1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: One of the great broadcasters of our generation, a superhuman 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,719 being and a man who's gonna be busy covering Houston sports. 3 00:00:06,799 --> 00:00:09,560 He'll be calling Amazon Prime coverage of the Rockets and 4 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:13,000 the Spurs. He'll be also on the call Sunday for 5 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:16,160 Jacksonville versus Houston. It is the Matt Thomas Showood Ross, 6 00:00:16,199 --> 00:00:18,440 we say hello to Aron Engelo. I believe it's probably 7 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:21,559 four floors down in my hotel Bert. How are you 8 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:22,440 doing this afternoon? 9 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 2: Good morning? Yeah? Yeah, getting ready for the Texas two stack. 10 00:00:27,879 --> 00:00:28,640 Great to be with you. 11 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: Are you gonna get shuttle service? You're actually gonna jump 12 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:33,399 on a plane to head to our fair city Houston 13 00:00:33,439 --> 00:00:33,960 at the game? 14 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 2: Thank you? Thank you for caring about the logistics of 15 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:42,079 my life. Matt. Yeah, I will get there. It's that simple. 16 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,679 Speaker 1: Oh that's that sounds like a kirk Herbstreet private jet moment. 17 00:00:45,719 --> 00:00:49,799 I think that's very I mean, you are you are? 18 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,119 For you don't bring your dog with you? Due, I forget. 19 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:53,079 We're moving on other things. 20 00:00:53,079 --> 00:00:53,280 Speaker 2: Hey. 21 00:00:54,439 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: So, uh, Emmanuel Sharp is one of my favorite Houston 22 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:00,280 Cougars and I don't know you've I have you talk 23 00:01:00,359 --> 00:01:02,799 since the championship game. I went bounced back and forth 24 00:01:02,799 --> 00:01:05,000 between the Rockets and coming to San Antonio for the 25 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:09,319 title game. You've called some amazing game winning shots. You've 26 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,280 also in your life called some amazing, oh my gosh moments. 27 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,959 And I would have to say, as among your all timers, 28 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,439 that how that game between the Houston and Florida ended 29 00:01:17,519 --> 00:01:19,760 up in San Antonio here this past April. 30 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:22,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, what I think is so unique. As a play 31 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,280 by play announcer, you can play over in your head 32 00:01:26,719 --> 00:01:30,359 how to prepare for a potential game winning shot, to 33 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:36,000 build up the stages of the call. You can't really 34 00:01:36,079 --> 00:01:40,799 prepare for not getting a shot off. That's not normally 35 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,280 in the play by play m book. So the fact 36 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,560 that it happened that way, that that could be the 37 00:01:46,599 --> 00:01:52,000 only time a national championship is decided by circumstances like that. 38 00:01:52,159 --> 00:01:55,640 So it really was unique. A Raft saw it in 39 00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:00,319 real time and said he can't touch the ball, and 40 00:02:00,359 --> 00:02:03,840 then time expires. It's over just like that, And then 41 00:02:03,879 --> 00:02:07,680 you have to shift into the mode of winners losers, 42 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:12,280 which is Florida wins the title and Houston loses. An 43 00:02:12,319 --> 00:02:19,360 absolute heartbreak, so very very odd ending. He's a terrific 44 00:02:19,439 --> 00:02:23,879 player that whole team is fantastic. I just so enjoyed 45 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,439 telling their story, not just this fast year, previous years 46 00:02:27,439 --> 00:02:30,400 with Kelvin Sampson, and you know they're not going anywhere. 47 00:02:30,439 --> 00:02:35,000 He continues to pump out an incredible squad year in 48 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,319 a year out, But that one may take the cake 49 00:02:38,520 --> 00:02:41,240 in bizarre odd endings. 50 00:02:41,159 --> 00:02:43,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure, and hopefully you get a chance to 51 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,520 call a different scenario this year. First of all, congratulations 52 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,159 you and Kevin being the man announcers on Amazon Prime 53 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,120 A note brainer. Let me ask you when you finally 54 00:02:52,159 --> 00:02:55,639 took the position, after you know working you've been an 55 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,439 NETS announcer for a long time. You'll be doing less 56 00:02:57,439 --> 00:02:59,960 of that this year. Did you get a chance to say, Hey, 57 00:03:00,439 --> 00:03:03,039 I'm an old school guy. I like what the NBA 58 00:03:03,159 --> 00:03:05,639 used to do in broadcasting. I've got a couple of nuances. 59 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,759 I mean, you've also hired an amazing talent and crew 60 00:03:07,759 --> 00:03:10,240 of producers and behind the scenes looks. But was Amazon 61 00:03:10,319 --> 00:03:12,199 ready to listen to some things about changing the way 62 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:13,560 they broadcast. 