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Why are TSA rules so confusing? You got a hoodie on. Take it all. I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called no Such Thing where we get to the bottom of questions like that. Why are you screaming? Well, I can't expect what to do now if the rule was the same, go off on me. I deserve it. You know, Lock him up. Listen to no Such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. No Such Thing. Let's start with a quick puzzle. The answer is Ken Jennings appearance on the puzzler with A.J. jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land? Jeopardy Truthers believe in? I guess they would be conspiracy theorists. That's right. They gave you the answers and you still blew it. The puzzler. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the Best of the Week for what's Right with Nick Wright. The best takes and moments from this week on the show. Enjoy. So the west is as dangerous as ever. Obviously. KD just went to the Rockets. It's going to be the Lakers first full season with Luka and teams like spurs and the Mavs could take the leap. Yeah. Who are the best players? Who are the real players in the West? Yeah. So listen, I. I did this a bit on. I think. I think there is a. It's clearly Oklahoma City at the top. But I think the next best two teams are the Rockets and the Lakers. And I the the Luca over correction negativity has gone too far. And I did this on the TV show yesterday. I just want to reiterate it. Luka, five best players in the league. Okay. Joker is 30, he won his title at 28. Giannis is 30, he won his title At 26. Tatum is 27, he won his title at 26. Shay is 26, turned 27 in two weeks. He just won the title. Luca, the youngest of all of them, 26, will be 26 during the first couple months of next season. The idea that he is behind schedule or off schedule is incorrect right now. Shay, understandably, his star could not be shining brighter. I get that and he deserves it. However, we. And we also can't compare Luca and Shay to career numbers because Luca was good instantly and Shea grew into it. So if we simply just take the last two years for Shay, which are far and away the best two years of his career, and compare them to the last two years for Luca, which includes far and away the worst year of his career this past year. The numbers are identical. Playoffs and regular season identical, except for Luca beats him in assists considerably and rebounds by a bit. But the scoring and efficiencies are nearly identical. One guy made the finals to Monze and lost to a team some people thought was going to turn into a dynasty in Boston. The other guy made the finals and went seven with a team people thought was the most unlikely finalist in in modern NBA history. So to act like I don't think it's fair to be like, well, you can win with one guy, you can't win with the other. Now Shay is coming off his best year, Luke is coming off his worst. That's undeniable. But it is. There's too big of a discussion gap amongst the two. So there. So that's one of the reasons that I am a believer in the Lakers and I'm going to do this in reverse order. 3, 3, 2, 1. Second reason I'm a believer in the Lakers is I do think they are going to make a substantial move in the next week. I think they are going to address some of their roster holes and I think they have the assets to do it. And the last reason I'm a believer in the Lakers is let me call it a informed opinion that people that think LeBron is resigned to the idea that he's not like that, making the finals and competing for championships, that that phase of his career is over are unabashedly, unequivocally wrong. Now maybe if your opinion is whatever he thinks is going on, you know, doesn't matter. You know, that phase is over. That's an opinion and you're allowed to have. But if you think LeBron is like, okay, at this point, it's just about playing with my son, you know, at some point, having a farewell tour. I love the game. You can dead that right now. And I think these finals and watching Oklahoma City struggle with Indiana and watching what these finals looked like only surge emboldened LeBron to feel like I can get back there. And so if you have Chip on his shoulder, Luka wants one last dance at some point deep in the postseason. LeBron and some slight roster tweaking that to me makes the Lakers a contender. You think Austin Reeves is there next year? Probably not, right? Maybe at the beginning, probably not through the year. I just think Austin Reeves, he's your most valuable, tradable asset. And because of Luca, he's a little redundant when you have Anthony Davis there. Austin Reeves is critical because without Austin Reeves, your only creators, the oldest guy in the league in LeBron. But with Luka there, he becomes. And I, I really like Austin. I. You know what I mean? The. I was the first person to tell you Austin, he's better than Bradley Beal. Everybody, everybody called me crazy, but I just think sometimes he is right now a luxury. And the Lakers have some