February 6, 2026 • 20 mins
Kevin Harlan, Westwood One’s NFL announcer for Super Bowl LX, joins Dave Softy Mahler to talk about Sunday’s game and the culture of the Seahawks, Nick Emmanwori and Seattle’s defense stopping Drake Maye, and narratives of the appeal of the game.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
They are NFL champions. The seattles he Hawks have won
Super Bowl forty eight.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
As part of our non stuff coverage of the NFL,
this is Softy's weekly visit with Kevin Harlan, the Pulldozer.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
He's a piece brought.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
To you by Twin Peaks in tuck Willa open every
Sunday morning, just in time for kickoff.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
He was like a pinball panging off Bunny. He's a
twenty three yard catch it.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Hun catch every game, every bite and every sip only
at Twin Peaks Tuck Willa.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Hit the touchdown, Hit the touchdown.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
HiT's grab biers.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Now with Kevin, here's Softy. Ten seconds to go rams hit.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
They're thirty down by four shut gun snaff to Stafford,
shuts in the pocket, plenty of time, winds up coast
to the near sideline. Caught fifty yard lighting out of
bounds the corp. The clock at one all to keep
the clock going. It's over. It's over.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Seattle is run. The Seahawks are going the Super Bowl.
You know, I gotta be honest with you, man.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Everything we've done this week, Uh second fiddle, what's about
to happen?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Right now?
Speaker 4 (01:08):
We had bo Jackson, What the here with us? Yeah,
a couple of days ago, he was awesome, really sure,
he was on the air for twenty minutes. Really he
was talking about nil his favorite bow moments. Talked about
how much money he would have made.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
It, Oh, the university.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
He said he would have had to take a pay
cut to go to the rains. Well, anyway, all that stuff,
child's play, child's play, child's play, compared to what's happening
right now. The voice of Super Bowl sixty in person
looks the same every year. I got photos of you
and me going back fifteen twenty years. I like that
you have an age today you haven't either.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
You look great.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I look terrible.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
No, you look good. No, you look good. You look good.
It is so good to see you in person. Well,
and I'm so happy for your city. I'm happy for you.
Like how crazy that's you were the best team in
the league and you're yeah, in the right spot for
the big game.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Why is it that every time I see you, I
just start laughing. I don't know, I.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Don't know you. And my wife every time I walk
in the door, she just starts laughing. What what?
Speaker 4 (02:10):
I look around in my zipper down like I can't
think you know what's going on? Well, it's unbelievable, man,
It's what I look forward to. This every year doesn't happen?
Every year it doesn't, does happen? I look forward to it.
So you're here, you just got to town yep broadcast
on Sunday. What are the next two days like for
you and your team as you get ready for kickoff? Well,
(02:32):
you know, I began about ten days ago. I just
saw the Hawks, so I'm up to date on them.
I had done a couple of New England games, so
I feel pretty good with them. The thing about radio
is that the only thing that really matters is the call.
It's not all the anecdotes, it's not all the little
trivia things you can throw in there. There's no time
(02:53):
for slivers of information that's done on the pregame show,
the halftime, in the post game.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
But all it comes down to is the game. So really,
the preparation is pretty simple. I don't use a spotter,
so my own eyes and my own mind are my spotter.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yeah, why Yeah. When I was a kid doing games
in high school, I didn't have a spotter and I
would be doing some games holding on, you know, and
this is high school, doing high school stuff. I'd hold
on to like a telephone poll with one arm and
the microphone or the other and I just had to
do the game. I did get some games on top
(03:29):
of a press box, which was windy and notes would
blow around, so I couldn't rely on someone there to
help me out. Plus, I want to be responsible if
I mess up. I want to be the guy that
looks in there and say you screwed up, as opposed
to I think I'd get so frustrated if they pointed
the wrong guy with the touchdown catch or whatever, yeah,
and I go I knew it wasn't him, and why
(03:49):
And yet I followed you and I went to so
you know, there's some accountability. I think you've got to interest.
You got to be responsible for your own stuff. And
that's kind of how I feel about that. Uncomfortable with it.
