You're on the air. Your afternoon just found its fast late. You're on the drive. I cat it on the drive right here on WSJS. Yeah.
So we get ready to wrap up the week. in the best way I know possible. It's by talking about the NFL. Talking about that shield. That's what I like.
So last night You had the NFL. Schedule releases. Great social media videos.
some not so good. And by the way, so we've just learned. In the last hour. 'Cause one of the bad ones was Jacksonville. It's like Giving Trevor Lawrence a haircut.
And it didn't look too good. Could have done a lot better than that. Turns out it was a wig. It's Because everybody was wanting to know if it was AI or not, and it didn't look like it was AI. And then they showed a picture of him out at practice today.
The Jags did. Saying It wasn't AI after all. But then we just learned it was actually a wig. I thought that was a little too easy. It's like, my man's been rocking that mana hair since high school.
You really gonna cut it? I mean, I guess you could, but. Nah. Me and you talked about this when we came in this morning, that we both didn't know if it was real. I feel like one of us threw out that it might have been a wig.
But I I would have thought AI before wig. Yeah.
So anyway, that's um That's come out in the last little bit, but Nonetheless, I'll keep the jags on one of the videos I didn't like so much. In terms of the schedule itself, Some of the winners that I had. Right out of the gate is the Rams. And it's not even so much Their competition that I think they're a winner for because they got a pretty difficult schedule. I mean, they're the Rams, after all.
I'm just thinking they got seven primetime games. That's a win. That's how I view that. I also Think the Eagles. Got a pretty good draw in terms of schedule, which they needed.
Because there's a lot of outside noise. About Jalen Hurts, about Nick Siriani. And so they needed to draw a good schedule to get back on the right side of things. I think they did that. They do have five prime time games themselves.
Another team I really like the schedule for is the Chiefs. And You know, this is a year where I believe that the Chiefs are going to be right back in the mix. Chief haters aren't going to want to hear that, but after one. playoff miss since twenty fourteen. I think they're going to be right back in the mix.
They get Kenneth Walker. They get Patrick Mahomes back healthy.
Now, they got a tough draw to open the year with the Broncos. At Arrowhead though. I think Patrick Mahomes is going to be back for that game. All the signs point to that. You get Travis Kelsey back.
You draft well. Monsoor Delane out of LSU, and you have a favorable schedule.
Now, there is a stretch later in the year that's a little bit tougher. But For the most part, I think the Chiefs got a really nice schedule given what they're going to be working with this year. I like the Saints schedule too. Tyler Schuck? Listen, I I don't know if Tyler Shuck is the future for the Saints at that position.
But I do think the last little bit of the year, we talked about this with Lynell Willingham. Uh of Westwood one. Sports last hour. He had him playing pesky at the end of the year. He did.
I don't think he's a lead or anything, but don't sleep on him either.
So, the Saints, I like their schedule. In terms of.
Some of the losers, Jay Davis, here in our comments. Let me point out he's also a Niners fan, so. You know, there is a bit of a rivalry there, I guess. Primetime games are overrated. A lot more pressure in playing off the norm.
They're just for us, the fans. I think there's some truth to that. I don't think they're overrated though. I feel like Kirk Cousins feels like that. Yeah.
Yeah, well, Kirkcoach. Him and primetime games have never exactly seen eye to eye. Losers of last night. Losers of the schedule release. Cardinals.
They got a tough draw. And which is just which makes it even worse, the fact that they weren't going to be good this way, anyway, getting good this year anyway. And to also draw a difficult schedule, they might not win a game until December. They really may not. Jay Davis?
In our comments, YouTube. He's a Niner fan, as I pointed out. I think they got a tough schedule. I think they were one of the losers of this release. I do.
And Talking about teams that aren't going to be very good. That drew a difficult schedule. I think the Dolphins drew a difficult schedule too.
So Those were just a couple of the teams that stood out to me in terms of the games that they drew. I also started to think about Teams that Could make a little bit of a surprise this year. Maybe shock some people. And let me give you some of those. I think the Colts I think the Colts could make some noise this year.
And again, these are strictly teams that people aren't necessarily thinking about. Because if you Recall. The Colts were looking like a playoff team before Daniel Jones got hurt. They were. Then they had to bring in Phillip Rivers out of retirement.
And I You know, they uh They opened the year last year 7-1. Five double-digit victories. They were looking sharp. But What changed was, of course, Daniel Jones. Getting hurt.
That Achilles injury in December, and it really killed the momentum that they had. I knew that was true because. At the time that he got hurt, they were one of the teams in the hunt. Or they weren't in the hunt. I think they were like at the end.
They were in the wild card mix. But they were right there on the cut where, like, if they lost some games, they'd be out of it. And, of course, that happened.
So The Colts is a team that I think is going to make some noise this year. The Bengals are going to make noise this year. They are a French Super Bowl contender, in my opinion. I think that Dexter Lawrence move really is going to help them out on defense where they struggled last year. I like the Bengals a lot.
And I'll tell you, a third team that I think is going to make some noise. that might contend for their division and probably will. The New York Giants. I think the New York Giants, I am such a believer in the New York Giants. You guys have no idea.
Love me some Jackson Dart. Just teach him to slide. Just keep them keep them get them to stop running into people. No need to do that. Cam Scataboo.
Coming out of the backfield like a crazy person. Malik neighbors. There's good reports on his health as he tries to get himself back ready to go. Love the New York Giants and what they're doing. And John Harbaugh, I think.
has already come in and started to change the culture there. And so What did they win? Four games last year, I think it was. I think they're going to double their win total. I could see them winning eight games-ish.
And maybe they, maybe even better. Maybe I think they could contend for that division. I really do.
So the Bengals, the Giants, the Colts are three teams that I think are going to. Make a surprise this year. A dark horse on that list that I just didn't put on there. Maybe 'cause they're a division rival of the Panthers and that's the Saints. Maybe I could see them making some.
I could see them maybe. Making a little bit of noise and being a trendy team. They did add Travis Etienne. I have one. Chris Olave, what do you got?
