The Best of The Dan Patrick Show

Summary

The Dan Patrick Show – Episode: The Best of The Dan Patrick Show Release Date: March 26, 2025

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Overview

In this standout episode of The Dan Patrick Show, hosts Dan Patrick, Paul Pabst, and Todd Fritz delve deep into the intricate quarterback situation surrounding the Cleveland Browns. The conversation navigates through potential draft strategies, evaluates player performances, and speculates on the future trajectory of the team. Additionally, the episode features engaging interactions, audience polls, and insightful commentary on broader sports topics, including the NBA.

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Cleveland Browns Quarterback Conundrum

Assessing the Current Situation ([02:45] – [09:48])

Paul Pabst initiates the discussion by highlighting the Cleveland Browns' predicament regarding their quarterback selection. With Russell Wilson now signed by the New York Giants, the Browns are left without a definitive starting quarterback. Pabst shares insights from Saltus Wealth, citing that “41% of high net worth individuals report having been victims of financial crime” ([00:30]), which segues into the importance of strategic decision-making in high-stakes environments like the NFL.

Potential Quarterback Options ([09:48] – [25:32])

Pabst navigates through various quarterback prospects, focusing on Shador Sanders and Kirk Cousins. He posits, “If you take Shador Sanders now, I got a rookie contract now, that eases some of the financial pain from Deshaun Watson's contract” ([05:00]). The conversation underscores the financial implications of drafting Sanders versus investing in established quarterbacks like Cousins, who “has played with Step Kevin Stefanski, your head coach, before” ([07:15]).

Strategic Implications and Team Dynamics ([25:32] – [38:23])

The hosts discuss the broader strategic decisions facing the Browns, including the potential impact of selecting players like Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter. Pabst muses, “You are passing up two guys out of this draft where you could probably say if they play accordingly, they'll be hall of fame caliber players” ([05:45]). The dialogue further explores the coaching staff’s mindset, emphasizing the necessity for choices that align with both immediate and long-term team success.

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Draft Strategies and Player Evaluations

Evaluating Quarterback Talent ([25:32] – [37:03])

The discussion shifts to comparing quarterbacks like Cam Ward and Shador Sanders. Pabst remarks, “Cam Ward would have been the fifth or sixth quarterback taken last year” ([26:42]), highlighting Ward’s potential despite existing challenges. The conversation also touches upon the unpredictability of player development, referencing historical examples such as Greg Maddox and Zach Wilson to illustrate how player readiness can significantly influence draft outcomes.

Impact of Financial Decisions ([37:03] – [43:20])

Analyzing the financial aspects, Pabst notes, “Take Shador Sanders, you are not ready to win now, but you still get your quarterback” ([37:03]). This segment underscores the delicate balance between securing a promising talent and managing the team’s financial health, especially in the wake of hefty contracts like Deshaun Watson’s.

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Audience Engagement and Polls

Interactive Polls and Listener Participation ([10:19] – [16:03])

Dan Patrick and Paul Pabst engage the audience with poll questions, fostering an interactive environment. For instance, at [10:19], Patrick poses, “Guy on the Giants, Russell Wilson or Jameis Winston,” prompting listeners to choose between the two quarterbacks. Listeners' responses highlight preferences based on inspiration versus entertainment value, with Pabst stating, “Jameis Winston is extremely annoying” ([11:18]).

Humorous Banter and Host Dynamics ([13:17] – [17:10])

The hosts incorporate humor, discussing hypothetical scenarios like “if you could put one into place, a hard salary cap in baseball or a return to the old transfer system in college sports” ([28:34]). This lighthearted interaction balances the technical sports analysis, keeping the conversation engaging and relatable for listeners.

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NBA Insights and Conversations with Ernie Johnson

Transition to NBA Discussions ([38:23] – [62:08])

The episode transitions to NBA-related topics, featuring conversations with Ernie Johnson Jr. and Todd Fritz. They explore current NBA storylines, such as the readiness of teams like OKC and the performance of players like Shaquille O’Neal Jr. Pabst humorously remarks, “He’s a Hall of Famer” referring to Ernie Johnson ([43:09]).

Impact of Social Media on Sports Broadcasting ([46:12] – [53:39])

Fritz reflects on the influence of social media, noting, “Everything is so instantaneous” ([46:36]). The hosts discuss how platforms like Peacock and the shift from traditional broadcasting to clip-based consumption have altered viewer engagement and show dynamics. Pabst adds, “We didn't know if anybody was... People actually watching this show” ([48:09]).

Future of the Show and Host Careers ([53:28] – [62:08])

An engaging segment ensues as Pabst and Fritz humorously contemplate retirement plans, with Pabst stating, “I'm going to retire, I think, in Atlanta after the Super Bowl” ([60:34]). This candid dialogue showcases the camaraderie and long-term commitment of the hosts to their careers in sports broadcasting.

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Closing Remarks and Promotions

Final Thoughts and Podcast Promotions ([62:09] – [63:53])

Dan Patrick wraps up by reiterating promotions for other iHeart podcasts, such as Science Stuff, Levittown, and Courtside with Laura Carrenti. These segments are seamlessly integrated, providing listeners with avenues to explore diverse content within the iHeart network.

Farewells and Humorous Sign-Offs ([63:53] – End)

The episode concludes with light-hearted exchanges between the hosts, leaving listeners with a sense of familiarity and anticipation for future episodes.

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Notable Quotes

• Paul Pabst: “If you take Shador Sanders now, I got a rookie contract now, that eases some of the financial pain from Deshaun Watson's contract.” ([05:00])

• Dan Patrick: “But I would lean towards embracing the oddness as long as there's some entertainment.” ([13:29])

• Paul Pabst: “Jameis Winston is extremely annoying.” ([11:18])

• Todd Fritz: “But we're just doing our job, and that's how we do ours.” ([47:36])

• Paul Pabst: “Why did he say win the seventh Super Bowl?” ([15:26])

• Dan Patrick: “We like to get you involved too.” ([17:35])

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Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show offers a comprehensive exploration of the Cleveland Browns' quarterback dilemma, intertwined with strategic insights and engaging host interactions. The addition of NBA discussions with Ernie Johnson Jr. broadens the scope, providing listeners with a well-rounded sports analysis experience. Notable for its blend of in-depth sports commentary and personable banter, this episode stands out as a quintessential example of the show’s appeal to sports enthusiasts.

Transcript

[Dan Patrick]

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[Paul Pabst]

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[Todd Fritz]

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[Paul Pabst]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Todd Fritz]

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[Paul Pabst]

That's reputationdefender.com have you ever wondered if.

[Dan Patrick]

Your pet is lying to you, why is my cat not here and I go in and she's eating my lunch? Or if hypnotism is real, you will use this suggestion in order to enhance your cognitive controls. But what's inside a black hole? Black holes could be a consequence of the way that we understand the universe. Well, we have answers for you in the new I Heart Original podcast Science Stuff. Join me, Jorge Ham, as we answer questions about animals, space, our brains and our bodies. So give yourself permission to be a science geek and listen to science stuff on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. In 2020, a group of young women found themselves in an AI fueled nightmare.

[Todd Fritz]

Someone was posting photos.

[Dan Patrick]

It was just me naked. Well, not me, but me with someone else's body parts. This is Levittown, a new podcast from iHeart podcasts Bloomberg and Kaleidoscope about the rise of deepfake pornography and the battle to stop it. Listen to Levittown on Bloomberg Big Take podcast. Find it on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up? I'm Laura, host of the podcast Courtside with Laura Carrenti, a masterclass case study of the business of women's sports. I'll be chatting with leaders like tennis icon Alana Kloss. I don't do what I do only for women.

