Will Jayson Tatum Return This Season?

Summary

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PTI Podcast Summary

Episode: Will Jayson Tatum Return This Season?
Date: January 30, 2026
Hosts: Mike Wilbon (A), Frank Isola (B, guest hosting for Tony Kornheiser)

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Overview

In this episode of Pardon The Interruption (PTI), Mike Wilbon and guest host Frank Isola tackle the hot topics in sports, focusing heavily on two big NBA storylines: (1) The Golden State Warriors allegedly pursuing a blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, and (2) the uncertainty surrounding Jayson Tatum’s potential return from a major Achilles injury. The show also touches on the NFL draft, quarterback prospects, and features Super Bowl/Hall of Fame insights from Steve Young, along with a whirlwind finish recapping the latest headlines across multiple sports.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Warriors’ Pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade (00:45–04:05)

• Frank’s Take:
  • For Milwaukee, “getting [Giannis] out of the conference” makes sense, as draft compensation from the Warriors could be significant—“up to four first-round picks” post-Steph Curry (01:14–01:59).
  • If Giannis is traded, “you're rebuilding” (01:21).
  • Picks could line up for Milwaukee’s future after “the Warriors will fall off a cliff” post-Curry (01:59).
• Mike’s Vision:
  • Sees potential not just for this year, but especially for next year, dreaming of a star-laden Warriors lineup: “Steph...Draymond Green...Jimmy [Butler]...Giannis—by the way, the youngest of the quartet at that point” (02:22).
  • “They are must see TV if they've got that squad...I hope they can keep Jimmy Butler.” (02:54)
• Concerns:
  • Frank: “How much do you really want to give up for Giannis?... He's always hurt a lot…only played more than 67 games once in the last six years” (03:17).
  • Playoff struggles highlighted: “He's a superstar on a losing team…1 and 9 in [his last] 10 playoff games” (03:33).
  • Mike: “It’s still Steph’s team…Maybe Jimmy...has one more playoff run in him” (03:40).

Notable Quote

• Frank Isola [03:17]:
  “My only thing would be, how much do you really want to give up for Giannis?...He’s always hurt a lot. He’s only played more than 67 games once in the last six years.”
• Mike Wilbon [02:54]:
  “They are must see TV if they've got that squad. And I hope they can keep Jimmy Butler.”

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2. Jayson Tatum’s Uncertain Return – A Big Deal for the Celtics? (04:05–07:37)

• News: Celtics star Jayson Tatum is “considering sitting out the entire season” to recover from Achilles injury (04:05–04:37).
• Wilbon’s Perspective:
  • Calls it a “big deal” because Tatum is “that valuable…that great a player…great a teammate” (04:53).
  • Praises Tatum’s selfless approach: “He’s basically saying, this team is playing pretty well without me. Do I want to interrupt this? It’s so unselfish” (05:08).
  • Raises possibility: “Are they going to play with two guys making that much money?” Could there be a Brown or Tatum trade if he sits out? (05:22).
• Frank’s Insight:
  • No physical or mental setback; Tatum “kind of looking at, how would I fit in?” (05:47).
  • “When you first come back, you're not going to be very good…It happens to every guy that suffers a major injury” (06:10).
  • Cites Kobe Bryant’s mentality as Tatum’s inspiration: “Kobe Bryant's mentality would be get back as quickly as I can. So he wants to do that” (06:17).
  • “Why wouldn’t he come back?...Come back and maybe start out coming off the bench...Imagine getting Jayson Tatum for 20 minutes a night for maybe 10 games” (06:44).
• Wilbon Appreciates Selflessness:
  • “That level of unselfishness is something you don't often see out of truly great players, of which Tatum is one” (07:04).
• Frank on Expectations:
  • Compares to Derrick Rose’s injury: “If you can do that [pre-game workouts], why can't he play?...[Tatum] wants to lower the expectations a little bit” (07:20–07:26).

