This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart Choice. Progressive loves to help people make smart choices. That's why they offer a tool called Auto Quote Explorer that allows you to compare your progressive car insurance quote with rates from other companies.
So you save time on the research and can enjoy savings when you choose the best rate for you. Give it a try after this episode at progressive.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy.
I'll tell you what, man. This is the Rich Eisen Show. I really don't know what's next for me, says Aaron Rodgers. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. There's a lot of unknowns going into this offseason now.
Peter King. Aaron Rodgers has three years left on his contract. Brian Goudekin is just going to say, hey, listen, let's give this a month. Everybody just calmed down. Earlier on the show, Buccaneers head coach, Bruce Arians.
Chargers head coach, Brandon Staley. Coming up. From NBC Sports, Michelle Tafoya. Plus, actor Aldous Hodge. And now, it's...
Rich Ice and Our number three of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. The actor Aldous Hodge is going to join me shortly here on the program, and he's been on before. Last time he was on this program, as I say hello to Chris Brockman, who's wearing his Kobe 24 jersey here on this day. Good to see you, Mike Del Tufo, and our social media grandma, T.J. Jefferson, settling into his seat.
Aldous Hodge was on this program. Last he was here, he was here with Brian Banks, who he played in that film, if you remember. uh the Brian Banks story. We had him on our podcast a long time ago talking about being wrongfully accused of rape, winding up in jail, missing out the opportunity for him as a local prep uh high school uh Prep star in um In Long Beach, Poly missed out on his USC career that he was about to have and wrongfully accused, got out of. Prison did get a shot, a cup of coffee with the Atlanta Falcons.
So he's played Brian Banks. He's in the new film that's on Amazon. That is the directorial debut, film feature film directorial debut of Rich Eyes and show favorite Regina King. He's in it's called One Night in Miami. And the night in Miami was the night that Cassius Clay beat Sonny Liston.
And then went out after beating Sonny Liston and hung out with his friends Sam Cooke, Malcolm X, and Jim Brown, who was, by the way, ringside calling the fight. That's a force one for you, right there. Yeah, and so Aldous Hodge is playing Jim Brown. in one night in Miami.
So all this Hodge Has played in his terrific acting career, Brian Banks, Jim Brown. And uh The great voodoo from Voodoo Tatum from Friday Night Lights. Amazing. Lots to talk about with Alan Saj when he joins us. Amazing.
By the way, do you know who Sam Cook is? It's Leslie Odom Jr. from Hamilton. Come on now. And Regina King is the director.
Good stuff coming to talk about. It's a great movie. Um 844-204-H is the number to dial here on the show. And happy to have back here on this program. Obviously, we will talk about the Super Bowl with Michelle Tafoyo, who had both the Chiefs and Bucs in front of her in her job for Sunday Night Football and Football Night in America on NBC.
But her new podcast, The Deep Dive, last time Michelle was on, we talked about the deep dive she had in John Gruden. But her deep dive in Sports Uncovered is my favorite Kobe story and here on the one year anniversary of Kobe's untimely demise with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash here in Southern California. Michelle Tafoya back here on the show. How are you, Michelle? I am good, Rich.
How are you doing? Better for talking to you. Appreciate you taking the time here. Did you have this subject matter in mind for today? Michelle.
For your podcast. We certainly wanted the podcast to be available right around this time for sure. It's in some ways, it's hard to believe it's been a year. And then in some ways it's hard to believe it's only been a year. You know what I mean?
It's been such a strange Year, and everyone loves to say how much we've hated twenty twenty. And I think this was one of the first. Horrible things that happened in 2020 was Cobe's death. And Uh everyone remembers where they were and when they found out. And you know, it's still i it's still sometimes hard to believe, Rich.
I I you look at photos of him and it's just so young, it's still sometimes hard to believe.
So, um, let's get into uh who people can hear on this pod. Uh, and you had everybody tell you your favorite Kobe story. I'll give you the floor and what you what you yeah, I mean, it's a lot of different people from Sue Bird to um Yep. Oh my gosh, the names are so many, it's hard to pick Usain Bolt. And his uh recollection of meeting Kobe and How Kobe influenced his view of having a little girl, having a baby girl.
There are all kinds of interesting anecdotes. That aren't the big, you know, publicized stories about Kobe Bryant. They're these little kind of side tales that make you go. Wow. I think it just really fleshes out A lot more of his personality, who he was, the legacy he left behind, the people he influenced, the things that he did.
And it teaches you a little bit more about his evolution. You learn a little bit more about his evolution as a person. as a human, not just as a player. And that's what I loved about having these different people on. Recall you know, first guy we talked to was his high school basketball coach and how that whole his coming into the program and into the fold changed everything there.
