Hour 2 – Dan Woike, Brendan Haywood

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2 with Dan Woike and Brendan Haywood

Release Date: June 19, 2025

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1. Introduction

In this episode of The Dan Patrick Show, hosts Dan Flores and Michael Kassin engage in an in-depth discussion with Dan Woike, the Lakers beat writer for the LA Times, and Brendan Haywood, a former NBA player and champion with the Dallas Mavericks. The primary focus revolves around the recent sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter and the potential implications for the team and the broader NBA landscape. Additionally, the conversation delves into player dynamics, injury impacts, and future prospects for key figures in basketball.

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2. Sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to Mark Walter

Key Discussion Points:

• Sale Details: Dan Woike explains that the Lakers have been sold to Mark Walter for a staggering $10 billion. This unprecedented sale marks a significant shift in NBA ownership dynamics.

• Ownership Structure: The sale was permissible only after a majority of the Buss family—who inherited control after Dr. Jerry Buss's passing—voted in favor. Historically, the ownership was structured such that shares would diminish as family members passed away, leading to this pivotal sale.

• Reasons for Selling: While definitive reasons remain undisclosed, Woike speculates that the sale price itself is a primary motivator. The exact motivations and future plans under Walter's ownership will unfold in the coming weeks and months.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Woike (04:12): “The only answer I've been able to come up with at this point is $10 billion. That's the answer.”

• Dan Woike (06:18): “It's a lot of money. It's a lot of money.”

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3. Impact on Lakers' Brand and Operations

Key Discussion Points:

• Brand vs. Property Ownership: Unlike teams like the Golden State Warriors, who own significant real estate assets, the Lakers primarily represent a powerful brand without owning their arena. This distinction underscores the value of the $10 billion sale as a purchase of a globally recognized brand rather than tangible property.

• Investment Strategies: Under Mark Walter's ownership, there's optimism that the Lakers will invest heavily in various aspects of the organization, including:

  • Scouting and Analytics: Enhancing the scouting department and analytics capabilities to identify and nurture talent.
  • Team Development: Focusing on player development and potentially expanding the bench strength.
  • Arena and Infrastructure: Considering improvements or changes to the team's infrastructure to sustain competitiveness.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Flores (06:22): “I think the Lakers, that's another crazy part of this deal, Dan. The Lakers don't own property. It is like a brand, right? That is what you're buying.”

• Dan Flores (08:09): “The Lakers were in the luxury tax. They're repeatedly in the luxury tax. [...] the Lakers don't have a ton of ways to get there.”

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4. Future Moves for the Lakers

Key Discussion Points:

• Potential Acquisitions: The Lakers are eyeing significant talent acquisitions to bolster their roster. Luka Doncic is a notable target, given his stature and potential impact.

• Current Assets and Trades: With limited assets, the Lakers hold a first-round pick that can be traded in 2031 or 2032, along with other pick swaps. Past trades, such as acquiring Mark Williams before assessing his physical, indicate a strategic approach to roster building.

• LeBron James' Future:

  • Player Options: LeBron has a player option at the end of the month, with indications that he may opt for an unrestricted free agency or sign a two-year extension.
  • Health and Performance: Despite a knee injury, LeBron remains a pivotal part of the Lakers' plans, showcasing his enduring excellence on both ends of the court.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Flores (09:46): “They have some pick swaps. [...] Those are people that I think they're going to try and target.”

• Dan Flores (11:48): “He's got a player option at the end of this month. Early signs were that he would accept it.”

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5. Discussion on Pacers’ Tyrese Halliburton Injury

Key Discussion Points:

• Injury Details: Tyrese Halliburton of the Indiana Pacers is grappling with a calf injury, leading to concerns about his availability for the upcoming Game 6 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

• Impact on the Game: If Halliburton cannot play, the Pacers face significant challenges in terms of ball handling and game strategy, potentially making it difficult to compete against a strong OKC defense.

• Strategic Considerations: There's debate on whether Halliburton should play if he's not fully fit, with concerns about aggravating the injury and the long-term implications for his performance.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Flores (06:50): “The question is if he plays, how much he plays and then what does OKC do to retaliate?”

• Memphis Bleak (26:34): “If he goes out there and he tests the calf and he can't move well, then you have to shut him down.”

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6. Player Comparisons and Insights

Key Discussion Points:

• SGA vs. Kobe Bryant:

  • Melanie Bleak compares Scottie Barnes' (referred to as SGA) mid-range game to that of Kobe Bryant, highlighting Barnes' footwork and shot-making abilities reminiscent of Kobe's classic style.

• Greatest Players Debate:

  • The conversation touches on comparing legendary players like Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant, discussing their unique strengths and contributions to the game.

• Brendan Haywood's Insights:

  • As a former player, Haywood shares personal anecdotes and assessments of various players, emphasizing the importance of player roles and team dynamics.

Notable Quotes:

• Memphis Bleak (30:12): “If you look at what he does in the mid range, a lot of times he has the footwork of Kobe.”

• Dan Flores (33:58): “Kareem, you know, he has a championship in Milwaukee. Then like you talked about Magic and Larry took the game to another level.”

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7. Miscellaneous Topics

Key Discussion Points:

• NBA Team Branding:

  • The conversation explores how team brands like the Bulls have evolved post-Michael Jordan, comparing their current status to other franchises like the Warriors and Lakers.

• Player Dynamics:

  • Discussions include player interactions, defensive strategies, and the psychological aspects of guarding star players.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Flores (16:22): “The Lakers, that brand, when you had Shaq and Kobe, that resonated around the world.”

• Memphis Bleak (37:05): “Carmelo Anthony. 60 points when I played for the Charlotte Hornets.”

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8. Conclusion

The episode offers a comprehensive analysis of the recent sale of the Lakers, its implications for team dynamics, and the broader NBA ecosystem. With expert insights from Dan Woike and Brendan Haywood, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the strategic moves likely to shape the future of one of the league's most storied franchises. Additionally, the discussions on player injuries and comparisons provide valuable perspectives for basketball enthusiasts looking to stay informed about key developments in the sport.

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Highlighted Quotes with Timestamps

• Dan Woike (04:12): “The only answer I've been able to come up with at this point is $10 billion. That's the answer.”

• Dan Woike (06:18): “It's a lot of money. It's a lot of money.”

• Dan Woike (06:22): “It's a little less charming, right? [...] It's a family business.”

• Dan Woike (08:09): “The Lakers were in the luxury tax. [...] They're paying, they're not afraid to fire coaches and keep paying salaries.”

• Dan Flores (09:46): “They have some pick swaps. [...] Those are people that I think they're going to try and target.”

• Dan Flores (11:48): “He's got a player option at the end of this month. Early signs were that he would accept it.”

