Loading summary
Podcast Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
Colin Cowherd
BMW didn't just design an electric SUV. Every detail of the BMW IX was crafted with passion and precision. With a BMW IX you'll experience unmatched power, utility, spaciousness, versatility. My favorite feature cloud based navigation, monitors charge levels, locates nearby charging stations so I can drive electric with the ultimate ease. BMW lets performance do the talking and the scouting report is in. Experience the all electric BMW IX and witness dedication in every detail. If you own a home, here's an interesting fact for you Today. American homeowners are sitting on a record amount of home equity. That's the part of your home you own outright. Rocket Mortgage can help you turn your home equity into cash and that can help you fund a home renovation, pay for your kids college tuition or pay off consolidated high interest debt. To learn more Call 800-4Rocket or visit Rocket.com today.
Commercial Announcer
Rocket Mortgage LLC licensed in 50 states nmlsconsumeraccess.org Number 3030 the NBA Finals are.
Colin Cowherd
Almost here and every play could be the one that changes everything. This is the NBA playoffs. Legacies are built, heroes rise and the action never lets up. With DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA, you don't just watch the madness, you live it. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app. The code is heard H E R D code herd for new customers to get 300 bucks in bonus bets. If your $5 bet wins only on DraftKings, the crown is yours.
Commercial Announcer
Gambling problem, call 1-800- gambler in New York, call 877-8-HOPE NY or text hopeny467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas 21. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bet must win to receive reward. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG co Audio.
Colin Cowherd
The Herd is brought to you by Grainger. If you work as a maintenance manager, your facility is your home turf and your home field advantage is having a partner like Grainger. They offer trusted professional grade products for every industry from lighting and electrical to safety and everything in between, plus next day delivery. Which is why they always come through in the clutch just like you. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. 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 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Commercial Announcer
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio.
Jason McIntyre
Here we go. It is a Monday and we are live. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day, J. Mac. It was a wild weekend tonight. By the way, Ohtani is pitching tonight, which is unbelievable. Also tonight, the Indiana Pacers play oh, kc now that's all let's. I know we'll have a Scott Foster segment. You're all worked up about that. But I gotta tell you, so. So yesterday the US Open didn't have a lot of juice again for die hard golfers. They think it's great, but most people don't know who these guys are. But I gotta tell you something. The Caitlin Clark yesterday, 38 seconds. Caitlin Clark in 38 seconds. I don't know what second place is. That's the greatest 38 seconds in WNBA history. A mesmerizing 38 seconds. A 33 footer, a 31 footer, a 27 footer. The WNBA three point arc is 22ft. It felt like you were watching history. And I'm not overstating it. Kobe's 81 point game, Michael Jordan switching hands. Reggie Jackson with three home runs on three pitches in the 1977 World Series against the Dodgers. It felt like I was watching history. Yeah, I know LeBron's block was the NBA Finals, but it's interesting that you don't realize how much you miss people until they're gone. So Caitlin Clark had played high school every week and college every game and the WNBA every game. And then she misses five games and the ratings plummet 55% league wide. Like, it's like Saturday Night Live when they don't have a big star on. Maybe I'll catch a clip. Not the show. She comes back, Caitlin Clark Kent, the woman of steel. She was calling for the ball. And right now I'm sitting there watching it and I felt like, what in the look of these shots? What in the world am I watching? 33, 31 and 27ft. And you know what was funny is SGA and Ant Edwards. The NBA is trying to peg some young guys as face of the league. They had Ant and SGA Play in the Western Conference finals and it had the lowest rating in four years. They're trying. You say, well, the markets are small. Well, Caitlin Clark plays for the Indiana Fever. What does that matter? This goes to show that markets do not matter. That's all nonsense. SGF LeBron James. When LeBron James was in Cleveland, we never said, well, the ratings are great. It's amazing. It's in Cleveland. Stars transcend state lines. Right now, she's the biggest basketball star in the world. Not named LeBron. And Steph, she's bigger than Jokic, she's bigger than SGA, she's bigger than Halliburton in Indiana for a terrible team a year ago. But it was a remarkable thing to watch and she's got a little flash to it. That helps. She's totally unique and totally transcendent. But I'm watching live on television and my takeaway is, oh, this is one of those, like once every two or three years, like when LeBron made that block in the finals, you're like, oh, that's going to be an all time play. Or Michael Jordan switches hands. I didn't see Kobe Live with 81, but if you did, it probably felt like this. But I did see Reggie Jackson in 77, 3 pitchers, 3 pitches, 97, 77 against the Dodgers home runs. I know it's the World Series. That is the greatest 38 seconds and, and the greatest stretch what we watched this weekend in WNBA history. The league is 25, 26, 27 years old. However it is. That's the greatest moment. I don't care about championships. Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, I don't care. That was the greatest moment in league history. Like other players, when you're watching a sport and you're like, whoa, whoa. I mean, look at the depth on these shots. Look at the. It doesn't even look. If you were Steph Curry, you'd be going crazy. Look at that, that. It feels like a half court shot. Look at this stuff. 55% ratings loss when she left. She's back. I don't know what the number is for that. I would guess it's a season high ratings. Here's Caitlin Clark.
