WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.040 --> 00:00:08.720 It's time for Coffee and company, fueled by Thornton's on Sports Talk seven nine 2 00:00:08.839 --> 00:00:38.439 day. Now here's Nick Coffee. So I just looked it up the Battle 3 00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:44.320 for Atlantis as far as the dates that those games get announced, because all 4 00:00:44.359 --> 00:00:47.399 you find out is the bracket, and who you play first and who you 5 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:52.240 play in your second and third game just depends on who wins and who loses. 6 00:00:52.399 --> 00:00:55.039 But it was the end of July last year, I think July twenty 7 00:00:55.159 --> 00:00:58.200 ninth, so we should be getting that at any moment. And if you're 8 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:03.039 wondering why I'm starting the four o'clock hour mentioned that is because the UFL basketball 9 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:08.680 program released their non conference schedule about thirty minutes ago, and that's really the 10 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:11.200 only opponent. We don't mean we know who's in the event, we don't 11 00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:14.599 know who they're gonna play. And again, all we'll find out is who 12 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:18.040 they open with. And in a weird, maybe sick and twisted way, 13 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:23.599 like I'm hoping that it's like not Davidson or you know, not, I 14 00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:26.159 feel like West Virginia and Davidson another two that if you really want to get 15 00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:30.439 a marquee win to start off the the Atlantis Tournament, you don't want those 16 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:34.879 two, yeah, I mean we can't be good. Yeah, and Davidson 17 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:38.719 to be fair, like, they usually are pretty good in the Atlantic Ten. 18 00:01:38.680 --> 00:01:42.879 It's just been a little while since that happened. In West Virginia. 19 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:45.920 I mean, they were awful last year. Now they lost their coach and 20 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:49.159 they hired an interim guy and it just fell apart. But the uh and 21 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:52.719 I'm not even sure who they hired. Oh, it was the Drake's coach, 22 00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:55.840 so and he brought his son, who's you know, one of the 23 00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:59.840 best players ever coming from the best players ever from the Missouri Valley Conference. 24 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:02.000 So maybe they'll be better. Look Louisville, I mean they're probably looking at 25 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:05.799 us that way, right. Gosh, if I really want to improve my 26 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:08.719 resume in November and get some wins, that'll have some value when we get 27 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:13.199 to selection Sunday, Let's avoid Louisville, who won twelve games total in the 28 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:16.240 last two seasons. But you know, Louisville will be much better this year. 29 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:21.039 But as far as you know where they end up the end of the 30 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:23.159 season, I mean, it's anybody's guests. I think there's a lot to 31 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:27.400 like about the roster. Really like the personnel. But I've said this many 32 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:29.400 times, been a while since I said it. I think it's fitting to 33 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:34.599 say it now. It's the ultimate unknown with this team, brand new coach, 34 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:38.520 a new system for most of these guys, all new players that for 35 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:42.080 the most part, have never played together before other than a couple. Right, 36 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:45.879 You've got the two that came from In fact, you've got three that 37 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:51.360 came from Charleston with Pat Kelsey, and those guys played and will play this 38 00:02:51.479 --> 00:02:57.319 year, and that's Rain Smith and James Scott. And then you've got two 39 00:02:57.319 --> 00:02:59.840 teammates from BYU, but only one of them is going to play this year 40 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:02.080 in Noah Waterman. So I mean it's it's the ultimate unknown. I don't 41 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:05.240 say that to tell people not to be excited. I don't tell that. 42 00:03:05.319 --> 00:03:07.000 I don't say that for people to not have expectations, because it's fun to 43 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:10.960 have expectations, and I'm gonna have expectations this year. But it's the ultimate 44 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:14.400 unknown. And I guess you could say that about every season, because there's 45 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:17.439 plenty of examples of teams that you really expect to be good and they're not 46 00:03:17.719 --> 00:03:23.840 vice versa. But when you think about how new this entire thing is from 47 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:24.960 top to bottom, and in a way that's what makes it exciting. But 48 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:30.400 as far as like realistically knowing what to expect, I mean and I like 49 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:36.400 to have expectations. I like to you know, have a standard in my 50 00:03:36.479 --> 00:03:38.960 mind as far as what I want to see almost game by game, just 51 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:40.919 because you know, I'm I'm a super fan. But there also is a 52 00:03:40.919 --> 00:03:46.840 little bit of added excitement knowing like we'll see we don't know, Like it's 53 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:51.759 the anticipation is big. And look, they're gonna play in the Bahamas next 54 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:55.199 week they leave or I guess is it next week? I think they they 55 00:03:55.319 --> 00:04:00.000 arrive I believe on the twenty eighth, which is the Yeah, I think, 56 00:04:00.240 --> 00:04:02.039 gosh, they leave soon and then their first game will be I believe 57 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:06.199 on the thirtieth, that Tuesday, and they'll play again on the first, 58 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:10.560 which is the Thursday. But I don't know if we're gonna be able to 59 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:14.840 see it on TV. But either way, I'm excited. But it's a 60 00:04:14.919 --> 00:04:16.360 challenging schedule, no doubt. All right, it's coffee and company. We 61 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:19.480 are feel about Thornton's here on Sports Talk seven ninety hour number two. Don't 62 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:23.120 forget you could take us with you wherever you go. Listen live on the 63 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:27.800 AHUR Radio ap Listen live it's seven ninety Louisville dot com and real quick for 64 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:30.480 those just now joining us, here's the schedule. You start with Morehead State 65 00:04:30.519 --> 00:04:32.360 at home on the fourth, Tennessee on the ninth. That's of course going 66 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:38.439 to be a big game Pat Kelsey his second ever game coaching this program is 67 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:41.560 going to be a team that's coming off of an Elite eight and we'll probably 68 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:45.439 be ranked in the top fifteenth at that time, So buckle up Bellerman on 69 00:04:45.480 --> 00:04:48.040 the nineteenth at home, went thro Up on the twenty second, and then 70 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:50.839 you head to the Battle for Atlantis and we'll see who they end up with 71 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:56.319 their ole Miss and the ACC SCC Challenge on December third. That's a home 72 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:59.519 game. Ole Miss also expected to be a top twenty caliber team. You 73 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:02.319 tap on December eleventh, Kentucky at RUP on December fourteenth, and then you 74 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:09.600 will finish up the non conference schedule with EKU on December twenty eighth. So 75 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:15.199 a couple of observations really quickly. Here You've got Morehead State, which actually 76 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:20.439 of the teams that are kind of you know, that level, Morehead Bellerman 77 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:28.639 EKU Winthrop UTEP. I mean UTEP is a Conference USA team, so that's 78 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:30.319 