Welcome in, everybody. Hour number four of the JR Sport Brief. The Good Shepherd in for the great JR Sport Brief. Number to get aboard 888-710-4ISN 888-710-4476. It is great to be with you, however and wherever you may be listening from.
We've certainly spent a good amount of time talking about some very impressive rookie performances in week one of the preseason at the quarterback position. Whether it be the much and often too maligned Shador Sanders, whether it be the exciting all-SEC first-team quarterback in 2024, Jackson Dart, whether it be the underrated, understated number one overall pick, Cam Ward. Number to get aboard per usual, 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. I want to talk about something that took place in baseball before we get to your calls on Saturday that made this a landmark weekend in the sport.
Now you've heard of the name Jen Powell, I would hope at this point. She becomes the first female umpire ever. In a regular season game in Major League Baseball, it was Saturday's first game between the Atlanta Braves and a Miami Marlins, and it went swimmingly. And Brian Snicker, I know he's a longtime manager of the ATL. You talk about the old school Bobby Cox School of Managing.
He certainly falls into that creed, that group. He was very quick to praise Jen Powell and say, she clearly knows what she's doing out there. And anytime you get praise from someone of the Bobby School, you know, Cox School of Managing, you know you did something right. Good for Jen Powell for sticking with this. For someone that has really paid her dues.
I like the fact that she got everything right. There was that close call on Sean Murphy. She ended up being right with that as replay showed. And it was just very cool to see the crowd kind of take it in. You know, obviously, you know, at Truist Park, when you're in between innings, it's about festivities, it's about, you know, highlighting families, it's about highlighting fun.
But they showed Jen Powell on one of the video, you know, scoreboards during the in-between innings. And to see the standing ovation that she was able to receive, this was something that meant a lot to not just the sport of baseball, but the fans as well. And it's something that is long overdue in terms of having a female umpire. You know, she got the news this last Thursday that she would be making MLB history. She was solid.
She was professional. She didn't let the moment overwhelm her. And she was very much up for the task at hand. And the reality is, for Jen Powell, Howell, as one would understandably be able to articulate, this was a dream come true. Wow, just incredible.
Like dream came true. Like the dream actually came true today, and I'm still living in it. And I'm just so grateful to my family, to Major League Baseball for just creating such an amazing work environment. You know It says a lot about Jen Powell that she made this about what baseball did right. And it takes a lot for you to kind of go away from your moment and give praise to others.
But this move? While groundbreaking is so overdue. It's about damn time. 28 years ago, we saw an NBA female referee in Violet Palmer. That was back in 1997.
More than a decade ago, we saw Sarah Thomas, the NFL's first woman on-field official.
So the fact that it took baseball 10 years after the NFL broke ground, 28 years after the NBA broke ground. It's about damn time. But I just wanted to make sure that we highlighted this historic occasion. In. Major League Baseball.
Also, in terms of what took place on the field over the weekend, How about that Dodgers Blue Jay series? The Dodgers completely shellacked the Blue Jays the first two games, outscoring them 14-2. And you figure, after another leadoff home run by Shohei Otani, he's 41st by the way. You figure the Dodgers were going to have Anything they wanted on Sunday, and they would have their fingerprints all over another victory. First, we got to play Yushohe going long because it's just a sweet sound on Dodgers Radio Network.
On a 1-2 pitch, Otani pulls a flyball right field and deep. This ball is headed back, and we are tied. Johe Oltani with number 41 and the scoreboard now tied at one. A leadoff blast for Shohei Otani. His ninth leadoff home run of the season, and it went 400 feet.
Yeah, Shoah Otani's pretty damn good. It would have been nice if he did that when the bases were loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out, down one run. It would have been nice if Moogie Betts got the memo too. But you credit the Toronto Blue Jays for their moxie, for staying strong. And for getting out alive in game number three, again, you got back-to-back MVPs at the plate, down one run, bases loaded.
You're able to get Shohi Otani looking, you're able to get Mookie Betts, you know, grounding out.
