June 21, 2024 • 39 mins
Hugh Millen joins the show to talk about Seahawks taking the last day of OTA's off, other NFL and Seahawks news, and much more. Chuck Powell joins as he and Softy talk to Samad Taylor about playing for the Raniers, the difference between the Show and minor leagues, and much more. Textimonials.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
No from the Star Renols Sports testsyour ninety three point three j j RFM
sports headlines. All right, boysand girls, here we go. Headlines
on Softy and Dick with Jackson,Dick is out, Anders in for Dick
and Dick is out for the show. That means Jackson's in for Dick.
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day. Uh. Mariners starting athree game series at Miami. George Kirby
tonight on the mound Logan Gilbert goestomorrow, Bryce Miller goes on Sunday.
We're at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma,Dallas. Kaikole will start for the Rainiers
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tonight, and the word is JorgePolanco is here and maybe in the lineup
tonight for the Rainiers. Michael Pennixand the Falcons reach to his terms on
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two point eight million dollars signing bonusof nearly fourteen NHL to night's Deeley Cup
Finals Florida Edmonton Game six. I'mbeing up at five twenty. You'll hear
it right here on ninety three tothree kJ IRFMF the Oilers win Game seven
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Monday. If the Panthers win,they win the whole thing. Barry Sanders
releasing a statement earlier today that hehad an unexpected health scare over Father's Day
weekend. I experienced a health scarerelated to my heart. We wish the
best for Barry Sanders. Baseball scoreboardhappening right now around the league delay in
Philadelphia. No score top of thefirst, d Backs and Phillies, White
Sox, Tigers, no score toptwo from Destrois, Raise, Pirates scoreless
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on the top of the second.Braves Yankees just getting underway, as are
the Red Sox and the Reds.All right here we go, joining us
right now on the radio show.I realize here today there's two things I'm
missing in my life. Number one, a fully functional backswing on the golf
course. And number two more HughMillan. When you go two weeks without
Hugh Millan, you always need more. Hugh Millan, and he's back from
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his vacation, joining us right nowon the air. How are you now,
I'm kind of like a bad golfswing. Yeah, no, I'm
doing fine. The good to bewith you. It's been a while.
Where did you go? Can youtell us where you went? I've just
been around. Hey, hu,where are you been? Oh my god,
that was going to be such along description. I was just he
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he just absolutely flumms me. Butnah, Well, last week I was
in New York City with my family. Uh yep, kids flew, every
flew, everybody in and everybody justkind of tooled around New York had a
good time. I love it.Man. What's up man? Where you've
been? Yeah, it's been around. Uh so since we talked, there's
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a lot going on. First ofall, Mike McDonald canceling the last day
of Pity Camp. I know theygot the extra time because of the extra
because of the new coaching staff obviously, but Dick and I on that day,
I was like, oh, that'sinteresting. If a brand new offense,
brand new defense, everything's brand new, and you had an extra day
to work on this and you gaveit back. Were you surprised by that.
I was a little bit surprised becauseyou know, you think, for
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example, DK Metcalf, there's someguys that are only showing up for mandatory
stuff, right, and so ifyou're only going to have them three days
and some of the others, Idon't mean to single out any one player,
I would want to have all three. Now, there's no question that
that he he got a lot ofyou know, kudos from his team and
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a lot of uh uh uh,you know, affection and goodwill. So
and they had the extra week asyou describe. And I think another part
of that is that it's becoming nowin the NFL, if it's becoming commonplace,
so that now players are not feelinglike they're rewarded. It's it's they're
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gonna feel jipped if they don't getit. In theory, that would never
happen. In reality, it would. If that again, if if all
these guys know that there's twenty teams, for example, that are saying uh
so long and and and foregoing thatlast day, then they're gonna feel okay,
well that they're they're getting jips.So I was a little bit surprised,
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but given that it seems to becommonplace. I think. I don't
think it was a bad move.Well, there's this, there's this,
this idea that they're looking at,and tell me if I'm wrong. Here
here getting rid of the mini campsand the offseason stuff altogether and just extending
training camp, to which some playerswho have kids out of school that are
home for the summer would say,Hey, I'd rather have camp while they're
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in school and then have more timeoff in the summer to spend with my
with my kids. How do youthink that would go over with the players
if they did that. Yeah,I don't think that the player is going
to be keen on coming in earlierthan the mandate, which is fifteen days
before the first preseason game, right, So I don't know. I think
it's kind of a mess when youlook at at how the collective bargaining.
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I tell you, in my opinion, the league are. Our perception of
the product is driven by quarterback play. Yes, even defensive minded head coaches
that the defensive minded head coaches thatI've played for, they seem to be
more chipper when the offense is whenthe passing game is just crisp in practice,
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If the quarterbacks are dirt and ballsand airmailing balls. Even defensive coaches
you might say, well, oh, I love it. You know,
nobody's complete name passes against my defense. No, they don't. Maybe the
defensive coordinator does, but not thehead coach. And I think fans,
when you look at when you turnon a game, if you don't,
if you don't have good quality quarterbackplay, it's it feels like a bad
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product. How many fans are sittingthere going, oh, the defense is
great. No, they're saying thequarterback stuck. Well, now, if
you're stripping down all these days forthe quarterback development, and I'll throw another
component in. It's it's of alocal nature. Ten years ago, the
Seattle Cover three was the dominant.You know, everybody was trying to play
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it all the proliferation. It wasvery easy to decipher for a quarterback.
You know where everybody is now MikeMcDonald ten years later, it's the Seahawk
head coach again, who is thepremier strategist. And it has nothing to
do with the simple cover three.It's highly complex, a lot of different
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looks, very difficult to process.And where there used to be I mean,
I'll just give you a term thatI when I was playing years ago,
we had what's called quarterback school,and in your mind, miscal well,
the quarterbacks in the off season aregoing to school, and it's just
the quarterbacks. No, we wouldhave four day, might have been three,
three days some week, some four. We would have eleven on eleven.
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It was Dave. If you watchthose practices, it would look exactly
like a mini camp, just likea mini camp. But they called it
quarterback school. Week after week afterweek we were getting this. So I
think you need that, and Ithink with Mike McDonald and some of his
disciples, over the next five years, you're going to see some lousy quarterback
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play and the perception of the productis really going to be questioned. Well,
you just saw a guy and TrevorLawrence who is now the highest paid
quarterback in the NFL along with JoeBurrow, and he's what, He's got
one playoff win under his belt.There's a now a discussion. I think
you may have kind of brought thisup a few years ago as a possibility.
Maybe I'm wrong on that. Tellme if I'm right or wrong about
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a separate salary pool just for quarterbacks. What do you make of that idea?
Well, you think, as aformer quarterback, i'd be knee jerk,
just, you know, ardently againstit. I think if it makes
sense and it's defensible and there's afairness, I wouldn't be against it.
I'd need to see the particulars right, and of course it'd have to be
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bargained upon collectively. And you know, it is interesting. I would kind
of equate it on some level tothe franchise tag. The franchise tag is
really what's described if you do someresearch on it, it's the l Way
clause. Because I was a playerrep when we were trying to get free
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agency. When I came in theleague, there was no it was what's
called player indemnity. When Joe Montana'scontract expired with the forty nine Ers,
didn't matter if he was in yearnine, he was still the property of
the forty nine Ers, had noability to negotiate with anybody, and so
we had to strike and decertifize theunion and do all these things to get
free agency the players now enjoy,of course, but in that process we
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remember getting updates and the owners.There were some of the owners that were
willing to go somewhere like no never, And Pat Bolan was kind of a
pivotal guy. And Pat Bolan,the owner of the Broncos, said hey,
I'm not signing anything that allows meto lose John Elway period, end
of story, right, and I'mgoing to remain on the old circuit camp
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of these other owners. And soone of the compromises, okay, we'll
have an Lway clause. Well,and thus was born the franchise tag.
And so you could say, well, if you're the guy in the league
that's been franchise tagged and you losesome right, you know, that is
a real what could be termed arestraint of the free market, which is
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in violation of the anti trust.Well, the only way you get get
that through is to have the laborlaws which supersede the anti trust laws.
And so that happened for the franchiseguys. Of course, it's been exercised
on players, not just quarterbacks.But there could be something in a similar
manner where where it was shoved downthe John Elways of the world, it
could be shoved down all the quarterbacks. But and a final point on that,
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I will say that the market,if we're talking about this great sport
that we all love and we alwaysknew for decades. I've been watching football
fifty years, you forty. Wealways knew quarterbacks were value valuable. The
market is showing us, just infact, how valuable quarterbacks are. And
now they want to put you know, these these against restraints and caps on
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it and what have you, justto in some sense just control themselves,
no question. I mean, allthis just seems like it's there to suppress
quarterback salaries. End of story.I mean, I don't think owners are
going to do anything that would makethem pay quarterbacks more money, but suppressing
it for sure. And I'm likeyou, what are the details is that?
Is it a portion of the currentsalary cap that has set aside?
