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What up? Welcome in. This is the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be making us part of your day. Thanks so much time. Doug Gotlieb in for Colin Coward. We got a great second hour of the show. We'll talk to NBA with our insider Mark Medina, the funky Gold Medina. We got more herdline news and why I don't think Lebron James has any real friends Westen. Sure, I'll explain that here up for forty five minutes. But let let's start with what we saw last night. What we saw last night was the NHL Super Bowl. The moment. Now, I didn't have overtime, because you know, you always get guy, nothing better than overtime hockey like eh. But still game seven and it had been I think seventy three years since we had a comeback from three games to none down, but still like historical type of potential comeback with Edmonton fighting off elimination three consecutive times, forcing a game seven and ultimately you have a Panther's victory to one win in a best of seven series. And I was just struck by the fact that here the NHL is and I think that was the most I've watched a hockey game since nineteen ninety three. I tell you so damn it long ago? Is that thirty one years ago? Guys? That is thirty one years ago. And here's how I know that nineteen ninety three means something if you were from southern California. Jason Stewart's from breat California, from Orange and went to high school in Tustin. But we're oc guys. Nineteen ninety three, Jay stew coincided with what.

What up? Welcome in. This is the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be making us part of your day. Thanks so much time. Doug Gotlieb in for Colin Coward. We got a great second hour of the show. We'll talk to NBA with our insider Mark Medina, the funky Gold Medina. We got more herdline news and why I don't think Lebron James has any real friends Westen. Sure, I'll explain that here up for forty five minutes. But let let's start with what we saw last night. What we saw last night was the NHL Super Bowl. The moment. Now, I didn't have overtime, because you know, you always get guy, nothing better than overtime hockey like eh. But still game seven and it had been I think seventy three years since we had a comeback from three games to none down, but still like historical type of potential comeback with Edmonton fighting off elimination three consecutive times, forcing a game seven and ultimately you have a Panther's victory to one win in a best of seven series. And I was just struck by the fact that here the NHL is and I think that was the most I've watched a hockey game since nineteen ninety three. I tell you so damn it long ago? Is that thirty one years ago? Guys? That is thirty one years ago. And here's how I know that nineteen ninety three means something if you were from southern California. Jason Stewart's from breat California, from Orange and went to high school in Tustin. But we're oc guys. Nineteen ninety three, Jay stew coincided with what.

Wow, so many things happened in nineteen ninety three. It was a crazy time to live in LA But one of the things that happened was that hockey became very relevant in a city that largely didn't care about hockey, and that was because of Wayne Gretzky leading the Kings to the Sane Cup.

Wow, so many things happened in nineteen ninety three. It was a crazy time to live in LA But one of the things that happened was that hockey became very relevant in a city that largely didn't care about hockey, and that was because of Wayne Gretzky leading the Kings to the Sane Cup.

Finals correct. And I mean, like listen, I have no recall over anything hockey except game one Marty mcsorily curvestick correct, which it was one of those. I was, however, many days old at that point in time when I learned that you couldn't have there was a a proper and an improper way to have a curve stick in hockey. It made total sense, but I just didn't even know and didn't know they would check it during the Stanley Cup finals, but they did. That's the last time I watched that much hockey. But you know what I didn't hear from hockey guy yesterday and today. Now. Part of it is I'm not gonna sit here and try and break down the hockey match and the rotations, and boy that that that final unit for you know, the final unit there for the Oilers. They were really gassed. Yeah, you know, they were gassed. Like, no, I don't know enough, so I don't speak on things that I don't know. I was entertained. It was exciting, you know, and then of course you have a two to one lead. There was a there was a moment in time there like two minutes ago where Edmonton had a shot, had a shot on goal. I couldn't and there's just bodies upon bodies in front of in front of the net, and you're like, well that was it. That was the last shot. So it was exciting. But I didn't even from hockey guy the bitterness you hear in the WNBA, like you didn't pay attention to us the last twenty five years. We didn't care. And what happens is and I don't think. I don't know if it's because of women's sports or the way in which women's sports have been treated. I think that's kind of what it is. Like there's an amountain of entitlement because I do think that broadcast networks, most specifically ESPN, has done a great job of treating women's sports as something much greater than they actually are in terms of the ratings. Right, this isn't show friends, this is show business. Sports have come and gone from National TV Fox. Remember remember they used to have the NHL and they were the ones that had that. It was like the glow stick thing. You had the tracer on the puck so you could see where the puck is and look, there was a logic to it. They asked people like what holds you back from watching hockey like I can't. I don't know where the puck is, so like, okay, problem solved. We'll put a little tracer on the truck, just like you have the tracer on the on the golf ball and people and hockey guy hated it, and the rest of us are like, I kind of like that. I could actually see where the puck is. Point is that there's this level of entitlement with the WNBA that has dragged down even this incredible story, right, make no mistake about it. Caitlin Clark making the WNBA watchable is a parallel to Zion Williamson when he was a dukeyep making making duke likable to everybody, like I can't believe. I mean this weekend when Chicago played the Fever and I'll grant you there's nothing else on, but you always used to watch baseball, and now at least two and a half million of you were like, you know what, I'll watch Caitlin Clark, you're in Chicago. Why not? It's an unbelievable story. But what are we caught up in? Well, you didn't cover us for twenty sixteen years because nobody cared. Why does she get a shoe deal in this woman doesn't get it because she's popular. That's why, that's why she should be on the Olympic team. I said this today was announced that there was that she wasn't on the Olympic team. The women's Olympic team is far more dominant than the men. They've won the last seven Olympic gold medals. Did you know that?

Finals correct. And I mean, like listen, I have no recall over anything hockey except game one Marty mcsorily curvestick correct, which it was one of those. I was, however, many days old at that point in time when I learned that you couldn't have there was a a proper and an improper way to have a curve stick in hockey. It made total sense, but I just didn't even know and didn't know they would check it during the Stanley Cup finals, but they did. That's the last time I watched that much hockey. But you know what I didn't hear from hockey guy yesterday and today. Now. Part of it is I'm not gonna sit here and try and break down the hockey match and the rotations, and boy that that that final unit for you know, the final unit there for the Oilers. They were really gassed. Yeah, you know, they were gassed. Like, no, I don't know enough, so I don't speak on things that I don't know. I was entertained. It was exciting, you know, and then of course you have a two to one lead. There was a there was a moment in time there like two minutes ago where Edmonton had a shot, had a shot on goal. I couldn't and there's just bodies upon bodies in front of in front of the net, and you're like, well that was it. That was the last shot. So it was exciting. But I didn't even from hockey guy the bitterness you hear in the WNBA, like you didn't pay attention to us the last twenty five years. We didn't care. And what happens is and I don't think. I don't know if it's because of women's sports or the way in which women's sports have been treated. I think that's kind of what it is. Like there's an amountain of entitlement because I do think that broadcast networks, most specifically ESPN, has done a great job of treating women's sports as something much greater than they actually are in terms of the ratings. Right, this isn't show friends, this is show business. Sports have come and gone from National TV Fox. Remember remember they used to have the NHL and they were the ones that had that. It was like the glow stick thing. You had the tracer on the puck so you could see where the puck is and look, there was a logic to it. They asked people like what holds you back from watching hockey like I can't. I don't know where the puck is, so like, okay, problem solved. We'll put a little tracer on the truck, just like you have the tracer on the on the golf ball and people and hockey guy hated it, and the rest of us are like, I kind of like that. I could actually see where the puck is. Point is that there's this level of entitlement with the WNBA that has dragged down even this incredible story, right, make no mistake about it. Caitlin Clark making the WNBA watchable is a parallel to Zion Williamson when he was a dukeyep making making duke likable to everybody, like I can't believe. I mean this weekend when Chicago played the Fever and I'll grant you there's nothing else on, but you always used to watch baseball, and now at least two and a half million of you were like, you know what, I'll watch Caitlin Clark, you're in Chicago. Why not? It's an unbelievable story. But what are we caught up in? Well, you didn't cover us for twenty sixteen years because nobody cared. Why does she get a shoe deal in this woman doesn't get it because she's popular. That's why, that's why she should be on the Olympic team. I said this today was announced that there was that she wasn't on the Olympic team. The women's Olympic team is far more dominant than the men. They've won the last seven Olympic gold medals. Did you know that?

