WEBVTT 1 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:54.960 All right, what is going on? 2 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:58.320 It's Drive Times on a Thursday afternoon, about six minutes 3 00:00:58.359 --> 00:01:02.039 past the hour of two o'clock. Mary, post Christmas to you. 4 00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:04.840 Hope you had a great holiday yesterday. Hope you had 5 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:08.280 a great time with friends and family, maybe getting some 6 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:10.519 time off of work, or if you did not and 7 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:13.799 you stayed on the grind, shout out to you. But 8 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:16.359 it is Christmas Week and we are back live on 9 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:19.439 air for the first time since Monday. Had a best 10 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:22.239 of show on Tuesday. We were off yesterday for Christmas, 11 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:25.879 and now back today and tomorrow to close out Christmas Week. 12 00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:28.000 So great to have you along for the ride, as 13 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:30.400 it is every single day. Spence check. It's behind the Mike. 14 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:33.359 Olivia is filling in for Porter today, who is off 15 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:35.560 once again for a couple of days. Porter will be 16 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:39.599 back on Monday. So Olivia filling in, doing a great 17 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:41.799 job today and tomorrow. We've got a lot to get 18 00:01:41.840 --> 00:01:44.200 to since you and I last spoke, A lot has happened. 19 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:50.400 Christmas Day NFL action not awesome, NBA Christmas Day action 20 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:53.920 very much awesome. Lebron James after the game, looking into 21 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:56.200 the camera and saying, I love the NFL, but Christmas 22 00:01:56.319 --> 00:01:59.280 is our day, and for one day it was now 23 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:03.840 the Dwarfs that of the NBA, so that will not change. 24 00:02:04.840 --> 00:02:06.599 But I thought it was a. 25 00:02:06.519 --> 00:02:11.199 Fun day for people to maybe be reintroduced to NBA 26 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:13.680 basketball if you've not been watching A friend of the show. 27 00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:16.919 Chris Harring wrote a piece for ESPN dot com today 28 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:20.080 outlining some of the great storylines that are happening in 29 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:23.120 pro basketball. So we'll get to some of those on 30 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:26.719 the program today. The Utah Jazz are in action tonight. 31 00:02:26.879 --> 00:02:28.759 It is a late tip. It's an eight o'clock tip, 32 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:30.800 as they're up in the Great Pacific Northwest to take 33 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:34.520 on the Portland Trailblazers. Both these teams are not very 34 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:37.039 good at basketball this year. But I'm gonna be nice 35 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:40.159 to the Jazz. I was scolded by somebody who I respect, 36 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:42.680 who works over there, who says I'm being too negative. 37 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:45.439 I'm not trying to be negative. Nobody wants the Jazz 38 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:46.759 to win more than I do. I can tell you 39 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:49.479 that much. So we'll talk to some Jazz basketball, some 40 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:52.759 NBA basketball. We will get you ready for the final 41 00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:57.400 tilt of Week sixteen in Pro football, little Thursday Night action, 42 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:00.800 and then we'll get to the week seventeen storylines. It 43 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:04.319 should be a lot of fun. So Seahawks Bears tonight 44 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:07.159 Soldier Field, Seattle is a five point favorite on the road. 45 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:10.360 And then we've just got a bevy of action coming 46 00:03:10.439 --> 00:03:13.080 up as pro football is really starting to get very interesting. 47 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:16.000 A good Sunday slate coming up with a lot on 48 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:19.759 the line. Quite frankly, did you enjoy the Netflix presentation 49 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:22.479 our good friend? Well, good friends? I should say the 50 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:26.680 Eagles father and son duo. I an Eagle calling the 51 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:29.159 morning game and then no Eagle call in the afternoon game. 52 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:30.560 No one's gonna hop on the show tomorrow. 53 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:32.520 I want to see what his experience was like calling 54 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:36.400 NFL football on Netflix. So we'll get to some storylines 55 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:38.919 in that direction. There are some breaking news as pat 56 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:40.520 Riley has come out and said they're not going to 57 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:44.759 trade Jimmy Butler. Now we'll see if that changes, because 58 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.439 Jimmy Butler is the one name on the pro basketball 59 00:03:47.479 --> 00:03:51.879 trading block right now that, if moved, could certainly change 60 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:53.800 the landscape of a team and maybe the landscape of 61 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:56.280 the league. So the latest on the NBA trade deadline. 62 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:59.879 Every time a trade deadline primer or preview is really 63 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:02.159 whether it's a story that you read or somebody you 64 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:04.479 listen to. The Jazz are mentioned and will the Jazz 65 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:06.080 be active prior to that trade deadline. 66 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:06.680 We'll get to it. 67 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:09.639 The latest on the transfer portal, I know what you 68 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:13.240 guys want. Latest on the transfer portal for Utah football. 69 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:16.120 Latest on the transfer portal for BYU football. Had a 70 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:19.600 couple of interesting conversations while we were off. Shed a 71 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:23.040 little light on just exactly how BYU was able to 72 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:25.839 land aj Debanta and where they're at kind of with 73 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:29.920 their collective efforts and their nil efforts and the people 74 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:32.399 that have stepped up the much needed people that have 75 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:34.560 stepped up in provo. Is the same thing happening here 76 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:36.920 in Salt Lake. We'll get to that on the show. 77 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:39.879 As far as the latest with both BYU and Utah 78 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:44.079 as college football, plenty of games left, including BYU Colorado 79 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:45.879 should be a really fun one. Excited for that one 80 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:49.079 and then hopefully the second round the quarterfinals of the 81 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:52.600 CFP look a little more exciting than the first round did. 82 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:56.319 We got the Peach Bowl with Texas Arizona State. We 83 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:59.360 have the Rose Bowl with Ohio State and Oregon, Penn 84 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:01.800 State Boys State is the Fiesta Bowl, then Notre Dame 85 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:03.639 Georgia is the Sugar Bowl. 86 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:05.639 Eight teams left standing, and. 87 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:09.240 Of course BYU and Colorado to play what, in my estimation, 88 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.839 should be one of the most exciting non CFP Bowl games. 89 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:16.759 Excited to see how BYU stacks up to Colorado and 90 00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:19.160 excited to see how that game plays out. So a 91 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:21.439 lot to get to on the program today. The Utah 92 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:24.920 Hockey Club back in action tomorrow, They're off tonight. College 93 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:28.439 basketball starting to get interesting. University of Utah men's hoops 94 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:30.720 will get rolling with their Big twelve slate coming up 95 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:34.639 next week against Baylor. So a ton going on today 96 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:36.240 and a good guest list too. We're going to catch 97 00:05:36.279 --> 00:05:39.639 up with Jim Herman, who played college ball at BYU 98 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:42.759 and I was able to catch up with Jim and 99 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:44.920 spend some time with him at Steve Young's charity golf 100 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:47.720 tournament a couple months back, and Jim's been on the 101 00:05:47.720 --> 00:05:50.279 show before. So we're going to talk to the latest 102 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:53.720 with BYU, and the latest with the college football current 103 00:05:53.800 --> 00:05:56.879 slate and the situation at il Transfer Portal and such 104 00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:00.199 with Jim Herman, get his thoughts on Klonia satake his 105 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:02.720 contract extension of the future of college football here in 106 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:03.079 the state. 107 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:04.519 The TV voice of the. 108 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:07.160 Utah Jazz, Craig Bowler, Jack will stop by prior to 109 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:09.759 him calling the game tonight with the Jazz and the Blazers. 110 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:12.279 Then we'll visit with Gordon Monson. It's the big Show, 111 00:06:12.279 --> 00:06:13.959 Big hour. We do it here on the Drive every 112 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:17.160 Thursday afternoon. We'll bring an Eric Weddle former Ute stops 113 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:20.040 by today as well, and then Zach Harper NBA Daily 114 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:23.279 Assist style. So busy guest list, a lot of college football, 115 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:25.120 a little NFL and of course some NBA and some 116 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:28.519 Utah Jazz on the show today. So Jim Herman, Craig Bowler, Jack, 117 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:30.839 Gordon Monts and Eric Weddel and Zach Harper. Jim's going 118 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:32.360 to join us right out of the gates as our 119 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:35.720 first guest. But before we get to Jim Herman, courtesy 120 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:38.240 of our friends at Standard Restaurant Supply, it's your one 121 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:41.120 stop shop for all your tailgate needs on a Thursday afternoon. 122 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:42.439 It's time now for your opening tip. 123 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:45.600 Welcome to the Drive with Spence Check. It's on Utah's 124 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:49.279 number one Sports Talk. Now into the studio of ESPN 125 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:52.240 seven hundred to set the scene for the show. The 126 00:06:52.279 --> 00:06:54.240 opening tip of the drive is brought to you by 127 00:06:54.279 --> 00:06:57.600 Standard Restaurants Supply, your one stop shop to build the 128 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:03.319 best tailgate in town. Restaurants Supply thirty five hundred Southwest Temple. 129 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:05.959 So this time of year, when it comes to the 130 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:09.639 college football, the current state of the game, current state 131 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:12.360 of college football locally and nationally, it's kind of an 132 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:15.720 interesting media cycle to consume, and certainly as part of 133 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:18.079 this job, to do the best I can to keep 134 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:20.319 up with all of the pieces of news that come 135 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:23.000 in fast and furious, and then listen to what other 136 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:25.839 people have to say and try to understand exactly what's 137 00:07:25.879 --> 00:07:29.879 most interesting right now to college football fans. And it's 138 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:33.399 odd and maybe this would be different if Utah football 139 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:37.079 was in I don't know, even just a marginal bowl game, 140 00:07:37.160 --> 00:07:40.000 let alone the CFP, but it does seem like right 141 00:07:40.040 --> 00:07:44.360 now in college football, the most popular topics and the 142 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:47.639 most popular content has to do with the transfer portal 143 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:49.639 and what your team is going to look like next year. 144 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:54.160 And look, there's plenty of time left, so ultimately we're 145 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:58.360 not dismissing or anointing any teams on the show today. 146 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:00.120 You know that would be silly to do because they're 147 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:01.680 plenty of players that are in the portal that have 148 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:05.399 not elected where they're going to play. And the most 149 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:08.680 maddening part of all of this, and the most idiotic 150 00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:11.319 dynamic of all of this right now, is that college 151 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:16.240 football finds itself in free agency during the season. It's 152 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:19.519 beyond stupid, and that will change, And I'm convinced that's 153 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:22.959 going to change even as quickly as next year, because 154 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:26.319 anybody who's been asked about it, like nobody has made 155 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:29.079 the case for it. Nobody, and typically with the debate 156 00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:31.839 with how many talking heads there are these days, not 157 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:36.440 just radio and television, but podcasts and YouTube channels, there 158 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:38.639 are a couple of dudes that will zig when everyone 159 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:40.360 else zags. There are a couple of dudes that will 160 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:42.440 try to take the contrarian viewpoint. 161 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:44.519 Nobody has done that with this. 162 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:48.240 It has been summarily dismissed, and it feels like it's 163 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:50.480 a consensus of how stupid that it is that a 164 00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:54.240 sport has free agency while games are still being played. 165 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:57.960 You save free agency for the offseason, because, of course 166 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:02.159 you do to be analogous, can you imagine in football 167 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:06.000 or basketball when the biggest games are left, because that's 168 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:09.279 what's left in college football. The college football Playoff is 169 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:13.080 going on, and these players are getting called by agents 170 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:14.799 to ask if they want to enter the transfer port 171 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:17.159 because you have to do it if you want to 172 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:18.960 sort of find out what hand you've been dealt and 173 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:21.399 what your worth is on the open market, which I'm 174 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:23.519 all for. If you listen to the show, first of all, 175 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:25.840 thank you. Second of all, you know that I'm for that. 176 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:29.320 I've been for that for a long time. Yes, college 177 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:32.200 athletes should have always had the same basic economic rights 178 00:09:32.200 --> 00:09:34.759 that you and I have, Okay, But now that we're 179 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:37.399 in that reality, it really is time to frame it 180 00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:41.200 with some guardrails that just make it more sensible and 181 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:45.279 easier to kind of traverse for mostly coaches quite frankly, 182 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:48.720 and yes, players too. But the players aren't necessarily the 183 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:52.000 ones that are being stung by the new reality of 184 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:53.960 college football. The players are the ones that are being 185 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:55.799 taken care of because they can now make money. And 186 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:58.120 like I said, they should have always been in this space. 187 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:01.559 But there's a reason why in the pros I can't 188 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:03.000 believe I'm going to say it out loud. There's a 189 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:05.240 reason why in the pros free agency is during the 190 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:09.320 off season. It's like, it's the most basic thing we 191 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:12.559 can possibly talk about. There's a reason why in the 192 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:16.000 pros they wait until the offseason to allow players to 193 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:18.000 change teams via free agency. 194 00:10:18.039 --> 00:10:21.080 Now you can make trades during the year, right And. 195 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:23.799 Ultimately, I always kind of scoff at the whole loyalty 196 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:27.039 conversation with players who do leave via free agency. 197 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:29.039 As fans, you get stung. 198 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:31.639 You know, you're bummed when your Fourth of July is 199 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:33.840 ruined when Gordon Hayward decides he's going to Boston. 200 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:34.559 And I get that. 201 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:38.679 But if you work in an industry where essentially, if 202 00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:41.720 your boss decides you're somewhat disposable, he can just trade 203 00:10:41.720 --> 00:10:43.919 you tomorrow and give you a call in the am 204 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:47.000 and say, hey, you live in Cleveland now, then you 205 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:50.840 should have an avenue and the ability to decide where 206 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:53.440 you do, what you do, and where you're gonna play basketball. 207 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:57.519 I've always found it interesting that these basketball players, these 208 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:01.480 football players, these baseball players, soccer players in the world 209 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:04.879 at what they do, yet they are told where they 210 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:08.519 have to do that. I'm not completely comfortable with it entirely. 211 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:12.919 Now there's a side non sequitor conversation about what it 212 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:15.200 means for a city like Salt Lake to try to 213 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:17.840 build a pro basketball franchise. And that's why the NBA 214 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:21.080 does have guardrails in place to ensure that if you 215 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:23.519 draft and develop a player, you at least have seven 216 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:26.840 eight years with them. Now, unfortunately that doesn't guarantee anything 217 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:29.759 beyond that. But that's when the conversation gets interesting, because 218 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:31.039 should a free agent. 219 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:33.559 I always go back to the Kevin Garnett thing. 220 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:36.840 You know, Garnett gave Minnesota basically a decade, and they 221 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:38.600 had a couple of good teams when they had Sam 222 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:40.320 Cassel and the Treil Spree. Well, they went to the 223 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:43.679 Western Conference finals, but they were never close to winning 224 00:11:43.679 --> 00:11:46.360 an NBA championship and quite frankly, never that close to 225 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:47.919 winning the West, even though that had a couple of 226 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:50.759 decent teams. And so after a decade, I had no 227 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:54.480 issue with Garnett looking around and saying, hey, I gave 228 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:56.840 you ten years and I was one of the best 229 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:57.879 players of this generation. 230 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:00.320 I want to go win a championship and. 231 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:02.440 Minnesota and Kevin McHale at the time did right by 232 00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:06.279 him by trading him to Boston and their executive Danny 233 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:10.360 Ainge built a championship team around Garnett and Paul Pierce 234 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:13.360 and Ray Allen and I had no problem with that. Now, 235 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:15.440 if you're a Timberwolves fan, it sucks. And if you're 236 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:18.919 a Jazz fan, you're watching Donovan Mitchell have a career 237 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:21.919 year for a team in Cleveland that is just nasty. 238 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:25.679 And Donovan didn't leave in free agency. He was traded, 239 00:12:25.720 --> 00:12:28.080 but if you followed that story, Donovan had one foot 240 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:30.960 out the door basically the entire final year he was here, 241 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:34.039 leaving a lot of fans to fill the trade. So 242 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:37.279 there isn't a perfect solution that will make everybody happy, 243 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:39.320 but there has to be guardrails in plays for college 244 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:43.559 football that at least allow coaches who really are the 245 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:46.519 ones against The coaches and the fans are the ones 246 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:49.919 that currently are losing out as a result of the 247 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:54.480 new format and model of collegiate athletics. It's not the players, 248 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:59.519 it's administrators, coaches, and fans. But in order for these 249 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:02.919 coaches have a fair shot at putting a good product 250 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:06.200 on the field, free agency can't be while you're still 251 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:10.879 playing games. Okay, because from a coaching perspective, you're running practice. Okay, 252 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:14.320 you're Kalani Satake, You're running practice down in Provo. You're 253 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:16.639 getting ready for what should be a really fun bowl 254 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:20.120 game against Colorado, a game that will bring a lot 255 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:23.519 of eyes because Dion does that in the Alamo Bowl 256 00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:26.679 seven point thirty by the way, ABC, and ironically enough, 257 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:29.200 you can hear the BYU game on our radio station, 258 00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:30.159 so stay tuned for that. 259 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:32.960 But Dion brings a lot of eyes. BYU is a 260 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:33.480 big brand. 261 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:36.840 There will be I don't know, I would guess four 262 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:40.279 or five six million people watching that game. BYU getting 263 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:42.039 like a six million dollar payoff. This is a good 264 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:44.919 bowl game, and BYU's earned it because of their ten 265 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:48.159 win season. But if you're Kialani, if you're Jay Hill, 266 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:50.039 if you're a rod, if you're that coaching staff, you're 267 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:54.440 running practice to prepare for Colorado, and then you say 268 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:56.600 good night after practice is done, and then you have 269 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:58.320 to wonder whether or not any of your players are 270 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:00.480 going to be entering the transfer portal because b Yu, 271 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:03.440 I think at last check as six guys did have 272 00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:06.360 entered the transfer portal. It makes it really hard to 273 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:08.799 prepare for a game, and after all, the games are 274 00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:11.559 what all of this should be about, you know, And 275 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:13.480 that's why I kind of started the segment off with 276 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:17.600 some interesting, I don't know, observations from my standpoint that 277 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:21.440 the most popular topic for college football fans right now, 278 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:23.679 it does seem to be the transfer portal as opposed 279 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:26.559 to the games. Now first round of the CFP not awesome. 280 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:29.480 And we'll get to the latest with the University of Utah. 281 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:32.399 You know, it was tough. Right before we said good 282 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:37.440 night on Monday afternoon, it was announced that Kiana Tanavasa 283 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.559 was in the transfer portal. 284 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.440 That one stings. 285 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:43.559 So does Cameron Calhoun Keanu unless I missed it because 286 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:47.200 I'm not one who lives online. I don't record TikTok 287 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:51.240 videos or coming Twitter for information. If he announced something, 288 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:53.480 I just haven't seen it. And so that of course 289 00:14:53.519 --> 00:14:56.200 continues to open up the possibility that maybe thought of 290 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:58.519 us that lands back here, and that should be your hope, 291 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:01.360 because man, he's good. A lot of these players, all 292 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:05.159 due respect, you know, from Utah that have entered the 293 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:09.440 transfer portal. You know, Djon Stanley, for instance, nice kid 294 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:13.159 had an insanely good game right out of the Gates 295 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:15.840 to start the year off for the University of Utah, 296 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:18.320 but never really broke into rotation, and outside of catching 297 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:20.279 a couple of swing passes that you or I probably 298 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:22.440 could have caught, didn't do much. So you know, you 299 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:24.600 wish Djon well and you said him on his way. 300 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:28.159 Same thing with like Damien Alford or even Brandon Rose. 301 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:31.039 You know, Isaac Wilson has elected to come back, so 302 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:31.559 that's good. 303 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:33.360 But a lot of the players you just kind of say, 304 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:36.120 all right, best of luck, congrats on whatever you were 305 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:38.360 able to get in the open market. But a ton 306 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:41.320 of us and Calhoun, those two specifically, they hurt, they do. 307 00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:44.480 And you know it's not just Utah, of course, it's 308 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:47.360 every program across the landscape of the state, every program 309 00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:51.600 across the landscape of college football that ultimately are trying 310 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:54.399 to figure out how to traverse this. I mean, the 311 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:57.039 latest BYU list as far as and I have this up, 312 00:15:57.080 --> 00:16:01.639 this is current as of an hour ago. You got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. 313 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:06.279 You have fourteen BYU players in the transfer portal. BYU 314 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:10.000 has locked in five players from the transfer portal, and 315 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:13.279 of course plenty is left to analyze here but that's 316 00:16:13.679 --> 00:16:15.679 a good portion of your roster that you're trying to 317 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:18.440 utilize at your disposal to prepare for games. 318 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:21.639 And it's almost just unfair, it's almost impossible. 