August 30, 2018 • 40 mins
It's the Best of the Doug Gottlieb Show! The Odd Couple Rob Parker and Chris Broussard fill-in for Doug, and debate whether or not Aaron Rodgers' record-breaking contract extension actually hurts the Packers' Super Bowl chances in the long-run, discuss why Dez Bryant's biggest problem is his lack of self-awareness, and explain why Jerry Jones' plan to move to an 18-game season proves that the NFL doesn't really care about player safety. Plus, Basketball Hall of Famer Grant Hill stops by to discuss his enshrinement and tell the story about how he and Tim Duncan tried (and failed) to form a Super Team in Orlando.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the best of the Doug Gottlip
Show podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday
from three to six pm Eastern Time, that's twelve to
three Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station
for The Doug Gotlip Show at Fox Sports Radio dot com,
or stream us live every day on the I Heart
Radio app by searching FSR. This is the best of
(00:22):
the Doug Gottli Show on Fox Sports Radio. I love
Aaron Rodgers just as much as you. Just here we go. Now.
I love him, But are they gonna win another Super Bowl?
If Aaron Rodgers on that team? They got a chance to?
The last eight years? Chu, you want me to break
(00:43):
down all the things that happened, when the when the
on side kick in Seattle, where the tight end that
has something to Rogers doesn't matter that, No, it does.
Here's the problem, and I'm look. I love Aaron Rodgers.
He's just about the best quarterback I've ever seen. No,
he is the best I've ever seen, not even almost.
(01:05):
I don't know if you tell me I'm not talking
about some Super Bowl I'm not talking about the argument
a lot of people make about Lebron saying, well, let's
see about the production. No, it's not about that. I'm
talking about accomplished. He's not the greatest accomplished quarterback. I'm
talking about if you just look at if you that great,
you win, Chris. He has the greatest quarterback rating of
(01:27):
any quarterback in the history of the greatest on the
intercepted ratio of any quarterback. And he's the greatest quarterback
of all times that I've ever seen play. I'm not
talking about we look, we can't. We can't, we can't
cut and slice. We're not most of most valuable, most
(01:48):
out the greatest quarterback I've ever seen. So you're willing
to say he's the go over Joe Mont you talking
about go because goat is you have to factor in
winning and every thing. My point, Rob is this, we
can only go with one goat. If you're not we're
not giving We're not having eight categories of goatness. I mean,
(02:11):
it looks that's that's off the point. Here's my only issue,
and again I'm with you. I have not seen the
quarterback play the position better than Aaron Rodgers individually. All right,
that's something we could agree on. And he is worth
every cent. He is phenomenal, and as you said, you
(02:33):
are going to be in the hunt, you're gonna have
a chance to win a Super Bowl for as long
as he's there and still in his prime. Right, there's
three teams that every year in it. In a league
where contenders come and go, there's three teams that every
single year Pittsburgh, New England, Green Bay. When Rogers is healthy,
they got a shot. They got They all have great quarterbacks.
(02:56):
Here's my only problem. When a quarterback takes up so
much of your salary cap. It's been proven, it's been documented.
I don't know why the analytics driven general managers don't
realize this. You have very little chance of winning the
(03:16):
Super Bowl. I'm not buying it. I think that that
I don't care what the fact is. I'm gonna tell you.
You can't say you're not buying it. I'm not buying
it if I'm not buying gravity. But I go to
the top of this building and jump off as it matter. No.
But I could give you all these teams you're talking
about where they spent less money, they didn't win. But
(03:38):
last year they had a great defense in Jacksonville, and
you know what happened at the end of the the game.
They had a pretty bad quarterback. What happened? No, they
didn't almost win. He couldn't get the big play done
in the fourth quarter they were to ten, but when
you needed the first down, when you needed the big play,
he couldn't deliver it. That didn't Who what? How good
(04:00):
is Nick Foles? Nick? Looking pretty good? Now you want
to build your franchise around him. No, you don't want to,
because it's a once in a lifetime deal. We've already
seen that with Nick Foles. Nick Foles was a back
up for a reason. Chris he was a backup because
that point, that's my point. Philadelphia had a great team
around a mediocre If that quarterback wanted what he didn't
(04:23):
play mediocre he had like he played. He played out
of his mind like a once in a lifetime thing.
So you can't make it as well. You just need
a mediocre quarterback. He outplayed Tom Brady in the Super Bowl.
How good is Joe Flacco? Joe Flack goes good. I mean,
go look at his numbers. Joe Flack goes really good.
He's pretty hasn't been good he has lately, But if
you go back that he was pretty good he beat
(04:45):
New England twice, and and I get all that, but
let's be honest. He was pretty He's not phenomenal. Won
the Super Bowls. Franchise quarterbacks. I'm gonna get you the
numbers the year that they won the Super Bowl. Uh,
he was. He had like eleven touchdowns or twelve touchdowns,
no picks. He's been clutching the playoffs. My my point
(05:09):
is just that it's been proven Rob that you can
win super Bowls with a pretty good quarterback if you
build around him. Tom Brady has always taken less money.
He cares about what. Tom Brady's wife makes more money
than him. So so you mean if if Rogers instead
of taking thirty three million, he took twenty five million,
(05:32):
it would have made a difference in his life. I
don't believe in taking less. The league comes up with
a bogus it's a false, fake number to the salary cap, Chris,
based on what based on I'm glad you based on
their profits based on an article in USA today. I
didn't read that. I don't care about it. What was
(05:53):
that yesterday or was it today? A few months ago?
All right? I think it was after Matt Maybe Matt
Ryan sign or whatever. They did a study going all
the way back to nine and what they found was
that when a quarterback takes up too much of the
(06:14):
salary cap, you don't win Super Bowls. The Steve Young
had the highest percentage of salary caps, you know, payroll,
of any quarterback that's won the Super Bowls. And guess
what his percentage of the cap was thirteen percent. Only
four quarterbacks in history have won a Super Bowl with
(06:38):
more than eleven percent of the salary caps. Guess what,
Guess what percentage Aaron Rodgers is going to have of
the salary cap in when his extension kicks in seventeen percent? No,
no team has ever won a Super Bowl with the
quarterback taking up sage. Do you want to bet that
(07:00):
Aaron Rodgers wins one more Super Bowl in his career?
I'm ready right here, right now to tell you that
Aaron Rodgers will be the exception to your US Today,
US USA Yesterday report. Be sure to catch live editions
of the Doug gut Leaps Show weekdays in noon eastern
three pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the I
(07:21):
Heart Radio. I But speaking of a mess robe, look,
Jerry Jones says something recently that I think is a
max check this out three or simple is cut back
on preseason games. Have one at each team's home, play
a couple of them, and then you need to add
two games to the regular season, which I've been a
(07:43):
proponent of for several years. It's probably physically better for
players than it is to have the longer preseason, the
longer practicing. Our studies show that we actually have a
ramped up injury situation with players during preseason. Look, I
haven't done a study on it like the Cowboys and
(08:05):
Jerry Jones have, but robbed. Anytime I hear eighteen games
and eighteen game regular season, the word that comes to
my mind is hypocrisy, because all we hear about is
players safety. Players safety. Can't hit this way, you can't
do this, can't do that. As players safety, we're concerned
about the health of the players, and once you start
(08:28):
talking about expanding the regular season, you've lost me. You
don't give a darn about players safety. It's like if
I was running boxing and all I talked about was
players safety or boxer safety and how dangerous the sport was,
and then I said, you know what, instead of fighting
(08:49):
twelve rounds. They should fight twenty rounds. I mean, why
in the world would you expand the regular season a
sport that's dangerous. We always loose was in players before
the playoffs start, as it is, every time they step
on the field, they are literally putting their lives, are
certainly their health at risk, and you want to play
(09:10):
two more games. I just for Jerry to keep a
straight face and tell people that the chances of injury
would be less with more games makes no sense, especially
because in the playoffs people don't I mean, in the preseason,
people don't go at it the same way. And yes,
injury don't even play a lot of them are They
(09:32):
play a series of two Chris and they come out,
So you're not getting stars hurt to play two more games.
