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Now, on with the show. Bear. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Les Need, this is a bad match. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
The Rams started calling the Browns about Miles Garrett in 2022. Earlier on the show. Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Cup. Coming up. Rams general manager, Les Need.
Actor and comedian, Patton Oswalt. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air here on Disney Plus, the ESPN app, ESPN Radio, Coast to Coast, SiriusXM Channel 80. And on Monday, this show came to a screeching halt when word came that Miles Garrett was joining us in the Los Angeles community. And the man who made that happen back on the Rich Eisen Show, the general manager of the Los Angeles Rams, Les Need, is here on the program again.
How are you, Les? Good to see you. I'm good. How are y'all?
Sorry to disrupt the show on Monday. Sure, you did. By the way, great lineup. Great. Yeah, no.
That was a great disruption. It was great. Yeah, yeah. You. Could have been better.
You. I go and fool De Niro analyze this on you. You. You're aware of it. You know what?
Somebody sent me that JIF. Did they really?
Someone sent me that GIF, so.
Okay. There you go. Second time I've been De Naro. That'll be a first. I can retire now.
Okay. I've got my eyes on you, Les. Um so when did you know this was going down for real? For real, real, where you're like, okay. I think this is happening.
For Miles Garrett, I think when we first reached out when they adjusted this contract, it was a no. It's been a no. I can see why it's a no. I think I've said it a lot. Miles is going to be on the Cleveland Browns.
Mount Rushmore, when this is all said and done. And I think the Browns felt like. He'd be better in a browns uniform than a Rams uniform.
So, but was persistent. In reaching out, knocking on Andrew's door, or at least calling him, blowing him up, texting him, things like that. Uh and you know somewhere along the way Uh between that March, that first March and and into May. And a little bit right before the draft, because we started talking about draft compensation and things like that. I would say that like, wow, there this could be a possibility.
This opportunity actually could be a possibility. And again, we just kept knocking, kept working to try to seize that opportunity. Is it true you've been knocking on the Cleveland Browns door for. Miles Garrett, as far back as the year you were defending the Super Bowl? You know what's interesting, I I saw the the Jordan Roderick article Or someone mentioned, oh, we tried in 22.
And I'm like, wow, did we? But here's what I do. I do remember that because that was post-Super Bowl, Von Miller was a free agent and left for Buffalo.
So I do know that We were working to try to replace Vaughn, and that was a call that we did make. But I had to go back to my journal. Let's see if that was correct or not. Yeah, we had Albert Breer, sports illustrator, on the show yesterday. He dropped that nugget.
We're like, what? Since 2022, you've been pursuing this, I guess. Whale of a defender here, man, and pass rusher. And another thing I would just want to ask, breadcrumb-wise as well. is of all the teams to propose a rule in this year's Annual meeting that teams should be allowed to trade first-round picks up to five years in advance.
would be the Cleveland Browns. and have all the teams to potentially chime in to support it, as we noticed our friend Kevin Demoff The president of the Rams tweeted out in response to Adam Schefter talking about more trades than ever during the new league year. How great the Cleveland proposal is to. uh be able to trade more draft choices. Were you already in talks at this point in time?
Was this Miles Garrett potentially related because you might not want to cough up Jared Verse? Because he's that good in a trade line. That's a what I'm trying to think: was the did they adjust the contract before? The league meetings. I'd have to go to the journal to do that.
Here's what I do think in that. If you know Cleveland, if you know Andrew, you know their outfit, they're very creative. Outfit. I think Kevin being, let's call it a CEO of Cronky Sports now and having some of that basketball and hockey DNA and his, you know, let's call it leaking into his system. I think he's, you know, Kevin's always been one to go, okay, that might be something to support.
I don't think it was just specific. Uh, for Miles Garrett, I think that's Cleveland being who they are: creative, innovative, Kevin taking a little bit of what's going on in some of the other sports as, hey, maybe this is a way the NFL could go.
Okay, and at the end of the day, though, that one got shot down pretty good. Yes, it's Yes, I think it's a good idea. That's correct. It never it never even made it to the membership as they uh as we call it. And then last time you were on this program was uh right uh right uh uh at the draft when Everybody here in this town was uh was lit up about the fact that you chose Ty Simpson thirteenth overall.
