John Sterling: Derek Jeter Best Player I've Ever Called

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Find out how to bring your ideas to life at dell.com slash welcome to now. Light the beam. This is the Rich Eisen Show. What are you waiting for, huh? Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.

Get it done with DAC and CD-Lamp. Absolutely. I mean, think about this. Why are you waiting? It just gets more expensive while you're waiting.

I don't get that either. What am I waiting for? Earlier on the show, senior writer for the MMQB, Albert Breer. Coming up, former Yankees radio voice John Sterling, Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristel, CBS Sports and Turner sports broadcaster Ian Eagle.

And now, it's Rich Eisen. Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. We're going to be in Detroit next week. One week from today, we will be in the middle of our two of our first of three days at the NFL Draft in Detroit. I'll be hosting obviously the NFL Draft coverage on NFL Network Thursday night, Friday night and all day. Saturday picks one through Mr. Irrelevant, which I guess we've got to stop calling that draft pick that after Brock Purdy was almost the Super Bowl champion quarterback this year.

At any rate, we're going to be there. Actually, at this point next week, our in-studio guest is slated to be J.J. McCarthy, who I believe our first guest in this hour on this Wednesday show knows very well because he is a national champion. Michigan Wolverine himself and one of my favorite players to have watched play football at my alma mater ever because of what he made himself and what he has become.

And what he is is a top draft choice in the National Football League Draft. Mike Sainristel here on the Rich Eisen Show. How are you, Mike? I'm doing great, Rich. Thank you for having me today. I'm super excited to speak with you. Same here.

Same here. So where are you right now? You're done with your top 30 visits, right? Where are you right now, Mike? I'm back in Michigan. Okay. And you are fresh off of which visits? Who can you tell me who you chatted with?

Mike, who did you see in this draft? I visited Tampa, Detroit, and New England. Okay. So you don't have to go very far to visit Detroit? No, just 20 minutes up the road.

Okay. And so which teams did you meet with at the Combine? Did you meet with all of them at the Combine as well? For the most part, I had eight formal interviews, but for the most part, I met with pretty much every team because I didn't go to any bowl games. And so when you met with these teams, did you get a sense of any teams that were particularly keen on you, Mike, at all? So it's funny because like, you know, you walk out those interviews, you feel like you killed it. And, you know, most teams will tell you, like, you know, we really want you, hope we get you. And often it's kind of just like, you know, you have the power to do it, so just, you know, just do it. But at the end of the day, you know, every team I met with, I believe I left a good impression. And, you know, that was my goal, just allow them to, you know, see who I am as a person, go in there, have a good meeting, and, you know, just do everything necessary to, you know, want them to bring me into their organization.

And I'm just going to take a stab at this. Before going to New England, do you chat with Jabril Peppers? Do you have a relationship with him in any way, shape, or form, Mike? Yeah, Jabril and I were cool.

Okay. Did you chat with him before going there? Because, you know, obviously you could put on the same uniform as him. Yeah, I mean, we didn't talk, I didn't let him know I was going there, nor did I tell any of the Michigan guys there, Uche, Stuber, but I did see all three of them when I was there visiting, and it was good to see them there.

I never played with Jabril. I actually grew up watching Jabril's highlights, and then him coming to Michigan, I came to Michigan just, it was cool to see somebody I looked up to. And then, you know, Uche, of course, Stuber, of course, seeing my former teammates, it was good to see them, and yeah, there's a very high possibility I do end up teammates with those guys. Well, and that's your hometown, isn't it?

I mean, like, that's your spot. I mean, you went to high school just outside of Charleston. Yeah, that was one of the things I told the coaches was, yeah, like, it's kind of, you know, surreal to be here. I grew up a longtime Patriots fan.

You know, I had a great childhood of sports with Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics. You know, just, I had a very hometown, you know, hometown guy type of vibe while I was there, so it was good being there. So, how'd you wind up at Michigan? How'd you get recruited there? So I was, I got offered by Michigan my junior year. Prior to committing to Michigan, I was committed to Virginia Tech.

The two coaches on Office of Defense both ended up taking jobs elsewhere. So I kind of was, you know, in a spot where I was like, I don't want to go into an unstable situation. Let me reconsider my options.

Let me make sure I'm really doing, you know, making the right choice. Coach Harbaugh and Coach Brown, whenever they visited the area, not even just my school, but the area, they would always stop by my high school office and greet my mother who worked as a secretary down there. And, you know, for me, it was important, not important, but it was good to see that the coaches cared about my family and they were already building those relationships.

So to see, you know, see that and then, you know, having a conversation with them. Coach Harbaugh gave me an offer when I visited Michigan. The campus was great. You know, my parents were big on academics, so we knew I was going to get a good education coming to Michigan. And then lastly, like, you know, I was going to be playing top tier football at a, you know, very historic program. That was something I wanted to be a part of and, you know, win a national championship here. So everything about being here was right. You know, the team at the time, they treated me like family already. Staff treated me like family.