Jerry just sees dollar signs. That's that's what the two
more games would do. It's about it's about money. You
remember the preseason or what local television, right local they
don't make nearly as much money as if they can
(09:55):
talk to Fox or CBS or or uh, ESPN or
whatever and and try to squeeze out more money for
two more regular season games. The whole, the whole thing
is about money. The rule changes are about money. It's
not about the player's safety. All they want to do
is protect themselves. So if they get sued again by
(10:20):
some retire players or players, they can say, hey, we
made the changes, We've made the game safer and avoid
paying there's millions. I know that that's their ultimate because
you've brought it up before, and I agree with you.
If you're so concerned about the safety of the players,
(10:42):
increased for lifetime healthcare, Nope, they won't do it. That's
what you get it. You get it in baseball. You know,
if you play can be done. It can be done
and financed. Okay, So don't tell me baseball can do it,
and and you can't do it, Okay, because you can
if you want to the Baseball Union. If you play
ten years, Chris, right, you get lifetime healthcare. And the
(11:05):
story tremendous And that's what Look, I have no problem
with the baseball players getting that. But it's obviously not
nearly as physical and dangerous as football. No, but they
get taken care of. And that's the way it should be.
For sport that makes so much money, why shouldn't they
get taken care of? Well, what it leads to rob
And you've talked about this before and and I look,
(11:26):
I hate to say it because you know, I don't
dislike the people running it, but the NFL players Union,
it's a joke. It is a joke. You've got the
most dangerous game, You've got the wealthiest games. They're making
all the money handle with this, and you you you
(11:46):
refuse to stand up and fight for what you should have.
How does all the other three leagues all have guaranteed contracts?
And you don't just tell me Hockey has guaranteed contracts
based far as guaranteed contract, NBA has guaranteed contract. Now
if all sports football should have even if they're less years,
(12:08):
like a three year guaranteed like like Kirk Cousins has
right three years guarantee. That's what a real contract. And
then after three years, if you're good, you could go
and get another one for more money. And if you're bad,
they could decide to release you, not resign you, ask
you to take a pay cup. It should be guaranteed,
(12:28):
per no question, no question. I mean, I mean, they
they gotta get it together because they are being ripped,
you know, left right, middle from no guaranteed contracts to
you know that. I mean, the league doesn't even consult
them when they make the anthem change. Now they're talking
about you know, but you could go on and on
(12:51):
of how the NBA, union baseball they all do so much,
such a better job than the NFL. I mean, Odell
Beckham just got a great deal for him, but what
was he like sixty five million years? I mean NBA players,
that's like a middle rung reserve, you know. In the NBA.
(13:12):
It's the same thing. As much as Aaron Rodgers just
got a hundred and three. You have about I don't know,
almost ten baseball players, eight baseball player who make three
hundred millions. Think about that and a hundred I mean
Kevin Love just signed I think with a hundred thirty
million dollar extension or a hundred twenty something like that.
And yeah, I mean he's a pretty good player. He's
(13:34):
a you know, all star. But Aaron Rodgers the highest
paid player ever. He's got a hundred three and uh.
Gian Carlos standing with the Yankees makes over three hundred,
you know, three hundred million. Miguel Cabra makes three hundred
million with the Tigers. There's a there's a list of
people making way, way, way more. And don't forget, uh,
(13:55):
Bryce Harper is gonna be a free agent and he's
gonna get paid. He's gonna get at least three hundred
million too. Yeah, and but like I said, um, the players,
they got to get it together. Kevin Love just talked
told in my ear one twenty million dollar extensions. So
still there you have it compared to the NFL. But yeah,
(14:16):
I look, and I didn't play in football at a
high level, played in high school, but I know enough
to know just from that it is a dangerous, painful
sport and to try. And Jerry Jones played at something
wait college, I played college. Well, I think Kim and
(14:36):
Jimmy Jimmy Johnson were Ye, that's right, that's right. There's
a reason that at one point what the NFL played
nine games used to be twelve, due to be twelve,
but I thought at one point it was even fewer,
but even twelve. But I remember twelve as a kid. Yeah,
Jim Brown, most of the season's were twelve, and not
(14:58):
all of them, O J simp. They had some fourteen
game seasons when he broke the Russian record and all
that now it's sixteen. Um, there's a reason the game
is taxing college plays. What now thirteen? They keep inching
that up. But to put eighteen games on, I mean
(15:19):
we already just hoping pray that the best players are
healthy for the playoffs and now you want to throw
two more regular season games when I just, I mean,
this topic really rise me up, robbed, because again, one
thing I dislike is hypocrisy, and that's just what this
(15:40):
reeks of hypocrisy, no doubt about it. And I just
I don't know. One day and you know, Uh, Tony
Gonzalez came out and RiPP did you see that ripped
the markets? Uh? Smith? I'm sorry, Yeah, that that he
shouldn't be the head the union because he didn't play football.
(16:02):
So that was very interesting. And I don't know where
this new you know deals come in and they're gonna
be a cool because they just didn't. They just signed
Smith to a new Uh he was just re elected. Uh,
our producer give us rob I think he just got
signed like a year ago to an extension. Right, didn't
get a new deal, and seen he was reelected and
(16:26):
I think it was unanimously, if I remember correct, nimously
they get hammered left and right as you said, baseball's
got the lifetime if you played ten years, lifetime healthcare.
If anybody should have it, it should be football players.
And and look, we're talking about the epitome rob of greed.
(16:49):
We're not talking about a league that's struggling. They could
play the pay the players healthcare and still have tons
of money. What is good down Roger Goodell, the commissioner
make million a year. She's not saying it's a tough job,
and it ain't, you know what, it ain't as tough
(17:11):
as playing. It ain't as tough as playing. And he's
making that and plenty of people are getting paid and
that's fine, that's fine and getting paid, but be do
the right thing or stop trying to come off at
such moralists and that you care so much about the players,
do the right thing and take care of the players
(17:33):
health lives, because at the end of the day it
would help you. You could take care of the players
long term with better health care when they retire, and
guess what, then you wouldn't have to change the game.
Then then you can say it's dangerous and if you
get hurt, hey, you know, you know what you signed
up for. But this is what it is. This is football,
(17:56):
and you you gotta play it the way it is.
I just, you know, it just bothers I get upset
about it. Be sure to catch live editions. So the
Doug got Leap Show weekdays at noon eastern three pm Pacific.
One thing that I think is very important in life
is knowing who you are right, knowing who you are right,
(18:17):
right right. And Des Bryant, he is sitting on the
sidelines not knowing where his next paycheck is going to
come from because he lacks that trait. He doesn't know
who he is. He thought he was still a star.
He thought he was still a number one receiver. So
(18:39):
when the Baltimore Ravens offered him a three year, twenty
one million dollar deal, he turned it down because he
didn't know that rather than being a number one receiver,
he's more like a number three or four receiver. And
and the reason I brought this topic up is I
want to contract death with Nick Foles now. A lot
(19:03):
of people looking at Nick Foles now and saying Nick Foles,
he's like a joke. He's not that good. He's stumbling
around in the end zone, fumbling the ball, throwing interceptions
in the preseason and all that. But I contend that
Nick Foles knows exactly who he is. So in the
off season, when all these teams were willing to trade
(19:25):
for him, and everybody was saying, all falls should go here,
folks should go there. Shouldn't he go somewhere and be
a starter and see what he can do, nick Foles said, Nah,
I'm good. I'm good being the backup. I'm cool. I'm
fine making seven million dollars a year. I'm fine as
(19:45):
the backup. Why because Nick Foles knows who he is.
Nick Foles knows in the deep recesses of his mind.
I don't want the pressure. I don't want the pressure
to perform every game. I don't want the pressure of
being a starter. I don't want that. I don't. I don't.
(20:08):
I don't play my best when expectations are high. You
know when I play my best when nobody expects anything,
when anything I give them is gravy. When our starter
gets hurt, now everybody's like, oh, they're done. That's when
I play my best, when it's icing on the cake.
When I go into a super Bowl against the best
(20:30):
quarterback ever and everybody thinks I'm gonna get waxed, no
pressure whatsoever on me to win or perform. Well, that's
when I'm at my best and I can actually play
like a star then, but expect something of me. Put
it on me to go out there and throw for
three hundred yards and three touchdowns every Sunday. Nah, I'm good.