Caitlin Clark
After I felt good and then I took one in transition. That's kind of like where I like to get to early. And so it's good to see the ball go through the hoop. And then I came down and shot another one. Then I came down and shot another one and saw three in a row go in. So that gives you a lot of confidence and Even in the second half, I thought I felt like they all came off my hand feeling really good. So, like, that's what you can find confidence in as a scorer and as a shooter.
Jason McIntyre
Okay. The other thing this weekend that jumped out to me, and again, it wasn't the US Open. I know all you diehard golfers, you experts on golfs, you just had a great time watching that rain delay. Let's be honest, the Tiger Rocco media, they put on television during the rain delay. And Caitlin was far more interesting. You're not going to admit it because you're a great golfer and a four handicap, but it didn't have a lot of juice. The other thing that was interesting over the last four or five days is the best soccer player in the history of our country is Christian Pulisic.
Colin Cowherd
It's.
Jason McIntyre
Don't argue it. You don't have to be a soccer expert. Turn the sound down. Watch. He's our LeBron.
Colin Cowherd
He's our MJ.
Jason McIntyre
He's our Magic. It's just different looking. If you take him out, we just don't look as good. And there's a bunch of guys missing.
Colin Cowherd
From the Gold Cup.
Jason McIntyre
But I have been on Team Pulisic because he decided not to play the Gold Cup. He wanted to play in a couple of the friendlies. But Mauricio Puccitino, the manager, and I'll get to this in a second, said, nah, nah, we're not going to do that. You're all in or you're all out. But here's why I am for Christian Pulisic. And again, Team USA won. As J. Mac said, settle down, they'll win. They did five nothing over Trinidad Tobago. Okay, fine. But as I talked about last week for soccer players, basically, if you're the best soccer player in the world, you're our LeBron. What does LeBron do? He gets paid in the WNBA and then he plays in the Olympics. Did Lebron. Did he play in the recent FIBA World Championships?
Colin Cowherd
No, he didn't.
Jason McIntyre
And this is the equivalent, the Gold cup to the FIBA World Championships in basketball. Did Jokic play in those? No, he didn't play in those either. Jokic makes his money here in America in the NBA, and then he goes and plays in the Olympics. And LeBron James makes his money in the NBA and then he goes and plays in the Olympics. Do you know who we as America sent to the female World Championships? The equivalent of this. Josh Hart. Cam Johnson. A young Tyrese Halliburton. That's who we said. Walker, Kessler, Bobby Portis, that's who he said Jalen Brunson bomb Carroll was like 20. This is the Gold Cup. That's what it is. And we have to be fair about this. If you're anti Pulisic, he's not supporting America. Do you think LeBron doesn't support America? Yeah, he does. He ran the NBA for 15 years and he goes to the Olympics now. Steph Curry didn't get to the Olympics till later because he was dominating the league and he was winning championships. But that's all this is. Basically, Christian Pulisic is taking the NBA model. And by the way, the two most global sports are not baseball, are not football or not hockey. They're soccer and basketball. In soccer and basketball. And now forever the best Europeans come over here to play. Now our best soccer, because that's where the best basketball is. Now our best soccer players are good enough to go to AC Milan and be first or second in scoring for their team and dominate. And so all Poliska is doing, he's following the basketball model. If Jokic and LeBron aren't going to play in the FIBA World Championships, why in the world am I playing in the Gold Cup? Small crowds, second tier teams. I mean, we win five nothing. We didn't have our best seven players and we won five nothing. So I am team Pulisic on this now. I also, Landon Donovan talked about this. I also do believe that we have a new coach and the new coach has to send a message. So when Pulisic says, hey, I'll come over and play a couple friendlies, but I don't want to play in the Gold Cup, I'm exhausted. I played 50 games in AC Milan. And here was Landon Noneman on that.