• Memphis Bleak (26:34): “If he goes out there and he tests the calf and he can't move well, then you have to shut him down.”

• Memphis Bleak (30:12): “If you look at what he does in the mid range, a lot of times he has the footwork of Kobe.”

• Dan Flores (33:58): “Kareem, you know, he has a championship in Milwaukee. Then like you talked about Magic and Larry took the game to another level.”

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, providing listeners with a clear and comprehensive overview of the main topics covered during the conversation.

Transcript

[Dan Flores]

This is an iHeart podcast. Why is a soap opera western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6, where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season one, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The OGs of uncensored motherhood are back and badder than ever. I'm Erika.

[Michael Kassin]

And I'm Mila.

[Dan Flores]

And we're the hosts of the Good Moms Bad Choices Podcast brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network every Wednesday. Yeah, we're moms, but not your mommy. Historically, men talk too much and women have quietly listened. And all that stops here. If you like witty women, then this is your try. Listen to the Good Mom's Bad Choices podcast every Wednesday on the Black Effect podcast network, the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you go to find your podcast. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next.

[Michael Kassin]

In this episode, I'm joined by Angelique Sud, CEO of Tubi. We dive into the competitive world of streaming.

[Dan Flores]

What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There's so many stories out there, and if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen.

[Michael Kassin]

Listen to Good company on the iHeartRadio.

[Dan Flores]

App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What up, y' all?

[Memphis Bleak]

This your main man, Memphis Bleak, right here. Host the rock solid podcast.

[Michael Kassin]

June is Black Music Month, so what.

[Memphis Bleak]

Better way to celebrate than listening to my exclusive conversation with my bro, Ja Rule? The one thing can't stop you or take away from you is knowledge.

[Dan Flores]

So whatever I went through while I.

[Michael Kassin]

Was down in prison for two years through that process, learn, learn from.

[Memphis Bleak]

Check out this exclusive episode with Ja Rule on Rock Solid.

[Michael Kassin]

Open your free iHeartRadio app search Rock Solid and listen now.

[Dan Flores]

You are listening to the Dan Patrick.

[Michael Kassin]

Show on FOX Sports Radio, Hour two on this Thursday basketball. Tonight, OKC is favored by six on the road, it was four and a half. And I think maybe the fact that we're not quite sure about Tyrese Halliburton, his availability, I know that Vegas has downgraded the numbers that they expect from him. You see 17 and a half points over under. Now it's 13 and a half. The question is if he plays, how much he plays and then what does OKC do to retaliate? And I'd go right at him right from the beginning. He's a slow starter, has been from throughout this series. And I'd see what he has if he's going to be out there. More on this coming up. 877-3-DP-SHoVE email address [e-mail] Twitter handle @DP-SHoVE Stat of the Day brought to you by Panini America. The official trading cards, the Dan Patrick Show. Good morning. If you're watching on Peacock or you're listening on our radio affiliates around the country, I heart radio, fox Sports Radio. $10 billion. Why now? Jeannie Buss, the family sells the Lakers to Mark Walter the part of the dodger ownership for $10 billion. Dan Wojke, he is the Lakers beat writer, L.A. times, joining us on the program. Dan, thanks for joining us. Why sell? Why sell? Now?

[Dan Flores]

The only answer I've been able to come up with at this point is $10 billion. That's the answer. And it's an interesting thing because that'll be the thing that we learn here over the next few weeks, few months and stuff. No one from the Lakers is still set a peep about this right match. Johnson kind of was the de facto spokesperson. He's the person that has hands in the Mark Walter cap. Obviously very close to Genie Buss. So we don't totally know why. Here's what we do know. We know that to sell the team, the way that the ownership thing is structured after Dr. Jerry Buss died, a majority of his six children needed to vote to sell. And that majority never existed until yesterday. So that is, I think the interesting thing, right, is that always Genie was running the team. Jim was involved with the team. He was the sort of executive basketball operations famously tried to sue his sister to try to like wrestle control of the team in 2017. The older siblings, Johnny and Janie, not that involved and, you know, but, but Joey Buss runs the, you know, South Bay team. Jesse Buss involved in the scouting department. These are people that have day to day roles with the organization. And, you know, so I think that's kind of what's. What we're learning here a little bit is sort of how this played out that way. It's an interesting. Not to get way in the weeds on trust law, but it's an interesting part of the way their ownership was structured. This was always inevitable. The way the deal was structured, Dan, was that to sound morbid and I apologize, but if the oldest Bus sibling were to die, it's not like those shares go to next of kin. The pie just gets smaller. It goes from being cut six ways to being cut five ways, and then it goes to being cut four ways and it keeps getting smaller and smaller and smaller. Sort of a last person standing type of situation, you know, and these are people, genies in their mid-60s and stuff like that. It just. A lot of money, Dan. It's a lot of money.

[Michael Kassin]

What's it mean for the Laker fan?

[Dan Flores]

I think it's probably good news. It's a little less charming, right? I think that was one of the things about the Laker organization, especially if you were around the team and you're a fan who goes to games and you see, you know, Jeannie Bus and you could use people to tweet at her a lot. When she was really active on social media, it was like very. She's a very public person. I mean, it's a family business. It truly is a family business. And I think it will lose that. And I'm not sure that's like good in total for a league that is losing this all the time because the money is just getting bigger and bigger and bigger. But, I mean, I think we can. It's fair to look to the Dodgers, right? And I'm not, I'm not suggesting they're going to pay Shohei ohtani, you know, $200 million to play center next season. Like, that's not how this really works in the NBA. But what you can do is you can pour that money into everything else. You can pour that money into your bench, you can pour that money into your analytics department, you can pour that money into development, pour that money into the arena. You know, the Lakers, that's another crazy part of this deal, Dan. The Lakers don't own property. It is like a brand, right? That is what you're buying. A lot of times when these evaluations come up for teams, it's you know, they own their arena. Part of the warriors evaluation is they've got a huge piece of real estate, you know, right on the bay. That's not the Lakers. The Lakers are at least the play inside of crypto.com like so this is a deal for the brand. But, but I think it's fair to think that Mark Walter, the way that they've operated the Dodgers, they're going to pour money into this in all the places they can to give the team the best chance to win consistently.

[Michael Kassin]

But you know, in baseball you can overspend. Yes, but you can't outspend. I mean, you know, the Golden State warriors did there for a while where they didn't care about the luxury tax, but.

[Dan Flores]

And then they changed the rules.

[Michael Kassin]

Yes, right.

