Loading summary
Colin Cowherd
This is an iHeart podcast.
Jason McIntyre
Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One Bank Guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh really? Thanks Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply See capital1.com Bank Capital One NA member FDIC 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 Proud partner of the Voluum Podcast Network.
Alex Curry
The last thing anyone wants is to leave behind confusion, stress or worse, family conflict. That's why estate planning isn't just for the wealthy. It's for families like mine and probably like yours. With Trust and Will. I created my estate plan in minutes. From naming guardians for my kids to putting our house in a trust to avoid probate. Fast, affordable and way easier than I thought. Every plan is designed by estate planning attorneys and customized for your state. Plans start at just $199 and include essentials like health care directives and power of attorney. With Trust and Will's bank level security and built in privacy protections, your personal information and your wishes stay safe. Whether you're newly married, raising kids, caring for aging parents, or just want peace of mind, trust and will makes it easy to protect what matters Most. Go to trustandwill.com, use code RADIO at checkout and save 20% on your personalized plan because there's no better time to protect the people you love. Trust Trust in Will is an online estate planning service. See website for details.
Jason McIntyre
Okay, have you heard about this? Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant and their fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back and degree listened. That doesn't happen often. They admitted they effed up and they're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a Reason? It's the number one men's antiperspirant and it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under four bucks. So try and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG degree. Cool rush for yourself. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio at 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.
Landon Donovan
Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Hello and welcome to the Herd. It's me, Jason McIntyre, in for Colin Cowherd, who is jet setting once again. Boy, nobody travels like Colin Cowherd. I'm joined today by Alex Curry. Alex, how are you feeling? We're on the eve of July 4th here.
Colin Cowherd
I love this week. I mean, growing up, 4th of July was like my favorite holiday in Manhattan beach vibes are immaculate down on the strand and on the beach. Obviously a little different for me this year because I'm in the red zone, like anything can happen. I'm about to pop. But I'm still so excited for it. I love it.
Landon Donovan
Yeah, and we got great sports, obviously a lot of soccer tonight. We're talking soccer on the show. One of my favorite soccer players of all time, Landon Donovan, joining the show in about 40 minutes. Very excited. We have a Lakers insider coming on to talk. I know it hasn't been a great start to free agency. Laker fans, take a deep breath. It's going to be fine. We're actually going to start the show, ladies and gentlemen, with the Lakers. And you know, listen, we are in a hot take society right now. Everybody knows that it's really difficult to cut through. There's so many outlets and mediums. TV, radio, you got the web, you got social media, YouTube, TikTok to cut through. You increasingly have to turn up the volume and get a little hot. And folks, I've been seeing some stuff. You know, I love a good hot take, hot take, happy hour. But I've been seeing some stuff lately about my main man Luka Doncic that I gotta step in. It's time for J. Mac to jump in and be like, guys, can we take a deep breath? Can we get some perspective? I know nuance isn't a thing a lot of people like to do in July. It's either black or white. You Love him, you hate him, right? But let's just pump the brakes on the Luka Doncic bashing. And yes, I get it. He's coming off a season where he was injured and he got traded. And hey, if the Dallas Mavericks can move off Luka, how good is he, right? I mean, the guy doesn't play defense. He can't jump. He only had one dunk last season. I mean, Luka, what are we doing? Is he that good? J. Mac, he couldn't get out of the first round with LeBron James. How good is Luka? And you, you start hearing all this, and I'm like, wait a minute, hold on. Are we talking about the same Luka doncic that just 13 months ago put the Mavericks on his back and led them to the finals? And now we've got hot takes like this, not just coming from dopey fans and not just the media, but we're talking about former players and coaches, folks. Avery Johnson, a point guard who knows a lot about basketball, was asked who he'd rather have, Cooper Flag or Luka Doncic. Take a listen, man. Give me Cooper Flag. Really? Cooper Flag in this team? Yeah, give me Cooper Flag, man. You're talking about a team when they're healthy. Got three future hall of Famers with Kyrie Ad and Klay Thompson. So this is really exciting. The Mavericks, their future is bright, but they have a window when they're healthy of the next two to three years with this roster is currently constructed. Yeah, I don't totally disagree with Dallas being good, but Cooper Flag over Luka Doncic. And this is what I'm talking about with society. It's become so hot takey that a guy has a down year and we're just writing him off. Like, I. I like Cooper Flag. Do you guys remember, I don't know, two months ago on the show, Rick Bucher sat here and I was like, over under one and a half MVPs for Cooper flag. And he laughed at me. He's like, what on earth are you talking about? I'm like, I'm high on Cooper Flag. No way on earth am I taking him over Luka Doncic. Have we forgotten? I'm not going to try out the resume, but have we forgotten that in the last 40 years, no player has started their NBA career as good as Luka Johnson? Not Michael Jordan, not LeBron James, not Shaq, folks. Luca went rookie of the year and then was first team all NBA five straight years. First team all NBA, Top five player in the league for five straight years. In starting in year two. Like, that's the kind of talent we're dealing with here. Nobody makes their teammates better in the NBA better than Luka Doncic. Now, I know Jokic has a strong case because he has a title. He's a little older than Luca. I'll just put that out there. But Luca raises the level of all his guys. You remember two years ago, Dallas, they had been fighting for years. How do we build around Luca? Let's try Jalen Brunson. And they screwed that up. Let's try Porzingis. And he got hurt. This is what he does. Let's try Kyrie Irving. Oh, okay, okay. So they bring in Kyrie Irving. I remember being, I think, live on the herd when it happened, I was like, oh, my gosh, Mavs, they're set. They're going to the finals. They missed the playoffs that year. Okay. Do you remember how Luka Doncic responded the following year? He averaged 33, 9 and 9, and the Mavs went to the NBA finals. So if you want to write off Luke at 26 and say, well, he's not dunking anymore. He's become a step back artist, that's fine. Do you? Do you? But here's the reality. Luca went to the finals last year exhausted, then played in the Olympics. And oh, by the way, then comes the calf injury. Remember on Christmas, suffers the calf injury. And Luca, wisely, I might add, did not want to rush it. He was seen on a scooter and it's like, oh, geez, that's bad news. No, he was being cautious, which is smart in hindsight. You remember when guy on the Pacers had a calf injury in the finals, and I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Halliburton, sit out my guy. You