WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:05.040 County Crows are in town tonight at Usana Amphitheater, Gaslight 2 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:05.960 Anthem opening. 3 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:07.879 That is gonna be a damn good show. 4 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:11.800 And our next guest is in town only to be 5 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:14.720 in studio to do a hit with me and actually 6 00:00:14.919 --> 00:00:15.960 has run into. 7 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:17.079 Some good fortune because he gets. 8 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:20.359 To see his buddies tonight, our guy Roxy Bernstein, live 9 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:20.920 and studio. 10 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:23.640 Great to see him, man, how are you. I'm great, Spence. 11 00:00:23.719 --> 00:00:24.679 It's good to be here. 12 00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:27.079 Good to see you face to face for sure, and 13 00:00:28.120 --> 00:00:29.839 come on this time of the year. It's great to 14 00:00:29.879 --> 00:00:32.960 be here, and I'm excited for tonight. It's gonna be 15 00:00:32.960 --> 00:00:34.280 a great show. It's gonna be a fun couple of 16 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:36.439 days for me here in Soul one hundred percent. And 17 00:00:36.759 --> 00:00:37.840 you've been coming on the show. 18 00:00:37.880 --> 00:00:39.960 We just turned six last week, so I feel like 19 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.320 we've had you on pretty much since the start of 20 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:45.520 this show with our old connections with a PAC twelve network. 21 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:48.200 But face to face is different, man, So it's good. 22 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:50.119 I don't know that I've ever even you've been in 23 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:52.719 town when I've been at games and you've been calling, 24 00:00:52.759 --> 00:00:54.679 like at Huntsman or whatever. But I'm not gonna like 25 00:00:54.759 --> 00:00:56.479 roll down in the middle of the first quarter and 26 00:00:56.520 --> 00:00:59.039 like interrupt you and Bill Walton may he rest. 27 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:00.000 In jee tap us on the shoulder. 28 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:02.240 But it's great to actually kind of put a face. 29 00:01:02.359 --> 00:01:04.079 Even though I've seen you on television, I'm not sure 30 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:05.480 that we've ever met face to I don't. 31 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:05.799 Know if we have. 32 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:09.159 Yeah, because yeah, I've been here, but then you've had 33 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:11.040 other engagements when you've been out of town. It's like 34 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:14.200 two ships passing in the night. Yeah, So finally we're 35 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:16.200 physically in the same place. 36 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:19.120 Yes, and it's excellent to have you in. So have 37 00:01:19.200 --> 00:01:21.439 you talked to I know Adam is your boy, the 38 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:23.359 lead singer accounting crist Does he know you'll be in 39 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:24.159 the house for the show that? 40 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:25.920 Yeah, we were texting earlier day. He knew I was 41 00:01:25.959 --> 00:01:26.319 coming out. 42 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:28.480 Like I always, I always try to pick a place 43 00:01:28.519 --> 00:01:31.760 Spence where there's gonna be none of our friends, right, 44 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:35.359 it's we can just hang out because like they played 45 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:38.640 Berkeley last week and it was a complete zoo, just 46 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:42.359 chaos backstage, and I did get to spend some time 47 00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:44.640 with him, but there's he's getting tugged in so many 48 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:48.719 different directions. We're here, we can just go hang out. 49 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:51.799 So literally, when I get done here, I'm gonna hop 50 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:54.159 in an uber and head out to Asana and just 51 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.359 hang out. They got i think sound check at four, 52 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:58.519 and I'll just hang without him until the show tonight. 53 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:01.480 Now, the reason that's pertinent is, you know, Adam from 54 00:02:01.560 --> 00:02:04.040 cal right, so he has a lot of friends in 55 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:05.200 that market, and. 56 00:02:05.959 --> 00:02:08.400 He grew up there and we didn't go to college. 57 00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:10.159 Adam's older than we are. You and I are the 58 00:02:10.199 --> 00:02:13.159 same age, but we had a bunch of mutual friends 59 00:02:13.159 --> 00:02:16.919 and that's how we became friends. And we've been connected 60 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:21.680 now for I don't know thirty plus years. And he's, 61 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:24.000 as you know, a huge sports fan, a huge cow fan, 62 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:27.360 but he's a huge Warriors fan, Oakland A's fan. I'm 63 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:29.639 not going to say the Sacramento As, but the Oakland A's. 64 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:33.080 He was an Oakland Raiders. He still follows the Raiders 65 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:37.159 even though they're in Vegas. Loves hockey, He's just he's 66 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:38.479 a huge sports fan in general. 67 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:41.520 That's and you know, as a child of the nineties, 68 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:43.800 as a proud Jet xer, the Crows have a very 69 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:45.919 special place in my heart. I've probably seen them six 70 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:48.879 or seven times, so I'm not as jealous that you're 71 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:51.120 seeing your guy tonight. But I'm jealous you're seeing Gaslight 72 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:53.159 because I've never seen them. I've never seen them live. 73 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:56.280 I've listened them for years, but Gaslight anthem and you're referenced. 