Landon Donovan
He had to address it. He, I think was ready to move on. He wanted to move on, guys. But then your best player and one of the leaders on your team does an interview publicly and says, I wanted to go, but the coach wouldn't let me and the coach didn't want me there. He had to stand up for himself. One, to send a message to Christian. Two, to send a message to the team and the pool, but also for himself. You cannot be the coach that gets walked on by your star player. So for his future, everybody's paying attention. People are going to possibly hire him. Mo. He can't just let his best player walk all over him like that. He had to respond.
Jason McIntyre
Yes, totally agree. But if you are the best in America at anything, whatever your chosen field is in America, if you're the Very best in Pulisicas and soccer. You gotta make choices. Cash and country. FIBA World Basketball Championship.
Colin Cowherd
That's not gonna make the cut.
Jason McIntyre
The gold Cup. I liked watching it, but we don't have our six best players. We won five, nothing. I'm gonna defend. I'm on team Pulisic here. All right, J Mac, I watching Scott Foster and the reaction. I just stayed away from this nonsense, but am. I'm also team Scott Foster. So I.
Rachel Nichols
The show's off to a great start, right? We got Caitlin Clark. Phenomenal.
Jason McIntyre
Did you watch that?
Caitlin Clark
Yes.
Rachel Nichols
My daughter who's a basketball player, sometimes we're just like in awe. I mean she's just. We were going to go out to lunch and we had to wait until it was halftime because Caitlin Clark was on fire. I mean she had 25 and a half but you know, Caitlin Clark goes off, you talk soccer and now you want to go to Scott Foster. Do you know how much of a gut punch the non cover was? I had plus six. I'm feeling great all game. They're up four with three minutes left. And. And it fell apart. That was a brutal gambling beat.
Colin Cowherd
And oh, I will say this though.
Jason McIntyre
Remember the Warriors LeBron Cavs final when the Cavs won in seven. Yes. It was six blowouts in a great final game this series. Nobody's watching but the games have been. Three of the four games have been absolutely fantastic. That was a great basketball game, but it doesn't feel as big. There's not. It's like the US Open yesterday when you don't know the players. It doesn't feel as big.
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
Rachel Nichols
No. Are you going to get into Scott Foster? The push off by SGA and then the travel on like the game. The shot to put them up with like 2 minutes left. Are you going to talk about that or.
Jason McIntyre
Well, we'll talk about that. I also. There was a. There was an NBA deal yesterday and people are freaking out and I want to address that coming up. Don't forget Colin. Right. Colin. Wrong. Top of our number two in Chicago, it's the Herd.
Commercial Announcer
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays in new Nissan Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.
Colin Cowherd
Summer is here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered a day at the lake. That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak That's a yes. A nice tan. Sorry, a nice A box fan. Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay. How about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some french fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Order it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun, deliver. Don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Guys, let's have a serious chat and then it's on you to take action. Over 30% of guys have gyna. Comastia. This is an actual medical condition. And because of your genetics, that extra fat in your lower chest only gets worse as you age. Here's the good news. Sono Bello is the expert at removing the fat in one visit. You can't bench press and carb count your way out of this one. You need to talk to the pioneers of this simple procedure and get that sculpted chest in a single visit. Schedule your free consultation. Save even more with their summer savings event and with the CareCredit credit card, you'll enjoy flexible financing and convenient monthly payments so you can look trim for summer and pay over time. Visit sonobello.com Colin that's Sono B E L L O.com Colin Subject to credit approval. See website for details. At the end of the season, there's only one team that can call themselves NBA champs. Only one player that can call themselves the number one pick in the NFL draft. Well, there's only one elect electric SUV worthy of the title. The ultimate. The all electric BMW ix. What I love about the IX is that it delivers legendary BMW performance. While its sleek design exudes innovative style from the inside out. Not to mention how much space and utility it provides. Over 75 cubic feet of cargo space, the IX is completely changing the game with an all electric suv. The greatest legends of sports never compromise any part of the game. So why would you settle for anything less from your suv? After all, there's only one ultimate the BMW ix. Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine Electrified if you own a home, here's an interesting fact for you today. American homeowners are sitting on a record amount of home equity that's the part of your home you own outright, the value you can tap to fund other life goals. In fact, the average Rocket Mortgage homeowner has about $170,000 in untapped equity available now. Rocket Mortgage can help you understand what home equity is and how to use it wisely for what matters to you. They've made it easier than ever to turn your home equity into cash with Rocket Mortgage. So now the home you work so hard for can work hard for you in plenty of different ways. Home equity can help you fund a home renovation, pay for your kids college tuition, or pay off and consolidate high interest debt from credit cards. To learn more, call 804Rocket or visit Rocket.com today.
