Alex Curry and Monse Bolaños reveal who is on their sports Naughty and Nice lists, which include NBA referees, Bill Belichick, Tua Tagovailoa and others! Rams insider Camryn Iwrin joins the show to break down LA's winning streak, Puka Nacua's phenomenal season, and their chances of making a push for the Super Bowl. The girls give their MVP favorites in the NFL, and debate if Brock Piurdy or another 49ers star should be worthy of the award. FSR NBA Insider Mark Medina joins the show to breakdown the top NBA stories, and Dodgers reporter Jose Mota joins the fun to talk about the team acquiring Yoshinobu Yamomoto. Plus, Alex and Monse give the "Do's and Don't's" in sports, make their NFL picks and more!
You're listening to Fox Sports.
Hey, welcome to Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Alex Curry here with Monty Bilanio's. Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with Monty me.
Happy Christmas weekend.
Yes, Christmas Eve eve, Christmas Eve Eve. I feel like, let's be honest, I feel like everyone's been off since Wednesday except anyone who works in sports.
Yeah.
I love it because.
It means you're doing something right if you're working on the holidays, if you're in sports, is what I've always said.
Because that's when the biggest games happen.
You and I are used to this, and I one hundred percent agree with you. We don't have a vacation, we don't go through the holidays.
You work here around normal people.
I think they're so annoyed with Christmas being on a Monday because they actually didn't get like a full two weeks, like maybe they got off Wednesday, maybe summer. So I feel like all the other normal people are so mad, and.
We're like, we literally don't have It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. I mean, it's happening in the in between anyway. It is like the time between Christmas and New year's no one does anything. No one knows what time it is, no one knows what dat.
I don't know what date it is except that when the show.
That's the Literally now, I don't like, I just know two days until you have a show. Yes, get it together, Curry, get it together. But it's an incredible day in the sports world. We have two NFL games day, Bengals at Steeler starts in about thirty minutes.
Bills It Chargers tonight in La Monsei. You're gonna be up by.
Be there, you know, I mean, you're play for the Chargers. Who's gonna coach them?
I don't know.
Maybe me.
I'm gonna volunteer to coach the Chargers tonight. If not, I get to see Josh Allen.
Right, Hey, you're going to support I'm gonna support football.
Cool.
Cool.
There's yeah, seven Bowl games, thirteen NBA games your Clippers are currently losing.
Yeah, thank you for laranteen DHL.
Games, and fourteen college basketball games today.
So much happening in sports. I love it.
We're broadcasting live from the tyrock dot Com studios tyrack dot Com.
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Now I just mentioned all of the action happening today, so you know we're going to.
It's too much, just too much, except that the Clippers are losing.
That's all I got. That's all you held on, That's all you care about.
Okay, We're going to keep you updated on all the football highlights of scores as they happen. We have ram's host Cameron Irwin joining us at the bottom of the hour. The Dodgers are officially the Kings of Baseball, spending over a billion dollars on two players in a couple of weeks. We're gonna talk to one of the voices of the Dodgers, Jose Moda.
An hour two.
We have producer Brandon Trufau with us today, Martin Weiss at the news desk, and our technical producer Chris Proffett, who made us his famous vodka pasta.
Today I show up.
He is cooking vodya pasta in the break room as we arrived today.
So I gotta tell you, Chris, I'm very excited to try.
I'm excited to serve this.
I just had to check and made sure the rest of the pasta came out fine for the rest of the crew.
But he did just run in really quickly when we started the shows.
I don't want to burn down the studio.
My first time serving a Christmas meal to the radio, to my radio family.
I showed up at twelve thirty. He's been cooking since then.
And if you didn't listen last week, this comes from DeVito talking about his favorite pastasy, his favorite Italian dishes, and Chris came out and said he has a famous vodka sauce and we said, prove it.
It's not going to do.
I know MONSI doesn't like too much spicy, so it's not as spicy as I usually make it. No, no chili vodka, no Calabrian peppers.
You didn't have to do that for me. I would I would have died for a second.
But no, we've got a ton of red pepper flakes in the back from every time people order pizza so they can heat it up however they.
Wish they you go exactly, And I always appreciate this because I'm a gluten freak. I've been gluten free for seventeen years. I always wholeheartedly appreciate it when someone makes me some gluten free pasta. So thank you. I'm excited. Yes, but you guys, it's officially Christmas weekend, so we're gonna have some holiday themes throughout our show, starting with the Nautiluss and the Nicelest Andana's coming to town on Monday. So Monsei and are gonna share who we think is on the Naughtilust and who we think is on the Nice List.
Well, we'll start nice.
Sorry nice, We'll start nice, and we're each going to give two each we go back and forth.
All right, sounds good.
I'm gonna start with Tua. Okay, Tua is on the nice list.
He has not gotten the respect this season that I believe he deserves, right, and all he's done is show up and show out.
Tua leads the league in completion.
Percentage, passing yards second, and passer rating second in yards per attempt, And even with all of these top statistical numbers, the conversation continues to be, well, it's because of Tyreek Hill, or it's because of their great running back most art and he's sixth on the MVP favorites list. Conversation, And let's just say this. Last week two and the Dolphins beat the Jets thirty to nothing. Yep, Tyreek Hill wasn't there.
Lost.
The Jets have a great defense, the Dolphins ran all over them. Tooa deserves more credit than he's getting, and that's the reason he is on my nice list, but also because of how he is handling the situation. And a good example of that was his response at his presser this week.
Let's just take a listen to it.
Everyone wants to make this about me, about Tyreek, Like, please keep pushing it to Tyreek, make it about Tyreek. I understand that my platform and who I am in this league as a quarterback makes me polarizing. Whether I'm the best, whether I'm the worst, Like I could care less, Like I don't listen to it. This is my bearer of bad news. And I hate to say that, but that's my bearer of bad news. If anyone has something bad to say about me, but at the end of the day, like, I really don't care. But if she does share it with me, I mean, I keep receipts. We all have a way of how we do things. But all the narratives about it, I am, yeah, sure, I am only good with Tyreek And you're right, that is the only time I met my best. You're right, I'm only good when Jalen's in. I could care less about it. Like, sure, if Jalen, then those guys are not. Like I'm only as good as raereheem Moster allows me to be. That's what the narrative needs to be. And we're able to win games and we're able to go where we want to go.
As a team.
I am the worst.
Football player, if that's what you want, Like, I don't care, Like I really don't.
Like that attitude and that perspective. He is on the nice list.
Sure, I mean, there's no better way to handle the situation, which is actually just like brock Purty is doing it. Not that they're on the same but you know they're giving the credit to their teammates.
They know they can't do it alone.
Who are you throwing the ball to if Tyreek Kane out, They're running like a cheetah.
He gets it. I understand.
I like that.
And you know why I like it because I think it's genuine.
It's so genuine, right, and if it was you watch his documentary before he got drafted, I did not.
Oh, I fell in love that when you fell through that.
I love a good behind the scenes documentary, and you really got to know him, his culture, his family has loved, the respect for the game, the respect for his teammates, and he's he's a good person.
Yeah, I could see that. And I haven't even watched that. I'm gonna look forward to it. So my first on the nice list. It's a little bit twofold and it's it's Russell Westbrook and the Clippers. Ever since James Harden came to the Clippers, there was so much negative talk. Even I said that even I didn't want you there, James Harden. And then you saw some really bad games, Westbrook says, he take me to the bench. All of a sudden, they have they snapped their nine game winning streak. But you see that they're actually having fun. You see that they're having a good time. Westbrook sitting on the bench is like jamm into music cheering for Kawhi doing a euro step. Like they're in a good in a good spot and they look good, you know. So it's like, I'm so happy that I was wrong about James Harden coming. And it's not that what James Harden was before isn't true. It was not good in Philadelphia.
Yeah, all of that is still true.
It's just it's working right now with the Clippers, and I'm so happy to see it.
It's just it's awesome. They look good and they look at and it's the holidays, and I'm just like, I'm.
God.
Actually, that was like a full considering like his attitude when he was on the Lakers, like that full one eighty he's made on the Clippers. Being a team player. I mean, that's how you win championships. Everyone has to buy in. Everyone has to like believe that you can do it, and you gotta have fun, right and those bench things need to happen every single time.
Even off the bench.
He's productive, Like you see his impact off the bench still, and that's it's just so great. Everyone is clicking. I'm listening. They they they're gonna be They're gonna be a problem. If they can stay healthy.
They're gonna be a problem. I'm into it. I'm into I'm gonna start gloating a ready.
I like it.
Okay, should we stay on nice or should we move like? Naughty?
