March 1, 2018 • 34 mins
Doug discusses Arizona head coach Sean Miller's press conference where he denies the allegations that he paid Deandre Ayton $100,000. Doug talks to former lawyer and FOX Sports Radio host Clay Travis about the reporting of this story and what could happen if it turns out Miller is innocent. Plus NFL QB Josh McCown joins the show to talk about the Jets surprising season and where he thinks he will play next season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the best of the Doug Gottlieb Show on
Fox Sports Radio. Boom, What of America. Doug Gottlieb Show,
Fox Sports Radio. Coming to you from New York City.
I just came over from the garden. I'm mixing matching
my accents to go with the words that I like
to mix and match them with. I hope you're having
a great day. Do you believe him? That is the
(00:27):
That is the question of the day. Sean Miller is
still the head coach at the University of Arizona. You
dial back to last Friday night, so this story is
not even a week old. You dial back to last
Friday night and there the report was from Mark Schleibaugh
of ESPN dot com. Mark leiba reported that on the
wire tap, on the wire tap, Christian Dawkins, who of
(00:52):
course was the FBI informant and the former runner for
agent Andy Miller, Christian Dawkins had Sean Miller. Jan Miller
tell him that if you need money, don't go to
anybody else, go to me. It's a hundred thousand dollars
or DeAndre Ayton in order to get him to come
to Arizona. As the as we got kind of deeper
(01:15):
into it. I comment on it, reacted to it on
Twitter than Saturday morning, did the same on Fox. Upon
further and further reviews, some of the dates got a
little fuzzy. Was it two thousand seventeen? Was it two
thousand sixteen? When was that? When did this happen? How
could Christian Dawkins, who wasn't in any way part of
(01:37):
DeAndre Ayton's decision to go to Arizona, how did he
suddenly insert himself into the story. But we were told
that there was a tape, and on that tape or
on that recording, there is Sean Miller directing a hundred
thousand dollars into the hands or representatives of DeAndre Ayton.
(01:59):
Sean Miller didn't coach last Saturday night, as Arizona lost
to Oregon. DeAndre aten did in fact play in that
game and was dominant. They lost in overtime. He returned home.
Both returned home. Sean Miller met with the board and
made a statement today, Well, I'll play for you the
(02:20):
statement in its entirety. Okay, I want I'm gonna ask
you eight seven seven Fox, I want you to listen
to the entirety of it. It is four minutes long,
it is in his own words. Right, let me present
you the two sides of it before you hear it.
The question I asked to you is do you believe him?
(02:41):
And my answer is always, I don't believe anybody, Right,
I don't believe anybody because I just you know, all
I've ever heard from people is I didn't do something,
and yet the facts say otherwise. I never believe players
that say I didn't use teroids, or when they say
(03:02):
I didn't knowingly use steroids. It might have been some
lace supplement. I've heard Brian Cushing, of course former Houston
text and Brian Cushing he said I might have had
a tumor, that's why he tested positive for steroids. Might
have had a tumor. And that one I haven't heard before.
If you might have had a tumor and you tested positive,
might you have gone and gotten it checked before, right
(03:25):
before it became public? The answer is yes. Lance Armstrong
for years denied any sort of performance dancing drugs. Then
he's come clean. Mark McGuire, then he's come clean. Barry
Bonds has never come clean, but he did say in
court documents, court testimony, I didn't knowingly use steroids, meaning
he did use steroids. He just claims that he didn't
(03:46):
know what Balko was giving him. So I have I've
been in this thing for fifteen years, and I don't
believe anybody. On the other hand, I will point out
that Christian Dawkins, who's the user, is the guy who
got fired from said agency because he ran up a
forty dollar uber bill. Where can you go forty man?
(04:10):
I got a buddy who ubered home from Vegas UH
to l A and it cost him nine two. You
gotta do that forty times or up a forty dollar
uber bill and then get fired for it. That's like
getting fired for stealing boxes? Are you trying to build
a clubhouse? So you got Christian Dawkins. And just because
(04:30):
a guy is just because the guy is a runner,
just because the guy is in college educated, just because
the guy did get fired for a forty dollar uber
bill that he tried to place under a fake name
or somebody else's credit card or whatever, just because that
does not mean that what all that he's saying is
(04:52):
a lie. It's like it's like Jose Canseco was a
Canseco out at all. Of Major League Baseball. But just
because Jose Canseco was the juicer and as widely seen
as a bad guy, doesn't mean that he doesn't know
about who else juices in baseball. Sean Miller, on the
other hand, his reputation has been beyond repute. He's never
been investigated ever and though they have in fact recruited well.
(05:16):
Though Book Richardson, his assistant coach, was fired, but let's
be honest, he was fired for taking money to try
and steer recruits, but not for giving money to recruits.
There have never been an allegation, at least that I'm
aware of, that Sean Miller has ass has paid guys.
It's not like he has a past history at the
(05:37):
n c A. So that's their past. That's what brought
us to today. Sean Miller had a press conference. It
was thirty six minutes ago. This was his opening statement.
Let me begin by saying, I regret all the negative
attention that has been focused on our program and the
(05:59):
difficult position, and that this is created for President Robbin's,
Dave Hiki, the Arizona family, and especially our players and
their families. I appreciate very much all the support I've
received during this difficult time. Thank you to everybody. While
(06:19):
I have done nothing wrong, I am responsible for our
men's basketball program, and I am sickened that we are
in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Contrary to
what has been written this past week, we do our
very best to run a clean program at the University
of Arizona. I have done that since the first day
(06:41):
I stepped on this campus. Compliance with n C double
A rules is extremely important us, and we work hard
to create, maintain, and monitor culture of compliance within our program.
I have never knowingly violated n C double AWAY rules
while serving as head coach of this great program. I
(07:05):
have never paid a recruiter, prospect, or their family or
representative to come to Arizona. I never have and I
never will. I have never arranged or directed payment or
any improper benefits to recruit or prospect or their family
or representative, and I never will. I also understand that
(07:29):
there is an ongoing federal investigation, and because of this,
I cannot do anything that might compromise the integrity of
this investigation. However, on this point, I cannot remain silent
in light of media reports that have impugned the reputation
(07:50):
of me, the university insolid the name of a tremendous
young man, DeAndre Ayton. Let me be very very clear,
I have never discussed with Christian Dawkins paying DeAndre Ayton
to attend the University of Arizona. In fact, I never
(08:12):
even met or spoke to Christian Dawkins until after DeAndre
publicly announced that he was coming to our school. Any
reporting to the contrary is inaccurate, false, and defamatory. I'm
outraged by the media statements that have been made in
the acceptance by many that these statements were true, There
(08:34):
was no such conversation. These statements that have damaged me,
my family, the university, DeAndre Ayton, and his incredible family.
The only attempted corrections by the original source of the
(08:55):
media statements are still inaccurate and completely false. I also
want you to know that the one time that someone
suggested to me paying a player to come to the
University of Arizona, I did not agree to it. It
never happened, and that player did not come to the
(09:16):
University of Arizona. Out of respect for this ongoing investigation,
the privacy of the student athlete in his family, I'm
not going to share further details concerning this matter. I
appreciate more than anyone can realize Dr Robbins in the
(09:37):
university carefully considering this matter and acting upon facts. I
have been completely open and transparent, and I look forward
to coaching this outstanding team as we seek to capture
a Pack twelve regular season championship this week. I now
intend to turn my focus to basketball and our players
(09:59):
and the team. I once again want to express my
thanks to all those who have supported me, and this
now completes my statement on this matter. That was Sean
Miller about a half hour ago at the University of Arizona,
remaining as their head coach, completely and totally defiant and
(10:22):
stating beyond anybody's read, any beyond any doubt um that
that he didn't do this, This didn't happen, and the
claims against him are false. Wow. ESPN stands by its
(10:42):
reporting on Miller and the FBI investigation. That's ESPN's press release.
