Best of The Herd

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Best of The Herd

Episode Date: June 12, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd
Special Guests: Christian Pulisic, Bruce Arena, Jason Timf, Fat Joe (Joe), Nick (Soccer Fan)

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Herd zeroes in on two of sports’ biggest current storylines: the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team’s opening match in the World Cup (held in Los Angeles), and the NBA Finals surge in viewership driven by the New York Knicks and the “alien” talent of Victor Wembanyama (Wemby). Colin Cowherd explores the evolution of the American World Cup squad, reflects on soccer's blend of talent and coaching, and analyzes what makes this Knicks/Spurs Finals so electric. Guests include rising soccer star Christian Pulisic, record-holding coach Bruce Arena, analyst Jason Timf, and rapper/Knicks superfan Fat Joe.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. U.S. Men's National Team at the World Cup

(02:43 – 13:08; 31:13 – 43:49)

• Team Evolution: Cowherd outlines how the U.S. squad has matured since Qatar, with most players now in their mid-20s and possessing seasoned World Cup experience.
  • “This is a real squad…13 of our players, our best players, have now World cup experience. This is a real squad.” – Colin Cowherd (03:09)
• Talent vs. Coaching:
  • “All sports are pretty simple. Better talent, you win more. Coaching can help, but it can't take average and make it very good or exceptional.” – Cowherd (03:13)
• Christian Pulisic as X-Factor: Emphasis on Pulisic being the creative engine:
  • “When he scores a goal, at least one, we are 21, four, and two. We are exceptional if he has a goal or even an assist.” – Cowherd (04:16)
  • “Set him up for success and it all rolls downhill after that.” (04:02)
• Challenge from Paraguay: Noted as a physical, defensive team, missing their best offensive piece, but with veteran presence.
• Soccer Fans and the Sport’s Simplicity: Cowherd pokes fun at American soccer fans trying to overcomplicate, returning to the idea that star power is the real game-changer.

Notable Quotes

• Christian Pulisic on the team’s mentality:
  • “We're a really good team. We're able to compete with anyone and we want to be a real force in this tournament.” (06:13)
• Pulisic's coach/teammate on his development:
  • “A lot of pressure is on him at a young age, and what we wanted to do is put him at ease and really put him in the best possible position to help the team because he's an absolute game changer.” (06:30)

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2. NBA Finals Surge: Knicks vs. Spurs, Wembanyama Mania

(06:59 – 11:13; 19:13 – 27:23)

• Viewership Boom: Game 3 was the most-watched NBA Finals game since the 1990s, bridging the New York market and Wembanyama's global curiosity.
  • “Spurs averaged 24 million viewers. ...Wemby's a huge part of this, because, remember, a lot of bigs don’t sell shoes and they don't move the TV needle.” – Cowherd (07:07)
• Wembanyama as the “Alien”:
  • “There is something about Wemby. I have never seen an athlete who forces other great athletes to make U-turns headed to the basket.” (07:23)
  • “He's the number one influencer right now in sports.” (08:13)
  • “I think he's got 2% DNA alien.” – Fat Joe (21:20)
• The Drama of Waiting: Cowherd argues that Wemby doesn’t need to win soon for his mythos to grow, just as with Jordan, LeBron, Cubs, and Woods.
• Jason Timf on Star Conditioning:
  • “That conditioning piece is absolutely massive for his long-term development...The best thing they can do is scale up his minutes.” (10:41)

Notable Quotes

• Fat Joe on witnessing Knicks games and Wemby:
  • “I've been a fan since I was a baby, you know, and to finally win, there's no emotion like it.” (19:21)
  • “Wemby's a freaking nature.” (22:25)

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3. Soccer – The World Cup Preview with Bruce Arena

(31:13 – 43:49)

• Player-Coach Dynamics: Value of a harmonious relationship between star players and the coach.
  • “It’s important that you have a good relationship with your best player.” – Bruce Arena (32:46)
• Team Mentality and Identity:
  • “The mentality of the group and stepping on the field and believing you can win. ...I think this is a really special time for the US team.” (33:41)
  • U.S. DNA is “talented and very athletic… they're attempting to take the game to their opponents.” (35:48)
• Pulisic’s Role and Team Balance:
  • “They have been a little bit too dependent on Christian, but there's good plays around them. …Whether you like it or not, Christian's a key figure in the attack and he's got to be on his game for the US to be successful.” – Arena (34:53)
• On Handling Pressure and Expectations: Home games are a privilege, not a burden. Arena stresses the value of playing in front of energized U.S. fans.

