January 18, 2025 • 48 mins
Where Colin was right and where he was wrong
He gives his latest Herd Hierarchy with a surprise team landing in the top spot
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver joins the show to talk to Colin about their reported decline in TV ratings and if the 3-point line needs to be pushed further back
Colin gives his Blazin' picks
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Here we go. It's hour two and a Monday, live
in Los Angeles. It's The Herd. Wherever you may be
and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us
part of your day if you're just tuning in. Mike
McCarthy and the Cowboys have agreed to part ways. It
came down to years, not money, meaning, Jerry said. Jerry
and Mike came to terms with money. But Mike McCarthy
(00:49):
has a new agent, Don Yee, who I know a
little bit, highly respected, highly cerebral, knows how to market
his guys. He had Brady for years. He may still
have talk. I think he told McCarthy asked for the moon.
You're the best coaching candidate out there now that Rabel's signed.
In fact, you got a ring and Mike Rabel doesn't
as a head coach and I think the Cowboys. Jerry
(01:11):
didn't want to pay him for five years, and McCarthy
smartly said, I'm looking at my roster in Philadelphia's. I'm
not signing a three or four year deal. This is
a rebuild. And if you're the GM, Jerry, I want
five years, and Jerry didn't want it. Mike McCarthy wins,
All right, we do it. On Mondays, Colin was right,
Colin was wrong.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Here we go.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I picked the Washington Commanders as my surprise playoff team
in the NFL. I didn't know if they'd win a game,
but they did. I love Dan Quinn, Cliff Kingsbury, Jaden Daniels.
I thought it worked, and I thought their division had
a couple of teams in the Giants in Dallas with
the weak rosters. I said Friday, I don't think they're
as good as Tampa. I don't think they'll win, but
(01:53):
if they do, it's because of, singularly Jaden Daniels. And
that's exactly what happened.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Where Colin was row.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
I got a little too high on Jordan Love j
Max scolded me the entire season, But you know what
I thought after that, green Bay Dallas performance. I thought
this guy is gonna be great, and it was a
roller coaster year. Three picks against Philly. I was told
out of college by a GMI trust that he thought
he was a little loose and he wasn't sure you
could coach that out of him. But if you count
(02:22):
the playoff game in Philly, he ended up with fourteen
picks and the nineteenth highest passer rating in the NFL.
I think he needs an off season with Matt Lafleur
to clean it up. I still like him a lot,
but I was a little too high on him.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Mike Rabel to the Patriots, I said Friday, Rabel's the
best candidate, Patriots the best job. This is an easy one.
People always say you can't go home again, but this
is the only opening where you get two things that
are necessary, and they get both a stable owner with
championship pedigree and and a young quarterback on a rookie
deal that shows great promise. Now, I mean, I guess
(03:01):
you could say Washington, but we didn't know much about
the new owner. We know Robert Kraft. This makes a
lot of sense. I think he's gonna win in fact,
I think New England next year. You think I'm crazy.
I think they'll battle for a playoff spot, a wild
card playoff spot. You can always get better on the perimeter,
faster than you can on the lines. You can go
get corners, you can go get wide receivers in the draft.
(03:23):
This is the best running back draft in a decade,
and there's tons of receivers. I think he's a culture builder.
I think it's perfect where Colin was wrong, justin Herbert Listen.
You know I love him, but that was a stinker. Now,
former Charger Dan Fouts had his worst game as a
pro in the playoffs. But if you take out one
pass to Lad McConkey, they didn't do anything. And I
(03:44):
love him, but he was off in two playoffs starts.
I've got to be honest. He has a passer rating
a sixty and has completed only fifty two percent of
his throws. I still think he's great, but you know what,
your legacy gets cemented and regresses in the playoffs, and
he needs a really great playoff performance. Two trips, two
ugly ones.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Ohio State. I picked them to be in the National
Championship before the year, I said they would lose at
Odson and beat Oregon the next time. And I also said,
even after they beat Michigan, I still think they're one
of the top two teams in the country. I think
they're gonna beat Notre Dame and I like Notre Dame
a lot. But Ryan Day and Chip Kelly that Michigan
(04:27):
loss was jet fuel. They are playing tremendous football. Will
Howard after a bad Michigan game is on it. I don't.
I mean, listen, their O line isn't all time stuff,
and the Buckeyes usually have great old lines. But running
back receiver Will Howard coaching there. There's nothing not to
like here, and it just proves rivalries are great. But
(04:50):
Nick Saban won a Natty one year after losing to Auburn.
It comes in Ohio State. You got to move past
the Michigan game sometimes this team. The Michigan loss actually
was a catalyst for this performance where Colin was raw. Listen,
I had the Longhorns winning the National championship and they
(05:11):
lost twice to Georgia, once to Ohio State, and they
should have lost Arizona State situationally, and I think Sarks
a very good coach, but boys situationally, they made some calls.
I did not love running outside on that goal line.
Play was not didn't work for me. I think they
got the most out of Quinn viewers. I think he
(05:31):
is what he is. Arch Manning will start this point forward,
But watching that game, I never felt Texas was as
good as Ohio State. And maybe it just comes down
to personnel. But I had them winning the Natty and
I'm wrong where Colin was right. I've been saying this
now for several years. I like Mike Tomlin, and he's
(05:51):
great as an underdog coach, but when they lose effort,
you're in trouble because offensively, he can't figure out offensive lines.
They're offensive lines again seven straight year. They can't establish
a run game, and again they'll lead the NFL in
defensive spending. I think he's a good football coach, but
I think even good football coaches sometimes need a fresh start.
(06:12):
And again I would hire Mike Tomlin. I mean, if
if the Cowboys called now that McCarthy's leaving, I'd hire
Mike Tomlin. I think he's a good coach. I think
the Pittsburgh thing, I think they need to reboot and
I think Mike Tomlin does too. Where Colin was right,
Lamar Jackson won his third playoff game. Listen. I know,
(06:33):
I know, but he can't beat Kansas City, and nobody
could beat Tiger Woods in his prime or Michael Jordan
when he got to the finals. Sometimes winning in the
playoffs against the greatest quarterback playing in the sport is
really hard. But I think Lamar once again one hundred
and thirty two passer rating two TV's no picks without
(06:53):
Zay Flowers. I mean they they knew. Everybody in the
ballpark knows they don't have they don't have a receiver.
It's Mark Edwards, Dereck Henry and Lamar didn't matter, poised great.
We got to stop the Lamar Jackson stuff. Yeah, he
struggles against Kansas City, the world struggled against MJ like
(07:17):
Phil Micholson's an old timer couldn't beat Tiger much. I
still think Lamar Jackson is really really special. Colin Wright,
Colin wrong one more.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Heard The Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven
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listen live or on demand whenever you like. Heard Hierarchy
Time now, no go. The top ten NFL teams according
to College number tenes Cincinnati Bengals.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Sorry, they beat the Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers that
made the playoffs, and they beat the breaks off of
Green Bay. Right now, they're a good football team. Joe
Burrow is on fire five game winning streak. He completed
seventy seven percent of his throws, thirteen tds, four picks
in a one to eleven passer rating. That's just sometimes
the way it works. You get hot too late. Cincinnati
(08:06):
is a top ten team in the league.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Let me tell you who.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore didn't want to make the playoffs. Cincinnati,
they were fine with bow Knicks. They were fine with
Justin Herbert, CJ. Stroud and don't want bow Knicks anywhere
near the playoffs. Cincinnati at ten, number nine. Minnesota, yeah
they listen. They're like a really good student who got
a D in their last couple of test scores. Doesn't
make him a bad student. Top ten scoring offense, top
(08:30):
five defense. They got out coach last night, and they're
not as good as Detroit and frankly, the Rams young
defense is a site to behold, but I have the
Vikings at nine, number eight, the inconsistent Houston Texans. Now
they're only two and five against playoff teams, and they're
gonna go to Kansas City. It's gonna be cold, and
they're gonna probably get smoked. They're nine to zero when
(08:51):
holding opponents to twenty points or fewer, and Kansas City
is getting better on offense, so that's not gonna happen.
I think they're still a year away. I think Denver's
a year away. I think Green Bays a year away.
I do think CJ. Stroud's a different quarterback on the
road than at home. We told you that going into
the Chargers game.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
C J.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Stroud cold weather on the road. Their season will end
number seven Commanders, no punts or turnovers against the Bucks.
I don't know if I like the team or I'm
in love with Jayden Daniels. I mean, the kids, just
honest to god, there's about sixty percent of my homes
sixty percent Lamar Jackson. It's the best rookie I've ever seen,
(09:31):
next to Andrew Luck. Six game winning streak. Each of
their last five games have been decided on the last
play from scrimmage. You can't do that forever. That's just
too emotional, too wild. I think they'll lose, but they
deserve a ton of respect. How would you like to
be Washington for the next ten years with Jayden Daniels
and cap Space? Sign me up now.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Number six.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Number six is the Rams played a perfect game in
the first half last night, but they were not gonna
on third down. And their offense can be really sluggish
in the first half. Listen, they're really good, not great,
but they're fifteen and five when they have Stafford and
Puka and Cup and Kyron Williams. Kien Williams got dinged
up last night, cross your fingers. And they're seven and
one when they scored twenty one plus. Their offense gets
(10:17):
stuck though, and it happens kind of regularly where their
offense gets stuck. But if you give McVeigh or Andy
Reid extra time, good night. And I thought this this
defense is no joke. In the first four weeks of
the year, they had eight sacks. That had eight sacks
last night. This defense is Jared Verse is unblockable. This
(10:37):
kid right here jumping into the end zone. So the
Rams are a young defense that about every three weeks,
you look up and they're noticeably better. I have the
Rams at number six, number five Philadelphia. I don't know
if I don't think they can win the Super Bowl. Yes,
they're thirteen. In one of the last fourteen games, they
were two for eleven on third down. Jalen Hurts went
(10:58):
nearly two full quarters without a comple and I don't
love the head coach. I do think they'll beat the
Rams because the Rams played perfect and now go outdoors
to cold weather and Philadelphia played poorly and still won.
They have the best roster in the NFL. But I mean,
Saquon Barkley is the leader of this team. It's not
the quarterback, it's not the coach. This is the one
team to me, Like you can like Derrick Henry, but
(11:19):
I get Lamar and John Harbaugh. Saquon Barkley leads this team.
That's the guy in the old line that I trust.
