Are roll batteries the same? Yeah. That's like asking if all soccer players are the same. Take Messi, the most decorated player ever. Is there any other player who has achieved that?
No, just him.
Now take Duracell. Is there any other battery with power boost ingredients inside? No, just Duracell. Remember, GOATs only trust GOATs because they're built different. And Messi only trusts Duracel.
This summer, serve up the cookout classics, craft mayo and dressing. Toss green salads with delicious ranch dressing or zesty Italian. Serve smooth, craveably creamy potato salads with mayo. We all know it's not a cookout without craft. 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.
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Now, on with the show. Oh my god, you guys are my favorite. 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. Ram always an hour to sit in for Rich and the fellows. We appreciate you spending part of this national holiday with us. No need to check the calendar.
It's not July 4th. It is still July 3rd, and today is a Friday. That means tomorrow is a Saturday. But because Independence Day falls on a weekend, that means. We get a bonus holiday on a Friday, so we're in a great frame of mind.
The goal is to keep you entertained over the next three hours with verbal pyro technics. You can pick up the phone, 844-204-RICH, in all candor, because if you've ignored. My approach in the past, it is still a major opportunity for me. Anytime I get to keep the chair warm for Mr. Eisen.
So I have the standard four hours of content I'm going to try to cram into our three hours together. Your best bet for interaction is the X platform. That is BW Weber. Weber with two B's, because we are now a soccer crazy nation. We will look ahead.
To the biggest match in the history of American soccer for now, taking on Belgium Monday, round of 16, with the red card that will live in infamy, a ton of NBA to get to. In twenty minutes. Even though it's been a couple days, it feels like Boston fans are still enraged about the Jalen Brown trade. We'll hear from Jalen himself. And if he's talking.
You could probably guess he's on Twitch because he's all about that life. No guest in the first hour of the program. We're wide open, and I'm delusional enough to think I'm just that interesting. We will talk more NBA, in addition to everything I'm going to cover coming up in 20 minutes, when we're joined in the second hour of the show by Kurt Healen. Lead NBA rider for NBC Sports.com.
Final hour. And let me say for the first of many times, As my references will suggest, I am older than my dynamic Energetic approach, as I give myself props for no reason, would indicate. I talk baseball. As part of July 4th weekend, and we'll achieve that goal final hour of the show when we say hello to gay blacks of USA today.
So. Driving in. and consuming a ton of sports media as I normally do. In addition to a couple of pizzas as we go stripes to kick off the program, suddenly I hear a ton of soccer experts across all of sports media, and now I feel like I have to flex. Because if you were with us last Friday, and I expect anytime you have a fill-in hack, you think, wait a minute, when was the last time Brian Weber filling in for Rich?
And it's always important to remind you that the telephone number is 844-204, Rich 844-204-7424. I went through a long recitation of my soccer resume because I felt insecure as I was going to break things down.
Now, anybody with a microphone and half a brain Is spouting opinions like they are the great Eric Winalda, so I don't have to mention again. I saw Pele play in person at Giants Stadium in 1977. I don't have to go back to the fact. That I was a huge fan of the major indoor soccer league in the early 80s. I don't have to bring up that I covered the first MLS game played at Spartan Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area.
When the great Eric Rinalda Tallied in what was a game that will live forever, and I was lucky enough to call high-end college soccer for national championship-winning programs like UCLA before the Pac-12 was murdered. I say all of that to say this. Even with all of that soccer knowledge and insight at my disposal, allegedly. I wish I had a better explanation for the red card that changed everything on Wednesday. Of course.
I'm talking about What went down with Faux Laura and Balogun? We call them Faux now because we are a soccer crazy nation. Balogun. Gets the red card, even though he was not ticketed with a yellow card in real time. They go to VAR.
And not only was he sent off for the remainder of the game and credit the tenacity of Team USA 4. Not Blinking in a high-leverage situation. And you probably know because that game did a monster TV rating. They scored another goal, a man-down to defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0. But Bosnia.
