WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.399 --> 00:00:05.919 It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBS Boston's new 2 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:07.719 radio call. 3 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:09.839 I thought that was very nice of you to put 4 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:12.199 people's minds at ease on the folks who have lost 5 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:16.480 power because of the wind gusts. Very thoughtful. I've been 6 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:20.440 in that situation and you oh boy, hey, it's New England. 7 00:00:20.440 --> 00:00:22.920 But that's okay. We're in good shape here. My name 8 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:26.480 is Dan Ray, and we will keep you as Nicole promised, 9 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:30.600 we will keep you entertained and informed right up until midnight. Tonight. 10 00:00:30.920 --> 00:00:36.159 We've a couple of topics which are a little different. One, 11 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:38.640 at nine o'clock, we're gonna be talking with the State Auditor, 12 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:42.840 Diane Desauglia, who I think is doing a great job 13 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:45.920 as a state auditor, and we're going to talk about 14 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:51.439 the legislature's resistance to a ballot question which was passed 15 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:55.679 overwhelmingly that the state auditor should be able to audit 16 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:59.719 both branches of the legislature, the House and Senate. And 17 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:02.560 then at ten o'clock, I'd like to talk about this 18 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:05.640 murder that all of us now are aware of. I 19 00:01:05.680 --> 00:01:11.239 believe this healthcare executive in New York City early yesterday morning, 20 00:01:11.319 --> 00:01:13.959 and I just wonder if that is going to set 21 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:18.319 a tone in this country. New York has very strict 22 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:21.480 uncontrol laws, and this guy was able to be to 23 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:24.120 shoot and kill. This coward shot the guy in the back. 24 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:26.120 I want to talk about that at ten o'clock. Again, 25 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:28.799 not often, we don't often talk about that sort of 26 00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:31.319 crime in other cities, but we'll make an exception today 27 00:01:31.959 --> 00:01:33.560 this evening. I should say my name is Stan Ray. 28 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:35.599 I'm the host of the show. As Nicole had mentioned, 29 00:01:35.719 --> 00:01:39.000 Rob Brooks our producers back in Broadcast Central. He'll take 30 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:40.840 care of you when we open up the phone lines 31 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:44.120 for calls beginning at nine o'clock, and in the meantime 32 00:01:44.120 --> 00:01:46.760 we're going to talk with four I think very interesting 33 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:49.920 guests here. We're going to start off with an author 34 00:01:49.959 --> 00:01:52.959 who has quite a background. His name is Robert Charles. Robert, 35 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:55.480 Welcome to Nightside. First of all, i'd like to introduce 36 00:01:55.519 --> 00:01:57.120 you properly, if you give me just. 37 00:01:57.079 --> 00:02:01.439 A moment, Yeah, pleasure to talk to you and a 38 00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:04.400 real pleasure to be here with you with your listeners. 39 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:08.919 Great. So, you're the author of a book called Cherish America, 40 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:11.960 Stories of Courage, Character and Kindness that celebrates this idea 41 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:14.840 of bravery and grace under fire, even a mid a time, 42 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:17.439 a division of debate in the nation. You're a former 43 00:02:17.479 --> 00:02:20.439 Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, and you've held 44 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:24.199 positions in both the Reagan and Bush forty one, which 45 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:28.520 is George Herbert Walker Bush in the White House. An 46 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:34.960 extraordinary background. Tell us about the book. This is this 47 00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:39.680 your first book. It looks like it's quite a quite 48 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:40.080 a work. 49 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:43.680 Well, let me say, first of all, I grew up 50 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:46.439 in rural New England, and just to be able to 51 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:48.520 publish a book is a thing that was a marvel 52 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:50.639 to me. This is actually my second big book. I 53 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:54.360 did one about six years ago about growing up in 54 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:57.280 rural New England called Eagles and Evergreens, and it. 55 00:02:57.319 --> 00:02:59.120 Was about growing up the state. 