Number four, Listen, the Ravens are good, boy. They are
really dependent on Derrick Henry and Lamar and that would
concern me. Three drives of eighty five plus yards, you
know what I feel about Lamar Jackson. Listen, They're one
(11:40):
and five against the Chiefs, and they beat everybody else.
So I don't think this team would beat Kansas City
if they hadn to play him an arrowhead. I just
don't think they would because I think Kansas City is
better defensively, and I think Baltimore is getting better on
the defensive side. They held opponents under twenty points in
five straight games, so that's what good coaching staffs do
and good general managers do. Baltimore had flaw, and they're
(12:01):
now better at the flaw. Kansas City wasn't very good
on offense early, and now Kansas City is better on offense.
That's what good organizations do. So they've cleaned up the
mess on defense. I have them there at what do
I have the Ravens at four? Number three Detroit Lions
second best roster in football off of by hosting the Commanders.
(12:21):
They struggle against mobile quarterbacks, which is not a good
thing to struggle against. In twenty twenty five in the
NFL six and two against playoff teams. Dan Campbell has
a culture of relentlessness. Guys play hurt. Jared Goff. For
all you Jared Goff critics, this should be a calling
was really right for the next ten years Jared Goff
(12:44):
on third and fourth down this year. Eighteen touchdowns, no picks.
Best o line in.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Football, Number two, number one, Number two.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Number two Kansas City listen, worst point differential in the
history of the league for a team that's as good
as them. I know they had to buy, and I
know they'll be good, and I know they'll beat the
brakes off of Houston. And they are getting stronger late
with their musical chairs on the offensive line in Hollywood Brown.
(13:16):
And they are seven to two against current playoff teams
and twenty one and two. But aesthetics matter and data matters.
And my number one team in the league number was
as Buffalo. There's never been a team in pro football
that had thirty passing touchdowns and over thirty rushing touchdowns.
Not only do they win at home, all but one
home game was a blowout seven win by twenty points.
(13:39):
I think this offense is incredible. Left tackle right now,
the best remaining in the playoffs. Quarterback, most talented remaining
in the playoffs James Cook. Top five running back, two
good tight ends, three capable receivers. They are not as
good as Kansasity defensively, there is no question, and maybe
they don't match up with Baltimore defensively. But this team
(14:00):
right now is so good offensively, left tackle, quarterback, weapons,
run game. I have them number one by an inch.
I think this is the year. I think this is
the best version of Buffalo. Hey, these are tough decisions, folks.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
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(15:21):
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Speaker 1 (15:24):
So there's a lot to unravel and unpack here when
we bring on Adam Silver, eleven years as the NBA commissioner.
So let's start with the good stuff. International expansion, China
and Africa. You have a new CBA for seven years.
You just signed a massive TV deal. I like the
NBA Cup. I'm a distracted consumer. If the court's purple,
I know it matters. I like it. I think it works.
(15:47):
So there's a lot of good here, more good than bad.
But I'm I'm gonna set this question up because this
is something I struggle with. I'm a consumer and I'm distracted.
I'm on my phone as much as TV, so I
have been watching Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese. They feel like
burden magic because I am viscerally connected to them via college.
This is why studios do sequels. I know the actors.
(16:11):
Zach Edy. I really like watching him plays, having a
very nice rookie season, but I know him because Matt
Painter and Purdue is a big time program. It would
be reductionist to say he's succeeding because he's big. He's
succeeding because of what Purdue did and not only that commissioner,
but I got to watch the growth, so I am
(16:33):
emotionally committed to Zach Edy. I think your heart was
in the right place with a G League, but it
hides players from me that I want to grow with.
Is there an argument to be made that college basketball
there's I feel like it's not not that it's marginalized,
but it's not as big as it could be. It
could be such a microwave for your stars, and the
(16:57):
league doesn't see it that way. Is that a fair critics.
Speaker 6 (17:01):
I don't think it's a fair criticism because we do
see it that way and we're doing everything we can
to build college basketball.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
I mean, let me take a few steps back.
Speaker 6 (17:12):
Like, first of all, in terms of the G League,
most of the G League players are either international players
who didn't play in college or former college players. In fact,
we had a program called Team McKnight Condai sa Rice
recommended we create. There was an NCAA commission, and you'll
recall pre collectives and nil money. President Obama criticized us,
(17:35):
and then the NCAA had a commission and said there
should be a track, a pro track into the NBA
because it was unfair that the only opportunity for these
young players was to play without being paid in college.
So we had already had the G League, but then
we created this program called Team McKnight where for a
select few high school players, if they wanted the opportunity
(17:57):
to get to get paid and then come into the NBA,
they could play in that program. But even then we
recognize that compared to the facilities the conditions at the
top D one programs, even though we were paying them
and they couldn't have been paid at that point, it
was they were still better off playing at Kentucky or
(18:18):
Louisville or Duke or USC or wherever else. And so
once the nil and collective money came in, we actually
shut down the Team ig Night. We still have the
G League, And the last thing we want to do
is take top prospects would otherwise be going to school.
Take Cooper Flag at Duke. We'd rather he be there
than be playing in the NBA right now or be
(18:41):
playing in the G League. We want those players to develop. So,
you know, I think there's a misnomer to the extent
that you or others feel that we're not supportive of
college basketball. And personally a huge college basketball fan, I'm
Charlie Baker, the former governor of Massachusetts.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
And now head of the and CAA.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
He and I've been meeting a lot to talk about
actively what we can do to better develop young American players,
which clearly has to begin before they get to college,
before the NBA. So and but you know, we are
the league of the WNBA too, and so I pay
a lot of attention to Caitlyn Clark and the star
players that are emerging and the WNBA and who are
(19:20):
coming from college and when whether it's Angel or Caitlin
or Juju now and these players come into the w
NBA as you know, built fully, you know, multi dimensional
stars that people are familiar with like it was in
the old days in the NBA.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
We love that.
Speaker 6 (19:37):
The problem is, like so many things in life, I'm
not sure we can turn the clock back on that
type of development.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
I will say it's positive, you know.
Speaker 6 (19:45):
Putting aside, I think there's some issues that need to
be addressed in terms of the NIL system and the collectives.
It seems like nobody's really happy with it right now.
In terms of the competitive landscape, I think it's positive
that those players are able to be paid, and if
they're able to be paid, particular the players that are
on the margin of whether they or not they would
be lottery picks or first round draft picks, they now
(20:07):
have a huge incentive to stay in school because they can.
They're not only can get the further development, but they
can get paid as well.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Here's something that I addressed with David Stern, and I'll
address it with you too. I think trades are good
for sports. If you look at the best teams in
the NBA right now, Oklahoma City, Cleveland, and Boston, they
have smart front offices that have drafted and developed well.
They can occasionally make a Donovan Mitchell move or Porzingis move,
or a Drew Holliday, but those teams have drafted and
developed well, and they're being rewarded for it. You know,
(20:36):
Dallas drafted Luca. You know they can go get Kyrie,
but lucas a star. The NBA gets a little too
caught up if you take Lebron out. Let's just take
Lebron out. He is the historic outlier. Even Kevin Durant,
Warriors one before him, Warriors one after him.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Is that.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
I think the league sometimes is too concerned with trades.
If Jimmy Butler, who's a good player, maybe of superstar anymore,
went to Oklahoma City, I would want to watch them more.
Or Golden State, I would want to that. The league
sometimes to protect the small markets. Let's not worry too
much about that. Let's just let players move because the
(21:14):
sense that it ruins the league or creates a competitive
balance outside of Lebron.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
It really doesn't.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Most of the great teams in this league historically have
always been draft and develop, build a core, and then
add sprinkle in some good players via trades.
Speaker 6 (21:32):
I don't think it's an accident that we've had six
different teams over the last six years that have won championships,
and at the end of the day, we sell competition
and I hear you. It sounds like you're making an
argument for dynasties to a certain extent, that we should
do more to allow a great player to go to
an already great team or an already very good team.
(21:54):
The problem is that it's zero sum. The players are
going to go somewhere. That's the great news. All the
top tier players are going to play in the NBA,
and that there is a correlation. It's far from perfect,
but there's a correlation between what players make and their
performance on the floor. And so what we've done, and
I understand your point of view over time is while
(22:15):
we have a soft cap system, it's become harder and
it has been more difficult once you have a fully
loaded team.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Yes, then add a great player on top of that.
Speaker 6 (22:25):
And to your point, if Kevin Durant couldn't have gone
to Golden State from Oklahoma City when he did, the
team he had gone to would have almost by definition,
if it weren't already a great team, would have become
a great team. And for us, we think that's better
league wide in terms of creating more competition. I mean,
(22:45):
we're coming off a season last year and it's continued
this year. Or I think we have more competitive teams
than any time in league history. And to your point,
the fact that tomorrow night Cleveland and Oklahoma City are
playing yet again, you know, fantastic build up for that game,
incredible competition. We just got to remember at the end
of the day, that's what we're selling. I mean, I
(23:05):
think that's part of the reason for the enormous success
of the NFL. This any given Sunday notion that nobody
thinks twice if you know, the Packers are in the
super Bowl, there's no bemoaning that it's a small market whatsoever.
And I think our league, it's true that if you
look back on you know, the first you know, sixty
(23:25):
years of our league, it seemed David Stern joked, you
know when when he came into the league, I thought
the job was you went back and forth from Boston
to la every year, and one of the team's got
the rings, you know. And I think the fact that
now we're selling competition in every market, and that in
terms of from a television standpoint too, that you know,
whether it's Oklahoma City, whether it's San Antonio, whether it's
(23:48):
Salt Lake City, that those teams are in a position
when well managed to compete in the same way the
large markets can.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
And by the way, I mean it's not just money.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
I mean players choose markets based on you know, climate taxes. Sure,
some like big cities, some like small cities. Yeah, but
you know, I think I'm balanced. This is a much
better system for a thirty team league.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
I'm gonna throw this at you. I said this the
other day about the esthetic of the NBA. It's a
bit homogenous, a little cookie cutter. And I said, listen,
I don't mind three pointers, but if the NFL was
just you could run the ball and throw bombs. No
no layering, no drag routes, no tight end screen. It
was just run it or bombs. Optically, it's not as fascinating.
(24:35):
And I love the three pointer, but like, and you
know this, you're a pretty progressive thinking. I think athletes
are better. Wemby can pull up and cross you over
on a dribble and shoot. They couldn't do that ten
years ago. And the truth is, because your players are
so gifted and it's such a global pool, the three
pointer is too easy. And I have simply said I
(24:57):
would put the three pointer. I would go have it
go into the bench about six feet up, eliminate the corner.
