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So, talk to your specialist to see if Botox Cosmetic is right for you. For full prescribing information, including boxed warning, visit BotoxCosmetic.com or call 877-351-0300. Remember to ask for Botox Cosmetic by name. To see for yourself and learn more, visit BotoxCosmetic.com. That's BotoxCosmetic.com.
I'm Jordan Robinson, host of the new podcast, The Women's Hoop Show. Each episode, I'll be joined by a rotating group of women's basketball experts to talk WNBA, college hoops, the new unrivaled league, and the shifting landscape of the sport. The game is growing, and so are we. Listen to and follow the Women's Hoop Show and Odyssey podcast available now for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Yes, you are.
Welcome in everybody. This is David Shepard in for the great JR Sport Frief on the Infinity Sports Network.
However and wherever you may be listening from, we greatly appreciate you tuning in every single weeknight, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Time right here on the Infinity Sports Network. You can get us on SiriusXM Channel 375. You can get us for free on the Odyssey app.
It is definitely worth checking out. And you can always get us on your smart speaker device. All you have to say is play the Infinity Sports Network. And of course, your local affiliate. And shout out to all those local affiliates that carry us 6 p.m.
to 10 p.m. Eastern Time every single week evening.
Now, There is a lot to get to. In the world of sports, we have a WNBA superstar. putting her commissioner on blast and in my opinion justifiably. and with good reason. We will certainly get into the baseball playoffs.
Congratulations to the Detroit Tigers and to Rick Schubel. He was lights out. He was vintage Schubal. 14 strikeouts, 7 plus innings. He was dialed in.
He was getting to a 9,900 mile per hour velocity in the 6th, 7th, and 8th inning. That's just why he is considered by many. To be the best pitcher in all of baseball, likely a back-to-back American League young winner. And he was putting his skill set, talent on full display against the Cleveland Guardians. And it seemed the way both seasons were going, the Tigers wouldn't even make this a series.
They already have stolen game number one on the road. And then congratulations to the Chicago Cubs. The San Diego Padres Bats decided to go completely flat. And then you saw back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning. And the truth of the matter is When you talk about Any single Chicago Cubs organization, the fact that they are in the playoffs for the first time since 2020 is just great.
So. Again, you're gonna hear from Tarek Schubel. You're gonna hear from the stars of the Chicago Cubs back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning. And then the Padres, they did not score past the second. That's a problem.
We will certainly preview everything. You know, Dodgers and Reds. It's amazing that the Cincinnati Reds are even in the playoffs. First time they have done that in a full 162-game season in more than a decade. And of course, you know, we're going to be talking about Yankees-Red Sox.
What an unbelievable matchup that is going to be in the wild-card round. You're not used to seeing these two teams facing each other in the wild card round, especially when the Yankees tied for the best record in the American League and had a run differential that was leaps and bounds beyond every other team. But that's why we have divisional tiebreakers, and that would be in the good fortune of the Toronto Blue Jays. Before we get to Monday Night Football. And a message that I believe is important to hear, not just for the Miami Dolphins, but for the New York Jets.
Ryan Botcher, how you doing this evening, man? I'm doing great. Yeah. Kinda a little wild with baseball going on and having to cut some taping behind the scenes. There's a lot.
Yeah, it's a lot. But it it we're flowing through and uh there should be some more baseball. That is good today. There's gonna be a lot of baseball that we're gonna talk on the show, but I wanna start with. the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tonguevailoa, Um someone that has gotten a lot of criticism.
Throughout his career, someone who infamously we know has not yet won a playoff game in Miami. But he was unbelievable. On Monday night football, in terms of his competitive nature, not accuracy. We saw him overthrowing footballs. We saw him underthrowing footballs.
Yeah. For him, to slide. And then clearly Take a cheap shot to the helmet. Get back up a nanosecond later and smile. That's the tour.
that you want to see. If you are Miami. Tough. Feisty. Gritty.
That's been missing with him, especially this season. We saw a little bit of it against Buffalo. But we saw a lot of it. Against the New York Jets. But let me tell you the other big difference for them, and shout out to Darren Waller, by the way.
What an unbelievable bounce back game for him, who hadn't even seen a field for nearly two years. What a way to make his Miami Dolphins debut with not one. Two. touchdown receptions. And when you have the 6-6 frame, that Darren Waller is able to exude and take full advantage of it.
