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- [00:00]
Podcast Narrator
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:02]
Colin Cowherd
Guaranteed Human security usually means extra steps and complications, but with Apple Pay, secure payments are simple. Your transactions are authenticated with face id, touch ID or passcode, so security is built in when you check out. Plus, your name isn't shared with merchants and they don't see your actual card number. Whether you're shopping in store online or an app, protecting your money should be simple. Pay the Apple Way terms apply
- [00:34]
Rick Pitino
on
- [00:35]
Podcast Narrator
the Adventures of Curiosity Cove podcast. What if the Right Fit isn't what everyone expects? In the case of the Right Fit, Ella explores movement, confidence, and belonging, and learns that not all strength looks the same. This Women's History Month story introduces kids to women who change sports by trusting themselves and moving differently. Listen to Adventures of Curiosity Code every Monday from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts on the Cino Show Podcast.
- [01:06]
Rick Pitino
Each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations about recovery, resilience and redemption. On a recent episode, I sit down with actor cultural icon Danny Trejo talk about addiction, transformation and the power of second chances. The entire season two is now available to binge, featuring powerful conversations with the guests like Tiffany Haddish, Johnny Knoxville, and more.
- [01:25]
Colin Cowherd
I'm an alcoholic and without this trope, I'm gonna die.
- [01:29]
J. Mack
Listen to Cino's show on the iHeartRadio
- [01:31]
Rick Pitino
app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [01:35]
Podcast Narrator
When segregation was a law, one mysterious black club owner Charlie Fitzgerald had his own rules. Segregation in the day, integration at night.
- [01:44]
Rick Pitino
It was like stepping in another world.
- [01:47]
Podcast Narrator
Was he a businessman? A criminal? A hero?
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Colin Cowherd
Charlie was an example of power. They had to crush him.
- [01:55]
Podcast Narrator
Charlie's Place from Atlas Obscura and visit Myrtle Beach. Listen to Charlie's Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [02:04]
Colin Cowherd
Thanks for listening to the Heard 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. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. Hour number two on a Wednesday, one hour from now, one hour from now. First 15 minutes of the final hour, I am going to do my first round mock draft. If I was a general manager of each team, what would I do? We did it last year. Last year we Had a couple of hits. There's obviously Fernando Mendoza going to the Raiders number one. So we're one for one. But what would I do based on need ownership? There has been a big trade this morning in the NFL. The Los Angeles Rams had two first round picks. I believe if it was a great quarterback draft they'd take one with the second pick and put them on the shelf for two years behind Matt Stafford. It's not so what the Rams are telling you is we are going for it and we're going to re sign Matt Stafford and we're giving up a first, a fifth, a six and a third next year. So that tells me they're going to sign Matt stafford to a two year deal. Trent McDuffie, who is a Pro Bowler excellent, could be even better with the Rams because they have a more consistent pass rush and the Rams have drafted defense so well but they've never held corner in terribly high regard. They really build their front and so and there's a couple of nice first round corners. One at a lsu, really good player and you know, they may not want to take a risk on that. They're going to keep their first pick in the first round, they're giving up the second. And the Chiefs are basically saying Patrick Mahomes just sent out a Tweet. Damn. Because McDuffie after Mahomes is probably their best player. But Brett Veets, the Chiefs gm is telling you, listen, we're getting old and then our young guys aren't great, they're good. So now they've got two firsts. I think they're going to go get a tackle and I think they're going to try to get a corner and then I think they have to supplement their front seven. And Chris Jones had a down year. So I think what Kansas City is doing is smart. We, we've said this. You start paying Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes. If you don't have a quarterback or a team friendly deal, this is what happens. You have to let go of great players. So the Rams, who I think have a much better roster this morning than the Chiefs, are adding an element to it. And the Chiefs are, I wouldn't say a rebuild with Andy Reid and Mahomes, but right now in their division, I don't think they have the roster of Denver and I'm not sure they have the roster of the Chargers. Well, we're getting ready for March Madness. St. John's has split with UConn. They came back from 12 down to beat Georgetown last night. They're 24, 6 and they're a legendary coach. 38 years coaching basketball. Rick Matino is now joining us live. And last night, this is very fun because, you know, we were talking about this a second ago. You know, they want to expand the tournament. And I'm like, it used to be 64. It started on Thursday. I could fill out my bracket. It was easy. And then they've got the first four and it screws me up a little bit. And I don't know about these teams. I like the certain sanctity of like, listen, I'm for inclusion, But I think 64 is a big fat number and 68 is a big number. What is your general take on expanding it even further?
- [05:50]
Rick Pitino
Well, I guess it would come down to what's the reason for expansion? Is it to make sure if a St. Louis is undefeated and people are somehow thinking of not putting them in the tournament if they get knocked out of their bracket? I think that's absurd. You know, any team that goes undefeated, I don't care what level you're at, you deserve an NCAA bid. You got to go on the road in front of a hostile crowd every single night. And whoever may be Miami of Ohio is another example. Miami of Ohio I think is undefeated. They without question deserve a bid if they go undefeated.
- [06:25]
Colin Cowherd
Right. So I think last time I had you on, we talked about this, I think NIL is great for college basketball. And I told Adam Silver when he was on this show, stop demonizing college basketball. The coaching's better. The swag, the nutrition, they get paid now. And the other thing is they have to play in environments that you don't get in the G League. I mean, you're playing in Madison Square Garden, you're playing it in Kansas. These are NBA level intensity. And I'll tell you, last year's draft was great. I mean, it's a. I didn't know Con Canepa was that good. I knew Cooper flag was good. This draft is supposed to be legendary. Are you noticing in the last two or three years what the NIL has done, especially teams like you at the top? Rick, I turned on Michigan, Illinois Friday. Michigan is stacked it. It looks like the top 10 to 15 teams of which you're part of them are noticeably deeper than five years ago. Right. That feels like that.
