Kayvon Thibodeaux: Time To Kick It Into The Next Gear

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Discounts not available in all states and situations. I'm a fan of a father and son playing together, so that's all I can say. This is the Rich Eisen Show. With the 55th pick, the Los Angeles Lakers select Ronnie James. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.

If you can turn him into a point guard, I think there's the possibility he could have a pretty productive NBA career. Today's guests, Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeau, actor Oliver Platt, Texans linebacker Will Anderson Jr., host of American Ninja Warrior, Akbar Bajabiamila. And now, it's Rich Eisen.

That's right. Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show. Live on a Friday, the last work day of the month of June. July right around the corner.

Summer is here and so are we. 844-204, Rich is the number to dial right here on this program. Live on the Roku channel, this Rich Eisen Show terrestrial radio affiliate Sirius XM Odyssey and more. Two of the best young pass rushers in the National Football League. One in each conference joining us on today's program. First up, Kayvon Thibodeau. We'll talk to him about the big blue and whatever blues epic his head coach is taking. We'll talk about that. What are you trying to say about Dave Waller?

I don't know. Also on this program, Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans. He will be joining us. Akbar Bajabiamila will be in studio on hour number three. His American Ninja Warrior is getting set for season 19,000.

That'll be discussed in hour number three. The Bear, season three. Oliver Platt is in it.

He is dynamite in it. He is in our studio. That's in hour number two. We've got more than enough time to hang with you on the phone. 844-204, Rich.

Number to dial. Good to see you over there, Chris Brockman. How are you today, sir? Rich, I'm great. One week ago, the parade of all parades, I'm still basking in its glow.

Why not? I'm still basking in the Michigan glow since January. What's up, champ? Good to see you. How are you, champ? Good to see you. Jay Feli, how are you, sir? Hey, what's up, Rich? I'm doing well. Good to see you. And those on the Roku channel might see you haven't grown another head. That's R.J. Herrera of the Rich Eisen Show, jack of all trades, who's shadowing you since Mike Del Tufo hardly works here anymore.

We figured we'd have to start building a bench. Still goes under his tree, though, right? Very good. Of course. Of course.

Of course. So, good to see you here at T.J. Jefferson Candles Lit, sir. Good to see you. Candles Lit, Oliver Platts here. So I want to remind you, cousin, I'm not like this because I'm in Van Halen.

I'm in Van Halen because I'm like this. Ladies and gentlemen, T.J. Jefferson is here. Big show news to start this program with. And here it is.

My oldest son has been signed by the New York Knicks. There you have it. Congratulations. I made it happen. I spoke it into existence. Could you imagine if Zander was out there right now, spotting up for three?

Oh, from way downtown, bang. OK, listen, listen, we saw this one coming. And I mean, yeah, like four years ago, saw it coming. LeBron made no secret of the fact that he wouldn't mind playing with his son before he strolled off into retirement. And as we all saw last year, LeBron James has lost many steps. And his son started playing college basketball at USC last year. Thank goodness.

Recovering from whatever health scare he suffered. And and he turned pro and he was out there last night and we discussed how night two of the NBA draft was Brawny Watch. And sure enough, as the Los Angeles Lakers had pick fifty five available to draft him, Brawny James was available to be drafted. Now, going into night two, Bob Myers, former Warriors general manager, said in the ESPN pre draft program that Rich Paul of Clutch Sports, who represents Brawny and obviously LeBron, had been calling some teams. To say, don't pick him.

Because if you pick him, he's going to go to Australia. And that reminded me of a story that I told here the other day. I forget to who, why it came up. But once upon a time back in high school, I asked a girl out and she said, I can't go on that date with you because I'm going to Croatia. And I thought that was an elaborate way to say no. You know what I mean? Like, just say no.

Like, just, you know, break it to me straight up. Is that true? That happened. All of a sudden watching her. What was her name? Can we out her?

No, I don't know. She's probably strolling around wherever she is. Mom of three or whatever. Didn't expect to catch that one. She said, I'm going to Croatia. Did she actually go? She did actually go.

Can confirm apparently her family had like family there. Game of Thrones. I thought I might just say no.

I mean, that's pretty elaborate. I'm going to Croatia. Can't make it. Can't go to the movies with you bowling in a movie.

Can't do it. Going to Croatia. Because he's 16 candles going to Croatia.

And Chris, that's probably what was in the movie theater. It turns out that woman's son, Ivica Zubac said, that's right, Zubac. Yes. Congrats to Zubac. You were that close though.

You were so close. But no, it's true. And we'll see.

Is this true or not? Or is this an elaborate way of saying, hey, my my my client is in demand. So you better not draft him because we have no intention of playing for you, even though he's slipping through to the second round. And, you know, because it's the James family and Bronny is now, in fact, a member of the Lakers organization drafted by. The Lakers, as LeBron is considering opting out and then signing a new deal and whatever, and that he's been talking about it for a long time and it's now finally here because it's the James family. Of course, this can't just be well enough left alone. Because honestly, who the hell are we to say, at least that's the way I'm approaching this.