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Is it a portion plus ten percent, plus five percent, whatever it is
that's set aside. So I'm likeyou curious to see. But from a
quarterback perspective in Seattle, I rememberhaving the conversation with you two years ago
about Drew Lock and how you wereadamant we got to have a competition,
We got to have a competition betweenDrew Lock and Gino Smith. And there
really wasn't a competition. I guesssomebody could say, well, Drew Lock
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was gonna start and then he gotCOVID and he was done. But I
think we all saw what was goingon when that thing began. Are you
as adamant now that there needs tobe a competition between Geno and Sam Howe
as you were two years ago withGino and Drew Lock. No, because
that was prior to twenty twenty two, right, and and Gino hadn't done
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anything. Now Gino has has provenhimself to be a serviceable quarterback. You
know my feeling about Geno, he'sabout middle of the league, of the
league, and and I think thatthere should be some competition, but not
to the extent that I would haveadvocated back in the Drew Locke situation.
Now in twenty twenty two, Ithink it's worth noting here we're talking about
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caps. Gino Smith's cap was threepoint five million. That was one point
sixty one percent of the cap.Now then last year's four point five to
five. This year it's going tobe ten point one percent of cap.
His cap is twenty six point fourmillion. It's going up to over twenty
five million, I believe thirty millionnext year and We don't know the percentage
because the cap will vary, butyou know that that I think is an
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equation and for Sam Howe's you knowhere in looking at Sam Howe and Gino.
First of all, let's talk aboutGino for a second. The one
of the concerns among many, andI've touched on them, and this is
not a Geno segment, but thered zone passer rating. Gino last year
twenty ninth, a red zone completionpercentage thirty first in the league, a
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successful play percentage thirty sixth. Onthird down conversions, Gino was thirtieth.
And there's similar poor numbers for theSeahawks as a team in those in those
specialized areas. So you hear aboutGeno led the NFL in fourth quarter comebacks,
Well, there's more opportunities in that. And look, that's a great
stat that is that there's no detractingfrom that. That's important stuff. But
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in my mind, I'm almost thinking, like, as an NFL player,
you have Wednesday's your first practice,that's first and second down. Is this
a general rule? Some violate this, but as a general you can say
Wednesday is the first and second down, Thursday is your third down day and
then Friday is your specialized day.That's short yardage, goal line, it's
red zone, what have you?Right? So to me, it's like
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Gino, Okay, you're good onon Wednesday, but there's some things on
the Thursday and Friday, the specializedstuff like we've got to get better on
third down and we've got to getbetter on the red zone. Now,
for Sam Howe, the big issuefor him was he was the sacks that
you know, most sacks in theleague. Right, His pressure percentage went
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in the pocket was thirty four pointsix. That was the eighth most percentage.
Does he hold the ball, that'sa fair question. In the pocket.
His average time to throw was twopoint four to eight seconds. These
are these are Commander plays a yearago. Sam Howe with the football in
his and he's in the pocket againtwo point four eight seconds per play.
Where does that rank? Well?Tied with Pat Mahomes? Wow? Wow?
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For nineteenth and twenty he the twopoint four to eight is exactly the
number that Pat Mahomes is in Andoh, by the way, yeah it's
Gino is twenty first in that sect. He was two point four seven seconds.
So you're basically I would I thinkstatisicians would sa, Okay, that's
not an important statistic to correlate togood quarterbacking because here we got the best
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in Mahomes, We've got you know, whatever you think of how you know,
you got geno and and they allbasically are the same. So that's
not as a strong statistical category.But at any event, for those I've
heard it mentioned about, okay,the sacks is that because he's holding the
ball, what have you? Youknow, can he get does he have
the capacity to get rid of itthe way Sean Payton was really needing after
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having the Russell Wilson experience and heloved how bo Nicks gets rid of it
and what have you. That's areal thing. Get rid of the damn
ball. And those are the numbersthat reflect well here Mellen's with us on
the show, and Hugh I heardMike McDonald, I think Ian was alluding
to this on his show talking aboutgetting canine Kenny Walker more involved in the
passing offense as a catcher, asa pass catcher, not like a catcher
like Kyle Raley, but you getthe punderstand as a receiver. Thank you.
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In three years in college at wakenin Michigan State, he caught nineteen
passes. Is it nineteen or eighteenat thirteen two and three, but my
research says nineteen, all right,So I just want to be accurate.
We just you're the host ten andtwo. We're driving nineteen nineteen. He's
caught fifty six balls in his firsttwo years in the NFL. So for
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somebody to say we should use KennyWalker more as a receiver, they are
and they have been. But isthere another level you think in Ryan Grubbs
office, Well, both of themhave been under thirty. I thought it
was twenty nine and twenty eight.But we're close on the numbers, right,
And so there are sixteen receivers.Excuse me, let me start again.
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There are sixteen running backs in theleague last year that had fifty or
more highlighted by CMC Music Factory ateighty six, right. So I'm not
saying that he should catch eighty sixballs like Christ McCaffrey, but I don't
think it's unreasonable given his dynamic,his explosiveness, his acceleration, his I
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think there's a broken field running capacity, the need that he has that you
get the ball mount on the wingand the screens makes the first guy layer
miss and I think, now he'sreally dynamic in the open field. So
for me to be under two catchesper game, I think that's light.
And so I think if we canpush it up to approximately you know three
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or more, right, that wouldbe you know fifty one right? Sure,
And again there's sixteen guys that areover the fifty threshold, So I
don't think that's unreasonable. Well,I'll tell you what, Dick and I
had this conversation a few weeks agothis time, and a year from now,
or even like maybe ten months fromnow, the Seahawks and DK Metcalf
probably be talking about a deal,right because he's got two years left in
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his contract. Free agent year isnext season. What do you think DK
Metcalfs year looks like? And doyou think the Seahawks are really in a
good mood and a charitable way toget this guy resigned as soon as possible.
Well, I think that they're goingto use him more as a deep
threat. If you go back,I can you look at Roma Dunza and
obviously that the constant variable is goingto be Ryan Grubb. Roma Dunze last
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year led the Nation forty nine attemptswhere the ball was twenty yards or more,
and that was in fifteen games.DK in sixteen games had just twenty
six. So again, forty nineto twenty six, you do if you
go on a per game basis,Rome had more than double, and you
could and there's similar numbers on ballsin the year longer than thirty yards.
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So I think that we're gonna we'regonna see come hell or high water,
They're they're either gonna get the ballto DK deep, or they're gonna die
trying, or they're just gonna they'regonna see rolled coverage and safeties over the
top, in which case I wouldnot counsel Geno just forced the ball down
the field. But there'll be otherthings open. And Tyler's already been a
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beneficiary of that, of that rolecoverage, and so so I think,
yeah, look, I'm I'm IfI'm the last guy that died on the
beach supporting DK Metcalf, then sobe it. I will be that guy.
That's just what I see in him. Yeah, for sure, And
and I think he's been underutilized.I'm in Troy Aikman's camp. They need
to throw the ball to him moreand so you've said this year, I
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think that probably because of the newoffensive coordinator, DK's just twenty six years
old. I would say that thereal referendum would be after two seasons,
not one. I would argue fora real assessment that way. But if
if they don't have financial consideration,you know, trader or extend, if
that happens happening a year ago,I'm still gonna be this is this is
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a bull market for me on DKmetcalf. If you're asking my opinion,
well, it's never a bad ideato hook up with Troy Aikman's camp ever,
ever, ever, ever, ever, Hey, listen, good stuff,
Welcome back from the Big Apple.We're talking a week, buddy,
appreciate that. Okay, Adam allright here melling with us. When we
come back. I think samad Tayloris gonna swing over and sayal oh,
been going back and forth Seattle toKamat to Combra to Seattle. I five
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and then Chuck Powell, who's onthe call tonight on nine point fifty AM
with Mike Kurdo, will join usat four forty five. Mike Benton talking
Stanley Cup Final. Let's go Edmonton, Come on Game seven Monday. Let's
get it done right here on ninetythree to three KJRFM smive from the R
and R Foundation Specialists Broadcast Studio.Now back to Softie and Dick on your
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Home for the Huskies and the KrekenSports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM,
Yeah money back here in Teetown,Tacoma, just off of Clay Huntington
Way. Clay Huntington one of thegreat, great, great guys I've ever
had the chance to know, formerowner of KLAY Radio, Clay back in
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the day, got to o'clay sittingin the Kingdom press box like twenty five
thirty years ago, and he representedTacoma. Him and Stan Nacarata, two
guys that I really kind of fellin love with and they were great for
me and awesome mentors in both thatunfortunately gone. I wonder if one day
people will talk about Chuck Powell likethat. I remember when Chuck Powell took
me under his wing that Bush Stadiumin Saint Louis and sid kid, here's
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what you have to do to survivein this industry. And then somebody in
fifty years will say, you knowwhat I would not have been here without
Chuck Powell's guidance. No way.Uh oh, maybe it might be like,
uh, who's this Chuck Poell commembertivetoilet guy? Yeah, who did
he do? Oh God, whatdid he do? In life? Iver?
