Ryan Reynolds here for, I guess, my hundredth Mint commercial. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Honestly, when I started this, I thought I'd only have to do like four of these. It's unlimited premium wireless for $15 a month. How are there still people paying two or three times that much?
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That's bluenile.com. This is the Rich Eisen Show. I'm here.
I'm here. Live from Kansas City, it's the Rich Eisen Show. Touchdown Kansas City rookie Xavier Worthy. This is probably the worst game we're going to play all year.
So this is the best that they got. I mean, good luck in the postseason. The Rich Eisen Show. Earlier on the show, Jets running back, Breeze Hall.
Pro football hall of famer, Kurt Warner. Coming up, Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Plus your phone calls, latest news and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Welcome back to the Rich Eisen Show. Live from Kansas City at the Total Wireless Studio.
Get unlimited data that never slows you down for less than $30 a month. That's the new Total Wireless. It is the final hour of our final day in our three-day residency here in Kansas City, Missouri. Home of the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
And also one of the top wild card teams in the American League, Kansas City Royals. And joining us in the middle of this hour is Bobby Witt Jr. One of the best players in Major League Baseball. We're very excited to meet this kid. And very excited to have him out here on this show. And that's kind of a way I want to start our final hour here on this program here in Kansas City.
For our three-day stay here. Just to kind of give our flowers to the fans that are here in this town. And because the thing that is not lost on you when you attend a Chiefs game is the color red.
And it's kind of funny. You know, last night while the, I don't care how I'm going to out you folks. But the story goes that 12 of you were at the game last night in the same row. And somebody on the crew said to somebody else on the crew to check out the girl in red.
And there's like 60,000 of them in the stadium. And you're just kind of like, okay, I mean, where? But the thing that you get, Jay Felley, all right, way to go buddy.
Of course it was Felley. Sorry man. I know that you're recently married and all that good stuff.
But you're not dead, sir. Clearly. All right. But the bottom line is my point. Yeah, please. Let's get there fast. My point is this.
Grand opening grand closing. Is that as if the Chiefs don't have enough of an advantage with Patrick Mahomes. Or Travis Kelsey. Or Chris Jones. Or Andy Reid.
Or Brett Veitch. Who Eric Stonestreet brought as a surprise for us. The general manager.
Okay. Everybody else with the Kansas City Chiefs organization and roster. The fact that this team has a home field advantage like the one we saw last night. Also appears to be if you're out there thinking something's unfair.
It does appear to feel a little bit unfair. Now you also have to give it up to the Ravens for almost winning a damn damn near winning a ball game in that environment. And also coming out the gate and scoring a touchdown on their first drive.
Was really impressive because they had a lot of penalties on that drive. Well, not just that, but I ask you this. Last night was your first game here in Arrowhead, right? Yes.
Same for you? Yes, sir. When you hear the conversation throughout the season about the loudest stadium in the NFL. You hear Arrowhead. I imagine if you haven't been to a game in Arrowhead, you're like, okay, louder than a dome, louder than Seattle where the 12th man.
Seattle's pretty loud. Dude, am I wrong or am I wrong here? Like that's serious. Like you're splitting. Serious. Yeah. Well, they had like 142 decibels. They wanted to reach up on the board and then the crowd did it. It's serious. Yeah.
Right? The Apple Watch kept going off. The decibel was like, yeah, I know.
I know I'm in an area of loudness. Mooch tells a story that he was warned before his first game coaching in Kansas City that it's really loud. And he thought to himself, okay, the same thing, right?
Yeah, sure. And he's standing there on the sideline during the national anthem, hand over his heart, you know, into the national anthem, thinking about the game while also singing the national anthem. And it's then home of the Chiefs. He said the Chiefs just came rolling over him.
And he just looked around going, geez, like that is right. And he told us that story before the first game I ever attended in Arrowhead, which is the first ever Thursday night game in the history of NFL Network. It was the Broncos at Chiefs Thanksgiving night game, our first ever game in Thanksgiving of 2006. And it is it's real, folks.
I got to tell you, it is 100 percent real. So you're not just when you come in here battling Mahomes and Kelsey and Jones and Reed and it's a real deal thing here. Some fanatics. And they all are out of their minds with glee and joy that they cannot believe that this is happening in their town for their team that went half a century between Super Bowl seasons, let alone Super Bowl wins. Yeah. And one thing, too, I was thinking about while at the game last night and I say this knowing that I am part of the problem sometimes in Los Angeles. It is a real home field advantage.
One hundred percent. Unlike that the Chargers and Rams are dealing with and having to go through in L.A. And I just think, wow, these guys love the Chiefs more than anything and they really support the team and it is so loud. Like a college atmosphere. It is exactly like a college atmosphere and that's got to help them when they play the home games. Which means it's so impressive when someone like Burrow comes in here.
And beats them. It's impressive when they lose a home game. It's like, wow, how did the opposing teams come in here and do this when they are so full throated and so supportive and it's literally nothing but red. Yes, there was dots of purple throughout the stadium last night.
Random jerseys, but not enough to make a difference in the way that the Chiefs have an advantage at Arrowhead. It was really impressive. Richard, at one point I literally was like, I wish I would have brought something like earplugs or something that got that loud.
It's the real thing. And it's great to see and if anybody ever wants to see a game in Arrowhead, you should do it. Certainly while the circus is playing right now. I mean, it's insane. Taylor Swift showing up, the whole place going nuts handing her friendship bracelets in the middle of the game.
Like the most famous pop culture entertainer, personality on the planet is a fan of the team. And it really is amazing what's happening here in Kansas City. I kind of wanted to say that in advance of Bobby Witt Jr. coming out here and in advance of us hanging here for three days. And the red carpet being rolled out here at the Harlow in downtown Kansas City. Which is under a ton of construction because they're getting ready for the World Cup coming here in a couple of years. And so it's a great sports town.
