Tracy Sandler & Nikki Kay Discuss the Keys to the Eastern Conference Finals, Judge vs. Ohtani & More!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Hello and welcome to Fox Sports Saturday. I am here
with Nikki Ka so much to discuss today, Nikki, we
got a jam packed show for you all to do.
We have a jam pack show. NICKI and I were
both at Dodger Stadium for at last night, for what
we would consider a fantastic game. Some of you may
disagree with us, but we are going to get to

(00:25):
that a little bit because New York Sports has a
lot going on this weekend, a lot, and we are
going to start the NBA Eastern Conference Finals game six tonight. Nikki,
do we think we're going to seven? I mean, I
think if the Pope and Kylie Jenner have anything to
say about it, yes we are. And Timothy Shalah and
Timothy shalla May. It's like kind of it's so bizarre

(00:45):
to me that this is like my favorite story in
sports right now. Kylie Jenner and Timothy Shallamey at NIX Games.
They're so fun.

Speaker 3 (00:50):
The aura those two have is incomparable. It is It's
it's captivating, honest.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
This is captivating and incomparable.

Speaker 3 (00:59):
If anything, give us one more game of this series
so we can get more court side visuals of them.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, the Knicks are undefeated when Kylie's in the house,
so that may not be the only reason they were
able to force a Game six. Though also a really
good defensive performance by the Knicks, probably their best of
the series. It's gonna be a good game site. Interestingly,
both of these teams six and two on the road
in the playoffs, So home court advantage I'm so used
to feels home court advantage seems like a big deal,

(01:27):
but not the only deal. What do you think is
gonna happen here?

Speaker 3 (01:30):
I'm thinking because I'm wanting a Game seven. I really
hope we get more of this series, and I think
it's interesting if you wonder how the Knicks can replicate
that defensive effort.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
That they had in Game five. The problem being, Halliburton had.

Speaker 3 (01:47):
A terrible Game five right after we were waxing poetic.
We were given all the mount Rushmoores to tyrese Halliburton's
Game four performance. He gave us a dud in Game five,
and if I were a bet and girl, I would
think that he's going to bounce back fabulously in Game six.

Speaker 2 (02:08):
I would also think that as well. That's that's a
very fair point. Now here's the question chicken or the egg?
Did he have a bad game five because or game four?
Because you know game five because he had a bad
Game five? Yeah, Or was the Knicks defense just that good?
It's my chicken or the egg?

Speaker 3 (02:26):
Right, And that's where and that's where his greatness comes
into question, right because of all all of those hot
takes that we were throwing about his performance in game four.
You know, Tyrese Haliburton has arrived, he's not overrated. And
then is is he going to bounce back?

Speaker 2 (02:42):
Or is the next defense really going to take a stand?

Speaker 3 (02:45):
And I have to say I have been increasingly intrigued
by what Tibbs is doing with his lineups, because he
notoriously does not do anything with his lineups, and you know,
by by being forced to, he's adapting.

Speaker 2 (03:01):
And I'm interested to talk.

Speaker 3 (03:03):
To people later in the show who know Tibbs is
you know, philosophy intimately, but I'm really really interested to
see what he has in his bag of tricks tonight.

Speaker 2 (03:15):
And then also Nie Smith, right.

Speaker 3 (03:16):
When you're talking about the Pacers performance too, he was
he's got one for eight just sixteen minutes, and he's
you know, the PACER's best option to defend Brenson. So
if he's off the floor because he can't contribute offensively
and Jalen goes off Jalen Brentson, that is I don't know.
I think there's a very clear path that the Knicks

(03:38):
can keep this one alive.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
I think there is a clear path as well. But
I have a question for you, because I get to
this point, for any sport this deep in the playoffs,
you are you are down to your best teams. I mean,
this is the point where the team that's kind of
been scrappy and has kept it going like that's not
the team that's going to get to the finals. Are
the Pacers just a better team than the Knicks.

Speaker 3 (04:01):
The way they're playing certainly is thrilling, and their offensive
output is you know, besides what we saw in Game
five has been the better And I think I think
when you look at the depth of that team and
the youth you if you're putting me, you know, back

(04:21):
against the wall, I will say they are the better team.
But it's been so fun watching Karl Anthony Townes having
this moment and Jalen Brunson the heroics.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
So with those two characters.

Speaker 3 (04:32):
Involved, and then you know, you look at the scrap
you're talking about, the scrappiness Josh Hart. It might be
look up in Miriam Webster the definition of scrappy and
there you find Josh Hart.

Speaker 2 (04:42):
I someone please do that. Actually, yeah, prove that to
but his name the Wikipedia page. Okay, that's fair that Yeah,
that'd be great. Look up scrappy. I mean he's got heart.
I'm sorry, I oh my god, I had to you
what I'll give it to you. Thank you.

Speaker 3 (04:55):
Honestly, if someone asked me my MBA comp, I would
say Josh Hart where it's like maybe not not fit,
is it cle an NBA, you know, specimen or like
like the outside yourself short.

Speaker 2 (05:07):
I was just thinking.

Speaker 3 (05:07):
I was like, you know what that that his style
play resonates with me where maybe not the skill, maybe
not the athleticism or those size, but you play with
heart scrappiness.

Speaker 2 (05:18):
I love that. Yeah. Not to make this about me,
of course, we've got to think. I mean, I think, listen,
if you suit up for the Knicks tonight, that entire
game becomes about you. Want to I want to say
that that Nikki next, I think that that if that
happens if you sued up for anybody tonight. I think
that this shit comes about you. Let's talk a little
bit about the possession game, because that is going to

(05:39):
be a big key to tonight. It had been pretty
even around the series. Nick's had twelve more shooting opportunities
in Game five, which was probably very much the difference
in the game, along with the defense. Am I reading
too much into that or is that a true key
to tonight's game?

Speaker 3 (05:55):
I think that's absolutely a key. I think it first
and foremost. You're talking about a PACER's offense which had
scored more than one hundred and twenty points per one
hundred possessions in eight of their last fourteen games, and
then Game five they scored ninety four points on ninety
seven possessions. So that was the Pacers' worst offensive game

(06:17):
of the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (06:18):
That's why you.

Speaker 3 (06:19):
Look at, you know, the time, the opportunities they have.
If the Knicks can keep the ball out of their hands,
you know there's something to that.

Speaker 2 (06:28):
Do we think and I know that this is not
the game plan, but I feel this is fun to
talk about. Do we think the Knicks celebrity fans are
going to travel besides, besides Timothy and Kylie, we don't know,
do we think the rest of them going to travel?
It's been kind of fun, I dare say, as a
Laker fan and Angelino, they've been kind of more fun
to watch than the Lakers celebrity fans, right right.

Speaker 3 (06:50):
I envision a private jet where Ben Stiller walking with
his arm around Timmy, Kylie at Timmy's side. You got
Spike Lee trailing behind them.

Speaker 2 (07:01):
Sounds like an episode of Vanourage and.

Speaker 3 (07:03):
Anne Hathaway's already on the PJ. Okay, and who else
am I missing?

Speaker 4 (07:09):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (07:10):
Apparently Miles Teller was sitting right next to him.

Speaker 3 (07:13):
I was dying because on the broadcast they like didn't
even acknowledge Miles Teller. It was like, there's Timothy Shalloway
and Kylie Miles is right next. I envision this celeb
Avengers crew boarding a PJ, touching down in Indy and
showing up to uh, It's Gamebridgefield House right, No, yes, yes, Cambridgefield.

(07:36):
I lose track of all these names, but yes, I
saw my answer long story short.

Speaker 2 (07:40):
Yes, what about you? Yes? Well, first of all, I
love everything you just described. Sounds like the beginning of
either an Avengers movie or a new revamp season of
Entourage that focuses solely on celebrity sports fans, which also
give us a special Yeah, if you guys want to
start that, excuse me, we'll be consulting Slash executive producers

(08:02):
on this show. We've got the TM though trademarked here. Yes,
we do this entroage just celebrity fans. I know, I
think it'd be really fun. I do think it's but
it's part of it. It's the interactive part of it.
And this is I think, you know, in football, people
got kind of annoyed with the Taylor Swift thing. I
don't really understand that. I think it's fun. I think
it brings a relatability. I think it brings a whole

(08:23):
new audience into sports. And I don't know, it's been
fun to kind of to watch all of that.

Speaker 3 (08:28):
But wait, Also, Tracy Fersall, we got to give a
huge shout out to our girl, Taylor Swift.

Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yes, we do Big day for Taylor yesterday.

Speaker 3 (08:35):
Yay For those of you who don't know, Taylor Swift
now finally owns all the rights to her Master's, her
life's entire work. Previously withheld from her from our arch
nemesis as Swifty Scooter Braun, but she was able to
buy was the final two albums I write.

Speaker 2 (08:53):
Yeah, I'm gonna be honest with you. I'm as Swifty
who loves the songs. I'm not as swifty. That's as
up to date.

Speaker 3 (08:59):
I had to get well versed in this for news
breaking news yesterday at my nine to five. But no,
it is a it is a cool accomplishment. So sidebar aside,
side aside.

Speaker 2 (09:09):
So yeah, I have another metap question for you.

Speaker 3 (09:13):
So far, these playoffs we've kind of seen.

Speaker 2 (09:19):
I want to say, like, I don't want to say
be so dramatic with.

Speaker 3 (09:22):
New era of NBA, right because it's not like we're
getting the Golden State Warriors or I mean, I guess
the Celtics were out earlier. But as we're paying attention
to more fan bases and the Knicks are lasting longer
and you're seeing more of their you know, celeb fans
in attendance, I've.

Speaker 2 (09:43):
Had a lot more fun. Yeah, I have two Right,
it's not the same old trope.