Given the parameters of soccer, and we'll talk about the possibility of perhaps FIFA doing the right thing. And that would be breaking news because if you know anything about that corrupt organization, they never do the right thing. The United States in the process of appealing, there is a chance that FIFA could overrule that Red Guard, but once that ruling was made, Immediately, all thoughts went to the United States has to survive and advance a man down, and they have to prepare. Yeah. For the first time in this World Cup, a team with a better ranking because everything is aligned properly for USA, USA.
They're going to have to do it without their leading scorers.
So let's get an analysis from somebody who knows even more than I do. In fact, you see him across all of the ESPN platforms. It is soccer analyst Hercules Gomez explaining on First Take how Baloguan's absence due to the red card will change the entire dynamic of Monday's match. It is devastating, and it could tilt the series in Belgium's way. This is a pick'em in Vegas' terms, this Belgium versus the U.S.
men's national team, without a Faller and Balogan. He was the X factor for the U.S. men's national team. Landon Donovan had a World Cup where he scored three goals. Before that, you gotta go to 1930 to find another forward with three or more goals.
Faller and Balagan had the ability in this World Cup. To battle the world's greatest forwards for the golden boot.
Now, I'm not trying to get crazier. This is realistic. The way the U.S. Men's National Team is playing, the way Falor and Balgun is playing, he had the ability to climb the goal scoring charts.
Now, the U.S. Men's National Team will face a very talented Belgium team without one of their best players. Certainly, a significant development, and it's interesting how. Because we use the gambling framework so much more in a mainstream fashion. After all, now it's legalized in a majority of American states and it's a huge part of what we do in sports media.
We sometimes forget when we talk about how the odds are set up, the whole purpose is to get even money on both sides of the proposition.
So the books. Don't get burned. There's a reason why that's. They have those talks. glittering buildings in Las Vegas.
So The fact that the United States still, depending on where you're looking for the odds, has a better chance of winning this match than Belgium also tells you about all of the support, all the American dollars that are pouring in. But to call this Pick'em without Balogun strikes me as. Just over the top myopic. And I don't mean to be negative, although it is the lifeblood of what we do in sports talk radio. And maybe I've just been waiting too long for the United States to finally take the next step.
With a reminder, in 2002, now that's not that long ago for me, that's a contemporary reference. Bruce Arena's team led by a young Landon Donovan before. He went wacky with whatever that hair appliance is, and I'm glad Fox is having fun with it because how can you ignore that there's a rodent on his head right now? But United States. Made it to the quarterfinals.
In fact, if you recall the particulars, and I do because I have no life and I appreciate the beautiful game. We, because of an American team, I'm going to go we. We lost to Germany, won nothing, and Germany went on to win it all.
So this is not unprecedented as to what's being accomplished. The difference is And I'm sure even casual fans have heard about this, or maybe have an idea because there are so many games on TV. When the field was expanded this year, strictly out of A standpoint of getting more revenue, because everything's about maximizing Doe. The notion was it might be a watered down bracket. I think If we're going to be objective, it has been a positive development because we've seen countries that we never foresaw.
Cape Verde, who's going to run into the potential death sentence of taking on the Great Messi in Argentina today, but for that nation to make it to knockout play is absolutely sensational. Still, With the United States having Having everything set up. to be successful. Finally, going out and getting a coach and paying him $6 million to do it, and Mauricio Pochettino. who understands how to set the culture.
And earned the respect of his players. I'm not taking a shot at Greg Burhalter, who had success. It's great to see his son Sebastian out there. That's got to be a feel-good moment. But we're not looking for moral victories anymore.
This is not about the soccer clichés of earning an orange slice. Given the resources and given the talent on this roster led by Baloguin, it's another indication of how dynamic he is and how the style of play that the American side has put together has evolved. This is the most athletic and most aggressive American team I've seen, and I've been watching soccer for more than a minute. Plus, You got to have goaltending. There's your deep insight to kick off the program.
