June 2, 2026 • 41 mins
There is an arms race by sports franchises in the LA market - Fred and Rodney explain. Are the D-Backs a legit rival for the Dodgers? Will the Lakers go star chasing or try to build their roster with depth?
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, here we go a two hour show. Fred Rogan
Rodney Peinte on AM five to seventy LA Sports. Rodney,
how are you.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I am doing just fine, Freddie, how are you? I'm
icing down from yesterday. Fred, I'm all good.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
I know you had to go out, Yeah, get to
the field, start working out. Yeah, after the Rams selected
Myles Garrett. Yeah, and you thought I'm coming back baby,
I'm coming back back, baby. Might me might need an
emergency quarterback or you know, the Rams is gonna be
up by thirty points and not giving up any point,
So there's gonna be a lot of garbage time, I think, Fred.
(00:33):
So I'm looking forward to that. So I just had
to get things going. I understand you and Aaron Donald
to see out there too. I saw Aaron. Yes, I
saw Aaron out there. He was working on his steps.
Say I me, Miles Garrett playing alongside each other. I
might have twenty five sacks because everybody's gonna be focused
on him.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
So Aaron Donald's ready to go. Good.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Okay, we believe with that With that move, Rodney, Yeah,
the Rams did something that I think everything in LA
Sports should be happy about, and that is they establish
themselves as a team that's being exceptionally aggressive. If you
look at the teams in this market, let's just think
about it for a second.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
If you look at the.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Teams in this market right now, I don't think you
could claim anyone is rebuilding. Everybody is going for it
right now.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Does that make sense? Oh yeah, one hundred percent. And
I think there's certain places around the country, with certain
teams that you can spend a few years trying to rebuild.
I don't know if that works here, though, Fred. It
doesn't work here, doesn't work in LA, doesn't work in
New York some of the bigger city, bigger markets out there,
especially LA, where there's so many distractions and so many
(01:49):
opportunities to do other things, especially if your team is
not winning, that you better win now. This whole notion
of hey, it's a process that we're going to take
three to four years to build the roster, build this
team back up. People usually don't want to wait that
long in this town. They want to see you win now.
And if you win, if you win, then you better
(02:11):
keep winning, keep on winning, because one is not enough,
two is not enough. You may win the Super Bowl
in one year, but two years later, you you better
win it again or people are going to be upset
that you're not trying to do back to back to back.
Look at the Dodgers and the way they do things.
They didn't rest and say, oh, we won a World
Series and so we're good now. Even last year when
(02:33):
they won back to back, they didn't go, hey, we
won back to back World Series, so we're good for
a few years. Now. What do they do? They go
out inside, Kyle Tucker, they went outside the best closer
in the business. So it is a town where we
love winners and we love our instant gratification. So the Rams,
you know, since day one, since the day they got here,
(02:55):
have done it right in terms of relocation into a market,
and they continue to show us that they are all
in on everything that they do. And with the signing
of Miles Garrett, it's just they were already the favorite
for it, as we know, and now it just puts
them over the top. Yeah, yeah, it just puts them
over the top. And you know, the Rams are a
(03:17):
team that has been right there in the conversation and
we say it all the time in la is that
you have to be a part of the conversation. If
you're not, then people will leave quickly and they'll go
to the beach, or they'll go to the mountains, or
they'll go travel, or they go do something else, and
they are very unforgiving if you're a team that doesn't win.
(03:38):
I mean, you talk about LA and the Arms race,
and don't think for one second, even if it's across
leagues that they're not all watching each other seeing what
the other teams are doing. The Rams are looking at
the Dodgers and how can we be on that level?
You know, the Chargers are looking at the Rams. How
do we be on that level? How do we get
to elevate ourselves? So we are in the conversation year
(04:00):
and in year out. The Lakers, you know now with
the ownership group, with Mark Walter and the Gougenhem guys,
they're gonna be in the conversation and they're gonna spare
no expense to make sure that the Laker brand is
front and center when it comes to the NBA. Maybe
a little bit more difficult with the NBA, but they're
(04:21):
gonna be in the conversation in the years to come,
and once they get there, that is the biggest thing
for me is once you get there, how do you
sustain it? How do you stay there? And the Dodgers
have shown that they can do that. Now everybody's saying,
the Dodgers are, you know, they're starting to get a
little bit older. What are they gonna do? And that's
a that's a big reason why their emphasis now is
(04:43):
to win. While we've got our key guys in their
prime with Mookie, Freddie, Otani, Muncie. Those guys are still
in their prime. Let's go win as many times as
we possibly can because that window is going to close
where you're gonna have to start getting younger players and
bring them along. But I love the approach though by
the Dodgers is they sprinkle enough young players in that
(05:05):
they get the experience, they get the feeling of what
it's like to wear that uniform in big moments, and
so the train just will continue. But they're learning from
guys like Freddie and Muki and Otani of how things
are done, and they do it the right way. They
are the gold standard when it comes to a franchise
and how to sustain their success. And the Rams are
right behind them. And the only team fred that's not
(05:27):
really there.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Is the Angels. Yeah, they're not there. They're not there
at all. No, they're not there. As a matter of fact,
they're not even rebuilding. I mean, here's what you do.
You're either in it, okay, and we'll talk about the teams,
and you've mentioned it. Are you're in the middle trying
to figure out how to get in it, or you're
so far out it doesn't matter. And that's where the
Angels are. I mean in Los Angeles, this is really
(05:50):
an arms race. Now, the teams understand that you've got
to be more than competitive, just stand out. You've got
to make a statement. I touched on it yesterday, Rodney.
For example, in New York, the Jets they're awful, they're garbage,
and they can't figure out what to do. They're an
embarrassment to the National Football League. For years, the Bears
were an embarrassment to the National Football League. Your big
(06:11):
market teams have got to perform in the NFL. Dallas
always a name, but not much to show for it.
Of late, we're always there, but not really. We got
a shot, but no we don't.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Sort of.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
The Lakers, they're the Lakers, and that means absolutely nothing.
If you don't have.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
The Lakers and the Cowboys are similar where they are right.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
PERC.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
So let's now talk about the teams that fans in
LA trust the most. So we'll focus on front offices. Well,
let's think about this now. I don't think there's any question.
The most respected front office and organization is the Dodgers,
not because we're the Dodger station, but because they have
proof of performance. They have done it the proper way,
(06:57):
They built the right infrastructure, They attack things by far
and away. They are number one. You could argue their
number one in professional sports. So the Dodgers are top
of the list. Yes, I don't think there's any question.
I think you go across sports and the year people
talk about it, the way the Dodgers do things, people
are envious around the country. Fan bases are envious of
(07:19):
the Dodgers, even though they may talk about them and now.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
They're the new evil Empire. But trust me, if you're
in Pittsburgh or Cincinnati or one of those cities, you
wish you had an ownership in front office like the Dodgers.
They are. This the standard FRED without question, and I
think that's covering all sports, not just baseball.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Agree one hundred percent. So Dodgers number one in LA.
Now what organization, what front office do you trust the
second most? You got every possibility, You got the Kings,
the Ducks, Southern California, you got the Clippers, the Chargers,
the Rams. Who is it the Angels, LAFC, the Galaxy?
(08:00):
The second organization I think has together the most The Rams.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Yes, I think.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
They have become somewhat of a model for the National
Football League.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Now.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
They caught lightning in a bottle. They hired Sean McVay.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
It worked.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Nobody thought it would work like this, but it certainly worked.
That was a great hire. They traded for Matthew Stafford. Okay,
they hoped it would work. It's worked big time. So
I think the Rams and the way they conduct their
bit less sneed as a GM. I think the Rams
are number two now in the market. Who do you
trust the most? Yeah, I think it's not even a
question right now. It's obviously the Dodgers on a different level,
(08:37):
but then it's the Rams. But I think there's a
drop off from even from the Rams and the rest
of the market because the Rams now have shown themselves
as being an organization that's willing to go for it
and go for it year in and year out, whether
it be free agent signings, the way their front office
scouts and develops guys and bring in young players that
(08:58):
you didn't think. Oh, I mean, who would have thought
Pookinakua was going to come on and have you know,
years like he had as a young kid coming out
of YU. So they've done a good job on all fronts.
But I think it's the Dodgers obviously way at the top,
the Rams, you know, second, but after that, I think
it's now we start getting into there's a third tier, right,
(09:21):
whether that be the Kings, whether that be the Chargers,
the Ducks, and we're not even talking about the Angels,
but LAFC is in that market too.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
They do a great job of what they're you know,
their front office and how they came into the market.