[Dan Flores]

Yeah. And so, yeah, I think, I think that part of it is overstated. Right. Like look, the Lakers were in the luxury tax. They're repeatedly in the luxury tax. You can point to a couple times in recent history where maybe they cheaped out on something famously kind of Alex Caruso is like one of those things. And obviously that was a bad decision, I think. But I mean they're paying, they're not afraid to fire coaches and keep paying salaries. I mean, feels like we do that every two years out here right now. You know, that's not the issue. I will say when you talk to people about the Lakers organization around the NBA, generally speaking, the thing, the sort of really direct way people describe that is it's a, it's a place that does the big things really well and the small things really poorly. And the small things like they've been getting better at some of the smaller things. But I think it's fair to point to infrastructure when you talk about small things and like things like beefing up a scouting department, you know, putting more money into that, putting more people on the road, stuff like that, you know, that's where especially the way the second apron is structured, you've got to hit on your minimum signings. You have to hit when you don't have draft picks, you have to hit on your second round picks. They've drafted pretty well, they've done well with the college cutting their post cutting needs to get much, much better. And I think that's a place where Mark Walter can put a lot of money into it. And I think you can see a difference.

[Michael Kassin]

Talking to Dan Woikie, the Lakers beat writer for the LA Times, what kind of moves in the off season with the Lakers do you see?

[Dan Flores]

Yeah, well, I didn't see New owner. I do see new center. I think new center is the, is the most obvious one I know. You know, the Lakers have spoken with Luka Doncic multiple times. Kind of what that could look like. They know that's a position he needs. They know that's a position they need. Right. It's an interesting kind of team building exercise for them because they don't have a ton of assets. Stop me if you heard this before about the Lakers. They need to get better and they don't have a ton of ways to get there. They have a first round pick that they can trade either in 2031 or 2032. They have Dalton connect their first round pick from last year. They've got some pick swaps. This is, I mean, this is what they traded for Mark Williams before they saw the physical. Right. So they have some stuff. I, I would be looking at centers like, kind of like Mark Williams around the NBA. Those that has been sort of their type, right. So like Jalen Duran, Anyaka Kongwu in Atlanta, Walker Kessler in Utah. These are people that I think they're going to try and target. Young senators who kind of fit the next future. Now, whether or not any of these players are available. Dan, another thing, and do the Lakers, you know, if you're not available, like, do the lakers have a $10 billion offer to make for Walker Kessler? They don't, you know, unless they're going to trade Austin Reaves. And they've shown no indication that they are going to trade Austin Reaves. They believe in Austin Reeves. Luka Dodgich believes in Austin Reeves. The best Dallas Maverick teams with Luka Dodge had three things generally. They had a good center, they had athletic wings and they had a secondary playmaker. Kyrie Irving, Jalen Brunson, so. And neither of those guys are Tony Allen either, right? When it comes to like locking guys down on the perimeter. So it can work. I think that is sort of where they're at in terms of trying to figure this out. Athletic wings, definitely a big.

[Michael Kassin]

What about LeBron's future?

[Dan Flores]

I mean, boy, you know. Well, we know he's not retiring via Amazon commercial. He put that to bed, you know, teased that out last week. He's gonna be back. You know, I, I think he is good enough to keep playing. He has a player option at the end of this month. Early signs were that he would accept it. He may opt out and resign as a unrestricted free agent. And again, kind of play this sort of sign me for a two year extension, give me a An option on the back of that. You know I, it's all signs point to him finishing his career as a Laker and he's not done. He was an all NBA player last year, played some of the best defense. I've seen him play as a Laker for a stretch, kind of that January to March stretch. Then got hurt. I think the knee injury. Dan is an interesting injury. It's an interesting thing for him. He hasn't really dealt with something like this. And so you know, as a 40 year old, I'm a guy who woke up this morning with a sore elbow. Somehow like this happens at age Dan and he, you know, I think he's going to take his time and get to 100%. It's. But yeah, I mean he's a part of their plans.

[Michael Kassin]

Good to talk to you. I know you're on vacation, but I don't know if you're ever truly the.

[Dan Flores]

Surface of the sun here in Scottsdale, Arizona, dan. It's, it's 250 degrees.

[Michael Kassin]

You're not truly on vacation if you cover the Lakers.

[Dan Flores]

Never.

[Michael Kassin]

Not allowed to be. Thank you, Dan. Thanks, Dan. Dan Wieke, he covers the Lakers for the LA Times. That's one of those where. And I remember trying to take vacations when I would work at SportsCenter. Then all of a sudden something would happen. Then somebody say, where are you? And I knew what that meant. Are you capable of coming in to do SportsCenter? Hey, such and such just happened. Where are you? And then my wife knew. Whenever I get the call be like, got to go do Sports Center. Darn it. I gotta leave you with these four kids under the age of seven because I have to go do SportsCenter. Hun. Yes, Paul, depending on which NBA team.

[Dan Flores]

You'Re a beat writer for, you could plan your vacation in late April.

[Michael Kassin]

Yeah, maybe May, maybe June. And the draft coming up. You know, there's a couple players I'm curious about. One is, one is Ace Bailey, played at Rutgers. Now there's starting to get some information that's coming out that he is not prepared when he goes to these interviews. He's dropping a little bit here. Well, he's one of those guys who is unbelievably athletic. First of all, they had him listed at 610. He's six eight. Can we stop doing that? Because if everybody knows that you're doing it, can we just stop? You know like he's 6 10. No, he's 6. He's 6 8. But you're. And he was on a Rutgers team that, that, you know, had Ron Harper's son on it. And, you know, Dylan Harper might be the second player taken, I don't know. But Ace Bailey is dropping a little bit and some of the, some of the scouts are saying he's not prepared. He's showing up certain teams might not want to play for. But it might get interesting. This is where he drops a little bit. And then somebody may get a bargain with Ace Bailey, who's very talented, but you're not that talented because you and Dylan Harper didn't get your team into the NCAA tournament, which is almost impossible to do if you have two guys who are our lottery pick. Two guys who are probably top five picks bad. Brendan Haywood, he covers the NBA. He won a title with the Dallas Mavericks. He'll join us coming up. Tony in la. Hi, Tony. What's on your mind today?

[Dan Flores]

Hey, Dan.

[Michael Kassin]

Dodger fans are kind of upset about.

[Dan Flores]

This because Dodger fans have been paying exorbitant prices for the past 10 years.

[Michael Kassin]

And now they find out they've been.

[Dan Flores]

Stashing money to buy the Lakers. Like what Dodger fans care who owns the Lakers? Their money's going to the Buss family. Hopefully they lower Dodger prices and raise Laker prices. And the Laker fans could pay back the Walter for buying their team because the Dodger fans don't want to do it anymore.

[Memphis Bleak]

Now they find out what's been going.

[Dan Flores]

On and, and now we hear they.

