THE HERD – Hour 2 – What Happened To Caitlin Clark?

Summary

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THE HERD with Colin Cowherd

Hour 2 – What Happened to Caitlin Clark?
Podcast Date: June 18, 2026
Guests: Ethan Strauss (House of Strauss)

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Herd dives deep into three main themes:

1. The spectacular rise of soccer in America during the current World Cup
2. Key redemption stories and roster moves across the NBA and NFL
3. The shifting public and media perception of Caitlin Clark and WNBA marketing missteps

Colin is joined by sports writer and podcaster Ethan Strauss for a lively, insight-driven conversation weaving through soccer trends, NBA economics, America’s “event culture,” and the Caitlin Clark phenomenon.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Soccer’s Mainstream Breakthrough in America

• Highlighting the World Cup's Massive Impact
  • Worldwide viewership is reaching unprecedented levels; the U.S. vs. Paraguay opener drew around 27 million viewers (06:56–08:35).
  • The episode features the “Super Six” – best goals of the Cup so far (03:19–06:23), with Messi’s magic singled out as a cultural touchstone for American fans.
• Why America Cares Now
  • “This feels right now like the all at once. And Colin, I don’t know if this is just going to be a World Cup thing… This is a new America with soccer finally in the mainstream.” – Ethan Strauss (06:56–08:35, reprised 49:50)
  • Quality and international success of American players (e.g., Balogun choosing the US), technological access, and event-driven sports culture are considered crucial factors.
• America’s Sports Event Mentality
  • “We’re busy, but we’ve become very much an event culture. You put a big event on… If something’s great, people show up for it.” – Colin Cowherd (51:10)

2. NBA and NFL: Redemption Stories, Economic Trends

• Jalen Brunson’s Unlikely Rise and NBA Salary Realities
  • Ethan and Colin discuss Brunson’s leap from under-the-radar player to NBA Finals MVP, echoing the year’s theme of underdog ascendance (09:45–11:49).
  • It’s noted that “to compete, you need a star who gives up money… Jalen Brunson helps teach us that reality.” – Ethan Strauss (11:15)
  • Increasing difficulty for contenders to manage rosters within the salary cap.
• LeBron to Warriors: Rumor or Reality?
  • The idea feels “odd” to Ethan, who doubts both the fan base and Warriors’ core want it, but notes it might be explored for Steph’s late-career window (12:46–13:36).
• NFL Underdogs and Quarterback Markets
  • The discussion extends to Deion Sanders and his son Shedeur, quarterback narratives, and team building quirks (29:29–31:42).
  • “He is the first quarterback influencer. And remember Tebow couldn’t even play… Now you have Shadour in a world of Instagram and TikTok.” – Colin Cowherd (30:48)

3. What Happened to Caitlin Clark? WNBA, Nike & Lost Momentum

The Clark Rollercoaster: From Phenom to Marketing Afterthought

• Nike Shoe Debacle and Missed Opportunities
  • “I just wish that they released it two or three years ago. They missed the boat, Colin… Most famous active women's athlete – where is the sneaker?” – Ethan Strauss (14:29–15:50, reprised 43:49)
  • Nike’s internal politics, delays, and indecision cited as factors that “just a disaster.” Caitlin herself “probably from her end, didn’t push hard enough.”
• WNBA’s Mishandling of a Star
  • Colin and Ethan agree that the league failed to harness Clark’s “lightning in a bottle” moment for lasting growth.
  • “I look at Caitlin Clark now. She doesn’t lead our show like she did a year ago. The WNBA had an opportunity. I think they booted it a little bit.” – Colin Cowherd (13:49)
  • “If the WNBA is going to be in denial of what she means to them, well, other people are going to take the hint.” – Ethan Strauss (15:33)
• Changing Public Sentiment and Media Coverage
  • Clark’s All-Star vote totals and buzz have sharply faded. “Maybe it was a lightning in a bottle sports moment that was never built to endure.” – Colin Cowherd (44:33)
  • Clark’s not viewed as “warm and fuzzy,” and turnover-prone play might be factors, but the main issue is media and league promotion stagnating.
• Comparison to Event-Driven Sports and “Funhouse Mirror” of Social Media
  • Colin notes how sports coverage and fan engagement can warp with social media metrics, whereas real “event” moments draw big numbers regardless (47:50–49:50).
  • “If they’re not promoting her, I just don’t see it being this massive phenomenon…” – Ethan Strauss (15:33)

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Soccer’s American Moment:
  • “That’s how it feels with soccer in the United States. This feels right now like the all at once.” – Ethan Strauss (06:56)
  • “When you get 29 million… that is not like a one-time event like a Super Bowl… those numbers could grow.” – Colin Cowherd (50:17)
• On Caitlin Clark & Nike:
  • “I think the shoe looks great. I just wish they released it two or three years ago. They missed the boat, Colin.” – Ethan Strauss (43:49)
  • “She’s now not even the biggest vote-getter for the All-Star game among her team… It’s fascinating the drop-off with Caitlin Clark.” – Colin Cowherd (41:46)
• On NBA Strategies:
  • “You need… a star who gives up money… and to compete, you're going to need a star to give up money. Jalen Brunson helps teach us that reality.” – Ethan Strauss (10:24–11:15)
• On WNBA Media Choices:
  • “Are they promoting her enough?... Maybe it was a lightning in the bottle sports moment that was never built to endure.” – Colin Cowherd (44:33)

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Opening World Cup Discussion + Top 6 Goals: 03:19–06:23
• Ethan Strauss Interview: Soccer’s Big Moment & American Culture: 06:23–08:35, 49:50–51:04
• NBA Redemption Stories (Brunson, Salary Cap, LeBron): 09:45–13:36
• Caitlin Clark, Nike, and the WNBA: 13:36–16:05, revisited at 41:46–44:33
• NFL/Deion Sanders/Quarterback Talk: 29:29–33:27
• Event Culture & Social Media Commentary: 47:50–49:50

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Tone & Style

The episode is quick-witted, deeply analytical, and maintains Colin’s signature blend of insider perspective and “every fan” accessibility. The guest, Ethan Strauss, brings a journalist’s rigor and dry humor, contributing bold insights and sharp cultural references.

