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- [00:01]
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- [00:31]
Matt Myron
This is Matt and Myron, the podcast. That's former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, Jonathan Zaslow's favorite team. Did you like Mike McDaniel during his time there?
- [00:44]
Jonathan Zaslow
I liked him a lot better when they were winning the first two years than when they were losing the next two years. All the. The quirky personality traits were. Were a lot more fun the first couple years.
- [00:54]
Matt Myron
Did you get some of those, like Lululemon or aloe pants? That was a little short.
- [01:00]
Jonathan Zaslow
Did I?
- [01:01]
Matt Myron
Yeah. Were you weari.
- [01:02]
Jonathan Zaslow
I got my style. At this point in my life, we're not changing up styles. I got my style.
- [01:06]
Matt Myron
Matt, how would you describe your style?
- [01:08]
Jonathan Zaslow
T shirt and mesh shorts. That's my style.
- [01:11]
Matt Myron
Mesh shorts?
- [01:12]
Natum Onuha
Yeah.
- [01:13]
Jonathan Zaslow
Want to be comfortable? Always comfortable.
- [01:15]
Matt Myron
Good for you. Mad Myers. Presented by Progressive Insurance. Progressive can help you protect your home, auto, boat, motorcycle, atv, RV and more. And if something wasn't mentioned and you had it in mind, say you want to protect your mesh shorts. Find out if it can be covered@progressive.com or 1-800-progressive because it probably can be. The NBA draft is Tuesday and Wednesday, and as a college basketball fan, this might be the NBA draft that I find the most exciting and interesting, really, in a long, long time. Yeah. Because I don't know what's going to happen. Right. Like, I think that, first of all, it's very deep. Where do you. Where do your Heat pick? Jonathan?
- [01:52]
Jonathan Zaslow
Thirteen.
- [01:54]
Matt Myron
Okay. So normally, I mean, you guys have done a great job over the years of finding players around there. That could be very helpful. But. But I think in this year's draft, there's a chance that the Heat, for instance, at 13, could pick the fifth best player in the draft. Like, that's really possible because once you get past the top four, there's really no consensus as to what should happen. And even in the top four, there's a big debate about you could make an argument for any of the top four of DebonSA, Darren Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson as being the first pick. So I find it a fascinating draft. Even Jonathan, if there's not, like, one particular person that rallies everyone like Cooper Flagg did, I still Find it very interesting.
- [02:38]
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah. Normally when you have a draft coming up where, like you said, we don't know who the top four picks are going to be, it's because there's no real great players. That's the opposite. This year. There are several potential really good players, great players who are available at the very top of the draft. And we're not quite sure who is going to be selected, even. I mean, what's the last. When's the last draft where you didn't know who was going to go number one? All right.
- [03:08]
Matt Myron
Been a long time. I mean, probably that Markel Fultz year was the last time with Jason Tatum and those guys, like eight years ago.
- [03:16]
Jonathan Zaslow
Right. Nine years ago.
- [03:17]
Matt Myron
A long time. Like, there's another thing that can happen here, which there are guys that I could see one day being the best player in this draft that will not go in the top four. So take a Darius Acuff. He could be a bust, but he also could be a superstar. I mean, depending on. And you know, John Caliperi, his record with guards in the NBA is pretty amazing. If you look at it historically, he's projected to go seventh to the Sacramento Kings. I could see him being the second, third best player. You got a guy like Nate ament, who's projected 10th, that if you had done this draft earlier in the year, might have been third or fourth. You got a guy like Yaxel from Michigan, who was the best player in college basketball last year, projected to go as low as 17th. No way that guy's gonna fail in the NBA. I just think it's gonna be a really fascinating to see where guys end up.
- [04:09]
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, the. The draft's gonna be fun in and of itself this year, but also we have what feels like a lot of extracurricular activity. Now, granted, the main headline is Giannis and what's going to wind up happening there. But the. The way that the league operates now, and I mean, heck, you know, we mentioned it earlier with the Knicks and James Dolan and not wanting to go into the second apron. The. That is a real thing with a handful of teams, and it's why you're going to see a ton of player movement, which likely takes place at the draft because we're talking about including the draft pick. So now, Tuesday night has potential to be a whole lot of fun. There's a lot of rumors out there already. I think there's a lot.
- [04:46]
Matt Myron
Giannis gets traded before the draft.
- [04:48]
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, I think it could happen anytime now, like, literally happen today.
- [04:52]
Matt Myron
And you think he's going to you, right? Yeah.
- [04:54]
Natum Onuha
You think he's going.
- [04:55]
Jonathan Zaslow
I think he's going to come into my house. Yes. Right here. I have an extra bedroom. I think that he's going to be traded to Miami.
- [05:00]
Matt Myron
Yes. Well, let me, let me just give you an example of some of the things that I'm talking about for people who don't follow college basketball specific. The Oklahoma City Thunder have the 12th pick, says they could end up with the top five player in the draft in the 12th pick, which is like LeBaron Filon, who in the draft I'm looking at is projected to your heat. That dude from Alabama, you cannot stop him. He scores at will. You put him on a good team, he's going to be a major contributor. You put him, say, on Oklahoma City, all of a sudden you got another guard who can put up buckets. I don't know if he's a perfect fit there, but there, there are guys all up and down the draft. And this is the second part of it. Next year's drafts, as is awful, might be the worst draft I can ever, that I can ever remember. There are really no great high school players. Maybe one or two next year, and most of the college guys won't be as good. I mean, I, you almost need to load up on the talent right now because next year's draft is nowhere near as well.