[Memphis Bleak]

May have to build a new arena.

[Dan Flores]

Because that arena is no good. And hopefully they're not, they're not using Dodger money to build that arena either.

[Michael Kassin]

Well, it probably all comes from the same cookie jar there, Tony, but I understand why you would be upset when you realize you you bought a brand for $10 billion, you don't get the building. Golden State has the building. You got that property there in San Francisco. You bought a brand for $10 billion. That is a powerful brand. Mark in Virginia. Hi, Mark.

[Dan Flores]

Hey, Dan. Earlier you're talking about when Seth leaves Golden State, they're not going to be probably as much as valuable. My question is where do the Bulls fit in with that analogy as well? Since Jordan retired, are the Bulls not as valuable or do you find them still as like a worldwide brand?

[Michael Kassin]

I don't think they're a worldwide brand. I mean, if you do see Bulls gear, It's from the 90s. I don't think anybody was buying Josh Giddy gear unless you're in Australia, even with Billy Donovan. I mean, they've Been kind of average. You make the playoff, but they're. I mean, it goes away because they're not on national tv. People aren't talking about the Bulls. And the same thing will happen with Golden State. You're just not going to have that tune in factor. Yes. I think that the NBA has something that's interesting and that it has a larger international audience for sure than probably any other sport that we play in the United States. But the basketball jersey is such a fashion like statement. Maybe it's something that you wear because it's, it's. You like the way that it looks and then having different ones is. Is appealing. So you'll always sell a certain portion of NBA jerseys, whether they're new or old, just based on the fact that people like wearing them. And I don't know that you don't really do that as much with a baseball jersey or a football jersey, but a basketball jersey, you definitely do. Yeah, you'll see guys who will wear jersey, but it might be because of a player or throwback jersey. Whereas you're not going to have a random, hey, I'm going to get a Cowboys jersey. Are you a Cowboy fan? No. Yes. Marvin.

[Dan Flores]

I think another thing is also the.

[Memphis Bleak]

NBA was so big on promoting the.

[Dan Flores]

Stars and not the teams. Do you think that ended up hurting.

[Memphis Bleak]

The NBA when trying to build new brands?

[Michael Kassin]

Well, I think you were a Bulls fan. The Bulls had a brand. I mean, Michael had a brand, but the Bulls had a brand new. And that resonated around the world. The Lakers, that brand, when you had Shaq and Kobe, that resonated around, around the world. But the Bulls, you know, they're nondescript. Nobody cares. I don't even know how, you know, how highly they're thought of in Chicago because there's no real pulse there. I mean, it's not hard to sell out a basketball game, basketball arena. But I mean, I don't know if that's a great indicator of. Boy, that's still a strong brand. I never hear about the Bulls. Yeah, Paulie.

[Dan Flores]

And in basketball, your brand can change in one day with one person. Yeah, the Orlando Magic went from, hey, this new Boom Shaq worldwide instance, when LeBron went back to Cleveland, they went back to relevancy in one day.

[Michael Kassin]

But that's where it would make me nervous with Golden States evaluation, because it just seems fluid that if you don't have stars, what do you have? And if Golden State all of a sudden, even though I love the jerseys, but if they all of a sudden become an average team, a 40 win team. Is that fan base still going to be there? Because you're showing up. You had an owner who spent and you had something we had never seen before on a basketball floor. You're not going to have that. You may have an owner who still wants to spend money, but even then with the new restrictions, you're not able to do that the way they once did. They were like luxury tax. We don't care. We're trying to win championships here. We'll take a break. We'll talk some more basketball. Coming up, more phone calls as well. Good morning. If you're watching on Peacock, thank you for downloading the app. We'll take a break. We're back after this.

[Dan Flores]

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports.

[Michael Kassin]

Talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app.

[Dan Flores]

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[Michael Kassin]

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There's always a trade in. Not right now. Till I feel like I have to.

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[Dan Flores]

I don't really have much in my purse. Oh, let's see. Hand sanitizer. It's lavender.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm good.

[Dan Flores]

Seriously. Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints. Really, I'm fine. Oh, I have raisins. I'm a mom. Wait, wait one sec. I've got cupcakes in the car. It's our best iPhone offer ever. Switch to T Mobile. Get a new iPhone 16 Pro with Apple intelligence on us. No trade in needed. We'll even pay off your phone up to 800 bucks with 24 monthly bill credits. New line 100 plus a month on experience beyond Finance Agreement 999.99 and qualifying ported for well qualified plus tax and 10 connection charge payout via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days credits end and balance due if you pay off early or cancel CT mobile.com the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Michael Kassin]

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[Memphis Bleak]

Went down that day. It's for the families of those who didn't make it.

[Dan Flores]

I'm J.R. martinez. I'm a U.S. army veteran myself, and I'm honored to tell you the stories of these heroes on the new season of Medal of Stories of Courage from Pushkin Industries and I Heart podcast from Robert Blake, the first black sailor to be awarded the medal to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice. These are stories about people who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor going above and beyond the call of duty. You'll hear about what they did, what it meant, and what their stories tell us about the nature of courage and sacrifice. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. The OGs of Uncensored Motherhood are back and better than ever. I'm Erica. And I'm Mila and we're the hosts of the Good Moms Bad Choices podcast brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network every Wednesday. Historically, men talk too much and women have quietly listened. And all that stops here. If you like witty women, then this is your tribe with guests like Corinne Stephens.

[Memphis Bleak]

I've never seen so many women protect predatory men. And then me too happened and then everybody else want to get pissed off cuz the white said it was okay.

[Dan Flores]

Problem. My oldest daughter, her first day in ninth grade and I called to ask how I was doing. She was like oh dad, all they doing was talking about your thing in class. I ruined my baby's first day of high school. And Slumflower. What turns me on is when a man sends me money.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like I feel the moisture between my.

[Dan Flores]

Legs when a man sends me money.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm like oh my God, it's go time.

[Dan Flores]

You actually sent it. Listen to the Good Moms Bad Choices podcast every Wednesday on the Black Effect podcast network, the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you go to find your podcast. I know a lot of cops and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. Across the country, cops called this Taser the revolution. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple. Cops believed everything that Taser told them. From Lava for good and the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened when a multi billion dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolute Season 1 Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really, really bad. Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1 Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes 1, 2 and 3 on May 21 and episodes 4, 5 and 6 on June 4 ad free at Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts. The American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. Hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores and brought to you by Velvet Buck, this podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in color conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and best selling author and Meat Eater founder Stephen Rinella.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'll correct my kids now and then.

[Dan Flores]

Where they'll say when cave people were here. And I'll say it seems like the Ice Age people that were here didn't.

[Memphis Bleak]

Have a real affinity for caves.

