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REShow: Cari Champion & Jemele Hill - hour 3

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January 20, 2021 4:00 pm

REShow: Cari Champion & Jemele Hill - hour 3

The Rich Eisen Show / Rich Eisen

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January 20, 2021 4:00 pm

Rich Eisen discusses the intersection of sports and social justice with Carrie Champion and Jamel Hill, exploring how athletes use their platforms to speak out on important issues and the challenges they face in doing so. The conversation touches on the careers of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, as well as the complexities of the NFL and NBA. The hosts also delve into the world of journalism, discussing the importance of telling the whole story and not just sticking to sports.

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NFL NBA Sports Journalism Politics Social Justice Athletes
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Your time is. You got Kyrie for me. Happy to be back. This is the Rich Eisen Show. And he was on his hands, leaned over, and the body language is like, I don't care what you think.

He doesn't care what I'm saying right now at all. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Earlier on the show. Yes, Network Brooklyn Nets analyst Richard Jefferson. San Diego Union Tribune Chargers reporter Kevin Acey.

Bills defensive back Josh Norman. Coming up. Harry Champion and Jamil Hill. And now. Yeah.

Yeah. Rich Eisen.

Okay, everybody, hour number three of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. We had Josh Norman last hour and Kevin Acey of the Buffalo Bills and the San Diego Union Tribune, respectively. Kevin getting the scoop of the day that Phillip Rivers called him last night. As Kevin said at the top of hour number two of our program, Phillip Rivers called him last night. Kevin's a longtime employee of the San Diego Union Tribune so far back that he was a beat rider when Phillip was being drafted by the Chargers in 04.

And now that he's retired with Eli, Big Ben is the last member of that 04 quarterback class standing. and he's expected to keep playing next year. But at any rate, Kevin said Philip called him last night, and they've kept it friendly, he said over the years. And Kevin said that Philip called him last night, and the first five minutes was. Uh Philip wanting to know about the Padres and all their maneuvers.

They're off-season maneuvers, getting ready to try and win in the national. League Western Division. And then decided to say, Oh, yeah, by the way, I'm just decided I am going to retire and here's a scoop and they had a nice chit-chat. And so that was the top story of the day in the National Football League. Josh Norman has no idea if Patrick Mahomes is going to be the quarterback he's defending against this weekend.

Said he didn't care, it didn't matter. Who they run out there. That was a great conversation in hour two. Richard Jefferson was supposed to be on in hour number one, but he couldn't make it today. He's going to be on tomorrow.

Nice. And he at the same time that we were planning on having him today, which is our first guest up twenty minutes into the program, he said it'll be even better of a chat. 'Cause he's going to bring it. He's calling the Nets and Cavs tonight, so there'll be lots to talk about this evening as Kyrie Irving's making his debut with the Nets. With Hardin.

As we all know, he's played for the Nets. But not with Hardin and not with Durant yet.

So those are all. Top stories in the NFL and NBA worlds, and there's a lot going on in baseball as well. Before we get to Chris Brockman, just want to let you know: stay tuned. Carrie Champion and Jamel Hill, a great conversation. I zoomed with them yesterday.

Um they're two cents on Kyrie and Hardin and Durant and all together. That's coming up right shortly here on the Rich Island Show. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial. We'll take your calls as well before we get out of Dodge here on a busy Wednesday. But for the moment, Chris Brockman with a news update.

On our show. What's up? And now, with a report of the day's news from the world of sports and entertainment, someone who is not a journalist or newsman by any definition of the word whatsoever, it's Chris Brockman. And y'all might think because we're on NBC Sports on Peacock on such a big news day that we would get Tom Brokaw to do his usual introduction of Chris Brockman, but it's really, but it's really the draw of Chris as a newsman. Thanks.

As you'll soon hear with all the information you're about to impart. By the way, the new president and I have something in common: Syracuse University. Syracuse University. That's it. All right, saw this this morning, guys, and kind of maybe raise an eyebrow.

We've been talking a lot about Deshaun Watson and if he is going to be traded, where he might end up if he does.

Well, Rich. Richard Sherman kind of has the same thought process as you when it comes to this. Roll tape. If I was Deshaun, I'd get out there as quickly as possible. I'd head to New York.

Um From the first thing smoking. The Jets? The Jets. How beautiful would that be? It would be the most beautiful.

Decent offensive line. They'd have to find threats. They'd have to find some offensive weapons. But I think there would be a lot more people excited to be there. I think the free agency market this year is going to be oversaturated because of the salary cap.

But that's what I would do. I would be out of there on the first thing smoking. First things smoking, Richard Sherman on the Collinsworth Sherman podcast with our friends at Pro Football Focus, Paul Fowler. Baby, your thoughts?

Well, here's my thoughts. First of all, Great first name. We not only share that, but I went to the Stanford of the Midwest before he went to the Michigan of the West. He's a smart man. Is what I'm saying.