So yeah, everybody, I think you feel now you know
more about the Kings than I do. But what the
Ducks did this year and how they rebounded got to
the playoffs and did great, you know, giving back to
their fan base. The only team is the Angels that's
(09:54):
so far out of it that it's you talk about
the Jets being an embarrassment. La Angels is since already's
been there have kind of been an embarrassment. Yeah, they
kept going the wrong way. Yeah, they kept going down,
which goes to show you you talk about front office,
it's not how much money you spend, and you say
(10:15):
this all the time, is how you spend your money? Correct?
Because he spent for a while. Yeah he did. He
did just the wrong way.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, so all right, Dodgers Rams, Who's number three? Now?
Now you would say the Lakers because that's just the
way people's minds work here, And maybe they will be
or maybe they'll be number two once Mark Walter's people
really get in there. But we have to talk about
what it was. I don't even think the Rams were
number three, to be honest with you, I don't even
(10:46):
think there were number three. I'd probably say the Chargers.
You mean the Lakers a number three? Yeah, that's what
I meant. Then I'd say the Lakers are number three.
I would say the Chargers. They are going for it,
they are making moves, they're in it. They're in it now.
They can't get over the hump. But I'm just talking
about the way they operate. I'd say the Chargers ahead
(11:07):
of the Lakers. Now let's move to number four. Who
would you put over the other one? The Clippers, who
constantly are trying things they might not work. But I'll
tell you one thing those guys are trying. They pulled off.
The deal for Paul George and Kawhi didn't work all right.
Now they've traded Zubos, got a pick, might trade that pick.
(11:29):
Darius Garland is here. Now they went and got James Harden.
I think the Clippers are always trying. You Actually, you
never know what they're gonna do. But I'll tell you
one thing. Aside from the botched, injury riddled stay of
Kawhi and Paul George.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
They haven't made a lot of bad moves. They don't
have enough to get over the hump. But they don't
and I don't either put them in the category of
where the Angels were. When Artie was just throwing money
at guys, it stuck and it really didn't. And there
were some aging guys that he paid money to, some
guys that had, you know, one year, one great year,
(12:08):
and said, okay, let's sign him to a six year
deal and it didn't work out. I don't see the
Clippers kind of in that category because if you look
back the Paul George Kawhi Leonard signings on paper, everybody
put them Okay, now they're the favorite. When that happened,
everybody was like, okay, look out, watch out, here come
(12:28):
the Clippers. They're going to be in the conference finals
or the finals year and in year out now. But
those guys couldn't stay healthy together and they can they
rarely played together. So it didn't work out. But by
no fault of them trying to make it work and
spending the money to make it work and going out
and surrounding them, because on paper they should have at
(12:51):
least been to a few conference finals and maybe one
final at least, right, it didn't happen.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
So that being said, who do you have more confidence
in his front and not the incoming Laker front office?
I'm talking about the way it was. What it be
safe to say, have more confidence in the Clippers' front
office and the Lakers?
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yes? Okay?
Speaker 1 (13:12):
So now look, Dodgers won Rams, two Chargers, three Clippers,
four Lakers. Five Lakers are number five. I'd like to
put the Kings up on the list, but they just
brought in Ken Hollands last season. Sure, they gave the
(13:32):
playoffs a run, but it didn't go. So that's it incomplete,
that's to be determined. Give the Ducks credit, but it
took the Ducks a long time to get back, so
they have made moves down there that have worked. But
if you think at the totality of Los Angeles sports,
now you think the Dodgers are the best, then the Rams,
(13:57):
then the Chargers, then the Clippers, than the Lakers, I
get it, the Clippers.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
At least the Lakers have been to conference finals, won
a championship. The Clippers haven't won one. So how do
you put the Clippers ahead of the Lakers, even with
the front office of the Clippers, which many believe is
is better than the Lakers. How do you put the
Clippers ahead of the Lakers because they haven't won.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Well, look at it like this. When the Lakers won
during the Rob Polinka era, it is because basically Lebron said,
go get Anthony Davis. And by the way, Lebron was
coming here anyway, So let's start with that. I'm not
giving a Look, I'm not giving Rob Polink a lot
of credit forgetting Lebron. Lebron was good, well, magic was
the win who got Lebron, right, So that was pre
(14:48):
Rob Polinka taken over, right, They were both there at
that time, but Magic closed that deal.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, okay, so.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
I'm not giving them credit for that. Then you have
the Ad fiasco and ultimately Ad was only coming here.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, but that's another one. You thought that's gonna be
a great fit, and it was for that year that
they wanted. And people say what you want about the
bubble and all that kind of that's a whole other conversation.
But I still I still put it as a legitimate championship.
But it worked for the Lakers. But the problem is
there's another guy that couldn't stay healthy, you know, couldn't
(15:24):
stay on the court when it mattered most, and so
that one didn't work out. But looking at it when
he came, it was like, man, this is a this
is a pretty good But the biggest part about that
Fred where you got to give Yeah, you gotta give
Rob Polinka a little crag because I think Magic was
gone at that point, But you got to give him
(15:45):
credit because he surrounded a D and Lebron with the
right players. If you remember that team that won it,
Alex Caruso was a big, big part of that run.
Case was a big part of that run. Rondo was
a big part of that run. So they're supporting cast.
(16:06):
It was a well done job by Rob Lincoln. Well, no,
it was a well done job by Rich Paul. That's
what was a well done job by Ad wanted to come.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Rich Paul made sure it happened in Boom and Lebron
did And then yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
The KCP was a big factor, and so was Caruso. Right,
and then what did they do? What did they do
after they wanted it up? Then they blew it up? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Who gets credit for that? Sure you can point a
finger at Lebron and go, well, you know he made
them do it. Well, could he make them do anything?
Could he make them do anything? Were they so in
love with him that they would do anything?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Yeah, you just won a title. Why are you blowing
the whole thing up?
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And then you get to the Russell Westbrook fiasco? Right,
Well that's what Lebron wanted. Okay, So Lebron's in charge.
You put yourself in a position to be so beholden
to him. If in fact that's true that you blew
the whole thing to hell, but wait a minute. You
(17:12):
can't ultimately point the finger at Lebron.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
You can, but you're wrong. You can't do that.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
You put yourself in that position. Rob Polenka, Lakers, you
did that. Pat Riley wouldn't have done that. You did that.
And remember Lebron tried things in Miami and pat Riley said,
go pound sand and Lebron said, okay, I'm not gonna
say anything again, right, thank you. I understand the rules
and how we play here, but we didn't play by
(17:40):
those rules here because and I've said it many times,
Rob Polinka, if you listen to what he said over
the years, his goal is to be buried with Lebron.
That's how much he loves Lebron everything. My god, aren't
you in charge.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
At the end of the day. Didn't you what that happened?
I thought he wanted to be very KCP. No, that
was bread.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
That was bread coming down from the heavens, remember that.
But I'm saying that was you. You did that. You
allowed that. Well, we couldn't say no, are you gonna
say that? Well, we couldn't say.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Why why can't you say no? Well, because it's Lebron?
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Okay, Well, other people have told him, believe it or not,
it's shocking to understand. No.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Yeah, and guess what, the world didn't stop spinning.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
It was okay, absolutely, So you're one with a d
because Rich Paul brought him here.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
So what happened? What happened? When Lucas says I want
this guy, want that guy, Well, you're gonna do the
same thing. Are you gonna think that same thing? This
is not the no, because I'm gonna put my foot
down now. No, he's that guy. So Lucas says, I
want this guy. Is Rob Linka gonna go sure whatever
(19:01):
you want? Or is he going to be the GM
and had a basketball and say no, I like, I
respect you, I respect your opinion, but we're going to
go in a different direction. Like you said, pat Riley
did okay? I respect you, but no, Eric spols is
not going anywhere.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
I think as the transition takes place at the Lakers,
they're just going to operate differently. I would be stunned
if Rob Polinka held news conferences like he has held
extolling the virtues of these guys. I mean, what are
you doing. It's like you're fan boing for him. Stop,
(19:41):
you know, you're the general manager, you're the boss. You
make the basketball decisions. So I can see how the
internal operation will be different, and then the messaging has
to be different as well. I mean, my god, they
picked Lebron's son, they picked this kid.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
You better pick.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Them because that's what that was. And we all know
that you better take Bronni we're gonna take them? What
and you blame Lebron? You know what that's on Lebron?