56 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:03.919 Oh my god, well little teeny town called Wayne in Maine, 57 00:03:03.960 --> 00:03:06.800 of five hundred and seventy people. I said, give or 58 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:09.080 take and believe it or not, I moved away. I 59 00:03:09.080 --> 00:03:11.080 did all those things and I came home. That's where 60 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:15.400 I live now. So what happened six years ago? You know, 61 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:17.560 six years ago that book came out, the first one, 62 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:20.879 and it celebrated a kind of a novel idea. The 63 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:24.360 idea that you would remember the influence of World War 64 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:28.199 two vets in your life as you grew up in America. 65 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:31.479 We're the last generation, you and I and your listeners 66 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:34.960 really that will ever know the greatest generation first hand. 67 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:37.360 So that was what that was about. The second book 68 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:40.039 is called Cherish America. As you said, you can get 69 00:03:40.039 --> 00:03:44.680 it on Amazon or Tower Publishing. It's called Cherish America. 70 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:47.919 Stories of Courage, Character and Kindness. And what happened is 71 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:52.360 it swept over me that in the course of my really, look, 72 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:56.560 my father never finished college. I had a blessed life. 73 00:03:56.840 --> 00:03:59.560 I grew up. My mother raised four kids more or 74 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:02.280 less a and she pushed education. So I ended up 75 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:05.879 at Dartmouth and Oxford University and Columbia Law School and 76 00:04:05.919 --> 00:04:07.919 clerked on the Ninth Circuit. And all of a sudden 77 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:10.759 things began to happen in my life that were almost 78 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:13.520 out of a you know, a Harry Potter book. It 79 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:15.840 was crazy. I worked in the Reagan White House in 80 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:18.759 Bush forty one, and then I worked personally and traveled 81 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:21.240 all over the world with Colin Powell. But in that 82 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:24.839 same sequence of events, and the book is divided into 83 00:04:24.839 --> 00:04:29.240 four sections. I also bumped into everyday people who had 84 00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:31.879 a tremendous effect on me, and actually many of them 85 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:35.040 even on the world without knowing it. We all have stories, 86 00:04:35.519 --> 00:04:38.319 all of us, and some of those stories are really 87 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:43.360 really compelling. This book is filled, Cherish America is filled 88 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:47.079 with fifty six stories, and the first section are people 89 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:52.720 who are veterans and teachers and nurses and athletes, and 90 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:56.879 it's just it's kind of like a I'm trying to 91 00:04:56.920 --> 00:04:59.160 think of that movie Forrest Gump. It's kind of a 92 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:02.680 remarkable of events that all these people should have crossed 93 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:05.920 my paths. So by way of example, the first three 94 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:08.879 of the first four stories and they're about law enforcement officers, 95 00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:11.480 and there's no politics in the book. It's all about 96 00:05:11.480 --> 00:05:14.639 the heroic soul all and I'm telling you, you buy 97 00:05:14.680 --> 00:05:18.120 this book, Cherish America. It makes an amazing gift because 98 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:22.399 it's all about the goodness of the American heart and 99 00:05:22.439 --> 00:05:25.160 the can do spirit of Americans. So many of them 100 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:29.000 are rescues where people save someone's life. The three of 101 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:32.120 the first four are veterans, one from World War Two, 102 00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:36.040 one from Korea, one from Vietnam who actually turned into 103 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:40.240 high school teachers or teachers in general, and I'll just 104 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:41.839 give you a couple. One is a guy who was 105 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:45.720 my eighth grade math teacher named Ron Herrick. You can 106 00:05:45.720 --> 00:05:47.480 look them up online if you want to, but you 107 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:51.439 get the whole personal story right here. Ron Herrick was 108 00:05:51.480 --> 00:05:54.240 one of two twins, identical twins who came back from 109 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:56.639 the Korean War. They'd lost their mother and father during 110 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:58.959 the period of time they were deployed. They got back 111 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:03.759 here nineteen fifties and their names were Ron, my teacher 112 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:08.680 and Richard. Richard ends up with a fatal disease affecting 113 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:14.600 his kidneys, and Ron, my math teacher, goes to Wellman 114 00:06:14.839 --> 00:06:18.240 Brigham and Women's right near you. There is where they 115 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:21.079 were in the hospital, and he said, what's going to 116 00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:23.000 happen to my brother, Richard? And he said he's going 117 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:27.079 to die in six weeks. And Ron said, why couldn't 118 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:30.079 Never before