Notable Quotes

• On what constitutes U.S. success:
  • “If the US team advances to the quarterfinals in this World cup, it's a completely successful World Cup.” – Bruce Arena (42:28)
• On the need for confidence and group-stage wins:
  • “It's critically important that we win tonight and position ourselves to win the group.” (42:28)

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4. Knicks Fandom and Jalen Brunson’s Leadership (with Fat Joe)

(19:13 – 27:23)

• Knicks as NY’s "Most Popular" Team:
  • “I’ve always argued the Yankees are the most productive and successful, but I’ve always felt the Knicks are the most popular. The whole city’s into the Knicks.” – Cowherd (24:02)
• Brunson Compared to Jeter:
  • “Jalen Brunson’s very interesting. ...It feels like to me he’s the most loved New York athlete, honestly, since Jeter.” (22:35)
  • Fat Joe: “Very similar. ...He’s a real leader. He’s a small guy, but as far as leadership, he is a true leader.” (23:07)
• Knicks Fan Emotional Ride:
  • Fat Joe describes the ups-and-downs of watching the team and the unique passion of NY hoops fans.
    • “It was an emotional rollercoaster. ...I'm nervous about every game.” (19:21, 26:52)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On Christian Pulisic and team belief:
  • “We're a really good team. We're able to compete with anyone and we want to be a real force in this tournament.” – Christian Pulisic (06:13)
• Fat Joe on Knicks passion:
  • “To finally win, there’s no emotion like it. ...If we win, I’m definitely gonna cry, Cal. Like, I don’t know how to explain this to you.” (19:21)
• On Wemby changing the game:
  • “I've never seen an athlete who forces other great athletes to make U-turns headed to the basket.” – Colin Cowherd (07:23)
  • “He's the number one influencer right now in sports.” – Colin Cowherd (08:13)
• Bruce Arena on American soccer's evolution:
  • “Our DNA is our athleticism and our aggressiveness, and hopefully we show that tonight.” (35:48)
• Fat Joe on Jalen Brunson:
  • "He’s a real leader. ...He’s a small guy, but as far as leadership, he is a true leader.” (23:07)

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Important Segments and Timestamps

• [02:43] World Cup Preview and USMNT analysis begins
• [06:13] Christian Pulisic on team’s mentality
• [07:07] NBA Finals viewership discussion; Wemby’s impact
• [10:41] Jason Timf on Wemby’s conditioning and star players’ responsibilities
• [19:13] Fat Joe on Knicks fandom, Knicks' emotional playoff journey
• [22:35] Jalen Brunson discussion: leadership and star power
• [31:13] Interview with Bruce Arena: coaching, U.S. team identity, World Cup expectations

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Tone and Style

The episode balances Cowherd’s trademark blend of sharp analysis, humor, and pop-culture metaphors. Guests like Fat Joe inject energetic, heartfelt fandom, while Bruce Arena brings gravitas and inside-the-locker-room wisdom. The excitement for the World Cup and NBA Finals is palpable, mixing informed opinion with fan enthusiasm and first-hand anecdotes.

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Conclusion

The episode is a dynamic mix of soccer strategy and American sports commentary. It offers a compelling deep-dive into the hopes for the U.S. Men’s team on the world stage, the meteoric rise of Wemby in the NBA’s consciousness, and the Knicks’ emotional playoff story through the eyes of one of their most vocal superfans. From practical talk about leadership and pressure to heartfelt moments of sports passion, this "Best of The Herd" is both insightful and unmissable for the well-rounded sports fan.

Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

[Colin Cowherd]

Tonight's the night the World cup begins for the United States men's national team in Los Angeles. Angeles gonna be wild. And this is different. The last World Cup Qatar, we had three teenagers on the club.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Tina.

[Colin Cowherd]

We didn't need goals, we needed a chaperone. This team is still young, but the average age is 26. And 13 of our players, our best players, have now World cup experience. This is a real squad. American soccer fans are always trying to man splain the game to us mortals, you know, but all sports are pretty simple. Better talent, you win more. Coaching can help, but it can't take average and make it very good or exceptional. In the NFL, it's blocking and tackling. In the NBA, it's making shots. In baseball, great pitching beats great hitting. In soccer, you have to have a star to be exceptional. And you've got to set him up for success. Corner kicks, penalty kicks, open play. Christian Pulisic is our best player, our most creative playmaker. Set him up for success and it all rolls downhill after that. We've got other top players. Weston McKinney's been around. Sergino Dest is very good defense. On the back ends of concern. Tyler Adams, tough guy. But it will all begin and end with Christian Pulisic. When he scores a goal, at least one, we are 21, four two. We are exceptional if he has a goal or even an assist. We again are exceptional if he does not score. We're slightly above average. Paraguay is a veteran team of their last 18 matches, 10 or shutouts. They're very, very old compared to us. Their best players young. But he's injured, so it's, you know, listen, soccer fans often feel ignored. They can get a little, you know, a little defensive, a little austere. When they talk about nuance. That's not what this is about. It's about players, not plays. That's all competition. And we run through coaches because I think it's easier to fire a coach than acknowledge we may have personnel shortcomings, but I don't think we have them here. I don't think we're as good as Spain. I don't think we're going to beat England. But you saw us play Germany, seventh, best odds to win. You saw us play Senegal and we did not have Chris Richards, our best defensive player. So this sets up very well. This is easily our most talented squad. Argentina won four years ago, led by Messi. France won eight years ago, led by Mbappe. It will all come down to keeping Pulisic healthy and I can assure you tonight, in front of 80,000 plus fans, 70,000 plus fans, they're going after him. Paraguay got some older players. They're a physical team based on defense. They'll pack it in. Here's Pulisic on the World cup and