He's a wise, smart man who knows his football, loves Robert Sala. Understands what Salah's going to be selling there. He's bought it himself with solacelles. He understands the coaching staff that's being arranged there. He understands all that.

Oh yeah. Why not go to New York? become the king of New York, get yourself there. A number one, king of the hill. Top of the heap.

All that good stuff. Smart man, Richard Sherman. And the Jets have the capital. Get it. I'm serious, man.

They've got the draft capital. They do. They have a lot of picks. They can send multiple first-round picks to the Texans and not even mortgage their future. To this year, to next year.

And if you want, they could even throw in, just screw it. We'll throw in our one. in 2023 as well.

So three first rounders. And let's go. We'll give you three firsts for Deshaun Watson. You don't have any first. You got nothing this year.

You got nothing in the second round either. You want to flip him a two this year, too, so we'll restore your two picks, top two picks this year. And those, and then you hold on to Sam Darnold, and then you flip him somewhere else and say, who wants Sam? Who wants Sam and you can actually replenish some of the pics you give up? Yeah.

Go for it. Rich, you're giving away information for free that RES Consulting could be charged with well-earned American dollars for. I'm just saying.

Well, we haven't formulated RES Consulting yet, but I'm also using this platform to let everyone know what they can get once we do formulate this. Smart man. But also, the Texans hired Corn Ferry and told Jed Hughes, beat it. We're going to hire Nick Casario in the first place, creating the big problem he's got with Deshaun Watson anyway.

So that's part of the reason why I want to get in business. If owners are just going to give money to people and not even take their advice, I'll raise my hand saying, let's do it. Here. What else you got over there, Tom?

Some injury news. Obviously, we're all keeping an eye on Patrick Mahomes and him going through the concussion protocol. He's going to get in a quote light practice. Today, no symptoms, but does remain in concussion protocol. The Chiefs tend to ramp up or plan to ramp up his reps as the week goes on.

Of course, also dealing with a foot injury, but keeping an eye on his concussion and when he's going to be out of protocol. The rampant rumors is that the independent neurosurgeon lives in Kansas City. Of course he does.

So maybe the neighbor just knock on the door and just say, Hey, Doc. Hey, pop over. What do you say? What do you say about uh well how's Pat doing? Could you see to it?

But if the doctor was from northern New York, I mean, there's no question that this guy, there's no question that this guy, Western New York, by the way. There's no question that this guy, nothing pisses off Buffalo people quite like saying upstate New York drives them crazy. That's opening. What else you got over there, Chris? We mentioned earlier: the Lions gave a six-year deal to Dan Campbell.

He's going to be the new A. Wow, that is like. That is a lot of years. Six years. If that is in fact the case, has that been confirmed?

Or, I mean, because Dan Patrick's not here to pry about the terms that have been undisclosed. One of my favorite Dan Patrick lines, terms not disclosed. I haven't pried it open yet. I know I've just botched it, but No official from the Lions. The Lions did tweet out that he's the new head coach.

Why? Six years is a very long time to tie yourself to a coach that's never done it before, except as an interim. You really got to believe in him. Six years, it's like. Is he sort of say If you don't give me six years, I'm not coming and I'm going to take the other jobs that I haven't interviewed for.

I mean, like that. I hope it works out. Crazy. That's a lot of dead money if he doesn't work out there. And the Nick Sabin rehab tour continues.

Doug Marone is going to be the Alabama offensive line coach. Doug Marone, offensive line coach. Offensive line coach.

Okay, that's great. Is he named as OC yet? Is it Bob? Yeah, we're still waiting on that Bill O'Brien official. And some late-night baseball from last night: George Springer, big name on the free agent market.

Going to go to Toronto six years, $150 million. You're ready to go. What. Apparently they're circling around Michael Brantley too. Michael Branley.

And to add it to all the young kids of all the great superstars of yesteryear. Vlad Jr. Vlad Jr. Bachette's kid, right? Dante's kid's there.

And Craig Biggio's son. They're all there. They're all there. They're all there and now you add Springer to it. Um Man, I didn't like that too much.

Of course not. Yeah, neither. You're too busy looking for a new general manager. Yeah, David Wright. I know you asked him here.

I mean, Sandy Alderson's basically like, we got it. Yeah, he said, he's like, they're not going to hire a new general manager. What a horrible story that is. What a horrible story.

Well, it's not a story, the fact. It happened. Just dreadful. Yeah. Positively awful.

All right, that's the news. That's the news. That's the news. That's the news. Okay, 844-204-Rich is the number to dial.

I had quite a conversation with Carrie Champion and Jamal Hill. Let's take a break. We'll come back and we'll play it for you. It's Dynamite. And these two ladies certainly are Carrie and Jamel won't stick to sports on Vice TV and soon on the Rich Isand Show here on Peacock.