[Dan Flores]

So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.

[Michael Kassin]

Listen to the American west with Dan.

[Dan Flores]

Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Michael Kassin]

Marvin just found this graphic and it says getting ready for the game tonight. It says game day and it's got three Indiana Pacers on it. Well, in case you're wondering, of the three Pacers who were there, Tyrese Halliburton is not part of tonight's Game six graphic that says the matchup and then it's going to be on ABC at 8:30 Eastern. Are we supposed to read into that? Marvin, was Tyrese Halliburton on that graphic that they'll show when they're promoting the game of the previous five games?

[Dan Flores]

Indeed he was.

[Memphis Bleak]

Thought they were trying to spread the wealth.

[Dan Flores]

I was trying to give him the.

[Memphis Bleak]

Benefit of the doubt, but nope.

[Michael Kassin]

Who do we have in this? We have Nemhard niece, Smith Siakam or Miles Turner in there.

[Dan Flores]

Miles Turner? Naismith Siakam.

[Michael Kassin]

Okay.

[Dan Flores]

All right.

[Michael Kassin]

Brendan Haywood won a championship with the Mavericks. He works for NBA tv. Should I read into that, Brandon, that Tyrese Halliburton isn't part of the promotional aspect of Game six?

[Memphis Bleak]

I think you can. I'm not saying definitely for sure, but there probably is a little bit of skepticism on the Pacer side. This is their superstar. We're talking about a calf type injury and anytime you start going to that cab type injury and trying to play through it, you have to think all the way back to what happened to Kevin Durant when he played through his. And sometimes, even though it's the NBA Finals, even though it's a huge moment, you have to think big picture. And if this is a serious calf injury, you do not want a calf injury to turn into something a lot more serious. I'm not 100% sure, but there's definitely conversations being had right now about Tyrese Halliburton's health because he did not look right in game five.

[Michael Kassin]

Could you see a scenario where he doesn't play tonight?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yes. If he goes out there and he tests the calf and he can't move well, then you have to shut him down. No matter how big the game is. If we go back to what happened earlier in these playoffs, I'm sure Steph Curry wanted to play. It's grade one and a half hamstring injury. You have to protect the player sometimes from himself. And you have to think about long term of what could happen if you come back and you're not right and you do more damage to a soft tissue injury.

[Michael Kassin]

Could it be a good thing for the Pacers if he doesn't play?

[Memphis Bleak]

Absolutely not. Absolutely not. They need Tyrese Halliburton, man. They need him healthy, too. Not just out there with his jersey on. They need him out there creating a problem, pushing tempo, getting in the pick and roll, getting downhill, getting two feet in the paint. He doesn't always have to score it, but he has to be a part of the problem. And if he's not right or not able to play, it's going to be really tough. Just look at what this OKC team has done defensively as far as turning the Pacers over. Think about how many turnover. Think about how many turnovers they'll have, they'll force if Tyrese Halliburton doesn't play.

[Michael Kassin]

Yeah, but If I have TJ McConnell out there handling the ball, then I keep it away from ne and nice Smith, because they were a turnover. You know, they were turning the ball over there. And I wonder. I don't want him out there if he's 50 or 60%. I don't want you to be a hero and be. And he was a detriment to the team in the second half of that last game. I was surprised that Rick Carlisle put him out there. You're down double digits at halftime.

[Memphis Bleak]

Well, you also have to understand guys get used to certain things. And you look at it, you look at a guy like Nim Hard Knee Smith, more importantly, TJ McConnell, you just brought him up. He's used to playing a certain amount of minutes. He plays with a certain level of energy. He's always pushing and probing. He's not used to playing 40 minutes, 45 minutes. So, like, he's exhausted after that third quarter. He was. He's tired. So now it's like, okay, we're trying to get Halliburton in. Maybe we'll get McConnell back in the game. But the problem with Halliburton not playing is that it puts everybody in a different role. So now you look at a guy like TJ McConnell, instead of him being the energy guy, now he has to come in and start right away. Now who's, who's going to be the point guard behind him? Now we're getting even deeper into that Pacers bench and that's where the problem is. But I do agree with you. If Halliburton is 50%, he should, he probably shouldn't go out there because he probably can't help the team.

[Michael Kassin]

Who does SGA remind you of? He.

[Memphis Bleak]

Not apples for apples, but he. If you look at what he does in the mid range, a lot of times he has the footwork of Kobe. I'm not saying he's Kobe. I don't want nobody on Twitter coming for me. I know, I, I know how people, how sensitive people get about their stars from back in the day, but when you look at the footwork, the up and unders, the pump fakes and everything else, he reminds me of Kobe. And he lives in that mid range like a Kobe. Kobe wasn't really a great three point shoot if you look at the numbers. But, but man, what he did in the mid range was special. And that's kind of what SGA reminds me of, but a, a new school version because he's more. He's like a point guard as well.

[Michael Kassin]

Iman Shumpert was with us yesterday and he said Kobe as well.

[Memphis Bleak]

I mean, it's easy to see. I mean there's some, there's some, there's some video out there of the footwork side by side and you're like, wow, it's scary. You can tell that he studied Kobe Bryant. He watched a lot of what Kobe does and he's just perfected that mid range game. Shout out to Sam Cassell, who actually started him down that path his rookie year when he was with the Clippers. And Sam was one of the best mid range guys from back in the day. And SGA has always worked on his mid range game ever since. Sam Cassell put him in that space, and it's really, really showing today.

[Michael Kassin]

So you played with LeBron, played with Michael, played against Kobe. Yeah. How would. How would you assess those players?

[Memphis Bleak]

All great players. Kobe and Michael are one in the same as far as game mentality, everything else. LeBron is a different entity, not better, not worse, but his thought process and how he sees the game is different. Kobe and Michael carbon copies LeBron. LeBron is a. Is different. And even how he. From the way he plays the game, the way he sees the game, the way he goes about things on and off the court. You know, Michael. Michael and Kobe are cutthroat. You know, if you ain't. If you can't help Michael Jordan win, he really ain't got no time for you. I'm trying to tell you. I saw that firsthand. If you can't help Michael Jordan win basketball game, he don't have any time for you. And he will say it directly to your face. LeBron James is a little bit more diplomatic. He might send you a subtle. A subtle message. He might try to see if you'll slowly pick it up. And I got to see that firsthand with him and Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, and he. He was trying to coach them to see if they would eventually figure out how to win at this level. Mike's not that type, but we keep.

[Michael Kassin]

Trying to make that comparison or that argument, and It's Michael, it's LeBron. Can you make a case that Kobe is every bit the equal that Michael is? And then maybe he should be involved in that discussion as well.