[Christian Pulisic]

tonight we're a really good team. We're able to compete with anyone and we're, we want to be a real force in this tournament. I think that's what we want to show to everyone. I think we know, you know, from the inside what we're capable of. Yeah, now it's about, now it's about showing it.

[Christian Pulisic's Coach/Teammate]

Christian's the type of guy that he's careful and he, you know, he listens a lot. He doesn't talk a lot in the beginning, but you really have to get to know him and really show him that you know, that your intentions are true and good. You know, all we wanted is to help him develop in his career. You know, we got him at a very young age. A lot of pressure is on him at a young age, and what we wanted to do is put him at ease and really put him in the best possible position to help the team because he's an absolute game changer.

[Colin Cowherd]

He is. He now, he struggled with AC Milan, you know, he really struggled in his last 15 plus matches. So coming back scoring a goal in one of the last two matches is key. They are favored tonight again, I imagine. Paraguay is very physical. They are perhaps missing their best offensive piece. And one, nothing would feel great. Get out of there with a W in group stage. All right, nick. Spurs averaged 24 million viewers. It was the most watched game. Game three was the most watched game of the NBA Finals since the late 90s. New York plus WEMBY plus history. Obviously the new York market matters, but we had a subway series years and years and years ago, got terrible ratings. New York doesn't carry ratings by itself. Wemby's a huge part of this because, remember, a lot of bigs don't sell shoes and they don't move the TV needle. Kareem didn't until he got magic. Jokic does not. Duncan did not. Giannis didn't. When Giannis broke into this league and was becoming the mvp, they'd put his games on NBA television, playoff games. So Wemby's offensive game isn't refined, it's not polished. He doesn't have a go to shot. In my opinion, he shoots too many threes. I wish he was closer to the basket. But America, we Know this is fascinated with aliens. That's his nickname. Spielberg's movie debuts this weekend. It's going to make 55 million at the box office. And there is something about Wemby. I have never seen an athlete who forces other great athletes to make U turns headed to the basket. It is a totally different team when he's on the floor. The Knicks shoot 40% barely when Wemby's on the floor. They shoot 57% when he's not. That is remarkable. Everybody always talks about influencers. He's the number one influencer right now in sports and basketball is a game of instinct. But Wemby has the ability to make other great players think, alter their direction, alter their shots. And you know, there is a reason he is new, he is different. There's a reason. The highest rated Masters ever was Tiger woods first. We like stuff we've never seen before. And again, I'm not saying the New York market doesn't matter. The Knicks are a great story. But it's not just that. There is something to be said for we've never seen anything like it. I can remember when LeBron James came into this league in the first four or five years he was chasing people down and blocking shots off the backboard. Steph Caitlin Clark hitting shots we'd never seen. Tiger 340 off the tee. There is just something, you know, there's a. There's a lot of tedious in our sports catalog. There's a lot of monotonous.162 baseball games per team. This is different. So the NBA doesn't need WEMBY to win this year. They don't need him to win next year, the following year. MJ and LeBron took forever. It built great, great drama. God, the Cubs took forever. It, it just enhanced the story. But it is a perfect balance of a big brand, a big celebrity soaked city in New York. Fat Joe's on later this hour. Grammy nominated Fat Joe coming on later this hour. And this new feisty villain, Wemby, Jason Timf says listen, get used to it. He's got to play almost every minute in these big games.

[Jason Timf]

Jason, Tim, that conditioning piece is absolutely massive for his long term development. Because as you can tell this entire team, their success in this whole playoff run has been predicated on whether or not he's on the floor. When he steps off, everything falls apart. So the best thing they can do is scale up his minutes. And by the way, that's not a Wemby unique thing. That's every star I can Remember, in my lifetime, it's like, man, LeBron's got to play 46 tonight. LeBron's got to play 44 tonight. Steph's got to play 44 tonight. That's just part of the responsibility that comes with these situations.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, back to the World Cup. Last time USA and Paraguay played, there was a little bit of a tussle. It was a very physical matchup. That is Paraguay's way to win tonight. It can't be freewheeling. It can't be open play. They got to pack it in, be really physical. They're going after Pulisic and they have limited offensive capabilities. So Paraguay, I think Paraguay would be happy getting out of there. One, one and just getting there. That's not what we're looking at here. We have attackers and playmakers and creators that they do not. So we got a little Laker feel. We're not great on the defensive end, but we can shot create as well as anybody. J. Mac, I know you're fired up. You got a little partial ownership in a soccer team somewhere in the world.

