WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>It's a busy night in local college basketball byu is

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<v Speaker 1>in Ames stake On Iowa State, Utah hosts West Virginia

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<v Speaker 1>Senior Night. For these utes, head on down and say hello.

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<v Speaker 1>Started the show off today with Sarah Todd. Tim McMahon

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<v Speaker 1>joined us as well. Tom Now for our somewhat consistent visit.

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<v Speaker 1>Although it's been a minute since the editor of the

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<v Speaker 1>sports section of Solid Tribune graced us with his presence,

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<v Speaker 1>Aaron Falk, Hello, sir, how are you?

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<v Speaker 2>I'm doing well? How about you, Spencer?

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<v Speaker 3>I'm well.

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<v Speaker 1>Can you explain yourself as why it's been as to

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<v Speaker 1>why it's been a number of months since you've graced

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<v Speaker 1>us with your presence?

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<v Speaker 2>You know, seasonal affect disorder? Probably?

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<v Speaker 1>All right, Okay, fair enough? All right, So there's some

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<v Speaker 1>breaking news ish. We're still waiting for an official announcement,

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<v Speaker 1>but now we've got Jeff Goodman and John Rostein, two

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<v Speaker 1>of the college basketball news breakers, in addition to our

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<v Speaker 1>very own Sean O'Connell reporting that Alex Jensen is going

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<v Speaker 1>to be the next head coach of the Time men's

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<v Speaker 1>basketball program. I wonder, from a trip standpoint, when do

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<v Speaker 1>you guys wait to break things like this, what's the

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<v Speaker 1>process over the Tribune?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean, certainly if it's you know, if we

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<v Speaker 2>have it from at least one and hopefully two solid sources.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, we go through a process and we try

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<v Speaker 2>not to use unnamed sources very often. But if that's

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<v Speaker 2>the case, you know, my reporters would run that up

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<v Speaker 2>to me and we would clear that. But yeah, just

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<v Speaker 2>I'm seeing the same thing you are right now with Rostein.

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<v Speaker 2>It does seem like that the direction things are heading.

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<v Speaker 2>So at the moment where we're waiting with everybody else.

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<v Speaker 1>So Aaron, as a man around town and a local,

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<v Speaker 1>not just a newsbreaker and editor, what do you make

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<v Speaker 1>of the potential of Alex taking over? It's it's been

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<v Speaker 1>interesting and we've talked about it, of course on the

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<v Speaker 1>show since last Monday, after the news came down that

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<v Speaker 1>Craig was let go. If we're honest, man, they have

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<v Speaker 1>not had a consistent coach. They've not made the right

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<v Speaker 1>higre since Rick left. I mean, Ray Jacoletti, Jim Boylan,

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<v Speaker 1>Larry Kriscoviak, they all had moments, they all had teams

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<v Speaker 1>that went to the NCAA tournament, and you know, Craig

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<v Speaker 1>never made the tournament, but it looked like there was

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<v Speaker 1>some incremental progress. So this is a basketball community that

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<v Speaker 1>is waiting for a hire. They can build this thing

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<v Speaker 1>back up consistently as opposed to moments in time. Do

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<v Speaker 1>you do you think Alex is the guy that can

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<v Speaker 1>do that for this basketball town.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah. I do think there's a lot of potential here.

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<v Speaker 2>And obviously his name has been floated before, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>when when Craig got the job four years ago, and

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<v Speaker 2>at that point, you know, Alex's NBA head coaching potential

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<v Speaker 2>seemed greater than that it turned out to be. And

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<v Speaker 2>so maybe that window closed a little bit, and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>he's a little bit older and more and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>maybe there's a little bit more money on the line,

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<v Speaker 2>and then this looks more intriguing. But I think there's

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<v Speaker 2>you know, for for a few different reasons. I mean one,

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<v Speaker 2>I you look at that that that arena, and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>the people that are there, A huge number of them

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<v Speaker 2>are people that are there because they have some memory

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<v Speaker 2>of those running youths, those majerias running youths, right, and

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<v Speaker 2>and what Alex and Doleiak and Britt Johnson and those

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<v Speaker 2>guys did and they're they're looking to recreate that, right,

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<v Speaker 2>And so if you're looking, if you're Mark Harlan and

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<v Speaker 2>you're trying to turn this program around, you need money

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<v Speaker 2>to do that. And the only way you're going to

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<v Speaker 2>get more money. There are two paths, right, One to

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<v Speaker 2>be a consistent winner that's going to take time. And

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<v Speaker 2>then the other one is to find somebody who can

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<v Speaker 2>tap into that that culture, that nostalgia, those memories and

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<v Speaker 2>some old time donors and try to turn this thing faster.

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<v Speaker 2>And I think Alex for you know, just for what

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<v Speaker 2>he had done is a is a tremendous asset there.