Notable Quotes

• Mike Wilbon [05:08]:
  “He’s basically saying, this team is playing pretty well without me. Do I want to interrupt this? It’s so unselfish…There’s everything to like about him [Tatum].”
• Frank Isola [06:10]:
  “When you first come back, you're not going to be very good...It happens to every guy that suffers a major injury.”
• Frank Isola [07:25]:
  “I think he wants to lower the expectations a little bit…Because he knows right away he's not going to be that good. Eventually he'll go back to being Jayson Tatum.”

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3. NFL Draft: Diego Pavia’s Height and Prospects (07:37–10:15)

• Context: Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia measures under 5’10”, could become “the shortest quarterback drafted in the modern era” (07:37).
• Frank on Short QBs:
  • Notes NFL success of short quarterbacks like Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson, Drew Brees (08:10).
  • “[Pavia’s] a winner...Heisman Trophy finalist. It tells you you’re tough physically, mentally, you got all the confidence in the world” (08:49).
• Mike’s Perspective:
  • Argues it’s not just about Pavia: “You got to have a coach who's imaginative, right? Bold...Someone who can bring in an offense who can take advantage of your skills. I don't see that NFL right now” (09:01).
  • Sean Payton? “He had [Russell Wilson]...bad mouthed him...ran him out of Denver” (09:52–10:02).

Notable Quotes

• Frank Isola [08:49]:
  “When you’re that height and you perform at that level, you’re a Heisman Trophy finalist. It tells you you’re tough physically, mentally, you got all the confidence in the world.”
• Mike Wilbon [09:01]:
  “You got to have a coach who’s imaginative, right? Bold. A guy who’s willing to be fired to bring in an offense that can take advantage of your skills. I don’t see that NFL right now.”

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4. NFL Super Bowl and Hall of Fame with Steve Young (12:43–19:01)

Injury Recovery for QBs in the Super Bowl (12:43–14:05)

• Steve Young on Extra Recovery Time:
  • Extra week “makes all the difference...Even an extra day, let alone an extra week...You need the extra week in the Super Bowl...you can get super healthy” (13:17).

Handling Super Bowl Pressure (14:05–15:09)

• Young on Living with Pressure:
  • “If I would’ve lost, I always say...you hit the Bay Bridge...then Reno, and then you’re gone, bro. Don’t come back unless you win this football game” (14:30–14:53).

Seahawks’ Defensive Transformation (15:09–16:03)

• Young Praises Seattle’s Defense:
  • Seattle has “that amoeba feeling like it’s all connected...they have speed, they’re connected, they play that kind of smothering defense…” (15:19).
  • “We haven’t seen the best of the Seattle Seahawks by far” (16:00).

Hall of Fame “First Ballot” Debate & Bill Belichick (16:03–18:12)

• Young’s View:
  • “First ballot is something...But is it everything? No...If you told me five years ago Bill Belichick won’t go in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, I’d be like...what happened?” (16:30–17:10).
  • On Belichick’s legacy: “No matter how much weight you want to put on that [spygate, deflategate], he put that away and then went on and won four more Super Bowls” (17:23).
• On His Own HOF Class:
  • “The only living member of my hall of Fame class was Dan Marino...pretty cool. But Dan was...one of one” (18:16–18:54).

Notable Quotes

• Steve Young [13:17]: “When you get extra time it makes all the difference. Even an extra day, let alone an extra week...You can get super healthy for the Super Bowl.”
• Steve Young [14:31]: “Don’t come back unless you win this football game.”
• Steve Young [17:23]: “No matter how much weight you want to put on that [spygate, deflategate], he put that away and then went on and won four more Super Bowls.”

