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Did you say that? I got shot. Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami. Gun down. The key to this case, it's Brian.
An hour before he died, he was on the phone arguing with Tabak. This might be a hit. You want the truth. They just want a conviction. We had a killer amongst us.
Murderer you. Listen now. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show?
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Now, on with the show. And now, here comes Solaire. This is the Rich Eisen Show. They're gonna start to fight. They're throwing blows.
Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. We got major differences here. Earlier on the show, longtime golf writer Alan Shipnock. Coming up. Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Weber.
Senior Writer for Sports Illustrated, Albert Breer. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Chris Webber, C. Webb, as he's affectionately known, my basketball Hall of Fame friend and the University of Michigan fellow.
Phan is going to be joining us in about twenty minutes' time to talk about what we saw Monday night and what it means moving forward for the Michigan Wolverine program and all of us together. It's going to be great. And then we'll welcome in the Ohio State's Albert Breer to be fair and balanced. Although, you know what's not fair and balanced right now? Uh-oh.
Oh, here we go. I know exactly what you're gonna say. What's not fair and balanced, right? The Big Ten's domination in college sports right now. College sports.
Exactly. Yeah, you're so what's to be disputed? Listen, I know you are soon to be officially married and wedded to a Georgia Bulldog, and you have been a Georgia Bulldog fan. For quite some time because of it. I understand you got SEC in your household.
I do. I understand and happy. Wife Happy Life I get it. The last three football champions have been Big Ten, Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana. Two and a half.
What's two and a half?
Well, yours has an ask.
Okay. Appreciate you saying that. Good enough. I'll take it. Don't care.
Then you've got the Big Ten winning both basketball titles this year. Women's and men's? 'Cause UCLA? Say it all. I don't care.
I don't care. It's fine. I don't know what I mean. I don't care. They could have joined any other Conference didn't join the Big Ten.
Big East. I mean, when your conference spans the entire 48 connected state, probably the two. No, I mean, it's big. It's big. It's big.
So it's like the teams put the big in Big Ten. It's this day and age. Guys, you got to stop living in the past. Stop living in the past. I understand.
My teams are technically in the nuts. It's 18. Is it? It's crazy. Yeah, yep.
Okay. I believe it's a big I think it's eighteen now. They got the most money? Sixteen, eighteen. I lose track because there's too many to count who win championships.
And then Thursday night, the Frozen Four. Commences Half the frozen four, Big Ten, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Somebody could. That's always like that. I do like the frozen four. Not always. Notre Dame.
So um Notre Dame did not sneak in. Not this year. Not this year, no, sir. 18 teams in the year. 18 teams, yeah.
Exactly. It's crazy. Big 18. You better be good. I'm also not mentioning other.
sports that have gotten Big Ten champions? Yeah, you guys are dominating. Thank you. Thank you. What's so difficult?
You got to mention asterisks. You got to make fun of telegraphing punches. You got to have the facts out there first. First and foremost. Facts are out there that it's the Big Ten world right now.
And I understand there's East Coast bias in sports in general, Southeast bias in college sports always. Always got to look out for that SEC. Hello? Gotta look out, it just means more. As I tell Greg Sankey every single time he comes on the program, we chop it up.
Let's get them all. Let's get them all now while we got the muscle. And we got the muscle. We sure got the muscle. I think I um I saved this post.
Let me see if I did or not. I think I did. I hope I did, because I've now mentioned that the post has been saved, so now I've got to actually tap dance till I see if I actually saved the post on threads. Oh, yeah, here um no, no, I didn't. There's other sports.
Big Ten One others have have dominated other sports this year.
So it's a Big Ten world. We're collecting rent. You saw a men's baseball there, the number one baseball. That's right. Thank you for that.
I appreciate you. They're a Pac-12 team. What's the Pac-12? I'm looking up the Pac-12 standings. I don't see them.
No one thinks that UCLA is a big 10 team. Like, Rutgers is not in the big team. Exactly. Like, Rutgers is. Can you just acknowledge that?
Rutgers is a big 10 team. Yeah, but they're not. They're not.
Okay. Thank you for that information. All right. Yes. Good to know.
By the way, the Atlantic Coast Conference has two teams on the Pacific coast. Which is absolutely. But it's not.