No?

No?

You know why because you don't watch the women play in the Olympics. She brings attention to a great story instead. Now you're sitting there going like, why would I watch? You know they're gonna win. They clearly don't like her, and all she's doing is help grow the game, like why would why would I watch?

You know why because you don't watch the women play in the Olympics. She brings attention to a great story instead. Now you're sitting there going like, why would I watch? You know they're gonna win. They clearly don't like her, and all she's doing is help grow the game, like why would why would I watch?

You know?

You know?

Not once in the last forty eight hours as people started to talk about hockey that never talk about hockey, Not one single time was there a way in which we were made to feel bad about not paying attention to hockey. At least I wasn't. But every time I turn on a WNBA game, I'm made to feel bad that you missed this last twenty six years twenty seven Like I don't, I didn't miss anything. I didn't care until now I care and now I watch. You don't need to lecture me on what happened previously, you know, I don't need. I mean, everybody knows. We like you go into a you go if you're gonna watch Dune, you know, and you didn't watch Doune one, and you're watching Dune two unless you ask, you don't need somebody to go like, well, I'll see what happened in Dune one was I didn't care about Done one. I'm watching Doune too now. It is helpful to watch Doon one before you watch June too. Just like again, little Fyi, I've actually watched both. I haven't read. I haven't read the books. Nothing is annoying as I read the book. Guy, Oh this is different than the book. Sorry man, this is not the book, this is the movie. But am I wrong? Jason? You especially, you know, why can't I just appreciate the sport that I'm watching for the sport that I'm watching, and not be told and not be lectured about how, oh my gosh, you guys missed it. The last five years have been incredible, Like I just don't. I don't care. And we're, for whatever reason, we're made to feel bad about even saying I didn't care.

Not once in the last forty eight hours as people started to talk about hockey that never talk about hockey, Not one single time was there a way in which we were made to feel bad about not paying attention to hockey. At least I wasn't. But every time I turn on a WNBA game, I'm made to feel bad that you missed this last twenty six years twenty seven Like I don't, I didn't miss anything. I didn't care until now I care and now I watch. You don't need to lecture me on what happened previously, you know, I don't need. I mean, everybody knows. We like you go into a you go if you're gonna watch Dune, you know, and you didn't watch Doune one, and you're watching Dune two unless you ask, you don't need somebody to go like, well, I'll see what happened in Dune one was I didn't care about Done one. I'm watching Doune too now. It is helpful to watch Doon one before you watch June too. Just like again, little Fyi, I've actually watched both. I haven't read. I haven't read the books. Nothing is annoying as I read the book. Guy, Oh this is different than the book. Sorry man, this is not the book, this is the movie. But am I wrong? Jason? You especially, you know, why can't I just appreciate the sport that I'm watching for the sport that I'm watching, and not be told and not be lectured about how, oh my gosh, you guys missed it. The last five years have been incredible, Like I just don't. I don't care. And we're, for whatever reason, we're made to feel bad about even saying I didn't care.

It's so funny.

It's so funny.

Now because she's brought attention to the league.

Now because she's brought attention to the league.

I mean, we talk about this all the time on the Doug Gottlieb Show, airing three pm Eastern across the network, that hockey not unlike the UFL. Remember a couple of weeks ago, the UFL had the championship game, and I'm sure, I'm sure it was watched by some people. But what we appreciated about the UFL was that it happened. We didn't watch it, we didn't care about it, and no one made us feel bad about not watching it. No one was calling us a racist for not watching it. No one was calling us a sexist for not watching that. It was just a sport that knows its niche a cousin, knows its place in the world. And the WNBA, for whatever reason, comes with all this guilt. I'm not sure. I'm not sure why that is. I guess you said it's a sense of entitlement.

I mean, we talk about this all the time on the Doug Gottlieb Show, airing three pm Eastern across the network, that hockey not unlike the UFL. Remember a couple of weeks ago, the UFL had the championship game, and I'm sure, I'm sure it was watched by some people. But what we appreciated about the UFL was that it happened. We didn't watch it, we didn't care about it, and no one made us feel bad about not watching it. No one was calling us a racist for not watching it. No one was calling us a sexist for not watching that. It was just a sport that knows its niche a cousin, knows its place in the world. And the WNBA, for whatever reason, comes with all this guilt. I'm not sure. I'm not sure why that is. I guess you said it's a sense of entitlement.

I don't feel any guilt about it. It Actually I agree with you. It's like, if people want to make you feel guilty, I want to make you feel like you're a sexist I'm not a sexist. I just and I love basketball. I just have never really gotten into the WNBA. I'm not and again and then the other parts too. It is then we start to cover it and we understand it's very very unique. You know, for example, the woman who fouled Caitlin Clark from Chicago right hip checked her. She's dating one of the teammates of Caitlin Clark with the fever.

I don't feel any guilt about it. It Actually I agree with you. It's like, if people want to make you feel guilty, I want to make you feel like you're a sexist I'm not a sexist. I just and I love basketball. I just have never really gotten into the WNBA. I'm not and again and then the other parts too. It is then we start to cover it and we understand it's very very unique. You know, for example, the woman who fouled Caitlin Clark from Chicago right hip checked her. She's dating one of the teammates of Caitlin Clark with the fever.

Check that the guard from the Connecticut team, was it Dejian Dejana something or another is dating Melissa Smith who was a Caitlin Clark's teammate.

Check that the guard from the Connecticut team, was it Dejian Dejana something or another is dating Melissa Smith who was a Caitlin Clark's teammate.

Okay, my bad, so it wasn't the one who fouled her.

Okay, my bad, so it wasn't the one who fouled her.

Heart of WNBA occurrences.

Heart of WNBA occurrences.

And sorry, this is why I don't get into WNBA talk because I don't really know what I'm talking about. But something I have known because I have friends that have been head coaches in the WNBA, and they've told me, like, look like, once you get under the hood, like this league is very very different from any other league because you do you have women dating teammates, dating opponents, and then they break up. And then of course you have straight women and you have heterosexual women and they they don't always form a great team, Like there's a lot to it, and we consider and go, well, we want you want us to cover us your way, like or we want to cover what's interesting Caitlin Clark's interesting. I think that dynamic of it is interesting, just is. But there's the the uh, the basketball shaming of the w NBA. It pushes me away, you know, pushes me away. Look, I feel bad. I didn't like fish when I was a kid. But I realized I didn't like fish when I was a kid. It was part of it was the way my mom made it. Did anybody like fishing they're a kid like my kids, like I don't like fish, Like what do we have to do tonight's making fish? Like oh gosh, oh oh really, Oh, don't worry. I poached the salmon, Like oh this just who told you that was a good idea? Like the fact that my mom I lived under my mom's roof, what was it eighteen years and not one time did she go like, hey, I'm gonna put a little molasses on it and cook it on the grill, because I would have gotten down with some salmon. Then instead she poaching like, uh, I mean brussels sprouts. Brust. If your mom told you she was making Brussels sprouts, you knew two things. One, it was gonna be a tough dinner. In two your your house was gonna smell like somebody, well, somebody couldn't stop farting. Now, my kids asked for Brussels sprouts. Now, a good portion of it is that I make it in the oven. I'm pretty awesome at it. Right where I get the uh, olive oil on it. I don't do the balsamic glaze. I just do olive oil. Cot them up really thin pieces olive oil on a cookie sheet with some aluminum foil, and then throw some salt, little pepper, maybe a little lemon brown it. My children ask for Brussels sprouts. I mean, Brussels sprouts is the greatest culinary turnaround in the history of culinary turnarounds. But the fact is that, I mean, I don't feel bad about the fact that I went forty years without understanding Brussel spouts could be an edible thing. And somehow with the WNBA, I'm just told I'm a bad person. And yeah, there's all these other things that you get labeled because I didn't watch it. I didn't like it. I didn't follow it. I didn't and now I do. Now I like it a lot. So that's I watched last night. I watched more hockey than I have watched in years, and I still didn't really know the players, didn't really understand a lot of the substitutions and rotations or any other thing. I was just entertained. So high level sport, high intensity. Everything was magnified, the crowd was intense. And the best celebration in sports, without any question, is when you win the Stanley Cup and everybody gets a chance to skate around with the Santa Cup. Like now that I've watched many a year, which is just tell me when it's over and I'll flip it on because I want to see these guys skate with the cup, Like how cool?