Commercial Announcer
Rocket Mortgage LLC licensed in 50 states. NMLSConsumeraccess.org Number 3030 $178,000 average equity is based on internal Rocket mortgage servicing data.
Jason McIntyre
Here we go. Colin right Colin wrong On a Monday where Colin was right, Caitlin Clark returned and the NBA was mesmerizing. It is not anti Beyonce to say Taylor Swift's tour changed the economy. It is not anti WNBA to say when Caitlin Clark plays, this is an incredibly easy product to consume. They lost 55% when she didn't play. She came back. You could not turn the TV off. It's not anti anything. It's pro Caitlin Clark Where Collin was wrong I thought I thought the Thunder were in trouble and they were for much of the game against Indiana. But in that fourth quarter they answered the bell with one of the great 3 minute defensive stands I have ever seen. Indiana held the one point in the final three minutes. It was one of the most impressive defensive performances for a brief stand that I've ever seen. OKC won that game. Regardless of what you think about this non call where Collin was right Shador Sanders According to Jeremy Fowler, ESPN made an impression. I don't know how great he's going to be. I do think he's a franchise quarterback. We can argue about that. But his go to is his accuracy. And in camp he was insanely accurate. People can say, well he was playing against backups. Well so are half the quarterbacks in the NFL. During camp they didn't complete 77%. Every backup quarterback in the NFL is playing against backups in camp. Why did Everybody else complete 60%? He completed 77% where Colin was right. I did not like the New York Knicks firing tips. Now they're down to Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins who are fine. But I always believe it was a personnel issue. That's why we kept talking about all year do the Knicks need Giannis or kd? Brunson and Cat are below average defenders. Mikhail Bridges is inconsistent offensively. Bottom line is the New York Knicks by firing Tibbs, I think it's inarguable. Will now end up with the worst head coach. Where Colin was wrong okay, J. Mac was right. Team USA throttled Trinidad Tobago 5 nothing. It wasn't very pretty, but they did it. You know, I guess the sky is not falling. I didn't think it was a very pretty performance, but it's not a bad outcome considering there's a little bit of noise out around the United States men's national team. So I'll take it wrong on that. Where Colin was right I always thought John Morant was wildly entertaining, but I never thought he was a build around him franchise guy spindly doesn't shoot well early in his career, some maturity issues and I just, I think over the last three years he's hurt more and shooting more poorly. So I can like him and think he's a two or a three. But boy, when you're talking about a number one in the NBA, I gotta have you play 75 games. I gotta have you there very night. And a lot of these smaller guards who don't shoot well therefore have to score at the rim, get banged up.
Commercial Announcer
Where Colin was right.
Jason McIntyre
I've said this for the last couple of years. Joe Burrow is doing what I wish Andrew Luck would have done in his career in Indy. He's calling the organization out. They are playing around with excellent pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. And Joe Burrow has no problem repeatedly saying yes, it's a problem. Is Trey not being here, his deal not done. Is that a distraction? Of course, of course.
Caitlin Clark
Last year we had two.
Jason McIntyre
This year we have one.
Caitlin Clark
So we do have less. You'd love to have none, but you.
Rick Carlisle
Know, that's life in the NFL.
Caitlin Clark
We're all supporting Trey and would love.
Colin Cowherd
For him to be back.
Commercial Announcer
Want more Herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app search heard to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.
Podcast Announcer
Hey, we're Covino and Rich, Fox Sports radio every day, 5 to 7pm Eastern. But here's the thing. We never have enough time to get to everything we want to get to. And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Over Promised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two hour show. We never get to everything honestly, because this guy is Over Promising. Things we never have time for. Yeah, you blubber lips.
Colin Cowherd
Blaming me.