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Takeaways

• Soccer in America is officially mainstream, with viewership data and public engagement at an all-time high.
• Caitlin Clark’s transition from national phenom to a muted sports figure is a cautionary tale about missed marketing and institutional vision, primarily for Nike and the WNBA.
• Star-driven narratives, event-based consumption, and the influence of social media all shape how American sports rise or fade in prominence.
• The sports world’s underdog stories and player-movement economics remain central—whether through NBA salary cap gymnastics or international recruiting coups in soccer.

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Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an I Heart Podcast Guaranteed

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[Colin Cowherd]

podcast network every goal starts with an assist.

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[Colin Cowherd]

to counterattack with fast heartburn relief. Learn how Halion can assist your game day [e-mail] Calm. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

[Colin Cowherd]

World Cup Every single country's got a match in. We've watched them all. The United States, Germany, Argentina and England look really strong. France, Spain, Portugal. Watching the aging of Cristiano Ronaldo, he kind of fell flat yesterday. So we've been doing this at the top of our two. Everybody's played a match. There have been as of five minutes ago, 76 goals scored so far at the World Cup. So here is our super six, the six best goals so far at the Cup.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

Number six, G.

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

Gio Reyna outside of

the booth for post.

Bends it around, heel. Just a sensational goal from Gio Reyna.

[Colin Cowherd]

Number five, Nazrilayev coming across to cover from the left. And still they come again.

[Ethan Strauss]

Luis Diaz on finally and it's Daniel

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

Munoz and Colombia are up and running. 4.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

Victor Lindelof taking Route 1, trying to find Esac. He might be able to get a touch here. Carried away initially.

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

It's Victor Yokorasan is cleared off the line. Still a chance available here for Sweden. What a strike and what a start for the Swedes. And it's Yasin Iari.

[Colin Cowherd]

But what a big moment for the man from Brighton.

[Boost Mobile Commercial Voice]

But this is just quality. An absolute peach of a finish from Yasina Yari.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

Number three, Baligan.

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

Can he get inside? Still balling Flo Baligan.

Just a beauty for a second of the game. Flo Baligan, US 30 in the first half. So dominant.

[Colin Cowherd]

Excellent stuff.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

Number two.

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

Well, MP has another one out of nowhere. Three 1. Some response from Frank.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

What a hit.

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

Mbappe knows exactly what he wants to

do when he turns here.

And what a fantastic goal.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

Number one

[Colin Cowherd]

right up the gut.

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

What a ball that is. Messi on the turn. Options either side lit up. Messi, there's your goal. There's more history. There's the magic man again by Messi

there running at your back line. Good luck. Cuts onto the left foot and he picks out that top corner. And now Messi's on the board.

[Colin Cowherd]

Boy, what a spectacular opening week of the World Cup. And he's a former NBA writer. My favorite podcaster out there, Ethan Strauss, House of Strauss, got his substack fascinating articles this week. All right, so there's going to be. And this is my entire life, there's been people that won't invest in it. They'll mock it. They'll roll their eyes. This feels different. The first half against Paraguay felt different. Does it feel like to you that we've made that soccer's making more of a leap into the mainstream?

[Ethan Strauss]

I think it feels bigger than big right now. You guys must be delighted about it. Over at Fox, the comparison point that I looked at was that in 1994, when the world cup was in the United States and back then we didn't like soccer much, but there was a monoculture and we were going to watch whatever was on TV. The opening USA game against Switzerland got around 9 million viewers, as I'm sure you know, Colin, the opening game against Paraguay, that got around 27 million viewers. That's a different country, that represents a different level of interest. And it feels like it's all coming together. Like they say about aging or going broke, that it's little by little, then all at once. That's how it feels with soccer in the United States. This feels right now like the all at once. And Colin, I don't know if this is just going to be a World cup thing. Are you prepared to include Liverpool in your Blazin5 going forward? How are you going to pivot when we come off of this? Because this is a new America with soccer finally in the mainstream.

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I think there my take would be there's. It's twofold. First of all, sports is the only thing now that works on television. Now on cable, politics and news can work, but sports has taken over that platform, American television. And so that's part of it. Second, we're good. We've got multiple European players. America tends to like quality. I've said this for years. We know what good is and we know what overrated is. I mean, it, it's, I think a part of it is the quality of our team or is that overstated?