I'd bring back the handcheck. I do like physicality. Your
athletes are so great it's become too easy to hit it,
and the optics on it are repetitive. I think there's
numbers ratings that prove people are they they like layers
(25:20):
and power forwards and physicality and not just dunks and threes.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
What do you do to solve that?
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Because I think you've engaged with people and acknowledged it
can be a bit repetitive. It is a bit of
an issue. What do we do to change it?
Speaker 6 (25:35):
That The hardest question is the last one you asked,
what do we do to change it? I agree to
the extent that you start to see very similar offenses. Yes,
around the league. You know, teams have brands, teams have identity.
You know Joe Dumars is a colleague now at the
league office, the Bad Boys, et cetera. You know, I
think you know the Showtime Lakers. So I recognize that's
(25:59):
the extent that off to start to look very similar.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
We lose that.
Speaker 6 (26:02):
At the same time, the league is going through a transformation.
Just as you said, players like Victor Webbin Yama players
like you know Yo kich are doing things big men
never did historically. I mean, it wasn't that long ago column.
You'll remember that conversations you had with David Stern, we
would bemoan the lack of skill among some players that
(26:24):
you know, there there was a sense there was too
much physicality. Yes, that the play under the back, you
know that you would have you know, the hack.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
A shack era.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
You know, there were big men that just couldn't shoot
free throws. There are no big men anymore who can't
shoot may throws, just as one comparable from generation to generation.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Have never been higher. So I think we just got
to be careful.
Speaker 6 (26:47):
Like the one thing I want to do is I
don't want to sort of knee jerk move the three
point line. We're sort of going through a process now
seeing how these players are adapting to the new rules
and figuring out if whatever changes we should make. I mean,
be honest, I wish it were as simple as just
moving the three point line back, because then we would
just do it. I mean, part of the concern from
(27:07):
the basketball folks is that if you move the three
point line back, you'll end up sort of just clogging up,
you know, the sort of the area under the basket,
and that's not such attractive basketball either. I think this
is doable. I think we by examining the game and
sort of seeing where it's going. I mean, it frustrates
me a little as well, because it's it's obviously you're
(27:29):
representative of how what a fair number of people are
saying about the game, and I watch it, watch it
night in, night out, and we're seeing some of the
most incredible athleticism and skill in the history of this league,
again Victor wen Banyama. But I think you're also saying
too that if we moved the three point line back
and what we ended up with was Victor when Banyama
(27:50):
standing under the basket the whole time, just waiting to done,
that wouldn't be interesting either. So you know, one, I
assure you we are on it. I think it's a
very fixable issue. I mean, it's you know we've gone
from I mean I always tell the story like Bob Coosey,
who I don't know, he's around ninety five years old.
Those stays in touch with me, and he'll call me
(28:12):
after watching a game and say, I'm so frustrated because
the commentators think that what these players are doing, let's say,
from twenty eight feet or thirty feet and seemingly just
flicking the ball up with their wrists and swishing these
three pointers, that somehow that's easy. They said, the skill
level is incredible. But he'll also say, you know, I
think we all want to see diversity in the offenses.
(28:34):
But by the way, one other thing I'll just throw in,
I don't think the players are getting enough credit for
playing the style defense they're playing now as well.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
So it's an incredible game. I know you love the game.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
It's, you know, the number one participation sport in the
United States. You mentioned Kitlyn Clark. It's incredible to see
what the women are now doing on the floor and
the amount of young girls who are playing this game.
So as stewards of the game, you know, Joe Dumar's
leads our competition committee, you know we will tweak it,
we will correct those issues.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
So years ago, I had a president Barack Obama in
a couple of times, and one of the things I
offered him, I said, you're the first president in my
life that's had the deal with social media and the
vile nature of it. It may not change policy, but
does it change the discussions in the briefing rooms before
you go out? Does it change the way perhaps you
think of policy. Because we're in a tribal nation, it's
very loud. So along those lines, I love George Brett
(29:27):
as a baseball player. As a kid Kansas City Royals,
George Brett often missed thirty games in a season. Nobody
thought it was load management. Right. We live in a
different time. Platforms call it out and tickets are more expensive,
so it does bother me. I'm a small town kid.
I went once a year to see downtown Freddie Brown,
Gus Williams, Dennis Johnson, Jack Sikma. If they didn't play,
(29:50):
that was the game I got. And I can see
that little kid in Milwaukee, middle class family go and
Jannis could play, but he doesn't. Is it a bigger problem?
I think it's a problem. Do you view it as
being sort of platformed up by loud voices or does
the league look at this and think, you know, our
(30:10):
middle class fans they go to one game a year,
they're not corporate stewards, and that they want to go
and see their stars play. I think it's serious. Do
you in the league think it is a problem that
is something you want to solve.
Speaker 6 (30:27):
We so much think it's a problem that in the
last collective bargaining agreement you may recall, we added some
provisions to further incentivized players to play as many games
as they possibly can by making them ineligible for certain awards,
certain benefits if they fall below a certain level of games.
Having said that, to your point, you know, and I'm
(30:50):
never going to shoot the messenger in terms of whether
it's social media or the media.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
It's a real issue.
Speaker 6 (30:54):
And how can you know for that family for that
one time that they're going to go see the boxer
or the Lakers or the Knicks or whatever else. I
completely understand their point of view. The problem is as
much as we are an eighty two game league. I
mean take Lebron for example. Okay, Lebron has missed i
(31:15):
think three games so far this season. Yeah, he's forty
years old, he has the most minutes in NBA history,
and he's missed I think three out of let's say
thirty seven games so far.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
I think that's incredible.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
Now, for the family that went to the Laker game
of one of those three games, I understand their disappointment,
and I know he does as well. You know, it's
with it with its season as long as we have,
by the way, and whether it's because load management or
an injury, it's still the same impact on that family.
(31:49):
And all I can say is we've worked with our teams.
We're working a lot on the science. I think, incidentally,
you don't hear load management so much around the league
anymore because I think we've dispelled that notion that it's
somehow through some analytics or a computer program that on
November twelfth, you can make a decision that a player
(32:11):
should sit out on December twentieth, which is what was
going on in the league, and in fact, my understanding,
at least of the data that's come in so far,
it may even be the case that some of the
early early season injuries are caused by players not having
enough load.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Because even thank you, thank you again.
Speaker 6 (32:30):
You know, it's fascinating, Like when I got to the
league a little over thirty years ago, a lot of
players would take the month of August and like literally
go fishing. You know, they would show out and they
would they would like eat a little bit more, gain
a little bit of weight. They'd come into training camp
and that's when you got back into shape and you'd
lose those pounds and you'd play your way and and
(32:50):
and train and practice back into game shape. Now there's
not there's hardly a player in the league that isn't
working out every single day. Guys even go to the finals,
they take a day off, they're back on the floor,
but often it's specialized one on one training, it's weight
room work, whatever it is. It's not five on five
(33:11):
basketball because and a lot of it in fairness, these players,
and that's what frustrates me too, because they don't take
a day off. There's some of the hardest working athletes
out there, but then they have it in their head
that they're more likely to get injured if they're playing
five on five. So yeah, right, So then they come
back into training camp and it's still not necessarily five
(33:31):
on five. There's the preseason again, minutes are limited. Then
boom the regular season comes and at least I can't
say it's perfect. I know it's causation yet, but there's
certainly correlation early in the season that you see those
guys And it's interesting. It used to be we would
hear from teams that you're going to injure our players
(33:51):
if they play for USA Basketball, the US national team,
the Olympic team, or the national teams you know, from
the countries they're from. In fact, it's the opposite it.
We have fewer injuries and maybe not surprisingly from the
guys who participate in competition over the summer because the
load is maintained. They're not overdoing it, you know, I
(34:11):
mean I I but you know they come back and
there's that the consistency of the load, you know, throughout
the off season. So I think this is an area
too where better data, you know, AI is changing everything
where we're going to be in a position, I think
where we can convince the teams and convince the players
(34:33):
that actually playing is in their interest. But unfortunately we're
never going to be able to completely solve that issue
for that family that comes to that game and is disappointed.
I will say, just lastly, and maybe speaks a little
bit to the data that we're coming off last year
in the entire history of the NBA, it was our
(34:53):
highest attendance and I'm sure I mean that market.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
No doubt the highest ticket prices too.
Speaker 6 (34:58):
So I will say, yes, they're fans disappointed, but people
love the NBA experience, they love going to the games.
I understand when there's a particular star you're interested, but
also we've never been deeper in terms of the talent
to four hundred and fifty players in the league.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Okay, I'm gonna ask you a couple quick ones because
I know you're a busy guy, much busier than me,
and then these can require shorter answers. So one of
the things the iPhone has changed everything. Our society is
more caffeinated, more distracted, and more frenetic. Hockey regular season,
baseball regular season, NBA regular season. It's just harder to
get ratings. Events UFC on Saturday, college football, NFL, Olympics,
(35:36):
World Cup events get excellent ratings. It's not necessarily the
fault of a league if there's a decline in Monday
through Friday. And as I look and read stories about
the decline of ratings, my take is it's an iPhone issue.
It's not baseball. Until Otawi and the Dodgers put up
basically the best most talented team ever, the Dodgers had
(35:56):
great ratings. Is that can you just is it just
possible that Hey, we have contracts that limit the number
of games we can be reduced to. We don't want
to make one and done like college basketball. Is that
your regular season ratings they don't matter that much because
I just saw your new TV deals and that the
media makes a bigger deal of the truth is we're
(36:17):
good when it matters in May and June, and that's
just a new world.
Speaker 6 (36:23):
Yeah, you asked me to answer shorter, so I'll try
to be. There's so much that could be set on
this So first of all, this season, just to set
their record straight, we're up about four percent on ESPN
and ABC. If you had TNT into the mix, we're
down slightly three or four percent for this season. That's
(36:45):
our rating story so far. We're coming off last season
where it was our highest regular season ratings in four years.
But the issue is, especially for a sport like the
NBA where we have a very young fan based young men, yes,
young women cable as you know, and I'm sure has
an impact on your show as well, that since you
(37:08):
last interviewed me five plus years, there's been yet another
dramatic increase in the number of people who subscribe. I'll
call traditional television cable, satellite television, or who watch traditional
television so much so that from a decade ago it's
like fifty percent fewer people watch traditional television. In fact,
(37:29):
last year the lines crossed. More people are now watching
programming on streaming services than they are through legacy conventional television.
