I Love Mondays with Mike Heller
Mike Heller is back talking all things sports and all things Packers, Brewers, Bucks, Badgers and beyond.
I Love Mondays with Mike Heller
I Love Mondays - Ep 61 May 26, 2026
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Pablo Iglesias sits in for Mike and talks with Lily Zhao from Fox 6 Milwaukee.
Welcome, Mike Heller.
SPEAKER_03Welcome into another Tuesday edition of the I Love Mondays podcast with Mike Heller. And yes, don't you worry. If you're asking the question, you are correct. Uh, I am Pablo Glacius, not Mike Heller. Uh, he is away for the holiday weekend. Congratulations to him. Uh, I believe his daughter just got married this weekend, so he is on his way back uh from that wedding right now, and he asked to pinch hit. Uh he asked me to come in here. So, again, super honored to get to be here with you on this Tuesday edition of the I Love Mondays podcast. Uh, again, I'm Pablo Iglesias, currently a free agent right now, but I've really been part of Wisconsin Sports for just about five years now, which is crazy to think about. Uh, I spent time at WKOW, the ABC Madison affiliate, spending time covering the Milwaukee Bucks NBA Championship, covering the Green Bay Packers, especially Aaron Rodgers the last couple years, which maybe we'll talk about into that. Maybe we'll maybe we uh we'll see. We'll see exactly what it is. But so many great stories getting to tell that too with the Wisconsin Badgers and what have gone with the Paul Christ era towards the end of that to the Luke Fickle era as well. Um, and also getting to cover some great things with the Milwaukee Brewers, and then from there, uh was with ESP and Madison for just under two years, getting to host the Saturday Scramble, part of the jump around. Um, yeah, right now, like I said, it's free agency period, though. And again, shout out to Mike Heller, uh great friend uh who I've gotten to know over um, you know, over my time here in Wisconsin. And again, really appreciate the opportunity here. We're gonna have some fun, and I think the biggest question that I want to think about, and I put this out, we'll have our guest as well today, Lily Zhao of Fox 6 Milwaukee. Great friend of mine, too. She's also been part of the Green Bay market, so excited to have join us in the conversation in a little bit. Um, but I do want to talk about the central question that I have here. Is that I was thinking about this, I was having a conversation with a friend, really good Packers fan, uh, a really big Packers fan, friend of mine, over this holiday weekend, and I hope you also enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend. Um, is he he had said to me, he said, Pablo, just out of the blue. You know, we're sitting we're enjoying our drinks, uh, we're just having having a good time, and all of a sudden he just says to me, Pop of this Packers schedule just screams 10 and 7 to me. And and I had to take a step back and think about that. Because 10 and 7 in any in any regard, or most regards, if you will, it's still a winning record. It's still more than likely you're in the playoffs. But CJ do Packers fans feel happy about having that seven seed, is the question. I don't know if there's a satisfactory feeling, right? If the Packers were to go, I don't think a 10 and 7 record gets you into that seventh seed, but you never know. But go back and think about that, and then I look at where the Milwaukee Brewers are. Granted, they had a not so hot weekend against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but it's the Dodgers at the end of the day, a team that ended up knocking you out of the postseason when you're just one round shy of playing in that fall classic. Uh, but some good news right now is that they're off running in this final series, and they are still leading the NL Central. They took down the Cubs before they had played uh the Los Angeles Dodgers, and things still look good. So going back to this Packers thing, though, the big question that I have comparing the two, but if you were to look at the next three years, right? If you were to look at the next three seasons for both of these organizations, for both of these franchises, very beloved, very well-known Wisconsin teams, who is going to win a championship first within a three-year frame? Who would you feel like that if I ask you today, is it the Green Bay Packers or is it the Milwaukee, who is going to win themselves a championship within three years? Who's going to be the first to do it? And believe it or not, especially going back to that 10 and 7 prediction, uh, that realistic too. Very realistic Packers friend of my ad. But I actually do believe that if I were to, if I had to choose, I think the Milwaukee Bucks, or excuse me, the Milwaukee Bucks, that's a different one. The Milwaukee Brewers have a better shot at winning a title in the next three years, but it's not because I believe that the Green Bay Packers are are a worse team. The reason why is I feel like let's start with the Green Bay Packers side of this thing. The Green Bay Packers side of this is that there's a lot of parody in the NFC. Granted, for the Packers to be a seven seed, we could have a conversation about this all day and all night. Is that Matt O'Fleur has outside of the the year that he had with Aaron Rodgers in 2020 in the COVID season where they ended up losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is that they've they are on a consecutive string of being the seventh seed going into the playoffs. Now, granted, again, they faced some tough opponents. They faced the uh before last season with the Bears, it was the Philadelphia Eagles. And the year before, they went on a solid run where they win into Dallas, punched the Cowboys in the mouth at Jerry World, which I'm sure feels us. A lot of Cowboys fans are having nightmares over that. And then you came really close to beating San Francisco for a shot at the NFC Championship game. So we'll give credit there. But the question again is that it's not necessarily an indictment on the Packers, but more so, the way that I think about this is the path to the Super Bowl, for me, feels like it's tough, not just for the Green Bay Packers, but frankly, for anybody. Uh, frankly, because of how much parody and how much talent there is across the board, and just getting let's let's do the hypothetical thing too. Say the Green Bay Packers end up finishing the job in Chicago, right? They end up, they move on, and they play a Rams team. That would have been at SoFi Stadium. I think, I think the Packers could, at the very least, similar to Chicago, outside of that collapse, they could have put up a fight against the Los Angeles Rams. Don't get me wrong. But um, they that would have been a tight game regardless. But then you go into Seattle, which again, at the end of the day, and I had friends too, even after watching that NFC Championship game, they're like, man, the Seahawks, the Seahawks would have just ran laps around us. And I think they ran laps just basically around everybody last season. And and if it were to have played out that way, I think that would have been a true indication, a true marker of where this Packers team is at. And I don't want to say this as a knock, right? I want to I want to be realistic and think about this is again, this is where the Packers are right now, is that I think they showed us last season they could clearly