[Ethan Strauss]

I don't know if that's overstated. I'm enjoying the soccer coverage on Fox. I love how, for instance, Nick Wright can become an expert on a sport once he starts gambling on it and he acquires knowledge with rapidity. And all of a sudden I'm getting details that I did not know that he had. So I'm learning while everybody else is learning, but I think that's part of it. I think that there are actual. They're good players. They're not star players, but they play for the big time European clubs and they're on the US Team, and there's just more to root for. There's more of an expectation, and we just have more knowledge of some of these other guys. In 1994, we knew barely anything. I'm speaking for America writ large. That number one goal in your rundown is Messi. Many American sports fans, casual sports fans, they know who that is. They're wowed and enamored by that, and that's a significant difference. So it's a combination of we're suddenly better and we know more about what's going on there. Technology has allowed us to watch these games. When I was a kid, it was like some sort of secret, exotic thing. If you saw a soccer highlight, it's so different now, and it's coming together.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, I want to talk about Jaylen Brunson. We just talked last hour. I said, can you imagine predicting a year ago that Sam Darnold wins a Super bowl and Jaylen Brunson is the NBP of the Finals? Total redemption stories. And I said, it's. It's interesting. I mean, Jokic is a second rounder, SGA got shipped off by the Clippers. Josh Allen went to a junior college. You start looking at all these redemption stories. But the Knicks, it's interesting because even Brunson's dad's like, yeah, he's better than I thought he would be. And I watch him practice, and I've watched every game. What did you make of the run by Brunson? What does it say?

[Ethan Strauss]

It's funny because I feel like I'm getting narrative whiplash about Brunson. I almost felt defensive on your behalf when you were arguing about it with the aforementioned Nick Wright, because a few games into the finals, people are complaining that he's totally inefficient. He's got to pass a damn ball. He has a great game for then a historic game five, and now, oh, my God, is he the best player in basketball? I think it's somewhere in between with him. I think he's excellent. I've always been pro Brunson, but what he teaches us, and it's a little uncomfortable, I think. I don't think NBA players want this narrative out there. But in the NBA, with all these parody forward rules that they pass in 20, 23, you need to basically either have this armada of draft picks like they have with Oklahoma City or San Antonio, they're closing the door on with the anti taking rules or you need with the Knicks got which is Jalen Brunson taking a massive pay cut. It's effectively a salary capped league now. And to compete, to compete you're going to need a star to make it sustainable, you're going to need a star who gives up money. They don't want to advertise that. The players don't in the unions. The sports writers I think are uncomfortable about pocket watching or whatever. They don't want to get yelled at by saying maybe it's good if a player takes a discount. But that's just the reality and I think Jalen Brunson helps teach us that reality.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I think that's really well stated. It it you you cannot have one bad contract now even if you have good players like Tatum and Jalen Brown, if they clog up 72% of your cap, it's problematic. You have to go make some deals and maybe move off. Want to get a better player in Giannis. So you covered the warriors for years and you really understand the ecosystem. Young players don't work. Draymond works with only a certain number of players. His personality, which I like and I think works, it doesn't work with young players. And I've said I think LeBron's the perfect teammate. High IQ, loves Curry and Draymond. I think he's vacationed with at least Raymond. He's mentioned Curry multiple times. One or two years there. That's all Kerr's coaching like. I think LeBron works there, but you know it better than I do. Do you buy the rumors of LeBron to the warriors and how would it.

[Ethan Strauss]

This just shows how sometimes you're more open minded and open to possibilities than I am. There's something about LeBron on the warriors, as they say about ties. When people denigrate soccer, how it's like kissing your sister. There is something odd about that about Steph and LeBron. I'm sure knowing the warriors and the Lake of that they're open to that kind of big splash. I don't know if the fan base wants it. I don't know if Steph wants it. They might accommodate it because they're running out of options though. There are only so many ways that they could potentially get Steph Curry another championship given all the salary commitments they have, given the age that they have. So I'm sure the Lake of are Open to it. I also. It's not my favorite scenario. I'll put it that way.

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

I want to touch on something. A couple of weeks ago, I talked to somebody in Indianapolis who would know, and they said Caitlin Clark can be difficult and not as warm and fuzzy.

The.

The. The Taylor Swift in sneakers has passed and that Nike, whose stock has underachieved last couple of years, the visionary Phil Knight has aged, is a company sort of pivoting itself. And I know that Caitlin Clark and. And Nike, that used to be like star and Nike was guaranteed. But I look at Caitlin Clark now. She doesn't lead our show like she did a year ago. The WNBA had an opportunity. I think they booted it a little bit. Where are you on Caitlyn? The new shoe? Nike and the wnba, well, they released the new shoe.

[Ethan Strauss]

They showed models of it yesterday. And this is not sponsored content because I'm about to criticize Nike after acknowledging that I think the shoe looks great. I just wish that they released it two or three years ago. They missed the boat, Colin. I think that's fair to say. And there was a lot of. When Caitlin went into the WNBA and people were wondering, where's the shoe? This is the most famous women's basketball player in the world, maybe ever. Most famous active women's athlete. Where is the sneaker? And you would get this messaging from Nike that, oh, it takes time. You got to really line these things up. Well, when LeBron went to Nike in 2003, they had that thing out in seven months in the olden days, back when America didn't love soccer. So I don't really buy that. I think what happened is there's politics within that company. I think Asia Wilson said, what about my shoe? Things got held up and it was just a disaster. And Clark, probably from her end, didn't push hard enough because in the big corporate world, sometimes you got to box somebody out. So they missed an opportunity. I think she's still fantastic, but if she's not going to be promoted properly and if the WNBA is going to be in denial of what she means to them, well, other people are going to take the hint and they're going to take the cue. And so I think she's still a huge presence in sports. But to what you said, if they're not promoting her, I just don't see it being this massive phenomenon like we're seeing with, I don't know, the Knicks winning the championship in the World Cup.

[Colin Cowherd]

Ethan Strauss, House of Strauss NBA podcast Think Pieces. He does a great job. My friend Line Glass Beagle and him often do a media roundabout and I love that as well. Ethan is always great seeing you.