It's fun and I just wanted to deliver the flowers. And Rich, we've been here for other events. Big Slick and we were here for the Royals game a few years ago. And everyone's just so nice and welcoming.
It really is like the Midwest charm. It was awesome. We were sitting there right after the rain. It stopped the sun shining and we're just taking it all in. I know we looked at each other and was like, this is awesome.
And the sun was setting as the clouds were clearing. It's football, man. It's football. So week one, as we already know, is underway for the 2024 season. Every single Friday during the season, if you're somehow new to this program, one, where have you been? Two, we thank you for your viewership. And three, you'll see we have a cadence. We already did what's more likely, our usual Friday staple.
But that's year round. During the football season, every single Friday, I will deliver to you the most intriguing matchups for the rest of that week. So this being just like any other Friday, except we're here in Kansas City.
Here are the top five most intriguing matchups for the rest of week one presented by Lowe's. Here we go. High five. One, two, three, four, five. Rich's top five.
Alright, here we go. Number five on this list for the rest of week number one. I predicted this team to win their division and this other team has been deposed as arguably the best team in their division. How about the Jacksonville Jaguars starting off the 2024 season in Miami?
How about them apples? How about two of the three teams in Florida facing off against each other in a game that will be big for AFC tiebreakers? In a game that will be big for who gets a leg up in their own division against one another.
Can the Dolphins take that step up and show that last year that they can beat teams that have a lot of hopes around them and also a quarterback like Trevor Lawrence? The two newly pizayed quarterbacks, a lot of people wondering if they're worth their money will be going against one another. Calvin Ridley is gone. Gabe Davis is in. Josh Heinz Allen, first time as a hyphenate coming for tour to try and hurry him up. Jalen Ramsey will wonder if he's going to play in this game.
He has been pizayed. He's now the highest paid cornerback in the league. Tyreek Hill as the freshly minted, as voted by his peers, number one player in the National Football League. This will be a lot of fun in week number one. That's an early game on CBS as called by yesterday's first hour guest, Kevin Harlan. Number four on this list.
We've been talking about this for a while. I'm putting it on the marquee. Russell Wilson's debut as a captain and starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Taking on the Atlanta Falcons, putting out Kirk Cousins on the field for the first time as a Falcon coming back from an Achilles injury of his own. Rahim Morris' debut as a head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
Bijan Robinson, year two for him. Lots of expectations for the Atlanta Falcons. And can Mike Tomlin's Steelers with Patrick Queen now in the middle of that defense be improved on the offensive side of the ball and win a big time game on the road to start? It is going to be Steelers and Falcons. That's another early window game on Fox. Number three. It's your varsity game.
Come on baby, let's go. Finally. Tom Brady in the booth. Tom Brady. Will Dak Prescott have a new contract in hand or will we already know by the time he sets foot on the field in Ohio that the Dallas Cowboys are letting him walk into a walk here in their all-in season?
C.D. Lamb has been paid. It's the battle of number fours. We've got Deshaun Watson and whether he is going to be an elite quarterback again for an elite defense that is going to be ready for the dog pound to be woofing in their behavior. Amari Cooper, do we call this a revenge game? Dallas at Cleveland.
This is going to be an outstanding contest we're looking forward to. That's a late window on Fox again. It is Tom Brady's debut as a broadcaster for the NFL on Fox.
Number two. Sunday night football. It was the best wild card game last year. Matthew Stafford is back in Detroit and this will be on the heels of Texas playing Michigan. It's one of the best football weekends in the history of the state of Michigan. Texas, Michigan on Saturday and then Sunday night football. Matthew Stafford taking on the Lions team that won in Dundon last year. Can they set foot in Michigan and lay down a marker for them for the rest of the NFC campaign? I cannot wait for this game. It is Sunday night football on the end. And number one. This is not a homer pick, gents.
This is the real deal. The Jets are putting Aaron Rodgers back under center. And the guy who blew out his Achilles in Leonard Floyd is actually on the other team again.
And it's going to be Brock Purdy and the Niners coming off of their disheartening and gutting Super Bowl overtime loss. Everybody's been paid. Everybody's under contract. Everybody's ready to roll. Aaron Rodgers is healthy again. Breece Hall is ready to roll. And Garrett Wilson is ready to roll. Mike Williams is ready to roll and healthy. And this defense is championship quality. It's going to be on and cracking on the worldwide leader in sports.
On Monday night football, top five most intriguing matchups of week number one. And I do have one more. Here it is. No more? Alright, we'll get one more. Thank you, we'll get one more. By the way, they're back together again.
It's George and Brad Pitt. I'll do this. One more. He's back in the National Football League, everybody. He's Jim Harbaugh. And his quarterback who's great in a stuck elevator is going to come back out there. We'll see what happens with Justin Herbert, the Chargers take on the Raiders.
And you want to talk about a home field advantage. Chargers usually don't have it when the Raiders are in town. And we'll see what happens in Jim Harbaugh's first game. And if the Raiders fans show up in full throat, does Jim say something from the podium after?
Because that's the sort of stuff he might do. And we'll see what the Chargers look like. Did you see they have a fullback? And the official fullback is 6 foot 4 and 300 pounds and wears number 99. That's how Jim is coming into the National Football League. Into his first game as the head coach of the Chargers against a Raiders team that's got Gardner Minshew and Antonio Pierce and Max Crosby and Christian Wilkins. I can't wait for this game.
It's late window on CBS. And those are my top five most intriguing matchups of week number one presented by Lowes. And that's the official partner, Lowes, of the National Football League.
It's easier to make the right calls with the right team. So kick off your next home improvement project with Lowes. Lowes knows home improvement. I've got to tell you, man, I am so honored and excited for our next guest. Because I've never met this man, but I love watching him play baseball. As does every single human being in Kansas City. This guy could run for mayor if he wasn't one of the best baseball players on planet earth. Bobby Witt, Jr. is here from the Kansas City Royals on the Rich Eisen Show live from Kansas City.
