1 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: This is Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. What is up 2 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: straight Fire? Fam, It's me Jason McIntyre. Straight Fire for Wednesday, 3 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: July seventh, and Game one of the NBA Finals is 4 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,479 Speaker 1: in the books. It was all right, We'll get to 5 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: it in a moment, but there is good stuff to report. 6 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: First of all, thank you for the reaction to hosting 7 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: Dan Patrick Show on Tuesday with LaVar Arrington. It was 8 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: pretty easy. Um, yeah, listen, we've done it before. Decent 9 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 1: topics other than the Trevor Bauer situation, which we absolutely 10 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: will not be getting into on this podcast. Oh my gosh, 11 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 1: Trevor Bauer. I was blissfully unaware of it. And then 12 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 1: you know, LaVar Arson is like, oh, we need to 13 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: talk about this, and then I'm like, okay, I'll google 14 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 1: it and I start reading the allegations against the Dodgers picture. 15 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: I'm like, check plates, I'm not touching this. Holy hell, 16 00:00:57,880 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: what a disaster that story is. We're not going to 17 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: get into out here on the pod, at least not yet. Um. 18 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,559 Speaker 1: But besides that, we have Game one of the Finals 19 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: to get to and listen, I've got to hype up 20 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: our next our next guest. Um, we have Listen. You 21 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: guys know I used to cover the media we talked 22 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 1: about on yesterday's podcast. I was into sports media. Obviously 23 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 1: helped me turn the Big Lead into something of a 24 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: juggernaut a decade ago, and I was able to sell it. 25 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:26,680 Speaker 1: And we're bringing on Jim Miller, who wrote the book. Yes, 26 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: he wrote the book on ESPN. Um. He also wrote 27 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: a book on Saturday Night Live, and he's writing a 28 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,479 Speaker 1: book on HBO. Jim Miller probably the pre eminent voice 29 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 1: on ESPN that exists in media. So we got him. 30 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: We'll talk to him about the How do I put 31 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: this delicately? The culture issue at ESPN, especially among its talent, 32 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: especially on the NBA side. The Maria Taylor um kerfuffle 33 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: with Rachel Nichols is such a significant story. And I 34 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: know some of you are like, oh, who cares. I'm 35 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: just saying this is big on several funds. Obviously, Jim 36 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: Miller will get into it. But how do you think 37 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: the NBA feels when their league partner, the biggest league 38 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: partner they have, on the eve of the finals. The 39 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: biggest story is two ESPN headliners are fighting and arguing 40 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 1: and there's racial uh, angles to it and the Jump 41 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: a vehicle started at ESPN because of the relationship with 42 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: the NBA. Hey, we'll do a daily show in the 43 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: NBA year round sold. Yeah. They canceled the Jump the 44 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: day of Game one of the NBA Finals because of 45 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: the brushback from Maria Taylor versus Rachel Nichols. That's how 46 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: ugly it is. So we brought Jim Biller on. We 47 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:54,799 Speaker 1: dive deep into that. I think you guys are really 48 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: like it. Also, before we get to game one, can 49 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: I give a shout out to soccer? I mean the 50 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: summer of soccer has been insane. I do need to 51 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 1: point out. Yes, I was glued to the TV Tuesday 52 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:12,360 Speaker 1: when Italy had penalty kicks against Spain. Italy prevailed. My 53 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: wife Italian very thrilled. No, she was not aware they 54 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: want but Italy will play the winner of today's match 55 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 1: between England and Denmark. I can't wait for that match. 56 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: It's gonna be exciting. And if you give me Italy 57 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: England in the euro Championship game, that is like as 58 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: good as it gets. Holy hell, I can't wait for that. 59 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 1: If it happens, Denmark will not be as exciting, but 60 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: they're a good story too, UM. And of course Tuesday night, 61 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: in the middle of Game one of the NBA Finals, 62 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: you've got Messy versus Columbia. And in in a better 63 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: stat that you can find in Game one of the 64 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: NBA Finals, Columbia got five yellow cards on Tuesday night. 65 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: All of them were fouls on Leonel Messi. How crazy 66 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: is that? That's how much havoc Messy Rex. So now 67 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 1: Saturday night, clear off the schedule, Yes, clear off the schedule. 68 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: In early July, Messy Verse day more. In Copa America, 69 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: the championship game Argentina Brazil. It's gonna be phenomenal Saturday. 70 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: I think it's like six o'clock, five o'clock Pacific, Um. 71 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: But that, seriously is gonna be an incredible game. Two 72 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 1: of the best players on the planet, um, and the 73 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: passion in between those two will be great. And now 74 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 1: let's get to the NBA Finals Game one, Sons, Bucks. 75 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 1: I gotta be honest. The biggest story is that Janice 76 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: played played really well and the Bucks still didn't win, 77 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: and they were in no position to come close to 78 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: winning UM at all in the second half. And uh my, 79 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: my kids, we had a third grade basketball scrimmage and 80 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: the fifth grade basketball scrimmage, which happened like at the 81 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 1: very beginning of the NBA Finals, and I start getting 82 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 1: texts on my phone Janice is playing. I'm like, oh wow, 83 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: that's a crazy I wondered, what a minute limit? Maybe 84 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: you'll play fifteen? And then you know, at tip off, 85 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 1: Janice is starting. What I had the game paused inside, 86 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 1: But of course I got to look at the score, 87 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: and the first quarter, be honest, is like six points 88 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,239 Speaker 1: in five rebounds. He's like actually playing and being a factor. 89 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: I'm stunted, like he is making all those guys that 90 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: got hurt in the last few rounds looked like wosses 91 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: because that the honest injury was gruesome. It was like 92 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: your first thought was, oh my gosh, it looks bad. 93 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: I hope it's not surgery, because if it's surgery, he's 94 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: out for like eight tenths of next season. Oh no, 95 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: that's so bad. And now here he is playing. A 96 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: week later, and Janice had twenty and seventeen, a pretty 97 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: sweet chasdown block. He didn't make his free throws, he 98 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 1: was not as aggressive offensively. He did play thirty five minutes. 