[Ethan Strauss]

Always love coming on Colin.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's my favorite walk around 45 minute walk around podcast. Just all sorts of interesting stuff from Ethan Strauss. Bob Bradley obviously a coach of the United States men's national team at one point.

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

His son Michael obviously was a popular

[Colin Cowherd]

midfielder for the United States men's national team. Those six goal we showed the six goals, the best goals at the World Cup. I honestly think they were on par with the six best World cup goals ever. Now they obviously they were group stage so they're not as instrumental in capturing a World cup. But I got to tell you so far Mbappe and Kane and Allegan, a lot of the stars, a lot of the stars in the World Cup Messi with three goals are shining and taking things over. So it's been a fabulous first week live in Chicago. It's the Herd.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

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.

[Stugotz]

Stugatz here. I have a podcast empire. It continues to grow, grow and I have brought it here to iHeart. I'm also doing a live radio show from 3 to 5pm Eastern because my wife wanted to kick me out of the house. It's called Stagats and company Live, which is available in podcast form right when the show finishes every single day. Some of the biggest names in sports, a lot of phone calls.

[Colin Cowherd]

I love you guys show.

[Tyler Adams]

It's one of my favorites.

[Stugotz]

A lot of interaction, guys not taking themselves too seriously. Those are just some of the things that you can expect from Stugouts Co. And Stugots Co. Live. So listen to Stugats Co. Live and our original podcast. Please subscribe, rate and review Stugats Co. And God bless football. Taylor's livelihood depends on it. Do it today and you can check all of those out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

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[Ethan Strauss]

All right.

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

You know what deserves more attention? The assists. Everybody talks about the goal. A big moment that gets replayed on the highlight reels.

[Colin Cowherd]

But too often we overlook all the

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

contributions and collabs that happen along the way. That's true in soccer and honestly true in life. Halion is shining a light on the assists. As official partner of U.S. soccer, they got a whole lineup of brands ready to deliver for you. So here they are. Sensodyne Dentist Recommended Defense of your sensitive teeth Centrum Fueling your day with science backed nutrients Advil of course Powerful Inflammation Fighting pain relief Voltaren Arthritis Gel helps penetrate deep, keeps the joints moving and tums ready to counterattack with fast heartburn relief.

[Colin Cowherd]

These are brands that are ready to

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Man, the World cup is in full swing. I can remember I'm aging myself. The first time I really kind of knew anything about soccer was Kyle Rote. He was kind of a wooden, big, strong looking athlete and he was kind of front and center.

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

Man, I'm aging myself.

[Colin Cowherd]

Go look him up. Kyle Rote Jr. He was sort of front and center in this sort of, hey, emergence of soccer. And then over the course of time it was Tony Maioli. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Clive Charles, the late great coach at Portland Portland Pilots, a women's soccer team. So I grew up in the Northwest. The Seattle Sounders, the Timbers. So I was always. My mom was British. We went over when I was a little kid. And England was pretty good. The Netherlands.

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Johan Cruyff. So I had like a background in it in the Northwest. If you grow up there, we kind of like soccer. We always kind of like soccer. And then it emerges and emerges and there were players like Clint Dempsey or, or Landon Donovan. I'm like, okay, these guys look better than the average player. But I do feel, and not overly optimistic. I just think we've got a lot of guy. I took the roster today and I yellowed in. In my mind, like, who really is a special talent. And I got to like nine guys on our squad. And I'm like, like for what they do, they look elite to me. My eyes tell me that. And some of the data from the first game against Paraguay, a legitimate team was kind of jaw dropping. So we're, we're at a point now where everybody's always like, there's always been die hard soccer guy. That's delusional. And then there's, you know, then there's guy that is. Will never sort of go all in on it. And it's like, we'll never be good. I always thought I was in the middle, but I'm middle positive, not middle negative. Watching this group. J. Mack with the news.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

No, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd.

[Colin Cowherd]

I bet you've never heard of Kyle Roat Jr. Have you?

I thought he was a second baseman on the Phillies in the 80s. No, I don't know that name. Listen, I love your turn back the clock. 70s references. You know, 90% of our audience is like, what?

[Tyler Adams]

I know.

[Colin Cowherd]

How do you spell his last name?

I'll google him after the R, O, T, E. Kyle Ro Jr. Got it.

I can't wait. Can't wait. Fired up about that. Also fired up about Tyler Adams, the great U.S. midfielder. He was on First Things First, Colin this week talking about U.S. soccer and growth of the sport. He talked about what it means to be playing at home in the World Cup.

[Tyler Adams]

This is something else, if I'm being honest with you. Walking out for that first game in LA and seeing the support that we had, that was the first for me and I've made a bunch of caps for the national team now. But seeing that support and seeing that fans have this belief that we can do something special, it gives us that extra motivation. We really want to change the way that people look at the game in the U.S. the U.S. has never been credited as producing top, top players. And now you can see after that first performance that we believe in ourselves. We believe that in this process, you

[Colin Cowherd]

know, it's interesting because we have the biggest basketball league in the world and the biggest baseball league and the biggest hockey league that we take the world's best. It's easy to dismiss us. It's easy to root against us. You know, whenever I, whenever I read, I'll read this. Oh, when Americans go abroad, they, they are not like, I just went to Spain. People could not have been nicer to me and my son. Well, I think that's just a bunch of nonsense. It's just so easy to say, oh, I've been treated so well overseas that nobody knows who I am. It's great, but it's easy to dismiss us. But generally speaking, when we put our minds to things, we're usually at least competitive with the rest of the world. It can be Olympic events or it can be soccer. And I think you can't watch or look at our talent now and dismiss us. We may be, we may be just in the Senegal, Croatia class, Netherlands and not in England and Germany. That's okay. We talked about this yesterday, Jason. Spain has one World cup ever. England's got one. Like, guys, take out Brazil, you know, take out Germany. These things are hard to capture. International soccer in the World Cups are a lot like college football. We, we can have a 24 team playoff, but there's about five teams that have a shot annually to win it. You know, your Ohio States, you know, this year, Miami, Notre Dame. The reality is soccer has always had a VIP club. And we're never. We've never been invited to it, but I do think we're in line and closer to the door than we've ever been to getting into that club.