74 00:02:56.280 --> 00:02:58.039 Their lead singer is a huge sports fan as well. 75 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:01.439 He is so Brian is a huge fan growing up 76 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:04.240 in New Jersey, New York area, Like, how did he 77 00:03:04.280 --> 00:03:06.199 become a Niners fan? Well, a bunch of people in 78 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:10.000 his family were Jets fans, and the Jets are the 79 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:13.439 Jets right, And when he was growing up, he's a 80 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:16.159 little younger than we are, not much, but I think 81 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:19.599 of a few years, but the Niners were dominating with 82 00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:23.000 Montana and Rice and then to Steve Young and Ronnie Lott, 83 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:25.479 all those great Niners from yesteryear. 84 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:28.120 They were winning him and so. 85 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:30.680 It's easy to become a forty nine er fan back 86 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:32.960 then the team of the eighties and into the nineties, 87 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:35.199 and so he's been a huge Niner fan. It was 88 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:40.240 funny because they were at the Forum in La last Tuesday, 89 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:43.080 then played the Greek Theater in Berkeley on Wednesday, and 90 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:47.000 he asked Adam Durretz, Brian, did are we going anywhere 91 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:48.199 near Levi Stadium. 92 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:50.639 I want to go in, Like, well, it's fifty miles away. 93 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:54.719 But then he took Brian into the Cal equipment room 94 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:58.400 at Memorial Stadium. They rated it. He puts on his 95 00:03:58.520 --> 00:04:01.000 Cal football T shirt for the gig that night. It's 96 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:03.680 awesome and he's like, yeah, now I'm a cow fan. 97 00:04:04.159 --> 00:04:07.520 So you know, bribery kind of worked its way, but 98 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:10.000 now Cal's got a new big fan and Brian from 99 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:10.919 a gas line anthem. 100 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:13.520 One more thing before we get into some sports. Is 101 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:14.960 our guy Adam dating right now? 102 00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:19.399 Yes? Okay, well, and do we approve? Yes, we do 103 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:19.959 very much. 104 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.639 So now the only reason I bring it up is 105 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:24.800 my potentially my favorite bit because when you first said 106 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:26.759 this on my show, I'm like, he's can't be serious. 107 00:04:27.199 --> 00:04:30.040 Is the fact that you legitimately were beefing with Courtney 108 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:32.079 Cox because of the way she treated your friend Adam. 109 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:35.360 Yeah, it's there's a lot there. There's a lot to 110 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:38.000 unpack Spence in that statement there. 111 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:39.879 But but I really I'm like, he's got to be 112 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:42.279 pulling my leg, like, there's no way our And you know, 113 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:45.000 Adam during the nineties had a run. 114 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:47.240 Where he dated Courtney for two years. Was there two 115 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:48.839 full years. Two years. Wow. 116 00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:51.759 I felt like every couple of years he was moving 117 00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:54.279 on to the next like celebrity, right, I mean, because 118 00:04:54.279 --> 00:04:56.439 he for a while he did okay for himself. But 119 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:58.959 for a while rock Syed the Counting Crows were potentially 120 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:00.959 the biggest band in America for about four or five 121 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:01.920 years in the nineties. 122 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:04.120 When they were in that conversation, they burst out of 123 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:04.439 the scene. 124 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:08.120 Was almost like overnight now they Adam struggled for a while. 125 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:09.959 He didn't make it till his late twenties, which is 126 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:12.120 kind of a rare story for somebody to make it 127 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:15.759 that late. But when mister Jones and the album August 128 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:20.800 and everything after, it just took off and it exploded 129 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:23.079 to the point where he had to get out of Berkeley. 130 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:26.000 Like he was living in Berkeley still and he had 131 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:30.000 to move because it was just he was getting oversaturated 132 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:32.279 in his front yard. People were coming to hang out. 133 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:34.000 His parents still lived there for a long time, but 134 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:36.800 Adam moved to la And then of course, Recovering the 135 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:39.839 Satellites was the second album, a great follow up, but 136 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:44.040 it just amazing over the span of a month how 137 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:45.319 much the band exploded. 