Hour 3 - NBA Playoffs

Summary

Summary of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" - Hour 3: NBA Playoffs
Release Date: April 11, 2025
Host: The Volume and iHeartPodcasts

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1. NFL Mock Draft and Quarterback Analysis
Timestamp: 02:20 - 07:00

The episode kicks off with a deep dive into the NFL mock draft for 2025, focusing primarily on quarterback prospects. Host Alex Curry discusses Cooper Flagg's mock draft predictions available on Fox Sports' website, highlighting key names and their potential draft positions.

• Bucky Brooks' Rankings:
  Bucky Brooks, a seasoned analyst and former football coach, presents his top quarterback prospects. Notably, Caleb Williams tops the list, followed by CJ Stroud, Jaden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Pennix Jr. Brooks emphasizes that while some players like Abdul Carter show immense potential, the Browns' pressing need for a quarterback could influence their draft strategy.
  Quote: "Shador sliding is interesting, but not that bad. [...] You don't want to overreact to Shador sliding." (04:45)

• Quarterback Slide Concerns:
  The discussion touches upon the phenomenon of talented quarterbacks sliding in the draft, drawing parallels with NFL legends like Dan Marino and Aaron Rodgers. Curry expresses cautious optimism, suggesting that late-round quarterbacks can still carve successful careers.
  Quote: "Dan Marino slid in the draft, Aaron Rodgers slid in the draft, Lamar Jackson slid. They all landed in great spots and had amazing careers." (06:00)

• Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars' Future:
  Shifting focus, Curry addresses the Jacksonville Jaguars' quarterback situation, particularly Trevor Lawrence's performance and future prospects under first-year head coach Liam Cohen. The conversation critiques Lawrence's statistics over his last 15 starts and debates whether it's too late for him to evolve into a top-tier quarterback.
  Quote: "Trevor Lawrence has not lived up to the expectations he had when he was drafted." (06:20)

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2. Jaguars' Head Coach Liam Cohen on Trevor Lawrence
Timestamp: 05:06 - 07:02

In this segment, the episode features insights into Liam Cohen's approach to coaching Trevor Lawrence.

• Coaching Philosophy:
  Coach Cohen expresses enthusiasm about working with Lawrence, focusing on fine-tuning his skills and reducing the pressure on each play. The aim is to create a balanced offense that doesn't place the entire burden of success on Lawrence's shoulders.
  Quote: "We've gotta create some balance for him so that he can just go play." (05:55)

• Performance Metrics:
  The dialogue critiques Lawrence's passer rating and completion percentage, questioning the sustainability of his current performance levels and whether the Jaguars' front office decisions may have impeded his development.
  Quote: "When you have the ball and you're trying to make it get like a throw and complete a throw, it's just anything you can do at this point to help make him better." (06:41)

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3. Jalen Milroe's Draft Prospects and Team Preferences
Timestamp: 08:22 - 09:57

Alex Curry and his co-host discuss the potential landing spots for quarterback Jalen Milroe, assessing various NFL teams' needs and strategies.

• Team Preferences:
  The conversation highlights teams like the Jets, Steelers, Giants, Saints, and Browns as potential landing spots for Milroe. The co-host expresses a preference for the Jets but notes the complexity of draft picks and trades that may influence his selection.
  Quote: "Oh, I would love Milroe with the Jets, just not at seven. That's a little rich." (08:22)

• Milroe's Attributes:
  Milroe's impressive performances in private workouts and pro days are discussed, showcasing his athleticism and dynamic playing style. The hosts commend his speed and throwing motion, projecting a high potential impact in whichever team drafts him.
  Quote: "The guy looks like an Adonis. [...] He's the third fastest quarterback, I think on record after Vick and Lamar." (09:03)

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4. NBA Playoffs Insight with Yovon Buha
Timestamp: 09:55 - 32:35

A significant portion of the episode features an in-depth interview with Yovon Buha, a Lakers reporter from The Athletic, providing comprehensive analysis on the NBA Playoffs.

• Lakers' Current Performance:
  Buha assesses the Lakers' season trajectory, noting their recent strong performances and strategic plays. He emphasizes that the Lakers are likely to secure the second seed in the Western Conference, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder.
  Quote: "I think they're the second best team in the west right now. The only team I would consider taking over them would be Oklahoma City." (12:13)

• Luka Doncic and LeBron James' Synergy:
  The dynamic between Lakers' star LeBron James and Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic is explored, highlighting their complementary playing styles. Buha explains how Luka's early-game dominance pairs with LeBron's clutch performances in the fourth quarter to create a formidable combination on the court.
  Quote: "Luka gets off to these really big first quarters, and then LeBron likes to pick his spots early and go to that extra gear in the fourth quarter." (21:22)

• Potential Playoff Matchups:
  Buha forecasts possible playoff matchups for the Lakers, discussing the challenges posed by teams like the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves. He argues that the Warriors' switching schemes present a tougher matchup compared to the Timberwolves.
  Quote: "I think the Warriors are... the team to me that is the toughest matchup for the Lakers because they can switch and they have so much athleticism and length in defense." (26:08)

• MVP Race Discussion:
  The conversation shifts to the ongoing MVP race, debating between Nikola Jokic and Steph Curry. Buha leans towards Jokic, citing his consistent performance and leadership, while acknowledging Curry's significant contributions.
  Quote: "I am leaning Joker. [...] His numbers, Jokic's numbers are right there." (28:38)

• Coaching Changes and Team Dynamics:
  Buha comments on Michael Malone's coaching tenure with the Denver Nuggets, analyzing the impact of recent coaching changes on the team's performance and playoff prospects.
  Quote: "The timing shocked me. Not like it had been the worst kept secret in the NBA that Malone and Booth had some beef." (29:48)

• Lakers' Strategy and Player Roles:
  Detailed analysis of the Lakers' offensive and defensive strategies is provided, focusing on player roles like Austin Reaves' ascending performance and the strategic use of LeBron James as a facilitator in critical moments.
  Quote: "Austin and LeBron have a really good two-man game, so he comes up and screens for Austin." (23:58)

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5. AFC Playoff Teams Segment
Timestamp: 37:04 - 41:38

In a lighter, interactive segment, the hosts discuss their predictions for AFC playoff teams, engaging in playful banter and debating team strengths.

