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This is the Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody! Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck. You can find us everywhere.
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Now, on with the show. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Elbow, that's what we got. Elbow by Victor. This is the Rich Eisen Show.
You don't miss shots, Chris. Nick Bry's even more open, and he hits a corner triple. The Rich Eisen Show. Earlier on the show. ESPN senior writer Vincent Goodwill.
Comedian Ron Taylor. Coming up. Former Sports Center and Late Late Show host Craig Kilbourne. And now, it's Rich Eisen. That's right.
Hour number three of the Rich Rising Show is on here. Craig Kilbourne's in our green room, everybody. His Timberwolves are locked in with the San Antonio Spurs. We started the show talking about Victor Wembunyama's elbow that is not going to cost him. A another game.
He got ejected in the middle of the second quarter. Last night, and the NBA has decided that's enough punishment for his very sharp elbow, hitting Nas Reed in the face. And didn't hurt Nas Reid. He said it's just weakness leaving the body, something that will play that.
Sound bike for the very erudite and one would think ponderous Craig Kilbourne. Lord Kilby is in our green room. He's going to be coming out, and it's pretty cool. That is everything. Actually, he was in the green room.
I saw him. He was in the hallway looking at pictures. I like it. Oh, you're still looking at pictures in the hallways. Exploring.
That's the U.S. Marine Corps official slogan. What is it? Pain is weakness leading the body.
Okay. I did not, I, I, I, I did not know that. Oh, yeah. That's some weird, wacky stuff. It's interesting enough that, um, again, that I made a few good men reference at the top of the program when Wembanyama asked Harrison Barnes.
What does flagrant to mean? It made it seem like that was uh That this moment right there. Remember that one? Private First Class Downey asked Corporal Dawson, what does this verdict mean? It's the same thing.
It's the same thing. Again, when Munyam is sitting down, Harrison Barnes is 6'8, and he's able to take his arm and just put it around his neck and say, come closer, just from sitting. Un unreal. Which is why one bunyama is getting beat up. Because there's no way to guard him.
Yeah, I mean, what are you going to do? You can't front them. You can't. You can't do anything. Other than just hit him, I guess.
You got to give it to him a little bit.
So, anyway, Craig Kilmore's going to join us. And then I'm going to car wash him. Woof! I've been talking about this for a while, but every now and then. We've been cultivating this caper here ever since I reunited with ESPN to create a show called This Was Sports Center, where I'm sitting down with colleagues and friends of mine from back in the old Sports Center day.
already have um three interviews shot for it. It's going to debut in June on Disney Plus and other platforms. Um and I'll give you the exact dates uh once we nail it all down. But Already shot an episode with Mike Greenberg in New York. And also with Chris Berman at the Super Bowl.
We did it on a stage, live audience version. You guys were there for that. It was a fun paper. Awesome. And I appreciate you confirming that for the audience.
And then Chris Fowler, on his way back from the Australian Open in January, stopped by here directly from the airport. 'Cause he could sleep on planes. God bless him. We shot that one. I'm about to conduct an interview with Craig Kilbourne after the show for this pod.
And so he'll be a guest. And then Linda Cohn is coming in. To shoot one tomorrow. I'll see. And then there's a sixth guest I'm cultivating that caper and.
Once that's in the can, I'll announce it.
So This was sports centers coming to Our YouTube channel as well. It's going to be great. And Mike Hoskins, who is our coordinating producer. Is the best in the business. And I'm only saying that because he's in charge of this show and can change the camera anytime he damn well pleases.
Don't do it, Mike. That um he uh he's gonna be Sprinkling his production fairy dust on it. It's going to look great. It's going to be great. And I can't wait to bring that to you.
Craig Kilbourne's going to come out shortly.
So um I just mentioned again that I'm now I can't believe it fully with the SPN. And I'm here for this show: Disney Plus, the ESPN app, ESPN Radio. Um, the ESPN radio channel on Sirius XM, and as of April 1st, as you know, ESPN acquired NFL Network.
So I've got a Disney pass and everything like that. And so now that I'm no longer an NFL employee, And people are leaking the NFL schedule. I don't care. Used to piss me off. It really did.
You used to piss me off because we at NFL Network created this schedule release show. Like, we actually eventized the announcement of pay-per-view. People thought, what are we doing? You know what I mean? Back then.
People thought, what are you doing? We know who plays who, we know who plays who where.
Okay. We just don't know the when and on what channel, and we turned that into something three hours. I mean, out of nothing, we were three hours in the original days. I remember Scott Hanson like interviewed somebody who was working at a hotel in Green Bay: Hey, the Packers schedule's out. Are the phones ringing for people getting reservations?
