Mike Breen: Looking Forward to Pacers' "Running" Offense vs Thunder's Defense

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Get their newest arrivals in-store, online, and in the app. We don't talk about the Knicks that much. That's the one that tugs at me a bit. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Came on the air in hour number one that also featured the actor Jason Schwartzman who just left our studio. The director Kevin Smith will be making his entrance in hour number three to talk about the 25th anniversary of the movie Dogma.

You threw out 844204rich number to dial. Of course, we talked about to lead this program, the Pacers dispatching of the Knicks over the weekend in a second half blowout. First half a tight game. Thought we were potentially going to be in line for game seven, but the Pacers had completely different ideas. In mind, it is going to be the Pacers versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, the one seed 68 win team winning the Western Conference in Oklahoma City. And then the fourth seed, the Indiana Pacers coming out of the East. That will be tipping off later on this week on Thursday night. And the man calling the finals, kind enough to join us in advance of his 20th finals of his career.

Extending his record for calling the most finals ever is the Emmy Award winning Mike Green. Good to see you, Mike. How are you, sir? Good, Rich. You got a little Hollywood theme today.

You know, I just, you know, it just, that's the way it's worked out. And I consider you Hollywood, Mike. I consider you, you know, one of my favorite guests that you've had on is Kevin Pollock.

Okay. I love it. That guy, he's so good at storytelling and his impression. I love that guy on the show. I love it. Thank you.

And I'm sure he'll love to hear that cause he's a sports fan. And I mean, you're surrounded by celebrities every single time you call anything in Madison Square Garden, Mike, my goodness, you're everywhere. Yeah. It was unprecedented in this past season too. They were, they were everywhere. And you know what the beauty of it though, for, for so many of them, they're real fans. They're not just showing up at the big games. Like there's, there's about 10 to 15 of them. They're, they're at a game in November against the wizards.

I mean, they really show up all the time. Ben Stiller is obviously a crazy fan, Timothy Chalamet, Steven Shripper. Those guys, they're legitimate fans. They're just not wannabes.

I love it. And but they're, they're not going to the NBA finals that, that we know, unless they really want to, you know, I guess either put on a white shirt or a yellow shirt, you know and, and get things going for a fan base that they're not part of. I'll just want to ask you first things up, Mike, you saw the Oklahoma city thunder in person.

What's their, what's their secret sauce, Mike? Defense, defense, defense. There's so it's one of the best defenses I've seen since I've covered the NBA from a standpoint of team defense and individual defenders. Yeah.

I said this on the last telecast. Most, most NBA teams will have maybe two, sometimes three, what you would call either elite defenders or top-notch defenders or candidates for NBA all defense. They have like eight, it's unbelievable. And four of them are in the starting lineup and their commitment to defense. What happens is so many of them are good on defense and they've such, such a standard that everybody has to pull their own weight. You don't want to be the one guy on that team. That's not pulling his weight defensively. And that's not giving everything he has defensively, but peer pressure on that team to play at a high defensive level because they all take such joy in it. And so many of them are good.

I've never seen anything like it. And you know, obviously the MVP of the NBA will be featured at the home team, Oklahoma city thunder are all about what SGA has put out there for sure. What's your opinion on the free throw merchant conversation, Mike? I think it's, I think it's ridiculous. And I think it, you know, it's, it's part of the narrative to talk about it, but you know, we've seen this for years and years and years, great players know how to get to the free-throw line. It's a part of the game. It's a skill and he's using it to his advantage and it's obviously working. And he even made a point a couple of weeks ago when we sat down with him a couple of years ago, when they weren't a good team, they won like 40 games.

They were in the plan. He averaged two free throws more per game that season than he did this year. Go back and look at some of the free throws of some of the great players in the playoffs, whether it's, you know, Michael Jordan or any, anybody else, they shot more free throws than he's getting to the, to the line. So, you know, I understand sometimes the moves can be frustrating for a defender, but that's all part of being clever and savvy and getting to the free-throw line. And it's also up to the officials to make sure they don't call, uh, ones where it, does he put his arm underneath the defender's arm?

Sure. Sometimes that happens. Uh, but I think it's, I think it's, it's crazy to, to look at it as a negative for him because he's just doing anything and everything he can to win a game for his team. Yeah. Maybe it's just cause he hasn't, uh, been on the national stage like this before, or there are some who thought Jokic really was the MVP of the league or anybody else that wasn't maybe familiar with his game, getting the calls that one would think, um, somebody who's done it year in and year out deserves. Maybe, maybe that's part of the conversation, Mike.

I don't know. Well, you know, when, when any, any team is the best team and everybody has to beat them and not just players, but obviously opposing fans, you know, you're going to take shots. Nobody took shots at them two years ago when they were a playing team. But now, because they're the team to beat now, it's, it's one way to try and attack them, but he doesn't care about that stuff. He, he is such a poised young man. Uh, I'm so impressed how he carries himself. You know, he's not trying to draw attention to himself in terms of, you know, an under the radar MVP, uh, in terms of his personality, he's nothing flashy.