• Team Predictions and Preferences:
  The hosts exchange views on which teams are likely to make it to the playoffs, with particular attention to the Chiefs and Patriots. The segment includes humorous disagreements and passionate support for favored teams.
  Quote: "Mahomes is going to prove me wrong. He always does. As he super bowl when the Eagles spanked him." (40:18)

• Fan Reactions and Personal Insights:
  Personal anecdotes and reactions to recent games and team performances are shared, illustrating the hosts' deep engagement with the sport and their personal biases.
  Quote: "It's been a phenomenal week. Cowherd's back Monday. Alex, enjoy your weekend. I will enjoy my weekend. And next week off, everybody be safe out there. Go Lakers." (40:59)

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6. Conclusion and Closing Remarks
Timestamp: 41:38 - End

The episode wraps up with final thoughts on the discussed topics, upcoming shows, and a humorous interaction between the hosts regarding their AFC playoff picks. The hosts encourage listeners to tune in for future episodes and engage with the show on various platforms.

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Notable Quotes:

• "Shador sliding is interesting, but not that bad." — Alex Curry (04:45)
• "We've gotta create some balance for him so that he can just go play." — Yovon Buha (05:55)
• "Luka gets off to these really big first quarters, and then LeBron likes to pick his spots early and go to that extra gear in the fourth quarter." — Yovon Buha (21:22)
• "I think the Warriors are... the team to me that is the toughest matchup for the Lakers because they can switch and they have so much athleticism and length in defense." — Yovon Buha (26:08)
• "Mahomes is going to prove me wrong. He always does. As he super bowl when the Eagles spanked him." — Host (40:18)

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Key Takeaways:

• NFL Focus: The mock draft discussions provide valuable insights into upcoming quarterback prospects and team strategies, especially highlighting the Jacksonville Jaguars' quarterback situation with Trevor Lawrence.

• NBA Playoffs Analysis: The in-depth conversation with Yovon Buha offers a comprehensive overview of the Lakers' current form, strategic player utilization, and potential playoff challenges, particularly against teams like the Warriors.

• Player Dynamics: Emphasis on the synergy between star players such as LeBron James and Luka Doncic, and the rising influence of players like Austin Reaves, underscores the evolving dynamics within top NBA teams.

• MVP Race Insights: The debate between Nikola Jokic and Steph Curry for the MVP title highlights the competitive nature of the race and the factors influencing voter decisions.

• Interactive Segments: The AFC playoff predictions segment adds an engaging and entertaining layer to the podcast, showcasing the hosts' camaraderie and sports enthusiasm.

This episode of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" provides a balanced mix of NFL and NBA discussions, enriched by expert analysis and engaging host interactions, making it a valuable listen for sports enthusiasts seeking comprehensive coverage of current sports topics.

Transcript

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Yazoo clay keeps secrets.

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Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio Power Hour time. Listen. It is mock draft season. That's szn. That's what the cool kids say online. So I did drop my NBA mock draft for 2025 this week for fox sports.com Cooper Flagg at the top. By the way, Alex will be interviewing Cooper Flag right after the show. After the show.

[Alex Curry]

Yeah.

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Very excited.

[Alex Curry]

Going straight to talk to him.

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People love the draft. I love talking about the draft and the staff just showed me, hey, Bucky Brooks has been, you know, Bucky Brooks really good. He comes on the show. I know him like him. He's like a football coach locally. He's awesome guy. So he has posted his best quarterback prospects coming into the draft Pre draft since 2023. Caleb Williams won. Should not surprise anybody. CJ Stroud 2 might be a surprise because a lot of people had Bryce Young first. Panther traded up for him. Bucky did not. Bucky also had Jaden Daniels third, which is interesting. Drake May 4, Young and then Pennix Jr. If you're wondering, you know, for the radio audience, Cam Ward is seventh. Cam Ward seventh. And quarterback prospects is 20, 23. Shador eight. Now you're like, wait, Jason, you said top 10. Yeah. Bucky Brooks has Shador ahead of J.J. mcCarthy and Bo Nix and Anthony Richardson. McCarthy went top 10 to the Vikings, Bo Nix went right around the top 10 to the Broncos and Anthony Richardson went four to the Colts. So this, you know, we open the show talking about Shador sliding because the Browns added Flacco. There are still some people dubious that that means really anything that Kirk Cousins could still be in play or shedeur at the top of the second round because they haven't committed a lot of money. And I guess Florio drilled down on the contract for Flacco when it's really only a $3 million deal, which isn't much, although incentives could take it to 13 million. That's not. That ain't happening. So, like, shadow sliding is interesting, but not that bad. And again, as I said at the outset, Dan Marino slid in the draft, Aaron Rodgers slid in the draft, Lamar Jackson slid. They all landed in great spots and had amazing careers. So you don't want to overreact to Shador sliding. I'm personally surprised that he's not going to. All the pundits say you got to take the best player. The best player, like, all right, Abdul Carter is going to be really, really good. I get it. But if you don't have a quarterback, are you doing anything? And the Browns still don't have a quarterback. Don't tell me Kenny Pickett is going to be the starter. If he's a starter for more than like two games, they're screwed. Okay, so she door sliding a little bit. I don't think we should overreact. Let's go to Alex Curry with the news. No, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herd line news.

