What's Wright - Nick Wright reacts to SHREDDED Luka Doncic, LeBron & Jokic RUMORS, RIDICULOUS Aaron Rodgers takes

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "What's Wright" Episode (July 29, 2025)

Introduction In episode 353 of "What's Wright," hosted by Nick Wright alongside Az Fudd, listeners are treated to a dynamic discussion covering a range of hot topics in the sports world. From player health updates and rumors to broader NFL analyses and personal anecdotes, the episode delivers insightful commentary intertwined with engaging banter.

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1. Damanze’s Snake Incubator [02:04 – 04:04] The episode kicks off with a lighthearted conversation between Nick Wright and guest Damanze Fudd about Damanze's unique hobby—raising snakes.

• Nick Wright: “That's pretty cool. So, like, can you watch it from your phone when you're at work?” [02:22]
• Damanze Fudd: “I can watch it from my phone when I'm at work... too sensitive is probably good.” [02:27]

They discuss the challenges of monitoring the snake incubator remotely, highlighting Damanze’s enthusiasm and responsible pet ownership.

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2. Deion Sanders’ Health Revelation [03:12 – 05:53] Transitioning to a more serious topic, Nick shares an uplifting story about Deion Sanders discovering he is cancer-free after a routine check-up.

• Nick Wright: “He then had his bladder removed, and says he's totally cancer free... ‘I stared life in the face.’” [04:01]

Nick praises Sanders for using his platform to encourage regular health check-ups and applauds his positive outlook.

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3. Lamelo Ball’s Tattoo Rumors [05:53 – 09:15] The conversation shifts to NBA star Lamelo Ball, addressing rumors about his alleged "Hot Cheeto" toe tattoos.

• Nick Wright: “I have two takes on this one... there's only a less than 10 but greater than 1% chance that LaMelo did actually get those Toa Hot Cheeto tattoos.” [07:00]

Nick critically examines the authenticity of the tattoo rumors, emphasizing the lack of evidence and the likelihood of it being a prank by the tattoo artist.

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4. Tragic Shooting in New York City [09:15 – 14:07] Nick delivers a heartfelt segment on a tragic shooting at the NFL headquarters in NYC, expressing empathy for the victims and their families.

• Nick Wright: “It’s an unspeakable tragedy... just the utter randomness.” [13:50]

He urges listeners to cherish their loved ones and reflect on the unpredictability of life, showcasing his compassionate side amidst the show's usual spirited discussions.

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5. San Diego FC Launch Promotion [14:07 – 16:43] A brief promotional segment highlights the launch of San Diego Football Club, featuring insights from soccer icon Megan Rapinoe.

• Megan Rapinoe: “San Diego coming to MLS is going to be a game changer...” [14:19]

The promotion underscores the community's excitement and the strategic vision for building a successful team from the ground up.

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6. NFL Quarterback Analysis: Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson [36:06 – 45:05] One of the core discussions revolves around the status and legacy of NFL quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson.

• Nick Wright: “If someone tries to make the argument, and I'm not picking… There's gotta be something ironclad about your case.” [42:06]
• Az Fudd: “NFL is wide open this year.” [59:11]

Nick critiques the notion of Rodgers being the greatest quarterback, citing statistical comparisons and recent performances. He juxtaposes Rodgers with emerging talents like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, debating their qualifications for the "greatest ever" title. The analysis delves into what defines legacy and the importance of postseason success in evaluating a quarterback's career.

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7. Madden 26 Ratings Controversy [45:05 – 60:42] The hosts discuss the recent Madden 26 release, focusing on the omission of Patrick Mahomes from the coveted 99-rating club.

• Az Fudd: “How do you feel about this? Is this legit?” [45:05]
• Nick Wright: “Mahomes... had arguably the greatest quarterback season anyone's ever had.” [47:00]

Nick expresses frustration over Mahomes not receiving a 99 rating, arguing that his performance merits inclusion. He contrasts this with Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, who did receive the top ratings, sparking a debate on the criteria used by the game developers.

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8. Listener Q&A: NFL Insights and Opinions [72:23 – 82:42] In the listener segment, various questions are addressed, offering personalized insights into NFL dynamics.

• Listener Question: “Is there anything Bryce Young can do this season to change your opinion on him?” [79:42]

  • Nick Wright: “He has to be good.” [79:42]

• Listener Question: “Would you say Jokic is the player in the NBA which you changed your opinion the most on?” [78:08]

  • Nick Wright: “Yes, a hundred percent.” [78:22]

Nick responds candidly, sharing his evolving perspectives on players like Nikola Jokic and James Harden, reflecting on their performances and impact on their respective teams.

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9. Luka Doncic’s Physical Transformation [63:19 – 87:58] Nick delves into NBA star Luka Doncic's recent physical changes and training regimen, critiquing an inaccurate report about his vertical leap and addressing concerns about his conditioning.

• Nick Wright: “AI hallucinated it... Luka did not go to the combine.” [63:32]
• Az Fudd: “But look, I mean, if not more.” [68:49]

He clarifies misinformation regarding Doncic’s athletic metrics and examines the implications of his slimmer physique on his performance. The hosts discuss how training adjustments might influence his gameplay and overall career trajectory.

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Conclusion Throughout the episode, Nick Wright and Az Fudd offer a balanced mix of serious analysis and light-hearted commentary. From addressing significant events like health updates and tragedies to dissecting sports rumors and player performances, the hosts provide a comprehensive overview of current sports narratives. Their insightful discussions, coupled with notable quotes, make this episode a valuable listen for those seeking in-depth perspectives on today's top sports stories.

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Notable Quotes:

• Nick Wright on Deion Sanders: “I didn't stare death in the face. I stared life in the face.” [04:04]
• Nick Wright on Lamelo Ball’s Tattoos: “I have a less than 10 but greater than 1% chance that LaMelo did actually get those Toa Hot Cheeto tattoos.” [07:00]
• Nick Wright on Aaron Rodgers: “How could you be the best ever? This is not a viable opinion.” [42:06]
• Nick Wright on Luka Doncic: “Weight training was never a big part of it for him... AI hallucinates sports.” [63:32]

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Conclusion This episode of "What's Wright" adeptly navigates through a spectrum of sports topics, providing listeners with both entertainment and valuable insights. Whether discussing player health, debunking rumors, or analyzing quarterback legacies, Nick Wright and Az Fudd maintain an engaging and informative dialogue that resonates with sports enthusiasts.

Transcript

[Sarah Spain]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Unknown Host]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club.

[Megan Rapinoe]

San Diego coming to MLS is going to be a game changer because this region has been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

[Nick Wright]

We need to embrace this community.

[Unknown Host]

Listen to San Diego FC behind the flow on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Get fired up, y'. All. Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people, an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapinoe, to the show and we had a blast. Take a listen. Sue and I were like, riding the lime bikes the other day and we're like, wee people ride bikes because it's fun. We got more incredible guests like Megan in store, plus news of the day and more. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports Network.

[Az Fudd]

Hey, guys, it's Az Fudd. You may know me as a gold medalist. You may know me as an NCAA national champion.

[Nick Wright]

You may even know me as a people's princess. Every week on my new podcast, futaround, and find out, I'll be talking to some special guests about pop culture basketball and what it's like to be a.