So look, there's only one thing to do. If there's
a tape, and I assume there is, let's hear it,
all right, Let's hear it, and then what is and
is not a reality become or is there is not?
Truth becomes reality? Do you believe him? I don't believe anybody.
(11:09):
I believe tapes. I just do you know? Um, I
want to believe Sean Miller. I do think it's amazing
I've gotten in all these arguments on TV. I was
on First Things First and Fox Sports One today. Um,
I've got an arguments with Jason Whitlock on Fox Big
Fox on on Saturday over on on whether or not
(11:29):
you should pay players or whatever. This to me is
at the heart of the issue, believe it or not,
even though it was not discussed there to anyone who says, hey,
steroids weren't wrong in baseball, everybody was doing them. If
they weren't wrong, how come no one who's ever tested
positive didn't say I didn't think it was wrong because
(11:51):
they knew. Steroids are not what baseball is supposed to
be about. Sports are not supposed to be about artificially
enhancing your production, he elongating your career, And I honestly
think that one of the things that tears at Mark
McGuire's He has no idea how great he could have
been on his own at forty home runs as a rookie,
but you know the great year he had when he
(12:13):
broke Marris's record. Who because he didn't do one on
his own, He's always he's always going to wonder, what
could I have done on my own if it wasn't wrong?
How come no one has said, you know what, it
wasn't wrong because they all knew it was wrong. And
to anybody who thinks this was Sean Miller some sort
of vigilante justice, this is righting the wrongs of the
(12:36):
n c A rule book. No it's not. No, it's not.
Deandrean's gotten a ton out of his relationship with Arizona.
Look at his body and how it's changed. Look at
his skill and how it's changed. By the way, though
he likely would have been a top five, top ten pick,
now he's considered possibly the number one overall pick. Why
because we've seen him develop at Arizona and he can
(12:59):
always come back we of that family and get his
degree and whatever else he wants. He's he's gained a
ton from that relationship. Sean Miller. Whether you believe him
or don't believe him, one that fact remains true is
that I don't believe this happens a lot. I definitely
know it doesn't happen everywhere, and the idea that people
(13:20):
are doing it because they think it rights the wrong
of the n c A is laughable. Be sure to
catch live editions of The Doug Gottlap Show weekdays at
three p m. Eastern noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the I Heart Radio app. Let's catch up with
a guy who I ran into a couple of times
with the Super Bowl. He promised and he delivered on
his promise that he would come on with us, as
(13:41):
the dust is still kind of not settled on his
on his future. Josh McCowen joins us on The Doug
Gotleap Show, and, Uh, look, dude, you you had a
I mean, how would you characterize your season with the Jets. Well,
I mean, obviously, uh, you know, we were fobbing eleven
or whatever, so that for surely aren't there. But uh,
(14:01):
given the circumstances and kind of uh you know what
we were in the process of doing towards the new
group coming together and all that, I think there's some
things that we can pull out of there and and
and uh be proud of for sure. So for me,
just statistically speaking, as the best year of my career.
So uh so, yeah, I mean those things I'm proud
of for sure, and and really more anything, just the
guys in the locker room. I really enjoyed my time there.
(14:23):
It's a great organization, a lot of good guys in
the locker room, a lot of good people in the
front office, and and a lot of coaches. So I
would say this year was a success for me. I
think it's an absolute success for the team. And I'll
tell you why, and you tell me this is fair, Like, look,
you were part of it, but people thought you guys
might not win a game. People thought you were were
intentionally trying to be bad, and you were not. Yeah
(14:44):
you won five games. You're five and eight when you
were a starter, But you guys were competitive. I mean
you were competitive enough to where your coach kept his job.
And before the year the thought was he's dead man walking.
I mean I think that of itself, he was way
more successful than anyone could have thought would happen. Is
that is that a fair perspective on it? Well? Yeah,
I mean yes, absolutely. I think from an outside of
(15:07):
suspective for sure. Uh you know, as competitors get in
a locker room. And no matter what the prognounctications are,
you you you want to go out and win every game.
But we're giving those things. Obviously, Coach both uh did
a heck of a job of the leading our group
and and UM and was rewarded with an extension. That's great.
And so I think when you look at those things,
absolutely you would say it was successful. And like I said,
(15:30):
given you know some of the circumstances and new new coordinator, uh,
you know, Jermaine Kursk get there a week before the season,
and the trade uh, you know, departs are moving all year,
and and so for us and I speak just offensively
and just like you said, post competitively in the games,
but offensively to move the football and do some of
the things we did, I think, uh in a credit
(15:51):
to the coaches and and UM and to the players,
you know, just because because it took a lot of
extra time and took a lot of meetings to walk
through things like that to get that done and and acou. So, yeah,
those those are positives for sure if the and I
know you you're aware of the the adjustment they are
likely to make here to the catch rule if that
had been made before the season. Austin catches those two
(16:12):
touchdown passes, you likely win two more games, including one
against the Patriots, right, Like, that's how competitive you guys were, No,
no doubt. I mean I know that. I think I
think myself along with every other quarterbacks that you start
counting like, oh man, that's like four more touchdowns. Um
so uh it was part of the you know rule.
It's it's you know, it's good to see if they're
(16:33):
evaluating and and uh and you know gonna gonna make
change and and that's positive. And you're right, you know,
you're right there and think of things if some of
those going away. So uh, it was fun. It was
fun to be a part of you Just the leadership
was in the locker room, guys like Da Mario Davis
on defense, from Menard Williams, and then uh, you know
on offense. You know, it was great to have a
(16:53):
guy like Matt Forte recently retired, but just the leadership
that Matt brought us this year. So uh, it was
fun a part of For sure, you're thirty eight years old,
but you just had the best season of your life
and you did so in New York with the Jets Square.
People had no expectations of of you. So now what
what is the what is the process like of of
what you're going to do next? Well, you know, I'll
(17:17):
plan on plane and I just want you to see
how things play out when you come off for a
year like that with with an organization you'd love to
stay there. But at the same time, they're in a
process too that they've got to evaluate and make the
best decisions they can for for themselves moving forward. And
and I respect that. So we'll see what happens and
hopefully it works out what we can we can do
(17:38):
working together, But if not, that's part of the business.
I understand it. And uh and you know our root
for them, and I trust you know that they'll make
the best decisions they can. It's a group group leading
that that franchise and and uh, you know I've always
said that you can't, you know, if it doesn't go
your way one year, you know, you can't all of
a sudden think they're not smart people or whatever, the
same people that brought you in a year ago, you know.
So um, So we'll see what happens, uh it um,
(18:01):
But hopefully it works out. Get can you working together
and and I wish the best. But if not, you know,
as you know been in my career, hopefully I'll have
another place to play and put on my irons. You there, Yeah,
that's that's a great way of looking very healthy. Josh
McCowen joining us on the Doug out Lip Show, most
recently with the with the New York Jets. Um where
you know you can't say, hey, those guys realdiot's like yeah,
(18:21):
but those idiots were the ones that made you starting
quarterback last year. Like last year they were smart and
now they're stupid, right, I get that? So do you
does it depend on are you waiting on Kirk Cousins?
