← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
What’s Wright - Colin Cowherd & Nick Wright on LeBron's NEXT TEAM, USMNT's World Cup chances, Giannis & LaMelo TRADES
01:02:18
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- [00:00]
Podcast Host
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
- [00:04]
Colin Cowherd
He's dribbling the ball with everything on the line. He's driving down the pitch. He's facing price hikes and cuts past him. Carrier contracts, tries to block him. Oh, he leaves him in the dust. He's at the edge of the box. He cuts past the nonstop group chat, trash talk. He clears on goal. He shoots no unlimited data for $25 a month forever.
- [00:23]
Boost Mobile Advertiser
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- [00:35]
Colin Cowherd
Hi, it's Colin Coward from the Colin Coward Podcast. Every goal starts with an assist. As Official partners of U.S. soccer, this team is ready to deliver 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. Learn how Halion can assist your game day goals@halionassist.com Con this is Tab Ramos
- [01:10]
Tab Ramos
from Inside American Soccer and this summer Topgolf is turning into the ultimate soccer destination. They've got a new soccer themed game you can play with your group, exclusive food and drink items. They've even installed full size soccer goals so you can try to hit golf balls right into the net and every match all summer long will be on throughout the venue. And if you want to keep the fun going all summer, you can get the topgolf Summer Fun Pass which lets you play every single day and bring up to five guests every visit. Get yours now@TopGolf.com FunPass this is Daniel
- [01:44]
Daniel Cormier
Cormier from the Daniel Cormier Show. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the the official wireless partner of ufc. Power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either make the move or you missed a moment. That's why you need a network that's just as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in the action from the walkouts to the knockouts. Now that's a total power move. Make your total power move today. Visit totalwireless.com or stop by your neighborhood Total Wireless Store. Additional terms apply. See total wireless.com for details.
- [02:19]
Nick Wright
What up everybody? This past Saturday I was down at Hard Rock Casino in South Florida meeting up with Colin Cowherd and he and I did a podcast together from the Hard Rock BET Party Bus where we touched on the World cup and NBA free agency and the Giannis trade and whether or not LeBron was going to go back to Lakers, all of that. So by the time you're hearing this, you know, some of those World cup games have been played and you know, LeBron's obviously now announced officially is leaving the Lakers and Kawhi is a raptor now. But I just wanted to make sure now that we have the ability to post it, that we put it on the feed because it's not very often that Colin and I get to sit down in person for an hour. So here is the podcast with me and Colin Cowherd from this past Saturday.
- [03:10]
Tony Ayo
Foreign.
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Colin Cowherd
We're live in Hollywood, Florida, thanks to the Hard Rock bet. And Nick and I are doing the most unique.
- [03:22]
Tab Ramos
Yeah.
- [03:22]
Colin Cowherd
Podcast we will ever do in our respective careers. We are in a Hard Rock bet.
- [03:27]
Nick Wright
What would you call Party bus?
- [03:28]
Colin Cowherd
Party bus.
- [03:29]
Nick Wright
So Party bus. Both Colin and I, you know, listen, I don't, I know where I think Colin is in the sports media ecosystem. I, you know, they're conflicting opinions on where I am. But at our core, what Colin and I both are is old school radio guys.
- [03:46]
Cade Courtley
Yeah.
- [03:47]
Nick Wright
And when we were alerted about this event, he and I both, separately, without talking to each other, thought we were going to be on a stage at a DJ booth in a bar with just like folks ordering drinks. I even tweeted, like, because there's a bar up the street called Mickey Burns that is live streaming this and thanks to them. But you and I both thought it was going to be like back when we were doing training camp coverage and local radio. Like, we're at a bar hanging out. This is a little more swanky, but very nice. And we are just this. Either this area is overrepresented by Colombian fans or this stadium tonight is going to be 85% Colombian fans against Portugal.
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Colin Cowherd
So Hard Rock Bet it is. This is what Hard Rock Bet looks like. It's all yellow shirts.
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Nick Wright
Oh, yeah. The whole casino. Yes, A hundred percent. The. Oh, the. Yes. The casino. The guitar casino has been. That's what I'm saying. So either the Portuguese, and I'm not sure it might be like that. They're. Hollywood, Florida is a Colombian stronghold and there's different Portuguese stronghold elsewhere in the South Florida area. But I have seen. I saw zero Cristiano Ronaldo or Portugal jerseys at the casino. I've seen zero here. It's. It really seems like Columbia is going to have a Home field advantage tonight in the game and if that informs my bet. I have not bet the game yet. I've thought about it. I don't know which way I'm leaning, but I feel like we're, we're almost in. We're almost, it's almost mandatory to go with Columbia at this point.
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Colin Cowherd
It is. You know, I was thinking about this as I was flying down today, by the way. Commercial. As I was flying.
- [05:25]
Nick Wright
Yeah. Good for you. Man of the people.
- [05:27]
Colin Cowherd
So I was flying down in row 28 and I, and I was thinking about as I was doing it that when was the last time that I turned on a sporting event and was shocked at what I was watching? So the first half against Paraguay, the first 15 minutes are aggressive, pretty stunning. I, I think it's the best half of football any United States soccer team has ever played. National team. And I was thinking, when's the last time you turned on a game? I will say this. When Indiana started taking Alabama to the woodshed, it was like, whoa, the sport has changed. You know, that's one of those. But one of the things, one of the things about the World cup that it's always been hard to gauge. We, before the friendlies with Senegal in Germany, we had been on about a nine month drought.
- [06:21]
Nick Wright
We had played terribly and Pulisic hadn't scored in a year.
- [06:24]
Colin Cowherd
And even with AC Milan, he'd had nagging injuries. And I remember saying to one of the executives at Fox, I've got horrible vibes about this.
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Nick Wright
I, I, I said, we better have a plan for how we're going to talk World cup, not about the U.S. men's National Team. I was like, we gotta, I understand we're all rooting for a deep run. But I, three weeks before the World Cup, I was like, hey guys, on the show, we really, we had a meeting. We were like, hey, we can all, we are all rooting for the US but we need to put stakes in the ground on other countries that are actually going to be playing in the big games. Because the US looked like it was in total disarray instead. Correct.
- [07:03]
Colin Cowherd
It's been magical. Mexico's good.
- [07:06]
Nick Wright
Yes.
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Colin Cowherd
England, all the stars are scoring.
- [07:11]
Nick Wright
Yes.
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Colin Cowherd
All the strikers, young and old. There's been just enough upsets and we've gotten almost universally permitting weather.
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Nick Wright
Philadelphia had an ugly yes for one day.
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Colin Cowherd
Yeah. But I mean, you look at the heat wave France is going through. We have been so lucky. It just enough controversy. The hydration breaks are kind of, you know, people are overwrought with that and my take is they really started those things in like 20, 2018 or 20, 2022.
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Nick Wright
Brazil had to do it. Well, 2014 in Brazil, there was an element of it. 2018, it was in Russia. Right. But 20, I'm not 2022 in Qatar,
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Colin Cowherd
you had to have it. Absolutely.
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Nick Wright
I, I don't care about that, to be totally honest. I, I, I love soccer. I'm not a purist, I don't care about it. I, but to your point though, and then we get to the U.S. men's National Team about this World cup setting up with the storylines, the stars and the best teams. One of your long time March Madness takes is upsets are fun, but it makes the tournament worse. 10 groups have been decided. We are 10 for 10 on the favorite winning the group. Every single favorite has won its group. And then we'll see what happens in the final two groups of which a lot of these Colombian fans are hoping the favorite doesn't win because Portugal is one of them and then England obviously is the other favorite. So you have, you have no great teams that have been sent home. Check one, check two is every single one of the huge stars has not only scored, had a multi goal game. Even Cristiano Ronaldo, who's 41 and might be wheeled into the arena, has two at a multi goal game. Messi's been unbelievable. Messi retired from World Cups in 2015. Since then he's played in three or four and won one one and might win another. So that's happening. And it is like the bracket is set up to where we're staring at France, Germany in the round of 16. We're staring at Argentina, potentially Portugal in the round of eight, Mexico hosting England.
