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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. We're our way into the final hour of the week. Appreciate you spending time with us here on ESBM Radio.
However, you enjoy the program, ESBM Radio app. Serious XM Channel 80. Tune in. We have so many different ways for you. To enjoy this audio-only experience, No Simulcast Today?
Which is In some ways, hopefully a benefit for you because get a little bit more relaxed. Although I am still wearing makeup, I am I'm in Los Angeles after all. You never know when you might get discovered. Coming up. In less than 20 minutes.
We'll return to the NBA. I am trying not to go All NBA all the time.
Some of that is self-preservation. Because I'm back with you.
Next Friday, a week from today, and then I have a handful of dates the following week, and not too long ago. And I'm not trying to talk my way. out of the industry more than I already have on and off the air, but I'll save that. For my podcast. Voices of the game.
With BWEB. You get that on the ESPN radio app. I am a bit older than my enthusiastic delivery would suggest.
So, as a veteran of the holidays at the end of the year and the holiday July 4th cycle in the middle of the year. Not too long ago, NBA free agency was wild. DeAndre Jordan, remember? Tried to Hide at his house, and then the Clippers showing up, knocking on his door. Again, this is a reference that's a decade ago.
But because of the new collective bargaining agreement, Free agency is essentially dead by design. I'm going to link that to what happened in baseball. Today But coming up when we get back to the NBA, we will get analysis of the deals that matter. When were joined by Law Murray NBA staff writer for the athletic, good friend of any program that I fill in on. And I'm going to pose this question to law.
I understand what the Timberwolves are trying to do by picking up LaMelo Ball. How's that going to work? on the floor. We'll find out from somebody who knows the game. Better than I do.
But not too long ago, If we were. In this position, with the official start of MBA Free Agency looming. I'd be running through at least a half dozen big names and going through the what-if game. What if? And now it's Crickets.
And I try to Be ahead of the curve. But I remember a couple of years ago when I was getting ready for a free agency show, and I'm looking at my list, and we're talking about Clay Thompson to Dallas. Last year, if you endured this act, it was Paul George. Going to Philadelphia for their quote-unquote big three, and it's time to retire that notion. Because Not only has Wemby and his young teammates in San Antonio reinforced what we saw from Oklahoma City.
with J-Dub and SGAs. I'm just throwing out handles here. If you don't have a team... Case in point, The Knicks, and yes, Jalen Brunson went superhuman. And I was wrong about him not.
Becky Hammond wrong, but wrong about him. When I was with you. In late April. And I thought the Knicks would survive in advance. Beat Atlanta.
I was on the air the day after they blew a 14-point lead at home. For the Hawks. Shades of blowing a fourteen-point lead at home. to the Pacers the year before. I figured the Knicks would lose to the Celtics in the second round.
Of course, none of that happened because the Celtics didn't get out of the first round. But the Knicks are another perfect example. You need depth. and a superstar, and the issue, for example, now with The heat Yes, Yiannis finally gives The heat. The Transcendent player they've been looking for, and that's their franchise history.
You go. Alonzo Morning, to Dwayne Wade, to LeBron. And they made that surprising run to the finals as an eighth seed. With Jimmy Butler. What Janis plus BAM Doesn't get you much 'cause they don't have any outside shooting yet.
And I just dismissed that big thing in Philadelphia. It didn't work because, unfortunately, Joelle and Bede is made of glass, even though he came back to play a pivotal role in that Game Seven victory over the Celtics in the first round. Hasn't worked? Not once but twice with Durant, the quote unquote big three, In Brooklyn and then in Phoenix. We're back to the Suns.
Played better once he left and went to Houston.
So the NBA landscape continues to evolve. And we'll get into that as I mentioned. Coming up in just a few minutes. The news of the day, in addition to all of the soccer we have been covering. I'll try to squeeze in a few more World Cup thoughts, although The good news from a American point of view, and I'm not getting jingoistic on a Big Ward Friday, but we all root, most of us hopefully root for.
Or country. Is that there's more to discuss? Not only Is the national team moving on to knockout play? They've done it by virtue. of scoring Eight goals in their three matches.