It's now.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
I mean, I've done it this my forty first year
doing play by play in the NFL. Wow, I've done
it every year that way, and I've just kind of
stuck with it radio and TV both. Well, it's funny
that you mentioned that because I had Laura Oakman sitting
here the other day, and I actually asked her. I said,
you got it, there's got to be some dirt on
this guy. There's gotta be some dirt. And she sat
there and she couldn't think of a damn thing, unbelievable,
(04:23):
and she said, sometimes you got a hard time with
like technology, with their email and things like that.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
I don't know if that's true or not. She may
have just made that up.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Well, I think she may have been referring to social media,
which I don't participate. Good for you on purpose, on purpose,
I do not look at it. I don't want to
look at it. My girls will tell me. My daughters
will tell me if there's anything that needs some addressing, right,
if I've done something wrong, or if i've or if
there's something that you know, like like when the Kayla
Williams of the touchdown pass the playoff game, they got
(04:51):
a lot of play which I didn't know, and they
would mention stuff like that. But the business is too hard,
and and we all take such responsibility in what we
do and how we do it, and such pride, at
least the ones that are creditable in what you do
and how you do it. I don't want to be
looking at somebody's opinion if I if I saying one
(05:16):
way or the other, if good or bad. I need
to rely on myself. And I've got people, and usually
it's your bosses who will say, hey, you know you're
you're you're slipping up, or hey, you're nailing the call
or whatever, and so I rely on that. And I've
been in the business long enough now, you know, since
I was about eleven years old. I know I kind
of know what what works and what doesn't. I don't
(05:36):
have all the answers. I'm not saying that. And in
every game I learned something. I go back and listen
to my games and and and more times than not
disappointed for one reason or the other, but try to
improve for the next one. And that that's the challenge
in the business. You go back and listen to your tapes,
don't you, Dave?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah, No, I.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Don't terrible whoa whoa A lot right there?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Self criticism so much?
Speaker 4 (06:01):
No, I just you know what, there's no reason to
self evaluate because I know I suck. So what's the point.
I know, I say that your market show, your reputation.
Everybody loves you everybody, You're you're a son of the area,
and they love you well that the first part is true.
Third time you've seen the Hawks this year Monday night? Yeah,
Ram game today, yep? What do you make of this
(06:23):
team that you'll see again Sunday? The best team in
the NFL. There's no doubt they belong here. The Darnald
story is this compelling, an individual story that I can
recall in my many years broadcasting the league. I think
your coach is the next great coach, if not already
there in the NFL. I think he is the next
great coach, if not already there. And you've got the
(06:45):
big three, and every great organization has the Big three.
They got the GM, they got the coach, and they
got the quarterback. And and I don't know how there
can be.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Much question now about Sam after he did what he
did against the Rams, and that championship game was basically flawless.
He's met big moments, he is and he's still growing,
like he's still in expand mode because of the of
the rocky start that he had. And by the way,
let me just say this, he didn't fail the Jets.
(07:17):
The Jets failed him. That organization failed him. It wasn't him.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
They didn't surround him with the right voices, the right coaches,
the right culture, the right offense, the right players.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
They failed him. And all he's doing is trying to
gather in the try. He's trying to remember what he
was when he left FC, And by going to the
Niners and then continuing with the with the Vikings and
now doing it with the Seahawks, I think has checked
anybody's doubtless. This guy is Legit belongs there. You've got
(07:50):
the coach, You've got the GM, and the GM, by
the way, is on a path to Canton. He's that good.
And what he's done and how long he's done it
with two different coaches. Now, well, I gotta be honest,
I think a lot of the fingerprints of Pete are
still there. The positivity, the passion, the emotion that you
(08:10):
need to push yourself through difficult times. Pete will always
be a centerpiece in that organization. But the question was
who is the next guy to take that baton and
run with it? And they nailed it with the coach
and the GM has been a part of both. And
now you got the quarterback. Right, So listen, I my
(08:33):
My respect for all of those features is profound on
every level.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
I want to ask you about Kevin Harlan's with us,
as if you didn't recognize the voice. For God's sake,
nobody's gonna turn the radio on hear this voice.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
My wife doesn't even recognize my voice. What do you mean? People, aga,
what are you talking about? Nobody would turn my wife,
She'll say, you know, it's so interesting you you talk
all day long in a game, and then you come home.
You think you'd be tired.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Maybe, No, you talk even more when you get home,
like like like I get the opposite by the way
you do. Yeah, I I I go home.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
She wants you to talk?
Speaker 4 (09:10):
No, she yes, because I go home and I want
to stop.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I want to shut shut her down.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Oh you do, Gene.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
It's like you know, you talk to people all day
long and he won't talk to me. So, I mean,
I get the exact time. Sweet And she is a saint,
well she really is. She really is, is right, But.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Let me ask you this.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
So Jeff Garcia was sitting here a couple of days ago,
and we asked him, how does this thing get derailed
for the Hawks? And he said, if you Sunday. Yes,
we're just overall on Sunday game Sunday. I mean we're
talking about the game Sunday, right, yeah, but I's going on.
But listen now, no, you're you're you're like in chapter
three of a twenty chapter book.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
I'm talking about the game.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
The quarterback is twenty eighth, the head coach is forty.
That's right. That the gentleman. By the way, the general
manager and I went to the same high school.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
You said that last week, guy, Yeah, yeah, what high.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
School it was.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
It was Premontre School, which is now Notre Dame Academy.
It was an all boys Catholic school, and and and
we went there, not at the same time. He followed me,
and and Elliott Wolfe, who's the GM of the New
England Patriots, went to the all boys school across the river.