hang with the best. They can. And I still believe that they that they are more than capable of doing that, right? They can definitely do it. But when you slip up in some of those moments, let's go back to even week four of the Cleveland Browns game. Jordan Love, you know, all you gotta do is protect the ball, keep moving that offense, eat up some clock, make sure you play smart. And that interception right over the middle of the field that ended up being extremely called early in the season, but then you also go to the Cowboys week the next to the following week in Dallas, and you end up in a tie. So that's how you end up in a 9-7-in-one season where things just feel absolutely weird and wonky. So going back to the point is that it just feels like that the Packers, again, they can hang with the top teams in the NFC. They they could be a seven seed and they could have honestly ran their way into the Super Bowl. There was a lot of parody in in the NFC. Every team, even to the top, had its flaws. But they can also show that right now that is special collapse like they had against Chicago, not once but twice, one in the regular season and one to end their season, that that they still have ways to go too. And to go into the Brewer's point, though, too, like I said, the reason why I feel like it's in Milwaukee Brewers, first off, is because of I think it's it's the exact opposite of that in the division right now, especially with the Cubs going. I believe right now they're at like a nine-game losing streak. It looks like ever since the uh series before, where the uh fan, a Chicago White Sox fan, had said something to PCA, and then uh the Cubs hopefully could just regroup and bring in the Milwaukee Brewers and then reset and see exactly what happens from there. And the Brewers just go in, sweep across the board. You got Pat Murphy at Wrigley Field laughing and just feeling good, and and players just in the dugout saying, stomp on their throats, the Cubs are not going to fight back. That is something special in terms of the way that this team fights. Now, the big hurdle, and we saw it this past week in a tad, um, but the big hurdle is still on the other side is that the Brewers can show that they can win the division, they can make a successful playoff game to an extent that they can win the big games where they need to. Unfortunately, they're still standing in the way of the massive Goliath in its way, that is the Los Angeles Dodgers. And I think everybody knows that that is that is a dragon that is still waiting to be slain. So that's where I still feel like even though both teams have obstacles in their way, if I had to be, and if you want to go onto my Twitter poll that I put out there, who is going to win a title in the next three years, who has a better shot? The Green Bay Packers or the Milwaukee Brewers. Once again, that poll is up on Twitter X at Talk Sports, which is where you can follow me. I feel like right now it's gotta be the Milwaukee Brewers. The the Brewers right now, I I love the attitude, right? I love the Pat Murphy buy-in. I love how you could just say that this is a team that you really want to get behind. And it's not saying that the Packers aren't. It's just the the idea of how this team dealt with the young star power. I don't even want to say that it lacks star power because I think if we reframe it in a in a healthy way, the Brewers have great stars. Just yesterday. Jacob Mizarowski, once again, 10 plus K's. I believe he finished the the night with 11 K's. He finished with 11 strikeouts against the St. Louis Cardinals, which is this is a huge stretch too for the for the Brewers. You know, you had the Cubs, you had the Dodgers, and now you have St. Louis Cardinals. And taking a look, uh, I want to actually take a look right now at the standings. And again, the Brewers are still at the top. And like I said, they're they're holding, I'd say even more than holding their own. I don't even think it's fair to say holding their own now. Which is actually there's a big number here that stands out to me. It's 71 run differential compared to the St. Louis Cardinals at a minus three. But right now the Brewers are 31 and 20, holding a two and a half game lead. And granted, yes, probably say to be popped, it's late May, I agree, but it's a long season ahead of us. Is that the Milwaukee Brewers, it's it's far from a fluke. And if you're still calling it a fluke, if you're still calling it luck, if you're still calling it up, well, you know, the the pixie dust is gonna run out at some point. I I think you're wrong here. I I I don't I I I'd have to disagree and believe that you have to keep giving the Milwaukee Brewers a chance, right? You have to keep uh uh I mean it really you're gonna be facing tough teams, and and let's look at this too. The Dodgers, yeah. They're 34 and 20, but also what happens when you run into a streaking Atlanta team? You know, you don't get too high, you don't get too low. And I think that's kind of what this this is what this Pat Murphy uh brewer led team has felt like, right? Don't get don't get too high, don't get too low. Keep those try to try to say the course, right? Try to say the course and and just play ball, right? It's it's the it's the beautiful thing, right? Is that you can again sense the the young energy. You can sense that Pat Murphy, Pat Murphy's the guy who who doesn't give a bank uh about what you what you necessarily think about him, but in the best way, he's also one of the nicest guys, but he's so respected that you can feel in that clubhouse. And I think that went from what Craig Consell had done in that clubhouse, he did some special things. He was a guy that people really loved and embraced, and until he went to Chicago to get the bag. Hey, it is what it is. But obviously things turned. But then with Pat Murphy and how he's uh led this squad and how he's embraced baseball in a different way, and how he's helping bring up these new young guys, and and um I mean the sky's the limit. You know, once Jackson Cherio really gets rolling, I mean that's gonna be a fun one. But Jacob Mizarowski to take the size that he's playing essentially in the sophomore season is unbelievable. It's unbelievable. And you get Jesus Medei, who is he's gonna be another star. So in a way, the sky's the limit, and going back to the big central question who has a better shot of winning the next title in the in the next three years, even though you have the Braves and the Dodgers standing in your way at the very moment, it feels like there's in a way a little less parody. Um the competition is stiff, don't get me wrong on either side, but I feel like based off of the way that the brewers have been trending over the last few years, it it has to do with Milwaukee Brewers. I I I think that's that's that's exactly what I'm thinking here. So yeah, that that's where we stand here um on that one. Um, but that just really opens the door a lot. Uh, and here on I Love Mondays with Mike Heller, Pablo Iglesias filling in, and uh really appreciate y'all joining us on the Tuesday edition. Hope you enjoy the Memorial Day weekend. Uh again, we got Lily Zow joining us in a little bit of Fox Six Milwaukee. Uh, but before we do that, I want to toss over to you some messages that Mike had for some great partners that are associated with this. So, Mike, go ahead and take it away. We got Lily Zhao Fox 6 Milwaukee coming up next.