in the history of mankind had anybody ever 119 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:32.959 put an organ from one body into another body. And 120 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:37.079 Ron said, he was a math teacher. He was very 121 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:39.399 science oriented. He said, I got two kidneys, I only 122 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:41.720 need one to live. Why couldn't I give one to 123 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:44.000 my brother? And the doctor then at the time, doctor 124 00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:48.680 Murray said, can't be done I've never done before. Religious objections, 125 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:51.519 it can't be done. That night, and I've talked with 126 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:54.839 Ron and his wife, Cynthia, who just died. The doctor 127 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:56.600 called him at home and said, you know, if this 128 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:00.560 would ever work, it would work with identical twins. And 129 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:04.120 so they did seventeen tests and one of them showed 130 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:06.600 a skin graft held short, long and short of it. 131 00:07:07.079 --> 00:07:11.759 Ron gave his kidney to Richard. That stuck. Richard got married, 132 00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:15.519 had kid's. Life went well for both of them. First 133 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:18.199 guy ever to give an organ to another person. Last year, 134 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:21.639 I think we had three hundred thousand transplants. Bottom line is. 135 00:07:22.279 --> 00:07:25.240 I'm guessing that must have been sometime in the early sixties. 136 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:26.800 I'm guessing it. 137 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:28.680 Was actually late fifties, but it was. 138 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:32.319 It was that Yes, cutting edge, yep, yeah, cutting edge. 139 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:34.399 But I think I've actually heard of him. A good 140 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:37.920 friend of mine was the head of the cardiology department 141 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:40.600 at brighamom Woman for many years, doctor Larry. 142 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:41.639 Well incredibly. 143 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:43.040 Larry. 144 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:45.040 Oh Okay, I don't know him, but I will say 145 00:07:45.079 --> 00:07:49.199 it is a great hospital. Interestingly, that doctor, doctor Murray 146 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:53.839 won the Nobel Prize for that operation. So imagine fifty 147 00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:57.519 six stories I'm close by chance. Of course, I worked 148 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:00.560 every day with Colon Poll and they're very intimate personal 149 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:04.959 stories about Powell's integrity and good cheer and leadership lessons. 150 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:08.000 In this book, I've worked for twenty five years, three 151 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:10.879 times a week with buzz Aldren. It's an accident of life, 152 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:13.079 but I will there are stories in this book that 153 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:14.360 he has never told before. 154 00:08:15.160 --> 00:08:18.199 All buzz Aldrin is a character I've never met Aldren. 155 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:20.600 You know, I did want to mention to you Ronald 156 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:23.399 Reagan is my favorite president of my lifetime. 157 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:25.600 So I worked with Ronald Reagan and kept up with 158 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:27.800 him and Nancy to the end. And if you love 159 00:08:27.879 --> 00:08:31.240 Ronald Reagan, this book is for you again. Cherish America. 160 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:35.600 The first time I interviewed Ronald Reagan was here on WBZ. 161 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:39.399 It was what was called the Interregnum. It was nineteen 162 00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:41.879 seventy five, the time between he had been Governor of 163 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:46.039 California and President, and interviewed him, met him many times. 164 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:49.000 I will tell you one quick story and then I'm 165 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:52.039 going to let you go. Many people, I'm sure you 166 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:55.600 remember that George Bush upset Ronald Reagan. He was the 167 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:58.320 odds on favorite to be the Republican nominee in nineteen 168 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:03.799 eighty and George Bush carried one Iowa the Iowa Caucus, 169 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:07.919 which had a tremendous influence. He had, you know, the 170 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:11.440 momentum and all of that. And I remember being with 171 00:09:11.559 --> 00:09:15.679 Reagan the night after that. He stopped a small little 172 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:19.440 church or a little bit of little events somewhere in 173 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:22.559 New Hampshire. So it would have been the Wednesday night 174 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:27.159 after the Iowa Caucus in nineteen eighty, and he walked 175 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:30.039 through the door and he looked totally dispirited, and I 176 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:34.039 thought to myself, you know, come on, Jeffer, you gotta 177 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:37.559 get up off the mat. And once the Claig lights 178 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:40.120 went on, he became Deronald Reagan. And of course we 179 00:09:40.159 --> 00:09:43.120 know what happened to the debate. That's my microphone, mister Breen, 180 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:46.080 and the rest of chistory. So I'm looking forward to 181 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:49.519 getting this book, Robert. How far up is Wayne Maine? 