No one's talking enough about the Titans. Granted, I don't know if they're gonna they're gonna In what context? They they might Do they're not going to make the playoffs per se, but no one's talking about them enough to be a half-decent football team compared to last year? I think they've made enough additions in the offseason through free agency trades and the draft. With Cardell Tate?
To become a legitimate, not a threat yet, but to be in the hunt for at least part of the season, turning around their three wins from last year. I do love their coaching staff. And I'm a believer in Cam Ward.
So Titans are going to be fascinating to watch too. They really are. Very quickly, though. The Carolina Hurricanes await their opponent. And we've been given a bit of a sneak peek of what their schedule.
will look like in the Eastern Conference finals. It's just a matter of do Montreal and Buffalo go six or seven games? For those that are on just the radio, not watching, I had to do the six, seventh. I had to do it. Because I'm a child and I own that.
It's okay. Um So essentially what this is going to look like is If the Canadiens and Sabres end in six, Montreal leads that series 3-2. God, that game was incredible last night. They will get the winner starting. Tuesday.
So that's the earliest. We'll see the Carolina Hurricanes again. That's Tuesday. If it goes seven games, The Canes will open up on Thursday. with the winner of that series.
We know we will see them next week as soon as Tuesday and as late as Thursday.
So that's what we were given today. In terms of that Canadian Sabre series, again, last night was... Just inc I mean that that game got drunk real quick. They scored four goals in the span of three minutes and forty four seconds. Two and two?
That's the fastest four-goal sequence in these playoffs. In Montreal, There are some that might think the Montreal Buffalo series is the most exciting series so far in the Stanley Cup playoffs, forgetting that the Lightning in Montreal actually has been the best so far in these playoffs, followed by now this one. And then let's say I think Montreal is going to finish it up tomorrow night. If Montreal then gets the Hurricanes, that might be the next, the third most exciting or the third of that mix of most exciting games in the playoffs.
So. That's going to be a good one. Kanes, I do not believe, are going to be sweeping the Eastern Conference Finals, whoever they draw. But Montreal looking really good, and that would be an exciting series to watch them in the Hurricanes. If you haven't already, go to WSJS.com and check out.
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comes on right after us at 6 o'clock every weekday. You got the daily pulse, 9 to 10 a.m. weekdays around here.
So Dan Patrick. 2 to 4 p.m. All of that you can get and stream live. At wsjs.com. If your favorite player's soft, we're gonna say it.
Find somebody that knows, somebody that told somebody about somebody who wrestled at every late. They're talking about me. This is The Drive, the Triads-only live sports talk show. Yeah.
Linnell Willingham of Westwood One Sports is going to join us in about 15 minutes from now to talk. NBA, NFL matters. But before we get to that We gotta get to One of our favorite segments around here each week, where we compile some of the best sound bites going around right now. We react to them, we break them down. We call it sound check.
Uh Sound check. Hey, I'm just here so I won't get fired. Plug in, turn up, and catch what everyone's talking about. All right, let's start here. Garrick Heigo.
He was the golfer yesterday. That showed up at 7:19 a.m. to a 7:18 a.m. tea time. He was late, got a two-stroke penalty for that.
And He's being called one of the most unlikable players on the tour now after giving this answer in terms of. why he was late and his thoughts on that. I always cut it pretty fine. There's a lot of us who do. We don't want to get to the T-Box 10 minutes early and be cold.
We have to head it far and straight. It's our job to do that. I don't really think it's my job to be 10 minutes early.
So. Obviously, cut it too fine. I thought I still had a few minutes. I didn't have my watch or my phone on me, and my caddy was dropping off my trackman. Went to the potting green, hit one pot.
and then heard my name and ran down. Actually, it is your job to be on time. Actually it is. Why aren't you wearing a watch if you know you have a strict deadline? Why are you relying on other people to tell you what time it is, also?
That's all. That kind of made me angry in that one. Yeah, there's a lack of accountability from his answer. There's a sense of entitlement in this answer, not to show up for a major golf championship. On time.
And he literally said it in his answer. I cut it too close.
So don't do that. I mean, it's not very complicated. Uh Colin Cowherd. You can listen to his show every day after ours at six o'clock, right here on WSJS. Here was his reaction.
to the part of the chargers Schedule release video where they took a little jab at Mike Vrabel and Diana Roussini. I don't think, although it may be funny, I don't think it was necessarily smart for the Chargers social media team, known as very witty, to take shots at Vrabel. That's friendly fire. Protect the shield. You want controversies to go away.
That is my take. That is not smart. It gets a laugh in the room. You're building a brand. I do not think that was smart by the Charger social team.
that is not protecting the shield. Yeah, this is uh I kind of agree with him in this part where Yes, it is like you want to protect your brand. But at the same time, don't attack the team that you got crushed by in the playoffs. I think it's that I don't think it's that big of a deal.
So We'll get to the Chargers reveal video and what exactly he's talking about here in just a minute when we give the best and the worst of that last night. Moving along, Rhys Davis, College Game Day. He spoke, he was on a podcast and Doesn't sound like he's a big fan of The potential College football playoff expansion, we might be seeing. I think 24 is preposterous and 16 is bordering on it. Um, I wish they would do Leave it at 12 and do an extra round of games on campus.
This Right now, the struggle is largely due to business and control. And it's not necessarily for the good of the game. And the coaches who are getting behind this, I believe. and reasonable minds can differ. But the coaches who are behind this think it's going to save their job.
It's not.
Some places maybe I don't want to, you know, you could take a lower wrong traditionally SEC school. Maybe making the playoff will save your job. You think that's going to work at Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Michigan, Georgia? No, making the playoffs sooner or later will be like the NFL, right? NFL coaches, NBA coaches all the time get fired for making the playoffs, not advancing as far as the leadership thinks they should.
He makes a great point. If this is what they want to do, there's going to be teams that even though they made the playoff. Their coach could still get canned because, guess what? You didn't go far enough in the playoffs. If they want to turn college into pro, they're going to start getting some of the ramifications of that, and that's something that absolutely happens.
I mean, what did we just see? The Orlando Magic. Firing their head coach not too long ago. The Steelers. Steelers.
