Lakers Getting Hot, Opening Up the Mailbag, USC Women’s BBall Coach Lindsay Gottlieb joins

Summary

Podcast Summary: Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara
Episode Title: Lakers Getting Hot, Opening Up the Mailbag, USC Women’s BBall Coach Lindsay Gottlieb
Release Date: March 6, 2025

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1. Lakers’ Hot Streak and Coaching Insights

The episode kicks off with Matt Leinart and Jerry Ferrara delving into the current momentum of the Los Angeles Lakers. Matt praises head coach JJ Redick, highlighting his strategic prowess and ability to manage a star-studded roster effectively.

Notable Quote:

• Matt Leinart [04:05]: “JJ could arguably be coach of the year for what he's been able to do with this team.”

Jerry emphasizes the Lakers' early-season success, noting their improved home and road records, and lauds LeBron James for his defensive contributions.

Notable Quote:

• Jerry Ferrara [06:07]: “And LeBron's turned into a two-way player again. He's like, awesome.”

2. Parental Dilemmas: Balancing VIP Sports Experiences with Real Life

Transitioning from team analysis, the hosts explore the challenges of exposing children to high-profile sports events. Jerry shares his experience of taking his young son to a Knicks game courtside courtesy of a Crocs-Pixar collaboration, grappling with the balance between giving his child memorable experiences and maintaining a sense of normalcy.

Notable Quote:

• Jerry Ferrara [10:23]: “And he... my son, who's not even six yet, loves Monsters, Inc. Loves Crocs.”

Matt relates by discussing similar experiences with his son Cole, emphasizing the fleeting nature of such special moments and the importance of not letting them define everyday life.

Notable Quote:

• Matt Leinart [15:42]: “It just goes through phases. Just like in anything, you have your toddler phase... And then it comes back full again.”

3. Mailbag: Hard Knocks, Aaron Rodgers, and Knicks’ Podcasting

In the mailbag segment, Glenn from Chicago asks about the feasibility of having cameras in USC facilities, comparing it to Jerry’s experience on the set of Entourage. Matt clarifies that while USC might have been open to such a project, current social media dynamics could make it challenging.

Notable Quote:

• Matt Leinart [60:40]: “If they went to USC, Pete would have probably said it. And I would have done the same thing.”

Brian from Albany raises concerns about Knicks players Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart hosting a podcast during the season, questioning if it distracts from their performance. Jerry defends their right to express themselves honestly, citing the authenticity it brings to their interactions with fans.

Notable Quote:

• Jerry Ferrara [67:15]: “Instead of, like, going to get my shots up. Like, you build your schedule. Yeah, it's ridiculous.”

4. In-Depth Interview: Lindsay Gottlieb on USC Women’s Basketball

a. Season Overview and Team Dynamics

USC Women’s Basketball Coach Lindsay Gottlieb joins the show to discuss her team's outstanding performance. With a record of 26-2, the Trojans are poised as a number one seed in the NCAA tournament. Gottlieb attributes the success to a blend of returning star Juju Watkins and a top-tier recruiting class that has elevated the team’s cohesion and depth.

Notable Quote:

• Lindsay Gottlieb [33:28]: “We took a bunch of really good people with high expectations, and I hope we've delivered.”

b. The Influence of Celebrity and Fan Engagement

Gottlieb highlights the significant presence of celebrities at games, which has become a staple for USC women’s basketball in LA. The influx of stars like Michael B. Jordan and John Legend has amplified the team’s visibility and fan engagement.

Notable Quote:

• Lindsay Gottlieb [34:26]: “This is what people expect with LA women's basketball. How cool is that?”

c. Building a Championship Team: The Role of Relationships and Culture

Gottlieb emphasizes the importance of relationships within the team and the broader organization. She believes that fostering strong interpersonal connections and a culture of relentless pursuit of excellence are foundational to building a championship-winning team.

Notable Quote:

• Lindsay Gottlieb [39:44]: “My one word would be relationships. You just can't do it anymore in college without having a pulse on the people.”

d. Managing Superstar Pressure: Juju Watkins’ Ascendancy

Discussing star player Juju Watkins, Gottlieb compares her impact to Kobe Bryant’s legacy, praising her size, scoring ability, defensive prowess, and grace under pressure. She acknowledges the increased scrutiny and expectations that come with Watkins’ rising stardom and the responsibility it entails.

Notable Quote:

• Lindsay Gottlieb [44:37]: “She's a killer. Right. Like the Mamba mentality thing has it.”

e. Balancing Coaching and Family Life

Balancing a demanding coaching career with family responsibilities is another focal point. Gottlieb shares her strategies for integrating her professional and personal lives, advocating for authenticity and support systems that allow her to excel in both roles without sacrificing one for the other.

Notable Quote:

• Lindsay Gottlieb [55:41]: “I have a really supportive administration. But I don't think anyone should have to sacrifice, you know, if they want to be a mom and coach or try to integrate, you know, the two worlds.”

f. Recruitment Stories: The Path to Signing Juju Watkins

Gottlieb recounts the heartfelt story of recruiting Juju Watkins, highlighting the genuine connection and authenticity that defined the process. Despite being heavily pregnant, Gottlieb recalls the pivotal moment when Juju confirmed her commitment, underscoring the personal bonds that influence recruitment.

Notable Quote:

• Lindsay Gottlieb [48:23]: “Juju said, can you talk at this time, this day? And I was like, let me go for a walk. And I swear that, like, at that moment, my water could have broken.”

5. Closing Remarks and Future Prospects

As the episode wraps up, Lindsay Gottlieb expresses gratitude for the support of Matt and Jerry, sharing her excitement about the upcoming NCAA tournament and the continuous growth of USC Women’s Basketball. The hosts encourage listeners to continue engaging with the podcast and share their own experiences.

Notable Quote:

• Matt Leinart [57:41]: “Super proud of you and what you've done and you're going to keep crushing it. So good luck. Bring home a title. Bring bring home a title. No pressure.”

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Conclusion

This episode of Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara offers a comprehensive look into the current state of the Lakers, the intricacies of balancing high-profile sports life with parenting, and an insightful interview with USC Women’s Basketball Coach Lindsay Gottlieb. From strategic sports discussions to heartfelt personal anecdotes, the hosts provide a rich narrative that caters to sports enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.

Transcript

[Matt Leinart]

You have one of the greats now and who will be for the next 10 to 15 years, Juju Watkins. What was recruiting her?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Like, so Juju said, can you talk at this time this day? And I was like eight and a half months pregnant, so I'm like, waddling around my neighborhood. And she said she's coming. And I swear that, like, at that moment, my water could have broken.

[Matt Leinart]

I couldn't.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Welcome to another episode of THR Throwbacks. Don't forget to throw us a follow at Throwback show or email us feedback at Throwback Show. We're going to read some of your emails later on in the show, but coming up in the next block, we got a really, really good guest. Couldn't help our boy Matt getting one of his fellow Trojans on. Who's joining us today, man, Lindsey Gottlieb.

[Matt Leinart]

Our women's head basketball coach, by the way. Women 26 and 2, they just whooped on UCLA at the Poly Pavilion last week. Most likely will be a number one seed in the NCAA tournament. And Lindsay's awesome. I've known her for a couple years when she got the job at usc. Crazy kind of interesting background. She, I mean, we, you know, coach for the Cavs for a year, so was in the NBA, has won everywhere. She's. She's gone and. And coaches, hands down the biggest superstar in women's basketball, probably outside of Caitlin Clark at the moment. And juju Watkins, who Jerry I've seen play a couple times in person, and she's, she's a beast, man. She's.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Do you feel you'll be the best person to ask? Right. And I know football and basketball are not necessarily one and one for one comparable because of. So there's so many more players with football. But do you feel any, like 03 vibes for this lady? See, they got the superstar. They're, they're kicking ass. They're gonna be all. Eyes are gonna be on them in the tournament. Like they're being watched at a level and scrutinize at a level that, you know, starting to get some uncharted air.

[Matt Leinart]

It really, it's, it's, it eerily reminds me of it because when you go back to our day prior to Pete Carol coming, who Pete Carol's first year was my first year. So we had one bad year and then we just went off, you know, Carson's last year, we just won 11 games. And that was kind of the start of that, that epic dynasty run. And in that run we became. It was a little different because Back then, the. The Lakers, I think Shaq had just left.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yep.