don't want to have to miss a whole year. Halliburton plays good in game six. Oh, he's fine. It's fine. Let's not even rehash what happened in Game 7. You don't rush back from calf injuries. Nico Harrison wanted to rush Luka back. Luca said no. Oh, slow your roll, man. He took his time, thought he gained weight. They shipped him out of town. I am calling it now. Revenge season is coming for Luca Doncic next year with the Lakers. I don't know who the hell they're going to have. We can get into that later. I'm going to go ahead and assume LeBron's going to be on the roster. I'm going to assume Austin Reeves, but that's not a lock. I think they're going to be okay with two of the greatest players in the NBA currently LeBron, all NBA guy. And Luca, who's off to one of the best starts in NBA history for a young guy. Can we just take our deep breath with Luka? He's going to be fine. All right, now let's get to the big soccer matchup tonight. USA Guatemala. Yes, it's here on FS1, the Gold cup semifinals. I will reserve from making any Guatemalan jokes. I don't know much about their soccer program, but I know this. We gonna smoke them. I'm calling it now. Just like I told Colin three weeks ago, we're going to be fine in the Gold Cup. And now do you guys remember three weeks ago in the Gold Cup, USA all of a sudden isn't getting their stars to play. Pulisic, I need some rest. Oh, no, what does that say? And then one of my funny joker soccer friends said, I don't know about Pochettino. Laughing like, well, we don't know about this guy. Everything's been fine. Now the bigger issue is one that everybody, even if you're not a soccer fan, can vibe with here in NFL and NBA, right? You follow your team closely. I got some Jacksonville Jaguars buddies, fans, two of them, who, I mean, they could tell you everything that's going on on the two deep. They know who's like, on the bubble to make the roster. They know everything about the Jags because that's their local team. It's totally different with soccer. This happens in the NBA too. Toronto Raptors fans can give you chapter and verse in their salary cap situation in the next two years. That doesn't apply to the U.S. national Soccer Team, which puts us every two to four years in this weird spot of, oh, hey guys, it's time to pay attention to soccer. Wait, are we going to win this tournament? It's either boom or bust when it comes to USA Soccer for casuals. Now, you could argue, hey, it's great that the casuals are paying attention, but we just want to kind of educate these guys so they get up to speed. Hey, this is a B team in the Gold Cup. But here's why it's a good thing. Nobody wants to hear that. They're like, oh, who's the new coach? What has he done? Pulisic's not playing. And you guys are missing out because I'm here to tell you and I know this is positive. Jason, to start the show, gassing up Luka doncic, glazing the U.S. national team, we're going to beat Guatemala probably soundly tonight. I'll go three to one and then that'll lead us into the game against likely Mexico Sunday. What will be a heated game. Mexico has their A team. We don't, but I think we're going to be plucky in that one. It should be a great game in Houston on Sunday. But when it comes to USA Soccer, the reason I get excited about Gold cup is because we're seeing like the backups, the depth, the bench that we've never really had, and Colin likes to make this point. We just don't have depth. We're building depth at the Gold Cup. They've got guys who are showing very well. We've probably got two or three starters. We might have our new goalie and Mr. Freeze. The freeze man was so good in PKs. And as one of the guys in the morning meeting noted, hey, Turner, the incumbent, he hasn't looked great internationally because he's not playing. Freese gets on the field and there's a brick wall in pks. So, folks, we're seeing depth, we're seeing the new coach and. And you guys know this happens, right? You get a new coach, you got a new leader. Well, there's a new guy to impress. And guess who's got a chance up close and personal to impress him? All the guys playing in the Gold Cup. So, you know, Landon Donovan will come on and hopefully echo my sentiments here. But I think this is a good thing. You know, a five nothing against Haiti, beating Trinidad at debate. Like, okay, those are fine results, but it's more about the process over the results. And I guess my issue is the process can apply to your favorite NFL, your favorite NBA team. Locally, it's tougher to apply the process to the USA team because we just parachute in for the major tournaments and we're like, oh, are we going to win? Like, that's all it comes down to. There's no process. I feel like we're seeing a tremendous process in at the Gold Cup. Pochettino is exerting his thoughts and beliefs and his value system on the team, and that will then trickle down to the other guys. It's a good thing Tyler Adams is here. He was on the show yesterday talking about it. Here's Alexi Lawless earlier in the week, also saying very positive things about the USA showing at the Gold Cup. It's almost a wonderful message to send and an important message to send to the guys that aren't here that, you know what, while. While you're important. You're not, you're not a savior and that. And we can win games and we can do things without you because I think it's going to motivate them to come in and say, you know what? My, my, you know what stinks? Just like everybody else is, America doesn't give a crap how this U.S. team plays. They care that they win and that they are doing it in a kind of raw, strangely ugly but beautiful way that I think that resonates with people. He absolutely nailed it. And folks, I'll, I'll wrap up with this, but continuity is huge. When I go to gamble for the NFL in the off season. Looking ahead to this coming season, continuity matters. Did you keep your coach, your coordinators? How many starters do you have back in college football? It's huge. NFL. I feel like it's very important. We don't really have that in soccer because it's a national team and guys are spread out all over the planet playing in different leagues. And then you get them together for the World cup, they're kind of thrust together. So the USA won't have continuity. But here's the positive. Most of the starters in the World cup next summer were going to have played in 2022 and showed well against England for moments against the Netherlands. And now we get a coach who's got a different outlook. And I do believe, I know it's on US Soil and I'm getting a little flag wavy here, but I'm being dead serious, folks. I do believe quarterfinals and semifinals could be in play for US Soccer. I know that's going to seem like a hot take and you all are going to laugh, but historically, when you host the goal, the World cup, you have a, you have a better chance. You're sleeping in beds you're familiar with. You've got friends and family around. You're in your normal time zones. Everything lines up for the US Hosting the World cup next year. I'm thinking big things and I think this Gold cup win tonight and maybe the win in the final Sunday will be a springboard to a huge 2026 in U.S. soccer. All right, we got a phenomenal show today heading into July 4th coming up next. Yeah, we're going back to LeBron. There is a lot of chatter about him switching teams. Does he want out of la? Talk about that next year on the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hi, this is Jay I'm the producer of the Paulie and Tony Fusco Show. Usually in these promos they ask you to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you please don't listen to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports imaginable. Don't listen to this show so it can get canceled.
