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This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck. You can find us everywhere.
Watch us weekdays on Disney Plus from noon to 3 Eastern. Miss the show. We've got a podcast, so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part, our YouTube channel. Subscribe at youtube.com slash rich Eisen Show and you'll never miss a moment.
Now, on with the show. Oh my god, you guys are my favorites. This is The Rich Eisen Show. The one and only. Rich Eisen.
I know what I'm talking about. That's the headline. The Rich Eisen Show. With guest host, Brian Weber. I mean, honestly, he's brilliant.
Brian Weber. I've got a long resume. Google me. It saves time. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
And now, sitting in for Rich. It's Brian Weber. To the program. Always an honor to sit in for Rich and the guys. This is the football show of record.
As you know, today we're talking football, the first of many annoying references from the pitch from a midlink former soccer play-by-play announcer. World Cup fever catch it. We knew the United States had already clinched the spot. In the round of 32 against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which normally I say slowly. But I spat that one out with alacrity on a big board Friday, heading into last night's.
Glorified exhibition against Turkey, or Turkey, as we say in the States. Don't tell that to the passionate crowd that showed up at SoFi Stadium. Yeah, I'll call it SoFi because I don't work for FIFA. Having to rebrand the stadium as Los Angeles Stadium here in Southern California. It was electric, especially.
As we, I'm going Team USA, we, we, we. Knocked it in off the set piece three minutes into the game. Unfortunately, we came up on the short end of an exhibition. We'll tell you the significance coming up, but as much as I would love to flex my soccer knowledge and regale you with stories of seeing Pele in nineteen seventy seven, Playing for the New York Cosmos, a giant stadium, I cannot destroy Rich's impeccable brand.
So, We'll get to the soccer coming up in 20 minutes. We will, as always, try to get as much NFL into the mix as possible, coming up in 45 minutes. I don't know what's going on with Brandon Ayuk, but Apparently, he believes he can talk his way out of the San Francisco Bay area. We'll give you the latest on his meltdowns on social media, and we'll talk about another personnel move that the Niners I think should give a lot of serious thought to. Only a couple guests.
And if you're new to the Brian Weber experience, going third person as a fill-in hack. I do my best to give you as many opportunities to interact as possible. You know the iconic phone number, 844-204-RICH, 844-204-7424. You can hit me up on the X platform. That is BW Weber, Weber with Two B's.
Wide open in the first hour. In fact, we will not have an outside voice join us unless you pick up the telephone. Until 120 Eastern Time when we get World Cup analysis from Stephen Goff. of Yahoo sport.
So. I had everything mapped out. Beyond my Pele anecdotes and Taking you back. Through the heyday of Of major indoor soccer, Steve Jungle and your New York Arrows, late 1970s. Yes, I'm 140 years old.
And With all of the excitement, Across the United States, especially in host cities like Los Angeles, I was justified going heavy. On the World Cup, but I had a moment of clarity after all. And I don't want to use the term meaningless because there's meaning every time you take the field in the World Cup, but we knew there was no consequence because the United States coming off their outstanding start with back-to-back wins and World Cup play for the first time since 1932. They made the semifinals. You probably didn't know that, nor should you care about that.
They had already booked a spot into knockout play. Turkey had a lot to play for. From a standpoint of personal pride, because they had been held scoreless and they had already been eliminated.
So you figured with the United States wresting everybody of significance, nine different roster changes from the winning combination that took down Australia a week ago. It would have a very different feel.
So I was just going to use what happened on the field as a catalyst for a larger conversation, which we'll get to in 15 minutes. I'm Brian Weber. Traffic and weather together here on ESPN radio, 844-204-Rich. Conversation never stops on the X platform. BW Weber, Weber with two B's, but.
I had to call an audible because about an hour and a half ago. The Mets did another Mets-like thing. And if I wanted to be snarky, And I'm trying my best to Be more Expansive in my thought process, have a growth mindset, but If I wanted to take the low road, which after all is the foundation of sports talk radio, I could pose this hypothetical. What's more likely? The United States, we, Team USA, winning the World Cup, or the Mets ending their decades of dysfunction.