[Az Fudd]

Professional athlete on and off the court.

[Sarah Spain]

Listen to FUT around and find out a product, iHeart Women's Sports in partnership.

[Nick Wright]

With Unanimous Media, starting August 7th on.

[Sarah Spain]

The iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nick Wright]

All right, welcome in what's Right with Nick Wright, episode 353. And this episode of what's Right with Nick Wright is brought to you by Boost Mobile. A ton. To get to today, some very fun topics, a very serious topic right off the top. Before we get to any of that, however, let me welcome in Damanze. Damanze, great to see you.

[Az Fudd]

Good to see you.

[Nick Wright]

The major development, it feels like in the ongoing saga of your soon to be snake family, which is you added a surveillance camera to the. To the incubator.

[Az Fudd]

Yep.

[Nick Wright]

That's pretty cool. So, like, can you watch it from your phone when you're at work?

[Az Fudd]

I can watch it from my phone when I'm at work. The motion sensor thing's a little messed up. It just. It shows motion when I'm looking for egg motion, but it's like the lighting has changed in the background. So we got to figure out how to.

[Nick Wright]

Too sensitive. Yeah, exactly.

[Az Fudd]

But I mean, too sensitive is probably good.

[Nick Wright]

Quick question and then we'll get to the important stuff. Now that this isn't important, do. If you check your phone and there is a snake being. I don't know, hatching, I guess. Do you think you'll leave work? Yeah. Will you leave work? Here's the thing. I live really close enough that you could just be like, oh, you gotta go out for a second, go in and then come back, whatever it is. I'm very excited about it, 100%.

[Az Fudd]

Me too. I. I think. But, yeah, no, I would leave it there. I wouldn't leave just because it would need time to come all the way out if there was a problem. If it was a problem, I'm leaving. Like, if something.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, of course. Yeah. It'd be. It'd be almost criminal if you didn't. And what do we think? Another, like, two more weeks?

[Az Fudd]

Like, was it June? August 15th?

[Nick Wright]

Yeah. So two weeks, like, yeah, Last. Last question. So you spent time this weekend getting the surveillance set up, checking on the snakes, all of that. Did you write your little sister a letter?

[Az Fudd]

Why did you do this on the podcast?

[Nick Wright]

I know it. Nobody's written her letters. I've sent her emails. The only person who's written her letters is my mom, who's written her letter every day. But that's not what we. So it is what it is. She hasn't written us letters, so you know what?

[Az Fudd]

She's having fun. I got the report. She was doing great.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, it's all good. All right, time now for Straight to Voicemail, brought to you by our great friends at Boost Mobile, who also bring you this entire episode of what's Right in the great the. Here's a serious but uplifting note. Deion Sanders found out while he was being checked. So Deion Sanders has, like, some vascular issues, which is why he's lost some toes. So he gets checked on that regularly. In the check on that, they noticed something maybe a little amiss, so they sent him to a urologist. They did a check there. They noticed something really amiss. And they're like, you have aggressive bladder cancer. He then had his bladder removed, I guess, and says he's totally cancer free. And. And then used his platform to really encourage people to go to the doctor to get checked out, all of that. And had an unbelievable quote when one of the reporters asked him about staring death in the face. And he said, I didn't stare death in the face. I stared life in the face. And then he had such a Dion quote where he's like, I'm God's guy. It was so funny. It was like such an outrageous thing, but also awesome. And. And he was like, God put me here for a reason, to entertain and inspire and teach. And he really believes it. And by the way, if you've led the life Dion has led, which is one of the greatest college football players ever, one of the greatest, maybe the single greatest defensive NFL player ever, while also being a pretty damn good baseball player, very successful, charismatic in the media, and then reinventing what's possible in collegiate coaching from the HBCU level to Colorado. And, oh, yeah, he's got a couple of sons trying to make the NFL. I don't blame him for feeling like, yeah, yeah, I'm.

[Az Fudd]

I'm God's guy.

[Nick Wright]

I'm special. Like that. Yeah, I'm God's guy. But I. That's the. Those are the things from Dion that not only make it impossible not to like him, but you just root for him. And I thought he used that platform really well yesterday, so I liked that Travis Kelce was in Happy Gilmore, too. I have not seen it. And now we have a potential controversy. So Lamelo Ball was, you know, posted that he got hot Cheeto tattoo feet. I don't need hot Cheetos. Would be the worst tattoo I've ever seen in the world. The worst. It would be tattooing all five of your toes the exact color of hot Cheetos with little flames above them. And it was put out there by a tattoo artist later that day. The tattoo artist said, you know, this is. We were just trolling. We did do a full leg sleeve on Mellow, but we didn't. And he then showed that. But we didn't do the toes. Here's all I'm going to say to Anze. I have two takes on this one is, you know how, like, the Raiders just cut Christian Wilkins and they're trying to not pay him his guaranteed money, and it's because of very shaky reporting about odd locker room behavior, plus not rehabbing his foot. And they're like, you know what? You're not. You're not good for the team. If I had a athlete, if. If I were paying, if I owned a team and one of my players got that tattoo, I would try to avoid their guaranteed money. I'd be like, you can't be trusted in any way, shape, or form. I just can't. Like, I don't know what we're going to call it. But we're going to have a grievance. So. But here's the thing. The tattoo artist said I was trolling. I did give Lamelo a leg sleeve, but I was trolling. I just want to be on the record that I am giving it a less than 10 but greater than 1% chance that LaMelo did actually get those toad hot Cheeto tattoo tattoos. Saw the reaction to the tattoo artist posting, it was like, bro, you've got to tell people that was fake. And he's now just committed to never being shoeless in public again. Because when we saw, when we saw the leg sleeve, I just noticed two important context clues. One, he was wearing socks so we were not able to see his feet. And two, the red in the leg sleeve looks identical.

[Az Fudd]

Like it's going into the red.

[Nick Wright]

Well, it just the same color. It just is the same shade. So I'm just getting on the record that I am, I think it's unlikely. Melo got the worst tattoo I've ever seen, but I'm not saying it's impossible. So I just, I just want to be on the record about that. Does that all seem fair? I know Lamelo's your guy.

[Az Fudd]

Lamello's my guy. Yeah, he's gifted, Hooper, but yeah.

