Two for the Win
Mike is a U.S. Navy Veteran and Bryan has more than a decade of civil service experience. Together, these blue collar guys dissect the latest sports headlines and events.
Two for the Win
Two For The Win - E32 - Tootsie Rolls and Trophy Goals: A Sports Roundup
The sports world reaches a crescendo as multiple leagues converge at their most dramatic moments. NHL playoffs deliver heart-stopping action with the Florida Panthers securing their third straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance after dispatching the Carolina Hurricanes in a decisive 4-1 series. Their opponent awaits as the Oilers and Stars continue their Western Conference battle.
Baseball season hits its stride with surprising storylines emerging across the league. The Detroit Tigers shock everyone by holding MLB's best record at 37-20, while Kansas City's hometown hero Noah Cameron makes history with his stellar pitching. We witness the human side of the game as Freddie Freeman donates $1 million to the hospital that treated his three-year-old son, reminding us why baseball remains America's pastime.
The NBA playoff picture clarifies with Oklahoma City's dominant defense propelling them to the Western Conference championship. Their suffocating style overwhelmed the Timberwolves, setting up what promises to be an electrifying NBA Finals. Meanwhile, the eternal Jordan vs. LeBron debate reignites after Jordan's former agent makes controversial comments, while Charles Barkley identifies SGA, Jokic, and Giannis as the new faces poised to carry the league forward.
We explore the WNBA's powerful season launch, including Chicago Sky's announcement about retiring Candace Parker's jersey and the league's comprehensive "No Space for Hate" initiative. Even during the NFL offseason, compelling stories emerge with Tom Brady potentially bringing football back to Oakland through a UFL expansion team, while we debate which players face the most pressure to prove themselves in the upcoming season.
Join us for this comprehensive sports discussion that captures the passion, drama, and human elements that make sports an essential part of our cultural conversation. Whether you're a devoted fan or casual observer, there's something in this episode that will capture your imagination and deepen your appreciation for the games we love.
Hello everybody and welcome back once again. It is May 29th 2025. We are cruising along here. We are gonna hit June here in just a day or two, and my god how the time flies. I'm Brian with an eye and I'm Mike, and we are two. For the way, mike, what are we cooking tonight, man?
Speaker 2:Well, we've been talking playoffs for quite a while, but now looks like we're going to be talking about some finals here soon. The picture of the finals is clearing up. Mlb is off and rolling and, despite it being the off season, we are getting information and news out of the NFL and, as always, we're just going to talk about sports in general.
Speaker 1:Talk about sports and have a good conversation, and you know getting ready to come into, you know bringing down the heat here for some sports. You know we're wrapping up finals for others and the majority of the rest of them are trying to kickstart their season, get to the thick of it and get to the next bracket.
Speaker 2:Well, let's start in the world of hockey. So we just got just last night we just found out who is going to be representing from the East for the NHL Finals, with the Panthers walking away with the finally closing out the Carolina Hurricanes. Carolina came back and won a game, but it wasn't enough. Carolina Panthers had clutched the victory last night to send them off to the Finals, which it was kind of impressive because the goal that put them ahead, man, it was such a great, great effort by one of their players. He literally had two guys on him defending him and he still managed to skirt a pass across the front of the goalie to one of his teammates and his teammate just slapped it up high in the net, giving them the lead late in the game, and they rode that all the way to victory. I mean, yeah, they got a late-time goal at the end of it, but they already had the lead by that point.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I got to give it to them they close out that series 4-1, and actually tonight we'll have the Edmonton Oilers, who are up 3-1 on the Dallas Stars, going tonight to hopefully close out their series, or they're hoping.
Speaker 1:But you know, if it's. You know, sometimes things change.
Speaker 2:Well, Dallas has shown that unless it's a power play move, it's almost like they can't seem to generate offense. It just I don't know. It's weird. They've been a good team for, you know, a majority of the year and just to get to the you know Western Finals or Western Championship, and you're just like almost a no-show is kind of got to hurt you a little bit as a fan, you know. So right now, Panthers going to their third straight Stanley Cup Finals and they're waiting to see who comes out of the west and either way, that's going to be one good finals, I'm yeah, I can't, I can't wait for it.
Speaker 1:And let me tell you what. Uh, you know, florida Panthers state team. This was my pick.
Speaker 2:Uh, maybe as recently as a week ago, but still, it was my pick oh, I mean, it's mean it's kind of easy to make a pick when we're eliminated. Majority of the league already.
Speaker 1:Look, man don't test my strategy, okay.
Speaker 2:Wait until late in the playoffs to make a pick.
Speaker 1:It's never too late to gamble.
Speaker 2:Well, that's true. Never too late to pick a side. That's true, I mean, with the way gambling is. Now you can gamble mid-game on anything.
Speaker 1:Yeah, on different. Gambling is now you can gamble mid-game on anything. Yeah, on different. It is kind of wild. I'm not gonna lie, I'm glad, um, I mean it's a good time.
Speaker 2:I mean, if you can, if you can gamble on the color of the gatorade. We have a bunch of you know in the super bowl.
Speaker 1:We have a bunch of dysfunctional people in this country like we're a bunch of degenerates All we're doing is gambling and, with all due respect for, you know, those who do have that going on, you know it is just kind of crazy.
Speaker 2:It's like drinking or anything else Moderation come on Moderation you know, know your limits.
Speaker 1:Success Technology.
Speaker 2:You know, if you have to start taking out second mortgages, you might have a problem, you know. Or you're losing your car because you bet it, you might have a problem.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you may have something there, but you know there are sort of, there are resources out there available to you as well. Just speaking on that real quick. But what's up next, my friend?
Speaker 2:Well, before we move on, I just want to say congratulations to the Panthers on their third straight. But let's move on into baseball. So recently the Dodgers made a trade.
Speaker 1:Oh.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, we're not even at trade deadline, so we got trades happening.
Speaker 1:You can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.
Speaker 2:Different sport, whatever, but the Dodgers acquire a righty reliever from the Reds, alexi Diaz, who's a former All-Star, I mean, so that's good on them. They traded away in exchange for him a minor league right-hander, mike Villani or Villane I don't know, I might have seen.
Speaker 1:I'm not sure We'll go with Mike Villani or.
Speaker 2:Villane, I don't know, I might as well. I'm not sure.
Speaker 1:We'll go with Mike Villani. Anyway, it's not Villani because he sounds veiny.
Speaker 2:So I'm going with Villani. So, either way, that comes on the heels of their veteran righty reliever, Evan Phillips, going down to the 60-day DL. So they're making moves to try to help their team out and I'm hoping well, they're hoping it'll pan out for them Me personally Not really vested in the Dodgers, but you know.
Speaker 1:I kind of like the Dodgers.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think when they started to make that move, acting like the 90s Yankees where it's like who's the best player available, Buy him that's when you lose me as a franchise. I kind of like the teams that maybe they get a few free agents but maybe they kind of develop their own and build their own, Not saying the Dodgers haven't done that. No, I'm just saying that when the top free agent goes to your team every year for the last, like three years.
Speaker 1:It happens in the NFL too. But hey, you know I dealt with this.
Speaker 2:Not so much Because they have a salary cap and then players have to go find who's going to pay them.
Speaker 1:Look, I only have room in my life for one terrible team, and they're not terrible anymore. So in all the other sports I'm a free agent. Bro. Like, if you're winning now, I'm probably on your bandwagon. I'm not going to lie, because I just like your sport.
Speaker 2:I'll wear your hat. Are you going to be a bandwagon?
Speaker 1:I just like the other sports and you know they got nice uniforms too. You know I like Oklahoma but I like the Pacers. You know it's kind of hard to choose but I grew up a Bulls fan. Just saying we're not there yet, but you understand.
Speaker 2:We'll get there Anyway. So, moving around talking about some other things in the MLB, the Astros. The Astros have been doing a lot better here recently, but this comes on the heels of them trying to figure out their rotation, because they've been hit with the injury bug pretty bad. They just got some bad news Blanco, one of their strong rotation guys, is having Tommy John surgery and he's going to be out now, so they lose him damn it, tommy john well, it's not tommy john's fault, but it's named after on the on the on the.
Speaker 2:Well, yeah, yeah it is. But but this, this is not. They're not crying about it because they're. They're getting help from people and they're getting performances out of people that have come kind of out of nowhere.
Speaker 1:Lance McCullers.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Junior Lance McCullers Jr.