Instead of getting Matthew Stafford something right now with that pick to win this year. Was the Miles Garrett trade real enough at that point in time? for you to say if we get our quarterback of the future here now Um then there's more picks to F, if you will. four miles. Less.
Was that? I can't say, Richard. It was more real at that time. To be, and that, and that is something we did discuss internally, but I would still put it, Rich, at questionable. Right around the draft.
So, you were going to have to write, we were going to have to go through the draft with the possibility that this is just questionable. Uh you know, and but it it was, hey, it was it was more than doubtful.
So, but it wasn't probable, but it was questionable.
So, it's something you know, we will you work through a lot of scenarios with the draft when you're going through it. And that was definitely one of them that we did discuss.
Okay. So, but I'm just trying to see how far in advance things happen and how many dimensions of chess you play here. Less, you know what I mean? Like, 'cause it all connects. This all connects.
You know, it's definitely all interconnected. And I say that the offseason was intentional. We came into it. What can we do? to add to the defense to In this offseason.
And it started with the Trent McDuffie trade, and then Silent signing his co-pilot, his partner in Kansas City. Jalen Watson. But this was an opportunity. And sometimes Friend of ours, Annie Duke, who is more poker than chess, she's always said, you know what. Football is more poker to me because you know at chess, there's a finite amount of moves.
I guess you'd call it the ecosystem is pretty strict and structured, and there's a perfect move. And sometimes in poker, there's an element of random luck. And are just randomness that occurs on a draw you may get. And that's that. That's essentially what the Miles Garrett situation was because we didn't think that was a possibility, but it became an opportunity.
Uh, something you probably, if you go into the offseason and say, Hey, the thing we have to do is trade for Miles Garrett, it's probably more fantasy football than reality.
Well, you know, so I guess in that respect, because I have been on Andy Duke, Andy Duke's podcast with you. We were co-guests on her podcast together a couple years ago.
So, I guess you didn't flop. I do remember that. I do.
Okay, let's go. You didn't flop Miles, you didn't river him, you might have turned him, you know what I mean? And the turn comes. Right after the June first deadline, where The rest of the division or league conference doesn't have a chance to use the draft to make up for it. Is that part of this equation?
For you, that's definitely part of it. Also, part of it. There's so many variables in this. I know, I know Cleveland preferred. if they were going to move miles is to do it uh know post G1 so they could spray for you know it's r it really helps their cap situation in the immediate 2026 season by doing that.
So that that was a variable as well. But I think it was a complicated situation because I hey, coming having this blueprint, having this vision, let's try to trade for miles. And even if Cleveland thought in the end there's a possibility, right, we this could be a win win, actually agreeing to the compensation is always The complicated part of the equation because you like to say you can really want something, but it might just be too expensive, right? We've all lived through that. We've all lived through that, probably buying real estate in Los Angeles.
Which Miles is now going to do. Although he spends a lot of time out here, Susie and I saw him at a UCLA women's hoops game. Um you know in in in the winter time and He spends a lot of time here.
Now he's You know, and I'm gonna work here, less need here on the Rich Isand Show. And again, last time we had. He is a positive that his significant other is a. That's true, too. As a Los Angeles resident and born here, so this all works.
It works on all fronts. Last time you were on, we were talking about Mr. Grumpy, who wasn't Grumpy at all yesterday in a press conference. And I know you like to keep the emotion out of things. Uh less at any point.
during this press conference yesterday, did you look To your left, and see there's Miles Garrett being introduced with your head coach, Sean McVay, and think to yourself, how the hell did I pull this off? Did that happen at any point in time? Yesterday. I can't say this. Maybe the press conference was a little anticlimactic in terms of.
It was finally here. I do think when this situation flipped from. A possibility so Okay, this There's a good chance. we could pull this off. I think at that moment during the process where you go, wow, the opportunity to acquire the reigning defensive MVP and And acquire him to be a teammate with the reigning, you know, let's call it MVP of the league.
And then just the. The team that we have, and again. Here's the deal. We're well aware of the window we're in with Matthew, with the team that we have. We have efficacy.
There's evidence that we can contend. I always say this about evidence. Evidence is the past. Doesn't you know, the future is still the future.
So we still Kara and I have talked about this. You'll appreciate this. Double on Entendre intended. We have miles to go before we do anything. That was a Dookie.
