From Thirty for Thirty Podcasts. Brian Patter, 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 Tabaki.
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Now, on with the show. Yeah. And now, here comes Solaire. This is the Rich Eisen Show. They're gonna start to fight.
They're throwing blues. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. We got major differences here. Earlier on the show, longtime golf writer Alan Schipnock. Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Weber.
Coming up. Senior writer for Sports Illustrated, Albert Breer. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour three of the program had a fun first two hours. Alan Shipnuck from Augusta.
Georgia on the Masters in his new book, Rory, which I've got right here in my hand. And look who's on the cover. Unbelievable. It's Rory. Go figure.
I don't know why I did that. Why Weber? Chris Weber, we just hung with C-Webb. And let's bring in. A man who no doubt is very excited about the Big Ten dominance that we've seen in the sports world.
I'm sure it's through. He has to be. Albert Breer, back here from Sports Illustrated. Congratulations. Right, Albert?
Right, congratulations. We're all big ten guys, right? We're big ten guys. Yeah. I mean, I would say that.
Maybe it means more to us now. That's it. I said the same. See, again, so the phrase that you, Jamokes, made fun of one time. We didn't make fun of it.
We were offended by it. We were offended by it. We didn't make fun of it. Now you've co-opted it. That's how it's because it's called irony, Chris.
Wow. Look at us. If it means more to them, if it means more to them, maybe they can start spending with us. Yeah, there you go. Look at us.
Gosh. You got it. It's disgusting. Or it's the state of affairs and your sadness. Chris, it's amazing what happens when all the spending is out in the open and not against the rules anymore.
It's kind of crazy the way that it's. It just means above the table. Just like gambling, college sports was better when it was all back alleys and behind closed doors. This guy. I agree.
How are you, Albert? Good to see you. I'm good. Parisian tan. I like seeing it.
Good to see it. Congrats on the menu. No, we had a great time over there. I would recommend, honestly, I got warned to not bring my kids to France. And I am so glad I did it.
They had an awesome time. And yeah, what a great experience it was for everybody. Brother, I'm so glad you got some much-needed PTO, man. You work both ends of the candle all the time. And I appreciate you taking our call here at top of hour three of this week.
What's the story of the draft right now? What's the story of it? I I think like it's The best. I mean, I I would say Once you get past Fernando Mendoza, it's kind of how these guys are going to come off the board. And I think, like, one of, to me, the most interesting things is that you don't really have the prototypes, right?
Like, so, in other words, you don't have like the Miles Garrett defensive end, you don't have the Patrick Sutan corner, Jalen Ramsey corner, you don't have the Joe Alt left tackle, you don't have the Julio Jones or AJ Green or Calvin Johnson receiver. Which I I think Like, it's not great for you if you're picking in the top 10 as one of those teams. But I think it actually is going to make for a more dramatic. Less predictable. First night of the draft because.
You're going to be looking at it, you're going to say, okay, at the premium positions, right? Are you going to compromise a little bit on David Bailey, who's not as good against the run, or Arville Reese, who you have to have a plan for him, right? The great tackles in this year's draft are right tackles, not left tackles. The receivers are good and there's depth there, but it's not great at the top. You know, so like you kind of juxtapose that against maybe the best players in the draft are at non-premium positions.
So that's Jeremiah Love, the Notre Dame running back, Sonny Styles, the Ohio State linebacker, Caleb Downs, the Ohio State safety. And so, you know, to me, like, that's the most interesting thing: is how I do think there's a little less certainty within the top 10 and more guys who could jump in or fall out of the top 10 as a result of all of this. Let me dovetail on that with a take that might be hot. Albert, which you know is not usually my lane, but you're like We don't have prototypes in this draft. Yeah.
And you You could start with Fernando Mendoza's not like the Joe Burrow of quarterbacks first overall either. And Kirk Cousins being signed in Vegas. to not hedge But to provide the Raiders with the room to potentially groom and sit. um is is a signal that that that's The case at the top of this draft, he's the avatar of not the prototype. But a really good player with a high ceiling.
That could be the draft, the 2026 draft. A lot of great players with some high ceilings, right? Yeah, I mean, I I would say like for sure in that like We could be talking about R. Vell Reese winding up being like Micah Parsons. You just, again, you have to have a plan for it because he doesn't like really fit in the box of what you'd be looking for for a pass rusher you take that high, but neither did Parsons, you know, when he came out five years ago.