He's an impossible cover. once he gets to the red zone, this particular play in the first half. Put them up 10 to nothing. It is good to have Darren Waller back in the NFL, and this is courtesy of Westwood One. As they break the huddle, Ingle to the left of Tungabailoa in the shotgun, takes a snap, looks to his right, back middle, back of the end zone.
It is. Fight for and cut. Touchdown. Going up high. And guess who?
It's the big body Darren Waller with his first score as a dolphin. What's better than one score? Two scores. This ultimately made it 17-3, courtesy of Westwood One, Darren Wilder's second touchdown reception of the game. Take a listen.
Waddle on the right side, eye formation with Ingold. Tungabailoa takes a snap play action, rolling to his right, throws across his body for the end zone, touchdown. Darren Waller again. His first game back from retirement and he's got a double action to the end zone. Duffins extend the lead to 16-3.
He's got as many touchdown receptions as any Dolphin this season. Again. Not a bad debut if you are Darren Waller for the Miami Dolphins. And he gives them such a vital and such a prolific target when you get into the red zone. And it's something that Miami has struggled with.
They were not struggling with that early on. And when you get the passing game going. And that becomes a legitimate threat. The lanes are gonna open up for him. And that's exactly what we saw take place on Monday night football when he had a season high, 99 yards on the ground.
And that shows you the balanced attack. of the Miami Dolphins because when Devon A. Chain gets going It is a tough offense to slow down.
Now, unfortunately, we do have to relay the news that Tyreek Hill, who had to be carted off the field in the third quarter, was a dislocated knee. He tore multiple ligaments, including his ACL. He is not going to be back for the foreseeable future the rest of the 2025 NFL season. We did get confirmation from Drew Rosenhaus that he is going to. Be preparing to play for 2026.
So that's very good news for fantasy football fans. It's very good news for Miami Dolphins fans. I think there's been a little bit too much made of the relationship with him and Tua. When they're losing, you know, they're not going to be a team that is going to be getting a lot of positive and glowing headlines. And so writers and media members alike are going to look for things to pinpoint.
I think the relationship between him and Tua are overblown. It's good to see Tua, the first thing he said. You know, his post-game on-the-field interview was, you know, thoughts and prayers to Tyreek Hills.
So, Cheetah, glad you're gonna be back with us. And if you're Miami, you know, you gotta feel good. despite being one in three. Because you went toe to toe with Buffalo. at Orchard Park.
And that game was tied in the fourth quarter.
So you proved you could play with the very best. And yeah, the Jets had themselves a really nice comeback when they decided to finally utilize Garrett Wilson and target him more than once, which they only did for the first half, by the way. And because of how high octane that offense was, they were able to separate the gap and it was just too much ultimately for the Jets to come back.
So if you're Miami, yeah, you're one in three. But you got Cleveland coming up, you got Carolina coming up, you got a banged-up offensive line with the Los Angeles Chargers coming up, so you could very much be. Four and four. in three weeks from now.
So credit Miami for bouncing back. Um if you are The Jets. There is reason to be encouraged.
Now, they had so many self-inflicted wounds in this particular loss. We'll get to that momentarily. I do want to hear from Mike McDaniel. And What he ultimately heard at the time regarding the Tyreek Hill injury. Let's take a listen to that.
Yeah. Uh make eye contact and and Uh rip a joke or two to Waddle and uh Devon. Um And you know, I think uh A lot of guys got back into the game. um you know provoked by by what he said verbally. Tua made a really good point after the game.
Um despite you know, the very disheartening news of Tyreek Hill. when you are on the mend, and you were a divided locker room or a deflated locker room, You want to get everybody back in the zone? You want to get everyone united again? Hear from Tua, the horse's mouth, winning Cures Ah. All right, well, we don't that's okay.
Oh, good. I can uh we can we can we can uh imagine and envision what that what that ultimately sounds like so for me. When you talk about the Jets They have to do a better job of realizing who their best playmaker is on the field. They have to do a better job at being aggressive with their play calling and not just relying on the legs of Justin Fields and not just relying on Fields in the flat. They need to make sure.
that they are taking advantage of his improved accuracy and doing plays down the field.