[Todd Fritz]

I do it for everyone and I.

[Dan Patrick]

Want the whole market and innovators like Jenny Nguyen. I would say 50% of the people that come visit the sports bra aren't sports fans. They come to be in community. They come to be part of this culture. Courtside with Laura Carenti is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. Listen to Courtside with Laura Carenti Starting April 2nd on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You are listening to the Dan Patrick.

[Paul Pabst]

Show on Fox Sports Radio. I was on the phone with a source yesterday talking about the Cleveland Browns. And I said, hey, you guys interested in Russell Wilson? He goes, russ just signed with the Giants. I go, okay, so you're not interested in Russell Wilson? It said we were, but. And I said, okay, so that means you're taking Shador Sanders. And he goes, everybody is tight lipped about what the Browns are doing. They have the number two pick in the draft. And I was wondering about this. So this is where you get different agendas. The Browns could take Shador Sanders. Now, once again, don't take a quarterback. Take the quarterback. The quarterback who fits your style, your coaching staff, your system, all of those things. But if you take Shador Sanders now, I got a rookie contract now, that eases some of the financial pain from Deshaun Watson's contract. You can let him kind of fade away. He'll never play for you again. And you get Shador Sanders as your quarterback. Now, you're also going to pass up on guys who might be wearing a gold jacket when their careers are over. Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter. So you'd be passing up two guys out of this draft where you could probably say if they play accordingly, according to, you know what, the scouts assess their talents, they'll be hall of Fame caliber players. You don't know that about Cam Warden. You don't know that about Shador Sanders. But then I asked my source. I said, well, what about Kirk Cousins? He said, well, he'd have to be healthy and he's going to cost us a draft pick. And I said, okay, but he's played with Step Kevin Stefanski, your head coach, before. He's, you know, been with him before. He said, yes. I said, okay, just help me understand this though, because you don't have a quarterback now. I mean, you don't have a true starting quarterback. And I keep feeling and hearing that maybe Kirk Cousins once the draft is over. And this is what I keep going back to. If you're the Browns, you can get Russ, you can keep him in the division and then you can decide what you want to do. Maybe you take Abdul Carter, the great edge rusher out of Penn State, so you get him with Miles Garrett and then all of a sudden you got something there. But if you don't and you take Shador Sanders, you're not ready to win now, but you still get your quarterback. Quarterback, contract quarterback of the future. Then you have the giant situation. They already brought in Jameis Winston, they had Tommy DeVito. And I kept thinking, okay, now this is where Shador Sanders is going. But I'm not so sure because you, you brought in Russ and Jameis Winston. And I'm thinking this coaching staff and this GM have to win. Now. If you bring in Shador Sanders, he might not play. You might have Jameis Winston out there. If you didn't bring in Russ, that feels like, you know, they're probably on an eight or nine game schedule. This coaching staff in gm, like they have to be able to win now. They might not like Shador Sanders and maybe they end up with Travis Hunter, maybe they end up with Abdul Carter. Those are great, great players to have that fall into your lap. But that's where I'm wondering about the mindset of the coaching staff in gm. Now obviously John Mayer, the owner of the Giants, can see through this. Who's the best guy to take, who helps us big picture? Not necessarily right now, because you're not right now, not in that division, but you have a coaching staff that better win, they better have a 7 and 2 record, 6 and 3 record. It feels like after nine games or if they have a three win, they're 3 and 6 after nine. Do you keep them? And I think their time frame is we got to get somebody who can help us win now. Jamus Winston, Russell Wilson, one year deals, no real long term commitments there. We're good. Maybe we don't like the other quarterback or other quarterbacks the draft. Maybe we try to get Jackson Dart a little later on. Maybe Jaylen Milro out of Alabama. So I was, I was all over my source, just trying to get some kind of information on what's going on with Cleveland. And I couldn't get it. Didn't know if they were sold on Shador. I didn't know if that's the place that he went to and he interviewed and the quarterback's coach thought he was arrogant. I, you know, because does Dion want his son to go to the Cleveland Browns? And I wondered about that as well. I keep thinking New York because it feels like Shador, if he goes to New York, he already walks in. He's got a really good wide receiver there and he's built for this. I go all of the players. If you're built for the media capital, if you're built for a spotlight, it would be Shador Sanders. His dad welcomed the spotlight. Shador seems to welcome the spotlight as well and doesn't always work out. I go back with baseball and I remember Greg Maddox didn't want to play in New York. Remember Ed Whitson, pitcher? He wanted out of New York. Zach Wilson, New York felt too big for him. Eli Manning was ready for it. His personality made him ready for New York. You know, Aaron Rodgers, he welcomed it. It's just his Achilles didn't. And even then there was still thought that maybe he would end up with the Giants because he didn't want to leave New York. He loved going to the Rangers games, getting standing ovation, going to the Knicks games. Like, you go to New York, you better embrace it. If not, it'll steamroll you. But that's when I thought, with Shador Sanders, he's ready for New York if he's the right quarterback for you, which I still don't know. Cam Ward is a really good quarterback, but he's not a really good quarterback in the bigger picture of quarterbacks in the NFL right now. Because when we talk to draft analysts, they talk about Cam Ward would be. Would have been the fifth or sixth quarterback taken last year. Okay, Matt Miller, great job at the mothership. He said that recently. I mean, that's not a knock on him. He's still. He's just the best quarterback now. It's timing when you come out, who are the other quarterbacks who are coming out? And he's the best quarterback this year, but. But he separated himself, it feels like, from Shador Sanders. So that, that was going on yesterday afternoon and I kept thinking, I just spent 45 minutes talking to my source and I didn't get anything out of it. I was like, dang, I gotta get. I have to ask better questions. And I usually do pretty good asking questions. I couldn't get anything tight lipped. That's what I was told. Yep, Brown's tight lipped on what they're doing at number two. Like, dang, come on. Maybe they don't know. Maybe that's why they're the Cleveland Browns.

[Dan Patrick]

That would be Brownsy.

[Paul Pabst]

It'd be like, wait, we got the second pick on the. Hey, hey, we got the second pick of the draft. By the way, this first hour, brought to you by Moo. Your car could use a little tlc. How many times you gone out and you look at your car in. In the light, and you go, I got a scratch there. At Mako, they bring your car back to life. Affordable paint jobs, light collision, repairs. Get a free estimate today. Oh, better get Moo. All right, Seaton, what's the poll question? First hour, better pregame speech.

[Dan Patrick]

Guy on the Giants, Russell Wilson.

[Paul Pabst]

Jameis Winston. Okay. Are you looking for inspiration or entertainment? Because Jamis might not inspire me, but he would entertain me. So I would say Russ would give you the rah rah rah, but I. I just wonder if it matters to these guys. You know, you're grown up. You're in there, and you got somebody going, we're gonna tear their head up. And then you're like, all right, let's go. But I would say James would be entertaining. I. I'm. I'm of the camp that Jameis Winston is extremely annoying. He. We only see a little bit. Yeah, I don't. I don't find him amusing at all. Oh, I. I think he's. He's not trying to be amusing. He's one of those guys that like Fritzi. He's funny, but not when he's not trying to be funny.

[Dan Patrick]

I think there's a complimentary somewhere if.

[Paul Pabst]

You dig really deep. I think James Winston is trying to be funny. I think he's, like, class clown kind of guy. Okay. Yeah.

[Todd Fritz]

Paul.

[Dan Patrick]

I can't tell whether Jameis is in on the joke or not.

[Paul Pabst]

I think he's just odd.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes, but is that controllable? Is he calculated, or is he just goofy?