Jason McIntyre
Whoa whoa, whoa.
Landon Donovan
What the hell are you doing in our studio? Get him Paulie. Ignore that fool. Listen to the Paulie and Tony Fusco show on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.
Unknown
He's still moving this July 4th celebrate freedom from spills, stains and overpriced furniture with Annabe, the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly pricing. Sofas start at just $699, making it the perfect time to upgrade your space. Annabe's pet friendly, Stain resistant and interchangeable slipcovers are made with high performance fabric that's built for real life. You'll love the cloud like comfort of hypoallergenic, high resilience foam that never needs fluffing and a durable steel frame that stands the test of time with modular pieces you can rearrange anytime. It's a sofa that adapts to your Life. Now through July 4th, get up to 60% off site wide@washablesofas.com Every order comes with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping, no restocking fees, every penny back. Declare independence from dirty outdated furniture. Shop now@washablesofas.com Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
Alex Curry
The last thing anyone wants is to leave behind confusion, stress or worse, family conflict. That's why estate planning isn't just for the wealthy, it's for families like mine and probably like yours. With trust and will, I created my estate plan in minutes. From naming guardians for my kids to putting our house in a trust to avoid probate. Fast, affordable and way easier than I thought. Every plan is designed by estate planning attorneys and customized for your state. Plans start at just 199 and include essentials like health care directives and power of attorney. With trust and will's bank level security and built in privacy protections, your personal information and your wishes stay safe. Whether you're newly married, raising kids, caring for aging parents or just want peace of mind, trust and will makes it easy to protect what matters Most. Go to trustandwill.com, use code RADIO at checkout and save 20% on your personalized plan because there's no better time to protect the people you love, trust and Will is an online estate planning service. See website for details.
Jason McIntyre
Hey, everybody. You've heard me talk about Green River Whiskey, the official whiskey of the herd podcast. And if you know anything about me, I love a good metaphor. So the team at Green river challenged me to come up with a perfect metaphor to describe their incredible bourbon and rye whiskeys. And with the playoffs upon us, the answer is clear. Green River Whiskey is like a big playoff win by your favorite team, always sure to raise your spirits. So pair the thrills of this playoff season with Green River Whiskey. And with four core products in their starting lineup, there's something to suit any taste. To find Green river near you, head on over to greenriverwhisky.com here's the green River Whiskey. Raise your spirits. A product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com, please drink responsibly. Hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do. So you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go over well with their fans. So Degree's whole thing is it turns up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does, because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring the original formula back. One guy even started an online petition, and Degree listened. They admitted they effed up. They're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp, and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target, and other stores now for under $4. There's a reason it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happy when it changed. So if you've never tried it, it might be a good time to see what the fuss out. Head to your local Walmart target and try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself.
Landon Donovan
Back here on the herd. A beautiful Wednesday. Landon Donovan coming up in about 20 minutes. Oh, gosh, he's so good, that guy. What a legend. All right, so you know, every time for some reason Alex and I have hosted in the last couple months, some big news has dropped. I don't know if you guys remember the first time Michael Malone got fired of the Nuggets. It was like middle of the show. They're like, oh, the Nuggets fired their coach. Oh, wow. Okay. And then a few weeks ago, maybe last month, it was like, tom Thibodeau fired. It's like, wow. So, you know, I just. We just did the first segment here, and as soon as we get in a commercial break, they're like, hey, LeBron just dropped something on social media. I was like, oh, boy, I can't wait to see this. And we're talking about LeBron anyway, but let's just be real. Here's LeBron on his Instagram within the last hour or so. You have to look closely on the screen, but he's wearing a hat that says welcome home. And it's possible he just grabbed the first hat he saw at his house in Ohio, where he currently is playing golf. So just to remind you, LeBron, who's been in the news the last 48 hours because of his contract situation, and then is he going to get traded? Is he going to ask them to buy him out? Which is nonsense, but it's a talking point. LeBron's all over the news, and then he pops up on Instagram with a welcome home hat playing golf in Ohio. Guys, come on. This is awesome. How do you not love this? This is what LeBron does. He's done this for 15 years. He wrote the playbook for how to, I don't know, troll people. What are we calling it? Are we saying, like, get people to talk about him on social media? I asked the crew here, is LeBron really the first social media athlete who grew up in the social media era? And you have to think back, like, Tiger woods was early 2000s, before social media. If you say social media was like, 2010ish, that's, like, when LeBron was peaking, right? Do you guys remember the Internet melting down when he told Jim Gray, I'm taking my talents to South Beach? Like, LeBron knows how to utilize and weaponize, if you will, social media to get what he wants. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But the real question is, what is the end game here? Is he just messing around? Maybe? Is he sending a message? Probably my big thing that I keep coming back to with this whole, would they trade? LeBron is every time he's gotten into a pickle, it was near the end of the. In Cleveland, Hey, I asked for real contending dudes. The Celtics went out and got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and I asked for contended guys. And you guys got me. Antoine Jameson. I'm out right LeBron didn't. He had nothing around him in Miami. Near the end, he starts to look around, his team's breaking down. I'm out in Cleveland. Kyrie Irving, jump ship, LeBron. I'm not. I'm not winning here. With what's left, I'm out. But you look around the Lakers locker room now, and he's got Luka Doncic. Is he walking away from Luca? And then the counter would be, well, Jay, this is the first time LeBron hasn't been the best player on his team or the guy that the team is asking for advice and input. I was like, oh, okay, maybe that's accurate. LeBron's unhappy about that. But the guy's turning 41 in December. He's going into year 23. You really think he wants to jump ship for a year to go to, I don't know, Detroit or Cleveland again or Atlanta? And listen, I know one thing is true for sure. LeBron loves the attention. Who wouldn't? You guys don't think I like it when you bombard me when I blast the Kansas City Chiefs and say they're not making the playoffs? I love that. I love that you guys are worked into a lather. And I could care less because it's a genuine opinion backed up by facts and data. If you're in your feelings over, that's not my fault. I think LeBron is similar. He's going to put this out there. Knows his name is swirling, and I think he probably likes it a little bit. Just a little. Now, where it gets super interesting is if the Lakers don't get DeAndre Ayton and there's no centers left. And at that point, Luka's like, what the hell's going on here, guys? And LeBron's like, you know what? We had a good run. My other son, he. He's going to Arizona next year to play college basketball. I. Let me. Let me go back to Cleveland and get a chance to win it. But I've seen the. The trade scenarios, folks, with the Knicks and the Cavs. I don't think those teams are giving up multiple starters and rotation guys for LeBron. I don't see it like, the Cavs aren't going to do Darius Garland for LeBron. Lakers would be idiots to do that. Now you talk Evan Mobley. We got a discussion. That's not happening. I'm sure the Knicks are like, hey, do you want Karl Anthony Towns? And the Lakers are like, absolutely not. Think about this. LeBron has one year left. Then the books are Clear. Luka's got his Runway. Go get me this, that, and the other. We're set. So listen, I love the LeBron antics. I love him going on social media and getting in everybody's head and generating segments on TV shows. He's got a podcast now with Steve Nash. It's kind of popping. I love this stuff, but ultimately I just keep coming back like, it's not happening. He's not going anywhere. Enjoy Luca and LeBron next year with the Lakers when they're hopefully a top four seed in the West. Don't look like it now, but things could change. Let's go to Alex Curry with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the hardline news.
