The Bill Riley Show 6-27-24

The Bill Riley Show 6-27-24

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
You got pint cricking out now herehe goes to the outside, written pub
you get the sideline fifty forty fiveforty very girls, twenty ten five touchdown,
touchdown, touchdown, written tub meseventy eight guys. Gipson swings and

(00:28):
a fly ball to deep right pail. There's We're gonna be home round.
Don't believe alow home run cricket clicking. I don't believe when I Curt Paw.
I don't believe what I Curt Paw. Russell lot getting down at half
cook stop to count three, shestuck to sends the Utah yasity ing the

(00:55):
sitles. Robbie Russell now with achance to send r SL home Miss Cup
Champions Sada's on his line. Russellapproaches and two the two thousands cut champions
cock Champions chas Lake City. Thisis the Bill Riley Show, presented by

(01:22):
lesh Schwab Tires doing the White Thingsince nineteen fifty two. Here's the three
time Utah Sports Broadcaster of the Year, the Voice of the Utes, Bill
Riley, on Utah's number one sportsTalk ESPN seven hundred. Hey there,
good morning, and welcome in comingto you live from downtown Salt Lake City,
but not in our studios, inour usual place of Broadway Media just

(01:46):
around the corner from there. We'reat beer Bar today, and my last
remote as a member of the ESPNseven hundred family is underway. Beer Bar
one sixty one East and second South, right here at the heart of downtown
Salt Lake City. If you haveno lunch plans, their front door opens
at about noontime today, would loveto have you come down, grab a

(02:07):
beer, grab a brot, andenjoy a great day here at beer Bar
today. And if you can't makeit down for lunchtime, get down here
around four o'clock today. They'll haveCopa America on the United States and Panama.
We'll lead things off at Copa America, then Uruguay and Bolivia a little
bit later on tonight. No Eurostoday. They've reached the knockout round of
Euros, so they'll be playing onthe weekend. But nothing today, so

(02:30):
Panama and the United States later,Uruguay and Bolivia later. Bill Riley's show
early today, doors open at noon. Come on buy and say hi,
grab some lunch and have a beer, and we'll say thank you for your
listenership. And all that good stuffover the years. This will be my
last remote as of now for ESPNseven hundred. My final day is tomorrow,

(02:52):
if you can believe it. I'vehad people asking me for a couple
of weeks, now, are youready for your last show? What are
you gonna say on your last show? Are you ready? I have no
idea. I've started actually thinking aboutit now, and let me just say,
I could be an unovated mess tomorrowtrying to say goodbye and thank you
on my last show. So anythingis on the table tomorrow from eleven until

(03:15):
two on these very airwaves, asI'm going to try my very best to
keep it together and have a goodtime and say thank you to some folks
and have a good show on thefinal show tomorrow. But today is today,
and we're live at beer Bar atone sixty one East and second South
here in downtown Salt Lake City.Our opening segment is always brought to you

(03:38):
by our friends at Alvrmani. AtAlvrmani, you know it, they could
change your hairline, they could changeyour confidence level, they could change your
life. Go to Alvrmani dot comand schedule your consultation today. So day
one. Round one of the NBADraft is over and done. We had
great covet had a blast last night. Had the band back together for one

(04:00):
more time, me and Spence andGordy. Gordy's gonna join us here in
about ten minutes or so and we'llkind of recap round one and look ahead
the drive round two. The Jazzhave one pick today. They're at number
thirty two, which is the thethird pick of the second round, which
begins at about two o'clock this afternoon, So we'll keep tabs on that during
Spence's show today. But they grabbedlast night probably the two best freshmen in

(04:21):
the PAC twelve a year ago.They grabbed Cody Williams, a kid from
Colorado. His brother Jalen plays forOklahoma States. And then they grabbed Isaiah
Callier at number twenty nine last night. If they keep their pick, they'll
pick at number thirty two today,which will be about twenty minutes into the
second round of the draft this afternoon, and Spence will keep you updated on

(04:41):
that. I like the Cody Williamspick. I do. He wasn't my
favorite player on the draft, butI can see his upside. I can
see his potential. He had arough first year at Colorado. He just
didn't do a whole lot because hewas well. He was injured. He
missed seven or eight games nine gamesfor Colorado this year. He was an
effective player, but his better batbasketball was still in front of him.
He goes six foot seven, sixfoot eight. He's got a huge wingspan.

(05:05):
He shoots it well, he passesit excellently. He's not a bad
defender either. He'll be a wingguy for the Utah Jazz. He will
you know, you'll likely see himplay the three. He could play occasionally
the two. When Lowry Markin isat the four, he'll play the three.
He's a good player, got tremendousupside. I liked the pick.

(05:26):
The second pick the Jazz made yesterdaywas Isaiah Collier, the guy who was
the former number one recruit in thecountry. He had a so so freshman
year this past year at USC I'llbe honest, I called him two games
that he played in. I didn'tlike his game at all. It seemed
to be a very selfish game.It seemed to be a very me game.

(05:46):
But then again, he was playingon a dysfunctional basketball team and the
Enfields team last year was not wellconstructed. They had Bronnie James on that
team where they could never figure outhow to get in and on the court.
Once he got cleared that. Healso shared the backcourt with Boogie Yellis,
who is equally as selfish a basketballplayer. I don't know. Maybe
there's something in Isaiah Collier we didn'tsee in the year number one. I

(06:12):
just didn't like the way he playedthe game. He seemed to be I'm
gonna get mine kind of a guy. Now, does he have offensive skill?
He does. He's a solid shooter. He is excellent at getting to
the basket and excellent at getting tothe foul line. He only shot sixty
seven percent of the foul line lastyear, but he got there more than

(06:33):
just about anybody in the Pac twelveConference. So I'm a little lukewarm on
both picks. I like Cody Williamsfor the Jazz. I'm not sure where
Isaiah Callier fits in with the UtahJazz. And if they make a draft
pick today, and we'll talk toGordy about this just a little bit,
and Antony Jones gonna join us latertoo, if they draft three kids today

(06:57):
on top of the three kids theydrafted last year. Maybe just Abe that
might be giving us a signal asto the direction that Utah might be going
with the direction of their their franchise. You have six kids on your roster
that are under twenty two years old. What you're looking at is maybe a

(07:18):
rebuild again, don't know that forsure, but a team that's battling to
contend and be in it and bearound it doesn't have basically six first and
second year players on their roster.That's all I'm saying. Talk to Gordy
about it today. But if theytake somebody at thirty two today, I
would be very dubious if I werea Jazz fan of the direction of where

(07:41):
this program is going. So Idon't know what you liked or what you
didn't like about the draft last night, Feel free to hit me up on
the on the text line at eightseven seven three five three zero seven hundred.
That's eight seven seven three five threezero seven hundred. Any thoughts on
the draft last night are certainly welcome, or any thoughts at all. We
are, by the way, sixtythree days and eight hours away from kickoff.

(08:03):
Yeah, sixty three days exactly nineweeks from today, Utah kicks off
the college football season at Rise EkelStadium against the against Southern Utah Tea Birds.
We'll have it for you right hereon ESPN seven hundred. Looking forward
to that. It should be agood time and the season should be amazing.
I'm looking forward to being part ofthis radio station moving forward. Just

(08:26):
not on a day in and dayout basis like I have been before,
but you're gonna hear me on gamedays. You're gonna hear me throughout the
week, joining Spence and the guythat gets my seat here from eleven until
two o'clock. I'll be part ofit, and certainly be part of it.
Sixty three days from today, whenUtah opens up against the Southern Utah
t Birds, we'll talk to collegefootball at the program today. Eric Weddle,

(08:46):
my good friend for the final timeon this show, will join us,
coming up here in just a fewminutes the Bill Riley Show today and
we'll talk to E Dub about theseason and we'll reminisce just a little bit.
Chris Wingert's also gonna join the showtoday. We'll talk a little copa
America with Chris Wingert, now anagent, former RSL Defender, one of
my favorite guys over the years withRSL. And then Spence is gonna swing

(09:09):
by today and we're gonna do alittle reminiscing for a segment. We're gonna
rock the walk down Memory Lane becausewhile I've been here for twenty straight years,
Spence has been here. This ishis second sessh here at ESPN seven
hundred, and the first iteration wasBill and Spence, and we had a
lot of fun down through the years, we really did. So we're gonna

(09:31):
reminisce a little bit about some ofthat stuff today here on the program eight
seven seven three five three zero sevenhundred gets you in and on board today
here on the Bill Riley Show onUtah's number one sports talk ESPN seven hundred.
Also one other note, we'll goover this in a little while,
but the Big Twelve has issued theirhome and away designations for men's and women's

(09:54):
basketball this year, so they havea home only and away only games and
home and home games. You've gotthree sets for the home only games.
This year, Utah will welcome ArizonaState and Colorado and Kansas and Kansas State
and Texas Tech. So Utah willnot get to go to fabled Allen Fieldhouse

(10:16):
this year, but Kansas will cometo Salt Lake City. The away only
games for Utah this year include Arizona, Houston, Iowa State, TCU,
and UCF Arizona Houston, Iowa State. Those are three difficult places to play,
and then the home and home gamesthey've got this year will include BYU,

(10:39):
Baylor, Cincinnati, Oklahoma State,and West Virginia. Twenty teams schedule,
they will play five teams twice andthen they'll have just home games and
just road games as well, Soyou can find all that stuff up at
utah Utes dot com. But thatwas announced as of this morning, so

(11:00):
that's where that thing stands, andwe'll talk a little bit more about that
as we go here today on theprogram. The women's side of it was
announced too, and we'll go overthat coming up also. And by the
way, I didn't say this theother day, but let me say it
today. Congratulations to my good friendLynn Roberts. I saw her last week
when I was broadcasting from up atthe Huntsman Center, and then two days

(11:22):
later Lynn got a nice contract extension. It will take her through twenty thirty.
I could not be happier. Sheis one of the best people that
I've had a chance to deal within my time as Voice of the Utes,
and for her to get that kindof extension shows the kind of confidence
they have and the program she's builtup in Utah. So I could not
be happier for her, and I'mlooking forward to working with her in her

(11:43):
program on a closer and more regularbasis here as I transitioned into that new
job as director of Broadcasting. Allright, let me read a few text
messages before we get Gordy on herehere on the Bill Riley Show today on
Utah's number one sports talk text message, Haye, Bill, did the Jazz
a better player in Collier than Williamsat ten? Even though Southern California made
Collier look not so good? No, I don't believe. So. I

(12:07):
think that Cody Williams is the betterof the two players, and I think
he's got more upside. I thinkhe's more versatile. Again, I saw
them both play in person. I'mnot saying Isaiah Collier could be a good
player, but if you're asking meto project between the two, I think
Williams is the better of the twoplayers. The guy they got at number
ten. Text message, Hey,Bill, even still I don't love Collier.

(12:28):
Maybe it's because he went to USC. Well that's fine, he doesn't
go to USC anymore. But Idon't like Collier's game. I don't know
him personally. I've got nothing againstthe kid. I've never met him,
but I didn't like his game whenI saw him play in person a couple
of times last year. Text message, Bill, I'm sorry, I've been
out of town for a few weeks, so you're leaving ESPN seven hundred.

(12:50):
Sorry to hear this. You've beenmy go to listening since moving to Utah.
Thanks for a great show and honestopinions. Were you off to You've
probably already answer this question. Thanksonce again, and thanks and good luck
for your new adventures. Yes,for those of you that might just be
tuning in getting back from vacation,I am going to be the director of
Broadcasting at the University of Utah.I am going to be part of a

(13:11):
team that helps to create a brandnew basically ESPN channel at Utah on a
digital platform for part of the newBig twelve on the ESPN Plus platform.
Plus, I'll be doing a tonof other stuff too. But that's gonna
be my big lift at least earlyon creating this new digital platform for all
of Utah Athletics, and then I'llbe doing a bunch of other stuff too.

(13:35):
But thank you and I appreciate that, I really really do. We're
gonna have a good time today andtomorrow. Text message. The only thing
I liked about the Draft last nightwas Spence and Gordy and yourself. The
three of you are so good together. Really enjoyed the Draft show. Signed
Derek the Mailman, Derek the Mailman, my guy, thank you for listening
in last night. Appreciate I heardfrom a bunch of people last night.

(13:56):
My one of my old Spence intern, Spence Smith, was listening in last
nightrobably from the car dealership down inUtah County. We have so much fun
doing this and we talked about it. If they'll have me back next year
and I have a night off fromthe new job, I will be happy
to come back and do the NBAshow that we've been doing together for a
long time. But it was ablast being with Gordy and Spence last night

(14:16):
doing that show. Text message,j Bill, I'd love to see the
jazz take Philipowski at number thirty two. There's a chance of it. I
mean, he'll he's there. JohnnyFurfee's there too from Kansas. Yeah,
I mean if they stay at thirtytwo, they're going young. Philipowski's a
good player. I don't know wherehe translates as a pro. He was

(14:39):
a good college player. Not wildlyathletic, but pretty skilled, I think,
And it's not because he went toKansas. I think I like Furfe's
upside better than Philipowski's. But we'llsee what happens. Eight seven seven three
five three zero seven hundred. HeyBill, I feel like the Jazz are
just hoping they're going to get abig hit in the draft like Mitchell,
even though we're all always waiting forthem to make a big move on a

(15:01):
trade or a free agent. They'renotorious for never doing that. Well,
you never know. You just neverknow. When they drafted Donovan Mitchell a
few years ago, you didn't knowhow good he was going to be when
they took him at thirteen. Wedon't know just how good Cody Williams is
going to be at ten, orIsaiah Kyler will be at twenty nine.
Well, we might have an idea. Gordy Chiazen was with us last night

(15:22):
on our draft coverage. Back withus here today on the Bill Riley Show.
Gord, how are you, Bill? I'm doing fine. So now
you've had a little bit of timeto let it sink in. Cody Williams
at number ten, Isaiah Collier atnumber twenty nine. Has your thought process
changed at all on those two picks? No? I mean with Cody Williams
the Jesse getting a lengthy Alcahoma wing, and that he shot he shot in

(15:46):
pre print range, college range fortyone point five and he shot from the
four fifty five point two, whichtells us that he takes measured shots and
they knows how to play, andthat he's talented. He's got some poise,
and again he's a shot creator andfinisher, and he has confident ball
skills. And so I used thecomparison to say, quickly, he reminds

(16:07):
me of a young Chris Middleton,a young DeMar DeRozan and Alec Burks,
formerly of the Jazz, now ofthe Knicks. I'm with you, I
said last night, I liked thepick. He didn't wow me as a
freshman, but he was hurt partof the year. He's got upside,
he's got skills. The second pick, though, Gordy, is the one
I scratched my head at just alittle bit. I really didn't like Isaiah

(16:32):
Collier, and I saw some goodthings out of him, but I didn't
like the way he played. Now, some of that could have been the
dysfunction of playing at a bad USCteam last year and maybe not getting coached
well enough. But now that you'vehad a little time, a little twelve
hours, fourteen hours to think onIsaiah Collier, what are your thoughts there?
Well, the gentleman, the bestplayer available, and so he's a

(16:52):
lightning rod as far as electric intransition, he's a hard guy to staying
in front. So he's a oneon one shot creator. So in jazz
basketball when he does play, andagain he's the I'll call him a combo
guard. He's six' five.He's not really a true guard, but
he's like i'll call him a twoslash possibly one, but not traditional as
far as one because he scores theball. I like about him. He