[Paul Pabst]

I think he's goofy. I think Russ wants to be something. I think he wants to be motivational. I think he wants to be the rah rah guy, the leader. It just comes off a little too scripted. It's. It's not, like, truly emotional. And then what's he going to say at the end? You know, whenever he does his interviews, when he'd be with Seattle, you go, all right. Okay. Talk to you later. Go home. And then in Denver. All right. All right, good. We'll talk to you later. All right. Thanks for having me on. Let's ride. So I don't know what he did for the. I don't think he did one for the Steelers. Well, I mean, let's ride. Didn't go over well. Well, when you don't play very well. Yeah, but even right from before, he even Threw his first pass. We did about three straight weeks on let's Ride. Maybe there was the video of him, like, I don't know if he was practicing it or if it was like, whatever he was, you know, I mean, let's Ride did not go well for Russ, fairly or unfairly. That whole catchphrase didn't work. But I don't think he had one in Pittsburgh, and maybe somebody in Pittsburgh can let us know. But we didn't hear from Russ once he went to Pittsburgh, and for some reason, we. We lost contact with Russ. That's okay. Focus on your craft. Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Let's right the ship.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, maybe. Yeah, maybe. Maybe, you know, you have a good week. Good month. Maybe we'll have him back on. Yes. Todd for Winston.

[Dan Patrick]

Are you more likely to embrace or tune out Odd if we want to put the odd title on Jameis Winston? Each player obviously is different, but I wonder if the average football player would embrace that or find, like, this guy's.

[Paul Pabst]

Well, what would you do?

[Dan Patrick]

I would embrace the oddness.

[Paul Pabst]

You usually ask a question, especially if.

[Dan Patrick]

He'S the backup quarterback. I don't need to, you know, I don't need to be his best friend. I don't. I don't have to have any strong.

[Paul Pabst]

Feeling either way if Russ is our guy.

[Dan Patrick]

But I would lean towards embracing the oddness as long as there's some entertainment.

[Paul Pabst]

But why don't you ask yourself the question and then you give me your answer? You know, just say, you know what it would. I would embrace the oddness.

[Dan Patrick]

That is a thought.

[Paul Pabst]

You can do that. Yeah. Because you can't spell Todd without odd.

[Dan Patrick]

I was waiting for that.

[Paul Pabst]

Very clever. Yes. Thank you. Yes. Seaton. I'm okay with odd.

[Dan Patrick]

Odd.

[Paul Pabst]

Sometimes. Especially when your leadership abilities should severely be questioned anyway. But, you know, like, if you're getting ready for the game and all of.

[Dan Patrick]

A sudden, like, James is like, guys.

[Paul Pabst]

Guys, guys, get around. Get around you. Like, oh, Jesus. Here we go.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, James, go ahead.

[Paul Pabst]

Dude, Just.

[Dan Patrick]

I'm just trying to get out there and get.

[Paul Pabst]

Here we go. Jamis is going to do. He's going to eat a W. Oh, my. That to me was you lick your.

[Dan Patrick]

Fingers and you put your fingers in a W. Let's eat a W. What are you doing?

[Paul Pabst]

What? What.

[Dan Patrick]

What are you doing?

[Paul Pabst]

Okay, what's Russell Wilson say at the end of every interview now that he's a New York Giant? Fritzi, do you have a few?

[Dan Patrick]

I do have a few.

[Paul Pabst]

Okay. Of course you do. Okay.

[Todd Fritz]

The Giant was one thought.

[Paul Pabst]

Okay.

[Todd Fritz]

Jersey Boys, they play there Met lifer be blue.

[Paul Pabst]

And why?

[Dan Patrick]

Because we can gent condition instead of mint condition. Because they call them the gins. Gins Condition blue bloods.

[Todd Fritz]

And then I also had we men as opposed to G men.

[Dan Patrick]

They're the wee man Giant.

[Paul Pabst]

I think B Giant might be the winner there. Met life for the stadium. Yes.

[Dan Patrick]

I'm seeing on the interwebs here that Russell Wilson, whilst in Pittsburgh, would close.

[Paul Pabst]

Press conferences with the phrase, win the seventh. Seventh Super Bowl. Seventh Super Bowl. Oh, my goodness.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, guys, thank you for your time. When the 7th may you walk off.

[Paul Pabst]

Oh, that's awkward. I don't know that I. That didn't really bubble up on the.

[Dan Patrick]

Radar quite as much, but I don't.

[Paul Pabst]

Know how often he said that or.

[Dan Patrick]

If he really did.

[Paul Pabst]

But according to the Internet, he said win the seventh. And then with the Giants, what do they have? Two Super Bowls? Three Super Bowls.

[Dan Patrick]

I think they have four.

[Paul Pabst]

Four. So win the fifth. Hey, Big Apple. Bite it. Yeah. Oh, no. I mean my big Apple. Bite it. Bite it. Yeah, let's bite it. Big Apple. Yes to.

[Dan Patrick]

So why didn't he say. Why didn't he say with the Big Apple, bite me.

[Paul Pabst]

Yes to.

[Dan Patrick]

Why didn't he say go fourth then with the Broncos as they had three Super Bowls? If they're gonna. If he's gonna play up numbers like he did with the Steelers.

[Paul Pabst]

No, no. He truly knew they weren't gonna win a Super Bowl.

[Dan Patrick]

He was aware.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah. He couldn't be that phony. No, he couldn't say. Why didn't they talk about our Super Bowl? Why didn't they talk about Arsenal? Let's ride.

[Dan Patrick]

Definitely didn't make sense because anytime anyone got anywhere near him, he went right to the ground. So he's not riding anywhere.

[Paul Pabst]

Oh, now you turn on him to be served. You turned on him.

[Todd Fritz]

I watched every play.

[Paul Pabst]

Oh, here comes the.

[Dan Patrick]

Here comes the rush.

[Paul Pabst]

Down he goes.

[Dan Patrick]

Used to scramble with the Seahawks and pick up first down.

[Todd Fritz]

So you just.

[Dan Patrick]

Up. I'm down.

[Paul Pabst]

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app, search FSR to listen live. Hey, Steve Covino.

[Dan Patrick]

And I'm Rich Davis, and together we're.

[Paul Pabst]

Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio.

[Dan Patrick]

You can catch us weekdays from 5.

[Paul Pabst]

To 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific.

[Dan Patrick]

On Fox Sports Radio and, of course, the iHeartRadio app.

[Paul Pabst]

Why should you listen to Covino and Rich?

[Dan Patrick]

We talk about everything.

[Paul Pabst]

Life Sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends.

[Dan Patrick]

For the last 20 years and still.

[Paul Pabst]

Work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out.

[Dan Patrick]

We like to get you involved too.

[Paul Pabst]

Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say.

[Dan Patrick]

I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive.

[Paul Pabst]

Show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the.

[Dan Patrick]

Live show, just search Ko Vino and Rich wherever you get your podcast.

[Paul Pabst]

And of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

[Dan Patrick]

Have you ever wondered if your pet is lying to you, why is my cat not here and I go in and she's eating my lunch? Or if hypnotism is real, you will use the suggestion in order to enhance your cognitive control. But what's inside a black hole? Black holes could be a consequence of the way that we understand the universe. Well, we have answers for you in the new I Heart original podcast Science Stuff. Join me, Jorge Cham, as we tackle questions you've always wanted to know the answer to about animals, space, our brains and our bodies. Questions like, can you survive being cryogenically frozen? This is experimental.

[Paul Pabst]

This may never work for you.