I'm Brian Weber, in for Rich Eisen. And anytime someone squanders education like I have, I am pleased to remind. Folks, of his album mater, the Harvard man Matt Freese has been brilliant in goal, a couple shutouts. And Even with the added pressure of having the power play. To mix the hockey metaphor situation for Bosnia, Herzcovina the other night still came up with a clean sheet.
United States has more depth. United States has more athleticism. United States has more confidence with the players who have come back from. four years ago in Cutter. All of those reasons were out there coming into the tournament, which was why I was optimistic at a minimum United States would make it through to the knockout round.
And I mentioned, if you care about the particulars of the rankings, which can be misleading. This will be the first time coming up on Monday with the massive home field advantage in Seattle. If you caught the match against Australia, the atmosphere was electric. But for the first time, the United States is going to play a team with a better ranking. The Belgians, number nine in the current FIFA rankings, although if you've watched them play at all and if you did, you probably saw their last game.
With a miraculous comeback. Down 2-0, 5 minutes to go. Not only do they come back to tie it, they win it on a penalty kick at extra time. talk about on the verge of an absolute disaster. Instead, now a chance to face the United States without their top goal scorer.
And if you care about the nerdy aspect of the Belgian team, They're experienced, but that also means they're older. And you have the quicker turnaround and knockout play. United States, maybe with fresher legs, but the question is: who is going to show up? what it matters the most without Balogun. And I'm looking at you, Christian Pulisic, because we have been told You are the face of American soccer.
We've been told you are the most skilled player ever to put on that jersey.
Well, In my opinion, and yes, as a filmmaking host, I'm throwing the gauntlet. It's time for Pulisic to show up. I'm not saying he's got to go out there, have a brace, or a bicycle kick goal. I'm saying he's got to be more of an offensive catalyst. And the good news, presumably, he looks to be fully healed from that calf injury.
Now is the opportunity. For the biggest name in American soccer to meet the magnitude of the moment. And with this match coming up on Monday. We will pause the soccer portion of the program now. I'm fortunate enough to be back with you on Monday, so hopefully you're not turning off your audio device right now.
But when I return on Monday, we will hit this matchup hard and get you fully lined up with a little bit more detail about who else Team USA can count on as they try to continue this historic run and reach the quarterfinals for just the second time in World Cup history. No need to go back to 1930 with the run to the semifinals. And yes, I'm old. I'm not that old. I did not.
Do highlights of that for Rich back in the day. I'm Brian Weber in for Rich Odyssey, just getting warmed up on this busy day before July 4th, 844-204, Rich. 844-204-74-24 is the number to call. Coming up in just over 30 minutes because nobody combines sports and entertainment better than Mr. Risen.
You might have heard Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey are getting married tonight, have already gotten married tonight with the bash being held in Madison Square Garden. Where does that belong amongst the most famous events in the history of the world's most famous arena? We'll get there, but straight ahead, gotta hit the hardwood 48 hours later. Does the Celtics' decision to trade Jalen Brown to the Sixers make any more sense now? I'm Brian Weber.
Always a blast to sit in for Mr. Eisen.
I appreciate you sharing part of your holiday with us here on the Rich Eisen Show. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. 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?
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Brian Weber back with you. Friday edition of The Rich Eisen Show. We are live on the 3rd of July. A variety of ways you can get involved. The phone number is iconic, 844-204-RICH, 844-204-7424, or the conversation never stops.
On the X platform, My handle is BW Weber, Weber with two B's. Hope you're enjoying the program.
However, you're listening on our great affiliates, the ESPM Radio App, SiriusXM Gentleady, or my former employers at TuneIn. It's all about forward promotion. Especially on a holiday, because you have so many other things going on. whether you're heading to the beach or getting ready to barbecue, so I need you to hang around for at least another 25 minutes and then I'm going to put you on layaway. I'll give you credit, and I owe you, and we can redeem it on Monday.