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<v Speaker 2>And then too, I got to know Alex pretty well

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<v Speaker 2>when I worked for the Utah Jazz and and uh,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, got to spend some time with him in

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<v Speaker 2>some different settings, you know, a long time in the

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<v Speaker 2>NBA bubble. I went to France with Alex and and

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<v Speaker 2>Rudy Gobert and to watch him, you know, not just

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<v Speaker 2>the work that he did obviously on the court and

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<v Speaker 2>and that you know, you look at at Rudy's career

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<v Speaker 2>and and obviously then you know that Alex Jenson can

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<v Speaker 2>develop uh players from from ross talent into someone who

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<v Speaker 2>is who is elite and so that that bodes well

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<v Speaker 2>for you as a as a college program. But beyond that,

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<v Speaker 2>just to see the way that he fostered and maintained

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<v Speaker 2>that relationship with somebody who's, let's be honest, a bit quirky,

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<v Speaker 2>probably had you know, some some interesting uh you know,

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<v Speaker 2>asks and needs. And the way that he was able

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<v Speaker 2>to do that, I think votes really well for Alex

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<v Speaker 2>to be someone who can meet people they are and

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<v Speaker 2>be a recruiter, which which is the one thing that

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<v Speaker 2>he hasn't done for for quite a while.

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<v Speaker 3>Right, Yeah, no, for sure, I wanted to follow up.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm glad you referenced the second part of your answer

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<v Speaker 1>because I was going to refer to your time with

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<v Speaker 1>the Jazz and getting to know him a little bit.

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<v Speaker 3>And it's interesting, Aaron.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, I've known Alex for a long time and

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<v Speaker 1>he's very introspective.

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<v Speaker 3>He's quiet.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't mistake his quiet nature for anything other than being

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<v Speaker 1>a little bit introverted.

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<v Speaker 3>But he's very smart.

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<v Speaker 1>He's a very good basketball coach, and he kind of

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<v Speaker 1>made a name for himself with the Gobert stuff, right

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<v Speaker 1>Like ultimately Rudy's growth and evolution, you know that a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of the credit simply goes to Gobert. But we

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<v Speaker 1>all watched Rudy as a rookie, and I'll be honest,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm like, this is not going to work.

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<v Speaker 3>You know.

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<v Speaker 1>He just looked uncoordinated, he looked lanky, And again the

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<v Speaker 1>bulk of the credit goes to Gobert. But what did

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<v Speaker 1>you see as far as Alex's work with not just

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<v Speaker 1>Rudy favors Cancer like that the Big Man group. But

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<v Speaker 1>of course Rudy's success is kind of Alex Alex's success

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<v Speaker 1>or as well. Tell me what you saw with the

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<v Speaker 1>developmental side of him while you were with the Jazz.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah. I mean, obviously Alex knows knows the game and

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<v Speaker 2>knows knows the fundamentals and and has the ability to

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<v Speaker 2>teach that. But then I think to like I said,

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<v Speaker 2>just to meet somebody where they are and and the

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<v Speaker 2>the amount of time that that that Rudy wants to

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<v Speaker 2>put in before and after Alex is there and ready

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<v Speaker 2>to grind with you to uh, you know, to deal

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<v Speaker 2>with some obvious difficult things, whether it was relationship with

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<v Speaker 2>Donovan or or you know, challenges with with being sent

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<v Speaker 2>to the G League in back and to be able

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<v Speaker 2>to to kind of navigate those things. I mean, Alex

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<v Speaker 2>was was there for him and he knew, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>that's why this this trip to France stands out. And

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<v Speaker 2>he knew how important it was to Rudy for people

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<v Speaker 2>to see him and where he was from and and

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<v Speaker 2>to to where he got to and so I think,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, just being able to put all of that

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<v Speaker 2>together makes sense. And then you know, I mean, you're right,

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of this is on Rudy for you know,

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<v Speaker 2>being a physical freak and someone who did have drive

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<v Speaker 2>to get better and be able to put that package together.

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<v Speaker 2>But the other thing I would point to is Alex came,

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<v Speaker 2>came up under Majeris, coached and worked with Majeris, and

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<v Speaker 2>then spent a long time with Quinn Snyder. And if

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<v Speaker 2>you can, if you can deal with those types of

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<v Speaker 2>demanding figures and and keep their respect and stay on

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<v Speaker 2>their staff, I mean that I think that speaks to

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<v Speaker 2>your talent as well.

