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Now, on with the show. This is the Rich Eisen Show. What was that? The Rich Eisen Show. With guest host, Tom Pellisero.
Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Earlier on the show. NFLPA Executive Director JC Treddor. U.S. men's national team legend Demarcus Beasley.
Coming up. Senior writer for the athletic, John Krasinski. And now, sitting in for Rich, it's Tom Pellisero. Welcome back to the Rich Eisen Show. Tom Pellisero in for Rich with my boys in the studio, Chris Prockman, Jason Fell, TJ Jefferson.
Big news. What's up, dude? Big news coming into this show. NBA draft over, NBA trade season just ramping up. Lamella ball headed to Minnesota.
Nas Reed, and a whole bunch of pick swaps, and a future one, and some second rounders. Headed to Charlotte. Let's bring in a guy who I've known for a very long time, close friend of mine, also covers the Timberwolves as closely as anybody, along with the rest of the NBA. Senior writer for the athletic John Krasinski is on the show. John, I went to bed last night.
As you get a nice golf clap here in the studio, I went to bed last night reading your column about the long-standing infatuation of sorts Minnesota had with Lamello, the swings they've taken on superstar players. Wake up to this trade. Take me through what you know, nuts and bolts of how one of the blockbusters of the offseason came together. Yeah, thanks, Tom. I appreciate it.
Like you said, the Timberwolves have been kind of infatuated with LaMelo Ball for like two years now. They think that. His combination of size, shooting, passing, vision, playmaking, all of that would fit perfectly next to Anthony Edwards. They checked in with Charlotte a few times over the last couple of years to see if they were open on moving him. Got the stiff arm the whole time, every other time that they tried.
Then, you know, lo and behold, at the end of the second round of the NBA draft last night. Word starts to spread that, hey, the the Hornets are looking at Gauging the market for LaMelo Ball after he had such a great year last season in Charlotte. And Tim Connolly is always one of the most aggressive deal makers in the league, shoppers in the league, and so they got in heavy. with Charlotte negotiated all through the night. I'm told like probably four thirty five a.m.
this morning is when they finally felt that they were all on board and that the a deal was to be done. They pulled the trigger on it, and now it's Lamello Ball and Anthony Edwards, two of the top three picks in the 2020 NBA draft, are on the same team in the same backcourt. I think back to a few years ago when the Wolves went all in on Biggs. They acquire Rudy Gobert to pair him with at the time Cat is still on the Timber Wolves, and it was: you got the two seven-footers, and you're not going to be able to get at us after the rim. All of a sudden, now the Wolves have obviously traded Cat away.
He went and won a ring in New York. They trade away Julius Rando, who they got in the cat trade. You're now left with a team that's very guard-heavy. What is the big picture plan of where the Timberwolves go from here? And do they continue to make deals to fortify the roster?
Yeah, the identity of their team has changed remarkably over the last couple of days. Yeah, now that Julius Randle is in Brooklyn, now that Nas Reed is in Charlotte, they used to be a team that was heavy in the front court, that was going to overwhelm you with size. They were actually one of the first teams that kind of was on the front end of the bully ball kind of. Era that we have seen ushered in over the last couple of seasons. And now they have still have Rudy Gobert in at center, and he's still a defensive stalwart, a lot of size there, but they don't have a lot at power forward.
And so I do expect them to continue to be in the market to look for other options to bring in to start next to Rudy Gobert. If they don't find a starter, I could see them starting Jaden McDaniels at the four, and then you go with a little smaller lineup of LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and Io Desunmu in the three guard and wing spots. And try and do things a little bit differently that way. But they also got Josh Green in that trade from Charlotte Tom. And so I think they could maybe use him to flip for someone that's a little bit bigger, looking for a little bit more size.
Or add a little bit more shooting as well.
So, while this is the big splash move, obviously, that has really recentered the core around Lamello, Ant, and Jaden McDaniels. I do think that they are still in the market, still looking to add to their roster to round it out, because you have to have. People everywhere in the Western Conference. You cannot have any holes, and they have a big one at the four right now. I also had this thought because I remember a comment.
I can remember if it was from David Adelman or somebody else with Denver, but essentially it was: this Timberwolves team was built to beat us. And if you look at the rise of Jokic and that Denver team and when the Timberwolves started to go, as you said, the bully ball, it coincides there. I now wonder here: okay, it's a few years later. You have effectively vanquished Denver, including knocking him out in the first round. And Jokic played poorly throughout the course of that series.