So it's not like we're the only ones. We, being Big Ten, are the only ones. We have a big the world is wide enough, is what I'm saying. to welcome in and more can come. Because it just does mean more for the Big Ten now.
So, the phrase that you had made fun of the SEC now forever, you're co-opting it? No, I'm just talking about how much it means because there's more. champions in our conference than anybody else's. Freuda. I'm glad I brought that up, got that off my chest.
Yeah. You root for Big Ten teams. You should be feeling the same way. Big tent. Like what?
Well, soon enough. When's Florida State coming? They want out. Listen, if you want a conference to actually fight for it, you get to get in the college football playoffs, come to the Big Ten. Come out to the coast.
Come out to the coast. I'll have a few laughs. Ask UCLA: Did you see the UCLA women on Kimmel last night with their championship trophy? Congrats to them. That happened.
That's right. Oh boy, if Michigan wins again next year and the Final Four is in Detroit, What up, Dough? It is in Detroit next year? It is indeed. Wow.
He's still not going to go. I don't know. I gotta say. What? You should have went.
Why? What do you care? 1989 is the number. You should have went. Like Chuck D said.
Schefter was there. I mean, that's great. Lawan went up. Does Schefter have a show called The Adam Schefter Show that's on three hours a day with you guys? I mean, he's on a lot of stuff every day.
He does not. He can do his work off of his telephone. I'm just saying. Literally, if he wants to shoot his podcast, he can do it off his telephone. I mean, you could zoom in from a hotel room.
But guess what? Was it better having me sitting in this chair with Jeff Ross sitting here? Nah, because how good was it for our show? if I may two to horn. To have not one, but two national champion head coaches on yesterday.
You could have done, though. You would have been back in time. Could I have been? The PJs. There's no Michigan person in Los Angeles who went to a game that has private aviation.
I put aside my own personal. Moments. I'm with you, Rick. My shining moment. I'm going to text.
I'm going to ask you. Hold on. I'm going to text Carl. And where's you? You should have.
I did it for you. You shouldn't have done it for me. I did it for us. Would you have rather come to the game? You should have won the game.
Who? I'm going to ask your son. The best thing in the world. Oh, leave my son out of it. First of all, he's in school.
He's got to be on his phone. He's not going to answer you. No answer. No, he's not. He's not supposed to be on his phone.
And he's very good about that. Oh, yeah. Teenagers never do what they're not told to do. Stay away from my child during a school, sir. There's probably about three ordinances I could use right now here in Los Angeles County.
All right. You should have went. Mike, hit the drop. Hit the drop, please. No, God.
Yeah. What is this? Great question, Mike. If you were around more. There we go.
All right. Sorry. Let's start again. Redwind. Hit the drop.
Hit the drop. Baseball. Thank you very much. What was that? Baseball.
You got to get a better job. We're talking baseball. He wanted to. I would like to welcome. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates into the world of roster building to try and win baseball games.
Took a long time. Congrats. Congratulations to 19-year-old Connor Griffin. This dude is a boost. Who is a beast, shortstop, and a clear cornerstone of any baseball franchise?
Normally, if you get a cornerstone of a baseball franchise in Pittsburgh, Yankee fans are like, can't wait. And we were that way about Skeens the last couple years. He signed a nine-year extension. A nine-year new contract that runs through the 2034 season. And basically, what the pirates did was buy out three years of free agency for this kid.
Nine years, 140 million bucks for the young man who became the first teenage position player to debut. Since Juan Soto did it in 2018, long time ago, before he was a mercenary. When he loved baseball. He still does. Oh, okay.
It gets paid handsomely. And so what this means is the pirates are It is the, let me get this right too: the largest guarantee in Pirates' history for any player in his rookie season.
So, the Pittsburgh, congratulations, Pirates fans. This is what it looks like. to have your team Take money. And spend it. On a player.
who's very, very, very good and who could be potentially generationally great. And keep him. In Pittsburgh, and give you something to watch. that you know You will be seeing. with good health.
For a long time. Yep. And that's The way it's done. Wild. Wild.
I'm blown away. Pittsburgh's entire payroll this year is $135 million, and they just gave $140 to this kid.