So, credit Toronto for getting Shellac the first two games of this series. There is a reason why the Blue Jays, not the Yankees, not the Red Sox, not the Tigers, not the Astros, it's the Blue Jays that currently have the best record in the American League. And if we're gonna talk best records, We got to give some love to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Now I want to give everyone a current update right now. They have a nine game winning streak, but Botcher, in about an hour and a half from now, do you know what they will have? An off day? A 10-game win stream. A 10-game win streak because they are clobbering the Pirates.
They are up 6-1. To no one's surprise, they are up 6-1 because they have. An individual in Jose Cantana on the mound. And someone who you love what he has been able to do this year. He's about to pull off double-digit victories.
Man, this is such a special time for Milwaukee.
Now Look at what they have accomplished, 35 and 9 in their last 44 games. And we saw this earlier in the month. We saw what happened when they went on the road. They are the first team to ever go on the road, score fifty plus runs. Not lose a game and and not commit a single error.
what the brewers do better than any one. In Major League Baseball, they don't beat themselves. And it's why. There are about to be 30 games. above 500, which is obviously a season best.
And five and a half games better than every team. In Major League Baseball. And I'm sorry to bring this up, Ryan Botcher, because I know you're a big-time Mets fan, so feel free to close your ears when I say this. But the Mets were up 5-0 on Sunday. Like you're not supposed to lose that game.
And yet, they did so in walk-off fashion. Shout out to Isaac Collins, solo home run off of Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning. And ultimately, it continues to show you why the Brewers do not. lose. It's unbelievable what they have been able to pull off now on pace for 102 wins, considering.
They have one-third the payroll. Of four Major League Baseball teams, and they have by far the best record, just speaks to something magical going on. in the city of Milwaukee. And if we're going to talk magic, We cannot gloss over another incredible story this year, and that is the Seattle Mariners. They are Along with the Milwaukee Brewers, they are the only two teams to be in the middle of seven-game-plus winning streaks.
Kyle Raleigh continues to get the job done, hitting his 45th home run on Sunday. And here's why that's significant. Johnny Bench is the greatest catcher to ever live. I don't think there's any debate there. No disrespect to Yogi Berra, no disrespect to Mike Piazza, no disrespect to Roy Campanella.
Johnny Bench's greatest season of his career came in 1970. 1970, he won the MVP. The most homers he's ever hit in his career came in 1970 with 45. Cal Raleigh. Match that on Sunday.
With almost two months to go, in Major League Baseball.
Now Is responsible along with Johnny Vence for the second most home runs by any catcher hit in a single season. And so, Bacher, if we're gonna play number 41 for Shohei Otani, we're gonna We got to play 45 for Cal Raleigh. This is courtesy of the Mariners Radio Network. And the next pitch, one got belted deep to right field, the line shot, and it's gone. Goodbye, baseball.
There's number 45. And Cal Raleigh didn't waste any time after moving by Javi Lopez on the all-time catches home run list. He's now tied for second with Johnny Bench. Hey, that's what I said. I apologize to Phillies fans.
If we're going to play Home Run No. 41 by Otani, if we're going to play Home Run No. 45 by Shohei Otani, We probably should play home run number 42 by Kyle Schwarber. But because I respect Ryan Botcher so much. I know, but I don't want to do it to you because it's bad enough.
You cannot stay with the Phillies at this point. You really want to play it and add insult to injury? No! It doesn't matter. He's going to be a future anything but a Philly next year.
So it doesn't bother me. All right.
Well, listen, I believe that Shohi Otani is going to win his back-to-back National League MVPs, his fourth in five years. I believe that Pete Crow Armstrong is going to be runner-up. Let's hear home run number 42 for the guy that is likely to finish third in the National League MVP voting. Here is Ryan Botcher's favorite Philadelphia Philly, Kyle Schwarber. The 1-0 to Schwarber swung on, blasted, high in the air to right.
Marte looking up, and that ball is Gone. Kyle Schwarber with a towering home run. back in his home state of Ohio.
So he's a future red. Yeah. He has nothing to worry about. He's going to be out of fit. That's a good way to put it.
So when you have Shohei Otani, And you have Kyle Schwarber. And you have Obviously an individual in Kowraley. All three. Are on pace for at least 56 home runs. Otani 56, Schwarber 57, and then Kau Rally 62.