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5. Quick Hitters & Memorable Moments (21:12–24:53)

• College Basketball:
  • BYU’s AJ D. Bansa spotlit as a “pro-ready” freshman (21:12).
• Tennis:
  • Djokovic says of Sinner and Alcaraz: “Are they better right now than me and all the other guys? Yes, they are. But does that mean that I walk out with a white flag? No.” (22:36).
• Soccer:
  • Benfica’s 6’6” goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scores decisive goal in Champions League stoppage time (22:56–23:40).
  • Frank: “Somebody’s gotta mark the goalie, especially the biggest guy out there, six’ six” (23:25).
• NBA:
  • LeBron James gets emotional during Cleveland tribute—Mike: “I don't want to see LeBron retire. I understand it may be time, but it could be his last game in Cleveland. Just not ready for that” (23:59).
• NFL:
  • Bills’ Josh Allen has surgery: “Yes, it’s a big deal. Josh Allen uses his feet. The good thing is he doesn’t have to play again until next September” (24:13).

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Warriors/Giannis Trade Discussion: 00:45–04:05
• Jayson Tatum Injury & Celtics Future: 04:05–07:37
• NFL Draft/Diego Pavia: 07:37–10:15
• Steve Young on Super Bowl/Hall of Fame: 12:43–19:01
• Rapid-fire Updates (NBA, tennis, soccer, NFL): 21:12–24:53

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Memorable Quotes with Attribution

• Mike Wilbon [05:08]:
  “He’s basically saying, this team is playing pretty well without me. Do I want to interrupt this? It’s so unselfish…There’s everything to like about him [Tatum].”

• Frank Isola [08:49]:
  “When you’re that height and you perform at that level, you’re a Heisman Trophy finalist. It tells you you’re tough physically, mentally, you got all the confidence in the world.”

• Steve Young [14:31]:
  “Don’t come back unless you win this football game.”

• Steve Young [17:23]:
  “No matter how much weight you want to put on that [spygate, deflategate], he put that away and then went on and won four more Super Bowls.”

• Novak Djokovic [22:36]:
  “Are they better right now than me and all the other guys? Yes, they are. But does that mean that I walk out with a white flag? No.”

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Tone & Style

The episode balanced playful banter and strong opinions with genuine respect for athletes, offering both analytics-driven takes and moments of sports nostalgia. Wilbon and Isola’s rapport kept the pace brisk, while Steve Young’s insights brought gravitas to the segment.

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For Listeners Who Missed It

• Expect wide-ranging conversations across the NBA’s most intriguing storylines and NFL’s playoff fever.
• Enjoy candid, sometimes vulnerable reflections on athlete mentalities, trades, injuries, and legacies.
• The episode is especially worthwhile for Celtics and Warriors fans, football draft-watchers, and anyone interested in the personal side of hall-of-fame careers.

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Transcript

[A]

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Lobon. Frank. The Bears sweater vest that Mike Ditkta used to wear on the sidelines is up for auction.

[B]

I'm Frank Isola. So when you buy it, you're ever gonna take it off?

[A]

Let's be honest, no, I'm in the running. I just venmoed you. You'll wear that every day, no special occasions like Fridays and Mondays.

[B]

Only wear it when they get back to a Super Bowl.

[A]

That would be. I'm hoping we're bullish on next year, huh? Mothballs on it. Welcome to Tony's Abandoned you people. So here to co host is our great friend from the starting lineup on SiriusXM, Mr. Frank Isola.

[B]

Energy levels down.

[A]

Stay away from my gift. By the way. Let's begin with the ESPN report that the warriors have called the Bucks in an effort to trade for Giannis. The dubs have reportedly expressed their willingness to make a substantial offer for the former two time mvp. In addition to players, Golden State can offer up to four first round picks. Frank, what would a deal like this do for each team and for the NBA?