So back to the iPhone. So those deals you talked
about that we just entered into for next year. Part
of the reason I believe, in addition to the sport itself,
that we're able to provide so much value is every
(37:50):
one of those new partners Disney and ESPN, NBC, Universal, Peacock,
and of course Amazon provide their games through streaming. Maybe
in the case of NBC it's also broadcast or Disney,
ABC and ESPN, But every single game beginning next season
is going to be available on a streaming service. And then,
(38:14):
you know, burden on or onus on us. Then that
we know now there's the opportunity to watch this programming
on those screens on those TVs they carry everywhere they go.
But I think as a result, we have to up
our game too, So they're adding more games of consequences.
The colored floors you joked about before for the NBA Cup.
So that gets people's attention. But beyond that, they really
(38:37):
exciting thing to me about moving to streaming services, which
are in essence internet television. You can add all kinds
of incredible functionality, customization, personalization. People want to bet on games,
they can do it. People want to buy merchandise, they're
fascinated with a particular camera angle, or they want an
audio feed that is directed at hardcore fan or casual fans.
(39:02):
So I think, and this isn't just the case for
the NBA, I think for all of the leagues that
the competition is that much greater than it used to be. Yeah,
and so we have to do a better job engaging
our fans in these games.
Speaker 1 (39:13):
Okay, I promise. I know your PR people are probably saying,
get coward out of here.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
I can ignore them, thank you.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Okay, there's another one. So this really bothers Jason McIntyre.
I think he really has been on this for two years.
He's been very publicly critical of Barkley, banging on the league.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
And my take is.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Just I'll cut to the chase. Have you ever called
that show's executives or Charles and said Charles, could could
you not beat down on us every night that there
are those that believe it takes a negative tact or
tone on a fairly consistent basis. I don't think it
affects the ratings. I think they're entertainment show. But I
don't see the research you do. Have You contacted them
(39:59):
at one point said you guys are a little negative.
Speaker 6 (40:04):
Never ever, ever, And the only contact I've ever had
with them, and it would have been with Ernie. It's
occasionally Ernie and I will talk and he'll say we're
going to be discussing some aspect of the salary cap
or you know, the CBA, and it'll like, just give
me a primer on what the rules are, so that
if somebody says something that is factually wrong, I'm in
(40:27):
a position to correct them.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
But so that's just on facts, never on opinion. And
I'll go one step further.
Speaker 6 (40:34):
I mean, as you know, you know, we didn't continue
our relationship with Turner Sports that produces inside the NBA,
but we just got a deal done with ESPN and
Turner Sports to move that very show to ESPN and ABC.
And I'll go further. And I love Jason, by the way, Jason,
(40:55):
thank you for being a fan that I think in
this case, they are unique. I think sometimes others who
are more critical, I won't say names, but we'll get
our equivalent of you or mail and people say, why
is this guy commentating or announcing on the NBA when
it seems that he doesn't even like the league. And
(41:17):
I think that's a fair point if you think somebody
is that negative. And to me, there's always a tradition
in the NFL where almost all the announcers to me,
seem to celebrate the game in the case in the
case of that panel, Charles Kenny Shack of course, Ernie,
I always have the sense that when they are critical,
it's your uncle at the Thanksgiving Day table.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
You know, this is it. It's the family. They have
the credibility.
Speaker 6 (41:44):
And because I also hear I don't call them, but
I hear from players in the league or teams in
the league, or say ah like there are partner, like
why are they saying those things?
Speaker 3 (41:54):
And I think Charles is special.
Speaker 6 (41:56):
By the way, there's a reason that show has won
close to I think two Emmys, and so I think
it generates more interest in the league, and to the
extent that next year that show will be featured on
ESPN and ABC and more people will have the opportunity
to see it.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
I think that's very positive for the league.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Well, this was fun, and I do appreciate you not
eating during the interview because I love David, but it
was a tune of sandwich every time he came on
with me, and I'm just his favorite. Yeah, I found that.
I discovered that over several years a real pleasure. If
you're ever in LA, I'd love to have you. I
think this kind of stuff is important. I like the
poke and prod and I just appreciate you answering the questions.
Speaker 6 (42:37):
Yeah, Colin, and I wish I had asked this at
the top of the interview. How are you guys doing
with everything that's going on out there?
Speaker 1 (42:41):
I got to tell you, it's the most devastating thing
I've ever seen. Los Angeles, as you know, is a
community with a very diverse community. People come here and
chase their dreams, and it feels like a lot of
dreams have been shattered by a lot of really great
people in a lot of industries. But I have seen
giving at a level that is heartwarming from outside Los
(43:04):
Angeles and in Los Angeles people have opened their doors.
Very encouraging by citizens of Los Angeles.
Speaker 6 (43:13):
Yeah, I'll to say, you know, I was just with
some of the Lakers and Clippers executives at some meetings,
and first of all, I think, you know, the Clippers
at the into a dome. We're going to do, you know,
a huge concert with the Azol family. Yes, money, you know.
In addition, you know, I've been on the phone with
JJ Reddick. Of course he lost his house. He explained
to me how the community center, the rec center where
(43:34):
his son was playing, burns the ground. So the league
is going to come up with a program with the
Lakers and Clippers to help rebuild the community. So you know, again,
the images are just terrific from the East coast, I'm
very sorry.
Speaker 1 (43:46):
Yeah, terrifying, But there's a lot of really good people
in this state, in the city. Adam Silver, the commissioner
of the NBA, who presides by the way over five
different sports leagues a sports League, NBA W, NBA G League,
NBA two KU Basketball after the league, thank you so
much for taking time for us. I told before this show,
I said, listen, can I get eighteen minutes? You gave
(44:08):
us twenty nine. I am indebted and thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
Yeah, my pleasure, Thank you, all right, J Mack.
Speaker 1 (44:14):
I waited to the end to ask the question about
Charles Barkley. I kept watching you, but I did ask
that question. Adam Silver, thank you so much for joining
us on the show.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon eastern nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (44:31):
All right, here we go, not that many games. I'm
picking four, fire away.
Speaker 2 (44:37):
Let's blaze it up, Fired up. It's Collins Blazing five
sponsored by Draftcakes, Texans and Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (44:44):
Listen. I don't love eight and a half, but I'm
gonna swallow it. I'm gonna lay it and take Kansas City.
Two of their last three wins have come by ten
plus points, undefeated at home, thirteen and four off up
by under Andy Reid. And they don't give the ball
away anymore. Seven straight games without a give. C. J.
Stroud has never been the same quarterback on the road
warm weather team in really cold weather. And I also
(45:07):
think the Texans benefited from those interceptions against Justin Herbert.
That's not gonna happen they're missing there two of their
top three receivers. Joe Mixon's banged up, and if you
look at C. J. Stroud on the road versus teams
that made the playoffs in his career zero to five
passer rating at seventy one. I think the Chiefs win
(45:28):
by nine. I wish the number was better thirty to
twenty one. Take Kansas City Rams at Eagles. It's my
favorite bet of the weekend. I like Philadelphia. Inclement weather
is going to favor the better O line, the better
run game. I mean, they held the number eight scoring
offense Packers to ten points in the wild card win.
(45:50):
They have the number one offensive line and the number
two rushing offense, and they're gonna give it to Saquon Barkley,
who's been on a heater seven of his last eight
games plus one hundred yards. The Rams, listen, they took
advantage of a bad old line and they've got a
very good defensive line. They were at home. Now, it's
a short week. They allowed one hundred and twenty four
big plays this year, so you can beat him downfield,
and let's be honest. Matt Stafford in his career rain
(46:13):
and snow games one in eight. He is not the
same quarterback. Eagles win twenty eight to twenty, pull away
in the second half.
Speaker 2 (46:25):
Ravens at Bill.
Speaker 1 (46:26):
I like the Bills nine to zero at home. They
leave the NFL with thirteen games of thirty plus points
and they don't give the ball away. They're like Kansas City.
They're very clean. Fewest giveaways and fewest sacks allowed in
the NFL season, which is wild for how a dynamic
they are as an offense. Josh Allen's been a good
playoff quarterback. Lamar Jackson three and four in his playoff career.
(46:48):
He's missing Za Flowers, who may play but hasn't practice.
I gotta be honest in a big playoff spot. Lamar's
been a bit tense. He's gotten better, but a bit tense,
a little anxious. Josh Allen has been great. I just
think I think Buffalo my guest today, I think Buffalo
wins the super Bowl. That's my take. I think this
(47:08):
is the best version Josh Allen's had. I'm gonna take
the points and take Buffalo twenty eight to twenty four.
Speaker 2 (47:15):
Ohio State versus Notre Day.
Speaker 1 (47:17):
I'm taking the under forty six and a half I'm
gonna stay away from the spread. These are unbelievable defenses. Okay,
if you go look at Ohio State, they held Texas
to fourteen points. They held nine straight Appoints to twenty
one points. Reviewer and the Irish are missing a couple
offensive linemen. We don't think they'll play and their offense
is okay. Notre Dame meanwhile lead the country with thirty
(47:40):
three takeaways. Unbelievably well coached on defense, excellent secondary. Opposing
quarterbacks had twelve passing touchdowns and nineteen interceptions. They will
Howard can lose his confidence. So Notre Dame in Ohio State.
If you look at their defensive rankings this year, you're
looking at Krem Dela Crem. Points allowed they were one
(48:02):
and two, passing yards allowed one and two. I don't
think Notre Dame has the offensive fire power to win,
but I'm gonna take the under forty six and a
half points. DraftKings Sportsbook, America's top reddit sports book, two
hundred bucks in bonus bets, instantly betting just five. The
promo code is heard h E R D. So I
(48:28):
still can't believe the Buffalo Bills are getting points at home,
and I know the wise guys like Baltimore, and I
know you can run the football on the Bills. I
get that, but I'm going to take a couple of
big favorites to cover. The Chiefs and Eagles. Take the
under on Notre Dame, Ohio State
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Here we go. It's hour two and a Monday, live
in Los Angeles. It's The Herd. Wherever you may be
and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us
part of your day if you're just tuning in. Mike
McCarthy and the Cowboys have agreed to part ways. It
came down to years, not money, meaning, Jerry said. Jerry
and Mike came to terms with money. But Mike McCarthy
(00:49):
has a new agent, Don Yee, who I know a
little bit, highly respected, highly cerebral, knows how to market
his guys. He had Brady for years. He may still
have talk. I think he told McCarthy asked for the moon.