(10:20):
But that school merged with ours, so we all have
the same route. But the problem is, growing up in
Green Bay there was like two schools and the whole
freaking place, right, I wasn't come on, I mean, how many.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Schools were there in Green Bay when you were growing
up there?
Speaker 1 (10:32):
How many were there?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Yes, Curly Lamba went to green Bay East there's Green
Bay West, there's Southwest, there's Prebble, there's Bayport, there's a schwabin.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
What are you talking about?
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Before you make an asinine comment, please do your homework.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
My god, what's going on here?
Speaker 4 (10:50):
I look at Dick and I go, Dick, what's going
to take take the reins of the show? Jeff Guard's
with us, and I asked him, well, you know what?
Did you ask them? How does this thing get derailed
on Sunday? And he said, if the entire Seahawks defensive
line gets thrown in jail, then maybe they'll lose the
game on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
That's how copy You know what?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
You know what? Four guys, I'm gonna watch.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
Guys up front, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, Jaron Reid Right.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
The defensive tackles for both teams. Yes, their defensive tackles
are terrific. Yes, and your two are probably the best
pair in a team in the league. So I'm watching
those guys. And that line is shaky for the Patriots,
and we know it.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Left side's got two rookies, yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
And they've they've been hammered.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
They've allowed more sacks on that side of the line
than any other left side in pro football.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Now, they're gonna be good. But right now, I mean
like they're just learning to fly like their eagles trying
to get out of the nest. You like that. Yeah,
they're like they're.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Like seahawks trying to flee the nest, hoping those wings
can catch a breeze.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
And then they'll glide through. But they are, they're gonna
be challenged, Yeah, and it's gonna be I'm keeping my
eyes on that low scoring defensive And I think Darnell
to play great. I think he's gonna be relaxed. He's
got his hands full. This is a big stage now.
But but I think he's I think he's built for it.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
Well, I would caught another guy who was on the
show with us a week and another guy that actually
played for the Packers, Matt Hassel back back in the day,
who did not go to your high school at all because.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
He couldn't get in. He couldn't get it, couldn't get it.
You know, the academic requirements to get in there were pronounced.
That's not what I heard. Well, that's yeah, you're getting
wrong information.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
Then he says, because he's free, he's really tight with
me being a Boston guy, says he ends up in
the blue tent way too often, takes off, gets hit,
takes chances, things like that, makes a wrong move whatever.
I'm nervous about him as a runner, especially on third
and short.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
He's gonna have to run. He's gonna have to run.
Talk about that. He's got to run. They they've got
two fine becks. I don't know that they're as good
as Walker, but they're they're good ones. They're solid running backs,
both of them are. And but the quarterback's ability to run,
his mobility by a receivers, it's not a great receiving crew.
It's not a great offense. It's not a great offense.
(13:05):
They're they're good enough. I will say this though, when
they've hit it big, they're a big explosive play offense.
Digs is part of that. Booty's part of that. You know,
they've got talent, they got some quality at tied end,
some depth right there. They're gonna have to really be
They're gonna have to stay in their lane. And and
and and of course everyone saw about em and Warry
(13:26):
and what he does, and he is a unique, one
of one kind of guy. And I'm telling you what,
watch this draft coming up. Everyone's gonna look for an
Eemon Warr. They're gonna look for a six to three
guy that can play both in the secondary and linebacker
and and can probably run and and and stop the
run and that kind of a defensive set more than
he can cover, but can be that fifth guy. It's like,
(13:50):
it's like we've had a guy like this before. It's
it's just hard to find him. But John did clearly,
and and we know the result. But but the question
I think is going to be, will the Hawks defense
have a spy? Will they have a guy that will
be married to the quarterback and literally shadow him every
move they could? I think New England's gonna come up
(14:12):
with some different kinds of things. And I'm watching the
two return guys because they're both all pros. I don't
know if the NFL has seen a better there may
have been some comparable. I don't know that the NFL
has seen a better mid season trade deadline acquisition than Shaheed.
What he's done to the offense, it's like opened up
(14:34):
a whole nother room of a house. What he can
do his gadgetary, Like he's just he just he does
so much, and he's he's he's a hard guy to
plan for. And and I think that's and then they
got one in Marcus Jones, who's who's just phenomenal. So
I think a Special Teams player two could really put
(14:55):
an imprint on this game.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
Well, you know, as long as I've known you, Kevin,
that's a long time now, Kevin har It is too
long in some people's books, But yeah, for sure, courtesy
at Twin Peaks, Tuck.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Well, I love Brad by the way. I love the guy.
You know. We're again the other night after the game
in Seattle, and I was battling.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
A cold, and he says, can I can I get
you some kind of medications of Brad?
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Thank you? I know another guy here. I'd like to
think he was watching out for my health because I
was very sick in that game, right as you could hear.