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Tell you the Jack Buck story forme? Uh No, I was
out there ninety eight. I wasout there from McGuire's home run thing against
the Cubs. Greatest sports weekend ever. I flew to Arizona State and I
saw brock Hewart hit Reggie Davis inthe hand of God game on the last
second game winning touchdown. Jumped ona plane. Sunday, went to Bush
Stadium, Saw sixty one, didmy show from KMOX Monday, Saw sixty
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two. Tuesday, went home andI went to the Bush Stadium on Sunday
and I saw Jack Buck sitting inthe dugout hey by myself, and I
did not have the guy to walkup and say hello to him. He
was my hero. Him and DaveNiehouse were my heroes because I would listen
to Sunday Night Football and Monday NightFootball with Hank Stram and Jack Buck on
the call, and he was theguys undern TA NA. I think he's
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throw throwing right, yeck throwing right. That was my one time to meet
Jack Buck and I blew it.So somebody somewhere is gonna have a chance
to meet Chuck Pollen if you dotake advantage of it. Well, we're
back here at Cheney Stadium, SamadTaylor going to join us hopefully in a
few minutes here from the ballpark.You're doing the game tonight over on AM
with with Kurdo. But uh,I feel like every month or so we
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get kind of a Mariner update fromyou and kind of where things are going
right now. So ten games up, a couple of days ago, eight
games up now starting to kind ofmaybe run away with this thing. I
mean, we hear Jason Stark onwith Igan Ferness, who says in the
wild card era, no team thatever had a double digit division lead missed
the playoffs, to which I thought, of course, well, that means
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we're gonna be the first one.Is that what you're saying? I heard
you, guys, I heard youguys. Yeah, I mean I feel
good about it. I picked theAstros to win the division before the season,
but they did us a favor byletting the Mariners get out ahead.
I mean to be here on Junetwenty, first first day a summer and
be eleven games over five hundred eightgames up in the division. That's a
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gift. And so I mean,where have we been the last couple of
years? Digging out of holes forthe first you know, couple from the
first couple of months. So Ifeel good about it. And I thought
on Wednesday, it's funny Angie Mintinkcomes on our show every Wednesday, and
the first thing I talked about isdo you get the feeling that it's all
kind of coming together? The offensewas starting to hit, and we all
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believe in the starting pitching, andScott's again with Pete Woodworth working his magic
and the bullpen and all of thedefensive woes feel like they've been fixed from
April when they looked like it wascatastrophic. So it kind of felt like
everything for the first time the seasonwas all coming together, and you'd already
built and you know, a tengame lead in the division with half the
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team, the offense having shown upyet, and then what happens. You
score three runs in two days,lose back to back games to a good
Guardians team, but you have tofeel good about it, and you have
to feel good about all the rumorsthat Jerry's can't wait to add to the
offense. Well, and the Guardianshave the best home record in baseball right
for a reason. So what happenedthere was not a surprise. But I'll
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tell you what, I'm curious withyour thoughts on this. I think a
lot of people waiting for a messiahat the trade deadline, Chuck are going
to be disappointed number one, becausethere's so many teams that need help,
there's so few sellers. And thennumber three, you got a better shot
of finding your messiah here, likewhen Polanka, who's here right now,
comes off the il, when tyFranz finds his way, Handiger finds his
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way. I feel like the reinforcements, if you will, are kind of
already here. I don't think amessiah is going to be available unless you
consider Luis Robert Junior that and ifyou do, he's going to cost a
fortune because of supply and demand.As Simple Economics went over this with Jim
Bowden on my show earlier this week, there are five sellers. You know,
there are only two teams in theentire National League that aren't within a
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game and a half in a wildcardspot. And so if you have only
five sellers and you've got twenty fivebuyers, that's just gonna jack up the
price for who is ever available fromthose selling teams. So you're gonna have
a choice. You either have totrade a valuable commodity that's contributing right now,
like a Bryce Miller to get somethingthat fills a hole, or you
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have to overpay for a Luis RobertJunior with a surplus of prospects. I'm
not sure what direction they'll head.I do think they'll add something, but
the idea that Vladimir Guerrero or PeteAlonso's coming here, it's starting to feel
like that's not going to be possible. Yeah, I just feel like,
again you're talking about Hanneger and Garverand Rayley and Polanco and those guys just
simply put, given you one halfof baseball. It's all you need right
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now, right I mean, thenumbers at the end of the year are
not gonna look great because you're almostthree months in now, but can you
give us one half of baseball?Oh man? Can you just do what
you were supposed to do? Fortwo and a half three months, and
if they do do that, thatmight be enough. All right, Well
stay right here because joining us rightnow on the radio show is a guy
that I have been hoping to talkto for a long long time. It's
a funny sonality. He's coming overhere with a sleeveless shirt, and it's
(25:15):
really interesting because both of us havethe same type of arms. We both
look alike. I work out alot as well. I'm yoke just like
him. But Mariner now Rainier SamadTaylor is with us on the radio show
here in Tacoma. How are youman? Good? So tell us about
what this experience has been like foryou. You're up, You're down,
You're there, You're here. Ican't imagine going to work and somebody's saying,
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hey, Dave, today, you'rean Olympia. Tomorrow Seeyattle, next
week you're in renting. So whatis this like from your perspective? It's
a blessing? First, Yeah,bring that there you go. You're good.
Just a blessing, honestly, justto have the ability to to go
to Seattle, play a couple ofgames of Seattle, come back here.
I guess you're chasing it right.The dream's not over, It's right.
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Dreams not over until you hang yourcleets up. So until that day comes,
I don't I don't care how manytimes I gotta do it. I'm
gonna do it because this is thegame I love. And any way to
help a team win, either hereor in Seattle, that's all it is.
What is this a rist rap?Is this a thumb rap? What
do we got going on here?A little thumb rap just got out of
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their training room? So okay,having a thumb more with your teammates,
see what happened? Just fighting,fighting it out, fighting it out,
because that that's one of the thingsabout minor league baseball. And there's camaraderie
at the major league level also.But it's is it not tighter down here
at this level with you guys,Oh, believe it or not. I
would say it's tighter than the bigleagues. Okay, it's just if if
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you have a good group of guys, it all starts with one guy.
If you have one guy that alot of guys like to be around,
he can kind of gravitate to it. So good thing about our team in
the big leagues JP, is thatguy? So right, and I just
besides JP, there's more guys.It's a great group of guys up there,
and like you said, it's it'sa great group of guys down here.
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Uh, you got names through theroof, Dallas, Joey Vargas,
DZ. Like when Bliss was here, Bliss was a great guy. Pab
Chavis was here, He's a greatguy. So like we've had we've had
a good, good group of guyshere, and I feel like it's been
a bond that you can't break,whether you're up or you're down. You
(27:30):
know, when the big league team'swinning and you know how close you are
to going back, you're probably aninjury away at any point in the season.
I mean, do you envision likeOctober I get the call, October
I make a play. I mean, does that does that drive you motivate
you thinking about that? Yeah?Cause your your ultimate goal is to to
(27:51):
hold the trophy up at the endof the year, And like I said
earlier, whatever I have to doto make that happen and and make that
come true is something that I'm gonnaI'm gonna work my butt off to get
to that point. Yeah, yeah, you have cliche, but you have
dreams about sure holding the trophy up, your dreams about hitting the walk off
(28:14):
home run. But like the hardestthing to do is just be present in
the moment. I still have thosedreams, and I'm fifty years old,
Okay, So I don't think youever really get rid of them. To
be totally honest with oh, isthe for a overweight, out of shape,
fifty one year old Jewish left fielder. Because if there is, I'm
your man, all right, youtell your bosses here at the Rainiers,
(28:34):
and you tell Jerry and Justin I'myour man. But some odd Taylor with
us down here with the Rainiers andyou spend thirty one games of Kansas City.
You had the three games stint withthe Mariners this year. When you
come back to a place like this, do you feel like you're constantly going
through a tryout, like everything youdo is being scrutinized by the Jets.
I wouldn't dive as deep as that. Yeah, Like when you when you
(28:57):
sign that contract, you're not justplaying for that one team. So,
like you said, when I getsent back, it's kind of a thing
of well, now, like yousaid, kind of showcasing. But I'm
showcasing for everybody else besides the Mariners. Yes, the Mariner's eyes are on
me more than other teams. Butanytime you get sent back down, it's
(29:21):
not I'm not gonna say it's abad thing, but it's not the best
thing. But it's just go backdown and get back to work and whatever
you gotta do to get back up, just keep working, and God's gonna
be in your size and get youback to where you gotta be. For
those of you who don't know,the Rainier is steal like thirteen bases a
game. So two questions, howmany bases stolen do you have so far
this year? And where do Iget a pair of those breakfast socks?
(29:44):
I got these socks? Wow?To answer that, I'm big on Yeah,
I'm big on just desate. Thoseare what the kids would call dope
by the way, Yeah, yeah, I think I'm big on them.
I'm I just I'm big on justa lot of designs on stuff. Yeah,
I got you. Whatever it is. If it's like these ones today
(30:07):
are breakfast, I had ones onyesterday that were SpongeBob ones. There.
There you go, wear some garyones during practice? Nice? I kind
of just try to try to belight on the light on the socks.
Let's get your sock deal with somebodymentWell, let's let's work on that.
(30:29):
I mean, my god, doI have to be your agent too?
What do you want from me?Come on, bring the deals on.