(17:15):
creates his own shot, and that'swhat the Jazz need. Also to helped
some the other the big guys asfar as give them shot attempts. What
he is though, he's always inthe lane, So Bill, most of
his points have been in the lane. As far as him getting fouled,
and that's the NBA traits, letjust think about it. And the NBA
is very hard to ball contain,and this guy, that's one of his

(17:37):
strengths. As far as what gettinghis shoulder by the initial defense. Yeah,
sometimes he's out of control. Iagree, sometimes he takes erratic shots,
but they went for the best townavailable and at twenty nine, it's
a smart pick by the Jazz.But there's still so much unknown about him.
Do you view him as a pointguard or more of a combo slash

(18:00):
scoring guard. Combo slash scoring guard, and that's the strengths that he's a
downhill driver. He's tonover prone,yes he is, and so they've got
to clean that up. But againhe is talented, and so with Chiante
George, So which means Bill,part of the segue right now would be
what about Colin Seton, what aboutJordan Clarkson? See and also we left

(18:22):
out Bryce Sensiba who was picked lastyear at twenty eight, and so I'm
assuming some of those guys will begone and as the new wave of jazz
players will get a chance to play, If not at the beginning, definitely
by the first month or so.Our friend Gordy Chiasa with us here on
the Bill. Riley shows were broadcastlive from beer Bar today. You're in
downtown Salt Lake. I didn't knowif they keep twenty nine, much less

(18:45):
thirty two today. We haven't heardanything. They took three last year.
What would you what would your inklingbe if the Jazz take another player today
they keep the thirty second pick andtake him last year rookies three this year
rookies. Would that signify maybe adirection they may be leaning in, Gordy,

(19:06):
yeah, direction as far as themtotally rebuilding and go with the young
guys. So they're gonna mostly buildthrough the draft. So at thirty two,
which is thirty two, here's threeguys that will be there. So
Jess decide that one would be JohnnyFurfey from Kansas, who's a knockdown shooter.
Kyle Philipowski, who is a seventhfooter who's got skilled from Duke,

(19:32):
who's a stretch. I'll call hima stretch five. He'll be there and
also Cameron Christi a two god knockdownshooter from Minnesota. He'll be there.
And so all three of those guyswill add could add value to jazz bench.
And so at thirty two, Ithink I'm Manysting's telling me that they're
leaning to take in of some ofthose guys. Yeah, I would guess

(19:53):
so too. Of that group ofFurfey Philipowski and say, Cam Christie,
is there one guy you like bestof of those three? Philipowski only because
he's a big guy that's skilled,and so Walker Kessler is a shop blocker
and rebounder who struggled last year.So just safe in the narrative, if

(20:14):
Philipowski was drafted at thirty two contractually, it's not a lot of money compared
to the NBA thing where they wouldgive him probably Bill first year I guaranteed
and year's number two and three teamoptions. And what it does is Walker
Kessler gives him a different look onthe floor of a big guy that's skilled
and can shoot from outside versu He'strying to keep developing Walker Kessler to make

(20:37):
them be an outside shooter, whichhe's not so far. Can he improve?
Yes, But Philipowski is, andPhilipowski knows how to play the game
of basketball, so I would leantowards him only because the backup right now
is oh, your servant, andin Kenny Lofton, so those are the
backup quote bigs. And in JohnCollins, we know he's sold on the
roster. He could be a trainas far as target. So really and

(21:02):
Jazz basketball right now, it's thegreat unknown. We'll no more go in
the next three weeks. What directionthe Jets are going? Gordy does the
fact that they didn't draft a pointguard last nights and probably aren't gonna look
at one today. Tyler Kolek,the kid from Marquette is sitting there available
too, does it tell you maybethey're going to target a veteran point guard,

(21:22):
because again, as we talked aboutlast night, Daddy Aimes has been
a little waffy on whether Caante Georgeis the long term point guard. You
don't think he is. I don'tthink he is. So does that tell
you maybe they try to target aveteran point guard this offseason and free agency?
Very much? Yeah, so they'retarget they're trying to try and get
like many teams de Chante Murray thatthe Hawks could have a fire sell in
the next fifteen days or so.They could. So if i'm the Jazz

(21:47):
have cap space for him, justhave roughly thirty eight million dollars in cap
space. And also they could tradeassets many players to make the deal work.
And a lot of times when peoplesaid their cap as far as stopped,
they have to make they have tomake different maneuvers. They can do
it. So the question is youknow who do you want to trade for?
And Dechonte Murray would be a classicguy who the Jazz need. Let's

(22:10):
not forget Larry Markin and also theJazz uh will guarantee his contract on June
twenty eighth, they think it's stilltrade him, but Todation now he's gonna
his concress guarantee for the Jazz ateighteen point one million. But also is
that the Jazz could extend them alsowe'll see what he does as far as
he can take the extension or didthe Jazz try to sign him and then

(22:33):
try to trade him again the nexttwo weeks or so? So do you
think Brownie James gets drafted today?Yes? Yeah, late in the fifty
something, yeah. Bye by theLake By the Lakers or by somebody else.
I would say Lakers. I'm goingto go with the home team.

(22:56):
Okay, yeah at fifty five.So is the other guys better than them?
The answer is yes, all right, so we'll see again. Also,
if you're not drafted today in thesecond round, doesn't mean he can't
play, because we can recite somany guys that we know personally that we
never drafted. But yike, didthey play well? They plowed a chip
on their shoulder and they really dothe world differently as far as they're passionate

(23:21):
about their craft and they improve.And Freddy van Fleet is a class example.
He went undrafted back in twenty sixteen. His teammate got drafted Ron Baker
in his second round by the Knicks. Freddy van Fleet doesn't get drafted by
the Wichita St eight Shockers. Let'sfast forwarding. By the way, last
year made forty million dollars for theHouston Rockets. This will be the third

(23:42):
summer now that view is two summersago. This will be the third that
they made the big deals to getrid of Gobert and Mitchell. We thought
it was going to signify a completeteardown. It did not they remained competitive
for a year and then they kindof did it this year. Not really
the way if you're going to tryto get competitive and and get draft picks.

(24:03):
But you tell me, Gordy,do you do you get the sense
are you leaning towards the fact thatit might be a teardown this summer?
Yes? Yeah, it seems tome the where it is right now.
So chiers Ago, you're alluding toJasmin thirty seven games. Last year is
thirty one games. And if theykeep drafting the young guys and playing the
young guys, that these young guyshave talent, but they're not ready for

(24:26):
prime time. Because you show mea young team, and I'll show your
team that's not making the playoffs,maybe even maybe the playing tournament. So
these are all things that that areindicators whether JS as far as the franchise
might be. Now, the playersmight not cooperate. The players are going
to say this and directly, waita second, I'm playing, so I
don't care about what's happening in thefuture. I'm gonna play. So often

(24:48):
the players don't cooperate, and that'llbe Larry Markinen and that'll be a count
section both guys that that that reallyare good players in their role, that
they're there, they're they're there hasto do and they're both highly effective.
Gord, I am going to missour regular conversations on the radio. I
know that our conversations are going toextend to being in person, having lunches,

(25:12):
talking on the phone. But Ijust want to say thank you so
very much for one, you know, taking me under your wing all those
many years ago and talking basketball upat the Delta Center after workouts, but
our friendship down through the years andcoming on this radio show. I've just
I've loved every second of it,and you're one of my good friends,

(25:33):
and I just want to say thanksfor all you've done. Oh likewise,
thank you. I've figured out theother day. We've been together on the
radio for eleven years, So elevenyears of most times Tuesday and Thursday for
over a decade, and I enjoyedevery second of it. You're the ambassador
Goodwill. But with that, billquickly, this is my last list of

(25:55):
you and I together. Okay,the quick list, so I'm going to
get through it really quickly. Thisis a this past season, the twenty
three to twenty four all rookie selectionteam. So visualized last night guys being
picked in the draft, and let'ssee one year later what happened to them.
Here we go, Second Team AllRookie of this past season. G

(26:15):
Jackson of the Grizzlies the forty fifthpick of the draft, and the Grizzies
won twenty seven games. Cason Wallaceof the Thunder the tenth pick of the
draft. The Thunder one fifty sevengames. Keante George of the Jazz last
year was the sixteenth picket the draft. The Jazz won thirty one games.
Alman Thompson from the Rockets, thefourth pick of the draft. The Rockets

(26:38):
won forty one games. Derek Livelyfrom the Mavericks the twelfth pick of the
draft. Last season, The masswon fifty games. Here we go quickly,
the first team. Brandon Pagenski fromthe Warriors, the nineteenth pick of
the draft. His team won fortysix games. Jim Hakez from the Heat.
His team was he was the eighteenthpicket of draft. The Heat won

(27:00):
forty six games. Brandon Miller,the second pick of the draft last year
from the Hornets. His team wontwenty one games. Chet Holmgrim who was
the second pick two years ago,got hurt. He set him out.
In twenty twenty two second pick fromthe Thunder, the Thunder one fifty seven
games, and last year the firstpick of the draft, Victor wen Byama.

(27:26):
The Spurs won twenty two games,and so hit the learning point about
it. There's so much high aboutthese guys. It's so hard to win.
So wen Byama is a generational oncein the really lifetime talent. Or
by the way, the Spurs wontwenty two games, that's how good the
NBA other players are. So oftenthese rookies, you know, they they

(27:47):
have their they have their wonderful momentand now starts really the unbelievable thing.
Or by the way, will yoube impact impactful as far as with our
franchise. That is my good friendGordon Chiazo, who has been so kind
for the last eleven years to doradio with me every week. We've known

(28:08):
each other for twenty three years.We've had a great relationship. I love
him to death. I may beleaving, but Gordy will not be.
Gordy is vowed to continue to talka little basketball in these very airwaves.
Whoever gets this slot we'll be hostingGordy on a pretty regular basis too.
But Gord, thank you so muchagain. I love you and I'll talk

(28:30):
to you soon. Thanks Bill,good luck Bill, all your travels,
and more importantly, peace out,peace out there. He is my good
friend. Gordon Chiasa with us hereone last time with the Bill Riley Show
on Utah's number one Sports talk.Big thank You'll be thanking a lot of
people over the next twenty four hoursor so here and in other places.

(28:51):
But our partners and clients, ourpartners, our sponsors, our folks that
support this program much like you do. Include Braidon Shipman and Shipman roof get
it all done before the calendar getsfilled up. This year with Braiden and
his team, with the summer sunbeaten down on the roof, plus the
winter months, your roof could takea real beating, and all those decades
of combined experience that he's got onhis cruise can make it really easy for

(29:15):
you to take care of business andget your roof fixed. With braid and
Chipman and Chipman Roofing, go byand see him. They're located at chipmanrooofing
dot com. You get all kindsof pictures and all kinds of other things
that they've got going on there,testimonials and all that good stuff. And
if you want to quote and havea free estimate on your house, Andrew
roof call Braiden EIGHTA one sixty sixfour twenty nine oh six telling Bill Riley

(29:37):
sent you in. It's Braiden Chipmanand Chipman roofing. Another good friend gonna
come by and talk a little footballwith us. On the other side,
that's Eric Weddle. He's coming upon the Bill Riley Show today right here
on Utah's number one sports talk yetback and to celebrate the legends of your
community and your job. And Josh, what an amazing run and great things

(30:02):
ahead. Man. I'm so excitedEric for what lies ahead and this challenge
and this opportunity that the youths presentedfor me as director of broadcasting up there.
But you know how it is,you made a life change a couple
of years ago, after doing footballfor your entire life, you stopped playing
football and transitioned into something else nowwith something you knew. But it's strange,

(30:25):
and I'm you know again. I'vebeen doing a radio talk show every
day for thirty years, every dayfor twenty three years in Utah and every
day for twenty years at the sameradio station, So it could be a
little bit of a change. Man. Yeah, I mean you really you
sit back and it's almost like,you know, when you retired from the
NFL, you're at a point rightnow you can sit back and just take

(30:48):
a breath and realize what has justtranspired, and that of the years of
work and the joy and the peoplethat you met and the relationships, and
it really puts all in perspective ofwhy you love what you're doing and the
joy you got out of it everysingle day, and also for the new
challenges ahead. And you know that'swhat drives us as individuals, new challenges,

(31:15):
new opportunities, new ways to giveback and to experience new opportunities.
So, man, twenty three years, twenty years, I mean that is
incredible, Ryle's I mean seriously,like, it's what an accomplishment to be
able to do it at such ahigh level. And you know it's not
easy. You know, if peopledon't like you or you don't know what
you're talking about, you don't havea job. So you were dang good

(31:38):
for a long time. Great,I should say, yeah, you know,
it's one of those things, kindof like you you went out on
top of the Super Bowl. Everythingat the station's going so well right now
that I feel like it's in greathands. So I feel like I can
make this move and not have anyconcern about it. But you know,
it's just one of those things's justgoing to be different. I can remember,
by the way, the first timeI interviewed you, you were a

(32:00):
fresh guy. I interviewed you onthe practice field after a practice when you
were a freshman at the University ofUtah. Yeah, I remember that day.
I was asking around, I said, who would be you know,
who's who's a good interview here?And they're like, go talk to that
freshman over there. That kid isa really good interview and a good football
player. That was the first timeI ever talked to you. Wow,

(32:22):
someone I must have paid someone somegood money to tell you those things,
because the fact that you can rememberthat is, you know, must I
must have been a great interview.It was my introduction to getting interviewed and
having some somewhat knowledgeable answers, whichwhich I always tried to do. But

(32:42):
man, what a time, Whata time to be alive man. Yeah,
I'm telling you, you know youdeveloped those things. I would say
probably everywhere you've gone, whether itwas Utah or San Diego or Baltimore.
Even at the end with the Rams, you were a go to locker room
guy. I can't imagine they werevery many days, Eric when the when
the locker room opened, when somebodydidn't come, a bunch of people didn't

(33:04):
come, get comments from you.That means you're a go to guy.
Yeah, I mean it is anobligation for us to be able to give
precise answers and to be honest andto be upfront, own own our decisions,
man own own what what had happenedif it was a game, or
how the team's feeling, and ifyou're in that leadership role, it's it's

(33:25):
an obligation. And also, youknow, the fans in the media drive
our sport and you have to understandand embrace it that it is something that
we need to do and do welike doing it all the time. No,
But that's that builds character, andthat builds who you are and what
you're all about and how you are, how you act after a big win

(33:47):
and how you act after a bigloss. Says a lot about who you
are and what you're about. SoI always felt there's a great opportunity for
myself to show who I am outsideof football, and also at times I
got you know, relationships with mediamembers is really key and important, and
it gives you a time to educateon both sides, right, like educating

(34:09):
the media members on what's really goingon on the field, like what you
should look at, what the responsibilitiesare so they can get better at their
craft. And also if you slipup or say something, then you should
have said that. They don't printalways. They take care of you,
and that's part of having a goodrelationship with media. See that that's what
you just said there and this islike inside football baseball here. But what

(34:31):
Eric just said is so important becauseI had a handful. I was twenty
five years old when I started coveringthe NFL. Twenty five. You don't
know anything about anything when you're twentyfive and I'm covering the NFL, And
I was lucky there were a coupleof veterans, you know, Tony Bisselli,
who's obviously in the Hall of Fame, who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

(34:52):
My good friend brand Boyer, who'snow special teams coach. Still I
think for the Jets. He livesout here. He's from Salt Lake City
for North some of high school.I mean, there were a couple of
guys in that locker room that kindof pulled me aside. Knew I was
a young guy and did with youdo. They were good interviews, but
they would also kind of let youknow, you know the dynamic and how
things work. They weren't giving awaystate secrets, but they were just kind