And sorry, this is why I don't get into WNBA talk because I don't really know what I'm talking about. But something I have known because I have friends that have been head coaches in the WNBA, and they've told me, like, look like, once you get under the hood, like this league is very very different from any other league because you do you have women dating teammates, dating opponents, and then they break up. And then of course you have straight women and you have heterosexual women and they they don't always form a great team, Like there's a lot to it, and we consider and go, well, we want you want us to cover us your way, like or we want to cover what's interesting Caitlin Clark's interesting. I think that dynamic of it is interesting, just is. But there's the the uh, the basketball shaming of the w NBA. It pushes me away, you know, pushes me away. Look, I feel bad. I didn't like fish when I was a kid. But I realized I didn't like fish when I was a kid. It was part of it was the way my mom made it. Did anybody like fishing they're a kid like my kids, like I don't like fish, Like what do we have to do tonight's making fish? Like oh gosh, oh oh really, Oh, don't worry. I poached the salmon, Like oh this just who told you that was a good idea? Like the fact that my mom I lived under my mom's roof, what was it eighteen years and not one time did she go like, hey, I'm gonna put a little molasses on it and cook it on the grill, because I would have gotten down with some salmon. Then instead she poaching like, uh, I mean brussels sprouts. Brust. If your mom told you she was making Brussels sprouts, you knew two things. One, it was gonna be a tough dinner. In two your your house was gonna smell like somebody, well, somebody couldn't stop farting. Now, my kids asked for Brussels sprouts. Now, a good portion of it is that I make it in the oven. I'm pretty awesome at it. Right where I get the uh, olive oil on it. I don't do the balsamic glaze. I just do olive oil. Cot them up really thin pieces olive oil on a cookie sheet with some aluminum foil, and then throw some salt, little pepper, maybe a little lemon brown it. My children ask for Brussels sprouts. I mean, Brussels sprouts is the greatest culinary turnaround in the history of culinary turnarounds. But the fact is that, I mean, I don't feel bad about the fact that I went forty years without understanding Brussel spouts could be an edible thing. And somehow with the WNBA, I'm just told I'm a bad person. And yeah, there's all these other things that you get labeled because I didn't watch it. I didn't like it. I didn't follow it. I didn't and now I do. Now I like it a lot. So that's I watched last night. I watched more hockey than I have watched in years, and I still didn't really know the players, didn't really understand a lot of the substitutions and rotations or any other thing. I was just entertained. So high level sport, high intensity. Everything was magnified, the crowd was intense. And the best celebration in sports, without any question, is when you win the Stanley Cup and everybody gets a chance to skate around with the Santa Cup. Like now that I've watched many a year, which is just tell me when it's over and I'll flip it on because I want to see these guys skate with the cup, Like how cool?

Is that?

Is that?

Very cool? I'm Doug gollibe in for Colin Cowherd. Is anyone gonna have a real conversation with lebron about Bronnie? We'll try next in.

Very cool? I'm Doug gollibe in for Colin Cowherd. Is anyone gonna have a real conversation with lebron about Bronnie? We'll try next in.

The Herd One more Herd. The Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you.

The Herd One more Herd. The Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you.

Like Doug Gollibit for Colin. This is the Herd Fox Sports Radio, iHeartRadio app as we creep closer and closer to tomorrow night's NBA Draft. Plus, we're reacting to yesterday's Laker press conference where JJ Redick was officially announced as new head coach. The Forum Blue and Gold. Mark Medini will join us momentarily. I will respond to some of the Well, I'll lay out for you the story of I guess it's is it me versus the even a Smith? Is that? What that is? Me versus Steven a Smith. We'll do that. I'm coming in about twenty five minutes. In the meantime, let's welcome in Mark Medina. We call him the Funky Cole Madina on the Doug Gottlieb Show here on Fox Sports Radio. In the Herd and Mark, what are your thoughts on JJ's press conference yesterday?

Like Doug Gollibit for Colin. This is the Herd Fox Sports Radio, iHeartRadio app as we creep closer and closer to tomorrow night's NBA Draft. Plus, we're reacting to yesterday's Laker press conference where JJ Redick was officially announced as new head coach. The Forum Blue and Gold. Mark Medini will join us momentarily. I will respond to some of the Well, I'll lay out for you the story of I guess it's is it me versus the even a Smith? Is that? What that is? Me versus Steven a Smith. We'll do that. I'm coming in about twenty five minutes. In the meantime, let's welcome in Mark Medina. We call him the Funky Cole Madina on the Doug Gottlieb Show here on Fox Sports Radio. In the Herd and Mark, what are your thoughts on JJ's press conference yesterday?

Yeah, Well, in regards to JJ's f bombs, I think my laugh was pretty loud. I found it amusing. I think after the fact, I wondered wasn't really necessary. But besides that, I thought that he wanted the press conference. He hit on all the right notes and conceding the challenges ahead of him, but embracing the fact that he's got to be innovative, acknowledging the fact that he has no head coaching experience. But he's going to lean on the work ethic relationship equity, you know, mentors with Mike Krzyzewski most notably, to overcome that. But you know, the reality is going to be in the results, and the Lakers have a lot of different buckets of objectives that are you know, pretty challenging when you're looking at trying to maximize Lebron James's remaining nears, making Anthony Davis become more of the focal point developing role players. Yeah, it's it's gonna be a pretty interesting dynamic, to say the least.

Yeah, Well, in regards to JJ's f bombs, I think my laugh was pretty loud. I found it amusing. I think after the fact, I wondered wasn't really necessary. But besides that, I thought that he wanted the press conference. He hit on all the right notes and conceding the challenges ahead of him, but embracing the fact that he's got to be innovative, acknowledging the fact that he has no head coaching experience. But he's going to lean on the work ethic relationship equity, you know, mentors with Mike Krzyzewski most notably, to overcome that. But you know, the reality is going to be in the results, and the Lakers have a lot of different buckets of objectives that are you know, pretty challenging when you're looking at trying to maximize Lebron James's remaining nears, making Anthony Davis become more of the focal point developing role players. Yeah, it's it's gonna be a pretty interesting dynamic, to say the least.

Yeah, I think it'll be a fascinating, fascinating dynamic. H let me let me ask you this. Uh, I agree with you on the F bombs. I like the idea of and I said this at my press conference, right there's and he kind of alluded to this, there's nothing you can really say at a press conference that's going to prove to people you can coach and sound like I can get out of the whiteboard and be like Okay, So here's what we're gonna do. Okay, We're gonna run pistol action and then like, this is where we're gonna put Lebron and here's where we're gonna put Anthony Davis. Like people like, that's not the point, okay. So I love the idea of you can't care what people think that you want the job, that you go forward doing the job. What about the staffing the staffing plan right, because apparently it's one of the things that turned Danny Hurley off was that they wanted to plan his staff for him. They didn't do it with Darvin Hamm and that was, by all accounts, an abject disaster. What is the staffing plan with the Lakers?