Speaker 2:Yeah, lance McCullers, mccullers, mccullers, Okay. Anyway, he's been missing some time Like he's nearly missed two and a half years because of a surgery that he needed to have to fix a right flexor tendon injury. So recently he just had a start where he tied his career high, getting 12 Ks in one of his best outings in a long time. So, even despite them having some injury issues, they're getting guys back and they're figuring things out and they're making things work for. So, even despite them having some injury issues, you know they're getting guys back and they're figuring things out and they're making things work for them, you know, and they're still getting victories. We'll talk about the record here in a bit when we go around and look at the records, okay, but he's not the only pitcher that's doing something. The Royals have a young pitcher by the name of Noah Cameron and he's actually a pretty good story. He grew up a Kansas City Royals fan.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And you know, lives maybe an hour from the stadium grows up, becomes a big leaguer and pitches for his childhood team, and he's making the best of it. He has accomplished a feat that only two players, since 93 being 1893 have accomplished, that being, he has had four starts with at least at least a six inning and one third pitched innings where he has only allowed a single run. So right now, through his first four starts, he has an era of 1.05. So he is, he is doing this, and he is one of only two players that have done it. The the other was Cody Anderson for the Cleveland. Well, cleveland Guardians now, but they weren't the Guardians in 2015 when he accomplished that feat. So when you're saying, hey, nobody's done this before, except for one other guy, that looks pretty darn good, so hopefully he keeps this up. Man, I mean, he's got to be living, living pretty high on uh, you know, just good vibes thinking man I made it.
Speaker 2:I made it to the majors.
Speaker 1:I've had four great starts oh, I know what he's singing some wins, look, hey, ma I made it. I made it.
Speaker 2:It's a good song speaking of making it dav David Ortiz. Everybody's familiar with David Ortiz. Well, David Ortiz has been announced that he's going to be joining the ownership group of the Red Sox.
Speaker 1:Congratulations.
Speaker 2:He's like the face of the Red Sox for a long time, and now he's going to be joined in with the ownership group, so that's pretty cool.
Speaker 1:That's pretty huge, and you know he's a fan favorite you know big poppy returning as co-owner everybody's gonna love that well, yeah, I mean everybody that's a reds fan.
Speaker 2:I mean yankees fans probably don't like that big poppy, but you know red sox fans love big poppy. But moving right along, good job.
Speaker 2:So I kind of wondered what had happened here, because I haven't heard the name darren ruff in a little while and he's he's been kind of a. He was a decent player. You know he wasn't, like you know, one of the best players, but he was. He was solid. So former former and key there, former first baseman darren ruff is actually suing the Cincinnati Reds after a career-ending knee injury. Now, this came after he was with the Brewers playing a game against the Reds in which he was trying to field a foul ball and hit his knee up against the field tarp. But he hit it on the edge where there's like a metal piece where they roll up the. It's a metal tube that they roll it up with.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that's what he hit his knee on did somebody like leave it there, or is that just where it goes?
Speaker 2:that's just where it goes. It's kind of off to the side and you know, if there's a rain delay, they quickly roll out this thing, this tarp, and start to cover the diamond so the diamond doesn't get all messed up in the rain. You know kind of protect the field. Yeah, well, he is suing them because this knee injury which at the time they kind of thought, okay, you'll just have surgery, you'll come back, everything will be okay, right, well, it has not healed properly and has ended his mlb playing career, and so he is suing them for the compensation of his knee getting messed up. Now you would think, well, this kind of seems a little out there and petty, and you know I don't think so, but some people would think so. They would be like, oh, you're an MLB player, you made your money, blah, blah, blah. It's not the first time.
Speaker 2:No he did make some money. He's had a bit of a career, Okay well, he's had a good going on, but still.
Speaker 1:But continue what you're saying. No, no, I'm not saying he shouldn't do it.
Speaker 2:I'm agreeing he should do it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:There's just some people out there that might not agree with it.
Speaker 1:That's okay. They're entitled to their opinions.
Speaker 2:Exactly. We just won't get there. But what I'm getting to is this is not the first time a major league player has done something like this Now, not necessarily baseball, but I'm going to cross over to football real quick. Reggie Bush, when he was a member of the 49ers, he was playing with the 49ers when they were in St Louis going against the Rams, because Rams used to be in St Louis Well, their stadium they had kind of that faux fake grass going on and it didn't cover. From stand to stand there was like parts where it didn't cover and it was concrete. Well, on a play that Reggie Bush was doing and he ran out of bounds, he actually stepped on that concrete and slipped and jacked up his knee, basically ending his career, and he actually sued the stadium and the St Louis Rams for like millions, yeah, and he won. He got like a $9 million settlement out of that lawsuit.
Speaker 2:So that precedence could possibly help out Darren Ruff here.
Speaker 1:He might actually have a good chance in having a case I think they're just going to settle. It costs a lot of money to go into litigation. He's going to get paid in some way.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, I mean, I hope in his case.
Speaker 1:I mean, probably beyond his injury too, Like they're probably going to give him damages. Yeah, keep in mind that, Because the injury ended his career. Yeah.
Speaker 2:So, and not to mention what he might be going through because of the injury. So now we're looking at a precedence where players, if they get hurt because of negligence, because of field or team, they have precedence to go after these places and possibly get compensation for the crap they've been through. Speaking of crap going on Mets fans right now they probably do not have a good feeling on their return on investment Because man Soto is just not having a good year with the Mets. He is not performing. He's having hit list game after hit list game, not passing the eye test, not rushing on plays. He should be hustling and you know watching balls that aren't home runs, but right now Soto is batting a measly .224 batting average. That's pathetic for a guy. You just got done banking up the Brinks truck for where you paid him a record deal of $765 million just last December.
Speaker 2:Lord, I mean, he has eight home runs and 25 RBIs. Well, for context, Shohei Otani has 20 home runs and is batting way better than a measly 224. So yeah, I'm thinking Mets are like why'd we pay him all that money?
Speaker 1:Yeah, they probably, if he keeps going, are going to look to move on him.
Speaker 2:I don't know anybody that's going to pick up that contract. I'm just saying that's not a good return on investment.
Speaker 1:No, Bump him to the back of the rotation.
Speaker 2:Right, and you would think you know we pay all that money because we think we're getting one of the best players in baseball and that's not the case. But moving off of a bad storyline into a good storyline, so we've mentioned O'Neal Cruz of the Pirates before.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:And you know, because he's a good player, he's made some great plays from center field and he's made some great plays with the bat. Well, recently he had a game where a young fan comes down and kind of asks Cruz if he would come over and say hey and kind of made a deal with him. He said, hey, if you get a hit next inning with your bat, can I get the bat? Cruz was like sure. Well, Cruz gets up, he hits a triple and, true to his word, coming out of the dugout for the next half inning, he walks over to the young fan and gives him his bat. You know, like that's one of the things I love about baseball is more than any other sport you have more interaction with young fans, being able to see their heroes and be able to talk to these players and get autographs and stuff.
Speaker 1:So this is, this is so cool you're right, and I'm on sidebar here with this because I can relate to this because we go to tides games. Norfolk tides play over here, right, uh, I take my son and sometimes his friend comes with us, uh, or more like his friend goes, and sometimes they invite us. I'm not sure which way it goes, but we go every time we're invited anyway. Good people, good folks, not knocking them, but story. What I'm saying here is uh, you can walk over by their dugout, uh, where their pitchers are practicing, and they will interact with you, especially if you're a young child. They'll interact with you. They'll toss balls up to you. Sometimes they'll make trades hey, kid, you toss me a water, I'll toss you a ball. So baseball is very cool for that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they definitely interact with their fans and it's good to fans, yeah, and it's good to see and it's it's a lot of fun. You know, very, very family friendly, you know? Yes, but speaking of family, for those of you that don't know, uh, last year, freddie freeman, he had missed some time. Uh, he's dodgers, first baseman. He had missed some time because his son was hospitalized and at that time he was hospitalized with he was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease. Uh, guillard brunet or guillard bernet or bernet syndrome jillian barr syndrome whatever.
Speaker 2:Anyway, like I said, it's a neurological illness and you know they were very scared. You know you don't know what's happening with your son and it's a serious illness. And he was hospitalized and I mean his son is only three years old, so he's like, oh crap, am I going to lose my kid?
Speaker 1:you know, this is almost.
Speaker 2:The team supported him fully in being away, and this is one of those times where people saying thanks and Freddie Freeman said thanks to the hospital by donating $1 million to their hospital.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:To kind of say thank you for looking after my son, looking after my son, you know. So I, I, I really, I really like seeing this because you know, sometimes our first responders and our medical personnel, they don't get.
Speaker 1:So much love yeah.
Speaker 2:But this time, you know, they kind of did.
Speaker 1:They did and you know. Good on him. You know, congratulations to the hospital as well for the donation. You know, and this diagnosis almost sounds similar to MS, which attacks your central nervous system and nerves as well. So you know I feel for them in this and my, you know, my heart and prayers go out to them and their family. My heart and prayers go out to them and their family.