319 00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:25.759 And some of these programs will be rebuilding every year. 320 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:30.840 In pro sports, you run into a rebuild situation. And 321 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:33.399 by the way, it's no matter where you are. It's 322 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:35.360 New York. The Knicks felt like they were rebuilding for 323 00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:39.159 twenty years. Nobody talks about the Nick van Exel, Elden 324 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:42.240 Campbell Laker years, but the Lakers were rebuilding for years. 325 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:44.759 The heat were horrible for a long time before they 326 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:47.960 kind of got things figured out. In pro sports, every 327 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:51.480 I don't know, depending on your circumstances, depending on your 328 00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:55.159 front office, your ownership, how savvy you've been in roster construction, 329 00:16:55.559 --> 00:16:57.799 you're going to run into a rebuild every seven, eight, 330 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:01.440 nine years, and hopefully you don't run into a rebuild 331 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:03.720 that takes very long. And that's what the Jazz have 332 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:08.160 been really good at historically speaking. Present day excluded because 333 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:11.039 the jury is very much still out, but you hope 334 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:12.680 you can get it turned around within a couple of 335 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:14.799 years and then you have another generation of at least 336 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:17.880 competitive basketball or football, and most good front offices are 337 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:21.440 able to do that see Oklahoma City. But the reality 338 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:24.160 for a lot of teams in college football, if the 339 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:28.720 guardrails are not added and the rules are not executed, 340 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:31.240 there are gonna be a lot of college football programs 341 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:36.200 that will be rebuilding every year. That's not sustainable. You'll 342 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:39.559 have plenty of smart college football coaches and administrators choosing 343 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:42.599 to do something else with their lives because this is impossible. 344 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:46.000 And it's too bad, because it really is such a 345 00:17:46.039 --> 00:17:48.200 great product and such a great sport and the fact 346 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:51.079 that the ratings have not taken a hit, attendance has 347 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:54.319 a little bit, and the secondary market for the first 348 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:57.079 round of the CFP, there were Penn State Oregon tickets 349 00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:59.480 that you could find in the secondary market for ten bucks, 350 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:03.480 for ten dollars for those two teams that are playing 351 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:08.160 for a national championship. So there are some situations, ancillary 352 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:10.720 situations that have been adversely affected, but not a ton. 353 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:13.400 And the reason is the sport is awesome, and the 354 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:17.039 product is great, and it's really fun to watch, it's really. 355 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:18.599 Fun to consume. 356 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:23.559 And that's why even though the current situation is untenable, 357 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:26.160 and I believe that it is, we still sit down 358 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:29.119 and watch. So can you imagine what this product will 359 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:32.160 look like when all of the ducks are actually in 360 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:35.119 a row? And when will that happen? Hopefully it's sooner 361 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.960 rather than later. Hopefully we don't have to wait four 362 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:40.680 or five years. And hopefully when the dust settles and 363 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:43.119 there is a new reality where college football looks very 364 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:45.599 much like pro football, both Utah and BYU get that 365 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:51.319 invice because that's the crew to be in. And if Utah. 366 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.799 And BYU before we catch a break. 367 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:55.559 Okay, So if this pro model comes to fruition and 368 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:59.519 there are forty teams that are in sitting at the 369 00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:03.440 right lunch table, that are in this new college football 370 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:05.920 reality that very much looks like pro football, you know, 371 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:08.079 is it the ACC versus excuse me? Is it the 372 00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:10.839 SEC versus the Big Ten? Do they come up with 373 00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:14.240 new names just for reference? Think AFCNFC. It's going to 374 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:16.119 look like a lot like the NFL. And if Utah 375 00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:19.000 and BYU get invites to join this group, it will 376 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:22.279 be the closest thing, quite frankly, that we'll ever probably 377 00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:25.240 have to pro football in our market. But it will 378 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:28.440 be a lot like the NFL model. And it will 379 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:31.559 eliminate a lot of the FCSFBS games, a lot of 380 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:34.119 the big dogs taking on the little dudes that most 381 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.000 people don't watch week in and week out. 382 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:37.359 It will be blue. 383 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:40.200 Bloods playing blue bloods almost every single week, and brands 384 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:42.519 playing brands every single week, and that'll be really exciting. 385 00:19:42.599 --> 00:19:45.960 In the meantime, there's just a lot to figure out 386 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:48.200 for these people that are in charge of this great 387 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:49.720 sport that we all love it. We're gonna bring in 388 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:52.960 Jim Herman coming up next, continue the conversation about the 389 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:56.079 current landscape of college football. Bowler will stop by, so 390 00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:58.440 will Gordon Mont and Eric Weddell and Zach Harper. Busy 391 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:13.400 Thursday show, keep it right here on ESPN seven hundred. 392 00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:32.759 We got Pittsburgh and Toledo going on right now. The 393 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:36.920 game above Sports Bowl Bowl season b YU is gonna 394 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:39.759 take on Colorado coming up on Saturday, should be one 395 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:42.480 of the best non CFP Bowl games. That's gonna be 396 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:46.039 a five to thirty kick time on ABC and the 397 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:49.440 Alamo Bowl right now, Colorado is a four point favorite. 398 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:52.039 Excited to catch up with our next guest. He joined 399 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:54.160 the show a few times back in the day when 400 00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:56.920 I was doing with Gordo. He is a legend, played 401 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:59.319 at Brigham Young, played a little NFL football. Great to 402 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:02.079 have Jim Herm on the drive on a Thursday. Jim, 403 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:03.240 Merry Christmas season. 404 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.880 How are you, sir? 405 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:07.039 Merry Christmas to you, Spence, Thank you. Yeah, good for 406 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:10.440 having me. Good things are good. Got through Christmas, survived 407 00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:13.559 and enjoying it and excited for the new year. I 408 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:15.359 can't believe it's twenty twenty five already. 409 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:17.519 I know, man, I know what does Christmas look like 410 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.720 in the Herman household? 411 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:22.559 Man, it's great. I got three boys, they're all married. 412 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:26.200 I actually hard to believe I actually have grandkids, as 413 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:28.480 crazy as that is. Wow, So I get to see them. 414 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:31.200 I got a couple kids living in LA right now, 415 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:34.480 building a business and everyone's home and so we're having 416 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:37.039 a great time, family and fun and all sorts of 417 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:39.599 great things. And I grew up in Wisconsin, so I 418 00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:43.319 actually have some Wisconsin family that owns a place up 419 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:45.799 in Deer Valley and they're coming out. My mother in 420 00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:49.240 law's coming. So yeah, good things. 421 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:50.359 Very nice, great to hear, great to hear. 422 00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:53.079 So I started the show off today Jim with just 423 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:56.559 what I perceive to be a broken sport, albeit a 424 00:21:56.599 --> 00:22:00.799 great product in college football, and you know, it's it's 425 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:03.720 insane to me that essentially what we're dealing with is 426 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:07.759 free agency during the year, right, So you have coaches 427 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:09.720 that are trying to coach their team up for bowl 428 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:13.519 games or CFP games to try to win national championships, 429 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:16.920 and then after practice they've got to run collateral damage 430 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:19.480 to make sure their players aren't being contacted by agents. 431 00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:23.160 And so many teams that are still playing, including Brigham Young, 432 00:22:23.240 --> 00:22:25.680 have several players that are in the portal while the 433 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:28.440 season is still going on. What are your thoughts on 434 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:32.279 this dynamic specifically, the college football essentially has free agency 435 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.680 wall games are being played. 436 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:38.400 It's crazy, Actually, I agree with you Spence. I actually 437 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:42.039 think it's worse than free agency because free agency has 438 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:45.640 some rules and some guardrails, and there's actually seems to 439 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:48.559 be a method to the manus. Certainly at the NFL level, 440 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:52.440 people change teams. At that level, it's a job, and 441 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:55.359 they're looking out for opportunities and places to go enhance 442 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:59.319 their careers. Weirdly that's trickled down to college football. But 443 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:03.119 the there just seems to be no rules for sport 444 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:05.440 that I grew up in and was around for years, 445 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:08.119 and my brother played college football, obviously, lots of friends 446 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:11.599 of mine, and you know, as long as I can remember, 447 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:17.799 until the you know, real, not too distant future, was 448 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:22.359 the strict guidelines of the NCAAA. My gosh. You couldn't 449 00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:24.920 get an ice cream cone, You couldn't you couldn't even 450 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:29.559 think about transferring unless you've sat out a year, and 451 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:31.720 there are all these rules and restrictions, and now it 452 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:34.200 just seems to be a total free for all, which 453 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:37.599 I don't really understand. I don't know why someone hasn't 454 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:40.200 stepped in there. There used to seem to be a 455 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:45.279 governing body that would try to curtail some of these things, 456 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:48.599 but now it just seems to every year the rules change, 457 00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:52.880 and you know, maybe there's there's the Wizard of Oz 458 00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:56.240 out there that's making it all work in some chaotic 459 00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:59.319 form or fashion, but I'm with you, it seems to 460 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:03.160 absolutely be crazy. I mean, Crew Wakeley, who I think 461 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:06.079 is you know, one of DA's best defensive backs is 462 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:08.599 in the portal, not going to play in the game 463 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:12.960 that hurts against an unbelievable Colorado team that throws the 464 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:18.640 ball and has crazy skilled positions and and is really 465 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:22.960 apt at testing defensive backfields all around the country, and 466 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:25.880 now vas at a disadvantage, and it seems weirdly, it 467 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:28.000 seems to Colorado's kind of kept it all together. I'm 468 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:30.680 not as informed as to the comings and goings over 469 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:33.759 there on their team, but from the from the macro 470 00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:36.519 landscape of college football, it seems to be a mess. 471 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:41.359 And I keep hoping. I really defer to you know, 472 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:44.200 certainly I'm influenced by the NFL model one because I 473 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:47.440 think it works. I grew up in a state where 474 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:50.880 the Green Bay Packers are in a tiny little town 475 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:53.680 smaller than Logan, Utah, and they fill a stadium of 476 00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.960 ninety thousand people, and there's they're the only way that 477 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:59.960 can survive is because their central leadership with a game 478 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:03.279 plan to make sure that all the teams within the 479 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:06.559 league played by the same rules and have the opportunity 480 00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:08.799 to compete whether you're in a big market, small market, 481 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:12.559 big school, small school. And they've done a really good 482 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:15.839 job of putting what I think is a framework that, 483 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:19.480 based on where college football is going, could could work 484 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:22.400 at the college football level. But until their central leadership 485 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:25.559 in college football, you know, getting back to the free 486 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:28.079 agency question, I don't know how. I don't know how 487 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:31.160 it changes because the Big twelve kills about the Big twelve, 488 00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:34.960 the Pac Ten. I'm sorry, the the SEC cares about 489 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:36.920 the SEC. The Big ten cares about the Big ten. 490 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:41.359 And someone's supposed to be caring about you know, college 491 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:44.079 football as a whole, and I don't know who that is, 492 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:47.119 because it just seems to be running crazy, crazy wild. 493 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.759 I wonder what your thoughts are, Jim, on what could 494 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:53.839 be next, because I wholeheardly agree and I've talked on 495 00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:56.880 the show a lot about rip the band aid off 496 00:25:57.039 --> 00:26:00.000 and just use the pro model. Okay, allow the players 497 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:04.680 unionize collectively, bargain with the people in charge, and that way, 498 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:07.160 you know, I'm not saying they sign four or five 499 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:10.079 year contracts, but sign contracts that you're gonna be with 500 00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:12.119 the program for a couple of years, maybe with an 501 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:15.279 option after that, and that way you don't have to 502 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:18.319 rebuild your program every single year if you know you 503 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:20.359 have a player for two or three years or something 504 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:23.119 like it. It seems like coaches are for it. It 505 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:26.279 seems like players would be for it because then the 506 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:30.319 contracts could be legal and above board with Right now, 507 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:32.799 there's no regulation. If you want to pay a quarterback 508 00:26:32.839 --> 00:26:35.599 a billion dollars to play at BYU, you can pay 509 00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.960 them eight billion dollars. 510 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:39.039 So move to the pro model. 511 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:43.279 I know there will be unfortunate collateral damage of athletic 512 00:26:43.319 --> 00:26:46.000 departments that don't have the same amount of revenue. 513 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:47.079 Because football is the cash cow. 514 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:51.000 But I also believe Jim, at some point and you 515 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:53.400 exist in some of these spaces right now as well, 516 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:56.000 private equity guys are going to get involved here and 517 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:59.680 they're gonna start buying college football teams, buying stakes and 518 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:04.079 college football teams infusing the programs with money up front 519 00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:07.640 with the promise that their investment will pay incredible dividends 520 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:10.000 once this pro model becomes a reality. 521 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:12.519 But in your opinion, you're a smart guy. What do 522 00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.000 you think is. 523 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:16.039 Standing in the way now of college football just getting 524 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:19.119 this done? Because I believe it would solve the majority 525 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:21.000 of the issues that face the sport right now. 526 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:25.359 Yeah, couldn't agree more Spence. I mean you and I 527 00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:28.480 are fully aligned. What I think standing in place is 528 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:31.240 just to echo what I said, it's central leadership. I 529 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:35.440 you know, lover hate Roger Goodell he represents the owners right. 530 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:38.079 And I was a union member when I was in 531 00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:40.839 the NFL. I paid my union dues. We had representatives, 532 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:45.599 We talked, we met, we discussed issues that were relevant 533 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:49.559 to us as players, and we relied on our representatives 534 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:52.400 to be union to you know, speak for us as 535 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:55.240 a union voice to the owners when they got together 536 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:59.400 and collectively bargained. I was injured right before the strike here, 537 00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:01.920 way back in eyighty seven eighty eight. So I played 538 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:04.559 eighty five eighty six, then got injured. Then there was 539 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:06.839 a strike here, and then I actually got a couple 540 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:09.839 surgeries and then actually signed after the second collective bargaining 541 00:28:09.880 --> 00:28:12.960 agreement with the LA Raiders, And so I saw it 542 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:16.039 and I live it now. We started an NFL alumni 543 00:28:16.119 --> 00:28:20.640 chapter here, and it's amazing what's changed and what's transpired 544 00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:29.160 for as players. But certainly from a current player standpoint 545 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:34.160 and someone who's in the league, there's rules, there's representation, 546 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:37.519 there's a there's a plan, but it only comes with 547 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:40.839 central leadership. In my opinion, I just don't as of 548 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:43.960 right now, the SEC is so powerful and the Big 549 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:46.480 Pens not far behind, or vice versa. I'm not actually 550 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:50.920 sure who generates more on a perching basis, but weirdly, 551 00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:54.799 as a conference, they kind of collectively bargain. So the 552 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:57.319 way I understand that the Big Ten goes out and 553 00:28:57.359 --> 00:29:02.960 negotiates rights, media rights and creates content, and that content's 554 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:06.799 distributed and they're paid by the distributors of the content, 555 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:09.720 and then that is equally divided amongst the schools in 556 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:12.319 the Big Ten and the SEC. So they're doing it 557 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:16.759 on a conference basis. But people need to understand. And 558 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:19.759 I wasn't a member of the PAC twelve or part 559 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:21.279 of the school that was a member of the PAC twelve, 560 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:25.319 but this is the nation's favorite sport. It spans from 561 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:27.839 coast to coast, and I think it's a travesty what 562 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:30.279 happened on the pack to the PAC twelve and on 563 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:33.279 the West coast. But someone needs to look out for that. 564 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:35.640 There should not be two teams in LA that get 565 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:37.480 on a plane on a weekly basis and fly to 566 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:42.319 Maryland or Happy Valley, Pennsylvania to participate. And it sounds 567 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:44.640 great for football because you're on a chartered flight, but 568 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:50.039 there's some volleyball player, female volleyball player who's a scholar 569 00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:53.079 athlete who has to take a psyche test on Thursday, 570 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:56.720 and she traveled to Rutgers on Tuesday, and she took 571 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:59.480 the red Eye back with three connections on the way 572 00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:03.000 back to use La studied, took her test on Thursday, 573 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:05.759 and then got on a plane and flew to Minnesota. 574 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:11.880 It's just nuts. And until someone gets their act together 575 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:16.440 and figures out that college football specifically, and I think 576 00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:20.640 maybe college football needs to be its own thing. Not 577 00:30:21.319 --> 00:30:24.440 own thing in the sense that it's not a sport 578 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:27.680 tied to college at you know, college and universities, but 579 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:30.119 it might need to be its own revenue model and 580 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:35.640 have its own representation, both from an ownership standpoint all 581 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:39.079 of the university and or private equity who has the 582 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:42.000 opportunity to buy into some of these programs and then 583 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:45.200 collectively bargained for the players, because it definitely is the 584 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:47.880 goose that's laying the golden egg, and it helps funds 585 00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:52.160 lots of other sports. And until this is all figured out, sadly, 586 00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:55.240 what it's made college football so great in America is 587 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:58.279 just starting to disintegrate before our very own eyes. We 588 00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:01.319 certainly love it, I'm tuning in, I'm watching it, but 589 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:04.119 it's it's hard as a fan. It's hard as a 590 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:09.160 fan to feel something strongly about a team that there 591 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:12.079 was a young man who represented your school and next 592 00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:13.839 year is going to represent another school, and next year 593 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:15.880 is going to represent another school, which, by the way, 594 00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:18.480 I thought you could only transfer once, and it seems 595 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:20.799 guys now are transferring two, three, four times. It's just 596 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:24.720 it just is absolutely crazy. But to answers question specifically, 597 00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:28.079 I think what's standing in its way is we need 598 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:34.519 we need a Roger Goodell of college football to represent uh. 599 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:39.160 I guess really the media or and or the universities collectively. 600 00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:43.200 And then we need to, you know, figure out a 601 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:46.519 way to make sure the athletes are representative and representative. 602 00:31:46.680 --> 00:31:48.960 And I don't know if it has to be at 603 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:52.599 quite the level that the NFL is, and maybe I'm 604 00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:57.759 being naive on that, but players, look, you know, there's 605 00:31:57.839 --> 00:32:01.359 lots of coaches and universities making tons of money, and 606 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:04.359 certainly with a matter of time before some of those 607 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:07.279 resources need to be directed to players because some of 608 00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:09.559 them are maimed for life. Some of them get great 609 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:12.680 educations and they move on and it was an unbelievable experience, 610 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:15.799 and some of them are generating huge amounts of revenue 611 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:18.519 for schools and coaches that are making millions and millions 612 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:20.960 of dollars. So to get those guys a share of 613 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:23.480 the pot, I don't think is necessarily a negative thing. 614 00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:27.279 But it's just now seems to be the wild wild 615 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:29.799 West with a system with no rules. 616 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:32.599 I wonder, And let's just one one more thing here, 617 00:32:32.640 --> 00:32:34.240 then we can move on, because I want to ask 618 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:36.039 you about the Bowl game and colonial all. 619 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:36.559 That good stuff. 620 00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:39.119 But let's let's talk through this real quick to see 621 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:42.079 if there's anything there, because I do think a game 622 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:46.599 changer will be private equity money. You know, venture capitalists 623 00:32:46.599 --> 00:32:49.480 coming in to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in 624 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:52.799 the sport. Is there a way that you could get enough? 625 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:57.640 You know, private equity venture capitalists in a room that 626 00:32:57.799 --> 00:33:01.119 all want to invest in this, and then because of 627 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:04.319 the money, they're willing to really give up front to 628 00:33:04.440 --> 00:33:06.960 programs and then say you can use this with nil, 629 00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:09.119 you can use this to upgrade facilities or pay or 630 00:33:09.160 --> 00:33:09.759 cut or whatever. 631 00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:12.200 And you know, these guys you're in the space. 