Now, I was around in 1986. I was still in high school. I witnessed the greatest comeback. in my lifetime, even though I also just witnessed what the Knicks did in Game Four against the Spurs. But those of us who still love baseball will never forget Game Six, nineteen eighty six World Series.
And the Mets were just in the championship series a couple of years ago, but. They are the Mets after all. They are A coffin on roller blades in many ways. And they prove today with the dismissal of Carlos Mendoza, really putting him out of his misery because he was going to be dead men walking either way. If they gave him a little bit more rope and let him play out the string, because the Mets were just 34 wins.
are Essentially rock bottom, although when you consider that over the history of this franchise, they always find a way to go even lower. But in terms of the overall big picture, only the Rockies And the scuffling giants with their overmatched Manager Tony Vitello making the jump straight from college baseball at Tennessee. And clearly has not earned the respect of at least Raphael Devers. Only Colorado and San Francisco have fewer wins than the imploding Mets.
So it was only a matter of time. That Carlos Mendoza was going to pay the price. Andy Green, if you care about the interim status, will guide the team for the rest of the year. But if you're thinking, okay, why now? They had to do something.
And I realize there's so much going on this week, and as a veteran, of vacation, fill-in shifts. And if you enjoyed the small sample size, I don't want to get greedy, but I will be back next Friday. And then we get to what used to be. The death zone of Sports Talk Radio, but now, since we're all soccer aficionados, we got a lot to cover in the next few weeks before Rich triumphantly returns. The Mets got a national benefit of Most shows focusing.
on World Cup Beaver and a monster week in The NBA, and if I'm talking Mets here, it's only because they forced me to. And they really were forced to make the decision because, in addition to just an atrocious season overall, They have been scuffling as of late. Six more losses in a row. A four-game sweep to the Cubs. And if you caught any of the highlights on Sports Center or here on ESPN radio, It felt very bad news bears-esque.
Play the old Benny Hill theme underneath error after error.
So. With the embarrassment mounting, Steve Cohen had to do something, and that something was whacking Mendoza. In fairness, just a couple years ago, because this bear is repeating. The Mets, after a dismal start, Got way hot. Remember that unlikely run all the way to the nationally championship series, but.
When you have the second highest payroll in all of baseball, as the Mets do, and when you have an owner who has, understandably, with that level of investment. A very demanding outlook.
Something's got to change. The roster's locked in for now. And probably not a coincidence that prior to Mendoza getting the acts. Yesterday, the Mets traded David Peterson, who was an all-star pitcher of a year ago to the Cubs. Even though just the day before Their GM, David Stern, said.
His, and I'm paraphrasing, his plan, if there is a plan in Queens, was to give his team as much opportunity and time as possible to show they could compete before making his decision about being a buyer or seller heading into the trade deadline, which is. Less than five weeks away now.
Well, What changed? It got so ugly during that sweep by the Cubs. that the Mets had to do something because If you're familiar at all. Even from the distance Of the great expanse we have here on ESPN radio nationwide. Or perhaps I'm giving you a sense of it with my very intense delivery.
New York is a different market. Not only is losing unacceptable, If you are as grotesque as the Mets have been, Something's gotta give.
So Mendoza put out of his misery away. I'm surprised he made it this For because if you go back to the beginning of the season after that atrocious April. The majority of his coaching staff had gotten fired then. And they gave Mendosa just a little bit more time, I think with the afterglow. Of getting to the NLCS just a couple years ago.
So the Mets hoping there'll be. a Rob Thompson effect like we've seen with the Phillies. Swap out the manager. Philadelphia brings in Don Manningly, who's working for his son, Preston, the GM. That's got to be an interesting dynamic.
Hey, uh son. What do you think? What should I do in the threehole here? Because we know the modern managers, even Donnie Ballgame, one of the heroes of my youth, follow what the analytics department says in the front office for most major decisions. But Whatever.
The impact of changing the manager was in Philadelphia, it's worked. Because the Philippies have come alive, they're in second place. In the NL East, behind the Braves, right in the mix of the wild card conversation. Here's the problem for the Mets. Last time I checked, even though they have the second highest payroll in all of baseball.