Speaker 2:They're doing much better and it's thanks to the hospital that took care of his son.
Speaker 1:Yeah, kudos, great job. Round of applause, guys, you know, just keep up the good work.
Speaker 2:Kudos to the Dodgers because during that time they said you do what you have to do.
Speaker 1:And you know, especially in this society. I really admire that, because a lot of employers and sports teams are like you know what? Uh, we can't keep you anymore, sorry about your luck, but uh, we're gonna move on like that has happened and does happen. So kudos to them well, and we're sticking with him and supporting him through that well in baseball.
Speaker 2:Baseball has done things like this in the past. I remember there was a player on the Reds oh, I forget his name, but he was a native of the Bay Area and his mom was diagnosed with some serious illness. Yeah, and the Cardinals actually traded him to the Oakland Athletics just to give him more time with his mom and let him be around his mom.
Speaker 1:That's cool too.
Speaker 2:He was a good player and they traded him for whatever they could get just to help him out. I really love seeing when good know good organizations and good good people do good for others and yeah, I, I agree with that a hundred percent.
Speaker 1:You know kudos. To them, baseball really might be one of the most heartwarming sports that there is yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, it's that time we're gonna run down and see who's leading and what it's that time we're going to run down and see who's leading and what it's that time again. We're going to see who's leading in each of the divisions in baseball.
Speaker 1:Who's great and who?
Speaker 2:sucks. So AL East we have the Yankees leading that division with a 35-20 record Behind them is the Tampa Bay Rays at 28-27. So the Yankees got a seven-game lead right now looking pretty formidable.
Speaker 1:Does anybody like the AL East? I just want to know, does anybody like any of these teams, of course, besides their own cities?
Speaker 2:No, I mean there's plenty of people that like AL East teams.
Speaker 1:See, you said no, so I agree.
Speaker 2:Nobody really likes you either, see you said no, so I agree, nobody really likes you either. But moving on to the AL, Central with the league-leading best record, the Detroit Tigers are 37-20, with a six-game lead over the Guardians, who are 30-25, with also the Minnesota Twins being 30-25.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a tight division so we're getting some good competition.
Speaker 2:I mean Kansas City Royals, who we just talked about a moment ago with their young pitcher, noah Kammer. They're only 30-27, so they're not out of it too much either.
Speaker 1:The Royals could heat up here in a month or so, so I'm not counting them out either.
Speaker 2:Well, we'll see Nobody cares about the White socks well, the white socks are bottom dwelling in that division at 18 and 38 look bro, last week we needed you to hit 10, now I need you to hit 20, okay but we're gonna. We're gonna disregard that and we're gonna, you know, get back to giving the detroit tigers some love. I mean, you have the best record in baseball. What?
Speaker 1:did you just disregard me, sir?
Speaker 2:I disregarded talking about bottom dwellers. We need to talk about the Detroit Tigers. Look.
Speaker 1:I agree, let's talk about this.
Speaker 2:Here's the thing that's very impressive about this. Most people beyond Scooble probably couldn't name a single player on that lineup. And and they are winning their division and not to mention, they have the best record in baseball and I guarantee you their payroll is nowhere near as close to the Yankees or the Dodgers. So I got to love it when a team that doesn't break the bank but still finds good players and plays good baseball they figure it out, and obviously good coaching and management as well.
Speaker 2:So, speaking of good baseball in the AL West, we have the Mariners leading that group with a 30-24 record. But don't count out the Astros. They're right behind them by a half game at a 30 and 25 record and, like I said earlier, they're figuring out. Remember they weren't too far gone, where they were towards the bottom of this division. So they're turning things around, heating up. So, mariners, watch out, the Astros are right on your tail, so better keep it going.
Speaker 2:I'm eager to see that race too, so moving over to the NL East, nl East is being led by the Philadelphia Phillies with a 36-19 record, so their second best record in baseball.
Speaker 1:I just want to point out real quick I love that you had the highlighter over the Braves before we'd even talked about the first two teams.
Speaker 2:That's Mr Braves fan. That's circumstance circumstance, sir, they've been falling on hard times.
Speaker 1:It just happened.
Speaker 2:They've been falling on hard times so I'm not too pleased with their last 10 games. They're three wins to their seven losses, so they're not doing so hot. And the Mets are second in that division right now with a 34-22 record, only being two and a half games back on the Phillies. But I will say this even though Soto's playing like crap, they're still winning, so they're figuring it out.
Speaker 1:Hey, they're getting there. They'll figure it out with Soto man. It just gave him a little time.
Speaker 2:It might be a thing where he just needs you know, things to get figured out, you know when we get to the warmer months. Maybe he heats up as well. We'll see.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you know the bottom three teams the Marlins, the Nats and the Braves. They can close in on the Mets and the Phillies. That division is not done yet.
Speaker 2:No, no, it's not. Well, it's a long season.
Speaker 1:Well, it's a long season. I'm just saying like there are other divisions where there's just a wide gap already.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, we'll see. So, moving on to NL Central, we got the Chicago Cubs leading that division.
Speaker 2:Chicago Leading that division with a 35-21 record, with the St Louis Cardinals right behind them with a 32-24 record, making them three games back. So that's a typical thing, it seems like with the NL Central that we have Cubs-Cardinals great rivalry there. We'll see how that shakes out as the season moves along. But moving over to the NL West, we have the Dodgers leading that division with a 34-22 record, with the San Diego Padres just behind them with a 31-23 record, only two games back. Just behind them with a 31-23 record, only two games back, and not to count out, the Giants with a 31-25 record, making them three games back. So still kind of tightly contested division there in the West.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I got to give it to the Padres and the Giants A week ago when we did this show. They were not as close to the Dodgers as they are now, so they're trying to close that gap right now well, they're going to keep it pretty tight because those teams.
Speaker 2:Those teams are doing a lot with the personnel they have. You know they made some pretty decent moves in the offseason, some of them not touted as as highly as they probably should have been. But you know, sometimes that's what happens. You get the right guy not but not the most. You know, press grabbing guy absolutely at the time all right.
Speaker 1:Who wants to talk about some wmba action? Guys, you know, uh, wmba kicked off, uh tipped off, a week ago. We got a few things going on here. First of all, uh, we want to talk about the Chicago Sky, candice Parker. They're retiring her number three jersey on August 25th this summer in their game versus against the Las Vegas Aces. It's going to be raised at their home stadium, wintrust Arena, alongside their championship banner.
Speaker 1:Here's a quick statement uh from miss parker. Real quick. Growing up in uh naperville, playing on courts around with my brothers and watching chicago teams like the bulls who became synonymous with winning, I never imagined one day my jersey would go hang in the rafters of my hometown team. Uh, so that's what she said there. Coming home to chicago and helping bring the city its first I'm gonna say that again bringing chicago sky, bringing chicago their first wmba championship. It was personal. I'm beyond grateful to the city, the fans and everyone who's been part of my journey. Chicago raised me and this will always be home.
Speaker 1:This is a true hometown story. I love it. I love all of it. I'm eating it up. I hope you guys are too. This is just the happiest of endings, with the cherry on top of an amazing career. Congratulations to candace parker and congratulations to the Sky on their championship last year as well. So, mike, what do you make of this? Man Like this is pretty cool. There's probably not much more to say. I said a lot already, but she is absolutely a legend in a growing and expanding league. In a growing and expanding league.
Speaker 2:So for a league that has not had much in the way of following over the years and for a league that has been asking and trying to get the attention of all sports fans, Candice Parker's name is one that rings out across sports the attention of all sports fans. Candice Parker's name is one that rings out across sports. When you say Candice Parker, people say, oh, the WNBA player.
Speaker 2:She's one of those players that the name means something. And even if people don't know necessarily who Candice Parker is, you'll get the I know that name. How do I know that name? And she has that ability because of the way she played, because of what she did in her time in the WNBA. It just holds weight, man.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it just holds weight.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it does, and so you just holds weight man.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it just holds weight. Yeah, it does. And so you know again, congratulations to her, and also the sorry something is messing with me, sorry guys, and also the Sky as well. The next thing we have here five takeaways from the WNBA tip-off weekend. Okay, we have here five takeaways from the w? Uh nba tip-off weekend. Okay. Uh, washington mystics rookies showing their wmba ready already. You know this. I'm pulling uh from an article on wmbacom, uh, from candace pedraza, so I'm just pulling a few serps from her thing here. Uh, you know, after injuries to rookie guard georg Georgia Moore in second year forward Aaliyah Edwards, rookie Sonja Citron and Kiki Irafren I hope I said that correct stepped up to the big way for Washington. The dual shine for the Mystics in their respective debuts, helping lead that team to a record after the opening weekend. So clearly happy with their new rookies as well as the new look, phoenix Mercury embrace, their new engine, also known as Alyssa Thomas Some of us know this name. She should be another name you're aware of. She's brought winning ways to Phoenix. So once she opened the game versus the Storm with a spin move to the basket, she got an easy bucket there. Uh, it was kind of evident that she was going to have a big night that night. Okay, she was pretty efficient, going 20 points, eight of 13 for shooting, uh, six assists and two steals and seven rebounds. Uh, when the uh to get the wind over the storm. I know Phoenix is excited about bringing her in, so that's good for her and good for them. And then you know, up here we'll talk about Sorry, lost my stuff here, anyway. And then we got some early front runners for mvp. Uh, starting with uh, las vegas aces. Once again, they're gonna be in the conversation a lot this year, okay, uh, forward, asia wilson. She's kind of the week one front runner in early conversation. She won in 2024, I believe, actually her third in a row, so she's trying to gun for number four here.
