
Loading summary
Ryan Rosillo
This episode is brought to you by the US Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card. With US Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card, you earn an unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase. That's right, every purchase. 2% cash back at restaurants, 2% cash back at the gym groceries. Yep, you'll earn 2% cash back on those two new tires, new outfits, New York City getaway. All earn 2% cash back noticing a trend. So whether you're splurging on concert tickets, fueling up for your commute, or shopping for that purchase perfect birthday gift for the bestie, you'll be earning unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase. Visit usbank.com smartlycard to learn more. The creditor and issue of this card is U.S. bank National association pursuant to a license from Visa USA Inc. Some restrictions may apply on today's pod we're going to talk with Bob ryan on Game 6, the NBA Finals, his love for Rick Carlisle, who is sga, and ultimately how he was a little bit more bullish on the Pacers being competitive. I don't know how we did this. I didn't mean to talk about the 86 Celtics, but we got there. But it makes a little bit of sense on the potential to do list, topics that you will hear everywhere. If the Thunder pulled us off after a historic regular season. We're also going to talk with Keegan Bradley, who plays golf professionally and he's from Vermont and He went to St. John's and his dad's coach in Jackson Hole, I guess so. Checks a lot of Rosilla boxes there. I'm excited because never really spent any time with him. Despite the New England background, this guy has a major plays really well in Hartford and we're going to get into that. We got life advice and a reminder. An extra episode of the podcast tomorrow with Sam Vacini and Steve Feikal. Foreign you're listening to the Ryan Rosilla podcast presented by FanDuel. America's number one sportsbook has made it easier than ever to get in on the action during the NBA Finals. And with live betting, the tip off is just the beginning. Look for the live SGP tab on the FanDuel Sportsbook app and build your bet slip. Then sit back and enjoy the game as you track the outcome of your parlay right in the app. If you don't already have it, download the FanDuel app today to make every moment more than the ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and Help lines available and listen to the end of this episode for additional details. Must be 21 and older and present in select states or 18 plus in present in DC, Kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling problem. Call 100 GAMBLER or visit rg-help.com Game 6, the NBA Finals Tonight it could be decided potentially a championship for Oklahoma City or the Pacers continuing this incredible playoff run. Joining us now, the legendary Bob Ryan. Okay Bob, let's start with this. Were you ever thinking maybe the Pacers get game one, they get game three? Were you ever thinking the Pacers are actually going to pull this off?
Bob Ryan
I oh absolutely there's a possibility. I don't think there's that much difference between the two teams regardless of the regular season records. And I did pick Oklahoma City in six but you know, but not. But that doesn't mean I ruled out any possibility of Indiana winning. And also what we saw early on you had to feel good about their possible chances. The thing about is this up and down thing about Halliburton and now of course now we have the whole complete X factor about his injury. But even before the injury, the perplexing play of Halliburton being this multi hero that he's been with these no shows or the quiet entrances shall we say in some of the other games, you know and everybody was talking about that. Anyway I gave them a real good punchers chance. I was impressed with them from beginning of the playoffs and I'm aware, I was aware enemy and they had been so hot that I went back and checked their record from January 6th where they were night they didn't go over 500 until January 6th after they had beaten the Nets and and they went 19 and 18. So you do the math after that how well they played.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah, and it's also even more like as opposed to like okay, well how did this happen? Well they also get healthy and they went so long without anybody, you know, really their second and third center were down and they had to try to piece that together as the season went out. And I would say that the defensive improvement was something that I wasn't sure was this real because last year, even though they were a lot of fun and they made that Eastern Conference finals run, they were very competitive against the Celtics in those. It always just felt like well if you need to score a bucket against the Pacers, you're going to get that bucket. And they have at times looked like even the better defensive team in this series, which I think is such a credit to you know, to have the same Guys look that bad defensively one year ago to be this competitive defensively, it's the same roster is incredible to.
Bob Ryan
Do some self examination and doing. You don't also know to what degree Rick Carlisle had to do with this particular aspect of their development? We don't know. But I think he would have had to do something he saw. Maybe something that he hadn't been doing with them or whatever. Who knows at all. Because I have enormous respect and admiration. I'm rooting openly for the Pacers because of one reason, Rick Carlisle. Which doesn't mean I'm rooting against Oklahoma City. I have nothing against them at all. So I'll live with it. No problem at all. Particularly since I we've discovered that we. We can claim a local boy makes good thing for mark Daniel because Leminster is only 70 miles west of here and. And so we're claiming him. I'm claiming him too then Presti too. So it's really Emerson College, downtown Boston. You can't get more downtown than Emerson College.
Ryan Rosillo
Let's, let's stay on Carlisle though, because I like this. This is somebody who, you know, in the years that I've had any conversations with people in the league, beginning of the year, you know, when he was at the Mavs, I'll just never forget like this one guy in particular saying be like, well, the Mavs aren't very good, but Carlisle will probably get him to like 45 wins. And I was like, wow. And then it was something that I would hear over and over again. Who's. Let's start with this before we make it about Carlisle. Who do you think is the smartest basketball coach that you've ever witnessed?
Bob Ryan
Well, that's interesting that I've ever witnessed it. You know, it's easy to say pop to a degree, I guess. You know, his record does quote unquote speak for itself. He made something out of nothing particular at all and bought them all those championships. I think that I'll tell you who was the master of governing crap and making crap into mediocrity but couldn't take them any higher because after a while there's always so much. Hubie Brown with The Atlanta Hawks 40 plus years ago was one of the great magician treats tricks of all time, I think. And now am I biased a bit because I'd like. I've known Hubie for 50 years. Literally. Yeah. But don't ever forget that when you're talking about coaching jobs. Hubie, the problem with he'll be, and I speak as a friend as well is that he, he was, he was abrasive. He couldn't, he didn't have a second gear. And he did rub the, the stars. He was a little too hard on the stars, I think. But boy was he good to. He could elevate teams that didn't deserve to be elevated. So that's got to be my answer. Without it, I saw what Hubie Brown over 40 years ago.
Ryan Rosillo
I like that one. Okay, so Carlisle already has a championship, so we're talking about another level. And here he is in this series getting the Pacers through with all these other teams that we would have thought was going to be better than Indiana in the East. What do you think it is about Carlisle?
Bob Ryan
He has proven to be adaptable. The team that he is putting on the floor has had elements, elements and moments in which you close your eyes, you see the Showtime Lakers when they ran off those three baskets after made baskets in a very rapid succession earlier in this series. We haven't seen anything like that since the Lakers. Okay, now this is in contrast to a more plotting style that he had started out with. And remember he was a defensive oriented guy. His entrance into this whole thing was Larry Bird making him his de facto defensive coordinator. And when Larry, among his many attributes, always knew what he didn't know and he knew I wanted to find somebody. And he also found a mentor, Wise head and dick harder. His assembly of his staff was masterful. Okay, so Carlyle comes in in that regard. I think that was basically still his reputation, defensive guy oriented, et cetera with Detroit, Indiana. And now look what he's governing an offensive minded team that comes at you, that attacks. So he's shown flexibility. He's just a smart guy. I mean I've known him. We were marveling at him from the time he came into the league. He was an older rookie. He had an old time conventional path. High school, a year of prep school, Worcester, then he went to Maine. Then he transferred, which meant you set out a year. So by the time he got out of Virginia and came to the league, he was already 24 and we knew he was a poised rookie. Also. He came in playing the piano by ear. That was always a shocker to us. And he's. And you know, he didn't read music, but he played very, very nice piano, which he taught himself and I guess he still does. Anyway, he's a smart guy and. But he's adaptable, he's flexible, he's open minded, he's got all the attributes you'd want. I Think in a coach.
Ryan Rosillo
Okay, that was a great answer. All right. SGA is someone who I did not vote for, for MVP just because of my default Jokic position. And I know that at times the MVP vote, you should celebrate the season. And I thought Jokic had just as good of a season for different reasons or whatever. Even though in the past, you know, I did have that mbv, the MB vote that one year where I, you know, I kind of felt like, do I really want to do this? I'm like, hey, it's more about the year than it is like who the player and their, their standing is. And then people can accuse you of changing your mind constantly as, as you navigate multiple seasons of voting on this award. But, but for sga there needed to be like, I felt like multiple national moments with these many people paying attention to him. And he has done that. He has done it multiple times now. He has had games where he's been in control of everything. He's had games where he's needed to figure out a way to fight through adversity and all that kind of stuff. Probably game four, closing that one out. So I think he's checked a lot of. Is this guy really that good at MVP boxes? He's so efficient. He's basically unstoppable once he gets to his spot. Is there anyone that you think of historically when you watch SGA play?
Bob Ryan
Well, you know, you. Any guy who's six five, six, six that has the multiple skills that he has and has the, the. I won't say swagger. Well, the guy I'm thinking about had swagger, but I, but, but has a presence. You know, it's always comes back to Michael Jordan. You always compare people to Jordan. He's the gold standard of the mid sized player, period. You know, that size player, the 5 6-566-Guard, slash forward type. You know, forward with guard skills, guard with forward skills, whatever. It's Michael Jordan. So you think about guys and, and the guy. There's a couple guys in the league that, that bring that to mind. You know who brings that to mind? Ant Man.
Keegan Bradley
That that's.
Bob Ryan
That he is closer in terms of, you know, attitude, you know, to, to Michael and Toby of course was the Michael Light. He was Michael.
Ryan Rosillo
The visual part of it. Yeah, certainly.
Bob Ryan
So he's in that, you know, he's. Is he ready? Are you ready to put him in that category? You want to see a little more, you want to see another season of it? Probably. But if you're going to ask about physical ability and Range of skill at that and awareness of presence and all that and understanding of situations and the whole thing. That's, that's the gold standard, Michael. And this guy at the present time in this league right now, he is the best at that.
Ryan Rosillo
Is this Thunder team like do it for you as one of the great all time seasons if they pull this off?
Bob Ryan
No, you win 68, you got to enter into a discussion. I covered a 68 win team in 1972, 73 that did not win for a very simple reason. John Alacek got hurt. That's it. And, and you know that they didn't win in the Knicks won that their last championship 52 years ago. Knick fans. Anyway, I just thought I'd drop that one in. I, so I, I've seen. And that team was, was, was so much fun to watch. I mean you got to put them in and you know, you got discussions when you're talking about 68 now you're talking about that team, you're talking about the Lakers. 71, 72. And of course you're talking about the Bulls and you're talking about the Warriors. Okay. I would say that historically I wouldn't, I don't think this team wins a seven game series against any of the aforementioned. Okay? I, I certainly don't. I think they would have gone down nobly in six and maybe even took them to seven. But I don't, but they, I just don't. Now maybe I'm wrong, but I mean you're asking me a question. Give me an answer. I'm not ready to put them in that exalted level circumstance. But, but do I wanted to track what they've done winning 68. I know how hard it is to win 68 and, and, and they deserve full credit for doing it. But I'm looking at the personnel and I know the league has changed and I know we can have all that discussion forever, you know, and, and, and the evolution of the game and, and the three point takeover and the whole bit, you know. But would you take this team over the best warrior team when Durant was there? I wouldn't, no.
