1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in 3 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find 4 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: dot com, or stream us live every day on the 6 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,440 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. 7 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 2: You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. 8 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 3: Back on the Herd, He's so generous to join us. 9 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 3: Dan Wiki from the Athletic Lakers beat writer. I'm reading 10 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 3: online it sounds like the Lakers got into Miami at 11 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 3: like four a m. 12 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 4: Dan probably on team no sleep. How are you man? 13 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 4: And when did you get into South Beach? 14 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 5: The commercial travel was a little rougher than the Lakers city, 15 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 5: unmade bed behind me already gotten a. 16 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 6: Little bit of work today. 17 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 5: I got it around eleven, got to the hotel at noon, 18 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 5: eight o'clock, came tonight local. But yeah, it's tough, tough schedule, 19 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 5: weird schedule, back to back for the Lakers. They played 20 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 5: last time at eight thirty in Houston. Didn't get out 21 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 5: of the arena think around midnight. I think they left 22 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 5: and then we're able to get I got a text 23 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 5: from someone in the travel party made it to their 24 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,399 Speaker 5: room with their backs at five fourteen in the morning 25 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 5: local in miad. 26 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 3: Wow, so this is a scheduled loss tonight against the Heat. 27 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 3: It sounds like Luca, Lebron and Reeves will not play. 28 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 3: Maybe this is a Nick Smith special thirty piece against 29 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 3: the Heat or bam ottabaio goos for eighty four. I 30 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 3: don't know, but we want to focus on the Rockets 31 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:34,320 Speaker 3: and the games. 32 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 4: That actually matter. 33 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 3: The Lakers are torrid right now, seven straight wins, ten 34 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 3: of eleven. 35 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 4: They look like a totally different team. They're beating good teams. 36 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 3: Dan, can you pinpoint one thing that has been the 37 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 3: catalyst for this hot run. 38 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 6: Connection? 39 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 5: I think like team wide connection, and it is probably 40 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 5: the biggest thing. 41 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 6: Really clear. 42 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 5: Role definition has been a huge thing for them. The 43 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 5: Lakers are like, this is Luka, Doncic and Austin Reeves' team, 44 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 5: and Lebron James has been tasked with helping those two 45 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 5: players very clearly. I think you know he missed a 46 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 5: couple of these games as he kind of recovered. I 47 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 5: think you know he missed the first loss, our first one, 48 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 5: I think on this was the second of it back 49 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,679 Speaker 5: back against Indiana, and then missed the wins over the 50 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 5: Knicks and the Timberwolves, and I think when you see 51 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 5: your team play that way, you know, and the Lakers 52 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 5: have had a lot of success this season with Luca 53 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 5: and Austin Reeves. You know, I think Lebron has come 54 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 5: back here and has really picked his spots. He's shooting 55 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 5: something like I think it's like sixty five percent from 56 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 5: the field since he's been back here over the last 57 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 5: four games. That's a big thing. But Jason, here's the 58 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 5: other part of all of this too. You're right, I mean, like, yeah, 59 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 5: they're hot. They've won seven straight. Six of those wins 60 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,679 Speaker 5: have been against teams with you know, sixty percent or 61 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 5: better winning percentages. And the story of this Lakers season 62 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 5: really until two weeks ago was that these guys couldn't 63 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 5: beat anybody good, right, right right. I think it was 64 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 5: either they'd either lost eleven or twelve straight games as underdogs, 65 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 5: you know, which is kind of an interesting stat and 66 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 5: speaks to like, you know, they win when they were 67 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 5: supposed to win, and lose when Vegas thought they were 68 00:03:14,639 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 5: going to lose, and you know, all of a sudden, 69 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 5: now they've they've found another gear. 70 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 6: I think Luca has been terrific. 71 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 5: Their defensive intensity has gone up, and they're starting to 72 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 5: offensively really find the ways that they can put unique 73 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 5: pressure on teams. 74 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, you said at the outset, Luca and Reeves are 75 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 3: kind of the alphas and Lebron's got. 76 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 2: A new role. 77 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 3: But Austin Reeves was awful in the two games at Houston. 78 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 3: I'm seeing five for eighteen on Monday last night. Didn't 79 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 3: seem to have it. It's not a bad option to 80 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 3: have Lebron James sitting there as the third option coach. 81 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:53,119 Speaker 4: Do you want me to start shooting now? 82 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 3: I don't want to say that Reddick's got him in 83 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 3: that role, but it kind of sort of feels like, hey, 84 00:03:58,240 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 3: Lebron picked your spots. 85 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 4: I think was the eased No, I mean it is. 86 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 6: There's there's no doubt about it. And I think you 87 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 6: know you point to Austin. 