He is next. Don't you dare move. Let's talk DoorDash, people. If your family's like mine, it probably is. You want something to eat, your kids want something else to eat. How do you handle it all? How do you make sure everybody's happy? DoorDash, that's how you make sure everybody's happy. The food delivery app is the most awesome on-demand delivery platform that you can go get to make sure that food comes to the places you like right to your table.
It's awesome, especially now that football's finally back. Which means it's time to order your favorite game day food, snacks, and drinks on DoorDash without missing a single play. And here's how I can help you. Use my promo code, RichEisen24 for 50% off up to a $10 value when you spend 15 or more dollars on your first order. Limited time offer, terms apply. Promo's not valid for orders containing alcohol. DoorDash, your door to game day greatness. Your door to more. Download the DoorDash app now to order your game day favorites and use my promo code, RichEisen24. Must be 21 or older to order alcohol. Drink responsibly.
Alcohol available only in select markets. The Rich Eisen Show is sponsored by Grainger. Does this sound familiar? You're a maintenance specialist, and you've been squaring off with a leaky radiator at your facility for hours.
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Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by one of their local branches. Three, two. Hey everybody, there's a great new podcast that just launched. I want to tell you about it. It's called Throwbacks, and I know the guys who are doing it. It's hosted by former Entourage star Jerry Ferrara, and former USC quarterback Matt Leinart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner, who then went on to play in the National Football League for the Arizona Cardinals. So Matt has a ton of experience to tell you about, playing for an iconic college football team, winning that trophy, and then of course all the behind-the-scenes stories from his time in college and professional football, while Jerry is one of the leads of an iconic television series. He's got you covered on what it was like being a young guy starring in a show that everyone was talking about, and he's also the voice of the fans. So Matt brings that former player expertise, and Jerry brings that voice of the maniacal sports fan. Enjoy hanging out with your new favorite pair of Throwbacks every Thursday.
Follow and subscribe to Throwbacks on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Guys, look who's here on the Rochus Sports Channel on the Rich Eyes show in Kansas City. Truly one of the best baseball players on planet earth, and just only a couple years into his pro career, Bobby Witt Jr. from the Kansas City Royals is here. Good to see you, Matt. How are you? Yes, sir. Great to be here. Great.
Thank you for having me. Again, I know you're humble, but do you realize how popular you are in this town? Bobby, has it sunk in on you yet? A little bit, getting there. We actually went to the Chiefs game last night. You did? So getting in and out, it's getting more difficult. I've gone to probably four games now, and now getting noticed is more difficult. So you did go last night?
Yes, yeah. So what'd you think? What'd you think, Matt? I thought it was good for the Chiefs. Chiefs fan now, and so, yeah, it was a lot of fun.
We had about, I think there was probably 15 total Royals players that went to the game, and so we loved it. Because Mahomes is a part owner of the team, right? Yes, yeah. He's kind of our boss in a way. But yeah, he's just a role model for Kansas City, so we're all supporting him.
Sure. That makes sense. So how many times do you see Mahomes coming to the Royals games? He comes every once in a while. He'll come in the clubhouse. He threw out the first pitch last year, one of the games after they won the Super Bowl, they brought the trophy. Was it a strike? Or actually Travis Kelce threw out the first pitch, they all came out.
I actually caught it. Kelce threw a strike right down the middle. So redeemed himself from the pitch he threw before in Cleveland.
Oh God, that one in Cleveland, no good. Did he throw heat? Did it pop your glove? Yeah, it was pretty good. It was a little bit of a cutter.
It was good, right down the middle. So he was working on it in the cage, him and Patrick. Patrick was kind of giving him some lessons how to throw and everything, and how Travis is.
He was kind of, he was feeling himself, feeling good, and then threw a strike right down the middle. Well, you and Patrick have something in common. Not only immense popularity here, but also sons of baseball players. Oh yeah, yeah, no doubt.
Pretty much. Bobby Witt Jr. is here on the Rich Eisen Show, and the perfect way for us to finish up our week here in Kansas City with one of the best baseball players in Major League Baseball. And I'm back on the Rich Eisen Show radio network, sitting at the Rich Eisen Show desk, furnished by Grainger. With supplies and solutions for every industry, Grainger has the right product for you.
Call clickrainger.com or just stop by. This man leads Major League Baseball in batting average, 30 homers, 97 runs batted in. The Royals taking on the Twins tonight, and they are in position to make the playoffs in a significant way in the American League. Bobby Witt Jr. is here on the Rich Eisen Show, and that's a worthy of a round of applause. Yes, of course. Let's do it.
You know what I mean? Now, in our Roku channel audience that was just for the TV, now we're one big happy simulcast here. You said you were at the Chiefs game last night. How many Royals were there last night? There was four with me in the suite we were in, and then there was kind of guys everywhere else. Who was with you?
Me, Vinnie Pasquantino, MJ Melendez, and Kyle Isbell. Okay, so some significant Kansas City Royals were all hanging out there. Yeah, and then Salvy was a couple of suites over, so we saw him waving at him. You're waving at Salvy?
Okay. Where were you in relation to Taylor Swift? I think she was lower than us.
Yeah, she was down. Have you gotten to meet? I've just seen her in person. From afar?
Yeah. How do we get her to a Royals game? How do we do this, Bobby?
We win some more games, go deep in the playoffs, I think maybe. That's how it'll work. So you said you're now a Chiefs fan. Yeah, well, kind of. So I grew up a Patriots fan. Oh my goodness. I think Bobby and I just became best friends. BFFs? Is that a Brady thing?
Is that what it is? My dad's from Massachusetts, so growing up, huge Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox, so just love them all. And then all the winning that went around it was pretty easy to root for. And then Brady was my guy. And then drafted in 2019, and then Mahomes was drafted a little bit before me.