Ryan Rosillo
And I'm actually now doing a segment with you which will be done. If the Thunder pull this off and close it out, then it's not as simple. Like you've worked in TV long enough to know that it can't just be that a team won a championship. It then becomes because they won 68 games, because they have the historic point differential. Well, now what do we do now? You know, let's get cooking in the lab here. Do they beat the Warriors? That'll be all over get up on Friday if the Thunder closes thing out. I would not pick them against the Warriors. I think that's the best starting five I think the game has ever seen. You might push back on that a little bit. So let's just play this out. Give me, give me the single season best teams. What. What cutoff year do we want to do? Not to be disrespectful to Russell and that whole group but let's, let's start it from the 70s on. Give me. You think maybe four or five of the best single season teams.
Bob Ryan
You know. I mean you know the, the. Of course the funny thing is Warriors when the 73 didn't win that year.
Ryan Rosillo
You know. Right.
Bob Ryan
You know the bulls were the first 70 win team. You got to give them. You know, you got to give them their due. Michael and Tippin were as good a. A phenomenal one A Rodman was of course a unique force. There hasn't been despite Draymond Green's self praise we haven't seen another Rodman lately to throw in his superior rebounding and inch for inch one of the handful of great rebounders in the history of the game, Dennis Rodman. And he guarded you and it was actually a little better on offensive two point. Anyway the warriors got to go with them as well. And I'm forgetting somebody.
Ryan Rosillo
86 Celtics team.
Bob Ryan
86. You know what 86 Celtics. Oh, I thought we got to go. I still think beat anybody and now here's why. If you honestly step back, suspend your anti Boston whatever feeling it is, they could play today's game if they had to. If they were told this is the way the game is being played now they had sufficient three point shooting. Bird was the early master of the three. He used it strategically. It was a part of his game. It wasn't his raison d' etre. He wasn't set, he wasn't guys. But he was a great three point shooter and used it as a weapon as you used it at the time. Danny Ainge led the league later on in three point shooting. Scott Wedman was a three point shooter. D.J. could make them. D.J. was in the category of, you know, probably would have been if he consistently had fun. And the other thing is this, Ryan. These guys would have worked on it. If the game became the game that was today, they would have gone home. And you don't think Larry Bird would have gone home in Indiana and locked up gym for two Hours every day. You damn right he would. And so they. And now here's the problem. None of these other teams could guard the Celtic front line. Now I'm not with the Warriors. Who's going to guard Mikhail? Not you, Draymond. Who's going to guard Parish? Sorry. This team was the best non 3 point Mania team of all time. I would still put them up and put them on the floor against anybody that has played subsequently. Okay? And I'm sticking with that. So if you want to get into that argument, I'm ready for it. Because I can tell you that team could have adapted to the new game very easily. And these teams today, not one of them could have combated the Celtic front line. Still the greatest frontliner. Oh, and I didn't mention the trump card of trump cards on all these discussions. Nobody ever brought a weapon off the bench like Bill Walton. There have been a numerous six men never won like Bill Walton in 1985-86 that altered games by his very presence coming off the benchmark, giving them without any argument. Nobody could possibly mount an argument. The best center combination in the NBA history, Robert Parish and Bill Walton in 1985.
Ryan Rosillo
86 on the sixth man point. TJ McConnell with some momentum into that conversation. No.
Bob Ryan
Oh, I love T.J. i'm regional president of the fan club. You ask anybody. I'm regional president. Are you ho tj you know, and by the way, when Peyton Pritchard came along, I said I hope to God someday he can be T.J. o' Connell. Well, he is and now. And he can shoot threes. But you watch those two guys play defense doggedly and you watch them get a sneaky offensive rebound every game and they play with a certain panache in a heart. Oh, I love this. But I love TJ o' Connell. That's a different kind of six man. There's never been one. Look, the ultimate six man was still was John Havocek. You know, the greatest 2 position player in history of basketball was John Havlick. That's still that'll that. I know they'll be pippin fans, but they just don't get it, okay? Because they don't understand John Havalchik. Okay? But in terms of changing the game and the nature of the way and affecting the game the way Walton did. No, no one ever came off the bench at seven foot to affect games as readily continually for an entire season the way Bill Walton did. That's all I'm saying.
Ryan Rosillo
I'm smiling because I can't imagine how jealous Bill is going to be about this because we did more on the 86 Celtics than I thought. But in the context of what we're doing with the Thunder with the 68 wins and it went away from a championship like this is what is going to happen. So you would take the 86 Celtics over any of those Lakers magic teams or even the three peat Lakers with Shaq and Kobe the great one.
Bob Ryan
What I said the greatest series that never was would have been the 86 Celtics against the 87 Lakers. Now by 87, the Celtics were different. Their bench was shredded. Walton played only 10 games that year and had nothing to give you in the finals at all. They weren't, there's no. They had no chance of beating the Lakers. McHale was hurt. They didn't have the bench they had the year before. But, and, but that was a team boy. The 87 Lakers with, with cup check and, and you know, on augmenting the team Magic in his total prime. Kareem still got something left. Worthy's in his total prime. Cooper's in his total prime. Scott's in his scuttle prime. Oh no. That would have been the greatest series ever. It was 86 Celtics 87. So I, I would definitely put the 87 Lakers, they deserve to be in this conversation.
Ryan Rosillo
Okay, speaking of the Lakers, what did you think of the sale?
Bob Ryan
Well, the number is staggering. It's totally staggering. I mean here's the thing. The Celtics number is big at staggering enough. 6.1 billion they're saying. Okay, and that's an escalation. It's the highest we've ever had in American professional sport. But the jump, almost a 33% jump from 6 to 10. And it's not the whole thing. It's 85% of it. Right. And we're told that the buses are going to keep 15%. That's what I read yesterday. Am I right about that?
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah, I think the 10 is the valuation. So maybe I'm not financial guy.
Bob Ryan
So 10 billion, it's staggering. I understand how valuable and Los Angeles franchise can be. I mean obviously. And the Lakers, we are the. I think they over the years they've caught the Dodgers as being the team in town even. I think it's certainly it's a good argument. I know I'm not going to speak for a Los Angeles person. I'm sure it's a wonderful argument. Who owns the town or nobody or they share. They got shared joint custody of the town. I'll go with that. That's fine. But I'm I'm as blown away by the number, of course, and, and I don't know the finances of why, how you go from if they went to seven, if they wanted to have more, what the eight, 10, fine, hey, it's their money. I don't give a damn. You know, I. I'll say this, the Bus. Cuz I remember the, the Jerry Buss family custody of the team has been exemplary. People in LA should be on their knees thankful for what they've gotten from the time Jerry Buss bought that team in 1979. Okay? So they've gotten their money, they've gotten their emotional money's worth out of that ownership.
Ryan Rosillo
I think here's something I think is interesting though, because we saw when Cuban sold, he was front and center when the sale went through and was like, don't worry, nothing's going to change. I'm still going to be calling the shots here, right? And at that point, you know, Cuban, almost 25 years in, pretty trusted. He's been a terrific owner, right? And then I remember when he was saying a lot of that stuff, there's people around the league being like, why is he saying that? You know, that's not true. Is I'm like, I don't, you know, I didn't know. I didn't see the documents. And then we learned very quickly it was absolutely not true. And then I thought, well, it kind of makes sense that if you're going to be cutting a check for billions of dollars, usually those people aren't like, oh, and by the way, you get to make all the final decisions. That's not the habit that I've experienced with billionaires. So then when the Celtics deal happens, which with Wick, who again, if you're going through the list of like, hey, give me the five best runs of owners in the NBA in recent history, Wick is clearly, you know, in that group. I think so much of the job that he's done with that ownership group, and yet there was very similar language in that he would kind of be this transitional thing. And that felt, at least it was different. It was being reported and it felt a lot more secure when that was announced versus the Cuban transaction. And now here with Mark Walter buying this majority stake, it's the same thing that Jeannie's actually going to still be governor. And so it would make a little bit more sense, I think, with the Lakers transaction than any of the ones we've mentioned. Because Mark owns the Dodgers, he's got the relationship with Magic. He's already had a minority stake with his Lakers the whole time. So maybe. But this also starts to feel a little bit like the coach in waiting that we had in college football forever, where it was like, we have the head coach, but we really like our defensive coordinator. So let's give him a bonus. And let's put it in that in 10 years you're going to be the coach and waiting. And it was the hottest thing there for years until it just was over because people realized how dumb it was because you were just giving a raise to a guy that still could get out of the contract to go become a head coach if it was a good enough program. Will Muschamp is a perfect example of this. I don't know what this means. I don't know if it's a nice way of saying, sorry, we're not going to be running this anymore. But it is now three transactions in a row where it's played out with the same language. Ultimately though, with two different. Like the Cuban thing. Clearly he was not in charge of basketball operations because he would have never traded. Luca.
Bob Ryan
I can't contradict a syllable. You're saying I don't understand. That's how these people work. Fine. I don't get it. When I heard read about. I didn't realize the Cuban whole Cuban thing. Okay, Ryan, I certainly well aware of what the Celtics are proposing. And when Rick Robeck wants to be the governor through 28, they're talking about two more. Six, seven. Yeah. So this is news to. Oh, I don't get it. Look, this is high finance people that are living in a world that we will never understand or know. I don't understand it. I don't know. And then the same thing with the Lakers. I don't know at all. So I. What can I tell you? This is. It sounds weird to me as a layman, a financial layman and good luck to him. That's all I can say. I don't know.
Ryan Rosillo
I might open up a can of worms here on this one, but you've talked about this league for a really long time. Is there anything present day that annoys you in the way we cover the NBA?