88 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 5: I mean I talked to him a little bit after 89 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 5: the game last time, and and you know, you can 90 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 5: look at the box score, Jason, and you're not wrong 91 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 5: the efficiency numbers where they were. Uh, Houston put on 92 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 5: on Thompson on him for two games. You know that's 93 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 5: the level of fear and respect that teams have for 94 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 5: Austin Reeves. And what that means is they can't put 95 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,040 Speaker 5: on In Thompson on Lebron James. Yeah, it means they can't. 96 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 5: It means they can't put them, you know, full time 97 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 5: on Luca Dancic either. So I think right now this 98 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 5: is like this is five fingers clenched into a fist 99 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 5: in a lot of ways for the Lakers. It's working 100 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 5: for Lebron because you know, DeAndre Ayton is doing his 101 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 5: job and cleaning the glass. It's working for Luca because 102 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 5: Austin Reeves is helping to grab attention elsewhere. You know, 103 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:52,479 Speaker 5: it's working for Aton because Luca is looking for him 104 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 5: and and you know, and rewarding his his hustle and play. 105 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 5: Like I said, connection right now, at least this is 106 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 5: a team that you know, it's it sort of looks 107 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 5: like they figured some stuff out. 108 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, Marcus Smart needs some props. 109 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 3: I don't know if he's been the one primary defender, 110 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 3: but he's bottled up Jalen Brunson. Recently, Jamal Murray went 111 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 3: one for thirteen and Marcus mar was integral. Anthony Edwards 112 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 3: was on the struggle bus. It looked like Smart gave 113 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 3: Kevin Durant some problems merely getting the basketball. Smart's been 114 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 3: a pretty good addition for them. I guess your thoughts 115 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 3: on him is like he's going to be the guy 116 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 3: task when they face the Thunder to guard SGA, Right. 117 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, look like I think the way their 118 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:36,719 Speaker 5: defense is built right now, Jason, is that like they 119 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 5: don't have a like we are going to put one 120 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,359 Speaker 5: guy on you, like like the shutdown corner, right, Like 121 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,359 Speaker 5: they don't have that, but what they do have and 122 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 5: Marcus Smart is like the guy that'll jam you at 123 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 5: the line of scrimmage and like we'll start like it's 124 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 5: sort of the tip of the sphere, will start kind 125 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 5: of the the uncomfortability for star players and a lot 126 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 5: of it credit to the Lakers in their scheme too, right, 127 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 5: Like they have gone I don't want to say all in, 128 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 5: but like they have very clear directives on game nights 129 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 5: as to like where they're going to put their energy, 130 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 5: where they're going to put the efort, and where they're 131 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 5: gonna put their emphasis, and they're executing right they want 132 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 5: to go. And Kevin Durant as a ball handler, they 133 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:20,119 Speaker 5: tortured him. They tortured him, you know, they Jamal Murray 134 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 5: made the first shot against against Denver and just an 135 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:25,880 Speaker 5: all time great, like regular like it was such a 136 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 5: good I should say all the time one of the 137 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 5: best regular season games this year. And he missed and 138 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,559 Speaker 5: then I think he missed twelve straight or thirteen straight 139 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 5: ten that game, right, And there's just like I think, 140 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 5: been a real intention, a real locked and energy around 141 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 5: this group to like do what they need to do. 142 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 5: If Marcus Smart got you know, second team All Defensive 143 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 5: Team votes this year, it would be worthy. He's been 144 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 5: that good, I think for a team that has really 145 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 5: really needed that type of player. You know, He's had 146 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 5: two awesome months for this team. And I think offensively too, 147 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 5: has had some really big shots. 148 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 3: So I I had a hot take earlier about the 149 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,600 Speaker 3: Lakers would rather face the Thunder than the Spurs. I 150 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 3: don't need to go fully into it. I do see 151 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 3: on the schedule they have two meetings coming up. But 152 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 3: part of the calculus was listen, they don't have any 153 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 3: answer for Wembin Yama. I think Castle a better yes, 154 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 3: a fair point, who does Castle is a better defender 155 00:07:18,200 --> 00:07:20,640 Speaker 3: than lou Dort For my money, I think Castle's tough. 156 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 3: Look what he did to Kate Cunningham this season and 157 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 3: SGA really bottled him up. And frankly, Luca is the 158 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 3: last guy to knock Okac out of the playoffs back 159 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,239 Speaker 3: when he was with Dallas, So he's done it before. 160 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 3: I know, Okayse, he's really good. They're twelve deep. 161 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 4: You know this, Dan, you. 162 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 3: Play eight and trust seven in the postseason. So again 163 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 3: we're projecting a little bit ahead. But like Minnesota's beat 164 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 3: up right now, I don't think the Rockets are a 165 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 3: major threat to the Lakers, as we've seen this week. 166 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 3: If I face the Thunder, I think the Lakers would 167 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 3: be live in that series. And I know people are 168 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 3: going to say you're overreacting, but last year we saw 169 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 3: Minnesota finish the season seventeen and four, go into the 170 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 3: playoffs hot next thing you know, they're in the conference finals. 