You know, I think that ceiling exists with, again, the guys at the non-premium positions, like Jeremiah Love is an exciting dynamite player. You know, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, same thing. Really good football players, high football IQ, all of that. And, you know, it's interesting. I've juxtaposed this like with like.
All right, if you look at like the the totality of the decision these decisions these teams are going to make, right? I look at the Lions 2023 draft, and you remember because you were sitting on that stage, they got crushed. For taking a running back, Jameer Gibbs, and a linebacker, Jack Campbell, at 12 and 18 with their two first-round picks. Um, and it was on the premise that these are just the best players. And Jameer Gibbs speaks for himself, like speaks for himself what that's become, right?
Like, as a do-everything running back. And then, you know, Jack Campbell was first team all-pro this year. And then in the second round, they wind up with Sam Laporta, a tight end, and Brian Branch, like a corner safety hybrid. And those guys are really good players, too. And I think that's sort of the decision-making for the teams up top now: is do we just go with a really good player where we know what he's going to be?
And maybe he doesn't play again one of those premium positions, but at least we have an idea that this guy can be a difference maker for us, or do we roll the dice on the ceiling on some of the other guys? And, you know, so again, that's a guy like Arees, you know. Francis Mauinoa, the tackle from Miami. You know, most people think he's strictly a right tackle, but maybe he can be a really top-end right tackle. You know, so I think in those circumstances, you know, you're looking at it and you're taking like the guys at the non-premium positions where you have a really good idea of what those guys are versus the guys at the premium positions where you're projecting a little bit more.
15 days removed from the draft, Albert, Ty Simpson, does he have. uh a restful sleep Thursday to Friday or staring at the ceiling wondering what happened? What do you think? I would lean towards the ladder right now.
Okay. I just. I can't place him in the first round. And here's the thing: like, I think. The fascinating thing about him versus Mendoza is that you talk to enough people and they'll say, Like when you look at Simpson's tape, You'll see a lot of things that translate directly to the NFL that you don't see on Mendoza's tape.
So, what does that mean?
Well, you know, with Mendoza, you know, at least the Indiana tape, the Cal tape's a little different, but the Indiana tape, what the people tell you is you'll see like a lot of RPOs, and because he has these great receivers around him. A lot of times things go according to plan.
So you don't see him having to go through progressions and see the whole field. And doesn't mean he can't do it. You just don't see it as much because he's throwing to Omar Cooper, who's probably going to be a first-round pick, Elijah Surat, who might be somewhere in the top 100. And then Charlie Becker, who was a sophomore last year and will be back at Indiana, three NFL receivers.
So, like, if you're talking about what they've already put on tape, you may actually see a little bit more just projecting them to the NFL from Simpson than you do from Mendoza. But that's not the job of the scout. The scout isn't, the scout's job is not to like look back at the last year and say, oh, well, who's accomplished more now? It's to project where those guys are going forward. And Fernando Mendoza is 6'5 ⁇ , 236 pounds, has a bigger arm, has more starts, which is a really important thing.
So like I, the comp I hear for Mendoza is Goff, where the comp I hear for Simpson is Brock Purdy. And then the question becomes, are you comfortable taking somebody with a Brock Purdy profile in the first round? And a lot of teams aren't, you know, and so I think like it's. It's interesting because, you know, I would say like the Steelers are a team that some people have said, like, oh, well, maybe they would do it. I don't think that's going to happen.
And I think part of that is they sort of made that decision, you know, that sort of decision to gamble on somebody who didn't quite have the same physical traits as you normally see the first-round quarterback in Kenny Pickett four years ago, and it didn't work out. You know, so my guess would be Ty Simpson for those reasons probably goes somewhere in the second round because I don't think people look at him and say, Yeah, that guy projects to be one of the top 10 quarterbacks in football.
Now, if you're comfortable taking a guy who might be somewhere closer, like maybe like. You know, he gets into the top 15 at some point. Then we'd be having a different discussion. But I think most people, when they're drafting one in the first round, say, I want to have a guy who has a shot to get in the top 10 someday. And I think Mendoza's got a better shot at that based on his physical ability than Simpson does.
So then let me follow up with a question I asked Todd McShea of the Ringer on Monday, and I'll ask of you now and everyone else from now until the draft that appears on this program: how much does 2027 loom? over this draught. I wish I had the names in front of me. Like, I could pull them up. Like, there are, I think, 12 of them, 11 or 12 of them who have a shot to go in the first round.