So I just knew this was a place that I wanted to be. So when you got there, though, is it true there was a fight between, not actual fisticuffs, but a push-pull between the offensive and defensive coaches to get you to play on that side of the football? Yes, that is true.

That is true. And then Coach Harbaugh ultimately left the decision up to me to make on what side I wanted to be on. So why did you choose the defensive side of the football? I chose defense four years after. I mean, offense. Okay, so you chose offense to start, right? And as a matter of fact, your first touchdown was against Notre Dame, by the way. Great school to score against.

That's one of my favorite for a Michigan Wolverine to score against him is Notre Dame. But so how did you wind up defense then, Mike, eventually? Just every year, I kind of would just joke around with the defensive staff about putting me on defense.

COVID year, there was a time where they needed people who, you know, seemed like they could play two ways, practice, because we had guys who were sick or hurt. Then my junior year, I kind of got a little bit more serious with the jokes because I felt like I was producing the way I, you know, I believed I could have at receiver. And then, you know, going into my senior year, Coach Harbaugh called me and said, Mike, you know, with Dax Hill leaving, I definitely think you're a guy that could fill in the nickel spot. If you don't like it, you can always go back to receiver. And, you know, for me, the type of attitude I have is I'm going to do whatever it takes to help his team. So as soon as he hung up, I texted Steven Adegoke, who was a GA at the time.

And the following day, I was upstairs learning the playbook. You know, they always say in the NFL, whenever a cornerback drops a football or a defensive back drops a football, say that's why they play defensive back, not wide receiver. So now you can have a difference. You can have a whole different perspective, Mike Sanders still, don't you think? Yeah.

Okay. And then, you know, here's what I'll never forget about you. In a horseshoe, in a horseshoe, after Michigan had beaten Ohio State for the first time in forever. The year before, in the horseshoe, you jump up on a bench and you go into the fourth quarter, you put up the number four. And seriously, as a Wolverine fan sitting at home, as a diehard Michigan guy sitting at home, I saw that and I just thought to myself, you know what? I think they've got this because nobody expected you to win two in a row, let alone go into the Ohio State and beat them there after the year before.

That was supposed to be an outlier. I'm wondering where your leadership skills come from, Mike? You know, I'm definitely somebody who's action first. So, you know, for me, it's always important to, you know, show my teammates I'm somebody who's going to do as I say. And, you know, I think naturally it's easier to gravitate towards that as, you know, another person because no one wants to be around somebody who's just always talking, talking and they have nothing to show for it.

And one thing Coach Herb would always say to us is what you do speak so loudly, I can't hear what you say. And, you know, that resonates with me. And, you know, for me, it's just like, I don't expect you to do something that I don't expect of myself. And so I'm always going to, you know, my actions are always going to match up with the words that I say. And, you know, if you if you if you're feeling that, then you're going to gravitate towards it.

If not, then, you know, you're just not meeting the standard that I have for myself and for the team, you know. And when did things kind of switch where you started believing that this team could win it all? I mean, when when when did that did it start with Aiden Hutchinson the year before the moment I was just referring to?

When did that click? Do you think, Mike, at Michigan? You know, I believe Aiden Hutchinson's year was the year that we knew we were definitely a great football team and we knew that the culture was shifting. I do believe that we there was a little bit complacency after we beat Ohio State. You know, it's kind of like we did what no one expected us to do. We beat Ohio State. We're good with that. Like, we're satisfied. The following year was OK. Let's take it more serious.

Go on to this playoff game. We let it slip, you know, slip right through our hands. And the following the following year, so this past season was when I was like, all right, two years in a row, like we know what mistakes we made. We know we know what it feels like to be there.

What is the next step? What, you know, what else can we do to get over that hump? And really, for us, was just being able to build good habits in the offseason and fall in love with the little details because we knew we had time.

We knew the question was great. It was just how consistent can we be day in, day out to make sure that when it comes to that late in the season, we're not making early mistakes. You know, going into those games, we're not you know, we're not allowing teams to capitalize on the things that we do wrong.

You know what I mean? And we want to be the team to capitalize on other people's mistakes like it was then the two years before. So it was just important for us to make sure we fall in love with the little details because we knew we had everything in our favor. And just as the year went on, the camaraderie that we're able to continue building.

It was just like there's nothing that's going to stop this team from reaching our goal. Mike Sander still here on the Rich Eisen Show from Michigan, one of the top defensive prospects available in this year's draft. And I don't care who knows it right here on the Rich Eisen Show. So a couple of narratives to hit you before we send you on to your rest of your pre draft week, Mike. What do you say to people say that's an asterisk on Michigan's title because of everything was going down with the scandal and the what wound up sidelining Coach Harbaugh for three games and putting Sharon Moore in that seat?

Mike, what do you say to that? I remember when it was I've said this. I do remember saying that no matter how good or how bad Michigan is doing, nobody wants to see us win.