That this is a problem. The last five fifty fifth overall selections in the NBA draft. Got him right here. Isaiah Wong was drafted by the Pacers last year out of Miami. I don't know if you kind of caught Isaiah's debut. It happened while he was splitting time with the Indiana Mad Ants of the G League. He made his debut in the last minute of garbage time.

In the play intern. So there's that. Played just that one game right there. 2022, Guy Santos. State selected him out of Brazil. He started and he played his first season with the Santa Cruz Warriors. The G League played twenty three games last year for him. Aaron Wiggins of Oklahoma City. You might actually have seen him because he played 78 games last year. Four starts in his third year with Oklahoma City.

2020, the Brooklyn Nets selected and the Clippers then took him. Jay Scrub. He's out of basketball. Well, he's a scrub.

Well, I scrubbed the Internet to see where he is and I couldn't find it. Yeah, I did the legwork on this, guys. So we saw that. Back off. I'm doing legwork. We saw that coming.

I'm showing you I'm doing my homework here. TLC warned you against picking the Jay Scrub. Kyle Guy. You remember him? That name may sound familiar because he was the most outstanding player of the 2019 NCAA tournament for the champion Virginia Cavaliers. Whoa.

Yes. He was drafted by Sacramento. Played four hundred thirty one minutes in three years. That's a BMOC who did that.

He's now playing in Spain. That's my point. For the one outlier of.

Nicola Jokic being selected during a McDonald's commercial in the second round, there is a bunch of guys, geese and scrubs. OK. You even went further back. You did legwork, too, did you not? I did.

So what's your legwork? The thing is, this fifty fifth pick, Chris, is kind of a I would say it's a throwaway pick anyway. These guys say I just did it. Rich just said, like, look, back in 2001, twenty five years, I went back. A guy named Chris Porter out of Auburn got drafted by Golden State. He played one year.

Two thousand seven, Louis Scholia. We've all heard of Louis Scholia. He had a he had a nice 10 year career in the NBA.

Yeah. Patty Mills, directed by the Trailblazers out of Australia in 15 years, won an NBA title. Jeremy Evans played seven years. Eton Moore drafted by the Celtics.

Chris, he played 10. These are outliers, anomalies, man, for this fifty fifth. That's all I'm saying. Who cares? Now, I know our friend Vamani Jones went all in. We invited him to come on this program and and give voice to him saying how this was.

You know, a. I don't want to put the words in his mouth. That it was some ish that was going down here. Certainly since, you know, the James family has been saying Bronnie wants to be his own man and, you know, and then LeBron basically said, I'm not influencing the situation.

And then lo and behold, it happens anyway. Right. Right. And I understand that that may be a legitimate way to look at it. My way to look at it is who cares? Maybe they're just happy to be playing with each other and maybe they did orchestrated and maybe the Lakers are catering to LeBron James. None of that is surprising. LeBron James orchestrating things and being calculating and and the Lakers appeasing their superstar. Yeah.

Not breaking news. No, I think if you go through about his timeline, I think you can agree with what he said and maybe his point of view. And you can also have the same point of view that this is really cool and we may not ever see this again in professional sports. And so, you know, you can be like, oh, that's ridiculous. You're just doing whatever LeBron wants. Sure. But getting a chance to play with your son, inherently awesome.

Maybe it's what the kid wants, too. Although his reaction to being drafted last night that wound up on the old social media machines leads people to believe that he's just, you know, maybe not terribly happy about it here. Check it.

Check it out right here. In the twenty twenty four NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers select. Ronnie James. And he's just like staring in his face. I didn't see it like that. Well, some people have and maybe people thought, you know, hey, he's not smiling. But, you know, the deputy commissioner of the NBA is smiling and they just don't realize that's Mark Tatum's default look. He's very, very happy guy.

I saw him like a war room, really happy. You saw an 18 year old kid who had a look on his face like, think about this. This kid died last year.

Yeah. His heart stopped. He died and he came back to life. And he now has this happened to him. That was a look of shock to me.

It was a look of maybe thanking his Lord that he was here to see it. That's how I took a little bit of relief to a lot of relief. And and and you heard your name called by the Los Angeles Lakers. And he will most likely be spending most of his time down the street from here with the South Bay Lakers of the G League. We can have Wednesdays with Bronny. You know, I'm happy to have I'm happy to talk with him. And then you might go from here to the downtown hoops dojo and and be with the team and LeBron and Bronny play with each other.

And that's a cool story. Am I am I off on this? Like that they left somebody on the board that would be the difference maker in this organization, that would be somebody that LeBron would go, oh, glad you drafted that guy instead of my son. And if LeBron. How about this?

The flip side. What if they drafted somebody else because they're taking the best player available on their board? Sorry, LeBron didn't match up with our board to take your son. And then and then all it took was to use the fifty fifth overall pick. Right. Right. The Isaiah Long selection Lakers fans would be so sorry to shorthand him like that.

Yeah, he's sitting at home like, what did I do? What I do literally cost the Lakers nothing. Drafting Bronny is not the difference between going to the Western Conference finals or getting to the NBA finals again. Maybe it will be.

And what if it is one day, not this season, but maybe look at this point, you're all in a LeBron. So just do whatever you want. You're doing it anyway. So this is this is fine. This is great. It's a cool moment. It's a cool dad moment.