[Nick Wright]

All right, reminder everyone like Rate, subscribe review to the YouTube channel, iTunes, Spotify. Hit the thumbs up, hit the bell, do all those things. It helps us quite a bit. I want to quickly address right off the top, the shooting in New York City yesterday. It's a very scary and incredibly sad thing that happened. So the latest reporting is as follows. A young man who, you know, pretty clearly was dealing with some significant mental illness and was believed, I guess that football caused it, showed up to the NFL headquarters at 345 Park Avenue with a semi automatic rifle and tried to go to the floor the NFL headquarters are at, went to the wrong floor and killed a handful of people before killing himself. There is. This is, you know, as bad and as sad as it gets. There was a police officer in the lobby who was killed. There were obviously a handful of innocent people who were killed. And I am not, I always feel conflicted is the wrong word. But the guy who, the murderer here is obviously a massive villain, but also someone that at least I don't know, you almost empathize with in a weird way because he was lost. You know what I mean? His brain was broken. Well, I don't know why his brain was broken, but his brain was broken and he lost his mind. I'm not going to do my, you know, what some of you might expect me to do, which is give a whole thing on my feelings, on the accessibility of people, any people, much less people with documented mental illness, to be able to get those types of weapons. I'm on the record about that, and I don't need to get into it further. And I'm not going to act like I have any. There's any real insight over whether or not, you know, his mental illness was caused by ct, as he thought, as he wrote in his little manifesto or letter or whatever it is, because I don't really actually think that matters a ton in the moment, in the here and now. What I will simply say is it is an unspeakable tragedy. And you. I, I. As cliche as this sounds, man, the. And I know I've said this a handful of times before, and it. Maybe I should have ended the show instead of starting the show with this. And we'll just spend another 60 seconds on it because I don't have any deep, profound insight, but I felt like an idiot if I didn't at least acknowledge it. It happened in the city I live. It happened. You know, we're going to be talking about the NFL later. There was an someone that works with the NFL who was shot, but it looks like he's going to be okay. Just. Just check on your people and tell them you love them. Not because the someone. I'm not saying because some of your people might be in the position the shooter was in. What I'm saying is because, man, life can be cruelly random and cruelly short. And everyone hearing this right now, and you know, me talking right now, we are, you know, we are fortunate in that. That that wheel hasn't spun and hit us. And so in the meantime, take advantage of those, of those moments. That's always what I think about when something like this happens. Just the utter randomness. And when you hear like, this guy just went to the wrong elevator, like, went to the wrong floor, but I. It's the wrong floor. I know that sounds ridiculous. The point is it's just totally random. Just the people who were killed yesterday, it was just totally random. A million items in a sequence of events had to happen. And now their family's lives are changed forever and they're gone. And so just incredibly sad and thoughts. And if you're the prayerful type, prayers for anyone affected by that yesterday here in Manhattan. All right, sorry, Tough transition. But I did want to do that off the top. You know, as I'm redoing this in my head should maybe if I was going to actually do it off the top, should I have done it before we did five minutes on hot Cheetos tattoos? Probably. But you know what? Work in progress on the pod at times.

[Unknown Host]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club. We go behind the scenes and explore the stories of those involved.

[Megan Rapinoe]

San Diego coming to MLS is going to be a game changer because this region has been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

[Nick Wright]

We need veteran players and we need young players. Like you're building a team from scratch and so the succession plan of long term success needs to be defined. We need to embrace this community.

[Megan Rapinoe]

When I was 13, my uncle took me to a qualifier and we watched Paraguay against Chile pouring rain. Just watching the fans jumping up and down, I think that was definitely a watershed moment for me. Not only was that going to be my game, but it was going to be my life.

[Unknown Host]

Listen to San Diego FC behind the flow now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Get fired up, y'. All. Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapinoe to the show and we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, Co hosting a podcast with her fiance Sue, Bird watching former teammates retire and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final and the locker room. I really, really like you. Just you can't replicate, you can't get back. Showing up to the locker room every morning just to talk. We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candace Parker and college superstar Az Fudd. I mean, seriously, y', all, the guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And you know we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nick Wright]

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports, Damanze. Let's talk about the boat picture heard around the world.

[Az Fudd]

YIC's agent was posted with Maverick Carter and your and your guy LeBron James on a boat in France. The photo caption was the summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 20, 26. Very specific. You said there's a.00% chance that he goes over to Denver. Why is that? Why can that not?

[Nick Wright]

Okay? Because it's not going to happen. So here is. Well, I'll explain what's up with the caption, but this is one of those. I am going to need the audience to just trust me that when I. I rarely say I know this for a fact, but when I say it, it's not speculation. And it means I have about something like this information that is not publicly accessible, so to speak. I'm not like, reading someone else's report. I know for a fact that the idea that LeBron next off season is going to sign with the Denver Nuggets is pure and utter fantasy. Now, if you want to say it would be awesome, sure. If you want to say he should, no problem. If you want to say it'd be fun, why not? All those things, I'm here to tell you. And by the way, as me, someone who obviously would like to see LeBron win it, you know, every year he has left win a championship, I wouldn't hate it at all. I'm simply telling you it's not going to happen. So. And I'm here to tell you that caption was not about LeBron, and this is where it is. So. So all everything I have said there is are things I know unequivocally, definitively. I know that LeBron will not be a Denver Nugget next year. I know that that caption was not about LeBron James specifically. I know those things. What I say from this point moving forward is, call it informed speculation, but not something I can say unequivocally. I know. So what was it all about? And the answer to that is Maverick Carter, who at times gets, I think, unintentionally, like, dismissed as, you know, Maverick Carter, LeBron's best friend, or Maverick Carter, LeBron's business manager. Those are accurate titles, but it far undersells who Maverick Carter is at this point in the sports world and really the business world. And so now listen again, I try to. My job's never not to be unbiased. My job is simply to, you know, make sure the audience knows my biases. It is absolutely fair. And the audience should know. I consider Mav a dear friend. I can separate that from what I'm talking about here. But you guys should know that if you didn't already, and of everyone I know, there's a lot of, like, Internet speculation about my relationships with LeBron and the people you know in LeBron's orbit and rich and Randy Mav specifically, unequivocally. And even though I do a little business kind of with Rich, the, the person in that circle that I am far and away the tightest with is Mav. And so you guys can have that information, but it does not impact what I'm about to tell you here. What I'm about to tell you here is Mav has established himself as a legitimate force in the business world. If you were to, I don't know that he has a LinkedIn, but if you were to check the board of directors that he's on the long list of them, the people that he has real relationships with outside of inside and outside of sports and what he has built himself professionally. The reason I say all of that is to say he is not around with this league. He is attempting to build this F1 style traveling event based basketball league. And so when you see Nicola Jokic, his agent, who is also the agent of another dozen or so NBA players and maybe more importantly more than 100 European basketball players, talk about the summer of 2025 is great, a great time to make plans for the fall of 2026. That is not about LeBron and Joker playing together. That is, and again, this is my speculation, this is not something I know, but this is my read that is about the league Maverick is trying to put together. And the full details on that league are at this point a little hazy. Would that league be trying to directly compete with the NBA? I would, My guess would be no. But again, I don't. I want to be very careful on this stuff because I think people will assume on certain, certain things. People assume I know way less than I do, which is always fine. I don't, that doesn't bother me. But where it can get tricky is if people assume I know way more than I do and they read more into my speculation as reportage, which this part is not. But that was about trying to set up what would be a very interesting new way to present professional basketball. And now, and this is the blindest of all the speculation I couldn't help but look at and poor Daniel, our producer, who's a die hard Denver Nugget fan, who maybe started this pod with the hopes that LeBron and Joker were going to one day play together for the Nuggets. And now I'm going to end the wants.

[Az Fudd]

I don't know if Daniel wants him on the Nuggets.