I remember we sent Albert Breer to a sports bar once in Washington, D.C., when the. you know, commander schedule or whatever the hell they were called at the time came out. And people were like, really? Oh, okay, because I'm watching the Capitals play a hockey game. We were we were trying to do anything with it.
And the thing that always drove me nuts is somebody would always leak the their home team schedule to somebody locally. The Giants schedule came out. Francesa got it. Immediate. 100%.
Somebody from the Giants organization leaked it to Francesa every year. And I would come and I'd Complain, I'd be so upset about it.
Now I'm seeing the Patriot schedule got released. I damn near want to announce it myself. Oh, really? Out of respect. Oh, I don't want to look now.
Out of respect. Yeah, you see. Looks like you're opening it home against the Steelers. Listen, really? It looks like, I don't know, could be wrong.
Sometimes they're not right, sometimes they are right. But the bottom line is, for the first time ever, I don't care. It's unbelievable. And you can bet on it. I feel like a new man.
And you can bet on it. I mean, betting on the schedule would be the dumbest thing I've ever done. Can we do that? I don't know. Brock.
Who cares? See, I just opened the door for Brock. That, honestly, I feel like I'm totally unburdened. Yeah, I can't bet on the schedule. And it would used to upset me too.
Used to upset me too that NFL partners who pay through the nose for these games, now they would announce some games days in advance. Yeah. Like the first Sunday night football game. That's a piece of real estate that fans are interested in. And for a scheduled release show, it's very important.
And today NBC announced the first Sunday night game of the year. And I don't care. I mean, it'll be great. September 13th, TJ Jefferson, I know what you're doing on Sunday night of September 13th. You will be in front of your television play.
Moving the ping pong. Your box ping-pong table in four years in the box still from your price is right up to the bottom.
Nowhere near the television. 2022, it's gone. This takes a nice chunk, travel. Let's go. Cowboys ain't.
Ah, let's go. That's what you do. You put the varsity on in the primetime spot to kick the season over. That's a smart move. Who wins?
Come on, Mike. Oh, hold on a second. Because wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, hold on, because. We already know. Because I announced this one on the draft.
They gave this to us at the draft. And I botched the name of the stadium. Because it's on a late window CBS. Week three, Ravens Cowboys in. In Brazil.
I see him. I bounced the name of the stadium, so I covered it up by saying. Oh, yeah. Are you doing that, game? I don't think so.
I don't know. It's on CBS. Oh, but it's late window CBS 'cause you know Brazil is right there one hour ahead of the East Coast time zone.
So if it's at 425 Eastern, it's just five o'clock there. Um And I'm I I was basically saying, sounds like a Nance Romo game. I don't know, Jim. Maybe we'll do the macarena because I think it's Maracania Stadium or something. Yeah.
Um so we've got two games. We already know the Cowboys. I said two games.
So one game. Two games. One game is a conversation. Two. It's a win-loss game.
Hit it. Hit the music. Hit the music. TJ Jefferson. Oh, yes.
Week one. Yes. Cowboys, Giants. You're asking me? Who wins?
Yes. Well, let me tell you guys: the Giants have beaten the Cowboys, I think. Twice in the last like three seasons. How many times? How many times?
A couple times.
So, yeah, come on now. Opening game, varsity playing. That's a dub for the boys.
Okay. By the way, over the last 17 games, they've opened on NBC either the kickoff game or this SNF opener 12 times. That's nuts. 12 times. I said 12 times.
I said 12 times. And then week three, Ravens Cowboys. Maracana Stadium. Oh. I don't know, is it do it fuck the rain to Jim?
On CBS. What do you got? Ravens Cowboys. I mean, you serious? Yeah, it's Win Loss Game.
Seriously, it's the boss game.
Okay, so we'll be 2-0 going into week 3. We're going to be 3-0. We're in the band. Oh, you don't even know who week two is. What are we doing here?
Of course we're winning. What are we three in? By the way, Commanders, week two. Oh, you know it? No, I'm making it.
That's easy work. What? They're going to start with two division games to start the season. Yeah, let's get up 2-0 in the division. You know, we're 17-4 the last 21 games against the Giants.
Yeah, at the end of the day, no meaningful respect. I'm just saying.
Sounds like you mean to do it. You got to win at the end of the season. Shut up, Mike.
So it'll probably be a home game, right?
So they're not going to start them off two in the road and then a home game in Brazil. They're going to give him a spot. They're going to give him a stop in uh in Dallas, in the in in Arlington, the metroplex, right?