Well, for over nine years, I mean, again, I know, stretched out, but that just shows, you know, they're kind of serious. They did sign a bunch of free agents this offseason. They had a quiet, quiet, good offseason. And, you know, they're kind of a sneaky sleeper playoff pick. They're playing well.
They got skiing some run support yesterday. Cooper thinks they're going to make the playoffs. He likes giving me hot takes every now and then. That's an. He thinks they have a real good chance.
Let's put it that way.
Okay. Real good chance. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And by the way, you might be sitting here going, What is this kid doing? 19 years old.
He could make way more than $140 million. You know, probably, but. Let me just say this, though. of somebody with a soon-to-be 18-year-old in the house. You tell.
A nineteen year old kid. who plays baseball for a living. Here is a $140 million guarantee over the next nine years. And he's just like, so by the time I'm 28, I can then make more money. After the 140 million in the bank.
I'm in. Yep. How old? Tell that to a 19-year-old. And the answer is yes, sold.
So congratulations to Pirates fans, right? Very cool. Um another uh piece of news that Caught my eye last night. Happened just down the road from here. Right?
So the Braves. Beautiful Anaheim, yeah. And the Angels. Playing one another. Let me get this correct because I need to get the numbers here.
Jorge Soler, former. Brave. And Ronaldo Lopez, a Braves pitcher. Their history, let me get the numbers here. Ah.
So there Fourteen for twenty-three with five homers and three doubles against Lopez. All right. And that includes the home run Solaire had in his first stat bat against Lopez last night. And then he got hit by a 96-mile-an-hour fastball in his second, his third at-bat, a ball that was high. And on the inside half of the plate cause Soler to get a little upset.
And it took a while to simmer. Because if you watch the replay, the Angels broadcast is in a replay of a stolen bass attempt. and they're showing it from two different angles and then all of a sudden it's like Off camera. They start playing the feud.
Okay. Lopez apparently gave Um An answer that Soler did not like after Soler Arms extended gave him the international symbol of WTF. And Um the uh the the quote uh was Here we go. That he didn't like the answer one bit. Hmm.
Kurt Suzuki said he didn't blame Soler one bit for his reaction. And then um So there Charge the mound. And said After the home run and getting hit by a pitch after that, and then he missed way too high and close to my head at this level. You can't miss. Like that.
Off we go.
Now, one thing was different, and one thing was the same.
Well, two things were different. One thing is that Lopez Had the baseball in his hand when he threw a punch at Soler. Sure did. And that's now being called the A newfangled knuckleball. I've never seen that.
Me neither. We've seen haymakers thrown, but I've never seen a ball in the hand of a guy who's throwing the punch. The other thing I hadn't seen before was a manager. Walt Weiss got down like Jeff Van Gundy. He took down, but Van Gundy couldn't take down Alonzo Morning back in the day.
Form tackle by Walt Weiss. Walt Weiss took down. Yeah. Right?
He came in just flying out. His hat was off, and he form-tackled Silver. There it is. There it is. Yeah.
Right there. And the Falcons said, come put on the pads, skip.
Well done. By the Falcons. Took him down. It did take him down. Or it could have been a lot worse.
Could have been a lot worse.
Soler was throwing big old punches. At anyone, but particularly Lopez, but anyone in his way. Yeah, I asked him if everything was okay, and the answer he gave me, I didn't like it, Soleris said through an interpreter. Yeah, like you said, it took a while to simmer.
So Lair was kind of standing there staring at him, staring at him. Then he kind of said a few words, and then Lopez just kind of did the. All right, come get some. Got it.
So now let me ask you this, because this is the thing that also. is the same. Mike Hoskins in hockey. Can you Come off the bench and be part of a fight without there being no. In the NBA, can you even set a toe on the floor if there's a fight?
Negative. In baseball, can you come streaming out of the dugout? Yeah. Well, streaming, I mean.
Okay, there's one thing. But the thing I don't understand, because the dugouts are right there.
Okay, so you can be part of the fight to break it up or make it worse on the spot. I will never understand for the life of me as long as I'm on this planet. Understand. Bullpens come on in. Just the slowest.
Truck. Hold on. I do this all the time. It's my favorite thing to do on this show. Hold on, man.
Hold on, just hang on. Keep fighting. I'm almost there. Wait a minute. Almost.
Hold on. I see the infrill dirt. It's close. Hold on. Keep going.