Um really, and has still left a legacy. There's just a lot of detail. When you've lived a life that rich and that Thorough, and even though it was cut short, there are a lot of stories that you leave behind, and not all of them get told, but in this. In this podcast, some really interesting tales get told. Michelle Tafoya, NBC Sports, but also back just about a decade ago, a decade plus ago, sideline reporter for the NBA on ABC and ESPN.
What's your favorite Kobe story from your tenure? doing that gig. Oh my gosh, it has to be a Christmas Day one. And I think it was the first time Al Michaels and I ever worked together. It was a Christmas Day game with the Lakers, and they went into halftime trailing.
And um, you know, I went back by the locker rooms and waited. To see and to talk to coaches and to see what was going to happen when these guys came out of the locker room and Kobe came out. and his little girl. was waiting for him. And um She was in her Christmas dress, this little red dress, And he picked her up.
And like his face changed. You know, he was not happy with the way they were playing. And his face just changed and his tone of voice changed and he picked her up and she said something to him and he kissed her and he put her down and they went out and of course won the game. And I just Remember seeing that human side of him that, you know, I had never seen him with his children before, with any of his, you know, I think this was his oldest.
So it was just. Oh, okay, wow. Um and it was just such a precious moment. And so That one always stands out to me. You know, and in in in the wake of his passing and the outpouring of emotion and shock, um, came the remarkable stories that Colby didn't want told.
because of what he was doing behind the scenes to either pay it forward. Um be there for people who were ill. Um or at the time just Being a counselor to people or a sounding board or a mentor. in a way that a lot of folks did not think was possible for him because He had such an outward mamba mentality. I mean, the video of him being, you know, um.
Downright angry at his teammates towards the end of his tenure there, right? Or there was also an Instagram post that went viral of him being a coach to his daughter and her teammates, and they all looked miserable, right? And we all assumed that Kobe was just pulling a mamba mentality on these poor girls and they were not. Happy to do what they were doing with them, and that couldn't have been further from the truth at the time. It was just a picture that told.
Uh a terrible thousand word story right there that was inaccurate. That to me is what I'm thinking about today: that outpouring of emotion. All these stories that came out you did not know was happening. With Marie, Michelle. Yeah, I I just remember where I was when I found out my son actually came running down to tell me.
And I like everyone else, I didn't believe him. I figured, you know, he was on the Gram or on Snapchat and got some bad information. And you know when a a little kid is kind of excited and nervous and they they kind of go, Mom, you you won't believe this. And there's a nervous laughter that comes along with with you know a a a thirteen year old kid and um And I said to him, you're lying, so or you've got some bad information. And then we went up, but it got me from what I was doing.
And we went and we searched and we sought, and I was just. You know, it's a feeling of disbelief. He was so young, and the whole circumstance of it with these other wonderful people and young women and All of it is just I was so looking forward to seeing Kobe's next chapter. And so that is why we still mourn, I think. because there was so much he was about to do.
And also because we really did watch him grow up, Rich, he was a player for a long time from a young age. Again, Sports Uncovered is Michelle Tafoy's podcast, and she interviewed so many bold-faced name individuals with their favorite Kobe story. You could get it where every single podcast is acquired, and you could subscribe for free. And we suggest everybody do that. I'd be remiss if I did not ask you your thoughts on the matchup of Super Bowl 55.
These are the football gods getting together saying, All right. The pandemic year is kind of stunk, but let's get Brady, let's get the goat versus the kid before we go out of Dodge here, right? I mean, this is amazing, don't you think? You know? I think it is.
And I'm a little jealous it's not on NBC. CBS is going to have a great time with this one, pandemic or not. This is the stuff that, yeah, football dreams are made of. And quite frankly, I j I I wasn't sure Tom, who's going to get back there? You doubt him at your peril.
You just you don't doubt him. I think there are so many storylines here, and it starts with the age gap between the two quarterbacks and the different styles and the fact that it's so hard to turn away from the T V when either of them is playing. And And there are going to be so many other stories to be told about other players. Immediately, I think Kansas City's offense is just such a thing of great potency. How is anyone going to slow this thing down?
You can in the beginning, and we've seen Kansas City time and time again be down three, seven, nine points, whatever, and then suddenly, boom, the floodgates open. We'll see if that happens. And then, if Tom wins, or if Tom doesn't win, is this the last one? You know, we're all going to be asking that question, too.
So, it's a great matchup. I really am excited about it.
