REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
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REAL TALK! with Doc and Marlon
NFL Draft Talk, Bears / Cubbies w/ @ChampinMN
Join us for a lively discussion packed with insights about the Chicago Bears and Cubs as we navigate through their respective seasons and anticipate what's next! We are thrilled to welcome Champ, a passionate Bears and Cubs fan, who brings a wealth of knowledge and excitement to the conversation. We'll delve into the Bears' rocky road last season, examining the coaching mistakes and the brilliance yet to be unlocked in quarterback Caleb Williams.
Champ shares his hopes for the future while speculating about draft picks, emphasizing the importance of fortifying the offensive line to support Williams. We also turn our gaze to the Cubs, where rising stars and key acquisitions could lead to an impressive 2025 season, along with a discussion on their odds of exceeding 86.5 wins this year.
Packed with engaging opinions and in-depth analysis, this episode is a must-listen for Chicago sports fans and anyone eager to understand the dynamics of these storied franchises. Let's discuss the highs, the lows, and everything in between as we gear up for an exciting future. Subscribe now, and don’t forget to leave your thoughts, reviews, and predictions!
and welcome everybody to another episode of Real Talk. Doc, you doing all right today.
Speaker 2:Yes, I am. Yes, I am. It's a pleasure to have a guest that we love so much and it's very knowledgeable, and that's Champ in New Mexico. Man, it's an honor. Hey man, what's up Champ?
Speaker 3:What's up, fellas? I appreciate the invite and I'm uh dr falcon's presence right now. So shit, the pleasure, the, the honor is all mine all right, brother, good to have you.
Speaker 1:Let's do it, marley, all right so, champ, we're just going to jump right into it real quick. We'll get into some of your uh, your all-time bears players. We'll get into that. We'll also gettime Bears players, we'll get into that. We'll also get into a little bit of draft talk, who you guys possibly might select at 10. And then I know you're a big Rodgers fan, so we'll talk about Rodgers a little bit later.
Speaker 3:That's my favorite right there, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So real quick, man, like looking at the season that you guys had last year. Obviously it was, you know you had my guy Keenan Allen there, but obviously the division was stacked with some of the great teams obviously Lions, vikings, packers so with five wins. Obviously it wasn't the ideal season, but what did you think so far of just last year, of your Bears in 2024?
Speaker 3:think so far of the um just last year, of your, your bears in 2024, man, you know it was a. It was a mixed bag for me, marlin. I mean we had it started off really nice, right, I mean it was, we were four and two. Uh, we went into that uh, not rescue commander game and uh, they, they had the lead. But caleb williams made two, two great late fourth quarter touchdown drives to to put us back in the game and to really win it all.
Speaker 3:And uh, it was ruined by coaching right, I mean just malpractice by by matt eberflus, and and from there, the, the, the wheels fell off. Man, I mean it was. We just totally went in the opposite direction From 4-2, we lost 10 straight right there. Looking at the coaching staff with Shane Waldron and Matt Eberflus, I mean I think the future is going to be bright with Ben Johnson. Man, it wasn't a total failure in my eyes because I think Caleb Williams, he shows the potential of an elite arm talent, great athleticism and with the right coaching man. Listen, it wasn't the greatest season, but I think we us as Bears fans have hope definitely.
Speaker 1:Yeah, doc.
Speaker 2:Yeah, on the outside, looking in, it looked like Caleb Williams, from midseason to late season, resorted to some bad habits, holding on to the ball trying to make things happen, like he did at USC. But this is pro football and, champ, I remember conversing with you during the season and it's one of those things where we needed that one win to turn that thing around. I can't remember what week it was it might have been week nine or ten but it's one of those things where it just went bad and it looks like the offensive line play was shoddy. But even then, the weapons that you have you know DJ Moore, ron Meduze, tight end man, and it should have been better than this. But the fundamentals that Caleb did not show late, you know it's going to be Don Johnson's going to fix that Defensively from the outside.
Speaker 2:Looking in champ and Marlon, I think there's some building product stuff there with Jalen Johnson the corner. We got Jonathan Owens the safety. He's married to the gymnast and they're just good football players. But you need some interior defense alignment to go with your stud edge rusher. I forget his name because he did perform really well, but he's a beast man. But it goes, noted man. Nfc North. There's nothing to play around with, and I think some of those games against your division foes were there to be had, but then late turnovers and some other things, coaching flaws that tore you up champ.