99 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: I don't know, I thought that was a really good 100 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: sign for the Bucks. Of course, the bad sign is 101 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: they have no answer for the Phoenix backcourt. H d 102 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: Book twenty seven points. They could not stay in front 103 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: of me at ten of ten from the line, and 104 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: Chris Paul was incredible. Um listen, he torched Holiday, Bobby Portis, 105 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:58,599 Speaker 1: whoever they put in front of him. Chris Paul was like, 106 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: I'm on a mission to get me a championship. He 107 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: had thirty two zero points after the first quarter, thirty 108 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: two the rest of the way just took the game 109 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 1: by the throat. In the second half, he and DeAndre 110 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: eight and pick and rolled the Bucks to death eight 111 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 1: and twenty two and nineteen. I forget all the bets 112 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: I gave out on the pod yesterday, but I know 113 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: I gave out eight and over um, and I'm almost 114 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:21,479 Speaker 1: certain I gave out Drew Holiday under uh. And I 115 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,919 Speaker 1: didn't like Middleton overs. But he pumped in a lot 116 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:25,359 Speaker 1: of points in the fourth when they were down like 117 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,559 Speaker 1: twenty UM. So he he covered his twenty nine points 118 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: on twenty six shots. But I again, I don't see 119 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 1: a path to victory for the Bucks. I'm sorry, I mean, 120 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: they made the Bucks made sixteen three shot from deep 121 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 1: and lost by double digits. They're an incredible offensive rebounding team. 122 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 1: They got nine of them. They lost by double digits, 123 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: like almost everything went their way. And don't give me this. Well, 124 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: the Suns aren't gonna make twenty five twenty six free 125 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: throws again, Well, yes they are if you've done the homework. 126 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: The Phoenix Suns eight six percent in the playoffs. Um, 127 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: that's pretty incredible. Like, you can't foul this team eight 128 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: and six for six CP three four four, Booker ten 129 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: of ten. The one miss came from Jake Crowder with 130 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 1: like five minutes left in the game. By the way, 131 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,720 Speaker 1: Jake Crowder only shows up to eliminate l A teams. Uh, 132 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: Jake Crowder oh for eight O for five from three, 133 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: one point. But he played well defensively. That's what he's 134 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: there for. Um. Over All, the Sons of the better team. 135 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 1: They have the better back court, the better bench. Cameron 136 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: Payne such a problem. Oh, I love his game, Cameron Payne, 137 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: what a great story he had. Ten Cameron Johnson had ten. 138 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: Sons are the better team? I don't know, Rob. Are 139 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: we confident that the Bucks win one game in this series. 140 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 1: I'm not. I am confident because I don't think that 141 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: Phoenix is this juggernaut that they're just gonna run through 142 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: any team that they faced. I think they're very good, 143 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: and I picked them to win the series, but I 144 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,560 Speaker 1: don't think that they are on par with some of 145 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,680 Speaker 1: the previous champions that we've had in the last five years, 146 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: where they're just gonna run through a team that they 147 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: are clearly better than they're They're gonna have games where 148 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: they don't play as well, and inevitably, Chris Middleton is 149 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:04,720 Speaker 1: going to have a game. I know that he had 150 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,760 Speaker 1: twenty nine points last night, but it wasn't an impactful 151 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: twenty nine. Come on, He'll he'll have better games than this. 152 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: But you can't see America. But I'm patting myself on 153 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 1: the back right now because I told you guys coming 154 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: in on yesterday's pot that the Suns were uniquely equipped, 155 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: more than any team in the NBA to take advantage 156 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: of what Milwaukee does defensively. Now, credit to Mike Budenholzer, 157 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: who decided, I'm not going to run the drop coverage. Instead, 158 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:38,440 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna switch everything, Okay, switch switch Brook Lopez 159 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: onto Devin Booker and Chris Paul and let them just 160 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 1: eat you up all games. So then by the time 161 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: they go back to the drop coverage, these guys are 162 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: already in rhythm book or getting the line and Chris 163 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: Paul just cooking the way that he's been cooking. It 164 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: was a rap. I mean, you cannot play brook Lopez 165 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 1: in this series against this team. You're gonna have to 166 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 1: dust off Janice at center or something. But what they're 167 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:02,319 Speaker 1: doing is not gonna work. Yeah. We we did a 168 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 1: talk to Line episode for Fox Sports on Tuesday and 169 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 1: I Chris Brustard was on it. Uh and I said, 170 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:10,840 Speaker 1: I said, listen, um, brook Lopez a pilling thirty minutes, 171 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: they're gonna have to go heavy with. I thought it 172 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 1: was gonna be a lot of Bobby Portis, but they 173 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: abandoned that with Pat Connaughton. Uh. And I like connected 174 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: notre dame guy. Um, but brook Lopez, You're right, he 175 00:09:20,280 --> 00:09:23,719 Speaker 1: cannot play um, he can't hang with Ayton. They pick 176 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: and roll brook Lopez to death that he can't have 177 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: on the courting. He only played twenty three minutes. Now, 178 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:31,160 Speaker 1: he did score seventeen points, but again there's a guy 179 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:35,199 Speaker 1: who was minus seventeen in twenty three minutes, not impactful 180 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: towards the winning line. Boudenholzer's change is gonna have to 181 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: be we can't really play Lopez a ton, so we're 182 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: gonna have to try to ride uh Connaton or Portis 183 00:09:44,280 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: and maybe a heavy dose of Brent Forbes who could 184 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: barely guard a chair. Um. And then Jeff Tigue is 185 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: the other option. And Jeff te who I was surprised 186 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: as still in the league. Um, Rob, I think he 187 00:09:54,440 --> 00:09:55,959 Speaker 1: was the one that Charles Barkley said, Oh yeah, the 188 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,839 Speaker 1: Hawks should they need to run more Jeff Tigue out there, 189 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: like bro, Jeff Tigue is thirty three. He hasn't done 190 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,719 Speaker 1: on the Hawks in a minute. Um, I just this 191 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: is just not a deep team without de Vincenzo. They 192 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: really miss him in the starting lineup. Um, he would 193 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,839 Speaker 1: have been big in this series. Um. And and they 194 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: you know, you just Jeff Tigue is unplayable at this point. 195 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: You know, he hasn't been a start on this league 196 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 1: in about four years, I'm sorry, in three years. And um, 197 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 1: they just don't have the depth. The Sons are the 198 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:24,439 Speaker 1: better team. Now. I'm not saying the Sons are a Juggerna. 199 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: You know, I still maintain they would have laws to 200 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: the Lakers if Anthone Davids was there. Do they beat 201 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,080 Speaker 1: the Sun? Sorry? Do they beat the Sun's beat the Clippers? 