Colin Cowherd
I felt like when you told Laker fans to take a deep breath, you were talking directly to me. I'm with you, though. Like, I think the Lakers are going fine. Yes, there's new ownership, but this is an ownership that knows how to win. Yes, it's not the family friendly deal that he signed up for with the bus family, but he's a huge fan of Luka. He's been very vocal about it. He's going to give it, like, a full season try. I think the Lakers are going to be just fine. As you mentioned, he knows how to work the media. He knows how to create the conversation. Like, LeBron is a genius media mogul. That's what it is.
Landon Donovan
Smart.
Colin Cowherd
We're talking about it posted within like, what, like an hour? And we're already having it on, talking about it on national tv. Okay, well, let's switch to the big conversation yesterday. Damian Lillard was waived by the Bucks yesterday, and some execs say he won the basketball lottery. Milwaukee will have to pay Lillard out $113 million over the next five years. After stretching out his contract, which allowed them space, though, to sign Miles Turner, now Dame can now recover on his own time and sign a new deal with a new team when he's healthy and get paid all the same. So he's still making his money. Like, he can take his time rehabbing. Remember, he tore his Achilles. He can kind of pick where he wants to go. Obviously what the Bucks had wasn't working because we've heard all of the. The trade rumors from Giannis. We haven't heard directly from his mouth yet, though him say, I want to be traded. And this was a big swing that they took yesterday. Signing Miles Turner, $107 million deal. Do you think? Do you like the fit of Miles Turner with the Bucks? Yeah. And does it keep Giannis there?
Landon Donovan
Yes and no.
Colin Cowherd
Like, that's, That's.
Landon Donovan
Let me go back to the Dame thing you mentioned. So have you ever been fired from a job?
Colin Cowherd
I've had shows canceled.
Landon Donovan
Yeah, I, I've. I've been in the same boat, and in the moment, it absolutely sucks. Feel like a losing.
Colin Cowherd
You're like, oh, what did I do wrong?
Landon Donovan
It's all me, Right?
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
Landon Donovan
Then the dust clears within a couple days and you're like, holy. This was. Oh, my gosh, this is great.
Colin Cowherd
Ends up being like a beautiful thing. That happens.
Landon Donovan
Yes. What do they say? A door closes and a window opens or something like that. And I feel like for Dame yesterday, oh, my gosh, the Bucks are. They're cutting him. Well, that sucks. Well, now, wait a minute. Hold on.
Colin Cowherd
Still get paid.
Landon Donovan
He gets paid and he gets. Pick his team.
Colin Cowherd
Oh, yeah.
Landon Donovan
He gets to go live near his family in Portland. Remember, that was like a big.
Colin Cowherd
Yep.
Landon Donovan
Issue because he's away from his kids. This is great. Now, if he happens to be healthy come April and he sees that there's a contender on the west coast, he wants, it's Achilles.
Colin Cowherd
So he's like post All Star break, I think is like kind of. So like second half of the season when you're really seeing what team has the ability to make a run and be a contender.
Landon Donovan
I could join and be your ninth guy off the bench.
Colin Cowherd
And he's getting paid to rehab and be with his family and be in a good headspace. Life, like the mentality coming in, like, happy.
Landon Donovan
So, like, yeah, the Dame angle is interesting because it's a win for him. Listen, you don't think the warriors or the Lakers are going to be monitoring breathlessly, can we get Dame Lillard for pennies?
Colin Cowherd
Well, and yeah, the Bucks are still going to be paying for a majority of his contract.
Landon Donovan
It's such a bad move by the Bucks.
Colin Cowherd
It was weird. And then for Giannis to. To say he wasn't. I mean, I don't know if we. That he wasn't happy, but there were reports that he wasn't happy with the move and the trade. And there's just. There's just so much. There's a lot of question marks with the Bucks right now.
Landon Donovan
It felt like a desperate move, and you never want to be desperate. It's like you go house hunting, which I'm sure, you know, you. You've done, and you. You're being told, never fall in love with a house. You cannot, because then you're going to be playing Hard to get. You're going to want to bid it.
Colin Cowherd
Uhhuh.
Landon Donovan
Just, hey, whatever. And I felt like they fell in love with. Hey, Miles Turner can be our new Brook Lopez. He's younger, he's more athletic, he's a better. And Brook Lopez worked great with Giannis. And they're missing the part that, oh, we don't have a starting backcourt. It's like Gary Trent and Kevin Porter. I just don't see it.