632 00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:14.160 The one thing that they will not do is invest 633 00:33:14.200 --> 00:33:16.240 the money unless they think they can get great dividends 634 00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:16.960 on the back end. 635 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:18.400 Exactly right. 636 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:21.079 So if they're willing to step up and write these 637 00:33:21.119 --> 00:33:25.640 big checks, could they as a group gardner enough power 638 00:33:25.640 --> 00:33:28.279 to pick a Roger Goodell of college football and say 639 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:30.000 this is the guy that's going to run this thing 640 00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:30.319 for us. 641 00:33:30.359 --> 00:33:31.200 Does that make sense? 642 00:33:32.119 --> 00:33:34.680 Yeah, it does. I mean certainly being in the space. 643 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:37.119 For those of you who don't know, and not that 644 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:39.880 I work for private equity firm. Actually, my partners in 645 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:41.640 the Hall of Fame in the NFL and in the 646 00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:45.680 Hall of Fame football, Steve Young and our partners in 647 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:48.720 a private equity firm, Hunting Gay Global capitalis GGC, and 648 00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:51.440 we have lots of money under management. We are looking 649 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:55.359 we have a thematic sourcing initiative within our firm to 650 00:33:55.440 --> 00:34:03.759 look for sports athletic, sports centric businesses to invest in. Right, 651 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:06.799 It's something that is important to us as individuals and 652 00:34:07.160 --> 00:34:10.679 as a firm, and so we're trying to find ways 653 00:34:10.679 --> 00:34:13.719 to put money to work in professional athletics. All that 654 00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:17.440 being said, the model in college athletics is unique. I'm 655 00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:22.199 with you kind of from a macro viewpoint, But how 656 00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:25.079 do you make that work when some of these teams 657 00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:28.880 are owned by states, either owned by state institutions, they 658 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:32.440 owned by the University of Utah. Takes a lot of 659 00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:36.840 state money. And I don't know how what the ownership 660 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:40.440 looks like in the University of Utah, how that was 661 00:34:40.480 --> 00:34:42.519 set up, what the charter was when the University of 662 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:47.480 Utah was established, And I don't know what hurdles that 663 00:34:49.400 --> 00:34:52.079 impose on private equity, right, I mean, like you said, 664 00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:54.480 private equity is kind of is what it says. It is. 665 00:34:54.519 --> 00:34:58.440 It's taking private dollars, investing it in an asset, figuring 666 00:34:58.440 --> 00:35:00.440 out a way to create value in that asset and 667 00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:03.599 get a return for the shareholders. And that, to me, 668 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:07.440 I think is going to be complicated based on the 669 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:11.639 landscape of college football. But concessfully, what you're saying do 670 00:35:11.719 --> 00:35:14.800 I agree with absolutely, And I'm not sure. I don't 671 00:35:14.800 --> 00:35:16.760 know if it's private equity. I hate to say it. 672 00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:21.679 I'm a capitalist. I believe in the free enterprise and 673 00:35:21.760 --> 00:35:25.239 free market system. I don't I believe less governments better. 674 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:29.000 I do think potentially one way to get control of 675 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:33.360 this crazy monster is to have the federal government step 676 00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:35.559 in in one way, shape or form or the other 677 00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:38.360 and then act laws because some of these school like 678 00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:41.039 I said, these schools are federally owned, state owned. Some 679 00:35:41.079 --> 00:35:43.559 of them are one hundred years old, one hundred and 680 00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:47.119 fifty two hundred years old institutions that I'm not sure 681 00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:50.119 they would be willing to take private equity money. Although 682 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:54.719 they take lots of private equity money and to fund endowments, 683 00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:57.480 I don't know if they're going to take private equity 684 00:35:57.519 --> 00:36:01.280 money to give up ownership in an asset that's some 685 00:36:01.599 --> 00:36:07.679 two hundred year old educational institution is owns. So I 686 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:10.719 don't know, Spence, I don't know how to divvy it up. 687 00:36:11.039 --> 00:36:16.519 But I do think what you're saying resonates and it 688 00:36:16.599 --> 00:36:20.000 has to happen. And whether d I saw Dion on 689 00:36:20.000 --> 00:36:22.840 a clip the other day on TikTok or Instagram or 690 00:36:22.840 --> 00:36:25.239 Facebook or somewhere on a reel, I saw Nick Saban, 691 00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:28.559 everyone's saying the same chip, same thing, Chip Kelly said 692 00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:31.840 the same thing. Right, It's like, look, guys, we're generating 693 00:36:31.880 --> 00:36:33.920 a lot of money. Let's figure out how much money 694 00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:35.559 goes to the school. Let's figure out how much money 695 00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:37.679 goes to the players. Let's divvy that up. Let's have 696 00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:42.039 some guardrails this money. You know, and I'm a believer 697 00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:45.880 that you know, Green Bay gets the same amount of Dallas, 698 00:36:45.880 --> 00:36:48.039 and Dallas gets the same amount as the New York Giants, 699 00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:49.519 and the New York Giants get the same amount as 700 00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:52.199 the LA Rams And that makes it work, right. Any 701 00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:57.000 given Sunday wasn't some crazy marketing you know slogan. It 702 00:36:57.119 --> 00:37:03.039 was to create an even system. It was to create parody. 703 00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:06.079 And I think that's what we want in college football. 704 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:08.719 We certainly want it regionally. I don't think anyone at 705 00:37:08.760 --> 00:37:11.400 the at Oregon State wakes up on a Saturday and says, 706 00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:13.760 I wonder what's happening in a Georgia Tech today. I 707 00:37:13.840 --> 00:37:15.800 sure hope they win, or I sure hope they lose, right, 708 00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:19.519 I mean, what's made college football so great are regional 709 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:23.639 and conference rivalries that are part of this global, you know, 710 00:37:23.719 --> 00:37:26.599 American landscape of college football. I mean, it's kind of 711 00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:29.880 all part of this giant quilt. But there's patches that 712 00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:33.519 are more relevant to certain people. And Oregon State cares 713 00:37:33.559 --> 00:37:37.960 about Oregon and Washington and and you know, cal down 714 00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:40.599 the road, at least they used to. And Michigan is 715 00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:42.320 always going to care about Ohio State, and no, SiO 716 00:37:42.360 --> 00:37:44.880 State's always gonna care about Michigan because they border each other, 717 00:37:45.159 --> 00:37:47.519 and b what's always gonna care about Utah? And Utah 718 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:50.119 is always gonna care about BYU and the See schools 719 00:37:50.119 --> 00:37:52.679 are the same, and so let's figure out a way 720 00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:56.679 to get the University of Tennessee the same amount of 721 00:37:56.800 --> 00:38:00.480 money as Oregon State. And some people will their eyes 722 00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:02.760 at that, but I think that's what makes it work. 723 00:38:03.719 --> 00:38:05.519 I mean, right now, the big ten schools, they all 724 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:07.679 make the same. No one seems to roll their eyes 725 00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:11.400 at Rutgers, who is not great at anything, is getting 726 00:38:11.400 --> 00:38:16.039 the same cash payout that Ohio State's getting. Right, I mean, 727 00:38:16.079 --> 00:38:18.440 they make that work because they all need each other. 728 00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:20.800 They need each other in that conference. And it's the 729 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:23.679 same with the SEC. Vanderbilt has been getting their share, 730 00:38:24.159 --> 00:38:26.320 the same share that Alabama and George has been getting 731 00:38:26.599 --> 00:38:29.800 in the SEC since they've been divving up those cash 732 00:38:30.360 --> 00:38:32.920 those funds for media rightes. And so I just don't 733 00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:36.239 understand why we can't do that on a global landscape. 734 00:38:36.280 --> 00:38:38.480 And maybe it's shrinks. Maybe it's instead of one hundred 735 00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:40.199 and thirty teams or one hundred and thirty five teams 736 00:38:40.239 --> 00:38:43.199 or whatever it is, maybe there's a group of five 737 00:38:43.320 --> 00:38:46.960 and there's a different group and whether that's eighty or ninety, 738 00:38:47.039 --> 00:38:49.400 or sixty or or one hundred, I don't know what 739 00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:51.800 the number is. But right now, there's a lot of 740 00:38:51.800 --> 00:38:54.119 money generated for the schools in the Big ten. There's 741 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:55.920 a lot of money generated for the schools in the SEC. 742 00:38:55.960 --> 00:38:58.360 There's a lot of money generated for the schools in 743 00:38:58.400 --> 00:38:59.480 the Big twelve. And there used to be a lot 744 00:38:59.519 --> 00:39:01.679 of money gener for the Pack twelve and the PAC 745 00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:04.920 twelve just had horrible leadership and people lost their minds 746 00:39:05.159 --> 00:39:07.480 and they said, look for an extra ten million dollars. 747 00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:12.159 I'm willing to forego our unbelievable history as a conference 748 00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:14.599 and I'm going to join a conference that that means 749 00:39:14.679 --> 00:39:16.760 nothing to us, and then we have to travel all 750 00:39:16.800 --> 00:39:20.800 across the country for a few extra dollars. So why 751 00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:22.599 not find a way to make the pie bigger? And 752 00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:25.519 that's what that's what the NFL has done. Everyone gets 753 00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:28.559 their slice and and they're unified. They want to put 754 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:31.679 the best product forward. I mean, there's a great acquired 755 00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:34.960 podcast that if you're a podquest cast or spence about 756 00:39:35.320 --> 00:39:37.639 how they did it and why they did it, and 757 00:39:37.679 --> 00:39:40.000 it was entertainment and it was it was a way 758 00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:42.119 to create a product and the product was the NFL, 759 00:39:42.360 --> 00:39:45.679 and our product is college football and people love it 760 00:39:46.199 --> 00:39:48.920 and let's not kill it. And we're freaking killing it 761 00:39:49.360 --> 00:39:51.920 because we don't have someone driving the bus. And it 762 00:39:52.400 --> 00:39:54.000 just bums me out a. 763 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:54.880 Lot of good stuff there. 764 00:39:54.920 --> 00:39:57.000 It feels like you guys need to get involved because 765 00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:58.960 I know life is really good for Steve, but you 766 00:39:58.960 --> 00:40:01.400 could do worse as a college football commissioner. 767 00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:02.039 The Steve Young. 768 00:40:02.119 --> 00:40:05.800 Yeah, yeah, life is good for Steven. Steve. Steve is 769 00:40:05.920 --> 00:40:08.760 very smart, he said. I mean, I mean, I'm certainly biased, 770 00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:11.440 but I mean I studied my a off for the 771 00:40:11.559 --> 00:40:14.119 l SAT and got eighty four percent, and I don't 772 00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:15.719 think he's studied once, and he was in the ninety 773 00:40:15.800 --> 00:40:19.599 nine percent. He's he's a smart guy. He's connected, he's 774 00:40:19.199 --> 00:40:23.599 he's respected, and he sees the he sees what the 775 00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:26.639 opportunity is and he's cold pete at the highest level 776 00:40:26.639 --> 00:40:28.679 of both and and you know, and maybe it's him, 777 00:40:28.719 --> 00:40:31.159 and maybe it's a panel. Maybe it's him and Nick 778 00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:33.519 Saban and a few other players. I mean people that 779 00:40:33.559 --> 00:40:37.079 have been around and experienced what they needed to experience 780 00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:42.039 to understand how to protect a really strong American asset 781 00:40:42.199 --> 00:40:44.760 that the that you know, a lot of people that 782 00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:47.639 live in this country care about and before we go 783 00:40:47.800 --> 00:40:50.320 too far down the path, we we get it back 784 00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:52.639 and headed in the right direction. And I'm hopeful that's 785 00:40:52.639 --> 00:40:54.920 going to happen. I mean, I just heared Nick Saban 786 00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:57.960 now on Game Day and and he's a voice, he's 787 00:40:58.000 --> 00:41:00.280 got a platform now and he talks about it. Then. 788 00:41:00.800 --> 00:41:03.360 You know, social media, if anything, has created a platform 789 00:41:03.400 --> 00:41:06.960 and an opportunity for people to share their opinions. And 790 00:41:07.679 --> 00:41:09.599 most of the people that I see share their opinions 791 00:41:09.639 --> 00:41:11.519 kind of are saying the same thing you're saying, Sence. 792 00:41:12.440 --> 00:41:15.320 You know, they want to fix this before it gets 793 00:41:15.320 --> 00:41:15.719 too late. 794 00:41:16.320 --> 00:41:18.199 Let's move over now to what's going on to your 795 00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:21.400 alma mater. And you know, as soon as the NIO, 796 00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:25.360 as soon as it became a reality, when the NCAA 797 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:27.920 was basically thrown out of court and told that you're 798 00:41:27.960 --> 00:41:31.599 a serial anti trust violator, get out of my courtroom 799 00:41:31.599 --> 00:41:35.320 and go figure it out, and suddenly the landscape started 800 00:41:35.320 --> 00:41:37.519 to shift. On the show, I said that day, this 801 00:41:37.800 --> 00:41:40.039 feels like it could be really good news for Buyu, 802 00:41:41.079 --> 00:41:43.960 who you know at the time independence you know, they 803 00:41:43.960 --> 00:41:45.880 were kind of looking for a home then the Big 804 00:41:45.920 --> 00:41:49.559 Twelve invite happens, and you know, Killani year two in 805 00:41:49.599 --> 00:41:51.840 the Big Twelve wins ten games and nearly wins the 806 00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:54.880 whole thing. And you know, down at Steve's golf tournament, 807 00:41:54.880 --> 00:41:57.400 I caught up with Brian Santiago. We talked about all 808 00:41:57.440 --> 00:41:59.639 of the really cool initiatives they have in place, and 809 00:41:59.719 --> 00:42:02.639 right now now it feels like BYU's Collective or whatever 810 00:42:02.679 --> 00:42:05.480 they're calling it, is in a really healthy spot in 811 00:42:05.519 --> 00:42:07.960 a way that Utah's isn't. As of now, they lock 812 00:42:08.039 --> 00:42:10.039 in AJ DEBANTSA and Jim. I don't know if you've 813 00:42:10.039 --> 00:42:13.760 seen this kid play my Goodness like he is for real. 814 00:42:14.360 --> 00:42:16.440 So it feels like BYU. 815 00:42:16.119 --> 00:42:19.000 Right now, with their collective and their NIL initiatives, have 816 00:42:19.199 --> 00:42:21.639 figured some things out and it's going in the right direction. 817 00:42:21.719 --> 00:42:24.480 Can you shed some light on the mechanisms about how 818 00:42:24.480 --> 00:42:25.920 they've been able to kind of make this work? 819 00:42:26.960 --> 00:42:29.960 Yeah, I mean, and you know, it's interesting to hear 820 00:42:30.199 --> 00:42:32.719 your perspective, and I totally agree. One is, I think 821 00:42:32.760 --> 00:42:34.920 what Bery has figured a bunch of things out right. 822 00:42:35.079 --> 00:42:39.639 One is, you know, it's it's good to be liked, 823 00:42:39.679 --> 00:42:41.599 and it's good to like other people, And I think 824 00:42:41.639 --> 00:42:44.320 BAU has figured out that. Look, you know, I went 825 00:42:44.440 --> 00:42:46.679 to BAU is a non member kid from Wisconsin. I 826 00:42:46.679 --> 00:42:49.039 didn't know any LDS people back where I grew up. 827 00:42:49.039 --> 00:42:51.239 I'd never heard of THEYU. I went there, I had 828 00:42:51.239 --> 00:42:54.119 an unbelievable experience. I was part of a fraternity that 829 00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:58.199 was pretty diverse and and so you know, it was 830 00:42:58.920 --> 00:43:01.000 I mean, it was still part of the great BYU community, 831 00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:03.280 which which actually I embraced and figured out, this is 832 00:43:03.280 --> 00:43:05.840 gonna be really cool. Like It's something I don't know about, 833 00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:10.159 and I'm willing to learn and I'm excited to kind of, 834 00:43:10.599 --> 00:43:12.639 you know, expand my horizons and be part of a 835 00:43:12.679 --> 00:43:15.039 community that I didn't grow up in. And I think 836 00:43:15.119 --> 00:43:16.840 BA is doing the same thing kind of on a 837 00:43:16.880 --> 00:43:19.079 broader landscape, which is college athletics. 838 00:43:19.159 --> 00:43:19.320 Right. 839 00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:23.679 They're they're looking to bring people in from other universities 840 00:43:23.719 --> 00:43:25.719 and other places. I mean, my goodness, they have a 841 00:43:26.079 --> 00:43:29.079 you know, they're starting quarterbacks, a Jewish young man who's 842 00:43:29.119 --> 00:43:32.760 embraced being a Jew at BYU. And what that means 843 00:43:33.119 --> 00:43:36.519 all the positives around that whole scenario. And I think 844 00:43:37.360 --> 00:43:39.119 I have not had a chance to see an age 845 00:43:39.119 --> 00:43:41.920 of but my goodness, I just heer unbelievable things. I 846 00:43:41.920 --> 00:43:44.719 have a lot of friends certainly involved at BYU and 847 00:43:44.760 --> 00:43:48.639 the basketball community, both collegiately and otherwise that just just 848 00:43:48.840 --> 00:43:52.960 tell me this kid is just unbelievable. And I think 849 00:43:53.000 --> 00:43:56.360 this is where NIL really paid off. And I'm not 850 00:43:56.480 --> 00:44:00.960 talking about by U Nil because the way I understand it, 851 00:44:01.559 --> 00:44:03.639 and I could be mistaken, but I've got some pretty 852 00:44:03.639 --> 00:44:07.360 deep sources and I got it, got some pretty good information. 853 00:44:07.519 --> 00:44:10.960 Is he was going to get a vast majority of 854 00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:14.119 the money that everyone sees that dollar figure, whether it's 855 00:44:14.159 --> 00:44:16.599 seven million or eight million, or six and a half 856 00:44:16.679 --> 00:44:18.320 or eight and a half or whatever the number is, 857 00:44:18.639 --> 00:44:22.480 the vast majority of that is coming from true Nil, right, 858 00:44:22.519 --> 00:44:24.719 which is what it was supposed to be, right, A 859 00:44:24.760 --> 00:44:27.920 big chunk coming from Nike. And oh, by the way, 860 00:44:28.159 --> 00:44:30.159 you know when he was on HISPN and he made 861 00:44:30.159 --> 00:44:33.840 the announcement, he had a little Red Bull logo on 862 00:44:33.880 --> 00:44:36.159 the side of his bou had a big chunk is 863 00:44:36.199 --> 00:44:39.519 coming from red Bull. Now he's got a big water 864 00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:42.280 pop money in his pocket, right, And so now he's 865 00:44:42.280 --> 00:44:44.960 gonna go get a chunk of money from other schools, 866 00:44:44.960 --> 00:44:49.400 whether it be Kentucky or Duke or Kansas or BYU, 867 00:44:49.639 --> 00:44:51.960 and he got a chunk of money from BYU. But 868 00:44:52.239 --> 00:44:54.960 that chunk of money from BYU, I don't think necessarily 869 00:44:55.079 --> 00:44:59.079 carried the day. It just made it competitive, right. They 870 00:44:59.119 --> 00:45:03.239 didn't have to that whole number. They could write a 871 00:45:03.280 --> 00:45:07.239 percentage of that number coupled with true nil money. And 872 00:45:07.280 --> 00:45:08.800 he's like, you know what, I'm gonna make the same 873 00:45:08.880 --> 00:45:11.079 money here if I make it at Kansas, I'm not 874 00:45:11.079 --> 00:45:13.480 gonna make a whole lot more there. I'm not gonna 875 00:45:13.480 --> 00:45:16.599 make a whole lot more at North Carolina. And by 876 00:45:16.599 --> 00:45:18.320 the way, I went to high school here and my 877 00:45:18.440 --> 00:45:21.599 parents really liked the environment at BUYU, and I've made 878 00:45:21.599 --> 00:45:24.800 some friends in the community in Utah, and I liked 879 00:45:24.840 --> 00:45:28.000 their coaching staff, and so it gave BYU a chance. 880 00:45:28.519 --> 00:45:32.719 And I think that's where nil can be And you know, 881 00:45:32.840 --> 00:45:36.280 it can level the playing field to a certain extent. 882 00:45:37.000 --> 00:45:40.320 And it's not really just outbidding someone like by You 883 00:45:40.320 --> 00:45:44.239 didn't go and outbid other people. They just were competitive 884 00:45:45.039 --> 00:45:47.199 and they offered things that were important to him and 885 00:45:47.239 --> 00:45:51.760 his family. So I think that's the positive side of it. 886 00:45:51.840 --> 00:45:55.440 And you're right when they said, you know, let's and 887 00:45:55.480 --> 00:45:57.920 I hate to even say nil because look, there's a 888 00:45:57.920 --> 00:46:01.599 professional sports team to tea they canna very well. You 889 00:46:01.639 --> 00:46:03.880 know the Utah Jazz, And I don't know about you. 890 00:46:03.960 --> 00:46:06.119 I don't see a ton of Utah Jazz guys getting 891 00:46:06.199 --> 00:46:09.039 nil money in the local market. And usually they the 892 00:46:09.079 --> 00:46:12.079 non starters. They're the guys that are doing the used 893 00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:14.360 car dealership for Larry Miller, so they get the use 894 00:46:14.360 --> 00:46:16.320 of a car and they get an extra fifty K, 895 00:46:16.760 --> 00:46:20.599 or they're on a credit Union commercial. But people that 896 00:46:21.199 --> 00:46:24.000 are in the business world, like myself and other people, 897 00:46:24.320 --> 00:46:27.440 you need an ROI on those dollars. And people just 898 00:46:27.519 --> 00:46:32.039 aren't scratching checks to both collegiate players or NBA players 899 00:46:32.079 --> 00:46:34.639 in the market unless somehow they feel it's going to 900 00:46:34.679 --> 00:46:37.679 make their business thrive and there's going to be a 901 00:46:37.719 --> 00:46:42.960 return on that dollar investment, and Nike certainly can do that. Right, 902 00:46:43.000 --> 00:46:45.519 they're betting on this kid being the next Michael Jordan 903 00:46:46.840 --> 00:46:51.000 or the likes thereof right and Red Bull is you're 904 00:46:51.000 --> 00:46:53.440 wanting to affiliate with this guy because he's just an 905 00:46:53.559 --> 00:46:57.639 unbelievable talent. And then you've got a university that can 906 00:46:57.719 --> 00:47:00.400 throw in some dollars to say, hey, oh and by 907 00:47:00.440 --> 00:47:02.159 the way, we really like you too, and we want 908 00:47:02.199 --> 00:47:03.360 you to come and we use them. And I had 909 00:47:03.679 --> 00:47:06.960 NL dollars and we have a collective. I shouldn't say naal. 910 00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:09.599 You know, I get a little miffed sometimes when people 911 00:47:09.599 --> 00:47:12.239 throw nil around and it's really not nil. It's just 912 00:47:12.280 --> 00:47:14.679 pay to play. But we've got a pool of funds 913 00:47:14.679 --> 00:47:16.440 that we can pay you to come play for us, 914 00:47:16.719 --> 00:47:20.039 and it's all going to work out. And to kudles 915 00:47:20.079 --> 00:47:23.719 to BYU because I think, you know, obviously the ownership 916 00:47:23.800 --> 00:47:27.519 of BYU is unique, and they care about what people 917 00:47:27.559 --> 00:47:31.320 think about that institution and then as a as a 918 00:47:31.320 --> 00:47:34.119 as a culture, and I think they said, you know what, hey, 919 00:47:34.119 --> 00:47:36.079 look we can do a lot of good by being 920 00:47:36.079 --> 00:47:39.239 competitive on the field, and yes, we're willing to back 921 00:47:39.360 --> 00:47:42.639 this to a certain extent. I think if it gets crazy, 922 00:47:43.079 --> 00:47:45.119 you know, you might feel that change. But right now 923 00:47:45.159 --> 00:47:47.760 they're like saying, yeah, let's go along, let's be really mindful. 924 00:47:48.159 --> 00:47:50.519 They hired a GM, which you know basically is a 925 00:47:50.559 --> 00:47:52.719 lawyer to come make sure they're doing everything dot in 926 00:47:52.800 --> 00:47:54.679 the eyes and crossing the t's and doing everything by 927 00:47:54.719 --> 00:47:58.559 the book, and it seems to be working. So I'm 928 00:47:59.039 --> 00:48:01.800 grateful that, you know, my school that I went to 929 00:48:01.800 --> 00:48:04.239 school and played at with. By the way, call Whittingham 930 00:48:04.320 --> 00:48:07.679 was my teammates. So I get the same thing at 931 00:48:07.679 --> 00:48:09.840 Buy at b U. And I'm friends with Kyle and 932 00:48:09.880 --> 00:48:12.360 I'm friends with Freddie, and I talked to these guys, 933 00:48:12.440 --> 00:48:15.119 those guys about these same issues, and you know, they're 934 00:48:15.199 --> 00:48:17.760 they're important to their program, just like it's important to 935 00:48:17.760 --> 00:48:20.119 BUYU and it's important to them as fans of the 936 00:48:20.400 --> 00:48:23.119 of the sport. So I don't know if I answered 937 00:48:23.119 --> 00:48:27.039 the question, but yes, it's it's it's crazy what's happening 938 00:48:27.079 --> 00:48:29.440 down there. And I think it's really good, you know, 939 00:48:29.480 --> 00:48:33.480 I think the portal has been a real benefit for him. 940 00:48:33.440 --> 00:48:35.519 They're just in this last week a couple of kids 941 00:48:35.519 --> 00:48:37.840 that I coached in high school that you know, I 942 00:48:37.880 --> 00:48:42.239 coached Tsilia Kanna, who was a you know, top forty 943 00:48:42.239 --> 00:48:44.840 recruit in the country. I mean, he had one hundred offers. 944 00:48:45.159 --> 00:48:48.360 Then he went to Texas and you know, some good, 945 00:48:48.480 --> 00:48:51.159 some not ideal, and thought it might be good to 946 00:48:51.320 --> 00:48:53.519 come closer to where he went, you know, grew up 947 00:48:53.559 --> 00:48:56.320 and from from a high school standpoint, and came back 948 00:48:56.360 --> 00:48:58.719 here and made the rounds and and he's going to 949 00:48:58.760 --> 00:49:01.199 go to Buyu. I'm because I coached him in high 950 00:49:01.199 --> 00:49:02.760 school and now I can to see him playing in person. 951 00:49:02.800 --> 00:49:06.079 He's an awesome human being and he's a phenomenal talent, 952 00:49:06.519 --> 00:49:09.079 and so I you know, I see some of those 953 00:49:09.079 --> 00:49:10.840 things kind of work out in our favor, just like 954 00:49:10.880 --> 00:49:13.360 it's working out at Utah. You know, it's sad to 955 00:49:13.400 --> 00:49:15.719 see some guys go, but it's also exciting to get 956 00:49:15.719 --> 00:49:18.920 some talent. But it can't be a revolving door. It's like, 957 00:49:18.960 --> 00:49:21.000 my goodness, come and play for us. And like you 958 00:49:21.000 --> 00:49:23.159 said earlier, if you're gonna sign a contract, a contract 959 00:49:23.199 --> 00:49:27.639 means something usually has a term. It's usually not you know, 960 00:49:27.960 --> 00:49:31.880 three months, it's usually a year or two years, or 961 00:49:31.920 --> 00:49:34.519 there's gonna be something that triggers another opportunity for you 962 00:49:34.559 --> 00:49:36.760 to leave. But if you're gonna take cash and you're 963 00:49:36.760 --> 00:49:39.039 gonna play for my school, I'm gonna say you're gonna 964 00:49:39.039 --> 00:49:40.960 play in all the games, including the Bowl game. That's 965 00:49:40.960 --> 00:49:43.400 where I give Dion a ton of credit, and you're 966 00:49:43.440 --> 00:49:45.800 gonna stick around because we're gonna we're gonna come up 967 00:49:45.840 --> 00:49:49.079 with some resources, and that's you know, quid pro quo. 968 00:49:49.320 --> 00:49:52.159 You play for us, you get cash and it's it's 969 00:49:52.199 --> 00:49:55.320 got to be some sort of commitment. So yeah, all 970 00:49:55.320 --> 00:49:57.639 those things, all those things, Spence, you and I could 971 00:49:57.639 --> 00:50:00.440 talk about for hours because I'm passionate about it. It 972 00:50:00.519 --> 00:50:04.639 sounds like you care as well, and so yeah, it's interesting. 973 00:50:04.639 --> 00:50:06.920 Great stuff, Jim. I appreciate your time today. I knew 974 00:50:06.960 --> 00:50:08.880 it would be good, and I'm glad you had a 975 00:50:08.880 --> 00:50:10.800 great Christmas. I wish you a happy New Year's and 976 00:50:10.880 --> 00:50:12.280 love to have you on again at some point. 977 00:50:12.360 --> 00:50:15.639 Okay, appreciate it. Hey, come to our next golf tournament. 978 00:50:15.760 --> 00:50:16.400 Was great to see you. 979 00:50:16.480 --> 00:50:16.840 For sure. 980 00:50:17.079 --> 00:50:18.400 It's going to be the same fours now. 981 00:50:18.480 --> 00:50:19.239 I'd love to Jim. 982 00:50:19.280 --> 00:50:22.039 Thank you, sir, Okay, thank you, appreciate you. 983 00:50:22.440 --> 00:50:24.760 Jim Herman played college ball at b YU, was the 984 00:50:24.800 --> 00:50:28.320 captain of that nineteen eighty four National Championship game, played 985 00:50:28.360 --> 00:50:31.159 in the NFL for Dallas and Cincinnati, and now working 986 00:50:31.159 --> 00:50:34.079 with Steve young Over in the eventual venture capitalist Space 987 00:50:34.119 --> 00:50:35.239 Private Equity Money. 988 00:50:35.480 --> 00:50:36.719 Good dude, sharp guy. 989 00:50:36.840 --> 00:50:39.400 Thought he would have a good perspective on the current 990 00:50:39.880 --> 00:50:42.400 landscape of college football, which you did. So if you 991 00:50:42.440 --> 00:50:44.480 missed that, it'll be up on the website of the 992 00:50:44.519 --> 00:50:48.039 podcast page momentarily. All right, we'll shift gears. Craig Bowler 993 00:50:48.119 --> 00:50:50.000 Jack joins us. Coming up next, the TV Voice the 994 00:50:50.079 --> 00:50:52.480 Utah Jazz on a Thursday Drive. So keep it right 995 00:50:52.519 --> 00:50:53.760 here on ESPN seven. 996 00:50:53.679 --> 00:51:07.440 Hundred line the new Swimm size with a single pill underneath. 997 00:51:08.199 --> 00:51:20.159 Sing the seasons of the Battle Queen Space. 998 00:51:20.440 --> 00:51:26.800 And the Bears, Seahawks and the Bears. Today Thursday Night Football. 999 00:51:27.840 --> 00:51:30.239 Right after we say good night, it'll wrap up the 1000 00:51:30.280 --> 00:51:33.800 week seventeen slate. Hard to believe that we're almost done 1001 00:51:33.800 --> 00:51:36.039 now with the NFL. 1002 00:51:36.239 --> 00:51:36.840 Great stuff. 1003 00:51:37.320 --> 00:51:41.960 Jim Herman today, former b YU Cougar, former NFL player 1004 00:51:42.000 --> 00:51:45.320 for a number of years, and now doing some work 1005 00:51:45.360 --> 00:51:48.639 with Steve Young in the venture capitalist private equity space, 1006 00:51:48.679 --> 00:51:52.519 So appreciate his time. Today we are efforting Craig Bowler Jack, 1007 00:51:52.599 --> 00:51:54.360 the TV voice of the Utah Jazz. 1008 00:51:54.920 --> 00:51:56.199 Jazz aren't action tonight. 1009 00:51:56.199 --> 00:51:59.079 They're taking on the Portland trail Blazers, and so we'll 1010 00:51:59.079 --> 00:52:00.800 get to some stuff here. 1011 00:52:00.840 --> 00:52:02.079 They've been better as of late. 1012 00:52:02.360 --> 00:52:04.519 My fear is that they're going to accidentally win twenty 1013 00:52:04.519 --> 00:52:06.760 five or thirty games and draft eighth or ninth again, 1014 00:52:07.880 --> 00:52:10.480 which we'll just put this thing in a perpetual rebuild, 1015 00:52:10.519 --> 00:52:13.440 which is of course what nobody wants, so we'll see 1016 00:52:13.519 --> 00:52:14.440 how it plays out. 1017 00:52:14.440 --> 00:52:16.519 But they have been better. So it's a late tip tonight. 1018 00:52:16.559 --> 00:52:19.199 It's eight o'clock because they're up in Portland and let's 1019 00:52:19.199 --> 00:52:21.800 bring him in now, the legend himself, the TV voice 1020 00:52:21.840 --> 00:52:25.239 of Utah Jazz on a Thursday afternoon, Craig Bowler, Jack Bowler. 1021 00:52:25.280 --> 00:52:27.039 Happy post Christmas, sir, how are you? 1022 00:52:27.960 --> 00:52:32.639 I'm good, Spence, Happy post Christmas and happy almost New Year. 1023 00:52:32.880 --> 00:52:33.440 How about that? 1024 00:52:33.559 --> 00:52:34.840 I love it? I love it. 1025 00:52:35.079 --> 00:52:37.320 Were you able to spend the holidays with that great 1026 00:52:37.360 --> 00:52:38.360 family of yours? 