Well, there's a reason why the Jets scored 18 points in the second half and only three in the first. Because they are capable Of having an explosive offense when you do have Justin Fields, who at any given time. can make a run like this. And this was a 43 yard score. And outside of Lamar Jackson, there's not another quarterback.
that can do this in the NFL. And if you remember correctly, It was ultimately a quarterback draw to the right side. He was trapped. He wasn't going anywhere. He had the quickness, the evasiveness, and the athleticism and just flat out God-given speed to go the other way untouched for 43 yards.
This is what they need to be doing more. This is a 43-yard touchdown run by Justin Fields, courtesy of the Jets Radio Network, making it a one-score game in the second half. Let's take a listen. Under center fields. Boot leg out to the right.
He wants to throw. He's going to reverse field and run left and get a block. Left sideline 40. He's at the dolphin 30. Cuts it back inside of the 20 at the 10.
Leaves to the five. Into the end zone! That's a jet touchdown! Here's what's important if you are a New York Jets fan. It's not just the legs, the athleticism.
of Justin Fields that's gonna get this team to respectability. He is also an underrated quarterback when it comes to his accuracy. Despite losing three games so far with the Jets, He's still Above 500 in his last 15 career starts. He knows how to win football games. He's just gotta have a defense that cooperates.
And more importantly, he has to have a unit. that isn't sloppy. that isn't creating turnovers.
Now Fields had one of those turnovers, but they had an additional two. and they had 13 penalties. You talk about losing on self-inflicted wounds. You had the Jets calling fair catches at their own two-yard line on punts. You gotta know better than that.
You had Jets who were going out of their way to make contact with Tua Tungavailoa when he was clearly on the ground and the play was dead and you're giving them 15 yards like it's candy. Jess can't be doing that. I I saw every play of that game. The referees were egregious in some of those calls. You saw Justin Fields get hit out of bounds when he was clearly five yards away from the sideline, nothing was called.
You saw a Jets player have their helmet get taken off, nothing was called.
So, yeah. The refs weren't exactly perfect and there was some home cooking, but the reason the Jets lost was because of their lack of discipline, lack of execution, and any coach will tell you. They'll take effort penalties. What they won't tolerate is pre-snap. penalties because that's just lack of focus that's just lack of of discipline.
But what I want you to pay attention to is is not just the running ability of Justin Fields. but his pinpoint accuracy, which we saw on that particular touchdown throw that he had. To be Mr. Garrett Wilson. Which made this a six-point game.
This is what they need to be doing more. Take a listen, Jets Radio Network. Second down and 10 at the Dolphin 23, minute 56 to go. Here comes a blitz, fields back to throw. Globs one back right corner of the end zone.
Garrett Wilson pulls it in. Touch. Tapped, touchdown. The Jets are still alive!
So, unfortunately, they do an on-side kick, Dolphins recover it. Um but the reality is The Jets lost this game as much as Miami won this game. And that's from top to bottom. It has to do with play calling. You cannot be conservative.
You saw what you do when you open up the playbook and how Justin Felix and Company can put up 18 points in the second half. You saw them score 32 points against the Steelers in week one. And so, Aaron Glenn. Talk about the sloppiness from your team on Monday night, man. Very disappointing.
I'm very disappointed. And there's no way way. I'm gonna win any game. with thirteen penalties and three turnovers, it just can't happen. Um But what we have to do is go back to work.
He's 100% right about that. I referenced this. It's very disappointing that Miami started the season 0-3. And there was a lot of chatter, and a lot of murmur and a lot of discussion. about the safety.
of their head coach and Mike McDaniel. and whether or not that you know seat was hot or scorching hot. But if you noticed Miami to their credit They competed their tails off, against Buffalo in week three. And so you had a feeling That not only Do they want to be on the field, but they haven't quit on their head coach? They haven't quit on the locker room.
Now it's four games in. With Aaron Glenn. I mean, this is a team that has not made the playoffs in a decade and a half in counting.
So, this is not going to be a miracle overnight. But they haven't quit. on Aaron Glenn. That team still very much fought. Against Miami.
an AFC East Divisional rival.
So that's a good sign. what they were able to accomplish in the second half. Putting up 18 points. It's a good sign that you got 40-year-old Nick Falk making multiple 50-yard field goals. And shout out to the Dolphins defense, by the way, because if not for that 43-yard run by Justin Fields and a career-high kick by Nick Falk, they would have shut them out in the first three quarters.