Coming up then. The world's most famous arena. as they came up with themselves as a marketing slogan. I'm saying they, because I'm trying not to be a New Yorker anymore. I've left the city 35 years ago, but I'm looking for healthy detachment.
Madison Square Garden, the new garden, because if you know history, there's been several of them. This one opened in 1968. Hosting Let's call it the wedding bash, the celebration between Taylor Swift. Travis Kelsey. In fact, that's probably where Rich is.
Now, I don't ask Rich anything other than when the phone rings, it's not a question, it's a yes. I see Eisen pop up on caller ID. I just say yes, presuming he needs me to fill in. But given his stature, As the face of NFL Network and the football connection to the Soiree at MSG, maybe that's why Rich has the day off. He and Susie have trekked back to his hometown of New York City to be amongst the hoi polloy.
Well, this is a sports show after all, so coming up. A little bit later on in this first hour of the program, where should we position the wedding bash, even though, according to reports, they've already gotten married, no surprise. Taylor Swift. Travis Kelsey at the garden compared to say Game four. That we just witnessed, the greatest comeback in the history of the NBA Finals, down 29 with the Knicks.
We'll get their coming up. In advance of connecting entertainment to seminal events on the Big Word Friday in the NBA. I've had a couple days to sift through. all of the implications of the jail and brown trade. And before I share my thoughts.
On how Boston arrived at that conclusion and how they had to settle for so. little in return. It's always best to check in with the principles. In fact, we can hear from Jalen Brown himself. As you know, he's very comfortable on Twitch.
He went back to that platform last night sharing his mindset after the big trade. Pack your bags, sayonara, buddy, outta here. I will say, you know what I mean? I'm still processing everything, to be honest. Like, it's a bunch of excitement, disappointments, a bunch of emotions.
I'm still processing everything, so give me some time. But I'm also looking forward to what's to come next. I will say there was definitely a message being sent. And that message was received. I wasn't thrilled with the amount of respect that was showed during this process.
I think there was a bit of a lack of respect. I think it was fine at one point. And then out of nowhere, things just kind of went left. You know, I think Brad is probably getting a lot of the criticism. I wasn't thrilled the way he facilitated some of the conversations, but.
I definitely think there's more to it. And I'm glad I set up the Precise background of that sound on Twitch. Otherwise, you would be hitting your radio or dropping your phone. Do not adjust your audio device. There was nothing wrong with your speaker that, for lack of a better term, bloop.
You would think I would know more about what it actually is called. With a degree of specificity, having worked in radio for 35 years, whatever that Twitch sound was, let you know. That Jalen was kicking it once more on social media. Many interesting takeaways. Among them, he received the message.
Well, the message was pretty clear: We no longer want you to play for the Boston Celtics, alluding to Brad, his now former president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens. who effectively had to Come up with any solution for the Jalen Brown problem. That has a few different factors that led to the outcome. Jail and participated in it according to reports by either. Not feeling that he got enough respect, especially this year when he carried the team.
Without Jason Tatum, went down with the Torn ACL last year against the Knicks in the playoffs. And that was reflected. If you care about the details of MVP bounting, Jalen Brown came in sixth. Telling you just how much those who cover the league closely respected and identified the way he bawled out.
Now, that's balanced by. Brian Wintorist, of course, the Man who knows more about the NBA, along with Shums and a handful of other folks than the rest of us combined. Wendy has said, and you can check out not only His thoughts on ESBM.com, but we've been playing some of the sound here on ESBM Radio that there was a perception within the Celtic organization. That last year, Jalen Brown wasn't even the MVP of his own team. Because that franchise Leans into analytics so health.
fully. They think it's healthily. And so Robustly They crunched the numbers and they thought that Derek White had a more efficient and effective season than Jalen Brown.
Well, that's just nonsensical. And I'm all for smart. I'm all for having a brain that works, especially in sports, in which too often for decades we just turned to people and said, Well, what does your gut tell you? You have to have a balancing act. There's nothing wrong with data-driven analysis, but in what world can you say objectively Derek White had a better year than Jalen Brown.