63 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 2: Games completely completely? They came in with an open mind 64 00:03:18,719 --> 00:03:22,000 of how to attack this. They have really good people 65 00:03:22,039 --> 00:03:25,080 behind the scenes, really smart people too, so it was 66 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,639 interesting for me to head out to the seminar that 67 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,439 we did out on the West Coast and hear from them. 68 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:35,000 But they also were really good listeners and I think 69 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,960 leaned on both me and Kevin with all the years 70 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:42,199 that we've worked the NBA. My first real point that 71 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:46,680 I made, which fortunately they listened to, was look, day one, 72 00:03:46,919 --> 00:03:49,199 when we go on the air, it's got to look 73 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,319 like the NBA, it's got to sound like the NBA. 74 00:03:51,439 --> 00:03:54,759 Don't reinvent the wheel day one. People just want to 75 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,400 know that it's going to feel really comfortable and it's 76 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:00,840 going to be what they've come to when they turn 77 00:04:00,879 --> 00:04:03,520 on the television. And that's exactly what happened. And now 78 00:04:03,599 --> 00:04:07,039 I think you'll start seeing some new wrinkles. They'll try 79 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:11,599 some things too, which I'm more than cool with. There 80 00:04:11,599 --> 00:04:13,960 has to be a period of trial and error and 81 00:04:14,159 --> 00:04:19,000 see what sticks. But I'm definitely inspired by the way 82 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,480 that they viewed this, the way that they've tried to 83 00:04:23,519 --> 00:04:27,399 take the best of yesteryear while also recognizing that there 84 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,959 are places where maybe you can add to the coverage 85 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:32,439 and find some new wrinkles. 86 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 3: Ross with you as well. I I'm just curious, obviously 87 00:04:35,959 --> 00:04:38,680 you somebody as a veteran of the broadcast world and 88 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,439 it being radio platforms and on TV and now to 89 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,560 streaming platforms. I guess your overall view of where this 90 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,439 is going is, do you think eventually everything will be 91 00:04:49,519 --> 00:04:52,560 on streaming platforms and just kind of the state of 92 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,120 sports broadcasting in general. 93 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,439 Speaker 2: Well, I think there's a competitiveness now. We're trying to 94 00:04:58,439 --> 00:05:02,519 get eyeballs and trying to get which obviously is where 95 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,279 we find ourselves in the streaming world, not just in sports, 96 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:08,519 but on the entertainment side. The amount of shows and 97 00:05:08,639 --> 00:05:11,199 movies that are being produced that are going straight to 98 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:14,959 streaming and it's found an audience. It's not just out 99 00:05:14,959 --> 00:05:18,680 in the wilderness somewhere. So the sports side was the 100 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,399 next thing to really hit because of all the live 101 00:05:22,519 --> 00:05:25,439 programming that you can do, this is the one where 102 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,199 you have to watch in the moment. You can't just 103 00:05:29,319 --> 00:05:32,240 record it and go back and watch it three days later. 104 00:05:33,079 --> 00:05:35,120 If you want to know what's going on in a game, 105 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,240 you got to be there. And I think that's why 106 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:44,319 Amazon and Netflix and others have jumped on board, and 107 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:47,680 why the leagues have seen that it is a viable option. 108 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:53,399 I have not necessarily found at least in the early going, 109 00:05:53,439 --> 00:05:56,199 the first couple of weeks hearing from people saying I 110 00:05:56,240 --> 00:06:00,199 just can't find you. You can find it. It's going 111 00:06:00,199 --> 00:06:02,560 to be a little different for people, and I think 112 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,399 muscle memory kicks in and they begin to figure out, 113 00:06:05,519 --> 00:06:08,240 all right, this is my routine, this is what I do. 114 00:06:08,319 --> 00:06:11,040 I don't know what you guys do in terms of 115 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,879 your live TV. I've made some adjustments in my life. 116 00:06:15,319 --> 00:06:19,560 We moved and with that it opened up an opportunity 117 00:06:19,639 --> 00:06:24,040 to try something else, which has been working for our family. 118 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:28,120 But I just know having kids, they don't don't have cable, 119 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:33,639 they don't have any designs on getting cable. It's just 120 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:37,240 a new era when it comes to programming and how 121 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:37,920 you consume it. 122 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 3: II an eagle with us here on Sports Talk seven 123 00:06:41,319 --> 00:06:44,319 ninety and talk real quick about the matchup tonight. Obviously, 124 00:06:44,399 --> 00:06:47,279 Victor Winmbinyama one of the early stories in the NBA, 125 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,920 but has slowed down his last couple of games. Just 126 00:06:50,959 --> 00:06:53,079 your thoughts on him and the way teams are going 127 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:54,920 to defend