So, what you have to be excited about. if you are the New York Jets, is you do have A franchise quarterback. I'm not saying he's elite. I'm not saying he's a Super Bowl winning caliber quarterback. But he is someone that's going to allow you to win games you otherwise wouldn't with an average quarterback.
He is someone that once or twice in any given game, he's going to make a play that only him and Lamar Jackson can make. He is someone, like you saw with that touchdown throw to Garrett Wilson, that has that ability to thread the needle and find a receiver right at the number. I am very high on Justin Fields. I thought he got a raw deal in Chicago. I thought he got an even more raw deal in Pittsburgh, but you saw.
Last night, Justin Fields, if you open up the offense, can be a successful franchise-altering coach. quarterback. And I believe despite the loss, this is something they can build on. A lot similarly to what we saw with Miami building on their week three loss. Number to get a vote is 888-710-4ISN.
That is 888-710-4476. based on your takeaway. from Monday Night Football. How good she is. Should the Dolphins fans be feeling about their performance?
And if you're the Jets, should you be encouraged or should you be discouraged? Again, we will take your calls, 888-710-4ISN. That is 888-710-4476 on the other side. And when we get back, You know, at least we had one competitive game on Monday Night Football. We did not have two.
And that is because a clear franchise quarterback was not there because of a toe injury. And as a result, the Bengal season is going absolutely nowhere. We will give you the details on that on the other side. My name is David Shepard, aka the Good Shepherd, in for the great JR Sport Brief right here on the Infinity Sports Network. If you cannot get through our busy phone lines, you can always reach me on social media at Shepon Air, whether it's Twitter, whether it's Instagram, and you can reach us in our YouTube chat.
We are live on YouTube, streaming on that wonderful website for the next four hours.
So there are so many ways to get your opinions, your insights, and your perspectives heard right here on the JR Sport Brief on the Infinity Sports Network. We're coming right back. Listen up football fans, you won't want to miss this. Right now, new Bet365 customers bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets win or lose.
So you could turn that $200 into something bigger when you bet on Money Live, Spread, Totals, Player Props. $200 in bonus bets when new customers bet $5. I know where I'm going to bet from now on. Ever Ordinary at Bet365. Gambling problem?
Call 1-877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. Must be physically located in North Carolina. TNC's applied and app only. Botox Cosmetic, Autobotulinum Toxin A, FDA approved for over 20 years.
So, talk to your specialist to see if Botox Cosmetic is right for you. For full prescribing information, including boxed warning, visit BotoxCosmetic.com or call 877-351-0300. Remember to ask for Botox Cosmetic by name. To see for yourself and learn more, visit BotoxCosmetic.com. That's BotoxCosmetic.com.
The Women's Hoop Show, a podcast hosted by me, Jordan Robinson, brings you fresh women's basketball voices and breakdowns every week. I'll be joined by hoop experts all year long. Find the Women's Hoop Show on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. Here's David Shepard.
Welcome back, everybody. You indeed are listening to the JR Sport Brief. My name is David Shepard, aka The Good Shepard. It is great to be with you, however and wherever you may be listening from. We got a lot of people that certainly want to talk baseball playoffs.
So we'll get to Cincinnati and their incredibly disappointing performance. against the Denver Broncos, who had this game twenty one to three. By half-time. And imagine what the score would have been if Bo Nix did not throw an interception in the end zone. This just highlights and crystallizes this particular performance from the Bengals.
How much they need Joe Burrow, in case you weren't aware, to even be competitive. Jake Browning is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL. And he couldn't do squat like Last night. We will get to that. But first, we've had some people waiting patiently that want to discuss the MLB playoffs.
Let's get to Tony in Montreal. Tony, hope you're having a good evening so far. And what do you have for us, sir? Oh, great. Yeah, I I've been hearing a lot out of a New York saying you know that the The entire playoffs depend on becoming a performer and pulling the team and being like the the complete engine, but I don't believe that that's a fair uh fair amount of pressure to put on one player.
They have an entire team, and they played great coming down the stretch. But you know the criticism during the season, I followed them the entire summer And they were attacking Boone, they were attacking Cashman, they were attacking Cashman for the moves. And everything that Boone and Cashman ended up doing supported this great result. which is that they made the playoffs and they have home births.