- [06:01]
Jonathan Zaslow
And next year, Matt, is also the first year of the new 3, 2, 1 system. Right. Like, this is the, this is the last year of not just, hey, the tanking is going to allow you to get the best odds at the top of the draft, but next year they don't just draw the ping pong balls for 1, 2, 3, and then everybody else falls in line. They're drawing the order 1 through 16. They're drawing every lottery team, which is a massive change from what it's always been. So, so next year, I didn't, I didn't know that next year you're saying the draft is not very good.
- [06:39]
Matt Myron
Oh, it's terrible. It's. I mean, there, there are people who follow this more closely than me that will tell you next year's draft. You, you may remember the Anthony Bennett draft, which I think was like 2013.
- [06:49]
Jonathan Zaslow
That was another year people didn't know who was going to go number one.
- [06:52]
Matt Myron
And that was the year, though, that like you at that. That was a horrible draft. I mean, nobody ended up really good from that draft. This one coming up has that potential of being just absolutely awful. But this year is stacked. I Mean, I would go so far as to say you look at the top 10 picks. AJ Debata, Darren Peterson, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, Keaton Wagler, Darius Acuff, Kingston Flemings, Mikhail Brown, Jr. Braden Berries and Nate Amen. You could tell me that any of those 10 guys will one day be an All Star, and I don't think I could argue with you. They obviously all won't be All Stars. That. That's not how it works. But you could tell me that any of those 10 teams got an All Star and it would not surprise me.
- [07:38]
Jonathan Zaslow
Well, and that's that right there. And. And if. If people believe that, if general managers believe that, it's why it is that much more important for Milwaukee to make this train before the draft on Tuesday night. And you make it either. Either with a team that is in the top 10 or maybe just outside the top 10, like Miami is number 13, or you get yourself an extra pick. Who knows, Maybe you give your number eight pick, which is what Milwaukee has right now, you have another first round pick, and you move up even further into the draft number.
- [08:10]
Matt Myron
Yeah, they have 10. So let's just say they make the trade with the Heat and they get 10 and 13. I'm just looking at this mock draft that I'm seeing. Obviously, it can be any players they have at 10, Nade Mint at 13, Le Bear and Filon. You might, if you make that trade with Miami, all of a sudden, have your backcourt for the future from this draft, like you, if you're Milwaukee, you might literally have gotten your backcourt of the future in one draft. You just don't see that a lot. And that's why I think you're right, that trade's going to happen before the draft because this draft is so loaded and it makes sense for them to do it.
- [08:44]
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, you really hurt yourself if you're saying you don't like the deals that are in front of you right now. So we're going to wait. I mean, if. If Matt's right and you decide to wait and maybe a trade him, you know, before next year's trade deadline, which would be crazy, you're essentially tanking another year of your team then. Then you're talking about acquiring a pick in next year which may not be any good. Yeah.
- [09:05]
Matt Myron
Would you take Debons at number one if you were the Wizards?
- [09:08]
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, I mean, we've. He seems like the safest pick, right? Like Darren Peterson. Maybe Darren Peterson could wind up being better, but, man, we're already talking about an injury History, you know, in the one year he played college ball, you know, so I. Seems like the safest, really good bet.
- [09:24]
Matt Myron
I think Boozer is the safest. If you just want to make sure you have a good control, there's no
- [09:29]
Jonathan Zaslow
way guaranteed solid player.
- [09:31]
Matt Myron
They. There's no way Boozer's going to fail. Okay. I also don't think there's any way Boozer will be the best pick in this draft.
- [09:38]
Jonathan Zaslow
Right.
- [09:39]
Matt Myron
So you have to decide, do you want to have a guy that you know is not going to fail, but you're probably going to watch someone you've passed on be better?
- [09:47]
Jonathan Zaslow
Highest floor, lowest ceiling for.
- [09:49]
Matt Myron
I think that's exactly right. That's Boozer Demonsa to me is highest ceiling, and his floor is not that low. Whereas Darren Peterson, you know, Darren Peterson could be Kobe. He also could be, like, out of the league. There is a little bit of that with him.
- [10:08]
Jonathan Zaslow
O.J. mayo.
- [10:09]
Matt Myron
Yeah, that's actually. I like that. I like that as a good, as a good duo. And I just don't know if you're the number one pick. If you got AJ DeVonta, can you take that risk?
- [10:18]
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah. Yeah. We've been talking about DebonSA for over a year now. All right. And I think a year and a half as being the number one overall pick. And I think there's a reason why I, I. And I know Peterson only worked out for Washington. He's not working out for anybody else.
- [10:30]
Matt Myron
What do you make of that? Like, what do you make of that?
- [10:32]
Jonathan Zaslow
He's trying to tell you that he's
- [10:34]
Matt Myron
the number one pick.
- [10:34]
Jonathan Zaslow
So, you know, I'm. I'm not, like, that's how good I am. Washington, you should take me. I'm only working out for you.