[Memphis Bleak]

Man, you're going to get me in trouble, man. You know. You know how sensitive people are about their guys. I love Kobe Bryant, rest in peace. One of the best players that I ever played against. But when you start nitpicking the stars, you probably can't put Kobe in the same level as Michael and LeBron. When you look at the total MVPs, when you look at just. Even the. When you look at the Finals go. You have to go look at some of Kobe's earliest finals performances against the Nets. That wasn't really great. You know, he had big fellow with him early on in his career. I mean, that. That. That counts for a lot. When you got. When you got the big dog in there, he was the. Shaq was the MVP of the first three finals. So I love Kobe. He is top 10 for sure. But I think when you talk about the best three players of all time, it's actually not. It's Mike Braun and Kareem, in my.

[Michael Kassin]

Opinion, yeah, Kareem might be the greatest player of all time. If I factor in high school, college, in the NBA. He might be the greatest, greatest player, you know, single handedly had a move that was unstoppable and he won everywhere that he went. And I, I kind of find him underrated. Brandon. It's weird to say that we kind of forget because Kareem won a title and it really wasn't, you know, when, when Larry and Magic came in, that's when TV started and then Mike came in and, you know, it just changed the NBA. Those who played prior to that, some of those championships and their greatness was lost.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, you know, like I said, Kareem, you know, he has a championship in Milwaukee. Then like you talked about Magic and Larry took the game to another level. And then you also have to look at the fact that Kareem wasn't loved by the media. So he doesn't get, he never got the same push, you know, and so it's different now. There was no Internet, there was no Twitter or anything else like that. Media had to push you to a certain degree. And Kareem didn't have that love. So he didn't get pushed quite like some of the other stars back in the day. Yeah, don't get it twisted.

[Michael Kassin]

Like you said, that's a great point.

[Memphis Bleak]

Was unstoppable.

[Michael Kassin]

Yeah, that's a great point. That Kareem didn't care if you liked him and he, he didn't go out of his way to curry favor. We're talking to Brendan Heywood. He is working for NBA TV. You were a teammate of Dirk Nowitzki. His 47th birthday today.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, man. Happy birthday, Dirk. I know. Hey, Dirt Dirk. Getting old, man.

[Dan Flores]

I know that.

[Michael Kassin]

What's your favorite Dirk Nowitzki story?

[Memphis Bleak]

My favorite Dirk story.

[Michael Kassin]

And how many knees did you take to your chest when you were trying to guard him with that fadeaway jumper of his?

[Memphis Bleak]

I never, I never really, you know what? He never really had to meet me in the chest. He used to get in my body and fade away. And it used to just frustrate me that he would get that jumper off on me. But I think my favorite Dirk story is we're in the NBA finals. It's before the finals. And because it was, it's my favorite story because it's not really who Dirk is. He has that quiet confidence, but the way he said it made me look at him like, okay, big fellas, really, with the smoke and we're taking on the Big Three, and we're talking about the game. We're in the locker room, we're talking about the matchup. We're going against The Heatles, obviously, LeBron, D. Wade and Chris Bosh. And we're like, yeah, what we gonna do to stop the Big Three? And he's just like, that ain't no Big Three. And we kind of look at him. We like, what do you mean? He's like, I don't look at it like that. If they were really a Big Three in the off season, they would have came and got me. And I was like, okay, because Dirk don't talk like that. So then he. So like. And he really meant it. And at the. And at that time, I didn't know he kind of had, like, a simmering beef with D. Wade from 06. And the guys kind of caught me up on it, like, yeah, he don't really have no love for D. Wade. And so like to see Dirk in that space and then to go out there and do what he did in the finals. And, man, that's my favorite Dirk story. Because him talking like that is out of character for him. And I like him in that space.

[Michael Kassin]

What's it like when you're behind Shaq and somebody lobs it in and you know that he's going to get the ball and then he's going to turn right into your chest?

[Memphis Bleak]

It is the worst. Like, it's the worst feeling in the world. Guarding Prime Shaq. Prime Shaq. I mean, Dan. Because when I first got into the league, Shaq was in LA and then in Miami. I. I never had fun in those cities because I never went out. But for the first guys, like, yo, we going out tonight?

[Dan Flores]

I'm like, I'll see y' all.

[Memphis Bleak]

I got a little something to deal with tomorrow. I can't go out. I will be in bed at 9 o' clock because you have to be ready for Shaq. You have to try to beat him down the court, beat him to space. But when, to answer your question, if he catches the ball in the paint with two feet and you're behind him, you better wrap them up. Because big fella, back in the day was an absolute problem. He was going to dunk that thing. And the good thing for me is when I first got into the league, I obviously, I played with mj. So in those games, Kobe would always be trying to prove a point to mj. So Shaq wouldn't. Wasn't even getting the ball as much there because Kobe was trying to go off like. And so I was like, at least it's not my guy. You know, I think he hit us for like 40 and like a half in LA one time. So it was crazy. He was trying to let Mike know that he's the next one. So a lot of times Shaq didn't even get to get the ball sometimes early on in my career.

[Michael Kassin]

So Kobe's going at Mike when Mike is at the end of his career with the Wizards?

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, actually Stackhouse is guarding Kobe and I love Stack, but there was nothing he could do with Kobe that night. I mean, it was just. He was on one because you could tell he was. He's playing against Mike and he wants to let Mike know. And almost kind of like how ANT man wanted to let Kevin Durant know what was up last year. That's how it was. But it's just, we're watching it and it's. We just can't believe this dude is going to. Jerry. Stackhouse is playing excellent defense. Kobe's is just. Kobe is just in one of those zones. Nothing Stack can do with him. And, and Kobe, I want to say he dropped four. If it's not 40 with 35, but between 35 and 40 and a half on us.

[Michael Kassin]

What's the best performance you ever witnessed?

[Memphis Bleak]

Carmelo Anthony. 60 points when I played for the Charlotte Hornets.

[Michael Kassin]

Did you, Carmelo, did you guard him?

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, no.

[Michael Kassin]

Oh no.

[Memphis Bleak]

Mike Gilchrist. Oh, you know what, I'm tripping.

[Dan Flores]

Tracy McGrady.

[Memphis Bleak]

I forgot, I forgot Tracy McGrady had.

[Dan Flores]

I think he.

[Memphis Bleak]

What was Tracy? It's either Carmelo or tracy. Tracy had 60 plus on us too. And Carmelo and that was when Tracy was in Orlando and Carmelo had 60 on us. When I would, in the Garden, I would probably say Carmelo's because it was all mid range jumpers and Michael, Kid, girl, Chris got probably about 40 of those. And so it. And when Carmelo gets hot, there's nothing. It's all jab, series, jabs, pump fake series, step through, spin move. It's when Carmelo has 60, it's a loud. It's a loud 60 because it's all one on one ISO. Nobody's creating any shots for him. He is getting it all out the mud. And it is a long night.