So You know, a little bit less stress and a little less criticism, a little bit more positive attitude. And maybe they could come through and uh make Yeah, those aren't uh critical Yankee fans in the background coming to get you on the on the highway, are they? You heard that. Yes, Tony, Tony, what I'll say is this. What you're saying rationally?
makes a whole lot of sense. You're being logical about this. You know That they call it sports fans for a reason, because fans are fanatics. And when you are the New York Yankees, and you have not won a World Series title. in 16 years and potentially counting.
When you are the New York Yankees and the standard is 27 World Series, and you have just one World Series to speak of in the last 24 seasons, and your captain. who is an all-time great regular season player. Has a 205 career batting average, and in the last Five, six. Seasons in the postseason has not batted more than 250, including the last two, which he was under 200. both times.
The gap between his regular season numbers And his postseason numbers is glaring. And when you do put on the pinstripes and you are the captain. Which is the ultimate expectation spot in all of professional sports from a player's perspective. You got to deliver. Jeter delivered, Thurman Munson delivered, the Iron Horse delivered, the Yankee Clipper delivered, the Mick delivered.
That's what you do as a Yankees captain. Reggie Jackson, his first year, you remember what happened against the Dodgers in 77 in game six, three different home runs off three different pitchers. Aaron Judge has been a disappearing act. It's unacceptable for someone of his talent.
Now, I'm not saying that makes him worthless, and I'm not saying it should all be on him to get the Yankees to that next step to finally win a World Series, but he is going to bear the brunt of the blame, and he's going to also share the limelight and celebration when they do win as well. The only The only thing I could say to that is two things. Being from Montreal, you know there's 24 Stanley Cups. And anything less than a Stanley Cup in Montreal is fanaticism here. Everything is a failure, no matter what you do.
Finals, you lose your in the dumpster. But I understand that, but I love the Yanks, and I've followed the Yanks since my dad. You know, brought me into the fold, and that goes back a long time ago. But I just would make this point. When you're mentioning Thurman Munson and Reggie, and all of these guys that were still.
The drink or the straw that stirred the drink. That's a great quote. Because you know that's how they describe Mr. October in his first time around. I remember that.
And people hated Reggie because he said, I am the straw that stirs the drink in New York. And if you recall, they were on top of him. You know the difference with Reggie? Reggie could care less What you thought of him. He could care less about negative energy.
All that Reggie knew was he was the greatest hitter. And I'll tell you one thing. If you were alive to see that game where Reggie hit three home runs, It actually could bring tears to my eyes because of the magnitude of the prowess, the magnitude of the greatness under pressure. Absolutely. To the haters, the haters, the Dodgers.
You know, you got to understand the history between the Yanks and the Dodgers. Absolutely. Well, hey, Tony, good call on your part. Appreciate the nostalgia. You have a great rest of the year.
Thank you for your show, guys. I love your show. You're the best. Thanks, Tony. I appreciate that.
JR is the best. I don't know if he was complimenting me or complimenting JR, but. If he's complimented me and GR, that just means I'm in really good company. Number to get a board is 888-710-4ISN. That is 888-710-4476.
Now, I do want to just hit on Jake Browning for a moment. This was somebody. who had a good week too, And then really struggled as a starter in week three and week four. The guy had 125 passing yards in all. And you look at that Broncos and Bengals performance.
The Bengals had 400 yards by quarter number three. The Bengals weren't even at 200. And the fact that he. Has struggled as a starter. They're averaging six and a half points per game with Jake Browning.
Last year with Joe Burrow, they were averaging 28.
So if this doesn't make you appreciate Joe Burrow that much more, a guy who not only can keep you in a game, but can elevate those around him, I don't know what will. And if you're the Broncos, you've got to be happy with Bo Nix. You'd like to see him cut down on the turnovers to some degree, but he's got some weapons in Cortland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. You saw a rushing touchdown by Marvin Mims Jr.
So he's certainly a weapon not just in the flat. And then you're loving what you're getting from J.K. Dobbins in the run game. And this appears to be a career year in the making for him.
So again, the only concern you have if you are the Denver Broncos is you'd like to see Bo Nix be more careful, be a little more decisive, and be a little more prudent when it comes to taking care of the football. The interceptions are a little too high for my liking for a quarterback who is a starter in year number two. And again, they could very easily. have been 4-0. You know, you talk about losing at the last possible second to the Colts off of a silly penalty.