It's a really special time in baseball, folks. And the fact that Cal Raleigh is doing this for a Seattle Mariner team that is the only baseball team to never even make a World Series appearance, the fact that we see Milwaukee winning at the rate that they are, a team that has never won a World Series in franchise history, a team that was never able to get it done for the late great Bob Euchre, who was a broadcaster there for 54 years, and then we are witnessing Shohei Otani continuing to do Shohei Otani things. I know this next individual is not happy with the Dodgers' loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, but he also has perspective and understands that it is about the long haul. It is about a marathon in Major League Baseball, not a sprint.
So, Gioberto in San Diego, you can't be too disappointed by the Dodgers' loss to the Blue Jays when they had the bases loaded with both Otani and Mookie Betts. How are you doing, my friend? Muy bien tu david como vas. Muy bien. Always good to hear from you, man.
And it's always good to hear you on the JR Sport Brief. That's how I first heard of you, man. I remember you calling into JR years back. That was that yeah, that was the the right he he was in the in the great slot.
Okay. Being being early is kind of difficult for me sometimes, but I'm calling I knew you were gonna be there. And yesterday was like dying by paper cuts. Yeah, it's well said. Do you know they received 13 walks?
And what's crazy was like you guys got up, and then you tied it in the eighth. And then he gave up a lead off home run in the ninth. Couldn't believe it.
Well, yeah, well, it it was bad. I mean, all around and uh one thing happened that I had never happened with Doug Roberts.
Okay. He he shooted a tiny after the game. He what? He shoot Otani after the game. He shoot?
He called him. He sho he scalded him at after the game. Oh, oh, sorry.
Sorry. You're saying he called him out? He called them out.
Okay, got you, got you, got you. Yeah, he called them out because. I believe it was in the fifteen in Prima was a bad Otani at second, and for whatever reason, with two out, he tried to steal third. And he he was out. And what's the cardinal rule in baseball?
You don't make the first out, you don't make the third out. Sho Hoaitani knows better, and I hate to take this jab at him, but he can't blame the interpreter this time.
Sorry, that was too soon. Yeah, don't yeah, you and a lot of people took that off.
Sorry about that. And in the ninth, He was a rookie. I mean and and and I mean, so what it was a great pitch, but At that point, don't hit the home run. Don't wait for the home run. Just make contact.
It's the only one out. but it's still a lot forty four games to go. They need to put it together because they can beat themselves, and that's not good. You can be very good. But if you beat yourself The other team is going to help you a little bit.
And you're not gonna make it.
So so Gilberto, do so do you believe that whoever makes the World Series in the National League, essentially it's the Dodgers versus the Dodgers? Is that what I'm surmising?
Well, if the Dodgers played, like played like they've been playing since the beginning of July. Yes. Oh, forget it. Forget it. Is one and done.
Yep, absolutely. That's it. Then they're gonna go further than the wildcard that they are right now. or the divisional series if they want the division. But if they still win the division, they might be in the walker.
Because they're behind the Phillies right now. They're in third place. Yeah, yeah, that that's right. The Phillies are a game up against them right now. Yeah, and the Philist already won today so Yeah.
And uh my friend. You were talking about the quarterbacks. And I keep thinking Why do people think that Eli Manning or Philip Rivers are Hallophane candidates. They barely broke five hundred. I think they're five hundred record.
Maybe the Rivers want a little bit more games. Rivers has a lot better numbers than money. In the regular season. I agree. And by the way, I didn't even mention this, Gilberto.
Like, Eli's never had. A great regular season. He's had very good ones. Eli Manning has had great postseasons. Philip Rivers finished third in the MVP voting.
Otherwise, They will have already no Guilberto, but it is, but it is, though, because you and I both know. And if we don't have to go back to the 60s and 70s, yeah, Troy Aikman, come on now. I mean, Troy Aikman, he's not even.
Well, well, that's different. Dan Marino is arguably. One of, if not the greatest regular season quarterback in NFL history. What he did. In 1984, throwing for 4,800 yards, 48 touchdowns.
Karuki.