171 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 3: So you're thoughts on how the Lakers would match up 172 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 3: with the Thunder is they've got to play here twice 173 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 3: coming up? 174 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean I think it's sort of the final 175 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 5: kind of mountain for them to climb this rail season, 176 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 5: Like this is like the last like huge, huge test 177 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 5: for them. You know they're going to finish this stretch, 178 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 5: or they have finished this stretch here schedule, where they've 179 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 5: clinched the tiebreaker against Minnesota, they've clinched the tiebreaker against them, 180 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 5: where they have now clinched the tiebreaker against Houston. They 181 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 5: have not beaten the Thunder this year. Right, they've only 182 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 5: played once or I'm sorry they played twice. 183 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 4: I think once. 184 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, I know in the most recent meeting, Shade 185 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 5: didn't play, Luca didn't play. You know, the Lakers really 186 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 5: felt like they should have won that game. They were 187 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 5: leading in the fourth quarter, kind of went away from 188 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 5: some stuff of Lebron that was working. Maybe the most 189 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 5: frustrated I've seen Lebron the season, right before the ulcer break. Yes, 190 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 5: and I think, yeah, it's they're neithers great matchups. Case 191 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 5: are the two clearly the two best teams in the West, 192 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:04,320 Speaker 5: in Oklahoma City and in San Antonio. I think the 193 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 5: Thunder where though if you look at your ago, we're 194 00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 5: pretty vulnerable in the playoffs. Like I mean, they won 195 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:10,760 Speaker 5: the championship. It was not easy for them. It was 196 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 5: not as easy as their record would suggest that it 197 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 5: was going to be. I think, you know, the question 198 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 5: marks with San Antonio are. This will be the first 199 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 5: time that they've been put into this situation really up 200 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 5: and down the roster. You know, their best players are 201 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 5: all young players, they have a young head coach, They 202 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,719 Speaker 5: have some experience on their sidelines. You know, when a 203 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 5: Luca's assistants in Dallas, Sean Sweeney's coaches some really big games, 204 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 5: he's really really. 205 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 6: Important on their staff. 206 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 5: But but yeah, I mean from an experience standpoint, we 207 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 5: you know, you turn those lights on. Nobody really knows. 208 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 5: I mean, I think all you really want to do 209 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 5: in the playoffs is put yourself in a position where 210 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 5: like you don't have to squint too hard to see 211 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,199 Speaker 5: a way that you could pick up four games against 212 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 5: the team. And I think with the way the Lakers 213 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 5: have played over this last two weeks, like you don't 214 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 5: have to swin that up. Yeah, I mean, if you 215 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 5: get this from DeAndre Ayton, if you get this from particularly, 216 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 5: get this from Luka Doncic, this version of Luka Doncic 217 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 5: on both sides of the basketball, I mean, it's gonna 218 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 5: be hard to beat this. 219 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 6: Team four times. 220 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:10,319 Speaker 4: Again, I don't want to go too much into the offseason. 221 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 4: Let's enjoy it. 222 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 3: Let's live in the moment, as they say, Dan, but 223 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 3: it's tough not to look at Lebron playing his butt 224 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 3: off in a new role. It's almost like Lebron's signaling 225 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 3: to the Lakers, guys, I want to stay here. 226 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 4: It's not going to be about money. I want to 227 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 4: be with this team. 228 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 3: It's it's again, it's early, but I'm just curious your 229 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,719 Speaker 3: thoughts on Lebron heading into a pivotal here, stretched down 230 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 3: the season, playoffs, and then maybe his biggest question mark 231 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 3: off season ever. 232 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, definitely his biggest question mark off season ever. Right, 233 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 5: he doesn't as far as I know, Jason, he doesn't 234 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 5: know what he's going to do next year, whether that's 235 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 5: play in LA, play elsewhere, play golf every day and retired. Like, honestly, 236 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 5: I don't think he knows what he's doing. I think 237 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 5: there have been times this season where he has looked 238 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,040 Speaker 5: very tired. There have been times this season where I 239 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:01,839 Speaker 5: would have told you there's no way he's going to 240 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 5: put his body through this again, And then you watch 241 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 5: him dunk all over the Houston Rockets yesterday and you're like, 242 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,720 Speaker 5: he could do this for four more years if he 243 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 5: wanted to. Is just you know, the best role player ever, 244 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 5: like like in a lot of ways, I don't know. 245 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 5: I think, you know, the energy around the Lakers in 246 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:27,199 Speaker 5: general has been the expectation, like they have treated Lebron 247 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 5: as a player who was on an expiring contract. 248 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 6: You know, does that mean they don't want him back? 249 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 6: I would say no. I think, you know, I would 250 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 6: be surprised if it's back at the salary he has. 251 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 6: It is tons of huge question marks, definitely. 