Speaker 3 (09:48):
It's and and maybe you know it's recency bias, but
just looking at this final four, I mean obviously you've
got the small market presence with Minnesota, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City,
but just having the Knicks in the group chat, I
want I want them to stay.

Speaker 2 (10:03):
I you know I do too, And it's it's funny
because they are the Knicks and they are the New
York Kicks, but there is something about this team part
of what I think, being so long since they've been here,
but there's something about them that kind of feels like
the upstart Nicks, right and in a way that I
know because they're in New York market you wouldn't think,
but there's something about them and this I do think
this playoffs has been really fun. I have been as

(10:25):
engaged in this playoffs as I've been in a really
really long time. Right.

Speaker 3 (10:30):
And to your point, the Knicks fan base and the
Yankees fan base are two different ends of the spectrum.
Like I like the Knicks fan base, Yankees fans as
an La as an La native. I do not like
Yankees fans, but I'm I find the Knicks fan base
I don't want to say adorable, but like endearing, because

(10:53):
I feel like Knicks fans would be annoyed at you calling.

Speaker 2 (10:55):
Yeah, bring it on, bring it on.

Speaker 3 (10:58):
But and I mean, it's just because they haven't been
here in a moment, right.

Speaker 2 (11:03):
I like the bing bong. I do too bing ba
and I like the whole and I harp on it
a lot. I like the whole Villanova Nick story, and
it's fun. It's really fun. So I would say this
is fun. And we're gonna talk a lot more about
Oklahoma City later on the Western team that will be
going to the finals. But I would agree that this
has been a lot of fun. I'm gonna put you

(11:24):
on the spot here. Who is a player in this
playoffs that going into it you liked fine, but at
this point you're like, Okay, I'm truly a fan. Okay,
I would have to say.

Speaker 1 (11:40):
So.

Speaker 2 (11:41):
Going into the playoffs, to be fair, I.

Speaker 3 (11:44):
Was much more in tune in sync with the Oklahoma
City roster, and I find them very endearing.

Speaker 2 (11:50):
And that's another time I'm using endearing, which is you know, but.

Speaker 3 (11:55):
I just think it's really fun seeing Alex Caruso actually
have an impact. And I mean, as a Lakers fan,
we loved Caruso, but seeing him called unk on this
team of young upstarts and then actually have a tangible
impact to be a game changing, you know, different, the
most unassuming guy.

Speaker 2 (12:17):
I have just grown more and more attached to him.

Speaker 3 (12:20):
And you know, also it's happy to see it's fun
to see Karl Anthony Towns have fun with basketball as well.

Speaker 2 (12:26):
What about you? I would agree on on both those things.
Carl Anthony Town's but somebody who he's a more obvious
and there are a lot of fans have been coming in.
But there's been a journey for me and Aunt Edwards
because in the first series, you know, my love for
Luke and the Lakers made me not like Aunt Edwards
as much. So I have to say as the series
went on, I was like, Lakers ain't gonna win this thing,

(12:48):
and I kind of like this guy. I kind of
like this guy a lot.

Speaker 3 (12:50):
And see, if you had said Rudy Gobert, I might
have to ask if your identity had been.

Speaker 2 (12:55):
It wasn't definitely not him to Gobert. But ant Man
is a show he's a showman, and we like show men.
We'll get to that.

Speaker 3 (13:03):
And I liked what he said too when people and
it wasn't flippant. He was respectful to the tone of
the loss against Oklahoma City when he was asked, you know,
are you upset? Are you disappointed? And he was He
was true, honest, He's like, I'm twenty three years old.

Speaker 2 (13:18):
I know I'll be back here, which is so crazy.

Speaker 3 (13:21):
Twenty three years, three years old, and then you look
at the timeline of someone like him and Chay right,
Shay is twenty six. Now you look ants in his
second consecutive Western Conference Finals appearance, and I mean, I
get it, you won't never want to take anything for
granted in this league, windows or windows. But I mean,

(13:41):
that's such a long run away. People were saying that
about Jason Tatum too for years. It seems like he
was nineteen years old forever, and then he finally arrived.
I think we'll be saying aunt Man's name for years
and years to come.

Speaker 2 (13:55):
I agree with that one hundred percent. All Right, you guys,
we will be back shortly, and we're going to be
talking about another New York team that's got a big
weekend here in Los Angeles. So stay right here. This
is Fox Sports Saturday.

Speaker 5 (14:09):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
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Speaker 2 (14:21):
We are coming to you live from the Fox Sports
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sure to subscribe so you always have instant access to
our Fox Sports Radio videos on YouTube. Nikki, it is

(14:45):
the moment we've been waiting for for a solid twenty
two to twenty three minutes, and that is talking about
the Dodgers Yankee series.

Speaker 3 (14:55):
If you guys know me, should we give a disclaimer
first to all baseball fans who.

Speaker 2 (15:01):
I mean, we love the Dodgers basically, so we grew
up here. I think you're being in Los Angeles. You're
being in Los Angeles since where we are. I think
anybody who's known me, heard of me, walked by me
on the street one time, knows that you bleed blue,
leed like very much bleed blue. So we're going to
try not to be super am I.

Speaker 3 (15:23):
Our parents have been taking us to Dodger games since
we were I don't, I don't know, I can't even remember.

Speaker 2 (15:29):
I can't remember. It's a magical ballpark for us.

Speaker 3 (15:31):
And naturally the World Series run, yes, was something phenomenal
last year, and it I know, the arms race of
adding more and more talent. But honestly, to be quite
frank baseball fans, if you look at the Dodgers' current rotation,
it's been depleted.

Speaker 2 (15:50):
It sure has been depleted. So let's say you looks
really quick at last night Dodgers win eight to five.
They're down five over who over the New York Yankees?
Or who's sorry, Tracy the New York Yankees. That is
y a n k e e s for anybody at
home over the years of the rock So you may
remember the Dodgers defeated in last year's World Series, so

(16:12):
this was a World Series rematch. I don't think the
Yankees like Friday night games at the Dodger Stadium. I
feel like that's not their thing. They probably don't love
comeback wins by the Dodgers, which seems to be the
Dodgers saying over the Yankees. But interesting night, you have
Max Freed on the mound, he's killing it. Well, let's
start inning one. Aaron Judge solo home run bottom of

(16:32):
the inning, Shoheo Tani solo home run to lead it off,
and that was just I mean, you couldn't really ask
for anything more perfect.

Speaker 3 (16:39):
I it was the first time, the first time two
reigning MVPs have homered in the same inning of the
same game. That is a really great and for anyone
who missed it, this game was highly highly touted on
Apple TV, as you know, the rematch the possible harbor

(17:00):
of what was to come in this year's World Series
as well. So a lot of high most highly anticipate
one of the most highly anticipated regular season series. I'd
say so when we started off like that, like oh.

Speaker 2 (17:12):
Okay, buckle up, buckle up, and that's what the Dodgers
go down five to two, they come back end up
winning the game, I mean eight to five, which means
it's interesting. Tony Gonslin once he settled in, he settled
the bullpen, the much maligned bullpen really really did its job.
And so we have Game two today on Fox. It's
Will Warren versus Landon Knack.

Speaker 3 (17:35):
Is the pitching mac Ian Landon Knack, Like that's that's
where the Dodgers are.

Speaker 2 (17:38):
They're at LANDONNAC and they're starting Land and Knack in
Game two against the end and there is no disrespect
to the great Landon does his job to the best.
I think he would even be like, well, yeah, he's like,
well here we go. But you know, anything can happen
and we we shall see. One thing I will say
about land in aak he can give you innings. So
tomorrow's Yamamoto, I think. For the Dodgers perspective, say in

(18:01):
it and see. But that's you know, Yammotos. Theyre ace
they have tomorrow night.

Speaker 3 (18:05):
I honestly think that the way last night game panned
out to come from behind when I don't think the
Yankees are going to be in the World Series this year.

Speaker 2 (18:16):
I don't think so either. I am big on the
Detroit Tigers, and I know we are early. We are
so early. We're still over a month until the All
Star break, and so maybe making these kind of platitudes
are a little too early. However, well that's what sports radio
is about. That is true. It is so let's do it.
And here's those platitudes. Here's the thing with the Yankees
in a long time time. Oh you're welcome, you can help,

(18:37):
you can use it all week and long. Here's my
thing with the Yankees. It's something we saw in the
World Series last year, and it's kind of something we
saw last night. The Dodgers play fundamental baseball better than
the Yankees. The Yankees tend to, I want to say
give up on things. It's not the right term, but
the Dodgers just play fundamental baseball. It's like so far

(18:58):
above the Yankees. And you can't give up on the slide.
Even without Mookie Betts, who is going to be out
for a few days with this stubbed toe situation, they
still you pitched to Otani, you have ti Oscar Hernandez,
you have Freddie Freeman, you have Will Smith. It's like,
who are pick your poisons? Side to speak, you know,

(19:18):
they walk Max Munsey really hoping for a double play
to get to Conforto, and then they walk Conforto and
then walk in. Now what ends up really being the
winning run because it's now six to five. So I
just think they play a fundamental baseball better and the
Yankees don't seem to be better at that. And if
that's the case, they're not going to the World Series.

Speaker 3 (19:39):
So I was at the game as a fan last
night not working. It was phenomenal. I for the first
time tried one of those Dodgers blue frozen margarita's, but
I only lasted three SIPs because it was a headache.

Speaker 2 (19:50):
That's fair.

Speaker 3 (19:51):
My friend and I we got the we didn't choose
to get them, so we asked for a margarita and thoughts,
which gay. You know, it was fun, fun for a moment,
but we were also sitting in front of these ten
year old fans literally yelling at Aaron Judge as he
steps up to the plate butterfingers, oh right, and that that's.

Speaker 2 (20:11):
Kind well, it reminds me.