138 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:48.120 It must have been so cool as a friend to 139 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:52.000 watch that success, because you know, we only hear about 140 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:54.920 it when they are in our consciousness, when they become famous, 141 00:05:54.920 --> 00:05:57.079 we rarely see the backwork. And it sounds like Adam 142 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:01.160 was probably grinding on smaller tours for years with other bands. 143 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:01.759 That's so cool. 144 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:03.920 Like he was at a band called the Himalayans where 145 00:06:03.959 --> 00:06:07.360 if you kind of google that, there's the original version 146 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:10.839 of round here, which is very different from the one 147 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:13.680 Counting Crows performed. But he brought it over and they 148 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:16.759 tweaked it and it was on August and everything after. 149 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:20.720 But like the Himalayans, it was almost more acid rock 150 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:24.600 than it was what it became. And it's interesting to 151 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:26.079 hear the difference between the two. 152 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:27.560 That's really cool. That's really cool. 153 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:31.399 All right, let's start with I think most everyone including 154 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:34.920 me around here, we know you from the Fact twelve network, right, 155 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:37.160 and that obviously I don't know if you've heard it's 156 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:40.720 not a thing anymore really. Yeah, So your full time, 157 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:43.160 your full time with the ESPNS. Yeah, for some reason 158 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:45.759 I just thought you were like contracted out all over 159 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:47.519 the place. But your full time with the ESPN. So 160 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:50.399 what does the roxy Burnstein fall calendar look like. 161 00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:53.120 So, I've got some college football lined up. I've got 162 00:06:53.160 --> 00:07:00.079 Arizona State's opener coming up on August thirtieth. Then i 163 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:02.439 jump back into Major League Baseball Labor Day. I'll be 164 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:06.319 in Detroit for the Mets and the Tigers. I have 165 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:10.439 a family situation going, our family thing down in La 166 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:13.000 so I'm not working college football week two, but then 167 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:17.160 week three I'm jumping back in. And I've got TCU 168 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:20.560 on September thirteenth, and I'll be doing the first two 169 00:07:20.600 --> 00:07:23.519 rounds of Major League Baseball playoffs more than likely National 170 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:26.399 League Wildcard and Division Series, which I've been doing for 171 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:29.040 them for years and can't wait for the playoffs and 172 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:30.600 down the stretch. And I'll do a number of Pennant 173 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:32.399 Race games for ESPN Radio as well. 174 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:36.399 So I always have almost like a reverent respect for 175 00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:39.879 people like you, because you know, another front of the show, 176 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:43.600 Iron Eagle, Yeah, who can do anything. And you do hockey, 177 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:46.639 you do basketball, you do football, you do baseball. 178 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:49.160 Is there one that you prefer? 179 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:52.560 And what are the challenges of bouncing back and forth 180 00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:53.319 between sports? 181 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:56.600 The way you do the pacing is very different bence 182 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:59.879 in terms of baseball, for example, hockey and basketball are 183 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:04.079 so quick, but baseball has that deliberate pace to it, 184 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:08.079 and the back and forth unless you're prepared mentally, can 185 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:09.000 be a little different. 186 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:09.279 Yep. 187 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:12.959 And like I'll be going from football to baseball a 188 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:18.040 couple of days later. But I love the versatility that 189 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:23.040 I get to deal with in the variety of sports. Like, Okay, 190 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:24.959 you have to have a certain amount of bandwidth to 191 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:27.800 be able to comprehend everything and remember all that stuff. 192 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:30.920 But I follow it religiously, like I you know, I'm 193 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:34.919 so invested in football, in basketball where most of my 194 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:38.320 relationships are, but major League Baseball I've worked for a 195 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:41.960 long time and the NHL. It's funny when ESPN got 196 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:45.960 the NHL package back, I hadn't done a hockey game 197 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:48.039 in probably twenty years, Like I worked for the San 198 00:08:48.120 --> 00:08:52.480 Jose Sharks years ago, okay, and then my pat took 199 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:55.360 me in a different route. But then when ESPN got 200 00:08:55.399 --> 00:08:57.480 the NHL package back, I'm like, hey, you know, I 201 00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:00.480 do hockey, and they threw me on some games and 202 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:04.879 I've been part of their stable of coverage since this 203 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:07.519 will be what now four years now that ESPN has 204 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:10.519 had the NHL