Bob Ryan
The way we covered it? Well, no, it's nothing important. Certain discussions which I call are, you know, talk show and talking head generated phony topics which you need because the world, you know, you got to occupy airtime and we all that you know. And it's always so much. Apparently there's so much meat that you want. You now have to talk about dessert and more which is, for example, the face of the league. Nonsense. Come on, this is a completely manufactured topic. Has no meaning whatsoever in the real world. Yeah, it's ridiculous. Okay, but it, yeah, you want to argue it for 20 minutes someday, fine. Okay. It's like in football the elite quarterback thing that, that suddenly took root a few years back. Elite this, elite that, you know, I mean, you know, oh, and now we're back to. And it was generated by Tyres Halliburtons. Strange performances that we've been discussing, you know, earlier about one night. Great, one night, you know, where is he? Superstar, you know, and oh my, you know, who, what constitutes a superstar? You know, well, ultimately it's a personal judgment, but anyway, so does it annoy me? No, it amuses me. And by the way, I, you know, hey, I've been a part of talk radio and interact part, you know, at some point as far back as 1971 when I filled in for Johnny most for five for a week in summer of 71 was doing an off season talk show in Boston. And you know, I had 36 years of ESPN which has now ended because we are off the air with, you know, around the horn. So I've been part of many of these type discussions, so I'm part of the problem too. But now that I'm out of it, I'm going to sit back and say, you know, how stupid that's a president. It's not harmful to anybody. You know, it's harmless. You got to do it. But that's all. So I'm not angry. I'm trying to think of maybe you can throw something at me that I have forgotten to talk about. But, but other than that, I'm, I'm just amused by these, some of these manufactured discussions.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah, look, I mean I've probably taken part in every single one of these things that you talked about. So I like how you said amused, not annoyed. That shows real growth as a person. But maybe the like who's good and who isn't in the way we qualify who is good and how often it becomes the counting part of this. Okay, here we go.
Bob Ryan
It's not angry. I'm in somewhere in the middle, I'm closer to being. It's not fair. Come on, people judging the eventual worth of a player by championships only and saying, yeah, that's. Or in football you got to win, you know, multiple championships or like, oh, the other one, you push the button. You got me going now because just we have that happen here in Boston and now they're having it in Kansas City. And they've had it in many places over the years. And that is championship or bust nonsense. I've lived in Boston now 60 plus years, and we're championship driven. And you talk. And of course the Celtics spoiled the world, know 11 and 13 years at that point. And that it's not easy to win any specific championship in any sport, any year. You need a combination of circumstances which ultimately may include who's. And does include more and more. Now it's very simply who's healthy and who isn't healthy. And that determines the finals at the championships in any sport. And in a particular sport like basketball, we only have five on the floor at the same time, you know, and as few as seven people can determine a game at the highest level. Hockey, you know, you got four lines, you got, you got 18 people, you got four lines and you got the two sets of defenseman minimum plus a goalie, that's 19, you know, and that's a lot of people. And one guy missing. I'm sorry, I cannot have the proportionate difference that missing a key basketball player will have or even missing a key football player unless it's the quarterback. So anyway, that championship thing, that's not. I heard already this morning, okay. About Kansas City and whether it's going to be a failure if they don't win this year. Oh, stop it. Tell me, tell me who's going to be in the lineup on, you know, when the playoffs start and we can have this discussion. So that, that angers me a little bit. That's not fair. That's stupid, stupid discussion. Because it doesn't pay attention to the reality of what goes into the concept making a championship team. And you need so many factors.
Ryan Rosillo
I'm going to ask this last question. You're welcome. I'm going to ask this last one for my father. So non Red Sox people, just don't be upset that we did this during some NBA Finals conversation. The Devers trade on Father's Day. So a lot of dads in the Massachusetts area didn't, didn't want to hear that. But you know, this is a really interesting ownership group because I would imagine if I'm in the room and I were part of this group, like these people were losers for 80 years. And then we come in here and win all these World Series, turn this thing around. But, you know, there's, there's something to be said of, like when you're an outsider and hardcore New England, Massachusetts people probably still look at this group as outsiders. And for the Mookie trade that was abysmal and their arguments for it at the time didn't make any sense. And then for Devers to have this happen where it felt like, well, was this an open market? Like how. How many teams were you talking to about potentially moving him for the Hall? They got back and you know, who knows? We're surprised all the time with prospects. But do you think the Red Sox ownership group understands how incredibly unpopular they're becoming with their momentum away from what they were for such a long time?
Bob Ryan
Not the extent. Not to the extent that they should. I think. I don't think they do. And that's a very good question. They don't operate the same way that they did once upon a time. Here's the thing I keep coming back to and I think this is central to the whole issue, which is that when this group, when John Henry and company came in in 2002, three that the Red Sox were his. He was a minor minority owner of the Yankees and now he's the owner of the Red Sox and that was his only sports property. And they were the priority. They were the focus. They were the 24 7, 365 focus of their business, of the sports business. Now we have a thing called Fenway Sports Group and which includes, among other things, I can't even enumerate all of them. Liverpool, a very important franchise. Far more important in the world than the Boston Red Sox are in the world. Okay, Liverpool, Ben Roush racing. They're involved in golf, they're involved in betting deals. You know, they're involved in. And I'm leaving some stuff out. You can't.
Ryan Rosillo
Penguins.
Bob Ryan
Oh, the Penguins. Thank you. My God. Thank you very. So how can you begin to think that the Red Sox are anything more than just another part of the portfolio and not the primary focus? Their heart and soul are no longer only with the Boston Red Sox. And this has to factor in to finances. And their resources are very extensive, but they aren't finite. No one's are. Not even Elon Musk. Nobody's finances are finite. There's always an end to it. So I think this is part of the deal. It had everything to do with the. The fruit. The incredible folly of the bets trade. They're still paying the price for that. And. And so yeah, I think this is what's going on here. And so that being the case, fans have every right to be angry.
Ryan Rosillo
Well said. What do you got going on? Anything you want to promote? I want to make sure you have the floor here.
Bob Ryan
Oh, thank you. No, I'm. I'm. I'm kind of a free agent, so, you know, I'm using this to advertise my services because I do. I have my own podcast. Not mine. I'm a part of two podcasts and I still write every third Sunday, which is basically once a month for the Boston Globe. Otherwise, you know, I'm out. Yoo. I'm available.
Ryan Rosillo
We'll have you on anytime you want to grace us with your presence. So. Thanks, Bob. Appreciate it. Enjoy the song. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. It's no secret that great teams need great teammates. And when it comes to insurance, State Farm is there to help you select the right coverage for your home car and more. Whether you need an in person or digital assist, they're ready when life hits you with a full court press. Get a game plan that helps fit your life. And talk to State Farm today. State Farm with the assist. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability and eligibility vary by state. Okay, we've got Keegan Bradley here from the Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands, the only PGA Tour stop in the Northeast. There's only one Keegan. Before we get started, some quick facts on myself. I went to Vermont. I have family who lives in Woodstock. One's a postman, so if you have any issues with mail.
Keegan Bradley
Okay.
Ryan Rosillo
I grew up a huge St. John's fan, going back to Chris Mullen and Walter Berry and then on and on. I was arrested in Jackson Hole, misunderstanding. And my grandmother worked for travelers for 30 years. So this is. What's up, man. How did it take this long? Right?
Keegan Bradley
You got all the connections there.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah. So anyway, I. I just couldn't believe, like, I think we almost met once at a wheels up thing, and then it didn't. Didn't quite. I think Russell Wilson's security got in the way.
Keegan Bradley
I would. Yeah, there's not a lot of UVM grads that grew up St. John's fans. That's a. That's a strange combination.
Ryan Rosillo
So what's your combo to it? Because it. It sounds like the Wyoming part of it was connected to your father, but, like, I know you went through the skiing thing and, you know, I'd gone to college with a lot of kids that were in the ski academies in, like, southern Vermont and stuff. So what was it. What was it like for you? Your path to becoming a professional golfer?
Keegan Bradley
Yeah. So I grew up in Woodstock, Vermont, and, you know, I grew up playing all sports, but my two main sports were golf and skiing, ski racing, and as I got older, I kind of had to sacrifice soccer and baseball because I couldn't. The season was so short that if I played one of these sports, I, I literally would have two months of golf. So. But I played all sports growing up. And then in the, in the winter time, I put my clubs away and I was just as into and just as excited to, for the ski racing season to start as I was golf. And then when it started to become spring, I couldn't wait to get my clubs back out. I always loved golf more than skiing, but I had this really cool. Both the sports were important to me and I couldn't play both the same time just physically from, from the weather. And you know, I was always a better golfer and I always loved it more. But skiing was a huge part of my life back then as well.
Ryan Rosillo
So when you're a northeast guy and you're right, I mean, there's almost no spring in Vermont. You know, it's, it's cold, it's muddy, and the next thing you know it's summer. And that, that transition is, is not a very long one. And then it's over. It's like hot for a week in September and then it's like now you're going to be freezing. And so when you're thinking about like, all right, can I do this? And you're good enough to play in college, but were you at any point thinking like, should I move? You know, was the family ever, like, he has like a chance to be really good. Should we move to a more year round climate to play the sport?
Keegan Bradley
Well, that wasn't really an option for us. I mean, I, my, both my parents were hardworking people and you know, I, I moved to Boston my senior year of high school to. My dad was a club pro at a course called Hopkins Country Club. And they had a really good high school golf team. So that was sort of our. My version of moving south was moving to Boston, which basically was Florida. From growing up in Vermont, you could balls on the Cape all year long. Like that was. People would talk about the winters and Aachen and Mass, like, and I'm like, no, these aren't winter spread of Vermont. But I went to a high school called Hopkin in high school and there was another kid on the team named John Curran who became my best friend and played on the tour with me actually for a handful of years. And you know, that was John. I met John. John was the first kid that I had ever met that was into the sport like I was. And I had this partner that I could go play with in the sleeting rain and in the horrible New England weathers. Weather. And so that, that move did helped me a lot because I had never met anybody. You don't meet many people in Vermont with the same passion that I had for golf and the drive that I had to play the tour. And I met John, had the same dream and grew up in the same, you know, New England Northeast. And that was a big moment in my life. I got way better. He was better than me. He was one of the best juniors in the world at the time. And it was a big. It was a big moment in my golf career.
Ryan Rosillo
So why St. John's the only school.
Keegan Bradley
That gave me a scholarship was St. John's I, I didn't get recruited by anybody. I was, I, I was a pretty good player. I won a lot of tournaments, but I won a lot of tournaments in the Northeast. I won one ajga, which is, you know, high at that level. But I went. I remember I got a recruiting letter from uri, which was like, university of Rhode island, which is, if you're going to the school in New England for golf, that's it. Like, they had a pretty good team. So I go down there, I go on the recruiting trip. The campus is beautiful. Like, I, I was like, D1, like, this is unbelievable. And we sit down, it's finally time to talk about the scholarship money. And the coach said, we're going to give you 15% scholarship. And I'm like, dude, I can't. We can't afford. We. It was either a full scholarship or no college. Like, that was like, you know, or I got to figure something else out. So I went on my recruiting trip to St. John's which is the only other school that asked me to come to their school. And I went to school. It was in Queens, New York. Way different than uri. You know, I'd never spent much time in New York, and Queens is, It's a real tough. That's a tough place. Growing up in Vermont and Boston area. And we get to. Finally, it's time to talk about the, the scholarship portion. And my coach, Frank Darby, said, oh, we're going to give you a full scholarship. And my dad and I, we played out all cool. And then we left the restaurant. We were like, high fiving and like jumping around. And I remember the coach called me the next day, you know, shortly after, he's like, what are you thinking? I'm like, full scholarship, I'm there. What are you talking about? I'm in. And that's how I ended up going.