Yes, last night was meaningless, a glorified friendly against Turkey. Because we had already locked up. Winning the group? But even in that losing effort, Couple more goals. The offensive productivity has been stellar.
The way this team is attacking is different than we've seen in the past. Much more aggressive mindset. And they got. The best player in American history. He's going to end his career that way, and Christian Pulisik back from his calf injury.
And not only did he show no signs of. Being challenged, getting up and down the field. He played well. He looked. Like he Had come back even stronger with all that rest.
So, so many positives for the United States. You have? Deep in their memory banks, and now they got to show up against Bosnia, a team they're favored to defeat. When they play on Wednesday in Santa Clara, plenty of time, though. For that to be fully dissected, and it will be if you keep it where it is here.
On ESBM Radio. I'm Brian Weber, Ained for Rich. This is The Rich Eisen Show. You can chime in on the X platform. B.
W. Weber. Weber with two B's. We open the program with What I was not expecting to discuss today. I get Knowing my worst tendencies, you got to be at least.
A degree of Self-awareness. At your disposal. Although if you can fake sincerity, I was told, you got a long future ahead of you. in Sports Talk Radio. When I talk baseball, I wind up jumping in the hot tub time machine.
Although it's now justified because. It's going to be 1994 all over again, except this time the difference is going to be the World Series will not be canceled. We are heading towards labor Armageddon. I don't mean to be more over the top than normal, but. Given All of the flexing between the owners and the players, and were only in June.
Where do you think this is all going? Lockout is coming.
Now the only small positive might be Lockout. Right after the World Series, it gives both sides a longer runway to try to hammer out a compromise, but I think it spills into spring training. And maybe we're looking at lost games in the regular season. What all of this is about? Like most things in life, money.
Because the owners have two problems. Those who have the means, like Steve Cohen, who owns the Mets. Cannot help themselves from lighting their money on fire because they have too much money. Also, you could defend it. From a fan's point of view.
They want To invest as much as they can in the roster. But as the Mets continue to prove, and this is all Contingent on what happened earlier today with the Very expected firing of Carlos Mendoza. He's out. With the Mets Myard in another long losing streak, makes it six in a row. Having been swept A four-game set by Chicago and they lost in embarrassing fashion.
Not only Dropping those games, but doing it with errors and base running blunders, just the Mets going old school Mets. Still Only the Dodgers have a bigger payroll in all of baseball.
So you can't say the Mets have a spending problem. It's a allocation of resources issue. They have spent on the wrong players again. as they have done consistently. But that's one issue the owners are dealing with.
The top of the sport. The Big Boys financially Always are willing to do whatever it takes to try to throw money at a problem. Not figuring out. That all that does is buy you depth, but doesn't guarantee anything in baseball. Yes, you can have more options in your bullpen, but baseball's flipping a coin 162 times.
It's the most random sport of them all. That's balanced by The have-nots, quote unquote. Although let's remember, anyone who owns a major league baseball team has the means to have acquired it. Either they bought the team or they inherited it. No need for a bake sill.
No need for a GoFundMe. We're talking about billionaires, but right now there's a massive incentive not to spend because. They're getting welfare from the league, subsidized by revenue sharing and the luxury tax.
So. The owners who are not the Dodgers, the Yankees, The Mets The Cubs, the Phillies. The Blue Jays and the Cubs, I'm being generous because the Ricketts family haven't spent enough. Especially when you consider they're a market three. But the usual suspects.
are being ganged up upon by the rest of the league saying we need to install a salary cap because we can't control ourselves. We need to bridge the gap between the top and the bottom.
Now? In fairness, even though you probably can pick up the fact I'm pro player, Because I'm pro. Talent in our business. I'm pro-worker in general. The folks who actually generate the revenue should participate, not to get all That's capital on you.
The owners at least have, I think, the upper hand from a PR standpoint because they're willing, in addition to demanding a salary cap, to put in a salary floor, meaning the Marlins would have to spend up to $180 million or what it is. But even if that somehow gets jammed in there, I can't see it being agreed upon, but maybe it goes to arbitration. Do you trust the Marlins to spend that money correctly? Because just like the Mets. forcing Mendoza out, and he deserved a go.