- [10:39]
Matt Myron
If he though the problem for Darren Peterson is you can't take him number one because of that year at Kansas. It just, it just didn't work. And if it doesn't, you know, a lot of guys have worked at Kansas. Bill Self is a pretty good coach when it comes to getting great players to play. It did not work there. And I think that means you just can't. You can't risk it at number one.
- [11:00]
Jonathan Zaslow
And if you're Washington. Yeah. Like, if you're, if you're going to take Peterson, I'll take him number one, call up Utah.
- [11:08]
Matt Myron
You gotta make a trade because Utah has known DeBonta since he was 15. Yeah. So Utah would definitely want to do that. It's 888, say, ESPN, it's Matt Myro. We're going to do some headlines. All the secondary things in the world of sports. That's next. I'm Matt Myron. Matt Myron, the podcast.
- [11:31]
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- [12:02]
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- [12:34]
Matt Myron
Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio. What is this song? What are you playing? What is this? It's called Bright Lights.
- [12:43]
Duracell Advertiser
Okay.
- [12:43]
Matt Myron
We just hit like generic entrance there.
- [12:45]
Shopify/Thumbtack/Ethos Advertiser
Yeah. This one.
- [12:45]
Matt Myron
Okay for this one. You know what? They can't all be perfect. Smat Myron on ESPN Radio. He says you may know him from the Dan LeBatard show and wrestling his children for control of the remote.
- [12:58]
Jonathan Zaslow
That's right.
- [12:58]
Matt Myron
I'm Matt Jones from KSR in this show and it is now time for headlines, The Sunday headlines. All right, here we go. You know, there's a lot of things happening in sports. So there are things you might have missed and that's why we bring them. James, what's up first?
- [13:18]
James (Sports Commentator)
Yeah. Let's start with last night. The Phillies just beat up on the Mets 15 to 3. But just the offensive explosion included Kyle Schwarmer. He had three home runs, two in the same inning. Both were over in that inning. Both were over.450 feat. And then Bryce Harper by the fourth inning, he had a cycle. He hit a home run in his first bat. He had a double and a single in the third. And then he finished it off with a triple in the fourth for the cycle. Big offensive output for the Phillies.
- [13:51]
Matt Myron
The thing that's fascinating is to hit for the cycles as by the fourth inning. I've always thought the cycle as a thing was overrated because it requires you
- [14:00]
Jonathan Zaslow
to hit
- [14:03]
Matt Myron
a single.
- [14:03]
Jonathan Zaslow
Crazy.
- [14:04]
Matt Myron
Yes, yes.
- [14:05]
Jonathan Zaslow
Cycles, the most overrated feet and all. Sports, Sports. Yes.
- [14:10]
Matt Myron
I'm glad. So. Well, because you. It has. You have to get a single. It would be much more impressive to hit four home runs or four doubles, of course, but. But nevertheless, that you do, I guess you do have to have some sort of skill to be able to hit a home run and a triple. So you have to be able to be fast and have power. So that's worth something, isn't it, Zaz?
- [14:31]
Jonathan Zaslow
I mean, like, so apparently, like James said, he needed a triple in the fourth at bat, and he got it. Well, like, would he have stopped at third if he had a chance for an inside the home run? It's the most overrated feat in sports. The cycle.
- [14:44]
James (Sports Commentator)
What. What if you do it in order? What if you get a single cycle than a. Than a home run? Are you going on that?
- [14:51]
Matt Myron
People say progressive cycle.
- [14:53]
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, he had for the progressive cycle. Yeah.
- [14:55]
Matt Myron
Okay, well, I've been working on my progressive cycle, so I'm glad you presented
- [14:59]
James (Sports Commentator)
by a progressive endurance.
- [15:01]
Matt Myron
Yeah. Look at you knowing how to. I will say, I was in the stadium when Ellie De La Cruz got a cycle, and it does get people amped up. And I don't know know if it's like. I don't know if it should, but congrats, Harper.
- [15:16]
Jonathan Zaslow
You only need a single to complete the cycle. So when the guy steps up to bat, the whole crowd is rooting for him to get a single instead of a home run.
- [15:23]
Matt Myron
Yeah, I think so. I think that's exactly what happens. But congrats. I will say, if you go look at the history of people who've gotten cycles, they tend to be some of the best players in the game. Whereas some of the other random stats, like a no hitter, can be just thrown by some Joe the cycle people tend to be pretty good. What's next?
- [15:41]
Jonathan Zaslow
Yep.
- [15:41]
Matt Myron
Yeah.
- [15:42]
James (Sports Commentator)
All right. Let's go to the World Cup. Scottish soccer fans have been having a blast in Boston over the past week.
- [15:47]
Jonathan Zaslow
Oh, they like to drink.
- [15:48]
James (Sports Commentator)
Exactly. The tartan army.
- [15:52]
Matt Myron
Stop right there. You can't go. The tartan army. You sound like you just grew up in the sticks. All right, let's. Let's make it to where you. The tartan.
- [16:01]
James (Sports Commentator)
Tartan.
- [16:01]
Matt Myron
Okay, Tartan army. Not tartan army. The tartan.