- [09:22]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, that's huge.
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Nick Wright
In Mexico City in the round of 16. That's before we even get to the semis, before you even talk about what, you know, if it again, if the seating holds, so to speak, we could get Brazil, Argentina in the World cup semis on one side of the bracket and France, Spain or maybe the US in the semis on the other side of the bracket. And on top of all that, the US has played, I don't know, of my lifetime, four of the six best halves of soccer they've ever played. And I'm 40 years old.
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Colin Cowherd
Well, and I said this the other day, is that the great thing about tournaments, Illinois is a great example of this. You can get to the final four of the Elite Eight having played one good team. They played Houston.
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Nick Wright
Yep.
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Colin Cowherd
And that's the reality, is you get to the knockout stage, and you're like, oh, I don't want to play them. Boom.
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Nick Wright
They lose.
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Colin Cowherd
Yellow cards, red cards, injuries. I mean, the reality is great teams get a little tight, just like March Madness.
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Nick Wright
Sure, right.
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Colin Cowherd
And unlike basketball, where tight means you score 72, not 82, tight in soccer means one goal, not three. And you can see sometimes when you get to these later stages that the heavy favorite, who, by the way, is getting clobbered by their country's media.
- [10:39]
Daniel Cormier
Right?
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Colin Cowherd
And so, I mean, I. This is why Turkey, when they beat us, I'm like, guys, they had to win. I mean, it was like, the coach is going to get fired. I was so overjoyed with our effort. You know, you and I have talked about this. People were so disappointed with the outcome. And I said, timeout, go one second before the kick. You would have said our reserves tied.
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Nick Wright
Correct.
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Colin Cowherd
A desperate team. So the kick can't make me think bad outing.
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Nick Wright
So I. I agree with you. I also, if we want to go glass really half full, you know, it probably good for the team to not get a little too full of itself.
- [11:18]
Colin Cowherd
That's right.
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Nick Wright
All that I. It's the World Cup. We had an opportunity to, you know, do what Mexico did. Hey, it's a meaningless game. We're going to go undefeated anyway. And I was prepared mentally for a draw or even a loss before the game. When they scored two minutes in, I'm like, oh, my God. Like, I. I think you tweeted, like, I'm not used to the US Being the best team in the world, but they. I have my. My expectations going into this tournament for the U.S. team were very simple. If. If somehow they don't get out of the group, then you have to burn the whole thing to the ground.
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Colin Cowherd
Right.
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Nick Wright
They not only got out of the group, they won the group. We have had for my entire. Well, for everybody here's entire life. The side from the opening tournament in 1930, a pretty hard ceiling of the round of 16. We've made the quarters once. It was in O2. The goal was to make the quarters again.
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Colin Cowherd
Right.
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Nick Wright
And see what the hell happens. And they are now well positioned to do that.
- [12:23]
Daniel Cormier
They get.
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Nick Wright
They have Bosnia in the first round and then Belgium, probably. Probably Belgium.
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Colin Cowherd
They're off there.
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Nick Wright
Belgium has not been good. And I'm not just saying that because I had my father's day ruined by betting Belgium, and they scored zero goals,
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Colin Cowherd
but they were, you know, back in 2018, they finished third.
- [12:39]
Nick Wright
Yes.
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Colin Cowherd
And since 2014, they've made every big European Tournament, but they're not the same.
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Nick Wright
No.
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Colin Cowherd
A lot players age out. They got new young players. They're not as dynamic and Lukaku is
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Nick Wright
not as good as he once was. But Doku will be the best player on the field in that game. But so be it. Like, we'll have home field advantage. And of all the teams you could play in the round of 16, they're not, they haven't played that great. They're not one of the best ones. I But to your. I want to circle back to your first point, which is I have always felt World cup time. All right, what's the US Plan? Hold the other team to zero and hope you score on a set piece. It's just been like if you're playing a good team and you're the U.S.
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Colin Cowherd
that's the only way to win.
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Nick Wright
It's like, you sure better get shut them out and you know, you get a little lucky or something, you know, one. As they say, moment of magic. That's not this team at all.
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Colin Cowherd
At all.
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Nick Wright
This team. It's. You're probably gonna need to score three because you might give up a few.
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Colin Cowherd
But we'll get up an ugly one.
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Nick Wright
Right? But you. They can score.
- [13:41]
Colin Cowherd
Oh yeah, it's.
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Nick Wright
And let's. I have the. We talk a lot about how much coaching matters in the NFL versus the NBA. Yeah, it seems to me, man, like I guess they call it managing, but managing in soccer might be on level with coaching in the NFL. As far as the importance in setting a goal for us, it is instilling belief. All Puccino has been unbelievable.
- [14:05]
Colin Cowherd
You know, I always said this. When Wemby came into the NBA, he was us.
- [14:08]
Nick Wright
Yes.
- [14:09]
Colin Cowherd
He, he wanted to win everything. He, he very domestic. Giannis wasn't Jokic. Jokic can't get home fast enough. Wemby's like, I, I, I'm going to do the monk thing for a couple weeks, but I'm going to come back and start training and I want to win the NBA All Star Game and mvp. I can be a villain. I'll throw elbows. None of this nonsense about, well, yeah, I'm gonna slowly integrate into the American system. And I think Pochettino, his greatest asset has been, okay, guys, I've done this. We're, we're skilled. We're at home. Many of the good teams are young
- [14:46]
Nick Wright
or a little old.
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Colin Cowherd
You can I, I use these Seahawks as a comparison. Our 13 best players are, are all in their prime. Correct or going into it, that is. That was what Seattle was last Year, the Rams were good, but they had holes, right. And the Rams were a little creaky at certain spots. Seattle, every spot, you're like, oh, he's in his prime, too. That's rare in sports. That was the early Chiefs with Mahomes, when Kelsey was getting a little old but was still late. Prime. You're like, every one of their best players is in their prime.
- [15:16]
Daniel Cormier
Right.
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Nick Wright
The only young guy was Mahomes. And it is the.
- [15:19]
Colin Cowherd
The.
- [15:19]
Nick Wright
The only guy who wasn't supposed to be in his prime yet was the quarterback. But he got to his prime immediately.
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Colin Cowherd
The.
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Nick Wright
Yes, the U.S. it is a real question of, like, man, how many guys on this team will be around in 2026?
- [15:31]
Colin Cowherd
Like, it's the. The core will.
- [15:34]
Nick Wright
Yeah, I think. I think three of the four best players will. But in general, my point is this is. If you would have said 10 years ago, here, you know, looking in the Future, here's the 25 guys that are going to be on your next three World cup teams. What's the one where you're going to have the best combination of them aging, being at their peak? We just said 2026. So all the fact that we are now going into the knockout rounds because we clinched early, we don't have to worry about any of the yellow card accumulation. All those guys set. Pulisic, who. How do I put this? Seems to be a little fragile. Seems like he doesn't necessarily play, needs to be 100% to want to go. Yeah, I'm not. You know, I really hope he doesn't get, God forbid, kicked in the calf again and have to miss 10 days in the World Cup. But he's healthy, and I think they feel great. And I thought Pochettino was so funny when he was scolding the media when he was like, you guys are acting like, we go home and Turkey advances. Like, we won the group. We didn't need to win this game. And they're going to get even more confidence, I would imagine, because I think they'll beat Bosnia handily, and then we'll see. I had it in front of me before. I'm going to pull it up again. It's. We play Belgium, but Belgium's got to win. And so I want to see who the other team is. I don't think it's totally set yet, but I'll pull it up. But, yeah, I think they're going to make the quarters, and I think we're going to have the United States playing Spain in a World cup quarterfinal.