And then just kind of seeing what he's doing for the city and everything. My sister got me a Mahomes jersey for my, I don't know, whenever it was, in 2019. So I had that and then just kind of became a fan, and they started winning. So I was like, all right, it's kind of easy transition. The Patriots are kind of like, and the Chiefs are going up a little bit.
So it's, I don't want to be a bandwagoner, but it kind of, kind of fit perfectly. Well, you have to, you have to be a Chiefs fan in this town. Oh, yeah. Now I'm huge, been to, went to the Super Bowl in Arizona, gone to probably six games now. Okay. And, you know, and again, Mahomes owns a piece of the Royals.
So this is good for business, basically. You know, and here in Kansas City, folks are absolutely over the moon about what you're doing with the Royals right now. So my question for you is, what's your first baseball memory? Because you were born right around when your dad stopped playing, right? Yes.
Pretty much? So when did you realize your dad was a ballplayer? When did that first happen for you?
Do you remember? I think it was just when I was, as far as I can remember, just knowing that my dad in 2001 was his last year he won a World Series. So just having that World Series ring, me seeing it, like putting it on when I was little and everything, that's when I knew, like, oh, this is a big deal.
Because there wasn't a whole lot of, there was video of him, but, like, it was kind of hard to go back in the archives, no offense to my dad. Right. Yeah, so, but just, yeah, just, and then just him always telling me the stories about the guys he played with and everything. And then when I started to understand that he was a, played for 16 years in the big leagues, I was like, wow, this is pretty special. I want to be able to do that. So I just kind of always wanted to follow his footsteps in a way, but I was a position player, he was a pitcher. Right. So then that's kind of how I kind of started my own little legacy. And so, and your own little legacy, no question about it.
When did you realize that you had a special gift for it, though, Bobby? I never really, I always, like, in high school and middle school, I always played football and baseball. I wanted to go to University of Oklahoma and do both, football and baseball. Like Kyler Murray?
Yeah, yeah, kind of like Kyler Murray, everything. Baker Mayfield was there and everything, so that kind of was my dream. My parents went to Oklahoma. So then once I hit, like, high school and then Texas high school football was pretty crazy. I played my first year and then you wanted to do spring football, summer football camps.
I'm like, man. And then I got an opportunity to play for Team USA and stuff. And then at that point I was like, all right, baseball is a little bit a bigger deal than football. And so at that point it was like, all right, now I want to get drafted.
I committed to Oklahoma as a freshman in high school, so I was like, all right, got that done. And now the next step is to play professional baseball. And so that was my goal. And so that's what I kind of worked for. And then so at that point, baseball was pretty much my life.
And so, yeah. What was your position in football? I was a receiver and corner, cornerback. So I played kind of both ways. And then so, yeah, I did that. You've heard of Bo Jackson, right?
I mean, he's won your current uniform many, many different times. So was your baseball coach basically saying, like, what are you doing out there? Like, you're taking hits on Friday nights under the lights.
Like, what are you doing? Did that happen? No, they were all good with it. It was more so, like, the opposite. My dad was like, really? You're quitting football?
Like, he was kind of on to me about that. And I was like, yeah, like, because it was just the team aspect of it. Like, I never wanted to quit anything.
And so that was probably one of the hardest decisions I ever made, just not playing football. And so once that happened, sophomore year, high school, and then just kind of the summer showcases started happening and then getting noticed, being ranked this number one player, whatever. And then so I was like, all right, it's all on paper. Now I got to go out, prove it that it's true.
And so I just kind of worked for that and just always wanted to kind of make family, friends, everyone proud. And so then I just kind of locked in on baseball. Where did winning the home run derby in high school in Nationals Park hit? When did that happen?
Yeah, that was in 2018. So that was my junior year, going into my senior year summer. How old were you then? Sixteen? Seventeen or sixteen? Seventeen, I think.
Okay. So, yeah, that was that summer. And so that summer was crazy just with, I think I ended up staying in my bed at home that summer for ten days or something like that. And so I was just always traveling, the summer showcases, the All-American games, all this stuff. So it was pretty, it was a whirlwind, but it was a blast. And so at that point, my dad was like, this is kind of not what minor league baseball, just traveling around, but this is kind of what it's like staying in the hotels, waking up early, playing here and there, all different types of stadiums, playing against different people. So at that point I was like, I love it. And so that was one of those things, too, is like that, that moment where I want to, I want to do this.
I want to do this for my living. Bobby Witt, Jr. is here on the Rich Eisen Show, bonafide MVP candidate and getting ready for what appears to be a big playoff season here for the Kansas City Royals. We had George Brett on the show, and I don't know if it filtered to you what he said, but I'd like to play for you what he said when he was on this program.
Hit it. We might have one of the best young players in baseball in Bobby Witt, and hopefully he'll be able to finish his career in Kansas City. He's something really special. This guy is the best young royal player I've ever seen in my life.
No kidding. Yeah, he is unbelievable. He's fun to watch. He's like Bo Jackson. I will never go to the bathroom, never turn my back, never get in a conversation when he's sitting. I watch. So George Brett is holding it in, Bobby.
What do you think of when you hear that? Yeah, it's truly an honor just being able to hear that from one of the greatest royals of all time, one of the greatest hitters of all time, and so just being able to hear that because he'll shoot you straight, too. If you're not doing well, he'll tell you that, too, and so being able to hear that and just those kind words is awesome. Do you talk hitting with him? Again, I know he's one of the greatest left-handed hitters of all time, but do you talk hitting with George?
Yeah, definitely. He talks a lot of hitting with all the guys, but he has his philosophies, and now I feel like the game has changed a little bit around involved, but there's also bits and pieces that's good for us, too. He's really good about telling us just to hit the ball hard, not far, and his home runs kind of happen not by accident, but they just happen just because he put a good swing on the ball, and the ball happens to go over the fence. So how are you able to just maintain some level-headedness? Again, we just met. I'm picking up from you that you've got humility, you're humble, and you're kind of just taking it one swing at a time or whatever.