Speaker 1:Minnesota's Lynx, minnesota Lynx. Their forward, nafisa Collier I hope I said that correct. She was the 24 runner-up. And then Indiana Fever guard, kaitlyn Clark who, by the way, in opening weekend shot 50% from the field versus Liberty. She had a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. So very strong opening for these three ladies here. And they're the three frontrunners for the MVP race already.
Speaker 1:And the WNBA is also unveiling Mike their no Space for Hate platform. Okay, so this is rather interesting here. The Women's National Basketball Association this is directly from their site today, may 29, 2025, launched no Space for Hate, a multidimensional platform designed to combat hate and promote respect across all WNBA spaces, from online discourse to in-arena behavior. Brought to life by a task force comprised of league and team representatives, and with support from the Women's National Basketball Players Association, the WNBA has taken a comprehensive approach focused on four key areas Listen up. Enhanced technological features to detect hateful comments online. Increased emphasis on team arena and league security measures. Reinforcing mental health resources and alignment of core against hate. Mental health resources and alignment of core against hate. Okay, and here's a statement from the WNBA.
Speaker 1:As the WNBA continues to grow in popularity and influence, we're proud to launch no Space for Hate, a league-wide initiative to better protect players, preserve the spirit of the game and affirm the values of our league.
Speaker 1:We believe that basketball can be a unifying force, a place where people from all walks of life can come together not just to watch a game, but to connect. This was via Commissioner Kathy Engelbert. We want our arenas and our social platforms filled with energy and fandom, not hate and vitriol. However, you say that dumb word, but it means a lot of bad things. That means turning our values into action, strengthening digital and physical security, expanding access to mental health resources and, again, once again, unifying our message across the league. It's our responsibility to protect what makes this sport so special and ensure we continue to inspire the next generation of women's basketball fans. So hell of a statement from Commissioner there. Commissioner Engelbert, this is a similar initiative to what some other leagues of other sports do. Mike, you got an opinion on this. I think, honestly, this is a great step forward because they're really taking another, they're adding another level to protect their players and their personnel, as well as support them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, anytime you start talking, you know you're trying to build a sport and you're trying to bring people in and not, you know, push anybody aside for any reason, like everybody should be allowed to be a part of it. You know, and and hate is just, it's unneeded.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's unwanted.
Speaker 2:You just it doesn't do anything, it just it's a waste of time really. I mean like it doesn't affect anybody but the person who's doing the hating yeah, and it's like you can. You can sit there and hate, but it's like just let it go and a lot of time you know I seem to be happy about hate and anger just breeds more hate and anger, y'all well, and but let me let me, though.
Speaker 2:That does not mean that you don't get to have a little trash talk when you're playing sports. It doesn't mean that you don't have a little, you know, back and forth with your opponent. That's fine, that's not hate, that's competitive spirit, you know. But there's a line that you don't cross. Then it starts to become hate, yeah, hate and harassment, you know. Yeah, but there's a line that you don't cross. Then it starts to become hate, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, when somebody starts harassment, you know yeah, when somebody starts you know, john, and they start talking about your mom, all right, now we're about about to the point with hate, so like well, sometimes mama jokes are great, but, you know, always disrespectful, as they're meant to be if people take them that way, but you know a lot of people, once you start talking about their mama, they're like would you say, about my mom, you?
Speaker 1:know? Hey, bro, I was just joking. Her mac and cheese was good, though, hey look, look.
Speaker 2:You can say I was just joking. But when you wind I get those words out before their.
Speaker 1:Your lights are knocked out look, my friend, de-escalation is the name of the word, and I believe that's what the wmba is looking for here. But but you know it's also against predators and harassment as well, so it's all encumbering. I think it's a good step forward. I think it's a good program, so you know it's good. So let's step on over to some more basketball news here.
Speaker 2:I got a quick callback.
Speaker 1:Go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 2:So I looked it up. I wanted to make sure I got this player's name right Go ahead Sidebar. So I looked it up. I wanted to make sure I got this player's name right.
Speaker 2:Earlier I talked about the Cardinals player who was traded away and they traded him to be close to his mom. It was Steven Piscati is his name. He was traded to Oakland because his mom was diagnosed with ALS. For most of us who may have not known what ALS is, it's Lou Gehrig's disease, Yep, and named because of the player, Lou Gehrig, who was a baseball player who had the disease. They traded him to Oakland because he would be about 30 miles away from his mom and be able to spend more time with her, because ALS is a degenerative disease that leads to you dying. So that was a super cool move by them and you know they said the move was partially to get him closer to you dying. So that was a super cool move by them and you know they said the move was partially to get him closer to his mom because of that. Yeah, Sorry, Didn't want to steal from your thumb.
Speaker 1:No, you're good, bring that up. We always love more clarification. We always love more detail. Mike, thank you for that. It doesn't hurt to bounce back and forth a little bit. We're really scattershot, if you can't already tell from our first 31 episodes. Love to say that, by the way. But moving into the NBA, here I got a little bit of debate for you. Michael Jordan's longtime agent, david Falk. He doesn't rank LeBron as a top two all-time player. Okay, um, and this is his words right here. I really like LeBron, but I think if Jordan had cherry picked what teams he wanted to be on and two other superstars, he would have won 15 championships. Mike, let's dive into this, bro. What do you make of this?
Speaker 2:oh man, look okay. So I I love the fact that you know people. This debate just will never go away. It I I kind of hate doing it only because I'm very biased. I I'm a jordan guy and I'm not. That's not to take anything from LeBron. Lebron is still one of the all-time great players of all time, but let's keep in mind, jordan went to college for four years. He also didn't have the, the conditioning and stuff and the benefits that LeBron has now, and he's not as big as LeBron is. So there was a lot of benefits to LeBron being able to have the kind of career that he's had yeah, and I gotta give you that good point as well.
Speaker 1:Uh, and let's think about something else here the game of basketball. Uh, michael Jordan was ahead of his time, well ahead of his time, okay, uh, as well as some other superstars back then, but the game as a whole was just not what it is today, in LeBron's era, and obviously much more physical.
Speaker 2:Well, the athletes are definitely. I will say this, though I got to give it to today's era the athletes of today are far better athletes now than they were in Jordan's day.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean you look at developmental techniques and tendencies and you look at the evolution of athletes, like we're always trying to push the limit of everything, including human capability. So I, I don't know, I don't know if braun and his prime is a better athlete than michael jordan and his prime was, uh, because jordan was very, jordan was very athletic. I got right.
Speaker 2:I got a little squeak well, but but here's the thing like LeBron has always been willing to pass and get somebody, the better look, the better shot in Jordan's day it took coaches telling him Paxton's open pass it to him, and it wasn't until he started to figure that out that they started winning championships.
Speaker 1:Start playing more of a team game well, yeah, that, as well as back then coaches and um team ownership had much more say and control over where players went and what they did and just over the team overall. Right like lebron, legitimately has kind of courted his way around the league, so I'll give him that he was able to. Now he's a really good player, so that's why he was able to do this. He literally could have gone anywhere he wanted to go, so he was able to choose the very best. Michael jordan, you saw a little more loyalty, but that may not necessarily have been all the way on him because he might not have had total control of where he's playing at well, he could have but he probably could have playing in chicago probably was not that bad of a gig.
Speaker 1:I know I mean that was a really good team, bro. Uh, so I gotta give to. He probably also didn't probably want to leave either. Uh, so there's just two. When you talk about this dynamic, this is where they separate from each other, okay, uh, just two different mindsets and two different styles. It's hard to say which one is better than the other, which you know what I'm looking for? Uh, real quick, before I get to that point, there's a rumor running around here lightly, braun wears the number 23. This upcoming season's going to be his 23rd season.
Speaker 2:You know, kind of funny that LeBron wears 23 and Jordan wears 23.