a better league than where those other schools I mentioned are coming from. But 79 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:33.600 Moreheads, actually, I would say they did just lose president Spradland. He 80 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:36.199 left to take the job, but I'm not sure where he went, but 81 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:40.639 got he got a promotion, essentially jumped up the ladder a little bit, 82 00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:44.680 and they hired the one of his assistants. But Morehead's been you know, 83 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:46.639 again, it really comes down to what they do post Spradland. Louislle should 84 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:50.319 beat Morehead State without any trouble. But I'm just saying, like of those 85 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:54.920 caliber games, Morehead has had the most success recently. I would say, 86 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:58.879 so, you know, you'll you'll get that one out of the way. 87 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.439 Then you have Tennessee and it's a real big test. There's no doubt about 88 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:06.360 that. I mean, that arena is going to be unbelievable. I mean, 89 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:11.160 I can't imagine something happens where they lose an exhibition game or a game 90 00:06:11.199 --> 00:06:14.920 to Moorhead State to kind of dampen the uh, you know, the mood. 91 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:16.399 I mean it's possible, I suppose, but you know, I'm not 92 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:19.199 looking at what Kenny Payne did. He did the unthinkable with some losses and 93 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:25.000 just you know, I mean, things you just can't do here and things 94 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:27.879 you certainly can't do if you expect fans to like believe in you, so 95 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:30.720 don't I'm not I'm not even going there. But I do like the fact 96 00:06:30.759 --> 00:06:33.639 that you have Tennessee and let's say, you know you're competitive, but they 97 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:36.800 get the best of you, and you know you're taken l to a top 98 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:39.959 fifteen team. There's no shame in that. I mean, we hope they 99 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:43.120 win. But then you've got Bellerman in Winthrop to kind of, you know, 100 00:06:43.160 --> 00:06:45.720 work on some things from there, and then you go to the Bahamas 101 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:49.959 and they'll be tests every step of the way. So then you come back 102 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:55.920 play all miss. I don't like that there's only one true road game on 103 00:06:55.959 --> 00:07:01.959 the non conference schedule. I mean, this team's first game away from the 104 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:04.800 YOUMP Center that's not in the Bahamas. It's going to be a rep arena. 105 00:07:05.279 --> 00:07:10.759 So it could be a culture shot kind of thing for these guys. 106 00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:14.879 But then again, most of this team has experienced, right, I mean, 107 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:16.399 I'm sure these guys have played. I mean, you got to keep 108 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:20.160 in mind where some of these guys came from you know, help the BYU 109 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:26.040 guys, I mean Ali and Noah Waterman. They went into Lawrence last year 110 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:30.199 and beat Bill self. So they've been in some crazy atmospheres before. You 111 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:33.720 know, CHUCKI Hepburn and Wisconsin. I know, the Big Ten has had 112 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:40.000 some really rowdy atmospheres during his time there. And you got to keep in 113 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:44.360 mind the other guys who've transferred in from you know, Charleston, you know 114 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:46.439 Pat Kelsey's teams. They would they would do by games, right, they'd 115 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:50.800 have to go play some of these you know Power five programs that are top 116 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:53.519 twenty. I mean it's a by game for them. When you're in the 117 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:59.079 big South cater Trailway from Long Beach State, same situation, they go play 118 00:07:59.079 --> 00:08:01.800 by games. In fact, they went into USC and beat Bronny in them 119 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:03.399 last year. And I say Bronny in them because you know, I just 120 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:07.319 remember that was the first game he played, and there was the NonStop, 121 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:11.279 you know, coverage of his first game where I think he scored like four 122 00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:13.839 points, and like nobody even talked about the fact that Long Beach State beat 123 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:18.920 USC in that game. So I also this has become kind of the norm, 124 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:22.079 and I don't I mean, I don't really know what you do about 125 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:30.879 it. But the long layoffs, so you'll have ten days between games after 126 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:33.559 you play Tennessee, so November ninth, and then you play ten days to 127 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:37.960 go play Bellerman, which I don't like the thought. I mean the thought 128 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:41.159 of, you know, kind of having to stew a little bit on a 129 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:43.919 tough loss to Tennessee. If that's what happens. I don't like having to 130 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:46.120 wait ten days to see this team in action again. But you know, 131 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:50.240 maybe it's ten days of feeling good about yourself because you pull off an upset, 132 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:54.559 and then when you get to December you play the third I mean this 133 00:08:54.639 --> 00:08:58.039 December schedule. I again, I feel like it didn't used to be this 134 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:01.559 way, but maybe I'm just not remembering it correctly. You play December third 135 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:05.960 when you get back from the Bahamas against ole Miss and the sec ACC Challenge. 136 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:09.320 Then you've got eight days off and you play UTEP, then a full 137 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:13.519 week off, you play UK, then a full week off and you play 138 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:18.159 EKU. So I for some reason, I feel like there used to be 139 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:22.960 not non stop, but I feel like it used to be just maybe once 140 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:26.720 from November to January? Would you have like a week off? Louisville has, 141 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:31.559 I mean four different stretches of the schedule where they have more a week 142 00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:35.159 or more off. Now, does the ACC do the the two conference games 143 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:39.559 in the middle of the non conference slate the way that the Big Ten does 144 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:43.279 and maybe the SEC. You may be onto something there, Johnny. That's 145 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:46.399 probably it's why. That's why that makes sense to me because it's just never 146 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:48.519 been that way. That's what that's got to be what it is, and 147 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:52.679 they always have since they went to a twenty game schedule. Do you guys 148 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:54.919 do twenty game schedule? Yes? The Big Ten. Yeah, when they 149 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:58.679 went to a twenty game schedule, and it was because they needed more inventory 150 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:03.000 for the a ACC network, they did go to twenty games and they made 151 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:07.919 they made it to where you played two of those before Christmas, and in 152 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:11.320 fact, the first year they did it, they made you play your first 153 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:13.720 game of the season. I mean Louisville opened up against Miami down there in 154 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:16.759 Coral Gables in twenty nineteen, twenty twenty. So yes, that's what that 155 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:20.600 that makes that makes a lot more sense. Look at you, because I'm 156 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:24.080 looking at Indiana schedule right now, and it lays out the same way. 157 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:26.120 There's a there's like a two week gap. Yeah, that doesn't make any 158 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:33.960 sense. So Louisville played Virginia Tech on December third last year, and then 159 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:39.399 they played Virginia on well, let me see here, I thought they had 160 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:45.320 two ACC games before. Maybe it's just before you get to the end of 161 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.000 the calendar year. But then again, that Virginia game was January the third, 162 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:52.679 So but yes, they there's no doubt there'll be at least one, 163 00:10:52.720 --> 00:11:00.399 maybe two ACC matchups before Christmas. I would assume that's that's that you've sense 164 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:01.360 of it. So thank you, John, appreciate that. All right, 165 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:03.840 we'll get back into basketball stuff coming up a little bit later on real quick. 