(35:15):
of telling you how the dynamic ofthings worked, and that when you know
that, it helps you become abetter reporter. Yeah, I mean,
it's like it goes back to theold that is the relationship. It's always
about the relationships. And yes,you want to have success, you want
to be a great football player whereyou want to be great at whatever you're
doing, but it's about the process, about the relationships that you can garner

(35:38):
over the course of a career.For you twenty thirty years, for me,
it was fourteen years, fifteen years, and those are the last relationships,
last lifetime, right, It's andit's those conversations, those experiences,
those one on ones, that sitdowns, that you're just having a conversation
and building that relationship, building thatfriendship and really growing together as a young

(36:00):
young pupp and now as an oldveteran in the game. And you couldn't
have said it best man. Youwere fortunate. Not a lot of guys
are like that, the old leadersand the veterans of a team that can
look out for a young guy,and you cherish that. And now you're
in the in the position to giveback as well. So it's just a
revolving recycle. And that's part ofthis job, Eric, I mean,

(36:22):
part of it's going to be creatingcontent and broadcasts and stuff. But you
know, I'm teaching a class atthe University of Utah and I'm going to
help stand I'm going to help createthis curriculum, hopefully over the next few
years that helps guide kids into thisbroadcast department that we're creating that will allow
them to get real world experience whilebeing students at the you which to me,

(36:43):
that's what I was lucky enough tohave when I went to school at
Kansas, and I want to helptry to create with this broadcast department something
like that for kids at the Universityof Utah. Too. Yeah, definitely.
Man, it's what a great opportunityand for the kids at the University
of Utah and to be able toget real life experience and someone that's been
in it, uh noted disrecredit that, Uh the teachers and professors out there,

(37:08):
but to someone that has had somuch hands on experience is invaluable,
quite honestly. And Uh, tobuild that program is going to be,
it's gonna be You're gonna have toget me in there, and they're gonna
have to have these kids interviewed meone day in school. I'm gonna do
it. Next time you're in town. I'm gonna have you coming to be
a guest speaker and let these kidsask you real questions and then you know

(37:30):
you you you answer like you werean athlete if it was a dumb question,
tell them it's a dumb question thisway, and then then you learn.
You learn that stuff. By theway, it sounds like you're running
to how's how's how's your two shapingup? For you guys, it's going
great. Uh. Where we workedreally hard over the last six months and
trying to improve in areas that makeus better on the football field, and

(37:53):
I got great kids. I lovecoming to come to work for them and
trying to give them my hall bothon the field and off and teaching these
kids how to be men, howto be future fathers and husbands one day
and what that actually looks like.So it's been great. Man. I'm
really excited for this season coming up. I think we have a chance to
be really good and we shall see. You gotta go play it on the

(38:16):
field, But our boys are workingand couldn't be more proud of them.
Are you excited about being able tocoach the boy this year too? Oh?
Yeah, man, It's really afun, fun, cool dynamic to
see see him out there trying toprove himself and working, and you know,
you try your best to be aparent and your dad as a father,

(38:36):
I only have one son, soyou're really hard on your only boy,
and to see how he's growing upand really putting his best foot forward.
To just just sit back and smilesometimes and thinking I can't always give
him an out of boy, buta few times I do. They're meaningful
because I am really proud of him, and I'm excited for this journey he's

(38:57):
about to go on. So hehas a chance. He has a chance.
It's you know, he's six toone now, he's he's looking like
a real dude as a fourteen yearold. So we'll see. We'll see
how these next four years helped shapeout. And he has goals and is
very driven to play college football.So I'm gonna help him as best I
can. But he's got to he'sgot to do the work, that's for

(39:17):
sure. Will he be on varsitythis year or will he be a JV
guy this year? Uh? Ortoo soon to know. I'm a betting
man, I would say yes,Uh, he's gonna be one of the
guys. I mean he's once thepats come on, he's gonna even separate
himself even more so. He's alreadyworking with the ones at safety and rotating

(39:42):
that quarterback. So we'll see atall the best play you know, and
you got to know what to do, so uh, that's always a big
performer. I don't really care howold you are. If you're physically able
and you know what to do,then you're gonna have a chance. So
I'm a betting man, I saybe out there and making place. Speaking
of being a betting man, yourutes are now the favorite in the preseason

(40:06):
to win the Big Twelve, asthey should. K State is number two
and then Oklahoma State, I thinkis number three right now. Just what's
what's your read on them joining theBig Twelve and what's what's your expectation for
them this year? Eric Gosh,if we could stay healthy and play our
style of football, there's there's noreason why we can't get what we want

(40:31):
to get done. What has stubbedour foot over the last few years,
and that's a big time Bowl,win, a playoff, berth now since
they've expanded in twelve. So thegoal is the goal of standard is a
standard man. We're a championship caliberprogram. We just got to go finish
and win a championship. So anyany one game season, I think we

(40:52):
could beat anybody. We've proven thatwe have the system, we have the
coaches, we have the culture.Just injuries obviously last year and over the
course of the last few years.But it's all set up. But it
takes a lot more than just havinggood players. You got to have a
bound You got to be bound asone group, as the leadership and as
the players. Got to have aselfless attitude of playing for each other in

(41:15):
this day and a's it's hard tofind. So if you can galvanize your
group and play for each other,even though it is an individual sport at
times, the more guys you canplay as one, the better off those
teams are going to be. EricWeddle and I have had a great friendship
for a long time and we agreeon many things, though we will men
never agree on who the greatest wrestlerof all time is. I believe it

(41:38):
is the Nature Boy Rick Flacker,he believes it's one Hulkomania, the Holkster.
Will you ever change your mind oris that just going to be someplace
where we'll always divide. Well,you know, we may be divided on
this, but I'm a thousand percentright on mine. It is Huolk Comania,

(41:59):
the Hulkster, no question, changethe landscape everyone, No one can
replicate what he did to the game. Uh. And if there's a close
second in my mind, it's theUndertaker. I mean he he's probably one
in one a for me. Uh. The Nature Boy, I mean he's
just a one trick pony. Allhe could do is a wa He is
an entertainer till the end of time. He spans many decades. It's like

(42:24):
the it's like the Lebron and Jordanargument. But you like to throw Kobe
in there too, because you're aKobe guy. But but I mean Rick
ric Flair, he just spans decies. He everybody knows him with the WU
and the feather Boa around his neckand the little I mean you're trying to
you're trying to say, turn myopinion here just by you. You're fighting

(42:46):
for your guy. Well, II will always fight for I will always
fight for Uh, for Rick Flair, and of course I will always fight
for my guy, Eric Weddle becausehe's one of my guys and he's a
rider die guy. Forever. We'llsee each other, we'll talk. But
I just want to take this momentto say thank you for your friendship over

(43:07):
the years. Thank you for alwaysbeing willing to come on this radio show
and talk fall. The Utah fanslove it, and I just like being
able to catch up with you andjust chat. So Dub, thanks for
all you do and I love youalways, rould love you too. Man.
Excited for the future of not onlyyou, but the University of Utah
and where we're heading. Man,So great things ahead. Love you man,

(43:28):
appreciate you always. All right,go coach those boys up. You
got it. Thanks Eric. EricWeddle with us here at the Bill Riley
Show today on Utah's number one Sportstalk. Hey, just a reminder coming
up, Aren't Our Barbecue your favoritebarbecue up and down the Wassats Front.
They're helping you out with tickets.Discount of tickets to the Days of forty
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instead of one hundred and twenty eight, it's sixty four family four pack of
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simply go to their website Aren't OurBarbecue dot com and use the promo code
to get those tickets. It's Aren'tOur Barbecue great promoters of the Days of
forty seven Rodeo. Quick time out, We'll come back to beer bar.
Read A couple of your text messagesare Buddy Tony Jones on the way as

(44:15):
well as we cruise on. Don'tforget Copa America here tonight. It's weird
no euros today. They're on theknockout round. They get back at it
on Saturday, but Copa America beginningat four with USA Panama, followed up
by who do we have Uruguay andBolivia at seven? Your home of soccer,
your home of Copa America, yourhome of the Euros and RSL all

(44:37):
right here at beer Bar in downtownSalt Lake City. Back after this on
Utah is number one sports talking.Yes, you were two year to Utah's
best mid jay sports show. They'llHill Riley show. You're sent me by
flash swab times right here on You'rehome of the Yeast ESPN seven hund.

(45:00):
You're a beer bar today, beautifuthey outside. If you don't have any
lunch plans, come on down.We'll be here till about two today.
They'll have the Copa America on beginningat four USA Panama, which will be
big tonight. No Euros for lunchtimetoday. The Euros are on their knockout
round. They'll begin back up againthis weekend. But beer bar, if
you haven't been here before, it'sthey're the best. Richard Duncan, their

(45:22):
entire staff here. They just takesuch good care of there. The people,
the beer selection awesome, the foodis great. They've always got the
biggest and best games on two.So one sixty one East and second South
here in downtown Salt Lake City isBeer Bar's home. So come on by
and say hi. We'll be outhere until about two o'clock today. And
then again, I think they weresaying it'll get start starting to pick up,
really get busy in here around threewith the four o'clock kicktime for USA

(45:46):
and Panama today. A couple oftext messages here, Tony's gonna join us.
We'll get his thoughts on the onthe draft coming up here. He
wrote about it for The Athletic thismorning. Text message, Hey, Bill
was not happy with the first pick. I understand why they took him,
But if you had to pick betweenDrew Holliday and Jade McDaniels, who would
you pick? Because that was thescenario, best best side possible in a

(46:10):
draft where there's lots of wings butfew quality guards. I think they made
the wrong choice. I hope I'mwrong, but honestly, I like Collier.
I like the Callier pick. Hemay not have been spectacular USC,
but he was he was stucked gettinghim in the bottom of the first not
that bad, we'll see. Idon't like his game. I just I
don't. I didn't. I didn'tlike the way he played. Now could

(46:32):
that be coached out of him?Maybe he was only a first year player.
Wasn't like he played for Randy Anfieldfor four years. I'm just not
a huge fan of the player himself. I don't mind Cody Williams at number
ten. And I say that becausethe Jazz need help. They need somebody,

(46:52):
They need wing, They need younghelp, but they need wing help
too. And Cody Williams is aguy that's very much an upside guy.
He just simply is. He's aguy that is very versatile, has a
lot of skills. You see.I don't know who you wanted is the
point guard though? Was Devin Carterthat you wanted that? When thirteen?

(47:12):
Was it? Nikolattopitch? Was hethe guy you wanted? Topich wasn't gonna
be able to play this year?I'm not sure who the point guard was
that you wanted. Now. HadRob Dillingham been there, I could have
seen that, or Stephen Castle beenthere, I could have seen that.
But I actually don't mind the CodyWilliams pick a at number ten for the
Utah Jazz I'm not super high onIsaiah Collier, but at twenty nine,

(47:35):
we'll see what they can do.Text message he built. I saw the
new EA Sports twenty five college footballgame has both Utah's offense and defense in
the top fifteen, which is interesting. Also the two players the Jazz have.
The Jazz have potential, but Ihave to see what they can do.
Well. Yeah, that's just aboutevery rookie though. Yeah, the

(47:55):
Utah offense was rated eight and thedefense was rated That's gonna be a fun
game, and it's gonna be afun football season coming up. If Utah
stays healthy. Text message, heyBill, you've been my work buddy for
the last ten plus years. I'mgonna miss listening to your Congratulations on your
promotion all the best. Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you very

(48:20):
much. Text message, Hey Bill, selfishly, I don't want you to
go. You've been a staple ofmind for years in my car driving around
the valley. I enjoyed texting intoo. Congratulations best on the new gig.
I'm sure we'll get to hear andsee your round. You will.
I promise, promise, I'm gonnabe on this station. If Spence already

(48:43):
said last night he's gonna have meon weekly whoever sits in this chair for
me. I'm sure they will too, I hope, and you'll hear me
on game days and coaches shows andall that good stuff. So but thank
you for that text text message,Hey Bill. Tristan Newton is the guy
I want. I would have takenhim at number twenty nine. Winner,
good sized, good defender, knowshow to run a team. I don't

(49:06):
hate that. Tristan Newton, though, to be fair, is not a
guy that's I mean, he's wayway down the list. Tristan Newton is
looking He's not even in the topfifty picks for most people. But you're
not wrong. And if the Jazzbrought him in as a free agent,
I wouldn't hate that at all.But I'm not sure you're gonna hear Tristan

(49:27):
Newton's name called today either. Draftwise text message, Hey Bill. I
like the draft picks. I'm stillcurious is it gonna be any direction will
be heading for next year. Ihope that Aim somehow gets a sort Thompson
from Detroit after they drafted Holland.That's a weird pick for me because maybe

(49:51):
they're just collecting wing players. Maybethat's the case, like the Knicks are
doing right now, but it wasvery weird if they spent a top five
pick on Thompson a year ago tospend an other top five pick on a
wing this year in Ron Holland.So we'll see text message, Hey,
Bill, the Josh should probably takePhilipowski right, He's gonna be there for
sure. Gordy liked him there.I like Johnny Furfey. I think he's

(50:15):
got a real upside. I thinkhe can shoot it, and I think
he could be He could be areally nice wing player. He was just
beginning to come into his own secondhalf of the year for Kansas. But
Philipowski would fill a need too.I mean, that's a big He's not
a true center, he's six'eleven, but if he backed up Walker
Kessler, he's a guy that couldscore off the bench for you. He's

(50:35):
not gonna be the defender that Kessleris. But anyway, text line is
open for you at eight seven seventhree five three zero seven hundred. That's
again eight seven seven three five threezero seven hundred to get you in and
on board today here at the BillRiley Show, big thank you to Jersey
Mike's. They have been partners ofours and mine for the better part of

(50:57):
five or six years now on thisradio station. If you like good subs,
hot subs, cold subs, subsin a tub, all that good
stuff, you cannot beat it.And they've got forty Utah locations to serve
you too, So stop in andsee him today. It's Jersey Mike's.
They've got locations all over the state, from Santa Clair in the south to
Farmington in the north, out inHarriman, down in Lehigh, Pleasant Grove.

(51:20):
They've got one up by the University. They've got one on Foothill Drive.
All of them. Kids love them, adults love them too. It's
Jersey Mike's. They are a subabove all right, another friend. I
get to say thank you too forall that he's done for me for all
these years. And you know himwell too. He's filled in for me
on this show. He writes,he contributes for the athletic guests on this

(51:42):
show on a regular basis. We'lltalk Tony Jones about the draft last night
and more coming up. Bill RileyShow Live from Beer Bar on a Thursday
right here on the East It's timeto get the latest on the Utah Jazz
with our insider, Tony Jones ofthe Athletic on the Bill Riley Show.
From breaking down games to injuries updates. Your best inside on the Utah Jazz
and the NBA is right here.Now here's Bill Riley with our Jazz insider

(52:07):
and Georgetown's number one fan, TonyJones on Utah's number one sports talk ESPN
seven hundred. Tony Jones covers theNBA, mostly the Jazz, but during
the postseason other places too. ForThe Athletic wrote about it last night as
the Jazz had two picks in thefirst round. They took Cody Williams,

(52:28):
freshman out of freshman out of Coloradoin the ten pick, and then they
took another Pac twelve player, probablythe two best young players of the PAC
twelve last year, Isaiah Callier,with the second pick. He's got an
article up went up a few hoursago at Theathletic dot Com with Williams and
Collier. The Jazz ecet the NBA'sfirst round. I'm not sure I agree
with that headline, but I dolike some of what they did last night.