Are you waiting on aj mccaren like, help help us understand?
I mean, and you have the draft as well. Is
it going to drag out up until the draft? How
does this actually work for you? Well? Yeah, I mean
(18:44):
you know that's probably better question for the team. But
but you would you know, you would your mind by
everything taking place. Obviously you said it in a second ago,
I mean thirty eight, so uh, but you're young, you
games I would like to think so as well. Um,
but but obviously you know from a from an organizational
building standpoint. I understand, you know, you look at trying
(19:06):
to find and everybody does that doesn't have it the
long term answer at quarterback, you know, and and you
you evaluly went all those options via free agency or
the draft, and so I understand that they're going through
their process and trying to answer that question. And uh
and like I said, you know, even when I came
there last year, but it was helping the young guys
on the roster, whether it's you know, helping the next
guy that comes in. You know, I hope that they
(19:26):
find that answer because especially after getting your played there
for a year, when you're in that city and you
feel the support and the and the love from those fans. Uh,
you want to see him have success. And you know,
being there in this sleep long enough, you understand that
you know, the key to success is to find that
that long term answer at quarterback. So so we'll see
what happens and they'll make their evaluations and and you know,
(19:47):
see see how it unfolds. And like I said, hopefully,
hopefully you know, I'm a part of that, and uh
n if I am, I'll be ready to you know,
come back full force. And and hopefully, you know, have
a better year that I did last year. But but
if not, that's part of the business. And uh, and
we'll move forward. Josh McCollen joining us on the on
the Doug Gottlieb Show. I thought one of the things
that you just said, which is really interesting, which is, hey, look,
(20:08):
my job even then was to get the young guys ready,
isn't it isn't Uh that the biggest part of being
a the perennial backup is you know that if if
called upon, you've gotta be ready in the meantime, it's
your job to make sure the starter is ready, and
that that takes a sacrifice vego that some guys just
don't have. Is that Is that a fair assumption? Oh? Yeah,
(20:29):
no doubt. And I think there's something for me. You know,
a lot of young players early in your career, your
third or four years, hunting it to your second contract,
you're you're scratching and calling and trying to do everything
you can to establish yourself as a starter, to to
maximize the arny potential and so on, and rightfully so, uh,
but I think I had a good fortune earlier in
my career to be around a guy uh named John Kitner,
(20:51):
and we hooked up in Detroit. We were competing for
the same job that he helpfully end up winning. But
throughout the whole process he was healthy me learn how
to play the position and um, and I just appreciated
that so much. And and what it communicated to me
was because John is one of the fiercest competitors I've
been around, but um, but he was able to go
(21:11):
out and compete between the stripes, but at the same time,
he wasn't afraid to share his process with me so
that I could have the best chance moving forward to
have a long career as well. And so um. So
really that year, you know, did a lot for me,
and it kind of shaped how I've approached stepping into
a locker room from then on. And it's you know,
and what I learned too from me is I'm at
my best when I'm giving it away, because I think
(21:32):
that's part of when you're trying to master a subject.
If you can get up and teach it, you're you're
one step close to the mastery. And so for me,
when you're when you're constantly giving away in meetings, giving
away in the locker room, as far as your knowledge
of sporting and and your process. I think it helps
you get better on the field. And so that's been
part of our process. I believe that's part and possible
why I've been able to play some good ball here
(21:53):
like in my career. Um, am I wrong. It wasn't
until your seventh year, or actually your eighth year, in
which you had the same offensive coordinator for a second
consecutive year. Yeah, yeah, that was Yeah, that was two
years in a row. Um there with the Panthers, with
with um Jeff Davidson. So uh so yeah, I mean
(22:13):
it's it's um, it's a hard deal. But I'm not
the only guy. I mean, there's other guys that have
gone through it, for sure. Uh, but I'm I'm you know,
as I would have loved to have stayed in the
same offense for a couple of off seasons in a
row and really, you know, gotten to work on my craft.
I think that's critical for young quarterbacks. At the same time,
it's also exposed me to a lot of football and
(22:35):
a lot of great coaches and and uh and a
lot of great ideas. And so I'm thankful for that because, uh,
you know, you can utilize those things. There were some
things that came up this year. Uh you know, play
we had against Atlanta Falcons, we threw a touchdown that
you know I drew on, you know, plays that I've
had in my past, of the different coordinator at all,
he just might work here. And so I'm I'm thankful
for those experiences because they helped shape you. But you
(22:57):
sure would I think early on love to stay in
the same offense just to make Dolpse's and a little
smoother and we can really work on your craft. So like, look,
the other thing though, is we talked about this all
the time on this show, is you have to have
a rabbi in the room, right, Like a lot of
times the reason of Vet signs on with the team
is somebody has worked with you previously. Uh d you
work with de Filippo in um in Cleveland. Now he's
in Minnesota, right, same guy, isn't it correct? Yeah? Correct? Yeah?
(23:21):
So I mean is that really how it works? Where?
I mean I know that that Mike March, for example,
brought to Chicago because you work with with Mike March previously.
Is it fair to say that you know, you know
everybody in the league, but some guys you know a
little bit better and maybe that helps you get that
next gig. No doubt. I think there's a comfort level,
you know, as in any walk of life and any jobs,
(23:41):
when you've worked with somebody before, there's time on task
where trust has been earned and so you know what
you're getting as opposed to an unknown commodity. And so
I think there's value in that um especially you know,
for me, I was I was a year out of
the league. I got back in basically because you know,
there wasn't a whole lot of guys that Mike Mark
the system. And you know, when I got back in,
(24:02):
there was an injuring system and it was and it
wasn't necessarily the rope memorization of learning that system. It
was more of his mentality how he expected you to
play in that system because it was so different than
most coaches. And so I think that's the biggest key
is that you know, coaches go out and they go, man,
is there a guy out there that knows how I coach,
that knows my expectations, because you know, in the process
(24:25):
of learning and getting ready in a game week, especially
in season additions, when you know you get an injury.
You look at you look for somebody that knows your system,
because in the course of a week, I don't have
time to tell him how I'm thinking about this or what,
you know, my mentality about this play. I just want
to be able to install and keep keep things going
as usual. So I think there is value to having
been in other systems, and certainly not think that's what
(24:45):
the coaches look for. And and so uh stopping in
all of them, um pretty much and and uh and
I'm thankful for that because obviously it gives yourself a
chance to, you know, when you find yourself in on
situations like I was some years back, you have an
opportunity to, you know, to have a couple of finished
the find places where you know a coach or maybe
no system. Yeah, I can't imagine all the football verbage
you have, all the different like wait, we used to
(25:07):
call that Atlanta. Now we call that Chicago. We now
we call that Cleveland. What is that that we call like, uh,
we we call it something completely different here, all the
different coverage for all the all the same stuff. Well, Josh, listen,
we wish you nothing but the best. Can't wait to
find out where you're going, and look, if you want
to break your own story, feel free calls back and
uh and and and Josh McCown can make to Josh
where Josh McCown is going next year? Fair enough, Nice job, thanks,
(25:29):
I appreciate it. Man, All right, Josh McCown joining us
on the Doug Gallup Show. Fox Sports Radio has the
best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of
our shows at Fox sports radio dot com and within
the I Heart Radio app Let me be critical of
of Shack and Sharif O'Neil for a second. I understand
that it looks bad and this has been a really
(25:49):
bad week. What I I don't understand it's twofold is
if the truth hasn't come out yet, we don't know
exactly what what's the Russian d committing? Why be that
guy to commit? And if you d commit and you're like, hey, look,
I want to see what happens the dust settles, blah
blah blah. Then all of a sudden he commits to
U c l A. Like, Man, I thought you wanted
(26:10):
like the first sight of trouble. Even if you ultimately
want to go to U c l A, you don't
have to commit there, especially less than a week later.