necessities. So I would put. If I were stacking it, I should have started. I think the Nuggets, I should have said included them. I think they are a real player based off the strength of Jokic alone. And I think they will, you know, manicure around the edges. And maybe they were over Michael Malone. And maybe what we saw them do in the playoffs under Adelman is something sustainable. And then we see Michael Porter Jr come back healthy and Aaron Gordon come back healthy. So I'd have them 4, Lakers 3. The Rockets to me are. They can win the championship. And I say this with no disrespect to. To Oklahoma City at all, but man, a Lakers Rockets Western Conference finals. Which I think, check me on this producers. I think we got that once in league history and it was 1986. Akeem second year when everyone thought we were going to get Lakers Celtics in the finals again. I. I know the Lakers. The Rockets beat the Lakers in the playoffs in 1986. I think it was the conference finals. And the 1980 the Rockets beat the Lakers. Oh, okay. The hold on. The Lakers won. Hold on a second. That. That's wrong. I'm just telling you right now. The. The. The. You asked the producers. I'm telling you right now. I'm telling you right now. That reads to me I'm about to be. This is a good lesson for everybody. PA Pause the show, but stay on the air. What they just put in the doc reads like it was some AI Bot wrote it. A thousand percent. It's what it reads like. And I'm here telling you that AI Bot doesn't know what the hell it's talking about. The producers ask Grog. I'm telling you right now, you cannot trust the AI Chatbots when it comes to sports history. So I'm just the. I'm going to do my own thing here. I am. I going to get cooked here. You might get. Oh, wait, no, it says 19. I know. I'm City versus Houston. Okay, hold on. Everybody stop. Just everybody stop for a second. Okay? The. The. In 1986, the NBA Finals, without a shadow of a doubt, guys, were the 86 Celtics, maybe the greatest team ever against the Akeem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson Rockets. That is not up for debate. So I. My question was, was the conference finals Lakers, Rockets all look that up. The Rockets beat the Lakers in the conference finals. 4:1 guys. Audience. AI chatbots don't fucking know sports. I'm telling you right now. Ask, like, when you're done with the. Done with the show, ask an AI Chatbot, like, very basic things, like tell me the top 10 running backs in the NFL right now, and they're going to spit at you, Adrian Peterson, like, so maybe they're good for some term papers, but they're not good with sports. So the. The Rockets have played the Lakers in I. The conference finals. I believe that's the only time. I believe it's 1986. I know they. I'm looking at it now. I know they played in 1986, but I think that's the only time. Sorry for the sidebar. Point I was trying to make is, with no disrespect, Oklahoma city, a Durant LeBron Conference finals, which we've never gotten, by the way. We. We got it. And a Durant LeBron playoff series that felt like a fair fight, which we've only gotten once ever in the 2012 NBA Finals, which I know. Listen, Brawn. One in five. But that was a great series until game five. Like those first four games, all were in the balance in the fourth quarter. And you can say that wasn't a fair fight because the Heat were veterans and the Thunder were young. A fun fact that no one believes, but it is true. 20 the Heat over the Mavs when they lost in 2011, the Heat were the same size favorite over the Mavs in 2011 -1.75 as the Thunder were over the Heat. When the Heat won their first title with LeBron and Wade in 2012, the Thunder were minus one. 75 favorites Going into those finals because the Heat, remember they had lost the year before and they they had damn near lost to Boston and the Thunder had just like exploded onto the scene and become this seemingly unstoppable force of nature. Again, this is off top of my head, but the that Thunder team in the conference finals played the spurs, who the spurs had won Damanze the final 10 games of the regular season and then we're 10 and oh in the playoffs up to o in the conference finals on a 20 game winning streak and then the Thunder won four straight and made the finals. Like that Thunder team. It was like holy shit. Yeah I and so it was really a remarkable thing. But okay, sorry we're way off topic. The point I'm trying to make is I I think the Rockets have all the pieces you need if Durant stays healthy. Yeah, I like Shingoon as the fulcrum of the offense. I like that Durant adds scoring. I think they're going to get more from Shepherd. I think Udok is excellent. I like all of it. And then there's Oklahoma City that has everyone coming back and everyone but Crusoe is super young and should only get better. But there's a lot of plates to balance there. 