State and she got
a two point one.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
On ESPN said yesterday, Look, the WNBA is not women's
college basketball. It's not in Cuba, especially is DOUBLEA tournament basketball.
It's just not I even said last night, it doesn't
have the same buzz Chris.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Her draft night two point four to five million creach
on the draft night, what well.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
I don't think that was because of the way she played. No,
I'm just talking about whole you hyped about that game.
I wasn't hyped about that. It was like, Okay, let's
see what she does. But am I hyped about it?
Am I turning away from the NBA playoffs to watch it? No,
you gotta look at what they were up against. They're
up against the NBA playoffs, and you said a Knicks pager.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Knicks draw.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
A blowout, a blowout game? You a blowout? Chris, you're
watching that to leon? No?
Speaker 4 (12:21):
No, you any today are different because there's always a
chance you might be able to come back. We talk
about it all the time. If you had any curiosity,
is it what it used to be?
Speaker 1 (12:33):
If the average Joe had any curiosity about Caitlin on
the next level and the WNBA. If you're not watching
her debut, I'm sorry you're not watching Game seven when
they're playing the Tulsa Shock. I don't even know is
that a real team? Is that a team anymore? Rob
g the Tulsa Shock.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
That used to be.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
I'm gonna watch Game seven listeners eight seven, seven ninety
nine on Fox Caitlyn Clark. She certainly didn't play well.
I'm with Rob on that, and she had a bad game.
She's got to play better. They need her to play
like a superstar to cash in on the ratings. But
I'm not gonna kill him for having the highest rated
show or game in twenty three years. Rob, though is
(13:17):
mad because, Hey, they used to draw more in the nineties.
Your Thoughts eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox, Ah
A Couple, Chris and Rock.
Speaker 8 (13:23):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
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I'll tell you it's a spin off of that Ben
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Speaker 4 (14:07):
Couple live from the tire rack dot com studios. If
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dot com. Rob Let me give a few little more
(14:28):
context of these numbers. Caitlin Clark's debut WNBA two point
one million highest rated WNBA game in twenty three years.
It was the highest rated game ever on cable. Remember
it was on ESPN two, not ESPN ESPN two and
(14:49):
the top ten ratings which are all more than twenty
three years ago. Of course we're all on NBC. The
last cable rating the millions was the debut sixteen years
ago of Candace Parker and Diana Tarazzi and that drew
one point zero seven million, so this was twice as
(15:12):
big as that.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
So I think overall the ratings were were good.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
You're happy with that if you're the WNBA in my book,
not in Rob's book?
Speaker 5 (15:21):
What about your book? Eight seven seven ninety nine? On
Fox you'll turn the way in?
Speaker 1 (15:25):
All right, Allen in Oregon, you're on the couple of
Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
What's up? Allen?
Speaker 7 (15:29):
Hey, guys. First of all, Ellen, for Midford, longtime listener.
Since it's a worship Wednesday, I want to give props
to you and Chris Racho.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Thank you very much. We appreciate you.
Speaker 7 (15:43):
Secondly, if you replay the tape about the Kaitlin Clark thing,
which was said, I would have to personally I kind
of agree with Rob, but being a sports sociologist and statistician,
I would have to say, Rob, you're drawing some false conclusions,
meaning basic statistical analysis, correlation doesn't necessarily mean causality of
(16:08):
the conclusions you're drawing, and Chris exposed that with his questioning.
My feeling is though that I agree, kind of agree
with you, and Chris has kind of talked about it
a little bit further with some of the findings. I
believe pressure's on. She's got the potential to do it,
but that's just a feeling. So I think that the
(16:28):
pressure is on for her, and I think he could
be something special, but that still remains to be seen.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
What I disagree with you is the leagues like this,
The ratings don't build up. It's if you're not watching
the day one, you don't come back three weeks from
now or game seven after she has another stinker, rob G,
Do you get my point?
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Rob G wasn't on board. He understands what I'm saying,
don't you.
Speaker 10 (16:54):
Yeah, I told you when we spoke on the phone earlier.
I disagree with what the general argument. However, I do
understand where you're coming from, because if we were just
gonna make and you know, semi apples to apples comparison,
you look at like the XFL. The XFL peaked week
one peak, and that because the interest was the buzz
(17:16):
was building. Hey make sure you comech out the XFL.
We're new, we're different, YadA, YadA, YadA. And then week
two came, and Week three came, and then eventually they
had to shut down the season again. Because the ratings
kept going down and down. So I don't know if
that's gonna happen with Kaitlin Clark, but if that's the comparison,
then that number two point whatever, two point one million
(17:37):
is not I think what the rest of us had
in mind.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Rob, g that number after she had eighteen point seven
for the championship. That Iowa Ohio State game was a
regular season game. Three point three nine a regular season
women's college basketball game. And this is the debut of
her in the WNBA playing professionally. I expected a bigger
(18:01):
number that that number, and and and for it to
be outside the top ten, speaks Volumes Albert in Honolulu.
You're in the odd couple of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
What's up?
Speaker 6 (18:13):
Hello, follows tak me taking my call? Yes, sir, I'm
gonna have to disagree with you there, Rob, I think
I think the numbers are a little skewed for sure,
Like like Chris is saying they are going up against
the NBA playoffs. You got NHL playoffs, And like Chris
dated as well, they put her on ESPN too, So
that's another reason why probably people that is so.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Two point four to five for a draft where she's
not even playing two point four five. That was a draft,
not even a game. What they called her name for
five seconds?
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Really well exactly.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Because she wasn't going up against anything, right, she wasn't
going up against the playoffs or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
If she if she's a if she's a changer, a
needle mover. You know how many times, uh, somebody makes
a debut in their life in the league.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
How many times does somebody make a debut in their life?
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Okay, that's the day you turn away from the unsexy
Nicks and Pacers blowout.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
I'm not buying it.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
You're given you're making an excuse that that that's what
That's what game changes, rob G.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Do they change the game?
Speaker 1 (19:23):
It can't be the same that no matter what that,
no matter what the WNBA is going to be last,
no matter what's on.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Then how does Caitlyn clock change that? You get my point?
Speaker 10 (19:34):
I do you know again, I disagree with you, but
I'm trying to see it from your point of view
so that I can follow this conversation. And I think
one thing that you are suggesting as well, because this
has been a talking point now for weeks nationally. Is
that not only is Kaitlyn Clark expected to perform well
in the WNBA, right, Like last night was she goodes
(19:55):
a change? But she had twenty points ten uneven performance? Right,
So that's number, that's that's a strike against her, I
guess if you want to call it that. But most importantly,
they're counting on her to quote unquote save the league.
They're counting on her to be the magic and bird
of women's basketball. That's gonna bring eyeballs and make it
(20:16):
viable and ensure that the women are getting paid so
they don't got to go to Russia and have a
Britney Grandard type situation. So from that perspective, I understand
what you're saying. I just think that you're being a
little too harsh on her.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
All right, Truck or Don in Boston, you're on the
couple of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
What's up, truck or Don? Very nice? Nice?