Because the team has been a disaster, and it was all foreshadowed when most of his coaching staff got canned early in the season, and they're trying to. follow what the Phillies did when they fired Rob Thompson, brought in Don Mattingly as the interim manager, and things have rebounded very nicely with the Phillies in second place in the division, back and playoff contention. Why is that worked? The Phillies have a better roster. And I'll just go through the stars you know about Sanchez on the mountain, this year of the pitcher in the National League.
With the Miz. And how does he have that kind of consistent velocity and still no elbow issues? I'm not rooting for it, I'm hoping against it. The guy is an absolute freak. And skeins.
In Pittsburgh. Paul Skeens hopefully will remain a member of that franchise because. Baseball needs stars in small markets as well, and Otani here in Southern California. But The Mets issue Clearly, it's not is not a challenge financially. They have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on an annual basis, and remember, just two years ago.
They got hot after a slow start, made it all the way to the National League Championship Series, but that was a better roster. This roster has Assembled by GM David Stearns, who better be looking over his shoulder because he'll be the next to go. Had flaws that were glaring, especially in the rotation coming into this year, and because baseball is. A random walk through 162 games back to that probability of flipping a coin. Injuries haven't helped.
No one Soto early on, and Francisco Lindor came back yesterday.
So. As much as things change. the more they stay the same. And the Mets can put all of the resources they want Into trying to fill in all the holes on this roster, but it does not assure them anything.
So that's why I'm out on the salary cap. Because it's not just Deep pockets, you have to have the right person making the decisions. And the Mets don't have. The bandwidth, the intellectual power of the Dodgers front office, led by Andrew Friedman, who won in Tampa with no money. And now he's got an embarrassment of riches here in Southern California.
I'm Brian Weber in for rich. You can hit me up on the X platform. I'll check that out here and after the program. BW Weber. Weber with two B's in thirty five minutes?
It is a fan favorite. At least I'm.
Someone who enjoys us.
So, we got one fan. We're going to log out to the World Wide Weber, find out things I might have overlooked straight ahead. With all that's happened this week across the NBA, has anything changed among the teams with a legitimate chance to win the title? We'll find out when we check in with Law Murray, staff writer of the Athletic. My name is Brian Weber.
I'm in for Rich on The Rich Eisen Show. Rich Eisen here. You can always tell when something big is happening in a city. I know what it's like when I'm traveling for big games and events. I remember being in Pittsburgh earlier this year and experiencing the beautiful architecture and passion those fans have for their home teams.
That was so infectious.
Now, it was a great trip, but you know what it's like dealing with the travel. The airport is packed, hotels are booked up, restaurants, all busy. And when you have that kind of influx of visitors in your city, a lot of them are searching for a place that feels a little bit more like home during their trip. That's why this can be a smart time to think about listing your own space on Airbnb. If you've got plans to be away this summer, consider listing your space on Airbnb while you're gone and earn some extra cash.
It's simple, you're already traveling, so your place doesn't just sit empty while your city is busy. And from my experience on the road, having a comfortable home base can change the whole experience of a trip.
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Next starts now. Hyundai, an official partner of FIFA. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Brian Weber with you, in for Rich and the guys. Home stretch on a Friday.
Still with a lot more to get you coming up. In twenty five minutes. We will log on to the World Wide Weber, find out things I might have overlooked. And be sure to take us wherever you go throughout the weekend and all the holiday activity coming up with July 4th. On the horizon, the SPM radio listening.
Hopefully right now on the ESPM Radio app, Sirius XM Channel eighty. My former employer at Tune. or of course our great affiliates Nationwide. Let's get back to the basketball conversation. Always a pleasure to talk hoops with Law Murray.
Check out his outstanding work for the Athletic. He is an NBA staff writer. Law, Brian Weber, with you. How are you? I'm doing well, Brian, thanks for having me this morning.
It is my pleasure. I need you to clarify things because not only are you more plugged in than I. You're smarter than I am when it comes to basketball IQ. I understand. From an overall perspective, Why would the T-Wolves want Lamello Ball?