That's like being engaged to be married. That's basically what
are you? This is what are Lion Dyke has done?
You know? Are Leondick is? He's the Bachelor. He asked
a girl to marry him on the last episode of
(26:32):
The Bachelor, which I think is upcoming this week, and
then you know, a couple of weeks ago he had
a change of heart. Now he's with the other girl. Like,
this is stuff that happens in the Bachelor, not that
happens and should happen in college athletics because of some accusations.
Be sure to catch live editions of The Doug gott
Leap Show weekdays at three p m. Eastern noon Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app.
(26:55):
Clay Travis is a lawyer, was a practicing lawyer. Now
is just painting the ass every morning on Fox. So,
I what what the heck happened? Here? Like? First, what's
your reaction to Sean Miller vociferously denying every portion of
this ESPN ESPN story. ESPN stands by the reporting, but
(27:19):
they have changed the timeline of events three times. Yeah,
I think if you're a reasonable person out here paying
attention to this story, I think it's fair to say
that ESPN got it wrong. Um, I think probably if
you were analyzing this, I think it's likely that Sean
Miller might have gotten caught on a wire tap involved
(27:40):
in one of these discussions. I don't think it happened
with DeAndre Ayten. I don't think he agreed to pay
a hundred thousand dollars. And uh, I think that espn
is reporting is wrong. Now doesn't mean that ESPN has
done necessarily a bad job. Their source, who might be reliable,
might have gotten bad, uh bad. Look at some of
(28:02):
these legal documents. Uh, it's pot I would like to
know what ESPN has to convince them of the accuracy
of their reporting, um, and who their sources and they
never know that. But look, I mean, Arizona says they're
gonna stick with Sean Miller. So I mean, I think
compared to last week, it's fair to say he's effectively
back from the dead. It's it's really markable. He was
(28:24):
not all the way dead. He was mostly dead. Uh No,
he was mostly dead, which we come to learn is
somewhat alive. Right, did this from from Princess pride. Okay,
The reason I want to have you on is, uh,
is there a defamation lawsuit? That's that's that's possibly out there.
You can always file a defamation lawsuit. The challenges uh,
(28:46):
And I'm putting my lawyer hat on here. So the
challenge for defamation is both Sean Miller and Tiantre eight
are public figures, and the standard for a public figure
who in order to man it's a defamation claim, and
a defamation can be made up of either slander or libel.
Slander is spoken, libel is written. In this case both
(29:09):
you know they both talked about and written about him,
so he would have a claim under both of those progs.
But you have to either show actual malice or like
a basically a reckless disregard for the truth and like
pursuit of intentional falsehood. Um, and I can pull up
the exact language because I've written and talked about this
a lot. Give me ten seconds you talk, and I'll
(29:31):
pull up and read to the exact language that you
have to prove. The key point here is that it
is very difficult to meet that standard, especially in a
case like this. So I think you can always sue.
I think the likelihood of a public figure winning a
defamation claim in the United States court room isn't low. However, Uh,
if Scharlon Miller is really angry, he may file this lawsuit.
(29:54):
And remember, ESPN, oftentimes, especially the public eye right now,
has a lot to lose if their story is not correct,
um in terms of the trust to their network, in
terms of the legitimacy of their journalistic reporting, and everything
else associated with that. It's possible that if ESPN really
comes to understand that their story was wrong, that they
(30:17):
end up just stroking a check to Sean Miller and
publicly apologized to him forgetting this story wrong and trying
to just put it all behind them instead of risking
the fact that he might file a lawsuit and try
to to drag their name through the mind. Usually and
warriors advise their clients and don't file a defamation lawsuit
because it opens you up to having to sit and
(30:40):
talk in front of, you know, in the court system,
and you don't want to purchase yourself. Sean Miller would
have to answer questions like have you ever been involved
in any n C double A violation you believe that
you have? Uh, you know, you get to quiz him
about all this stuff in his background. It just wouldn't
make sense. Probably, but this is an ugly story. Uh
and and I think frankly, uh, it's a massive black
(31:02):
eye for yes again Wow, I mean as of as
of now, like unless the tapes somehow come out and
change everything, this one, Uh the point, it does not
seem good. Uh Oh, I mean this is so here's
here's here's here's the question is this is an honest question.
So how I don't know, liable, how culpable? How much
(31:27):
of the blame do we receive considering our reaction? My
reaction on Fox Television was to the story. And because
I'm somebody who generally believes reporters are doing things because
they have their sources in a row, Like, how much
do you believe that somebody like me, Clay Travis, I mean,
(31:49):
I'm I'm not maybe guilty of jumping to conclusions considering
I went based upon the story. Yeah. Look, I mean
I think what you typically don't expect from major news sources.
And some people are rolling their eyes right now because
we live in this era where some people are like,
you can't ever trust anybody about anything. But I think
it's fair to say that, uh that most of us
(32:11):
out there when we read this story said, my god,
there's no way ESPN would publish this unless they were
confident in it because they're effectively ending Sean Miller's career.
I think it's fair to say based on the way
that first story was written. Uh. And you know, it's
rare that you have a major, major organization like this
(32:32):
because people will say, oh, like, I know Mark slave Ball,
he's a good dude. Um, you know, like, and it's
not just the writer. It's not like ESPN's website allows
somebody to just publish something without vetting it through. I mean,
I would want to know the entire process of running
the story at esp A dot com. But I bet
there's at least ten or twelve people involved in making
sure that this story is right. Having said that, and ESPN,
(32:55):
by the way, says the story is still right. Obviously, Arizona,
Sean Miller, and DeAndre A, they're all saying it's not right.
Having said that, you know this, everybody, no matter how
good you are, it's your job. We are all human
and we all fail regularly. Right, this is a massive
failure that's not just on the writer or the reporter,
(33:15):
or the sourcing or everybody else. It's a failure of
the entire ESPN organization. And uh, I can't imagine that
it is a very good feeling right now. Uh you
know this. You tweeted some stuff before where you've been like, hey,
I'm hearing X is gonna happen. It's not a good feeling.
So try to break news when you're out there first
(33:36):
and you're just like sitting around waiting for other people
to confirm it. Right, I've done that a few times.
I've been right. I've been wrong before as well. It
ain't a good feeling, man, um. And I can't imagine
what the ESPN people involved in this story are feeling
right now, because I would imagine they've probably already started
an internal investigation into the story, how it was published,
(33:56):
how they got from the faction wrong, how they were confused. Uh.
In the event that this has later proven to not
be true and that they totally whipped on it, I
think you know, for you and Be and everybody else
who speaks out there in the public arena, this would
mean that the next time the ESPN has a story
like this, we would need to say something like, Hey,
in all fairness, remember Sean Biller. Uh. There have been
(34:19):
big swings and misses by ESPN before, and that's certainly
from a brand perspective. The worst thing that can happen
to ESPN Clay Travis. I'll kick the cover and check
him out tomorrow morning. Don't worry. He swings and misses
all the time with his shows, as do we hear
great stuff to be an all star man. There you
there you go.