202 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: If Kawhi Leonard is there? I know, I don't. It's 203 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: a tough one. I don't know. Probably not. I can't 204 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 1: go to the Jamal Murray situation in Denver because he's 205 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: been out for a while and you know it was 206 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:51,079 Speaker 1: four nothing. Um. But yeah, listen, this is a son's 207 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: team that's good. Barring injury. They're gonna win the championship 208 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 1: and it's gonna be a Toronto Raptor situation where they 209 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 1: don't last. For her. I think rob work gets fun. 210 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 1: Remember Chris Paul has won a championship forever. He's never 211 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: wanted ever been to the finals, never really finals in 212 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: his career. Guess the finals. If he wins the chip, 213 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: would he be willing to opt out of his deal? 214 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 1: The guy's got generational wealth for his kids, his kids kids. 215 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: I mean he's made the hundreds of millions of dollars. 216 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: Would he then say, you know what, I've got everything? Now, 217 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 1: I got my chip, I got my money. I want 218 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: to play on a winning team. Would he opt out 219 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 1: and consider going to play with friends such as Lebron James. 220 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: I don't know. Does does Chris Paul winning a title 221 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 1: all of a sudden put him out of that? You 222 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,199 Speaker 1: know what, I can prolong my career. I'd rather play 223 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: with a winner. I have a chip. Um, you know, 224 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: does does it? Do you think this changes things? Or 225 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: is he like I'm gonna be in Phoenix, We're gonna 226 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: run it back and I'm gonna demand a ton of money. 227 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,679 Speaker 1: I don't know. I think that the Lakers idea makes 228 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: a hell of a lot more sense than the Knicks one, 229 00:11:58,240 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 1: that's for sure. I think the Knicks one is clearly 230 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: just a leverage pay to get more money out out 231 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: of Phoenix or out of Phoenix. But um, if Chris 232 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: Paul is going to make a move, I definitely think 233 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: it's going to be to the Lakers because his family 234 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: is still in l A. I mean he's made that clear, 235 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: even as recently as when he got COVID. He's like, yeah, 236 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:18,319 Speaker 1: I was back in with my family, you know, quarantine, 237 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: But it was the most I had seen my family 238 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: all season. So I could envision a scenario where they 239 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:26,920 Speaker 1: win the championship and he says, hey, I did what 240 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: I wanted to do. Now I'm just gonna, you know, 241 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 1: right off into the sunset, still being competitive, you know, 242 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: with the Lakers. But now that the monkey is off 243 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: my back, I can be happy and just do what 244 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: makes me happy. I think being happy is being around 245 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,120 Speaker 1: his family. Is a very family oriented guy, and he's 246 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: always said he wanted to play with Lebron and they've 247 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: wanted to play with each other. So I would not 248 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 1: be shocked at all if you see Lebron and Carmelo 249 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: Anthony for that matter, both wearring the purple and gold 250 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: to well, you know there's gonna be people upset that 251 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: we made a Game one Finals podcast about soccer and 252 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: Chris Paul jointing a lake. But listen, guys, that's where 253 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: we're all with the Finals. Like I'm sorry, I'm not. 254 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: I can't dive deep on whether or not uh Drew 255 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 1: Holiday can get his act together and they can pull 256 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: off the winning this year, like nobody cares. Okay, this 257 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: is the same Drew Holiday who gave up forty eight, 258 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: forty eight freaking points to Trade Young in the opener 259 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: of that last series and tonight Chris Paul goes for 260 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 1: a billion points in the second half, and Drew Holiday 261 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 1: is still an All World defender. Like again, this is 262 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 1: the NBA Finals. I get it, Rob does. I don't 263 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 1: want to bash it. I don't want to bash it anymore. 264 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: People are gonna think I'm a hater. I just I 265 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: would love it. Fast forward sons and four. Let's get 266 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: to the draft, let's get to free agency, let's get 267 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 1: to NFL, and I want an NFL gambling seems to start. 268 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: I got asked today, by the way, Rob, am I 269 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: gonna enter. You know, there's the Circle contest where you 270 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: pick five NFL games a week and you want a 271 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 1: million dollars. There's two of them, and I got asked 272 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: by a buddy, are you going to do both? And 273 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 1: I was like, I hadn't even considered that. Um, you know, 274 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:01,640 Speaker 1: like since they're competitive. Used to be fifteen dollar buy in. 275 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: So now they're both down to a thousand because you know, 276 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:07,280 Speaker 1: more people are signing up and they're competitively jump with 277 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: each other. So if I can get two for two 278 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: grand as opposed to one, that's not bad. That's not terrible, 279 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: is it? No? You got money to blow anyway? So 280 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: I do not idea I have no such money to blow. 281 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: Uh that why do you think I'm working? Uh? You 282 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: know Dan Patrick show five am, Wake Up after July four. 283 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 1: That's how much when you have to blow? Right? Yeah, 284 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: you think I'm money bags. That's not the case. Mr. 285 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: I've got a new jeep. Hello, I haven't taste Silverado 286 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: four by four truck, Thank you very much. Oh my gosh, 287 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: I'm sorry. So it's not. So what's the difference between 288 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: a jeep and a truck? Please elaborate for for us 289 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: is much bigger. So it's way bigger than a jeep wrangler. Yeah, dude, 290 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: my Silverado is like twice the size of it. Yeah, 291 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:50,480 Speaker 1: I've never you know me. You know me. I'm five 292 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: foot nothing with shoes on. So I had to get 293 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: the biggest truck I could find. So you're one of 294 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: those like housewives who drives those massive suburbans and like 295 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 1: struggles to park because it's a Solfa exactly. Well, I'm 296 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: just curious what exactly are you lugging around in the Silverado. 297 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: You're not doing a bunch of construction, right, so what 298 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: are you looking around in the back? Well, I've only 299 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 1: used the back like that one time. And that was when, 300 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: as you know, I re landscaped my whole backyard. So 301 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: I had to get a Rhodo tiller and the palates 302 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: of you felt like a big big man. Oh yeah, 303 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: I need to go rent a road tiller. I had 304 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: a run and jump out of the flat bed because 305 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: I'm too short to really climb into it. It was 306 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 1: I love, I love that you used it. How long 307 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: have you had it? I've had it since November? Yeah, right. 308 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: So basically we get robbed to do this pod and 309 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: then you know, he gets his big fat check and 310 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:45,040 Speaker 1: then the next day he goes out and buys the Silverado. Um. Impressive, dude. 311 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: I listen, if you have a new car, that's cool. 312 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: I do my kids. I have to say this quietly. 