← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
What's Wright - Nick Wright REACTS to LeBron's All-Star berth OUTRAGE, NBA trade deadline, Super Bowl LX STORYLINES
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- [00:00]
Nick Wright
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
- [00:08]
Damanze
Welcome in what's right with Nick Right episode 423. This episode of what's Right With Nick Ride is presented to you by our great friends at Boost Mobile. It is super bowl week, Demons. It is a big California sports couple weeks. Super bowl up in Santa Clara, NBA All Star game right in your neck of the woods in la. Lot going on. And just so everybody knows, our schedule for this week, Thursday's show will be the majority of our super bowl kind of analysis breakdown. Most of our time will be spent there on Thursday Friday show our prop bet Extravaganza, which my pal Bill Simmons says to Kevin Wilds I stole the idea from Mahomes Mountain from his hall of Fame pyramid, which is outrageous. The prop bet extravaganza, however, you can say I stole from Bill and cousin Sal, who have been doing that for years. And one quick note like to not only did I not steal Mahomes Mountain from Bill's hall of Fame pyramid, but Bill, if we're being honest, do protests too much because your hall of Fame pyramid while brilliant and the foundation for so much basketball debate and, and basketball knowledge not at all related to a hierarchical contemporaneous rankings of quarterbacks in a, you know, mountain shape, which is also, I guess a pyramid shape. But you know what is similar to Mahomes Mountain, that's the, the, the quarterback pyramid that you did this year. So I, you know, I don't know, I don't know who's borrowing from who here, but it's fine. We're all friends and so what, what was I oh yeah, I was saying that because of the, the prop show that we will do on Friday. So all of that coming up. There will actually be a heavy amount of NBA on today's show as James Harden right when things are going good for the Clippers, Harden's like, get me out of here. So we will discuss that shortly. And also, the single dumbest and legitimately enraging non controversy of the last few weeks has landed at our doorstep, which is where we will start the show. But first, straight to voicemail. Brought to you by our friends at Boost Mobile, Justin Jefferson. I, I, I don't know if I want to call it throwing shade at JJ McCarthy, but he certainly was maybe a little more honest than he needed to be about where they would have been with Sam Darnold, where they are now with JJ McCarthy when he said, quote, I definitely feel like we would have done better, end quote with Sam Darnold punk's Donnie Phil sees a shadow. This is an American tradition. I do not understand. And I was at this fight at msg. Jarrell Miller gets his toupee knocked off and then goes on to win the fight. So none of that in today's show. Shakur Stevenson came through for us. Our what's right boxing expert Nick Schulman. Text me, go all in on Shakur. I did. I then went to the fight and it was an awesome fight and he just absolutely annihilated. Annihilated. Pardon me, Teofimo Lopez. It's a fun fight to watch, but Shakur stays undefeated. Moving up a weight class. Reminder everybody Like Rate Subscribe Review all right, Damanze, let's get to the NBA All Star reserves being announced after being selected by the coaches yeah, so the.
- [04:11]
Nick Wright
All Star reserves were announced and folks are heated. Your guy LeBron is on there and I think he took some some spots from some other players. Defend your guy.
- [04:22]
Damanze
There is no defense needed. And this is I I this controversy actually makes me mad. And the breathless nature with which otherwise serious people who I like and respect are talking about this totally, I guess ignorant to any precedent or history I find insulting. And people are upset that Kawhi Leonard is not an All Star. It's understandable to be upset about that. The Clippers, after that miserable start, have been awesome. Kawhi Leonard is having one of the best seasons, certainly one of the best seasons of his Clippers career. He's played 36 games, which again means he's missed a good chunk. But he only played 37 all of last year. He is averaging nearly 28 points per game. He's leading the NBA in steals. He's doing it efficiently. The team is winning. Now he has a really legitimate argument that he should be an All Star, and nobody would argue against that. But folks, juxtaposing it to LeBron being an All Star as if LeBron took Kawhi's spot is one of the most outrageous and I will go as far as to say intentionally misleading premises that otherwise smart people should know better than to pedal. So reading Hollinger's column, unserious and embarrassing. Those are the two words that came to mind when the NBA announced its Western Conference All Star reserves on Sunday evening, revealing that the Lakers, LeBron James was on the team while the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard wasn't. I've been tracking egregiously bad All Star selections as a sort of side hobby. So I can confidently say that if this was the will of the Western Conference coaches. It was the most bizarre and indefensible selection of my adult life. That's from John Hollinger. Okay. How he leads his column. And I know John knows this, so I don't understand it. LeBron did not take anyone's spot because LeBron's spot was guaranteed because he's LeBron James in year 23, arguably the greatest player of all time. In arguably one of the three greatest players of all time. And folks, the only folks ever who have walked those hallways are All Stars until they retire. So go find me the tiny violins that were playing when Kareem Abdul jabbar in year 18, averaging 18 and 6, made the all Star Game. Or when Kareem Abdul jabbar in year 19, averaging 15 and 6, made the all Star Game. Or Kareem Abdul jabbar in year 20 averaging 10 and 4, made the all Star Game. And what you'll find is there was no oh my God, won't you think about the other deserving candidates juxtaposed to Kareem? Because folks Understood he's the NBA's all time leading scorer. He's active, he is still playing significant minutes on a significant team. So of course he's a goddamn All Star. Or find me the columns. When Michael Jordan as a Washington wizard on a bad team his first year with the Wizards, when he was averaging 22, 5 and 5 on 41%. Keep in mind, LeBron is averaging 22, 6 and 6 on 50%. When Michael Jordan made an the All Star team. Or his next year with the Wizards, his final year in the league when Michael Jordan averaged 20 points a game on, he got his efficiency up a bit that year, 44%. Demons A. Not only did he make the All Star team as a reserve, but they then made him a starter. He was not voted a starter. He was voted a reserve. And then they made him starter. Anyway, Vince gave it to him, I think.