Speaker 1:Honestly, I think that's out of respect for Jordan, Like I honestly don't know why, but if I'm Jordanordan, I'm I'm feeling honored, right now and if I'm lebron, I'm feeling honored because jordan, you know, I don't know how that dynamic is with that, but side fun fact can you name the numbers that jordan wore and?
Speaker 2:I'll give you a hint, he wore three different numbers yes, I remember them.
Speaker 1:I know 23 was one.
Speaker 2:I uh, I don't remember exactly what they were one of them yeah, yeah, I threw out the one I knew obviously I'm gonna get at least a you know partial credit here okay, well, I'll, I'll help you out here.
Speaker 2:He wore 45 when he came back, yep, so he had 45 and 23 is the ones that most people know. But did you know he wore one other number and it was just for like one game what number? He wore number 12 and that was because his jersey was missing. So they gave him a jersey and he played a game with no name on it.
Speaker 1:Oh snap, Give it to Mike with the fun facts time. I love this guy. Keep it rolling.
Speaker 2:Hey, I told you, I'm a Jordan guy.
Speaker 1:So do you think this is going to be LeBron's last year? He's got his son in the game now and he's not quite all the way developed, but his foot is in the door.
Speaker 2:I don't think it has anything to do with anything other than LeBron wanting to play. I don't think it's because he wants to do 23 seasons. I think it's because he still wants to play, period. I don't think there's anything more behind it, because most athletes they want to play until they can no longer play. Sometimes injury tells you you can't play anymore. Sometimes your talent dwindles and you can't play anymore. Lebron showed last year the talent's still there. Now, is he still LeBron from old? Can he play the whole game? No, can he give you spurts of good play?
Speaker 1:Yeah, he can give you spurts of good play. Yeah, well, braun is three in, like 32 or 33 in the playoffs now in the last four three or four years.
Speaker 2:Look, you've got to remember it's a team game.
Speaker 2:You've got to have pieces around you that can make things happen yeah the braun can't be the guy like he was the early day of the Cavs, dragging a whole team to the finals and getting basically blown out, you know, because they just weren't ready, they didn't have enough pieces, and that's why LeBron, for many of his stops, has been like get me some veterans, get me some guys that can play, because I can't do this, you know, with no help off the bench and nobody that can score some points aside from me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I'll agree with you. Now, having that said, everybody talks about Mike and LeBron, and LeBron could probably retire at any minute. Who's going to be? We have faces, but who's going to be in the next great? And according to charles barkley, we got three faces the nba right now. I'm going to go with his recommendation because I like him a lot and I like his opinion, all right, but who's going to be in the conversation with braun and uh and jordan next? Okay, now he's saying sga, joker and janice, probably in that order. He said you can't give it to people. They have to take it. And he said uh for sure, sga is taking it. Honestly, I'm not lying, I I am not disagreeing with this guy. Um, I'll put. I'll put sga at the top right now. Look as the face.
Speaker 2:Look, I'm telling you, right now the clippers are kicking themselves because they traded away. They traded him away for paul george and now paul george has left them and he's playing, playing with the sixers right now. You know, he's also the reason that Halliburton wound up with the Pacers. So I mean technically, the playoffs have Paul George written all over it.
Speaker 1:And speaking of the playoffs, I know we'll get to them real quick, but what do you think? Halliburton might be better known as Hemiburton, because the other night he just cooked man. He became the second player ever to have 30-plus points and no turnovers. He joins Nikola Jokic.
Speaker 2:Nikola Jokic.
Speaker 1:Nikola Jokic and Oscar Robertson with 30-10-15 stat line in playoff history. And one more fun fact for you, first player by the way, we're talking about Hemi Burton, not Hallie Burton First player in history with a TD on zero turnovers in the conference finals. Excuse me, motor skills are a problem and so are words, so bear with me words are hard. Yeah, words are very hard so he absolutely went off the other night against, by the way, the knicks. So I mean not a bad performance. You know stepping into conversation as well keep in mind.
Speaker 2:He was voted the most overrated player in the nba by his peers yeah, who's overrated now? Yeah, who's overrated?
Speaker 1:now look at me this guy is dropping buckets. This guy's dropping buckets everywhere right now. I don't think he's overrated at all, you know, and then we'll get back into this as we go into the playoffs. But you know, ant-man, what's going on? Man, is he camp man now? Is he having a bad streak? He is now two and eight in conference finals. What do you think's going on, mike?
Speaker 2:nothing, nothing. Do you think it's his?
Speaker 1:team. Do you think it's coach? You think it's team?
Speaker 2:no, what I? What think it's Koji. Do you think it's team no?
Speaker 1:Strategy no, no, no, no, no. Does he need a shade?
Speaker 2:No, what I think it is is, let's keep in mind, ant-man is still young, right? A lot of times players need to come into their own. They need to come into their own prime and they usually need to kind of have the team kind of settle in with some key players and build the team. Now, that's not to say they don't have pieces with the Wolves, but it is to say that as Ant-Man gets more and more into who he will be as a player because, let's face it, you're seeing flashes of him be the guy, be the guy. That's why most people know who he is, because he has his moments. But keep in mind, when Jordan first came out, he was not winning championships. It took him a while to develop into the player that knew how to be a deep playoff run into the championships winning the championships kind of player you get there by one, learning how to play the game within the game and playing with other players who are just as developed.
Speaker 1:Yep, you learn how to win at your level and Jordan learned very well how to win at your level and Jordan learned very well how to win at his level.
Speaker 2:Well, he got pissed off at the bad boy Pistons beating him up all the time, and he said nuts to this. I'm getting in the weight room and I'm going to beat y'all up when I go to the hole.
Speaker 1:Yeah, now jumping into the semifinals conference. Let's talk about the East last, because they're still going on. Let's talk about the West Thunder locking it up 4-1. Going to the finals. They were my prediction from the beginning.
Speaker 2:Look, I know you're trying to hype up that series, but that series was fast, bro the.
Speaker 1:Timberwolves were so done before halftime even hit. What was it? The Thunder were leading by a good 30, 40 points by middle of the third and it just looked like the Timberwolves were never, ever, ever going to catch up.
Speaker 2:No, no, because this was a thing I heard about comparing the Thunder to kind of how the Celtics were a few years ago. Yeah, where the Celtics? They would get ahead and they would just murder you with threes. They would just three it up and then you're not catching them, they're just going to slowly pull away because you're going back getting twos, they're getting another three and they're just pulling ahead.
Speaker 2:So in the Thunder's case, they pressure you with their defense, and I mean pressure you. Their defense is just suffocating. They're engaging guys before they even get past half court and a lot of times they're changing their direction multiple times as they're dribbling up. So they're keeping the pressure up. And even when you're like, okay, I get this green and I can get off and I'll pass it to this guy over on the wing and maybe he can get a dribble to the inside and make an outlet pass and we can shoot a three, even when you do that, they are rotating and moving the appropriate way to get their guys in position to have good defensive pressure. A guy's not getting an open look, he's getting a guy hand in the face as he's going by. Keep keeping them from getting, you know, just easy buckets yeah no, they're making it hard for these teams.
Speaker 1:They're making it hard long and okc is a very good, by the way. They lead the league in field shots, they lead the league in three pointers and if you watch them, they are just nailing them okay. And the timberwolves were supposed to be the one of the league's best defense, if not the best defense, and they just it wasn't non-competitive, but they, they lost the series four to one. So thunder really just took it to the well, let's.
Speaker 2:Let's also keep it in context, because the Timberwolves were the ones that knocked out the Lakers and the Warriors, making both of those teams look inept with the way they played. So they go against the Thunder, another team that is very good on defense, and they were the ones that looked inept doesn't mean that the wolves are a bad team.
Speaker 2:it just means they're not quite as prepared to play a team like the thunder and the thunder is so deep and all their players buy into this defensive prowess, where we are known for defense and offense, and they don't get selfish. It's anybody at any time could be the guy scoring points. So they're a very well-rounded team and, like we've been saying the whole playoff song, they're one of the best defensive teams in the league and they showed it this entire championship round. And I mean, look at how they won the other night.
Speaker 2:They won by 30 points and they've done that multiple times in the playoffs where they've had a 30-point lead.
Speaker 1:The Timberwolves defense got out-D'd by the Thunder. I've been saying it all season I think the Thunder's going to the finals. They're in the finals.
Speaker 2:You're saying they got their D out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that one. Mike pulled a Michael Scott. Usually it's my job, but he did it tonight. Mike pulled a Michael Scott. Usually it's my job, but he did it tonight. Mike, you are on fire tonight, bro. I don't know what's going on with you, but I got to pick it up, bro. Anyway, moving over to the East, pacers is still going at it. It's actually on the screen in front of us right now, the Knicks leading 66 to 50 as we speak. I really really like the pacers to finish this out. They might not get it this game, but I think they get it next game. Uh, I think they're probably going to try to catch up this game, but if not, I think they definitely get next game. I think we're going to see a thunder pacers finals. In this case, I'm in a predicament because I called the Pacers to go to the finals and I called the Thunder to go to the finals, and now I know who to pick for the win. So, mike, what do you got?