How do you think it's going to work on the floor and where does this leave Charlotte now? Why wouldn't you? Looking at that trade, and it was interesting. Before the draft, I said, you know, Minnesota's got to do something about the point guard situation. Dante DiVincenzo was your nominal starter.
He has a torn Achilles. Mike Connolly has been on the roster for a few years. Obviously, He's getting up there in age. And then when they traded Julius Randall and they didn't get a player back, It left. a big hole.
It's it's like If Maywoods is already complaining about you know, double teams and and not being able to get this game off, like Someone's got to relieve that pressure. And I like the lamello ball fit there. I actually think it's going to be a good fit personality-wise, as well as basketball-wise. Minnesota PR is going to have to. Really dig in there.
But I really am intrigued at watching those two guys play. I mean, Anthony Edwards has been the touch leader of that team three years in a row, and he's done great with it. I mean, he's to me the best shooting guard in the NBA. Lamello Ball is going to be very critical to basically let Anthony Edwards be the best version of himself. And looking at how Charlotte's offense, especially.
After January, really took off and didn't just win games, but they. Absolutely blew teams out when they were clicking, they were really clicking. I really think basketball-wise, it works.
Okay, so then why would Charlotte give up the face of the franchise law? I I'll put it like this. I hate it for Charlotte in terms of how well they played. But in the end of the day, what were they, Brian? They were still a play in team that didn't get to the playoffs for the tenth year in a row.
You've never, ever seen an Eastern Conference team spend a decade out of the playoffs. You've never seen it until now. A L Lumelo has obvious red flags. Health Availability as far as when he is healthy, you have to manage his minutes. We saw Lamella come off the bench for a few games and.
It wasn't for any other reason except to manage his minutes. Like he's not even 25 yet, and he was under 30 minutes per game this year. And that kind of tells me that. LaMella Ball obviously is impactful, but you are that concerned about making sure that he's sustainable. He was really good as far as playing games this year, but they had to mix it up and do something.
You saw Kobe White got there, and now you see Kobe White is going to be under contract with Charlotte for the short term. I feel Sherlock has a lot to figure out. The East is, you need to give credit to the East. The East is a real serious conference with some depth. And I just feel like this was the hornet's time to say, hey, it's not like we're a playoff team.
Let's sell high and and figure out We were committed to go afoard.
Well said, and to echo what you just laid out, clearly they think that Kobe White. Is the Plug and play replacement for Lamello. I think it's going to be a tough sell to the fan base, but. It's a move for long-term success. And you're right.
If you're stuck in the middle, especially in the East, you got no shot of at least contending for a championship. I'm Brian Weber in for Rich. This is the Rich Eisen Show here on ESPN Radio talking NBA with Law Murray of the Athletics. Since we're talking about the Eastern Conference, What do you make of all of the trade conversation surrounding Jalen Brown, and if he moves, do you expect him to stay in the East? And I'll I'll tell you that Jalen had a great season.
And then it ends the way that it did. Blowing three one leave, get on Twitch and complain about. how things were. I feel like There's a sense The Celtics would definitely want to move on from Jalen Brown, but only to get better. You know, like Jam Brown getting traded for.
package or including a patch that includes Johnson and Kumbo is one thing. I remember back in twenty twenty two, before the Celtics made the finals, people were talking about trying to get Jalen Brown out of Boston, separating him from Jason Taylor. And let's just put it this way. I think the entire NBA would rejoice If Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum were broken up, when those two dudes are healthy and playing a respectable amount of games together, They are at the top of the East year over year. Jason obviously didn't play until spring.
And these dudes were still in number two seed, which I think might have messed up Brad Stevens' plans. He was thinking maybe this could be in Gapier, they were too good. They were too good.
So I don't think that the Celtics should be running to get off of Jalen Brown. If there's a package that makes sense for them, I think they would consider it. And In terms of the Eastern Conference part of it, again, they were in Giannis talks. And Giannis not only was in the East India conference with Milwaukee, but He's staying in the Eastern Conference now in Miami.
So I don't think Boston is really tripping about the conference part of it. I just feel like. if it makes sense for them to move Galen, I don't think they're talented on moving him. But if he moves, I don't think you can really discriminate between the conference. And I really feel like Boston would be trying to do something to make their team better.