(20:55):
I'm good in this backup role. And we might laugh
at even like mocking all. He don't have the testicular
fortitude or whatever, but he knows who he is and
he's in a better position than Daz Bryant, no doubt
about it. You do. You have to know your limitations,
know where you fit in. Try to tell people that that.
(21:17):
That's why I really think the Eagles have a shot
at repeating or at least getting back to the super Bowl,
because they'll have the guy Carson Wentz back who was
going to be the m v P before he got hurt.
Chris have something to play for. If you were hoping
that Nick Bowls was going to repeat what he did
(21:39):
last year, you're being for rude awakening. There's a reason
he was the backup quarterback. Do you know? You know
what I mean? And look I was one of those saying, man,
fools should go somewhere and start, you know, but he
knew who he was. He knew who he was, and
the dead Briant thing is just it's comical and sad
(22:00):
at from the standpoint of I think he's just waiting
around for somebody to get hurt, because you know, in
the NFL, the receiver's gonna get hurt. But people have
gotten hurt. I get it. I can't you think he's
just because I think he and his agent have put
out there, you know, and at least in the last
few weeks that there were teams interested. Wasn't there was
something about that the report out there that there were
(22:21):
a lot of teams interested, or some teams at least.
I'm they just lying in I think there were some
teams because, like you just said, guys are getting hurt.
Your people need depth and you know you might not
be the the number one guy, right, But but it
doesn't mean waiting for it. I don't know. I don't
get it. Uh. I thought when he went to Cleveland
that he would come back with a deal. I really did,
(22:43):
because I had pointed out on Undisputed with Skip and
Shannon that he was a threat in the red zone
last year. Yeah, I think he was number one actually
where targets in the red zone. Yeah, so, and Cleveland
was at the bottom third or you know, as far
(23:04):
as the red zone. So it was a fit. It
could have worked out. And that's why I thought he
really was gonna go there. And that didn't happen. Then
Josh Gordon came back right and then and then o'deal
was done right right. Well, look there's another player I
can throw into this boat, and we don't know what.
We don't know if he's more like Folds or more
like Dazz. He looks more like Daz right now, that's
(23:25):
Carmelo Anthony. Now he's got a contract to two two
point nine million, two point five million, whatever it was
from the Houston Rockets. But I think Mellow is in
the same boat. Like I know who you are, Mellow.
You're in your sixteenth year. You're not a superstar anymore.
(23:46):
If you go to Houston thinking you're you're the third
cog in another Big three, you're sorely mistaken. Your feelings
are gonna get hurt when you're sitting on the bench
for several games at crunch time, your feelings are gonna
get hurt when you're not getting all the looks that
you want to get. But you know what, it's funny
(24:08):
that you bring this up and it's totally different because
you know, Grant suffered some injuries, but as big of
a star as he was, Grant prolonged and he said it,
he played until forty because he was willing to go
on the bench. He could have tried to go on
a bad team to be, you know, a star on
like a bad team, and he didn't do that. He
went to the bench and came off the bench. You
(24:28):
have to put your ego aside sometimes. And I'm with you,
I don't even see how it really works in Houston.
It's kind of surprising, my I guess for two point
nine they just want to name, you know what I mean?
They got for two point nine. Fox Sports Radio has
the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all
(24:49):
of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and
within the I Heart Radio app search f s R
to listen live. Brand is on with us UH. You
can follow him on Twitter at real Grant Hill thirty
three Great Welcome to The I Couple and the The
Got Leave Show. How you doing. I'm good, I'm good.
(25:09):
How are you got? Man? And we're doing great? And
you know what, Grant, I gotta tell everybody's story real
quick about you, all right, Chris? He listen up. So
this isn't During his Detroit days, Grant Hill says, he's
gonna come in and do my radio show back then
in the studio was on the weekend, like a Sunday,
and they had a game on the West coast to
(25:30):
coach back then decided to stay an extra night. So
you know, Grant, they they I don't know, he can't
make it or whatever. So he comes in and maybe
it was gonna be on Saturday, and he and they
stayed the night over. So Grant gets off the plane
the next day on Sunday. Most people would just be like,
I just got off a plane from the West Coast.
I'm not coming, you know what I mean. It's just
(25:52):
everything's got mixed up. Do you know? Grant and his
wife not only king, got off the plane, drove to
the raid your station in studio, did the show for
over an hour before he went home. So Grant I
always appreciated that a man who keeps his word and
congratulations on the Hall of Fame. I'm very happy and
(26:12):
proud for you. Hey, Rob, I appreciate that, and uh,
I do remember that. Uh those were good times, good
memories man, back back in Detroit, and uh always uh
enjoyed hanging out on air, hanging out in the palace,
topping it up with you and uh and certainly enjoy
watching you continue to grow and and kill it out
(26:32):
there in the media world. So big big fan, Man,
big fan. I appreciate it, Man, Thank you well. They
our listeners can tell Grant that your class personified from
that comment. Um, but I want to ask you, look,
because you know a lot of our listeners, a lot
of basketball fans in general are young. Uh they're young,
and they may be millennials, but a lot didn't see
(26:53):
you before your ankle injuries, and you were very much
a Lebron James type player. You know. I think your
second year you average like twenty points basically ten rebounds,
seven assists, your third year twenty one point nine rebounds,
seven assists. Like we hadn't really seen anybody since the
(27:14):
Big Old or Jerry West put up those types of
numbers across the board, and me as a basketball fan
I'm even a little like I find myself sometimes thinking, man,
what could have been with with Grant Hill if he
hadn't got injured? How much does it haunt you or
how often do you think about, man, what could have
(27:36):
been if that injury hadn't occurred? You know, Chris, first
of all, Um, I totally understand this young generation. I
mean I live it at home. You know, when when
I got the announcement right before the final four, my
sixteen year old daughter was like, damn you the Hall
of Thames, Like right, you know, I mean she never
(28:01):
had the opportunity obviously to see those years and uh.
And so you know when when when you're in the middle,
when you're in the midst of your career, and you know,
my career is kind of broken into three, three different segments,
you know, the nineties which were really good, Detroit and
Duke Orlando which was really bad, and then Phoenix was
(28:22):
was good in the sense that I was able to
get healthy and and sort of finished playing on a
high note. But each sort of place was a different experience.
But when you're in the midst of it all, you're
you're you're kind of in the moment, like you're just
you're in the moment, you're looking ahead to the future,
and you really don't look back. And so even in Detroit,
like I didn't. The one regret was I never appreciated
(28:45):
maybe or took the time to appreciate, you know, just
what I was doing. You know. I was always thinking
like I gotta get better, or we gotta be better,
or what am I not doing? Uh? And then in
Orlando the same thing, like I gotta get healthy, I
gotta get back on the court. And then Phoenix is
I'm old, so I gotta figure out how I could
stay in the court against people half my age, you know.
And so not until you kind of get off that
(29:08):
roller coaster of the NBA as a player, and now
you kind of slow down a bit and then you
kind of have time to reflect, do you sort of
appreciate and then have your mind wander, like you said,
where man, what could have been? You know? And and
uh and so I've done a lot of that, particularly
with the announcement just past April, where um, you know,
(29:30):
I I wonder what could have happened, what would have been.
I always kind of felt like these last few years
that my career was like an incomplete like you know,
I mean I played until I was forty, but um,
you know, I was progressing, I was getting better. I
felt like I made huge strides in my last year
or two in Detroit, and I was just about to
(29:51):
enter that space where you know, you're kind of going
into your prime and and I never really had that
chance and that opportunity and so um so you know,
I mean, it's it's frustrating on that end, uh, and
certainly talking something that I'll live with, uh, probably for
the rest of my life, but you know, to still
be recognized and to still be remembered. Uh. And one
(30:15):
other thing I'll say, when I was when I was playing,
I forgot about those times. You know, you only remember
what you're currently going through. And so when people say
things like you just said what you said. Chris and
I sat with Jason Kidd a couple of weeks ago.
