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Bet Big Talk Loud with Special Guest Jimmy Russell

• Chris Hodge

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0:00 | 41:55

Bet Big Talk Loud with your host Chris Hodge and Special Guest Radio Personality Jimmy Russell

SPEAKER_01

Welcome to the Bet Big Talk Loud Podcast. It is my pleasure. I'm Chris Hodge. I got Jim Russell joining me. Jim was part of the John and Jim. I'm going to say that was iconic out in San Diego for you guys. You guys had a really long run. I was lucky enough to meet you guys in person when I came in studio. And Jim Russell, thank you so much for jumping on with the Bet Big Talk Loud Podcast for Thursday, March 26th. Pleasure to have you.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, absolutely. Good to join you. And yes, it was iconic. Um, so iconic that I left and moved to the East Coast.

SPEAKER_01

But you're still doing the podcast, the wrap-up show. Uh, you guys got a great following after San Diego Padres games. Anyone out there listening, if you want to go check out John and Jim on the wrap-up show, that their podcast, uh, you do that after every Padres game, or you guys pick and choose?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, we're sickos. We do that mostly after every game, uh, especially during the baseball season, 162 game season, uh, doing post-game after every single game. By like June, you're like, what the hell am I doing? But we're sicko's and we love doing it. So uh yeah, after almost every game, we do a wrap-up show, uh, breaking down every game. The Tuesdays in uh June against the Rockies, those can be a little struggling, but you know, we we when they play the Dodgers and opening day and everything, it it all makes it worth it.

SPEAKER_01

You know, obviously it's the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight this weekend, so we'll get to that in just a moment. But where is the hatred level with you? I know where it is for John. He was on the podcast a couple weeks ago. Where's the hatred level for you for the Dodgers? Where is that? One to ten, where are they? 37.

SPEAKER_02

I mean, it's it's as high as it can go. Um, you know, I grew up in in Northern California, so obviously growing up, you know, Giants Dodgers, that is the big one of the biggest rivalries, especially on the West Coast, and it's always been. Um, but the Dodger hate for me is I I can't stand, I can't stand their fans. I can't stand the I can't stand Otani, even though he's the best player in baseball. I can't stand Kyle Tucker for signing there. I can't stand Freddie Freeman, even though he's like the nicest guy on the planet. I can't stand uh Mookie Betts. I definitely can't stand Dave Roberts. I hate everything about the Dodgers. So I know you talked to John, I'm sure he also told you hate the Dodgers as well. I'm like triple his hate. Like, you can't tell me uh uh to say one good thing about anything Dodger related. It's just I can't will not come out of my mouth.

SPEAKER_01

That that's that's what makes sports so great. But we have a common enemy in Dave Roberts. Because if you remember, Dave Roberts, little mom, man, he's the one who stole the base against Mariano Rivera way back in 2004 to start that rally. I get it. We have a common enemy in him. But let me put let me ask you, I'm gonna put the truth serum in your arm right now. So we understand you hate the Dodgers, we know it. Do you think they're bad for baseball with how they spend truthfully? I hate to say it.

SPEAKER_02

It's it's I'm I'm I'm at a no, but I can make an argument for both sides. Like, do I think they're bad for baseball for spending for the no side? No, because they have all this money, what are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to just sit on their hands and not spend and and look at all the teams around baseball that aren't spending and be like, oh, because they're not spending, we're not gonna spend. Like, no, if you have the money, go out and spend it. But what I don't like is how they manipulate things and how the system gives them this opportunity to have all this money, right? Like their TV deals, one of the biggest in all of baseball, uh you know, right there with the Yankees, right? The the Shohei Otani stuff, the fact that they deferred all of his money, that he's getting paid only two million a year, I think's ridiculous. And I get it, Otani came up with the contract. But give me a break. The the the the that was something fishy going on there. So, like the fact that they're spending all this money, is it bad for baseball? No, because they have all of it. But on the flip side, yes, it's bad for baseball because it's it's creating this unfair advantage that truthfully baseball needs to step in, and that's why we're gonna get a lockout next summer, pretty much, I feel like, and make it so there's uh not a restriction, but there's like these limits and there's these deferral limits, and you know, make it so that every team in baseball isn't you know sitting there being like, why can't we spend money? And the TV deals and all that is just it's a mess. And baseball has a problem on their hands, I do feel like, because they cannot keep doing this and they can't keep going down this path. Because if they do, it's just it's just gonna be worse off for baseball that the Dodgers continue to spend all this money.