We will take care of that.I would love that. A sock deal
from any company. I mean,as long as you have designs in your
socks out put them on. Yeah, well you should start your own company,
some odd socks. I mean,it's right there for you, Taylor.
There you go. You see,never mind, Taylor made Sue and
you're for copyrighting Friends of a Weekand we can we can deal with that
(30:52):
later. But some odd Taylor iswith us on the ear. So so
what is the biggest difference? Honestly, because you've seen the movie Bull Durham.
I mean it's funny. He's twentyfive, and that movie came out
like thirty years ago. So Iremember being in the Sea Hawk locker room
and there were guys that had notseen Jerry maguire and I'm like, oh,
what God, how old am I? For? God? Six?
Have you seen Jerry McGuire, bythe way, not okay, see this
one's talking about. Have you seenBull Durham? Yes? Okay, So
(31:15):
Kevin Costner on the bus does thatscene where the biggest difference between the show
and the miners? Tell us whatis honestly the biggest difference between being in
the show and being here besides everything? Flights? Yeah, you're on a
four and a half hour flight ona commercial flight. You can't get up.
You gotta not gonna say you can'tget up, but I can't get
(31:38):
up and go chop it up withyou when you're sitting in fifteen rows ahead
of me. And another one that'sobvious when you go through the locker rooms
and you see everything. Food yea, Oh, Food's a big one.
Food is ood is a big,big, big one. You go not
(32:02):
that you're not eating good in theminor leagues, but it's not the five
star, five star flaming youngs andlobster tails and stuff like that, or
on the street is in New York. You got some some crazy spreads,
Well you got you got chicken stripsand fries and some barbecue and mac and
(32:24):
cheese. Here man, now I'llgive you little little inside on me ballpark
food, chicken fingers and fries.There you go. We just had a
big debate like two weeks ago aboutthe number one thing you have to have
at the stadium sitting in the standsas of fans shick fingers, chicken fingers
and fries ice chicken. Okay,fine, you ever have McDonald's barbecue sauce.
(32:45):
By the way, I'm not afan of it, okay, but
but you've had it. Yes,I've had you one. Okay, Chick
fil A barbecue sauce totally with,hands down, best barbecue sauce in the
game. You just became my alltime favorite player. But I'm gonna give
you another one though. There's andI don't know the brand of it that
I just added in Sacramento. Mmhmm. There's a Korean barbecue sauce.
(33:08):
Oh, slim to none. Okay, wow, I'll put it on anything
done, all right, We'll checkit out. Got a little kim Chief
flavor to it. It's like achange. Yeah, bet you it does.
I can't even explain it. Well, here's what we're gonna do.
We're gonna try those barbecue sauces.In the same time, get our people
together to work with your people,get you a sock deal. Can't do
it. That's happening. The greatstuff. Hey, best of luck to
(33:30):
you man, Thank you, Iappreciate you. Guys. Modd Taylor with
us on the radio show here fromCheney Stadium and Chuck, this a great
time for a break. We justbrought over a big spread of food for
us. Somebody's gotta get this foodhere from the sun. By the way,
move that move that thing over there. Yeah, Andrews, you're you're
gonna be jealous when we put thesepictures out on social media. More from
Cheney Stadium. Textimonials coming up onninety three three kJ RFM coming to you
(33:55):
live from the Elliott Avenue studios ofSports Radio kJ ARE. This is textimonials
taken away Dave Softy Maller. Well, it's that time of the day,
a game with the rain. Earsare stuffing our guts for us here at
Cheney Stadium. Potato, Yeah,loaded baked potato with a chili, the
(34:15):
barbecue beef and mac and cheese,the fish and chips, and the chicken
tenders I believe as well those arefish. Yeah, they're all fish.
I just had the spicy hot sauce. They have to sit this one out.
This is what I'm saying. Iwas the first segment I could drink
this. It's so good. Yourorgans don't look like mine at all.
(34:37):
Okay, uh, we are hereat Chaney Stadium for the Rainy Ears in
Vegas tonight. Chuck's got the Callwith Mike Kurdo over on AM at seven
four nine four five one. Thetellmort dude text line when it's game time,
it's Tully time, Anders in forJackson, back in the studio,
Jackson, and for Dick here inperson and ta coma, Andrews, where
do you got, Softy? Youare so wrong on steroids. The integrity
(34:57):
of the game comes above all else. What did I say that makes you
think otherwise? I don't get it. I think it's referring to you saying
that like players like Bonds should bein the Hall of Fames and Roch the
first half of his career made hima Hall of Famer. I don't think
every player that did steroids should bein the Hall of Fame. But if
you can, if you can makean argument to me that before steroids,
they had put up Hall of Famenumbers and put him in. Maguire.
(35:20):
No, absolutely not and trust me, I followed his career more than anybody
here in this city. By far. I know everything there is to know
about the guy. He was onhis way out out the door until they
found creatine. Remember that one daywhen the photographer took the photo and the
and the and the and the clubhouseand they got in trouble. That's why
you can't take still pictures anymore inMajor League Baseball clubhouses because some jerk wagon
(35:42):
took a photo of a bucket ofcreatine above McGuire's locker when he was with
the A's. I believe so noteverybody should be in. But Bonds had
won three MVPs before he found stereo. If you have the stats, and
if you have the career of aHall of Famer, and then steroids doesn't
negate what you did before. Yeah, a lot of the they do.
You guys mind if I eat whileon the air and you're going out.
(36:06):
I've heard some dumb things on kJARE in the twenty five years I have
been listening, But anders you,sir, win the award for the dumbest
thing ever said on the airwaves.That's like saying Clint Dempsey is better than
Ronaldo you can't just look at acontroversial analytical statistic like war and say that
person is better stupid. I Igotta be honest with there's a little nervous
(36:27):
when he said that. Twenty fiveyears of this radio I've never heard Anders
say something is dumb. Jackson andI are both holding over. Bro.
Please don't let it be us.Let them go after him. You want
to clarify your position. But yeah, and Ricky Henderson versus Junior, I
still think that in their peak,in their prime, Ken Griffy Jr.
Was a better baseball player right duringhis four or five years of dominance,
(36:49):
especially with the Mariners. He itwas as good as it gets, right.
And yes, in terms of justtheir ability on the baseball field,
King Griffy Jr. Takes the cake. But if you're talking overall career,
your and including longevity and just kindof value that you bring to your team,
I still take I would rather haveRicky Henderson's career. I think that's
the exact thing you said in thefirst second. Nothing change. It's just
(37:12):
as ridiculous now as it was then. Alright, whatever I need, awl,
you have barbecue all over. Theydid not bring any napkins where they
brought some towels. Holy moly,I'm sorry. I wasn't listening to anything
you guys were saying. Said theexact same thing you said in the first
Yeah, all right, whatever,listen, Andrews, just stay on Andrews
(37:35):
Island, all right, that Ihave. I was gonna say, I
have to bring some sort of dickenergy because he's out today. So that
came out wrong. Holy I hada big space in between those two herds.
All right, what's the next?Dating twenty three years old gives a
new meaning to the trim head coach? Oh wow, yes, to be
(37:59):
explained, Yeah, put it inthere. Yeah, this is my head
coach. Oh boy, he's teachingme. Okay, okay, anybody once
again? Kids, show me sogood, so good, softy. You
almost had me believing that the womancould enjoy Bill Belichick's company, and then
I remember that there is literally nothingon the planet that would enjoy Bill Belichick's
(38:20):
company. Well, a lot ofmoney would enjoy his company. I mean,
if you know, he's probably madeyou know what, fifty million dollars
in his career. I have noidea how much he's made, but yeah,
I mean, hey, you knowwhat, So you know he's I
don't blame him. I was thinkingfor him. I was thinking in the
break after that, you know,in the moments when you've seen Bill Belichick
become a lot more personable and he'sactually talking, he's he's actually kind of
(38:42):
a funny, witty person exactly.Yeah, because Mike had that great conversation
with him before the Super Bowl.It's the element where in the right place
at the right time. Maybe thelights are off right, maybe he's right.
Maybe he's an enjoyable person to bearound. Well, he might be,
and there's a lot about it.We probably don't know. Number one.
Yeah, and then number two.Look, I mean I think all
(39:02):
of us, our spouses are withus partly because of what we do for
a living and the fact that weare, I guess successful. Because if
you were a bum, yea,there's no way your wife's with you now.
But your drive, right, you'rethe fact that you got to this
spot is part of the reason thatyou know, Rise is attracted to you.
The rest of it. I haveno idea that the career you literally
(39:24):
looked up and down you like,there's no part of me. Yeah,
that's attractive all right, we're gottabreak. Mike Benton's gonna join us before
Game six Stanley Cup Final face offat A five twenty right here on ninety
three three. kJ air evn
No from the Star Renols Sports testsyour ninety three point three j j RFM
sports headlines. All right, boysand girls, here we go. Headlines
on Softy and Dick with Jackson,Dick is out, Anders in for Dick
and Dick is out for the show. That means Jackson's in for Dick.