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<v Speaker 1>Good point, because I think a lot of folks may

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<v Speaker 1>not know that Alex was on the staff under Ty

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<v Speaker 1>Corbin and Quinn came and took over and he got

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<v Speaker 1>rid of a lot of people. Aaron as you know,

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<v Speaker 1>and I always viewed the fact that Quinn Snyder, who

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<v Speaker 1>doesn't do anything accidentally and is very organized and maniacal

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<v Speaker 1>and intentional with decision making. I always viewed the fact

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<v Speaker 1>that he kept Alex on staff, and not just on staff,

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<v Speaker 1>but made him his lead assistant for his entire nine years.

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<v Speaker 1>Here are real testament to the type of coach in

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<v Speaker 1>person Alex's.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, you're you're spot on that that first year

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<v Speaker 2>maybe maybe you have Quinnsider coming into a new situation

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<v Speaker 2>and you have a front office ownership group that that

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<v Speaker 2>hesa says, we've got some assistants here, we want you

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<v Speaker 2>to to try to work some things out right. Year two,

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<v Speaker 2>quinns able to bring in his own guys, and Alex

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<v Speaker 2>stays that says everything you need to know.

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<v Speaker 3>One hundred percent. Let me ask you this, do we overstate?

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<v Speaker 1>And it's hard to kind of be analogous with UTAH

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<v Speaker 1>and BYU with this dynamic because BYU is a little

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<v Speaker 1>bit different. It's more unique where you know, Tom Homo

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<v Speaker 1>steps down and the president, Shane Reese talks about we

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<v Speaker 1>need a BYU guy. We're going to get a tried

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<v Speaker 1>and true BYU guy that understands b Yu, that loves

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<v Speaker 1>b Yu.

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<v Speaker 3>Then of course there's the really religiosity.

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<v Speaker 1>He even talked openly that he needs to love Jesus

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<v Speaker 1>all those things that BYU brings.

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<v Speaker 3>Do we overstate the potent.

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<v Speaker 1>You'll need for a local for a ute when it

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<v Speaker 1>comes to these types of things, or do you think

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<v Speaker 1>it's a real thing. Like Josh Grant joined the show

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<v Speaker 1>last week and was very honest, salient, and forthcoming about

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<v Speaker 1>his opinion that it does need to be somebody that

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<v Speaker 1>understands this community.

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<v Speaker 3>What what do you think about that?

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<v Speaker 2>I think, you know, and and I could be wrong,

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<v Speaker 2>but I think it's it's maybe overblown in the sense

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<v Speaker 2>that we've seen you know, we've seen people from the outside,

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<v Speaker 2>and I mean we've talked about you know, Quinn and

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<v Speaker 2>obviously it's a different situation. But people from the outside

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<v Speaker 2>can come in and figure and figure it out and

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<v Speaker 2>become beloved within the community. Right takes winning. But I

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<v Speaker 2>go back to, you know, fundraising as the reason I

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<v Speaker 2>think that it has to be a YOUTE right now,

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<v Speaker 2>because there's no they're not going to bring in somebody.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, if you if you go around you look

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<v Speaker 2>at you know, the people that are going to make

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<v Speaker 2>the leap and come be head coach of the University

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<v Speaker 2>of Utah men's basketball program. You're probably dealing with a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of you know, high achieving mid major guys or

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<v Speaker 2>maybe middle achieving, high made, you know, Power four guys,

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<v Speaker 2>or you know, there are some fringe like NBA types.

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<v Speaker 2>You're going to go to the stars and grab Wooden

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<v Speaker 2>bouncing here whatever, right, But that's just not going to

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<v Speaker 2>excite a donor base and instantly, and this does. And

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<v Speaker 2>I think this that's the number one thing. So you

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<v Speaker 2>have a guy who who checked a lot of boxes,

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<v Speaker 2>like we've talked about. You know, it is nice that

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<v Speaker 2>he knows the culture and wants to put his heart

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<v Speaker 2>into it because I do think that's that's a meaningful

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<v Speaker 2>thing that you can't replicate. But at the end of

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<v Speaker 2>the day, money is going to make this thing go

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<v Speaker 2>and and that good feeling of seeing Alex Jensen with

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<v Speaker 2>a hand extended is going to bring in more money

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<v Speaker 2>to the University of Utah. Family on three absolutely one

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<v Speaker 2>two three love it.

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<v Speaker 3>So I wondering.

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<v Speaker 1>Look, we've got to be clear, none of this is

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<v Speaker 1>official yet, but you know, I trust trust Sean, I

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<v Speaker 1>trust Goodman. I trust Rostein and everybody who's reported on

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<v Speaker 1>this has reported that it is Alex, but you reference

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<v Speaker 1>and I've been talking about this a ton, whether it's

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<v Speaker 1>Alex Jensen or the ghost of Rick Manjaris or Richard

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<v Speaker 1>Patino or whoever it is, is going to ask Mark

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<v Speaker 1>and probably President Randall, what do the economics of your

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<v Speaker 1>program look like? What is the financial infrastructure of Utah

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<v Speaker 1>basketball right now?