[B]

Yeah, if you're Milwaukee, you're getting them out of the conference. This one makes sense because of what you talked about for the draft picks, you include Kaminga, so you get a young player. And really if you're Milwaukee, if you're trading Giannis, you're rebuilding. That's why you heard about the Knicks with Carl Anthony Towns, O.J. anobi, Mel Bridges, you're just, you know, trying to hold on for dear life. If you make that trade now maybe a three way can get that done. But with the Warriors, Steph curry still there, 37 years old, that window what is about two, three years and it works there. And if you're in Milwaukee, Mike, so The picks are 26, 28, 32 and then also 2030, which I think would be top 20 protected. It's another deal that they had with Houston. Those are the picks you're looking at because those are the post Steph Curry picks.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And that's when you think it's going to be bad, that's when the warriors will fall off a cliff. So that one makes a lot of sense.

[A]

I'm going to throw another thing in there. I'm looking at this not for Golden State to contend this year, but next year. You notice a name we did not mention so far is Jimmy Butler. Yeah, if you can get Jimmy back from his current season long injury and you have. So you go ahead with the Sunshine Boys and you keep Draymond Green and you have Jimmy and you have Steph and you have Giannis, by the way, the youngest of the quartet at that point. If you have those guys, then you may be looking at something, I don't know that you can hold off this bull, this freight train called San Antonio or the defending champs in Oklahoma City or Houston or Denver and the best player in the league in Joker. But if you have that team and you're at Golden State, first of all, you are going to be the interest of the league. Everybody's going to pay attention. You're going to want to see them. They are must see TV if they've got that squad. And I hope they can keep Jimmy Butler.

[B]

Yeah. And I think what they're trying to do obviously is go all in. As long as Steph is playing, they feel like they owe it to him. My only thing would be how much do you really want to give up for Giannis? I understand he's been a two time mvp. He's a great player. It looks like athletically he's lost a little bit. He's always hurt a lot. He's only played more than 67 games once in the last six years and right now he's at 30. Might get under that number again right now. And you know what? He's a superstar on a losing team.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

We talked about the playoff record yesterday. He's 1 and 9 in 10 the 10 playoff games he's with those guys.

[A]

So now you're not surrounding Giannis with dudes. Giannis is still Steph's team. Right. And we've seen Jimmy Butler if he can be healthy. And by the way, maybe Jimmy, if he doesn't have some wear and tear on on that body, he's got one more playoff run in him because he's had several. I, I think it's worth go there. What, what else Giannis got to do.

[B]

M Watch out for Miami. They could be involved on some level.

[A]

You peering Giannis and Mr. Pat Riley.

[B]

Coach Riles, why not Bam Adebayo, maybe Norman Po you Trey Tal was from Wisconsin, by the way. All right, let's move on. The Celtics may have to wait longer than they hope to get Jayson Tatum back. Chris Haynes reported on NBA TVs the association that Tatum is out considering sitting out the entire season as he recovers from an Achilles he tore last May. Tatum told ESPN last night, Mike that he's yet to make a decision. All right, so Mike, is this news a big deal, little deal or no deal.

[A]

Well, even though it sounds like no deal, because we don't know it's a big deal. Jason Tatum, you know, I don't know who's had the most first place votes without or MVP votes in the top five without winning the last six years, but Jayson Tatum's on the short list.

[B]

I keep voting for him.

[A]

And he's that valuable. He's that great a player. He's that great a teammate. He means that much to the Boston Celtics. And if Tatum is weighing this, he's taking it seriously. So he's basically saying, this team is playing pretty well without me. Do I want to interrupt this? It's so unselfish, by the way, people who know Jason Tatum, there's everything to like about him. The one thing I wonder is, are they going to play with two guys making that much money, $300 million, Tatum and Brown, or if he doesn't come back this year, are you going to see one of them traded over the summer and then they're never going to play? I think it's worth wondering. I'm not projecting, but there's been that talk the moment those guys sign those contracts. So I just wonder. I just want to see Tatum back, but not at risk.

[B]

So this has been going on for nearly six weeks, two months now, where everything.

[A]

You saw him practice one day, didn't you?

[B]

Absolutely. That he's out there working out. Everything seems to be all systems go. And then out of nowhere, here comes this idea that he may sit out the rest of the regular season. I heard he did not have any type of physical setback. It's not a mental thing that he feels he needs to get over. He's kind of looking at, well, how would I fit in? You'd fit in because you're Jayson Tatum. And guess what? When you first come back, you're not going to be very good.