Now, here's the difference. I want to make sure that I couch this the right way. Because going into, like, at this point, three years ago, right, when we were going into 2024, okay, so it was the spring of 23. At that point, we already knew Caleb Williams was probably a top five pick. We already knew that Drake May was a top five pick.
And then you had other guys like, you know, again, you know, the names, Jaden Daniels, Michael Penix, J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix play their way into that range. I think the difference is, I don't know that there's anybody that's a lock, stock, and barrel sure thing the way that Caleb and Drake were going into the 23 season with the 27 guys now, but there are so many of them. You know what I mean? Like, and again, you can just start to rattle them off.
And, you know, Dante Moore is obviously the most accomplished of these guys and probably the closest thing to a lock. Arch Manning, CJ Carr, Julian San, Nico, Iaamaliava, Brendan Soursby. I mean, the list just goes on and on and on and on. And, you know, I mean, for that reason, it's like, okay, like, well, all 12 aren't going to hit. There aren't going to be 12 first-round quarterbacks.
But when you have a bigger number that you're working with, there's a better chance that four or five of them are going to hit. And so I think that's sort of where we are with that. There's just a ton of names. And, you know, how that plays out, you know, we'll see in the fall. But, you know, I think there are plenty of teams that are looking at it and saying, In 27, there are going to be more options for us.
So, who are those teams? I'd say the Dolphins are kicking the can down the road till next year. We'll see what happens when William Willis. Maybe he really hits. If he doesn't, they'll be in position to draft one.
The Browns, the Cardinals, the Jets. Like, there are just a big number of teams that are looking at it now and saying, We're okay keeping our powder dry and looking towards 2027 based on what else is out there on the horizon. And by the way, in 27, you also have the prototypes at other positions. You know, Jeremiah Smith, the Ohio State receiver, you know, Leonard Moore, the Notre Dame corner, Colin Simmons at Texas, and Dylan Stewart at South Carolina as your prototype edge rushers.
So even if there isn't a great quarterback at the top of that draft, if you are picking high in next year's draft, you might have a shot at one of those guys as well.
So there are a lot of teams that are already looking towards 27. And I think that does affect your decision making at some point, to some Degree at the quarterback position. A few minutes left here with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Wondering if there's any there there. On a couple of things.
First of all, it's formality for C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson to get 50 or options picked up. But It's a time where somebody who drafted second overall, wins offensive rookie of the year, makes the playoffs three straight years, and wins a playoff game in all three straight years. That guy and someone like Stroud. Would be on target for an extension now.
Yeah. How is that happening, or are the Texans willing to play this thing out to see a little more from Street? Yeah, I think they explore it after the draft. I don't know, like, and the thing that's difficult about this is how many escape hatches are the Texans going to give themselves? Are they going to explore it looking for.
A deal, like looking for a discount because he didn't play well at the end of the year. That's the question. It's so different than the Will Anderson conversation, you know, which I think does complicate this to some degree. Because Will Anderson, it's like, you know, like, let's just hope it doesn't hurt too bad when we have to write that first check. You know, like, I, I mean, Will Anderson can ask for 50 million now, I think, you know, and I think that that there's a chance that he gets there and becomes the first non-quarterback to have that five in front of the average per year, you know.
With Stroud, it's more complicated. And when Stroud sees Will Anderson get whatever he's going to get, you know, then, you know, like, does that, you know, like become the floor when you look at the structure of the guarantees? Obviously, the numbers are bigger at quarterback, but You know, like it could complicate it a little bit.
So, um, my guess would be: Bryce Young plays on his plays, plays into the fourth year of his contract and is playing for a contract this fall. Um The CGA, I think that it feels to me like that's the likelihood that that happens. You know, but we'll see. And the other thing is, like, the numbers have escalated to a point now, Rich, where, I mean, look, like, Dak Prescott signed at 60, and that was. Let me do the math in my head.
Was 17 months ago, 18 months ago, something like that? No, 19 months ago.
So you account for all of that inflation, right? 60 million, 19 months ago, a quarterback. I you know, I mean, I think next year you're going to be talking about Drake May and Caleb Williams and Jaden Daniels potentially getting 70.