He's not a showboat. Uh, he's just a great skill basketball player who, who is also an unbelievable leader. You know, Jokic is like that too. Jokic is not flashy.

Um, he doesn't care for any of the attention. It's like the Tim Duncan syndrome where these guys, they just want to play basketball. They want to play with their teammates and they want to win games.

I love guys like that. Well, I, I listen, I'm, I'm going to go off the, off the beaten path here before you talk about the matchup with you, Mike. Cause I, I know calling NFL games, we, we have meetings with coaches and star players, uh, before each game, how, how much access do you guys get to those to SGA or, you know, Halliburton or just for the finals or either coach, Mike, how often do you get to chat with them? You know, Rich, during the playoffs, it's good. Again, they're bringing players all the time. It used to be every national game that you would get players to come in and sit down.

Obviously the pandemic changed everything. We weren't getting guys to come in and unfortunately hasn't gotten back to that yet because I do think it's, it's a great insight. You get to really understand the players, get to know them, get to hear stories about their background and there's great stuff that's written all the time about it. And, and you know, there's still access. I wish there was more, um, fortunately during the playoffs and especially during the finals, we get a lot more access than during the regular season, but I think it's important for us because, you know, we're supposed to document who these players are.

We're supposed to tell their stories. And it's so much easier when you get to sit down with them and have these back and forth and you find out, you know, I've said this over and over again, there are so many incredible young men playing in this league. And every time you meet someone, you wind up walking out of them saying, wow, that guy is so impressive. And SGA is one of those. There's so many like that.

So I always like to have as much access as possible. I wish we had a little bit more, uh, but it does get better in the playoffs. Mike brain here on the rich eyes and show the matchup that you're most looking forward to seeing in the NBA finals is what Mike, uh, individual matchup is, is hard. Um, I just think you have this entertaining Pacers team that loves to run up and down the floor. Um, they, there's so many possessions they have where four different guys will touch the ball and only one of them will actually put the ball on the floor. Uh, the ball really moves and that's the type of offense that you have to play against an elite defense like OKC. I mean, OKC, they're the definition of smothering, um, suffocating and Indiana's a team with ball movement that might be able to deal with that. So it's the overall Indiana offense against the OKC defense. There are some nights I've watched OKC where if you're watching how they seem to double everybody, it almost feels, feels like they have six players on the floor. That's how good they are. And Indiana with their ball movement, might test that.

That's, that's what I'm looking forward to the most. What's your insight on Carlisle? He's, he's fascinating to me, Mike, you know, and, and he's been around, he's been there, he's done that. This, this is a potential career capstone for, for him, former player coach, uh, around the league here. And he seems to be hitting every button right, right now. He's in a zone.

It feels like to me right now. Rich, he's super smart. Um, and he obviously loves the game. Uh, what I like about him, he never comes across like he knows all the answers and he knows sometimes he's got to make some changes and he's not afraid to change and he's not afraid to try different things. And the players really respond to that. And I think him coaching this team and it's like this throughout the league. Um, if you leave a coach in place, um, continuity is the most underrated part of success in all of sports, but for me, especially, you know, watching the NBA. So he knows the nuances of his, of his players.

Now he's been with them now for several years. They know each other so well. And I think, um, he's another one of those guys that he gives, he gives great confidence to the players that he coaches and any big time player will tell you, um, that has been a huge part of their success and a huge part of their growth. When a coach has confidence in you, when you're going out on the floor and you know, if you make a mistake, he's okay with it because he knows it's coming from a good place. And Carlisle does that. He, he instills confidence into his players. And you know, um, the other coach, uh, has got quite a story too, Mike. I mean, you know, Holy cross assistant, uh, G league guy, and now he can be hoisting the Larry OB.

Mike I'll, I'll, I'll give you the floor on, on the coach of the year here, Mike. Yeah. They use, again, it's just super smart. Uh, his mind works in so many different ways. Players respond to him, same thing. I'm not afraid to play nine, 10 guys, knowing that playing a 10th guy at this point in the season, like pay dividends down the road. Um, but he also listens to the players and allows them to give them a lot of input in terms of what he wants to try.

But his, his story is unbelievable. Um, and I think Sam Presti deserves a lot of credit. So Presti has him and he decides to give him the G lead job and have them coach there for five years.

It's like a player. So you want a player every year to get a little better. He wanted Mark Dagnold to get a little better. And then when it was time, he had five years of making all the decisions in the G league, which is a hard league to coach because there are all sorts of intangibles thrown at you day in and day out. And, uh, and he was able to do that, um, and come on and, and, and he right now he's one of the best coaches in the NBA. And I think, um, his age factor and the age factor of the players is there's great connection with them.

