HOUR 3 - Do We Need More Strict Tribute Video Standards? + Who's Seat is Hottest in Houston? + Should Rockets Call LeBron?

Summary

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Payne & Pendergast – HOUR 3 (July 1, 2026):

Do We Need More Strict Tribute Video Standards? + Who's Seat is Hottest in Houston? + Should Rockets Call LeBron?

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Episode Overview

In this sharp and engaging hour, hosts Sean Pendergast and Seth Payne bring their signature mix of humor, strong opinions, and Houston-centric sports analysis to three big topics gripping the city’s fans:

• A hot debate on whether MLB teams—specifically the Astros—are handing out too many “tribute videos” to departing players who may not have made a lasting impact.
• Assessing the job security of Houston’s highest-profile coaches and GMs, particularly as national NFL “hot seat” rankings emerge.
• The sudden NBA bombshell: LeBron James is leaving the Lakers. Should the Rockets throw their hat—and wallet—into the ring?

Full of lively banter, inside info, and the duo’s unique chemistry, this episode will be especially fun and insightful for H-Town sports fans.

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Astros Recap & Insights

[01:19–09:06]

• Astros win 6-4 over Minnesota: All six runs came in a single inning, highlighted by a Yordan Alvarez grand slam.

  • “That was a nice win with all their runs coming in one inning.” — Seth [01:22]

• Strong bullpen performance: Four relief pitchers delivered four perfect innings.

  • Seth proposes, “It was a committee. Perfect four innings. ... I don’t know if they have a name for that or not.” [02:14]

• Jose Altuve’s smart usage of the ABS Challenge System:

  • In a pivotal moment, Altuve challenged a bases-loaded, third strike call (4th inning), resulting in a walk that set up Alvarez’s slam.
  • “He’s an efficient challenger … that’s a huge at bat by Altuve.” — Sean [03:46]
  • Altuve’s post-game explanation: He wasn’t sure, but context demanded the challenge.
    • “The situation told me I need to challenge. … You’ve got to take a chance there.” — Jose Altuve, relayed by Sean [03:55]

• Changing culture around ABS Challenges:

  • Astros are more comfortable with early count challenges (e.g., Cam Smith’s successful 0-1 challenge, albeit as a “volume shooter” at only 42% success). [06:22]

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Feature Story: Should MLB Require "Stricter Tribute Video Standards"?

[10:18–19:22 | 37:28–41:17]

The Caratini Debate

• Sean’s Grievance:
  Victor Caratini, a solid but unspectacular former Astro, received a 90-second tribute video from the team. Sean sees this as lowering the bar.

  • “I feel like we need standards for this.” — Sean [11:16]
  • “Maybe I’m a spoil sport, but … do we really need a Victor Caratini tribute video?” — Sean [11:22]

• Seth’s Counterpoint:
  More content is good. Paying homage doesn’t need to be reserved for all-stars.

  • “I don’t think of it as an award—just a little content. We spent some time together!” — Seth [16:58 and 39:06]
  • He favors anything that helps entertain fans, but admits, “Maybe it helps people get their butts in the seats quicker.” [12:44]

Sean’s “Official Tribute Video Criteria” [12:51–16:16, 41:17–41:14]

• If not a 2017 or 2022 World Series team member:

  • Must have made at least one All-Star team, been a league leader in a major category, or won a major award.

• If a World Series team member:

  • Need at least ONE of:
    • An iconic, game-winning/playoff moment (“Chaz McCormick catch” rule)
    • An iconic full-game performance in the postseason (“Christian Javier no-hitter start” rule)
    • A playoff moment fans will always remember (“Lance McCullers 24 straight curveballs” rule)

• “That’s not a high bar—one All-Star season.”—Sean [13:56]

• Seth’s Rebuttal:

  • “Anybody that played for the team at all … I give the team the right to basically say, 'We liked this guy.'” [16:59]
  • “We’re lowering our standards … but what’s the downside?” — Seth [17:06]
  • “More content! We need more content.” — Seth [41:08]

Listener Reactions:

• Fans chime in via text: Some support stricter standards, others agree with Seth’s more inclusive view.
  • “You’re going to be offering participation awards soon.” — listener, read by Sean [39:06]
• Nostalgic discussion of obscure, brief-tenure Astros and the “friend/acquaintance” metaphor for tribute videos.
• “I have very strict criteria for who remains on my list of friends…” — Sean, tongue-in-cheek [39:44]

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Segment: Hot Seat Rankings – NFL & Houston’s Leaders

[22:27–36:17]

National NFL Hot Seat List (cited from CBSSports.com & Jordan Dejani)

Top 5 Coaches:

1. Aaron Glenn (Jets)
2. Todd Bowles (Buccaneers)
3. Shane Steichen (Colts)
4. Zach Taylor (Bengals)
5. Dan Quinn (Commanders)

• “It’s interesting how many were toast of the league not all that long ago. … How quickly it can turn.” — Sean [22:04]

• Seth observes: “Remember there was a stretch, if you won coach of the year, you’d get fired within two years!” [23:03]

• Analysis of specific names:

  • Glenn: “It’s just a bad organization. … To me, the best case for him is being a 5-6 win team still fighting in December.” — Sean [27:20]
  • Steichen: “Shane Steichen doesn’t have a real quarterback to work with…It’s a horrible situation to watch unravel.” — Seth [24:54]

Houston Hot Seat Power Rankings [28:36–36:17]

• Texans: DeMeco Ryans (HC) and Nick Caserio (GM)
  • “I’d put them among the five safest in the entire NFL.” — Sean [28:36]
• Rockets: Ime Udoka (HC) and Rafael Stone (GM)
  • “Udoka wins by sheer alpha male energy … Rafael Stone, I think, is more on the hot seat.” — Seth [33:10]
  • “You just look at Udoka’s scowl and go, you’re fired, you’re fired!” — Sean [33:21]
• Astros: Joe Espada (Manager) and Dana Brown (GM)
  • “Espada is in more imminent danger, but if you’re asking likelihood of who gets fired, I’d say Dana Brown’s chances are higher.” — Sean [30:00]
  • “In the death-pit scenario … Espada could point at Brown and say, look what he’s given me to work with.” — Sean [32:42]
  • Seth: “If you’re in a death pit situation, you’re not polite anymore.” [32:49]
• Consensus: GMs are on hotter seats than coaches in all three teams.

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Should the Rockets Pursue LeBron James?