Well, he stepped away. Mike Tomlin stepped away. That was his choice. I don't think he got fired, but. But there are plenty of examples of that.
Last clip here: Brian Windhorst, Wendy. What's going on over in Minnesota? Those who know know. He was on ESPN the other day. I think it was yesterday specifically talking about what the future could hold for LeBron and the Lakers.
Well, the Lakers have a problem. The Lakers don't want to lose LeBron James. They don't want to lose his 21 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists a game, but they don't want to pay $50 million for it because the rest of the league isn't going to come bidding $50 million. But here's the reality. If you have a superstar player and LeBron James is still an all-star and he is still a superstar player, still a top 20-25 player in the league, it's very hard to ask that player to take a pay cut, whether he's 21 or 41.
And if you want LeBron to take a pay cut, you can't just indeterminately say, hey, will you take a pay cut? You better bring him a reason to take a pay cut and explain that, yes, the team was 0-8 against the Thunder this year, but if we acquire this player or these two players with the money you're going to leave on the table, we can overcome that. Yeah, this is going to be a fascinating situation to watch. I Don't think he's gonna return to the Lakers. And If he did return to the Lakers, it would probably have to look a lot.
It would have to look like what Wendy just pointed out there. If he's going to take that pay cut, you got to show me why I'm taking this pay cut. Is this going to help us get to a championship? Me personally, I think he's either going to go to Cleveland, I think he's either going to go to the Knicks, or I think he's going to go to Golden State. And wherever he goes, just like an X that...
Wants to show you like okay when you get dumped What do you want to go do? You want to go glow up and you want to go prove that person wrong. It's exactly what LeBron's going to do. You best believe he's going to be on full tilt trying to win a title if it doesn't work out with the Lakers in these negotiations.
So. Just something to keep an eye on. That has been Sound Check. Quick reminder about the YMCA. They can help you find a trainer.
They have plenty of those there. And they can help you. Get that sense of accountability back, help you stay consistent with your fitness journey. They also have summer camps to offer for you. 'Cause you know.
Some of the best memories you make as a kid is at summer camps and some of these things that the YMCA offers. You build lasting friendships that way. Exciting adventures all day. They also have girls' summer basketball coming up that you can get into.
So. A lot of stuff going on. Um You can register for that. I think that starts May 29th.
So register now for summer. Girls basketball, get involved in summer camp, find yourself a personal trainer. YMCA got a lot of options. For you, and we appreciate them for sponsoring the show.
Okay, very quickly before we get to Lynell Willingham. Morgan, what were some of the best And worst NFL schedule reveals. Yeah, at the top of my list, gotta go with the Chargers. A Halo-themed one. I never really played Halo or got into Halo, but I can respect the franchise.
Yep. It looked really good. The Giants? Winston Van Gogh. Did you see this?
I did see this. He had drawing pictures on a whiteboard, and if the fan guessed the team correctly, they got a pair of tickets to a Giants game. The Falcons did a spoof of the Sports Center ads from the 2000s. They did a few of their own. Those were pretty funny.
Drake meet Kendrick. The Jets did a paint one where they mixed paint together to. Um Make the teams color. I thought that one was pretty fun to watch. How about the losers?
The Cardinals using AI. That was also one of my losers. The Dolphins. It was boring anyway. Yeah, it was horrible.
No substance to it. There's just a bunch of m AI mascots on a Zoom call. And the Chargers fan lady from like three seasons ago made an appearance for some reason. Old news. Old news.
The Dolphins. I don't remember why it's on here, but I knew it wasn't impressive. He doesn't even remember. He just was so bad. It was forgettable.
I mean, the Patriots just had their players on a roller coaster yell teams. Yeah.
That's not very exciting. You wanna know what's also not exciting? Detroit. Detroit, but Trevor Ly Trevor Lawrence's new haircut.
Well, some might say it's exciting by how bad it looks, but You know. To each their own. I'll give you my list of the best and the worst from last night for me personally a little later on. You've got to take, prove it, call WD. I tell you, girls, he.
He's the one. Back to the Triad's only live sports talk show, The Drive. Back at it on the drive, right here on WSJS. Where I'm joined now By a guy they call the youngest in charge. Linnell Willingham of Westwood won Sports Night.
It's a show you can listen to right here on WS, JS. Linnell, what's happening, my guy? Happy Drake Day. Happ, you know what? This is why you're the best.
Happy Drake Day. That's exactly how you should be introducing me. I don't even want to talk sports. I'm here strictly to talk about Du Boy.
Well, let's talk about it a little bit. See, I have not. Listen to the albums, plural, three of them. I'm sorry. Can I hold up?
I have to cut you off.
Okay. Because you haven't listened to this. I don't know who the program director is of this organization. You should be off today. If you haven't listened to this album, You should be off today.
I mean, we're happy you're here. It would require me being off because there's three of them, Linnell. I mean, we work out here. Ah, there's only so much I can do.
So here's the thing I would say to those that are trying to make a decision on what you should listen to first. The Iceman album is the album that we knew we were getting for a long time. That's the one to listen to. If you have free time, you should listen to the other two.
Okay. And I just love the fact that he bought. Michael Jackson, the goat's glove. To be the album cover. He did that.
Do you know why he did that? I mean, it fits the Iceman theme. I don't know. I don't know the actual reason. Number one.
will pass Michael Jackson for the most all time. Ooh. See, I'm a Michael Jackson fan. I'm giving you everything you need here. I'm a Michael.
Michael Jackson's my favorite artist.
So I.
Well, there we go. I can appreciate that, I guess. Let's actually get to the reason I brought you here. Dark Horse NFL teams. It's something I'm thinking about.
You and I were talking earlier. Apparently, it's something you're thinking about as well. Who are some of the teams that people may not be thinking about right now that are going to make a pop this year when we get into the regular season? There's one team that is like really at the top of that list for me, but they're kind of automatically disqualified because of who is under center. I know it's been a while since we've seen the Bengals at the top of the mountain, but they did this offseason revamping their defense, bringing in John Allen, making the trade for Dexter Lawrence.