(52:51):
Tony Jones one more time on theBill Riley Show. Welcome in,
my brother. I'm really sad man, I am too, And don't bring
me down because the next twenty fourhours are going to be really tough for
me. When you've done something forthirty straight years and in one place for
twenty straight years, it's a longtime. So don't, don't, don't

(53:15):
get don't, don't. Don't turnthe fountain on on my eyes right now,
because it's gonna be hard enough forme to do this show today and
tomorrow. Okay, I understand whatyou're saying, but I'm gonna say this
anyway. I love you. Youknow, you've been a really good personal
friend to me, not only youknow, not only you know professional colleague,

(53:37):
and I appreciate everything you know thatyou've done, you know, in
terms of giving me a platform andyou know, just you know, helping
me be me in this market.So I don't care that you don't want
the fountain turns off. If thefountain turns on, it turns on.

(53:58):
I just want to tell you howmuch I appreciate you. Well, thank
you, because I love you too, and I love our friendship and I
love that we can give each othercrap and have fun and just go about
our thing. And I just Ithink, I just think the world of
you. From the time when youwere with the Trip and when you got
this deal with the Athletic, Ithought it was just the best thing because
it gave you not just a localplatform, but it gave the people around

(54:22):
the country a chance to see whata talented and insightful writer you are.
So all the professional stuff aside,I just value our friendship so much,
so thank you. I appreciate thatabsolutely. All right, let's let's get
to business now, all right,let's get to business. I like Cody
Williams. I'm not a big IsaiahCollier fan. You tell me what you
think, so you know, it'sfunny, I'm not a huge Isaiah call

(54:46):
your fan at at you know,ten or fifteen or where he was slotted
to go, but you know,at twenty nine, like that's just a
no brainer, right, there's he'sthe best player on the board at twenty
nine, but not only the bestplayer on the board at twenty nine,
best player on twenty on the boardat twenty nine by a lot, And

(55:10):
you know it's you know, Ihad to talk with the jazz last night
after the draft for a while.And you know, one of the things
I said was like, you know, one of the reasons, like I
know, he's pissed off that hewent twenty nine, but you know,
one of the reasons why he wenttwenty nine is because it was self inflicted.

(55:34):
It wasn't because like Dalton connect wentseventeen because he's twenty three, twenty
four years old. You know,there are other people, like you know,
there are other people who are slippedin the draft over the years,
you know, because of injury orwhatever things that are out of there control.
You know, Isaiah Collier went twentynine and slipped so far in the
draft because he didn't defend well,he didn't play especially well, and you

(55:59):
know, a lot of that stuffis self inflicted. That being said,
that being said, he is very, very talented. He's you know,
I said this on Twitter last night. You don't find guys at twenty nine
that can get downhill off the dribblelike Isaiah call you can. You know,

(56:19):
he gives downhill. He's a terrificpassler. He's got an NBA body,
he's got an NBA mindset. Youknow, I think he thinks like
a pro rather than thinking like acollege guy. And I think that that's
going to help him get to theNBA. In the style of playing the
NBA, in the spacing and theNBA is going to help him. He's

(56:39):
going to have to commit to playingdefense because I thought he was terrible defensively
last year relative to what his defensivetools are. He's going to have to
cut down the turnovers. He's goingto have to start to shoot the ball
better, and you know, andhe's just gonna have to see the game

(57:00):
in real time, you know,better than what he did last year.
But you know, he was afreshman. He was eighteen, nineteen years
old. He's very very young,and you know, the skills that the
skill set that he has, itwill allow him to be an NBA player

(57:20):
for a long time if he figuresout the other stuff. Yeah, I
will cut him a little bit ofslack because that USC program was so dysfunctional
a year ago, and I'm notsure how much coaching he got. Plus,
if he was looking up to theguy playing in the backcourt to him
as an example of how to playthat boogie, Ellis is not exactly the

(57:42):
guy you want to look toward asa mentor when it comes to being a
good point guard. So do theJazz view him as a point guard or
a combo scoring guard? Tony toaddress your first point, this is why
it's so important even if you're atop five, top three, top one

(58:02):
guy like Isaiah Callier was to makethe right decisions when it comes to college
because a he played with Buggi Ellisand like you said, that's just you
know, Billy Yellis has never meta shot that he didn't like, so
you know that that was a badfit. Number two in nfil can't coach,

(58:23):
and I think we've all known thatfor a long time. And you
know, he can recruit, hecan't coach, he can't develop. So
you you know, for basically forIsaiah Callier from me and then Briannie James,
they basically wasted the season of theircareers going to USC. They should
have gone somewhere else. Okay,that being said off my soapbox. You

(58:49):
know, the Jazz view him asa point guard, and you know,
but I don't think that they're goingto you know, take away what he
does. Well, you know,I think you know, he can get
downhill and he can put pressure onthe rem and he can score. I

(59:09):
do think that he's instantly right now, as the Jazz roster stands, I
think he's instantly the best passer onthe roster. I don't know if that's
you know, a complimented caller orit's an indictment on the Jazz roster as
a whole, you know, buthe's you know, he's a guy that
that I think adds something to Utahl'sroster. You know, outside of Colin

(59:34):
Sexton, you know, there's nota guy on the roster that puts pressure
on the rim off the dribble likeIsaiah Callier does. And you know,
one of the things I really likeabout Keante George is that he's really cerebral.
Uh he you know, he playsthe game a step ahead. You
know, he's very very very skilled. Isaiah call youer as a bulldog and
you know he's going to get intothe paint. He's going to get two

(59:55):
feet in the paint, and Ithink the Jazz need more of that.
So, you know, the onething I do like about you know,
what the Jazz did in drafting IsaiahCallier is you know, obviously he's best
player available at twenty nine, butthe basketball fit is good as well,
because I think that Isaiah Callier bringssomething to the table that the Jazz don't

(01:00:17):
have overall as roster. Tony Jonesour guest shore the Bill Riley Show today,
are you anticipating they drafted thirty twotoday or move off that Tony?
I am anticipating. So there area couple of scenarios. I think,
you know, they have a certainperson in mind that if that person is

(01:00:42):
on the board, I think thatthey would take that person. If that
person is not on the board atthirty two, I think that there's another
group that they would consider. ButI also think that they were consider trading
down. So I think that thereare a couple of scenarios and play.
But they're certainly excited about the spotthat they are in, and you know,

(01:01:07):
I think that they realize that there'sa lot of that there's a lot
of NBA level talent still available andthat will be available to them at thirty
two. If they drafted thirty twotony three rookies a year ago, three
rookies this year, does that giveus some indication of what the plans are.

(01:01:30):
Are they going to go into fullrebuild mode? Then at that point
in time, because that's a lotof young players on a team and it's
hard to get markedly better and makebig jumps with that many young players on
your roster. If I were aJazz saying I would I would pay real
close attention to the next week becauseI think that's going to tell us a

(01:01:51):
lot in terms of which way theJazz are going to ultimately go heading into
next season. I would anticipate thatthe Jazz UH try to bolst of their
roster and use the trade market anduse the free agency market, uh to
to try to boast of the rock, to try to boast the roster.
I I know that, you know, there are a lot of young guys

(01:02:17):
on the roster, even if theydon't use the pick for some reason today.
But you know, at the sametime, I think that the Jazz
want this roster to be balanced,So you know, I think that they're
gonna go and they're going to toexplore the trade market and explore the free
agency market, uh in terms offiguring out that they can bolst the roster

(01:02:38):
with some veterans. They they havethey have tried in the past a few
days UH to to boast of theroster. You know, they they dip
their toe in the mckel bridges water. But we all know what uh,
my Knicks paid for mchel Bridges,and the Jazz just weren't going to pay
that. And you know, sothis is this hasn't been for a lack

(01:03:02):
of trying, uh at this point, and I expect them to continue,
uh to explore options in that inthat way, Well, the fact of
the matter is though your Knicks andthis Jazz team are in two different places.
The Knicks can win now. Theyfeel like they're a piece away from
being a championship caliber team. TheJazz are not that. So it's it's
a lot easier to spend that equitywhen you know what that piece is that

(01:03:27):
you need than what with the Jazzgiving that much up being that far away.
Yes, but also if the Jazzhappen, if the Jazz that figured
out a way to get michel Bridges, there was some move, There was
some moves beyond that that I believewhat has accelerated the rebuild and and maybe

(01:03:52):
significantly so, but that scenario isprobably no longer on the table because they
didn't get Bridges. Okay, TonyJones with us here. What when you
say they're going to try hard inthe next week, is that that big
game hunting they talked about, isthat some big swings to try to improve
that roster? What's what's the nextweek? In your what? What does

(01:04:15):
what you just said? You know, in theory nobody knows for sure,
But in theory, what does thislook like over the next seven to ten
days? Tony? Well, it'snot necessarily big game hunting. Like you
know, I don't think you know, they're going to go in and trade
for a superstar, but you know, I think that there's some nice pieces
that you know, could be onthe trade market that are twenty four to

(01:04:39):
twenty five, twenty six, twentyseven years old. You know, they
want to build around Lowry marketing andLray is twenty seven, and you know,
you the one thing with Lowry thatI think people don't realize is that
they say, oh, well he'stwenty seven. You know, he might
not necessarily be on the age time. You know, the Jazz fully believe

(01:05:02):
that Lowry market and his style ofplay will allow him to be much the
same player at thirty five or twentyseven, So they're not worried about the
age. They're not worried about thaton the timeline. I think it would
be different if this with Donovan Mitchellbecause you know, as good as Donovan
Mitchell is, I don't know thathe's going to age that well because he's

(01:05:27):
a small smaller guard, and smallerguards don't typically age that well. Lowry's
a seventh foot jump shooter and ornot even a jump suter. He's a
set shooter. So you know,I think the Jazz you know, fully
believe that he's going to his gameis going to age really well. So
they're not worried about you know,an age timeline. So you know,

(01:05:49):
I think you know, when youknow, they look at the market over
the next you know, five sixor seven days, you know, I
think that they're going to look atyou know, guys who have come into
the league at eighteen nineteen years old, have been in the league for four
or five or six years, butare still twenty four to twenty five years
old, and you know that arealready veterans, but still young enough to

(01:06:15):
grow as players and growing to thesystem. Give me the pick you loved
last night for anybody, the onethat you just thought knocked it out of
the ballpark. There were a coupleof them. I mean, I really
loved what the Lakers did with DaltonConnect. I can't believe that Philly passed
on Connect for for Jared McCain,considering that Philly is very much in a

(01:06:40):
win now situation and Dalton Connect isplug and play. I hated Zach Edie
to Memphis. I can't believe inMemphis made him a top ten pick,
like, I can't believe that theydid that. I really liked what the
Jazz there was Cody Williams. Uh. I've long said that I thought,

(01:07:02):
I think that Cody Williams has oneof the best upsides in the draft.
So I really like what the Jazzdid uh in that pick. I really
like what the Spurs did with StephanCastle. I think that he's going to
be terrific. I think he's apoint guard version of Josh Hart. I

(01:07:25):
really, really really liked what theSons did with Ryan Dunn. I think
Ryan Dunn is an absolutely generational defender, and I think he's a really uh
good fit with Kevin Durant and DevinBooker. Uh in terms of being a
guy that can defend on the wings. Uh. So you know, I
think that there are there. Therewere a lot of places, you know,

(01:07:47):
I really liked with Sacramento taking DevinCarter as well, So I think
that there are a lot of placeswhere you know, I like Withem with
different teams. Did riddle me this, Why did the Spurs deal Dillingham?
I'm just curious they don't have apoint guard? Now, he would seem

(01:08:08):
to be a nice young piece.What why why White deal Dillingham? Well,
Stephan Castle is a point guard,and he looks at himself as a
point guard. And I believe thatthe Spurs believe he's a point guard.
If the if the Utah Jazz hadsomehow figured out a way to get Stephan
Castle, the Utah Jazz believed hewas a point guard. Do you believe

(01:08:33):
Do you believe he's a point guard? I do. I think he's a
point guard. He ran Yukon's offensedown the stretch last year, you know,
a lot of it. It wasit was about one hundred in Newton,
you know, for for most ofthe year. But they started splitting,
the splitting duties and bringing Newton offof down screens and and flare screens.

(01:09:00):
Once the tournament started, you know, Newton still handled the ball and
still ran the offense. But butbut Castle had a lot more on ball
duty. So I fully believe thathe can be a point guard, you
know. So I really like whatMinnesota did. I'm not in love with
Rob Dillingham because I don't believe that. I didn't believe. I don't believe

(01:09:25):
that he's going to be a gooddefender at the NBA level, But you
know, for what his weaknesses areand what his strength start, I believe
that Minnesota was one of the fewteams that's just such a good fit for

(01:09:45):
what he can do as a strengthin hiding his weaknesses, you know,
I think that he's going to strugglemightily defending at the NBA level, but
Minnesota is so good defensively that youknow they can hide that. And on
the flip side, it was reallyclear that you know, the Timberwolves needed,

(01:10:09):
you know, another guard who canattack the rim and who can get
your feet in the paint. Outsideof Anthony Edwards and Rob Dealing and Rob
Dillingham is is probably the best guardin the draft at doing that. So
I thought that that was a greatshrewd move by Minnesota, And I think

(01:10:29):
that Dellingham is a heck of afit with the Timberwolves and your guest.
Just to go back around again,you're ink playing if you're going one way
or another is the jazz stay atthirty two and take somebody today. If
that person's there, Yeah, ifthat person is there, it's going to
be a no brander for them.But if that person is not there,

(01:10:50):
then I think it becomes a littlea lot more of a conversation on what
happens at thirty two. And Ithink that there are more things in play,
including trading down and snatching a fewmore assets and and you know selecting,
you know, possibly selecting later inthe second round. Uh. That's
Tony Jones. He is the jazzbeat writer for the Athletic. He has

(01:11:15):
long been a friend of this programand a friend of mine, and he'll
continue to do his thing here onthese airwaves. He and I will just
have to text and call each othera little bit more often, and maybe,
just maybe, now that I havemore time for lunches, he can
pay off that sushi bet. We'llsee. I've got to pay off a
bet to you. I've got topay off a bet that Ben Dallasit and

(01:11:35):
I have to pay off a betto my to my good friend Ryan Costeka.
I owe him benny hat. SoI've made you know, I've made
so many bets that I've forgotten,like a lot of people will remember.
Like, you know, I thinkpeople like coming up. I think people
are like actually like trying me atthis point. Yeah you remember you made

(01:11:55):
that bet to me? Like,I don't know if I don't remember that
now they're like, no, youdid, you know, Let's go get
sushi or let's go get dinner.You know, I'm just like, yeah,
so, you know, shout outto Eric Walton who let me dry
at Fleming Steakhouse. You know,Bill, I'm sure you're not going to
be as important as expensive a date. But now that you have that cushy

(01:12:17):
job, after I take you tolunch, maybe you take me to lunch.
I will be happy to do that. And by the way, iow
Eric Walton Nachosen beer. But heand I are gonna be working pretty close
to one another up on campus heresoon, so I'll be able to take
him to Nachosen Beer pretty soon.My manor Eric Walton is like cleaning up
on on on on the bet circuit. Right now. So I'm always happy

(01:12:42):
to do it, whether I'm payingoff a bet or just being the beneficiary
of winning a bet. Hey,I meant what I said earlier. I
love you to death. Thank youfor all you've done for me. Man.
Thanks, Ma, Man. Iappreciate you so so much, and
thank you for everything over the years. I'll talk to you soon. Tom
Yes, Sir Tony Jones of theAthletic with us here at the Bill Riley
Show as we broadcast live from BeerBar today. I don't know how many

(01:13:09):
of you been thinking about it lately, but maybe you're just tired, maybe
that maybe being outside a bunch inthe summertime has told you. But maybe
maybe you're just simply ready to ditchthose contacts, Maybe just simply ready to
ditch those glasses and just go withyour eyes. Lasy vision correction surgery from
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(01:13:32):
or contacts, also cheaper over thelong run than glasses and contacts. And
doctor Aaron Wait does such a goodjob with the folks at Wait Vision.
There are there are there offices thereo r all of it is in the
UCCU building they're in Lehigh right onthe east side of the freeway. You
go meet the staff, Jens's officemanager. She's awesome too, you see.