- [07:19]
Rick Pitino
First, the foreign influence with the NBA as well as college. So if you're a great, I coached in Aikos in the Euroleague. And if you're a basketball player aspiring to go to the Euroleague because the NBA is not right in your reach as a foreign player.
- [07:35]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [07:35]
Rick Pitino
You rather go to college. It pays almost twice more than the euroleague. Unless you are the first or second best player on a euroleague team, the rest of the roster, you could go to college and get paid a lot more money. So college basketball has elevated to a level of great play. Right now you look at Duke, you look at Arizona, you look at Michigan, those are three basketball teams that I look at that can win a national championship because of their incredible talent. Then you have the Connecticut's, the Illinois and people like that that are very, very deep, very well coached and they can win a national championship. So it's a lot of fun. I've never seen college basketball in the last two years this strong. I've been coaching 50 some odd years. But it would have to go back to the Kareem days, the Walton days where everybody stayed in school.
- [08:24]
Colin Cowherd
Yo. I remember though, Bill Walton was arguably the best college basketball player of all time. Went to Portland, won a title with the Blazers and Jack Ramsey, the, you know, European players, the Tony Kukochera, everybody always said they're soft, they're skilled, but they're soft. Well, now you got. They're not. Jokic is bullying people, Lucas screaming at the officials. Giannis is a physical player. What do you think led because. And now you're facing European players regularly. What do you think led to? You know, and I think some of it was fair, more finesse. European players, they're now very physical. What changed over there?
- [09:03]
Rick Pitino
Well, I like European basketball players because they pass, they cut, they really understand how to play ball movement's great. I watched a game and I'm not going to say the team. The other night, it's the first time I said, I can't watch this anymore. It was a west coast team in the pros and it was just back the man in, back the man in, take a fade away, jump shot, get beat in transition. And I said, I can't watch any more of this. There was no ball movement, no player movement whatsoever. And in the Europeans, they used to ball movement, player movement, go to the high posters, center, find the backdoor cutter, set screens, pop out. The ability to shoot the three. For the foreign players on my team, I have a player from Austria, Sweden, Nigeria, Ghana, Portugal, Greece. So it's the foreign influence is here to stay. But it makes the game so much better because they really understand how to play. Now most of them defensively can't guard me, but on offense they're great.
- [10:03]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, well, they have to play against older Men. I mean, to be honest with you. So it's now. Now Steve Kerr has lamented the aau and, you know, we've had some, you know, domestic players, John Morant, Zion, who were gifted but haven't kind of panned out. Although this year's draft, it looks like the domestic players are crushing. Is there, you know, when Kerr bangs on a basketball, I mean, just look at your roster. It's full of European and. And global players. How is the domestic product to you right now?
- [10:32]
Rick Pitino
Well, the easiest thing to do is blame the AAU system. And I'm not one of those people that do that. I would rather blame parents than I would aau. I think parents today are way too involved in their children's careers as far as growing up. The parents need to just sit in the stands, enjoy the game and let the kids develop and develop a love for the game. Twenty years ago, I never dealt with parents. I'm very lucky. I've got parents that are disciplinarians. They get after their kids. But the ones that aren't hurt much more than aau, they want to. Okay, let's go to a different school next year because you can make 300,000 more. No, let's grind it out where you're at and play for Tom Izzo and play for this person and play for this guy because he's going to make you a terrific basketball player with discipline and character.
- [11:23]
Colin Cowherd
You know, Rick, it's pretty amazing. You've got players from several continents and I'm sure with some. There can be semi language barriers and yet enough. If you watch St. John's play. Defense is all about communication and effort. And your teams play defense. How do. It's kind of fascinating to me how do you. With some. Sometimes language barriers and, you know, you got older players, younger players. This guy's from Ghana. This guy can be from Chicago. How do you make it? What do you. How do you tie the string and make it work?
- [11:54]
Rick Pitino
Yeah. One weak link kills your defense. I have a young man, Leftis. He's Greek. I can't say his last name, but I call him Lefty. And I said lefty. Look, do me a favor. Communicate defensively. That's the key to our defense. Tell him to down it. Tell him to switch it. Tell him. Bring him my way so we can switch it. I said, just talk and communicate defensively. I don't care if you do it in Greek. Open your mouth up and talk defensively. And that's the biggest problem I have with the European basketball players. They don't verbally communicate as much as.
- [12:26]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, so we're a couple of weeks away from March Madness. The old cliche is it's guard play. And. And, you know, it's. I mean, years ago I went back and I looked at the numbers. You don't necessarily have to be playing great going into the tournament. It's a little bit of a myth. We've seen teams that cool off. I remember that Florida Gator, Billy Donovan team, the one back to backs. They lost a game late, if I recall. They flew through the tournament. Fuzzy memory. But if I recall, that's what happened. You tell me last night, you almost lose. You come back to Georgetown. Should I look if a guy is filling out a bracket to you, Guard plays essential. What is something in the tournament that guys like me don't discuss but you're always at sneaky important.