[Matt Leinart]

So the Lakers kind of were. They had the 3p. And then they. They had a couple of bad years there. Dodgers weren't great. The Kings weren't great. UCLA football, I mean, just. We were. We were the team of la. There were no NFL teams at the moment. And so we just. The buzz was so big, and everybody came out to see us. The celebs, the stars, the. I mean, just everybody. And it became normal and it became. That's just who we were. And we rode with it. Pete loved it, embraced it, and it just was a part of our thing. I. You know, football isn't there yet. At least it is. It hasn't been there for a while. There's no other sport at USC that's having a bigger impact on LA than USC women's basketball at the moment, and that's because their coach is great. And make no mistake, that's because they have the number one star in college hoops and juju Watkins. And you saw it. I mean, we saw at the. The UCLA game the other night, like, the celebs that were there, like, it's ridiculous. Like, it's. And this is. This is where women's basketball is at, which is pretty exciting. And Lindsay is right in the thick of all of that, coaching one of the best teams in college football or college basketball.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I do have something I would like to discuss with you. It's sports related, but it's also going to lead into, I guess, parenting to a degree, although I don't know how relatable it is. So, first of all, our Nixon Lakers battling tonight. It's gonna be awesome. Wow. Have things changed? I tried so hard breaking down that trade for the Mavericks, being like, no, I still like their team now with the Kyrie injuries. Like, this is. I. I don't even know. We. I just. I have a few Mavs fans in my life, and, like, do I send flowers? What do I want to send?

[Matt Leinart]

I love. I was a Mavs fan when Luca was there, because I love Luke. I love.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And they got a great fan base.

[Matt Leinart]

They have a great fan base. I've been to a game in doubt. Like, it's just fun. Like, it's a fun. It's a fun team to root for. Like, it's an easy team to root for. My. I rooted for them when they had Dirk. Like, I. I used to love watching them play. And now it's like, you lose Luca and now you lose Kyrie, man.

[Jerry Ferrara]

But now here's why? It's worse to me than anything anyone could expect it. Because if the Mavs managed to stay healthy, maybe they wouldn't have been a championship contending team. Who knows? They would have been good and fun to watch, though. So they would have. So now they lose AD and then Kyrie for the year. But the kick in the balls is the fact that the Lakers have figured it out this early. They were already figuring it out before Luca. Like, they were rolling and, you know, now that they're a two seed, Matt, they're tied for the two seed. They're ahead of the Nuggets, and they have the third best home record in the league. They're like the 237 and the 500 in the road.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, they're ridiculous. The whole first week of the trade and we talked about it, was how are they going to fit? How's LeBron? Like, how is this. There's too many ball handlers, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And credit JJ Redick. Like, JJ's like, people question that higher because, oh, it's LeBron's boy. And I've known JJ forever. Like JJ's podcast partner.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

Like, JJ could arguably be coach of the year for what he's been able to do with this team. Now he's got superstars. I get it. But like, for what he's been able to do. And I, People, look, I, I love the, I love basketball. I watch these teams. I, People need to start to worry about the Lakers in the playoffs. I just, I, I, I, I. The size, size clearly may, it may. Yeah, yeah. They're going to run into some problems and that's going to happen. But JJ is obviously a mastermind of, of just figuring it out. They have stars everywhere. They have great role players. Maybe they don't need a TR. Maybe they don't.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And LeBron's turned into a two way player again. He's like, awesome.

[Matt Leinart]

And everybody said, oh, they're not gonna be able to play defense. Well, like, wrong. LeBron's playing great defense, Austin. I mean, look, they're not great one on one defenders, but I don't know. I'm with you, man. Like, it's, it's exciting again to finally have. Because the Lakers, the last handful of years, they've, they've been in like, they've just underachieved with AD and LeBron. It's just the play in tournament and they, they barely limp into the playoff and maybe they win one. And I know we won it for, we won it. The COVID Year, the bubble year, but it's just been disappointing. Now it's like we're the two seed, we're not going to catch okc, but we're going to be a two or three seed in the, in the, in the playoffs.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Let me ask you this before we move on to my parental dilemma that I have. That is a, I got to imagine though, it is an advantage to have a coach that is so recently retired that he's played against what, 85% of the NBA players. That's what I mean, like that's got, that's gotta be an advantage. I don't know, I just, it makes comment and I know you can see, look, you go watch film, you can get to know the players the other way. I just look at. That has to be. If the guy, if the former player wants to coach and has that analytical part of his brain and he just played against these guys, that's gotta be a big.

[Matt Leinart]

Well, I think the thing that separates JJ is he's, he's. I mean the X's and O's in the way his. Because you heard it on the podcast, it was just like, wow. Because he's so. He's a basketball IQ as, as high as anybody, right? Like LeBron, they can just see the game, talk the game, figure it out. And some people were just born to be coaching coaches. I think J.J. was that. I mean clearly he didn't have to get into coaching. He was making a shit ton of money with the podcast, doing, calling games like living a pretty stress free life. And now he's the head coach of Lakers.

[Jerry Ferrara]

He's great on, I think the biggest.

[Matt Leinart]

Thing, the biggest thing in coaching and we see it in all sports and I've, I've been a part of this is in football. It was always you had like, you see a lot of these coaches that just stick around forever because people are kind of afraid to like change the norm and adapt. And you have coaches who have their boys and like they just, it's like, like I've been around good coaches, I've been around real shitty coaches at the highest level. And it's, it's. Sometimes you want to just see like, gosh, I wish maybe a former player could come in because they see the game different or a younger guy. That's why like McVay was so great. Just because they're so like they're changing the game, they're, they're adapting, they're figuring out. And that's what I see happening with the Lakers and JJ and that's what you don't see with a lot of these NBA coaches that are just like, they've been around a long time and like, but at some point you need to be able to adapt to today's game or adapt to this generation of player, whether it's just personality based, like you got to be able to, you know, deal with these players on a personal level, on a level, level that you know, you know, like you look at like Popovich and I know pops didn't help, but you look at some of these older guys, it's just like, it's hard to deal with 19 year old kids, you know what I mean? So I just think JJ's hit it. He's obviously played with all these guys, as you said, played against all of them and it's paying off, man, he's been terrific.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, I just think it's going to be really interesting and I love that we have a coach on today because if you look what went on in college football with like Michael Vick and like guy like guys that you never even really knew wanted to coach, took a job and in biology accounts, I, I guess JJ has always wanted to coach, I don't know. But the podcast and the commentating seemed like, oh wow, he's so good at this and it's a natural fit. Do we now see a run on this? Like, oh, look who just retired. You want a job? Do we see a run on that?

[Matt Leinart]

It's interesting. We're going to see more and you look at, but you look at basketball. It didn't, it didn't really work out for Steve Nash. Jason kids, Jason Kid's been great. You know, he's coached for a long time. But you're seeing it, you're seeing it more in football. Vic desean Jackson, Eddie George, obviously Coach prime. Like I know, I think Ray Lewis threw his hat in the ring for something. Ed Reed, like you're gonna see a lot. I'm probably missing guys, you're gonna see a lot more and I think it's going to be, especially if some of these guys just have a little bit of success because all it takes is a little bit because a lot of these schools, I mean I'm around this game like they, they love the fact that, that a coach played at the highest level and can kind of relate to these players. So it's going to be curious to see over the next five to ten years how many former athletes are, are coaching at the professional ranks.

[Jerry Ferrara]

All right, we're going to do the mailbag later, after we talk to coach. This would have been my mailbag question to you.

[Matt Leinart]

What's up? What's up? What's up with you over there, man?

[Jerry Ferrara]

So all of you listening out there too, feel free to tweet at us with your responses if you have a heads up for me. Because I, I think I know what to do. I'm not quite sure. So when we were at the super bowl doing the, the live show from the fanatics carpet, you know, I got an email from my agent saying, hey, we, we have this offer for you. And right away I saw Nick's game. I'm like, okay, what do we got? What is this?

[Matt Leinart]

Hell, yeah.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Basically, you know, Crocs is doing this collab with Monsters, Inc. And Pixar like they always do. They've done it with like, cars and all those movies. And they want you to wear some of the, you know, the Crocs to courtside at the Knicks game. And I was super into it and I thought, oh, wow, this would be really cool. My son, who's not even six yet, loves Monsters, Inc. Loves Crocs. We can make a father son trip out of it. This will be like once in a lifetime. Great. So it all happens. I take my five year old, we stay in the city, we walk to msg, we go through that whole crazy VIP experience. And now he's sitting courtside with me for the whole. And he. Matt loves, loves it. He loves basketball. He. Every day he wakes up, he says, did the Knicks win? Tell me about the game. All this stuff he's in on basketball, I love it. And he's only been to one other game before this, we went to a Cavs game and we, we were lucky. We sat in someone else's suite. By the way, these are. This is not on my dime, so I'm not balling like this. But here's the question. And you've been, you must have been through this with Cole. And you're going to go through this with your. With your other three children courtside and the suite. That's not real life. I did not grow up that way. Neither did I, in every seat in Yankee Stadium in Madison Square Garden. And yes, I'm allotted these cool opportunities. I don't know if that's going to last forever. Number one, maybe if throwbacks continues to grow, who knows if I pop up on tv. But number two, I. I want him to know that this is sacred. This is special. This is not how it goes. So what. What do I do here? He's Too young to explain it to. I told him a million times when we, like we were sitting. Course I'd whisper to him, this is in real life.

[Matt Leinart]

Let me ask, let me ask, let me ask you a question though. If, and this is more about us as parents. If the Knicks call you up and say, hey, Jerry, we are. Or, you know, this. We have this collab, whatever. The. The same situation.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Same situation.