Rich, you know, as a dad of some one of your kids that loves sports, it's really cool. The thought of one day playing with them. It's awesome. And then you can also think it's kind of a clown show like you can think both things. Well, I mean, sometimes you might sit here and think when one of my three kids sits in this chair, there's the guest chair next to me. You know, that's got to be a cool moment for me.

Exactly. I could see it in your face. It's a great and you all cater to me, which I appreciate. I'm the Rob Poenka of this operation.

You know, I think you're more of the Linda Rambis. You have more influence. Oh, thank you.

You're welcome. Wow. Listen, here's my point. What's your point, Rich?

Who cares? Congratulations. It's a nice moment. At one point, it may be a very nice moment where they're both out on the floor together. And that's what we'll talk about the next day. Potentially more than the result. I think this does kind of ramp the pressure up on Bronny, which maybe he didn't need right now in terms of his basketball development.

What's the pressure? To perform for the people in the seats at the UCLA health center down the street for the G League? Bill Plasky wrote a column last night. Also, more pressure on J.J. Redick, because now he's going to constantly get questions about Bronny. Why isn't he out there?

What's the development like? What? Better not ask J.J. Redick. You guys are supremely naive if you don't think there's going to be constant questions.

I think that's absurd. I think it's going to be about that's a clown question, dude. It's going to be about the wins and losses for the Los Angeles Lakers. And if they are losing, why isn't Bronny out there?

Because he's in the G League, just like every other fifty fifth overall pick normally is. Well, Bron said he's better than a lot of guys in the league right now. So what, Chris? I mean, that's what I'm saying.

Those are the type of things that are now they've opened themselves up to. What you're saying is ridiculous, but you're absolutely right. No, no. Excuse me. You're right. Hold on a second.

I know that I'm right. Hold on a second. And then we got to take a break because Kayvon Thibodeau is going to join us and I don't want to get him upset.

No, no, definitely not. He'll jump through the screen. If the Los Angeles Lakers are in a position where J.J. Redick, after a game, is being asked about Bronny James's development, then either A, that's a great problem to have because you're nitpicking for a team that is winning. Because otherwise, the question about J.J. Redick will be, why aren't the Lakers winning? And the answer isn't because they blew the fifty fifth overall pick to cater to their superstar. No, but if they're struggling, can we give Bronny some minutes?

If they drafted Bronny in the first round, now that's a different story. I think it matters. I think that's crazy because, by the way, let the kid develop in peace. I know that's naive.

That's naive. But to sit there and say, hey, J.J. Redick, in the middle of October, November, December, January. You know, why? Why isn't Bronny James out there? It's coming. Then that's a problem for the Lakers.

It's coming. Or a great problem for the Lakers because they're already well ahead of pace and they're winning. And so there's nothing else to ask J.J. Redick about other than where's Bronny's development? Yeah, that's one of those weird questions like, well, Cindy Crawford's beautiful, but she's got a mole. Like, oh, really? Come on. Nice. Let's take a break right here.

844-204 Rich, number to dial on the program. Kayvon Thibodeau is going to be joining us for the New York Football Giants. He's got a local football camp to talk about. And then, of course, you know, the football camp called Training Camp coming up. That's next.

Oliver Platt of the Bear in studio. We're off and running on a Friday. Customers who save by switching their home and car insurance to Progressive save over $775 on average. That's a whole lot of savings and protection for your favorite podcast listening activities like going on a road trip, cooking dinner, then even hitting the home gym. Yep, your home and your car are even easier to protect when you bundle your insurance together.

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That's greenlight.com slash R I C H to try Greenlight for free greenlight.com slash rich. So since age and being old is an issue that I think is being talked about, that's the other part of this. Bronnie James drafting LeBron James's son just got drafted to play with him. And I'm like, how old am I? And then Derek Jeter turned 50 the other day.

What the hell is happening? Yeah, I mean, I just it really was just yesterday when I started on Sports Center and the first World Series that I did highlights for was Derek Jeter's first against the Atlanta Braves. You know, and next thing you're going to tell me, Andrew Jones is closing in on 50. Oh, by the way, he is remember, he was one of the youngest players from Curacao. Remember that in that World Series? He might be the youngest player ever in a home run in the World Series. Right.

In that 96 World Series. Yeah. I went to college with a lot of kids from Curacao at that time, so he was a superstar. Right. So by the way, there's people from Curacao and the Altoona high school system.

I said college and college. Oh, man. Today's Mel Brooks's birthday. Oh, yeah. I heard he's actually having an event in town.

Ninety eight for the 50th anniversary of Blazing Saddles. Yeah, this is happening. These are all happening. These things. Wow.

I saw that Susie texted me because I guess, you know, next month she wants to maybe go. And that sounds like a great idea, actually. So put it all together, man, and we have to freeze time. You ain't lying about that.

So Jeter's 50, LeBron, because I remember when I showed up in Sports Center, I was doing LeBron's high school highlights. Oh, yeah. What is happening? OK. OK. OK. I'll say more. Back on the Rich Eisen Show radio network. I'm sitting at the Rich Eisen Show desk furnished by Grange with supplies and solutions for every industry. Granger has the right product for you.