- [10:50]
Nick Wright
Yeah, Vince Carter did.
- [10:51]
Damanze
And you might say, where was the outrage? And the answer, I think, was, I guess at that point in time we were a proper country and people understood, it's Michael Jordan, it's the All Star Game, he should probably be there. Or we can go further with it if we'd like. In 2014, when Kobe Bryant and I mean, this stuff is just so again, you can look this stuff up, guys. In 2014, when Kobe Bryant played six games before the All Star break and was an All Star. Or the next year when KOBE Bryant played 35 games all season and was an All Star or Kobe's final year when he averaged 18 points a game on 36% from the field and was an All Star. You know why? Because he was Kobe effing Bryant. So of course he was. And I'm not sure if back in 2016 when Kobe was an All Star, if people were like won't someone think of Mike Conley? But I would imagine they didn't because he's Kobe Bryant. So if you want to whine about Kawhi not getting in, then your beef is with Denny Abdia or chet Holmgren. Cause LeBron's in. And that is here is the important thing to understand that is not a double standard for LeBron. Others complaining about it is a double standard against LeBron. Because it is long understood that if you are in contention to be the greatest player of all time like Kareem was, like Michael was, like LeBron is, or if you are in contention to be the most iconic player of all time like Kobe was, as long as you're active and healthy, you're an all Star. Forget the fact that on its merits there is an argument for LeBron that over the last 25 games he's back to being 25, 6 and 6 on the 6 seed in the west on 50% from the field for forget even the fact that this, that he is playing at a drastically higher level than Kareem at the end, Michael at the end or Kobe at the end when they all got multiple years, multiple years of. Lifetime achievement, all star appearances. Remove all of that and it's just, it is so transparently obvious. And I hate to use this term but click baity. It's what will get this opinion attention is by attack. Kawhi Leonard's being snubbed in and of itself is not juicy enough. But if I make it about LeBron being the reason for it, it's. And I just, I, I am not surprised that some of the kids covering the league were unaware of the Kobe, Michael and Kareem precedent. I am surprised that folks who I know were aware of that precedent decided to peddle this nonsense anyway.
- [16:21]
Nick Wright
Do you think that. Go ahead now. Now in today's NBA with so much more talent, do you think that more guys are getting snubbed than maybe back then with like Will and Kobe?
- [16:34]
Damanze
Well, I, I mean. There might be more talent right now than ever before, right. But that doesn't mean that just 10 years ago, which is when Kobe's was the there wasn't one more deserving candidate. But again that deserving candidate in 2016 whomever that was did not get left out because of Kobe Bryant. He got left out because of Draymond Green or LaMarcus Aldridge or whomever Kobe was in.
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Nick Wright
Right.
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Damanze
Just like. And it is noteworthy to me that this wasn't a fan vote scenario. LeBron didn't get voted in by the fans. This was the coaches. Because the coaches had enough common sense to recognize he's LeBron James. And this is again part and parcel to LeBron in a way being a victim of his own longevity. Because oddly demons A. I think if Instead of averaging 22, 6 and 6 on 50% LeBron was averaging to put up what had Kareem's final year stat line. He's averaging 10 and 5 on 48%. You think people and was made in All Star. Yeah, I think people wouldn't be angry. Right. They might then recognize what it, what it is.
- [18:36]
Nick Wright
Right.
- [18:37]
Damanze
That it, that it was simply a.
- [18:40]
Nick Wright
He's on his way out. We got to get the guy in the all star games. He's 10 points. 10 points a game.
