REShow: 2023 Little League World Series Champions - Hour 2

This is the Rich Eisen Show.

There's no tanking in the National Football League. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. The Arizona Cardinals have released Colt McCoy. When it's all said and done, you see the sunshine of Caleb Williams. If I'm Kyler Murray, I'm sitting there thinking, what is this all about? Earlier on the show, Eagles linebacker Hassan Reddick.

Coming up, Little League World Series champions El Segundo Little League. Raiders defensive end Max Crosby. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air live on the Roku channel. And we are live on the radio as well.

Terrestrial, Sirius, XM, and Odyssey. We are thrilled to have you here with us live today. Because we are here in El Segundo, California as we have been since we were born back in 2014. Which means we almost were eligible to play for the West team that represented El Segundo in the Little League World Series. The California team from right here in El Segundo, California just won the championship. And what do you do when you win the championship?

You show up right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Behind DJ Mikey D and Chris Brockman, we have the lion's share of the champions of the Little League World Series. And here's what we're going to do. Chris, you have the microphone? I have it. Because we're just making this up.

We are. And before we get to the two gentlemen that are sitting to my right, I want you to hand it over your right shoulder. I want you guys to introduce who you are and your favorite baseball player.

Can you do that? Okay, go ahead and start. I'm Crow Connor, my favorite player is Shelby Otani. I'm Finley Green and my favorite player is Freddie Freeman. My name is Declan McRoberts and my favorite player is Lars Neupar. Lars Neupar!

Alright! Let's get another one. My name is Jackson Kalish and my favorite player is Lars Neupar. That's two. Two for Neupar! By the way, that's a great fantasy team name, write that down.

Two for Neupar. Sorry sir, go ahead. My name is Lennon Salazar and my favorite player is Buster Posey. Buster Posey! Nice old school, I like it. My name is Ollie Parks and my favorite player is Julio Rodriguez.

There you go. My name is Max Baker and my favorite player is Cedric Mullins. Okay, I like it. My name is Chloe Lee and my favorite player is Mike Trout. Okay. My name is Quinn Boley and my favorite baseball player is Elie De La Cruz.

Yeah! Hold on a second, before you go, who did you, what's your name again? Quinn Boley. Quinn Boley.

Do me a favor, step a little bit to your left because Mike Del Tufo's got a big head. And there we go. Alright, very good.

My name is Lucas Culler and my favorite player is Adley Rutchman. Nice. I like it. Well done boys.

Well done boys. And now to my right, go ahead and introduce yourself. My name is Brody Brooks and my favorite player is Ken Griffey Jr.

Okay! Old school. Do you want to just, do you want to do the same thing coach?

Go for it. Ah, my name is Danny Boley, I'm the manager of this beautiful, wonderful world champ team and my favorite player is George Brett. George Brett. By the way, congratulations right here. Love it. Now, why don't you tell me who's missing here and why today?

Go for it. So yeah, so Lewis is, Lewis Lappe's missing. He was the one that hit the walk-off homer. Yes. To get there, to get to win the world championships and he just fell asleep.

He was real tired from the east coast. My man. So. Hey man. I guess we found out what can take him down is jet lag. That's about it.

Pretty much right now. Yeah, no, he's a beast and jet lag will take him down. Okay, so Brody, you said Ken Griffey Jr. is your favorite player? Why is that?

I always liked his swing, like when I see it on videos and when I play with him on MLB the show, I always do well with him. Okay, now the two for Newt Barr. Who's got the microphones? Hand it back.

What's with the Newt Barr? What do you got? I chose him because he's from El Segundo. Yes. I don't know, I just admire the way he plays. Okay. And the same thing for you? I chose him because he's dating my older sister and he's a good player.

And he's a good player. Just so you're aware. That is incredible. By the way, just so you're aware, someone in my position normally only asks questions I know the answer to because other than that, you know, I don't know what answer I'm going to get. That was a great answer. Yeah. So, you know, what's Lars like?

I mean, what do we got? He's super cool. Super down to earth. He's very nice. Okay. Well, I'm so excited for you guys to be here on this show today and you're going to the Dodger game tonight? Yeah, we got the Dodgers tonight pregame, we'll get there early, meet the players, kids will maybe throw the ball around a little bit, but Dodgers, USC, Angels, Lakers, we're in the city of champions, so the champs need to be with the champs. That's fantastic.

I love it. Danny, walk me through, how long have you been doing this at Little League? So three years.

Little League starts at 10 and there's a, there's a tournament for the 10s. I mean, you personally. Oh, you probably 12, 15 years. Okay.

Yeah. And why'd you get involved? Why'd you start doing this? I love kids. I love development. I love, I'm a passionate guy. I'm an old school, John Wooden type of coach.

I love the, just go play and you have to play the games anyways. And so, you know, understand that and understand family type of atmosphere, especially in a team sport commitment and then understand that we is better than I in any sport. Brody, when did you know you were on maybe a team that was really special?

When did you know that? From the beginning, like, especially like our first year, we had a very special team from the start. And then this year when Lewis just joined after playing like travel ball, because he didn't, a lot of people come back for their 12 year old year. That's what he did. And he was a really great player. So that just like topped it all off.

And that's how we got there. You're referring to Lewis Lappe? Yes. Who's asleep right now? Yeah. Okay. But you're wide awake, man.