[Dan Patrick]

What's a quantum computer? It's not just a faster computer, it performs in a fundamentally different way. Do you really have to wait 30 minutes after eating before you can go swimming? It's not really a safety issue. It's more of a we'll talk to experts, break it down, and give you easy to understand explanations to fascinating scientific questions. So give yourself permission to be a science geek and listen to science stuff on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In 2020, a group of young women in a tidy suburb of New York City found themselves in an AI fueled nightmare. Someone was posting photos. It was just me naked. Well, not me, but me with someone else's body parts on my body parts that looked exactly like my own. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to scream. It happened in Levittown, New York. But reporting the series took us through the darkest corners of the Internet and to the front lines of a global battle against deepfake pornography. This should be illegal but what is this? This is a story about a technology that's moving faster than the law and about vigilantes trying to stem the tide. I'm Margie Murphy. And I'm Olivia Carville. This is Levittown, a new podcast from iHeart podcasts Bloomberg and Kaleidoscope. Listen to Levittown on Bloomberg's Big Take podcast. Find it on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Prohibition. It's no secret that banning alcohol didn't stop people from living it up in the 1920s. When we're five years into prohibition, the government is starting to go, okay, this isn't working. In fact, you might even say it backfired spectacularly. I'm Ed Helms, and on season three of my podcast, Snafu, we're taking you back to the 1920s and the tale of Formula 6. Because what you probably don't know about prohibition is that American citizens were dying in massive numbers due to poisoned liquor. And all along, an unlikely duo was trying desperately to stop the corruption behind it. They were like superhero crusaders turning the page on a system that didn't work, wasn't fair, and was corrupt. So how did prohibition's war on alcohol go so off the rails that the government wound up poisoning its own people? To find out, listen and subscribe to snafu on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Paul Pabst]

Hi, I'm Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. I'm excited to share my podcast with you. Math and stories from the frontiers of marketing. This week I'm talking to the CEO.

[Dan Patrick]

Of Moderna, Stephan Bonsel, about how he.

[Paul Pabst]

Led his team through unprecedented times to create, test, and distribute a COVID vaccine.

[Dan Patrick]

All in less than a year.

[Paul Pabst]

It becomes a human decision to decide to throw by the window your business strategy and to do what you think is the right thing for the world. Join me as we uncover innovations in data and analytics, the math, and the ever important creative spark, the magic. Listen to math and stories from the.

[Todd Fritz]

Frontiers of Marketing on the iHeartRadio app.

[Paul Pabst]

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Dan Patrick]

Ever wonder what it would be like to be mentored by today's top business leaders? My podcast, this Is Working can help with that. Here's some advice from Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan Chase, on standing out from the leadership crowd.

[Todd Fritz]

Develop your eq. A lot of people have plenty of brains, but EQ is do you trust me? Do I communicate well? You know when you walk in a room, do people feel good you're there? Are you responsive to people? Do people know you have a heart? Develop the team, develop the people.

[Paul Pabst]

Create a system of trust.

[Todd Fritz]

And it works over time.

[Dan Patrick]

I'm Dan Roth, LinkedIn's editor in chief. On my podcast, this Is Working, leaders like Jamie Dimon, Mark Cuban, and Richard Branson share strategies for success and the real lessons that have shaped them. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Paul Pabst]

I had a conversation yesterday with somebody. Now, in the first hour, I mentioned I have a source, and I was trying to get information about the Cleveland Browns. And either he didn't know or he wasn't gonna spill anything because I said, what are you doing with the number two pick now that Russ has signed with the Giant? In fact, when I was talking to him, I said, what about Russ? And he goes, well, he just signed with the Giants. I go, okay, so he's not going to the Cleveland Browns. This is during the phone call. Then I go, okay, what are you doing? Like, you're going to take Abdul Carter, you're going to put him with Miles Garrett. Would you take Shador Sanders? But Dion let his son go to Cleveland. Boy, it makes a lot of sense if Cleveland really likes Shador Sanders. Now all of a sudden, rookie contract for your quarterback, and it eases the financial pain of what you stupidly paid to Sean Watson. He wasn't giving me anything. I said, what about Kirk Cousins after the draft, Would you take Kirk Cousins? Maybe. Well, he'd have to be healthy, and it would cost us a draft pick. All right. Couldn't get anything. Crickets. And then you look what the Giants are doing with Russ and Jameis Winston. Are they going to still take Shador Sanders? You know, I went the first hour without mentioning the Aaron Rodgers part of the equation, but it is real. It's either Pittsburgh or retirement. That's what it feels like. And I thought it was Minnesota or retirement, but he did go there for six hours last Friday, as everybody knows. And what is he waiting for now? I. If he doesn't want to give an answer till after the draft, and the Steelers are fine with that, I'm fine with it. Like, it is my job to cover it. Do I wish it happened sooner? Yeah, content. But if it's his time frame and the Steelers time frame and they're fine with both of that, you know, parts of the equation, then I am. All right. Who cares? You know, a member of the media whining about something. All right, I'll survive. But you do want to be ahead of the game, trying to figure out, okay, if he goes there, what's it mean? How long is he going to go there for? Would they still take a quarterback in the draft? You know, so there's a lot of different things in there. Cam Ward, it feels like he has cemented himself as the number one overall pick. I'm guessing Tennessee does take him. I thought the Giants would try to move up. Cleveland probably doesn't want to move up. They'll be fine at 2. They need help. And you could get Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter, and if you truly loved Shador Sanders, you take him. But you start to look at these quarterbacks and we, we pump them up because they're the next wave of quarterbacks. And I was curious when we had Matt Miller, the great draft expert for the mothership on recently, I said, where would Cam Ward be with last year's quarterback class?

[Todd Fritz]

If we were talking about last year's.

[Dan Patrick]

Drafts, Cam Ward would have been the sixth or seventh guy drafted, probably at.

[Todd Fritz]

Quarterback, not overall at quarterback.

[Paul Pabst]

And that might still make you a top 10 pick, right, because those guys.

[Dan Patrick]

Flew off the board last year.

[Paul Pabst]

But I do think he's being elevated.

[Dan Patrick]

It is interesting, both quarterbacks, Sanders and Ward, they have some bad habits that are going to need coached out of them. Pam Ward's kind of get dismissed because he has a strong arm.

[Paul Pabst]

So that's Matt Miller, draft analyst for the mothership of where these quarterbacks would be. I think that's the general consensus is Cam Ward would be after Bo Nixon. J.J. mcCarthy is still, you know, front and center for the Minnesota Vikings, and he was asked on whether or not he's the starting quarterback in Minnesota.

[Dan Patrick]

We as a fan base or even media found out like, you're the guy, the, the guy recently. When did you know?

[Paul Pabst]

When did they tell you or when.

[Dan Patrick]

Was that message to you? They haven't told me, and I'm happy.

[Paul Pabst]

They didn't because I try to earn.

[Dan Patrick]

It every single day. And I never want that to be given to me. And it's such a privilege and opportunity to give that. Give me that chance. And I'm just going to make the most of it every single day.

[Paul Pabst]

All right, that's with K. Adams up in Adams. J.J. mcCarthy. Look, it might be fake humility, but it's going over well in Minnesota. So you're looking at Aaron Rodgers and saying, I guess it's Pittsburgh. When is it going to be Pittsburgh? And what do they do in the draft because I don't know if you say, hey, we're going to bring in Aaron, but by the way, we're going to use our first round. You imagine if they use a first round draft pick, I think the 21st overall pick on Jackson Darth. So he would be with a team that uses their first round pick on another quarterback. Now do I think it makes sense for Pittsburgh? If you really think Jackson Dart can play, then it makes sense. I didn't know if it made sense in Green Bay at the time. I didn't think it made sense because Aaron was playing well. He went on his revenge tour. You've never gotten him a wide receiver in the first round and now did it turn out to be the correct call? Yes, Green Bay makes a lot of correct calls. But at the time I thought and even when we had Rogers on after the draft, I think that's when he decided that he was going to have a larger glass of tequila after he realized that Jordan Love. The packers have selected quarterback Jordan Love. Give me a little bit more tequila in there. All right. Seaton poll question, by the way. Good morning. If you're watching on Peacock, our streaming partner, we say good morning to our radio affiliates. What's the poll question for hour two? I can't believe there's this much support for Jameis Winston.