166 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:09.200 I do want to talk some football, as we'll find out probably by 167 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:11.039 the end of the week, maybe early next week, where each team in 168 00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:16.759 the ACC comes in in the preseason media poll. And we all know what 169 00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:20.399 the ACC preseason media poll, as we all know what off season rankings and 170 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:24.639 preseason rankings are. They're worthless. They mean nothing once you actually get to 171 00:11:24.320 --> 00:11:30.720 the season and there's results and you actually show where you are and how good 172 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:31.840 you are. If you are as good as people said, or if you're 173 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:35.720 as bad as people said, I mean in a weird way though it's actually 174 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:37.320 I mean, even in a twelve game season, let's be real, there's 175 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:41.639 no way to know who. Like Saban had a quote long ago that always 176 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:46.679 stuck with me about how rankings are stupid, but he didn't lay it out 177 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:48.279 because you know, these people don't know what the hell they're talking about. 178 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:52.320 They play no ball. He just basically said, like, how do you 179 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:56.200 know who's the twenty fourth best team? Like you don't think it's and there's 180 00:11:56.240 --> 00:12:00.320 not enough data points to analyze to where you really feel like you or I 181 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:05.399 mean three four games in like you can make you can have teams with the 182 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:09.399 exact same records and it'd be completely different situations. Right, And that's why 183 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:15.000 I do love the college football playoff rankings because they actually are unveiled when you 184 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:18.320 have a body of work to assess. And I really thought that that would 185 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:24.159 make it to where we wouldn't even hear I mean, like maybe those preseason 186 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:26.919 rankings and the ape pole would just be a necessary but that that's they're never 187 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:30.919 going away. And I'm not really advocating that they should, but I do 188 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:35.159 think the playoff rankings have made it to where people just aren't putting as much 189 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:37.840 emphasis on where you are in the coaches pole or the ape pole. It's 190 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:41.360 it's nice to see that number next to your name when you're on TV. 191 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:45.120 Makes you feel special, especially if you see that number next to a team 192 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:46.799 you beat, right, because beating ranked teams is hard to do in college 193 00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:50.559 football. So, you know, I don't bring this up to say that, 194 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:54.440 you know, this means a whole lot, but I'm gonna guess that 195 00:12:54.480 --> 00:13:01.000 ACC media polls going to have the obvious number one choice being Florida State because 196 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:05.039 of you know, how how good they they were last year, and they 197 00:13:05.080 --> 00:13:09.080 are replacing their quarterback, but they brought in dj Ukulele, and you know 198 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:13.039 they're super talented. They bring back a lot of pieces Florida State. They 199 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:18.080 appear to be in position to reform as a program that can lose a lot 200 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:22.559 of guys to the NFL, or lose you know, guys to graduation that 201 00:13:22.600 --> 00:13:26.720 were high impact players and feel very good about being able to replace them with 202 00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:31.399 guys they developed from recruiting them or go to the portal. So they brought 203 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:37.279 in you know, a lot of talent in the portal this uh this past 204 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:41.080 year. I mean, I think it's Mavin Jones, one of the best 205 00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:43.759 defensive players in the portal. I mean that was that was a big time 206 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:48.120 addition for them. And then Clemson, I think, by default is always 207 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:52.879 just gonna stay at number two, like unless unless they fall off a cliff 208 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:56.320 and they you know, because let's be honest, Clemson last year, I 209 00:13:56.360 --> 00:14:03.679 think that was the first time that they didn't when what ten games under Dabo 210 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:05.679 in like ten years. Yeah, let's look at it real quickly here, 211 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:11.039 because as much as the Clemson fall off is real and worth discussing, you 212 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:13.919 don't look at Clemson now like you did four five years ago. You just 213 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:16.840 don't. Doesn't mean you're gonna beat him easily. They still aren't losing many 214 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:20.759 games, especially when they play at home. But the Clemson being the one 215 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:24.600 A, one B as far as best program in the country is now not 216 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:28.519 even close to being the case. They went four and four in the ACC 217 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:31.000 last year, nine and four overall, and it was the first time that 218 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:37.679 Dabo did not win at least ten games since twenty ten. So you know, 219 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:43.279 I did not remember Clemson going eight to oh in the league in twenty 220 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:48.840 twenty two and they lost in the Orange Bowl. So they've now they've now 221 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:56.159 lost let's see, six games in the last three years in ACC play. 222 00:14:56.279 --> 00:15:01.919 This really puts in perspective how they've not fallen off, but they're not what 223 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:03.759 they want. Well, they have fallen off, but they're you know, 224 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:07.759 they're still respectable. You're not just gonna walk in and beat them. They're 225 00:15:07.799 --> 00:15:11.600 not lousy, but their dominance is just not is not what it was. 226 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:16.320 So again, they've lost six sec I'm sorry, six ACC games since twenty 227 00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:22.399 twenty one. So that's just the last three years they lost. Let's see, 228 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:33.960 they lost six ACC games total from two thousand and thirteen to two thousand 229 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:39.799 and twenty. I mean they lost. This is when they were really rolling 230 