You bring in Boyer Mafe from the Seattle Seahawks. They've done a lot to revamp their front four. The secondary is still a work in progress, but you know it. Football is a game that's one of the trenches, right? No matter how much fantasy and gambling experts will tell you otherwise, this is a game that's one up front.
I love what they have in the trenches on the defensive side of the football. They made some upgrades on the offensive line as well. You got guys going into their second year, and you have the triple crown winner, Jamar Chase, a wide receiver, a healthy T. Higgins. If that group is able to stay healthy and their defense takes any sort of a step forward, they're going to be amongst the contenders in the AFC.
Yeah, I had the Bengals, I put them as a fringe Super Bowl contender after the Dexter Lawrence move. I don't know if you would go that far, but I'm just, I mean, I'm just looking at it this way, Linnell. The Bengals were one of the worst teams in terms of points given out last year. They were literally like near the bottom of the league. But the offense wasn't the problem.
I mean, you got Jamar Chase, as you mentioned, who could be one of the best receivers in the league. I mean, you could go Jackson Smith and Jigba, Justin Jefferson, pick your poison. He's up there. And that dude, Joe Burrow, who I'm a big fan of, like, the offense wasn't the problem. Like, we were to the point where when Joe Burrow got back, whether you bought into it or not, we were literally discussing the potential possibility that the Bengals could win out and sneak into the playoffs.
Now you get Dexter Lawrence over there and you share up the defense like they've done quite a bit. I think I'd put him in the Super Bowl contender conversation. I really do.
So here's what's interesting. There's another team in their division. That With further thought, I'm even more bullish on. I think the AFC North is going to be the most difficult division to decide this year because I think Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati. Are all going to be frisky.
I also think The Cleveland Browns, if they can get competent quarterback play with the weapons they've added on the perimeter and the way they've revamped the offensive line up front, they're going to be formidable. That may be the best division of football. Remember, I said that in the month of May. But I agree with everything you said about Cincy. I think anytime you have Burrow under center in his prime with any sort of defense, you're going to be in the conversation.
But for Pittsburgh I'm not the biggest Aaron Rodgers fan. And I think, as media people, we have let. Our opinions about Aaron Rodgers, the person. influence how we evaluate him as a quarterback. I agree.
The last couple of years, the numbers haven't been bad. Pittsburgh had one of the worst supporting casts in the NFL last year. Adding Michael Pittman is great. You added Jeremy Bernard. You know all about Rico Dowdle.
I like him to compliment Jalen Warren. That offensive line has always been a formidable group. They're getting more and more experience. They were considered a young group last year, but they're now all a year older. And then defensively, like, they added Jamel Dean.
They added Jaquan Brisker, Darnell Savage. Like, they've got. Real dudes in the secondary. Pittsburgh, if they can get. Average, what, 20, 20?
23 points a game. I think their defense is once again going to be one of the best in the NFL. Rogers doesn't turn the football over. We all know that. But they have to do a better job getting vertical.
In their passing game. I think we saw a lot of. Horizontal side-to-side stuff with him last year, being reliant on guys breaking tackles. You got DK Metcalf, who's one of the best deep threats in football. There's no reason Aaron Rodgers should be last in yards per attempt.
All right, let me ask you this, and it's Lynell Willingham of Westwood One Sports joining us here on WSJS. We just talked about some teams that might take a step forward or kind of make a splash this year with people not necessarily expecting them to. Do you have some teams in mind that you think could take a step back? Like, I've heard, like, I was listening to Ryan Clark on ESPN earlier today saying he thinks the Patriots might take a step back.
Sorry, my producer, Morgan's a Patriots fan.
Sorry, you have to hear that. Yeah, sorry, he has to hear that. But who do you think could potentially take a step back this year and don't say the Carolina Panthers, I'll fight you? You have to actually be like considered a contender to figure out what's going on. Shut up, Linnell.
They all won the division. Ah, don't start with me. I'm in a good mood. No, you know I couldn't, you know, I couldn't help myself without taking a big at the entrance. Like, I really can't help it.
Have you guys ordered stilts for Bryce Young yet? No, we don't need to 'cause that that line in front of them is gonna take care of it. It's gonna do it. I told you I would check in. I told you I would check in now.
I'm now a beneficiary of, you know, premium health care now with Brexit one fourth. Bryce Young's in the damn NFL, so at least at least y'all can do some stuff. But here's what I would say: there's a team that not a lot of people are talking about in terms of taking a step back. I brought this to the airwaves the other night on the show, and it was met with a lot of pushback. I don't buy Sam Darnold playing good football.
Two seasons in a row. I I just don't. I think the Seattle Seahawks have major questions. Their defense is legit, it's great. They lost Rick William, who was their starting outside corner.
They lost Kobe Bryant. Uh, to the Chicago Bears, those are two key losses. You lost Boyer Mafe. I'm interested to see how they'll be able to get after the quarterback. With Boy Mafe being gone, it's a piece of their pass rush, not the whole thing, but a piece.
And a lot of it to me just has to do with not me not having a real belief. In Sam Darnold. I think that division was down last year. San Francisco wasn't what they normally are because of injuries. I just, I don't know.
Seattle to me looks like a team that may be primed to take a step back as well.
So Seattle, him winning 14 games with Seattle and then 14 the year before with the Vikings, that wasn't enough to make me believe it.
So here's what I say about what he did in Minnesota. When meaningful football was on the calendar in the month of December and then in the postseason. What happened? He turned it to a total pumpkin. Correct?
Yes, he did. He did? It's okay. So that's my thing with him. It's great.
Being good in October is fine. The good ones in this sport. win games in December and he he did not do that in Minnesota. Let's transition to the NBA very quickly. You know, and it's actually kind of fitting.
It's part of another reason why I wanted you to come on here today because you're based in Washington. And you're a commander's guy, you're a wizard's guy. And the Wizards, they got the number one overall pick. They got Anthony Davis, they got Trey Young.
So my question to you is, is it a foregone conclusion that they're going to have A.J. DeBonsa as well, or are they going to get Dicey and pick Darren Peterson? Or are they going to take Caleb Wilson? What's it going to be? You know, it is fascinating.