Call click Granger dot com or just stop by. Joining us from somewhere in the greater Los Angeles area is the New York Giants star pass rusher. Getting set to host his annual football and cheer camp coming up tomorrow. Right here in town.

There is Kayvon Thibodeau here on the Rich Eisen Show. How are you doing, Kayvon? Thanks for having me, man. Good to see you. Good to see you. Are you stuck in traffic? Is that where you are right now?

Yeah, a little bit, man. I'm in between workouts. So, you know, it's hard to kind of get around in L.A. What do you mean you're in between workouts?

What do you mean by that? You know, you got to get the first workout in and you got to go get the second one. OK. How much time is in between the workouts? Just travel time. It depends on how much traffic we got.

So I'd say I'd say about 20 minutes. OK. All right. Two different gyms, two different setups. Is that why you're in the car? Yeah. We'll do a little weight room action in the morning and then we'll transition to some field work after that. Tell me about it.

I'm the same way. You know, I got my morning workout and I'm just chatting with you and then I'm going to lift in about 20 minutes, even though it's a three hour show. Don't you think? Wouldn't that be good content for me?

Kavon, me lifting on live streaming television. What do you think? I think it would, man. You're showing the hard work. You know, you make it look too easy. That's me. I do. I do exactly that. So what is your mindset going into this next season?

Kavon Thibodeau, what is it? Grind and work. I feel like last season, you know, I was able to do a little bit. But now it's time to kick it into the next gear and take it to the next level and kind of try to stab my name in this lead. I assume you are aware of the level of expectation many have of the New York Giants.

Kavon Thibodeau, right? Yeah, of course. What do you say to those who are overlooking here? I mean, you know, like me, put your glasses on.

You'll be able to see soon. I just did. See, I just did it. And by the way, I was doing that.

I don't know if you saw, I was literally doing that. So because, you know, they did add a pretty damn good pass rusher to the line to go along with you. What is your relationship with Brian Burns from jump here, Kavon?

I mean, it was real organic. You know, I knew him back when I was a recruit in high school and he was at Florida State. So him coming to the Giants was just like it was all the stars kind of aligning.

Right. That's being able to be on the field together alongside Dex, alongside Bobby Okereke, alongside Nacho. I mean, it's going to be a sight to see. So what is what can you give me a glimpse of what it may look like on a Sunday?

It'll look like a lot of celebrations, a lot of fun, a lot of excitement and a lot of child time on quarterbacks. Are you a talker out there? As far as talking trash? Yes, sir. No, it's hard to talk trash when you put in a lot of work.

You know, most of the people that when you watch a football game, the people who are fighting are usually the people who are losing. So it's like, yeah, it's too much hard work out there for me to be wasting breath trying to talk to somebody. Do you have a number of sacks for yourself this year that you've got targeted? I'm always as long as I continue to play and continue to grow and develop, I always try to be the best. So as I said before, I'm going for the record, the record. So you're you're 20, 20 plus is what you're saying. Yeah.

Yeah. And guess what? If I fall short, hopefully I'll fall somewhere in that 15 to 15 to 20.

But at the end of the day, I got it. I got to try to be the best. The record for most sacks in the NFL's in an NFL season for teammates was 1989 when Chris Dorman and Keith Millard combined for 39. You think you and Brian Burns potentially may have that in you this year?

Yeah, most definitely alongside. And now I don't know if you could have three people, but with Dex in the middle, I mean, come on. The sky's the limit.

Kavon Thibodeau right here on the Rich Eisen Show. So offensively, how did you take the news that Saquon was going to Philadelphia? You know, it's a business at the end of the day, so I never really took it hard.

I reached out to him and, you know, this is a not for long week. So you got to get paid when you can and you can't miss out on any or any dollars. We've seen it before with past contracts or past players. So I I'm happy that he was able to get the contract that he was seeking.

Well, and again, that's you know, I'm not I'll just walk through the front door with you. That is not at all the sort of insinuation I was making is that you'd be upset with Saquon for leaving. I guess where I'm coming at is the sense in the NFL that paying your own sends a message to the locker room that if you do the job and you do what you do in the community and you absolutely are a beacon, not just on the field, but in the community, you get paid what you feel you are worth. And Saquon had to leave to get what he felt he was worth.

And how does that land in the Giants locker room? Kavon? Well, I think, you know, it's a business at the end of the day. So I think when you are when you have the team's greater good in mind, as far as like a GM or as far as the owner, as far as anybody making those decisions, it's just about the long term. So, you know, depending on how they view the long term contracts and, you know, the way they want to build the team, it may or may not fit in it. You know, even you look at me. Right.

We just paid Brian Burns. So me trying to within the next couple of years trying to get a big contract, it may or may not be in the best interest of the team's long term goals. So at the end of the day, you can't really, you know, you can't really look at it.

You just try to mind your own. I think for a guy like Saquon, he has done everything and he's done what it takes. But, you know, as you continue to mature in this game, you understand that it's all about, you know, what's best for the team longevity. What do you think?

Sure. What do you think is going to happen week seven when he comes back in and he's wearing green in the house of Big Blue? Like I said, I hope Saquon has 15 great games and, you know, what he plays against us, hopefully it's a different story. Kavon Thibodeau here on the Rich Eisen Show. Your head coach, he looks different, Kavon. It looks like he's, has he been on an offseason workout program himself?