Naughty?
Naughty?
All right, Aaron Rodgers, you were on my naughty list.
He was activated off the ir this week so he could continue practicing with the team.
But we finally heard.
Robert Salla say what We always have known that Rogers is not going to play this season. So the reason that Rogers is on my naughty list is because he dragged this out all season, giving the Jets like false hope when we all knew there was no way that he was coming back four months after tearing his achilles on September eleventh. That would have been the fastest recover we've ever seen, especially for a forty year old. But he kind of handicapped the team by not letting them go out get another quarterback.
They were holding out their hopes for Rogers.
Every other team who lost their quarterback went out and picked up another quarterback.
Vikings with Dobbs, Browns with Flacco.
Jets are just kind of a hot mess, and I think Rogers made it worse by giving them.
That false hope.
Yeah.
I mean they should have never listened to Rogers at the beginning when he was like I could come back.
You should have been like, yeah, okay, Boppy, we'll talk to you in the eight months. Let's go get another quarterback. So I agree.
I got a quick past.
I got a quick one.
Naughty list Zion Williamson. And just because he's.
Naughty, you don't know what I'm talking about.
Just look it up.
He's naughty, Alex, don't If you don't know, we'll talk about it off air. He's naughty, all right.
All right, let's best go some nice then let's cleanse our palette here. Okay, Another nice for me on the nice list are the Bills. They're on my nice list because they stuck together and found the holiday spirit, especially after a disappointing start to the season. Let's revisit what's happened recently. Right November fourteenth, after Week ten, Bills fired their offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, and at that point there were five and five had lost four of their last six games, and their playoff hopes looked slim. But since firing Ken Dorsey, there are three and one. Their last two wins were over the Chiefs and the Cowboys, big wins. Josh Allen put this team on his back, and they're back in the mix to fight for a playoff spot. They're eight and six ninth in the AFC, with the same eight and six di record as Bengals, Colts, and Texans who.
Were above them.
But the doors open for the Bills and the remaining schedule. They obviously they play the Chargers tonight, they should win that. Then next is versus Patriots. Should win that, and then at Dolphins. That's gonna be a showdown and that could determine kind of like what happens.
But they made it.
They've made it interesting.
They have one.
Yes, thank you Bills.
You know who else has made it really interesting and they're on my nice list. All the backup quarterbacks this season, because oh my goodness, we've had one hundred and seven different quarterbacks starting this year, but yet we have had such exciting whether it's one game from Drew Lock this past week, to you know, Joshua Dobbs for two games to Jake Browning, Tommy Davito, like the amount of backup quarterbacks that have actually given us fun games when you're.
Like, why would I watch this game?
Thank you so much, thank you for delivering yeah when we didn't expect it, giving us some excitement in when we didn't expect it.
Way to go backup quarterbacks in the NFL. We appreciate you.
I love that, and I love when people get an opportunity right because it's not often again, like backup quarterbacks, you are sitting majority of the season. You're you're like practicing, like that's when you kind of get your reps. So to see so many different guys take advantage of a rare opportunity that they're getting, yes, is pretty cool.
Yeah, and life changing for most of them.
And it's not just like Jake Browning it was like, okay, you know, Joe Burrog got hurt for the whole season.
But Julock, it's.
Like, you win it for one game because you know Smith is hert and you went out there and you're like, I'm.
Still the man.
Like so just so amazing to see this, right when you thought the season could even be boring, here we are in a pretty exciting season that we don't know how it's going to go. Yeah, you know, so you guys go backup quarterbacks, way to go back to qubs.
Yeah, we're in.
Then on the naughty list. Okay, one more, eas one more.
One more, Bill Belichick, this has to be the most disappointing season of your coaching career.
Currently three and eleven.
His worst coaching record of his career is five and eleven when in two thousand with the Patriots and ninety five is last season with the Rounds. No one's denying that he's one of the greatest coaches of our generation, possibly one of the greatest ever.
Okay, thank you, you're welcome.
But nothing is working for the Bills and the Patriots this season. Every report that's been coming out that there's been so much frustration within the team. Robert Kraft is ready to move on. And he's always been known as like a difficult coach to play for, no days off mentality. But when you're winning and you have a guy like Tom Brady, that works. But when you're a team that's losing and no one's buying in, you have to adapt. And the greatest coaches adapt, and it's been very clear that Bill is not adapting or even willing to change his ways. He's still one of the best defensive coaches. His defense is the only thing keeping this team afloat. But he's not adapting. He's not adapting on offense, He's not giving people the opportunity, like reports that he wouldn't let his new offensive coordinator, Bill Brian run the offense that he wanted to. So why did you even bring this guy in if you're not gonna let him do what he's good at.
So it's just so you're giving you're giving Bill Belichick a lumpo cool.
Yeah, he's on my nattylists, naughtylists.
All right, stop, all right, we are, what twenty twenty seven, twenty eight games into the NBA season, So on my nautilust are all of those NBA referees that have ejected players that people come to see, from Janna Santa te Kumpo to Nicola jokicch to Chris Paul Dude. Thirty games in and we have a list of players that have been ejected in the second quarter.
Star players, star players? Is that or the reason you're selling tickets and fill in the seaton.
But the fact that it's such as one player, I'm mentioning that it's like constantly happening because somebody said a bad word to you.
Get out of here. Get out of here, y'all.
Y'all don't even know how many bad words Alex and I say off air.
Come on, hey, don't throw me under the bus.
Okay, just me by myself, I'll say them all.
Also, I'm all but plade you come on, come on for that brutal not as ego. That's ego giving you all lumps of cool, every single one of you that have ejected a star player twenty eight games into the season.
Merry Christmas, Mary.
We're gonna take a quick break here when we come back. Three regular season games left in the NFL. Who are we hitting the panic button for? You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
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You're listening to Fox Sports Saturday with Alex Curiam Manzi Bilanios. We are broadcasting live from the tyrok dot Com studios in Los Angeles, and we were just brought vodka sauce pasta directly into the studio. That is just a beautiful smelling gift. Thank you Chris Tech, Thank you for producer bringing it in. Yeah, it's officially Christmas weekend. We got gifts everywhere, We got food everywhere. Are you googling vodka pasta right now?
I just look home searching.
I just what is vodka sauce?
So it's so usually you get a good like red sauce, you're gonna use a wine bass. This uses vodka bas instead, and it's tomatoes and cream, a lot of a lot of onions, a lot of garlic, a lot of parmesan cheese. Kind of the the everything saw us and it is very well beloved.
I love it.
I can't wait to try it next break that we get. We will be trying this all right. Are you ready for this? Monsei, Let's go. We have party three regular season games left in the NFL season. Crazy right, Okay, So are you hitting the panic button on any of these three teams?
Okay?
They're all ten and four teams, Eagles, Dolphins, Cowboys. We're going to go through each of them, starting with the Eagles.
All right.
I think everyone knows my stance if you've been listening to our show the last seventeen weeks, I am not hitting the panic button.
Call me crazy, but here's why.
They are still a great team that has great pieces in place, starting with their quarterback Jalen Hurts.
He is a great leader of this team.
And earlier this week he kind of clarified his postgame comments that he said, I don't think we're all committed, and Thursday this is what he said.
My mom was in a place of, you know, really just trying to challenge myself, you know, and when you think about holistically, about on the things you want to accomplish and and everything that we're trying to do, that all range through me. That all starts with me. And so when I say we, I mean me because I'm the point guard out there. I'm the one that makes everything go. I'm the guy that everyone trusted to do and set the pace, uh for everything that's in how I play, that's in my leadership, that's in every aspect of the game, and that comes with the shoes that I walk in. And so this is a challenge to myself and you challenge yourself and you challenge the people around you.
Can I put Jalen Hurts on the nice list? Yep?
See, it's taking responsibility. I I'm a I'm a big fan of Jalen Hurts. You can tell the team respects him. You can tell it even if they're going through a tough time. That's a leader everyone's going to rally behind. And then again, the Eagles have a fairly easy remaining schedule. Today Verse Giants, yep, should win, Versus Cardinals should win.
At Giants should win. So they should.
They're in the playoffs, all righty, that's happening, right, But they're behind the Cowboys right now in the NFC East. They should win these last three games, and honestly, probably a good time to have this losing streak happen because now they can build their confidence back up these last three games before the playoffs.
Yeah, I mean, I feel the same way that I have felt all season about the Eagles. The Eagles are not, to me, the best team, but they're a top five to six team in the NFL.
They've been the whole season.