- [16:05]
James (Sports Commentator)
I misspoke. The tartan army has Been taking over restaurants and pubs and drinking, like Zaz says, a ton of beer. Sam Adams says it's Boston. Taproom ran out of Sam Adams Boston Lager over the weekend because Scottish soccer fans drank it dry. From Thursday to Sunday, the Tartan army drank four times as much Boston Lager as it normally sells during a typical four day holiday stretch like the fourth of July.
- [16:28]
Matt Myron
So I, two years ago, Zaz, I went to the European Soccer championships and I followed Scotland around for five days just because they seemed fun and they are wild. First of all, they're the friendliest people because they're just happy to be like, out of Scotland and to meet people and they're nice and they're exciting and they sing. What I like is that they sing, you know, they have their little chant, no Scotland, no party. That's their big chant and they'll do it anywhere. So I'm not surprised. The city of Boston has fallen for Scotland. And honestly, it feels like Boston is a good city city for Scotland. I could see why the Scottish fans like people in Boston. I think that's been a cool thing to watch.
- [17:14]
Jonathan Zaslow
They have been drinking Boston under the table during this World Cup. It is, I mean, how, how does a Boston Sam Adams bar run out of beer?
- [17:25]
Matt Myron
That's invite Scottish people. So I, I, I'm in New York and they're here too, a lot of them. And you know, they wear their kilts and it's a little hot to be walking around in a kilt, although I guess it allows some air. Yeah, up in that region. But it is, I will say this. If you see a Scottish person, if you just say go Scots or whatever, they get so happy. So I'm, I'm pro Scotland. They're gonna kind of be on the border of making it to the next round. It'll depend on gold differential. We'll see what happens. What's Next?
- [18:00]
James (Sports Commentator)
Last weekend, UFC Freedom 250 at the White House reached 17 million total viewers across US and Latin America on Paramount, a streaming company announced Thursday. According to Paramount, the seven bout card averaged 8.2 million viewers, seven in the US and totaled 17 million across the US and Latin America. Seems pretty impressive for streaming service to reach that. Except for Joe Rogan said that 150 million people viewed it.
- [18:30]
Matt Myron
Here's my view. First of all, I didn't watch it because I don't really enjoy mma. I know Myron is a big fan. Says, are you an MMA fan? Feels like since you fought your children,
- [18:41]
Jonathan Zaslow
I will, I will watch it if it feels Big. I watched last weekend. Yes.
- [18:45]
Matt Myron
Okay, so I didn't watch it. So to be fair, I knew when I heard Joe Rogan say that he heard there was 150 million people watching it, I was like, all right, Joe, settle down. I. Because, first of all, it's on Paramount plus it's not. When something's not on free tv, you're not going to get numbers like that. Eight point. But this is why I have a firm belief life is about expectations. Set expectations low and then meet them. That's the way to do life. 8.2 million people is objectively a pretty good number for MMA. Like, a really good number, actually. But when you say there was going to be 150 million people and it's 8.2, you look like fools. And they did that to themselves by not producing a reasonable expectation.
- [19:34]
Jonathan Zaslow
Well, and how could he have said 150 million? Like, there's not 150 million subscribers to Paramount. Plus they'd be the. The biggest streaming, you know, company in the world.
- [19:47]
Matt Myron
No, that's crazy. So you watched it. Did you enjoy it? Did you enjoy the. Yeah, I heard it was a really good card. People. People were fighting their faces off.
- [19:55]
Jonathan Zaslow
Cool spectacle. I mean, a little weird, but cool spectacle. And. And, yeah, most of the fights, all of them, except for the main event, were, you know, ended early in knockouts, so that's always fun. And the main event was a massive upset as well. So it was. Yeah, it was a fun card, but weird scene. You know, they got the White House in the backdrop.
- [20:17]
Matt Myron
Yeah, I. I saw the flyover that looked cool. I don't know, like, if that's the place to have it on the White House. But you know what? I'm not going to argue with people, like, if you want to have, I don't know, Evil Knievel and that would, like, jump the White House. Everybody, at this point could do whatever they want, but the 8.2 million, I do think objectively, like, that's a great number for more than. Watch the Stanley cup finals, for instance. And the Stanley cup finals were highly rated. But don't say you're gonna get 150 million people. You're like children when you make numbers like that. It just doesn't make sense.
- [20:53]
Jonathan Zaslow
Yep. Yeah, eight. Eight plus million for a streaming service is a really good number.
- [20:59]
Matt Myron
Imagine the number you could get if you film Zaslow wrestling his children on the steps.
- [21:05]
Jonathan Zaslow
We're not giving it away for free, Matt.
- [21:08]
Matt Myron
We are gonna go back to the World Cup. It's taking over America and It'll take over. Matt Myron Next Matt and Myron the podcast.
- [21:28]
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- [23:19]
Matt Myron
It's Matt Myron here on ESPN Radio. I'm Matt Jones. Jonathan Zaslow filling in from Myron. We are going to do some World Cup. Now. We're brought to you by Gusto. My producer's been telling me to say Gusto. It's Gusto. Gusto is your small business partner for payroll, benefits and so much more. I wouldn't have messed that up. Are you kidding me? Get started for free@gusto.com and to talk the World cup, we need somebody who knows what they're talking about. At least somebody with a British accent. Because in we do not listen to people about soccer unless you have an accent or are Alexi Lawless. That's the only way. Although you could argue we don't even need to do the second part. Natum Onuha is joining us. He's ESPN soccer analyst, played at Manchester City and the aptly named Real Salt Lake. Natum, thank you very much for being on here. It was nice to meet you.