[Matt Leinart]

But it's not courtside, but it's still free tickets. Something tells me that you, Jerry Farrar, say, well, man, I'm not going to take my kid to this if I'm sitting 15 rows up, like center court. That. See, that's my dilemma with this. Because one, you look at it two ways and I doubt and I can get into Cole. But you look at it two ways is like you've built that relationship with the Knicks. That's your baby. You love it, they take care of you. You could probably sit in a suite for any cavs like you. You get taken care of by the sports there for what you've been able to do.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And you're like, and I love sport. I think they're aware of how much I love it and appreciate it.

[Matt Leinart]

And I get. Yeah. And I'm this. And you love it. So like. And I think that's why Nick's. I think people take care of you because you, you're a genuine fan. And I'm in the same position, I think, with LA sports and like, like, I can make a call and probably sit in a suite at any game. And I'm not boasting. I just probably can do that. And that's, that's, that's a great, it's great to be able to do that. Now. I can't. I gotta be honest with you. If the Lakers text me and say, hey, dude, we got two tickets that are like lower bowl 20 rows up. You want to take your five year old? I'm just not sure how I'm going, dude. And that's my. And that's because I have been so lucky to like be able to sit. You know what I mean? So, like, that's why I asked.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Tickets knob. We're tickets.

[Matt Leinart]

We're. Yeah, I mean, we're tickets a little bit. A little bit.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So I'd rather watch it at home than be.

[Matt Leinart]

It's hard for you as a dad. Like, you're not gonna sit. You're not gonna go fly to New York if they take care of you, put you up and sit 20 rows up with your boy. You're Just not gonna do it. Well, you're not gonna.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Here's what I say. I, I wouldn't do it with him now at 5 years old because I, I need to figure out how much he loves it. But I want to keep exposing them because I think it's helped. I think him going to two games in a month, it's great.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Has helped him, like, really enjoy basketball. And he's playing now. I feel like if it was like a year or two and that offer came through and he. And I knew, like, he loved basketball. You. Yes, I would do it. I. But I, I'm. I'm. What I'm asking is like, no, I know. It's like, should I just, like, not wait for these opportunities where I get these elaborate invites and I don't. By the way, we go to Guardians games here in Cleveland all the time. And going to a game with a five year old in general is hard. Okay. It's not like, that's easy. It's different when. If it's like my 16 year old nephew who would sit anywhere and I would go sit with him, I just, I'm worried those are his only two experiences. And like, my fear is, what if we go sit 20 rows back and he's like, dad, why are we all the way back here if that happens? That's my biggest fear.

[Matt Leinart]

Look, these kids, I mean, the same thing I have with Cole and you know, again, very similar. Like taking them to stuff, you get, you get, you get behind the scenes. You get to go in the locker room. Like, you just, you just get. That's cool that you're like, holy. Like, let's go. Like, I want to bring my son. And he experienced. And then it's like, hey, dad, why aren't we doing this? Or why aren't we in the suite? Or hey, are we gonna meet Kobe again this time? Like, no, no, no, no, no. We're like, we're sitting at the second bowl. All right, I might get you some popcorn. You're gonna shut up. I'm gonna watch the game.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Right.

[Matt Leinart]

And he became, you know, he had a relationship with the Clippers at a time and all that.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

He just became numb to going to games. I mean, to every, every game. And so, like. Yeah. And you're. He's seen it. So it's like, hey, bud. Like, it's, it's, it's funny. I will say this. It kind of goes through phases. Just like in anything, you have your toddler phase. You're all about the parents, right? They Want to be around you. And then you go into middle school, and then they become kind of. And they get. They go through puberty, and they don't want to be around mom and dad anymore. They had their friends over. Like, there's that phase, and then you. And then you kind of come back, and then it's high school, and then they become even worse, and then, like, then it comes back full again. And now it's like, the other day when we went to the Lakers Mavs game, we ended up sitting in a suite. But Cole. Cole's like, dad, let's go the game. I could have bought any ticket in the house. He just wanted to be in the arena, which is pretty cool, you know? And, like, I wasn't about to spend a thousand dollars to sit in the nosebleeds per ticket to see that game. So is that what they were running.

[Jerry Ferrara]

For that Luca game? Thousand a ticket for the.

[Matt Leinart]

The top section was seven or eight hundred dollars.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Damn.

[Matt Leinart]

The lower bowl was two or three grand or something, like, just for that game. So I'm with you. I think it's. I think it's a balance. I think it's. It's. Dude, I. You. And I grew up the same way I grew up. I went to one. I would go to one. Maybe a Dodgers game, maybe one at the top. We would go to Disneyland maybe once a year. And I grew up 20 minutes from it. We would go to maybe Lakers Showtime, kind of late 80s, early 90s, maybe, like, maybe. And that was to get into the door just to sit at the top. Like, I remember going to a Clippers game at the old LA Sports arena, and we were like nosebleeds. And it was. Maybe it was Clippers, Lakers. And like, that was just. You looked forward to that. It was. It was like Christmas. It's like, I can't wait to go to the game with my. My dad or my brother. And you just enjoyed the experience. So it's. Man, I took Cole on a, like, freaking a private plane extravaganza a couple months.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah. You went on the. Arguably the greatest boss college football trip ever.

[Matt Leinart]

That was like. That's. That was for me, like once in a lifetime. And I. And he's. And it was. It was so funny because I think I told you, but we were in the plan. And he goes. He was like, dad, this is unbelievable. And you saw.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Appreciated it.

[Matt Leinart]

He appre. I again, I think you just appreciate. It's just. We always say, like, it's not real life. It's ages and phases man, like, they just. That they appreciate it when they're older. When they're younger, they're in it. They don't know any better. So you just. Look, I just don't think you pass up. You can't pass up opportunities, though. Like, if you get to exper. Because then you'll. You'll regret it. Like, you get to experience. Let me ask you a question. When you're flying, you're not flying. Are you flying? You're just flying economy, the whole crew. Are you going first class?

[Jerry Ferrara]

Where, like when we went. When him and I went to New York or. No.

[Matt Leinart]

Well, you probably got flown by them. I'm just saying in general. Because another thing, like, I like Cole's experience first class. Before, I was like, bro, we fly coach, man.

[Jerry Ferrara]

We fly the Ferraris. Fly coach. Because number one, I think my bri or like, likes to be in the same row as both kids.

[Matt Leinart]

It's easier when you have kids and you're just.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And they're so young. Look, there's. If there's ever two things I'm ridiculously, like, uptight boish about. Yeah. And sorry. We all have a thing. It's sports tickets and, like, look for. On long flights, like first class guys. It's just awesome. You know it is. I know it's unaffordable and most of the world can't do it. I get it. And that's why I would ask anybody else, too, if you're getting this amazing invite to take your kids to a Knicks game, you would take it no matter who you are, whether you could buy the tickets or you couldn't. So I was. That's the discussion I was having with a friend. He's like, you know, you got to just maybe take them to sit in the nosebleeds. And I'm happy to do it, but what's. Bullshit.

[Matt Leinart]

You ain't doing it. No, you're not doing it. That's.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Listen.

[Matt Leinart]

No, you're not. You will never take your boys to the nosebleeds to Madison Square.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I sat in the nosebleeds at the old Yankee Stadium and watched Dwight Gooden's no hitter and didn't leave. Yeah. No one through knew he's throwing a no hitter.

[Matt Leinart]

It's like, there's zero chance, bro. There's zero chance. You're sitting. Bro. I'm not even sitting in the nose. I'm not gonna do that.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I just gotta balance it out. So when he's like 11 years old and I'm like, hey, son, I got Good tickets to the. Whatever Cavs. Nicks, like, if he's, like, courtside. If he says courtside, and I'm gonna. I'm gonna probably.

[Matt Leinart]

I want people watching. Send us to the mailbag. Send us a question. Give us. Give us an experience you've had with your kid. Help us, because it's. It's definitely spoiled.

[Jerry Ferrara]

We don't want it.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, but shit. That shit's great.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Well, also, I got grateful. I got into another. Here's. Here's the Twitter argument of the week for me, right? Because, you know, I only really tweet about the Knicks, and I went on Ian Bagley show, the beat reporter for the Knicks, but he's not. He's more than he. He's the voice, like, journalistically for the Knicks that, like, you want to get real information. And I went on his show with someone, with this other amazing content creator mill, and this one dude on tour was like, this guy, he ain't gonna say anything controversial about the Knicks. He doesn't want to lose his tickets.

[Matt Leinart]

And I'm like.

[Jerry Ferrara]

But first, that. He is wrong.

[Matt Leinart]

No, he's not.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Matt.

[Matt Leinart]

You don't think these owners. By the way, who's the owner of the Knicks?

[Jerry Ferrara]

No. Dolan. Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

He doesn't like. He doesn't like anyone talking about his squad.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I criticize the Knicks all the time, but I don't do it in, like, a ways. Team sucks.

[Matt Leinart]

Well, garbage.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Like, I don't do it like that.