Where do you find that from, Bobby? Yeah, I think it just kind of comes from my family, just how I was raised. I have three older sisters, my parents, and then my fiancé has been great just for me and just tried to keep me even keeled throughout everything because I know I'm in this spot. I got this opportunity that I have to play professional baseball in the big leagues that a lot of kids don't have the opportunity, so I just got to go out there and just take things day by day and just control what I can control through my process and enjoy every day. Where did you meet your fiancé, here in town? In Texas, in high school. She was the softball shortstop, and so we kind of had that going for us, yeah. Okay. So, you know, what's her game like?
I mean, what do you got? Good defense could hit, and she went to college, played softball four years in Louisiana, so she did that, and now she's done playing. Now she's working out, kind of just doing her thing and personal training stuff, and so, yeah, she's been great for me, and she knows whenever, like, the good things, she's played softball, she's been around the game, and so she knows whenever things aren't going well to kind of give me some space, when things are going good, to kind of hype me up and stuff, and so she's got that down. Is she also helping you hit sliders and stuff like that? Yeah, yeah, sometimes. She's actually thrown BP to me a couple of times.
We fit together, and that didn't go well at the time, but, yeah, so, yeah. What's her name? Maggie.
Maggie, okay. Not to put any pressure, but, you know, with her abilities and yours, Bobby with the third is going to be awesome. Bobby Three Sticks is going to be amazing. Bobby Three Sticks?
He's on three. I like it. Bobby with Junior here on the Rich Eisen Show. Okay, so I'm talking to you, but I also see there's a friend of yours on the Rich Eisen Show green room couch over there, here on the Roku Sports Channel. Is that who I think it is?
Oh, yeah, yeah, it is. Would you like to introduce our fellow guest here on the program? Vinnie Pasquantino, Royals first baseman. Good to see you, Vinnie. How are you? Thank you. I'm great.
Okay. Now, do I see, Vinnie, a New York Jets shirt on your body? Yeah, the problem is, is that it's from 1981.
Dude! AFC East. That's legitimately a 40-year-old shirt right there? 43 years old, right, Sam? You did the math? Yeah. Okay.
My wife just got it for me the other day, so I figured I'd rock it today. Dude, so you're a Jet fan? It's the only reason I found you. What does that mean?
What do you mean that you found me? I wanted some Jets information in my life when they weren't very good. Okay.
Which is the last 13 years. Right. And I wanted it to be realistic and not crazy New York fandom. So I found myself to L.A. in the show to talk about the Jets. Yes, we do. You found me, and I found you now.
Yep, that's right. Why do you like the Jets? Because Vinnie Testaverdi was the quarterback when I was growing up, and I said, that's my name. Ever since then, I've been here now.
I don't really know any Jets fans. And how old are you right now? How old am I? Yeah, where were you born? 26.
26, okay. If only your name was Tom, man. If my name was Tom, I'd be in a really good spot. Really good spot.
Bobby does. But I'm going to be in a really good spot this year, too. So you're feeling it right now?
Yeah. Come on, how could you not? I was hurt last year, so I was at the opening night game. When Vinnie was there. I got a picture on my phone, met him on the sidelines. They brought me over and introduced me to him. But it was the anniversary of him tearing his Achilles, too.
I know. That's why I was wondering, why would they even have him there? The worst part was that in the stadium, there was no signal. So everybody's just glued to the blue tent. Like, what's happening? Nobody knows what's going on.
There's too many people there, so you don't have signal on your phone. All of a sudden, you just kind of hear whispers of Achilles around the stadium. I'm like, no. But then we won. So what happens, Bobby, when the Patriots play the Jets?
What happens? There's some rivalries kind of back. There's been some wagers thrown around the last few years. Okay. All right. And do you make that this year, Bobby?
Or are you confident? I might need some points or something. This is what happens.
You go for two decades where you don't lose. I never gave up any points. You didn't? No. Come on. Dude.
I believe in my team always. Come on. I have multiple tweets out there talking about Zach Wilson taking us to the Super Bowl. So.
Have you erased those tweets? Probably. Hold on.
I'm looking those up. This is amazing. Amazing. Jet fan Vinnie Pasquantino talking about the Vinnie Summit last year, the Pasquantino Testaverdi Summit that happened last year. And you, Bobby Wood Jr., is there a Royals fantasy football league? Yes. You're speaking to the commissioner. The commissioner? Yes.
Of two of them. Yeah. We've got a guillotine league as well. Oh. You wanted to play a good team.
I wanted to do it. So just so I'm aware, the guillotine league, are you in this one too, Bobby? Yes.
Okay. So if you've finished last in the week, you're not only done, but all your players are thrown in the waiver wire. So there's a first and a second and third round draft choice in somebody's fantasy league that's available on the waiver wire. But by fab dollars. So and every player costs at least one dollar.
So at the end of the year, you can pick up players, but have zero dollars left. Can't pick up anybody. So you're in this... Who else is in this league? I don't even know. Everybody. Who else?
I didn't even know that. There's, I think, what is it? 18 people? 18 people. Yeah. It's an 18 team league. Yeah. One a week. Okay.
For the guillotine. Yeah. So then how many teams are in the... 12. 12 teams. And then some guys have two guys per team.
And so I think there's probably... Damn near the whole roster. Look at that. So what's your team name? The Goon Squad. The Goon Squad. Yeah.
Can you tell the story of why it's the Goon Squad? Yes. This is why we have teammates here live on the Roku Channel, Sports Channel.
What do you got? Yeah. So we were in Cleveland last week.
And so it was like a rain delay, not a lot of fans there. And then all of a sudden I'm going to play and you just hear Bobby's a goon. Like these four guys are just chanting Bobby's a goon. They're just ripping them.