[Nick (Soccer Fan)]

Mexico. Yep.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Nick (Soccer Fan)]

Nice win yesterday.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, yeah, that again, that, that got a little feisty.

[Nick (Soccer Fan)]

Yeah. By the way, South Korea, what a match last night against Chechnya or Czech Republic. Sorry. South Korea look good. South Korea, Mexico next will be awesome. Carlos, we can we get Morocco, Brazil. I mean, the crowd is going to be juiced up for that one. I'm on Morocco. I bet them in that one. And then of course, today, U.S. uSA.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, boy. So it's in Los Angeles. There's going to be over 70,000 people there. It's going to be wild scene. And then after our show today, we got Canada. Canada.

[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

By the way, you know, Canada has never won a World cup game. Now the first time they went, they got shut out. And then the last World cup, they scored some goals and. But they came away without a win. So it's a massive, massive moment for Canadian soccer right after our show today. And yeah, your. Your eyes light up when I said Fat Joe. The Grammy nominated Fat Joe's hot podcast. We're teammates at the Volume. He's got his stuff on Netflix right now, so we'll talk about that later in the show.

[Nick (Soccer Fan)]

Make it rain, baby.

[Colin Cowherd]

Fat Joe coming up. Listen, the Big Ten finally take a deep breath. College football is going to be okay. The Texas Tech story, an update on that.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hey, it's Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington from the Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio.

[Rob Parker]

And in addition to hearing us live weeknights from 7 to 10pm Eastern on Fox Sports Radio, we are excited to announce brand new YouTube channel for the show.

[Kelvin Washington]

That's right, you can now watch the

[Colin Cowherd]

Odd couple live on YouTube every day.

[Rob Parker]

All you got to do search Odd Couple FSR on YouTube again YouTube just search Odd Couple FSR. Check us out on YouTube and subscribe.

[Botox Chronic Migraine Advertiser]

Being there for those we love can be so hard for people with chronic migraine 15 or more headache days a month, each lasting four hours or more Botox on a Botulinum Toxin a prevents headaches in adults with chronic migraine. It's not for those with 14 or fewer headache days a month. It Prevents on average 8 to 9 headache days a month ver 6 to 7 for placebo. Prescription Botox is injected by your doctor. Botox effects may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away as trouble swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems or muscle weakness can be signs of a life threatening condition. Those with these conditions before injection are at highest risk. Side effects may include allergic reactions like rash, breathing problems, dizziness, neck and injection site pain and headache. Don't receive Botox if there's a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions like als, Myasthenia gravis or Lambert Eaton syndrome and medicines like botulinum toxins which may increase the risk of serious side effects. Why wait? Ask your doctor about Botox. Visit botoxchronicmigraine.com or call 1-800-444-BOTOX.

[Narrator/Announcer]

A decade ago, the ethanol kingpin of Iowa became the king of corn in Brazil.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

So we met with a lot of

[Narrator/Storyteller]

larger farmers, went from Bahia to Tocatines to Mato Grosso.

[Narrator/Announcer]

He brought a team of executives. They were going to help the country get in on a gold rush.

[Kelvin Washington]

Carbon and its derivatives are going to be really the next great commodity that the globe's going to trade.

[Narrator/Announcer]

But back home in Iowa, trouble was brewing.

[Bruce Rastetter Narrator]

If you live in Iowa, your land, your water and your voice could all be at risk. Thanks to a man named Bruce Rastetter.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now people are questioning if his climate solutions have anything to do with climate at all.

[Kelvin Washington]

Gotta give Bruce and the guys credit. They're Republicans. They don't give about any of this.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now on this season of drilled carbon cowboys, the story of how the ethanol kingpin of Iowa became the king of corn in Brazil and what it tells us about the limits of technology and markets to solve the climate crisis. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Chris Fairbanks]

Hi, I'm Chris Fairbanks.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And I'm Karen Kilgariff. We host do youo Need a Ride? The mobile comedy podcast that answers the question, what does it sound like when we drive our comedian friends around the wild streets of Los Angeles?

[Chris Fairbanks]

Yes, every week we pick up a hilarious guest, maybe run some errands, share some laughs and our dreams.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Like when Martha Kelly shared her career pivot.

[Martha Kelly]

I want to become a influencer of divorced moms whose kids have gone off to college, who have decided they're gonna start living life for themselves.

[Chris Fairbanks]

Or the time Baron Vaughn got distracted by the majestic scenery.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Then there's a freaking deer right there on the side of the road. Holy shit eating freaking road grass. Road glass.

[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

I wish you said glass.

[Karen Kilgariff]

New episodes drop every Monday on the exactly right network.

[Chris Fairbanks]

Listen to do youo Need a ride? On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Thank you.

[Chris Fairbanks]

You're welcome.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right.