SPEAKER_01

So I'm back and forth on it like you, right? Uh first things first, I don't like the deferred. Like every team can do it, but I don't like that. I I think they should do away with that. But I'm not a salary cap guy in any sport, right? And I when I was I had John on and I was telling him, I go, you know, do you want to be capped at what you make, right? Like if you do a great show in San Diego Sports Radio and then they come in and say, well, you can only make X. Well, I'm bringing in, you know, $10 million in revenue. Uh I should be able to make whatever. And I'm just throwing numbers out there. So I don't believe I I hate a salary cap. I really don't like it. Um, all that being said, I do believe what the Dodgers do and how they do it is not healthy for baseball. But I like seeing dynasties, right? I like seeing that, and um they're a dynasty. And if they win another one, you know, that's the first time since the Yankees three-peated that um there will be a three-peat in baseball.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, it it you're right about that. The dynasty part of it, people love to hate on teams. Like when the Warriors, I'm a big Warriors fan, when they started their run, everyone loved them when they won their first title, right? And then by their second title, it was like, screw these guys, and they got Kevin Durant. It was like everybody hates him, right? So in that sense, yeah, everyone wants to watch the Dodgers fall, and everyone wants to want wants to watch the Dodgers get beat, but like, I mean, they have unlimited resources, and that it's just they have unlimited resources and there's no cap like there is in basketball, like there is in football. So, with that, I mean, who's who's gonna stop them from just continuing to spend money and continuing to get all these all-star players? Nobody, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And look, if you you want to play somewhere, right? You want to play in LA.

SPEAKER_02

I exact 100%. Like the best market, whether you're gonna get the best opportunities to win, the best opportunities for endorsement deals. Like, yeah, as much as I hate the Dodgers, it is one of the most desirable places to go play.

SPEAKER_01

So, you know, you have teams like the Mets, the Mets spend money, and the Mets screwed it all up last year. You know, the Padres, the Padres had years where they were heavy spenders and they just didn't work. So spending money in baseball or any sport doesn't guarantee that you're going to win. But it just seems like the Dodges have put it all together. We're gonna spend, we're gonna, our analytics are gonna be great. Everything about what the Dodgers do is gonna be, you know, top of the top of the line, and I think that's what makes them so hard. But with all of that, Jim, they were one play away from losing the World Series like five different times last year.

SPEAKER_02

I know it's crazy. And and they they honestly should have lost the World Series except for you know that ninth inning, two out home run. It's just it was incredible how I mean look, that that game seven was one of the best game sevens. Absolutely maybe of all time. It was just an incredible game, regardless of who you're rooting for. If you're just an uh you know, innocent bystander watching that game, one of the best games ever. Um, but the thing with the money spending, and you're right, teams spent a lot of money. Mets, they spent a lot of money, didn't go their way last year. Uh Padres, they've spent a lot of money, hasn't gone their way. How they you know they haven't won a World Series yet. The thing with the Dodgers is they can spend all this money and it will never hurt them.

SPEAKER_01

Yep.

SPEAKER_02

Like they go out and they make a signing and it turns out to be an awful signing. Who cares? They'll go out and buy another player to negate that bad signing, right? So that's the thing that other teams can't do is they spend all this money, and if that doesn't work out, they're screwed. Dodgers spent all this money, doesn't work out, who cares? We'll just go buy another player.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and uh I I was reading something a couple weeks ago where they had already made all of their money back on the Otani contract due to the media rights deal. Like that. It's insane. Yeah, that's pretty that's pretty good. But hey, look, it's a long season. Um, two-time defending champion. Let's see if someone can knock them off. Uh, they're still the cream of the crop. I've never seen anything like this in terms of future odds. They were two to one to win the World Series, right? Which it's not even worth betting, right? It's crazy. The next closest to them, I had never seen a disparity this wide before, is the Yankees at 10 to 1. I mean, and and there's only two teams. If you look at future bets, there's only two teams in baseball that had win totals in the 90s, right? So you had the Dodgers who were 102 and a half, and you had the Yankees that were 91 and a half, and that's it. Everyone else was in the 80s and 70s. That's a crazy, that's a crazy disparity.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah. From a betting standpoint, it must be awful to try to bet on this baseball season. You can't bet the Dodgers.

SPEAKER_01

It's impossible. You you just you know, they're gonna lay too much, and you know, you're gonna have to win what, you're gonna go through 162 games, win 11 more in the playoffs, or possibly more, or whatever, and you know, you're only getting two to one back on your money, it's not even worth it.