[41:17–47:15]

• Breaking NBA news: LeBron James will NOT return to the Lakers, according to Brian Windhorst.
  • “LeBron’s number one priority this season is happiness. … It’s fluid.” — Brian Windhorst (audio clip, recapped by Sean) [41:17]
  • Seth quips: “I feel like he’s been in some therapy. … Credit to him. Like, how does one define happiness?” [42:28]
• Where will he land?
  • Shams Charania: “Any team with a legit chance to contend should be in on LeBron.” [43:34]
• Should the Rockets call?
  • “Oh, yeah. Definitely make a call. The Rockets wouldn’t have known about Durant unless they tried. Just be in the conversation.” — Seth [44:00]
  • “There’s a 1% chance, but we live in Houston, so it’s a question worth asking.” — Sean [44:34]
• LeBron and KD Team-Up Fantasy?
  • “That’s the most interesting thing—LeBron James and Kevin Durant, arguably the two best of their era, could finish together.” — Sean [45:13]
  • Seth jokes about “the decrepit, aging banana boat” potentially coming together in Golden State. [45:44]
• Odds update (as of recording): Cavs now favored to sign LeBron (–150), Warriors slip to even money. Rockets at 50-to-1 odds. [46:34–47:15]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “If the Astros were to ever hire me in a position of tribute video determinator … those would be the criteria.” — Sean [18:26]
• [On Dana Brown vs Espada] “If you’re in a death pit situation … You start bringing up the age of your kids. I like this. You do everything.” — Seth [32:52]
• “I have a list. I have a note on my phone where I categorize my friends in tiers…” — Sean [39:44]
• [On LeBron’s happiness] “He’s been in therapy, credit to him. … Maybe it just turns out happiness IS the money!” — Seth [42:24]

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Key Timestamps

• 01:19 — Astros’ big win and bullpen talk
• 03:46 — Altuve’s use of ABS Challenge and impact
• 10:18 — Tribute video debate begins (Caratini example)
• 13:22 — Sean’s “tribute video criteria” detailed
• 22:27 — NFL coaching hot seat segment
• 28:36 — Who’s REALLY on the hot seat in Houston?
• 33:10 — Rockets’ internal power dynamics, “death pit scenario”
• 37:28 — Listeners react to tribute video standards
• 41:17 — LeBron James breaking news & “happiness” comments
• 43:34 — Should the Rockets call LeBron? NBA trade banter
• 46:34 — LeBron odds update; Rockets’ ultra-longshot status

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Tone & Takeaways

• Lighthearted yet passionate. The hosts spar and joke, but dig deep into the logic (and emotions) behind team traditions, leadership job security, and the sport’s rumor mill.
• Self-aware snobbery: Sean openly calls himself a “spoil sport” and “snooty” about tribute videos, while Seth champions inclusivity and fun.
• Houston focus, but national context: Rockets, Astros, and Texans get most attention, always with an eye toward how these issues play out in other markets.

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Summary

This hour delivers classic Payne & Pendergast: opinionated, energetic, heavy on Houston sports—but never too self-serious. Whether you agree or not, you’ll come away chuckling, thinking, and maybe re-evaluating your own take on who deserves a highlight reel, who should be sweating their job, and just how wild NBA free agency could get.

Transcript

[Seth]

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[Sean]

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[Seth]

nine legendary cups at participating McDonald's for a limited time while supplies last. All rights reserved.

[Sean]

2026 McDonald's at FIFA World Cup 2026

[Seth]

as the US Men's National Team takes center stage at a home World cup, make sure you're listening to Call it what yout Want, part of the CBS Sports Podcast Network where you can join me. I'm Jimmy Conrad alongside Charlie Davies, Tony Miola, Marcelo Balboa and Benny Fieldhaber throughout this for previews, instant reactions and analysis of every US Match. Then all summer we're back every Tuesday and Thursday covering all things U.S. men's National Team. Download and follow Call it what you want on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sean]

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[Seth]

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[Sean]

approved to do, so I'm just going to play my jingle again. But first ask your doctor about which

[Seth]

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[Sean]

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[Seth]

There's only one Oic

[Sean]

high deep to right field.

[Seth]

All the way back and good. Put four on the board for 44. The Astros lead this game six to three. Donald Ball game over. Astros win it six to four, winning the first two games here against Minnesota and moving back within two games of 500. That was a nice win with all their runs coming in one inning.

[Sean]

Blumer. Yeah, yeah, Blummer. All the runs in one inning. That was Todd Callis on the Call Space City Home Network, the Yordan Alvarez grand slam providing four of the six runs and Josh Hader coming in and getting another save. Good night last night for the Astros, who sit currently two games back of the Rangers in the division, game and a half back in the wild card race.

[Seth]

The the other thing too we didn't bring up the first time we talked about the Astros this morning was that the relievers when they came in, they did a great job. But it was, it was four perfect innings by those four guys. Yeah, it was a committee Perfect four innings. Yep. I don't know what they. If they have a name for that or not.

[Sean]

Let's make one text 1 in 7. 1, 3, 5, 7. 2, 4, 6, 10. The one thing we didn't hear there was Jose Altuve's at bat that allowed the Jordan Alvarez moment to happen. It was the. The Astros had, had, had got. Gotten on the board in the fourth inning, made the game 3 to 1, bases were loaded, Altuve up 3, 2 pitch that gets called a strike. Altuve immediately challenges it, as you're supposed to do. Immediately challenge without looking at the dugout. And he challenges it. And. And he's successful.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

And that drives in a run because bases were loaded. So now it's three, two. But more importantly, Jordan Alvarez gets a shot with three guys on base as opposed to coming up to lead off the next inning. That's one of the most painful things when Jordan leads off an inning. I'm like, ah, this feels like such a waste. You know, solo home run is all we got to root for here. But that was a huge at bat by Altuve and his explanation for it. I loved Jose Altuve challenging that pitch. And Jose, who's before the season, said he didn't anticipate using the ABS Challenge system all that much. Nobody's had more overturns.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Than Altuve. A more successful challenges in Altuve, and

[Seth]

then at a good success rate, too. Like, he's not just. It's not a volume shooter. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He's in a. He's an efficient challenger. He's an efficient, productive. That's right.

[Sean]

That's right. This was his explanation for it, and this is the textbook explanation for using your challenges when you're not quite sure. Because he asked that. How confident was he that the pitch that he challenged was a ball? And again, if you go back and look, it was. It was outside. It was a ball outside. Cup inch or two, maybe. But he asked. They asked how. In the postgame, they asked him how confident he was. He said, not really. But the situation told me I need to challenge. I thought it was a close pitch, but you got to challenge that one because it's bases, bases loaded, two outs, we're down in the game, and Jordan's hitting behind you. You've got to take a chance there. And that is the. That is the classic way to. To me, to look at the. The ABS Challenge system. I'm not a big fan. Although you made a. You made kind of a convincing case for it not being the worst thing in the world to challenge a first pitch of an at bat. Yeah, I'm just not a fan of it. Because you've got the rest of the at bat to recover from that.

[Seth]

Right.

[Sean]

This was a situation where, boy, even if you. Even if. Even if you wouldn't. Even if that were one you wouldn't normally challenge, say, if it were a 2:1 pitch or a 1:1 pitch or whatever, you got to challenge it right there. Just because of the situation on the. On the. The off chance that Jordan Alvarez gets a shot with the bases loaded and that gives him a chance to do what he did last night, which is win the game for you.