Totally agree, Colin. How do I phrase this delicately? This is the year of the underdog, perhaps, right? The Indiana Hoosiers in football.

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay. Sam Darnold winning a Super Bowl. Yeah. If I told you that five years ago, you would have been like, you're never coming on the show again. Jalen Brunson just won an NBA Finals MVP award. This maybe is the year of the underdog.

Yeah.

And perhaps the US does pull something off. I will say the last time we hosted the World cup was 94. Lawless was playing in it. You know, I remember it fondly. It birthed the MLS, and now the MLS is here for 30 years. And you've seen the impact on soccer in America. I don't know what the impact will be of this World cup, but I do know this, Colin. When I was at Sofi for the game on Friday, I mean, it was madness in the streets.

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

Okay.

[Colin Cowherd]

Like, I went to an NFC Championship game there. I've been to plenty of big sporting events. I've never seen a crowd like that. It was crazy.

Is part of our growth. And I'll just throw this out. I'm not sure it's true, but us being able to. To get Fowler and Baligan, England wanted him. We wanted him. I think Nigeria, he had eligibility. He had all sorts of options, and he chose us. Okay. One of the reasons he chose us is we had a young, emerging, ascending team. And he is a young, emerging, ascending player. So, I mean, his choice, America over England and Nigeria, that is also part of our growth story. I mean, it's just like recruiting in college football. The Indiana Hoosiers can now take somebody from Michigan or Texas. Like, that's part of the growth story.

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I think Baligan choosing us within soccer's community is a real growth story.

Huge. You know the saying, like, if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.

Yeah.

I wonder if in soccer there is, like, a trend, you know, where MLS is starting to get big dudes.

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

Okay.

[Colin Cowherd]

We've had some massive names in mls. Rooney, Beckham, now Messi, if you can make it in the mls. And I know some people think, oh, it's just like a retirement community. That's not really the case. Messi's making so much money here.

Messi chose the mls.

He chose the mls. Yeah. Now he got a Sweetheart deal from Miami, of course. But I'm just saying, like, the US and soccer is definitely on the rise. And, and I think this golden generation we've got of Adams and McKinney and Pulisic is certainly helping. All right, let's move on. Call to the NFL. Some very curious quotes from Deion Sanders.

[Albert Breer]

I don't.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is he doing too much again? In a recent interview, Deion said this about Shador. I would have wanted him to perform a little bit better, but it's not just an individual thing. That's a team thing, essentially saying, hey, man, the quarterback's only as good as his team. And I, I listen. I don't want to beat up on Dion. He's aggressive. He doesn't like it when he get. You call him out. He just is having a brutal off season for his son. Like, like this. This makes no sense.

Yeah, he's. He was a great player. He's an average coach. He's not a good agent. You know, I, I think I.

He's a dad like the rest of us. I'll, I'll say that I do think

Shador, left to his own talent and drive, will be fine. I think he's going to be fine. I, I think I talked to an executive two nights ago and I brought up the Brandon Sorsby story and I brought up Shador Sanders to this executive. And the executive said, and this is an executive I have deep respect for. He's been very good. He said, I had him as a starter. I didn't have him as a high end starter, but I had Shador as an NFL starter. And that's all I ever said. He's somewhere between 13 and 26. Right. Like that's still, you know, now he could be closer to 26 than 13, but I do believe he's an NFL starter. I think at this point, dad does him no good like that. The dad stuff.

Let.

Just let him go. He's a little silly for me as a player. I wish he was a little more adult, but again, that's age and growing up. I, I just.

Yeah, I mean the examples of so many quarterbacks and teams around, like Seattle had a good team, they had a good run. They tried Geno Smith, they put in Sam Darnold and they made the job.

[On Nicotine Commercial Voice]

Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

So it is the quarterback that's the engine of the team.

Well, this, you know, what's going to be fascinating about this is when you looked at that merchandise story where he made 17 million, that was double Brady. And Brady had the all Time record. This is becoming Tebow. He is the first quarterback influencer. And remember Tebow couldn't even play and they had to go get Peyton Manning to quiet the Tebow fanatics. They couldn't get a B guy. They had to go get the Peyton Manning and everybody went, okay, we'll take Peyton like if Shedeur is 7 and 10 and go look at his last six starts last year with a battle line. As many touchdowns as Sam Darnold, who you know I love. If, if another great draft. They are a fun team to watch. Six to seven wins. What are his merchandise sales going to be like then?

Let's, let's, let's settle down just a little bit. And to go back to your comment about Tim Tebow, will Shadour have more playoff wins in his career than Tebow? Tebow had a game winning touchdown on the slant. Yeah, I don't know if Shador will ever win a playoff game.