[C]

You.

[B]

It happens to every guy that suffers a major injury. It's been eight months since it happened. You figure if he does come back, it'll be March, it's 10 months. And he thinks of himself. He loved Kobe Bryant. He knows that Kobe Bryant's mentality would be get back as quickly as I can. So he wants to do that. The Celtics looked at this year, everybody up in Boston, they called it was going to be a gap year. Right now they're 29 and 18. So they're right there in the field.

[A]

They can win the east.

[B]

So why can't. Why wouldn't he come back? And I get the idea that Jaylen Brown is having this unbelievable season. People talk about him being in the MVP race. Pritchard's been great. Derrick White. But come back and maybe start out coming off the bench. Imagine getting Jayson Tatum for 20 minutes a night for maybe 10 games.

[A]

More than one thing can be true. I hear the case you're making. It's the Kobe Bryant case. As if we were sitting around talking or if Kobe was talking to Jayson Tatum. Yep, this is exactly the case he'd make. But there's something to admire to me about Tatum saying, hold on, I don't want to come in and disrupt. That level of unselfishness is something you don't often see out of truly great players, of which Tatum is the only.

[B]

Thing I would say. And we saw this with Derrick Rose. Derrick Rose, when he was rehabbing, kept coming out before games and working out.

[A]

And the fans were saying, oh, my God.

[B]

Well, if you can do that, why can't he play?

[A]

The expectations Go crazy.

[B]

Yeah. So Jayson Tatum's been. I think you just said the key word expectations. I think he wants to lower the expectations a little bit. Exactly. Because he knows right away he. He's not going to be that good. Eventually, he'll go back to being Jason Tatum. Yeah.

[A]

You know, this is a tough one. This is hard. Now to college football and Diego Pavia's height. Vanderbilt's quarterback measured at 5 foot 9 and 78 at the Senior bowl this week, well below the 6ft that Vandy had listed him. That would make Pavia the shortest quarterback drafted in the modern era. Despite all that, the SEC Player of the Year and Heisman finalist says he's 100% confident he will be drafted. Frank, are you.

[B]

I do think he's going to be drafted. To put into context, Sam Darnold, 6 3. Drake May, 6 4. But there are guys in the NFL. Kyler Murray, Bryce Young, 5 foot 10, and then Russell Wilson was 5' 11. Drew Brees, 6' 12.

[A]

Two Super bowl guys on the end of that list.

[B]

Yeah. And this is where he's got it, right here in his heart. This guy was a winner. It does look like junior cops. He went to Vanderbilt and won 10 games. So I get it, how he's going to measure. And you know, we saw this. You would know this better than anybody. With Doug Flutie back in the day, is he going to be a starting quarterback right away? Probably not. Could he be a situational quarterback? Could he be a Taysom Hill like they do in New Orleans? He threw for 29 touchdowns. He ran for 10. And when you're that height and you perform at that level, you're a Heisman Trophy finalist. It tells you you're tough physically, mentally, and you got all the confidence in the world.

[A]

But it's still not just on you. You got to have a coach who's imaginative, right? Bold. A guy who's willing to be fired to construct or bring in. Someone who will bring in an offense who can take advantage of your skills. I don't see that NFL right now.

[B]

So you don't think he's going to get drafted?

[A]

Oh, I think he's going to get drafted. I just worry that he's not going to get to a place where he's going to have the kind of bold coach you need to have. What was the coach of the greatest show on turf? Mike Martz. Right. Even though Martz had a tall 6 foot, 4 inch, at least, Kurt Warner. But I think of a guy like Martz, a guy with that kind of boldness, who'll say, give me that kid. I'll work with him.

[B]

All right, you said bold, and I don't want you to yell at me. What about Sean Payton on Denver?

[A]

No, he.