They absolutely love him as well. And um, you know, right now the guy coach of the year already wants might be an NBA championship coach this year. It's a, it's an incredible story. Um, before I let you go a few minutes left here with Mike Breen calling his 20th NBA finals. Um, I would love to give you your, get your thoughts on the Knicks. If you're willing to cough them up, Mike, you've seen a ton of Nick games, obviously. So lots of talk now about what happened, what to do next.

Do you have an opinion on that front, Mike? Oh, um, they had a great year, but it just ended in such disappointment because I know they felt that, that they could have advanced to the finals and perhaps even win a title that would have been hard against Oklahoma city, but they had a great year and you can look back what they did in the first round against Detroit. I thought they really grew in that series against a really terrific young Detroit team. Then to beat Boston. And I know Tatum got hurt at the end, but those two victories in Boston down 20 on the road in that arena, those are two of the great playoff victories of all time. And then to beat the Celtics in a game six by like 38, great, uh, great progress that they made that game one, it will haunt them all summer when you're up 14, but three minutes to go, you got to put that one away that completely changed.

And, and the patients deserve all the credit for not quitting that night. They could have thrown in the talent. So they deserve all the credit, but the next had a great year. And, and, you know, this silly talk about, do they think about changing coaches? What Tom Thibodeau has done there to turn things around Leon Rhodes, what he's brought in and the players, it goes back to what I say a little bit earlier, continuity, rich is huge. You brought in two new starters this year. They've had to kind of play different roles than they've had with their previous teams.

These things take time. They're they're basically, you know, they're two wins away from, from making the NBA finals and everybody's talking about, Oh, we're going to make major changes. No, they've got, they've got a tweet. They've got to improve. Uh, but a lot of that comes from within and they're one of the best teams in the NBA. And they'll only be better next year, in my opinion, because of that continuity factor Brunson and towns will be better at playing with each other.

Same time on the floor, McHale bridges will be better in terms of knowing his role. So I think, you know, patience is not a word you use in sports much anymore, but you still need some patients. They had a great year and they think they can be better next year with some tweaks. New Yorker to New Yorker question here, Mike, what would it take to get, what would it take to get fans in Madison square garden to wear all the same colored shirts like they do in Oklahoma city and Indiana? There's no, there's no, you have to think, think about, especially down below, you know, near courts, the amount of time that they put into deciding what they're going to wear to Madison square is it's, I'm going to say something for some it's probably hours trying on different outfits, what works well.

And you're going to ask them to put on a t-shirt. There's no way that no way. Yeah. Right. Look at that. Like, good luck telling spike and shallow may please put on this orange t-shirt. You know what I mean?

It's just, no, that's, that's something that will never happen, but it's just, you know, obviously different, different parts of our countries, just different ways of showing your zeal and fandom and both fan bases, I'm sure are lit for these finals, Mike. And this is my final question for you. It's your 20th. And I'm just wondering, do you have a favorite NBA finals that you called?

And if so, you know, what, what is it, what do you have? Oh, it's, it's, it's hard. It's hard to pick one. You know, you know, obviously in 2016, coming down from coming back from three, one down in Cleveland to win that and LeBron James to win it for his, for his city in Cleveland was amazing. I love the ones like Milwaukee winning their first championship in 2021 because of what it meant to the city, what it meant to the fans, the Toronto championship was, was off the charts in 2019. You know, any game seven, one Boston Lakers in 2010. I also, you know, when, when San Antonio came back and won against Miami in five games, I thought that was the best team basketball. I think I've ever seen play.

It wasn't a dramatic series, but what the Spurs did in that series was basketball at its absolute most beautiful. So as you can tell, I can't pick one. There's, there's a whole bunch of them and it's, it's always, it's always an honor to be able to sit there and call them. I, I still can't believe I've been able to do it this long.

20. I guess now, now I'm going to hopefully have you indulge me for one last one. You mentioned, you know, the Spurs and how that's the greatest team basketball you've seen from that particular NBA champion with the news that Greg Popovich is no longer going to coach in this league. You got to your, I need your favorite Greg Popovich story, Mike, whether it's during a game, after a game, a dinner that you've been able to maybe have with him. What's your favorite Greg Popovich story, Mike Breen? I'll give you two quickly.

I won't take up too much. First one. You've heard about these, these unbelievable dinners on the road that they all have and the coaches all have to attend whenever they go on the road and all the great wine and great food. And every once in a while they let an outsider come in and PJ Carlos has always been one of my dearest friends for years. He got me into one of the, one of the dinners and it really is, it's, it's special because they talk about everything, not just basketball and the food, the best wine I've ever had in my life, but they start every meal with the same thing. And it's a two word toast and the two word toast is they all raise their glasses and say to Timmy. And that just goes to show you the humility that they all know that if it wasn't for Tim Duncan, they probably couldn't be having all these wonderful expensive dinners with all this expensive wine.