Is it is?
Speaker 2 (20:22):
It? Is it? You know what it is. And I've
learned this.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Once your kids take advantage of you, Once they take
an inch, they'll try to take a mile. And when
they try to take that mile, that's on you. You're their parents.
You either stop it right there or you let them
take more and do more and more, and suddenly they're
doing whatever they want because no one has been there
(20:49):
to control them. Do I blame Lebron for all this?
Speaker 2 (20:53):
I don't. I have to tell you. I do not.
If you're Lebron, and you're Lebron or you're any superstar,
you got a kid coming up, are you gonna you're
gonna not say suggest take my son? That wasn't a
suggestion he made. Yeah, Well, to your point. You can
say no, no, you can say no, we're not doing it. Yeah,
(21:15):
we're not gonna do it. I know it would be
great for the legacy standpoint. Obviously, father and son playing together.
That's a cool story. And it is. I mean, at
the end of the day, years from now, it's gonna
be cool. I played with my son, we played together
in the NBA on the Lakers. That's that's a that's
a story, a poster at the house. That's gonna be
for grandkids and generations to come. It is a cool thing.
(21:36):
And let's be fair, let's be honest. You know what,
what thirteen fourteenth player on the roster has an impact
on a team? So okay, they did a gesture that
that that didn't bother me like it bothered so many
other people, because that pick in the draft rarely, rarely
has the impact that people like to think it does.
(21:58):
But at the same time, you're the GM and I
agree with you, things will be a lot different, do
you hear any Like when you look at the Dodgers,
they are all lockstep together and everything that they do,
the messaging is the same. Everybody is on the same page.
You don't see any splinters within the Dodger organization, and
(22:20):
that's from players to my son Argia is the clubby
all the way to the top to Mark Walters. You
don't see anyone deviating from the plan and from the
agenda of what the Dodgers are trying to accomplish. And
you can't say that about the Lakers because it's all
over the place.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Yeah, it is what it is at that moment. Yeah,
it's like the the Dodgers are so buttoned up. They're
playing offense the whole time. They're playing offense, and they
have a plan that they're going to execute. If something happens,
they'll make an adjustment, but they have a plan. The
(23:03):
Lakers are constantly playing defense. They're back on their heels.
What maybe they're, oh, you don't expect them to do anything? Honestly, Well,
you have not expected them to do anything nothing except
you know, they didn't sign Buddy Heel.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
That was the one. We gotta get Buddy Heal and
they missed out on him. Got it getting missing peace? Yeah,
I don't know. I think this whole run in the
playoffs this year has to be a wake up call
for the Lakers and we can get in that a
little bit later in the show, but I think it's
(23:44):
it is glaring how far away the Lakers really are
when it comes to competing with the couple of teams that,
especially teams in the West, that they would have to
go through in order to get there. They're far away. Fit.
Let me give you an.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Example of some one more thing that we'll b the reports,
and I believe these to be true. Lebron has suggested,
or his representation. It doesn't always come out of Lebron's mouth,
but people that represent them.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
You're gonna have.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
To sit with me and show me a plan, show
me a plan about what you do and how you
plan to compete before I'm gonna consider taking less money.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Here.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
First, you're taking less money, so it doesn't matter. So
that's even a question. You're taking less, but you're gonna
have to show me. You're gonna have to prove it
to me.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
What what how about this?
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Let's have a meeting with Lebron, Rich Paul. Let's sit on,
let's get into it. This is what we can do.
There's no we're showing you anything. This is what we
can do, and we want you to be here somehow.
They have to establish control again because they have let
this thing spiral out of control.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Yeah, and you know what they're gonna do. It's gonna
drag on and drag on instead of let's address it
now before we get too deep into the summer and
and the story start keeps getting legs to it and
legs to and legs to it. You know that the
reports today, he oh, Golden State might be a real
thing with Lebron. Okay, let's let's try to nip this
in the bud before it becomes a bigger story that
(25:24):
we can't control. So I'm with, why are you not
having those deep, real conversations right now before it drags
us through the summer and we try to figure out, Oh,
what's gonna happen? And it's September and we still don't know.
Because here's the bottom line. And I'm sorry, I look
at it differently than you do in most people. And
maybe because I'm a guy that's worked my whole life,
(25:46):
so of you most people listening to us have well,
I can't you know, I'm not gonna be embarrassed. I mean,
fifty million dollars, I'm not gonna take ten. That's embarrassing.
That's embarrassing.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
My god, I don't want to embarrass you and give
you ten million dollars to play basketball. That's embarrassing. Well,
you're not gonna embarrass me. Really, what's not embarrassing to you?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
I can't. I it's unfathomable. How about this.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
You sit down and you have this conversation, You have
a discussion. This is what we can do. Are you
gonna do it or not? We're gonna do it over
here on the side, nobody knows. Well, I'm gonna take
two months to think about it. Then we're assuming you're not.
Then we're assuming you're not.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Well.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
The other side of it is, yeah, but I need more. No,
we're not doing that.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
This is it.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Do you want to do this or not? I'm not sure.
Come out and say we're not resigning.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Lebron.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Done done, We're.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Not doing that.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Now take your money, build your team, Lakers, Lebron, go
wherever you can and have a great career, take over,
be in charge. Could you imagine somebody on the Dodgers
and I understand the sports are different, but just the philosophy.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
If if I.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Don't know Mookie Betts is up, you think he would
say y'all take less, But you better show me the plan.
You better show it to me. What of the Dodgers
would do that? And I'm not saying it's Lebron. I'm
saying it's because of the culture and the.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Soucio Dodgers of one, so they nobody, nobody can say
anything because the formula has worked. The Lakers haven't shown
a formula that works. Peter A.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Linzo signed with the Orioles, right, and maybe he did
and nobody knew, But I never read anywhere. I'm considering
the Orioles. But they better show me their plan. I'm
sure they had a conversation about it. I'm sure they
talked about it, what they're trying to do and your
(28:01):
amount of money and he went there, But this I
need to know, and then I'll decide. No, you're not deciding.
We're deciding. We're in charge. And it's not on Lebron.
They've allowed him to do this. They need to nip
this bay.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
So you're saying that if that's you're saying it's Lebron,
But I don't know what a superstar that doesn't say.
I want to need I need to know where we're going.
I need to know the future. Okay, I know who
you're gonna sign, who we're going after free agent wise,
because I don't want I am too old to go
through any kind of rebuild, so I need to know.
(28:41):
And you're and you're too and you're too old to
make those demands a demand. It's not a demand. I
know you're spending it like it's a demand. But who
says it's a demand? Who says it's not a conversation? Hey,
you know, I got to make a decision. So I'm
going to weigh everything in. And if it's something that
you guys are looking two three years down the road
(29:02):
to build this up, then hey, then I got to
go in a different direction. But if it's a play that, look,
we're gonna doever we can to win in the next
two years. Hey, that's a different story. So we're not
in that room. So I'm not gonna sit there. And actually,
you know, like I got a crystal ball and say
Lebron marched into the offense and demanded him show them
(29:23):
the blueprint of the next year and two. No, I
don't think that's the case at all. I think it's
a legitimate question of where are we in the next
year or two. I got two years left, so where
are we? What is the plan going forward? Otherwise then
then that's part ways. That's a legitimate question for a
(29:44):
guy like Lebron, who's arguably still in the top ten
in the league as terms of players, certainly was the
best player on the Lakers on the court in the playoffs.
So why is that not legitimate? If Lucas says where
are we going before he signs a big extension, nobody's
gonna have nobody's gonna have a problem with that.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
I'm saying the Lakers need to reassume control. That's my point.
The Lakers need to reassume control. The Lakers need to
set the narrative, and they don't. They play defense. That's
why on our list they're fifth in our front office rankings. Okay,
(30:30):
not a great one for the Dodgers last night. I
think it meant more for the Diamondbacks. That's next.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Hello Rogan and Rodney listener, did you know AM five
seventy LA Sports has a wide range of LA Sports
podcasts shows like Petros in Money. We are streaming Matt
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Speaker 2 (30:52):
Follow us all and many more.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Just go to AM five to seventy LA Sports on
the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Oh yeah, come on, let's keep it moving. Rodney Pete,
Fred Rogan on a Tuesday two hour show for US Today.