313 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 1: Um My kids are always, oh, debt, what are we 314 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: gonna get? What do we You know, A buddy of 315 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: mine just got a new Tesla, Like, would you get 316 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: the Batman doors? He's like, no, I got the I 317 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 1: guess it's the model why three or whatever. It looks 318 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: sleek as hell. I was like, what, what's a payment 319 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,480 Speaker 1: on this month? He's like, no, no way, that's how 320 00:16:06,480 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: long it's been since I bought a new car, like 321 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:10,200 Speaker 1: I I don't even know what that what they cost 322 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: because I don't even look at the prices. But it's 323 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: the worst time to buy a new car anyway. And 324 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: oh yeah, we're in the game one of the NBA Finals. 325 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 1: Who cares about auto purchases unless someone wants to come and, uh, 326 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: you know, Kelly blue book, what you want to buy 327 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: some sponsorship minutes on here? Uh loved me a used car. 328 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 1: I don't know, man. The one thing I heard you 329 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:31,880 Speaker 1: you did you buy yours brand new? No, I got 330 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,840 Speaker 1: a certified power Yes, that's the way to go, because 331 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: you drive it off the lot and it loses money, 332 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: instantly depreciates. You know, it's a depreciating asset. Unlike we're 333 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: not going to go into financial stuff anyways. Al Right, 334 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: game one of the books, UM enjoy our guest. He's phenomenal. 335 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: Jim Miller, who wrote the book On ESPN, Jason likes 336 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: to think he knows everything when it comes to sports. 337 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: I know what sports fans want, But for everything he doesn't. 338 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: He knows a guy who does. Let's just say, I 339 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: know a guy who knows a guy who knows another guy. 340 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: All Right, let's welcome into straight fire a guy who 341 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: I have to man, I must have known him at 342 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: least eight or nine years now. He is an author 343 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 1: and he is also a journalist, author The Definitive Voice 344 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: on Saturday Night Live, the Definitive Voice on the book 345 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 1: on ESPN. I mean, he's done it all. Jim Miller, 346 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: Welcome into the podcast. Jim, how are you man? Thanks 347 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 1: for having me. Yeah, Hey, thanks for taking the time. 348 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 1: I know it's a busy time for you. You are 349 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:38,920 Speaker 1: working on an awesome book about HBO that's due out 350 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:44,600 Speaker 1: this fall. The anticipation, I'm sure is massive inside HBO outside. 351 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:50,160 Speaker 1: Uh Is Baller's featured prominently in the book. I'm penalty 352 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: but you can't even say anything. Wow. That's one of 353 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:58,360 Speaker 1: my favorite shows of HBO. Ballers entourage most of their 354 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,440 Speaker 1: new stuff. I absolutely love UM and I confess to 355 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:03,919 Speaker 1: liking a little bit of the Sarah Jessica Parker uh 356 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: Sex in the City show. I've got to admit that 357 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,359 Speaker 1: even as a guy. But Jim, we brought you on 358 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: here because you know, you wrote a book about ESPN 359 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: that was, you know, New York Times bestseller. UM. You 360 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: interviewed everybody and they seem to have I don't know 361 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: if it's got themselves in hot water, but they were 362 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: in a situation right now. Um, as we record this 363 00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:26,160 Speaker 1: on Tuesday, right before Game one of the NBA Finals, 364 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: ESPN is, you know, has a story that's almost bigger 365 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: than the Finals, which is the Bucks and Sons. But 366 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: this Maria Taylor, ESPN Countdown, Rachel Nichols, the secret recording, 367 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: the sharing of the audio. Jim, where should we start you? 368 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 1: You you know ESPN as well as anybody. I'm sure 369 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: it is a tense time in Bristol. Where would you 370 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: like to start on this one? I mean, it's a 371 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:51,920 Speaker 1: it's a it's a very sad thing. I don't think 372 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: there's a lot of good news. It's a big bull 373 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: of wrong, as they would say. And and let's start 374 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,679 Speaker 1: with the fact that this is something that first, you know, 375 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,359 Speaker 1: really happened eleven months ago. We're not talking about something 376 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:07,199 Speaker 1: that happened last week. So here you are on the 377 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: day of the NBA Finals, and just think about this. 378 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: ESPN paid a fortune for the NBA deal. They wound 379 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: up having to layoff people because of the NBA deal. 380 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 1: It was a highly competitive situation, so they went through. 381 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: You know, they were in the battle and they finally 382 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: come out and they get it and okay, fine, they're 383 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 1: never gonna have the shoulder programming that Turner does about 384 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: the NBA, and they've always had a historically difficult time 385 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 1: with shows about the NBA. But it's beyond ironic that 386 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 1: this is what's going on on the day. I mean, 387 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,840 Speaker 1: this should be a huge celebration for the network. They 388 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: should be concentrating on. You know, obviously there's contracts that 389 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 1: say who's involved or who should be involved, and you know, 390 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:59,159 Speaker 1: it's like second grade when the teacher walks out of 391 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: the room and everybody's at the board. This is just 392 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 1: beyond Yeah, it's an awful look all around. So the 393 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 1: big news today is that, you know, Rachel Nichols, they 394 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 1: just announced she will not do sideline reporting at the finals. 395 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: Too much of a distraction, I guess. And they're not 396 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: going to air The Jump on Tuesday, which is you know, 397 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:20,159 Speaker 1: they're marquee NBA show. It's been on every day of 398 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 1: the year basically during the week, and it's just not 399 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 1: gonna air it. Um. But I want to back up 400 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:26,160 Speaker 1: a little and start with The New York Times, because 401 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: you made an interesting point that this story is eleven 402 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:31,400 Speaker 1: months old and the timing of this the New York 403 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: Times dropping it um on the eve of the NBA 404 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 1: Finals on July four. Um. The author of the piece 405 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 1: is a guy named Kevin Draper. I personally don't know him. 406 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: He has been extremely combative with me on social media. 407 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: I think he blocked me preemptively. Uh. Never had a 408 00:20:46,520 --> 00:20:50,479 Speaker 1: conversation with the guy. Um, the story seemed a little 409 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:54,720 Speaker 1: bit unfair. A forty minute audio and you know, basically 410 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: they pull out what two minutes? Um. You know, I've 411 00:20:57,600 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: had a lot longer conversations. And if you pull out 412 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 1: the worst two minutes, yeah, everybody on planet Earth is 413 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:03,919 Speaker 1: gonna look bad. I don't know. Are you surprised at 414 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 1: the journalistic integrity here at the Times? Jim Well, I mean, 415 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,120 Speaker 1: look think about it as, Uh, you know, you're going 416 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:12,400 Speaker 1: to one of those big hotel Sunday brunches and they've 417 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 1: got all these tables full of food. You know, makes 418 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: me feel guilty to even be in the first world country. 