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Now, on with the show. Holo. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Victor Wenbin Yama with Bill Right Hand Jam. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
Block Wenbinyama blocked it on the closeout. Today's guests. ESPN NBA Insider Ramona Shelburne. ESPN NBA reporter Dave McMeniman. Plus, your phone calls, latest news, and more.
And now, it's Rich Eisen.
Well, hey everybody, welcome to this edition of the Rich Hisen Show live on Disney Plus, the ESPN app, ESPN Radio, SiriusXM Channel 80, our podcast. In other words, anytime, anywhere, apparently. To check out the Rich Eisen show 844-204-Rich is that number to dial right here on the show, throwing elbows. Uh on this program and surviving and getting stronger. Just like your San Antonio Spurs.
We'll talk about that with Ramona Shelburne and Dave McMenamin, our colleagues from ESPN, both stopping by in studio. Ramona Hour 2, Dave Hour 3. I'm sure both of them were right there in the exit interviews with LeBron.
So they're going to be joining us on that front, full-on conversations again with you at 844-204-Rich, being the number to dial here on the program. What's up, Christopher Brockman? How are you? Sizen, what's up, man? I want to be referred to as analyst from now on.
Because that's how you refer to it. Analyst Chris Brock, man. Analyst Chris Brock. That's how I want to be referred to. All right.
Yeah, thank you. I don't know if I'm going to accommodate.
Okay. All right. Thank you.
Sound engineer Jason Feller. See how it sounds? It sounded great. Yeah, great. Candlelighter T.J.
Jefferson. Exactly. Brother in the corner, T.J. Jefferson. Oh, my God.
I'm a brother, and I'm in the corner. Moving on up. Nobody puts you in a corner. I put myself here. Good to see you.
Just you and Dr. J. Just the team. In the corner on the Rich Eisen show. The good doc.
It is great. And I see you, man. And even if my fandom ends for that team, I love for this man. There were a lot of plot twists yesterday. On this pedagogy.
None bigger than T.J. Jefferson saying the Eagles were going to beat the Dallas on Thanksgiving Day. No, we're not going to win them all. I mean, you could win that one, though, and lose others, potentially. Look, I'm a realist.
Schedule's getting released. I'm not one of those, every year is our year, guys. Like they try to make me out on YouTube. It's not a drip, drip, drip. But we are winning this.
Schedules getting released one by one. True, it's going to be great. Thursday, tomorrow night, I think ESPN has got the scheduled release show.
Now, um, so uh it it's it's coming out. One game by one game by one game. The International Series got introduced. We'll talk about that shortly on the program. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial.
And this is how I'm got so much football on the brain. Listen, I I know we're in the middle of the NBA playoffs, I get it. I know we're in the middle of the NHL playoffs, I get it. I know one sport in the NBA leads up to the finals, and one sport in the NHL leads up to the final. Singular.
I don't get it. But that's just the way it is. Right? Major League Baseball. I'm following it again.
The Yankees actually won. Oh, yeah. Who's following it again? Cal Raleigh. He broke an 0 for 30 for whatever slump by apparently showering in his uniform.
Did you hear about that? No. That's a slump-bust move right there. These are all happening. I get it.
This is all, we're in the middle of all of it. The WNBA season is tipping off. And is already a few games in. Great finish in Portland last night. Susie's taking Taylor to Fever Sparks tonight.
Love it. Here in town. In other words, there's lots of current things happening. Is that why Mike's not here today? Maybe so.
He's got himself set up. Getting ready. Yeah, he's got his hat and he's got a seat like he's sitting in front of Satrial's, like he did that time for the fever and the sparks. Taking creeps. Here's like, oh, how close can I get?
Oh, yeah, yeah. I don't know. Susie will bolo for that one tonight. Of course, of course, of course. Listen, I understand there's lots going on now.
There is. But the schedule's about to get released. And I had many different ways about. How was I going to handle this conversation? And I figured it out.
I forget the schedule. Oh, forget it? Yeah. Oh. I've got a power rankings right in the middle of May.
I'm going to do this from now on, as long as this show's on the air and as long as I'm no longer involved in the schedule release. I've got this going down every year now. A new tradition, unlike any other. Love it. The first, way, way, way too early.
Power ranking. Oh, and then I will go right before everybody leaves for the summer. Is a way, way too early.
Okay. And then right at the outset of training camp, maybe, or middle of training camp, way too early.