You're the best coaching candidate out there now that Rabel's signed.
In fact, you got a ring and Mike Rabel doesn't
as a head coach and I think the Cowboys. Jerry
(01:11):
didn't want to pay him for five years, and McCarthy
smartly said, I'm looking at my roster in Philadelphia's. I'm
not signing a three or four year deal. This is
a rebuild. And if you're the GM, Jerry, I want
five years, and Jerry didn't want it. Mike McCarthy wins,
All right, we do it. On Mondays, Colin was right,
Colin was wrong.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Here we go.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I picked the Washington Commanders as my surprise playoff team
in the NFL. I didn't know if they'd win a game,
but they did. I love Dan Quinn, Cliff Kingsbury, Jaden Daniels.
I thought it worked, and I thought their division had
a couple of teams in the Giants in Dallas with
the weak rosters. I said Friday, I don't think they're
as good as Tampa. I don't think they'll win, but
(01:53):
if they do, it's because of, singularly Jaden Daniels. And
that's exactly what happened.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Where Colin was row.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
I got a little too high on Jordan Love j
Max scolded me the entire season, But you know what
I thought after that, green Bay Dallas performance. I thought
this guy is gonna be great, and it was a
roller coaster year. Three picks against Philly. I was told
out of college by a GMI trust that he thought
he was a little loose and he wasn't sure you
could coach that out of him. But if you count
(02:22):
the playoff game in Philly, he ended up with fourteen
picks and the nineteenth highest passer rating in the NFL.
I think he needs an off season with Matt Lafleur
to clean it up. I still like him a lot,
but I was a little too high on him.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Mike Rabel to the Patriots, I said Friday, Rabel's the
best candidate, Patriots the best job. This is an easy one.
People always say you can't go home again, but this
is the only opening where you get two things that
are necessary, and they get both a stable owner with
championship pedigree and and a young quarterback on a rookie
deal that shows great promise. Now, I mean, I guess
(03:01):
you could say Washington, but we didn't know much about
the new owner. We know Robert Kraft. This makes a
lot of sense. I think he's gonna win in fact,
I think New England next year. You think I'm crazy.
I think they'll battle for a playoff spot, a wild
card playoff spot. You can always get better on the perimeter,
faster than you can on the lines. You can go
get corners, you can go get wide receivers in the draft.
(03:23):
This is the best running back draft in a decade,
and there's tons of receivers. I think he's a culture builder.
I think it's perfect where Colin was wrong, justin Herbert Listen.
You know I love him, but that was a stinker. Now,
former Charger Dan Fouts had his worst game as a
pro in the playoffs. But if you take out one
pass to Lad McConkey, they didn't do anything. And I
(03:44):
love him, but he was off in two playoffs starts.
I've got to be honest. He has a passer rating
a sixty and has completed only fifty two percent of
his throws. I still think he's great, but you know what,
your legacy gets cemented and regresses in the playoffs, and
he needs a really great playoff performance. Two trips, two
ugly ones.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Where Colin was right.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Ohio State. I picked them to be in the National
Championship before the year, I said they would lose at
Odson and beat Oregon the next time. And I also said,
even after they beat Michigan, I still think they're one
of the top two teams in the country. I think
they're gonna beat Notre Dame and I like Notre Dame
a lot. But Ryan Day and Chip Kelly that Michigan
(04:27):
loss was jet fuel. They are playing tremendous football. Will
Howard after a bad Michigan game is on it. I don't.
I mean, listen, their O line isn't all time stuff,
and the Buckeyes usually have great old lines. But running
back receiver Will Howard coaching there. There's nothing not to
like here, and it just proves rivalries are great. But
(04:50):
Nick Saban won a Natty one year after losing to Auburn.
It comes in Ohio State. You got to move past
the Michigan game sometimes this team. The Michigan loss actually
was a catalyst for this performance where Colin was raw. Listen,
I had the Longhorns winning the National championship and they
(05:11):
lost twice to Georgia, once to Ohio State, and they
should have lost Arizona State situationally, and I think Sarks
a very good coach, but boys situationally, they made some calls.
I did not love running outside on that goal line.
Play was not didn't work for me. I think they
got the most out of Quinn viewers. I think he
(05:31):
is what he is. Arch Manning will start this point forward,
But watching that game, I never felt Texas was as
good as Ohio State. And maybe it just comes down
to personnel. But I had them winning the Natty and
I'm wrong where Colin was right. I've been saying this
now for several years. I like Mike Tomlin, and he's
(05:51):
great as an underdog coach, but when they lose effort,
you're in trouble because offensively, he can't figure out offensive lines.
They're offensive lines again seven straight year. They can't establish
a run game, and again they'll lead the NFL in
defensive spending. I think he's a good football coach, but
I think even good football coaches sometimes need a fresh start.
(06:12):
And again I would hire Mike Tomlin. I mean, if
if the Cowboys called now that McCarthy's leaving, I'd hire
Mike Tomlin. I think he's a good coach. I think
the Pittsburgh thing, I think they need to reboot and
I think Mike Tomlin does too. Where Colin was right,
Lamar Jackson won his third playoff game. Listen. I know,
(06:33):
I know, but he can't beat Kansas City, and nobody
could beat Tiger Woods in his prime or Michael Jordan
when he got to the finals. Sometimes winning in the
playoffs against the greatest quarterback playing in the sport is
really hard. But I think Lamar once again one hundred
and thirty two passer rating two TV's no picks without
(06:53):
Zay Flowers. I mean they they knew. Everybody in the
ballpark knows they don't have they don't have a receiver.
It's Mark Edwards, Dereck Henry and Lamar didn't matter, poised great.
We got to stop the Lamar Jackson stuff. Yeah, he
struggles against Kansas City, the world struggled against MJ like
(07:17):
Phil Micholson's an old timer couldn't beat Tiger much. I
still think Lamar Jackson is really really special. Colin Wright,
Colin wrong one more.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Heard The Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven
days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to
listen live or on demand whenever you like. Heard Hierarchy
Time now, no go. The top ten NFL teams according
to College number tenes Cincinnati Bengals.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Sorry, they beat the Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers that
made the playoffs, and they beat the breaks off of
Green Bay. Right now, they're a good football team. Joe
Burrow is on fire five game winning streak. He completed
seventy seven percent of his throws, thirteen tds, four picks
in a one to eleven passer rating. That's just sometimes
the way it works. You get hot too late. Cincinnati
(08:06):
is a top ten team in the league.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
Let me tell you who.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
Kansas City, Buffalo and Baltimore didn't want to make the playoffs. Cincinnati,
they were fine with bow Knicks. They were fine with
Justin Herbert, CJ. Stroud and don't want bow Knicks anywhere
near the playoffs. Cincinnati at ten, number nine. Minnesota, yeah
they listen. They're like a really good student who got
a D in their last couple of test scores. Doesn't
make him a bad student. Top ten scoring offense, top
(08:30):
five defense. They got out coach last night, and they're
not as good as Detroit and frankly, the Rams young
defense is a site to behold, but I have the
Vikings at nine, number eight, the inconsistent Houston Texans. Now
they're only two and five against playoff teams, and they're
gonna go to Kansas City. It's gonna be cold, and
they're gonna probably get smoked. They're nine to zero when
(08:51):
holding opponents to twenty points or fewer, and Kansas City
is getting better on offense, so that's not gonna happen.
I think they're still a year away. I think Denver's
a year away. I think Green Bays a year away.
I do think CJ. Stroud's a different quarterback on the
road than at home. We told you that going into
the Chargers game.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
C J.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Stroud cold weather on the road. Their season will end
number seven Commanders, no punts or turnovers against the Bucks.
I don't know if I like the team or I'm
in love with Jayden Daniels. I mean, the kids, just
honest to god, there's about sixty percent of my homes
sixty percent Lamar Jackson. It's the best rookie I've ever seen,
(09:31):
next to Andrew Luck. Six game winning streak. Each of
their last five games have been decided on the last
play from scrimmage. You can't do that forever. That's just
too emotional, too wild. I think they'll lose, but they
deserve a ton of respect. How would you like to
be Washington for the next ten years with Jayden Daniels
and cap Space? Sign me up now.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Number six.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
Number six is the Rams played a perfect game in
the first half last night, but they were not gonna
on third down. And their offense can be really sluggish
in the first half. Listen, they're really good, not great,
but they're fifteen and five when they have Stafford and
Puka and Cup and Kyron Williams. Kien Williams got dinged
up last night, cross your fingers. And they're seven and
one when they scored twenty one plus. Their offense gets
(10:17):
stuck though, and it happens kind of regularly where their
offense gets stuck. But if you give McVeigh or Andy
Reid extra time, good night. And I thought this this
defense is no joke. In the first four weeks of
the year, they had eight sacks. That had eight sacks
last night. This defense is Jared Verse is unblockable. This
(10:37):
kid right here jumping into the end zone. So the
Rams are a young defense that about every three weeks,
you look up and they're noticeably better. I have the
Rams at number six, number five Philadelphia. I don't know
if I don't think they can win the Super Bowl. Yes,
they're thirteen. In one of the last fourteen games, they
were two for eleven on third down. Jalen Hurts went
(10:58):
nearly two full quarters without a comple and I don't
love the head coach. I do think they'll beat the
Rams because the Rams played perfect and now go outdoors
to cold weather and Philadelphia played poorly and still won.
They have the best roster in the NFL. But I mean,
Saquon Barkley is the leader of this team. It's not
the quarterback, it's not the coach. This is the one
team to me, Like you can like Derrick Henry, but
(11:19):
I get Lamar and John Harbaugh. Saquon Barkley leads this team.
That's the guy in the old line that I trust.
Number four, Listen, the Ravens are good, boy. They are
really dependent on Derrick Henry and Lamar and that would
concern me. Three drives of eighty five plus yards, you
know what I feel about Lamar Jackson. Listen, They're one
(11:40):
and five against the Chiefs, and they beat everybody else.
So I don't think this team would beat Kansas City
if they hadn to play him an arrowhead. I just
don't think they would because I think Kansas City is
better defensively, and I think Baltimore is getting better on
the defensive side. They held opponents under twenty points in
five straight games, so that's what good coaching staffs do
and good general managers do. Baltimore had flaw, and they're
(12:01):
now better at the flaw. Kansas City wasn't very good
on offense early, and now Kansas City is better on offense.