419 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 1: And uh, and you decide to like spend the entire 420 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:26,000 Speaker 1: time on one square inch of the table. And there's 421 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 1: a lot of context, a lot of perspective that um 422 00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: quite frankly, and this is not meant as a personal 423 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: critique of Kevin, but you know, there are things that 424 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 1: are pulled out of context in this piece that I 425 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:40,440 Speaker 1: think are really unfair to people. I mean, you can 426 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: start right from the beginning with, uh, you know a 427 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: guy that people may not know his name, but Adam 428 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 1: Mendelssohn who has been working with Rich Paul Lebron, James 429 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: Maverick Carter for a decade and has done the lord's 430 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: work in terms of black lives matters and activists and 431 00:21:57,040 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 1: everything else. And all of a sudden, you're pulling quotes 432 00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: from this conversation, this private conversation with Rachel, which are 433 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 1: you know, have this tendency to kind of like make 434 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: Adam out to be somebody who's not. And I think 435 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: that the one of the reasons why it's interesting to 436 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 1: focus on that is because this was clearly agenda journalism. 437 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 1: It's not Kevin Draper's agenda made maybe, but you have 438 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: people who we're talking about the story, remember something they 439 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: quote some panelists from the show, right, those panelists I 440 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: found they did not talk to Kevin this this Those 441 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 1: like those people did not give him quotes for that piece. 442 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: What that was was people on the show telling Kevin 443 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: Draper someone so said this, so you want to I 444 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: mean that is a fundamental that that that is something 445 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 1: that I think everybody, whether they work in GM or 446 00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 1: whether they work at work pharmaceuticals or whatever you're talking 447 00:22:56,119 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: about talking in your environment and your colleagues or Alcolague 448 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: are going to be listening to what you say and 449 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 1: telling it to a reporter, telling it out of context, 450 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden you get labeled in 451 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: a way that is devoid of all that context. I 452 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:18,680 Speaker 1: think that's incredibly unfair. You know, all of us who 453 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,199 Speaker 1: do who cover things every day, we can wake up 454 00:23:21,600 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 1: and do something in a certain way. I think that 455 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 1: what's happened here is that you have people who, um, 456 00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 1: they don't have the agenda for the show for most 457 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:34,159 Speaker 1: of mind, they certainly don't care about the network, and 458 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 1: they certainly don't care about the league. This was a 459 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: This was a scorched earth operation to foster an agenda 460 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:45,439 Speaker 1: which is really not in anybody's interest except maybe a 461 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:48,640 Speaker 1: couple of people. Yeah, who do you think benefits most 462 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,520 Speaker 1: from this? I mean, obviously Maria Taylor's contract is up soon. 463 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:54,879 Speaker 1: Um I'm i'm I'm assuming many people have are not 464 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: familiar with the work of Kevin Draper. He used to 465 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 1: work at dead Spin. I believe the New York Times 466 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: is like a dying sports section that you know, there 467 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:05,239 Speaker 1: were chatter about the Athletic joining forces with the New 468 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:08,240 Speaker 1: York Times. I don't know when you when you you know, 469 00:24:08,280 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: agenda journalism is strong, but um, I don't know is 470 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: there anybody that direct agenda? I was talking about the 471 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:17,160 Speaker 1: people who I mean, Look, one of the things there's 472 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:20,199 Speaker 1: all these corollaries about this, right because one of the 473 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 1: things that we understand now more than ever about ESPN 474 00:24:25,119 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 1: is there is no order in the house and there 475 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: is no fear so as a result, I mean, I 476 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 1: you know, Andrew marsha and gets leaks every single day 477 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: from people in management. Um, it's really impressive importing reporting. 478 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: But there have been no consequences whatsoever about that. I mean, 479 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 1: the only person that has really suffering a consequence is 480 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 1: poor Adnan Verke, who you know they fired this guy 481 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: that fired this father of four in a NATO second 482 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 1: because you know, he had said something to somebody that 483 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: wasn't through the press report, and that was supposed to 484 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 1: send him message to others. It's gotten five million times 485 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 1: worse and there is absolutely no repercussions. So you have 486 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:12,160 Speaker 1: the ESPN Press department that is, you know, basically trying 487 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 1: to run a race with you know, potato sacks on 488 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: their legs because they can't control anything, they can't be 489 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:22,400 Speaker 1: proactive about anything. All they're doing every day is playing 490 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: whack a mole because so and so is leaking this, 491 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:27,159 Speaker 1: and then you've got to respond to this. So I 492 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:29,919 Speaker 1: think that you know what's happened is you have Jimmy Pitaros, 493 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:34,160 Speaker 1: the president, who's chairman, who's now busy trying to make 494 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: sure everything's okay with the NFL and making these mega 495 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 1: deals like with the NHL, and then you have a 496 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,919 Speaker 1: level below that which is supposed to take care of 497 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: this stuff. And no offense against any of them personally. 498 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,119 Speaker 1: But I think the record is pretty clear that there's 499 00:25:50,240 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: just a lot of dysfunction and there's a lot of 500 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:57,679 Speaker 1: talent driven agendas. And there's worse than that is the 501 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:01,680 Speaker 1: lack of mistrust, lack of trust between colleagues that ESPN 502 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: me and I talked to somebody from ESPN every day 503 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: and it's never been this bad. And this article shows 504 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: it where you have you're sitting around with people that 505 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: you're all in a fox hill with and they're writing 506 00:26:12,840 --> 00:26:14,360 Speaker 1: down what you say and then they're going to call 507 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 1: a reporter. That's that's pretty weak. I mean, when do 508 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,160 Speaker 1: you think it all changed? Jim Well, Well, I mean, 509 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:23,120 Speaker 1: I know under John Skipper there was some uh issues, 510 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:25,119 Speaker 1: but it seems to have been You're right, in the 511 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 1: last five years maybe accelerated significantly. Do you think this 512 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,439 Speaker 1: jest has to do with maybe the bigger spotlight on 513 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,679 Speaker 1: ESPN and and you know, the industry rapidly changing and 514 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: the losing of jobs, and every man feels like, hey, 515 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 1: I need protection. I'm gonna have to go leak stuff. 