Okay. Then I'll do regular power rankings.
So I got power ranking set up. One a month.
So this is three ways? This is way, way, way too much. Three Schedule release. PAL rankings So mou a mouthful. Presented by SoFi.
Hit it. Ah! This is my power rankings. That's right. Way, way, way too early, right before the scheduled release edition of the Power Rankings presented by SoFi, that is a mouthful.
Hit it, please. I've got ten teams. Times. That's what a power rankings. Come on.
Demands First up. Number 10 on the list. I'll blow it. They've got a new head coach. Oh, okay.
They've got a new offensive coordinator. What you're saying? The offensive coordinator has been plucked from the fruit of the Chicago Bears' Ben Johnson vine. Yeah. Hey.
Everybody's been sitting there. And Ballmer wondering when this offense is going to look newfangled, high-flying, with all due respect to the new head coach in Cleveland, Todd Munkin. You know, Greg Roman before that. Right? They got Declan Doyle now.
Keep that name in mind with Lamar Jackson and Derek Henry. In this offense. Rolling downhill. I'll be behind a new center. But Baltimore is number 10 on this list.
Don't forget them.
Okay. Don't forget them.
I understand they didn't make it last year. I understand they made some changes, but I like the changes. They drafted that guy you love. Venga. Ioanne, a right guard that will be in the mix for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Right, what you said. Yeah. Oh,. Oliva Venga. God bless you.
Okay. And Penn State, number 10 on the list. The Baltimore Ravens are 10th in my power rankings. Number nine, this team has got to get better. Because with the next man up last year, and nobody expected them to, and I understand they had a last place schedule, but they damn near were the one seed in the NFC.
Now they got Mike Evans, they got Nick Bosa back, they got Fred Warner back. Ah! I understand Kittle might not be back until, you know, who knows when, but I think he'll be ready at some point. San Francisco 49ers bang, bang nine again. Seems a little low.
No, okay. Seems a little low, but... There's some really good teams. This is way, way, way too early. Oh, yeah, man.
Don't. I mess up his face. It's fine. It's fine. It's fine.
You can pick it. I know you're nitpicking. That's fine. Number eight. I don't pick nits.
Number eight. I put them higher. I just don't know what's going to happen, what they're going to look like without A.J. Brown. I'm putting the Eagles here at number eight.
Ahead of the Niners. I am putting them ahead of the Niners. And I know the Niners bounced the Eagles last year. I get it. I just like Mike Evans, man, on Philadelphia.
I mean, on San Francisco, putting him at nine. I still need to see a little bit more. In the Eagles, I'm putting him at eight. A.J. Brown's still an Eagle, though.
I know that, but that's not going to happen. Get ready, pal. Boy, you heard the rumor A.J. Brown's Boston was. Yeah, he's already condos, baby.
Which brings me to number seven. The New England Patriots are number seven on this. Ooh, that's low. Low? Disrespect?
Low in the Super Bowl last year. I know. That was way, way too early. Have you played that game yet? They hit.
They, I know. They hit it bigger and faster than you expected. That's true. This is actually. I need to see what it looks like in year two here, man.
Let's keep us under the radar. All right, who's our head coach? Exactly. There's that too, but who the heck knows, man? That's been quiet for at least a few days, which has not been the case over the last month.
Number six. Putting the Chicago Bears here. Oh, they are the highest-ranked NFC North team I have here.
Okay. I'm putting them at six. Six. All right. I can't wait to see what Ben Johnson and the Bears look like in their Year two.
Dylan Thienem in that first round pick, they're going to put him right in the back end of that defense, start thumping, coming downhill, and hit people from the back end. Maybe this defense, front end, back end. They got it working now. Even better. Bears, third best odds to win the north.
I got it. To win the north, really? Yeah. Huh.
Okay. Okay. Yeah. Number five. Go ahead, Sigma.
No, come on. I believe in him. No way. I'm putting the Dallas Cowboys in the top five. Oh, oh, yeah.
Wow. I think they've nailed it. Offseason. I think they.
Well, that's where it is the middle of the offseason. We are right in the middle of the offseason that they have been winning. That defensive line, I know they coughed up Odigazua to San Francisco, by the way. But Rashawn Gary, yes. Kenny Clark.
Quinny Williams, the Kid, they just drafted Malachi Lawrence, overshone. My guy Jay Sean Barham out of Michigan, where they drafted Caleb Downs on the back end. I think they have Check some defensive boxes, man. And offensively. It was already nice.