Well, that was his second year. Second year. Right. That's equivalent to throwing for 7,000 yards and 70 touchdowns in 2025. And he made his Super Bowl that second year.
Obviously, he never got back. No. And Marino, if you look at his stats, I mean, he has like four hundred and thirty touchdowns and two hundred and fifteen interceptions. Yeah, but but Gilberto, but but but the thing with Eli Manning is When his best it's not even about the last name. is when his best was sought out.
He delivered the goods. He stepped up. and he delivered not one, but two Super Bowl performances. in which he, objectively speaking, by all accounts, outplayed. the greatest quarterback to ever live.
That has to be factored in. That it has to be. He won.
Well, but he didn't just win. He outplayed Tom Brady. And when you factor in that there's only four other quarterbacks, Garberto. In the history, actually, you know what? We might have missed where I'm thinking.
Mahomes, so I'm going back in order. Mahomes. Brady. Montana Bradshaw. The other guy that I forgot because I'm thinking of 67, 68, Bart Starr.
So Eli Manning is one of six. To ever have two Super Bowl MVPs, that alone, Gioberto. gets him in the Hall of Fame.
Well that that A lot he's gonna go into the Hall of Fame, but they're watering down the Hall of Fame. If Jim Plunkett is not there, Then Doesn't matter who gets in. The guy won two Super Bowls. He was journeyman basically with New England. I mean, he was with New England Came to the Raiders and the guy and won the super and won the Super Bowls for them.
But he was part of them. But Guberto, but look at look at look at what he did in those Super Bowls. He was obviously part he was obviously a huge part. He was never the best player on that particular day. Here's the other thing.
Thirty one less touchdowns than interceptions. That matters.
So his numbers Work against him.
Now, I will, I'm with you. It's tough to, Jim Pluckett, outside of Eli Manning, is the only guy. that has been responsible for two Super Bowls as a starting quarterback. And has yet to enter the Hall of Fame. But the difference is, Eli Manning's numbers.
are significantly better than Jim Plunkett, and Jim Plunkett He never beat. an all-time, all-time great quarterback. in the Super Bowl. the way that Eli Manning did. Or he made your Pysman, right?
Joe Theisman was an MVP. Joe Theisman was an MVP. No one is going to consider. Joe Theisman to be an all-time great. Yeah, well, yeah, he beat Theisman in the 83 season.
And then when they won in 1980, he beat Ron Jaworski. Yeah. So yeah.
So that I mean, come on now. Like, I mean, Ron Jaworski is great as an analyst, and I love the nickname Jaws. And he was great when he was portrayed in Invincible in the Mark Wahlberg Greg Kinnear movie. But but no one's gonna consider it. And the same thing as Eli Manning, he had a great defense behind him.
Yeah. Those Raider defenses were really good, same as the Giants defenses. They were like top Absolutely. They had a lot to do by winning those Super Bowls, both of them. But you know, it's gonna it's gonna happen, what's gonna happen.
But I I the next couple of years You have really good players coming out for the Hall of Fame.
So I know. 2020, 26. You know what? It's interesting you bring that up. Let me see who's.
Let me see who's up for the Hall of Fame class in 2026. Seven. Football Hall of Fame class. Um Oh, that's a good one. That's a really good one.
Yeah, there's three locks. Gronk is a lock. Adrian Peterson is a lock. Ben Rothesburger is a lock. Those are three locks right there.
And I'll tell you who else should, and Gilberto, this will be a topic that we talk about. Because If Sterling and I and I'm glad Sterling Sharp got into the Hall of Fame. But if Stirling Sharp is a Hall of Famer, Do you know what other wide receiver is a Hall of Famer? Which one? He's up for eligibility in 2027.
I'll give you a hint. He ended his career. By going coyote ugly. At the end. Antonio Brown?
He was a great receiver. If Sterling Sharp is a Hall of Famer. Then Antonio Brown is a Hall of Famer. I'm not saying he's a Hall of Fame. We all know he's not a Hall of Fame person, but he's a Hall of Fame player.
Well, he did put up a show when he took out his pass in New York. No, but that, but that's not a show. That's an episode. We don't need an episode. We got enough drama when it comes to New York sports.