[Michael Kassin]

We've had Jalen Rose on whenever. It's, you know, the 81 point anniversary with Kobe. And so we call him all the time and he says, I didn't guard him the whole game. He goes, people make it seem like Kobe got 81 on me when they were playing Toronto.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, listen, you might not have guarded the whole game, but if, if somebody gets drops 80 and like, let's just say 25 to 30 of them were on you, people gonna act like the whole 81 was on you. It's kind of like when I'm talking about Carmelo, Michael, Kid Gilkers didn't get the whole 60, but he had to get about 30 or 40 of them. And 30, 30 to 40 out of 60. It just feels like a long night. I'm still trying to figure out why we didn't start doubling the triple team, but it is what it is.

[Michael Kassin]

Still bothers you. Hey, great to talk to you. Thanks for joining us, Brandon.

[Memphis Bleak]

I mean, thanks man. Appreciate you having me on.

[Michael Kassin]

All right. Brendan Haywood, he won a title with the Mavs. Former first round pick by the Cavs. You know, you play with Michael, you play with LeBron, you play against those other guys. I never understand that though. When a guy is going off and he's right about Carmelo, how about we take them all out of his hands once again? I, I didn't like playing defense, didn't, couldn't play defense, but I did understand defense and, and part of it is I don't want the best guy to beat me. That guy is. Now if you can handle the ball like Kobe could, you're going to get in Mike, you could get your shots. Tracy McGrady, Carmelo wasn't a great ball handler. He was just had unbelievable small. He had moves in a, in a phone booth. They were small little moves and all he needed was just a, like a sliver of daylight and he was going to hit that mid range jumper. You got to work hard to get 60 in the mid range game because TMAC was going up and down the floor. But that's, that's funny. You're still thinking about that. Yeah. Marvin Tmax, one of those guys where.

[Dan Flores]

It'S like, man, you forgot his run. He had about a five year window.

[Memphis Bleak]

Where he was right there with Kobe as far as who was the best.

[Dan Flores]

Offensive player in the league.

[Michael Kassin]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. He was one of those guys where you were just like, that's different. And, and what he could have been like, he's another one of those guys. And maybe it's not fair because you saw that much talent, but you always go, God, he could have been so much better. Anthony Hardaway could have changed the game. He really, when you were watching him, you're going, oh my God. It was just different. Then he got hurt. Obviously, you had the friction with him and Shaq, but Anthony Hardaway, who's not in the basketball hall of Fame, I don't think he is not. Yeah. Wow. Let me take a break. We will get to more phone calls and let's see. We'll update our poll results right after this.

[Dan Flores]

Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9:00am Eastern, 6:00am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio in the iHeartRadio app. Hi, Zoe Saldana. Welcome to T Mobile. Here's your new iPhone 16 Pro on us. Thanks. And here's my old phone to trade in. You don't need to trade in. When you switch to T Mobile, we'll give you a new iPhone 16 Pro.

[Michael Kassin]

Plus we'll help you pay off your old Phone up to 800 bucks and you still get to keep it.

[Dan Flores]

There's always a trade in. Not right now. @ T Mobile. I feel like I have to give you something in return for karma.

[Michael Kassin]

That's okay.

[Dan Flores]

I don't really have much in my purse. Oh, let's see. Hand sanitizer. It's lavender. I'm good. Seriously? Hmm. Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints. Really, I'm fine. Oh, I have raisins. I'm a mom. Wait, wait one sec. I've got cupcakes in the car. It's our best iPhone offer and ever switch to T Mobile.

[Michael Kassin]

Get a new iPhone 16 Pro with.

[Dan Flores]

Apple intelligence on us. No trade in needed. We'll even pay off your phone up to 800 bucks with 24 monthly bill credits. New line 100 plus a month on experience beyond Finance Agreement 999.99 and qualifying ported for well qualified. Plus tax and $10 connection charge payout via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days credits and balance due if you pay off early or cancel CT mobile.com the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Memphis Bleak]

This medal is for the men who went down that day. It's for the families of those who didn't make it.

[Dan Flores]

I'm J.R. martinez. I'm a U.S. army veteran myself and I'm honored to tell you the stories of these heroes on the new season of Medal of Stories of Courage from Pushkin Industries and iHeart podcast from Robert Blake, the first black sailor to be awarded the medal to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice. These are stories about people who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor going above and beyond the call of duty. You'll hear about what they did, what it meant, and what their stories tell us about. About the nature of courage and sacrifice. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. The OGs of Uncensored Motherhood are back and better than ever. I'm Erica. And I'm Mila and we're the host of the Good Moms Bad Choices podcast brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network every Wednesday. Historically, men talk too much and women have quietly listened. And all that stops here. If you like witty women, then this is your tribe with guests like Corinne Stephans.

[Memphis Bleak]

I've never seen so many women protect predatory men. And then me too happened and then everybody else want to get pissed off cuz the white said it was okay.

[Dan Flores]

Problem. My oldest daughter, her first day in ninth grade and I called to ask how I was doing. She was like, oh dad, all they were doing was talking about your thing in class. I ruined my baby's first day of high school. And Slumflower. What turns me on is when a man sends me money.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like I feel the moisture between my.

[Dan Flores]

Legs when a man sends me money.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'm like, oh my God, it's go time.

[Dan Flores]

You actually sent it. Listen to the Good Moms Bad Choices podcast every Wednesday on the Black Effect podcast network, the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you go to find your podcast. I know a lot of cops and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. Across the country, cops called this Taser the revolution. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple. Cops believed everything that Taser told them. From Lava for Good and the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened when a multi billion dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolute Season one, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really really bad. Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes 1, 2 and 3 on May 20, 20, 21st and episodes 4, 5 and 6 on June 4th ad free at Lava for Good. Plus on Apple podcasts the American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network, hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere. Each episode I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and best selling author and meat eater founder Stephen Rinella.

[Memphis Bleak]

I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here.

[Dan Flores]

And I'll say, it seems like the ice age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6, where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Michael Kassin]

Pickleball is booming and Tyrell is leading the charge. Tyrell makes the first shoe built just for pickleball. Great shoes. T Y R O L comfort grip and you look great. You might play great, but if you don't play great, it's not because of the shoes, but you will be comfortable. You'll play longer, move quicker, and look like a pro. Tyrell pickleball.com Chris in Iowa hi Chris. What's on your mind today?

[Memphis Bleak]

Good morning, guys.

[Dan Flores]

How's it going?

[Michael Kassin]

Great.