This is the best of the Doug Gottlieb Show on
Fox Sports Radio. Boom, What of America. Doug Gottlieb Show,
Fox Sports Radio. Coming to you from New York City.
I just came over from the garden. I'm mixing matching
my accents to go with the words that I like
to mix and match them with. I hope you're having
a great day. Do you believe him? That is the
(00:27):
That is the question of the day. Sean Miller is
still the head coach at the University of Arizona. You
dial back to last Friday night, so this story is
not even a week old. You dial back to last
Friday night and there the report was from Mark Schleibaugh
of ESPN dot com. Mark leiba reported that on the
wire tap, on the wire tap, Christian Dawkins, who of
(00:52):
course was the FBI informant and the former runner for
agent Andy Miller, Christian Dawkins had Sean Miller. Jan Miller
tell him that if you need money, don't go to
anybody else, go to me. It's a hundred thousand dollars
or DeAndre Ayton in order to get him to come
to Arizona. As the as we got kind of deeper
(01:15):
into it. I comment on it, reacted to it on
Twitter than Saturday morning, did the same on Fox. Upon
further and further reviews, some of the dates got a
little fuzzy. Was it two thousand seventeen? Was it two
thousand sixteen? When was that? When did this happen? How
could Christian Dawkins, who wasn't in any way part of
(01:37):
DeAndre Ayton's decision to go to Arizona, how did he
suddenly insert himself into the story. But we were told
that there was a tape, and on that tape or
on that recording, there is Sean Miller directing a hundred
thousand dollars into the hands or representatives of DeAndre Ayton.
(01:59):
Sean Miller didn't coach last Saturday night, as Arizona lost
to Oregon. DeAndre aten did in fact play in that
game and was dominant. They lost in overtime. He returned home.
Both returned home. Sean Miller met with the board and
made a statement today, Well, I'll play for you the
(02:20):
statement in its entirety. Okay, I want I'm gonna ask
you eight seven seven Fox, I want you to listen
to the entirety of it. It is four minutes long,
it is in his own words. Right, let me present
you the two sides of it before you hear it.
The question I asked to you is do you believe him?
(02:41):
And my answer is always, I don't believe anybody, Right,
I don't believe anybody because I just you know, all
I've ever heard from people is I didn't do something,
and yet the facts say otherwise. I never believe players
that say I didn't use teroids, or when they say
(03:02):
I didn't knowingly use steroids. It might have been some
lace supplement. I've heard Brian Cushing, of course former Houston
text and Brian Cushing he said I might have had
a tumor, that's why he tested positive for steroids. Might
have had a tumor. And that one I haven't heard before.
If you might have had a tumor and you tested positive,
might you have gone and gotten it checked before, right
(03:25):
before it became public? The answer is yes. Lance Armstrong
for years denied any sort of performance dancing drugs. Then
he's come clean. Mark McGuire, then he's come clean. Barry
Bonds has never come clean, but he did say in
court documents, court testimony, I didn't knowingly use steroids, meaning
he did use steroids. He just claims that he didn't
(03:46):
know what Balko was giving him. So I have I've
been in this thing for fifteen years, and I don't
believe anybody. On the other hand, I will point out
that Christian Dawkins, who's the user, is the guy who
got fired from said agency because he ran up a
forty dollar uber bill. Where can you go forty man?
(04:10):
I got a buddy who ubered home from Vegas UH
to l A and it cost him nine two. You
gotta do that forty times or up a forty dollar
uber bill and then get fired for it. That's like
getting fired for stealing boxes? Are you trying to build
a clubhouse? So you got Christian Dawkins. And just because
(04:30):
a guy is just because the guy is a runner,
just because the guy is in college educated, just because
the guy did get fired for a forty dollar uber
bill that he tried to place under a fake name
or somebody else's credit card or whatever, just because that
does not mean that what all that he's saying is
(04:52):
a lie. It's like it's like Jose Canseco was a
Canseco out at all. Of Major League Baseball. But just
because Jose Canseco was the juicer and as widely seen
as a bad guy, doesn't mean that he doesn't know
about who else juices in baseball. Sean Miller, on the
other hand, his reputation has been beyond repute. He's never
been investigated ever and though they have in fact recruited well.
(05:16):
Though Book Richardson, his assistant coach, was fired, but let's
be honest, he was fired for taking money to try
and steer recruits, but not for giving money to recruits.
There have never been an allegation, at least that I'm
aware of, that Sean Miller has ass has paid guys.
It's not like he has a past history at the
(05:37):
n c A. So that's their past. That's what brought
us to today. Sean Miller had a press conference. It
was thirty six minutes ago. This was his opening statement.
Let me begin by saying, I regret all the negative
attention that has been focused on our program and the
(05:59):
difficult position, and that this is created for President Robbin's,
Dave Hiki, the Arizona family, and especially our players and
their families. I appreciate very much all the support I've
received during this difficult time. Thank you to everybody. While
(06:19):
I have done nothing wrong, I am responsible for our
men's basketball program, and I am sickened that we are
in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Contrary to
what has been written this past week, we do our
very best to run a clean program at the University
of Arizona. I have done that since the first day
(06:41):
I stepped on this campus. Compliance with n C double
A rules is extremely important us, and we work hard
to create, maintain, and monitor culture of compliance within our program.
I have never knowingly violated n C double AWAY rules
while serving as head coach of this great program. I
(07:05):
have never paid a recruiter, prospect, or their family or
representative to come to Arizona. I never have and I
never will. I have never arranged or directed payment or
any improper benefits to recruit or prospect or their family
or representative, and I never will. I also understand that
(07:29):
there is an ongoing federal investigation, and because of this,
I cannot do anything that might compromise the integrity of
this investigation. However, on this point, I cannot remain silent
in light of media reports that have impugned the reputation
(07:50):
of me, the university insolid the name of a tremendous
young man, DeAndre Ayton. Let me be very very clear,
I have never discussed with Christian Dawkins paying DeAndre Ayton
to attend the University of Arizona. In fact, I never
(08:12):
even met or spoke to Christian Dawkins until after DeAndre
publicly announced that he was coming to our school. Any
reporting to the contrary is inaccurate, false, and defamatory. I'm
outraged by the media statements that have been made in
the acceptance by many that these statements were true, There
(08:34):
was no such conversation. These statements that have damaged me,
my family, the university, DeAndre Ayton, and his incredible family.
The only attempted corrections by the original source of the
(08:55):
media statements are still inaccurate and completely false. I also
want you to know that the one time that someone
suggested to me paying a player to come to the
University of Arizona, I did not agree to it. It
never happened, and that player did not come to the
(09:16):
University of Arizona. Out of respect for this ongoing investigation,
the privacy of the student athlete in his family, I'm
not going to share further details concerning this matter. I
appreciate more than anyone can realize Dr Robbins in the
(09:37):
university carefully considering this matter and acting upon facts. I
have been completely open and transparent, and I look forward
to coaching this outstanding team as we seek to capture
a Pack twelve regular season championship this week. I now
intend to turn my focus to basketball and our players
(09:59):
and the team. I once again want to express my
thanks to all those who have supported me, and this
now completes my statement on this matter. That was Sean
Miller about a half hour ago at the University of Arizona,
remaining as their head coach, completely and totally defiant and
(10:22):
stating beyond anybody's read, any beyond any doubt um that
that he didn't do this, This didn't happen, and the
claims against him are false. Wow. ESPN stands by its
(10:42):
reporting on Miller and the FBI investigation. That's ESPN's press release.