So that was something that I found just amazing that that was the same toast they do every night. And the other one Rich was just happened a couple of years ago because the Spurs hadn't been on national TV very often. UB Brown, who I was doing the game with the Spurs came and played, I think it was these rookie year. They came to the garden to play the Knicks and those two hadn't seen each other for a while. And when a pop came into the, to the room to sit down with us and he saw it was UB those two men hugged, it may have been for five full minutes. The respect and love that they had for each other.

We were all in the room. We were all crying because you could see these two men who have devoted their lives to the game and done it with, with such integrity. That respect factor was off the charts and I'll never forget that moment. Mike, you're the best man. Congrats on 20 years, obviously more to come. And always appreciate when you hop on here and, and give us your two cents. Love listening to you, love watching you and love having you on. Thanks again, man. Appreciate it. I love the show. So thanks, bud.

You got it. That's Mike Breen, everybody getting set to call his 20th NBA finals right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Again, obviously been watching Mike for a very, very long time, watching Nick games at home as well, listening to him and Clyde Frazier and just it's, it's awesome. And I just want to say this, you know, I get asked quite a bit of my, my favorite Super Bowl.

So it's difficult to ask a question like that of Mike. You know, I've been to 22 of them now, I guess, 23, and they're all different. And I kind of want to bring up one in particular that I would never going in to the Super Bowl between the Steelers and the Cardinals have said this would be the would be one of my favorites of all time. And part of that reason is because the Cardinals being on the national stage, like the Super Bowl, like nobody really knew of an Arizona Cardinal fan in their life that I know of, or that I had met. And you know, when you talk about most passionate fan bases or national fan bases, Cardinals are not mentioned.

Steelers are. And you know, I'm almost sure, who did the Cardinals beat in the NFC Championship game that year? Chris, look it up. I'm kind of forgetting.

I think it was the Eagles. Okay. And I know NBC executives had, you know, Eagles Steelers on the brain, if I'm not mistaken.

You looked that up. Yeah, they beat the Eagles, Panthers, and Falcons in the playoffs. Okay. And so were the Eagles the ones in the NFC Championship game? Yes. All right. And I just remember talking to some folks thinking, oh, the ratings.

You never know. And that turned out to be one of the greatest Super Bowls in the history of the Super Bowl. It was awesome.

Yeah. Eagles were 9-6-1 and the Cardinals were 9-7 that year. Well, but the Eagles curb stomped the Cardinals on Thanksgiving. I still give Kurt Warner so much grief for that. Thanks for dragging our asses out across the country on Thanksgiving night to freeze our asses off in that stadium for you not to show.

48-20. Thanks for that, Kurt. Yeah. And then in the rematch, they took care of business. They made the Super Bowl.

And I'm just mentioning this because sure, the helmet catch, all due respect, Malcolm Butler, just to give you a return volley. Thank you. Okay. Just to name a couple of Super Bowls, obviously the first half of NFL Network's existence were Patriots Super Bowls.

That's true. Okay. And you know, a lot to do leap to mind of some great Super Bowls that I've been kind enough, thanks to the television gods, to cover. But I mentioned Cardinals versus Steelers right now because both teams in the NBA Finals are kind of like the Cardinals. I mean, with all due respect to the fan bases here, Indianapolis and Oklahoma City, a lot of people around the country are going to be learning what you've been cooking all season long and certainly all spring long for the first time. I'll watch an NBA Finals game, if that's what you're watching.

Sure. Thursday night, I'll tune into this. What else is there on? I'll tune into this.

What else is there on? I'm just talking about casual fans. This could be a tremendous NBA Finals, tremendous, of players that, you know, maybe not selling out jerseys, not the top selling jerseys on fanatics. You know what I mean? But those Cardinals, nobody gave a shot against the Pittsburgh Steelers and certainly not a shot to make a Super Bowl out of it. Certainly not to take a lead with three minutes to go and only to have the Steelers march down the field with a touchdown that we're still talking about. All of that after a, with all due respect to Kurt, while I'm disrespecting him. Maybe the greatest play in historical history. Honestly, honestly. And then where Fitzgerald's touchdown and then the final drive.

I had three gigantic moments. Right. And going into that, everyone's like not that exciting. Could have been, could have been, could have been Pittsburgh versus, you know, Arizona.

Right now it's like. Or Pittsburgh Philly. Could have been Pittsburgh Philly. Right now people are like, could have been the Knicks. Well, Pacers made it for reason.

Sort of the Cardinals. And so, you know, it's not easy for Breen to answer, oh, which is the 20 that I've called? But of the, you know, more than close to two dozen Super Bowls that I've called, I'm not calling, I've covered. I mean, that one stands out and going into it, not a lot of people were talking about it, but coming out of it, they were. 844-204-rich number of dollars in overreaction Monday on a Monday.

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That's OReillyAuto.com slash Eisen. You weren't that memorable. You don't remember Jeff Van Gundy in class?