SPEAKER_02

And last year, they went through a lot of injuries and they still won it. So it's like, you know, if if they go through injuries this year, they'll probably be fine because they have a great system. And if they don't go through injuries this year, I mean, they could push an all-time win record potentially.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, absolutely. So we'll see what happens. It's gonna be a fascinating basketball season, but right now, we know what time of the year it is, right? Everyone is is dialed in as they should be with college basketball. For me personally, Jim, I think this is the best time of the year in terms of sports. I I love uh the tournament more than anything else. Uh, we're currently doing this Thursday around 3:30 Eastern time, so not really gonna talk too much about the Thursday games, but there is a fascinating game tonight. It goes a little later. Arkansas and Arizona. I mean, Calipari has done a tremendous job with um Arkansas since leaving Kentucky. And obviously, Arizona. Now, there's been there's been already reports, because there has to be, where Lloyd might go to North Carolina, because why have anything good, right? They just gotta put the media's gotta put that out there. Um, but Arkansas, Arizona, that is, I think of the four games tonight, I think that's the most interesting one.

SPEAKER_02

What do they say about March Madness? It is a guard tournament. If you have the best guards, likely you're going to go the farthest, right? Darius Acuff, one of the best players in the country. I mean, he's gonna be a top three pick in the NBA draft, potentially. And he he's he's one of the best players averaging 23 points per game. I'm very fascinated to see if he can take Arkansas over Arizona. Like, look, right now, uh, the line on this game here is uh Arizona eight and a half. It's a pretty big line, but if they keep it close in the second half, Acuff he could take over a game, and that that right there alone makes me intrigued in the this game right here with Arkansas potentially taking out Arizona, even though Arizona is the number one seed in that bracket 34 and two on the year. Um, I don't know what do you think? Do you think that that Arizona is gonna walk away with this and cover here? Or do you think that that Arkansas has a chance, you know, because their guard play?

SPEAKER_01

So Arizona has more depth than Arkansas, but both teams aren't overly deep. Um I I think it's and I made this I made this determination when I had Fred Davis on last week about St. John's and um Kansas. St. John's won the game. Kansas had the best basketball player on the court, right? So Peterson is a top five NBA draft pick. He might be number one, right? But St. John's overall, I thought had the better basketball team. They won, they didn't cover. I think the best basketball player on the court tonight is Acuff. I think he's the best basketball player on the court tonight. And whenever you have the best basketball player on the court, you have a shot. But Arizona is the better team from top to bottom. Um Cal Perry's a great coach, so is Lloyd. I think it's a that's why I think this game is fascinating. Like I went, Nebraska, you know, both teams play in the Big Ten. And by the way, before we, you know, credit to the Big Ten because if you look at college football and college basketball, which are the two revenue drivers in college sports, the Big Ten has really taken over. They have six of the top 16 teams here. They won the last three national titles in college football. It used to be the SEC in college football, it's the Big Ten now.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, absolutely. And what's your thought in this, real quick? So the whole conversation, it's been the conversation the last two years, the Cinderella conversation, right? I mean, we got some insane matchups here in the Sweet 16. We'll talk about those coming up here in a bit. And tonight, Arkansas, Arizona. I mean, there are some incredible matchups. Texas, I don't consider them as Cinderella because Texas, like, give me a break, even though they're 11th seed, like, stop it. Um, what's your take on that? Are you are you good with how it is now? I mean, it's the NIL era, so we're gonna see more of this, or do you want to see that more like Cinderella-based, you know, suite 16 where there's like maybe two or three teams that nobody really ever heard of that have a chance to make some noise?

SPEAKER_01

I'm going to sound very hypocritical. This is gonna be a very hypocritical answer. Okay. Cinderella, Cinderella is what built March Madness, right? Like that, the NC states of the world, and you know, that that's what really made March madness, right? That's what made it. Yeah, I like when the best teams make it. I like when it's the best teams. I I for as much as people love upsets and and they're just very intriguing, you know, um, and and Iowa, Nebraska tonight's is gonna be a great basketball game. I would have rather seen Florida, Nebraska. I thought that would have been a ridiculous matchup. But yeah, for sure. Hats off to Iowa, they beat them. Um and Iowa is not a Cinderella, right? Like that's not a Royal or Chicago with that nun running around, right? Like this. Right, yeah. Um Cinderella's built this tournament, and I don't like them. So, I mean, that is that's a hypocritical answer, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02

A little bit, and I and I get it. It's just the way of of college sports now, with NIL in particular. I mean, the the like the high points of the world, like that was a good story. It was a good story. They're they're not gonna reach where you know they could potentially have reached if it was 10 years ago, right? Because 10 years ago, you're not dealing with the NIL aspect of it, you're not dealing with the transfer portal. Like you're just you're just not dealing with that. And and in today's game, it's just it's so difficult if you're not a power conference team with a lot of money to to make it far into the tournament. It's just it's just really hard. And and I'm kind of leaning towards what you're saying here because I'm looking at this matchups and I'm like, yo, St. John's duke, sign me up. Great. Michigan, Alabama, sign me up. Yukon, Michigan State. Are you kidding me? Sign me up. Like Arizona, Arkansas with Calipari, like sign me up. Like, that is what is gonna draw and get a bunch of the ratings. Um, and it sucks for the Cinderella, but but it's just the way it is now. And I think when when the execs look at the ratings, uh come on, you know, Saturday or Sunday, and you're like, wow, that Yukon Michigan State game, that drew a big one. No one's gonna be like, you know what, we should have had high point in the game or whatever. You know, no one's gonna say that.