Is this now a Timberwolves team? And is this something we're going to see across the Western Conference of we've got to build through a different lens, which is how do we beat Oklahoma City in San Antonio? Yeah, I think that's a big part of it, Tom. I mean, no one is writing off Denver just yet. I think as long as Jokic is there, you have to respect their ability to contend in the West.
But they have been quiet this offseason so far. They did take a big step back last season. And so I think that when you're trying to prioritize who you have to beat to climb the mountain in the West, I don't think Denver is at the top of that list anymore. I do think it is San Antonio and it is Oklahoma City. And what the Wolves were really lacking in those matchups, Tom, was another ball handler, another shot creator who could take pressure off of Anthony Edwards.
What we've seen both the Thunder and last year's Western Conference finals and then the San Antonio Spurs in the second round this season's playoffs against the Timberwolves. They just loaded up on Anthony Edwards. They threw two, three bodies at him because they were not worried about getting burned on the back door by Julius Randall, by By Jaden McDaniels, by anyone.
Now with Lamello Ball, it's just going to be a lot harder to double Anthony Edwards as aggressively as the Spurs and the Thunder did. I mean, are the Wolves immediately kind of challengers for their throne right now? Maybe not quite yet. They have a little more tweaking to do. But I do think that this team now is better suited to handle some of the problems that the Spurs and Thunder created for them.
John Krasinski, senior writer for The Athletic, is our guest, covers the NBA and the Timberwolves very closely. You also mentioned, John, on social media this morning, Wolves did check in at least on Jalen Brown. As you said, Tim Connolly is always superstar hunting out there. What is the price as we know it on Jalen Brown after the Celtics run at Giannis fell through? And who else potentially could you see being in on him?
Yeah, that's. I mean, the price is sky high, as it should be. I think that when you look at what the Wolves gave up for Lamello, Nas Reed, one first-round pick, some swaps. It was going to have to be a lot more to get Jalen Brown, who is former finals MVP. I think he finished sixth in the MVP voting this year.
He's an established superstar, and the Boston Celtics would need a lot to part with him. I think it would have taken Rudy Gobert, Nas Reed, another young piece, and all of that pick compensation to even get the Celtics to think about sending Jalen Brown to Minnesota. And so I think other teams that are inquiring about him will have to bring a huge package to try and lure him away. One team that we've already talked about a little bit, Tom, that intrigues me. Would Denver try to get in that mix?
For Jalen Brown. I do think that that roster needs some more juice around Nicole Jokic, needs a little bit of an upgrade. And I don't know if they have the pieces exactly to get Jalen, but that's a team that if you look at what the Spurs and Thunder have done, if you look at what the Timberwolves just did and maybe what the Lakers will do, I would think that the Nuggets should have some urgency and trying to get into the Jalen Brown sweepstakes. Maybe Cleveland does as well, someone like that to try and break up that big front court and add another wing instead. That would make a lot of sense to me as well.
You know, Brockman made a face in the first segment when I suggested. I made clear: I'm not an NBA insider, yet here, Brockman, we have an NBA insider. First team, he says, for Jalen Brown, watch the Nuggets.
So if you'd like to retract the face, you're welcome to now.
Well, if Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are coming back with a slew of picks, you know, I'm kind of that would lessen the blow a little bit. I mean, you mentioned Nas Reed and And who else did you? Rudy Gobert in picks? I kind of told TJ, I kind of went a bit on board with that. As a resident Celtics fan here, he's been clinging to the hope of Jalen Brown.
Still thinks it's more likely. All right, let's give it to John Krzynski right here. What's more likely? Jalen Brown on the Celtics roster, game one of the 26-27 season, or on a different roster? Oh, I think that if you're a betting man, and I'm not, I am not a betting man at all, but uh, I would think that Jalen Brown goes elsewhere.
It just seems like when you look at the tea leaves, when you look at some of the angst and some of the things that are swirling around there, it looks like Jalen Brown wants to go somewhere else, wants to have his own team, wants to kind of lead an organization. And it's probably not going to happen there with Jason Tatum. And if the Celtics want to make changes to try and get back into the Eastern Conference elite, Upgrade their front court as they need to do. Jalen Brown is the one piece that they have to really kind of bring that to fruition.