Coming up next hour, our man David Basset is going
to join us to talk some Dodgers. But right now, Fred,
let's get into those Dodgers, who I think let one
slip away last night, Fred, a little bit, don't you think? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Yeah, yeah, it didn't quite go as everybody at home.
She and goes six and two thirds, gave up two runs,
three hits, bullpen and struggled and they lost four to one.
So not great, not great. But as I said before
we got started with this yesterday, for the Dodgers, it
was a game on June first. For the Diamondbacks, I
(31:39):
think it was much more. Every game against the Dodgers
if you're the Diamondbacks means something. And I was surprised
watching the game last night. I didn't see as many
Dodger jerseys when they had that low angle shot as
I thought I would. I thought i'd see a lot more.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Well, the word is that it was one hundred and
fifteen in Phoenix yesterday. Fred, So, I think a lot
of people stayed home, yeah, or stayed here. They stay
here and go, but you know, overall, it was what
it was.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
Here's the thing. The Diamondbacks every year are pretty good.
I gotta tell you something. We watch a lot of
Diamondback games because you know, I'm from Phoenix. My wife
loves the Diamondbacks. We're Dodger people. Stop, we're Dodger people.
We're Dodger people.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
You know.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
We like the Diamondbacks. It's fun to watch them. They're
fun to watch. I mean, another team that's actually fun
to watch is the Angels, but they just stink.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
So is there another team that gets more out of
less than the Diamondbacks? More with less? You know, you know,
you hear you know, Corbyn, Carroll and Marte maybe, but
you know, guys have come and gone. They've let some
key guys go from that team. Yet they were still
in the mix last year. But they they stay. They
(32:52):
pretty much stay in the hunt. Fred, And then they
have been since Tory Levello's been there. I think he's
a very underrated manager and what he's been able to
do with the Diamondbacks without having you know, the resources
of some of the other clubs, especially in the in
the division. But he's kept that team relevant. I gi
him a lot of credit for surviving.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Yeah, because he should have been fired long ago and
he's still there. He went to Montclair Prep out here
u c l A u CLA. Yeah, actually ran into
his sister a DELI you did, I did, uh say?
Tory Leavella was a beast at UCLA. I played against him.
(33:34):
He was on the team.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
He and Eric Carroll's were on that same team and
they had one two punch boy. They they hit bombs
and they were both Those guys were beast in college
with those aluminum bats. They were pretty good over there
at UCLA. Here's the thing I want to say.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
I think, I mean, the Padres are certainly the dodgers
most recent current rival, and I think at this point
are more of a rival than the Giants, who are hated.
But the Giants haven't been very good. I gotta tell you.
I think the people in Phoenix, they believe the Dodgers
are the Diamondbacks rival.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Mm hm.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
They get up for those games. Oh yeah, I mean,
and I think there is pure hatred toward the Dodgers.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Yeah, ever since the Dodgers went and jumped in their
pool in center field when they won the division back
in the day. What was in it? Fifteen years ago
or so? They did that when they peed in that pool,
it was over. Oh you gunna say they peed in
the pool, Fritz.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
They peed in the pool.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
They did, and they were swimming in their own pee.
Well they got out then, Oh okay, I bet they
did pee in that pool. I think they did. I
think they did. One, two, three, were getting out. Everybody
let it go. Yeah, before we go, here's something, leave
something to chase for you. But no, I'm telling you,
it's a watch tonight back in your mind. Just think
(35:06):
about that. I think the people in Arizona, Phoenix believe
the Dodgers are their rivals. I know the people in
San Diego hate the Dodgers. Oh yeah, I'll even go
this far.
Speaker 1 (35:18):
I think the people in Phoenix hate the Dodgers worse
than the people in San Diego.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
You think so, yeah? I do? Really? Yeah? Oh yeah,
one d percent.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
And I guess it's hard to gauge your degree of hatred.
I think the people in Arizona do not like the
Dodgers more than people in San Diego don't. Yeah, it's
such a Dodger state, Arizona is, and I think there's
a little little animosity, a little jealousy that there's so
(35:49):
many dogs. Well, there's Dodger fans everywhere, but I think
once the Dodgers moved from Vero Beach, Florida to doing
their spring training in Arizona and basically took it over,
there's a little animosity with the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers, but.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
I still don't. I still think the most intense one
is San Diego, especially right now. Like you said, the
Giants haven't been relevant in that rivalry for a while now,
but I think San Diego is still the one that's heated.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
One o'clock, our David vance Setti jumps on the show
from Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
Make Am five to seventy. LA Sports a preset before
you plug in your phone presets in the iHeartRadio app
now available with Apple car Play and Android autom Just
another easy way to listen to LA's best sports.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
Talk is Sad Girls by bb rexil is David Getta
produced track dropped over the weekend. Is set to peer
on the pop stars sports coming album entitled Dirty Blonde,
which would drop on June twelfth. In a statement, she said,
Sad Girls is for anyone who has ever been on
the dance floor with a broken heart and refuse to
(37:06):
let it win. You're not okay, but you're still dancing
and showing up for yourself. That's one of the most
powerful things you can do in those moments. Again, Today's
afternoon Delight is Sad Girls by bb REXI.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
Okay, so Rodney, let's talk Lakers. We talked about him
in the last segment. Let's just do this real quick,
and how do you build your roster going forward? What
is it you do well? The conventional wisdom is Giannis
is available.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Let's go get him.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Let's go get Yanna's guys had some injury problems and
you know, more up than down years wise, Let's go
get him. That's the old Lakers. I guarantee you. I'm
not saying they won't do it now, but that's what
they would do. Let's get him.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Hell, oh man, this is gonna be great? Is it?
Is it gonna be great?
Speaker 1 (38:06):
What are you trying to do? What is your objective?
If your objective is to try to build for sustained success.
That ain't the answer. I'm telling you now. They could
absolutely sign them and everybody will lose their mind and
celebrate until he gets hurt or he breaks down, and
(38:28):
then that will be it. I think they have to
get out of this because they have their star in Luca.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
You've got Luca.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
The old Get two really good guys and just filling
the rest doesn't work. And then people want to get
three really good guys and filling the rest. That doesn't
work either. You can't do it the way they've always
done it. I don't think they will with a new philosophy.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Who do you get and who's a good fit with Luca?
Who is it a big? Is it an a a
ball handler? Is it a wing player that can shoot?
Who fits with Luca?
Speaker 1 (39:13):
Honestly, and this is not a cop out. It's not
a cop out, all right. I don't know if it's
as important of who fits with Luca is how are
we going to do this? We've got Luca, all right,
and probably.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
I'll figure out who's gonna fit with him. You can't
just throw anybody in there.
Speaker 1 (39:34):
Yeah, but you need four other guys. You need four
other guys to fit with them. Who are those four
guys not? Who is the one person that fits with him?
This is what we have now. We have to build
around him, not one more player. Well, if we just
get you, Honest and Luca, they'll be great. Yeah, what
about the other guys. That's what's killing them. Lack of depth.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
Yeah. Depth, And I I'm just look at okay see
and the Spurs and they went seven games and it
was exciting as it could be. And I look at
the Spurs team and they've got they really built it
the right way. I think they did a masterful job
(40:20):
in building that roster because they've got four guys on
the court that can handle the ball, also can create
their own shots, and the fact that they can handle
the ball can create opportunities for Wimby. And when you
add Wimby to the mix, because he can create and
(40:40):
get his own shot too, you got five guys that
can get their own shot. But when you've got guys
like Castle and Harper that can and Champagnee that can
create their own shots also shoot the three penetrate and
give it to Wimby, it's a it's a deadly proposition
to try to defend those guys. So they did a
masterful job. And you look at it. I'm serious. I
(41:03):
looked at that Western Conference final going, Man, the Lakers
got a ways to go. They got a ways to
go to fill this out, because you're right, it's gonna
take three other guys. You can't do it anymore with
you know, those days of the Big three will carry
you through and you just kind of plug the other
two guys in. You can't do it that way. You
can't hide anymore. So it's uh, it's gonna be an
(41:27):
interesting offseason for the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (41:39):
One hour in the books con there, Nope, okay, good,
do you want to tease something for its Well, remember.