So look, there's only one thing to do. If there's
a tape, and I assume there is, let's hear it,
all right, Let's hear it, and then what is and
is not a reality become or is there is not?
Truth becomes reality? Do you believe him? I don't believe anybody.
(11:09):
I believe tapes. I just do you know? Um, I
want to believe Sean Miller. I do think it's amazing
I've gotten in all these arguments on TV. I was
on First Things First and Fox Sports One today. Um,
I've got an arguments with Jason Whitlock on Fox Big
Fox on on Saturday over on on whether or not
(11:29):
you should pay players or whatever. This to me is
at the heart of the issue, believe it or not,
even though it was not discussed there to anyone who says, hey,
steroids weren't wrong in baseball, everybody was doing them. If
they weren't wrong, how come no one who's ever tested
positive didn't say I didn't think it was wrong because
(11:51):
they knew. Steroids are not what baseball is supposed to
be about. Sports are not supposed to be about artificially
enhancing your production, he elongating your career, And I honestly
think that one of the things that tears at Mark
McGuire's He has no idea how great he could have
been on his own at forty home runs as a rookie,
but you know the great year he had when he
(12:13):
broke Marris's record. Who because he didn't do one on
his own, He's always he's always going to wonder, what
could I have done on my own if it wasn't wrong?
How come no one has said, you know what, it
wasn't wrong because they all knew it was wrong. And
to anybody who thinks this was Sean Miller some sort
of vigilante justice, this is righting the wrongs of the
(12:36):
n c A rule book. No it's not. No, it's not.
Deandrean's gotten a ton out of his relationship with Arizona.
Look at his body and how it's changed. Look at
his skill and how it's changed. By the way, though
he likely would have been a top five, top ten pick,
now he's considered possibly the number one overall pick. Why
because we've seen him develop at Arizona and he can
(12:59):
always come back we of that family and get his
degree and whatever else he wants. He's he's gained a
ton from that relationship. Sean Miller. Whether you believe him
or don't believe him, one that fact remains true is
that I don't believe this happens a lot. I definitely
know it doesn't happen everywhere, and the idea that people
(13:20):
are doing it because they think it rights the wrong
of the n c A is laughable. Be sure to
catch live editions of The Doug Gottlap Show weekdays at
three p m. Eastern noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the I Heart Radio app. Let's catch up with
a guy who I ran into a couple of times
with the Super Bowl. He promised and he delivered on
his promise that he would come on with us, as
(13:41):
the dust is still kind of not settled on his
on his future. Josh McCowen joins us on The Doug
Gotleap Show, and, Uh, look, dude, you you had a
I mean, how would you characterize your season with the Jets. Well,
I mean, obviously, uh, you know, we were fobbing eleven
or whatever, so that for surely aren't there. But uh,
(14:01):
given the circumstances and kind of uh you know what
we were in the process of doing towards the new
group coming together and all that, I think there's some
things that we can pull out of there and and
and uh be proud of for sure. So for me,
just statistically speaking, as the best year of my career.
So uh so, yeah, I mean those things I'm proud
of for sure, and and really more anything, just the
guys in the locker room. I really enjoyed my time there.
(14:23):
It's a great organization, a lot of good guys in
the locker room, a lot of good people in the
front office, and and a lot of coaches. So I
would say this year was a success for me. I
think it's an absolute success for the team. And I'll
tell you why, and you tell me this is fair, Like, look,
you were part of it, but people thought you guys
might not win a game. People thought you were were
intentionally trying to be bad, and you were not. Yeah
(14:44):
you won five games. You're five and eight when you
were a starter, But you guys were competitive. I mean
you were competitive enough to where your coach kept his job.
And before the year the thought was he's dead man walking.
I mean I think that of itself, he was way
more successful than anyone could have thought would happen. Is
that is that a fair perspective on it? Well? Yeah,
I mean yes, absolutely. I think from an outside of
(15:07):
suspective for sure. Uh you know, as competitors get in
a locker room. And no matter what the prognounctications are,
you you you want to go out and win every game.
But we're giving those things. Obviously, Coach both uh did
a heck of a job of the leading our group
and and UM and was rewarded with an extension. That's great.
And so I think when you look at those things,
absolutely you would say it was successful. And like I said,
(15:30):
given you know some of the circumstances and new new coordinator, uh,
you know, Jermaine Kursk get there a week before the season,
and the trade uh, you know, departs are moving all year,
and and so for us and I speak just offensively
and just like you said, post competitively in the games,
but offensively to move the football and do some of
the things we did, I think, uh in a credit
(15:51):
to the coaches and and UM and to the players,
you know, just because because it took a lot of
extra time and took a lot of meetings to walk
through things like that to get that done and and acou. So, yeah,
those those are positives for sure if the and I
know you you're aware of the the adjustment they are
likely to make here to the catch rule if that
had been made before the season. Austin catches those two
(16:12):
touchdown passes, you likely win two more games, including one
against the Patriots, right, Like, that's how competitive you guys were, No,
no doubt. I mean I know that. I think I
think myself along with every other quarterbacks that you start
counting like, oh man, that's like four more touchdowns. Um
so uh it was part of the you know rule.
It's it's you know, it's good to see if they're
(16:33):
evaluating and and uh and you know gonna gonna make
change and and that's positive. And you're right, you know,
you're right there and think of things if some of
those going away. So uh, it was fun. It was
fun to be a part of you Just the leadership
was in the locker room, guys like Da Mario Davis
on defense, from Menard Williams, and then uh, you know
on offense. You know, it was great to have a
(16:53):
guy like Matt Forte recently retired, but just the leadership
that Matt brought us this year. So uh, it was
fun a part of For sure, you're thirty eight years old,
but you just had the best season of your life
and you did so in New York with the Jets Square.
People had no expectations of of you. So now what
what is the what is the process like of of
what you're going to do next? Well, you know, I'll
(17:17):
plan on plane and I just want you to see
how things play out when you come off for a
year like that with with an organization you'd love to
stay there. But at the same time, they're in a
process too that they've got to evaluate and make the
best decisions they can for for themselves moving forward. And
and I respect that. So we'll see what happens and
hopefully it works out what we can we can do
(17:38):
working together, But if not, that's part of the business.
I understand it. And uh and you know our root
for them, and I trust you know that they'll make
the best decisions they can. It's a group group leading
that that franchise and and uh, you know I've always
said that you can't, you know, if it doesn't go
your way one year, you know, you can't all of
a sudden think they're not smart people or whatever, the
same people that brought you in a year ago, you know.
So um, So we'll see what happens, uh it um,
(18:01):
But hopefully it works out. Get can you working together
and and I wish the best. But if not, you know,
as you know been in my career, hopefully I'll have
another place to play and put on my irons. You there, Yeah,
that's that's a great way of looking very healthy. Josh
McCowen joining us on the Doug out Lip Show, most
recently with the with the New York Jets. Um where
you know you can't say, hey, those guys realdiot's like yeah,
(18:21):
but those idiots were the ones that made you starting
quarterback last year. Like last year they were smart and
now they're stupid, right, I get that? So do you
does it depend on are you waiting on Kirk Cousins?
Are you waiting on aj mccaren like, help help us understand?