Colin Cowherd
It's a little bit of a mess. And obviously you got to figure out what's happening with Giannis.
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
Is he going to get traded? Like, we still haven't heard from his mouth. Trade me.
Landon Donovan
What happens if Giannis comes out in two weeks and says, I don't like this, I want to be traded? Yeah. Then what?
Colin Cowherd
Bye.
Landon Donovan
Like what you the most Turner thing was a disaster.
Colin Cowherd
Just shot yourself in the foot.
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
Landon Donovan
Wild.
Colin Cowherd
Okay, let's switch to the NFL. Travis Kelce was on the Busing with the Boys podcast and talked about his moto, how his motivation has changed as he's aged as a football player.
Unknown
I used to want to get a.
Landon Donovan
Thousand yards every year. Every single year. Like, that was like the milestone and that you were elite in the league.
Unknown
Especially at the tight end position.
Landon Donovan
Yeah. But then I just, like, it's more important to get dubs.
Unknown
I feel like getting that message to.
Landon Donovan
The teammates was way more important.
Colin Cowherd
He's saying what champions say. Right. It's not about the personal accolades, it's about winning the chips. And once you've won, like, he's won, they are the current dynasty in the NFL. They have three championship rings. All you're thinking about is, how do I get that fourth? And then now you're also your legacy and your career is compared to. Well, how are you going to level up to the other greats? Like, how many does Bronk have? Like, are you going to be like Shannon Sharp? There's, like, all these other top players of that position. Are you going to be able to reach that level? And again, like, he's not the same player he was when they won that first and second Super Bowl. He's going to have to get creative.
Landon Donovan
Those are impressive numbers.
Colin Cowherd
That is impressive.
Landon Donovan
So let me ask you, Alex. So, yeah, I love to make these things personal. Like, you know, you played soccer and your team was good, and then they recruit somebody at your position who's better than you and takes the starting spot and you guys win the national championship.
Colin Cowherd
So that was me. I was the one who took the spot when we won the national championship and then I left early. So, yeah, I was always the doubted one. Like, you're not going to make it. There's no room for you. Like, we don't have space. And then I was having to prove everybody wrong. My entire career, through soccer, through broadcasting, everything. It's like, just get me a chance. Let me prove you wrong. So I've always been that, like, hungry person.
Landon Donovan
Kelsey's kind of like the opposite, right? In that he's got the stats and the chip. But would he be happy? Because the way he's talking about 1,000 yard. Would he be happy if they. If he had 600 yards receiving next year? But they were the number one.
Colin Cowherd
But that's not what matters right now. And I think that's the important message that he's trying to say and that he's trying to. He's the veteran on the team now, right? He's trying to tell all the young guys, hey, it's not about your. Your personal stats. What matters is that W at the end of the day is getting that ring at the end of the season. That's all that matters at the end of the day.
Landon Donovan
That's a tough mindset for someone in their 20s. Yeah, 30s is you. You know, when we're in our 20s, we're bulletproof. I can do whatever I want. I'm fine. You get into your 30s, you start, like, reality starts setting. And maybe that's what Kelsey's seeing. Like, hey, I. I'm not going to be that guy anymore.
Colin Cowherd
He's also like the probably the most famous NFL like, player right now. He's an A list celebrity. He's happy in his personal life. He's doing great career wise. Like, he is, like, top of the mountain right now. Not top because, like, if they won a Super bowl, then I think he, like, last season, then he would be top of the mountain. He was top of the mountain two years ago. Yeah, but it's just, how do I get back there?
Landon Donovan
Yeah. And maybe sacrificing a little or understanding, hey, it's not going to be all about you.
Colin Cowherd
It's not. It's. No, it's not. As he saw, he was breaking down.
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, he's breaking down. Buddy's still Mahomes guy and it's still having that presence.
Landon Donovan
And he's still in the locker room.
Colin Cowherd
And on the field. Sure is. Sure is. Hey, she was at tight end U. Did you see that? She performed?
Landon Donovan
I saw that. Yeah. Yeah, they were all.
Colin Cowherd
They were all singing along with our Kiddo, everybody.
Landon Donovan
It was not a bad hang.
Colin Cowherd
I love it. All right, let's move to New York and talk about your Jets, J. Mac, because they made a ton of changes this off season, but one of the holdovers, running back Breeze hall, isn't using that as an excuse. Hall said, I think people think the new coaching staff and new GM means a rebuild, but we have a lot of really good players on the roster, so we're going to try to win now. I think ourselves ceiling is very high. So when you hear that J. Mack in the AFC East, I mean, there's a lot of new.
Landon Donovan
Right.
Colin Cowherd
New quarterback, new front office, new coaching staff. They're also a franchise that hasn't reached the postseason since 2010. 14 year drought. Longest postseason drought in NFL history. I don't mean to rub it in.
Landon Donovan
And remind you, history or current?
Colin Cowherd
No, current postseason. It says 14 year drought. The longest postseason drought in the NFL right now.
Landon Donovan
Currently.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Currently.
Landon Donovan
It's not great. Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
I just want to see.
Landon Donovan
The staff is like, oh, yeah, let's get some. What do you think?
Colin Cowherd
Third?
Landon Donovan
Third what? In the AFC East?
Colin Cowherd
In the AFC East. I'm looking at it. And Bill's definitely won. Bill's won again. Miami depends on tua. People are high on the Patriots. And then you got your Jets.
Landon Donovan
Well, remember the continuity I mentioned for us, socce?
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
Landon Donovan
So the jets have a new head coach.
Jason McIntyre
Yes.
Landon Donovan
A new offensive coordinator.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
Landon Donovan
A new defensive coordinator.
Colin Cowherd
New quarterback.
Landon Donovan
A new quarterback.
Colin Cowherd
Uhhuh.
Landon Donovan
That's a lot of newness.
Colin Cowherd
But we also saw that with the Commanders last year and they surprised and took everyone by storm. So like there could be both sides to new.
Landon Donovan
Well, I mean, Dan Quinn had won a. Been to a Super Bowl. I'm sorry, With Atlanta.
Colin Cowherd
Right.