Hey, man, you know, we got we got world class trainers, we got world class strength staff. So, hey, it's only right that he got to work. Yeah. Have you noticed? Is it is it noticeable in person? Because it sure is noticeable when I see Brian Dable photographs of him right now. Listen, last season, Brian Dable has goals for his weight, just like I got goals for the season. People didn't believe him.

People didn't think it was real. And look where he is now. Look what he is now.

I mean, he does look he does look pretty good. And that's that's a message, right, being sent to the to the team? Listen, when the camera's on him, he's going to be ready. So I just I'll take that as my as my, you know, chance to accomplish my dreams and goals too. Kavon Thibodeau here on the Rich Eisen Show. Tell me about what you're doing in town in Los Angeles, Kavon. Yeah, so tomorrow we're having a camp for football and cheer. It's really just to give, you know, another community engagement, another opportunity for the community to come together.

And it's going to be at Rancho Cienega Park in the inner city of Los Angeles. And we just welcome out the whole community, you know, to be a great time for the families and for the kids to get some financial health and to also get some sports. Right. The kids, you know, they need to get some premier training right across the board. So I'm I'm excited and happy that we get to provide that and we get to come together and that, you know, we just get a chance to inspire the young kids coming up trying to follow in our footsteps.

Yeah. And that'll be on Saturday, just tomorrow. If you're in the Los Angeles area, go to the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex right here in L.A. My kids have been playing some youth sports in that facility as well. It's it's a great spot. Over 150 to 200 folks are going to be there. That's pretty cool, man. Yeah, it'll be exciting, man. I think, you know, I've been blessed with the opportunity to collaborate with different people around the city to help put this together.

And I think it's going to be special. You know, we're going to keep it going. This is our second year. Last year we had a great turnout. So we just wanted to, you know, keep stacking and keep making it better each year.

Keep stacking. All right. Well, next time you're in town, I'd like to see here instead of, you know, the seat of a car sitting in between. You work us in between workouts here, you know? Exactly. Yeah. No, we'll definitely catch up.

I'll definitely come on, come check you out and put you through, put you through a few workouts. Well, and if not, I will see you in Germany. That's the NFL Network Germany game. Have you ever traveled abroad?

I actually just came. I actually just came back from Africa and I had a layover in Germany. So I actually visited Frankfurt for a few hours and it was dope. I think it'll be super exciting. I know we had a lot of Giants fans out there in Germany. So, you know, I hope they I hope they bring the noise.

Please. Please do tell me about that trip to Africa before I let you go. Where'd you go? So I went to Nigeria.

I'll see you in Europe. The Giants legend leads NFL Africa and NFL Africa is basically the international player pathways that allows international players to, you know, follow their dreams and join the NFL. So in Nigeria, we held a combine for, you know, young men from ages 16 up to 24 that are either going to be able to join a roster this coming season or next season or be put into a program, which is international to the IPP, to be able to develop and go to college and continue to play sport football.

So right now, you know, the NFL is expanding worldwide and we are leading the kind of the charge in Nigeria and in the continent of Africa. Yeah. Oh, he's the man. He is definitely the man. And for sure. He got you involved. Yeah, he definitely has a lot going on recently.

I took a DNA test was about last year and I found out I was Nigerian. So when the opportunity came up to go to Nigeria and, you know, offer some assistance and support, I jumped to it, you know, and OC kind of and brought me in, brought me under his wing. And things have been going great so far.

So I'm excited to see, you know, what's the companies this next coming few years? Yeah. Last year we had C.J. Okoye of the Chargers on here. He got a sack in a preseason game and it was amazing for him because we spoke to him. He said he learned through NFL Nigeria and but also had never really seen goalposts before and didn't know where to face sometimes on the field.

He sacked somebody. When you talk about how they are able to overcome adversity, like these young men have been training and been dedicated. They have all of the ideologies lined up to succeed. They just now need to support the resources and things like that to help sharpen their technique, things like that. But when you see their dedication, it almost is inspiring, not almost, it is inspiring when you look at a guy like me coming into my third year in the NFL with all of these great, you know, advantages I have. I have no excuse but to be great. So when you wonder why I come into a season like this with, you know, all these high hopes, because there are people who have less resources, more adversity, who are just as dedicated, who have big dreams and that soon will accomplish.

So for me, it just gave me another chip on my shoulder to go, you know, chase my dreams and work even harder. Neat stuff, Kavon Thibodeau. Thanks for the time. Be well, drive safe, have a great second workout today and enjoy the day tomorrow at your football camp. Yes, sir. Thank you for having me. Right back at you. That's Kavon Thibodeau everybody of the New York Football Giants right here on the Rich Eisen Show.

That was neat stuff, fun stuff right there. This show is just a break for you between workouts. That's it. Yeah.

Every day. You know me, man. No doubt.

I just, you know, just get in a good sweat. Yep. Good chat. Good interview.

Good show and then goodbye. Second workout. Exactly.

And that's the way I stay thin. Right. I'm also on the Blue Zempic.

Is that wrong? Blue Govee? Is that what he's on? Come on. Come on. April's eating right.