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Carrie Champion and Jamel Hill have a television show every Thursday night at 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time. I mean, their guests are remarkable, to say the least, because they talk about more than just sports. On Vice TVs, Carrie and Jamil won't talk about sports. Anyway, here's Carrie and Jamil on The Rich Isaac Show.

I zoomed with them yesterday. Okay, this is the first time that I've had both of these ladies on the show together. They were both in studio separately, but now they're part of a terrific talk show together on Vice TV's Carrie and Jamel won't stick to sports. 11:30 p.m. on Thursday nights, Jamel Hill and Carrie Champion here on the show.

How are you, ladies? Good to see you. Thank you for having us. We appreciate it. Definitely.

I'd say this is the coolest Sports Center anchor reunion I've been part of in quite some time. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. I agree. I agree. I didn't even register right away.

I gotta tell you, working with Jamel has been a breath of fresh air. We often look at each other and say, I can't believe they're paying us to do this, but that's good. Nevertheless, there it is, a direct deposit to prove that it actually happens. But I feel very comfortable in saying of the three of us, I had the shortest. Ten year unfortunate or soul.

Now, come on now. But both of you were on during the day, or you in the early evening, Jamel. I had many a moon where I would look at Stuart Scott and we would look at the watch and we go, really? Is that really? Is it 3:15 in the morning?

Like, literally, that's. If I had to peg my out time on Sports Center, like whenever I we didn't punch a clock, obviously, but it would be somewhere around three in the morning. That's literally when I did my job.

So. You're better, you're better than us because I would have been in bed by then. It was a, it was, I actually, the noon shift for me was great. I know, Jamel, you like the six as well, but the noon was great. I had my whole day afterwards.

It was, it's interesting because, Rich, you were a part of a um just the legacy of what Sports Center was. You built it, you stu, um, there were so Dan, um, Keith, there were so many um people there, just legends. And then when we came on, there was a new version. Definitely when Jay came on, it was a new version of Sports Center, but it was it was a new version of Sports Center. And I always felt like you know, the powers that be were trying to live the years that you all had created.

You know what I mean? They were trying to recreate that without moving ahead.

Well, it's nice of you to say, Carrie, but I'll be honest with you: when Stuart and I were doing it, and I think I've had conversations with both of you separately on this very subject, but when Stuart and I were doing Sports Center together, we, you know, and it's nice of you to say that we were helping create it, you know, we didn't know if it Was working at the time, to be honest with you. You know, we were like, I think this is working. And I was sitting there, you know, somewhat concerned about whether it was working. And Stuart didn't care. You know, honestly, like, he was like, I think it's working.

And I know what I'm doing is going to work. And I'm going to keep doing it. Like literally, that's the way it felt when we were. When we were doing Sports Center together.

Well, it's funny, the more as you talk to more Sports Center alums, and certainly I bet on some level, the people who are currently doing Sports Center would say this: we all have.

Some version of the same story or a time on a sports center of going through that sometimes volatile and tumultuous phase where you're trying to do something different or put your own stamp on sports center, and it's not necessarily appreciated by everybody, and how daily you wind up in. And fights, and just kind of fighting, not necessarily for your survival, but fighting for your peace of mind, like on a single, on a daily basis. I think I said this to Carrie when we started doing the Vice show, or as we got deeper into it, is: I think about the show that we do now on Vice, and I think about what I was doing at ESPN. And I honestly don't know how I did it every day. I was like, I can't believe I used to do this five days a week.

This is crazy. Human beings were not built for this. Yeah, you know, so Sports Center itself is much different. But you, but you grew up. Yeah.

Jay grew up paper, right?

So for us TV kids who start off in the small markets and one-man bands, like that, that to me makes sense. Like that was, you did, of course, that's just what you did. You didn't have a choice. And even starting on first take, that was just two hours of TV and you just sit, you know what I mean? Every day.

And so you felt like that's just what it was. I think what's interesting is that this, this new version of what it was, Sports Center had a hard time dealing with how social media told the news before. You know, they wanted to live with the highlights. I'm like, well, we already saw that.

So you always have to be able to tell somebody something different outside of the highlight. What's the other new element to it? This is news, not old. And so I think for me, when I came on, that was the real tough transition because everything is available now streaming online. Like if you're not in the streaming online game, you're not in the game.

You know what I mean? In terms of sports, you're just not because they want it immediately and they want it quickly. No doubt. I mean, literally, you and I, but Jamel Hill and Carrie Champion here on The Rich Eisen Show, you and I are. Talking on a Zoom to be recorded to be put on a streamer.