Right? I'm still tired. Okay.

All right. Anybody else feeling like awake or up for it or what? Anybody else over there? Who else just grabbed the microphone? Who else has got jet lag?

You can raise your hand if you're jet lagged. No? Nobody? Okay.

Well, some of these kids are trying to fold. I mean, if you have you okay. What do you got over there? Somebody? My man says he's not tired.

Who's that? Who's not tired? Take the mic. Who's not tired? Me.

Okay. Why are you not tired? Shouldn't this be?

I don't know. I'm just energized. What does this feel like to you right now? It's really cool because you got to play with all your friends and win a championship that nobody gets to do.

Like a lot of there's over probably 40,000 teams around that number that didn't get to make it to Little League World Series and we're number one in the whole world to win. So I'm just pretty energized from two days ago. Danny, right? That's your name? What's your name? Quinn.

Quinn. Okay, very good. That's your son? Yes. That's your son? I think so.

Okay. What's it like to be coaching your son, man? No, there's nothing better.

For the Little League World Series. Yeah, there's nothing better. They're all my sons. Of course. I treat them like everyone the same. But in my opinion, Little League does a great job and it's almost the last time you actually get to coach your son because as they progress in the future of high school and stuff, there's other coaches for that. So you're not part of that world.

So you hope to give them the values and the ethics and the skills that'll lead them on to whatever their future holds for them. What was the toughest team you faced this year? Guys, I'll leave that up to you. Sherman Oaks. Sherman Oaks in sectionals.

Sorry, state. Well, my son played at Sherman Oaks Little League this year and a lot of the families knew that you guys were coming on and wanted me to ask that question of you thinking that that was the answer. So for you guys to hear that, there was a pretty damn good team here too that you guys were playing against. Is that what you're saying?

Absolutely, man. California's tough to get out of. We played baseball 24-7.

Some cities, states on the East Coast, they only have, what, four or five months, three months to get their league in because of the weather. But yeah, Sherman Oaks, for three years, we'd beat them in state. They won state and then we beat them again this year to get to regions in state.

So they've been our toughest competition out of California, without a doubt. It's pretty amazing. So okay, raise your hand if you want to answer this question and you can do it too, by the way, Brody. What was it like running on the field after Lewis hit that home run? There's a couple of, you can start, you got the microphone in your hand and pass it along please. Go ahead.

It was just amazing because we knew that we were the best in the world now because once you see that home run, I'd say it's all because of Max because he gave him the chance and it would have been more exciting or it would have been less exciting if he didn't. Okay. It was really, really cool.

Really cool though. Oh, I passed that microphone along. Please go ahead. Go for it. What's your name again? Just say your name first. Colby.

Okay. Go for it, Colby. Y'all knew as soon as he hit it, it was gone and that's kind of a crazy feeling thinking that you're the best team in the world and there's a lot of people in the world so that's pretty cool.

And yeah, as soon as at the bat, we all started jumping and we all ran out to celebrate with him. Could I pass it along? Go for it. Oh, it was pretty magical because like... And you're the Max that made this happen, helped, you know, set the table, right? Go ahead, Max.

You can toot your own horn. Go for it. Go for it.

Go for it. All right, so basically, I gave up the game tying grid slam and then that led to Lewis hitting the walk-off homer and yeah, but it was pretty magic. But it's just, I think that, you know, I know we're having a little bit of fun with this, but it's pretty cool to watch your teammates pick you up because I'm sure you pick them up throughout the year, Max.

This is not what you should be quote unquote known for, you know what I mean? So would you agree with that at least? Yeah. Okay. So then what was it like when you were out there on the field there, Max? It was pretty magical and I was pretty relieved because Lewis saved me.

And then, I mean, running on the field knowing that we just won the Little League World Series is, it was just crazy. Okay. Yeah.

Pass that along then. Keep going. I mean, when it first happened, I was shocked, it was crazy, I can't believe we were the World Series champs out of everybody in the U.S. and the world, it was crazy, I just couldn't believe it at the moment and Lewis has always been a clutch hitter, so I'm really glad he finally barreled the ball up against Jay because we had kind of an argument with him who's going to win that game, so yeah, it was really big. Go ahead.

Keep going. It was really, it felt really amazing and like exciting because this is like a dream come true for me as we ran out on the field and we watched Lewis run around the bases and it was just like really, really cool and fun. All right. This is pretty cool. It was just like really, really cool because I was on deck and once he hit the ball, I ran out of the dugout and chucked my helmet onto the ground. But you had visions of doing that yourself though, right?

I mean, he took away your ability to walk it off, if I'm not mistaken, right? Yeah. Okay. Well, it was super cool. You got to love that attitude, right? Unreal.

They all have that attitude. I love it. It was really cool that Lewis got to experience that. Who's taller? You or Lewis?

Lewis by an inch. Ah. So that means you're six foot flat? Yeah. Geez. What's going on?

What are you eating in El Segundo? My gosh. When he hit it, I was like kind of in shock. I mean, I kind of knew we were going to walk it off, but like I was still in shock when he hit it.

And it's plus because he also hit it off a J and we kind of in a rivalry rivalry between them two. Mm hmm. Yeah.