But it gets back to the internal dynamics of that team. It gets back to the fact that. Tatum is seen. And I can understand the distinction as the one. And Brown was always going to be the one A, even though he was spectacular without Tatum this year.
There's also the perception that Brown maybe expressed too many opinions about not feeling That he was appreciated internally. There was a disconnect.
Now, you can also point out that whenever there was conversation about who's going to move, it was always Jalen Brown. Go back to when Kevin Durant was available last year before he went to Houston. Jalen Brown's name was shot publicly. It could not have been more obvious that the Celtics were willing to move on from him. With all the Giannis trade talk that went on for what felt like years before he finally took his talents to South Beach.
So if you're Jalen Brown. I can fully understand feeling slighted. And at that point It's To use the old divorce term, irreconcilable differences.
Someone's got to go, something's got to change, and that's how we get Brown to Philadelphia. But. If we're just looking at the details of the trade, And I'm not saying this necessarily because I'm based in Southern California. As I come to you from our regal studios in Los Angeles, I'm Brian Weber and for Rich. Hop aboard 844-204-RICH, 844-204-7424.
The conversation never stops on the X platform. That is B.W. Weber, Weber with 2Bs. In just over 15 minutes, we link the nuptials between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey to the world of sports. Where does it belong amongst the most famous events at MSG?
I'm here in Southern California, so I pay attention, believe it or not, to the Clippers as well. There is another team, and we'll talk LeBron and the Lakers in just over a half hour to tip off hour number two. I think if you just line up. The package that The Clippers got in return for Kawhi Leonard from the Raptors, sending him back to a team he wants to play for, and he'll be virtually in basketball Siberia again. And I know the Raptors are quality.
Organization and they have a good roster, and he and Scotty Barnes can make a difference in the now muddle east, but Players who are tucked away in Toronto, we rarely think about unless they're making a run to the title, like Kawhi did in 2019. But for Kawhi Leonard. Clipper's got. Brandon Ingram, another player. Two first and two seconds.
For Jalen Brown coming off the best season of his career. Brad Stevens could only get Paul George. And I don't want to pick on Paul George because it's just too easy. It's like a human piñata. But you know, beyond the PED suspension this year.
Playoff P. Is a joke beyond the alliteration because he has come up very small in big postseason situations and he's dealt with a slew of injuries. And he He's not young.
So that's the best you can get for Jalen Brown.
Well, some of that was a byproduct of Brown becoming a distressed asset because. of the very public nature of the Giannis trade talk. Once it was clear, Boston put him up on the block. What would you expect another GM to do? Unless they're committing professional malpractice.
And I like the line that Choms had the other day on Sports Center. That if you're just looking for a way to process this in real life terms. The best Brad Stevens and the Celtics could do. Poor Jalen Brown was get 40 cents on the dollar. And It's quite an evolution because Shams also had the report.
That when the trade discussions between Boston and Philly started, the initial ask by Brad Stevens was. Five first-round picks. He went the full Mikhail Bridges, and he wanted. VJ Edgecombe coming off his solid rookie year along with George.
So if you start there. And the goal is to meet somewhere in the middle. Swing and a miss by Brad Stevens, who was one of the most respected GMs in all of sports.
So why did he do the deal?
Well, in part, he had to do the deal. There was no way you could bring Brown back given how toxic things have gotten, according to reports in Boston. Secondarily, this is boring, so I'll do it briefly. But And this is also a result of my years of being a fill-in host during the summertime. Not too long ago, and thank goodness the content gods have smiled upon us with the World Cup to be a major topic.
Not too long ago, NBA Free Agency was Tremendous. In fact, you could argue it was the best part of the NBA calendar with all the player movement. The league trying to emulate the NFL, looking for more parody, and you have to at least concede that point has been hammered home. That goal has been accomplished. We've had now eight consecutive decisions.