We don't need Antonio Brown completely showing up his team because he gets in a disagreement on the sideline. Come on now. But I will say this: he was never the same after that Vante's perfect hit. We all know that. Yeah, that was a vicious hit.
Yeah, absolutely. And he didn't really make a lot of waves. And I know he was caught Facebooking live one time in the locker room when they won a playoff game in Pittsburgh. Yeah, all I remember that. Right, but all in all, he was pretty good.
Gilberto, speaking of pretty good, you are pretty good, my friend. Great to talk to you. As always, we'll talk soon. You have a great rest of your Monday and go, Dodgers. Let's go, Dodgers.
That's right. That's right. Always good to hear from you in San Diego, Gerberto. Number to get aboard, 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. When we get back, There was more than just a 41st home run by Shohei Otani, a 42nd home run by Kyle Swerver, a 45th home run by Kyle Rowley in the last 24 hours.
There was a forty five year old making waves on the PGA tour. Yeah. 45-year-olds wanted a vent. We should expect that. Because he's been pretty good.
and still one of the top golfers in the world. What that tournament was? We'll get to that on the other side. We'll get to your calls as well. 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476.
The Good Shepherd, in for the great JR Sport Brief. We're coming right back. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. Here's David Shepard. You are listening to the JR Sport Frieve.
Great to be with you, however and wherever you may be listening from.
Now, We do talk about everything on the Infinity Sports Network, not just football, not just baseball. golf. And it wasn't pretty. for Tommy Fleetwood yet again um as he comes up short, unfortunately, at another PGA Tour event. This time it would be at the St.
Jude Championship during the FedEx Cup. And Justin Rose, of all people, despite being three shots back with a few holes to go. He doesn't blink. And he makes up a three-shot deficit over the last five holes. And Birdie is the last two of them in a playoff to beat.
J.J. Spawn, the defending U.S. Open champion, to ultimately win the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday. It is his 24th victory.
He has not won on the PGA Tour in two and a half years, but. It is his 14th victory on the PGA Tour, and that is the most among any active European player, minus Roy McElroy, who has 29. An incredible 10-foot putt we saw on the 18th, on the third playoff hole. He was clutch. He came through JJ Spawn with plenty of moxie.
We've seen him make some incredible putts, but it wouldn't be the 2025 U.S. Open that would be victorious. It would be the 2013 U.S. Open winner in Justin Rose, who again pulls off his first PGA Tour event win in two and a half years. If Scotty Scheffler had his caddy, it would be a very different story.
Scotty would have had PGA Tour victory number 18, but I'm glad Justin Rose got his eventual PGA Tour win first in nearly three years. Kind of feel bad for Tommy Fleetwood. This is a guy that was leading after round two, leading after round three, greatest player to never win a PGA Tour event. He's got 43 top 10 finishes, 29 top 5 finishes, 12 top 3 finishes, but. There would be only one Rose on Sunday, and it was Justin.
Let's hear from the 45-year-old after his PTA tour win. Yeah, um It kind of puts me right back in, you know, the season's race. I d I haven't even looked at where that projects me and all these types of things, but back up in the you know in the in the realms of where I sat for a long time, you know, I haven't been back to East Lake since twenty nineteen and that's been bugging me and that's obviously been a huge goal, so obviously that's taken care of and um you know I've definitely played some good golf this year when it's mattered. Like I I feel like my good my my good has been good, my consistency hasn't been there, but I've been telling people that I feel like when I play my best golf I'm able to compete with the best players in the world and obviously today proven that I can win against the best players in the world. Damn, does he take a breath when he speaks?
Damn. I mean, come on, Dan, let us have a little bit of a second there to kind of appreciate what you're saying. He's a motormouth. He should be doing what I do for a living. He's I tell you this much, he's a better speaker than I am a golfer.
That's for damn sure. That was unbelievable. He didn't take a freaking breath. He talks like he's 25. No wonder he's out there beating guys half his age.
It's quantity over quality of speak, though. Damn. He kind of went in a circle in a weird way. By the way, pretty impressive in all seriousness at 45 years old. The guy is a top 15 player in the world and still getting it done.