Blue Jaro? He's eating right. Got top flight NFL trainers supporting him. I don't know. Good for him. He might have given up pork. You never know.

It could have been. Come back on the spot. I don't know.

I don't know. It's not a lie. If you believe. That's right.

The Blue Zempic, you just got to consult your doctor, see if it's right for you. Allegedly. We don't want no problems. We don't want no problems.

I'm just looking out for you, Rich. I caught you with that one with Blue Jaro, right? You didn't expect that one? Blue everything. Blue Govee? Yeah. Blue Govee.

Consult your doctor. All right. We'll take a break here on The Rich Eyes and show phone lines are lit. Eight four four two oh four rich number to dial.

TJ Jefferson, you've got a top five. You've been cultivating that caper like the Lufthansa heist. You're going to finally reveal it next.

Hey, I'm Ryan Reynolds. Recently, I asked Mint Mobile's legal team if big wireless companies are allowed to raise prices due to inflation. They said yes. And then when I asked if raising prices technically violates those onerous two year contracts, they said, what the fuck are you talking about?

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Just go to LinkedIn dot com slash direct and get started. Is it true your dad's a Jets fan? Yes, I mean, such a Jets fan that he has a Jets tattoo right here.

Oh, my gosh. When did he get that ink? Was it was he inspired by Richard Todd's play in the 70s? Or was it Ray Lucas in the 90s that caused your dad to get that ink?

What was it? So the big thing about my dad and being a Jets fan and I was once a Jets fan. Now, definitely a Giants fan. 1969. I'm sorry. I grew up a Jets fan. Go on.

Yeah. 1969. The first AFC team in the Super Bowl. The year my dad was born.

Born in New York. Growing up, everyone loved the Giants probably a little bit more. So he kind of just went the other way. Being a Giants fan, he kind of passed it on to me.

So I grew up being a fan of Curtis Martin, Thomas Jones, Chad Pennington, the Mark Sanchez era with Rex Ryan and those guys. So I think he kind of got it probably maybe like when the Mark Sanchez era was going. I don't think he did it because of that. He always had a passion. He always wanted to do it.

And one day he just made up his mind. He said he's going to put a Jets tattoo. I don't know what I'm freaking out about more. The fact that you could be a Jet. You were living and dying with the Jets while I was living and dying with the Jets, or that your dad and I were born in the same year. And you could be my son.

And I've got a 10, almost eight and a five at home. And this is not about me. It's about you. So was your dad disappointed that the Jets didn't take you? No, my dad was happy that, you know, he see his son live in it or didn't get a chance to take you. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But he was happy, just like I'm saying, his son, he's him and my mother, very fortunate to have both parents in my life. You know, I've always went to them and told them what I want to do and what I'm passionate about.

And they always give me great advice and try to show me the way what I got to do to get to my dream and live out my dream. And interestingly enough, the Giants first game, by the way, back here on the Rich Eisen Show, 4-4, 2-0, 4-H, number to Don, we just showed on our Roku Channel feed, Saquon Barkley at the Super Bowl in Atlanta years ago. And how the Giants drafted him, talking about how the Jets were the team of his youth because his dad loved the Jets. And the Jets didn't get a chance to draft him because the Giants drafted him before the Jets did. And interestingly enough, the first game of the post-Saquon era for the Giants is against the quarterback the Jets took after Saquon, Sam Darnold for his, wait for it, fourth team.

Can't make it up. It's Sam Darnold and the Vikings in the house the first time for the Giants, season opener. Then they're at the Washington Commanders at the Browns in the first of two nationally televised games against your Dallas Cowboys. Hey man, that's a choice by the NFL too because the Giants-Cowboys games last year were, you can't even call them non-competitive, 40-0 to start the season in New Jersey on Sunday Night Football.

And they gave Giants hosting Dallas to Amazon. That's a Thursday nighter. That is a rare Thursday night treat for the Thursday Night Football broadcasters.

Trust me, I know that. Doing all the Thursday Night Football for years with the NFL Network. And then with the NFL Network for the partners that the NFL sold the games to. And then there's a Thanksgiving game against the Giants for Dallas. And it's going to be a tough road to hoe.

Really, how's Daniel Jones going to do, Devin Singletary in the spot that Saquon used to have, and how will enough of those points stack up? Potentially, maybe that's what Tommy DeVito's agent was praying for when he met the Pope, apparently, yesterday. Brought him a football. Did he really? Yeah. Okay. Go figure that in this crazy mixed-up world. Want to talk about a mad lib?

Tommy DeVito's agent met the Pope. There's a lot happening. Alright.

There's a lot going on. GameTime tickets. Get that app on a mobile device near you and start buying tickets to anything in your area. Concert tickets, sporting events, like say Major League Baseball. You want to go see a baseball game?

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Last minute tickets, lowest price, guaranteed. Alright, in advance of Will Anderson Jr. joining us, let's go to Houston, Texas. It says CJ in Houston. Could it possibly be the quarterback of this Houston Texans calling in? CJ, are you there? Hey Rich, it's CJ Felton from Houston, Texas. Oh, not to be disappointed, CJ Felton, that you're not CJ Stroud, it's great to have you.