[Nick Wright]

Well, I, I, Daniel, you can put it in the chat. Well, let's see, you know, another season where they don't make round three, maybe you'd feel a little differently. And so. But regardless, here's who I here's what I do know. Daniel definitely wants Joker on the Nuggets. And yeah, you know, did I watch Joker overcome with emotion watching his horse win that race and think about, you know what? I bet Joker would really enjoy a job where he's not in Denver eight months a year. And if there were a way for him to one day continue to make huge money playing professional basketball while having a lighter schedule and having more and not necessarily being stationed and anchored to the Midwest of the United States for more than half the year, could that be attractive to him? Maybe. And so I think I'm very curious to see exactly what Mav tries to build and I'm very curious as so many of the best players in the NBA start to skew international. For how many of those international guys at some point in their career or, or for a year of their career or at the tail end of their career, they might be like, yeah, that, that is more attractive to me than the current setup. I don't know because I don't know exactly what the setup of Mavs things going to be, but it's real and it's coming down the tracks. All right, you want the. You can ask me those couple follow ups to Monza.

[Az Fudd]

Yeah, so I mean, they were on the boat and they were catching fish. Yeah, you were on the boat this weekend.

[Nick Wright]

Don't worry. Hold on. Don't worry about the fish one. You can ask me about the first couple.

[Az Fudd]

Why. I mean, why can't LeBron go to Denver?

[Nick Wright]

So he can. So this is the thing I want to make clear. He could. He's not going to like there. There is the. If the Lakers and Nuggets were to have in 20 this year, similar years they had last year, both make the playoffs, you know, both get knocked out relatively early. And the Nuggets, even though I like the off season they had this year, you know, they don't have a ton of flexibility as far as salary cap space, all that stuff, they would, of course he could go there. It's just not going to happen. And a reminder to everyone that when everyone was criticizing LeBron for opting into the contract that he had signed with the Lakers, when they were saying, oh, you know, he could have opted out and signed with anyone for the minimum, and I said had he done that, he would have been immediately across the board criticized for some fraudulent ring Chasing, stacking the deck. You got to see a little sneak preview of that for a few hours this weekend when people thought that's what that caption was about. And the immediate reaction was, that would be a fake ring. That wouldn't count. Even Daniel wrote in our doc, he can come ring Chase if he wants. Like, got it. Like, so we all. We all knew that that would be coming, but we got to see that in very real time here. All right, one more.

[Az Fudd]

Next one is move on. Is it a crime to be emotional, emotionally invested in your hobbies? I mean, he cried after this horse run the race. He was like, we can go home now after we won the finals.

[Nick Wright]

No, it's. Listen, it's not a crime. This is what I would comp it to. And I don't think this is that outrageous at all. And I'm. I'll just come. Even though, you know, this is going to sound. I am not comparing myself to Nikola Jokic, but I'm using myself as an example. If you work your entire life for something, you obviously love it. If you work your entire life for something and you get great at it, you obviously have a passion for it. But if you work your entire life for something and it is the focus of your life after, you know, 10, 15, 20, 30 years of doing it, a new challenge can all of a sudden be more exciting, even without knocking at all, you know what your main thing is and what has been the pursuit of your life. So that's how I view. I don't view joke like, some of the jokes of, like, Joker just plays basketball to pay the bills. This is his true love. I. I don't feel that way at all. But I do feel that this is something not new because he's always been into horses, but an exciting new challenge and something that he hasn't yet mastered. So the reason I said I would compare it to myself is I. You would, like, if I were to ever win a World Series of Poker bracelet, you would see a level of, like, emotion and gratification from me that I don't think you could ever see from any, like, broadcast accomplishment. And that's not because, like, you love. Like, you love your hobby more than you love your main thing. It's because it just activates a different, like, dopamine and different part of your brain. So that's what I see with Joker. But I do think he has a true passion for his horses. I think he truly, really loves. Loves his horses. And I think there's a. There's an extra thing when your hobby involves a living creature. You know what I mean? Like where you feel like you have real relationships. I know that sounds weird but the. Anybody that's ever had, you know, I've never.

[Az Fudd]

Horses I think are really feeling feely. Animals too think they're very personable creatures. So.

[Nick Wright]

Oh, I would imagine. And I was just going to compare it to like if you're Hunting is kind of a bad example here. Cuz I'm talking about the sacredness of animals. But I was going to say like having a hunting dog. You know what I mean? Like a dog that you. You. Yeah. That you.

[Az Fudd]

And gets the job done.

[Nick Wright]

Correct. I. I feel like there's some of this maybe with you with your snakes but snakes are so different animals because.

[Az Fudd]

Not very personable creatures.

[Nick Wright]

They're not personable and you can't really like read their emotion the way you can so many mammals like they can't like like with. With dogs and with horses sometimes you feel like you can like read the look in their eye and you know they certainly can like rest their head.

[Az Fudd]

On your shoulder and stuff. They don't really do that to everybody.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, right. And so I totally. I'm not mocking Joker at all. I think it's really cool. But I also do think that when there is something you really, really love that you literally can't be a part of at all for the majority of a year, every year, because your job takes you halfway around the world, that does certainly play into the math on how long you plan to do that job. I do feel that way. And so that's to me that's the end of the Mav. Joker's agent LeBron Instagram caption which is just a great July topic. Nothing says summer like long days, clutch plays and firing off a few bets on the game all day with all. Sorry, not all day. I guess you could, but all with DraftKings sportsbook. As the season heats up, so do the bats. And DraftKings sportsbook has you covered with live betting, home run props, odds boosts and more. Whether you're chasing dingers or jumping in mid game, there's always action to be had. Never been on baseball before. Easy. Pick a guy to go yard, hammer some live odds mid game or just ride with your squad and hope for the best. No spreadsheets, just vibes and dingers. Right now. Available from our friends at DraftKings. How about the Royals on the money line favorites minus 126 after last night's tough loss against the Braves or BOT this is the one I like. Bobby Witt Jr. Two or more hits get plus money plus one hundred and fifty five of course. Lines and odds subject to change. Here's something special for first timers. New DraftKings customers bet five bucks and get $150 in bonus bets instantly. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app now and use code WRIGHT. That's code WRIGHT. W R I G H T For new customers, get $150 in bonus bets instantly. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the credit crown is yours. Gambling Problem Call 1-800- gambler in New York, call 877-8-HOPE&WY or text HOPE&WHY at 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and resort in Kansas, 21 and over. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bet must win to receive reward. Minimum minus 500 odds required bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible GAM resources.

[Unknown Host]

See DKNG Co Audio Check out Behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club. We go behind the scenes and explore the stories of those involved.

[Megan Rapinoe]

San Diego coming to MLS is going to be a game changer because this region has been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

[Nick Wright]

We need veteran players and we need young players. Players like you're building a team from scratch and so the succession plan of long term success needs to be defined. We need to embrace this community.

[Megan Rapinoe]

When I was 13, my uncle took me to a qualifier and we watched Paraguay against Chile pouring rain. Just watching the fans jumping up and down, I think that was definitely a watershed moment for me. Not only was that going to be my game, but it was going to be my last life.

[Unknown Host]

Listen to San Diego FC behind the flow now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Get fired up y'. All. Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapinoe to the show and we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, Co hosting a podcast with her fiance Sue, Bird watching former teammates retire and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final and the locker room. I really, really like you just, you can't replicate, you can't get back. Showing up to the locker room every morning just to talk. We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candace Parker and college superstar Az Foot. I mean, seriously, y', all, the guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nick Wright]

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. All right, let's talk a little NFL before we get to skinny Luca De Monze.

[Az Fudd]

In a recent interview with Aaron Rodgers, Kyle Brandt called him the best quarterback to ever play the position. So you've had some opinions on Aaron Rodgers in the past.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah.