package of that seven year contract and 205 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:12.919 at least three more years and we'll see where it goes. 206 00:09:12.960 --> 00:09:15.279 But it seems that ESPN's invested in hockey and they're 207 00:09:15.279 --> 00:09:16.360 going to stick with it. 208 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:19.080 Is there a endgame that you have in mind? 209 00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:23.759 Because it's you know, like Joe Buck did baseball for years, 210 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:25.519 and he did a little bit of everything for years, 211 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:27.799 and then he's the voice of money that football, and 212 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:30.039 so I would imagine if you got the offer to 213 00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:31.600 be the voice of money at football, that'd be a 214 00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:34.159 good endgame for you. But I have a little bit 215 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:36.759 of a layered question because you are a utility guy 216 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:40.840 for ESPN, and you know, it's important to have a comprehensive, 217 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:44.279 complete skill set while you're working your way up to 218 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:46.840 whatever that endgame looks like for you. I wonder if 219 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:50.039 you have that, you know, that vision in your mind 220 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:52.360 about what the endgame would be and what's it like 221 00:09:52.440 --> 00:09:54.559 to kind of be the guy that ESPN relies on 222 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:56.720 for a number of different job opportunities. 223 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:59.240 I'm so happy with where I'm at now. 224 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:04.960 That's cool. ESPN's been great to me, and for example, 225 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:07.480 they let me work for the PAC twelve network. Yes, 226 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:09.639 I was fully invested in the PAC twelve. As you know, 227 00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:12.840 and I born and raised, grew up on it, and 228 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:16.240 it was gut wrenching when everything came crashing to a 229 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:20.360 halt like it did. But ESPN has been fabulous to 230 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:23.240 me and my family, and I love that they let 231 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:26.799 me do all these different sports and they give me 232 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:29.960 that freedom, that flexibility. I don't know if there's like 233 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:32.200 a Okay, I have to have this job or that game, 234 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:35.600 or this is my end game right now? 235 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:36.759 You know what I do it. 236 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:39.519 I was doing Major League baseball in Miami. I worked 237 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:41.679 for the Marlins for three years, and my wife and 238 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:44.679 I did not want to raise our kids there. We 239 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:46.799 were determined to come back out west. And I grew 240 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:48.399 up and born and raised in the Bay Area. My 241 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:51.799 wife's from Santa Barbara, but we wanted to raise the 242 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:55.799 kids somewhere out west, and coming back home was a 243 00:10:55.879 --> 00:10:58.279 natural fit. I was still doing radio in the Bay Areas, 244 00:10:58.320 --> 00:11:00.759 doing colgames on the radio. Even when I was doing 245 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:04.279 baseball in Miami. I was by coastal, Oh Okay, and 246 00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:07.799 so that made it tricky, especially come spring training and 247 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:09.159 heading into March Madness. 248 00:11:09.200 --> 00:11:12.919 Sure, but I. 249 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:14.960 If some opportunity presented itself, yeah, I'd take a look 250 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:17.879 at it. But right now I'm thrilled where I'm at. 251 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:20.039 My I just sent my oldest off to college. She's 252 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:23.559 a freshman at TCU very nice. And my son has 253 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:27.480 just started his sophomore year of high school. So we're 254 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:29.240 in trench in the Bay Area for now. It doesn't 255 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:30.519 mean I'll be there forever. 256 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:34.399 Yeah, what if like a team came calling, Like, is 257 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:37.879 that the type of dream gig, you know, baseball, basketball, football? 258 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:39.919 I guess it depends on the team, depends on the market. 259 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:44.440 Yeah, And look, I've had opportunities and I've looked at him, 260 00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:46.799 and I've talked with teams, and some have been pretty 261 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:54.120 close to happening. But it's it's tough with the family 262 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:57.159 because look, it was just me Spence or just my wife. 263 00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:58.320 Yeah, it's different. 