Podcast Announcer
Well, you know what it's called Over Promise. You should be good at it. Cause you've been overpromising women for years. Well, it's a Covino and Rich after show, and we want you to be a part of it. We're gonna be talking sports, of course, but we're also gonna talk life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing about something or we didn't have enough time, it will continue on our after show called Over Promised. Well, if you don't get enough Covino and Rich, make sure you check out Over Promised and also uncensored, by the way, so maybe we'll go at it even a little harder. It's gonna be the best after show podcast of all time. There you go. Over promising. And remember, you could see it on YouTube, but definitely. Join us. Listen to Over Promised with Covino and rich on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Colin Cowherd
Summer is here, and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake? That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes. A nice tan. Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay, how about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some French fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Order it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun delivered, don't worry, because you can get pork buns delivered. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Guys, let's have a serious chat and then it's on you to take action. Over 30% of guys have gyna. Comastia, this is an actual medical condition. And because of your genetics, that extra fat in your lower chest only gets worse as you age. Here's the good news. Sono Bello is the expert at removing the fat in one visit. You can't bench press and carb count your way out of this one. You need to talk to the pioneers of this simple procedure and get that sculpted chest in a single visit. Schedule your free consultation. Save even more with their summer savings event and with the CareCredit credit card, you'll enjoy flexible financing and convenient monthly payments so you can look trim for summer and pay over time. Visit sonobello.com Colin that's Sono B E L L O.com Colin Subject to credit approval. See website for details. At the end of the season, there's only one team that can call themselves NBA champs. Only one player that can call themselves the number one pick in the NFL draft. Well, there's only one electric SUV worthy of the title. The ultimate. The all electric BMW ix. What I love about the IX is that it delivers legendary BMW performance. While its sleek design exudes innovative style from the inside out. Not to mention how much space and utility it provides. Over 75 cubic feet of cargo space, the IX is completely changing the game with an all electric suv. The greatest legends of sports never compromise any part of the game. So why would you settle for anything less from your suv? After all, there's only one ultimate the BMW ix. Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine Electrified if you own a home, here's an interesting fact for you today. American homeowners are sitting on a record amount of home and equity. That's the part of your home you own outright, the value you can tap to fund other life goals. In fact, the average Rocket Mortgage homeowner has about $170,000 in untapped equity available now. Rocket Mortgage can help you understand what home equity is and how to use it wisely for what matters to you. They've made it easier than ever to turn your home equity into cash with Rocket Mortgage. So now the home you work so hard for can work hard for you in plenty of different ways. Home equity can help you fund a home renovation, pay for your kids college tuition, or pay off and consolidate high interest debt from credit cards. To learn more, call 804Rocket or visit Rocket.com today.
Commercial Announcer
Rocket Mortgage LLC licensed in 50 states. Nmlsconsumeraccess.org 3030 $178,000 average equity is based on internal Rocket Mortgage servicing data.
Jason McIntyre
And with that, Rachel Nichols is now joining us live on an unbelievable performance. And I said this earlier, it's not anti Beyonce to say Taylor Swift tour changed the economy in la, which it did. It's not anti Beyonce. Do you think the WNBA is actually kind of coming to terms with okay, this is really, this is Tiger, this is mj and that listen I understand when she came in, nobody could predict this. Nobody could predict this. Do you think the league though has kind of come to terms with ride the wave here? This is all time stuff.
Rick Carlisle
Yeah, I think this absence and then how she came back really sort of solidified all of that. Because when she came into the league, obviously interest went way up and some of the finances went way up. But there was some argument that it was a little bit of, you know, a rising tide lifts all boats. And the popularity of the league had been increasing anyway and Angel Reese was also a big star coming into the league. But here we go with Caitlin Clark singularly being missing for the time she was gone and ratings tanking 50% in some cases. And then also she comes back and reminds everyone how spectacular she is and everybody's talking about the wnba. So if you needed to sort of have it affirmed to you that it is just her, that the singularity of her is what we are talking about. And her star power, you got it. With this absence and then the way she came back, I thought it was fascinating the way other people who have been around the league for a long time reacted to it. Rebecca Lobo, for example, she's been around the WWNBA for almost three decades. She said, I have never ever seen anything like this.
Colin Cowherd
No.
Jason McIntyre
I said earlier, I was a kid, I remember in 77, Reggie Jackson getting three home runs off three pitchers on three pitches. And I can remember as a kid being like, I mean, the announcers were going crazy. And there are these moments like when Michael Jordan changes hands and you're like, oh, I just saw something live. I've never seen that. When she had two 33 footers. I'm sitting there going, I'm laughing, I'm like, okay, this is the greatest 38 second stretch in the history of this 25 year plus league. Okay, so I, I defended Scott Foster. I think he, I think you could have called the foul. But I brought back the Brian Russell, mj, no call. And I said, folks, because Russell leaned into it and Michael touched him. It looked like he shoved him.
Rick Carlisle
Yep.