SPEAKER_00The I Love Mondays podcast is presented by one community bank, whether you're a first-time home buyer looking to purchase or build a new home or ready to refinance your existing mortgage. One community bank has a mortgage solution that will fit your needs. Visit the website at onecommunity.bank, call 608-838-3141, or visit one of our locations to experience feel good banking. One Community Bank is a member, FDIC, and an equal housing lender. We're also presented by M3 Insurance. The M3 team makes insurance easier to understand, not just easier to quote, they use a plain language that spells out what coverage does and what changes when you hire, what to expect when you add equipment, or sign more contracts, and how decisions can affect employee retention and culture. M3 helps small businesses plan for growth and prepare for the unexpected. Visit M3INS.com to learn more. The I Love Mondays podcast is also presented by the Neuroscience Group after a car accident, workplace injury, or sports concussion, getting the right care matters. Our comprehensive concussion program brings together specialists focused on helping you heal and get back to what you love. Neuroscience Group, Wisconsin's leader in concussion care. Go to Neuroscience Group.com. We are also presented by Pottawatomy Sportsbook and Casino. You can have a barrel of fun with your share of over 300 grand. Play the Pottawatomy Rewards card through May 28th. 40 winners every Thursday night. Winners take the stage and go head to head playing the classic game with a fun twist. And also presented by Habit, Habich and Rotier. Welcome back to I Love Mondays. Mike Pablo Glissius.
SPEAKER_03Know her the AAA Asian American Central Association. Shout out to the sports task force. Woo woo. And Lily, I mean, if it if it ain't gonna be Lily who's gonna sell her, uh sell herself, it's gonna be me because I I gotta say, like Lily, Lily's a rock star. She's she's covering. I mean, Lil, how long have you been in the Milwaukee market? It's been a minute, like in a good way.
SPEAKER_01Yes, it's been a minute. Uh, I think I got here during COVID year, so it's been a long time. But I've been in Wisconsin for a very long time. So that's how I got to know you and through AAJA. So um I'm very thankful to join. It's great to talk to you early in the AM, and this is fun.
SPEAKER_03Well, well, appreciate it. Hopefully, the coffee's kicking in a little bit. And uh for me, I I think uh I still gotta get an extra joke, but uh hopefully uh I haven't rattled Packer fans too much in this and saying the central question of who's got the better shot of winning a title in the next three years. And I think just based off of how we've seen things trend, Lily, I gotta believe it's the Milwaukee Brewers over the Packers. I want to ask you right off the jump, where do you stand? Who do you who do you think? Am I right? Am I wrong? Where are you at?
SPEAKER_01Uh, it's tough. It's tough. I'll I'll just say this with the Brewers right now, they're proven commodity. You know, the Packers haven't started yet. It's an entirely new coaching staff, new players. Um, so I'll get to them in a second. But the brewers, I think you bring up a good point of they just have a lot of young, good young talent. They have a manager who knows how to relate to his players and of course manage. I think the tricky part with the brewers is all right, next year, what happens with the lockout? Will there be a lockout? You know, will that affect the brewers and what they want to do on their payroll? I think the big questions will be can they afford to keep William Contreras? If they don't do it this year, can they afford to keep Contreras? Can they afford to keep Bryce Terrain? What do they do with the left side of the field? Uh, because right now the production offensively is not there at shortstop and third base. Can they get production there? I think if they do something at the deadline to make sure they can get something coming out of the left side of the field offensively, I think they have a shot this year in the playoffs. But like you mentioned, they're gonna run into a juggernaut called the LA Dodgers, the two-time defending World Series champions, and rightfully so. I mean, I know the narrative last year was they went 6-0 against LA in the regular season, and then the Dodgers went and swept him in the postseason. You know, this time, their first matchup this season, I mean, they didn't have the quote unquote toughest arms, I should say, and nothing to discount those guys, but um, it just wasn't the best pitching series in games two and three against the Dodgers. And you see just again how potent they can be. So I think for the Brewers, it's they need more offense, in my opinion, especially on the left side of the field. And they just need to make sure that their health is there in their starting rotation. I think when you have Jacob Mizarowski, Kyle Harrison, uh, if Woody comes back, those guys give you a really good chance. But then you kind of look at the bottom of that starting rotation, and it's a little bit hit or miss, in my opinion, to uh be able to trot that out against a team like the Dodgers and expect a win. But I think the issue with the Brewers in the past is just their offense in the postseason. So I think if they can kind of get that short up, I think they have a fantastic chance. Um, but if it's not this year, can they keep it up uh depending on the lockout? Um I just I I think just because they are a proven commodity right now, um I agree. I think they they might have a better chance to win it than the Packers. I think if like if we do this again in November, maybe I'll I'll change my stance. Um, but I I just want to see what the Packers can do first. Um, so speaking of them, you know, I know a lot of people probably are predicting the nine, 10 win season for them, like you mentioned.
SPEAKER_03Um but it was a friend prediction, just to be just to be clear on that one.
SPEAKER_01So you're like just the friend, just the friend.
SPEAKER_03I just I just want to put it out there. And I was looking at in the odds too, is that the Packers are in the top 10 for Super Bowl favorites, which I is always a fair one. I mean, granted, we sometimes know the books usually put the Packers out there because they don't think they can get that extra cash, but I I don't think that it's necessarily you know a long shot to believe that the Packers shouldn't be in the Super Bowl conversation. And hey, listen, I'm a Chicago guy, I'm a Bears guy, you know what it is, but it is but but but true truth. I mean, I'll I'll pull out from a great colleague of Jason Wilby, who I've gotten to learn from over uh you know, over the last few years too, is I'm gonna give everyone a fair shot. My fan is I'm gonna give everyone a fair shot. That's Will Jay Journal and me. But it's you do have to believe, right, that the Packers should still be in that conversation, even if you do believe it's a nine ten win type season.