1027 00:52:38.880 --> 00:52:41.719 You know it was we got in late late, I 1028 00:52:41.800 --> 00:52:44.360 had you know, I love Christmas Eve. I enjoyed that, 1029 00:52:44.559 --> 00:52:46.760 had a little Christmas morning and then on a plane 1030 00:52:46.800 --> 00:52:48.519 and we got a hit for your last night around 1031 00:52:48.519 --> 00:52:52.719 six thirty. So yeah, quick, a quick turnaround. But that's 1032 00:52:53.000 --> 00:52:54.039 that's the life of the NBA. 1033 00:52:54.840 --> 00:52:55.920 Yes it is, Yes, it is. 1034 00:52:55.960 --> 00:52:59.239 So before we get to tonight specifically, you know, I 1035 00:52:59.239 --> 00:53:02.039 think it's fair to say the play has been improved 1036 00:53:02.079 --> 00:53:03.039 over the past ittle did. 1037 00:53:03.079 --> 00:53:04.960 Of course, wins always help. 1038 00:53:05.039 --> 00:53:07.039 Back to back wins against a couple of teams that 1039 00:53:07.079 --> 00:53:08.440 are kind of in the same spot. 1040 00:53:08.480 --> 00:53:11.920 The Jazz are and then they played the Cavs pretty tough. 1041 00:53:12.440 --> 00:53:14.360 Gives I know, nobody gives a rip about that, but 1042 00:53:14.400 --> 00:53:16.639 over the past i'd say three games or so, Craig, 1043 00:53:16.679 --> 00:53:19.239 it feels like they've been playing a little bit better. 1044 00:53:19.239 --> 00:53:21.000 They're a little bit more competitive. What are you see 1045 00:53:21.039 --> 00:53:21.679 in from your seat? 1046 00:53:22.679 --> 00:53:26.519 Yeah, I think you see the younger players, and I'm 1047 00:53:26.519 --> 00:53:29.519 talking about the second year players and even the third 1048 00:53:29.559 --> 00:53:33.239 year player and mister Walker Kessler seems to be a 1049 00:53:33.320 --> 00:53:37.000 much more confident big in this league right now. Sends 1050 00:53:37.039 --> 00:53:39.840 the ball has had a moment or two. Jusang has 1051 00:53:39.880 --> 00:53:43.599 had his moments as well. It's all about consistency, Spence. 1052 00:53:43.639 --> 00:53:45.679 You and I've talked a lot about that with Gordo, 1053 00:53:46.000 --> 00:53:49.960 and you know that's probably the biggest issue that will 1054 00:53:50.000 --> 00:53:53.119 faces every night is can you be consistent? Can you 1055 00:53:53.199 --> 00:53:57.079 play and allow your miscues to two minutes instead of six? 1056 00:53:57.199 --> 00:53:57.360 Right? 1057 00:53:57.960 --> 00:54:01.599 And I thought against even Cleveland team in the NBA, look, 1058 00:54:01.639 --> 00:54:06.039 they were full, they weren't. They brought everybody, and you 1059 00:54:06.079 --> 00:54:08.480 know the Jazz, you know hit a three point shot 1060 00:54:08.840 --> 00:54:12.320 nineteen and forty four, Walker had a huge rebound game 1061 00:54:13.039 --> 00:54:15.840 and you know, five players again in double figures. The 1062 00:54:15.920 --> 00:54:18.800 Vets have played a role. But I think also some 1063 00:54:18.440 --> 00:54:21.920 of the some of the younger guys are beginning to 1064 00:54:22.000 --> 00:54:25.840 be I hate to keep using the word but connected, 1065 00:54:25.960 --> 00:54:29.559 you know, more cohesive. They understand who they are, they 1066 00:54:29.639 --> 00:54:32.559 understand their teammates. The turnovers are still high, but yet 1067 00:54:33.440 --> 00:54:37.840 not as suffocating, and at least they're more competitive. And 1068 00:54:37.920 --> 00:54:40.239 I think that's what the Jazz are looking for right now, 1069 00:54:40.360 --> 00:54:44.039 is growth and be competitive. If you lose, that's part 1070 00:54:44.039 --> 00:54:46.760 of the game plan, but still learning the process and 1071 00:54:46.800 --> 00:54:48.159 hopefully that's what the Jazz are doing. 1072 00:54:48.480 --> 00:54:52.199 You know, we've talked about the dynamic Craig and you 1073 00:54:52.239 --> 00:54:54.840 know this as well, if not better than anybody. Oftentimes, 1074 00:54:54.880 --> 00:54:58.280 for whatever reason, and the reasons vary, a lot of 1075 00:54:58.400 --> 00:55:02.159 really good players for the Jazz end up going elsewhere 1076 00:55:02.440 --> 00:55:06.159 and never fully recapturing what they were when they were here. 1077 00:55:06.320 --> 00:55:09.079 You know the examples of Gordon Hayward, who of course 1078 00:55:09.119 --> 00:55:12.679 got hurt, so that's different, and then d Will Darren himself, 1079 00:55:12.719 --> 00:55:14.920 who has admitted he probably should have stuck around, but 1080 00:55:15.039 --> 00:55:18.800 you know, he decided and he was traded, but obviously 1081 00:55:19.519 --> 00:55:22.000 he went elsewhere with the New Jersey nets, not the 1082 00:55:22.039 --> 00:55:24.639 Brooklyn nets, and never fully recaptured who he was here, 1083 00:55:24.679 --> 00:55:26.320 which was one of the best lead guards in pro 1084 00:55:26.400 --> 00:55:30.719 basketball for like four years. But the Donovan stuff, I 1085 00:55:30.760 --> 00:55:33.639 think will always sting a little bit because he's still 1086 00:55:33.679 --> 00:55:35.679 smack dab in the middle of his prime and he's 1087 00:55:35.760 --> 00:55:37.760 just he's awesome. He just is. You've seen it up 1088 00:55:37.760 --> 00:55:39.920 close for years. I don't know, did you have a 1089 00:55:40.000 --> 00:55:42.559 chance to say hello? How does it seem to be going? 1090 00:55:42.639 --> 00:55:45.880 He's having The numbers are pretty similar to what they 1091 00:55:45.920 --> 00:55:48.519 have been, but his efficiency is better. He seems to 1092 00:55:48.559 --> 00:55:51.559 be a little bit more engaged defensively, and maybe, you know, 1093 00:55:51.679 --> 00:55:54.320 year six or seven for him, he finally realizes if 1094 00:55:54.360 --> 00:55:57.039 he's going to answer questions come playoff time, he's got 1095 00:55:57.079 --> 00:55:59.559 to change a little bit. Kenny Atkinson has done a 1096 00:55:59.559 --> 00:56:01.760 great odd. That team is really good. What was it 1097 00:56:01.880 --> 00:56:04.480 like seeing Donovan and watching what he's doing for the Cavs. 1098 00:56:05.440 --> 00:56:06.039 It was great. 1099 00:56:06.159 --> 00:56:10.480 Honestly, it's hard not to just embrace the guy the smile. 1100 00:56:11.079 --> 00:56:13.960 Five years in Salt Lake, you know, with the Jazz, 1101 00:56:14.679 --> 00:56:16.920 I think the pressure is off a bit. I mean, 1102 00:56:17.000 --> 00:56:21.960 Darius Garland is having a tremendous year. Evan Mobley, that's 1103 00:56:22.000 --> 00:56:24.840 a tough threesome with the big guy Jared Allen, you know, 1104 00:56:24.920 --> 00:56:28.239 two in the middle, and their bench with LeVert and 1105 00:56:28.320 --> 00:56:31.159 even George Nyang former jazz man. It's weird when you 1106 00:56:31.199 --> 00:56:33.559 go around and see the guys the Minivan, you know, 1107 00:56:33.719 --> 00:56:36.519 one of the fan favorites during his tenure, and even 1108 00:56:36.599 --> 00:56:39.519 Joe Joe Ingles still hanging around up in Minnesota and 1109 00:56:39.559 --> 00:56:42.360 will Go Gobert and Conley. The names just are all 1110 00:56:42.400 --> 00:56:44.880 over the NBA and they're still producing at a pretty 1111 00:56:44.960 --> 00:56:49.000 high rate. But yeah, I think Donovan has found a 1112 00:56:49.039 --> 00:56:51.679 real good home. I think they're on the cusp of 1113 00:56:51.760 --> 00:56:57.440 being obviously competitive once again. Can they beat Boston That's 1114 00:56:57.840 --> 00:57:00.920 yet to be seen. But at the moment, best best 1115 00:57:00.920 --> 00:57:03.519 record in the NBA. And they're solid, they're built to win, 1116 00:57:03.920 --> 00:57:07.639 They're fast, they hit shots. Uh, they're will cook excuse 1117 00:57:07.679 --> 00:57:10.800 me there will coach as you said by Kenny uh 1118 00:57:10.840 --> 00:57:14.719 and Uh it was I think you know what Spence. 1119 00:57:14.840 --> 00:57:17.360 Even though things happened the way they did, I think 1120 00:57:17.400 --> 00:57:21.599 Donovan still, you know, always will have a soft soft 1121 00:57:21.599 --> 00:57:24.199 spot for the Jazz. Not not sure about jazz fans 1122 00:57:24.239 --> 00:57:27.039 will feel about it, but there was some good times there. 1123 00:57:27.159 --> 00:57:29.920 I mean the go Bear combo. Uh. 1124 00:57:30.519 --> 00:57:35.400 It's sad that COVID hit and the issues from the 1125 00:57:35.440 --> 00:57:38.599 bubble began to bubble over or not to play on words, 1126 00:57:38.599 --> 00:57:41.000 but in reality, that's what it was. 1127 00:57:41.119 --> 00:57:41.800 Time to move on. 1128 00:57:42.639 --> 00:57:45.400 And it is interesting that I've talked to Booze. We 1129 00:57:45.519 --> 00:57:47.639 got to put him in the conversation along with you 1130 00:57:47.800 --> 00:57:51.039 Will and Heyward. There's a lot of players around the 1131 00:57:51.119 --> 00:57:54.639 league that have great memories here and think, boy, I 1132 00:57:54.679 --> 00:57:58.880 shouldn't have listened to, whether it's family, whether it's friends, 1133 00:57:58.920 --> 00:58:01.840 whether it's your agent, that they had a good deal going. 1134 00:58:01.880 --> 00:58:03.800 Boozer and d Will had a pick and roll going 1135 00:58:03.880 --> 00:58:05.719 like Carl and John in a lot of ways. That 1136 00:58:05.840 --> 00:58:08.519 was a very good team with a lot of good pieces. 1137 00:58:08.599 --> 00:58:11.119 But then Slowan and d Will and we all know 1138 00:58:11.199 --> 00:58:12.960 the story and how it went from there and was 1139 00:58:13.000 --> 00:58:16.559 traded to New Jersey. But yeah, there's a lot of 1140 00:58:16.639 --> 00:58:18.719 players who've come back and have mentioned that to me, 1141 00:58:19.719 --> 00:58:22.199 that man, it was a good deal here, had a 1142 00:58:22.239 --> 00:58:25.039 good time and I was playing some of their best 1143 00:58:25.079 --> 00:58:27.679 basketball of their career. In fact, it never was the 1144 00:58:27.679 --> 00:58:31.599 same after they left the Jazz. So we'll see. Donovan 1145 00:58:31.599 --> 00:58:34.280 has proven that wrong. He's still at a very high level. 1146 00:58:34.320 --> 00:58:37.280 Eighth year hard to believe, right, in the NBA and 1147 00:58:37.400 --> 00:58:39.559 a five time All Star, and I don't see him 1148 00:58:39.559 --> 00:58:40.760 slowing down anytime soon. 1149 00:58:41.639 --> 00:58:44.280 So I wonder I referenced a couple of wins the 1150 00:58:44.320 --> 00:58:47.079 team was able to snag on the road, and yes, 1151 00:58:47.400 --> 00:58:51.440 neither Detroit or Brooklyn are very good. But it has 1152 00:58:51.559 --> 00:58:55.480 been tough sledding. It will be tough sledding. Did you 1153 00:58:55.559 --> 00:58:59.400 notice a little bit of a lighter atmosphere after a 1154 00:58:59.400 --> 00:59:01.880 couple of wins on you know, around the team as 1155 00:59:01.880 --> 00:59:03.639 you're kind of traveling on the road with them, did 1156 00:59:03.719 --> 00:59:06.320 it feel like, you know, after three straight l's in 1157 00:59:06.360 --> 00:59:08.400 a season where you haven't won a ton, just getting 1158 00:59:08.440 --> 00:59:10.199 a couple of back to back wins on the road 1159 00:59:10.320 --> 00:59:12.920 kind of eased the burden a little bit, I guess 1160 00:59:12.960 --> 00:59:13.519 is what I say. 1161 00:59:14.400 --> 00:59:16.960 You know, when your seven wins Spence and yes and 1162 00:59:17.039 --> 00:59:20.119 at the time five and you get two on the road, 1163 00:59:20.960 --> 00:59:24.199 I think it had to rejuvenate just the whole way 1164 00:59:24.239 --> 00:59:28.599 you work out, the way you react to your teammates. 1165 00:59:28.639 --> 00:59:31.679 And you know, I've talked to Will about it. Players 1166 00:59:31.840 --> 00:59:34.400 you know have to win. I mean that's part of it. Look, 1167 00:59:34.440 --> 00:59:39.079 they know the score too, young developments, you got the 1168 00:59:39.199 --> 00:59:41.000 vets in here, try to help, and then you have 1169 00:59:41.079 --> 00:59:43.000 the Vets play it. They're playing pretty well by the 1170 00:59:43.000 --> 00:59:48.280 way Sexton Collins, you know, and Marketing's had a little 1171 00:59:48.320 --> 00:59:50.280 more of a breakout game of those two games because 1172 00:59:50.280 --> 00:59:54.280 some other other players were scoring. But you know, it 1173 00:59:54.360 --> 00:59:57.639 is what it is. But to win it gives you 1174 00:59:58.800 --> 01:00:02.800 the the pri back the hard work says, Okay, that 1175 01:00:02.880 --> 01:00:05.440 paid off tonight because they didn't make as many mistakes 1176 01:00:06.079 --> 01:00:08.400 or they hit free throws, they hit threes, they played 1177 01:00:08.440 --> 01:00:12.559 really good defense. Mind you, team defense, and that's the key. 1178 01:00:13.599 --> 01:00:17.159 And so you're starting to see sometimes that they all 1179 01:00:17.199 --> 01:00:21.599 come together, but they still have work to do. How 1180 01:00:21.599 --> 01:00:25.400 do you overcome twenty eight turnovers and thirty five points 1181 01:00:25.400 --> 01:00:27.320 in a win? You hit threes and you hit a 1182 01:00:27.360 --> 01:00:29.679 ton of free throws. That's how you do it, and 1183 01:00:29.840 --> 01:00:32.639 play some good d at times, not all the time, 1184 01:00:32.760 --> 01:00:35.280 but sometimes. And that's kind of what they were able 1185 01:00:35.280 --> 01:00:38.199 to find on the road against teams that are also 1186 01:00:38.480 --> 01:00:40.840 trying to find their way back. You just made that point. 1187 01:00:41.199 --> 01:00:43.360 You know, these are teams that are all talking lottery, right, 1188 01:00:43.880 --> 01:00:48.280 and so one win could either disrupt that run to 1189 01:00:48.360 --> 01:00:50.119 the top one of the top three picks or the 1190 01:00:50.199 --> 01:00:52.719 number one pick along the way, and it's just going 1191 01:00:52.800 --> 01:00:55.760 to be intriguing once we get to the trade deadline 1192 01:00:55.960 --> 01:00:58.800 and after the All Star break. You know what direction 1193 01:00:59.320 --> 01:01:01.840 all these teams decided to go and how it all 1194 01:01:01.880 --> 01:01:04.599 falls into place. That's really kind of the other underline 1195 01:01:05.280 --> 01:01:07.840 storyline that's going to continue to play out, you know, 1196 01:01:08.000 --> 01:01:09.000 through the rest of the season. 1197 01:01:09.639 --> 01:01:12.079 All Right, Craig, I don't really fully know how to 1198 01:01:12.079 --> 01:01:13.719 ask this, so we're just going to give it a try, 1199 01:01:13.800 --> 01:01:18.960 because I'll say, like when they have when Lowry's healthy, 1200 01:01:19.079 --> 01:01:22.400 first and foremost, when Clarkson's kind of doing his thing, 1201 01:01:22.639 --> 01:01:24.679 and obviously he's a little bit older, but there have 1202 01:01:24.760 --> 01:01:27.760 been some pretty vintage Jordan moments over the past few games, 1203 01:01:27.760 --> 01:01:31.239 including a nice night against the Calves and Collins got 1204 01:01:31.239 --> 01:01:33.639 it going a little bit, and Walker, who you reference 1205 01:01:33.719 --> 01:01:36.920 earlier to me, continues to be the feel good success 1206 01:01:36.960 --> 01:01:40.119 story of the Jazz season period, like when they have 1207 01:01:40.400 --> 01:01:44.039 all of their players and when they are kind of 1208 01:01:44.119 --> 01:01:46.960 playing the style of basketball that Will wants them to play, 1209 01:01:47.360 --> 01:01:50.320 and also when they're engaged offensively, because there's so many 1210 01:01:50.360 --> 01:01:52.360 moments that just are not good enough at that's at 1211 01:01:52.400 --> 01:01:54.880 that end of the floor. There's still a part of me. 1212 01:01:54.960 --> 01:01:57.719 That's like, are they going to do the thing where 1213 01:01:57.800 --> 01:02:01.159 they win thirty games again and draft eight or ninth? 1214 01:02:01.199 --> 01:02:04.000 Because I watch a lot of NBA basketball, and the 1215 01:02:04.039 --> 01:02:08.000 teams that are front facing about tanking don't necessarily have 1216 01:02:08.079 --> 01:02:11.320 the talent on paper the Jazz do. Like watch Washington 1217 01:02:11.960 --> 01:02:15.559 or Toronto. You know, there are some horrible, horrible teams 1218 01:02:15.599 --> 01:02:17.360 in the league, and the Jazz at seven and twenty 1219 01:02:17.400 --> 01:02:20.039 one are certainly near the bottom. And I know that 1220 01:02:20.079 --> 01:02:23.000 incrementally we have seen and probably will continue to see 1221 01:02:23.000 --> 01:02:26.039 players sit. But when they are playing at their peak, 1222 01:02:26.119 --> 01:02:28.400 how good is your good? The old saying, do you 1223 01:02:28.400 --> 01:02:30.800 feel like there's a chance they might be too good 1224 01:02:30.840 --> 01:02:35.039 to essentially be back in the lottery with a great 1225 01:02:35.119 --> 01:02:37.039 chance to get the number one pick and maybe win 1226 01:02:37.159 --> 01:02:39.480 thirty thirty two games a draft eight or ninth because 1227 01:02:39.480 --> 01:02:41.000 part of me is scared we might be headed for 1228 01:02:41.039 --> 01:02:41.440 that again. 1229 01:02:42.400 --> 01:02:46.360 Yeah, Spence, It's the hottest topic of conversation is that 1230 01:02:46.679 --> 01:02:50.239 there are talented players on this Jazz team, Okay, and 1231 01:02:50.280 --> 01:02:53.440 there are the veterans and Walker, as you just said, 1232 01:02:53.480 --> 01:02:58.360 it's been rumored to be in multiple conversations, and a 1233 01:02:58.360 --> 01:03:00.960 lot of people like what Walker can and. 1234 01:03:00.800 --> 01:03:02.000 His defense has improved. 1235 01:03:02.039 --> 01:03:04.320 His free throw shooting has not, and that's going to 1236 01:03:04.320 --> 01:03:07.079 be the biggest issue for him moving forward in my opinion. 1237 01:03:07.519 --> 01:03:10.880 But he put together the players you just mentioned, and 1238 01:03:10.920 --> 01:03:13.320 you let them run free, I think, and let them 1239 01:03:13.320 --> 01:03:15.840 play an intermix with some of the younger guys that 1240 01:03:16.280 --> 01:03:20.199 the Jazz have drafted. Yeah, I could see thirty wins 1241 01:03:20.280 --> 01:03:24.920 and flirting with in or out once again of the 1242 01:03:26.400 --> 01:03:29.599 playoffs or the play in I should say that's not 1243 01:03:29.679 --> 01:03:32.880 what the Jazz want to do. And I would say 1244 01:03:33.239 --> 01:03:36.920 that prior to the trade deadline, one of those veterans 1245 01:03:37.000 --> 01:03:40.760 we just spoke of or two most likely won't be 1246 01:03:40.840 --> 01:03:43.960 here and that will be the deciding factor again like 1247 01:03:44.000 --> 01:03:47.440 it has been the last two seasons, of helping a 1248 01:03:47.519 --> 01:03:51.679 career along and also Spence potentially and this is just 1249 01:03:51.800 --> 01:03:56.719 me right talking potentially allowing them to improve their trade 1250 01:03:56.760 --> 01:03:59.559 status to help the Jazz, if that makes sense. John 1251 01:03:59.599 --> 01:04:02.440 Collins has had a fantastic year. I thought it was 1252 01:04:02.440 --> 01:04:04.960 the MVP through the first twenty or so games. Now 1253 01:04:05.000 --> 01:04:07.840 Walker has made a step up. And we know what 1254 01:04:07.920 --> 01:04:11.559 Sexton is and we know what jay c is all about. 1255 01:04:11.880 --> 01:04:14.519 Do they stay do they go? But I think they've 1256 01:04:14.559 --> 01:04:18.960 improved their trade status. That would only help the Jazz 1257 01:04:19.039 --> 01:04:22.199 if that's the direction that Danny and Justin decided to go, 1258 01:04:22.599 --> 01:04:25.440 and I think you would agree that then, like with 1259 01:04:25.519 --> 01:04:30.280 Olenik and Fontechio last year, just put the Jazz to 1260 01:04:30.320 --> 01:04:32.280 who they were and they put the guys on the 1261 01:04:32.280 --> 01:04:34.920 floor to finish out the season. I can't remember because 1262 01:04:34.960 --> 01:04:37.519 I try to forget. I think the Jazz lost twenty 1263 01:04:37.519 --> 01:04:40.039 four to the last twenty seven. Am I closest I 1264 01:04:40.039 --> 01:04:40.800 believe that. 1265 01:04:41.079 --> 01:04:41.840 I think it's the way it. 1266 01:04:41.800 --> 01:04:44.559 Went, and I think it's kind of probably the same 1267 01:04:44.639 --> 01:04:51.000 game plan to see what draft, you know, more picks 1268 01:04:51.400 --> 01:04:54.719 that may come Danny's way if they do decide to 1269 01:04:54.760 --> 01:04:57.840 move the Vets, who I think have helped themselves with 1270 01:04:58.000 --> 01:05:01.719 another contract or potentially a team that needs them to 1271 01:05:01.719 --> 01:05:05.119 push them further deeper into the playoffs. But again that's 1272 01:05:05.159 --> 01:05:07.920 going to play itself out. But I don't think Sexton 1273 01:05:08.239 --> 01:05:10.800 has hurt himself. I don't think Jac's hurt himself. I 1274 01:05:10.880 --> 01:05:14.639 think John has really improved after his first year with 1275 01:05:14.719 --> 01:05:17.159 the Jazz to help himself. If they do decide to 1276 01:05:17.159 --> 01:05:20.079 move him to another spot, He's only helped himself become 1277 01:05:20.079 --> 01:05:20.760 a better player. 1278 01:05:22.760 --> 01:05:26.199 Yeah, I mean, and none of these decisions are are 1279 01:05:26.519 --> 01:05:29.559 easy to make. It just it just makes you curious 1280 01:05:29.559 --> 01:05:32.119 as to, you know, how long it's going to take 1281 01:05:32.159 --> 01:05:34.280 to get this thing on track, because it just feels 1282 01:05:34.320 --> 01:05:37.480 like there's so many people around the community that are 1283 01:05:37.519 --> 01:05:40.480 just bummed out that there has not been a tremendous 1284 01:05:40.519 --> 01:05:44.039 amount of tangible progress over the three years now almost 1285 01:05:44.079 --> 01:05:46.679 three years since they traded go Baron Mitchell. But it's 1286 01:05:46.679 --> 01:05:49.280 hard to do in the modern day NBA, Craig, because 1287 01:05:49.559 --> 01:05:52.119 it's a different landscape now. And you know, I've just 1288 01:05:52.199 --> 01:05:55.920 kind of been considering what the direction could look like 1289 01:05:56.000 --> 01:05:59.119 for the Jazz to get back to where we're accustomed 1290 01:05:59.119 --> 01:06:01.559 to seeing them get back to, and certainly it feels 1291 01:06:01.639 --> 01:06:04.719 like the draft has to be that avenue. But the 1292 01:06:04.800 --> 01:06:07.679 draft picks the Jazz have hit on recently have turned 1293 01:06:07.679 --> 01:06:11.000 out to only be temporary residents of this community. 1294 01:06:11.000 --> 01:06:12.280 They leave after a few years. 1295 01:06:12.320 --> 01:06:14.800 So as far as as far as the macro view 1296 01:06:14.920 --> 01:06:17.159 long term, I guess what I'll say is what gives 1297 01:06:17.199 --> 01:06:18.960 you the most confidence that you're going to be calling 1298 01:06:19.039 --> 01:06:21.079 winning basketball sooner. 1299 01:06:20.880 --> 01:06:21.559 Rather than later. 1300 01:06:22.519 --> 01:06:26.480 Well, that's another question, you know, I asked myself, I'll 1301 01:06:26.519 --> 01:06:29.639 be totally transparent. It's difficult t and I talked about 1302 01:06:29.679 --> 01:06:32.719 it all the time. Look, I'm into business because. 1303 01:06:32.400 --> 01:06:33.639 I love the game. 1304 01:06:33.880 --> 01:06:37.440 I like, you know, I love football as well. Anything 1305 01:06:37.440 --> 01:06:39.960 they've given me a chance to do during my career. 1306 01:06:40.320 --> 01:06:45.519 I jump in the booth and I want competitive, competitive game. 1307 01:06:46.679 --> 01:06:49.719 I love winning. Of course it makes my job easier. 1308 01:06:49.760 --> 01:06:52.159 But you get to know these guys, especially on the 1309 01:06:52.239 --> 01:06:55.400 Jazz side, and you go, wow, they're good guys on 1310 01:06:55.440 --> 01:06:57.719 top of it. You know, it's hard not to like sex, 1311 01:06:57.800 --> 01:07:01.599 and it's hard not to like JC. And I've got 1312 01:07:01.599 --> 01:07:02.519 to know John Collins. 1313 01:07:02.519 --> 01:07:03.280 You know, good guy. 1314 01:07:05.039 --> 01:07:06.679 But it may be a while. 1315 01:07:07.079 --> 01:07:07.559 Honestly. 1316 01:07:08.320 --> 01:07:11.480 You make a great point that the Jazz have developed 1317 01:07:11.480 --> 01:07:14.480 players in the past, but yet they choose to leave, 1318 01:07:15.159 --> 01:07:17.599 and it does happen in other cities as well. Salt 1319 01:07:17.679 --> 01:07:21.000 Lake is not by itself, but it's still is probably 1320 01:07:21.039 --> 01:07:25.880 the biggest concern the franchise has. And I've watched it myself, 1321 01:07:25.960 --> 01:07:29.039 as have you over the years, and Donovan would be 1322 01:07:29.079 --> 01:07:31.800 one of those. The Jazz decided to move Rudy and 1323 01:07:31.840 --> 01:07:35.239 got assets back, but he liked it here. And I 1324 01:07:35.239 --> 01:07:40.760 think the foreign the uptick and foreign play and talent. 1325 01:07:41.239 --> 01:07:43.559 I wouldn't be surprised if that's part of the equation 1326 01:07:44.159 --> 01:07:49.039 for more than just the Jazz, many several other franchises 1327 01:07:49.079 --> 01:07:51.760 that may have to depend on a lowry market. And 1328 01:07:51.800 --> 01:07:55.840 per Se who actually do like the slower pace, who 1329 01:07:55.960 --> 01:07:58.599 loves the mountains because he's from Finland reminds him of 1330 01:07:58.599 --> 01:08:01.199 a bit of home, does play a part of his 1331 01:08:01.719 --> 01:08:05.840 decision making. He actually liked it in salt Lake, and 1332 01:08:06.400 --> 01:08:08.079 you know a lot of players do when they come 1333 01:08:08.159 --> 01:08:11.239 back and visit. That's interesting, right, But it's you know, 1334 01:08:11.239 --> 01:08:14.880 Boo's likes it here, Dee Will decided to stick around here, 1335 01:08:16.159 --> 01:08:18.800 and Hayward wanted to maybe come back at one point 1336 01:08:18.880 --> 01:08:23.520 in time. So it's interesting that the dynamics of Salt 1337 01:08:23.640 --> 01:08:26.119 Lake growing at a rapid rate, by the way, and 1338 01:08:26.199 --> 01:08:28.840 will that change that may be down the road a 1339 01:08:28.960 --> 01:08:32.960 discussion we'll all get into is how much is salt 1340 01:08:33.039 --> 01:08:35.079 Lake changing? What will down to the town look like? 1341 01:08:35.119 --> 01:08:38.239 What did the Olympics in thirty four bring again? And 1342 01:08:38.600 --> 01:08:43.079 maybe it's you know, it turns and maybe players find 1343 01:08:43.079 --> 01:08:46.000 themselves more intrigued to stay and work a career. But 1344 01:08:46.079 --> 01:08:50.199 what happens Spence as I ramble, But it's true, you win, 1345 01:08:51.159 --> 01:08:56.079 and things good things usually happen. Cleveland not the best 1346 01:08:56.159 --> 01:08:59.199 destination point in my opinion as a traveler and as 1347 01:08:59.239 --> 01:09:02.720 I jump in, but they find ways to keep players 1348 01:09:02.720 --> 01:09:05.560 there because they win and they have chances to win titles. 1349 01:09:05.960 --> 01:09:08.439 And that's what it becomes. If you have if you 1350 01:09:08.520 --> 01:09:10.680 have the title or the chance to win a title, 1351 01:09:11.119 --> 01:09:14.760 they will come for how long not probably too long, 1352 01:09:14.800 --> 01:09:17.159 but enough of that window to give you the opportunity. 1353 01:09:17.760 --> 01:09:19.720 Before I saw you lose Craig some good stuff there. 1354 01:09:19.760 --> 01:09:22.840 I want to bring you into really what's become the 1355 01:09:22.960 --> 01:09:27.880 national conversation surrounding pro basketball about lack of interest and 1356 01:09:27.960 --> 01:09:30.960 lack of ratings, and the conversation at this point has 1357 01:09:30.960 --> 01:09:33.159 become exhausting because I think there have been a number 1358 01:09:33.199 --> 01:09:36.600 of different theories thrown out there that are just basically 1359 01:09:36.640 --> 01:09:39.520 noise and garbage. But one of the consistent themes I 1360 01:09:39.600 --> 01:09:43.479 hear not just from media members who cover the league, 1361 01:09:43.640 --> 01:09:45.600 not just people who are kind of in the league, 1362 01:09:45.600 --> 01:09:48.880 but fans who have been watching pro basketball from a 1363 01:09:48.920 --> 01:09:53.279 macro viewpoint, not just Jazz basketball. They don't like the 1364 01:09:53.399 --> 01:09:57.800 product as much. It's three point heavy and Kevin Durant, 1365 01:09:57.840 --> 01:10:00.600 if you miss Durant's like diatribe on the lead right now. 1366 01:10:00.640 --> 01:10:03.039 I thought it was really good, and he's right, like, 1367 01:10:03.079 --> 01:10:05.640 there are plenty of guys taking threes that have no 1368 01:10:05.720 --> 01:10:08.800 business taking threes. It's just the analytics tell you that, 1369 01:10:09.479 --> 01:10:11.920 you know, thirty eight percent from three is better than 1370 01:10:11.920 --> 01:10:14.359 a contested eighteen foot mid range shot, So let's not 1371 01:10:14.479 --> 01:10:18.239 take those anymore. And ultimately, it seems like all these 1372 01:10:18.239 --> 01:10:21.239 coaches have leaned into relying a lot on the three 1373 01:10:21.239 --> 01:10:21.800 point shot. 1374 01:10:21.840 --> 01:10:24.760 Now, I don't agree with the statement. 1375 01:10:24.439 --> 01:10:26.359 That I've heard a couple of times all the teams 1376 01:10:26.439 --> 01:10:29.359 play the same because teams go about trying to get 1377 01:10:29.399 --> 01:10:32.039 their looks differently, and when you have Steph Curry, it's 1378 01:10:32.039 --> 01:10:34.319 a little different thing than if you have Colin Sexton. 1379 01:10:34.359 --> 01:10:37.279 I'll due respect, but you travel and you go on 1380 01:10:37.319 --> 01:10:38.880 the road, you call all these games. 1381 01:10:38.920 --> 01:10:41.239 Do you think the product is down? 1382 01:10:41.319 --> 01:10:44.520 I mean, I feel like there's more talented players in 1383 01:10:44.560 --> 01:10:46.880 pro basketball now than there ever has been, and that's 1384 01:10:46.920 --> 01:10:49.800 just evolution and growth of the modern athlete. But do 1385 01:10:49.880 --> 01:10:52.439 you feel like the product has suffered what a lot 1386 01:10:52.439 --> 01:10:54.479 of people believe to be the reason for these declining 1387 01:10:54.560 --> 01:10:55.279 ratings this year? 1388 01:10:56.000 --> 01:11:00.680 Yeah, these conversations are everywhere and Spence talk about it 1389 01:11:00.720 --> 01:11:03.840 on the road in the press room, and there's concern 1390 01:11:03.920 --> 01:11:07.520 there absolutely what's wrong with a mid range jumper because 1391 01:11:07.600 --> 01:11:10.279 analytics have started to come into play more and more, 1392 01:11:11.880 --> 01:11:13.960 and that's something I think the league has to step 1393 01:11:14.000 --> 01:11:17.199 back and ask. You know, basketball has three levels of scoring, 1394 01:11:17.319 --> 01:11:20.239 not one. You know, you can go play low in 1395 01:11:20.279 --> 01:11:22.640 the post, and the old big man day came and gone, 1396 01:11:22.720 --> 01:11:25.159 and the mid range game has come and now it's 1397 01:11:25.239 --> 01:11:28.199 taken out to the three point line. And also I 1398 01:11:28.199 --> 01:11:30.880 think the All Star Game became part of the issue 1399 01:11:30.920 --> 01:11:34.960 where it was just a playground. Look, I think people 1400 01:11:35.000 --> 01:11:37.840 like competition, they like the entertainment part, but you know what, 1401 01:11:37.920 --> 01:11:39.920 when we become so open where a guy throws a 1402 01:11:41.159 --> 01:11:44.239 half court pass, guy catches it and nobody even comes 1403 01:11:44.239 --> 01:11:46.800 into defend, these guys are just having a great time 1404 01:11:47.439 --> 01:11:50.880 and they still want competition, and I think that's what 1405 01:11:50.920 --> 01:11:53.920 the league has to be very careful about. I'm glad 1406 01:11:53.960 --> 01:11:57.800 to see Adam Silver actually try something new with the 1407 01:11:57.880 --> 01:12:01.720 All Star weekend that there is still competitive to bring 1408 01:12:01.760 --> 01:12:04.720 back competitive play. I don't know how it's gonna work, 1409 01:12:04.760 --> 01:12:08.439 but at least they're trying. But I am concerned that 1410 01:12:08.479 --> 01:12:10.760 it's that it's only a three point league, and maybe 1411 01:12:10.800 --> 01:12:15.800 this happens down the ranks. Suspence, this happens with aau 1412 01:12:16.199 --> 01:12:19.640 that it's just a three point game. Kids watch Sports 1413 01:12:19.640 --> 01:12:22.239 Center or whatever, you know, whatever you choose, and they 1414 01:12:22.279 --> 01:12:24.039 only see the highlight of the day, which is what 1415 01:12:24.800 --> 01:12:27.880 it's a game winning three, or it's a three point 1416 01:12:27.880 --> 01:12:31.199 barrage by Sam Merrill, let's say, from Utah State Bountiful 1417 01:12:31.279 --> 01:12:34.640 High who has that one thing the big t always 1418 01:12:34.640 --> 01:12:35.159 talks about it. 1419 01:12:35.239 --> 01:12:35.560 You can do. 1420 01:12:36.000 --> 01:12:38.039 You can knock down eight threes against us, which he 1421 01:12:38.079 --> 01:12:39.960 did the last time out before we saw him in 1422 01:12:39.960 --> 01:12:42.199 Cleveland a few days ago, but then he warmed up again. 1423 01:12:42.800 --> 01:12:48.119 So it's it's how we all absorbed the game and 1424 01:12:48.159 --> 01:12:51.520 what we see. And I think in network television the 1425 01:12:51.560 --> 01:12:55.640 three ball is celebrated quite a bit. Steph Curry obviously 1426 01:12:55.840 --> 01:13:00.279 is a master at hitting the three, and we lose 1427 01:13:00.319 --> 01:13:03.840 our focus on what Durant actually and Booker do in Phoenix, 1428 01:13:03.880 --> 01:13:06.880 two of the best mid range shooters in the NBA. 1429 01:13:07.840 --> 01:13:11.840 But that doesn't really stir the pot. That doesn't that doesn't, 1430 01:13:11.920 --> 01:13:16.439 you know, really feed the beast of highlights or the 1431 01:13:16.479 --> 01:13:19.640 three point shot is keen and I think it's something 1432 01:13:19.680 --> 01:13:21.439 the league has got to take a look at and 1433 01:13:21.479 --> 01:13:24.680 be careful with. We talked about this recently and again, 1434 01:13:24.880 --> 01:13:27.960 tell me I'm crazy, but should the league limit how 1435 01:13:27.960 --> 01:13:30.920 many three point shot attempts that a team can take? 1436 01:13:31.439 --> 01:13:34.840 It's something to think about, right, is it forty? And 1437 01:13:34.880 --> 01:13:36.720 then after that you've got to make sure you have 1438 01:13:36.760 --> 01:13:39.640 a few left in your belt in the fourth quarter. 1439 01:13:40.199 --> 01:13:44.279 It's something to think about. But I you know, as 1440 01:13:44.359 --> 01:13:46.560 more and more fans get a little bit more turned 1441 01:13:46.600 --> 01:13:48.800 off by this, I think the league has to really 1442 01:13:48.800 --> 01:13:51.720 take a long, hard look and decide what direction they 1443 01:13:51.760 --> 01:13:56.359 want to go. It has its purpose, But you know what, 1444 01:13:56.479 --> 01:13:59.279 I don't mind some low post play. I like to 1445 01:13:59.279 --> 01:14:02.760 see some good hard, you know, defense down low in 1446 01:14:02.840 --> 01:14:05.520 the post, like quote the old days. But also I 1447 01:14:05.600 --> 01:14:08.000 like the mid range game. It's a three three level league, 1448 01:14:08.279 --> 01:14:11.000 but not much lately. I'm talking about scoring three level scoring. 