Speaker 2:Look, I don't care if the Knicks go, I don't care if the Pacers go. All I want to see, I would like to see a finals that goes to Game 7. I want to see a good finals, not like a finals where it's a four to one. I want to see a finals where you're like hooked on every game, where it comes down to you know, a key play at the end of the game to get the win, not a oh they just walk to a win kind of game. You know, I want to see some fire out of the finals.
Speaker 2:That's what I want to see I do too, and I don't care which of the teams that comes out east, because I've kind of been pulling for both of them and it would just be so cool for either of them to make it look, no offense to my nick's friends, but I really think the pacers and the thunder would just be an absolute firework type of finals.
Speaker 1:The Pacers play fast, the Thunder plays fast. I think that's a better championship matchup. That might be a great matchup. And I told you the Pacers are going to heat up through the finals, man, so I mean through the playoff bracket. So we'll you know.
Speaker 2:We'll see how it shakes out.
Speaker 1:We'll see how it shakes out. There's really not much else to go into. I mean, there's plenty more to go into, but we're not going to do that right now. Mike, ladies and gentlemen, are you ready to move into our flagship segment of the evening, the NFL?
Speaker 2:We love some NFL and you know what? We're less than 100 days away from NFL.
Speaker 1:Oh my god, I'm having trouble holding my breath. So we're almost there.
Speaker 2:We're less than 100 days away from the NFL Lord praise Jaden Daniels Look even when we're in the offseason, we're still getting some news. And look, I know the majority of it's usually moves or players saying something or doing something, but look, we're still going to talk about it. We're still going to talk about it because we love the NFL.
Speaker 1:I mean, we love all sports, but we really love to talk about NFL.
Speaker 2:This is why we're here today but we got to bring this up real quick oh oakland, oakland. You guys have been suffering here lately, where you're getting your baseball team leaving, you're getting your football team leaving.
Speaker 2:I mean the warriors are still good, but you know, it know it is what it is. They just got knocked out of the playoffs. Well, not just they got knocked out of the playoffs, but you have somebody trying to bring sports back to you, and from an unlikely source, and of all things, football. You have somebody trying to bring football back to Oakland.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's probably not going to make most oakland fans happy it's tom brady tom brady is trying to bring football back to you and hold on, hold on, not too fast that's right look, yeah, I hate to tell you, oakland, it ain't the raiders they're not bringing the raiders back.
Speaker 1:It's not the raiders, so tom brady, I want to say it.
Speaker 2:Oh, go ahead, Tell them.
Speaker 1:What does Tom Brady do? He might be adding the UFL team, the Oakland Invaders.
Speaker 2:So as the UFL starts to gain traction and starts to get a little more following, they're looking to expand and they're looking for where they could expand. And Tom Brady has brought the idea and the motion forward of bringing a team back to Oakland. That's right.
Speaker 1:And I think that's great. It's not going to be the Raiders, because they just built a brand new stadium for them in Vegas.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're not giving up the Death Star.
Speaker 1:You know Tom Brady showing some good faith to Oakland fans, trying to put pro football back in your city. Great, great move. I know a lot of people don't like Tom Brady.
Speaker 2:Even more people. Oakland has a few reasons not to like him.
Speaker 1:I agree with that. I don't say I agree, but I understand that.
Speaker 2:The tuck rule.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but you know Brady's making some good business decisions here. I got to give it to you. I know a lot of people hated him as a player. Some people still hate him. People love to hate you when you're great okay.
Speaker 2:They hate you because they ain't you.
Speaker 1:It's really more like they hate to love you. Okay, that's really the statement I run with, but I got to give it to Brady on this one man, great business decision, putting a team of his own Because the UFL could one day be on the level of the NFL he's playing the same.
Speaker 2:That's a far stretch, but I do like the idea. I do like the idea of a pro football team being back in Oakland.
Speaker 1:Don't start a debate right now. I woke up ready for violence today.
Speaker 2:Sir, there's no way in hell anybody's going to say that the UFL ready for violence today. Sir, there's no way in hell anybody's going to say that the UFL is going to be on par with the NFL.
Speaker 1:Look, 50 years ago nobody thought the NFL would be on national television, but it is today and they own Sunday on all networks 50 years ago, the NFL was in existence and was on television. I mean, we're on Super Bowl. What? 52, 53 coming up, 54? Yeah, what's super bowl is coming up? I've lost track. I don't do I don't, I don't do roman numerals, but I know, 50 to 60 years ago nobody thought the nfl was going to be what it is today you should just 70 and you'd been all right forget you, man moving on, moving on.
Speaker 2:So, uh, actually interesting bit of news. There's a little bit of a trade talk possibly happening in the NFL Trade talk trade talk.
Speaker 2:And from the Steelers Now, no, don't get too excited Steeler fans. It's not them trading for a quarterback or anything like that. They still have hopes that Aaron Rodgers will get off his couch and show up. No, Just no. The conversation that the Steelers are having are with the Dolphins. And no, it's not for a defensive player, because I know the Steelers love their defensive players. No, they're actually trying to get an offensive player. They're talking to them about trying to pick up Jonu Smith, which they have a tight end, but this could get them more of a two-tight end set that could open up the passing game.
Speaker 1:I mean Friar Malth is pretty good.
Speaker 2:From a rushing standpoint and from a blocking standpoint, because now you can have guys stay in and block or go out and catch a pass from the tight end spot. It's not a bad move, a pass from the tight end spot, it's not a bad move. That would greatly help in Aaron Rodgers if he shows up, because then he gets multiple options coming off the line to pass to.
Speaker 1:I think it's a good move. I'm not saying it's a bad move, but they're starting to gain all these weapons and they really don't have anybody under center.
Speaker 2:They could. Aaron Rodgers is the guy they've kind of look they have. They have already said, if aaron rogers doesn't show up, they're going to move on with mason rudolph as their quarterback look, I'm going to go ahead and make a bold prediction.
Speaker 1:Okay, if rogers first of all rogers is never going to sign with the Steelers unless they're playoff competitive in November and desperate to get somebody home, because then he knows they're going to pay top dollar.
Speaker 2:He doesn't have that many options he doesn't. The Steelers were literally the only suitors after a while he loves Mike Tomlin, by the way, so he wants to play for him.
Speaker 1:I think Tomlin doesn't like him, so he needs to check his cell.
Speaker 2:Bullshit. Tomlin was making goo-goo eyes last time he was with the Packers and he played each other. There he was on the sideline going yeah.
Speaker 1:I think you're mistaking goo-goo eyes for Tomlin's upset face. He was probably about to cry or yell at somebody. No, no to cry or yell at somebody, no no, no, no, he kind of gave him a wink. You don't wink at somebody when you're mad at them. No, you do that when you're attracted to them. I still don't think aaron rogers is coming to the steelers.
Speaker 2:He would have been there by now no, that's not necessarily true, because he look man, he took a trip to egypt and missed most of the off season last time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and he went and saw, sat a deep, dark black cave to find his mind too, Like you know, and he wants to be able to go on Pat McAfee's show.
Speaker 2:Just my personal opinion. But fuck the Pat McAfee show.
Speaker 1:Listen, we're not going to choose volatile worlds. Okay, I'm not the only one who chose.
Speaker 2:Who woke up and chose'm gonna say look, that is one, add motherfucker right there I'm a you ever no do you ever watch his show?
Speaker 1:yes, look, I also watch him on wwe again add he is that guy.
Speaker 2:He can't decide if he's gonna stand, sit, lean, did like you got aj hawk with the camera way too close up on his face and too many lights making him look cast.
Speaker 1:For what AJ Hawk is? His camera guy no his side guy. Because he used to play for the Packers. Yes, I know and now he's holding a camera.
Speaker 2:He's not holding a camera. I said he is his side co-host, whatever you want to call it.
Speaker 1:He's a side piece.
Speaker 2:Look, he's got a camera so close to his damn face you could damn near count the freaking. How many pores he has on his damn face.
Speaker 1:Are we still talking about PG television?
Speaker 2:Look, listen, huh, I don't understand the love for Pat McAfee. I just don't get it.
Speaker 1:I mean I love him because he gets to be an announcer at the WWE. I don't get to do that. I don't give a crap about what he does with the WWE.
Speaker 2:That has nothing to do with football.
Speaker 1:You're right.