[Alex Curry]

Now, let's keep talking about quarterbacks, but we're going to talk about the Jags because first year head coach Liam Cohen met with the media earlier this week and noted that he's excited to work with quarterback Trevor Lawrence. And he talked about some of the ways he plans to help Lawrence get better. Take a listen.

[Yovon Buha]

It's not really a change, just tweaking. He's extremely talented and he's made some unbelievable plays in critical moments and led some huge comebacks. He's played hurt. He's done so many good things. Now it's just about, okay, how do.

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We fine tune it and just tighten it up a little bit?

[Yovon Buha]

Being able to give him some balance around him so that he can feel like, man, not every play is on me, right? Not every play I gotta, every throw I have to make is gonna have to be life or death, man. We've gotta create some balance for him.

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So that he can just go play.

[Yovon Buha]

Quieted with a, you know, free of failure and just go let it rip.

[Alex Curry]

I don't know. Every play is on him. When you have the ball and you're trying to make it get like a throw and complete a throw, it's just anything you can do at this point to help make him better, like figure it out and do it. Because Lawrence has not lived up to the expectations he had when he was drafted. When he's been playing, I mean, his last 15 starts, he's 2 and 13 with a 61.3 completion percentage points, passer rating of 83.8. Do you think it's too late for Lawrence or can he turn it around? He's getting paid like a top tier quarterback. He was drafted like a top tier quarterback, but we haven't seen top tier quarterback play from him yet in the NFL.

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That, that looks really bad.

[Alex Curry]

That's what I'm telling you. That's not good.

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But there, you know, there is, there's context needed. You know, he's on what his. This is his third or fourth coach. How many different offensive coordinators, skill position players are up and down. He has not been great. He's had some injur. Yeah.

[Alex Curry]

All hearing are excuses opposed to like seeing results.

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Okay. Who would you rather have going into the season? Tua or Trevor Lawrence?

[Alex Curry]

Tua.

[Yovon Buha]

Whoa.

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Jordan Love or Trevor Lawrence?

[Alex Curry]

Jordan Love.

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I'm stunned.

[Alex Curry]

Why they've had success.

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That doesn't past performance doesn't is not an indicator of future success. That's a stock market wisdom saying Alex.

[Alex Curry]

Sure. I don't I've seen the proof though. I haven't seen the proof here we were talking a lot about potential proof.

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[Alex Curry]

Absolutely not. You're living in the past, man. You're living in the past. All right.

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I'm team Trevor Lawrence. Trevor, I got your back, bro. I got you. You're going places this season.

[Alex Curry]

I hope so.

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Better record than the Chief.

[Alex Curry]

I hope so.

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That's too far as I see what R music absolutely not just fell out of that is absolutely insane joke.

[Alex Curry]

Okay good. I was going to say I'm rooting for the check your tab if you really believe that okay, let let's move on to the draft because foxsports.com Eric Williams picked five teams that could draft Jalen Milro. J. Mack, your jets are fifth on the list. Steelers are fourth and the Giants and the Saints and the Browns round out the top three. Where do you think the best landing spot for Jalen Milroe would be?

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Oh, I would love Milroe with the jets, just not at seven. That's a little rich. Is he going to fall to the Jets? Have to trade up to get him. I like Milroe more than most people. Gosh, don't go to the Giants or Steelers. You'll just get ruined. Their Saints are terrible. Yeah, I would take them with the Jet, Jalen. I would.

[Alex Curry]

Not bad. And according to reports by Fox Sports Insider, Jordan Shorts Milro has impressed in private workouts with the Browns and the Saints. He also met with reps of the Steelers and Jets before his pro day and has meetings scheduled with the Giants, Rams and the Seahawks. You're high on this guy.

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We show the video of him running in his underwear. The guy looks like an Adonis.

[Alex Curry]

Wait, what?

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I mean, how do you not it is pro day. He's just sprinting 43740 faster. I mean he's the third fastest quarterback, I think on record after Vick.

[Alex Curry]

Okay.

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And Lamar.

[Alex Curry]

Okay. He's got the dynamics. He's a dynamic quarterback and get the.

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Throwing motion down, you know.

[Alex Curry]

Okay.

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Figure that out. That can't be that hard. You know, these coaches are paid millions of dollars.

[Alex Curry]

Can't be that hard. It's only the hardest thing to do. And the hardest.

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[Alex Curry]

To hit a I Think what they said is, like, hitting a baseball is the hardest thing, right?

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Yeah. Anybody could throw. I mean, Coward was a high school football quarterback.

[Alex Curry]

Oh, don't. You are just shots fired today, Jack.

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Fun. Okay, well, let's end. In New England, Mike Bravel had his first meeting with Patriot players, and there's some mixed reactions from fans and social media from. From what he had to say. Take a listen.

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[Alex Curry]

I love this attitude. I mean, he was the best fit for this franchise as a head coach. He's a legendary Patriots player. He knows what it takes to win. And he had new rules. His new rules are treat all staff with respect, hoodies down during meetings, be on time, and cell phones away during team activities. Those are not bad. Yeah, those are good rules to abide by. I don't. I don't have an issue with him coming in with a strong take and a strong. Like, we want to make you better, and how we make you better is how we make the whole group better. When we make the whole group better, our record and our team is going to be better. But it all starts at the bottom. You do have to respect everybody. You have to pay attention. You have to 100% buy in.