We did a little sit down conversation and I was
kind of blown away, um by what he was saying
(30:36):
about me. And I'm thinking, man, it's Jason Kidd and
like and he but he remembers, he remembers, you know,
us battling each other in those Detroit years and so
so anyway, it's it's been an interesting process and I think, hey,
I've had an interesting story. But um, you know, I'm
thankful and grateful that I played for as long as
I did and now that I'm you know, getting recognized
(30:58):
by all. What about what could have been? Was in
Orlando when when you and Tim duncan almost both went
there with Tracy McGrady and and Tim Duncan. It came
out just recently that he said the reason he didn't
go there because it wouldn't allow his family to get
on the plane, the team plane like that. That was
(31:20):
a deterrent for him going to Orlando. What could have
been had that all come together? I mean, you guys
would have had a super team that probably would have
been the real first super team. Do you ever think
about that if that all happened? Yeah, no, I mean
I look, I was, I was there at the dinner
when you know, when when that whole situation with you know,
(31:42):
spouses and significant others flying on the plane and you know,
I mean I remember at that point it seemed as
though he was all in and you know, obviously it's
hard to think about think of Tim Duncan in that
way because you know, we think of him Santonio and
how long career. But at that point, I think he
was only one or two years in the league, and
(32:05):
you know, David Robinson was getting older and he was
really seriously leaning that way. And I remember his then
girlfriend who went on to be his wife and now
his ex wife. She asked the question, can can you
know significant others fly on the team plane? And at
that point you're just like, Doc, just lie like right,
(32:30):
of course, no problem, and he said no. I was
like the whole mood at the table changed when my
wife we got back to the hotel, where my wife
was like, yo, Doc, Doc should have just said there,
like he's not coming to me, He's not. She knew
it right then and there. Wow. So now we'll say this,
(32:52):
you know, not to to rehash stuff, but um, I
probably would not have left Detroit. I had no intentions
of leaving Detroit even that last year. Like I you know,
I really enjoyed it up there and I lived there
year round, and you know, obviously we had troubles in
terms of winning and different personnel, but I got my
(33:14):
intention was to stay there, and um, and then when
I got hurt and the way that I thought that
was a little bit mismanaged. Like I was emotional and
I was upset that summer, and you know, so I was,
you know, sort of making a decision from a place
of anger. And if I had not gotten hurt, would
(33:35):
have stayed in Detroit. Grant Hill with the I couple
on the Doug gott Leave Show, and you can catch
the conversation, uh that he talked about with Jason Kidd
on NBA TV. UH that'll be airing leading up to
their enshrine and ceremony on Friday, September seven h seven
pm or NBA TV. Grant, There's so much I want
(33:58):
to ask you. Um, Okay, so Rob alluded to it.
You Tim Duncan, Trace McGrady would have undoubtedly been a
super team at that time. Did you think about, man,
this is three of the best young players in the
league joining forces, and does that situation that it almost
(34:18):
happened give you a different perspective on what Lebron did
with Miami or what k d. Don't let them. Don't
let them, That's what I mean, because Lebron call a
lot of flak, you know, from joining d Wade and
Boss they all did, but especially Lebron. Kevin Durant called
a lot of flag by going to Golden State. Do
you have a different perspective because some of your contemporaries
(34:40):
and older guys did criticize them for coming together like that. Yeah,
you know, I think as I as I think back
on that Orlando experience, I mean, Tim and I we
had the same agent, and so it was all coordinated
I guess to go and visit Orlando at the same time. Um.
(35:01):
I remember Tim seemed like he was was in uh,
and then and then was out. And then for a
period he was like, look, I think I'm gonna stay.
And I was still still committed to going to Orlando
and not even sure of t Mac and where he was.
And then t Mac I think visited shortly thereafter, and
(35:24):
um and said he was in. And then it was like,
let's see if we can get temp um and so.
But yeah, I mean, Lebron catches a lot of flak,
and you know, sometimes I'm tough on Lebron for various things.
But I don't mind that. I really don't mind that.
Now this is coming from a player's perspective. From a
player's perspective, I don't mind that. This is why you know,
(35:47):
players before us fought for the right to have free
agency and make and make those type of decisions and
choose your future. Um. And so you know, I don't
think it was wrong a bad thing. I think it
was in a painting. Um. You know, he uh, he
deserves that right. I do think that. Um, you know,
(36:10):
I do understand. I guess where there there's some problem
with that, and um, but it's exciting. I mean, look,
him moving to l A is like it's a talk
of the town and talk of the summer. This year
with with the NBA, there's gonna be a lot of anticipation.
Now the West is wide open. Um. You know, players
today they have a different sort of attitude about it.
(36:30):
They want to be more in control of their careers
and and and where they're gonna play and how long
they're gonna play. And as a player and as someone
who's been been through that, you know, I can totally
respect that. And so I don't have an issue with that.
But grant, I'll say, this is my only issue. It's
a competition thing. And I get that. I'm I'm for
free agency. Thank god Kurt Flood gave up his baseball career,
(36:53):
for free agency, for all athletes. I get all that,
So I'm not I'm not against it when the same
teams go to the NBA Finals four years in a
row and which has never happened, and it never happened
more than twice. And now you've got a chance of
the Warriors going to the NBA Finals five years in
a row, which hasn't happened since the fifties and sixties
(37:16):
with the Celtics. I just from a from a fan standpoint,
loves competition and loves a balance. That's the only that's
the only reason I have an issue with it, because
the competitive balance in the league is not there. No,
that's true. I agree with you on that standpoint. From
a from a competitive I mean that should be better parody.
And you know, as as it relates, like I'm sitting
(37:38):
right now in the Atlanta Hawks offices here in Atlanta,
and you know, we obviously are going through a situation
where we are preparing for the future, and we've acquired
assets and we're betting younger. But you know, you have
to be realistic. Golden State, they have a lot of
runway in front of them, and and those guys will
be good for a long period of time. And it's tough.
(37:59):
It's tough when that's what you're shooting for, a championship
and uh, and it almost seems like it's unfair in
some respects, but um, you know, it is, it is
what it is. I think I think they got some
you know, first of all, you have to give them credit.
The core of their team was built through the draft.
Curry Playtom said, came on Green, So they showed that
(38:19):
they can win, uh and build a championship team through
the draft. It just so happened that new influx of
money from the television deal came along that summer when
Kevin Durant was a free agent, because if it was
any other summer, there's no way Durant could have gone
to that situation. So it's almost perfect timing for Durant
and for that franchise. But you know, it is what
(38:42):
it is. And I totally understand where you're coming from
from a fans perspective, and you always have great thoughts
and opinions, um, but you know, it's it's it's we
all have to deal with it. And UM, I think
it's pretty safe to say that they'll have a pretty
good chance of being in the finals again next year. Grant,
you know what the biggest baiting the NBA is is
Michael Jordan's versus Lebron James. You face both of them
(39:04):
in in their primes. It's a runaway stop it. So
what's your way? I mean, you can give us a
unique perspective that most people can't. What's your view on it?
Is it between those two too? Is it between those two?
Are we're missing somebody Kobe? Or I mean I put
Kobe in there too. I mean, you know, I think
I go with Michael. Um. I think Lebron's great, is
(39:26):
a great talent and um, you know, obviously his physicality,
his size, his basketball intellect, Um, you know, the way
that he can so to fill up a stat sheet
is just off the charts. Um. But you know, I
just feel like in some of those moments where and
certainly he was great this this last year in the
playoffs and the clutch, but we've seen too many times
(39:49):
throughout his career where Lebron you know, just sort of
disappears at those pressure moments or doesn't want the ball
or you know, has a ky read to sort of
make plays for him. And and you know that that
that was never the situation with Michael. Michael had the ball,
Michael was relentless. Michael you know didn't didn't you know,
didn't disappear at times in those moments. And I know
(40:10):
it's unfair to judge Lebraun that way because he's grown,
He's well, his last two years in the league, he's
gotten better. I mean, his jump shooting, his his perimeter play,
his efficiency from the floor, like, he is so much better.
And that comes from work and practice, which he's obviously
put in. But Michael was relentless and and just like
I know it's subjective, but I gotta go with Mr Jordan's. Hey, Grant,
(40:34):
congratulations again on the Hall of Fame. Uh, just so
happy for you and your family, and uh feel good.