So hold on a second here. Let's guess who is going to be Week two. Who would you put week two at home? Their home games are obviously division, Arizona, San Francisco. They're not going to take San Francisco they're not going to put San Francisco in in Melbourne and then have them go on the road week two.
Jacksonville or the Titans? Who would you put week two there? Jacksonville. Maybe. Cupcake, Titans.
Titans. Titans? I don't know if that's still calling them a cupcake. I'm not calling them a cupcake. You want them 2-0 going against the Ravens?
If they beat the Giants. Yeah. Didn't I just give you seven guys are a new team? Four.
So who are you putting? Who are you who are you putting them in? In between. I like the Titans there. The Titans at home.
Or the Jaguars at home. Jaguars. Jags. Titans. I'll go Titans at home.
Jags is a nice late season. Ryan Dayball coming in, huh? Thursday night. Yeah, I mean, sure. I think that's going to make a difference.
Because Caleb Downs is going to shut everything down. Caleb Downs. Caleb's going to shut it down. This guy is just out of his skull right now. Come on.
You should be. You should be excited. You should be very excited. I'm excited to a point. Like, I'm going to sit here and I'm going to play the game.
Like, yeah, we're going to do all the cowboy game that you want. We're going to play, like, oh, we're going to do this. We're going to the Super Bowl. I'll play the game now. But the reality, I got to see it.
But I do that teaching. But I do think we smash the Giants. Like that's. No disrespect. Man, the Kim Scottish and the Giants have opened on NBC either the kickoff game or Sunday night 12 times in the past 17 years.
That's. That's a number. Sean Harbaugh's first game as coach of the Giants at home, Jackson Dart, Cam Scataboo. Right? Sign me up for that night.
And you got We assume There are star wide receivers coming back, right? From his knee injury. Malik Neighbors will be back. Right? You're going to have both R.
Val Rees and Francis Mawanoa out there. Caleb Downs, back where his dad used to play, and the Giants passed up a chance to draft him, and the Cowboys snagged him.
So he's going to have his career opener in East Rotherford. Scatterboo is going to be ready? I think everyone's going to be ready. I think everyone's on the table, pal. Like a great choice.
And how about this one? Great game. How about this one? With Collins Worth in the booth. What if Odell Beckham shows up for the Giants and makes the game-winning match?
Odell. There we go. Sure, right. Odell with one hand. Woo!
You know they lost that game, right? Does everybody remember they lost that game? No, no one remembers that. I don't remember that. No, I don't remember that either.
By the way, Mike, to answer your question, Cowboys have won 11 of 12 seasons opening matches.
Okay, I would take the no one remembers that. Yeah, you know how no one remembers. I remember because I just told you.
So now people know. Everybody thinks that did the Mets win the World Series after the ball went through Buckner's legs? No, there was a game seven. It's a matter of rainout. But we had to wait two days.
I said two days to finish that thing up. Yeah. Prolong the inevitable.
Okay. Prolong the inevitable.
I said two. Ladies and gentlemen, 11 of 12 bit. Mikey D. That's insane. That's crazy, too.
And remember, Chris, we don't have to have a great defense. Oh, by the way, you have to have great stuff. Better than last. Last thing to suss out. Don't stick it up.
Because again. Like I said, I don't care anymore. And I'm not doing those scheduled releases. You love the new rich. That's two more.
That's now two more teams off of the there's now four teams out of the possible nine to open up against the Seahawks that are now taken off of the week one board. There's no doubt in my mind. Right in and sharpie. Listen, the Chiefs and the Seahawks are not opening the season together because we don't know if Mahomes is going, okay? Exactly.
The Chargers up there would be of interest. I get it, but it's not as massively interesting as it would be if the Patriots show up there. I still don't think they're going to start the season off that way either. The Cardinals in Scott, with all due respect, is not what they're going to put Out there in week one, there's no doubt in my mind the Bears will open the season against Seattle. There's no doubt in my mind.
What would have been the NFC championship game that the Bears overcome? That interception Can't wait for it. In the championship game against the Rams.
Okay. Oh, baby. We're so close. We're so close. Oh, wow.
We're not really. I mean, we're not really close.
Well, actually, I know the day. I know the day in terms of college football. Did you know yesterday, Mother's Day, was 111 days since the Indiana Hoosiers beat Miami in the national championship game. And that is also 111 days from. Opening weekend, week zero of college football.
Oh, so yesterday, Mother's Day was the midpoint in between the college football. We're 110 out. From college football. From college. Which is usually before the NFL.
The week before. Right. Because the NFL this year? It's as late as ever because Labor Day is as late as it possibly can be, which is why. The Super Bowl is on Valentine's Day.