Speaker 5 (20:39):
Nice, good to hear from you, Dad.
Speaker 7 (20:41):
Thank you guys. How are you you're taking?
Speaker 8 (20:44):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (20:45):
Doing great? Thanks on my way home?
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Very nice.
Speaker 8 (20:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (20:49):
Now, Rob Chris, you know I love you guys. Right,
You're the best show on the radio and TV when
you're on too, by the way, so people don't get
to see, you know, listen to you here. They definitely
should check you out.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
On TV, but dropped.
Speaker 7 (21:03):
You know, I love you, you know, you know, I
think you're great. But did you get by that group
mixed in with your ro pro game.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Because you're getting over Oh wow, wow, edited.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
I agree though he made that chuckle down. You got
a couple extra blue pills. You can let me. I'm
just saying, gig yuh.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Know, I you know, I agree that I would have
liked to have seen better ratings, but you know, fact
to life. The rookie came in. She was the leading
scorer in the game, so she did you know she
went fifteen minutes without scoring a basket and then still
ended up leading the game and scoring.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Yeah, well that her team lost. Those were garbage points.
Don don't go that point.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
You're not scored for fifteen minutes and near score twenty
and what.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Garbage point is that the game was over. They said,
let her score a couple of times. They let her
run down to the end of the basket.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Remember truck or dying.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
If he's writing he's ripping eight seven seven ninety hand
on Fox. You have your turn away in next hour.
All right, we got the great John Starts coming up
in a moment.
Speaker 8 (22:13):
But first, Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
Foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search
FSR to listen live.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
And Rob we will.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
Be getting John Starks on the line in a few minutes, hopefully.
Former NBA All Star with the Nicks, one of the
most beloved Nicks, certainly, Rob of what the last move
would that be?
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Last forty years?
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Absolutely, he was a fan favorite. Chris, are you kidding?
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (22:46):
His you mentioned the dunk. His Twitter handle is at
Starks the dunk and rightfully so that dunk goes down
an NBA lore. Okay, all right, Rob G jump on
with me. John Starks.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Is he here?
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (23:04):
I'm here, John.
Speaker 11 (23:05):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (23:06):
What's happening?
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Good?
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Welcome to the show, my man. We appreciate you.
Speaker 11 (23:11):
Yeah, I appreciate you, guys.
Speaker 7 (23:12):
Man.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Absolutely, Chris has to step away, Rob G, our producer
will jump in with us. But let's stay here, John,
how enjoy How much are you enjoying this run by
the Knicks? I mean, I know New York is the
bas people are hungry, and you know what a basketball
town that is. How great has it been to be
at the Garden and have people so worked up about
(23:35):
the Knicks again.
Speaker 11 (23:37):
Man, it's been special.
Speaker 7 (23:38):
Man.
Speaker 11 (23:40):
Just to see the Garden light up again, specially during
this time of the year has been just incredible. People
keep popping on ninety four and that's what it feels like. Obviously,
the Rangers are playing very well and I'm ready to
close their series. We got opportunity to close our series
(24:02):
out and it's just a tightening than just to have,
you know, former players come back and be a part
of the celebration that the young guys are out there
just putting it all out on the line, and it's
great to see. That's what you want to see as
as a former player, to see these guys play the
way they play.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
And how about the love you get.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
I've seen videos of you, you know, on the escalator
and people just wanting your attention, take pictures or whatever.
I mean, how special were those you played from ninety
to ninety eight with the Knicks? How special were they
those years in your life?
Speaker 11 (24:41):
Oh? Man? It was everything This where I grew up
pretty much, you know, when I came in the league.
I was one year ago in the state CBA. Then
when I came to the Neck, it just totally changed
my life. And you know, the fans here, they just
appreciate guys go out there and just lay it out
(25:03):
there on the line, because this is New Yorkers in general.
Every day they have to go out there and struggle
to make ends meet, and so when they sit down
and watch the TV and watch the Knicks play, they
want to see guys giving it as their own, you
know what I mean. Then, I think that's what they
(25:24):
appreciated a lot about me and that team doing the
nineties is that we laid it out in the line.
We represent the New York in a very very incredible way,
and saying this team is doing the same thing. I
can't say enough about, you know way these young guys
are playing and just giving it their own. You know,
(25:47):
every single.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Game our guest as John starts with an NBA All
Star in nineteen ninety four, with the New York Knicks,
All NBA Defensive Team, second Team in nineteen ninety three,
NBA six Man of the Year year in nineteen ninety seven.
I could just go on and on and on all
the stuff undrafted.
Speaker 4 (26:05):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
One one thing I will say with the next team is, uh,
Jalen Brunson, can you just talk about, uh where his
star has gone? I mean, people, you know knew he
was played well in college and won some championships, but
I don't know if people knew he had this gear
to his game.
Speaker 11 (26:24):
Yeah. He he kind of gave you a glimpse of
it the year before he came to us when Luca
was out doing that playoffs and he had to be
the main scorer on that team, and he held it
down and end up winning that series against Utah. You've
seen it, but people probably couldn't grasp it, but Leon
(26:47):
and yeah, Leon, I thought he grasped very quickly. He
and you know it was just man, bro He's been
a blessing ass dollars I could say. He he's been
a blessing for us as an organization because he's such
a great, great person. And Rick Brunson and his wife Sandra,
(27:10):
I think Sondra, yeah, did a beautiful job of raising him.
And uh, he's just he's just special, man. He's a
true leader. I always tell people, you know, they talking
about Yeah, he won championships and in college. Yeah, but
that stuff carries open you know. You look at Michael
Jordan's you know, he won his championship in college, and
(27:32):
the confidence that you get from that means a lockey,
you know what I mean. And and uh, he just
he's just a true leader. You know. You watch him
interact with his teammates. All of them respect him a
great deal. And when you have a guy like that
that you can count on night in and night out,
it makes the game so much easier and fun to
(27:54):
play as a teammate. And he's the best closer in
the game in my book. Right now, he's improving that
and uh, we just don't go as far as he
can take us along with the rest of the group
and just gonna He's just gonna ride it.
Speaker 10 (28:10):
Hey, John Robgie sitting here for Chris Broussard. Bruns is
getting all the headlines, and rightfully so. He's been fantastic.
But right next to him, though, our his two Nova
teammates Josh Hardante de Vincenzo. Talk about the impact those
two guys have had on this team, doing a lot
of heavy lifting as the rest of the roster is
so shorthanded.
Speaker 11 (28:27):
Yeah, called him the Nova Boys. Yeah, and they come,
they come with it every single night. And uh, the
energy that they display out there on the court is
just effected very effective and plusive fees into into the
team itself. But who's ever out there have to kind
(28:50):
of match their energy and you just see it, you know. Uh,
those guys have a chemistry that it takes a while
to the but obviously they just played together in college.