I love it. Yeah. It was funny because me and crew were in the bullpen and I was warming up. And when he hit it, we were just like ran onto the field and I actually slipped on the concrete. Oh.

Are you good? Yeah. So we were in the bullpen. I was catching and I caught a pitch and then I was like, oh, wait. So you waited and we watched watched it happen. And I immediately threw my glove, my helmet, and we sprinted on the field.

I jumped over the fence in the outfield and ran all the way there. And I kind of missed everything though. Well, you're not missing this, right? Did you want to say something? You didn't say, okay. Oh, that's very good. Just want to make sure.

What about you? Go for it. Go for it because I just got back like after getting the three outs pitching, I went to the bathroom. The next pitch, I almost missed Lewis's homer.

So it was, I was glad that I didn't miss it, but I was also upset that if I did, I would have. So just, I'll say it. So you were number one before becoming number one is what you're saying. Yeah. Okay. Very good.

What about from your perspective? Yeah. I wouldn't have pitched to him. I thought, I actually told Lewis before he went up, he said, hey, just be prepared. They might walk you, right?

Yeah. He's prepared for that. But if they don't, don't go chasing pitches, but he's smart and he knows what he's doing up there. So when I saw the first pitch, a curve ball, the outside, I had a mic on me and Carl Ravitch and I and Jess and Todd, they hear everything I say. So I reached in and I said, hey, Carl, I hope this kid doesn't miss because if he does, it's going out. And lo and behold, he threw it right down the middle and it was gone.

It was grooved right down the middle and he didn't miss it. Yeah. That's amazing. I mean, again, I know he's not here. He's showing he's human by sleeping right now.

What's it like managing him? And again, I know that you've got a whole bunch of special kids right here because it's a team game. That's the beautiful thing about baseball.

Right. So each and every one of these kids have done something, whether it wasn't in the consecutive games, but in the games that meant something. We had to the top, our number one and our number two in the batting order being Brody and Lewis were as good as any top two that's ever played Little League World Series ever, ever. They made history. They made a lot of historic moments for Little League World Series. Both of their bats are phenomenal. And when you get to the top of our order, I always say, good luck.

This is where it happens. So I had all the confidence in the world. We'd been there before him and Brody went back to back homers against Great Lakes earlier in the week. And they're both incredible hitters. And you know, all these guys have played, I mean, Max Baker didn't strike out all summer, not one game. And that's a huge feat. Lucas Keldorf didn't let one pass ball. They kept talking about it like, God, this team just doesn't make mistakes and then makes the big play happen. So Lewis is going to be Lewis and Brody will be Brody and the rest of these guys will fill in and support.

But they're all incredible athletes and incredible human beings. What does that make you feel like, Brody, when you hear your coach say that, your manager say that? It's definitely exciting that he puts you up with a player like Lewis. What do you do for a living normally, if you don't mind me asking, because again, this is important, I think, because you know, you're doing this, you're managing, you're taking time out of your life, you're taking time out of what you, and by the way, not just you, anybody who does this and gives their time to kids. What do you do?

Yeah, so I do estate planning, life insurance business with my brother-in-law, Kevin Martin. And I'm able to do my job from the phone. We don't have to go out and surround in the offices anymore. We do stuff from the house and we're able to work from the house. So I'm able to take off a little bit of time here and there. It could be lucrative at times. So that's what I do and owned a restaurant here in Manhattan Beach for 20 years called Fonz's Steak and Seafood back in the day. Let's get it out there. Let's get a pop in there.

There you go. Not there anymore, but had we met everybody and all the pros and all the videos that came in from LeBron to Trout to George, Brett, to Kevin Uclas and Mike Eruzione and David Wright and I mean, the list goes on and on. How cool is that?

And it was just super special. You know, that's the type of kids that deserve all those videos from those kids and understand that each one of their messages, all three of them said, have fun, be a good teammate and do it. Only you can do. Don't try to be anybody else.

And that's basically the core, I imagine, of what makes a successful unit and team. Gotta play as a family. So there's a parade. What are you going to have a parade or what?

Yeah, September 10th. I mean, I can't believe it can be any better than what we did yesterday. It was a, for me, it was a presidential type of feeling like police escorting you, the black, the SUVs, the black cars, tinted out and driving down and everyone's just praising you. And I'm not so sure these kids understand it, but man, that was super emotional for me to watch what these people were doing. It was nuts.

It was crazy. And so they don't, maybe in 10 years, they'll understand how big this was, but right now I think they just want to get some sleep, play Fortnite, not go to school. They don't want to go to school for two weeks. Well when does school have to, yeah, it's in school underway or school underway? Started last week.

Yeah. Last Wednesday. We're out of school today. We're out of school.

One more day. And then who's going to school tomorrow? Anybody? Everybody? Yeah.

Everybody should raise their hand. School's out for summer. Rich, you know, right now, track and field star Noah Lyles has been questioning why the NBA champions are referred to as world champions because he says they don't play the world. You guys don't have that problem.

You guys literally are the best in the world. Congratulations to you. Congratulations to you. I have one last question and then I'm up for, if you have questions for any of us, if not, that's all good.

Max, can you give the microphone to Max? I need to know this because I'm focused on this sort of stuff because just look at me. When was the last time you got your hair cut, Max? When was the last time? It's probably like towards the middle of last school year. Okay.