Does that makes sense now? Okay? Anyway? Headlines brought to you by
(00:20):
our friends and buddies, good Asand Glass. It's always four twenty if
budies better, you give me halfthe money you were gonna bend and we'll
go out back. I'll kick youin the nuts and we'll call it a
day. Uh. Mariners starting athree game series at Miami. George Kirby
tonight on the mound Logan Gilbert goestomorrow, Bryce Miller goes on Sunday.
We're at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma,Dallas. Kaikole will start for the Rainiers
(00:42):
tonight, and the word is JorgePolanco is here and maybe in the lineup
tonight for the Rainiers. Michael Pennixand the Falcons reach to his terms on
a rookie contract. The number eightpick gets a four year deal worth twenty
two point eight million dollars signing bonusof nearly fourteen NHL to night's Deeley Cup
Finals Florida Edmonton Game six. I'mbeing up at five twenty. You'll hear
it right here on ninety three tothree kJ IRFMF the Oilers win Game seven
(01:04):
Monday. If the Panthers win,they win the whole thing. Barry Sanders
releasing a statement earlier today that hehad an unexpected health scare over Father's Day
weekend. I experienced a health scarerelated to my heart. We wish the
best for Barry Sanders. Baseball scoreboardhappening right now around the league delay in
Philadelphia. No score top of thefirst, d Backs and Phillies, White
Sox, Tigers, no score toptwo from Destrois, Raise, Pirates scoreless
(01:26):
on the top of the second.Braves Yankees just getting underway, as are
the Red Sox and the Reds.All right here we go, joining us
right now on the radio show.I realize here today there's two things I'm
missing in my life. Number one, a fully functional backswing on the golf
course. And number two more HughMillan. When you go two weeks without
Hugh Millan, you always need more. Hugh Millan, and he's back from
(01:49):
his vacation, joining us right nowon the air. How are you now,
I'm kind of like a bad golfswing. Yeah, no, I'm
doing fine. The good to bewith you. It's been a while.
Where did you go? Can youtell us where you went? I've just
been around. Hey, hu,where are you been? Oh my god,
that was going to be such along description. I was just he
(02:10):
he just absolutely flumms me. Butnah, Well, last week I was
in New York City with my family. Uh yep, kids flew, every
flew, everybody in and everybody justkind of tooled around New York had a
good time. I love it.Man. What's up man? Where you've
been? Yeah, it's been around. Uh so since we talked, there's
(02:30):
a lot going on. First ofall, Mike McDonald canceling the last day
of Pity Camp. I know theygot the extra time because of the extra
because of the new coaching staff obviously, but Dick and I on that day,
I was like, oh, that'sinteresting. If a brand new offense,
brand new defense, everything's brand new, and you had an extra day
to work on this and you gaveit back. Were you surprised by that.
I was a little bit surprised becauseyou know, you think, for
(02:52):
example, DK Metcalf, there's someguys that are only showing up for mandatory
stuff, right, and so ifyou're only going to have them three days
and some of the others, Idon't mean to single out any one player,
I would want to have all three. Now, there's no question that
that he he got a lot ofyou know, kudos from his team and
(03:14):
a lot of uh uh uh,you know, affection and goodwill. So
and they had the extra week asyou describe. And I think another part
of that is that it's becoming nowin the NFL, if it's becoming commonplace,
so that now players are not feelinglike they're rewarded. It's it's they're
(03:36):
gonna feel jipped if they don't getit. In theory, that would never
happen. In reality, it would. If that again, if if all
these guys know that there's twenty teams, for example, that are saying uh
so long and and and foregoing thatlast day, then they're gonna feel okay,
well that they're they're getting jips.So I was a little bit surprised,
(03:59):
but given that it seems to becommonplace. I think. I don't
think it was a bad move.Well, there's this, there's this,
this idea that they're looking at,and tell me if I'm wrong. Here
here getting rid of the mini campsand the offseason stuff altogether and just extending
training camp, to which some playerswho have kids out of school that are
home for the summer would say,Hey, I'd rather have camp while they're
(04:19):
in school and then have more timeoff in the summer to spend with my
with my kids. How do youthink that would go over with the players
if they did that. Yeah,I don't think that the player is going
to be keen on coming in earlierthan the mandate, which is fifteen days
before the first preseason game, right, So I don't know. I think
it's kind of a mess when youlook at at how the collective bargaining.
(04:43):
I tell you, in my opinion, the league are. Our perception of
the product is driven by quarterback play. Yes, even defensive minded head coaches
that the defensive minded head coaches thatI've played for, they seem to be
more chipper when the offense is whenthe passing game is just crisp in practice,
(05:04):
If the quarterbacks are dirt and ballsand airmailing balls. Even defensive coaches
you might say, well, oh, I love it. You know,
nobody's complete name passes against my defense. No, they don't. Maybe the
defensive coordinator does, but not thehead coach. And I think fans,
when you look at when you turnon a game, if you don't,
if you don't have good quality quarterbackplay, it's it feels like a bad
(05:27):
product. How many fans are sittingthere going, oh, the defense is
great. No, they're saying thequarterback stuck. Well, now, if
you're stripping down all these days forthe quarterback development, and I'll throw another
component in. It's it's of alocal nature. Ten years ago, the
Seattle Cover three was the dominant.You know, everybody was trying to play
(05:49):
it all the proliferation. It wasvery easy to decipher for a quarterback.
You know where everybody is now MikeMcDonald ten years later, it's the Seahawk
head coach again, who is thepremier strategist. And it has nothing to
do with the simple cover three.It's highly complex, a lot of different
(06:11):
looks, very difficult to process.And where there used to be I mean,
I'll just give you a term thatI when I was playing years ago,
we had what's called quarterback school,and in your mind, miscal well,
the quarterbacks in the off season aregoing to school, and it's just
the quarterbacks. No, we wouldhave four day, might have been three,
three days some week, some four. We would have eleven on eleven.
(06:34):
It was Dave. If you watchthose practices, it would look exactly
like a mini camp, just likea mini camp. But they called it
quarterback school. Week after week afterweek we were getting this. So I
think you need that, and Ithink with Mike McDonald and some of his
disciples, over the next five years, you're going to see some lousy quarterback
(06:54):
play and the perception of the productis really going to be questioned. Well,
you just saw a guy and TrevorLawrence who is now the highest paid
quarterback in the NFL along with JoeBurrow, and he's what, He's got
one playoff win under his belt.There's a now a discussion. I think
you may have kind of brought thisup a few years ago as a possibility.
Maybe I'm wrong on that. Tellme if I'm right or wrong about
(07:15):
a separate salary pool just for quarterbacks. What do you make of that idea?
Well, you think, as aformer quarterback, i'd be knee jerk,
just, you know, ardently againstit. I think if it makes
sense and it's defensible and there's afairness, I wouldn't be against it.
I'd need to see the particulars right, and of course it'd have to be
(07:40):
bargained upon collectively. And you know, it is interesting. I would kind
of equate it on some level tothe franchise tag. The franchise tag is
really what's described if you do someresearch on it, it's the l Way
clause. Because I was a playerrep when we were trying to get free
(08:03):
agency. When I came in theleague, there was no it was what's
called player indemnity. When Joe Montana'scontract expired with the forty nine Ers,
didn't matter if he was in yearnine, he was still the property of
the forty nine Ers, had noability to negotiate with anybody, and so
we had to strike and decertifize theunion and do all these things to get
free agency the players now enjoy,of course, but in that process we
(08:26):
remember getting updates and the owners.There were some of the owners that were
willing to go somewhere like no never, And Pat Bolan was kind of a
pivotal guy. And Pat Bolan,the owner of the Broncos, said hey,
I'm not signing anything that allows meto lose John Elway period, end
of story, right, and I'mgoing to remain on the old circuit camp
(08:48):
of these other owners. And soone of the compromises, okay, we'll
have an Lway clause. Well,and thus was born the franchise tag.
And so you could say, well, if you're the guy in the league
that's been franchise tagged and you losesome right, you know, that is
a real what could be termed arestraint of the free market, which is
(09:11):
in violation of the anti trust.Well, the only way you get get
that through is to have the laborlaws which supersede the anti trust laws.
And so that happened for the franchiseguys. Of course, it's been exercised
on players, not just quarterbacks.But there could be something in a similar
manner where where it was shoved downthe John Elways of the world, it
could be shoved down all the quarterbacks. But and a final point on that,
(09:35):
I will say that the market,if we're talking about this great sport
that we all love and we alwaysknew for decades. I've been watching football
fifty years, you forty. Wealways knew quarterbacks were value valuable. The
market is showing us, just infact, how valuable quarterbacks are. And
now they want to put you know, these these against restraints and caps on
(09:58):
it and what have you, justto in some sense just control themselves,
no question. I mean, allthis just seems like it's there to suppress
quarterback salaries. End of story.I mean, I don't think owners are
going to do anything that would makethem pay quarterbacks more money, but suppressing
it for sure. And I'm likeyou, what are the details is that?
Is it a portion of the currentsalary cap that has set aside?