- [13:11]
Rick Pitino
Well, first thing you have to look at is free throw percentage. It's always going to come down to making your free throws at the end of a game. And God play is the second most important thing. When you look at, say, Florida right now, Florida right now is a team middle of the season because of all the new players in the backcourt. They weren't playing great. Now they are. And you have to look at Florida as one of the favorites to repeat as national champions because their front court is so good and now their backcourt has come on. So when you look at Florida, Arizona, Michigan and Duke and teams of that caliber, you see they have great God play and they can make their free throws. If you have a team that doesn't make free throws, they can't win six games. Can't. Because it's going to come down to free throws in about 40, 50% of the games.
- [13:59]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. You know, a lot of guys, Roy Williams, coach K. Jay Wright, they're like, yeah, I'm done. I did it. And you're like, no, I'm going to go to St. John's I'm going to go play at Madison. I think you've had like 10 or 11 games at the MSG. You have great energy still. You're smiling, you're happy. Do you think some of your ability to remain viable is the fact that you're not a. You don't. You have an interesting balance. I don't see a lot of rigidity, but I do see you're demanding. You're demanding without rigidity. And I think it's part of your personality. I mean, it's. Why have you lasted this long and why do you still have great energy.
- [14:41]
Rick Pitino
Well, I think I took two years off of coaching. I didn't think I was going to get back in the game and wound up going upon it. Tonight goes in Greece and had a blast doing that. I think being adaptable is key. I'm coaching 50 years now. I met with one of my players, Joe Sanone the other day and I said, listen Joe, I may be 73, but I act like I'm 43. I've heard every story from every player. There's nothing you can tell me that I haven't heard. I said, so if you got a problem, if you want to get something off your chest, tell me. I'm going to act like a 43 year old for you. So, you know, I think I can adjust to just about anything because you have to adjust today. You see it all the time in the game. I've seen the game change from Bobby Knight total motion to a triangle offense that we saw Phil Jackson in the NBA look at. Everybody would copy the triangle offense. Now it's big men stepping away from the basket and shooting threes playing five out. So it's all changed. But you have to change with the times because it's all different. No different than the NFL. The way the NFL game is played, it used to be running back off tackle, Jim Brown running off tackle and taking people with him and now it's wideouts more than anything else. So all the sports change. The coaches that don't want to change get out. And I wasn't ready to get out because I took two years off and my golf wasn't very good. Some of the things going to the racetrack, I was losing too much money. So I like to keep the money in my pocket and coach basketball.
- [16:18]
Colin Cowherd
Were you betting the ponies in Greece by the way?
- [16:21]
Rick Pitino
No, no, this was in Miami. I was going once or twice a week to Gulfstream and giving my deposit to them to keep the economy moving.
- [16:32]
Colin Cowherd
Beautiful part of Florida by the way. Rick has always an absolute pleasure. Great stuff. Good luck to St. John's Thanks.
- [16:39]
Rick Pitino
Colin, good speaking with you.
- [16:40]
Colin Cowherd
All right. Always entertaining. I mean he's just got great energy. It's like you can see why I can recruit. He's got great energy and I love. He's got players from Ghana overseas, he's got players from here. That's fun. J Mack got to hit your free throws, cross the T's, dot the eyes and hit your free throw. Glean any information for your tournament?
- [17:00]
J. Mack
Yeah, I'm going to fade his gambling ponies picks and become extremely wealthy. I will say you're point about the energy. I wanted to look up his age. 73 years old. That's impressive. You know, a lot of our elected officials, they get late 70s and it's like, oh boy, here we go. This guy at 73, he's still got it. St. John's not a bad team this year.
- [17:19]
Colin Cowherd
No, it's not bad at all. They split with UConn. Indeed. There you go. We got a lot of stuff. Oh, I got a top of next hour. Not messing around. Very excited for this. My mock draft. I fired up. I'm going to throw you a curveball at the number two pick and it makes a lot of sense. Don't scoff the number two pick. Don't believe what you're reading on these mock drafts. I'll tell you what the jets are going to do and what they should do. That's coming up one more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Hey, it's Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington from the Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio. And in addition to hearing us live weeknights from 7 to 10pm Eastern on Fox Sports Radio, we are excited to announce brand new YouTube channel for the show.
- [18:15]
J. Mack
That's right, you can now watch the
- [18:18]
Colin Cowherd
Odd couple live on YouTube every day. All you got to do search Odd Couple FSR on YouTube again. YouTube. Just search Odd Couple FSR. Check us out on YouTube and subscribe. This is Lavar Arrington from up on Game. This message is brought to you by Apple Card. It's a great time to apply for an Apple Card. You'll love earning unlimited daily cash on every purchase. That includes 3% daily cash when you buy the latest iPhone and AirPods and Apple. Watch at Apple through this special referral offer. When you get a new Apple Card, you can earn bonus daily cash. To qualify, you must apply at Apple Co. Get daily cash Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City. Branch offer may not be available elsewhere. Terms and limitations apply.
- [19:03]
Podcast Narrator
Usually on this podcast, we'll kill you. We talk about the diseases, infections and biological threats that can make us really sick. But right now we're doing something a little different. We're stepping back and looking at what the human body needs to keep going.
- [19:15]
Colin Cowherd
When you consider what we know about sleep in humans, there's one rule that comes out we are predictably unpredictable sleepers.
- [19:23]
Podcast Narrator
We're talking about why sleep works the way it does why our bodies don't follow neat rules, and why modern life makes rest so hard to come by. The second half of our series takes us to the digestive system with a multi part series on what happens after we eat.