I just don't think that they have been as dominant as they were last year. But am I panicking if I'm an Eagles fan, No, what's gonna happen. I don't think if they if they don't win the division, I don't see that happening. But like, let's say, what who they're gonna face NFC South, That they're going to lose to the NFC South first, No, they're not, they're not. They have an easy last three games, like you mentioned, that they should win. I'm not panicking. They are who they have been in my opinion all season, a top five to six team, and they could put it together kind of like you just said, when it matters the most, which is right now.
So I'm not panicking.
I don't see them not coming out of the first round if I'm being honest.
Okay, you know, yeah, Dolphins, Dolphins. I'm a little panicky for the Dolphins. They have a tough remaining schedule starting Christmas Eve. Versus the Cowboys, than at Ravens, than verse Bills.
Now, I'm a big fan of the Dolphins.
All these games could really go either way, you know, I especially if the Bills keep up this hot streak, right and that's their last game of the season.
Yeah, that's hard.
I mean, we heard McDaniel say that he feels good about Tyreek Hill playing, but he's been listed as sable all week, so you know he's not going to be one hundred percent and you need him one hundred percent of these last three games.
Yeah, so I'm with you. I let's just put the panic button near.
Yeah, right, Like I'm not hating it, but I might.
It's it, right, could go either way.
And it's not just Tyreek.
They're all a little bit banged up, right, Like I Tyreek is the one most important because when he's not out there, it is a very different offense. We saw it happening. Devon a Chan has not been one hundred percent since he hit the ir and he's back. They're they're O line banged up. The tackle Austin Jackson O league. So here's here's where I'm wondering where the Dolphins approach this.
Do you approach cautiously and wait for the.
Playoffs, so maybe don't play some of these players like Tyreek, like Austin Jackson, Tan Taran Armstead has been up and down all season. So like, I don't know how you approach it the safe way, try to keep them healthy for the long run, but you have a hard three last games. Yeah, it's just like, I don't know. I don't know which approach the Dolphins take. Yeah, and that's why I'm putting the panic button near me.
Yeah, but I'm not hitting it yet.
Okay, real quick, last one Cowboys, Cowboys they need I will have the panic button close if they don't win the NFC East. Okay, and they have the remaining schedule at Dolphins versus Lions, at Commanders. I see them winning at least one of their three last games.
But we know Cowboys are not good on the road.
Three and four, all four of the losses have come on the road, and their playoff record the last twenty three years four wins. They need to get every advantage in the playoffs they can get, and for the Cowboys that's home games.
So here's the that's home games.
Are we are we panicking because the Cowboys lost to the Bills.
I'm not.
We've seen them lose all the time to teams like that.
I'm panicking if they don't get home field advantage really in the playoffs, because they're not a good road team.
All right, I can see that.
I actually think that they should win their The hardest game to me, I know you're mentioning the road, but you know it's the end of the season.
People are going to put but you.
Have three easy final games. They could bump up and they could win the nfcast.
The hardest game for the Cowboys to me is a Dolphins game. They should.
They should beat the Lions because the Lions have also been up and down at the end of the season here, right, and they should beat the Commanders on the road.
They should, They should, they should. I'm saying, yeah again, keep it close.
I'm not keeping it as close as I'm keeping it to if.
I'm keeping it real close. If they don't win the.
NFC, Cowboys are who they are right now.
In the playoffs.
All right.
Now, let's check in with Martin Wis and see what's trending.
Monte got bad news for you.
Your Clippers down twenty one with three minutes left in the second.
That happens, Yeah, that's a lot of games.
Jason Tatums has five threes already.
That's great, so let's do another five, Jason.
Let's see Kawhi Leonard out with a hip.
Uh. You know.
Also to Mons, you got like eight Christmas gifts back here. Stanta Claus came to the update desk for you.
Nah, thank you.
I was just like, Wow, where a mine?
Right?
So I'm thinking, Alex, I'm the one working.
Common football floor as the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Air Force with a fourteen to seven lead over James Madison six to fifteen left in the second quarter. There Georgia State and Utah State in the famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
I Love Bowl sponsors Georgia State.
With a twenty one to fourteen lead, fourteen minutes left in this second quarter.
Steelers about to kickoff right now.
There's a report earlier today from Mike Floio said they're not moving on for Mike Tomlin. There might extend his contract at the end of the season. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence con clear concussion protocol. He'll play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jaguars tied atop the first the top the AFC South with the Colts and the Texans.
The Texans will be without C. J. Stroud. He did not clear concussion protocol.
Chiefs will be without wide receiver Kadarius Tony and running back Jerck McKinnon. Before people think that he got benched, they didn't practice due to injury. Also ruled out Nicole Harmon and tackle Donova Smith. Raiders in the same game, will be without tight end Michael Mayer New England Patriots down grade there. Tight end Hunter Henry to out for tomorrow's game at Denver. Same story with running back Zach Walsh for the Indianapolis Colts. He's got a four arm injury. And again with one forty five left in the second quarter, sixty three to forty four, Boston Celtics over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Back to you guys, Thank you Martin and nice rubbing the salt and I it's.
Nice for real quick, you know who? I just am pressing the panic button.
On who the Chiefs. Oh, that's the one I am the yikes.
That's the one I think I am okay, now that I think.
Not with mahomies. Not with mahomies.
All right, you're listening to Fox Sports Saturday Alex Career here with Monty Bolanos. We are broadcasting live from tyrock dot Com studios in Los Angeles.
Let's bring in our first.
Guest of the day.
She's one of the hardest working women in the biz, covering everything from volleyball to pickaball to football, and one of her many jobs is the host for the La Rams. Let's welcome Cameron Irwin.
W Hello. Hello, that is quite the interest things so much, guys, thrilled to be joining you.
Yeah, thanks for joining now, okay, Cam, the Rams have been one of the biggest surprises this season. You've been down there on the field on the sidelines. What's been the key to their success at the most important time of year right now?
Well, I really think it's quite a combination of a few things. Considering the fact that this is the Rams rookie class that is the largest in the past thirty years. They have had more snaps than any other rookie class this year in the NFL, So that's one of the biggest elements, not to mention you still have your load bearing walls from Stafford to cup to Donald. But then there were also some veteran key pieces that we picked up in free agency that have really been a big difference maker, from Akella Witherspoon, DeMarcus Robinson, Kevin Dodson, John Johnson making his return to LA So it's kind of been a combination of a few different factors. And of course when you look at that rookie class, like Poka Nukua has just been lights out from the beginning of the season. It has just been so fun to watch this team continue to develop as well as fight off a bit of attrition throughout the season.
So with that mentioned the success happening right now.
At the start of the season, it was a little rough for the Rams, and I even think some people, you know, wrote them off, thinking, oh, they're going to tank because they're trying to get Caleb Williams. Obviously not the situation, but realistically, what would be a successful season at this point, just making the playoffs, getting past the first round?
What would be successful? What would be like today? We did it this season.
You know, It's it's always so interesting because from a media standpoint, I'm saying, if this team makes the playoffs, that is an outstanding year considering what they were going in with, considering the rookie class. Right, we had over forty new names at training camp when you think all the way back to the beginning of the season. However, if you're asking in the guys in the locker room, what are the goals, It's not just to be making the playoffs. These guys definitely are looking to pick up wins, and there's potential in the playoffs. I mean, we could have quite a showdown. I'm hoping there could be a trip off to Detroit because I can only just imagine a Stafford versus goth just the oh so perfect that what football dreams are made of, is it not?
Yeah?
Oh yeah, Okay, now you've mentioned the young stars. Kugnakua has been the breakout star in LA. How has he becomes such an important piece of his offense so quickly?
You know, it's not just about his skill set, because when you watch him, you're looking at one. He has incredible hands. I always think back to the catch he had versus the Colts where he actually tipped up a ball, cased it downfield about another two to three yards and then nabbed it for a couple more. He's got great hands, he's got the physicality. I always think it's like he's got sonar for the end zone because every time he grabs a ball, it's like he turns and somehow manages like an extra three to five yards. But I really think it comes down to his personality, right, And I sat down with him back at training camp, and he was just so entertaining, so excitable, so thrilled to be there, and he was like a sponge. He was absorbing everything he talked about, you know, his relationship with Cooper Cupp, who was kind of in and out at training camp due to some injury, and he was just saying how much he was learning and gaining from, you know, the mentor and mentee relationship between those two. And it's just been so fun to watch it come full circle throughout the season. Having caught back out there on the field. You know, I remember we had conversations like, well, what will look like We've got Pooka Nakua, you know, going for one hundred yards a game, and when Cooper Cup gets back out there, like how is this going to look? And man, it is just right now we are jam packed with receivers that are just so dangerous from tow to out well Pooka and Akua. You know, you've got them all firing on all cylinders. And Marcus Robinson is also just unimaginable at this point of the season. So again, such a fun brand of football between all of them.