Speaker 2:Are his stories amusing? Sure, From time to time they're amusing, but the rest of the time he's just kind of all over the place. Quite frankly, I find him annoying.
Speaker 1:Pat McAfee is not the same person as nick wright okay, nick right? No, no, I hate nick, wright I just don't like pat mcafee let's wind it back for a second. I'm not in the business of bashing other people, although my opinion may be not totally fond of them. We're all right, but anyway, fuck these guys. Let's move on to the next yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:So somewhere, somewhere. Right now michael irvin is thinking man, they still party like I do when I was a player party like a rock star, no, no, we're not doing that don't, I'm doing that, no no, no, no, well, you're better than that. Don, I'm doing that. No, no, no, no, you're better than that. Don't do that.
Speaker 1:No, I'm not better than that. That's one of my songs.
Speaker 2:Oh God, anyway. So for those of you that may have forgotten or don't remember, you know, back in Irvin's day he was a partier of sorts to the point where he actually got busted for for cocaine and uh and one of the videos where he got busted yes, there's a video uh, a young fan actually walks up to the car to get an autograph from Michael Irvin right before he's about to get some cocaine from an undercover agent. So the reason we bring this up is another wide receiver who's in the NFL now, stephon Diggs, who's with the Patriots. It was seen over Memorial Day weekend having a good old time on a boat.
Speaker 1:He's in trouble on multiple fronts here.
Speaker 2:He's surrounded by three ladies and he pulls this plastic baggie with some pink substance in it, and it's this pink.
Speaker 1:Was it a pink baggie or was the substance pink?
Speaker 2:The substance in the baggie was pink.
Speaker 1:The substance La, la, la la.
Speaker 2:The stuff in the bag. How about that? The stuff in the bag was pink, and what it is is pink cocaine that goes by the name Tootsie or Tootsie. So, he's getting in trouble with some pink Tootsie yeah.
Speaker 1:And who is this girl that snatches the bag from him? Because that's not Cardi B, by the way who he is dating.
Speaker 2:Look, that's for him and Cardi B to figure out, you know, but all I can say is that might be for me and Cardi B to figure out, because one of these girls might be my next girlfriend. So I don't know, man, you might not have the pink tootsie that they want.
Speaker 1:No I don't and. I'm not going to, but.
Speaker 2:I got, I'm not going to either.
Speaker 1:But they got. Never mind, let's move on. Man, this is, but anyway Vrabel needs.
Speaker 2:We start talking a little tootsie and you want to move on.
Speaker 1:Look man. Anyway, vrabel addressed it pretty well.
Speaker 2:This is obviously his first major controversy, which really isn't that major to be well, to be honest, what he he's probably thinking. Really, I want, I'm trying to get this football team going and y'all want to talk about this dumb stuff yeah, like and and you know the receiver, you know they just got, but, uh, you know.
Speaker 1:This goes to what I want to talk about here awareness, okay, um, and not just general awareness, but self-awareness as well, like be aware of what you're saying, be aware of where you are and who you're talking to. By the way, the the camera I'm looking at he's not even aware that there's somebody directly in his face recording him look, yeah, man, he is not even aware.
Speaker 1:He's not even paying attention. Bro, if somebody was that close to my face holding a phone or a camera, first of all I'm asking him what they're doing, okay, and then I'm probably asking them to leave, because I don't want them to see what comes next.
Speaker 2:They're on a boat. How are they gonna leave? I'm reminded of a song you're probably asking them to leave because I don't want them to see what comes next. They're on a boat. How are they going to leave? I'm reminded of a song Are you going to tell them to swim? I'm reminded of a song. What would that be?
Speaker 1:I'm on a boat. Oh Jesus, t-pain and Lost Lone Wars, duh I shouldn't have asked. I'm on a boat. I can all about I. I thought you were the lyrics, I thought you.
Speaker 2:I thought you were talking step brothers I mean, that was also a good example. They made it.
Speaker 1:They also was taking that song literally with his tussy that was also, I think was the inspiration for this actual song by t-pain. So look.
Speaker 2:I think that uh, stefan digs. He's just keeping up the diva receiver mentality going, and this kind of alludes back to a weird interview that happened a while back where when he was with the Vikings, they went around asking Vikings players some reporter did I forget who it was asked the players and multiple players said this. They said what player on the team would you not want to date your sister? And hands down over and over again. Players on the team were like not Diggs, they were like what? Why?
Speaker 1:Not, diggs Not.
Speaker 2:Diggs. They were like no, no, no, no See Diggs, parties. Diggs. They were like no, no, no, no See, diggs, parties, Diggs, parties hard.
Speaker 1:My kind of guy.
Speaker 2:Well, it's kind of funny because earlier, when I alluded to Michael Irvin, deion Sanders showed up for one of Michael Irvin's hotel parties one time.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And, like we said, mike parties and Deion told him and Deion's known for a fun-loving guy and likes to party himself. But he told Michael, he's like man, mike, you party away, I don't. You know he was like you know, he's like I like to have a good time, but you like to have a really good time, and you know that's my kind of guy.
Speaker 1:I'm the same way Like but you like to have a really good time and I you know that's my kind of guy. I'm the same way like.
Speaker 2:I like to have a good time, but I love having a really good time well, but so you know, and that work, hard, work, hard play hard look and that sentiment, dion was like I gotta go, man, I don't party like you do and I can't blame him.
Speaker 1:I can't blame him. Look if it's, if it's not, your Look. Don't lie to the camera. No, do not lie to the camera.
Speaker 2:Dion was honest. He was like look man, you party harder than I do. I'm not looking to party like this, which probably alluded to the drug use.
Speaker 1:I don't care for drugs. I'll give you that, not for me.
Speaker 2:There's questions, though, in this about how this might affect Stefan Diggs' contract, because his contract is kind of written up to be a one-year deal. It is a three-year deal, but it's kind of written up to be a one.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:So, being that this is kind of detrimental to the image of the NFL and the image of the Patriots, could this possibly lead to a situation where they could basically almost void his contract Because he might be looking at suspension Well, he probably is looking at suspension time possibly lead to a situation where they could basically almost void his contract because he might be looking at suspension well, he probably is looking at suspension time?
Speaker 2:probably yes, yeah, but what could this possibly mean as far as his contract? He might be looking at the situation where detrimental to the league's policies or, you know, conduct policy, and he might be out.
Speaker 1:Well, I know he was holding it, but they're gonna test him.
Speaker 2:Okay, first of all, they're gonna test him look, you do realize that some drugs are out your system pretty quick hair follicle test and blood test well, don't you have an answer for everything?
Speaker 1:I do because of things I can't mention right now, mainly mainly my job outside of here, but anyway, they are going to test him in every way. Uh, they're probably going to interview those girls and people who were at that party, like, look, whether it's the government or a private organization, people know how to find information. Okay, look.
Speaker 2:I want to tell you I love the internet. I really do, because you know what one of the comments was made after this video popped up on social media. Somebody said oh look, four people washed up and passed their prime. I feel sorry for the girls catching a stray, but that was pretty good.
Speaker 1:I do feel sorry for that. Um, do we want to turn our attention to the week one schedule? We have any early? No, we don't. It's too far out, man we ain't doing that.
Speaker 2:We have any early predictions? No, we don't. It's too far out, man. We ain't doing that. We ain't doing that. What?
Speaker 1:I mean, we did talk about it a little bit last week.
Speaker 2:We're not. We're not Well. I know you're jonesing. I know you need your fix of NFL.
Speaker 1:I do. But we're going to talk about the NFL. It's all about Jaden Daniels. That's all I need.
Speaker 2:And Dan Quinn, if you want to talk NFL, I got something for you. I got a topic for you Right now.
Speaker 1:I'm not the only one who chose violence today.
Speaker 2:No listen. He said no listen, listen. Every year we have players that you know, you have players that they don't really have much to prove because they've proven it right.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:But then you have players. They have to show something because maybe they're not living up to their contract, maybe they're not living up to the hype, maybe they just need to do something to show the franchise that they're still the player they are.
Speaker 1:Like Stefan Diggs.
Speaker 2:That's one of them. Who do you think out of the NFL right now kind of needs to show. This next season needs to show something or do something more than what they've been doing. Who has to prove something?
Speaker 1:Who has to prove something. Who has to prove something? Let's see here Do you pick a young guy, a prime guy, or do you pick an old guy?
Speaker 2:You have to pick somebody and justify the answer. I'll give you an example. I'll give you an example. Here's the player I think needs to do something and prove something. Okay, lamar Jackson, what Lamar Jackson?
Speaker 1:No, hear me out, hear me out. He's already proven it.