That's what good organizations do. So they've cleaned up the
mess on defense. I have them there at what do
I have the Ravens at four? Number three Detroit Lions
second best roster in football off of by hosting the Commanders.
(12:21):
They struggle against mobile quarterbacks, which is not a good
thing to struggle against. In twenty twenty five in the
NFL six and two against playoff teams. Dan Campbell has
a culture of relentlessness. Guys play hurt. Jared Goff. For
all you Jared Goff critics, this should be a calling
was really right for the next ten years Jared Goff
(12:44):
on third and fourth down this year. Eighteen touchdowns, no picks.
Best o line in.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Football, Number two, number one, Number two.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Number two Kansas City listen, worst point differential in the
history of the league for a team that's as good
as them. I know they had to buy, and I
know they'll be good, and I know they'll beat the
brakes off of Houston. And they are getting stronger late
with their musical chairs on the offensive line in Hollywood Brown.
(13:16):
And they are seven to two against current playoff teams
and twenty one and two. But aesthetics matter and data matters.
And my number one team in the league number was
as Buffalo. There's never been a team in pro football
that had thirty passing touchdowns and over thirty rushing touchdowns.
Not only do they win at home, all but one
home game was a blowout seven win by twenty points.
(13:39):
I think this offense is incredible. Left tackle right now,
the best remaining in the playoffs. Quarterback, most talented remaining
in the playoffs James Cook. Top five running back, two
good tight ends, three capable receivers. They are not as
good as Kansasity defensively, there is no question, and maybe
they don't match up with Baltimore defensively. But this team
(14:00):
right now is so good offensively, left tackle, quarterback, weapons,
run game. I have them number one by an inch.
I think this is the year. I think this is
the best version of Buffalo. Hey, these are tough decisions, folks.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
in neon eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David and together we're
Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 5 (14:33):
You could catch us weekdays from five to seven pm
Eastern two to four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and
of course the iHeartRadio App.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Why should you listen to Cavino and Rich.
Speaker 5 (14:41):
We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's going on
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Speaker 4 (14:46):
We have a lot of fun talking about the stories
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Speaker 5 (14:54):
And the fact that we've been friends for the last
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Speaker 4 (14:59):
Check us out out. We like to get you involved.
To take your phone calls chop it up, as they say,
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(15:21):
that's Covino and Rich.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
So there's a lot to unravel and unpack here when
we bring on Adam Silver, eleven years as the NBA commissioner.
So let's start with the good stuff. International expansion, China
and Africa. You have a new CBA for seven years.
You just signed a massive TV deal. I like the
NBA Cup. I'm a distracted consumer. If the court's purple,
I know it matters. I like it. I think it works.
(15:47):
So there's a lot of good here, more good than bad.
But I'm I'm gonna set this question up because this
is something I struggle with. I'm a consumer and I'm distracted.
I'm on my phone as much as TV, so I
have been watching Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese. They feel like
burden magic because I am viscerally connected to them via college.
This is why studios do sequels. I know the actors.
(16:11):
Zach Edy. I really like watching him plays, having a
very nice rookie season, but I know him because Matt
Painter and Purdue is a big time program. It would
be reductionist to say he's succeeding because he's big. He's
succeeding because of what Purdue did and not only that commissioner,
but I got to watch the growth, so I am
(16:33):
emotionally committed to Zach Edy. I think your heart was
in the right place with a G League, but it
hides players from me that I want to grow with.
Is there an argument to be made that college basketball
there's I feel like it's not not that it's marginalized,
but it's not as big as it could be. It
could be such a microwave for your stars, and the
(16:57):
league doesn't see it that way. Is that a fair critics.
Speaker 6 (17:01):
I don't think it's a fair criticism because we do
see it that way and we're doing everything we can
to build college basketball.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
I mean, let me take a few steps back.
Speaker 6 (17:12):
Like, first of all, in terms of the G League,
most of the G League players are either international players
who didn't play in college or former college players. In fact,
we had a program called Team McKnight Condai sa Rice
recommended we create. There was an NCAA commission, and you'll
recall pre collectives and nil money. President Obama criticized us,
(17:35):
and then the NCAA had a commission and said there
should be a track, a pro track into the NBA
because it was unfair that the only opportunity for these
young players was to play without being paid in college.
So we had already had the G League, but then
we created this program called Team McKnight where for a
select few high school players, if they wanted the opportunity
(17:57):
to get to get paid and then come into the NBA,
they could play in that program. But even then we
recognize that compared to the facilities the conditions at the
top D one programs, even though we were paying them
and they couldn't have been paid at that point, it
was they were still better off playing at Kentucky or
(18:18):
Louisville or Duke or USC or wherever else. And so
once the nil and collective money came in, we actually
shut down the Team ig Night. We still have the
G League, And the last thing we want to do
is take top prospects would otherwise be going to school.
Take Cooper Flag at Duke. We'd rather he be there
than be playing in the NBA right now or be
(18:41):
playing in the G League. We want those players to develop. So,
you know, I think there's a misnomer to the extent
that you or others feel that we're not supportive of
college basketball. And personally a huge college basketball fan, I'm
Charlie Baker, the former governor of Massachusetts.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
And now head of the and CAA.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
He and I've been meeting a lot to talk about
actively what we can do to better develop young American players,
which clearly has to begin before they get to college,
before the NBA. So and but you know, we are
the league of the WNBA too, and so I pay
a lot of attention to Caitlyn Clark and the star
players that are emerging and the WNBA and who are
(19:20):
coming from college and when whether it's Angel or Caitlin
or Juju now and these players come into the w
NBA as you know, built fully, you know, multi dimensional
stars that people are familiar with like it was in
the old days in the NBA.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
We love that.
Speaker 6 (19:37):
The problem is, like so many things in life, I'm
not sure we can turn the clock back on that
type of development.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
I will say it's positive, you know.
Speaker 6 (19:45):
Putting aside, I think there's some issues that need to
be addressed in terms of the NIL system and the collectives.
It seems like nobody's really happy with it right now.
In terms of the competitive landscape, I think it's positive
that those players are able to be paid, and if
they're able to be paid, particular the players that are
on the margin of whether they or not they would
be lottery picks or first round draft picks, they now
(20:07):
have a huge incentive to stay in school because they can.
They're not only can get the further development, but they
can get paid as well.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Here's something that I addressed with David Stern, and I'll
address it with you too. I think trades are good
for sports. If you look at the best teams in
the NBA right now, Oklahoma City, Cleveland, and Boston, they
have smart front offices that have drafted and developed well.
They can occasionally make a Donovan Mitchell move or Porzingis move,
or a Drew Holliday, but those teams have drafted and
developed well, and they're being rewarded for it. You know,
(20:36):
Dallas drafted Luca. You know they can go get Kyrie,
but lucas a star. The NBA gets a little too
caught up if you take Lebron out. Let's just take
Lebron out. He is the historic outlier. Even Kevin Durant,
Warriors one before him, Warriors one after him.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
Is that.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
I think the league sometimes is too concerned with trades.
If Jimmy Butler, who's a good player, maybe of superstar anymore,
went to Oklahoma City, I would want to watch them more.
Or Golden State, I would want to that. The league
sometimes to protect the small markets. Let's not worry too
much about that. Let's just let players move because the
(21:14):
sense that it ruins the league or creates a competitive
balance outside of Lebron.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
It really doesn't.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Most of the great teams in this league historically have
always been draft and develop, build a core, and then
add sprinkle in some good players via trades.
Speaker 6 (21:32):
I don't think it's an accident that we've had six
different teams over the last six years that have won championships,
and at the end of the day, we sell competition
and I hear you. It sounds like you're making an
argument for dynasties to a certain extent, that we should
do more to allow a great player to go to
an already great team or an already very good team.
(21:54):
The problem is that it's zero sum. The players are
going to go somewhere. That's the great news. All the
top tier players are going to play in the NBA,
and that there is a correlation. It's far from perfect,
but there's a correlation between what players make and their
performance on the floor. And so what we've done, and
I understand your point of view over time is while
(22:15):
we have a soft cap system, it's become harder and
it has been more difficult once you have a fully
loaded team.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Yes, then add a great player on top of that.
Speaker 6 (22:25):
And to your point, if Kevin Durant couldn't have gone
to Golden State from Oklahoma City when he did, the
team he had gone to would have almost by definition,
if it weren't already a great team, would have become
a great team. And for us, we think that's better
league wide in terms of creating more competition. I mean,
(22:45):
we're coming off a season last year and it's continued
this year. Or I think we have more competitive teams
than any time in league history. And to your point,
the fact that tomorrow night Cleveland and Oklahoma City are
playing yet again, you know, fantastic build up for that game,
incredible competition. We just got to remember at the end
of the day, that's what we're selling. I mean, I
(23:05):
think that's part of the reason for the enormous success
of the NFL. This any given Sunday notion that nobody
thinks twice if you know, the Packers are in the
super Bowl, there's no bemoaning that it's a small market whatsoever.
And I think our league, it's true that if you
look back on you know, the first you know, sixty
(23:25):
years of our league, it seemed David Stern joked, you
know when when he came into the league, I thought
the job was you went back and forth from Boston
to la every year, and one of the team's got
the rings, you know. And I think the fact that
now we're selling competition in every market, and that in
terms of from a television standpoint too, that you know,
whether it's Oklahoma City, whether it's San Antonio, whether it's
(23:48):
Salt Lake City, that those teams are in a position
when well managed to compete in the same way the
large markets can.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
And by the way, I mean it's not just money.
Speaker 6 (23:57):
I mean players choose markets based on you know, climate taxes. Sure,
some like big cities, some like small cities. Yeah, but
you know, I think I'm balanced. This is a much
better system for a thirty team league.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
I'm gonna throw this at you. I said this the
other day about the esthetic of the NBA. It's a
bit homogenous, a little cookie cutter. And I said, listen,
I don't mind three pointers, but if the NFL was
just you could run the ball and throw bombs. No
no layering, no drag routes, no tight end screen. It
was just run it or bombs. Optically, it's not as fascinating.
(24:35):
And I love the three pointer, but like, and you
know this, you're a pretty progressive thinking. I think athletes
are better. Wemby can pull up and cross you over
on a dribble and shoot. They couldn't do that ten
years ago. And the truth is, because your players are
so gifted and it's such a global pool, the three
pointer is too easy. And I have simply said I
(24:57):
would put the three pointer. I would go have it
go into the bench about six feet up, eliminate the corner.