him. Rockets are going to do the same thing, 128 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,120 try to get physical with him, send a second and 129 00:06:57,639 --> 00:07:00,199 third defender, and that's going to be something he's going 130 00:07:00,199 --> 00:07:00,959 to have to adjust to. 131 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, let me approach it from two perspectives. First perspective 132 00:07:06,199 --> 00:07:11,319 is just a pure basketball perspective. He is just such 133 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:16,040 a transcendent talent, and in year three of his career, 134 00:07:16,319 --> 00:07:18,759 as you turn on the TV or if you're fortunate 135 00:07:18,879 --> 00:07:22,120 enough to see him in person, I would imagine that 136 00:07:22,519 --> 00:07:25,720 this is what a lot of people felt when Wilt 137 00:07:25,839 --> 00:07:29,600 Chamberlain first started playing in the NBA. There have been 138 00:07:29,639 --> 00:07:32,720 other great players, there have been people that have had 139 00:07:32,759 --> 00:07:35,079 Hall of Fame careers that have played the same position, 140 00:07:35,399 --> 00:07:40,360 but he's just doing it differently. There's something in his movements, 141 00:07:40,399 --> 00:07:46,079 there's something in his body type that is just incredibly unique. 142 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:49,600 So from a basketball standpoint, it's scary for the rest 143 00:07:49,639 --> 00:07:53,759 of the NBA. This guy is getting better with each 144 00:07:53,839 --> 00:07:57,439 time you see him, he unleashes something a little bit new, 145 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,879 and that leads to the second perspective, which is the 146 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,279 play by play perspective. Matt, you can relate to this. 147 00:08:02,879 --> 00:08:05,920 When you're calling a game. The goal is to be 148 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:08,959 on top of the action, and you never want to 149 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,560 be the one that misses something that's special or different 150 00:08:12,879 --> 00:08:14,920 in the moment because you're looking down at your notes, 151 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,560 or you're focused on the wrong thing and your priorities 152 00:08:17,879 --> 00:08:21,040 get out of whack. Every time this guy touches the ball, 153 00:08:21,399 --> 00:08:24,439 there's a chance he's going to do something that you 154 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:27,519 just haven't seen before. And a lot of it has 155 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:31,079 to do, in a subtle manner that the angle in 156 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:35,679 which he takes the fact that we've grown so accustomed 157 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,360 to someone going on the baseline, someone his size, and 158 00:08:38,399 --> 00:08:42,039 you recognize, well, he only has a couple options. Well, 159 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:45,519 not this guy. He can take the baseline and what 160 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:48,840 you would never see as a reverse layup being a possibility. 161 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,960 He cannot just reverse layup it. He could dunk it 162 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,440 with the offhand. So it really forces you to be 163 00:08:55,519 --> 00:08:59,240 on your p's and q's as an announcer. And I'm 164 00:08:59,279 --> 00:09:03,559 just excited. I think, you know, this rivalry is is 165 00:09:03,799 --> 00:09:07,360 really hitting a fevered pitch. With four meetings this year, 166 00:09:07,399 --> 00:09:11,000 first one Emirates NBA Cup, I just think every game 167 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:12,799 there's going to be a lot of anticipation with the 168 00:09:12,879 --> 00:09:14,320 Rockets play the Spurs this year. 169 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,639 Speaker 1: I will call tonight's game Rockets and Spurs, and Amazon 170 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:19,320 Prime will have it for you here on seven ninety 171 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,080 with its six thirty tip time and then Sunday it 172 00:09:22,159 --> 00:09:25,320 will be a lot of prep for Iron for you, 173 00:09:25,399 --> 00:09:29,039 for Logan Cook and Tommy Townshend conversation on that broadcast 174 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,720 of the Texans and Jaguars. So please have your stuff together. 175 00:09:32,759 --> 00:09:34,519 And I don't want to get into a super deep 176 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,200 dive of because look, the Texans fan know they're beat up, 177 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,320 backup quarterback, lots of injuries, disappointment. Let me get to 178 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,960 your new partner. We knew JJ was headed for television 179 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,960 stardom and whatever ole he was going to be. And look, 180 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,039 he reminds me of your counterpart at your other network 181 00:09:51,039 --> 00:09:53,840 and Greg Olsen studies the game, learns the game, trying 182 00:09:53,879 --> 00:09:56,240 to become a better broadcaster beyond this being an X 183 00:09:56,279 --> 00:09:58,840 football player. I think your chemistry has been amazing. But 184 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,360 take us through what you can give to a guy 185 00:10:02,399 --> 00:10:05,000 like JJ who's obviously very well recognized but still has 186 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,279 to learn the nuances of calling a sport on television 187 00:10:07,279 --> 00:10:07,799 week two week. 188 00:10:09,039 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, My whole approach when it comes to working with 189 00:10:12,279 --> 00:10:15,960 new partners has always been the same. Make them feel comfortable. 