SPEAKER_01Oh, absolutely. I I thought They were in the conversation last year. And I think they would have been had Mike Parsons and Tucker Kraft not been hurt. But you can say that every year of, oh, if this star player didn't go down, this team has a great shot to win a Super Bowl. But I think the next couple of years will be a good gauge to see if Ed policy was right. I think coming in for Mark Murphy, he kind of put all his eggs in one basket and saying, I know Brian Gudekunst, I know Matt LaFleur, we've done this together for a very long time. I believe they're the guys that can help this team win the next Super Bowl. Um, they haven't even gotten close to that threshold in many years. And I know there was an NFC championship game there in Matt LaFleur's tenure, but they just haven't sniffed just the top echelon there. So I think the next couple of years will be big proven years for LaFleur and Gutenkunst to say, you know, this is why we deserve those contract extensions. With that being said, when you look at this roster, again, I'm very curious to see what Jonathan Gannon can do with this defense. I know he's not a 3-4-4-3 guy, and there's not really a quote unquote scheme. He's going to work with the players he has, the personnel, and play up to their strengths. So I'm wondering how that translates to the defense. But I do believe they have all the pieces to make a Super Bowl run if they can stay healthy. Um, I think if they can, you know, three to one record when Michael Parsons is out, I think that's a really good springboard for them when he comes back to potentially win the division. I think they got to start there first. Um, they haven't won the division in in a couple of years here. Uh, your Bears and the Lions have made it really tricky. Um and so I believe in them. I really do. I just think because we haven't seen them yet. Um, and this new version of the Packers, I'd say because we've seen the Brewers thus far this season, I'd say more confident in them. But you know, if you ask me maybe in the fall, I might change my mind here. But I I believe the Packers are always in the conversation when you have top-tier players like Jordan Love and and just everybody else behind him.
SPEAKER_03I think a look at the the NFC North too with the odds according to ESPN. The Detroit Lions are actually the favorite to win the division this year. It's it's it's so from top to bottom, it's the Lions, the Packers, the Bears, and the Vikings. And I think Lil Lily, another thing that I did not even mention when I had said like the parody of the NFC as a whole, like say the Packers do. Because I I do believe that this Packers team still very much has a chance to make a run. You mentioned Michael Parsons injury, you sneak it 9-7-1. You're still in the playoffs, but you're without a star player, a guy that you took a huge gamble with, which I still think was the right move. It's still it made it ton of a lot of Packer fans fired up. Granted, I wish they didn't do it on the day that the Badgers were opening up their season, but I digress. You know, we know how the news cycle goes, so we can't control that. But going back to it, it's not even just the parody of the NFC, it's the parody of the NFC North. And I think everybody's also writing off the Vikings, which you know what it is was you still got the football, you still gotta get out there, you gotta put 60 minutes uh on the gridiron. And and is uh, you know, Kevin O'Connell still feels like that quarterback whisperer. He was able to do it for Sam Darnold. Fortunately, it didn't pan out for the Vikings, but then Sam Darnold goes and gets back, goes to Seattle, and wins the Super Bowl. Now, can he do this with Kyler Murray? We'll see. It hasn't been working out exactly with JJ McCarthy, but that's I think to an extent why you still bring in Kyler Murray, at least to give him some competition, you know, kind of go back and forth, see exactly where you want to go as a franchise, and to keep Burris on the defense, I think is I I don't expect necessarily the Vikings. I mean, if the Vikings win the division, then we gotta make sure that we understand this one and talk and talk to a lot of Minnesota Viking fans. But I think you get what I'm saying is that there's just so much parity in the NFC North alone, too. I mean, where do you think the Packers just stand up in terms of you know where what you saw last year in the division fights and and where do you think they they match up this year?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, I think that was the biggest emphasis last year was was trying to win games because they were very porous. Um, you know, they they were markedly improved in the division last year from two years ago when they just just couldn't beat anybody in the division. But like you said, it's it's good and bad, right? It's good that your division is good, but then it's bad because you know they're good, so you have to be even better. Um, and I think this year, I don't see why they couldn't be at the top. You know, I I understand it's it's what have you done for me lately? That's again how we base our rankings and and odds, of course. Um, and so I understand why the Lions would be favorites in the division. They've not proven why they wouldn't be. Um, I I know maybe the knock against Chicago would just kind of be the sporadic play. And and I know they were really the fourth quarter quick kings last year, but can you live like that forever? Um, and so I understand, you know, the Lions have been very consistent, but I I think maybe the knock against the Packers this year just is we haven't seen them. Um, you know, the Lions have gotten another year under their coordinators, and and the Packers haven't. So I understand why they haven't been at the top, but that's not to say they can't be. Um, I think they can still be very competitive in the division. I would expect that when they play the Bears again, sorry, Pablo, um, that they they It's gonna happen twice a year anyway.
SPEAKER_03So it's it's all it's all gonna happen.
SPEAKER_01Yes, that they actually close out games this year uh in Chicago and against the Bears. So I'm gonna I'm gonna make that bold prediction that they don't give up a win per se against the Bears. Um I think that they can keep pace with the Lions. I think they can take care of the Vikings. Um, and I think they should be one of the top teams out there because again, this is a team with really, really high standards. And you you build this team to win a Super Bowl. The Packers believe they've done that. So I think it's go out and show them this year. Again, guys got to stay healthy, but I think this is a roster that really can compete for the top echelon teams this year.