I feel like that it's always been that way. I feel like, you know, Coach Harbaugh is hated in the college football world for whatever reason. I think he's a great guy. I think he's a great coach.

I love playing for him. So, you know, there's no matter what other people think, you're not going to take away what we did from us this past season. So, you know, sucks to be you if you if you want to believe that narrative. We're happy with what we did. And, you know, we got the job done.

All right. Another narrative is that J.J. McCarthy shouldn't be traded up for or shouldn't be that high of a draft choice because he wasn't asked to do much. And thus, he can't do what quarterback in the NFL certainly a top five draft choice is. You played with him.

You watched him grow into the man that he is and champion that he is. What do you say when you hear that, Mike? I actually say that's exactly why I think he deserves to be traded up for. Because, I mean, at the end of the day, right, you don't always know who you're getting when you pick somebody. You know, the first pick of the draft could always pan out to, you know, not have a successful career.

It's just you never know. So really, I believe that J.J., the stuff that he didn't show is exactly why I want to, you know, draft him because he has so much more to show. He has so much upside. He has, you know, his ceiling is very high. If you watch what he did for us when he needed to create, he did so when he needed to run, he did so. And, you know, yes, he did manage our games very well.

He was a great quarterback in the system that we had and going against him every day at practice. I've seen the things that he's able to do. I know what his arm talent looks like. I know how well he can, you know, create plays and extend plays. I know the type of plays he has to win a game. And lastly, the one thing you can never take away from him is the fact that he's a winner. He's the ultimate competitor. He's growing into continuing to be a leader.

So, you know, why wouldn't you drive J.J. McCarthy as a, you know, top quarterback in his class? And then let's talk about you before I send you on with your day. You're going to be a dad soon? Is that a true story? You're a dad to be?

I am actually, I did notice your best dad ever sign right there. Oh, yeah. If you need tips, any pointers, I'm here for you.

You know? Please share. Please share. Oh, gosh. Whenever you want.

I've got tons of them. But, I mean, you know, you're now in the position of just having to be supportive and being there right now. You know what I mean? How long is your girlfriend in right now? We're two, we're 30, going on 32 weeks, so we're two months away.

So in two months, actually, our daughter should be here. OK. So you're in training camp for being a father before going into training camp as being a professional football player. Basically what you're saying. Exactly.

All right. So you just got to be supportive. Just got to be there. Obviously being there the day of the birth. That is, that's paramount, but you knew that already.

And then just learn how to put in a car seat. What else? Chris, you want to help out here, Mike? He's got a four year old at home.

What do you think? Basically, you're a utility infielder. Anything your partner needs? Yes. Get up in the middle of the night? Yes.

Food, takeout, groceries, clean the house, dishes? Yes. Yes. Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?

Do you know yet? It's a girl. OK. It's a girl.

Girl, dad. It's the greatest. It's awesome. Does she, and the first thing that she's going to have to know is she goes to the University of Michigan, right, Mike? Like that's, that's the one. That's the first thing, correct? Yeah. Yep. Excellent.

Now, what, what, last question for you. What will a team get if they draft Mike Sangerstill? They're getting a complete football player.

A guy who, you know, plays the game of football the way it should be played. They're getting a leader. They're getting, you know, somebody who's going to do whatever it takes to help the team win, no matter where he's needed. Again, the ultimate competitor. And they're getting a guy who wants to, you know, win Super Bowls and, you know, create a legacy at the organization that he's going to be in. OK. Fantastic. And they get a champion, right? A national champion? Exactly. A leader at best?

That's what they get. Fantastic. Hey, Mike, thank you not just for zooming into the show, but I will always say this to any, and I've got Chris Jenkins on tomorrow's program.

That's a beautiful thing. I'm not just being self-serving by having Michigan Wolverines on. There were 18 of you at the combine, you know, and they're national champions.

So this is, this is a legit conversation to be having before draft. But a thank you for performing the way that you did and comporting yourself the way that you do means a lot, man. It means a lot to so many of us that graduated before you. And thank you.

And congrats in advance. Thank you, Rich. I appreciate you. Right back at you. And I'll see you. I'll see you. By the way, maybe you'll be a teammate of Aiden Hutchinson in a week.

Wouldn't that be something else? For sure. Mike, thanks for the time.

Congrats in advance of being a dad and being an NFL player. Thank you. Thank you. You bet.

That's Mike Sandristel here on The Rich Eisen Show. That's what you're going to get. You're going to get a champ. By the way, real quick, New Englander. Patriots reaching out, by the way. Let's go. Him next to that kid you drafted last year. Let's go.

And Jabril. Dude. What a defense. We know the defense is loaded.

That's a back end. They signed Kyle Duggar. Right. Re-signed Duggar. He's back. Yeah.

Let's go. Sorry, you were saying? I just don't know if Mike realizes how much joy he really has brought to your life. I mean, well, I told him at the combine, I think I embarrassed him in front of other people.