182 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:53.320 I'm familiar with all the I spent a lot of 183 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:55.000 not a lot of time, but spent a good deal 184 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:57.000 of time in me and I'm guessing you're kind of 185 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:58.559 at least halfway up the state. 186 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:02.320 I am a about twenty miles northwest of Augusta on 187 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:06.399 Andrewskagin Lake and a beautiful place too. You know, I'll 188 00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:08.480 just if I may tell you a brief, quick story 189 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:11.519 about Reagan, and you're absolutely right as you you know, 190 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:13.639 he was a man. What you see is what you've got. 191 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:17.039 He was incredibly authentic every day of the week. And 192 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:19.799 I will never forget being and this story. There are 193 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:22.440 number of stories, personal stories about Reagan, and I kept 194 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:25.480 up with him afterwards and went and visited him. But anyway, 195 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:28.519 one day we're in the Rose Garden and you'll remember 196 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:35.759 Sam Donaldson not a very yeah, not a very not 197 00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:38.679 a fan of Ronald Reagan. And so we were standing 198 00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:43.879 there and Reagan was talking about cost cutting and Sam, 199 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:46.559 you know, Donaldson, I think was with ABC, had gotten 200 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:50.000 his story and he really kind of rudely dragged his 201 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:52.639 cameraman out of the thing, and of course wanted to 202 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:55.039 go get the scoop. We were out in the Rose Garden, 203 00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:57.559 all the other reporters are standing beside behind the court 204 00:10:57.639 --> 00:11:01.320 and being polite, and the thing ends and it was just, 205 00:11:01.399 --> 00:11:03.879 you know, I'm sorry to say it, but Sam Donaldson 206 00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:05.919 was just, you know, he's kind of like one of 207 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:08.879 these modern reporters that do not respect the institution. And 208 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:12.279 so anyway, he went out, ended up filing his story 209 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:15.039 or whatever. And we're going back and Reagan was going 210 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:17.519 back with me, sen Baker and Devers to the Oval, 211 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:20.480 which is right beside the I mean that the oval, 212 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:23.759 the Rose Garden isn't very big, so you know, the 213 00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:25.879 Oval is right beside. You can go through French stores 214 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:29.159 into it. And Reagan stopped just and all of that. 215 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:30.960 They're trying to hurry him back, and he looks down 216 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:32.679 in the grass and he finds something. Well, I'm just 217 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:36.480 a junior staffer, and I'm thinking, I mean, he was 218 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:39.639 just curious, what if he finding in the grass. Whatever 219 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:42.279 he found, he picked up and he walked into the 220 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:45.840 press room. Now presidents don't just do that, but he did. 221 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:48.240 He walked into the press room and I followed him. 222 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:50.320 In those day and ages, you know, pre nine to eleven, 223 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:52.840 you could do that. And I walk in and I'm 224 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:56.240 following him. And he goes and find Sam Donaldson's camera. Man, 225 00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:59.120 this poor guy that's been dragged across the Rose Garden 226 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:01.639 and he's and he hands him his lens cap and 227 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:04.360 he says, you dropped your lens cap and I thought, 228 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:08.320 you know kindness right true as Ronald. 229 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:12.320 Reagan and uh, just a great that's a great story. 230 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:14.559 I hate to do this to you, Robert. We should 231 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:18.879 have a longer conversation some night if you get a chance. 