SPEAKER_01

And everyone's gonna watch too. It's funny for me because I'm like, you know, the calendar did the tournament a great service, and and men in particular. Because if Easter was this Sunday, I mean the divorce rate would go through the roof. Right? Sorry, honey, right? Can't do Easter dinner. Right, but can't hook the eggs with the kids, gotta watch this game. Right? Like, like the divorce rate that could happen this weekend with these four days of what's coming up in basketball. Like, I'm sitting there, so so my football team that I coached, and you know, when I was in San Diego, you know, we were out there playing the San Diego Enforces, uh, we're playing in DC on Saturday. So I'm leaving tomorrow, playing in DC, and um, St. John's is playing Duke in DC. Now I can't go Friday night because I got a team meeting, right? But I told my wife, hey, St. John's wins in the Sweet 16. We're going to the regional final on Sunday. So she's like, I gotta hang in DC an extra day. Yes. Yep. And I'm like, you know what? She was upset about this, Jim. And I'm like, what the hell is wrong with you? Like, you know what she said to me, Jim? She goes, a bunch of college kids running around making a bunch of noise and just a basketball game. That doesn't sound like fun for me. And I'm like, who are you?

unknown

Oh no.

SPEAKER_02

Does she know that this is the first Sweet 16 for St. John since 1999?

SPEAKER_01

So does she know that it's the first Sweet 16 for St. John's since she met me and I went to St. John's?

SPEAKER_02

That's all you need to say for her for her to you know say hopefully, oh, I get it, honey.

SPEAKER_01

No, there was no I get it, honey. She's actually read, she's listening to this. You know how I break a balls with the Mets. She's actually rooting against St. John's tomorrow night. What blasphemy? Like, are you kidding me?

SPEAKER_02

No, that that's just not how no no no no no no. I'm sorry. If you're if you're a St. John alum, if you're you know Johnny, like tomorrow is I would say the biggest game in since at least 99, 1999, obviously.

SPEAKER_01

This century?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, the century. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01

The century, the biggest game in the century for the program. Oh man. So I listen, I'm hoping they win. My wife might not be too happy about it if we're hanging around DC all day on Sunday. But listen, if it if it came down to um St. John's and Yukon in a regional final, yeah. I mean Oh my goodness. Yeah, that that's that would be incredible. Incredible. So, you know, and but my wife doesn't think that atmosphere would be good. Well, like, what do you what do you do here? Right. What do you do here?

SPEAKER_02

Has she gone to a sporting event before? Does she understand how cool and fun they are?

SPEAKER_01

Boy, she's gonna get on me. She she oh, she's probably not even paying attention to me right now. She's probably watching the Mets game, you know. Hey, they're doing well. They beat up Paul Skeens today. Yeah, well, they did. You know, it's funny, it kind of backfired on me. And we're doing this podcast, that game is still being played. But the first two batters for Pittsburgh, one reached, and then the second guy hit a home run, and I'm texting all the Met fans already. Season's over, right? And then they hang five on Skeens with the center field and not being able to field the ball in the first inning. But um, yeah, man, I hope uh let's see if St. John's gets by and uh you'll be at the regional final on Sunday. Let me ask you a question of the 16 teams that are left here, right? Does anyone like if if Alabama beats Michigan, like is that a shock? Any of these 16 teams win, right? Does it shock you where you're like, wow, like I didn't expect that.

SPEAKER_02

Um if I'm looking right now, I we briefly mentioned Texas, right? I think if Texas beat Purdue, I don't know if I would be like completely shocked. It would surprise me. Um Iowa beating Nebraska, I I think would surprise me. But if I'm looking at just the overall right now, I I mean, yeah, I think I I think I would go Alabama beating Michigan.

SPEAKER_01

It's Alabama, right? Like if they win that game, especially with the the arrest they had, and you know, Texas tonight, Pope might be out, he's got uh ankle sprain. But if Alabama beats Michigan, that would and I was surprised last week when I would be Florida. I I did not expect that to happen. And I would it would be the shit if Michigan goes down tonight, I would be uh tomorrow night, I'd be surprised.