(10:20):
Is it a portion plus ten percent, plus five percent, whatever it is
that's set aside. So I'm likeyou curious to see. But from a
quarterback perspective in Seattle, I rememberhaving the conversation with you two years ago
about Drew Lock and how you wereadamant we got to have a competition,
We got to have a competition betweenDrew Lock and Gino Smith. And there
really wasn't a competition. I guesssomebody could say, well, Drew Lock
(10:43):
was gonna start and then he gotCOVID and he was done. But I
think we all saw what was goingon when that thing began. Are you
as adamant now that there needs tobe a competition between Geno and Sam Howe
as you were two years ago withGino and Drew Lock. No, because
that was prior to twenty twenty two, right, and and Gino hadn't done
(11:03):
anything. Now Gino has has provenhimself to be a serviceable quarterback. You
know my feeling about Geno, he'sabout middle of the league, of the
league, and and I think thatthere should be some competition, but not
to the extent that I would haveadvocated back in the Drew Locke situation.
Now in twenty twenty two, Ithink it's worth noting here we're talking about
(11:26):
caps. Gino Smith's cap was threepoint five million. That was one point
sixty one percent of the cap.Now then last year's four point five to
five. This year it's going tobe ten point one percent of cap.
His cap is twenty six point fourmillion. It's going up to over twenty
five million, I believe thirty millionnext year and We don't know the percentage
because the cap will vary, butyou know that that I think is an
(11:50):
equation and for Sam Howe's you knowhere in looking at Sam Howe and Gino.
First of all, let's talk aboutGino for a second. The one
of the concerns among many, andI've touched on them, and this is
not a Geno segment, but thered zone passer rating. Gino last year
twenty ninth, a red zone completionpercentage thirty first in the league, a
(12:11):
successful play percentage thirty sixth. Onthird down conversions, Gino was thirtieth.
And there's similar poor numbers for theSeahawks as a team in those in those
specialized areas. So you hear aboutGeno led the NFL in fourth quarter comebacks,
Well, there's more opportunities in that. And look, that's a great
stat that is that there's no detractingfrom that. That's important stuff. But
(12:35):
in my mind, I'm almost thinking, like, as an NFL player,
you have Wednesday's your first practice,that's first and second down. Is this
a general rule? Some violate this, but as a general you can say
Wednesday is the first and second down, Thursday is your third down day and
then Friday is your specialized day.That's short yardage, goal line, it's
red zone, what have you?Right? So to me, it's like
(12:58):
Gino, Okay, you're good onon Wednesday, but there's some things on
the Thursday and Friday, the specializedstuff like we've got to get better on
third down and we've got to getbetter on the red zone. Now,
for Sam Howe, the big issuefor him was he was the sacks that
you know, most sacks in theleague. Right, His pressure percentage went
(13:18):
in the pocket was thirty four pointsix. That was the eighth most percentage.
Does he hold the ball, that'sa fair question. In the pocket.
His average time to throw was twopoint four to eight seconds. These
are these are Commander plays a yearago. Sam Howe with the football in
his and he's in the pocket againtwo point four eight seconds per play.
Where does that rank? Well?Tied with Pat Mahomes? Wow? Wow?
(13:41):
For nineteenth and twenty he the twopoint four to eight is exactly the
number that Pat Mahomes is in Andoh, by the way, yeah it's
Gino is twenty first in that sect. He was two point four seven seconds.
So you're basically I would I thinkstatisicians would sa, Okay, that's
not an important statistic to correlate togood quarterbacking because here we got the best
(14:05):
in Mahomes, We've got you know, whatever you think of how you know,
you got geno and and they allbasically are the same. So that's
not as a strong statistical category.But at any event, for those I've
heard it mentioned about, okay,the sacks is that because he's holding the
ball, what have you? Youknow, can he get does he have
the capacity to get rid of itthe way Sean Payton was really needing after
(14:28):
having the Russell Wilson experience and heloved how bo Nicks gets rid of it
and what have you. That's areal thing. Get rid of the damn
ball. And those are the numbersthat reflect well here Mellen's with us on
the show, and Hugh I heardMike McDonald, I think Ian was alluding
to this on his show talking aboutgetting canine Kenny Walker more involved in the
passing offense as a catcher, asa pass catcher, not like a catcher
like Kyle Raley, but you getthe punderstand as a receiver. Thank you.
(14:52):
In three years in college at wakenin Michigan State, he caught nineteen
passes. Is it nineteen or eighteenat thirteen two and three, but my
research says nineteen, all right,So I just want to be accurate.
We just you're the host ten andtwo. We're driving nineteen nineteen. He's
caught fifty six balls in his firsttwo years in the NFL. So for
(15:13):
somebody to say we should use KennyWalker more as a receiver, they are
and they have been. But isthere another level you think in Ryan Grubbs
office, Well, both of themhave been under thirty. I thought it
was twenty nine and twenty eight.But we're close on the numbers, right,
And so there are sixteen receivers.Excuse me, let me start again.
(15:33):
There are sixteen running backs in theleague last year that had fifty or
more highlighted by CMC Music Factory ateighty six, right. So I'm not
saying that he should catch eighty sixballs like Christ McCaffrey, but I don't
think it's unreasonable given his dynamic,his explosiveness, his acceleration, his I
(15:56):
think there's a broken field running capacity, the need that he has that you
get the ball mount on the wingand the screens makes the first guy layer
miss and I think, now he'sreally dynamic in the open field. So
for me to be under two catchesper game, I think that's light.
And so I think if we canpush it up to approximately you know three
(16:19):
or more, right, that wouldbe you know fifty one right? Sure,
And again there's sixteen guys that areover the fifty threshold, So I
don't think that's unreasonable. Well,I'll tell you what, Dick and I
had this conversation a few weeks agothis time, and a year from now,
or even like maybe ten months fromnow, the Seahawks and DK Metcalf
probably be talking about a deal,right because he's got two years left in
(16:41):
his contract. Free agent year isnext season. What do you think DK
Metcalfs year looks like? And doyou think the Seahawks are really in a
good mood and a charitable way toget this guy resigned as soon as possible.
Well, I think that they're goingto use him more as a deep
threat. If you go back,I can you look at Roma Dunza and
obviously that the constant variable is goingto be Ryan Grubb. Roma Dunze last
(17:06):
year led the Nation forty nine attemptswhere the ball was twenty yards or more,
and that was in fifteen games.DK in sixteen games had just twenty
six. So again, forty nineto twenty six, you do if you
go on a per game basis,Rome had more than double, and you
could and there's similar numbers on ballsin the year longer than thirty yards.
(17:30):
So I think that we're gonna we'regonna see come hell or high water,
They're they're either gonna get the ballto DK deep, or they're gonna die
trying, or they're just gonna they'regonna see rolled coverage and safeties over the
top, in which case I wouldnot counsel Geno just forced the ball down
the field. But there'll be otherthings open. And Tyler's already been a
(17:51):
beneficiary of that, of that rolecoverage, and so so I think,
yeah, look, I'm I'm IfI'm the last guy that died on the
beach supporting DK Metcalf, then sobe it. I will be that guy.
That's just what I see in him. Yeah, for sure, And
and I think he's been underutilized.I'm in Troy Aikman's camp. They need
to throw the ball to him moreand so you've said this year, I
(18:15):
think that probably because of the newoffensive coordinator, DK's just twenty six years
old. I would say that thereal referendum would be after two seasons,
not one. I would argue fora real assessment that way. But if
if they don't have financial consideration,you know, trader or extend, if
that happens happening a year ago,I'm still gonna be this is this is
(18:37):
a bull market for me on DKmetcalf. If you're asking my opinion,
well, it's never a bad ideato hook up with Troy Aikman's camp ever,
ever, ever, ever, ever, Hey, listen, good stuff,
Welcome back from the Big Apple.We're talking a week, buddy,
appreciate that. Okay, Adam allright here melling with us. When we
come back. I think samad Tayloris gonna swing over and sayal oh,
been going back and forth Seattle toKamat to Combra to Seattle. I five
(19:00):
and then Chuck Powell, who's onthe call tonight on nine point fifty AM
with Mike Kurdo, will join usat four forty five. Mike Benton talking
Stanley Cup Final. Let's go Edmonton, Come on Game seven Monday. Let's
get it done right here on ninetythree to three KJRFM smive from the R
and R Foundation Specialists Broadcast Studio.Now back to Softie and Dick on your
(19:25):
Home for the Huskies and the KrekenSports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM,
Yeah money back here in Teetown,Tacoma, just off of Clay Huntington
Way. Clay Huntington one of thegreat, great, great guys I've ever
had the chance to know, formerowner of KLAY Radio, Clay back in
(19:47):
the day, got to o'clay sittingin the Kingdom press box like twenty five
thirty years ago, and he representedTacoma. Him and Stan Nacarata, two
guys that I really kind of fellin love with and they were great for
me and awesome mentors in both thatunfortunately gone. I wonder if one day
people will talk about Chuck Powell likethat. I remember when Chuck Powell took
me under his wing that Bush Stadiumin Saint Louis and sid kid, here's
(20:10):
what you have to do to survivein this industry. And then somebody in
fifty years will say, you knowwhat I would not have been here without
Chuck Powell's guidance. No way.Uh oh, maybe it might be like,
uh, who's this Chuck Poell commembertivetoilet guy? Yeah, who did
he do? Oh God, whatdid he do? In life? Iver?