Speaker 2 (41:47):
We talked yesterday about the potential of Aaron Donald coming
out of retirement rejoining the Rams, Fred and you said,
there's no way in hell it's happening. Yes, there's a
way in hell that's coming up. And David Vassayle joined
us
Okay, here we go a two hour show. Fred Rogan
Rodney Peinte on AM five to seventy LA Sports. Rodney,
how are you.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I am doing just fine, Freddie, how are you? I'm
icing down from yesterday. Fred, I'm all good.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
I know you had to go out, Yeah, get to
the field, start working out. Yeah, after the Rams selected
Myles Garrett. Yeah, and you thought I'm coming back baby,
I'm coming back back, baby. Might me might need an
emergency quarterback or you know, the Rams is gonna be
up by thirty points and not giving up any point,
So there's gonna be a lot of garbage time, I think, Fred.
(00:33):
So I'm looking forward to that. So I just had
to get things going. I understand you and Aaron Donald
to see out there too. I saw Aaron. Yes, I
saw Aaron out there. He was working on his steps.
Say I me, Miles Garrett playing alongside each other. I
might have twenty five sacks because everybody's gonna be focused
on him.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
So Aaron Donald's ready to go. Good.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Okay, we believe with that With that move, Rodney, Yeah,
the Rams did something that I think everything in LA
Sports should be happy about, and that is they establish
themselves as a team that's being exceptionally aggressive. If you
look at the teams in this market, let's just think
about it for a second.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
If you look at the.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Teams in this market right now, I don't think you
could claim anyone is rebuilding. Everybody is going for it
right now.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Does that make sense? Oh yeah, one hundred percent. And
I think there's certain places around the country, with certain
teams that you can spend a few years trying to rebuild.
I don't know if that works here, though, Fred. It
doesn't work here, doesn't work in LA, doesn't work in
New York some of the bigger city, bigger markets out there,
especially LA, where there's so many distractions and so many
(01:49):
opportunities to do other things, especially if your team is
not winning, that you better win now. This whole notion
of hey, it's a process that we're going to take
three to four years to build the roster, build this
team back up. People usually don't want to wait that
long in this town. They want to see you win now.
And if you win, if you win, then you better
(02:11):
keep winning, keep on winning, because one is not enough,
two is not enough. You may win the Super Bowl
in one year, but two years later, you you better
win it again or people are going to be upset
that you're not trying to do back to back to back.
Look at the Dodgers and the way they do things.
They didn't rest and say, oh, we won a World
Series and so we're good now. Even last year when
(02:33):
they won back to back, they didn't go, hey, we
won back to back World Series, so we're good for
a few years. Now. What do they do? They go
out inside, Kyle Tucker, they went outside the best closer
in the business. So it is a town where we
love winners and we love our instant gratification. So the Rams,
you know, since day one, since the day they got here,
(02:55):
have done it right in terms of relocation into a market,
and they continue to show us that they are all
in on everything that they do. And with the signing
of Miles Garrett, it's just they were already the favorite
for it, as we know, and now it just puts
them over the top. Yeah, yeah, it just puts them
over the top. And you know, the Rams are a
(03:17):
team that has been right there in the conversation and
we say it all the time in la is that
you have to be a part of the conversation. If
you're not, then people will leave quickly and they'll go
to the beach, or they'll go to the mountains, or
they'll go travel, or they go do something else, and
they are very unforgiving if you're a team that doesn't win.
(03:38):
I mean, you talk about LA and the Arms race,
and don't think for one second, even if it's across
leagues that they're not all watching each other seeing what
the other teams are doing. The Rams are looking at
the Dodgers and how can we be on that level?
You know, the Chargers are looking at the Rams. How
do we be on that level? How do we get
to elevate ourselves? So we are in the conversation year
(04:00):
and in year out. The Lakers, you know now with
the ownership group, with Mark Walter and the Gougenhem guys,
they're gonna be in the conversation and they're gonna spare
no expense to make sure that the Laker brand is
front and center when it comes to the NBA. Maybe
a little bit more difficult with the NBA, but they're
(04:21):
gonna be in the conversation in the years to come,
and once they get there, that is the biggest thing
for me is once you get there, how do you
sustain it? How do you stay there? And the Dodgers
have shown that they can do that. Now everybody's saying,
the Dodgers are, you know, they're starting to get a
little bit older. What are they gonna do? And that's
a that's a big reason why their emphasis now is
(04:43):
to win. While we've got our key guys in their
prime with Mookie, Freddie, Otani, Muncie. Those guys are still
in their prime. Let's go win as many times as
we possibly can because that window is going to close
where you're gonna have to start getting younger players and
bring them along. But I love the approach though by
the Dodgers is they sprinkle enough young players in that
(05:05):
they get the experience, they get the feeling of what
it's like to wear that uniform in big moments, and
so the train just will continue. But they're learning from
guys like Freddie and Muki and Otani of how things
are done, and they do it the right way. They
are the gold standard when it comes to a franchise
and how to sustain their success. And the Rams are
right behind them. And the only team fred that's not
(05:27):
really there.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Is the Angels. Yeah, they're not there. They're not there
at all. No, they're not there. As a matter of fact,
they're not even rebuilding. I mean, here's what you do.
You're either in it, okay, and we'll talk about the teams,
and you've mentioned it. Are you're in the middle trying
to figure out how to get in it, or you're
so far out it doesn't matter. And that's where the
Angels are. I mean in Los Angeles, this is really
(05:50):
an arms race. Now, the teams understand that you've got
to be more than competitive, just stand out. You've got
to make a statement. I touched on it yesterday, Rodney.
For example, in New York, the Jets they're awful, they're garbage,
and they can't figure out what to do. They're an
embarrassment to the National Football League. For years, the Bears
were an embarrassment to the National Football League. Your big
(06:11):
market teams have got to perform in the NFL. Dallas
always a name, but not much to show for it.
Of late, we're always there, but not really. We got
a shot, but no we don't.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Sort of.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
The Lakers, they're the Lakers, and that means absolutely nothing.
If you don't have.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
The Lakers and the Cowboys are similar where they are right.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
PERC.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
So let's now talk about the teams that fans in
LA trust the most. So we'll focus on front offices. Well,
let's think about this now. I don't think there's any question.
The most respected front office and organization is the Dodgers,
not because we're the Dodger station, but because they have
proof of performance. They have done it the proper way,
(06:57):
They built the right infrastructure, They attack things by far
and away. They are number one. You could argue their
number one in professional sports. So the Dodgers are top
of the list. Yes, I don't think there's any question.
I think you go across sports and the year people
talk about it, the way the Dodgers do things, people
are envious around the country. Fan bases are envious of
(07:19):
the Dodgers, even though they may talk about them and now.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
They're the new evil Empire. But trust me, if you're
in Pittsburgh or Cincinnati or one of those cities, you
wish you had an ownership in front office like the Dodgers.
They are. This the standard FRED without question, and I
think that's covering all sports, not just baseball.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
Agree one hundred percent. So Dodgers number one in LA.
Now what organization, what front office do you trust the
second most? You got every possibility, You got the Kings,
the Ducks, Southern California, you got the Clippers, the Chargers,
the Rams. Who is it the Angels, LAFC, the Galaxy?
(08:00):
The second organization I think has together the most The Rams.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Yes, I think.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
They have become somewhat of a model for the National
Football League.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Now.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
They caught lightning in a bottle. They hired Sean McVay.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
It worked.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Nobody thought it would work like this, but it certainly worked.
That was a great hire. They traded for Matthew Stafford. Okay,
they hoped it would work. It's worked big time. So
I think the Rams and the way they conduct their
bit less sneed as a GM. I think the Rams
are number two now in the market. Who do you
trust the most? Yeah, I think it's not even a
question right now. It's obviously the Dodgers on a different level,
(08:37):
but then it's the Rams. But I think there's a
drop off from even from the Rams and the rest
of the market because the Rams now have shown themselves
as being an organization that's willing to go for it
and go for it year in and year out, whether
it be free agent signings, the way their front office
scouts and develops guys and bring in young players that
(08:58):
you didn't think. Oh, I mean, who would have thought
Pookinakua was going to come on and have you know,
years like he had as a young kid coming out
of YU. So they've done a good job on all fronts.
But I think it's the Dodgers obviously way at the top,
the Rams, you know, second, but after that, I think
it's now we start getting into there's a third tier, right,
(09:21):
whether that be the Kings, whether that be the Chargers,
the Ducks, and we're not even talking about the Angels,
but LAFC is in that market too.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
They do a great job of what they're you know,
their front office and how they came into the market.