232 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:21.279 Uh google me. I don't know if you listen to 233 00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:21.919 my show at all. 234 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:25.200 Well, look, I love being on w BZ. Listen. I 235 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:27.600 grew up in Maine. I would like, you know, listen 236 00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:31.440 to Rico Petrocelli under my pillow on a on a 237 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:34.559 on a radio was I listened to the Red Sox 238 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:35.000 all the time. 239 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:39.120 Rico is a dear friend. And if something you and 240 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:43.360 I'll tell you, uh, the Rico Petrocelli Hoyt Wilhelm story. 241 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:45.200 I can't tell this one over the radio, but I 242 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:48.600 love it. I love it. The book is Cherish America 243 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:53.519 by Robert Charles, available everywhere. Robert, I really do appreciate. 244 00:12:53.799 --> 00:12:56.120 I'm going to suggest to my producer that we have 245 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:58.240 you on and maybe we take some phone calls and 246 00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:00.840 an hour long version made in the next week. 247 00:13:02.200 --> 00:13:04.279 Yes, sir, all good, Thank you very much. 248 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:07.399 Looking forward to it. When we do get back, we 249 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:10.919 are going to talk with Nicole Yang Boston Globe sportswriter 250 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:13.440 about the Patriots says they head into their bye week, 251 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:16.279 they will not lose this weekend, folks, I guarantee you 252 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:18.240 that you can take that one to the bank or 253 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:19.879 to the bookie. Back on Nightside after this. 254 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:24.360 Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World 255 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:28.840 Nights Side Studios. I'm WBZ News Radio. 256 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:31.919 All right, we are delighted to be joined by Nicole Yang. Nicole, 257 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:34.879 welcome back to Night's aid. How are you good? 258 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:35.320 How are you? 259 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:40.000 I'm doing fine. So the Patriots have a bye this weekend, 260 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:43.279 which is I think well timed for a three to 261 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:47.759 ten team. And you wrote an interesting piece in the Globe. 262 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:52.240 It was updated on December Earlier this week on Monday, 263 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:54.360 three up, Free down, and three to watch for the 264 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:58.360 Patriots heading into the bye week. They've had some some 265 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:02.279 nice games, but uh, they just don't seem to know 266 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:05.919 how to finish. You watch these guys, Let's go through 267 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:09.879 who you who you've identified. I think Drake May is 268 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:13.879 the real deal. I'm I'm I'm obviously everyone else feels 269 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:18.720 that same. I am delighted. You know, particularly how uh 270 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:23.879 the prior quarterbacks for the Patriots had done. I see 271 00:14:23.879 --> 00:14:27.759 that Zappi just got released by the Browns, and who 272 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:30.919 knows what's going on down and don in Jacksonville. This 273 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:32.120 guy looks like the real deal. 274 00:14:33.799 --> 00:14:36.200 No. Absolutely. If there's one good thing to come out 275 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:39.000 of this Patriots season, it's that it looks like they 276 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:41.840 have their franchise quarterbacks. So I know there's a lot 277 00:14:41.879 --> 00:14:45.120 of questions about Elliott Wolf in the front office, but 278 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:48.360 they definitely nailed their decision with the third overall pick, 279 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:50.159 standing pat and taking Drake. 280 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:55.440 Also, you you you identify Christian Gonzalez tough year last year, 281 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:59.799 he got hurt early, but he's played very well this year. Quarterback. 282 00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:02.559 Yeah, last year he was on the field for four 283 00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:04.879 games and he did well, but he was still a 284 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:07.559 rookie and I think it seems like people were maybe 285 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:10.679 a little quick to anoint him as a lockdown, all 286 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:14.440 pro level player. But this year he's definitely proven his 287 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:17.159 value lived up to the first round bill Ing. So 288 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:21.960 the defense has kind of struggled, but Christian has definitely 289 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:22.759 pulled his weight. 