- [19:36]
Colin Cowherd
Okay, I just have to say that
- [19:38]
Podcast Narrator
I All of my favorite words apparently are digestive words. Sphincter, peristalsis, duodenum. It's fascinating, it's funny, and it matters so much more than you think. Episodes of our new series run from January 20 through February 17, with new episodes every Tuesday on the Exactly Right Network. Listen to this Podcast Will Kill youl as part of the Exactly Right Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts on the Adventures of Curiosity Cove Podcast what if the right fit isn't what everyone expects? In the case of the Right F Ella explores movement, confidence and belonging, and learns that not all strength looks the same. Tennis is powerful, fast, focused and kind of fun. Strong swing Ella this Women's History Month story introduces kids to women who change sports by trusting themselves and moving differently. A thoughtful episode about identity, courage, and helping kids discover where they truly belong. So it's okay if I'm not quite sure what my thing is yet. It's absolutely okay when and if you do find a sport you love, you may be the next Gertrude, Tony, or Venus at Curiosity Cove. Listen to Adventures of Curiosity Cove every Monday from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [21:03]
Colin Cowherd
Hi, it's Alec Baldwin. This season on my podcast, here's the Thing, I'm speaking with more artists, policymakers, and performers like composer Mark Shaiman. Once you've established that you have the talent, it's about the hang. It's the pleasure of hanging out with
- [21:18]
Rick Pitino
the people that you're with.
- [21:19]
Colin Cowherd
You know, Rob and I was always a great hang.
- [21:21]
J. Mack
We would sit in kibbutz for hours
- [21:24]
Colin Cowherd
and then eventually get around to the music. That's what I mostly think of when I think of him. The Time Together. Laughing Lawyer Robbie Kaplan the great gift of being a lawyer is the ability to actually change things in our society in a way that very few people can. I mean, you can really make a difference to causes in the United States if you bring the right case at the right time. Marriage equality? Yeah, Windsor's the perfect example. And journalist Chris Whipple. Every White House staffer, they work in a bubble called the West Wing, and it's exponentially more so in the Trump White House. Listen to the new Season of. Here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. All right, top of next hour, I'm all fired up. I'm going to give you first 15 teams in the NFL draft in late April. I'm giving you my mock draft, which is, if I was a general manager, who would I pick based on need function dysfunction? We've had a trade this morning. Rams given up four picks, including a first rounder this year and a third rounder next year for elite corner Trent McDuffie. They've drafted so well on defense, they're not paying. They're spending most of their money on offense, not defense. So now they take a swing on the defensive side. Here is J. Mac with the news.
- [22:45]
Rick Pitino
No, no, no, no.
- [22:47]
Colin Cowherd
Heard on the news.
- [22:48]
J. Mack
This is the Herd line news. Listen, this month is just going to be so good, Colin. This NFL stuff is coming fast and furious. How about this one? It sounds like Dallas Goddard's time in Philadelphia is done. I know all the hype has been around.
- [23:02]
Rick Pitino
A.J.
- [23:02]
J. Mack
brown. Goddard had 11 touchdowns last year. Yeah, he was awesome in the red zone. They do that little shovel misdirection stuff. And Goddard had a great year. Sounds like he's done that. That, to me, is a shocker. Expected to hit free agency, but instantly the Philadelphia media saying, don't worry, they've got their eyes on. Wait for it. David Njoku, the tight end from the Cleveland Browns, who is a really good athlete, stretch the field kind of guy. I mean, listen, trading Goddard for Njoku, I don't think that's a loss at all.
- [23:33]
Colin Cowherd
Obviously, they're both really good.
- [23:35]
J. Mack
Yeah, they're both. They're. They're not like elite in that McBride upper crust, but they're in the next tier, maybe tier three. Listen, I think that's a good move. And Joku, three seasons has 15 touchdowns, 1600 yards. Goddard has about the exact same production in that time in terms of yards and touchdowns. So I think this would be a good trade. Now, you can't lose Goddard and not replace him. Calcatera, the backup tight end, is fine, but he's no starter. Philadelphia is very interesting, Colin. It almost feels like it's so quiet now. You know, we're manufacturing this AJ Brown stuff every day. There's nothing there. Something's going on. I don't know what it is, but I feel like Philly, we're going to hear like something big here in the coming, coming week.
- [24:16]
Colin Cowherd
Well, I mean, Howie Roseman, in terms of, in league personnel is the, is the trade gm, there's, there's John Snyder drafts better, Howie Roseman makes more deals. And so it wouldn't surprise me, and
- [24:29]
J. Mack
let me remind everybody, there was zero, zero chatter about Trent McDuffie getting traded to the Rams. And then it happened. So the stuff the media's on, maybe not happening. The stuff that's behind the scenes, the media doesn't have that. All right, let's move on to the next one. Colin, that's the Indianapolis Colts, who we usually don't talk about a lot, but they're fascinating with this Daniel Jones situation unfolding. Sounds like they're going to transition tag him, which is interesting. Essentially they're letting him go to market and get a deal to see if another team can offer him. Then the Colts can match that. If nobody offers him and who's offering him? Coming off an Achilles, he's going to miss at least half the season. Right. Because running was one of his strengths, then nobody offers him. They just sign him for 37 mil on a, on a one year deal, which I think is fine. Yeah, I think this is a huge win for the Colts.
- [25:20]
Colin Cowherd
That mid-30s number for, for Daniel Jones is a very reasonable number.
- [25:26]
J. Mack
And I'm sure Jones is ticked off because he wanted some more security, but sorry, man, them's the breaks. You got injured. What can we do? We're not giving you a multi year deal. What if you don't come back from the Achilles?
- [25:36]
Colin Cowherd
I think he's been more than fairly compensated for his production. I thought he was very good at the beginning of last year. He's a big, strong, sturdy kid who can move. I mean, it's fine. I think that if the number's 36, 37, that's where it should be. You can win games that doesn't, you know, choke you out on other players. So yeah, I like that.