- [17:02]
Colin Cowherd
And I think we match up fine with Spain. I don't think anybody matches up with France.
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Nick Wright
Yeah, I mean, France looks really, really good.
- [17:09]
Colin Cowherd
So I was saying this, you know, every week I do that calling. Right, Colin, Wrong. And I don't mind being wrong, but I like being right more than wrong. And I said, losing to Turkey a proves a 20 year point I've had. So anytime the American soccer team loses, you got to blame Jurgen Klinsmann, Bruce Arena, Greg Burhalter. It's always the coach, correct. And it's like, but why do all of our coaches before Pochettino play the same counterattacking style, Heavy on set pieces.
- [17:36]
Nick Wright
That's right.
- [17:37]
Colin Cowherd
Because we can't attack our personnel. It's the same thing. If you, if you have a bad secondary, you got to be very careful about bringing extra people in the pass rush. Right. Great corners, jailbreak, bring everybody. Okay, so suddenly last Pochettino's hyper aggressive. So it's not a scheme thing. He didn't have any tactical blunders. We played our backups and couldn't dominate. Possession sloppy. And it's like, it proves my point. It's not a coaching thing. Our scheme did not change. We went hyper aggressive. All sports are. Andy Reid makes Mahomes better. Mahomes will be fine without it. He may not get the rings, but he'd be, he'd be great, sure. And. And Belichick deserves a lot of credit. But in the end, we have really good players now we're thin on the back end. So is England, so is Norway. But when you watch us play, it was so, to me, it was so instructive to watch how aggressive we were with our reserves still winning. Possession sloppy, but it was.
- [18:44]
Nick Wright
But it proved the value of that, which is you cannot play that well and just have a couple great moments and get two goals out of it. As opposed to the previous philosophy, which seemed to be we have to be perfect tactically because we can't give up a goal. And then we hope to have a moment. It's also a hell of a lot more fun to watch. Oh, yes, I did look it up. I couldn't remember. So if, in order for, you know, assuming we beat Bosnia, yes, it might be Belgium, but Belgium's most likely opponent there is Senegal. Senegal absolutely can beat Belgium. And we're not. We've played Senegal before. You played him in the warm up. Like we. We're not going to feel it'll be the first time ever if we're in the round of 16 where we might be favored and if we're not favored, we're all going to feel like, oh, well, that's a coin flip. Like, we definitely can win that game. And it does seem like historically, and it's felt this way, this tournament, that there is no event in sports where home field advantage has a bigger impact than the World Cup. It does just feel like the, the, it's impossible for the officials not to somewhat get caught up in the emotion of the crowd and 50, 50 calls go the home team's way. And the other team gets a little more rattled by in what's supposed to be a neutral site tournament, their games being, you know, as raucous and rowdy of a hostile fan base as they're going to experience.
- [20:17]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, it's, I mean, it's just there's so many things to be excited about. And I've said this before, of course I root for Fox, I root for Hard Rock bet. I work for my corporate sponsors and my partners. But it could not work out better. The weather, Messi Ronaldo, Harry Kane, and it's interesting, some people were worried that it would dilute the field when they added teams, but most, I mean, some of these African nations, I don't know anything about their teams, but, dude, they've
- [20:43]
Nick Wright
been so I'm, I'm like, very competitive. Speaking of hard rock bet, I have, I am all in on Dr. Congo tonight. All in. The African nations have been underrated. Congo advances with a win. Uzbekistan, I'm not going to act like I've scouted Uzbekistan, but I've watched their games. They don't seem to be good. And Congo, and they're only minus 140. Like, so the, I'm going to Portugal, Colombia. I have no, you know, insight on that. But the African nations have, I think, been pretty undervalued by the odds makers and they have been really competitive. And to your point about no pressure
- [21:21]
Colin Cowherd
and tons of motivation.
- [21:24]
Nick Wright
Correct.
- [21:24]
Colin Cowherd
To come back and.
- [21:25]
Nick Wright
But your point about. I saw your, our colleague, but a guy who's been on your podcast a couple times, Michael Mobil, say, yeah, if the US Big if, if they were to make a World cup final, it would do the same type of rating domestically as the NFC Championship game. He said 50 to 60 million people
- [21:45]
Colin Cowherd
isn't that crazy, would watch it.
- [21:47]
Nick Wright
Even if the U.S. you know, let's just say the U.S. gets pop, doesn't make it past the quarters, which is, you know, really where it's projected if the bracket holds. This is what we are looking at in the quarterfinals. France playing either Netherlands Or Morocco.
- [22:06]
Colin Cowherd
Netherlands is my dark horse to win.
- [22:08]
Nick Wright
Well, they, if they can get past Morocco in round of 32, they got a great chance. The bottom left part of the bracket quarterfinal in LA, July 10, Spain, US. Seems like a pretty cool game. Wow. The quarterfinal here in Miami, July 11, that would be Brazil against England or Mexico if Mexico upsets them. Either way, Brazil, England be sick. And then the other quarterfinal In Kansas City, July 11, what I would imagine will be the highest rated non World cup final in world history. Again if the bracket holds. Argentina, Portugal, Messi Ronaldo for an opportunity to go to the semifinal. And I understand that's just going with the chalk, but this has been while an exciting tournament. As I said, All 10 groups have been won by the favorites. This has been a chalk chalkish tournament which is because the stars have been so good. I'm just, I'm super excited about it and I do think there is now an element of. And you need a moment like this. And the other big thing about the domestic World cup is the time zones. You need the games, not at 3am
- [23:16]
Colin Cowherd
Just like the Olympics.
- [23:17]
Nick Wright
Correct. It's like it. It's less important that the game is in the United States and more that it's in this hemisphere. Like I. The last World cup that I was this into was 2014, Brazil. Because Brazil is the on the same time zones as us. I wasn't going to the games anyway, so what did I care? Yeah, I do think this will create more interest domestically in the mls, in the English Premier League and in following these stars throughout their regular season.
- [23:51]
Colin Cowherd
Today's show is brought to you by our friends and our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock BET Florida Sportsbook. Listen, the world's biggest soccer tournament is here. Everybody. You seen the ratings? Everybody's watching. National pride on the line. Superstars chasing immortality. And for the next month, every match feels like a final. If you haven't tried Hard Rock Bet yet, this is the time. Hard Rock Bet is a top rated sportsbook app. The best built to viva lacopa. Whether you're back in your country betting on your favorite superstar, building a same game parlay for the biggest matches of the tournament, Hard Rock Bet is your way to get in on the action. And if you're ever late to kickoff, don't worry. Hard Rock Bet lets you live bet all match. Long, first minute, final whistle. And we're talking profit boosts, no sweat bets, bonus bets and more. Be sure to check out no goals, no problem. And Super Sub 2 promos designed to give your bets insurance all tournament long, so sign up Hard Rock Bet today place a $5 bet. If it wins, you also score 150 bucks in bonus bets. A winning bet plus an extra 150 to bet with right now. That's how you get the summer started. Hard Rock Bet is Florida's only legal sportsbook. You don't have to be in Florida to join the party. Hard Rock bets live in Arizona, Ohio, Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan. Download the Hard Rock Bet app today. Roll with us, Goal with us. Hard Rock Bet offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC in Alder states. Must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia to play terms and conditions apply. Concern about gambling in Florida, call 1833 play wise in Indiana, if you or somebody you know has a gambling problem wants help, call 1, 1, 800, nine with it in Arizona, Ohio, Virginia, call 1, 800, my reset gambling problem, call 1, 800, gambler the official language of
- [25:44]
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- [26:14]
Colin Cowherd
Hi, it's Colin Coward from the Colin Coward Podcast. 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. But too often we overlook all the 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, an 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. These are brands that are ready to deliver your essential wellness. Assists because every goal starts with an assist. Learn how Halion can assist your game day goals@helionassist.com con awkward time to ask
- [27:10]
Boost Mobile Advertiser
this, but hey, did you download the trail map?