- [18:46]
Damanze
Yeah, right. That, that as long as he is still an active playing every game, you know, or you know, a full time player, I should say he's just going to be an all star. But because his statistical profile this year is of a very good player, right beneath all Star caliber, folks stuck their fingers in their ears and tried to pretend like this was done totally on its merits. Like there was no it. As if there was not some type of, you know, some type of. Yeah, well an element of. Yeah, you know, the guy's played 60. He has literally from a minutes played, games played, blood, sweat and tears, years played. Given more to the game of professional basketball than any player in the history of the league. So obviously he's the, he is simultaneously the all time leading scorer while also being the second best player on a legit playoff team. That that guy should be in our marquee event. And what is just most frustrating about it and then we'll move on is these, is these people know better and don't care. And it is. It would have been an unprecedented snub had LeBron been left out and the coaches knew better. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock BET Florida Sportsbook. It's big game week on Hard Rock bet. Seattle is a four and a half point favorite over New England for games like this. Basic bets just don't cut it. Hard Rock BET is loaded with special props. You can't find the rest of the year scoragami Opening Kickoff Touchback all the off the wall bets that make every snap matter. These props only come around once a year, so you might as well have some fun. If you haven't signed up with Hard Rock Bet yet, there's never been a better time. New signups can double their winnings on their first 10 bets. Max $50 that's right. If you would have won a hundred bucks on your bet, make that 200 bucks. Plus you won't want to miss hard Rock bets $7 million big game bonus party place place a $10 big game parlay and you'll get a share of 7 million in bonus bets. Win or lose, every parlay counts, and the more you place, the bigger your share can be. I already built mine. Now it's your turn. If you're in Florida or Jersey, the Big Game energy doesn't just live in the app. Head to a Hard Rock Casino for drawings, giveaways and all the excitement leading up to kickoff. Big Game Week is also the best time to be a Hard Rock vip. Hard Rock Bet is rolling out the red carpet for its MVPs, private jets, five star hotels, big game tickets and more. Other VIPs can attend invite only watch parties with special guests, high end food and tons of exclusive merch. If you want to get in on the action, check out the Status Match page at hardrockbet Loyalty. Let them know where you play for a shot at an instant upgrade to BET to the best signature VIP program in the industry. That's Hard rockbet. Download the Hard Rock Bet app and make your first deposit today. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida In Florida, Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC and all other 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. Concerned about gambling in Florida? Call 1-833-PLAY-WISE in Indiana, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9 with it gambling problem call 1-800- gambler Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia.
- [23:25]
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- [23:56]
Damanze
Damanze, let's talk James Harden and the news I think no one saw coming.
- [24:01]
Nick Wright
So the trade deadline's been all about Giannis. Where's Giannis going? What are they going to do with Giannis? Until James Harden came out yesterday and requested a trade from the Clippers. Just strange, because they're kind of hot right now. I think they won seven of their last ten. What's going on?
- [24:15]
Damanze
And more than that, I mean.
- [24:16]
Nick Wright
Well, yeah, if you go deep, I.
- [24:17]
Damanze
Think they've won like 18 of 22.
- [24:20]
Nick Wright
Right.
- [24:20]
Damanze
In fact, I wanna pull up exactly what it is because the Clippers, Paul, worse than that, they started off 6 and 21 and going into last night they were 23 and 25. So they had won. They had gone 17 and 4 in prior to last night when they lost at home against Philly. Harden, however, has been out for personal reasons the last two games. One of those games was in Phoenix where he went to an Arizona. Arizona State college basketball game. He's in Arizona State. He went to Arizona State, but did not go to his team's game in Phoenix and then missed last night and has since demanded a trade. The loose reporting on this is that Harden wanted a contract extension and the Clippers rebuffed him. And now he is demanding a trade. He has a player option for next season, which gives him a de facto no trade clause. So he can veto any trade somewhere he doesn't want to go to. It is. And the reporting to Monze is that the Cavs might trade Darius Garland for him. Okay. And I like Darius Garland. I'm probably not quite as high on Garland as some other people, but I like. I think he's a very good player. It would be beyond stunning to me if any team that thought they were competing for a championship signed up to be in the James Harden business after on. This is an outrageous thing he's doing right now. No one saw this coming. The Clippers are actually winning. You personally, James Harden, have the blood on your hands for another horrible playoff collapse for your team last year against Denver. Game five, just the old school. Harden wants nothing to do with the ball in a big spot, three for nine. And then game seven, just a vintage big game James performance where in 36 minutes he goes two for eight from the field, which was again, and people are stunned when I bring these numbers up. That 2 for 8 performance from Harden was the 22nd playoff game in his career with two or fewer made baskets. The 22nd time.
- [28:28]
Nick Wright
Yeah, it's pretty crazy.
- [28:30]
Damanze
It was the 35th time. Demons A. It was the 35th time he had three or fewer made baskets in a playoff game. It's. We have. We've never. We have never seen a hall of first ballot, hall of Famer, mvp, brilliant player with this long of a track record of playoff disappearances and now also an insane track record of flat quitting on teams.
- [29:19]
Nick Wright
So there. There are some theories out there. You know, how Kawhi Leonard, he got in the whole thing with aspiration. They were paying him off the books and stuff. Do you think that maybe there's a chance or possibility that, you know, maybe James Harden thinks that they're coming for Kawhi and then it might not be any use being on the Clippers at that point if there's no Kawhi.
- [29:39]
Damanze
Like, no, I think he's pissed they wouldn't give him a contract. I think he wants a con. He's angry. He's still angry about the money he left on the table in Brooklyn and Philly, and he's trying to make it up. And, but he. Just to be clear, the Rockets and. And I used to be one of James Harden's only defenders, but at some point, it. It becomes indefensible. The Rockets gave him everything he wanted. They went and got Dwight. Didn't work. They. They went and got Chris Paul. It could have worked. It should have worked. It didn't work. They then trade Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook because he wanted Chris Paul out of there. That didn't work. And then James Harden quit. Quit. Showed Somehow showed up 20 pounds overweight, played one awesome game to remind the whole world he was still great. Stopped trying force their hand. They trade him to Brooklyn. He's then in Brooklyn. It looks like they can win a championship. They get a little unlucky with Harden. Harden's hamstring again. Stay in shape, buddy. Kyrie's ankle, Durant's toe on the line. Whatever you want to say. Then the next year, Kyrie has his vaccine stance and Harden quits on that team. He then goes to Philly again, has a historic playoff, no show. I'm going to pull up the end of that Philly series. Yeah. Here are James Harden's last three playoff games with the Sixers. He's four for eight. He's four for 16. And then another James Harden special, game seven against the Sixers, round two. I'm sorry. Against the Celtics, round two. Just a vintage Harden, three for 11, nine pointer, minus 30 in the plus minus. And then remember, goes to China and in front of a big group of kids, they don't know what the hell he's talking about is like, Daryl Morey is a liar. I'll never play for him again.