- [25:56]
J. Mack
And if we remember a couple other quarterbacks coming off Achilles, I think Kirk Cousins, Aaron Rodgers, they did not look good the year coming back. Now they're obviously older, but Jones mobility is a huge strength and I'm just not optimistic that he comes back strong. It's almost more interesting. Do the Colts go after a Kyler
- [26:15]
Colin Cowherd
Murray, a tua, a big name or Mac Jones? He may want a new deal, but I, I could see for a year going, what are you, what are you
- [26:25]
J. Mack
giving up for him? Would you give up a second?
- [26:29]
Colin Cowherd
I think it's more of a third. He's a backup. You know, there's a second round pick is a gold bar.
- [26:38]
J. Mack
Wait, he did, he did Be he was a starter in New England and got to the playoffs.
- [26:41]
Colin Cowherd
Well then he, then it stunk and then he went to Jacksonville and disappeared and then so true. Now he's a backup to Brock Purdy. So I'm not giving up a lot of premium picks. If I had to give up a four and a six, I do that for a starting quarterback.
- [26:54]
J. Mack
That's not enough. Don't know.
- [26:57]
Colin Cowherd
Right. There was a report yesterday there's no market for. So you get what you. I mean I guess if I'm San Francisco, Brock Purdy's got a history of getting dinged up a little. I probably wouldn't move him.
- [27:08]
J. Mack
Yeah.
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Colin Cowherd
But you know, again San Francisco, John lynch is hit and miss on the draft and so you know, I mean I, I think Mac Jones starts in this league if he has the right support system and indies O line and run game are excellent. Yeah. So Indy to me works. Shane Steichen, good old line, strong run game. That's where Mac Jones can flourish.
- [27:30]
J. Mack
And what are your outdoor games in in if you're playing in Indy, you, you got to go to Tennessee. That' the weather there is not that bad.
- [27:37]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [27:38]
J. Mack
I think I, I honestly think Kyler Murray could cook there big time indoors. Shane Steichen is an offensive coach like you said, you got the running back who big play guy. I think the Colts, they, they could turn it around next year. Let's finish up calling with the NBA and your boy Kevin Durant chirping as per usual. He loves to Talk Colin about 20 games left before the playoffs and Kevin Durant is now out there saying that the league has great parody that like basically anybody can win the title this year. And I, and I, I'm. I'm curious because earlier in the show you said like four teams can win the title. Kevin Durant's out here saying, you know, essentially it's an open, open chase.
- [28:20]
Colin Cowherd
Well, I mean I, I think like for instance the Knicks defensively can't win the title. The Pistons offensively half court offense can't win the title. Plus they're way too young. Oklahoma City and San Antonio can both win it. No question. It's four. And I would say if Denver got healthy five, they. So to me the three teams that can win it, San Antonio, OKC and Denver. Minnesota put four. Minnesota I don't think now if Tatum comes back to the Celtics then they're the fifth team that can win.
- [28:55]
J. Mack
So you would put the Celtics over Knicks and Pistons.
- [28:58]
Colin Cowherd
Absolutely.
- [28:59]
J. Mack
And in the Vegas lines that the Cavs it might Be not this moment. They were favored in Vegas to come out of the east with the Harden Mitchell combo. So if you want to include those three in the east plus Boston, you're now looking at eight teams. And then you. Let's just toss the Lakers in there too.
- [29:14]
Colin Cowherd
Pistons are not a title team. They're way too young and they have to score in the paint, which is much harder to do against good bigs defensively. And the New York Knicks, although playing well, there's again when you play a five, six or a seven game series and I can hunt your weakness. That's why the Lakers are a pretty good regular season team and the Knicks are a very good regular season team. Jalen Brunson and Cat when I can attack them night after night. And by the way, that's where Jalen Brunson gets worn down in a series because you attack him night after night after night. And by game four in the series, Brunson's offense can start to struggle. So there. I think the Knicks and the Lakers are built for now. I don't think they're built for May.
- [30:01]
J. Mack
Just to put it on your calendar, Lakers at Denver Thursday night. If the Lakers win, I'm already lobbying influential staff members to do the show in a Magic Johnson jersey, you know, trying to show off the guns or Austin Reeves jersey, whatever you guys prefer. Lakers. That's a huge one. The Lakers would overtake Denver in the
- [30:22]
Colin Cowherd
west for the four seats. Let's see what transpires first. Is Jokic playing?
- [30:27]
J. Mack
Jokic is scheduled to play. Everybody's playing except Aaron Gordon who's like the most important guy on Denver.
- [30:32]
Colin Cowherd
Well, defensively he is, yes.
- [30:34]
J. Mack
Oh yeah, he's huge.
- [30:34]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the herd lie news. Tarik Skubal, the back to back Cy Young winner joined us in the first hour. He was great. World Baseball Classic starts tomorrow off the Olympic gold for men and women in hockey. Now it's World Baseball Classic, Team usa, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Google, all there. Rick Patino, top of the hour. And you know we've been on this thing that and Rick Patino talked about it. You've got these Euros, you got kids from all these continents now they can make more money due to nil playing in the States and college basketball than they can unless they're like the number one pick in Europe. All you have to do is turn the TV on. I did last Friday for Michigan and Illinois is like, wow, that was they. Those teams are good and so. And for the record, one of the young stars, AJ DeBonsa at BYU, listen to this quote. I might not leave BYU for the 2026 draft. Here he is. Listen to him. Well, I might not leave. What do you mean? I might not leave college. Why not? No, I just gotta return to the season. So you haven't made up your mind
- [31:59]
Rick Pitino
that you're gonna go into the draft after? Nah.