[Dan Patrick]

But that better pre game speech guy on the Giants right now.

[Paul Pabst]

Jameis Winston still has 90% of that vote. Yeah, odd that we came up with that. But we did think about who's going to motivate you in that Giants locker room when you get ready to go out and face the Eagles. Is it Jameis Winston or Russell Wilson? Let's ride B. John, we're putting up there right now.

[Dan Patrick]

Question Paulie sent over.

[Paul Pabst]

If you could put one into place, a hard salary cap in baseball or a return to the old transfer system in college sports. Well, it's a little heavy. That's just what we do. Yeah. Not exactly light hearted sports radio conversation. Well, I went hour one. You can't get much more light hearted.

[Dan Patrick]

Than Jameis Winston v. Russell Wilson.

[Paul Pabst]

I mean, so Russ goes to the Giants. You know, the Patriots got Stefan Diggs, which is the Patriots have had a sneaky good off season. They have the fourth pick in the draft. Worst case scenario, they end up with Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter. That's not a bad consolation prize. You feel like you do have your quarterback. They had a whole lot of money to spend. They had salary cap money. And Drake May, I thought did A did for a team that had nothing on offense. He made something with that team and they have added some pieces. Offensive lineman, defensive lineman. Now you have the fourth pick in the draft. Stefan Diggs was on his way to the hall of Fame. He may still be on his way to the hall of Fame. But I just wonder about, you know, when you, he wasn't healthy, got banged up in Houston, you know, whatever happened in Buffalo where he, you know, he ended up in Houston. Now you end up in New England, still coming off surgery. But it, but if you look at what he did in Buffalo, here's the most 100 plus catch seasons in the first nine years of a career. Antonio Brown in six of his first nine years had over 100 catches with Pittsburgh. Stefan Diggs has had five, Brandon Marshall had five, Wes Welker had five, Devonte Adams four, DeAndre Hopkins four, Marvin Harrison, four. And Keenan Allen, four. Stat of the day. Stat of the day. Stat of the day. Stat of the day.

[Todd Fritz]

Here comes that.

[Paul Pabst]

What? Stat of the day brought to you by Panini America. The official trading cards of the DP show Antonio Brown was going to the hall of Fame. I don't think anybody had more catches over a five year window than he did, but he had six seasons. And look, I, I think when he got knocked out, concussed by Vontes Burfick, I think it seemed to change him. And I think we've seen Antonio Brown is not a normal person. I don't know what that hit did to him, in my opinion. I always thought it just, he seemed different after that, but I didn't know him. I think we've had him on once or twice. Maybe at the super bowl one time. Charismatic dude. But times have changed though. You know, when he freaked out, you know, left the building during a game, Stefan Diggs is, you know, he was in Minnesota, he wanted to have and get paid, have his moment. Got it in Buffalo. And then all of a sudden Buffalo seemed to be better, you know, by, you know, getting rid of Stefan Diggs. It's hard to say that about a Hall of Famer. Where you go, you know, the team got better because they got rid of a Hall of Fame caliber wide receiver. I, I don't know if any of these receivers are going to the hall of Fame. Antonio Brown, Stefan Diggs, Brandon Marshall, Wes Welker, Devonte Adams is probably going to the hall of Fame. DeAndre Hopkins, Marvin Harrison is already a Hall of Famer. I don't know if catches matter. Yeah, but I, I haven't been in the, the voting room or you know, Peter King's the only one I really talked about what goes on in there and what they, what they factor in. And I, I don't know if it's, it's fluid. When they start to look at hall of Famers. Are you looking at the same thing now with wide receivers as you did five years ago? What about 10 years ago? I, I remember when it was, man, if you get to a thousand catches, it was like 10,000 yards for a running back. I don't think it's the case in either situation now are we going to have. How many running backs are. Christian McAffrey is not going to the hall of Fame? He said, I don't think so. Derek Henry going to the hall of Fame. I don't know if there's any other running back that is playing now like Saquon Barkley would need to have three or four more great seasons, but he certainly got back on track in a big way. And you're playing in Philadelphia behind that offensive line with all those weapons, he could end up, you know, four or five 1500 yard seasons, win a Super Bowl, 2000 yards, then you'd be a Hall of Famer. But yeah, I, I start to look at these numbers and you go, I don't know what matters anymore. Because for a long, long time it felt like the running game was the short passing game, that we don't need a running back, we just need a running back who can block and also catch passes. Now all of a sudden you got a couple of running backs who were getting 15, 18, 2000 yards and now it's kind of back in vogue. And Ashton Genti could be one of those running backs who comes in and plays right away when, when you get a comp of Emmett Smith by one draft analyst. So when somebody says Ashton Genti and they go Emmett Smith with speed. Whoo. I draft him now. I voted for him for the Heisman. But you know, you can't go wrong with who won. But in my mind, Ashton Genty, what he did, you know, he led his team and you know, ended up finish runner up and he'll probably be the seventh pick overall. Yeah, Paulie.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. If you look at the all time rushing leaders, active players on the list are Derrick Henry, Ezekiel Elliott's got 9,000 yards, but he's, it was all done in his first four years.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, he's not, nope.

[Dan Patrick]

Joe Mixon is an all purpose back. Saquon's at 7,000 yards, but he's more all purpose yardage. Aaron Jones, Nick Chubb, Josh Jacobs is having a very good career.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

And it's early. Going back to Antonio Brown, he had a six year window where he had 700 catches in six years, all made the Pro bowl every single time and had four first team all pros. If he didn't implode and left the sport due to injury, would he get the hall of Fame hall pass?

[Paul Pabst]

Well, let's say he had seven years that he played in the NFL or even six. You know, we, we do have precedent here. You have Terrell Davis. Now, we would always bring up Gail Sears, but Terrell Davis is modern day. You know, injury cut short his career. If Antonio Brown had an injury that cut short his career, then maybe you're not supposed to factor in anything other than what you do on the football field. The voters are told that other sports, they do factor in who you are, but I also have to factor in how you were as a teammate. That's the only other aspect with this that I can look at your performance. I also have to look at you give and then you take away and that's going to hurt him. It's like Terrell Owens to me was a first Battle hall of Famer, but he didn't get in first ballot. I don't think what second or third time Mark Michael Irvin, you know, to me, first Battle hall of Famer, but off the field. And they're not supposed to be factoring that in. Will they factor that in with Antonio Brown? They will. And not that Stefan Diggs is in the Antonio Brown category of disruptive, but it didn't go well in Buffalo at the end. I mean, Houston just didn't work out. You thought with, you know, those two young receivers there and you bring in Stefan Diggs with that quarterback and wow. All right, you guys can challenge for the AFC title. Yes, Marvin.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. And I think Stefan Diggs might be in the Tiki Barber category. Say if the Buffalo Bills win a Super bowl and they win without him, that's going to hurt his chances. I think that's what hurts Tiki Barber. If he stays another year and they win a Super bowl with him as a big contributor. I think his hall of Fame case is way stronger than it is now.

[Paul Pabst]

Look at that. Marvin is hijacking Paul's Tiki Barber.