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[Colin Cowherd]

But too often we overlook all the

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Learn how Helion can assist your game day [e-mail] well he's a five time Grammy nominated artist and now the host of Joe and Jada, a red hot podcast alongside Jedicus American rapper Media Moal from the South Bronx. You'll see celebrities all the time at sporting events and I always said Jack Nicholson. Really? He does love the Lakers. I mean there's some celebrities that come in you don't know. Fat Joe? No, he's a Knicks fan and he is now joining us from his home and we appreciate that. You know, I know you heard this. I gotta play this. First of all, it's great to see you. I gotta play this for our audience, this is funny. So Mike Brown has been around a long time in the NBA. Here is Mike Brown from the other night. After the win, I couldn't see much.

[Mike Brown]

And I say that because, like, Fat Joe's sitting there with all these chains on. And every time he jumped up, freaking lights with those chains, they just. They blinded me. So it was a little hard. Fat Joe, keep wearing the chains because you look smooth, but you can't replace this crowd, man.

[Colin Cowherd]

So let me ask you, you've been going to Nick games forever. Was that the greatest game you've ever been to in your life as a Knicks fan?

[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

Yes, that was the greatest game. It was emotional roller coaster. We went from going in there like, yeah, we got this. To being down 30, to trying to cheer up the section, trying to. You know, I had a all out. I had a plan. My plan was to bring energy and cheer up my section and be a fan and push my team to win. And that was really hard, that game. And so I'm tearing up the fans. I'm talking to them, I'm talking to the bench. Cause I sit right there. I'm going crazy. And it was just so much to take. I left the stadium. I probably left before everybody. Like, I couldn't take it. It was too emotional for me. Like, it's really, really emotional. I'm going to San Antonio. If we win, I'm definitely gonna cry. Cal. Like, I don't know how to explain this to you. I've been a fan since I was a baby, you know, and to finally win, there's no emotion like it. So I can't wait to seal the deal.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, it is interesting. I do think basketball is very unique in that basketball fans because of their proximity to the players. I mean, I've gone to NBA games with good seats and players talk to you. Players communicate, players feed off the fans. You know, when you look. Let me ask you about the other team. What do you make when you watch Wemby? You've gone to years. You've seen Jordan, you've seen LeBron, the late. You've seen all these stars. Carmelo, what do you make of Wemby when you take our fans? What it's like to sit courtside and watch Wemby?

[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

Well, Wemby is the future of the league. He's taking everything in the next couple of years. So this is our chance, our opportunity to beat him now because he's so young. You know, even Jordan, all the greatest players, they lost when they were young. Once you get that feeling of going all the way to the mountaintop and losing. Then you know what you. You don't want to feel like anymore. So the future of the league is Wemby's. One thing I disagree with the refs, and I never do that, and I never do it publicly, is that they assume that anytime Wemby goes to the basket, if he doesn't make the basket, it's an automatic foul. So there's just no way that Wemby missed the basket without somebody pushing him or following them. I've watched refs not even look at the play and assume it was a foul, just blow the whistle. And so he got that going for him. But he's an amazing talent. We never seen. I think he's alien, this guy. You know, they put out the UFO things. I think he's got 2% DNA. Alien.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let me ask you.

[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

Nothing like this, man. Six, seven, six, coming down, dribbling behind his back, shooting from wherever. I mean, Wendy's a freaking nature.

[Colin Cowherd]

Jalen. Of all the great players, I would say Bernard King, I think is the most underrated Nick and maybe the most underrated NBA player of my life. But Jalen Brunson's very interesting. He's understated, he's not flashy. He's got kind of a blue collar, tough guy, Villanova work ethic. Tell me about Brunson and his ability to galvanize you. It feels like to me he's the most loved New York athlete, honestly, since Jeter. That's what it feels like to me.

[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

Yeah. Very similar. Very. You hit it on the head. Very similar. Is Jeter no nonsense. He ain't got much to say. The other day we did media with the podcast and he wouldn't. He refused to answer my question because he knew I was gonna ask him some. He knew I wasn't gonna ask him, though. He knew I was gonna play with him. He said, yeah, Joe, and he walked out the room. He don't play one mission. He's a true leader. I've watched him grab the team during huddles and like, yo, we gotta take this now. We gotta. He's a real leader. He's a small guy, but as far as leadership, he is a true leader. And that's the difference between him and a lot of the players we just mentioned that were really individual, great players but didn't know how to lead a

[Colin Cowherd]

team is, you know, of all the boroughs in New York, you're from the South Bronx and you got the jets and the Giants. And the Yankees and the Mets. There's all sorts of teams in New York. It always felt like to me, I said this 10 years ago. I've always argued the Yankees are the most productive and successful, but I've always felt the Knicks are the most popular. The whole city's into the Knicks. When you were a kid growing up, were the Knicks your favorite New York sports team?