Well, I mean, that's wild. But I mean, the nut the contracts that I think loom here are the ones for Tua and Kyler. You know, you got two teams. You got two teams that went ahead and gave second contracts to guys who are now playing for league minimums elsewhere, and you are taking big, fat cap hits. You know, and you better be damn sure as well.
Well, Brockman's looking for a franchise that's going to tell somebody with Stroud's resume and even results. That are not in the championship realm, but are in the pretty damn good realm. With an upside realm, he's looking for the first franchise to just let that guy walk and go back into the rookie pool and start again. You know, sort of the way that the Chiefs handle their cornerbacks. You know what I mean?
What's so interesting about that to me is like you look at what Seattle is paying Darnold and what and what Tampa is paying Baker. It's half. You know what I mean? Like it's even Daniel Jones, who like everybody's like, whoa, like look at that. Like an $88 million deal over two years, that's still less than 75% the top of the market.
I think for some of these teams, you look at it and you say, because I think the reason why that whole idea that you draft one high and then he plays for three years and then you extend him at the top of the market, which has happened over and over and over and over again. If you draft one high in the first round, it's almost like you're required to pay him at the top of the market. And I think part of that is like the fear: okay, like what's behind door number two if we don't do this? And now you see other teams finding solutions through the reclamation projects. Does that change the dynamic if you're Houston saying, well, like, let's give this another year.
And if we've got to pay a little bit of a premium because he killed it, well, that's a good problem to have. And if he doesn't, Well, like, is there going to be our version of Baker Mayfield out there for us for half of the price? You know, again, like, Baker got signed at 33 million per year in an environment where Dak's getting 60. I mean, would you rather have Baker at 33 or Tua at 55? I mean, that's not even a question anymore.
You know, so you're right. Like, and I think that teams are going to look at this a little bit differently now because that idea of the reclamation project is at least out there where if you're not totally sure on your quarterback, It's not like I mean, again, it's not like there's doom and gloom behind door number two. We've seen teams. come out of these situations where it didn't work with a quarterback and you know and and and for one reason or another, and then they were able to go out in the veteran market and find a solution. And the other one I wanted to ask you about, is there any there there is Why is Miles Garrett not In Cleveland with Todd Monkin opening up.
For business. Yeah, it's a good question. I mean, I think like the optics of it aren't great for Munkin, but like I again, I try to remind people this time of year, like what they're actually doing, which is lifting and meeting. You know, if the quarterback's not there, that can be an issue because. Beyond just the symbolism of it, like you want your quarterback in-house because how he plays is going to affect so many other people in the building, you know?
Um, and not just in the way that a quarterback helps you win games, like, it's legitimately going to affect your other 10 guys in the offensive huddle's ability to do their jobs. Um, Hey. The first two weeks of the off-season program, again, they're lifting and meeting. If he's not there until the mandatory mini-camp in June, I think we're talking about something else. And I, by the way, am on the record with having said that the Browns should explore trading Miles Garrett.
But, you know, like I wouldn't, I wouldn't sound the alarm quite yet. Like, Miles has always sort of. Uh, marsh the beat of his own drummer, and I just have a hard time crushing a guy. I don't think it's ideal. Oh, I'm not crushing him.
I, he has he has every right at this part of his career to say meetings, lifting, whatever. But the only reason why I'm connecting the dots here I mean, we're asking the question: Is the dot connection of the moving around of a bonus? Towards the end of the summer. And, you know, Andrew Berry did say at the owner's meeting that's just. Don't pay attention to that.
It's just moving stuff around, right? There's nothing there. He's a career Brown. And at the same time, they're also trying to institute a rule where you can get up to five first-round draft picks in a trade. And everyone's looking at that to say that the Browns wanted to end up trading away their draft picks for somebody as opposed to, well, we could trade somebody away who could actually get close to that.
We have that guy, so why not institute this rule where we can maximize our results? You know, I mean, it did. There just seems to be a little bit too many things out there. I mean, there are two push pins on the wall. I don't know if I'm at that guy like Charlie Day, you know, attaching it all with red string here.
Yeah. But I am. No, look, look. Here's the beauty of it. Because of all the things you said, They don't have to shop them.
Someone's interested, they're going to call. Why not, right? Like, why not pick up the phone and call based on all the things that you just laid out? Do you want me to explain why I think they should trade them? Yes.