105 game season. Are you satisfied after championship? You know does the Oklahoma City got lucky. I'll put in quotes that the injury bug hit them early instead of late. Like it's not right to say Oklahoma City, you know, had great injury luck this year. They, you know, key players missed real time but they suffered it early in the year instead of going into the postseason. So I would say management the west for Katie with the Rockets, you know, the Rockets already being a nice team them trying to mitigate his injuries. Yeah. Yes and no. I would I think you've got to be careful with a guy who's 37. I don't think that they're going to put him on like a 60 game plan and I also think for a lot of these legends they want to be eligible for the awards and that 65 game marker is like they they want KD I'm sure is. I bet KD is pissed that he was not eligible for all NBA this year. It's like I played 62 games. I was all NBA caliber. And so. Yeah, you know what I mean? So that's what I think they'll do. All right. Dog days of summer. Which means it's time for the boys this summer to kick it into gear. And the best way to cash in on your baseball IQ is with DraftKings Sportsbook. As the stretch drive begins, DraftKings Sportsbook has you covered with live betting, home run, props, odds, boosts and more. 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Required bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG co audio. Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this. Attention passengers, the pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone, to land this plane. Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this. Until this, pull that, turn this. It's just I can do my eyes closed. I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And on our new show, no such thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence. Those who lack expertise lack the expertise they need to recognize that they lack expertise. And then as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the run, right? I'm looking at this thing. See? Listen to no such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you you get your podcasts. I'm Jake Hofer and this is back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focused, thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access? Should you? That's what the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand. Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Dan, he's Ty. Hello. And we're the Solid Verbal college football podcast. College football season is here. And you know what that means. Your team is going to break your heart three times, probably before Halloween. Uh huh. But fear not, the Solid Verbal will be right there with you through every soul crushing loss, an impossible comeback. Join us all season long, all year long, as we ride the rollercoaster of this ridiculous sport. Whether you're a diehard fan or a casual observer, we'll help you make sense of all the chaos and of course, celebrate the madness. Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere else, and all the emotional support you need as a college football fan. We don't just love college football football, Ty, we live it. Listen to the solid verbal college football podcasts on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, I'm John Lithgow. We choose to go to the moon. I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast. That's one small step for man. It's about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space. You're a great pilot, Buzz. As far as I'm concerned, the best I've seen. That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't predisposition to depression, alcohol abuse and suicide. We'll see Buzz try to overcome demons. What do you say, Buzz? Another beer and triumph over addiction. Here's to you, Buzz Aldrin. Good luck to you and become a true hero. Buzz and I will proceed into the lunar module not because he conquers space, but because he conquers himself. Buzz, we intercepted a Soviet radio transmission starring me, John Lithgow. Can you put it through? Can you Translate on the iHeartRadio Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Columbia Luca was on the COVID of Men's Health magazine looking very slender. He came out with a quote saying, just visually I would say that my whole body looks better. How are you feeling about Luca's transition? So a couple things. One is first, sorry to I. I pointed this out on TV and I'm not trying to pick on anybody, but this to me is one of the main takeaways from the article. Remember how I told you guys AI doesn't know sports and that AI hallucinates sports? This article got marred a bit by the fact that the author included in it an anecdote about how Luca, when he came into the league, had a 42 inch vertical that was measured at the NBA combine. The problem with that is twofold. One is anyone that's watched 10 minutes of Luka Doncic at any moment of his career knows he Never had a 42 inch vertical. The other problem is Luka Onic did not go to the combine, so there is no place to measure his vertical. So what happened there? The most obvious answer is figured out by some Internet sleuths was if you googled Luka Doncic vertical, the top AI result