So, I mean, and th this I think can sum it up about Brady as well. You know. As they're going against Mahomes, which is going to be what a heck of a matchup that is, right? But the fact is that the last game that you and the NBC crew had of Brady's this year. Um regular season.
is is the the blowout loss to the Saints. And if I'm unless I'm mistaken. That the blowout loss of the Saints, if I had come up to you, Michelle, after they came and say, guess what? Brady and the Bucks are going to be here anyway against the Chiefs for the Super Bowl. Your initial reaction might have been like, no way, come on.
And then after a few seconds, you go, well. That's Brady. I mean, it's entirely possible. Right. I mean, the crazy thing is.
And you're right. After that game, after that loss to the Saints, I thought, okay, you know what? we thought this was going to be really cool, and we thought they were going to be really good down here in Tampa. Maybe we were wrong. But then they kind of started to get it together, you know, as Brady teams are wont to do.
I mean, we've seen that with the Patriots time and time again with Brady there. It's just crazy. It's just and for all those people, Rich, who are sick and tired of seeing Brady in the Super Bowl, think of it this way. we're really watching something we're not going to see for a long, long, long time again, if ever. It's like watching Tiger Woods golf.
As much as you hate seeing him win or whatever for those who do, you're watching greatness of a different level And so try to appreciate the fact that you get to witness it. And years from now, you'll get to tell everyone about it the way that they told you that they watched Mickey Mantle and all the rest of these great.
So it is really, truly something. And in terms of that, you know, we may never see it again, that obviously, based on looking at the numbers that Brady has. Um you know, would normally go without saying. And the only way that somebody could match him or catch him is if they start hot, right? They start hot and they win early, and they have a coach that's not going to go anywhere, right?
You see where I'm going with this, right? And I think Brady would be thinking three-dimensionally, four-dimensionally, thinking one way to actually derail that. It is to beat this kid and this coach right now as opposed to letting them go back to back. He would have two in his first four years. Brady didn't get his second until, you know, his.
fourth year as well. And you know, and then go back to back four and five. This kid would go three and four back to back. He would actually might even be ahead of the pace. When you think about it, even with both of them having missed their first year, too.
So I'm wondering if Brady will be sitting there thinking, you know what? As if he needs any more reasons to win a Super Bowl. But. No, I had that thought when they were playing the Packers. I had that thought of.
Him just deciding, no, Aaron, I know a lot of people were talking about you as MVP. You know, I get it, and you're really, really good, but we're going to get this done. It's hard to know what's in Brady's brain. It really is. Is how macro is he thinking, or how micro is he thinking?
And it really does make a difference because. To me, if you're thinking micro, you're thinking on this play, on this down, what am I doing? What do I see? And if I stack those up, I'm going to be okay. On the macro level, You know, I'm creating a legacy here, damn it.
And, you know, Aaron's not keeping me from another Super Bowl.
So it's really, it is interesting to think about. You're right. I mean, this Chiefs team looks like one for the ages, and we're alm we're at the very beginning, as you said. Um, that's what you're right. That's just one more level of looking at this matchup.
It makes it so interesting. I think, though, you're right, though, at the very end of it, he's sitting there thinking, okay, you know, Frank Clark is another Michigan man who's already said, I'm going to see, he's going to see my ass on two Sundays from now. And, you know, Tyron Matthew is just next level excellent, and so on and so forth. I think that that's he just keeps it that micro and then just makes the throws. He makes the throws and he sees it and he performs in such a way at such a level that is so unique and he just guns for everybody.
And if he does it again, How many times have we said this? If he does it this time, it's the most amazing thing. But this one is 43 years of age. In his new team, in his first year, in a new team in a pandemic, after touring it one way for 20 years, in his own home stadium, completing a run where he would get Breeze, Rogers, and Mahomes back-to-back-to-back. And if you want to throw a Cherry on top, throw Taylor Heineke on top.
I mean, it's really a throw that in there as well. You're going to be. And like you said, and make the history of not only being the first team to host. In their own stadium, but then winning there, hello. I mean, that would be the perfect way to end it.
You just you shake your head and go, why am I even thinking about this? But all good things must come to an end. You keep wondering when it's going to be. But my gosh, would that be a walk into the sunset? Michelle, thanks for the call.
Look forward to everybody taking in your podcast here on this solemn day. And always appreciate the call. You take care of yourself. Thanks for the call. Thanks so much, Rich.
All the best. Bye-bye. That's Michelle Tafoya. Check out again her sports uncovered pod about everybody telling favorite Kobe story. I'm about Usain Bolt.
Saying he helped uh me With being the girl dad. You're saying both, by the way. I've heard of him. Wow. Oh yeah.
There's a snapshot of time, Chris, after we both started, where for one split second on planet Earth, I was stride for stride. Right there. You were the fastest man alive. I was stride for stride with you saying both. That's a fact.