[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

We would go to the barbershop and watch it on a little black and white TV and watch them play against Jordan. Whenever I saw Jordan play, he was this small. So whenever I go and I say courtside, I say a major prayer and I look up a deck and I said, thank you, God, please. I can't believe. I mean, like, I, you know, we. We would get together like, this is what it is, man. This is New York basketball, man. And we're finally there at the big dance. And when you see this emotion from fans. I saw a San Antonio fan today on one on tv, and he was like, yo, man, it was amazing to see the fans passion for their team and how much they want to win. This is a guy that was our enemy on the other side. He was like, I mean, you can't describe it when you watch. And I got friends from LA. I got friends. I lived in Miami for 20 years. Those are our arch rivals. I argued every single day at the recording studio with 20 guys about the Knicks in it. And those guys are finally calling me, saying, yo, Joe, not for nothing, man, we happy for you, man.

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[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

We happy for you.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. No, I think it's the most likable New York team that I ever remember. And I always liked the Yankees, but I find there's a. There's an authenticity to the crowd, the people, the fans. I want to end with this. You got a new song called Victory Lap. Five Grammy nominations for you. You still perform, by the way. Give Victory Lap some love here.

[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

Yeah, yeah. Victory Lap. New single. I felt like Summertime needed an anthem. We got Young Miami, who's the hottest young chick in the game on there. We got my partner Jadakiss. So we pretty much brought our podcast. We got a podcast, Joe and Jada, on Netflix in music. So it's the weirdest thing because, you know, it's almost like you watching the podcast, but you hearing the song. It's really, really hot. Produced by Cool and Dre, Mike Zombie. It's going to be the anthem for the summer.

[Colin Cowherd]

Fat Joe, Absolute pleasure. Keep. Keep crushing. Okay, now, just one more thing. Game five is tomorrow. Very emotional win, five point underdog. Be honest, as a Knick fan, are you nervous about tomorrow?

[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

I'm nervous about every game. I'm nervous about every game. Listen, I asked a friend of mine who won a championship. I said, what does it feel like? He said, it feels like you ain't win the championship till you win the championship. And once you win the championship, you're like, oh my God, we won the championship. Other than that, everything's up for grabs.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, it sure is. Hey, thanks for joining our show. You're a busy person. Your podcast is crushing and thanks, man.

[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

Thank you, brother. Appreciate you.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

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[Narrator/Announcer]

A decade ago, the ethanol kingpin of Iowa became the king of corn in Brazil.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

So we met with a lot of

[Narrator/Storyteller]

larger farmers, went from Bahia to Tocatines to Mato Grosso.

[Narrator/Announcer]

He brought a team of executives. They were going to help the country get in on a gold rush.

[Kelvin Washington]

Carbon and its derivatives are going to be really the next great commodity that the globe's going to trade.

[Narrator/Announcer]

But back home in Iowa, trouble was brewing.

[Bruce Rastetter Narrator]

If you live in Iowa, your land, your water and your voice could all be at risk. Thanks to a man named Bruce Rastetter.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Now people are questioning if his climate solutions have anything to do with climate at all.

[Kelvin Washington]

Gotta give Bruce and the guys credit. They're Republicans. They don't give a about any of this stuff.

[Narrator/Announcer]

On this season of Drilled Carbon Cowboys, the story of how the ethanol kingpin of Iowa became the king of corn in Brazil and what it tells us about the limits of technology and markets to solve the climate crisis. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Chris Fairbanks]

Hi, I'm Chris Fairbanks.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And I'm Karen Kilgariff. We host do youo Need a Ride? The mobile comedy podcast that answers the question, what does it sound like when we drive our comedian friends around the wild streets of Los Angeles?

[Chris Fairbanks]

Yes, every week we pick up a hilarious guest, maybe run some errands, share some laughs and our dreams.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Like when Martha Kelly shared her career pivot.

[Martha Kelly]

I want to become a influencer of divorced moms whose kids have gone off to college, who have decided they're going to start living life for themselves.

[Chris Fairbanks]

Or the time Baron Vaughn got distracted by the majestic scenery.

[Narrator/Storyteller]

Then there's a freaking deer right there on the side of the road. Holy shit eating fricking road grass. Road glass.

[Joe (Knicks Fan)]

I wish you said glass.

[Karen Kilgariff]

New episodes drop every Monday on the exactly right network.

[Chris Fairbanks]

Listen to do youo Need a ride? On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Thank you.

[Chris Fairbanks]

You're welcome.

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[Colin Cowherd]

counterattack with fast heartburn relief.