Well, also Shadour is in a world of Instagram and TikTok. Tebow was not so your growth extends to so many platforms. With Tebow it was like talk radio, sports center. That was it. Stories died. Now they're extended all day. I think Shador is going to win enough games. This thing's going to get. Then you've got a front office. You have Andrew Barry sitting there going, right, like Andrew Barry said last week. Did you notice this at the ota? Andrew Barry said he's been very good. He does not want to be cast as a negative guy because there, Andrew Barry wants to be able to go back at some point and say, hey, I was very supportive of him. You do not want to be on the wrong side. Or then you're sitting there all day, Jimmy Haslam, the owner, listening to Cleveland sports radio and you're getting crushed. So you want to be supportive of Shador, but if Arch Manning's available and you can get him, Come on. Yeah, you probably make that.

Well, I, I forget who you. It was a Pittsburgh writer talking about Ssby. I don't, I don't know, man. Sbe to Pittsburgh's interesting if I'm the Browns quarterback situation unsettled. Why wouldn't you at least look at Ssby? Why not?

I think you, I think you have to sleep on it. I'd probably go with Shador for a year. I mean they have enough noise at quarterback between Shadour And Deon Watson, DeShawn Watson, like I, I don't think I need a guy, a gambling addict. I think I'm, I'M good. Now with the drama gambling, final story

is Harry Kane, Colin, the English striker.

Striker, pk.

And a header yesterday. He's magnificent. You know, I hyped Harry Kane. I said he'd win the most goals award. Listen to the call from John Strong on this header by Kane off a great pass from Declan Rice out of the corner.

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

And a crashing header. There it is again. There he. And he is again, Harry Kane. England back in front. Double digits in his World cup career.

He's wide open. You think that's the one man you want to mark in the box? And this is why. And from eight yards out, Harry Kane makes no mistake. Heads it down into the ground, stays on top of it for his second of the game. And England punching back right before the end of the first half with a really well worked, worked set piece that

[Colin Cowherd]

tied him for the most goals by any England player ever. England soccer, we all love it. Obviously, he's like the antithesis of the usual superstar, right? Beckham was like a global sensation. Married the what Spice Girl, and then you, Wayne Rooney. All these guys love, like, the. You know, the. The Wag.

He's very demure, very quiet, understated family guy. Just quiet.

He's like the Peyton Manning of stars in England soccer. You know, goes about his business, is not flashy. He's not up in the clubs. You know, he's just a very chill guy who gets the job done. Just an awesome striker.

Who can forget Gary Lineker?

Lineker, the best. Like the next guy, Jude Bellingham, who, you know, ladies love him. He looks the part set straight out of central casting. Kane is just like. Goes about his business and scores a billion goals.

Yeah, great stuff, J. Mac with the news.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

Well, that's the news.

[Colin Cowherd]

And thanks for stopping by the herd line news, by the way, speaking of Brendan Sorsby, the Texas Tech quarterback, he's now going into the supplemental draft. Every team can make their bid to get him. I've been told third round pick probably gets him. I think Arizona should make a move on it. I think the jets should absolutely consider it. My. You know, I. Listen, if you're looking for a quarterback, there's. There's not as many desperate teams like Miami's got theirs. I wouldn't do it. Cleveland's got theirs for a year. Probably wouldn't do it it. But here's Albert Brer yesterday on what he is hearing about Brendan Sbe in his NFL connections.

[Albert Breer]

Big, strong, loose athlete who. And I. I don't want to make it sound like this is what he's going to become. But when you watch him, what all the executives and the coaches have watched him will tell you is that he looks like, as far as the way he throws the ball, his style, it's the same sort of genre as Patrick Mahomes, Caleb Williams, Zach Wilson would be the other side of that, you know, and so that's the type of player that you're getting here. And it's going to be a matter of whether or not he can harness it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen, some people aren't, aren't going to be comfortable with it because nobody knows the outcome. A lot of people, and this is okay. A lot of you watching and listening and this is fine, it's okay. Are not, not comfortable if you don't know outcomes. So you, nobody knows it with an addict and, but I do think

[Albert Breer]

the

[Colin Cowherd]

one team that just jumps off the page is Arizona. I mean, you're in a division with Stafford and McVeigh and Shanahan and Purdy and Darnold now and Mike McDonald, you, you got to take a swing. And again, I think it's also, I think the Dallas Cowboys another example. He's a Texas kid. You don't have to play him. I mean, here's the thing. If you're the Cowboys, you bring him in. He's not going to play Dax, one of the more mature quarterbacks in the league. He can learn from him. And you just watch him and monitor him for two years. Is he a grown up? Can he handle it? He's closer to home. I think the Cowboys need to sleep on it. And Dallas's personnel is good enough that they, they could give up. You wouldn't want to give up a first or a second. I think you could give up a third or a fourth. If I was the Cowboys, I got a mature Dak Prescott. You don't have to play him for two years at all. I mean, he gave up a fourth rounder for Trey Lance. This kid projects as a much better quarterback. So I think the Cowboys are one you got to think of. It's the Herd.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

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

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[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

All right, you know what deserves more attention? The assists. Everybody talks about the goal. A big moment that gets replayed on the highlight reels.

[Colin Cowherd]

But too often we overlook all the

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

contributions and collabs that happen along the way. That's true in soccer and honestly, true in life. Halion is shining a light on the assists. As official partner of U.S. soccer, they got a whole lineup of brands ready to deliver for you. So so here they are. Sensodyne Dentist Recommended Defense of your sensitive teeth Centrum Fueling your day with science Back nutrients Advil of course Powerful Inflammation Fighting pain relief Voltaren Arthritis Gel helps penetrate deep, keeps the joints moving and Tums ready to counterattack with fast heartburn relief.