I love that the Wizards made the moves that they've made. I love that they won the lottery. It's making my cell phone ring a hell of a lot more, so I'm always in favor of that. But, like, before we even get into the decision, I want this lazy narrative that America has about the wizards to go away. You mean the one Stephen A.
pushed the other day?
So, you know, you know what Stephen A. Smith had to say the other day? The fact that we're some. Talking about us like we're some poorly run organization. That was the case.
Five years ago. Ever since Michael Winger and Will Dawkins and Travis Schlank have come in here, real executives that have cache in this league. Will Dawkins was the number two to Sam Presti while he was in Oklahoma City, as well as Michael Winger before he went and took the Clippers job looking in LA. Travis Schlank was a part of building the Golden State Warriors and the Atlanta Hawks drafting Trey Young.
So, like, we got real executives in this building now that have made. you know, that have a proven track record in terms of scouting talent. And what you've seen from them in the draft the past couple of years, although it hasn't turned into wins, They have drafted pieces that they've identified to be a part of their long-term core. And this is what I think most NBA fans don't understand. Not every player that is drafted within the top 10 is born to be a star.
Not everyone's going to be a star in this league. You've got to have guys that star in their role. I think some of the young pups that they've drafted over the past couple of years are pieces to a championship foundation at the end of the day. As far as what they do with the number one overall pick, I think if Utah gives you an offer you can't refuse and you have the prospects closely ranked talking about Peterson and DeBonsa, you got to pick up the phone. You got to answer the phone.
So like I if they make the move I trust the judgment of the current people in power in Washington, is what I would say. Because I think anyone can make the argument. that yeah, these are two closely ranked prospects. And the other thing with this, everyone's looking at DeBons' year this past year at BYU. These guys have been getting scouted since they were fifteen, sixteen years old on the AAU circuit and they've gone up against each other several different times.
There were outlets out there that evaluate high school talent that had Peterson as the number one player in the country going into this college basketball season.
So I think. Obviously, him missing games and dealing with the cramping at Kansas, it's kind of, you know, let some people forget just how talented he is. And I think. He's more than deserving of being the number one overall pick. Linnell Willingham with us here on WSJS.
Last thing for you here, sticking with the NBA. Who are you more fascinated to see where they end up? Giannis? or LeBron and who is that person going to be playing for next year? Gosh, I mean I would naturally say LeBron because we're talking about what I consider the greatest player of all.
But the honest stakes is going to be. Just as fascinating. Um I would love to see LeBron James. And Giannis somehow ends up in Golden State with the Warriors. A sneaky LeBron destination where I'll officially draw my line in the sand.
I think it's either Golden State or Dallas. I can see him going to the Mavericks and being, you know, playing with Kyrie Irving and. Not Cleveland. In Dallas. I would definitely like to see him there.
I think he'd be a good fit in Dallas for sure.
So you don't have Cleveland on the table? I don't have Cleveland. I don't. I like I just don't see it. I don't know.
I I I don't. It wouldn't be fun to me.
Now, the one enticing thing about Cleveland is you're in the East, so I guess you're guaranteed to go to the finals, I guess. Is that how LeBron would look at it?
Well I wanna see him you know, I wanna see him on the best basketball team possible, like I mean, I think a retirement tour in Cleveland where you could be a contender, I think that'd be pretty fun. Quite frankly, he says he doesn't want the retirement until we know his line.
So that's about it. That's just what it is. Linnell Willingham, Westwood One Sports. Appreciate you making the time for us. And we'll talk again soon.
Try to keep Josh Graham in order next time you're on the air together. Try to do that. Good luck to you. I will do my best. There he goes.
when now Willingham. Westwood won sports night. The youngest in charge, they call him. Dude's a character. Like he he does something on Monday nights on Westwood One that you can see on their YouTube there.
It does meal Mondays. or he literally just gives sports takes while he's cooking. It's what it's what he does. Like he was making some making ver very poorly making some pancakes while talking some NBA or NFL or whatever the heck he was doing. And then one time he cut himself also during the segment.
So It's not the greatest in the kitchen, but makes for good entertainment. Stuck in traffic? Perfect. You've got time to call. If I said it in a minute, and it's all the proof you need.
Welcome to The Drive, the Triad's Only Life Sports Talk Show. Back at it on the drive, right here on WSJS. Had a little southern twang on that. Welcome to the drive. It's a Friday, everybody.
I'm so I'm on one today. Really, I'm on one everybody, every day, but Fridays especially. Thanks to Lynell Willingham of Westwood One Sports for joining us. Six Man of the Tory Hills B. Dot next hour.
But right now Let's make a little money. Let's do it in Dalton's dollars. Stack it up, stack to stack, gotta stack it up. Get the money. Get the money on the zombies.
It's time to cash in. Welcome to Dalton's Dollars. Show me the money. Breaking down the board and building the bankroll.
Alright. Made just one bet last night. Took Chris Sale. To go over, what was I? I think it was six and a half strikeouts.
Yamamoto was five and a half the time before. Chris Sales over six and a half strikeouts. He had eight of them. Show me the light!
So since we've started to keep a record in our summertime bets. We're now 5-2, including that one. Had a couple of bad beats earlier in the week. Minnesota screwed me. Can't stand that.
Detroit, they screwed me. Terrible beats, both of those. But we're 5-2 now.
So let's make a card for the weekend. Let's do that. Starting with Spurs. Timberwolves.
So for this one I like Dylan Harper. To go over 22 and a half, combine points and rebounds. Drove me to fly! That's what we're gonna do on the first bet. He's been really impressive for the Spurs.
He's alr he plays. already like a 10-year vet sometimes. looks really good in this series and I liked him to combine for over, or excuse me, it was 15.5 points and rebounds. That was the over on that one. The one that was 22.5 was the next bet that I'm going to make on the other side of this for Minnesota, Julius Randall to go over 22.5 points and rebounds.
Drop me divided! He had a double-double in the loss in game five. He finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds. He's averaging 14.8. 7.8 rebounds per game in this series specifically.