Jason McIntyre
I looked at this and I thought, we're not acknowledging that Naismith tripped over SGA's feet. So it looks egregious. It's really not. I mean, SGA is six' six, a buck £95. He's not Charles Barkley powerful. Do you think the league got defensive? How do you think this is landing for the league?
Rick Carlisle
Look, this is a typical playoff. No call at the end of an NBA finals game. As you point Out. We've seen it as far back as Michael Jordan. There have been other examples. I think what roiled a lot of people was there were a bunch of calls before that. And so it felt like, well, if you're calling everything, you should be calling this too. And that's what I thought was missing from this game. Officiating wise, it just didn't have that consistency. It didn't have any officiating flow. They never felt like the crew kind of quite had control over the game. However, Scott Foster is one of the most respected referees in the league. I understand that fans sort of have their own opinions on him, but you can tell how the NBA feels about him by the fact that they put him on these very, very key games. And in fact, you would expect him. It's not certain yet. They haven't announced it. If there is a game 7, it is most likely Scott Foster will be on that game. Which makes it even more kind of intriguing to hear Rick Carlisle defending Scott Foster to all of the Pacers fans in his press conference, basically being like, it was a great, he called a great game. Scott Foster's terrific. You know, he went on and on and you know, I think part of it is because he feels that way. Rick's been around the league a long time and also he knows that maybe by game seven, Scott Foster will be back.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah, I, you know, I said this earlier. If you end up officiating Super Bowls and World Cups over and over, they're not doing it because of some league wide conspiracy. They view you as able to handle the situation. I love what Orlando did in the trade and the reason, I love it because I think, I honestly think they, they. We still have a ways to go for the trade deadline. I mean, right. So why do they do it now? Because I think they watch the Indiana Pacers and they go, we can do that. And they've got three guys they love, but they need another. They didn't shoot the ball worth a darn all year. This is their hole. But I think there's a little Pacers influence here, Rachel, that they're young and they're like, well, why can't we do that?
Rick Carlisle
Absolutely, Absolutely, I agree with you. And I think also, look, the Jayson Tatum injury means that the big bad Celtics, who seem like such a mature, complete veteran team, aren't going to be around. It feels like the conference is going to be wide open next year. Because if you look at the other team that did so well during this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers, well, they were knocked out much earlier than expected. So it definitely feels like the east could be anyone's game. And there is an Orlando component of why not us. To me, this trade is going to be very interesting. Is it going to end up being a Pascal Siakam like trade where people at the time will say oh man, they overpaid. But then obviously this guy turned out to be the Eastern Conference finals MVP and has been key to this finals run? Or is it going to be more like Mikhail Bridges who at least so far, far hasn't quite justified the amount of haul that the Knicks had to give up. And we'll just see. Desmond Bain is a terrific fit for this team. As you pointed out, they're terrible three point shooting team. He does that very well. He complements a lot of the other things that their players do. He's going to bring a maturity to the team. It's a great, great trade in terms of a great fit. We'll just have to see. Did they overpay a little bit Mikhail Bridges style or was this absolutely the thing that put solidifies them and puts them over the edge? Pascal Siakam style? We'll have to find out.
Jason McIntyre
For the record, some people said they gave up too much in the trade, but I mean it wasn't it five first rounders for Mikhail Bridges. Rudy Gobert gave up nine picks. I have no problem with the Hall. I mean obviously Memphis is now rebuilding. They should, they can't compete at the highest levels in the West. But it did make me think about KD and I thought, well, Desmond Bain is in his prime, 20 a night, excellent three point shooter. What do you think the market for KD is now? You know this league, it's comps. So if you're getting four first rounders, what is the market for kd?
Rick Carlisle
It really depends on who wants to pay him because he's due for an extension, right. So he's given them sort of a list of preferred teams reportedly. I think that Phoenix will take that into consideration. But if they can get a better deal somewhere else, I think they'll take it because they are so in need of assets. That being said, could someone offer them a better deal? If Katie isn't going to resign with them, if he's not going to sign that extension, how much do you want to give up? So that's really the fulcrum that this is depending on is is it a place that KD will sign an extension and therefore justify a higher offer? If it's not, then it's going to be Hard for them to gin up a market because now that it's out there which teams he's interested in, those teams feel like, great, we've got an advantage here. We don't have to give up as much. So there's just a lot of politics that go on with a trade like this.