They got him right away and that chemistry they fought
to this team last year and everybody has brought into
(29:12):
that side of the basketball. Play hard, compete and just
see what the chips may fall, you know what I mean.
So Josh is just he's an energizer. Bundy, I just
gave up on like telling people, man, we got to
get him at the game.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
He.
Speaker 11 (29:32):
Just he just keep going and going and going. When
you Dicky tired, all of a sudden, you look up,
he's in the mix of grabbing a rebound and pushing
it up the court and he just he just got
a motor on him. And and Dante do too. You know.
He's just been amazing to see him just take over
(29:53):
games at times when he does do it like he
did and in game number four down there, gave him
a three I think game number three where he just
went off and and and scoring big ways. And you
know he's capable of doing that. And so, uh, here's
a good mixture from from those guys. I see why
they won uh titles down there in PHILADELBA. If you
(30:17):
play that hard, you're gonna win something. And those guys,
they just go out and compete every single night.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Former All Star guard from the New York Knicks John
Starts joining us here on the eye couple. Uh, just
two more quick things I wanted to ask you, Uh
the Knicks, you know, with the injuries banged up, obviously
they look great. Uh the last game yesterday, Uh, this
is about getting to the Eastern Conference Finals? Is that
(30:43):
is that that's got to be the mission and not
to not make it there?
Speaker 3 (30:48):
They've come this far, correct, Oh.
Speaker 11 (30:51):
Yeah, there's always a mission, you know. Uh they know
and say next man up that it truly is with
this team. You know, we've been dealing with injuries all
year long and I tell people, you know, we had
to play a stretch without Og, we had to play
a stretch without Mitch, and obviously we played the stretch
(31:12):
without Julius, and this team just find a way to win,
you know what I mean. And that's the leadership coming
from the head coach and teams, but also the leadership
from Jaylen Brunton and his teammates believe in him. And
I always say, you know, even though we down Men's,
(31:35):
we got him. You got him. It makes life a
lot easier. And uh, he's proven that he can carry
a team and win win ball games for you even
when you don't you don't have everybody, and so, uh,
I think that's what the positives is with this team.
They believe in uh, their leaders so much that they
(31:57):
we just go out there and we just play hard.
He's gonna give us a chance to win alone with
the way we play as a team, we're gonna have
a chance to win.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Last thing, would you love that?
Speaker 1 (32:10):
The Knicks and you know, James Dolan and Oakley, Charles
Oakley hash out their differences. Charles Oakley gave his heart
and soul to that franchise and it's kind of disappointing
that he's not a part of you know, seeing all
the former players and you guys back, you hope that
that can rectify it.
Speaker 5 (32:28):
So like this.
Speaker 11 (32:30):
You know, that is grown man business. And I always
tell people that, you know what I mean, that's between
them and oh, you know, if it get worked out,
is going to get worked out, you know at the
end of the day. So uh, you know, everybody loves
to see go back and you know that just had
his right now, the differences that's going on between two
(32:52):
grown men, right, and you don't get involved in that
if it get worked out and get worked.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Out, all right.
Speaker 10 (32:57):
One quick question, So Johnny, you know you've been at
these games. You we see you in the front row.
It looks fantastic. We've also seen you in Philadelphia a
couple of times, mixing up with the Sixers fans. I
saw that the Knicks are going to be having a
viewing party at the Garden for Game six. Ten dollars
a ticket prost. He's going to the Garden of Dreams Foundation. Now,
are you gonna be with the Knicks fans and enjoying
the hopefully positive atmosphere, or you're gonna be in Indiana
(33:19):
and mixing up with the Pascers fans.
Speaker 11 (33:23):
I would love to be in Indiana and mix it
up with the Pace fan but I'm not sure if
that's gonna get the case, so more unlikely I'll probably
be here. So but that's a lot of fun. You know,
those those events are a lot of fun. So we
always enjoy, you know, getting the monks, our fans because
(33:43):
they give us so much joy and Cheerio zone all
the time. I'm not sure if you've been in the garden,
you know, doing these playoffs, but it's been bananas. That
one big party and to celebrate this team and the
way these guys are playing, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
All right, John Stark, we appreciate your time and energy.
Thank you, former Nicks all star gard John Stalks joining
us here on the Odd Couple.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
Al Right, John, appreciate you.
Speaker 11 (34:09):
You're welcome, all right.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
All right, coming up next on the Odd Couple, it's
a little Shekel City and we'll also talk about the
NFL schedule which was released that and much more.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
You know what you need to do, Alex.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
You need to stick and stay for a sizable plus
size income in the US of A.
Speaker 8 (34:30):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 10 (34:43):
It is the odd couple Chris Brussar and Rob Parker
here on Fox Sports Radio. This is robb Gy sitting
in for Chris Brussard, who will be here in the
top of the hour. Got some technolians going on company
live from the tire rack dot Com studios. But in
the meantime, in between time, it's time for Shekel City.
Speaker 8 (34:58):
Welcome too, Shekel City, the whole base for Rob Parkers,
Daley Dix against the Sprat.
Speaker 6 (35:10):
All.
Speaker 3 (35:10):
Right, here we go.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
The Celtics cost me the last time, Rob G when
I almost had parlay. Remember that Boston, they were up
by nine with two seconds ago. Gave up a basket
and they won by seven, So I didn't get the
hat trick.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
But here we go.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
I'm still gonna take them in Boston minus fifteen and
a half. No Donovan Mitchell, Rob G, No Donovan Mitchell.
I mean they're down three players in the close out game,
I'd get Celtic's role. They win by twenty. I'm going
best bet. I'm taking a Thunder big comeback in Dallas.
They win that game now at home Thunder minus four
(35:49):
and a half. They're their favorites. Uh you know, Luca
mister free throw didn't look good there, Rob g I'm
gonna go with the Thunder at home with a little momentum,
and we wrap it up with a Base Paul game.
The Guardians are at the Rangers. I'm gonna take the
Guardians plus one and a half runs in Arlington taking
on the Rangers. I got the Thunder minus four and
(36:11):
a half hosting the Mavericks, and I got the Celtics.
I know it's a huge number, but we saw the
Nick the blowout with the Pacers. I'm still gonna take
the Celtics minus fifteen and a half count on one
of the fifteen and a half as they host the
Calves in a close out game up in Boston. And remember,
I'm not telling you who to bet on. I'm telling
(36:34):
you who I bet on.
Speaker 10 (36:36):
I only got three words for you, America. Fade, Rob
Parker if you want to go.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
So, Rob.
Speaker 10 (36:43):
The NFL schedules are coming out here in about ten minutes.
And because the NFL can't keep a secret, we already
know a handful of the games, including that your New
York Getropolitans.
Speaker 1 (36:53):
Yes, the team I grew up with the team. I
used to leave church early for to watch kickoff.