[Matt Leinart]

You walk the line.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I make actual points. Okay. Instead of. So I'm sorry. I speak my mind. I'm not controlled by my.

[Matt Leinart]

What would you do if you lost your. What would you. Would you be heartbroken if you lost your Knicks connection? Like, if they just. If they just said, hey, Jerry, sorry, buddy, we're just. We don't have these tickets for you anymore. That'd be a sad day at the Ferrari.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Voice goes up. You know what? I. It would be sad. And I would just say, though, wow, what a run. What a run I have. What a run. I wasn't supposed to be there anyway, so. What a. What a run. But here's what people forget.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, you are so full of. You'd be so bummed.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I would be bummed. But I would stay. The overarching feeling would be like, what a. What a great run. Yeah, but you gotta remember, I was going to the Knicks games in 06.07. I go look at the Knicks roster in 08. Go ahead. They won 19 games. They won 19 games. And I was sitting.

[Matt Leinart]

Couldn't even name a player on 08.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Exactly. Chris Duhan, who I love, by the way, had 20 assists in the game. All right. Free.

[Matt Leinart]

Well, was Freewell back in the day?

[Jerry Ferrara]

No, Spreewell was gone, way gone by then. It was like Robinson, David Lee.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, David Lee. Yeah. Alan Houston is way older. Never mind.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Alan Houston finished up around 2002.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah, he was right.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So anyway. All right, it's time now for our fresh moves of the week, brought to you by Wendy's. Go to Wendy's and taste the difference in a hamburger. This is where Matt and I point out a fresh move of the week. You're not gonna like this one, my friend. Okay, there's been a lot of chatter with the Giants and this Aaron Rodgers stuff, right? Aaron Rodgers no longer with the jets, looking for a home. Rumors are he was talking to the Giants. Who knows? Of course, the initial reaction is like, wait, why, why would any both sides want to do this? I'm going to give you a potential fresh move of the week. Giants sign Aaron Rodgers to a reasonable number. Very, very reasonable.

[Matt Leinart]

Which they'll get a reasonable number. Yes, absolutely right. Just going a one year deal.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah. Oh, one year deal.

[Matt Leinart]

25. 20. 25.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Maybe even less. Maybe even less. Who knows? We'll see. Maybe more reasonable than that. Okay. But somewhere in there, and then they take a player at three, whether it's Travis Hunter or an edge rusher, they go maybe defense friendly first or what? And just pick a position because they need a million. Maybe sign a wide receiver in the off season. Cooper cup, something like that. And then if you could pull this off, and this is where I need your help.

[Matt Leinart]

I'm. I'm pulling up the draft right now. The second.

[Jerry Ferrara]

How far up would the Giants need to trade from their second round spot to be realistically have a shot at Jackson Darth. Because he's rising, isn't he?

[Matt Leinart]

So. Oh yeah. So the, the Giants will pick third and the second.

[Jerry Ferrara]

He'll be third in the second.

[Matt Leinart]

Right? Okay.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So he won't be there.

[Matt Leinart]

No, he won't. So I gotta be honest with you.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Please.

[Matt Leinart]

I think one of the two quarterbacks is gonna be there at three for the Giants. I don't think. I don't think Shador and Cam are going one and two. I think one of them might fall past that. I don't, I just. I don't. I don't know. I think it's one of those years where every, every year there's always a year where you reach and you take quarterbacks and I think both of those guys are really different and very, very talented. I just. Are they walking in and changing the course of a franchise? Day one. I, you know, I think that's always the course.

[Jerry Ferrara]

There's a lot of risk with both of them.

[Matt Leinart]

There's just a lot of. There's. Yeah. I just think this one is different. And again, like last year's class was ridiculous. Right? Like Daniel's. Like you just like all of them played great. B Knicks, Drake. I mean that might go down.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You got four studs in the first round.

[Matt Leinart]

Pennx ended up starting late. Like you might have five or six start like, you know, McCarthy.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

Sam Donald's not coming back.

[Jerry Ferrara]

That is a crazy. We might be. It's a crazy.

[Matt Leinart]

It's a crazy. And they all. Most of them had all tremendous success as a rookie. All that being said, I, I think the Giants are going to have a chance to get a quarterback at three is what I think is going to happen now. They.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Right.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah. And they might. So they might get one of those guys.

[Jerry Ferrara]

But that's my fresh move. I'm set. My fresh move is trying to say I Cam Ward should do. I do. I agree with you. One of them might be there. But if you have the chance of getting an elite, whether it's edge rusher, Trav, you know, trap like DB White, like if you have a chance to grab that and still get a quarterback that has a lot of upside and you have Rogers to shepherd it for a year, I just feel like you're left with a better chance of speeding this awful process that the Giants are in.

[Matt Leinart]

They do. They need to run. They need so much.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I like Tyra Tracy. They think about three.

[Matt Leinart]

At three you're gonna get a three. You can get. I mean like Abdul Carter is going to be gone in the top three. You're going to get an elite pass rusher. You probably. You can get Travis Hunter, an elite player athlete. Ashton Genti is going to go in the top 10. I don't know if he's three for the Giants at running back or you go quarterback. To your point, it would be kind of nice if you get Rogers for a year and then. And you can get Dart, who kind of very similar to Rogers, a little bit of gunslinger can. Can move and Rogers could run well in his prime. I just don't. I think dart is going to go somewhere in the mid to mid first round. I just think someone.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So they might not be able to get there.

[Matt Leinart]

It's a pretty unique draft.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You told me Travis Hunter. I think the Giants are rogers to.

[Matt Leinart]

Pick A QB at 3 is what I'm telling you. I think they're. I don't know if. I don't know if they will.

[Jerry Ferrara]

This draft's going to be awesome. But most importantly, now we've talked a lot about coaches, let's bring on coach Lindsay Gottlieb, okay? When it comes to making the best hamburger around, the basics matter. And Wendy's.

[Matt Leinart]

They've.

[Jerry Ferrara]

They've really got those burger basics on lock. And boy, does it show.

[Matt Leinart]

So what's the secret to all those hot and juicy hamburgers? It's simple. Wendy's always crafts their hamburgers with that fresh, never frozen beef they're famous for. The result? Hot and juicy beefy hamburger perfection every time. No matter which hamburger you order from the Wendy's menu, you already know that. Thanks to those Wendy burgers basics, it's going to be exactly what you're craving.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So as long as you crave a hot and juicy hamburger, that will work. A hamburger made fresh just for you, not waiting for you. After all, the perfect burger doesn't spend its time waiting around. So when you want a hot and juicy hamburger made fresh just for you, it's got to be Wendy's. Fresh is kind of their thing, you know.

[Matt Leinart]

Fresh beef available in the contiguous U.S. alaska and Canada, not available in Hawaii.

[Jerry Ferrara]

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[Matt Leinart]

EBGLIS Lebricizumab, LBKZ, a 250 milligram per 2 milliliter injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies. Ebglis can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you're allergic to ebglis. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Epglis. Before starting Epglis, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection searching for.

[Jerry Ferrara]

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[Matt Leinart]

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[Lindsay Gottlieb]

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[Matt Leinart]

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[Lindsay Gottlieb]

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[Matt Leinart]

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[Lindsay Gottlieb]

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[Matt Leinart]

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[Jerry Ferrara]

$39.99 for your first year. Visit McAfee.com, cancel anytime terms apply.

[Matt Leinart]

Okay, I am, I am so excited right now. I have chills. I almost played our fight song because on throwbacks this week we have the women of Troy. USC head basketball coach Lindsey Gottlieb. What is up, coach? Thank you for joining us.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Thanks for having me. This is super exciting.

[Matt Leinart]

First of all, before we dive in to the year that you guys are having, and I know it's not done and there's. And just the state of women's basketball because I think it's never been at its. It gets at its highest peak right now. You're from New York and Jerry's from New York, and I, since we've done this podcast, I've learned more about New York Knicks and Yankees than I want to. So my question to you really quickly is, are we a Knicks fan? Are we a Yankees fan? Are we a Mets? Are we a Nets? What are we?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

We are Yankees and Knicks all the way.

[Matt Leinart]

There you go. There you go. Every, every week we do this podcast. We have there, there is something about the Knicks that happens.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

It's always something as there should be.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah. If you, you grew up with the same kind of torment as I did. But, but Matt's on some run. Okay. Dodgers win the World Series, Luke is in la, and now, you know, USC beats ucla number one. See, he's on C. Some incredible. LA in general is on an incredible run right now. I always say there's nothing better like having lived in LA for so long. You know, it's just the, when the vibes are right and high like this, it is the best city in the world. I really believe that.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Yes, totally. So as a New Yorker, you never lose those roots of Knicks. I mean, you were in that Patrick Ewing era as well, right? I mean, it was, it was. That's what I grew up with. But I, I don't Feel like my LA kind of my LA grounding now it doesn't feel as competitive, you know, in, in the way that you think it might like my history, my childhood is New York, but now I'm all in. You know, it was a little hard this year with the Yankees Dodgers thing, but generally I feel like I can be both an LA sports fan and a New York sports fan most of the time.