Speaker 3 (20:13):
It all harkens back to that comedy of errors fifth
inning in Game five in New York, which, mind you,
I was working that game. And when I work baseball games,
I'm I'm a nervous nelly. I walk, not nervous, like
I just need to walk around the ballpark.

Speaker 2 (20:29):
So I go hang out in the bleachers a lot
of times.

Speaker 3 (20:32):
Okay, So there I was wearing you know, clandestine colors,
hanging out with Fantasy Yeah, with the Yankees, you know
bleacher section. And if I thought Dodger fans were you know, tough,
like these guys are just brutal over there and just
watching the like when all this tying back into what
you're saying, the comedy of errors or the fundamental metal baseball.

(20:55):
Watching the Yankees make one error after the next, all
self inflicted wounds, fumble away a lead, and those ten
year olds nailed it butterfingers right, And that in and
of itself is why it's like these Dodgers. Also whoa
Cody Bellinger in a Yankees uniform, which is kind of
like you.

Speaker 2 (21:15):
Bring up a yo. So I have to admit something
to the people. Okay, I'm gonna be honest about this.
You guys not safe. I'm not totally proud of this,
but the day has come so long, story short, Cody
Belincher's my favorite baseball player pre show. It was Cody.
Cody all the time known as a Cody fan. When
he played for the Cubs, they still rooted for him,
you guys. I was actively rooting against him last night,

(21:36):
and I feel terrible. I mean it hurt, it actually hurt.
It felt it felt wrong, but also felt right like
I had no choices on the Yankees. Now I just
I have no choice, But it was it was really
tough because I've maintained this whole time that, oh, well,
I'll always root for Cody when he comes up to bat.
I just want the Dodgers to win. I was actively
rotting against him. I also I said things that were
maybe not that nice, like he struck out and I

(21:58):
was like, there's my belly. I mean it was. It
wasn't great, and I'm not proud of it, but I
feel I had to get off my chest, and I
appreciate you letting me. I accept that.

Speaker 3 (22:06):
I think that'd be an interesting study to see for fans,
like what is the franchise that's the point of no
return right right? Like when you know it's fun for
fair when you attach yourself to a player, root for
their success, root for their success. I heard a lot
of Pats fans rooting for Tom Brady oncet to Tampa Bay,
But like, what's that one franchise that you make the
jump to and then it's like, I'm sorry, this is

(22:27):
where we part ways?

Speaker 2 (22:29):
Yeah, and you hit that. I think it's a Yankees,
but yeah, we also be the Giants, I think in
that sense. Watching the Yankees kind of crumble again.

Speaker 3 (22:38):
Last night, I was like, they're They're not they don't
have what it takes, and the Dodgers live rent free
in their heads.

Speaker 2 (22:46):
I think that they could go out and nail tonight. Yeah,
I think you nailed it. So with that, we are
going to go to the Great Martin Weis because there
are some things going on in sports that isn't the Dodgers.

Speaker 6 (22:57):
Kniekes, Well, let's start with the Dodgers. How about that
the Dodgers. Mookie BET's going to be out for at
least a few weeks.

Speaker 7 (23:03):
I'm sorry this weekend series, but hopes to be back
in a few days.

Speaker 6 (23:07):
It's a lot different.

Speaker 7 (23:08):
After fracturing the tip of his second left toe Wednesday
night at home, walking to the bathroom.

Speaker 6 (23:15):
And the dark, Mookie turned the lights on.

Speaker 7 (23:16):
The Florida Panthers forward AJ greer status for the series
opener against the Oilers remains uncertain for head coach Paul Maurice.
Greer missed Game four of the User Conference Final and
was only on the ice for four minutes to twenty
two seconds a Game five due to a lower body
and just injured Houston Astros as they a Hitor Yard
on Alvarez.

Speaker 6 (23:36):
The turn has been delayed.

Speaker 7 (23:37):
He's missed twenty five games due to a muscle strand
in his right hand, but Astros GM Dana Brown said
that a follow up imaging reveals that Alvarez also has
a small fracture in his right hand that is presently
sixty percent healed. Brown says Alvarez will now return in
the near future Major League Baseball. The Chicago Cubs with
a two nothing lead over the Reds top of the

(23:58):
ninth inning.

Speaker 6 (23:59):
Top of the fifth inning, the Blue Jay's lead the
a six to five.

Speaker 7 (24:02):
Bottom of the second inning, Oriels with they won nothing
lead over the White Sox, and bottom of the second inning,
the Brewers lead the Phillies Ford to nothing.

Speaker 6 (24:10):
That game is on FS one.

Speaker 7 (24:12):
Cardinals Rangers scoreless on the top of the second same
story for the Angels and the Guardians. Atlanta has a
one nothing lead over Boston and the bottom of the
second inning.

Speaker 6 (24:20):
Bottom of the first the Mets with a three to
one lead over the Rockies. Giants Marlin scoreless. Top of
the second inning.

Speaker 7 (24:27):
Same story there for the Tigers and the Royals, and
an Al Central matchup. Bottom of the second the Astros
with they won nothing lead.

Speaker 6 (24:34):
Over the Rays. Later tonight we will.

Speaker 7 (24:36):
Have Game six of the Eastern Conference Finals in the
NBA Indiana trying to close this thing out with a
three to two series lead, Nicks trying to keep their
series alive.

Speaker 8 (24:47):
Back to you, guys, coming to you live from the
Fox Sports Radio studios. You can stream this show and
all of our Fox Sports Radio shows live twenty four
to seven and the new and improved iHeartRadio app. Just
search Fox Sports Radio in the app to stream us.
And one of the newest features is that you can
actually select Fox Sports Radio as one of your presets,

(25:09):
just like the presets.

Speaker 2 (25:10):
On a radio dial.

Speaker 3 (25:11):
So be sure to preset Fox Sports Radio in the
iHeartRadio app and it will always pop up at the
top of your screen.

Speaker 2 (25:19):
We are very excited to be joined now by senior
NBA writer for The Athletic Fred Katz. Fred Welcome, and
MG Highbred Hi Hybrid.

Speaker 3 (25:34):
Oh my gosh, I'm so excited to chat with you
ahead of what is a highly anticipated Game six in
the Eastern Conference Finals with a team you know near
and dear to your heart. But my first and most
important question to you, as someone who's been boots on
the ground, how much riz does Timothy Shallow may have
in person?

Speaker 2 (25:55):
Easily most important question.

Speaker 4 (25:57):
When I agreed to come on this show, I was
a hundred percent certain that the welcome would not be
your normal radio hit, and I'm glad to know that
I was absolutely correct. How much do the I in person?
Do you know what I have to say? I have
so little riz in person. I don't even know if
I'm qualified to detect in person RIZ, so I couldn't
even answer.

Speaker 3 (26:16):
Okay, okay, fair, fair, But all right, then then riddle
me this. Give us a vibe check on the streets
of New York right now. You you have grown up there.
You know this fan base like the back of your hand.
You spend a couple of seasons covering the Knicks. What's
what's the pulse of this city? Like when the Knicks
are actually doing something?

Speaker 4 (26:37):
Well, it's really the only team in New York that
is kind of universally agreed upon, because in every other
major sport there is another team that out weighed it.
You know, the Yankees can't be the biggest thing in
town because large percentage of the New Yorkers are Mets fans,
and all the Mets fans hate the Yankees, and the
Giants can't be the biggest thing in town because the

(26:58):
you know, a large percentage of and they hit the Giants,
and the Knicks are kind of the one organization in
the city that people kind of all agree upon and
kind of unite the city. And so when the Knicker
at this level, there's definitely a buzz that I wouldn't
say is equivalent for any other team in New York
when where they're kind of this far in the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (27:19):
I have a vibe check as well, but it's on
the other side, and that is with the Pacers. They
come home sorry night for Game six for them, how
much pressure is on them? Like the Knicks are kind
of now the underdog and they're fighting, Like, how much
pressure here is on the Pacers. How much pressure is
on Halliburton to really bounce back from the game he
had the other night?

Speaker 4 (27:39):
I would say a pretty good amount. I mean, look,
if you look at the way that a series is
supposed to swing, team is up three one and going
on the road to play Game five, like home team
is supposed to win that game. They're supposed to go home,
protect home court and win that game. And the team
that is now up three to two is supposed to
come back home, and they're supposed to protect home court too.
I thought I thought Indiana got a from playing their

(28:00):
game a little bit in Game five. They spent so
much of the first four games of the series really
attacking Jalen Brunson, attacking Karl Anthony Towns, putting those guys
into actions, you know, the two offense first All Stars
for the Knicks, and I thought they had a lot
of success doing that. Knicks defended much better in Game five,
Bronson defended much better in Game five. Out of the

(28:21):
Pacers kind of got away from their offense a little bit,
but Halliburton got a little passive that normally doesn't happen.
Two games in a row with them, and we'll see
how they come out on their home court, because if
they don't have then they're going on a road game seven,
which they won last year. They played at road game
seven in New York last year and they won got game,
so they can do it. But a road game seven
is never the preference, right fred.

Speaker 3 (28:43):
I want to bring you back to a tweet you
had from about a year ago. It was before Game five,
and you tweeted regarding the Knicks locker room. There was
an epic fart that loosened up the locker room a
lot before the game. I'm not going to say who
it was, but the loud but proud nature of it
definitely helps, you know, loosen the guys up.

Speaker 2 (29:06):
Do you think that's.

Speaker 3 (29:06):
All it will take for the next locker room to
loosen up heading into a do or die game?

Speaker 2 (29:11):
Six?

Speaker 4 (29:12):
I don't know. It's a different it's a different locker room.
They say it's a different they say it's a different year.

Speaker 2 (29:16):
Okay, okay, different years, different.