Yeah, I think it'll be a fascinating, fascinating dynamic. H let me let me ask you this. Uh, I agree with you on the F bombs. I like the idea of and I said this at my press conference, right there's and he kind of alluded to this, there's nothing you can really say at a press conference that's going to prove to people you can coach and sound like I can get out of the whiteboard and be like Okay, So here's what we're gonna do. Okay, We're gonna run pistol action and then like, this is where we're gonna put Lebron and here's where we're gonna put Anthony Davis. Like people like, that's not the point, okay. So I love the idea of you can't care what people think that you want the job, that you go forward doing the job. What about the staffing the staffing plan right, because apparently it's one of the things that turned Danny Hurley off was that they wanted to plan his staff for him. They didn't do it with Darvin Hamm and that was, by all accounts, an abject disaster. What is the staffing plan with the Lakers?

Yeah, well, JJ Riddick and Rop Lincoln didn't get it into names, but they said it's about getting experienced head coaches around them so that he can use them as a sounding board. And to your point, it's not surprising that Dan Early did not like that. Ty Lude didn't like that arrangement either. Frank Vogel was okay with it when they had Jason kidd But you know, it is an interesting era because usually head coaches had complete and full autonomy historically on how to assemble their coaching staffs, and front office would say, hey, whatever systance you want, we'll just evaluate you all on the results. But in this modern era, front offices want to have input almost as a way to you know, fulfill what their vision of success is. But I think regardless with j Roddick, the fact that he hasn't been a head coach, it's obvious that he'll need you know, veteran assistance around him. I think the challenging part here, Doug is you know very well is you know, finding the right of a veteran assistant coaches, but that don't also have aspirations to be head coaches. Because if there if there is a candidate that has that, there is always the politic you of, Okay, is this head coach have my best interests? Or is he inevitably just going to be replacing me when things don't go well? But I think you know that idea obviously works in theory. Now we'll see how they execute it.

Yeah, well, JJ Riddick and Rop Lincoln didn't get it into names, but they said it's about getting experienced head coaches around them so that he can use them as a sounding board. And to your point, it's not surprising that Dan Early did not like that. Ty Lude didn't like that arrangement either. Frank Vogel was okay with it when they had Jason kidd But you know, it is an interesting era because usually head coaches had complete and full autonomy historically on how to assemble their coaching staffs, and front office would say, hey, whatever systance you want, we'll just evaluate you all on the results. But in this modern era, front offices want to have input almost as a way to you know, fulfill what their vision of success is. But I think regardless with j Roddick, the fact that he hasn't been a head coach, it's obvious that he'll need you know, veteran assistance around him. I think the challenging part here, Doug is you know very well is you know, finding the right of a veteran assistant coaches, but that don't also have aspirations to be head coaches. Because if there if there is a candidate that has that, there is always the politic you of, Okay, is this head coach have my best interests? Or is he inevitably just going to be replacing me when things don't go well? But I think you know that idea obviously works in theory. Now we'll see how they execute it.

No, I listened, so I I actually I understand what you're saying. I actually disagree on some level with that idea. First thing is whoever you hire the number one trait they have to have is loyalty. Mm are there any fissures within it? Like when and you know this from what you do. Mark Ridine is our guest, by the way, he's our NBA insider from Fox Sports Radio. Like the way we get all this chatter from coaches is coach like. Coaches like to bs on the phone and talk and if they're talking about their own coach or their own you know, their own staff, like, that's a dysfunctional unit. So the first thing is you got to have loyalty. I actually want guys that want to be head coaches, right because one of the problems with hiring former head coaches is I'm not saying they're lazy, but they've had things done for them that now they have to do, and it's a really hard backpedal to get into. You know, if you've been a head coach, like you're not used to grinding and doing whatever the head coach wants, that's a really difficult thing to do, Whereas if you've been an assistant coach, it's a lot easier for you to transition to being an assistant coach. So there's a kind of a healthy sort of mix there right that you want guys with head coaching experiences, but you want them still to be driven like back when they were an assistant an assistant coach, you don'tant a guy who just I'm gonna give you advice, but I'm going to mail it in in terms of the day to day because you're constantly at the NBA level, you're constantly managing all of these personalities while you know they have and the Lakers are a very streamline organization as you know, like they don't have a deep advanced scouting analytics sort of division. They don't and they don't have an assistant GM, they don't have lots of the layers other people have. So you've got to do that. You're you've got to have a staff that does all the things that you don't do. And I think it's going to be interesting to see who they choose from because they did not choose well at times with some of these previous stabs, and sometimes they have and there's not a huge pool of people at this late late a day and time.

No, I listened, so I I actually I understand what you're saying. I actually disagree on some level with that idea. First thing is whoever you hire the number one trait they have to have is loyalty. Mm are there any fissures within it? Like when and you know this from what you do. Mark Ridine is our guest, by the way, he's our NBA insider from Fox Sports Radio. Like the way we get all this chatter from coaches is coach like. Coaches like to bs on the phone and talk and if they're talking about their own coach or their own you know, their own staff, like, that's a dysfunctional unit. So the first thing is you got to have loyalty. I actually want guys that want to be head coaches, right because one of the problems with hiring former head coaches is I'm not saying they're lazy, but they've had things done for them that now they have to do, and it's a really hard backpedal to get into. You know, if you've been a head coach, like you're not used to grinding and doing whatever the head coach wants, that's a really difficult thing to do, Whereas if you've been an assistant coach, it's a lot easier for you to transition to being an assistant coach. So there's a kind of a healthy sort of mix there right that you want guys with head coaching experiences, but you want them still to be driven like back when they were an assistant an assistant coach, you don'tant a guy who just I'm gonna give you advice, but I'm going to mail it in in terms of the day to day because you're constantly at the NBA level, you're constantly managing all of these personalities while you know they have and the Lakers are a very streamline organization as you know, like they don't have a deep advanced scouting analytics sort of division. They don't and they don't have an assistant GM, they don't have lots of the layers other people have. So you've got to do that. You're you've got to have a staff that does all the things that you don't do. And I think it's going to be interesting to see who they choose from because they did not choose well at times with some of these previous stabs, and sometimes they have and there's not a huge pool of people at this late late a day and time.

Yeah, Doug, I mean, you outline the fascinating angle to it, and it really illustrates kind of the gray area in the wiggle room with how they maneuver with finding the right coaching staff. And I think to your point about with Dan Early of him way and autonomy, that's where another gray area is in play, where you know, if there's not prior relationships with a previous person and the front office is saying, well, hey, how about this guy, how about that guy, That's where some of that trust isn't always there.

Yeah, Doug, I mean, you outline the fascinating angle to it, and it really illustrates kind of the gray area in the wiggle room with how they maneuver with finding the right coaching staff. And I think to your point about with Dan Early of him way and autonomy, that's where another gray area is in play, where you know, if there's not prior relationships with a previous person and the front office is saying, well, hey, how about this guy, how about that guy, That's where some of that trust isn't always there.

But I mean, look at you look no different than Phoenix. Yay Phoenix, that Frank Vogel have autonomy with one exception Kevin Young, And that was a complete poop show, right because you had Frank was trusted him to run the offense and he's let others run the offense. But there is this and this is what you're talking about. Kevin wanted the job, almost got the job, they paid him more than any insist in the NBA to not get the job and being and it didn't work. And Katie never liked the offense, and Book liked the offense, but Frank Vogel was a little tentative about coaching him because he felt like he was playing for Kevin Young, like that doesn't work, doesn't So it's a really interesting one. The thing he has going for him is there's obviously a connection with Lebron James. Did anyone in that room believe that they didn't talk about the job until after he.