So sorry about it, Brockman, but I don't think you're going to be seeing Jalen there for a whole lot longer. Where would Jalen Brown and Jokic kind of rank as a duo in the league? Oh, seems pretty tasty to me. Dude, it'd be unbelievable. I mean, you're talking about two top.
10 top nine players in the league. I mean, Jalen Brown was terrific. For the Celtics last season, and especially if it was a Jamal Murray type going out, leading the way, you would need a lot more shots. And Jalen Brown would give you so much shot making, so much shot creation. Nikola Jokic would find him for easy buckets.
That would be a dynamic duo for sure if that were to happen. I don't know what the likelihood is of it, but. To me, if you ask me, I think Denver should be exploring that a lot. Yeah, and a win-win, seemingly, for both teams, I feel like. Yeah, we've talked so much about, obviously, Jalen Brown in recent days in part because of the Giannis talks, but Giannis took up a great deal of oxygen in the NBA universe.
John, now Lamello, of course, entering into that as well. What else are you watching? League-wide, I know you've always got your finger on the pulse. This you talked to a lot of people. What else should people be paying attention to that could potentially shake things up here over the next couple of weeks?
Yeah, I mean, you do, there's a couple of spots that you look at. Does Cleveland do something to make a big change with Evan Mobley, Jared Allen, Donovan Mitchell, all that, James Harden? Like, what's going to happen in Cleveland and how would the ripple effects there kind of trickle down? What is LeBron James going to do and where is he going to end up? And how does that affect the Lakers and all of their cap space?
Like, I think that is a sort of sleeping giant out there with getting Luka Doncic back healthy. They just re-signed Austin Reeves, doing an enormous deal.
Now they do have to figure out: is LeBron James in or is he going to the Warriors or someone else? And so I think there are still... quite a few major dominoes that could Fall here that really kind of gets your head spinning right around the 4th of July. And, you know, this is the time of year when the NBA tries to take a little bit of shine away from your NFL, Tom. And, you know, while your guys are sleeping and grilling hot dogs and stuff, these guys are going to be making huge trades that blow your mind.
And I would imagine it's going to be another busy summer that way. One month away, less than one month away, 30 days. Hey, John, if something is happening on Sunday and today is Thursday, how many days away is that? That's four days away, right? No, you're on the Brockman math.
It's three. Three days. No, but if you're, well, when is it on Sunday? If you're on a Sunday morning, that's a full day to count. If it's Sunday night, Thursday now, that's three days away.
We're just, we've been going back and forth on this math non-stop for two days, and everybody is coming up with different. I mean, we blew Colin Morikawa's mind yesterday.
Well, he added a half a day. If he has a bad round at the Travelers Championship, I'm going to blame that conversation because it seriously seemed like we broke something. He's one under with three to go today. Oh, that's okay. It's okay.
John, thank you very much. We appreciate it, man. Great seeing you, dude. Appreciate you having me, Tom. Thanks.
John Krasinski, senior writer. Also, Carmark added a half a day for some reason. He was like, oh, it's four and a half. Yeah. This is like.
Colin, what? We're learning a lot. Like, this has been a sociological experiment to figure this out. You don't count the day you're on, but you count the day of the event. That's the the bottom line.
But if you're asking me Thursday morning, I still have to live all of Thursday. That's a whole day. But okay, so December 24th, you wake up. I thought about it for December 24th, you wake up or your son wakes up. How many days till Christmas?
When are we celebrating Christmas? When are we opening presents? The twenty-fifth. Yeah, at night, then that's basically two days. At night?
You mean Christmas Eve then? I'm just saying. Hey, wait, when do you open presents in your household? In the morning. But I'm saying, like, wait, what if you've gone over to family's house in the evening and they have presents to give?
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Okay. One, I guess.
Okay. So I I think we've we've now reduced it down. Yes, one. But if you're asking me Thursday morning, what t how many days till the game Sunday night? That's four days.
Okay. Here's what we're going to do because we got what's more likely coming up on the other side of this break. I am going to open up the phone lines in the final segment of the show. We probably should. And I just want to take a poll: 844-204-RICH.
If you are describing something that is on Sunday, it is today Thursday, on Sunday, how many days away is it? Is Sunday, 844-204-Rich. We got what's more likely coming up after this.
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Likely, you guys don't agree. Uh The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Back to the rich eyes and show Tom Pellicero in for rich. We're going to play what's more likely in a second here. But the conversation now, well into its second day.