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I listen to that. I would run through a wall.

[Alex Curry]

That's what I was saying. I was like that. That had, like, Campbell vibes to it. You're. You're like, yeah, let's go. It's the grit that's. That's rough. Let's.

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[Alex Curry]

No, they don't, actually.

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They know that take.

[Alex Curry]

Yeah, no one does. J. Mac, you're on an island there. You're on an island.

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Alex Curry with the news. Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the herd lie news. All right, this is exciting, folks. We Got a guest coming on. We're going to bring them on right now. I always butcher his name because I've had him on my podcast. I've seen him in Laker games. He's a tall presence walking around. Yon. Yovon Buha from the Athletic Lakers reporter. Sorry to butcher the name, buddy. Great to see you. This guy, he's phenomenal covering the Lakers and obviously it's a great time to be a Lakers fan. They're going to lock in on the three seed, right? All they need is one win in the final two.

[Yovon Buha]

I think they should lock it in tonight.

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And what do you feel confident about this team heading into the postseason? Only 27 games for Luka in a Lakers jersey.

[Yovon Buha]

I do. I think they're the second best team in the west right now. The only team I would consider taking over them would be Oklahoma City just due to the dominant season that they've had them having home court in that matchup. The Lakers have struggled at times on the road, but right now you look at what they've done post Luca, the offense is finally coming together. It was really the defense carrying them in those early few weeks, but I think they look really good. I mean they were up by one against OKC in the second matchup right before Luka egregiously got tossed in attack. That was.

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You were in the arena?

[Yovon Buha]

I was there, yeah.

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Okay. So you know that meatball stands up, he's yelling at Luca. But the ref was right in the line.

[Yovon Buha]

It was like wrong place, wrong time for Luca of just. He looked back at the fan and the ref was like running right by the fan at that time. So I think the ref thought he was talking to him. But he had also picked up a tech earlier that was not a great arguing on Jared Vanderbilt's behalf. So I mean I, I don't think it's. He's the easiest player to ref, let's say. Right. But you gotta at that point I think just say like my bad and rescind it. But you know, it was.

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They did rescind it after.

[Yovon Buha]

They did rescind it. But in the moment the all the players immediately reacted like, no, he was talking to the fan. He was talking to the fan because he's had a back and forth with that fan going back to the last postseason.

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So when he torched the Mavs. Yeah, yeah, it was awesome. Or when he was with the Mavs torching okc. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. FS1 and Heart Radio app.

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In Mississippi called Yazoo Clay. It's thick, burnt orange, and it's got a reputation.

[Alex Curry]

It's terrible, terrible dirt.

[Larison Campbell]

Yazoo clay eats everything, so things that get buried there tend to stay buried until they're not In 2012, construction crews at Mississippi's biggest hospital made a shocking discovery.

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Seven thousand bodies out there, or more.

[Larison Campbell]

All former patients of the old state asylum, and nobody knew they were there.

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It was my family's mystery.

[Larison Campbell]

But in this corner of the south, it's not just the soil that keeps secrets.

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Nobody talks about it. Nobody has any information.

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When you peel back the layers of Mississippi's Yazoo Clay, nothing's ever as simple as you think.

[Alex Curry]

The story is much more complicated and nuanced than that.

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I'm Larison Campbell. Listen to under yazukle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

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[Alex Curry]

You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.

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[Alex Curry]

Thanks for having me, Jeremy.

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I'm calling you from Atlanta, Georgia.

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All right, let me turn back the clock a little bit. So February, you get word that the trade has happened. Ad for Luca, I need just your initial. Were you like laying in bed going to look what was going down when you heard it and talk to me about that?

[Yovon Buha]

I was at Madison Square Garden. So. Because that was a late game, because it was, it was a 8:30pm Eastern Time game. So the, we cleared the locker room a little after like 11, and it was one of the Lakers best wins of the season. They won in New York without Anthony Davis. That was one of their first big wins with this centerless group that they've been going with. So Max Christie, who ended up getting traded at a really good game that there was the viral clip of like as he's talking to us, they take down his nameplate. And it was completely coincidental of the timing, but it was kind of indicative of what was about to happen. But LeBron, remember, he almost had I think 40 that game. And they looked really good. It was like of their best wins of the season. And then less than an hour after we clear the locker room, the, the, the trade happens. And there was only four of us in the Knicks press room at that time. And someone just yelled out, the Lakers just got Luka. And none of us believed it. And so we, we immediately start like texting people and no one's believing it. And Then all of a sudden, Shams puts out his follow up of this is Real. And then we all start, like, scrambling and it's just a mad dash and we're going around the arena calling people, texting people, and Nick's security is like, no, you can't go here. You can't go there. So it was. It was a while now. I stayed up at that point. It dropped like 12:15am Eastern time. I was up till 7. Whoa. Writing. Then I did my podcast, went live. So it was. It was a crazy night.

[Wendy's Ad]

So a lot of people think LeBron was involved in this, but I don't know. Everything I've heard is he was not involved at all. I don't even think he got a heads up. What do you know about that?

[Yovon Buha]

I don't think he was involved. I know there's been a lot of speculation. I do think the circle was a little bit bigger than what has been indicated, but not by like. Like, I think the respective front office is new to some extent.

[Rocket Mortgage Ad]

Right.

[Yovon Buha]

Because there's been some reporting now coming out that there was some pushback with Nico inside the Mavericks. Like, I think it wasn't literally just like, Rob Pelinka, Nico Harrison and the two owners. I think it was a little bit of a larger circle than that, but. But more so within the respective front offices. But outside of that, I, like, Luka, clearly didn't know. Right. Because you've seen the reactions and the way that the tribute hit him. There's no way that, like, that guy did not know he was getting traded. He was about to buy a $15 million house in Dallas, that he was considering his. His forever house. So, like, he thought he was getting the supermax this summer, buying that house and, like, was going to be a maverick for life. So, you know, I don't think LeBron knew, though.