I'd bring back the handcheck. I do like physicality. Your
athletes are so great it's become too easy to hit it,
and the optics on it are repetitive. I think there's
numbers ratings that prove people are they they like layers
(25:20):
and power forwards and physicality and not just dunks and threes.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
What do you do to solve that?
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Because I think you've engaged with people and acknowledged it
can be a bit repetitive. It is a bit of
an issue. What do we do to change it?
Speaker 6 (25:35):
That The hardest question is the last one you asked,
what do we do to change it? I agree to
the extent that you start to see very similar offenses. Yes,
around the league. You know, teams have brands, teams have identity.
You know Joe Dumars is a colleague now at the
league office, the Bad Boys, et cetera. You know, I
think you know the Showtime Lakers. So I recognize that's
(25:59):
the extent that off to start to look very similar.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
We lose that.
Speaker 6 (26:02):
At the same time, the league is going through a transformation.
Just as you said, players like Victor Webbin Yama players
like you know Yo kich are doing things big men
never did historically. I mean, it wasn't that long ago column.
You'll remember that conversations you had with David Stern, we
would bemoan the lack of skill among some players that
(26:24):
you know, there there was a sense there was too
much physicality. Yes, that the play under the back, you
know that you would have you know, the hack.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
A shack era.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
You know, there were big men that just couldn't shoot
free throws. There are no big men anymore who can't
shoot may throws, just as one comparable from generation to generation.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
Have never been higher. So I think we just got
to be careful.
Speaker 6 (26:47):
Like the one thing I want to do is I
don't want to sort of knee jerk move the three
point line. We're sort of going through a process now
seeing how these players are adapting to the new rules
and figuring out if whatever changes we should make. I mean,
be honest, I wish it were as simple as just
moving the three point line back, because then we would
just do it. I mean, part of the concern from
(27:07):
the basketball folks is that if you move the three
point line back, you'll end up sort of just clogging up,
you know, the sort of the area under the basket,
and that's not such attractive basketball either. I think this
is doable. I think we by examining the game and
sort of seeing where it's going. I mean, it frustrates
me a little as well, because it's it's obviously you're
(27:29):
representative of how what a fair number of people are
saying about the game, and I watch it, watch it
night in, night out, and we're seeing some of the
most incredible athleticism and skill in the history of this league,
again Victor wen Banyama. But I think you're also saying
too that if we moved the three point line back
and what we ended up with was Victor when Banyama
(27:50):
standing under the basket the whole time, just waiting to done,
that wouldn't be interesting either. So you know, one, I
assure you we are on it. I think it's a
very fixable issue. I mean, it's you know we've gone
from I mean I always tell the story like Bob Coosey,
who I don't know, he's around ninety five years old.
Those stays in touch with me, and he'll call me
(28:12):
after watching a game and say, I'm so frustrated because
the commentators think that what these players are doing, let's say,
from twenty eight feet or thirty feet and seemingly just
flicking the ball up with their wrists and swishing these
three pointers, that somehow that's easy. They said, the skill
level is incredible. But he'll also say, you know, I
think we all want to see diversity in the offenses.
(28:34):
But by the way, one other thing I'll just throw in,
I don't think the players are getting enough credit for
playing the style defense they're playing now as well.
Speaker 3 (28:41):
So it's an incredible game. I know you love the game.
Speaker 6 (28:45):
It's, you know, the number one participation sport in the
United States. You mentioned Kitlyn Clark. It's incredible to see
what the women are now doing on the floor and
the amount of young girls who are playing this game.
So as stewards of the game, you know, Joe Dumar's
leads our competition committee, you know we will tweak it,
we will correct those issues.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
So years ago, I had a president Barack Obama in
a couple of times, and one of the things I
offered him, I said, you're the first president in my
life that's had the deal with social media and the
vile nature of it. It may not change policy, but
does it change the discussions in the briefing rooms before
you go out? Does it change the way perhaps you
think of policy. Because we're in a tribal nation, it's
very loud. So along those lines, I love George Brett
(29:27):
as a baseball player. As a kid Kansas City Royals,
George Brett often missed thirty games in a season. Nobody
thought it was load management. Right. We live in a
different time. Platforms call it out and tickets are more expensive,
so it does bother me. I'm a small town kid.
I went once a year to see downtown Freddie Brown,
Gus Williams, Dennis Johnson, Jack Sikma. If they didn't play,
(29:50):
that was the game I got. And I can see
that little kid in Milwaukee, middle class family go and
Jannis could play, but he doesn't. Is it a bigger problem?
I think it's a problem. Do you view it as
being sort of platformed up by loud voices or does
the league look at this and think, you know, our
(30:10):
middle class fans they go to one game a year,
they're not corporate stewards, and that they want to go
and see their stars play. I think it's serious. Do
you in the league think it is a problem that
is something you want to solve.
Speaker 6 (30:27):
We so much think it's a problem that in the
last collective bargaining agreement you may recall, we added some
provisions to further incentivized players to play as many games
as they possibly can by making them ineligible for certain awards,
certain benefits if they fall below a certain level of games.
Having said that, to your point, you know, and I'm
(30:50):
never going to shoot the messenger in terms of whether
it's social media or the media.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
It's a real issue.
Speaker 6 (30:54):
And how can you know for that family for that
one time that they're going to go see the boxer
or the Lakers or the Knicks or whatever else. I
completely understand their point of view. The problem is as
much as we are an eighty two game league. I
mean take Lebron for example. Okay, Lebron has missed i
(31:15):
think three games so far this season. Yeah, he's forty
years old, he has the most minutes in NBA history,
and he's missed I think three out of let's say
thirty seven games so far.
Speaker 3 (31:26):
I think that's incredible.
Speaker 6 (31:27):
Now, for the family that went to the Laker game
of one of those three games, I understand their disappointment,
and I know he does as well. You know, it's
with it with its season as long as we have,
by the way, and whether it's because load management or
an injury, it's still the same impact on that family.
(31:49):
And all I can say is we've worked with our teams.
We're working a lot on the science. I think, incidentally,
you don't hear load management so much around the league
anymore because I think we've dispelled that notion that it's
somehow through some analytics or a computer program that on
November twelfth, you can make a decision that a player
(32:11):
should sit out on December twentieth, which is what was
going on in the league, and in fact, my understanding,
at least of the data that's come in so far,
it may even be the case that some of the
early early season injuries are caused by players not having
enough load.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Because even thank you, thank you again.
Speaker 6 (32:30):
You know, it's fascinating, Like when I got to the
league a little over thirty years ago, a lot of
players would take the month of August and like literally
go fishing. You know, they would show out and they
would they would like eat a little bit more, gain
a little bit of weight. They'd come into training camp
and that's when you got back into shape and you'd
lose those pounds and you'd play your way and and
(32:50):
and train and practice back into game shape. Now there's
not there's hardly a player in the league that isn't
working out every single day. Guys even go to the finals,
they take a day off, they're back on the floor,
but often it's specialized one on one training, it's weight
room work, whatever it is. It's not five on five
(33:11):
basketball because and a lot of it in fairness, these players,
and that's what frustrates me too, because they don't take
a day off. There's some of the hardest working athletes
out there, but then they have it in their head
that they're more likely to get injured if they're playing
five on five. So yeah, right, So then they come
back into training camp and it's still not necessarily five
(33:31):
on five. There's the preseason again, minutes are limited. Then
boom the regular season comes and at least I can't
say it's perfect. I know it's causation yet, but there's
certainly correlation early in the season that you see those
guys And it's interesting. It used to be we would
hear from teams that you're going to injure our players
(33:51):
if they play for USA Basketball, the US national team,
the Olympic team, or the national teams you know, from
the countries they're from. In fact, it's the opposite it.
We have fewer injuries and maybe not surprisingly from the
guys who participate in competition over the summer because the
load is maintained. They're not overdoing it, you know, I
(34:11):
mean I I but you know they come back and
there's that the consistency of the load, you know, throughout
the off season. So I think this is an area
too where better data, you know, AI is changing everything
where we're going to be in a position, I think
where we can convince the teams and convince the players
(34:33):
that actually playing is in their interest. But unfortunately we're
never going to be able to completely solve that issue
for that family that comes to that game and is disappointed.
I will say, just lastly, and maybe speaks a little
bit to the data that we're coming off last year
in the entire history of the NBA, it was our
(34:53):
highest attendance and I'm sure I mean that market.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
No doubt the highest ticket prices too.
Speaker 6 (34:58):
So I will say, yes, they're fans disappointed, but people
love the NBA experience, they love going to the games.
I understand when there's a particular star you're interested, but
also we've never been deeper in terms of the talent
to four hundred and fifty players in the league.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Okay, I'm gonna ask you a couple quick ones because
I know you're a busy guy, much busier than me,
and then these can require shorter answers. So one of
the things the iPhone has changed everything. Our society is
more caffeinated, more distracted, and more frenetic. Hockey regular season,
baseball regular season, NBA regular season. It's just harder to
get ratings. Events UFC on Saturday, college football, NFL, Olympics,
(35:36):
World Cup events get excellent ratings. It's not necessarily the
fault of a league if there's a decline in Monday
through Friday. And as I look and read stories about
the decline of ratings, my take is it's an iPhone issue.
It's not baseball. Until Otawi and the Dodgers put up
basically the best most talented team ever, the Dodgers had
(35:56):
great ratings. Is that can you just is it just
possible that Hey, we have contracts that limit the number
of games we can be reduced to. We don't want
to make one and done like college basketball. Is that
your regular season ratings they don't matter that much because
I just saw your new TV deals and that the
media makes a bigger deal of the truth is we're
(36:17):
good when it matters in May and June, and that's
just a new world.
Speaker 6 (36:23):
Yeah, you asked me to answer shorter, so I'll try
to be. There's so much that could be set on
this So first of all, this season, just to set
their record straight, we're up about four percent on ESPN
and ABC. If you had TNT into the mix, we're
down slightly three or four percent for this season. That's
(36:45):
our rating story so far. We're coming off last season
where it was our highest regular season ratings in four years.