[Az Fudd]

If you ever thought of him as the best quarterback ever.

[Nick Wright]

Well, so this, I, there was a point in time where I thought Aaron Rodgers was the most talented quarterback ever, and I still think he's probably the second most now to Patrick. And there certainly was a point in time where I thought Aaron Rodgers, at his apex was the highest level the position had ever been played. So I buy, I buy that. But that is such a, a huge delta between that and the best quarterback to ever play the position. And this is, and I thought, listen, credit where it's due, I thought Kyle did a really nice job in that interview, and I thought Aaron came across as downright charming. And so, you know, it doesn't change my opinion on what the Steelers season is going to be like, but I thought that was a really good 10 minutes of media.

[Sarah Spain]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

With all that said, this is one of those opinions. Damanze, that I think is not an allowed opinion. I, I, I, and I know people don't like when I say that. So they're like, everyone's entitled to their opinion. Certain opinions. Like you. There are certain opinions that are so far outside anything that is legitimately arguable that you can't have it. So, like, there is. Go ahead, go ahead.

[Az Fudd]

No, so, I mean, you thought he was like the mo. Like, why can't, how was that one? How can you not even make that argument? It's a take that you can't have. Like, it's, I don't wonder.

[Nick Wright]

Well, because you just said there is.

[Az Fudd]

You were saying he was the best, you thought he was the most skilled.

[Nick Wright]

Skilled football player at a point in time, but then someone more skilled came Along. So the. There's one guy, right? So you can't be the. So here's the problem. The problem is, in order to make an argument that someone is. Let's take basketball for a minute. Okay? There are six people that you are allowed to have the opinion are the greatest of all time. And it might just be five, but I'll. I'll extend it to six. And those six are. And the reason that I'm saying there's only six, you're allowed. I really think it's only three. But I'm trying to be as liberal as possible with this here is because there is. You can point to something as their thing that they were just the best at. Head and shoulders. You know what I mean? Like that. That's. That's what I'm hanging it on. So if you want to say Bill Russell's the greatest ever, you can just kind of start and end with the 21 and oh. In elimination games throughout his career, you know, and winner take all games, 11 championships, eight in a row. You all. It's like, okay, simple, you want to argue Wilt. It's just like, dude, average 50 a game and more than 48 minutes a game in a season. Scored 100 points in a game. You know what I mean? Like, the. Intuitively you understand the argument for it. Kareem, greatest high school player ever, greatest college player ever, most MVPs of anyone ever. You know, had the super long career success, all of it. The Jordan, LeBron arguments we've all had before, we don't have to get into them right now. It's obvious what those guys are. And then the six that I would add, if you really want to squint hard enough. Magic, greatest passer ever, changed the game, Career cut short due to a virus that, you know, had nothing to do with basketball. The. The instant impact as a rookie being the best player in the deciding game of the championship round. Like, those are the guys. But if someone tries to, like, make the argument, and I'm not, like, I'm not picking. Let me not even start with him. Someone tries to make the argument Larry Bird's the greatest player of all time. The problem is there is not a single thing you can say Larry Bird's the greatest at. Not one thing. You know what I mean? If somebody tries to make the argument Steph is the greatest of all time, that there is the. Now there is something you can say he's the greatest at greatest shooting. But the other gaps in the resume compared to the guys he's Competing against. Prevent it with. With Kobe, who some people try to make the case for. The problem is it's very, very hard, if not impossible, to make the argument that Kobe was better than the guy that he modeled himself after. And Michael, you know what I mean? Michael has him kind of clocked in every category. So how are we. You know, how are. How are we getting there? So when it comes to the greatest quarterback ever, what is in 2025, the argument for Aaron Rodgers? There isn't one anymore. His regular season accomplishment, Peyton's got him killed. It's certainly not the winning. And if it's just like I test raw ability, creativity. Mahomes lapped it. So, like, there he has nothing to hang his hat on anymore.

[Az Fudd]

The spiral.

[Nick Wright]

So it's just. Well, again, Dan Marino might have him in that there's not for real, like, you just have to have. There's got to be something that is ironclad about your case, and then the rest you can massage if you want to have a viable opinion. And so I just thought calling Aaron, who doesn't have the greatest stats of any quarterback ever. They're great, but it's not the best. Doesn't have the most MVPs of any quarterback ever. It's the second most. It's not the most. Certainly doesn't have the wins. Doesn't have the raw athleticism of any. The most raw athleticism of any quarterback ever. Doesn't and no longer holds the title for, you know, most natural ability. So how could. If you weren't ever the best at anything, how could you be the best ever? This is not a viable opinion. And so I know that's going to sound dismissive, but it's just not an allowed opinion. Sorry. There has to be some standards. We live in a. As I said to the guy two years ago who was walking his dog, watched his dog go to the bathroom, look at it, and then walked away. As I said to him, I will say now, we live in a society. You have to do your part. Like there is. What are you shaking your head about, Devon? This guy. Society. This guy. Hold on. This. I know the. That incident that I'm discussing. There is. This guy would every day walk two blocks from his house to the block we live on, have his giant torso use the bathroom and then. And then walk back home. And I finally called him and was like, you know what? We're just gonna have it out, man. And he apologized and then pretended to clean it up and then hurriedly walked away when he thought I was gone. So I did, I chase him down and say, hey man, we live in a society. I did, I didn't know what else to say. I'm not gonna say like I'm gonna fight you, I'm gonna try to just guilt you.

[Az Fudd]

We live in a society that's.

[Nick Wright]

We live in a society. Do your part. Well, do your part, man. And in the sports take game, we live in a society, we all have. We can't, you can't just come out there with takes that are indefensible. I, I'm not saying the takes have to be right, but you have to be able to defend them. That's all. All right. Speaking of indefensible, I guess this is semi defensible, but I hate it. The Madden rating. Go ahead.

[Az Fudd]

I don't know about indefensible, but the 99 club came out for Madden 26. Your guy Mahomes was snubbed. Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson are the two, they both have 99 ratings. How do you feel about this? Is this legit? I think it's pretty fair. I think that Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are much more Madden type quarterbacks than Patrick Mahomes is like Patrick Mahomes is more of an improviser. Lamar Jackson's obviously like super fast and Josh Allen's like a freak athlete. He's huge running through dudes. So it's like as far as games, like if you want to play Madden, like you're thinking like you want to play, you would rather play with Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen.