- [27:12]
Nick Wright
Yeah, no, I don't need to.
- [27:14]
Boost Mobile Advertiser
I don't understand you're trusting your signal out here.
- [27:16]
Nick Wright
I'm trusting T Mobile. They have the best network and if we end up in bumtots nowhere, well, we've got T Satellite for backup. Whoa.
- [27:23]
Boost Mobile Advertiser
I don't trust my carrier that much.
- [27:25]
Nick Wright
We'll just use your phone as a flashlight.
- [27:29]
Boost Mobile Advertiser
With America's best network and T Satellite, we're keeping you connected in places you never thought possible. And if you switch today, you get free phones for zero down and only 25 bucks a month per line for four lines. Find out more@t mobile.com or visit your local soar Best Mobile Network based on analysis by OOKLA Speed Test Intelligence data 2H 2025 with 24 monthly bill credits and 4 eligible pour ins on essentials for well qualified customers with autopay plus taxes, fees and $35 connection charge per line credits and imbalance to if you pay off early or cancel. Contact Us Finance Agreement example $299.99 Moto Edge 5G required T Satellite available with compatible device in most outdoor areas in the US where you can see the sky included with experience beyond $10 a month. However news monthly cancel anytime visit t mobile.com.
- [28:14]
Colin Cowherd
You you're going to laugh at me for saying this, but I think one of the things that helps us is there has been a capitalization geopolitical growth from the United States for the last 10 years and that is separated from Europe. I just read a story in the Atlantic flying down I have a subscription to the Atlantic is why did Britain get poorer than Mississippi? And it's a big, it's big discussion of Jamie Dimon and all these, you know, financiers in New York and we have separated from Europe. Well that plays to our strength because a lot of these soccer stars to get into the MLS to get Ken Griffin, a financier of Citadel. He's the one that paid for Pochettino. Yes, he's so the reality is rich guys like to be part of good momentum and cool stuff.
- [28:59]
Daniel Cormier
Correct.
- [28:59]
Colin Cowherd
And if we can get to a final eight, I can see a world in which we're like we're going to go over there and we're going to
- [29:06]
Nick Wright
make big bids, try to get some
- [29:09]
Colin Cowherd
better player because Fowler and remember was only Fowler Fowler Baligan is only on our team eligible because his flight attendant
- [29:18]
Nick Wright
flight attendant said mom too pregnant to fly. That lady get that lady should get it if we find her and get her a ticket to the next US
- [29:25]
Colin Cowherd
and increasingly in the World cup you're not necessarily born in the country or of the country. So there's a lot of gray area there. And my take is our explosion of capital in the United States and in the Americas could be a big advantage going forward. That's why momentum here could really be
- [29:40]
Nick Wright
a huge part going forward. It's also why and where we put the cart a little before the horse here. And I know you want to get to other stuff. It's also why that game against Bosnia is the biggest game in the history of the U.S. men's National Team. And I know that sounds crazy because it's around a 32 game. We once played a round of eight game against South Korea. I get that that team. That team to get to the round of eight had won one game in regulation. They had a win, a draw, a loss, and then a penalty kicks. Win this every. As long as they beat Bosnia, this will feel like such a massive domestic success for soccer. There will be no shame if they lose in the round of 16. I think they'd be able to beat Belgium or Senegal or Korea, anybody. They can play there, but there would be no shame in it. But if you do all of this and then it's. And then all of a sudden, because we have, oddly, thanks to the turkey game, lost 13 straight games against European teams. And there's a little fluke to that. But then if all of a sudden Bosnia clips us as the 63rd ranked team in the world, it will feel like it was for naught. But you win that game, and they should win that game. They're huge favorites to win that game. Then you start to, you know, you start to believe crazier things can happen again. Korea made the semifinals when they hosted this tournament. There are six of the host nations in history. Their single best World cup appearance or, you know, best World Cup. The furthest they've ever gone in the World cup in their nation's history is when they hosted it. This is an opportunity for the US to do that.
- [31:19]
Colin Cowherd
So there was a massive move this week in the NBA. It just happened to be in Miami, which is. I'm a believer in it. Although I think they're old. They need a play creator, a shot creator.
- [31:30]
Nick Wright
This. Now I get it. This is why you're so hot. You knew we had this event coming. I didn't. You're like, oh, I'm going to get Nick on the record that he thinks this is.
- [31:39]
Colin Cowherd
You're making me sound as calculated as
- [31:41]
Nick Wright
Lebron that Nick thinks this is a bad trade. Why Colin Garrett think it's a good trade. And then we're going to do a live show in Miami where he has to defend it. Go ahead, sir.
- [31:50]
Colin Cowherd
Well, first of all, I think Bam and Giannis are the second and third best defensive bigs in the league after Wemby. So I think, and I do think in the Eastern Conference, you can be completely flawed. Detroit had no number two score. Tobias Harris, Duran. It's like in the regular season in the east, you can win a lot of games. There's a lot of bad in the middle. Bottom, there isn't in the West. But what's interesting is the story this week where Mario Chalmers, who was always really drove LeBron crazy when they were here. Sure, I came and watched a couple of be heedless games, and LeBron and Mario Chalmers would argue incessantly during timeout.
- [32:23]
Nick Wright
It was such a story when they won the title. President Obama made fun of them about it. They're like, you blame Mario for everything. Like, yeah, that was definitely a thing. But what did he say?
- [32:32]
Colin Cowherd
So basically Mario said, if you went to LeBron and said, well, we need bench and athleticism, we'll take Bronny, and LeBron would be the play initiator, not share the ball and have to pretend he's not Austin Reaves, which is kind of an insult, but understandable at his age. But In Los Angeles, LeBron has to pretend he's not better than. He's the third option. Miami goes, yeah, we have size. We have no play initiators. You've never liked to be around the basket. Defensively, you want to be at the fast breakout at the free throw on extended. We'll take Brawny, which, by the way, he will play in Miami. Yeah, and I'm LeBron and I'm like 13% state tax to zero. My son plays could start with. If Mitchell has any injury. I mean, they really don't have a point guard of note.
- [33:20]
Nick Wright
I mean, sure. No, I. I'm so my.
- [33:23]
Colin Cowherd
My take is. And I don't think. I think the Lakers what they want to do. I think they're negotiating for Walker Kessler. They're just kind of get the number to be 33 and not 38 because it traps them going forward. Although I like Walker Kessler, but my take is then they go to LeBron and go, Listen, we want you back. And there's no room. You got to take 15. I don't. What they don't. What they don't want to do is have Rich Paul dictate terms because they do need a big. I mean, if you look at Now Oklahoma City is going to do Hartenstein, Shett and.
- [33:52]
Nick Wright
And Mara.
- [33:53]
Colin Cowherd
Mara, yeah.
- [33:54]
Nick Wright
They drafted three. Yes.
- [33:56]
Colin Cowherd
So it's like, sorry, guys, you have to have a big.
- [33:59]
Nick Wright
And Luke. It's what Luka wants.
- [34:00]
Colin Cowherd
It's just the way the Western Conference works. So now you have Bam and Giannis over in the East. So my take is LeBron and Miami. You say, well, it left on bad terms. Dan Gilbert and LeBron let. It was torched.
- [34:15]
Nick Wright
Correct.
- [34:15]
Colin Cowherd
It was inconceivable that they could come back.
- [34:18]
Nick Wright
So if you are asking me, would my feelings about the Heat's ability to contend this year change if they added LeBron James? Yes, they would. What do I want that to happen? Absolutely.
- [34:31]
Colin Cowherd
I.