Jason McIntyre
Finally, the Knicks, as predicted, firing cautionary tale that you better have a backup plan. I mean, I'm hearing top college basketball coaches have retired Jay Wright or not interested. Calipari. The top teams in the NBA, according to a story I read this morning, used profanity and hung up on the Knicks. Who's the leading candidate? I mean, they don't have to hurry. They're not in a rush. Who's the leading candidate for the Knicks job?
Rick Carlisle
Well, officially, the leading candidates right now are Taylor Jenkins, who I think will be the first person interviewed, and Mike Brown, who will also get an interview. Interview. There's a lingering question about Jason Kidd because even though Dallas was one of those teams that said, absolutely not, we do not give you permission to talk about him, there's a question, especially post Luca trade and also how much money New York can offer Jason to see if there is a point he will go to the Mavericks and say, I'm out. I don't want to be here anymore. And if that happens, it's going to make it hard to work with him in Dallas going forward. And they would maybe consider granting permission. They would maybe consider making some sort of trade the way Jason Kidd was traded, frankly, from Milwaukee to Brooklyn a long time ago. So that's sort of the nebulous cloud that's hanging over all of this. No one's really heard from Jason about what he might want to do. But as of now, Dallas has said no way and there's no movement on that as of now. So that leaves Taylor Jenkins, Mike Brown as the two leading candidates.
Jason McIntyre
Rachel Nichols, as always on a Monday. It's great seeing you, Rachel.
Colin Cowherd
Thank you.
Rick Carlisle
Great to see you.
Jason McIntyre
All right. Indy tonight in Game 5, which has been a stellar series. The games have been intense and we sort of said coming into the series, the all time great defensive team, plus the NBA leading scorer and the fastest tempo in the league. Those are classic matchups and three out of four games have been absolutely great. Live in Chicago, it's the Herd looking.
Colin Cowherd
To transform your business through better HR and payroll. Meet paycor, a paychecks company. The powerhouse solution that empowers leaders to drive results. From recruiting and development to payroll and analytics, Paycor connects you with the people, data and expertise you need to succeed. Their innovative platform helps you make smarter decisions about your most valuable asset, your people. Are you ready to become a Better Leader? Visit paycor.comleaders to learn more. That's paycor.com leaders Summer is here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A nice tan? Sorry, A box fan? Happily, yes. A day of sunshine? No? A box of fine wines? Yes. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Hi, it's Colin. I've been around long enough to know quality when I see it. Or in this case, when I taste it. Tito's Handmade vodka.
Jason McIntyre
Good stuff.
Colin Cowherd
No flash, no gimmicks. Smooth, clean tasting. Made the right way. Tito's made in Austin, Texas. Real attention to detail. I like to keep it simple. Tito's Soda, one lime, lot of ice. Refreshing, easy. Summer, winter, spring. Totally versatile. Always works. Listen, baseball season's here. The perfect time to kick back with some Tito's. It's what I pour. You should too. Distilled and bottled by 5th Generation Inc. Austin, Texas 40% alcohol by volume saver. Responsibly, Wasabi Technologies is purpose built to free businesses from skyrocketing storage costs and unpredictable egress fees from those old and top heavy legacy providers. You know, the big guys. Wasabi is the go to provider for professional and collegiate sports teams around the world. From Wasabi's AI enabled intelligent media storage, Wasabi Air to the industry's only cloud storage service with triple protection against cybercriminals, Wasabi is driving innovation in data storage. All for up to 80% less than the other guys. Triumph for free@wasabi.com, wasabi Hot Cloud Storage.
Jason McIntyre
Proud partner of the Voluum Podcast Network.
Podcast Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Best of The Herd (June 16, 2025)
The "Best of The Herd" episode, hosted by Colin Cowherd and featuring insights from Jason McIntyre, Rachel Nichols, and Rick Carlisle, delves into standout moments in sports over the weekend. This comprehensive summary captures the key discussions, remarkable performances, and critical analyses presented during the episode.
Jason McIntyre opened the discussion by highlighting Caitlin Clark’s extraordinary display on the basketball court. Describing her performance, he remarked:
“Caitlin Clark in 38 seconds. I don't know what second place is. That's the greatest 38 seconds in WNBA history. A mesmerizing 38 seconds. A 33 footer, a 31 footer, a 27 footer.”
(07:32)
Clark's ability to score multiple three-pointers within a short span captivated both fans and casual viewers alike. McIntyre drew parallels to iconic sports moments, such as Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game and Reggie Jackson’s three home runs in the 1977 World Series, emphasizing the historical significance of Clark’s achievement.