[Seth]

Yeah, that's. No. And game winning decision. There's, like, there's so many different factors that over time, certain ballplayers are going to start to look like they've got a better feel for it. But there's like, where you are in the game, how many challenges you have left, what is the track record of the umpire that you're working with? And one of the things they talked about on the broadcast last night was that, you know, they don't. They don't just know about the umpire's overall success rate. They know where he struggles at times and where he makes his bad calls. So there's a lot of things going into it in any given game plan, which man feels like a lot of extra information that batters have to keep track of compared to what they used to. And that's where it'll. It'll be fascinating at the end of this season to kind of parse out the data and see what. What team started to figure out about all of this. But I do think that with the Astros, at least they are. They're way more cool with guys challenging a first pitch and getting off to a clean slate and whatever. They've done a lot more research on it than I have. I do still think, look, Camp Smith had a successful challenge last night.

[Sean]

On an OH1 pitch, he's tied for

[Seth]

the 18th most successful challenges. But he, unlike Altuve, is indiscriminate in when he challenges. He's only got a 42% success rate on those challenges. So he's.

[Sean]

He's a volume shooter.

[Seth]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like all these other guys that have eight successful challenges usually have. You have at least four or five fewer challenges than overall challenges than he does.

[Sean]

He's one of those NBA players that, like, oh, he averages 22 points a game. Oh, really? Must be really good. What's his shooting percentage? 37%. Why do you ask. So, so that was good last night. Big win. Big win for the Astros and they try to win their sixth consecutive series tonight. And they've got Tatsuya Emi on the mound.

[Seth]

I believe this is it. This is the, this is Imai vs Lambert in your mind. Right. Because you've wavered a little bit on your Emi is your. Is your would be number two guy the playoffs started.

[Sean]

No, no, no. I' wavered on that. There's. There's nothing that's happened in this series that would make me waver on that. You know, certainly Burroughs didn't make me change my mind last night on that. Yeah, no, I, I. And I'm loving this article that I'm reading from Chandler Rome that you sent me about, about Imai. Yeah, it is e. My email against Taj Bradley tonight over at Dyke and Park.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Chandler Rome has a really long article and it's very the part I've read about half of it so far during some of the breaks in the show about Imai's acclimation.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

To America and American baseball. And it sounds like the part that I've read mostly has to do with just he's connecting with his teammates a lot more. You know, he's got, he doesn't speak English, but he's got English sayings that he's got with certain teammates.

[Seth]

Yeah. And he's like, he tries to have different sayings. Like, he's put a lot of work into this. Yeah. Because he doesn't want to just be saying the same thing all the time.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

So I think that's where I end up, the thing with Imai. And it's a lot easier to do this now where he's had, you know, he's had a handful of quality starts since he came back, and not a full handful, but almost a full handful. And I think that there's that learning curve where sometimes people who are extremely conscientious and detail oriented, they start off slower because they're trying to nail down all of these details either in their preparation or their operation and everything. And where you can see that, like, it happens with quarterbacks, too. I think sometimes some young quarterbacks who are more who really pay attention to the process more don't get off to a fast start. As fast start as somebody that just go out there goes. Goes out there and slings it. But over time, it pays off. And hopefully that's what happened with Imai. It's that, yeah, for a guy that does pay a lot of attention to detail every Little detail that's off or different is going to make. Make it that much more of a challenge early on.

[Sean]

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. He's got a routine with Stephen Okert, Seth, that involves a profound bow. In Japanese culture, young people are expected to greet their elders with a profound bow. And Stephen Okert, Even though he's 35 years old and older than Imai, they greet each other with a bow.

[Seth]

I'd be really. If I had to go live in Japan for a while, like, and had a job over there or something, I would, I would. I would go full Imai and how well I handled, like, a lot of the customs and everything and that I wouldn't be good at it at first. You know how nervous I was even to throw the H's up because I always feel like, wait, am I doing it just. Is your. Is your index finger and your pinky supposed to be at a certain angle? All that? And it took me a while to get comfortable doing a simple, you know, a simple hand gesture. So the bows, like, all the protocols around the bows, man, you'd be a mess. Yeah, I'd be awful.

[Sean]

You would be a mess.

[Seth]

Probably end up committing seppuku.

[Sean]

That's.

[Seth]

And I'd screw that up. I just wouldn't. I would want to, but I'm like, just not. I hold the knife. I don't.

[Sean]

Not the Japanese custom that you want to be executed.

[Seth]

No, no.

[Sean]

The. Okay, these. This may fall into the category of things that. Things that only bother Sean T. Pendergast, but maybe there's other people out there. Victor Caratini seems like a delightful human being. Really liked him as a Houston Astro. I said this off season, this team is going to miss Victor Caratini. And thankfully, Christian Vasquez has been fine. He's come back down to earth a little bit, but whatever. Caratini plays a nice, important role on the Twins. Caratini got a tribute video the other night. A 90 second tribute video the other night. I don't know, man. Maybe I'm a spoil sport. He. He played for the Astros for two seasons. They made the playoffs and got swept in the wild card round in one of those seasons and then missed the playoffs in the other season. He had a.2.63 batting average and a.735 OPS while he was in. Astro hit 20 home runs in two years. All well and good. Yeah, we need standards for the tribute.

[Seth]

This is. This is that you. They've lowered their standards too much in giving Victor Caratini, I think, and I

[Sean]

hate that he's the one I hate that he's the one I'm making an example out of. Because the fact of the matter is there may have been another tribute video that's even below the Victor Caratini line.

[Seth]

Right.

[Sean]

That I missed. But I didn't miss this one. The other day I saw this one. I saw it on social media, asked people who were at the game and asked AI was, was this an actual tribute video that played before the game? And both entities, humans and the robots said yes, it was. It was a 90 second video. And I watched a video and it was great. Yeah, I like Victor Caratini. I just feel like we need standards for this.

[Seth]

You know where I am on this though, Sean, you're really going to hate this.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

I feel like for one Major League Baseball. I don't know why they insist on this, but by far they are the most annoyingly decrepit and antiquated sport when it comes to big board entertainment during the game, including just showing. They are so reluctant to show any replays from the, from the game at all on the big board. I don't, I don't understand why it's that way.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

And so I'm, I'm kind of all for. Are like anything, anything at all that you guys are willing to do to improve my, my short attention spanned brain while I'm watching a game. So we're like, oh, look at that. So nice. Oh yeah, Caratini. Remember that play the.

[Sean]

Not to nitpick, but the, the tribute video played 20 minutes before the game.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

So that's not going to help you the victor, unless they replay it during the game.

[Seth]

Helps people maybe get their butts in the seats quicker.