Speaker 3:It did, it did Doc. I remember the call. Well, doc, it was the Arizonarizona game, right, and we're like, okay, we felt we, we lost a couple to to washington and and there was another game that we lost, but that game that you were mentioning earlier it was the arizona game. I was like man, maybe this is the get right game and it never did right, but but there was coaching malpractice, doc. Uh, shane waldron. There were reports out marlin and doc, that earlier in the year, caleb williams like like I'm talking, I'm talking training camp, caleb williams was reaching out to shane and and he wouldn't reply and he was having to do like his own quarterback, uh, practice and going through the playbook and stuff. Man, I mean, this was a coaching malpractice at an all-time right there, stuff you haven't heard of, right. So listen, man, there were some bad things and he definitely developed some bad habits, as you mentioned, doc.
Speaker 3:But I have hope, man, I got to believe in this arm talent I got to believe in and really and truly the fifth quarter he showed me some talking impressors, like a lot of the stuff that you heard coming out of USC. I didn't see a whole lot of it, man, he was a true professional me as a Bears fan looking at it and I'm optimistic fellas, I really am and I think we could get this thing turned around with Ben Johnson and company.
Speaker 1:That's good champ, yeah, and I just think too, man, when you just look at your upside, your division isn't doing you any favors. I look at, you know, with Doc's wife's Raiders, you know, coming into the division, that's pretty much stacked. So you guys are already playing, you know, five foot back and you're trying to catch up to everybody else because Detroit they're going to be there, that offense is still going to be flying high. The Vikings, it really doesn't matter who plays at quarterback, I think they're still going to be a very, very decent team. And the Packers are just getting better every year, year after year, they're just getting better. So with you guys just looking at this division, it's, it's tough. You got to play catch up fast and I'm hoping at least with with ben johnson, paired with caleb. You know, hopefully now you guys can build something and, uh, you know, get a couple weapons. I don't know what's gonna happen with keenan allen, but you know, get a, get a receiver and and try to move forward and make something happen.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I agree, man. I mean they had the best chemistry looking at last year, caleb Williams and Keenan Allen, that is, and I'd love to see that guy back. But you're right, the division is ridiculously tough. Kevin O'Connell's a hell of a coach. Lafleur's a hell of a coach. Dan Campbell, he's no slouchouch either. So we got our work cut out first, man, and you. It doc was talking about, uh, the interior line on the defensive. That that's true. We need a we need help there, uh.
Speaker 3:But but there are building pieces on defense and including offense, roma dunes day, we got dj moore, so there's some pieces that are missing, but you know, we got the draft, we got free agency coming up. We're what? Top five in cap space, so we got a lot to look forward to.
Speaker 2:Good analysis, brother, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Good job.
Speaker 3:All right Chip.
Speaker 1:We're going to go ahead and look at the draft a little bit and obviously you guys are at number 10. So you got some options with where you going to go ahead and look at the draft a little bit. And obviously you guys are at number 10, so you got some options with where you want to go. Where would you want to see yourself draft in that number 10 spot?
Speaker 3:In the number 10 spot. Yeah, man, this is Dr Falcon's wheelhouse right here, so we're about to see what kind of draft grade my guy Doc's going to give me right now, yes, go ahead brother. But you know, I'm hoping a guy like Will Anderson can sleep to that pick. I don't know how realistic that is, but man, I would love a Will Anderson there. Obviously I'm looking on the offensive line.
Speaker 2:No, not Will Anderson Campbell out of LSU. That's what'm looking on the offensive line. No, not Will Anderson Will Campbell out of LSU. That's what Anderson is with the Texans Continue.
Speaker 3:Yes, you're right, campbell Campbell, out of LSU. See, I already got an F. I already got an F, no, no, no, no, you're all right, I agree with you.
Speaker 2:You got it Go. No, no, you're all right.
Speaker 3:I agree with you. You got to address Go ahead.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 3:Campbell out of LSU If it doesn't slip to 10, I like the Kelvin Banks kid out of Texas. Again, another offensive tackle. You know, big guy, he's got good speed. So I've seen a lot of mock drafts, guys of us taking somebody like a GT. I don't know that. We, you know we need to protect Caleb man If we really want this thing to work. I'm definitely going to be really involved heavily, like in the offensive line draft and potentially free agency.
Speaker 2:I couldn't agree with you more, champ Marlon. They need to protect the franchise quarterback who took a beating not only against the division but against all the NFL teams that the Bears face, and this resulted in bad habits. So I got you. You know you mentioned Campbell and that's a good choice. Right there, banks is the guy that you plug and play and he'll be there for 10 years. Some people think Campbell's a guard in the NFL, but the kid out of Alabama, booker, is another pick that you can take Big 6'5", 340, 345, interior line. But I agree with Champ, cackle is the way to go.