[Dan Patrick]

Kind of my thing, really. I've owned that for a decade. At the end, Tiki Barber was as good as any running back. But I think I got the point, Marv.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah. Easy. He got easy. You're piling on piling on.

[Dan Patrick]

Want to get some 85 bears talking there, Marv?

[Paul Pabst]

Paulie, Richard Dent is the great.

[Dan Patrick]

Sorry.

[Paul Pabst]

Paulie thinks more highly of Tiki Barber's hall of Fame chances than Tiki Barber does. I think Be like, what do you think, Tiki? Well, I don't know, you know, Paulie, what do you think? Oh, yeah. Do you know what he did in the last five years? 1500 years, number of catchers. There's nobody else in America who talks about Tiki Barber's career.

[Dan Patrick]

Maybe for a reason.

[Paul Pabst]

We can't even get Tiki Barber on to talk about Tiki Barber's career. He's probably like, no, I don't want to do that. All right, Ernie, I gotta clean up my act. I got a professional broadcaster here coming up. How's my hair look? Shouldn't have worn this sweatshirt with Ernie. Will probably have a bow tie on. You know, be all professorial. Oh, oh, look at that Ernesto. He looks sloppy, just like me. Yes, I love it. All right, we'll take a break. The great Ernie Johnson will join us coming up next here. DAN PATRICK Show Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick.

[Dan Patrick]

Show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific.

[Paul Pabst]

On Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

[Dan Patrick]

Have you ever wondered, if your pet is lying to you? Why is my cat not here and I go in and she's eating my lunch? Or if hypnotism is real, you will use the suggestion in order to enhance your cognitive control. But what's inside a black hole? Black holes could be a consequence of the way that we understand the universe. Well, we have answers for you in the new I Heart original podcast, Science Stuff. Join me, Jorge Cham, as we tackle questions you've always wanted to know the answer to about animals, space, our brains and our bodies. Questions like, can you survive being cryogenically frozen? This is experimental.

[Paul Pabst]

This may never work for you.

[Dan Patrick]

What's a quantum computer? It's not just a faster computer. It performs in a fundamentally different way. Do you really have to wait 30 minutes after eating before you can go swimming? It's not really a safety issue. It's more of a comfort issue. We'll talk to experts, break it down, and give you easy to understand explanations to fascinating scientific questions. So give yourself permission to be a science geek and listen to science stuff on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In 2020, a group of young women in a tidy suburb of New York City found themselves in an AI fueled nightmare. Someone was posting photos. It was just me naked. Well, not me, but me with someone else's body parts on my body. Parts that looked exactly like my own. I wanted to throw up. I wanted to scream. It happened in Levittown, New York. But reporting the series took us through the darkest corners of the Internet and to the front lines of a global battle against deepfake pornography. This should be illegal. But what is this? This is a story about a technology that's moving faster than the law and about vigilantes trying to stem the tide. I'm Margie Murphy. And I'm Olivia Carville. This is Levittown, a new podcast from iHeart podcasts Bloomberg and Kaleidoscope. Listen to Levittown on Bloomberg's Big Take podcast. Find it on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Prohibition. It's no secret that banning alcohol didn't stop people from living it up in the 1920s. When we're five years into prohibition, the government is starting to go, okay, this isn't working. In fact, you might even say it backfired spectacularly. I'm Ed Helms, and on season three of my podcast, SNAFU, we're taking you back to the 1920s and the tale of Formula Six. Because what you probably don't know about prohibition is that American citizens were dying in massive numbers due to poisoned liquor. And all along, an unlikely duo was trying desperately to stop the corruption behind it. They were like superhero crusaders turning the page on a system that didn't work, wasn't fair, and was corrupt. So how did prohibition's war on alcohol go so off the rails that the government wound up poisoning its own people? To find out, listen and subscribe to snafu on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Paul Pabst]

Hi, I'm Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia. I'm excited to share my podcast with you. Math and stories from the frontiers of marketing. This week, I'm talking to the CEO.

[Dan Patrick]

Of Moderna, Stephane Bonsell, about how he.

[Paul Pabst]

Led his team through unprecedented times to create, test, and distribute a COVID vaccine.

[Dan Patrick]

All in less than a year.

[Paul Pabst]

It becomes a human decision to decide to throw by the window your business strategy and to do what you think is the right thing for the world. Join me as we uncover innovations in data and analytics, the math, and the ever important creative spark, the magic. Listen to math and magic stories from the frontiers of Marketing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get Your podcast.

[Dan Patrick]

Ever wonder what it would be like to be mentored by today's top business leaders? My podcast, this Is Working can help with that. Here's advice from Google CMO Lorraine Tuhill on how treat AI like a partner. I see AI as an incredible co pilot. You may use different tools or toys to get the work done, but ultimately, as editor, as creator, as maker, you.

[Paul Pabst]

Own it and it needs to be good.

[Dan Patrick]

AI is just the latest flavor of that. You're still the judge of what good looks like. I'm Dan Roth, LinkedIn's editor in chief. On my podcast, this Is Working, leaders like Indra Nooyi, Ray Dalio, and Rich Paul share strategies for success and the real lessons that have shaped them. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Paul Pabst]

He's a busy man. He's a Hall of Famer. He wins sports Emmys. He's Ernie Johnson Jr III, who joins us on the program. Great to have you back, Ernie. How are you?

[Todd Fritz]

If I had a tail, it'd be Wagon Dan.

[Paul Pabst]

I like it. I like it. You know, when you look at the different jobs that you have now, you still get to work with Chuck, but when you do March Madness, compare that to working the NBA show.

[Todd Fritz]

Well, I think the biggest difference is Clark Kellogg, who is. He's so tied into the college game. He's a guy you just lean on like crazy. Because for us, you know, it's. We pay attention to the college game, but our focus is the NBA. So you really need to have a guy like Clark or Seth Davis in the Atlanta studio or Jay Wright, somebody like that. So that's been the biggest difference. But I think just in the terms of the vibe and how we do the show, I think it took a little while. But, you know, CBS with their, you know, with the way they do things, they kind of said, okay, yeah, you guys can. You guys can do this. You know, you guys can be your NBA kind of guys and do your show that way. And that started, I mean, the first year, you know, they wanted the guys in for a. For a production meeting two hours before we went on the air in Chuck symbols.

[Dan Patrick]

That's.

[Todd Fritz]

That's a hard no. And so, so once we got through that adjustment period, you know, we pretty much. We pretty much do our thing.

[Paul Pabst]

But you have situations, and you had it recently with Charles that he might not be watching what he's supposed to watch, and then you have to correct him. I don't know how college basketball fans react to that whereas NBA fans, like, we kind of expect Chuck to go, this game sucks. But with college basketball, March Madness can't exactly get away with that.

[Todd Fritz]

Oh, we're able to get away with it because we still had Kenny and Clark there who could cover that game. It's not like, not like we were going to ignore it, but, but it was. What was funny is that he looked down like he was going to really say something, like he had made a couple of notes and then realized he hadn't watched any of it. It's like it was, it was like a couple of years ago. Chuck has always taken great pride in his Oscar picks and says, you know, he never misses one. And, and so we were talking about best picture and 1918 was up for best picture. And, and so we're talking about it and he says, I think the best picture is going to be 1918. I said, well, tell me about it. He said, well, you know, it's your, it's your basic. You know what? I haven't seen it. And so, yeah, so moments like that, you're kind of, you've kind of come to expect.

[Paul Pabst]

When did you realize, though, that this was different with how social media was viewing you guys and the clips that are played over and over? Like, there's a seismic shift. When I did SportsCenter, you watched SportsCenter. Now people don't watch SportsCenter as much as they'll take clips and watch them on social media. How did that affect how you guys did tnt?