Law Murray of the Athletic is our guest here on the Rich Islands Show.
So, if in fact, and let's just play the hypothetical game, Brown is on the move. We've heard Cleveland, we've heard Houston, we've heard Atlanta. Which of those destinations do you find most intriguing? I'm going to be honest with you. I mean, here's the thing, Cleveland.
Cleveland has the biggest hole, but what are you giving up to get Jalen Brown? Like Donovan Mitchell. Look, I gave Donald Mitchell a first team, but so I mean, I just feel like. Donovan Mitchell is the kind of player that I kind of I kind of want Um and then there's There's Edin Mobley, and honestly, you'd have to attach something else to them.
So We went interesting. But I'll say I just feel like Cameron Browns are just staying in Boston. Like, we saw that team not just win the championship, but had people. Like freaking out that the Boston Celtics were going to ruin basketball because of how their team was put together and how they were able to play off of those two dudes.
So I know people want to talk about trades. I'm always going to be like, look, Right. Find a way to patch things up and get your season going. And unfortunately, Brian, we're not going to get that. We're going to get four months of.
Psychoanalyst. That's not unfortunate. Hang on, we're in the content business and I fill in during the summer, so this is a gift to me. I unfortunate you're right from the cohesion standpoint of the Celtics, but it's good for our industry. Of course.
I mean, look, I I literally made a chart that said content's over content.
So that's what we got right now. Like we don't have days. We got the Summer League schedule out this morning. Like that's That's that's about it. Like, that's that's.
The mana that you get from heaven as you walk through the desert, that is the NBA offseason.
So, whoa, Lord, you're deep on that. Another game that we're in. I appreciate Law Murray, always a wordsmith, and that is his job after all. He's a staff writer for the Athletic.
So this show is based in Southern California. I live in LA and I tracked you on draft night with all the Clippers' moves. Let's shift to the Lakers. Credit Austin Reeves.
Now, I have some. Issues with his game. He doesn't play much defense. He's come up small in the postseason, but just from a human interest standpoint, What a transformation to go from undrafted to a max contract. How do you see the Lakers now law approaching LeBron as an unrestricted free agent when we're talking about dollars and cents?
Well, first of all, congrats to Austin Reeves from someone who. It's funny when everyone brings up his undrafted status because He could have been drafted if he wanted to, but no, he directed himself to the Lakers and he just worked out for him five years later with his bag. And I think it's huge because Luca loves him and that's a huge thing.
So you have that part of things taken care of. I think, honestly, they looked at LeBron and I think they wanted to get that leverage with LeBron. And that's that's kind of how I'm looking at this. Like LeBron is not going to be under the same salary spot that he's been under.
So do you take less to stay? Do you take less and go somewhere else? like a big part of LeBron at this point, especially is the story. Like where does the story continue and how does it continue? LeBron can play.
He was an all-star. And so and he was the best player on the team that got out the first round. Only eight teams got out the first round. I think with LeBron, it's going to be How do you accept what your situation will be with this setup of the Lakers going forward. If he can find a way if the Lakers can find a way to make it worth their while, and that means improving the team because they they're going to need to upgrade then I think LeBron could come back.
But I think everything else, retirement, the other teams out there, the their LeBron's attempts at leverage because the Lakers have been sacking leverage against them over the last pretty much ever since Anthony Davies got traded. Law, I want you to respect my opinion before you join the program. I did mention the asterisk that Austin Reeves could have been drafted. In fact, it could have been the Pistons in the second round, and coincidental that the Pistons were interested in paying him.
So, Rob Polinka had to pony up the max deal to get it done now. I'm Brian Weber in for Rich Hodgen, taking you across the NBA with Law Murray. Check out his outstanding work for the athletic. Final thought on the Lakers. Clearly, they need a rim protector.
And they got to address a glaring need in the paint. How do you think they go about doing that?
Well, I think that things might be interesting when it looks when I look at Jalen Duran's restricted free agency. Like there's not a lot of guys You know, and we're talking about Durn, we're talking about Walker Tesser. And the interesting thing is, I actually don't think those dudes are the best bits. The Lakers, in terms of how Luca wants to play, but I think that the record is out there that they need you. Get serious about that position, man.