So it's been 2022 is the last time you got your hair, is what you're saying? Would you mind just taking the lid off? Let me just see the whole thing. Let me see the whole thing. Oh my gosh, that is... Don't ever cut it.

That's his power right there. That is... What'd you say? It looks like an ice cream. It's like an ice cream cone. Like an ice cream cone? Okay. I'll tell you a funny story, Rich.

Please. So I had these kids for a month and a half and the parents aren't allowed in the barracks and aren't allowed in San Bernardino. I mean, they're allowed, but they're supposed to be with the coaches only.

Besides the sickness that we had, which made this thing even more special, that some of the kids were out and missed games in the World Series, but I never have seen a kid in the morning before a game take a shower and have to blow dry his hair so that it flops up in my life. He has a hairdryer in the bedroom in a mirror and I'm thinking to myself, oh my... We're all leaving the batting cages and he's still teasing it up. So he's good at it and he's good for the camera and man, it was that special. Well, I mean, but as the manager, you got to let him go. Oh, let him go. I mean, that could be your strength, right Max? That's your strength, isn't it? Yeah.

That's a damn straight it is. Yeah. You keep going. Look, Chris, tell him, like, look at us, right? Look, here's the deal, boys. It's their chance. Don't rain on their championship parade. Did I hear you just say hold him down and cut his hair?

Is that what you said? Yeah, I mean, come on. Don't go any jealous of him. Have some fun with him. Why are you jealous? Look at that man's hair.

I'm not jealous. I told him not never cut it. When I was 16, I shaved my head for basketball season and it never grew back.

So don't do it. Keep that hair dryer ready. Keep it as long as you can. I haven't had a haircut since 1990.

That's impressive. So the Dodger game tonight. Yes, sir. And then back to school or what else we got?

We'll go back to school and I'll go back to work and probably still do a couple more radio shows or talks if people want to talk. But let's see on Saturday, the Angels on the 5th of September. Oh, fantastic. If Disneyland wants to invite us, I'm sure we can do that too. Magic Mountain, whatever these kids want. Let's go.

They deserve it all. So then you can you get to see me. Oh, Tony, then.

Is that possible? Like, right. Yeah. Trout. No, Tony.

Hopefully trout. No time. Yeah.

And the rest of the Angels. Me. Of course. Understood. Understood. Well, congratulations to all of you and the parents as well.

I'm sure this is so significant for for you as well. What a dream to go to Williamsport and watch your kids. Obviously winning is the ultimate, but just watching them represent El Segundo in California and the manner in which they did and which you guys did. Congratulations. You should really be proud. You really appreciate you, Rich. Thank you. Oh, come on. This is we're all we're all one big happy El Segundo family.

There you go. We're here keeping the light on every single day. And now you are you are champions. Congratulations to you.

Danny Boley, the manager of the championship team, Brody Brooks and the rest of you. Well, Lewis, you know, hopefully he caught up on his on his winks and congratulations. Tell us. Congratulations to him as well. Please do. You bet. That's one last round of applause for the little league champions of the world from here in El Segundo, California. We are back with your phone calls and more.

Max Crosby of the Raiders still to come as well. Hey, everybody, with the busy fall season just around the corner, you might be just like me looking for wholesome, convenient meals for jam packed days factor. America's number one ready to eat meal kit can help you fuel up fast with chef prepared dietitian approved ready to eat meals delivered straight to your door. You'll save time, eat well and stay on track with your lifestyle. Refresh your healthy habits right now without missing a beat. Choose from thirty four or more weekly flavored packed dietitian approved meals ready to eat in two minutes. Level up with gourmet plus options prepared to perfection by chefs and ready to eat in record time. So go to factor meals dot com slash eyes and 50 right now and use the code eyes and 50 to get 50 percent off.

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Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. When was the first time, Mike, that you met Al, you recall that in Lake Placid and then I ended up having the pleasure of working with Alan Ken, a few Olympic Games after when I was when I was a commentator. So we consider him part of our team whenever our team has a reunion and we haven't had many, but we always try to ask Al to come because he's like an extended member of our family. Well, I feel like the mascot.

I'm like the San Diego chicken with you guys. I mean, you you guys wrote the script. I just happen to have, you know, the the the coda on it at the end of the game. But, you know, inside the game itself, Mike, when you think about the fact that people always forget that you guys were able to overcome three deficits, it was one nothing, it was two one, it was three to Soviets, you get the the game winning goal, as it turned out, the tie breaking goal, the 10 minute mark. But the other thing is, you well know, so much of that game was played in the United States and people forget the Soviets had thirty nine shots on goal and the United States had 16.

All right. And, you know, it's funny, I saw the game the other day out for the second time since 1980. And it was amazing to watch the last 10 minutes, though, when we took the lead, I think they only had three shots on goal in the last 10 minutes of the game. So I was surprised at how well we played once we once we got the lead.

And then the other thing that people don't remember and I and I tell them all the time is we didn't play just one game. You know, we would we were behind against Sweden, we were behind against the Czechs, we were behind against Norway, we were behind two against West Germany, we were behind against Finland and still found a way to come back and win. And I think that's just a testament to you know, we weren't lucky. It wasn't a fluke. We were pretty good players, our speed, our conditioning, our youth all came to a head right there and our advantage.