Or maybe Brockman would say it's first day about how you count the days until an event. Has been very hot. We've got full phone lines after I brought this up.
So let's just get a few of these calls, setting the stage. Today is Thursday. If something is on Sunday, How many days away do you say it is? Newton in Richmond, Virginia. How many days away is Sunday?
Well, Tom, I really appreciate you taking the call. Great to hear you when Rich isn't there. It you know, here's the thing. Did you hear anybody at the start of the show say there would be no masks? Never.
Because otherwise, math really solves this problem. Today, is June the twenty-fifth, Thursday, June twenty-fifth. And we're looking forward to Sunday, june twenty eighth. And when we subtract twenty five from twenty eight, gentlemen, what do we get? We got three days.
Not four, Brockman. You have to count the day you're living. Newton, thank you. Thank you very much. How about Max in South Carolina?
It's Thursday. How many days away is Sunday?
It is three days away. Brockman, you're doing like hours. You could look at it like hours, but there's a reason why we have seconds. We have minutes. We have hours and we have days.
So it's three days away, John.
So you're just skipping over the day that you're living. Thank you very much. Brian, Duplain, Illinois. Number of days, it's Thursday. How many days till Sunday?
I think you just skip the days altogether and you count sleeps. Sunday is three sleeps away. You got to go to sleep Thursday. Sleep Friday, sleep Saturday, Sunday's your day. Great.
I love it. You count the transitions to each day, which is exactly how you count days away. Let's grab one more. Rick in San Antonio, it's Thursday. How many days away is Sunday?
I'd say four. I wanted that. This reminds me of an argument I had with my friends. Like if I g if I call you on today and say Do you want to play golf this Saturday? Mm-hmm.
What does that mean? That means in two days. If I say, do you want to play golf next Saturday? What does that mean? But they say, well, this Saturday, the coming Saturday, is the next Saturday.
But he didn't say the next, it's just next. That implies not this one, the next one. If I say, we're going to my mom's house this Christmas. That means the one coming up in 2026. And if I say we're going to be going to my mom's house next Christmas, that invites a little more ambiguity because we're six months out, but I would still argue 2027 Christmas.
Thank you, Rick, for the call. 844-204-RICH. If anybody else wants to weigh in on the debate, I thought it was going to be a clean sweep. Right there, but we had one come in at four. We've not had anyone come in at two, which has also been guest during this show.
I hope Rich flipped to the channels and was like, What the hell is going on on my show? If only he knew how many times this has come up and the mass confusion with every guest. As they're trying to solve, no one has said half yet, so that's good. Time for what's more likely, presented by Pello, Windows, and Doors. Let's go.
What? What's more likely? Never say never, but never. Hey, buddy, what's up?
So we'll do what's more likely next week in eight days or whatever. Nine, nine days? Or today? Seven. If it's every Thursday, it's seven days.
Normally it's Friday. But we count, you have to count the day. But that would be not this Friday, next Friday. You have to count the days you're living. The next.
We're still living this day. Guys are pretty good. Yes, but you're on the day. But if we're going on the day to disagree on this one, Thursday morning, and you're going to dinner Sunday night, that's like four full days. What's more likely?
We're going to do this segment, or you're going to keep ranting about this. Guys, there's a dude out there. We want to play this first, Mike Hoskins. Yeah, let's play this first, and let's hear from Brandon Ayuk, who keeps going on his social media and doing weird stuff. Let's roll this one.
And if I'm crazy... Or if I'm cappy. Yeah. So them boys cut me today. And I'll sign with the commanders tomorrow.
And we'll see you gap it. Then there was another one today where he's got a backpack in an empty closet and he's just throwing cash on the ground. Have you seen that? Had not seen that one. This one right here.
Look at this. He is in an empty closet. It's completely white. There's a backpack on a shelf in there, TJ. And he pulls out, I'm guessing they're $100 bills.
And he's just throwing cash on the ground.
Now, is he implying that? That's all the 49ers cash that they've given him? I hope that this is. like an Andy Kaufman style performance art sure. And not the sign of a man who is on his last nerve.
And I mean that seriously. Like, I hope. Brand Nayuk is just being funny and is not unwell through the course of this. The fact that every video is him alone doing these things. Strikes me as odd.
Listen, here's what the situation boils down to. Brandon Ayuk, it doesn't matter how many videos you post, how many names you call the 49ers in their front office, how many different times you say you want to be on the commanders and you got a commander's hat and a commander's football and you love the commanders and go commanders. You have to show up. The only way you get cut is if you show up to the facility. Force the 49ers hand, force them to move you back to the active roster or release you.