I'm almost there. Ah, made it. Wait a minute. It's over. Oh, I have to walk back.
You know what it's like? It's like you pick up the check. It's paid for, and I'm like, wait a minute, hold on. I got this. I'll get it wrong.
Okay, I already, no, no, you already paid for this. I already signed for it. You're making the reach at this. But it's not even, you're making the reach while it's time to pay the check. I ain't got this.
What are we doing? And how is that legal? Let's have. 12 more people join the fight from 250 feet away. After the fight's over.
After the fight's over. Yeah, got it. I will never understand why that's cool. What are they doing? I guess getting in their steps.
They're trying to. Make sure that their ring on their phone is all. Filled up for the staff. They got that health app going. Oh, I'm sorry.
It's only the Red Sox who have the phones on them. Ah! Hit it. Thank you. Yes.
Thank you, Tampy Apple Watcher. Baseball. Baseball. Betty, Betty, good to me. Betty, Betty, good.
Chris Weber's coming up next, right here on the program. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Oh, oh, oh. Oh, O'Reilly. Check engine, ABS, or maintenance light on?
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The April 15th tax deadline is coming fast, but don't worry. Hand off your taxes to a turbo tax expert today. You know how April feels. Everything speeds up. Games matter.
More hoops and hockey schedules tighten. Your phone won't stop buzzing. And somewhere in the middle of it all, there's that quiet little reminder. Taxes. You'll get to it tonight or tomorrow or after the weekend.
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While they work to get you every dollar you deserve, you can go about your normal routine, giving you time back to focus on what actually deserves your attention, like rooting for your team to make the playoffs. April 15th is not waiting, people. Visit turbo tax.com and hand off your taxes to a turbo tax expert today. I'm very fortunate to do what I do for a living and able to reach out to people important in my life. for big moments like Michigan winning.
the whole thing and Basketball. When Michigan won the whole thing in football, for instance, I reached out to Charles Woodson. Good. It's time to reach out to Chris Weber here on the Rich Hisen Show, ladies and gentlemen. Look at us right now.
What's up, fellas? Congrats, boys up, man. Look at us, Chris. Look at us. That's it.
That's all. Thanks for joining. And you know, I can't wait to go golfing with Woodson so we can talk more. Trash to everybody else that's out on the golf course. That's right.
Oh, is that a Lake Nona situation? Is that what you're talking about? No, no, you just know, you know, we're just out there.
Now we just got something else, you know, to brag about besides beating Ohio State in football, when they won their championship, and the four times before that, winning the championship. And then, you know, kind of this.
So, you know, I can't wait to see Jimmy Jackson and some of my other friends. Yes, now we're talking, saying it with chests. That's how we speak. These days Uh just awesome, but uh let's let's start with the the the Saturday night of it all first. What was it like being back with your Fab Five?
uh friends, colleagues, brethren. to do your alt cast during the uh The, what do we call it? BTAing of Arizona. Um it was great. You know, we talked about it right here first, and kind of my first reaction is.
Kind of what it is. It's prophetic. We were like some young guys again. Being able to, you know, in the dorms and having fun with each guy sharing different personalities with each other. And it's just great.
I think you saw everything from Ray being the youngest, almost a year younger than anyone else, or a year and a half with anyone else, to You know, Joanne breaking out X's and O's, and you know, everyone else kind of doing their thing.
So it was exciting. We're Jane in there and Jimmy there. The night after was even that much more exciting hanging out with them till planes had to be taken and all that stuff. And so it was great to be able to cheer on a great team, a great coach. Um and uh some along with some great fans.
So uh It was a great weekend, man. Yeah, I bet. I bet. But just, you know, I. Also heard there might have been some late night dining.
on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Chris? Yeah. Did that happen? I didn't realize how soft I was, man.
I used to not be as soft as I am now, man. What do you mean? What do you mean by soft? What are you talking about? What do I mean by soft?
You know, staying up till 6:30 in the morning, you know, would have been nothing a long time ago. And I'm still paying for it right now, brother. Not financially, right? Like, who picked up the check, actually? Did the agents pick up the check?
No, they didn't. You know what? We should have used the company card to put on the underhills. Who picked up the check? Who grabbed the check?