- [32:30]
Nick Wright
I was just like, this is the, this is the platform you use for that?
- [32:35]
Damanze
Yes. And then the Clippers bail him out. And in the playoffs that year with The Clippers, Game 5 against Luca and the Mavs, the tilt game of the series, a Sweet Vintage Harden 2 for 12. And then in game seven, a lethargic five for 16. And they give him a contract extension off that. He got his contract extension six months ago. They. They didn't run. And maybe it looks like it was the right thing. Chris Paul out of town. No doubt in large part because Harden doesn't like him and Chris is a lot to deal with. They start winning. Kawhi's playing great. And this guy asked for a contract extension, doesn't get it reportedly. And then stop showing up for work and demands a trade. It's just outrageous. He. He just leaves every place in such shambles. I mean, and. And it's just nep again. His fi. Damanze. Here are James Harden's final moments with each franchise. Okay. OKC as a reserve. NBA Finals, game three. He's sixth man of the year that year, but so reserved. But he's. His final moments is A Thunder Game 3, 2 for 10 from the field in the finals. Game 4, 2 for 10 in the field, in the finals. Out of there. Then, oh, an amazing run with the Rockets. And I, you know, they get Dwight. They come close, doesn't work. They get Chris Paul. They come super close. Get unlucky with Chris's injury. It doesn't work. They, they, they get Russell Westbrook. They're in the bubble. They're playing the Lakers. Game four, two for 11. Sayonora. All right, get me to Brooklyn. Brooklyn. This wasn't. Or this was his final playoff series with Brooklyn. He gets injured. He comes back with the hamstring. 1 for 10 in game five. Game seven, overtime loss, 5 for 17. All right, I'm out of there in Brooklyn. Philly, you're my next spot. Close out game at home to go to the conference finals for the first time with Embiid. Four for 16. Game seven in Boston, three for 11. All right, Clippers, I'm here now. Game seven, two for eight. And now he's Cleveland. You're going to sign up for this. You Got to be. You got to be kidding me.
- [36:09]
Nick Wright
Yeah.
- [36:14]
Damanze
It's just unfathomable. And the goal. I. I can't believe it. And again, there's a clip of me from seven years ago arguing that I think he might be the best player ever without a ring. But if that was seven years ago, that means that was six playoff meltdowns ago. And it just juxtaposing damanze those playoff performances and those. What the hell just happened? Team exits with this resume which is a three time scoring champion, including a season averaging 36 and a season averaging 34. A two time assist champion, a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. A six time first team all NBA guy and a seven year stretch of the following finishes in MVP voting. Fifth, second, ninth, second, first, second, third. That regular season resume compared to that postseason resume compared to that quitting on team after team after team. You just. I will say this. We'll never have anybody else like him. I. It is just a tour de force.
- [38:11]
Nick Wright
In.
- [38:14]
Damanze
Lack of accountability, greatness when it matters least. And playoff meltdowns the likes of which we've never seen.
- [38:28]
Nick Wright
Kind of seems like Harden just likes to go to the big cities and party.
- [38:33]
Damanze
I mean, right? Well that is interesting about Cleveland. Like ever since he left okc, he has just been in great Philly, Louisiana, New York City.
- [38:50]
Nick Wright
Yeah.
- [38:54]
Damanze
It'S just. It's just remarkable. Don't do it, Cleveland. Don't do it. And I don't know what the Clippers are supposed to do here. Like because he demanding a trade when you have this de facto no trade clause. I don't know what the Clipper's supposed to do. If there were Clipper fans out there, I'd feel bad.
- [39:18]
Nick Wright
Gotta pay him off the books.
- [39:20]
Damanze
Oh, that's pretty good. All right, we're gonna get to a serious topic in just a second. But first fellas, let me talk to you for a second. Buying men's jewelry used to be a nightmare. Low quality junk, broke after a week or insanely overpriced with ridiculous markups. That's why I've told you guys to rock. With gld, they've changed the game. You get quality jewelry that's built to last without breaking the bank. And unlike a lot of other companies, GLD only uses real gold. Every single stone is meticulously handset. Plus their proprietary production process makes sure you're getting the highest quality jewelry possible. Possible. You can literally see and feel the difference. And listen, don't just take my word for it. Over 2 million customers and 50,000 5 star reviews back it up. Not to mention it's been worn by some of the biggest names out there. Justin Bieber, Micah Parsons, asap, Rocki, and a ton more. Best part every single piece is guaranteed for life. It's literally built to last for the rest of your life. GLD and has an official collab with the NFL so you can get every NFL team on a pendant this season. They also have official collabs with the NBA, wnba, mlb, ncaa, MLS, and even DC Comics. Chains and pendants that let you rep what you love, work hard and change the game for a limited time only. New customers are getting a great deal. Use Code wright to get 50% off@gld.com that's 50% off with code wright W R I G H D After your purchase they will ask you where you heard about them. Support the show, tell them what's right with Nick Wright. Sent you Again, that's Code Wright W R I G h t@gld.com all right Damanze, let's talk NFL head coach hirings for a moment.