Ryan Rosillo
There and look at the benefits. Now we're back. You know, I feel a little guilty about going to one school and then rooting for the other. And I feel like with football, I'm justified for just making a team and falling in love with LSU down south. But the St. John's thing, it's just. It's very hard for me to remove that, even though I feel bad doing that to John Becker. But now, you know, Pitino's there. I was a little worried at first, but I think, you know, this was fun. It was fun to care again like this.
Keegan Bradley
There's just something about basketball in New York. It's just like going to a game in Queens or in the Garden is just. It's so special. It's so different. There's a buzz about the basketball in New York, and there's a buzz about taking the train into Madison Square Garden to Penn Station and going to a game. And I had never had any, and I graduated in 08. So, like, I was there from 05.04 to 08. They were all terrible. Like, we went to a couple NCAA tournaments, lost in the first round, that type of thing. And, you know, here comes Patino, and I always have to be careful, get my hopes up. And then he comes in and just. It's just like a fairy tale. And Mike rapole, who's a St. John's graduate, is done. Has been a big part of what? Of the success there as well. And it's so fun to be in the national conversation. Turn on ESPN and hear them talking about St. John's it's just been great.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah. I mean, what do you got? I'm trying to think. Daryl Hill.
Keegan Bradley
Yeah. I mean, they were ranked the number one transfer school in the. In the nation this year. They got all the top guys and they're saying, you know, top five, top three, preseason ranking coming up this year.
Ryan Rosillo
Hey, look, it's the most I've ever paid attention to the transfer portal because it took me a little while to buy back into it. And then, I don't know, that Arkansas game, like, it kind of made sense, though, too.
Keegan Bradley
I went, I was there, I brought my son, we flew up. Like, it was devastating. But I. I do remember when Patino earlier in the year said he's not even. Wasn't even going to recruit a high school player, not one high school player. It's just only Portal. So it's pretty tough. But it's. If you get the players, it's Great.
Ryan Rosillo
Your career. So you tied for seventh. Do I have this right? You tied for seventh in your first ever event.
Keegan Bradley
Second event.
Ryan Rosillo
Second event. Right. So that's out in Hawaii because you were rookie of the year, right?
Keegan Bradley
I was.
Ryan Rosillo
Were you like, yeah, I got this?
Keegan Bradley
No, I never was. I was terrified the whole time. I, you know, I. I had this singular goal my whole life. Like, I was just a savage about this. This wasn't fun. This was. It was fun, but this was as serious as I could is. I had no backup plan. I didn't have a family business to fall back on. I didn't. Like, this was it. And I came out on tour, I was, like, frothing. Like, I couldn't. Like, I didn't. I didn't want to make any friends. I didn't want to. Like, this was my chance to. To make my mark, to make money for myself and my family, to, you know, fulfill my dreams. And I was ready to go right from the start. And that for a rookie, that your west coast swing can really determine the rest of your career. Even just your first. Your first west coast swing. And luckily I was at a good one.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah. Because that's. Wow, that's actually really interesting. So you feel like that first start, the way the calendar starts going all the way out there, it could like, you feel like you've seen multiple examples of kind of make or break your introduction there for the. The confidence part of it, the mental part of the games that we're saying, all of it.
Keegan Bradley
And they have this thing called the reshuffle when you. When you're a rookie. So you get. You get slotted into these categories, and that's how you get into tournaments. And they reshuffle after about seven, eight events. Every seven, eight events. So if you. You can start the year in a great priority area. If you get off to a bad west coast swing, you shuffle way down and you stop getting into tournaments. And I had tons of friends that had bad west coast swings. That's it. You're getting into event here or there, and then all of a sudden you're in one event this month. And like this. You have. You have to play well in this tournament or you don't. You reshuffle lower. So you know that a lot of times as a rookie, you're not aware of how important this is. But I've seen it a million times. It's. It's. I think back on it now. I'm more stressed thinking back on it than I was then. I didn't realize how Important it was.
Ryan Rosillo
This is a weird question because you're still young. Because I know some could frame it as, like, to have that one major, like, you did it once. But then if you answer like, hey, at least I can say I did it once. And it's like, oh, is he mentally checked out on the rest of this stuff? Which I know is not the case with you. And you've put together a nice run again here. You've won this event just a couple years ago, but having that one, just to be able to say you did it. Is it still too early for you to appreciate it?
Keegan Bradley
Over the last, I'd say two or three years, really two years of my career, I've started to really appreciate it. I've actually made a conscious effort to try to appreciate things more on my career. My last win at the BMW, I was trying to take a second on the 18th green and look around and look at people's faces and, like, burn it in my memory. Because I won the pga, I didn't even, I had the trophy in my closet for two years. I didn't even look at it. I didn't like, I, it was like, all right, I won that. Time to move on. And I really regret it. So I, like, I took a moment on the BMW to look around and remember the sounds, remember the way it smelled. I did it at the last round of the President's cup this past year. Not knowing if it was going to be my last team event. I went out and I just closed my eyes. I listened to the crowd, I listened to the first te. And I try to appreciate that more. And now when I look back on winning that pga, I appreciate it a lot more now than I, than I, I did back then, for sure.
Ryan Rosillo
Do you appreciate it? Especially after having to get through this past weekend?
Keegan Bradley
Yeah. My goodness, that's just so brutal. I, I, I think it's just so brutal. I can't even.
Ryan Rosillo
How bad is it? I mean, let me just, I'll start with this. I do think fans like to see you guys for four days struggle in a very selfish, entertain me way, which is kind of fucked up, right? But, you know, like, at least there's one tournament that's a mess. But then you add in the weather, you add in everything else I don't blame. And that's, this is the part where I would defend the players. It's like, hey, leave these guys alone if they're going to be pissed and throw a club, because this is a mental beating. Like, give me a break. Who Cares for.
Keegan Bradley
Sure. So the way I describe Oakmont is every major championship golf course has a characteristic of what makes it hard. You know, Tory Pines is super long, it's got rough. Shinnecock's got crazy greens. This course has British Open has weather. Augusta has, you know, slopey greens. And Oakmont has all of the characteristics on one golf course. So you stand on the tee, you know, if you miss the fairway, you're going to make at least buggy. Like you're, you're, you're so, you know, you're standing on the first hole at all. You can't see the fairway. The fairway's 15 yards wide. It's straight downhill, it's winds off the left. You know, if I don't hit this fairway, I'm probably going to make five, maybe six, because the green is insane. And then, and then if you do hit a perfect drive and hit a perfect shot on the green, you could have 30ft at Oakmont and you are screwed. Like, you're, you're looking around to see how roll it down this hill so it only goes six feet by or how can I, how can I roll it? I have to get this ball pastel because I don't want three feet coming down. If I miss that, it's going 15ft by. So it's, it's you, you walk off the golf course. Like I always tell my wife, like, I can't. You could ask me what two plus two is sometimes, and I'm like, it's hard. To my brain, it's, you're scrambled. And I think Oakmont, of all the major championship golf courses, I think that's the toughest.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah, that was, I didn't know much about JJ Spawn. You know, I'm a very casual golf guy, but as I was watching that last round play out, it's always my favorite major. It just is, you know, because it's a little bit more challenging. I know the Open is, you know, the kind of golf purist way to look at it, but I just love what JJ was doing and whether it was the drive on 17 where it's, it's just like, what do you find yourself now? I'm not expecting everybody to get along, but do you think you guys are more forgiving towards each other because you know how hard it is to stay locked in in this game?
Keegan Bradley
Yeah, for sure. I mean, I think, I think also this generation has a much better outlook on the, on life on tour. I, I, I came out, I, I thought everyone was against Me, I. I used to, like, make up stuff in my head that they thought about me. Like, I was sick.
Ryan Rosillo
Wait, wait, that's from. That's being from the Northeast.
Keegan Bradley
Yeah, it's demented. I hate it. I. I hate that side of me, but that's part of what made me me. But these guys, these guys now, they. They. They're proper friends. Like, they go. When they go on vacation with families, they go with their friends out here. They. They genuinely care for each other. They want each other to do well. I. I didn't feel that when I was out in tour. Like, I. I would get pissed if, like, one of my peers beat me here. And I. I really have learned a lot from them. I feel just in the past, like, five, six years, getting to know them, they have such a better outlook on their career in that they genuinely feel good for their friend or for another player that they've seen work their way up and work hard and win. And I think that's one of the reasons why I've had a better time out here is because I've sort of tried to take on that little better outlook, and I envy that about these guys.
Ryan Rosillo
Okay. It's not the same thing, but you get the Tatum injury, the Devers trade that happened after Bill and I taped on Sunday, so we didn't even get it in there. Do you feel like you are ready to turn things around for the region and put together a nice weekend here? The Travelers.
Keegan Bradley
I would love that. Speaking of the Devers trade, my son Logan is his favorite player. And I texted my wife, I said, you better tell him that Devers was traded. And she said, he's seven. He said. She said, you better lose weight. You better tell him. So yesterday, I take him down, I sit him down, and I tell him, and he threw a temper tantrum. I've never seen him react like this, crying, running around the house. So the Devers topic is a touchy subject in our house, but I would love to, anytime I come to. To the Northeast, New England, I feel an obligation to represent the people and the kids that. That are growing up here that, you know, have to do winters, and then they get beat by all these kids from the south. And I do feel an obligation to represent them properly. And whether that's, you know, the way I carry myself, but also, more importantly, the way I can, the way I play. And I take a lot of pride in that.
Ryan Rosillo
Totally, man. I mean, and that's when I first learned about you. Those are even back to the Van Pelt days. They're like, oh, there's this guy from Vermont. Yeah, what are you talking about? Like, and then when you say Woodstock, you go like, oh, they have a place there. Which is the same thing for me, like, where I'm from. It's like, no, no, he's from there. From there. Like, they. They chose to live there all 12 months. And even when I started the interview being like, do you think about moving anywhere else? And you're looking at me being like, hey, dude, this wasn't like some, yeah, dad, we're moving to South Carolina for Keegan's golf career. Rooting for you. I always am because of the connection. And you're right about that. Northeast. And I granted, I knew your schedule's usually packed during the summer. If you need to get on Williston, just outside of. I have guys let me know.