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<v Speaker 3>And you know, whether it's.

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<v Speaker 1>UTAP basketball or Utah football or whatever it is. And

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<v Speaker 1>we have house for s N Cuba. We're high speed

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<v Speaker 1>ahead to the twenty million dollar number where you can

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<v Speaker 1>start paying players. But do you have any understanding over

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<v Speaker 1>the Solid Tribune of the current condition of the Crimson

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<v Speaker 1>collective and whether or not the football program, the basketball

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<v Speaker 1>program is being supported financially the way it needs to be.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, So you know, the last reporting that we had

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<v Speaker 2>on this was, you know, going into this year, they

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<v Speaker 2>had the basketball program had about two and a half

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<v Speaker 2>maybe a little bit more in and IL money and

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<v Speaker 2>football was I think, and I could be wrong, somewhere

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<v Speaker 2>in the six to seven ish range, you know. And

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<v Speaker 2>everything we've heard is yes, we're we're we're looking for

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<v Speaker 2>more where we will have more, and the hope is

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<v Speaker 2>to reach that twenty million dollar revenue share max. And

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<v Speaker 2>then how you allocate that Probably it's what you know,

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<v Speaker 2>sixty seventy seventy percent of football, you know, twenty percent

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<v Speaker 2>of basketball. Figure it out the rest of the way, right,

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<v Speaker 2>and so you know, I think Utah's you know, looking

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<v Speaker 2>at the Big twelve, maybe high middle of the Big twelve.

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<v Speaker 2>One of the problems with this is it's so hard

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<v Speaker 2>to know you see the big numbers that that flash

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<v Speaker 2>for a certain player or a certain program. There's just

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<v Speaker 2>no there's just no public accounting of it that has

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<v Speaker 2>to happen. And so right now it still feels like everybody,

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<v Speaker 2>everybody wants to put their best foot forward and make

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<v Speaker 2>themselves look better, and then everyone else is just feeling

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<v Speaker 2>like we don't have enough, because all you can do

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<v Speaker 2>is hunger for more, right because you just you're not

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<v Speaker 2>sure what everyone else has. And so I think they're

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<v Speaker 2>you know, what we were told, you know, on the record,

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<v Speaker 2>was two and a half million dollars for the basketball

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<v Speaker 2>team this year. You look around the Big twelve, obviously

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<v Speaker 2>there are guys that splash that for a single player.

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<v Speaker 2>So you think you've got to get to that, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>three and a half four relatively quickly. And I think

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<v Speaker 2>that's where, again going back to it, money matters, Alex

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<v Speaker 2>Jensen should be the guy that can help you get there.

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<v Speaker 1>And we'll see what the bench looks like next to him,

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<v Speaker 1>Andre Miller talked about as an assistant coach, and we'll

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<v Speaker 1>end on this let's operate off dipothetical that Alex gets

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<v Speaker 1>the job and they hire Andre, and then we'll see

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<v Speaker 1>what they do to fill out the bench. That feels

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<v Speaker 1>like it certainly and to your earlier point about fundraising,

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<v Speaker 1>that would certainly win the day, That would certainly win

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<v Speaker 1>the press conference. Yeah, I mean the way I anticipate

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<v Speaker 1>this going down, if it does as soon as that

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<v Speaker 1>announcement is made. My guess is that ticket office where

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<v Speaker 1>he sees a lot of calls, four season ticket deposits,

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<v Speaker 1>and Aaron, let's call it out, is man like. Whether

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<v Speaker 1>it was Craig or Larry or Jim before him, it's

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<v Speaker 1>been a number of years since that building has been

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<v Speaker 1>full consistently. And if your coach with you can bring

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<v Speaker 1>in a recruit on a Saturday night and you can

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<v Speaker 1>just simply say do you want to be part of

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<v Speaker 1>this because Rice Eckels on a Saturday night when it's

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<v Speaker 1>a great home environment is really attractive, and the Huntsman

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<v Speaker 1>hasn't been that for a while.

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<v Speaker 3>So do you think, at least in.

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<v Speaker 1>The moment, in a vacuum, that would motivate a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of people to buy tickets right away?

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<v Speaker 3>If this is the announcement we get.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh, I definitely think so. I think you go on

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<v Speaker 2>a fundraising run, you go on a ticket sales run

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<v Speaker 2>that you haven't really enjoyed in quite a while. And

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<v Speaker 2>then you know, basketball, unlike football's roster, that's small enough

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<v Speaker 2>that you can you can turnish and there's so much

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<v Speaker 2>turnover you can turn a ship around pretty quickly. And

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<v Speaker 2>that's that's got to be your hope for sure.