- [41:27]
Nick Wright
So with Clint Kubiak headed to the Raiders, that is now 10 head coaching vacancies that were filled and none of those were by black coaches. Do you think there's something going on there?
- [41:39]
Damanze
Well, I mean, so here's the deal. The NFL created the Rooney Rule in 2002 because there were only three Black head coaches. It's 2026. There are three Black head coaches now. Obviously that has ebbed and flowed over the years. The Rooney Rule, while well intentioned, I don't think has a been as effective as they would like. I think there's evidence of that and b I think it ends up being insulting in some ways. When a team knows who they are going to hire, they either have an heir apparent coach in waiting or it's like John Harbaugh to the Giants and then they, you know, do box checking interviews with minority candidates. So I this is something that I don't like to do, which is grouse about an issue without having a clear cut solution to it. And I don't have a clear cut solution to this. What I do have is what I believe is well reasoned explanation as to why this is happening. And the first one is very, very simple, not complicated and undeniable and doesn't have to make anybody feel bad or uncomfortable, just reality. First one is old fashioned nepotism which coaches are related to coaches. And while this podcast, you know, is not necessarily representative of this fact, most families in America are not mixed race Families. And so if you are hiring nephews, brothers in laws, typically that means you're hiring people of the same race as you. And, and the people when, when an industry used to be exclusively white and now we're down to hiring their nephews, sons, brothers, grandsons. In some cases, those are going to be disproportionately white as well. I mean, and when I say grandsons, Damon say. This will probably make you laugh. The Broncos offensive coordinator that just got fired, the one Joe Lombardi who's sh. Said, you know, Sha Pton was in one of his moods. Yeah. Joe Lombardi is the grandson of Vince Lombardi, the guy who the trophy is named after. Like, and so the, I mean there is Kyle Shanahan is obviously Mike Shanahan's kid. Clint and Clay Kubiak are Gary Kubak's kid. Brian Schottenheimer is the late Marty Schottenheimer's kid. There's a Shula out there coaching and I don't know what his relation. I don't know if he's Don's grandson or nephew or whatever. Like, if. Right. Bella Check's kids are in coaching. Like, so this is, that is just how it kind of is going to be. Which is one of the reasons that getting black coaches involved at high levels and black front office people is important because then in some ways, eventually the, the disparity takes care of itself because not fully, but those, those black coaches and, and black needs to have kids. Well, they're right. They're exactly right. Will, you know, eventually have people in their family that are qualified or whatever and they come up through the coaching world. So that's the first thing. And that is. I'm not, I mean it'd be pretty outrageous if as I host this podcast with my son, I, who by the way, I think Demonte does a great job. But he learned on the job de Monte was not a broadcast major. Damanz Demons qualifications for this initially were I wanted to do it with him and we. You know what I mean? And, and so I'm not going to act like that's an outrageous way for people to get entry level jobs. I don't think it is. I think that's the way the world works and people can say, no, Nick, it shouldn't be that way. But fine, whatever. It's. I, I'm not going to throw stones on that because the. This is whatever version of a family business. My family, I guess has two family businesses. My wife's store where our daughter worked and our Younger daughter wants to work this podcast where Daman works and where Diora filled in. Our older daughter filled in for a summer like so I, I think that is and you can say pro football teams are not family businesses except for at the ownership level. At the ownership level they are. But coaching staff certainly can be where it's like, no, I want to be, I'm working 70 hours a week. I want to be around my kid when they're an adult because I wasn't when they were, you know, little because I was grinding. So quality control coach, assistant receivers coach. Like, I'm going to, if my kids into it, I'm going to put them there and then see how high they climb. That's going to happen. And I don't think anybody should feel badly about that. But it is also why this is where the reason I bring that up is. This is the impact of there being so few Black head coaches 30 years ago is being felt now when so many of the coaches currently coaching are kids of coaches from 30 years ago. Like, and so that's one piece of it, the other piece of it that is more uncomfortable. And I want to be very clear with what I'm saying here because a thought process does Monze can be based in racism without the person having those thoughts being what we would call racist. So I want to, I, I, so let me explain what I'm saying here because I do, I want to give grace but I also don't want to ignore what I think is a pretty evident reality. I think there are plenty of decision makers across in any industry. I should just say plenty of people who are not what I would call in any way, shape or form traditionally racist. I don't think that they are like, I don't want my kid marrying someone of a different race or I, I'm afraid of these people or I think these people are worse than me. I, I that they, they don't do any, they don't commit racist acts. They, they would pass a polygraph on that. I don't hold racist beliefs, while that for a lot of people is true, while simultaneously subconsciously do assign traits to people based on their race, some positive, some negative. So like they, they, a lot of those people might see, you know, I will use the most banal example possible. But if they were, if they needed, if they were walking past a group of high