Keegan Bradley
I'm always looking for guys to get me on Williston. I've been looking for the guy, and you're the guy.
Ryan Rosillo
Done. Thanks, buddy.
Keegan Bradley
Cool. Thank you.
Ryan Rosillo
This episode is brought to you by Amazon Business. How can you grow your business from idea to industry leader? Bring your vision to life with smart business buying tools and technology from Amazon Business. From fast free shipping to in depth buying insights and automated purchase approvals, they deliver everything you need to achieve your goals. Goals. It's not easy to stand out from the crowd. Simplify how you stock up to get ahead. Go to amazonbusiness.com for support. This episode is brought to you by UberEats. Summer is here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with UberEats. What do I mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parmesan delivered. A day in the sun? No. A bottle of rum? Yes, Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost. Almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now for alcohol. You must be legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly. Product availability varies by region. See app for details. This episode is brought to you by Chime. The positive things we do today can totally change how things work out for us in the future. Like with your finances, just the smallest step forward can make a big difference. So here's how you can get started. Open a Chime checking account and you're one step closer to a better financial future. With no maintenance fees fee, free overdraft up to $200, or getting paid up to two days early with direct deposit, making progress has never been easier. And if you ever want access to your pay before payday you can use my pay to get up to $500 of your pay before payday with no mandatory fees or interest. Make progress towards a better financial future with Chime. Open your account in two minutes at chime.comresillo that's chime.com Russello R U S S I L L O Chime feels like progress. Banking services and debit card provided by the Bancorp, N A or Stride Bank NA Members FDIC Spot Me eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Fees apply at out of network ATMs. MyPay eligibility requirements apply. Credit limits range $20 to $500. $2 fee applies to get funds instantly. Chime checking account required. Go to chime.com disclosure disclosure for details.
Kyle
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by the Bancorp Bank, NA or Stride Bank NA Members FDIC Spot Me eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Timing depends on submission of payment file. Fees apply at out of network ATMs. Bank ranking and number of ATMs according to U.S. news and World Report 2023 Chime checking account required.
Ryan Rosillo
You want details? Fine.
Kyle
I drive a Ferrari 355 Cabriolet.
Bob Ryan
What's up?
Oregon
I have a ridiculous house house in the South Fork.
Bob Ryan
I have every toy you can possibly.
Ryan Rosillo
Imagine and best of all kids, I am liquid.
Kyle
So now you know what's possible.
Ryan Rosillo
Let me tell you what's required. This is the part of the episode where we do life advice. Lifeadvice rrmail.com that is the email we get Kyle and Worgon Quick show announcement. This is big news. We have an extra show for you tomorrow. So we didn't have it open today because we have game six, the NBA final. So we'll see what happens. But tomorrow we have Sam Bassini deep dive on the draft stuff and Steve Michael, head coach at Rutgers who has not only Dylan Harper the number two pick, but Ace Bailey who we'll see see where he goes. Doesn't seem to want to go anywhere right now. At least to work out and visit ahead of time. The only American prospect that hasn't visited anybody. Or maybe there's been a secret visit. Who knows. Okay, so just a little show announcement because today's podcast impacted by tomorrow's pod. How was everybody doing?
Kyle
Great. Got my Vernors in the mail shout out to that guy who sent the $20Amazon. I got the stones to open the link and I added it and yeah it should arrive today.
Ryan Rosillo
Did he ask for any feet picks or anything?
Kyle
No, no. I mean, you forwarded me the thing, so, you know, as far as I can tell, there's no strings attached.
Ryan Rosillo
Okay.
Kyle
Famous last words. I don't know.
Ryan Rosillo
We'll see. Oregon, you feeling a little left out right now?
Oregon
No. That guy's definitely got Kyle social. I'm good. I'm good on the sideline.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah.
Kyle
Sour grapes. What it sound like to me anyway.
Ryan Rosillo
Hey, what were we doing with the TVs thing that was totally on me to connect.
Kyle
Totally on you.
Oregon
Totally on you.
Ryan Rosillo
Yep. Yep. Yeah. Wow. There was some there that was answered in a way real quick. Been daily anticipation of when is going.
Kyle
We got a side text going, me and Mike, so, you know, we're fully up to speed on who's supposed to do what.
Oregon
It's like, how long can we wait before we bring it up to him again?
Ryan Rosillo
Have you debated whether or not you can bring it up to me and be like, hey, what's going on with those free nice TVs or Sillo. No, I wouldn't blame you. Would not blame you at all. I'm gonna say I'm gonna get to it right now, but checks in the mail, huh? All right. Checks in the mail does eventually get there. I'd like to. I'd like to think I eventually do. I think what I say I'm going to do.
Kyle
Shout out to my golf clubs.
Ryan Rosillo
Thank you. Just takes some time sometimes, you know?
Kyle
Makes the payoffs really even better, honestly.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah, really. That's why I do it. It takes longer. I just want to build the anticipation. All right, let's. Let's go with some girlfriend situations here. This guy sent it in multiple times. So maybe tonight is the night. I don't know. All right, so get this. I might be going to the NBA finals with my dad and my high school ex girlfriend. That's not a joke. The actual guest list. Me, my old man, and the first girl who ever saw me naked and didn't immediately call the police. So here's how it happens. Out of nowhere, years of no contact. She texts me, says, you and coach want to come to the finals with me, Coach. Just like that. Like it's totally normal. No. How's your wife? How's the baby? No. Remember when we dated? My mom drove us to prom. Just full confidence, like, this is a thing people do all the time. All right. Yeah. Years of no contact. What's up now? Adult lives. That's a little aggressive. And apparently she's dating a Thunder player now, whatever that means. I didn't ask too many Questions? I don't want to end up in the credits of an E60 episode. Very theatrical cat we got here. Now, for background, this girl's a few years older than me in high school. Big time baller. My dad coached her. Total stud. Meanwhile, I was a 6 6, 230 pound loaf of bread with decent footwork. Like if someone taught a vending machine how to hit a pick and pop. Three good writer. I had zero athleticism, couldn't jump over a phone book. I was basically marcasol. Marcus all had asthma and still got nervous around substitute teach. Anyway, somehow we dated. Well, because of the six. Six if she was good at hoops and you were six six. You know, sometimes that's all you need, brother. I had zero athleticism, couldn't jump over a phone book. We recovered that. And by dated, I mean she drove, she paid, and she taught me how to drive and how to not breathe through my mouth in public. She's the one who taught me the big leagues, if you know what I mean. It was less of a romance and more of a basketball themed internship. Fast forward to today. I'm married. I got a one year old kid. I do things like compare interest rates and say, quote, let me check with my wife first. Life is good, peaceful, safe. I'm not a Thunder fan, really. I'm a die hard Lakers guy. I grew up worshiping Kobe. That was my guy. Ruthless mama mentality. Every shot was life or death. Felt like he was trying to avenge his ancestors every time he got to the elbow. And now she pops back into my life like, quote, you and coach want to go see the Thunder with me? Oh, and apparently I think what happened in this email. Did he just repeat it? Yeah, that part was already in there twice. So there's some serious copy and pasting going on here. So I lived in OKC for a bit. I like the Thunder. Great young team. Chad Holgram. Looks like an air conditioning duck came to life. This guy's really, really similar. And of course there's sga superstar. Love a guy, but man, the foul baiting. It's like watching someone try to sue Augusta wind this. I would say as an editor, this is too many metaphors. I. I loved it early on.
Kyle
Be right back. Pick four and then get back to me.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah, he'll go full Broadway, flails around like he gets shot in the spine if someone looks at him sideways and the refs are like, yeah, that's a foul. And I'm at home screaming. He wasn't even touched. But I Digress. So now I could explain this whole final situation to my wife. Hey, babe. Going to be out of town for a couple days. Going to OKC with my dad and the woman who broke me in like a pair of Jordans. What could go wrong? But it's the finals. You don't say no to that. You just start thinking about what kind of apology flowers you'll need on the way home. So, yeah, I'm probably going. Unless you all tell me not to. Basically, my marriage and life is in your hands.
Kyle
Dude, there's so many things at play here. I think you have to ask her rather than tell her just because of the dynamics of this. I think a. Yeah. Your dad being there. If you guys are. If she's tight with your dad and you're like, they feel like they have a relationship, or if he's just a guy that she sees twice a year. You know, maybe he wouldn't feel like such of a chaperone if she doesn't know him that well. But if, you know, they have a good relationship, her and your dad, your wife, I mean, not the person that he coached. Because it sucks that she also has a real relationship with your dad, this person that you're gonna possibly go with. But I think this is totally an ask and not a tell. Like, it's not like a, you know, forgive me, please, with some fucking daisies from Trader Joe's. But this is like, you have to have her say yes to this. It would help if she had a family of her own. It sounds like she doesn't. She's dating a guy on the Thunder, which maybe you could say that it's like, come on. I'm not going to outrank this guy in her mind. But this is certainly the fact that your dad has this relationship with her where he spent a bunch of time with her. I don't know. Even if the relationship is good between your wife and your. And your dad, this is totally an ask. And I would probably expect a no. God, I don't know.
Oregon
I would think it's an ask, too. But, like, there's no way she wants to do anything with our guy. Right? Like, he's got.
Ryan Rosillo
I don't think so.
Oregon
Married and she's dating a Thunder player.
Kyle
Yeah.
Oregon
Suddenly she's like, better pick up that prom date. It just doesn't make any sense.
Kyle
I wonder if this was more. I'd love to bring my coach to the thing. Sort of like me. I'd like to bring my dad to the Masters. And it's just like, yeah, is he his R +1? I don't have his number anymore. And this is the way to get to him? I have no idea. But yeah, it doesn't sound like she's been, like, yearning to get you in a basketball seat in an arena. It might be like she just wants to reconnect with the coach and she's like, I can do this really cool thing for him and you're the conduit. I don't know.
Oregon
That's a good point.
Ryan Rosillo
All right, just for the housekeeping part of this, the email's been sent multiple times. It was sent again this morning, so that's when we finally flagged it. So this would be game seven if he's talking about going to okc. So I don't know if it has anything to do with you. I don't know if it's some because, like, part of me. What if the Thunder player is really good and then his girlfriend is sitting next to a 6 foot 6 guy? Is this guy good looking? Does that mean Pacers plus nine and a half? You know, I don't know, because, hey, she's dating. Like, there's one way you could look at me. Like, she doesn't care about you. She's with a guy, the Thunder. Who knows? Like, size is size. Clearly she's into it. This has nothing to do with how you feel. It really has nothing to do with how her relationship is going with the player. Has nothing to do with any of the dynamic. Even though I think the Masters dad thing is like, yeah, that's pretty cool. If she cares that much about the father and wants to repay the favor and all the guidance and all the wisdom and the little life lessons that she's appreciating as she ages.