[Matt Leinart]

Well, I was, I was at game five. I'm a die hard Dodgers fan, so I was at game five in New York rubbing it in. Jerry does have court size, courtside, New York Knicks seats, so. And he just took his son a couple weeks ago. So Jerry, Jerry's living a good life over there.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I don't own those seats, coach.

[Matt Leinart]

What? First regular season title since 94. You know, you kind of see all the stats. 26 and 2. The Big Ten tournament starts this week. Most likely going to be a number one seed. I want to jump ahead, but you guys are having an incredible year. Just. Can you sum up just the season so far? I mean, it is. I, I've been to a couple games, I've felt the buzz around this team. Obviously you have the star in juju, just. But for you, for this team, what makes this year so special?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Yeah, well, first, just to go back a little bit. When I, when I took the job, you know, what an incredible place USC is, Matt, and what it should be. But let's be real. You know, there were 500 people in the stands and I had recruits saying, other coaches tell me you'll never get fans here. And so now it's never lost on me when I walk in that building and there's 10,000 people and it is buzz. And so that's the overarching thing that I'm like, you know, that's really incredible to have been part of that trajectory. But for this year in particular, you know, we had juju returning, you know, her freshman year kind of spoke for itself. And then we added the number one recruiting class and the top, you know, portal transfer, Kiki area FN and another really big transfer in tvo. Um, and all of a sudden there are these expectations. Like here we are launching from upstarts last year to, in the real national conversation and we didn't shy away from those expectations. But I'll tell you, it was, it has been not harder, but it's been a challenge, right? Like to just. You don't throw talent together and all of a sudden be as great as you're supposed to be. And so I Think this year really is what I'm most proud of, is that the team has committed to figuring out how to have great individual players that become a really cohesive team. And I think our depth was on display against ucla. I think our star power was on display. I think our toughness was on display. And so that, to me, has been the most significant thing, that we took a bunch of really good people with high expectations, and I hope we've delivered. And now, you know, March is in. April is when, you know, the real stories are told, and we hope we can keep it going.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah. You know, Matt was mentioning, like, the Knicks courtside and all the celebrity that that game. I mean, there was some people in. And whether the road team or home team, it doesn't matter. That was such a huge run. Did you at any point, I mean, I know you're probably so locked in, or did any of the players just look around and go, this game feels a little bit bigger than. It's just as important. Just feels a little bit bigger.

[Matt Leinart]

It was bigger. There's no doubt.

[Jerry Ferrara]

It was.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

It was huge. Last year, when I looked across and LeBron was sitting courtside, I had to remind myself, he's not here to watch me, he's watching the player. Crazy thing. Michael B. Jordan came this year earlier and Snoop, and we've had a ton of people. So by the time we got to UCLA this year, I think the players kind of expected. It's crazy. Like, I didn't even know until after that. You know, John Legend was there and obviously Cheryl and Reggie and Jason Sudeikis comes all the time. It's. This sounds crazy, but, like, it's kind of now. This is what people expect with LA women's basketball. How cool is that? You know, it's really neat to be part of it.

[Matt Leinart]

It's actually, I was thinking about this before this interview because it reminds me a little bit of my time back at USC when we were. We were. We weren't very good. Then Pete took over and we obviously just catapulted into the national conversation a lot like you guys are doing. And we had, you know, we had at that time, Snoop has still been a big USC fan. Will Ferrell, it was always just the who's who. And it became. People always ask me, like, it just became normal for us. Like, at this point, just like, we just were like dapping up stoop on the sideline. Just became an everyday thing, which is crazy to say. And you guys are getting that and much deserved. And it's so fun like, when I went to the game this year, well, I was sitting next to. I got courtside. USC women's basketball, Jerry. So beat that.

[Jerry Ferrara]

As you should. As you should.

[Matt Leinart]

Next to Juju's family, who's just hilarious. Like, it's just. It was just. It was just really fun to be there and soak that up and. Because I remember going. I mean, back in college, you know, I. I went to a couple women's game. Like, I just. It's just a different feel for. For the celebrity thing. Is there someone that I know you're locked in, but that you were like, I would love to see this person across courtside. Is there some of that, like, you would just love to see at one of your games?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Serena Williams. That's been. That's been my. I'd be like, oh, my gosh. And I. I just saw that she is now an investor in the Toronto Tempo, the new WNBA team, which is so. But I think we all have our different ones. I think Juju had one where she said, you know, sinai, like, in loving basketball. Then she came. So that was cool. I think Michael B. Jordan was a big one for some of our players, so that was neat. But for me, well. Well, Serena and the Obamas, that would be my two. Probably top, top, top.

[Matt Leinart]

We're gonna. We're gonna get them there. This. This podcast is gonna get them there. That's awesome. You think maybe one of the biggest regular season games of all time in women's basketball, if you really think about it, and because the rivalry as well.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

I think so. I mean, look at what was on the line, right? A Big Ten regular season championship. We literally had the same record. The crosstown rivalry, you know, the national rankings. Definitely the biggest one that I've been involved in.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I've been following you for quite some time. I have some Cleveland roots as well. I married beautiful woman from Cleveland. We spend a lot of time here now. But I think it was maybe like the Players Tribune piece you wrote or I don't remember what, but I heard you talk about just how you're like, X's and O's nerd, right? And that's awesome, and I love that. Is it hard to, like, I always wonder this with coaching and coaches. Like, can you turn that part of your brain off? Like, when you go home, Right? I know you have kids. You have a family. It's like, or me. I don't think I would ever be able to turn it off. I think X's and O's is a fan. While I'M here with my kids. My kids are like, what are you doing? I'm like, I'm wondering how Brunson's going to work with Cat. Like, I can only imagine what it's like for a coach who actually does this for a living. So what's that like for you, whether you're going into a big game like ucla, like, are you able to do it at work and then come home, or is it still something that comes home with you?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

So when I go home and, yep, the kids and the chaos. But like, if I'm watching a game at home, I'd love to just watch games like a fan. So of course you think about what coaching adjustment they made or what's going on. But, like, my husband will be like, talking about the coach and being a fan, you know, or like, talking about they should have done this or that. Like, can you let me just watch? Like, I just want to watch. I don't care about the outcome. It's fun, you know? So I try to shut off the. The analyzing of what was run and how they're defending a screen. You can't totally shut it off. Like, you're always watching. But I like to be able to watch basketball for fun because it's so different than studying and studying your own team and trying to think about how you can better or what we could do differently. So I like to just try to watch sports as a normal person at home.

[Matt Leinart]

There is zero. I get asked all the time if I would ever coach or get into coaching. I do love coaching. I love coaching my little kids. But I. When I coached Cole's flag football team, and this is true story, we, you know, you build youth. Sports is fun to. It's fun to coach at that age. And we built like, we were really good in flag football. We won all these championships. And then you built. You build rivalries within the league with other teams. And when he got to like 6th, 7th, 8th grade before high school, I would. I would watch film of flag football games that would keep me. No, I swear, I couldn't believe it all. My wife was like, what the hell is wrong with you? They're in seventh grade. And I was like. And I wasn't like a yeller or screamer, but I was just like, if I'm invested in this, I'm. I'm going. Like, I'm going to. I lost. I had sleepless nights coaching my oldest son's flag football team. So it is very hard to turn off. I want to ask you, coach, about you Know, Jerry mentioned X's and O's, and you look at your career and ucsb, you led them to the ncaa, NCAA tournament, Cal. I remember when you were at Cal and you had a Final Four run, I think, and then came to usc. So you've built and won everywhere you've been. Is there. Pete's number one thing in building was just competition. It was like every, like, relentless pursuit of competing at the highest level. And everything you did, which would breed success everywhere, right from the starters to the backups, all those things. Is there an underlying ingredient for you on how to build a championship team?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

I mean, I would almost say if his one word was competition, I would almost say my one word would be relationships. Like, you just can't do it anymore in college without having a pulse on the people. And so I think it's building relationships within your team, like player to player and respect and, you know, how they interact with one another and whether that is competing as well. And then within the organization, the assistant coaches and me and the players, I think there has to be an ecosystem of that piece of it before the X's and O's even matter. But then I would say the second thing would be just this. This attempted excellence and what that looks like, because, you know, this year we were. We were pretty good. We were good enough to win even when we weren't at our best. And so it became about how do we create a culture where they still want to get better even when we're winning? So maybe that's the competitive part that comes out as well. Now in the NBA, relationships still really matter in the NBA as well. But that's probably the most X's and O's I did, because you don't have all the other stuff. You're not going to class and you're not recruiting. So there was a lot of just like sitting around and exes and owing, which was incredible, too. But college, I think the human relationship piece is just so important.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I love that you were all locked out before drafting Darius Garland. That was one of my favorite stories I read in a long time in the players tribute. You must have been freaking out.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

We couldn't get in the building. I was like, wait, what's. What's going on? It was awesome. But how about the Cavs now? Are you a Cleveland sports fan at all?