You talk about giving up 10 points to the Chargers and losing by three on the last second field goal. A team that very easily could have been 4-0. This was a game that they had to have, especially with Joe Burrow not being on the field dealing with the toe surgery. And it's good to see the Broncos come out in front and make such an emphatic statement. And if you're the Bengals, I just feel bad for this franchise.
You have Jamar Chase, you have T. Hickens, you got stars. And superstars in DeMarc Chase's case at the wide receiver position, and they're playing with a 32nd best-starting quarterback right now. And that's saying something considering Joe Flacco is still going strong. Number to join us is 888-710-4ISN.
That is 888-710-4476. When we get back, We were originally Gonna just go Football and baseball, because those are certainly the two biggest stories in sports right now, aside from Media Day at the NBA. But An individual Um really took it to the commissioner of the WMBA. And she is one of the best Players in the WM NBA, if not the best. Who that is, and what was her statement about Kathy Engelbart?
We will give you the details on that on the other side. You are not gonna wanna miss her comments regarding how the WNBA is the best in some regard, but the worst in others. She did not mince words. You will hear that quote on the other side before we do anything else. on the Infiniti Sports Network.
Let's get to our latest sports flash. Here's Rich Ackerman. That 365 is paying out before the final whistle. Check out Bet365's unrivaled early payout offer. When you bet on the team to win and they take a 17-point lead, you get paid no matter the final score.
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Call 1-877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. Must be physically located in North Carolina. TNC's applied. I'm Jordan Robinson, host of the new podcast, The Women's Hoop Show. Each episode, I'll be joined by a rotating group of women's basketball experts to talk WNBA, college hoops, the new unrivaled league, and the shifting landscape of the sport.
The game is growing, and so are we. Listen to and follow the Women's Hoop Show and Odyssey podcast available now for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Botox Cosmetic, Autobotulinum Toxin A, FDA approved for over 20 years.
So, talk to your specialist to see if Botox Cosmetic is right for you. For full prescribing information, including boxed warning, visit BotoxCosmetic.com or call 877-351-0300. Remember to ask for Botox Cosmetic by name. To see for yourself and learn more, visit BotoxCosmetic.com. That's BotoxCosmetic.com.
Tune into Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes, a Crime House original podcast to uncover the world's darkest secrets. Find Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. Here's David Shepard. Welcome back, everybody.
This indeed is David Shepard, in for the great JR Sport Brief, right here. on the Infinity Sports Network and There was an emphatic statement. made by Nephica Collier, Someone who is considered to be one of, if not the best player in the WNBA. We know Asia Wilson won the WNBA for the fourth time in her career, which has never happened before. Collier is certainly one of the world's best.
Well, she's going to become a household name for a very different reason. And that is I can't recall. An active superstar. using their platform, to go after an active commissioner The way she did during her exit interview. And, you know, Kathy Engelbert, someone who um has been accused.
This is not the first time that people have come. Out and said that she has been negligent, and to use the exact words of Collier, it has been negligent in terms of her governance. And I thought I was listening to a civics professor, that is how eloquent she was in this particular press conference. And you know, obviously, you could tell she was reading from a prepared speech, but I'm pretty sure those were her words. And then she opened it up to a QA.
So, you know, this is someone that has been. Part of higher management when it comes to the players association with the WNBA.
So she's not just a face of the sport, she's a leader of the sport in more ways. Then one. And she was very quick to praise fans, to praise. Players to praise opposing franchises and coaches who she called the best. But she called the leadership the the worst.
we hear from herself. The WMBA is a very greedy Business more greedy than any other sports enterprise. that I can recall, and I'm gonna tell you why. They have deals They have deals. in which they are interacting.
and finalizing with cable providing companies. and network television companies and streaming devices. They are going for nine figures easy. Easy. They have valuations of franchises that they have recently sold.
for close to half a billion dollars.
So why are players at most? Making 200,000. Chump change. Caitlin Clark could have easily made $5 million per year. playing for the big three.
She turned that down. to give her name, her brand, Her platform, her reputation to the WNBA to grow women's sports, and what's her reward? even though she sells out every single time she suits up, A $78,000 contract.