It feel good that I got to watch some of
your career in Detroit and just uh thrilled for you
and your TV career. You're doing very well on TV
and uh continue success. All right, I appreciate it, ro
(40:54):
appreciated Chris, thanks for having all right, Grant, thanks a
loting again. Congratulations
Thanks for listening to the best of the Doug Gottlip
Show podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday
from three to six pm Eastern Time, that's twelve to
three Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station
for The Doug Gotlip Show at Fox Sports Radio dot com,
or stream us live every day on the I Heart
Radio app by searching FSR. This is the best of
(00:22):
the Doug Gottli Show on Fox Sports Radio. I love
Aaron Rodgers just as much as you. Just here we go. Now.
I love him, But are they gonna win another Super Bowl?
If Aaron Rodgers on that team? They got a chance to?
The last eight years? Chu, you want me to break
(00:43):
down all the things that happened, when the when the
on side kick in Seattle, where the tight end that
has something to Rogers doesn't matter that, No, it does.
Here's the problem, and I'm look. I love Aaron Rodgers.
He's just about the best quarterback I've ever seen. No,
he is the best I've ever seen, not even almost.
(01:05):
I don't know if you tell me I'm not talking
about some Super Bowl I'm not talking about the argument
a lot of people make about Lebron saying, well, let's
see about the production. No, it's not about that. I'm
talking about accomplished. He's not the greatest accomplished quarterback. I'm
talking about if you just look at if you that great,
you win, Chris. He has the greatest quarterback rating of
(01:27):
any quarterback in the history of the greatest on the
intercepted ratio of any quarterback. And he's the greatest quarterback
of all times that I've ever seen play. I'm not
talking about we look, we can't. We can't, we can't
cut and slice. We're not most of most valuable, most
(01:48):
out the greatest quarterback I've ever seen. So you're willing
to say he's the go over Joe Mont you talking
about go because goat is you have to factor in
winning and every thing. My point, Rob is this, we
can only go with one goat. If you're not we're
not giving We're not having eight categories of goatness. I mean,
(02:11):
it looks that's that's off the point. Here's my only issue,
and again I'm with you. I have not seen the
quarterback play the position better than Aaron Rodgers individually. All right,
that's something we could agree on. And he is worth
every cent. He is phenomenal, and as you said, you
(02:33):
are going to be in the hunt, you're gonna have
a chance to win a Super Bowl for as long
as he's there and still in his prime. Right, there's
three teams that every year in it. In a league
where contenders come and go, there's three teams that every
single year Pittsburgh, New England, Green Bay. When Rogers is healthy,
they got a shot. They got They all have great quarterbacks.
(02:56):
Here's my only problem. When a quarterback takes up so
much of your salary cap. It's been proven, it's been documented.
I don't know why the analytics driven general managers don't
realize this. You have very little chance of winning the
(03:16):
Super Bowl. I'm not buying it. I think that that
I don't care what the fact is. I'm gonna tell you.
You can't say you're not buying it. I'm not buying
it if I'm not buying gravity. But I go to
the top of this building and jump off as it matter. No.
But I could give you all these teams you're talking
about where they spent less money, they didn't win. But
(03:38):
last year they had a great defense in Jacksonville, and
you know what happened at the end of the the game.
They had a pretty bad quarterback. What happened? No, they
didn't almost win. He couldn't get the big play done
in the fourth quarter they were to ten, but when
you needed the first down, when you needed the big play,
he couldn't deliver it. That didn't Who what? How good
(04:00):
is Nick Foles? Nick? Looking pretty good? Now you want
to build your franchise around him. No, you don't want to,
because it's a once in a lifetime deal. We've already
seen that with Nick Foles. Nick Foles was a back
up for a reason. Chris he was a backup because
that point, that's my point. Philadelphia had a great team
around a mediocre If that quarterback wanted what he didn't
(04:23):
play mediocre he had like he played. He played out
of his mind like a once in a lifetime thing.
So you can't make it as well. You just need
a mediocre quarterback. He outplayed Tom Brady in the Super Bowl.
How good is Joe Flacco? Joe Flack goes good. I mean,
go look at his numbers. Joe Flack goes really good.
He's pretty hasn't been good he has lately, But if
you go back that he was pretty good he beat
(04:45):
New England twice, and and I get all that, but
let's be honest. He was pretty He's not phenomenal. Won
the Super Bowls. Franchise quarterbacks. I'm gonna get you the
numbers the year that they won the Super Bowl. Uh,
he was. He had like eleven touchdowns or twelve touchdowns,
no picks. He's been clutching the playoffs. My my point
(05:09):
is just that it's been proven Rob that you can
win super Bowls with a pretty good quarterback if you
build around him. Tom Brady has always taken less money.
He cares about what. Tom Brady's wife makes more money
than him. So so you mean if if Rogers instead
of taking thirty three million, he took twenty five million,
(05:32):
it would have made a difference in his life. I
don't believe in taking less. The league comes up with
a bogus it's a false, fake number to the salary cap, Chris,
based on what based on I'm glad you based on
their profits based on an article in USA today. I
didn't read that. I don't care about it. What was
(05:53):
that yesterday or was it today? A few months ago?
All right? I think it was after Matt Maybe Matt
Ryan sign or whatever. They did a study going all
the way back to nine and what they found was
that when a quarterback takes up too much of the
(06:14):
salary cap, you don't win Super Bowls. The Steve Young
had the highest percentage of salary caps, you know, payroll,
of any quarterback that's won the Super Bowls. And guess
what his percentage of the cap was thirteen percent. Only
four quarterbacks in history have won a Super Bowl with
(06:38):
more than eleven percent of the salary caps. Guess what,
Guess what percentage Aaron Rodgers is going to have of
the salary cap in when his extension kicks in seventeen percent? No,
no team has ever won a Super Bowl with the
quarterback taking up sage. Do you want to bet that
(07:00):
Aaron Rodgers wins one more Super Bowl in his career?
I'm ready right here, right now to tell you that
Aaron Rodgers will be the exception to your US Today,
US USA Yesterday report. Be sure to catch live editions
of the Doug gut Leaps Show weekdays in noon eastern
three pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the I
(07:21):
Heart Radio. I But speaking of a mess robe, look,
Jerry Jones says something recently that I think is a
max check this out three or simple is cut back
on preseason games. Have one at each team's home, play
a couple of them, and then you need to add
two games to the regular season, which I've been a
(07:43):
proponent of for several years. It's probably physically better for
players than it is to have the longer preseason, the
longer practicing. Our studies show that we actually have a
ramped up injury situation with players during preseason. Look, I
haven't done a study on it like the Cowboys and
(08:05):
Jerry Jones have, but robbed. Anytime I hear eighteen games
and eighteen game regular season, the word that comes to
my mind is hypocrisy, because all we hear about is
players safety. Players safety. Can't hit this way, you can't
do this, can't do that. As players safety, we're concerned
about the health of the players, and once you start
(08:28):
talking about expanding the regular season, you've lost me. You
don't give a darn about players safety. It's like if
I was running boxing and all I talked about was
players safety or boxer safety and how dangerous the sport was,
and then I said, you know what, instead of fighting
(08:49):
twelve rounds. They should fight twenty rounds. I mean, why
in the world would you expand the regular season a
sport that's dangerous. We always loose was in players before
the playoffs start, as it is, every time they step
on the field, they are literally putting their lives, are
certainly their health at risk, and you want to play
(09:10):
two more games. I just for Jerry to keep a
straight face and tell people that the chances of injury
would be less with more games makes no sense, especially
because in the playoffs people don't I mean, in the preseason,
people don't go at it the same way. And yes,
injury don't even play a lot of them are They
(09:32):
play a series of two Chris and they come out,
So you're not getting stars hurt to play two more games.
Jerry just sees dollar signs. That's that's what the two
more games would do. It's about it's about money. You
remember the preseason or what local television, right local they
don't make nearly as much money as if they can
(09:55):
talk to Fox or CBS or or uh, ESPN or
whatever and and try to squeeze out more money for
two more regular season games. The whole, the whole thing
is about money. The rule changes are about money. It's
not about the player's safety. All they want to do
is protect themselves. So if they get sued again by
(10:20):
some retire players or players, they can say, hey, we
made the changes, We've made the game safer and avoid
paying there's millions. I know that that's their ultimate because
you've brought it up before, and I agree with you.