So yeah, everybody, I think you feel now you know
more about the Kings than I do. But what the
Ducks did this year and how they rebounded got to
the playoffs and did great, you know, giving back to
their fan base. The only team is the Angels that's
(09:54):
so far out of it that it's you talk about
the Jets being an embarrassment. La Angels is since already's
been there have kind of been an embarrassment. Yeah, they
kept going the wrong way. Yeah, they kept going down,
which goes to show you you talk about front office,
it's not how much money you spend, and you say
(10:15):
this all the time, is how you spend your money? Correct?
Because he spent for a while. Yeah he did. He
did just the wrong way.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, so all right, Dodgers Rams, Who's number three? Now?
Now you would say the Lakers because that's just the
way people's minds work here, And maybe they will be
or maybe they'll be number two once Mark Walter's people
really get in there. But we have to talk about
what it was. I don't even think the Rams were
number three, to be honest with you, I don't even
(10:46):
think there were number three. I'd probably say the Chargers.
You mean the Lakers a number three? Yeah, that's what
I meant. Then I'd say the Lakers are number three.
I would say the Chargers. They are going for it,
they are making moves, they're in it. They're in it now.
They can't get over the hump. But I'm just talking
about the way they operate. I'd say the Chargers ahead
(11:07):
of the Lakers. Now let's move to number four. Who
would you put over the other one? The Clippers, who
constantly are trying things they might not work. But I'll
tell you one thing those guys are trying. They pulled off.
The deal for Paul George and Kawhi didn't work all right.
Now they've traded Zubos, got a pick, might trade that pick.
(11:29):
Darius Garland is here. Now they went and got James Harden.
I think the Clippers are always trying. You Actually, you
never know what they're gonna do. But I'll tell you
one thing. Aside from the botched, injury riddled stay of
Kawhi and Paul George.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
They haven't made a lot of bad moves. They don't
have enough to get over the hump. But they don't
and I don't either put them in the category of
where the Angels were. When Artie was just throwing money
at guys, it stuck and it really didn't. And there
were some aging guys that he paid money to, some
guys that had, you know, one year, one great year,
(12:08):
and said, okay, let's sign him to a six year
deal and it didn't work out. I don't see the
Clippers kind of in that category because if you look
back the Paul George Kawhi Leonard signings on paper, everybody
put them Okay, now they're the favorite. When that happened,
everybody was like, okay, look out, watch out, here come
(12:28):
the Clippers. They're going to be in the conference finals
or the finals year and in year out now. But
those guys couldn't stay healthy together and they can they
rarely played together. So it didn't work out. But by
no fault of them trying to make it work and
spending the money to make it work and going out
and surrounding them, because on paper they should have at
(12:51):
least been to a few conference finals and maybe one
final at least, right, it didn't happen.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
So that being said, who do you have more confidence
in his front and not the incoming Laker front office?
I'm talking about the way it was. What it be
safe to say, have more confidence in the Clippers' front
office and the Lakers?
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Yes? Okay?
Speaker 1 (13:12):
So now look, Dodgers won Rams, two Chargers, three Clippers,
four Lakers. Five Lakers are number five. I'd like to
put the Kings up on the list, but they just
brought in Ken Hollands last season. Sure, they gave the
(13:32):
playoffs a run, but it didn't go. So that's it incomplete,
that's to be determined. Give the Ducks credit, but it
took the Ducks a long time to get back, so
they have made moves down there that have worked. But
if you think at the totality of Los Angeles sports,
now you think the Dodgers are the best, then the Rams,
(13:57):
then the Chargers, then the Clippers, than the Lakers, I
get it, the Clippers.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
At least the Lakers have been to conference finals, won
a championship. The Clippers haven't won one. So how do
you put the Clippers ahead of the Lakers, even with
the front office of the Clippers, which many believe is
is better than the Lakers. How do you put the
Clippers ahead of the Lakers because they haven't won.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Well, look at it like this. When the Lakers won
during the Rob Polinka era, it is because basically Lebron said,
go get Anthony Davis. And by the way, Lebron was
coming here anyway, So let's start with that. I'm not
giving a Look, I'm not giving Rob Polink a lot
of credit forgetting Lebron. Lebron was good, well, magic was
the win who got Lebron, right, So that was pre
(14:48):
Rob Polinka taken over, right, They were both there at
that time, but Magic closed that deal.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, okay, so.
Speaker 1 (14:55):
I'm not giving them credit for that. Then you have
the Ad fiasco and ultimately Ad was only coming here.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Yeah, but that's another one. You thought that's gonna be
a great fit, and it was for that year that
they wanted. And people say what you want about the
bubble and all that kind of that's a whole other conversation.
But I still I still put it as a legitimate championship.
But it worked for the Lakers. But the problem is
there's another guy that couldn't stay healthy, you know, couldn't
(15:24):
stay on the court when it mattered most, and so
that one didn't work out. But looking at it when
he came, it was like, man, this is a this
is a pretty good But the biggest part about that
Fred where you got to give Yeah, you gotta give
Rob Polinka a little crag because I think Magic was
gone at that point, But you got to give him
(15:45):
credit because he surrounded a D and Lebron with the
right players. If you remember that team that won it,
Alex Caruso was a big, big part of that run.
Case was a big part of that run. Rondo was
a big part of that run. So they're supporting cast.
(16:06):
It was a well done job by Rob Lincoln. Well, no,
it was a well done job by Rich Paul. That's
what was a well done job by Ad wanted to come.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Rich Paul made sure it happened in Boom and Lebron
did And then yeah, okay.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
The KCP was a big factor, and so was Caruso. Right,
and then what did they do? What did they do
after they wanted it up? Then they blew it up? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Who gets credit for that? Sure you can point a
finger at Lebron and go, well, you know he made
them do it. Well, could he make them do anything?
Could he make them do anything? Were they so in
love with him that they would do anything?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Yeah, you just won a title. Why are you blowing
the whole thing up?
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And then you get to the Russell Westbrook fiasco? Right,
Well that's what Lebron wanted. Okay, So Lebron's in charge.
You put yourself in a position to be so beholden
to him. If in fact that's true that you blew
the whole thing to hell, but wait a minute. You
(17:12):
can't ultimately point the finger at Lebron.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
You can, but you're wrong. You can't do that.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
You put yourself in that position. Rob Polenka, Lakers, you
did that. Pat Riley wouldn't have done that. You did that.
And remember Lebron tried things in Miami and pat Riley said,
go pound sand and Lebron said, okay, I'm not gonna
say anything again, right, thank you. I understand the rules
and how we play here, but we didn't play by
(17:40):
those rules here because and I've said it many times,
Rob Polinka, if you listen to what he said over
the years, his goal is to be buried with Lebron.
That's how much he loves Lebron everything. My god, aren't
you in charge.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
At the end of the day. Didn't you what that happened?
I thought he wanted to be very KCP. No, that
was bread.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
That was bread coming down from the heavens, remember that.
But I'm saying that was you. You did that. You
allowed that. Well, we couldn't say no, are you gonna
say that? Well, we couldn't say.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Why why can't you say no? Well, because it's Lebron?
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Okay, Well, other people have told him, believe it or not,
it's shocking to understand. No.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Yeah, and guess what, the world didn't stop spinning.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
It was okay, absolutely, So you're one with a d
because Rich Paul brought him here.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
So what happened? What happened? When Lucas says I want
this guy, want that guy, Well, you're gonna do the
same thing. Are you gonna think that same thing? This
is not the no, because I'm gonna put my foot
down now. No, he's that guy. So Lucas says, I
want this guy. Is Rob Linka gonna go sure whatever
(19:01):
you want? Or is he going to be the GM
and had a basketball and say no, I like, I
respect you, I respect your opinion, but we're going to
go in a different direction. Like you said, pat Riley
did okay? I respect you, but no, Eric spols is
not going anywhere.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
I think as the transition takes place at the Lakers,
they're just going to operate differently. I would be stunned
if Rob Polinka held news conferences like he has held
extolling the virtues of these guys. I mean, what are
you doing. It's like you're fan boing for him. Stop,
(19:41):
you know, you're the general manager, you're the boss. You
make the basketball decisions. So I can see how the
internal operation will be different, and then the messaging has
to be different as well. I mean, my god, they
picked Lebron's son, they picked this kid.
Speaker 2 (20:05):
You better pick.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
Them because that's what that was. And we all know
that you better take Bronni we're gonna take them? What
and you blame Lebron? You know what that's on Lebron?
Is it is?
Speaker 2 (20:22):
It? Is it? You know what it is. And I've
learned this.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Once your kids take advantage of you, Once they take
an inch, they'll try to take a mile. And when
they try to take that mile, that's on you. You're their parents.