Speaker 10 (36:58):
And now you have been to a church in twenty
eight it's been along, it's been a minute.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
But the Jets. I didn't even get married in the church.
Speaker 10 (37:04):
I believe that absolutely the Jets will become the first
team in NFL history this year to receive six primetime
games in the first eleven weeks of the season. Rob,
your thoughts are number one, they just getting that many
primetime games? And number two, why is the NFL frontloading
us with the Jets? Are they're not expecting Aaron Rodgers
and the Fellas to be in contention in December?
Speaker 3 (37:24):
Maybe?
Speaker 1 (37:25):
And obviously the anticipation what happened last year. You know,
they just think that they're going to be a ratings bonanza.
That's over the top. We've seen it in the postseason,
Rob g. You know New York has big numbers, but
their teams haven't been that great. But when they do,
like the Knicks and the playoffs and the Rangers, the
ratings are big, right.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
So they're hoping that the.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
New Aaron Rodgers, you know, if he's healthy, and the
Jets and what transpired and what people are hoping for,
maybe they'll be must see TV. So I think that's
why they're frontloading us with the Jets.
Speaker 10 (37:59):
Yeah, I would agree with you, and I think that
to your point, because the last thing we want is
to see a you know, six and ten team in
December on Sunday night football.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Right, So, if you're unsure about.
Speaker 10 (38:09):
Whether or not Ana Rodgers can return to form, if
you're unsure about whether or not the Jets can can
get back on track after the last season of the
backle it makes sense to put them on in the
first month and a half two months of the season.
That way, you can capitalize on that New York media market,
get the ratings, you know, because people are gonna want
to see Jets, Niners, Jets, Bills, Jets Texas like you
(38:30):
don't want to see it. And then if they end
up having another bad year, we don't got to worry
about watching them late in the season as they're getting
crushed by Miami or something like that.
Speaker 1 (38:40):
No doubt about it, all right, our number two, we're
gonna talk about the Joker and people need to stop
discrediting him.
Speaker 3 (38:49):
This guy is a monster. Stick instead, man, it's Joker
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcast. Be sure
to check us out live every weekday from seven pm
to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on Fox
Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd Couple
at Foxsports Radio dot com, or stream us live every
day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Let's get this putties, you're listening to Fox Sports Radio. A.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, it is The Odd Couple.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
I'm Chris Bruce Hard alongside my partner, and we are
live from the tire rack dot Com studios. We'll do
a live tire rack dot Com. We'll get you there
wherever there may be. They've got an unmatt selection, fast
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(01:07):
thousand recommend it installers. Tiereck dot Com is the way
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is the way sports talk radio should be. So keep
it locked here for the next three hours on Fox
Sports Radio, the iHeartRadio app, or Serious XM channel eighty three.
(01:33):
However you may be listening, you will not be sorry.
It is a worship Wednesday, so we are all excited
to be here.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Let me welcome in my partner Rob Parker, what's up man?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
What's happening to mister Christmas Shawn? How are you?
Speaker 5 (01:48):
I am great? How you doing?
Speaker 3 (01:50):
I'm doing great on this Wednesday? All good? All quiet
on the Western front.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
Yes, Rob, we got a special guest for our in
about thirty minutes, he'll be on and uh he is
a Nicks great our man, John Starks, I cover John Starks.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Yes, yeah, yeah, so that is great. Be fun to
talk to one of the.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
All time great dunks on Michael Jordan and Harace Grant
baseline Chris yep, change.
Speaker 5 (02:23):
Hand, wasn't it lefty?
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Yeah yeah, change hands, change put put the ball in
his left hand, went up, dunked over Jordan.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
And has Grant.
Speaker 6 (02:33):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
If you have not seen that, please go to YouTube.
Speaker 4 (02:37):
Yes, yes, well Rod, let's introduce the I Couple crew
and get this party started. The super producer Rob g
of course, is in the house on the Ones in Tuesday.
Speaker 5 (02:50):
It is not Mary.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Mary, it is our man back by popular demand, DJ
Alex Tight Shirt, ak Alex, the Vegan Alex.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Good to have you here, my guys. It's an honor
and privilege. You know.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Every time I come here, I like to boost the
ratings and I left a beautifulman in my bed to
be here, so please be appreciated.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
What what man, tam? I my man?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
I'm sorry. No, I'm excited about what you said. You
know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
But how does that make you feel, Alex that Rob
is excited over there about your your tails?
Speaker 7 (03:25):
All right?
Speaker 4 (03:26):
We also have on the updates the loquationous mister Brian
Finley and on the social media our man Elijah Sabuna.
All right, Rob, we talked about it a bit last night.
It was happening during our show. Caitlin Clark makes her
w NBA debut and the results, I mean, they lost handily.
(03:54):
She had twenty points, but it was not you know,
that's misleading. She had ten turnovers, so it wasn't, you know,
a debut to write home about. But nevertheless, twenty points,
ten turnovers in a loss in her first game.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
But the ratings, Rob, Rob g two point one million?
Is that what it was?
Speaker 3 (04:20):
That is correct?
Speaker 4 (04:21):
And that is the highest rated WNBA game, regular season
or playoff in the past twenty years, twenty three years.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
I mean, how has the WNBA been around.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Almost thirty So it's not the all time.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Yeah, but I mean twenty three years, My goodness, that's
pretty good.
Speaker 5 (04:42):
I think that's a good start.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
She's going against NBA All Star games, I mean not
all star games, playoff games, and she gets their highest
rated show in twenty three years. I think that's pretty good.
I mean, obviously she could play better. She's gonna need
to play better. But what are your thoughts on that route?
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Chris, I'm in the minority. I'm on the outside looking in.
If you're WNBA fans, WNBA hierarchy, WNBA commissioner, and you
had the dreaming goal and hopes that Caitlyn Clark was
gonna turn this league around, I got news for you
is this on her WNBA debut was a flop and
(05:31):
Kitlyn Clark, Chris Broussard is dead on arrival for the WNBA.
You could take a look at those numbers and go,
my god, it's the best ratings in twenty three years.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Here's my issue.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
It's outside the top ten of all time TV ratings,
outside the top ten for this woman. Yeah, Wnbaba, she's
outside the top ten. This is a woman who captured
all basketball fans, not just women's basketball fans. All basketball
(06:06):
fans had incredible numbers for the NCUBLEA, all those big
numbers and for her debut to be poor, shooting ten turnovers,
more turnovers than a bakery and they lost the game.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
That is a bad sign.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
They were expecting American idol ratings.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
They got old Barnaby Jones ratings. I'm talking about thing.
I'm talking about great ratings, well great ratings. Okay.
Speaker 5 (06:44):
I don't think they were expecting American idol ratings.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
They wanted.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
To show that, oh my god, the Messiah has arrived easily.