Speaker 2:There's nothing really wrong with your defense If your quarterback, taylor Williams, doesn't put him in a bad spot with interceptions and stuff like that. You know where. Put him in a bad spot with interceptions and stuff like that. You know where the defense gets tired. But you've got to go tackle to help you out there and take from there. So Banks is my choice. Campbell is a good choice too, but some people think you can slide him in the guard, which wouldn't be bad. But you need a tackle man. You need an outside guy. Whether it's right or left, you can move Banks around. I watched Texas. He struggled against elite edge rushers, like at Georgia and some other teams. But you know he's a guy with great size at 6'6" 335, and you can take it from there.
Speaker 3:That's right. That's right, doc, you know. So that's where I'm investing, you know, free agency-wise. There's a couple really good guards out there that are going to hit the market right. So I'm thinking Ryan Poles is going to hit, maybe get work on the interior for free agency, but when we're talking about that 10th pick man, I'm hoping we get an offensive tackle. So Campbell Banks and who's the other guy that you just mentioned?
Speaker 2:Doc Booker. He's an offensive guard from Alabama. Yeah, you can't go wrong there with him because he's a consensus All-American, but I would prefer that you build a line from outside in yes, yes, okay.
Speaker 1:And now, champ, we got some breaking news. And now, champ, we got some breaking news. Our very first edition of the Doc Mock on Real Talk will be next week. So we will definitely get that lined up. And, doc, if we want to go first through, you know, 32nd, or just do top 10, it's totally up to you. We'll talk about that on your official Doc Mock. So 1.0, it'll be next week, so we will get into that, uh okay, sounds good, I'll be ready.
Speaker 3:Yes, for all the listeners. Y'all better tune in baby, because daniel, jeremiah and kaiper, they got nothing on doc mock oh, god bless for me.
Speaker 1:I appreciate it, yes I'm gonna make a clip out of that. I like that, All right. So, Chip, if you look at just, there's been a ton of great players offensively and defensively. But when you look at the Bears let me hear your top, you know. So one quarterback is like a fantasy team. So one quarterback, two running backs, three receivers, a tight end, and then we'll go to the defense in a second. So go ahead. And who you got?
Speaker 3:So y'all don't kill me on this, but I'm a big believer in this franchise quarterback we got right now. I'm going to take Caleb man. The guy's got elite arm talent and I know it wasn't a Jaden Daniels-type rookie season, but I think with the right coaching we fix up this offensive line. I think he's got a lot to prove and we're going to see some bigger numbers this upcoming year. So my quarterback is Caleb. I'm going with the young gun there as far as a couple running backs. I mean, how can you not pick sweetness, right, doc?
Speaker 2:I mean that's right, that's right that's.
Speaker 3:That's an all-timer right there. Everybody loves him. You don't have to be a bear fan, I love that guy. So I follow his son on twitter. Uh, just just what an what an awesome, awesome player man. One of the best to ever do it in the nfl. My number two bear uh, I think just an underrated guy man, matt Forte. This dude was great catching the ball out of the backfield. He could make people miss. I mean he had wheels, he had moves. So I love Matt Forte man. As a couple wide receivers, I'm going to go with DJ Moore, this dude. You talk about yak, right, you talk about the yards after the catch. This dude can take a screen at any moment, at any time. Take it to the house, man. I love my guy, dj Moore. This one was tough for me to pick a second guy, but I always loved Alshon Jeffrey.
Speaker 2:Man even out of what was that South?
Speaker 3:Carolina.
Speaker 1:He came out ofshon Jeffries man.
Speaker 3:What was that?
Speaker 2:South Carolina. He came out of South Carolina, yeah.
Speaker 3:South Carolina. I remember watching him in the bowl game and I even made a little post on Facebook. I was like this dude would be awesome as a Bears wearing a Bears uniform. And lo and behold, we pick him right and he did great. He did a great job for us. We're going to move on. I had to throw one back for the old-timer right here, johnny Morris, 1958 to 1967. I don't even know he's the Bears' all-time leader receiver, so I'm going with the throwback one. I had to throw one out there for Doc.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yep.
Speaker 3:Good job yeah.
Speaker 2:Yep, good job, yep, yep.
Speaker 3:As far as a tight end For one before you get to tight end.
Speaker 1:I definitely thought you were going to pick Anthony Miller. I just thought he was going to be in there.