- [32:00]
Colin Cowherd
Cause my mom wants me to graduate.
- [32:03]
Rick Pitino
Really?
- [32:04]
J. Mack
Yeah.
- [32:04]
Colin Cowherd
So I might not leave. But I might leave. I don't know, you know, the fans might get into my head, talk about,
- [32:12]
Rick Pitino
you know, one more year, maybe three
- [32:13]
Colin Cowherd
more years, I don't know. But I'm have to talk to my mom. For the record, overwhelmingly college athletes like playing college sports. They get well fed, well supported, well marketed, well paid, well coached. Here's what you never hear, man, I may not leave the G League. I'm not going to leave overtime elite. I'm going to stay here. Yeah. And not go to the NBA. You never hear that. But Cooper flag last year is like, I'll be honest with you, I'd love to come back to Duke and this kid could be the number one pick, probably number two. He's like, talk to my mom. But I, I'd have no problem coming back. That's because college football is a great experience for football players and college basketball is a great experience for 18 to 21, 22 year old athletes. So the NBA's demonized it, which makes no sense. But you know, the biggest companies in America love internships. It's a sneak peek on talent you can assess and develop. And that's what college basketball is for the NBA. It's a pathway to professionalism. And you get great coaching and intense environments and Rick Patinos and Tom Izzo. And now I think AJ is going to come out. He's, he's too good to stay in college. I mean, he, you know, he's one of these guys. He and Darren Peterson. You watch about three possessions and it's like, okay, all right, here's Jeff Goodman last week on BYU star got some
- [33:54]
Rick Pitino
Paul George in his game. The big thing, like you said, is the consistency with his shot.
- [33:59]
Colin Cowherd
But man, he can go get one whenever he wants.
- [34:01]
Rick Pitino
I mean, he, he can, he can absolutely just put the ball in his hands and he can, he can get
- [34:08]
Colin Cowherd
to the basket whenever he wants.
- [34:09]
Rick Pitino
And what has really impressed me, and again, seen this kid since 15 years old, back in a U ball, his maturity.
- [34:18]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. So again, he put it out there. I'll talk to my mom, but I'd come back to byu. Nobody ever says that in the G League. I'm going to come back to the G League. I've had offers. I'm staying here. College basketball is a great free marketing platform with better coaching, better environments, better training, staffs more well capitalized. I mean, you know, much free marketing Zion got at Duke or Cooper Flag got at Duke. Pretty obvious it's good for the game. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. This is Lavar Arrington from UP on Game. This message is brought to you by Apple Card It's a great time to apply for an Apple Card. You'll love earning unlimited daily cash on every Purchase. That includes 3% daily cash when you buy the latest iPhone, AirPods and Apple. Watch at Apple through this special referral offer. When you get a new Apple Card, you can earn bonus daily cash. To qualify, you must apply at Apple co getdailycash Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch offer may not be available elsewhere. Terms and limitations apply. Hi, it's Alec Baldwin. This season on my podcast, here's the Thing, I'm speaking with more artists, policymakers and performers like composer Mark Shaman. Once you've established that you have the talent, it's about the hang. It's the pleasure of hanging out with
- [35:45]
Rick Pitino
the people that you're with.
- [35:47]
Colin Cowherd
You know, Rob and I was always a great hang.
- [35:49]
J. Mack
We would sit in kibbutz for hours
- [35:51]
Colin Cowherd
and then eventually get around to the music. That's what I mostly think of when I think of him, the Time together. Laughing Lawyer Robbie Kaplan the great gift of being a lawyer is the ability to actually change things in our society in a way that very few people can. I mean, you can really make a difference to causes in the United States if you bring the right case at the right time. Marriage equality? Yeah, Windsor's the perfect example. And journalist Chris Whipple. Every White House staffer, they work in
- [36:20]
Podcast Narrator
a bubble called the West Wing.
- [36:21]
Colin Cowherd
And it's exponentially more so in the Trump White House. Listen to the new season of here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast on the
- [36:34]
Podcast Narrator
Adventures of Curiosity Cove podcast. What if the right fit isn't what everyone expects? In the case of the Right Fit, Ella explores movement, confidence and belonging and learns that not all strength looks the same. Tennis is powerful, fast, focused and kind of fun. Strong swing Ella this women's History Month story introduces kids to women, women who change sports by trusting themselves and moving differently. A thoughtful episode about identity, courage, and helping kids discover where they truly belong. So it's okay if I'm not quite sure what my thing is yet. It's absolutely okay when and if you do find a sport you love, you may be the next Gertrude, Tony or Venus at Curiosity Cove. Listen to adventures of Curiosity Cove every Monday from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Usually on this podcast, We'll Kill youl, we talk about the diseases, infections and biological threats that can make us really sick. But right now we're doing something a little different. We're stepping back and looking at what the human body needs to keep going.
- [37:47]
Colin Cowherd
When you consider what we know about sleep in humans, there's one rule that comes out we are predictably unpredictable sleepers.
- [37:54]
Podcast Narrator
We're talking about why sleep works the way it does, why our bodies don't feel follow neat rules, and why modern life makes rest so hard to come by. The second half of our series takes us to the digestive system with a multi part series on what happens after we eat.
- [38:08]
Colin Cowherd
Okay, I just have to say that all of my favorite words apparently are digestive words.