[Nick Wright]

Okay, so that's really interesting way to look at it. And I, if that's the argument that, so be it. Listen, Mahomes, coming into this year in the six Maddens post, his rookie post, his first year as a starter, he was a 99 four times. He was the highest rated quarterback five times. The one time he wasn't, he was the third highest rated quarterback behind Brady and Rogers. And that was after the AFC championship game lost to Cincinnati. And he responded by having more yards than any player in the history of the league, winning the super bowl mvp, winning the regular season MVP and having arguably the greatest quarterback season anyone's ever had. So I'm, I'm not even mad at Madden. Maybe they motivated him. I actually, I, I want to use this as an opportunity and listen, Josh just won super bowl or I'm sorry, regular season MVP had, you know, for a team that a lot of people thought was not going to be good, some people who had always been called a Bills hater for just being right about the Bills. Then last year thought the Bills could be really good and that person was me, but that it was because of Josh Allen. So it's fine. And Lamar has had basically back to back perfect regular season. So you want to give him a 99 rating. It's fine. I actually want to use this time here to talk a little bit about Lamar and the Ravens because I was on Mina's podcast and she was agog that I was skeptical of the Ravens. And Mina, you know, said Lamar didn't play poorly in the playoff game, which I find unbelievable, and said that basically she thought I was being unfair to Lamar or the Ravens by not, I guess, chalking up the same exact thing happening every single year to just dumb luck, and said, oh, I didn't know you were a Ravens hater. And this is where, as I said with her, I will break Kayfabe for a moment. I adore Mina Kimes. I know I call her my rival that I want to vanquish. I think she's outstanding. It's the only reason I went on a podcast with her at seven o' clock New York City time on the night before. I was going to the Bahamas for a few days and I think she does great work. But I. There are two major points I want to make here. The first one is this. At what point does someone stop being a hater if they are constantly one of the only people proven correct? At what? I'm just curious, for the media and Internet at large, at what point does hating transition to accurate skepticism? Or is the answer never? Is the answer? Nope. If the whole world acknowledges this guy is just, you know, Dan, close to a perfect player who's had a couple perfect regular seasons, who's just bad timing for these awful moments. And now 2023 for Lamar, it was an awful game. 2024, it was not an awful game. It was a couple really awful moments that ruined an otherwise really good game by him. But I am. And so, because I didn't think Lamar was terrible in the divisional round game against Buffalo, what I did think was a guy who was historically good all year about protecting the football, having two turnovers in the first 20 minutes of that game made it to where the. The best grade he could get for the games, like a C plus and especially because they end up losing. And so the. The question I truly have, and the question I truly have for the audience is, is that hating is. And I'll use the Bills thing as an example. Every single year, people called me a Bills hater Now, I was a Bills troll to a degree and I said, drop the banner and I poked fun and I did all that stuff. But I was also right every single time. And then this past year when I thought the pendulum had swung too far in the other direction, and I said, I actually think the Bills are going to be excellent. I think they're once again the biggest threat to the Chiefs. And that's the opposite of hating. And it was just correct. Right? So then the. And yes, guys, the when I say my homes had the most yards in a single season ever, that's that. That's. That is exactly the. It's exactly what I'm saying it is. It's total yards for the full season, everything all put together. The most yards any players ever accounted for was 2022 Patrick Mahomes. So the Lamar stuff to me is interesting because I it's not only that I don't think I'm a hater, but I think a lot of other really smart people who cover this league are in willful denial because they like him and because they want it to be different than it is. And because, and this part I really empathize with because they detest so much so many of his, his original actual haters, the people who said he should change positions coming in the league or he'd never be any good or any of that stuff. And so all of that has created this very odd world where folks patronize him a bit in a way. They discuss what is the only hole on his resume, but it's the hole that matters the most, which is in that league for that position, how you play in the postseason. And so this is the question that I would just have to everyone folks on Ravens Twitter who are mad at me because they think the team is absolutely stacked and I have questions about its receiver position and folks in the media that think I'm unfair in my skepticism. Because one of the other things that happened when I was talking again, I think Mina's outstanding with Mina was Stafford came up and I talked about how if I were like, I kind of impromptu was talking about how he might be my third pick of any quarterback in the league to have in the postseason that would go Mahomes, Allen Stafford. And she seemed legitimately aghast that I was not including Lamar in the math for that. And I was legitimately aghast that she possibly could include Lamar in the math for that specific question. You can have any quarterback for a playoff run, like, well, I. I'm not going to pick the Guy who's literally never like shown us that he can do that. It would seem, that would seem silly to me. You might be like, well, Josh hasn't shown it. Josh has had plenty of playoff runs where he's played excellent throughout. Just the team wasn't good enough where you'd see that from Lamar. But that's fine. This is kind of old hat. We've talked about this each of the last few years because each of the last few years it has gone exactly like this unbelievable regular season that I look at with a quizzical eye because I want to see how it works in the postseason. Then Lamar has one of, if not his downright worst game in the postseason. And then everybody has this moment of clarity for about three days where after the year people are like, damn, Nick was right. Without saying Nick was right. And then come this time of year it's like, no, this year will be different. So this is my question because Raven's Twitter, Raven's Twitter thinks the team is absolutely loaded. So obviously like there shouldn't be any excuses there. But my question in the media is this, if it were to happen again, same beats as the last couple years, is Lamar going to win mvp? He is the mvp. He's top two mvp. All of it. And then once again the Ravens don't play to their seed or don't play to their talent or you know, and it's because of massive quarterback mistakes early in a playoff game that puts them in a hole that they can't quite dig themselves out of. Will this year then be enough? Is it like before the sample was too small or will it still just be ah, randomness, dumb luck of the playoffs? I find it really fascinating because it is absolutely true that the only thing standing between Lamar and being in the discussion demons A as one of the six or seven greatest quarterbacks of all time is one great playoff run. That's all that's standing between it, just one. Because the regular season stuff is so unbelievable. But the only thing standing between him and being in a very unique class of all time athletes in a, in a not great sense is deja vu all over again. One more time. And it makes this year one of the most fascinating. It makes makes the Ravens and Lamar one of the most fascinating stories of the season. And it also, I am, I'm really excited to watch it and I am really excited to see how people react, myself included to how this full season plays out. And so like it was, it's back to back years, it's all been Right there all been and that's one other thing I want to say because one of the things Mina pointed out was DVOA has over the last quarter century to monze the two best teams. The two best five year stretches by any team to not make a Super bowl are the last five years of the Buffalo Bills and the last five years of the Baltimore Ravens. And the point there that that Mina made was, you know, basically that's an Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes stat and it's that these two teams were good enough to be all time greats. They were just blocked by one of the greatest, if not the greatest duo in NFL history. And I pushed back on that too because I think the Bills being on that list is a and you're eating Patrick Mahomes stat because the Bills have lost to the Chiefs five times in this stretch or I'm sorry four times. I don't know that I feel the Ravens being on that list is a chief stat because only one of those years have the Chiefs been the team to block. The Ravens you got. They haven't gotten to that level yet. So we'll see. And I listen you believe in the Ravens this year?

[Az Fudd]

Brubley NFL's wide open this year. 100% NFL is wide open this year. See what he does.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, no, we'll see. I have a feeling it will be like every year. Unbelievable. In the regular season they lose a couple games they probably shouldn't lose that are a little odd, but it is jaw dropping. And then come the playoffs we're going to be like, wow, this team sure looks different. Wonder why I doubt it. And then but listen, maybe I'll be wrong. Maybe. Maybe I'll be wrong. All right. This message applies to 99% of you listening right now because that's how many of you can be covered by fast and reliable service on the Boost mobile network with 99% nationwide coverage. And if you don't think you deserve a deal, listen up. You've got another thing coming right now. When you switch to Boost Mobile, you can get iPhone 15 with Dynamic island and a 48 megapixel main camera for 99.99. That's $99.99 for iPhone 15 on a nationwide 5G network. This may only apply to 99% of you, but I am 100% positive boost mobile just gave all of us a really freaking good deal. Reminder. It's an in store offer. $35 device setup fee may apply. Requires credit qualification, ID verification, activation on 60 hour plans taxes extra 5G speeds not available in all areas.