[Jerry Ferrara]

So Matt and I talk about this a lot because our kids are being raised in Cleveland. I. I will never give up the Knicks. I just can't. So I'm willing to give up, like, if they want to, like the Guardians, I'll let it go. The Browns fought whatever. Browns are Giants. They're going to be in sports therapy no matter what. But I just can't. Like the Knicks. No. And the Cavs have been insane this year. Like, really, really. That game against Boston, down 25 and then still coming back. I don't even know how they did that.

[Matt Leinart]

Were you. Were you on the. Were you on the staff when Luke was on the staff? Walton or.

[Jerry Ferrara]

No, no. So.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, you weren't. You guys missed.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

We missed. But J. But obviously, you know, he's really tight with JB Bickerstaff, as am I still. He brought on Luke. I think when I left, maybe the year after I. The year after I left.

[Matt Leinart]

So Luke's. I think Luke's in. Luke's in Detroit now.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I got one more, you know, you brought. Because, like, I love what Matt was saying, too, about, like, everywhere you've got, like, you know, how you approach a new. I'm gonna call it like a project, but you're at a new place, and maybe it's a place that hasn't been winning. And then you mentioned even, like, JB's with the Cavs for a long time, it kind of ran its course. Then he goes to Detroit, a place that hasn't won in a very long time. And JB was now, like, oh, he couldn't get the cast. And now they're on this amazing trajectory. So, I mean, there's so many moving parts when you get to a new job in general. So do you ever find it hard to, like, where do I start? Or do you always have a clear picture of, like, we start here and build out from after this?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

I think you have to. You have to have a clear picture before you start. And right. For me, when I talk to young coaches or assistants who want to become head coaches, you got to take the right job for you. Because I don't know that. You know, when I was in the PAC 12, Scott Ruick went to Oregon State, who was at the bottom, and he built them to be really good. I don't know that I could have done that at Oregon State, but I could do it at Cal and I could do it at usc. I think you have to know what your messaging is going to be. You have to know what it's going to entail. You know, is it. Is it a culture, you know, fix? Is it totally starting from the bottom? Is it taking. When I got to Cal, it was a group that was talented, but maybe it underperformed and it was saying, we have what we need in this room. Now let's take the next step versus here. I had to, you know, really kind of start over a bit in terms of establishing what we want to be. But you got to know what place you're coming to is a good fit for you to recruit to. It has to be authentic. And then you come in with a plan and then, you know, plans get expedited when you get a Juju Watkins to walk in the door.

[Matt Leinart]

Well, I was, I was going to ask you. You come to a place and you see all the ladies behind you, Cheryl Miller and Lisa, I mean some of the absolute greats to play the women's game. And then you have one of the greats now and who will be for the next 10 to 15 years. When you talk about a superstar, I know you probably, you talk about her at nauseum and people ask what it's like in this and it's. She's just incredible. I've seen her, I've told Jerry, I'm like, you have to see her in person. She's ridiculous. Like she's, she's just ridiculous. And I think JJ Redick was at the game the other night and he said like she's one of one. I, you're probably running out of adjectives to describe her. Who does her game remind you of? Maybe it's a men's game. You've been you around the cast. Maybe it's some of the all time women. Like who does she remind you of when she plays basketball?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

I mean the, the first one that comes to mind is Kobe. I, I know that sounds so.

[Matt Leinart]

I love it.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

But it's not, you know, like I, I just think about her at her size, right. She's 62 wing strong, strong. She's a natural scorer. Her body control, the hang in the air, the take, the contact. She's a killer. Right. Like the Mamba mentality thing has it. And, and the, the defensive abilities. I mean she just was named not only Big ten player of the year, but on the first team, all defensive. But then on from a female side, I would say maybe some Maya Moore as well. Maya was just so smooth and utilized the inside outside game because of the ability to shoot it and playing the post a little bit. But those are the two that I, I would most like in her too. The get her game.

[Matt Leinart]

See, I'm a die hard Kobe. It's my favorite athlete of all time.

[Jerry Ferrara]

It was fun when Matt and I shot at USC and we did you know you said you watched it? I'm horrified that you watched our three point shootout. Even though that was kind of the point.

[Matt Leinart]

I'm still upset with my, my, my score because I know I'm a lot better than that. But it's okay. Go ahead, Jerry.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, no, we, so we were on like a little bit of a break and we went to go get lunch. Now I didn't go to college really. Like, I went six months. I already was like getting ready to move to LA to pursue acting. I never had that big campus feeling, so anytime I've gotten that chance to witness that, I always think it's pretty cool. So we go to get lunch and you know, all the kids are, I call them kids, young people. I don't want to sound too old. And then like just looking over at this young lady who's like a backpack and everyone like, oh, shoot, there's juju right there, like online to get some kind of salad bowl or something. You don't realize.

[Matt Leinart]

It was so funny.

[Jerry Ferrara]

It was so funny. It was the most routine day for them. And I'm over here like, oh, no, this is, this is one of the best players in the world right now. And I forget that just like everyday campus life, maybe it's because I didn't experience it, but that was pretty cool. Just to see him and all in their element, just going about their lives. It was cool.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

It's. I mean, I love that for her, right? Like you want them to have the campus life. I mean, there's so much of her existence now that isn't totally normal. But she's 19, you know, and, and I think the other quality about her beyond the basketball talent is sort of the grace with which she handles all of this. She's all about LA and her community and the, the school. And she's completely humble and really a great teammate and beloved by our teammates. And then at the same time she is becoming this really mega star. And you know, she handles that well too. Like, she, she's kind of stepping into that greatness and she handles that like, hey, I'm, I'm, I've earned this. And at the same time is going to get a salad bowl, you know, Right.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Whatever.

[Matt Leinart]

She.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, I said south bottle. I actually don't know what she was eating that day. I don't want to spread a false story.

[Matt Leinart]

I, I know she's like LA homegrown and urban. Meyer always tells this funny story when he got Tim Tebow and this was a long time ago and it was Signing day. And he was in the car, and Urban is very, very, very, very intense. And Tebow was like the prize get. Like, he was close, and he was on the phone with him and his phone died. Right before he was gonna. Tim was calling him to say he was gonna commit to Florida. And this is when I think he probably did it on tv, I don't know. But he was calling him to tell him, coach, I'm gonna be a gator. And it. And it died. And he. Coach tells a story. He was panicking. He was like, I didn't know what to do. Like, he was freaking out. Is there. Was it an easy recruiting process for juju? Is there a story? I mean, I've talked to Lincoln about just some. I mean, you know, in the NIL world, it's just. Just some of the ass and demands from some kids, and I'm sure maybe more so in football. But, like, it's kind of wild. What was recruiting her? Like, was there. Is there a funny story or is there a story that you can tell just in recruiting that's just wild?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Yep. Well, I mean, the first thing is, given all of the stories you hear now with nil and all of that, for juju, it was unbelievably small, internal. Like, they didn't put things on social media. I always tell people Juju is a Hooper who has become a star. She is not a social media star who happened to play basketball. Right. So she didn't put out a top 15 and then a top eight and then a top five like her. No one really knew with the recruiting what they were doing because they didn't publicize, was very authentic. And getting to really know her and her parents, like the small circle. So that part, it wasn't like a circus with all of the outside stuff, but it took a long time, you know, because I think they. They really wanted to do the whole thing. So. And there was, you know, now she's got the documentary series that's now out on Peacock, but that was following it. So she visited us all the way back in September. And now this thing was stretching on, and she did do, like a public announcement on ESPN or something. But to her credit, because she's such a. Just a good person, she said to her parents, like, mom, I. I need to tell Lindsay. I don't want her worried anymore. And I was seven and a half months pregnant, maybe eight and a half months pregnant. Eight and a half. Because my daughter was born on October 14th. And so the announcement came closer to signing day. So she said, I need to tell Lindsay. So Juju said, can you talk at this time, this day? And I was like, let me go for a walk. So I'm like waddling around my neighborhood. And she said she's coming. And I swear that, like, at that moment, my water could have broken.

[Matt Leinart]

You probably burst into tears. You're probably very emotional too. What is that?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

I was. There were definitely. There was. There was a public announcement maybe a week or two later, but she did let me know at that point. And I think, you know, she and my daughter are pretty close, so maybe it's because, you know, my. My daughter got a little shake in.

[Matt Leinart]

There and you still get her for two more years, too. Isn't that amazing? That's crazy.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Yep, it's wild.

[Jerry Ferrara]

It must be pretty wild now too, because we mentioned, like, the comfort of, like, being on campus. And I know, like, even playing ucla, it's still a road game, but you're still in LA going on the road now with this team. You know, everyone's kind of gunning for you. Those road games, I don't know if they feel like the most intense that you. You've been involved in so many, but I imagine traveling with this team is just. May feel a little different. I'm just guessing here.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Yeah, I mean, part of it is, you know.