- [24:15]
Natum Onuha
Honestly, it's a pleasure. I love radio as well. So this is. This is a real highlight.
- [24:18]
Matt Myron
This is the truest form of entertainment. Did you grow up listening to, like, BBC one on the games?
- [24:25]
Natum Onuha
BBC one, five Live. And when I'm back in England, I do work on radio as well. For as much as I get the chance to go to games and talk about things, I just love the way we can speak on radio. It's honestly one of my favorite forms of.
- [24:36]
Matt Myron
I love it. You and I, we're already connected. Well, let's. Let's do something very sort of ethnocentric and let's talk about the Americans, of course.
- [24:43]
Natum Onuha
Yeah, let's do that. Yeah.
- [24:44]
Matt Myron
Two and.
- [24:44]
Vivgard Advertiser
Oh.
- [24:45]
Matt Myron
Best start for America in the World cup ever. They've looked great. Now, on the one hand, they've played two teams that were not contenders, but they've also looked great in those games. How serious should we be? We've had people say, look, this team can win. Zlatan said that. And then there's people like me going, hey, hang on just a second. Where are you on the America train?
- [25:07]
Natum Onuha
Well, there's lots on. Saying things is obviously like a topic in itself, so I'm just going to push that to the side for now. But what I would say from having watched them play, I think that first game against Paraguay was a shock to many because I think most people thought that they would win, but it was the manner in which they did so, you know, to essentially be that dominant, because we speak about the US Team and it tends to only revolve around the likes of, like, Pulisic and so on. But you got a chance to see some of the other stars within that team and what makes them really, really good. And they dominated a Paraguay side that doesn't get dominated by anybody. So that's really significant. That felt like a big moment in the tournament. And then days pass and you hear in this war of words between basically the nation of Australia and usa, it's going to be this, it's going to be that. Don't underestimate us. Say Australia. And then USA says, okay, okay, sure, let's have a battle. But we're still the better team. So I think the fact that they've won those two games is significant, but it's the nature of the performances because for as much as the first game looked the nicest from a purist standpoint, they showed real character in the second one, which is probably what's going to help them, I think, go as far as they've ever been before.
- [26:11]
Jonathan Zaslow
So how much better can they wind up being than what we've seen once Pulisic gets back in the lineup?
- [26:16]
Natum Onuha
I think with Christian, it's the. I know over here this big talk about ceilings and floors and he does raise the ceiling in terms of how he attacks. I think the speed that he has, the experience that he has and to drive and desire that he has. Because essentially this sport, as is the case with many sports, like speed kills, and unless you have somebody that can match you up in that manner, then you will always be, you know, an excellent player. And I think he's got that with the skill as well that he has. So I think from when he comes back in, he offers him a different way to play to say how they did against Australia, which they will probably need because the further in you go towards the tournament, you start to realize the strength that you have everybody else else has as well. So that's when the stars really come to the fore. You know, for example, say Messi and Mbappe in that world Championship final four years ago. So I think it'll be good to see when he comes back. I think he's probably in some ways frustrated that he's not been a bigger part of what's been a very big story. And I think if he comes back and he's motivated and wants to prove a point that he's still the guy, then yeah, I think it can make a big difference.
- [27:12]
Matt Myron
America got kind of fortunate. We're talking to Nader, Natum Odu, Onuha. I'm going to get that. We're going to keep having you listen
- [27:19]
Natum Onuha
by, listen, we'll get that. We'll get it. Don't worry.
- [27:21]
Matt Myron
We'll get there. I listen, I'm from, I'm from the hills of Kentucky. We don't meet a lot of people.
- [27:25]
Natum Onuha
It's all good.
- [27:26]
Matt Myron
The USA got a fortunate draw. Like we're, you know, we were the highest ranked team in our group because we're the host. Then even you look at the round of 32 and the round of 16, Bosnia looks to be the likely round of 32 team, then potentially Belgium in the round of 16. That's a pretty fortunate draw for America. Let's just say that's who they get. Bosnia and then Belgium. How do you like that run for the United States?
- [27:56]
Natum Onuha
I think you would have to be positive just because essentially, like, for the U.S. you know, obviously the same for Canada and Mexico. Like, you're playing at home. You are playing in front of tens of thousands of fans who are there to support you. So whoever, you know, the USA play against, and he's like, through this tournament, like, it will always be harder for the opposition and Bosnia and Herzegovina, it doesn't. Doesn't feel like a lot, doesn't feel, like, culturally significant, and it feels like a game which the USA should win. But if we were to change that name to, say, Italy, then people like, oh, that is a tough draw, but Bosnia beat Italy to qualify for this World Cup.
- [28:32]
Matt Myron
That's true.
- [28:32]
Natum Onuha
So you cannot take them for granted. But again, I just have this real belief in the USA that from a matchup standpoint, until they meet somebody that is as strong, as dynamic and driven as they are, then, you know, I'll always favor them. And, yeah, you could say the draw has been fortunate to them, but they still need to win the games. And, you know, the draw, with all due respect, was also fortunate to Turkey, and they've lost two games. It's the same group as the usa. They were fancy to be a team that maybe could finish top of the group as well, but they haven't done so. So you can only play what's in front of you. But they're playing with real pride, momentum, and a real belief that, you know, they can make history.