Landon Donovan
And the offensive coordinator was Kyle Shanahan, who's big time. Oh, no, not Kyle Shanahan. What am I saying? The offensive coordinator. I'm spacing on his name right now, but the guy from Arizona, the pretty boy.
Colin Cowherd
Oh, and also usc. Are you talking about. Are you talking about commanders?
Landon Donovan
Yeah, commanders.
Colin Cowherd
Commanders.
Landon Donovan
Kingsbury, like winners. Jay Daniels was a superstar. Yeah. Jets are getting Justin Fields, who's been meh. Aaron Glenn, who's never been a head coach. And the offensive coordinators never called plays. Like, it's not. It's just too much newness. Alex. It's like a six or seven win team. Ooh, let's see. I like.
Colin Cowherd
So fourth. You think fourth? They're gonna finish last third or fourth. AFC East.
Landon Donovan
That's not bad. Then the last play schedule for next year with Arch Manning. They're not gonna be bad. Arch Manning bad. They're not gonna be Arch. Never know. Alex Curry with the news. Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the Herd lie news.
Jason McIntyre
All right.
Landon Donovan
Coming up next is Landon Donovan excited for the USA's chances against Guatemala tonight? And then what about the final in the Gold cup against Mexico on Sunday? That's next year on the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am.
Unknown
Pacific this July 4th celebrate freedom from spills, stains and overpriced furniture with Annabe, the only machine washable sofa inside, inside and out, where designer quality meets budget friendly pricing. Sofas start at just $699, making it the perfect time to upgrade your space. Annabe's pet friendly, Stain resistant and interchangeable slipcovers are made with high performance fabric that's built for real life. You'll love the cloud like comfort of hypoallergenic high resilience foam that never needs fluffing and a durable steel frame that stands the test of time with modular pieces you can can rearrange anytime. It's a sofa that adapts to your Life. Now through July 4th, get up to 60% off site wide@washablesofas.com Every order comes with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping, no restocking fees, every penny back. Declare independence from dirty, outdated furniture. Shop now@washablesofas.com Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
Alex Curry
The last thing anyone wants is to leave behind confusion, stress or worse, family conflict. That's why estate planning isn't just for the wealthy, it's for families like mine and probably like yours. With trust and will. I created my estate plan in minutes. From naming guardians for my kids to putting our house in a trust to avoid probate. Fast, affordable and way easier than I thought. Every plan is designed by estate planning attorneys and customized for your state. Plans start at just $199 and include essentials like healthcare directives and power of attorney. With trust and will's bank level security and built in privacy protections, your personal information and your wishes stay safe. Whether you're newly married, raising kids, caring for aging parents or just want peace of mind, trust and will makes it easy to protect what matters Most. Go to trustandwill.com, use code RADIO at checkout and save 20% on your personalized page plan because there's no better time to protect the people you love. Trust and Will is an online estate planning service. See website for details.
Jason McIntyre
Hey, everybody. You've heard me talk about Green River Whiskey, the official whiskey of the herd podcast. And if you know anything about me, I love a good metaphor. So the team at Green river challenged me to come up with a perfect metaphor to describe their incredible bourbon and rye whiskeys. And with the playoffs upon us, the answer is clear. Green River Whiskey is like a big playoff win by your favorite team, always sure to raise your spirits. So pair the thrills of this playoff season with Green River Whiskey. And with four core products in their starting lineup, there's something to suit any taste. To find Green river near you, head on over to greenriverwhiskey.com here's the green River Whiskey. Raise your spirits. A product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com, please drink responsibly. Hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do. So you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go over well with their fans. So Degree's whole thing is it turns up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does, because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring the original formula back. One guy even started an online petition, and Degree listened. They admitted they effed up. They're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back, and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp, and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target, and other stores now for under $4. There's a reason it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happy when it changed. So if you've never tried it, it might be a good time to see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart target and try the OG degree cool rush for yourself.
Colin Cowherd
The road to 2026 continues tonight on FS1 with the Gold cup semifinal as the US Men's National Team takes on Guatemala. No easy path, no second chances. Coverage begins tonight at 6 Eastern on FS1.
Landon Donovan
Obviously, everybody very excited. USA Guatemala tonight. And then when we win, we'll face Mexico in the final. Yes, we're going to win. Let's talk to Landon Donovan. Oh, my gosh, a legend. You know, I Get a little gushy. I'm going to be a little bit of a fanboy here. Who couldn't love Landon Donovan? I was just telling him during the break, stop it. Maybe Pochettino, but that's about it. But during the break, like, I remember the goal against Algeria in the World Cup. Watching with my family, I'll never forget it. That's one of the most seminal moments in USA soccer. So, Landovan, great. Landon, great to have you on the show. Let's start with this layup. How do you feel about the game against Guatemala tonight?
Unknown
I think we got a gift. Guatemala played Canada the other night, and Canada are much, much better overall team than Guatemala. And I think if they play that game 10 times, Canada win eight, Guatemala, Taiwan, and they win one. And they tied, went to penalty kicks and ended up losing the game. So it's. It's a bit of a gift for us. Guatemala is not a top CONCACAF team. This is the first time, I believe, in 30 something years they've been to the semifinals of. Of a Gold Cup. So I expect us to win. It will not be easy. J. Mac, soccer never is because goals are hard to score. But I expect that we'll win tonight.
Landon Donovan
I'm just curious. Obviously you're not there talking to the players, but how do you. What do you think the mindset is given? Free shows up in PK's. You know, all the criticism for the team, but they have been kind of playing great. I didn't love the goal they gave up in, what, the 85th minute or whatever, but overall they've played pretty darn good.
Unknown
No, they've been fantastic. And it's important to have the context of what happens. So before the tournament, many players opted out of the tournament, which, you know, is a whole nother story. And for people who have dreamt of playing soccer their whole life, you know, it's. It's pretty interesting that people would not want to play for their national team. A lot of players out injured, and then a third set of players are out for the Club World cup that's going on concurrently. So this group of players is a little bit of a makeshift. Maybe one or two starters, but the rest are A, B, maybe even in some cases a C team or a C player. And what they've done is they've taken the opportunity. And J. Mac, you know, in sports, when someone leaves the door slightly open, you better be careful because someone else might barge through. And these guys have barged through and they've been really inspiring for those of Us who love this game and love this national team. It's been really fun to watch them continue to grow and. And win back hearts and minds of Americans.