[Wendy's Ad]

We'll get to the Dallas aspect of it. But I'm curious, what is it like to cover Luka Doncic, be in the locker room with him? He's good in interviews. You know, the English is fine, but I know he's combative on the court and gets like, you know, with the refs, other players, but what's it like covering him on a daily basis?

[Yovon Buha]

I would call him stoic and jovial, like a mix of that. So it depends on if it's a win or a loss. Yeah, but he's completely off the court. He's much more introverted and quiet and he'll crack some jokes every now and then. But the fiery, expressive personality that you see on the court, that's not how he is off of it. And he kind of talks about that duality of flipping that switch, being a killer on the floor, and then off the floor, he's much more laid back, we'll say. But he's been fun cover. He did say a few weeks ago that he's like, I like short answers. So he's efficient with his answers to us. He tries to keep it like one to three sentences.

[Wendy's Ad]

I appreciate that. So let me ask. It's weird. We've talked to you for five minutes and we've barely mentioned LeBron James, who I think is the greatest player in NBA history.

[Yovon Buha]

I agree.

[Wendy's Ad]

And that kind of says where we are. But what. Have you seen a different LeBron since the trade? Because it, you know, if that last game against Dallas is any indication, they're going to ride Luka early with a dose of reaves, and then LeBron's your closer, because that seemed to be the case against Golden State about eight days ago when they lost the game.

[Yovon Buha]

Yeah, I think Luka and LeBron complement each other well, because you see with Luka, he gets off to these really big first quarters, first halves, and if you actually break it down by points per quarter, he's at like 30, 40% more points in the first quarter compared to each other quarter. So he's at about like 10 points a game in the first quarter. So he's. He's often setting the tone early, and then he likes to have defenses overreact and just kind of freak out to that. Then you start seeing the doubles, the blitzes, and then he picks you apart with his passing. LeBron's the opposite. LeBron likes to pick his spots early, and then when everyone's tired, he goes to that extra gear in the fourth quarter. And then you saw it in the Dallas game. He had 13 points in that fourth quarter and really sealed it as Dallas. They made a little run there to regain the lead. Then LeBron took over and the Lakers won that one. So I think that that kind of combination of Luka's hitting you early and then LeBron comes in for the haymaker late. And look, Luka is capable. I mean, he's one of the. The most clutch players in the league. He's capable of taking and making big shots. But, like, I. I think that that's kind of been the way they've been going about it.

[Wendy's Ad]

Yeah, we could roll back the Rudy Gobert tape.

[Yovon Buha]

Yes.

[Wendy's Ad]

Oh, that was epic. I was actually at a Laker. I think that was at a Lakers game when that happened. Or maybe I was at. Oh, no, it was a Sparks game. It was. I was at like a Sparks Caitlyn Clark game when I went down. Saw that on. Let me ask quickly about Austin Reeves and how he fits in here. I've been pushing him on Cowherd for a while. Cowherd's been like a little overrated. Then I came on here and said, I think Austin Reaves is at least as good as or better than Mark Price, who may have been before your time in Cleveland. And all these people are like, no, no, no, Mark Price, come on, he was an all star. Austin Reeves is underrated and he's on an amazing contract. What's it like, him fitting in with these two icons?

[Yovon Buha]

It's been incredible because on paper you thought that Austin would have to take a bit of a step back because since the D'Angelo Russell trade, he has really amped up his usage, his efficiency, his production. And the first few games, there were some growing pains there where he had a lot of turnovers. He struggled against some more athletic backcourts. But from that point on of like early January, he's been playing at an all star level and really looking at the last 15. He's 25, 5 and 5 with like efficient shooting. So it's been interesting to see like with Luka coming, things have actually increased for Austin in terms of his role in his usage, his field goal attempts and all that. So I think it's actually been LeBron who's taken a little bit more of a step back and been playing a little bit more off the ball. Austin and LeBron have a really good two man games, so he comes up and screens for Austin and I think they're still kind of working that out with LeBron and Luka. But Austin's been great and he's making $13 million a year, so that's one of the best contracts.

[Wendy's Ad]

He seems super happy to be here. Like, you never see him frowning or anything. Let me ask, I made a case earlier this week that the Lakers have like a bit of a. They appear to be villains, right? LeBron's a flopper. Luka argues and yells at refs. And then there's just a Laker narrative who. We hate the Lakers and they get gifted. Luka, Doncic and it feels like going to the playoffs. We know he's got beef with Dylan Brooks, Desmond Bain, Draymond Green. Every team has had like their moments.

[Yovon Buha]

With these guys, beef with everybody.

[Wendy's Ad]

Do you think they are kind of the villains of the league.

[Yovon Buha]

You could say that. I mean, I think the Celtics are up there too. You know, I think there's just some natural also because of how many Laker fans, they're just are everywhere like that. The Celtics naturally become the villains, but also they're the defending champs. So I think that that plays a part. But yeah, I mean, I think so. Like, Luke has beef with everybody and the Lakers by nature have now inherited beef with everybody. So. And I thought it was funny with the, the tribute video, but when we asked him after the game what was your favorite moment from the tribute video?

[Wendy's Ad]

He.

[Yovon Buha]

He said the Rudy go. And I was like, this guy's diabolical.

[Wendy's Ad]

He really, he's a killer. I mean, I love him, I guess. My question is Lakers heading into this weekend needing to win or one win to lockdown? One win. Yeah, it looks like they'll play the warriors or Clippers.