264 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:01.840 The kids are in trench all they know, and to 265 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.279 rock their world and turn it upside down would be 266 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:05.720 very difficult for me to do. 267 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:06.000 Yeah. 268 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:08.960 I was eleven when we moved back east when my 269 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:12.399 father took the job in New York with MSG, And 270 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:14.440 it was a hard thing. Man like when when you're 271 00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:17.399 uprooted from your friends, and certainly there's a little bit 272 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:19.120 of a culture shock when you go from Salt Lake 273 00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:21.360 City to New York, I mean, you know, and then 274 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:23.720 back again too. And my family's still back east. But 275 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:26.080 I want to ask you about Bill Walton. You're wearing 276 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:28.639 a shirt that says Walton on it, and you know 277 00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:31.720 one of the you know, met Bill several times over 278 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:34.519 the years. But when my father retired from Madison Square 279 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:38.240 Garden about a week after, I was home visiting from 280 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:41.039 college and he called me and said, Spence, come down 281 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:43.559 in my office listening to this. So Bill Walton had 282 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:46.840 left him like a five minute voicemail and it was 283 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:49.080 just like I'm doing the chef's kiss thing. It was 284 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:53.840 quintessential Bill Walton for five minutes, non sequiturs, from the 285 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:56.799 Knicks to the beauty of the Wasatch Mountains where our 286 00:12:56.840 --> 00:13:00.720 family's from. Like and it, I mean, I I very 287 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:02.039 much from a distance. 288 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:04.639 I didn't know him like you did. Really loved him 289 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:05.639 in a way. 290 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:08.320 That you know if you're a sports fan and appreciate 291 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:10.240 the way he approached the craft. I know he wasn't 292 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:12.759 for everybody, but that's all right. You know, our job, 293 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:15.519 it's not unlike a band, it's not unlike counting crows. 294 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:19.759 Discretion is important sometimes the albums are great. Sometimes the 295 00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:23.480 songs don't land whatever. Everybody has their own preference. But 296 00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:25.799 what was it like working with him side by side 297 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:28.039 and then getting to know the man outside of just 298 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:28.759 the broadcaster. 299 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:32.360 It was awesome. Bill was the greatest, He really was. 300 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:36.679 And I think of Bill every day, and you know, 301 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:40.039 I honor him wearing this shirt wear pretty often. It 302 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:43.919 became a staple of my wardrobe. It's great. But just 303 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:47.919 his impact on me, Like we became friends. And I 304 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:51.639 remember the first game we did together, and it was 305 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:54.399 we were doing an n game at the University of 306 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:59.759 San Francisco years ago and it was LSU at USF. 307 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:04.240 First off, Bill was ecstatic to be there because Bill 308 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:08.200 Russell was his hero and that's where Bill Russell went 309 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:10.639 to college, won the national championships with the Dons back 310 00:14:10.679 --> 00:14:14.879 in the fifties, and so he was super excited. He's 311 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:17.480 always extremely excited to be anywhere he's at, that's the 312 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:20.919 best thing about him. But he was really really pumped 313 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.879 up to be on the hilltop at USO the Bill 314 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:26.480 Russell statue and all that. But this was the first 315 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:28.320 game that I was working with him, so it was 316 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:32.159 a little nervous and I knew about Bill obviously, and 317 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:36.799 as custom with Bill, we don't talk during the day. 318 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:39.919 He tries to keep it fresh and organic for when 319 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:42.320 we go on the air. He did introduce himself to 320 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:45.120 me at shoot around. I'd met Bill before, but you know, 321 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:47.240 Bill plays the joke what's your name again? 322 00:14:47.799 --> 00:14:50.279 I mean that was synonymous with Bill. 323 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:53.240 And so we're about thirty seconds away from going on 324 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:56.600 air and doing our open for the game, and Bill 325 00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:00.720 looks at me, takes out his gum, he says, what's 326 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:03.840 your name again? I go Roxy, He goes roxy, I'll 327 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:06.799 try not to get you fired. And then literally we're 328 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:09.759 on the air, and that was the start of a friendship. 329 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:12.039 We went to dinner that night, crazy enough in to 330 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:14.240 hate Ashbury, right down the street from the University of 331 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:17.200 San Francisco, which Bill probably spent many nights with the 332 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.320 dead in that area. 333 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:22.159 And it was the start of a great friendship. And 334 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:23.039 still his day. 335 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:26.120 I text his wife Laurie all the time, text one 336 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:29.159 of his son, Luke, because we work in kind of 337 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:29.960 the same circles. 