With pookun Akua, were you there or did you see when somebody told him that Lebron James tweeted about him?
Because it really upset me that Lebron did not tag.
Him, that he just put Pooka and so were you did you hear about that?
Like how who told him?
He didn't know?
Social media didn't tell him?
Uh, you know, it's so funny. I imagine. There's been so many moments for Puka like that throughout this season where all of a sudden, his name's getting popped up at different moments. And actually the perfect example was with Showtime show Hey Anani this past week, right like being on the board that you know, on the Infinity screen that show is wearing his jersey and it was just and we actually have a shot of like Puka on the sideline seeing show a wearing the jersey, and both of them were just like electrics. So I think there's been many just like revealing moments for Puka Nakua, and he has just stayed so humble, so joyful and just like one of the greatest personalities in the sport right now.
I love that. Now.
That was a fun Thursday night game. Obviously with the newest star in LA on the sideline show Hey Tani, what was a fan reaction with him in Ram's house.
It's hilarious because when we played the Commanders on Sunday, they were kind of like some murmuring, some rumblings like will show hey show up? Will he be here?
Yeah?
And everyone is kind of like standing to see. And then with Thursday night coming just around the corner, it was incredible to see how many people we're just walking around even like field level before the game show Hey showing up, they were a little murmurings. Everyone is so excited in.
LA and rightly so right like they are thrilled that he.
Is staying in the city of Los Angeles. But there's no doubt like anybody from you know, security guards chatting to cameraman, chatting to you know, our entire host and cruse that like there were so many people that are just so ecstatic to have him there on the sidelines. It seemed like everyone was trying to clamor to get.
A photo with him.
They're so doubt in one of the corners of the end zone.
So I know two games left, Giants then forty nine Ers, and I know that it's take the first game first, then the next game. But the Rams have to be already thinking of their game plan against the forty nine ers.
What was what is the game plan?
Yeah, you know it's going to be interesting too because of obviously where the forty nine ers sit. Are they going to be playing their their full squad? That's the question. Are they going to be resting up? And I don't think we'll really have that concept until we get into that game. You know, I think for this team right now, as much as you want to look to the forty nine Ers, their main goal and their main objective is the Giants come New Year's Eve, which is an even bigger task considering that you're playing in New York New Year's Eve. It's getting a little dangerous, right And what we've realized too, it happened versus the Commanders like, people are playing for their lives right now, right and so when teams are playing with nothing to lose.
That is a very, very scary.
Thing to have to face. And the Commanders had a really nice late push versus us on Sunday night where we got into a little bit of some hot water, some tough territory. And right now, I'm a little more concerned about the Giants, And I think when you speak to the rest of the team, as much as you've got the forty nine ers in your sights, the giants is their number one task.
Okay, now stay with me here because this is a bit of a long setup. But Matthew Stafford, fifteen year vet, still at the top of his game because in twenty twelve, Calvin Johnson said the NFL single season record and receiving yards, Stafford was his quarterback. In twenty twenty one, Cooper Cup had the second most received yards in a single season hein Calvin Johnson, Stafford was his quarterback. Now, Pukainakua needs only one hundred and forty seven yards in his final two games to set the record for most receiving yards by a rookie in NFL history. Do you think Matthew Stafford is getting the respect that he deserves?
Alex. It's funny because I think this is a question that is asked more often than not, and I think as it continues to be asked, I think the answer is always going to continue to be well, of course not. We always have to give Matthew Stafford the love he deserves. We're not just talking about a fifteen year NFL that. We're talking about a guy that came to Los Angeles in his first season in LA walked away with a championship. To imagine how he put that twenty one season together not having practice with his players for multiple seasons. I mean, the twenty one season alone was remarkable, but now to see him even in this year and how he's been able to bring his receivers together, how he's married the run game as well as.
The past game.
I mean we haven't even mentioned Kyron Williams, who is a top what three NFL running back at this exact moment. I mean, this offense has shit changed and shaped even from that twenty one season, and Matthew Stafford is a huge reason why. I also think, you know, Thursday night, there were a couple throws. This might be the best version of Matthew Stafford's that we have ever seen in this season. Some of the throws at sand Out. I mean there was one bomb to Cooper Cup where he didn't even have time to set its feet. He didn't even have enough room to finish his throat. It was all just risk and I think it was about a once he plus yard game. Not to mention kind of there were two balls he peeled out to the left outside the pocket to find DeMarcus Robinson where he's creating opportunities with his athletic receivers that I have never seen him do before. I mean, this is some unreal play from Matthew Stafford that is just next level. So that man always deserves more love than he has given, there is no doubt about that.
I love that so much.
Cameron, Thank you so much for joining us, and have the best Christmas weekend with your family.
Thanks so much for having me on, and a happy holiday season to you as well.
Thank you.
Thanks all right, when we come back the dues and the don'ts in sports, you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Mason Rudolph in the Guy and the Empties of the set, pass over.
The middle list cut five Pickens, He's on his way. He's at a forty fifty, the forty five to forty. Here comes George Pickins. Oh the work for a pitch pup. Steelers puts the Heydy shit chug, nicely.
Done by our technical producer Chris Purfetta. You just heard Steelers Radio Network. That's right, George Pickens. Who's on my bedg who's on Martin Weiss's bench for our fantasy?
We're not happy about it.
Steelers up on the Bengals seven zero, six minutes to go in the first quarter, so plenty of game left.
Good job, George Pickens.
Fin get it the Christmas spirits.
You haven't done it.
My sees in that breath. No one cares about your fantasy.
I do.
I got a lot of money on it. Okay, then that's fair.
Yeah, it's that twenty bucks.
That's fair.
It's also not Mike trut money, not like that.
But you know, okay, you're listening to Fox Sports Saturday.
Alex Curry here at Monte Bolgias were broadcasting live from the tire dot Com studios in Los Angeles. Thank you for spending your holiday Saturday afternoon with Monty and Me. We appreciate it so much, but it is time for one of our favorite segments, the dues and the don'ts this week in sports.
Yes, highlighting the dudes. I love that putting a spotlight on.
The don't the subject brings me no joy.
Are you on crack?
It's time for the dues and the don'ts in sports?
Yep.
We're gonna start with one of my favorite dues to it that I have seen on social media. Do promote yourself. The Chargers kicker Dicker made the perfect campaign video asking fans to vote him to the Pro Bowl.
Vote for Dick or the Kicker.
If you have not seen this, go to charges dot com, slash vote or any of their social media.
Our social media, our social media pages. This was the Chargers highlight video of the year. It was hilariously hilarious and he.
Was into it, you know what I mean? Comed, Yes, he was silly, it was it was beautiful. Don't watch it?
I agree. You gotta and you have to just go for it.
Like if you do something silly and you like half asset, it won't work. You have to commit even if you look silly. Yeah, and he looks silly.
But it was so funny.
It was very like very much, so I think you should leave. This was like a sketch comedy. Yeah yeah, so it like felt very much that.
Yes, I loved it. It was great, all right.
So this is a big don't. There's a big big don't.
If you chew tobacco, which you know you're more than you can do that, and you have a spit cut and you're working with somebody, you cannot put that spit cup in a neutral zone.
Well.
Also, don't let it look like a coffee cup.
That's another one.
Maybe a clear body so you see something, don't.
Put it in a coffee cup in a neutral zone where your coworker can grab it. That is a huge no.
And I don't know anyway, poor Avalanche broadcaster Mark Rykofed accidentally grabbed his partner's tobacco spit cup in the middle of.
A live broadcast.
If you've not seen this video, like it's funny because it's not you going through it, but it must be off like.
It's so he has to.
I'm sure he's still cleaning his mouth out. Oh yeah, right now, I've yeah, so bad, so so bad.
Wasn't there in like the nineties or two thousands, and anti tobacco add to this very idea. It was like it was like a guy with a spit cup and and a girl next to him in a theater and she takes a drink out of it.
I don't yeah, but yes there should be.
That's snarley.
Yeah, no, I remember one of my friends in college accidentally drank his makes a tired spick cup and.
Yeah, so that's bad. That's bad.
Don't do that.
I'm gonna do a fun do do do.
Like that one?
No?
Do you fond the fans if it's harmless and funny? Now I'm not sure when this is from, but it went viral this week. Fans were yelling at Travis kelce you need to block, and Travis Kelcey doesn't turn around, but instead pulls his pants down, box as still on and moons the fans behind me, and then they laugh and he walks, Yeah that's heartless.