Yeah. And so I think I struck out whenever they're saying that too. And then we had a rain delay that happened. And then we come back out and I'm like, oh, they're gone. And then they're still there.
There's probably 20 people in the stands and these four dudes are still there. Still calling you a goon? Yeah. Through the rain? Yeah.
They're still doing it. And then I think I ended up getting a hit that at bat or something and we ended up winning the game and stuff. And so like we were just kind of joking in the dugout and stuff after.
Like what are they saying? And then so I was just like, all right, make it the Goon Squad kind of. So that's why you're the Goon Squad. Yeah. All right. What's your team name, Vinnie?
Easy Breezy. Why is that? I don't know.
That's why. Oh, did you get him? Of course. Of course. Of course. And I get bought every year.
Somebody will offer me like Garrett Wilson or something and I take him for a ridiculous price. You are a diehard Jet fan. Yeah. Dude. Wow. Yeah. You and I, man. Rich could have had could have had Garrett Wilson in our draft.
Yes. He didn't take him, Vinnie. Well, you know, there's a piece of it where it's you don't want to draft your own players because it's heartbreaking when they don't get it done on the field and on your fantasy team. It's tough. Well, I'm just going to come out and say the reason why I didn't take him. Okay. Again. Whatever you got to tell yourself. I don't care because this shows that I'm a lead pipe wielding professional with what I do.
He wields lead pipes, Vinnie. I am an NFL network announcer for the game Jets and Vikings. And I don't want any Jets on my team. I'm just going to go straight down the line. I'm calling the action straight up. And also, I just, you know, I'm twice your age, dude. And I wear the emotional scars.
Can you see them? Fifty five years of emotional scars. I was a three month old embryo when the Jets won their one Super Bowl championship. So you were at least doing something.
You're right now. I look at you. I look at you and I see bright eyed, you know, optimism. And it's inspiring, Vinnie. Thank you. You inspire me.
But deep down, I'm a hollow shell of a man. You understand? When it comes to the Jets. I'm getting there. I mean, this year goes bad, too. I mean, I don't know what's going to happen.
I mean, I wish easy breezy. Good luck. Thank you.
You know, on that front. Who's won? Have you won the league ever?
No. Tell them where you finished last year. Oh, gosh. It was Vinnie and then me at the bottom last year. You finished DFL?
Yeah, last. What's the penalty for that? We had no penalty, which was good, last year. And so the penalty is you lose money. No, I understand that. You just get to wear that. Commissioner Vinnie, it's usually more than that. You know, like, didn't I see this year someone on the Blue Jays had to be a bat boy because they lost? Am I right? Did I see that? Yeah, that was one.
Someone was a bat boy for a day because they finished last in the Blue Jays fantasy football. I mean, the popular one is like the 24 hours at Waffle House. That's super popular now.
I've seen some good ones. They talked about us having to do like, you sit out in spring training and you have to sign autographs throughout a whole spring training game or something. Yes, sir. You can't say no. You can sign. You have to sign for an hour straight.
Whatever people want you to sign. All right. So we don't know what it's going to be, but. Okay. Well, good luck to the Goons.
Who's on the Goon squad? Jordan Love, tonight. Got him quarterback. Okay.
Him and Jayden Reed. Oh, so you're doubling up. Very good.
Interesting. Good, good, good style. De'John Robinson was my first pick. So I was right after Vinnie. Okay. And then, I don't even really know, I had the chief defense last night in Pacheco last night. So decent little game. Okay.
He was really dangerous, too. So I was rooting for him not to have a good game, but not to have a good game. So I wish that tight ends were kind of swappable. You understood? Yeah. I got you.
You could have gotten the likely, you know, Bonanza and the Chiefs win. Yeah. That's what you're looking for. Oh, yeah. Okay. And, you know, any Tommy Pham, Jock Peterson moments in your fantasy base? But Tommy Pham is in our guillotine league. Oh, oh. Tommy Pham is on the team. Yeah. He's on the board. I'm not asking. I mean. He told me to set a timer yesterday, or two days ago during the draft, I set a timer immediately.
No one's getting slapped out there. There was no question. What Tommy says goes.
I'm going to go ahead and set it. Are the waiver wire, was that what it was? Was it like an IR situation that he and Jock had a problem with? He accused Jock of stashing. Stashing.
No clue, and I'm not asking. Our rules are laid out. They're set.
As far as I know, we're good to go. Good for you. Good for you. Boy, being in a fantasy football league with Tommy Pham. That is. It's exciting. It's on the edge.
You're living on the edge. He's playing good, too. Hit a homer the other night.
Fantasy football season around the corner. You know, Tommy Pham gets hot, you know. Before I let you go, Bobby Witt. By the way, Vinny, you're a delight to meet, and so there's a home run that you hit recently that I just want to ask you about.
We've got a still of it right here. I have no idea how you hit a home run from that ball being, I mean, that's what, a good three inches above the zone right there? Four feet off the ground?
How did you do that? I was kind of looking for a fastball, and then I saw it, and I know it was a little up in the zone, but I was able to kind of get the bat there, I guess, the barrel to the ball. That's the point of the game.
Just get the barrel on the ball and let it go. Have you ever hit a ball that high out of the park? Is that a phrase? Maybe in high school. Not in pro ball, I don't think. Yeah. Maybe in the home run derby, too. I think there's one up there, too.
Dude. So what would it mean, do you think, to bring another World Series championship to this town for you to do it right now? That's the goal. That's why I kind of signed the extension here. That's why I'm here, and so that's the ultimate goal in everything.
You can put all the stats away. That's why I play this game, is just to win a World Series. Because you know that's what team sports in popular towns, usually, as this mass hole to my right will tell you, not to call your dad that, but when Brady and the Patriots started winning, the Celtics won, and then the Bruins won, and then it just kept on cascading. The Red Sox started breaking their streak. Do you think about that, watching the Chiefs doing what they're doing?