So That's what's up. Let's bring Craig Kilbourne out. Lord Kilby is here on the Rich Isaac Show before we go.
Some music. Not necessary. Oh, I'm sorry. I got excited, Rich. I gotta tell you about the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid.
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I'm going to talk with him probably for the next two hours. Into this show, and then Viswood Sports Center afterwards. Put them in the car wash. Coming up next. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
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I don't shoot like Cat and D'Lo because we had D'Lo on the team at the time. Right. But he worked on his shot. He actually changed it. He doesn't necessarily admit that.
But when he was with the Olympics and Kevin Durant, he puts the ball in front now. He used to pull it back. He puts it in front. And he led the league in three-pointers last year. And if you look at these other athletes, LeBron, D-Wade, and Kobe, Ant has a higher career three-point field goal percentage.
So kudos to him for getting in the gym and becoming a really good outside shooter. Yeah. Look at you breaking it all down right now. I'm impressed. I'm impressed with Anthony.
Oh, I thought you were saying you were impressed with your ability to. No, I'm impressed with Anthony Edwards. Yeah, he had 40% this year. What's that? He was 40%.
Yeah, he can shoot. I mean, he really worked on it. There's a guy named Michael Grady, who's a very gifted broadcaster. He does the Wolves games and he works for all the other networks in the United States, including ESPN, Peacock, and everybody. But he raved about it.
He goes, This is a major thing that Ant worked on his shot to become that good. Why couldn't D. Wade I mean, even I love LeBron, second greatest player of all time. Why His elbow's still out. Tuck it in, man.
Tuck it in. Craig Kilboyne here on the Rich Eisen Show, everybody. Our radio audience has rejoined us here on the program. You just called LeBron the second greatest player of all time. Correct.
That's not controversial. And the first is Larry Burt. No, Michael Jordan. I honestly thought. Are you going to say Larry Burt?
No, no, no. I love Larry Legend. What's that? We would have accepted Larry. We would have.
Oh, okay. No, I mean, it's Michael Jordan. And you build the perfect. Ball players. I mean, that's that's him.
Defense, he has good form on his jump shot, gets the rim and as competitive as they get. Right. Yes. Because I just, you know, obviously remember him from the time that we used to work together in that brief time in the nineties. That was when he was doing his thing where he would just rip everybody's hearts out and show it to him pumping, and there was no way to beat him.
Yeah. You know, ever. After when the 90s hit, he was as unstoppable as ever. But people. Would push back now because they just never maybe saw him play.
I don't know. Oh, no, he's he's the best. And I'm not, and I rooted against him because I rooted for underdogs. I think I'm unbiased on a lot of this stuff. If I, like, when they said that team was so great in the 90s and they were, but that was after four teams came in as expansions, so the talent was somewhat diluted.
So I'm not a big Laker fan. I mean, I don't like the, I didn't like the Kobe Shack Lakers, but I respect the Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar Showtime Lakers. I think they're the greatest team of all time. That is the greatest team of all time. In my opinion, yeah.
Okay. Because I mean, so you watch the Timberwolves games. By yourself? No, absolutely. Come on.
Oh, yeah. Really? I don't want people around. I sometimes put the conquistador outside the den. I don't want any stress, man.
You just remove the lamp, you rearrange furniture? Yeah, yeah. You know that. I think we're in for a tough battle with the Spurs. They're really good.
Stefan Castle, to me, is an absolute stud. I do think. The Wolves are slowly adjusting to how to play against Wemby. But I think it's going to be tough. Criticize, but we need everyone to contribute now that Dante is out.
Dante DiVincenzo. In the playoffs, led us in plus-minus. He does a lot of little plays, hustle plays, flicks the ball, steals, grabs some rebounds. Yes. And he also hits bomb three-pointers, which would help against a Wemby.
But. Julius Randall needs to, he's struggling a little bit.
Well, I mean, Wembunyama killer, when you just said. That you've evolved in how to defend him. Yeah. I mean, it doesn't seem like there's any evolution. It seems like just well, I meant we've, I don't know if I said defend, but we how to play against him, eating offensively.
They're now a little smarter when they drive and they kick it more to the corner. I see. As opposed to, maybe I can loft it over him. That's not working. Yeah.
You don't know if they'll call a goaltending. You didn't say defend. You were like, how to play? Go back to the tape.
So, you watch the games by yourself? Because I don't remember being around you that you were a superstitious guy watching. Not superstitious like Jerry West. It's just that I can't watch a train wreck. I can't watch.
I'm a purist. The turnovers is too frustrating. But I am, I'm not superstitious. But there is an exhilaration. I'll tell you: a couple of years ago, we're playing game seven at Denver.