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Learn how Halion can assist your game day [e-mail], well.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's the greatest soccer coach in the history of our country. Former U.S. national team manager, head coach, sporting director, now the San Jose Earthquakes. But he won three Gold cup titles, five college titles, five MLS titles. He's got the most wins, took us to two World Cups. Nobody's ever done that before. He has such great experience and he was always tolerant and patient when I asked him questions as a young aspiring soccer enthusiast. And Bruce arena now has been kind enough to join us. I mean, listen, it's it, it is a really people think it's hard to coach in the NBA or the NFL. United States men's national team, you got politics, the academy system, you've got, you know, guys are over in Europe. And I want to start with Pulisic because he had a very turbulent, very rocky Start Bruce with Mauricio Pochettino. And I kind of defended. I kind of defended Pulisic. I said, okay, we got a lot of guys overseas now. That's where they make their money. This is not the NBA. This is not the NFL. You play college, go to the pros. Mauricio and Pulisic, I think, are in a better space. But it does lead me into the first question. Is it that valuable? Is it that important that you're always eye to eye, that you always get along with your best player? Is it. I mean, soccer is different. It's international. What do you make about Mauricio and Christian's early turbulence?

[Bruce Arena]

Well, I think it's important that you have a good relationship with your best player, you know, and you're not fighting each other all the time. And I have a feeling they're doing fine. I sent Christian a note actually the other day. He's playing very well right now. He hasn't. He didn't have a good closing couple of months with his team in Milan, but his exhibition games before the World cup have been very good. And I just told him, enjoy. He's in good form, enjoy it. And I think, you know, behind the scenes, my guess is the manager and the player getting along pretty well.

[Colin Cowherd]

When you went into World Cups, obviously health is number one. You want your squad. What was the second most important thing? Was there a vibe? Was there something that maybe the average fan doesn't see beyond health? We all know you need a healthy team. What else matters going into the World Cup?

[Bruce Arena]

Well, Chloe, just the mentality of the group and stepping on the field and believing you can win. And I think this is a really special time for the US team. I remember in 2002, we opened up with Portugal that had the world player of the year and Luis Figo and they were the third ranked team in the world. And we went in with a lot of confidence and beat them. And then in 2026, my team against the Czech Republic, it was a team that wasn't really together and didn't have great confidence and we lost the opening game. I think this game tonight against Paraguay is going to be a great game for the U.S. team. They're playing at home, they're in good form, they're healthy and they believe they can win. So I think this is going to be a Good night for U.S. soccer Now.

[Colin Cowherd]

Pulisic, when they faced the Netherlands in the last World cup, it was a very young team. Netherlands was old and physical and you kind of have a sense when you Watch teams face the United States, especially in the last World Cup. It was like, take Pulisic out of it, like, just force him to get rid of it. I think we're too talented now to do that. I think we have too many creative playmakers, or at least more than just one. Does Pulisic have to be great? Does he have to be a goal scorer for us to win?

[Bruce Arena]

Well, he has to be a good player. He has to be dangerous, he has to be creative in the attack. And one weakness I think of this team right now is they don't have great balance in the attack and they have been a little bit too dependent on Christian. But there's good plays around them. Balogun's a good player. The midfield is strong. Hopefully the defense is going to be solid and we need good play in the goal. But, you know, unfortunately, whether you like it or not, Christian's a key figure in the attack and he's got to be on his game for the US to be successful.

[Colin Cowherd]

What is the identity? I want you to go back to your team that had some success 2002, and I'm going to ask you, first of all, what was the identity of that? I think identity matters in sports. So let's start with the 2002 team. What was your identity going in and was it established at that World Cup?

[Bruce Arena]

Well, we had some experienced players at the international level, such as Brian McBride and Claudio Rayner and Ernie Stewart, Kobe Jones, et cetera, and our goalkeeping with Friedel was fantastic. The US Team now is a very talented team and very athletic. That's our DNA. And they're playing a pressing game, so they're attempting to take the game to their opponents, which I like. And I think that's what you're going to see tonight. I think you're going to see a team that's going to go out and take the game to Paraguay and that's going to be their DNA. And we're very athletic. The young player, Freeman at right back is very good. Robinson at left back is good. The midfield is strong with McKinney and Adams. So I really believe that our DNA is our athleticism and our aggressiveness, and hopefully we show that tonight.

[Colin Cowherd]

The pressure of playing at home, how does it land for you? Do you think it's pressure, expectation, burdensome, or it's just a joyful experience?

[Bruce Arena]

I think it's going to be a great experience and, you know, I'd rather play in Los Angeles and opening up in 2002 in Seoul or in Germany in 2006. If you're complaining about playing a World cup at home, you don't belong on the field. And I think the home field could be a great advantage for the U.S. team in Group play and further if they advance.

[Colin Cowherd]

Do you. I do worry a little bit. I think our goalkeeping's fine. I don't think we. It's not our strength and it has been historically. But I also think we're more capable of being an attacking team and not relying maybe as much on set pieces. Let's talk about Chris Richards did not play in a couple of the friendlies leading up to it. Coming off an injury, would you limit his play? Would you start him? What do you do when you have a player that hasn't played a lot is valuable in your weakest potential unit? Do you kind of go in thinking, listen, guys, we're going to have some limitations here, or do you just let it play out well?