[Sean]

Got to get in for the Caratini highlight tribute video.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

This was so I, I spent more time than I should have yesterday coming up with a criteria for a player being deserving of a tribute video. Okay. This is the Pendergast criteria for former Astros being tribute video worthy. If you are not on one of the World Series teams, not on one of the World Series title teams, either 2017 or 2022, if you're just a regular player who didn't play in the World Series.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

You have to have been an All Star. Just fulfill one of these criteria. Not all of them, just one. You either need to have been an All Star one time, been a winner of a major award one time. Those two things would probably go hand in hand. If you won an award, chances are you were probably an All Star or you had to lead the league in one major statistical category. You'd have a batting title or an RBI title. I'd even take like, win, you know, wins above replacement. You know, whatever. You have to have one of those bold numbers on your baseball reference page.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

That's not a high bar to clear one All Star season. Okay. That's if you weren't on the World Series teams. Now, if you were on one of the World Series teams, but you didn't fulfill the All Star award criteria.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Then one of three things needs to have happened with you. You need an iconic game saving or game winning play in the World Series. I will call this chaz the Chaz McCormick rule. Chaz deserves a tribute video based almost entirely on that catch that he had against the Phillies in game five of the World Series. He's a hero for that one play. Now, you know, you got to go find another 84 seconds worth of stuff to put in there. It can't just be you replaying one catch and going, everybody give a round of applause for Chaz McCormick. Like, you got to come up with something. But that gets him inside the velvet rope of the tribute video world. Okay, that's number one. You need an iconic individual game performance. Like, Chaz was just one play. But like, if you had a game where you went four for five or you were, say, the starting pitcher and a combined no hitter in a World Series.

[Seth]

Okay.

[Sean]

Christian Javier has never been an All Star or won a major award or anything. But Christian Javier being the starting pitcher in the no hitter in the World Series against the Phillies, when the Astros are trailing 2 to 1 in that series, I mean, they went on to win the rest. You know, they. They swept the rest of the way after that. Christian Javier would be deserving of a tribute video someday when he leaves, even with his 12 ERA that he's got this year.

[Seth]

Oh, yeah, definitely.

[Sean]

Good.

[Seth]

He had a 12 ERA on another team, especially then. Yeah.

[Sean]

Then you're like, yeah, start that guy.

[Seth]

I. Okay, wait, is there.

[Sean]

I have one more.

[Seth]

One. I have one more.

[Sean]

If you have, like an iconic, memorable performance on the way to a World Series, like in the playoffs, I'm talking about preferably against the Yankees, we'll call this the Lance McCullers 24 straight curveball rule. If you have some sort of game that people remember you for, like when people bring up Lance McCullers name 20 years from now, for Astro fans, that's probably the most memorable thing was him throwing those 24 straight curveballs in the ALCS.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

That is Good enough for me that I'm not a monster.

[Seth]

No land. It's not like Lance. Now, I guess Lance isn't a perfect comparison just because, like, it's. You would. Even if Lance didn't have that game, obviously he's the guy who's gonna get a tribute video.

[Sean]

He made it all.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

He made an All Star Game. He fits.

[Seth]

Right.

[Sean]

Right?

[Seth]

Yeah. No. And all. So. So somebody like that. But. But a performance like that, it's got to be something iconic.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Yeah. I guess I just. Personally, I'm. I don't. I guess maybe I don't look at the tribute video as something that should only be reserved for. I'd be cool with a Dexter Fowler tribute video. I don't. Yeah. Like, I. Anybody that played for the team at all. And part of it is I really. I. I give the team the right to basically say, we liked this guy.

[Sean]

Yeah, he was a really good dude.

[Seth]

We liked him. We liked him on the team. He was cool. He was cool to the equipment staff.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Whatever it might be.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

I like. We like that guy. We're going to give him a tribute.

[Sean]

No, that's fine. And I. And that. And the team obviously feels the way you feel about this. I feel like we're lowering our standards a little bit with the tribute videos. And I feel terrible again that it's Victor Caratini. Now, I'm not to your degree where you'd be doing a Matt Dominguez tribute video from the incest. Like, who the hell was that? He was the third baseman on that horrible team in 2013. Dexter Fowler Treat. Now, the thing I remember about Dexter Fowler with the Astros.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Was he. He was. He was like, one of the few veterans on the really bad Astros.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

And he bought everybody, like, a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black to open the season that year. They all came in and they had a bottle of whiskey in their lockers that year.

[Seth]

So I was here in 2013. Sean. No, no, no.

[Sean]

But Matt Dominguez is a really obscure name.

[Seth]

Do you remember Matt Dominguez? Huh? What's that? I remember the name. I couldn't remember.

[Sean]

That wasn't a shot at you.

[Seth]

I was still doing csn, like, even though we weren't talking about the Astros at all in 2013, I was doing CSN Houston, so I had to, like, bone up. And I didn't have Comcast at the time either, which is ironic that they were giving me a check.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

But

[Sean]

same exact thing. Same. No, it was. That was. That was a shot at Matt Dominguez. Not a shot at you. Yeah. So that's the criteria. And for me, if the Astros were to ever hire me in a position of tribute. Video determinator.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Then that would be. Those would be the criteria. Am I. Am I being text in? Am I being a jerk?

[Seth]

You're a little bit. As the listeners know, you're kind of snooty and snobby about some things. I think you're being a little snooty and snobby about maybe. I think you're being a little bit of a killjoy because it doesn't. I guess. I guess. What's the downside to them showing those tribute videos?

[Sean]

That I get upset about it because we're lowering our standards.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

That's the downside.

[Seth]

You also. You flip on players after they leave way quicker than I do, too.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Like, I. I'm kind of of the opinion that as long as they don't leave in a jerk. Fat. A jerk, like fashion, I just. I live and let live, and I'm cool with those guys. I flip on them immediately.

[Sean]

I root against, and I would say even some of the ones that I claim to root for after they leave.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

There's a little part of me that when I go look at their ops, being 676 or something like that. Yeah. I'm like, okay, well, that's good. At least it's not doing. At least they're not doing this for the Astros. I'm glad they're doing this somewhere else.

[Seth]

I'm the one that has to keep being reminded that we're doing the Petty cast when we do the Petty cast.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

You know, like, at least twice during each pedicure. Like, hey, Seth, is the pedicure. I'm like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I got to be a jerk.

[Sean]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. The guy who told us tells his co host to go die at the end of the show yesterday is actually the nice guy on the show.

[Seth]

Well, that was deserved.

[Sean]

Yeah, I stand by that. You number snobs back in the old southwest days. Yeah.

[Seth]

I was never the one that was being overly strict about it, but I understood why people would. Would say, oh, are you 33? Are you 34? Or whatever like that.

[Sean]

I do, too. If you have any shot of getting in the emergency exit row.

[Seth]

If I just like it for this, I like it for the sake of just clarity. Order. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that there are a lot of people that would just. There are a lot of people. There were liars and cheaters in the old Southwest system. And they would jump on a little bit.

[Sean]

Don't get me wrong. If you were in my group of five.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

And you belonged in a group of five behind me. But you were kind of leaning into. It's just like. I know it ends with B50, but I'm like, B52. Like it's. Yeah. No, you're a horrible person. All right. Painting PenderGast with you. NFL hot. NFL coach, hot seat rankings. Does this sound like the coaches on the hottest seats? And what are the hot. What's the hottest seat in Houston right now? We will get to that coming up next.