Oh, yeah, I guess just insert Curacao for the Russians and you just saw a championship team. Wow. Oh, my gosh, that was a lot of fun back here on the Rich Eisen Show radio network sitting at the Rich Eisen Show desk furnished by Grainger with supplies and solutions for every industry.

Grainger is the right product for you. Call clickrainger.com or just stop by just like the Little League World Series champions just did. How much fun was that? That was amazing. That was so cool.

My favorite player is Lars Knutbar because he dates my older sister is not what I expected. Oh, my God. That was incredible.

I didn't realize, I knew like George Brett is grew up in El Segundo, so that's the name of the field in El Segundo, so it makes sense that it was the coach's favorite player. Yes. But the Lars Knutbar twist, that was incredible. How was it?

That was so much fun. Oh, man. And it's interesting what you said. We didn't talk about Noah Lyles, the fastest man on planet Earth, saying NBA players calling themselves world champions.

Get out of here because he actually does take on the world. Yeah. It's a global game.

I mean, half the league is ordered. Well, you know, that was it was Dean Lillard pushback, right? Durant pushback. A bunch of people pushback.

A bunch of people. And I understand that we all here in America think we are the world leaders in absolutely everything. But truly, like which sports leagues outside of our country could rightfully call themselves world champions? You'd have to say what the rest of the world calls football, right? Soccer, Premier League, or Bundesliga, or just name any top flight.

Right. Top flight for what we would call soccer football, soccer league. They could call themselves world champions, I guess, if they're the champion. They call themselves the Champions League. When you crown the Champions League, there's a world. Well, I mean, World Cup's different.

Yeah. Because that truly is the whole world. I'm talking about a regularly played... Oh, it calls themselves... Yeah. Well, the Champions League is the league of champions from everybody around. So that, you could call them world champs, they call it Champions League.

I don't think, with all due respect, Inter Miami, despite how they're playing right now, would take out the winner of the Champions League. But the NBA is the best basketball league in the world. That's what I'm saying. In Major League Baseball, with all due respect, I mean, the World Baseball Classic showed, but there's a lot of major leaguers playing for every team in the world. Don't you think the best baseball team on planet Earth emanates from the World Series champion?

Yeah, I do. Okay. Don't you think the best football team emanates from the National Football League?

Obviously. The best NBA... Like, could there be a team overseas that beats the Denver Nuggets? Well, I mean, the Denver Nuggets' best player... Is international. Is international.

So... The two best players are international. Well, I mean... Technically, I mean... Jamal Murray's Canadian. Yeah. So... Giannis?

Luca? That's what I mean. The NBA is a global league, so calling themselves world champion... The last three MVPs have been foreign-born players. Well, and LeBron's from a different planet. Yeah, he's an alien. So honestly, National Hockey League, is there another hockey team that would beat the Stanley Cup champions?

I would say a majority of players that win the NHL are foreign-born, so... That's what I'm saying, so... That's why they all come here and play in this league. Yeah. That's what I thought when I heard that.

Weird tape by Noah Liles. Well, I mean, I understand. He's like, hey, I'm in a competition where I'm beating someone from Finland. For instance... You know, I'm beating someone from... Well, Jamaica.

Or... I'm beating someone... Right. You know, I'm beating someone from the world.

So when I'm a world champion, that's what I can call myself. It's his point, but... They will not have, as I said, they don't have that problem. They beat teams from Australia, Canada. No, I know.

Because it's an international competition, welcoming the best teams that have won their competitions internationally. Europe and... Sure. So, yeah. Right. And I mean, this kid, Lewis Lappe, who is, I guess, 6'1", or 6'2"?

6'1". He's the one who hit the walk-off home run, but he's also like, I'd like a picture with him and Otani, you know, when they do go visit the Angels, because he threw five and one third innings of three-hit ball with 10 strikeouts against Texas. Texas had beaten them two to one, El Segundo. So El Segundo won this from the loser's bracket that had to face a bunch of elimination games, including against Texas. They came back around to take on Texas as the U.S. champion, Texas went through the winner's bracket. They had to beat Texas again, and they did it.

And they lost to Texas two to one. Lappe hit the solo shot for the one, and then he came back and he had five RBIs, including a three-run homer, and threw five and one third innings of 10-strikeout baseball. Yeah.

Guy's a beast. But, I mean, the kid that sets it up, Brody Brooks, and how about them giving that kid, Max Baker, grief? He set it up by giving up the grand slam.

They were up 5-1. I mean, it felt so bad for that kid when that happened. But it's about, baseball's about picking each other up, man. Yep.

All sports are, obviously. Jeff in Detroit, and my apologies for letting you sit there for two and a half hours without working your call in yesterday, so you're first up today. What's up, Jeff? Oh, that's quite okay, huh? You know I enjoy the banter between you and the boys.

So yesterday was so fire. Thank you. Mike Tomlin gives you gold. Coach Tomlin gives you gold. Every time.

Every interview, man. You guys are really, really on fire. Thank you, sir. And I love you in your NFL form. I promise you.

I promise you. Thank you, sir. Listen, the kid that you just had on there, didn't he have kind of like the Patrick Swayze type of hairdo from, what's it like? I'm looking at that guy. Yeah, a very Roadhouse Grill.