SPEAKER_02

And and I've watched Michigan up close and personal because they played San Diego State this past year. And they beat them by like 90, right? Yeah, they just killed them. After watching that game, I'm like, that's a Final Four team. Yeah, like that that is one of, if not the best team in the country. And it was early in the season, I think it was like because it was the NIL tournament in Las Vegas. I forget it was probably like you know, first month of the year. Yep. But even then, I'm just like, Michigan is one of the best teams in the country. So yeah, if Alabama, with all their issues that they got going on, if they somehow beat Michigan, Michigan is an eight and a half point favorite, just the size of Michigan alone, I would that would be the most shocking upset for me in the next couple days.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and I think the best game of the eight is the Michigan State Yukon game. I mean, I I think by far that is the best game.

SPEAKER_02

I think that's is that the hardest one to figure out?

SPEAKER_01

I was just saying that, man. You read my mind from a gambling standpoint. You know, my my company, I'm telling you right now, we're not on that game either, which way. We think that's the hardest game. Um, two iconic coaches. Now, well, yeah, what's the Aedro saying? You said it a little earlier. You know, you need guard play in this tournament, but you also need coaching, right? Coaching, you know, wins these games. I mean, Hurley. Isso or Hurley, yeah. I mean, where do you go with that? You you have two guys walking to the Hall of Fame, right? Oh, Izzo's already in it, right? So you have two iconic coaches. Uh, I think that's the hardest game to call, and I believe that's going to be the best overall game of the eight. Could be wrong, but I think that's gonna be the best game.

SPEAKER_02

I hate Dan Hurley with a passion. I just I just don't like Dan Hurley at all. What do you do to you? I I well, first off, the UConn beat San Diego State in the national championship a couple years ago.

SPEAKER_00

Oh man.

SPEAKER_02

So I'm a little, you know, sour as a little sour on that. And I and you know, I just just his antics on the sideline. I mean, I'm just like, oh my, give me a break. He's always just yelling at the refs no matter what. He's on the sideline, just screaming his head off. And you know, I think they went to the Maui invitational this past season or pat last year, and he was just ripping the Maui invitational, like, oh, poor you. You're gonna go to Hawaii for a week to play some basketball games, and you guys didn't play well. So now you're blaming the invitational that you guys didn't play well. Like, give me a break. So that's why I'm taking Michigan State in this game, just because I don't like Dan Hurley. I just I just don't like Dan Hurley. Like, I'm taking Michigan State, like I got no other reason why I just don't like Dan Hurley.

SPEAKER_01

Got you, man. You know what's the um his he he did an interview with his wife, and and it was just like the cutest interview because she was. like she i think she called him a glorified gym teacher i think that's what i'm not trying to put words in obviously his wife's mouth but i think that's what she's like you're a glorified gym teacher it's not that important you don't do surgery you don't do any of this you're a basketball coach like what are you getting what are you getting all upset about and he's just like that just couldn't be further from the truth she just doesn't understand it was like it was a great interview sounds like the uh dynamic between you and your wife a little bit uh it's it's very very frustrating like very very very very frustrating you know my what my wife says to me I I saw this meme months and months ago she goes uh my my life this was in September she said this to me she goes my life for the next seven months depends on the outcomes of sporting events from 18 or 19 year olds 100 yeah my life and the way that I act and my emotions are based on what my favorite sports team does.

SPEAKER_02

It's 100% that way like during football season because I'm a huge 49er fan and uh when Sundays come around if uh Niners win greatest day ever if they lose sorry honey I need at least two to three hours of cooldown time before you even talk to me.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah it's it's uh it gets rough unfortunately for me um and I'm not an angry person I don't think I am but uh I've broken three TVs this year three three that's it that's good that's good the over under was three and a half so I'm proud of you and I and I still in my personal office in my overall office I I broke that TV and they I won't put one up I've actually now was it like was it did you throw something at it or was it like coverage or did you throw ripped off the wall ripped off the wall and I'll tell you exactly when it happened um Arizona was playing Tennessee in the NFL and the Arizona player I forget who it was but he's running for a touchdown and he dropped the ball before the end zone and then that that didn't create the TV getting thrown about 10 minutes after that Arizona picked off a pass ran it out of the end zone fumbled it back into the end zone for a touchdown and the TV that was the end of that that that's a I understand that one that would be a uh justified TV ripping of off the wall and then um you know there was one Sunday I threw my entire family out of the house I get it I get it I mean that's just what happens on Sundays it's just the motions are at an all time high and sometimes you just can't control it. My my uh my son my older son's girlfriend was there you know who's a sweetheart she's been around for years everyone get the fuck out like just everyone just get out and then my wife was so upset you know when she's talking to me on a couple days later she's like you threw us out on a Sunday that does it make a difference if it was a Thursday right like right it's a oh sorry I should have done on a Tuesday my bad I threw you out on the Lord's Day like at least there's nothing going on today so you can do something outside even though it probably was probably cold because the you know East Coast here has been a disaster. Oh it's been bad over here and you you I feel so bad for you man you were living in St. Diego for a long time bro I am uh I'm a California kid uh grew up my whole life in California spent 36 years there and of course me and my wife moved here during the worst winter in like the last 50 years it it has been the biggest uh shock of my entire life um hopefully we're we're past it all now and it's actually pretty nice outside today and hopefully you know we're getting to spring and and whatnot but um shoveling snow was not on my bingo card for my life and it just happened and it was bad it was very bad yeah it it sucks and you know I have my I have three sons and you know these lazy fucks man they're asking me they're like can you get a snowball I'm like I got you yeah you're the shovel right you're you and then they hit me for money I'm like you want to eat tonight like that's your that's your payment yeah get out of here exactly yeah yeah if I had kids I'd do I'd make them do the same thing absolutely shovel and then I'll feed you later later tonight absolutely but you know you have a wife and the wife sticks up for them and all of a sudden now you you end up losing that battle but it is it is what it is uh we got Jim Russell joining us Jim was part of the iconic John and Jim radio show he also does the podcast the wrap up show with John after all the Padre games um you know definitely from an uh entertainment standpoint I really do believe this tournament even though we don't have the Cinderella you know so to speak I I think this tournament's been very interesting look Texas is here making a game winning shot uh Iowa Florida Iowa yeah St.