But I mean, look at you look no different than Phoenix. Yay Phoenix, that Frank Vogel have autonomy with one exception Kevin Young, And that was a complete poop show, right because you had Frank was trusted him to run the offense and he's let others run the offense. But there is this and this is what you're talking about. Kevin wanted the job, almost got the job, they paid him more than any insist in the NBA to not get the job and being and it didn't work. And Katie never liked the offense, and Book liked the offense, but Frank Vogel was a little tentative about coaching him because he felt like he was playing for Kevin Young, like that doesn't work, doesn't So it's a really interesting one. The thing he has going for him is there's obviously a connection with Lebron James. Did anyone in that room believe that they didn't talk about the job until after he.

Took the job, Well, Doug tay mean as naive, but I actually do believe it. But I only believe it because it's to the letter of the law. You know, where Rob Plinka is saying Lebron was supportive but wasn't heavily involved in the coaching search. I believe that, but just from the literal letter of the law. Same thing with JJ Reddick saying we didn't talk during the coaching search. But no doubt Lebron James has an influence merely because he exists number one and also number two. They know his temperature based off of his actions, what his relationships are with JJ Reddicks. They have a podcast as well as you know his social media activity and the messages that he sends out there, so he doesn't have to have direct conversations and lay it out bluntly with either person. But Rob Polink and JJ Reddick fully know well how Lebron James feels about this. I think what was also fascinating is that Roblink was mentioned that Andy Davis was heavily involved here, and I think that that is notable for two reasons. One, JJ Reddick was hot lighting the idea that they wanted him to become what he called more of a hub type of center, where you know, there's more of a mobility of being a stretch five as opposed to back to the basket big. But the other thing is they're really trying to pave the way for Anthony Davis to become the leader of the team. And you know, in fairness, Lebron's been saying this from day one, but it's been Lebron's team. But now that he's entering the final years of his career, presuming that he opts out and signs a new deal, it's very much an emphasis to try to make it so that there is a somewhat seamless pass into Baton. But again, that sounds good in theory but harder to execute in reality.

Took the job, Well, Doug tay mean as naive, but I actually do believe it. But I only believe it because it's to the letter of the law. You know, where Rob Plinka is saying Lebron was supportive but wasn't heavily involved in the coaching search. I believe that, but just from the literal letter of the law. Same thing with JJ Reddick saying we didn't talk during the coaching search. But no doubt Lebron James has an influence merely because he exists number one and also number two. They know his temperature based off of his actions, what his relationships are with JJ Reddicks. They have a podcast as well as you know his social media activity and the messages that he sends out there, so he doesn't have to have direct conversations and lay it out bluntly with either person. But Rob Polink and JJ Reddick fully know well how Lebron James feels about this. I think what was also fascinating is that Roblink was mentioned that Andy Davis was heavily involved here, and I think that that is notable for two reasons. One, JJ Reddick was hot lighting the idea that they wanted him to become what he called more of a hub type of center, where you know, there's more of a mobility of being a stretch five as opposed to back to the basket big. But the other thing is they're really trying to pave the way for Anthony Davis to become the leader of the team. And you know, in fairness, Lebron's been saying this from day one, but it's been Lebron's team. But now that he's entering the final years of his career, presuming that he opts out and signs a new deal, it's very much an emphasis to try to make it so that there is a somewhat seamless pass into Baton. But again, that sounds good in theory but harder to execute in reality.

Okay, so who do they add? Because you're not you're not getting rid of Boston Reeves. You got those three. What's the plan on who they add?

Okay, so who do they add? Because you're not you're not getting rid of Boston Reeves. You got those three. What's the plan on who they add?

Yeah? Well, I take what Rob Polinka plan it as a real Talian sign and that it seems like they're going to use these draft picks to hold on than to actually pull off a trade, and it's about as flawed as their roster is. Try to hope that there's enough marginal improvement as well as enough marginal improvement with JJ Reddick's knowledge of the game, I mean, for all his inexperience, that might be a challenge. One thing that they're very confident on is that he can make better in game adjustment and manage rotations better than what Darvin hand did. But that sounds nice, but again we're talking about the Lakers. We're talking about Lebron James. He still wants to feel like he has some chance, no matter how slim, to compete for a title. So these marginal improvements, it's great, but you know, it's nothing. It's not going to make any greater difference than you're a competitive playoff team that could be a roadbump in the first round. So that's the fascinating part with this franchise, and they never ceased to be interesting with the.

Yeah? Well, I take what Rob Polinka plan it as a real Talian sign and that it seems like they're going to use these draft picks to hold on than to actually pull off a trade, and it's about as flawed as their roster is. Try to hope that there's enough marginal improvement as well as enough marginal improvement with JJ Reddick's knowledge of the game, I mean, for all his inexperience, that might be a challenge. One thing that they're very confident on is that he can make better in game adjustment and manage rotations better than what Darvin hand did. But that sounds nice, but again we're talking about the Lakers. We're talking about Lebron James. He still wants to feel like he has some chance, no matter how slim, to compete for a title. So these marginal improvements, it's great, but you know, it's nothing. It's not going to make any greater difference than you're a competitive playoff team that could be a roadbump in the first round. So that's the fascinating part with this franchise, and they never ceased to be interesting with the.

Are they going to draft Ronnie?

Are they going to draft Ronnie?

I think they will, Doug, but I think it's more going to be because of circumstance and convenience than any plan about trying to appease Lebron or any fascination with Brownie's game. I think they're going to draft him because they have the fifty fifth pick, and he'll be available, and he'll mostly spend his time in the G League. But you know, Doug, you and I have talked on your radio show that this idea that teams, whether it's the Lakers or other teams that are drafting Bronny with the hopes that this means Lebron definitely either stays with the Lakers or goes elsewhere, is just a foolish argument. The expectations Lebron's staying with the Lakers and Bronnie, you know, he's a nice team guy and plays the right way, but he doesn't have a definitive skill set and isn't expected to be drafted at all, and if so, it's late second round. So I think with all that the Lakers will draft him, but it's not because of kind of the larger forces.

I think they will, Doug, but I think it's more going to be because of circumstance and convenience than any plan about trying to appease Lebron or any fascination with Brownie's game. I think they're going to draft him because they have the fifty fifth pick, and he'll be available, and he'll mostly spend his time in the G League. But you know, Doug, you and I have talked on your radio show that this idea that teams, whether it's the Lakers or other teams that are drafting Bronny with the hopes that this means Lebron definitely either stays with the Lakers or goes elsewhere, is just a foolish argument. The expectations Lebron's staying with the Lakers and Bronnie, you know, he's a nice team guy and plays the right way, but he doesn't have a definitive skill set and isn't expected to be drafted at all, and if so, it's late second round. So I think with all that the Lakers will draft him, but it's not because of kind of the larger forces.

Boy, you're the best, Mark. I love, love your insight and input. Thanks so much for joining us here in the.

Boy, you're the best, Mark. I love, love your insight and input. Thanks so much for joining us here in the.

Hurt, Doug, appreciate you and right back at it, Chef All.

Hurt, Doug, appreciate you and right back at it, Chef All.

Right, let's get you to Ryan Music with the news.

Right, let's get you to Ryan Music with the news.

No, no t This is the Herd Line News.

No, no t This is the Herd Line News.

Always good to have Mark Medina. There plenty of NBA discussion. We'll have some more coming up in a bit, but let's start right now with some NFL. The Eagles made a big move and a somewhat surprising move for those who are fans of NFC East Football, when they were able to land Sakuon Barkley this off season, bringing him into the fold, trying to bring some extra firepower to that Philadelphia offense. And let's just say it came as a bit of a surprise, even to one of their veteran players, Lane Johnson. Here's what he had to say about Saquon Barkley. He's ultra competitive and you see what he can do at the running back position, and we can flex him out your receiver, he can go. It's unbelievable. I never thought that he would be playing for us, but here it is. I know that he's excited. We're definitely excited. Up front.