I think they should trade them because I don't think the timelines match up anymore. If you look at it and you say, Like, there's a good chance that the quarterback of the future isn't going to be on the roster until 2027, right? Like, let's just say that that's the case. And you look at what they did last year in trading the Travis Hunter pick, which was, I think, Basically, an acknowledgement that the core that they had built around, and guys that are gone now, like Wyatt Teller and Joel Bettonio, that were there forever, Nick Chubb, and then you still have a couple of those guys left, and Ward and Garrett. It was an acknowledgement that that group had aged out.
So we need more young talent across our roster. One guy isn't going to do it.
So they trade down and they wind up like really putting together a nice draft class with Mason Graham, with the defensive rookie of the year, Carson Swessinger, with Harold Fannin, with Quinchon Judkins, with Dylan Sampson. Really good group. They take a couple of quarterbacks. We'll see what happens with Shador in the fall. And now they have two first-round picks again.
And so everything's building now towards potentially taking a quarterback in 27 and maybe having a really nice group of young players around him.
So, like, let's just say you have a rookie quarterback there in 27. And you say When we're really going to hit it with this group, when it's really going to come together with this group, with the 25 rookies, the 26 rookies, and then your quarterback in 27 is in 28. At that point, Miles Garrett is thirty two years old and going to turn thirty three during the season. And so the timelines to me don't match up.
So, would you rather have Miles Garrett there chasing a championship at the end of his career? Maybe he's not the same as he was. Um or Would you take Three first-round picks for him right now to supercharge everything that I was just talking about. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know.
I mean, I look at it like. I mean, you could really be cooking with gas if you were the Browns with. You know, a bunch more first-round picks now. And yes, you have to hit on the picks. And I hate giving away a great player, Miles Garrett, going to the Hall of Fame.
Um but I just think I I just don't know that the team's timeline matches up with his timeline anymore. Certainly if Will Anderson, you just said, could be the first $50 million a year non-quarterback, and if he's that, then wh why wouldn't Garrett say I Hello. You know what I mean? Like, so you're going to have to readjust his contract too. And in all honesty, just as to be respectful of Miles Garrett.
Name me another non-quarterback that you could say you get three first-round picks for, and nobody laughs at you. Right. I mean, like, there's not another one in the NFL. And a spatial. At his age, too.
And at 30 years old. There was no hint of irony or tongue-in-cheek in what you had to say there. I mean, that's a fact. Albert, thanks for the time, brother. You got it.
You got it. Thank you. Congrats again. I know you're having a great week. I hope it continues for you.
Enjoy it while I don't know how it can get much better. Thanks again. It just means more. Thank you. That's it.
It does mean more to me. That's true. Good for you guys. It's great. There you go.
Albert Breer out the door, everybody. All right. That was great stuff. He gave me one food for thought. I want to hit on that when we come back.
Also, my power rankings of the greatest sports moments of. My life. One of them just happened this week. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Need parts fast?
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And that got me thinking. If you live in or near a host city, this is one of those rare moments. You already have a space. This summer, you could list your space on Airbnb while fans are in town for the FIFA World Cup, not as a full-time thing. Not as some huge lifestyle change, just during an event when demand is naturally high.
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Let's take a couple phone calls here. Jeffrey in San Francisco. What's up, Jeffrey? Hold on for a while. Hey, Rich Isen, how you doing, dude?
What's going on, man? Hey, listen, I gotta be serious with you for one second. I hate being serious, but you know, sometimes. Go for it. This mind storm?
Listen, I enjoyed that interview with the author of the Ori book. Yes, you're talking about Alan Shipnuck, yep, the golf. Yes, sir, yes, sir.
So, in my former life, you know, I used to be a pharmacist. And political pharmacist. I get irritated when I hear you know, addiction stuff that's not quite where it should be. What I'm thinking. When I heard Alan use that phrase, he gets himself into these situations, that's not how addiction works.
You know, and and I'm I'm saying we need to be a little more sensitive. But when I see those T shirts in Augusta, those Tiger T shirts, That really irritates me. Listen, you know, and Jeffrey, I understand where, you know, um Not being experts on addiction, and you know, opioids is a serious business, and I understand there's different types of addictions and different ways that people can react to it. You know, I appreciate it. And I understand that.
And, you know, I appreciate the call too, Jeffrey, because it is it's such a different it's such a difficult subject matter with Tiger. I, you know, he has gone to apparently go address it, and I hope he does because. You know, he's fortunate to be able to address it and then come out and not be in jail because he has not. Taking somebody else out with him. Yep.