And I watched the first quarter and a half. We're down 15. I'm out. I said to Princess Cherry, my lovely wife, I said, let's go to a bar, let's go to a nice place, have a martini and some nice food. And I will check the game.
It should end about 8:30, whatever time. And I'll check it at 8:45 in case it goes to overtime.
So I'm having the blast. There's no roller coaster. We're up three, we're down three, whatever. And we were down big. And then at the right time, I checked at the bar and I saw I had 14 techs, so I knew something happened.
Yes. We won, and I went nuts. I go, we got to go home and watch the fourth quarter. Let's go, let's go. That's the way to live, man.
That's the way to live. You don't ride the roller coaster. Why not? That's sports stuff. I did when I was younger.
I don't do it anymore. I take naps. I don't do this stuff. This is the right way to do things. It's Call of Life Gorgeous.
You don't waste time. Don't go through the stress, man. I agree. Just split that one thing gut punch. Oh, we lost.
But there's the exhilaration of watching the cuts. I used to do that when I was. Like the masses, but I don't do that anymore. Not anymore. No, I'm sorry.
I'm going to let you down, right? No, it's just, but you're, I don't know. Don't you think it's kind of cool to do that? No, I think you're living life, that there's more, there's more to life. I understand.
I'm not going to agonize over this. No, I'm not going to watch and go and throw things. Do you throw things? I'm not a thrower of things. How are the Jets doing, by the way?
I've tapped out. No, I know. The three teams that emotionally affect me now are the New York Yankees, Michigan football, Michigan basketball.
So those are the three teams that affect me. Like where I will, you know, lose a little bit of my bearings and maybe curse around a child. You know what I mean? Like that, where I would. Take a moment for myself and lose my mind.
Yeah, that's it, though. That's all. But I wouldn't tap out of a game and then say, let's go somewhere and then be able to put it out of my mind. And then, you know, I- I have a beautiful point to make.
So I Saw the score after it was over, and I go, Oh my god, we won. Then I watched. And we had a nice seven-point lead. And then we had there was some trapping and some turnovers. And I go, God, I'm glad I didn't watch this live.
I'm so glad I didn't watch this live. Really? I don't want to see turnovers. Don't turn the ball over. That's why I get frustrated watching hockey.
Protect the puck. Take care of the puck. I'm kidding.
So, I mean, are you as into the wild or not so much? No, Kabrisov. Ah! Yeah. Quinn Hughes, Quinn Hughes.
No, there's a guy. There's a guy that's really talented. Tell me his name, the short guy who can pass on the wild. I don't know if I Google that. Hold on.
Come up. It sounds like whatever his name is. Come on, Guca.
So you guys don't follow the hockey much, right?
Well, my coordinating producer is a die-hard Sabres fan. I'm waiting for him to chime in on my ear right now. He's been around and he's on the wild now. Frees off, Hughes, Boldy. He's very short.
He's 5'7 or 5'8, and he passes well. Yeah. Okay. Tarasenko? Is that his name?
No. No. No, that's not it. No. You want to Google it?
Like you're looking it up right now? This is great. Googling Minnesota Wild. I don't know this fellow's name, Luca. Anyway, I thought you got it.
It's fine. It's not important. I thought there would be one hockey fan here shouting his name. Was that Zucarello? What's his name?
Zuccarello? Yeah, that's the guy. Yeah. Yeah. Now we nailed it.
Fantastic.
Well, he's 5'8. That's what they're doing. There you go. He is skilled. 5'7.
If you said 5'8, I was short. I mean, I do like passing. I do like passing. Yeah. Dude, man, but you never were into hockey.
Now you're into hockey. Look at that. No, I have friends that want. I'm happy. It's in St.
Paul. Yes. And St. Paul, Minneapolis, the Twin Cities, nestled on the Mississippi. And my dad worked in St.
Paul. So when I go back for the playoffs, a lot of these snobs won't go over to St. Paul. And that's where the wild play. And that's where the St.
Paul Hotel is. Meritage. I say Meritage, it's Meritage. It's in the Hams building. It's a French restaurant.
It's got a zinc bar. zinc. Amuz beush, bouch, the little appetizers. But I say meritage, and the owner said, say it that way. It's better.
It sounds more classy. Let's go to the meritage. They have the Lexington. They have the St. Paul Grill.
Go over to St. Paul. Support that city. It's a beautiful city. Oh my god.
Uh, when was the last time you were in Bristol? Uh when we did the uh Where I I don't remember the year. I guess it was 2003 or 4. Right. And we did the what was the throwback with Dan Patrick?