was that Luka Doncic had a 42 inch vertical measured at the NBA combine. Which then links you to an article about Dante DiVincenzo's 42 inch vertical at the NBA combine. But AI hallucinated it. I guess they saw the CH in both names, white guys, same draft class, and they just made it up. So again, I'm not saying AI can't be used for things. I'm not saying it's not, you know, the next, the future, all of that. I am saying for some reason AI does not know sports and can't figure it out. That's first thing. Second thing is this my other takeaway from that article, De Monte. I'm going to read you a line in it which I found fascinating. The facility, which is located in the town where Doncic has vacationed every summer since he was a teen. That's important. The facility, which is it located in the town where Doncic has vacationed every summer since he was a teen, didn't have weights until earlier this month when he had dumbbells, barbells, weight plates and med balls trucked in. So here's why that's noteworthy to me, Luke. Every summer goes back to this town in Slovenia and trains, but his training is always just included hooping. You know what I mean? He plays ball and does drills all of it. Yeah. Weight training was never a big part of it for him. And so now you guys know. I feel like the. Go ahead. Oh, cool. Just being able to get a bus of weights. Oh. Just brought to everybody. Yeah, yeah, of course. But the, the, I felt that the whiplash effect of, you know, Lucas fat, out of shape, drinking problem was far too strong considering that without ever being in peak physical condition, he had one of the greatest opening six year stretches of a career ever. This is where I am contractually obligated to remind the audience that Luka Doncic already has made more first team all NBAs than either Steph Curry or Chris Paul and only has one less than Kevin freaking Durant. He's 26 years old. That's how great he's been. Now, he did have a down year and part of it was he was a little out of shape. He was also sad. He also got hurt, he also got traded and all, you know, all of those things. So I think that is, I think that is important. It's not giving him an excuse. But I just thought 12 months ago today, before Luca got hurt, before Luca got traded, when Luca was coming off a finals appearance, nobody and thought and he had beaten in round two, Shea and in round three, Anthony Edwards, and it averaged 34, nine and 10 in the regular season. Nobody thought Shea or Anthony Edwards was better than him. Now I think it's like conventional wisdom that those guys are better than him. And Shay certainly has earned it. I guess Anthony, I don't think quite has, but whatever. The point I'm making is this. Luca in non tip top physical condition was already well on his way to being one of the greatest players ever. Luca, like this should be the early favorite for league mvp. Well, you don't, and you don't think with his play style that him being a little bit thinner might affect it. Like, you know, he's like slow, kind of get you on his head. Yeah. But I, I think, I think that if he is, I don't think he's going to be skinny. I think he's going to be lean. You know what I mean? I think if you just replace some of what was the Lakers. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, I would bet he weighs about the same. But look, I mean, if not more. Yeah, I mean muscle weighs more than fat. Right? He looks a lot thinner than he. He looks a lot thinner. You know what I mean? So I just. Yeah, I don't think you want actually skinny Luca, but thinner Luca. I think what is helpful and I think that he has taken this, you know, what happened last year to heart. And this was the thing that I warned the Mavs about after the trade, that even if they were going to be right, they're going to be wrong. Even if they were right, that if they didn't trade him and they signed him to an extension, he was just going to get fat and out of shape and all these things. He, by trading him and motivating him and insulting him, they then put this extra chip on his shoulder. Now people can say, why didn't he do it during the year? I don't think you can do this type of thing during a season. You know what I mean? I think you have to this. You need an off season. And he's about to be playing a ton of ball at Euro basket for Slovenia. And I right now, he would be my early season pick to win league MVP next year. And if he just torches Dallas every single time they play and it just doesn't even matter. God, I can't wait. I just can't wait if that were to happen. Also, by the way, shout out to Marco in the chat watching from Slovenia. Yes, sir. Shout out, Marco. Very cool. Let's do Matt Stafford here and then we get to the listeners. Yeah. So Matt Ever has been dealing with some back soreness and is set to miss another week of camp. You've been high on the Rams. Does this affect it at all? I think the guy just doesn't want to go to training camp. He's old. Oh, I hope that's it. That would be great. That would be an awesome result here if it's just