I'm afraid I don't, I'm afraid I don't. Because the reverse is true. Oh, that's great. Yeah.

Yeah, I know. Your phone wasn't lighting up from friends saying... No, I wish I'd seen it. I wish I'd seen him. I would have been able to see his face and maybe, you know, but I was... Well, I mean, I think we could... Can we bring up a picture of Jeff Van Gundy?

I don't know. So just stroll down memory lane here. The one in the middle is Jeff Van Gundy. Does that ring a bell to you? That rings no bell whatsoever. I'm so sorry, Jeff.

No class reunions at all with the Jodie Foster and Jeff Van Gundy. Okay. We noticed you mentioned on the air that you were classmates with Jodie Foster at Yale. Yeah. And then you cheap shotted me afterwards. No, I don't know.

I don't like cheap... You brought her on and just saying total indifference to my existence in the world. It was a setup. I mean, our freshman year, there was 12 guys on the floor. We all threw in $100 and said, hey, the first guy that gets a date with Jodie Foster, you win the money.

I'm coming back from the gym in the early fall and there's a candy shop right outside the big quad for freshmen. The popcorn is popping. It smells great. And from behind me, someone goes, man, that popcorn smells good. And I turn around and it's her. And I totally choke. And I say, yeah, yeah. And I run to my dorm. I was scared.

I was intimidated by her. Ah, yes. Back in the day, Jeff Van Gundy on the Rich Isaac Show. Love listening to his brother call games too. I really like Stan. Stan is no nonsense. I know.

I really enjoy it. I hope he finds a gig somewhere else. It's a Monday. It's just a great Monday, which means it's time for overreaction Monday here on the Rich Isaac Show headed. That was terrible. That was crap.

That was garbage. This place sucks. Overreaction Monday. On a Monday. What do you got over there? What's up guys? Everybody good?

Good weekend. Yeah, we're great. How was your sports weekend? It was great last night. It was great last night. Awesome.

IVR bro and fantasy. Oh man. He's been awesome.

He's been great. But thanks for asking. No problem.

How was yours? Busy. All right. Cut to it.

Little kids got smoked. Football, obviously always on the brain. Let's do a couple football topics here. Thinking about the NFC, right? Oh, big blow. The Lions.

Frank Ragnell retired at age 29. I think the 49ers are the biggest threat to knock off the Eagles in the NFC this year. You know what, man? I don't think we're not talking enough about the 49ers.

What's happened to you? Well, everyone thinks I hate them, which is kind of ridiculous. Well, you think their coach keeps hitting his head on the ceiling right around, you know, fourth quarter of most important games. That's been your stance for years. I only have the facts to back me up on that. That's been your stance for years. Yeah, because it keeps happening.

Okay. And then, you know, you don't believe Brock Purdy's worth the money that they paid him. You think they should have let him play out his contract and let have all of that, that comes with such a thing for your franchise quarterback.

But that doesn't mean he's not the right quarterback for the system that they run. But I'm only pointing these things out because this is a surprising subject for me because, you know, obviously the NFC, as I mentioned last week when I did my top five on the most, the deepest divisions in football, what's the best divisions in football. I said, not only is it the NFC North atop the list, but this is the best the NFC North may have been ever. We may never see the NFC North better than this, despite Frank Ragnell's retirement.

I have it. It's just hard to be like, they're in sleeper team mode right now, San Francisco and the easiest schedule. I know they don't have sleeper team talent, right? They've got, you know, real live Super Bowl worthy talent, but the rest of them around need to show that they are too, which is why I would just peg the commanders to be the best one. I think a lot of good things, fortunate things, went the commanders way last year, and I don't know if that's going to happen again this season.

You know, our aggression back to the mean. What do you think, TJ? You want to hop in here? Because I'm about to, I think the stars are aligned. I agree with you at one point because you spent all of last year saying how it was over for the Niners, and now for you to jump back in and say they're the top contender. That was then.

This is so weird. I can't think of a better option than the Niners. You know what I want to say, but I'm not going to say them. I know you want to say Dallas, but in all seriousness, though, I mean, you have to think somebody from the NFC North could do it.

You do, but if you look at, obviously we'd all like to say Detroit, right? But lost both coordinators. They just, their center just retired. Their best defensive player is still coming back from a really devastating injury. They are going to take a step back. Now, can the other team step up is the question there, but the Niners, the schedule, McCaffrey back, Kittle back, they're adding pieces on defense.

I look back. I got it. And I have, there's reasons to, there's reasons to call the Niners overlooked and there's reasons to call the Niners cooked. But I think overlooked outweighs cooked, but I don't even think they're the biggest threat to the Eagles in their own division. That's the Rams. So I'll rule this an overreaction. Christopher, go for it.

All right. Always the quarterbacks on the mind. Now, last week I had this player in my top five of guys who could become a superstar in 2025, but also two things can be true at once. Jordan Love is in the top five of quarterbacks with the most to prove in 2025. I just don't see Jordan Love a top five quarterback in the NFL right now.