1449 01:14:11.479 --> 01:14:14.119 But there's concerns out there. I hear it all the time. 1450 01:14:15.439 --> 01:14:17.479 All right, bowler, Well, I appreciate your time. On a 1451 01:14:17.520 --> 01:14:20.239 game day, I'll be hoping for a good game tonight, 1452 01:14:20.359 --> 01:14:22.279 if for no other reason, so you can call some 1453 01:14:22.359 --> 01:14:25.560 good basketball jazz Blazers, So have a great call. Travel 1454 01:14:25.600 --> 01:14:26.399 safle chat soon. 1455 01:14:26.439 --> 01:14:30.600 Okay, thank you, thank you, since that's the key, be competitive, man, 1456 01:14:30.640 --> 01:14:33.680 so that that impacts the fans. Right the TV sets 1457 01:14:33.680 --> 01:14:36.439 stay on and you'll like to see good competition. So 1458 01:14:36.800 --> 01:14:38.439 that's all I pray for every night, man. That's what 1459 01:14:38.479 --> 01:14:39.159 I'm hoping for. 1460 01:14:39.079 --> 01:14:41.920 Tonight, no doubt, Thank you, sir. Be well, okay, all right, 1461 01:14:41.960 --> 01:14:44.439 take care, all right. Coming up on the other side, 1462 01:14:44.479 --> 01:14:46.520 Gordon Monson stops, but I will get back to some 1463 01:14:46.600 --> 01:14:49.680 college football at Gordon as BYU is in action on 1464 01:14:49.720 --> 01:14:52.680 Saturday against Colorado. The latest on the transfer portal for 1465 01:14:52.760 --> 01:14:56.119 the Utes, and we'll do at a little NFL if 1466 01:14:56.159 --> 01:14:56.720 time allows. 1467 01:14:56.720 --> 01:14:59.079 With Gordon. We also have Eric Weddle on the show today. 1468 01:14:59.199 --> 01:15:01.000 Former Ute, you can called out about a half hour 1469 01:15:01.079 --> 01:15:03.800 from right now, move over to Zach Harper later on. 1470 01:15:03.880 --> 01:15:05.640 We'll say goodnight at six o'clock in time for some 1471 01:15:05.720 --> 01:15:08.279 Thursday night football to drive on a Thursday, So keep 1472 01:15:08.279 --> 01:15:16.560 it right here on ESPN seven hundred. 1473 01:15:24.039 --> 01:15:25.520 We're Bullhos on the road tonight. 1474 01:15:25.800 --> 01:15:30.319 God Garret Weddle, he's gonna stop by just in about 1475 01:15:30.359 --> 01:15:34.000 twenty five minutes from right now. Former Youths always appreciate 1476 01:15:34.039 --> 01:15:37.079 his time. Zach Harper for a little NBA later on 1477 01:15:37.239 --> 01:15:41.359 as well, but joining us now the day after Christmas, 1478 01:15:42.000 --> 01:15:44.279 My guy, my old radio partner, still over at the 1479 01:15:44.279 --> 01:15:47.239 Salt Lake Tribune doing great work. Gordon Monson on a 1480 01:15:47.319 --> 01:15:49.800 Thursday afternoon, Gordo, happy post Christmas, sir. 1481 01:15:49.840 --> 01:15:50.159 How are you? 1482 01:15:51.399 --> 01:15:53.960 I'm doing just fine, Thanks Spence, and same to you. 1483 01:15:54.039 --> 01:15:55.119 I hope you have a good one. 1484 01:15:55.359 --> 01:15:57.479 Yeah, no, it was fun, just real quick. 1485 01:15:57.560 --> 01:16:01.279 Are you still participating with the crew diss festivities by 1486 01:16:01.319 --> 01:16:03.880 making that little bean cast role while least asked to 1487 01:16:03.880 --> 01:16:04.640 make everything else? 1488 01:16:05.640 --> 01:16:05.680 No? 1489 01:16:06.119 --> 01:16:10.119 I do that for Thanksgiving, but for Christmas she does. 1490 01:16:11.279 --> 01:16:16.159 She does an old family tradition Italian dinner that I 1491 01:16:16.239 --> 01:16:19.000 try not to mess up. So in fact, one time 1492 01:16:19.039 --> 01:16:22.359 I tried to help, she kicked me out of the kitchen. 1493 01:16:23.199 --> 01:16:26.600 Oh dear, yeah, she kicks me out. So no, but 1494 01:16:26.680 --> 01:16:28.920 we have a really good day. And I got to 1495 01:16:28.920 --> 01:16:31.279 tell you something. Do you have a turntable? 1496 01:16:32.239 --> 01:16:33.560 I have a record player? 1497 01:16:34.439 --> 01:16:35.600 Record play well whatever? 1498 01:16:35.720 --> 01:16:35.920 You know. 1499 01:16:36.079 --> 01:16:41.199 My daughters gave me that yesterday along with four Beatles 1500 01:16:41.279 --> 01:16:44.520 albums nice And I can't tell you the last time 1501 01:16:44.600 --> 01:16:47.960 I actually took a needle and put it down on 1502 01:16:48.479 --> 01:16:52.159 some vinyl. Man, it was it's been fun. Let's hear 1503 01:16:52.159 --> 01:16:53.079 it for the old style. 1504 01:16:53.600 --> 01:16:55.479 I'm with you. It's a great way to listen. 1505 01:16:55.520 --> 01:16:59.239 And also I still like listening to albums, and these days, 1506 01:16:59.239 --> 01:17:01.479 you know, these days it's like they released a single, 1507 01:17:01.960 --> 01:17:04.840 you call up Spotify and you can listen to albums. 1508 01:17:04.840 --> 01:17:07.039 But what I like about my record players, I just 1509 01:17:07.079 --> 01:17:08.840 turned to put a record on and listen to the 1510 01:17:08.960 --> 01:17:09.479 entire album. 1511 01:17:09.520 --> 01:17:10.800 So I still very much enjoy that. 1512 01:17:11.720 --> 01:17:15.800 Yeah, it's and there's something about the sound, even you know, 1513 01:17:15.880 --> 01:17:17.800 the little imperfections at times. 1514 01:17:17.479 --> 01:17:18.720 It just makes it. 1515 01:17:18.720 --> 01:17:21.239 It makes it feel real. And so I just listened 1516 01:17:21.279 --> 01:17:25.359 to the White album and it was it was fantastic. 1517 01:17:25.399 --> 01:17:27.600 And by the way, you know a lot of people 1518 01:17:27.640 --> 01:17:30.079 say different things they like about John Lennon, but that 1519 01:17:30.279 --> 01:17:34.800 song he wrote to his mom Julia, is that not 1520 01:17:34.960 --> 01:17:37.199 just the sweetest thing you ever heard? I mean, it's 1521 01:17:37.199 --> 01:17:38.119 just fantastic. 1522 01:17:38.399 --> 01:17:40.640 Yeah, tremendous songwriter, one of the best of all time. 1523 01:17:40.680 --> 01:17:42.760 You know that I'm a Lennon over McCartney guy, But 1524 01:17:42.920 --> 01:17:44.000 McCartney's awesome too. 1525 01:17:44.119 --> 01:17:46.199 You can you can like both, Gordon. You're allowed to. 1526 01:17:46.199 --> 01:17:48.640 Write, Yes, indeed, mcclemen. 1527 01:17:49.000 --> 01:17:52.840 I love it, love it all right, really illuminating conversation 1528 01:17:52.960 --> 01:17:55.399 with Jim Herman earlier. Jim used to join you and 1529 01:17:55.439 --> 01:17:57.479 I on our old show from time to time, and 1530 01:17:57.479 --> 01:17:59.560 he's a smart guy. He's a former Cougar, played in 1531 01:17:59.560 --> 01:18:02.640 the NFL, and now he's working with Steve Young and 1532 01:18:03.079 --> 01:18:05.920 you know, in the private equity VC space and they've 1533 01:18:05.960 --> 01:18:08.720 been very successful, very smart guys. We were talking about 1534 01:18:09.359 --> 01:18:14.039 just the current chaos in college football and Gordon they 1535 01:18:14.119 --> 01:18:17.479 have free agency while the season is still being played. 1536 01:18:18.119 --> 01:18:21.000 I mean, you know, it's like beyond insane. 1537 01:18:21.439 --> 01:18:24.319 This can't continue, yes, I mean you have coaches preparing 1538 01:18:24.439 --> 01:18:27.000 teams to try to win a national championship and then 1539 01:18:27.000 --> 01:18:30.199 they wrap up practice and they've got to run, you know, 1540 01:18:30.319 --> 01:18:33.800 the interference to make sure their players aren't transferring. DYU 1541 01:18:33.920 --> 01:18:36.279 has players in the transfer portal that will not play 1542 01:18:36.279 --> 01:18:39.560 on Saturday, and they're even teams in the CFP that 1543 01:18:39.640 --> 01:18:42.680 have had players enter the tand like, this can't continue. Yes, 1544 01:18:42.760 --> 01:18:43.800 this has to change. 1545 01:18:44.399 --> 01:18:47.399 Yeah, So I agree with you one percent. They've got 1546 01:18:47.399 --> 01:18:49.479 to do something. There's a lot of things. It's amazing 1547 01:18:49.560 --> 01:18:53.079 to me that something that's as popular as college football 1548 01:18:53.439 --> 01:18:57.039 can have the numerous problems or issues that it needs 1549 01:18:57.079 --> 01:18:59.279 to have solved, and this is one of them. And 1550 01:18:59.319 --> 01:19:02.760 it seems like it would be fairly easy at least 1551 01:19:02.760 --> 01:19:06.079 to make it look like it's done without the chaos. 1552 01:19:06.399 --> 01:19:10.600 Now it actually preventing the chaos maybe a different matter, 1553 01:19:10.840 --> 01:19:13.199 but at least make it seem like it a little 1554 01:19:13.239 --> 01:19:16.039 more difficult for this to happen the way it is. 1555 01:19:16.399 --> 01:19:18.680 And there's other problems to Spence. And I hate to 1556 01:19:18.720 --> 01:19:21.399 say it because you and I both love college football, 1557 01:19:21.760 --> 01:19:25.439 but you know, the SEC is trying to run college football. 1558 01:19:25.560 --> 01:19:28.079 You know, you heard all the complaints about the first 1559 01:19:28.159 --> 01:19:31.520 round games in the playoff, and you know, I thought 1560 01:19:31.520 --> 01:19:34.279 it was interesting that the SEC and the Big Ten 1561 01:19:34.760 --> 01:19:38.479 were actually kind of sniping at each other over you know, 1562 01:19:38.720 --> 01:19:41.479 Indiana shouldn't have been in there. They got crossed by 1563 01:19:41.800 --> 01:19:44.119 Notre Dame. And then other people say, well, wait a minute, 1564 01:19:44.119 --> 01:19:46.680 look at Tennessee, look what happened there. I mean, it's 1565 01:19:46.720 --> 01:19:49.239 just there's all this stuff going on, and maybe it's 1566 01:19:49.279 --> 01:19:52.159 always been that way, but this is the first batch 1567 01:19:52.640 --> 01:19:55.000 that we're all sort of looking at right now. 1568 01:19:56.359 --> 01:20:00.000 So I mean, ultimately, and I talked about this with Jim. 1569 01:20:00.039 --> 01:20:01.640 You and I have kind of kicked the tires on it. 1570 01:20:01.880 --> 01:20:04.039 I just Gordon, I feel like they've got to rip 1571 01:20:04.079 --> 01:20:06.439 the band aid off and they've got to lean into 1572 01:20:06.479 --> 01:20:10.079 the pro model. And that's not a super popular take 1573 01:20:10.319 --> 01:20:12.960 because from what I've read and from what I understand, 1574 01:20:13.039 --> 01:20:14.000 coaches want that. 1575 01:20:14.680 --> 01:20:16.119 I think it would be better for the players. 1576 01:20:16.159 --> 01:20:19.199 The players aren't necessarily being adversely affected right now because 1577 01:20:19.199 --> 01:20:22.000 they're finally making money, which they always should have been 1578 01:20:22.039 --> 01:20:24.640 able to do in a free market system. They now 1579 01:20:24.720 --> 01:20:27.159 just have the same basic economic rights you and I have, 1580 01:20:27.319 --> 01:20:32.039 So I'm for that, But there really isn't any issue 1581 01:20:32.279 --> 01:20:34.720 the teems to be plaguing college football right now that 1582 01:20:34.800 --> 01:20:37.520 can't be solved by simply leaning into the pro model 1583 01:20:38.039 --> 01:20:42.159 and allowing players to collectively bargain and unionize. And the 1584 01:20:42.279 --> 01:20:47.039 question is where's the central leadership? What does the college 1585 01:20:47.039 --> 01:20:51.159 football equivalent of the Commissioner's office in the NFL look like? 1586 01:20:51.239 --> 01:20:52.520 And it feels like a lot of. 1587 01:20:52.439 --> 01:20:55.000 These private equity guys are going to get involved and 1588 01:20:55.079 --> 01:20:58.000 buy stakes and teams, and maybe there's something there, but 1589 01:20:58.039 --> 01:21:00.199 there's a lot of red tape you have to traverse. 1590 01:21:00.239 --> 01:21:03.520 I know administrators don't love this idea. They don't want there. 1591 01:21:04.079 --> 01:21:05.840 I'll just use the term even though I'm gonna puke 1592 01:21:05.840 --> 01:21:09.479 in my mouth. Student athletes to be employees, you know 1593 01:21:09.560 --> 01:21:13.119 they don't. And schools are owned in no small part 1594 01:21:13.199 --> 01:21:17.640 by states, and private institutions have different challenges. Public institutions, 1595 01:21:17.640 --> 01:21:20.520 you probably have to include the governor and you probably 1596 01:21:20.560 --> 01:21:23.439 have to include our local legislators to figure out something 1597 01:21:23.479 --> 01:21:25.000 to be done if you want to buy forty eight 1598 01:21:25.039 --> 01:21:27.640 percent of Utah football. But I can tell you and 1599 01:21:27.680 --> 01:21:31.960 you know, if the venture capitalists, private equity guys get 1600 01:21:32.039 --> 01:21:35.520 involved with this, they will make sure it's ran the 1601 01:21:35.600 --> 01:21:37.720 right way because one thing rich people don't like to 1602 01:21:37.720 --> 01:21:39.119 do is lose money on investments. 1603 01:21:39.159 --> 01:21:41.000 They want to make sure their money's taken care of. 1604 01:21:41.600 --> 01:21:45.680 This feels like an angle where maybe the guys in 1605 01:21:45.800 --> 01:21:47.920 charge the money and the golden rule is you know, 1606 01:21:47.960 --> 01:21:48.880 we know the golden rule. 1607 01:21:48.920 --> 01:21:50.560 The man who has the gold makes the rules. 1608 01:21:50.720 --> 01:21:53.640 Maybe they can come up with a governing body with 1609 01:21:53.760 --> 01:21:56.399 central leadership to get this thing going in the right direction. 1610 01:21:56.920 --> 01:21:59.520 So give me your thoughts on that type of approach, 1611 01:21:59.560 --> 01:22:00.800 because something it needs to be done. 1612 01:22:01.680 --> 01:22:07.680 Yeah, I agree, however that will be formed. Please don't 1613 01:22:07.720 --> 01:22:10.359 let the government get involved in it because I mean, 1614 01:22:10.520 --> 01:22:14.199 legislature screw everything up. They screw up a lot of things, right. 1615 01:22:14.439 --> 01:22:17.039 I don't want to get political or but it's just 1616 01:22:17.399 --> 01:22:19.880 there's got to be a way. But it just takes 1617 01:22:20.199 --> 01:22:24.239 college football. It just takes them forever. It's glacial the 1618 01:22:24.279 --> 01:22:27.039 way they move. And what's happened is we saw how 1619 01:22:27.079 --> 01:22:29.800 long it took them to expand the playoff, right, I 1620 01:22:29.840 --> 01:22:31.880 mean we had all that run up to it, and 1621 01:22:31.920 --> 01:22:35.560 all those arguments and discussion leading up to what seems 1622 01:22:35.600 --> 01:22:38.159 like it should have been in place a long time ago. 1623 01:22:38.479 --> 01:22:40.199 And I don't care if they expand it, but it 1624 01:22:40.359 --> 01:22:44.399 just takes forever to get it to go. And now 1625 01:22:44.439 --> 01:22:49.199 all these issues come about relatively quickly, and it's so cumbersome. 1626 01:22:49.279 --> 01:22:52.319 It's like turning an aircraft carrier. It's difficult to get 1627 01:22:52.680 --> 01:22:55.439 these guys to come together to do what's best for 1628 01:22:55.520 --> 01:22:58.199 the game and maybe for the student athlete. If you 1629 01:22:58.479 --> 01:23:01.439 use that term again, I agree with you. Private equity 1630 01:23:01.479 --> 01:23:05.359 firms will get involved, it will be professionalized, and when 1631 01:23:05.399 --> 01:23:08.800 that happens, then those people are going to insist upon 1632 01:23:08.960 --> 01:23:13.279 having a little more organization, a better form to what 1633 01:23:13.319 --> 01:23:16.479 they're dealing with, because they will make money when they 1634 01:23:16.520 --> 01:23:20.000 get involved in it, and the colleges will accept their 1635 01:23:20.039 --> 01:23:24.680 influence and their money because they love money. That's why 1636 01:23:24.760 --> 01:23:28.199 that's what they'll do. And I think it will be fixed. 1637 01:23:28.319 --> 01:23:30.079 It's just a matter of how long it's going on. 1638 01:23:30.159 --> 01:23:35.720 Page probably excuse me strictly from a BYU standpoint. You know, 1639 01:23:35.960 --> 01:23:39.119 it's interesting when the Aj Debanson news was announced and 1640 01:23:39.159 --> 01:23:41.920 then the nil figure of seven million dollars to play 1641 01:23:41.960 --> 01:23:45.319 basketball at brigab Young for five months was floated out there, 1642 01:23:45.840 --> 01:23:49.159 automatically folks pointed to Ryan and Danny, Ryan Smith and 1643 01:23:49.239 --> 01:23:53.319 Danny Ainge. Danny, of course, was in Massachusetts when Aj 1644 01:23:53.520 --> 01:23:56.680 was growing up, and my understanding is he met with 1645 01:23:56.680 --> 01:23:59.119 a family a couple of times Ryan sent out on 1646 01:23:59.159 --> 01:24:03.760 social media, did not know essentially pay Aj. You can 1647 01:24:04.039 --> 01:24:07.640 color me unconvinced that that's the case, but ultimately I 1648 01:24:07.720 --> 01:24:12.399 do believe that BYU's collective with money from Ryan and others. 1649 01:24:12.479 --> 01:24:15.680 I've been told they have nine seven figure donors right now, 1650 01:24:16.199 --> 01:24:18.720 and Utah's number isn't that high. I think it's three 1651 01:24:18.840 --> 01:24:20.680 or four for Utah, and there is a bit of 1652 01:24:20.680 --> 01:24:23.640 an arms race. But what do you attribute most to 1653 01:24:23.840 --> 01:24:26.560 what appears to be a pretty successful traversing of the 1654 01:24:26.560 --> 01:24:29.640 space with the early data size from Brigham Young. 1655 01:24:29.800 --> 01:24:31.920 At this point, because. 1656 01:24:31.640 --> 01:24:34.439 They do have the money, they have access to the money. 1657 01:24:34.600 --> 01:24:39.159 It's funny because in the past and by years gone by, 1658 01:24:38.680 --> 01:24:42.960 they've always had certain people in place to help them. 1659 01:24:43.000 --> 01:24:46.439 It was a matter whether the institution itself, by institutions, 1660 01:24:46.439 --> 01:24:47.960 they take it all the way up to the church, 1661 01:24:48.359 --> 01:24:51.640 whether they would be willing to accept that and set 1662 01:24:51.680 --> 01:24:56.279 that model in place. And so the money has been there, 1663 01:24:56.760 --> 01:24:59.119 and contrary to what a lot of people think, I 1664 01:24:59.159 --> 01:25:04.119 don't think it's necessarily church money pouring into these things. However, 1665 01:25:04.199 --> 01:25:06.840 you can figure out whichever category you want the way 1666 01:25:07.319 --> 01:25:09.880 you know, the stacks, the piles are on the table 1667 01:25:09.920 --> 01:25:12.640 he or there, and maybe they get mixed up sometimes. 1668 01:25:12.680 --> 01:25:17.039 But I think it's just coming from very motivated boosters 1669 01:25:17.039 --> 01:25:20.039 who want to be involved with what's happened. And I've 1670 01:25:20.079 --> 01:25:22.960 always wanted to be involved, and now they've been given 1671 01:25:23.000 --> 01:25:25.479 the green light to do exactly that. So that's what 1672 01:25:25.600 --> 01:25:29.439 BYU has done and Utah. I don't know where the 1673 01:25:29.439 --> 01:25:32.760 line is between Utah catching up and where BYU is, 1674 01:25:32.880 --> 01:25:37.600 but Utah will close the gap. I'm relatively certain of that. 1675 01:25:37.680 --> 01:25:41.000 Because their folks are going to rally too, And. 1676 01:25:40.960 --> 01:25:43.239 That's where I wanted to go next, because we both 1677 01:25:43.319 --> 01:25:47.479 have sort of teased this potential good news coming down 1678 01:25:47.520 --> 01:25:51.680 the pipeline for Utah football, and I continue to try 1679 01:25:51.720 --> 01:25:54.680 to gently walk around the subject a little bit without 1680 01:25:54.720 --> 01:25:57.359 betraying the trust of people that have informed you of 1681 01:25:57.359 --> 01:26:00.840 certain things. But I know you've been informed of similar things, 1682 01:26:00.880 --> 01:26:04.359 and I've been told the timeline hopefully you know, end 1683 01:26:04.399 --> 01:26:08.760 of January, maybe February ish. But the type of transaction 1684 01:26:09.239 --> 01:26:13.000 that is in the works right now regarding Utah and 1685 01:26:13.039 --> 01:26:16.079 what this could look like for the athletic department and 1686 01:26:16.079 --> 01:26:18.319 the football team specifically, let's call it how it is, 1687 01:26:19.079 --> 01:26:20.520 should really excite you fans. 1688 01:26:20.560 --> 01:26:22.279 And I don't know that I can say anymore. 1689 01:26:22.399 --> 01:26:24.479 I don't know if you have anything else to add, 1690 01:26:24.520 --> 01:26:27.520 but right now, the narrative around town is that in 1691 01:26:27.560 --> 01:26:31.520 this arms race, BYU is lapping Utah. And certainly from 1692 01:26:31.520 --> 01:26:34.319 a basketball standpoint, when you lock in a generational talent 1693 01:26:34.399 --> 01:26:36.399 and then a football standpoint, when you just come off 1694 01:26:36.399 --> 01:26:39.039 a ten win season and have an allible bowl matchup 1695 01:26:39.039 --> 01:26:42.520 against an intriguing team, it's easy to connect the dots 1696 01:26:42.520 --> 01:26:44.960 and say, right now BYU appears to be in the lead. 1697 01:26:45.479 --> 01:26:47.359 But any anything. 1698 01:26:46.960 --> 01:26:49.680 Else you'd like to add about this potential really exciting 1699 01:26:49.680 --> 01:26:52.399 news for Utah Athletics that is coming down the pipeline 1700 01:26:52.399 --> 01:26:53.279 within the next few months. 1701 01:26:53.319 --> 01:26:56.399 I think, yeah, you and I whispered back and forth 1702 01:26:56.399 --> 01:26:58.439 about it, and I know you have your sources, I 1703 01:26:58.560 --> 01:27:01.239 have mine. I think Utah well is in a good 1704 01:27:01.279 --> 01:27:07.760 position to uh, to get a little deeper pockets and 1705 01:27:07.920 --> 01:27:11.000 to close that gap that you were speaking of. As 1706 01:27:11.000 --> 01:27:14.039 far as the way it's gonna pertain to basketball, that 1707 01:27:14.199 --> 01:27:17.079 I don't know, because it just seems like utall basketball 1708 01:27:17.199 --> 01:27:20.760 right now. I don't even know how to really describe it. 1709 01:27:21.039 --> 01:27:24.079 As far as the program itself, and as far as 1710 01:27:24.439 --> 01:27:27.800 the ability to draw fans put fans in the seats, 1711 01:27:28.560 --> 01:27:32.079 that's where BYU is really out doing the utes right now. 1712 01:27:32.119 --> 01:27:36.760 But football, you wouldn't expect football to be relatively even 1713 01:27:36.840 --> 01:27:40.000 in this regard because of the success the youths have 1714 01:27:40.079 --> 01:27:44.079 had in recent years or recent decades. I guess and 1715 01:27:44.680 --> 01:27:47.439 I think it's it's going to come. It's going to happen, 1716 01:27:47.840 --> 01:27:51.279 and youth fans don't fret too much because it's going 1717 01:27:51.319 --> 01:27:53.720 to be put in place in a way that I think, 1718 01:27:53.760 --> 01:27:57.920 as far as the money goes, will be extremely competitive. 1719 01:27:58.319 --> 01:28:02.520 And if there's money there and it's properly utilized, then 1720 01:28:02.600 --> 01:28:06.640 guess what follows wins success and that will be in 1721 01:28:06.720 --> 01:28:08.920 place for both Utah and BYU. 1722 01:28:09.079 --> 01:28:09.560 I believe. 1723 01:28:10.079 --> 01:28:12.560 Yeah, No, I concur there with that last point. So 1724 01:28:12.800 --> 01:28:15.640 as of now, according to twenty four to seven Sports, 1725 01:28:15.800 --> 01:28:19.119 University of Utah has the number twenty two ranked transfer 1726 01:28:19.199 --> 01:28:19.920 portal class. 1727 01:28:20.840 --> 01:28:21.880 They have twelve commits. 1728 01:28:21.960 --> 01:28:26.239 BYU is down at this point fifty seven with four commits. 1729 01:28:26.680 --> 01:28:28.880 There have been a few BYU players who announced that 1730 01:28:28.880 --> 01:28:31.399 they're in the portal that will not be playing on Saturday, 1731 01:28:31.439 --> 01:28:33.840 which is wild as we talked about, namely Crew Wakeley, 1732 01:28:33.880 --> 01:28:37.399 one of their really good defensive backs. But from a 1733 01:28:37.520 --> 01:28:40.920 Utah perspective, they've had to rely on transfers. Twelve in 1734 01:28:40.960 --> 01:28:43.279 coming thirteen actually with some news that came down with 1735 01:28:43.319 --> 01:28:47.560 the Utah state wide receiver. But they're losing twenty two players. Well, 1736 01:28:47.560 --> 01:28:50.079 they're twenty two players in the portal. You gotta be careful. 1737 01:28:50.119 --> 01:28:53.159 But at this point, Cameron Calhoun has already committed to 1738 01:28:53.439 --> 01:28:57.680 Alabama and then right before we signed off air on Monday, 1739 01:28:57.760 --> 01:29:02.319 was announced that Keyato Tnavasa, which hurt badly, is also 1740 01:29:02.359 --> 01:29:04.920 in the portal. Now he hasn't announced his intention. Maybe 1741 01:29:04.920 --> 01:29:09.439 he comes back. But Utah football is essentially rebuilding. It's 1742 01:29:09.439 --> 01:29:11.239 like a one year rebuild. I mean it's going to 1743 01:29:11.279 --> 01:29:15.039 be a new quarterback, a new running back, new defensive lineman, 1744 01:29:15.119 --> 01:29:19.119 new defensive backs, and BYU seems to be relying more 1745 01:29:19.159 --> 01:29:23.199 on continuity and growth in house that worked for them 1746 01:29:23.239 --> 01:29:23.800 a year ago. 1747 01:29:24.560 --> 01:29:27.960 Two different models. Are you confident that both can work? 1748 01:29:27.960 --> 01:29:31.199 I mean, Arizona State just showed us and Kenny Dillingham 1749 01:29:31.279 --> 01:29:34.279 just showed us that you can get this thing going quickly. 1750 01:29:34.359 --> 01:29:38.600 I mean Arizona State was a program left for dead 1751 01:29:38.680 --> 01:29:43.439 after Herm Edwards left it in in shambles, and they're 1752 01:29:43.439 --> 01:29:45.520 winning their champs of the Big Twelve. They're in the 1753 01:29:45.520 --> 01:29:47.439 CFP with a first round by So if you're a 1754 01:29:47.479 --> 01:29:50.479 BYU fan or a youth fan, I guess right now 1755 01:29:50.560 --> 01:29:51.119 mostly just. 1756 01:29:51.039 --> 01:29:53.000 A youth fan because BYU had a good year. 1757 01:29:53.640 --> 01:29:56.159 There are models to look at that indicate that you 1758 01:29:56.199 --> 01:29:59.079 can get this thing going in the right direction in 1759 01:29:59.079 --> 01:30:00.000 the Big Twelve quickly. 1760 01:30:00.199 --> 01:30:01.119 But if you're a. 1761 01:30:01.079 --> 01:30:04.479 Rebuilding like Utah is, how realistic is that next year. 1762 01:30:05.359 --> 01:30:11.119 Well, what is contrasting to this idea of what Utah 1763 01:30:11.159 --> 01:30:14.600 will need to do is what they've done in the past. 1764 01:30:14.760 --> 01:30:17.760 Think about how they've developed players in the past. Well, 1765 01:30:17.920 --> 01:30:21.119 the past isn't the present. I mean, if BYU wants 1766 01:30:21.159 --> 01:30:23.199 to try and follow that model because they had a 1767 01:30:23.199 --> 01:30:26.359 successful year this year and they think they can develop 1768 01:30:26.439 --> 01:30:30.239 by recruiting high school athletes and then maybe filling in 1769 01:30:30.279 --> 01:30:32.640 a few transfers here and there, then if they think 1770 01:30:32.640 --> 01:30:34.119 they can do that, then. 1771 01:30:34.039 --> 01:30:34.520 They did it. 1772 01:30:34.560 --> 01:30:36.920 They did it this year. But you know a lot 1773 01:30:36.920 --> 01:30:40.720 of BYU's games were pretty tight, and so for I've 1774 01:30:40.720 --> 01:30:42.720 heard that said by some of the folks down at 1775 01:30:42.720 --> 01:30:45.880 BYU that hey, we had a really good year. We 1776 01:30:45.960 --> 01:30:48.800 don't need to change a whole lot of things. Well, 1777 01:30:49.239 --> 01:30:53.000 you got to keep progressing because if you just sit 1778 01:30:53.079 --> 01:30:56.520 where you were, I'm not sure that's going to get 1779 01:30:56.560 --> 01:30:58.920 it done. And maybe some of those games that were 1780 01:30:58.920 --> 01:31:03.159 so close this last year, you know, it just it 1781 01:31:03.319 --> 01:31:05.800 may not work out in your favor moving forward. 1782 01:31:05.840 --> 01:31:05.960 Now. 1783 01:31:05.960 --> 01:31:08.920 I understand that all the teams are whittling down to 1784 01:31:09.000 --> 01:31:11.560 that one oh five number, and so they've got to 1785 01:31:11.680 --> 01:31:15.520 unload some players. But you heard Kyle Whittingham say as 1786 01:31:15.600 --> 01:31:17.800 the season ended that they were going to go out 1787 01:31:17.840 --> 01:31:20.920 and get forty new players, half of them via the 1788 01:31:20.960 --> 01:31:24.760 transfer portal, and that that's right on schedule, and the 1789 01:31:24.800 --> 01:31:29.359 others are other recruits. And I just don't think the 1790 01:31:29.479 --> 01:31:34.399 difference between the programs this last year were that great. Yeah, 1791 01:31:34.520 --> 01:31:37.079 BYU had the upper hand and they had the far 1792 01:31:37.159 --> 01:31:40.319 better season, but man, I'll tell you, that line is 1793 01:31:40.359 --> 01:31:44.760 pretty thin, and you you always got to progress forward 1794 01:31:45.279 --> 01:31:47.439 or else someone's going to catch you or lap you 1795 01:31:47.720 --> 01:31:51.399 or beat you. And so I think BYU is they 1796 01:31:51.479 --> 01:31:54.960 don't want to disrupt the chemistry they have down there, 1797 01:31:55.000 --> 01:31:57.399 and I guess I understand that, and they feel like 1798 01:31:57.439 --> 01:32:01.199 the culture is pretty good. So you know the old saying, 1799 01:32:01.199 --> 01:32:05.119 if he broke and by fix it, but you got 1800 01:32:05.119 --> 01:32:09.640 to continually add talent. But Utah is doing exactly that 1801 01:32:09.800 --> 01:32:13.479 out of sheer necessity. Man, last year, that just isn't 1802 01:32:13.520 --> 01:32:16.520 going to sit well with Utah fans, nor with the 1803 01:32:16.560 --> 01:32:18.760 coaches that are on hand, or the players for. 1804 01:32:18.720 --> 01:32:20.520 That matter, Utah State. 1805 01:32:20.840 --> 01:32:23.239 You know, Bronco's got work to do, And I'm just 1806 01:32:23.319 --> 01:32:25.279 curious as to get your take on how long you 1807 01:32:25.319 --> 01:32:27.560 think this will take Bronco to kind of get on 1808 01:32:27.600 --> 01:32:28.239 the right direction. 1809 01:32:28.319 --> 01:32:30.159 They have two incoming transfers. 1810 01:32:30.680 --> 01:32:33.119 Miles Davis, who was at BYU last year, is going 1811 01:32:33.199 --> 01:32:36.199 to go up and play at Utah State. Kidnamed Brevin Hamblin, 1812 01:32:36.239 --> 01:32:38.640 who I don't know much about, is also going to 1813 01:32:38.680 --> 01:32:41.720 play up in Logan Auto Tea, a really good wide 1814 01:32:41.760 --> 01:32:43.960 receiver up there just announce his intent to come to 1815 01:32:43.960 --> 01:32:45.039 Salt Lake to play for the youth. 1816 01:32:45.159 --> 01:32:47.439 So he was in the transfer portal and now he 1817 01:32:47.560 --> 01:32:48.319 is not coming back. 1818 01:32:48.359 --> 01:32:52.479 They currently have twenty seven players in the transfer portal. 1819 01:32:52.560 --> 01:32:56.239 And we talked last week about Broncos pedigree of really 1820 01:32:56.279 --> 01:33:00.560 being able to He's been tasked with turnarounds at at 1821 01:33:00.640 --> 01:33:03.439 least two different spots, if not three, and has shown 1822 01:33:03.479 --> 01:33:06.279 that he is up for this challenge. But for our 1823 01:33:06.359 --> 01:33:08.479 Aggie fans, Gordon, how long do you think it's going 1824 01:33:08.520 --> 01:33:10.159 to take Bronco to get this thing back where it 1825 01:33:10.159 --> 01:33:10.560 needs to. 1826 01:33:10.520 --> 01:33:14.279 Be a little while it won't be immediate, but you 1827 01:33:14.319 --> 01:33:17.800 will see immediate improvement. Why Because bronkleman and holds a 1828 01:33:17.800 --> 01:33:22.000 good coach, and he knows how to motivate players, and 1829 01:33:22.439 --> 01:33:25.720 I think in some cases recognize what needs to be 1830 01:33:25.760 --> 01:33:28.600 plugged in where I mean the first year he was 1831 01:33:28.640 --> 01:33:31.239 the head coach at BYU. The fact that BYU went 1832 01:33:31.279 --> 01:33:35.119 to a bowl game that year unbelievable with the talent 1833 01:33:35.199 --> 01:33:39.520 they had at that particular time. What were they I 1834 01:33:39.640 --> 01:33:42.199 was six and six. I can't remember the exact numbers. 1835 01:33:42.359 --> 01:33:45.840 But he really turned it there. He turned it at Virginia, 1836 01:33:46.159 --> 01:33:48.479 and he'll turn it at Utah State, and he turned 1837 01:33:48.479 --> 01:33:51.640 it into New Mexico too, in a positive direction. So 1838 01:33:52.520 --> 01:33:55.000 you can mark this down now. And I'm a little 1839 01:33:55.039 --> 01:33:57.560 hesitant to say this since I also predicted that the 1840 01:33:57.600 --> 01:33:59.680 youths were to win the conference and go to a 1841 01:33:59.720 --> 01:34:02.960 college football playoff this last year. So take this for 1842 01:34:03.079 --> 01:34:05.399 what it's worth. But I think Bronkleman in the hall 1843 01:34:05.520 --> 01:34:09.039 will turn that program around. And if I had to 1844 01:34:09.039 --> 01:34:11.680 give you a timeframe, I think I would say within 1845 01:34:11.760 --> 01:34:12.840 two years. 1846 01:34:13.359 --> 01:34:15.359 Okay, okay, I like that, but it is going to 1847 01:34:15.399 --> 01:34:16.399 take a minute, for sure. 1848 01:34:16.800 --> 01:34:21.640 But his pedigree is a program kind of rebuilder, is undeniable. 1849 01:34:21.640 --> 01:34:23.920 All right, before we set you loose, I don't know 1850 01:34:24.000 --> 01:34:25.640 what to ask you about the jazz, but we had 1851 01:34:25.680 --> 01:34:29.119 Bowler on last segment, and so what I'll ask is 1852 01:34:29.279 --> 01:34:31.880 the same question asked him. If you looked in the 1853 01:34:31.880 --> 01:34:35.560 Gordon Motts and Godfather Crystal Ball. When will Craig Bowlerjack 1854 01:34:35.600 --> 01:34:38.279 be calling high level winning basketball. 1855 01:34:37.720 --> 01:34:44.960 Again, I would Well, I'll say it this way. At first, 1856 01:34:45.520 --> 01:34:48.199 all the Jazz fans out there are the root. 1857 01:34:48.000 --> 01:34:49.119 For the Jazz to lose. 1858 01:34:49.840 --> 01:34:52.359 That's just what has to happen. You and I have 1859 01:34:52.439 --> 01:34:55.720 talked about this before. Root for the Jazz to lose 1860 01:34:55.760 --> 01:34:58.720 and celebrate every time they do. That's a good news 1861 01:34:58.760 --> 01:35:01.119 bad news thing, because yeah, you want to develop a 1862 01:35:01.159 --> 01:35:03.399 few of the players that you have, but I think 1863 01:35:03.439 --> 01:35:07.560 some of the few useful pieces of the Jazz can 1864 01:35:08.560 --> 01:35:12.840 improve greatly as talent is added to them. And the 1865 01:35:12.840 --> 01:35:15.520 only way they could really do that unless Danny Inge 1866 01:35:15.640 --> 01:35:18.640 is going to outsmart somebody in some kind of big 1867 01:35:18.720 --> 01:35:22.119 deal that nobody sees right now. It's going to take 1868 01:35:22.119 --> 01:35:26.000 some time, but they have to have fortuitous draft picks, 1869 01:35:26.560 --> 01:35:30.680 and if they do that, then a time frame there. Spence, 1870 01:35:32.880 --> 01:35:37.079 I really wonder whether it will happen within Bowler's time frame. 1871 01:35:39.199 --> 01:35:41.760 And what I mean, what Bowler's going to work until 1872 01:35:41.760 --> 01:35:44.680 he's ninety five, right, I mean, so I guess it 1873 01:35:44.760 --> 01:35:48.560 might happen within his career, but it's not going to 1874 01:35:48.640 --> 01:35:51.000 happen for a number of years. 1875 01:35:51.600 --> 01:35:53.239 If I asked you to send me a picture of 1876 01:35:53.279 --> 01:35:55.720 the bean cast role next Thanksgiving, is that something that 1877 01:35:55.720 --> 01:35:58.920 you're willing to do, Because I'm not convinced that you 1878 01:35:58.960 --> 01:35:59.680 actually do this. 1879 01:36:00.800 --> 01:36:04.199 I will send you a picture. You know, I'm surprised 1880 01:36:04.239 --> 01:36:06.760 nobody has asked me for that in the past. But 1881 01:36:07.159 --> 01:36:10.479 I do have testimonials if you're willing to accept those, 1882 01:36:10.960 --> 01:36:14.359 but I will take a picture and send it along. 