I mean, I feel bad for being under 80. I am looking forward to Aiton opting out and seeing where his frequency goes. The Lakers absolutely could have gotten worse center plate. Yeah. I looked at the center.
You know, I think highly of you. That's a very interesting way of framing DeAndre Ayton's season. They could have had worse play. Yes, absolutely. Like the Lakers, the the the look, I would say this, the Lakers got replacement level play at Center.
Fair, yeah, if you want to go on with the other one. It's going to be interesting if the Lakers are left holding the bag and Ayton goes somewhere else. They don't get Durn. They don't get Walter Kessler. They don't get anyone else under contract, and you know, what do you do?
You know, so. I'm interested to see how it goes. It's clear that that's going to be a huge priority, you know, to go. Big game hunting on some centers. And I'm really interested to see exactly how it plays out because it's not like the Lakers are operating from a position of strength.
You're talking about potential signing trades. You don't have anyone under contract. What are you gonna trade? Jake LaRavia? Like, I am interested to see exactly how they get a player that is satisfactory to them improving on what they got.
from the Idrary Aid and Ispassi. Law, as always, I value your time and your insights. And since we're talking about what we do in the summer, in addition to summer league, As a philosopher once said in the NBA, when we get the summer, it's about the transaction. Not the action. I like that.
You want that one t-shirt? I'll get that to you for free. I just need 10%, buddy. 10%. Yeah.
Oh man, geez, now that's a little high right there, if I might hold out. Have a good weekend, Law. Thank you. All right, thank you, Brian. Law Murray does great work for the world.
For the athletic, and let me give attribution. This is not a bit. Not trying to be the moral police and sports journalism and I'm not a journalist. I try to follow the tenets of journalism, that's self-important, but Entertain and inform Dan Lebatard. Formerly the SPN, came up with that phrase.
I think it crystallizes. What I love about the NBA in the summer, and I probably should not keep saying this now, just to. Give you more bio notes than you need. The only, let's say the primary reason I'm here. Is I work with Rich Eisen at NFL Networks.
So the NFL has been the thrust, there's a good image on a Friday, of my career. I got checks with the shield on them. I exchange Christmas cards with folks at 345 Park Avenue in New York City. The headquarters of the NFL. But I love basketball more than football.
It's a better sport aesthetically, and we were better. In terms of sports media, when we covered other things equally, understanding you're never wrong as the audience and you want all football all the time. But that's why, for example, today has been so much fun. I would never talk soccer, and I do not pretend to be a soccer expert. But Like the old line From Oceans 11.
If you're In the mix of people who shook Frank Sinatra's hand, that puts you in a special category.
Well, I saw Pele play now I was seven years old in 1977. But I saw him play? For New York Cosmos? How about the legendary Steve Jungle? The Lord of the Indoors as I take you to the major indoor soccer league.
It's been nice. It's been refreshing. To have other important things to discuss, understanding. We are less than three weeks away. from the start of training camps.
With the rookies for the Cardinals and the Panthers showing up in advance of the Hall of Fame game and. I talk Brandon Ayuk. And I gave you why. The Niners should take a very big swing. And come up with a package to lure the Raiders into dealing Max Crosby.
To the 49ers. After all, they had already traded them to Baltimore before their GM, Eric DaCosta. We're Ned because he could get Trey Hendrickson cheaper and not having to give up any draft capital. Law and I have gone back and forth on the radio in the past.
So I do want to clarify. I try not to interrupt guests, but Law and I have more of a back and forth.
So My apologies if I was More over the top than normal, but He did defend, and I respect his opinion, and we're all entitled to our own analysis. He did defend DeAndre Ayton, and maybe, and again, you don't care about every. Granular detail of my life, but When the Pac-12 was a thing, I spent a lot of time in Arizona. My dad was living there before he passed away. I've seen DeAndre Ayton all the way back to when he was a difference maker in college, you recall, the number one overall pick.