(01:13:53):
They tour it around. They walkyou through the process and make sure
you're as comfortable as you could possiblybe with the whole situation. It's weight
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You go online to the Websitewaightvision dotcom, wai te Vision dot com,
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like everything you see and there's pricingand testimonials, all that stuff up on
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(01:14:38):
ready, schedule that consultation at theiroffice. They'll walk you through it all
and put you at ease. DoctorAaron wait and wait vision in Lehigh taking
a quick time out. Coming backon the other side, more on the
way. Some of your text messagescoming up right here, honey. If
you were listening to about three timesUTAs Sports broadcast, they he sees the

(01:15:00):
Old Riley Show. Who's ended bytime? Number one Sports Talk ESPN seven
hundred. Back at beer Bar,we're here till two today. COPA America
will fire up at about four o'clocktoday, USA Panama. They'll have it
on the big screens here. Theysay it's gonna pick up around three.

(01:15:20):
So if you want to get downhere and watch USA Panama, I'd say
probably get in here a little afterthree. These tables, I mean,
this is a soccer destination here atbeer Bar. These tables fill up for
Euro's COPO America World Cup RSL stuff. So if you want to come down
and watch USA Panama today, whichkicks off a little after four, I'd

(01:15:40):
say get down here three fifteen,no later than three point thirty. Get
your food orders in, a lotof good lunch crowd in here today,
get your beer orders in as well, and have fun and take advantage.
Should be a good game. USAshould win this, but Kanka Caff you
never know, and Panama you neverknow, so I wouldn't say anything's a
given at this point in time,but they've got a good chance here today

(01:16:00):
against the Panamanians, and then thelate game tonight in Copa America. Action
is going to be your way againstBolivia. But the big one's four o'clock
today as we count it down tilkickoff for exactly nine weeks and sixty three
days until Utah and Southern Utah kickoff, and I'm exactly about a show and

(01:16:23):
a half away from saying goodbye.Tomorrow be the last show will be in
studio. We'll have a lot offun with that tomorrow, walk down memory
lane and have a good time withit, but certainly doing that today.
Spence is gonna swing by in aboutan hour or so and we're gonna do
one last edition of the Bill andSpence Show. And I've got a few
memories I want to share, andI'm sure he does too. Chris Wingert,

(01:16:45):
former RSL player and one of myfavorite guys, is going to jump
on at about one o'clock today andwe'll talk to Wingard about Team USA,
the Euros, Copa America, allthat stuff coming up. Your comments are
certainly welcome on the program. Textlines open if you want to jump on
at eight seven seven three five threezero seven hundred. That will get you
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(01:18:17):
a couple of text messages to getto today. Hey, Bill,
just got my season tickets for theRunning Newts this year, Hoping we don't
get absolutely pounded by the Big Twelveof this coming year. Excited to see
the young potential in this team.Well, I mean it could be.
I mean the Big Twelve is thebest league in the country by far,

(01:18:38):
I mean not close if you missedit earlier. Today, here's what the
Big twelve schedule is going to now. Now we don't have dates for it
yet, but we do have theteams. Who's coming to the Huntsman,
Who's not you? Who are theroad teams? They will play twenty conference
games this year. There's a homeonly and away only and there's home and

(01:18:59):
home. Home only games for Utahbasketball this year will be Arizona State and
Colorado. Those are the home onlygames as well as Kansas, Kansas State,
Texas Tech. So you've got fivehome only games Arizona State, Colorado,
Kansas State, Kansas, and TexasTech. The away only games are

(01:19:23):
Arizona of course, Houston, ofcourse, Little Hilton, Magic up in
Ames, Iowa State, TCU,and UCF. So there's five away only
games Arizona, Houston, Iowa State, TCU, and UCF. And then
the home and home games for RunningYou Basketball are BYU, Baylor, Cincinnati,

(01:19:47):
Oklahoma State, and West Virginia.So Utah will host those schools,
plus go to Waco, Provo,Cincinnati, Stillwater, and Morgantown. And
those are your twenty any conference gamesright there. Five home only, five
away only, and five opponents thatare home and away. Those are ten

(01:20:08):
games. You can find that atutahuts dot com. That's utah utes dot
com to get that basketball set upfor what the schedule looks like this year.
And there's still do scholarships to fill, so we'll see what happens.
But that's that's where the schedule goesthis year for basketball text message bill five

(01:20:30):
hours in counting. Remember Letard Washingtongets buck naked for no man except miss
Washington. I like it. Thanksfor the text message Little Chappelle show for
you text message a bill. You'vehelped my day be a little bit more
entertaining and informed. Thanks. Whatwill happen with the Dan Patrick slot?
Is I believe you were part youwere part of filling of him filling that

(01:20:54):
slot. Dan Patrick's not going anywhere. There'll be a new host in my
position, and maybe we'll be ableto announce that tomorrow. I don't know
that for sure. Again, that'sabove my pay grade, but there's a
good chance we might be able toannounce that tomorrow. But Dan Patrick is
staying in the in the in thein the eight to eleven slot right now.
When Dan retires in three and ahalf years, that that's that's up

(01:21:16):
in the air. But as ofright now, the only thing that's changing
is me taking a job at theUniversity of Utah's director of broadcasting and somebody
sliding into this slot. Spence inthe afternoons Dan Patrick before me the show
on ESPN early two eight seven,seven, three five three zero seven hundred
and by the way, thank youfor those kind words. Text message,

(01:21:40):
Hey Bill, Gonna miss your voice. Gonna miss the most is your intro
one of the best to any show. Gives me chills every day when Stockton
hits that shot comes up big.Being thirteen and watching that was amazing.
Good luck. Well, You'll stillbe able to hear my voice. I'm
still gonna be part of this family. I'll be I'll be an extended member
of the family, but I'll bestill in this family, and I'll be

(01:22:03):
part of Utah game days, andI'll be all over things at the University
of Utah. You'll be able tosee me maybe a little bit more on
the Big twelve Now platform, doingbroadsts on ESPN Plus. Text message,
Hey Bill, Gonna miss you.We've met several times and he've essentially been

(01:22:24):
a work companion for a long time. Best of luck, buddy, and
see you soon. Jay. HeyJay, Thanks, I appreciate that.
I hope you can still listen ongame days and other places. I'm sorry
I won't be able to be partof your work day every day, but
like I said, I'm still gonnabe part of this radio station. Just
in a little bit more of aof a distant extended role now, if

(01:22:46):
that makes sense. Text message,Hey Bill, congrats on the new opportunity.
Thank you for always giving us ahigh quality radio show every day.
You're great at what you do.I'm sure you'll be great in your next
role. I've never been much ofa radio guy, but I always wanted
to listen to your show and gamecoverages. You've always had a great voice
and gave us great content. I'velistened every day for years. I know

(01:23:10):
you like lists. So what arethe three of the top most memorable shows
you've ever done over the years.You'll be missed, Jordan. Thanks Jordan.
I would have to give that athought. You know, games are
a little bit easier because those usuallyonly come once a week. Shows are
every single day memorable shows that wehave done over the years. Let me

(01:23:36):
think about that and maybe we bringthat back on tomorrow's show if that makes
sense. I'll give that some thoughttonight and see if that again. That's
tough question. Text message. DidTony ever make good on the suits?
No, he did not, notyet. If you heard the end of
that interviews, He's gonna do thatat some point, but he hasn't yet.

(01:24:00):
Honestly, I don't care if Tonyever makes good on the sushi bet.
It's fun. Haven't you ever donethis with buddies of yours? It's
fun sometimes just to be able tohold that over their head and use that
as something against them. Does thatmake sense? Text message? Wait?
Did I hear that correctly? Tomorrow'sgonna be your last show? Yep?

(01:24:20):
Tomorrow will be my last show elevento two tomorrow. And to be very
honest with you, I have noidea how I'm gonna be The faucet may
come on tomorrow. It probably willat some point in time. I don't
know how I'm gonna deal with it. I've been thinking about it a lot,
but people keep asking me, howare you gonna deal with that final
show? How you gonna deal withthat final show? I don't have any

(01:24:42):
idea. It's just I don't I'mjust gonna try and plan it out and
then leave some spaces and I wantto have fun. I do not want
it to be a super serious emotionalshow by any means, because that's never
what this has been. We talksports, so we're not curing cancer or
splitting the atom here, So butas of tomorrow, after tomorrow's show,

(01:25:05):
somebody else will be sitting here.Text message, hey Bill, thanks for
all the wonderful memories over the years. I'm gonna miss the show. Thanks.
I'm sure that whoever sits in thischair next will do their very best
to fill these shoes and do agreat job too. Text message, Hey

(01:25:26):
Bill, thanks for your honesty aboutthe Jazz future. Tony Jones is way
too optimistic. Danny Ainge has notdone a good job. Let's get again.
I'm viewing it right here and rightnow. It's a heavy lift right
now for this team. This jazzteam is in a really tough spot in
the Western Conference. Remember it tookDanny Ames about five years to really get

(01:25:47):
it going in Boston, and hemade that big deal that allowed him to
bring KG and Ray Allen. We'llsee what happens. He may be able
to be take a big swing Tony'sTony's indicated that they've they've tried to take
some big swings. We'll see.But again, it's been three years.

(01:26:09):
It took him five to really getit rolling in Boston. But I understand
people being a little hesitant at thispoint in time because they just haven't seen
the results. Text message from Rob. Hey, Rob Bill, I'm gonna
miss listen to your show. Ihave a question when you went to college

(01:26:30):
in Kansas. You went to collegein Kansas, but for the last twenty
ish years you've been the voice ofthe youth. So if you had an
opportunity to call a game between Kansasand Utah, would you be objective?
Yes? I would. I've donethat. I called a basketball game between
them about seven years ago in KansasCity. And I'm not going to answer
your ps, Rob, but thankyou. I have so much more time.

(01:26:56):
I love my alma mater, Don'tget me wrong, I do.
I love that. I am aproud graduate of the William Allen White School
of Journalism at the University of Kansas, but I am a Utah guy through
and through. I have six Thiswill be my sixteenth year as the Voice
of the Utes, and I've beencovering that program in that team even when

(01:27:17):
I wasn't the Voice of the Utes. My kids, one is graduated with
a master's from the School to Businessand an engineering degree, and my daughter
is in the midst of going toschool there. I am fully invested in
that university and I love that university, so yes, I've always been objective.

(01:27:43):
The question would be could I beobjective toward toward Utah rather than Kansas?
Because I'm much more at you rightnow than I am a Jayhawk.
But I am proud to have thatJayhawk in my blood for sure. Eight
seven seven three five three zero sevenhundred More of your text messages are welcome
here. We'll read them today andread them tomorrow, and then you'll be
texting somebody else. Somebody asked meyesterday if I would give out my phone

(01:28:08):
number so you guys could just textme your sports questions. As much as
I'd love to do that, Imight have to create maybe my own text
line and text number for you guysto hit up, just so you can
hit me there. But not notgoing to be the old iPhone. Sorry.
As we go to break, justwant to remind you if you've been
thinking about upgrading your home, theoutside of your home in particular, and

(01:28:30):
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(01:29:14):
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(01:29:38):
dot Com. We're live at beerBar today on the Bill Riley Show eight
seven seven three five three zero sevenhundred. As we head down toward one
o'clock, we'll do a little bitmore with you guys coming up than Chris
Winger. Then Spence drops by,We'll do one more Bill and Spence.
Here the Bill Riley Show on espWelcome back to The Bill Riley Show,

(01:30:06):
presented by Less schwab Tires, yourhome for University of Utah football talk in
the midds. Here is Bill Rileyon your home of the at Utah's number
one sports talk ESPN seven hundred headtoward one o'clock live from Beer Bar today.
Got a good lunch crowd in hereat Beer Bar today, enjoying burgers

(01:30:28):
and brots and dogs, and there'ssome salads mixed in here today too.
It's I mean, there's not evenany soccer on right now. The soccer
starts at about four o'clock today,Team USA playing Panama Copa America tonight,
and then of course they'll have moreCopa America and the Euros and all that
stuff. And rsl over the weekendtoo. One sixty one East and second
South, right here in the heartof downtown Salt Lake City. No better

(01:30:50):
place to hang out, watch somesports grab beer than right here at Beer
Bar. And I still think Igotta ask those guys see if they got
my riled up on tappen. Stillthey was on tap for about a year.
Here see if they've changed that taphandle out or if I can still
get a riled up red while I'mhere at beer bar today in downtown Salt
Lake City, Chris Winger, formerRSL man, to come up. Always

(01:31:13):
one of my favorite guys to talkto, and I used to love it
too. I don't know. Idon't know if his dad, Norm still
listens, but his dad was thebest man after my dad. Of course,
his dad would listen like every singletime, well every single time that
Chris would come on the radio forsure, and he'd listen to the games
and all that stuff. So,uh, it'd be good to have Chris

(01:31:35):
back on. He's doing really wellright now as a player agent. And
then Spence's gonna swing by for onesegment here. We'll do a little Bill
and Spence right here before we getout of here today on Utah's number one
Sports Talk ESPN seven hundred. Yourtext messages, by the way, have
been so great. I can't thankyou guys enough. I will continue to

(01:31:58):
thank you for the next you know, four hours of radio that I'm gonna
do for you, But thank youso much for all your kind words.
This text in says Bill, Thanksfor all the great memories. One of
my personal faves is your call ofthe two thousand nine MLS Cup. Keep
up the good work. Well,the good news about that is that will
live forever as will the Cup cannever be taken away, and that call

(01:32:18):
can't either, So thank you.That's that's right up there. It's probably
my favorite call of all time becauseit brought home a championship. That call
the Britain Covey punt return, thefirst championship call down down in Vegas when
Utah knocked off Oregon. It wasit was great text message, Hey Bill,

(01:32:39):
you're the best. Thank you.Ains wift hard question, why not
take Connect and Shiremen two six sevenguys that can offensively do it all complete
and compete hard on defense? What'sthe fascination with upside? Remember Dante exum
versus Marcus Smart? Yeah? Ido, I do. I don't have

(01:33:04):
the answer to that because I don'tknow what the Jazz value I don't know
what their value board look like.But you're right, I mean Connect can
shoot, he can and he playshard on defense. I'm not as big
a Shireman fan as some, buta good shooter nonetheless, and bigger at
six foot seven eight seven seven threefive three zero seven hundred. This is

(01:33:30):
in from Russ. Hey Russ,thanks for always acknowledging me when we met
up at you run the remotes.It was always fun to chat with you
in between your airtime. Always greatto see you up at the Huntsmen.
Hope to see even more now.Yep, you will, Russ, you
will. You'll see me up therequite a bit, and it's always good
to see you and your family andeverybody that would come by the remotes or
games or other stuff like that.Thank you for listening into this. One's

(01:33:57):
in from Jerry. Jerry. Hello, oh Bill. Although I've never met
you in person, listening to youon the radio and on game days has
been awesome. You have the abilityof making everyone feel like you're their friend.
I wish you well in your newendeavor. One of your many favorite
listeners. Thank you and good luck, Jerry. Well, Jerry, you

(01:34:20):
just made my day and you mayor may not have turned the faucet on
just a little bit here a beerbar. That's a great compliment that you
can give to anybody that works inmy business. Really is text message,
Hey Bill. I started listening aboutseven years ago. Now it's the only

(01:34:42):
show that I'd go out of myway to listen to. I'm hoping the
new host will continue just that.Just happy we still get you for games.
Pretty sure there would be riots atrice Ecles if you didn't. Good
luck with a new job, myfriend, they couldn't have made a better
choice. Well, thank you,You've got me more than just games.
I'll be a guest on this showwhenever they'll have me. In fact,
I just found out we'll be announcingduring my show tomorrow who's taking my place.