I mean, and you have the draft as well. Is
it going to drag out up until the draft? How
does this actually work for you? Well? Yeah, I mean
(18:44):
you know that's probably better question for the team. But
but you would you know, you would your mind by
everything taking place. Obviously you said it in a second ago,
I mean thirty eight, so uh, but you're young, you
games I would like to think so as well. Um,
but but obviously you know from a from an organizational
building standpoint. I understand, you know, you look at trying
(19:06):
to find and everybody does that doesn't have it the
long term answer at quarterback, you know, and and you
you evaluly went all those options via free agency or
the draft, and so I understand that they're going through
their process and trying to answer that question. And uh
and like I said, you know, even when I came
there last year, but it was helping the young guys
on the roster, whether it's you know, helping the next
guy that comes in. You know, I hope that they
(19:26):
find that answer because especially after getting your played there
for a year, when you're in that city and you
feel the support and the and the love from those fans. Uh,
you want to see him have success. And you know,
being there in this sleep long enough, you understand that
you know, the key to success is to find that
that long term answer at quarterback. So so we'll see
what happens and they'll make their evaluations and and you know,
(19:47):
see see how it unfolds. And like I said, hopefully,
hopefully you know, I'm a part of that, and uh
n if I am, I'll be ready to you know,
come back full force. And and hopefully, you know, have
a better year that I did last year. But but
if not, that's part of the business. And uh, and
we'll move forward. Josh McCollen joining us on the on
the Doug Gottlieb Show. I thought one of the things
that you just said, which is really interesting, which is, hey, look,
(20:08):
my job even then was to get the young guys ready,
isn't it isn't Uh that the biggest part of being
a the perennial backup is you know that if if
called upon, you've gotta be ready in the meantime, it's
your job to make sure the starter is ready, and
that that takes a sacrifice vego that some guys just
don't have. Is that Is that a fair assumption? Oh? Yeah,
(20:29):
no doubt. And I think there's something for me. You know,
a lot of young players early in your career, your
third or four years, hunting it to your second contract,
you're you're scratching and calling and trying to do everything
you can to establish yourself as a starter, to to
maximize the arny potential and so on, and rightfully so, uh,
but I think I had a good fortune earlier in
my career to be around a guy uh named John Kitner,
(20:51):
and we hooked up in Detroit. We were competing for
the same job that he helpfully end up winning. But
throughout the whole process he was healthy me learn how
to play the position and um, and I just appreciated
that so much. And and what it communicated to me
was because John is one of the fiercest competitors I've
been around, but um, but he was able to go
(21:11):
out and compete between the stripes, but at the same time,
he wasn't afraid to share his process with me so
that I could have the best chance moving forward to
have a long career as well. And so um. So
really that year, you know, did a lot for me,
and it kind of shaped how I've approached stepping into
a locker room from then on. And it's you know,
and what I learned too from me is I'm at
my best when I'm giving it away, because I think
(21:32):
that's part of when you're trying to master a subject.
If you can get up and teach it, you're you're
one step close to the mastery. And so for me,
when you're when you're constantly giving away in meetings, giving
away in the locker room, as far as your knowledge
of sporting and and your process. I think it helps
you get better on the field. And so that's been
part of our process. I believe that's part and possible
why I've been able to play some good ball here
(21:53):
like in my career. Um, am I wrong. It wasn't
until your seventh year, or actually your eighth year, in
which you had the same offensive coordinator for a second
consecutive year. Yeah, yeah, that was Yeah, that was two
years in a row. Um there with the Panthers, with
with um Jeff Davidson. So uh so yeah, I mean
(22:13):
it's it's um, it's a hard deal. But I'm not
the only guy. I mean, there's other guys that have
gone through it, for sure. Uh, but I'm I'm you know,
as I would have loved to have stayed in the
same offense for a couple of off seasons in a
row and really, you know, gotten to work on my craft.
I think that's critical for young quarterbacks. At the same time,
it's also exposed me to a lot of football and
(22:35):
a lot of great coaches and and uh and a
lot of great ideas. And so I'm thankful for that because, uh,
you know, you can utilize those things. There were some
things that came up this year. Uh you know, play
we had against Atlanta Falcons, we threw a touchdown that
you know I drew on, you know, plays that I've
had in my past, of the different coordinator at all,
he just might work here. And so I'm I'm thankful
for those experiences because they helped shape you. But you
(22:57):
sure would I think early on love to stay in
the same offense just to make Dolpse's and a little
smoother and we can really work on your craft. So like, look,
the other thing though, is we talked about this all
the time on this show, is you have to have
a rabbi in the room, right, Like a lot of
times the reason of Vet signs on with the team
is somebody has worked with you previously. Uh d you
work with de Filippo in um in Cleveland. Now he's
in Minnesota, right, same guy, isn't it correct? Yeah? Correct? Yeah?
(23:21):
So I mean is that really how it works? Where?
I mean I know that that Mike March, for example,
brought to Chicago because you work with with Mike March previously.
Is it fair to say that you know, you know
everybody in the league, but some guys you know a
little bit better and maybe that helps you get that
next gig. No doubt. I think there's a comfort level,
you know, as in any walk of life and any jobs,
(23:41):
when you've worked with somebody before, there's time on task
where trust has been earned and so you know what
you're getting as opposed to an unknown commodity. And so
I think there's value in that um especially you know,
for me, I was I was a year out of
the league. I got back in basically because you know,
there wasn't a whole lot of guys that Mike Mark
the system. And you know, when I got back in,
(24:02):
there was an injuring system and it was and it
wasn't necessarily the rope memorization of learning that system. It
was more of his mentality how he expected you to
play in that system because it was so different than
most coaches. And so I think that's the biggest key
is that you know, coaches go out and they go, man,
is there a guy out there that knows how I coach,
that knows my expectations, because you know, in the process
(24:25):
of learning and getting ready in a game week, especially
in season additions, when you know you get an injury.
You look at you look for somebody that knows your system,
because in the course of a week, I don't have
time to tell him how I'm thinking about this or what,
you know, my mentality about this play. I just want
to be able to install and keep keep things going
as usual. So I think there is value to having
been in other systems, and certainly not think that's what
(24:45):
the coaches look for. And and so uh stopping in
all of them, um pretty much and and uh and
I'm thankful for that because obviously it gives yourself a
chance to, you know, when you find yourself in on
situations like I was some years back, you have an
opportunity to, you know, to have a couple of finished
the find places where you know a coach or maybe
no system. Yeah, I can't imagine all the football verbage
you have, all the different like wait, we used to
(25:07):
call that Atlanta. Now we call that Chicago. We now
we call that Cleveland. What is that that we call like, uh,
we we call it something completely different here, all the
different coverage for all the all the same stuff. Well, Josh, listen,
we wish you nothing but the best. Can't wait to
find out where you're going, and look, if you want
to break your own story, feel free calls back and
uh and and and Josh McCown can make to Josh
where Josh McCown is going next year? Fair enough, Nice job, thanks,
(25:29):
I appreciate it. Man, All right, Josh McCown joining us
on the Doug Gallup Show. Fox Sports Radio has the
best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of
our shows at Fox sports radio dot com and within
the I Heart Radio app Let me be critical of
of Shack and Sharif O'Neil for a second. I understand
that it looks bad and this has been a really
(25:49):
bad week. What I I don't understand it's twofold is
if the truth hasn't come out yet, we don't know
exactly what what's the Russian d committing? Why be that
guy to commit? And if you d commit and you're like, hey, look,
I want to see what happens the dust settles, blah
blah blah. Then all of a sudden he commits to
U c l A. Like, Man, I thought you wanted
(26:10):
like the first sight of trouble. Even if you ultimately
want to go to U c l A, you don't
have to commit there, especially less than a week later.