They can't really move you back to the active roster because all that money that you're owed would suddenly hit the salary cap. That's what you do. No one's doing it right now because teams are off for the next few weeks, but you need to show up. To the facility once the 49ers are back, and at that point, you force their hand as opposed to them just being able to go. We don't care.
We want to trade you. No one's trading for you. You're still on the team. What's more likely, the team that Brandon and I play for this season, the Commanders or the Field? Commanders, I don't know that there is another team right now that.
Frankly, he wants to get involved with it. He's in with the commanders, he's Adam Peters, is the GM. He was in San Francisco when they drafted him. And Jaden Daniels, he played with him at Arizona State. I don't know how much he's talked to Jaden, quite frankly.
He's not allowed to talk to Adam Peters or anybody else in the Commander's organization. I do believe. As he said himself, if he gets released, he's going to sign in Washington. And that makes sense. There's not going to be a bidding war for Brandon Ayuk.
He hasn't played a football game in 20 months. We don't even know if he's fully healthy, if he ever completed his rehab.
So, yes, the Commanders is absolutely the team to beat, if not the only team. We heard from Matthew Stafford earlier, guys, about maybe playing into his 40s. Who's more likely to be the Rams starting quarterback in 2028? Matthew Stafford or Ty Simpson? How many years from now is that?
That's two full seasons. Three years. Hmm. I would say, what's more likely. would be Ty Simpson as the quarterback in 2028.
That's not to doubt what Matthew Stafford can do. They're coming into a season where all eyes are on winning the Super Bowl. Um For Stafford. He signed an extension, which we talked about earlier in the show. It is an extension.
But it wasn't a guarantee that he's still the quarterback in 2027. Everybody has options then. And then in 2028, they structured these void years to give everybody the option of what you want to do moving forward. I just know this: Matthew Stafford's 40. He's got.
a wife who's college sweetheart. He's got four young girls. He doesn't strike me as a guy who wants to play until the very last second. Not that he's not competitive, not that he's not still playing at a really high level because he was the best player in the league a year ago. More so, I could see him choosing at some point to walk away.
A lot's gonna have to do with health. and where he feels like he is in his career. But the idea that we're two years into Ty Simpsons' career, a guy who sat for three years in college before playing one season, and now he's going to play one year out of seven? We'll see. If Stafford's still playing at a high level, I don't anticipate Sean McVay unless Sneed ever chasing him off.
But I would say two years down the line, knowing Stafford's injury history, life, how much money he's made, I'll say Ty Simpson. How about this one? A couple of big tight ends. It's tight end university week going on in Nashville. George Kittle and all them boys having a good time.
How about this? More likely, newly paid tight end you'd rather have in fantasy this year. Kyle Pitts or Brenton Strange? Ooh. I I would say Brenton strange.
Because we already know what he is in that system. He's been productive based upon how they're structured. I would anticipate, and Bucky Brooks, who does color for their games, posted this after I had the extension yesterday: like, this is a guy whose production is going to explode. I anticipate Bretton Strange takes on a bigger and bigger role in that offense in Jacksonville. With Kyle Pitts, like, we've seen it.
It's always tantalizing. He always has moments. We know based on Stefansky being in Cleveland that they were able to find production, and David Njoku would have really big games at times in Cleveland. It just remains to be seen. We don't even know who the quarterback is in Atlanta.
We know Trevor Lawrence is the quarterback in Jacksonville. He knows how to get the ball to Brenton Strange. I would just have to say, if I'm guessing the upside and also the value in the fantasy draft, in other words, where that guy's gonna get taken. In your average fantasy draft, I bet 9 out of 10 Kyle Pitts is going higher. I'll take the value of Bretton Strange a couple rounds later.
Tom, looking for value. We've been talking a lot about these quarterback battles for the last few months. Probably going to talk about it right up until week one. Veteran QB in a competition more likely to start more games this year. Kirk Cousins Kyle Murray to a tongue of Ilo.
Now that that is a That is a challenging one. It's certainly not what's more likely. That would be what's most likely. She got three answers. At the Grammar Police now, I thought Ceciliano coasted on Tuesday.