Yeah, yeah, funny, like, yeah, I hear you. Yeah, see me alone.
I'm into that. I'm with you. Tis the season, so I'm all about giving.
Gifts, right, Like I love seeing that Trevor Lawrence and Patrick Mahomes gifted their offensive linemen golf carts.
Did you see that?
Josh Allen got an a TV by his tight ends and by his O line, they give.
Him an ATV. I love that. If anyone wants to give me an.
Atv AV, I will come. Yes, one of my favorite things. I'm like mouth open the whole time. Yeah, it's the best time also on CWS, but really bad for CDs.
So I get really excited. And then I saw you really Yeah, I need to be better, okay, Josh Allen? One more doom. Do share all your Michael Jordan stories if you have them, please.
This week, Julian Edelman shared an epic Jordan's story was in twenty fifteen, right before the Patriots were playing the Seahawks and the Super Bowl. He saw Jeter and Jordan at dinner and the only thing Jordan said to Edelman was, I got a bunch of money on you kid, don't have up.
Also, just like you would.
Expect Jess, like you would ex Michael Jordan legendary MJ betting stories out there and obviously wasn't on social media time, so we only hear them if you share them, all right, when we come back three games.
Left to determine the MVP. Who's it gonna be? You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Stop it get some help.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to listen live.
Welcome back to Fox Sports Saturday and Alex Curry here with Monsey Belanios. We are broadcasting live from the tyrog dot com studios in Los Angeles.
Tyrek dot com.
We'll help you get there unmatched selection, fast free shipping, free road hazard protection, and over ten thousand recommended installers.
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Thank you.
We know this is a big weekend, obviously, so many sports happening today holiday officially Christmas holiday weekends. We really appreciate you spending your Saturday afternoon with us. We have a great hour two lined up. We're gonna keep you updated on all the football highlights as they happen. We have two great guests this our NBA insider Mark Medina. In about fifteen minutes, the voice of the Dodgers, Jose Mota. NFL picks but it's also Christmas weekend, So I'm gonna do something that I usually hate, but I'm gonna make Monsey open her gift in front of me right now.
Her face is, Oh, you're horror you guys, that's awkward.
No.
So because it's something that I've done since the start of my career, and it's meaningful to the show, and maybe it'll be a tradition that you carry on if it's something that you like.
Watchous.
There's a lot of glitter that's gonna come off on I like glitter, yeah, and you're gonna get glitter.
Okay, guys, on.
Yours not planned, everybody, this is not her face was get ready for the dump button, Chris, in case something comes out of my mouth.
No, no, I'm nervous because you're putting me on the spot here.
I think you're gonna really like it. Everyone's like, what is that crinkling sound? Move it away from the mic, a.
Little bit.
Close to the mic. This isn't a visual medium thing.
Okay, So I love so throughout my career, I have framed every major moment, and I have you have like a in our house, we have like a hall of fame, and so I framed Moncey and My's presser photo for this show and got a plaque on it that says Fox Sports Saturday with Alex Curry and Moncy Bolano's something special that you have your first show up in your house. Can memory it's such a rad moment in your career.
Yeah, no, I am. I'm trying to not cry.
I am crying, but I'm just like trying to not let it stream down my face too much as I have glitter.
Everywhere now, glitter on my face. No, we're good, guys, It's all great. This was very very sweet. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I honestly I'm touched. Thank you. It's very sweet.
I'm sorry.
Jeff told me, my husband told me not to make you do this. He's like, don't make your do it, Alex, you hate doing that.
I was like, but it has to do with the show. And it's beautiful.
It really is.
It really is.
Okay, it's really cute.
All right, I'm glitter everywhere. I don't even care.
Happy Christmasty Christmas, everybody.
Okay, let's get to our next topic.
Okay, okay, guys, we have three more games to determine our NFL MVP.
Are you okay, I am good.
No, I'll get a tissue on our next break.
Okay, We're good, all right, go for it.
And this weekend it's huge between the top two favorites, right Ravens at forty nine ers, boat teams eleven and three.
I'm gonna run through real quick. The MVP favorite.
The odds according to FanDuel brock Party minus two hundred Lamar Jackson plus five hundred, Josh Allen plus eight hundred, Dack plus nine hundred mccafrey plus twelve hundred to a plus two thousand. If brock Party and the forty nine Ers win this game, I think you have to give him the MVP.
Two to brock Purty. You think brock Party, brock Party if the forty nine ers win this game.
We've done many of segments on this, the disrespect that brock Purty gets.
Right.
Obviously, he is on the best team, the most complete team in the NFL. He leads the league and passer rating passing touchdowns second and completion percentage second in passing yards.
But I feel like his image.
From the beginning has been a little tainted because he was quote mister irrelevant the last pick in the draft, and his whole NFL career has been all about the coaching, the weapons he plays with. No one has focused on his talent, and he doesn't make very many mistakes.
Yeah, I mean, listen.
So I think he has been the most consistent quarterback this year. And I agree with what you're saying. I don't think he has been judged fairly since the beginning because he was mister Irrelevant and was put in a position that no one expected him to be put in. Like it's just it's not fair, but it is the situation. He has handled it just like Tua, you know, very humbly. And I agree with everything you're saying. But in my opinion, I don't see how you don't give the MVP to Christian McCaffrey. And if it's not Christian McCaffrey, it's Tyreek Hill. I don't see how they have been the most consistent players.
It's been eleven years that a non quarterback has won MVP, Adrian Peterson back in twenty twelve. But yeah, McCaffrey is on pace for his best statistical season of his career.
He's having an insane season and confer for the position not just one game, two games.
It's consistent.
It's the same with Tyreek, like the whole where it hasn't happened. And it's not just you're saying, I know that's what everybody's saying. That's a stupid reason to not really look in front of what you have. And brock Party would be third for me, to be honest with you, Okay, I would go Kittle.
I would Kittle. I would go Christian McCaffrey, Tyreek Hill, Brock Party. Those would be the order of my MVPs this season.
Okay, So no quarterback as your third. I mean this up.
So when we're looking at the odds second favorite, Lamar Jackson, right, an extremely dynamic quarterback, but he's not in the top five of any of the major quarterback stats. The only thing Lamar leads in for quarterbacks this season is rushing yards, right, it's and he's a great player, but when you're talking about the MVP of the league, I don't think he has the numbers this season to back it totally.
And you know, I will give him credit though, like he has improved his passing, which has always been a question mark.
You know, ken is he just a running this year, he has proven.
That he can adapt and throw the ball in the pocket and that he can also rush which is great, and run the ball.
I love that.
But the big thing with the Ravens is their defense is so huge too in their success. You know what I mean? He doesn't stand out.
Nah, he stands out, but at the rate it's.
He doesn't stand out. You just said he's not in the top.
He's not, but he is like also like a big piece of the huge success.
Wouldn't you say their success is more team like I would say the forty nine ers success is a lot of it goes on Christian McCaffrey and a lot of it goes on Brockpurt.
Which is team. Which is but and they have like a solid defense and they have That's why they're the most.
Complete team in the They are the most complete team.
Best team in the NFL in that sense.
Yeah, I think maybe it's just is it.
That Lamar Jackson this year hasn't been flashy when before it was he was a bit more flashy with his res doesn't He doesn't.
He doesn't need to be.
That's give credit for what he do.
That's why that's why this this came this weekend Christmas. Is it the Christmas game? Uh, Raven's forty nine ers.
Yeah, that's gonna be.
That's gonna be.
It's gonna be great. So okay, then we have Josh. Allen has the third best odds. Okay, Now, I feel like he's benefiting a lot after the way this Bill's team kind of turned the season around the last four games. And again, an incredible talent. However, you have to look at the season as a whole. Yeah, right, and he hasn't had that same season or numbers that say a Brock party has had it. We're talking about quarterbacks, because Allen is ninth in passing yards, tied for third and passing touchdown eleventh and passerating twenty ninth in interceptions.
I yeah, I don't. I don't think you can.
Give it to Josh. Give it to Josh, even though Josh is one hundred percent the Bill's MVP. Yeah, he's the Bills.
He is the Billing, is the Bill's MVP.
Correct needing him more than ever, you know what I mean, Like they can't go on without him.
Yeah, that's it's just but you're right.
I'm with you.
I'm with you.
And I think the reason he is here now is because of their recent couple of weeks. But you say yourself, it didn't start that way. It didn't look pretty, It didn't look pretty.
No.
I think this weekend's game Ravens at forty nine ers, both teams eleven and three will if the forty nine ers pull this off, penning the kind of game that brock Purty has. I think this could and should push him as like a front runner.