[Bruce Arena]

I think he had a pretty complete club season with this team in England, and he's fit. You know, he's been out for say, three weeks, four weeks, but I think they've worked him behind the scenes, and if they feel that he got through training this week in good form and he's healthy, I think they're going to go with him because he's critically important in their central defense, and to have an experienced player and a player they can depend on is important in that, and that'll be very helpful for our goalkeeping as well. So I think if he's physically fine, they'll go with him. If they can't get 90 minutes out of him, then they go with somebody else. But if he's healthy, I think they'll start him tonight.

[Colin Cowherd]

Bruce arena for our radio audience, the most wins by a head coach in US Men's soccer history. Tonight, we're favored. Paraguay doesn't offer a terribly dynamic offensive attack. They've got some experience, they've got some age, and they're more of an aggressive defensive squad. When you would go into a World cup and there's so much energy, Tom Brady's talked about this in Super Bowls. You don't even remember the first series. You're so amped up. Did you manage a little differently in World cup situations, knowing, I mean, you're at home, the expectations. Did you ever go in intermission and just say, guys, we're going to make a pivot here, not just a substitution? Do you manage differently with heightened expectations in heightened moments?

[Bruce Arena]

Well, you can, but, you know, I think the manager of this Team is very experienced and he's not laying a whole lot of pressure on them. In fact, you know, giving them big speeches and going, rah, rah and all. He knows his team. He's got a bunch of experienced players. A couple are inexperienced at the international level, but I think their attitude is going to be to be very aggressive and take the game to Paraguay. And I think playing at home in the opening game, I think they want to go in halftime with the lead. They want to really get after Paraguay. The worst thing that can happen is they come out in a passive manner and let Paraguay take the game to him. And I don't think that's going to happen. I think you're going to see throughout this World cup, regardless of who they're playing, the US Team is going to be very aggressive, and we saw that in their last friendly against Germany. So you have a team with a lot of experience, guys that have been World Cups before, and there's no reason to believe that they can't have a simple attitude as let's get after them. And I think I would associate the US Team with the San Antonio team now in the NBA. Young guys, aggressive guys, and they're going to get after it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Pulisic struggled, AC Milan. I don't think he scored a goal, and it could have been his last 16 or 17 matches. That's quite a streak. Now, I don't know about his health, but he played. Is that a confidence thing? Is it a coaching thing? I mean, droughts happen for even the greatest scorers. When I read that, you know, about a month ago that he'd gone through that scoring drought, I didn't know what to make of that. What would you make of it?

[Bruce Arena]

Well, he had a couple of nagging injuries and Milan is a very difficult place to play in. And, you know, they were in a very competitive race towards the end in Syria, and I think for whatever reason, he wasn't in good form, and I think a lot of it was associated to an injury. But he came into the training camp for the World cup and physically good. In his last two exhibition games, he's been our best player. So I, I think you're going to see the best of Christian Pulisic tonight.

[Colin Cowherd]

Finally, Bruce arena joining us. What are expectations for you? That you would feel like we, we. We move the ball forward, that, that we would come out of this and you. I mean, because I just looked the other day, if we got out of the group stage and we end up with Belgium, well, Belgium's on a Heater. Belgium's got a higher FIFA ranking. Belgium's really good. So I think when you get to the knockout stage, everything gets ratcheted up. What to you would you feel very positive coming out of this?

[Bruce Arena]

Well, I think obviously the starting point is to get three points tonight, and they do that. They position themselves to win the group and then they get to the round of 32. And if they're the. If the group winners, they're going to play probably a team in around the 32 that they're going to beat, and they're going to be in around the 16, and then around the 16, it's anybody's game. I don't know what the potential matchups are, but there's a possibility that we can get to the round of eight, which we did in 2002. So there's a lot of positives ahead, but it's critically important that we win tonight and position ourselves to win the group, and that'll allow us in the round of 32 and 16 to be positioned to win those games as well. If the US team advances to the quarterfinals in this World cup, it's a completely successful World Cup. And I'll be honest, Colin, I don't think they're going to win the World cup, and I don't think that would surprise anybody. But a good shown is very important for the sport in our country. We've made a lot of progress, but now we need to show the people in our country that we can be competitive in at the international level. And I think this team is very capable of doing that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Bruce arena, my friend, it's always great to see you. Congrats on all your success and enjoy your current place of San Jose Earthquakes. Thank you again.

[Bruce Arena]

Thank you, Colin. I appreciate it.

[Halion Advertiser]

All right.

[Colin Cowherd]

Really good man. Bruce arena is. Give me a dark horse. How about Netherlands? How about that for a dark horse? I mean, they're Netherlands. They're pretty good. That's not much of a swing by me.

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

But too often we overlook all the

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[Colin Cowherd]

Learn how Halion can assist your game

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day [e-mail] Con this is an iHeart podcast.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Guaranteed human.