1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:08,479 Speaker 1: The volume. The Colin Coward Podcast presented by FanDuel Sports Book. 2 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: No better place to make every moment more than with 3 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: Fan Duel Basketball Football. They have awesome new and existing 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: user promotions. It's easy to use, it's safe and secure. 5 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: You can get your winnings back in two hours. My 6 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: favorite the Same Game parlays. You can bet five or 7 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: ten bucks in one, one hundred and fifty bucks or more. 8 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: If you are new, just download the FanDuel Sportsbook app. 9 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: Get started now, sign up promo code Colin so they 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,879 Speaker 1: know we and I sent you. The Colin Coward Podcast 11 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 1: presented by the Fan Duel Sports Book. Hi, everybody, Welcome 12 00:00:55,120 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: to the Friday Morning Podcast. Long time Boston sports writer 13 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: Bob Ryan with all things post Brady Patriots, Celtics baseball, 14 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: Adam Silver's thoughts on the NBA, A lot of things 15 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: with the oas entertaining Bob Bryan. Now it's time for 16 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: fake questions, real answers. There's stuff I want to talk 17 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: about but don't want to wait for you to ask me. 18 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 1: Dear Colin, is there a recent trend in sports that 19 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 1: you just can't wrap your arms around? Yes? Thanks for asking, 20 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: and I saw it again this week. We all understand 21 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: that athletes are physically men, big and strong, but I'm 22 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: continually reminded that emotionally, they're just kids. Deebo Samuel Niners 23 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: wide receiver slash running back slash mister doo Everything joined 24 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: a disturbing trend this week when he pulled off his 25 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: social media anything to do with a four nine ers, 26 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: Oh brother, grow up. Listen. I get it if you 27 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: work for an insurance company and you get fired after 28 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 1: twenty five years and you're race to your social media 29 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 1: to take you know, State Farm off your bio. But 30 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: running to your social media Deebo Samuel Kyler Murray or whoever. 31 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: Because contract negotiations have a brief hiccup or you don't 32 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 1: get exactly what you want is really embarrassing. They're called 33 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: contract negotiations for a reason. I've been through twelve. You 34 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: don't get everything you want. Dear Colin. NBA Commission Adam 35 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: Silver acknowledged stars aren't playing enough, but admitted he doesn't 36 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: know how to fix it. Do you? Yeah? I mean, listen, 37 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: you shouldn't need to be incentivized to play a game 38 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,639 Speaker 1: of basketball if you're already making thirty five million a year, 39 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,760 Speaker 1: but since apparently you have to. How about this, You 40 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: can't qualify for any of the season awards, including All NBA, 41 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: if you don't play ninety percent of the games. Remember, 42 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:20,799 Speaker 1: players often have bonuses tied to scoring titles, All NBA Awards, 43 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: all Star appearances. How about you can't get into any 44 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: of them, even the All Star Game, the Three point 45 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: Shooting Contest, any of them without playing ninety percent of 46 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 1: the games on the schedule in either the first half 47 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: or the entire season. Listen, it shouldn't take this, but 48 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: in a league that's always been player driven, labor driven, 49 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: over management driven, we might need to do it. Dear Colin. 50 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:59,400 Speaker 1: Announcer Greg Gumbel says he doesn't think fans tune into 51 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: games because of a certain announcer is doing it, and 52 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: he thinks the only thing announcers can do is turn 53 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: people off a game, not onto it. What's your thoughts, Listen. 54 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: I don't begrudge any announcer or any American for making 55 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: as much money as they can. I've said this before. 56 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: I'll vote liberal or Republican, Democrat, conservative, it doesn't matter 57 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,840 Speaker 1: to me. But if you demonize wealth, I'm out. I'll 58 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 1: never vote for Bernie Sanders, I can't believe as an 59 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: American who's done well, I'm one of the biggest problems 60 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: in America. So I'm not against anybody make it as 61 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 1: much as they can and upward mobility. But I look 62 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: at play by play announcers and football, basketball baseball analysts 63 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: like I do Thanksgiving. I'm going to celebrate it. Whether 64 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:56,119 Speaker 1: or not I have the meal catered or Grandma makes 65 00:04:56,120 --> 00:05:00,120 Speaker 1: her lumpy mashed potatoes and dries out the turkey. I'm 66 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: going to celebrate it either way. I'll enjoy it more 67 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: if it's catered or the chef is great, or my 68 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: wife is cooking it. But even if she's not, or 69 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: it's not catered or it's not perfect, I'm still gonna 70 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: eat turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing and enjoy Thanksgiving. Announcers are 71 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: paid to elevate something we're already gonna watch now. In 72 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: the opinion space, it's different Sean Hannity or Rachel Maddow. 