How do you not have them as maybe a top five offense in the NFL? Seventh best odds to win the NFC.
Okay. Those people don't know everything. These are my power rankings. I'm putting the Cowboys five. I like your rankings better than the.
Number four, I'm putting the Denver Broncos here.
Okay. Denver Broncos here. I'm looking forward to Jalen Waddell in this mix.
Okay, looking forward to that. Seeing Bo Nick's back in the mix, that rhymes.
Okay. Bro, Nix is in the mix. Sean Payton's not calling the place. I don't know what's going to happen there. Can he really take his hands off the steering wheel like that?
Can you? No. Thanks for asking. No, I cannot. I'm just saying.
R.G. Harvey, here too. Keep an eye out. J.K. Dobbins back.
Okay, let's see what this looks like. Let's see what it looks like. Number three, I'm putting your defending Super Bowl champs out of respect. What why aren't they one? Um I don't know because I get it.
I get it. I understand that. But out of respect here. That's not respectful. It's not respectful at all.
No, they're the champions. They're the champs. I understand they're the champs, but you're here. Who's to be the man? You gotta be.
It's a top three team. Yeah, but they're not. They're top three, but they're not one or two.
Okay. See, that's not good for them. I get it. I still do want to see what Sam looks like in year two. How is he going to defend his title?
What's going to go down? As you know, Super Bowl teams the next year, usually something happens, injury-wise, this, that, the other thing. I don't know. Interesting. I don't know.
R.I.P. that you're mentioning. It looks like they're going to be starting. I'm fine. They're already in the middle of the day.
They're the top three. It's the top three. What's the matter? Look, I'm not even a Hawks fan. Yeah, I'm saying.
The reputation that you have for not liking Seattle is not, you know, you're not doing any favors. I'm just saying, if we win the chip, we'd better be number one. They're going to start a rookie running back.
Okay, fine, fine, fine, fine. They got Charbonnet stuff. All right, come at me. Oh, they will. By the way.
Oh, you're not going to like this. Nobody's going to like this then. Number two. Who is he? Our neighbors across the street.
Oh. Los Angeles Chargers.
Okay, good. I thought you were going to go. Our number two. I like the moves they made, man. They're getting two Pro Bowl, if not all Pro tackles back.
Two. I said it, two. Omarian Hampton in year number. Two. He won me a fantasy chip last year.
Okay. They just added David and Joku to Orunde Gatson Jr. at tight end, and then they got that guy, Kohlar, who's saying blocking is like a. A bowl of creme brulee. Which doesn't even come in a bowl, it comes in a dish.
Yeah, but it's circular and so Mike McDaniels drawing up the offense for Jim Harbaugh. The defense is coming back. I understand they've lost their defensive coordinator. I'm concerned about that, but the LA Chargers are too. And get ready for a Super Bowl 61 in SoFi to potentially be in that team against my number one team, the Los Angeles Rams.
Oh, you know, good and well that he behind him. How about that? Got my hopes up for a sec. For what? What, the Raiders?
Yeah, I was gonna be. Are you out of your mind? Get your Raider Nation tattoo. If the Rams and Chargers play in the Super Bowl in SoFi, who's gonna be at the game? What are you talking about?
We're fans. Like, what fans are this guy over there? You're a season ticket holder. You'll be there. What's going on?
I'll go to the games. You'll go?
Sometimes you'll. When? I'll go. Says a guy. And you're like, who's going to the game?
Well, you know, the Chargers. Oh, yeah. It'll be so tough to get tickets. I mean, it's so tough to to to to go ahead and Sell tickets. It'll be so tough to sell tickets to this one.
Are those tickets geotagged as well? Or check out like that. The Los Angeles Rams lost amongst the Ty Simpson madness. Could have been ready to roll. Ready?
To roll R T R Ready to roll with the defending MVP of the league. Who's got a chip on his shoulder?
Okay. I would.
Okay. Got it? Get it. Understood. Last time this happened, it sparked two MVP seasons in a row for Aaron Rodgers.
Let's see what happens with this one. Everybody else, Trent McDuffie. He's been added. Yeah. Let's go.
And that's my way, way, way too early power rankings. With the Rams one and the Chargers two. Fittingly enough, brought to you by SoFi. Hey! Get your money right.
Call me. Call me, at me, call, come. 44204 Rich, number dial. Say, Rich, you're way off, and I'll be. No, no, no, I'm way, way, way.