You're misreading the question. Top five quarterbacks with the most to prove in 2025. Jordan Love is in there.

I don't even think that either. Give me the five then. Give me the others who are, who are in that neighborhood. I know, I know you're putting Justin Herbert there. Justin Herbert, big time. I know you're putting Tua in there. You're putting Trevor Lawrence in there. I don't expect anything from Tua.

So yes, Trevor Lawrence, yes. Well, if you don't expect anything from Tua, then he's got something to prove. I don't even think about Tua. I don't think of Miami as contenders.

I don't even think about them in that way. You're talking about Josh Allen. You're talking about Lamar Jackson.

You're talking about Jordan Love. What do those guys have to prove? What do they have to prove? Can you win a Super Bowl or not? They can win a Super Bowl. No, they can't.

Nope. They haven't. They haven't. They know that. So they cannot win a Super Bowl yet. They've done everything else that is the last thing that they have to prove.

We always have different, different, different, different, that they have to prove. We always have different opinions on what these sports phrases mean. Jordan Love, are you a, are a $55 million quarterback worthy of the accolades you have been given at an early stage without proving much? Exactly.

What are we doing here? If Josh Allen retires after, you know, a great 15, 16 year career, right. And he doesn't have a Super Bowl win. Is that going to be look as a bit of a disappointment?

I think so. He can shake hands with Dan Fouts in Canton, Ohio. I don't think you might be the first person to shake hands with Dan Marino on Canton, Ohio. You know, people, you know, people out there do not care about that.

They don't care. For as cool as it is we know. Go ahead. You know, I'm just saying we know Dan Fouts was great.

We know Dan Marino was great, but the reason Dan Marino isn't in anyone's top five list, which by all accounts, he should be, he had as much talent is because unfortunately we're conflating everything now. When I say, when you say something to prove, it means you're worthy of your contract or your status. Okay. And is love there yet?

I don't know. And I think he has proven he's got certain abilities that he can hone into being a Super Bowl quarterback. If he takes that step forward in the roster around him and proves too inconsistent. He was not good last year and the team kind of weirdly got better. But it wasn't because of him. It was because of Josh Jacobs.

Okay. But if you're throwing Josh Allen into the same mix, he's proven he can win a Super Bowl. He's proven. No, he hasn't proven he can win a Super Bowl. He hasn't.

Yeah. I mean, you have to actually win a Super Bowl to prove that you can win a Super Bowl. Neither has Lamar Jackson. They've proven they can win MVP. They've proven they can be great over a 16 game period. They've proven they have the talent to win a Super Bowl, I think. I think Joe Burrow has proven that he has the talent to win a Super Bowl.

I think, you know, all of those things. I think who else has proven that Stafford has proven? Well, he's won a Super Bowl. Okay.

We have a difference of opinions. I don't think he has much to prove. Jordan Love doesn't have much to prove. I'll call this an overreaction.

What else, Chris? Speaking of, you know, quarterbacks with stuff to prove. Someone other than the Texans is going to win the AFC South.

I don't think that's an overreaction. You see, CJ Stroud isn't even throwing. It's June.

The season starts very soon, sooner than you'd think. Neither is Aaron Rodgers. And he's not throwing. We've seen video of Aaron Rodgers at least throwing to a player now on the team that he might go to. You don't think CJ Stroud's throwing a football?

No, he has a peck issue and can't throw. All right. That concerns me.

Guess what? I hear you. I think the Colts could potentially be... Who's their quarterback? I know. Jacksonville. Jacksonville. Also, I don't want to sleep on Cam Ward. I think he's going to be good. Okay.

I like it. No one's talking about him. No one. Absolutely not.

Name me the last first overall drafted quarterback that hasn't been talked about, like Cam Ward isn't being talked about. No idea. I'll say this is not an overreaction. I'll buy this one. What else? You're buying this one. I did. Oh.

I just did, didn't I? Let's talk NBA real quick. You don't think CJ Stroud is throwing a football in 2025? He's got a peck issue. I understand what his issue is. Okay. What else? The Pacers...

Hear me out on this one. NBA Finals. Thursday, we got to wait three more days. Geez, what are we doing? I mean, the Pacers will have a series lead at some point in the Finals. I like it.

I like it. Maybe they win Game 1. I don't know. Maybe they go up 2-1.

I don't know. They're going to have a lead in the series. Let me just say the Pacers have a knack.

Okay. They had the Knicks. They've got the Knacks. All right. They're kind of a crazy team. They're going to have a Knacks.

All right. They're kind of a crazy team. Dude. They play crazy games.

Why wouldn't they be able to take Game 1 in Oklahoma City? That's what I'm saying. Right.

Just stay within 14 and see what happens. We have two minutes to go. Throw the ball off the back iron and let it go pop up in the air and then through the hoop, touching nothing but net. Rich, you said the... What the hell? You said the Pacers have the Knack? Yeah. So that means they're going to sting my Sharona out there at some point? Yeah. I like it.