290 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:27.639 And you've got a couple of good, really good tight ends. 291 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:31.440 Hunter Henry Austin Hooper. I don't know the comparative age 292 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:33.879 and how much wear and tear on each of those 293 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:38.679 big bodies, but at tight ends, it's a really critical 294 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:41.240 position and they have two good ones. Do both of 295 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.799 them stay with the Patriots next year. 296 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:47.679 Austin Hooper is on a one year contract, so he 297 00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:50.519 will be an unrestricted free agent, but Hunter Henry is 298 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:54.679 under contract for two more years, so he definitely seems 299 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:57.519 to be a piece of the puzzle. Even with Max Jones, 300 00:15:57.559 --> 00:16:01.279 he was probably Max's favorite receiver. He's even though the 301 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:04.879 team hasn't had much success, Hunter, I feel like, is 302 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:09.360 probably the most important player relatively to the offense outside 303 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.120 of the quarterback. 304 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:12.480 How old is he is? He still in his twenties? 305 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:16.120 He out of twenty nine or thirty, I can't remember 306 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:16.960 off the top of my head. 307 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:21.039 And then some players, some people who need to be 308 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:25.639 a little concerned. I guess the receiver Polk who occasionally 309 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:27.720 has looked pretty good this year, but he hasn't really 310 00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:31.519 been as consistent as I guess people would like to 311 00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:32.759 see what's his story. 312 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:39.519 Yeah, so he started off. His production wasn't there necessarily 313 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:41.799 in any game, Like, he didn't have a breakout game, 314 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:45.080 but he started off showing some promise. There were some 315 00:16:45.320 --> 00:16:47.240 catches that he made that You're like, Okay, you can 316 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:49.639 kind of see the potential, But then he had that 317 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:53.639 one game with four or five drops, and ever since then, 318 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:58.600 it's just been downhill. His role has decreased, his playing 319 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:01.759 time has decreased, and he just is not putting up 320 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:06.960 statistical numbers that are impressive or that reflect the value 321 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:11.319 of a second round wide receiver. So Drod Mayo mentioned 322 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:14.880 that he might be dealing with some like a mental hump, 323 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:18.039 but polk like pushed back and said that he wasn't. 324 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:22.079 So it's definitely a tough situation, and I would be 325 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:25.319 surprised if over the next four games we see much 326 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:28.279 else from him, because it seems like the Patriots have 327 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:32.359 drilled in on Kayshaun Boody to Mario Douglas and Kendrick 328 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:34.960 Bourne as their top three receivers. 329 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:37.400 It's tough to see them give up on a guy 330 00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:39.680 who I think has a lot of potential. And then 331 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:42.799 there's got to be some concern for the defensive coordinator 332 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:45.359 as well as the offensive coordinator. 333 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:50.039 Actually, I think the offensive coordinator early on you could 334 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:53.000 say that his job maybe seemed a little bit in jeopardy. 335 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:56.359 But I think Alix fin Pelt has started to show 336 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:59.799 that he's worth sticking around. I just don't think with 337 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:03.720 a rookie quarterback and Drake, you want to have two 338 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:06.680 coordinators in two years. If there's a coaching change with 339 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:10.920 Girad Mao, then you're looking at maybe three coordinators in 340 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:14.160 three years. So I think that they're going to prioritize consistency, 341 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:17.559 and I think if you have to give someone credit 342 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:20.519 for Drake's development and how he's come along, Alex Vanpelt 343 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:23.599 definitely deserves some of that. And he's known for his 344 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:27.880 reputation working with quarterbacks. He's worked with Aaron Rodgers, Baker Mayfield, 345 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:30.960 so I actually am not that concerned about his status. 