Speaker 4 (29:18):
It's a different locker room. I would say, just like
the gas in the moments past.

Speaker 2 (29:23):
Oh yeah, okay, you've been asked this before, Okay.

Speaker 4 (29:26):
Yeah, and uh and and you know, I think I
think it's just a little it's a little different. But
I don't know. Maybe I didn't expect that to be
the vibe changing moments that it did, so I certainly
didn't expect that to become the talk of the NBA
world for forty eight hours. I certainly didn't expect the

(29:46):
guy who did it to be telling me that he's
asking me if he should use that moment to get
an endorsement with Pepto, which is an actual thing that happens.
The real thing that happened, so.

Speaker 2 (30:01):
Opportunity.

Speaker 3 (30:03):
Yeah, well okay, Well, on another tone, I guess you've
covered TIBs now and you've seen how he approaches his lineups,
the minutes, the workload that he expects from guys. What
can you say about the evolution in his philosophy in
which he's approached this series with.

Speaker 4 (30:23):
Yeah, I mean, I will say I think he is
a He is incredibly principled as a coach, and I
think everybody knows that. And there are things that he
believes that he just believes is the right way to
operate as a coach. And all that being said, I
actually think he's less rigid than people make him out
to be. You know, for example, in the Boston Series,

(30:45):
he totally revamped their defense in the Boston Series in
Round two. They went into that series with a completely
different defensive identity than they had all seasons, switching on
pick and rolls and garden the perimeter totally differently. They
look like a completely different team schematically against Boston, and
that defense worked, and it was a big reason why

(31:07):
Boston's ball movement fell off, why Boston started settling for
bad shots because of the types of coverages that they
were running, which is stuff that they did not see
during the regular season. And kids has his stuff. He's
going to play his guys minutes. I mean, for what
it's worth, the whole roster's healthy. I mean, the minute
thing has not been a problem this year. If anything,

(31:27):
it's helped them win because the good players are playing
more minutes. So you know with Tibbs, you're going to
get the stuff that you know you're going to get.
But I do think, like schematically, he is more open
and more evolved than people kind of put him up to.

Speaker 2 (31:44):
All right, before you go, we know that you have
an affinity and he's a baseball head. Okay, the same head.
What are your feelings on the Yankees, Nikki and I
just wax poetic on how they don't play good fundamental baseball,
They're not going the World's Series and the Dodgers are
a far dominant team. To summarize, what are your respond.

Speaker 4 (32:05):
I feel like this is just trap stopping. This isn't
this isn't even a question. I mean, I mean, look,
I I just I watched that team this year and
I'm like, man, if only they had Garrett Cole's like
if they Garrett Cole, they being such a pole, I
gotten hurt. They needed such a good spot because Redown's
been great, and Free has been great, and Judges just otherworldly,

(32:30):
and you know, the guys who are place Soto have
been really good, and the American League's not very good.
So they might go to the World Series again this year.
And the Dodgers have to deal with the NL West,
which is unbelievably difficult. So on top of the fact
they have to deal with the Mets and whatever else,
the Phillies, everything else you need. In the NL, the
Yankees have like you know, the Tigers and maybe a
couple others, but the American League is way weaker. The

(32:51):
AL East is way weaker. Like Yankee should win that division,
So maybe the word will be easier. Who knows. Maybe
I'll be calling in to you guys later and I'll
be like, hey, how.

Speaker 2 (32:59):
Are the DoD and we'll tell you they're doing great.
We love celebrating their second World Series. Fred, thank you
so much for joining us today.

Speaker 3 (33:08):
By Fred st Hey have some green beans in Oklahoma
City for me.

Speaker 2 (33:11):
Okay, all right, you guys, we will be right back
with your dues and your don'ts. This is Fox Sports Saturday.

Speaker 1 (33:23):
Don't listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 2 (33:26):
All right, We are coming to you live from the
Fox Sports Radio studios, and it is time for the
dues and the don't.

Speaker 6 (33:35):
Highlighting the dudes.

Speaker 5 (33:36):
I love that and putting a spotlight on the don't.

Speaker 1 (33:39):
The subject brings me no joy.

Speaker 4 (33:42):
That's insane.

Speaker 5 (33:43):
Next time for the dues and the dots in sports.

Speaker 2 (33:47):
Well, Nikki, I have have a few dues and one don't.
So I'm gonna start with one of my dues, and
that is due root for a game seven in Eastern
Conference Finals. It's game seven's when you're not a fan
of either of the team. By the way, they're amazing
if you're stretched it out. But let's stretch it out.
So that is going to be my first do to
root for a game seven. Let you go next my don't.

(34:12):
It's going to be some advice to uh sepon dicks.
That was mine.

Speaker 3 (34:18):
Don't don't be acting out on a boat and letting
cameras record you.

Speaker 2 (34:22):
Mm hmm. Don't don't be anywhere in sight of a
bag with things substance. I think this is it. Maybe
do show up to otis, do show up to OTAs
you can avoid this all together. That is a good one.
My next do do invest in a night light. As
Martin mentioned, Mooki bed I mentioned it briefly. Mookie Bets

(34:44):
Uh stubbed his toe into a wall at home the
other night it was dark. Uh, invest a night light.
We are never too old for one. Get one that
makes you happy. It could be simple, it could be themed.
But now poor Mookie Bets's toe is in pain.

Speaker 3 (34:59):
Yeah, it's one of those motion censored ones. Right, you
get up a little becuzle of motion. Nightlight comes on,
lights up the floor.

Speaker 2 (35:06):
Yes, you're Gucci. That is the night lights. So that's
just a PSA to all of our listeners here and
the nightlight.

Speaker 3 (35:12):
Okay, okay, okay, I can say this or two, I'll
say this, do that.

Speaker 2 (35:19):
On the West, in terms.

Speaker 3 (35:21):
Of the NBA landscape, I don't see the Eastern Conference
generating any title contend well, any champion in the foreseeable future.
Not with how deep and dominant Oklahoma City is looking
at this age.

Speaker 2 (35:35):
And I know it's a new season every season, but.

Speaker 3 (35:37):
The West is stacked and I'm really intrigued to see
how these finals actually pan out. Is it going to
be a thunder gentleman sweep. That's kind of where my
gut inclination is leaning to.

Speaker 2 (35:49):
And then you think about just how young the Thunder are,
how many picks they have, and the other teams in
the Western Conference.

Speaker 3 (35:55):
Luka Dancic on the Lakers, Cooper Flag going to the MAVs,
Wemby and San Antonio.

Speaker 2 (36:01):
It's gonna be cool with Cooper on the Lakers in
a few years, though, It's gonna be awesome. That's what
the script has written, right, That's what the script has written.
I have a duke. Do listen to Nikki for your headline.
If the Thunder sweet a thunder gentleman's sweep, a gentleman's
gentleman's sleep, I mean, that's amazing, right, that's a good
So do write that down if you are a newspaper

(36:23):
or or right digital outlet, right right right, I'm I'm
gonna say, don't get got.

Speaker 3 (36:29):
There's a lot of AI out there, guys, a lot
of AI videos I'm falling for.

Speaker 2 (36:34):
I did you see the Python one no where?

Speaker 3 (36:37):
Oh yeah, there's a video out there on X and
that that snake.

Speaker 2 (36:44):
I was like, oh my god, that thing exists and
it was fake.

Speaker 3 (36:48):
Another another meme I got got by was a fake
newsbreak that the Dodgers were going to run back their
World Series gold laced uniforms, not gold lace like gold.
They have gold yeah, old lettering on them in Game
two against the Yankees.

Speaker 2 (37:03):
And I was like, oh my god, that is so petty.
But it turns out that was a fake report. Too
bad though, Yeah, I know, too bad. I got got.
You did get got. But however, there are the Dodgers.
Do do you look at that report and consider that
that would be amazing?

Speaker 4 (37:17):
All right?

Speaker 2 (37:18):
I have another do And this kind of goes off
our previous guest was talking about the Yankees don't have
much much competition the al I'm going to disagree do.
I'm gonna make this a do and a don't do.
Root for the Tigers. Don't discount the Tigers. The Tigers
have potentially probably the best pitcher in baseball, Jack Flaherty,
love him having a great season. They are a fun team. Again,

(37:40):
we are so early, but I know it's wild, right, don't.
I mean? It is wild hout earlier. But don't discount
the Tigers because Detroit sports are having a moment and
I think we are going to see them far into October.

Speaker 3 (37:52):
And I'm gonna say, do catch a game watching the
Women's College World Series. It's on all weekend and if
you want to see dingers, if you want to see drama.
Day one of the wcws out there in Oklahoma City
had two walk off home runs back to back in
different games, and that's the theater.

Speaker 2 (38:11):
As any sports fan, you should want to celebrate.

Speaker 3 (38:15):
And the athletes are phenomenal, so great storytelling out there
in the WCWSA, and high drama too.

Speaker 2 (38:22):
I have I'd like to piggyback on your step On Diggs.
I just think generally, I'm going to make this generally
beyond just step on Digs. Do have an awareness of
your surroundings. Right you are and you are a celebrity,
and you are an athlete. People are filming, We're all filming.
Nikki and I have filmed multiple times in the studio
for social media in the last hour. Keep an eye

(38:45):
on what is going on around you. Perhaps don't be
doing things that you don't want films in public, but
keep an eye on things that are going around you.
And don't forget. Don't forget where you are and who
you are.

Speaker 3 (38:56):
My last question is going to be my last due
is actually a question?

Speaker 2 (39:02):
Okay, okay?

Speaker 3 (39:03):
Do I think Aaron Rodgers is gonna end up in Pittsburgh?