[Yovon Buha]

So I did a quick calculation and I think it's going to be most likely the warriors or the Timberwolves, depending on what happens with. Now that's if everything goes chalk because right now some of these teams are resting guys.

[Wendy's Ad]

I just saw that. Yeah.

[Yovon Buha]

So looking at it tonight, every game is. Is easy for the teams in the playoff mix, except for Denver and Memphis. Play in Denver second out of a back to back for Memphis. They just lost last night to Minnesota. Theoretically, Denver should win that game. They're fighting. If Denver wins out, they're going to be the four seed and kind of salvage what's been a pretty rough season for them. But looking at it, I think it's going to come down to Clippers versus Warriors. And if the Clippers won that game, Lakers will play the Timberwolves. If the warriors win that game, the Lakers will play the Warriors. Huh.

[Wendy's Ad]

Who scares you more? Well, that's tough for me to ask you, but who do you think is a tougher matchup for the Lakers, warriors or Timberwolves?

[Yovon Buha]

Warriors. I think that the warriors are. I mean we just saw them beat the Lakers, so there is some recency bias there with that.

[Wendy's Ad]

But.

[Yovon Buha]

But I just think their switching scheme, the Lakers offense has gummed up at times against switching schemes. I think draymond at the 5 is a look where they've really picked on big men lately. I think one of the most encouraging things for the Lakers is they've gone up against Memphis and Houston and OKC and now just Dallas, some of the biggest teams in the west and they've been able to play their double big lineups off the Floor because Luka and Austin and LeBron can go mismatch hunting. You can't do that as much against Golden State because it's not a mismatch against Draymond Green. So I think them, with their motion offense as well, that can give the Lakers some problems. They like to play fast, they get out in transition. They're constantly moving and cutting. I think between those two, Golden State's the tougher one.

[Wendy's Ad]

Now, Minnesota did take down Denver last year. Anthony Edwards was amazing. They did have Towns, but I think he got benched in there. Minnesota seems limited offensively, but defensively they got. They could throw McDaniels right and Gobert protecting the rim. That could be a problem for the Lakers.

[Yovon Buha]

Well, that Luca versus Gobert, we've seen that movie before. He wants that. But I'm with you. I think on paper, Minnesota has all of the traits of a team that you think would give the Lakers problems. They got the size, they got perimeter defense, and they got the apex superstar in Anthony Edwards, who we've seen can rise to the moment. However, to your point, I think you can double and blitz and really force the ball out of ant's hands. And then it's like Julius Randle, nas Reed, Jaden McDaniels. Like, I like those guys to an extent. But as the number two option in a playoff series against the Lakers, like, I think the Lakers would have three of the four best players on the court in that series.

[Wendy's Ad]

Yeah, I had a hot take against the Thunder. I think the Lakers have three of the four best players. I'm sorry, I go, Austin, you can make that case over J Dub.

[Yovon Buha]

You can make that. I mean, I, I would probably go J Dub, but, but if Austin outplayed him, I wouldn't be like shocked by that.

[Wendy's Ad]

You think the Lakers are worried about J Dub heading into a playoffs?

[Yovon Buha]

No, they're not. They're not afraid of okc. No one's. To be completely honest, no one's. If you talk to NBA players, they're not afraid of okc.

[Wendy's Ad]

Yeah. What do you make of the whole free throw merchant stuff? I'm sure you've heard it. I'm sure SGA's heard it.

[Yovon Buha]

Yeah, I don't. That I, I, I think is a little bit overblown because even that, that I thought he had a good first game against the Lakers. Like, like they held him to a relatively inefficient night. No, no free throws. But like, even within that, I thought he still got to his spots and, and was, you know, pretty Pretty productive in that game. So I think it's a little overblown. It is an element, but I think Shay's really good, obviously. Top two.

[Wendy's Ad]

Do you have an MVP vote?

[Yovon Buha]

I do.

[Wendy's Ad]

Will you give it to Shay or Joker?

[Yovon Buha]

It's going down to the wire for me. I am leaning Joker.

[Wendy's Ad]

Oh, there we go.

[Yovon Buha]

I don't think he's gonna win. I think Shay's gonna win, but I think it's. We do this thing where like it reminds me of LeBron in his prime where he would have the best numbers and his team would be really good and then we would talk ourselves into another player where it's like Jokic's numbers are the best and his team is really good. And is it as good as it was last season or maybe in previous seasons? No. I also think you can look at like the bench and some of the roster decisions they've made. And clearly the coaching situation was not where it should have been, at least based on the locker room reaction. So I just, I don't want to over complicate it. Like if you pulled all 30 GMs, at least 27 would say Jokic is the best player.

[Wendy's Ad]

Yeah.

[Yovon Buha]

So it's like. And his numbers, Shay's numbers are right there. I'm not like discounting his numbers, but.

[Wendy's Ad]

It'S not a 30 point triple double.

[Yovon Buha]

Yeah, like a 60 point triple double.

[Wendy's Ad]

Oh, 60 point. Yeah, yeah.

[Yovon Buha]

But he had the 30, 20, 20 game as well. Like it's close. I just, I default to the guy who I think is the.

[Wendy's Ad]

While we're on the Nuggets, anything on Michael Malone? I mean, did that shock you or it.

[Yovon Buha]

The timing shocked me. Not like it had been the worst kept secret in the NBA that Malone and Booth had some beef now going for a couple years. So that, that didn't shock me, but the timing of it. To fire your coach. Three games left in the regular season and your gm, you know that.