Good girls. They're not one-hit wonders, pal. We alluded to it, but how is Halliburton not MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals? Oh, Siakam was unstoppable. Siakam was unguileable.

I looked at the stat. I mean, they both had an argument. I know, but the only thing you're going to remember about the Eastern Conference Finals is the choke and the shot that went up and through and that was one guy. And his perfect game.

I understand that, but also Game 2 when the Knicks had every chance to even the series at home but couldn't is because Siakam carried the team. We just don't remember that because the other stuff is much more flashy. I know. What else, Chris? You got another?

Rich, you saw this firsthand. Hold on. Do we have one more?

Is this one more? No, no, no, no, no, no. We're not there yet. We're not there yet.

Okay. Despite all their injuries, the Dodgers are the best team in baseball. They got like 14 pitchers on the injured list. The Tigers, the Tigers isn't even playing. The Tigers are the best team in baseball so far. Name two Tigers. I'm not even going to dignify that.

Because you can't. Everyone knows Scooball. Name another one.

Lou Whitaker, Harmon Killebrew. I'm not dignifying that. The killer. I'm not dignifying that. Magnum, Thomas Magnum. It's right. Magnum P.I.

played for them. Matt Nokes. Magglio Ordonez. I'm not going to dignify it.

Cecil Fielder. I'm not dignifying it. By the way, this business. You're seeing that in your nightmares. I've had enough of this.

We'll talk about that later. Yeah, you saw that like 28 times in two days. Well, not yesterday. Almost though.

You got a little worried when Pye has Homer. Excuse me. What else you got? Listen. What else you got? One more.

I did not know this. I can't believe we're having one more. Here's the deal. Hockey starts. The Stanley Cup Finals coming up this week, right? The Stanley Cup Final. Rematch. Oilers.

Wednesday. Panthers. Puck drops. Here's the deal for the NHL. They need Connor McDavid to win this thing. We can't have fake hockey states carrying the cup around. Okay?

Florida Shmorda. We need a Canadian team to win the cup and the best player in hockey to have that trophy over his head. McDavid, they need it and they're going to, you know, if there's a Scott Foster in the NHL, he's doing every game. They need McDavid to win the cup.

Kuchuk did that last year. Christopher is somebody who is a Los Angeles resident. Florida.

What are we doing? Let me ask you this question. Do you have any cups to stay to Florida recently? How many Kings games have you been to?

Since I've moved here? Yes. A bunch. Okay. Yeah.

Like 20 maybe. Would you call the Kings fans diehard hockey fans? They are.

Down straight. They are. Okay.

So then why? We're just as warm and... We're not. It's not. It's not. Have you been to Florida recently? Yeah. There's a lot of humidity.

No, no. Well, I'm just saying, like, I'm not arguing about the weather. I'm talking about calling them fair weather hockey fans just because they're living in Florida. I'm saying there shouldn't be hockey in Florida. Why?

What's the point? There's no ice. There's no ice in the state of Florida. Naturally. Okay.

I understand that there are mountains and we have skiing here. I know there's the same here. We at least have... You know what I mean? It's insane. I would love to see a great series. Let's put it that way.

But I'll rule overreaction and move on. I'm a big bear. Love Florida. So much time there. Rich Ackerman with the sports update. Hit it, Richard.

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Navy Federal is insured by NCUA. We were so crestfallen and broken up to hear about the passing of John Brinkus, the man who created sports science and was its face front host. And especially also when it was mentioned that he lost his battle with depression, which I've got to say just blew me away. And it's also just, again, a sign that you never know when you meet somebody.

You never know what's going on in their brain or inside their bodies, inside their hearts, inside their minds. Because when we met him and he was here, it couldn't have been more outgoing and upbeat and energetic. And so in his memory, we show you the fun that we had with him here and as always at Mike Del Tufo's expense. Audio executive Michael Del Tufo's lightning-quick reflexes on a mixing board are a sight to behold.

With his combination of experience, nerves of steel and endless stamina based on an intense workout regimen, Mike's one of the best in the business. However, what happens when Mike gets distracted by social media posts, fantasy sports and just general daydreaming? At the Rich Eisen Studios, soul and science tests reveal that Del Tufo's delays in opening a mic or playing a soundbite can last anywhere from three to six seconds.

Over a three and a half year span, these daily delay lag times add up to an inconceivable 78 minutes of dead air for a national show. But when Del Tufo reconnects with his responsibilities, his adjustment speed is off the charts and almost inhuman. Mike's hand moves from his lap to the mixing board in an unthinkable speed of over 21 miles per hour. That's five times faster, he'd like to think, than the strike of a copperhead. His fast twitch muscle fibers continue to amaze as his arm snaps up into the air to signal that it was my bad in just under seven tenths of a second.