You either stop it right there or you let them
take more and do more and more, and suddenly they're
doing whatever they want because no one has been there
(20:49):
to control them. Do I blame Lebron for all this?
Speaker 2 (20:53):
I don't. I have to tell you. I do not.
If you're Lebron, and you're Lebron or you're any superstar,
you got a kid coming up, are you gonna you're
gonna not say suggest take my son? That wasn't a
suggestion he made. Yeah, Well, to your point. You can
say no, no, you can say no, we're not doing it. Yeah,
(21:15):
we're not gonna do it. I know it would be
great for the legacy standpoint. Obviously, father and son playing together.
That's a cool story. And it is. I mean, at
the end of the day, years from now, it's gonna
be cool. I played with my son, we played together
in the NBA on the Lakers. That's that's a that's
a story, a poster at the house. That's gonna be
for grandkids and generations to come. It is a cool thing.
(21:36):
And let's be fair, let's be honest. You know what,
what thirteen fourteenth player on the roster has an impact
on a team? So okay, they did a gesture that
that that didn't bother me like it bothered so many
other people, because that pick in the draft rarely, rarely
has the impact that people like to think it does.
(21:58):
But at the same time, you're the GM and I
agree with you, things will be a lot different, do
you hear any Like when you look at the Dodgers,
they are all lockstep together and everything that they do,
the messaging is the same. Everybody is on the same page.
You don't see any splinters within the Dodger organization, and
(22:20):
that's from players to my son Argia is the clubby
all the way to the top to Mark Walters. You
don't see anyone deviating from the plan and from the
agenda of what the Dodgers are trying to accomplish. And
you can't say that about the Lakers because it's all
over the place.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
Yeah, it is what it is at that moment. Yeah,
it's like the the Dodgers are so buttoned up. They're
playing offense the whole time. They're playing offense, and they
have a plan that they're going to execute. If something happens,
they'll make an adjustment, but they have a plan. The
(23:03):
Lakers are constantly playing defense. They're back on their heels.
What maybe they're, oh, you don't expect them to do anything? Honestly, Well,
you have not expected them to do anything nothing except
you know, they didn't sign Buddy Heel.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
That was the one. We gotta get Buddy Heal and
they missed out on him. Got it getting missing peace? Yeah,
I don't know. I think this whole run in the
playoffs this year has to be a wake up call
for the Lakers and we can get in that a
little bit later in the show, but I think it's
(23:44):
it is glaring how far away the Lakers really are
when it comes to competing with the couple of teams that,
especially teams in the West, that they would have to
go through in order to get there. They're far away. Fit.
Let me give you an.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Example of some one more thing that we'll b the reports,
and I believe these to be true. Lebron has suggested,
or his representation. It doesn't always come out of Lebron's mouth,
but people that represent them.
Speaker 2 (24:13):
You're gonna have.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
To sit with me and show me a plan, show
me a plan about what you do and how you
plan to compete before I'm gonna consider taking less money.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
Here.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
First, you're taking less money, so it doesn't matter. So
that's even a question. You're taking less, but you're gonna
have to show me. You're gonna have to prove it
to me.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
What what how about this?
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Let's have a meeting with Lebron, Rich Paul. Let's sit on,
let's get into it. This is what we can do.
There's no we're showing you anything. This is what we
can do, and we want you to be here somehow.
They have to establish control again because they have let
this thing spiral out of control.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Yeah, and you know what they're gonna do. It's gonna
drag on and drag on instead of let's address it
now before we get too deep into the summer and
and the story start keeps getting legs to it and
legs to and legs to it. You know that the
reports today, he oh, Golden State might be a real
thing with Lebron. Okay, let's let's try to nip this
in the bud before it becomes a bigger story that
(25:24):
we can't control. So I'm with, why are you not
having those deep, real conversations right now before it drags
us through the summer and we try to figure out, Oh,
what's gonna happen? And it's September and we still don't know.
Because here's the bottom line. And I'm sorry, I look
at it differently than you do in most people. And
maybe because I'm a guy that's worked my whole life,
(25:46):
so of you most people listening to us have well,
I can't you know, I'm not gonna be embarrassed. I mean,
fifty million dollars, I'm not gonna take ten. That's embarrassing.
That's embarrassing.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
My god, I don't want to embarrass you and give
you ten million dollars to play basketball. That's embarrassing. Well,
you're not gonna embarrass me. Really, what's not embarrassing to you?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
I can't. I it's unfathomable. How about this.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
You sit down and you have this conversation, You have
a discussion. This is what we can do. Are you
gonna do it or not? We're gonna do it over
here on the side, nobody knows. Well, I'm gonna take
two months to think about it. Then we're assuming you're not.
Then we're assuming you're not.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Well.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
The other side of it is, yeah, but I need more. No,
we're not doing that.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
This is it.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Do you want to do this or not? I'm not sure.
Come out and say we're not resigning.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
Lebron.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Done done, We're.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Not doing that.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Now take your money, build your team, Lakers, Lebron, go
wherever you can and have a great career, take over,
be in charge. Could you imagine somebody on the Dodgers
and I understand the sports are different, but just the philosophy.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
If if I.
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Don't know Mookie Betts is up, you think he would
say y'all take less, But you better show me the plan.
You better show it to me. What of the Dodgers
would do that? And I'm not saying it's Lebron. I'm
saying it's because of the culture and the.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
Soucio Dodgers of one, so they nobody, nobody can say
anything because the formula has worked. The Lakers haven't shown
a formula that works. Peter A.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Linzo signed with the Orioles, right, and maybe he did
and nobody knew, But I never read anywhere. I'm considering
the Orioles. But they better show me their plan. I'm
sure they had a conversation about it. I'm sure they
talked about it, what they're trying to do and your
(28:01):
amount of money and he went there, But this I
need to know, and then I'll decide. No, you're not deciding.
We're deciding. We're in charge. And it's not on Lebron.
They've allowed him to do this. They need to nip
this bay.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
So you're saying that if that's you're saying it's Lebron,
But I don't know what a superstar that doesn't say.
I want to need I need to know where we're going.
I need to know the future. Okay, I know who
you're gonna sign, who we're going after free agent wise,
because I don't want I am too old to go
through any kind of rebuild, so I need to know.
(28:41):
And you're and you're too and you're too old to
make those demands a demand. It's not a demand. I
know you're spending it like it's a demand. But who
says it's a demand? Who says it's not a conversation? Hey,
you know, I got to make a decision. So I'm
going to weigh everything in. And if it's something that
you guys are looking two three years down the road
(29:02):
to build this up, then hey, then I got to
go in a different direction. But if it's a play that, look,
we're gonna doever we can to win in the next
two years. Hey, that's a different story. So we're not
in that room. So I'm not gonna sit there. And actually,
you know, like I got a crystal ball and say
Lebron marched into the offense and demanded him show them
(29:23):
the blueprint of the next year and two. No, I
don't think that's the case at all. I think it's
a legitimate question of where are we in the next
year or two. I got two years left, so where
are we? What is the plan going forward? Otherwise then
then that's part ways. That's a legitimate question for a
(29:44):
guy like Lebron, who's arguably still in the top ten
in the league as terms of players, certainly was the
best player on the Lakers on the court in the playoffs.
So why is that not legitimate? If Lucas says where
are we going before he signs a big extension, nobody's
gonna have nobody's gonna have a problem with that.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
I'm saying the Lakers need to reassume control. That's my point.
The Lakers need to reassume control. The Lakers need to
set the narrative, and they don't. They play defense. That's
why on our list they're fifth in our front office rankings. Okay,
(30:30):
not a great one for the Dodgers last night. I
think it meant more for the Diamondbacks. That's next.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
Hello Rogan and Rodney listener, did you know AM five
seventy LA Sports has a wide range of LA Sports
podcasts shows like Petros in Money. We are streaming Matt
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Speaker 2 (30:52):
Follow us all and many more.
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Just go to AM five to seventy LA Sports on
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Speaker 2 (30:59):
Oh yeah, come on, let's keep it moving. Rodney Pete,
Fred Rogan on a Tuesday two hour show for US Today.
Coming up next hour, our man David Basset is going
to join us to talk some Dodgers. But right now, Fred,
let's get into those Dodgers, who I think let one
slip away last night, Fred, a little bit, don't you think? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (31:18):
Yeah, yeah, it didn't quite go as everybody at home.