1883 01:36:14.960 --> 01:36:18.680 I do that. I mean I made when Quinn Steinder 1884 01:36:18.800 --> 01:36:22.720 was here, he came up with that chocolate dessert pie thing, 1885 01:36:23.000 --> 01:36:26.399 ice cream pie thing, and I replicated that I took 1886 01:36:26.399 --> 01:36:28.119 a picture of it and sent it to him, and 1887 01:36:28.159 --> 01:36:33.000 he was impressed. And I've been bragging for forty three 1888 01:36:33.079 --> 01:36:36.720 years about my great spaghetti, and my kids never believed me. 1889 01:36:36.760 --> 01:36:39.119 And I whipped up a batch earlier, a couple of 1890 01:36:39.199 --> 01:36:42.840 months ago, took a picture of it. They all were 1891 01:36:43.199 --> 01:36:45.319 I'd say, well, let me say it this way. There 1892 01:36:45.399 --> 01:36:48.199 used to be a show called The Galloping Gourmet. It 1893 01:36:48.319 --> 01:36:52.760 was a cooking show. And I will confess that this 1894 01:36:52.800 --> 01:36:56.560 particular jockey in the kitchen is at a slow trot 1895 01:36:56.720 --> 01:36:57.239 right now. 1896 01:36:57.840 --> 01:37:01.560 The Galloping Gourmet let's see when when was this? This 1897 01:37:01.720 --> 01:37:05.439 was like nineteen sixty eight. Gordon, what do you do 1898 01:37:06.159 --> 01:37:09.960 referencing a show that was on in the sixties. 1899 01:37:10.159 --> 01:37:12.960 Well, look my favorite music. When I talk to you 1900 01:37:13.000 --> 01:37:15.399 about the Beatles, you know, I'm maybe I'm then just 1901 01:37:15.439 --> 01:37:17.840 stuck in that time war from some sport. I don't know, 1902 01:37:18.119 --> 01:37:21.439 but I do remember that show. And like I said, 1903 01:37:21.520 --> 01:37:26.079 I'm just trotting along. It's trotting, not galloping. Trotting. 1904 01:37:26.279 --> 01:37:27.840 Hey, well, it's better than standing still. 1905 01:37:27.920 --> 01:37:30.279 As long as you keeping you keep moving forward, Gordon, 1906 01:37:30.359 --> 01:37:32.319 that's all we ask. All right, my friend. If I 1907 01:37:32.319 --> 01:37:34.439 don't see her, talk to you. Happy New Year to 1908 01:37:34.479 --> 01:37:36.359 you and yours. Thanks for the time, and we'll get 1909 01:37:36.359 --> 01:37:36.800 you on soon. 1910 01:37:36.840 --> 01:37:39.000 Okay, all right, Bence, thanks a lot. 1911 01:37:39.319 --> 01:37:41.760 All right, the great Gordon Monson from the Salt Lake Tribune, 1912 01:37:41.840 --> 01:37:44.560 my longtime radio partner back in the old days, brought 1913 01:37:44.560 --> 01:37:47.920 to you today by Clearwater Distilling. It's the only distillery 1914 01:37:47.920 --> 01:37:50.439 and Utah County open on Sundays. With the holidays around 1915 01:37:50.479 --> 01:37:53.239 the corner, make Clearwater a one stop shop. With their bottles, 1916 01:37:53.279 --> 01:37:55.960 swag and gift cards. They make the perfect stocking stuffer. 1917 01:37:56.239 --> 01:37:58.680 It's a perfect time, right now because they just did 1918 01:37:58.680 --> 01:38:00.880 a major rebrand of their cinema and whiskey. It's now 1919 01:38:00.920 --> 01:38:04.880 called Canela Cinnamon Whiskey, formerly their Scandalust. If you need 1920 01:38:04.880 --> 01:38:07.119 a spot to celebrate this holiday season with your loved 1921 01:38:07.159 --> 01:38:09.560 ones or your co workers, make it clear Water Distilling. 1922 01:38:09.560 --> 01:38:12.439 Their Victorian tasting room makes a great date night or 1923 01:38:12.479 --> 01:38:14.680 a fun activity anytime. You can buy their spirits and 1924 01:38:14.680 --> 01:38:17.560 stay liquor stores online or make a trip to their 1925 01:38:17.560 --> 01:38:21.359 beautiful distillery. More can be found at Clearwaterdistilling dot com. 1926 01:38:21.520 --> 01:38:23.479 All right, about two hours down. We got about two 1927 01:38:23.479 --> 01:38:26.319 hours to go. Eric Weddell and Zach Harper are your 1928 01:38:26.399 --> 01:38:29.079 four o'clock hour. Some college football and some NBA, So 1929 01:38:29.119 --> 01:38:48.479 keep it right here on ESPN seven hundred silk tampty, 1930 01:38:48.560 --> 01:39:02.680 silk trampty coaches, let me check it out to you. 1931 01:39:02.960 --> 01:39:06.239 Zach Barber is gonna roll by. 1932 01:39:05.600 --> 01:39:07.039 NBA daily assist style. 1933 01:39:07.159 --> 01:39:10.119 Good NBA games yesterday, a couple of NFL games that 1934 01:39:10.159 --> 01:39:14.039 were just blowouts. The week of pro football wraps up tonight. 1935 01:39:14.079 --> 01:39:16.479 We have the Thursday night game. It's the Bears in 1936 01:39:16.520 --> 01:39:18.760 the Seahawks. You'll hear that right after we say it 1937 01:39:18.800 --> 01:39:20.960 out at six o'clock. But let's do some more college football. 1938 01:39:21.000 --> 01:39:24.800 One of our favorites, the legend himself, Eric Weddle, on 1939 01:39:24.840 --> 01:39:27.319 a Thursday, he went, happy post Christmas, buddy, how are 1940 01:39:27.319 --> 01:39:27.640 we doing. 1941 01:39:28.279 --> 01:39:31.560 I'm doing fantastic merk Christmas to you and the fam. 1942 01:39:31.640 --> 01:39:33.760 I hope everyone had a great one. Good to be on. 1943 01:39:34.279 --> 01:39:35.680 Appreciate your time as always. 1944 01:39:35.720 --> 01:39:38.920 And you know, we find ourselves in such an interesting 1945 01:39:39.039 --> 01:39:41.920 landscape Eric, as you know, and I've been talking about 1946 01:39:41.960 --> 01:39:44.279 it all show with college football guests, excited to get. 1947 01:39:44.199 --> 01:39:44.920 Your take on it. 1948 01:39:45.279 --> 01:39:48.439 We have free agency while the season is still going on, 1949 01:39:49.039 --> 01:39:52.680 you know, like coaches are trying to coach, like Kalonie's 1950 01:39:52.720 --> 01:39:55.880 getting ready for a good game Alible Bowl against Colorado. 1951 01:39:55.920 --> 01:39:57.720 He's got like ten kids that are in the portal 1952 01:39:57.720 --> 01:39:58.840 that aren't going to play in the game. 1953 01:39:59.399 --> 01:40:00.560 And then there are teams. 1954 01:40:00.279 --> 01:40:03.079 That are trying to win a national championship and coaches 1955 01:40:03.119 --> 01:40:04.880 are trying to prepare for the biggest games of the 1956 01:40:04.880 --> 01:40:07.039 season and their players are into the transfer port Like, 1957 01:40:07.399 --> 01:40:09.760 help me fix the sport that you and I both love. 1958 01:40:11.239 --> 01:40:14.119 Gosh, I mean, that's gone a whole hour about this, 1959 01:40:15.079 --> 01:40:17.560 the way the state of college football is and how 1960 01:40:17.600 --> 01:40:21.279 it's affecting the high school kids the most. I mean, 1961 01:40:21.319 --> 01:40:24.359 of all the kids that are getting the shafts and 1962 01:40:24.399 --> 01:40:26.520 all this, it's the high school kids. And now it's 1963 01:40:26.560 --> 01:40:31.920 a JC rule going through. If it stands, why would 1964 01:40:31.960 --> 01:40:35.840 any coach recruit high school kids when you can recruit 1965 01:40:35.920 --> 01:40:39.600 JC kids that have two years that won't count against 1966 01:40:39.600 --> 01:40:43.279 their eligibility for the four year schools. So there's a 1967 01:40:43.319 --> 01:40:45.359 lot of craziness, a lot of things that I don't 1968 01:40:45.600 --> 01:40:50.279 agree with. And it's pay to play. It's not name, 1969 01:40:50.319 --> 01:40:53.399 image and likeness. Where can I go to make the 1970 01:40:53.399 --> 01:40:57.800 most money. And it's not culture building. It's not what 1971 01:40:58.039 --> 01:41:01.319 university could help me become a great man. And it's 1972 01:41:01.319 --> 01:41:03.760 none of that. And it's hard to watch can fault 1973 01:41:03.840 --> 01:41:07.640 the kids. The system is what it is. How I 1974 01:41:07.840 --> 01:41:11.479 fixed it, I get rid of the portal. I would 1975 01:41:12.359 --> 01:41:16.840 put some regulations on what you can earn or your name, 1976 01:41:16.880 --> 01:41:19.279 image and like. And it's not hey give you a 1977 01:41:19.279 --> 01:41:21.479 million dollars here to come play for me. That's not 1978 01:41:21.520 --> 01:41:24.920 what it was designed for. So so many issues with it. 1979 01:41:24.920 --> 01:41:26.840 It's just hard to be involved with. 1980 01:41:27.520 --> 01:41:30.600 Tell me from your end, because you referenced how it's 1981 01:41:30.600 --> 01:41:33.079 affecting the high school kids, and that's your space. Now 1982 01:41:33.079 --> 01:41:37.199 you're doing some coaching, I would be genuinely curious, is 1983 01:41:37.239 --> 01:41:39.680 somebody like you who knows how to lead? You did 1984 01:41:39.680 --> 01:41:42.439 it as a player, both in college and the pros. 1985 01:41:42.880 --> 01:41:46.079 What do you say to your kids as they're getting 1986 01:41:46.119 --> 01:41:48.079 ready to enter this space where they're going to hear 1987 01:41:48.119 --> 01:41:51.560 from colleges and potentially agents, Like how does a high 1988 01:41:51.600 --> 01:41:54.880 school coach handle the modern landscape of college football? 1989 01:41:54.960 --> 01:41:58.159 Right now? Eric, you got to have a good head 1990 01:41:58.199 --> 01:42:01.000 on your shoulders, and you got to what's most important 1991 01:42:01.039 --> 01:42:05.520 to you? Is is it to make a quick buck 1992 01:42:06.800 --> 01:42:09.600 or is it to make relationships that I last the lifetime? 1993 01:42:09.680 --> 01:42:14.119 Is it somewhere where you can build the right attributes 1994 01:42:15.159 --> 01:42:18.520 to be a great man someday and to learn how 1995 01:42:18.560 --> 01:42:22.039 to handle adversity, learn how to be a good teammate, 1996 01:42:22.119 --> 01:42:25.800 learn how to lead. Those things happen to being part 1997 01:42:25.840 --> 01:42:30.359 of a program, not jumping program to program every six months, 1998 01:42:30.680 --> 01:42:33.000 trying to learn new system, try to learn your teammates, 1999 01:42:33.319 --> 01:42:37.279 trying to learn the head coach like that stuff doesn't 2000 01:42:38.159 --> 01:42:42.479 lead to success in my opinion. So reality is is 2001 01:42:42.520 --> 01:42:46.479 this is what it is. I would hope for programs 2002 01:42:46.520 --> 01:42:52.560 to start emphasizing development and building from the youth with 2003 01:42:52.680 --> 01:42:56.319 high school kids and pouring into the younger guys that 2004 01:42:56.520 --> 01:43:00.439 cherish and value the culture and value the program, value 2005 01:43:00.479 --> 01:43:03.640 the team. Are we not meet type attitude? That's what 2006 01:43:04.600 --> 01:43:06.960 I would focus in instead of trying to get the 2007 01:43:07.039 --> 01:43:10.039 quick takes of a portal kid to just build some 2008 01:43:10.079 --> 01:43:10.960 holes on your roster. 2009 01:43:13.039 --> 01:43:16.840 It's it's difficult because you also have a situation here 2010 01:43:16.880 --> 01:43:18.600 in Saul Lake Eric as we move over to the 2011 01:43:18.680 --> 01:43:22.560 University of Utah. I mean, coach with referenced the number 2012 01:43:22.640 --> 01:43:25.439 of forty players that they want to bring in. And 2013 01:43:25.439 --> 01:43:28.199 that's both with high school recruits in coming to campus 2014 01:43:28.239 --> 01:43:31.319 and then the transfer portal as well. And that essentially 2015 01:43:31.399 --> 01:43:35.960 means that Utah football will be entirely rebuilt in one year. 2016 01:43:36.079 --> 01:43:38.720 And in pro football or pro basketball or pro sports, 2017 01:43:38.760 --> 01:43:42.319 you run into rebuilds every I don't know, six seven, 2018 01:43:42.359 --> 01:43:44.920 eight years. It depends on how smart your front office is, 2019 01:43:44.960 --> 01:43:48.199 It depends on how good your ownership is. But right now, 2020 01:43:48.279 --> 01:43:51.319 a lot of programs, namely the University of Utah, are 2021 01:43:51.359 --> 01:43:53.359 going to be marching out a team next year that's 2022 01:43:53.439 --> 01:43:58.680 totally rebuilt. Like what's what's what's reasonable to expect from 2023 01:43:58.760 --> 01:44:01.439 Utah football when they're really can have a brand new 2024 01:44:01.520 --> 01:44:03.920 coaching staff a lot of ways in a brand new roster. 2025 01:44:04.159 --> 01:44:08.520 Sure, yeah, I mean I don't. I don't have the 2026 01:44:09.000 --> 01:44:13.079 answers to that. I just know turning over your roster 2027 01:44:13.359 --> 01:44:16.920 isn't in my opinion, Kay, I'm not in it, So 2028 01:44:17.039 --> 01:44:21.119 take my take my opinion with a grand assault, right. 2029 01:44:21.399 --> 01:44:27.279 But I think that if you build, you know, maybe 2030 01:44:27.279 --> 01:44:29.960 the number is fifty to fifty high school support of kids, 2031 01:44:30.000 --> 01:44:35.680 maybe it's seventy thirty. You pick holes that you need 2032 01:44:35.680 --> 01:44:39.520 an immediate starter right now, but you develop from within you. 2033 01:44:39.840 --> 01:44:43.800 You almost like in the NFL, you reward a guy 2034 01:44:43.800 --> 01:44:46.359 that you drafted with a new contract because he earned 2035 01:44:46.399 --> 01:44:50.319 it and he's a great ambassador of your organization for 2036 01:44:50.399 --> 01:44:53.560 the city. Like it's no different now it's a college landscape. 2037 01:44:53.640 --> 01:44:57.199 So why do you want someone else that leaving the 2038 01:44:57.239 --> 01:45:01.239 program for whatever reason as a stop apps. Well, if 2039 01:45:01.239 --> 01:45:03.960 you pour into the young guys in your program, they're 2040 01:45:03.960 --> 01:45:06.800 going to be loyal to you, Hugh Hope at the 2041 01:45:06.880 --> 01:45:09.439 end of the day, I just don't understand for the 2042 01:45:09.479 --> 01:45:12.119 life of me, how even gets to the point where 2043 01:45:12.119 --> 01:45:16.600 you're entering the portal as a returning starter, Like they 2044 01:45:16.640 --> 01:45:20.800 need to crack down on the guardrails of who's communicating 2045 01:45:20.800 --> 01:45:24.399 with these kids, Who's who's the ones that are inside 2046 01:45:24.399 --> 01:45:27.600 these universities knowing what they can offer these kids if 2047 01:45:27.600 --> 01:45:31.840 they hit the portal, Like that needs to be relled in. 2048 01:45:32.039 --> 01:45:35.680 That should be non existing. Like these kids are returning 2049 01:45:35.720 --> 01:45:37.720 starters going to the portal for note, how do they 2050 01:45:37.760 --> 01:45:40.119 even know that they're going to get that? Like that's 2051 01:45:40.720 --> 01:45:44.279 it's just slimy and wrong on so many ways, and 2052 01:45:44.319 --> 01:45:47.840 everyone's doing it. But how is that not how does 2053 01:45:47.880 --> 01:45:50.800 that not putin so in that if you communicate with 2054 01:45:50.840 --> 01:45:55.079 a kid, then that should be illegal and should the 2055 01:45:55.119 --> 01:45:59.319 school should get reprimanded for it, Like it's it's just 2056 01:45:59.520 --> 01:46:01.479 it's just, oh, this is hard. 2057 01:46:02.600 --> 01:46:05.680 It's hard, and it's unfortunate. You know, it really is 2058 01:46:05.720 --> 01:46:08.800 too bad. But I will say, what does it say 2059 01:46:08.840 --> 01:46:12.319 to you about the product of college football and the 2060 01:46:12.319 --> 01:46:15.359 sport of college football that even with the chaos off 2061 01:46:15.359 --> 01:46:18.720 the field, the ratings keep rising and people still watch. 2062 01:46:18.960 --> 01:46:21.000 I mean, it has to speak to the power of 2063 01:46:21.000 --> 01:46:23.640 what this sport is that regardless of how bad the 2064 01:46:23.680 --> 01:46:25.840 business is run, consumers still consume it. 2065 01:46:27.439 --> 01:46:29.479 Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't say it's a great product. 2066 01:46:31.159 --> 01:46:34.319 The product is less than a year in a year 2067 01:46:34.359 --> 01:46:38.119 out with the rule changes with the amount of turnover 2068 01:46:38.279 --> 01:46:40.439 on your roster every year. That limits what you can 2069 01:46:40.479 --> 01:46:44.159 do offen defensive festivals. Okay, so that means you're limiting 2070 01:46:44.439 --> 01:46:47.520 what you can do, limiting what you can put out 2071 01:46:47.520 --> 01:46:51.000 there on the field. You can't stress them enough. If 2072 01:46:51.039 --> 01:46:53.159 they were in the system for one year, two year, 2073 01:46:53.239 --> 01:46:54.920 three years, will they know it? That means you could 2074 01:46:54.920 --> 01:46:57.319 expand it. That means you could push them harder. It's 2075 01:46:57.319 --> 01:47:00.000 sign you dummy it down. So these guys can learn 2076 01:47:00.159 --> 01:47:03.159 in a quick time. It means everyone's running the same crap. 2077 01:47:03.640 --> 01:47:07.800 The team spread them out, you got RPOs, you got 2078 01:47:07.840 --> 01:47:12.840 inside zone, a little sprint out action and they all 2079 01:47:12.880 --> 01:47:15.079 line up on the side. They don't huddle out of 2080 01:47:15.079 --> 01:47:17.880 the huddle, and I mean they don't break the huddle 2081 01:47:18.239 --> 01:47:19.920 and they look at the silent for the route. Take 2082 01:47:20.520 --> 01:47:23.119 What are we really teaching and developing these kids? Right? 2083 01:47:23.479 --> 01:47:25.960 They don't know formations, they don't know motions, they don't 2084 01:47:25.960 --> 01:47:28.680 know shifts, they don't know check with me, they don't 2085 01:47:28.680 --> 01:47:32.000 know audible. It's type. And you get into the NFL, 2086 01:47:32.039 --> 01:47:35.439 and that's why you see some struggle and some has 2087 01:47:35.800 --> 01:47:38.319 a easy transition, but you know, that's what the NFL 2088 01:47:38.399 --> 01:47:41.479 is becoming a lot of basic, generic offenses out there 2089 01:47:41.479 --> 01:47:45.600 that are easy to translate. So I don't I don't 2090 01:47:45.640 --> 01:47:48.720 know the landscape. It is what it is like. Basketball 2091 01:47:48.800 --> 01:47:52.039 is horrendous to watch. Nobody watches that. Baseball is born 2092 01:47:52.119 --> 01:47:54.880 to watch unless you're in persons. Hockey the same thing. 2093 01:47:55.000 --> 01:47:59.079 So I think society is the only thing really exciting 2094 01:47:59.079 --> 01:48:02.279 to watch is the NFL and college football. So it 2095 01:48:02.319 --> 01:48:06.479 doesn't surprise me that the ratings are so high. It 2096 01:48:06.520 --> 01:48:09.319 does know if people play the game. No, the product 2097 01:48:09.399 --> 01:48:11.439 is not a very good product that we're watching. 2098 01:48:12.000 --> 01:48:13.319 See that's really interesting. 2099 01:48:13.399 --> 01:48:15.800 So let me follow up because I've not heard very 2100 01:48:15.800 --> 01:48:19.600 many people offer the opinion that the product is suffering 2101 01:48:20.199 --> 01:48:22.800 on the college football landscape, and you kind of outlined 2102 01:48:23.560 --> 01:48:27.119 reasons as to why. So I guess what I'll ask 2103 01:48:27.159 --> 01:48:31.000 you is, do you is there like this permeating fear that, 2104 01:48:31.239 --> 01:48:34.680 in your opinion, the product will continue to suffer unless 2105 01:48:34.720 --> 01:48:37.159 we get things figured out where there's a little more continuity. 2106 01:48:37.880 --> 01:48:39.800 And are you concerned about the future of the sport? 2107 01:48:42.039 --> 01:48:45.399 Well, I think I think a lot of it. I'm 2108 01:48:45.439 --> 01:48:49.039 speaking more of the NFL compared to the CAUSE. A 2109 01:48:49.039 --> 01:48:52.560 lot of how the NFL is run is you're limited 2110 01:48:52.600 --> 01:48:57.800 on added practices. You're limited on how much tackling you're doing. 2111 01:48:57.880 --> 01:49:00.159 Most cases, second of the year, you're not even intact 2112 01:49:00.399 --> 01:49:03.520 at that moment. So it trickles down to college, like 2113 01:49:03.560 --> 01:49:07.920 how much are you really practicing blocking and tackling? That 2114 01:49:08.079 --> 01:49:12.119 is football? Okay? The great teams that win block the 2115 01:49:12.159 --> 01:49:15.319 best and tackle the Bestay, it's not seven on seven, 2116 01:49:15.479 --> 01:49:18.199 it's not. Hey, we throw the ball fifty sixty times 2117 01:49:18.199 --> 01:49:22.800 a game, and what you're seeing is less time dedicated 2118 01:49:22.840 --> 01:49:28.399 to that and more time to making it simplified so 2119 01:49:28.439 --> 01:49:31.920 the guys can transition from a new school, get on 2120 01:49:31.960 --> 01:49:33.399 the field and do what they do best. 2121 01:49:33.680 --> 01:49:33.960 Okay. 2122 01:49:34.079 --> 01:49:38.319 So I don't know. In my mind, I'm never gonna 2123 01:49:38.359 --> 01:49:44.880 sacrifice steam and scheme because that gives us an advantage 2124 01:49:44.880 --> 01:49:47.680 every time we cross the field, right, that is our advantage. 2125 01:49:47.680 --> 01:49:51.279 We're not just gonna sacrifice that so other guys can 2126 01:49:52.880 --> 01:49:54.720 just quickly if they can't adjust, it shouldn't be a 2127 01:49:54.760 --> 01:49:56.920 part of our program, and maybe you should developed within. 2128 01:49:57.239 --> 01:49:58.520 Like that's my opinion on that. 2129 01:50:00.159 --> 01:50:01.640 Some really interesting stuff. 2130 01:50:01.680 --> 01:50:03.680 Like I said, I feel like the narrative is a 2131 01:50:03.680 --> 01:50:07.039 lot of folks continue to watch and really love college 2132 01:50:07.039 --> 01:50:08.479 football despite. 2133 01:50:08.079 --> 01:50:08.760 The kids watch. 2134 01:50:08.920 --> 01:50:13.439 Ye, the ones that played know, the type of football 2135 01:50:13.439 --> 01:50:17.560 that we're watching is not high level football. You could 2136 01:50:17.560 --> 01:50:22.159 ask any old player that's played NFL or college, and 2137 01:50:22.279 --> 01:50:25.800 when you watch it, it's not sophisticated. It's not high level 2138 01:50:26.000 --> 01:50:28.840 x'es and o's. You're not seeing in timing, you're not 2139 01:50:28.880 --> 01:50:34.800 seeing you know, multiple things offense, defense, Schematically, it's very vanilla, 2140 01:50:34.880 --> 01:50:36.800 basic line up and play. 2141 01:50:38.239 --> 01:50:41.880 Are there exceptions to that? Are there coaching staff? You like, 2142 01:50:41.920 --> 01:50:42.880 who do you like to watch? 2143 01:50:46.159 --> 01:50:48.960 Shoot, you're talking collegia or NFL. 2144 01:50:48.760 --> 01:50:50.119 Either way, either level. 2145 01:50:51.920 --> 01:50:55.199 Well, the top organizations in the league have a standard 2146 01:50:56.279 --> 01:50:58.800 and they do what they do, you know, offensively, I 2147 01:50:58.800 --> 01:51:02.720 think Detroit Ben Johnson, I mean, he's on he's on 2148 01:51:02.800 --> 01:51:06.439 another level, uh, dramatically and how he draws up plays 2149 01:51:06.479 --> 01:51:09.399 and gives the team advantage. I think Sean LeVay obviously 2150 01:51:10.479 --> 01:51:14.159 have a close relationship with him. And you know, when 2151 01:51:14.159 --> 01:51:19.000 you're talking collegiate uh, you know, you could say the 2152 01:51:19.159 --> 01:51:24.079 history and how they developed their skill guys and quarterbacks 2153 01:51:24.079 --> 01:51:27.279 for the last three years of Ohio State, But man, 2154 01:51:27.319 --> 01:51:29.560 have they winner the last time they be one in 2155 01:51:29.640 --> 01:51:33.720 a big game, you know, so, uh, it goes back. 2156 01:51:33.800 --> 01:51:35.359 They beat who they're supposed to be, they get in 2157 01:51:35.399 --> 01:51:37.000 the big game, We'll see how they do against Oregon. 2158 01:51:37.079 --> 01:51:41.880 But you know it's, uh, you only can do with 2159 01:51:41.880 --> 01:51:44.760 with what you have. Kay, I'm not naive. You know 2160 01:51:44.800 --> 01:51:47.119 you have players you're coaching. If you don't win, you're 2161 01:51:47.119 --> 01:51:49.319 probably gonna get fired. But I get that, and you 2162 01:51:49.399 --> 01:51:54.239 got to adapt. I'm not saying don't adapt, but I'm saying, structurally, 2163 01:51:54.279 --> 01:51:57.199 as a program, what are we laying our hat on. 2164 01:51:57.720 --> 01:52:00.960 Are we laying our hat on you know, Bill turn 2165 01:52:01.000 --> 01:52:03.720 out forty to fifty guys a year, or are we 2166 01:52:03.800 --> 01:52:10.319 hanging our hat on development, culture, program building? And for 2167 01:52:10.439 --> 01:52:13.199 me and as a lum, that's what I wish or 2168 01:52:13.279 --> 01:52:15.520 hope that we continue to do or try to do 2169 01:52:16.239 --> 01:52:18.000 instead of just trying to find the next plug and 2170 01:52:18.000 --> 01:52:18.560 play player. 2171 01:52:19.359 --> 01:52:22.359 So tell me what the confidence level is Eric with 2172 01:52:22.479 --> 01:52:25.079 you and you know your friends that played up at 2173 01:52:25.079 --> 01:52:28.119 the University of Utah, Because what you just described, in 2174 01:52:28.199 --> 01:52:32.239 my opinion, describes a Kyle Whittingham program. Player development always 2175 01:52:32.239 --> 01:52:36.159 has been and it's a new different era in college football. 2176 01:52:36.199 --> 01:52:39.439 Do you feel like Utah and the coaching staff have adjusted, 2177 01:52:39.560 --> 01:52:41.800 and will they still be able to use the old 2178 01:52:41.840 --> 01:52:44.199 approach that works so well in the new day and 2179 01:52:44.239 --> 01:52:45.279 age of college football. 2180 01:52:48.279 --> 01:52:52.479 I think it can work, but again I'm I'm not 2181 01:52:52.560 --> 01:52:54.760 in there. I don't know what's going on. How those 2182 01:52:54.840 --> 01:52:59.000 conversations happened for a guy like Kyle hun Did they 2183 01:52:59.000 --> 01:53:02.000 have a meeting with them? Did they talk about what 2184 01:53:02.119 --> 01:53:04.880 he's getting paid? Does it need to be up for 2185 01:53:05.039 --> 01:53:07.720 a high level starter in the Big twelve? 2186 01:53:08.119 --> 01:53:08.199 Like? 2187 01:53:08.319 --> 01:53:10.399 I don't know those questions, right, And I don't know 2188 01:53:10.439 --> 01:53:13.960 what he got at Alabama. My point is, why is 2189 01:53:14.079 --> 01:53:15.720 even in the portal? Right? 2190 01:53:15.840 --> 01:53:15.960 Like? 2191 01:53:16.239 --> 01:53:18.159 How does that even happen where they think I can 2192 01:53:18.199 --> 01:53:22.199 get more? I'm not happy here? Like what is when 2193 01:53:22.319 --> 01:53:23.039 is enough enough? 2194 01:53:23.600 --> 01:53:23.800 Right? 2195 01:53:24.319 --> 01:53:29.399 And so I don't know. I think they're going too 2196 01:53:29.520 --> 01:53:34.159 much portal kids and not enough younger guys and keeping them. 2197 01:53:34.199 --> 01:53:36.720 But I don't know the situation. Are they being told 2198 01:53:36.760 --> 01:53:38.279 to leave right? 2199 01:53:38.399 --> 01:53:38.520 Like? 2200 01:53:39.600 --> 01:53:40.880 Do they not want to be there because they're back? 2201 01:53:40.960 --> 01:53:43.680 Und I don't know those questions. So it's hard for 2202 01:53:43.720 --> 01:53:46.239 me to say what I wish we would do because 2203 01:53:46.239 --> 01:53:50.079 I'm not intimate in those conversations in the roster buildings 2204 01:53:50.119 --> 01:53:53.399 and what they have compared to what they need. So 2205 01:53:53.880 --> 01:53:56.239 I just would say what I would do, and I 2206 01:53:56.279 --> 01:53:59.640 would try to do it like sixty forty seventy thirty 2207 01:53:59.640 --> 01:54:04.079 of high school development and then those two to four 2208 01:54:04.119 --> 01:54:06.680 players you need to plug and play because you have 2209 01:54:06.720 --> 01:54:09.199 a hole. You go find those guys and get them. 2210 01:54:09.840 --> 01:54:11.960 When we last had you on and Eric weddles with 2211 01:54:12.039 --> 01:54:14.600 us to the former Youth Legend Super Bowl CHAMPI when 2212 01:54:14.640 --> 01:54:17.079 we last had you on, Eric, we weren't sure if 2213 01:54:17.079 --> 01:54:18.920 coach wit was coming back and there was not an 2214 01:54:18.920 --> 01:54:22.520 offensive coordinator. Well in the time that's past. Kyle whittied 2215 01:54:22.560 --> 01:54:24.520 Ham is elected to come back for year twenty one 2216 01:54:24.560 --> 01:54:27.319 and Jason Beck is the new OC. Just wanted to 2217 01:54:27.319 --> 01:54:30.079 get your reaction when you heard those two pieces of news. 2218 01:54:30.439 --> 01:54:34.720 Yeah, I mean I expected coach with to come back. 2219 01:54:34.760 --> 01:54:36.720 I mean if I doesn't want to go out like that, 2220 01:54:38.760 --> 01:54:41.960 you know, with the situation with Morgan hanging in the balance, 2221 01:54:42.000 --> 01:54:45.000 and was it this year? Is it next year? Like, 2222 01:54:45.159 --> 01:54:48.960 I think that needs to be communicated with everyone, right, 2223 01:54:49.279 --> 01:54:52.119 Like we're not hanging at the NFC for the recruits 2224 01:54:52.680 --> 01:54:56.600 for the program, but I'm guys coming back. He's the legend. 2225 01:54:57.920 --> 01:54:59.520 You know, I wouldn't be here today I'll coach with 2226 01:54:59.720 --> 01:55:03.239 so I think it's better that he's around and moving forward, 2227 01:55:04.800 --> 01:55:07.279 you know. With the offensive coordinator, I don't know, you know, 2228 01:55:07.479 --> 01:55:12.000 like I hope, I hope they hired a great guy 2229 01:55:12.039 --> 01:55:15.640 and he's innovative and he pushes the limit and he 2230 01:55:15.760 --> 01:55:18.680 makes our offense better than one it's been because we've 2231 01:55:18.680 --> 01:55:22.439 struggled at times and we've been really good at times. 2232 01:55:22.560 --> 01:55:24.199 And then I think a lot of times it comes 2233 01:55:24.239 --> 01:55:26.560 back to players, and you can only do so much 2234 01:55:26.600 --> 01:55:30.439 as a coach, right, Players win games. Coaches most times 2235 01:55:30.439 --> 01:55:31.239 find ways to lose. 2236 01:55:31.239 --> 01:55:31.279 It. 2237 01:55:33.720 --> 01:55:37.520 H interesting perspective, all right, Before I say you loose, 2238 01:55:37.680 --> 01:55:39.520 I just want to get I know you're in a 2239 01:55:39.600 --> 01:55:41.279 lum and I know you love the staff, and I 2240 01:55:41.279 --> 01:55:42.840 know you love the team, and I know you're always 2241 01:55:42.840 --> 01:55:45.960 going to look at it through a ute positive lens. 2242 01:55:46.039 --> 01:55:48.399 But there is a there's a feel around here. 2243 01:55:48.439 --> 01:55:51.079 There's a nervous feel from the fan base that after 2244 01:55:51.159 --> 01:55:54.319 a rough, rough year and you know, a new coaching 2245 01:55:54.359 --> 01:55:58.640 staff and talented players leaving either via graduation or transfer portal, 2246 01:55:59.359 --> 01:56:01.720 that this next season might feel like the last. I'm 2247 01:56:01.760 --> 01:56:03.319 going to ask you Eric, before I show you loose, 2248 01:56:03.319 --> 01:56:05.880 what gives you the most confidence that year two in 2249 01:56:05.920 --> 01:56:09.239 the Big twelve will look better than your one did well? 2250 01:56:09.399 --> 01:56:15.000 I mean, we have a standard, and the standard is 2251 01:56:15.039 --> 01:56:18.079 that we're a top knots program on and off the fields. Okay, 2252 01:56:18.159 --> 01:56:20.319 that didn't happen last year for a number of reasons. 2253 01:56:20.640 --> 01:56:23.960 Reality is, we didn't get it done, So changes were made. 2254 01:56:24.760 --> 01:56:27.399 You got to hope and believe that the higher end 2255 01:56:27.399 --> 01:56:30.560 on the offensive side and the system that he's going 2256 01:56:30.600 --> 01:56:33.359 to bring in place is going to be a good 2257 01:56:33.399 --> 01:56:37.520 one that to maximize our potential offensively defense, we're always 2258 01:56:37.520 --> 01:56:40.000 going to have a top Knox defense. So if we 2259 01:56:40.039 --> 01:56:43.520 could couple our offensive productions, then we'll be one of 2260 01:56:43.560 --> 01:56:45.199 the best things of the Big twelve in the country. 2261 01:56:45.399 --> 01:56:48.520 And that's been the case for the last fifteen years, 2262 01:56:48.760 --> 01:56:52.920 so that doesn't change. I will always have confidence that 2263 01:56:53.640 --> 01:56:56.680 we play our style of football offensive and sust things 2264 01:56:56.680 --> 01:56:59.359 we could be anybody on the field. Now we couple 2265 01:56:59.399 --> 01:57:04.319 it with people counts that football players play together. Players one, 2266 01:57:04.840 --> 01:57:07.079 you got a special team. If you can't have that 2267 01:57:07.239 --> 01:57:11.159 dynamic with the team and how close they are playing 2268 01:57:11.159 --> 01:57:14.439 together and playing complmer a football, then you're gonna struggle. 2269 01:57:14.880 --> 01:57:16.359 That's whether you have new coaches or not. 2270 01:57:18.199 --> 01:57:20.039 Well, all right, Eric, I appreciate the time, man. I 2271 01:57:20.039 --> 01:57:22.920 always appreciate the truth telling. So I'll wish you a 2272 01:57:22.960 --> 01:57:24.760 happy New Year. Thank you for your time. I'll love 2273 01:57:24.800 --> 01:57:25.680 to have you back on soon. 2274 01:57:25.720 --> 01:57:27.560 Okay, you got it, but anytime. 2275 01:57:27.800 --> 01:57:28.119 All right. 2276 01:57:28.159 --> 01:57:31.760 The great Eric Weddle legendary career here and then killed 2277 01:57:31.800 --> 01:57:34.920 it in pro football, won a Super Bowl probably high 2278 01:57:34.920 --> 01:57:36.720 speed out of the Hall of Fame. Certainly should be 2279 01:57:36.760 --> 01:57:40.720 appreciate Eric's time. On this Thursday afternoon, we're gonna shift 2280 01:57:40.720 --> 01:57:43.199 gears and do a little NBA and some jazz. Coming up, 2281 01:57:43.239 --> 01:57:45.720 we're back to college football in the five o'clock hour. 2282 01:57:46.239 --> 01:57:47.960 Zach Harper will join us on the other side of 2283 01:57:47.960 --> 01:57:49.920 a quick break. But let's welcome in Ryan from the 2284 01:57:49.920 --> 01:57:53.000 dish professionals. During the holiday season, you probably spend a 2285 01:57:53.039 --> 01:57:55.119 lot of time at home. Well, how's your Internet? Are 2286 01:57:55.159 --> 01:57:58.199 you paying too much for it? How's your television watching experience? 2287 01:57:58.239 --> 01:58:00.760 Do you look at your streaming and cable bill and 2288 01:58:01.079 --> 01:58:02.880 bemoan how much you're paying for it? How about your 2289 01:58:02.920 --> 01:58:05.960 wireless situation? You and your family affordable options for all 2290 01:58:06.000 --> 01:58:08.479 three of those with Ryan from the Dish pros if 2291 01:58:08.479 --> 01:58:10.520 you dial eight oh one, four to two four Dish, 2292 01:58:10.520 --> 01:58:10.960 what's going on? 2293 01:58:11.039 --> 01:58:11.279 Ryan? 2294 01:58:18.960 --> 01:58:21.640 All right, we'll try to get Ryan back on. He dropped. 2295 01:58:22.159 --> 01:58:24.720 My guess is he's driving around town running Samarons. So 2296 01:58:24.760 --> 01:58:26.640 we're gonna bring in Zach Harper. Coming up, we'll get 2297 01:58:26.640 --> 01:58:28.760 back to college football in the five o'clock hour. Want 2298 01:58:28.760 --> 01:58:31.720 to remind you that you can hear the final game 2299 01:58:31.880 --> 01:58:35.119 of the Pro Football Weeks last weekend coming up tonight 2300 01:58:35.279 --> 01:58:37.920 on the station. It is going to be the Seahawks 2301 01:58:37.920 --> 01:58:40.399 and the Bears live at Soldier Field in Chicago. It's 2302 01:58:40.399 --> 01:58:43.039 a must win for Seattle if they want to stay 2303 01:58:43.039 --> 01:58:45.000 alive in the playoff race. Chicago. At this point, you 2304 01:58:45.039 --> 01:58:47.159 might as well just lose to get better draft capital, 2305 01:58:47.199 --> 01:58:50.760 surround your young quarterback with better pieces. Seattle five point 2306 01:58:50.840 --> 01:58:53.800 favorite over Unders forty one point five. It looks like 2307 01:58:53.840 --> 01:58:58.279 it'll be a decent forecast in Chicago for this time 2308 01:58:58.319 --> 01:59:00.840 of year, about forty six degrees, so that'll come your 2309 01:59:00.880 --> 01:59:03.119 way coming up after we say goodnight. The Jazz are 2310 01:59:03.199 --> 01:59:07.039 in action tonight taking on the Portland Trailblazers. That is 2311 01:59:07.039 --> 01:59:10.319 going to be an eight o'clock kicktime excuse me. Football 2312 01:59:10.359 --> 01:59:13.239 on the mind eight o'clock tiptime, Jazz and the Blazers 2313 01:59:13.239 --> 01:59:16.479 in action tonight, and then obviously College Football Bowl Season 2314 01:59:16.600 --> 01:59:20.079 rolling along a couple of days away from BYU Colorado 2315 01:59:20.119 --> 01:59:22.680 coming up on Saturday. Then hopefully the quarterfinals of the 2316 01:59:22.680 --> 01:59:25.840 CFP are a little bit better than the first round. 