You know, like that's literally what we're doing now, right? And it's interesting that you said what you said, Carrie, because I was, I remember. When you know, when 9-11 hit, and we were on Sports Center, and the bottom line that CNN used, that scrawl to put all of the You know, to put all of the headlines on there, Sports Center decided to use it. And so here I am on Sports Center delivering a lead-in, setting up to the highlight. And the final scorer.

appeared on the bottom line right across my chest. And I'm like.

Well, that sucks. Like, what are we doing? And yeah, like it turned the news into old, you know, to use your phrase right there. I was literally the only sports center anchor who complained about it, and they're like, you know, whatever. And then I'd be honest with you, I just didn't want to continue doing a sports center where it was about the why what happened.

As opposed to the what happened, like you're saying, like add a perspective as to what's going on. Because the way that would be set up would be: we had to have one analyst who took one point of view and another analyst who took the other point of view and bashed them together. And it's just something I just didn't want to. I just wasn't into it that much anymore, to be honest with you. But I'll be honest, I would have stayed like if things were set up in a certain way.

But um It changed. There's no question about it. It changed when we were there. Thank you. Jamel and I are quiet.

You would have stayed.

Okay. No, no, no, I should have. I'll be honest. No, I'm being very honest with you here. Like, there were certain parts of the toy chest I wanted to play, you know, in, you know, with the expanding world.

It didn't work out, you know, and, but things, things just, it's just a show I just didn't want to do much anymore. You know, here's what's interesting, Rich, that you say that. And I respect you for saying that because, again, I know you don't think so, but it was creative for people who wanted to just talk sports 24 hours a day, what's going on, evaluate it, break it down, do it, find it every each way, every person we can interview, everything.

However, what has happened, which is really truly how our show came about, is that there are parts of sports that you can no longer ignore if you're a journalist. You cannot, your spirit doesn't sit right. For me, there was a time, I guess, like from not, you know, 26. 16 to 2018, where we were covering, you know, everything, you know, on and off the court, on and off the field, because they did coexist. It coexisted in how these athletes lived their lives and how people respected them or didn't respect them, namely Colin Kaepernick.

And when we started to veer away from that, as so many people want you to do. As a journalist, just at the core of what we do, I felt like we weren't asking the really honest questions or telling the true story or all of the story. And that is when I got uncomfortable. That's when I felt like I was flipping burgers. That's when I was like, okay, I'm not, you know what I mean?

I'm not doing what I love. And a part of what I love is, yes, sports, but it's also a part to tell the whole story.

Well, I mean, I think, yeah, it's interesting. No, I don't mean to interrupt you right there, and I guess that's what. You know what's so intriguing about your current show, who came up with the title where let's just hit the nail right on the head? Like, let's just title the show right on the head that you won't stick to sports? Like, who how did that one come about?

Well, it was funny because like we went through a couple of titles. And in fact, the initial press release is a completely different title that has nothing to do with what you see. And as we started to workshop some names, um the intention was to have a um stick to sports segment that is what was supposed to be initially worked into the show but the more um you know we batted it around the more the powers that be the decision makers they did too they really liked the title And for us, it became a rallying cry because both of us, while ESPN and certainly since we left there, went through a period where we were receiving a lot of criticism because we did not want to stick to sports. And like Carrie said, people have to remember, like, we're career journalists. If there are other things that are colliding with sports, and you know, to some degree, not to some, but people were being so intellectually lazy about the stick to sports thing.

Like, neither one of us were ever on Sports Center breaking down immigration law. We never did that. Like, we weren't breaking down healthcare reform. We were not, you know, I'm saying, like, we weren't out there talking about tax codes. Like, no, it was never like that.

We were talking about the messy intersections between sports, race, politics, culture, gender, which are apparent and all around us, right? That's part of the story of sports. And I just got really tired. And I know Carrie did too. It was just mentally exhausting.

To argue with people about whether or not we should be discussing very relevant issues in sports, because there were some people who were uncomfortable. It's funny when we have other messy intersections, mostly things that don't have to do with gender or race, people are fine with those, right? Like if we, you know, I know it's a different type of issue that has obviously touched a lot of people, but nobody tells anybody to stick to sports if we're talking about. Cancer or certain diseases, or like nobody ever says a thing, right? But they're not.

Remember, Jay. I always say this, I hate to interrupt. If Colin Kaepernick was kneeling for cancer, he'd be an American hero. If he said, I'm kneeling for cancer, or what name another, another issue. I mean, you know, to be honest, the other part of that is if Colin Kaepernick had hit a woman, he'd be playing in the NFL.

like or been accused of hitting a woman, he'd be in the NFL because That is a corrective behavior that they feel like they can fix. They can get you to stop doing that, right? They can't get you to stop believing police brutality and racism and systemic oppression exist. That tube is out of the toothpaste.

So I got tired of dealing with an intellectually dishonest element. both in the building at ESPN and outside of it, that said that We send cuts. What is so plain and obvious in everybody's face. And it's like if you lose the ability to tell the truth as a journalist, then why are you a journalist? And it doesn't really make any sense.