516 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 1: I mean, is there a mafia feel to it? I 517 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:45,679 Speaker 1: think that there's a I think that the personal agendas 518 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:51,120 Speaker 1: are in the foreground and the company agenda is not. 519 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 1: And I think that, you know, you could say that 520 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:56,720 Speaker 1: the company wasn't as big or at times a change, 521 00:26:56,800 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: but the truth is under George Bodenheimer and under John Skipper, 522 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:05,280 Speaker 1: I don't think. I mean, there was some dysfunction, but 523 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:08,160 Speaker 1: there wasn't this kind of civil war that was being 524 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:11,040 Speaker 1: going that's been going on, and uh, I think it 525 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:14,640 Speaker 1: shows a real lack of disciplinal lack of fear. Can 526 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: can anything be done to change that now? I mean 527 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:19,880 Speaker 1: other than ruling with an iron fist and saying we're 528 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 1: firing you were. I mean, you know, they tried to 529 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 1: make a point, like you said, of an inverk and 530 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:27,240 Speaker 1: that did nothing. You know, there's still everybody just leaking stuff. 531 00:27:27,280 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 1: Can anything be done by Petaro to to kind of 532 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:31,639 Speaker 1: stem that? I mean, I think we're talking about a 533 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: huge paradigm shift in the culture, and I think that 534 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 1: that has to be I mean, look, there are producers 535 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 1: on this NBA show who clearly are not doing what 536 00:27:43,119 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 1: they want to be, what the management or what their 537 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:48,400 Speaker 1: colleagues think they should be doing, but they're doing things 538 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,159 Speaker 1: based on their own personal preferences of who they think 539 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 1: should be involved. I mean, it's been reduced to a 540 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 1: popularity contest, and you know, look there, ESPN is tough place, 541 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 1: and there are a lot of people who don't like 542 00:28:01,960 --> 00:28:04,880 Speaker 1: this one or don't like this one that happened. Oh 543 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 1: my gosh, that was happening before Keith and Dan, right, 544 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:10,639 Speaker 1: I mean, not everybody's like, but there, But what happens 545 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 1: now is that people act on it, and so as 546 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:17,879 Speaker 1: a result, you have I mean, it's beyond malicious and 547 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,920 Speaker 1: I just don't know how you. I mean, what happens 548 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: is exactly what's happening today, which is that that the 549 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:29,479 Speaker 1: product fails. I mean, God bless David Stern. I mean, 550 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 1: if David Stern, I mean I can't imagine what Adams 551 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:35,480 Speaker 1: Bilder's thinking right now, but if David Stern were around, 552 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 1: I mean, he'd be like driving up to Bristol with 553 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:41,400 Speaker 1: you know, or or flying over Bristol in an F 554 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 1: sixteen because this is exactly the kind of craft that 555 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 1: he had no patience for her. And so it doesn't 556 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 1: help anybody. I mean, it's great for Turner because they 557 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:51,840 Speaker 1: get to say once again that you know, they have 558 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 1: a product that nobody can touch. But it's just, uh, 559 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:58,360 Speaker 1: it's it's really bad. But it's weird because the NBA 560 00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:00,959 Speaker 1: TV deals coming up kind of soon, ish, is it not? 561 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:03,479 Speaker 1: And all the chatter is that Turner's done with it 562 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 1: and and BA TV is in trouble, and you know, 563 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 1: are they happy with what ESPN is putting out? I 564 00:29:09,080 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 1: don't know, this seems like it's coming in a very 565 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 1: inopportune time, is it not. Well, I mean, you've got 566 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:16,640 Speaker 1: cats and dogs living together because we have the whole 567 00:29:16,640 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 1: streaming dusk stuff. I mean, look, when this last NBA 568 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:22,200 Speaker 1: deal was done, the ESPN was I think probably close 569 00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 1: to a hundred million holmost out there in the seventies. Um, 570 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 1: so the bundle is crashing and who knows what the 571 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,120 Speaker 1: new equation is and who knows put burd banks out 572 00:29:33,400 --> 00:29:36,240 Speaker 1: appetite is to spend that kind of money. Who knows. 573 00:29:36,280 --> 00:29:38,040 Speaker 1: I mean, they stepped up to the plate big time 574 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,280 Speaker 1: for NFL and maybe they got, you know, a second salvo, 575 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 1: but it certainly doesn't help. And by the way, Jason, 576 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 1: think about it, if the tie, if there's a tie, 577 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,360 Speaker 1: if there's anything close, let's just say the Turner and 578 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: ESPN does they want the same package and are going 579 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:58,040 Speaker 1: in for the same package, And let's just say the 580 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 1: money's basically close. I mean, who are you gonna go with? 581 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:04,479 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just it's a joke, and this has 582 00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 1: been going on. You know, you can talk, you can 583 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 1: look back to Bill Simmons, Michelle Beatle, and Stage Steele 584 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 1: on the show. Um oh, my gosh. I mean, don't 585 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 1: forget those golden douty oldest So, I mean, this has 586 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 1: never been a peaceful place. And but it's the problem 587 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 1: is that it's gotten worse and worse. And it used 588 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: to be that, you know, I would hear stuff from 589 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: people would say please, please, please, you know, don't don't 590 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 1: worry about this and don't do anything with it. And 591 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:33,479 Speaker 1: you know, I must admit I pull a lot of bunches. 592 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: I would just throw it under the rug because at 593 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:38,520 Speaker 1: one point, I mean, you know, I don't I'm not 594 00:30:38,560 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: trying to destroy anybody's career. And um, but now there's 595 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:47,440 Speaker 1: there's just there's just no there's no boundaries at all. Yeah. Well, 596 00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 1: I mean, listen, there's been rumors that, you know, Stephen A. 597 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 1: Smith wants Countdown, but the league doesn't want him on it. Um, 598 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 1: I've totally forgotten that Bill Simmons Stage Steele versus Michelle Beatle, 599 00:30:57,240 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: Like they haven't been able to figure out this show forever. 600 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:01,960 Speaker 1: And meanwhile, you know it's got to hurt the turner 601 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 1: puts out the best product by far with uh, you know, 602 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 1: Barkley and Shack and those guys. Um, is this show, 603 00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:10,800 Speaker 1: I mean I don't. I can't even think of a 604 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:14,720 Speaker 1: way to fix this show. Um, maybe maybe they You 605 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 1: can't scrap the show, can you. You can't scrap Countdown. 606 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 1: You need a pregame show, right, Yeah, I mean part 607 00:31:20,480 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: of ESPN's Hall deal when they're making these they have 608 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:28,080 Speaker 1: eight thousand seven under sixty hours a year program we're 609 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 1: gonna get. We're gonna flood the zone. We're gonna give 610 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 1: you the kind of coverage that you can't have even 611 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:35,360 Speaker 1: on Turn even on NBC, even on CBS or wherever. 