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<v Speaker 1>All Right, moving off, let's talk about some stories you

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<v Speaker 1>guys have uncovered and written over the trip. And I

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<v Speaker 1>thought our guy keV Kevin Reynolds, was some really good

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<v Speaker 1>reporting about the BYU football nil collective situation and the

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<v Speaker 1>meeting that was held prior to the last season where

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<v Speaker 1>two BYU starters outline this situation where the nil was

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<v Speaker 1>cut quite a bit as a result of a less

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<v Speaker 1>than stellar year year one of the Big twelve. And

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<v Speaker 1>then you know, equal time you talk to some of

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<v Speaker 1>the people at the Royal Blue Collective and they're trying

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<v Speaker 1>to step up, and you know, this is an interesting story.

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<v Speaker 1>And of course, whenever you guys decided to go with

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<v Speaker 1>something like this, you take a number of different things

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<v Speaker 1>into account and talk to a number of different people.

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<v Speaker 1>And of course BYU fans like to use the Internet

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<v Speaker 1>to feel brave, so they've come at you quite a bit.

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<v Speaker 1>But tell us take give us a little background how

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<v Speaker 1>the story kind of came about and how you guys

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<v Speaker 1>decided to go about your report.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, well, I mean Kevin Reynolds, our by U beat writer, Uh,

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<v Speaker 2>just a tremendously talented, uh young man who's who's come

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<v Speaker 2>in from from Texas and over the last three years,

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, you know, developed a foothold in in you know,

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<v Speaker 2>the the athletics department down there and and the locker room,

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<v Speaker 2>and you know, I was, I think kind of made

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<v Speaker 2>a name for himself as someone who's willing to you know,

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<v Speaker 2>hear people out and and and tell their stories and

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<v Speaker 2>and like you like we talked about earlier in terms

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<v Speaker 2>of of you know, we prefer not to use an

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<v Speaker 2>anonymous source if if if at all possible. And you know,

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<v Speaker 2>here's a situation where, you know, through relationships developed over

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<v Speaker 2>the course of a season working a beat, and you know,

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<v Speaker 2>being there and and and you know, being uh perceived

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<v Speaker 2>as as someone who's who's counted and and and good

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<v Speaker 2>at his job, developed some relationship with with players and

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<v Speaker 2>was able to tell their story. And obviously, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>I think there are there are going to be people

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<v Speaker 2>on that roster who did get some pay bumps or

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00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:12.359
<v Speaker 2>don't see it that way, or were frustrated. But here's

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<v Speaker 2>here is the account of two young men on the

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<v Speaker 2>record who say that, and Royal Luflective comes in and says, yes,

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00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:22.240
<v Speaker 2>we did cut you know for certain players. Maybe it

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00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:25.839
<v Speaker 2>weren't be eighty percent that from people said, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>they weren't able to give us a firm number on

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<v Speaker 2>what that was. And at the same time they say, hey,

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<v Speaker 2>we're gonna we're going to up our numbers this year.

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<v Speaker 2>We'll spend more in twenty twenty five than we did

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<v Speaker 2>in twenty twenty four. And it kind of goes back

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<v Speaker 2>to what we talked about earlier. It's one of those

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<v Speaker 2>things where you know, if you're winning, you know you look,

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<v Speaker 2>you start the season and everyone, every youth band is

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<v Speaker 2>feeling like, we know, we're on top of the world.

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<v Speaker 2>We're gonna we're gonna run through this conference, and then

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<v Speaker 2>BYU outperforms and feels like, oh, the Cougars must have

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<v Speaker 2>had everything right and il lies and utug and in

353
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<v Speaker 2>disarray or whatever, and it's the truth is somewhere in

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<v Speaker 2>the middle.

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<v Speaker 3>As it always is, of course, as it always is.

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<v Speaker 1>All Right, one quick jazz question here, because again we

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<v Speaker 1>kind of all know what time it is, and no

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<v Speaker 1>one is under any illusion as far as what they've

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<v Speaker 1>tried to do all year. You've got a really good

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<v Speaker 1>jazz reporter and our guy Andy, you know, Andy Larson.

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<v Speaker 3>What have been see.

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<v Speaker 1>It's a challenging thing whether you're in this space as

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<v Speaker 1>a sports talk radio host to try to cover our

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<v Speaker 1>local NBA team, and of course the Jazz have always

365
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<v Speaker 1>been the big dog here a we are a basketball city,

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<v Speaker 1>where we are a basketball market. But when the deal

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<v Speaker 1>is what the deal is, it's tough on a fan base.