Speaker 3:I love Anthony Miller, man Out of Memphis.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yep, yep.
Speaker 3:Yep.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it was.
Speaker 3:What about this one, doc? My tie has got to be Ditka right.
Speaker 2:Yo, yeah, it has to be Dicker, has to be brother.
Speaker 3:Oh man, that dude was a beast right there with his flat-top hairdo.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that dude was a beast. Yes, yes, yes, oh, I love it. Good job on that. So what do you rank that? That's my offense.
Speaker 1:What do you rank that offense, doc? You had Caleb Williams, sweetness, matt Fort, forte, dj moore, alshon, jeffries, johnny whatever that guy's name is and then mike dicker. What do you? Who do you rank it?
Speaker 2:I'll rank it. I'll rank it pretty. I give it a top five ranking. But I disagree with champ on some of these guys. It's based on my age because I remember jim mcmahon made some plays in 85 and when he was drafted in 82 out of BYU. I'm going to go quarterback because he does have a bowl. He does have a bowl Sweetness. It goes without saying that sweetness is the running back. But then you've got to put in Gale Sayers. As much as I love Matt Forte, gale Sayers was a machine in the 60s.
Speaker 2:So I've got to go there. And then one of your tight ends. I love your tight end pick man, but Emory Moorhead on that Bears team in the mid-80s, that was otherworldly too. Man, emory Moorhead, I love your receiver with Alshon Jeffrey. The other one would be Willie Gault. You know the speed track guy, Willie Gault. Again, I'm a lot older and I remember these guys making plays and breaking ankles and all that 4-1 speed out of University of Tennessee. And you know, it just is what it is. You got your picks, I got mine, but Gale Sayers has to be in there. Chap, with all due respect, and McMahon.
Speaker 3:You're right, Doc. You have no hard feelings there and I can't complain with that man. I loved Gale Fares watching the highlights of him as a kid. And Jim McMahon, I mean hell, I think we would all put on the sweat headband, right dude Me, especially as a Bears fan as a young kid, I'd throw on the sweat band on my head and I'd be trying to be Mr Cool like Jim McMahon.
Speaker 2:Absolutely brother, Absolutely Good job. Continue, Marlon. I'm sorry.
Speaker 1:Now you know I didn't want to put in Office of Linemen because we know Doc can easily break down the Office of Linemen in the 60s and 70s, so we won't go ahead and do that. But we will do defensive lines. So you got three defensive linemen, four linebackers and four corners slash safety. So Champ who you got?
Speaker 3:So I'll start with my corner slash safety. I got to go with Peanut Tillman. Everybody in the league to this day still does the peanut punch. The dude made it famous. The dude was the best at it. Love my guy, peanut Tillman. Mike Brown watched him. You know, late 90s Dude was a thumper. Now Not only was he a thumper, he was a ball hawk man. He always seemed to be around the ball. He'd get some picks for us, key interceptions for us. I love Mike Brown. I was a huge fan of his. I'll go to a corner. Another corner, jalen Johnson, the guy currently playing right now. Dude, you could put him out on an island.
Speaker 3:I mean, they never throw his way, even late in the season, beginning of the season, middle of the season, it don't matter. Jalen Johnson put him in an island. They hardly throw his way. He could shut them down like the best of them. And I had to see if Doc knew this one man, dave Drewson.
Speaker 2:Drewson, drewson, yes, yes, absolutely.
Speaker 3:Yep, yep, so that guy was a beast man. So that rounds out my safeties, and corners, Corners yeah, yeah so, and then Doc's probably going to love this one. You got to have a couple of old schools in the linebackers, so my top four linebackers are going to go with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.
Speaker 2:Those are one or two, yeah, well, not necessarily in that order.
Speaker 3:No particular order here, but and then I'll throw in a couple of old school guys right here Mike Singletary, Dick.
Speaker 2:Bunce yeah.
Speaker 3:That's muscles of the midway, right there, right, doc, you look up muscles in the brain.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 3:And you see those four guys right there, Doc.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, absolutely. Buck is in and of itself Argo being the greatest defender in the history of the sport, the only man, marlon and you can look this up, to win Defensive Player of the Year awards in the NFL on a team that won one game in 1969. That's how dominant Dick Buck is. When you say Buck is, you already know that's linebacker. Yeah, so good job on that champ. I think you said defensive lineman marlin, go ahead yeah, defensive lineman's next yep, yep.