252 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:45,319 Speaker 5: Like one of those underlying stories here as this team 253 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 5: kind of you know, hits the playoffs if you can, 254 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,319 Speaker 5: if you can provide right, like real examples of how 255 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 5: this can work, and everybody is working together on this, 256 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 5: I wouldn't see why not right. The big question though, 257 00:11:58,040 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 5: I think for me Jason is like just does he 258 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 5: want to keep doing this? Like like does he want 259 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 5: to put his body through this? You know, yesterday, after 260 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 5: the camera's off, he's showing me like just disgusting cuts, 261 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 5: like like the type of cuts that just aren't going 262 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 5: to close for a while, right, like like gross from 263 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 5: diving on the floor and different things like that. And 264 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 5: you know all he does is talk about golf. Now 265 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 5: it's you know, it's it's an interesting time for him. 266 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 5: But I will tell you it's super exhilarating because every 267 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 5: time you watch the play, Jason, you just don't know. 268 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 5: You don't know what's going to be next. Really, for 269 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 5: the first time in his career, truly, you do not 270 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 5: know what the next chapter is for Lebron James. And 271 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 5: I've written about this at the Athletic. For me, it 272 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 5: makes him must watch and then he does stuff like 273 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 5: last night, I gave you a stat real quick, Jason, 274 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 5: please please do last night he. 275 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 6: Went eight for eight in the first half. You know. 276 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 5: The only other time in his career he shot one 277 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,600 Speaker 5: hundred percent from the field while going at least eight 278 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 5: for eight or better. Happened fifteen years ago to the 279 00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 5: date Keys, and it happened against the Charlotte Bobcats don't exist. 280 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 5: It happened his current youngest teammate or his teammate that 281 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 5: was youngest with Brownie James. He was eight, you know, 282 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 5: doan er Eaden was twelve years old when this happened. 283 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 5: And it's just like the stats like that every night, 284 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:18,960 Speaker 5: like there's another great stat always about, like, hey, look 285 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 5: at how old and good Lebron stills. 286 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:21,719 Speaker 6: They're not hard to find. 287 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,199 Speaker 3: Yeah, he strikes me as the kind of guy who 288 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 3: would probably want a year long. 289 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:29,199 Speaker 4: Celebration of his career. So he yeah, I don't think that. 290 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:32,079 Speaker 6: No, I don't think it's that. I don't think it's that. 291 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 5: I think that's been sort of people kind of applying 292 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 5: that to him. Look, he's not shy when it comes 293 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 5: to attention, you know, and he's lived in the spotlight 294 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:42,920 Speaker 5: for you. 295 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 6: Know what, this is twenty three years in the NBA. 296 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 6: He's been in my life for twenty five years. 297 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 4: Right, of course, he was like sixteen in high school 298 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:48,720 Speaker 4: on this side. 299 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:50,679 Speaker 5: Thier, Yeah, yeah, yeah, he'spent a famous person for a 300 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 5: quarter century. I think basically Jason every time he goes 301 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:55,719 Speaker 5: into an opposing arena, and this has been true, and 302 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 5: Rachel can plaint to this too, it's been a fait 303 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 5: like some level of a farewell toward that, Like there's 304 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,719 Speaker 5: no shortage of appreciation that he's felt. You know, he 305 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 5: just doesn't get the rocking chair, and I think, you know, 306 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:08,200 Speaker 5: he's probably good on the rocking chairs. 307 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, all right, Dan WOKEI the athletic, great stuff. Hey, 308 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 3: get some sleep this afternoon, buddy, Lakers may may show 309 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 3: some fight tonight probably down some stars and then it's 310 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 3: off to Orlando, Sonny, Orlando. Enjoy it, Dan, Thanks, thanks Jason. 311 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 3: All right, great stuff. Interesting the Lebron retirement tour. 312 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 4: We'll see. 313 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 2: Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays 314 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 2: and Noone Easter non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio 315 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 2: FS one and the iHeartRadio app. 316 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:38,720 Speaker 4: Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. 317 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 3: Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire 318 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 3: with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing 319 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 3: the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight 320 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 3: Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, 321 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 3: accurate stats to. 322 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:56,880 Speaker 4: Help you win big at the sports book, and all 323 00:14:56,920 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 4: the best guests. 324 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 3: Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with 325 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:05,480 Speaker 3: Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever 326 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 3: you get your podcasts. All right, let's go to Rachel 327 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 3: Nichols with the news No turns. 328 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 2: This is the Herd Line News. 329 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 7: I totally agree with Dan on that. By the way, 330 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 7: one hundred percent. Like we've talked about it, the retirement 331 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 7: tour thing is completely external from fans and other people, 332 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,640 Speaker 7: I think you're around Lebron in these visiting arenas, he's 333 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 7: already getting Yeah, no athlete actually wants a rocking chair. 334 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:37,400 Speaker 7: So just saying, all right, you guys were just talking 335 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 7: about all the reasons that the Lakers have been on 336 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 7: this hot streak. I'll give you another one. Jason DeAndre Ayton. 337 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:45,120 Speaker 7: Remember like a month ago when Ayton was in the 338 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 7: locker room saying, they want me to be Clint Capella. 339 00:15:47,400 --> 00:15:50,479 Speaker 7: You know, he wasn't happy being relegated to setting picks rebounding. 340 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: Well. 341 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 7: After last night's win, Ayton says he is now bought 342 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 7: into the team's vision for him and that things changed 343 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 7: when he had an important conversation with himself. Here's a quote. 