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<v Speaker 1>It's a weird kind of infrastructure as far as NBA

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<v Speaker 1>basketball right now, where you know, the incentive structure is

370
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<v Speaker 1>such where about a third of the league has fan

371
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<v Speaker 1>bases every year that has to outwardly cheer for them

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<v Speaker 1>to lose in order to get a great draft, in

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<v Speaker 1>order to get you know, things back on track. What

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<v Speaker 1>have been the biggest challenges in covering a team that

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<v Speaker 1>is in year three of a rebuild that quite frankly

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<v Speaker 1>does not have a light at the end of the

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<v Speaker 1>tunnel yet.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think it's it is difficult to know how

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<v Speaker 2>to strike that balance right of you know, trying to

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<v Speaker 2>to to provide a level of criticism and I mean that,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, so hopefully constructively. You know, in terms of uh,

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<v Speaker 2>the goal of once I throw the ball up is

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<v Speaker 2>to win. Well, that's not the goal here. But can

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<v Speaker 2>we be critical of a performance, you know, if it

385
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<v Speaker 2>if it doesn't meet a must or maybe you know,

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<v Speaker 2>look at the last couple of games, right and some

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<v Speaker 2>of Will Hardy's comments, right and or or does none

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<v Speaker 2>of that matter because everybody knows what the end goal

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<v Speaker 2>is here, right, And so strike trying to strike that

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00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:57.000
<v Speaker 2>balance of you know, when when do you say, hey,

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00:19:57.079 --> 00:20:00.119
<v Speaker 2>let's talk basketball and this wasn't very good and and

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<v Speaker 2>you say it doesn't really matter that the basketball is

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<v Speaker 2>not very good, because that's not the point. And so

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, it's it's a it's a tight rope that

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<v Speaker 2>you walk, and I don't think you please everybody all

396
00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:13.319
<v Speaker 2>the time. But you know, I think Andy's picked his

397
00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:18.480
<v Speaker 2>spots and tried to, you know, say, come at performance

398
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<v Speaker 2>as he did last night, when when maybe you're trying

399
00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:25.200
<v Speaker 2>to speak to a bigger picture issue, you know, not

400
00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:29.519
<v Speaker 2>necessarily that it's a poor performance, you know, and it's

401
00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:32.279
<v Speaker 2>going to cost the Jazz some great thing this year,

402
00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:36.119
<v Speaker 2>But how does it speak to the quality of the

403
00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:38.799
<v Speaker 2>players in the locker room now and maybe what that

404
00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:42.559
<v Speaker 2>projects going forward and trying to look at it through

405
00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:45.839
<v Speaker 2>through that lens. And then the other difficult thing is

406
00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:49.440
<v Speaker 2>just like how do you keep people engaged and caring?

407
00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:52.160
<v Speaker 2>And you know, I think we're at kind of at

408
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<v Speaker 2>a point in the season where everybody knows what's up,

409
00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:58.440
<v Speaker 2>and you've got the people on the wagon who have

410
00:20:58.519 --> 00:21:01.880
<v Speaker 2>been on the wagon all along, and everyone else is

411
00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:04.440
<v Speaker 2>just waiting for the ping pong balls.

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<v Speaker 3>So I wonder how the engagement has been.

413
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<v Speaker 1>We saw some data a couple of weeks ago that

414
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<v Speaker 1>the local TV ratings for the Jazz of tanked when

415
00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:20.920
<v Speaker 1>it was Quinn and Rudy and Donovan and that great

416
00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.440
<v Speaker 1>run for about five years.

417
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<v Speaker 3>Well, I know, for a couple of years local TV.

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<v Speaker 1>Ratings and pro basketball went like this one Golden State

419
00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:30.839
<v Speaker 1>to Utah.

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00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:32.640
<v Speaker 3>I know that was at least a couple of years.

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<v Speaker 1>And the Jazz, from what I read, have the third

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00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:39.599
<v Speaker 1>worst drop in local TV interest. Now I've been to

423
00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:43.000
<v Speaker 1>maybe ten games and the building's still full. I have

424
00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:47.240
<v Speaker 1>my dashboard, and Jazz interviews are not downloaded the way

425
00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:50.480
<v Speaker 1>that they typically are. So the engagement on the media

426
00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:52.400
<v Speaker 1>side seems to be a little bit down. How is

427
00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:54.039
<v Speaker 1>it over at the trip when you guys ride about

428
00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.400
<v Speaker 1>the Jazz?

429
00:21:54.480 --> 00:22:00.400
<v Speaker 2>Now, yeah, I mean, for sure down relative to a year.

430
00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:04.799
<v Speaker 2>And you know, I think that's just just to be expected.