[Colin Cowherd]

These are brands that are ready to

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

We got another big day at the World cup and Fox has you covered. Catch after hours with James Cordon every night at midnight. Check out chef Nick's special recipe before tonight's huge Mexico match. And of course the AI version of Colin has all your World cup answers. We got you covered throughout the World cup on Fox.

So there are certain businesses that I don't necessarily get. So I tread lightly. I said this is, I was never a huge WNBA fan, but I was never a big NASCAR fan. But, but you know, I'll, I'll watch, you know, if the Daytona 500, there's 50 laps left, I'll turn it on. I knew a little bit about the wnba, very physical league. It's not a vertical league. It's a horizontal and a physical league. And but I didn't really get it that they knew for two years Caitlin Clark was wildly popular. She was changing ratings in college basketball. And then when she gets drafted in the wnba they're like not really prepared for it. They didn't put her on the Olympic team. Like I just gave up. I read like Christine Brennan, people who know it better than I. She agreed with me, like I just didn't get it. I didn't get the ecosystem of the league. And I felt she got a little bullied by some of the players. She was getting too much attention. So I've been critical of the wnba. It's like guys, you used to fly commercial, she got you private jets. Thank her, thank her. Well, something has happened. The arenas she packed, the popularity has not only dipped. Last year, she got 1.3 million votes for the All Star game. And she was hurt she wasn't playing. She's now not even the biggest vote getter for the All Star game among her team. She's the second biggest vote getter among her team now. Aisha Wilson, who plays for Vegas, easily the best player in the league. One of the top five women's players I've ever seen. She's the top vote getter. She's the multiple time mvp. She should Be. She's a great player. But it is fascinating the drop off with Caitlin Clark, who's still a very good player, still has great shooting range, a playmaker. It's not that. Has she purposefully pulled back because of the animosity created the wnba? Are they promoting her enough? Ethan Strauss, who does think pieces on all sorts of sports, offered this commentary on her shoe, which just dropped yesterday.

[Ethan Strauss]

I think the shoe looks great. I just wish that they released it two or three years ago. They missed the boat, Colin. I think that's fair to say. And there was a lot of. When Caitlin went into the WNBA and people were wondering, where's the shoe? This is the most famous women's basketball player in the world, maybe ever. Most famous active women's athlete. Where is the sneaker? And you would get this messaging from Nike that, oh, it takes time. You gotta really line these things up. Well, when LeBron went to Nike in 2003, they had that thing out in seven months. In the olden days, back when America didn't love soccer. Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

So it's, it's, it's a drop off. I've said this. I've had two different people who have been in contact with Caitlin Clark. She's not warm and fuzzy. Her game has a lot of turnovers. Steph Curry can get kind of turnover heavy at times. That's. That, that's not the end of the world. But it, it's weird. Like she's not a big vote getter like she used to be. She's top five, but she's second in her own team. Um, you know, there's not as much discussion. Maybe it was a lightning in a bottle sports moment that was never built to endure. I don't know. But it feels like the momentum has just dissipated, disappeared, and it's not on the front of the sports page. I will say this. I led with Caitlin Clark a dozen times. She was all over my show for two years. And the reason she was is I was following you. As I've always said, you often drive the bus. What do you like? I'll talk about it. It's up to me, even if I don't live for it. But it's just not a story as much anymore. So anyway, we're talking about soccer. I. I've learned this, that I've told a stat before. 40% of people in America never leave the area code they're born in. A lot of people, they like what they like, they like the restaurant they like, they like the hometown they grew up in. Even if there's economic limitations or shortcomings, over half the people in this country, they just don't like change. They don't like it. And so we have a very, very full sports catalog. Forget just NFL, NBA. I'm going to a Cubs game last night. There's 30,000 people at that, 34,000 people at that. And we have this labyrinth of college sports. We're not Canada. There's a lot to choose from here. There's a lot of people. We're highly diverse. People like different stuff. There's a lot to choose from. Soccer has always been one that's been fascinating because I grew up in a part of the country, the Pacific Northwest, that liked it more than most of the country. Maybe not as much as New York or Miami, but the Pacific Northwest likes soccer. So I've always kind of embraced it. Mom was British. It's, you know, it's the sport of England. Like, I always kind of embraced it to some level. But it could drive you nuts, you know, the flopping. I think one of the things I always push back on is we always fire coaches. Stop firing coaches. We don't have the players. You can yell at the coaches. So now Mauricio Pochettino, people are saying he's a magician. No, our players are better. Pulisic's in his prime. Weston McKinney's in his prime. Serginio Desta is in his prime. We're actually not a great goalkeeping nation now. That was always our strength because we're a hands country. We're good with athletes and hands. We're not so good with our feet. But Tyler Adams this morning on Christian Pulisic, his game, his growth, and the battle with Australia tomorrow.

[Tyler Adams]

Christian's a key piece of this team. What he brings to the table is such a unique skill set. You know, there's not many 1v1 players at his level in the world, so what he brings to our team is obviously super important. But that being said, I think with the result of the first game and obviously, you know, where we're at right now, we have so many guys that can play an important role. So if he's not ready, he's not ready. If he is great, he's going to be able to make a huge impact for us, us. But the, the, the thinking has to be, you know, the rest of the tournament as well.