[Unknown Host]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club. We go behind the scenes and explore the stories of those involved.

[Megan Rapinoe]

San Diego coming to MLS is going to be a game changer because this region has been hungry, hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

[Nick Wright]

We need veteran players and we need young players. Like you're building a team from scratch and so the succession plan of long term success needs to be defined. We need to embrace this community.

[Megan Rapinoe]

When I was 13, my uncle took me to a qualifier and we watched Paraguay against Chile pouring rain. Just watching the fans jumping up and down, I think that was definitely a watershed moment moment for me. Not only was that going to be my game, but it was going to be my life.

[Unknown Host]

Listen to San Diego FC behind the flow now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Get fired up, y'. All. Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapinoe to the show and we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, Co hosting a podcast with her fiance Sue, Bird watching former teammates retire and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final. And the locker room. I really, really like you. Just, you can't replicate. You can't get back. Showing up to the locker room every morning just to talk. We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candace Parker and college superstar AZ Foote. I mean, seriously, y', all, the guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nick Wright]

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. Also, reminder to you guys, like, rate, subscribe, review, check out the podcast or subscribe to the podcast on itunes. Spotify. I really am trying to get our audio numbers up. If you're watching on YouTube right now, it's really easy. You can just go ahead and, you know, click the little follow button or plus button on iTunes or Spotify. And even if you just watch us on YouTube instead, that's fine. But subscribe there as well. That's helpful. And hit the alerts to the thumbs up and the bells and the whistles and all that stuff. All right, let's talk skinny Luca to Monze.

[Az Fudd]

Luka 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?

[Nick Wright]

So a couple things. One is first, sorry to 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 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 combines. 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 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, Damante. 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 located in the town where Doncic has vacationed every summer since he was a teenager, 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.

[Az Fudd]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

Weight training was never a big part of it for him. And so now you guys know. I feel like the go ahead.

[Az Fudd]

Oh no, it's so cool just being able to get a bus of weights. Oh, just brought to wherever you did.

[Nick Wright]

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, Shay and in round three, Anthony Edwards and it averaged 34, 9 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.

[Az Fudd]

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.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, but I, 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 fat with muscle. The Lakers. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, I would bet he weighs about the same.

[Az Fudd]

But look, I mean, if not more. Yeah, I mean muscle weighs more than fat, right? He looks a lot thinner than.

[Nick Wright]

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 basketball at first Lavinia and I right now he would be my early season pick to win league MVP next year.

[Az Fudd]

And he just torches Dallas every single time they play and it just doesn't even matter.

[Nick Wright]

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.

[Az Fudd]

Yes, sir.

[Nick Wright]

Shout out, Marco. Very cool. All right. Summer's coming in hot. Literally. If there's one thing you shouldn't mess around with this summer, it's your deodorant. Mando deodorant and sweat control is built for this season. It's literally going to be like 100 degrees in New York City today. Blocks odor all day. Control sweat too. Whether I'm grilling in 90 degree weather, heading to a baseball game or going for a run or a bike ride, Mando keeps me fresh and dry. It's one of the worst feelings in the world when you realize, do I smell? With mando, you have zero concerns because I know I'll smell great and it will last all day. Mando starter pack, which they sent me, it's great. It's perfect for new customers. Comes with a solid stick. Deodorant cream tube deodorant. Two free products of your choice like mini body wash or deodorant or. And deodorant wipes and free shipping is a special offer for our listeners. New customers get 20% off site wide with our exclusive code use code WRT@shopmando for.com for 20% off site wide and free shipping. If you missed the first time, let me tell you again. Special offer for listeners. New customers get 20% off sitewide with our exclusive code. Use code [e-mail] for 20% off sitewide and free shipping. That's S H O P M A N D O dot com. Please support our show. Tell them we sent you. Mando's got you covered. Protect your pits. Smell great doing it. All right, Damanze, before we get to the listener questions, let's do Matt Stafford here and then we get to the listeners.

[Az Fudd]

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 to want to go to training camp.

[Nick Wright]

He's old, older. 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 to day 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 cite from San Francisco, and Juwan Taylor, the right tackle has 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 than 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 training camp. And you need desperately a healthy Matt Stafford in order to contend. And I think the Rams can contend. I like devote now. Poor Devonte Adams.

[Az Fudd]

Yeah, I was just like you got.

[Nick Wright]

To be kidding me. I got Matt, I got Jimmy G throwing 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. All right, let's get reminder like Rate Subscribe Review let's get some listener questions.

[Az Fudd]

To Monza Curtis asked are The Vikings the NFC's versions of the Chiefs great ownership well run they have their Andy Reid and Kevin o' Connell and now JJ is looking like the next Mahomes Based off training camp this is one.

[Nick Wright]

Of the worst I honestly think this might be one of the worst listener questions ever. I'm not yet ready to call Kevin o' Connell Andy Reid Andy Reid and his first stop coaching early in his career early in his tenure in Philadelphia made four consecutive AFC in NFC championship games. Kevin O' Connell is 0 and 2 up to this point in his career in the postseason and those losses have come to Daniel Jones and who was it last year? Was it was it Jaden Daniels And I don't know that JJ is looking great in camp so I I now where they are like the Chiefs and that they had a solid starting quarterback in Cousins and then I guess Darnold as well but they wanted higher upside so they drafted, you know, they drafted a kid and said we're going to roll the dice but that's where the comparisons sadly end.

[Az Fudd]

All right, Brandon.

[Nick Wright]

Brandon to the Rams in round one. Not not to the Washington.

[Az Fudd]

Go ahead. Brandon asks Nick, would you say Joker is the player in the NBA which you change your opinion the most on just in the fact that you were a big time late to the all time great party on him?

[Nick Wright]

Yes, a hundred percent. Yeah. And.

[Az Fudd]

Yeah, I first started the pod.

[Nick Wright]

Was when you yeah, when he just won all the MVPs despite having none of the accomplishments which I still don't love. But, but yeah, I mean the he is an all time great and he does have the accomplishments now and I also find him really endearing. So yes, there's no question he's the player. I've changed my mind. Well, and in the other direction it's Harden because for a long time I was a hardened defender. I was like, you know, it gave him cut him slack because nobody could beat the Warriors. You know what I mean? I thought he was, I thought his regular season dominance was like underrated. But then it was just Lamar Jackson. I know. I, I so maybe that's one of the reasons I'm so hard on Lamar is because I got burnt by Harden because I was like he's not gonna fit. It's not gonna happen every year. But then it, you know, then it did. All right.

[Az Fudd]

I honestly think James Harden's meltdowns in the postseason are worse than Lamar Jackson's though I will say that I said they're the same thing, but probably. But yeah.

[Nick Wright]

And there's certainly more of them.

[Az Fudd]

Right. Tan man asks, is there anything Bryce Young can do this season to change your opinion on on him?

[Nick Wright]

Yeah. Be good. Yeah, of course if he's good, it will change my opinion of him, that's all. I just don't think he is going to be able to be good for a 17 game season at his size. That's it. I could be wrong. Yeah. Like the games. The games and results matter. So yes, like the guys can change my opinion of him. He has to be good.