Always good to have Mark Medina. There plenty of NBA discussion. We'll have some more coming up in a bit, but let's start right now with some NFL. The Eagles made a big move and a somewhat surprising move for those who are fans of NFC East Football, when they were able to land Sakuon Barkley this off season, bringing him into the fold, trying to bring some extra firepower to that Philadelphia offense. And let's just say it came as a bit of a surprise, even to one of their veteran players, Lane Johnson. Here's what he had to say about Saquon Barkley. He's ultra competitive and you see what he can do at the running back position, and we can flex him out your receiver, he can go. It's unbelievable. I never thought that he would be playing for us, but here it is. I know that he's excited. We're definitely excited. Up front.

I think he's poised for a big, big year.

I think he's poised for a big, big year.

You buy that?

You buy that?

Do I buy? Which part of it.

Do I buy? Which part of it.

That he's poise for a big big year?

That he's poise for a big big year?

I actually do think he could be quite productive. I know the age old tale about running backs and when they get later in their career start to lose some of the tread off those tires. But I think for Saquon he's it's not as if he's incredibly old. I think he's still in his late twenties at this point, and this will be far and away perhaps the most balanced team he's ever been a part of as a professional.

I actually do think he could be quite productive. I know the age old tale about running backs and when they get later in their career start to lose some of the tread off those tires. But I think for Saquon he's it's not as if he's incredibly old. I think he's still in his late twenties at this point, and this will be far and away perhaps the most balanced team he's ever been a part of as a professional.

For sure.

For sure.

Yeah, I'm encouraged to see what Saquon has. I think he'll have a better year than maybe even Derrick Henry.

Yeah, I'm encouraged to see what Saquon has. I think he'll have a better year than maybe even Derrick Henry.

As by the way, so yeah, still in this way, how.

As by the way, so yeah, still in this way, how.

Is Derrick Henry? Is he thirty yet? Is he twenty nine? I mean, usually you get to this year and obviously he had one knee injury.

Is Derrick Henry? Is he thirty yet? Is he twenty nine? I mean, usually you get to this year and obviously he had one knee injury.

Hunh, go ahead, I'm looking Utterrick Henry.

Hunh, go ahead, I'm looking Utterrick Henry.

Usually you get to this point in time, you had one year and you're like, you know, you get one kind of good year left and then what you lack when you're an older running back and.

Usually you get to this point in time, you had one year and you're like, you know, you get one kind of good year left and then what you lack when you're an older running back and.

Derrick Henry is thirty by the way, Yeah.

Derrick Henry is thirty by the way, Yeah.

I think Saquan's gonna have a good year. I do now. Derrick Henry keeps himself an incredible physical condition, but just a pounding a man of that size amount of times he's carried the football, I don't see it as much, although you know, Baltimore has made very average running backs into outstanding backs. Don't like it doesn't catch it out of the backfield. But I think Saquon's gonna have a good year, no question.

I think Saquan's gonna have a good year. I do now. Derrick Henry keeps himself an incredible physical condition, but just a pounding a man of that size amount of times he's carried the football, I don't see it as much, although you know, Baltimore has made very average running backs into outstanding backs. Don't like it doesn't catch it out of the backfield. But I think Saquon's gonna have a good year, no question.

Yeah, I think obviously the thing that Sakuon can also do that's different than Derrick Henry is catch the ball out of the backfield, which you know, we'll see exactly how this saul fits in Kellen Moore's new offense, who will be first year with the Philadelphia Eagles. So yeah, I mean I'm I'm high on it. Also considering sort of, I know they had a down year in their struggles at times last season with the Eagles, but I mean they have two great offensive wide receivers. Dallas Goddard's a good tight end. It's just going to be the first time in Saque's career that people aren't going to be solely focused on loading up the box and stopping him. And so I think even if he's not quite in terms of explosiveness or elusiveness what he was, you know, in his second or third year in the league. I think it'll still be incredibly productive, even though he may not get the whole like three hundred and fifty touches on the season. Maybe dial it back a little, a little bit more by committee, but still very productive.

Yeah, I think obviously the thing that Sakuon can also do that's different than Derrick Henry is catch the ball out of the backfield, which you know, we'll see exactly how this saul fits in Kellen Moore's new offense, who will be first year with the Philadelphia Eagles. So yeah, I mean I'm I'm high on it. Also considering sort of, I know they had a down year in their struggles at times last season with the Eagles, but I mean they have two great offensive wide receivers. Dallas Goddard's a good tight end. It's just going to be the first time in Saque's career that people aren't going to be solely focused on loading up the box and stopping him. And so I think even if he's not quite in terms of explosiveness or elusiveness what he was, you know, in his second or third year in the league. I think it'll still be incredibly productive, even though he may not get the whole like three hundred and fifty touches on the season. Maybe dial it back a little, a little bit more by committee, but still very productive.

Nonetheless.

Nonetheless.

Agree.

Agree.

All right, let's turn our attention here where we had Russ Tucker in for Dan Patrick this morning, and he had a few things to say about JJ Reddick's introductories prep conference. Take a listen.

All right, let's turn our attention here where we had Russ Tucker in for Dan Patrick this morning, and he had a few things to say about JJ Reddick's introductories prep conference. Take a listen.

The one thing he did say, yes, Shaita, we didn't talk about, he's done with the media stuff. So like our colleague here at Fox Sports Radio, Doug Gottlieb is still doing the afternoon show while he's a Division one head coach at Wisconsin Green Bay. Whereas JJ Reddick said he's done, he's I think he used the word excommunicated from the podcast business.

The one thing he did say, yes, Shaita, we didn't talk about, he's done with the media stuff. So like our colleague here at Fox Sports Radio, Doug Gottlieb is still doing the afternoon show while he's a Division one head coach at Wisconsin Green Bay. Whereas JJ Reddick said he's done, he's I think he used the word excommunicated from the podcast business.

He's done doing that.

He's done doing that.

Which I think was obviously the right move.

Which I think was obviously the right move.

Right like that, that would have been a really bad look.

Right like that, that would have been a really bad look.

I don't know why would have been a bad look. I mean, I guess his thing is he was doing it with Lebron James. I think that would have been unbelievable insight. But listen. You know, JJ hasn't coached before. I think JJ probably wants to summer league here so he gets kind of a feel for calling timeouts and how it all feels and all those other things I've I've done all of that. They're different jobs, even though the same sport technically. And you know what I didn't like was the other comment about what is that I was in the Is it the something mining business?

I don't know why would have been a bad look. I mean, I guess his thing is he was doing it with Lebron James. I think that would have been unbelievable insight. But listen. You know, JJ hasn't coached before. I think JJ probably wants to summer league here so he gets kind of a feel for calling timeouts and how it all feels and all those other things I've I've done all of that. They're different jobs, even though the same sport technically. And you know what I didn't like was the other comment about what is that I was in the Is it the something mining business?

What was it the engagement farming industry or something?

What was it the engagement farming industry or something?

Yeah, we'll get to that next the next hour, right that that came across as classic Douchie arrogance, which which JJ has nailed at sometimes. But in regards to not doing the podcast, Okay, I'm gonna do it, he's not gonna do They played eighty two games, we played thirty. We have a much longer off season, and again, my schedule, you know, the only things it potentially conflicts with is not my practice times, is other things that I need to do in life or for or for the business of Uwgreen. But so far it's worked for me. I can't speak to anybody else fair enough. I'm like, I'm excited. I'm excited I get to It's like all the parts of my brain get to fire every morning, and they're firing better, not worse, since taken on this job.