(01:35:08):
So I just saw my boss whocame by beer bar here today and
he told me that. So you'llfind out tomorrow in this space who's going
to be taking my spot. ButI'll be on other games too, football,
basketball, be doing stuff on theESPN Plus platform two for Utah.
So anyway, thank you for thatagain made my day. Text message.

(01:35:34):
Out of high school, I hadno idea what I wanted to do for
a career. I started doing somelandscaping and my boss played ESPN seven hundred
from six am to six pm.I knew right then, listening to you
and Dan and Spence, I wantedto be in radio. You're a big
part of my day and my decisionto get to that in school, I'll
still be tuned in well. Thatmakes me feel good too. If you

(01:35:56):
ever have questions about it, youcan find my email and I'll be happy
to answers for any questions. Ilove. One of my favorite things to
do is to help young people thatwant to be in this It's one of
the reasons why I'm taking this jobtoo, because I'm teaching this class,
which has been so rewarding for me, and I just I love giving back

(01:36:17):
because I had a chance when Iwas in college to have professors that did
it all and worked in the businessand gave me great direction. And I'm
going to be able to work withthe university in my new role too to
try to help grow that stuff formore people like you. So thank you
for doing that. Thanks for sayingthat. I want to remind you is
we go to break that underdog fantasy. They have over a million fans making

(01:36:42):
money and making picks with underdog Fantasyright now, and with basketball done and
hockey done, you could join inon the fund with Major League Baseball and
their pick them game. All yougotta do is pick between two and eight
players on your favorite teams and selectwhether they go higher or lower on their
stats. If your picks it,you can win up to three hundred and
twenty five times your money in asingle night. Legal and U tak ton

(01:37:05):
of fun to play. I mayplay a little bit tonight with the Royals.
We'll see what I can do.Anyway. Simple to do Underdog Fantasy
really easy. Go to their easyto use mobile app or Underdog Fantasy dot
Com, but sign up with mypromo code Bill Riley, and Underdog will
give you a special mystery pick touse on your first pick them and deposit
offering. That's Underdog Fantasy promo codeBill Riley. To claim your new customer

(01:37:28):
special of a mystery player pick onyour first deposit offer got to be eighteen
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terms apply. Concerned with your playcalled one eight hundred Gambler or visit NCP
Gambling dot Org. That's Underdog Fantasy, all right. Two hours down,
one to go on this Thursday,Live from Beer Bar today, gonna mix

(01:37:51):
a little soccer conversation coming up onthe other side, Chris Winger, who
have not had on in quite sometime, Chris will come Bible chat with
him coming up right here on theBill Riley Show on the in you were
listening to my three times Utah sportsbroadcast Grow of the Year DC is the

(01:38:14):
Bill Riley Show, saying by Leschwildtireslike Utah's number one sports talk ESPN seven
hundred. Back in Beer Bar herein downtown Salt Lake City, we've got
Copa America stuff coming up at aboutfour today, and this is your great
destination in downtown to watch, whetherit's RSL, whether it's the mL the
MLS package on Apple, Copa AmericaEuros, They've got it all on down

(01:38:38):
here at beer bar. So comeon buy a little bit later on the
safteroon, a good lunch crowd inhere right now, final hour today,
final four hours of my of myrun here at ESPN seven hundred. That's
weird to say, but that's thehonest, the goodness truth. And I
wanted to talk some soccer anyway.But I've also taken this opportunity for people
that have come on to thank themfor, you know, all they've done

(01:38:59):
for me through the years. Andour next guest one of those guys too,
whether it was coming on as aplayer for Real salt Lake on a
postgame show, or coming on duringthe week during this show, or kind
enough to do a pregame interview withme, or even doing what he's doing
now a little analysis in his daysnow as an agent. It's always good
to have Chris Wingerd on. Andwhenever I got Chris wingerd I got not

(01:39:20):
only a good audience with Chris,but I always got an extra listener in
Long Island too, when his dadwould hop online and listen to the show
as well. What's up Wing,Well, it's having and Bell first off
used congratulations and order really excited tohear about that. And secondly, I'm
a little bit jealous. I gota little Foama on whiching I was on

(01:39:42):
site right now with you having abeer with Romando and hanging out to you
in the show. Yeah, I'msurprised Romondo's not in here. Half the
time I'm doing my show. He'slike Norman cher Is, sitting in the
corner booth over there having a beerbeing Nick Romondo. But yeah, Romondo's
not here today. He's probably gonnabe in here later when the US met
national teams on all right, well, next time I need the uh yeah,

(01:40:03):
the in person invite and all threeof us will will hang and here's
what we could do, a properbrew of beer for me called Riled Up
Red, so we can all haveone of my own, one of my
beers that they have on tap hereat beer Bar. Okay, count me
in for that. Excellent. How'swife? Catch everybody up on what you're
doing. Everything is good, Everythingis good. I am in uh in

(01:40:26):
New York City, currently trying toescape the heat a little bit and hopefully
gonna head out to Long Island andsee the fam and jump in the pool
this weekend. But yeah, everything'sgreat. Still representing the guys, got
Jay, Glad and Brody on RSLand a bunch of other guys around the
league that I'm working with. Reallyenjoying that and ready for summer. So

(01:40:51):
yeah, everything's going great. That'sfantastic. Just a quick thought. I
mean, you played on Cup,Champions Runners Up, Champions League teams.
How does this team talent wise theyhave done anything yet? But from a
talent standpoint, matchup with some ofthose really good teams you were on,
Chris Man, I'm gonna sound alittle bit biased or as a complete has

(01:41:15):
been. But but Kyle and Iand a few of the guys, we've
been talking about the team and whatan incredible run they've been on. It's
been an absolute pleasure to watch andnot surprising knowing some of the guys they
have the team and and Pablo runningthe show over there. With that said,
I was trying to look at thelineup and say, who would be

(01:41:38):
you know, who would be startingon our team? And of course you
got the MVP front runner right nowup top. Who would play on any
team, that's for sure. Uh, And then looking at you know,
the rest of the squad, Ithink Jay Glad would give Borchers and a

(01:41:58):
Lave and Shuler run for their money, and maybe maybe Brody would take my
spot. But outside of that,man, I think I think the guys
would on this current team would havea hard time starting for us because we
had certainly some of the best guysin the league. I don't disagree either,
And not only did you have gooda good starting eleven, but you

(01:42:20):
had guys that could either start orcome off the bench, that knew what
their roles were, that were kindof I like to call them, you
know, dirty work guys, guysthat would put in the work that needed
to be done that maybe some otherswouldn't do. For sure, excuse me,
for sure, I would say weeven had guys that were national team

(01:42:41):
caliber players that on occasion were comingoff the bench, guys like Ned GRABLOI
and you know, certainly we hada rotation up top of of top top
players in the league between Robbie Finleyand and Fabbiana, Spindla Sabo and You're
and all those guys. So yeah, I mean there there was there was

(01:43:04):
a lot of good players. Butof course I'm biased, right, so
anyway, Yeah, it would befun. It'll be fun. I wish
in a you know, in anotheruniverse, we could we could have that
matchup and see who would win.We need to get the EA Sports FIFA
guys to be able to create that, you know, be able to match
you guys up in some sort ofvideo game simulation, you know what I

(01:43:26):
mean. I'm sure somebody that knowsthe AI stuff now could be able to
do it, right. We'd haveto look into that. Hey, Chris
Wingert with us here the Bill RileyShow today. Agent Now, what what
what's you've had? An agent?So you knew what the job was,
but what was when you got intothis and now that you're getting established in
this business, what what's been thething that caught you off guard of the

(01:43:47):
eye opener for you? Oh man, that's a great question. What caught
me off guard? I don't thinktoo much stuff caught me off guard.
With that being said, still,you know, learning more and more about
the job in this side of thingsevery day, that's for sure. I

(01:44:10):
guess how much goes into managing theclients that you have. Certainly it's it's
pretty obvious as to the recruiting role, if you will, and scouting part
of it in terms of trying tobring on new clients, but in terms
of the everyday management of the guys, everybody is different, right, So

(01:44:34):
some guys want to be talking onceevery couple of days. Some guys would
probably not rather hear my voice,So you know, it's just to check
in once in a while. AndI think that's just up to the player.
And I've tried to find a balancebetween you know, being in close
contact but also only being in touchas much as as they want or they

(01:44:58):
need. And that's that's just again, that's the psychological part of doing the
job is just figuring out what eachguy needs and how you can try to
help Chris Winger with us for acouple more minutes here on the Bill Riley
Show. Today, US men's nationalteam playing Panama tonight. So we've got
concacaff and the Copa America. ButI want your thoughts on this team,

(01:45:21):
how Burholtzer put it together, andwhat expectations should be in COPA for this
team and then maybe two years becausethe core of this team is going to
be back in two years they arethere's not going to be that many changes.
It could be a few players hereand there. So where do you
view this team now as it's beenput together, and what should expectations be

(01:45:42):
for COPA and then of course twoyears from now when they're all back here
in the States again for the WorldCup. Yeah, the time is now,
so to speak. You know,the core of this team is really
just starting to scratch the surface onhitting their prime. I would say,
of course, you still have someguys who are, you know, relatively
young, Joe Scally and Jie Reinaand Musa. I'm sure I'm missing a

(01:46:08):
few others who could all Peppy abunch of these guys could all play in
the Olympics this summer, which Idon't think will happen because obviously they're playing
in Copa America now. But thoseguys are still young enough to be on
the U twenty three squad for US, which is fantastic. But most of
the other guys are really just cominginto their own Polisic and tim Waya and

(01:46:31):
Weston and Tyler and these guys,and so you know, I think the
time is now. I think theexpectations are hired than what they've been and
rightfully so, and going into nextWorld Cup when really they should be hitting
their stride, I think the expectationsshould be high, and that's okay,
that's part of it, right.I think the guys will will enjoy that

(01:46:54):
pressure, and as we say,pressure, pressure is a privilege, right,
so they've earned that and I thinkthey're ready to take that on.
In terms of results, yeah,I mean it's tough. Are we going
to have to play Brazil in thefirst knockout rounds here? I think that's
who we would match up against,depending on where we finished in the group

(01:47:15):
and when where they finish in thegroup. So no matter what you're going
to have, you know, atough matchup, but I think it's time
where you know we can we canpull off an upset against the likes of
a team like that, Right,it's probably been a while since we since
we kind of shocked the world witha win over a team like Spain.
What was that twenty ten A winlike that that would really really be a

(01:47:42):
signature win. But that's what you'rehoping for, is to get to that
stage and then pull off a bitof an upset. And in terms of
the twenty twenty sixth World Cup,I mean, I think anything less than
the quarterfinals would be a disappointment.But again, so many things happen,
right, and it's difficult for alot of teams to even make it,

(01:48:03):
as we see in the europe qualifyingand throughout the rest of the world,
and so it's hard to say anexact result. But I think anything anything
less than the quarterfinals will be adisappointment. What's missing from this team.
I'm not talking about necessarily an individualwho could be on the team, but
positionally, what's the weakness of thisAmerican side. I've heard a lot of

(01:48:27):
people talk about a lack of anumber nine. But it feels like we've
been talking about that for about threecycles now, you know, center backs,
lack of a number nine. Isthere something missing, something that could
be developed between now in twenty sixin the World Cup. Yeah, it's
a goal scoring number nine, whichI think we have but just hasn't come

(01:48:47):
to fruition yet on this team.I mean, I'm a huge fan of
Flow, but he hasn't quite doneit yet for the US. But he's
still pretty new. I think he'sonly been there for a year, right,
his first couple of games. Ithink we're a year ago, and
so sometimes it takes a little bitto get comfortable and hit your stride.

(01:49:08):
But I mean we were talking aboutit for ten years with RSL, and
look what happened when they got atrue number nine goalscorer who you know,
has just completely changed the course ofthe season. So I think that that
remains to be the case with theUS. Our wingers are some of our
best players on the team, andif we can get one of these guys

(01:49:30):
to really start heating up, whetherit's Flow or Peppi or Sergeant or somebody
else, I think, you know, puts US in a different place as
a country. So sure, lastthing is a former player now agent slash
businessman, I'm going to ask youa big question about the league. Has
the Apple deal been good for theleague? Because I feel like the league

(01:49:51):
isn't as visible anymore to the averagefan. So you tell me, as
a former player and somebody that's nowin the player business, has this Apple
deal been good for the league?I agree? I think it's just not
quite visible for the average fan.You're going to get the die hard fans,
guys like myself who are going towatch them and pay for the subscription

(01:50:13):
no matter what. And of course, the subscriptions shot through the roof with
MESSI coming into town last year.But at the same time, yeah,
I would argue that it's it hasn'tbeen the best simply for that reason that
if it's on a major network,whether it's you know, Fox or ESPN

(01:50:34):
or NBC or something like that,I think the average fan, when it's
in your face, is going towatch more. And unfortunately, we still
have to win over a lot ofthose fans, and those fans are not
going to seek it out like therest of us will. And so in
that sense, I don't know ifit was the best move. I guess

(01:50:57):
the answer is yet to be determined, right signing a ten year deal.
It worries me a little bit becauseup front it sounded good. But at
the same time, if MLS continuesto grow, and hopefully the twenty twenty
six World Cup kind of catapults thatinto a whole other level, then we
might be stuck in a deal thatisn't isn't as advantageous as we once thought.

(01:51:21):
Chris Wingert, Thank you man.I wanted to get you on before
I signed off here. I reallyappreciate not just this today, but all
down through the years, all theradio we've done together. Thank you man.
Of course, it's great talking withyou. Bill. Hopefully see you
soon and tell Philadelphia Adams legend NormWinger that I said hello. He already
told me to say ahi, soI will do. Thanks. Chris,

(01:51:45):
all right, take care. Thereyou go. Chris Wingert with us,
former RSL man, now an agentto those soccer players with us here at
the Bill Riley Show today. Welllook who just dropped in. He must
want a free sandwich from Jersey Mikes. He only shows up when I promise
him Sam, which is from Jerseymikes, well, or are you expecting
me to buy you a beer?No? Actually, fun trivia. I'm

(01:52:05):
actually one of the partners here atbear VARs. Are you really Yeah?
So so was Mike Lund. Idid the real estate here, and I
love coming here, and I lovewhen you broadcast here. So it's great.
Richard and Duncan are in the backthere. Heather's running the bar this
afternoon. We can. We hada really good lunch crowd in here too.
Well. I am such a smallpartner here. I probably made maybe
fifteen or twenty cents with this lunchcrowd, so it all adds up.