To be honest. Marked out a little bit over. Yeah, I might have put him off. You definitely didn't put him off. He showed up. Oh, no, I did.

That's true. He showed up today. Chris Jenkins tomorrow. He's his dad, longtime Panther. He was a jet for a while, too. And boy, he was just so good in the middle of that defensive line for Michigan. He's tomorrow. When we come back here on The Rich Eisen Show, we'll dive a little bit into Bill Belichick.

That story that ESPN put out there and how he will loom over the NFC East before the voice of the Yankees, John Sterling, joins us. Let's talk sleep number people. We all know quality sleep is essential.

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That's O'Reilly Auto dot com slash Eisen. It was ninety six and it was the week before the Michigan-Ohio State game. You know, I got to practice. I wasn't feeling well. My back was a little tight. And I told the trainer, you know, my back is not feeling right. He was like, oh, you know what? Don't worry about it. So, you know, we're in practice and he calls me over a couple of times. Coach Carr. Yeah.

Yeah. You know, he was like, you know, you're not paying attention. He said, hey, if you're not going to pay attention, then you can just leave. And I turned around, walked out the field, walked into the locker room, put my clothes back on. I walked to the dorm and I was like, man, I'm transferring. I'm out of here. You walked out on Coach Carr and Michigan practice Ohio State week saying, I'm leaving.

I'm going to coach Carr's office. You know, he asked me a question. He's like, you think you justified yourself by walking off the field? And I was like, yeah. I was like, I don't I don't think you had to make an example out of me. He was like, you know what?

You're not playing this week. I walked back down to Vance Bedford's office. He was like, I told you, just go down there and just apologize.

You know what? He picks up the phone. I don't know what he's doing. Ms. Woodson, I told this boy to go down there and apologize.

And that's all he had to do. Here, you talk to him. So I'm talking to my mom. She's like, what's what's the problem? Like, you know, you know, my coach wants me to go down and go down there and apologize. I'm like, I'm not apologizing.

She's like, Charles. She said, I understand. I know.

I know you're mad and you're angry. She said, if you're not going to apologize for yourself, then do it for me. Come on, man. So I said, OK, I get up, I go down. Did it for mom. I did it for mom, man. Apologize to coach. He said, well, you know what?

Good, Charles. You're playing this week. All on our archives right there on the Rich Eisen Show radio network, sitting at the Rich Eisen Show desk, furnished by Grange with supplies and solutions for every industry.

Grange has the right product for you. Call clickgrange.com or just stop by. Guys, we have an update up. We have an update from the Metroplex. Oh, from Frisco, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys front office line home office of Jerry Jones. There has been a free agent sign. Oh, yeah. No, his name is Royce Freeman. Oh, wow.

We now have six of the NFL dot com free agency tracker of the Dallas Cowboys. Graduation. All right. Jerry, late night, Jerry.

How's this breaking? I told you this an hour and a half ago. You got two backup running backs. Told you we don't we don't do Teslas and Kias and Hondas. We do Rolls Royce's Maserati. That's what we do. All right. I see the famed Rico and Royce hitting with the RICO. Awesome.

Rest and relaxation does not stand. Any time you can get third string running backs, you got to do it. Rico and Royce. It takes a nice chunk out and a little deuce coop. Yeah. Little Beach Boys. Come on. That's right. Fifty six. We'll get another running back.

Listen, the starter will be Benson out of Florida State. I don't want to put our business out there. OK. Like I just did. OK, sure. Write that down. Remember, I said it at ten twenty five. So the Cowboys are going to get going to write it down.

Xavier worthy to start. No, that is not what I say. No, that's what Peter Schrager said that. Here, coach.

A Mary Smims, Georgia. Yeah, right. It's going to happen when you don't get any of those people.

I don't know. They'll get a running back. And you never know. I mean, third round run, right. Choose. I mean, the Chiefs won back to back championships with the seventh round.

I need some medical personnel on hand in Detroit for TJ. Well, you remember last time I flipped out during it. I was just so mad they took Leighton Van Der Ash. We were right. And he turned out to be pretty darn good.

And I apologize for that. I really wanted Calvin Ridley. And we're glad we're glad that the Cowboys do draft.

Well, they you can't you've got to give it up. They do draft well. I mean, the reason why they're paying C.D. Lamb and they're paying Micah Parsons and they're paying Dak Prescott is because they drafted him. And they have balled out. The question is, again, the concept of all in. And sticking with the roster and supplementing it with.

With I mean, straight up bargain basement free agents and resigning your own. And I know that sounds no, that sounds like you're denigrating. You're not going to agree. I am not denigrating. I am not denigrating.

Excuse me. No bargain basement. Free agents sometimes turn into pro bowlers and draft choices turn into pro bowlers or all pros. They can do that. And you have to see how it works out this fall, because the way the Cowboys approached getting one and done by the Packers is to stick with everybody and not extend anybody. Although Peter Schrager says they're going to have to get something done with Dak and C.D. Lamb and Micah Parsons is also not at the current workout program, although he wasn't last year either.