Lucky about that. Let's go to Magic in Champaign, Illinois, back here on the program. Magic, appreciate you calling back. What's going on? Hey, what's going on, R.E.?
How are you doing, man? R.E. as well. How are you, Magic? That's a first.
Look at us. Look at us, right? Look at us. Look at us. I'm doing good.
I'm doing great, man. Champions. Champions. We're doing great. Leaders and best.
Tail to us. Yep. Right there in Champaign, Illinois. Right there in the home of the fighting aligned. Are you talking?
Are you talking? You just keeping. Uh keep it on the download, but are you are you saying it with your chest amongst uh folks there in Champagne? Uh and I'm glad you said that home of champagne and fighting a lot of because I just had lunch. at his barbecue place And ran into the Illinois assistant coach.
Okay. One of the Illinois assistant coaches, so Kevin Kruger.
Okay. Lon Kruger-sen, Lon Kruger-sen, Kevin Kruger.
So I got on my Michigan gear, I got on my Michigan fat million-dollar chain. Uh, coming in the restaurant, I say, Ah, Kevin, what's up, man? I know Kevin from uh back in the day when it's father was a coaching here, and he was playing basketball for Centennial High School.
So Him and his lovely wife are there. We're sitting down and I'm just talking to them, and we're having a long conversation about basketball life and coaching and everything like that.
So, isn't it ironic that I run into a campaign? You know what I mean? Right. Do you know what I'm saying? Right.
Yeah. I just went at Lannis Morrisette with Magic in Champaign, Illinois. Thank you very much, Magic. There you go, Magic. Hey, hey, R-E, listen, listen.
Monday, great crowd. I mean, it was 70,000 people there. 65,000 was us amazing blue fans there.
So a great showing, a great game, great atmosphere. I mean, it was just a great time Monday night, man. I wish you could have been there. Me too, Magic. I appreciate that.
Thank you for the call. And listen, it's much more geographically sound to be in Indianapolis if you're. Coming from the environs in the Midwest and obviously stores Connecticut. I've got a power rankings, everybody. Based off of.
What just happened Monday Night? Power rankings of the greatest sports moments of my life. I hope you're interested because it's presented by SoFi. Hit it. Ah!
This is my power rankings. Power rankings. All right. You're going to notice a theme here. I'll just say right in front.
There's no Jets moments here. I mean, it runs. Come on, Rich. Not when you've got these other ones. I couldn't find a place for one.
Just simply could not. Number 10 on the list is the moment on November 23rd, 1991. I'm uh out of college by about a year now. And I'm sitting at home. It's Michigan versus Ohio State.
And Desmond Howard runs a 93-yard punt return to the house. And strikes the famed Heisman Pose. That's number 10? Number 10 on the list. Famed Heisman Pose is Michigan Beat.
The Ohio State. About the face, head, chest, and neck area, 31 to 3 being the final score. Desmond's Dow Howard's Heisman pose was just outstanding. That seems low. Numbered, well, I mean, listen to the list.
Number nine on the list. is the only Knickerbocker moment on it. And out of all of them, I chose this one because I'll never forget this. As a 15-year-old kid. On January 31st, 1984, Bernard King shot 20 of 30 from the field, 10 of 10 from the free throw line, and scoring 50 against the Dallas Mavericks.
And then the next night goes to Dallas. And scores 50 points again. Bernard King's back-to-back 50-point games. First time it had been. pulled off.
Since Wilt Chamberlain did it in 1964, and I looked it up. Bernard took zero three-point shots. They were all twos. Bernard didn't take Bernard in this 83-84 season. Only took four three-point shots and he missed them all.
That wasn't his game. Ugh, I'll never forget that. Wow. That's when I was beginning to love the Knicks and seeing what the Knicks could be like with. Bernard King, that's number nine on the list for me.
Number eight on the list. This is a big professional moment. For me. Game four of the two thousand and one World Series, Diamondbacks Yankees. The Diamondbacks scored two in the top of the eighth to take a 3-1 lead, and the entire media.
Trying to get ready to go out on the field to do interviews after the game. There was only one, two tunnels. In the old Yankee Stadium, you could choose the tunnel. Of the visiting dugout or the home dugout. What we had to do was choose the visiting or home tunnel based on who was going to win the game, because the other tunnel would be used by who was losing it to get back to their clubhouses.