Speaker 3:So defensive lineman, I mean william the fridge perry baby. I mean that you give that guy, uh, the ball in the Super Bowl scored touchdown right. But the fridge was awesome. Mcmichael, steve McMichael man, he just passed just a month ago or so. He was battling some, I can't remember I think it was ALS.
Speaker 2:Yes, God bless his soul. Yeah, Good pick, good pick, champ, Continue yes.
Speaker 3:That guy was a beast man. And then you look over at Richard Dent man. I remember watching this guy as a youngster. I mean the look in that dude's eye was coming off the edge. I mean he was an animal too, man. And then, guys, I'm going to throw one out. That injury derailed this kid's career man, tommy Harris, I believe he came out of Oklahoma.
Speaker 2:Yes, he did. Yes, he did. He was a Sooner Oklahoma, Very good.
Speaker 3:That's right. But this guy, doc, I don't know, and Marlon, if you guys remember this is early 2000s he was part of that solid defense with Erlacher and Bridges and everybody, but this guy was an absolute animal. You know, he was a lot like Jalen Carter is today. I mean you couldn't stop him, but he had like a torn bicep and torn pants or something like that and his career got derailed.
Speaker 3:But as a huge fan, you know, as I've always been gosh, I loved watching that guy play in the early 2000s. It just sucks to see him go down to injury like that. But, yep, that lines up my D-line Fridge McMichael, richard Dent and Tommy Harris.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, absolutely, brother. I differ slightly in that. The D-line, I think, is you got to have Dan Hampton in there, you know. Yep, yeah, you got to have Dan Hampton in there, you know.
Speaker 3:Yep.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you got to have Dan Hampton and rest in peace. Steve McMichael, that's a very good show. I put your pick as top five easily on defense man, when you mentioned buckets, I'm going to have to put Wilbur Marshall in there, though. You know, somewhere in there, wilbur Marshall and that great 85 team because he was a beast man, marshall and that great 85 team because he was a beast man. I'm a 58 buddy, ryan's boy Secondary. Doug Plank you know you mentioned Dave Dorison. Those guys at that time wanted, when the NFL was a man's league, those guys used to light you up. Who could forget Doug Plank? You know, lighting up Eric Dickerson in the NFC playoffs championship game. I think it was in 85. Yeah, january of 85. Lit him up. Doug Plank, you know you mentioned Dave Doerrsen, champ. But yeah, I'm so happy that you mentioned Dick Buckets and some of the other cats. Singletary, you can't go wrong there, you know. Good job on that, marlon.
Speaker 1:I love it. I love it. All right. So we'll go ahead and get on a couple questions. On Rodgers, your guy Rodgers champ, I mean, you've been loving him for years he said you know, I remember you made a call to Adam and I think he gave you the name, the Aaron Rodgers caller. So that speaks highly of both of you guys. So, looking at Rodgers now, and and a report came out today that he would love to go to the rams if stafford does get traded, um, but if, let's say, if this rams thing doesn't work out and he wants another reunion with davante adams, of course, do you think it's time for him to possibly hang it up? Or do you think there's a team or two that still could possibly want rogers?
Speaker 3:uh, well, the the guy, obviously. I mean he's a hall of famer, right, and he, he, he said it on on tv whenever he was kicking the bear's ass that he owned us, and as much as that irked me and got under my skin.
Speaker 3:Uh it was a damn truth man, right, so he owned us, um, but yeah, we're at a stage for aaron rogers where, where, I mean, what was his excuse? He's got, he's got. He had garrett wilson. He had some great uh talent at wide receiver guys that he brought in personally to be part, uh, so he could make the pass the game he. He really couldn't make it work in New York. So, as an Aaron Rodgers hater, he can come to Green Bay. I mean I think he's done, man, but then again that might bite me in my ass and he can own this again, right, but no man, I think he's done guys. I mean he should probably hang it up. I just there wasn't an excuse, in my opinion. Last year, I mean, he stayed healthy Everybody thought, okay, maybe we can, just he can get it going, but he just never did and I don't know if he can. I think he's done, fellas.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I agree with Champ.
Speaker 2:I agree with Champ Marlon because the arm talent is still there and it's hard to let these legends go. But you've seen a lot of guys hold on and look terrible. This was not a mirage. He's done, he's finished. You know he could play in a rec league or a local park zone with the arm talent. But you know, but the fundamentals, the footwork throwing off the back foot I saw a few of the Jets game he was just throwing. Then he would blame everybody else but himself and he'd give guys bad looks. Even his board for the Raiders, like he ran the wrong route, but it was all. Rodgers man, the arm talent doesn't leave you. But the footwork not even being able to move and all that you know. Now the Jets' offensive line was bad, but a lot of those interceptions and all that was on him Bad reads. You know who says if he goes to the Raiders or the Steelers that things will change. It'll be 41, you know. So you got to give it up. I agree with Champ there, marlon.