And so do you think if the Ravens win, it pushes Lamar?
No?
No, no, because he still doesn't lead. Okay, My biggest thing is like when you look at top five in any of the major like he just I think he's great for the team. And this is where it also comes in. What how do you determine like most valuable player? Is it most valuable player because of all the stats that they put up, or is it most valuable to their team?
Is it most valuable to the lead. There are so many different.
It's not black and white, it's not there's so many different ways you can kind of go about it and talk about it and spin it.
And this was even the conversation I'm gonna go out of the league.
But like when Mike Trout and I both won two MVPs with a team that wasn't even making it to the playoffs in baseball.
So it's.
What is the most valuable player to you? How do you describe value?
So you know, I think I would change my answer honestly every year depending on what I see. But I think the eye test is a big one.
Yeah, and that's I think why show Hey and mister Trout both one Troutrout means then I think.
The eye test is a big one.
And that's why to me, Christian McCaffrey, I don't get it, Tyreek Hill, the eye tests like you can't deny it.
You can't deny that they stand out by far in their position.
I mean by far four or five. McCaffrey is like fifth in the MVP. Favorite.
Yes, I know he's block thirty is the top as I believe he should be, No, as I believe he should He's having a great season.
There's I just to meet Christian McCaffrey.
I've been saying this for a while, rating leasily capting touchdown second and completion present his second in passing yard's like.
Christian mccahm the best team in the league.
Yeah, no, he but I've been saying I've been saying this, you know what I'm saying, Like, I've said this a couple of weeks ago. So it's like, I don't want to change from my now even though I think Brock thirty.
But I have no reason to.
Because Christian m mccaffee just had three touchdowns last week.
We'll revisit this after the game next time.
Yeah, no, it'll be good.
It'll get your thoughts there. We're going to take a quick break here. When we come back, we have NBA analyst insider Mark Medina joining the show. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Rudolph in the gun.
There's jet motion and Calvin Austin takes you going right to left.
Hey gets to the end.
So the Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown seven yards. I'm the chip sweep right to left for the second yere man out of my firstl But as.
You just heard it all on the Steelers radio network, they're coming out hot against the Bengels.
Fourteen zero, still plenty of game. It's the start of the start of the second quarter.
Essentially, Jake Browning and He's thrown for eighty yards one interception. Rudo Mason Rudolph has thrown f one hundred and twenty one yards and a touchdown.
So again, the year of the backup quarterbacks.
I love it, love to see it.
You're listening to Fox Sports Saturday and Alex Career with Mancy Belanos. We are broadcasting live from the Tireck dot Com studios in Los Angeles, and it's time to bring in our next guest who knows rights, talks all things NBA. You've seen him on CBS Spectrum, You've heard him here on Fox Sports Radio hundreds of times. Let's bring an NBA insider, Mark Medina to the show.
Yay, Alex Monse are the best I'm having with this. Mariah Carey Christmas sauces just giving me vibes about NBA Christmas Day, five games all day while we really go.
I just started accepting Christmas music into my life two days ago.
I was waiting. I was waiting for it.
She's been living. I died it since since Thanksgiving.
No, I have not on the world from the world.
Yeah, and it's been haunting my dream since November first. But I personally chose to put it on two days ago. So yeah, I'm I'm welcoming in this. I'm excited. But Mark, let's start in La. The Lakers have not been playing well since winning the season tournament. They're one in five. What's been the biggest issue for the Lakers.
Yeah, it's been wild. I'd like to say it's the n season tournament hangover and they're just you know, after being on cloud nine from that huge accomplishment, you know, there's nothing that motivates them. But the reality is, it's more about the fact that they've been on the road a lot, compressed schedule, They've had some guys in and now the lineup with different injuries. So it's been this collective storm that has come at the wrong moment. Now, I suspect that might change a little bit as far as their energy level for Christmas Day against the Celtic. But the problem is, and I'm sorry Monsey, but as we're in the middle of this, the Celics are showing the Clippers while why they're wonder beast teams in the NBA, and the same thing might happen Christmas against the Lakers.
Well, since you bring it up, Boston and Clippers let's chat about the Clippers for a hot second, because I know they're getting their butts kicked right now.
I know.
I know they did have nine in a row though, and they did lose to a good Oklahoma City Thunder.
But the Clippers look good, Mark, They.
Look like they are having a good time, which is something as a fan that I haven't seen in a while.
Yeah.
I mean, look, I was trying to preach patience to you.
You are, you are buying it right. I wasn't look I fair enough to you, Monse.
I still have questions about what it means big picture, but you got to celebrate the wins when they can. And it is a good sign that, you know, with James Harden being the primary ballmaker, there's a lot more bald movement, Russell Westbrooks accepting Sventral and I think a bigger thing is Kawhi Leonard. This is what he looks like, with exception in the past two games which he's missed with injuries, but other than that, he's been healthy. You will let me read these November December splits for you. November twenty two and a half points a game, forty eight percent for the field, thirty six percent from three December twenty nine points a game, sixty one percent from the field, fifty percent from three. It's video game type numbers, and he's taking the same amount of shots. So I think that's the product of they're finally getting the ball in his hands off of good passes as opposed to him going to one on one and everyone else. They're playing better as a team. But you know, as of now, as we're speaking, struggle against Boston. But I think it has more to do with Kawhi being out and the Celtics being really good than this is a sign that the Clippers recent winning streak isn't for real. I think it is for real, and assuming they can stay healthy, I know that's a big if, but they show that if at least from Mex's nose and personality standpoints, they can make this fit work.
Kawhi Leonard when he's on the floor, he looks like the best player in the NBA. He looks like he could do whatever he wants.
He may be doing it all fundamentally, not flashy, but he looks like the most dominant player when he wants to be.
Yeah, and Manse I, this might be what you've been preaching for a while now, and I know it's the ultimate he is in source of frustration, but we've known this. The problem is he just hasn't been able to be healthy on a consistent basis. But I think the thing that should lead you more comfortable other Clipper fans more comfortable is that the further he is removed from you know, his injuries with you know, the bigger one, the AHDL injury and the twenty twenty one playoffs coming off the meniscus tear last year in the playoffs, he's going to show that he can be more available. And I think the reality as while the Clippers are certainly not blameless of you know them being the face of load management and maybe being a little too precautionary so to speak, when it comes to Kawhi, these injuries have been real and the reason why he has that out is because they just know his the frugility of just how his body's been when he having such a heavy workload. So this is a very good encouraging side. Knock on wood will see if it can stay up a long term. But to your point, there's a reason why they invested so much. He is an amazing basketball player and one of the best in the MBAs.
So if he and the rest of the Clippers team can stay healthy, do you believe this is the group that can finally take the Clippers to the NBA Finals.
Yeah, it's a good question, man saying. I hate to get on your potentially down your bad side here, but I think even if that are healthy, I don't think that they would win the championship or get farther in the plus. But hear me out, has less to do with any issues with the Clippers, just has more to do with the fact that the rest of the Western Conference landscape is just so loaded out there, I think, most notably with the defending champs with the Denver Nuggets. And you have some other teams, you know, whether they're incumbent teams that are veterans that just have to be healthy like a Lakers, like a Sun, like a Warriors, or young upstart teams that are showing you know what you have to take them seriously, like Minnesota, Oklahoma City, Sacramento. But I think, if nothing else, the Clippers' best ceiling for them it's challenging the Nuggets in the Western Conference finals and assuming that both sides are relatively healthy. I would give the edge to Denver. But here, look, this is why they play the games. You know, no one's, no team's health is ever guaranteed. So if they just tap into the control bulls, they do have a fighting chance to finally make this work.
All right.
So it's been reported that Draymond Green is going to counseling for his unsportsman life behavior. Do you believe he will actually be changed once he's back from his suspension.
Yeah, it's a tough question for me to unravel here because I think that he's not going to fundamentally change who he is. But I do have some relative optimism that he can change things enough that, you know, it's sad that you're asking as if this is such a favor, but change enough that he's not going to clock someone in face or give someone a choke hold, so that he's at least available. And that's been the challenge that the Warriors have wrestled with ever since he's been with the team. Of you don't want to temper the things that make him great, of the emotional fire, because that's how he plays at his best. But I think clearly this season this has crossed the line beyond anything that Draymond's ever done in his career, with whether it's been a yelling at officials or gaining into it with teammates Jordan Poole punch, Rudy Goldbert chokehold, choose up, Nurkic punch like these are things well and of and beyond what Draymond's ever done prior to that. So there is the danger I think that with how the Warriors have talked about him, as you know, and I'm not dismissing mental health or needing any counseling, that very well could be a thing, but it's also a danger of using that as a shield for accountability because when I've talked to layers the Warriors organization, the things that the thing that has funneled them is that, you know, with the team, they think that he's been as fine as he's usually been. It's just when he's on the court he's had those really bad moments. And because of that, I think it comes down to this, even with Draymond in his history, he should know better how to draw that line so that he's not doing the obvious things that don't make him available.