- [38:13]
Podcast Narrator
Yeah, sphincter, peristalsis, duodenum. It's fascinating, it's funny, and it matters so much more than you think. Episodes of our new series run from January 20 through February 17, with new episodes every Tuesday on the Exactly Right Network. Listen to this podcast will kill you as part of the Exactly Right Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts set for
- [38:34]
J. Mack
a weekend where IndyCar and NASCAR go back to back on one track. IndyCar on Saturday, NASCAR on Sunday from Phoenix Raceway. It's the Desert Double on Fox and FS1.
- [38:48]
Colin Cowherd
So baseball and football hockey have salary caps, right? To make everybody a little more even. Yet the NBA doesn't have, in my opinion, the same sort of parody that Major League Baseball has. Major League Baseball has no salary cap. And yet the small market brewers can go 6 and oh in the regular season against the Dodgers. The Reds can make the playoffs. The Guardians made the playoffs. The Mariners were outstanding team in Canada doing well. And yet this morning the bottom 10 NBA teams are on a collective 40 game losing streak. 40 game losing streak. So basketball, hey, we're not going to allow tanking. We're going to have a salary cap. We're going to have this new punitive cba. So you can't form super teams. It's not working. The bottom of your league is unwatchable. The bottom 10 teams in the NBA are on a 40 game losing streak. I mean the bottom team in baseball, whatever that team is, the A's are obviously moving so you can kind of take them out for a year. But you know, you start looking around these middle medium sized markets and smaller markets, they're making the playoffs. I mean Pittsburgh's got the second best pitcher in baseball, skeens little old Pittsburgh. So it's just, you know, there's all this worry about major league baseball and the Dodgers are pulling away and as I said, had they lost game seven to the Blue Jays, had they lost it, there wouldn't be this outcry because they signed Kyle Tucker who the Cubs could not get rid of fast enough and is probably the Dodgers seventh best player, maybe eighth. So a lot of it's just fear mongering but the NBA is just terrified of tanking and, and the lottery and the ping pong balls. The bottom of their league is unwatchable. It's awful. Meanwhile, Rick Patino came on and listen, I am pro nil and pro transfer portal. But that doesn't mean it's, it's without flaws. I mean I love the NFL. There are things about it I don't like. I don't think, you know, I think the Pro bowl is unwatchable. I think the preseason's mostly garbage. I'd have more inter squad games. I don't think they should expand the schedule and I wish they could get the catch rule right more often. I'm still confused by it, but college basketball in the nil. The truth is Rick bettina was on 30 minutes ago. It has completely fortified college basketball because they're pulling the best Euros over now.
- [41:43]
Rick Pitino
Unless you are the first and second best player on a Euroleague team, the rest of the roster you could go to college and get paid a lot more money. So college basketball has elevated to a level of great play. It's a lot of fun. I've never seen college basketball in the last two years this strong. I've been coaching 50 some odd years but it would have to go back to the Kareem days, the Walton days where everybody stayed in school.
- [42:08]
Colin Cowherd
And another interesting guest today was Tariq Skubal who's a back to back Cy Young winner with Detroit. So Detroit's made the playoffs as a wild card team. So again another not giant market. There's all this fear in the NBA about, about Teams tanking in the bottom of the league, but the bottom of the league is unwatchable yet. The Mariners, the Brewers, the Reds, the Tigers, you know, playoff teams, Milwaukee. But it's been interesting as you hear labor shortage later, labor stoppage is happening in baseball. Yet every time you ask a non dodger about if they're hurting baseball, Bryce Harper says of the Phillies, I love what they're doing. Manny Machado was briefly a Dodger, now a Padre. Padres number one rival is the Dodgers. He says, I think it's great for baseball. And Tariq Skubal of the wild card Tigers comes on and he thinks the current state of baseball is the best he's ever seen. Our game is in a really good spot. It's healthy. I think the World Series, this last World Series was as good of a World Series as any series. The, the playoffs in general. The fans are showing us that it's great. Ratings are up, attendance is up, everything's there. So I'm not quite sure the frustration is warranted from certain fans. The way the game is right now, it's, it's beautiful. It's beautiful on, on, in every aspect. You know, starting pitching, bullpen work, defense, lineups, all that type of stuff. And the other thing to, you know, the other thing to remember as, whereas the NBA is very concerned about dynasties and Major league Baseball, you hear many decry the dominance of the Dodgers. Yet the most popular sport in America is football. And The Patriots had two 10 year dynasties and the Chiefs had a six year dynasty and it didn't hurt the ratings at all. People want great. You go to a restaurant with your wife, husband, you're ordering the best bottle of wine and you're looking for your favorite thing on the menu. You don't have to love everything on the menu. You don't have to love two bottles of wine other than the one you ordered. People want to see stars. Dodgers lead baseball in road attendance. Yankees, Cubs are up there. People want quality. What kills Leagues is the NBA's bottom 10 teams or the Marlins or the White Sox. That's what hurts. Baseball never hurts to have a dynasty. Never hurts to have dominant teams at the top. So I don't know the solution for the NBA. They've got several regular season problems, but when you hear these baseball players, they all say the exact same thing. And the Dodgers are often a rival. It's great for the sport. Now, I know what you're thinking. Well, of course stars want to get paid. It's a competitive market. Cubs were good last year. They added elements and players. They'll be better this year. Astros will be better. Yankees should be better. Mets have to be better. Padres could be better. Dodgers, will they be as good? I'm not sure. Blue Jays, I'm not sure. So coming up next hour at the top, my mock draft. We have