That wasn't somebody from Auburn who came up with that. Let's be honest. Oh, yeah. She refreshed it. Oh, yeah, there is a double on Tendrea.
I can't even pronounce it, probably. Look at Tara rubbing off on you, Les. Fantastic. I do love seeing it. At any point in time in your negotiations with Matthew Stafford.
whose um sensibilities Um were you know um part of the equation of Sean McVay's demeanor in that press conference back in the draft, it's my only way to put it here. Uh, at any point in time when you're talking money with him and comfort level with him, do you let it slip? Miles Garrett might be coming. Hey, buddy, guess what? I know Sean.
Sean definitely has had discussions with Matthew about: look, we're always. going to try to write Let's call it attack the acquisition variable that we can in the NFL to write to, let's call it, take advantage of. His window along with our teammates.
So there's definitely, we definitely have some of those conversations with Matthew because he's a very important part of our ecosystem here. How long do you think he's going to play, Les? What do you think? That's a really good question. We truly like to take it year to year.
Now I think it's really for Matthew's sake in that I know Matthew put so much into Playing this game. Uh, that sometimes it's daunting to think, oh, I have multiple years, and it's better. Just let's just focus at the year, right? The year that we're about to embark on. It's interesting.
Every year that we've done this, Probably 24 hours after the season, Matthews come right in and said, let's do it again. I mentioned to someone earlier, too, if he was a baseball player. And he could throw, I call it, over a hundred. Miles per hour on a pitch. I don't think Matthew would ever be I think he might be able to throw a hundred miles per hour at age 60.
Like he just has a special gift in that arm, in that wrist, all of that.
So it's not going to be the arm that that finally he says, you know what, it may be time to hang him up. It'll probably be the grit that's required to play that position at an elite level.
So we'll take it year by year. And I can say this, he he's not slowing down.
So, yeah, it could be the babies at home as well that he wants to go hang out with. I can say this: for four little ones at home, football might be a lot easier than. the energy required to keep up with that bunch. Although they're beautiful. The paycheck helps the paycheck helps too.
So listen, Les, we you know you're in Los Angeles. You're in the Los Angeles market. You compete with other franchises. You compete with the mo Movie industry, which you know is all about amassing superstars, superheroes, running it back, sequels. At what point are we calling Aaron Donald to kick a tire, Les?
When does that happen? What do we got here? You know, I know this. I know, here's what I do know about Aaron. Aaron and Sean talk a lot.
Okay. I do think for the first time since he's retired. He's maybe tempted that, oh, let's. Maybe do one last. Stan.
I don't know if he's been tempted since he has been retired. And I think if you know Aaron at his core. He he's one of those humans that if he doesn't think he can really, really help, He probably doesn't want to try. Uh but for the first time I I'm betting that he's tempted. I can sense that.
And that's cool that Aaron's excited. This, you know, like a lot of our fans. Aaron's excited about this move, and he's probably tempted for the first time. But you know what? Let's let him sleep on it, Rich.
As he mentioned, let that see if that fire, that flame, he called it, stays lit or or starts burning a little bit. Little bit hotter. No, we talked to a couple people on this subject matter over the last couple days. One earlier today, and I'm going to play a soundbite there in a second. Uh and one yesterday in Eric Weddell.
Two former Rams, as a matter of fact, that we spoke to about it. Eric Weddell, who we all know, that was born out of necessity. the last time and and it and it does take some time. Um to wrap your arms around it and get ready and what have you. But Donald, you know, shh.
He's ready to roll now. You leave it alone, you let Sean handle it? You got a plan. You got to manage. I know you.
You got a plan. You're not just going to wing it here. Like, what are you doing? I think this is one, though. I do think it's one where.
Aaron, I think it's hey, if you talk about let it alone organically occur, hey, does does Aaron want to do or is this just you know what? It was it was it was like you said, it disrupted his day. Monday disrupted Aaron's week. With this news, and was it just a disruption and caused this emotional stir, or is this real? Because I know, and Eric Weddell, that was a wow, you talk about.
Nice random good luck. In terms of the bad luck being, oh, wow, we were getting injured at safety. The good luck being, wow, Eric Weddell will come do this. On the practice squad, and we standard elevate him. I think if you know Aaron.