Showing up in the major way. As the sun's got hot, that unlikely run to the NBA Finals. Since then, He's done nothing.
Now he's made a lot of money. But he has been Wildly inconsistent. Law makes a good point, though. If we're going to kick Hayden, And there's a lot of reasons to do it metaphorically. Who they have that's gonna fill that void.
And that's what makes NBA Free Agency so interesting, even though it's been almost completely destroyed. by the new collective bargaining agreement And the handcuffs of the second apron by design. But the NBA got what they wanted. Eight different champions over the span of eight years. And why do we love the NFL so much?
Parody. Every year, some team goes from worst to first. It's happened something like 23 of the last twenty four seasons. Last year, the Patriots benefiting from their last place schedule, making the run all the way to the Super Bowl.
So If it works for the NFL, you cannot argue with the other leagues trying to rip off. That formula coming up. As we head it, Towards the tape on a Friday. I do my best, in addition to talking about myself way too much, to be comprehensive. But is it possible I've overlooked something?
Especially in the world of entertainment, because Rich merges sports and entertainment better than anybody else. We'll find out when we log on to the World Wide Web, or that is next here on the Rich Eisen Show. Tomorrow morning is knocking. Stock your fridge now. How about a creamy mocha frappuccino drink?
Or a sweet vanilla? Smooth caramel maybe? Or a white chocolate mocha? Whichever you choose, delicious coffee awaits. Find Starbucks frappuccino drinks wherever you buy your groceries.
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Visit stream.espn.com slash MLBTV for more information. The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast. Fired up and feeling good on a Friday. Brian Weber back with you. We've talked baseball.
We've talked World Cup soccer. We've talked NFL. We've talked a lot of NBA, but. Is it possible? Dare I say, is it likely?
I have overlooked something. Let's find out by logging on to the World Wide Weber. And for that, let's say hello to our talented and always insightful producer, James Steele. James, how are you? I'm great.
I'm not sure I'm either one of those things, but I appreciate you saying that. How about in this price range? Yeah, maybe. Yeah, that's it. Where do you want to start, my man?
Let's start at the World Cup. We were talking about it earlier. You mentioned you covered it in 1994. And after 32 years, it's obviously back in the U.S. Where do you see the status of soccer in 32 years from now in the United States?
32 years from now.
Okay. I'll be 87. Here's the question: I'm going to flip the script. Will I be filling in for rich in 32 years? I hope so.
Because my best ability is availability. 1994 is an interesting year. Actually, it connects very well with. Our lead story today with Carlos Mendoza getting whacked by the Mets. 1994, also the year baseball imploded because of their labor war.
No World Series. And that year, you'll recall, baseball was shut down in August. Which I think in retrospect was the final Catalyst for the NFL becoming king, jumping over baseball, because even if you're a purist like me back in the day, there was no baseball to watch.
So, I I bring that up because if we're talking about multiple decades in the future. Nothing lasts forever. You've had to listen to my bit now a handful of times, filling in for Rich, you know. I like to talk history. Thinking about coming out of World War Two.
The biggest sports domestically were baseball, of course. College football was huge. Boxing and horse racing.
Now, what's it going to look like thirty-two years from now? Football, I think, is always going to be King, it just suits us as a culture. Maybe the concussion issue gets more and more parents. Concerned and reluctant about allowing their children to play. I think it's not a coincidence that flag football is getting pushed so hard by the league.
But in thirty-two years, Well, I can't betray the NBA because I'm an NBA. fanboy. In 32 years, soccer and the NBA are co-equals at number two. Football, still number one, but the gap is smaller than you think. What's next?
Let's head to that other football that you were talking about. Caleb Williams, quarterback for the Bears. His application to trademark. Iceman was denied, so he can't legally control how his nickname is used. Brian, who currently has the best nickname in sports right now?
Hmm.
Well, first a footnote on Iceman. The Iceman is George Girvin. Period, full stop. The ABA was incredible. Or, since I am here in Hollywood and Rich merges sports and entertainment, if I say Iceman, I think Val Kilmer in Top Gun.