That's like being engaged to be married. That's basically what
are you? This is what are Lion Dyke has done?
You know? Are Leondick is? He's the Bachelor. He asked
a girl to marry him on the last episode of
(26:32):
The Bachelor, which I think is upcoming this week, and
then you know, a couple of weeks ago he had
a change of heart. Now he's with the other girl. Like,
this is stuff that happens in the Bachelor, not that
happens and should happen in college athletics because of some accusations.
Be sure to catch live editions of The Doug gott
Leap Show weekdays at three p m. Eastern noon Pacific
on Fox Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app.
(26:55):
Clay Travis is a lawyer, was a practicing lawyer. Now
is just painting the ass every morning on Fox. So,
I what what the heck happened? Here? Like? First, what's
your reaction to Sean Miller vociferously denying every portion of
this ESPN ESPN story. ESPN stands by the reporting, but
(27:19):
they have changed the timeline of events three times. Yeah,
I think if you're a reasonable person out here paying
attention to this story, I think it's fair to say
that ESPN got it wrong. Um, I think probably if
you were analyzing this, I think it's likely that Sean
Miller might have gotten caught on a wire tap involved
(27:40):
in one of these discussions. I don't think it happened
with DeAndre Ayten. I don't think he agreed to pay
a hundred thousand dollars. And uh, I think that espn
is reporting is wrong. Now doesn't mean that ESPN has
done necessarily a bad job. Their source, who might be reliable,
might have gotten bad, uh bad. Look at some of
(28:02):
these legal documents. Uh, it's pot I would like to
know what ESPN has to convince them of the accuracy
of their reporting, um, and who their sources and they
never know that. But look, I mean, Arizona says they're
gonna stick with Sean Miller. So I mean, I think
compared to last week, it's fair to say he's effectively
back from the dead. It's it's really markable. He was
(28:24):
not all the way dead. He was mostly dead. Uh No,
he was mostly dead, which we come to learn is
somewhat alive. Right, did this from from Princess pride. Okay,
The reason I want to have you on is, uh,
is there a defamation lawsuit? That's that's that's possibly out there.
You can always file a defamation lawsuit. The challenges uh,
(28:46):
And I'm putting my lawyer hat on here. So the
challenge for defamation is both Sean Miller and Tiantre eight
are public figures, and the standard for a public figure
who in order to man it's a defamation claim, and
a defamation can be made up of either slander or libel.
Slander is spoken, libel is written. In this case both
(29:09):
you know they both talked about and written about him,
so he would have a claim under both of those progs.
But you have to either show actual malice or like
a basically a reckless disregard for the truth and like
pursuit of intentional falsehood. Um, and I can pull up
the exact language because I've written and talked about this
a lot. Give me ten seconds you talk, and I'll
(29:31):
pull up and read to the exact language that you
have to prove. The key point here is that it
is very difficult to meet that standard, especially in a
case like this. So I think you can always sue.
I think the likelihood of a public figure winning a
defamation claim in the United States court room isn't low. However, Uh,
if Scharlon Miller is really angry, he may file this lawsuit.
(29:54):
And remember, ESPN, oftentimes, especially the public eye right now,
has a lot to lose if their story is not correct,
um in terms of the trust to their network, in
terms of the legitimacy of their journalistic reporting, and everything
else associated with that. It's possible that if ESPN really
comes to understand that their story was wrong, that they
(30:17):
end up just stroking a check to Sean Miller and
publicly apologized to him forgetting this story wrong and trying
to just put it all behind them instead of risking
the fact that he might file a lawsuit and try
to to drag their name through the mind. Usually and
warriors advise their clients and don't file a defamation lawsuit
because it opens you up to having to sit and
(30:40):
talk in front of, you know, in the court system,
and you don't want to purchase yourself. Sean Miller would
have to answer questions like have you ever been involved
in any n C double A violation you believe that
you have? Uh, you know, you get to quiz him
about all this stuff in his background. It just wouldn't
make sense. Probably, but this is an ugly story. Uh
and and I think frankly, uh, it's a massive black
(31:02):
eye for yes again Wow, I mean as of as
of now, like unless the tapes somehow come out and
change everything, this one, Uh the point, it does not
seem good. Uh Oh, I mean this is so here's
here's here's here's the question is this is an honest question.
So how I don't know, liable, how culpable? How much
(31:27):
of the blame do we receive considering our reaction? My
reaction on Fox Television was to the story. And because
I'm somebody who generally believes reporters are doing things because
they have their sources in a row, Like, how much
do you believe that somebody like me, Clay Travis, I mean,
(31:49):
I'm I'm not maybe guilty of jumping to conclusions considering
I went based upon the story. Yeah. Look, I mean
I think what you typically don't expect from major news sources.
And some people are rolling their eyes right now because
we live in this era where some people are like,
you can't ever trust anybody about anything. But I think
it's fair to say that, uh that most of us
(32:11):
out there when we read this story said, my god,
there's no way ESPN would publish this unless they were
confident in it because they're effectively ending Sean Miller's career.
I think it's fair to say based on the way
that first story was written. Uh. And you know, it's
rare that you have a major, major organization like this
(32:32):
because people will say, oh, like, I know Mark slave Ball,
he's a good dude. Um, you know, like, and it's
not just the writer. It's not like ESPN's website allows
somebody to just publish something without vetting it through. I mean,
I would want to know the entire process of running
the story at esp A dot com. But I bet
there's at least ten or twelve people involved in making
sure that this story is right. Having said that, and ESPN,
(32:55):
by the way, says the story is still right. Obviously, Arizona,
Sean Miller, and DeAndre A, they're all saying it's not right.
Having said that, you know this, everybody, no matter how
good you are, it's your job. We are all human
and we all fail regularly. Right, this is a massive
failure that's not just on the writer or the reporter,
(33:15):
or the sourcing or everybody else. It's a failure of
the entire ESPN organization. And uh, I can't imagine that
it is a very good feeling right now. Uh you
know this. You tweeted some stuff before where you've been like, hey,
I'm hearing X is gonna happen. It's not a good feeling.
So try to break news when you're out there first
(33:36):
and you're just like sitting around waiting for other people
to confirm it. Right, I've done that a few times.
I've been right. I've been wrong before as well. It
ain't a good feeling, man, um. And I can't imagine
what the ESPN people involved in this story are feeling
right now, because I would imagine they've probably already started
an internal investigation into the story, how it was published,
(33:56):
how they got from the faction wrong, how they were confused. Uh.
In the event that this has later proven to not
be true and that they totally whipped on it, I
think you know, for you and Be and everybody else
who speaks out there in the public arena, this would
mean that the next time the ESPN has a story
like this, we would need to say something like, Hey,
in all fairness, remember Sean Biller. Uh. There have been
(34:19):
big swings and misses by ESPN before, and that's certainly
from a brand perspective. The worst thing that can happen
to ESPN Clay Travis. I'll kick the cover and check
him out tomorrow morning. Don't worry. He swings and misses
all the time with his shows, as do we hear
great stuff to be an all star man. There you
there you go.
Host
Doug Gottlieb
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