Aaron's not one that would. Want a helicopter in right to the peak there. And he would want to start at the bottom with his teammates and go earn whatever's to be earned. You know, every step of the way.
So I think that's what Eric would be weighing as he determines whether, you know, what coming back would be fun or not. Or it's already not going to happen, Les, which is breaking news here. Cooper Kupp was on the program last hour, Les. And I asked him about this possibility of Aaron Donald. coming out of retirement to play for the Rams again.
This is what he had to say. There's a logic conversation that thinks that Aaron Donald might be sitting at home going, I'm not playing with him. I'm sorry. I already texted him and told him that he's not allowed.
So we're good. Oh, wait, what? Pardon me? What happened? No, I just texted Aaron and said, Yeah, I said, Don't even think about it.
I just left it at that.
So we're good. I'm not worried about it because he's not.
So you told me. You stopped. I already nipped it in the bud. Yeah, sorry, Les. Just wanted to break that news.
You know, it seems like Cooper would be a little biased. And I certainly understand, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey, maybe Cooper could retire. Yeah.
Fair trade. Maybe it's time for him to hang it up. I'm enjoying the byplay here. Hey, Les, thanks for the time. Congrats on the big trade and the buzz that you're creating in this town.
It's so difficult to create buzz in this town, certainly in June when you're talking football. But man, you could feel the jolt. There's no question about it. Congratulations. This was definitely not a nuts and bolts move.
No, God. Hey, listen, I remember you were part along with Thomas Dimitrov for that Julio Jones trade years ago. And it's like you see a a generational guy And you can go get them. Go get him. Doesn't like any picks.
Go get them. Let's go. Yeah. Leaves cry, right? Leaves knock on the door.
You've been doing that forever, man. Thanks for the time. We'll chat again soon. Enjoyed it. Appreciate it.
Right back at you. That's less need, everybody, right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Like all of us married up, married smarter. Kara Henderson Sneed, who I've known since the mid-90s, working with her at ESPN. Telling Lesny what a double entendre is.
Yeah. Yeah. Some se entendree, but it's okay. Do you think Cooper Cub would retire if it meant Aaron Donald would not come back? No, he would not.
And he would leave it to his championship offensive line to do the job. But I it just if you just Honestly, spend 'Cause we s we we like stirring it up and talking about things and passing the time until actual football gets played or an NBA Finals gets tipped off tonight or uh a dynamite game one of the Stanley Cup final gets uh gets rolling as it did between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes last night. Giveaway with three and three and change to go was the difference of a five-four. Victory. For for Vegas, um While we're waiting.
We like starting out. Hey, maybe Aaron Dollar could do this. But just. Before we throw it a break. Can we linger for a few seconds of what that would look like?
Sure. Unfair. With Aaron Donald, 99, the guy who's like, Mr. Ringfinger, hey, everybody. Remember last time we were in the Super Bowl in our.
In our city, in our town, in our stadium. Yeah. Walk off. Best player this century? Walk-off moment.
TJ. Certainly interior, certainly interior lineman cause certainly interior lineman And you want to talk about who's maybe the best defensive end we've seen this century? With all due respect to everyone else. That 99 now has 95. These two guys.
Okay. Like what would that Look like With Brandon Fisk, with Puna Ford. I've heard Hell is a terrible place. I think it would look like that. Landman.
Other people. With the Landman. And McDuffie. And lake And Watson? Just the name some on the back end?
Whose house look like? Oh, and by the way, they're protecting a lead that. Stafford and Nakua and Adams and Coram, sorry to give him first because he's Michigan over Notre Dame, and Kyron, and the all 19 of their tight ends that. Are out there on the field who can run and catch. you know, run block and catch and creates this This mirage for Sean McVay about what play they're going to run out of the same damn set.
Super team, bro. What would that look like if Aaron Donald says, you know what? I'm going to reach out. 'Cause it sounds like that's what's going to have to happen. They're gonna have to you But he basically, for the first time, remember we asked him a couple of years ago last, like, hey, what if Donald comes out of retirement?
Yeah. to help in the playoffs. He's like I don't know, you know? Probably not. That's not going to happen.
Like, no, he. This is real. He is somewhere in the. Greater Los Angeles area, thinking about it. And I don't blame him.