Different championships won by eight teams over the span of eight years that's never happened before in the history of the NBA. And that's the NFL-style parody they want because the NFL is king for so many reasons. Among them. Hope. Just about every year, something like 23 of the last 24 years, a team has gone from worst to first.
We just saw the Patriots benefit from their very straightforward schedule. I'll be kind on a holiday. Let's tell it like it is. Easy schedule to make that run from last place all the way to the Super Bowl. But once that more rigid CBA was agreed to by the players who should have done more.
to object to it, but Players are not missing game checks in modern sports, and that's going to be a fascinating thing to track. When the baseball players get locked out. At the end of the season, but let's just be grounded in the moment. It's only July. I don't have to go to baseball Armageddon when we get to November.
The new CBA with that dreaded second apron you've heard about was the owners deciding to put handcuffs on themselves financially because they had no self-control. And they came up with this system that said we can't spend unlimited dollars anymore. If we do, it's really hard to make any transactions.
So, once Boston's previous ownership decided to go Super Max with Tatum and Super Max with Brown, you knew long-term. Both those guys were not going to be there for years to come. And if you're making a decision between Tatum over Brown, I can understand why Boston did that from a basketball perspective and from the standpoint of personalities. According to reports, Jalen is just. Not always to deal with, easy to deal with.
Most organizations can't be delighted that he's that transparent. On social media, as he is.
Now it hasn't hurt Kevin Durant, but Durant's also a veteran much further along in his career. I think Boston reviewed last year's surprising success. Remember, conventional wisdom around the league was: once Tatum went down, last season was going to be a gap year. And Boston was going to try to rebuild on the fly. And in retrospect, a lot of the moves they made heading into last season Departing with veterans like Al Horford, who's 117 years old, and poor Zingas and Holiday were done in the name of the salary cap.
But even though they had that wholesale, Change of the roster, mostly because Brown was dynamic. They were still the two-seat in the East. And of course, then massively underachieved when they lost to the Sixers in seven games, in part because they simply cannot stop shooting three pointers. Back to that analytics argument in Boston. That's a really interesting Paradigm to go with.
They crunch the numbers. They think Derek White is better than Jalen Brown.
Now, the answer is he's more affordable. But they also say, hey, even when you cannot hit a single three-pointer and you're down 15 in an elimination game, you know what? Keep jacking up threes. It makes no sense to me. Even with an understanding of what the numbers suggest, you got to have a degree of the human element, but that's Boston's problem.
And we know what their core is now moving forward, trying to replicate what they did this season in surprising fashion with Jalen Brown, White, Peyton Pritchard, and now you slide Paul George and Jason Tatum in there. I don't think Boston's going to be lousy. In fact, I think Boston's going to be in the top four in the East because we just saw what that core can do with one superstar.
Now, there's a big if here. If Paul George can stay healthy. But He's part of that deal primarily to make the salary cap situation work. As for Philadelphia, and when I was filling in on Friday for Rich last time, I'm Brian Weber in for Rich Eisen. You can express your thoughts on the X platform.
That's BW Weber, Weber with two B's. I was going through my pecking order in the East. Hierarchy is too big a word, especially as a fill-in hack. I was going with the Knicks so long as they could bring everybody back, knowing they wouldn't. Do I have to say the dreaded second apron again?
The Knicks wait. Better than half a century, and then James Dolan decides, or he listens to his basketball people, no. I'm going to get a little bit more carefully. When it comes to looking at the bottom line, I'm going to scrutinize my finances with a more rigorous approach, meaning they did not retain Mitchell Robinson, who I think is the most important of the players that was on the cusp. Will they stay or will they go?
Yes, they got Chamin. Yes, they got Alvarado. But to see Robinson move within the division is not easy for Knick fans to process. Another name you got to throw into the mix for reasons why to believe the Celtics are going to compete again next year. And I think being the top four in the East.
Obviously with the Knicks. I am not. As Much of a buyer of Miami as others are. Yeah, you got Giannis and you got Bam. And then what?