He does his own workouts, but C.D. Lamb's not there. And it will all be about going all in on everybody and everybody having the pressure put upon them to do what no Cowboys team has done since the mid 90s. And if they don't, they're not there anymore. And that includes the head coach and ESPN dot com, putting out a deep dove today as to how Bill Belichick greatest coach ever. OK. And one of the greatest if you want, if you need that parsing for an argument sake.

Did not get a job in this cycle. And. The article says the Cowboys never really considered Belichick, despite Jerry Jones and Belichick being friendly and tight because he immediately, Jerry Jones, decided to stick with Mike McCarthy in, I guess, what the twenty four forty eight hour period right after being one and done by the Packers.

Yeah. Jerry made a quick decision, quick decision to keep them. And this article says the Eagles actually and Howie Roseman give a sort of how you doing checkup call on on Bill.

They stuck with Nick Sirianni after they got one and done as well. And then there's the Giants, where Belichick, as we know, made his bones as defensive coordinator in the Parcells era and also special teams coordinator, he was Mike Mayock's first position coach when Mayock first strolled in there back in the 80s. For the Giants. And so here's how it's going to work. Bill Belichick is going to get a job in the media somewhere.

I don't know what it is yet. Yeah, that article made it seem like it was imminent with Omaha to do something with Peyton Manning. By the way, and he if he wants to trust anybody in the media business. One of my first memories of the Pro Bowl is watching Belichick when he was a coach in the Pro Bowl, one of the first early years of NFL Network, basically commandeer a table at the pool bar and sit there with Peyton Manning and they talked ball for hours.

I mean, when I say hours, that's what they did. He and Peyton Manning, I'm sure, have an affinity and a respect, and Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions is a, you know, a new industry standard. They signed a new way, a nine year contract extension with ESPN. So that would make sense. And as a matter of fact, I see Bill on the screen right now, you know. Yeah. Yeah.

Interestingly enough. And so there's lots to talk about that Bill is, you know, no doubt going to say. And no doubt Bill has a media career in him.

Without question. It's going to go where he will be the guy that I saw on the set of NFL 100 who has stories for days and information for in cuticles that the rest of us don't have in our full body. And coaches and owners will see this guy on the screen and suddenly go, oh, so he's not the guy that we all thought he could be to blow up my organization. He plays well with others. I see him. I have enjoyed his thoughts. He's really intelligent. He's really this, that, the other thing.

Have him in for a meeting and then boom. He's going to have a gig. I think so. If that's what he wants.

If that's what he wants. Not everyone's going to win the NFC East. Only one team can do it. And one would think, you know, if all three teams or four teams make the, you know, somehow make the playoffs, somebody in the NFC East is going to be left feeling less than. And if he looms over the NFC East the entire season, talk about a delicious storyline to add on to the Dallas Cowboys all in season or the retooling of the Philadelphia Eagles season. Or the New York Giants doing whatever the heck's going to be happening with Daniel Jones or whoever they drafted the quarterback position if they do that or whatnot.

Because he's going to have a stupendous media year. That's going to happen. So. Be on the lookout.

For B squared. I just that's looming over the whole season, too. But again, let's be honest, the dude and that's his name going forward is Geppetto Jerry. He knows how to manipulate the media to have us and everyone else talking about Dallas 12 months out of the year. I'm sure he's not always a good thing, but that's not good. Oh, that's not bad.

It is what it what do they say? There is no bad publicity, publicity, bad press, no bad press. So that shouldn't be the end goal, though. Shouldn't be, but because the best press is, hey, we had a parade. Yeah, but we haven't had a parade since the mid 90s. And yet Dallas is still the most talked about team.

So again, I don't know. And I've said this before, I don't know if winning a Super Bowl is a priority with them anymore because it sure doesn't seem like it is. I think it absolutely does. That has to has to say, wasn't that his line when he came on this show, saying this when he came on the show? Was it? It wasn't last year. It was the year before last when he said that, I remember the night before the, you know, our third Super Bowl when I told the, you know, the Lord that if I got this one, I wouldn't be asking for another.

And I'd like to redo that. That deal is what he said. Oh, he does. Oh, he wants one. He doesn't want to be sitting there with the camera zooming in on him on Fox, where it looks like he's swallowing in his own vomit while somebody comes in his building with their young quarterback and a bunch of receivers you've never heard of and put up 27 unanswered in the first quarter first half. He doesn't want that. You know, obviously he wants his his team to be talked about. He wants his team's value to be through the roof. He wants all of that.

Those two things I agree with. But he wants a championship. And again, what will be looming over the entire season, as we've been talking about for weeks, is the sense of all in and the non the lack of supplementing the roster that clearly had some holes when it came to it. That's what playoff baseball does. That's what the playoffs do in any sport, especially the National Football League, is it exposes the weaknesses that didn't get exposed by lesser opponents throughout the regular season.