What's it going to mean? Like just a you're delaying your. He's in the class of 2029 right now for the Hall of Fame, if that matters at all. He would push that five years into the distance.
So what? He'll still look like he can come up with A hundred tackles. Looking perfect in his, you know.
Okay. Gold jacket. You started the super team, bro. God, I mean, this is real right now. It's real, yeah, for sure.
Let's take a break. 844-204-Rich, number to dial here on the program. We're going to come back. Got my power rankings of the NBA Finals most influential coming up. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
Rich Eisen here. Take a second and look at your city's calendar. Everywhere I go, there's always something coming up. Games, concerts, conventions, tournaments, the kind of events that bring people in from all over. And when that happens, you can feel it.
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Now, Jeff in Detroit, what up dough to one of our all-time favorites? What's up, Jeff? What up? No, Unc. That episode is going to be fire because Dan knows where all the bodies are buried.
Yeah, you're referring to, again, our radio audience just returned. This was Sports Center, which is a memory lane. Stroll of a six-episode limited series, season one of This Was Sports Center. Me, along with a colleague of mine from back in the day on Sports Center, with an a one-on-one in-studio chat. Chock full of flashbacks and Sports Center commercials and photographs.
That debuts on Friday on Disney Plus, the ESPN app, our YouTube page, and wherever you get your podcasts with Dan Patrick. And it is fantastic, if I may say so, Jeff. You'll love it. It's great stuff. It really is.
Super dope. Thanks, Pel. Hey, listen, it is scary to think that Miles Garrett. And the big fella could come out of retirement, man. That would be something.
If I'm Miles Garrett, as soon as I hit town, I'm probably going to go pick him up. We're going to go eat. And then I'm going to. Kind of, you know, ask them what the LA scene is like. And then I'm going to say, hey, you should come.
You think you got it in? You should come back. You know what I'm saying? That'll be something spectacular. You're saying Miles Garrett will be the one.
When they say they go eat, is that another word for working out? Jeff? Yeah. Eat their grains. Have a meal together.
You know, you can you can sit down across from somebody and kind of politic with them and see where they're at with it. And uh that would be Wonderful. It really would be. My question to you though is this, and I truly love Wim Benyama. We're look we're seeing an anomaly.
Like you said, the passion that he talks about basketball with. You want to see this kid win. With that being said, If the New York Mix wins, The championship will Jalen Brunson be held as the greatest Knicks ever because of the person that he had to face. And it seems like every time the Knicks need to be bailed out, Jalen Brunson is right there. He is the damn guy for the Knicks.
I would never have thought that there could be anybody in the conversation with Walt Clyde Frazier. But again, I'm in my mid-50s. Um, so for a generation or two, Jalen Brunson would be the greatest Nick ever. Um but he would definitely be in the conversation with Clyde. If the Knicks pull this off, and obviously they would need him.
to do Brunson things for that to happen.
So yes. Jeff. You know, with a caveat, and I thank you for the call. That's Jeff in Detroit, always asking the interesting question. Yeah, I mean, if Brunson puts the Knicks in the canyon of heroes for the first time since 1973, when Clyde and and the Knicks came out here to Los Angeles and beat the Lakers.
And he's the guy. being acquired By the Knicks. When no one was excited about it, like you're paying that much for the backup. In Dallas, that's what you're doing? You're rolling the dice on this guy.
I guess you really can't get anybody to take Dolan's money to try and turn this franchise around. And now look at him. And if he does that in the finals right now with this team, You bet. He'd be in the conversation of one of the greatest nicks of all time. And for certain generations, the greatest Nick of all time, and for future generations to hear about him.
Yep. He would be. But you know That's still Clyde sitting there. And every single one of these shots. Um Returning stars.
He's the only one sitting there going, Oh, it's good to see you, Starberry. Good to see you, Spree, good to see you, Patrick, and Starks. you know, mellow if he shows up. You see this thing on my finger? Only one.
I'm the only one sitting here with one of these. Unless Bill Bradley is Bill Bradley walking through that door? I haven't seen him at any of the games. Bill Jackson around?
So. Yeah. All right, it's a Wednesday, which means it's time for power rankings. Power rankings. of the top NBA Finals influencers.