Um you know, from that standpoint, I think Us choosing the title Stick to Sports was about giving a middle finger to the people who kept telling us that. Jamal Helen. I'm sorry, I'm resetting here for the radio audience that will be watching Carrie Champion and Jamel Hill here on the Richard Joe. Go ahead, Carrie. I don't mean to interrupt you.

No, I didn't mean to interrupt you either. I laugh at Jamel because this is such a interesting world we live in. We can't both be true. I can be a journalist and live to tell you highlights and tell you about the game last week. And while I really was disappointed to see Pat Mahomes go out, because I really wanted to see more of a fight, I can do that.

But then I can also tell you about something else that's happening in the world of sports. And that's that messy intersection. I don't remember when we weren't allowed to do both. I often think of the very first show I started on, which is First Take. They were allowed to do it.

And I think for ESPN, as long as you have one show addressing it, it's on the menu. And then the other shows can address it. And I understand that too. I understand that philosophy because at the end of the day, it's business, right? That's the bottom line: like ratings, business, make money.

Right. And I'm okay with all of those things. I, for me, you know, very much different than my colleague who will tweet every five seconds and let everybody have it. For me, I just wanted to make sure that I was committing a couple of acts of journalism a show. Right.

I just wanted to commit a few acts of journalism and I would have been fine with that. I think that the problem is that we try to hide.

Now, though, you see, Rich, even if you watch, times have changed. They have political guests on there all the time. I turn around, somebody's talking politics, and I'm like, wait, hold on, that wasn't allowed when we know that. But it's not just ESPN, obviously, here too. Like, there are many sports outlets now that have, you know, one would say, if we're in a country where we're talking about right and left, that have the right conservative point of view, talking to the, you know, the, I guess, by the time this airs afternoon on the former president of the United States, you know, so.

Trump's been on barstool. Trump's been on outkick. You know, I mean, and so that's just. For me, A sign that stick to sports is dead. I mean, the number of sports athletes that came out and said for Biden or Trump, I lost track on both sides and it's dead.

It's totally dead. But there is a line here where people want to tune in to watch sports and they're like, well, I don't want to get sports with politics.

Well, guess what? Like, and the NBA is talking about stopping play. This is part of sports, that this is something that needs to be discussed. That this is on the minds of athletes. This is something that needs to be.

Discussed, and as you said, Jamel, you didn't lead sports center talking about policy, it wasn't policy center, you know. I mean, it wasn't maybe because they couldn't find a sponsor, but you know, it wasn't, you know. You know what I'm saying? Like, so the Bud Line is a hot seat. Bye, bye.

That would be something. Political. I mean, definitely the National Security Council is definitely a hot seat. But anyway, well, long story short, is that there is a way that I think that this can be discussed and not denigrated as ruining somebody's sports. Experience because you know we also have to be clear, though, Rich, about when people say stick to sports, we also have to be honest about what they really mean.

They don't want everybody to stick to sports, they only want Some people. as in black people to stick to sport. I mean, generally speaking, is that you know, like with the complaints that we hear. Is that you know, it's when certain athletes say something and about certain issues, you know, we're talking about very thorny, emotional. Issues in this country, racism, police brutality, these are not easy subjects.

And so a lot of the times, That would be the case because I'm guessing, you know, you mentioned Barstool and Outkick doing the Trump interview. I didn't hear a whole lot of complaints about them sticking to sports. Because of who they are and who they were interviewing. No, I understand. I get it a lot.

You know, I spoke over the summer, you know, when Jacob Blake was murdered. I spoke out over the summer when George Floyd was murdered. I mean, I had the, you know, a platform and I felt it was necessary for me to use it, not only because I felt it and I believed it, but I want my children to, you know, when they go on YouTube, when they're old enough, to see if they ever wonder what a dad have to say about this when the world was falling apart, that they can actually see that I did something and I spoke about it. But, you know, I'm about the who, though, Rich. That was about the who, because you were speaking up.

You know, as a white man on behalf of black people, so you're gonna catch these strays as well.

Okay, so I think they're all, I agree with you, Jamel, in terms of yeah, it probably is more about the issues of people speaking about the black community, but I think people in general who don't want to hear about sports and don't want to hear about it, period. They don't care what Brett Farf thinks, they don't care who, you know, I really truly believe all around there's an overall fatigue from people who just want to sit and listen and watch sports. The problem is, that's not the world we live in. We're in a pandemic. If we can't talk about the messy issues and the repercussions and the domino effect of a pandemic and what has happened and what has left our country in the state that it's in, it touches everything.

I feel like it's this really You know, it's so. Ridiculous to think that these athletes who are playing, risking their lives on the collegiate level, on the professional level, won't feel what is happening, won't feel that mental lockdown. I was talking to a player the other day for the Gold State Warriors. He told me he was depressed. He was like, playing in this pandemic is depressing.