344 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 7: I just started looking in the mirror and said, Yo, 345 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 7: you're not that guy this team. You came here to 346 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 7: be the effort guy. You're not all that come. 347 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 4: Is that a real quote? 348 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 7: Yeah? Absolutely, he's a great quote. He's a sheriff. 349 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 4: Funny domin Ayton. 350 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 7: Yeah, well there you go. Is this the moment? I mean, look, 351 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 7: he was drafted first overall, head of Luca is now teammate. 352 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 7: I don't think this is the career people imagine when 353 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 7: they drafted him first overall. But regardless, he hasn't succeeded 354 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 7: in the NBA, even to a lesser degree the way 355 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 7: people expected him to the way he's capable of doing, frankly, 356 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 7: because he does have those physical gifts. Is this the 357 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 7: Ayton that at least for the last you know, however 358 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 7: many years we've been waiting to see. 359 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 3: Maybe I'm surprised he wasn't humbled with the Portland experience. 360 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 3: Remember when they shipped him to Portland, him and everybody's like, 361 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 3: we don't want you. Yeah, I mean that didn't humble him. 362 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 3: He's not going to the Lakers out, but I do like, hey, 363 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 3: he had his look in the mirror moment after the 364 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 3: Capella comments, they want me to be Clint Capella, who, 365 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 3: by the way, played like started on Monday for the 366 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:05,120 Speaker 3: Rockets and then played. 367 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 4: Three minutes last night. Hey listen, better late than never. 368 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,120 Speaker 7: I guess Yeah, I mean I think that the Portland experience. 369 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 7: I've followed DeAndre pretty closely through his career. I don't 370 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 7: think he was humbled by that, But I think his 371 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:21,360 Speaker 7: vision of that was like, Okay, I'm really what can 372 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 7: show them what I'm going to do? In the next 373 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:26,880 Speaker 7: time and what he really can do, especially with this team, 374 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 7: and again keep saying it all week, it's fit right 375 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 7: with this team especially, there's a lot of fit questions, 376 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,679 Speaker 7: and when everyone fits, it goes well. His fit on 377 00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 7: this team is a Clint Capella role. And instead of 378 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 7: being like, hey, didn't quite work out the way I 379 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 7: wanted to in Arizona, didn't quite work out the way 380 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 7: I wanted to in Portland, I'm going to make it 381 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:47,159 Speaker 7: happen here, he's instead being like, Oh, you need me 382 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:49,199 Speaker 7: to do this, I can do this, and that is 383 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 7: ultimately more successful. 384 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 3: Do you think he looked in the mirror or Luca 385 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 3: and Lebron, two of the best players maybe the league 386 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,119 Speaker 3: has ever seen, may have had a work. 387 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 7: Do you think the mirror looked at him? There's a question. 388 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 3: I think he probably somebody at his camp was like, dude, 389 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 3: look at the reactions from Luca and Lebron. 390 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:10,439 Speaker 4: When you fumble the ball and you don't defend the 391 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 4: pick and. 392 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 3: Roll and you don't even freaking try. His effort was 393 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 3: garbage at times. Reddick pulled him out of the game. 394 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 3: I think he's at for like twenty five streight minutes. Yeah, 395 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 3: and then he didn't come back in Remember he didn't 396 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 3: come out of the locker room in the second half. 397 00:18:21,680 --> 00:18:24,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, like, is this guy quitting? But he listen. 398 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:26,880 Speaker 3: At some point everybody has their moment, so I'm glad 399 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 3: he's recognizing. 400 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 7: All right, let's move on to bear story off season. 401 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:32,680 Speaker 7: This is I've been looking forward to this all show. 402 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 7: We all remember this play, right, what's he doing? What's 403 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 7: he doing? He's never gonna Oh my god, he scored 404 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:43,080 Speaker 7: a touchdown? How did this happen? Caleb Williams just tremendous 405 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 7: in the playoffs, had the incredible TD at the end 406 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:49,280 Speaker 7: of the game that nobody expected him to be able 407 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:53,160 Speaker 7: to do anything with. On that play, people start calling 408 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,159 Speaker 7: Icepam because teammates started calling him icepaan because it was 409 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:00,960 Speaker 7: during the snow remember and it was freezing well. Iceman 410 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 7: has now officially made it to the trademark office. He 411 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 7: is trademarked Iceman. He says he's gonna put out some gear. 412 00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:10,360 Speaker 7: I don't know if that's like a George Gervin kind 413 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 7: of Iceman. I don't know if it's a top gun 414 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 7: kind of I don't know. It comes into your mind 415 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 7: when he says Iceman. But this got me thinking, what 416 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:23,119 Speaker 7: is your favorite nickname in sports? Because I love nicknames, 417 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 7: so I want to hear some of yours. 418 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:26,159 Speaker 3: I have a list too, So obviously you know we 419 00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 3: got Lakers staff and the Zach, the Homer. You got 420 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:30,320 Speaker 3: to go black bomb, but no, I'm not going with 421 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 3: the obvious, so I wrote down a couple. 422 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 4: So these are kind of off the board. It's my 423 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 4: fantasy football players. 424 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,959 Speaker 3: Who remember the Tampa Bay Bucks running back Doug Martin. 425 00:19:40,080 --> 00:19:42,400 Speaker 4: I don't know if you remember him, the muscle Hamster. 426 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 3: I was a machine in fantasy won me a title, 427 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 3: So that was one that I wrote down. 428 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,080 Speaker 4: A second one a little more popular. 