Botcher, so we do this date in sports history.
So we will do that next segment. We will get to your calls as well. I look forward to that. It's going to be exciting. I got some good ones.
Hey, Justin Rock, I'm going to put you on the spot. Always good to work with you, brother. Always great to work with you too, David. You got a Penn State hat on. Did you go to Penn State?
I am a graduate of Penn State, yes.
So you know you come into the AP top 25 polls, the second best team in the country. Yes, indeed. I figured that was a good day to wear the Penn State hat. I'm with you there. Do you trust Drew Rallo, though?
The thing with Drew Aller is he has gotten better every single season. You trust James Franklin, that's a real question. I trust James Franklin, I'd say, more than the average Penn State fan.
Now, I'm also a little skewed because I was a sophomore at Penn State when the Jerry Sandusky scandal came to be, and so I've seen the worst of what college athletics can do.
So, if James Franklin goes out there and wins 10, 11 games every year and competes for Big Ten titles and keeps putting together first-round draft picks into the NFL, and the players are representing the school well, I'm a happy guy.
So, the fact that they're number two in the country going into this season made the college football playoff final four last year. I'm feeling pretty good. I'm feeling pretty good. Let me tell you something: there's bad stories in sports, and then there's bad stories in sports. And I.
Can't ever recall A worse sports story. Than what transpired with Jerry Sandusky. And there's been some really bad ones, like, you know, off the field. Um Penn State For them to recover? Where it wasn't the death of them as a program.
It's a credit and a testament to Bill O'Brien. Ultimately, James Franklin got them to another level. It is a minor miracle they still exist because there was a lot of people who wanted them to have that death sentence. And there was a lot of good arguments, but I remember doing the first student radio pregame show for football after the scandal broke and Paterno got let go. Oh, yeah.
And my phrase on the broadcast that day was: you know, the players that are on the field right now had nothing to do with what happened. They were the same age as what had happened when it happened. You know, These guys still deserve the support, and they did a fantastic job. This is my hot take on Penn State. I'm a big believer.
Everyone talks about the Paterno statue. Is it going to come back? Will it come back? Is it somewhere in storage, somewhere hidden off from public view? I'd argue that they should build a Bill O'Brien statue before they put that back up, considering what he and James Franklin did to help save the football program.
This is such a damn good argument. Why are we having this when I got a throw to a sports flash, Justin? Rob? Why are you bringing this up to me? You're teasing me with this great talking point, and we got to throw to an update, man.
This isn't fair. I'm really good at bad timing.
Well, that's a story of life. Timing is everything. Amen. But I tell you what, we will have this conversation at some point on the air. Absolutely.
Because it is a conversation worth having. And it is a very deep and complex conversation. Very. And it is not to be taken lightly. No.
You let me know. If we follow each other on Twitter. Yes, we do. I want you to hit me up when you are working now.
Next with me, and I will plan it. When we have this back, because I want to talk about this at more length.
Sounds good to me. We'll figure a time and date. We'll make it happen, my friend. Good, good. Hey, that's a very serious topic you're bringing up.
We got to get to a Sports Flash, though. When we get back, we're going to do this date in sports history. We're going to get to your calls. Again, before we do anything else on the Good Shepherd and for the great JR Sport Brief right here on the Infinity Sports Network, let's get to our latest Sports Flash. And here is the very opinionated and insightful Justin Rock.
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Here's David Shepard. Welcome in, everybody. You are indeed listening to the JR Sport Brief. My name is David Shepard. You can follow me at Shep on Air.
Before we do this date in sports history, I want to honor people that have been waiting very patiently on hold. Let's get This particular segment started with a friend of the show, Marshall M. Milwaukee. Marshall, always appreciate the patience. Go ahead, my friend.
The floor is yours.
Well, I appreciate it, Shep, as always. Glad you're subbing for J.R. I have called him before, too. He's really good too. It's great that he lets you sub for him.
And I just want to quickly comment. How about them brewers? It's just incredible. 10 in a row very soon. Huh, Marshall?