So I like him to go over that 22. And a half mark. Tomorrow night You're gonna have... The Buffalo Sabres. You're going to have the Montreal Canadiens.
Game six of this series after the Canadians. Just handled it. Offensively, last night. But surprisingly I think I'm gonna go buffalo to cover as one and a half point dogs tomorrow. Drop me!
I like Montreal to go ahead and win the series. I think I like that to happen. tomorrow evening. But despite that, I think Buffalo is going to cover. It's going to be close.
It's going to be exciting. But Montreal, they're going to pull it out in the end.
So that's our three bets for the weekend. You got Dylan Harper over 15.5 points and rebounds combined. You've got Julius Randall over 22.5 points, rebounds combined. Those two are for tonight. And then tomorrow night, I like Buffalo to cover but lose the game as they're one and a half point dogs against the Canadiens.
Not doing too much, just just three picks. That's all we're doing. Just trying to keep it going here, five and two on the week. Not bad. It's not bad, man.
I told you we're going to keep a record. Keep me accountable. Mainly because I was losing so many. I'm like, you know what? I got to do something to.
Put myself out there. I can't be like, I don't want you to think I'm hiding. I don't want you to think that. I want to face it. Right up front.
That's what we're going to do.
So very quickly, before we get to the five things at five, let me, you gave your list. Of the best and worst of the social media releases for the NFL schedule.
Now, let me give you mine. Right at the top, it's the Chargers. That's my personal favorite. I love the halo theme. I mean, just the the picking of the map.
Like in the menu thing, terrific, love that. We mentioned the Mike Vrabel Diana Roussini jab that Colin Cowherd was like, that's not good for the shield. May as well hit the shield drop right now. May as well hit that. Bye-bye.
There it is. Look alive over there, Morgan.
So what it was as they were Um showing the Chargers matchup with the Patriots or previewing that. There's a little putting notification at the bottom right of the screen, like a message you would get during a video game. It it's from the New York Post. You have a message, you have a DM from the New York Post.
So it's not even that serious. Like it's just fun. Forget it. Like the It's not that big of a deal. Cardi B has left the chat.
They were actually one of the very few teams that actually made a jab, if at all. I appreciate I was hoping somebody would do it. I'm here for it. The 49ers caught more strays for their facility than the Patriots did for Rossini. Oh, they did?
I didn't see the Niners one. I didn't see that one. I did see the Colts, though. This was another one of my favorites with the Simpson theme. You don't like The Simpsons?
It just felt like a sell out. It was a nice comeback for them this year after doing Minecraft last year, apparently without Microsoft's permission, and they had to delete it. That was terrible. Oh. Tampa Bay Watch.
That was good. You got the new Baywatch movie coming out, so they went with that theme with Burt Kreischer. Love Bert. Here was some of the worst. I'll just start right up front.
Carolina Panthers. I hate to do it. I'm high on the Panthers this year. I, you know, that six and a half, seven and a half number that Vegas has him out, I think is disrespectful as heck. Don't mean I like their reveal, though, which is disappointing because usually it's very good.
The Panthers, what they do, their social media team, some of the best in the business. Literally all they did Was blow up the mascot of the other team, like a stuffed bear. For week one, they sent a preview to McAfee yesterday for their show. Yeah.
And all it was was a bunch of terrible towels. On a string, they just lit up on fire, disintegrated, and then there was like the weird Panther skull. That's all I've got. That was the best part: the Panther skull. Get that on the t-shirt, ASAP Rocky, and I'll buy one.
I did not like that. Yeah, get out of here with that. Patriots fan Morgan. That's what that was, the bias. In theory, it's cool, like seeing things blown up.
But after about week three, I was kind of over it. I was like, is this going to be okay? It's going to be the whole thing. Jags. I'm with you on that one being a worse just because We haven't seen Trevor Lawrence, I guess, get a haircut since high school.
And it. It wasn't a very good one. And it's not AI. They showed a picture of him at practice today. It's not AI.
Also, the Lions thinking they're better than everybody, just strictly business. And it's Dan Campbell just literally pinning the schedule to a clip to the board there. Like, you ain't better than anybody. Strictly business. Get out of here.
Cardinals AI, that wasn't good either. If this goes sideways, that's on purpose. All you do is talk and talk. You just bluff it. You're on the drive, the triads-only live sports talk show.
Back at it on the drive, right here on WSJS. Before we welcome in one of our favorites, it is the sixth man of the tar heels, B Dot. Dot, what's happening with you? Happy Drake Day. Happy Drake Day, man.
Drake, do right and kill everything. That boy went crazy, man. Three albums for the people, man. Drake is a freaking genius. Mm-hmm.
He's a genius, man. He gave three albums to his three core fan groups. He gave you some house music for the folks that love his controller, controller vibe. You dig what I'm saying? Yeah, then he gave you some straight RB joints for the folks that love the singing.
Drake, you dig. Then he gave you Iceman for those that wanted that started from the bottom.
Now we're here, Drake. You dig what I'm saying? Like three separate albums for three separate fan bases all in one drop. And I haven't had a chance to listen to all of it. I got a chance to listen to Ice Man.
Really enjoy just Ice Man and the energy on that man. And I got to listen to a couple of the album, I mean, a couple of the tracks off of the. Habibi Nim, Habib, whatever. I don't even know all the names of everything. They don't need to.
I'm just happy that Drake is back making music, talking trash to people, man, putting them words together, man. Thank you, Drake. Do right and kill everything. I also have not listened to the whole thing. I've gotten through some of Ice, man.
I planned this weekend or tonight to get through the whole thing. But it's going to be a sit-down because I wasn't ready for three albums. I wasn't ready for that. And I love the shock value on that, man. Like, that's that.
I like that. Like, Drake, we're sitting back thinking Drake about to just drop one album. And he's like, nah, checkmate. Like, that's always been Drake, though. Like, up until his little spat with Kendrick Lamar, Drake was holding us down summer after summer after summer with Bop after Bop after Bop.
Then we let Kendrick and his little short self come in with the A minor, and then we forget how much we've needed Drake year in and year out to give us some summer bobs and just to give us some good music.
So it's great to see him back in the ring, man. And I'm a Drake fan, though.