612 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:37,960 Speaker 1: I mean, because we have the manpower and we have 613 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: the hours, and so we're going to dedicate a level 614 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 1: of programming and intensity of programming that you can't get 615 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:46,600 Speaker 1: anywhere else. And meanwhile, here we go, the show is 616 00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:48,760 Speaker 1: off the air tonight. I mean, I think what's going 617 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:52,520 Speaker 1: to happen is the you know, the kind of securticity 618 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:57,200 Speaker 1: between Maria's contract coming up in the next couple of weeks. Obviously, 619 00:31:57,280 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 1: they've got a deaf con one on rachel Um Spider 620 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 1: Apology yesterday. Uh. You know, I think we're gonna see 621 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:07,800 Speaker 1: a lot of uh answers in the next couple of weeks, 622 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:11,160 Speaker 1: and they're gonna have to make decisions. But even after 623 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:14,360 Speaker 1: they make the decisions, they're still gonna have to address, 624 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:20,280 Speaker 1: you know, the unbelievable selfishness and just loyalty that that's 625 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:23,320 Speaker 1: going on and the mistrust that's going on right now 626 00:32:23,440 --> 00:32:26,240 Speaker 1: at the network, because it's not fun for people and 627 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 1: it's not helping them at all. Fox Sports Radio has 628 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 1: the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all 629 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:35,720 Speaker 1: of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and 630 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 1: within the I Heart Radio app search f s R 631 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:41,600 Speaker 1: to listen live. Being an HBO guy, I'm sure there's 632 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:44,960 Speaker 1: a Game of Thrones parallel here, uh to ESPN. It's 633 00:32:44,960 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 1: like every man for themselves pretty much, right, it's sacrifice 634 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:50,320 Speaker 1: someone or you're gonna get got. I don't know, Jim, Jim, 635 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:52,880 Speaker 1: I do want to ask thom do you believe that 636 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 1: Jimmy Pittaro and the ESPN brass is maybe listening to 637 00:32:57,080 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 1: social media a little bit too much? That's the only 638 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 1: anything I can think of to not have Rachel on 639 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:04,920 Speaker 1: uh and not have the Jump on unless you know 640 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 1: Kendrick Perkins and Richard Jefferson or whoever was conslated to 641 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:09,440 Speaker 1: be on is just like, you know, this is a 642 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 1: bad look. I'm not going to do it. I don't 643 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:14,680 Speaker 1: think that happened. I don't think that happened. I mean, 644 00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:17,360 Speaker 1: look again, ten or eleven months ago, this happened. So 645 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 1: you don't have I mean, where's the plan to be, 646 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:22,600 Speaker 1: where's the strategy? And you're gonna let one article throw 647 00:33:22,640 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 1: you off of off a billion dollar deal. I mean 648 00:33:27,640 --> 00:33:32,240 Speaker 1: with your product, it doesn't it doesn't really make sense UM, 649 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:34,280 Speaker 1: And you have to be able to. I mean that's 650 00:33:34,280 --> 00:33:36,920 Speaker 1: why everybody gets paid, right, They have to manage and 651 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:40,320 Speaker 1: they have to triage these crises. And so I mean, look, 652 00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:42,000 Speaker 1: maybe they think that this is the best way to 653 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:47,200 Speaker 1: do it. UM doesn't seem to be UM doesn't doesn't 654 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:50,520 Speaker 1: seem to be orderly. Yeah, nothing seems to be going right. 655 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:53,200 Speaker 1: I'm curious if you spin this forward, Jim and start 656 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:57,040 Speaker 1: thinking about the future of ESPN and NBA. You know, 657 00:33:57,640 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 1: NFL network apparently is up for sale right now, and 658 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:02,560 Speaker 1: you know, it feels like, you know, the games are 659 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:05,280 Speaker 1: what matter, and everybody's kind of like the Shoulder Program, 660 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:09,120 Speaker 1: nobody really cares. I'm just curious, do you see a 661 00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:12,239 Speaker 1: future where the streaming actually catches on for a show 662 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:14,600 Speaker 1: like Countdown four Games when it comes to the NBA 663 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:18,360 Speaker 1: or no stream everything. I mean, streaming is a given. 664 00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:21,640 Speaker 1: Streaming is it given? They have to be they have 665 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:23,719 Speaker 1: to be on Disney plus the ESPN plus they have 666 00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 1: to I mean, it's not binary anymore, and so they 667 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:31,080 Speaker 1: have to make it work for all kinds of platforms. Unfortunately, 668 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:33,920 Speaker 1: right now, just because we're in a big linear state 669 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:37,120 Speaker 1: with these games, um, that's where the focus is. But 670 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:40,480 Speaker 1: I mean maybe they're gonna be able to figure out 671 00:34:40,480 --> 00:34:43,719 Speaker 1: a way to slice and dice it where. I mean, 672 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:47,439 Speaker 1: who knows, you know. I mean Marie actually stays we'll 673 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 1: have linear and Rachel will have stream. I mean, it's 674 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:54,520 Speaker 1: so ridiculous. I mean we're talking about talent that is 675 00:34:54,560 --> 00:34:56,480 Speaker 1: focusing on whether or not there's a two shot in 676 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:59,480 Speaker 1: the show. I mean, if you were to say that 677 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:02,120 Speaker 1: to Steve Innstein, he was there there, you'd be taking 678 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:04,960 Speaker 1: out back. I mean, it's shot. It's just this is 679 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:07,680 Speaker 1: I mean, yes, there are difficulties, and yes there are 680 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:09,799 Speaker 1: things to be worked out, but that's what you do. 681 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 1: You work them out, and you work them out in private, 682 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:16,080 Speaker 1: and you make sure that everyone understands that we're not 683 00:35:16,200 --> 00:35:20,839 Speaker 1: going to have this, you know, decided or at least 684 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:24,480 Speaker 1: negotiated through the papers. I mean, you know, say what 685 00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 1: you want about the New York Times Sports section, but 686 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:30,040 Speaker 1: it's still the New York Times. Yeah, and uh, I mean, 687 00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:32,960 Speaker 1: you know, I think they do great work, good work, 688 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:36,080 Speaker 1: great work. But when the New York Times is you know, 689 00:35:36,120 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 1: the New York Times reported today that this and this 690 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:42,800 Speaker 1: and this, that's a big deal and they were clearly 691 00:35:43,080 --> 00:35:45,560 Speaker 1: unprepared for it. I mean, it is weird. You know, 692 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:47,520 Speaker 1: the story has been out there for eleven months. They 693 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:49,480 Speaker 1: drop it on the eve of the finals, on the 694 00:35:49,560 --> 00:35:53,279 Speaker 1: eve of Maria Taylor's contract negotiations. I don't know, you know, 695 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:56,759 Speaker 1: a more sinister thought might be. Boy, Maria Taylor is 696 00:35:56,760 --> 00:35:59,759 Speaker 1: not getting what she wants in her negotiations, and this 697 00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:02,839 Speaker 1: is like her trump card. This is her I got 698 00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:04,600 Speaker 1: my here, here we go. I'm gonna put all my 699 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:07,360 Speaker 1: cards on the table, take it or leave it, or 700 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:10,799 Speaker 1: blow up the world on my way out. I mean, 701 00:36:10,840 --> 00:36:15,320 Speaker 1: I'm not accusing Maria, yeah, of course. Um look, there 702 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:17,680 Speaker 1: were a lot of people that talked, not a lot, 703 00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:21,160 Speaker 1: but there were significant people who talked for that story. 