- [34:32]
Nick Wright
So here's. I. I'm not sure how much LeBron's family loved Miami. I don't know if that is, you know, it's not like returning to Cleveland, where you're from. It also is if his daughter doesn't, you know, if, if it seems like it's just a one year thing and his family's going to stay in la. That is obviously way further than Golden State. So there are some what I would call logistical complications to it. But from a basketball standpoint, everything you said I agree with 100% because my concern about Miami as presently constituted is Giannis is such a great player, assuming that the health issues he's had the last few years he can get over. He is. He gives you a floor to your offense, but the ceiling does not exist if you do not have shooting and shot creation outside of him.
- [35:23]
Colin Cowherd
That's right.
- [35:24]
Nick Wright
And right now they don't have it.
- [35:25]
Colin Cowherd
They don't have it.
- [35:26]
Nick Wright
And they are, you know, they're staring at having to lose Norman Powell, their best three point shooter. Wiggins, to me, is declining. Davion Mitchell's a great defender, but is not a good offensive player. I, you know, bam. I know 83 points, not withstanding to 32%.
- [35:40]
Colin Cowherd
But he's more d the whole office.
- [35:41]
Nick Wright
Correct.
- [35:42]
Tony Ayo
No.
- [35:42]
Colin Cowherd
No.
- [35:42]
Nick Wright
And so Miami is presently constituted will be one of the best defenses in basketball, but I think flatly not have enough offense to win three, let alone four rounds in the playoffs. If they. Yes. Would LeBron solve all of that? Yes, a hell of a lot of it. Because it's not only his offense, but what we saw from him in the first round of the playoffs this year. What as. As soon as he goes back to hand on the controls, offense initiator mode, everyone's three point percentage goes up a percent or two because he's Such a good passer. He understands getting other guys involved. So I like as a basketball fit, I like all of that. And there are not a lot of basketball fits that. Let me rephrase it. As far as. Let's just say LeBron is leaving the Lakers, which, again, I don't think is the most likely outcome. Even though the Lakers have been wanting him to leave, even though he's been, yes, their most reliable player since he's been there. The basketball fits are mostly places he. I couldn't see him going. Like he would fit. He would make Houston a snap contender and fit perfectly.
- [36:55]
Colin Cowherd
No question.
- [36:55]
Nick Wright
He's not going to Houston.
- [36:56]
Colin Cowherd
No.
- [36:57]
Nick Wright
He would make Detroit a snap contender and fit with them instantly. He's not going to Detroit. He, Denver would be, it would be great there. And his buddy kind of owns the team, so maybe that's a possibility, but I don't think it's likely. Golden State would be fun. Yeah, but they can't win unless they also somehow find a way to get Anthony Davis. They are just not going to be a good enough defensive team. Cleveland, he's in the exact same prop position he's in with the Lakers, which is, well, I am marked. So you have Donovan Mitchell as your number one. Fine. That's Luca. Then you have this James Harden guy. Here's the thing about me and James Harden. I'm way better than him, just like he is with Austin. But those guys are only can only play with the ball in their hand. So I have to play this Swiss army knife role, which is kind of a bummer. And as a LeBron fan, I don't want to see him finishing his career as a third option, like, when he's still this good. So for all those reasons, Miami, you know, checks a lot of boxes. He has a history there. They could absolutely win the title. They need him. He would have the ball in his hands. So I love the idea of it. I just don't think he's coming back to the East Coast. I would love it if he did. God, I would love it if he did. It would be sick. You would have to maybe get what you know you have. You have properties somewhere in Florida. I don't want to reveal it. You would maybe have to add some down here.
- [38:16]
Colin Cowherd
No, it's. I, I, I love Florida. Like, I. Texas, I don't get. It's flat. There's no water. Florida, I totally get just Texas.
- [38:25]
Nick Wright
Drive by.
- [38:26]
Colin Cowherd
And I've said this before. I'm a huge college football fan. Anybody that listens to the show knows. I love college football. And my take has always been there are three programs in college football. It's mostly a rural sport. It's, you know, know Tuscaloosa, it's Ann Arbor. There are three semi professional college programs. Usc, Miami and Texas. When they're good, the sports great.
- [38:48]
Nick Wright
Yeah, of course.
- [38:48]
Colin Cowherd
And so if usc and I think they'll be good because they have pro guys on the offensive line first time since Pete Carroll days. So they'll. They'll be able to, you know, play Big Ten football. I am so happy when I see a guy wearing a Miami Hurricane shirt because anybody my age knows that college football used to be. There used to be this. It was pretend. We do not pay the players. This is above board. And we all knew Southern teams paid them through the church. We all understand. And Miami did. On boats. Right? Like we all understood it. And USC had bags of money, too. We all got it. College football now is like, not only do we pay them, we pay sophomores in high school. It's like college football grew up. It's like we all knew it was happening. Now you can just. When you go out on your booster's yacht, everybody knows it's just not for scrambled eggs, toast and signing day. It is for money. And I think my take has always been with college football, can we stop this veneer that it's called. It's like the Olympics. It's for pros. Usain boltz at making 10 million a year. The fact that Miami, and not nothing against Gainesville and Tallahassee.
- [40:02]
Nick Wright
This Florida Gator fan right there just taking a huge out.
- [40:05]
Colin Cowherd
Miami needs to be good for the sport, to feel big.
- [40:09]
Nick Wright
Well, it also. Listen, there is. There are not. There is a. You're talking about when, you know, I'm. I'm a little bit younger than you. But they had. So they had the Jimmy Johnson era.
- [40:21]
Colin Cowherd
Yes.
- [40:22]
Nick Wright
The.
- [40:22]
Colin Cowherd
You, Schnellenberger, Erickson, Jimmy. They all won. Even Butch Davis won.
- [40:26]
Nick Wright
Well, that's, that's. And then they had, you know, when I was graduating high school, thereabouts, like late 90s, early 2000s, some of the most outrageous teams and depth charts in the history of the sport. They won a title. They also had another title stolen from them on the call. But you like the O2. I don't know if it was 01 or 02. Miami Hurricanes, where it's like they have five pros at running back, they have three pros at tight end. They're the.
- [40:55]
Colin Cowherd
Those teams were probably second most talented to that Joe Burrow Team that literally had 19. Those Miami teams were.
- [41:03]
Nick Wright
I think they were they so that. And so there is an element of like when we talk about the biggest brands in College football. I'm 40 years old. Notre Dame has never had a team that like the Reggie Bush, USC teams.
- [41:22]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [41:22]
Nick Wright
Those Miami teams I just mentioned. You just mentioned an LSU team, the Vince Young Texas team. Like, there are a lot of programs that in my, my whole life have had higher, more holy ceilings than Notre Dame and Notre Dame, like kind of, I think still kind of reputationally thinks it's in that class and but again, for almost a half century, it hasn't been, it hasn't even had those highest high moments.
- [41:53]
Cade Courtley
Yeah.
- [41:54]
Nick Wright
And I am curious if the what the new age of college football, like you're saying, where the. It's not corruption anymore, it's just legalized. Paying the players.
- [42:05]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [42:06]
Nick Wright
If that does that even the playing field or does it temporarily in the playing field and then the big, the biggest historical powers are just if everyone's going to pay, be able to pay guys, then I think will the kids be like, well, I'd rather play for a school that has a history like my.
- [42:22]
Colin Cowherd
Well, here's what's happened. Here's what's really happened with nil. A lot of the teams that were good are still good, but it is called college football. So when Alabama was dominating or Georgia's and a lot of the schools that were dominating, nothing against Ohio State. But you didn't think of academics, you thought of football. Not the college part, the nil. What you want is rich boosters. Well, Vanderbilt. The average, the median income of a Vanderbilt grad is double of Georgia. So now suddenly all these guys at Vanderbilt make it. I mean, I live in a neighborhood up in Chicago where Matt Ishbia, Vanderbilt grad, has a house that's bigger than the last ski lodge I was at. He's bought the White Sox. He's bought. So he's a Vanderbilt guy.
- [43:08]
Nick Wright
Hold on. Not Ishbia owns.