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:43.840 through it. They went eight O seven and one, seven and one, 231 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:48.399 eight no eight, no, eight and one in a in a five year 232 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:52.320 stretch there and the one of the loss, I mean they I guess when 233 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:54.279 they went eight and one, that was the year where you had to play 234 00:15:54.360 --> 00:16:00.679 only conference opponents. So they're still they're still good and I'm not predicting that 235 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:07.879 they end up like dominating the ACC this year by any means, but they 236 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:11.360 them not using the portal is an issue for them because they're just they're limiting 237 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:15.639 how good they could be, if that makes sense right. They're not going 238 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:19.879 out and plugging spots that they could easily go plug because of Dabo Sweeney being 239 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:25.639 you know, Dabo Sweeney. But they still bring in elite talent and develop 240 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:29.960 it really well. And I think so much attention is now on the instant 241 00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:33.600 results from the portal, which again I get it. I mean, there's 242 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:37.720 teams this year that will be really good, and you look at why they've 243 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:40.840 been able to pull off a nine to ten wins season, it's because, 244 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:42.000 Wow, they went out and got some really good players in the portal. 245 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:45.519 But there's also the other way to do it. Not many are doing it 246 00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:48.360 the way Dabo is. In fact, nobody's doing it the way Dabo is 247 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:52.679 by literally not using the portal at all. But the teams that don't end 248 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:57.080 up in the top you know ten, as far as portal rankings or the 249 00:16:57.080 --> 00:17:02.240 top twenty, even they just nobody's thinking they're gonna be lousy, but they 250 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:03.720 kind of just get forgotten about. They kind of get pushed to the side 251 00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:07.559 a little bit, and that doesn't mean they can't be really good. I 252 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:11.920 mean, there's still a ton of guys on this Clemson defense that have that 253 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:18.480 came in as top fifteen, top twenty caliber players and they've been developed and 254 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:21.160 like they could explode and be some of the best players in the country. 255 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:23.680 So I mean, I think Clemson is is worthy of being there at number 256 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:26.200 two, to be honest with you. And then after that, man, 257 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:32.319 I guess it's anybody's guess. I mean, here's what bothers me a little 258 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:37.279 bit. There's some teams that Louisville beat last year that Louisville was better than, 259 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:40.720 not just because of the of the victory over them and they had to 260 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:44.920 head because they just had a better year that I'm seeing some people start to 261 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:48.640 put, you know, ahead of Louisville, like NC State's become this cute 262 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:52.359 see, you know, not a off season team. Because obviously Dave Doran's 263 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:56.279 done a good job. There's no there's no way around that. I think 264 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:59.720 he's I mean, he's a good coach and they you know, they usually 265 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:02.799 bring in enough talent in recruiting and they do well in the portal, or 266 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:06.400 at least well enough. But you know, I'm not sure why they would 267 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:11.319 be picked ahead of Louisville. I mean, they went nine and four last 268 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:12.359 year, six and two in the league, so they're coming off of a 269 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:15.839 good year. But they you know, they lost to Louisville at their place, 270 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:21.319 and I know they've got the kid from uh, Coastal Carolina. What's 271 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.880 his name? Uh? I feel like he's been at Coastal Carolina. First, 272 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:26.480 Rayson McCall. Yes, good pool there, John, Yeah, Grayson 273 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:30.160 McCall's there, So they're gonna get they're gonna get a lot of love because 274 00:18:30.200 --> 00:18:36.359 of that. And then Virginia Tech. I know Brent Prye, I mean, 275 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:41.000 what was that his was that his second year last year at Virginia Tech. 276 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:44.240 I think it was my actually might have his third year, and I 277 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:49.200 guess they kind of had a breakthrough. But Louisville beat the breaks off them 278 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:52.279 last year and they didn't have a great year. They were Look, they 279 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:56.440 were seven and six overall, five and three in the league, and if 280 00:18:56.480 --> 00:19:00.000 you remember, you know, they were still I mean, it was weird 281 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:03.079 how the schedule played out last year because if you remember, there was some 282 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:07.079 kind of weird scenario like when they played Louisville that they could still somehow, 283 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:12.480 you know, finagle their way into actually being in the in the ACC Championship 284 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:17.799 game. So I'm not buying Virginia Tech ahead of Louisville, and I think 285 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:19.640 you'll see some people pick them ahead of Louisville, but not enough to where 286 00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:23.000 they'd be ahead of them. As far as NC State, I kind of 287 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:26.079 happened to think they're going to get enough love with McCall and with Dorin, 288 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:30.119 you know, finishing strong last year, that they'll probably be number three. 289 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:33.799 And I would guess Louisville is going to be number four, but I could 290 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:37.039 be wrong, maybe they're fifth or six. Because again there's Miami, and 291 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:41.759 every year the same thing is said about Miami. Well, talent shouldn't be 292 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:45.119 a problem. Talent probably, you know, won't be an issue. But 293 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:51.200 you've said that about Miami for multiple different eras of Miami, every coach that's 294 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:55.000 been in Miami's been able to bring in players. And I've always felt like 295 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:59.720 the one guy that could win there was Mario Christobal and he's not made me 296 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:03.480 look smart since he got there because they haven't really done much. But I 297 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:07.279 mean, I think he's a good enough coach and I think cam Ward. 298 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:10.279 I mean, it really comes down to, Okay, was it gimmicky over 299 00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:12.519 in the PAC twelve at Washington State or has this guy got an arm that 300 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:15.839 can carve up this league? And that you know that remains to be seen. 301 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:21.400 So my guests to answered the question of the textan from earlier, I'm 302 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:26.079 gonna guess that Louisville ends up at number four in the ACC preseason media poll. 303 00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:30.640 But again, nobody really cares. I mean, it's it's it's it's 304 00:20:30.839 --> 00:20:33.119 something we're probably gonna forget all about once you actually get to seeing these teams 305 