Oh yeah, but that other call didn't come, but Brad's did.
So Brad, thank you, And it just empowers me more
to continue on with Twin Peaks. And I love what
you stand for. I love your food, I love your
beverage selection, I love your atmosphere, I love your location.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
That is a cell job right there, which brings me
too to my final point. Okay, because you have always
been excited about every game you've called it.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Yes, I've never heard you. I swear to God this
is true.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Never heard Kevin Harden off the year say I'm not
looking forward to this. I hate it. I don't want
to do it. You are jacked up. You are as
a genuine I love our jobs since you are, don't you.
I'm trying to compliment. We just stop for a second.
I'm trying to tell people that you are the genuine article.
People always come up to me literally and they say, God,
that harding guy sounds like an awesome dude.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
They said, he is.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
He's the same guy on the air that he is
off the air. He's It's ridiculous by the way. He
always he's always jacked up for whatever game he's gonna
call this game.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Some people have tried to kind of, you know, look
crap on it.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Well, then they're pretons, right, they're idiots, they.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Do this doesn't have the sex appeal there.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Sometimes it's smoking mirrors with these big stars. Now, I
grant you, the star power is not what it's been
of late with Brady and then in the Mahomes right,
I think this game has infinitely more good storylines, solid
things going on. I'm I'm I'm ready for a change.
I gotta be honest, and I'm in the Kansas City
(16:53):
guy I called. I called the Chiefs for nine years
on radio. I love when they were there. I called
their first championship. But but I'm ready for a change it.
The league needs this. The league needs to show it's
got some roots and some tentacles and it's not the
same teams all the time. I think there was some
fatigue with the Patriots when Brady was there in Belichick,
there was some fatigue with the Chiefs. I think this
(17:15):
brings in a fresh new face. The Darnold story, there's
not a story like it. And this is a second
year quarterback with the Patriots. And how can you love
Rabel and how can't you love McDonald? I mean, these
are two important franchises for the league. I love the
storylines coming in. I think it's the game will not disappoint.
These coaches won't allow it to happen. There's too much
(17:35):
talent on both sides for it to happen. And I
think we're in store for may not be a shootout.
I'm okay with that.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
You know, when you get in the postseason, defensive football
is fun and there's gonna be a lot of chess maneuvering.
There's gonna be a lot of strategic you know, reflection
on what you just saw on how you're going to
counter it.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
I'm looking so forward to it.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
I love it all right.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Well, if you need help for the broadcast, I'll be
here through Monday.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
You got my number, give me a call. I do
you're here through Monday?
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Ye?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Leave Monday. You're you're gonna do your show here from Monday.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Uh, leaving Monday? Sorry you're leaving. You're leaving Monday. Back
to your show? Yes, yeah, fly out Monday morning on
here at three o'clock Monday afternoons.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Did your wife come with you down here?
Speaker 3 (18:16):
She's flying down to marnight.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
How great is that coming down torn?
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Yep?
Speaker 1 (18:19):
So did you tell him who? Maybe you got a
couple of seats? Am? I?
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Yeah, I'll say he was. Kurt Warner hooked us up.
This guy right here came through for us. I texted Kevin,
I said, dude, you got to help me out here.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
No, say so? Problem.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
If you hear of any tickets for sale, yes, please
let me know.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
And by the grace of God and the way he
works in magical ways, the football guides the regular whoever whatever. God,
you know that God was looking down at the ticket God,
and he said and and it was within about a
half hour, right, And I said, I think I've got
something for you. Yes, yes, and cost to you, of course,
with your big salary meant nothing. You didn't care about that.
(19:05):
And if they were face value and you've got them.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
Well, I appreciate you do pretty good, very good, okay, good,
very good, good, good, good, very good seats. So you
know I'd do anything for you. I know you would anything.
I would buy anything. I was gonna buy a dinner
at the met last week. Didn't show me.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
That's okay, said there by myself, with with all those
nice waiters that they have, and enjoyed ourselves.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Oh God, you know what.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
I love doing games in that stadium so much. I
just love it. I just love it.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
And I love being on with you and Dick and uh.
And you would become not just a guy that I
do the show with, but a friend. And I appreciate
that that friendship more than you know. You're the best.
We love you.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Have a great call Sunday. We got the game on
kJ R. We're gonna hear it. We use your voice
on the station all the time. Good, especially when Jackson
screws up as a producer, things like that. So thank
you for all of the moments you've given a back
and is back there right now.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Jackson. You don't you know, I've never seen you fumble. Jackson.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
That's right, I've never fumbled. It's always Softy's fault.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
I totally agree. See it's two online.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Safty fumbled. So you gotta go.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
You're the Maview buddy. Let me thanks for having me
on you bet.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
Kevin Harlan will be on the call on Sunday for
Super Bowl sixty here right here on ninety three three
kJ R.