Landon Donovan
Ye. I didn't want to start with the controversy, but let's go into it. You know, they didn't seem to have an identity heading into the Gold Cup. Like, what are they? Do you think that Pochettino has kind of established this is what we are, or is that still a work in progress?
Unknown
So this is the hard part with. With soccer for people who are new to it. You play for your club team all the time, and let's use the analogy of you play for the Lakers or the Celtics or the Yankees, but then once a month, maybe once every couple months, you come together for whatever country you represent, and you represent your national team. The problem is, is you're only together for two or three days at a time, and then you go back to your club teams. What's happened in this camp is Pochettino had two friendlies before this camp started. So he had a week and a half with these guys, two games. And now they've had. They're going on, I think two and a half or three weeks together. Having that amount of time together is priceless with a national team. It's absolutely priceless. So in the beginning, there was no identity. People didn't know what to expect. Everybody's sort of looking around in camp, are you a leader? You're a leader with your club team, but are you a leader here? And now you're starting to see roles defined. You're starting to see people take the opportunity. You saw Matt Fries say, hey, no one else has claimed the goalkeeper spot. Why not me? And that's what guys have done this entire tournament. It's been really fun to watch them grow.
Landon Donovan
Yeah. And you said the door is kind of open. And I asked the more the staff here, like, how many guys do you think currently on the Gold cup roster would. Would maybe start next year in the World Cup? And we came around two or three. I don't know. Am I missing anyone? I think Freese might have passed Turner just alone in this tournament. But who else do you think is. Could Richards be a starter next year in the World Cup?
Unknown
Well, look, like politics. A year is a long time, right? So a lot of things can happen in a year. However, this is what I would say with Pochettino. Pochettino is Argentinian. He spent most of his career in Europe coaching. He doesn't have any obligation to anybody who has name recognition or has played in the past or has been a leader or been a captain. He just looks at this, this roster and says, these are the guys I have. You show me that by your performance today, today against Guatemala, that you deserve to play in the final if we win. And if we play in the final against Mexico or Honduras, you show me again that you deserve to play in the friendlies that are coming up in the fall. And you, you deserve to play in the next one and the next one in the next one. He doesn't care if you have a big name or a big contract or play for a big club. He can only evaluate what he's seeing. And what he's seeing right now are a bunch of guys who are taking advantage of the opportunity.
Landon Donovan
Yeah. Do you think Tillman is one of those guys? I was looking at his background.
Unknown
Absolutely.
Landon Donovan
Played on the German national team, you know, 15 through 21, and it's like, wow, he looks outstanding. But I don't think of him as better than Baligan, you know, and like some of the other forwards. Right. Or is that now a discussion?
Unknown
Yeah, but it is a discussion for what I just said. And you know the old adage, the most important ability in sports is availability. And Baligan is a fantastic player. Talented. Ricardo Pepe, fantastic player. Very talented. They've been injured. Both of them have been injured a lot. Malik Tillman's not an out and out striker. There's a young man named Patrick Ajamong who has sort of taken that role. And we'll see what happens. You know, J. Mac, the telling sign will be in the next camp after this Gold Cup. Does he just readily invite all those guys back in or does he say, you know what, these guys did a great job for me in the Gold cup, this B and C list, and maybe they become the A list. And that's gonna. That's going to tell us a lot.
Landon Donovan
That would ruffle some feathers. But I'm just curious, like, that sounds like a good talking point. And hearing you say it, like, yeah, there's something there. But in your soccer experience, do you ever recall them going with B's over A's just because the A's weren't there?
Unknown
No. And, and no. The reason why is because when you play with your national team, and this is part of my frustration, why I'm outspoken about this, when you play for your national team, it just means more. It has to mean more. And I'm not saying people don't try with their club teams. I'm not even saying people don't care sometimes when they play with their national team. But if you're not willing to do anything and everything to win the game with your national team, then you don't deserve to be there. And the guys who are there right now have said, I don't care what happens. I'm not. You know, a guy, Diego Luna, young man, broke his nose in a friendly in January and they said, you need to come out of the game. And he said, I'm not coming out of the game. This is my one chance. So you can pull me off the field, you can carry me off, but I'm not coming out of the game. Next thing you know, he started every game in the Gold Cup. If there was. If the roster was announced tomorrow for the World cup, he is 100% on it. And he came out of nowhere. And so that's what it means to play for your national team. Malik Tillman got kicked all over the field the other night and he got up again and got up again and got up again. He missed a penalty in the game, came back and made a penalty in the penalty kick shootout. So they are showing Mauricio Pochettino what it means to play for a national team. And there's no reason why a lot of these guys, one, won't be on the roster and two, some of them would start. Now. Are they all going to be starters? I don't think so. But hopefully it sends a message to the rest of the group that this is what's expected and if you don't do it, you're not going to be here.
Landon Donovan
Yeah. All right, I got to ask it I. Obviously, you know the drama with Pulisic and Pochettino. A. Have you heard from anybody in either camp since the Gold cup privately? If it's private stuff and you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. But have you heard from anyone in Pulisic's camp or Pochettino?
Unknown
No.
Landon Donovan
Do you anticipate?
Unknown
No and no. And I talked to many people behind the scenes all week, J. Mac in U.S. soccer. And the reality right now is what I just said about Pochettino, he does not have. He does not feel any obligation to any player. Now, is Christian Pulisic more talented than anybody on the current Gold cup roster? Yes, by a gazillion miles. But when you see, when you play for a national team, it doesn't always mean that if you watch. Do yourself a favor, go watch Argentina play Colombia or Argentina play Brazil. When you watch that game, you go, there's not a lot of soccer being played here. This is just a battle. And these are some of the best players in the world. And all the skill and all this stuff gets thrown out the window for 90% of the game. And they just battle because that's what it means to play for your country. So I think the message is loud and clear. And I. To Christian's credit, I think when he shows up and plays, he does play that way.
