Holmberg’s Morning Sickness - Arizona
Episode Summary: "With NBA Season Kicking Off We Take Issue w/Cream City Unis For Milwaukee And Having Aging Greats At The Analyst Desk Like Jordan And Gretzky"
Date: October 22, 2025

Overview

In this lively episode, John Holmberg and the HMS crew dive headfirst into the NBA season opener, taking aim at the new Milwaukee Bucks “Cream City” uniforms, the trend of cities putting quirky nicknames on jerseys, and the awkwardness of seeing retired sports legends like Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky as TV analysts. The hosts weave in sharp jokes, honest complaints, and nostalgic reflections, keeping the segment energetic and irreverent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Milwaukee’s “Cream City” Jerseys

(Starts ~02:00)

• Jersey Nicknames Across the NBA:
  The team discusses the growing trend of NBA teams using city nicknames or local slang on uniforms—such as Phoenix's "El Valle," Charlotte’s “CLT,” and Portland’s “Rip City.”
• Bucks’ “Cream City” Critique:
  Holmberg is exasperated and amused by Milwaukee’s new jerseys which display a stylized map of the city with “Cream City” across the chest.
  • "Milwaukee is so such a sexless, disgusting town of gross people that they have their new jerseys." – John Holmberg (03:00)
  • “Cream City Bucks. Why? We're dairy. We're a dairy town. Yeah, but other people think of that different. No.” – John Holmberg (03:25)
• Name Associations & Internet Culture:
  Holmberg points out the unintended, less family-friendly interpretations of “Cream City.”
  • “Let me show you the Internet you’re probably unfamiliar with. When you Google cream, something else comes up.” – John Holmberg (03:40)
• Alternative Suggestions:
  The crew jokes about other (and arguably better) nicknames, like “Cheese Town.”
  • “Cream City Cheese Town would have been better.” – Brady (03:50)
• Visuals and Critiques:
  The hosts make fun of how the jerseys look like they should be part of an ice cream shop uniform, with “white blobs” and odd designs.

Suns’ Outlook for the 2025 NBA Season

(04:50 & 12:00)

• Skepticism About Success:
  Holmberg shares pessimism about the Suns’ chances, citing Vegas odds and general trends:
  • “Don’t let anyone tell you that this Suns team is going to be like...I was talking to Kevin Ray...he’s like, Johnny, I think they’re going to be good. 40, 42 wins. I’m like, that's not good. That's terrible.” – John Holmberg (05:30)
  • “13% chance of making the playoffs...from championship run 2021 to maybe probably a perennial like 12, 13, 14th place team.” – John Holmberg (05:45)
• Embracing the Villain:
  They highlight newcomer Dylan Brooks as a modern “Danny Ainge” or "Raja Bell"—a player other teams hate but fans love if he’s yours.
• On DeAndre Ayton:
  There’s glee watching former Sun DeAndre Ayton struggle with the Lakers:
  • “He sucked really bad last night for the Lakers. Really bad. He was terrible.” – John Holmberg (12:50)
• Outlook for the Season:
  Holmberg is tempted to bet on the Suns having under 40 wins:
  • “I'm gonna say they're under 40 wins for the year. All right. That makes me sad. But they're going to be more fun." – John Holmberg (12:30)

Criticism of Retired Greats as Analysts

(07:50)

• Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky at the Desk:
  The conversation pivots to the trend of putting sports legends in analyst roles, which rarely works out:
  • "I've realized after watching Wayne Gretzky do the pre-games for hockey and Michael Jordan do this for basketball, they are awful at it. There's nothing about it that's fun to listen to." – John Holmberg (08:10)
• Why It Doesn't Work:
  The hosts reason that such greats see complexities invisible to others and struggle to explain the basics:
  • “When you’re that great at something, you can’t tell people, like, this happened and they see bad things that we think are okay.” – John Holmberg (08:35)

Facing the Aging of Sports Icons

(09:35)

• Uncomfortable Realities:
  Holmberg expresses mixed feelings about seeing Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, or even Tom Brady and Troy Aikman age before us—longing for their eternally youthful prime:
  • “It’s the same as when Pamela Anderson started [to] come out...your brain flashes an image of what you want Pamela Anderson to look like.” – John Holmberg (10:10)
• Double Standards & Celebrity Aging:
  The hosts reflect on societal pressures, noting that the same aesthetic standards held against aging female celebrities are just as harsh for men, especially athletes:
  • “The same pressure applies to good-looking young men when they get old and they don't age well. Same thing we do to women. That's why they age poorly and we say so. We should say so when men do it too.” – John Holmberg (11:35)
• Notable Comparisons:
  A humorous tangent arises about Michael Jordan now resembling actor John Amos ("Mr. McDowell," Coming To America), sparking laughter and a round of light-hearted roast.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cream City:
  • “Nothing in Milwaukee creams.” – John Holmberg (04:10)
• On the Suns’ Prospects:
  • “The window has officially shut from championship run 2021 to maybe probably a perennial like 12, 13, 14th place team.” – John Holmberg (05:45)
• On NBA city edition marketing:
  • “It's just a way to sell shirts. But Cream City's the best you got? Just stick with Milwaukee until you come up with a better city nickname.” – John Holmberg (04:30)
• On Sports Legends as Analysts:
  • “They see things we don’t see and they can’t explain it. When you’re that great at something, you can’t tell people…” – John Holmberg (08:35)
• Nostalgia for Jordan:
  • “I like to keep my superstar heroes in that mold of...making the pump in his fist and watching the Cavaliers walk off the court. The iconic Michael Jordan. I don't like to see the old one.” – John Holmberg (10:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:00 – Introduction to NBA jersey nicknames and “Cream City” rant
• 03:50 – Alternative city nicknames and design critiques
• 05:30 – Pessimism about the Suns’ season and team changes
• 07:50 – Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky as analysts: why it doesn’t work
• 09:35 – The discomfort of seeing sports legends age
• 11:35 – Double standards in aging, comparison to celebrities, and humor about Michael Jordan’s aging

Tone & Style

The episode maintains an irreverent, candid, and teasing tone, with banter among hosts, frequent jokes, and pointed pop culture analogies—all designed to entertain sports fans and radio listeners alike.

For listeners who missed the episode:
Expect a snarky take on NBA branding, a skeptical look at the Suns’ fortunes, honest conversation about our discomfort with aging heroes, and a volley of fast one-liners from Holmberg and crew. This is classic “Morning Sickness”—where no sacred cow, or city nickname, is off limits.