But you want me to stay in the present, you want a contemporary nickname because I, of course, could bury you with the splendid splinter teddy ball game. The Manassa Mauler Jack Dempsey. Walter Big Train Johnson. No, I did not cover him in the 1920s. Current Best nickname.
All right, got to be the Greek freak, right? Because it rhymes and because most of us in sports media are too lazy to learn how to pronounce international names.
So forget about attenta de cumpo. I'll give you one more. I do like Shohei Otani as Showtime. What's next? All right, there's a lot of entertainment talk on the Rich Eisen show here, so let's head in that direction.
The final season of The Bear debuted yesterday on Hulu and Disney Plus. Great apps. And the show is all about the world of food and restaurants. If you could only pick one type of ballpark or stadium food to eat, Brian, what would it be? That's a very good one as well.
And thank you for the plug. We know that most days people can enjoy the simulcast of the Rich Eisen Show on Disney Plus. You and I not ready for that yet, but we'll get there. I think The Bear is the best current show on T V.
Now it's a step below My all-time favorites like the Sopranos and the Wire, but it's close. Ballpark food. I'll go off the board. Only reason I wound up working for Tennessee Cow for 19 years, in addition to being willing to work at 2 o'clock in the morning, was I grew up about 25 minutes away from the U.S. Open, 25 minutes north of Shea Stadium.
So I started going to the U.S. Open in 1977. The lobster roll of Fleshing Meadows is incredible, but I'm guessing now that's got to be $140. I'll take you. In between.
77 and today. I'll split the difference. When I graduated from college, me and a buddy drove cross country and hit 11 different major league stadiums. We rolled into the old county state of Milwaukee. I try to eat as clean as I can, but I make an exception when I go to a game.
I had not one. Not two, as I go, LeBron. Not three. For Bratworth that day because they are incredible in Wisconsin.
Now, It was not a pleasant day in the car moving forward. I don't think my companion enjoyed. The residue. of me going over the top But if I had to pick one thing and one thing only, I'd go watch The Miz light it up at 102 miles an hour 17 times and scarf down more brats in Milwaukee. We got time for one more.
Yeah, this lea this week, LeBron James and some of his Cavs teammates from the 2016 Championship team had a reunion in the south of France. Brian, when you get some well-deserved time off, what's your go-to vacation destination? Excuse me, what's that word, James? Vacation? Vacation?
That's the thing. I've never heard of that word. Vacation okay. Hang on, let me do Jim Mora. Player?
Vacation? What? Rebate? Refund? As I go breaking away on you.
James, I am a working man. Look, I do the million-dollar man gimmick. But I am much more, much more aligned with T. L. Hopper.
Remember the WWF had the occupation gimmicks. I'm out there hustling. For every dime I can get.
Now. Back in the day, Rich used to have fill-in needs on major holidays.
So I have worked for Rich on Thanksgiving. Christmas Day? New Year's Day primarily because I have no life and secondarily I want to work. But If I had time off. And since I'm actively lobbying on the air to get back to the Bay Area, I'll pull a Jim Moore Junior when he said he'd walk from Atlanta to Seattle.
I will walk from LA to San Francisco. I could use the steps. I hope you're enjoying the show on KMBR ten fifty. when I used to be part of the original team there in the Bay Area. My favorite vacation spot, I shouldn't say it because people are going to descend upon it, a small town near Santa Cruz called Capitola, California.
That locks up the World Wide Weber for today. Thank you, James. And be sure to give me a definition of vacation. I've never heard of what that word is and what it means. I'm pausing.
I'm looking up right now. Glad you like the T. L. Hopper reference, my friend. Another sterling edition of The Rich Eisen Show is in the books.
Want to thank our guests, just two today. As we normally approach content creation, both were outstanding talking World Cup with Stephen Goff of Yahoo Sports, NBA Talk with Law Murray of the Athletic. Many people to thank on the team, starting with Rich Eyes and Jerry Silbowitz, our producer. I'll say it again: talented and skilled James Steele. And the rest of the not ready for simulcast on Disney Plus Players.
Special thanks to Greg Berman, Chris Morales, my friends, at 7:10 ESPN here in LA. I'm Brian Weber. Have a great weekend on ESPN Radio. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Stitch Fix.
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