I thought Christy would be the all time ratings for
a WNBA game. It was on ESPN, it was up
against a non sexy Pacers Knicks blowout.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
That you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
The Knicks have had the highest rated games in the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Okay, I'm telling you that if people had any curiosity
about her, she blew the opportunity.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
It's just like I've said all the.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Time, the XFL, the USFL, the UFL, their best ratings
are Week.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
One, they only go down.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
And because she didn't play that great, Am I really
going now? If she had blew the lid off of it,
Chris and had these ridiculous numbers and the all time
leading TV ratings for the WNBA. People would be like,
oh my god, I missed it. I want to see
I gotta see this. If she has another poor game
or doesn't play that well, and as time goes on,
(07:54):
people will be like, she's not even that good. She
hadn't even been that great in a WNBA, Like there
was a missed opportunity. Chris, I'm not saying they should
have had a forty TV waiting.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Well what I am?
Speaker 1 (08:07):
I am stunned that she wasn't in the top ten
all time in the WNBA coming off the monster College numbers.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
That's what I'm shocked at.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
And even to sellout crowd, you want to parade eight
thousand people in the casino in Connecticut. Okay, they sold
it out great. It just was a flop. It was
a dud, and we needed her to have some fantastic
game to build and have people be like, oh my god,
(08:39):
I missed it. I have to see it next week
or her next game. I have to be there. It
has to be appointment television.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
NBA game stop. You know what's a dud and a flop?
That little monologue, I mean, but what what did you expect?
Really you threw out American idol. I don't think that
you meant that because Robs you what are American idols ratings?
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Chris, it's an analogy? Please?
Speaker 4 (09:03):
Well, I'm just saying you about the situation. Why don't
you just say great? Because I don't know if it's
an analogy or if that's really what you think they
were expecting. It was the highest rated WNBA game in
twenty three years. I mean, Rob Cheryl Miller did ratings
like Caitlyn Clark way back in the eighties. So should
(09:25):
we take that and say, oh, she wasn't even we've
seen this before.
Speaker 5 (09:30):
It's relative.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
All the other top games were in like the nineteen nineties,
so that's when the league was fairly new, and there
was a curiosity about the league. Those games were on
NBC and national television. They weren't on cable when you
look at the top ten ratings now, So I don't
(09:55):
know if you're are you saying it was a flop
because of how she played or because the ratings number
was so low, or do you think has she played
better the ratings number would have.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
Been, Like is it a mix or what? I'm just
trying to get what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Debut was a flop both for her the way she played,
we know.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
It and the numbers.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
The numbers she was coming off an eighteen point seven
million people watch it. I know, but two point one
ain't outside the top ten, Chris. Most TV numbers, when
you talk about the past or whatever, it's shocking that
she was outside the top ten. She went outside the
(10:42):
top ten. They've been averaging six thousand fans in the
WNBA the last decade, outside the top ten.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Nah, that's funny. Three years.
Speaker 4 (10:53):
That's a flip about that, the highest in twenty three years.
Speaker 5 (10:55):
What do you make of that?
Speaker 1 (10:57):
It ain't the highest, It ain't the gotta be in
the top ten. She's supposed to be a chick, a
game changer. She's supposed to move the needle, Chris. She
didn't move the needle enough on her day. But it
was a day, but not a debut.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
I disagree. I mean, she certainly didn't play well, So
I'm with you there.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
Iowa against Iowa against Ohio State, Chris got a three
point three nine Iowa against Ohio State and she got
a two point one.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
On ESPN said yesterday, Look, the WNBA is not women's
college basketball. It's not in Cuba, especially is DOUBLEA tournament basketball.
It's just not I even said last night, it doesn't
have the same buzz Chris.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
Her draft night two point four to five million creach
on the draft night, what well.
Speaker 4 (11:48):
I don't think that was because of the way she played. No,
I'm just talking about whole you hyped about that game.
I wasn't hyped about that. It was like, Okay, let's
see what she does. But am I hyped about it?
Am I turning away from the NBA playoffs to watch it? No,
you gotta look at what they were up against. They're
up against the NBA playoffs, and you said a Knicks pager.
Speaker 5 (12:11):
Knicks draw.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
A blowout, a blowout game? You a blowout? Chris, you're
watching that to leon? No?
Speaker 4 (12:21):
No, you any today are different because there's always a
chance you might be able to come back. We talk
about it all the time. If you had any curiosity,
is it what it used to be?
Speaker 1 (12:33):
If the average Joe had any curiosity about Caitlin on
the next level and the WNBA. If you're not watching
her debut, I'm sorry you're not watching Game seven when
they're playing the Tulsa Shock. I don't even know is
that a real team? Is that a team anymore? Rob
g the Tulsa Shock.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
That used to be.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
I'm gonna watch Game seven listeners eight seven, seven ninety
nine on Fox Caitlyn Clark. She certainly didn't play well.
I'm with Rob on that, and she had a bad game.
She's got to play better. They need her to play
like a superstar to cash in on the ratings. But
I'm not gonna kill him for having the highest rated
show or game in twenty three years. Rob, though is
(13:17):
mad because, Hey, they used to draw more in the nineties.
Your Thoughts eight seven, seven ninety nine on Fox, Ah
A Couple, Chris and Rock.
Speaker 8 (13:23):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 9 (13:34):
Hey, it's Ben, host of The Fifth Hour with Ben
Maller along with my trustee sidekick David Gaskon, with mean
a lot to have you join us on our weekly
auditory journey.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
You're asking, what in God's name is the Fifth Hour?
Speaker 9 (13:46):
I'll tell you it's a spin off of that Ben
Maler show, a cult hit overnights on FSR.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Why should you listen? Picture if you will a world will?
Speaker 9 (13:54):
We chat with captains of industry in media, sports and
more every week explore some amazing facts about you, nature
and more. Listen to the Fifth Hour with Ben Maller
or the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get
your podcast.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
Couple live from the tire rack dot com studios. If
you're ready for a new job, let Express Employment Professionals help.
Express is hiring for jobs in a variety of industries
and job seekers never pay a fee at Express. Check
out expresspros dot com to find your location. That's expresspros
dot com. Rob Let me give a few little more
(14:28):
context of these numbers. Caitlin Clark's debut WNBA two point
one million highest rated WNBA game in twenty three years.
It was the highest rated game ever on cable. Remember
it was on ESPN two, not ESPN ESPN two and
(14:49):
the top ten ratings which are all more than twenty
three years ago. Of course we're all on NBC. The
last cable rating the millions was the debut sixteen years
ago of Candace Parker and Diana Tarazzi and that drew
one point zero seven million, so this was twice as
(15:12):
big as that.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
So I think overall the ratings were were good.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
You're happy with that if you're the WNBA in my book,
not in Rob's book?
Speaker 5 (15:21):
What about your book? Eight seven seven ninety nine? On
Fox you'll turn the way in?
Speaker 1 (15:25):
All right, Allen in Oregon, you're on the couple of
Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
What's up? Allen?