On the court.
I think I have an idea.
I think we should just put a punching bag at every game that Draymond plays, like.
Just on the side, like the fans can see a punching bag.
So the Angels have this when you go down after like if you strike out on the dugout, when you walk down, they have a giant punching bag right and swing. They're bad at that they can punch at. It's a great way to get out aggression.
Hear me this out, But.
Here's we put this punching bag in view of the fans and then we have pictures of the players that they're playing. So if he wants to punch Lebron, we just put a picture of Lebron on the punching bag, and then on the time out he can punch it and then he goes out there and then he doesn't do it in the actual games.
It's the quota of swear jar.
It sounds like I think this could work, is what I'm saying.
Let's see the Warriors havn't tried it, so no harm in saying that if a yield some success, we should put.
In front of the fances. I'm saying so that that could work. How about Ja Morant. Ja Moran is back mark and to have the game winner in.
A game that didn't look like it was going to start that well for the Grizzlies, what does that say for Memphis?
Well, it says that his integration process is going to be a lot shorter than even I think he anticipated. I think initially it was minutes restriction and you're going to have some conditioning issues. But I think they're so far behind him, standing like they're third to last, that it's really hard for me to imagine that they can suddenly climb up enough that not only are they a serious contender, but that they can even make the playoffs now again like heaven forbid injuries having other teams, but you know, look, they're eight to nineteen. The only teams that are first than them are Portland and San Antonio and they are just hllaciously bad, right, So they have a lot of ground to makeup, and the West is loaded that I don't think that that they can you know, make up enough grounds here, but at least it's good momentum for next season, when you know he won't be missing the first twenty five games and they can build off of everything from this season.
Mark, thank you so much for joining us.
I know you're about to be on TV, so have an amazing show and a fun holiday Christmas weekend.
Yes, Mark, thank you, see you out the holiday tour the best.
Yes, thank you of it.
Thank you. Now let's check in with Martin Wis and see what's trending.
What's trending right now is the Steelers offense. All right, they got twenty one points right now, A leading the Bengal with twenty one and nothing. But this is the first half. This is the most points scored in the first half by the Steeler since Ben Roethlisberger was playing for them.
I just saw that on.
Twitter or ex or whatever we're calling it these days. But that's impressive. Mason Rudolf getting his first starts to twenty twenty one college football. We got one game at halftime, one game in the third quarter. Let's start with the game in the third quarter seth Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Ball Air Force with a twenty one to fourteen lead over James Madison nine minutes left in the third quarter. There at the half, Georgia State has a thirty one to fourteen lead over Utah State in the Idaho famous Potato Bowl in the NFL right now. The second leg of this doubleheader will be the Bills and the Chargers in Sofi Stadio. Montsi will be there. You know who else will be there. Leonard Fournette activated off the practice squad. He'll be backing up James Cook Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He's clear concussion protocol. He'll play against the Buccaneers. The Jaguars tie the top the AFC South with the Colts and the Texans. Texans will be without quarterbacks CJ Strout for a second consecutive week as he recovers from his concussion. Chiefs will be without wide receiver Caadarius Tony and running back Jerick McKinnon, WI receiver Nicole Hartman and tackle Donovan Smith against the Raiders on Christmas Day, and the Raiders will be out without rather tight end Michael Mayer. Titans quarterback Will Levis unlikely to start against the Seahawks on Sunday. Ryan Tannehill will make his first start since he got benched in Week six, and Eagles wide receiver Davonte Smith will be full go against the Giants on Monday Night, no injury designation for him. They'll be without linebackers Zach Cunningham, cornerback Avonte Maddox, and cornerback Darry Slang.
In the NBA, Moncey Carver your ears one fifteen to ninety one.
The Boston Celtics lead the Los Angeles Clippers seven forty.
Eight left in the fourth quarter.
Please who that's pretty much with Tyler Lou has been saying at timeouts.
I'm sure back to you guys.
Thank you Martin, you was hitting a Fox Sports Saturday and Alex Curry here with Monty Bilanios. We are broadcasting live from the Tyrock dot Com studios in Los Angeles, and as we said, we have a jam packed show today.
We have one more guest for you.
He was one of my first baseball mentors and my former TV partner at the Angels. He is now one of the voices for you, your LA Dodgers and MLB Network on air personality. So please let's give a warm welcome to Jose Mota.
Jose, Hey, see what's up. It's been a long time. I hear the word mentor there. That just makes me sound way too old.
No, it means you were I don't think mentors.
I had one in each sport, and you were like if I had any questions, It was like, Jose, what is the player thinking in this spot? What are they thinking when they go here? Like I picked your brain for everything when I say mentor, And you took me on your wing and you were so awesome always, and we did yoga a lot.
Yeah, yeah, that's right, that's right, including the crosso dangerous streets of San Francisco one there, mamma that.
Oh yeah, we were on the road and travel together now on time. Yeah, yeah, no, that was dangerous, all right, Jose. The Dodgers are officially the Kings of baseball with this off season that they just had. How did they pull off getting two of the biggest stars on the market.
There's no secret to anybody that this organization is never satisfied. And the last two Octobers, Alex honestly left the really that tasting their valves, says to Okay, we went one hundred eleven games, we won one hundred games, and then comes one series in October and you're done, and you're done because you had no pitching and the previous year is because your hitting wins out even with big names. This October, the pitching was not good and then the hitting was not good, especially if you know the top two guys. But you know it takes more than two guys for you to produce. But when the spot comes up in the playoffs and you're facing premier pitching, you got to ask have your big guys produced, and it didn't happen. So the other answer to that, Alex, is the fact that there's deep pockets. There's no doubt about it. But I will cautiously say that, you know, we've seen a lot of teams win the winter. You know, the sexy moves and everything that comes along with signing the big names that turns out to nothing. By this type of talent, you cannot ignore. When you have the ability and the resources to go out there and get it, you have to put the effort in, considering that you're not leaning way too much one way, meaning on the offensive side, but you're balancing things out and knowing that you came up short on the pitching side.
Jose Gao Wucho Gustop, So you just mentioned how hard the taste that the Dodgers left in fans' mouths the last two years.
You just mentioned that.
All right, So with this big acquisition, a billion dollars spent on players this winter, what is the minimum that the Dodgers can do this upcoming season where you feel like, all right, we're in the right we're in the right groove, because it can't be just making.
The postseason, absolutely not, and you know what are without these guys. The key is always to go out there and be the last team standing in October, and you want to have that trophy and you want to be out there and take that big picture with your teammates and celebrate. Right in baseball, so many things happened in a long season. You know people talk about the six month season, Well it goes beyond that. I mean, you have months and have a spring training sent so things start happening and you got to joe together the team. But when you have this kind of talent together and the mentality and the drive that they have had to you know, the doll Your's history pretty much, there's never been like a settlement for the value to say, Okay, we're just good enough to others. Always been winning, right they obviously everybody's thinking, well, they got to win the World Series.
You know what.
That is the goal for them and for many other teams. But you got to get it done on the field. Anything short of that, when you have this much spending and this type of talent, of course it's going to be a disappointment. But at least everybody starts from the same spot, ground level, step in one of the ladder. But there's no doubt that they know they need to get through just getting to the postseason. They need to go up and be playing and be the last team standing. As I said before, and I told it now November.
Now, Ooze, you spent time in Japan covering both Otani and Yamamoto during the WBC this year. So give us, like US fans, an idea of like the hype and the respect that Yamamoto and Otani have for the game, but also for winning, being a winning culture.
Yeah, always do your homework.
I know.