SPEAKER_03You've made a point too that that I also uh almost forgot to or I brushed over is at policy's first full season now. Uh I mean again, it's the when he took over, we heard the lame duck, no lame duck years or so comment. Um, and and it was almost kind of felt like he was but wasn't pointing at uh and LaFleur and Gudacoot, and uh we ended up getting extensions uh instead when it felt like it was like, okay, these guys might be out the door, this might be a part of the season. What's gonna happen? Now that Ed Policy's, you know, everybody seems like they're they're all good to go, they're all on the same page. Uh what are you expecting? What has Ed Policy shown to you in terms of taking the reins, taking the keys of this car, and and hopefully driving it, uh driving it into the sunset?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think, you know, with what fans have had to expect with Mark Murphy in the past, I think he's just a different kind of leader, a different kind of president. Um, you know, Mark Murphy was very much, you know, in front and made a lot of appearances. And not saying Ed Policy won't, but I think just the way that they go about their business is going to be a little bit different. Um, and not saying that that difference is bad, right? Um, but I think Ed Policy kind of moves a little bit quieter in the background and just does things a little bit differently. But what we can expect, I think, is it's still the same consistency. I mean, their structure of communication remains the same as it did under Mark Murphy. Um, you know, he put a lot of trust into LaFleur, Guten. And then there's Russ Ball, their moneyman, right? So it's just that brain trust right there is what Ed Policy is banking on to succeed this year and into the future. Um, but I know, you know, he's kind of been very transparent about naming rights and other things. And I don't think, you know, fans are kind of focused on the football, football aspect of it, but now it's his job to think broader. Um, and so I believe that, you know, just knowing folks that know him, it's it's a nice transition. It's a transition of somebody who, you know, truly understands the Packers' organization and what they want to do. So I expect again good things out of his tenure. And I and I think he believes the same. But I just think you know, things will move a little bit differently under him, and that's not to say that it's you know bad, but it it will be different for sure.
SPEAKER_03Uh, last thing, and hey, who knows? We got some more pack stock on this one because I want over to Brewers, because I mean, hey, they're they're playing hot, they deserve the stage just as much. But uh Jonathan Gannon, too, and uh also a good friend of ours through AAJ, Josh Toletito, who used to cover the uh Philadelphia Eagles, a shot of the text when the Packers hired Jonathan Gannon, because let's be fair, I I think that Packer fans knowing the lack of success that Jonathan Gannon had as the head coach of the Eddie Zona Cardinals, that tenure didn't go super well when I texted Josh and asked, hey, what's the gauge here? How does how do we feel? You know, what was this a good was this a good hire? And he said, players love it. He said players really loved uh who he is. I thought he's got he's got the endorsement for sure as a defensive coordinator. Maybe and and I don't know and we'll see if we can find I'm sure Lily Lily's a lot more connected than me, so maybe she's got an Arizona Cardinals connection down there. Um so so we'll see what what went wrong in Arizona. Maybe we can figure that out in part two with us. But um it sounds like that there's a a really resounding yes. This is believe it or not, this is a very subtly quiet A plus hire from what I'm from what I'm sensing. Um in game. Um has have you gotten to have conversations? Have you gotten to learn a little bit more about him, his scheme, his style, um, and just what he's bringing so far?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think, you know, what I think the fans can expect is just a different style of defensive coordinator, right? Coming off of Jeff Hafley, a guy who was very much rah-rah, a great orator, just a natural born speaker, not saying Ganon's not, but he just kind of had this aura presence that, you know, just kind of got in your face. Um, it's just different from for Jonathan Gannon. That's again not that different, is bad. It's just he he leads in a much different way. He even said in his introductory press conference, I'm not a big rah-rah guy. It's just not who I am, you know. But he'll be down on the field calling plays during the season. That's I I like that aspect of it. But to your point, I think guys who have played under him, played for him, really, really respect him as a coach. And I think more so as a human. Um, I think he knows how to relate to guys. And I think that's why he has the skiing, quote unquote, that he has is that I'm not gonna box you into what I believe we could do. I'm gonna mold what we can do for the team around you and your strengths. And so I think that might, you know, sit well with guys as well. Um, but yeah, just from guys that have played under him. I I think it's, you know, they they love the fact that he's here. I think the fact that he has head coaching experience can help out Matt LaFleur as well. If, you know, Matt needs another kind of mind to play off of. Um, but I I just do think things will be a little bit different. But just from you know what guys are seeing in social media when when Gannon was hired and how things have kind of gone this summer, um, it's been a resounding like, heck yeah, let's let's get to work. So I'm excited to see what he can do. And and again, I know when he was in Philly, you look at the players that he had, right? I mean, I think they led the league in sacks that year, went to the Super Bowl. It it's it shows you the potential for what a Jonathan Gannon-led defense can be when he's just focused on the defense and not focused on everything else as a head coach. So, you know, when you just look at what he was able to do in Philly, managing a defense, that gives you hope for we can get back to the top tier of getting after a quarterback, rushing with four, getting in the backfield with four. Um, because that's kind of been tricky the last couple of years, um, especially with injury last season. So I'm expecting big things, and I think the players are too.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I mean, it's it's gonna be interesting to see uh what the season brings and um yeah, how how they move forward. I I think you you bring up a good two of uh I know we said I want to go brewers, but we're we're gonna stick Packers real quick here. But you brought up a really good point of that it's it's playing to your style, right? It's playing loose, it's playing free, and and it's it feels like it's almost refreshing to see the the Jonathan Gain. I'm not saying that Jeff Affley didn't do that, but I think you kind of sense that that there were some you know, where were the Packers on both sides, or really even on both sides at all, um playing freely, like where it's a little more rigid, where they kind of trying to go through the motions and where they're really getting their setup. I mean, I think of Jordan Love too, a guy where it's like we've seen the flashes, and I'm surprised we never even talked about QB Wan until this point. But it's you see the flashes. Uh, I mean, I think there is a there is a legitimate case that he could be in the MVP conversation. I mean, he has the skill sets. Um, he's he's coming off of you know, following these two Hall of Fame quarterbacks, um, in Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. And and again, the skill set they learned, you can see probably a few things that the skill set in the in the in the toolbox, that back foot. I always look at that back foot throw. Uh that that feels like that came from the predecessor and how we learn from Aaron Rodgers. Um, but it just still feels like that we're waiting on this on this big leap that Jordan Love needs to take. And and maybe it just kind of feels like that. He's kind of playing his his style of game, but he's also not. It's just that weird in between right now. So I mean, for this season in Jordan Love, how big of a I don't want to call it a make or break, but just you know, how I want even this is a bigger word of tumultuous, but it's just, you know, again, just where where do you think? Like if there's a word that you would describe this season for Jordan Love and in the upcoming year, what's what's that one word you would use um as as he comes up into this 2026 season, Lily?