- [43:09]
Colin Cowherd
There's Matt. There's Matt. There's two of them.
- [43:12]
Nick Wright
Oh, okay. Oh, okay.
- [43:13]
Colin Cowherd
So I know I went to a Cubs game the other day was. He was sitting right behind us. So nice. I mean like down to earth great guy. But the point being is Indiana is an academic. The school of business. Vanderbilt academic. Miami's got a great academic reputation. So the college in college football now suddenly matters with nil, it's a lot of the schools that have good football programs but are known. Miami's known for its law school and Its academics.
- [43:37]
Nick Wright
But is it.
- [43:38]
Colin Cowherd
Is that I mean the idea. It's just a money grab. It's like. No, it's the schools. And by the way college kids are now staying in college longer. That's not bad.
- [43:48]
Nick Wright
Well that to me is the most. The most interest. That last part is the most interesting. We haven't yet seen it how it plays out impact of nil. Which is are we going to all of a sudden. Let's like let's take running backs.
- [44:05]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [44:06]
Nick Wright
As a for instance where most years this year maybe a bit of an outlier that you're the number one running back in the draft might be projected to go mid second round.
- [44:19]
Colin Cowherd
That's right.
- [44:21]
Nick Wright
And where a college a guy who's like the number three running back in the class and because of that is projected to be a third round pick stays in school not to improve his draft position but because he can make more money.
- [44:37]
Colin Cowherd
No question.
- [44:38]
Nick Wright
Being a star college running back.
- [44:40]
Colin Cowherd
Yep.
- [44:41]
Nick Wright
Than a rookie pace scaled third round pick, NFL running back.
- [44:44]
Colin Cowherd
That's a great point because running back is the last position in pro football offensively you can hit him anywhere, anytime when they come through the line, knees, shoulder helmet, can't hit receivers, tight ends like that. So it is the one. It's the most punitive position to play. So it kind of stinks to be a running back.
- [45:01]
Nick Wright
Yep.
- [45:02]
Colin Cowherd
And to your point, guys are going to stay in college and say I mean I'm going to make four to be the number one running back at Ohio State or 600,000 to go to the Jaguars.
- [45:12]
Nick Wright
Correct. And so I do. So I.
- [45:14]
Colin Cowherd
It's a way of paying the running back.
- [45:16]
Nick Wright
Yes. But it's going to be not on the in on the NFL's dime. I think there's a lot of things that people are. So that's one thing about. And how that impacts. Oh well that actually because one of the reasons running backs don't get paid is because it's like oh wow, they're just so easy to come by. Like you just dropped from the fifth round. Well, if some of that supply is now staying in college got to pay the NFL guys more than all of a sudden. Do the NFL running backs get a boost in pay and then does. Are we seeing. Are we starting to get down a road where when if every draft seven of the 25 best players are wide receivers. Because it seems like three last four drafts like oh, I got eight wide receivers in round one. I got seven then are we coming to a place where what happened to running back salary Wise happens to receivers, which is. Teams are like, yeah, I. Unless you are Jamar Chase, Justin Jefferson, jsn. If you are, it's a bubble.
- [46:17]
Colin Cowherd
It's a wide receiver bubble.
- [46:18]
Nick Wright
If you're Michael Pittman caliber guy.
- [46:23]
Tab Ramos
Yeah.
- [46:23]
Nick Wright
I'm not paying you $18 million. I can just draft. I mean, there's. There's 10 new ones coming in the league every year.
- [46:30]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, it's. Football's the coaching sport, and therefore it's very cyclical on who matters. Safeties now are hugely important. Tight ends didn't used to matter. Tight ends now are gigantic. Sean McVay, I mean, tight ends, because of Kittle and Gronk, emerged as a more important position.
- [46:45]
Nick Wright
I can remember Travis Kelsey in there.
- [46:47]
Colin Cowherd
Travis Kelce. Yes. When Andy Reid in Philadelphia started throwing on third and two, it was like, the league's changed.
- [46:53]
Nick Wright
Yep.
- [46:54]
Colin Cowherd
And he, he and I talked about that years ago. He started listening to the show and I'm like, there's a guy in Philadelphia which is kind of a blue collar, tough town. They throw on third and two. The league's changing. And then now with McVay going to personnel, where, I mean, they have like five tight ends and you notice this year how many tight ends went and it was a mediocre tight end class. So football tends to be like anything else, like housing and the market. It's very, very cyclical because coaching matters so much. My favorite part about sports is not the tradition. It's not the rear view mirror. It's the windshield. These leagues constantly change. Like Minnesota. Fascinating. Minnesota's like, we're going to get rid of Nas Reed and Julius Randle. Because I think they look at Oklahoma City and Wemby and they're like, the only way we can beat them now is shooters and athletes. So they get the kid from Chicago at the trade deadline, they draft the kid, Isaiah from Duke, at the top of the second round, they go get lamelo ball. So you can tell what Minnesota's doing. They figured it out at the trade deadline.
- [47:54]
Nick Wright
We.
- [47:54]
Colin Cowherd
We can't. Wemby's eating, playing Gobert off the court. We're gonna go speed. That's the only way to take bigs out. So that's constant. The constant change culturally in football and basketball, baseball now. It's just. That's what I love about sports. Constant. Like we're seeing it in soccer, we're seeing it in everything.
- [48:12]
Nick Wright
So I. Can we stay with the lamelo trade for a second?
- [48:15]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, yeah.
- [48:16]
Daniel Cormier
So.
- [48:16]
Nick Wright
Because Tim Connolly. Right. Tim Connolly built the Nuggets Smart guy. He then got hired to build the Timberwolves, and he built a team specifically to beat the Nuggets.
- [48:25]
Colin Cowherd
Right?
- [48:26]
Nick Wright
And he did it. They beat him. They. When the Nuggets were the defending champs, the Timberwolves beat him in seven. The Timberwolves this year played him again in the first round. They were all banged up. They beat him anyway. But unfortunately for him, I think he realized, shit, the team I built my team to beat is no longer the team to beat. And so now San Antonio is, he thinks, potentially the team to beat. So we got to build a team that can counteract Wimby, speed it up with that said, unless that then the next phase of his plan is. And so now when the spurs come to Minnesota on these icy roads, maybe Lamelo can get in a bender bender with Wimby and knock him out. I don't. I do not. I am. I understand pivoting. I understand them saying, we've got to remake this, that Julius Randle is not a playoff performer that, you know, as beloved as Naz Reed is. We feel like we can replace him. I get all of that. I do not understand for the life of me why if you're trying to play championship level basketball, you would say lamelo ball, we want you to be a part of that. I don't, I don't. I do not. They. I do not think there is a level of maturity and being an adult that is requisite if you are going to be a best or second best player, which he needs to be second best guy on a championship team. And I have no reason to believe that he can do that. And here's the other thing I will say. It would be very concerning for me if a team drafts a guy. Number two, sees him every day. He is coming off his healthiest year. Your team's best year. His best year.
- [50:14]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [50:15]
Nick Wright
And that's when they're like, we better get out of this now. Well, feels a little like, like front running. A stock you know is going to crash.
- [50:21]
Colin Cowherd
So not every stock is a core holding. Sometimes you have GameStop and you wait for GameStop to go up and you're like, I'm selling that, making money and getting out. It's not a core holding. It's not Intel, Microsoft, whatever, Amazon. So the question is, you just made Lamelo a core holding. Charlotte looked at him like, GameStop. Charlotte's like this, by the way. A year ago he had no market. Now he's got a hot one. Let's get. So I get Charlotte. The reason I Think it works kind of in Minnesota. I think Finch is a top five coach. I think they have a real culture. Ant is still the star and there's enough part of me thinks Conley's like okay, you got a Rod's an owner. It's going to be really. They were good last year but they underachieved. They weren't terribly entertaining despite having Ant and my take is they're a bad watch with a great player. So that makes them wildly interesting.