It's just unreal. You know, I've kind of my old theme song back to my old disco Fleetwood back days. Back to the great Christine McV McVeigh, who was we've lost a few years, but right you make love to her and she always saying, I can't believe this is happening to me and And that's how I feel right now. You know, it it it's just unbelievable. Uh 30 games above 500 were fixed in the bay.
It's just i We just hope that we can sustain this. in postseason, but but just enjoying the ride right now and Just a comment on those home run highlights you had. Uh and don't forget to I'll praise my rivals down the road. Schwarber was huge in games six and seven of that 2016 World Series. That gets forgotten a little bit.
Fair point. They don't win. Yeah. And But the home run highlights that you had with Philadelphia and Los Angeles, it's still unbelievable to some of us. That for the Dodgers it's not Ben Scully and for the for the Phils it's not And not the great Andy Mussery lost his great and four yeah it's No, you know, this is uh Marshall, this is a special year in baseball.
Like You know, you know, Genio Suarez, Aaron Judge, like we have right now five players. more than 50 home runs. I don't think that's ever been done before in MLB history. I think you're right, even with the great Yankees and the murderers' rose they've had since the since the roaring twenties. That it's incredible.
But the one that I guess just blows me away right now, you were talking about Calvarali. It's just unreal. He even hit one against us in that Seattle series we played out there. But we contained him, I thought, all right. But 45 already with too much.
That 1970 Johnny Bencher, I was just a nine, ten-year-old kid at the time, but I remember it well. I remember. Him being talked about, the the late-great Kirk Gowdy and others at that time talked about. You're bringing up some iconic Hall of Fame broadcasters, man. You talk about Scully and obviously, you know, Kirk Gowdy.
You know, Kirk Gowdy. Um I actually I actually know his his granddaughters very well. Oh. Small world, right? Yeah.
They they they grew up they grew up in Connecticut.
So I knew Kirk Audi from a very young age, very dignified, very classy. You know, I hope young people. Google that name, Kirk Gowdy. And I know you know that name and the significance of it, but I mean, that's that's that's that's broadcasting royalty. And I I still remember uh him Being many of the others that were saddened the day the news came of the tragedy of Roberto Clementi.
I mean, I remember his. He was almost in tears. And I can tell you that morning, and you're one of your callers from Pittsburgh, a couple of weeks ago, I enjoyed that story from him. Even though it was very tough to hear, I was getting up that New Year's morning looking forward to the Rose Bowl, looking it was my first stint here in Milwaukee. Right.
Looking forward to the Rose Bowl. I had a little cub's blood in me still at that time. You loved those. You could request the heck out of those teams. And that was the first news on my mom's little radio.
Came on in the morning. And that was the first news I heard. And it was just I said, Are you oh.
Well greatest, greatest, greatest arm in the history of baseball, in my opinion. and what he was doing in terms of passing away In in going back to you know, just Puerto Rico and Being able to help out those in need, dealing with the hurt, the relief efforts and just the flight he took and and dies in a plane crash. You know, you know, Marshall, there's there's um There's a plan for all of us. We don't always know why. We don't always know how.
And something like that. you know, just really m creates a lot of doubt. and a lot of people. I know when something like that happens, but you you have to you have to think. that there is something Greater.
For even Roberto Clemente, than what he was able to accomplish on this earth, and someone that in 38 years of living did as much as anyone could at 38 years old.
Well, we had my tragic thing with classmates of mine, Jeff, and it's been it just passed 22 years here recently and I admit I shed a few tears on that anniversary, but I'll tell you what, is a good friend of mine who also lost. people that she knew. It was just so multi-generational. Sure. On the broke the news to me.
One of the things she said to me, she said before. you go through the stages of grief, Marshall, and I sure went through them for a while.
Well, it was their turn, and it's always going to be our turn. We don't know when that's going to be. We just have to enjoy life and just Take each day and week and year, one day at a time. It's cliched, but it's so true. And never to thank and love those that we care about the most.
Marshall, appreciate the sports knowledge. Appreciate even more the pearls of wisdom. You be well, my friend. We'll talk soon. You've been.