They are NFL champions. The seattles he Hawks have won
Super Bowl forty eight.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
As part of our non stuff coverage of the NFL,
this is Softy's weekly visit with Kevin Harlan, the Pulldozer.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
He's a piece brought.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
To you by Twin Peaks in tuck Willa open every
Sunday morning, just in time for kickoff.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
He was like a pinball panging off Bunny. He's a
twenty three yard catch it.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Hun catch every game, every bite and every sip only
at Twin Peaks Tuck Willa.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Hit the touchdown, Hit the touchdown.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
HiT's grab biers.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Now with Kevin, here's Softy. Ten seconds to go rams hit.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
They're thirty down by four shut gun snaff to Stafford,
shuts in the pocket, plenty of time, winds up coast
to the near sideline. Caught fifty yard lighting out of
bounds the corp. The clock at one all to keep
the clock going. It's over. It's over.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Seattle is run. The Seahawks are going the Super Bowl.
You know, I gotta be honest with you, man.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Everything we've done this week, Uh second fiddle, what's about
to happen?
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Right now?
Speaker 4 (01:08):
We had bo Jackson, What the here with us? Yeah,
a couple of days ago, he was awesome, really sure,
he was on the air for twenty minutes. Really he
was talking about nil his favorite bow moments. Talked about
how much money he would have made.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
It, Oh, the university.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
He said he would have had to take a pay
cut to go to the rains. Well, anyway, all that stuff,
child's play, child's play, child's play, compared to what's happening
right now. The voice of Super Bowl sixty in person
looks the same every year. I got photos of you
and me going back fifteen twenty years. I like that
you have an age today you haven't either.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
You look great.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I look terrible.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
No, you look good. No, you look good. You look good.
It is so good to see you in person. Well,
and I'm so happy for your city. I'm happy for you.
Like how crazy that's you were the best team in
the league and you're yeah, in the right spot for
the big game.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Why is it that every time I see you, I
just start laughing. I don't know, I.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Don't know you. And my wife every time I walk
in the door, she just starts laughing. What what?
Speaker 4 (02:10):
I look around in my zipper down like I can't
think you know what's going on? Well, it's unbelievable, man,
It's what I look forward to. This every year doesn't happen?
Every year it doesn't, does happen? I look forward to it.
So you're here, you just got to town yep broadcast
on Sunday. What are the next two days like for
you and your team as you get ready for kickoff? Well,
(02:32):
you know, I began about ten days ago. I just
saw the Hawks, so I'm up to date on them.
I had done a couple of New England games, so
I feel pretty good with them. The thing about radio
is that the only thing that really matters is the call.
It's not all the anecdotes, it's not all the little
trivia things you can throw in there. There's no time
(02:53):
for slivers of information that's done on the pregame show,
the halftime, in the post game.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
But all it comes down to is the game. So really,
the preparation is pretty simple. I don't use a spotter,
so my own eyes and my own mind are my spotter.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yeah, why Yeah. When I was a kid doing games
in high school, I didn't have a spotter and I
would be doing some games holding on, you know, and
this is high school, doing high school stuff. I'd hold
on to like a telephone poll with one arm and
the microphone or the other and I just had to
do the game. I did get some games on top
(03:29):
of a press box, which was windy and notes would
blow around, so I couldn't rely on someone there to
help me out. Plus, I want to be responsible if
I mess up. I want to be the guy that
looks in there and say you screwed up, as opposed
to I think I'd get so frustrated if they pointed
the wrong guy with the touchdown catch or whatever, yeah,
and I go I knew it wasn't him, and why
(03:49):
And yet I followed you and I went to so
you know, there's some accountability. I think you've got to interest.
You got to be responsible for your own stuff. And
that's kind of how I feel about that. Uncomfortable with it.
It's now.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
I mean, I've done it this my forty first year
doing play by play in the NFL. Wow, I've done
it every year that way, and I've just kind of
stuck with it radio and TV both. Well, it's funny
that you mentioned that because I had Laura Oakman sitting
here the other day, and I actually asked her. I said,
you got it, there's got to be some dirt on
this guy. There's gotta be some dirt. And she sat
there and she couldn't think of a damn thing, unbelievable,
(04:23):
and she said, sometimes you got a hard time with
like technology, with their email and things like that.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
I don't know if that's true or not. She may
have just made that up.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Well, I think she may have been referring to social media,
which I don't participate. Good for you on purpose, on purpose,
I do not look at it. I don't want to
look at it. My girls will tell me. My daughters
will tell me if there's anything that needs some addressing, right,
if I've done something wrong, or if i've or if
there's something that you know, like like when the Kayla
Williams of the touchdown pass the playoff game, they got
(04:51):
a lot of play which I didn't know, and they
would mention stuff like that. But the business is too hard,
and and we all take such responsibility in what we
do and how we do it, and such pride, at
least the ones that are creditable in what you do
and how you do it. I don't want to be
looking at somebody's opinion if I if I saying one
(05:16):
way or the other, if good or bad. I need
to rely on myself. And I've got people, and usually
it's your bosses who will say, hey, you know you're
you're you're slipping up, or hey, you're nailing the call
or whatever, and so I rely on that. And I've
been in the business long enough now, you know, since
I was about eleven years old. I know I kind
of know what what works and what doesn't. I don't
(05:36):
have all the answers. I'm not saying that. And in
every game I learned something. I go back and listen
to my games and and and more times than not
disappointed for one reason or the other, but try to
improve for the next one. And that that's the challenge
in the business. You go back and listen to your tapes,
don't you, Dave?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Yeah, No, I.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Don't terrible whoa whoa A lot right there?