Too early and off. I'm going to start calling you Snap because you got the power. I know everyone's like, oh, Bruger cares too much about odds. I mean, the odds do. You do care a lot.
But they do matter. How about my odds? The Bills have the fourth best odds.
Okay. Not on the list. All right. I love their quarterback. I love their quarterback.
He will be an MVP candidate, quarterback. Come on now. Come on now. Let's see. Come on now.
Let's see it. Let's see it. You're not taught. Let's see it. The Chiefs have the same odds as the Patriots and Chargers.
Okay. I left them off. I kind of thought they would be ten or nine. Mm-hmm.
Okay. But Chris, don't get too. It's way, way, way too. I get it. Who do you take off for the Green Bay has better odds than Dallas and Chicago?
Oh, so you take Dallas off, huh? Don't say that. You take Dallas off, huh? Don't say that. You kind of take Dallas off.
Okay. Talk about talented roster. And I would give you a bunch of people. I would move everybody. I would have the Bills probably.
Where? Over who? Who do you take off? You take Dallas off. I would probably have Buffalo in the top five.
Really?
Okay. Well, it's a good thing he doesn't have a way, way, way too much.
Well, let's see what happens in the next month. Yeah, yeah. Never know. Never know. There could be some.
OTA movement threat. OTA-inspired movie. That's a good free agent. Then call me if you wish. 844-2048.
Holler at him. Holla at your papa. That's what man once said here on the Joe's show. That's my man's in there.
Okay. Love it. Good list. Way too list. I don't know.
Everything you've said since I opened my mouth has says it's not a good idea. Oh, sorry. Good idea for the list. Ah. 844204 Rich, number two dial coming back.
We have games. on the schedule that have been announced. Get your tickets ready, and by tickets, I mean airplane tickets. Because they're all International Series games. If your Euros ready.
Kate 44204-Rich, number to dial. Get your tray tables and seats in the upright position. We're going International Series when we come back. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Save $2 when you buy two cans of Superior Products Coverall Tire Dressing.
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Welcome back to the Rich Eisen Show. Matt in Wisconsin. Let's just go right into it. Matt in Wisconsin. Matt, are you pissed at me, Matt?
Hey, what's going on, Rich? What's going on, Matt? Are you pissed at me? No, not at all, man. It's way too early.
Way, way, way, way, way. What? But I do want to say that I think my Green Bay Packers should have made that list. we're going to come back healthy. We got Tucker Kraft, number one tight end coming back.
We got Micah Parsons coming back.
Well, I don't know when. When is Parsons coming back? He got hurt a little too late. He came back. I don't know.
We'll see. We'll see. You know, but I don't mean to cut you off. Keep going, Matt. Go for it.
I'm Jordan Love, another season. All right, who would you take off my list? You want to take the Cowboys off my list? Why are you?
So, who do you take off the list? I hear saying that because Dallas is my number one rival, you know, going back in unfortunately, 30 years ago. But, uh, Of course. Who'd you take off? Chargers from two off?
Just take them off. Do I take the Ravens off? I would probably take the chargers off. You would, okay. All right.
They're at number two. They're at two. Two all the way off.
Okay. Thank you, Matt. It's Matt in Wisconsin. Hey, thank you, Richard. You bet.
I'm surprised you didn't say the Bears. Um Let's go. Kanye in Washington, D.C. What's up? Get him back here.
Hey, hey, Shaolin Rich. How are you doing this morning, Playo? What's going on? How are you? Kanye, what's up, Kanye?
What up, dude? Go birds. Go birds. Um. Birds?
You take me back to my childhood, man, how you be mispronouncing my name, man, like my teachers used to, but that's okay. You're Kanye, right? That's how you pronounce your name? No, no. It's like Kanye West, but it's Kenye.
Kenye. K-E-N-Y-E.
Okay. But anyway, let's get to business. My Eagles are 2-0 on Thanksgiving. against the cowgirls.
So this twenty twenty six will be no different And also, Rich, did you see yesterday on a Get Up and First Take when the Cowgirl legend Troy Aikman spoke on the greatness of Jalen Hurts and how much he likes him? This is the second time a Cowgirl has been on film praising Jalen, that e. Emmett Smith. Wow. Dak and company are trash especially that their own alumni don't speak good about them and they speak highly about a rival.
How do you like them apples, TJ? Feels good, huh? I think everything you said is false. And I don't want to call you a liar, Kanye. It's on record, TJ.