Are you going to be on the rest of the week or is it just tonight? JR is coming back Wednesday. I'll be on tomorrow, though. Tomorrow is 6 p.m., 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
Dinner hour period for me during this time, but I'll try to get back to you. Otherwise, we'll chat again this weekend.
Sounds good, brother. Always good to hear from Marshall in Milwaukee. Lou and Rochester, go ahead, sir. Hey, Dave, good evening. Good evening.
Always good to hear from you, Lou. Of course, man. Yeah. Uh, I was nice talking with you. I came on really impressed with At Jackson Dart.
Yeah. Oh yeah. Because even Steve Taster on the Builds Network was mentioning how he was making kind of like decisions. He you actually played that half like kind of a verse number one. player uh the b the bills um Drafted well with some defensive tackles.
Like kids were getting in. Right. And he wasn't saved. No, no. And he showed what a dual threat he is, Lou, which you gotta really love moving into the era of mobile quarterbacks and these dual threats.
Man, there's a reason why he was all SEC. Last year, first team, there's a reason why he was one of two quarterbacks drafted in the first round, and he very much looked apart. And then Abdul Carter, man, with the guy to the number three overall pick, things are looking up for Big Blue, Lou. Yeah, I think DeBo knows it because I think he joked about the odds were they're only a six picked to be six seventeen. Right.
And he kind of laughed at it. And I could see his point because. If dark starts playing, Um the Giants won't be like that don't They'll knock off a lot of people and some hyper pools that thought that they were going to be a terrible team. They're not going to be. Absolutely, Lou.
Well, listen, man, always good to hear from you. You call anytime. We'll be in touch, okay? All right, take it. Take it easy, Dave.
Thanks. Thank you. Great to hear from you. And so we got to have continuity. We got to finish with this day in sports history.
What do you do? Factor. Back in the days when I was young I'm not a kid anymore, but some days I sit and wish I was a kid again. It's time for this day in sports history. See, back in those days, we had radio and you couldn't see anything and it was primitive and lousy and we liked it.
The JR Sport Brief Show. I wish I was 50 years younger and I'd kick your ass.
Well, thank you, Larry Merchant. This day in sports history. 1919, the Packers franchises originated on this date. 1929, Babe Ruth hit career home run number 500, becoming the first player in MLP history to ever have 500 home runs. 1950, Joe DiNaggio, for the first time in his career, was benched.
He was benched because he went for a four for 38 slump and he wasn't nice to Mickey Mantle. I added the second part. Number. 1961, Warren Spahn becomes the eighth. Pitcher to win 300 MLB games.
1969, Don Drysdale retires from Major League Baseball because of the shoulder injury. The late, great Don Drysdale, last LA Dodger, by the way, to play in Brooklyn as a Dodger. 1971, Harmon Killebrew, Marshall of Milwaukee's guy, becomes the 10th player in MLB history to hit 500 home runs. 1993, Roger Clemens gets his 2,000th career strikeout. 2002, Carrie Webb wins the Women British Open by two strokes, securing her fifth major victory, a major victory hopefully Scotty Scheffler has in April at Augusta.
2013, Jason Duffner achieves his first and only major title by winning the PGA championship by two shots. Ryan Botcher? There are 24 MOB Pitchers to amass 300 career wins. One of them is not in the Hall of Fame. Do you know who that pitcher is?
Off the top of my head, yes. No idea. The rocket. Roger. Wait, wait, wait, repeat that.
Roger Clements. Oh, because that's, yeah, I thought you were going to get that. That was obvious. Oh, yeah, it took a second. My brain's not working.
I hear you. Bacher, the brain was working for the show. Great to work with you, brother. Awesome back and forth. Appreciate all the effort you put in.
Thanks for making my life easy. And my sincere thanks to all of those on the busy phone lines that called in. My sincere thanks to everyone who tweeted at me at Chef On Air. Do not go anywhere, though. Because the great Vart Winkler, Carlos Ortiz, they're coming up next.
And folks, I will be on tomorrow, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Can't wait to be with you for another four hours. But again, you want must-listen radio, appointment listening?
Bart Winkler, he's got you covered for the next four hours. This is David Shepard saying, I love you all, everybody. Talk to you in 20 hours.