Speaker 2 (39:08):
Don't bet on it? There we go? Actually, I mean
I do think he is gonna I just felt like
that felt goo good. But I think he probably is
gonna end up in Pittsburgh because let me tell you
the biggest do of Arab Rodgers's life seems to be
do create as much drama as possible around yourself and
to stir up the pot. Don't don't let them think

(39:29):
you're coming, do make them wait. I mean, there's so
many things he is a do and don't segment on himself.
But yes, I do think that he is going to
end up on this dealers. How it's gonna go that
I I can't promise you is gonna go well, but
I do think he's gonna end up there. He wants
to play. That's where he is the ability to go.
They need themselves the quarterback. So the answer to your

(39:51):
question is yes.

Speaker 3 (39:53):
Only time will tell what that man Speaking of another
ota missing drama, you know him skipping out for e
Jet flash share a parent.

Speaker 2 (40:00):
Yes, right for sure maybe do go to o Tier's.
There's that just generally do go to Otia's. All right,
you guys, we will be back here. You are listening
to Fox Sports Saturday.

Speaker 1 (40:17):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 2 (40:20):
We are broadcasting live from the Fox Sports Radio studios,
and we have spent a lot of time talking about
the Eastern Conference Finals. But the West team for the
finals is set. It is the Oklahoma City Thunder. As
we have mentioned, Nikki, you have spent quite a bit
of time in Oklahoma City. You know this team so well.
It would love for you to start by telling us

(40:41):
what does this mean to the city, right right? Absolutely no.

Speaker 3 (40:43):
And I began my my broadcasting career covering a professional
team in Oklahoma City. The first pro team I covered
was the Thunder and it was the twenty sixteen playoff push.
I arrived in the middle of April to Oklahoma City.
I've never really experienced life in the Midwest, Southwest, whatever

(41:04):
you want to call it over there, and I quickly
learned just how much of a thrill and how important
this franchise is to that area and that fan base.
Right because you think about it prior to the Thunder
arriving in two thousand and eight, two thousand and eight,

(41:25):
I want to say, I hope it's not two thousand
and nine.

Speaker 7 (41:28):
But.

Speaker 3 (41:30):
There were the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys,
and it was all very divided, right, the one collegiate
fan base against another. And here come the Thunder, the
first time this city can truly unite against for one team.
So these fans love them some Thunder. And it's been

(41:50):
well documented that young team Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James
Harden going to the finals on such an early timeline.

Speaker 2 (41:58):
They didn't get back Sam.

Speaker 3 (41:59):
Press the trades away, James Harden considered one of the
you know by outsiders for reasons that James Harden trade
was one of the worst.

Speaker 2 (42:12):
In the fabric of the NBA at the time.

Speaker 3 (42:15):
Of course, obviously we've had much more recent trades, but
I'm giving a little quick history lesson.

Speaker 4 (42:20):
Right.

Speaker 3 (42:21):
So, as as I arrived in twenty sixteen, this team,
it's Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant and they're up three
to one on the in the Western Conference Finals over
the Golden State Warriors.

Speaker 2 (42:32):
Well, what happens in Game six?

Speaker 3 (42:34):
Clay Thompson goes off in Oklahoma City forty one points.

Speaker 2 (42:38):
I think it was eleven threes.

Speaker 3 (42:41):
Just this series goes back to the Bay and the Warriors.

Speaker 2 (42:47):
Went it all and to that point.

Speaker 3 (42:54):
I remember someone sitting in the building with me at
that time and I was like wide. I like, oh
my gosh, this is what covering like a team that
meets a small market team really feels like. And someone
looks at me and they're like, this franchise will never
be back in the Western Conference Finals again. And that
was even before they knew Kevin Durant was officially leaving.
Because after that series, KD goes to the Warriors, the

(43:15):
fabric of the NBA changes, and long story short, obviously, Presty.

Speaker 2 (43:21):
Has been amassing draft picks.

Speaker 3 (43:24):
He's built this young core and we saw them, you know,
make a little playoff push last year and they were
so young, and then this year it's like they're winning
at this incredible clip, sixty eight wins, I think, and
they to get to this point to win a Western
Conference finals, to be back in the NBA Finals and

(43:45):
have this young group of guys that are so in
lockstep with each other about who they're playing for and
what they want to accomplish together. Alex Caruso is one
of the oldest guys on the team at thirty one
years old.

Speaker 2 (43:59):
I mean, it's it's incredible. And then you have Shay
Gilges Alexander.

Speaker 3 (44:03):
I mean, so anyways, what this moment means for this
market is a lot and fans there who I know,
who I've come to stay friends with, are really celebrating
the return of the Thunder. And also it's a really
it's a team that there's a lot of joy behind it,
not angst about hey is one of our star players.

Speaker 2 (44:25):
Going to leave right right? So I'm really happy.

Speaker 3 (44:28):
And the Thunder by far and away look like the
most dominant team remaining.

Speaker 2 (44:32):
It could be a different.

Speaker 3 (44:33):
Story when we see them head to head with the
Pacers and the Knicks, or the Knicks in a seven
game series.

Speaker 2 (44:38):
But it's exciting. Well that was going to be my question.
Do you feel and because I feel that they are,
but yeah, I think you have even more of an
inside look at this. Are they the favorites no matter
who wins, whether it's Spaces, whether it's the Knicks. Is
this the Thunder's finals to lose?

Speaker 3 (44:55):
I think so from what we've seen and the way
this team has won, not only by their margin of
victories at home, they have an incredible home playoff record.
I think they've only lost one game at home that atmosphere.
They're going to have home court advantage in the finals.
It's their defense that really like they can just shut

(45:18):
you down, and they can do it in different ways.
And then when you're led by Shay Gilgess Alexander in
terms of not only the league MVP, the Western Conference
Finals MVP, who I know people have a bone to
pick with how he scores in terms of getting to
the free throw line a lot. But a leader like that,

(45:40):
I think obviously it's going to be a matter of
their role players rising to meet the moment. Chet Holmgroun,
you know, he has been on an arc right or
like on the rise, I want to say.

Speaker 2 (45:52):
In his career, but his health is crucial.

Speaker 3 (45:54):
And then so you just never want to say, like, oh,
sign sealed delivered Thunder Final champs. But I mean it's
I think they've they've shown to be the most dominant
so far.

Speaker 2 (46:07):
All Right, more hypotheticals, because we talked about earlier. This
is sports Radio, and this is what we talked about.
Latitudes and hypotheticals. So let's pretend the thunder win SGA
is dominant. So he becomes now the league MVP, the
Western Conference Finals MVP, and the Finals MVP. Is that
solidify him as the face of the NBA right now?

Speaker 3 (46:28):
His personality is I want to say, there's a I don't.
He's not an Anthony Edwards, and I would contend Anthony
Edwards could.

Speaker 2 (46:38):
Be the face of the NBA.

Speaker 3 (46:40):
I think Shay could solidify a status as a superstar.
I mean, he is a superstar, but when you win
it all there, it's indubitable, right like It's so I
think the face of the league is interesting because I
think there's a lot of personality component that comes with
being like, hey, does your mom know who Shay Gil

(47:03):
just Alexanders? And chances are I don't think casuals who
don't follow the sport are going to know the names
of these young stars are It's.

Speaker 2 (47:13):
True my mom does know who Ann Edwards.

Speaker 3 (47:15):
Is exactly right, and you've seen Anne Edwards in a
Netflix movie with Adam Sandler, right, And so I think
Aunt might have a little bit more of that like
one two punch okay terms, But that's the point you
make like, if he wins it all, is he going
to become a household name, right or how far away
is he from becoming that. It's interesting because Jason Tatum,

(47:37):
we saw him have that moment last year, but he's
still just not front and center when it comes to
You saw the programming the you know, the TV gods
had this year, and yeah, Celtics were featured because they
were the raigning champs, but it's like still like Lebron
James and Steph Curry were the headliners of like Christmas

(47:58):
Day matchups and stuff like that. So I'm very intrigued
to see how prevalent and widely celebrated SGA can become
with a championship in his resume.

Speaker 2 (48:12):
All right, let's talk a little and this is looking ahead,
but since since right now we have the Thunder and
that's all we have in the West that's left in
this obviously, so we look ahead the next season and
you see some of these other teams the West to
the Timberwolves. The Warriors are interesting in terms of what
do they do, where do they go? The Lakers, I've
always felt the Luca trade was to get them as

(48:33):
far as they got them, but then they were things
have to happen this saf seasons. Yeah, they didn't complete roster,
and then it's more about the future. So as you
look ahead of these teams, and you talked earlier about
the dominance of the West, Now what excites you and
what worries you.

Speaker 3 (48:48):
I'm very intrigued to see what Lebron James is going
to do in terms of you know, he deserves his money,
but the Lakers need to add value around him if
he wants to make that push to a championship, you know,
and obviously Luca is now the focal point of the

(49:12):
Lakers plans moving forward. I'm wondering when Lebron is he
going to announce his retirement I or a tour like
you know, is that something that could be on the horizon.

Speaker 2 (49:24):
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (49:26):
I want to see I don't want to see Steph
Curry bounce out of the playoffs earlier than we need to.
I love watching that man play. And the West is
just then you look at the San Antonio Spurs, the
Houston Rockets, young and scrappy. There's all these teams that
are so stacked. Where's Yannis gonna go?

Speaker 2 (49:47):
This is a great question.

Speaker 3 (49:48):
I feel that his future. I mean, he won Milwaukee
a championship, so where is his next step? The Bucks
don't have promising options when it comes to reconfiguring the
roster around him. So and then the Celtics obviously tragic
tragic injury.

Speaker 4 (50:07):
Mm hmm.

Speaker 3 (50:09):
So how do they how do they look at the
next two? Yeah, it's there's a lot of questions. It
seems to me the West is by far and above,
way more you know, talent, like if I'm if I'm
a superstar looking too, you know, stake acclaim I'm going east, right,
because then the path is a little bit easier to

(50:29):
those Eastern Conference finals. But the future of the NBA,
I think it's there's a lot of parody.