Presented by SoFi. This is for Power Rankings. Many like it, but this one is my power ranking. All right, the power rankings of the 2026 NBA Finals. Top influencers.
Presented by SoFi. Are you ready, everybody? Top influencer. Oh, yeah. Number 10.
Number 10 on the list, everybody. are the Nick fans.
Okay. Well, they could influence things, pal. Certainly, when this series goes to Madison Square Garden, you know, games three and four, but I'm also wondering. You know, How much blue? Or orange, will we see and say, like the turquoise section?
In games one and two in San Antonio. How many of these Ziggies? are going to be joining Chalamay. You know, and the rest of the in spike, you know what I mean? How many are going to San Antonio?
And will that affect anything? I'm curious to see how the Knicks fans travel. In this one, but certainly if The spurs hold serve. Madison Square Garden best be the home court advantage. that it can be.
And I think that's number 10 on this list. Of Knicks fans. Everybody. Knicks fans seem to have a lot of disposable income. I think they'll travel.
Yeah, not a lot of tickets available for tonight. I don't know. We'll see. Number nine on this list. is Greg Propovich.
Oh. You know, I'm I just can't get enough of him being the... Coach Whisperer. Here he is with Wemby when he was coaching him as a rookie. Look who's listening in.
The current coach now is taking over Mitch Johnson. But, um Wembunyama. Did in fact see Greg Popovich as soon as they landed from Oklahoma City. In winning game seven, quote: The emotion was something I haven't felt in a while. I don't even know since when.
Coming back down from this is a challenge. We still need to really come back down to earth, and we realize we haven't done the hardest task yet. Keldon Johnson, the sixth man of the year. Saying that when Pop walks into the team's training facility, quote. You shut the F up.
End quote. This is a metric, guys. This is an influencing presence. And plus, I get to call Greg Popovich an influencer.
So that's always fun. Number eight on the list is Mitchell Robinson and his pinky. Although the break apparently is not in his pinky. And the break. As we heard, didn't happen in the fourth game against Cleveland, and it didn't happen in practice either, which means how the hell did he break his pinky?
And this gives you an idea of how, because it's not a broken pinky, as Brian Winhorse said on Get Up on Wednesday. The Knicks showed their hands, so to speak, Greeny, because it wasn't his pinky. It was his fifth metacarpal. It's a broken hand. When you break this part of your hand, it's known as a boxer's fracture because most of the time it means you hit something.
What the hell did he hit? Who the hell did he? Whoa. Why the hell did he hit anything with his hand? All I know is this: Sean says he's gonna be available in game one, which is great because the Knicks need his six fouls.
They need him to basically rebound. They need him to block some shots, affect something. and just rebound and start the fast break. And wouldn't it be amazing, Knicks fans, if somehow, some way, all he needed was to break his hand doing something stupid to put on a cast and he becomes a better free throw shooter? That's the way I'm gonna look at it.
You imagine he starts shooting 80%. Could help his form. He would wear that damn thing on his right hand the rest of his life. Yeah, he'd be like cowboy Bob Orton with his cast. Number seven on the list are the head coaches in terms of the top NBA Finals influencers.
Mitch Johnson, I'm a fan of his, man. I just like the way that he goes about his business. And then Mike Brown, man. He is living his best life. He's on a run right now.
Did you see this was the press conference moment on Tuesday when it was brought up to him about his time. on the staff in San Antonio when he was a Youth League football coach. Mike, over here, Don Harris, WAI San Antonio. How much of your defensive philosophy former coach? Of the dogs.
I was going to ask you: how much of your defensive philosophy was formed when you were here in San Antonio? Not from Coach Pop. But from your incredible six-man flag football, first-grade dogs defense that you designed.
So we were awesome. Literally, he was the offensive coordinator, I was a defensive coordinator, and we actually dominated that league. We had to cheer all our parents, you know, after every game and before every game, we get our parents in with the kids. And our church be who let the dogs out? Woo, woo, woo.
Who let the dog help whoop, whoo, whoop.
So that's for all you older They're adults now, right? Yeah, they are adults for all you older dogs back in the day that were six and seven that are now like. Came from there. But my players won't do that cheer, though, for some reason. My current players.