Milliseconds. We have video proof of this. And then the rest of the race happened.
Okay, we will take a break. When we come back, Daniel Jeremiah has found out my buddy. from the NFL Media Group has filed in his first top 50. Prospects. He's ranking them.
Wait till you see how he's ranked some of the quarterbacks. And then Aldous Hodge will join us as well on the show. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart Choice.
Progressive loves to help people make smart choices. That's why they offer a tool called AutoQuote Explorer that allows you to compare your progressive car insurance quote with rates from other companies.
So you save time on the research and can enjoy savings when you choose the best rate for you. Give it a try after this episode at progressive.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy.
Getting the zone, AutoZone. Welcome to AutoZone. What are you working on today? Hey, that's the spirit. Right now, we're celebrating free with a free STP oil filter when you buy five quarts of oil and free Duralast brake pads when you buy two rotors.
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This is the Rich Eisen Show. Aldous Hodge is supposed to appear right now, and he's going to appear in about 15 minutes.
So we're back here on the Rich Eisen Show. Aldous Hodge is going to be joining us shortly here.
Okay, let's go first with our buddy McAfee. You know, usually competition begets a little bit of animosity in this business, but I love this guy. Um And oh, please. Pat McAfee's the best. And so, you know, he and A.J.
Hawk have had Aaron Rodgers on every Tuesday. Aaron Rodgers answered the call. Aaron Rodgers made his weekly appearance. And wearing his for the brand t-shirt because he supports Pat. Um Said, do you have the quote over there?
Yeah. Ultimately, my future is not necessarily in my control. That kind of hit me in the moment. I don't think there's any reason I wouldn't be back. but there's not any absolutes in this business.
And he said that he basically hasn't said anything that he's Never said before that there's nothing new and that it was an honest answer. And he said it's a slow week. By the way, between the championship game and the Super Bowl is a very slow week. But no, I mean, we had, you know. We basically all had to collectively in the NFL slow our role.
You know, when he said. in the first blush moments about like thinking about his own future. In Green Bay, it's just like, wait a minute. Everybody's ran and looked up how many con years he has left on his contract. And like, what does that mean?
Does he want out or not, or something? And like I told you, it's the. You know, anybody here. um that ex experiences disappointment in their job. that they throw their heart and soul into.
And they think they're gonna achieve their greatest achievement in your profession. And not only do you fall short of that goal, But management in the heat of the moment decides to Take the figurative ball, since I'm assuming you don't have a ball in your profession, take the figurative ball out of your hands and hand it to another unit in your workplace. Even though the rest of your industry considers you the best at your position, certainly for this year, in terms of your performance, I'm trying to make this apples to apples to everybody's daily. regimen. Again, if I had taken your Social media gig out of your hands, T.J.
Jefferson, and our biggest broadcast. Chris, if I had taken Your uh News update, which you do so expertly. I think you know what I'm saying. If I just basically, as management said, you know what, I'm going to give it to somebody else who does something similar, but. In this moment, I think this is the best way for us to have our best day as a show.
Let's have somebody else. Try and take us to that spot, even though you think you can do it and whatever. I'd like to see that happen. And then we have that. We have that moment.
Let's say we have that moment. And then I put a microphone in front of you with millions of people watching. And say Did you agree with that decision that Rich made? I'm getting mad just thinking about it. You know what I mean?
Like, that's what happened to Aaron Rodgers yesterday. I wouldn't turn their mic on to you just so you know. Mikey's mic. You'd have their back. You probably should.
But, you know, I'm. Trying to make this apples to apples for everybody else. And I think in First Blush, again, he's just sitting there and. He saw Brady's winning again, and it's in a new spot for him after doing it a certain way for a certain organization and a coach for 20 years. And he's maybe thinking a little bit of Wanderlust.
Certainly, if he wasn't thinking that. prior to the drafting of Jordan Love and the team has made him think that. Put it all together, and he's going to be the quarterback in 2021 in Green Bay. But after that, as he said, nothing's absolute.
Now, then, at the same time, our buddy from the Los Angeles Rams, the general manager of the Los Angeles Rams, Les Snead. having a press conference. And as you know, who was that? That was Steve Weits, I believe, of NFL Network, the NFL Media Group. Who reported a couple weeks ago that Goff and McBay's relationship is.
Needs marriage counseling. Marriage counseling. Needs some form of a marriage counseling.
Now, for some, marriage counseling works. For others, just look to your left, Chris. Did you go to counseling? No, we never tried that.
So basically, if Goff and McVeigh seem the same counselor as the former Mr. and Mrs. Del Tufo, it's bad news. You're saying the NFC Championship trophy might get thrown at the couple? Yes.