Kyle
Maybe she clicked with this Thunder player with all the basketball knowledge she gained from this guy's dad.
Ryan Rosillo
But the, the thing that the real thing we should be asking is, what's your wife like? Yeah, what's your wife like? Because there are wives that are very cool that would go, yeah, I don't care. Girl's a beast anyway, you know, like, not worried about it. She's already with somebody else. That's fine. Maybe your wife's like that. There are many that are not like that. That would be like, absolutely not even if it was the safest thing ever. Like, wait, you talk to your ex? Yeah, we work in the same business. We check in every three or four months. How dare you? You know? So look, I think. I think this is basically you understanding the Scattering of poor of your wife. And if you're going to go to the finals and not tell her and handle it afterwards, I mean, who would ever think, yeah, that's a good idea? Unless you're just in one of those relationships where you are a bit like early talk radio days where it is beg for forgiveness instead of asking for permission. That's one of the first things I was ever told like, what can we do? Can we not do? It's like, I would rather you beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. Because if you're asking for permission, then you're not going to be as good at this job.
Kyle
That was my ground true philosop, that's for sure. Yeah.
Ryan Rosillo
I gotta tell you, I don't know, there's many people walking down the aisle where they're exchanging vows and going, I want you to beg for forgiveness instead of asking for permission. I think that's slightly different in a marriage than it is Grounds crew, Oregon you got one for us? Summer stock. Maybe I don't, you know, just improv. You haven't done improv?
Oregon
No. Do I give up right there?
Kyle
Maybe it's the shirt today. The shirt today. So it tells me maybe you did improv. I don't know.
Ryan Rosillo
Okay, today is a shirt that says maybe.
Keegan Bradley
Yes, I like that.
Oregon
I think.
Ryan Rosillo
We'Re gone. You could say literally fucking anything at this point and I'm just gonna go, oh, fuck.
Oregon
Yeah.
Ryan Rosillo
So if you would, you had said it, I did improv. I would not be surprised if you said that. I didn't. You know, it's not for everybody. But what I do know is that you're probably gonna avoid doing any kind of improv. Like, where are you? How's your wife with a 1 year old not gonna know that you're going to the NBA finals for. How was. How are you going to pull any of that off? So whatever the dynamic did, he didn't say that.
Kyle
He was just like, he was like, I'm going to tell her that I'm booking flights. Like, I don't think it was going to be a she finds out after situation. He was just like, I'm going to come home with flowers and lay the news on her that dad and I are, you know, wheels up tomorrow.
Oregon
I mean, yeah, this is an overnight trip, right?
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah. So you're right. Hey, babe. Going to be out of town for a couple days. Going to OKC with my dad in the woman who broke me in again like a pair of Jordans. So. Well, just ask, I guess. Just ask Just ask and prepare.
Kyle
Save those texts. Show her it came out of nowhere.
Oregon
But if it's game seven, this might not even matter.
Keegan Bradley
So.
Ryan Rosillo
The dad element is huge. Like we cannot apply the same standard to. My ex girlfriend from high school wants me to go to a game with her and it's going to be the two of us. I don't think anybody would even send that email. I think everybody can figure that one out on the own. On their own. The fact that the father has the history with.
Oregon
And she called him coach. So I think Kyle, I think Kyle might be on to something there.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah, well. Well look, it depends solely on her. If she says no, what are you going to do? Go. Can you even do that in a marriage.
Keegan Bradley
Kyle?
Ryan Rosillo
You. You have to kind of like if she says you can't go, then you can't go, right?
Kyle
I think so, yeah.
Ryan Rosillo
That's what I'm hearing.
Kyle
I think so. All right, good luck.
Ryan Rosillo
Good luck. All right, where should we move? 61 165. Quick aside, I hear people make player comps like Steve Nash, but if he couldn't pass or run our test without the tenacity, it's like saying I need a shot at whiskey without the alcohol. It's some real Twains on our hand here lately. I am in the Navy and finishing up school here in Connecticut. Six month old twins and my wife currently's in military housing and relatively enjoying the New England vibes. I'm from Alabama, she's from Philly, so we see her side of the family more often. I'm not really bothered by it, but she loves being close. But not to where. But not necessarily where we would move would be a deal breaker. So he's saying they don't necessarily have to be close. I was presented with a dream sheet, so I can't just list the top three cities I want to be stationed in. The tricky part is that some cities require a six to nine month deployment versus a couple cities requiring a one to three month deployment. But the cities where the shorter deployment are are pretty shitty in regards to growing a family and buying a home for future real estate investments. So here we go boys. You got your pencils? Yeah. The list of options are San Diego, six to nine months. Bangor, Washington, not Maine, one to three months. Kings Bay, Georgia, one to three months. New London, Connecticut, six to nine months. Norfolk, Virginia, six to nine months. Hawaii, six to nine months. Guam, six to nine months. What would you all choose in this scenario? Well, I'll just jump the line here. Norfolk, six to nine months. Is a complete non starter. Really.
Kyle
I was going to be on my list. What's going on there?
Ryan Rosillo
I used to go to Portsmouth Invitational. I don't think you want to live there, man. With these other options. I don't know Kings Bay at all. I definitely don't know Bangor, Washington. I know New London, and it sounds like you're already there.
Kyle
Yeah, that's cool.
Ryan Rosillo
I imagine that's probably where he is. Yeah, right. So if he's in the Navy and he's down there, New London's cool. You know, you're. You're close to a bunch of different things, too. I mean, would I want to move to New London full time? No. So I should probably shouldn't even say, like, hey, New London's cool. Look, I don't know what's wrong with Hawaii experience. If it's six to nine months, then just do it and you're going to be back and you're going to have this really cool experience that, you know, one of the things, you start getting older, like, how many other things am I going to be able, like, will I ever live here? Will I ever do this or ever. I do these things. And rarely will you have the flexibility in your life to do any of this kind of stuff. Granted, in the military, some would call it the flexibility, Some call it predetermined consequences of what it is like to have a career in this. Like, I have an uncle that's now retired border patrol, but they lived all over the place and it was time to get out. Yeah, well, you know, you wonder where my sourcing's coming from. So I don't know. Any of you guys have any favorites? Least favorites from this group.
Kyle
I think my personality would have taken Hawaii out of it, but that's certainly the coolest option. Like, just me. Even when it comes to.
Ryan Rosillo
Not Guam.
Kyle
Definitely not Guam. Even. Even if, like. Also I heard things are more expensive there. I mean, you know, talk about the price of eggs. What does that cost in Hawaii? Because, I mean, I don't know if it's no politics.
Oregon
I don't know if chicken's everywhere in Hawaii, though.
Kyle
I don't know if it comes with more money going to Hawaii or if it's just like, hey, those same paper towels. I mean, have you seen the price of bounty lately? I mean, they're talking 24 bucks for 12 rolls. You do the math. I wonder what that is in Hawaii. But like, outside of all that, I think it's just more like one of those things where it's like Ooh, that seems like a lot. So I probably wouldn't do Hawaii. Even though if you are that kind of guy who's like adventure guy. Fuck yeah. I think Hawaii is certainly the move. San Diego, sick. I honestly, I'd probably stay in Connecticut and be like, man, seems like a lot of work going everywhere else on this list. I would probably stay in Connecticut, especially if my wife was like, you know, it'd be great to continue to see my family on a semi regular basis. I would have stayed in Connecticut. But if we're. This seems like a bit of an adventure guy and I don't know, it's his young family, so it's not like a big deal. It's like we're taking him out of school, right? He's got like one year old twins or something, he said. So I guess everything's on the table. I think Hawaii's the coolest. San Diego would be my second choice. But I would probably stay planted in Connecticut if it was me.
Oregon
Yeah, I think I'm Hawaii one. San Diego too. This is just the perfect time to do this if you're trying to do like a west coast swing. Like now's the time before the kids are going to be in school and then it's sort of, you know, you're pulling away from their friends, which might happen anyway based on you being in the military. But I would do this now, you know, get that adventure out of the way.
Kyle
I'm also curious about, like, Georgia, just one of those cheaper to live states. Especially if it's like a. This is totally temporary. I got a buddy who used to be a teacher in Georgia and he's like, man, I didn't make much, but it didn't cost much. So I've always wondered about that. But I'll probably never do something like that.
Ryan Rosillo
I don't know Kings Bay at all. My experience in Georgia wasn't necessarily my favorite. I had a friend who lived outside of the city. It was right after school. We went down to visit him a couple times and then I took his car. I was like, I want to do some exploring. Like, check this place out and take it easy, Georgia folks. You're not going to like this. But it was just town after town. I was like, ho. All right, Ruby Tuesdays, Marshalls, Home Depot, Kohl's, Barnes and Noble. What's the pet supply place? And then it would be all this, like scrub brush oak. And then 15 minutes later, stoplight. And it was like the same fucking thing. Like, I thought it was lost. I Was like, did I just go the wrong way? It was like, no, this is a completely different town. I was like, is it a completely different town? So totally unfair to Georgia because that was my very limited experience to it. But go ahead. Sorry. Go ahead.
Kyle
I was about to say, I tell you what I wish was on this list. Cleveland, Ohio. I am a stand for Cleveland, Ohio.
Oregon
The one and only.
Kyle
The one and only.
Ryan Rosillo
Dude, what has you so hot on Cleveland right now?
Kyle
You know, maybe it was the buzz of the finals, it was 2018, but man, that was some good living there. I was checking out some of like on the main strip there sort of by, I think it's Flannery's, is the Irish bar. And then you got Quicken loans and you could, you could see that casino just teasing you in the lights down the street from the Flannerys. And you're like, should I?
Bob Ryan
I don't know.
Kyle
And then I was in that main strip of apartments. Tall ceilings. I was like, let me just pull up apartments.com real quick. We're talking $1,400, two bedrooms, high ceilings. I don't know, man, I just, I liked it. Except for that last day. There was a strong wind from, I believe, the west and boy, it smelled like manure the whole day. And there was like, yeah, sometimes you can't help that, but small price to pay. Rock and Roll hall of Fame. I don't know.
Ryan Rosillo
I'll tell you, I'm just checking out this bangor base right now. I mean, you were, you were in it. You're not that far away from Victoria right now.
Oregon
I was looking at the Georgia one. You're basically on the Florida border. 45 minute drive to Jacksonville, Florida, Georgia line. Yeah, there you go.