They don't have Bryce Harper. Tail now of Kyle Schwarber. They don't have Christopher Sanchez. Because this is a terribly flawed roster.
Now, I don't want to sound like I'm auditioning to do overnight at WFAN in New York City. And I realize I am supposed to be dispassionate as a national host, but when I get talking about the Mets, I have decades of bad memories that come alive. And the difference of The Met say 1979 with Lee Mazzilli is this. That meta organization was cheap. They were terrible because they spent no money.
This team is throwing money at every problem, lighting. bushels filled with cash on fire and getting nothing in return. And I realize injuries are a significant issue. No want soda early on. They just got Francisco Lindor back.
But even with fully healthy If you're just looking at the roster, stack it up against LA's in a different stratosphere because of their unlimited resources. Although the Mets payroll, I keep belaboring this point, is comparable. The problem with the Mets, and I think any objective observer had this inkling coming into the year, was this is a poorly constructed roster, and that's on GM David Stearns, who'll be the next to go.
Now, I mentioned the Mets and the Dodgers at the top of the list when it comes to throwing money at. their issues, and it works for the Dodgers because they also have a brilliant front office led by Andrew Friedman. That's the key distinction between LA and New York. But it also points out what's going on from a larger perspective Because we know a lockout's coming at the end of the year. The owners are demanding a salary cap.
And even An additional wrinkle was thrown out yesterday. Trying to cap free agency at six years if you're re-signing your own guy, five years if a star goes to a different team. All of this because the owners can't help themselves. They want to put on handcuffs to keep them from spending money, ridiculously, like Steve Cohen has. And they want the Players to suffer from that in terms of economic growth by slapping a cap on them.
So, Let's hear from ESPN baseball reporter Jesse Rogers. He weighed in on Game Night here on ESBN Radio on how MLB is trying to frame their salary cap proposal. The salary growth of Major League Baseball players has actually gone slower than the other leagues who are in a cap system. This would create a partnership between the league and the union where they'd both be invested to grow the sport and grow the revenues. This is what's happening in the other sports.
This is something they're going to hammer home until this thing gets figured out. The idea that the rate of growth of salaries has actually been slower than the other players in the leagues with a cap system. That's why they think the players should go along with it.
Well, you can think whatever you want. And I think there's also a reason why all of this is being dropped so early in the process to try to sway fan sentiment against the players, but I'll say it again. This is all about the owners trying to find ways like we've seen in the NBA that has effectively killed free agency to put themselves in a financial straitjacket so they don't have the ability to burn through all their cash if they want to. Because Steve Cohen As much as Met fans appreciate his willingness to spend hundreds of millions of dollars. Will only stop if there's a cap and there's no way of just opening his wallet and trying to buy his way to a championship, which the Mets have proven time and time again, they have no idea how to achieve that goal.
I'm Brian Weber, Infra Rich. Just getting warmed up on a busy Friday. Help aboard at 844-204-Rich. That's 844-204-7424. Coming up.
We'll head to the pitch.
Soccer has become such a phenomenon, it's forcing me to delay NBA conversation until the next hour of the program. What a development. Breaking news.
Now that we have seen Team USA shine in a pair of meaningful matches and last night's pseudo-friendly against Turkey, What does it all mean? We'll let you know coming up. Always an honor to keep the chair warm for Mr. Eisen. I'm Brian Weber, Infor Rich, on The Rich Eisen Show.
Rich Eisen here. And summer's here too, and that means it's travel season. My favorite summer trip last year was to Sao Paulo, Brazil. With so many fans traveling for the Los Angeles against Kansas City game, they got to see how lively the city is. I love the culture and the amazing food that I'm still craving.
Those memories remind everyone that it's that time of year to plan a little getaway. And that's why summer has a way of turning weekends into big events. One minute, it's a normal week, and then all of a sudden, a huge concert, sporting event, or festival brings people in from all over. And when that happens, visitors start looking for places to stay all across your city.
So if you're already planning a summer trip of your own, you could list your space on Airbnb and earn a little extra cash while you're away. Doesn't have to be some big year-round commitment. It's about making the most of a busy weekend when your place would just be empty otherwise. I can tell you, people love finding a place that helps them feel connected to the city that they're visiting. If your city's about to have a big summer moment, this is a great time to maximize your space.
Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com slash host. A bandwagon fan. The biggest insult in sports. But this summer, during the FIFA World Cup, it's an invitation, America.
Never watched soccer before? Perfect. Think a corner kick is a karate move? Sure, why not? Prefer sports where players can use their hands?
Me too. Just here for the snacks?
Now we're talking.
So grab a bag of Lays and jump on the bandwagon. We're undefeated. Lays, the official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026. While the world watches the stars of the FIFA World Cup, Hyundai has its eyes on the next generation of talent, future stars who are already turning heads at age 14. Because Next doesn't wait for an invitation, and neither do we.
Hyundai has always moved the future within reach. We 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 because the future isn't some far-off concept. It's already here.
Next starts now. Hyundai, an official partner of FIFA. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. As we ease into what for many people is a long holiday week, I'm back with you next Friday. And because I know none of you have access to a calendar on your phone, I'm going to go old school, get my day planner out here because July 4th is a Saturday.
July third's a national holiday, so Max it out like many smart people do. If you have to work today and next week, you have my permission, my FCC authorization as a Philadelphia to mail it in as we reach. The early stages of what should be an awesome sports summer. Reminder: you can catch ESPN radio through a variety of ways. Brand new ESPN app.
Serious XM channel lady, my former employer and good friends at TuneIn 844-204-Rich, the number to call, 844-204-7424, or hit me up on X, BW Weber, Weber with two B's. We never stray too far from the NFL. On the football show of record, coming up in just over 20 minutes. The latest on Brandon Iuke. We're not on Brandon IUK.
Watch, watch, watch, watch, watch, because he has destroyed any trade value he might have had, which was small, before his. constant antics on social media, and they're gonna throw out A trade as an amateur GM. I think my fellow Palo Alto alum. John Lynch, who's had a better career, yours truly, or the Hall of Famer, should consider, based on a glaring need the Niners have up front. And trying to keep pace.
With L.A. Rams. In the toughest division at all of football with the reigning champs in Seattle, nobody's talking about other than losing the Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker III, to the Chiefs. Let's get to what happened last night.
Now, as much as I want to, because I keep flexing my soccer credentials, what else can I tell you? I've done decently high-level college soccer before the Pac-12 got murdered. I realize the conference is going to continue. But a conference that has Texas State is not the Pac-12. Back in the day, which was just two years ago.
Being around national champion programs like Stanford and UCLA, I learned a ton. Plus, And I should not be mentioning I'm older than 34. I'll never be back. I know it's the 18 to 34 demo. My generation was the soccer generation.
When the old NASL blew up. When the star is like Pele. And Canalia and Beckenbauer came to the States. We all played soccer, and then the sport. Meanda spike in 1994, the last time we had the World Cup here, leading to the MOS a couple years later.
And I'm going to talk momentarily about where Soccer fits in in the overall landscape.
However, Even if you're hearing me talk soccer and you're reaching for the dial, if that's still a thing. You're in the vast minority. If you don't care about the sport, I understand. If you want to go. Old school soccer bashing, any sport that you can't use your hands, that's a you problem.
If you have no appreciation for the beautiful game, I get it. But in no way can you undermine what a spectacle and phenomenon this tournament has become. Here in the United States, from a human element. And we'll talk about all of the great interaction between international visitors. Enjoying American hospitality coming up in a moment.
In terms of what happened last night here in Southern California, I'm Brian Weber coming to you from our Regal Studios, ESPN 710 Los Angeles. Thanks to the crew and all my friends here for the hospitality. And Southern California has been alive with this tournament, in part because it's always been a soccer hotbed. Last night coming in, we knew there was nothing on the line. Because the United States had such a promising start going back to back with victories over Paraguay and Australia.
So. Conventional wisdom said and head coach Mauricio Poccatino followed that logic. Rest, everybody. Nine big roster changes coming off the win over that physical Australian team. And importantly, that included What was happening in goal as Matt Turner came in and got burned with the game on the line?