That's just under eight tenths of a second. It's no wonder that this man has an Emmy certificate sitting on his mantle at home, even though no one's actually seen an Emmy. I'm John Brenkus at the Rich Eisen Studios for Soul and Science. Yeah John, I was in I believe with Trent Dilfer talking about their show they were doing together Soul and Science, talking about also how the metrics they measured on a recent prospect quarterback showed he was going to be all world and that guy was Josh Allen. So again, hearts go out to the family of John Brenkus and all the friends. You could see all the folks in our business who crossed paths with John, pouring out their condolences and emotions. And just one more time, just check in with people. A simple question to ask your friends, your family, how you doing? How are you doing?

Get the answer and if it if there's any sign that shows you that the answer isn't something other than I'm great and you believe it, then follow up and check in with people. Rest in peace John Brenkus. Back on the Rich Eisen Show radio network alongside of our Roku channel feed right here on the Rich Eisen Show, Kevin Smith the director is going to be joining us in studio in hour number three. Let's go to Corbin in Salt Lake City. He's been hanging on for a while with Corbin. Corbin, how was that birthday man? It was a good day. Susie sends her best. Corbin, tell us all about your birthday Joe.

What was that? Tell us all about your birthday. I had my cousins over actually when my girlfriend got there. We made french toast for everybody and just kind of hung out for the rest of the day. Okay, very uh, a celebration it sounds like. Very good.

Although that's a waffle party if I'm not mistaken. Very good. What's on your mind Corbin? I was just trying to call about because the second year of Jim Harbaugh has historically been pretty good wherever he's been. So I was wondering what how you think year two as a Chargers head coach is going to go. Oh, I think he's going to be in you guys are going to be in the mix again and the question is is is can you get past the Chiefs? It's still their division to lose as far as I'm concerned and how how much better are the Broncos going to be? I mean those Broncos Chargers games could be lit you know battle of the Oregon quarterbacks again right? And so it's going to be a highly competitive division but the Chargers are are as in the mix as any of the other teams in my mind Corbin.

So yeah, I had them 13 and 4 in my win-loss game. Okay, there you go. I heard that story. All right, thanks again Corbin. Greatly appreciate you checking back in. Rich Eisen Show fan favorite who I've been exposed to for the first time I believe right here on the program. We were very excited for Corbin's big uh birthday. Apparently. Yeah, I gathered I gathered uh our number three of the Rich Eisen Show coming right up.

Everybody still sitting here. Okay, what did he say to you guys? Because again I was stuck in a jury room my birthday and then he was like my girlfriend's coming over later and we were just like whoa. So we just all wondered what Corbin's afternoon was like. He's like they made French toast. Not expecting any of that. All right, fine. Yeah, so all of that.

French toast. I was a little disappointed with that answer. I mean we were big on quotes last week. What did you really want to hear from him? Did you really want like details?

Like what the hell are you are you expecting out of Corbin? It's like Costanza. We just really hyped it up. You're not in the mood, you get in the mood. You know? Yeah, that is a funny scene man.

Yeah, we really had high hopes. I live with my parents. You wake me up, you get me over here, you tell me it's sex with Elaine and you're not in the mood, you get in the mood. That is so funny.

You got it. That is so very funny. That show is still 20 years later. 30 years later.

It's nuts. So we've got lots to talk about next hour. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. The new Madden cover is out.

We'll discuss about the potential. The curse and the jinx. You're particularly pleased about the curse. You're rooting for the curse. We have to talk about the baseball I saw over the weekend.

Saturday night. No, no, no, no. Hold on to it. Hold on to that. Hold on to your hats. Kevin Smith's going to join us in this program. Nice. He's been here before. It's true.

He's coming back. Where part of Jersey is he from? Look this one up.

I should know this. You, sir, are from Livingston, right? It says Red Bank. Springsteen's area. Red Bank next door to where my parents lived for a long time, Alboro.

Red Bank, New Jersey is where my parents once upon a time took me to see the Manchurian candidate in a movie theater. Wait, wait, wait. When it got re-released. Oh, the Denzel one. No.

No. Oh my God. I just got laid. That's when it was remade. Chris, that's when it was remade.

Take him to a Denzel movie. I almost passed out. That's when it was remade. Not the same as a re, as a re-release. Oh, there was one before that.

Yeah. The one that you stopped watching and it's still sitting on your DVR. Too boring, bro.

That's still not on his DVR. Too boring. Positively absurd. All of it is absurd. It was in black and white.

It was a black and white movie, right? Awful. The United States Soccer Federation presents the U.S. Soccer Podcast. Inside the opening 45 seconds. What a goal. With that cannon of allowed points.

All even at one. Never miss a game. What a start for the United States. Shot from distance. What a goal. Never miss a moment. Exquisite from the San Diegan. Can he finish?

Yes, he can. The U.S. Soccer Podcast. Follow and listen on your favorite platform.