Yeah, we'll get to that next the next hour, right that that came across as classic Douchie arrogance, which which JJ has nailed at sometimes. But in regards to not doing the podcast, Okay, I'm gonna do it, he's not gonna do They played eighty two games, we played thirty. We have a much longer off season, and again, my schedule, you know, the only things it potentially conflicts with is not my practice times, is other things that I need to do in life or for or for the business of Uwgreen. But so far it's worked for me. I can't speak to anybody else fair enough. I'm like, I'm excited. I'm excited I get to It's like all the parts of my brain get to fire every morning, and they're firing better, not worse, since taken on this job.

Love it, Love that you are always willing to embrace the challenge. And we'll finish up with this sticking in the NBA. Paul George might be the most interesting man in the NBA world as we're approaching the start of free agency. What once felt like a foregone conclusion that he would re sign with the Clippers, well that may no longer be the case. Here is NBA insider Mark Stein on his podcast with Christaine's This League Uncut.

Love it, Love that you are always willing to embrace the challenge. And we'll finish up with this sticking in the NBA. Paul George might be the most interesting man in the NBA world as we're approaching the start of free agency. What once felt like a foregone conclusion that he would re sign with the Clippers, well that may no longer be the case. Here is NBA insider Mark Stein on his podcast with Christaine's This League Uncut.

Paul George's future That to me really is headline number one in this league. And there's a lot of talk that the prospect of Paul George just accepting his player option for next season and forcing a trade that has become an increasingly realistic possibility.

Paul George's future That to me really is headline number one in this league. And there's a lot of talk that the prospect of Paul George just accepting his player option for next season and forcing a trade that has become an increasingly realistic possibility.

It's fascinating because he also has said he doesn't like the way. Really he's alluded to not liking the way the Clippers play, and the Clippers do run a lot of ISOs and try and buy mismatches. There's been talked about Oklahoma City. Does that make the most sense? Probably does to get some of those picks back and some personnel back. But you know there's there's also the if you're the Clippers, you don't have to trade him, you know, like, hey, dude, we built this whole thing around you and Kawhi Leonard and we don't have to trade you. But that's definitely the name that everybody's talking about in the postseason. And that's Ray Music with the news.

It's fascinating because he also has said he doesn't like the way. Really he's alluded to not liking the way the Clippers play, and the Clippers do run a lot of ISOs and try and buy mismatches. There's been talked about Oklahoma City. Does that make the most sense? Probably does to get some of those picks back and some personnel back. But you know there's there's also the if you're the Clippers, you don't have to trade him, you know, like, hey, dude, we built this whole thing around you and Kawhi Leonard and we don't have to trade you. But that's definitely the name that everybody's talking about in the postseason. And that's Ray Music with the news.

Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by The Herd Line.

Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by The Herd Line.

News all right. Coming up next in The Herd, Steven A. Smith said something recently that I just it ticked me off, and I'll any doubled down on it then tell you what it is next and the hurt.

News all right. Coming up next in The Herd, Steven A. Smith said something recently that I just it ticked me off, and I'll any doubled down on it then tell you what it is next and the hurt.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon Easter nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon Easter nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Hey, what's up everybody? It's me three time pro bowler LeVar Arrington and I couldn't be more excited to announce a podcast called Up on Game?

Hey, what's up everybody? It's me three time pro bowler LeVar Arrington and I couldn't be more excited to announce a podcast called Up on Game?

What is up on Game?

What is up on Game?

You asked, along with my fellow pro bowler TJ. Huschman Zada and Super Bowl champion Yup. That's right, Plexico Buruts, you can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game We're going to be sharing our real life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with me LeVar Arrington, TJ. Huschman Zada and Plexico Burrs on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast from.

You asked, along with my fellow pro bowler TJ. Huschman Zada and Super Bowl champion Yup. That's right, Plexico Buruts, you can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game We're going to be sharing our real life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with me LeVar Arrington, TJ. Huschman Zada and Plexico Burrs on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast from.

When I've Doug Allibin for Collins, Sir, Fox Sports Radio, iHeartRadio App and look Colin, and I make no bones about it. We both we became friends in two thousand and three when we were both hired at ESPN by a former boss of ours. And I don't hold any your will towards the place. I was there on campus for nine years total, ten years working at ESPN, had a great time, made unbelievable friends, great relationship. As a matter of fact, many of my relationships at Fox Sports and Fox Sports Radio are former ESPN guys who we all worked to get together and then we moved over. You know, I stopped at CBS along along the way. But there was there was something that stephen A said last week that really really bothered me. And you know, let me let me just play it for you and then let's kind of talk it out. This is This Morning on ESPN, Stephen A double down on his original comments that he had heard from a lot of black coaches about Lebron doing a podcast with JJ Reddick. Well, Darvin Ham had the job with the Lakers.

When I've Doug Allibin for Collins, Sir, Fox Sports Radio, iHeartRadio App and look Colin, and I make no bones about it. We both we became friends in two thousand and three when we were both hired at ESPN by a former boss of ours. And I don't hold any your will towards the place. I was there on campus for nine years total, ten years working at ESPN, had a great time, made unbelievable friends, great relationship. As a matter of fact, many of my relationships at Fox Sports and Fox Sports Radio are former ESPN guys who we all worked to get together and then we moved over. You know, I stopped at CBS along along the way. But there was there was something that stephen A said last week that really really bothered me. And you know, let me let me just play it for you and then let's kind of talk it out. This is This Morning on ESPN, Stephen A double down on his original comments that he had heard from a lot of black coaches about Lebron doing a podcast with JJ Reddick. Well, Darvin Ham had the job with the Lakers.

Black coaches called the black commentator to complain about a black superstar doing a podcast while his black head coach was on the hot seat before he ultimately lost the damn job.

Black coaches called the black commentator to complain about a black superstar doing a podcast while his black head coach was on the hot seat before he ultimately lost the damn job.

What does that have to do with white folks?

What does that have to do with white folks?

Some things that none of your damn business.

Some things that none of your damn business.

There was a black on black thing, but you got other folks who will remain nameless, working with with for other networks, with their relevant ass selves.

There was a black on black thing, but you got other folks who will remain nameless, working with with for other networks, with their relevant ass selves.

Popping their junk. Okay.

Popping their junk. Okay.

And the fact of the matter is it has absolutely positively nothing to.

And the fact of the matter is it has absolutely positively nothing to.