Now, do we talk about that? Is that something? Is that stick to sports? Are we allowed to talk about how depressed some of these athletes are because of what they're dealing with? But yet they're out here entertaining us 24 hours a day, seven days a week?

No, absolutely. Mental health is something that's considerable and something we should talk about. Dewey, you know, before I let you ladies go, do you want to talk sports? I mean, we... Yes, let's talk sports.

All right.

Well, then this is the topic I kind of want to, you know, toss to in one here, because the city of Houston, Hardin, essentially either spoke or ate his departure into existence. And now he's in a spectacular spot. And I'm wondering if Deshaun Watson, the front row seat of all this, is thinking the same exact thing in a sport where usually somebody who's got a nine-figure contract can't speak something like that into existence. And I'm wondering. What do you think of Hardin's departure and what's going on with Watson, and how you think that might play out?

You want to take that for a Is it just me, or does James Harden already look slimmer? I swear to God, it feels like he looks slimmer. Honestly, like the JH13 system, whatever that is, like if he can lose 30 pounds in like 48 hours, or maybe it's the spite. I don't know what that is, but I need to. She looks slimmer.

Maybe it's just being in a black uniform. I don't know what it is, but I swear he lost 10 pounds the moment he showed up as a Brooklyn Net. Look, we know in the NBA, it's a players league. And despite the monstrosity of a contract that James Harton had. At the end of the day, somebody who doesn't want to be there is not going to do your franchise any good.

But with football, as you mentioned, Rich, the dynamics are different. The players don't really have a lot of leverage. But in this case, if you're Houston, What are your options? Sean Watson is in his mid-20s. He is a special talent.

He is an MVP caliber quarterback, which you know those are difficult to find. All he asked you was to be consulted. Right? He had in his mind, he wanted Eric Biannemy. That guy that he felt like could take this team.

to the levels that they have not reached. It is the height of insulting that they would not interview Eric BNM, who, by the way, regardless of Deshaun Watson even said anything, they should have been interviewing anyway, right? And the disrespectful nature, I think, of what they did.

Sometimes, and I'm not gonna say any names, but I've been in those work situations before that once you show them, once you get shown who they are. It's very hard to unrealize. What situation? What situation? I'm just saying.

I've been in those situations before. And sometimes when they show you. Rich put on his glasses. I don't have time for this nonsense, ladies. No, I'm here to talk to sports with you.

It is hard to understand. I'm a 51-year-old man, Carrie. Come on.

Okay. So if you're new since either you hire Eric Bienemi, Or you lose Deshaun Watson and you have to ask yourself, what's it worth it to you? Is he the type of talent, and I think that he is, where it is worth it for you to make him happy? Because you do not want to be looking for another one of those kind of quarterbacks All over again over something. that was as simple as that.

As consideration? I think, Jay, you're right on with that. But here's what's even more interesting. I think a little, if we go another level, that organization has made some questionable decisions, you know, and we've watched something else is going on there.

So I don't think it was just this moment in which Deshaun said he's upset. I think it was a series of things that he watched unfold. And he thought, well, why no consideration? Do you guys really want to win? Is someone here to help me?

Who really runs that team? Is it really his team? You would think it would be. I don't know. I don't think everything that we see on the outside is what it is.

And that's normally the case. But I agree with you. He is, as his collegiate coach called him, he does have a Michael Jordan-esque quality about him that I believe needs to be protected and loved and nurtured. And I'm taking my talents to South Beach if you're not taking care of me. I'm not saying he's going to Miami, but you know, go back to LeBron.

But I'm taking my talents elsewhere if I can't be respected. And he has the leverage. How many times in your career rich? How many times are your career rich? Careers, Jamel, do you have leverage?

And when you do have leverage, it's a small window. And then you get the best that you want. As far as James Harden, I'm not for sure if I believe that will work out. The Laker fan in me is speaking, but also the journalist in me is telling you those Laker fan talking. This ain't the journalist.

Although, although, Rich, those personalities, talk to me about those personalities. Do we see them all coexisting harmoniously?

Well, you're, you're, you're, you're, you know, and I guess to just. Finish up this conversation here because I don't want to keep you. This has been a great conversation, but. There's a third man in in Kyrie, you know, and I guess I should be like this when I have this conversation. You know, this is how he showed up, you know, and.

Right. I'm kind of like. Yeah. What gives, like, you know, in the same way that you're talking about how the Texans need to cherish something. Or someone so generationally talented, and also Deshaun, what beats in here not just as a champion but as a human is just such a rare combination that you need to make sure that somebody like that stays on your team.

I mean, what sort of situation Kyrie's won with LeBron and now? Like, I don't know what it is. Um, going on with him, but he's with Hardin and he's with Durant now. And this is an incredible situation, and it's all set up by the glory that the NBA exists in a pandemic. We're so lucky that we get to talk about it.