school kids and it's like, hey, pick five to you've never seen they're in class, they're in math class. Pick five to form a basketball team and you get a million bucks if they win the game. They might, they might skew towards black kids and it. And might see and they might think that, you know the, that if they were asked the same question, pick five to do a math Olympiad might skew towards Asian kids. They might, they might just naturally in their head have preconceived notions about what people are good at based on race. Well, without being intentionally racist ever or malignant or malicious. Okay. Where I think that hurts black coaches in the current NFL and I think you see it in the data of offensive versus defensive coordinators is I think a lot of people subconsciously look at black football coaches as excellent motivators still decorate disciplinarians or rah rah guys which feels more defense and look at white coordinators as more quarterback whisperer savvy. You know what I mean? Like we're, oh, we're gonna scheme you to death and all these things. And so their own subconscious stereotypes get those coaches on certain tracks. And by the way, I kind of think you see some. Again, I'm trying to be. I, I really don't like when, if we talk about race, if people just turn their ears off. So I try to be very, very gentle with my language on this stuff and try to pull other examples. I think you, you probably see something similar in a different direction in high school sports. In what position they. They, they steer. Forget. I'll make it about white people, white athletes too, that for like this, the, the sick white athlete, it seems like if it's between, you know, are you going to be a tight end or a wide receiver, they're like maybe receiver. And if it's going to be between slot receiver or corner. I'm, I'm sorry for the, what I was saying. Sick white athlete, you know, it tight end or slot receiver, not so much corner or like there's. And I do think those things happen for whatever reason it is, people get steered to certain things. And the real issue with that or the tangible issue with that in the current NFL coaching cycles is demons. A what type of coach does everybody want? The quarterback whisperer, the sick play caller, the play designer guy. And I just think there are more young white coaches being put on that path than young black coaches. And so I mean, you mentioned d'. Amico. D' Amico is a brilliant designer of defensive football.
- [53:50]
Nick Wright
Yep.
- [53:50]
Damanze
Objectively. So now he was always going to be a defensive coach because he was a linebacker, he was a defensive player. But I don't think people use the term brilliant to describe Demico Ryan's as often as they would as they do McVeigh or Shanahan. Right, exactly.
- [54:12]
Nick Wright
Right.
- [54:13]
Damanze
And so these are like the little subtle things that I think have an impact on who. It's why the kid in. And I hate to put this on him, but the kid in the quarterbacks. I don't even think he's the quarterback coach. I think he's passing game coordinator under McVeigh. Black kid Nathan Skill House. No, you're Matt LaFlor or Mike LaFlore is who you were thinking of. Is he. He's getting the Cardinals job. But no, I mean he's like, he's barely older than you, man. And he is the passing game coordinator under McVeigh, but he happens to be black and it's one of the. He's one of the only like black coaches that is considered like the quarterback coach.
- [55:04]
Nick Wright
Right?
- [55:04]
Damanze
Yeah. I mean Mike McDaniel was too. But also, I don't think many people knew Mike McDaniels black like the. And so I mean I. Obviously people close to him knew it.
- [55:17]
Nick Wright
But you didn't know from Miami.
- [55:19]
Damanze
Yeah.
- [55:21]
Nick Wright
Yeah, I didn't know he was black either.
- [55:23]
Damanze
Yeah. I mean I, I think. I think he has the same of racial makeup as your baby sister. That's.
- [55:32]
Nick Wright
That's insane. Yeah, no, I, I could definitely see it.
- [55:35]
Damanze
I just did not now once you say. Right. No, the. And so. And so I just, I don't think I'm not going to act like there aren't certain decision makers that are obviously in every industry, there are certain decision makers that are just simply flatly racists that are like, I'm not having in charge of my company any one of X race. Like that definitely exists. But I don't think that is the major or even significant reason behind what's happening right now in the NFL. And I think it's more the two things I laid out there. And again, I hate to do this where it's like, hey, so that. Because once upon. Let me say one other thing. Once upon a time, the rationale for it was, well, the position most likely to go into offensive coaches, even if they were never pros, is quarterback. It's high school quarterback that stops there. A college quarterback stops there. And quarterbacks were so overwhelmingly white. That was an explanation. But that's not the case anymore. Now at the highest level, about half the quarterbacks are black. And so maybe again, it just takes time to catch up. But that's my, that's my general read on this situation that I hope nobody freaked out over. All right, let's talk about the NFL. At this point, it's probably not good for my career, but I might have to file an intellectual property lawsuit against the league because they are taking one of my greatest ideas ever. Go ahead.
- [57:18]
Nick Wright
So the NFL is officially going to Paris next year. So that makes nine international games in 2026. You've been pitching the idea of international week in the NFL and it kind of seems like they're about to do that.
- [57:31]
Damanze
So here's the thing. Paris is not the one that jumped out at me. The NFL made a big deal about Paris, but the one that jumped out at me was Australia. They're going to play a game in Melbourne, guys. I don't know if people realize how long that flight is.
- [57:51]
Nick Wright
Oh, yeah, isn't it like 22 hours? Is.