Speaker 2 (50:36):
Yeah, I think that's true. I think there is a
lot of parody, which is always great. It's great for
any league when there is parody. We've seen it kind
of somewhat in the NFL these last couple of years,
and it is always really fun when there's with parody
in any league. But you bring up a great point
about the Celtics. The West is interesting, you Steph Curry.
I mean, i I'm interested to see what do the
Warriors do how does this work out? You know, obviously

(50:57):
he was injured and that perhaps they would have gone farther,
but I do think the Timberwolves were the better team.
So some of these superstars, as we start to talk
about new faces of the league, some of these superstars
are not maybe not right away, but kind of sunsetting,
you know, into retirement and you see these new guys
step up, which is really fun in any sport. Are
we going to get a.

Speaker 3 (51:19):
Ratings conversation if it's Pacers Oklahoma City and the finals,
probably I'm not looking forward to hearing it because they're
too young, fun teams, right, they are yet full stop,
and I don't want to hear about how nobody nobody's
interested in these finals. And then I don't want to

(51:40):
hear about how the NBA is rigged, like I don't
you know.

Speaker 2 (51:43):
I mean, it's fun to say, right, but it's not.
It's like the NBA isn't the NFL isn't there. It's
just it's not for the thing, you know, the thing
that Dallas did get the first pick. They get the
first okay, and he's going to be a Laker in
about four to five years. Can't wait. It it's interesting
on the radcing, you know, people say about teams teams

(52:03):
are doing really well, they're well, they haven't played anybody
you play who's on the schedule. The end of the day,
the teams in the finals were the two best teams
who beat all the other teams and all the other
superstars to get to the finals. So isn't Scott Foster
refing ten night's game? Oh you really have a fun

(52:24):
with this now?

Speaker 4 (52:25):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (52:25):
No, no, no, I love Seriously, I'm a sucker for
any conspiracy theory.

Speaker 3 (52:29):
Do you have one that your full hard, wholeheartedly or
are kind of leaning into.

Speaker 2 (52:35):
Doesn't have to be sports related. I'm gonna be honest
with you. I am not a conspiracy theorist. Okay, I know,
and it's through each other. Yeah, because I hear one
and I'm like, oh, really, I see it. You're like, oh,
oh that totally, which means, see, this is why it's
good if you do that. It's a good conspiracy theory
because some of them you would hear and be like,

(52:57):
no chance, that can't possibly be true. But if you
hear when you're like, oh, yep, I see it. I
am not a conspiracy theorist. It's probably maybe the most
on fun sports thing about.

Speaker 3 (53:08):
Wait, we should have a segment next time where I
pitch you conspiracy theories that I found on the.

Speaker 2 (53:15):
Dark web, not dark web, not dark web.

Speaker 3 (53:18):
Sorry to get a turn on the internet and like
reddit reddit theories, and I'll tell you compelling like why
people have their compelling points?

Speaker 2 (53:27):
Okay, and see if I can convince you. Okay, so
they can convince you, I'll present it to you. Do
you have one that you can present to me in
seven seconds? That's putting me on the spot. No, okay,
I mean you could present to me the Mavericks first
pick in the draft thing? Oh okay, but I still don't.

Speaker 3 (53:43):
Let me paint you a world in which the Dallas
Mavericks inexplicably trade away their generational superstar to Los Angeles.
Who's in Los Angeles, Lebron James? What does the league
need ratings? And what do the Mavericks just have to
get a couple of months later in return with a
was it one point seven percent chance?

Speaker 2 (54:05):
Okay, if you were going to pitch me one, you're
doing a good job. But I still don't they got
the first pick in the NBA draft. I this is lag.
It's the most compelling. Yeah, however, NBA. NBA is not ragged,
NBA is not rigged. It's not. But you did a compere,
you did a compelling job. Well, we will be right back.
This is Fox Sports Saturday. Nikki in the break is

(54:26):
probably going to try to convince me even further so, Tracy,
as I was telling you, this is Fox Sports Saturday.
We are coming to you live from the Fox Sports
Radio studios. We are for the best pregame show every weekend.
Be sure to tune into Fox Sports Radios Countdown presented
by bet MGM every Saturday and Sunday morning from nine

(54:49):
am to noon Eastern six to nine am Pacific. We
will count you down to all of the biggest games.
Tune into Countdown presented by bet MGM every Saturday and
Sunday morning right here on Fox Sports Radio and the
art iHeart Radio app. I love this song, Hey love
that shout out. Shout out to the booth, Thank you
booth killing it, killing it. As always, we are going

(55:12):
to talk a little bit of dumb WNBA and then
a lot of Dak Prescott something interesting this week. But first, Nikki,
you've been spending a lot of time with the Sparks
covering them. A lot of injuries going on right now
in the WNBA, right right, First.

Speaker 3 (55:24):
Of all, it's the start of the season these WNBA.
The WNBA is undergoing a period of expansion, right. They
just added the Golden State Valkyries.

Speaker 2 (55:34):
Very exciting, very exciting.

Speaker 3 (55:35):
But to make a roster, to make a team, it's
cutthroat in this league. They only carry twelve roster spots.
And then on top of that, the format of the league,
the training camps are very very abbreviated, and a lot
of the athletes have opted to play, you know, in
overseas leagues in unrivaled three on three basketball during the

(55:58):
offseason because that's where they make the money, right, And
I think we're going to see a shift and the
way player salaries are negotiated coming up as they negotiate
with team owners.

Speaker 2 (56:07):
But it has struck me.

Speaker 3 (56:10):
I mean, the Sparks early on two key players, one
inconcussion protocol, one going down for about six weeks already,
Cameron brink out for nearing a year now. She'll be
making her turn soon, which is very exciting. But it's
not just within the Los Angeles Sparks.

Speaker 2 (56:27):
You look across the.

Speaker 3 (56:28):
League, Caitlin Clark going out with a hamstring injury, Paige
Becker's a rookie going down, and so I just think
it's something to note this early on in the season,
maybe seven games now for the Sparks, and it's a conversation.
My broadcast team is having keep an eye out on it.

(56:49):
But other than that, I think this league is retaining
the momentum that we saw with the surge of interest
from Caitlin Clark's arrival last year. I think fans who
came to watch her play have noticed that the quality
of play in the w is excellent, and these athletes
who have been there for years putting in the work,

(57:10):
laying down the foundation, are are there to meet the
moment of the interest. And I think you're seeing that
from brand interest too.

Speaker 2 (57:16):
So it's really fun.

Speaker 3 (57:17):
One of the things I've absolutely loved is seeing these
women lean into the fashion opportunity that comes with the
tunnel walks, because it's like, Okay, NBA guys, Okay, NFL guys,
hold hold my beer, right, I'm good, I'm gonna slay
boots down. And I think that the partnerships we're seeing
evolve for women as commercial entities is really cool. So

(57:42):
all in all, the seasons very young. The Minnesota Links
are just on a tear. New York Liberty, those two
teams are in the finals last year, so it's early.

Speaker 2 (57:52):
But yeah, just a couple of you know, that's talking
around the W. I love that's talking around the W.
I love that. I like that a lot. Well, we're
going to talk something very different, but it came up
and I think it should be addressed. The new Cowboys
head coach Brian schottenhiber Heimer said this week he believes

(58:12):
ten year veteran quarterback Dak Prescott is thirty one years old,
still in a developmental phase. And I actually think I
do know what he meant. But when it comes to
Dak Prescott, you kind of have to use your words
carefully because Cowboys fans and football fans, they're like one
extreme or the other. On Dak Prescott, he's either the

(58:33):
guy and the greatest and he hasn't got enough help
and he hasn't had good coaching, or they are never
gonna win a fluttled like a playoff game, let alone
a super Bowl with Dak Prescott.

Speaker 3 (58:42):
Stream and if you're either you know, a Cowboy fan
or you hate the Cowboys.

Speaker 2 (58:46):
Yes, like also that that is I think that is true.
But to say he is still in the developmental phase
at this point his career is slightly Here's what I
think he met. What I think I think he met
was its early and OTAs and you know they're coming
back and figuring things out and how is his team

(59:07):
going to work. I'm giving him the benefit of doubt.
That may not be what he meant, but calling it
the developmental phase basically just gave well Us and all
sports radio fodder for months. To Tracy, I'm going to
give you an example.

Speaker 3 (59:19):
Like, I have laundry that needs to be folded and
put away in my room, and I've been i've been traveling,
I've been procrastinating. But when I walk into my room
and I see those piles of clothes, I say, we're
in a developmental phase.

Speaker 2 (59:33):
That's what I'm gonna start throwing out there. That's gonna
be That's gonna be my you know hall past. Right now,
we're in a developmental phase. You know what, every time
I got groceries to make dinner and instead decide to
door dash Uber Eats I am going to say, you
know what, I'm in a develop mental face.

Speaker 3 (59:54):
Every time you've been in a situationship and you ask
the man, what are we, he goes, We're in a
developmental face.

Speaker 2 (01:00:00):
Okay, that's gonna be the new that'll be the new one.
That's gonna be the new mutual party of ways consciously
uncomfortable uncoupling. We are now in the developmental face. But
this brings up something that we had a long time
till football season actually starts.

Speaker 3 (01:00:18):
I just kind of feel like everyone's feeling like football
season's already here.

Speaker 2 (01:00:22):
Well we're because I think we're we're so desperate for football.
Has a sports society that as humanity. I try to
make it sports humanity, but maybe just humanity humanity generally
that any football seems like football. But what do we
think because I say this developmental phase thing is going

(01:00:43):
to follow Dak Prescott the entire season, do you think
by the time the season starts, we've moved on or
do you think this is he has one bad game
as big well or an interception. Well, you know, Dak
is in the developmental face. I think that's going to
stay throughout the season.