U.S. jumped out to that quick lead, off the set piece, as we say in the soccer fraternity, corner kick. Three minutes in, it was spectacular and good to see reserves. Namely, Austin Trustee get his first international goal. If you care about the particulars, Turkey came back, led 2-1.
Greg Berhalter's son, Sebastian, making his own name. His father, of course, the former two-time head coach of the USNMT. I flipped that one. Men's national team. I'm always bad with acronyms.
2-2, went to stoppage time. And in the final seconds, Turkey prevailed 3-2 on a late goal. But the headline, in terms of important developments, was the return of the player who's going to end his career. As the greatest American soccer player of them all, certainly the most skilled we've ever seen. That is Christian Pulisic.
Even if you don't follow the sport, you know that name. And you know he had the calf injury. Came in with about 32 minutes left, had a good shot on frame. And played a good chunk of time when he entered the field of play in the second half. As I said, all told, more than thirty minutes of match time.
So, what does it all mean?
Well, after the game, a legitimate sports journalist, unlike myself, Jeremy Schapp offered his perspective on Game Night Here on ESPN Radio on what we learned from last night's loss to Turkey. I think the most important thing we learned is that Christian Pulissic looks fully fit. I mean, everything else, right, was officially meaningless. There were 10 guys starting out of the 11 who were on the bench when the game against Paraguay 13 days ago started. Only WrestleMcKenney among this team's core of starters was there at the beginning tonight.
You know, what we were all waiting for in terms of what matters most going forward was seeing Christian Pulissic in action. He hadn't played in 13 days. He only played in that first half against Paraguay. He comes into the game tonight in the 58th minute, and he was electric. he looked great.
He immediately energized um uh USMNT. Uh and and they played very well, I would say, in the first thirty minutes of that second half.
So I think that's my biggest takeaway.
So, positives in the loss, namely the return of the American superstar.
Now, I can't go all rah, rah, rah, rah. I lose my gig. We have to have some negativity in this industry. Here's something that jumped out to me last night. It resonated because it wasn't a one-off.
Why did that game start? First touch, as we say on the pitch. At 10 o'clock Eastern. No justification at all. I understand it's a global audience.
And those watching in Corkiller? It might have aligned with their schedule. But if the goal is to continue to build the sport domestically, especially connecting to casual fans, you can't start it that late. Go back to last week, the win over Australia. I realize now Juneteenth is deservedly a national holiday, but it was odd to start that game.
At 3 p.m. Eastern. Noon here on the west coast. Although, think about how raucous it was in Seattle for that game. New local time start.
What would it have been like if it was played at, say, five o'clock? I think the entire stadium would have come off its moorings. But I'm being a bit nitpicky here. I don't want to go negative. And in fact, I don't want to tell you what to watch or what to like.
And I'm not going to use What The American side is doing to come up with a thermonuclear preposterous viewpoint like.
Well, soccer's gonna blow past baseball and become Right there with the NBA. on a tier below football. That's not going to happen. Maybe not in my lifetime, and hopefully I got another 40 years. But what it could mean is the continued growth, especially for casual fans.
Of a sport. That has exploded going back to when I was lucky enough to cover the World Cup 1994. I saw the Mystic Knights of Cameroon. I saw Brazil play at Stanford Stadium. And I mentioned the direct output of American fans feeling energized by what happened in that World Cup.
Nothing to do with our performance. There was nothing historic about Alexei Lollis and his teammates, but it was soccer becoming much more mainstream and developing a connectivity. And what has occurred? In the intervening decades is Back then, you didn't see stars like Meridota. And to track soccer, I'm I remember because I work for Sports Channel Pacific in the San Francisco Bay Area.
We would get the English Premier League highlight show a week later and run it at 11 o'clock. On a Sunday night, and I would tamp it because I've loved soccer since Being a kid who had no athletic talent and they'd stick you on a back line and hope that you wouldn't whiff when you were trying to slow down a striker coming your way. In terms of what's happening on the field, this is the most athletic American team I've seen, and some of that comes down to not only the personnel selection, but the attacking style. That Pochuccino? is emphasizing think about the additions of, say, Polarion.
Pulligan and what he has meant to this team with his energy and intensity.