Ain't no false. You know what I mean? But, like. Treikmans is a lead pipe building professional. Of course, he's going to say something.
If you got Dallas in the top five, the Eagles definitely need to be up there as well. But it's early, so it's all good. Go, Birds. Hey, Kenya, you're not. Did he leave?
Is he gone? Yeah, cut him off. You're not concerned about what the offense looks like without A.J. Brown? Yeah, you better be concerned.
No, no, no, because, number one, he's still here. I mean, we're going to see going first. What happens? You know, politics. Get ready for him.
He'll be gone. He'll be gone. It might. I'm still here? No, no, no.
Not you going. I'm still here. A.J. Brown gone. A.J.
Brown is currently here. He will not still be here. He's gone. Like I said, man, June 1st is around the corner. We're going to see what happens June 1st, okay?
Yeah, we will.
Okay. There you go. But that offense is going to still be potent. I mean, we won't have the big body that AJ gives us, but. It's okay.
We're going to have Lemon and the other young guys to step up, and we're going to have Heisman Trophy winner Devontae Smith. Take the true number one, FAJ Leeds. Kenye in D.C., thank you very much for the call. There he goes. We are who we are.
Oh, let's go. Let's go. That's got 22 touches. AJ in Bermuda. We got someone from Bermuda's pissed at me.
Point that out. What's up, AJ? One? What's going on, Rich? What's up?
Thanks, man. Are you calling from Bermuda right now? Where in Bermuda are you calling from? The Triangle. I am calling from Bermuda.
Where about in Hamilton, in the city. It's just a beautiful, beautiful neck of the woods. Even though it's very nice, very nice. Yeah, but he's not calling for something positive. I could tell you that.
Uh-oh.
Okay, what's up? I'm calling because I felt like you missed out on the Falcons. Oh, okay. Now, listen, who am I taking off for the Falcons? Who am I taking off for the Atlanta Falcons on my top 10?
Really?
Really?
You want your Falcons on there. Who am I back? Maybe the charges I feel like the charges Only in theory because I feel like obviously they have a good team on paper, but Justin Herbert just couldn't get it done. And I feel like with the Kevin Stafanski coming in, and I feel like he's really good with running backs, and Bijan's him without Stafanski. We had a really good draft class.
AJ, I thought AJ, I thought this Tua Herbert thing has been decided. I thought I think this is I don't know. You're like the Supreme Court throwing out precedents. I don't know what's happening right now. You know what I mean?
Like, what's I even forgot about two? I was talking about Michael Pennix.
Okay. Okay. All right. Okay. So I got faith in him.
I still got faith in him.
So a Penix quarterback Falcons team. should crease my power rankings, but a two-a-quarterbacked Falcons team. You have y you it's legit they're not on my power rankings.
Well, when you put it like that, Rich, when you put it like that, I have to. I have to put it like that. No, but I've still got faith in the kid. I think. Bar, you know, him healing from the injury, I think we'll be okay.
Okay, AJ in Bermuda, everybody. Beautiful day in Bermuda. Beautiful day here in the studio. Speaking of going overseas or into seas or. Just trying to make the transition from Bermuda to the international things that have been announced.
There's a lot, a lot, a lot of international game slander going on. Lot of IGS. International game slander going on. Nine games being played outside of the United States of America. Overseas.
In London, three games. Paris has now been added to Madrid and Germany. Mexico City's back in the mix. Rio de Janeiro puts Brazil back in the mix. And it all starts in Melbourne, Australia.
Okay. All starts. With The game in Melbourne That's going to start the season essentially. On a Wednesday. Melbourne Niners Rams first stop Then the Brazilians in Rio, what a party that's going to be.
Gets to see Ravens Cowboys. Then we go to London. Then we go to London. Three games in London. Uh Colts and Commanders.
In London. Yeah. But yeah. That's going to go down in Tottenham. And then in Tottenham you got the Eagles and the Jaguars.
Huh? It's Go Jacks. The Doug Peterson Bowl. Right, right. Doug Peterson.
Peterson. Peterson? They're in London. And then the Jaguars stay put. Geduas.
Advantage. And they get to. This goes down, by the way. I'm assuming, if you put that up one more time, the international game schedule, it is in Wembley, you bet.
So Tottenham gets the first two, and then Wembley, which is the stadium that Shad Khan owns. The Jaguars like their home stadium. Um That's a pretty massive football game. Texans. and jaguars.