Ryan Rosillo
There's so much better life. Guam. I got nothing for you that seems a little too adventurous. Unless you're an adventurer, that's what I'm saying. Yeah. What kind of guy, Educated votes? San Diego? It depends. If you're spending a lot of time in the city, you're probably not going to be spending that much time in the city. So I think it'd be fine. I think the city of San Diego leaves something to be desired. I think the surrounding areas are incredible.
Kyle
Check out Delmar.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah, Yeah. I don't know that you're going to be able to afford those. Norfolk is a no, New London's a meh. But you know, you're near.
Kyle
It's easy.
Ryan Rosillo
It's easy. You're near kind of other places that you can go to. I vote Hawaii. You probably never ever do it again in your life. Although this Bangor base and the proximity to stuff in B.C. and Seattle. Like, there's a lot going on here. There's a lot going on that I like and I don't know anything.
Kyle
Wolfman territory, huh? Where? Over there. Just that movie.
Ryan Rosillo
Teen Wolf.
Kyle
No, no Wolfman. Dude, this was 2024.
Ryan Rosillo
Didn't see that one.
Kyle
Good one. It's on Peacock.
Ryan Rosillo
Okay.
Kyle
I think.
Ryan Rosillo
All right. Well, there you go. Shout out to Peacock. Those of you who have not canceled your subscriptions after the Chiefs playoff came two years ago, should I have my much wealthier girlfriend help pay rent? What's up guys? 25 years old. 63250. We get some beasts chiming in today. 295 squat. Still got the bounce. And throw it on a fast break dunk in rec league. I live and attend law school full time in a big midwestern city heading into my second year. My girlfriend and I have been together for two years. Her leases up at the end of the month. And while she'd been searching for a one bedroom apartment in the same neighborhood. Prices are just above her budget. Her target's around three grand a month, but everything she's looked at is coming in above that. That's quite the three grand a month in Chicago. You can't. I guess you're kind of looking at like the hotter. I'm not going to share everything here, but one of the hotter areas. So we agreed it's not worth rushing into a lease just to overpay. Especially since it's. Since in about 15, 16 months, when my current lease ends, we plan to move in together. Officially.
Kyle
Yep. This is a yes.
Ryan Rosillo
So I offered. Kyle doesn't need any more facts. You're making it official. 15 to 16 months. Let her pay you. So I offered a short term solution. Moving with me and my roommate. Lifelong best friend and his girlfriend. Essentially fourth roommate. Two dogs, got a great setup, no tension, everyone gets along. A bunch of professional people, all on the same page at a very early age. I like it. I'm impressed with all of you. Without knowing you, the girls are becoming best friends. She'd stay with us temporarily while waiting for rates to drop and restart the apartment hunt around Halloween. Now here's where I need help. Should I ask her to split the rent? Should she cover the utilities or neither. Some numbers. I paid just over $1,900 total right now, so a split with her would be $1,000 each. With utilities, it's about $1,000 all in for her for show purposes only. Okay, so he's throwing me some more math here. Relationship is strong. Money talk isn't awkward, but I'm conflicted. I'm the one who encouraged her to move in. I want her there. And I never even considered splitting cost idea until initially she brought it up.
Kyle
Great.
Ryan Rosillo
Whoa. Kyle's like picks. But as the date approaches, I thought more and more about it. She's extremely generous when it comes to dinners, drinks, activities, tickets, all the stuff we do together. That's just kind of the person she is. I already know once she moves in, she'll feel the need to pick up the tab even more often. She's more than generous. She works remotely full time and makes solid money. But there's more. Okay. She's loaded. Loaded. I don't know if the inheritance number, you know, it's a number that. It doesn't mean you can never do anything. But there's some other numbers this guy's throwing at me that I cannot share. That, you know, get pretty big. She also pulls in. She pulls in a lot of money. She makes a lot of money. I want to be fair. But also tuition, student loan interest are real. And the extra cash I could save would be immensely helpful to put towards school in our future. She's got resources. I know she'd gladly contribute. I just don't know what the right move is. Appreciate any insight. All right. I think it's kind of cool that you would. You would look at it as like, hey, we're going to be together. It seems like this is very official, like, this is your person. We want to move in together. So this isn't really an accounting thing.
Kyle
No, this is gonna have.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah, this isn't money in versus money out, because it's all gonna be both of yours. Money, depending on who knows, you know? Sounds like she should probably what it sounds like. Because you'd be like, I didn't want for you to suggest she should get a prenup with me, but, yeah, the extra thousand bucks. When you're a student and you're putting this stuff together and you're living in a place that's, you know, on the pricier side of things. Yeah, it'd be nice. I mean, the chances are, based on everything that you just said, the fact that she is so generous, she's probably going to make it really easy to have the conversation started where you're not suggesting it, she's probably going to bring it up. So let her bring it up. And then say everything to her that you Said to us, you know, minus some of these financial stats probably, but just go, like, look, all of this, if we're still aligned here, like, whatever I'm saving just allows me, as I finish up school here, just to have a little bit more flexibility. I mean, as we all know, different stages in our life, there's just nothing better than just a little, little bit more cushion. Totally. Right. And just a little bit more cushion. You know, it doesn't. It just sucks when the money stuff is with your head all the time and it's getting away and it ends up, like, influencing other decisions. Don't even make any sense. Be like, well, I can be broke, but doesn't mean I have to do this wrong. It's like, yeah, it does. I'm broke and I'm just going to do everything else wrong, too. So I. I think she's probably going. Kyle's dying right now. She's probably going to suggest this split of a thousand bucks add to that little monthly cushion. You know, you're only looking at, like, a year here. And if she's adamant about doing it, don't feel bad about taking it, knowing that it's not necessarily cutting into her cushion all that much. But, yeah, I mean, look, I say it all the time. Maybe I'm a little. It would depend on where I was financially. You know, if this was somebody I wanted to marry and all that kind of stuff, then maybe I'd be like, hey, it's my role to provide and all these different things. But right now, she is the provider. She is making serious money.
Kyle
She's got the stats of a provider. She's not necessarily a provider.
Ryan Rosillo
Right, right. But the thousand bucks a month for her is not even going to come close to even denning her annual salary. So I think your head's in the right place. If you can convey to us in the email the same message to her, it's probably still going to be a win for you because you're going to be so honest and straightforward about, like, I'm not going to lie, but I don't want to actually do that to you. And then she's just going to pay you anyway. Because it sounds like she is. When I have a friend and she does pretty well. She refused to let anyone else pay for anything to. It's a maddening, like, maddening being like, you can't be the person that's always paying for everyone, especially when you're with me, when there's other people around. Fine. But she will. She'll go ahead and give the car. It's like a real thing with her. She doesn't want anyone to ever pay.
Kyle
Go ahead, like, just gotta go to the bathroom real quick. That comes back, you're like, you just did it, didn't you? Didn't you?
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah, and then you gotta like get in front of. Because sometimes it's, it's. I mean, she's gotten hammered on some taps, man, so maybe that's who you met. And she has the financial backing to carry herself this way. And it's pretty clear that it's not just because of the financial security of what's coming to her down the road. It's that annually she's bringing in a lot of money here too. So sometimes it's really great, man. If two people really get along, they're aligned, they have the same hope for each other future wise. Certainly this stuff can be disrupted, but I think it's really cool when you can be at 25 years old to be this mature about the whole thing and just go like, look, let's just lay it all out and I'll tell you where I'm at. My preference is you don't give me any money. But if you're going to be adamant. Yeah, I mean, I'm not saying like you want to reverse psychology her because it doesn't seem like you need to do any of that stuff because she's so caring and you guys are in it for the long haul, at least on paper here. So I'm sure you'll be fine.
Kyle
Yeah, if she's talking about moving November 1st, you know, that's we're talking five, six months. I don't know how long she's been there already. It's not like a quick stopover, you know, so if you, if you were just like, you know, not come, not coming at it with all this awkwardness, it sounds like she's already asked you. You may have like, you know, just changed her whole headspace about it. If you were like, no, no, of course not. And the more you think about it, you're like, maybe, maybe I should. But you could just be like, you could lowball her and be like, what do you think, like 500 month? And then either she'll be like, oh, yeah, totally. Or she'll be like, no way, dude. How about an 8? How about a thousand? Like, how about we just split it in half? Then it's her idea. But if you come with a low ball offer, it's better than nothing. If you're considering. Should I just keep my mouth shut and suffer or ask full. Maybe you knock that number in half. And if she accepts it graciously, then 500 bucks just came out of nowhere. And it sounds like she'll more be like, how about a 50? 50, huh. And then you're like, oh shucks. And then it's the greatest thing ever. But I like a reasonable offer because it sounds like you're not hurting. Right. It's like, it's the same. You're just like, this could actually I'm helping you with a place to live in a fun environment, whatever. So 500 bucks would be kind of money from the sky. So I think that's probably what I would have done.
Ryan Rosillo
Money from home. Yeah.
Oregon
Wargon, I've been in this situation where it's the roommate bringing in his girlfriend. And I've been in the situation where I'm the one bringing the girlfriend in. And what we've done is.
Ryan Rosillo
Yeah, you have.
Oregon
You don't split the cost of the room. You split the total cost of the apartment. Because the girlfriend's not just staying in the room the whole time. She's gonna be in the kitchen, she's gonna be in the living room. And so you're all roommates now. You should all be splitting the total cost of the apartment so your rent will be lower. Her rent will be lower and the other roommate's rent will also be lower.
Kyle
Yes, that's the way I feel like.
Oregon
This should be done.
Kyle
Depending on how this girlfriend was handled that his roommates got. If this was just like, hey dude, I'm just still covering my half of the whatever. So it doesn't matter how it happens.
Keegan Bradley
If that's how it is now it's.
Oregon
Time to change that though. Now you bring it up to the roommate and be like, hey, we got four people living in potentially a two person apartment. We should all be splitting.
Kyle
Oh, house meeting style. Hey man, you could bring this.
Ryan Rosillo
I don't like this.
Kyle
I don't love it either. But it depends on how it is. If like that, if they've been in this cohabitation situation for a while where they.
Oregon
It amounts to the same thing. But that's the way that I believe that something like this should be handled.
Kyle
Okay, that's fair.
Ryan Rosillo
So tactical worgon. I don't like it at all. I'm just going to tell you you're wrong because what we have here is we, we've been presented one of the nicest potential scenarios. There's no conflict, there's no, well, her dog. And this Guy's dog or this girlfriend doesn't. Like, think of all the emails that we've read that start with the. This is what the potential living arrangement could be. And all of the potholes along the way, they don't have any of them.
Oregon
I think I fumbled this from the beginning, from when the other girlfriend moved.