190 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:19,759 Comfortable off the air usually translates to being comfortable on 191 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:21,480 the air. Let them know that I'm going to be 192 00:10:21,519 --> 00:10:23,600 with them every step of the way. I'm not going 193 00:10:23,679 --> 00:10:25,600 to put them in a bad position. I'm not going 194 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:30,639 to lead them down a road that has no exit strategy. 195 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:34,000 On the air. I'm going to go to those places 196 00:10:34,279 --> 00:10:38,480 with them alongside them, and that goes a long way. Obviously, 197 00:10:38,639 --> 00:10:42,399 if you can form a friendship, that helps greatly. JJ 198 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:46,879 came to the table equipped with so many skills to 199 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,840 be really good at this. The fact of the matter 200 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,559 is he's incredibly comfortable on television. So that's the first 201 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,000 thing that is either innate to you or not innate. 202 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:59,519 I don't know if I've worked with anybody just from 203 00:10:59,519 --> 00:11:05,080 an on camera point of view, that shows no hesitation 204 00:11:05,279 --> 00:11:08,440 whatsoever in whatever direction we have to go in at 205 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,360 any moment. And then the other part, which you don't 206 00:11:11,399 --> 00:11:13,840 know about someone until you're really around him every day. 207 00:11:14,159 --> 00:11:18,080 He's such a thorough person. He thinks things through. He 208 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:22,360 has great questions, so if he doesn't know something, he 209 00:11:22,399 --> 00:11:24,840 will ask you, and he's not afraid to ask you. 210 00:11:24,919 --> 00:11:27,840 Some people would be afraid to ask because they don't 211 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,639 want to come across as not knowing what they're supposed 212 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:34,799 to know. He wants to learn it. His football knowledge 213 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:40,000 is through the roof his humor is elite. His self 214 00:11:40,039 --> 00:11:45,320 deprecation quotient, which I find to be highly likable and relatable, 215 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:50,399 is also excellent. And then he's got great instincts. So 216 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,600 you know, we just hit the ground running. It was 217 00:11:54,039 --> 00:11:57,840 really easy, which is not normally the case in television. 218 00:11:57,919 --> 00:12:01,559 Usually it takes a little time. By week one, week two, 219 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:03,679 week three, it felt like we had been working together 220 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:04,679 for ten years. 221 00:12:05,279 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 1: Final question, who is the best team in the AFC? 222 00:12:07,799 --> 00:12:09,720 Because I can't figure it out right now? 223 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,519 Speaker 2: Yeah, I can't figure it out either. I had Indianapolis 224 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,679 last week. Everybody was on the bandwagon. I think they're 225 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,559 really good, by the way, I'm not going to take 226 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:22,720 the one loss and then just dismiss them. I think 227 00:12:23,279 --> 00:12:30,440 Denver's record is obviously probably not what it might show 228 00:12:30,519 --> 00:12:33,799 you in terms of who they are. I don't think 229 00:12:33,799 --> 00:12:36,399 there's a team in the AFC that would be against 230 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,960 playing Denver right now in the postseason. So you are 231 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,320 what your record says you are. I get that, but 232 00:12:42,519 --> 00:12:44,840 I think there's a caveat there, just based on some 233 00:12:44,879 --> 00:12:48,759 of the limitations that I've seen Kansas City. I'm not 234 00:12:48,799 --> 00:12:51,519 going to toss them aside just yet. I think Buffalo 235 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,320 has the most potential. But I find myself saying that 236 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:58,200 year in and year out, and here we are in 237 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:01,679 the AFC. North Baltimore is a sub five hundred team 238 00:13:02,039 --> 00:13:04,919 and everybody's picking them to win the division. So the 239 00:13:04,919 --> 00:13:06,639 whole thing just feels upside down. 240 00:13:08,159 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 1: Well, I thank you for your time. I always appreciate 241 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,679 you coming on the show. And the best part about folks, 242 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:15,720 when you go to your Amazon account, if you drop 243 00:13:15,799 --> 00:13:18,120 Iron Eagle on the discount code, you get ten percent 244 00:13:18,159 --> 00:13:22,360 off your next order. So congratulations, yeah, ten percent. Thank 245 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:23,919 you friend for the time. We really appreciate. We'll see 246 00:13:23,919 --> 00:13:25,080 at the arena later this evening. 247 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 2: Yep, and I do travel my parakeet. Thanks for asking. 248 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 1: That's a parakeet's name. 249 00:13:32,759 --> 00:13:33,440 Speaker 2: Grouty ol. 250 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,399 Speaker 1: Groucho Eagle. Hey, very good, Thank you, Sarah. We'll talk 251 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,480 with you later. Thanks again. Awesome stuff you get there, 252 00:13:39,879 --> 00:13:42,879 the amazing Iron Eagle as good of a broadcaster as 253 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:44,200 is a person period. End of story.