[B]

He had that quarterback. He did in New Orleans because he.

[A]

Had Russ and he bad. He bad mouthed him. A guy with what should be two super bowl rings and he ran him out of Denver.

[B]

And how'd it work out? They made the AFC championship.

[A]

Yeah. How'd it work this year?

[B]

What about. What about Ben Johnson, Chicago?

[A]

We got a guy.

[B]

I get it. Situational quarterback. No, everyone needs a good backup, Mike. We got a good play.

[A]

We got a good backup. I'm gonna see if you know who he is during the break.

[B]

All right, let's go.

[A]

We're taking a break now, but when we come back, Mike. Alvi Douglas. A ton of pressure to perform heading into the Super Bowl. We're gonna ask Steve Young how he handled pressure.

[B]

We're also gonna ask him how important it was for him to become a first ballot hall of Famer. Everyone is still arguing about this.

[A]

It's like, come on, get off it.

[B]

Stop.

[A]

Stop. He should have gone in now. The world is not going to end.

[B]

Tyson.

[A]

Beijing.

[B]

Beijing.

[D]

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[A]

We've got football questions for our great friend whose lengthy list of accomplishments Kornheiser always insinuates himself into hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young. Steve, as always, thanks for joining us. We're going to start with the Patriots and Drake May because he would be listed as a limited participant if they had actually had a full practice due to a banged up throwing shoulder. Now he's got the extra week. Steve, is the extra week going to do that much? When you hear him listed this way and think of what this feels like, what's your make of it?

[C]

It's amazing. Michael, over the years I was just Talking to Christian McCaffrey a minute ago about injuries and like playing six days instead of seven when you're rushed in a playoff game or something, that extra day they feel you get used to a pattern and your body gets used to a pattern. And so when you get extra time it makes all the difference. Even an extra day, let alone an extra week. You need the extra week in the super bowl because you've got to take care of everyone who wants tickets? You got to take care of all the meetings. That's twice as much, you know, you got to take care of all that crap. And so that way you can dig. If you didn't have two weeks for the super bowl back in the day, when they had one week, it was totally not fair. Especially. Especially for your body. Right. Everyone can get healthy. Not everyone, but a lot of NFL players are used to seven day kind of health cycles. Get an extra week, they can get super healthy for the Super Bowl.

[B]

Yeah, Sam Darnold could use that extra week as well. He's going to face a lot of pressure to deliver in this game. Steve, how much weight did you feel to perform when you prepared to face the charges in Super Bowl 29 and how did you handle it?

[C]

That makes me laugh because, look, I know Sam. If he loses, what is what they've done this year, they're not going to throw them out of Seattle. They're all going to embrace him and say, look, we can't wait for you to be here another 10 years. If I would have lost, they would.

[A]

I would have been like.

[C]

I always say it's like, you know, you hit the Bay Bridge and you're like on 80, pinole and then the nut tree and Vallejo and then Sacramento, then Reno and then you're gone, bro. Don't come back, come back unless you win this football game. So yeah, it was all that that morning when I was over my cereal.

[B]

If you keep heading on 80, you're going to eventually hit the George Washington Bridge. You performed pretty well. I vaguely remember six touchdown passes and mvp. I remember those performance pretty good. All right, you're an NFC west guy. Can you explain what stands out when you've watched the Seahawks this year?

[C]

Well, first of all, that transition, these young players that they've got on defense and what Mike's coach McDonald's done for them, they. They have that amoeba feeling like it's all connected and they're all. And they all have speed. There's was it five guys ran over 20 miles an hour in the season this year. So it's like they have speed, they're connected, they play that kind of smothering defense, zone defense, and they can bring the heat with four guys. It is the ultimate weapon in the NFL today when you can bring heat with four guys, play that smothering defense and have great speed. They are. And I think they're just figuring out how good they are. I think it took them, you know, three or four months to figure out just really how good they are. And they are that good. And now they. And now that they figured it out, I think they get more dangerous. I think that's what's. To me, that's the biggest thing about the super bowl is that we haven't seen the best of the Seattle Seahawks by far.