Okay. And the Jaguars will have the benefit of already being on The time zone. Yeah. I'll already be there for a week. You stay the food, you stay the time.
Then the. I mean Paris, man. Good lord. Bonjour. Aaron Rodgers in a croissant.
Let's go. The French quarter going just straight to France. The Saints in Paris are. New Orleans Saints in Paris. Taking on Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers.
Bonjour. Okay. Jean-Mappelle. You know what I mean? Let's go.
Bengals and Falcons in Madrid. That's pretty fun. Right. Munich, which is an outstanding Location for NFL games. The Patriots and the Lions.
Yeah. That should be a cool one, too. Mexico City, the Vikings, and then there's the Niners once again. Listen. The International Game Slander.
You're slandering it, Rich. Oh, people are. I'm seeing it all over the place. And I will just say this. Sadly.
As somebody who's called A ton of international games for NFL Network. Mm-hmm.
And I've been there and done that. The players and the coaches. Don't like it. I understand they don't like it. Because it's a business trip.
We all, as fans, go there, and it's not a business trip. It's a party. It's let's go hang out. Let's go here. Let's go there.
The players in London are in hotels that are way outside of town. Yep.
So they're not going into town. They're not going into London. And if they do go into London to see their families, it is a long-ass haul. And it's It's a displacement, and coaches aren't terribly happy about it either. Because It is the ultimate of what you can't control.
You cannot control. The fact that the NFL and owners want to export the game around the world for business purposes. And you have to go along, and you are now going to be taken out of your comfort zone of. Either a home game Or you're traveling and now you're going. Way.
further than any Road game, most likely. Yeah. Although Philadelphia to Seattle is similar from Philadelphia to London. True. Houston to London is not anything comparable to what wherever they travel in the United States at all.
Just as a for instance, right? And so I get that. I totally understand that. That players and coaches just want to control what they can control, and it's their schedule, and it's their ability to practice in their home.
Some teams decide to go at the last minute. And tell them players, get your rest on the plane and then get your rest here. And then let's play the game and let's go home. And if they poop the bed there, then they'll hear from. All of us in the media, boy, you made a mistake.
You should have gone there earlier.
Well, I mean, you go there earlier to get used to the time zone than you're practicing in facilities that are not your own. You know? Jacksonville is going to be away from home for two weeks, and they're home games.
So I understand the way players and coaches feel about it. But in terms of the experience of being there. And playing in these games, once the game starts for the players. And the coaches? It feels like a Super Bowl, I'm telling everybody.
In Munich? When Brady and the Bucks showed up against Pete Carroll and the Seahawks that year and Geno Smith. Both guys, Carol and Brady, went to the podium and said this atmosphere was like the Super Bowl. And those guys, you know. have played a Super Bowl against each other.
It's unreal. The fans cannot get enough of it. Cannot get enough of it, and it's not expats living abroad.
Solely As a matter of fact, in Germany, those are die-hard football fans. Big time. I'm not kidding. The people I would meet, people at, let's just put it this way. There were The fans that I spoke to In Germany, from the field to the stands, because I'm a man of the people.
Um Sounded more like sprockets than Mike Myers. To use an SNL pop culture reference from back in the day. All right. And fans that I met who were Americans were coming from the Middle East, Africa. to get to Germany.
It's closer to go there than it is to London. People would be taking trains from all around Europe. to get to Munich. Spectacular. I was not in Madrid.
I heard it was unbelievable. Paris is going to be lit. And that is a phrase that I use purposefully because you know it's the city of lights. Listen, it's going to be incredible. The NFL in Paris is going to be nuts.
And the NFL in Rio The NFL in Paris, the NFL in Madrid, the NFL in Munich, the NFL in Melbourne, the NFL in Mexico City. Is what the NFL should be doing. It's what they should be doing. They have to do this sort of stuff. It's a connected world in which we live.
The other sports are already connected to those continents because it's easier for Yeah. Humans to play basketball and hockey and come to the United States than the other, then football to the United States.
So they're exporting it and they're selling the sport places. And You know I understand fans are like, really?
Okay, it doesn't matter to me. I just need my fantasy update. I just need to be entertained on a Sunday. I'm going to be sitting on the couch. I don't care that it's in this spot or that spot.
And the players might be like, really? I've got to... The 49ers are going to be, we're doing a segment on this solely in the hour three. The 49ers are going to close in on 40,000 miles traveled this year.