[Seth]

It only happens every four years and this time it's here. The biggest tournament in the world. Stadium shaking, flags waving. This is history. And you want to be there. But real life can make it tough. Work busy schedules and the price. That's where Priceline comes in. Priceline has millions of deals on flights, hotels and rental cars. So you can go see it live. So find a great deal and make the trip happen. Rally the crew. Go see the game live. Turn your dream trip into reality. Book now with Priceline.

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[Seth]

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[Sean]

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[Seth]

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[Sean]

I've got ideas.

[Seth]

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[Sean]

Evening. Buyer's remorse.

[Seth]

Buy a new car. I'll be moving in. Let's get started.

[Sean]

Sorry, I think there's been a mistake.

[Seth]

I bought it from Carvana. You what? Yeah, Great price. I even have seven days to love it or return it. So there's no. No, no buyer's remorse. More like buyers rejoice. I guess I'll let myself out. Congratulations. I mean it. Buyers rejoice. Buy your car today on Carvana. Limitations and exclusions may apply. See our seven day return [e-mail] all

[Sean]

right, NFL coach hot seat rankings. This CBSSports.com has their top five and we'll. We'll take this into a Houston realm before the end of this segment. Jordan Dejani is one of their NFL writers. What's interesting to me about this list, Seth, of the five hottest seats in the NFL is how many of these guys were among the toast of the league not all that long ago. Like, how quickly you can go from being someone who's being heralded as, you know, the God's gift to coaching to being on Jordan Dejani's hot seat list.

[Seth]

Well, yeah. Well, remember how bad it was for if you won coach of the year? There was a stretch there. It was like within two years, like every coach of the year was getting fired.

[Sean]

Yeah. And it's probably. I mean, Stefanski was coach of the

[Seth]

year a couple times. Twice.

[Sean]

Twice. And. And fairly recently, d' Ameco's first year, he was coach of the year. He got fired.

[Seth]

Thank God d' Ameco didn't win it.

[Sean]

Yeah, right.

[Seth]

Things really would have turned south.

[Sean]

Lost by one vote. The five names on the list here.

[Seth]

No. Yeah. No, because Dave all was the coach of the year in 2022.

[Sean]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Seth]

Brable was the coach of the year in 2021. I'm telling you, he got fired. And then he went on of the year again in 2025.

[Sean]

Yeah. Good luck. Well, and I. And I've already taken the under on Patriot wins. I feel even better when you bring up that little factoid right there. The five names are very interesting here from that perspective. Counting down the five hottest seats in the NFL. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders, Zach Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals is 4. 3. On the hot seat list is Shane Steichen of the Colts in the Texans division. Number two is Todd Bowles with the Buccaneers. Number one, Aaron Glenn with the jets.

[Seth]

Who.

[Sean]

He's the one. He's the one name on this list that I think is one. I think it's accurate. Two. He's not fitting the same mold. I was talking about where if you think like Dan Quinn was in the NFC title game a year ago.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Zach Taylor's been to a Super Bowl. Now, granted, since that super bowl, it's not been great for the Bengals, but he's been to a Super bowl this decade. Shane Steichen, halfway through last season, was the toast of the league because of what they were doing offensively in Indianapolis with Daniel Jones.

[Seth]

Right. And they were breaking records. Shane Steichen is still. He is in this mode where the GM has just gotten by and gotten away with not winning playoff games for how long? Now.

[Sean]

Since 2018.

[Seth]

Since 2018 against the Texans. And like, you'd think at some point, maybe the coach will catch a break instead of the gm, But Shane Steichen doesn't have a real quarterback to work with. He was doing the impressive stuff last year with Daniel Jones, and he's. But now he's got Daniel Jones coming up. Achilles tendon chair.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Just a horrible, horrible situation to watch unravel there.

[Sean]

It's really too bad.

[Seth]

You're bad about it.

[Sean]

The gravitas in your voice reflects my feelings on that as well. I just feel terrible about the whole thing. Number two, Todd Bowles, who has been. I. I don't feel like his seat's been real hot in Tampa Bay. I think Tampa Bay's benefited from being in a bad division the last few years.

[Seth]

Yeah, but he's.

[Sean]

Until last year, he was. You know, he. They were like 7 and 2 at one point. He's almost a little like the defensive version of Shane Steichen. Like, midway through last season, the Bucks. Baker Mayfield was an MVP candidate, and the Bucks were. The Bucks were one of the hottest teams in the league, and then they just collapsed.

[Seth]

Yeah. And I feel like Todd Bowles has been one of those things where it just. It felt like an awkward hire when they first did it, but he's almost. He very easily could have become just a sacrificial holding, you know, placeholder coach or something, but I think he's out. Like, he's out. He's proven that he's a better coach than that in this. In this instance. Yep. And that, like, I felt like he's. He's fought tooth and nail to keep his job. Like, he's earned. He's earned a little bit of job stability given some of the other issues they've had in Tampa.

[Sean]

Yep. Aaron Glenn, number one on the list. Not a surprise. I said within the last 30 minutes, we were talking about team. We were talking about teams that could go from worse to first. I just think Aaron Glenn's got no shot. And it's not even about Aaron Glenn. I just think that that organization. It's a bad organization. For one thing. They have made the playoffs through several coaches not named Aaron Glenn. I mean, it's been since Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan that they've even been in the postseason, and they're somehow looking at Geno Smith as some sort of solution when he was the opposite of that on a bad team in Las Vegas last year.

[Seth]

I think. Yeah. There. And the hard part this year is going to end up being like in that environment with that owner whose kids apparently will criticize players to their faces after games. All this like, with all of the dysfunction that there is with the jets. Can. Is Aaron Glenn able to just at least maintain the. Maintain the clubhouse, so to speak?

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

You know, like maintain the lot. You'd say maintain the clubhouse in baseball, but it just, it feels like that kind of a situation where if you just kind of let things unravel and it's. It might be impossible for him to contain with the amount of. In controversy that that organization invites.

[Sean]

Are they.

[Seth]

If they're not winning games.

[Sean]

You're right. Because not every, not every, you know, 4 and 13 team is created equal. If they're like, if, like to me the best case scenario, the best case scenario for Aaron Glenn is that they're like a five or six win team that's competing really hard in December.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

You know that you watch him, you go, okay, that's a team that's just not very talented. That's responding to its coach.

[Seth]

Yeah. That's where you get the benefit of the doubt. If. Because you can look at it on paper and say, all right, they're headed towards another disaster if you become a plucky team that's fighting and yeah, guys aren't letting go of the rope in December and everything. That's where regardless of what the record is, he might, they might give Aaron Glenn the benefit of the doubt in that instance. It's just, man, the jets, like people talk about New York media. I. It's jets media specifically that they just, I think they, they're in the business almost of being tabloid writers now more than anything because they haven't covered good football in such a long time that it's. It's really tough for any coach to keep a lid on all of the ridiculous controversy there is at any time.