[A]

We gotta go into the topic of the week a little bit. Bill Belichick and Hall of Fame. And I'm gonna introduce this by saying, I used to vote for 10 years, Steve, I would have voted for Bill Belichick, but I don't remember first ballot being that big a deal all those years. But I'm gonna ask you, was it a big deal for you, the whole first ballot notion? And when you think about that vis a vis Belichick, what are your thoughts?

[C]

I will tell you, being a first ballot hall of Famer, you know, at quarterback, I mean, there's. I even looked it up. I think there's 14 in history. You know, it's like, I think it has its own meaning. It doesn't take away from anyone who's in the hall of Fame because it's amazing. It's insanity that anyone played enough football and impressed enough people to think that that was okay, that you deserve to be there. So it's tremendous honor. But I think the first ballot is something. And. Yeah, but I mean, look, is it everything? No. And it is oddity. I mean, how does. If you told me five years ago Bill Belichick won't go in the hall of Fame on the first bell, I'd.

[B]

Be like.

[A]

What did he do?

[C]

What happened?

[A]

So Spygate and that stuff wouldn't have bothered you if you were sitting in that room and. And Deflategate.

[C]

Look, I'm sure it was a conversation. I'm sure that people can get overwrought about it, which is fair. But I think how I would have, if I had gotten an argument about it, I would say, look, no matter how much weight you want to put on that, he put that away and then went on and won four more Super Bowls. And so I'm a huge second chance kind of guy. I think that's America. Like, we people get second chances, they take advantage of it. So I'm not saying it was a second. I'm not saying it's the perfect metaphor. But as far as is he qualified put all that away. And then what did he do since then? Won four more Super Bowls on, you know, in pure fact. So it's like I could have easily allowed for the mistakes and the Foibles with what was accomplished. So, you know, hard to, you know, look, you can get an argument about it, but seems easy for me.

[A]

By the way, who was in your hall of Fame class?

[C]

The only living member of my hall of Fame class was Dan Daniel Marino.

[B]

Wow, a good one.

[A]

That's pretty good.

[C]

So the two of us went in together and I don't have enough time. But my senior year, high school recruiting trip to army at West Point, sitting on the sidelines watching a young freshman pit quarterback Dan Marino, throw a 30 yard laser that went right in front of me like shoom. And I remember thinking, I'm a senior in high school. I'm like, I might not be able to play.

[A]

Turns out you were just fine.

[C]

And all those years later, we went in the hall of Fame together and it just full circle, you know, so pretty cool. But Dan was. Dan was one of one.

[A]

So, Steve, thank you much.

[B]

We appreciate it. Thanks, Steve.

[A]

Great way to go out. We're gonna take one last break. But still to come, LeBron gets emotional as the Cavs paid tribute last night in Cleveland.

[B]

And Benfica needed a miracle to play on in the Champions League and got one from an unlikely source.

[A]

It's pretty good.

[B]

That was a good story.

[A]

Dan Marino and Steve Young.

[B]

All right.

[A]

Pretty good. Yeah. Nobody, nobody delayed their entry that didn't.

[B]

Get delayed that would get you canceled.

[E]

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[F]

All right, here's some breaking breakfast news as we start the new year. Everybody's talking resolutions, eating better, staying on track, and. And this one's actually easy. Kodiak frozen power waffles and flapjacks are a quick win. Heat and eat. No prep, no excuses. They're packed with 12 to 14 grams of protein per serving, a good source of fiber and crafted with 100% whole grains, not refined white flour. You have plenty of options, too. Classic buttermilk and vanilla blueberry chocolate chip, even gluten free. And it doesn't stop there. They've expanded their roster to include French toast sticks, flapjack puffs and brand new breakfast sandwiches. So whatever your game plan is, there's something that fits. Breakfast that works. Snacks that work. Resolution friendly. Find Kodiak frozen waffles and flapjacks in the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. They're the ones with the bear on the box and a proud partner of U.S. ski and Snowboard.