Now, I know for people listening at home in your car, in your truck, $78,000 is not too shabby. I'm with you on that. But Caitlin Clark, the amount of money she generates with butts in the seats, and sh merchandise. On any given night, eclipses by a mile the amount of money she will make in one year. That is the kind of ec economic boom that she has brought to the WNBA.
And yet, for her to be making $70,000. is a joke. It's an absolute joke. Zack Collins? Who And Bacher, you don't have to answer this if you don't want to.
Could how many people on the network That do this for a living could tell you what team Zach Collins plays for. He's still in the Spurs, right? He's on the bulls. He's on the bulls?
Okay, see? Yeah, I know of him. Actually, now that I ask you that, I should probably know this answer. Um he was on the balls he's on the balls okay, but he was on the spree okay. Bye.
Let's be honest, most people listening to our show right now could not even tell you who Zach Collins is. Yeah. Zach Collins. is making three thousand percent more. What Caitlin Clark is making this season.
That's a huge problem in pay disparity. And you can't tell me well, Shep, it's because it's a for profit business, it's a capitalistic enterprise, and therefore, the WNBA players are going to make what the league sees fit. based on the revenue that they generate.
Well, I'm telling you, they generate more money in one night than what they make in their salary for an entire season. Diana Taurasi just came out in a really good documentary on Amazon Prime and talked about going over to Russia. In what she described as a country that's beautiful but doesn't necessarily have the same freedoms and enterprises that America does, and she makes fifteen times more. What she makes in America in Russia. 15 times?
And you can't tell me the demand for basketball is so much greater in Russia than it is in the States. This is a problem. Not to mention Collier made it very clear that the inconsistency when it comes to refs That's also a problem. They can't be using this as a stepping stone. And she's right.
You can't have refs looking at this league like it's a cup of coffee and they're looking over their shoulder for their next venture. They should see the WNBA as top billing, and the way you do that. is by paying referees comparable to what they make in the NBA. And so I agree with Collier from this standpoint. You need consistency in officiating.
And you can't have different rules being applied to different teams where players out there are getting, of course, I say this euphorically, and not literally, mugged and hurt and harassed. And it doesn't seem to be a serious enough issue where the refereeing has improved at all. And let's not even talk about the unfortunate sex toys that have been thrown on the court. And just Yeah. really pouring at this wound.
that women's sports has. Because for far too long, they were not seen as equals in this country in terms of competing in sports and athletics. And the WNBA has been a godsend. In helping to show everyone that the product in a professional venue can be just as entertaining on the women's side as it is for the men's side. And Kathy Engelbert, to me, the fact that Nafisa has reached out to her multiple times and she's not getting her directly, and Nafisa, to her credit, she made that clear.
that she has reached out. multiple times, only for her words, her concerns, her issues to be heard by a second-hand source. and by her number two person and not the primary source.
So credit Nafisa for having the intelligence, having the gumption to make these conversations public because she tried to do it behind closed doors and Kathy wasn't having any of it. That's a problem when you cannot embrace, nor listen, nor give the time of day. to one of the faces of your sport. That is an incredibly disappointing type and style of leadership.
So, when Nafista Collier went off on the WNBA leadership, she had these comments to say a few hours ago: The real threat to our league isn't money, it isn't ratings, or even missed calls, or even physical play. It's the lack of accountability from the league office. Since I've been in the league, you've heard the constant concerns about officiating, and it has now reached levels of inconsistency that plague our sport and undermine the integrity in which it operates. Whether the league cares about the health of the players is one thing, but To also not care about the product we put on the floor is truly self-sabotage. Year after year, the only thing that remains consistent is the lack of accountability from our leaders.
The league has a buzzword that they've rolled out as talking points for the CBA as to why they can't pay the players what we're worth. That word is sustainability. But what's truly unsustainable is keeping a good product on the floor while allowing officials to lose control of games. Fans see it every night. Coaches both winning and losing point it out every night in pregame and postgame media.
Yet leadership just issues fines and looks the other way. They ignore the issues that everyone inside the game is begging to be fixed. That is negligence. She's not lying. There was alleged...
reports that came out. in terms of what Cathy Engelbert said, Regarding Caitlin Clark, And how Caitlin Clark was the lucky one for having the WNBA. Not vice versa. Nafisa did not have kind words regarding Kathy's stance on this. Let's take a listen.