Kyle
Left that money on the table.
Oregon
I just think that's the way that this should be handled.
Ryan Rosillo
You know, this actually happened to me. Obviously, I didn't move a girlfriend in, but I was living with a buddy.
Kyle
Your.
Ryan Rosillo
Your boy was looking for housing there towards those lean years in Vermont towards the end. And they're like, hey, there's a room available with this guy. I was like, oh, cool. And then his girlfriend was there the entire time. And then somebody after months, one of my friends that was visiting is like, how do you guys do the rent? Like, we split it. It's two bedrooms. Like, what are you talking about? And he was just like, yeah, but his girlfriend lives here. Shouldn't that have been three ways? I was like, yeah, I guess I could have, but he actually had the room he offered to me like, I don't give a fuck. And he's like, I can't believe, you know, that's hundreds of dollars every month. Great.
Kyle
Easy for that guy to say. He doesn't have to bring it up. Yeah, unstabilize his housing situation.
Ryan Rosillo
By the way, it wasn't even that significant amount of money. Over the long haul. It didn't really matter. I really liked it. Like my roommate, I liked the girlfriend. We all got along actually, really well, went on paper. Nobody thought we would get along at all, but it was great. And so there's something to be said, I think maybe that I didn't mean to do it this way, but if you're in a living situation where everyone gets along and you're helping out your girlfriend and it's somebody that you want to marry, then why disrupt any of that? So. And I also think, to Kyle's point, although Kyle made it a little bit more like, you still, like, Kyle just can't leave the game. You can't leave the game. He's sitting there being like, why don't you throw a five? Probably close it, see if she counters that the hustle is on with Kyle still at this stage of his life. I don't even know that you have to do any of that kind of stuff. You just go, hey, what do you want to do? How do you think it works? I mean, granted, if you wanted to, you could maybe blame the roommate. Be like, is there a way we can make this all work? But it sounds like because of her incredible salary and a huge financial windfall that she's going to experience later on and her habit of being generous, where you said extremely in italics. Okay, it was italicized. There is a very good chance that she will not feel good about staying there unless she is helping you out and she's just going to go over the top with it. And then you're not going to feel any guilt because it's going to be something that she actually feels better. There's something about when you have a little bit money and you love to make sure no one ever thinks you're taking advantage of them. Especially for, like, somebody like me who was always like, oh, shit, I hope they pick up this dinner tab. Are they going to ask me to kick in here? What's the security like? All of those years where I didn't have any. Then when you actually have a little. And it's not going to hurt you to pay for dinner, it's not going to hurt you to do, like, some of these things you. You may like, you know, Kevin Spacey, although not great to use him. Pay it forward where you are. Then later on going, I want to make sure I'm never that person. And she may have from a very early age. Never want to be like, rich people are different. Some people that are rich are the worst. They never want to kick in anything. And then the joke is that's how they stay rich. But there's a lot of people that are incredibly, incredibly jealous because they realize their position and their head start in life. And it sounds like, based on everything you've said, that your girlfriend may be one of those people. So I wouldn't stress about this at all. This is. This sounds like it's already solved and it's just going to be a number and then it won't really even matter. Even though it might be a little tight for you for the next few months of law school, it might be worth it, dude, if all of these numbers are real and you marry her. All right, I think that's good. All right. Thanks to Jonathan Frias. Thanks to Wargon. Thanks to Kyle. Again, a reminder, we have an extra episode of the Runner, still a podcast tomorrow. So we're going to do a lot of draft of Sam Bassini and Steve Pike, Michael from Rutgers. And then I will have an open for you on whatever happens Tonight in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. You can check us out on YouTube. You can see us on the video portion of the Spotify App Riders podcast.
Oregon
Bring your Spotify they were going to name me Michael Jordan. My dad was like, I don't think he can live up to it. So they named me Michael. Jared.
Ryan Rosillo
Foreign must be 21 and older and present in select states. For Kansas in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino or 18 plus and present in D.C. kentucky or Wyoming. Gambling Problem Call 100 Gambler or visit rg-help.com, call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org chat in Connecticut or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is there. Visit gamblinghelplinema.org or call 800-327-50 for 24. 7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8-HOPE NY or text HOPE NY in New York.
Podcast Summary: The Ryen Russillo Podcast – "Putting the Thunder’s Season in Historical Context With Bob Ryan. Plus, Keegan Bradley From the Travelers Championship"
Release Date: June 19, 2025
Guest: Bob Ryan, Legendary Sports Analyst
As the NBA Finals approached Game 6 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, host Ryan Rosillo engaged Bob Ryan in an in-depth analysis of the Thunder's season and their prospects in the finals.
Thunder vs. Pacers: Possibility of Pacers Winning Bob Ryan opened the discussion by acknowledging the potential for the Pacers to secure victories in pivotal games. At [03:04], he stated:
“I did pick Oklahoma City in six but not. But that doesn't mean I ruled out any possibility of Indiana winning.”
Ryan emphasized that despite Oklahoma City's impressive 68-win season, the Pacers demonstrated resilience and competitive spirit, especially after overcoming a challenging record earlier in the year ([04:16]). He highlighted the Pacers' defensive improvements compared to their previous season, noting:
“They have at times looked like even the better defensive team in this series... they have the same roster is incredible.”
Impact of Rick Carlisle's Coaching A significant portion of the conversation revolved around Rick Carlisle's influence on the Pacers. Bob Ryan praised Carlisle's adaptability and strategic acumen, stating at [08:02]:
“He has shown flexibility. He's just a smart guy. I think in a coach.”
Ryan discussed Carlisle’s transition from a defensive-oriented coach to managing an offensive-minded team, crediting his ability to evolve with the team’s needs. Carlisle’s leadership was seen as a pivotal factor in the Pacers' success during the playoffs.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) and MVP Considerations The discussion shifted to the performance of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), with Ryan Rosillo questioning his MVP candidacy. Bob Ryan drew historical comparisons, mentioning Michael Jordan as the benchmark for mid-sized versatile players:
“You always compare people to Jordan. He's the gold standard of the mid-sized player... he is the best at that.”
Ryan praised SGA's efficiency and clutch performances, suggesting that his current season positions him as a frontrunner for MVP honors.
Historical Team Comparisons and Ownership Insights Bob Ryan delved into comparing the Thunder's season with legendary teams, addressing whether a 68-win team could be considered among the greatest. He concluded that while the Thunder's achievements were commendable, they might not surpass iconic teams like the 1986 Celtics or the top Warriors squads.
The conversation also touched upon recent ownership changes in the NBA, particularly the sale of the Los Angeles Lakers. Ryan expressed astonishment at the $10 billion valuation, commenting at [20:46]:
“The number is staggering. It's totally staggering.”
He reflected on ownership dynamics, drawing parallels with previous sales like Mark Cuban's tenure with the Dallas Mavericks, and voiced skepticism about the assurances made during such transactions.
Critique of NBA Media Coverage Towards the end of the segment, Bob Ryan voiced his frustrations with how the NBA is covered in the media. He criticized the focus on superficial topics and manufactured narratives, stating at [25:55]:
“Certain discussions... have no meaning whatsoever in the real world. Yeah, it's ridiculous.”
Ryan emphasized the importance of nuanced analysis over sensationalist talk-show topics, underscoring his commitment to substantive sports journalism.
Guest: Keegan Bradley, Professional Golfer at the Travelers Championship
Transitioning from basketball to golf, Ryan Rosillo welcomed Keegan Bradley, offering listeners a glimpse into Keegan's journey from Vermont to the PGA Tour.
Early Life and Path to Professional Golf Keegan shared his athletic upbringing in Woodstock, Vermont, where he balanced golf with ski racing. At [36:05], he explained:
“I grew up playing all sports, but my two main sports were golf and skiing, ski racing.”
The necessity to prioritize golf over other sports due to seasonal constraints led Keegan to intensify his focus, eventually earning a full scholarship to St. John’s University. He recounted a pivotal moment during his recruiting process:
“We were like, high fiving and like jumping around. And I remember the coach called me the next day... I'm there.”
Professional Challenges and Mentality Keegan delved into the pressures of transitioning to professional golf, highlighting the unforgiving nature of rookie seasons. He reflected at [43:00]:
“I never was. I was terrified the whole time. I had this singular goal my whole life.”
The concept of "reshuffling" in tournament participation was a critical point, illustrating how early performances can significantly impact a golfer's career trajectory. Keegan emphasized the mental fortitude required to navigate these challenges.
Appreciating Success and Overcoming Adversity Over the years, Keegan admitted to initially undervaluing his victories, only recently making a conscious effort to savor his successes. He shared personal growth experiences:
“I started to really appreciate it. I've actually made a conscious effort to try to appreciate things more on my career.”
Keegan also touched on the emotional toll of professional sports, referencing the tough conditions at major courses like Oakmont:
“I can't even have the proportionate difference that missing a key basketball player will have or even missing a key football player unless it's the quarterback.”
Devers Trade and Fan Reactions Keegan addressed the recent trade of J.D. Devers in baseball, sharing a personal anecdote about his son's reaction. This incident highlighted the deep connections fans have with players and the broader impact of such trades on the sporting community.
“I take him down, I sit him down, and I tell him, and he threw a temper tantrum. I've never seen him react like this.”
Throughout the episode, Ryan Rosillo and his co-hosts engaged in light-hearted banter and offered practical advice based on audience questions.
Living Arrangements and Financial Discussions One segment featured a detailed discussion on navigating shared living spaces with partners and roommates. The hosts provided insights on fair rent splitting and maintaining transparency in relationships, emphasizing open communication and fairness.
Bob Ryan contributed by sharing his own experiences and advocating for equitable arrangements:
“If you're in a living situation where everyone gets along and you're helping out your girlfriend and it's somebody that you want to marry, then why disrupt any of that?”
Navigating Relationships and Personal Growth The conversation also touched on relationship dynamics, particularly the importance of mutual respect and understanding in personal decisions. The hosts offered strategies for balancing personal commitments with professional obligations, encouraging listeners to prioritize honesty and alignment in their partnerships.
In this episode of The Ryen Russillo Podcast, listeners were treated to a comprehensive analysis of the Oklahoma City Thunder's historic season and their performance in the NBA Finals, enriched by Bob Ryan's seasoned insights. Additionally, Keegan Bradley provided an inspiring narrative of resilience and dedication in professional golf. The episode seamlessly intertwined sports commentary with relatable life advice, offering a well-rounded listening experience for fans and enthusiasts alike.
Notable Quotes:
This detailed summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions, insights, and memorable moments, ensuring that even those who haven't listened can grasp the depth and nuances of the conversation.