I believe Jalen picked it up. But if he didn't, a wonderful restaurant owner did there. And so he looked it up. It was a. It was a it was it was an awesome time being able to hang out.
And you know, that was you know to the wee hours of the morning and then we went back and enjoyed the wee, we we hours of the morning. And so, you know, it's always great being around great people and you know, whether it's your agents or your friends. Oh, no, for so long.
So it was, man, it was a great time. Did you become closer? Not to get too deep here, but did you guys. Did this bond you even closer, getting back together with the current Michigan team doing what they're doing? Chris?
No, I don't think so.
Okay. Because we're very close, you know? And so. I think every moment, let me put it this way: every moment you have together brings you closer.
So I don't want to say no, but. This is who we are. You know what I mean? We spend time with each other on the phone or hanging out in whether it's separate or different. capacities or different number of group out the group.
Uh but you know it's it's uh I think the If anything, Rich. We had a mature place where we could appreciate it more than ever. Does that make sense? Sure.
So, if you can appreciate it more than ever, it means you're enjoying the moment more than you have in the past and being aware. of the moment. And so I would say at an age of maturity, that's That's kind of the most special moment, the big boy thing. You know what I mean? Because it accentuates every other moment.
Like, you know, this doesn't change us or bring us closer together, but. Can you believe we even made it this far? After, you know, Joe and I getting, you know, tattoos in a. In the garage with an ink pen at 18 years old, you know, you should be here.
So it makes those moments that much more. Special, you know, you didn't get tetanus from a tattoo.
Well, and the crazy thing is, you're the OGs now, Chris. You are the OGs.
Now, I understand Glenn Rice and Ramiel and Terry Mills and what have you. Um and they were the ones who were uh able to raise a banner in their time together. But you guys, the Fab Five, are definitely viewed by a younger generation. Um as more attuned. to this day and age, to be honest.
And nothing could be more, I guess, indicative of that than the fact that you know Brandon McCoy Announced he's going to Michigan from Sierra Canyon right in the middle of your allcast to you guys during the middle of the Arizona-Michigan game. And so you're the OGs, the current. guys trying to make history are out there on the court. And here's a kid saying, Hey, Fab5, I'm coming to join and follow in your footsteps. It was just an awesome moment for me as a fan and an alum.
To watch. What was it like for you? It was great. And you know, um You know, that's what makes great organizations or programs. You know, being friends with Kobe.
You know, he never said that his team, or he was better than Magic's team, because when you're great in a program, You know, the school is who it is because of you. And so we wouldn't have been us without Glenn Rice and those guys. And our job is to share those stories because the basketball purists. Which basketball players are, want to know the history of the game. And so, when schools erase a piece of legacy or history and does not allow the story to be told, It breaks up with the culture of basketball, which is what happened at the University of Michigan.
And so, how it feels, it feels great. But I tell you, there's a young guy like a Darius Akuff that I've been working with and his father and have known forever. And I see how that goes.
So, Rich, you gotta understand, we've never left basketball.
So, I'm glad that the fans are finally seeing it. But from Rich A Cup to other picks that are high picks we've been working with for a long time. And so, my thing is, I'm really glad that we were able to represent the University of Michigan so that we can continue to kind of. You know, be there for the wonderful coach like Adusty Mays, who set his own tone and his own program, and he did a wonderful job.
However, if I was a Miami football player, you better talk about Michael Irving or you're not a purist. And so it is what it is. You can't erase those out-bed memories of the fans, which was why that alt cast was special. But more importantly, those that are doing it and grinding it every day, like that young man coming to the University of Michigan, was so special watching him. Declare on TV.
I know what that moment is like. I imagined his parents and family behind him with food and drinks and being quiet and telling a young kid to shut up and taking a baby in the other room. I can only imagine it. And those kids know that it's authentic. And so when you move that authenticity away from a program, kids know it too.
And you can't even, you know, sometimes make up for that with the NOL and NIL. You have to have great coaching, great culture. And that's what this team did. And so it's really exciting to be a part of it and to be able to make sure that we highlight the wonderful aspects of a great school like that, but also to be able to say, hey, you guys have your own identity. And when you're in a great program, everybody can walk into a room and have their own identity and not take over, you know, and have to have a debate or other discussions.