100 percent. That's why, like, go to the game last night, you see the buzz in the crowd for the opening night, and it's like, we want to bring that to Kauffman. We want to do that, and we hear about 2014, 2015 all the time. We want to kind of start our own legacy here in Kansas City, and the Chiefs are doing it. We want to follow their footsteps, and so that's really the goal, and we want to do that, and we want to do that soon. Can't thank you enough for taking the time.
I know you guys have a big game tonight against the Twins. Thanks for coming here. We greatly appreciate it. You said Vinny was telling you to do this show today, right? Oh yeah.
Oh yeah, 100 percent. Look at us, man. You and I, we're never going to be separated again. We're now… Thank you.
We're now… I found new friends… Well, it seems like we have now a weekly Jets correspondent. You want to? I mean, don't tempt me with a good time.
Good time, huh? Okay. We'll do that. I'm happy to… I will offload… Tuesdays with Vinny. Tuesdays with Vinny. You know what I mean?
You can follow overreaction Monday with Tuesdays with me. There you go. Now we're talking. Dude, you're a consumer of the Rich Eisen Show over there.
You're not joking. I like to… Well, go ahead. I like to watch, like, YouTube when I eat. Cool. And, like, you've seen me, I eat quite a bit, so I'm locked into YouTube quite a bit.
We're unknown digestive. Yeah, thank you. I agree. By the way. How's the thumb, Vinny? It's good. It's good. We're going to find out more today. Okay. But we got the cast off, so we're moving in the right direction. Nice. Let's go.
Nice. Well, in the meantime, just make sure that you're healthy for the playoffs, and one way to do it is make sure Tommy Pham's happy in this fantasy. You said it. You said it.
You know what I mean? He's legitimately scared of Tommy Pham. Look at his face. He's like… Yes, whatever. He's a smart guy.
Whatever, Mr. Pham. Bobby Witt Jr., what a pleasure to meet you. Thank you. You're welcome back here anytime.
Awesome. Mr. Valentino, you are welcome here as well, sir. Good to see you. Got to stop in the studio the next time you're in L.A., then. Absolutely.
Please do so. Great to see you guys. We're a perfect way to send us into our final segment here in Kansas City this week.
We're back on The Rich Eisen Show in a moment. Are you struggling to close deals? Business-to-business selling is tougher than ever, and that's why I want to tell you about LinkedIn Sales Navigator. LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a sales intelligence platform that helps professionals effectively prospect and engage high-value customers, drive higher revenue, and increase sales performance.
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That's OReillyAuto.com slash eisen, O, O, O'Reilly Auto Parts. I got a recruiting story. You want to hear a recruiting? Please. You're saying hard boss crazy. So I'm recruiting, right?
For Cal. Mm-hmm. Is that fire real?
It is definitely not real. So I'm- It's a television set, Steve. I'm recruiting back in Minnesota, and it's like January, all right?
And it's snow, and it's cold, and everything like that. This is when you were the HC of Cal. Is that what you're saying? Okay. Yeah. So we're sitting around at a home visit, right? Family visit. Yeah. So the kid's there.
The mom and dad, little sisters are there. Grandparents are there, and we're just kind of having hot chocolate, right? Yeah.
And so it's kind of, you know, we're talking about, let's go to Cal, you know, great school, the best in the world, and all that stuff. Yes. And so when you sit there for several hours, sometimes the conversation's good, and sometimes it drags, all right? So it started to drag, and I was running out of things to say.
You can imagine that. Yeah, right. And so it was snowing out, and it was cold, and it was cool, and it was just awesome being in there, you know? And there was a cat sitting over by the fireplace, right? Just like this fire, this fake fire.
It was a real fire, Rich. Yeah. And it was a cat, and it was all curled up, and it looked so cozy, so awesome.
Yeah. And then conversation was dragging a little bit, and I went, wouldn't you just love to be that cat right now? And everybody looked at the cat, and just as everybody looked, it rolled over, it started licking himself all over the place, like, grab on the cat and be like, what?
I didn't get that, kid, all right? It didn't go well after that. It kind of went downhill. Oh, yeah, but that cat just kind of screwed me over a little bit, and he's like, timing is everything.
He's like, I'm going to get myself over it. Oh, man. You're telling me.
Cozy for a while. I didn't get that, kid. That's my favorite part about that video.
I didn't get that, kid, all right? Fantastic. The NFL season, again, has just begun, as we all know, and don't miss a moment of the action with NFL Sunday Ticket and YouTube TV. When bundled together, you get the most live NFL games all in one place, the multi-view feature. It's their signature. You can watch up to four NFL games at once, a total game changer for NFL and fantasy football fans alike, like the two Royals that we just had.
And Tommy Pham. Sign up today at YouTube.com slash NFLST. Device and content restrictions apply, local and national games on YouTube TV.
NFL Sunday Ticket for out-of-market games excludes digital-only games. That was just fantastic. Yeah, that was awesome.
Everything we wanted and more. Two young stud baseball players. I had no idea. Oh, no, I know that he's out there on our YouTube feed while he's eating. Yeah.
He's a big Rich Eisen fan. By the way, that's a big no-no in our house. No screens, no YouTube while you're eating. No, no, no, no, no. No. Can't do it.
It's no good. Because honestly, Coop will be watching Bobby Witt Jr. highlights if we let him while eating. Yes. Yes. Good point. So at any rate, it was just awesome. It's great because, you know, and I told this to Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquiatino.
We were telling Vinnie when you were coming up with this. Both of them. That, you know, that Major League Baseball players don't appear on national shows like this one because it's not that we don't ask. Yeah. A lot of them just don't do it. I don't know.
They either figure they don't have to or they shouldn't take the time to do it. I mean, again, they're playing the Twins tonight. Now, I know Vinnie's on the shelf, but Bobby Witt Jr. is playing the Twins tonight and he took some time. I don't know how far he lives from here, but he took the time to come here and hang out and show he's a human. Yeah. He's, you know, he's got a fiancée who's, you know, helping him, you know, hit curves and things of that nature and.