We did the The sports center.
Okay. Was that an anniversary or something? That might have been an anniversary. That might have been later than that then. Because I left in 2003.
And I remember it being was it maybe 2004? Yeah. I don't know. Yeah, I just went back. First time in 23 years.
So, what did you think? I was totally discombobulated. I didn't recognize the place.
Okay. And it really was out of body. I didn't notice anything. I didn't recognize the place at all. Where there used to be parking lots, there are now buildings.
Oh, wow. Where there are buildings, there are now more buildings.
Okay. I didn't know my bearings at all. Yeah, it was odd when I went back. The buildings and at ESPN, but just looking around, you're saying it was a little different. Like, oh my gosh, I used to.
Go to bed at 4 a.m. here, you know. Who did you? I know exactly right. I know staying up in the middle of the night, which I would never be able to do in a million years right now.
Yeah. Who did you do the show with? You did it with Dan Patrick. You did it with Dan? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Ha, yeah. It was during ESPN's twenty-fifth anniversary special, uh, august eighth, oh four. Yeah. Yeah, I wasn't invited back to that. You know, the cardboard box was still fresh.
They did not give me the NBA highlight, but that's okay. Why didn't they do that? I'm not saying anything. I guess I did say something. It's fine.
Dan got it? Yeah. DP got it? That's fine. I show respect to everybody.
Okay. Give people their space.
Well, I mean, if they'd have given it to you last night, that's for sure. Oh. Yeah. They definitely would have.
So do you think Wemba Nyama should have gotten suspended? Not suspended, no. I did see someone said oh uh World Peace, Ronard Test. Six games or something. But did you see what he did?
I saw the replay. It was vicious. Wemby, no, he should not have gotten suspended. I guess thrown out. That's good.
That's fine. Right. And let's see what we can do. We have to steal one now. In San Antonio.
It's gonna be rough. They're good. They're good. I just think it's maybe rearranging deck chairs, to be honest with you, because the thunder is so damn good, man. Correct.
But you never know. Keep improving, keep improving, keep improving.
So if you can get to the Western Conference finals again, do that. Maybe make some adjustments. I mean, Jaden McDaniels is really playing well in this playoffs. Last year in game five at OKC, he missed his first six shots, and that kind of set the tone. They were kind of leaving him open.
And he he keeps making a jump.
So I just want to keep playing and improving. Do you got a relationship with Chris Finch? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Are you texting friends with him?
Yeah, I text him once. I don't bother him, but when we win, I do. And I thought the game. The game game, what was it, game six, right? Was it game five or six where we beat Denver?
Right. Uh, I can't remember what game was it. Come on, this is too easy. I mean, in the previous round, you're just to wrap up the series or yeah, we won. This is.
If we lost that game, it was over because we weren't going to win a game seven.
So it was game six. Thank you, everybody, for jumping in. Christmas Game 6, right? Just say Game 6. Game 6.
It was a masterpiece. I told Finchy it was a masterpiece. Because of his substitutions. He went with the big lineup with Nas Reed at the three. And he was also somehow orchestrating from the sidelines because we didn't have a point guard out there.
And he was waving people to the corner.
Now, fortunately, our offense was going that way. We were in front of our own bench, which doesn't always happen. But it was probably his best game as a coach, and he was appreciative of that. But he gave it all, he said it was all the players. I'll tell you something else interesting.
Years ago when I first met him at a dinner here, The great John Krasinski from the athletic took me. And he had his coaching staff there. And this was prior to Wemby getting drafted, and it was a three-team tie. I think it was the Pistons, the Rockets, and the Spurs. And one of the coaches, I'm just protecting them all, said it'll be the Spurs.
As if the league would like Wimby at the Spurs. But they did predict that, and they were right. Yeah. You're not one of those tinfoil hat ping-pong ball guys, are you? No, no, I think he is.
I do know, this is before your time, but I do know that the Sacramento Kings that was, David Stern definitely wanted the Lakers to advance. Over the Sacramento Kings. That was the Complete debacle series of all time. You're talking about Tim Donaghy. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's not, I don't think, I don't know that's conspiracy. Everyone knows that Stern, you know, wanted, wanted the Lakers.
He even said, he was asked the question, right? Do you always want the Lakers? He goes, I want the Lakers versus the Lakers because they make more money that way. Yeah. Are you breaking news right now?
No, that's old news. That's old news. Just to know if you're breaking news. I mean, that'd be outstanding. Craig Kilbourne breaking news.
We have a drop for that. Oh, we do. No, but it's not breaking news. All right.