Can't you imagine playing it? Can you suss out what is going on between us? I don't know him. I've never met him. I just can't.

Compute. Anybody? I did a Kyrie, this past, I think it was the summer, God, Mondays and Sundays feel the same.

So just, let's just say I last four to six months. I think it was true in that. It was an event where it was him and Common, and we were talking about supporting black women more and all the social justice issues happening in the country. Kyrie's extremely thoughtful, he's very smart. Um but he's also I think he's somebody, and I say this with no inside knowledge.

Carrie brought it up a minute ago about players who are struggling a little bit more playing under these circumstances than we think that they are. I think this is.

Something that we're seeing with him because remember, He didn't want to go to the bubble. He was ready to shut it down. He did not think the players should be playing. And I think that these issues that have happened in our country, I'm not saying this is 100% the case, but I do think that. on a deeper level, seeing everything that happened in this country in 2020, I would not be surprised if And having some introspective conversations with himself, if he wondered about what he was really doing with his life.

and about what he what his purpose was. I think he strikes me as somebody looking for purpose. And I think he wondered: is basketball my purpose? I mean, he brought the family of George Floyd a home. He started a fund for WNBA players who decided to opt out and playing in the wubble.

I mean, he is doing so much on the social and political realm. I did wonder when he took that little time out, is he thinking like, is basketball really where I want to be right now? Again, I say this with no insider knowledge, but this is the impression that I got from him. after we did that event together where he could not have been more lovely, but he's a thinker. He is a thinker.

Yeah, I was going to say he's very merciless and he stays in his head a lot. And you always, what happens is we forget we watch them, we watch the maturation process, Rich. These kids come in, they didn't socialize the way that we probably think they should. They didn't have this experience. And then we're watching them grow into whomever they think they are.

So here he is. You know, I remember him just like when they won the chip, when he was with the Cavs and LeBron, they won a chip. And, you know, I see beer bottles and ladies and this, that, and the third.

Now he's, you know, taking sage and running it around, you know, you know, the garden.

So I'm like, he's been all over. Like he's growing. You're right on. And I think he's just trying to figure it out. I think he's very expressive and we're watching it happen.

And he's very comfortable being expressive. A lot of people aren't that comfortable. You know what I mean? They wait till they retire to let you see who they are. And he's figuring that out.

And he's like, y'all have to see this happen as I'm watching it happen as well.

Well, this has been awesome. Everyone needs to watch these ladies go at it on Vice on Thursday nights at 11.30 p.m. Eastern Time with Carrie and Jamel. Won't Stick to Sports. Thanks for doing this.

We should do this more often. I honestly scratch the surface. You're tough. Pin down. You are both very tough to pin down.

You got a lot going on. No, we would do it anytime for you. It's so much fun. We got to do it when we talk about stew because, you know, we all got our favorite stew stories we like to share. Definitely.

And I just, you know, want to describe for the radio audience, I've got my library background. It's a very nice curtain you've got back there. Very nice. Uh, situation, Carrie, and um, well, with the Emmy award, nice humble drag. Yes.

Not really humble. Just want you to know. Sat there in my background for a reason because I want you to ask me about it. Hello and Harry Champion. Check them out on Vice TV on Thursday nights at 11:30 p.m.

Eastern Time. It's a fun chat with them. Let's take a break and we'll come back, answer some phone calls, and get out of Dodge, set up the rest of the week, all that good stuff. Right here on the Rich Eisen Show on Peacock. Even the safest drivers still encounter unsafe conditions, so it's important they do it in a safe vehicle.

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That wasn't a fake. Back here on The Rich Eisen Show, 844-204 Rich. Tom Brady's talking right now. On Championship Wednesday. I think we created it.

We had to. I don't know. I don't know if we had to, but we came on the air on NFL Network and then Championship. Sunday on 2004. I don't know if we did it right out of the gate or whatever.

But, you know, talk, but we made it. Everything is content, you know, and that's why the NFL networks created part. Part of the reason why. You know, to leverage cable contracts and things of that nature and make some money for the owners on the side. They all, every team chipped in $5 million, I think, as a.

As a launching, all 32 teams just to put it in a kitty and launch the NFL network. I've never confirmed that figure, but that's what we heard. But at any rate Long story short, is all the players would talk before Championship Sunday, and we set it up where. Each team had all four guys. There was like four players and a coach.

talked and it would be set up where the One team from the AFC Championship game had this hour, and then another one had that hour, another one at that hour, and it'll be four hours long of just. Of 15 minutes of media availability each the day before the Wednesday before, and they're doing it right now. I mean, I used to we used to you sat in the control room and I sat on the set and I would just anchor that whole thing.