- [51:20]
Nick Wright
Oh it does make them interesting and it will. The highlights will be crazy. Crazy. And there will be moments where the
- [51:28]
Colin Cowherd
offense looks unbelievable and also Isaiah Evans and the Chicago kid can both catch and shoot athletes. The bottom line is Lamelo is they think he's got the great handles, he'll get the ball to shooters.
- [51:40]
Nick Wright
Yeah, they think he's going to be an offensive engine for him. And if you were going to build a team that could deal with Lamelo's just doesn't give a damn defense Ants who's a great defender. Jaden McDaniels is an awesome unbelievable Rudy Gobert like they have the Terence Shannon was out there. They have the right personnel to deal with and Lamelo's at least long his defensive liabilities. But my, my concerns would be these two. While we've never seen Lamelo in the playoffs, we have seen him in the play in three times.
- [52:13]
Tab Ramos
Yeah.
- [52:14]
Nick Wright
And in the history of the play in three of the four biggest blowouts LaMelo Ball was the center of. Yeah, he has played awfully in all those games. So it's like ah. Is he a playoff guy? I don't know. He's six years in, hasn't been in the playoffs. But the playoff adjacent stuff hasn't been good. The other concern I have is this. Are we sure Lamelo Ball doesn't think he's still the best player on the team he's on? He's the same draft class as Ant. Well, he won rookie of the year when Ant was there. He's been the best player on every team. The only time he's ever had a teammate that he thought was better than him was his big brother. Does he and like if he totally accepts yeah, I'm the number two this is Anthony Edwards team then maybe. But I don't know if that's his personality.
- [52:56]
Colin Cowherd
Well, is he humbled because Charlotte moved on? I mean yeah, I guess. Well, I think all the concerns are legitimate. I heard Ryan Rossillo is like I hate the move. I get that between the coach, between Ant, between the shooters. I thought they were a bad watch clunky off their pace in the playoffs was pretty good. I think that to combat the size of Wemby and the size of OKC and we're going to be fast and athletic and shoot and we're going to shoot our way to win because we can't mean Julius Randall takes the ball to and he kills half court sets. He's a ball stopper
- [53:29]
Nick Wright
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- [54:05]
Colin Cowherd
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- [54:52]
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- [55:05]
Colin Cowherd
Hi, it's Colin Coward from the Colin Coward Podcast. 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. But too often we overlook all the 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, an 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. These are brands that are ready to deliver your essential wellness. Assists because every goal starts with an assist. Learn how Halion can assist your game day goals@halianassist.com. All right, let's. Let's pivot back to why we're here. Hard Rock bet Thanks for all the support and the World cup once again establish you will be at the game tonight. You said you have not bet it yet.
- [56:18]
Nick Wright
I have not, no. So here's the deal. I'll just be honest with the folks here on how this has gone. So a I have tried this World cup to stay like be very disciplined and sharp with what I'm doing and I see and I'm doing this in the midst of everyone else in the world. All the marks, all the marks are like hey, you know what my plan is? All the best players are going to score multiple goals and I'm a parlay that shit together and I'm like you rubes that'll never hit. And then every time, every time watching these children make these bets and they're like oh, it's great. And then I, and I'm like well you know what? I. I'm. I'm on a. I'm on England to be to just to win the game against Ghana. 00 draw. How about getting, how about open the World Cup? Spain, you're gonna beat Cape verde, right? No, no. 00 draw. So I, so I'm, I'm digging myself out.
- [57:20]
Colin Cowherd
You tried to be this.
- [57:21]
Nick Wright
I tried to be sophisticated. Exactly right. I'm like oh y. Listen, minus 400 sounds bad.
- [57:28]
Colin Cowherd
Well, I mean you do, you do smoke. So you've got some European.
- [57:31]
Nick Wright
That's. I'm a retired smoker. But yes, all that's true. So with that said like I really like I. So Algeria, Austria's today both teams advance with a draw. Both teams go home if they lose. Which says to me man, this is going to be a game of keep away. They're both fine with a 00 draw. So I'm sitting there. Croatia is playing Ghana today. Ghana has already advanced. Croatia advances with a draw or a win, goes home with a loss and there is not in Ghana might actually prefer the path they get if they lose and they're the third place team. It's a second place team. So I Like Croatia. I already explained why I like Dr. Congo. Portugal. Colombia is tricky to me because I can't figure out with respect to the Colombian fans here and I think Colombia is a dangerous team and they've been awesome in this tournament. Awesome. Portugal, in theory is supposed to be the better side. They are the sixth ranked team in the world. They are the favorites for a reason. But we also have seen them play twice in this tournament, once against a legitimate opponent and it looked like that the team hated their all time legend and the coach was scared of him. That wasn't good. And then one game against. Was it Uzbekistan? Yeah, it was against Uzbekistan. They put up five goals and people like, okay, everything's fine. Does Portugal truly have a Cristiano Ronaldo problem in that he is the only, not only the aging all time legend, but the aging all time legend who there is some resentment amongst the teammates because he's not producing the way he wants and for him and all of a sudden new insecurity of, well, I can't. Like, it's one thing for Mbappe and Holland and Vinnie Jr. To be doing this, but Messi, who is my A1 rival and age contemporary, is crushing. So I think that has put extra pressure on him. So I say all that to say this. I think the best chance Colombia has to win today is Cristiano Ronaldo making the game about himself.
- [59:50]
Cade Courtley
Yeah.
- [59:50]
Nick Wright
Because I think Portugal's overall midfield talent and overall talent should be enough to win a game. They need to get or they want to get, but not if Ronaldo does what he did in the first game. So that's my stance on it. I still haven't bet it yet. I also kind of feel like I want to bet it when I'm in the stadium.
- [60:07]
Colin Cowherd
Yes.
- [60:07]
Nick Wright
And. And have a better sense of who I'm sitting with, is rooting for. Because I don't want to be rooting. If I, if I'm really in my head, it's a coin flip. I kind of want to just go with, you know, the vibe of the section I'm in. That feels like the right thing. It's like if I'm sitting with these people, I'm going to bet Columbia, I'll tell you that much right now.
- [60:23]
Colin Cowherd
You know, what's one of the things I've really, Bill Barr talked about this last night. It's so great to see all these people come into America and they love ranch dressing. They nachos. Ranch dressing.
- [60:36]
Nick Wright
Well, I don't know if nachos are Americans. Innovation. I don't know that we get those. But yes, there are. There is an element there I have really enjoyed. Yes, I have enjoyed. There has been a great. And that's what the World cup is, man. There has been a great blending and melding of, you know, obviously people from all over the world, but people experiencing uniquely American things that we maybe take for granted a bit. While I imagine a ton of the people are, you know, at these games, you know, wearing the Columbia jerseys, whatever, are Americans who live here that are just Colombian, either heritage or just Colombian fans. But there's clearly a ton. I mean, the Kansas City got taken over my hometown by the Dutch this week. Like, there's not a. Well, we want a huge Dutch stronghold in Kansas City outside of the World Cup.
- [61:23]
Colin Cowherd
I just got back. I went with my son. He had to do some stuff overseas. So I went to Madrid for four days. And one of the things, when I go, the minute I get on a plane and I'm flying overseas, I immediately lock into, okay, I just want to be European for six days. Yeah, I'm just gonna. Everything shy of smoking and sleeping in my dress socks, I'm gonna be totally European. I'm gonna drink all day, three hour lunches, drink all day, 12 miles, use public transportation. And so I went to Madrid and I'm like, God, this is a great life. I mean, they open up the wine shops early.
- [61:54]
Nick Wright
Yeah.