SPEAKER_01Ooh, good question. Um I would just say prove it. Not to say he hasn't proven it yet, but I think when you look at the again, when you look at the expectation of what it is to be a Green Bay Packers quarterback, you're following in the steps of, you know, all the all-time greats, and then you're coming off of Aaron Rodgers, who, you know, it's crazy to me that he's only won one Super Bowl in his career. Being as talented as you will be, he'll he'll be a first, you know, ballot hall of famer, whenever he does hanging up potentially after the season. Um, that being said, I think it's it's the big proof it. It's, you know, when your team is is counting on you to lead a final drive and a game-winning drive, can you go do it? Um, I know that was they had chances in the postseason and and they couldn't get it done. I think this year it's a, all right, let's put it on my shoulders and let's make this thing go. And I know it's we can talk about the injuries. That didn't help. I think the offensive line, being injured and shuffling guys around all five positions, you know, the the continuity wasn't there offensively on the offensive line. And then you have a run game that was kind of stifled. So all those pieces around him, I think didn't help, um, that they weren't as consistent or as good as I think we predicted they would be this this season. If you know we have a dedicated starting five, who I know they they have to be versatile, but you know, if those guys are playing their spots 99% of the time, you can get the run game going. I think that's gonna allow Jordan Love to really shine there. Um, so I think this is a big prove-it year to say, all right, you know, whenever Tucker Kraft comes back, this offensive line should just be more steady. Um, we need to go improve it. And if there's a drive out there in the future where the Packers are down a couple points and they can go and win a win a game on a touchdown drive, I I want to see that from Jordan Love this year. That'll be fun.
SPEAKER_03Last thing on the on the Packers. Uh, what's what's something that uh Packer fans are sleeping on? I mean, I know, trust me, you and I have been in this market for a minute now, and we know that there are some Packer fans that that know this team to to the nth degree, but sometimes that that surprise us, and they know this sad about this guy. It's like, oh, you know what, they got we gotta draft this, you know. We know sometimes that where the Packers really love to thrive in the draft, for instance, fourth and seventh round, and they're telling us all these stats about this guy. Granted, we we do our homework too, but uh there's a lot of Packer fans that do their homework. But what is who or what or whatever the case is that one diamond in a rough for the Green Bay Packers this season that fans you feel like are sleeping on a little bit, that they're gonna be genuinely surprised to see.
SPEAKER_01Hmm, good question. Um I think my easy answer would be Matthew Golden. That'd be my easy answer, but I'm not gonna go there because I think it's extremely nope.
SPEAKER_03Easy, easy's too uh, you can't can't go easy route. I love it.
SPEAKER_01So I'm gonna go special teams. I know this is they have not, it's been a it's been a much talked about department for a long time in Green Bay. So I'm either gonna say Sky Moore or Trace Mack. I think, you know, they brought in Sky Moore. Can he be the guy? Can he be the guy on returns? Can he actually get this return game going? And then on the other end is is Trace Mack. You know, I think it's obviously his job to lose without Brandon McManus there. So if he impresses during training camp, can he be the guy? And really surprise because you have a certified A plus guy, punter, and Daniel Wheeling. You need a really good kicker there as well. But I think Trace Mack, Sky Moore, if they can do something on the special teams unit to really make us all happy. I'm gonna say those two guys are don't sleep on those two guys. Um and I hope I don't, you know, doesn't come back to bite me. But I'm gonna I'm gonna say that that's my answer.
SPEAKER_03Social graph it now. Put it put the audio graph up. We're gonna audio graph Lily on that one. Special teams, special players, special plays on this Tuesday edition of I Love Mondays podcast. Uh Pablo Glissy is filling in from Mike Keller. Uh talking to Lily's out. Lily, like I said, uh I wanted to transition and talk a little bit about Brewers too. And we started a little bit about that. I came out hot and saying Brewers are gonna win a championship. And if I were to be a betting man, I think the Brewers have a better shot in this next three years, despite the juggernauts and all that. But again, you know, it's still they're playing good ball right now. They're playing good ball despite not uh not things going really their way in the Dodgers series. You bounce back and have a Memorial Day. Were you out at uh out of the park yesterday too, or did you get to enjoy Memorial Day?
SPEAKER_01Uh no, I was actually in the studio. So I I enjoyed the game on TV. Um but no, I was I was at work yesterday unfortunately.