And everybody can get credit because when you're the man, you can be the man. You don't have to worry about comparisons. Chris Weber, Basketball Hall of Famer here on the Richard. What do you think of Yaxel's game? I think Yaks is a big-time player.
I think he did a wonderful job in college. It was fun watching him be so consistent and really taking over the tournament. And so it was really great watching a player like him. I think he has a lot of heart, and I think it'll translate on the next level. And so what's great is that after games like this in the championship, whether it's your worst or your best game, you know you always got a lot of room to get better there.
And when you're that good, It's great that he has a lot to work with.
So I'm looking forward to him excelling at the next level. Yeah. I think, listen, I'm biased. I think he's a top 10. He's a lottery pick.
Hands down. like his size, his abilities. And then in the national championship game. Clearly not himself, plays all 20 minutes in the first half. Made some big plays in the second half, following up shots.
Um Yeah, he he was He was awesome. And then the rest of the game. Yeah, you can't just look at that one game. I think his selflessness may have told more because he could have had 20 and forced it and said, hey, I want to prove to the critics that I can score a lot. And if they would have lost, then what would we be talking about?
You know, and so I think that with a lot of players, you take a lot of things into consideration when you're evaluating a player. And consulting a lot of these teams, you know, some of the things I know they're going to take into consideration with him is being a gamer, him showing up. Him making big shots, not running from it, and then him not. Uh, using the moment to take big shots or to push the envelope when the team is doing great.
So, he's a great teammate. And so, you know, you want to see those things along with talent because really it depends on what position he plays, how he plays, and all those other things that are skill-based. But it all starts with what type of player are you?
So, he's skilled, he can get a bucket at any time, and then those intangibles that are going to make him a fun guy to beat around. I mean, you heard the players after the game talk about him. You know, that is. Just as important as the stats. And in a game, when he didn't need it, and you look at the story of a young man that, you know, maybe they let shoot in the finals a long time ago and he turns into the MVP.
So, you know, you have to make room for other players to be great. And so Yaxel is great. The future is bright. And every teammate that he plays with is going to be a little bit better. And that's something you can't say for each player that you evaluate, getting ready for the draft.
I'll be honest, Smithy, and you're a great guy to talk about this with since you're, you know, you know, Michigan, you're from the state of Michigan. You've been a Wolverine fan, having a front-row seat. You know what I'm about to say is quite a lot. I mean, Dusty, he's 64 and 13 in two years. with a championship in his back pocket.
And he has a chance to be the Bo Schembeckler of basketball. He could stay put and win and keep winning. I mean, Bo didn't win a national championship. But different times, obviously. But he really has this, he's got a shot here.
In just two years, he's 51 games over 500 already. And he does it in a way that kind of. Speaks to our language of comportment about what a Midwestern leader is, He's got that opportunity, Chris. For real. He does.
I mean, he's a throwback to the Bobby Knight era. He really, you know.
Well, he was a student manager at Bobby's, you know? I love. I love history. You know, I'm sure that all day that, you know, if I got around you, I would ask you questions about our Coastal and other people. Because I know you've studied it, right?
Yes. And so he's studied it. He's been there. He's been able to change with the times. He's not going to throw a chair at you.
He's seen, he's been there and he's worked his way up. And so I really love the culture. That he said, but he did it in FIU. You know what I mean? He did it before.
And so Really excited that he's excited about Michigan. And I also I don't This is part of his character to me. But it also seems like, in the midst of frustration, after we win it and go back to back next year, let's say that it was four years. And then he's going to win four more Final Fours. I mean, you mentioned Bowl, you mentioned others, and there's been seasons where there hasn't always been the best season, and he can withstand that as well.
You know, you have to take perseverance into account when, again, when you're kind of judging the heart and character of everyone and the way that he handled it all year, his temperament even killed a lot of the guys to be silly, allowed them to kind of lean on him. And you're going to know that you're going to have that during the lean years because, again, he's going to need a program. That invest in the NIL. And, you know, this is really the first time Michigan has done it significantly. And it allowed a wonderful coach to do some wonderful things, but he's going to have to need all hands on deck, whether it is groups that really haven't been able to be part of Michigan before, like the Fab Fivers, you still have to talk about it.
I mean, TNT did it, Michigan didn't do it. And he's been great, even speaking out about us. When I'm sure that things weren't guaranteed, and he had to come through with a win.