Yes, a very Roadhouse Grill, I imagine. Yes, I agree. My goodness, my goodness. The Trey Lance trade, I wanted to talk about that a little bit. In my opinion, it's a win-win, because in essence, what you do with Brock Purdy is you throw the keys on the desk and tell him, listen, you're in charge.

Now, everything is up to you, you know, and there's no better feelings. We just got finished trading Trey Lance. This is your team.

Let's see what you're going to do. You know, and I honestly believe that they made the right decision. On the other hand, Dallas is in a pretty good position because we all know at the beginning of the season, there's always a need for quarterbacks. And I wouldn't be surprised if somebody will come knock on Dallas's door when they need one because it's always a need for quarterbacks. You know, unfortunately, you know, things happen at the beginning of the season.

Things don't work out. So, you know, my question to you is this though, who has the better season statistically, Trevor Lawrence or Brock Purdy? Well, I think it'll be Lawrence.

I think Trevor Lawrence will have a better season statistically. I don't think statistics are Purdy's magic. I don't think it's in his bag. Chris, look this up, and thanks for the call, Jeff.

And as always, the thought-provoking question at the end. I don't believe Brock Purdy had a 300-yard passing game last year. I don't think any of his performances were 300-yard off the charts. I don't think that's his superpower.

His superpower is processing and not making the mistake and putting the ball exactly where it needs to go. Yeah, he had 284 in week 17 against the Raiders. So you want to talk statistics?

He did have 332 in the playoff game against Seattle. So one out of... So one out of...

Okay. One out of 12 games. In the regular season, he didn't have one. Right. Not in the regular season.

So that's not his superpower. But he had 16 touchdowns combined and only four picks. He puts the ball in the end zone and he takes care of it. And he administrates the offense in the manner that Kyle Shannon appears to want.

It administrated. So that's what he does. And let me just one more time, again, when you trade multiple picks to move up to the third overall selection, you have to get that pick right because you're normally gonna lose your job if you don't. That's the way it works in the NFL. That's what coaches and general managers who make that big trade usually know.

You better get it right. And I think the fact that the 49ers coach and general manager are not feeling any heat in their seats is why the San Francisco 49ers are one of the more successful franchises in the NFL right now. That's the way I'm choosing to look at it. Did they get the pick wrong? Well, based on the results, based on what they got out of Trey Lance, based on the fact that what they got for Trey Lance, the fact that they're trading him at all, I mean, think about it. A third overall pick that you trade two future firsts for is gone with just four starts before he starts his third season in the NFL. One year after being the we're gonna live and die with you starter of the team. And part of the reason why he's gone is because they drafted the final pick of last year's draft with a guy at the position who got the opportunity and didn't get hurt right away.

Like Lance in year one and year two, he eventually did get hurt, but he had enough time to prove he's got it. And the fact that they're going with him instead of forcing Lance in there because they have to see what they have in him, because they gave up so much to go draft him, because they have to see what they have in him, despite what Purdy showed and what he's gotten in terms of respect within his own locker room, they have to go with Lance because they got to save their jobs. That's the alternative here. They have to do it because if they don't, if they trade him for a fourth round selection on the eve of his third season there, they'll admit they missed and the boss will see that and start questioning everything else that they're doing. And if Purdy doesn't work out, they're all out and the house is clean.

That's not going to happen, or at least there's no threat of it happening. What if the alternative is at Shanahan saying, yeah, that kid that definitely doesn't look as crisp and sharp and ready as Sam Darnold. You don't lose your job here due to injury. So Brock, we saw what you did last year and we know what you can do this year and you look ready and the locker room loves you.

But sorry, we've got to go with Trey Lance week one in Pittsburgh, because if we don't, my ass is on the line here. How many times do you hear stories like that in the NFL, multiple? So I like to kind of zag here when everyone else is zigging and give the 49ers management team credit for having the Cajones to make the trade and then admit they're wrong and get out of it and go with an alternative that's better because they also do know what they're doing in a draft or they got lucky in the draft and developed a quarterback.

The Rich Eisen Show presents how to register. No, but I'm saying here what I mean. If Purdie doesn't take him as Super Bowl, then what? Well, I guess we can deal with that then. But if Purdie keeps them on a Super Bowl track, then. Or what if Purdie comes back down to earth and shows why he was the last pick in the draft? Then they're going to maybe have some accounting to do this year, but then it'll all be on the line next year or they'll go with Sam Darnold and see what he's got.

And maybe he is the next Steve Young and then all of a sudden he's in a spot that he wished he could have been as a third overall pick that Lance wished he might have still had in San Francisco, but his opportunities unfortunately went by the wayside. I'm kind of just saying here again, even though I did kind of go higher register, I'm saying that in the manner that I'm not saying it because I need to say it to believe it. I'm saying it in that way because I don't hear anybody else saying, hey, good on them for doing that and for Jed York to let them run the risks. Here at this show, how many times do we say, you know, no idea is crazy, right?

Bryan Cranston came on here, said years ago, and it stuck with me. And I think all of us, best idea wins. Doesn't matter whose idea it is. If it's a great idea, you can employ it and use it. And we, we, we do segments here every now and then they don't, you know, hit, but we ran a risk.