2317 01:59:25.920 --> 01:59:28.680 So that's kind of the bulk of the show today. 2318 01:59:28.680 --> 01:59:31.520 Pat Riley came out today and said the Miami Heat 2319 01:59:31.560 --> 01:59:34.960 are not trading Jimmy Butler. So for all the teams 2320 01:59:35.000 --> 01:59:37.640 that were hoping to grab Jimmy Butler, apparently he's off 2321 01:59:37.680 --> 01:59:39.359 the table. I'll just tell you to give Ryan from 2322 01:59:39.359 --> 01:59:41.960 the Dispros a call numbers eight oh one, four to 2323 01:59:42.000 --> 01:59:42.720 two four dish. 2324 01:59:42.760 --> 01:59:44.840 That's eight oh one four too four dish. 2325 01:59:44.880 --> 01:59:46.760 You gonna bring in Zach Harper coming up next right 2326 01:59:46.760 --> 02:00:06.399 here on ESPN seven hundred. The Red Hot Utah Jazz 2327 02:00:06.399 --> 02:00:09.600 are in action tonight, taking on the Portland Trail Blazers. 2328 02:00:09.600 --> 02:00:12.600 The Jazz have won two of three two teams in 2329 02:00:12.640 --> 02:00:15.039 an't graded basketball we'll do battle. We had a fun 2330 02:00:15.159 --> 02:00:19.039 Christmas Day slate of games. Porter is out of town, 2331 02:00:19.079 --> 02:00:21.359 which means I'm picking the music today, so you might 2332 02:00:21.399 --> 02:00:23.399 not know that it's Zach Harper, no pit bull, but 2333 02:00:23.520 --> 02:00:26.079 Zach I figured a little roundball round round ball rock 2334 02:00:26.079 --> 02:00:27.720 would be good this this Thursday. 2335 02:00:27.760 --> 02:00:30.560 Yeah, it's the only acceptable substitution. 2336 02:00:30.880 --> 02:00:32.760 Okay, good, I'm glad I knock that out of the park. 2337 02:00:32.840 --> 02:00:35.800 What did Christmas Day look like at the Harper household 2338 02:00:35.840 --> 02:00:36.199 this year? 2339 02:00:36.800 --> 02:00:37.000 Oh? 2340 02:00:37.079 --> 02:00:37.720 Man, it was great. 2341 02:00:37.720 --> 02:00:41.960 We cooked, we opened presents, we we watched basketball, We 2342 02:00:42.079 --> 02:00:43.960 played Clue, we played that. 2343 02:00:44.079 --> 02:00:47.479 We did everything you played Clue, the old school board game. 2344 02:00:47.720 --> 02:00:51.039 Oh yeah, that's a big battle with with my with 2345 02:00:51.079 --> 02:00:53.640 my nieces and my sister and my brother in law. 2346 02:00:53.720 --> 02:00:55.399 Like it's a it's a big battle we do every 2347 02:00:55.399 --> 02:00:56.000 time they're here. 2348 02:00:56.119 --> 02:00:56.720 Gotta love it. 2349 02:00:57.079 --> 02:00:59.560 I'll tell you what, man, The Christmas Day NBA slate 2350 02:00:59.640 --> 02:00:59.960 was great. 2351 02:01:00.199 --> 02:01:01.640 Football games were a blowout. 2352 02:01:01.680 --> 02:01:04.600 But what were some of the more enjoyable moments of 2353 02:01:04.680 --> 02:01:07.000 watching NBA basketball on Christmas Day? 2354 02:01:07.680 --> 02:01:09.720 I mean, I think, like we could start with Wemby right, 2355 02:01:09.760 --> 02:01:12.239 Like Wemby forty two points eighteen rebounds, Like he was 2356 02:01:12.680 --> 02:01:16.000 just remarkable. And I think, you know, while he's been 2357 02:01:16.039 --> 02:01:18.560 good for a while and we've obviously known that he's 2358 02:01:18.960 --> 02:01:22.079 great and everything, and we've seen some incredible stat lines 2359 02:01:22.079 --> 02:01:24.479 out of him. He had a bad game at Madison 2360 02:01:24.479 --> 02:01:26.920 Square Garden last year as a rookie. I was very 2361 02:01:26.960 --> 02:01:28.920 early on in his rookie season. He hadn't really found 2362 02:01:28.920 --> 02:01:29.680 his footing yet. 2363 02:01:30.239 --> 02:01:31.239 But to follow that up, I. 2364 02:01:31.239 --> 02:01:33.279 Think he had like fourteen points on fourteen shots in 2365 02:01:33.319 --> 02:01:36.159 that one. To follow that up with forty two eighteen 2366 02:01:36.359 --> 02:01:39.600 four and four hitting six three is like, he's just unreal. 2367 02:01:39.680 --> 02:01:42.159 And then and then that whole moment. 2368 02:01:41.880 --> 02:01:44.520 With you know, Steph leaving that comeback against the Lakers, 2369 02:01:44.600 --> 02:01:47.119 and and and then Austin Reeves getting that lay up 2370 02:01:47.159 --> 02:01:49.800 at the end. I mean, it's just that was That's 2371 02:01:49.840 --> 02:01:52.199 the kind of action the NBA needs. When the NFL 2372 02:01:52.239 --> 02:01:55.319 starts encroaching on everything that they're doing on Christmas Day, do. 2373 02:01:55.239 --> 02:01:57.800 You feel like it's intentional? Do you feel like it's 2374 02:01:57.800 --> 02:02:00.399 an and I thought Lebron after the game, I love 2375 02:02:00.439 --> 02:02:01.760 the NFL, but this is our day. 2376 02:02:02.520 --> 02:02:03.159 Yeah. Is it? 2377 02:02:03.359 --> 02:02:05.640 Is it calculated by the NFL to do this or 2378 02:02:05.840 --> 02:02:08.239 do they just exist in a different stratosphere where the 2379 02:02:08.279 --> 02:02:09.600 rules don't really apply to them. 2380 02:02:10.239 --> 02:02:11.720 I mean, I think I think it's both. Like, I 2381 02:02:11.720 --> 02:02:13.720 think it's intentional and I think the rules don't apply 2382 02:02:13.760 --> 02:02:17.159 to the NFL because they're the NFL. But they I mean, 2383 02:02:17.199 --> 02:02:20.439 they've played, they played two football games on a Wednesday. Like, 2384 02:02:20.520 --> 02:02:22.439 you can't tell me that's not intentional. If it falls 2385 02:02:22.439 --> 02:02:28.279 on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday. For them to throw games 2386 02:02:28.279 --> 02:02:30.800 out on those days on a Wednesday, it doesn't even 2387 02:02:30.840 --> 02:02:34.199 make sense with their scheduling in the slightest and so 2388 02:02:34.239 --> 02:02:37.119 it's definitely intentional. But also, you know, I don't think 2389 02:02:37.119 --> 02:02:38.920 they care if the NBA is upset. They don't have 2390 02:02:39.000 --> 02:02:40.680 to be friends with the NBA. But none of that 2391 02:02:40.760 --> 02:02:43.039 has to be the case. That's kind of like, you know, 2392 02:02:43.279 --> 02:02:45.119 not to I'm gonna here's what I'm gonna do. I'm 2393 02:02:45.119 --> 02:02:48.359 gonna be a blogger from twenty eleven and make a 2394 02:02:49.079 --> 02:02:52.680 comparison to the wire. It's like when you know, Marlow 2395 02:02:52.720 --> 02:02:54.840 starts trying to go for everybody's corners, Like that's what 2396 02:02:54.880 --> 02:02:57.319 it is like. The NFL is going for the NBA's corners. 2397 02:02:57.680 --> 02:03:04.039 Welcome into the Bill Simmons Podcast with Zachar I just playing, kids, 2398 02:03:05.199 --> 02:03:08.239 I just playing, and I you know, I thought I 2399 02:03:08.239 --> 02:03:09.760 thought it was a good day for the league. 2400 02:03:10.079 --> 02:03:10.880 It's interesting. 2401 02:03:11.399 --> 02:03:13.199 I don't know if you heard this but Bob Myers 2402 02:03:13.279 --> 02:03:17.000 before before the Laker Warrior game, he said there are 2403 02:03:17.000 --> 02:03:20.039 only three superstars in the league right now, Lebron James, 2404 02:03:20.039 --> 02:03:24.079 Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. Well, what's your take on that? 2405 02:03:24.119 --> 02:03:26.319 What your and why do you think he made that statement? 2406 02:03:28.319 --> 02:03:30.399 I think those are the three stars the NBA knows 2407 02:03:30.439 --> 02:03:33.600 how to market right now. I mean, you know, like 2408 02:03:33.720 --> 02:03:36.239 even I don't know how real these numbers are what 2409 02:03:36.279 --> 02:03:38.600 they mean. But you know, there was some top ten 2410 02:03:38.640 --> 02:03:41.279 list of like the NBA put out of like the 2411 02:03:41.319 --> 02:03:44.960 most viewed players on on social media, and seven of 2412 02:03:44.960 --> 02:03:48.920 those players ended up ended up playing on Christmas Day. 2413 02:03:49.039 --> 02:03:51.000 But like you know, John Morant was number two for 2414 02:03:51.119 --> 02:03:54.239 most viewed on on social media. LaMelo Ball was in there, 2415 02:03:54.359 --> 02:03:56.760 like you know, there there are stars. Wenby was in there, 2416 02:03:56.840 --> 02:03:59.840 like there are other stars in the league. Now not 2417 02:04:00.119 --> 02:04:03.319 every network talks about those other stars in the league. 2418 02:04:03.319 --> 02:04:05.760 But like Yo gets is a superstar, Giannis is a superstar. 2419 02:04:05.840 --> 02:04:08.520 Like I thought Giannis's comments, while it was kind of 2420 02:04:08.520 --> 02:04:10.920 sour grapes about not being on Christmas Day, I altill 2421 02:04:10.920 --> 02:04:13.079 think there's something to it, Like if you can't figure 2422 02:04:13.079 --> 02:04:15.560 out how to market the uh, you know, the the 2423 02:04:15.640 --> 02:04:18.000 Bucks with Jannis and Dame and put them in a 2424 02:04:18.239 --> 02:04:20.680 a in a big time game. Like, yeah, I think 2425 02:04:20.680 --> 02:04:22.039 that's a bit of an issue, you know, with Shae 2426 02:04:22.079 --> 02:04:24.880 Yild's dobsanner, I've been I mean, you know, I've been 2427 02:04:24.920 --> 02:04:28.279 lying about this for two weeks now, Like it's not 2428 02:04:28.399 --> 02:04:30.439 just it's thunder or a small market, or that Shay 2429 02:04:30.600 --> 02:04:32.920 is an unknown superstar. It's just the NBA's bad at 2430 02:04:32.920 --> 02:04:33.520 marketing them. 2431 02:04:34.640 --> 02:04:35.760 Why do you think that is? 2432 02:04:35.800 --> 02:04:38.000 Because it seems to be something that if it's not 2433 02:04:38.039 --> 02:04:40.720 going to affect you now, like Lebron's forty and Steph's 2434 02:04:40.760 --> 02:04:43.920 thirty six, and you know KD hasn't been able to 2435 02:04:43.920 --> 02:04:45.560 stay healthy for a full season for. 2436 02:04:45.520 --> 02:04:46.319 A long long time. 2437 02:04:46.399 --> 02:04:48.960 Like what do you think the deal is with the 2438 02:04:49.079 --> 02:04:53.640 NBA's either inability or unwillingness to lean into what will 2439 02:04:53.680 --> 02:04:57.000 come next after these players decide they're done, which is 2440 02:04:57.039 --> 02:04:58.319 not going to be very long. 2441 02:04:58.159 --> 02:05:01.479 Now, Yeah, I mean I think it's you know, I'm 2442 02:05:01.520 --> 02:05:04.479 not equating them to this quality of whatever, but I 2443 02:05:04.520 --> 02:05:09.239 think marketing Lebron and Steph and KD, it's it's like 2444 02:05:09.279 --> 02:05:11.800 deciding to have fast food for dinner, right, It's easy, 2445 02:05:12.079 --> 02:05:13.640 Like you know what it is. You know what it's 2446 02:05:13.640 --> 02:05:15.079 gonna be, and it's easy and you don't have to 2447 02:05:15.119 --> 02:05:17.640 do much to prepare for it. Whereas oh, I got 2448 02:05:17.680 --> 02:05:19.840 to figure out how to make Memphis and job Morant exciting. 2449 02:05:20.279 --> 02:05:23.039 It shouldn't be hard. Just show clips of job Moran 2450 02:05:23.119 --> 02:05:25.359 playing basketball. We all watch it, and we all marvel 2451 02:05:25.399 --> 02:05:28.319 at it. But for some reason, you know, I think 2452 02:05:28.359 --> 02:05:33.600 part of this is a is the landscape of media 2453 02:05:33.680 --> 02:05:36.520 and the platforms and everything and everything being so spread out. 2454 02:05:36.560 --> 02:05:38.039 I think part of it is that. I think part 2455 02:05:38.039 --> 02:05:40.399 of it is Adam Silver is just not as good 2456 02:05:40.399 --> 02:05:41.119 at that stuff. 2457 02:05:40.920 --> 02:05:41.880 As David Stern was. 2458 02:05:42.039 --> 02:05:44.119 And I think David Stern could make stars out of 2459 02:05:44.159 --> 02:05:46.840 just about anybody. I think Adam Silver struggled to do that. 2460 02:05:46.960 --> 02:05:49.079 But you know, to your point, they've only got a 2461 02:05:49.079 --> 02:05:51.920 couple more years until they got to force these other guys, 2462 02:05:51.920 --> 02:05:54.279 and maybe Wenby will be so good by then that 2463 02:05:54.359 --> 02:05:58.119 it won't matter, and that will be the goliath to topple. 2464 02:05:58.199 --> 02:06:00.279 But you know, it's it's just something of them he 2465 02:06:00.359 --> 02:06:03.439 struggles with. And I don't understand why, because we watch 2466 02:06:03.479 --> 02:06:06.239 all that, all those other stars, and if you can't 2467 02:06:06.279 --> 02:06:08.279 make them interesting, I don't I don't think you're good. 2468 02:06:08.199 --> 02:06:10.000 At marketing well. 2469 02:06:10.039 --> 02:06:12.479 And also they really I mean, say what you want 2470 02:06:12.880 --> 02:06:16.640 about the tired discourse of ratings going down, but the 2471 02:06:16.720 --> 02:06:19.199 NBA has not done a very good job of telling 2472 02:06:19.239 --> 02:06:21.800 their story as to what the context is with those 2473 02:06:21.920 --> 02:06:25.319 And Kevin Durant came out with some interesting comments and 2474 02:06:25.359 --> 02:06:28.560 when when when Durant gets insightful and honest and he 2475 02:06:28.640 --> 02:06:32.359 actually wants to give people time. He's pretty good at 2476 02:06:32.359 --> 02:06:34.560 this stuff, always has been. It's just these moments are 2477 02:06:34.560 --> 02:06:37.399 few and far between. But the context is how many 2478 02:06:37.399 --> 02:06:39.359 people have cut the cord and the fact that ratings 2479 02:06:39.399 --> 02:06:42.119 are down everywhere, including the NFL. Now, the NFL is 2480 02:06:42.159 --> 02:06:45.560 only down four percent, but you know, you have now 2481 02:06:45.640 --> 02:06:48.479 Netflix in the game, You've got Amazon Prime in the game, 2482 02:06:48.520 --> 02:06:50.880 You've got Peacock in the game, and you still have 2483 02:06:51.000 --> 02:06:55.199 linear television. But the linear ratings that everybody continues to uh, 2484 02:06:55.640 --> 02:06:58.279 you know reference when it comes to the NBA's fall 2485 02:06:58.319 --> 02:07:01.000 and interest are affecting everybody. But I just don't think 2486 02:07:01.000 --> 02:07:02.960 the league is like told that story very well. 2487 02:07:03.680 --> 02:07:05.199 Yeah, and I don't think they want to tell that 2488 02:07:05.239 --> 02:07:08.199 story right because it's probably a harsh reality in some sense. 2489 02:07:08.239 --> 02:07:10.560 I also don't think it's a big deal in the 2490 02:07:10.600 --> 02:07:13.560 grand scheme of things because of that media rights deal 2491 02:07:13.600 --> 02:07:17.760 that came through and everything. But I think it'll be 2492 02:07:17.920 --> 02:07:22.800 very interesting to see how the NBA operates and presents 2493 02:07:23.399 --> 02:07:28.680 viewership numbers and viewership results of the streaming services in 2494 02:07:28.720 --> 02:07:31.039 the next once that next deal kicks in, which is 2495 02:07:31.079 --> 02:07:33.560 which is next season, with things being on Peacock, with 2496 02:07:33.640 --> 02:07:36.279 things being on Amazon Prime, with you know, more stuff 2497 02:07:36.319 --> 02:07:39.800 being streaming. You know, then at that point, you know, 2498 02:07:39.920 --> 02:07:43.640 we've never really know what stuff does on Netflix, right, 2499 02:07:43.640 --> 02:07:46.680 there's no like check and balance for for what their 2500 02:07:46.760 --> 02:07:49.079 viewership is. We know a lot of people have Netflix, 2501 02:07:49.079 --> 02:07:50.920 we know they have a lot of money, but we 2502 02:07:51.000 --> 02:07:53.399 never know how many people are actually watching. So you 2503 02:07:53.399 --> 02:07:57.479 can kind of promoted and massage it however you want. 2504 02:07:57.560 --> 02:07:59.479 I'm curious how the NBA will do that in the 2505 02:07:59.520 --> 02:08:02.880 streaming era. What's this next deal kicks in next season? 2506 02:08:03.279 --> 02:08:06.680 One of the consistent things that I've either read or 2507 02:08:06.800 --> 02:08:08.800 heard or the you know, we've got a lot of 2508 02:08:08.800 --> 02:08:12.279 good NBA guests on the show, and it's not everybody, 2509 02:08:12.319 --> 02:08:15.039 but a lot of people have indicated they do believe 2510 02:08:15.079 --> 02:08:18.159 the product has suffered. Now I feel like there's more 2511 02:08:18.199 --> 02:08:21.119 talent in the league than there ever has been. And 2512 02:08:21.199 --> 02:08:23.000 I've never been the whole like let's go back to 2513 02:08:23.039 --> 02:08:27.199 the nineties guy. But I do think at times the 2514 02:08:27.319 --> 02:08:29.880 lack of effort is pretty obvious, you know, if some 2515 02:08:29.920 --> 02:08:31.920 of the All Star game stuff is spilled into some 2516 02:08:31.960 --> 02:08:35.159 of the regular season stuff. But in your opinion, the 2517 02:08:35.199 --> 02:08:39.079 product itself, the game itself, the product of NBA basketball, 2518 02:08:39.119 --> 02:08:41.520 Does it feel different or compromise to you at all 2519 02:08:41.520 --> 02:08:44.039 when you sit down and watch a game, man. 2520 02:08:43.880 --> 02:08:46.159 Like I would have said yes a year ago, But 2521 02:08:47.199 --> 02:08:49.800 I like the start of the season, the basketball is 2522 02:08:49.840 --> 02:08:53.439 in awesome, Like it's it's really been incredible, and so 2523 02:08:54.159 --> 02:08:57.000 I kind of think it's a it's a lazy criticism 2524 02:08:57.159 --> 02:08:59.359 of the product on the floor, Like people just look 2525 02:08:59.359 --> 02:09:01.600 at three point now and say, oh, it's too many threes. Yeah, 2526 02:09:01.640 --> 02:09:03.479 it might be too many threes. But for the most part, 2527 02:09:03.760 --> 02:09:06.760 the game so far this season, the product on the 2528 02:09:06.760 --> 02:09:09.600 floor so far this season has been excellent. It can improve. 2529 02:09:09.920 --> 02:09:12.600 I think they should bring back hand checking. With the 2530 02:09:12.640 --> 02:09:15.880 way that you know, skill sets and athleticism and everything 2531 02:09:15.960 --> 02:09:18.520 is now, I think you can compromise a little bit 2532 02:09:18.560 --> 02:09:21.119 of offense to create more competition, and I think it 2533 02:09:21.159 --> 02:09:24.159 would be a benefit to the league, But I don't. 2534 02:09:24.319 --> 02:09:25.880 I don't feel the way about the product I did 2535 02:09:25.920 --> 02:09:28.079 a year ago. I actually think it's improved quite a bit. 2536 02:09:29.199 --> 02:09:34.479 Is that mainly in your estimation a result of influx 2537 02:09:34.520 --> 02:09:38.680 of talent younger talented players growing, Like when Minyama just 2538 02:09:38.680 --> 02:09:40.279 looks different this year than he did a year ago, 2539 02:09:40.319 --> 02:09:42.079 and he looked awesome a year ago. And you've got 2540 02:09:42.119 --> 02:09:44.800 a lot of young players that are kind of growing 2541 02:09:44.840 --> 02:09:47.079 them you know, growing into themselves a little bit. And 2542 02:09:47.239 --> 02:09:50.039 also it should be doted like I referenced earlier, you know, 2543 02:09:50.119 --> 02:09:53.000 Lebron and Stephen kd and these guys are probably retiring 2544 02:09:53.039 --> 02:09:57.039 sometime soon. They're still playing at a really high level 2545 02:09:57.079 --> 02:09:59.479 at advanced age. Do you think it's just like the 2546 02:09:59.520 --> 02:10:01.680 old guard continues to do what it does and young 2547 02:10:01.720 --> 02:10:04.680 players understanding how to be pros. What do you attribute 2548 02:10:04.720 --> 02:10:06.840 to what you call an improved product year over year? 2549 02:10:07.560 --> 02:10:09.439 Yeah, I mean I think everything you just said is 2550 02:10:09.520 --> 02:10:12.119 part of it. Like I do think it has become 2551 02:10:12.199 --> 02:10:15.600 such a young league, and as we know, like it's 2552 02:10:15.720 --> 02:10:18.439 really hard to win and play consistent basketball even when 2553 02:10:18.640 --> 02:10:21.399 guys have good numbers. But with such young talent, it's 2554 02:10:21.399 --> 02:10:24.119 really hard to create the winning culture in a lot 2555 02:10:24.159 --> 02:10:26.560 of places, so that's definitely part of it. How does 2556 02:10:26.560 --> 02:10:29.800 it think the change the league made with allowing more physicality, Yes, 2557 02:10:29.840 --> 02:10:31.960 it still needs to be called consistently and that's still 2558 02:10:31.960 --> 02:10:35.880 an issue. But the way that the league changed things 2559 02:10:35.920 --> 02:10:39.399 after last year's debacle of an All Star Game, I 2560 02:10:39.439 --> 02:10:41.680 think it greatly improved the product. I think it's mostly 2561 02:10:41.720 --> 02:10:44.760 held into the action this season. It's not quite as 2562 02:10:44.800 --> 02:10:47.119 good as what we saw at the end of last season, 2563 02:10:47.600 --> 02:10:50.920 but I do think I do think that change after 2564 02:10:50.960 --> 02:10:54.439 the All Star weekend has created a big sense of 2565 02:10:54.439 --> 02:10:55.640 competition that's allowed. 2566 02:10:55.640 --> 02:10:58.840 Now do you think either you know, I'll just say 2567 02:10:58.880 --> 02:11:02.319 all three if we're continuing with this theme of you know, Lebron, 2568 02:11:02.479 --> 02:11:06.680 Durant staph As the most marketable players and the biggest 2569 02:11:06.720 --> 02:11:09.960 celebrities or whatever superstars according to Bob Myers in the league, 2570 02:11:10.000 --> 02:11:13.159 do you think any of the three teams Lakers, Warriors, 2571 02:11:13.279 --> 02:11:16.560 Suns has a legitimate chance to represent the West and 2572 02:11:16.600 --> 02:11:18.039 maybe win a championship this year? 2573 02:11:18.760 --> 02:11:20.079 I don't see it. With the Lakers. 2574 02:11:20.199 --> 02:11:22.439 I do think they're not as bad as everyone says, 2575 02:11:22.439 --> 02:11:25.039 but I don't think we've seen a championship level from them. 2576 02:11:25.119 --> 02:11:27.159 I do think the Warriors can get there, but they 2577 02:11:27.239 --> 02:11:30.000 need to find a little bit of help. But we've 2578 02:11:30.039 --> 02:11:33.159 seen through flashes here and there. We've seen them look like, 2579 02:11:33.560 --> 02:11:35.199 you know, kind of that twenty twenty two team that 2580 02:11:35.600 --> 02:11:38.680 won it all, and then before Katie got hurt this season, 2581 02:11:39.640 --> 02:11:43.560 it was I mean, the Suns looked legit, you know, like, 2582 02:11:43.880 --> 02:11:45.119 I don't know if they can get back to that. 2583 02:11:45.119 --> 02:11:46.199 I don't know if that was a little bit of 2584 02:11:46.199 --> 02:11:49.319 a fluke early on the season, but they're kind of 2585 02:11:49.359 --> 02:11:51.840 borderline for me. I do think the Warriors at their 2586 02:11:51.880 --> 02:11:54.680 best is better than any of those other teams at 2587 02:11:54.760 --> 02:11:55.279 their best. 2588 02:11:55.720 --> 02:11:58.560 The deal with Phoenix, man, then you know this, Zach, like, 2589 02:11:58.920 --> 02:12:01.199 tell me that they're fully healthy for four rounds and 2590 02:12:01.239 --> 02:12:01.880 we can talk. 2591 02:12:02.399 --> 02:12:04.880 I just don't think they're building in one round right right, 2592 02:12:05.000 --> 02:12:05.439 right round? 2593 02:12:05.560 --> 02:12:05.760 Yeah? 2594 02:12:06.000 --> 02:12:08.000 Do you do you really think they can stay healthy 2595 02:12:08.039 --> 02:12:08.920 to make a long run. 2596 02:12:08.960 --> 02:12:09.720 We haven't seen it. 2597 02:12:10.760 --> 02:12:14.079 No, I think, you know, they haven't been together that long, 2598 02:12:14.319 --> 02:12:17.079 but but no, I mean, this team made the finals 2599 02:12:17.159 --> 02:12:20.079 in twenty twenty one. They made big changes, which anybody 2600 02:12:20.079 --> 02:12:22.840 would do. Getting Durant, you know, you can argue about 2601 02:12:22.840 --> 02:12:25.960 the bradley Field deal, uh and whether or not that 2602 02:12:26.039 --> 02:12:29.520 was a good idea in this era. But but no, 2603 02:12:29.680 --> 02:12:32.439 like that team is legitimate. That team has been good 2604 02:12:32.479 --> 02:12:35.039 for a few years now. And yeah, if they're healthy, 2605 02:12:35.159 --> 02:12:38.199 like sign me up. But there, why would we believe 2606 02:12:38.279 --> 02:12:39.880 like they They're kind of in. 2607 02:12:39.760 --> 02:12:41.319 That zone of all right, I got to see it. 2608 02:12:41.359 --> 02:12:43.000 I got to see you be healthy to believe it. 2609 02:12:43.239 --> 02:12:47.359 Yeah, all right, So back to yesterday, A couple of 2610 02:12:47.359 --> 02:12:51.119 different things. When when the seventy six ers are fully 2611 02:12:51.119 --> 02:12:53.119 healthy and back to the health thing, but when they 2612 02:12:53.159 --> 02:12:56.920 have all their players and when they're playing like their 2613 02:12:56.960 --> 02:13:00.399 best basketball, because there are moments yesterday obviously it's the 2614 02:13:00.399 --> 02:13:01.800 Celtics and everyone else in the East. 2615 02:13:01.800 --> 02:13:03.600 Maybe the Cavs have something to say about it. 2616 02:13:04.119 --> 02:13:06.880 What is the best What's what's the Zach Carper best 2617 02:13:06.920 --> 02:13:09.159 case scenario for Philly this year? If everything kind of 2618 02:13:09.159 --> 02:13:15.119 falls into play. 2619 02:13:12.399 --> 02:13:17.039 Man, I don't know, like I think, I don't see 2620 02:13:17.079 --> 02:13:18.319 anything pass the second round. 2621 02:13:18.600 --> 02:13:19.520 I want to be optimist. 2622 02:13:19.600 --> 02:13:21.359 I have been more impressed with them over the last 2623 02:13:21.359 --> 02:13:24.680 you know, eleven games or so. They they look better there. 2624 02:13:24.920 --> 02:13:28.720 It's been nothing dominant, but it's not incompetent, right, which 2625 02:13:28.720 --> 02:13:30.319 is what we saw in the first you know, nineteen 2626 02:13:30.359 --> 02:13:33.079 games or whatever whatever it was, seventeen games, and so 2627 02:13:35.319 --> 02:13:38.119 they're obviously much better when those three guys are healthy. 2628 02:13:38.159 --> 02:13:40.520 We saw great stuff out of Caleb Martin yesterday, but 2629 02:13:40.600 --> 02:13:42.760 I'm still I'm still waiting to see with them, Like, 2630 02:13:42.800 --> 02:13:46.800 I mean, how many times has indeed had different things. 2631 02:13:46.600 --> 02:13:47.439 So far this season? 2632 02:13:47.479 --> 02:13:49.399 How many times is Paul George of different things so 2633 02:13:49.439 --> 02:13:51.479 far this season? Like, there's just no reason to believe 2634 02:13:51.520 --> 02:13:51.960 in their health. 2635 02:13:52.159 --> 02:13:54.520 Who's the one Eastern Conference team that you think keeps 2636 02:13:54.600 --> 02:13:55.640 Joe Miszoola up at night? 2637 02:13:57.880 --> 02:13:59.159 Oh, that's a good question. 2638 02:13:59.439 --> 02:14:02.239 It might be Cleveland. I still haven't completely bought in 2639 02:14:02.319 --> 02:14:06.079 with Cleveland, but decide the three point shooting, the wrinkles 2640 02:14:06.119 --> 02:14:08.760 to Kenny Atkinson's offense that he's implemented from what they 2641 02:14:08.800 --> 02:14:11.159 were doing last year. There is something there. I don't 2642 02:14:11.159 --> 02:14:13.399 know if it's enough to take down Boston, but that's 2643 02:14:13.560 --> 02:14:15.199 there's a lot of talent on that Cleveland team. 2644 02:14:15.439 --> 02:14:18.000 All Right, before I say you lose, contractually obligated to 2645 02:14:18.000 --> 02:14:19.760 ask you a question about the Utah Jazz. 2646 02:14:19.760 --> 02:14:20.640 So here's what we're gonna do. 2647 02:14:20.960 --> 02:14:21.520 Well, how about this. 2648 02:14:21.640 --> 02:14:24.039 I'm going to the game tonight. 2649 02:14:24.720 --> 02:14:26.720 Oh you are Jazz Blazers. 2650 02:14:26.760 --> 02:14:28.079 Yeah, I'm going so ask. 2651 02:14:27.960 --> 02:14:28.680 Me whatever you want. 2652 02:14:29.399 --> 02:14:31.680 You're from Sacramento. What's the Portland tie? 2653 02:14:32.439 --> 02:14:33.000 My parents? 2654 02:14:33.039 --> 02:14:35.279 My parents live in Oregon. So we're all going up, 2655 02:14:35.720 --> 02:14:38.199 niece's and nephew. We're all going up and checking out 2656 02:14:38.199 --> 02:14:38.520 the game. 2657 02:14:38.640 --> 02:14:40.920 Do they know anything about basketball or do they ask 2658 02:14:40.960 --> 02:14:41.800 you all the questions? 2659 02:14:42.399 --> 02:14:42.600 Oh? 2660 02:14:42.600 --> 02:14:45.079 No, they like they play basketball. 2661 02:14:45.640 --> 02:14:46.319 That's with basketball. 2662 02:14:46.359 --> 02:14:47.560 Yeah, no, they're into it all right. 2663 02:14:47.640 --> 02:14:49.840 I guess what are you most excited about as the 2664 02:14:49.920 --> 02:14:52.079 seven and twenty one Utah Jazz take on the nine 2665 02:14:52.079 --> 02:14:53.279 and twenty Blazers tonight. 2666 02:14:54.600 --> 02:14:56.319 Ooh, that's a good question. 2667 02:14:56.239 --> 02:15:00.279 I think hmm, I think I'm most excit. I had 2668 02:15:00.359 --> 02:15:03.399 to see if we can get a great offensive game. 2669 02:15:03.479 --> 02:15:06.439 Like I don't know, like neither of these teams offensively 2670 02:15:06.479 --> 02:15:09.920 are very good, but I do think, like, yeah, Anthony 2671 02:15:09.920 --> 02:15:12.159 Simons could go for forty, Lowry could go for forty, 2672 02:15:12.239 --> 02:15:14.680 like you could get you could get a good game 2673 02:15:14.720 --> 02:15:17.279 out of this. I just don't know that we that 2674 02:15:17.319 --> 02:15:19.399 we should expect it. But I do think when you 2675 02:15:19.439 --> 02:15:22.399 have two teams in this zone, there's a chance you 2676 02:15:22.439 --> 02:15:23.079 get a good game. 2677 02:15:24.000 --> 02:15:26.359 And you know, I was actually talking about this earlier. 2678 02:15:26.399 --> 02:15:29.199 We had we had boller On. He's calling the game tonight. 2679 02:15:29.279 --> 02:15:32.319 And there are moments when the Jazz are fully healthy. 2680 02:15:32.399 --> 02:15:35.239 First of all, when marketing's on the floor and we've 2681 02:15:35.279 --> 02:15:37.600 seen a couple of vintage Clarkson games, he's not that 2682 02:15:37.720 --> 02:15:40.560 guy consistently anymore. But then Colin kind of gets going 2683 02:15:40.640 --> 02:15:43.560 and Keyante just doesn't screw it all up and Walker 2684 02:15:43.800 --> 02:15:45.880 is playing really well. There there are still moments where 2685 02:15:45.920 --> 02:15:47.520 I look at this team and I say they better 2686 02:15:47.560 --> 02:15:50.439 not win thirty games in Draft ninth because there's actually 2687 02:15:50.479 --> 02:15:52.119 some talent on on the floor. 2688 02:15:52.279 --> 02:15:56.840 Yeah, agreed, I think I think that's again. I mean, look, 2689 02:15:56.920 --> 02:16:00.199 it was one moment. But that game against Detroit, what 2690 02:16:00.279 --> 02:16:01.840 was that a week or two ago? Whenever, that was 2691 02:16:02.319 --> 02:16:04.800 a fun game you had, you had Kiante George with 2692 02:16:04.880 --> 02:16:06.319 that big dunk on Jalen Durham. 2693 02:16:06.359 --> 02:16:08.439 Like stuff can happen in these Jazz games. 2694 02:16:08.680 --> 02:16:09.680 They can be fun. 2695 02:16:09.960 --> 02:16:11.680 They're not, but they can be right. 2696 02:16:12.199 --> 02:16:14.439 And hope this time of year is a good thing, Zach. 2697 02:16:14.520 --> 02:16:15.319 So we'll end it there. 2698 02:16:15.840 --> 02:16:17.880 Enjoy the game, Happy new your brother, Thanks for the. 2699 02:16:17.800 --> 02:16:19.319 Time, appreciate it. Happy to you. Thanks. 2700 02:16:19.319 --> 02:16:20.840 All right, we'll catch a quick break in and do a 2701 02:16:20.880 --> 02:16:23.279 quick sports court with our friends from Handy and Handy. 2702 02:16:23.319 --> 02:16:25.199 Then we'll get into the five o'clock hour, which will 2703 02:16:25.199 --> 02:16:28.239 be college football. Jim Herman joins us. So a lot 2704 02:16:28.279 --> 02:16:30.079 to do before we say a United six and time 2705 02:16:30.119 --> 02:16:33.399 for some Thursday night football right here on ESPN seven hundred. 2706 02:16:33.959 --> 02:16:40.559 All right, it's time to check in with Preston Handy 2707 02:16:40.600 --> 02:16:43.520 and Garrett Handy of Handy and Handy for sports court. 2708 02:16:43.719 --> 02:16:47.399 Handy and Handy are your accident and personal injury attorneys 2709 02:16:47.520 --> 02:16:50.639 ready to assist with any related questions. You may have 2710 02:16:50.959 --> 02:16:54.479 visit them online at Handy Law Utah dot com. Big 2711 02:16:54.520 --> 02:16:57.959 firm experience, small firm attention. Now let's get out to 2712 02:16:58.040 --> 02:17:00.719 sports court on the drive with Spendle check. It's on 2713 02:17:00.799 --> 02:17:04.440 jutus number one Sports Talk, ESPN seven hundred. 2714 02:17:06.079 --> 02:17:09.040 It is sports court time. We do it every Thursday 2715 02:17:09.120 --> 02:17:11.200 right about now. We're they're good friends over at Handy 2716 02:17:11.200 --> 02:17:14.360 and Handy. It is Christmas time, so Preston is playing 2717 02:17:14.719 --> 02:17:19.399 Scrooge and Grinch somewhere and you know, dampening the Christmas spirit. 2718 02:17:19.479 --> 02:17:21.399 So we want to keep things positive. We're bringing in 2719 02:17:21.440 --> 02:17:23.920 the more positive of the duo. It's just me and 2720 02:17:23.959 --> 02:17:27.159 Garrett today, Garrett Handy, Happy Christmas season. How you doing, Buddy? 2721 02:17:27.479 --> 02:17:28.799 Hey, Happy Christmas to you. 2722 02:17:28.840 --> 02:17:29.239 How are you? 2723 02:17:29.319 --> 02:17:31.520 And Preston, if you're listening, we love you. I'm just teasing. 2724 02:17:31.760 --> 02:17:33.200 I don't want to hurt our guys feelings. 2725 02:17:34.120 --> 02:17:35.920 We do love Preston, We do all right. 2726 02:17:36.000 --> 02:17:38.239 So we're going to do something a little different today. 2727 02:17:38.239 --> 02:17:40.440 We're gonna do like a little year in review of 2728 02:17:40.520 --> 02:17:42.600 some of the biggest and best stories we've covered on 2729 02:17:42.639 --> 02:17:45.120 throughout the course of this really fun segment that I 2730 02:17:45.280 --> 02:17:47.040 look forward to every week with you guys over in 2731 02:17:47.120 --> 02:17:49.600 Handy and Handy on Sports Court. So there has been 2732 02:17:49.760 --> 02:17:55.559 very few editions of Sports Court without talking about the 2733 02:17:55.719 --> 02:17:59.879 NCAA and how they are facing multiple anti trust lawsuits 2734 02:18:00.079 --> 02:18:02.680 they're trying to traverse their way through the nil and 2735 02:18:02.719 --> 02:18:06.559 the number one settlement that we've covered that really affects 2736 02:18:06.600 --> 02:18:09.079 a lot of people to love college football in the sport, 2737 02:18:09.120 --> 02:18:11.120 of course, is the house first, the NC DOUBLEA. So 2738 02:18:11.200 --> 02:18:15.399 let's kind of dig into these storylines regarding the NC 2739 02:18:15.520 --> 02:18:18.879 DOUBLEA and their antitrust lawsuits and what our listeners should 2740 02:18:18.879 --> 02:18:21.079 know about where the NCAA finds themselves. 2741 02:18:21.079 --> 02:18:23.120 Now, yeah, and you're. 2742 02:18:23.040 --> 02:18:25.600 Right, Spence. I mean, that's definitely. I think the biggest 2743 02:18:25.600 --> 02:18:28.280 story of the year is just week after week it 2744 02:18:28.360 --> 02:18:31.319 seems like the NCAA getting hit with some new lawsuit 2745 02:18:31.440 --> 02:18:36.360 and most of it revolving around nil right and the 2746 02:18:36.479 --> 02:18:41.000 rights of athletes versus the NCAA and their ability to participate. 