So you already see that he knows the big picture. That he's very competent on his own. He doesn't need anyone's help. But, however, he's a team player, and I'm excited that he's the future. And he's a Big Ten guy.
Where else is he going to go with a Big Ten? You know, the brightest and the best. He's already shown that. He is Michigan. You know, this young team, they are Michigan.
They're what makes the culture. Along with the 89 team that made it the best, along with them, but they. took the standard Um and they moved it forward and that's what great you know programs do A team wins, they do their job, or whatever they, or they do what they weren't supposed to do. And then these guys took it to another level. And I really love the way that they did it with the teamwork, the family.
And so they also reinstilled those values of this is how the locker room should be as well.
So it's cool watching them. I could. You know, I could talk about them all day. Me too. But you know how things are talked about in this business, Chris.
Got to choose who's the best. Of the leaders and best of all time. Is this team the best Michigan team of all time? They are Michigan. I think you can only have that conversation with two teams: the 89 team and them.
And they wouldn't be here if it wasn't for 89. 89 is the first team ever to do it, didn't have coaches, all that stuff. And 89 is not better than this team. This team had a bunch of guys that just got together, did it, and played so well.
So I'm a guy, you know, when I. You know, I don't talk, you know, I would never say the Lakers team this is better if they won a championship. Or when I was talking to Ray Allen, he would never say this team was better than the one he has because the program is the best. We look like newbies when we talk about which team is the best, because that means we only got a couple choices. We only got two.
So, from the Alabamas and others that have many that can't have that or won't have that conversation. I just, you know, can't buy it, but we're not Michigan without them. They set the tone, they're taking us into the future. And, you know, this is one of the best teams I've ever watched play before, let alone one of the best in Michigan.
So hopefully that was. You know, politically correct enough, but it's really what I believe. Because when you're a hooper and you're the man, you don't really compare yourself against others because you feel like we did what we were supposed to do. It's the program and we move forward.
So that's just how I feel about who's the best. As they say on Family Feud, good answer. Good answer. Good answer. Good answer.
Good answer. Because, you know, we need more championships. Otherwise, your newbies are just like, oh, it's one or the other. But I, you know, and again, I know the Fab Five. We weren't able to raise a banner, but what you guys did.
Still resonates today where in 2026, as a new standard, as you pointed out, for this program, is being set and moving it forward. You guys were the ones they reached out to to say, sit down. It's been You know that long. It's been thirty something years. But you guys are as relevant as ever.
And just, I'm looking at you right here, Chris, and seeing you and seeing the babyface versions of you in the background, but I'm seeing, you know, your. you retire, you got the jump man, and then there's you. And that's the swag with the M that's on the other side. You. Plus, that jump man is what I think gives the OG swag status to the current Dusty May.
programmed to tell kids like McCoy You g you understand who we are. Come on. Let's go. I'm honest. For real.
And you're so right. And I'm going to take that, especially since if it was in Iowa for us, we were. We would have been paid to play and paid to sell product because that's what we did then. And so, yeah, maybe it wouldn't be a Jordan that says, yeah, we're going to invest them because they sold Hirachis and socks. Uh but For Dusty May to really Honored that You know, how can we move forward without the best coaches coming forward?
So it's cool being proud of that because we just have to stay in our lane. Would we have beat them? Yeah, would they have beat us? Yeah, they're supposed to say that. When we get in different rooms, yeah.
But that conversation is only between two teams: the 89 team and this team. because we're gonna play our role and when we walk in a room with anyone, we felt our own and we did enough. but because that's just what we do. It's really, you know, it's cool because that's just what Dusty does. He already went to the final four, came here, and finished what he was going to do anyway.
That's the great part about it. That we have the best talent and the best people that would have done it anywhere else. And it's a choice to go there. And we chose to come there. When you choose to come there, You're already part of You're already part of a small group of winners.
And it's just, you know, how far can you go on your road and your journey? And so for me, yeah, we would have beat them, they would have beat us. I would have filed them. It would have been a great game. But I know today we can't play.
But I know today I can go on the golf course and brag to some friends. Did you see those young boys? That's what we do. And I'd rather brag about that than go someplace and be the only team and be like, yeah, that one team, you know. And so to me, it's really cool to watch them, to watch their parents.