Yes, yes. The Hallis trophy might be in pieces all over the place. Just like one of his Emmys was hurled in a fit of peak at Mike's direction by his ex-wife. And his cell phone. Yeah.
So Lindsay Thierry, who covers ESPN, the Rams for ESPN. I have her tweet here. I'll read it off. You got it?
Okay, I got it, too. RamsGM Les Sneed asked repeatedly if there's a scenario where Jared Goff wouldn't be on the roster in 2021, declines to provide a yes-no answer, and references Aaron Rodgers' recent quote about the future being a beautiful mystery.
So There's that. A very rust coal sort of response out of our friend last need, right? I wasn't on the Zoom. We were talking to Michelle Tavoya. Was he rearranging a tin can into sorts of origami on the table when he's doing that?
Does he talk about time? And flat circles and things like that? Is that what he's doing? Unless he grew a mustache. Amen.
Rams handling their quarterback situation far differently than your Philadelphia Eagles. And I would properly say they know their quarterback spot very well. The Eagles have a far more. I think game-ready talented quarterback than the Rams do behind golf. Jalen Hurst.
John Walford. Although they know their guy.
Something's up there, and they're not sitting there and firing their coach and saying the new coach is coming in with the idea of sticking with the quarterback. It's going to be up to him. It's going to be up to the new coach to decide what to do with the $100 million quarterback that we've signed to. what we would assume a cap-breaking Divorce. That would be brought about if they got rid of him, trade him, whatever.
The Eagles, as we know, hired Nick Siriani and said he's going to be the guy to decide about went, even though the guy who won the Super Bowl here a couple of years ago. is out. Rams and Eagles are kind of in a similar boat if they don't believe in golf in the same way that we thought. We saw what happened with the Eagles and Wentz. You saying that they're can we say that they're nearing the same situation?
They're basically in the same boat. They both gave their quarterbacks these huge deals. with a ton of guaranteed money. And Went to the Super Bowl, more or less, in Wentz's case. Took the Eagles to the Super Bowl.
Oh, there's some tough love being thrown in the direction of Jared Goff, and that's the best case scenario right here. Right. They know their guys. I mean, if there's any organization that knows their people and knows what people need to be brought in. It's the Rams.
Also very hard for their teams to move on from each guy. This coming year. After 2021, a little bit easier.
So man, oh man, oh man Eagles have a good coach, Rams obviously. As if. This particular next few weeks, the non-playing season, are not interesting enough with. Stafford already out there. And Deshaun Watson potentially coming.
If you're the Ramps and you could make, they don't have any first round. They don't have to be able to get out. How do they get the best? I don't know. But if there's anybody who could figure that out, it's the man with the hair up there in Thousand Oaks.
I would bet on him. The Sean Watson and the Rams? Come on now. Stop it. What do you mean, stop it?
No, I just mean, you know, as a season ticket holder, I think that would be great news.
Well, look, let's put it this way. Let's put it this way. If Lesni can pull it off. You would give him preferred parking wherever he wants to go. You would have preferred parking.
I don't know if I'd be more apt or less apt to sell my tickets. Wow, wow, wow. Watch. All right. Our buddy Daniel Jeremiah, by the way, DJ.
Um he does not do what Mayok did. He doesn't come out with top five at the position. No, he does. He does not do that. Mayok always just go, all right, here's my first crack at it prior to the combine.
He wouldn't do it before the combine, right at the combine. Mayock would have: here's my top five at quarterback, running back, receiver, blah, blah, blah, inside linebacker, outside linebacker, defensive line. He'd break it down. That's what we do. Daniel just does top 50, and then he'll do a top 100, and then he'll do a mock draft.
Daniel Jeremiah's top fifty one point oh is out. Put it up, Dom Buoy. Let's see. Trevor Lawrence, no surprise, is your number one. Jamar Chase, the wide receiver from LSU, is number two.
Kyle Pitts, your tight end from Florida, is number three. DJ's mock draft, he has the 49ers taking Kyle Pitts.
Well, again, this is not a mock draft. No, I understand. But in his mock draft 1.0, and then look who number quarterback number two is. Zach Wilson, your quarterback, your number two overall pick of BYU, and then Caleb Farley. Your corner from Virginia Tech.
Those are his top five current prospects going into Senior Bowl Week.
Now, you might be wondering. Uh So that makes Justin Fields number three on his list. Negative. Negative, negative, negative. Trey Lance of North Dakota State is his third quarterback, eleventh.
overall on the top prospect list. Then comes Justin Fields. He's got Mac Jones down at 33. Those are his top five quarterbacks right now. You know, 33 is right there, top of second round, and that's where a lot of good people have been chosen top of second round.