346 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:32.839 Of course, of the play calling is a little bit 347 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:37.880 head scratching sometimes, but overall, I think he's improved as 348 00:18:37.880 --> 00:18:41.519 the season has gone on. Whereas definitely the defense with 349 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:45.359 DeMarcus Covington is a much bigger concern. The defense has 350 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:48.440 regressed in nearly every category this year. I mean, they 351 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:50.920 couldn't get that one stand against the Colts to win 352 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:53.839 the game. You can point to a number of games 353 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:58.839 this year against the Rams. Their strategy with containing Kuka 354 00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:02.160 Nakula and Cooper Cup was ineffective and they didn't adjust 355 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:06.720 that halftime. Against the Jaguars, they let them run all 356 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:09.319 over them, I think for one hundred and ninety three yards. 357 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:14.880 So DeMarcus Covington. I would be much more concerned about defense. 358 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:18.039 The defenseive corps was pretty good early in the season 359 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:20.920 for the first few games of the season. They they 360 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:24.359 I think, were as responsible as anything for the victory 361 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:28.000 in Cincinnati. I hope they don't get rid of Gerrod Mayo. 362 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:29.680 I think he's done a pretty good job. I know 363 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:31.720 I'm in the minority on this. He's a great guy, 364 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:37.559 and I think that if you at the beginning of 365 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:40.319 the season said hey, this team might might win four games, 366 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:42.240 everybody would have been happy with it. I know they've 367 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:44.400 only won three, but they'll pick up one of these games. 368 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:47.440 I think, you know, they may not beat Buffalo at 369 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.160 either of those games, but I think they could beat 370 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:53.920 Arizona or in my opinion, do you think Male's in trouble. 371 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.319 It sounds to me like you do. 372 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:57.920 I don't think. I don't think he's in trouble after 373 00:19:57.960 --> 00:20:01.079 this one year. It's a rookie head coach. Spectations were low, 374 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:05.279 But if things don't really change, next year, I don't 375 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:07.400 expect them to all of a sudden turn into a contender. 376 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:09.839 I think this is a multi year rebuild. But there 377 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:14.359 are definitely some issues that reflect coaching. I mean the 378 00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:17.839 number of penalties that they have, that's just the lack 379 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:21.519 of discipline. And gerd is a defensive minded coach, and 380 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:24.920 the defense has regressed. So I think if next year, 381 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:27.720 if there's not some market improvement, then I would imagine 382 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:30.680 that Gerrad is in the hot seat. But right now 383 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:34.039 I do not. I would be shocked if the Patriots 384 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:35.720 was from him after one season. 385 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:39.319 Well, to quote Rick Patino, build, Belichick's not walking back 386 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:42.920 through that door anytime soon. Nicole. Let's see what right? 387 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:45.519 And I don't think the Patriots. The Patriots don't want that. 388 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:49.319 I know, but I'm only joking with you a little bit. Okay, 389 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:51.400 give me your prediction. They're three and ten, How did 390 00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:53.279 they finish? What's their final record going to be? I 391 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:56.480 don't see them beating Buffalo in either game. I'm looking 392 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:58.839 at maybe one in three in the last four games. 393 00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:00.920 Am I in too much of an optimist? 394 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:05.920 I mean I would say yes, personally, I don't think 395 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:08.519 that they've given us any reason to pick them over 396 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:14.480 these next four games. Arizona, Buffalo, the LA Chargers all 397 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:20.359 tough opponents. The three teams the Patriots have beaten our inferior. Like, 398 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:23.400 they say more about the team that they beat, the Jets, 399 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:26.680 the Bears than they do about the Patriots, in my opinion, 400 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:30.599 the Bengals in Week one, So I don't think the 401 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:33.960