SPEAKER_02

John's is here shot at the buzzer Iowa Florida shot right before the buzzer and then um Vanderbilt right Nebraska I mean they they were up and then they they had one rim out from half court there there's been some games man that have just come right down to the wire I think yeah you're absolutely right and I was gonna say I I think the problem a little bit with March madness sometimes is that people want a game winner every single game like they want the greatest game ever played they want you know back and forth they want game winning half court shots and if you don't get a ton of that then you're quote unquote disappointed by the tournament uh this tournament like you said you've gotten that you've gotten the game winning shots you've gotten the almost half court shots that were in and out like literally half a basketball in the hoop and rim out you've gotten uh a couple upsets of uh you know over Florida right you got the St. John winner over Kansas you know you've you've had some entertaining things happen in this tournament and I'm with you I think it's been a really good tournament so far I don't think it's been like an elite tournament right but it's been a really good tournament and you're not always gonna get the elite tournament so far. And by the way we're just reaching the sweet 16 so we have uh like this like another half of the tournaments go right the the the national championship game could be the best championship game in the history of of college basketball absolute and you asked me you asked me about upsets you know I don't like the upsets but Jim I like the almost upset the the like make you like tune in to like see if it happens but it doesn't happen but it still like makes you watch I was happy Duke won but I was happy Siena gave them all they can handle. Absolutely and it's a great game to like invest in you're not just turning it off at halftime because you know teams up by 70 points right like you're not doing that and you there's a chance and that's the thing is you watch these games for the for the the the thrill and the chance of that potential upset right like you know I'm sure a lot of people are going to pick duke even though actually I'm picking St. John over Duke tomorrow but people are gonna root for the underdog and a lot of people are going to root for St. John tomorrow right and you're gonna watch that game and if it's close uh everyone's gonna be watching and you know so same thing tonight against Arizona right like Arkansas Arizona like people are gonna watch that game and and hope for the upset and that's what you do in college basketball is in and you know tournament time is you you want the upset but like for your side you want the almost upsets you want to be just entertained and if games are being decided by 15 20 points you know like UConn a couple years ago they ran through the tournament every game they won by double digits every game they played in pretty much wasn't like that entertaining they covered every game right until the national championship when they played San Diego State and if you remember in that game I think with like eight minutes to go San Diego State cut at the lead to five yeah and it was like it was like what just happened what just what's going on here and again then that was the closest they ever got but still the almost made it so intriguing to watch.

SPEAKER_01

You know like San Diego State's an odd team to me right because I I don't consider that conference I mean am I wrong I I don't consider that conference a Cinderella conference. I I don't I you know not anymore because the Pac 12 well well even when like you know like this year yeah you're right this year they had seven of like the top 60 teams in in Ken palm right like they they had they were a good conference one tournament team like that was weird yeah well Utah State right now that was it that was it yeah that was it um but I I just I don't consider San Diego State um I guess Utah State I would but I don't consider San Diego State a Cinderella if they make a run.