I don't know. You'd probably say there's only two answers on the screen using your math. I will go ahead and- What's the highest math score on the SAT in this room? I will say Kirk Cousins. The reason is, at this point, Kirk Cousins, I'd be surprised if he's not the quarterback out of the gate.
Fernando Mendoza, as talented as he is, as productive as he is, big of a winner as he is, he's got a very significant growth process to play a different style of offense, going from shotgun. RPO, thrown into wide open windows to an under-center, play-action-heavy type of a scheme. And I think that the Raiders want to protect him. Kirk Cousins has played at a high level. He's had injuries that have created circumstances.
So have Kyler.
So have Tua. Patua's in a fight with Michael Pennix Jr. I would say going into camp, I would think it's Tua just because he's had all the time on task already there with the new coaching staff. There may be a comfort level. And Michael Pennix Jr.
is still coming off another ACL. It may be a while until he's truly 100% again. But how long does that last? And how long does it go with Kyler Murray? I'd still say, sitting here.
I would lean towards Kyler Murray as a starting quarterback, but they split at 50-50 the entire time. Kirk's the one who is pretty clearly the number one quarterback right now. And if the Raiders are playing well, And they're still on task. I just don't know that they really want to force Fernando Mendoza out there as a rookie. All right, a couple NBA ones now before we wrap this up and get on with our weekend, boys.
Who's more likely to go further in next year's NBA playoffs? Been talking about these guys a lot this week: Giannis or Jalen Brown. I mean, we don't know what team Jalen Brown is on at this point. We do. He's on the Celtics.
You're holding out hope that it's still going to be the Boston Celtics.
Meanwhile, we just talked in the last segment to John Krasinski, NBA writer, who said. Fully anticipates Jalen Brown is somewhere else. We're in a lot of the stuff that I've heard and been told, which is Jalen doesn't really want to be there. He wants a fresh start. And you still have the opportunity to extract value here if you're patient to get the right offer.
Whether that is, you know, Denver, John brought up Cleveland, if it's Jalen Brown and Jokic. I like that over Giannis and Bam in Miami. If it's Jalen Brown in Boston. I still probably like it better, but I just don't know that there's a scenario where that's where Jalen Brown is. I just think it's a hard question right now.
I think Giannis is the Giannis and the Heat are the favorite in the East, in my mind, right now.
So, all things equal. Favorite to do what? All things equal. I take Giannis in the heat. Wow.
Yeah. If he's healthy, if he is the Giannis that we have seen. He is still one of the most efficient players in the NBA. Leads the NBA every year in two-point field goals, is a rebounder. Alters the game in terms of defense.
He is a game changer.
Now, if he gets hurt again, then obviously that upends everything. That would be my concern. He's what, 31? He's had a bunch of injuries. That's my concern.
But all things equal right now. I mean, put the heat right there in the favorites in the east. West got shaken up with Lamello going to Minnesota. And we had Austin Reeves guys sign it, agree to a new contract. See that video of him on the golf course?
Oh, yeah. Like, fell over and you know, appreciation. It's cool. Who's more likely to be the better Western Conference backcourt this year? Luca and Austin Reeves.
By the Ant-Man and Lamello. Whew. I mean, again, with Luca, you just got to wonder in terms of the health and what that looks like. You know, from the conditioning stuff's well documented, but he's had injuries. He had another one this year that limited him to, you know, whatever it was.
He missed like 30 games this season.
So. Uh I would just say to me. I mean, the more dynamic backcourt to me is the one in Minnesota.
Now, is Lamello able to stay healthy? Does this come together? I know this. Ant is fired up today. Anthony Edwards.
loves this deal. Because this creates somebody who can actually create for him as opposed to Ant doing what he's had to do a lot, which is create for others, because there's nobody able to draw those double teams away from him. Who goes further in the playoffs? TJ. That's a good one, man.
That's fun. You know, I can't answer this because of my Laker bias, so I'm going to say the Timberwolves. But also, I mean, are we talking about with LeBron or without LeBron? That's exactly the case. And how much does that move the needle at this stage?
I mean, LeBron is still a plus player, he's not what he was, but he is still a difference maker. Yeah, it's kind of early to answer this right now, but I'm going to go with Minnesota because of my hatred. I love being a hater. Guys, I'm not. Big movie, last one.
Big movie anniversary. I assume that Tom hasn't seen any of these. Where were you on this date in 1996? 1996. Pittsburgh, I know that.
I would have been summer after the ninth grade.