[Matt Leinart]

Right.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

The newness of the traveling with sort of Juju and the team started, but also our first year in the Big Ten, so you're going to these places. But I. I saw some stat recently where whatever someone's average attendance was was like tripled when we were there. So we played in front of, you know, 20, 000 in Iowa, 15, 000. You know, Rutgers averaged like 1300 and they had 10, 000 when we played. Maryland was sold out. And it's really neat. You're seeing a lot of Juju buns and jerseys and other places, and you see their fan base come out, you know, right in full force. So it's been. It's been really neat, you know, to see that and be a part of it. It's good for all of our players. Right. I think it's really raised the profile of everybody and. And that's kind of why you make the move to the Big Ten, to allow them to play in these big cities and big markets, you know, in front of incredible fan bases.

[Matt Leinart]

I'm curious, Coach, because Caitlin Clark is sort of just help. I mean, there's a lot of women, obviously, and this has been last couple years, but Caitlin Clark really Like, has become the face of women's basketball, and in a positive way, in my opinion. And she left last year. And in a way, juju is inherited, being the face of women's basketball. How have you talked to her about that? Did you ever talk to her and just give her perspective? Because Caitlin deals with a lot of scrutiny, which she doesn't deserve. She's a Hooper too, I think, and just loves basketball. But did you ever have any conversation with Juju on just, hey, you now are going to be the face of women's basketball, whether you like it or not, and how she kind of handles herself?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Yeah. And. And I'm with you on. I think Caitlin's been amazing. We saw Caitlyn at the Wooden Awards last year where juju was a finalist and Caitlin was winning it. And Caitlin made a point to say, I had this sort of public attention for a year and a half, two years. Juju's going to have it for three, three and a half.

[Matt Leinart]

Right.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

And Caitlin said to me, here's my number. Reach out. Let me know how I can help. How can I help her navigate? It was really cool because you think about it, who else understands what juju may be experiencing other than someone like Caitlin? So. So, yes, I think, you know, with juju, I've talked about how can I put things in place to let you be you. To let you, you know, be at your best, but also help you navigate this. So we have talked about that. You know, we had a moment right after last season where she and I went to a Dodgers thing. It was like the foundation thing, like a big fundraiser, but the team comes, and that really hit me where, you know, you have all the Dodgers there and these fans are like screaming Juju's name. You know, she's very recognizable with the bun and everything, right? Oh, like, this is a city of stars and she's a star within here. What's going to happen, you know, nationally? And so I think she's kind of seen her life change a bit with it. But again, I think her family's put great resources around her just to allow her to be, you know, a kid. But also I think she takes that on and takes the responsibility and understands it comes with being who she is.

[Matt Leinart]

It's a lot like when Jerry walks around and they say, turtle. That's turtle.

[Jerry Ferrara]

It's not quite. I don't relate. No, I don't relate to that at all. But you know what I did relate with after the game when you mentioned that, like, your husband can't Even come to the games a hundred percent. That would be me.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I have a hard time. My wife was like a gymnast for a while. I have a hard time. Is she doing a cartwheel on the beach? I'm like, oh, I hope she sticks it. I hope she. I completely. And you mentioned already, like, when he watches games at home. So I already. I don't. I don't know your husband at all. I completely relate to him. I would never be. I would chew through nail. I would be a mess. I would be a mess.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

He's like your more classic sportsman. I mean, Matt, he would probably talk to you for hours about USC football and, you know, just, I mean, everything, right? And so you add in like, that now he knows all these officials and he's like, oh, you have this official on the game. I'm like, yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, he's intense.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

It's very. It's very fun. So, yes, he's. He's all in.

[Matt Leinart]

I think it's great, Lindsay, because, you know, you're. You have two kids, right? Yeah, two kids. You're married and just the. The role model that you are for a lot of. And I'm just like, we, like, we did a lot with girls flag football with our leagues down in Orange county, and I. And again, I just. From an outsider, just, like, I feel a lot of pride in growing that. I feel like you, like, should feel a lot of pride in just what you are doing for the women's game. And I know nationally, and you're coaching and I think you guys are going to win it all this year. Knock on wood. You're going to win a national championship. But do you feel like. Do you ever kind of take a breath and just be like, what you are doing? You're obviously, I mean, juju. Talk about juju. But the team and the recruiting, that this is all of this stuff, I just, I think it's really awesome to see what you're doing. Do you ever kind of pinch yourself and just say what your role is in helping women's basketball continue to elevate?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Well, thank you. I appreciate it. And I think the main thing is, you know, trying to just be present in all facets of my life, like, you know, to be a wife and a mom at home, to do this job, but also to integrate the two. As you guys know, you don't get to. Sports is a lifestyle. You don't get to shut it off. My family's evolved and they come here, but if I can do anything to show women or women's basketball that you don't have to sacrifice one thing or the other. I certainly have a ton of help. You know, we have child care. I have a really supportive administration. But I, I don't think anyone should have to sacrifice, you know, if they, if they want to be a mom and coach or try to integrate, you know, the two worlds. And we all have a responsibility, I think, with the women's game to continue to help grow it because that's the stage that it's at. And even, you know, when I was in the NBA, a lot of people asked, like, all I could do is show up as myself, right? And I only had one, my son Jordan at the time and wouldn't have Reese yet. But, you know, I had to try to be the best coach I could be. I wasn't trying to be anyone else in that league. There was no one really like me, like the guys and be who I was and hope that that opened up some eyes, you know, as well. But coming back to women's basketball, I think, yeah, I take a lot of pride in just trying to do what I do well so that other people believe that they can do it that way and also to help grow the game too.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And while. Did you upgrade your winter life going from Cleveland? I'm in it right now. It's the worst in the world.

[Matt Leinart]

Jerry will send me videos. I'm like, God, you gotta get back.

[Jerry Ferrara]

To la, dude, I gotta get back to la. I gotta get back.

[Matt Leinart]

No, no decision. Cleveland, Ohio. But, you know, there's nothing better than. Nothing better than la. Well, good luck, coach. Thank you for joining us.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yes, thank you.

[Matt Leinart]

Obviously, you know, we met a handful of years ago, but super proud of you and what you've done and you're going to keep. Keep crushing it. So good luck. Bring home a title. Bring bring home a title. No pressure.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Kind of get like you and your squad, Matt.

[Matt Leinart]

Well, that was long. That was a long time ago. Yeah, that was a long time ago.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

They live forever.

[Matt Leinart]

That's why Jerry and I. That's why Jerry and I are together because we were, we were roaming the streets of LA at the same time.

[Jerry Ferrara]

In two different 2003. What a time.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Well, it's definitely a thrill for me to be on with you guys. Come out to a game. We will be hosting the first and second round, so.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, I'll be there for sure. I went to, I went to the Kansas. Was that sweet 16 last year?

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Oh, yes. That was great.

[Matt Leinart]

That was fun. That was fun. That place was buzzing and that was.

[Jerry Ferrara]

I'LL be there. I'll be there. I'd love to come. Love to come.

[Matt Leinart]

Great.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Great.

[Matt Leinart]

All right, Coach, thank you.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Thank you so much.

[Lindsay Gottlieb]

Okay. All right, take care.

[Matt Leinart]

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[Jerry Ferrara]

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[Lindsay Gottlieb]

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[Matt Leinart]

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[Jerry Ferrara]

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[Matt Leinart]

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[Jerry Ferrara]

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[Matt Leinart]

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[Jerry Ferrara]

And it does without me lifting a.

[Matt Leinart]

Finger so I can get in more squats anywhere I can.

[Jerry Ferrara]

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[Matt Leinart]

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[Jerry Ferrara]

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[Lindsay Gottlieb]

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[Jerry Ferrara]

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[Matt Leinart]

Do we have full. We have full editing approval? Post editing?

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, of course.

[Matt Leinart]

Yeah. Then I will say I, I think.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Or maybe that's what they were arguing about. Who knows?

[Matt Leinart]

When I was playing, if they went to usc, would probably. Pete would have probably said it. Yeah, let's do it. Because he loved that. And I would have done the same thing. If this gen. If this like the way it is now and I was playing in this era of social media, I probably would have said absolutely not. We did have Matt and Reggie TV back in the day though.

[Jerry Ferrara]

What is Matt and Reggie tv?

[Matt Leinart]

They. We had. I'm gonna find a clip, man. I gotta. Someone. I get the randomest people will send me a clip of the archives from like 0405. And we would go around. We had microphones and we would go around and like it. Like, like, like MTV Cribs. Oh, here's my apartment at the. Whatever. Here's a day in the life of practice. Like we would like kind of like basically a behind the scenes look at the UFC football team. I have no clue where it lived, dude. I don't know what, I don't remember back then, but it was like, like Ryan Khalil would come on. Ryan Khalil was great. Like Ryan has a whole production company now in my center. Like he was super.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Try to find these episodes.