431
00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:08.960
<v Speaker 2>I mean, you you, people have so many options for

432
00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:13.160
<v Speaker 2>how they spend their time and and their money and

433
00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:16.559
<v Speaker 2>and you know, where they put their their energy. And

434
00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:19.640
<v Speaker 2>if you know, you don't feel that that the sports

435
00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:22.200
<v Speaker 2>team is giving it back to you, you know, it's

436
00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:24.839
<v Speaker 2>I think it's completely reasonable that you're not you know,

437
00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:30.359
<v Speaker 2>invested in uh, you know, how Isaiah Collier is doing today? Right? Like,

438
00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:32.519
<v Speaker 2>I think that that makes sense. To me as a

439
00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:36.759
<v Speaker 2>human being. There's there's diehards and and you know Annie's

440
00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:41.039
<v Speaker 2>triple team, which he does after every game gets you know,

441
00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:44.160
<v Speaker 2>we we've got as a newsletter goes to straight to

442
00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:48.680
<v Speaker 2>your email inbox and that gets read reasonably well by

443
00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:52.680
<v Speaker 2>you know, a group of diehard Utah jazz fans who

444
00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:55.079
<v Speaker 2>are who are extremely invested in the things we talked about.

445
00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:59.799
<v Speaker 2>How does Isaiah Calluer factor into the next good jazz team?

446
00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:03.880
<v Speaker 2>What's you know, how to explain sort of lorry marketings

447
00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:06.920
<v Speaker 2>dipped in numbers this year and should you be concerned

448
00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:11.039
<v Speaker 2>people that really care about that, but my parents who

449
00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:14.680
<v Speaker 2>will certainly care about the jazz when there's a playoff

450
00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:18.559
<v Speaker 2>push happening, or you know, my friends who who you know,

451
00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:19.880
<v Speaker 2>there are a lot of people out there who are

452
00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:24.240
<v Speaker 2>jazz fans who know nobody on this roster right and

453
00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:27.079
<v Speaker 2>they consider themselves jazz fans, but they're not going to

454
00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:29.880
<v Speaker 2>put any time into it until they're getting something back

455
00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:33.359
<v Speaker 2>from the franchise. And that's just going to mean everybody's

456
00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:34.039
<v Speaker 2>numbers are down.

457
00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:38.480
<v Speaker 1>Friend of the program, Belle Frasier has been very impressive.

458
00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:41.720
<v Speaker 1>Good hire by you as the Utah Hockey Club continues

459
00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:43.880
<v Speaker 1>their chase towards the wild card and they're right in

460
00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:47.200
<v Speaker 1>the mix. What's it been like to learn this sport

461
00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:49.240
<v Speaker 1>for the first time and what sort of interest are

462
00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:51.960
<v Speaker 1>you receiving from the community when you guys cover the

463
00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:52.559
<v Speaker 1>hockey club.

464
00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:56.839
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I think it truly has been a learning experience

465
00:23:57.240 --> 00:24:01.640
<v Speaker 2>for me, and Bell has been uh, honestly as much

466
00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:05.000
<v Speaker 2>of a resource for me as as as anything, and

467
00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:09.559
<v Speaker 2>so I appreciate her knowledge and her passion for the game.

468
00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:12.799
<v Speaker 2>You know, I I think there are a lot of

469
00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:17.720
<v Speaker 2>barriers to entry to become an NHL fan, certainly an

470
00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:22.279
<v Speaker 2>NHL die hard. It's you know, there are there are

471
00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:27.480
<v Speaker 2>rules you don't understand that doesn't get talked about on

472
00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:30.799
<v Speaker 2>Sports Center with any regularity. There there's just it's just

473
00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:35.200
<v Speaker 2>it is. Again, there are diehards, but it is relatively niche.

474
00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:39.240
<v Speaker 2>And so I think we're looking at a situation where,

475
00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:43.839
<v Speaker 2>you know, a playoff appearance maybe helps jump start a

476
00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:47.599
<v Speaker 2>generation of hockey fans, but I think that's something that's

477
00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:50.160
<v Speaker 2>going to take a little bit to get going, you know,

478
00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:53.000
<v Speaker 2>if it does, because right now people are feeling out,

479
00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:56.640
<v Speaker 2>People enjoy going to the games, They care about what

480
00:24:56.759 --> 00:25:00.400
<v Speaker 2>this team might be named some someday. I don't think

481
00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:03.240
<v Speaker 2>your average person at a sports bar, even with a

482
00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:06.240
<v Speaker 2>with a game on, is going to know who played

483
00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:09.039
<v Speaker 2>in keller Is and that's going to take some time.

484
00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:12.240
<v Speaker 1>All right, buddy, Before I say you loose question about

485
00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:17.119
<v Speaker 1>the lads, of course you've been writing about the lads. Ultimately,

486
00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:20.039
<v Speaker 1>First of all, a Mecca Anelli captain shout out? Is

487
00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:23.200
<v Speaker 1>Nate Bench a soccer genius because he saw this this

488
00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:26.160
<v Speaker 1>talent before any of us and now he's he's the captain,

489
00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:28.319
<v Speaker 1>So I want you to address that. Then then, secondly,

490
00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:33.759
<v Speaker 1>what's fair to say about a team that allegedly pocketed

491
00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:36.720
<v Speaker 1>between fifteen and seventeen mil after a number of different

492
00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:40.039
<v Speaker 1>transactions and they have not reinvested that into the talent

493
00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:40.559
<v Speaker 1>just yet.