[Az Fudd]

Next Chris asks. I was listening to Thursday's episode on First Things first and you were talking about your hurt skepticism being because of his his great pieces. Why don't we give the same treatment to Burrow?

[Nick Wright]

So here's the thing. I think that Burrow does get a bit of the curve of he has these great receivers but not to the same degree that Hertz has. Now I think that's fair in this regard. Burrow has two great receivers, the best duo in football. Hertz has two great Receivers the second or third best duo on football. Burrows, though, I, I would say are better. But then Hertz also has, compared to Burrow, exponentially a better offensive line and exponentially a better running game. So, like, that's part of it, but the other piece of it is fair or not, man, for a lot of people, a huge piece of how they judge a quarterback is third and nine. Can he pick it up for me with a dart? And that is the one piece of Jalen's game that people still have some question of fair or not they have some question of. And no one has any question of it with Burrow. So that's the answer to that question.

[Az Fudd]

All right, next, Noah asked, when you and Danny were doing radio together back in the day, did you ever talk about one day being on TV together? Or was that never a thought?

[Nick Wright]

Never thought? He and I both thought we were radio lifers. Yeah. I mean, we certainly always talked about, you know, working together and doing stuff and collaborating. But yeah, I mean, tv, the, the TV piece of this is one of the more shocking kind of turn of events of my professional life, to be totally honest. All right, last one.

[Az Fudd]

Joel asks, where did Nick go? Fishing, Saw the mahis and want and what's the story? I'm a bit of a fisherman myself, so fishermen to fishermen.

[Nick Wright]

So how did he see the mahis? I'm trying to figure out, did your mom post it?

[Az Fudd]

Did he put it on the pod? And I. Yeah, I was about to say it might have been something positive.

[Nick Wright]

Oh, you know what? I know what it was. The walk in video from First Things first yesterday.

[Az Fudd]

Okay.

[Nick Wright]

That's what it was. And I held up my phone. I was in the Bahamas for a couple days and we didn't have the show Friday. And so I went down. I've got to tell. Oh, I'll end the story on this. I have to tell you this. This is unbelievable. So I had an amazing time in the Bahamas, by the way, shout out to the people of the Bahamas, who are huge first things first viewers.

[Az Fudd]

Oh, yeah.

[Nick Wright]

Like, the people couldn't believe it. Like, shockingly popular amongst the workers. It was crazy. But so, short version of this story as best I can because I got to go because I'm going on the herd today with Danny, actually, which is really cool. A year ago, I won Hank Azaria's charity poker tournament with the Mets. It was at Citi Field. It was like 100 people playing. I won it. Top prize was four days in a super nice suite at Bahamar in the Bahamas. Okay. I then kind of forgot about it and then found out that that thing was going to expire in like a month. So I reached out to Bahamar, was like, hey, I have this certificate. I'd like to use it this coming weekend. They're like, oh, that suite that you're supposed to have is not available the days you're talking about, but a different one might be and blah, blah, blah. So we go back and forth and ultimately they're like, listen, they were super nice and super helpful and shout out to them. They're like, we can give you the suite for Sunday to Wednesday, but I obviously got to be at work, but your mom and sister could go. So I'm like, all right, I'll go down Friday and leave Sunday afternoon. Your mom and sister can come down Sunday morning, have a little mother daughter, four days in the Bahamas. And they can use the suite anyway because there's two of them. It's just one of me. I'll just get whatever the cheapest room possible is. And so I went down there for two days by myself, golfed twice on Friday, went fishing. That's where I caught the mahi mahi. Gambled eight by myself. Who's great. Met a guy named Alan who used to be an investment banker, made a bunch of money and now is a literal treasure hunter. Like literally, like hires crews to like scour the ocean floor and he's making a TV show about it, looking for a $30 billion wreck somewhere. Like, it's really cool. So I had a great time. I didn't pick your mom and sister up from the airport. Driving back, we have lunch and then I go to the airport. Your mom then FaceTimes me and shows me the room that I won in this poker tournament, but I did not set foot in this room. Damanze. This hotel room has a pool table, two kitchens, a theater, a Peloton, four balconies, three one, two, three. 24 hour butlers to help set things up for you. It is. I realized after the fact the reason this was a prize in the charity poker tournament was someone I think who was in the charity poker tournament is a casino whale and got gets comps. You know what I mean? Like, because they want you to come down and gamble, whatever. And so they had them include. Might be the nicest hotel room I've ever seen in my life. I'm not using it. Your mom and sister. It could be 10 people. It's just your mom and sister. You're like your. Your mom called me. She's like I texted the butler. He set up a massage and reservations for us. And we're doing this. I'm like, this is unbelievable. They're just living the life. But I do have to say no free ads. But I would do ads for Bahamar. That place was great. I'd never been there. I'd been to Atlantis a few times because that's where the World Series of Poker is. The World Series of Poker paradise. Same island, but, you know, different part of it. I'd never been there. We should go sometime to Monte. The next time you come to New York, I. Because it's a short flight. I'd go again for just two days. It was a ton of fun. I really enjoyed it.

[Az Fudd]

Same. We went. Go ahead, Go ahead. Sorry.

[Nick Wright]

No. We'd never been to the Bahamas.

[Az Fudd]

Oh, okay. I thought that was a Caribbean. In the Caribbean.

[Nick Wright]

Well, it's all in the Caribbean. We went. What you're thinking of is Grand Cayman. We went to Grand Cayman, but we didn't go to the Bahamas. But it also has. And I didn't take advantage of it. Like a massive water park, a bunch of slides, everything. All right. No more free ads.

[Az Fudd]

I'm not lazy. Just like, was there a lazy river?

[Nick Wright]

Lazy river, too. Everything. It was pretty sick. All right. Yeah. In short flight from New York. All right, I will say volume and Blue Duck, folks. Let's send this off to the Bahamar. People say this is the one free ad they're getting, I guess. But they. Let's get a partnership going. The. All right. Thank like rate, subscribe review. Thank you to Volume Blue, Doc, DraftKings, Boost Mobile, Mando, all that. I will see you guys on. I'm with Danny Parkins in a little more than an hour. What's right?

[Unknown Host]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club.

[Megan Rapinoe]

San Diego coming to MLS is going to be a game changer because this region has been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

[Nick Wright]

We need to embrace this community.

[Unknown Host]

Listen to San Diego FC behind the flow on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Get fired up, y'. All. Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people, an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapinoe to the show, and we had a blast. Take a listen. Sue and I were like, riding the lime bikes the other day, and we're like, wee people ride bikes because it's fun. We got more incredible guests like Megan in store, plus news of the day and more. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports Network.

[Az Fudd]

Hey guys, it's Az Fudd.

[Nick Wright]

You may know me as a gold medal.

[Az Fudd]

You may know me as an NCAA national champion.

[Nick Wright]

You may even know me as the People's Princess.

[Sarah Spain]

Every week on my new podcast, Fut.

[Nick Wright]

Around and find out, I'll be talking to some special guests about pop culture basketball and what it's like to be.

[Az Fudd]

A professional athlete on and off the court.

[Sarah Spain]

Listen to Futaround and find out. A production of iHeart Women's Sports in.

[Nick Wright]

Partnership with Unanimous Media, starting August 7th.

[Sarah Spain]

On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart podcast.