Speaker 7 (15:29):
Hey, guys. First of all, Ellen, for Midford, longtime listener.
Since it's a worship Wednesday, I want to give props
to you and Chris Racho.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Thank you very much. We appreciate you.
Speaker 7 (15:43):
Secondly, if you replay the tape about the Kaitlin Clark thing,
which was said, I would have to personally I kind
of agree with Rob, but being a sports sociologist and statistician,
I would have to say, Rob, you're drawing some false conclusions,
meaning basic statistical analysis, correlation doesn't necessarily mean causality of
(16:08):
the conclusions you're drawing, and Chris exposed that with his questioning.
My feeling is though that I agree, kind of agree
with you, and Chris has kind of talked about it
a little bit further with some of the findings. I
believe pressure's on. She's got the potential to do it,
but that's just a feeling. So I think that the
(16:28):
pressure is on for her, and I think he could
be something special, but that still remains to be seen.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
What I disagree with you is the leagues like this,
The ratings don't build up. It's if you're not watching
the day one, you don't come back three weeks from
now or game seven after she has another stinker, rob G,
Do you get my point?
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Rob G wasn't on board. He understands what I'm saying,
don't you.
Speaker 10 (16:54):
Yeah, I told you when we spoke on the phone earlier.
I disagree with what the general argument. However, I do
understand where you're coming from, because if we were just
gonna make and you know, semi apples to apples comparison,
you look at like the XFL. The XFL peaked week
one peak, and that because the interest was the buzz
(17:16):
was building. Hey make sure you comech out the XFL.
We're new, we're different, YadA, YadA, YadA. And then week
two came, and Week three came, and then eventually they
had to shut down the season again. Because the ratings
kept going down and down. So I don't know if
that's gonna happen with Kaitlin Clark, but if that's the comparison,
then that number two point whatever, two point one million
(17:37):
is not I think what the rest of us had
in mind.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Rob, g that number after she had eighteen point seven
for the championship. That Iowa Ohio State game was a
regular season game. Three point three nine a regular season
women's college basketball game. And this is the debut of
her in the WNBA playing professionally. I expected a bigger
(18:01):
number that that number, and and and for it to
be outside the top ten, speaks Volumes Albert in Honolulu.
You're in the odd couple of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
What's up?
Speaker 6 (18:13):
Hello, follows tak me taking my call? Yes, sir, I'm
gonna have to disagree with you there, Rob, I think
I think the numbers are a little skewed for sure,
Like like Chris is saying they are going up against
the NBA playoffs. You got NHL playoffs, And like Chris
dated as well, they put her on ESPN too, So
that's another reason why probably people that is so.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Two point four to five for a draft where she's
not even playing two point four five. That was a draft,
not even a game. What they called her name for
five seconds?
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Really well exactly.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Because she wasn't going up against anything, right, she wasn't
going up against the playoffs or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
If she if she's a if she's a changer, a
needle mover. You know how many times, uh, somebody makes
a debut in their life in the league.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
How many times does somebody make a debut in their life?
Speaker 1 (19:07):
Okay, that's the day you turn away from the unsexy
Nicks and Pacers blowout.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
I'm not buying it.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
You're given you're making an excuse that that that's what
That's what game changes, rob G.
Speaker 3 (19:21):
Do they change the game?
Speaker 1 (19:23):
It can't be the same that no matter what that,
no matter what the WNBA is going to be last,
no matter what's on.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
Then how does Caitlyn clock change that? You get my point?
Speaker 10 (19:34):
I do you know again, I disagree with you, but
I'm trying to see it from your point of view
so that I can follow this conversation. And I think
one thing that you are suggesting as well, because this
has been a talking point now for weeks nationally. Is
that not only is Kaitlyn Clark expected to perform well
in the WNBA, right, Like last night was she goodes
(19:55):
a change? But she had twenty points ten uneven performance? Right,
So that's number, that's that's a strike against her, I
guess if you want to call it that. But most importantly,
they're counting on her to quote unquote save the league.
They're counting on her to be the magic and bird
of women's basketball. That's gonna bring eyeballs and make it
(20:16):
viable and ensure that the women are getting paid so
they don't got to go to Russia and have a
Britney Grandard type situation. So from that perspective, I understand
what you're saying. I just think that you're being a
little too harsh on her.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
All right, Truck or Don in Boston, you're on the
couple of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
What's up, truck or Don? Very nice? Nice?
Speaker 5 (20:39):
Nice, good to hear from you, Dad.
Speaker 7 (20:41):
Thank you guys. How are you you're taking?
Speaker 8 (20:44):
Oh?
Speaker 7 (20:45):
Doing great? Thanks on my way home?
Speaker 3 (20:47):
Very nice.
Speaker 8 (20:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (20:49):
Now, Rob Chris, you know I love you guys. Right,
You're the best show on the radio and TV when
you're on too, by the way, so people don't get
to see, you know, listen to you here. They definitely
should check you out.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
On TV, but dropped.
Speaker 7 (21:03):
You know, I love you, you know, you know, I
think you're great. But did you get by that group
mixed in with your ro pro game.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Because you're getting over Oh wow, wow, edited.
Speaker 5 (21:16):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
I agree though he made that chuckle down. You got
a couple extra blue pills. You can let me. I'm
just saying, gig yuh.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Know, I you know, I agree that I would have
liked to have seen better ratings, but you know, fact
to life. The rookie came in. She was the leading
scorer in the game, so she did you know she
went fifteen minutes without scoring a basket and then still
ended up leading the game and scoring.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Yeah, well that her team lost. Those were garbage points.
Don don't go that point.
Speaker 5 (21:51):
You're not scored for fifteen minutes and near score twenty
and what.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Garbage point is that the game was over. They said,
let her score a couple of times. They let her
run down to the end of the basket.
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Remember truck or dying.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
If he's writing he's ripping eight seven seven ninety hand
on Fox. You have your turn away in next hour.
All right, we got the great John Starts coming up
in a moment.
Speaker 8 (22:13):
But first, Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk
lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at
Foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search
FSR to listen live.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
And Rob we will.
Speaker 4 (22:27):
Be getting John Starks on the line in a few minutes, hopefully.
Former NBA All Star with the Nicks, one of the
most beloved Nicks, certainly, Rob of what the last move
would that be?
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Last forty years?
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Absolutely, he was a fan favorite. Chris, are you kidding?
Speaker 1 (22:44):
Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (22:46):
His you mentioned the dunk. His Twitter handle is at
Starks the dunk and rightfully so that dunk goes down
an NBA lore. Okay, all right, Rob G jump on
with me. John Starks.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Is he here?
Speaker 5 (23:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 7 (23:04):
I'm here, John.
Speaker 11 (23:05):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (23:06):
What's happening?
Speaker 4 (23:07):
Good?
Speaker 3 (23:08):
Welcome to the show, my man. We appreciate you.