[A]

Time to get happy people. Happy 19th birthday AJ D'. Bansa. The BYU freshman is averaging 24.7 boards, 4 assists for 13th ranked Cougs. DU Bansa has delivered some performances that make him appear to be the most pro ready player in all of college basketball through Monday or though Monday night against number one Arizona, he was just 6 of 24 from the floor, one of eight from three. Frank. Now Debancer and the Cougs face number 14 Kansas and their star freshman Darren Peterson Saturday. The two are currently 12 in ESPN's most recent mock draft.

[B]

Terrific players. How about Caleb Wilson from North Carolina got to win. Kevin Garnett. Dabanza is from the same town in Boston. Danza is done.

[A]

Marvin has he looks different.

[B]

And Rocky Marciano, how about that?

[A]

Happy anniversary Novak Djokovic on this date three years ago, Joker won the Australian Open for the 10th time, beating Stefanos Titipas in three sets. That was the last time Joker won in Melbourne. Jannik Sinner took the last two. Joker and Sinner face each other tonight in the semis as sort of overnight. And Carlos Alcaraz faces Alexander Zverev in the other semi. Joker says of the recent dominance by Sinner and Alcaraz, quote Are they better right now than me and all the other guys? Yes, they are. But does that mean that I walk out with a white flag? No. Close quote.

[B]

I love that he needs one more to get 25, which is one more than Margaret Court.

[A]

If he's able to do that amazing.

[B]

In this tournament, it would be. That'd be an amazing accomplishment.

[A]

But he's not here to object.

[B]

He's got to play great. Needs a little luck too.

[A]

Just play great tonight.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Happy trails to Champions League elimination for Benfica. The Portuguese club needed a goal in stoppage time against Real Madrid to qualify for the knockout phase of Champions League. Benfica coach Jose Mourinho sent his 6 foot 6 goalkeeper Anatoly Trubin into the pack for a set piece. And Trubin heads it home in the 98th minute to advance Benfica on goal differential. Frank, I know you must have gone nuts.

[B]

It was crazy. Real Madrid got two players sent off. Somebody's gotta mark the goalie, especially the biggest Guy out there six' six. So Jose Mourinho calls himself the special one. It was great. During the celebration, he grabbed one of the ball boys, put his arm around him. They were celebrating with the crowd. Really cool moment. Really cool moment.

[A]

That's a pretty good moment. What drama. We're running out of show. Let's go to the big finish. The spurs beat the Rockets last night. Is that significant?

[B]

Kind of your team now. They were down 16 in this game. We went all the way back to a terrific win. Really good win. LeBron got emotional during a Cavs tribute to him last night.

[D]

Your thoughts?

[A]

I got emotional. I don't want to see LeBron retire. I understand it may be time, but it could be his last game in Cleveland. Just not ready for that. Josh Allen had surgery for a broken bone in his right foot. Is that a big deal?

[B]

Yes, it's a big deal. Deal. Josh Allen uses his feet. The good thing is he doesn't have to play again until next September. The Aussie Open women's final will be Rybakina and Sabalenka. Your reaction?

[A]

It's hard to pick against Sabalenka right now. Or these.

[B]

How good did she look today? Jess Pula was the last American.

[A]

Last American and gone Sabalenka. Last one. Crystal Dunn, retired from the US Women's national team. How you to remember her career?

[B]

She's a New Yorker, Mike. I actually saw her play as a youth player and I saw her play at North Carolina. She was terrific. Won a World cup, won an Olympic gold medal, terrific career.

[A]

New Yorkers can't stay home and play soccer. They got to go to the Carolina.

[B]

She's kind of a big program. That's where you get all the best from New York. We're out of time. Thanks for watching. I'm Frank Isola.

[A]

And I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knucklehead.