(01:52:28):
And always get a table. It'smy friend John Wright, our tour insider.
He said his office is just aroundthe corner. He goes, I
want to come say goodbye to youbefore you get off the air. Well,
I really do. How long John? By the way, I've worked
at this station twenty straight years.John was on the ground floor. He
was there for a year and ahalf and then got with it a year
and a half. Yeah. Well, let me tell the story. Okay.

(01:52:49):
I was a coming off a failedprofessional golf career. I was working
in real estate and I got anoffer to do a radio show on seven
hundred, and I was replacing alegend. Everybody had heard of Tom Barberry,
and I knew nothing about radio.I had no clue. I didn't
even know how to turn on amicrophone. I didn't know anything. And
I went to the first production meetingand everybody was being introduced. You were

(01:53:12):
new, and I believe it wasMatt, Matt Thomas, and you and
I. We were the three anchorsto the new shows. And they were
asking all these technical radio questions tothe hosts, and I didn't even know
what they were talking about. Butluckily I had sat down next to you,
and I would lean over and say, well, what does that mean?
And you were so nice and sohelpful and such a huge support for

(01:53:34):
me. I had no idea whatI was doing or what was happening,
and you were right there with me. You were a veteran in the business.
You had just come over from KSL, I believe, and I just
wanted to thank you personally on theair for how much you meant to me
and my radio career. Mine wasshort lived as full time, but it's
always been fun to come back anddo some golf shows and do some golf

(01:53:55):
appearances, and you were going tobe missed. I tune in every day
at my office and listen in,text you privately and and just comment on
the show, and I'm going tomiss that. So I'm glad you're still
around. Glad you're still bro outtockcasting games. But it's gonna be it's
gonna be tough there from eleven totwo. It's one of those things where
I've been doing this. I've donea radio show just about every day for

(01:54:16):
thirty years. I've been in thebusiness thirty two years I've been on this
The fact that I've been at thisstation, everybody that's come and gone over
there is twenty straight years on thisstation's been pretty amazing. And because you
know, this business is weird andcrazy and many things happen. I'm lucky
my boss is sitting right there byone of my former bosses sitting next to

(01:54:38):
him, two of the best peopleI've ever worked for. And I wouldn't
still be in this business as itis today without these two guys here.
Mike lund is a great sales managerand a friend Jackie Louis are current when
she's sitting there right now. Theseare the people that have made along with
me this station what it is today. And I feel really good John,
because remember when it started, itwas in the toilet. Oh it made

(01:54:58):
a change for a reason. Itwas a been legendary for a long long
time. And I feel really goodof what we've built here at this station.
There's been a lot of changes,but where it is now, and
handing the baton off to the guysthat are going to be I. You
know, you always want to leavesomething better than you found, and I
think I've done that. You absolutelyhave. And and I remember that first
meeting. I was I wasn't doingsports, we didn't go all sports.

(01:55:20):
I was doing politics and current events, and then a Jim Rome show would
come on after me, and thenyou and I don't even remember. It
was such a scattered piece of itjust didn't work. And once they once
they let me go and moved toall sports, it made a lot more
sense. And then once they startedto centered around the utes and you and

(01:55:40):
Spence and things just took off fromthere, and you've become You've become a
legend in this market and certainly onthis station, and for twenty straight years
at one place, I remember Igot a LinkedIn notification. I've been at
my commercial real estate firm now fortwenty years, and I was like,
wait, what happened. It's beena long time, I thought, I
was, you know, it's onlybeen ten, but twenty years here thirty
in the business, and you talkabout someone who's paid their dues, worked

(01:56:04):
their way up and achieved all sortsof success. I'm just really I had
to walk over, had to geton the air and just say thank you
and on behalf of everyone, myselfincluded. I love coming on, but
I also love just enjoying your showsand listening to your calls on seven hundred
to all the utes, well,I love having you on. John's great.
Everybody that knows John's kind of agolf legend in these parts. Everybody

(01:56:27):
that's grown up in this area probablyhas a John Wright story that's played with
him or against him. And Ijust love John because there's no bs.
I'm one of these rare people thatI'm very direct, you know where I
stand. It's not mean or Ijust I'm direct. And John's the same
way. And I always enjoy talkingto people and having people on that are
guests that are very direct, andyou know where they stand, and they've

(01:56:50):
got an opinion, and they're notsaying bad things, but they're just telling
it like it is. And you'vealways done that except with Tiger Woods.
So you've got to still even whenTiger's struggle a little shaded your Tiger.
But that's okay because most of thetime we've talked to Hey, John as
a guest, he was great well, and I appreciate that. I really
enjoy it. I hope I cancontinue it in some way, shape or

(01:57:10):
form. I have no idea whothe replacement's gonna be. I'm gonna I'm
listen. I'm gonna try to getit out of you when we're off the
air. But uh no, likeI said, I I enjoy coming on
and you're all you're going to bemissed and I can see your your tech
screen is blowing up and your yourpersonal phone with all these people are realizing.
I thought it was gonna melt lestit's coming, it's coming to an

(01:57:30):
end. I remember my last showwas on a Tuesday. I had like
ten seconds. I remember my producersaid in my ear, Hey, the
general manager just walked in. Ithink this was your last show, and
that was it. It's generally,Hell, it happened, but it's usually
on a Friday, not on aTuesday. Well, and I begged him,
Hey, just give me one moreday to say good bye to my
all fifteen of my listeners. Anduh, They're like, no, we

(01:57:51):
couldn't trust you to come on theair because who knows what you would say.
I was actually a little relieved.Waking up at three o'clock in the
morning to be ready for a sixshow is not my favorite thing to do.
So but you don't even wake upat three in the morning to golf
with an early tea time. Imight wake up that early to go hunting,
but that's about it. But again, Bill, thank you for the

(01:58:12):
opportunities, and thank you for onbehalf of everyone, for all the listeners,
because uh, it's uh, themid afternoon eleven to two is not
going to be the same without you. So thank you from all of us
and especially for me. From theday one in that production meeting, all
the way up through twenty years ofFrench I had forgotten about I hadn't forgotten,
but I had hadn't thought about thatproduction meeting over there over a clear
channel at Decker Lake. Well,I think the salespeople said, hey,

(01:58:34):
are you available for? And theysaid some industry term and I didn't know
what it meant. And I lookover at you and you're, yes,
you're available. I can't remember whatit was for it was. I think
it was lunch with advertisers. Youhad Raymond, you had Maggie, you
had Steve, John Chambers, JohnChambers, Mitch Smith was there. Mitch
for a minute, was over theretoo. Jim Vanderveer, who I just

(01:58:58):
saw at Steve Kloukey's memorial. Hewas on that said I remember that that
sales deb Yeah, yeah, theyhad. They were great. They were.
And you know what's funny is uhthose lunches that they did set up
with advertiser. I've met some ofmy very close friends even to this day,
and some clients as well. Sothe radio business is very interesting and
super fun. And you made it. You made it not just enjoyable for
me, but you made it soI even knew what I was doing.

(01:59:19):
I lasted more than a week thanksto you. Well, here's the deal.
Now, I don't have a threehour rap. I'm gonna be busy
at my new job, but Ithink I'm gonna be able to take a
lunch show. You and I couldgo hit Jersey Mikes and get if you
tried the twelve yet No, butI need to go in there. I
need I need to go Jersey Mikes. And then now now you're actually free
for afternoon golf. Well we'll seeabout that. I got that. Yeah,

(01:59:42):
that's gonna be The next few monthsare gonna be a lot of heavy
lifting. But at some point,yes, well, well we'll look forward
to that. I know Spence wantsto get out and play as well.
In fact, I just saw thepairings for the Utah State Amateur. The
media day is coming up next weekand I'm paired with Spence. So yeah,
because they wanted me to play withyou, and I said, Bill
doesn't like to miss his show.Because we played eight o'clock in the morning,
there's no way you could get toyou here show. Where's it at?

(02:00:03):
By the way, it's at OgdenCountry Club? Nice, nice track,
very nice. From what I understand, they've redone the whole thing,
and I actually need to get outthere. I've played well there. I
actually won the Sadam out there manyyears ago, and I need to go
and take a look at the newdesign, but I'll be out there with
Spence and Paul Puckmyer and Jan Brownsteinand I just saw my pairing this morning,

(02:00:24):
so it's an all call seven hundredSports Foursome. Thank you, Bill.
Great to see if that's John Wright, my friend and tour insider,
former radio host. He held downthe morning slot for a good eighteen months
or so, following the footsteps ofTom Barberry back in the day. And
I think John will still be aroundfrom time to time. You'll hear him

(02:00:45):
promoting majors, and he and Iwill certainly remain good friends off the year
as well. Gonna grab a break, We're gonna come back on the other
side and renew one more time.Bill and Spence won't be a hot or
not Wednesday, but it'll still befun. Next you were listening to about
three times Utah Sports Broadcaster of theYear. This is the Bill Riley Show.

(02:01:10):
Who's ent it by Les Schwab TigersSquad, Utah's number one sports song
ESPN seven hundred. All right,Bill Riley Show, heading down the home
stretch. Thanks to John Wright forcoming by today. Thank you, Johnny.
Half hour left in this show andthen three hours tomorrow, and then
that's that we will be announcing inthis time slot tomorrow the guy that's going

(02:01:31):
to take my place here. Sowe'll introduce you to the new midday host
here on ESPN seven hundred. Beforethere was ever a Bill Riley Show in
the mid days, there was anafternoon drive show. But before that,
there was a show by the nameof Bill and Spence. And for those
of you that are old enough,you guys might remember it sounded a little
like this leaf. Go ahead.If you missed the Bill Riley Show,

(02:01:55):
well you missed out. This textmessage in from Major League Baseball. Would
you you, guys vote Nellie foxwhites hawx second basement into the hall.
I loved him. I put himin. I'm surprised somebody that knows who
Nelly Foxys knows how to text tobe honest with you seriously or has a
cell Siria, has a cell phoneor knows how to Maybe it's the group's
cell phone at the home. Twointo the Bill Riley Show week the afternoons

(02:02:18):
from three to seven right here oncalls seven hundred sports. If you missed
the Bill Riley Show, will youmissed out? You know it's interesting.
Everybody, of course, remembers wherethey were when the Bronco Chase went down.
I remember where I was when theacquittal went down. I was at
my girlfriend's house and her parents weregone. Any premature acquittling it is so

(02:02:42):
dumb, stupid. So we're alllaugh and two into the Bill Riley Show
week the afternoons from three to sevenright here on calls seven hundred sports.
If you missed Bill and Spence,will you that if tonight's the night,
Oh oh, the jazz were ableto beat the Spurs, Tonight's the night.

(02:03:06):
I don't know the words. Stickto the music, man, Professor
hill To, That's all I know. Oh Lord Jill, drop the ball.
It's Bill, Rilly and Spitzer.Check its sweet days from tweety seven
on call seven hundred Sports. Thatwas fun, so good man, that

(02:03:27):
was dispenses here so good. I'vesaid this forever. There have been a
lot of great shows in this marketover the years. I don't think anybody
ever had a better show than theshow you and I did together for three
and a half years. It wasa special show man. I learned a
lot. I certainly owe you alot, And we're all sad to see
you go. And I often thinkback at that was really my first,
you know, full time radio jobwhere I was actually making enough money not

(02:03:50):
to do something else. And itwas a lot of fun. I learned
a ton from you, and moreoften than not, it just was fun.
And that's what radio should be.This should be a fun space.
Sports should be fun. We're inthe toy Aisle and that was a great
way for me to learn the businessand kind of launch my career. And
here we are back together again.Basically what fifteen years later, something like

(02:04:11):
that fish bowl of trolley is wherewe began. Oh yeah, yeah,
and then we moved to the WestSide studio, yes, where somebody literally
shot a bullet hole in the window. They never fixed it, No,
they never fixed it. It gaveus a lot of street cred when other
hosts would drive by the back.Oh don't mess with Bill and Spence.
They've been shot at. So youknow, I don't know what I have

(02:04:32):
more people bring up when we bringup our show together Hot or not Wednesday?
Uh huh? Or Shep Oh suresure, yeah. I saw Shep
last week at the Plocky thing,and Shep was such a big part of
what we did was Shep was sucha good sport, we gave him a
lot of greeds. Oh yeah,but it almost kind of helped grow his
brand a little bit too, absolutely, and it launched Shep into a place

(02:04:56):
where he was able to leverage hispresence in our our program into exactly what
he wanted to do, into onlycovering BYU. And I still keep in
touch with Shep here there. Andyou know a good kid who I think
still wears gene shorts. We gavehim endless grief for those gene shorts back
in the day. Do you rememberwho was our launching pad for Hot or
Not Wednesday? How Hot or NotWednesday began? It was a conversation.

(02:05:20):
It was not a topic idea.It just began organically, and Shep began
it because he threw it out toyou were on do you remember who it
was? I don't. Cameron Diaz. Cameron Diaz, okay, And she
had he had just watched a CameronDiaz movie and he was like, I
think she's good looking, but isshe hot? Or yeah, like that's

(02:05:43):
a good And then we began todiscuss it amongst ourselves, and I think
we came to the conclusion she wasnot hot. I believe that we did,
and then we brought that on air. Certainly a segment you could not
do in twenty twenty four. Peoplehad asked me over the last couple of
weeks if I would do one moreHot or Not Wednesday, and I said,
I will not because it's not hot. I want to remain employed gamefully,
either here or beyond. You know, It's funny about a year after

(02:06:05):
we were doing that segment, theTV show The Office had an episode where
they were debating if Hillary Swank washot or not? Remember, and so
we just took credit for that entirely, even though obviously The Office came up
with that on their own. Butyes, that was It's It was always
such an example of the way listenersinteract with shows. Because you and I

(02:06:27):
could break down You's too deep,We could break down jazz, pick and
roll, say hey, what doyou guys think? Text us and it'd
be like, hey, is CameronDiaz hot or not? Boom, seventy
five texts within thirty seconds. Wecould have the greatest sports breakdown ever.
It would be crickets Yeah, andit we rolled out, people would wait,
they started throwing nominations out into US, and of course my role was

(02:06:48):
to introduce it. Chep's role wasto be the wet blanket, and you
were preserving and protecting the same todayof hot or not Wednesday, Yes,
yes, now, great memories forshare. It was such a fun show,
you know, and obvious I wentto a different station and came back
and it's been great to be reunitedand certainly have enjoyed working with you over
the past five years. And I'lladd my voice to the echoes of folks

(02:07:11):
that are sad to see you go, but happy for your opportunity. Chile's
on the West Side, Yes,yes, Jeffs and salsa. And where
did Shep used to go to gethis bottomless steak fries? The Red Robin
Robin. He wanted to wait forthe deal to get endless steak fries,
to take his family to have dinnerbecause remember Shep was like super cheap.