Drew Brees being one, Jimmy G's, another one, right? You can sit there. I mean, if the Jets like Mac Jones, just sit there and just do the whole Braveheart thing. Hold. And then trade at 30 and take him at 30?
As you know, this is all Just food for thought going into the senior bowl, which you can see on NFL Network. Practicing right now.
Okay, this is all food for thought going into the senior bowl. But The apple cart can be completely upset the Talent evaluation buffet can be wrecked like it's in the NFL Harrow Club the minute Deshaun Watson says on out. And Stafford, too, man. And whatever the hell else might be going on in Philadelphia or maybe here in Los Angeles. All bets are off.
I think right now we could safely say, with Mark Murphy, the president. The man who runs the Green Bay Packers and is the one who issues. The um The shares of the Green Bay Packers to suckers like Mike Del Tufo. To place on their wall. You have it.
I'm sorry, did I say suckers? I meant to say interested investors. I don't know. Difference, sir. Yeah.
I have he said we're not stupid. Aaron Rodgers is going to be our quarterback. And he's under contract for three years. I think we could take his chess piece off the board. There's a lot of the chess pieces on this board, man.
Lot of connective tissue. I love it. There's one more game to be played. Let's take a break. Aldous Hodge from One Night in Miami is coming up next.
I loved having him here in the studio and on the phone before, and he will be joining us. Man who plays Jim Brown in a movie with Oscar Buzz coming up. What if I told you you can take you and your family and your friends to the ballpark with such low price tickets you can invest more in buying food and drinks merchandise and easily on top of all of it get a larger group to come with you? That's where Game Time Tickets comes in. The official ticketing partner of the Rich Eizen show.
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This is The Rich Eisen Show. Reminiscing right there back here on the Rich Eisen show. We just, for those of you who might have been joining us on our radio show, on our radio feed, we just had. Uh memory lane, June 4th, 2015. It's our first full year being on the air here at Jim Brown.
came in and You still have the autographed Syracuse home, right? Everybody takes a look at it right there in front of you. It's for the Peacock audience and the radio audience. It's right there on the right side of the screen. People think that's a Brown's helmet, but that's a Syracuse helmet.
You had Jim Brown's helmet. Syracuse helmet, man. Jim Brown, Mr. Brown. I'll tell you.
Orangeman Legend. When Jim Brown, he was one of the first guests at NFL Network, we had in studio. And he was going to be post-taped after a show. And he came strolling out in the middle of a commercial break of the live show. And I remember he came out of the green room and he walked down, he looked right at me, he goes, am I on yet?
And I'm like, no, Mr. Brown. Like, he looked like he was ready to just come run through me. And just a real quick story before we get to Aldous Hodge here, who plays Jim Brown. I once asked Merlin Olson in an interview the hardest he ever hit a player.
What's the hardest hit you ever gave? One of the four horsemen on the great. Great defenders in the history of the game. You know, Father Murphy, Father Murphy was another. For him, but he was done playing.
I asked Merlin Olson once, though, what's the hardest you ever hit somebody? He said he was in the LA Coliseum and the Browns came in, and Jim Brown comes around the end, and he had a clear shot at him, and he just unloaded on him. Absolutely hit him into Kingdom Come. And he said he was going to get up and have a whole He had visions of after he hit him. He's going to get up.
And he was going to watch Jim Brown's eyes roll him in the back of his head. That's how hard he hit him. He said he got up and he watched Jim Brown run 80 more yards for the touchdown. He's a bad guy. That's Merlin Olson's story of the hardest he ever hit a player in his Hall of Fame career.
Wow. Wow. The man who plays Jim Brown in this brilliant film that has got a ton of Oscar buzz, not just because it's the film featured directorial debut of Oscar Winner, one of our favorites, Regina King, but the performances by the cast members and the storytelling and all of that. The man who plays Jim Brown in One Night in Miami, which you can see on Amazon Prime video back here on the Rich Island Show, Aldous Hodge. How are you, Aldous?
I'm fantastic. How are you doing, brother? I'm better for talking to you. I don't know if you just heard the story I just told about Jim Brown. Oh, I did.
Oh, I did. Right? 80 more yards? Man. Kept going.
He's superhuman. Superhuman, both good to be talking to you again, man. Glad to be back on. Same to you. And so, one night in Miami is about the night of February 25th, 1964, when Cassius Clay surprised Sonny Liston in Miami.
And then, it's based on the award-winning play of the same name that Cassius went out and celebrated with Sam Cook. And Malcolm X and Jim Brown, and you play Jim Brown in this. How did you approach this role? Aldus. 'Kay.