[Sean]

Yep. So I, I tend to agree with this list. I think d' Ameco Ryan's on a hot seat list would be in the bottom five in the NFL right now. If I had to guess. I think d' Amico is as safe as it gets. I. Who's got the hottest seat in Houston right now. And I'll. I'll expand this to GMs also of the GMs and head coach slash managers in town. Who's got the hottest seat among. Among for the Texans it would be Dimiko Ryan's and Nick Casario.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

For the Rockets, obviously Emo Doka and Rafael Stone and then the Astros, two guys who are in the last year of their contracts, which may almost by definition make their seats the hottest ones. Joe Spada and Dana Brown.

[Seth]

I know there's a certain portion of Texans fans that feel like Casterio should be on the hot seat more than he is. Regardless of how you feel about that, I would say my read on it is that he's not on the hot seat at all. Agreed. Like, so. Even if you. Even if you feel like he should be, like, I understand that. I understand your arguments for that. I just. I don't feel like he is. So I think with Raphael Stone and Udoka and then with Espada and Dana Brown, I think it's more of a question of, okay, in those. Like which. Which of those guys, the GM or the coach, is more on the hot seat?

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

With what? With what? So would you say. Would you say Dana Brown or Joe Espada is more on the hop?

[Sean]

I would say Dana. Well, okay, I. Joe Espada is in more imminent danger, just in terms of timing, just because it's more common to fire a manager in season than a gm. So I think he may be in more imminent danger. And yet, if you were to ask me the likelihood of Joe Espada or Dana Brown getting fired, period, at some point, I would say Dana Brown's chances are higher than Joe Espada. Like, I think there's a better chance Joe Espada is back next season for the Astros than Dana Brown is back

[Seth]

next, I think, okay, if Dana Brown. And let's make this like a movie scene. Dana Brown and Joe Espada get called up by Jim Crane to the death pit. Yep. And they have to argue for their lives. And Jim Crane's going to boot, like, gladiator style, boot one of them into the death pit. I think that Espada could make the case that, hey, look. Look at the injuries we've had. Look at the churn we've had on the roster and some of the things we've had to deal with. And yet we fought our way back into being either being a threat, at least these last three, let's say three seasons at the end of this year. Whereas with Dana Brown, I think it gets tougher because his argument has to be, well, I know you wanted me to restock the farm system, but it's kind of hard to do Jim Crane when you're making me make all these trades all the time that he has to blame the executioner for why he hasn't been able to restock the farm system as well as.

[Sean]

Yeah, actually, it's funny, I had a text conversation. It turned into an email back and forth with. With Jimmy, who's Astros future. And I asked because I asked him that question because I was trying to assess Dana Brown like the job that he's done. Because you can look at some of the little moves along the margin that Dana's made have been good ones.

[Seth]

He's made some good moves in the Cam Smith trade. I think is still. That's a slam dunk of a trade.

[Sean]

I agree. And especially the more 440 foot home runs Cam Smith hits. I feel better and better about that one. I don't think it's been all bad with Dana Brown. I think the problem with Dana Brown is the glaring things they needed coming into this season. He's just failed at getting those things. Even with the injuries, the pitchers that he signed this off season. Now, he was not shopping in the greatest of bins for those pitchers, but the ERA has been really bad. Among the five or six guys. He's picked up a couple of Martin even with the, with the organization anymore. The outfield is the glaring thing. And Chandler Rome had a big article about that last week. And even with this little bump they've been getting from. From Taylor Trammell lately and Cam Smith lately, it's still an outfield that's sub.700 in terms of OPS. Those are some really glaring things. I like. I think if I'm Joe Espada, I don't know this would be my tactic. But I think you can point over at Dana in the death pit debate you're talking about. Go.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Look what this guy's given me to work with the last couple years, Right?

[Seth]

Yeah. Well, if you're in a death pit situation. Yeah. You're not polite anymore.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

You start bringing up the age of your kids. I like this. You do everything. Yeah. Okay. Death pit situation with the Rockets. This is the one where. Okay. Throw all of, throw all of your, your, your highfalutin analysis out the window. Yeah. I feel if I've got, I've got Udoka and I've got Raphael Stone standing next to the death pit.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

I think Udoka wins by sheer alpha male energy.

[Sean]

He wins on Claire alone.

[Seth]

I feel like a little bit of like Fertitta almost being like, I don't know what this guy Mike could do.

[Sean]

That's right.

[Seth]

If I try to kick him into the death pit.

[Sean]

You're walking into the meeting with your iPad and you got all these reasons for each guy and you. And both guys walk in and you just look at Eme Odoka like oh my God, that scowl.

[Seth]

You're fired. You're fired.

[Sean]

There was easy push him into the pit and then you go yeah.

[Seth]

I mean but I do think. I think Udoka and Raphael Stone. I think I side with the manager on or the coach obviously.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

And. And having the the easier to palate excuse or explanation.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Where the GMs don't. I don't think that either of those GMs have have as clear a path to explaining themselves.

[Sean]

Yeah. I just feel like IME Udok way more safe than Rocket than some Rocket fans would want him to be right now. And I do think this season maybe exposed a few warts with email Doka. I don't think they're fireable warts necessarily. Yeah but you've brought this up many times like not bring somebody in who knows how to coach an offense. You know, do this if he just

[Seth]

brings in an offensive coordinator. Right. Yeah, that it's like have the same. You know, just like you know Dan Tony understood that he needed bizdelic there to be a defensive coordinator. That there is a part of being a head coach that sometimes like okay. Understand where your weaknesses as a staff.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Don't think about it as yourself but like okay on our staff. How do we need to restructure this to where okay. What you needed last year given the hand you were dealt or you didn't have an actual point guard, is that man to really make that work. Whether you got Kevin Durant on your roster or not, it's going to take some elegant solutions. And that's just not Udoka's forte. On the offensive side of the ball.

[Sean]

It feels formulaic to have the list this way. But I think if we're ranking the teams in terms of collective hot seats of management and general manager, it's. It goes by record. You know what I mean? Like The Texans were 12 and 5. They have the least hot seats. The Rockets were a 52 win team. Their seats are the next hottest. And then the team that's sub 500 right now, those seats are the hottest. And in each case I think the head coach or manager is on the cooler seat than the gm. You know, I think the GM is on a hotter seat in all three of those situations. I paint in Pendergast with you. All right. LeBron James will not be returning to the Lakers. Why is he? What is he looking for? And speaking of GMs, should the Rockets be placing a phone call to LeBron James based on what Sham Sharanya said yesterday, we will have that for you coming up next. Need a boost? Sometimes all it takes is tapping into your inner cool. Icebreaker's gum helps you unleash the confidence within. Each chew releases a rush of icy flavor powered by cooling flavor crystals, sending a wave of refreshment to reinvigorate all your senses. Icebreaker's convenient pack fits everywhere from car cup holders to backpack pockets so you can find your cool wherever you go. Grab Icebreaker's gum online or at a store near you. Hey, what's up Flies? This is David Spade Dana Carvey. Look at I know we never actually left, but I'll just say it. We are back with another season of Fly on the Wall. Every episode, including ones with guests, will now be on video. Every Thursday you'll hear us and see us chatting with big name celebrities. And every Monday, you're stuck with just me and Dana.