73 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: They take a night off, thirty percent of their audience evaporates. 74 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 1: Opinionists drive a rating. Announcers aren't really part of the rating, 75 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: but they do enhance an experience in a game or 76 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: an event, and if they get into a bidding war 77 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: and they win it, and they move to another company 78 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: and make a fortune, it's America. Good for them. Dear Colin, 79 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: Lebron said he would like to play with Steph. What 80 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 1: did you make of those comments? Well, one of the 81 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 1: things that's interesting is Lebron has never loved playing with 82 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 1: young players, and I got it for the first seventeen 83 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:08,240 Speaker 1: years of his career. He's smart. He wants to play 84 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: with veterans who understand the game. He doesn't want to 85 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: be a teacher or a mentor on the floor. But 86 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,599 Speaker 1: he should also understand now that when he was asked 87 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: who he wanted to play for, he should probably keep 88 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: an open mind and start pivoting to Trey Young or 89 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: Janis or Luca. The truth of the matter is he 90 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 1: bailed on D Wade because he got old and rickety. 91 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: He wants to bail on a d because he's gotten rickety. 92 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: Steph breaks down two. Lebron tends to be a historian 93 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: of the game and often romanticizes it, and there's nothing 94 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: wrong with that, but he's got to be able to 95 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: adapt and understand. As he misses twenty to twenty five 96 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: games per year. He now has to embrace what Chris 97 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: Paul has in Oklahoma City and Phoenix, playing with ascending 98 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:03,919 Speaker 1: young talented players. Chris Paul now only has to play 99 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: thirty one thirty two minutes tonight. Chris Paul can miss 100 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: games or a stretch and the Sons are okay. Same 101 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: with Jannis and the Bucks. As Lebron is aged, he 102 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: can't play forty minutes, nor can he play more than 103 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 1: about sixty games. Max Steph Curry is more of his 104 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: current problem. Really talented, often unable to play because he's 105 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: broken down physically. Here's a list of guys Lebron shouldn't 106 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:40,239 Speaker 1: play with a d Kaui, Steph Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving. 107 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: Here's a list of guys he should Luca, Jannis, Trey Young, 108 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 1: anybody under twenty six years old. Dear Colin, The New 109 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 1: York Times wants its reporters to spend less time on 110 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: Twitter and more time on journalism. As somebody who's been 111 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,440 Speaker 1: known to break a story or two, what do you 112 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: think about this? Well, I'm so glad you asked. I 113 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: have had this discussion with multiple people in my business 114 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: for years. How as a reporter can you be viewed 115 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: as credible and objective when I see you veering off 116 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: and introducing your political leanings to me a dozen times 117 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: a day. I saw this at ESPN over the last 118 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: four or five years, a reluctance by management to put 119 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: your foot down and say, your reporter report, listen. I 120 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: worked in a lot of newsrooms. I've worked at ESPN 121 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: and Fox. I can mostly guess the political leanings of 122 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:51,080 Speaker 1: the people I've worked with currently or formally. But I've 123 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 1: been shocked by how far left or far right many 124 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: of those opinions are some things you should keep to yourself. 125 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: It punctures your credibility as a reporter. If I know, 126 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 1: going into any story you have significant leanings in one 127 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 1: way or the other. Opinionists, it's different. Report don't support 128 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 1: the New York Times reporters. My hunch would be most 129 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 1: or liberal. I don't need to know you're off the 130 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: rails liberal, far left, zany the world's going to end tomorrow, 131 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: constantly woke, neurotic, fearful liberal. Nor do I need to 132 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: know if you're a conservative on Fox News, you're alt right, 133 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:48,800 Speaker 1: crazy right. January six didn't actually happen, right, all bad 134 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:55,319 Speaker 1: for the biz stronger management. Please tell your reporters keep 135 00:09:55,360 --> 00:10:03,200 Speaker 1: it to themselves. Spaceball season, turn k's into cash and 136 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 1: big hits into big wins with FanDuel sports Book. 