[Wendy's Ad]

So are they less dangerous or more dangerous now? Because they're going to be. They're going to look different. They did the other night playing starting picket Westbrook a lot fewer.

[Yovon Buha]

A lot fewer minutes. I mean, honestly, I think if you play Westbrook less, they get a bit more dangerous. I think Jamal Murray is the wild card there, but with his health and whether he's going to be back for the first round series. But depending on how things shake out, it's looking like they can lock up the four seed. And if they lock up the four seed, I would likely favor them in round one. Problem Is then round two, you get okc.

[Wendy's Ad]

Yeah.

[Yovon Buha]

They didn't match up with as well last year. I think it's been a little bit of a better matchup this year, but I would favor okc.

[Wendy's Ad]

All right, last one. So the whole Lakers Thunder thing is fascinating to me. I don't know if you. How much you look at the gambling odds, OKC to win the west is like minus 150. Right. The Lakers are like plus 600. And that to that disconnect to me is crazy.

[Yovon Buha]

Yeah.

[Wendy's Ad]

Because the numbers, regular season numbers, OKC is awesome. But the eye test and knowing Luka and LeBron, I'm like, I like the Lakers in that series. I'm curious, would you like down the stretch of games we know the Lakers are going to have four awesome guys on the court. Right. And maybe the fifth is like whoever's hot. Gabe Vincent one day, maybe Goodwin, whatever. I don't know what OKC does down the stretch. Who are their five core guys? Because they can't play the two bigs against the Lakers.

[Yovon Buha]

You're not going two bigs. You're probably going Shea, Dort, J Dub, Chet. And then that fifth guy might be a rotating. But between.

[Wendy's Ad]

Is that enough shooting?

[Yovon Buha]

Wallace or Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, something like Ken Richard, like, I mean, Caruso.

[Wendy's Ad]

You spent all this money.

[Yovon Buha]

Caruso could be, could be the other guy. I think there could be some spacing concerns a little bit, but. But you know, Caruso is one of the best premier guys.

[Wendy's Ad]

He's good.

[Yovon Buha]

I would assume it's probably Wallace, but. But Wallace or Caruso. Yeah, that's a good call. Yeah. For the Lakers, like, I think their closing lineup is going to be DFS, Rui, LeBron, Austin and Luka. That lineup has been crushing it on both sides. And I just, I don't know how you match up with it because the way they're able to space you out and they can pick and pop with Rui or dfs, have the other guy in the corner and they could obviously run two or three man actions. With Luka, LeBron and Austin, it's like basically unguardable. And then defensively, those lineups have been really, really good. And you saw it against AD. They took AD out of that game. They had 13 points. So they're doubling and swarming and like.

[Wendy's Ad]

Are they kind of built like the Celtics a lot of length and wings a little bit?

[Yovon Buha]

I, I could see it. I. I mean, I think obviously Boston, Boston's got like half of Team USA on their team, so yeah, it's it's a little different, but I, I, I think that's the, the team to me that, like, is the toughest matchup for the Lakers because they can switch.

[Wendy's Ad]

Yeah.

[Yovon Buha]

And they have so much from their athleticism, length in defense that obviously, like, you know, they're the defending champs for a reason. But that'd be a fun Finals, certainly.

[Wendy's Ad]

All right. Yovon Buha, amazing stuff covering the game tonight. I guess I will be there. Lakers rocket, say hi to him. He's a nice guy. Walks around the concourse. I've seen him out there. Great stuff. Coming up next year on the show. My AFC playoff teams kind of set the Internet on fire an hour ago. I'm getting a lot of heat, folks. The Chiefs are not making it. That's next. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[Rocket Mortgage Ad]

Hey, it's Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis, and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio.

[Wendy's Ad]

You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio.

[Rocket Mortgage Ad]

And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich?

[Wendy's Ad]

We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world.

[Rocket Mortgage Ad]

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

[Wendy's Ad]

For the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right?

[Rocket Mortgage Ad]

So check us out. We like to get you involved, too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say.

[Wendy's Ad]

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

[Rocket Mortgage Ad]

Be sure to check out Casual Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific.

[Wendy's Ad]

And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast.

[Rocket Mortgage Ad]

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

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Equal housing lender licensed in all 50 states. NMLS consumeraccess.org 3030 there's a type of.

[Larison Campbell]

Soil in Mississippi called Yazoo Clay. It's thick, burnt orange, and it's got a reputation.

[Alex Curry]

It's terrible, terrible dirt.

[Larison Campbell]

Yazoo clay eats everything, so things that get buried there tend to stay buried until they're not. In 2012, construction crews at Mississippi's biggest hospital made a shocking discovery.

[Wendy's Ad]

7,000 bodies out there or more, all.

[Larison Campbell]

Former patients of the old state asylum, and nobody knew they were there.

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It was my family's mystery.

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But in this corner of the south, it's not just the soil that keeps secrets.

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Nobody talks about it. Nobody has any information.

[Larison Campbell]

When you peel back the layers of Mississippi's Yazoo Clay, nothing's ever as simple as you think.

[Alex Curry]

The story is much more complicated and nuanced than that.

[Larison Campbell]

I'm Larison Campbell. Listen to under yazukle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Restaurant Host]

We live in a divided country.

[Wendy's Ad]

I am a lifelong Republican with all.

[Restaurant Host]

Kinds of different people.

[Alex Curry]

You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.

[Restaurant Host]

That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices, not from the extremes, but from the vast middle, into the national conversation.

[Wendy's Ad]

Anna, I'm calling from Las Vegas.

[Restaurant Host]

Each week we bring together an all star panel. Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the Middle.

[Alex Curry]

Thanks for having me, Jeremy.

[Restaurant Host]

Neil Degrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle.