[Todd Fritz]

I don't know if it had a great effect. I know it made it more accessible for folks who didn't want to stay up till 1:30 or 2:00 in the morning and, and watch the show, even though sometimes it would be replayed on NBA TV in the morning. But, I mean, that's the world we live in. I mean, that was. And you're, you and I are both old enough to remember DT that, you know, there may have been times where you had a, you did a show and you didn't know exactly how it was received or if people thought something was funny. And, and the only way you knew was if Rudy Marksky wrote about it on Monday. You know, it was like. And now everything is so instantaneous. It's like you throw a line out there and all of a sudden you're getting skewered or you're getting praised and, and yeah, it's just a different world. But you, you don't do it for the, you know, how many likes you get or anything like that you're just doing your job, and that's how we. That's how we do ours.

[Paul Pabst]

I'm glad that we didn't have social media. I just. Because we did it without knowing, as you said, if anybody's. What we didn't know ratings. We didn't know anything. And I remember the, the first time I found out that we might be. Might have a following or be popular is I went to the ESPYs, and all of a sudden you run into Jerry Seinfeld and you run into Bill Murray and they're reciting lines back to you, and I'm like, I'll be damned. They're people actually watching this show.

[Todd Fritz]

Yeah, yeah. No, I, I know exactly what you're talking about. And I was, I was so, you know, my story along that vein is being out in LA for a playoff game and. And walked away shaking my head because Denzel Washington knew who I was. He was like, I watch you guys all the time. And I was like, wow, really? That's. That's amazing. Yeah. So there were those moments that kind of reach up and grab you, and it's like, I guess we do have a lot of folks who are. Who are watching the show.

[Paul Pabst]

He's Ernie Johnson, hall of Famer, Turner Sports Studio host, Inside the NBA State of College Sports. I know that nil transfer portal is a topic of conversation. Where do you stand with this?

[Todd Fritz]

I think that. I think we all agreed that something had to be done and that. And that there had to be a way that the college athletes who were. Who were making all this money for these schools needed to be compensated one, you know, some way. But then it just. It just went from, hey, this. That's a good idea to all right, whatever you want. And it was like a 0 to 60, 0 to 100. And. And so that's how I kind of look at it is that, yeah, we. We all kind of agreed. But then are there. Should there be some limitations? Should. Or is this going to just price up the smaller schools out? Because they don't. They can't lure anybody into their. Into their places. So, yeah, I think, I think just in that regard that, yeah, we're. We just kind of let it happen without, without any regulation. And then. And. And the transfer portal is. I would not want to be a coach. And I can certainly see where, where guys like Tony Bennett and Jay Wright and others have said, you know, it's enough of this. You know, I'm. I'm my ass off and recruit this kid. And he's going to come to my place and now I've got to keep recruiting him as he's on in my program because he's just going to leave, you know, if he's not getting the, the run that he wants or whatever. So. No, it's, it's, it's changed everything dramatically for sure. And, and, and it's, it's always strange to look down as I'm, you know, I'm doing my numbers and my rosters and that kind of thing when I'm getting ready in the months leading up to this, say, wow, this kid's been in college, this guy's, this is sixth season, you know. And so yeah, that's, that's kind of been the, the amazing part to me.

[Paul Pabst]

Did you fill out a bracket? I did and.

[Todd Fritz]

It'S really good. No, it's really good. I, I, I think I could have it right here. I've been in New York. I got a two week, I got a two week stay in New York for this. I did not go back to Atlanta and then come back in between the rounds because all I'm doing is basically working on the show. So. Okay, this is really good for your show that I'm rifling through here.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, yeah, it's good. Radio.

[Todd Fritz]

Let's see, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Okay, I got 10 of the 16 sweet 16, 7 out of 8, elite 8 and entire final four still, which is not bad in my, in my opinion. I've got, I've got Florida beating Michigan State and Duke beating Tennessee in the final four. How about you let me, does that meet with your approval?

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, but why don't you let me pat you on the back? Not you pat yourself on the back.

[Todd Fritz]

That, you know, I think that's a great idea. I don't know, I don't know what.

[Paul Pabst]

Came over like, do you have sports Emmys that you pack with you when you go to New York for, You know, just so you can be in familiar surroundings.

[Todd Fritz]

Just a, just a few of them.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, that's what I thought.

[Todd Fritz]

You know what, you know what's bad? It's like packing for, for eight shows and two weeks up here. So I like, I've been living in this all star hoodie the whole, the whole time in New York. So you, you didn't really expect me to get up and put a bow tie on.

[Paul Pabst]

No, I'm glad you didn't because I had a sweatshirt on and I go, oh my God, I got Ernie Johnson.

[Todd Fritz]

I live in these. I would if I didn't have to get dressed up. I. This would be me all the time.

[Paul Pabst]

Why don't you do a casual broadcast one day? You guys get to do whatever you want.

[Todd Fritz]

Why? Why should we do a casual broadcast?

[Paul Pabst]

Why not?

[Todd Fritz]

We have certain standards.

[Paul Pabst]

Oh, you do. Okay. You know what?

[Todd Fritz]

The other guys are casual sometimes.

[Paul Pabst]

Well, Charles is always making fun of Anthony Davis, you know, street clothes. So why don't you guys have a street clothes show?

[Todd Fritz]

All right.

[Paul Pabst]

An homage to Anthony Davis.

[Todd Fritz]

Yeah.

[Paul Pabst]

That.

[Todd Fritz]

I don't know if it would come off as Davis.

[Paul Pabst]

That's why. What's the biggest storyline the rest of the season to you in the NBA?

[Todd Fritz]

In the NBA. You know, I. I think things are kind of looking a little bit clear cut as far as who's going to finish where and who they're. Who they might play. I think, Mike, my biggest question is, is OKC ready for this? You know, because obviously they have got a squad and SGA is unbelievable. Now, can you get over that hump and get to that Western Conference final and then can you get to the NBA finals? So I think, you know, is OKC ready for this? For this step? Because we already know Boston's ready for that step. Is Cleveland ready for that step? You know, does a great regular season translate? So those to me are the big questions because I don't see a whole lot of other folks who could win the title. You know, I can see Boston in the finals. I could see Cleveland maybe in the finals if they're, you know, if they're at home and if they get a break here and there. But I, you know, out west, it's okay. See? And I don't know if Houston's ready for that yet. Been fun watching them, but. And, and you can't count Denver out if, you know, when Joker's healthy. But I think the question. The question is, is OKC ready for this?

[Paul Pabst]

When do you know when Barkley is truly upset?

[Todd Fritz]

Truly upset?

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, like mad.

[Todd Fritz]

I don't. I don't know that I've ever really seen Chuck very mad. Chuck is, you know, Chuck comes in every night the same way. Hey, let's have some fun tonight. You know, and so I. I haven't really seen him really hot.

[Paul Pabst]

Have you seen Shaq get up? Yeah, Shaq.

[Todd Fritz]

I've seen Shaq get hot. I, you know, one night was when we were going, you know, he got mad because Chuck took all his time, and then he just kind of clammed up and he didn't want to talk. He didn't want to be part of the show. And, and, and we've had. We had a night where he was late for a show. And, and he. And I kind of talked and I said, man, you gotta be. Man. I left two hours earlier. Traffic was terrible. And. And then the next day, he didn't even talk to me. It's like I would look at. I look at him or do a show, and I'm asking him a question and I'm getting three word answers. And then I finally just had to. In a commercial break, Just had to get up and give him a big old hug and say, man, you know I love you, even though, you know I don't mean anything by that, you know? And then. And then he was okay. But yeah, there have been a couple of times where he gets. He'll get a little sensitive. I don't know how mad he'll get, but he'll clam up a little bit, and then you're. Then you're pulling teeth.