- [57:54]
Damanze
Well, the Rams are going to play in it. So let me just see. Los Angeles to melbourne. It's a 16 hour flight. And so now we're going to have nine international games. So again, my pitch from documented on TV eight years ago is. And it's such an awesome idea, and I don't understand why the league would not do this. You pick a week in the NFL season. So this is what you. First thing, what you do is you add a second bye week, which has the benefit of the players would love it. And it makes the super bowl the Sunday before President's Day, which then gives everyone the Monday after the super bowl off work as just an added little bonus. So the season is one game longer or one week longer. Pardon me. We still play 17 games. Every team plays eight home, eight road and one international game. But here is why it is international week, okay? From Monday through Sunday of that week, there is one to three games every single day. And you could stagger them based on where they are in the world and time zone and it would be a. And you could sell it off to whatever different networks you wanted. But for that week, every single day, there would be a game or two on either in prime time, early evening, midday, from different spots around the globe because they're already doing Rio, Australia, Spain, England, France, Germany. We could drop in a game in Johannesburg, we could drop a game in Tokyo, you could drop a game in Beijing. You could play it at as they're doing either cricket, soccer or rugby stadiums. And the extra by a week would be in this. The way it would work is this. If your game is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, your extra buy is on the front end of international week. If your game is Friday, Saturday, Sunday, your extra buy is on the back end of international week. So the week before international week, about half the league would have a buy. The week after international week, half the league would have a buy. We would have a week in the middle of the season where every single day there's pro football on. It's from all over the globe. And because of that, because it wouldn't have to just be Sunday. You could stagger times easily based on time zones and it would remove the competitive disadvantage of, oh, wait, I'm losing a home game to go overseas. Oh, man. You know, I have to fly to Australia this year and the teams I'm competing with in my division don't have the. The furthest they have to fly is Florida. And it is a. It grows the game, it evens. It makes it competitively fair. It has such an awesome. People would be so stoked if just we knew this one week, every single day at like 4:00 clock or 7:00 clock or whenever there was a football game on. Every single game would be a standalone game. It wouldn't. And the NFL's moving towards it now. It should be noted I did this when I filled in for Colin in. I said eight years ago, that's wrong. I first pitched this in 2010 years ago, 2016, 2017. I then, the first week of first things, first pitched it to Goodell in person when he was in studio. And I did, to be fair, say, take this idea.
- [63:07]
Nick Wright
It's.
- [63:07]
Damanze
You take it. I don't need. I don't. I don't need credit. I would like to revise that. Yeah, I don't need. I don't need. I don't. I'm not trying to make any money off this. I would, however, like if somebody in the league office was like, you know, you know, who came up with this idea. So July of 2016 is when I did it on the Herd And September of 2017 is when I talked to Goodell about it. So it just seems like we're.
- [63:45]
Nick Wright
I thought that was way more recent that you talked to Goodell about that. That wasn't.
- [63:49]
Damanze
No, I haven't talked to Goodell since then. 2017. Yeah. All right, let's talk a little super bowl in a second. But first, you ever notice how everything keeps going up? Rents going up, streaming services going up? Your favorite burrito spot thinks salsa should cost extra. But with Boost Mobile, you and your phone bill don't have to play the will this go up soon? Game. Why? Because Boost Mobile has unlimited talk, text and data at a plan at a price that'll never go up. In fact, it's the same price you pay for life. So switch now for unlimited wireless at a price that'll never go up. Only at boost mobile. After 30 gigs, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 per month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan. All right, Damanze, let's talk a little Patriots, a little Seahawks and a little gambling before we go.
- [64:38]
Nick Wright
So some story lines out of New England is Drake May stroller and their lack of super bowl experience cut through all the smoke. What do you think the storyline should be for New England going into the Super.
- [64:50]
Damanze
Well, listen, I think Drake May shoulder is something and the fact that he at media day was like, no, I feel like I turned a corner, you know, on the flight over means he's acknowledging it was something. The sneaky storyline that predates any shoulder issues for Drake is this. Drake, the first two months of the year was by a mile the best deep ball thrower in the league. But since Halloween he has been and the Patriots have been dead average 16th or 17th in deep. In deep passing, it's four touchdowns, two picks, only like a 43% completion percentage. But on deep passes, that's not terrible, like a 92 rating which is again average. And that is where Seattle is supposed to be susceptible. But can, you know, can Drake hit those because he was struggling with them before the shoulder got hurt. And the other storyline and the reason that even though I think Seattle is the better team, I have a little bit of anxiety about laying four and a half with Seattle is Vrabel is just an unbelievable coach and his game management is superb and I think Mike McDonald's been really good on that front too. But VRA's as good as anyone in the league when it comes to game management. All right, let's go to Seattle.
- [66:23]
Nick Wright
The stories that out of Seattle, obviously their OC is gone and there are reports that they might that the team might be sold. Do you think that's a lot of distractions for Seattle going into the Super Bowl?
- [66:34]
Damanze
So the team being sold thing is a non story. Paul Allen, the owner of the Seahawks former owner, died eight years ago. I think it was eight years ago. I don't want to get that wrong. I should probably. I thought it was 2018, but I'm going to check to make sure. Yeah, it was 2018. And in his will he said they got to sell the team because he wants the money to go to a bunch of philanthropic causes. But there's no. He had so many things, assets to sell and things they already did sell. One of the teams that he owned, it's going to take a lot of time. And they sold the Blazers, which he owned. And so the team has been kind of for sale for years. The rest of the league would love it to get sold because it, it raises the value of all the other franchises whenever something's sold. But I don't think that is a major issue. I, I think having your, one of your coordinators take another job can theoretically be problematic. But I think the fact that this got wrapped up so early in the week, I don't think it'll be a problem. And this, you know, we have seen this happen to teams before. Eagles fans to this day still think Jonathan Gannon was distracted for the super bowl prep. They lost to the Chiefs by taking the Cardinals job. I don't really buy into that too much.