[Wendy's Ad]

Thanks for having me.

[Restaurant Host]

And hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country on the most important issues.

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Hi, my name is Venkat.

[Yovon Buha]

I'm calling you from Atlanta, Georgia.

[Restaurant Host]

And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news.

[Wendy's Ad]

We should be examining what our government spends its money on and are these jobs necessary?

[Yovon Buha]

And what are we doing here? But that doesn't seem to be what.

[Wendy's Ad]

We'Re doing in this situation.

[Restaurant Host]

Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Wendy's Ad]

Great stuff from Yovon Buha. He, like Alex Curry, will be talking to Cooper Flag after the show. I didn't get the invite, people, but I'm out anyway. So, Mr. Cooper, you should ask him. Yeah, Cooper, you. What do you know about Utah? Or would you rather be in Utah or Chicago?

[Alex Curry]

I. You know what? I think you just focus on, like, being that number one overall pick and just being excited about that. But, no, I'm excited. He's 18. Like, Cooper Flag is 18.

[Wendy's Ad]

When I was 18, I just wanted to be in LA.

[Alex Curry]

His life's about to change forever. So I'm excited. I'm excited to talk to Cooper Flag.

[Wendy's Ad]

So during the break after that great interview with. I'm hyping my own interview. That's bad. I just like Yovon. He's good. So I get a text from Eddie House, who was on the show this week. The staff's like, what do you say? I'm like, I'm not telling you. I'll reveal it on air. Here we go. Eddie House. No way. You just said Austin Reaves is better than Mark Price. Mark Price played defense. Austin Reeves is a liability on the defensive end. I call bs. Austin Reaves is a good defender. Not great. But I'll tell you this. Give me six seven Mark Price and his length on defense over six one Mark Price. Austin Reeves better defender than Mark Price. I'm sorry, Eddie House. I'll take Austin Reeves any day of the week. All right. Gosh, it's a good way to end the show. Eddie House texting me, upset. He's a good dude, by the way. So let's put up our AFC playoff teams hour. Sorry, Alex, for lumping you in with that. No, my.

[Alex Curry]

Do not put me in this.

[Wendy's Ad]

Okay, Alex, give me your seven. Let's hear him. You're seven in the afc.

[Alex Curry]

No time to prepare this, but let me hold it. Let me. Let me pull it up.

[Wendy's Ad]

Yeah, hold on. Bill's obviously Ravens. I'll give you those. Yeah, I think everybody has Texans, so there's three layups.

[Alex Curry]

I can't believe you have the Patriots in there.

[Wendy's Ad]

I'm blaming Cowherd for that one. They. They. He loves them.

[Alex Curry]

Chiefs. You got it. Chiefs are division winners. For me, Like, I bet you. I don't. I don't. I don't have the Chargers as division winners. I have the Chiefs in there. I have the Bengals in there. I think they're going to improve like that. We were seeing. We're finally seeing a healthy burrow and he had like, one of the most insane personal season. Just like, couldn't get behind him. And they just signed both their guys. So they're gonna be fine. Like, I won't argue, but I'm gonna put. I'm gonna put the Chiefs as division winners and put the Chargers in the wild card and take the Patriots out.

[Wendy's Ad]

I don't know why you like everything except one.

[Alex Curry]

Yeah, not bad. Gosh, not bad.

[Wendy's Ad]

I just.

[Alex Curry]

I cannot believe you don't have the Chiefs in there and you put the Patriots in there.

[Wendy's Ad]

Overrated. No, they're. Excuse me, sir.

[Alex Curry]

I don't think anybody is going to agree with you on that one.

[Wendy's Ad]

Oh, Mahomes is going to prove me wrong. He always does. As he super bowl when the Eagles spanked him.

[Alex Curry]

Okay. One game.

[Wendy's Ad]

One game.

[Alex Curry]

And you're going to discount the three Super Bowls they've had since 2019, being a dynasty, being the best quarterback, coach duo in the league during his time in the league. He is the best quarterback in the league and he just. They had an off game.

[Wendy's Ad]

Well, he wasn't the best quarterback last year. Josh Allen and Lamar doesn't have to be.

[Alex Curry]

Statistically, it has to be what you're able to do in the moment, winning games, which is what they've done.

[Wendy's Ad]

Super bowl could not deliver in the.

[Alex Curry]

Okay, but who else. Who else playing right now has won three Super Bowls since 2019? I just.

[Wendy's Ad]

I live in the now. I live in the present. I don't want to go back to.

[Alex Curry]

The past about it.

[Wendy's Ad]

I'm living in the present, Alex. Oh, gosh, I love me some Chiefs bashing in. All real talk, smoke and mirrors. Last year point differential was poo poo. I'm just. I'm keeping it real with you guys. They're going to have some bumpy moments this season for the Chiefs. It would be okay if they regress. By the way, when I was watching the super bowl and Cooper DeJean got that interception, he started running it back. I'm standing up, freaking out. It was joyous with the family. Folks, it's been a phenomenal week. Cowherd's back Monday. Alex, enjoy your weekend. I will enjoy my weekend. And next week off, everybody be safe out there. Go Lakers.

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[Larison Campbell]

In Mississippi. Yazoo clay keeps secrets.

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7,000 bodies out there or more.

[Larison Campbell]

A forgotten asylum, cemetery.

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It was my family's mystery.

[Larison Campbell]

Shame, guilt, propriety. Something keeps it all buried deep. Until it's not. I'm Larison Campbell, and this is under Yazoo Clay. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Restaurant Host]

We live in a divided country, and our media couldn't be more polarizing. That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation. Each week we hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country. And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news. Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're gonna be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.