It was worth it. We tried it, but it's a healthy environment where you let someone run a risk and if it doesn't work out, if everything else is a winning strategy, then let's move on with what we can do with the new idea. I think that's a healthy way to run an organization. Certainly healthier than one and Dunning, Tom Sula, and then Chip Kelly.

Back in those days, after Harbaugh went, they're going in the opposite direction. They got one guy and coach that they believe with and one guy and general manager who works well with that coach. And they're going to keep going with it because they're, they've got a championship team otherwise and might have one with Purdy. I was thinking that just last night, I'm like, they, they could have just sat there and said, Hey, locker room, we're going with this kid who clearly is not as crisp and as ready as everyone else in that room because we need to prove we're right.

More important to us to do that than make a decision that's even bolder, that may be the right thing for everyone collectively. I've seen that many times in my 20 years in the NFL, but the Niners aren't doing that. They're like, all right, we're trading him for a fourth. We know that people will say that we're crazy or we don't know what we're doing here, but we're going with Purdy and then Darnell.

And then if we get down to Brandon Allen, we're going to start, you know, sacrificing something here because there's a football God that's trying to take us out. 844-204-RICH number to dial here on The Rich Eyes and show more of your phone calls when we come back. Max Crosby is going to be here on the show in hour number three, the Las Vegas Raiders getting Josh Jacobs back in the mix.

And don't forget, Max Crosby was a guy who was sitting in a car with him on the day of the deadline of giving players long-term contracts or having to play on the franchise tag. So that is coming up in hour number three here on The Rich Eyes and show. Don't go anywhere back with more in a moment. It's time for kickoff and the Believe podcast will get you ready for the new season. How do you live through this as a different sports fan? Believe has podcasts covering all 32 professional teams and many of your favorite college teams too. You slid it by your defense.

You got better. Sideline to sideline. End zone to end zone. If you don't do those things, then you're not even trying your hardest to win at football and I don't know what we're doing.

There's a lot of great players on those teams that I was fortunate to be part of. Search BLEAV podcasts wherever you listen. Back here on our program, normally we don't do this with our guests in a green room, but when there's 12, 12 year olds coming, I just want to make sure that we're stocked up. So that was our before photo of our green room fridge. Now let's see what the damage was. All right. It's not too bad. A bunch of parents. Not bad at all.

Okay. There's probably 20 people here. Oh, so Laquan Spindrift, not really popular with the youngins. Imagine that. They're 12. They wanted pizza and candy. And Sunny D. And Sunny D. And Capri Sun. And purple stuff.

And Coolie. All right, guys. So you can say that we were right. Or I could say exactly, and heaven forbid you give us any credit. I'll give you credit for knowing what the youth want.

The two, the 12 youth, all I know is Susie and I kept a monster sized Hot Wheels set up in our spot specifically for when your son comes over. Months from months. Come on. From months. What do you mean come on? I'm trying to turn this around on me. Yes, sir.

Did you have pizza there too? To show that we know what kids like. I know what kids like. He's three. He's not 12. I know that.

He likes anything. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly.

It's like... Lemonade. My son makes lemonade with him. Lemonade. The cool refreshing drink.

Lemonade. Who's calling me during a show? Like who is calling me? Yeah.

How dare they? What do you mean? You're always on your phone. Yeah, but his friends should know he's doing a radio TV show right now. And I'm working when I come in here.

What do you think? I'm just saying. I'm looking at cat videos when I come in here. I know that. That's what I'm doing. Give me a break. That's what I'm doing. Give me a break.

That's definitely me. All right. Here we go. The Rich Eisen Show, let's take some phone calls.

What do we do? All right. Let's do this. Nick in Ontario, Canada. You're here on The Rich Eisen Show. What's up, Nick?

We're international. Hey, it's an honor. Pleasure and an honor to be on your show, sir. Thanks for doing it. I'm very much looking forward to seeing you on my TV every Sunday in the next couple weeks here. Coming up.

Couple quick things. Chris, big fan of your wife. Thank you. Thank you. Me too.

Sorry you're a Patriots fan. Okay. Wow.

I'm sorry for 28-3. Big, big Sarah Tiana fan. I've actually been talking to Chris back and forth on Twitter recently, slowly making my way through succession. Okay. Yes. All right. We have just the finale left. Okay.

Oh, my goodness. Well, don't want to spoil anymore, but what's on your mind today, Nick, outside of all that? Outside of all that, my Falcons are on my mind. Been a suffering fan since 98, when we first lost the Super Bowl, obviously lost another one in there as well. But I think our time is coming back, and I think the league needs to look out for my birds this year.

Well, we have here on this show have given them the- Some of you have, TJ not so much. No, TJ, who did you have when? You had the Saints winning the NFC sound? At the Saints?

Yeah. That's as good a pick as any, I understand. But Brockman and I, again, if Desmond Ritter is a guy that can be the two-way threat in Arthur Smith's offense, similar to Tannehill, just to use that analogy from his Tennessee days, and Bijan is as talented as we think he is to go with a 1,000-yard rusher from last year who's returning, and Darryl Patterson, who can maybe score on special teams, and the defense... By the way, and thanks for the call, Kaleis Campbell's on that team. Everyone's kind of forgetting about that.