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Self criticism so much?
Speaker 4 (06:01):
No, I just you know what, there's no reason to
self evaluate because I know I suck. So what's the point.
I know, I say that your market show, your reputation.
Everybody loves you everybody, You're you're a son of the area,
and they love you well that the first part is true.
Third time you've seen the Hawks this year Monday night? Yeah,
Ram game today, yep? What do you make of this
(06:23):
team that you'll see again Sunday? The best team in
the NFL. There's no doubt they belong here. The Darnald
story is this compelling, an individual story that I can
recall in my many years broadcasting the league. I think
your coach is the next great coach, if not already
there in the NFL. I think he is the next
great coach, if not already there. And you've got the
(06:45):
big three, and every great organization has the Big three.
They got the GM, they got the coach, and they
got the quarterback. And and I don't know how there
can be.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Much question now about Sam after he did what he
did against the Rams, and that championship game was basically flawless.
He's met big moments, he is and he's still growing,
like he's still in expand mode because of the of
the rocky start that he had. And by the way,
let me just say this, he didn't fail the Jets.
(07:17):
The Jets failed him. That organization failed him. It wasn't him.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
They didn't surround him with the right voices, the right coaches,
the right culture, the right offense, the right players.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
They failed him. And all he's doing is trying to
gather in the try. He's trying to remember what he
was when he left FC, And by going to the
Niners and then continuing with the with the Vikings and
now doing it with the Seahawks, I think has checked
anybody's doubtless. This guy is Legit belongs there. You've got
(07:50):
the coach, You've got the GM, and the GM, by
the way, is on a path to Canton. He's that good.
And what he's done and how long he's done it
with two different coaches. Now, well, I gotta be honest,
I think a lot of the fingerprints of Pete are
still there. The positivity, the passion, the emotion that you
(08:10):
need to push yourself through difficult times. Pete will always
be a centerpiece in that organization. But the question was
who is the next guy to take that baton and
run with it? And they nailed it with the coach
and the GM has been a part of both. And
now you got the quarterback. Right, So listen, I my
(08:33):
My respect for all of those features is profound on
every level.
Speaker 4 (08:38):
I want to ask you about Kevin Harlan's with us,
as if you didn't recognize the voice. For God's sake,
nobody's gonna turn the radio on hear this voice.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
My wife doesn't even recognize my voice. What do you mean? People, aga,
what are you talking about? Nobody would turn my wife,
She'll say, you know, it's so interesting you you talk
all day long in a game, and then you come home.
You think you'd be tired.
Speaker 4 (09:01):
Maybe, No, you talk even more when you get home,
like like like I get the opposite by the way
you do. Yeah, I I I go home.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
She wants you to talk?
Speaker 4 (09:10):
No, she yes, because I go home and I want
to stop.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
I want to shut shut her down.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Oh you do, Gene.
Speaker 4 (09:16):
It's like you know, you talk to people all day
long and he won't talk to me. So, I mean,
I get the exact time. Sweet And she is a saint,
well she really is. She really is, is right, But.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Let me ask you this.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
So Jeff Garcia was sitting here a couple of days ago,
and we asked him, how does this thing get derailed
for the Hawks? And he said, if you Sunday. Yes,
we're just overall on Sunday game Sunday. I mean we're
talking about the game Sunday, right, yeah, but I's going on.
But listen now, no, you're you're you're like in chapter
three of a twenty chapter book.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
I'm talking about the game.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
The quarterback is twenty eighth, the head coach is forty.
That's right. That the gentleman. By the way, the general
manager and I went to the same high school.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
You said that last week, guy, Yeah, yeah, what high.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
School it was.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
It was Premontre School, which is now Notre Dame Academy.
It was an all boys Catholic school, and and and
we went there, not at the same time. He followed me,
and and Elliott Wolfe, who's the GM of the New
England Patriots, went to the all boys school across the river.
(10:20):
But that school merged with ours, so we all have
the same route. But the problem is, growing up in
Green Bay there was like two schools and the whole
freaking place, right, I wasn't come on, I mean, how many.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Schools were there in Green Bay when you were growing
up there?