But the issue is, especially for a sport like the
NBA where we have a very young fan based young men, yes,
young women cable as you know, and I'm sure has
an impact on your show as well, that since you
(37:08):
last interviewed me five plus years, there's been yet another
dramatic increase in the number of people who subscribe. I'll
call traditional television cable, satellite television, or who watch traditional
television so much so that from a decade ago it's
like fifty percent fewer people watch traditional television. In fact,
(37:29):
last year the lines crossed. More people are now watching
programming on streaming services than they are through legacy conventional television.
So back to the iPhone. So those deals you talked
about that we just entered into for next year. Part
of the reason I believe, in addition to the sport itself,
that we're able to provide so much value is every
(37:50):
one of those new partners Disney and ESPN, NBC, Universal, Peacock,
and of course Amazon provide their games through streaming. Maybe
in the case of NBC it's also broadcast or Disney,
ABC and ESPN, But every single game beginning next season
is going to be available on a streaming service. And then,
(38:14):
you know, burden on or onus on us. Then that
we know now there's the opportunity to watch this programming
on those screens on those TVs they carry everywhere they go.
But I think as a result, we have to up
our game too, So they're adding more games of consequences.
The colored floors you joked about before for the NBA Cup.
So that gets people's attention. But beyond that, they really
(38:37):
exciting thing to me about moving to streaming services, which
are in essence internet television. You can add all kinds
of incredible functionality, customization, personalization. People want to bet on games,
they can do it. People want to buy merchandise, they're
fascinated with a particular camera angle, or they want an
audio feed that is directed at hardcore fan or casual fans.
(39:02):
So I think, and this isn't just the case for
the NBA, I think for all of the leagues that
the competition is that much greater than it used to be. Yeah,
and so we have to do a better job engaging
our fans in these games.
Speaker 1 (39:13):
Okay, I promise. I know your PR people are probably saying,
get coward out of here.
Speaker 3 (39:17):
I can ignore them, thank you.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Okay, there's another one. So this really bothers Jason McIntyre.
I think he really has been on this for two years.
He's been very publicly critical of Barkley, banging on the league.
Speaker 2 (39:32):
And my take is.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Just I'll cut to the chase. Have you ever called
that show's executives or Charles and said Charles, could could
you not beat down on us every night that there
are those that believe it takes a negative tact or
tone on a fairly consistent basis. I don't think it
affects the ratings. I think they're entertainment show. But I
don't see the research you do. Have You contacted them
(39:59):
at one point said you guys are a little negative.
Speaker 6 (40:04):
Never ever, ever, And the only contact I've ever had
with them, and it would have been with Ernie. It's
occasionally Ernie and I will talk and he'll say we're
going to be discussing some aspect of the salary cap
or you know, the CBA, and it'll like, just give
me a primer on what the rules are, so that
if somebody says something that is factually wrong, I'm in
(40:27):
a position to correct them.
Speaker 3 (40:28):
But so that's just on facts, never on opinion. And
I'll go one step further.
Speaker 6 (40:34):
I mean, as you know, you know, we didn't continue
our relationship with Turner Sports that produces inside the NBA,
but we just got a deal done with ESPN and
Turner Sports to move that very show to ESPN and ABC.
And I'll go further. And I love Jason, by the way, Jason,
(40:55):
thank you for being a fan that I think in
this case, they are unique. I think sometimes others who
are more critical, I won't say names, but we'll get
our equivalent of you or mail and people say, why
is this guy commentating or announcing on the NBA when
it seems that he doesn't even like the league. And
(41:17):
I think that's a fair point if you think somebody
is that negative. And to me, there's always a tradition
in the NFL where almost all the announcers to me,
seem to celebrate the game in the case in the
case of that panel, Charles Kenny Shack of course, Ernie,
I always have the sense that when they are critical,
it's your uncle at the Thanksgiving Day table.
Speaker 3 (41:39):
You know, this is it. It's the family. They have
the credibility.
Speaker 6 (41:44):
And because I also hear I don't call them, but
I hear from players in the league or teams in
the league, or say ah like there are partner, like
why are they saying those things?
Speaker 3 (41:54):
And I think Charles is special.
Speaker 6 (41:56):
By the way, there's a reason that show has won
close to I think two Emmys, and so I think
it generates more interest in the league, and to the
extent that next year that show will be featured on
ESPN and ABC and more people will have the opportunity
to see it.
Speaker 3 (42:13):
I think that's very positive for the league.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Well, this was fun, and I do appreciate you not
eating during the interview because I love David, but it
was a tune of sandwich every time he came on
with me, and I'm just his favorite. Yeah, I found that.
I discovered that over several years a real pleasure. If
you're ever in LA, I'd love to have you. I
think this kind of stuff is important. I like the
poke and prod and I just appreciate you answering the questions.
Speaker 6 (42:37):
Yeah, Colin, and I wish I had asked this at
the top of the interview. How are you guys doing
with everything that's going on out there?
Speaker 1 (42:41):
I got to tell you, it's the most devastating thing
I've ever seen. Los Angeles, as you know, is a
community with a very diverse community. People come here and
chase their dreams, and it feels like a lot of
dreams have been shattered by a lot of really great
people in a lot of industries. But I have seen
giving at a level that is heartwarming from outside Los
(43:04):
Angeles and in Los Angeles people have opened their doors.
Very encouraging by citizens of Los Angeles.
Speaker 6 (43:13):
Yeah, I'll to say, you know, I was just with
some of the Lakers and Clippers executives at some meetings,
and first of all, I think, you know, the Clippers
at the into a dome. We're going to do, you know,
a huge concert with the Azol family. Yes, money, you know.
In addition, you know, I've been on the phone with
JJ Reddick. Of course he lost his house. He explained
to me how the community center, the rec center where
(43:34):
his son was playing, burns the ground. So the league
is going to come up with a program with the
Lakers and Clippers to help rebuild the community. So you know, again,
the images are just terrific from the East coast, I'm
very sorry.
Speaker 1 (43:46):
Yeah, terrifying, But there's a lot of really good people
in this state, in the city. Adam Silver, the commissioner
of the NBA, who presides by the way over five
different sports leagues a sports League, NBA W, NBA G League,
NBA two KU Basketball after the league, thank you so
much for taking time for us. I told before this show,
I said, listen, can I get eighteen minutes? You gave
(44:08):
us twenty nine. I am indebted and thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (44:11):
Yeah, my pleasure, Thank you, all right, J Mack.
Speaker 1 (44:14):
I waited to the end to ask the question about
Charles Barkley. I kept watching you, but I did ask
that question. Adam Silver, thank you so much for joining
us on the show.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and neon eastern nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (44:31):
All right, here we go, not that many games. I'm
picking four, fire away.
Speaker 2 (44:37):
Let's blaze it up, Fired up. It's Collins Blazing five
sponsored by Draftcakes, Texans and Chiefs.
Speaker 1 (44:44):
Listen. I don't love eight and a half, but I'm
gonna swallow it. I'm gonna lay it and take Kansas City.
Two of their last three wins have come by ten
plus points, undefeated at home, thirteen and four off up
by under Andy Reid. And they don't give the ball
away anymore. Seven straight games without a give. C. J.
Stroud has never been the same quarterback on the road
warm weather team in really cold weather. And I also
(45:07):
think the Texans benefited from those interceptions against Justin Herbert.
That's not gonna happen they're missing there two of their
top three receivers. Joe Mixon's banged up, and if you
look at C. J. Stroud on the road versus teams
that made the playoffs in his career zero to five
passer rating at seventy one. I think the Chiefs win
(45:28):
by nine. I wish the number was better thirty to
twenty one. Take Kansas City Rams at Eagles. It's my
favorite bet of the weekend. I like Philadelphia. Inclement weather
is going to favor the better O line, the better
run game. I mean, they held the number eight scoring
offense Packers to ten points in the wild card win.
(45:50):
They have the number one offensive line and the number
two rushing offense, and they're gonna give it to Saquon Barkley,
who's been on a heater seven of his last eight
games plus one hundred yards. The Rams, listen, they took
advantage of a bad old line and they've got a
very good defensive line. They were at home. Now, it's
a short week. They allowed one hundred and twenty four
big plays this year, so you can beat him downfield,
and let's be honest. Matt Stafford in his career rain
(46:13):
and snow games one in eight. He is not the
same quarterback. Eagles win twenty eight to twenty, pull away
in the second half.
Speaker 2 (46:25):
Ravens at Bill.
Speaker 1 (46:26):
I like the Bills nine to zero at home. They
leave the NFL with thirteen games of thirty plus points
and they don't give the ball away. They're like Kansas City.
They're very clean. Fewest giveaways and fewest sacks allowed in
the NFL season, which is wild for how a dynamic
they are as an offense. Josh Allen's been a good
playoff quarterback. Lamar Jackson three and four in his playoff career.
(46:48):
He's missing Za Flowers, who may play but hasn't practice.
I gotta be honest in a big playoff spot. Lamar's
been a bit tense. He's gotten better, but a bit tense,
a little anxious. Josh Allen has been great. I just
think I think Buffalo my guest today, I think Buffalo
wins the super Bowl. That's my take. I think this
(47:08):
is the best version Josh Allen's had. I'm gonna take
the points and take Buffalo twenty eight to twenty four.
Speaker 2 (47:15):
Ohio State versus Notre Day.
Speaker 1 (47:17):
I'm taking the under forty six and a half I'm
gonna stay away from the spread. These are unbelievable defenses. Okay,
if you go look at Ohio State, they held Texas
to fourteen points. They held nine straight Appoints to twenty
one points. Reviewer and the Irish are missing a couple
offensive linemen. We don't think they'll play and their offense
is okay. Notre Dame meanwhile lead the country with thirty
(47:40):
three takeaways. Unbelievably well coached on defense, excellent secondary. Opposing
quarterbacks had twelve passing touchdowns and nineteen interceptions. They will
Howard can lose his confidence. So Notre Dame in Ohio State.
If you look at their defensive rankings this year, you're
looking at Krem Dela Crem. Points allowed they were one
(48:02):
and two, passing yards allowed one and two. I don't
think Notre Dame has the offensive fire power to win,
but I'm gonna take the under forty six and a
half points. DraftKings Sportsbook, America's top reddit sports book, two
hundred bucks in bonus bets, instantly betting just five. The
promo code is heard h E R D. So I
(48:28):
still can't believe the Buffalo Bills are getting points at home,
and I know the wise guys like Baltimore, and I
know you can run the football on the Bills. I
get that, but I'm going to take a couple of
big favorites to cover. The Chiefs and Eagles. Take the
under on Notre Dame, Ohio State
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Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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