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:37.920 in action. So I would guess that those six teams will be the teams 306 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:41.960 that you see in some former fashion. Like I think the top six is 307 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:47.200 gonna be pretty easy to figure out in in whatever order, although I think 308 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:49.440 FID Florida State, Clemson that yeah, let's put it this way. Florida 309 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:52.359 State, Clemson I think are gonna be one and two's gonna be a big 310 00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:55.440 shock if they're not that. But then Miami, n C State, Virginia 311 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.920 Tech, and Louisville I think are gonna be clearly your three through six. 312 00:20:57.960 --> 00:21:02.240 But as far as the order, it's anybody's guests and again my guess would 313 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:03.960 be Louisville coming in at number four. Wouldn't be shocked if they're number three 314 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:07.599 based off respect from last year. But then again, I'm seeing too much 315 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:10.640 love for NC State, and I'm even seeing a lot of love from Miami 316 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:15.079 too, because again it's hard to not look at their talent and realize that 317 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:18.680 they've got pieces to be really good. SMU will be the first team outside 318 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:22.400 of that pack, I believe. I think SMU will be at number seven. 319 00:21:22.720 --> 00:21:26.480 And then from there, man, you got cal Georgia Tech, Qes, 320 00:21:26.519 --> 00:21:30.960 Carolina, Duke Wake, Boston College, Pitt Virginia, I mean, 321 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:36.039 Stanford. I forgot about them. So as far as how that shapes up, 322 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.680 you know, no clue. In fact, like I don't even know 323 00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:41.240 like a Wake for is supposed to be better than Boston College. I mean, 324 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:44.480 I don't know. All right, let's take a quick break. We'll 325 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:48.839 come back on the other side, keep this thing rolling along. We'll talk 326 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:53.400 about Joe Burrow's hair, because I really like Joe Burrow as a competitor, 327 00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.759 respect the hell out of him, think he's a great quarterback. But I 328 00:21:56.759 --> 00:22:00.319 feel like this is a little bit like kind of feels like a force, 329 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:03.839 and he's not usually the guy that's to do that. I think does stuff 330 00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:07.279 just to bring attention to him. But we'll talk about it, stick with 331 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:12.039 us right here on Sports Talk seven ninety. I feel like when you're super 332 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:18.839 famous for whatever it may be, being a professional athlete, an actor, 333 00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:23.680 a musician, entertainer, you know, there's probably a moment where it hits 334 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:30.559 you how famous you are and that like this is now life and maybe you 335 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:36.079 just know that and you're never surprised by things you can't do as a celebrity 336 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:38.559 and expect it to not be discussed, you know what I mean. But 337 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:41.839 I would imagine there's probably something and maybe it's how you're wired as an individual 338 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:47.359 that you know, you kind of just you know, you get you know, 339 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:48.519 everyday life. You don't think about it much, and then and then 340 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:51.759 something happens and you're like, wow, why is this a big deal? 341 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.200 And you think to yourself, Okay, I guess it's because I'm this famous 342 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:56.240 and that I feel like that could be happening for Joe Burrow today. Like 343 00:22:56.279 --> 00:23:00.519 I don't know if Joe Burrow knew he was the kind of fam to wear 344 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:03.359 him just going with a different hair style would end up being one of the 345 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:07.599 most talked about things in sports. And maybe that's a little bit, a 346 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:10.720 little bit of an exaggeration, but I don't know. I mean, it's 347 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:14.640 all over, it's all over the internet, all over social media, and 348 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:19.839 he's he's got a much different look. It's kind of a kind of a 349 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:22.880 it's a buzz cut, but it's long, if that makes sense, Like, 350 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:26.279 what do you call that a bird? It's almost like a mini fro, 351 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:29.720 which is that may be very incorrect. That's that's kind of the way 352 00:23:29.720 --> 00:23:32.119 I want to discribe it. My hair was that and it's not a fro. 353 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:37.079 If my hair was that long, it would be more flat, if 354 00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:41.119 that makes sense. Like it's like a flat top, but there's no top 355 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.960 to it. It's just all the way around his head, If that makes 356 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:45.680 sense. We're probably both doing a very bad job of describing it because you're 357 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:48.279 not totally off as far as like how it does have some elevation to it, 358 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:52.640 right, and some volume, but you know, it's blonde, like 359 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:56.640 bleach blonde, not a blonde where you get hair your hair colored to give 360 00:23:56.680 --> 00:24:00.799 off a natural look. But like it's the I mean, it's the m 361 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:04.079 and m slim shady look that you know was a thing. I got say. 362 00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:07.680 If it's just the particular picture I'm looking at, but I feel like 363 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:11.480 this age is him by maybe ten fifteen years. You know who he looked 364 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:15.359 like when I first saw the picture. Before I knew who it was, 365 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:18.039 I just saw the picture, and I think there's only one picture that's going 366 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:21.160 around with it that we're looking at here. But you're right, it does 367 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.960 agent. But man, when I saw it, I thought, Okay, 368 00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:26.839 that's Cody Rhodes, who you may not even know who that is John he's 369 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:30.799 professional wrestler, looks like. I mean, that's what it. I think 370 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:37.079 the color is what really made it made it pop for me as far as 371 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.799 reminding me of Cody Roads. But then again, like I'm seeing a side, 372 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:41.200 I'm seeing a side by side here. I'm gonna send it to you 373 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:45.440 real quick in the DMS, And I mean, maybe it's just this picture, 374 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:49.119 but I think you can look at this side by side and see that 375 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:53.200 Cody Rhoads hair although it looks blonde like that, it's styled with like gel 376 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:56.240 and whatnot. Burrows isn't even long enough to do that. But they also 377 00:24:56.319 --> 00:25:00.079 kind of look alike in the face in what I just do you see it? 378 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:02.160 Yeah, maybe maybe that's what he's going for. I don't know if 379 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:04.319 he's a Cody Rhodes fan, I don't know. But look, Joe Burrow 380 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:08.440 is a phenomenal quarterback. I still like, when I say it out loud, 381 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:11.279 it doesn't seem like it really happened, like I think, Okay, 382 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:15.200 wait a second, I can't be right, and that is that the Bengals 383 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:18.200 played in a super Bowl in the last few years, Like that just never 384 00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:22.119 seemed possible, and they did it because of Joe Burrow and also Jamar Chase. 