Speaker 3:All right, yeah, he drinking too much of that. I yeah he's drinking too much of that. I want an officer or whatever the hell yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and Doc, I'll go ahead and stick with you on this one. If you're the Rams, do you pay Stafford? You know $50-something million a year. What do you do?
Speaker 2:The alternative is there's nothing to replace a guy like Stafford, who is really a 32-make away from going to the Super Bowl. I say yes, why not give him a two-year deal? Worth that man? You know I don't know the salary cap situation, but if you're Stafford, where do you go next? You know, do you go to Stetson Bennett? I love Stetson Bennett at Georgia. He's a college guy.
Speaker 2:But you're not going from Stafford and a game from the Super Bowl to having nothing. You know. And you're not going rookie, you're not going Kirk Cousins. You might as well keep Stafford in if you're going to talk about that. You know I don't see Aaron Rodgers going there. So I say yes, I would appease Mike and the OC by saying yes, keep him. Why not, man? You know he loves LA White loves LA man. You know he loves la, white loves la and uh, if you get rid of them you have nothing else. You know that knows the system, that knows the coach step, that knows the city. La is no joke, man. So I say yeah, keep them and take it from there.
Speaker 1:All right, what you think, champ I agree with that man.
Speaker 3:I mean the guy still unlike rogers, this guy still showing. He still shows that he can play and perform at a pretty solid level, right and hell. He had guys out this past year. Puka was hurt for a while, Cooper. Cove was hurt for a while and he was still putting up some numbers, so I don't know what the dollar amount should be. But yeah, I mean, if I were the Rams and if I were Stafford, hell, I'd stay married for a couple more years For sure. I agree with that.
Speaker 1:Exactly, exactly. Okay, all right. So, Champ, before we let you get out of here your Cubs, your Cubbies, a decent year last year, Not horrible by any means, but what are your thoughts this year on your Cubs going forward in 2025?
Speaker 3:So, listen, I like Craig Council man think. I think this guy's got us going in the right direction. Uh, it wasn't the greatest year, but is this first year in. So this year we'll see what he brings to the table. As far as some talent, there's a kid by the name of pete crow armstrong. I mean I love this kid's talent man. This dude's got wheels. He's not the heaviest hitter, he's not going to go yard, he's not going to rake and go yard every single at-bat, but he does hit some line drives to the wall. And when I talk about wheels, doc, I mean I don't know the exact 40 speed, but this dude can make it.
Speaker 3:He can run 90 feet like the best of them. I mean he goes the first, second to third. 90, 180. You're right, right. So 360, he can clear the bases in no time. Love Pete Crow Armstrong.
Speaker 3:As far as some pitchers, I love Shota Imanaga man. This dude was a great for us last year. He really was. He had like two or three games that blew up his ERA. He had like two or three bad games, but overall you talk about Shota Imanaga being a shutdown guy. I mean, he had a bunch of really good games where he'd only give up a few hits, no runs or maybe one run. Love Shota Imanaga. So I'm looking it up as we speak. Uh, vegas has us at an 86.5 over or under. I'm gonna take the over. I think the cubbies can hit. I think the cubbies can hit 90 wins right in the national league. Obviously we know who Top Dog is and they just keep adding more and more talent. It's ridiculous, but you've got to respect it, man, and especially in the World Series when you've got Ice Cube walking out of the field. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean, how badass was that man, I mean, but the Dodgers are king. It's tough to say that as a Cubbies fan, but I respect it. But overall I mean I'm excited man and I think we can hit the over as my Cubs. What do y'all think? Your call Doc.
Speaker 2:I think you can too, man and Marlon. I have to say this Champ is very knowledgeable on the Cubbies. In and of itself, I think baseball will do good and is a better thing when the Cubbies are relevant. Man and growing up seeing Sean Dunstan and Andre Dawson, the Hawk you know, and Kerry Wood and you know, mark Grace, things like that, marlon, names like that, especially the Hawk Andre Dawson, you know, I love Sean Dunstan, ryan Sandberg. So baseball when the Cubs are relevant in a big city like that especially the Hulk, andre Dawson, you know I love Sean Dunst and Ryan Sandberg.