old guy doesn't want to practice. So here is, before training camp, there was one story of potential contender that hit my radar, and that was the C.J. stroud shoulder soreness. I was like, ooh, that's something to watch. C.J. stroud, you know, like that he wasn't able to do full throwing practice or whatever. I'm like, that's something. Watch. That seems to have subsided okay. But it was, it hit my radar in training camp. We've been lucky so far. Fingers crossed. There hasn't been the, like, devastating superstar injury and there hasn't been the contender that has just been hit with a bunch of, you know, contributor injuries, at least not yet. So there have been, to me, two major stories out of training camp so far for contenders. One is a positive one, one is a worrisome one, the positive one. And people can say this is, you know, chiefs, colored glasses, but I'm not wrong about this. The Chiefs rookie first round pick get who was considered a top 10 talent who fell because people thought his knee was not right and he might not be healthy for a good portion of his rookie year. Not only being healthy the first day of camp, but being slotted as the starting left tackle, not competing with Jalen Moore, who they signed to be the left tackle for that spot. And just being their left tackle from day one of camp today to right now is one of the biggest positive stories for any true contender this training camp. Because if they have that spot locked down and then you have Jalen Moore, the guy they signed from San Francisco, and Juwan Taylor, the right tackle who's been a bit of a disappointment with Kansas City since they signed him from Jacksonville, competing on the right side, then all of a sudden the Chiefs offensive line is totally different. So and there was everyone agreed that Josh Simmons had the talent to potentially be the number one tackle in his draft class, but the injury was so worrisome he slid. If the knee is really right, then the Chiefs dealing at taking care of one of the most important and one of the most expensive spots in football by drafting a guy at 32 is a game changer. That's in the positive direction for a contender. In a negative direction for a contender. It's this Stafford story because aside from confidence for your team secondary, there is nothing positive that comes out of Jimmy G practicing and playing in traffic. And you need desperately a healthy Matt Stafford in order to contend. And I think the Rams can contend. I like devoted Vonte Adams. Yeah, I was just like, you got to be kidding me. I got Matt, I got Jimmy G. Throw me the ball again. I I love Puka. I really like their D line. I obviously love McVeigh. I think Devonte is good as a number two with the Rams, but it all comes undone without Stafford. And Stafford is 37. He got the shit kicked out of him for a decade in Detroit. He has been banged up at times with the Rams. I am it's not the biggest story, but I am not going to ignore it as a potential big story. So it's just something to watch. Hey guys, talk to you about my friends at Boost Mobile. Ever sign up for a phone plan thinking, wow, great price. And then a few months later it's like, surprise, bill's even higher. With Boost mobile, you pay $25 a month forever. That's unlimited talk, text and data starting at just $25 a month. No price hikes, no contract forever. Plus, Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network. They've invested billions building 5G towers across the country. Visit boostmobile.com or head to your local Boost store today and get unlimited talk, text and data for $25 a month. Forever 5G speeds not available in all areas. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slow, slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan. Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this. Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone to land this plane. Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that this, they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this. Until this, pull that, turn this. It's just, I can do my ice clothes. I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And on our new show, no Such Thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence. Those who lack expertise lack the expertise they need to recognize that they lack expertise. And then as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the Runway. I'm looking at this thing. See? Listen to no Such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Jake Hofer and this is back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focus on thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access. Should you? That's what the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand. Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast. Hello, I'm John Lithgow. We choose to go to the moon. I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast, that's One Small Step for Man. It's about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space. You're a great pilot, Buzz. As far as I'm concerned, the best I've seen. That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't predisposition to depression, alcohol abuse and suicide. We'll see Buzz try to overcome demons. What do you say, Buzz? Another beer. And triumph over addiction. Here's to you, Buzz Aldrin. Good luck to you and become a True hero. Buzz and I will proceed into the lunar module not because he conquers space, but because he conquers himself. Buzz, we intercepted a Soviet radio transmission starring me, John Lithgow. Can you put it through? Can you Translate on the iHeartRadio Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts? Columbia, I'm Dan, he's Ty. Hello. And we're the Solid Verbal College Football podcast. College football season is here and you know what that means. Your team is going to break your heart three times probably before Halloween. Uh huh. But fear not, the Solid Verbal will be right there with you through every soul crushing loss, an impossible comeback. Join us all season long, all year long, as we ride the rollercoaster of this ridiculous sport. Whether you're a diehard fan or a casual observer, we'll help you make sense of all the chaos and of course, celebrate the madness. Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere else, and all the emotional support you need as a college football fan. We don't just love college football football tie, we live it. Listen to the Solid Verbal College football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. A Saluca signed his three year 165 million extension with the Lakers over the weekend. We've all been waiting on that. So now that's finally happened, do you think that it's time for LA to really press the gas on trying to succeed in the now? Well listen, I got it. I said after they didn't resign Dorian Finney Smith that I thought there was a chance. I put Lucas signing the extension. Was it 90%? I had it. I dropped it to like 75%. So I do think this is good, important real news. I also think that because he signed the extension they are able to slow walk this a bit if they want to because Luke is not going anywhere over the next three years. And by the way, the next deal he'll sign to Monze will be the league's first million dollar a game deal. Supermax. Yeah. Well, was that what he was supposed to, Was that what he was coming up on in Dallas? No, he was. No, not like that. He could have signed no the he would have gotten the biggest deal ever in Dallas. But it wouldn't. We wouldn't have gotten that threshold yet. But three years from now his contract will average more than 82 million a year and there's 82 games. It's a really remarkable thing. Here is though, my general lakers take that no. 1, even the biggest anti LeBron folks haven't been able to explain to me where I'm wrong on this. I think it is overwhelmingly likely that over the lifetime of this extension, these next three years, Luca never has a teammate better than LeBron is right now. Now listen, maybe they're going to get Giannis and I'll be wrong. Maybe they're, you know, they have their eyes on Joker and I'll be wrong. But Shea ain't going anywhere and Nat Tatum's not going anywhere. And now we're like running out of people who are better than LeBron right now. Okay? So I would, if I were the Lakers prioritize trying to win right now because if they think this is their last year with LeBron, I do not know that Luke is going to have a better running mate than LeBron over these next three years. Now again, if they have real intel that if they keep the cap sheet clean in two years, Giannis plans on just coming there in free agency, then so be it. Then, you know, what if they like, then see, you know, it's not like they're drawing dead this season. Like they've got a nice roster. Then, then keep it flexible. But that's a hell of a gamble to take. Like a hell of a gamble to take. Do you. Are you worried at all that there's like a, a rift potentially forming between Luka and LeBron or do you think that Luca knows that it's. I don't think. Yeah, I don't think it's between Luke and LeBron at all. I. LeBron was Lucas all time favorite player. Luke is the guy LeBron tried to sign to his shoe line. Luke, like, I don't think there is anything between them at all. I think there is some obvious frustration for LeBron, fair or not, that the Lakers are not pressing the gas even more on this season. Now you can say that's unfair, that they shouldn't, whatever, but that is to me the entirety of the frustration is. Is that right there? Yeah. So Baker Mayfield came in at number 50 in the NFL top hundred list. He answers this year's the eighth best odds for MVP. And Tampa Bay also just drafted Emika Igbuka and they're getting Godwin back from his injury. What are your expectations for Baker this year? Expectations are he has another really good season ceiling, is he is a frontline MVP candidate and they are a true contender in the nfc. Like I think that's on the board. And here's the thing, in order for them to be a contender, he has to be an MVP candidate because that defense is not going to