So It is not implausible, especially given how the draw is set up. And if you don't care that much about soccer, I understand, but context matters. Remember. They expanded the field. From 32 to 48 TMs.
And the direct result is. This is the highest scoring World Cup we've had in decades. in part because there are some overmatched squads out there, but The United States is not in charge of who they play and when they play. It is their responsibility to seize the opportunity, and they've done that so far. And as things continue to line up well for them, If you care about the FIFA rankings.
And the United States was 15th last night. They're taking on Bosnia Herzegovina, who's currently number 64 in the world. A better team in general than that ranking would indicate, still, United States. Favored not only to advance because they can get through with a tie, but to win outright when they get together coming up on Wednesday in Santa Clara in the San Francisco Bay Area. And if The scenario that's being kicked around holds.
Should they win that match, they move on to the round of sixteen in Seattle with that electric atmosphere to take on a Egyptian team, currently number twenty nine in the rankings. The United States would be favored over Team Egypt as well.
So then we're talking about something. That truly, I think, is a game changer in terms of getting more people just to care about the sport. And here is the good news: if you're a soccer fan, it has never been easier to watch the best players in the world. In the weeks and years that do not involve the World Cup, because you can watch the EPL on your phone now. Bundeschliga from Germany, Upper Division French soccer, Syria Ah from Italy as I'm spouting soccer knowledge just to act self-important.
So If you're somebody who says, Ah, I don't get it. It's not for me. I just want to stick to All NFL all the time. I get it. I am not I should be on the payroll of FIFA because they're a corrupt organization and they have Plenty of people who have made a lot of money, allegedly.
They also have good lawyers. I am not here to be a soccer enthusiast. But my job is to offer analysis and context, and I do think It is plausible. United States can maintain their momentum. There's going to be a lot of talk about.
Okay. They lost last night. What does that mean in terms of a carryover for Wednesday? Nothing. Because the starters didn't play.
And most importantly, Pulissic came back to get his fitness level right, get his legs going again.
So everything. Is Copacetic heading into that round of 32 match. And if you're thinking about. On charter territory, the The best the United States has done in our lifetimes. If you're relatively old, like me, I feel like Steve Buscemi.
Hello, fellow kids. I'm not talking 1932 semifinals again. I'm talking in the not too distant past. Bruce Serena was the coach. Landon Donovan had his own hair, and I don't know what is going on with Landon.
I'm only bringing it up because. He's good natured about it on social media, but one day he's kojacked, the next day he's got a raccoon on his head. But Landon, when he was a brilliant young player, part of the American side that had that brilliant run in two thousand two, got to the quarterfinals, And it should have been then the next step in the development of the sport here. And not much happened. What's different now?
Because of technology and because you have a generation of young soccer players and folks who are passionate about the sport, they are so knowledgeable, they are so dialed in about everything going on around the world. I think If the United States at least gets back to the quarterfinals. And remember, in that quarterfinal run, A one Oh, I'll push the envelope. 1-0 loss to Germany, one at all. United States was that close to moving to the semis.
If they get to the quarterfinals, I think we will see a major uptick. In terms of ratings for MLS, Attendance. At soccer doesn't need your approval or my approval. It's doing just fine. And of course, if you're going to a game in Kansas City in August, it's not going to feel the same way as this international celebration of life.
And sports, not to get too deep. I've been emotional watching some of these videos, and I realize we're all getting catfished. Everybody now is a performer, but the people enjoying ranch dressing and more to the point saying I wasn't certain how I would be received in the States, and everybody's been so nice. That's what sports is all about. Coming together in a tough time.
So Is it going to be the miracle on ice? No. Is it going to be Shamana defeating. Virginia in the Maui invitational years ago. No, I don't think the United States is going to be in position to play the big boys.
And by that, you know I'm talking about the usual suspects in France and Portugal and Spain and England and Argentina. It is possible because both those things actually happened. The Knicks were down 29 in game four and won that game. But if I'm talking about reasonable and plausible, Handle the business that's in front of them. Take care of Bosnia first, then keep it going against Egypt.