429 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 3: When he was at LSU Tyron Matthew just did everything, 430 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 3: punt returns, defense, the Honey Badger, and then, of course 431 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 3: everybody's seen the Honey Badger doesn't care video, which has 432 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 3: a lot of bad words, but I've showed my kids 433 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 3: because it's so iconic. 434 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 4: The last one. 435 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 3: There was a quarterback at Kentucky, Jared Lorenzen. He was 436 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 3: known as the hefty lefty. I thought that, and then 437 00:20:12,240 --> 00:20:15,560 Speaker 3: they also called him the Pillsbury throwboy. Oh he was listen. 438 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 3: He was awesome at Kentucky played in the NFL. I 439 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 3: think he had a cup of coffee with the Giants. 440 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 3: So those are just a three kind of off the board. 441 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 7: Yeah, that I liked. 442 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 3: I liked. 443 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:25,880 Speaker 7: I like going that way. I have the refrigerator Perry 444 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 7: Classic because that's a that's a very good one. I 445 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 7: went a little more mainstream. But I also I actually 446 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 7: didn't love Black Mamba. I felt like we could have 447 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:36,199 Speaker 7: thought of more for Kobe. So although there was. 448 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 4: People of the staff are gonna be upset with that. 449 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 7: First of all, the reports have come out that was 450 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,400 Speaker 7: originally a Nike campaign for another player, and that's. 451 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 4: The other player. 452 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 7: I don't that they don't know, but that's part of why. 453 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 7: I'm just like, oh, you know, and Kobe was into it, 454 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 7: and that's all that needs to happen. Look, my favorite 455 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 7: player ever is Alan Iverson And. 456 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 4: Oh, by far, how did I not know that? 457 00:20:57,359 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 7: Oh my god? 458 00:20:58,040 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 4: Georgetown? 459 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 7: Yeah, starting with Georgetown. 460 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:01,719 Speaker 4: Were you covering the team back then? 461 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 7: Now I was a kid, I'm younger than him. 462 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 3: Come on wait, oh yeah, no, no, he was like 463 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 3: ninety ninety six. 464 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 4: I think at Georgetown maybe. 465 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:13,159 Speaker 7: Okay, anyway, Yes, I love the answer. I love the nickname. 466 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 7: I love the player, we have a great relationship. I 467 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 7: love the guy anyway, all right, so the answer has 468 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 7: to be at the top of my list, no matter what. 469 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:19,880 Speaker 4: That's a good one. 470 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,400 Speaker 7: Here's a nickname that the player doesn't like, but I 471 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 7: like The Slim Reaper. 472 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:25,919 Speaker 4: Kevin Durant doesn't like that. 473 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 7: He softened over it at first when it came out. 474 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 7: I don't think he liked it. I don't know if 475 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 7: he thought it was insulting. I think it's fabulous. It's 476 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 7: not bad, the Slim Reaper. 477 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 3: The staff gave me two again we were young. Multer 478 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 3: Payton's sweetness. 479 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 7: Yeah, sweetness is a great Yeah. 480 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 3: The only highlights I remember him of him looking smooth 481 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 3: at the open field, just dodging people. And then Jerry 482 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 3: West the logo. 483 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 7: Yeah. 484 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 4: I don't know if that's a nickname so much as 485 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 4: he is the logo. 486 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:52,199 Speaker 7: Yeah, but it became a nickname. Okay, Okay, I got 487 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 7: a couple more. Yep, white Chocolate. I don't know how 488 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 7: that didn't make your listens, Williams, But come on, that 489 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:57,440 Speaker 7: is a. 490 00:21:57,400 --> 00:22:00,040 Speaker 3: Fantastic, amazing Yes, yes, how do I forget that my 491 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:01,879 Speaker 3: buddy went to high school with him? Guy went to 492 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 3: Virginia Tech with yeah, and had some great stories about 493 00:22:05,080 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 3: him and Randy Moss, who went to the same high 494 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 3: school exactly. 495 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 7: Yeah, they were super tight. And then my last one 496 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:11,520 Speaker 7: is just a little off the board, but I do 497 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 7: love it. Time Lord. I don't know if you remember 498 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 7: Robert Williams on the Celtics. Yeah, they called him time Lord, 499 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,439 Speaker 7: which is just a fantastic nickname. He was late to 500 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 7: everything all the time. His introductory press conference, he was 501 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 7: late to his own introductory press conference, and then he 502 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:29,159 Speaker 7: was late to We missed a flight with them a 503 00:22:29,200 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 7: couple like a month later. 504 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 4: Time Lord. Is that from a movie? 505 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:34,640 Speaker 7: I think so. One of the Chris is uh oh 506 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,440 Speaker 7: uh No, that's star Lord grouped star Lord, oh star Lord. 507 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:39,959 Speaker 4: Oh man, I'm gonna get embarrassed. 508 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:42,640 Speaker 3: But the one with group Guardians of the Galaxy, Thank 509 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 3: you to our great Steff. 510 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 4: I'm going to get humiliated for that online. I don't 511 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 4: really care. 512 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 7: You really in your own house for that. 513 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 4: In fact, I haven't seen Guardians of the Gallaxy. 514 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:51,679 Speaker 7: Okay, we got to work on this with you, all right. 515 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 7: Let's go back to something you have seen. The Denver 516 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 7: broncost Jaylen Waddell and bo Nicks reportedly went to dinner 517 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:00,640 Speaker 7: last night. Jason Water met with the Meat this week 518 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:03,120 Speaker 7: and he talked a little bit about his new beginnings. 