Speaker 2:Hear me out. Yes, he has proven it on the field during regular season. In the playoffs, though, it's a different matter. He has not really proven much in the playoffs. He needs to get further into the playoffs. He needs to prove that it's not just regular season, it's he can go to championship. Don't get me wrong. I love Lamar. I think he's a great player.
Speaker 1:I love Lamar.
Speaker 2:No, I do.
Speaker 1:I think he's a great player you call him by his full name, sir Lamar Jackson.
Speaker 2:Look, look, man, man, I'm looking. He just needs to get further, and you can't deny it. You can't deny that he has not made it to the afc championship game. He nor has he made it to the super bowl, because obviously you need to make it to one to get to the other, yeah, so he's got to prove something, he's got to make a run.
Speaker 1:I give it. I give you that you know who I'm looking at. Who I'm looking at Sam Darnold, over there in Seattle. He had a great year in Minnesota. Go over to Seattle, prove that you can carry it.
Speaker 2:That's a good one. That's a good one. I got another one. I think that Sunshine down there in Jacksonville.
Speaker 1:No, Sunshine's the real deal, bro. No. Sunshine's the real deal. Look, look, sunshine is the real deal.
Speaker 2:What playoff game has he won?
Speaker 1:That doesn't matter right now. He's won one.
Speaker 2:How far has he taken his team?
Speaker 1:Look at that team. They have been horrendous up until maybe a year ago and so has his play.
Speaker 2:His play has been horrendous as well.
Speaker 1:You watch your mouth sunshine is staying forever they have gotten him receivers, he's never going to retire you're just speaking nonsense now and he's always going to have long flowing blonde hair ok, sure, but that has nothing to do with his play on the field.
Speaker 2:What I'm saying is he needs to prove that he is worth that contract they paid him. He needs to prove he needs to worth that contract they paid him. He needs to prove he needs to start showing numbers on the field that look unlike what lamar does. Lamar shows up and throws passing touchdowns and has passing yardage to prove that he's a good quarterback yeah sunshine doesn't by the way last year I think he led the league in interceptions it's possible he played like crap and that's the spite you know having having, uh, the team just go out and get him receivers by the way by sunshine.
Speaker 1:We're referring to Blaine Gabbert.
Speaker 2:No, we're not. It's not Blaine Gabbert. Blaine Gabbert's been a backup for years. He's not even in the league anymore. Trevor Lawrence Trevor.
Speaker 1:Lawrence, yes.
Speaker 2:I'm just I'm pulling your leg there. Actually, you know, blaine Gabbert's brother is actually in the league now. Oh, that's how far along we've gotten from Blaine Gabbert.
Speaker 1:Look, I cannot believe. I'm talking about 2012, like it was yesterday. I still love rg3 like he's the future, but we're 16 years in the future now, bro, maybe, bro, maybe rg3 has been out of the league for years. I realized this, I know this, I'm a I'm always doing is talking trash about, about freaking uh ryan clark on social media now.
Speaker 1:Well, he's like me. Sometimes people agitate him, but he's got a good heart. Okay he can still. I got nothing against RG3. I think he's. I like him. I don't care, I like him. I've always supported him. He's always going to have my support as a. Redskins fan Biased, and so will Doug Williams Biased fan biased, and so will doug williams biased, and so will jayden daniels. Uh, and now devo, and now devo samuel will also have my support, so oh, now, that was a low blow.
Speaker 1:Now, I'm sorry, sir, that was a low blow speaking of washed up yeah anyway, but moving, moving along, like we've got to.
Speaker 2:Come on, tell me another player, tell me another player that you need to see them step up and show you something and prove it.
Speaker 1:I think Let me pull up my fantasy team because there's a lot of players there that I need to step up and improve. Okay, just off the top of my head, you know, uh, who needs, who needs to. I have this was. I was not prepared for this, sir.
Speaker 2:This is not you made this happen. I made this happen.
Speaker 1:Yes, you did no way this happened. I didn't. Uh, well, let's see here. Uh, I'm gonna say, well, it's hard to pick somebody who doesn't have a legitimate qb. I was I almost said dk mcaf, but uh, maybe george pickens and his new scenery. Uh, he had a shot in p, he has some skill, but he got traded and now he's like this is an opportunity to prove he can still be a number one or not.
Speaker 2:Right, I mean. Well, he's going to have to learn to be less moody and less like whiny if he doesn't get the ball because he's not the number one there.
Speaker 1:Look, I'm starting to think Mike Tomlin's the problem. What is it with Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receivers going crazy after they get traded? Mike Wallace, antonio Brown, george Pickens, I'm sure there are others.
Speaker 2:Well, think about this for a second. They play well when they're in Pittsburgh. This for a second.
Speaker 1:They play well when they're in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 2:You don't hardly see anything or hear anything of them being crazy or doing the mess that they're doing Because Tomlin keeps a lid on that. So it ain't Tomlin. Tomlin keeps them on the wrap and then they let them go when it's like, look, we're done with their craziness. But that brings up another good one, tomlin.
Speaker 1:No, Tomlin already proved himself he's a good coach.
Speaker 2:He's a good coach, but how many times can they say, hey, we haven't had a losing record. But you get in the first round and you get knocked out.
Speaker 1:You know, since we're talking, Prove me playoff wise Tomlin. You know, since we're talking about it, I want to see what Vrabel does in year one. He's working with a lot. He's got a franchise QB, he's got some weapons. They have a middle-of-the-pack defense.
Speaker 2:But understand that Vrabel has shown that he can coach before with Tennessee, with the Titans. He took Tennessee to the playoffs.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:You know. So it's not like he can't coach. Yeah, but now— so they know that he can do something.
Speaker 1:But now he's in an entirely different situation, where he has more voice and more control.
Speaker 2:But they have made some pretty good moves. They have Kind of under the radar kind of moves in free agency where they've picked up some players that are going to be good for them as far as helping build and develop and get their team to a situation where they can turn that into wins.
Speaker 1:You know who's another good one? The Detroit Lions as a whole, because they lost Two coordinators Both they lost two coordinators. Both of their leading coordinators Offensive defense. Ben Johnson, and I know his name. It's just late.
Speaker 2:He's the Jets head coach now.
Speaker 1:I feel so disrespectful right now. Names are difficult.
Speaker 2:I'm going to admit that I'm horrible with names. Names are difficult. I'm going to admit that I'm horrible with names. We'll find it later.
Speaker 1:I'm not going to take time to look it up right now because we're at the end of the show. But I do know his name. I just I'm blanking and we didn't write it down, so I apologize for that. But anyway.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean there's. How about Pete Carroll?
Speaker 1:Well, pete Carroll took Geno Smith with him, so that's kind of a package deal. They both, equally, will probably be in the boat together if that makes any sense.
Speaker 2:So I mean, we've been focusing on the offensive side and coaches. What about defense? Who on defense should or needs to step up and show something, do something or a?
Speaker 1:defense as a whole. Hendricks with the Bengals defensive tackle. He was injured a little bit. He was a little less effective. They were looking to trade him.
Speaker 2:He still had double-digit sacks last year.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he was the only good part of sacks last year.
Speaker 2:yeah, but if your team is the only good part of their defense.
Speaker 1:Last he was but if your team is looking to move on from you like because they don't want to pay him well, that's true, because they're cheapskates well, that's a poor example uh well, that leads, that leads to one bangles.
Speaker 2:Show me, you can spend some damn money other than on your offense true, I give you that one, uh who else we got here?
Speaker 1:I don't have a list in front of me.
Speaker 2:You came at me sideways with this one yes, I know, I know you, you, you brought this upon yourself.
Speaker 1:I've got one.
Speaker 2:I'm not gonna lie, you did I've got one okay and it may be biased, but you know what, With Robert Sala coming back to the Niners 49ers defense, you need to show me something next year. You need to show me something because we lost a lot of players, but we got a lot of players in this draft and some through free agency, Robert Sala show me something.
Speaker 1:I agree with that.
Speaker 2:Show me you can build a championship level defense again, basically starting over no, I agree with that.
Speaker 1:I'm just blanking because I wasn't prepared they come fast. That's what she said, anyway there are several players out there, I'm sure, but we're going to table this one for next week. We're going to bring this up next week when I'm better prepared and I'll have offensive and defensive options for you.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay, so we're, so we're signing homework.
Speaker 1:Here we are signing homework here and feel free to let us know if you have any ideas as well. Um, we're going to go ahead and wrap up the show. I want to thank everybody for joining us once again. We really appreciate your support, appreciate you listening to us. Feel free to take part in the discussion, either while listening to us or on our Facebook page. Spread the word. By the way, website the number two for the win dot com. We're officialized. We're localized. Thank you everybody once again for joining us. I'm Brian with an. I.
Speaker 2:And I'm Mike.
Speaker 1:And we are two for the win.
Speaker 2:Thanks everybody.