[Seth]

We react to news, what's trending, viral

[Sean]

clips follow and listen to Fly on the Wall everywhere you get your pop Podcast with my Sapphire Preferred card, we

[Seth]

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other travel, plus 100 hotel credit. Chase Sapphire Preferred a car that's preferred for a reason.

[Seth]

Cards issued by JP Morgan, J's bank

[Sean]

and a member FDIC subject to credit approval terms apply.

[Seth]

It only happens every four years and this time it's here. The biggest tournament in the world. Stadium shaking, flags waving. This is history and you want to be there. But real life can make it tough. Work busy schedules and the price. That's where Priceline comes in. Priceline has millions of deals on flights, hotels and rental cars so you can go see it live. So find a great deal and make the trip happen. Rally the crew. Go see the game live. Turn your dream trip into reality. Book now with Priceline.

[Sean]

Heat up your fourth of July at the Home Depot with our wide variety of grills under $300 and make every gathering one to remember. Give your outdoor space a glow up whatever your budget is, with savings on seasonal plants starting at $5. With the grill fired up and your backyard set to perfection, you'll be able to invite friends and family over to kick off the party. Start celebrating with low prices guaranteed at the Home Depot. Prices may vary by store. Exclusions apply. See homedevot.com Pricematch for details. Painting pender gas with you yeah, see I'm the the the tribute video criteria that I laid out earlier in the show is getting A little bit of support here on the text page. And particularly Seth, someone taking a shot at you, Seth. You're Seth. For those who missed it, I. The Victor Caratini tribute video. And I love Victor Caratini, but it felt like the standards for tribute videos in my mind were being lowered a little bit just based on teams he played on and overall performance. So I. Becoming a bit of a spoil sport. Established some criteria for players, both all star caliber players and ones that were part of World Series teams that maybe didn't have the overall career numbers. Like, for example, someone says Marwan Gonzalez definitely gets a tribute video based on his humanizing of Kenley Jansen in game two of the World Series. The home run he hit. Yeah, yeah. That alone gets Marwan Gonzalez. And I would say Mar boy Marlon is one. That's testing how big an a hole I am, too, Seth. You're right about that. But someone said that you're going to be offered participation awards pretty soon.

[Seth]

It's not an award. That's what I'm. That's where the disconnect is. I don't think of it as a. As an award or anything. It's not like, oh, they're in the hall of Tribute videos. Yeah. It's just like, ah, we spent some time together. It's like, yeah, you've got acquaintances. You've got casual acquaintances. And says, I have pleasant memories of people that I might have hung out with 20 years ago. Am I going to all of a sudden not look at, hey, take that picture out of the photo album. I do. That guy hasn't called me in five years.

[Sean]

Oh, it's funny. No, I do. I have very strict criteria.

[Seth]

He introduced me to a girl that gave me herpes.

[Sean]

Very strict criteria for who remains on my list of friends on my.

[Seth]

You have one photo album in your home.

[Sean]

I have a list. I have a note where I categorize my friends in tears. Yeah, yeah.

[Seth]

It was kind of a thing back in the day. You might get a proof sheet, you know? Yeah. Figure out which one. Am I actually gonna get prints of these photos?

[Sean]

Yes, I know. I remember.

[Seth]

You guys have a. Did you have a service at Notre Dame where they would take pictures at parties and then you go. Go. There was like a little store in Ithaca where they would go out, they would go to, like, these big fraternity parties, everything. They would just take pictures and then you would go. And then you could go to the. You could go. It's kind of like they do an amusement park, you know? But the next day you know, you'd straggle in there, maybe you brushed your teeth, maybe you didn't. And they would have little, they would have proof sheets of all the pictures they had taken and you could, you could buy a print.

[Sean]

Oh, really?

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

Okay. Oh, no, we didn't have that.

[Seth]

You see what we had to go through back in the days to remember things, we had to go to a photo shack. Yes.

[Sean]

Last one and then we'll get to the item. It. I personally think, see, this is a, this is a man or woman after my own heart. I personally think you should not consider doing a tribute video unless they were here for three years or longer and then even then it's based on performance.

[Seth]

I don't care if they were here for three innings and traded away during, during, you know, while the GMs ran into each other buying hot dogs.

[Sean]

Yeah, Christian Seth already has a Christian Roa tribute video ready to go.

[Seth]

Content, More. We need more content.

[Sean]

It's just, it's all it Is is a 90 second video of all eight innings that he pitched for the Astros. That's it.

[Seth]

That's more content.

[Sean]

That's it. That's it.

[Seth]

All right.

[Sean]

This was Brian Windhorst yesterday. The big news Yesterday in the NBA was LeBron James will not be returning to the Lakers next season. He's going to play for somebody, but not the Lakers. He'll be back in the league. So now, now we kind of be. It's almost like the Decision, 42 years old instead of, you know, 28 or whatever, 26, whatever he was back in 2010. This is Brian Windhorse on what exactly is LeBron looking for? Rich Paul is has made it clear that LeBron's number one priority for season is happiness. Happiness. It's not money. So you don't, I mean, we're going to count the money, we're going to figure it out on the salary sheets and whatnot. But it's not going to be necessarily who's got the most money to offer. So now you're going to your follow up question. Matt is, well, how do you define happiness? Well, how does anybody define happiness? It's fluid. So I'm not sure he's got his mind made up here. It may take him a period to decide what his happiness is going to be. And there's several teams that are going to probably try to present their version of what his happiness can be and we'll see how that process plays out. It was very touchy feeling.

[Seth]

I feel like he's been in some therapy or something. You're speaking that. Yeah. Like a credit to him.

[Sean]

Yeah, yeah.

[Seth]

Like, how does one define happiness? It's individual to each person.

[Sean]

Yeah, yeah.

[Seth]

It might turn. I wish he had gone full circular and been like, now, what would make LeBron happy is indeed the money. But it's not about the money, it's about the happiness. No, I think like that it's almost a given. I think sometimes we a little too quickly think that while the aging superstar who's already made boatloads of millions of dollars is just going to go for the right fit or anything, it's never, it's usually not quite that simple. Like with Aaron Donald right now, it's very easy to say, oh yeah, sure, he should go back and play. And they don't like to think about the fact that like Aaron Donald still on some level just doesn't want to go back and play for the minimum.

[Sean]

Right.

[Seth]

So there's a salary dynamic there that you got to worry about. Yes, I think that. But with LeBron and for whatever the dollar amount ends up being. Yeah, I don't. He's got no interest in going to a place where A, they're not going to be contenders and B, that maybe he just flat out doesn't like either the coach or the players or whomever else.

[Sean]

Here's Sham Sharanya yesterday saying that any team that views itself as a contender should be in on LeBron.

[Seth]

Like Perk said, he just listed a couple teams.

[Sean]

Like Denver is a team that makes a lot of sense for LeBron.