- [29:05]
Jonathan Zaslow
Natum. What do you make of what's going on with Ronaldo in Portugal?
- [29:09]
Natum Onuha
Okay, so this.
- [29:10]
Matt Myron
He's old. He's old. He can't move. Nat, don't do that.
- [29:13]
Natum Onuha
Don't do that. I'm 40 years old. Don't do that. I think in some ways, the aging superstar is a really interesting debate because Ronaldo and Messi, they're so far ahead of absolutely everybody else. You know, there's a different discussion that will always be had around those guys. But for Messi, with Argentina, you have somebody, you have a nation, and people talking about him where we don't mention his age ever. We talk about people being the right fit to play around him because he's one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all time. Whereas because Ronaldo plays a slightly different role, the discussion is, well, is he worth his? Is he valuable anymore? Which is a crazy thing to think for somebody so significant. But I see in some ways. But I think for the last game where they drew, I think it was Roberto Martinez just didn't set the team up right. Because Ronaldo will be led by service. Messi is the service and the finish at the same time. You know, he has the ability to roam and have a greater impact in a game. But for Ronaldo, if the team's not getting it right, he can't really have those moments. So I think I'd always choose to start him. And not least of all because, you know, in the biggest moments, would you really bet against him? You can look at all the, like, oh, this minute, that minute, and so on and so forth, but if there's a big moment towards the end of a game, would you really be surprised if Ronaldo takes it and, you know, makes history for Portugal?
- [30:23]
Matt Myron
That's interesting. You're the first person I've heard as a soccer analyst kind of taking up for Ronaldo. It's good. Yeah, Maybe. Maybe. Maybe it's that you're the same age.
- [30:31]
Jonathan Zaslow
Yeah, listen. Yeah.
- [30:32]
Natum Onuha
You know, with the same age, we're both just as culturally significant for the. For the game of soccer. So, yeah, you know, that's the way it has to be.
- [30:38]
Matt Myron
Well, let me ask you about the country where you played most of your career in England. I think, because they started at the end of the tournament, like, their first game was six days into it, people kind of forgot about them. They won easily against a good Croatian team. Are they kind of a dark horse contender? We're used to England losing in painful ways for our British friends. Are they going to change that this year?
- [31:04]
Natum Onuha
Well, to be honest, unless you're winning a World cup, you do tend to lose in painful ways anyway. You know, everyone's got their own stories, but I think what's different with this England side compared to all the ones that have been in my lifetime in particular, is that they have a genuine belief that they could be and possibly should be making it to at least the semi finals of a World Cup. This is given the fact they've played in the last two European Championship finals. Obviously, they've lost the last two, lost to Italy and lost to Spain two years ago, but they compete on that sort of level. And when it comes down to things like odds, they are, say, third or fourth favorite, and, you know, on their day, they can do it. You've got a guy playing up front in Harry Kane, who's playing for Bayern Munich, who's one of the top goalscorers in all of Europe. You've got somebody playing behind him in Jude Bellingham, who's playing for Real Madrid, you've got stars everywhere and you've got a manager on the sideline which I think is probably significant. Thomas Tuchel, the German who doesn't have the same trauma that previous English managers have, because one of the toughest things, and maybe we've seen the same effect with Pochettino for the us you don't carry the trauma of a nation when you do that job if you're from somewhere else. Instead you see the objective. I think Thomas Tuchel sees objective and he makes decisions and he's not scared to make big decisions because legacy wise,
- [32:11]
Matt Myron
he left people home.
- [32:12]
Natum Onuha
Right, listen, he's left some big stars at home and he'll take some big stars off in games as well, because for him, if it feels right, he'll just do it. And obviously there's no guarantee that he will make the difference. But yeah, England are sneaky team. Sneaky, sneaky team to make it into the last rounds because whether they play well or they don't, for some reason, they always end up in that sort of mix at the end anyway.
- [32:32]
Jonathan Zaslow
Nathan, what will be the best game today?
- [32:36]
Natum Onuha
I think if you are somebody that just loves to see like attacking play, I think Lamina was just saying that he's going to be starting for Spain, so I would always tune in to watch him. And I think on paper I don't think that's necessarily the best game, but I think he's possibly the best player of the whole slate today. And when we talk about, say, players and talk about him in particular, we're talking about Spain need Lamin, they like the creativity, so on and so forth. And we did a segment this morning on ESPN2 and then at the bottom of the screen showing after all his achievements, he said he's 18 years old. Like you're reminded of the fact that he's essentially, you know, he's more or less a child, a child that has all the potential in the world. So, yeah, I'm going to be interested to see how he performs, because if he performs well, you can start to believe in that Spain team again after drawing their first game nil, nil, that maybe, just maybe, you know, this will be their year.
- [33:23]
Matt Myron
And a child who was hanging out at the Walmart in Chattanooga, Tennessee, that
- [33:28]
Natum Onuha
in of itself, that's deeper level humility that, you know, we plenty of other stores where he could be going, but, you know, fair play to him.