She and goes six and two thirds, gave up two runs,
three hits, bullpen and struggled and they lost four to one.
So not great, not great. But as I said before
we got started with this yesterday, for the Dodgers, it
was a game on June first. For the Diamondbacks, I
(31:39):
think it was much more. Every game against the Dodgers
if you're the Diamondbacks means something. And I was surprised
watching the game last night. I didn't see as many
Dodger jerseys when they had that low angle shot as
I thought I would. I thought i'd see a lot more.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Well, the word is that it was one hundred and
fifteen in Phoenix yesterday. Fred, So, I think a lot
of people stayed home, yeah, or stayed here. They stay
here and go, but you know, overall, it was what
it was.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
Here's the thing. The Diamondbacks every year are pretty good.
I gotta tell you something. We watch a lot of
Diamondback games because you know, I'm from Phoenix. My wife
loves the Diamondbacks. We're Dodger people. Stop, we're Dodger people.
We're Dodger people.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
You know.
Speaker 1 (32:22):
We like the Diamondbacks. It's fun to watch them. They're
fun to watch. I mean, another team that's actually fun
to watch is the Angels, but they just stink.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
So is there another team that gets more out of
less than the Diamondbacks? More with less? You know, you know,
you hear you know, Corbyn, Carroll and Marte maybe, but
you know, guys have come and gone. They've let some
key guys go from that team. Yet they were still
in the mix last year. But they they stay. They
(32:52):
pretty much stay in the hunt. Fred, And then they
have been since Tory Levello's been there. I think he's
a very underrated manager and what he's been able to
do with the Diamondbacks without having you know, the resources
of some of the other clubs, especially in the in
the division. But he's kept that team relevant. I gi
him a lot of credit for surviving.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Yeah, because he should have been fired long ago and
he's still there. He went to Montclair Prep out here
u c l A u CLA. Yeah, actually ran into
his sister a DELI you did, I did, uh say?
Tory Leavella was a beast at UCLA. I played against him.
(33:34):
He was on the team.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
He and Eric Carroll's were on that same team and
they had one two punch boy. They they hit bombs
and they were both Those guys were beast in college
with those aluminum bats. They were pretty good over there
at UCLA. Here's the thing I want to say.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
I think, I mean, the Padres are certainly the dodgers
most recent current rival, and I think at this point
are more of a rival than the Giants, who are hated.
But the Giants haven't been very good. I gotta tell you.
I think the people in Phoenix, they believe the Dodgers
are the Diamondbacks rival.
Speaker 2 (34:17):
Mm hm.
Speaker 1 (34:18):
They get up for those games. Oh yeah, I mean,
and I think there is pure hatred toward the Dodgers.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Yeah, ever since the Dodgers went and jumped in their
pool in center field when they won the division back
in the day. What was in it? Fifteen years ago
or so? They did that when they peed in that pool,
it was over. Oh you gunna say they peed in
the pool, Fritz.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
They peed in the pool.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
They did, and they were swimming in their own pee.
Well they got out then, Oh okay, I bet they
did pee in that pool. I think they did. I
think they did. One, two, three, were getting out. Everybody
let it go. Yeah, before we go, here's something, leave
something to chase for you. But no, I'm telling you,
it's a watch tonight back in your mind. Just think
(35:06):
about that. I think the people in Arizona, Phoenix believe
the Dodgers are their rivals. I know the people in
San Diego hate the Dodgers. Oh yeah, I'll even go
this far.
Speaker 1 (35:18):
I think the people in Phoenix hate the Dodgers worse
than the people in San Diego.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
You think so, yeah? I do? Really? Yeah? Oh yeah,
one d percent.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
And I guess it's hard to gauge your degree of hatred.
I think the people in Arizona do not like the
Dodgers more than people in San Diego don't. Yeah, it's
such a Dodger state, Arizona is, and I think there's
a little little animosity, a little jealousy that there's so
(35:49):
many dogs. Well, there's Dodger fans everywhere, but I think
once the Dodgers moved from Vero Beach, Florida to doing
their spring training in Arizona and basically took it over,
there's a little animosity with the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers, but.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
I still don't. I still think the most intense one
is San Diego, especially right now. Like you said, the
Giants haven't been relevant in that rivalry for a while now,
but I think San Diego is still the one that's heated.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
One o'clock, our David vance Setti jumps on the show
from Phoenix.
Speaker 3 (36:31):
Make Am five to seventy. LA Sports a preset before
you plug in your phone presets in the iHeartRadio app
now available with Apple car Play and Android autom Just
another easy way to listen to LA's best sports.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
Talk is Sad Girls by bb rexil is David Getta
produced track dropped over the weekend. Is set to peer
on the pop stars sports coming album entitled Dirty Blonde,
which would drop on June twelfth. In a statement, she said,
Sad Girls is for anyone who has ever been on
the dance floor with a broken heart and refuse to
(37:06):
let it win. You're not okay, but you're still dancing
and showing up for yourself. That's one of the most
powerful things you can do in those moments. Again, Today's
afternoon Delight is Sad Girls by bb REXI.
Speaker 1 (37:25):
Okay, so Rodney, let's talk Lakers. We talked about him
in the last segment. Let's just do this real quick,
and how do you build your roster going forward? What
is it you do well? The conventional wisdom is Giannis
is available.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Let's go get him.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Let's go get Yanna's guys had some injury problems and
you know, more up than down years wise, Let's go
get him. That's the old Lakers. I guarantee you. I'm
not saying they won't do it now, but that's what
they would do. Let's get him.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Hell, oh man, this is gonna be great? Is it?
Is it gonna be great?
Speaker 1 (38:06):
What are you trying to do? What is your objective?
If your objective is to try to build for sustained success.
That ain't the answer. I'm telling you now. They could
absolutely sign them and everybody will lose their mind and
celebrate until he gets hurt or he breaks down, and
(38:28):
then that will be it. I think they have to
get out of this because they have their star in Luca.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
You've got Luca.
Speaker 1 (38:39):
The old Get two really good guys and just filling
the rest doesn't work. And then people want to get
three really good guys and filling the rest. That doesn't
work either. You can't do it the way they've always
done it. I don't think they will with a new philosophy.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
Who do you get and who's a good fit with Luca?
Who is it a big? Is it an a a
ball handler? Is it a wing player that can shoot?
Who fits with Luca?
Speaker 1 (39:13):
Honestly, and this is not a cop out. It's not
a cop out, all right. I don't know if it's
as important of who fits with Luca is how are
we going to do this? We've got Luca, all right,
and probably.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
I'll figure out who's gonna fit with him. You can't
just throw anybody in there.
Speaker 1 (39:34):
Yeah, but you need four other guys. You need four
other guys to fit with them. Who are those four
guys not? Who is the one person that fits with him?
This is what we have now. We have to build
around him, not one more player. Well, if we just
get you, Honest and Luca, they'll be great. Yeah, what
about the other guys. That's what's killing them. Lack of depth.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
Yeah. Depth, And I I'm just look at okay see
and the Spurs and they went seven games and it
was exciting as it could be. And I look at
the Spurs team and they've got they really built it
the right way. I think they did a masterful job
(40:20):
in building that roster because they've got four guys on
the court that can handle the ball, also can create
their own shots, and the fact that they can handle
the ball can create opportunities for Wimby. And when you
add Wimby to the mix, because he can create and
(40:40):
get his own shot too, you got five guys that
can get their own shot. But when you've got guys
like Castle and Harper that can and Champagnee that can
create their own shots also shoot the three penetrate and
give it to Wimby, it's a it's a deadly proposition
to try to defend those guys. So they did a
masterful job. And you look at it. I'm serious. I
(41:03):
looked at that Western Conference final going, Man, the Lakers
got a ways to go. They got a ways to
go to fill this out, because you're right, it's gonna
take three other guys. You can't do it anymore with
you know, those days of the Big three will carry
you through and you just kind of plug the other
two guys in. You can't do it that way. You
can't hide anymore. So it's uh, it's gonna be an
(41:27):
interesting offseason for the Lakers.
Speaker 1 (41:39):
One hour in the books con there, Nope, okay, good,
do you want to tease something for its Well, remember.
Speaker 2 (41:47):
We talked yesterday about the potential of Aaron Donald coming
out of retirement rejoining the Rams, Fred and you said,
there's no way in hell it's happening. Yes, there's a
way in hell that's coming up. And David Vassayle joined
us
Roggin And Rodney News
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