[Paul Pabst]

It's like you're a parent there.

[Todd Fritz]

The way it's been best described, Dan, is that I'm the dad driving cross country with these three guys in the backseat saying, one more peep out of.

[Dan Patrick]

You and I'm turning this thing around.

[Paul Pabst]

Don't make me come back there.

[Todd Fritz]

Yeah, that's exactly right.

[Paul Pabst]

Don't make me come back there. Well, who would make you more nervous, Chuck or Shaq? I guess Shaq, you know, given the size.

[Todd Fritz]

Make me more nervous. What if I, If I were to pull that? Yeah, no, he's. Shaq is. I. I have no fear of Shaq at all. Shaq. Shaq and I have a special relationship. And he always says it dates back to when I went and did a story on him when he was at LSU and he was living in San Antonio. And he's. I remember that day in 1989 when you came and it really wasn't 1989, it was 1991. But. But yeah, I think. I think that we, you know, we had a great thing going with that bunch. You know, we really have. And so.

[Paul Pabst]

And what are you. What are you doing now? What are you going to do?

[Todd Fritz]

What am I going to do?

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah. Are you following everybody?

[Todd Fritz]

Yeah, that's. I mean, this is the plan. This is the plan is we're going to do. Continue to do the show.

[Paul Pabst]

Okay.

[Todd Fritz]

And. But it's just not going to air on TNT because the NBA on TNT is no more after. After these playoffs. But we'll still do the show in Atlanta.

[Paul Pabst]

Okay.

[Todd Fritz]

You'll still do it with the Same production crew. It'll just air on abc, ESPN on certain nights.

[Paul Pabst]

Okay. Because I think it looked kind of shaky there for a while that we didn't know what direction. You probably were left out in the cold, too, on this, but. And then if it was moving out of Atlanta, would you continue to do it?

[Todd Fritz]

Me? No.

[Paul Pabst]

That was a deal breaker.

[Todd Fritz]

That's. Yeah, that's home. And it's. And so, yeah, I think, look, I can kind of see the finish line. You know, it's. I remember when Don McGuire hired me at Turner back in 1989, and he was like, man, seven, eight years in that studio chair. That's all. You know, you're not going to want any more than that. Now it's been 35, and. And so there are a lot of things to do out there. And. And so I can't wait for next year. Can't wait to. Can't wait to stay with the guys, but. And then we'll just see for the years after that if, you know, what comes up and what I. What I feel like doing.

[Paul Pabst]

Adam Lefkoe is listening intently on that. That last answer.

[Todd Fritz]

Adam Lefkoe is great.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, he's.

[Todd Fritz]

He's really, really, really solid. And so. But it's not. No, don't. Don't get this twisted. It's not like I'm gonna hang. We're gonna hang up here, and suddenly I'm. I have retired. No. You know, a lot of times when you're running a marathon from. You can see the finish line from a long way away. Not that I have any marathon experience, so it's not like I'm not like, I'm in this sprint and the finish line is 8 meters away. You know, it's just that I can. You know, when you get to this point, it's like, all right, let's see how this is looking.

[Paul Pabst]

They will survive without us, which is amazing, Ernie. They will. Do you think so? Yeah.

[Todd Fritz]

Do you think the medium will continue?

[Paul Pabst]

I don't know. I don't know. But I've been told, hey, they'll survive without you. So, yeah, I'm going to take their word for it. I'm done in three years.

[Todd Fritz]

All right, so you've made the decision.

[Paul Pabst]

Three years? Yes.

[Todd Fritz]

How old will you be in three years?

[Paul Pabst]

I will be 71.

[Todd Fritz]

Yeah. But I'll be 71 in three years.

[Paul Pabst]

Why don't we go out together?

[Todd Fritz]

Wouldn't that be nice? Wouldn't that. That would just tug at the hearts.

[Paul Pabst]

But you go first. You go first, and then the next day I'll do it. I'm going to retire, I think, in Atlanta after the Super Bowl.

[Todd Fritz]

All right, and we'll. Maybe we could do it at CNN center where you.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah.

[Todd Fritz]

When you have some roots.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah. Now we're talking in the atrium. Yes. It'll be emotional balloons. Yes, that'll be great. I'll do another headline Sports. You know, I'll do one more for the road.

[Todd Fritz]

Oh, man.

[Paul Pabst]

Maybe we bring in Van Earl. Right. And get Earl to do a CNN headline Sports. Yeah, yeah, it's gonna be great.

[Todd Fritz]

Or Phil that. Whatever happened to Phil Van Horn, by the way?

[Paul Pabst]

I think he became a baseball coach. Maybe in California. Yeah, I think so. Yeah.

[Todd Fritz]

Phil was my colleague and a friend of yours.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, yeah, Phil Van. Yeah. I think he married a. A song girl from usc.

[Todd Fritz]

Wow.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, you know a lot more than I do. Well, I keep up on the song girls at usc. I'm just saying Phil has got a.

[Todd Fritz]

Fiddle is somewhere right now saying, oh, hold on. Why are they talking about me?

[Paul Pabst]

Good to talk to you. Have fun and thanks again, Ernie.

[Todd Fritz]

Always a pleasure. D.P. always a pleasure.

[Paul Pabst]

That's Ernie Johnson.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, so we all need to get away from the world sometimes. Well, in the all new 2025 Nissan Murano, you don't even have to go anywhere. The Murano is the getaway. Just picture it. The Bose premium sound system plays your favorite music as the Murano's massaging leather appointed seats melt away your stress. Yeah, that's a real getaway. Drive the all new 2025 Nissan Murano today. Bows and massaging leather appointed seats are optional features. Have you ever wondered if your pet is lying to you? Why is my cat not here and I go in and she's eating my lunch? Or if hypnotism is real, you will use this suggestion in order to enhance your cognitive control. But what's inside a black hole, Black holes could be a consequence of the way that we understand the universe. Well, we have answers for you in the new iHeart original podcast, Science Stuff. Join me, Jorgeham, as we answer questions about animals, space, our brains and our bodies. So give yourself permission to be a science geek and listen to science stuff on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In 2020, a group of young women found themselves in an AI fueled nightmare. Someone was posting photos. It was just me naked. Well, not me, but me with someone else's body parts. This is Levittown, a new podcast from iHeart podcasts Bloomberg and Kaleidoscope about the rise of deepfake pornography and the battle to stop it. Listen to Levittown on Bloomberg's Big Take podcast. Find it on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up? I'm Laura, host of the podcast Courtside with Laura Carrenti, a masterclass case study of the business of women's sports. I'll be chatting with leaders like tennis icon Alana Kloss. I don't do what I do only for women.

[Todd Fritz]

I do it for everyone.

[Dan Patrick]

And I want the whole market and innovators like Jenny Nguyen. I would say 50% of the people that come visit the sports bra aren't sports fans. They come to be in community. They come to be part of this culture. Courtside with Laura Carenti is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. Listen to Courtside with Laura Carenti Starting April 2nd on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Love at first swipe? I highly doubt it. Reality TV and social media have love all wrong. So what really makes relationships last? On this episode of Dope Labs, poet and relationship expert Young Pueblo breaks down the psychology of love and provides eye opening insights and advice we all need. It's a big realization moment that you should not be postponing your happiness. Like your greatest happiness is not necessarily going to like come from a relationship. Your partner, they should add to your happiness, but your happiness is really coming from within you. Listen to Dope labs on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.