What's going on? Well, let's do the win-loss. Oh, okay. Let's do the win-loss.

Let's do it. For the Houston Texans, let's see, let's see, let's see, do I have a Houston Texans in my book? I do not. Did somebody call in while Suzie was in the chair for the Houston Texans? Is this the first Houston Texans win-loss game attempt of anybody for the Rich Eisen show this year? I did not have a Houston Texans.

Alright, CJ not Stroud, you're up in Houston. At the Indianapolis Colts, what happens? Oh, that's a win. Home for the Bears. That's a win.

Alright, at the Minnesota Vikings. That's a win. 3-0, home against the Jaguars.

Oh, division. Sorry Trevor Lawrence, that's a win. Alright, the bandwagon would be flat out full.

They'd be selling seats to future bandwagons to help create seats for new customers. If they're 4-0, home against the Bills, what happens? It's Stephon Diggs' revenge game, what happens? Wow, that's a win. That's 5-0.

It sounds like he just gave birth. 5-0 at the Patriots, what happens? Oh man, sorry, that's got to be a win. 6-0 at the Packers in Lambeau Field, what happens? I mean, we can't go 7-0, so it's in Lambeau, so I got to say lost. Oh, you can go 7-0. Alright, home for the Colts. Division, win. Bounce back, 7-1 at the Jets on a Thursday night. Wow, Aaron Rodgers still playing?

Your guess is as good as mine, sir. I'm going to have to just say lost. 7-2, home for the Lions. That's got to be a, probably a loss. Oh, 7-3 at the Cowboys on a Monday night. Oh, TJ, man, I'm so sorry. It's a win.

What you saying? Okay, go Cowboys, that's got to be a win for the Cowboys, so lost. Oh, a three game losing streak now, home for the Titans. The win. Oh, we're back, 8-4 at the Jaguars. That's a win. 9-4 off a bye, home for the Dolphins. Oh, we got a bye, that's easy a win. 10-4 at the Chiefs on a Saturday. Woo, Saturday night. That's got to be a loss. Well, that was a quick turn. Christmas day against the Ravens.

Well, Merry Christmas, but I got to say that's got to be a loss. All right, and then at the Titans. Win.

All right, so that's 1-2-3-4-5-6. 11-6, CJ in Houston. Thank you for the call, CJ. Here we go.

A lot of whistling in there, too. 11-6. All right, 11-6. He was starting hot.

He was hot. They went 7-1, and then they lost, in his mind, five of their last nine. So, okay. CJ in Houston.

First Houston Texans win-loss game. We go from CJ to TJ. TJ, you have a top five? I do.

What's the top five about? Well, let me tell you about it. Okay. All right. Oh, there we go. There we go. It's been a minute since I said it, Rich.

Kaboom. Guess who stepped in the room? TJ here. Listen, Brockman, I know you know this. J.C. Tatum just won an NBA championship. Oh, yeah, he did. And on the hockey side, Matthew Kuchuk just won a Stanley Cup. They went to school together, man. They grew up together, so that kind of influenced me, Rich, to dig in the big-ass grab bag and give you TJ's top five athletes that were high school teammates. That we don't know about.

That you don't know about. Right off the bat, let me tell you, I don't know if you guys knew this, but Matt Stafford and Clayton Kershaw, they went to high school. That's wild. No way. We've been beaten over the head with that a lot. So we're not doing that. We're not going to do that. Okay. We know Randy Moss and Jason Williams went to high school together. We're not doing that. We're not doing that.

So what are we doing? I'll give you five that you might not know. And coming in at number five, this pair went to Northwestern Flint High School, 1984, 1985. They were teammates. And the first player spent the majority of his career with the Falcons, won a Super Bowl championship with the Packers, really known for his fiery relationship with Lisa Left Eye Lopez of TLC. That's Andre Badmou rising. I also met him at Foot Locker once, Rich, and he told me one of his ex teammates was a hillbilly. And that's a story for another that's another day.

But his teammate, Michigan legend, Lakers, NBA Larry O'Brien champion, Glenn Rice, those two guys went to high school together. Do you see them? Wow.

Michigan State and Michigan, huh? How about that? And rising on the left and rising on the right. Twenty two. How about that? I did not know that. That's a good start to your list.

All right. Coming in at number four, digging into the big ass grab bag. We have a man who was a Cincinnati Bengals legend, 1981 NFL MVP and offensive player of the year. That's Ken Anderson, the quarterback of the Bengals.

He went to high school in Batavia, Illinois, in 1965, 66, before the Kenby Matumbo, before the Joker. The center that was holding it down for the Denver Nuggets was Dan Issel. Ken Anderson and Anderson High School teammates. Did you guys know that? Did you know that?

And here's a bonus. Another teammate, Craig Sager. Did he interview them after their team with them? They were all in the same high school, went to the same high school, Ken Anderson, Dan Issel and Craig Sager. Wow. I knew I didn't know. OK. Coming in at number three, we have a guy who was kind of the originator of hot to win on the baseball.

Oh, my God. OK. Three hundred eighteen wins. He's also in the Hall of Fame. He went to Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio, with a guy who grew up across the street from him. He's another Celtics legend, Brockman. He won eight NBA championships. He was a 13 time All-Star. His name is Hondo John Havlicek.