(20:30):
Tell you the Jack Buck story forme? Uh No, I was
out there ninety eight. I wasout there from McGuire's home run thing against
the Cubs. Greatest sports weekend ever. I flew to Arizona State and I
saw brock Hewart hit Reggie Davis inthe hand of God game on the last
second game winning touchdown. Jumped ona plane. Sunday, went to Bush
Stadium, Saw sixty one, didmy show from KMOX Monday, Saw sixty
(20:51):
two. Tuesday, went home andI went to the Bush Stadium on Sunday
and I saw Jack Buck sitting inthe dugout hey by myself, and I
did not have the guy to walkup and say hello to him. He
was my hero. Him and DaveNiehouse were my heroes because I would listen
to Sunday Night Football and Monday NightFootball with Hank Stram and Jack Buck on
the call, and he was theguys undern TA NA. I think he's
(21:17):
throw throwing right, yeck throwing right. That was my one time to meet
Jack Buck and I blew it.So somebody somewhere is gonna have a chance
to meet Chuck Pollen if you dotake advantage of it. Well, we're
back here at Cheney Stadium, SamadTaylor going to join us hopefully in a
few minutes here from the ballpark.You're doing the game tonight over on AM
with with Kurdo. But uh,I feel like every month or so we
(21:37):
get kind of a Mariner update fromyou and kind of where things are going
right now. So ten games up, a couple of days ago, eight
games up now starting to kind ofmaybe run away with this thing. I
mean, we hear Jason Stark onwith Igan Ferness, who says in the
wild card era, no team thatever had a double digit division lead missed
the playoffs, to which I thought, of course, well, that means
(21:59):
we're gonna be the first one.Is that what you're saying? I heard
you, guys, I heard youguys. Yeah, I mean I feel
good about it. I picked theAstros to win the division before the season,
but they did us a favor byletting the Mariners get out ahead.
I mean to be here on Junetwenty, first first day a summer and
be eleven games over five hundred eightgames up in the division. That's a
(22:19):
gift. And so I mean,where have we been the last couple of
years? Digging out of holes forthe first you know, couple from the
first couple of months. So Ifeel good about it. And I thought
on Wednesday, it's funny Angie Mintinkcomes on our show every Wednesday, and
the first thing I talked about isdo you get the feeling that it's all
kind of coming together? The offensewas starting to hit, and we all
(22:41):
believe in the starting pitching, andScott's again with Pete Woodworth working his magic
and the bullpen and all of thedefensive woes feel like they've been fixed from
April when they looked like it wascatastrophic. So it kind of felt like
everything for the first time the seasonwas all coming together, and you'd already
built and you know, a tengame lead in the division with half the
(23:02):
team, the offense having shown upyet, and then what happens. You
score three runs in two days,lose back to back games to a good
Guardians team, but you have tofeel good about it, and you have
to feel good about all the rumorsthat Jerry's can't wait to add to the
offense. Well, and the Guardianshave the best home record in baseball right
for a reason. So what happenedthere was not a surprise. But I'll
(23:23):
tell you what, I'm curious withyour thoughts on this. I think a
lot of people waiting for a messiahat the trade deadline, Chuck are going
to be disappointed number one, becausethere's so many teams that need help,
there's so few sellers. And thennumber three, you got a better shot
of finding your messiah here, likewhen Polanka, who's here right now,
comes off the il, when tyFranz finds his way, Handiger finds his
(23:45):
way. I feel like the reinforcements, if you will, are kind of
already here. I don't think amessiah is going to be available unless you
consider Luis Robert Junior that and ifyou do, he's going to cost a
fortune because of supply and demand.As Simple Economics went over this with Jim
Bowden on my show earlier this week, there are five sellers. You know,
there are only two teams in theentire National League that aren't within a
(24:08):
game and a half in a wildcardspot. And so if you have only
five sellers and you've got twenty fivebuyers, that's just gonna jack up the
price for who is ever available fromthose selling teams. So you're gonna have
a choice. You either have totrade a valuable commodity that's contributing right now,
like a Bryce Miller to get somethingthat fills a hole, or you
(24:30):
have to overpay for a Luis RobertJunior with a surplus of prospects. I'm
not sure what direction they'll head.I do think they'll add something, but
the idea that Vladimir Guerrero or PeteAlonso's coming here, it's starting to feel
like that's not going to be possible. Yeah, I just feel like,
again you're talking about Hanneger and Garverand Rayley and Polanco and those guys just
simply put, given you one halfof baseball. It's all you need right
(24:52):
now, right I mean, thenumbers at the end of the year are
not gonna look great because you're almostthree months in now, but can you
give us one half of baseball?Oh man? Can you just do what
you were supposed to do? Fortwo and a half three months, and
if they do do that, thatmight be enough. All right, Well
stay right here because joining us rightnow on the radio show is a guy
that I have been hoping to talkto for a long long time. It's
a funny sonality. He's coming overhere with a sleeveless shirt, and it's
(25:15):
really interesting because both of us havethe same type of arms. We both
look alike. I work out alot as well. I'm yoke just like
him. But Mariner now Rainier SamadTaylor is with us on the radio show
here in Tacoma. How are youman? Good? So tell us about
what this experience has been like foryou. You're up, You're down,
You're there, You're here. Ican't imagine going to work and somebody's saying,
(25:38):
hey, Dave, today, you'rean Olympia. Tomorrow Seeyattle, next
week you're in renting. So whatis this like from your perspective? It's
a blessing? First, Yeah,bring that there you go. You're good.
Just a blessing, honestly, justto have the ability to to go
to Seattle, play a couple ofgames of Seattle, come back here.
I guess you're chasing it right.The dream's not over, It's right.
(26:03):
Dreams not over until you hang yourcleets up. So until that day comes,
I don't I don't care how manytimes I gotta do it. I'm
gonna do it because this is thegame I love. And any way to
help a team win, either hereor in Seattle, that's all it is.
What is this a rist rap?Is this a thumb rap? What
do we got going on here?A little thumb rap just got out of
(26:25):
their training room? So okay,having a thumb more with your teammates,
see what happened? Just fighting,fighting it out, fighting it out,
because that that's one of the thingsabout minor league baseball. And there's camaraderie
at the major league level also.But it's is it not tighter down here
at this level with you guys,Oh, believe it or not. I
would say it's tighter than the bigleagues. Okay, it's just if if
(26:47):
you have a good group of guys, it all starts with one guy.
If you have one guy that alot of guys like to be around,
he can kind of gravitate to it. So good thing about our team in
the big leagues JP, is thatguy? So right, and I just
besides JP, there's more guys.It's a great group of guys up there,
and like you said, it's it'sa great group of guys down here.
(27:07):
Uh, you got names through theroof, Dallas, Joey Vargas,
DZ. Like when Bliss was here, Bliss was a great guy. Pab
Chavis was here, He's a greatguy. So like we've had we've had
a good, good group of guyshere, and I feel like it's been
a bond that you can't break,whether you're up or you're down. You
(27:30):
know, when the big league team'swinning and you know how close you are
to going back, you're probably aninjury away at any point in the season.
I mean, do you envision likeOctober I get the call, October
I make a play. I mean, does that does that drive you motivate
you thinking about that? Yeah?Cause your your ultimate goal is to to
(27:51):
hold the trophy up at the endof the year, And like I said
earlier, whatever I have to doto make that happen and and make that
come true is something that I'm gonnaI'm gonna work my butt off to get
to that point. Yeah, yeah, you have cliche, but you have
dreams about sure holding the trophy up, your dreams about hitting the walk off
(28:14):
home run. But like the hardestthing to do is just be present in
the moment. I still have thosedreams, and I'm fifty years old,
Okay, So I don't think youever really get rid of them. To
be totally honest with oh, isthe for a overweight, out of shape,
fifty one year old Jewish left fielder. Because if there is, I'm
your man, all right, youtell your bosses here at the Rainiers,
(28:34):
and you tell Jerry and Justin I'myour man. But some odd Taylor with
us down here with the Rainiers andyou spend thirty one games of Kansas City.
You had the three games stint withthe Mariners this year. When you
come back to a place like this, do you feel like you're constantly going
through a tryout, like everything youdo is being scrutinized by the Jets.
I wouldn't dive as deep as that. Yeah, Like when you when you
(28:57):
sign that contract, you're not justplaying for that one team. So,
like you said, when I getsent back, it's kind of a thing
of well, now, like yousaid, kind of showcasing. But I'm
showcasing for everybody else besides the Mariners. Yes, the Mariner's eyes are on
me more than other teams. Butanytime you get sent back down, it's
(29:21):
not I'm not gonna say it's abad thing, but it's not the best
thing. But it's just go backdown and get back to work and whatever
you gotta do to get back up, just keep working, and God's gonna
be in your size and get youback to where you gotta be. For
those of you who don't know,the Rainier is steal like thirteen bases a
game. So two questions, howmany bases stolen do you have so far
this year? And where do Iget a pair of those breakfast socks?
(29:44):
I got these socks? Wow?To answer that, I'm big on Yeah,
I'm big on just desate. Thoseare what the kids would call dope
by the way, Yeah, yeah, I think I'm big on them.