SPEAKER_02

I I don't no they're no no they're not they're not considered a Cinderella and when they made the national championship run you know a couple years ago that was at the like start of when NIL really started popping off Transfer Portal was already a thing but you know their team was stacked right and so I mean you had Jaden Ledee who the following year became one of the best players in all of college basketball you had like four fourth fifth year seniors on that team you know I I'm with you especially now going to the Pac 12 you're gonna have Gonzaga in that conference like that that's not going to be a Cinderella conference. I know that it's not a a a quote unquote power league right like the Big 12 the Big 10 or the SEC but still you're gonna have San Diego State and Gonzaga Utah State uh you know Boise State in one conference together now yeah like Oregon State and and like Washington State like that's gonna be a pretty damn good conference that's not a Cinderella conference no way yeah I I agree and you know thing with Gonzaga is that they they've made the tournament like 27 straight years.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah Mark you just can't get him past the any like you know the six the sweet 16. Yeah and you know that's that's one team that I would like to see win. Like at some point I I think that would be a fascinating story like if they finally broke through after 30 years of like knocking on the door you know I I would like to see that team and I and I don't consider them a Cinderella either they go 27 and three every friggin' year you know and and they win and they win tournament games so that's a team I would like to see break through if there was if there was going to be a team uh to to do it like them.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah no they're they're they're a team that is always knocking on the door they're always in the conversation they're always in like the sweet 16 and and whatnot they just can't get over that hump for for some odd reason um but if they ever won a national championship one day hopefully it's with mark few there because if it's not that's gonna that's gonna be a bitter pill to swallow for him.

SPEAKER_01

So I'm gonna I'm gonna ask you a question before I let you go and I know I I'm gonna get taken apart for this question. I'm gonna get destroyed for it right I'm gonna get destroyed for what I feel and I think you're gonna disagree with me but it so Hubert Davis gets fired from North Carolina. Okay all right I do not consider North Carolina a premier college basketball job anymore. Am I an idiot be honest with me you're an idiot I love it why don't you consider them a premier brand okay um I just so it's such a thing for me so Duke is right down the road so I think Duke eight miles away I think Duke is the premier brand right from North Carolina um I don't think Kentucky is a premier brand anymore because Cali Perry left Kentucky went to Arkansas been in the Sweet 16 with NIL like I don't consider Alabama a premier brand in college football anymore. Sabin left so so once like Roy Williams left I feel like that job just lost its luster and and again you say you're an idiot and a lot of people are going to say that I just I don't look at North Carolina like I used to just the same way I don't look at Alabama in college football like I used to and I'm sure I'm in a minority with that does it matter who they hire as a head coach though so if they went and got a name they haven't hired anybody yet right if they went and got a name and hey look this is a team that I think they were in the first four last year right San Diego State by the San Diego State right but then they lost in the first round yep now you blow a 19 point lead to VCU you know not not uh you know uh uh Arkansas not uh uh a legit St. John's VCU you blew a 19 point lead to VCU and that's why the coach gets fired it just seems like to me if there's two teams like Duke is the more iconic brand right now and they're right down the road and it almost oh the North Carolina fans are gonna kill me for this it almost is like North Carolina is little brother right now.

SPEAKER_02

Oh I can only see the comments coming in I I mean you could say that but if you're looking at the history of the brand I mean Duke North Carolina it's that they're on even footing if you're looking at the history recently yeah you could say that um I just think that with the alum that from North Carolina the history from North Carolina I get it the NIL has changed the conversation it's more a lot about who has the most money instead of who has the biggest brands right the the you know the Kansas's and the Dukes and the North Carolina like those are the biggest blue blood brands. I saw there was a conversation I forget who said it today that someone was like yeah there's no blue bloods anymore in college basketball that might have been Rick Petino I think it was where he mentioned there was no blue bloods in college basketball anymore because NIL has taken away that opportunity for the biggest brands to go out and recruit and bring kids in um it's just about who has the most money right so I I understand from that standpoint but I just don't think the history with that program and what it has that they're ever going to allow themselves to be quote unquote little brother for too long. I just don't see that happening.

SPEAKER_01

But they all little brother right now right now you can make that argument and I would agree with you yes but over the yeah if Duke wins a national title this year and that's a big if they they have injuries and it's a long way to go. But if they win a national title this year North Carolina's little brother yeah of course because Duke won and North Carolina didn't but it the flip side is North Carolina won and Duke didn't you say the same same thing about Duke North Carolina I just for some reason I I feel like Kentucky I feel like they're on a downward trend after losing Calipari. I feel like North Carolina is in that same vacuum I feel like Roy Williams and I don't know now who do you go get right maybe you get the guy from Michigan I don't think he would leave there after a couple years maybe Lloyd he's been mentioned from Arizona but I Arizona's a great college basketball job right now. Like I don't know why you'd leave that um I heard Petino's name mentioned because he's he's a mercenary he'll just go where go do it yeah um but like I just don't know there was um Billy Donovan. I heard the name Billy Donovan mentioned with North Carolina now that would be a fascinating hire but until you start going deep into the tournament again you're just a name that that's how I feel until you make it to an Elite Eight Final Four, you're just a name. And that's what North Carolina is right now. They're just a name to me right now. What if you swung big and this is a crazy name to throw out there Bill Self I mean would he leave Kansas? What what job is better? Is the Kansas job better or the North Carolina job better? I mean if North Carolina can pay him a boatload of money right so so the NIL money that and it all comes down to that but you know right now the Big 10 in college football and college basketball is the premier conference in my opinion. Yep the SEC in college football and college basketball they're they're right under the Big 10. Like that's 1A1B right where where is the ACC they forget the ACC in football forget it waste of time and you you got what is there one team here in the Sweet 16 from the SEC Duke is there another one like I I think it's just Duke right I think it's just Duke yeah yeah Duke right the big east has two the ACC's got one the big 10's got six you know how many the Big 12 have the SEC has Alabama Tennessee right off the top of my Texas.