Then you have the puncher's chance, as I mix sports metaphors here. Do I think realistically the United States is going to win it all? No. And I We'll defer to someone who knows the sport much better than you and I do, former goalie Tim Howard, who put it well, saying, The United States would have to play nearly flawlessly four matches in a row. to get to the top of the sport.
But At least they're in position to keep it going. And The confidence grows and the atmosphere has been a major boost. You can't tell me as much as it was deflating to see the United States lose in the final seconds last night in a meaningless game. It was absolutely sensational last night. popped off my T V.
Went off the corner kick. It was magic time for Austin Trustee.
So. United States Checking all the boxes, and now it's up to them to keep their heads about 'em. And keep the momentum going, getting set for a Wednesday knockout game in Santa Clara against Bosnia. I'm Brian Weber, Infor Rich. We'll get back to the soccer coming up in the next hour of the program.
I will filibuster less. We'll get analysis from one of the best soccer journalists going. It's Stephen Goff, who covers the beautiful game for Yahoo Sports. He's been covering American soccer in multiple World Cups dating back to 1992. Coming up, we got to get to the shield.
We'll talk some football. As we wait to find out when the 49ers are going to cut, Brandon Ayuk, who continues to melt down on social media. Should the Niners consider another Big personnel move, a massive swing and go all in on a trade offer for Max Crosby. We'll kick that around along with a soccer ball or two. Always a great time to hang with you, especially on a Friday.
I'm Brian Wibber and for Rich. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Save $2 when you buy two cans of Superior Products Coverall tire dressing. Plus, receive four times O rewards points now at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Coverall delivers long-lasting shine.
Visit your O'Reilly Auto Parts store or O'ReillyAuto.com. Uh MLB.tv on ESPN is your home for every auto-market game, live or on demand. Catch your favorite teams and players, plus MLB Network and ESPN app features like multi-view, syncing your stats, key plays, bets, and fantasy. All in one place. Sign up now for MLB.tv in the ESPN app.
Separate subscriptions required, blackouts and other terms apply. Visit stream.espn.com slash MLBTV for more information. The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast. Scroll on on an exciting Friday heading into a massive sports weekend. Brian Weber in for Rich.
Hop aboard 844-204-RICH. Eight four four two zero four four four four four four four four four four four seven four two four or You can have at it on social media, my handle across most platforms, BW Weber. Weber with two B's, no TikTok. Those days are long behind me. As we get closer to hour number two of the program.
I'm going to give myself some credit here. I resisted my urge to talk NBA, and there's a ton to get to. We will sift through the fallout from The Lamello ball trade to Minnesota. And Spin it forward. Is it a done deal that Jalen Brown is going to be on his way out of Boston?
And what could he be thinking after being shopped very publicly for the second time with all the Giannis trade conversation? Go back to a year ago, it was Jalen Brown linked to Kevin Durant who wound up in Houston. Could Brown join K D in the Space City? We'll get there in the second hour of the show. Cannot let a full hour go by without getting to the NFL, although this is a fallow period in the league.
In fact, We don't have the annual drama as a fill-in hack who's always looking for content this time of the year in non-World Cup years. At least in the past we would have the franchise tag game. Players who wouldn't sign their tender Are they going to show up at training camp? But George Pickens realized that for once Jerry Jones is going to have some fiscal discipline, not pay him. And that's understandable because you want to motivate George.
Because sometimes George can check out, but when he's locked in, he's a dynamic playmaker.
So, as we think about what's happening in the NFL, and I do want to address. Brendan Soursby. We'll save that for the final hour of the program. And I want to give attribution because there's too much stealing going on in the business now. And it's a good friend of the program, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, crystallized the thought I had.
Maybe I'll post the rundown and time stamp it to show you I didn't rip off Mike too much. If Soursby is going to fight the NFL, and I don't think he should, but if he's going to, Today feels like a key day. He's got to get some paperwork going with his noted attorney, Jeffrey Kessler, who has beaten the NFL in the past, representing the Players Association. In fact, he's the most important voice. When it comes to how free agency was born decades ago.
So we'll get there final hour. As much as I'm trying to only have. positive vibes, as you kids say. especially on social media because the algorithm feeds us more of what we're already consuming. And with a Few pizzas along the way?