Wow. Fantastic or not. Listen. Mike Brown is four to seven games away. from being the avatar of keeping these team loose.
and not panicking in the moment to Absolutely not being ready for the moment, singing. The Baja men, who, by the way, I think the Mets got to. perform before game three of the Subway series against the Yankees because that's That's how they run New York. He's four to seven games away from being either. A great coach because he's loose or somebody not ready for the moment.
That is exactly the way it works in New York City. Maybe not in Texas. All right, moving on. Number six, in terms of the top influencers, the NBA finals, I understand about all these young stud guards that the That the Spurs have, but I'm going with the Aaron Fox. 28 years old, finally getting this moment.
This guy has played in big time basketball games in college. He's finally getting his moment here, and he can be the one that can give Brunson problems and also answer in big, huge moments and facilitate. I can't wait to see what DeAaron Fox does in these NBA finals. Let's go to the top five. In terms of the most influential players and the influencers here, I'm going with the other Nova Knicks.
I'm going with Bridges and Hart. Hart is the guy who does everything for the Knicks. He can facilitate the break. He can shoot the threes. He can rebound.
He can block shots. He can be the heart and soul. And Bridges, man, five first-round picks. This is it. This is it.
Let's not be Allen Houston in this series. And I'm being honest. I'm shooting you straight.
Okay. Like, this is it. You won champion, you won a championship in college. Let's do it in the pros. Number four on the list, the most influential.
uh and remo uh top NBA uh finals influencers. The nuns from San Antonio. I'm not I'm not stuttering. The San Antonio nuns. You know what I mean?
How are they not influential?
So far, so good. Yeah, Luke Cornette goes in the last every game. They got the nuns, right? The Knicks, I'm sure we could find some nuns, right? I have no idea.
In New York, for sure. I don't know. Isn't Ronnie Nunn, a former official?
Okay. Number three on the list is Jalen Brunson. I mean, this goes completely without saying. Three. Number three.
Because guess who's number two? All right, let me guess. Number two is Victor Wembanyama. In terms of top influencers of the NBA Finals, Brunson and Wembunyama are 100%. Without needing to be said, and I put Wembunyama above Brunson because he's Victor Wembunyama.
He's tall.
So the number one NBA final influencer, and I will take all comers on this argument, and it's the amazing Corgi. This dog has been amazing. And this dog nailed game by game the Western Conference finals with the Spurs winning in the seventh game. And this dog, this dog, look at this dog. Just knocking in basketballs.
Knicks take two games to one lead, and then the Spurs tie it up in game four when game five. Uh, at home, Knicks win game six at home. Game seven goes to game seven goes to the Spurs. Wow, this dog has been accurate. Steph Flurry is the nickname of this dog.
Stephen. Learn. Yeah. Air Corgi. This corgi has been spot on.
And he says the Spurs went in seven. Again, there's no such thing as a bad dog, just bad owners, or in this case, Man basketball. Mm. Those are my Top NBA Finals influencers. Presented by SoFi.
That's my power rankings. Brought to you by SoFi. Get your money right. What? You know, I'm going to go with a dog every time.
Yeah, that's true. Adorable, knocking in baskets. I was about to question it, but then I realized they put these videos out before, because I was like, it's easy to say after. But yeah, this was. Who knows?
Is it dog? That dog has nailed every single one of them. Game by game. This dog predicted the Spurs would win game one in the Western Conference Finals, then lose the next two, then win the fourth one. then lose the fifth and win the last two.
Okay. This dog doesn't just predict how many games it is and who wins. This dog nails each game by game. and I defy the human across the way who actually gambles to do that. I'm not going to say who I like tonight.
Okay. Are you really? You want to be the mush? That's coming up. Allen Houston shot 25% of the time.
You've been up to something over there. I can see. I got to ask you what you're up to. Yeah, yeah, cooking. I could see.
You're like, you got your nose in your laptop over there. All right. We come back. And Pat Oswalt in studio in hour number three. 844-204-RICH.
More of your phone calls coming up. The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast. While the world watches the stars at the FIFA World Cup. Hyundai has its eyes on the next generation of talent, the future stars who are already turning heads at age 14, because Next doesn't wait for an invitation, neither. Does Hyundai?
Hyundai has always moved the future within reach. And Hyundai did it when we made advanced safety standard on every vehicle. and engineered EVs with ultra-fast charging capability, and we're still doing it every day. The future isn't some far-off concept. It's already here.