Who's gonna make a shot from the perimeter? And coming up when we talk LeBron in just over 20 minutes, maybe it's a LeBron. Situation returning to South Beach. That is on the ducat, and we'll get there coming up.
Now you got to put Philly in that top four as well. With the let's go if one more time. If Joelle and B can stay healthy. And unfortunately, he's made of glass. He can never stay healthy, even though he came back for that Game 7 victory at the Garden and then got banged up immediately in the following series when the Knicks swept.
The Sixers, as they did with that historical march through the Eastern Conference on their way to the title. Embed plus brown plus maxi plus edgecomb. That's a talented team. And what about LeBron in that mix as well? Think about other clubs who have a real chance of competing in the East.
I'm not going to buy Indy that much, but they get Halliburton back from his ripped ACL. If you care, the Young Pistons laid by Led by Cade Cunningham, had the best record in the East last year. It looks like they're going to keep Jalen Duran, even though he disappeared in the postseason. And the Cavaliers made it to the conference finals. Yes, they got embarrassed by the Knicks, but that's still an accomplishment.
And they're going to run it back with Spyder Mitchell and Harden and maybe LeBron.
So. To sum it up. Boston should have gotten more. But the way they butchered Things from an optics standpoint, they got the best they could have. They probably should have been a lot more on the down low, as you kids used to say.
And Probably should have figured out that Giannis was not going to come their direction.
So they took that big swing. They got burned. And this is what they had to settle for. As for Philly, you go. From a team mired.
In a lot of questions to suddenly having a lot of answers, and maybe, just maybe, and being can finally stay healthy, and everything changes in 76 or land. I'm Brian Weber, in for Rich Osin, 844-204. Rich, the number to call. That is 844-204-7424. Coming up, more NBA 20 minutes from now as we tip off our number two of the program.
We'll talk LeBron and Philly and Cleveland and Miami and Golden State. What about the Knicks? That is percolated as well. But straight ahead. Because no show integrates sports and entertainment better than the Rich Eisen Show.
You may have heard about a little. Wedding ceremony taking place tonight at Madison Square Garden. It's Travis and Taylor walking down the aisle, at least metaphorically. Where does that event rank? Among the most famous sporting events ever held at the world's most famous arena.
That is coming up as we roll on live on this day before Independence Day. I'm Brian Weber in for Rich. This is the Rich Eisen Show. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. Save money on your next oil change with O'Reilly Auto Parts.
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Get started by posting a free job at linkedin.com/slash izen. As we power our way closer to the second hour of the program, we're going to hit that hour heavily with the MBA. My clock management skills were not as precise as I want the base. We will get to LeBron James, and I mentioned not just trying to be glib as a hokey fill-in guy. What I was going through, the list of teams that LeBron has been linked to, and the usual suspects include the Warriors, a homecoming to the Cavs, a different kind of homecoming to the Heat.
Now, the Sixers in play. We'll get an update from Sham Sharania on that in the next hour of the program. What do you know? Because Team LeBron spins things better than anybody.
However, you perceive LeBron and his camp, they understand how to feed the media beast on his podcast that was taped Recently, Rich Paul says That the Knicks would have been. LeBron's number one destination. If they had not won the title, understanding now they don't have room for him. But is he also throwing out some tea leaves that could be read by The Brains Trust in New York, led by Leon Rose, and, of course, James Dolan, when he's not meddling, will talk LeBron's future coming up. Could it include?
The world's most famous arena. Well, to link things to the soccer conversation that we use to kick off the program. Having grown up About 25 minutes outside of New York City, and it was a different era back then. Remember, if you're, let's say, over thirty-five. There was a time in which cell phones did not dominate every aspect of our life.
And you weren't Able to be tracked by your loved ones, and maybe that's why I'm single in my mid-50s. I have never agreed to, oh, let me see your location on your phone. And I got nothing to hide. I just don't need somebody following me like the CIA.