So as soon as the bottom of the ninth hit, We were in the tunnel of the Arizona Diamondbacks because the Yankee tunnel needed to be clear for them to. Have a walk off loss and go back to their clubhouse. But Tino Martinez hit a two-run shot off of Byung Hyung Kim. And then that was the way. that we were then running back to The Yankee tunnel, after staying put in the top of the 10th inning, For the Arizona Diamondbacks tunnel, we were running back and forth tunnel to tunnel to get ready to run out on the field whoever could walk it off.
And it was like the Benny Hill Show, if you remember that. Where it was running with me with a microphone, and someone with a camera, and someone with a boom mic, and a cop, and a firefighter, and first responders just going back and forth. And I'm lined up. bottom of the 10 fitting. And all I could see was this small television set in some little room off of the Yankee tunnel.
And I saw what I thought was a home run, and I heard a rumbling and somebody screaming: run, run, run, go on out. It's over. Derek Jeter just hit a home run, and I get pushed out on a Yankee Stadium field. And I looked up and I saw this. I'm getting goosebumps.
I saw Jeter pumping his fist. And I saw him rounding third, and I looked up at the cheap seats that I grew up in and saw people going nuts. And he became the first ever Mr. November, and I was on the field. That's cool.
That's number eight. Number seven on the list was the 1997 Michigan Wolverines team that won it all. but only got half. Because somebody in the, what I guess, the coaches' side of things wanted to give Tom Osborne a gold watch and retiring. I think we would have beaten the crap out of that Nebraska team that year, but that's something that will never, ever get decided.
Hall of Famers galore on that Michigan team, including a backup quarterback named Tom Brady. But I'll never forget that. Michigan winning a national championship in football, but it got a little bit taken away because it was only the Associated Press that said we were the champs. The coaches said Nebraska was the champs. That'll be an argument forever.
Number six on this list of the best sporting moments of my life was November 26th, pardon me, October 26th, 1996, when the Yankees won their first World Series since 1978. The 1996 World Series, the Yankees did not have the better team.
Well, they had the better team. They might not have had a better roster against that Braves team that had that incredible pitching lineup. The Yankees beat Greg Maddox in game six. After going down 0-2, they won four in a row, including all three in Fulton County, and then this one in Yankee Stadium that night. I was sitting there at my desk at Sports Center, wishing I was there.
Couldn't be there. Had to do Sports Center. I remember that. Small violin right there. But 1996 World Series Yankees winning.
Here's my top five greatest sports moments of my life. Number five is what just happened. Woo, number five. Number five. is what just happened.
The 2026 Michigan Wolverine tournament run. I think they're the best Michigan basketball team I've ever seen. Um But that's number five on the list. Number four on the list is. My top baseball moment.
Not the 86 Mets. 86 Mets? 86 Mets. No, my top baseball moment. I understand all this Yankee stuff is bothering you, but too bad.
I don't dislike 04, right? 04? You're fantastic. No. 04.
No, no, no. It was the night Reggie had three home runs. Oh, that's a good ball. How was that? Not number one.
That was eight. I was eight years old. I know we got it. Uh Reginald Martinez-Jackson. Number three on the list is the 89 Wolverines cutting down the Nets because I was in school.
Oh, yeah. I was in school, I was in campus, as you know, closing the. Michigan Daily Newspaper. Yeah, that's good. I was a student on campus.
Did your Ramille have any classes to give him? No, he did not. Sir. Run into each other in the halls of academia. Fantastic, team.
Good one.
So good. Number two on the list is Team 144, the Michigan Wolverines winning the national championship just a couple of years ago as an undefeated team. Also, just me taking it in the chops and the shorts for all those years, sitting on this set, on this show. The fact that I could be here with you guys in front of this microphone. And seeing Jim Harbaugh, the quarterback.
My first quarterback, when I was a freshman at Michigan, do what he did and win in football and be undefeated. That's. My second greatest sports moment of my life, number one on my power rankings, the greatest sports moment. of my life. Is in fact from 2016 when I ran a 5.94 30-yard dash.
This could be the pinnacle, guys. This could be, but you never know.
Okay, that's good. You never know. That's good. It's my own. Physical achievement.
It's good. 5.94 40-yard dash in a suit at the NFL Scouting Combine. And Mark, I will try to beat this Saturday when I do my charity run at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. I'm going to that.