- [33:35]
Matt Myron
I don't always go To Walmart. I try and avoid it in Walmart,
- [33:39]
Natum Onuha
but maybe that's how I can tell he's a child.
- [33:41]
Matt Myron
I'll finish with this. Natum. Americans like two things. They like to pick a favorite to cheer for and they like an underdog. Let's take America out of it because we're going to root for our country. Give me a favorite that you think is the favorite to win the whole thing and then give me an underdog that's like one notch below that, that could do what Morocco did four years ago and make a run to the semifinal.
- [34:04]
Natum Onuha
Okay, so the favorite is France. France have got one of the best attacking lineups that probably world Football's.
- [34:11]
Matt Myron
I can't cheer for the French just for the rest.
- [34:13]
Natum Onuha
Hey, listen, I didn't ask you to. All we're doing is just stating facts for now, okay?
- [34:16]
Matt Myron
All right.
- [34:17]
Natum Onuha
Just stating facts for now. And I think in terms of an underdog, I'm going to give you an unlikely underdog due to their history. But Germany, Germany aren't many people's favourites to win this whole thing because under their coach, Nagelsmann and their build up to the tournament, they're going under the radar. They're not going to win it. They're not going to win it.
- [34:33]
Jonathan Zaslow
What a finish last night.
- [34:34]
Natum Onuha
Exactly. Yeah. And I think the fact they scored seven in the first game, the fact that they beat an Ivory coast side, a Cote d' Ivoire side, who are a really good side coming out of West Africa, I think they're sneakily going about their business. And there's nothing more dangerous than a German side that's like underappreciated and being written off because they will always find a way to be competitive.
- [34:54]
Matt Myron
I watched Germany's game yesterday and when they hit the goal to take the lead, a man threw a pretzel all the way across the bar and hit a woman in the face. I don't know if that's good sign.
- [35:05]
Natum Onuha
I disavow that.
- [35:06]
Jonathan Zaslow
Salted or unsalted, I didn't get to
- [35:09]
Matt Myron
see the salt level. But he was. It was a happy throw. He wasn't angry.
- [35:13]
Natum Onuha
Yeah, of course, if you want to. If you're prepared to waste money to throw pretzels at people, then, yeah, I guess you must be in a good place.
- [35:18]
Matt Myron
NATO Monua. I have enjoyed having you here. Hopefully we can do it again next week and good luck and enjoy the rest of the World Cup.
- [35:27]
Natum Onuha
You will see me again again, no doubt.
- [35:28]
Matt Myron
And enjoy West Hartford. I hear you're staying there. For a month. It's beautiful this.
- [35:32]
Natum Onuha
That's where the fancy people go. Thank you very much.
- [35:34]
Matt Myron
Where all the fancy people go. Where will Giannis end up? We will. Natum might have an opinion. We won't ask him though, but we'll do it next here on Matt and Myon. Matt and Myon the podcast. O'Reilly Auto parts can help take the guesswork out of your vehicle's check engine, ABS or maintenance light with O'Reilly Veriscan. The service is free and provides a report with solutions verified by ASE certified master technicians. Ask for O'Reilly Veriscan today.
- [36:10]
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- [37:21]
James (Sports Commentator)
The Miami Heat have been trying to
- [37:23]
Matt Myron
get Giannis for months. We have no deal if anybody can
- [37:26]
Natum Onuha
make that kind of trade.
- [37:27]
Matt Myron
Where Giannis is going to fit your basketball team. To me, that team makes the most
- [37:31]
Natum Onuha
sense if you're the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- [37:33]
Matt Myron
If I'm the Boston Celtics and I haven't won a championship in a couple of years, bringing Giannis in, if I can fit him into what I do, I think that would be the perfect fit. I don't think you have to rearrange your franchise for Giannis. I do think Giannis will be better utilized when he has strong leadership from a head coach and starting from a front office. Because of this topic that's coming up, I'm going to say something that I don't think I've ever said in my life. I'm really glad a person from Miami is here. Oh, there you go I've never said that sentence before about anything, because in general, Miami people, you know, but not in this case. Jonathan Zaslow is here with me on Matt Myron on ESPN Radio, and you're the perfect person to have on, because the question is, what's gonna happen with Giannis and what's gonna happen with LeBron? The amount of words that have been said on ESPN networks about those two topics over the last 10 years could fill up a stadium. But now it's the moment of truth, at least for Giannis, and maybe for both. It is time to determine where he's gonna go, and most people believe it's going to be the Miami Heat. Are you, as a Heat fan, excited about the opportunity? And how do you think Giannis will do if the trade ends up being too minus?