Speaker 2:So baseball, when the Cubs are relevant, in a big city like that, it's small and I'll tell you it's nothing like it, man. But you know, unfortunately bad management and bad managers through the years have ruined champs' chances, you know, and they're in one of the best baseball divisions ever. You know St Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, with Robin Young and Paul Molitor back in the day, and all that, and the Cincinnati Reds Come on Marlon and Champ. This is baseball heaven when those teams are fighting it out for best division in baseball and fighting amongst each other. So the Cubbies man, man, I don't know the team like champ does, but I I believe that they can win 85 to 90 games.
Speaker 2:You know, uh, milwaukee's getting older, you know, but go ahead champ, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:Well, I mean, how am I forgetting our, our key, uh, star-studded free agent guy we just added right From I won't say free-agent, but from the Houston Astros? We just got King Tuck, kyle Tucker, now this dude can rake. I like PCA, I love PCA, so that's why it came to my head first. But Kyle Tucker from the Astros, you talk about a dude that can rake, a dude can go yard at any at-bat. Good defensive, good outfielder, and I mean this guy's going to hit right and I'm excited to see what he can do for us.
Speaker 2:So yeah, man.
Speaker 3:I think we can hit the over Doc.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I agree with you, and I hope you do, man, because I like to see you happy during baseball season and Chicago, as I referenced, is one of the best baseball series in the entire league, man you know. So we'll take it from there. Good luck on that, brother. Yes, sir, appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Alright champ. Last question your World Series predictions who you got?
Speaker 3:I'm gonna put me on the spot here. I mean it's kind of easy to pick the National League. I mean they're stacked, man yeah.
Speaker 3:Go ahead and go with the Dodgers there. You know we just had the Yankees represent the American League. I don't know if they could get back. I know Aaron Boone finally got over the hump to get in there last year, but I'm not a. I know Aaron Boone finally got over the hump to to get in there last year, but but I'm not going to go. Yankees, uh, shoot guys. Astros have lost Alex Bregman. They've lost Kyle Tucker to us. They still have.
Speaker 3:Jordan Alvarez right, that guy's a top five player in the MLB as far as. As far as I'm concerned, I think that guy's an absolute stud Jordan, but I think they've lost too many key guys. Shoot guys, Don't put me on the spot. I'm going to go Dodgers you know what Screw it. I'm still a big enough fan of Jordan, Dodgers and the Astros.
Speaker 2:That's good. That's good. And, marlon, I'm going to go. Orioles versus the Dodgers. Man, it's easy to pick the Dodgers, you know, and you know. I just think that they're loaded man Injuries. The only way Dodgers don't make it injuries, ruin them. But yeah, I'm taking the Orioles who have been knocking on the door for two or three years and they got a young staff. I know they lost the big picture, but you know I'm taking the Orioles and the Dodgers.
Speaker 1:In that my brother I love it, I love it, I love it. Well, champ, anything else before you get out of here?
Speaker 3:Marlon, I got one baseball question for you, baby.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 3:If you hit for the cycle, what is that?
Speaker 1:That's a home run.
Speaker 3:I'm going to put you on the spot you don't know how to answer that question.
Speaker 1:How about a home run, a cycle? You're going around in circles. How about a home run?
Speaker 3:there we go. I like it, we'll take that we'll take that home, run yeah we will, brother.
Speaker 2:Yes, we will. I appreciate the invite, fellas. We'll take that hub dock. Yeah, we will, brother. Yes, we will.
Speaker 3:Bless his heart. I love it. I appreciate the invite, fellas. I love y'all. Man, that's awesome.
Speaker 2:Love you too, champ. Good dialogue, good stuff, man, relative to your greatest players ever and your cubbies, and all that in general football. So we're going to do this again with you, probably over the summer. But thanks a lot, champ. Love you dearly, god bless all right.
Speaker 3:Appreciate for having me fellas appreciate it marlon.
Speaker 1:No problem, champ, you have a good one all right all right, that was a um, yes, definitely. Huge shout out to champ. Uh, of course, breaking down the bears, cubs and everything. So so we love champ. So all right, doc. Um, so we had, um, you know, luuka's been looking a little decent. I know they're playing as we're recording this. They're playing right now.
Speaker 2:Dallas, yeah.
Speaker 1:We're trying to get everything together as far as Luka with the Lakers. So what are your thoughts up until this point of seeing this new chapter of the Luka Lakers?