2747 02:18:41.000 --> 02:18:43.879 And so the big lawsuit, of course was the House 2748 02:18:44.399 --> 02:18:48.399 versus NCAA case. You know, this case was filed. It 2749 02:18:48.440 --> 02:18:51.520 was a class action lawsuit and it covers any student 2750 02:18:51.520 --> 02:18:54.559 athletes back to twenty sixteen, and so it's going to 2751 02:18:54.600 --> 02:18:57.879 allow nil money, allow them to be paid, and revenue 2752 02:18:57.959 --> 02:19:01.920 sharing from broadcast rights. This was settled back in May 2753 02:19:02.239 --> 02:19:06.280 for two point seventy five billion dollars and it you know, 2754 02:19:06.639 --> 02:19:08.719 I think we kind of saw this coming, and we've 2755 02:19:08.719 --> 02:19:11.639 seen the trend for years now. There was the Obannon 2756 02:19:11.760 --> 02:19:14.280 case and then the Austin decision, and so it seems 2757 02:19:14.360 --> 02:19:17.799 like the House case is kind of the natural progression 2758 02:19:17.840 --> 02:19:20.920 in this and but I mean, really, I mean, in 2759 02:19:21.040 --> 02:19:23.280 twenty twenty four, it seems like the ground sort of 2760 02:19:23.280 --> 02:19:25.399 shifted beneath us with this this decision. 2761 02:19:25.479 --> 02:19:27.639 I think I also want to touch on the NCAA 2762 02:19:27.719 --> 02:19:30.559 transfer rule situation because it is such a hot button 2763 02:19:30.600 --> 02:19:34.280 topic right now with the University of Utah essentially rebuilding 2764 02:19:34.319 --> 02:19:36.440 their team from the ground up in one year, it's 2765 02:19:36.479 --> 02:19:38.760 such a tough thing to do. So let's review that 2766 02:19:38.799 --> 02:19:40.440 a little bit, and then I'm going to ask you, 2767 02:19:40.479 --> 02:19:43.360 from your vantage point with your legal expertise, whether or 2768 02:19:43.399 --> 02:19:47.120 not you think there will be more changes moving forward 2769 02:19:47.200 --> 02:19:49.600 so they you know, don't have free agency while this 2770 02:19:49.680 --> 02:19:50.719 season is still going. 2771 02:19:52.479 --> 02:19:54.719 Yeah, right, So I mean this this started out at 2772 02:19:54.760 --> 02:19:56.639 the beginning of twenty twenty four. I mean there was 2773 02:19:56.680 --> 02:20:00.280 a you know, preliminary injunction was granted and the and 2774 02:20:00.479 --> 02:20:02.120 Justice joined this lawsuit as well. 2775 02:20:02.159 --> 02:20:03.799 But it allowed players. 2776 02:20:03.399 --> 02:20:05.680 To transfer and play immediately, where you know, you used 2777 02:20:05.719 --> 02:20:07.280 to have to sit out of here or whatever, and 2778 02:20:07.799 --> 02:20:10.760 you know, athletes would think twice about, well do I 2779 02:20:10.760 --> 02:20:13.280 really want to transfer? But now it's hey, transfer and 2780 02:20:13.319 --> 02:20:16.719 play right, We've got the transfer portal and twice a year, 2781 02:20:16.760 --> 02:20:19.159 and so it's it's been a felt like kind of 2782 02:20:19.159 --> 02:20:22.920 a moving target. And you know, I think another issue 2783 02:20:22.920 --> 02:20:25.840 to kind of talk about and think about is really 2784 02:20:26.719 --> 02:20:29.680 does a college degree really you know, how's that going 2785 02:20:29.760 --> 02:20:32.719 to look? Does that matter, right. I mean, this is 2786 02:20:32.840 --> 02:20:35.600 changing so much. And then especially you know, the other 2787 02:20:35.600 --> 02:20:37.520 one I was going to touch on with dispense is 2788 02:20:37.559 --> 02:20:41.120 this you know Diego Pavia rule that just came out 2789 02:20:41.440 --> 02:20:43.040 and we just talked about this a couple of weeks 2790 02:20:43.079 --> 02:20:45.920 ago on sports Court. But now you're not counting junior 2791 02:20:45.959 --> 02:20:49.879 college those years that you played towards your eligibility. And 2792 02:20:49.920 --> 02:20:52.600 again the idea is, hey, there's more years you can play, 2793 02:20:53.799 --> 02:20:58.239 more years to earn nil money. And so yeah, it's 2794 02:20:58.319 --> 02:21:01.239 really changing the landscape of of college sports. 2795 02:21:02.319 --> 02:21:05.120 Any thought on what they may look to do, and 2796 02:21:05.200 --> 02:21:06.719 we can move off if you don't have a take 2797 02:21:06.760 --> 02:21:09.040 on it. But I'm just curious from your vantage point 2798 02:21:09.079 --> 02:21:10.760 if you think they're going to actually try to corral 2799 02:21:10.799 --> 02:21:13.840 this thing a little bit, because it's not it's not sustainable, Garrett, 2800 02:21:13.840 --> 02:21:15.079 not as of now. Do you think they're going to 2801 02:21:15.159 --> 02:21:17.920 try to do something different between now and the next 2802 02:21:17.920 --> 02:21:18.959 college football season. 2803 02:21:20.239 --> 02:21:22.799 I No, I agree with you. I don't think it's sustainable. 2804 02:21:22.840 --> 02:21:26.040 I mean something's going to have to change, and I 2805 02:21:26.360 --> 02:21:28.799 you know, we've talked about it before on sports Court. 2806 02:21:28.840 --> 02:21:31.799 You know, there's been been discussion about like federal legislation. 2807 02:21:32.360 --> 02:21:34.639 You know, or does each state try to tackle this. 2808 02:21:35.280 --> 02:21:37.840 But there's this it's an arms race right between all 2809 02:21:37.840 --> 02:21:42.319 the universities that you know in the states are included 2810 02:21:42.360 --> 02:21:44.440 in that. They want their schools and their states to 2811 02:21:44.479 --> 02:21:48.319 be competitive, and so nobody's really willing to tamp down 2812 02:21:48.360 --> 02:21:50.000 on this quite yet. I think it's going to have 2813 02:21:50.040 --> 02:21:54.040 to be a federal response, and with the how slow 2814 02:21:54.120 --> 02:21:58.239 our federal government moves to get anything done, I don't 2815 02:21:58.280 --> 02:22:01.239 see anything happening for a while. I just I kind 2816 02:22:01.239 --> 02:22:02.760 of think twenty twenty five is going to be a 2817 02:22:02.760 --> 02:22:05.680 little more of the same, where we're just figuring this out. 2818 02:22:05.520 --> 02:22:05.920 As we go. 2819 02:22:06.239 --> 02:22:11.479 In addition to constant stories about the NCAA being labeled 2820 02:22:11.479 --> 02:22:14.719 as you know, serial anti trust violators and having to 2821 02:22:14.799 --> 02:22:16.479 go to this court. In that court, a lot of 2822 02:22:16.559 --> 02:22:20.879 coaches brought lawsuits against their former employers throughout the course 2823 02:22:20.920 --> 02:22:22.680 of the season. So let's start with a review of 2824 02:22:22.719 --> 02:22:25.760 Blake Anderson. It's a local angle who of course was 2825 02:22:25.840 --> 02:22:28.840 up at Utah State and then let go along with 2826 02:22:28.879 --> 02:22:32.120 some other folks up there in Bronco. Mendenhall hired to 2827 02:22:32.200 --> 02:22:36.000 kind of recapture the Utah State days of old like 2828 02:22:36.040 --> 02:22:38.239 you did at BYU But as you look back on 2829 02:22:38.280 --> 02:22:41.159 the Blake Anderson Utah State situation, Garrett, what comes to mind? 2830 02:22:42.399 --> 02:22:44.239 Well, for sure, I think this was a really big 2831 02:22:44.280 --> 02:22:47.319 story locally for us. I mean, he just filed it 2832 02:22:47.399 --> 02:22:49.280 and it was it was finally filed in November, but 2833 02:22:49.520 --> 02:22:52.280 a fifteen million dollar lawsuit against Utah State, and he 2834 02:22:52.360 --> 02:22:54.959 also named I think the athletic director and a few 2835 02:22:54.959 --> 02:22:58.200 other people. But of course he was fired for cause 2836 02:22:58.520 --> 02:23:02.440 over some employ reporting requirements. I mean, that's kind of 2837 02:23:02.440 --> 02:23:07.440 the technicality, right of how a situation was handled and 2838 02:23:07.479 --> 02:23:10.559 whether or not he reported that correctly. And so there's been, 2839 02:23:10.799 --> 02:23:12.719 of course a ton of fallout. We've talked about it 2840 02:23:12.719 --> 02:23:15.799 a lot on Sports Court over the last many months, 2841 02:23:15.840 --> 02:23:19.959 but that case really is kind of just getting going 2842 02:23:20.959 --> 02:23:22.879 with the lawsuit having been foiled that I think just 2843 02:23:22.920 --> 02:23:26.159 about a month ago, and so we'll see. But I mean, 2844 02:23:26.200 --> 02:23:28.799 it's you know, Utah State and you know, and I 2845 02:23:28.840 --> 02:23:30.200 was gonna talk about this a little bit later too, 2846 02:23:30.200 --> 02:23:33.479 but they're they're involved in several legal issues that we've 2847 02:23:33.479 --> 02:23:35.799 talked about, you know. I mean, they're they're looking at 2848 02:23:35.840 --> 02:23:39.799 some potentially big, big money, big fees, whether you're paying 2849 02:23:39.840 --> 02:23:43.280 Blake Anderson or you know, you're paying the you know, 2850 02:23:43.360 --> 02:23:47.639 Mount West exit fees, but being fired for cause, you know, 2851 02:23:47.719 --> 02:23:51.120 and and getting out of that contract. I think anytime 2852 02:23:51.120 --> 02:23:53.079 we see that where a coach is fired for cause, 2853 02:23:53.159 --> 02:23:56.639 I think you can expect that there's going to be 2854 02:23:56.680 --> 02:23:57.280 a lawsuit. 2855 02:23:57.879 --> 02:23:59.959 I also wanted to revisit the John grudens that you 2856 02:24:00.520 --> 02:24:04.159 because he's now Barstool sports newest employee and he continues 2857 02:24:04.200 --> 02:24:06.879 to be in the news. And you know, once upon 2858 02:24:06.920 --> 02:24:09.000 a time, John Gruden was thought to be like a 2859 02:24:09.040 --> 02:24:12.559 wonder Kins head coach and then a wonder Kins broadcaster. 2860 02:24:12.719 --> 02:24:14.319 Didn't take a lot of time to settle in as 2861 02:24:14.360 --> 02:24:17.000 a great voice on Monday Night football gets back in 2862 02:24:17.040 --> 02:24:19.120 the league and everything goes south. So let's review the 2863 02:24:19.200 --> 02:24:21.600 John Gruden stuff before we move on to the other stories. 2864 02:24:22.520 --> 02:24:25.479 Yeah, and John Gruden, just like Mel Tucker and Brian Flores. 2865 02:24:25.559 --> 02:24:27.559 I mean, you've got these NFL coaches with lawsuits, but 2866 02:24:27.600 --> 02:24:31.520 Gruden in particular, these cases are just they're going on forever, right, 2867 02:24:31.559 --> 02:24:34.120 And his firing was over these old emails that were 2868 02:24:34.200 --> 02:24:37.719 leaked to the media and he felt that those you know, 2869 02:24:37.760 --> 02:24:40.440 his allegation has been that the NFL used these emails 2870 02:24:41.239 --> 02:24:44.399 and that Roger Goodell did to kind of weaponize those 2871 02:24:44.440 --> 02:24:48.639 to pressure the Raiders to fire him. And so that's 2872 02:24:48.920 --> 02:24:51.479 there's been this whole dispute. Of course, anytime we're talking 2873 02:24:51.479 --> 02:24:56.559 about an NFL coach being fired, there's this issue of arbitration, right, 2874 02:24:56.600 --> 02:24:58.719 and how is the case going to get handled? Is 2875 02:24:59.120 --> 02:25:01.360 Roger going to be the one to decide? 2876 02:25:01.399 --> 02:25:01.559 Right? 2877 02:25:01.600 --> 02:25:05.440 He ends up being judge, jury, and executioner, and so 2878 02:25:05.639 --> 02:25:08.520 right now his case, I think the latest on it's 2879 02:25:08.600 --> 02:25:10.920 it's headed to the Nevada Supreme Court. They're going to 2880 02:25:10.959 --> 02:25:16.879 review that issue. So again still going on, but you know, 2881 02:25:17.280 --> 02:25:20.239 it's provided a lot of stuff to talk about, for sure. 2882 02:25:20.520 --> 02:25:22.000 All right, your reference Utah state. 2883 02:25:22.120 --> 02:25:24.760 They're among the topics in our next kind of a 2884 02:25:24.920 --> 02:25:27.360 little silo, which is conference realignment. 2885 02:25:27.399 --> 02:25:29.879 Lawsuits also seem to be a very consistent theme. 2886 02:25:30.520 --> 02:25:33.360 Fsu clemsed in against the ACC, the Mountain West against 2887 02:25:33.360 --> 02:25:35.559 the PAC twelve for poaching schools. Then you toss the 2888 02:25:35.639 --> 02:25:38.520 end against the Mountain West for exit fees. Another kind 2889 02:25:38.520 --> 02:25:41.200 of gift that kept on giving for content for this segment. 2890 02:25:41.440 --> 02:25:44.520 But as you look back on the and they're also continuing, 2891 02:25:44.559 --> 02:25:46.920 you know, the latest on the conference re alignment lawsuits. 2892 02:25:47.680 --> 02:25:49.840 Yeah, no, they are, so, I mean, yeah, I think 2893 02:25:49.879 --> 02:25:52.040 the trend is whether it's a school or a player, right, 2894 02:25:52.079 --> 02:25:55.000 they're looking for, Hey, where can I get the best deal? Right, 2895 02:25:55.079 --> 02:25:57.760 whether it's at a certain school or for these schools, 2896 02:25:57.959 --> 02:26:01.000 what conference can it be in? So yeah, Utah State, 2897 02:26:01.040 --> 02:26:05.120 of course. I mean, you know, bolting for the PAC 2898 02:26:05.200 --> 02:26:07.079 twelve and the you know Mount West and there's these 2899 02:26:07.120 --> 02:26:11.440 exit fees and I mean so there's been lawsuits back 2900 02:26:11.479 --> 02:26:13.319 and forth right between the MOUNTA and West and the 2901 02:26:13.319 --> 02:26:16.239 PAC twelve, and again Utah States gotten in on that, 2902 02:26:17.440 --> 02:26:18.959 you know, to kind of go on the offensive a 2903 02:26:18.959 --> 02:26:21.399 little bit. I think what's difficult for these schools is 2904 02:26:22.000 --> 02:26:26.600 these are large, sophisticated institutions that got into these agreements 2905 02:26:26.600 --> 02:26:30.600 with these conferences knowingly, knowing what they're doing. And I'm 2906 02:26:30.639 --> 02:26:31.879 gonna have to go into it a lot. But I 2907 02:26:31.879 --> 02:26:34.319 mean that's the same thing with Florida State and Clemson 2908 02:26:34.319 --> 02:26:35.440 trying to get out of the ACC. 2909 02:26:35.920 --> 02:26:36.079 Right. 2910 02:26:36.120 --> 02:26:38.719 That's the argument is these guys know what they're doing, 2911 02:26:38.760 --> 02:26:43.399 what they're getting into. They benefit from these conference relationships 2912 02:26:43.399 --> 02:26:46.520 and the revenue sharing with broadcast deals. But as soon 2913 02:26:46.559 --> 02:26:48.719 as there's a better deal to come along, they want out, 2914 02:26:48.719 --> 02:26:51.200 and they want out of the contract, and so I 2915 02:26:51.239 --> 02:26:52.959 think these cases are going to go on for a 2916 02:26:52.959 --> 02:26:55.000 long time as well. I mean, there's just a lot 2917 02:26:55.040 --> 02:26:58.200 of money at stake. These penalties are pretty huge. I mean, 2918 02:26:58.319 --> 02:27:01.920 luckily Utah States not looking at anything as steep as 2919 02:27:01.959 --> 02:27:04.680 what you know Florida State and Clemson they have a 2920 02:27:04.760 --> 02:27:07.120 one hundred and forty million dollars with draw penalty from 2921 02:27:07.120 --> 02:27:09.600 the acc that they're fighting all. 2922 02:27:09.559 --> 02:27:12.559 Right over to actual nil lawsuits. 2923 02:27:12.559 --> 02:27:16.159 And once that door was open, I figured, you know, 2924 02:27:16.440 --> 02:27:19.639 thousands of players would walk through it. And of course 2925 02:27:19.920 --> 02:27:23.040 time will tell if other players add them themselves to 2926 02:27:23.079 --> 02:27:26.319 this list. But former players include the eighty three wolf 2927 02:27:26.399 --> 02:27:29.639 Pack team shout out Thorough Bailey, National champ Center, Jim Valvano, 2928 02:27:29.959 --> 02:27:32.840 they're not Robinson, Broylan Edwards, who were really good for Michigan, 2929 02:27:32.920 --> 02:27:35.440 and then Terrell pryor Ohio State. 2930 02:27:35.639 --> 02:27:37.719 That's kind of the headline names. 2931 02:27:37.719 --> 02:27:39.959 Some others will follow suit, and then they're the current 2932 02:27:40.040 --> 02:27:43.239 situations as well. Let's start with the former players who've 2933 02:27:43.280 --> 02:27:45.920 elected to try their hand with the nil lawsuits. 2934 02:27:47.280 --> 02:27:49.920 Right, So again, the House settlement really just covers back 2935 02:27:49.920 --> 02:27:53.319 to twenty sixteen, So you've got these former player players saying, hey, 2936 02:27:53.360 --> 02:27:56.680 well wait a minute, my school or my conference, you know, 2937 02:27:56.760 --> 02:28:00.479 for years has been profiting off of my name, image 2938 02:28:00.479 --> 02:28:02.680 and likeness. And so you know you brought up to 2939 02:28:02.959 --> 02:28:05.120 the eighty three wolf Pack team. And that's true, right, 2940 02:28:05.159 --> 02:28:06.840 I mean, whether you know, every time you turn on 2941 02:28:06.879 --> 02:28:09.479 March Madness, you're going to see the highlight of that 2942 02:28:10.079 --> 02:28:14.520 famous team and they're Cinderella Run. And so you know, 2943 02:28:14.600 --> 02:28:16.479 you've got these former players they're saying, hey, well wait 2944 02:28:16.520 --> 02:28:18.280 a minute, I should have been entitled to something and 2945 02:28:18.600 --> 02:28:20.920 looking for their piece. I mean, I think it's really interesting. 2946 02:28:21.000 --> 02:28:24.079 Like you said, the floodgates are open. We've just seen 2947 02:28:24.600 --> 02:28:29.200 kind of these big names of filing lawsuits. But you know, 2948 02:28:29.200 --> 02:28:31.280 it'll be interesting to see what kind of president gets 2949 02:28:31.319 --> 02:28:35.040 set as those cases get resolved in one way or another. 2950 02:28:35.399 --> 02:28:39.200 The current player situation is also fascinating because again we're 2951 02:28:39.239 --> 02:28:42.239 so early in our understanding of what this landscape is. 2952 02:28:43.239 --> 02:28:46.000 Precedents will be set and others will follow suit. That's 2953 02:28:46.040 --> 02:28:48.879 how it works. So it's Jaden Rashada who's suing Florida 2954 02:28:49.319 --> 02:28:52.559 over a fourteen million dollar nil deal. Then the situation 2955 02:28:52.639 --> 02:28:55.120 with Matt s Luca, the NLV quarterback who just left 2956 02:28:55.120 --> 02:28:58.559 the team. Get it in writing, always get it in writing. 2957 02:28:58.680 --> 02:29:00.399 But do you think this is the big getting of 2958 02:29:00.399 --> 02:29:02.319 a trend? Is this an early preston that you think 2959 02:29:02.360 --> 02:29:03.959 a lot of players are going to follow? 2960 02:29:04.000 --> 02:29:04.280 Sue with. 2961 02:29:05.479 --> 02:29:07.280 I think it is the beginning of a trend. I mean, 2962 02:29:07.319 --> 02:29:10.879 and I, like you said, what we'll probably see is 2963 02:29:10.959 --> 02:29:13.600 just there needs to be some more sophistication from the 2964 02:29:13.600 --> 02:29:16.840 players and the schools in negotiating the terms of these 2965 02:29:17.399 --> 02:29:20.639 nil deals, right. I mean it's in writing, right, You've 2966 02:29:20.639 --> 02:29:23.680 got these recruiters from different schools going out and making 2967 02:29:23.680 --> 02:29:26.799 big promises to players, whether it's money, and you know, A, 2968 02:29:26.959 --> 02:29:28.959 do they have the authority to do that? And B 2969 02:29:29.120 --> 02:29:32.000 is it going to be binding? And so I think 2970 02:29:32.040 --> 02:29:34.719 we'll have to see schools, you know, can start kind 2971 02:29:34.719 --> 02:29:37.000 of putting together their own policies and procedures on how 2972 02:29:37.040 --> 02:29:38.319 they want to do this. But they got to be 2973 02:29:38.360 --> 02:29:42.040 careful because you know, these are agreements being made, and 2974 02:29:42.079 --> 02:29:44.079 even if it's not in writing, right, there can still 2975 02:29:44.120 --> 02:29:47.360 be an oral contract. And so yeah, I think we're 2976 02:29:47.399 --> 02:29:50.559 going to continue to see these things where I mean, 2977 02:29:50.559 --> 02:29:52.600 there's just a lot of money at stake, So it's 2978 02:29:52.600 --> 02:29:53.760 going to end up in lawsuits. 2979 02:29:54.239 --> 02:29:56.040 The final little silo we're going to attack. 2980 02:29:56.079 --> 02:29:58.200 And I don't mean to laugh, because legal problems are 2981 02:29:58.200 --> 02:30:01.520 not laughing matter. But I've just reas remembering, like waking 2982 02:30:01.600 --> 02:30:03.440 up to a text like, Hey, did you hear Scotty 2983 02:30:03.520 --> 02:30:05.600 Scheffler got arrested trying to go into the tournament. 2984 02:30:05.600 --> 02:30:06.719 I was like, no, he didn't. 2985 02:30:06.760 --> 02:30:08.879 He as a choir boy. The Scotty Scheffler did not 2986 02:30:08.920 --> 02:30:12.559 get arrested. And then the Tyreek Hill situation of bad luck, 2987 02:30:12.600 --> 02:30:15.280 and of course Joey oh Tonnie, his translator, was found 2988 02:30:15.319 --> 02:30:17.200 guilty and he's going to go to jail for a 2989 02:30:17.200 --> 02:30:20.559 long long time. So let's hit on these individual legal issues, 2990 02:30:20.600 --> 02:30:22.959 some a little bit comic and others pretty sad. 2991 02:30:24.200 --> 02:30:24.840 Yeah, but I. 2992 02:30:25.040 --> 02:30:27.280 Thought these were kind of the big ones from the year. 2993 02:30:27.319 --> 02:30:29.840 I mean, the Scheffler and Tyreek Hill. I mean, it 2994 02:30:29.920 --> 02:30:32.319 is kind of funny, right, You've got these two high 2995 02:30:32.319 --> 02:30:35.559 profile professional athletes on either you know, Tyreek's on his 2996 02:30:35.600 --> 02:30:38.000 way to the Dolphin Stadium and Scheffler's on the way 2997 02:30:38.040 --> 02:30:42.239 to PGA Championship and they're both getting pulled over what 2998 02:30:42.520 --> 02:30:45.719 kind of start out as kind of traffic violations. I 2999 02:30:45.719 --> 02:30:49.120 mean Scotty Scheffler. I mean, if you remember that video, 3000 02:30:49.200 --> 02:30:51.399 you know, in the allegation that you know, he it 3001 02:30:51.520 --> 02:30:54.079 was a felony and three misdemeanors for assolding a police 3002 02:30:54.120 --> 02:30:58.959 officer with his vehicle, and I mean those that he 3003 02:30:59.040 --> 02:31:01.040 ends up. He was a choir boy. I guess the 3004 02:31:01.120 --> 02:31:04.239 charge has got dropped pretty quickly for him. And then 3005 02:31:04.239 --> 02:31:06.360 we had the Tyreek kill video, right, I mean that 3006 02:31:06.520 --> 02:31:11.479 was pretty wild as well. But so anyway, just this 3007 02:31:11.559 --> 02:31:14.879 issue right of these athletes and whether they think, you know, 3008 02:31:14.920 --> 02:31:18.239 in those moments, hey, these traffic rules may not apply 3009 02:31:18.360 --> 02:31:21.239 to me. You know, I'm important on my way to 3010 02:31:21.399 --> 02:31:25.360 you know, people want to see me. The Otani case again, 3011 02:31:26.120 --> 02:31:28.559 and I kind of included this one spence just because 3012 02:31:28.639 --> 02:31:31.239 I think this issue, which might be something we talk 3013 02:31:31.280 --> 02:31:32.959 about more in twenty twenty five, but it is the 3014 02:31:33.000 --> 02:31:36.920 issue of sports betting, right, And of course Sotani, this 3015 02:31:37.000 --> 02:31:38.920 is a case where his interpreter pled guilty to bank 3016 02:31:38.959 --> 02:31:42.479 fraud and taking seventeen million dollars from Otani. And you know, 3017 02:31:42.559 --> 02:31:45.920 we could speculate forever about whether or not Otani knew 3018 02:31:45.959 --> 02:31:48.040 about that or you know, was a part of that 3019 02:31:48.280 --> 02:31:50.120 or whether the interpreter just took. 3020 02:31:49.920 --> 02:31:50.639 The fall for it. 3021 02:31:51.399 --> 02:31:53.200 But we have had a few cases we've talked about 3022 02:31:53.239 --> 02:31:56.479 on sports courts where you know players are betting, right. 3023 02:31:56.479 --> 02:31:59.079 I mean, it's just it's easy to do and I 3024 02:31:59.079 --> 02:32:03.440 think we'll see more candles regarding sports betting in the 3025 02:32:03.520 --> 02:32:04.120 year to come. 3026 02:32:04.959 --> 02:32:06.840 All right, Garrett, before I set you loose, For any 3027 02:32:06.879 --> 02:32:09.360 of our listeners who have legal questions, how can they 3028 02:32:09.399 --> 02:32:09.959 get ahold of you? 3029 02:32:10.040 --> 02:32:11.120 Over at Handy and Handy. 3030 02:32:12.040 --> 02:32:14.200 Yeah, be happy to talk to about any legal questions 3031 02:32:14.280 --> 02:32:16.319 you have as social innaria personal injury, which is what 3032 02:32:16.319 --> 02:32:18.159 we do. But you can reach us at eight zero 3033 02:32:18.200 --> 02:32:20.920 one two six four sixty six seven seven or go 3034 02:32:21.000 --> 02:32:23.200 to our website Handy Law Utah dot com. 3035 02:32:23.360 --> 02:32:24.760 Thank you, my friend. I hope you had a great 3036 02:32:24.799 --> 02:32:26.559 holiday and we will catch up next week. 3037 02:32:27.200 --> 02:32:28.799 Thanks you too, Spence, ce Ali. 3038 02:32:28.719 --> 02:32:30.680 Garrett, Handy, get ahold of them if you have any 3039 02:32:30.760 --> 02:32:33.040 legal questions. Really good people that are willing to help. 3040 02:32:33.079 --> 02:32:35.639 We'll catch a quick break Drive at five comes Away 3041 02:32:35.680 --> 02:32:38.399 coming up next than Jim Herman College Football the rest 3042 02:32:38.399 --> 02:32:40.319 of the hour, and then we'll turn it over to 3043 02:32:40.360 --> 02:32:43.120 Thursday Night football in the Pros. Little Bear Seahawks, and 3044 02:32:43.159 --> 02:32:46.000 you can listen to it right here. AUDIESPN seven hundred. 3045 02:32:47.840 --> 02:32:50.319 The five o'clock hour is here, and your commute home 3046 02:32:50.440 --> 02:32:52.920 is begun. Let us keep you company during a rush 3047 02:32:52.959 --> 02:32:55.920 hour on the drive with Spence Check it's it's time 3048 02:32:56.000 --> 02:33:22.520 for the drive at five, all right. 3049 02:33:22.559 --> 02:33:26.680 We were talking earlier about the potential of We had 3050 02:33:26.799 --> 02:33:29.959 Eric Weddle on the show Fun Conversation with Eric. We're 3051 02:33:29.959 --> 02:33:33.600 talking about the quality of the NFL games juxtaposed to 3052 02:33:33.600 --> 02:33:36.159 the NBA action we saw yesterday. NBA had a good day. 3053 02:33:36.760 --> 02:33:40.159 NFL the two games were a blowout. However, we have 3054 02:33:40.280 --> 02:33:44.399 the data now. The doubleheader on Netflix resulted in the 3055 02:33:44.440 --> 02:33:48.559 two most streamed games in NFL history. The Ravens and 3056 02:33:48.600 --> 02:33:52.159 the Texans peaked at twenty four point three mil and 3057 02:33:52.239 --> 02:33:55.040 the Chiefs and the Steelers twenty four point one, but 3058 02:33:55.360 --> 02:33:59.840 the stream peaked at twenty seven million people during Beyonce's 3059 02:34:00.120 --> 02:34:04.040 Time show. That further underscores my point that the NFL 3060 02:34:04.159 --> 02:34:07.440 has done such a phenomenal job at creating a television 3061 02:34:07.479 --> 02:34:09.280 product that is far. 3062 02:34:09.200 --> 02:34:10.719 Superior to any other league. 3063 02:34:10.719 --> 02:34:13.280 Even if you're not a football fan, even if you're 3064 02:34:13.360 --> 02:34:16.440 not necessarily huge NFL fan, people are going to tune in, 3065 02:34:16.479 --> 02:34:19.040 like your relatives want to watch it, maybe your sister 3066 02:34:19.079 --> 02:34:21.079 wants to watch Beyonce or whatever it is. Like their 3067 02:34:21.159 --> 02:34:26.120 television product with their primetime marquee events, really dwarfs anything 3068 02:34:26.120 --> 02:34:28.959 that any other league does. And now we have the data. 3069 02:34:29.000 --> 02:34:31.760 Have not seen how many people watched the NBA games yesterday. 3070 02:34:31.879 --> 02:34:33.680 My guess is it's going to be a healthy number, 3071 02:34:33.680 --> 02:34:36.520 but not close to what has turned out to be 3072 02:34:36.639 --> 02:34:40.760 twenty seven million. That's your peak when Beyonce was performed 3073 02:34:40.760 --> 02:34:44.479 at halftime, So that is pretty wild. The Christmas Day 3074 02:34:44.520 --> 02:34:47.440 games for the NBA, this is just spilling in now. 3075 02:34:48.639 --> 02:34:52.079 Most watched Christmas Days in five years, with viewership up 3076 02:34:52.079 --> 02:34:56.719 eighty four percent last year across ABCESPN, ESPN two, and 3077 02:34:56.760 --> 02:34:57.559 Disney Plus. 3078 02:34:58.120 --> 02:34:59.760 So the Christmas Day games. 3079 02:35:01.000 --> 02:35:05.440 Average seven point seven million and peaked with eight point 3080 02:35:05.440 --> 02:35:07.719 three to two million when the Warriors and. 3081 02:35:07.719 --> 02:35:10.440 The Lakers were playing. So that's a good day for 3082 02:35:10.479 --> 02:35:10.959 the NBA. 3083 02:35:11.440 --> 02:35:13.879 But a good day for the NBA is essentially one 3084 02:35:14.079 --> 02:35:16.799 third of what it is for the NFL. And it 3085 02:35:16.840 --> 02:35:18.760 was two games that were blowouts. I mean, how many 3086 02:35:18.840 --> 02:35:21.719 of you watched all the NFL games unless you had 3087 02:35:21.719 --> 02:35:24.879 some side situations manifesting themselves. 3088 02:35:24.920 --> 02:35:26.680 My guess as you turn them off. 3089 02:35:26.719 --> 02:35:28.479 All right, Jim Herman's going to join us, coming up back, 3090 02:35:28.479 --> 02:35:29.920 We're going to do some college football. I want to 3091 02:35:29.959 --> 02:35:32.520 tell you about my friends at prize Picks. It is 3092 02:35:32.559 --> 02:35:34.799 the best place to get real money sports action. With 3093 02:35:35.520 --> 02:35:39.840 over ten million members and more than our billions of dollars, 3094 02:35:39.879 --> 02:35:41.920 I should say I've awarded winnings, Prize Picks has made 3095 02:35:42.000 --> 02:35:46.239 daily fantasy sports accessible to all. It's very easy. Use 3096 02:35:46.280 --> 02:35:49.079 an example for tonight's jazz game. All you do is 3097 02:35:49.120 --> 02:35:51.280 pick more or less on at least two players for 3098 02:35:51.319 --> 02:35:53.600 a shots went up to one thousand times your cash. 3099 02:35:53.840 --> 02:35:57.440 So Lowry marketed more or less than nineteen point five points, 3100 02:35:57.840 --> 02:36:00.920 Walker Kestler more or less than two point five blocks, 3101 02:36:01.000 --> 02:36:03.920 things like that, Scoot Henderson more or less than seven 3102 02:36:03.959 --> 02:36:05.559 point five assists, or whatever it is. 3103 02:36:05.600 --> 02:36:06.319 You get the idea. 3104 02:36:06.360 --> 02:36:09.360 It's very very easy, and right now they're giving away 3105 02:36:09.399 --> 02:36:11.680 free money. My suggestion to you is go grab the 3106 02:36:11.719 --> 02:36:13.440 free money and then try it and see if you 3107 02:36:13.559 --> 02:36:15.920 like it. And you do that by downloading the Prize 3108 02:36:15.920 --> 02:36:18.440 Picks up today and use the promo code ESPN seven 3109 02:36:18.520 --> 02:36:21.559 hundred to get fifty dollars instantly after you play your 3110 02:36:21.559 --> 02:36:22.760 first five dollars lineup. 3111 02:36:22.799 --> 02:36:24.040 Download the prize picks up today. 3112 02:36:24.120 --> 02:36:27.239 Use the promo code ESPN seven hundred to get fifty 3113 02:36:27.239 --> 02:36:30.239 dollars instantly after you play your first five dollars lineup 3114 02:36:30.280 --> 02:36:32.920 Prize picks run your game all season long. Jim Hermon 3115 02:36:33.040 --> 02:36:35.200 is our guest coming up next right here on ESPN 3116 02:36:35.239 --> 02:36:35.840 seven hundred. 3117 02:36:53.399 --> 02:36:56.200 All right, wrapping up the show on a Thursday afternoon. 3118 02:36:56.639 --> 02:37:00.920 Hopefully you guys had a fantastic Christmas, and we'll wish 3119 02:37:00.959 --> 02:37:03.799 you a happy holiday season, happy New Year as well. 3120 02:37:03.879 --> 02:37:06.000 Although we'll be back on air tomorrow and back on 3121 02:37:06.040 --> 02:37:07.639 air next week. Tomorrow we're going to be out and 3122 02:37:07.639 --> 02:37:10.920 about Tim Dolly Nissan on remote, so come by and 3123 02:37:10.959 --> 02:37:13.879 say hello. But hopefully you had a great holiday, spends 3124 02:37:13.879 --> 02:37:15.760 the time with friends and family, ate some good food, 3125 02:37:15.799 --> 02:37:18.479 took some time off work, all that good stuff. It's 3126 02:37:18.479 --> 02:37:20.920 a busy night tonight, busy sports night tonight. We've got 3127 02:37:20.959 --> 02:37:23.079 a little NBA action where the Jazz are taking on 3128 02:37:23.120 --> 02:37:26.600 the Blazers. Blazers is a two point five point favorite 3129 02:37:26.600 --> 02:37:29.520 in that game. On this radio station, you'll hear the 3130 02:37:29.559 --> 02:37:33.520 final NFL game of the week seventeen. Slay cannot believe 3131 02:37:33.520 --> 02:37:35.719 that we're here, but yes, it is the Seahawks and 3132 02:37:35.760 --> 02:37:39.879 it is the Bears live from Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. 3133 02:37:39.920 --> 02:37:42.239 Right now, Seattle is a four point five point favorite. 3134 02:37:42.239 --> 02:37:46.000 The over under is forty two point five. Some bull 3135 02:37:46.040 --> 02:37:49.840 action too in college football, of course, a lot of 3136 02:37:49.879 --> 02:37:52.879 attention around here on the Alamo Bull coming up on Saturday. 3137 02:37:52.920 --> 02:37:57.639 That is BYU and Colorado BYU a slight underdog, Colorado 3138 02:37:57.639 --> 02:37:59.719 a four point favorite in that one. 3139 02:38:00.000 --> 02:38:01.559 Got little Rutgers kse State. 3140 02:38:01.639 --> 02:38:03.440 If you want to watch a little big twelve football 3141 02:38:03.440 --> 02:38:07.200 that's going on right now, Arkansas State bowling Green That 3142 02:38:07.280 --> 02:38:10.319 is the Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama for the 3143 02:38:10.399 --> 02:38:13.520 sixty eight Ventures Bowl. And then earlier today at the 3144 02:38:13.520 --> 02:38:17.959 game above Sports Bowl, saw Toledo beat pitt in six overtimes. 3145 02:38:18.479 --> 02:38:21.000 So you got a little college football action tonight, little 3146 02:38:21.120 --> 02:38:25.440 NBA action tonight, and hopefully you enjoy your Thursday. And 3147 02:38:25.520 --> 02:38:28.200 we have a very fun jam Pat Friday show for 3148 02:38:28.239 --> 02:38:30.319 you guys, so make sure to join us for that. 3149 02:38:30.680 --> 02:38:33.520 I want to say a very special thank you today too. 3150 02:38:33.799 --> 02:38:36.680 Jim Herman, Craig Bowler, Jack Gordon Monson Eric Weddell and 3151 02:38:36.760 --> 02:38:39.920 Zach Harper, very busy show, a lot of college football, 3152 02:38:39.959 --> 02:38:42.520 some NFL of course, some NBA, and some Utah jazz. 3153 02:38:42.920 --> 02:38:45.360 If you miss any of the sound from the show today, 3154 02:38:45.399 --> 02:38:47.079 you can head on over to the website, which is 3155 02:38:47.840 --> 02:38:51.479 ESPN seven hundred sports dot com. Make sure to download 3156 02:38:51.479 --> 02:38:53.479 our mobile app. You can take our station on the go. 3157 02:38:53.600 --> 02:38:55.760 It's how I listen to our station. It's the ESPN 3158 02:38:55.799 --> 02:38:58.520 seven hundred app and that's available in the App Store 3159 02:38:58.559 --> 02:39:00.680 or the Google play Store. And then fly for what 3160 02:39:00.760 --> 02:39:03.879 we do in our space Afternoon Drive four hours every day. 3161 02:39:04.319 --> 02:39:06.319 Check out our podcast page it's called The Drive with 3162 02:39:06.319 --> 02:39:09.479 Spence Checkets and that's available wherever you get your shows. 3163 02:39:09.520 --> 02:39:12.200 Please subscribe, rate, review, say nice things in the comments, 3164 02:39:12.239 --> 02:39:15.120 give us all the stars. It actually does help for 3165 02:39:15.159 --> 02:39:17.360 Olivia who's filling in for Porter. She'll be back on 3166 02:39:17.399 --> 02:39:19.799 the ones and tuesdamorrow. My name is Spence Checket, saying 3167 02:39:19.799 --> 02:39:22.959 to night Thursday Night Football NFL Style comes your way, 3168 02:39:22.959 --> 02:39:23.479 coming up next. 3169 02:39:23.520 --> 02:39:26.040 We'll talk to you tomorrow right here on ESPN seven 3170 02:39:26.120 --> 02:39:26.440 hundred