So I'm genuinely grateful for you. Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of people out there that make this. You got to be Team Drake or Team Kendrick because I like Kendrick Lamar too. I love Kendrick Lamar, but I love like, this is what I wanted to ask you about. Because, you know, you've got a history being in the hip-hop world, hip-hop radio.
And So, I value your opinion very much on this. I'm somebody who likes Drake, and it seems like he's been putting out. banger since whatever year the the motto was, Whatever year that was. And it's just like, now I'm 30. And I was in middle school back then, and he's still doing this.
Where do you place Drake in terms of the greatest of all time? Or is he the greatest of all time when it comes to what he does? That's difficult. And just to educate the audience that's watching, like, I did 17 summers of morning radio at 102 Jams in Greensboro.
So, when he's talking about being around hip-hop radio for a very long time, that's what we're talking about. And, you know, like Drake has done things that have never been done, like consecutively on Billboard, Top 100s, and just all the records he's done, but he's done it at a time where it's different. Like a lot of people argue, like, it's hip-hop and sports are sort of the same, WD, in the idea that it's difficult to put LeBron versus. MJ because they played in different eras. Like it's difficult to talk about Phil Ford versus Allen Iverson.
Because they played in different eras.
So you talk about Drake versus Biggie or Drake versus Jay-Z. It's sort of difficult to discuss his level of greatness because they played and operated in different eras. Jay-Z and Biggie and Parkin' and Boys, they dropped music when you had to get up, you had to get in your car, you had to go to Willie's, you had to wait in line, you had to buy the physical copy.
Somebody stole it. Damn it, now I have to go buy another copy. They grew up in an era like that where they were selling millions, and you still got folks going diamond like Eminem, where in an era where you had to go and physically buy copies. Drake, you can go and when one scroll, two swipes, you can download a Drake album. And if you like it, you like it, you don't, you don't, you never listen to it again.
It's not the same emotional attachment put to the artist today as it was in that era of the like the 90s and the early 2000s.
So, musically, the records and stuff, Drake has said, man, like he's top tier. He's up there with Michael Jackson and the Beatles and that type energy. But when you talk about like, Core hip-hop fans, and who's the greatest? Like, Drake doesn't even sniff the top of Mount Rushmore. Did you see that he bought Michael Jackson's glove?
to do the the cover. Yeah, yeah. Yes. And the sad thing is I've heard that he did that, but I still haven't even seen the cover, WD. Oh, you got to take a look at it, man.
You got to do it. Yeah, I got to check him out. He spent apparently like $120-some thousand dollars. He apparently bought two of his gloves. I really did that.
As long as he doesn't buy OJ's glove, man, he's fine. You can buy MJ's glove, you know? Like, that's one of the clubs. There are certain gloves that are very, very respected. And MJ's glove is one.
Yeah, yeah. I can't with you. I said I can't with you. Six men at the Tar Heels be not with us here on WSJS. Uh let's uh transition to The NBA, the NBA draft specifically, because I don't know about you.
But I feel like when... People talk about, you know, the top guys. Cameron Boozer, AJ DeBonsa, Darren Peterson. I feel like Caleb Wilson too much of the time gets regarded as the other guy, like of that forsome. How do you view that?
Do you think he's being slept on a little bit? Um, maybe, but if so, he earned it. You know, he didn't play as many games as the other guys. You dig what I'm saying? In the games that he did show play, I mean, he showed flashes of greatness, bro.
Like, I get so angry just looking at the highlights and just and then seeing how he's busting ass in the NBA combine and just thinking, dang, like. I wish we would have got a full season. If we get a full season, we were just doing believe in Hills House, I mean, Hill's Hoops this past Wednesday. And Dez was saying that if. If Caleb plays a whole season.
It's a real good chance that Hubert Davis is still head coach of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, man. Like the season ends totally different if he doesn't have that freak accident with the finger. And then of course if he doesn't injure himself again. Um but talent wise You can't put him as another, as the other guy. If you've seen him play and you saw what he does between whistles, like you know what that kid can do on the floor.
So, anybody that's referring to him as the other guy just hasn't seen enough tape and they're only looking at box scores and games play and things of that nature. When I see Caleb get interviewed and he talks about how he's going to be a game changer or a culture changer or shift change, I believe him 100% unless he goes to Utah. If he goes to Utah, I'll surprise for him. You can't change the Mormons, bro. The Mormons are the Mormons, and the Mormons is going to be the Mormons.
That's all they got out there. I pray to God that he goes first or fourth. That's where I hope Caleb goes, man. First overall to the Wizards or that fourth spot and get down there. I think that's Atlanta.
No, no, Chicago. Chicago, yeah. Yeah, the Bulls. I don't mind Memphis either at three, but one and four, I think he would really, really flourish. Yeah, a lot of people think that he kind of matches that Memphis, you know, grind or toughness potentially with how, you know, you know, that chip on the shoulder that he has.
And To the point that we're making here with people considering him the other guy or saying he couldn't go in the top three, you know, he's keeping notes. You know it. And that's him. Like to every team, I'm letting you know this right now. And Josh, our good friend Josh Graham made a great point that Caleb is the only guy.
That's played against the other three that you talked about. And he played better than all of them when he played them head to head. And why did he do that? Because he had a list. He had a list of guys that he knew when I see these guys, I have to play better than them.
Trust and believe there will be a list on draft day. And if Caleb does not go first overall, Every team that skips on him will be. I'm talking about he's gonna, you're gonna have hell to pay for. his entire 20-year career. How locked in have you been on the NBA playoffs now that the Hornets, you know, obviously didn't make a run or anything like that?
Not very. I'm catching it sporadically. I know we got two game sixes tonight, so I'm excited about those. I think Donovan Mitchell will close those boys out, and I think Victor Wimbinyama will close those boys out tonight. But I've been hit or miss, hit or miss.
I was hoping for a Minnesota versus New York Knicks finals. Um, just for the big cat having to play his former team and just the whole yang and yang and that whole thing. But I'm loving the idea of OKC versus the Spurs, man. Like, OKC versus the Spurs is going to be top bill. And the Spurs is the only team that's even had a chance to give work or have a winning record against OKC this season.