519 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 6: There's gonna be a fun group. 520 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:09,679 Speaker 5: They got a lot of talent Court Marv, Troy, Pat 521 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 5: the Jordan. I'm here to help in every you know, fashion, 522 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:15,399 Speaker 5: making plays. 523 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 6: And learning. I'm excited to learn from them and them 524 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,440 Speaker 6: to learn from me. So it should be fun, it 525 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 6: should be great. 526 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,400 Speaker 7: And look, you talked to Schlareth about it earlier. How 527 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 7: much of a difference maker can he be in Denver? 528 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 7: I mean again, they got the AFC Championship already, but 529 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,360 Speaker 7: interemers of actually winning a Super Bowl significant? 530 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 3: Okay, I'll make them the favorites coming out Rachel with 531 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 3: the news. 532 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 2: Ye, well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by 533 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 2: The Herd Line news. 534 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,159 Speaker 3: So he had a guest earlier who had a super 535 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 3: hot take, Fernando Mendozo or cam Ward who you got 536 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 3: that's next year on the Herd. 537 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:56,679 Speaker 2: Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays 538 00:23:56,680 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 2: at neond Easter. Not a Empacific man. 539 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 7: What a good weekend here on Fox. On Sunday, the 540 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 7: NASCAR Cup Series is on FS one. Catch the best 541 00:24:05,520 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 7: of the best is they go full throttle at Darlington. 542 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 7: The checker flag for the good Year four hundred flies 543 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:13,159 Speaker 7: Sunday at three Eastern, with pre race action beginning at 544 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 7: one thirty, only on FS one. Jason, I don't know. 545 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:19,680 Speaker 7: You've probably never been to Darlington, I would imagine, But. 546 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 4: Wait, I did go to one. 547 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:26,720 Speaker 3: So I had an internship in Greensboro, North amer and 548 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,640 Speaker 3: there was there was a race there. 549 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 4: Again, this is like over twenty years ago. 550 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 7: Well, it looks like the track is super unusual. It 551 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 7: looks like kind of like a misshapen eggs that was 552 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 7: left in someone's lunchbox for too long. But the reason 553 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,439 Speaker 7: is because when they built the track, there was a 554 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:45,120 Speaker 7: farm out there and they could not get the farmer 555 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:47,119 Speaker 7: to give up part of his land because he had 556 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 7: a minno pond he'd liked to fish in. Oh So, 557 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 7: this is one of the toughest tracks in NASCAR. It's 558 00:24:51,760 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 7: one of the most exciting. It's gonna be a great 559 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 7: race on Sunday because they have to get so close 560 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 7: to the edge of the wall. It's the closest they 561 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,160 Speaker 7: get because of the farmer and his MENO pond. 562 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:02,159 Speaker 4: What a story. 563 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 3: You covered every sport pretty much, Olympics in car racing habit. 564 00:25:06,840 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 4: That's cool, right, that is pretty cool. 565 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 7: It's gonna it's gonna be it's gonna be fun race. 566 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:12,040 Speaker 4: Fun fact for my family listening at home. 567 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 3: We had a yard growing up, and my brother who's 568 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:20,200 Speaker 3: listening for sure, wanted a fish pond in the backyard. 569 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 3: So we're like, let's build a fish pond. We put 570 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 3: in koy fish and everything, and it was pretty amazing. Yeah, 571 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:27,879 Speaker 3: and then one of these big birds, I forget the 572 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 3: name of it, would come and start to eat the fish. 573 00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 3: We had to put a net over it. The Days 574 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 3: and Nights of the McIntire family. Anyways, all right, Earlier 575 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,680 Speaker 3: in the show, we had an NFL draft analyst come 576 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:42,240 Speaker 3: on from the athletic Nick Bombgardner, and he surprised me 577 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 3: when he compared Mendoza to Kim Wore. 578 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 4: Take a listen to this. 579 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:48,639 Speaker 8: I will go cam Woord because I think I do 580 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 8: think I really like him Ward And if they can, 581 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 8: I'm just gonna I'm gonna go out on a limb 582 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,399 Speaker 8: and say they're gonna give him some guys, right, and 583 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 8: they're not gonna totally like just completely abandon him and 584 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 8: ruin him basically. But I think if you give him 585 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 8: some help and you continue to lean on his improvement. 586 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 8: You watch his tape last year, the same thing it started, 587 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 8: you know, not so great. By the end of the 588 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:10,639 Speaker 8: year much better. I think we're going to see another 589 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:12,679 Speaker 8: level from him as time goes on. He's got an 590 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 8: extra year on Fernando. But also I don't want that 591 00:26:15,359 --> 00:26:17,439 Speaker 8: to be a downgrade on Mendoza. I think he'll be 592 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 8: good too. I just Cam's athletic ceiling I think pushes 593 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 8: him a little bit higher. 594 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 3: Interestingly, so Brian Dables the OC in Tennessee, and I 595 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:27,880 Speaker 3: looked and I was like, are they going to get 596 00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 3: any help this offseason? 597 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:31,400 Speaker 4: Well, wouldn't she know it? 598 00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:34,360 Speaker 3: They decided let's go after some former guys I had 599 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:37,439 Speaker 3: with the Giants, like one Dale Robinson, like tight end 600 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:42,719 Speaker 3: Daniel Bellinger. Oh well, they liked Brian Dable and now 601 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 3: they're going to go into a system. Cam Warden year two, 602 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:49,160 Speaker 3: Tony Pollard didn't look like what I thought he would 603 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 3: last year. 604 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 4: Calvin Ridley's back, don't love him. 605 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 3: I think they'll probably go wide receiver shopping at the draft. 