Well, late 70s, early 80s, our parents were much more laissez-faire, or let's say trusting. I used to hop on the train, meet my father at Madison Square Garden, to watch everything, including the circus when it was a thing. And the New York Arrows of the major indoor soccer league. I'm not going to be that self-indulgent as we link. The world of sports to what is happening tonight at MSG with the very subtle and private.
marriage that's going to occur, although they have to be married already, right? I I don't need to see the actual wedding license, but the New York Post is rarely wrong. That's why they don't get sued. They're reporting that the Wedding has already occurred between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey. This will be the world's biggest bash for.
How many millions of dollars doesn't make any sense to me, but You don't mess with a bridezilla, especially when she is among the most recognizable figures on the planet. Let's connect. This famous event, two of the most famous events in the history of this garden. Yeah, I'm nerding out, but this is my gimmick after all. This one built in 1968.
There's been a series of MSGs over the years. And of course, this one, if you know anything about geography, is not located in Madison Square. But if we're running through. The most resonant events in the history of this building.
Well, I was talking, Nick's. And this is not just recency bias. This is the greatest comeback in the history of the NBA in the finals. Down 29. twenty nine, misses Bueller.
I still do not understand, even as someone who grew up rooting for the Knicks, how the Spurs gagged away that lead, although you recall they led by at least twelve points in all five games of that series. They kicked it around, allowing the Knicks finally to break through. We put that on the shortlist of long, if I'm saying MSG and the Knickerbockers, what comes to mind. 1970, NBA Finals, close your eyes unless you're driving. Here comes Willis Reed limping out in game seven to beat the Lakers.
So that checks the hoops portion of the list. Hockey, love the coverage here on ESPM. What a great story the Carolina Hurricanes were, led by Rod the Bob, winning the cup. As a head coach and a captain in Carolina, got to go 1994. Stephan Mattel wins the Rangers' first cup since 1940.
Boxing, when it was a thing, if I say MSG, I think. I could give you a whole litany of super fights, but nothing bigger, especially from a standpoint of. cultural importance. Then I'll leave Frazier one and two. Then followed up by the thriller in Manila.
What else can we throw in there? Frank Sinatra, and now I've killed the audience, and yes, I'm one hundred seventeen years old. But if you're looking for something to listen to and you're not aware of an album that was a documentary on T V as well called The Main Event, The chairman of the board, Francis Albert, had a series of concerts at MSG, and this one included a live introduction in 1974 provided by the one and only Howard Kosell. I will not do a bad Kosellian impersonation, but the gist is: as Frank comes out, he has loved and he has lost.
So we'll give Francis a slot in there. And then. I gotta mention professional wrestling at least once when I film it. Although now I feel like I have Carte Blanche, given the partnership between ESPN and the WWE, UO going Hokamania running wild. The first WrestleMania.
We didn't call it WrestleMania 1. We just called it WrestleMania 1985. Hulk Hogan, brother, and Mr. T. If I was lame, I would do the pop quiz.
Who was in the other corner? Rowdy Roddy Piper. Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorf, and everyone always forgets Cowboy Bob Orton. As their third participant, of course, he meddled.
And you know the rest of the story as Hogan and Mr. T prevailed. Have I missed anything? Tried my best to be comprehensive. Also, did not want to go further back in the hot tub time machine than I normally do.
Let me know on the X platform, BW Weber, Weber with Two B's, and we will scour social media and keep our eyes open on TV to see if Rich and Susie want. Will be making their way to MSG as guests for now the most anticipated wedding. In at least what? The last 10 years. Maybe 30 years back to the royal wedding.
And sadly, as a fill-in host, I am not allowed within even 500 yards of MSG. One hour down. Another hour on the way. Back to the NBA, the latest on LeBron James. And we'll check in with Kurt Heelen from NBC Sports.com.
I'm Brian Weber, InforRich. Hang with us as we continue live on the 3rd of July on ESPN Radio. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. 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.
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