Remarkable place on planet Earth on Memphis to run my 40. On campus, there at the hospital, and we'll show you the results of that. Maybe I'll have a new number one. Woo! And that's my greatest sports moment of my life.
Presented by SoFi. Get your money. Right. Yeah. Okay.
A little old Henry-like twist. I can't even put 89 in front of this pet. I was on campus, Mike. I know, I get it, but it's like this. Mike, I was a 20-year-old on campus.
I get it. Wildling out. The 9098, the 8098 Yankees, you didn't put anywhere? I mean, it was great. It was great, but at that point in time, you know.
We already had a call. You know what I mean? The first one, I hadn't seen one since 1978. I hadn't seen one since I was nine. I get it.
I get it. Remember that team in 96? Unbelievable. Yeah, I had a great night that night. I'll tell you about it later.
Let's take a break. We're back here on the Rich Isaac Show in just a moment. Oh well. The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast. Rich Eisen here.
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Apply. Yeah. You know, guys, what were you doing on that night? He can't be alone. I mean, the big night of the end.
Well, now I think about it, it doesn't matter. But we've got a birthday in the house today. Oh, what do you have? Whose is it? Jason Feller.
Hey, Jason Feller's birthday. Hey, yeah. Is there? Why are you doing your birthday? You don't have to be here.
You got to work for his.
Well, he's part of NCW. Oh, I see. Oh, you're tapping out. No, I'm here. We got work to do.
Okay. Happy birthday. Hey, how old are you? 41. 41.
The baby of the rich eyes and show, unless you're younger. He got me like two years, I think. You know, I could check the records. But then this bit would be over in the middle of the day. We don't want to blow up the bit.
We don't want to. I'm still in my 40s. That's true. You're mid-40s, right? What are you, 45?
45. Yeah. Okay. I look great. You do.
Wait a second.
Now, Del Tuvo said earlier he thought he looked great, and I thought that was a lie. You do look great, Michael. You just come out and just say I look great. I'm the same age as I was 40 years ago. I'm just saying.
How can I say that? I don't age. I'm the same age. I still feel like I literally still feel like I'm.
So you felt 60 when you were 20? No. You felt he feels 20 when he's 60. This is typical Del Tuvo. What are you saying?
How do we go from wishing Feller a happy birthday to talking about Del Tufo again? Narcissist. That's how. How's it guys? I am not a narcissist.
This isn't even about you. It's about Feller. He just alienated Feller on his birthday. He just walked away. Come over here, Jim.
Feller loves me. What does somebody give an audio expert slash? Slash mold remediator for a birthday. That's a great question. You know what I mean?
Great question. What do you give somebody who's just a tiny, who stride, who straddles the worlds of audio and mold? I know when he was a kid, he used to like Tonka trucks and stuff, so maybe we get him that original. Tonka trucks. But how do you know what he liked as a kid?
We talk a lot. Yeah, come on. We have more than surface-level conversations. TJ is actually Felly's godfather. Wait a minute.
Another one. Godfather to everybody.
Well, me and his uncle are like this now, and I think his uncle may have approved of that. TJ's a good godfather. I'm one of the best at that. Are you really? It goes, me, then.
Don Vito then Michael. I think so. At a celebration, you're in your office. Michael kills the father of his spoiler alert. There's some people who don't know what's going on.
I don't mean I know these movies have been out since you were 20. Good job. Wow. See? What?
That would make him sad. Actually, no, it's actually been out since he's 10. Yeah. 10. Oh my god.
I know, Mike. But you look great. You look great, Mike. You look great. I've never seen somebody look so youthful hopping from bandwagon to bandwagon like you do, man.
Go Dodgers. Where's O'Shea? I need my. See, I get amused without O'Shea here. Hey, you know what?
We are tomorrow for the first time ever. And I'll say it again tomorrow. Master's counter programming. That's never happened in the history of the Rich Isaac Show. We're on ESPN 2 tomorrow.
Let's go.
So. It's a new tradition, unlike any other. I love it. I love it. Hey, and it starts tomorrow.
Let's go.
Hey, I'm old school, everybody. Back to the night. I was at this club in Pittsburgh. Thanks for listening to the Rich Eisen Show Podcast. You can watch and listen to The Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio, Disney Plus, and on the ESPN app, The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