If you're so concerned about the safety of the players,
(10:42):
increased for lifetime healthcare, Nope, they won't do it. That's
what you get it. You get it in baseball. You know,
if you play can be done. It can be done
and financed. Okay, So don't tell me baseball can do it,
and and you can't do it, Okay, because you can
if you want to the Baseball Union. If you play
ten years, Chris, right, you get lifetime healthcare. And the
(11:05):
story tremendous And that's what Look, I have no problem
with the baseball players getting that. But it's obviously not
nearly as physical and dangerous as football. No, but they
get taken care of. And that's the way it should be.
For sport that makes so much money, why shouldn't they
get taken care of? Well, what it leads to rob
And you've talked about this before and and I look,
(11:26):
I hate to say it because you know, I don't
dislike the people running it, but the NFL players Union,
it's a joke. It is a joke. You've got the
most dangerous game, You've got the wealthiest games. They're making
all the money handle with this, and you you you
(11:46):
refuse to stand up and fight for what you should have.
How does all the other three leagues all have guaranteed contracts?
And you don't just tell me Hockey has guaranteed contracts
based far as guaranteed contract, NBA has guaranteed contract. Now
if all sports football should have even if they're less years,
(12:08):
like a three year guaranteed like like Kirk Cousins has
right three years guarantee. That's what a real contract. And
then after three years, if you're good, you could go
and get another one for more money. And if you're bad,
they could decide to release you, not resign you, ask
you to take a pay cup. It should be guaranteed,
(12:28):
per no question, no question. I mean, I mean, they
they gotta get it together because they are being ripped,
you know, left right, middle from no guaranteed contracts to
you know that. I mean, the league doesn't even consult
them when they make the anthem change. Now they're talking
about you know, but you could go on and on
(12:51):
of how the NBA, union baseball they all do so much,
such a better job than the NFL. I mean, Odell
Beckham just got a great deal for him, but what
was he like sixty five million years? I mean NBA players,
that's like a middle rung reserve, you know. In the NBA.
(13:12):
It's the same thing. As much as Aaron Rodgers just
got a hundred and three. You have about I don't know,
almost ten baseball players, eight baseball player who make three
hundred millions. Think about that and a hundred I mean
Kevin Love just signed I think with a hundred thirty
million dollar extension or a hundred twenty something like that.
And yeah, I mean he's a pretty good player. He's
(13:34):
a you know, all star. But Aaron Rodgers the highest
paid player ever. He's got a hundred three and uh.
Gian Carlos standing with the Yankees makes over three hundred,
you know, three hundred million. Miguel Cabra makes three hundred
million with the Tigers. There's a there's a list of
people making way, way, way more. And don't forget, uh,
(13:55):
Bryce Harper is gonna be a free agent and he's
gonna get paid. He's gonna get at least three hundred
million too. Yeah, and but like I said, um, the players,
they got to get it together. Kevin Love just talked
told in my ear one twenty million dollar extensions. So
still there you have it compared to the NFL. But yeah,
(14:16):
I look, and I didn't play in football at a
high level, played in high school, but I know enough
to know just from that it is a dangerous, painful
sport and to try. And Jerry Jones played at something
wait college, I played college. Well, I think Kim and
(14:36):
Jimmy Jimmy Johnson were Ye, that's right, that's right. There's
a reason that at one point what the NFL played
nine games used to be twelve, due to be twelve,
but I thought at one point it was even fewer,
but even twelve. But I remember twelve as a kid. Yeah,
Jim Brown, most of the season's were twelve, and not
(14:58):
all of them, O J simp. They had some fourteen
game seasons when he broke the Russian record and all
that now it's sixteen. Um, there's a reason the game
is taxing college plays. What now thirteen? They keep inching
that up. But to put eighteen games on, I mean
(15:19):
we already just hoping pray that the best players are
healthy for the playoffs and now you want to throw
two more regular season games when I just, I mean,
this topic really rise me up, robbed, because again, one
thing I dislike is hypocrisy, and that's just what this
(15:40):
reeks of hypocrisy, no doubt about it. And I just
I don't know. One day and you know, Uh, Tony
Gonzalez came out and RiPP did you see that ripped
the markets? Uh? Smith? I'm sorry, Yeah, that that he
shouldn't be the head the union because he didn't play football.
(16:02):
So that was very interesting. And I don't know where
this new you know deals come in and they're gonna
be a cool because they just didn't. They just signed
Smith to a new Uh he was just re elected. Uh,
our producer give us rob I think he just got
signed like a year ago to an extension. Right, didn't
get a new deal, and seen he was reelected and
(16:26):
I think it was unanimously, if I remember correct, nimously
they get hammered left and right as you said, baseball's
got the lifetime if you played ten years, lifetime healthcare.
If anybody should have it, it should be football players.
And and look, we're talking about the epitome rob of greed.
(16:49):
We're not talking about a league that's struggling. They could
play the pay the players healthcare and still have tons
of money. What is good down Roger Goodell, the commissioner
make million a year. She's not saying it's a tough job,
and it ain't, you know what, it ain't as tough
(17:11):
as playing. It ain't as tough as playing. And he's
making that and plenty of people are getting paid and
that's fine, that's fine and getting paid, but be do
the right thing or stop trying to come off at
such moralists and that you care so much about the players,
do the right thing and take care of the players
(17:33):
health lives, because at the end of the day it
would help you. You could take care of the players
long term with better health care when they retire, and
guess what, then you wouldn't have to change the game.
Then then you can say it's dangerous and if you
get hurt, hey, you know, you know what you signed
up for. But this is what it is. This is football,
(17:56):
and you you gotta play it the way it is.
I just, you know, it just bothers I get upset
about it. Be sure to catch live editions. So the
Doug got Leap Show weekdays at noon eastern three pm Pacific.
One thing that I think is very important in life
is knowing who you are right, knowing who you are right,
(18:17):
right right. And Des Bryant, he is sitting on the
sidelines not knowing where his next paycheck is going to
come from because he lacks that trait. He doesn't know
who he is. He thought he was still a star.
He thought he was still a number one receiver. So
(18:39):
when the Baltimore Ravens offered him a three year, twenty
one million dollar deal, he turned it down because he
didn't know that rather than being a number one receiver,
he's more like a number three or four receiver. And
and the reason I brought this topic up is I
want to contract death with Nick Foles now. A lot
(19:03):
of people looking at Nick Foles now and saying Nick Foles,
he's like a joke. He's not that good. He's stumbling
around in the end zone, fumbling the ball, throwing interceptions
in the preseason and all that. But I contend that
Nick Foles knows exactly who he is. So in the
off season, when all these teams were willing to trade
(19:25):
for him, and everybody was saying, all falls should go here,
folks should go there. Shouldn't he go somewhere and be
a starter and see what he can do, nick Foles said, Nah,
I'm good. I'm good being the backup. I'm cool. I'm
fine making seven million dollars a year. I'm fine as
(19:45):
the backup. Why because Nick Foles knows who he is.
Nick Foles knows in the deep recesses of his mind.
I don't want the pressure. I don't want the pressure
to perform every game. I don't want the pressure of
being a starter. I don't want that. I don't. I don't.
(20:08):
I don't play my best when expectations are high. You
know when I play my best when nobody expects anything,
when anything I give them is gravy. When our starter
gets hurt, now everybody's like, oh, they're done. That's when
I play my best, when it's icing on the cake.
When I go into a super Bowl against the best
(20:30):
quarterback ever and everybody thinks I'm gonna get waxed, no
pressure whatsoever on me to win or perform. Well, that's
when I'm at my best and I can actually play
like a star then, but expect something of me. Put
it on me to go out there and throw for
three hundred yards and three touchdowns every Sunday. Nah, I'm good.
(20:55):
I'm good in this backup role. And we might laugh
at even like mocking all. He don't have the testicular
fortitude or whatever, but he knows who he is and
he's in a better position than Daz Bryant, no doubt
about it. You do. You have to know your limitations,
know where you fit in. Try to tell people that that.