It's another one that nobody talks about. And they performed defensively. I kind of just gave you the reason why I'm choosing, and you chose, the Falcons to win the division. They had some close games last year in some kind of weird fashion. They had the fumble stuff against the Chargers. How about the roughing the passer penalty on Brady? The roughing the passer stuff. They had that game wrapped in Tampa. They were gift-wrapped one when DJ Moore took his helmet off. So it all evens out, sort of. But you got to figure they've improved at nearly every area.

If the quarterback is as good as people hope, then that's a 10-win season. Colby and Washington State, you're here on the Rich Eisen Show. What's up?

That's line one, DJ Mikey D. What's up, Colby? Good morning, Rich. It's an honor to be on your show. I appreciate it. Wow, that's a lot of honors here. Your honor, your honor.

What's going on? Oh, I'm just working, man. I just wanted to call in and give a shout-out to my Seahawks and do a win-loss. Okay, before we do this here, so have we had somebody do the win-loss game while on the clock? Oh, no.

I don't think so. What are you doing, Colby? Where are you working right now? I'm driving up the 101 right now. I'm a truck driver.

I own my own truck and trailer. Fantastic. I just freed and got my headset on and ready to play football.

It's down and down. Okay, here we go, a hands-free edition of the win-loss game with Colby from Washington State about his Seattle Seahawks. We have not had anybody do the win-loss game for the Seahawks yet. Home for the Rams, week one. That's a win. At the Detroit Lions, week two.

Run game's gonna be tough. That's a loss. That's a win. One and one home for the Panthers. A win. Two and one at the Giants on a Monday night.

Prime time is Pete Carroll's time. That's a win. And they're also in the home of their Super Bowl win in MetLife. Three and one coming off the bye at the Bengals. That's gonna be a hard game. I'm gonna take a loss on that one.

That's a three and two record. Home for the Cardinals. I will take a win on that. Four and two home for the Browns. Win. Five and two at the Ravens. Another tough road game.

That's a loss. Five and three home for the commanders. Win. Six and three at the Rams. A sweep of the Rams.

We've got a win there. Seven and three home for the 49ers on Thanksgiving night. Last time we saw that, we saw Sherman eating a turkey leg after the game.

I think that's gonna be on repeat. Yeah, Witherspoon may be out there doing that at the win. Eight and three at the Cowboys the following Thursday. Big time, prime time win game right there at the win. Nine and three at the 49ers.

We'll split the series with them. That's a loss. Nine and four home for the Eagles.

That's a loss. Nine and five at the Titans. I'll take the win. Ten and five for the Steelers at home. Big game. That's a win.

Yeah. Eleven and five at the Cardinals to wrap it up. We'll help them with that overall pick that's gonna scare me for the future to come, but we'll get the win on that.

Twelve and five, according to Colby, on the 101. I'm feeling pretty good up here in Seattle, Rich. Mariners are doing awesome. I think the Seattle teams are gonna do something this year.

Okay. By the way, the Mariners right now, holy smokes, another four-hit game for Julio Rodriguez. With a homer.

Thanks for the call, Colby. You bet. I mean, the Mariners are en fuego to use DP's phrase. It's more like 30 runs in like two games.

It's nuts. I mean, I would just take five percent of that for the Yankees right now. Five.

One. Are they still playing baseball? Yeah, they are. They won last night, pal.

They haven't folded yet. Look, you cannot welcome the Yankees into Detroit and not get their best. They're gonna be relegated to AAA.

That's right. The Sox were up 4-3 and then gave up 10 on answer. Altuve hit for the cycle. Relegate the Sox and the Yankees. It's so bad. Just get ready. Altuve hit for the cycle, pal.

Yeah. Baseball's too long. I can't believe none of our teams are gonna make the playoffs. My team of stinks. That is embarrassing. 162 games. Max Crosby coming up.

Hour number three with Max Crosby coming up. It's embarrassing. You know what? You want to talk about embarrassing?

None of our teams make it. I think that's more embarrassing. How about the Mets giving Max Scherzer a video board tribute? They did? Come on.

I did not know that. They gave Max Scherzer the video because the Rangers came are in Queens. They gave him a city...and fans booed. I mean, what do you think, Rich? Like what are you gonna do? You spend a cup of coffee, you just gotta win 20 games over a span of two years and take 90 million of Steve Cohen's money and you get a video tribute?

What's the threshold of a video board tribute? Hey, you were here for two years and you totally clowned the general manager leaving saying how they don't plan on buying anybody this offseason. Like 2025 is their big year. That's what you say going out the door, leading people like me to go, oh, so you're not in Otani? You're not in on Otani. Is that what you're telling me? Max Scherzer does that. At least he had the, you know, at least he had the back of the locker room and buck by saying all the stories that the locker room was a problem was wrong. Maybe he was just feeling all a glow from that video tribute. You notice that the next video tribute should be on the scoreboard? Is the person who cashes Bobby Bonilla's checks for him, the teller at the bank that takes his million dollar check and processes it, let's get a video tribute for that guy. For over three decades, nobody has had a wrestling career like Arn Anderson.

Conrad Thompson gets all the stories with Arn. After watching AEW's Double or Nothing, Amy wants to know what's this dinosaur tastes like? It ain't chicken. It's like biting into a sinewy charcoal briquette, but chewy. Oh, that's disgusting. It sure is. Check out Arn every week, wherever you listen.