Hey, how about that? John Havlicek. Phil Necro.

High school teammates together. And John Havlicek. Look at that. Who knew? I didn't know this.

Badasses. Yeah. They grew up together and they were best friends, man. And I can imagine. That's amazing. I mean, I think Phil might have been known for a sandpaper to Gaylord Perry was the king of baseball. I don't know.

The Hall of Fame was getting checked and he emptied his back pocket and tried to throw the emery board. Nice. I don't know. Right.

All right. Coming in number two right here in Los Angeles, Locke High School back in 1973, we got a guy who is known as the wizard, Ozzie Smith, and his high school teammate was a 1983 World Series champion. He hit 500 home runs.

He had 3,000 hits. Eddie Murray. Ozzie Smith and Eddie Murray went to high school together. Ozzie Smith were high school teammates, Locke High School here in Los Angeles. Fast times at Locke High School. How about that?

How about that? The Afros are immaculate on these two back in the day. Aw, look at that.

I had no idea. One of the best, if not the greatest defensive short stuff of all time in Ozzie Smith. Did they have a double play combination in high school where Ozzie Smith was the six and he was the three? I imagine Eddie probably stayed at the first base spot, right? How about that?

All right. And coming in at number one. I didn't know this until I started researching and it's kind of hard to top these two guys. Teammates at McClements High School in Oakland back in 1951-52, one player went on to baseball greatness. He was an MVP, not only in the American League, but also the National League. He was a two-time World Series champion. He won a triple crown. He was the rookie of the year. That's Frank Robinson.

His teammate, Chris Brockman, I can't get away from these stinking Celtics. Maybe the greatest winner of all time with 11 champions. Bill Russell? He was a coach. Yes. Frank Robinson and Bill Russell went to high school together.

They were high school teammates in McClements High School. How did I never know that? That's what I'm saying. How did you never know?

I had to do some research on this, man. But that's it. That's TJ's top five athletes that were high school teammates.

That is fantastic. That's what you got. How about you? Who's your best high school teammate? That I played with? Yeah. Yeah. What's his name?

Give a shout-out. No. Was there a problem? No, actually, I don't know.

I don't know. I can't think of one. Jay?

You got anybody? I mean, I played baseball with Ryan Braun, but... Oh. Is that why you're so stacked? Yeah. Yeah. We trained together. Is that wrong? By the way, I have no filter today. I'm saying.

Certainly if the world's going to end in four months. What do you got over there, TJ? I mean, I didn't have teammates, but Altoona High produced four NBA players, which is amazing for a city of our size.

So we go Johnny Moore, we go Mike Izzolino, we go Doug West, and we go Danny Fortson. I got about five guys I was picked last in gym with. Wow. Yeah. That's where I learned to talk about sports. Because you couldn't play with them?

Bill Russell and Frank Robinson. That's unbelievable. Yeah. I did not know that. I don't know about that. That's some weird, wacky stuff.

All right. Coming up on this program, Kayvon Thibodeau and, man, Oliver Platt from the Bear in studio. That's coming up. Still here on the Roku channel. You guys caught up with the Bear yet?

I have not. Caught up? I mean, I watched the first episode of season three.

Season three. I mean, they started... It was supposed to start streaming Thursday, but then they put up a day early. They dropped it up a day early. I know, but... But they did it all at once, right?

It was like a Jordan shot drop on the sneakers app, just out of nowhere, bam. But I've only watched the first episode of season three. I got through four episodes and I stopped, because I was like, I don't want to finish this.

Because it was so... I don't want to get over it that quick. I watch them and it's done.

Make it last? Yeah, I'm trying to... That's how I watch season one. I think I watch it in two days. How many episodes are there? Ten.

Ten. But here's the weird thing. I get mad if they don't put all the episodes out at once, and then shows that do put all the episodes out at once, I don't watch them all at once. So I don't know what's the problem there, but... We're watching a bunch of different ones.

Presumed Innocent on Apple. I mean, everybody watches Good. I just started season three of The Boys. The Boys, yeah.

Oh, man. Get ready. Have you got episode four yet? No.

Season three? No, he's a whole season behind. Oh, you're a season behind? Oh, okay. I'm a whole season behind. Then I won't tell you what happens.

That's all right. It's all crazy. It's a crazy show.

I've never seen anything quite like it. What's crazy is Brockman loves Homelander. What's it tell you about him?

Homelander's the worst. Wow. Great character.

Oh, my God. He is a great character. He's a great character. He's awful.

He's the Ramsay Bolton of The Boys. You don't want laser eyes? I mean, how cool would that be? I'm happy to watch what I'm saying. You would say that at the first person that slandered the Celtics. They would deserve it. All of our heads would explode.

Oh, he'd be on the show alone. Every story eventually comes to an end. This June, hear the final episode of season two of the hit podcast series, In the Red Clay, Durham. In the Red Clay tells the unbelievable true story of Billy Sunday Burt, the most dangerous man in Georgia history. In the podcast that people are calling riveting, incredibly moving, captivating, and addicting. Binge seasons one and two of In the Red Clay now, wherever you listen.