Do with that. It doesn't Okay. JJ ready, by the way, is now a white coach. Why are we making this into a racial thing. I mean again, let's just remember what Stephen A is doing. Okay. He made his rise okay as an incredible orator and his role as a TV character. Okay, because he's not a journalist. No matter what he says, he's not a journalis there's no journalistic integrity in many of the things that he does in comments on he he's a commentator in he's a he's a fire starter, he's a personality. Okay, he's a provocateur. He originally was the angry black man. That was the role he played, angry black man. And and now it's the Hey, this is a black thing, by the way, that's racially divisive. Hey, the only one making the JJ Reddick podcast or hire about him being white is in fact Stephen A. Smith. And when you say, hey, black coaches called me about it, what did you say. I mean, here's the real problem with Stephen A. Smith that we want to get down to it. He doesn't work hard. He doesn't I'll let you in on the secret that everyone in the media knows. Nobody will say it. I will because I don't care. I'm past the point of what was it that JJ said yesterday? I'm past that point. I don't have to. I don't have to. I don't need a job from him. I don't need him to grace me and bless me and say he doesn't Hey, that's why his radio show radio is work. You got to know what's going on. You've got to be a depth you can't show up five minutes before and go like a let's just do it. Turn on. And that's why some dudes take calls so they can hide what they that they haven't done the work. It's okay. And when I say that, I mean that in the Christops Persingis, for example, when he crushed the Knicks for drafting Christops Persingis. My issue with him at the time was christophs Perzingis had come to the United States and worked out in New York City. He was working in New York City at the time. All you got to do is hop in a cab or have a car service, roll over there, watch the workout. Talk to anybody in the NBA, and they were like that dog will hunt, he stays healthy, he's gonna be a star. But instead he crushed it because he'd never seen him like, Look, I've made mistakes in draft evaluations, but it's players that I've seen, I've talked to, I've evaluated they And what he's doing now is he's he's doing the He's making the JJ Reddick higher. He's making Lebron James into a sellout. That's what he's doing. He's making Lebron James into a sellout. That's the black conversation that I'm not allowed to have because I'm a white man, I'm a white coach. I'm the irrelevant. Well if I'm irrelevant, then what does it bother you? Because I'm right, I know what I'm talking about. Yes, there's going to be coaches that are mad that JJ got a job and he wasn't an assistant coach before and he was just on TV. You know Doc Rivers did the same thing. You know Mark Jackson did the same thing. You know Steve Kurr did the same thing. You know Jason Kidd did the same thing. There's no mention of any of that. Hey, Yes, you're allowed to be friends with white people. If you're a black superstar, you're allowed to be friends with black people. If you're a white superstar, and if you're black, you're allowed to be friends with black people and white you're allowed to be friends of white people because basketball people are usually friends with basketball people. And what Lebron James is attracted to with JJ Reddick is what is what Darvin Ham didn't have? Hey did has Steven A ever mentioned that Darvinham was late to his own meetings? No, that would actually be doing his job. Do your job. Your job is to actually report and provide insight analysis, not just be a provocateur. Otherwise you're commenting on something you don't even know about. And if you're Steven A. Smith and I know this because everyone knows how powerful he is in media. If he picks up the phone and calls somebody, they will either answer or call him back, and most times they'll tell him what the real reel is.

Do with that. It doesn't Okay. JJ ready, by the way, is now a white coach. Why are we making this into a racial thing. I mean again, let's just remember what Stephen A is doing. Okay. He made his rise okay as an incredible orator and his role as a TV character. Okay, because he's not a journalist. No matter what he says, he's not a journalis there's no journalistic integrity in many of the things that he does in comments on he he's a commentator in he's a he's a fire starter, he's a personality. Okay, he's a provocateur. He originally was the angry black man. That was the role he played, angry black man. And and now it's the Hey, this is a black thing, by the way, that's racially divisive. Hey, the only one making the JJ Reddick podcast or hire about him being white is in fact Stephen A. Smith. And when you say, hey, black coaches called me about it, what did you say. I mean, here's the real problem with Stephen A. Smith that we want to get down to it. He doesn't work hard. He doesn't I'll let you in on the secret that everyone in the media knows. Nobody will say it. I will because I don't care. I'm past the point of what was it that JJ said yesterday? I'm past that point. I don't have to. I don't have to. I don't need a job from him. I don't need him to grace me and bless me and say he doesn't Hey, that's why his radio show radio is work. You got to know what's going on. You've got to be a depth you can't show up five minutes before and go like a let's just do it. Turn on. And that's why some dudes take calls so they can hide what they that they haven't done the work. It's okay. And when I say that, I mean that in the Christops Persingis, for example, when he crushed the Knicks for drafting Christops Persingis. My issue with him at the time was christophs Perzingis had come to the United States and worked out in New York City. He was working in New York City at the time. All you got to do is hop in a cab or have a car service, roll over there, watch the workout. Talk to anybody in the NBA, and they were like that dog will hunt, he stays healthy, he's gonna be a star. But instead he crushed it because he'd never seen him like, Look, I've made mistakes in draft evaluations, but it's players that I've seen, I've talked to, I've evaluated they And what he's doing now is he's he's doing the He's making the JJ Reddick higher. He's making Lebron James into a sellout. That's what he's doing. He's making Lebron James into a sellout. That's the black conversation that I'm not allowed to have because I'm a white man, I'm a white coach. I'm the irrelevant. Well if I'm irrelevant, then what does it bother you? Because I'm right, I know what I'm talking about. Yes, there's going to be coaches that are mad that JJ got a job and he wasn't an assistant coach before and he was just on TV. You know Doc Rivers did the same thing. You know Mark Jackson did the same thing. You know Steve Kurr did the same thing. You know Jason Kidd did the same thing. There's no mention of any of that. Hey, Yes, you're allowed to be friends with white people. If you're a black superstar, you're allowed to be friends with black people. If you're a white superstar, and if you're black, you're allowed to be friends with black people and white you're allowed to be friends of white people because basketball people are usually friends with basketball people. And what Lebron James is attracted to with JJ Reddick is what is what Darvin Ham didn't have? Hey did has Steven A ever mentioned that Darvinham was late to his own meetings? No, that would actually be doing his job. Do your job. Your job is to actually report and provide insight analysis, not just be a provocateur. Otherwise you're commenting on something you don't even know about. And if you're Steven A. Smith and I know this because everyone knows how powerful he is in media. If he picks up the phone and calls somebody, they will either answer or call him back, and most times they'll tell him what the real reel is.

Man.

Man.

Why was Lebron out on Darvin Ham because he wasn't prepared. He'd show up doing lake to his own meetings. He didn't draw up plays. He was just a let's go play hard coach. That's what he was coach. Are we going over or under? They always played in the drop, going over on a drop you choose, just get it done. That's not how Lebron. Lebron James is brilliant as a basketball mind. He is brilliant. And the thing about brilliant people is they don't have time for people who aren't brilliant. And it has nothing to do with the color of Darvin Ham's skin. Lebron james favorite coach is ty Loo and they didn't get him because the Lakers only offered him a three year deal and he's under contract right now. And TYLERU is not brilliant because he's black or because he's a form. He's brilliant because he's brilliant. Tyler's an awesome coach. Hey, he does some really unique things. So is Rick Carlisle. Again, Remember you're like, well, their skin color shages because nobody in basketball actually cares. The only person making it about race is Steven A. Smith. And this is what I've said previously, and I mean it. I think it's evil, Okay, I think it's divisive. And and JJ talked about what was it farming, not interest farming, but all of.

Why was Lebron out on Darvin Ham because he wasn't prepared. He'd show up doing lake to his own meetings. He didn't draw up plays. He was just a let's go play hard coach. That's what he was coach. Are we going over or under? They always played in the drop, going over on a drop you choose, just get it done. That's not how Lebron. Lebron James is brilliant as a basketball mind. He is brilliant. And the thing about brilliant people is they don't have time for people who aren't brilliant. And it has nothing to do with the color of Darvin Ham's skin. Lebron james favorite coach is ty Loo and they didn't get him because the Lakers only offered him a three year deal and he's under contract right now. And TYLERU is not brilliant because he's black or because he's a form. He's brilliant because he's brilliant. Tyler's an awesome coach. Hey, he does some really unique things. So is Rick Carlisle. Again, Remember you're like, well, their skin color shages because nobody in basketball actually cares. The only person making it about race is Steven A. Smith. And this is what I've said previously, and I mean it. I think it's evil, Okay, I think it's divisive. And and JJ talked about what was it farming, not interest farming, but all of.

The engagement farming and engagement farming.

The engagement farming and engagement farming.

Engagement farming. Hey, this is farming racial divisiveness and making it into something that it's not and using it to propel yourself for twenty plus million dollars in the media industry. That's gross. Sorry, it's gross to me because it's not real. It doesn't happen. And yeah, some black coaches are mad, some white coaches are mad. Everybody hates everybody in industry, dude, that's just how it works, all right. Coming up, Next in the Herd, jj Reddick said he didn't talk to Lebron. Why won't anybody tell Lebron the truth? We'll get to that next in the Hurd