(02:07:32):
He never wanted to spend a dime. The Dan Patrick dinner at Spencer's indeed,
several crab legs and a lot ofbeers. Dan probably had twenty krab
legs and eighteen beers. He justkept ordering crab legs and beers. He
our boss at that time was aguy named Dean Howell. Shout out Dean
Dean. I think he called himan evangelical pre preacher. Yes, he

(02:07:55):
had the look of an evangelical preacher. He did. He did because he
was an LDS bishop at the time, and asked him if he was in
that jelical preacher. And I don'tthink Dean liked that very much, but
it was a funny moment. Thatwas funny, and then of course nobody
could ever forget you dubbed him thisthe awkward Intern. Oh indeed, yes,
he's still work than in the market. Yeah, yeah, yeah,

(02:08:15):
the awkward Intern. And also nicknamingDulce the Human Details because I would listen
to you and Frank on the footballcalls, and of course you're such a
pro, you would have this greatcall and Frank would just step all over
you. So I just nicknamed Frankthe Human Detour, which then became his
Twitter handle. Oh so many goodmen. Yeah, definitely, I'm sure

(02:08:37):
you do. Two people come upand say, man, you and Spence,
that show was awesome and I'll maintainto this day as much as I
love my show solo, what youand I did for that three and a
half years was amazing. It wasa hard decision to leave, It really
was. I mean, ultimately forme it was to get back around the
NBA and get round and get backaround basketball. But the redeeming sentiment I

(02:08:58):
received when I left is you justleft the best show in the market,
you know. And so we bothdid our best to make our way through
our careers and then you know,it worked out great for both the yo.
Yeah, but that that three anda half years was just so much
fun because we'd plan a show outand then we would just go in a
million We could go a million differentdirections right right, and between the two
of us, we had a greatguest list. You know. That was

(02:09:20):
when I got to know Klonie Satake, who was the defensive coordinator for Kyle.
We did coaches shows with Kilanie wouldcome in studio Gary Anderson as well.
And then being able to get toknow Kyle and obviously Kyle's still coaching
the team to this day, andforging a lot of relationships that I still
really very much value, you know, including you and and like I said,
sad to see you go, butthrilled for your opportunity. I think

(02:09:41):
my favorite time that we got Chefto turn white and he just lost his
mind when when we were you weretalking about the president of the LDS Church,
Thomas Monson, and you called himtim Ons. Sheperd is like,
he didn't he can't do you can'tdo it. He didn't think it was
funny at all. He was likeworried that they were going to call and

(02:10:01):
take away his temple recommend because youhad given the LDS prophet and nickname Timons
and then Deultce used to impersonate himon air, and shep found no humor
in that whatsoever. Yes, temOn's for sure. Yeah, memories flooding
back, man, for sure.You know all the remotes that we did,
all the good times we had together, and again learning how to do
a proper radio show from you,you know, because you had had the

(02:10:24):
experience because you were really old whenwe were doing that show. I chuckled
that older now, dude, Ichuckled that all the time because at that
time when we were doing that show, how old were you? I was
like thirty six or thirty seven,because I would have been twenty seven,
twenty eight, And I just crackedon you for how old you are,
and I'm forty six downay older thanyou were when we were working together,

(02:10:46):
and that was just our running bed, like, hey, go e'sy on,
Bill, he's really old and you'relike thirty five years old at the
time. And the other line wasI love you like a little brother even
though I'm older. Yeah, Iwould say that. I would say that
to Shep. You know, Ilove you like a little brother even though
I'm older. And I can rememberduring the draft process when Shep said that

(02:11:07):
he didn't think Steph Curry is anNBA player. Do you remember this,
I don't remember that. So wewere doing the show and we were analyzing
prospects and I love the Steph andI'm not taking a victory lab. But
there was a little noise around Stephat the time, and Shep is like,
I don't even think he's an NBAplayer, And I just obliterated him
on air. And I remind himto this day, you know, because

(02:11:28):
obviously Steph has turned out to begenerational. Nobody thought he was going to
be this, But yeah, Shepwas a good sport because he certainly caught
a lot of the brunt of ourof our good time. I took an
l from you too because I thoughtDarren Williams would have a longer career than
Chris Poh the CP three darn,because I just thought the way he was

(02:11:48):
built, because he was so muchbigger and sturdier, I think he'll have
a longer career than Chris Paul.And that was not the case. Well,
Jerry Sloan agreed with you, andyou know, Darren had four elite
years here, you know, sofor a while was neck and neck.
But there was something about Chris Paulthat stood out to me in my draft
analysis, and I thought he wouldbe really really good, and ultimately,
you know, the deal did.And I say this on my show all

(02:12:09):
the time. We're informed, butwe're guessing like everybody else, and sometimes
it works, sometimes it doesn't,which is why the new age media of
embraced debate, where you have tohave a hot take is something that I
am not interested in at all.And the business has changed now a little
bit where guys like you and Ithat have shows for three and four hours,

(02:12:30):
we have to cover a bit ofeverything. And now there are so
many smart people that cover individual eventslike the draft or like recruiting, so
I'll have a recruiting expert on ora draft expert on as opposed to paint
myself like I am the biggest expertin the world. No, I think
our audience is smarter than that.And I don't think our audience wants Steven
A. Smith. I think they'lltalk, they'll turn him on in the

(02:12:52):
morning when they're getting ready for work, but when they're tuning into us,
they don't want the guy that thinkshe knows everything about everything now, not
a guy that's got an opinion onsomething. Ye yeah, but also somebody
that's going to bring on people thatwill enhance the conversation even or add to
it or taking a different direction.Well, and you're kind of the one
in the beginning of my career whereyou know, your kind of ethos was,
Yeah, you do have to havean opinion, you do have to

(02:13:13):
take a stand, you can't waffle. But at the same time reminding me
and reminding anybody you've worked with atthe end of the day, this better
be a good time. We're notwaking up at six to return emails all
day. We don't have sales callsat eight. You know, we're not
grinding to to this is not realwork. Ultimately, it takes It's a

(02:13:33):
very energetic ask. You have toprepare, you have to be on point
for hours at a time every singleday. But it juxtaposed to what a
lot of people have to do toget through their day every day, and
I never forget that. Just certainlygrateful that I have the opportunity to do
this. But you were always goodat reminding like, yes, take this
seriously, be prepared, have anopinion, stand on it. But if

(02:13:54):
you're not having fun, then you'renot showing gratitude for this amazing life that
we're able to have. Well,I said it to John Wright because I've
been here for twenty years at thisstation, and when we took it over
it was a mess. Clear Channelloaned it, and you know, there's
that adage in life you always wantto leave things better than you found them.
Sure, and as excited as Iam to start this new adventure at
the University of Utah, there's alittle part of me that's sad. But

(02:14:16):
I feel great because I know you'regoing to carry on the torch and I
know the guy that we're putting inthis chair is going to do a great
job too, and James and Jackieand our sales staff, and I just
know that we're in such a greatposition right now that I can feel good
about. Hey, Spence, it'snow Spence's baton to run with and take
it and do take the station toanother level. Yeah, I appreciate you

(02:14:39):
saying that we are in a goodplace. We will miss you. It's
an undeniable hole with your ties tothe University of Utah, but we are
going to use you as much asyou let us, of course, on
the station, and you're always welcomefor a draft night or just on a
weekly basis to talk to Utah.Last night was surreal when I walked in
for the draft coverage and you're sittingin the wingman's chair and you point over
to the CA captain's chair and yousay you're the captain now and you pass

(02:15:03):
the batona over, And I appreciatedthat you didn't have to do that,
but that was kind of a signof respect and that was kind of you
to do. So I'm in areally good place in my career. I'm
in a really good place personally.I feel good, I'm energetic. I
love where the station's at. Ithink we have a lot of momentum,
and you did leave it a lotbetter than where you found it, for
sure, energetic for an old guy, I can't argue. There's nothing to

(02:15:24):
argue about. If I argue withthat, I would be the biggest hypocrite
in the world. As I paintedyou with some geriatric when you're in your
mid thirties. It's ridiculous. Hey, thanks for everything. Great to see
him, my man. All right, don't be a stranger. I'll let
you go. Get over the studio. That sounds good. I'll cover for
a little while. Yeah, spender, appreciate it. For the show today,
we have Craig Bowler, Jack,we have Andy Larson, we have

(02:15:46):
Steve Bartell for some youthes recruiting,a couple of handies in studios, so
that'll be good, all right,But a lot of draft stuff in a
little Utah football. That's Spence Chairand the Drive. Love him to death,
and he and I have been beencarrying this load for a long time
here at ESPN seven. He's gotthe Batani's running with it now. And
appreciate all that he's done for thisstation and for me down through the years
as well. Big shout out anda thank you to our friends at rn

(02:16:09):
R Barbecue. They are sponsors ofthe days of forty seven rodeo. If
you want to get tickets discounted atRNR Barbecue dot com, use their promo
code say fifty percent on family fourpacks with rn R Barbecue, and of
course pick up some great barbecue atthe same time. In advance of that
day's of forty seven rodeo. Quicktime out, we'll come back on the
other side, give away those Hootyand the Blowfish tickets and what wrap up

(02:16:31):
our afternoon here at beer bar Righthere ready, it's time for today's topical
trivia test on the Bill Riley Show. Bill will give out a question on
a topic from today's show. Ifyou call in at eighty seventy seven three
five three zero seven hundred with acorrect answer, you win a prize.
Now, let's get today's topical triviatest question on Utah's number one Sports Talk

(02:16:54):
ESPN seven hundred No topical trivia today. I'm just in a good mood.
You guys have put me in agood mood, albeit a little melancholy,
but in a great mood. Allyour great text messages, everybody's saying such
nice things about me. First personthat texts Hoody to eight seven seven three

(02:17:16):
five three zero seven hundred. Thefirst person that texts Hoody to eight seven
seven three five three zero seven hundredwill give you a pair of tickets to
see Hoody in the Blowfish coming upnext? What is July eleventh? Added
the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater.Text the t word Hoody right now to
eight seven seven three five three zeroseven hundred. Also want to send another

(02:17:37):
thank you out to Chipman Roofing.They're just great people at Shipman Roofing.
They really really are. Braidon Shipman'sbeen a partner of ours on the radio
station. He loves to talk sportstoo. He's listened for a long time.
He and I've known each other fora long time, and he's he
spends his days roofing houses, repairingroofs, but also listening to ESPN seven

(02:17:58):
hundred. So I can't thank himenough for all that he does for us.
If you guys need a roof repairdone or something like that, just
reach out to Braden. His websiteis, of course, Chipmanroofing dot com.
His phone numbers right there on thewebsite. He'll come out, give
you a free estimate, free afair price, free estimate quote, tell
you exactly what needs to be doneon your roof. So big thank you

(02:18:18):
to Chipman Roofing for always being greatpartners of ours. They'll continue to do
that here on the SPN seven hundred, but I really appreciate that he's been
trusted me to be part of hisbrand for the last number of years.
Also, a big thank you topost at Virtual Mail, our friends at
post net. They do a lotof different things, but one of the
things they do that nobody else canreally help you out with is is virtual

(02:18:39):
mail. So if you travel alot, you're on the road a ton,
and you want to have access toyour mail, they can do a
virtual mail for you. Gives youchoices, let you decide whether you want
to pick up your mail, whetheryou want to recycle or shred it,
or have it sent to your localpost at center. Virtual mail gives you
that option and you can keep upwith it while you're on the road.
Can find out more about it atlocal locations in Draper and North Salt Lake

(02:19:03):
and Spanish Fork and West Valley,or on the website too at postnet dot
com, postnet dot com, postnetdependable solutions, printing, graphic design.
They do all that stuff too atpostnet, so we appreciate them and all
that they've done for us as well. Here on the Bill Riley Show on
Utah's number one sports talk ESPN sevenand a couple of more text messages and

(02:19:26):
well then we'll be out of here. Spence will be coming up here in
a second. Hey, Bill,thanks for all you've done for us at
ESPN seven hundred. Been with youa long time, going back to the
KSL days you put sports into Utahsports casting. Gave a total stranger a
huge hello at the Fiesta Bowl,and I'll always appreciate that gesture. Guys,
you have to know that I'm oneof you. I just I love

(02:19:48):
people, and I love meeting newpeople, and I love being social and
the fact that you want to comeup and take a picture of say hello,
I'll stand around talk sports with you. I really will. I met
so many people at the Festi Bowl. I remember that game up at Michigan
when they played Michigan for the firsttime, and I did my radio show
from the lobby of the Marriott ResortHotel there. I met so many of

(02:20:11):
you there and people that I've becomeclose with over the years after that,
and I cannot thank you enough forall of that stuff too, And I'm
so glad that you guys are inmy lives. Met people at the Sugar
Bowl, met people at the PACtwelve Championship Games and Rose Bowls. It's
just been such a fun ride doingmy shows from all these great events,

(02:20:31):
and I get to broadcast as well. So thank you for that one more
and then we'll save some more ofit for tomorrow. Hey, Ryle's let
me start by thanking you. Thankyou for being a part of my daily
life every day for so long.Listening to your show every day has been
such a joy. And it's sadto see the show end, but excited
for you and your new adventures.You'll be missed. Well. Thank you.

(02:20:54):
Now to the less mushy stuff.How do you feel about the jazz
taking Williams and not Connect? Itfelt like Connect had a lot more upside.
Obviously only time will tell, butI wanted your thoughts. Actually,
I think Williams probably has a littlebit more upside. He's just scratching the
level of his talent now, DaltonConnect has what you would call a proven

(02:21:15):
skill set that translates today. That'shis shooting. He is a great,
great shooter. But I think Williamsprobably has a little bit more. He's
just scratching it different to one's twentythree ones eighteen nineteen years old. I
don't think they could have gone wrongwith either, but I think the Jazz
are looking a little bit more longterm. So I like them both.
But Connect is probably going to havea bigger impact next year just because he,

(02:21:39):
again, what he does is verytranslatable, and Cody Williams is still
a little bit of a work inprogress. Just give it some time,
all right. That's going to doit for me today. Thanks for our
friends at Shields and stret Zone andAmplified Health, the Big Willie's Bar and
Barbecue pitstop. I also want tosay a big thing because he's sitting right

(02:22:00):
here in front of me right now. He's not gonna be here tomorrow.
He's gonna be going down to coverthe NHL Draft for us in Vegas,
so he won't be around for myI'm gonna have a lot of I'm gonna
be probably a ball of puddle ofmush and thanking everybody tomorrow. But James
Peterson is my right hand man atthe radio station. He's my producer three
or four days a week on myshow. But more than that, I

(02:22:22):
couldn't do. The station wouldn't bewhat it is because I've got so many
things I do. I have thetitle for now of program director. That's
gonna be his beginning Monday. ButI just I couldn't get it done without
James. Before James, it wasDavid Glausser, but James is sitting here
right now. And James came tous as a part timer, worked weekends,
worked Utah games, and he wasjust a sponge and loved radio like

(02:22:46):
I love radio, and was reallyadept at the at the at the opp
side of things, and I couldn'tdo everything, and I'm really good at
the creative side of it. Jamesis really good with the nuts and the
bolts of the op side, buthe's also good with the creative two.
So I want to thank James forworking with me the last three years in
the position he's in now, buteven the three years before that on game

(02:23:07):
days. So he won't be withus tomorrow. He'll be covering the NHL
Draft so I wanted to see.While he's sitting here at beer bar having
a burger, I want to tellJames thank you for all he's done for
me too, and you guys aswell, and thanks to Tara and the
new guy whose name I forgot butthat's okay, new guy, You're gonna
do a great things here at ESPNseven hundred as well. You guys,

(02:23:28):
enjoy the rest of your day.I'll be back tomorrow with the finale.
We'll talk some sports, we'll tellsome stories, we'll have some fun for
three hours, and hopefully I cankeep everything together. It's gonna be a
big ask. Spence's next with thedrive right here on es