Speaker 1 (10:32):
How many were there?
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Yes, Curly Lamba went to green Bay East there's Green
Bay West, there's Southwest, there's Prebble, there's Bayport, there's a schwabin.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
What are you talking about?
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Before you make an asinine comment, please do your homework.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
My god, what's going on here?
Speaker 4 (10:50):
I look at Dick and I go, Dick, what's going
to take take the reins of the show? Jeff Guard's
with us, and I asked him, well, you know what?
Did you ask them? How does this thing get derailed
on Sunday? And he said, if the entire Seahawks defensive
line gets thrown in jail, then maybe they'll lose the
game on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
That's how copy You know what?
Speaker 1 (11:11):
You know what? Four guys, I'm gonna watch.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
Guys up front, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, Jaron Reid Right.
Speaker 1 (11:17):
The defensive tackles for both teams. Yes, their defensive tackles
are terrific. Yes, and your two are probably the best
pair in a team in the league. So I'm watching
those guys. And that line is shaky for the Patriots,
and we know it.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
Left side's got two rookies, yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
And they've they've been hammered.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
They've allowed more sacks on that side of the line
than any other left side in pro football.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Now, they're gonna be good. But right now, I mean
like they're just learning to fly like their eagles trying
to get out of the nest. You like that. Yeah,
they're like they're.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
Like seahawks trying to flee the nest, hoping those wings
can catch a breeze.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
And then they'll glide through. But they are, they're gonna
be challenged, Yeah, and it's gonna be I'm keeping my
eyes on that low scoring defensive And I think Darnell
to play great. I think he's gonna be relaxed. He's
got his hands full. This is a big stage now.
But but I think he's I think he's built for it.
Speaker 4 (12:11):
Well, I would caught another guy who was on the
show with us a week and another guy that actually
played for the Packers, Matt Hassel back back in the day,
who did not go to your high school at all because.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
He couldn't get in. He couldn't get it, couldn't get it.
You know, the academic requirements to get in there were pronounced.
That's not what I heard. Well, that's yeah, you're getting
wrong information.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
Then he says, because he's free, he's really tight with
me being a Boston guy, says he ends up in
the blue tent way too often, takes off, gets hit,
takes chances, things like that, makes a wrong move whatever.
I'm nervous about him as a runner, especially on third
and short.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
He's gonna have to run. He's gonna have to run.
Talk about that. He's got to run. They they've got
two fine becks. I don't know that they're as good
as Walker, but they're they're good ones. They're solid running backs,
both of them are. And but the quarterback's ability to run,
his mobility by a receivers, it's not a great receiving crew.
It's not a great offense. It's not a great offense.
(13:05):
They're they're good enough. I will say this though, when
they've hit it big, they're a big explosive play offense.
Digs is part of that. Booty's part of that. You know,
they've got talent, they got some quality at tied end,
some depth right there. They're gonna have to really be
They're gonna have to stay in their lane. And and
and and of course everyone saw about em and Warry
(13:26):
and what he does, and he is a unique, one
of one kind of guy. And I'm telling you what,
watch this draft coming up. Everyone's gonna look for an
Eemon Warr. They're gonna look for a six to three
guy that can play both in the secondary and linebacker
and and can probably run and and and stop the
run and that kind of a defensive set more than
he can cover, but can be that fifth guy. It's like,
(13:50):
it's like we've had a guy like this before. It's
it's just hard to find him. But John did clearly,
and and we know the result. But but the question
I think is going to be, will the Hawks defense
have a spy? Will they have a guy that will
be married to the quarterback and literally shadow him every
move they could? I think New England's gonna come up
(14:12):
with some different kinds of things. And I'm watching the
two return guys because they're both all pros. I don't
know if the NFL has seen a better there may
have been some comparable. I don't know that the NFL
has seen a better mid season trade deadline acquisition than Shaheed.
What he's done to the offense, it's like opened up
(14:34):
a whole nother room of a house. What he can
do his gadgetary, Like he's just he just he does
so much, and he's he's he's a hard guy to
plan for. And and I think that's and then they
got one in Marcus Jones, who's who's just phenomenal. So
I think a Special Teams player two could really put
(14:55):
an imprint on this game.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
Well, you know, as long as I've known you, Kevin,
that's a long time now, Kevin har It is too
long in some people's books, But yeah, for sure, courtesy
at Twin Peaks, Tuck.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Well, I love Brad by the way. I love the guy.
You know. We're again the other night after the game
in Seattle, and I was battling.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
A cold, and he says, can I can I get
you some kind of medications of Brad?
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Thank you? I know another guy here. I'd like to
think he was watching out for my health because I
was very sick in that game, right as you could hear.
Oh yeah, but that other call didn't come, but Brad's did.