Cool personality. Right. And Vinnie.
They're in a fantasy league. Tommy Pham, like that when he said that Tommy Pham said to set a timer and I did that right away. It's like, Vinnie should be doing stand up. Whatever you want, Mr. Pham. That's great.
That was awesome. And he's a big fan of the Jets because Vinnie Testaverdi was the quarterback and they shared the same name. Yeah, he's from Virginia. I know. Like, why would he be a Jets fan?
Yeah, but when you hear his last name and he, Testaverdi is probably the closest thing that he's ever heard. Pasquatino. Of course. So. Man, oh man, that was really fun.
Yeah. What a fun week we've had here. Awesome.
This was great. Perfect ending to the perfect week here in KC. Much football this weekend, bro. You nervous? Um. You've got these rings, bro. You know what?
I'm playing with house money as far as I'm concerned. Sure. And, you know, Texas looks like. A contender. Well, they look like we did. Yeah. Which is, you've got your established future pro quarterback and you've got, or at least where you think he's going to the pros, and you've got returning studs all over the place.
Getting staff intact, and you've got nothing but incredible momentum from having made the national semifinal the year before. And finally, you know. Oh yeah, right. That is kind of exactly what.
And coming up short. Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
And so Texas looks like that team. And they boat raced their first opponent. Yeah.
Boat raced him. And they're coming to Ann Arbor to put their marker down. Yep. Michigan's got a new, two new coordinators. You know, well, I mean, Sharone is a coach from last year. I mean, let's not forget.
He's the coach who beat Ohio State last year. True. And Penn State.
True. And, but two new quarterbacks. They're rotating quarterbacks.
They're trying to find some continuity on both sides of the ball. And so I understand why Michigan is a touchdown underdog, right? Seven and a half?
Seven and a half now, yeah. Right? So that's the first game. That's first up. That's at noon.
That's at noon, dude. And then Nebraska, Colorado. That is gonna be- Is a real fun route. Really fun, man. Yeah.
Lot of points. You know, Chidor and Dylan Raiola and that kid, Travis Hunter. I mean, he's gonna have to play every snap, A++. Yeah.
He sat down, too, last week. Because Nebraska does feel like they're- They got momentum. Right.
Yeah. And it's now a couple of years into the Matt Ruhl program, right? Three? And yeah, two, it's his third season there. And so he's gotten some, you know, he's- Really good college coach.
This is when he started turning everything around, in his previous spots with Temple and Baylor. So, you know, that's a pretty big football game, as well, on the docket. Iowa State tomorrow, and Iowa, their offense suddenly was like, whoa, where'd that come from last week?
So it's a sneaky good game. I can't wait for that. And as I head back, what do you think happens tonight? What do you got tonight?
Oh, man. Two great teams. Two great teams I think can go to the Super Bowl. I know.
Don't talk it out. What do you got for me? What do you got? I'm gonna take Green Bay tonight. I'm gonna go to the Super Bowl yesterday.
So they gotta start strong. What about you? I'm gonna go the opposite side. I'm gonna take the Eagles.
Why are you taking the Eagles? Did that hurt you to do that? Did that hurt you?
Well, it didn't make me feel good. What's more painful for you, choosing the Eagles or watching us on the spot create a fantasy league for the rest of the Rich Eisen Show? I mean, after you spent years- Hold on, and he has Saquon Barkley. And that was the other point I was getting to. Now, the reason why is because I do have Saquon, I'm playing you, I'd like to just really smash you in fantasy this week. Yeah, that played into my reason. This league is gonna be so good for content this year, you have no idea.
Which is what I wanted six years ago, but everybody turned me down. So everybody out there, please know that starting Monday, live episodes of this show start streaming on the Roku Sports Channel every single weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern Time. Just search for Roku Sports Channel. And if you miss an episode, don't worry, you can always catch replay streaming 24-7 on the Rich Eisen Channel or in the Rich Eisen Show collection, part of our relationship with Roku.
Same day replays are available for the moment starting at 6 PM Eastern Time. Our guests on Monday's program, Richard Sherman, Julian Edelman, and Chris Long to break down all of the week one Sunday action and get you ready for Monday Night Football with the Jets and the San Francisco 49ers. What do you like tonight? Oh, I like the Eagles tonight. I almost took the Eagles to make the Super Bowl again, where it would be Chiefs-Eagles again.
I almost did that. But you know, I do need to see what they do on the back end of their defense. They're young and I'm wondering if that's the win. And is Vic Fangio the fix on that side of the ball as well? Yeah, two new coordinators again, so that was an issue last year. So that's tonight. And I want to thank today's guests in our final day here in Kansas City. It was fun with Bobby Witt Jr. Everybody's bringing a friend. You brought Vinnie Pasquattino and it started with Eric Stonestreet bringing Brett Veach. And I want to thank everybody here at the Harlow for rolling out the red carpet and the entire Rich Eisen Show crew soup to nuts for us to be here for a kickoff.
It's a new one for us and hopefully we get to do it every single week. Thank you, absolutely. Thank you, Rich. Thank you to all the guys behind the camera. So we are signing off from Kansas City at the Turtle Wireless Studio.
We're back on the air Monday. The Rolling Stone Music Now podcast gets inside the biggest stories with Rolling Stone's senior writer Brian Hyatt, movie director James Mangold. I want to turn Bob Dylan into a simple character with a simple thing to unlock that then makes you go, ah, now I get him. First time I sat down with him and he said, what's this movie about, Jeff? It's about a guy who's joking to death in Minnesota and reinvents himself in a branded place, becomes phenomenally successful, starts to joke to death again and runs away. And he's smiling. He's like, I like that. Join music now, wherever you listen.