SPEAKER_03Gotcha, gotcha. Well, we appreciate you uh doing doing uh all that for us out there and uh keeping the fans keeping the fans informed um on um on Memorial Day. But uh a good bounce back win after that series loss um against the Dodgers, but you know, still kind of felt like it was at least hard fought. Got to see the Dodgers right up front. Curious again to see with how hot the Atlanta Braves are, what that series is gonna be, but we cross that bridge when we get there. What have you seen so far with the with the Brewers and how they played again? You know, with this Pat Murphy-led squad. Um, it wasn't all too a great start, but they've been turning it around. And you mentioned that that hollowed out starting rotation um and and what else they need to fix. You know, do you still feel good about this team of where they're at uh with just about two two months under the belt?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I do. Um, you know, it's really the Pat Murphy brand of baseball. They just find ways to win. Again, they're last I checked, they were at the bottom of the majors in terms of home runs. I don't know if they're still at the bottom, but they're very close to the bottom. Um, but again, you look at their run differential. I mean, nine times out of ten, you're you're thinking high in home runs equates to really high run differential. And that's not the case for the Brewers this year. It's a very interesting case, is that they don't hit homers, but they will work a pitcher to death. I mean, they'll work a walk, they'll steal a base, they'll they just put pressure on opposing pitchers. And I think that's when they're at their best. Um, it's when they're patient at the plate and they have really strong pitching. Um, you know, I think that the games two and three against the Dodgers, you kind of see when you slip a little bit in pitching and your bats can't keep up. That's unfortunately, you know, kind of what transpired in that series. It's the first one that they dropped in in quite a long time. So I still feel very good about this team. Um, I do think, like you mentioned, the top teams in the in the National League, Dodgers, Braves, um, even teams in their division, can they keep up and keep winning? I think, again, depending on the health of their starting rotation, what happens with Quinn Priester, um, what happens with Brandon Woodruff? And then you have guys in the bullpen that are working their way back. If they, if they remain strong pitching-wise, I believe they have a shot against anybody because that will keep their bats in it and they just will somehow find a way to get on base. I mean, they're one of the best teams in the majors in terms of two out runs and hits. So again, they will find ways, but will that translate to postseason success? I'm not sure. I think they need another certified bat in that lineup to make sure they get over the hump. I think, you know, it was before yesterday. I think it was before they played the um uh the Cardinals. It was Brewers, Cubs, Dodgers. That was the the route it would go if the playoffs ended, or that if the season ended, Brewers, Cubs, and then the winner plays the Dodgers. And you're thinking, oh gosh, here we go again. So I think if they're in that scenario late in the year, it's I think they need another bat. But to your point, I think this is still a very, very good Brewers team, and they just find ways to win.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, they're a fun team. I mean, but it you do bring up that point. Granted, I know you uh Augenio Suarez was a huge name at the trade deadline. It looks like he just got a little snake bitten towards there. I think he got in the hand uh close to close to the deadline, and things kind of felt a little scary, a little shaky, um, and just ended up not really being the bat that uh he was the first injury barring, whatever the case was. So um it still would have been it still would have been amazing to see if the Brewers were in the mix for him. Or I think that that is the big thing that you said. They're missing that certified bat, they're missing that thing. And as fun as it in, you know, from the definitive standpoint of ignorance is bliss with this young, it does sometimes they're fun to watch, that they're a good group, but you do feel like that. That's sometimes. Kind of runs out. I mean, even that from the building blocks, though, it's can this team develop superstars? I think yes, we've seen it. We've seen it in Freddie Peralta, and unfortunately, um, you you have to part ways because you just know that you can't afford them. You did it with William Damas. I mean, I I think is there a way because you see it in Mizorowski and how he's being built up. I'm sure with everything that we talk about with Jesus Made, I mean, it's just waiting at this point. It's it is waiting for him to finally be in that Milwaukee Brewers uniform. I mean, do you think that it's not necessarily shopping for a star, but the brewers can build those stars? Again, they have that track record of doing it. Do you think that that's kind of that missing piece to send this team over to the top is having those young superstars build into build into big household names?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I think so. I think that's I think it's twofold though. Um when you look at this brewer's farm system, they are one of the best in baseball. They have multiple guys in the top 100 in terms of prospects. Um, you look, you mentioned it, Jesus Made, Luis Lara, Cooper Pratt, Andrew Fisher, I mean, the and Jet Williams. I mean, they're these are guys that what a name, Jet Williams, too. Right. Um these are guys that one day will be really good in the majors. And I think, you know, now it's the narrative of okay, you look at the left side of the field for the Brewers, there's opportunity there for young guys. But at the same token, it's they're young. So if you get into the postseason with a younger guy, they don't have the experience. Not to say that that, you know, doesn't discount for natural talent, but you know, can you win a big postseason series with young talent that's never been at that stage before? In, you know, postseason baseball, as we know, as we all know, is a completely different animal. But what I think this team does so well is that they do, it's it's like they draft and develop like the Green Bay Packers, right? Their farm system is is immaculate. And I think when they do bring guys up, they perform very well for a reason. Um, so I think that there is talent there to go to if the current guys on, you know, on the roster just can't keep hitting. Um, but my question, Mark, would be even if you bring them up, can they perform when it matters most in the playoffs? So that's my big question. But I think, you know, why not? Bring them up and see what they can do, right? I think that'd be fun for fans too.
SPEAKER_03Wrapping up with uh five, six Milwaukee's Lily Zhao, a great friend of mine to really appreciate you joining us, Lily. Um, we we jumped in a lot of Packers and Brewers, and and I think uh we got a lot of good stuff out of that one. But one quick question before I really let you go, because appreciate your time. I know we gotta get going soon, so I'll get you that heart out soon. Um it's gonna be the summary of Giannis trades, though. I'm not asking you if you're gonna be like, is he is he going? Is he is he staying? But I just want to ask you for that pulse though. What's going on? I mean, the box even put out that they are essentially open for business. You know, I don't think it's uh I don't think it's a everything must go liquidation sale. I mean, but clearly Giannis is the asset. Giannis has been the the one where it's like we they were entertaining balls at the at the trade deadline, they did get what they wanted. It felt like at least, and now they're back into it with knowing what the draft positions are. Felt like that that was probably the move if they get exactly what they wanted, wait for the draft, see where everybody finishes out. And now we're just a few weeks away from that. What's the pulse right now? Um, whether there's movements or what what is the Bucs front office looking like now, now with a new head coach coming in too?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, um, that's a good question. I think let me look at the date. We are we're yeah, we're less than a month away from the NBA draft. So in less than a month, we'll figure out the trajectory of this 2026 Milwaukee Bucks team and beyond. Um, I know when you look at Giannis's movements in the offseason, I think a lot of people are wondering: is it a farewell tour? Is he taking his family around Milwaukee and kind of just taking it all in because this is the last time they'll be here in the summer? Um, I know he's waiting for his kids to finish up school, so it's not surprising that obviously he's still in town. Um but I think a lot of people are reading into is it just, you know, he's soaking it all in and getting all the sights and sounds in a Milwaukee before he departs, or is it just he's here in the summer enjoying it because his kids are in school? Um but that being said, I I do believe that the the narrative that he might get traded, I think is getting a lot louder. Um I but I think though, it's the question of all right, Jimmy has them, co-owners. If you want to build a team that can win an NBA title, what do you need? You need a superstar player. You have one currently in your organization, but the pieces around him are not fitting or are not elevating the team as a whole to a level of basketball that we've seen the Knicks and the Spurs and the Thunder play this year in the postseason, right? So I understand it's tricky. You have a superstar player you can build around, but with the money, can you afford to build around him? Will that roster in the fall equate to one that can make an NBA title run? I'm not sure. Or if you train him, you know, you're essentially starting from scratch, you're getting a lot of good young talent, picks and the like. Um, and you're you're bringing in a new coach to say, all right, we're gonna form a completely new team and identity, and this is hopefully one that will win. So to your point though, Pablo, I feel like the trade talks are getting louder this summer. Um, but I do wonder if ownership weighs, listen, we literally have a superstar player in our backyard. Can we afford to give them up and quote unquote rebuild? Um, so I'm fine. I'm not in the box front office. I'm glad I'll cover whenever this move does or does not happen. Um, but I will say that the talk's getting louder, that's for sure.