So I totally get it that the players are like, really? But uh you know We're raising all boats here. I know five of these games are on NFL Network. And I work for NFL Network. I'm not caping for it just because of that.
I've been there, it's incredible. Incredible, and they connect with fans in a way that is valuable. And if it raises all boats, I'm telling you, the idea here at some point is to. You know, taking the games off NFL network, but it's to It's to sell a package. And everybody's going to play an international.
Get used to it. There's an international series game in weeks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 11. We're almost there. Oh yeah, we're gonna have one every week.
So we're missing weeks two and eight. Weeks two and eight. In the first 11 weeks, are the only weeks without an international series game? We're almost there. And I understand why there isn't one in week two.
Because If you're opening on the road. Right. And You're then going to go international? That's almost impossible. And if you're opening at home, You're going to go on the road in week two.
That means somebody's home debut is on the road. in week two. It's very difficult to do that. That's why they put Melbourne in week one, so the Niners and Rams can go way earlier and then have an entire week and a half for them to come back and play in week two. And I'm I'd be surprised if If the Niners and the Rams are on the road in week two, I think they're both going to be in Los Angeles and Sanford and Santa Clara.
Um I get I understand why players and coaches are Because I've interviewed them. I'm in broadcast meetings, and the first 15 minutes is always talking to a coach or a player. It's just like, did you get your rest? What's your philosophy about traveling? Do you like your facility?
What's going on here? Are players going back and forth into town? Have they seen their families? You know, hey, Jacksonville. Hey, Liam Cohen, two weeks.
You're going to be here for two weeks. Like, what about that? And so I get it. It is a logistical problem, nightmare. Um inconvenience, whatever.
Adjective you want to use. but in the business of the sport, It is indispensable. It is unbelievable. If you are a fan, and I know ticket prices are through the roof now these days, and I'm not referring to Um Okay. The seats in the stadium.
I'm referring to the seats in a plane. It's expensive. I totally understand that. If you can't afford it and you can get off of work and you can get into a plane and make a weekend or a week out of it. Memories.
Yeah. Absolute memories. And I hope your team doesn't get blown out because that sucks. But. It's unreal.
Mm-hmm.
The atmosphere is Unlike it's as close to a college atmosphere as you'll see. And if you watch any of these Premier League games, you're like, wow, these fans are going nuts in the stands. It's a lot like that, it really is.
So That's my opinion of the international series games. Yeah. Ha ha ha. You know, it's funny too, Richie. Brockman and I can confirm we both made friends with people when we were over there in Germany from other countries that we still DM and keep in touch with.
I'm just saying, these are people love it. We got to do man on the street interviews when we were there. It was super fun. People. Everything you said and more really is.
And we did a show from Munich a couple of years ago, right? Yeah, two seasons ago.
Okay. And did a show from London last year, but the Munich game. If you go to the beer gardens in Munich, On the Saturday before the game. It's unreal. And you'll see fans in all 32 NFL jerseys.
Yep.
For real. Really well. And you'll see some throwback players that you thought of. We always had fun with the games because, you know, someone would show up. In a Kurt Warner Rams jersey, Giants jersey, Cardinals jersey, Amsterdam Admirals jersey.
The only thing missing was a northern of the Northern Iowa jersey. And then someone would show up. In a Seattle Seahawks Kurt Warner jersey, but not that Kurt Warner, their Kurt Warner. We would have fun with that. It really is awesome.
And I I I I'm always going to cape for the International Series games. Always. And if you're in Germany, you might see Joe Thomas and Lederhausen. I mean, we've seen it. We have seen that.
Oh, yeah. It's a great time, man. You can't unsee it either. You can't unsee it. 844-204-Rich, number to dial right here on the Rich Eisen Show.
The NBA playoffs with Ramona Shelburne in hour two, and with Dave McMenamin in hour three in studio, both of them. Back on our program in a sec. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. Rich Eisen here. PayPal is now the official peer-to-peer payments sponsor of the NFL, which means all the money moments that fandom creates, whether splitting tailgate costs or chipping in on tickets and game day food between friends, are covered.
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You ever notice what happens when something big rolls into your city? A major tournament, a can't-miss concert, a high-stakes playoff game. Suddenly, fans are everywhere. It feels like everyone's trying to get in. Streets are packed.
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Ramona Shelburne's in our. In our green room right now, Dave McMenamin is joining us in hour three. At 10. You see his story? He's.