So to see that and to see what could come from that and them two beat the hell out of each other for probably seven games and then have to go to the finals and probably see the Knicks. Like, woof. I'm sort of enjoying it as we get down to these last couple, four and that type deal, but I've been hit or miss. Yeah, I I I think that the Spurs I think that Spurs Thunder series To me, that's the finals right there. Because I think those are the two best.
And with respect to the Knicks, because they have beaten teams by the most margin in NBA history. That's how much they're working teams. But with respect to them, I think Thunder Spurs, I think that's it right there. Like, you can't do nothing with Wimby. Absolutely not, man.
Like, he is an alien for real, for real. Like, just, I was saying some one of my friends earlier, man. Like, in a minute, it's going to be an eight-footer in the league. Like, he's going to be an eight-footer with handles and a jump shot. He's going to be from freaking Molly or something.
It's going to be ridiculous. I'm telling you, man. Like, I. I remember when Shaq at 7-2 was a monster, and it was like, wow, you can't get bigger than Wimby at 7-6 and dribbling behind his back. And man, it's insane.
It's absolutely insane what that kid can do. And I enjoy watching it. But even that way, seeing how. The Minnesota Timberwolves took them to a little bit of the brink. Like, if Ant-Man was a little bit more healthy, I'm telling you, man, like, this is a seven-game series.
And don't count Ant-Man and them boys out tonight. Like, they found a way to stifle the big guy, get him ejected out of games, hold him to 11 points for a game. Like, they found ways to sort of, um, because you can't, you can't stop Victor. All you can do is hope to contain him a little bit. And the Timberwolves have found ways to do that in this series.
See if they'll be able to do it again tonight. Six Man of the Tar Heels beat out with us here on WSJS. Last thing for you on the way out. You know, talking NBA, let's talk a little LeBron James because that's. That's a conversation that's going to ramp up?
That's right. For those not watching on YouTube, for those not watching on YouTube, Dot just did the crown, did the crown, because he is the king. He's King James. And at 41 years old, he is a free agent again. And, you know, there's a lot of teams being thrown out.
Does he return to the Lakers? I don't think he's going to retire. I don't think that's going to happen. But the Lakers, does he return? Does he go back to Cleveland?
Golden State's been thrown out there. Team him up with Steph. What does B-Dot think LeBron James does next year? Golden State is absolutely ridiculous. You don't like that?
Hell no, man. No, no, I don't need him and the rest of the old Avengers trying to all we're gonna go out here and we're gonna okay see. No, you're not freaking 300 years old together if you add all your ages up. No, I don't like that. I like him going back to the Lakers.
I like him trying to give it another run with Luca and them boys, man. Like, if he has a full season with Luca and AR, again, like, I think they have a completely different series or different ending to their season as well. And I think that's what LeBron sees. LeBron sees how well they did with just him at 41 years old, carrying the team, averaging 20-plus points a game to carry this team on his back. And then AR coming back and being a shell of his damn self.
He could have sat down and stayed over there and let Rui keep doing what the hell he was doing. But I think they got bench guys that can get buckets and help LeBron around in those spaces. Luca, give him a full healthy year. And I think LeBron wants to see what happens with the Lakers that way. I think going to Cleveland is the best storyline.
But I think it's too much heavy, too much heavy lifting. And this could just be my ignorance of not knowing how things play out money-wise and contract-wise and stuff like that. But I think he really enjoys playing with Bronny. He enjoys being able to play with his son. And I think that Bronny would have to go to Cleveland in order for him to stay or for him to go back to Cleveland.
I think that would all have to be arranged. And I think he's used up his nepotism coin with getting Bronny to the Lakers.
So I think he stays in LA for maybe two more years. I think LeBron, again, PJ on Believe in Hills Hoops. He stands by. He thinks LeBron is trying to play for 25 years.
So that'll give LeBron two more years, I believe, with just enough time for Bryce to possibly enter the NBA and him to possibly play with both of his children, Bryce and Bronny, and be the first to ever do something. Could you imagine that? As that is. That's insane, man. Hey, I I'll say this, you you were talking about LeBron, you know.
On his end, seeing how he carried the Lakers. The Lakers better recognize what he did too, because there was a lot of conversation earlier in the year and reports coming out of them saying they didn't need LeBron anymore. This is going to be Luca's team. But then Luca got hurt, and who was the best player on the Lakers, and who even gave you a chance? That would be LeBron James.
Just disgusting. The most disgusting fans, the most disgusting fans on earth, are the Laker fans. There's no doubt about it. I mean, like, ever since LeBron's been there, they've been, oh, we didn't want him here. He's no Kobe.
Then he got him a ring, and it's like, I guess so, but that ring doesn't count. It was in the bubble. And that was like, to hell with you, Laker fans. You don't even deserve the greatness that is the king. I wish all of you would just get huddled up and just tied to a hot air balloon and just whisked into the damn air.
That's what I wish happened to Laker fans. I think I'm going to end it on that note. I can't say anything better than that. Six man of the Tar Heels, B. Dot.
Six, six, six, six. Dot, you're the best, man. We'll talk to you next week. Always a privilege, WD. There he goes.
Get that hot air balloon fired up. I like that idea. I mean, there's another team in Los Angeles. Nobody's worried about the Clippers. Nobody's worried about it.
Ugh. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, listen, y'all tried to do this when y'all got Paul, George, and Kawhi. For a second, it was like, okay, there was gonna be this rivalry. And it just never happened.
Well, I there's never gonna be a rivalry. We're no Lakers. We're better than no, I'm just kidding. We're not better than the Lakers. But I mean, LeBron's the Clips would be a great story.
Wouldn't have to buy a new house. We would accept Bronny with open arms. Oh, geez. That would be such a terrible move if he did that. We would draft Bryce.
Two, we need somebody.
Sounds like you you you want it to happen.
Now, you're going to trade away the five-pick and get Giannis. That's what you're going to do. I would be so sad. Yeah, I don't know if they're going to do that. I don't think they got enough juice to put in that deal.