Okay. Probably playing a Babe Ruth baseball tournament somewhere or something. You were probably making plans to go to Mickey Mantle or whatever. Independence Day tonight. Oh, absolutely.
30 years ago today. Great movie, great anniversary. More likely movie. What? You've seen it?
I have seen it. I saw it in the theater. Like, everyone saw it, okay? There was a point in time when I saw movies, and the late 90s would have been that time. I've never thought it was a great movie.
Welcome to Earth. Welcome to Earth. Summer movie you'd likely throw on at the end of your July 4th party, Independence Day, Jaws, or the Sandlot. White Jaws. Wow, I actually have seen all three of those.
This is one of the great summer movies ever. Is it with the kids or not? Because that does make a pretty big difference. Because if you have the kids, you have to show them joys. I think that's also, isn't the end of the Fourth July party fireworks?
Where are you that you're coming home from the fireworks at 11 o'clock and then starting a movie? Your your fireworks go on at 11 o'clock? They end late. We do? At 11?
10 maybe and then you gotta Pick up the blankets and crying kids, and somebody wants a piggyback ride, and then somebody forgot their water bottle, and you got to go back, and everyone's leaving. And you got the parking situation, and somebody can't get their car started. And now there's a traffic jam, and you're stuck out there on a side street. It is pitch black, you're in a neighborhood. You don't want to honk the horn because then you're the jerk.
Yes, it takes a while. That is very specific to get back last year. The fireworks, very specific. The key, the move with the Fourth of July fireworks display. is you convince the kids halfway through to start walking.
You start the fireworks display. The folding chairs are already folded up. And then you just go, all right, we're gonna start moving. And then you walk out and then you turn around and see, hey, there's those last couple, and then the final boom. In the car, and you get out before everybody else.
There is top five worst spots to be in your car is after the 4th of July fireworks. Everybody's been like, you know, drinking all day. They're at this point, like, they're exhausted. Everyone around you, like, everyone just wants to get home and they can't. Like that to me, after the 4th of July is worse than leaving.
Like a baseball game, Dodger State, Dodger Stadium? Like when you're stuck in the uh, well, Dodger Stadium's its own animal because you're up on that hill. Actually, the the move at Dodger Stadium is you take a lift. They have their own little parking lot that they can get out of. I don't think I've ever driven all the way up there and parked.
But if you do the leave. The Left Dodger Stadium is leave after, take me out to the ball game. But still, getting in and out of there, the ingress egress is not ideal. I don't want to glaze over two things. One, you still haven't answered the question.
And two, you've seen all these movies? I have seen all these movies. Once again, it's what's most likely. Uh I mean, all right, so let's say end of the 4th July party, it's 11 p.m. Getting back.
1030. Or you just have it on during the party. The kids are going to the going to bed.
So Independence Day, 100% out of it. Great. That's the correct answer. That's what's more likely. We actually agreed to it.
What's more likely brought to you by Pella Windows and Doors? When it comes to your home, Pella Windows and Doors always have the winning game plan. That's why your neighbors trust them. Visit pella.com/slash Eisen. More Rich Eisen show with me, Tom Pellicero, after this.
I still say Jaws. Sam Hot.
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Separate subscriptions required, blackouts and other terms apply. Visit stream.espn.com slash MLBTV for more information. Um The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast. Back now for our radio audience, Tom Pillisero in for Rich. We're going to go to the phone lines: 844-204-Rich.
The question we've been asking has generated a great deal of discussion. We've got votes. You can also go on to the Rich Eisen Show X page and cast your vote now. Today is Thursday. How many days away is Sunday?
Mikkel in Queens, New York. Mikkel, your answer. How many days away is Sunday?
Hello there. When I listened in, the original question was: how many days I think to the Sunday Night Game? If that was the case, then you count it by the Jewish calendar by sundown, so it's begins a new day.
So Thursday, sundown, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, sundown, it's four days to a Sunday night game. Otherwise, it'd just be three days.
So you're counting based upon sundown, as that is the cutoff. I like that. Yeah. Yeah. That's when the new day begins, at sundown.
All right, so we're giving that one. That's a split vote. It's a thinker. Thank you, Mikkel. How about Podgey in Houston, Texas?
It is Thursday. How many days away is Sunday?
Okay. What's going on, guys? I like to keep it mathematics. But The also undisputed would be the Bible. 'Cause biblically from Friday, Good Friday to Easter.