So The research that I started doing initially was I wanted to see who he was in the 60s, in this time, this transitional period, as he was. About to make the leap from you know, football to to film. And I believe this would be his last year in football, where we meet him in the film. Uh studied What his moves were in terms of business and economics and understanding where. He was at on the culture, his views.
on what was going on in society at the time.
So I saw uh I I researched a lot of Great interviews, speeches that he gave, interviews I saw on YouTube of him. There's a wealth of knowledge. I mean, he's got autobiographies. He's got, you know, like there's so much work that I could pull from, but I just really tried to Specify the 60s and a little bit into the early 70s to get where he was at this point in his life.
Well, in a handful of interviews that I've done with him, where he was the A, I was the Q in it, all this, I did ask him once, I'm like, so why did you just leave football? Why did you leave football? And honestly, I've asked him this multiple times, but this is my favorite answer he gave. He goes, Well,. You know, I decided, you know, uh I'm paraphrasing here.
He goes, in football, you know, you couldn't be hanging out with Raquel Welch and people saying, Here's your coat, mister Brown. Here's your coffee, Mr. Brown. That did not happen when he was a member of the Cleveland Browns. That's basically what he said.
And I'm like, okay, I'm picking up what you're putting down, Jim Brown. I can see what you're saying. I can see the benefits over there. I got you. Right.
It just but did you learn about about uh how how this one night in Miami did maybe go down and similar to what this play was about and this this film is about? Yes. So per our brilliant writer, Kemp, this conversation is sort of uh in a reimagination of history, right? taken from um different influential moments, but the actual night did happen. The events of what occurred afterwards did happen in terms of Cassius Clay the next morning coming out to the world to say that he was a member of the Nation of Islam, Of course we know later that year, um We would not have Sam Cook or well, within the year, we would not have Sam Cook or Brother Malcolm X with us and then Jim.
did leave. football and he made his transition into film and then a few years later started the Black Economic Union.
So it's It's I think a really firm and foundational telling of what the conversation might have been based off of these men and their exploits and the research done on their relationships with one another. Kemp, he has a background in journalism, and the man knows stories, he knows people, and he's done all the research and all the work. And he's really. incredible example of I'll take lives and exploits and accomplishments, and we can truly celebrate What that is and what it's done for us today. What must it have been like, right?
That the night that Cassius Clay knocked out Sonny Liston. Oh, man. I mean, and then Jim Brown was calling the fight. He was ringside for it. Yeah.
And then let's all go hang out with. Let's go having a party with Sam Cook, right? And throw Malcolm X in for good measure. I mean, my goodness, what must that have been like?
So here's how I heard it. And that was actually one of the coolest things was to be able to hear Jim Brown and the actual recordings of him ringside and what he was saying and how he was saying it. Because when I did my ringside thing, you know. We we did it and we ad-libbed a couple lines and we did a couple takes, but I was really just referencing how he was. During the real event.
But as I heard it, don't quote me now, but as I heard it, Um, there was no big celebration really planned in Cassius' honor because. There are a lot of people betting against them, maybe. didn't expect him to win.
So You know, Brother Malcolm was like, Hey Let's let's uh let's go to work because Um I knew they had big plans, of course, which is part of the reason why he was down there, but they had big plans for the announcement. and really discussing it and um I just find it fascinating that these four particular men After this grand celebration, chose to get together this night, and we're gonna sit there and talk about doing work. You know what I'm saying? You just have this great celebration. It's like, all right, now Let's talk about the real work that we got to keep doing.
We got this, let's keep it pushing forward. It's really incredible to me because. you don't really see that. You know, these men it's like winning an Oscar and then going to instead of celebrate, you get in a room with your buddies and say, all right, now how can we keep making better movies and and creating better opportunities for people that really need it? Like that's the equivalent.
You know what I mean? Aldous Hodge here on the Rich Hodgen Show One Night in Miami. You can see it on Amazon Prime Video right now. What in the world was it like? She's one of my favorite people on the planet.
She's been on the show. She was years ago part of the NFL Network Fantasy Football League as well. She's just a dynamite person and also just great at everything she does. What was it like being an actor in the feature film directorial debut of Regina King? being able to have the privilege of being in her first feature film Is amazing.
You don't get a chance like that ever. That's a once-in-a-lifetime. Deal, especially with the caliber of the film that we're putting on, but she really is a brilliant director, she knows how to communicate with people, she knows how to. Really get you to understand her vision, and she kept tone with this film because there were so many beats. that needed to connect because of the way all these moments connected and if they were acted And properly, you're not gonna get the message.