Speaker 3 (01:00:56):
I also think anytime Stefan Diggs has a terrible game,
will be re seeing that video of him on the
boat with the ladies and the substance he should not
be with.

Speaker 2 (01:01:09):
So I think the Internet keeps its receipts. The Internet
is still posting the Giant's boat photo from the bye
weekend in the playoffs several years ago, where they after
that photo things have just gone terribly, but the Internet
is still posting that photo. So I think that Stephan
Diggs photo is going to have legs from now until eternity.

(01:01:29):
So is my developmental phase one hundred percent. I am
using this developmental phase thing about ordering food basically from
now until the end of time. There we go. But
you know what else I like, from now until the
end of time. Martin Weiss and his sports updates it.

Speaker 7 (01:01:45):
Bottom of the eighth, thenning the Blue Jays with an
eight to five lead over the age George Springer with
two home runs the Orioles.

Speaker 6 (01:01:52):
Behind the Jackson Holiday home run.

Speaker 7 (01:01:53):
I've afforded nothing lead over the White Sox, and the
top of the sixth, top of the fifth, thinning the
Brewers pounding in the Philly.

Speaker 6 (01:01:58):
This one's on FS one, twelve to one.

Speaker 7 (01:02:01):
The score Milwaukee in the League Cardinals with a two
to nothing lead over Texas top of the sixth inning,
top of the fifth, the Angel doubling up Cleveland four
to two. Top of the sixth inning. Here the Braves.
They extended their one lead over Boston to five nothing
bottom of the seventh. Then in the Mets added on
to their lead over the Rockies at seven to one

(01:02:21):
now and to the fifth ending the Miami with they
won nothing lead over San Franciscom Tigers in the ward
scoreless at the top of the six bottom of the
fifth inning the Rays and the Astros Tampa with a
four to three lead. Speaking of the Astros, jord On
alvarez return to action delayed. He's missed twenty five games
due to a muscle string in his right hand. Astros

(01:02:42):
GM Dana Brown said a short time ago that follow
up imaging revealed that Alvarez has a small fracture in
the same hand, but it's nearly sixty percent healed, so
he should be returning in the near future. Same story
form Mookie Betts hope that he will be back shortly.
He suspected to miss at least this weekend series against
the Yankees after fracturing the tip of his second left

(01:03:04):
toe at home on Wednesday night after walking to the
bathroom in the dark. Florida Panthers forward Aj Greer status
for the series opener and the Oilers remains uncertain, per
head coach Paul Maurice.

Speaker 6 (01:03:16):
He missed Game four.

Speaker 7 (01:03:17):
Of the Eastern Conference Final, but was on the ice
for only four minutes twenty two seconds in Game five
due to a lower body injury. And we are what
is it about two and a half hours away from
Game six of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Knicks
and the Pacers. The Pacers trying to clinch get to
the finals, the Knicks trying to keep at least one

(01:03:37):
more the season alive for at least one more Game
three to two. Indiana leads that series. Ladies, Back to.

Speaker 3 (01:03:43):
You, guys, coming to you live from the Fox Sports
Radio studios.

Speaker 2 (01:03:48):
Shortly after the show, our podcast is going up.

Speaker 3 (01:03:51):
If you missed any of today's show, Mom and Dad,
I know you're listening, be sure to check out the podcast.
Just search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts,
and be sure to follow and review the podcast and
rate it five stars. Again, just search Fox Sports radio
wherever you get your podcasts, and you'll see today's show
posted right after we get off the air. And now

(01:04:12):
it is my pleasure to welcome on a very special guest,
Andrew Schlet, who works for the athletic as a podcast
host and producer. He covers the Oklahoma City Thunder. He
hosts one of my favorite, i'd say local podcasts in
the NBA, Down to Dunk. And it's a full circle
moment because when I first started covering the NBA, Andrew

(01:04:34):
had me on as a guest, and I was a
little intimidated. He's like, let's just compare Thunder players to cereals.
So we were once upon a time comparing Kyle Singler
to what cereal he would be on the Thunder roster.

Speaker 2 (01:04:45):
But Andrew, and what was it? Andrew, do you remember
what do you think we called him at the time.

Speaker 9 (01:04:51):
I mean, he had to be like grape nuts or
something right.

Speaker 3 (01:04:55):
That I think is period right on by Andrew. It's
been so fun watching, you know, the success of this
Thunder team, the growth and the interest around the Thunder
a new era definitely from where we were talking about
Kyle Singler.

Speaker 2 (01:05:13):
So first of all, how is.

Speaker 3 (01:05:15):
This kind of whole reset, rebuild and now you're in
the NBA Finals.

Speaker 2 (01:05:20):
Momentum felt like to.

Speaker 9 (01:05:21):
You, it's been it's been wild because I think I
saw stat recently that teams once they kind of bottom out,
it usually takes them six years to get back to
like playing in the playoffs again, and so like think
about Detroit, Like the Detroit Pistons.

Speaker 4 (01:05:39):
Are probably like a great example of that.

Speaker 9 (01:05:41):
It's taken them about six seasons to get back to
the playoffs and like now they're a relevant team. It
took the Thunder five years and they're in the NBA
Finals now, which is just mind blowing. Like this is
it's very uncommon for and so many things had to
go right.

Speaker 5 (01:05:56):
You know.

Speaker 9 (01:05:56):
They obviously the Paul George trade that got them Shay
Gills out Xander and all those draft picks one that
became Jalen Williams was kind of a once in a
lifetime type of deal that propelled them here. But they
made so many other good decisions throughout. You know, hiring
Mark Degnault as a coach was not a guy that
was really on anybody's radar as an NBA head coach.

(01:06:17):
And you know, press but press he knew what he
had in him. You know, that's really worked out and
then you know, getting some luck and getting chet and
like there's been a lot of good fortune along the way,
but it's been like careful planning and good fortune and
just like great organizational culture that has gotten to them

(01:06:37):
to this point. I don't you would say, like, oh,
I don't think anyone could replicate this, Like the Thunder
done this twice now, which is just insane in the
lifetime of this franchise. So basically have just like Lightning
strike twice. But like the more you kind of dig
into it, and like it does seem like it seems like, oh,
this is crazy luck. But the more that I've become

(01:06:58):
just more familiar with the inner workings at the front
office and stuff like that, this is no accident. Like
this is one of the best run franchises in sports,
and they have a great ownership group, you know, headed
by Clay Bennett, and then San Presti is one of
a kind when it comes to a sports executive, and
he's done just a ridiculous job, you know, forming this team.

Speaker 2 (01:07:23):
Well, if Lightning was going to strike twice, it would
be for the Thunder. Sorry, I mean you said it
as like I have no choice or no way, no way.
Thank you for that, But I do have an actual
question now that I feel I can pat myself on
the back for that. Is there a story, a local
story with a thunder that you think the national media
is missing or not making as big a deal about.

Speaker 4 (01:07:46):
Oh, great question.

Speaker 9 (01:07:49):
I love getting into the nitty gritty what people are
not well people are missing. Honestly, I think that's the
biggest thing that has gotten them to this point, outside
of their best players, is the fact that they have
Cason Wallace and Alex Cruso coming off the bench. Those two,

(01:08:10):
they're They're just an absolute menace, and they both defend
point guards through centers. They both defended Jokich at times,
they both defended Julius Randall at times, they both defend
you know, Anthony Edwards. Like the they come off the bench,
and they make a huge difference there. Their net rating,
I think skyrockets like a plus thirty when those two
are in the game, and their best lineups include both

(01:08:34):
of those guys, and so I do think that those
two are a huge reason. And it's funny because you
have Alex Caruso who's won an NBA championship with the Lakers.
He's kind of he's been around the NBA for.

Speaker 5 (01:08:47):
A little while.

Speaker 9 (01:08:48):
Cason Wallace is in year two and he's kind of
like the perfect understudy to Alex Caruso. Like they have
like the same basketball DNA. You now both kind of
not really primary point guards, but they both make really
good and smart decisions with the ball. They're both just
outrageous defenders for their size. They both love to guard up.

(01:09:10):
They are very very similar in the way that they
approach the game, and the fact that you have both
of them, I think is one of like it's one
of the secrets to their success because a lot of
times when and especially in this playoffs and in this
NBA where there's not a ton of quality depth across
the league, there's not a lot of times where the
bench guys come in and you're I think the fan

(01:09:33):
base gets excited. But like that's certainly the case in Okay.
See when Caruso in case and Wallace come off the bench,
there's a pop in the arena every single time. So
I think that's probably something that's going a little bit underrated,
and it's and it's hard to like you have the MVP,
you have a guy who's taken number two who's kind
of like a freak, and you have Jalen Williams, and
like obviously all the attentions on them, but like there's

(01:09:55):
there's these two guys coming off the bench that are
a pretty huge secret to their success.

Speaker 2 (01:10:00):
And Andrew.

Speaker 3 (01:10:01):
I mean, you look at the type of leader Shay
Gilgos Alexander.

Speaker 2 (01:10:04):
Is and it it all seems genuine.

Speaker 3 (01:10:07):
You know, every every act, every quote, every the group.

Speaker 2 (01:10:11):
Interviews after wins.

Speaker 3 (01:10:14):
It can seem a little cheesy at times, I think
for people who aren't, you know, in the depths of
covering this team, But what is the chemistry like from
what you've observed firsthand.

Speaker 9 (01:10:27):
It's pretty genuine.

Speaker 4 (01:10:29):
You know.