Now look at us. We're sitting here and I'm doing this show and you're sitting where you're sitting. And you know, I'll be honest, you know, I I know the name of the show is The Rich Eisen Show. That means there's an I in Rich and I in Eisen. And you know how I feel about today's date in our world in this country.

And the pe the finally, today, we saw a peaceful transferring of power. In this country. And you know what this inauguration means to me personally, obviously. And I I I I'll be You know, I always shoot you straight here on the show. I'm coming to work wondering: okay, we're on here.

Our first hour as Biden's talking, how many people are going to be out there watching us? Just wondering if we're going to be. having a our rating of whatever it is, and fewer eyeballs and whatever. And So but then we you know, we do the show and we do it a show. Little did I know that I would be struggling to keep the eyeballs and attention of somebody on the set during the show.

Oh, I'm watching it now. If we could have put our money in a kitty and bet, who would be the one that would be busted for not paying attention? I mean, right on brand. Like a minus 10,000.

So, you know, I go, you know, I look at my Twitter feed the minute that we go to break because I just want to know, am I missing anything, sports news, whatever? I mean, that Bernie Sanders sitting in the cold meme is just going all over the place. And I do want to, I'll just front-load everybody in our conversation after the show when we're talking about tomorrow's show. I want to put Bernie in a whole bunch of sports. Oh, he's coming up.

Where's Bernie? Where's Bernie? There he is behind Jim Craig. Do you believe in miracles? You know.

Bernie sitting by himself in a cold in a folding chair is just, you know, it's a mood. Yeah. Um So I I I turn to the computer and I I I look at it and As I say, we're going to break. This man has to let the radio audience know we're gone. And you have duties to do when I'm throwing a break here.

I don't miss him. Don, put it up. Would you please? There it is. This is a string of two tweets.

The Beast with the 46 plate on it. Fantastic. And then you hashtagged Inauguration 2021 and Inauguration Day to make sure that your tweet is seen by anybody who searches these hashtags. And then you just tacked on. You know, an actual zoom-in of the plate.

Did you do photoshopping as we're throwing a break? Did you guys screenshot? I screenshot. You screenshotted it right there. And then cut it and put it on your Why are you proud to say this?

I like this stuff. I love this stuff. I wanted to be a Secret Service agent when I was a cop. Is this answering? Filibustering, though.

Like, just answer the question. I mean, it's it's I mean, I get into this stuff. I love this. Like, so do I, but I know I've got to host a Rich Hobson show. I could multitask.

I didn't miss the break. Come on.

How should I handle this? I'll let the group chime in here. I'll chime in and I'll throw myself on your bus. You busted me yesterday with a tweet.

So, did you get caught? You know what I mean? Yeah, he caught me. That's right. You got caught.

Your job is to be on social media and to see if there is anything trending that we should talk about. I mean, that is true.

So I rescind me turning my cell phone off. I mean, you're in like month five or six of being an on-air every day. Got to keep your head in a swivel. You never know when I'm going to come to you. Member of this program.

True. This content factory we call the Rich Eisen Show. This guy over there is now, I mean. Zooming in on the license plate. And so, did you have to like screen grab it and crop it?

Did you crop? Oh, yeah, it's a screen grab crop. Boom. Like, don't be proud. By the way, Dom Boojin, we could see you scrolling.

That's Dunk the Pug on the top. We could see that. Dunk the Pug. Be careful.

Sometimes I know who you follow.

Sometimes. No, no, no, no. I've cleaned a lot of that up. Yeah, but sometimes you're not.

Sometimes he's got the glorious ladies of wrestling up there or something like that. Oh, my. Oh, my. Gorgeous ladies. What did I say?

Glorious. Whatever. I used to say glorious. At least I'm showing my spots here. Look, before me, you never would have spoken of wrestling.

So that's true. I appreciate it. Look at us, we're a well-rounded crew. Look at us. Look at us.

That's like that Paul Rudd meme. Have you seen it when Paul Rudd's talking to Paul Rudd? And he's like, look at us. This is the richest. Whatever.

Thank you. We've got tomorrow's show. Richard Jefferson will join us. Big-time football basketball game tonight, right? Yeah.

Nets and Cavs. We'll be watching that. Uh, Tay Diggs will be on tomorrow's program. He's playing a coach in the CW show called All-American High School Coach. And uh, Kyle Brent, America's favorite, Kyle Brent.

Bernie has commented on the outfit. What does he do? What do you mean? He's like, from Vermont, being from Vermont, we're not so concerned about good fashion. I mean, he's got a puffy coat and he's got mittens.

He's got mittens. Big old mittens. Yeah, but it looked like they were knitted mittens. You know what I mean? Fantastic.

Good finish, everybody. No problem. All right.

We'll take you to Brother from Another right here on Peacock. If you're on Peacock, stay right where you are on the radio. We will see you on Thursday's edition of The Rich Eisen Show. Yeah.

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