I remember we were talking and you asked me if I was coming down to Miami. I remember that. Yeah, like, no, I'm done, because I know you and Ben were quite busy out there, quite busy. Here's before I went to Japan for the World Baseball Classic. Obviously I knew what I was going to see out of Otani in some degree of level. What I saw from him was beyond anything I expected. And just the way he carried the flag, he put the weight of an entire country on the shoulders, and he put on the show. I mean, he put on a magnificent show for people to go. You haven't seen me play in so many years because I've been in the US. Who I am today? And when show he left Hokkaido, his team in Japan and came to the US. He put it in front of himself and challenged himself to say, I need to become the best that there is in me and without with all that, Alex and you saw it too. There are some injuries and some failures, but he carried everything that was expected, from the way he interacted with the fans in Japan, the way he hung out of the hotel lobby, the way he approached the fans in the ballpark. Batting practice was quite ReSpectacle, from the show that he put on to people watching him not only throw a bullpen and the whole very world, but then, oh, he's got to hit VP now And it was pretty much awesome. Brackastering the games over there when he was pitching was tough, and I told Showy this because they go silent between pitches. So you know in the US he used to liket the cheerio was they go silent, don't respect to the players concentration. It's like it's like the golf gallery, right, and then they applaud and they like oohs and odds when they said the speed right, same thing when they're hitting. All these big stars are just revered like that in Japan and Yamamoto. Before I went to Japan, I was asking some scouts and people on baseball and they're talking about, how have you seen the pitching for a team Samurai Japan. I'm like, yes, I have, I've seen the names. I've done the video research. And they're like, that is as filthy as they come, and it will show. Hey it Sasaki and Yamamoto a twenty one year old guy that's pretty much knocking on the door too. But he's got a few years ahead of him. Before you even be posted. Yamamoto, people say, just watch him pitch and just think about a combination of Royer Cummins, A Pedro Martinez, Mike Mosina put all together on one and you're going to justin Verlander, and you're gonna get this guy from pitching from ninety one to ninety five or six to ninety eight, with command, with devastating splitter with a low curbo, which Showhy had when he came from Japan and then eventually it disappeared. Yeah, and then to the way he attacks his own. So this guy is a premier package who was backed it up by winning MVPs in Japan and being the most house standing pitcher twice to throw a no hitters, to just dominating and making a lot of players in the battles box feel very uncomfortable. Hopefully it will transition well into the US. I'm a big fan of keeping these guys on their schedule that they had in Japan, pitching once a week until they get adjusted. Not to push it, but for sure, Alex, you know quite well and you too, that they are going to go through the changes of the baseball is different, the mounds are different, the nurves different, and so many things. But expect big things for this guy because stuff wise, there's probably not ten guys in the big leagues that have the kind of stuff.
I mean, it's crazy, and he dominated the MPP.
He had under a two eera the last three years through one hundred and seventy one innings last year with a one point one six era. Like he is a power pitcher. He might not look like a power pitcher, but his stuff is one of power. But as you mentioned, the transition is never easy for these guys. It is a complete culture shock. We watched this with Otani coming to the angel So how big of an impact and was it the biggest impact? Otani is the main really a big reason that he decided to come to the Dodgers.
Well, Tani's big, but the big dollars are more important. Yeah, but sho Hey at least is now a reference point so to a lot of these guys. Yeah, in terms of how did you do it and how did you adjust? Okay, so you remember spring training twenty eighteen, Alex, that was horrific. Okay, that was painful. Shorey couldn't pitch, Shoy couldn't grip a baseball, Shoy couldn't hit, and we're all going what it's going on in Shoy's mind and the people around were like, no, no, no, he's just getting ready for the season. Don't worry about it. The adjustment that you have a model and the other guys are the need to make you know what he's a resource and named Charlotte Tani And not only would the Dodgers, but there's other Japanese players asking how did show a what'd you do?
What?
What was the turning point for you? And what are the main things that you adjusted to to make sure that you play your game and got it to the next level. Yeah, so what a better resource to say, Hey, what can I do that I can forget about that over there and bring here to make it a lot easier because you're brought here to win. The Dodgers have nothing guaranteed, nothing guaranteed. It's only on paper, but they know there's also more of an bullseye on them, knowing that they're the reason why the expectations are going through the roof.
Yeah, it's going to be so much fun to watch us here.
Jose, Thank you so much for joining us, giving us that insight into these Japanese players and Dodgers baseball.
I appreciate you so much. I miss you so much.
I can't wait to see you at Dodgers Stadium this season, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday with the family.
You two all the same to both of you and again goodbye.
Oh I mean it's so crazy because you forget it's like language barrier. Oh yeah, the game's different, the mounds different, the ball feels different.
Everything's a little different.
And he was up close and personal to a player that here in America people are like, you gave how.
Much money to a guy who's never pitched one?
So ball?
You major for a little bit of an adjustment here. Just remember that. B Patia.
Guys, thank you so much for joining us. Shortly after the show, our podcast is going to be going up. If you missed any of today's show, be sure to check out the podcast. Just search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcast. Alex and I will also read tweet it, so don't you worry, so follow us, follow the show, rate review the podcast. Again just search Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts. You'll see the show posted right after we get off the air. Because it's been such a fun packed show.
Guess win zero to three guests.
We everything reallything. We recovered hockey with the do's and don'ts.
Yeah, the avalanche, Oh snap, we didn't know it was like dog. Okay, we're gonna take one more break here. When we come back. Moncie and I are giving our NFL picks.
Rodolph under center, Nagy the loan set back, Naji gets the call, Nagi fights.
His way to the goat line, touchdown.
Pittsburgh Steeler Watch, Harris is fit for the year and the partis on back for sure.
In case you missed it, it was Nagie Harris all on the Steelers radio network. They have been all over the Bengals at home twenty one zero.
There's still a whole half Buddy's twenty one zero.
It's a beat down.
Yeah.
That was your Progressive play of the day, brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Progressive make bundling easy and affordable. Get a multi polsy discount by combining your motorcycle, RV, bo ATV and more all your protection in one place.
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Happy Christmas weekend, Like I'm like dancing to the Christmas music?
Now, have you watched Christmas movies?
Yeah?
I do your favorite.
Yes, jingle all the way with Arnold Torte elf I am one. Next would be Santa Claus.
Now, jingle all the way is good.
We're gonna take a poll. Yeah, elf, I mean it's elf.
Ell.
I've probably watched that like two hundred times.
Oh well, you watched that one hundred and ninety eight more times than I have.
Oh stop, all right, it's time for some NFL game picks. Producer Brandon lead us through.
All right, So the biggest game of the week is going to be the Ravens at the forty nine Ers. The forty nine Ers are favored by five and a half, but I know we got to get to last week's Uh first, I forgot Okay, okay, So last week, Alex, you went two and two, MANSI you went three and one.
I can never trust the bronco That's right. I will never trust the Bronchos again.
Ever, you just have to go when you don't trust them, like, you know, No, Ravens at forty nine Ers.
This should be a good one. Ravens six and one on the road.
Forty nine Ers are on the longest active win streak in the league with six wins, and they've won all six of those games by ten points. I'm gonna go with the forty nine Ers here, you know, I think they have two possible MVPs on that roster. Five and one at home this season, better full complete team.
Yeah, sorry to the boyfriend, I'm taking the forty nine ers.
Oh is he a Ravens A big Ravens fan?
Huge?
Huge?
All right?
All right?
Moving forward, we have the uh what I like to call the Battle of the mid the Cowboys at the Dolphins.
The Dolphins are favored by one and a half in this game.
I'm actually gonna take the Cowboys on this Dolphins.
I don't I think they're gonna bounce back. I think they're mad. And I again, the Dolphins are a bit banged up. As much as you want to tell me they're not, they're banged up.
I'm gonna take the Cowboys.
I'm taking the cow Boys are bad on the road. They're three and four.
All four of their losses have been on the roads, like eight in Miami, takes in one at home.
It's looking like they're getting Tyreek hillback.
End of the day.
I trust to A McDaniels moore, Yeah, yeah, all right.
We have the Battle of Florida next. We got the Jaguars at the Buccaneers. Buccaneers favored by one and a half.
And on a roll with Baker Mayfield. Alex who you got?
I'm gonna take the Bucks here, because Baker Mayfield has been on a roll. Is like, last three games eight touchdowns won interception, He had a perfect passer rating last take it against the Packers one fifteen point three passer rating.
And you know what, Trevor Lawrence obviously, even.
If he plays, this kid has just been pushing through every single like what you think is going to be an end of a season injury.
I'm taking the Bucks.
I'm taking the Jags because they need it more. They need to win more, all right, taking Jags one more?
All right, let's go to an NFC North matchup. Shout out, Carmen Vitali. We got the Lions favored by three on the road against the Vikings.
Monster, you got easy.
I'm gonna take the Lions.
Yep.
I am also taking the Lions because if the Lions beat the Vikings, they clinch their playoff spot when the division feels like the Lions here.
To finally win their first playoff game since ninety one.
Yeah, it's been a long time.
This is gonna be fun. It is you guys.
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas on this weekend. Thank you for spending your Saturday afternoon with us. Have a fun and safe Christmas. We'll see you next week, same time, same place.
That's right,