And when it's always funny, if you if you have a left fielder that can't throw or a left hander in the bullpen that can't throw strikes, the ball will find that person in left field and the left hander will be on the mound in a high leverage situation. If you can't run the football, you can't stop the run. If your quarterback needs X, Y and Z to happen in order to be successful, if your wide receiver needs something extra to help him get a free release, those things aren't going to happen in the playoffs. And you need to find a different way to succeed, whether it's coaching scheme or another player that comes to the fore out of nowhere. Or a quarterback that just raises the level and says, jump on my back, I got it.

And the Cowboys have not, as of right now, supplemented that roster in any significant way. And if the head coach goes into this season with no extra years on the deal. And Belichick is sitting there smiling and having a good time on some Omaha production or on your screen on a Sunday or a Monday or a Thursday. That's how he looms over the whole thing. And the same thing goes for the Eagles and the same thing I'd imagine goes for the Giants. Because if you think you've got a roster that he can just come in and sprinkle the Belichick dust on and then all of a sudden you could start winning championships in the two, three year period in which he's committed potentially to do it.

At age 72 at that point in time, you got to think hard and pull the trigger. We'll take a break. 844, 204 Rich, number to dial.

Speaking of legends, the legendary voice of the New York Yankees, John Sterling, fresh off of the announcement of his retirement, will call into the program the dulcet tones of John Sterling when we return. Our house is a mess. Come on in. I'm Amber Wallin, Internet comedian and host of your new favorite podcast, Fly on the Wallin. That's pretty presumptuous to assume that this is going to be their favorite podcast, by the way. Anyway, that wasp that you just heard interrupt me is my husband and co-host Benjamin Wallin. Listen in as we discuss relationships and keeping our sweet baby kid alive. Fly on the wall and wherever you listen.

This decision was based on finding there is a far the central bank appears to be threading that concise, accurate and fresh each day. America in the morning, the podcast available wherever you listen. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show, 844, 204 Rich is the number to dial right here on the program.

John Sterling is going to be joining us in a matter of moments. We had a lot of fun talking with him, seeing what his memories are as he hangs up his microphone. Well, you can't hang up a microphone, right? I'll just turn it off.

Turn it off. Our radio audience will return. Very good. Who's who's who's the radio voice that you grew up listening to? Joe Castiglione for the Red Sox, for the Red Sox.

Still doing it. He's doing it less and less, but kind of doing the every other inning thing and not really traveling. Obviously, Remy on the on the TV side or Cillo is out here in Southern California. Don Jerry on the TV side. Yeah.

OK. Yeah. And basketball. You know, Tommy Heinsohn was the long time. Talk about homers. Color guy for the Celtics up until his passing recently. So, yeah, it's amazing how long these guys like do there.

It's great. Mike Gorman has been the TV voice of the Celtics. He's retiring after this year. Mike, do you remember Jim Gordon, who called the Giants games years ago? He had a set of pipes he had, man. I don't know. I was the only guy who I've heard has had a set of pipes like Jim Gordon was like Gary Thorne. Yeah.

You know, another great buddy. Yeah. Jim Gordon started football games in the 70s. I don't remember that. Yeah. Yeah. Who was the radio voice growing up for you as a Bob Murphy calling Mets games? No, I was in Pennsylvania.

OK, so is it my coat? Well, that was like Bob Prince back. OK, I was terrible towns.

Little, little kid. OK. Lanny for Terry used to do. I mean, I can't remember all the pirate guys back then. It's been so long. OK. Well, John Sterling's about to join us right here on The Rich Eisen Show. It'll be a lot of fun to have that conversation. Eight four four two oh four rich being the number to dial here on the show. Let's go. Good times.

Back here on the Roku Channel, along with the Rich Eisen Show Radio Network, Sirius XM and so much more. Yesterday, I gave you my top five John Sterling calls of all time in honor of John Sterling, who first started broadcasting in February of 1960, after 36 years of being the voice of the Yankees. And obviously all the calls were Yankee related. But I mentioned Chris as well, because, you know, obviously you you live in a Braves household. Yep. That he would call Braves games. You'd spent a decade in Atlanta.

Right. And and when we posted our top five calls of John Sterling's career, in my estimation, obviously they're all Yankee related because I'm biased. Got a lot of pushback saying that actually his best call involved a home run he called on the air in Atlanta on July 4th.

His birthday, by the way, 1985. But technically this home run happened on July 5th because it happened in the 18th inning of a wild affair between the Mets and the Braves. The Mets scored once in the top of the 18th to take an 11 10 lead. And the Braves were all out of players, essentially, just only having pitchers left. So they left Rick Camp, the pitcher, with zero career home runs in the game with two outs in the bottom of the 18th. John Sterling at the mic.

This is why you always save a player. Now, two outs and oh and on. The Mets are waving their infielders in. The whole Met team waving their outfielders in. Here's Rick Camp with a game on the line. Two outs and oh and on base. Ernie, if he hits a home run to tie this game, his game will be certified as absolutely the nuttiest in the history of baseball. It'll be an 0-2 pitch.