But Regina knew how to keep us, keep that tone going, keep the rhythm right. Um She understands how to navigate through the problems that we naturally go through on set with like time constraints. And weather issues, and she never loses her cool, but she has such a clear vision. She understands the details, the subtleties, and every little thing to really bring something like this alive. Uh man, she really is I I call her a visionary savant.
Hmm. That's a good way to that's a good way to put it. How important was it for a person of color to direct us? Oh, it was. instrumental in every way and necessary in every way.
because of the meaning, because of the message, uh and because of There's an educational wealth coming from one's culture that cannot be. Um implied. That cannot be uh uh falsified or or Idealized if one hasn't experienced it, right?
So in this case, The importance of these four men is not just who they are and their profession, what they're talking about, it's their culture. It's why they do what they do. I pay attention to Jim Prown, not based off of his accolades as a top-tier athlete with records unbroken today, as a top actor. I pay attention to what motivated him to accomplish those great things. And a lot of it had to do with his place in the world and dealing with his culture, right?
So having somebody at the helm who understands the necessity. really understanding what the conversation is and why we need to have this conversation when it comes to making creative choices, especially on the fly, her being black. meant everything. to the success of this film.
Well, this is a pleasure having you on. Just a couple minutes left with you. You do realize now you've played Brian Banks, Jim Brown, and also Voodoo Tatum in Friday Night Lights. You've hit pretty much almost every level of football. I don't know what's next for you.
Yeah. You've done that. When am I seeing City on a Hill again? What a dynamite first season that was. We actually.
I believe, ooh, ooh, don't kill me on this, don't quote me, but I believe we actually debut, I believe, March.
So it's in the can then. You have shot a second season with Kevin Bacon. Oh, yeah. I'm actually, we are on our last week of shooting as I speak. We are on our last week of filming.
So we had a little setback with the quarantine and we took a few months off, but we're back at it, and you will see a new season this year for certain.
Okay. And also, I don't know if you're aware, but you, Bruce Willis, and his wife, Holly, I think are the only individuals to appear in multiple diehard films. You're in Die Hard with a Vengeance and a good day to Die Hard. I know I'm a little late with this question, but what the heck? Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?
Is the original Die Hard a Christmas movie? And Original Die Heart is absolutely a Christmas movie. I mean, it's irrefutable. It's absolutely a Christmas movie. You sure it's not a movie that just took place around Christmas?
Like, it is a Christmas movie? It's a Christmas. Moving. The man went on a mission. He jingled all the way.
That's that's look, it's a Christmas movie because I know around Christmas that is one of the top movies that people love to watch and they play it over and over and over. Because we gotta have a question. Look, the answer is yes. Die Hard with the original one die hard one, absolutely Christmas. Nah, but I mean, you know, it's a wonderful life place at Christmas, but but they didn't blow the roof off the bank.
You know what I'm saying? Like I mean, certain people celebrate Christmas different ways, you know what I'm saying? Like, it depends on where you at, what's going on. Yeah. You know.
Okay. All right, all this. We'll just agree to disagree. And my wife and I, we showed our three kids hidden figures. They loved it.
They thought it was one of the best movies they've ever seen.
So congrats on all that and everything going on in the American. Thank you. I mean, seriously. Appreciate that. Of course.
Aldous, congrats on this. And when City on the Hill comes back, let's have you back on to promote that and just chop it up some more. Thank you. Really appreciate it. Absolutely, man.
I appreciate you. Right back at you. That's Aldous Hodge. Check out One Night in Miami. And Leslie Odom.
My gosh, Leslie Odom Jr. is Sam Cook. Everybody from Hamilton knows the man who played Aaron Burr, sir. is dynamite. My gosh.
What a Cast that is, and everybody should check it out. Movie's so interesting. It is so interesting. I mean, it's just a different time, but also, you know, important for our current times. Yeah.
You know, it's amazing. It's amazing. Hey, right here on Peacock, you know, before we get to TJ's WWE fixation, they're the latest. They're the latest in this tag team. I can't wait till you have to read.
They tagged in and hit Michael Scott. They tagged in and hit Michael Scott. Thank you so much. The office, every episode, Extras and Exclusives streaming right now on Peacock, everyone. I love it.
They're not going to hit Dwight with a folding chair, are they? I can't wait till you have to do WWE figures. TJ, how do I say the deal? What's the big deal? I'm here to do a Macho Man Randy Savage impression.
I'll do the read for you. I grew up watching it just like everybody else. Oh, yeah, Rich Eisen. Freako, Freako, yeah. Cooper off the top rope.
Want to thank Bruce Aryans, Brandon Staley, Michelle Tafoy, and Aldous Hodge, and you for being here. We'll take you to Brother from Another on Peacock. Don't go anywhere. But for the radio audience, we'll see you on Wednesday. Yeah.