So Brad, thank you, And it just empowers me more
to continue on with Twin Peaks. And I love what
you stand for. I love your food, I love your
beverage selection, I love your atmosphere, I love your location.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
That is a cell job right there, which brings me
too to my final point. Okay, because you have always
been excited about every game you've called it.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
Yes, I've never heard you. I swear to God this
is true.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
Never heard Kevin Harden off the year say I'm not
looking forward to this. I hate it. I don't want
to do it. You are jacked up. You are as
a genuine I love our jobs since you are, don't you.
I'm trying to compliment. We just stop for a second.
I'm trying to tell people that you are the genuine article.
People always come up to me literally and they say, God,
that harding guy sounds like an awesome dude.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
They said, he is.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
He's the same guy on the air that he is
off the air. He's It's ridiculous by the way. He
always he's always jacked up for whatever game he's gonna
call this game.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Some people have tried to kind of, you know, look
crap on it.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Well, then they're pretons, right, they're idiots, they.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Do this doesn't have the sex appeal there.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Sometimes it's smoking mirrors with these big stars. Now, I
grant you, the star power is not what it's been
of late with Brady and then in the Mahomes right,
I think this game has infinitely more good storylines, solid
things going on. I'm I'm I'm ready for a change.
I gotta be honest, and I'm in the Kansas City
(16:53):
guy I called. I called the Chiefs for nine years
on radio. I love when they were there. I called
their first championship. But but I'm ready for a change it.
The league needs this. The league needs to show it's
got some roots and some tentacles and it's not the
same teams all the time. I think there was some
fatigue with the Patriots when Brady was there in Belichick,
there was some fatigue with the Chiefs. I think this
(17:15):
brings in a fresh new face. The Darnold story, there's
not a story like it. And this is a second
year quarterback with the Patriots. And how can you love
Rabel and how can't you love McDonald? I mean, these
are two important franchises for the league. I love the
storylines coming in. I think it's the game will not disappoint.
These coaches won't allow it to happen. There's too much
(17:35):
talent on both sides for it to happen. And I
think we're in store for may not be a shootout.
I'm okay with that.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
You know, when you get in the postseason, defensive football
is fun and there's gonna be a lot of chess maneuvering.
There's gonna be a lot of strategic you know, reflection
on what you just saw on how you're going to
counter it.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
I'm looking so forward to it.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
I love it all right.
Speaker 4 (17:57):
Well, if you need help for the broadcast, I'll be
here through Monday.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
You got my number, give me a call. I do
you're here through Monday?
Speaker 4 (18:04):
Ye?
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Leave Monday. You're you're gonna do your show here from Monday.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
Uh, leaving Monday? Sorry you're leaving. You're leaving Monday. Back
to your show? Yes, yeah, fly out Monday morning on
here at three o'clock Monday afternoons.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
Did your wife come with you down here?
Speaker 3 (18:16):
She's flying down to marnight.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
How great is that coming down torn?
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Yep?
Speaker 1 (18:19):
So did you tell him who? Maybe you got a
couple of seats? Am? I?
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Yeah, I'll say he was. Kurt Warner hooked us up.
This guy right here came through for us. I texted Kevin,
I said, dude, you got to help me out here.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
No, say so? Problem.
Speaker 1 (18:38):
If you hear of any tickets for sale, yes, please
let me know.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
And by the grace of God and the way he
works in magical ways, the football guides the regular whoever whatever. God,
you know that God was looking down at the ticket God,
and he said and and it was within about a
half hour, right, And I said, I think I've got
something for you. Yes, yes, and cost to you, of course,
with your big salary meant nothing. You didn't care about that.
(19:05):
And if they were face value and you've got them.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
Well, I appreciate you do pretty good, very good, okay, good,
very good, good, good, good, very good seats. So you
know I'd do anything for you. I know you would anything.
I would buy anything. I was gonna buy a dinner
at the met last week. Didn't show me.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
That's okay, said there by myself, with with all those
nice waiters that they have, and enjoyed ourselves.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
Oh God, you know what.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
I love doing games in that stadium so much. I
just love it. I just love it.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
And I love being on with you and Dick and uh.
And you would become not just a guy that I
do the show with, but a friend. And I appreciate
that that friendship more than you know. You're the best.
We love you.
Speaker 4 (19:44):
Have a great call Sunday. We got the game on
kJ R. We're gonna hear it. We use your voice
on the station all the time. Good, especially when Jackson
screws up as a producer, things like that. So thank
you for all of the moments you've given a back
and is back there right now.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Jackson. You don't you know, I've never seen you fumble. Jackson.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
That's right, I've never fumbled. It's always Softy's fault.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
I totally agree. See it's two online.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Safty fumbled. So you gotta go.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
You're the Maview buddy. Let me thanks for having me
on you bet.
Speaker 4 (20:18):
Kevin Harlan will be on the call on Sunday for
Super Bowl sixty here right here on ninety three three
kJ R.
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