704 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:25,279 Speaker 1: And the timing was I mean, Kevin Draper should get 705 00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:28,560 Speaker 1: an award just on the timing alone. Um, that was 706 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:31,359 Speaker 1: exquisite in terms of trying to get the attention and 707 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:35,880 Speaker 1: having the attention thrust on that article by the network 708 00:36:36,560 --> 00:36:42,400 Speaker 1: I think is over rotated and um and clearly I 709 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:45,239 Speaker 1: mean I think didn't Rachel say in her apology that 710 00:36:45,280 --> 00:36:48,160 Speaker 1: she tried to reach out to Maria directly but didn't 711 00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:51,839 Speaker 1: hear it back. I mean, so it's like something even 712 00:36:51,840 --> 00:36:55,439 Speaker 1: if you're in Oslo, you say to the Palestinians and Israelis, hey, uncle, 713 00:36:55,480 --> 00:36:57,239 Speaker 1: had sit at the table and hear each other for 714 00:36:57,280 --> 00:37:00,279 Speaker 1: a minute. Um, it doesn't seem to there doesn't seem 715 00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:04,920 Speaker 1: to be any kind of influence or any kind of 716 00:37:05,400 --> 00:37:08,200 Speaker 1: order that's being able to be placed on this. Having 717 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:10,520 Speaker 1: covered ESPN, Jim Ill guests will kind of wrap up on. 718 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:12,560 Speaker 1: You know, you've seen a lot of people come in 719 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:14,799 Speaker 1: front of the the camera become big stars, and with it 720 00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:20,440 Speaker 1: comes to ego. Um, it does feel like in egos, 721 00:37:20,480 --> 00:37:24,360 Speaker 1: whether they're pumped up through social media Instagram to Twitter 722 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:28,480 Speaker 1: or whatever, it almost feels like everybody is a brand 723 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:32,200 Speaker 1: unto themselves as opposed to working for the ESPN brand. 724 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:33,960 Speaker 1: Do you you get that sense that that's where we 725 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:36,000 Speaker 1: are right now? Well, that was one of the reasons why, 726 00:37:36,160 --> 00:37:38,920 Speaker 1: going back to two thousand nine, ESPN was scared shitless 727 00:37:38,920 --> 00:37:42,440 Speaker 1: about social media. I mean, I did a podcast on 728 00:37:42,520 --> 00:37:44,799 Speaker 1: the estor of social media ESPN. It was one of 729 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:49,360 Speaker 1: my favorite positive and I mean they were really concerned 730 00:37:49,360 --> 00:37:51,800 Speaker 1: because of this. And then you get into that delicate 731 00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:56,600 Speaker 1: question Jason, of how much of an individual's worth of 732 00:37:56,680 --> 00:38:01,000 Speaker 1: oxies and interests and values to they get to present 733 00:38:01,360 --> 00:38:06,560 Speaker 1: publicly that may not be in concert with ESPNS. And 734 00:38:06,640 --> 00:38:08,399 Speaker 1: so you get into all this stuff and it's like 735 00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:11,719 Speaker 1: and now they realize years ago they tried to stop politics, 736 00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:16,400 Speaker 1: you know, people talking about politics. That was a failed mission, 737 00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:20,000 Speaker 1: beyond failure. And so you have people able to express 738 00:38:20,040 --> 00:38:24,600 Speaker 1: themselves and people who have great followings, and so this 739 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:27,640 Speaker 1: is this is part of it. You know, there's a 740 00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:29,560 Speaker 1: lot of people at ESPN. Though let's just say this, 741 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:33,120 Speaker 1: there's a lot of people at ESPN the Scott fails. 742 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:36,239 Speaker 1: You think about NBA coverage to the world, They like 743 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:38,160 Speaker 1: actually go to work every day and all they want 744 00:38:38,160 --> 00:38:40,759 Speaker 1: to do is do the work right and they're not. 745 00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:44,440 Speaker 1: It's it's not about like who's popular, who's gonna be 746 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:48,359 Speaker 1: Let's see how we can um make some you know, 747 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:52,000 Speaker 1: influential moves here so somebody gets a bigger offer on 748 00:38:52,040 --> 00:38:55,680 Speaker 1: their contract. I mean, I don't think we and I'm 749 00:38:55,719 --> 00:38:58,799 Speaker 1: not accusing Maria of anything, and I'm not I'm not 750 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:02,360 Speaker 1: saying that, you know, Rachel's um not to blame for 751 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:05,040 Speaker 1: certain things. I'm just saying though that you look at 752 00:39:05,040 --> 00:39:08,759 Speaker 1: this article and it just makes me sad because it's 753 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:12,840 Speaker 1: not ultimately UM. Anybody who thinks that they're declaring a 754 00:39:12,920 --> 00:39:15,520 Speaker 1: victory today because Rachel is not gonna be on the air. 755 00:39:16,040 --> 00:39:19,000 Speaker 1: I mean, that's there's no winner. I mean, that's just 756 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:23,520 Speaker 1: and that's not unemployee. That's that's you're really just wanting 757 00:39:23,560 --> 00:39:26,440 Speaker 1: to throw your colleagues under the buses what you want 758 00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:28,560 Speaker 1: to win, like a personal battle. I mean, Jim, we're 759 00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:31,200 Speaker 1: we're at the point where, you know, if somebody's contract 760 00:39:31,239 --> 00:39:34,200 Speaker 1: is up in six months or even twelve months, it's like, 761 00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:36,520 Speaker 1: all right, how can I get out there with a 762 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:39,560 Speaker 1: take or some opinion or something strong, just so I 763 00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:42,400 Speaker 1: get buzzy and when my contracts up, um, you know 764 00:39:42,480 --> 00:39:44,319 Speaker 1: my name's out there or not that they'll remember the 765 00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:46,800 Speaker 1: buzz and I generated buzz like jim My deal was 766 00:39:46,880 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 1: up recently and I had somebody say that, like, are 767 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:51,920 Speaker 1: you gonna try to do anything to get I'm like no, 768 00:39:52,040 --> 00:39:54,719 Speaker 1: I'm why that's that's lame. I don't want to play 769 00:39:54,719 --> 00:39:57,840 Speaker 1: these dumb games. It's stupid. But a lot of people 770 00:39:57,840 --> 00:40:00,959 Speaker 1: in the industry fall victim to that, do they not? Well, yeah, 771 00:40:01,120 --> 00:40:03,400 Speaker 1: or they paid ten or fiftcent to how their managers 772 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:05,959 Speaker 1: are agents to it for them. So it's like, wait, 773 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:09,040 Speaker 1: I never talked to that guy. Yeah, I did say, nope, 774 00:40:09,160 --> 00:40:11,600 Speaker 1: throw your hands up right, what do I know? But 775 00:40:11,680 --> 00:40:15,200 Speaker 1: your team did twenty times, um, so you know, I 776 00:40:15,239 --> 00:40:19,200 Speaker 1: think that there's that level too. But um, I guess 777 00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:21,759 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of the day, this is uh, 778 00:40:21,960 --> 00:40:23,839 Speaker 1: this is gonna be something that's gonna be with us 779 00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:25,359 Speaker 1: for at least a couple of weeks, and then we'll 780 00:40:25,360 --> 00:40:28,440 Speaker 1: see how what kind of word they can establish through 781 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:30,919 Speaker 1: it and make sure it doesn't happen again. But I'm 782 00:40:30,920 --> 00:40:33,799 Speaker 1: not so sure that that's gonna be easually as easy 783 00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:37,880 Speaker 1: to do. ESPN would love and Aaron Rodgers retiring story 784 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:40,959 Speaker 1: something crazy in actual sports, so we can care about 785 00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:43,560 Speaker 1: it and not talk about this stuff all right, fins 786 00:40:43,560 --> 00:40:45,799 Speaker 1: were starting, Yeah, well it's too bad. There's that there 787 00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:47,560 Speaker 1: nobody cares about the teams. I mean, if it were 788 00:40:47,600 --> 00:40:50,800 Speaker 1: Lebron and Stef Curry, that's another story. Jim Miller Definitive 789 00:40:50,840 --> 00:40:54,160 Speaker 1: Voice on ESPN Saturday Night Live. His HBO book comes 790 00:40:54,160 --> 00:40:56,360 Speaker 1: out this fall. Jim, can you give us anything on 791 00:40:56,400 --> 00:40:59,759 Speaker 1: the HBO book, any any um, any juice, anything to 792 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:02,000 Speaker 1: get it pumped up so we can get excited for it. 793 00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:06,200 Speaker 1: I think the NBA story that we've been talking about 794 00:41:06,239 --> 00:41:08,600 Speaker 1: and versus Game of Thrones, I think it's got all 795 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:12,680 Speaker 1: the storylines except maybe incest. Oh god, I don't know. 796 00:41:12,760 --> 00:41:14,560 Speaker 1: I don't know about that angle. But boy, oh boy, 797 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:16,920 Speaker 1: it has been a Game of Thrones. Oh dear, that 798 00:41:17,960 --> 00:41:20,520 Speaker 1: was an app metaphor that you used. Um, I think 799 00:41:20,560 --> 00:41:26,879 Speaker 1: it's really been about power and narcissism and um entitlement. Yeah. 800 00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:29,240 Speaker 1: I'm definitely telling my kids do not get in media. 801 00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:31,960 Speaker 1: This is the worst field you can be envision getting into. 802 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:33,480 Speaker 1: And they're like, wait, Dad, but what are you talking about. 803 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:35,520 Speaker 1: We live in California and you get to do your 804 00:41:35,520 --> 00:41:37,319 Speaker 1: podcast from home that you have a good life. I 805 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:40,080 Speaker 1: was like, well, yeah, anyways, all right, Jim, Hey, thanks 806 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:42,279 Speaker 1: a lot, man, enjoy the summer. And I'm sure we'll 807 00:41:42,280 --> 00:41:44,319 Speaker 1: be talking to you soon. Thanks for having me