[Dan Flores]

Great. So the thing about the Cowboys is I'm just kind of wondering, why are we, why are we talking about them then? So like, you know, like when your kid gets hurt and you're not supposed.

[Michael Kassin]

To look at them because it just makes it worse and they get more attention about it.

[Dan Flores]

We're just feeding the ego of Jerry and the Cowboys.

[Michael Kassin]

So maybe just one thing is let's.

[Memphis Bleak]

Just not talk about them. Is that, is that a possibility?

[Michael Kassin]

No, because they have all this data at Fox and ESPN and all these different networks and it says people want to hear about the Cowboys. That's why. Because, you know, the information says fans want to hear about the Cowboys. Now we try to approach the Cowboys when it's warranted. Not all else fails. Let's talk about the Cowboys because it's really doing a disservice to some of the other stories that you could be covering. But I get it because when I worked at espn, we played the hits, Red Sox, Yankees, all the time, Terrell Owens all the time, Mike Tyson all the time. You know, after a while you just, you're numb to it. But that's what the networks do. They get, they hire people who accumulate this information, data analytics and Tells you what, what is trending, what you should be talking about. Yes. And I think that, you know, people.

[Dan Flores]

Hear what you just said and then.

[Michael Kassin]

They'Ll say, anytime that the Cowboys say get mentioned, they're like, oh, I thought you weren't going to talk about the Cowboys.

[Dan Flores]

But you're like, okay, hold on.

[Michael Kassin]

Yeah, what you're referring to is a random Tuesday in April breaking down the Cowboys secondary for no reason. That's when you're squeezing it in. But when you're talking about iconic sports brands selling for billions of dollars, the Cowboys are a natural extension of that conversation to just like the Yankees are.

[Dan Flores]

And yeah, Manchester United, they're all, they're.

[Michael Kassin]

Global brands that are globally recognized. Yeah, we will cover LeBron and the Browns and Shador Sanders and, you know, the Dallas Cowboys when it's warranted. But I don't go into the day, we never go into the day going, I don't know, let's just talk about the Cowboys. We don't. But I know that it happens and you consume it. If you're flipping through the dial and all of a sudden you know Stephen a. Or Pat McAfee is talking about the Cowboys, then maybe you'll stop. If they're talking about something else, you might not stop. I understand it. I just can't go into my show every day going, we have to talk about this. Remember when the Mothership and Skip Bayless, they had to talk about Tim Tebow? Doug Gottlieb, when he left the Mothership, said they were told to somehow incorporate Tim Tebow every single day. I can't do that. It's not. Ain't fun. And I'm sure, hey, ratings would be better if you're talking about that. I, I guess. But that's not what we do. We've always done it because we feel like it's important to do that story today or have a guest on that story today. That's all. And the Cowboys would come up because it's a brand. We just had the Lakers beat reporter say, you, you know that Mark Walter bought a brand. There's no building. He bought a brand for $10 billion. So what's the Cowboys brand worth? The Yankees brand worth? I mean, that's, that's why we went to that. Because if, I mean, the Cowboys are worth more than $10 billion, in my opinion. Yes, Todd, all that being said, what's.

[Dan Flores]

Going on with Micah Parsons and the Cowboys?

[Michael Kassin]

Yeah, I'm glad you asked. Really should address it now. You're right. They look in the Room. No, no, no, no. Get him a new contract. Oh, you should have said. Hey, how. How about that Shador Sanders? I thought they said he wasn't fast. He just got pulled over for going 101 in a 60.

[Dan Flores]

That's pretty fast.

[Memphis Bleak]

41 over the speed limit is fast.

[Michael Kassin]

Yeah, yeah. So he's not fast, but yeah, he got a speeding ticket yesterday.

[Dan Flores]

But seriously, Michael Parsons, what do you think?

[Michael Kassin]

Yeah, he's going to be the highest paid non quarterback in NFL history. That's all I know. Allen and Dayton. Hi, Alan. What's on your mind? Hey, Dan, I have a topic that.

[Dan Flores]

I think is very, very petty, of.

[Michael Kassin]

Non consequence and really unimportant that really bothers me. Therefore I'd like to get your thoughts on it. And that is how can the Pacers who have Tyrese with zero and Benedict has double zero? Isn't zero and double zero the same number?

[Memphis Bleak]

And so don't you have two players out there at one time with the same number?

[Michael Kassin]

Let me get some of my best people on it. But Alan, I could understand why that would bother you. Yes, Todd?

[Dan Flores]

I don't think so.

[Michael Kassin]

Doesn't the roulette wheel have a single.

[Dan Flores]

Zero and a double zero?

[Michael Kassin]

I think that should determine if there.

[Memphis Bleak]

Are two separate numbers or not.

[Dan Flores]

Paul, according to the NBA, they changed the rule back in 2000. The Utah Jazz had Greg Ostertag.

[Michael Kassin]

Oh, he had double zero.

[Memphis Bleak]

He had to change it to 39.

[Dan Flores]

Because of old and Polonice having zero. Brandon Haywood, who we just had on, had to switch back in the day.

[Michael Kassin]

Final hour on the way. More phone calls, more sharp insights like that, and more cowboys. Talk. Final hour in this Thursday right after this.

[Dan Flores]

I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season one, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Why is a soap opera western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6, where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today. Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The OGs of uncensored motherhood are back and badder than ever. I'm Erica. And I'm Mila, and we're the hosts of the Good Mom's B Choices Podcast, brought to you by the Black Effect Podcast Network every Wednesday. Yeah, we're moms, but not your mommy. Historically, men talk too much and women have quietly listened. And all that stops here. If you like witty women, then this is your try. Listen to the Good Moms Bad Choices Podcast every Wednesday on the Black Effect podcast network, the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you go to find your podcast. I'm Michael Casson, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next.

[Michael Kassin]

In this episode, I'm joined by Angeli Su, CEO of tubi. We dive into the competitive world of streaming.

[Dan Flores]

What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There's so many stories out there, and if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen.

[Michael Kassin]

Listen to Good company on the iHeartRadio.

[Dan Flores]

App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What up y' all?

[Memphis Bleak]

This your main man, Memphis Bleak, right here? Host the Rock Solid Podcast.

[Michael Kassin]

June is Black Music Month, so what.

[Memphis Bleak]

Better way to celebrate than listening to my exclusive conversation with my bro, Ja Rule. The one thing they can't stop you or take away from you is knowledge. So whatever I went through while I.

[Michael Kassin]

Was down in prison for two years through that process, learn, learn from Check.

[Dan Flores]

Out this exclusive episode with Ja Rule on Rock Solid.

[Michael Kassin]

Open your free I Heart Radio app.

[Dan Flores]

Search Rock Solid and listen Now. This is an I Heart Podcast.