Out there talking about LeBron. They need each other, he says. Huh? Said they need each other. What, the Lakers and LeBron?
Yeah. Do they? Also talking about how um LeBron didn't get the game ball on the night that he came up with the most wins in the history of the NBA. It went to um JJ Reddick. for his one hundredth career win, And Rob Polinka got the game ball and.
It was a nice moment. But There's always something going on.
So, is that a point of contention? I don't know. Well, I want to read deeper into the story before I talk about it more, but Dave's coming in in hour three, so. That's what's going on here. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial on the program.
Do you want to do a win-loss for the International Series game just to piss off the people who think it's too much of a circus? Yeah, absolutely.
Okay. Let's do a win-loss game of the International Series games right now.
Okay. Put them up on the screen. Let's go. And let's all put, like, this is not just me, this is all of us together.
Okay. Okay? Give me some music here, Jason Feller. Hit my music, hit my music. Who wins week one, Niners and Rams in Melbourne?
Rams. Rams. I agree. I think the Rams are, as you know, they're number one on my power rankings list. You already had the Cowboys in Rio.
Right, come on now. That's a dub. What do you got? Chris, Cowboys in Rio or Ravens in Rio. Man.
I'm gonna go cowboy. I will too. and the Ravens will just have to blame it. Yeah. On Rio.
Yeah, that's right. Starring Mike Hocane and Demi Moore. That's right. And also Matt Williams' eventual wife, I believe. Using that too.
Um, I was watching her cry in the middle of the eighth inning of the 2001 World Series in Game 7. Oh. Until then, she was happy. Oh, interesting. Colts and commanders.
In London. Commanders. Corpse.
Okay. Hey, TJ. Jaguars Eagles in London. Oh baby. I'm gonna go Eagles.
Yeah. Jags. Jags don't, yeah. I mean, Jags win in Wembley. They actually got their asses blown out in Wembley last year.
I'm going to have them lose to the Eagles, but beating the Texans. I'm going Jags, Jags, back to back. I'm going Edwards. Ugh. Yeah, why do you say that to yourself?
Why pick that? That is a massive by the way, when the Jaguars get to sleep. Way too early still. The Jaguars stay put. Take advantage.
It is. Yeah. But guess what didn't matter last year? The Jaguars stayed put, and the Rams came last minute and destroyed them. Yeah.
Because they had the MVP on the team. Steelers and Saints in Paris. Real quick, who'd you take, Texans or Deck? No, I took Stafford. I went double jags.
I'm sorry. I thought you were talking about the MVP. No, no, I was talking about trying to trigger me. How about this? I'll trigger you.
I'm taking Aaron Rodgers in Paris. No. No! You take the Saints? Yeah.
Okay. Tyler Shuck is going to have a much better season than Aaron Rodgers this year. What greater story is it? than a former Than an Irishman who was a former toll taker in Pittsburgh, winning in France. Tell me a bigger story.
The Florida League. That's the French cinematic. And they're playing in Paris.
So what? Don't want the Steelers on that one.
So what? Give me the Saints. Bengals Falcons in Madrid.
Well, I'm contractually obligated to say the Falcons. What do you mean?
Well, you're not contractual yet. That's happening in July, isn't it? I'm just kidding. I think the Falcons are going to be better than the Bengals anyway. I'm taking Joe Burrow in Madrid.
A word? Oh, yeah, I'm hooked on Burrow Phonics, man. Uh I'm gonna go with the Falcons. Are they gonna stop anyone? Patriots Lions in London.
Oh, I'm taking the Lions. That's such a Lions game right there. I mean, in Munich. It's a home game for us. Patriots Lions in Munich.
Huh? It's a home game for us. It's not. It is. Not, you're technically on the road.
Well, we're technically, it's a Patriots' market. I know it's a Patriots' market. I know it's their market. Also, let's be honest, we know he's an analyst who doesn't like the Lions anyway. That's right.
I hate the Lions. I've been told. I'm an analyst. But I'm an analyst. And Niners?
I'm an actor. Vikings in Mexico City. I'm going Niners. Yeah, Niners for sure. They'll be hopefully, you know, with Kittle and everybody healthy.
Hopefully back by then. By the way. Kyler Murray has beaten the Niners before at home. in Santa Clara. But I think Mexico City's going to be different.
There you go. International Series win last game. Talk about things we shouldn't be doing in May, but we're doing in May. The Ridge Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