Next starts now. Hyundai, an official partner, A FIFA. What are you working on over there? What cape are you clearing? Here's the thing, Richie.
We got the NBA Finals. We got a big opportunity tonight. What do you mean by opportunity? To watch the game?
Well, watch the game. Maybe watch it with Cage. Hey, Cage, come and watch the big game with Dad. Yes, but let's make it interesting. What do you mean?
It's not interesting enough? Nah, nah, nah, nah. I don't care about any of these teams. I gotta make it interesting for me. You know what I mean?
What do you mean? Little action.
So, here's the thing. Yeah. You know, I like to cook up the wild futures.
Okay. You know what I mean? So. Explain. What do you mean, wild futures?
Wild futures is I like to do something that I know is going to happen now, right? But then tie it to stuff that, like, maybe some golf over the weekend, or is there a big event over the summer? Summer. Let's look future, let's look way into the end of the baseball season.
Okay. So we have an opportunity.
So here's what I like tonight, TJ. Tell me what you think about this. I like Stefan Castle.
Okay?
Okay. Fifteen points, just throw it in there. Nice and easy. He's been on a nice run this playoffs. Jalen Brunson, we know he's a machine, twenty five points.
Put it in the back.
Okay. I like Wemby and Cat, 10-plus rebounds. That seems easy.
Okay. They're the two biggest guys on the court.
Okay. Grab some rebounds, TJ. I like under 218.5 tonight. Game one jitters. But the Knicks have been scoring like 120.
They're on a roll. They're in a butter. They haven't played in two months.
Okay. And here's the thing: they have played in two months.
Sorry. They haven't played in nine days. They haven't played in defense like this.
So that's game one.
So I'm throwing all that together. Tonight. I'm throwing all that together for tonight. Then I'm looking a little ahead in the future. Rich, we've got a huge summer event, the World Cup.
I got to throw a World Cup future into this, make it a little interesting. With everything in.
So everything in the game tonight is only 8 to 1. Let's let's ramp it up a little bit.
Okay. What would be the best World Cup story? Of the winner who's holding that trophy the United States, they're not going to win, though. I need a team that can actually win. England, Rich.
England, they haven't won since what 60-something years. And think about this. 1776, they're probably still pissed off about that, right? It's the 250th anniversary of America, right? What would be better revenge than England, the three lions, coming over here and winning the World Cup on American soil?
Eric Kane. Just pump it in goal after goal, hoist that trophy at the end.
Okay. Let's throw England in there. Wins the whole thing. Wins the whole thing. World Cup.
So what do you throw that in there? You're connecting tonight's. Tonight's little action that I got. All of them together. You got to get them all right.
Got to get them all right. Let's throw England in there. Okay. Right. I want my house to be happy.
Let's throw the Braves in there to win the National League.
Okay. They're the best team in the NL right now. But there's still great odds. Dodgers are still big favorites. Add the Braves in there.
You know what I mean, Rich? Then who do we love around here, TJ? You love Arch Manning. That's my nephew. That's your nephew.
He's going to win you a boat. Let's throw Texas to win the natty in there, Rich. You know what we're getting on that? No. We're getting basically 3,000 to one on that.
So you're saying 3,000 to 100. What happened? So if you hit everything tonight, then you're going to have to hit England.
Now we can play.
So you get through the summer.
Now you got October.
Now I'm locked into England. And then you got next January. Then, if you want to get even let's throw the Rams to win the Super Bowl, because why not?
So, what would this? Whose house? Ram's house. Rich, you throw all of that together, you stir it up in a pot. Yeah.
20,000 to one. One dollar, two dollars. $20,000. Who's with me? Let's do this more often.
I'm not afraid of you. Mild futures. Chris Brockman, everybody. That's what he's cooking up over there. You guys in for a quarter?
Quarter, quarter. Quarter, what? A quarter. One of these guys. You know what?
I'll just sit back here and I'll enjoy watching. I just hope tomorrow this is still alive. That's what I mean. You've got to get them all, right? You've got to get them all right.
Why don't you just, you know, get just use one of them tonight to tie to all the futures and just tie everything from together tonight. That's not fun. This is way more fun. Del Tufo's desk. This is way more fun.
Pat and Oswald, third hour. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