[Matt Leinart]

I know I'm gonna try and I'm trying. I. I've been sent, sent. They've been sent to me from like from now. Like the, the. The video guys at usc because they go through all the archives. Like, holy. We just saw Matt Reggie tv. It is horrible to watch. We did one at. Was it Jimmy Kimmel or Jay Leno? We were on the Jay Leno show. So we brought like, we did like an episode there and it's again, it was just like probably the old school camera you put on, right?

[Jerry Ferrara]

You had a digital video camera.

[Matt Leinart]

So yeah, back in the day, hell yeah, I would have done. Done that.

[Jerry Ferrara]

What was. What was line. What was your part? What was like your USC apartment? Like, did you have like a dope spot or is this because it was before Nil. You didn't really have a dope spot?

[Matt Leinart]

No, I didn't really have a dope spot. My junior, My junior year I lived at a place called Cardinal Gardens.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Off campus. How far off?

[Matt Leinart]

Hey, next time you're in la, we'll go.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Go to the Cardinal Gardens.

[Matt Leinart]

We. It was like. It was like the poor man's Melrose Place. Remember in Melrose Place, you walk in and you had, like, the pool. The pool right in the middle. And then. Then the apartment's kind of like U shaped around it. Well, this was Cardinal Gardens.

[Jerry Ferrara]

And was it all student athletes or students?

[Matt Leinart]

It was small. Maybe 40 apartments. Maybe more or less 40. And it was two stories. And what? Like one of my best friends at the time, his frat. Most of his frat was living in there. So the year. The year I won the Heisman, I was sharing a room. I had a one bedroom. I was sharing a room with my boy. We had two beds in our room. This is my junior year, dude.

[Jerry Ferrara]

This is a Heisman. Heisman Award winner.

[Matt Leinart]

Heisman Award winner. This story is hilarious, dude. Sharing a room. We almost. Our best friend was the apartment next to us. We almost knocked. We were like, it. Let's just knock the wall down and just big enough.

[Jerry Ferrara]

You could have just kicked the wall.

[Matt Leinart]

We had. No one went in the pool. There were bikes in there. Lord knows what the was in that pool, dude. It was disgusting, but it was just. It was just. It was college, man. It was freaking fun, dude. I had my white Ford Ranger. I was living the dream, dude. Living the dream.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So if they were gonna do, I guess it would be, like, behind the scenes of Entourage while we were making it, I'd say no, only because. Not even because of, like, some crazy, salacious reason, but, like, you're doing a show and you're miked all day and you're on camera all day when you actually call cut and you have, like, a 20, 40 minute break, like, the last thing you want to do is probably be on camera because you're on camera all day. And also, I. I find it interesting, but I think making a television show behind it is not nearly as cool and fun as a football team. Like, behind the scenes. I guess if you were gonna do, like, hey, we're gonna go to the production office of Entourage, like, how Hard Knocks went, you know, into the front office, and you would see, like, Doug with the writing process and casting and see maybe more of those decisions less with us and more of the production. That might be cool.

[Matt Leinart]

I like the behind the scenes stuff of, like, making the shows and all that. So, like, I. I don't know. I would watch it. I want to. I. We have another mailbag. I want to ask. I want to read this one because I want to ask you. Okay, so Brian in Albany said this. Kendrick Perkins says Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. Your beloved Knicks need to stop podcasting. And just focus on basketball. You guys think something like hosting a podcast can negatively affect their goal of winning a title? I want to say that because Paul George just said he stepped away from podcasting to focus on basketball, right?

[Jerry Ferrara]

Well, no, no, no, he didn't. No, no, no. And Andrew Dunling, our producer, to focus on his. A championship run.

[Matt Leinart]

So to focus. Because they're. Because they're right now. So to focus on a championship run. Okay, so your beloved Knicks, two of your best players, the heartbeats of your team. I mean, great. The great players. Does it bother you at all that they're podcasting during a season?

[Jerry Ferrara]

You know, there definitely have been times, especially after losses and stuff like that. And then you go watch a podcast and you're like, man, but look, guys, it ain't like they're saying, hey, Tibs, we're gonna be late to practice because we're finishing our podcast with Edie Falco. All right, They're. They're doing it on there.

[Matt Leinart]

I love, I love it. I love it.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Well, here's what I liked about it most recently, and we'll talk about Kendra Perkins in a second. But on their last episode, Brunson and Hart talked about. Because it was coming off the back to back Cavs, Celtics, blowouts, right where they got, they got just routed. And they talked about it in a very, like, open, honest way. I thought it was. It's not the media answer that we get when the guys are at the locker room. Ah, we gotta play harder. They were pretty raw. Josh Hart said something super interesting. He was out, I think against the Cavs on before the Celtic game. And he said, yeah, I watched at home like a fan. And I shut it off in the third quarter. And I'm paraphrasing. He's like, I. We looked like trash. I was like, embarrassed. I couldn't believe that we got blown out like that. Like, watching it on TV was a whole different experience than when you're playing in the blowout. And, you know, I think they talked about it in the right way. So I don't think it could negatively affect their goal of winning. The only way I could see it doing that, as if, like guys on the team started getting feeling a certain kind of way about it. You know, like stuff for sure.

[Matt Leinart]

I'm all for it. I think, I think for so many years, for decades, very few athletes have had like a voice outside of perfect. Great point. You make, like locker room. Like, you're going to give the PC, you're going to give the basic answers.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah, you're not going to get one.

[Matt Leinart]

You don't want to talk to these media people because they don't really have your best interest anyway. So there's never really been an outlet for players just to share their thoughts, whether it's on their games, whether it's on opposing teams. I mean, Draymond kind of, I think kind of JJ Redick was doing that obviously. Like, Draymond. Micah Parsons has the big one in the NFL where he goes on every weekend, just talks about other teams, talks about player situation. I think it's kind of refreshing, man. Like, I think it's refreshing. I love it as a former athlete, but I love, I love the, I love behind the scenes stuff. I, I, I do. I've been in a lot of those locker rooms, so I know what it's like. But I love seeing professional athletes who are making $30 million a year talk about how embarrassed they were when they played. Like, and like, because it just gives the fans another way of like, like personalizing with these guys. I think on a different level, which I love. I, I love it. I think. And most of these guys who do it are all perfect. They're professionals, man. Like, they're not going to let that get in the way of, hey, I'm gonna do this. Instead of, like, going to get my shots up. Like, you build your schedule. Yeah, it's ridiculous.

[Jerry Ferrara]

But I mean, in the, in the, the world where we all kind of say in terms of athlete, especially basketball, motivation, dedication to it, you do the. What would Kobe do? Yeah, Kobe would probably never do a podcast in season or, or whatever while he was still active. I just don't know if, like, if they weren't doing the podcast, would they be at the gym? I feel like those are off days. They're probably doing two or three in a day. And I really. And as long as they're giving us the raw behind the scenes and giving us something that we're not getting from the media, I think it's all good. You know, I mean, you talked about Reggie and you doing that show, but you guys on a pod back in the, like, if pods were around then.

[Matt Leinart]

Oh, we're gonna get ready.

[Jerry Ferrara]

No, but I'm saying you two back then, that would have been one of the biggest podcasts in the world. You and Reggie in season go while you guys are on the run. And then like, once a week we get a podcast from Matt and everybody.

[Matt Leinart]

I love it. And you're gonna start getting more college kids are gonna to do it once all these Kids are about even in the pros. They're about, you know, building a brand. However you want to define that. These opportunities now are more and more in the podcasting space and just digital space. And I'm all for it. I love it. I, I, I can understand how if you're playing like, and immediate, like, oh, he's so distracted. Like, come on, you're doing that once a week and you're talking ball during that time, you know, for the most part.

[Jerry Ferrara]

So I will say as long as they don't start well, and as I guess this is more like retired players, but like recently retired players, as long as you don't start doing the either overly critical or just saying stuff to get, you know, views and stuff like that, which I, I think could tend to go on. Like, just don't do what everyone else is doing. Like, you're a current or former player. You could give us stuff that no one else. Like the Vernon Maxwell story on all the smoke. I don't know if you've seen it when talk about how Logan slapped the out of them. Halftime. That's what we. That's what we. That's what you guys.

[Matt Leinart]

Dude, the dudes from the 80s and 90s are different. They're, they're, they're built a different way, man.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah. Yeah. Good mailbag stuff, though.

[Matt Leinart]

Send it coming.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Keep it coming. Again, I want you to take me to USC women's basketball game. I want to see juju in person. And good luck to the, what we call the Trojan women. Women of Troy. What do you call women of Troy?

[Matt Leinart]

Women. Big Ten champ or Big Ten tournament starts.

[Jerry Ferrara]

Yeah.

[Matt Leinart]

And good luck. Yeah, we'll see. It could be probably number one seed. I mean, it's going to be ucla. It's probably gonna be them in UCLA in the Big Ten championship again for the third time, so. And UCLA is great, too. Like, that would be Corey, their coach friend. She's great. Yeah, they're, they're legit. Those are two of the best teams in the country, so.

[Jerry Ferrara]

All right, have a good week, everybody. We'll be back next week.

[Matt Leinart]

It.