606 00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 3: They're an interesting team next year, Rachel, I know you 607 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 3: root for a team in that de vision in Washington. Again, 608 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,919 Speaker 3: it's early, we haven't seen the draft, but what's your projected. 609 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 4: Order in the in the NFC East. 610 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 7: Look, I mean the Philadelphia Eagles are still still the class, 611 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:14,119 Speaker 7: the class of the NFC East, don't you think. I 612 00:27:14,160 --> 00:27:16,479 Speaker 7: mean the Giants are exciting. I lived in New York 613 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,120 Speaker 7: for a long time. I covered the Giants. People love 614 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 7: Jackson Dart. I mean, nobody is more popular than the 615 00:27:22,080 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 7: backup quarterback. But he kept that momentum going once he 616 00:27:25,119 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 7: started starting. I'm still going to say I think that 617 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 7: the Commanders, you know, I think they have the best quarterback, 618 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:34,239 Speaker 7: so I think if they can build around him. They 619 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:36,399 Speaker 7: were really old team when he started, and they've gotten 620 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,880 Speaker 7: younger and they've gotten more athletic. The Cowboys, I mean 621 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 7: Jerry Jones himself. 622 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:42,880 Speaker 4: Have you interviewed Jerry Jones? 623 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:44,439 Speaker 7: Oh? Many times? 624 00:27:44,080 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 4: He's he loves to get interviewed. 625 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 7: I was gonna say, he's not a hard get to book, 626 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:55,160 Speaker 7: so you want to interview dry. I'm just saying I. 627 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:57,199 Speaker 3: Bring up the NFC East because you're Washington fan and 628 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:01,640 Speaker 3: that draft from Nick had Jeremiah Love going to Washington. 629 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 4: Yes, that's spicy. 630 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,520 Speaker 3: I feel like, you know, Dan Quinn maybe on the 631 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:09,680 Speaker 3: hot seat entering the season. I mean they went NFC Championship, 632 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,640 Speaker 3: missed the playoffs, Jaden hurt, entire staff wiped out. 633 00:28:14,440 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 4: Dan' kind of kind of got to deliver here. 634 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 7: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Look when the staff when they say, hey, 635 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 7: change a lot of your staff, there's only one way 636 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 7: to go after that. 637 00:28:22,720 --> 00:28:28,119 Speaker 3: So here it is Jeremiah Love seven to Washington. And 638 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 3: I said to Nick, which he liked. A lot of 639 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 3: mock drafts had Jeremiah Love going to the Chiefs at 640 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 3: nine and then and then the combine happens. 641 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 7: And then everyone's like, oh, maybe. 642 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:39,240 Speaker 4: He's gonna go before nine. 643 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 7: What do you think for your team, Jets? Here's what 644 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 7: I know. You don't want to tie. 645 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 4: I do not. I have nothing against the kid. 646 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 7: You wouldn't know it from the conversations. 647 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:51,880 Speaker 3: He says all the right things. He seems like a 648 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 3: nice kid. He's like, I didn't want to transfer, you know, 649 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:56,800 Speaker 3: and he had the way he articulated it was good. 650 00:28:56,840 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 3: I like Tye Simpson again, I'm talk about this in 651 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:02,959 Speaker 3: the India. I'm all in tanking Rachel with the with 652 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:05,760 Speaker 3: the Jets. And by the way, all these jabbronis who 653 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 3: are like Arch Manning won't go to the Jets. Eli 654 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 3: Manning wouldn't go to the Charger, so he could go 655 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:13,560 Speaker 3: to New York for the Giants. 656 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 4: Now I know the Giants and the Jets or different organizations, Jason, 657 00:29:16,600 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 4: but wait, what do you what are you trying to say? 658 00:29:19,520 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 4: One's of blue blood the other is a terrible. 659 00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 3: Franchise who hasn't made the playoffs in the longest rout 660 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 3: in the NFL. 661 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 7: I believe, so. 662 00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 3: Yes, he's not gonna and even if he Dodges. 663 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 4: Will bleep him and then we'll go get car the 664 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 4: quarterback from Notre Dame. 665 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 3: But I don't think Arts would dodge the Jets a 666 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 3: chance to be the franchise savior. 667 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:40,480 Speaker 4: Rachel's being very quiet. That says a lot. 668 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,640 Speaker 7: I want to know. I want to know if Ty 669 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:45,840 Speaker 7: Simpsons brought you, like, has he written you a letter? 670 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 7: Did he do something to you, throw a rock at you. 671 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:52,440 Speaker 3: I had Daniel Jeremiah on my pod in January and 672 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:56,520 Speaker 3: he says, pretty flat out, Uh, it would be a 673 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 3: shock if Ty Simpson won in the first round. And 674 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 3: I heard that, and I was like, holy cow. So 675 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 3: I texted just a couple of people a head of 676 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 3: the combine and they're like, not mean, mic, go first. 677 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 3: I trust Jeremiah a lot. Yeah, and he still hasn't 678 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 3: put Tie in the first round of his mock and 679 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:10,840 Speaker 3: he's one of the more accurate mock drafficks, so that 680 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 3: I'm just sticking with. If he doesn't think he's a 681 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,200 Speaker 3: first round I watch up with Jets reach on him 682 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:17,600 Speaker 3: at sixteen. All Right, that's too much Tie Simon talk. 683 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:19,640 Speaker 3: I will not slander the young man. I'm rooting for 684 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 3: him in Arizona or wherever he winds up. All Right, 685 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:24,720 Speaker 3: We're back tomorrow Friday. 686 00:30:25,240 --> 00:30:25,720 Speaker 4: Friday