I'm I just I'm big on justa lot of designs on stuff. Yeah,
I got you. Whatever it is. If it's like these ones today
(30:07):
are breakfast, I had ones onyesterday that were SpongeBob ones. There.
There you go, wear some garyones during practice? Nice? I kind
of just try to try to belight on the light on the socks.
Let's get your sock deal with somebodymentWell, let's let's work on that.
(30:29):
I mean, my god, doI have to be your agent too?
What do you want from me?Come on, bring the deals on.
We will take care of that.I would love that. A sock deal
from any company. I mean,as long as you have designs in your
socks out put them on. Yeah, well you should start your own company,
some odd socks. I mean,it's right there for you, Taylor.
There you go. You see,never mind, Taylor made Sue and
you're for copyrighting Friends of a Weekand we can we can deal with that
(30:52):
later. But some odd Taylor iswith us on the ear. So so
what is the biggest difference? Honestly, because you've seen the movie Bull Durham.
I mean it's funny. He's twentyfive, and that movie came out
like thirty years ago. So Iremember being in the Sea Hawk locker room
and there were guys that had notseen Jerry maguire and I'm like, oh,
what God, how old am I? For? God? Six?
Have you seen Jerry McGuire, bythe way, not okay, see this
one's talking about. Have you seenBull Durham? Yes? Okay, So
(31:15):
Kevin Costner on the bus does thatscene where the biggest difference between the show
and the miners? Tell us whatis honestly the biggest difference between being in
the show and being here besides everything? Flights? Yeah, you're on a
four and a half hour flight ona commercial flight. You can't get up.
You gotta not gonna say you can'tget up, but I can't get
(31:38):
up and go chop it up withyou when you're sitting in fifteen rows ahead
of me. And another one that'sobvious when you go through the locker rooms
and you see everything. Food yea, Oh, Food's a big one.
Food is ood is a big,big, big one. You go not
(32:02):
that you're not eating good in theminor leagues, but it's not the five
star, five star flaming youngs andlobster tails and stuff like that, or
on the street is in New York. You got some some crazy spreads,
Well you got you got chicken stripsand fries and some barbecue and mac and
(32:24):
cheese. Here man, now I'llgive you little little inside on me ballpark
food, chicken fingers and fries.There you go. We just had a
big debate like two weeks ago aboutthe number one thing you have to have
at the stadium sitting in the standsas of fans shick fingers, chicken fingers
and fries ice chicken. Okay,fine, you ever have McDonald's barbecue sauce.
(32:45):
By the way, I'm not afan of it, okay, but
but you've had it. Yes,I've had you one. Okay, Chick
fil A barbecue sauce totally with,hands down, best barbecue sauce in the
game. You just became my alltime favorite player. But I'm gonna give
you another one though. There's andI don't know the brand of it that
I just added in Sacramento. Mmhmm. There's a Korean barbecue sauce.
(33:08):
Oh, slim to none. Okay, wow, I'll put it on anything
done, all right, We'll checkit out. Got a little kim Chief
flavor to it. It's like achange. Yeah, bet you it does.
I can't even explain it. Well, here's what we're gonna do.
We're gonna try those barbecue sauces.In the same time, get our people
together to work with your people,get you a sock deal. Can't do
it. That's happening. The greatstuff. Hey, best of luck to
(33:30):
you man, Thank you, Iappreciate you. Guys. Modd Taylor with
us on the radio show here fromCheney Stadium and Chuck, this a great
time for a break. We justbrought over a big spread of food for
us. Somebody's gotta get this foodhere from the sun. By the way,
move that move that thing over there. Yeah, Andrews, you're you're
gonna be jealous when we put thesepictures out on social media. More from
Cheney Stadium. Textimonials coming up onninety three three kJ RFM coming to you
(33:55):
live from the Elliott Avenue studios ofSports Radio kJ ARE. This is textimonials
taken away Dave Softy Maller. Well, it's that time of the day,
a game with the rain. Earsare stuffing our guts for us here at
Cheney Stadium. Potato, Yeah,loaded baked potato with a chili, the
(34:15):
barbecue beef and mac and cheese,the fish and chips, and the chicken
tenders I believe as well those arefish. Yeah, they're all fish.
I just had the spicy hot sauce. They have to sit this one out.
This is what I'm saying. Iwas the first segment I could drink
this. It's so good. Yourorgans don't look like mine at all.
(34:37):
Okay, uh, we are hereat Chaney Stadium for the Rainy Ears in
Vegas tonight. Chuck's got the Callwith Mike Kurdo over on AM at seven
four nine four five one. Thetellmort dude text line when it's game time,
it's Tully time, Anders in forJackson, back in the studio,
Jackson, and for Dick here inperson and ta coma, Andrews, where
do you got, Softy? Youare so wrong on steroids. The integrity
(34:57):
of the game comes above all else. What did I say that makes you
think otherwise? I don't get it. I think it's referring to you saying
that like players like Bonds should bein the Hall of Fames and Roch the
first half of his career made hima Hall of Famer. I don't think
every player that did steroids should bein the Hall of Fame. But if
you can, if you can makean argument to me that before steroids,
they had put up Hall of Famenumbers and put him in. Maguire.
(35:20):
No, absolutely not and trust me, I followed his career more than anybody
here in this city. By far. I know everything there is to know
about the guy. He was onhis way out out the door until they
found creatine. Remember that one daywhen the photographer took the photo and the
and the and the and the clubhouseand they got in trouble. That's why
you can't take still pictures anymore inMajor League Baseball clubhouses because some jerk wagon
(35:42):
took a photo of a bucket ofcreatine above McGuire's locker when he was with
the A's. I believe so noteverybody should be in. But Bonds had
won three MVPs before he found stereo. If you have the stats, and
if you have the career of aHall of Famer, and then steroids doesn't
negate what you did before. Yeah, a lot of the they do.
You guys mind if I eat whileon the air and you're going out.
(36:06):
I've heard some dumb things on kJARE in the twenty five years I have
been listening, But anders you,sir, win the award for the dumbest
thing ever said on the airwaves.That's like saying Clint Dempsey is better than
Ronaldo you can't just look at acontroversial analytical statistic like war and say that
person is better stupid. I Igotta be honest with there's a little nervous
(36:27):
when he said that. Twenty fiveyears of this radio I've never heard Anders
say something is dumb. Jackson andI are both holding over. Bro.
Please don't let it be us.Let them go after him. You want
to clarify your position. But yeah, and Ricky Henderson versus Junior, I
still think that in their peak,in their prime, Ken Griffy Jr.
Was a better baseball player right duringhis four or five years of dominance,
(36:49):
especially with the Mariners. He itwas as good as it gets, right.
And yes, in terms of justtheir ability on the baseball field,
King Griffy Jr. Takes the cake. But if you're talking overall career,
your and including longevity and just kindof value that you bring to your team,
I still take I would rather haveRicky Henderson's career. I think that's
the exact thing you said in thefirst second. Nothing change. It's just
(37:12):
as ridiculous now as it was then. Alright, whatever I need, awl,
you have barbecue all over. Theydid not bring any napkins where they
brought some towels. Holy moly,I'm sorry. I wasn't listening to anything
you guys were saying. Said theexact same thing you said in the first
Yeah, all right, whatever,listen, Andrews, just stay on Andrews
(37:35):
Island, all right, that Ihave. I was gonna say, I
have to bring some sort of dickenergy because he's out today. So that
came out wrong. Holy I hada big space in between those two herds.
All right, what's the next?Dating twenty three years old gives a
new meaning to the trim head coach? Oh wow, yes, to be
(37:59):
explained, Yeah, put it inthere. Yeah, this is my head
coach. Oh boy, he's teachingme. Okay, okay, anybody once
again? Kids, show me sogood, so good, softy. You
almost had me believing that the womancould enjoy Bill Belichick's company, and then
I remember that there is literally nothingon the planet that would enjoy Bill Belichick's
(38:20):
company. Well, a lot ofmoney would enjoy his company. I mean,
if you know, he's probably madeyou know what, fifty million dollars
in his career. I have noidea how much he's made, but yeah,
I mean, hey, you knowwhat, So you know he's I
don't blame him. I was thinkingfor him. I was thinking in the
break after that, you know,in the moments when you've seen Bill Belichick
become a lot more personable and he'sactually talking, he's he's actually kind of
(38:42):
a funny, witty person exactly.Yeah, because Mike had that great conversation
with him before the Super Bowl.It's the element where in the right place
at the right time. Maybe thelights are off right, maybe he's right.
Maybe he's an enjoyable person to bearound. Well, he might be,
and there's a lot about it.We probably don't know. Number one.
Yeah, and then number two.Look, I mean I think all
(39:02):
of us, our spouses are withus partly because of what we do for
a living and the fact that weare, I guess successful. Because if
you were a bum, yea,there's no way your wife's with you now.
But your drive, right, you'rethe fact that you got to this
spot is part of the reason thatyou know, Rise is attracted to you.
The rest of it. I haveno idea that the career you literally
(39:24):
looked up and down you like,there's no part of me. Yeah,
that's attractive all right, we're gottabreak. Mike Benton's gonna join us before
Game six Stanley Cup Final face offat A five twenty right here on ninety
three three. kJ air evn
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