SPEAKER_02

You know like the ACC has one and they're an afterthought in football well in in 10 years from now conferences probably won't even exist it'll probably just be like you know the East and the West or whatever how they do whatever they're gonna do because I just the conferences that conversation it's a it's a conversation for another day but like it's just gonna be like the Big 10 and the SEC in football and then in basketball it's gonna be the Big Ten and you know the whatever right like that's just what it's gonna be because these conferences like you said ACC's got one team in the tournament and and then a Sweet 16 like that's crazy. If you told me that 10 years ago you're like what are you talking about?

SPEAKER_01

Right right absolutely and and they didn't really even have you know like I guess Virginia played you know well against Tennessee they had a shot to win that game but you know North Carolina out in the first round NC State out against Texas like you had a bunch of ACC teams that didn't even make noise you know like and Duke was Duke was five minutes away from being out against Siena. I know I know they were about to suffer the the dreaded 16-1 loss it's only happened what once or twice in the history of the tournament absolutely so I I talked to before I let you go I talked to John off the air a couple a couple weeks ago and I said you know obviously baseball season's coming up it starts today so we got to make a bet here right so if the Padres by some miracle play the Yankees in the World Series by some miracle we got to make sure you guys come out to New York for a game you can come be my guests and you guys I'll go over I know you're in Philly right now but we got to go over to San Diego and uh we got to watch that game in person. Perfect.

SPEAKER_02

It's a it's a drive it's a quick drive well not a quick drive but you know I I can make it to New York now no problem. And don't tell me you know oh go back to San Diego like oh no if you go back to San Diego such a terrible thing. It's awful awful thing. Yeah uh yeah I'm in if by some miracle that happens yeah Yankees there's a there's a chance Yankees can make the World Series this year. They stay healthy. But Padres they're uh they need a lot of they need some help they need some help for sure.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah I mean you look at the Dodgers obviously Mets are going to be around Phillies never go anywhere um Cubs are probably going to be competitive I think the NL uh is very competitive not just from who the top team is but the next tier down you got you got four or five very good baseball teams in the AL yeah it's you know Toronto just made it to the World Series and it was so close to winning it but they lose Bachet um you know the central forget I think that division is terrible maybe Seattle threatens the Yankees you know um maybe the Rangers here's a team that you didn't mention actually they're playing the Padres today the Detroit Tigers and they get Framber Valdez they got Tariq Scuble they got one of the best rotations in baseball they were one of the best teams in the American League last year until they kind of you know shit the bed down the stretch but when you have Scuble you get Valdez right you got a pretty damn good rotation Detroit watch out for Detroit I know you said the Central sucks.

SPEAKER_02

Detroit could be one of the better teams in the American league.

SPEAKER_01

Ah when you're an arrogant Yankee fan you don't even pay attention I know I know you're like who's Detroit pay attention to them you know who haunts you if you're a Yankee fan the friggin' Astros. That's who haunts you know but you I feel that you pay no attention and you know I hate to say this is really going to piss you off you're a Dodgers fan you pay no attention to the Padres.

SPEAKER_02

No you really don't but but it but the crazy part is all Dodger fans love to like talk shit about Padres fans even though they quote unquote don't care about all of us. It's it's interesting how that works.

SPEAKER_01

It is uh Jim Russell thank you so much for coming on this was an emergency combo I I called Jim about 20 minutes before we did this podcast yo bro can you come on with me uh I had a cancellation until next week next week we have uh former boxing world champion Chris Algeri coming on um he fought Manny Pacquiao he'll be on next Friday um we have a few pro athletes we're lining up for April so it's gonna be a fantastic uh April for us but Jim I I've done radio with you oh man going back to years 14 14 13 and I said to the producer watch this I haven't even spoke to Jim I I said to I I was on the phone with him for 10 seconds watch we'll bang out 40 minutes like it's nothing um yeah it's easy I'm ready whenever you need me I'm on call dude like let's go lock it in I appreciate it Jim Russell make sure you catch him on the wrap up show for the Padres will be on with John Schaefer. Thank you so much Jim for popping on the Bet Big Talk Loud podcast. Thanks man appreciate it yes sir