On the third day, he rose But if you're talking Thursday, then it's four days. All right.
Now that is that is A great point. Apaji, thank you very much for the call. Good point. I had not. I had not considered the biblical element of this.
On the third day, he rose again. But that's still. Not three days later. It's on the third day. The third day would be two days away.
Wow, what on the third day. All right, you go on vacation today. Here we go. What is the third day of your vacation? You took a plane this morning.
You went to Honolulu.
Okay. What day is the third day of your vacation?
Well, today is day one, tomorrow is day two, and then Saturday would be day three. Correct.
So on the third day, he rose again. would be two days away, not three. But you count today. Why? Because it's not even noon yet.
We have to live today. You can't just skip over it and count it as the next day.
Okay, guys, one thing that is not up for debate, because this could go on forever, is this afternoon, check your local listings. No contest wrestling will be on ESPN2, ESPN News. It's 3 o'clock here in the Pacific. Check your local listings. I think it might be on right now.
How many hours away is that? That's three. Three hours away. Yeah. Not four.
You're not counting this hour. And we will have Jade Cargill on ahead of her match at Night of Champions for the United States. Out of boy, TJ Williams. I got to get my own thing out there before we leave. Out of boy.
All no contest wrestling fans, ESPN 2 this afternoon. Thank you. Uh I'm gonna make make a hard left turn here. Uh since we also have women's sports now 6 p.m. Eastern tonight, 3 o'clock Pacific across all of the ESPN platforms.
Uh What's going on with Caitlin Clark? I know I could have asked this at any point in really the past two years. But The number of things that currently drop into my timelines on social media The highlights or low lights that I see on T V. Even the quotes from her coach, who has drawn criticism for not defending her further. TJ, I'm going to come to you as our resident WNBA expert here.
Are we into. Wemby situation. Like, I can't think of many NBA stars who say they never get a favorable whistle. Caitlin Clark, who is arguably whatever you want to say in terms of where she stacks up as a player, she's certainly one of the best. Seems to have the worst whistle in the WNBA, and not just on.
Things that are straightforward. But somebody Gets themselves up by putting their fist into your neck and then steps on you. It would seem to me that's something that maybe the officials, based on all the history, would be looking for. Exactly. Look, I uh it's going around she got punched in the neck.
She didn't get punched from where I say saw it. But yes, definitely there was a closed fist. Definitely it was used to place and and hold Alyssa Thomas's body up as she arose.
So, yeah. There was definitely a neck, a fist to the neck. I won't call it a punch. But you're right. There are times where it does seem like the wrestle doesn't go her way.
Alyssa Thomas also got into it with Angel Rees, and I know we. These two names, they always kind of Are stuck together like you know, chocolate and peanut butter. But she also kind of banged around Angel Rees a few days ago, and that caused an uproar.
So I don't know if it's more so on the player, Alyssa Thomas, if she's got beef with these two. I don't know what it is, but yeah, Caitlin Clark's name will just, it'll bring out. All the positivity and all the negativity when the WNBA is mentioned. Right now, you've got people saying that she should leave and go to Europe. I don't know, man.
I don't know what that is. I want to be very clear. The competitiveness and the physicality. And frankly, the attention that some of these things bring to the N WNBA are all good things. Like having a level of physicality.
having things be high profile, which you can't do in any sport. Is allow your most visible players to take cheap shots constantly. Constantly. And yes, what do you call it? Yeah, exactly.
It's not a punch, but it's like saying, you know, Albert Hainsworth kicked that guy in the head. No, he just stepped on his face. It's still bad, you still can't do it. Unnecessary and flagrant. And until you start to have suspensions, significant fines, whatever it might be, I don't know.
How do you get those things called? Like the message has to be sent. And weirdly, the message that's being sent right now seems to be. It's just like anybody else. Oh, we missed the call.
You missed the fist in the neck? Yeah, it's kind of hard to miss that call. It's hard to justify it. And it's one thing if the game just kept going on and Caitlin kept playing and they won or they lost, right? No, she left the game, back injury.
So now your most high-profile player is going to probably miss more games. And that is a major issue because now that's eyeballs away from your sport. It's not saying, yeah, you have to put her in a glass bubble here and call everything. She doesn't need to get the full Wemby treatment or Shay or whoever it is at any given moment in the NBA. But what you're not going to see outside of Wemby trying to stuff Jalen Brunson's face into the floor is star players taking those cheap shots.
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