- [38:45]
Jonathan Zaslow
I'm excited for. I'm excited for being relevant again. You know, like, I, like, I miss my team being a. Being front and center of all the conversations in the NBA of being a championship contender, of being interesting. And certainly for us down here, we're looking for something new. It's been the same old, same old for several years now. So that part I'm very excited about. And what would the Heat be if they acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo? I mean, they would immediately have one of the best front lines in all of basketball with him next to Bam at a bio, and then you're trusting the organization to put together a really good team around them. And that's where you're getting, you know, a lot of the opinions out there where, why would Giannis want to go to Miami when you know you're going to be giving up everything around him? And what are the Heat going to be able to do that? Well, first of all, giving up everything around him. This is a team that missed the playoffs this past year. Okay, so, you know, how great are, you know, all the depths the. That you're worried that the Heat aren't going to have? Well, which one is it, you know, or is he going to a team that wasn't any good? Or is he going to a team that actually had some depth, though? So I. I look at this Heat team over the years, whenever they acquire a superstar, be it shaq, be it LeBron James, be it Jimmy Butler, whenever they've acquired these guys, every time they've either won the championship or. Or the very least with Jimmy, they've gotten to the championship round multiple times. So as long as this franchise acquires the superstar player, I trust that they're Going to be able to figure out all the ancillary pieces and have this team as a championship contender.
- [40:29]
Matt Myron
That's. That was kind of going to be my question. So you do think they can put enough around him?
- [40:33]
Jonathan Zaslow
Yes.
- [40:34]
Matt Myron
To be successful. Now the other option seems to be the Celtics and Jalen Brown. I listen to a lot of Bill Simmons and sometimes he frustrates me, but he tends to be in the ballpark of correct with Celtics things. And he's kind of said he thinks Jalen Brown is potentially likely to get moved this year. If you're Milwaukee, do you make that trade with the Celtics that's basically for Jalen Brown or do you make the trade with the Heat? That would be Tyler Hero and then probably draft picks.
- [41:07]
Jonathan Zaslow
I have a hard time believing that the Bucks would keep Jalen Brown in this spot because the trade that the Bucks are going to make, they're signaling, they're. They're waving the flag. We are rebuilding. Well, you, you can't rebuild of the players making $300 million. Like, that's not how you rebuild. So it would be a multi team trade if they were to trade for Jalen Brown, where you move him somewhere else and you get a bunch of draft picks for him, which I would assume would be very easy to do, which is why I don't believe that Boston is actually offering Jaylen Brown. Because if Boston's offering Jalen Brown, the Heat don't have a chance. Like that offer is better than the heats offer. So if Boston is offering Jaylen Brown, what are we still doing here? Like what. How has that deal not been made yet? So I don't believe that Jaylen Brown is actually on the table in this scenario here. If he were on the table and you're Milwaukee, you're trying to decide, okay, the picks that we would flip for Jalen Brown, are they better than the draft picks we would potentially be getting from Miami? That's what you're talking about here.
- [42:03]
Matt Myron
On the other side, you've got LeBron James who is not gonna. It's hard to know. Do the. Does he stay with the Lakers, they have his Bird rights. Or does he go to go to Golden State and become what is essentially like what was the movie where all the old guys, the action stars, got together for like the Expendables. So this would be like the Expendables. You go one more go around with all the old fellas. It would be fun. It would be like seeing the Eagles on tour one last time was for my uncle. But would it Be a basketball team. That would matter. My inclination is no. But what do you think is the most likely LeBron destination?
- [42:47]
Jonathan Zaslow
The Lakers? I, I can't see it. I like, I guess. So if he winds up leaving Golden State seems to be the, the obvious answer. Because, hey, at least you're staying in California. Easy flight to go see your family. You're not going to pick up your family, what could be your very last year and move them somewhere else. The family stays. That's an easy private flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles. You want to visit your family. But I, I don't see him leaving the Lakers, especially when, you know, know he adapted to that role of, you know, second or even third option at times. Really well the last season it is probably for him.
- [43:27]
Matt Myron
It's not a money decision for LeBron, right? Like, he doesn't need the money.
- [43:31]
Jonathan Zaslow
It's a respect decision.
- [43:33]
Matt Myron
Okay, fair enough. It's a respect slash basketball decision. Isn't Golden State a more fun exit for LeBron than being on a Lakers team that's going to be, as we would say in the mountains, fair to Midland?
- [43:47]
Jonathan Zaslow
I mean, well, no, I don't agree with that. This past year, I mean, you look at what they were this year, they were a, they were a top four team in the Western Conference. That, that's, that's not fair to middle.
- [43:57]
Matt Myron
They were, they were, but that team's not going to win it. But neither is Golden State. I mean, neither is Golden State. So, I mean, you could argue, but I think he's going to get more. The problem for LeBron with the Lakers is he is a second class citizen on that team. He is not the primary option and he won't be in Golden State either. But there would be something more special about. Let's give Steph and LeBron their flowers together on their way out. Then on a team where LeBron often feels like a third option and sometimes a dude where people are kind of like, hey man, get out of the way a little bit.
- [44:34]
Jonathan Zaslow
I think you also have to consider, you know, he, he, he is starting to show age. And when I say that, I mean as far as, like, he's not healthy all the time anymore. He's never going to be a guy that plays a ton anymore. And that could be really hard to age gracefully in a brand new location. That fan base doesn't care about how you age. They just want to win. Where in Los Angeles at least there's a sense of this is our guy. He's been here for eight, nine years. So you got to be careful where you decide to go.
- [45:04]
Matt Myron
Yeah, I do. I do wonder to what extent the Lakers fans though are going to want to have another year of that, but I guess maybe that'll happen. We're going to talk a little College World Series and more with our guy Ryan McGee. That's next on Matt and My Matt and Myron. THE Podcast.
- [45:26]
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