- [61:56]
Colin Cowherd
And I think what. What is happening is there are some. I. I ran into a German lady the other day at my gym, and a very strong German acc. You live here? Chicago? She says, yes. I said, do you miss Germany? She goes, yes. I said, what do you prefer? And she goes, I prefer Chicago because she says sometimes Europe can be inflexible and a lot of regulations. She goes, people really celebrate winning here, and they're not shy and they're kind of obnoxious. And she says, that's okay. She says, sometimes American. The media here makes Americans feel bad for going, we're good, and we have ice in our cocktails and air conditioning.
- [62:33]
Boost Mobile Advertiser
We got.
- [62:34]
Nick Wright
It's very funny. So I, you know, I. Every time I go, my wife and I, every August, you know, take. We usually go with her grandparents, actually, who, God bless them, are still with us 96 and 93.
- [62:49]
Colin Cowherd
Where do you take your beautiful wife?
- [62:51]
Nick Wright
Well, that's. So every year we take her. I take her and grandparents somewhere in Europe for eight days. And so like last year, we did Monaco to roll dice at Casino Monte Carlo and didn't do San Tropez N Monaco into Milan and this year we're not. Her grandparents aren't coming. And this year, I finally had the courage to ring up the old bosses at FS1 and be like, hey, I'm approaching 10 years at the network.
- [63:23]
Colin Cowherd
That's right.
- [63:25]
Nick Wright
I'm not saying I need the Colin Cowherd vacation plan. However, if I could get two weeks in August instead of one after we're grinding in the World cup, like, I'm usually on vacation right now post finals, not. And so I think that's. So I think that's happening. So it's funny you said Madrid, because I think we're going to start in Madrid and we always rent a car and just kind of drive through.
- [63:46]
Colin Cowherd
Public transportation in Madrid is amazing. It's a little bit like la cleaner version. And they. And you walk everywhere.
- [63:55]
Nick Wright
So here's.
- [63:55]
Colin Cowherd
Public transportation is unbelievable.
- [63:57]
Nick Wright
So here's the. I don't mind the public transportation at all within the cities, but the people will be like, oh, take, you know, get a Euro pass and, you know, go city to city like that. Those people have not traveled with my lovely wife sitting right there, who we will take on this trip with us. Four suitcases. One of them will be empty, and they will go and they. And then we will come back with five or six suitcases, two of which we purchased there from all the clothes. So because of that, like, going, like, getting on a train with there is some, you know, little ugly American stereotype of like, yeah, it's just two of us. We have, you know, six duffel bags in a suitcase. I'd rather just rent a car and have them in the trunk. But this World cup, the funny story, and maybe this is where, as we're. I know we're running short on time. Four years ago, she and I went to Brazil. And the reason we went to Brazil was because I did a whole thing on the podcast about how Brazil was going to win the World Cup. I was betting on Brazil to win the World cup, and I was going to pay for a trip to Brazil with my World cup winnings. It's the World cup four years ago. For those of you that aren't soccer aficionados, Brazil not only did not win the World cup, they did not come particularly close to winning the World Cup. Argentina, their arch nemesis, won it instead. So I was like, damn, lost all that money. Can't go to Brazil anymore. My wife, who I guess wasn't that locked into the tournament, was like, so we're still going to Brazil, right? So that's why we went this Year I have kind of done the same thing, which is cast my whole lot with Brazil. I haven't asked you this yet because I think Brazil is going to win it. I think they've been awesome. I think they're only going to get better. And I think Carlo Ancelotti is the best manager in the tournament. Do you. You're pulling for the US but is your pick France?
- [65:43]
Colin Cowherd
It sounded like France is the best team. Netherlands is the most underrated team. I don't think though Argentina will win again. I just think it's too hard. Despite Messi's brilliance, I think France looks. I always say this, turn down the sound sometimes when I watch football if I think a team's really good. Houston Texans defense.
- [66:04]
Nick Wright
Sure.
- [66:04]
Colin Cowherd
So you don't have any audio bias, confirmation bias. You watch Texans played and you're like, okay, they're just faster than everybody. They get a pass rush, great corners. They don't look like anybody. Seattle looked like it on both sides. Houston just on defense. If you turn the sound down, which I did with France and there's no, you get no audio to. You can to filter through it. They look different. They get there. They have six. I don't think Pulisic Baligan or Weston McKinney would start.
- [66:32]
Nick Wright
Oh, there's no question. They would not start. They wouldn't. No, no, you're absolutely right. There's. We don't know. I know we have no one on our team that would start for France
- [66:42]
Colin Cowherd
and their goalie is better.
- [66:43]
Nick Wright
The. Yeah, I think so. France is the most talented team and they're healthy. Like Brazil's got the injuries. Spain, they're worried about your mall's hamstring. I think we are. I, I think that the World cup of Stars is going to continue and I think the way the bracket fell is just perfect. I think we are going to get. And it's very chalky but I think we are going to get a semifinal on the left hand side of the bracket of France playing Spain and a semi final on the right hand side of the bracket of Brazil playing Argentina. The two, two European powers, the two South American powers. And then the winners play each other obviously in New York on what is it, July 18th, 19th, whatever it is. But I think, I think there is a chance that this World cup is remembered for the greatest Golden Boot race ever where it's just legend score, you know, scoring 9, 10, 11 goals over the course of the, the tournament and almost assuredly the final World cup for two of the five greatest players ever in Messi and Ronaldo and a World
- [67:52]
Colin Cowherd
cup of some you can no longer deny. America deeply cares.
- [67:58]
Nick Wright
100%. 100%. And I think, and I do think you're right that I think that, you know, we don't, we don't typically get too political but I would say I, you know, over the last, you know, few presidential elections maybe are standing in the world's community has taken a bit of a hit. Yeah, I think a lot of the world community coming to the US and being like, hey cool, not doing a tour of that reflecting pool, but aside from that, it ain't so bad over here.
- [68:27]
Colin Cowherd
Hard Rock Bet you're awesome. Thanks for showing up. I, I mean this guy's wearing dark pants and a brown shirt in Florida heat in June. That's the kind of commitment you're making to the World Cup. Thanks everybody that stopped by. This will be on the Hard Rock bet. It'll be on the Volume.
- [68:42]
Nick Wright
It'll be on all our feeds. Watch right the herd Hard Rock bad everywhere you can find it. Tick tock. I'm sure too see you guys. The Volume
- [68:59]
Tony Ayo
this is Tony Ayo from the Real Report with Tony AO and Uncle Murder. You ever notice how everything keeps going up? Rent, streaming, even extra Sosa at your favorite burrito spot. But with Boost Mobile, you don't have to play the Willis Go up soon game. Boost Mobile offers an unlimited talk, text and data plan at a price that'll never go up. It's the same price you'll pay for life. Switch now for unlimited wireless at a price that'll never go up. Only at boost mobile. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan.
- [69:29]
Podcast Host
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- [70:55]
Colin Cowherd
visit zepbound Lilly.com hi, it's Colin Coward from the Colin Coward Podcast. 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. But too often we overlook all the 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. An 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. These are brands that are ready to deliver your essential wellness assists because every goal starts with an assist. Learn how Halion can assist your game day goals@helionassist.com Con this is Cade Courtley,
- [71:55]
Cade Courtley
former Navy Seal, sniper and platoon commander. I've seen what happens when the lights go out. And after Hurricane Helene left 4 million Americans in the dark for days, I'm giving you the same advice I give my own family. Get backup power now. So to celebrate July 4th, get the best selling Patriot power generator, 2200x with a free mini generator to charge your smaller devices. That's double the solar power. Absolutely free. Because as a seal, I learned two is one and one is none. You'll recharge twice as fast for true power independence. This generator will run your fridge, charge every phone in your house, keep critical medical devices alive, all without a drop of gas or deadly fumes. Get $100 off if you're a senior or veteran like me and take a full year to pay. Why such a crazy deal? Because July 4th is our holiday, and you deserve it. This sale ends July 7th. Go to fourpatriots.com that's the number four patriots dot com. Don't wait. Get peace of mind.
- [72:54]
Podcast Host
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.