At Unrivaled this past February, I sat across from Kathy and asked how she planned to address the officiating issues in our league. Her response was, well only the losers complain about the refs. I also asked how she planned to fix the fact that players like Caitlin, Angel and Paige, who are clearly driving massive revenue for the league, are making so little for their first four years. Her response was, Caitlin should be grateful she makes $60 million off the court, because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn't make anything. And in that same conversation she told me, players should be on their knees thanking their lucky stars for the meteor rights deal that I got them.
Okay. What this tells me. is you have a commissioner in a vital leadership spot. that is so oblivious And it's Is so blind to what Caitlin Clark has meant for this league. Which is your biggest asset, by the way, in the history of your league?
Caitlin Clark when she got drafted in 2024. They tripled the ratings. of any single WNBA draft in league history. That was not because of any one else besides Caitlin. She was responsible her rookie year.
for eight of the ten most televised WNBA games in league history. How do you not know that as the Commissioner? How can you also come out and say without the WMBA, She wouldn't be getting paid. Are you kidding me? You don't think that she could go?
to a country in Europe, a country in Asia, a country in South America, and rake in triple, quadruple what they are getting paid as rookies and sophomores? Are you not aware that IceCube offered Caitlin Clark a $5 million deal annually? to suit up and play three on three in a half court setting. And you're the one who has the audacity in the hubris to come out and say that Caitlin Clark is the lucky person. Not the WNBA for the existence of the league, and she should be on her hands and knees thanking Kathy for everything.
Are you kidding me? You're just so out of touch. It's just such an amazing Immense lack of leadership. And then I'll read you the statement she had. She didn't, of course, want to get on camera or do an interview, but the statement: I have the utmost respect for Tavisa Collier and for all the players in the WNBA.
Together, we have worked tirelessly to transform this league. My focus remains on ensuring a bright future for the players and the WNBA, including collaborating on how we continue to elevate the game. I am disheartened by how Nafisha characterized our conversations and league leadership, but even when our perspectives differ, my commitment to the players and to this work will never waver. But here's the problem, Kathy: you have one of the faces of your league literally getting in front of the general public. and making sure that you are aware, that the public is aware, there doesn't seem to be any leadership.
And there is such a wide margin between what it is you feel like you are fighting for, what it is you are doing, compared to how it is landing on one of the faces of your sport. If I were you, My next step would be to say Dang. I really missed the boat. I dropped the ball. For someone to come out and speak this public.
about my lack of leadership. There must have been a thing or two I've done that caused her to feel like this was her only way to fight back. I gotta step up as a leader. I gotta make sure there's a line of communication. I have to make sure there's transparency.
And everything she was saying was legit. Because we watch these WNBA games, we all see Caitlin Clark get torn to shreds. We all see the excessive aggressiveness and violence towards her. I mean, Sophie Cunningham was known more for anything else this season. About being an enforcer than she was her actual game.
Well, she wouldn't have had to have been an enforcer if the league would protect one of, if not its biggest asset that they've ever seen.
So, you know, Nafisha Collier It took a lot of guts and it took an incredible amount of maturity. And intelligence to take this risk. And she's and she even said while she was being asked about potentially getting fined, she knows she's going to get fined for a statement like this, but but that's not her concern. Her concern is making aware How short the WNBA is falling in terms of the compensation of players and, most importantly, protecting. It's players.
I would applaud anyone for For exercising their freedom of speech, their platform, their autonomy, their agency. and making sure they speak out. About what they deem and see as unjust, especially. If it is because the communication you have tried to have with the higher-ups, with the appropriate people in management, Has fallen on deaf ears. Number to join us: 888-710-4ISN.
That is 888-710-4476. Nafisha Collier said a lot in those statements. Where do you side? In this particular conversation among Nafisha and Kathy. We get to hear calls on that, and we'll talk some MLB playoffs.
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Call 1-877-718-5543 or visit morethanagame.nc.gov. Must be physically located in North Carolina. TNC's applied and app only. I'm Jordan Robinson, host of the new podcast, The Women's Hoop Show. Each episode, I'll be joined by a rotating group of women's basketball experts to talk WNBA, college hoops, the new unrivaled league, and the shifting landscape of the sport.
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Mm-hmm.