385 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:26.880 Like you know, I actually think both those guys were almost kind of 386 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:30.319 the same level of of a hot you know, change in everything about the 387 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:33.039 Bengals because those that's a hell of a connection. That's a hell of a 388 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:37.720 duo to have on offense. But Joe Burrow, you know, this is 389 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:41.200 going to be maybe a really over the top I love you, but but 390 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:48.440 like Joe Burrow made Bengals fans completely change how they view themselves as a fan 391 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:52.279 base, as a franchise, Like he gave them some confidence that I'm not 392 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:56.359 sure they've ever really had consistently, Like with Burrow as the guy in him 393 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:59.720 doing what he did in his first couple of years, I think it really 394 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:04.759 did make Bengals fans, you know, dream bigger, because if they can 395 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:07.400 get to the super Bowl, why can't they win one? Right? And 396 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:10.400 again, that was years ago, and you know, maybe they take a 397 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:14.519 step back this year. Obviously they've not been great since then. In fact, 398 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:17.000 I think they've had what three when was that? By the way, 399 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:22.559 they've been good enough. Yeah, so they look they've they've been good enough 400 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:26.640 to really, you know, get hot and knock off anybody, because I 401 00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:29.079 guess that's kind of really how it happens in the NFL, right, Anybody 402 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:32.440 beating anybody is not that big of a surprise in the grand scheme of things. 403 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:36.920 You've seen some teams in recent years, specifically that you knew were quite 404 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:40.200 literally, you know, some of the worst teams in the league, and 405 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.079 yet they knock off some of the best teams in the league. So it 406 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:45.759 happens. But Burrow, I can't think of a guy who has in the 407 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:53.920 last five years entered the NFL and changed a franchise as much as he has. 408 00:26:56.160 --> 00:27:00.039 Because he's given him relevance. He's again like he's got a quiet confidence 409 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:03.799 about himself. He's got a swagger. I hate that word, but that's 410 00:27:03.880 --> 00:27:07.279 really what I think is best to be the best way to describe what he 411 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:10.599 brings to the table. And this isn't to say that the Bengals are great. 412 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:12.680 They may stink this year, I don't know, but like he's changed 413 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:17.960 how they view themselves as a franchise more than any player that has entered the 414 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:21.920 league in the last five years. So again, really do like Joe Burrow, 415 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:23.079 respect him. I'm not a Bengals fan by any means. I don't 416 00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:29.119 root for him, but this to me seems kind of like an attention thing, 417 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:30.839 and I don't think that's Joe Burrow. And by the way, if 418 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:34.839 you're somebody that likes to do things to keep yourself, you know, being 419 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:41.720 talked about, you know, I think it's a natural human feeling to want 420 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:45.400 attention in some form of fashion. Now, sometimes you don't want attention if 421 00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:48.240 it's if there's something bad going on, but like, I don't care who 422 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:51.359 you are. Like sometimes people crave attention because you know, they're lonely and 423 00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:52.880 they don't want to be left out that kind of stuff, So you know, 424 00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:56.599 it isn't really isn't really even a criticism to me. It just seems 425 00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:00.240 very not like Joe Burrow to do something like that. I mean, maybe 426 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:04.279 this was his hair style from years ago and he's going back to it because 427 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:08.279 nobody knew Joe Burrow, you know, six seven years ago, before he 428 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:12.160 got to LSU could walk into you know, just about anywhere, nobody know 429 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:15.480 who he was. Not the case now. Heck, maybe he lost a 430 00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:18.799 bet. I don't know, Like I don't think he's provided any comments as 431 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:22.279 to why the hair has has been cut off, and there's any and he's 432 00:28:22.359 --> 00:28:26.559 rocking a different shade, but it's certainly been you know, discussed quite a 433 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:33.519 bit by NFL fans and again to give you an example of what he has 434 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:38.079 done to sort of change how the Bengals view themselves. Meaning the fans like, 435 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:41.599 this is just a haircut, guys, a hair cut in color. 436 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:47.200 Millions of people get it done every day across the country, across the planet, 437 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:49.799 I should say. But yet like they see Burrow and they're like, 438 00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:53.839 oh, the rest of the league better look out, better look out, 439 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:59.039 because Burrow cut his hair off. He means business now and he's and he's 440 00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:03.279 going with the slim sh looks. So now they're probably referencing eminem lyrics and 441 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:04.960 putting something together to where you know it's going to be like, oh, 442 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:07.359 this is what he's doing. It's all part of a plan for Joe Burrow 443 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:14.000 to take over the NFL. And you know, maybe it is something that 444 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:15.920 he did to send a message or you know, again, maybe he lost 445 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:21.240 to bet. I don't know, but it is a big story within the 446 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:26.920 NFL, that's for sure. Also another story is potentially expanding the regular season 447 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:30.680 by one game, so they went from sixteen to seventeen. I feel like 448 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:34.000 it's not been that long since that that happened. And now there's been discussion 449 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:40.480 from the NFL Players Association. They've engaged in what they call high level discussions 450 00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:45.960 with the NFL about a potential implementation of an eighteen game regular season. And 451 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:49.839 who says no to that? Maybe some NFL players, you know, because 452 00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:55.960 they it's them that has to you know, go out there and basically play 453 00:29:55.960 --> 00:30:00.599 this violent game that at any moment could in their career. I don't want 454 00:30:00.599 --> 00:30:03.319 to exaggerate, but like it could also any moment in there. Like football 455 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:07.359 is such a violent sport and depending on what position you play. Just about 456 00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:11.640 every snap for you is you know, could potentially be a car wreck that 457 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:14.880 you're involved in with you know, no air bag, just some pads at 458 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:19.440 a helmet. So player safety is always going to be a big concern. 