[Colin Cowherd]

The other thing I would, you know, that I push back on is you have to be very careful about social media. So social media is a funhouse mirror. You, you Get a very warped view of what's really happening. In a prime example, you know, the College Baseball World Series is on. College baseball's very big in the South. Huge. It's, it's a revenue producer. And the College Baseball World Series in the super regionals, it can be a fun watch when there's nothing on, you know, June, maybe that's, there's no NBA playoff game. But if you went to social media, you would have thought it was the Yankees and the Red Sox in the World Series or it was a Super Bowl. And so you have to be very careful about the trolls and people who are dismissive. Anytime I post anything on soccer, soccer, overwhelmingly there's negative feedback. And then you see that 29 million people watched it. It's like, folks, there's a massive audience out there in America that is not on social media. Half of the Internet reportedly now is bots. So soccer's here, we like it. And this is the other thing. It's really big in big cities in America. You know, where the people live. It's big in Miami and Philly and Chicago and New York and Seattle and LA and San Diego and Denver and it's big where the people live. You ever see that map for politics? And they'll give you a big map of the United States and they'll say, look at 99% of the people, it's red. They vote for red. And I'm like, yeah, that 2%, that's blue. That's where the people live. Like, so soccer is really popular in big diverse cities that have lots of things to choose from. And so don't, don't listen to those that dismiss it. The numbers aren't lying, they're massive. And it's, I mean, Ethan Strauss earlier we talked about like, it's here, it's not going anywhere. And it's official.

[Ethan Strauss]

Feels like it's all coming together. Like they say about aging or going broke. That's little by little, then all at once. That's how it feels with soccer in the United States. This feels right now like the all at once. And Colin, I don't know if this is just going to be a World cup thing. Are you prepared to include Liverpool in your blazing five going forward? How are you going to pivot when we come off of this? Because this is a new America with soccer finally in the mainstream.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, when you get 29 million and I'm a talk show host, that is, that is not like a one time event like a Super bowl you're talking about. We Got, we got group stage. We have knockout stage. Those numbers could grow. You get 29 to start against Paraguay. What if we ended up playing England? That's a Super bowl number. That's 40 and 50 million people. If we, I mean, if we play England now, Now Germany's probably 30 something million. Same with Spain. If we ended up playing England. Lord, you're, you're talking numbers you get for the AFC NFC Championship in the super bowl chase.

Is it going to be Tuesday at noon or are we going to see a game on a weekend, a week night?

I, I also think it doesn't matter because this is a collective watch like the Super Bowl. It doesn't. You know, people have always said you got to, you got to play the super bowl on Saturday because Sunday nobody wants to work. People are going to show up and watch the super bowl whenever. It just doesn't matter. I mean, good God, you saw the NBA Finals was decided on Saturday night, which is not, you know, I mean, Saturday night in the summer. And it's like got a gigantic number. If something's great, people show up for it. That's the rule in America. We're busy, but we've become very much an event culture. You put a big event on. I mean, you, you, you. The World cup, the last World Cup, Qatar, was in the football season and it got huge numbers.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean, they put it right in the middle of our crowded football season. It's still got gigantic numbers.

I also wonder, Colin, do you think the offensive output from the U.S. yes. Got people super fired up because it's like one goal. Hey, all right, we won.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

Great.

[Colin Cowherd]

4:1. That's a butt kicking. You know, people like fired up to see goals. Three in the first half. It was electric.

There was a concern that you added these teams. We have 48 teams in the World cup and they're. Are we diluting it? Are we watering it down? And truth is, some of these massive underdogs, I mean, Spain plays to a draw. Some of these massive underdog, I'll tell you, they're a lot more viable than the March Madness 16 and 15 seeds.

A good seat.

So because this sport, I mean, it's a little bit like hockey. You can dominate and lose. Right? So I. The expansion of the tournament has worked. That's what it feels like to me. Canada's playing today.

[Soccer Analyst / Commentator]

Canada.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, Canada.

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

All right. You know what deserves more attention? The assists. Everybody talks about the goal. A big moment that gets replayed on the highlight reels.

[Colin Cowherd]

But too often we overlook all the

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

contributions and collabs that happen along the way. That's true in soccer and honestly true in life. Halion is shining a light on the assists. As official partner of U.S. soccer, they got a whole lineup of brands ready to deliver for you. So here they are. Sensodyne Dentist Recommended Defense of your sensitive teeth Centrum Fueling your day with science backed nutrients. Advil of course Powerful inflammation fighting pain relief Voltaren Arthritis Gel helps penetrate deep, keeps the joints moving and tums ready

[Colin Cowherd]

to counterattack with fast heartburn relief. These are brands that are ready to

[Wasabi / Halion Commercial Voice]

deliver your essential wellness assists because every goal starts with an assist, Learn how

[Colin Cowherd]

Halion can assist your game day [e-mail]

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[Colin Cowherd]

doors and at the American Military University it can open doors for the whole family. If you have a loved one who served in the military, you may qualify for reduced tuition. AMU offers flexible online programs designed to fit your schedule so you can keep moving forward wherever life takes you. Learn more at AMU Apus Edu Military Open doors to the future for you and your family with the help of American Military University hi, it's Colin Coward. If you're looking for the best blend of durability and affordability and decking trust Summit Summit Decking from Deckorators Summit features Deckorators patented Surestone technology so the boards won't splinter, sag, chalk or crack over time and the colors three great options that really capture the rich textures of natural wood. Honestly, it's the best decking you didn't know you could afford. Order a sample before peak build season. Order a sample today. Visit decorators.com herd to get your free sample. That's decorators with a K again. Decorators.com herd this is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.