338 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:34.279 He's in the NBA. But yeah, now a day goes by, 339 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:34.960 I don't think of Bill. 340 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:37.600 Is Luke still coaching? You got he's an assistance with 341 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:41.799 the Pistons. Yes, that's right. You know, it's interesting before 342 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:44.480 my father actually took the job of the Jazz when 343 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:46.720 I was a pop we lived in Boston, he was 344 00:15:46.759 --> 00:15:50.240 with Bain and so my first NBA experiences were the 345 00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:53.480 Celtics of the eighties and Bill was the sixth man 346 00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:55.639 on a Celtic team that won the championship. 347 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:57.120 So I'm not. 348 00:15:57.159 --> 00:16:01.440 Old enough to remember Bill Walton like prime Bill Walton 349 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:05.120 with the Blazers. But if you watch the documentary, if 350 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:08.399 you listen to basketball historians, it feels like if Bill 351 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:11.240 Walton would have just been able to stay healthy and 352 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:15.000 play at that level consistently, we would be talking about 353 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:17.600 him like the way we talk about Larry Bird or 354 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:20.080 the way we talk about Magic Johnson, like he truly 355 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:24.000 had a career arc that if he would have continued 356 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:26.960 and not had the myriad of injuries that plagued him 357 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:29.919 quite frankly his entire life, he could have potentially been 358 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:31.919 one of the greatest basketball players of all time? 359 00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:33.799 Is that fair to say? Oh, it's fair to say. 360 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:36.000 I mean, he was the MVP in what's seventy eight, 361 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:38.320 and I'm like you, I didn't I'm not old enough 362 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:41.279 to appreciate him from his prime, yep. And I remember 363 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:43.639 that the broken down Bill that did come off the bench. 364 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:45.879 It was a key part at Celtics championship team in 365 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:48.720 eighty six, for sure. But the stories that I hear, 366 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:54.120 for example from my uncle that he's a retired doctor now, 367 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:57.240 but he was doing his residency at UCLA when Bill 368 00:16:57.320 --> 00:17:01.120 was playing there, so we got in a huge basketball fan. 369 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:03.159 He went to every game the Bruins played and got 370 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:06.079 to see Bill play every UCLA game of his career. 371 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:13.759 And just how well Bill changed the poet, the really 372 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:17.359 the game of basketball from the center position because with 373 00:17:17.440 --> 00:17:21.079 his outlet passes, his ability to see the floor, it 374 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:24.519 was unheard of for somebody at that stage that big 375 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:26.920 to be able to do what he did. Like people 376 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:29.839 marvel at what Jokic does now, Well Bill was doing 377 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:33.960 that forty plus years ago. Yeah, and probably even better 378 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:37.200 than Jokic is doing, even though Jokic is an unbelievable player. Yeah, 379 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:40.519 but Bill went twenty one for twenty two from the 380 00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:42.359 floor in a Final four game. 381 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:43.440 Yeap, incredible. 382 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:46.079 You know it's funny you bring bring up the Jokic 383 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:48.599 thing because when Jokic kind of burst on the scene. 384 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:52.200 Unfortunately for our show, Jeff Van Gundy is back coaching 385 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.799 in the NBA, so I can't get him on. But 386 00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:56.279 when he was with you know, ESPN and NBC, I 387 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:58.920 had him on almost every week, and Jeff was the 388 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:01.599 first one when I asked him like, does Yokich remind 389 00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:03.759 you of anybody? Said yeah, Bill Walton. Bill Walton was 390 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:07.880 like the original of what Jokich is doing. Now let 391 00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:10.240 me so we don't have a ton of time. I 392 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:12.279 want to make sure and it's good you're going out 393 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:14.440 there early. Let me just say this to you, Sana. Yeah, 394 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:17.039 and it's good you're taking maneuver parking and traffic out 395 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:18.440 there can get wild, so I want to make sure 396 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:20.839 I let you go on time. So let's move over here. 397 00:18:21.640 --> 00:18:25.400 Talking about this yesterday the current state of college football. 398 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:28.599 So Brian Rolap, who's the new commissioner or CEO on 399 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:31.079 the PGA Tour, Friend of the show. We've had Brian 400 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:34.160 on spend twenty two years in the NFL. For the 401 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:37.799