459 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:23.079 And anytime you talk about expanding a schedule, adding more games, that's the 460 00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:26.400 first thing that comes up when if there's any resistance to doing it. But 461 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:30.200 as far as a fan who loves to consume the product that is the NFL, 462 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:33.440 and I know I'm not alone, there's billions of us. I feel 463 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:37.079 like we want more NFL. If we're going to get more NFL, we're 464 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:40.720 going to say, thank you, can we have more? Oh that's good, 465 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:44.440 but we want more. We love the NFL. So I have no 466 00:30:44.440 --> 00:30:45.759 problem with an eighteen game schedule. As far as how they break it down 467 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:48.960 like what they do two by weeks, I don't know, but I'm sure 468 00:30:48.960 --> 00:30:52.440 they'll make you work because it's going to be more money for everybody involved. 469 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:56.079 And usually that somebody's on the fence about it. When you mentioned the revenue 470 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:59.119 component, they'll think, Okay, well, you know what if you're gonna 471 00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:02.359 if my south going to be bigger because I'm playing another game, then you 472 00:31:02.359 --> 00:31:06.960 know what, let's do it. And this is probably like a really unpopular 473 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:11.799 take, but I always share it, not because like I'm looking the troll 474 00:31:11.880 --> 00:31:14.640 and to get people yelling at me. It's just something that and it's not 475 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:18.880 something we'll have to worry about at this point. But football is still relatively 476 00:31:18.920 --> 00:31:25.160 new in the grand scheme of life, and it's it's insanely dangerous and they're 477 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:27.279 always going to mean that's why they're you know, they're never gonna stop trying 478 00:31:27.880 --> 00:31:33.799 to find ways to keep players safer, whether it be different equipment, technology, 479 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:37.440 all that kind of stuff, advanced research. The NFL has invested an 480 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:41.559 unbelievable amount of money and continuously trying to find ways to make this game safer, 481 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:45.519 and they'll continue to do that, but this sport will continue to always 482 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:48.480 be violent. And I think you can do both. Right. Just because 483 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:51.119 you know it's always going to be violent and somebody can get hurt doesn't mean 484 00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:56.079 you shouldn't stop looking at ways to keep guys safe. But if they introduce 485 00:31:56.160 --> 00:32:00.000 this sport today and we'd never played it before, and the players involve, 486 00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:07.119 you know, these super large, freakishly athletic human beings, that you know, 487 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:10.400 are far from you know, the normal average joe. Like if you 488 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:14.839 introduce this sport today, I think medical folks would tell you, no, 489 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:17.599 you cannot do that. It is not safe to play. But we don't 490 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:21.839 have to worry about it because they're not taking football away from us and that'll 491 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:24.440 never happen. But it's just like I say that at times because I don't 492 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:29.680 think people realize. I don't think people truly understand like that. Twenty years 493 00:32:29.680 --> 00:32:31.799 from now, we'll see the lasting impact of dudes who played in the NFL. 494 00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:35.480 You know, not everybody's gonna probably have CTE that kind of stuff. 495 00:32:35.799 --> 00:32:39.640 But when you do hear about more games and there's resistance, you know, 496 00:32:39.880 --> 00:32:44.240 we're we're fans, we're customers. We just we want the product. Not 497 00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:45.799 to say that we're heartless. We don't care about people's being safe, But 498 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:49.079 that's not what comes to mind to us because we can't relate. We don't 499 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:51.960 play. We're watching on TV or we're going to the games and tailgating and 500 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:54.880 whatnot. But when you hear people being against it, it's not because they're 501 00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:58.960 fun suckers. It's because they think about those kind of things, right, 502 00:32:59.079 --> 00:33:02.759 Like should we doing this, you'll be should we be playing this much football 503 00:33:02.839 --> 00:33:07.359 a year? Whenever it's you know, such a violent, physically demanding sport. 504 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:09.759 All right, quick break, we'll come back on the other side. 505 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:13.960 For those that just joined us for the four o'clock party, stick around. 506 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:15.559 We're taking up till six o'clock. We haven't talked much about the TVT since 507 00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:17.839 the beginning of the show. Trust me, we'll get back into that because 508 00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:22.640 we got a big game tomorrow night to see if Louisville can you know, 509 00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:27.200 get to the mean. This round they're in tomorrow night is the furthest they've 510 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:29.839 been last year. This is the round they lost in, so this will 511 00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:32.799 be the furthest they've gone if they can pull off the win tomorrow. Kentucky 512 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:36.000 plays later tonight, of course, if both teams win, and these next 513 00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:38.079 two days they're going to play each other at Freedom Hall in Indiana Place tonight. 514 00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:42.039 Right they do who they have? They have Everlin Drive. That's a 515 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:45.039 bad good team. It's bad news for Everline Drive. Right, it is 516 00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:49.319 all right, stick with us right here on Sports Talk seven ninety. It's 517 00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:52.599 right Coffee and Company wrapping up our number two. We'll take you up till 518 00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:55.519 six o'clock, So hang out. We are Field by Thornton's. 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Maybe you've been in denial about your rectilness function issues, understandably 526 00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:28.960 so, but I know you'll be happy if you reach out to my friends 527 00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:30.000 of the Little of Men's Clinic, because they can help you with those kind 528 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:35.800 of things. They offer a variety of services, and I mean a lot. 529 00:34:36.400 --> 00:34:38.480 If it's a rectiled it's function, they've got three different ways, maybe 530 00:34:38.480 --> 00:34:42.199 even more than that that they can help you. Right, Maybe you've got 531 00:34:42.199 --> 00:34:45.559 a preference you don't you don't want to do needles, They've got oral medications. 532 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:51.360 So if it's d do something about it. I'm sure that is probably 533 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:53.760 tough to come to grips with, probably not an easy conversation to have with 534 00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:58.320 anybody. But the sooner you have that conversation with the little of Men's Clinic, 535 00:34:58.400 --> 00:35:00.280 the sooner they can get you back, get you back on track. 536 00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:06.719 Lo testosterone, Peroni's disease, joint pain, weight loss therapy, hair restoration. 