(21:17):
That's why I really think the Eagles have a shot
at repeating or at least getting back to the super Bowl,
because they'll have the guy Carson Wentz back who was
going to be the m v P before he got hurt.
Chris have something to play for. If you were hoping
that Nick Bowls was going to repeat what he did
(21:39):
last year, you're being for rude awakening. There's a reason
he was the backup quarterback. Do you know? You know
what I mean? And look I was one of those saying, man,
fools should go somewhere and start, you know, but he
knew who he was. He knew who he was, and
the dead Briant thing is just it's comical and sad
(22:00):
at from the standpoint of I think he's just waiting
around for somebody to get hurt, because you know, in
the NFL, the receiver's gonna get hurt. But people have
gotten hurt. I get it. I can't you think he's
just because I think he and his agent have put
out there, you know, and at least in the last
few weeks that there were teams interested. Wasn't there was
something about that the report out there that there were
(22:21):
a lot of teams interested, or some teams at least.
I'm they just lying in I think there were some
teams because, like you just said, guys are getting hurt.
Your people need depth and you know you might not
be the the number one guy, right, But but it
doesn't mean waiting for it. I don't know. I don't
get it. Uh. I thought when he went to Cleveland
that he would come back with a deal. I really did,
(22:43):
because I had pointed out on Undisputed with Skip and
Shannon that he was a threat in the red zone
last year. Yeah, I think he was number one actually
where targets in the red zone. Yeah, so, and Cleveland
was at the bottom third or you know, as far
(23:04):
as the red zone. So it was a fit. It
could have worked out. And that's why I thought he
really was gonna go there. And that didn't happen. Then
Josh Gordon came back right and then and then o'deal
was done right right. Well, look there's another player I
can throw into this boat, and we don't know what.
We don't know if he's more like Folds or more
like Dazz. He looks more like Daz right now, that's
(23:25):
Carmelo Anthony. Now he's got a contract to two two
point nine million, two point five million, whatever it was
from the Houston Rockets. But I think Mellow is in
the same boat. Like I know who you are, Mellow.
You're in your sixteenth year. You're not a superstar anymore.
(23:46):
If you go to Houston thinking you're you're the third
cog in another Big three, you're sorely mistaken. Your feelings
are gonna get hurt when you're sitting on the bench
for several games at crunch time, your feelings are gonna
get hurt when you're not getting all the looks that
you want to get. But you know what, it's funny
(24:08):
that you bring this up and it's totally different because
you know, Grant suffered some injuries, but as big of
a star as he was, Grant prolonged and he said it,
he played until forty because he was willing to go
on the bench. He could have tried to go on
a bad team to be, you know, a star on
like a bad team, and he didn't do that. He
went to the bench and came off the bench. You
(24:28):
have to put your ego aside sometimes. And I'm with you,
I don't even see how it really works in Houston.
It's kind of surprising, my I guess for two point
nine they just want to name, you know what I mean?
They got for two point nine. Fox Sports Radio has
the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all
(24:49):
of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and
within the I Heart Radio app search f s R
to listen live. Brand is on with us UH. You
can follow him on Twitter at real Grant Hill thirty
three Great Welcome to The I Couple and the The
Got Leave Show. How you doing. I'm good, I'm good.
(25:09):
How are you got? Man? And we're doing great? And
you know what, Grant, I gotta tell everybody's story real
quick about you, all right, Chris? He listen up. So
this isn't During his Detroit days, Grant Hill says, he's
gonna come in and do my radio show back then
in the studio was on the weekend, like a Sunday,
and they had a game on the West coast to
(25:30):
coach back then decided to stay an extra night. So
you know, Grant, they they I don't know, he can't
make it or whatever. So he comes in and maybe
it was gonna be on Saturday, and he and they
stayed the night over. So Grant gets off the plane
the next day on Sunday. Most people would just be like,
I just got off a plane from the West Coast.
I'm not coming, you know what I mean. It's just
(25:52):
everything's got mixed up. Do you know? Grant and his
wife not only king, got off the plane, drove to
the raid your station in studio, did the show for
over an hour before he went home. So Grant I
always appreciated that a man who keeps his word and
congratulations on the Hall of Fame. I'm very happy and
(26:12):
proud for you. Hey, Rob, I appreciate that, and uh,
I do remember that. Uh those were good times, good
memories man, back back in Detroit, and uh always uh
enjoyed hanging out on air, hanging out in the palace,
topping it up with you and uh and certainly enjoy
watching you continue to grow and and kill it out
(26:32):
there in the media world. So big big fan, Man,
big fan. I appreciate it, Man, Thank you well. They
our listeners can tell Grant that your class personified from
that comment. Um, but I want to ask you, look,
because you know a lot of our listeners, a lot
of basketball fans in general are young. Uh they're young,
and they may be millennials, but a lot didn't see
(26:53):
you before your ankle injuries, and you were very much
a Lebron James type player. You know. I think your
second year you average like twenty points basically ten rebounds,
seven assists, your third year twenty one point nine rebounds,
seven assists. Like we hadn't really seen anybody since the
(27:14):
Big Old or Jerry West put up those types of
numbers across the board, and me as a basketball fan
I'm even a little like I find myself sometimes thinking, man,
what could have been with with Grant Hill if he
hadn't got injured? How much does it haunt you or
how often do you think about, man, what could have
(27:36):
been if that injury hadn't occurred? You know, Chris, first
of all, Um, I totally understand this young generation. I
mean I live it at home. You know, when when
I got the announcement right before the final four, my
sixteen year old daughter was like, damn you the Hall
of Thames, Like right, you know, I mean she never
(28:01):
had the opportunity obviously to see those years and uh.
And so you know when when when you're in the middle,
when you're in the midst of your career, and you know,
my career is kind of broken into three, three different segments,
you know, the nineties which were really good, Detroit and
Duke Orlando which was really bad, and then Phoenix was
(28:22):
was good in the sense that I was able to
get healthy and and sort of finished playing on a
high note. But each sort of place was a different experience.
But when you're in the midst of it all, you're
you're you're kind of in the moment, like you're just
you're in the moment, you're looking ahead to the future,
and you really don't look back. And so even in Detroit,
like I didn't. The one regret was I never appreciated
(28:45):
maybe or took the time to appreciate, you know, just
what I was doing. You know. I was always thinking
like I gotta get better, or we gotta be better,
or what am I not doing? Uh? And then in
Orlando the same thing, like I gotta get healthy, I
gotta get back on the court. And then Phoenix is
I'm old, so I gotta figure out how I could
stay in the court against people half my age, you know.
And so not until you kind of get off that
(29:08):
roller coaster of the NBA as a player, and now
you kind of slow down a bit and then you
kind of have time to reflect, do you sort of
appreciate and then have your mind wander, like you said,
where man, what could have been? You know? And and
uh and so I've done a lot of that, particularly
with the announcement just past April, where um, you know,
(29:30):
I I wonder what could have happened, what would have been.
I always kind of felt like these last few years
that my career was like an incomplete like you know,
I mean I played until I was forty, but um,
you know, I was progressing, I was getting better. I
felt like I made huge strides in my last year
or two in Detroit, and I was just about to
(29:51):
enter that space where you know, you're kind of going
into your prime and and I never really had that
chance and that opportunity and so um so you know,
I mean, it's it's frustrating on that end, uh, and
certainly talking something that I'll live with, uh, probably for
the rest of my life, but you know, to still
be recognized and to still be remembered. Uh. And one
(30:15):
other thing I'll say, when I was when I was playing,
I forgot about those times. You know, you only remember
what you're currently going through. And so when people say
things like you just said what you said. Chris and
I sat with Jason Kidd a couple of weeks ago.