- [68:13]
Nick Wright
Why would O.C.
- [68:14]
Damanze
Is.
- [68:14]
Nick Wright
I'm like, I get. It's heck, why would you do this? Like you're going to the Super Bowl. Like, I just. It's the only, like the super bowl at the top of the top. Like, even if you could get a head coaching job later, like maybe experience that.
- [68:29]
Damanze
No, no. I think you're a little confused. He's going to be their offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl. He doesn't.
- [68:35]
Nick Wright
Oh, okay.
- [68:38]
Damanze
He does. No, he does the interview and is going to be named head coach. But he's with the Seahawks until the super bowl runs over. So in the NFL, it's not like.
- [68:50]
Nick Wright
A little weird too, but.
- [68:51]
Damanze
Right. So that. No, that's what they're asking about and that. But I think it'll be. I think it'll be okay. It's not nothing, but I don't think it's a huge issue. But it's not like college football where they just like, all right, it's not Lane Kiffin, like, I'm out. He is going to be the Seahawks offensive coordinator through the super bowl and then two days after the super bowl will be announced.
- [69:12]
Nick Wright
Raiders.
- [69:12]
Damanze
The Raiders head coach. All right, I do have one before we. Interesting gambling note on this. So let's go on to the next topic for a moment.
- [69:23]
Nick Wright
So the line is settled at Seattle minus four and a half. How do you think that the Sharps in Vegas see this game playing out?
- [69:30]
Damanze
So I, I know where the Sharps are, which is interesting. The Sharps like Seattle, Moneyline and New England, plus the points. Okay, so they, they, they think Seattle wins, but it's close Right. Here's what's interesting about that. In the last 15 years Damanze in the last 15 years there has only been one Super bowl where the point spread mattered. And by what I mean is 14 of the last 15 Super Bowls whoever won covered meaning either the underdog won outright so obviously they cover or the favorite one and covered the old in the last 15 years, the only favorite to win and not cover was Rams over Bengals. The Rams were four and a half point favorites and won by three at the every other super bowl in that stretch the when a favorite is one they have covered or underdogs have won outright. So the Sharps think right now that that is not the likely outcome. We will do again dive into all of this in Thursday's show and then do all the fun props on Friday show you let's get some listener questions.
- [71:08]
Nick Wright
Curtis asks Nick, what is your Mount Rushmore sports athletes that would like to that you would like to sit down and play a game of poker with?
- [71:18]
Damanze
So one guy on the list I've done that. But. Four athletes I would most like to sit down and play cards with. You know, I think I've got to include on that list Michael Jordan just because he's such a sickler. One of my but one of my buddies does play cards with him and I think I could make up. You know what? I just think I My answer is just Jordan heads up. That's my answer. All right, go to Trooper.
- [72:07]
Nick Wright
Trooper asks Nick, can we get your updated opinion on Jamal Murray? You had knocked him in the past for not showing up in the season, ready to play now that he did. What's his ceiling?
- [72:16]
Damanze
Oh, listen, I credit Jamal and credit to the Nuggets for surviving Jokic's injury and Jamal coming into the season ready to play. I also, I. Daniel's gonna get so annoyed with me because Jamal just got named an All Star. Is there a tiny bit like. Let's just say Joker ends up finishing his career with just the one title. I. I'm saying I think that's gonna happen. He's been. He's so good. But let's just say is there a little bit of like the biggest Joker fans that are kind of bummed Jamal Murray got named an All Star because what they were going to be able to say was, oh, they. What did you want him to do? He never played with an All Star. He's the only guy. He never. None of his teammates ever made an All Star game with while he was there. Like what you want to do. And now it's like well why didn't you win more? Yeah. Jamal Murray guys an all star. No, but in all seriousness, Jamal's been excellent and he it's a very deserving spot for him. He's always been all star caliber. He just hasn't played at an all star level early in seasons and this year he did. Go to Anthony real quick and then we'll go.
- [73:38]
Nick Wright
Anthony asks why are people treating this year as a free roll for the Patriots in May? Burrow and the Bengals were in the same spot five years ago and haven't been back since.
- [73:47]
Damanze
Yeah, listen I, I and hell Dan Marino and the and the dolphins 40 years ago and never they were there in year two. Dan Marino one MVP. They were awesome. Never got back. I I, I agree with you Anthony. I do think the Patriots are going to be around for the long haul and are going to be a year over year contender. But that doesn't guarantee you anything. And so yes every opportunity you have to win a Super bowl could be your last opportunity to win a Super Bowl. And so I, I Anthony, I agree with you your reasoning there a hundred percent. All right, reminder everybody Like Rate Subscribe Review still two more great days of shows for you on this channel, on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes. I normally say check me out on the Herd in an hour but I got bumped for Tom Brady. So check out Tom Brady on the Herd in an hour. Huge shout out to our sponsors, Hard Rock, BET Boost and gld. Thank you to Volume and Blue Duck and I will see you guys on Thursday.
- [75:02]
Nick Wright
This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.