And he is at the deep left. Heat goes back. It is gone. Holy cow.

Oh my goodness. I don't believe it. I don't believe it.

Remember what I just said. If he hits a home run, that certifies this game as the wackiest, wildest, most improbable game in history. Camp makes it 11-11, his first major league homer. I mean, that is the most improbable act. I mean, if you told me that John Sterling's going to run for president and win, that wouldn't be any more improbable. I got to tell you, that's improbable. Unbelievable.

In 1985. That is amazing. And joining us right now is the legend himself. John Sterling here on the Rich Eisen Show. How are you, John? Well, I'm good. How are you? I'm doing fine. Did you hear your call from 1985 with Rick Camp? I had a tough time hearing it, but one thing I will tell you. One, I thought it was a terrible call.

Oh no. But the pitch before Camp hit the home run, I did say something out of my big mouth. If Rick Camp hits a home run and ties this game, that will prove this is the daffiest, weirdest baseball game ever played.

And he did just that. He was ranked as the worst hitting pitcher in the game. And a couple of weeks before, I was on the air with Skip Carey, one of my partners along with Ernie Johnson and Pete Van Weren. And anyway, Camp came up in a game and I went back to the roots of a broadcaster I really loved, Russ Hodges of the Giants. And so I said to Skip, well, as Russ Hodges would say, anyone up there swinging a shillelagh is dangerous. And Skip said, well, obviously he's never seen Rick Camp. Anyway, that's the Rick Camp home run.

Now, you know what no one remembers? What? He gave up five runs in the top of the 19th. That's incredible. Oh, my goodness. So he set himself up for a five spot, a crooked number in the top of the 19th, huh, John? And that was the game.

And that was the game. Oh, my gosh. John Sterling here on the Rich Eisen Show. So, John, if you don't mind explaining to Yankee fans that are hearing you nationally now as to your thought process to to retire after all these years now. I'm just rich.

You know, first of all, you would mention that on the beginning, my first job, my first day on the air was February 1st, 1960. So all I have to do is say that you can understand how tired I am. And, you know, the games are easy.

My voice, for whatever reason, hasn't gone back. So the games, you know, Susan's the greatest. So the games are easy, but everything else is tough. And you know what? Enough is enough. So, you know, they're going to have a day for me on Saturday. And, you know, as I've told friends, the great thing is that starting on Sunday, I don't have to go anywhere at any time. I don't want so.

So that's what's going. I mean, I've been on the air long enough, right? No, I and I totally understand that. Again, as you just pointed out, your voice sounds terrific. And so that that was kind of a surprise as well as it coming in the middle of the first month of the season. I think that's what I know. And that's obviously I was smarter.

Yes, and I'm not. But if I was smarter, I felt this all winter long. I had all these great months to myself that we didn't make the playoffs last year. So I had October, November. December, January, February, March, and I should have quit. I should have done this thing on, I don't know, March 1st or March 15th, not March 30th, because we're already in in Houston and playing the opening series. But anyway, I you know, I think I I think I've drained as much from this job as I can get.

And now, although it sounds like a cliche, now it's time to put my feet up, you know, and and relax. So, John, in in your time calling games, calling baseball games, and it's not just the only sport you've called, who is the greatest player you ever saw? John, who would you say that that player is?

Wow, that's a good question. Who's the best player I've ever seen? Does this have to be someone I called or just me when I was a kid? No, I think it's you called in your broadcasting career.

You're in a booth. And then, I mean, I don't know how it could be anyone else but Derek Jeter. Derek Jeter came up to the Yankees in 96 and I kid everyone he he became the Yankee captain without portfolio. He was the first guy out of the dugout to greet everybody. And here he is, this kid, and he became the heart and soul of the Yankees on a team that had a lot of heart and a lot of soul and went on to win the World Series.

But to see Derek do it on a day by day by day basis and care so much about winning and care so much about his ballclub, you know, I think that's I think he would be the greatest. What about basketball, John? You called Nets games back in the day. You spent times calling basketball. Who's the best basketball player you had the privilege of calling action for, John?

I guess Dr. J. He was fabulous. He didn't get his due and he never should have left the Nets. He shouldn't have left the Nets and Earl Monroe shouldn't have left the Bullets.

But Dr. J, I'd say as an opponent, Larry Bird. Oh, the things Larry Bird did to the teams that I was broadcasting the game in New Orleans when he hit in the 60s and hitting shot after shot, falling out of bounds, and they offense screaming and clapping. And that was really exhilarating. And, you know, I've done so much. I'm the type who does it and leaves it. You know, first of all, I do everything by the seat of my pants.

I live life by the seat of my pants and I broadcast by the seat of my pants. So, you know, I've done so much. Don't forget the old Bullet days and the Nets days and the Hawks days. Dominique, he was a big part of my career, Dominique. And then all the baseball. Sure.