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
Unknown
Now, some of the other guys on the roster haven't. And I think the message is becoming clear from Pochettino. You either do this or you're not playing.
Landon Donovan
Yeah. I feel like that was a shot of Gio Reyna, but I'm just going to sidestep it. Let's. We'll wrap up with this. You know, Freeze obviously was the hero in the pks. Turner's kind of been buried on the bench with his club team. I don't know. Do you think Freeze past him or is it too early to tell?
Unknown
I want to separate. You know, people get excited in moments.
Landon Donovan
Right.
Unknown
You know, it'd be like if a guy gets fouled for a three pointer and makes three free throws to win the game, you wouldn't necessarily then say, oh, well, he's the best player throughout the game. Right. Because he made those free three. Three free throws. Matt Freese is excellent, clearly, at penalty kicks. And I will just say, let's say he's not one of the best three goalkeepers. Generally, you take three goalkeepers to the World cup, there is every opportunity that Pochettino says, you know what? I'm going to take him even as my third, even though he's not the best, because we might get into a situation in a knockout stage where we need to take penalty kicks. And I could absolutely see that happen. Now, aside from that, I think he's been okay. I don't think he is a better goalkeeper than Matt Turner. But I talked earlier. You leave that door open. You're Matt Turner and you didn't play a lot of club soccer the last year. You left the door open and someone said, bang, I'm kicking that thing down and I'm coming in.
Landon Donovan
Yeah. And he has Landon Donovan, Fox Sports soccer analyst, a legend on the pitch and off of it. Great stuff. Landon, thanks a lot. Enjoy the game.
Unknown
Appreciate you guys. Yeah, thank you.
Landon Donovan
All right. Landon Donovan really want listen. He's saying a lot of stuff and you need to listen because I. I'm sure he talks to everybody in USA Soccer. He's probably not saying everything Alex, you know soccer. Well, I think based on some of the stuff Landon Donovan saying, you know, if you passed on this Gold cup, you may have and not Pulisic, but some of the other guys, you got.
Colin Cowherd
To want to be here.
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
That's what this new coaching regime is about. Show me that you want to be here.
Landon Donovan
Yeah.
Unknown
Oh, boy.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, it's exciting.
Landon Donovan
At least we got a win over Guatemala tonight. Coming up next. Hey, you know Lamar Jackson? I like him a lot. He's a two time mvp. He made a comment. I don't love it. We'll talk about that next year on the Herd.
Jason McIntyre
Okay. Have you heard about this? Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant and their fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back. And Degree listened. That doesn't happen often. They admitted they effed up and they're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a reason it's the number one men's antiperspirant. And it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under four bucks. So try and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself.
Unknown
On the latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric. I sat down with Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas. She's holding down the fort for her party in one of the most conservative states in the union.
Colin Cowherd
I think that ultimately who will become the Democratic nominee for president will be someone that has been out there and has shown that they won't allow themselves to be punched and just say thank you like they will punch back.
Unknown
Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Landon Donovan
I know a lot of cops and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season one Taser Incorporated.
Alex Curry
I get right back there and it's bad.
Landon Donovan
Listen to Absolute Season 1 Taser incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Colin Cowherd
Welcome to Pretty Private with ebony, the podcast where silence is broken and stories are set free. I'm Ebony, and every Tuesday I'll be sharing all new anonymous stories that would challenge your perceptions and give you new insight on the people around you. Every Tuesday make sure you listen to Pretty Private from the Black Effect Podcast Network. Tune in on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. This is an iHeart podcast.
Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd Episode: Hour 1 - Defending Luka Release Date: July 2, 2025
The episode kicks off with Jason McIntyre stepping in for Colin Cowherd, who is traveling. The hosts set the stage for a lively discussion centered around current sports topics, with a particular focus on NBA star Luka Doncic and the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team's performance in the Gold Cup.
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to defending Luka Doncic amidst a surge of criticism from fans, media, and even former players.
Cowherd challenges the recent negative narratives surrounding Doncic by highlighting his impressive achievements:
He emphasizes Luka's impact on the Mavericks and his unparalleled ability to elevate his teammates:
The discussion also touches upon Luka's cautious approach to injuries, contrasting it with other players who may rush back, underscoring his commitment to long-term success.
The hosts delve into the recent controversial move by the Milwaukee Bucks to waive Damian Lillard, a significant shake-up in the NBA landscape.
Landon Donovan analyzes the impact of this move, suggesting it was a precarious decision for the Bucks:
They discuss the potential future scenarios for both Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, questioning the Bucks' strategy and its implications for their championship aspirations.
A comprehensive examination of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team's performance in the Gold Cup, featuring insights from guest Landon Donovan.
Donovan praises the team's resilience and the coaching strategies implemented by Mauricio Pochettino:
He highlights the emergence of new talent and the importance of player availability and commitment:
The discussion underscores the team's potential to progress to the semifinals and the positive trajectory leading up to the 2026 World Cup hosted in the U.S.
The episode transitions to NFL discussions, focusing on Travis Kelce's evolving motivation and his impact on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Landon Donovan explores how veteran players like Kelce are shifting their focus from personal statistics to team success, emphasizing the importance of legacy and teamwork over individual achievements.
The hosts analyze the New York Jets' extensive offseason changes, including new coaching staff and quarterback Justin Fields, assessing their potential impact on the team's performance.
They discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by such significant changes, comparing the Jets' approach to other teams like the Commanders who have recently seen success despite similar overhauls.
Landon Donovan shares his expert perspective on the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team's development, the integration of new players, and the strategic decisions made by the coaching staff.
He highlights the players who have stepped up during the Gold Cup, emphasizing their dedication and the positive message it sends to the broader team dynamics.
The episode wraps up with a teaser for upcoming discussions, including potential movements of high-profile players like LeBron James and the future prospects of the Lakers alongside Luka Doncic.
Notable Quotes:
This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd provides an in-depth analysis of key sports narratives, defending Luka Doncic's legacy, dissecting major NBA trades, evaluating the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team's strategies, and exploring significant changes in the NFL, all enriched with expert insights and compelling discussions.