had one NFL trade of note. Free agency is a week away, but everybody's already getting their, you know, their players in order. The Rams went out, they have drafted so well defensively that they're an excellent top five defense and yet don't really pay anybody. Now they will. They gave up a first, a fifth, a sixth and a third next year to get Trent McDuffie an excellent corner. And I think, as J. Mack said this earlier, what it signals is the Chiefs are in a. A very competitive rebuild. It's not a re. It's not a classic rebuild, but it, But I think it's reasonable to say the Chiefs do not feel, despite Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones and Travis Kelsey, the Chiefs do not feel like a Super bowl team with Andy Reid and Mahomes and I think giving up Trent McDuffie on any Sunday, the best player the Chiefs have. They've done this before. They don't value corners like a lot, a lot of other teams. The Rams, by the way, got rid of Jalen Ramsey. Rams generally don't draft corners in the first couple of rounds. They don't. So this is a. A little course correction by the Rams who look at themselves and say, guys, special teams, we need a better punt returner. We've got, we got the punter. We don't have a punt returner. And we've also got to upgrade it corner. And the Rams did it. So it tells you that the Rams still have a first, a second, a third, and I think a fifth and a couple of sevenths. They're going to get a tackle, they're going to get a receiver, they're going to get a safety and maybe another corner. But it, but it tells you the Rams are going for it. And it also, it kind of tells me that the Chiefs realize they may not be in a Super bowl bubble. They're not going to announce it or proclaim it or market it. I mean, Patrick Mahomes tweet, when it came down, he knew he was losing arguably his best teammate. His tweet. One word. Damn. So, and you totally understand why the Rams did this. Go look at what JSN did to the Rams. I think the last time he played, JSN had over 150 yards. They just couldn't, they couldn't do anything. So it is, I think, you know, the Chicago Bears are a great example. This league moves quickly. Yesterday the Bears all pro center Drew Dolman retires at 27. It's like, what, what? So that's why I think the Bears should go out and give up their first round pick for Max Crosby, who was a game altering game. Deciding edge rusher with Montez sweat on the interior. And there you go. You're a Super bowl team, at least in a small group of super bowl bubble teams. So before the trade for Trent McDuffie, the Rams were tied with Seattle for best odds to win a Super Bowl. As of this minute, the LA Rams are now by themselves as the super bowl favorite. So Trent McDuffie solving their number one issue and they don't have a lot in Los Angeles. They've got one corner is a major problem and they've got to clean up their special teams. But the Rams now are favored to win the super bowl, which J. Mac, you. You mentioned about 30 minutes ago. Like they have to be. Seattle's the only roster that doesn't have a hole. Philadelphia. There's an argument Seattle, Seattle lost a lot.
- [48:50]
J. Mack
Colin. The OC's gone. Kenneth Walker's going to be gone. Those are two big losses. I don't know how they're going to react. Rams lost like nothing. Did they? I mean, I know, I know LaFleur who used to work there is now in Arizona. But like they got Cliff Kingsbury at it. Like, I think the Rams are head and shoulders above anyone else in the nfc.
- [49:09]
Colin Cowherd
I don't.
- [49:10]
J. Mack
Are the Bears two or Seattle two?
- [49:16]
Colin Cowherd
I would say Rams, Seattle, Chicago.
- [49:20]
J. Mack
Yeah, those are a pretty clear top three. Maybe packers crack that. I know you're down on the Eagles. I'm just looking at the chief secondary. Okay, Colin, this is not a good secondary. They were 13th in pressure rate. Kansas City is not a good football team right now, period. That's a fact.
- [49:36]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, that's fair. I don't, I don't think that's a sizzle and take. I think they're getting old in key spots and too young in other spots.
- [49:49]
Podcast Narrator
Think Verizon is expensive? Think again. Anyone can bring their AT&T or T mobile to a Verizon store today and we'll give you a better deal. So bring us your bill. Walk in, run in, Hogo sticking, teleport. If you can ride on the back of a rollerblading yak or fly in on the wings of a majestic falcon. Any way you can bring your AT and T or T mobile bill to a Verizon store today and we'll give you a better deal on the best network based on RouteMetric's best overall mobile network performance. US second half 2025. All rights reserved. Must provide very recent postpaid consumer mobile bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply on the Adventures of Curiosity Cove Podcast what if the Right Fit isn't what everyone expects? In the case of the Right Fit, Ella explores movement, confidence and belonging and learns that not all strength looks the same. This Women's History Month story introduces kids to women who change sports by trusting themselves and moving differently. Listen to Adventures of Curiosity Cove every Monday from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts on the Cino Show Podcast.
- [50:51]
Rick Pitino
Each episode invites you into a raw, unfiltered conversations about recovery, resilience and redemption. On a recent episode, I Sit down with actor cultural icon Danny Trejo talk about addiction, transformation and the power of second chances. The entire season two is now available to binge, featuring powerful conversations with the guests like Tiffany Haddish, Johnny Knoxville and more.
- [51:09]
Colin Cowherd
I'm an alcoholic and without this trope, I'm gonna die.
- [51:13]
Rick Pitino
Listen to Cino's show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [51:20]
Podcast Narrator
When segregation was a law, one mysterious black club owner Charlie Fitzgerald had his own rules. Segregation in the day, integration at night.
- [51:29]
Rick Pitino
It was like stepping in another world.
- [51:31]
Podcast Narrator
Was he a businessman? A criminal? A hero?
- [51:36]
Colin Cowherd
Charlie was an example of power. They had to crush him.
- [51:40]
Podcast Narrator
Charlie's Place from Atlas Obscura and visit Myrtle Beach. Listen to Charlie's Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.