You click on the wrong stuff and suddenly you're in a black hole of negativity. But I cannot ignore Brandon Ayuk.
Now, I am not. Going to play Dr. Phil on the radio. This is not amateur psychology, and perhaps it's all calculated. If so, he's getting terrible advice.
But it seems like we're watching together somebody spiraling in real time.
Now it's clear. He and the Niners are breaking up. It's just a matter of time. San Francisco's slow playing it, I think, for two reasons. One, to stick it to him to a degree, understandably because he missed all of last year with the knee injury, making good money on a big contract, and then he disappeared.
They could not find him. Since we're doing the OJ resets in the month of June, going back to World Cup 1994. They were looking for Mr. Ayuk, so it's going to be a breakup, a divorce. Coming up at some point.
He has no trade value. The Niners waited just to see if somebody would throw them something of value for him.
So he's going to be cut. He could not make it clearer he thinks he's going to Washington. If you didn't see the latest video yesterday, a paraphrasing, you could check it out. Unless he's scrubbed. it again because he keeps deleting his vids.
But he said his world tour is about to resume, and you can get tickets for it by going to Commanders.com. You probably know he was a college teammate of Jaden Daniels at Arizona State. It'll be something we'll track next week and hopefully when I'm back next Friday, we'll have some clarity. Here's something that is not purely hypothetical. I do my best to.
Find some Credence, not sourcing like Ian Rappaport or Adam Schefter, but. If you care about my background, I started in the San Francisco Bay Area, worked there 10 years. In fact, you're listening on KMBR 1050. I was one of their original voices.
So great to have a connection to the Bay Area.
So this is not just a guy making stuff up on the radio. Why are the Niners not? And perhaps they are, but everything leaks in this league. Why are they not making a stronger push for Max Crosby? Because we know he's available.
Unless we all have Misremembered how things played out. He had been traded to the Ravens. And then their GM, Eric DaCosta, realized: wait a minute, I can get Trey Hendrickson. As a free agent for a lot less money, give up nothing in return in terms of trade assets, and let's make sure he does not pass the physical.
So he's already been gone. He was mentally checked out. He went to Baltimore to be embarrassed. The Niners have to keep pace if they want a legitimate shot at finally getting Kyle Shanahan a championship. And I am not kicking a man who is a brilliant playmaker just because he's come up short in high-leverage situations.
28-3 as the play cover, Atlanta versus New England. The overtime loss. Chew. The Chiefs in the Super Bowl in Vegas. But he's got to be motivated by what the Rams are doing, and who has gone, quote unquote, more all in.
than the Rams with the Blockbuster picking up Miles Garrett. And maybe I'm being lazy, but there's a larger trend here. The Rams defense also upgraded with picking up a couple former Chiefs corners in Jalen Watson and Trent McDuffie.
So the Niners, I think, have to make a move. They'll tell you their move is just getting healthier. Remember, they were decimated last year. The fact that they even made the postseason and beat the Eagles, and that's an indictment of Philly last year, but having. Overcome all of those injuries, the win-to-playoff game was a monumental accomplishment.
Still, The Niners had the fewest sacks in all of football, only 20. And Nick Bose is coming back from a torn ACL. And they're going through transition on defense because they lost their coordinator, Robert Sala, who's getting a second chance. At being a head coach in Tennessee after it didn't work out with the Jets because nothing works out with the Jets.
So. This is not me reporting. Our terrific team does not have to pull this sound. ESPN Radio's Brian Weber reporting. This is me giving you informed speculation.
And mostly just interest in And seeing how it plays out, because it makes so much sense, maybe too much sense to get it done. But the raiders have so many needs. And at least they have the optimism that comes with having Fernando Mendoza. They're not winning anything this year. Why not load up for the future, get more assets for Crosby?
And the Niners make a statement in the process. Winding down here in the first hour, meaning we're warming up for hour number two. Coming up, finally, we get to the NBA. What does the lamella ball? Trade mean for both Charlotte, Minnesota.
And should we be on Jalen Brown? Watch, watch, watch. I'm Brian Weber in for rich. It's another hour of the Rich Eisen Show, straight ahead here on ESPN Radio. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
Mm-hmm.