Speaker 11 (23:11):
Yeah, I appreciate you, guys.
Speaker 7 (23:12):
Man.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Absolutely, Chris has to step away, Rob G, our producer
will jump in with us. But let's stay here, John,
how enjoy How much are you enjoying this run by
the Knicks? I mean, I know New York is the
bas people are hungry, and you know what a basketball
town that is. How great has it been to be
at the Garden and have people so worked up about
(23:35):
the Knicks again.
Speaker 11 (23:37):
Man, it's been special.
Speaker 7 (23:38):
Man.
Speaker 11 (23:40):
Just to see the Garden light up again, specially during
this time of the year has been just incredible. People
keep popping on ninety four and that's what it feels like. Obviously,
the Rangers are playing very well and I'm ready to
close their series. We got opportunity to close our series
(24:02):
out and it's just a tightening than just to have,
you know, former players come back and be a part
of the celebration that the young guys are out there
just putting it all out on the line, and it's
great to see. That's what you want to see as
as a former player, to see these guys play the
way they play.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
And how about the love you get.
Speaker 1 (24:26):
I've seen videos of you, you know, on the escalator
and people just wanting your attention, take pictures or whatever.
I mean, how special were those you played from ninety
to ninety eight with the Knicks? How special were they
those years in your life?
Speaker 11 (24:41):
Oh? Man? It was everything This where I grew up
pretty much, you know, when I came in the league.
I was one year ago in the state CBA. Then
when I came to the Neck, it just totally changed
my life. And you know, the fans here, they just
appreciate guys go out there and just lay it out
(25:03):
there on the line, because this is New Yorkers in general.
Every day they have to go out there and struggle
to make ends meet, and so when they sit down
and watch the TV and watch the Knicks play, they
want to see guys giving it as their own, you
know what I mean. Then, I think that's what they
(25:24):
appreciated a lot about me and that team doing the
nineties is that we laid it out in the line.
We represent the New York in a very very incredible way,
and saying this team is doing the same thing. I
can't say enough about, you know way these young guys
are playing and just giving it their own. You know,
(25:47):
every single.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Game our guest as John starts with an NBA All
Star in nineteen ninety four, with the New York Knicks,
All NBA Defensive Team, second Team in nineteen ninety three,
NBA six Man of the Year year in nineteen ninety seven.
I could just go on and on and on all
the stuff undrafted.
Speaker 4 (26:05):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (26:06):
One one thing I will say with the next team is, uh,
Jalen Brunson, can you just talk about, uh where his
star has gone? I mean, people, you know knew he
was played well in college and won some championships, but
I don't know if people knew he had this gear
to his game.
Speaker 11 (26:24):
Yeah. He he kind of gave you a glimpse of
it the year before he came to us when Luca
was out doing that playoffs and he had to be
the main scorer on that team, and he held it
down and end up winning that series against Utah. You've
seen it, but people probably couldn't grasp it, but Leon
(26:47):
and yeah, Leon, I thought he grasped very quickly. He
and you know it was just man, bro He's been
a blessing ass dollars I could say. He he's been
a blessing for us as an organization because he's such
a great, great person. And Rick Brunson and his wife Sandra,
(27:10):
I think Sondra, yeah, did a beautiful job of raising him.
And uh, he's just he's just special, man. He's a
true leader. I always tell people, you know, they talking
about Yeah, he won championships and in college. Yeah, but
that stuff carries open you know. You look at Michael
Jordan's you know, he won his championship in college, and
(27:32):
the confidence that you get from that means a lockey,
you know what I mean. And and uh, he just
he's just a true leader. You know. You watch him
interact with his teammates. All of them respect him a
great deal. And when you have a guy like that
that you can count on night in and night out,
it makes the game so much easier and fun to
(27:54):
play as a teammate. And he's the best closer in
the game in my book. Right now, he's improving that
and uh, we just don't go as far as he
can take us along with the rest of the group
and just gonna He's just gonna ride it.
Speaker 10 (28:10):
Hey, John Robgie sitting here for Chris Broussard. Bruns is
getting all the headlines, and rightfully so. He's been fantastic.
But right next to him, though, our his two Nova
teammates Josh Hardante de Vincenzo. Talk about the impact those
two guys have had on this team, doing a lot
of heavy lifting as the rest of the roster is
so shorthanded.
Speaker 11 (28:27):
Yeah, called him the Nova Boys. Yeah, and they come,
they come with it every single night. And uh, the
energy that they display out there on the court is
just effected very effective and plusive fees into into the
team itself. But who's ever out there have to kind
(28:50):
of match their energy and you just see it, you know. Uh,
those guys have a chemistry that it takes a while
to the but obviously they just played together in college.
They got him right away and that chemistry they fought
to this team last year and everybody has brought into
(29:12):
that side of the basketball. Play hard, compete and just
see what the chips may fall, you know what I mean.
So Josh is just he's an energizer. Bundy, I just
gave up on like telling people, man, we got to
get him at the game.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
He.
Speaker 11 (29:32):
Just he just keep going and going and going. When
you Dicky tired, all of a sudden, you look up,
he's in the mix of grabbing a rebound and pushing
it up the court and he just he just got
a motor on him. And and Dante do too. You know.
He's just been amazing to see him just take over
(29:53):
games at times when he does do it like he
did and in game number four down there, gave him
a three I think game number three where he just
went off and and and scoring big ways. And you
know he's capable of doing that. And so, uh, here's
a good mixture from from those guys. I see why
they won uh titles down there in PHILADELBA. If you
(30:17):
play that hard, you're gonna win something. And those guys,
they just go out and compete every single night.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
Former All Star guard from the New York Knicks John
Starts joining us here on the eye couple. Uh, just
two more quick things I wanted to ask you, Uh
the Knicks, you know, with the injuries banged up, obviously
they look great. Uh the last game yesterday, Uh, this
is about getting to the Eastern Conference Finals? Is that
(30:43):
is that that's got to be the mission and not
to not make it there?
Speaker 3 (30:48):
They've come this far, correct, Oh.
Speaker 11 (30:51):
Yeah, there's always a mission, you know. Uh they know
and say next man up that it truly is with
this team. You know, we've been dealing with injuries all
year long and I tell people, you know, we had
to play a stretch without Og, we had to play
a stretch without Mitch, and obviously we played the stretch
(31:12):
without Julius, and this team just find a way to win,
you know what I mean. And that's the leadership coming
from the head coach and teams, but also the leadership
from Jaylen Brunton and his teammates believe in him. And
I always say, you know, even though we down Men's,
(31:35):
we got him. You got him. It makes life a
lot easier. And uh, he's proven that he can carry
a team and win win ball games for you even
when you don't you don't have everybody, and so, uh,
I think that's what the positives is with this team.
They believe in uh, their leaders so much that they
(31:57):
we just go out there and we just play hard.