494
00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:45.599
<v Speaker 2>I think to answer your first question, Nate Bench absolutely

495
00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:49.680
<v Speaker 2>soccer savann Okay, if he doesn't he needs an office

496
00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:55.279
<v Speaker 2>in Harriman, he does, no doubt's what's fair to say?

497
00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:58.680
<v Speaker 2>You know? I mean, I was I'm curious to know

498
00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:03.480
<v Speaker 2>the timing of the Chicho orongo ask and how close

499
00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:07.240
<v Speaker 2>that might have been to start of the season, and

500
00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:11.240
<v Speaker 2>you know, maybe how much runway they would have had

501
00:26:11.319 --> 00:26:14.839
<v Speaker 2>to find a high level replacement, right, because I do

502
00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:19.519
<v Speaker 2>think that they they brought in some players that they

503
00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:23.640
<v Speaker 2>knew were not at that level. Even even you know,

504
00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:28.799
<v Speaker 2>or disgruntled Brazilian friend who was going to basically be

505
00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:31.400
<v Speaker 2>an Anders to Julio replacement was not going to be

506
00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:36.599
<v Speaker 2>a Cheecho Orongo replacement, right. And so I would be

507
00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:39.039
<v Speaker 2>very curious to know how much time they had to

508
00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:41.440
<v Speaker 2>fix that problem. And if it was a lot of time,

509
00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:43.480
<v Speaker 2>I can understand some of the frustration. If it was

510
00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:47.279
<v Speaker 2>a little bit of time, you know, maybe the windows

511
00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:49.839
<v Speaker 2>just not long enough to get a deal done. And

512
00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:54.559
<v Speaker 2>you know, scouting and making transfers in the international football

513
00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:57.759
<v Speaker 2>world seems to be absolutely an insane thing to try

514
00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:01.319
<v Speaker 2>to accomplish, certainly in short order, and so I need

515
00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:03.880
<v Speaker 2>I need to know that before really passing judgment. That

516
00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:07.680
<v Speaker 2>being said, you know, it's it's a really long season,

517
00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:10.839
<v Speaker 2>and you look at what RSL did last year, and

518
00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:13.599
<v Speaker 2>they were great in the beginning and they stunk at

519
00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:15.960
<v Speaker 2>the end, and none of those fans were very happy.

520
00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:17.799
<v Speaker 2>And so if they can get somebody in the in

521
00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:22.039
<v Speaker 2>the second window, and you know they're they're within striking distance,

522
00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:24.680
<v Speaker 2>and they can you know, erase the memory of maybe

523
00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:28.640
<v Speaker 2>a lackluster first half with a strong second and a

524
00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:33.079
<v Speaker 2>couple of playoff win it's you know, it's probably.

525
00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:36.559
<v Speaker 1>Better congratulations in order to our guy Kevin Reynoldson. How

526
00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:40.119
<v Speaker 1>about my man Gordon Montson dusting off the fastball winning

527
00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.759
<v Speaker 1>some APSC awards.

528
00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:46.480
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I appreciate it. Yes, APSC Associated Press Sports Editors.

529
00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:54.039
<v Speaker 2>It's probably our biggest sports writer award showcase out there nationwide.

530
00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:57.799
<v Speaker 2>We compete in the B division, so just below the

531
00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:59.799
<v Speaker 2>New York Times and ESPN and all that, we're competing

532
00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:04.400
<v Speaker 2>way you know, the Oregonian, San Antonio, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis. There's

533
00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:08.319
<v Speaker 2>very good sports sections if you're not perusing random cities

534
00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:12.519
<v Speaker 2>newspapers and so to be in that group, we're we're

535
00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:18.920
<v Speaker 2>honored and we appreciate everybody who reads and subscribes, and

536
00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:22.559
<v Speaker 2>even to all my haters. You motivate me every day.

537
00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:27.519
<v Speaker 1>Shout out to the haters. Sl trip dot com eron.

538
00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:29.839
<v Speaker 1>I'm relieved that you're still allowed to come on the show,

539
00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:30.279
<v Speaker 1>because I'm not.

540
00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.960
<v Speaker 3>I'm not sure you're allowed to hang out with me.

541
00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.920
<v Speaker 3>But thanks for your time today.

542
00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:34.799
<v Speaker 2>Okay, anytime. Brother.

543
00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:37.720
<v Speaker 1>Aaron Falk, the editor of The Solid Tribune appreciate his time.

544
00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:40.720
<v Speaker 1>Sl trip dot com support our friends over the trip