So, where are you watching game five? Where do you got? Be at home. You'll be at home. Be at home, relaxing.
Chilling out. What's the drink of choice? I don't drink as much as you think. I do like talking about it, but I don't. You know, I've been drinking lately.
I've been drinking Vespers, which is a. Created a drink created by Ian Fleming in Casino Royale. Three parts gin. Oh, yeah. one part vodka and then they change up the l Lilith, Blanc, whatever they use.
Well, Vesper Vesper is the name of the Bond girl from Cassius. Yeah. They named the drink after her. That's it.
Okay. So that's what on occasion, not too much. I went through a stage where I had four I went out w four weeks in a row. I drink once a week. And I had a vesper each time.
And I commented on that. Is this a stage or is this series? You don't drink hard liquor, do you, Richard? No, I'm not a hard liquor guy. I'm a red wine guy.
Yeah, that's smart. I'm a big, booming red wine guy. You look like you like Barola. I'm more of a Brunello guy.
Okay. But I will have a Barolo every now and then. I couldn't remember which one it was. No, it's Brunello. I am a Brunello.
I like California calves. You do. I know that on occasion. Let's take a break. We'll come back.
We'll finish the show together. You were reading out during the commercial break. You have some. Unused roast material from last night's Kevin Hart roast?
Well, my friend Mike Gibbons, a.k. Gibby, is the head writer of all these roasts. Yes. He used to be my head writer on the CBS show, and he sent me some stuff They he said that they uh They bought the little Kevin Hart Knick jersey that's undersized. Yes.
They bought it in the morning in case the Knicks swept, which they did, and they used it last night. I did see that. Yeah, so that was good.
Okay. We'll take a break. Craig Kilbourne finishing up this program, and then we're going to put him in the car wash for This Was Sports Center, which is going to be coming your way this summer. 844-204-Rich, if you want to chat with Craig, because he's a man of the people. He's a humble servant here on the Rich Eisen Show.
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Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com/slash eyes and terms and conditions apply. All right, Craig Kilbourne, the floor is yours. What do you have over there? First, it's Matt Zuccarello. That's the pastor from the Minnesota Wild.
Okay. That's okay, Matt Zuccarello. Housekeeping. All right, we got that. I wanted to ask you: I care about my Vikings.
I've been following them since Chuck Foreman was a rookie. Oh, yeah. Actually, before that, when Dave Osborne was there, early 70s. I love it. Um Tyler Murray.
I think he's talented. When I first heard about it, I was like, I don't like short quarterbacks. I like tall guys. I don't like passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. But then when I heard what was available, I said, You better get him because he is talented.
Yes. So, first of all, I want to ask you your thoughts on Kyler Murray. Yes. He has been a massive question mark, I think, where he comes in with a massive amount of excitement and hype as a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback. He has shown abilities to Be uh Okay.
He's shown abilities to be a big problem to defenses. Oh, big problem.
Okay. Big problem to defenses to. Yeah, there are big problems. I know that there's a a lot of conversation surrounding that contract that required iPad usage to be put into codified in there, which. which was really weird.
Um that's the thing too. There's just too much weird I've heard that. The way he was drafted in the league. wasn't weird but he He came to the Super Bowl before his drafting. He hadn't announced if he was playing football or baseball.
He went on Dan's show and refused to even acknowledge that he would play football. Or that there was a decision, didn't want to talk about it. He had done that on our show just a couple hours before because we recorded him beforehand.
So he sensed all that weirdness. Then there's just weirdness in the way that, again, the way that his career ended in Arizona, too. Yeah. You know, take, I've never seen anybody take a football off the face mask and then have a foot injury over it. Never seen that.
Okay, but he's had a prior to Sam Darnold coming to the Vikings, Sam had a rough career. Correct. Kyler did not. He had a better career. No doubt.
Okay. I just want to say this, and I'm a little bit of a broken record. My issue a lot with the Vikings is the great KOC. Tremendous coach, very likable guy, very positive. You don't like him?
I like him.
Okay. But we have an issue. We have an issue. What's your issue?
Okay, so first it was he was too pass happy, wouldn't run the ball.
Now he seems to understand the marriage, the run-pass game. He seems to understand that. You got to do that. We beat in London We beat Cleveland. Carson Wentz went 9 for 9.
No timeouts. Marched down the field, threw it to Jordan Addison. Short passes, short passes, 9 for 9. We win. After the game, KOC said.
It's hard to do. It's hard to you you need some chunk plays. You can't go 12, 15 plays. You gotta. He doesn't like he likes long passing routes and it drives me and others up the wall.