SPEAKER_03We uh we we would uh definitely could play armchair general manager if we really wanted to, trust me. I'm sure there's a lot of people that are uh more than happy to sign up for that job. Well, Lily, uh for the last thing, I mean, if this is the you know, if you will, the end of the Giannis era, um what do you think, uh not just for Milwaukee, from a Wisconsin standpoint too. If this is the era, if this is if this does happen to be a farewell tour, the impact that Giannis will always like leave on the state of Wisconsin, on the city of Milwaukee. We talked about it in different ways, stars being forged from these these these organizations know how to draft well, and and Giannis is uh a true unicorn itself. Diamond in the rough, he was drafted. Uh nobody saw this kid coming. And it brings back a championship to what I guess, if you will, like a small market NBA team, and and brought them to a pinnacle. First time in over 50 years. What do you think um you're gonna remember the most based off of everything that you've been around in Wisconsin and Milwaukee? What do you think Giannis is uh gonna be remembered the most for if this is the end of uh of the run here?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, um, I I think a lot. I think we can talk about you know his obvious achievements on the basketball court. I think, you know, it's also important to point out, again, what him and his wife Mariah have done for the community. Um, diaper drives, just getting everything, you know, they were very big in the community. So I think that should be praised regardless. Um, but you know, you look at what him and his family have done for the community, um, just how they've embraced Milwaukee, um, you know, him and his brothers, his mom, his entire family, his kids. I mean, they've grown up at Pfizer Forum, his children. So um, it was a family affair. And that will be, you know, if whatever transpires, if he does leave, that'll be sad to see that go. Um, you know, it's you've probably you've been to Bucks Games. It's, you know, hearing that crowd pop when Giannis's name is announced, um, the draw he gets, I mean, that will sorely be missed. And then you talk about his on court achievements. We could talk about that all day. But um, this level of just grit he brought to the organization, um, the standard of excellence of play, um, the leadership, I think that will be missed if he does leave. Um, and then it's all right, now we're back to the pre-Giannis days where Giannis wasn't in Milwaukee. How do you get a crowd in? How do you get wins? Um, you have Taylor Jenkins, who's an established coach. What can you do? Um, but that being said, there there will be a lot to miss about Giannis. But I would just say um his jokes, his dad jokes are funny. I'd miss that. Um, and yeah, that that's it would be sad to see him go for sure.
SPEAKER_03I'm always gonna miss the 50 piece too. I think I went to the Chick-fil-A uh when it was uh it was 50 piece after they won the finals, and I went uh when I went to cover the parade, we ended up stopping at the Chick-fil-A, I believe. Oh my god, that line was just way too crazy. Understandably, I mean that that almost felt like it was uh it was a it was a landmark based off all that. But um, yeah, I mean at the end of the day, like you said, I I was around there too with Pfizer Forum with the Deer District. Um when those I was there the night of when when they won the championship in Milwaukee and talking to fans, just the jubilation of thank you, Giannis, for staying. Thank you for not taking that that supermax deal. And you know what? Feelings if if this were, you know, we we don't want to talk about we don't know what's gonna happen over this next month. But as you said, the trade talks are getting louder. Um it could happen. But I think fans, even if it is in this immediate situation, might be a little dismissive or might have some feelings hurt. I think no matter what, at the end of the day, Giannis is their distatchy with Milwaukee. So it's uh it's it's a fun run, and we'll see exactly what happens next. So uh I think that that just wraps things up for uh for Lily Zhao. Thank you so much again. Fox X Milwaukee. Real quick, Lil, where can everyone find you?
SPEAKER_01Uh find me on Twitter, Lily S Zow, and um same on other on all other social platforms. So just use that, and you'll find me anywhere on the online. And Fox X.
SPEAKER_03Yes, and Fox X too. She'll be at the desk, she's uh reporting in the field. She's she's just about everywhere. So she's she she's everywhere, she's a rock star. She might she won't say it, but I'll see it. She's out an insane rock star. So love having her here. Thanks so much for all the insight. Uh, thanks so much. Great friend of mine, too. Again, make a follower, and also hold her accountable for that special teams thing with the Packers because we know how detrimental though that that department has been, not just last season, but over the last few years. So let's wrap things up here, though, too. Again, thank you to Lily Zhao. Shout out to Mike How too. He'll be back later this week here for I Love Mondays. This is the Tuesday edition. Hopefully, all of y'all uh enjoy the time here. Hopefully, had some fun. Thank you again. I'm Pablo Iglacius, and uh appreciate you for uh being along for this ride. Peace. I think that's it.
SPEAKER_02Okay, well, thanks for having me on. This is fun.