I'm a very lucky person. And then what about what about you called Islanders action? So would you best hockey player you ever saw that you called Islanders or not?

John, who was that? Yeah, I don't know who would be the best player, but we we just lost one from the islands. We had a terrible year for the islands. We lost a lot of wonderful people.

Yes. And one of them was Mike Bossie. And Mike Bossie was a great goal scorer and a lovely human being. And you want to take a shot at football? I'm trying to put a John Sterling, a John Sterling Mount Rushmore together here. What about football?

I don't know if I could do that. You know, I guess because of his success, Brady. Tom Brady. And I certainly saw all the games. Yeah, Rich, I'm one of those guys.

Yes. And I'm going to do this now. I see every football and basketball and hockey playoff game and regular season game. I mean, I'm just I love sports. It's been obviously an enormous part of my life and will continue to be.

I just don't have to broadcast anymore. I know. And John, that's why I wanted to have you on to say thank you for all those years of enjoyment. And for everybody who pulled up a chair or sat down or was driving around or wherever they heard the sound of your voice to say thank you, John. And just and congrats. You used a phrase, Rich. Miss Scully phrase. So pull up a chair. Can I tell you this?

How proud I am of another thing? No, no one would think this. And of course, it's not true, but I think it's true. Vince Scully began with the Dodgers in the very early 50s, and he finally they got rid of red red barber and they put Vinny on. And I want to tell you, Rich, I knew Vin Scully was great before anyone else. I listened to him and Vince Scully even said I benefited by a generation of mistakes.

And I thought Scully, the Dodgers, when he was a really young guy in the early 50s, I knew he was better than everyone. John, thanks for the time. Thanks for the great years in the booth. Enjoy Saturday. And then best of all, enjoy Sunday and thereafter. You know, I will. And you and Susie get to town. You got to give me a call. One hundred percent, John. Let's look for more of my calls.

Please do that. And thank you. You're right back at you. Enjoy it, John. That's John Sterling, the play by play announcer, the New York Yankees, formerly of the Nets and the Islanders and the Hawks. His pipes sound amazing. He sounds just like he did in that clip we played from 40 years ago, right? From eighty five. Man blessed.

I did not bother to look up how that game ended in 1985. So the guy who hit the home run gave up five runs extended the game just to take the mound. That's amazing. And then the screen grabs that we showed Chief Nakahoma welcomed him at home plate.

So good. Talk about a different era. I wanted to bring that up after the clip, but John was coming on. So by the way, did you see did you see that's Gary Carter behind the plate?

Yep, Wally Backman, who had his mouth wide open as camp was rounding the bases, Dykstra was in center field. That's a heck of a met team. Oh, they were. We were good.

They were good. You were on the verge in eighty five. Eighty five was the year before the greatest team of all time. And Ernie Johnson, senior Ernie's dad in the booth with John Sterling. I love that.

In 1985. I'm going to pull up the box score for this game. Ian Eagle is going to join us in the next hour to talk about the NBA playoffs and so much more. That's our three here on a fun Wednesday edition of the Rich Eisen Show. Still on Roku, you look, you're calling up the box score that game right now.

I'm pumped. But that was a Thursday, July 4th, when it ended on a Friday and the Friday morning with the final score was the county stadium, 16 to 13. So the Braves got two back in the bottom of the 19th, I mean, OK.

But John was right. He gave up a five spot in the top of the 19th, 28 hits for the Mets on that game. I remember one thing I do remember.

I don't know why. I know Keith Hernandez hit for the cycle and he had like 10 at bats in that game and came on. Yeah. Yeah. Hernandez was four for 10.

Four hundred in the game. I remember. I remember reading that when it happened for the cycle. He homeward in the eighth to complete the cycle.

Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, I love it. Crazy game as a heck of a team, man. Oh, no, they were strawberry was on that team.

They're ready to roll. They're thrown out of the three for seven really good talks down. Strawberry got thrown out of the game. He got tossed. Davey Johnson did, too. I'm pretty sure that was, by the way, that had to be pitched an inning in that game. I'm sure it's like, can you pitch to get in the game? Get up. Mookie Wilson come in. By the way, that that had to be a very late night, early morning in Congress Corner after the Mets broadcast. Absolutely.

No more contract. We're left. Shout out to coffee.

Two guys got born coffee in Congress Corner. No more. Oh, my God.

All right. That's it for this second hour. Three The Rolling Stone Music Now podcast gets inside the biggest stories with Rolling Stone senior writer Brian Hyatt. Now here is my conversation with Jacob Knoll. Your story is an amazing one. And obviously, you lost your dad when you're only one year old. It was definitely a screwy way to grow up. I think that a lot of people never heard of who I am and then they see me joining this band and they must think this kid must have handed everything or nepotism kid is a gift that I have an opportunity to sing in such a big band like my father and my uncle's band Sublime. Rolling Stone Music Now, wherever you listen.