Really? Throw the short passes, mix it up. One of my favorite plays is the screen pass.
So mix it up, man. He's just got to keep adapting. Does that make any sense? I don't like when quarterbacks get sacked. I think you have.
I think Justin Jefferson is a big. Reason why you can get your chunk place, Craig. You know what I mean? Like, you have him. you know, obviously he can he can run routes similar to what you're looking for.
But with him, you can score touchdowns from anywhere on the field. I know, but he's double teamed a lot. I'm just saying, I need shorter passing routes sometimes.
Well, mix it up, please. I think Kyler Murray is going to mix it up for you.
Okay. And I as much as I can't You know, Stand it because I love J.J. McCarthy being a Michigan Wolverine. I wanted to ask you about him as well. I love him.
I haven't given up on him. I just don't know if the Vikings have, to be quite honest.
Well, that's why that was my bigger picture. I said last year I said, if he leaves, he still might play well elsewhere. Rich Gannon was with the Vikings, and he won the MVP elsewhere. JJ has something, okay? I was surprised that his throwing motion was off, is what people were telling me, but I haven't given up on him.
Well, the thing is with him is he's so young. I mean, I believe he's 23. Chris, you want to look that up? I believe he's 23 now. Um he's so young.
And he has a massive career ahead of him. Yes. And the issue is. is that he Um Obviously, the issue is that the guy who they let go or didn't go as much all in to make him stay, went on to win the Super Bowl somewhere else.
So now they got to bring in Kyler Murray because he's so ridiculously inexpensive at $1.3 million. And you're going to have a quarterback competition between the two. I feel that Murray will win that because he, as you pointed out, a much more decorated and successful career prior to joining the Vikings than Darnold did. And so he's going to get this shot, and they're really talented. I mean, with Addison and Jefferson and now Juwan Jennings and Aaron Jones and Hawkinson, if the line is improved, I think they're going to win a lot of football games, and that'll be another year for JJ to sit.
And then what happens? Murray is going to be a free agent. It's going to be the same situation as last year. You let him walk? Or do you just say, sorry, JJ, the time has now come for us to move on?
I don't know if Kyler's going to stay healthy. That's another point. Uh we're in a very Tough division. But Just for the record, I've said this. Last year, And there were a few of us who wanted this.
As the quarterback, I don't mind J.J. sitting.
Okay. Aaron Rodgers sat a few years behind Brett Favre. Yes, sir. I wanted Aaron Rodgers as our quarterback last year because I think he's as gifted as they come. And I.
I thought he played pretty well at Pittsburgh. I did too. And I think another guy that wanted to see Aaron Rodgers in Minnesota. Was Aaron Rodgers. Yes, correct.
I think he was highly interested. Oh, I would have loved that. That would have been, I love watching. Because that would have been another Farvian step to go from the Jets to Minnesota and start balling out and show up in Green Bay and try and. Show them what's what.
Do you know Favre with the Vikings? This is weird. He had his best statistical year ever with the Vikings in his NFL career. Yes. Better than any Green Bay.
He was unbelievable. Yeah. Up until that last throw. You got a good joke or two from last night's roast?
Well, I don't think we can say any of them. There's a couple I think there are. These are jokes that did not make the broadcast per the head rider, Mike, your guy from back in the day, Kragers? I'm not saying this one here. Uh-huh.
No, I'm not going to do any of them. No. Oh. Graymond, how is it possible that you study theater at MSU yet you've had more flops than Kevin Hart? That's safe.
Okay. That's okay. All right.
That's a safe one. The other ones are safe. None of the rest of them are safe for work at all? Profane and one takes a shot of Chelsea handler, I won't do that to her.
Okay. Gentlemen, humble servant, gentlemen, Craig, great to see you. It is great to see you. Thank you for coming here. I greatly appreciate it.
And I thank you in advance of the conversation we're about to have about our Our days on Sports Center together. And when you got there and the whole business, and that's going to be on This With Sports Center coming up later on this summer. And I want to thank my other guests today. I want to thank Ron Taylor and Vince Goodwill and And good luck to your Minnesota Timberwolves, Craig. Are you doing a leg lift?
I was showing people the loafers. These are vintage Armani loafers. I've had them for a long time, but I like them. I haven't worn them in a while. They look great.
They're penny loafers. Yeah, I love penny loafers. I'm worried about the uh The memories of ESPN, because I might do what Bowie said he can't remember the year 1975. What if I said it's all blur? I don't remember anything.
Except Boomer. Boomer said something to me, and I went, ah, no. Craig Kilbourne, everybody, wrapping up this edition of the Rich Isen Show. We'll see you Tuesday. 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.