537 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:10.199 That's just some of the services that they offer to men in the Kentuckian 538 00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:14.280 areas. So give him a call. Fabu TU four four four four thousand 539 00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:17.599 is the number. Louisville Men's Clinic. Dot com is the website. All 540 00:35:17.679 --> 00:35:24.559 right. So Lebron James is going to be the first ever member of the 541 00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:30.800 team USA men's basketball team to be the flag bearer for the opening ceremony of 542 00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:37.599 the Olympics, which that will be on Friday. I believe so Lebron James 543 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:43.360 is somebody that needs no introductions, of course, but also you know, 544 00:35:44.199 --> 00:35:46.000 and I always kind of tiptoe around it because I have so much respect for 545 00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:51.800 Lebron as a legendary player, and it's unbelievable what he's been able to do 546 00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:54.440 throughout his career. And also it's unbelievable to know that if you go back 547 00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:59.719 twenty years, the expectation and the hype was unbelievable to where even if he 548 00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:02.199 was a legendary player, I felt like at that time it would have been 549 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:06.239 hard to envision him living up to what was being said about him. But 550 00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:09.719 he has, and some he's succeeded it. But I also know and understand 551 00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:14.119 why a lot of people have Lebron fatigue and are just you know, as 552 00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:15.519 I always say, come on, Lebron, Like he does a lot of 553 00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:17.199 things, says a lot of things to where you just think, like, 554 00:36:17.239 --> 00:36:20.519 you know, this guy's not the worst guy in the world. He's not 555 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:22.519 a criminal, he's not a low life, but man like, he's not 556 00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:29.760 self aware. He is dramatic, he flops, he jumps from team to 557 00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:30.920 team, like you know, I get it, Like, I understand why 558 00:36:30.920 --> 00:36:35.599 people feel that way, but I also wish that people could put that aside 559 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:39.599 and acknowledge that you're watching something that we'll never see again. This man is 560 00:36:39.639 --> 00:36:44.119 going to turn forty years old before the end of this year and he is 561 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:49.840 still playing like the best basketball player on this planet. It's unbelievable. I 562 00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:53.599 mean, yesterday he scored the last eleven points. I think it was for 563 00:36:53.679 --> 00:36:59.360 Team USA is they had to claw back to beat Germany ninety two to eighty 564 00:36:59.360 --> 00:37:05.559 eight was the score or I mean, in fact, in yesterday's game, 565 00:37:06.719 --> 00:37:10.239 twenty points scored the final eleven in the fourth quarter, six rebounds, four 566 00:37:10.239 --> 00:37:14.079 assists, two of two from three made eight of eleven. And look, 567 00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:17.199 I know some of these numbers are being put up against I mean against you 568 00:37:17.199 --> 00:37:22.119 know, guys that aren't great, but him playing at this level and clearly 569 00:37:22.199 --> 00:37:24.880 just being the best player on the floor. I mean, say what you 570 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:30.760 want about Germany and South Sudan and all these other teams that Team USA is 571 00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:35.440 going to play. He's playing against the best this country has to offer on 572 00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:38.840 his own team. And he's the guy not because he's you know, demanding, 573 00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:43.159 he's the og, the bully, because he's just that guy. He's 574 00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:50.679 Lebron James. And if they do a documentary on Lebron James from start to 575 00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:54.559 finish his career, if we get something similar to like The Last Dance, 576 00:37:54.800 --> 00:37:58.559 but it's just about Lebron in his career, a lot of people probably won't 577 00:37:58.599 --> 00:38:01.599 watch it because you know, they have Bron fatigue. And I probably will 578 00:38:01.639 --> 00:38:04.880 watch, but be annoyed at times. Just like a lot of you. 579 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:08.360 But it needs to include this part of his career because right now he's still 580 00:38:08.360 --> 00:38:12.119 playing at a high level in the NBA, but the Lakers think they're not. 581 00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:14.840 I mean, does anybody think the Lakers are going to emerge as like 582 00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:19.519 a legitimate title team next year? They might, but if they do, 583 00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:22.800 it's because of him, because of anything else. So that could happen. 584 00:38:22.840 --> 00:38:29.119 But like he's played in LA and still put up crazy numbers at a old 585 00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:32.480 age. I mean, he's an old man when it comes to the NBA. 586 00:38:32.679 --> 00:38:35.519 I mean, thirty nine is not an old man. He'll be forty 587 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:37.920 again in December, so it's not I mean, he's not an old man, 588 00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:42.639 but in terms of NBA basketball years, he's a he's elderly. Dudes 589 00:38:43.199 --> 00:38:47.440 fall off at thirty two, thirty one sometimes in the NBA. This guy 590 00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:52.079 is going to be forty in a few months, and he's still the best 591 00:38:52.079 --> 00:38:53.960 player on the planet that can do things that like nobody else has been able 592 00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:59.440 to do really ever, let alone at his age. And I just I 593 00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:05.440 think that's not getting talked about enough. And what's unfortunate for Lebron is because 594 00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:09.039 of Lebron, like he didn't have to inject his son into this whole NBA 595 00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:12.159 stuff. He could have told his son, look, you ain't ready kid, 596 00:39:12.159 --> 00:39:15.360 stick around in college, but he wanted to do it. You know, 597 00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:17.639 Lebron loves to make everything about him and at times that backfires on him 598 00:39:17.639 --> 00:39:22.079 without him eybe knowing it, I think because he has no self awareness. 599 00:39:22.559 --> 00:39:25.440 But what he's doing here, like this team, if this team wins, 600 00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:29.880 which they're going to, they're gonna win the goal. Like I don't see 601 00:39:29.880 --> 00:39:32.639 a scenario where that won't happen. And he continues to just be the man 602 00:39:32.639 --> 00:39:36.719 and he's the best player on the floor every game he plays and it's not 603 00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:38.960 close. Like that probably won't be that big of a chakra to people, 604 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:42.960 but like I want you to consider that when you look at the legacy of 605 00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:47.039 Lebron James, and this is not an MJ versus Lebron because that's stupid. 606 00:39:47.079 --> 00:39:51.960 I wish that would go away, but it never will. One thing that 607 00:39:52.280 --> 00:39:58.480 doesn't get mentioned enough is that the nineteen ninety two Dream Team legendary group of 608 00:39:58.519 --> 00:40:02.119 guys, right, I mean, we're talking Jordan Byrd, Drexler, Stockton 609 00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:07.599 Malone, Pippen, Ewing, David Robinson Barkley. I mean the Dream Team, 610 00:40:07.639 --> 00:40:14.800 folks, they only played nine NBA players in the Olympics. Well, 611 00:40:14.840 --> 00:40:19.079 now when you face other countries, you've got NBA stars on those teams. 612 00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:25.159 Team USA we'll play against sixty one NBA players. So you know, you 613 00:40:25.199 --> 00:40:30.320 still shouldn't be shocked when an NBA legend is dominating a team from another country, 614 00:40:30.320 --> 00:40:34.800 because we dominate in basketball in the United States. But it is even 615 00:40:34.840 --> 00:40:37.199 it's it's harder to do that than it once was. Not to say that 616 00:40:37.239 --> 00:40:44.840 it's it's you know, impossible. But there's my there's my that's my nice 617 00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:47.559 conversation about Lebron after for a long time. You know, the whole browny 618 00:40:47.639 --> 00:40:52.960 thing just really made me want to barf. I feel like my voice is 619 00:40:52.079 --> 00:40:58.039 baiting. Can you notice that I've always but maybe you need like a peppermintgum 620 00:40:58.119 --> 00:41:01.719 or something. What's going on there? The bush light might help on all 621 00:41:01.800 --> 00:41:04.679 right now? We number three is on the way right here on sport Stock 622 00:41:04.719 --> 00:41:10.719 seven ninety m