be great. They are going to have to outscore people. But Baker had 40 touchdowns last year. He was a badass. Yeah. I mean he was a badass last year. I'm so. And he right now has. I want to make sure I'm right about this, that I didn't miss it. Yeah. He's on the best non rookie contract in the NFL. Three years, 100 million bucks for Baker Mayfield. He is one more good season away from getting a $250 million deal. He's been that level of player and I'm just happy for him, man. Because shit went so sideways on him. Yeah. And his teammates love him. He is true to himself. He's tough. He is a legit awesome playoff performer. Like, this is the thing that people I think underrate with Baker. He has played, I think five career playoff games. I'm going to tell you what he did in them. First playoff game ever, the Cleveland Browns go into Pittsburgh, hang 48 on them. Baker throws for 263 touchdowns, a 115 rating. Second playoff game ever. His only ever bad playoff game. He's against the two time defending AFC champion. Oh, I'm sorry. He's against the defending super bowl champion Chiefs. And he's 23 of 37 for 200 yards, one touchdown, one pick, 75 rating. But he's in Arrowhead in round two against the 2020 Chiefs. Like, no shame in that. Yeah. He then makes the playoffs with Tampa. His first playoff game ever against Philly. And again, it's so crazy. This is Philly. This game was in January of 2024. Yeah, exactly. 32 to 9, three touchdowns, no picks, a 120 rating. The next game against Detroit, 350 yards, three touchdowns, two picks, a 95 rating. They lose by eight. And then the game against Washington last year, a wild one where he only throws 18 times, but he's 15 of 18 for a buck 85, two touchdowns and a 147 rating in his playoff career. He's got a 106 rating, 12 touchdowns, three picks. Like, I mean, he's just been awesome in the big game. He gets better. Yeah. So I. Yeah. So I'm a Baker believer through and through. All right, let's do these last two real quick. James Cook is holding in as he looks for his contract extension. After a few years of big dollar running backs paying off, it seemed like the debate was put to rest. But that conversation opens back up again. Or do you think Cook is just not that Guy? Well, no, I just. I think Cook's really good, but I. The Bills have no cap space. He's under contract for 5 million bucks. They know they can franchise tag him for not much. And even if you think he's awesome, do you think he's going to be awesome four years from now? So, like, go ahead. Isn't he a huge part of their offense last year? Like what. What was huge? Buffalo. The last two years? I just think they think he's going to blink, bro. I don't think it's that they. You know what I mean? I think that they think we'll give him a little more money, but not long term. You know what I mean? Nothing long term. And then we'll, we'll. Or maybe a one year extension. But the report is he wants, you know, I don't know if it's that what he wants. I don't want to get this wrong, But I saw four years, 40 million bouncing around, which is only 10 million a year. But I just think they think at that position, his style, in two years he could be done. And they just. It's just such a tough business for running backs, man. It's just such a tough business for running backs. Why are TSA rules so confusing? You got a hoodie on. Take it all. I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devin. And we're back, best friends and journalists, with a new podcast called no Such Thing where we get to the bottom of questions like that. Why are you screaming? I can't expect what to do now. If the rule was the same, Go off on me. I deserve it, you know. Lock him up. Listen to no Such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. No such thing. Let's start with a quick puzzle. The answer is Ken Jennings appearance on the puzzler with A.J. jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land? Jeopardy Truthers believe in? I guess they would be conspiracy theorists. That's right. They give you the answers and you still blew it. The Puzzler. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, I'm John Lithgow. We choose to go to the moon. I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast. That's one small step for man about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space. You're a great pilot, Buzz. That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't. Buzz, starring me, John lithgow. On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tune in to all the Smoke Podcast where Matt and Stack sit down with former first Lady Michelle Obama. Folks find it hard to hate up close. And when you get to know people and you're sitting in their kitchen tables and they're talking like we're talking, you know, you hear our story, how we grew up, how Barack grew up, and you get a chance for people to unpack and get beyond race. All the Smoke featuring Michelle Obama. To hear this podcast and more, open your free iHeartRadio app, search all the Smoke and listen now. This is an iHeart podcast.