We did a little sit down conversation and I was
kind of blown away, um by what he was saying
(30:36):
about me. And I'm thinking, man, it's Jason Kidd and
like and he but he remembers, he remembers, you know,
us battling each other in those Detroit years and so
so anyway, it's it's been an interesting process and I think, hey,
I've had an interesting story. But um, you know, I'm
thankful and grateful that I played for as long as
I did and now that I'm you know, getting recognized
(30:58):
by all. What about what could have been? Was in
Orlando when when you and Tim duncan almost both went
there with Tracy McGrady and and Tim Duncan. It came
out just recently that he said the reason he didn't
go there because it wouldn't allow his family to get
on the plane, the team plane like that. That was
(31:20):
a deterrent for him going to Orlando. What could have
been had that all come together? I mean, you guys
would have had a super team that probably would have
been the real first super team. Do you ever think
about that if that all happened? Yeah, no, I mean
I look, I was, I was there at the dinner
when you know, when when that whole situation with you know,
(31:42):
spouses and significant others flying on the plane and you know,
I mean I remember at that point it seemed as
though he was all in and you know, obviously it's
hard to think about think of Tim Duncan in that
way because you know, we think of him Santonio and
how long career. But at that point, I think he
was only one or two years in the league, and
(32:05):
you know, David Robinson was getting older and he was
really seriously leaning that way. And I remember his then
girlfriend who went on to be his wife and now
his ex wife. She asked the question, can can you
know significant others fly on the team plane? And at
that point you're just like, Doc, just lie like right,
(32:30):
of course, no problem, and he said no. I was
like the whole mood at the table changed when my
wife we got back to the hotel, where my wife
was like, yo, Doc, Doc should have just said there,
like he's not coming to me, He's not. She knew
it right then and there. Wow. So now we'll say this,
(32:52):
you know, not to to rehash stuff, but um, I
probably would not have left Detroit. I had no intentions
of leaving Detroit even that last year. Like I you know,
I really enjoyed it up there and I lived there
year round, and you know, obviously we had troubles in
terms of winning and different personnel, but I got my
(33:14):
intention was to stay there, and um, and then when
I got hurt and the way that I thought that
was a little bit mismanaged. Like I was emotional and
I was upset that summer, and you know, so I was,
you know, sort of making a decision from a place
of anger. And if I had not gotten hurt, would
(33:35):
have stayed in Detroit. Grant Hill with the I couple
on the Doug gott Leave Show, and you can catch
the conversation, uh that he talked about with Jason Kidd
on NBA TV. UH that'll be airing leading up to
their enshrine and ceremony on Friday, September seven h seven
pm or NBA TV. Grant, There's so much I want
(33:58):
to ask you. Um, Okay, so Rob alluded to it.
You Tim Duncan, Trace McGrady would have undoubtedly been a
super team at that time. Did you think about, man,
this is three of the best young players in the
league joining forces, and does that situation that it almost
(34:18):
happened give you a different perspective on what Lebron did
with Miami or what k d. Don't let them. Don't
let them, That's what I mean, because Lebron call a
lot of flak, you know, from joining d Wade and
Boss they all did, but especially Lebron. Kevin Durant called
a lot of flag by going to Golden State. Do
you have a different perspective because some of your contemporaries
(34:40):
and older guys did criticize them for coming together like that. Yeah,
you know, I think as I as I think back
on that Orlando experience, I mean, Tim and I we
had the same agent, and so it was all coordinated
I guess to go and visit Orlando at the same time. Um.
(35:01):
I remember Tim seemed like he was was in uh,
and then and then was out. And then for a
period he was like, look, I think I'm gonna stay.
And I was still still committed to going to Orlando
and not even sure of t Mac and where he was.
And then t Mac I think visited shortly thereafter, and
(35:24):
um and said he was in. And then it was like,
let's see if we can get temp um and so.
But yeah, I mean, Lebron catches a lot of flak,
and you know, sometimes I'm tough on Lebron for various things.
But I don't mind that. I really don't mind that.
Now this is coming from a player's perspective. From a
player's perspective, I don't mind that. This is why you know,
(35:47):
players before us fought for the right to have free
agency and make and make those type of decisions and
choose your future. Um. And so you know, I don't
think it was wrong a bad thing. I think it
was in a painting. Um. You know, he uh, he
deserves that right. I do think that. Um, you know,
(36:10):
I do understand. I guess where there there's some problem
with that, and um, but it's exciting. I mean, look,
him moving to l A is like it's a talk
of the town and talk of the summer. This year
with with the NBA, there's gonna be a lot of anticipation.
Now the West is wide open. Um. You know, players
today they have a different sort of attitude about it.
(36:30):
They want to be more in control of their careers
and and and where they're gonna play and how long
they're gonna play. And as a player and as someone
who's been been through that, you know, I can totally
respect that. And so I don't have an issue with that.
But grant, I'll say, this is my only issue. It's
a competition thing. And I get that. I'm I'm for
free agency. Thank god Kurt Flood gave up his baseball career,
(36:53):
for free agency, for all athletes. I get all that,
So I'm not I'm not against it when the same
teams go to the NBA Finals four years in a
row and which has never happened, and it never happened
more than twice. And now you've got a chance of
the Warriors going to the NBA Finals five years in
a row, which hasn't happened since the fifties and sixties
(37:16):
with the Celtics. I just from a from a fan standpoint,
loves competition and loves a balance. That's the only that's
the only reason I have an issue with it, because
the competitive balance in the league is not there. No,
that's true. I agree with you on that standpoint. From
a from a competitive I mean that should be better parody.
And you know, as as it relates, like I'm sitting
(37:38):
right now in the Atlanta Hawks offices here in Atlanta,
and you know, we obviously are going through a situation
where we are preparing for the future, and we've acquired
assets and we're betting younger. But you know, you have
to be realistic. Golden State, they have a lot of
runway in front of them, and and those guys will
be good for a long period of time. And it's tough.
(37:59):
It's tough when that's what you're shooting for, a championship
and uh, and it almost seems like it's unfair in
some respects, but um, you know, it is, it is
what it is. I think I think they got some
you know, first of all, you have to give them credit.
The core of their team was built through the draft.
Curry Playtom said, came on Green, So they showed that
(38:19):
they can win, uh and build a championship team through
the draft. It just so happened that new influx of
money from the television deal came along that summer when
Kevin Durant was a free agent, because if it was
any other summer, there's no way Durant could have gone
to that situation. So it's almost perfect timing for Durant
and for that franchise. But you know, it is what
(38:42):
it is. And I totally understand where you're coming from
from a fans perspective, and you always have great thoughts
and opinions, um, but you know, it's it's it's we
all have to deal with it. And UM, I think
it's pretty safe to say that they'll have a pretty
good chance of being in the finals again next year. Grant,
you know what the biggest baiting the NBA is is
Michael Jordan's versus Lebron James. You face both of them
(39:04):
in in their primes. It's a runaway stop it. So
what's your way? I mean, you can give us a
unique perspective that most people can't. What's your view on it?
Is it between those two too? Is it between those two?
Are we're missing somebody Kobe? Or I mean I put
Kobe in there too. I mean, you know, I think
I go with Michael. Um. I think Lebron's great, is
(39:26):
a great talent and um, you know, obviously his physicality,
his size, his basketball intellect, Um, you know, the way
that he can so to fill up a stat sheet
is just off the charts. Um. But you know, I
just feel like in some of those moments where and
certainly he was great this this last year in the
playoffs and the clutch, but we've seen too many times
(39:49):
throughout his career where Lebron you know, just sort of
disappears at those pressure moments or doesn't want the ball
or you know, has a ky read to sort of
make plays for him. And and you know that that
that was never the situation with Michael. Michael had the ball,
Michael was relentless. Michael you know didn't didn't you know,
didn't disappear at times in those moments. And I know
(40:10):
it's unfair to judge Lebraun that way because he's grown,
He's well, his last two years in the league, he's
gotten better. I mean, his jump shooting, his his perimeter play,
his efficiency from the floor, like, he is so much better.
And that comes from work and practice, which he's obviously
put in. But Michael was relentless and and just like
I know it's subjective, but I gotta go with Mr Jordan's. Hey, Grant,
(40:34):
congratulations again on the Hall of Fame. Uh, just so
happy for you and your family, and uh feel good.
It feel good that I got to watch some of
your career in Detroit and just uh thrilled for you
and your TV career. You're doing very well on TV
and uh continue success. All right, I appreciate it, ro
(40:54):
appreciated Chris, thanks for having all right, Grant, thanks a
loting again. Congratulations
Host
Doug Gottlieb
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