He's gonna give us a chance to win alone with
the way we play as a team, we're gonna have
a chance to win.
Speaker 3 (32:08):
Last thing, would you love that?
Speaker 1 (32:10):
The Knicks and you know, James Dolan and Oakley, Charles
Oakley hash out their differences. Charles Oakley gave his heart
and soul to that franchise and it's kind of disappointing
that he's not a part of you know, seeing all
the former players and you guys back, you hope that
that can rectify it.
Speaker 5 (32:28):
So like this.
Speaker 11 (32:30):
You know, that is grown man business. And I always
tell people that, you know what I mean, that's between
them and oh, you know, if it get worked out,
is going to get worked out, you know at the
end of the day. So uh, you know, everybody loves
to see go back and you know that just had
his right now, the differences that's going on between two
(32:52):
grown men, right, and you don't get involved in that
if it get worked out and get worked.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Out, all right.
Speaker 10 (32:57):
One quick question, So Johnny, you know you've been at
these games. You we see you in the front row.
It looks fantastic. We've also seen you in Philadelphia a
couple of times, mixing up with the Sixers fans. I
saw that the Knicks are going to be having a
viewing party at the Garden for Game six. Ten dollars
a ticket prost. He's going to the Garden of Dreams Foundation. Now,
are you gonna be with the Knicks fans and enjoying
the hopefully positive atmosphere, or you're gonna be in Indiana
(33:19):
and mixing up with the Pascers fans.
Speaker 11 (33:23):
I would love to be in Indiana and mix it
up with the Pace fan but I'm not sure if
that's gonna get the case, so more unlikely I'll probably
be here. So but that's a lot of fun. You know,
those those events are a lot of fun. So we
always enjoy, you know, getting the monks, our fans because
(33:43):
they give us so much joy and Cheerio zone all
the time. I'm not sure if you've been in the garden,
you know, doing these playoffs, but it's been bananas. That
one big party and to celebrate this team and the
way these guys are playing, no doubt.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
All right, John Stark, we appreciate your time and energy.
Thank you, former Nicks all star gard John Stalks joining
us here on the Odd Couple.
Speaker 3 (34:08):
Al Right, John, appreciate you.
Speaker 11 (34:09):
You're welcome, all right.
Speaker 1 (34:12):
All right, coming up next on the Odd Couple, it's
a little Shekel City and we'll also talk about the
NFL schedule which was released that and much more.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
You know what you need to do, Alex.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
You need to stick and stay for a sizable plus
size income in the US of A.
Speaker 8 (34:30):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 10 (34:43):
It is the odd couple Chris Brussar and Rob Parker
here on Fox Sports Radio. This is robb Gy sitting
in for Chris Brussard, who will be here in the
top of the hour. Got some technolians going on company
live from the tire rack dot Com studios. But in
the meantime, in between time, it's time for Shekel City.
Speaker 8 (34:58):
Welcome too, Shekel City, the whole base for Rob Parkers,
Daley Dix against the Sprat.
Speaker 6 (35:10):
All.
Speaker 3 (35:10):
Right, here we go.
Speaker 1 (35:11):
The Celtics cost me the last time, Rob G when
I almost had parlay. Remember that Boston, they were up
by nine with two seconds ago. Gave up a basket
and they won by seven, So I didn't get the
hat trick.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
But here we go.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
I'm still gonna take them in Boston minus fifteen and
a half. No Donovan Mitchell, Rob G, No Donovan Mitchell.
I mean they're down three players in the close out game,
I'd get Celtic's role. They win by twenty. I'm going
best bet. I'm taking a Thunder big comeback in Dallas.
They win that game now at home Thunder minus four
(35:49):
and a half. They're their favorites. Uh you know, Luca
mister free throw didn't look good there, Rob g I'm
gonna go with the Thunder at home with a little momentum,
and we wrap it up with a Base Paul game.
The Guardians are at the Rangers. I'm gonna take the
Guardians plus one and a half runs in Arlington taking
on the Rangers. I got the Thunder minus four and
(36:11):
a half hosting the Mavericks, and I got the Celtics.
I know it's a huge number, but we saw the
Nick the blowout with the Pacers. I'm still gonna take
the Celtics minus fifteen and a half count on one
of the fifteen and a half as they host the
Calves in a close out game up in Boston. And remember,
I'm not telling you who to bet on. I'm telling
(36:34):
you who I bet on.
Speaker 10 (36:36):
I only got three words for you, America. Fade, Rob
Parker if you want to go.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
So, Rob.
Speaker 10 (36:43):
The NFL schedules are coming out here in about ten minutes.
And because the NFL can't keep a secret, we already
know a handful of the games, including that your New
York Getropolitans.
Speaker 1 (36:53):
Yes, the team I grew up with the team. I
used to leave church early for to watch kickoff.
Speaker 10 (36:58):
And now you have been to a church in twenty
eight it's been along, it's been a minute.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
But the Jets. I didn't even get married in the church.
Speaker 10 (37:04):
I believe that absolutely the Jets will become the first
team in NFL history this year to receive six primetime
games in the first eleven weeks of the season. Rob,
your thoughts are number one, they just getting that many
primetime games? And number two, why is the NFL frontloading
us with the Jets? Are they're not expecting Aaron Rodgers
and the Fellas to be in contention in December?
Speaker 3 (37:24):
Maybe?
Speaker 1 (37:25):
And obviously the anticipation what happened last year. You know,
they just think that they're going to be a ratings bonanza.
That's over the top. We've seen it in the postseason,
Rob g. You know New York has big numbers, but
their teams haven't been that great. But when they do,
like the Knicks and the playoffs and the Rangers, the
ratings are big, right.
Speaker 3 (37:44):
So they're hoping that the.
Speaker 1 (37:46):
New Aaron Rodgers, you know, if he's healthy, and the
Jets and what transpired and what people are hoping for,
maybe they'll be must see TV. So I think that's
why they're frontloading us with the Jets.
Speaker 10 (37:59):
Yeah, I would agree with you, and I think that
to your point, because the last thing we want is
to see a you know, six and ten team in
December on Sunday night football.
Speaker 3 (38:08):
Right, So, if you're unsure about.
Speaker 10 (38:09):
Whether or not Ana Rodgers can return to form, if
you're unsure about whether or not the Jets can can
get back on track after the last season of the
backle it makes sense to put them on in the
first month and a half two months of the season.
That way, you can capitalize on that New York media market,
get the ratings, you know, because people are gonna want
to see Jets, Niners, Jets, Bills, Jets Texas like you
(38:30):
don't want to see it. And then if they end
up having another bad year, we don't got to worry
about watching them late in the season as they're getting
crushed by Miami or something like that.
Speaker 1 (38:40):
No doubt about it, all right, our number two, we're
gonna talk about the Joker and people need to stop
discrediting him.
Speaker 3 (38:49):
This guy is a monster. Stick instead, man, it's Joker
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