Speaker 9 (01:10:29):
I do think that people kind of look at them
from afar and see them as kind of being goofy
and he's even real and what's going on here? But
I mean, I can assure you that even like when
the cameras aren't on, like Shay with his leadership, he
brings like a lightness with him everywhere he goes. He's

(01:10:49):
he's be bopping around everywhere, He's talking to everybody. He's
he's pretty serious a lot of times when he's at
the podium, But and you think, like, probably it's Jalen Willis.
It's the one that's kind of bringing like this goofiness
to the group. Like Shaye does that too. He kind
of sets the tone that way. He's obviously a very
serious worker. But I think that there's like a tie

(01:11:12):
between he and Mark Deagnell for sure, and that they
both are brilliant individuals, but they also have what a
lot of like truly brilliant people don't have, and it's
that they have like outrageous and good people's skills. And
I think, yeah, they've got charisma for sure. And I
think that that those two in the way that they work,

(01:11:35):
has really tied this team together in a real way.
I think everyone is genuinely happy for everybody. You know,
after they won Game five and everybody's celebrating on the court,
you could just see how genuinely happy everybody was, from
like the ball boys all the way up to Sam
Presty on the court, and like it was just really
cool to be a fly on the wall and see that.

(01:11:57):
There's I mean a lot of times Olim City is
like accused of being like a college atmosphere, and like,
look look at the way that the fans behave and
all this stuff, and watch this team and how young
they are and everything. But I do think that they're
doing their best to build that that camaraderie here. And
it starts with Shay, and it's it's pretty genuine, you

(01:12:19):
know from everything that I've seen.

Speaker 2 (01:12:21):
Well, Andrew, we are going to end this interview with
how we began it. What cereal is? Shay?

Speaker 4 (01:12:28):
Good question?

Speaker 9 (01:12:29):
Okay, so I have been I mean, like, the the
best cereal is cinnamon Toad's crunch.

Speaker 4 (01:12:36):
It's always been the case.

Speaker 9 (01:12:39):
Right now, I'm a little bit, I'm I'm kind of
on a raisin brand crunch kick. Okay, it's I mean,
that's it's a really good one. Actually, that's that cerial
has more sugar than Cinnamon Too's crunch.

Speaker 2 (01:12:50):
WHOA, it's really breaking news.

Speaker 4 (01:12:53):
Honestly, want to.

Speaker 9 (01:12:54):
Stay away from to be It's it's a it's a
big trap. Honestly, you think you're doing something good for
yourself and it's destroying you. So I guess I won't
do that one.

Speaker 4 (01:13:05):
I will.

Speaker 9 (01:13:06):
I guess I will leave back to cinnamon toast crunch.
It's just it's just genuinely the best, just like it's
the fastball of cereals, Like you just know what you're
getting and it's very good.

Speaker 2 (01:13:17):
And that's Shay Andrew. Thank you, we love it. Thank
you so much for joining us here Today, you guys,
we will be back with your field good Stories of
the week. This is Fox Sports Saturday coming. We are
coming to you live from the Fox Sports Radio studios
and we have one of my favorite parts of the show,

(01:13:38):
the feel good Stories of the Week. We like to
leave you guys smiling and feeling good. Hence they're being
called the feel good Stories of the Week. So, Nikki,
I'm actually gonna start with one if you're if you're
okay with that. So had some friends over for Memorial Day,
including their daughters who are getting very into baseball, including
their four year old, and we had the Dodger game

(01:14:00):
on and it was six to two and she kept saying,
they're not changing the score, and we explained that we
didn't want them to change the score because the Dodger's
up six to two. Will Smith hits a solo home run,
and she explains, with some trepidation, they're changing the score.
And they changed the score. They changed the score, but
then she was worried because we told about and so
now we're using that they change a score. But it

(01:14:22):
was just really fun because here is this like young
girl who is sitting watching baseball, cultivated, captivated, wants to
know the rules, wants to understand, and it was just
it was really fun. It warmed my heart. And now
going forward, I'm going to be saying, either they changed
the score or they did not change the score. You
know what, She's going to be sitting in my chair soon. Yeah,

(01:14:43):
I better watch out. But I love that.

Speaker 3 (01:14:45):
I love that, And she's going to have great awareness
of the game too, to be locked in.

Speaker 2 (01:14:50):
That's awesome, that's fantastic. It was really cute.

Speaker 3 (01:14:52):
I'm going to use changing the score and developmental stage
from okay here on out moving forward. Yep, my feel
good story is is something that I saw in the
w NBA. So on the Sparks there's veteran Kelsey Plum
who is just tearing it up in a new role
in the Sparks uniform. She came to be a leader,

(01:15:13):
but she also has a rookie on the team, Sarah
Ashley Barker out of Alabama and she noticed her rookie,
Kelsey Plum noticed her rookie at training camp was wearing
some Sabrina Ironescu shoes and it looked pretty pretty worn out.
And she goes they call each other say and KP.
She goes, has, hey, get yourself some new shoes.

Speaker 2 (01:15:33):
What are we doing?

Speaker 3 (01:15:34):
And I think the rookie, you know, it's like I tried,
I tried, They're taking too long to get here.

Speaker 2 (01:15:39):
So what did KP do? Well?

Speaker 3 (01:15:41):
She hit up iron Escu, who then sent her multiple
colorways or sent Sarah Ashley multiple colorways, and Kelsey Plum.

Speaker 2 (01:15:51):
Documented this all on social media. And I think I.

Speaker 3 (01:15:53):
Think that's a sisters looking out for sisters, you know.
And I always love it when you get an in
any league, veteran rookie kind of support, where I think
sometimes it can be a little bit cutthroat, and rookies,
you know, are coming in with this confidence of like,
hey I got to figure it out, especially in the
W So I think that was a good feel good

(01:16:14):
moment for those those teammates.

Speaker 2 (01:16:17):
I love that. I love that. I want to go
back to something. Andrew was saying our previous guests about
how it could take a team when they hit rock
bottom in the NBA six years to just get back
to the playoffs and kind of what we're seeing. So
I brought this up earlier, but I want to talk
a little about the Detroit Tigers because I think Detroit
sports had had a really rough rough go I mean

(01:16:37):
really or rough. It's been hard times. It has been
hard times, and we are seeing quite the glow up.
And the Tigers are interesting because last season they were
good and then they kind of struggled towards the trade
deadline and they trade away Jack Flaherty. He's now back.
But now you look at this team and I know
we're early. I think they're the best team in the
American League. They have the best pitcher to read school ball.

(01:17:00):
You heard it here first. I'm going with it. Scoo
Ball is incredible.

Speaker 4 (01:17:05):
To me.

Speaker 2 (01:17:05):
It's like, I mean, this is going way back and
dating myself a little, but watching him is like watching
Greg Maddox. It's like a master and so one just
knows how to pick apart battle. So that to me
is a feel good story of the week for the
city of Detroit. I think it's just really fun to
watch and those fans deserve it. And you were up
in San Francisco too recently, right, I was up in

(01:17:28):
the Bay.

Speaker 3 (01:17:28):
Yeah, yeah for forty nine ers. Yeah for yeah Otia.
What's the vibel like up there?

Speaker 2 (01:17:33):
That is there's another feel good story of the week.
The vibe is great. You have the contracts are done,
the extensions are done, no drama. Here's what's pretty cool
about the vibe up there right now. There is a fresh,
youthful energy in that building that hasn't been there in
a while, and they needed that. They desperately needed that.
Brock Party mentioned it last week at his press conference.

(01:17:55):
I mean, brock Party is a field good story, right, Millennia, Right,
But he's he mentioned it. And you know when I
went to rookie Mini camp, guys get drafted and they
go to rookie Mini camp. Of course they're excited, everyone's excited.
But there was something about everybody that we talked to
that I was like, this appears different, this feels different,
and they needed it. You know, those previous teams, and

(01:18:16):
I've said this many times, were built to win super Bowls.
They didn't win super Bowls, and that that era is
over that I don't know how I feel about windows.
Maybe that window is closed, but that doesn't mean the
window is closed, and the vibe up there is really good,
and I think Rock Party to go back on that.
He comes in to his press conference after signing this

(01:18:38):
massive deal, you know, last pick in the draft, who's
now franchise quarterback. He comes in his forty nine or
sweats and a baseball hat and is just rock Party.
And he was asked the biggest purchase he would make,
and he said his wife would get annoyed at this,
but he really wants a bass boat. And I was like,
this is the beauty of rock Party because he will

(01:18:59):
always just be Brock Party. And that's fantastic.

Speaker 3 (01:19:02):
That's a feel good moment, and I'll give you one
more feel good moment. Shay Gil just Alexander following winning
the Western Conference Finals winning Western Conference Finals MVP, saying
that the most incredible thing about this year has been
having his son because he can look at his son
and say, basketball truly doesn't matter because his son loves

(01:19:22):
him no matter what he does. You know, he has
no clue. He's sitting there, baby smiling, has no clue.

Speaker 2 (01:19:29):
His dad just won the Western Conference Finals, right, and
I thought that really hit home.

Speaker 3 (01:19:33):
It's really cool to see someone excelling in all stages
of life, their career, on the court, as a father,
you know. So by all accounts, Okay, see you feel
good story as well.

Speaker 2 (01:19:43):
I agree with that. I love that. You guys, we
have had so much fun with you. Say so it's over.
It's it's just about over. Not don't feel good about that.
I'll tell you that right now. But this was a
ton of fun and we loved, loved, loved being with you.
But it's not over coming. Up next on Fox Sports Saturday,
we have Steve Hartman and Martin Wise to continue all

(01:20:06):
the fun on your airwaves. You guys, so enjoy it
and go Dodgers and enjoy enjoy Game six tonight. You
actually joy Game six night. You guys root for that
Game seven. It's gonna be a lot of fun. I
can't wait. I'm thinking we're getting Nicks thunder NBA Finals.
I kind of feel like like that too. Have you
heard it here first

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