[Seth]

I wouldn't rule any team that goes into next season that feels like it has a legitimate chance to contend and have interest in LeBron James as a suitor here because he's a free agent and so. And there's, there's not a ready made spot for him necessarily.

[Sean]

Should the Houston Rockets be placing a phone call to Rich Paul? LeBron James agent?

[Seth]

Seth oh, yeah, just make a call. I mean, because you never, like I said, usually there's like guys aren't going to go and play for the minimum, but just sometimes, you know, the Rockets wouldn't have had any certainty that Kevin Durant was really interested in the Rockets until they talked to him. That, yeah, they should definitely give a call to Rich Paul and see just what he's thinking. You could explore. And there's always. Because then especially in the NBA where you can have three, four, five, six, seven player trades that you might be a part of some kind of some transaction with LeBron, not. Well, this is going to Be a transaction.

[Sean]

No, but you might have to make some moves to accommodate if you were to. And I think, to be clear, the audience here, I think there's a 1% chance of that happening. But we live in Houston, and I think it's a question worth.

[Seth]

Even if. Yeah. If LeBron were going to go to another team, but they had to make some trades to make it happen or whatever. Like, it's good to be in on the conversation. Of course, as much as they want to include you here. Yeah, man. He might. He might say, I really. I'm only going to go to a place if I can bring Kevin Durant with me. And then all of a sudden. And all of a sudden, it opens things up to like, oh, Jay, you know what? Yeah, I want to go to the Celtics, but only if I can bring Durant with me. And then all of a sudden, Jaylen Brown plops down in Houston.

[Sean]

Well, the most. The. The most interesting thing about that. I mean, we're just completely fantasy booking this thing now. But I think you can make an argument that LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the two greatest players of this era. You know, Steph Curry's right there also. But I think you. I think you could stand there in a. You know, if you had to make a courtroom argument, I think you can make that argument. I don't know if it's accurate or it's correct or if society agrees with it. That would make it intriguing. Like, you know, if, in your opinion, those are the two greatest guys ganging up at the end of their career, that would be. That would be kind of fun.

[Seth]

I think it's gonna be dozen, you know.

[Sean]

Yeah.

[Seth]

Feels like. Well, that's like the Golden State Warriors. That's the. They're kind of putting a decrepit, aging banana boat together up there. Potentially.

[Sean]

It. Potentially.

[Seth]

Would that banana boat be. That would be.

[Sean]

It would be Steph Curry, Draymond Green, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis.

[Seth]

Yeah.

[Sean]

If it were to play out that way. Now, now, Golden State this morning as we awoke, was minus a thousand to be LeBron's next team. The odds just shifted. Two minutes ago, I got an email from Josh Barton, who sends out these bet online.

[Seth]

Diamonds minus 10,000. So, like, one to, like a near minus a thousand. Minus a minus a thousand.

[Sean]

Yeah. So they would. That. That would be 1 to 10.

[Seth]

Like, like, almost like a guarantee.

[Sean]

Almost really strong odds. And the Cavaliers were second at plus 200, which is two to one. The Cavaliers are now the favorite to get LeBron.

[Seth]

The Cavs are the one team that. Yeah, like, emotional tie connection literally on the odds board.

[Sean]

They're minus 150 now to get LeBron and Golden State is even money at 1 to 1, not 1 to 10. That's a big shift that just happened, which is sometimes been.

[Seth]

Any news about him and no, there's nothing I'm seeing on ESPN.com right now.

[Sean]

This. But this may be people knowing he

[Seth]

just bought a house in Akron or something.

[Sean]

He's. He has a house there, I'm sure.

[Seth]

I mean a bigger house.

[Sean]

Big. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Seth]

Maybe I bought a house on the lake there in Cleveland.

[Sean]

I don't know.

[Seth]

But the odds is nice. A lot of the jokes about Lake Erie and the burning lake and everything. Yes, I like they've cleaned it up somewhat like relative to no lakes are clean anymore.

[Sean]

No, but.

[Seth]

But it's not like floating gasoline.

[Sean]

Not as bad as it used to be. Not as bad as it used to be. So. Man. So the, the, the Cavaliers now the favorite to. To land LeBron James. By the way, if you're wondering where the rockets are, they're 50 to 1. They're. They're 50 to 1 tied with teams like the Hornets, the Pacers, the Blazers and the Wizards. That's where the Rockets are on the list. All right, pain and pender gas with you. We head into the nine o' clock hour. All right, the latest on the Brendan Sorsby situation brings up a Texans question that I have. But I think as far as Sorsby goes, I think this is the resolution that everybody needed in this whole matter. We'll tell you what exactly went down yesterday. We've got that coming up Next. Now at McDonald's, get an $8 McChicken

[Seth]

or a $9 McDouble FIFA World cup meal deal. They come with small fries, a soft

[Sean]

drink, Four Piece McNuggets, and one of

[Seth]

nine legendary cups at participating McDonald's for a limited time while supplies last.

[Sean]

All rights reserved. 2026 McDonald's at FIFA World Cup 2026

[Seth]

this Father's Day, will you ship UPS

[Sean]

Air at the UPS Store?

[Seth]

Your items arrive, follow time or your money back guaranteed at no extra cost. It's like the father of all shipping services. It shows up to the airport way

[Sean]

too early just to play it safe.

[Seth]

It's overprotective about all the things that truly matter. And it's always prom, especially to be with family. Make it your first choice to celebrate your dad. Ship UPS Air with our money back guarantee exclusively at the UPS Store. US retail locations visit the upsstore.com airshipping for full details, terms and conditions applied. It only happens every four years and this time it's here. The biggest tournament in the world. Stadium shaking, flags waving. This is history and you want to be there. But real life can make it tough. Work busy schedules and the price. That's where Priceline comes in. Priceline has millions of deals on flights, hotels and rental cars, so you can go see it live. So find a great deal and make the trip happen. Rally the crew. Go see the game live. Turn your dream trip into reality. Book now with Priceline. Thanks for joining our first ever support group for puppies.

[Sean]

By show of pause, who's eaten a

[Seth]

computer cable called a dongle?

[Sean]

I ate a dongle before we had

[Seth]

Lemonade Pet insurance, so to avoid a vet bill, they waited for me to poop the dongle. You pooped a dongle? I pooped a dongle. You pooped a dongle? I pooped a dongle.

[Sean]

So great.

[Seth]

I pooped a USB stick.

[Sean]

Yeah, but he pooped a dongle. With limited pet insurance, save up to

[Seth]

9 90% at the vet so you never have to find out if your pup can poop a dongle. Get [e-mail] pet hey there.

[Sean]

I'm Kendra Adachi, and my show, the Lazy Genius Podcast helps you be a genius about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don't, and you get to decide what matters. I'm not here to tell you what to do.

[Seth]

I'm here to give you a new way to see.

[Sean]

Episodes of the Lazy Genius Podcast are full of compassionate time management tips and permission slips to do what makes sense for you. New episodes drop every Monday. Follow and listen to the Lazy Genius Podcast on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.