McIntyre discussed the substantial decline in WNBA ratings during Clark's absence:
“Caitlin Clark had played high school every week and college every game and the WNBA every game. And then she misses five games and the ratings plummet 55% league wide.”
(06:45)
He compared this downturn to episodes like when "Saturday Night Live" omits a major star, underscoring Clark’s pivotal role in driving viewership and interest in the league. Upon her return, ratings rose significantly, reaffirming her status as the league’s marquee player.
The conversation shifted to soccer, with McIntyre advocating for Christian Pulisic as America’s premier soccer talent:
“Christian Pulisic is our LeBron. You don’t have to be a soccer expert. Turn the sound down. Watch. He’s our LeBron.”
(08:26)
He emphasized Pulisic’s impact on the sport in the U.S., comparing him to basketball legends and arguing that his presence elevates the visibility and competitiveness of American soccer on the global stage.
McIntyre critiqued Team USA's performance in the Gold Cup and Pulisic’s decision to prioritize club commitments over international duty:
“If Jokic and LeBron aren’t going to play in the FIBA World Championships, why in the world am I playing in the Gold Cup?”
(09:58)
He supported Pulisic’s stance, highlighting the importance of star players balancing national and club responsibilities. Landon Donovan echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for strong leadership to navigate such decisions.
The episode featured an in-depth analysis of the Indiana Pacers' game against Oklahoma City, focusing on referee Scott Foster's controversial non-call:
“I brought back the Brian Russell, mj, no call. And I said, folks, because Russell leaned into it and Michael touched him. It looked like he shoved him.”
(28:37)
Rick Carlisle defended Foster, asserting his professionalism and the NBA’s trust in his officiating capabilities:
“Scott Foster is one of the most respected referees in the league. ... if there is a game 7, it is most likely Scott Foster will be on that game.”
(29:26)
The discussion highlighted the challenges officials face in high-stakes games and the fine line between maintaining control and allowing the game’s natural flow.
McIntyre dissected recent NBA trades, particularly focusing on the Orlando Magic’s strategic moves:
“I love what Orlando did in the trade ... we still have a ways to go for the trade deadline.”
(31:00)
He debated whether the trades would prove beneficial, drawing comparisons to past successful and unsuccessful trades. Rick Carlisle added insights into potential future impacts on the Eastern Conference, suggesting that the league might see more competitive balance next season.
A significant portion of the episode was dedicated to the Knicks’ recent decision to fire Tibbs and the ensuing coaching search:
“The New York Knicks by firing Tibbs, I think it's inarguable. Will now end up with the worst head coach.”
(19:30)
Rick Carlisle discussed potential candidates for the head coach position, mentioning Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown as leading contenders. The conversation also touched upon the complexities surrounding Jason Kidd’s possible involvement and the broader implications for the Knicks’ future.
The hosts and guests debated the consistency and flow of officiating in playoff games, particularly in high-pressure scenarios:
“Officiating wise, it just didn’t have that consistency. It didn’t have any officiating flow.”
(29:26)
Rick Carlisle maintained confidence in referees like Scott Foster, emphasizing their experience and the NBA’s respect for their capabilities, despite occasional controversial calls.
In wrapping up, the panel reflected on the season’s developments and what to anticipate moving forward. They expressed optimism about the evolving competitive landscape in both the WNBA and NBA, driven by standout players and strategic team decisions.
Jason McIntyre concluded:
“She's totally unique and totally transcendent. But I’m watching live on television and my takeaway is, oh, this is once every two or three years, like when LeBron made that block in the finals, you're like, oh, that's going to be an all-time play.”
(28:43)
This encapsulated the episode’s essence: celebrating exceptional athletic performances while critically examining the factors that influence sports viewership and team dynamics.
Notable Quotes:
“Caitlin Clark in 38 seconds. I don't know what second place is.”
— Jason McIntyre (07:32)
“Christian Pulisic is our LeBron.”
— Jason McIntyre (08:26)
“Scott Foster is one of the most respected referees in the league.”
— Rick Carlisle (29:26)
“Officiating wise, it just didn’t have that consistency.”
— Rick Carlisle (29:26)
Conclusion
The "Best of The Herd" episode provided a dynamic blend of exhilarating sports highlights and thoughtful analysis. From Caitlin Clark’s record-breaking performance to critical discussions on officiating and team strategies, Colin Cowherd and his panel delivered an engaging narrative that underscores the ever-evolving landscape of professional sports.