Speaker 2:I like what I've seen, man seen. Man remember, had to give him a chance now because he was four games in and, uh, you know it was moderate numbers, but he broke out with 32 on the road against a Denver team that owned the lakers the last two or three seasons. You know, 13 out of 14 and he had 32 and they lakers routed him rather than by 23 on the road, you know. So that was a big-time thing there. And I think, going forward, jj Redick, who might be up for coach of the year, because the Lakers are in fourth place as we speak and have a chance to go all the way to number two, because I don't think Memphis is going to hold on. I just think that this thing can only get better and I think LeBron's going to pace himself and do some things. Now you say, well, what about the interior size and all that? That might be an issue, but if the Lakers play small ball, I don't see nobody that can match Luka and Austin Reeves and LeBron for a seven-game series. You know and it's not because I live out here, it's just semantics man Luka's a top 20, 25 player right now, is to speak at age 25.
Speaker 2:It took a while to get his legs together, get under the lake away. I think the beer drinking and smoking. He's cut that out. He's been riding the bike. It looked like that calf injury he had missed. Half the season is over with. So you know you're gonna space thing. Lucas passes the rock to LeBron in space and LeBron doesn't have to bring the rock up anymore and do this, that and the other. So the supporting characters are playing well too the Vanderbilts, you know, and the Dave Vincents you know, and Hatcher Moore. So we'll see how this thing ends.
Speaker 1:Man, you got 25 games left and I'm looking high on the lakers yeah, yeah, and I think also too, just looking at, with the way that we were able to expose denver, that was one. Just seeing lebron play defensively, seeing how we were able to swarm over yokich, I just think, defensively we're. Yes, we lost one of the best, if not the best, big men in the league, but also, too, we're going to figure out another way, or multiple ways, to be great defensively. So Luka's going to fit in.
Speaker 1:We know we're not going to get great defense from him. I think we know that. But if we can at least get him to step it up a little bit and not just think, oh I'm in Dallas, this is my team, I can do whatever I want, lollygag and go down and shoot a three or do something like that, so hopefully he can at least and I know tonight is a different story because you're playing against your old team so you want to put up 50 on him. But definitely I think he didn't want this chapter, but he's getting ready to be 26, and this is where you are. Make the best of it.
Speaker 2:Absolutely brother. In the Eastern Conference, the Knicks are a disgrace. They've been getting routed, they've been getting smoked by Boston and they just lost a guy in a rout against somebody else. I saw a cat leave in Minnesota to provide an M-factor. It looked like Jalen Brunson's already tired, given that Thibodeau runs his guys into the ground with a five or six-man rotation, seven-man rotation. Og Ananobi is out still, so they're missing him and I just think that the Knicks are going to fall by the wayside.
Speaker 2:It's up to Cleveland and Boston. In the east, man, you know, and I'm sticking with Cleveland In the west, you've got to go with OKC, even though they got smoked by Minnesota last night. The West is so brutal man, okc is heads and above, despite the loss last night. But I wouldn't count the Lakers or somebody else kicking their ass, man, there's a reason why they lost a 25-point lead at home to the Timberwolves, because the Timberwolves are good at man. So the West is up, houston, the Young Legs. So we're going to see and I'm looking forward to the second half. But the East is done. It's two teams.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. And I just pulled up the NCAA and it looks like Georgia beat number three Florida. Did you catch that?
Speaker 2:No, I didn't, brother. Thank you for the info yeah and that's out of the blue. Yeah, that might help us at least to get in, yeah what is it 64 team 68? Whatever it is? You know, just to get in, just you know, it's not just a football school. We haven't been relevant in basketball since, really, dominique wilkins and vernon fleming and terry fair and those crew in the early 80s. But yeah, thanks for the thanks for the info, brother.
Speaker 1:No problem, and Selection Sunday is about three weeks away. Doc, we're going to get a bracket together. We're going to get a bracket most likely ESPN We'll get it all set up and we'll send it out to everybody. So we want to get as many people that want to join to join us and we'll have some sort of prize for the winner. So we'll definitely be sending that out pretty soon. But yeah, other than that, doc, you got anything else for us tonight?
Speaker 2:No, I appreciate all our subscribers and a great champ in New Mexico to join us tonight. We've been doing it real big with the guests. You know Mike in the OC, chad in California and now Champ. You can't beat that man and you know it's one of those things we've got to get a Midwestern flavor with Champ, the Bears, chicago and the Cubbies. So yeah, that was a good deal there. So, no, I appreciate everybody listening and God bless everybody.
Speaker 1:Thank you Absolutely. We'll have more guests coming for you guys soon and Doc Mock is official First. Doc Mock will be next week, so we will catch you guys next week. Peace, peace.