Their families and know how hard they work to really appreciate the journey. This makes me go back into my journey and say, wow, you know, it makes us appreciate again what we've come through because they reminded us, whether it's the joy on their face, whether it's the axle hurting his ankle the other day, going to the locker room, grimacing in pain, and then, you know, coming back out to the game and playing.
So for me, it just helps us appreciate the journey because at the end of the day, the process and what they've gone through is really what makes it all worth it. You're the man, Chris Weber. I don't take this for granted. And next time we talk, it'll be NBA playoffs time, and here we go, off we go. And then we'll just see if the Lakers can win a game in the playoffs without Luca and.
And Reeves, and then we'll see what's going on in the East. And then we'll see again: hey, last time Michigan. Won the national championship in 89. We know who won the NBA championship as well. That would be the Detroit Pistons.
Oh, wow. I saw a great. Fight today on YouTube with Isaiah and Bill Cartwright. And it just reminded me how much we hated the Bulls and how much you could fight in the NBA back in 89, I think, the game. What was Isaiah thinking?
By the way, Bill Cartwr you know, Cartwright had reach, man. He had rich. I think he was, you know, Isaiah's from Chicago. He probably had family in the audience, thought they were going to jump down there with him. But remember, though, Isaiah broke his hand, I think, on Parrish and you know, and on Lambier.
I think it was on Lambdier.
So he was, you know, he was the babyface assassin. He'll smile and knock you, hit you in the mouth. That's right. The bad boys and Chuck Daly, dressed like you know, he was out of the Sopranos. Was that that's who won the championship last time Michigan cut down a net in college?
Chris, thanks for the time. Love you, man. We'll chat next week. Who won the championship? Oh, I forgot.
Chris Weber, right here on The Rich Eisen Show. Oh, yeah, what an absolute delight. He's the back with more, right here on The Rich Eisen Show. Albert Breer, top hour three, talking football. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
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Nothing to see here with Miles Garrett, everybody. Nothing to see here. Just because they moved bonuses around to. to hit in September It's just salary cap stuff. It has nothing to do with maybe giving them space to trade him.
At all. Nothing to see here, that's all we're hearing. Then Todd Monkin, new head coach.
Okay. He uh opens up his first uh Organized team activities. You know, who's not so organized to be there? OTH? He could be organized.
He's organizing other things. I'm having my funny point. Who the hell knows when Malix Garrett's not there? But the fact that he's not there is not great. Todd Monkin, you've got the floor.
As I've said before, this is voluntary for our players to be here. I think if you asked. Every coach in the NFL would they like every player to be there that, of course. I think there's certain parts of what we do from a connection standpoint. you know, that I think is important to be here.
From a schematic standpoint, from a work standpoint, Not so much. And it is our job to make it to where the guys want to be here. I mean, not just by the job, but by their development, by the camaraderie, being part of a team. I mean, hell, I've been part of a team since I've been five years old. There's nothing like it.
I wouldn't miss it. Because that's me, that's how I'm wired. But it is voluntary, Miles will be ready. I'm not worried about miles. I wouldn't be worried about that either on that front.
First of all, can we get Coach O'Lozenj already? It's early April. Hopefully, he's okay. I'll just say this. Um Two ways of looking at it.
One is like Miles is going to be fine. He's going to show up, and there's no question about that.
Okay. He could put his fingers in the dirt and chase whoever the hell you want, week one, right now. Or, you know. When it's time to play, I get it, understand it. I'll just say this to you guys as the CEO and president of Rich Eisen Productions, not just the host here.
That you are. If I am ever so fortunate to pay any of you. $40 million a year to do this job. God, if you live rich. If I'm so fortunate to be so awash in revenue, I hope that I can cut you that check.
I will show up to everything. Damn straight you are. I'll be before Brockman. Exactly, damn straight you are. You won't take off.
I know it's a nothing voluntary. It's arguably a false equivalency running the Cleveland Browns on the Rich Eisen Show and its various productions. I understand that. I'd argue we've had more success. If we ever reach that revenue, thank you, sir.
That's very good. I will just say this: I get 42, guys. I expect you to be at the voluntary as well as the mandatory. All right, we're all on the same page here. Thank you.
The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