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All right, long time and now retired Boston 165 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: Globe Sports rider. But he's on social media, relevant as ever, 166 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: opinions as strong as ever, somebody I enjoy talking to 167 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: a couple of times of the year, and having lived 168 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:49,079 Speaker 1: in that area for about ten to eleven years, I 169 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: was not introduced to him, certainly in Connecticut, but saw 170 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: more of him and I loved it. And now I'm 171 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:57,720 Speaker 1: back out West and Bob remains in Boston. All right, 172 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: let's start with this, um, you know, you or the 173 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: eighties Celtics, and you know, as you well know, the 174 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: NBA in the seventies had eight different champions, Bob, and 175 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: it was not as strong. I mean, I can remember 176 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: vividly the NBA playoffs being, you know, after the eleven 177 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,679 Speaker 1: o'clock news. I'm old enough to remember that. It's a 178 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: much more dynamic, vibrant league. Players are doing well, revenues 179 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 1: are great. But Adam Silver did acknowledge this week that 180 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:33,760 Speaker 1: he may have to incentifize players to play a larger 181 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: percentage of games. To that. I think there's you know, 182 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:40,120 Speaker 1: I had just suggested before I brought you on in 183 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: the prelude that you know, awards, honors, scoring titles, all 184 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: star appearances could be limited if you don't play ninety 185 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:52,720 Speaker 1: percent of games on the schedule. You just don't allow 186 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: certain bonuses to kick in for awards, all NBA, all 187 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:01,640 Speaker 1: that stuff, all Star appearances. But it's always been a 188 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:05,240 Speaker 1: players league, Bob. Is it fair to say that Adam 189 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: Silver has been soft or so pro labor that players 190 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,160 Speaker 1: have taken advantage of him. I hadn't thought about it 191 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 1: in those terms. I have to really think about how 192 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: it we've evolved, how we have evolved into this situation. 193 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: I hadn't really created put the commissioner into the mixture. 194 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: I'm thinking about the players and how they, uh, they 195 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:34,559 Speaker 1: have viewed the their their their role um for example, 196 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: it's funny, I'm just thinking about I was thinking about 197 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: this and okay, let's look at Lebron. Um there, it's 198 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: out of it. He's out of it now. Um, okay, 199 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: the playoffs aren't going to happen. Uh. And people were 200 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 1: speculating that he might uh you know, he's took him 201 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:49,680 Speaker 1: win the scoring title and it would be a hollow victory. 202 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,079 Speaker 1: But here's the thing about Lebron. If he doesn't play 203 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: anymore games, the foot about the theory of you know, 204 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: the fan who pays money, who has paid money to 205 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: see this, this you know, with the anticipation, and you 206 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,680 Speaker 1: bought a ticket months ago. This is the game you got, 207 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: you know, everybody. It's not always all season ticket holders 208 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: who are sitting in these stands and home games, right, 209 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 1: of course not. And so there are people who who 210 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:13,880 Speaker 1: are going to be disappointed because Lebron's not going to play. 211 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,199 Speaker 1: If he doesn't play, or and any this is true, 212 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 1: for any player X who doesn't play a healthy scratch, 213 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 1: as they say in hockey, and that's the reason, just 214 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: he doesn't want to play for whatever reason, he's healthy 215 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,800 Speaker 1: enough to play. What about the paying customer there's here. 216 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 1: That's the first thing I would try to address or 217 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: impress upon teams and ownerships and coaches and players is 218 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 1: that you have an obligation in that center. If you're 219 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,360 Speaker 1: healthy and you're start and you know, you have an 220 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 1: obligation who out there and play? You know, Bob, there's 221 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: always recency bias. I remember years ago, you know, when 222 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 1: a baseball player takes some games off in June and 223 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: people complain. But I went back and looked at George 224 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: Brett several years ago. George Brett is thirty five games 225 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: a year now. He was playing on AstroTurf. He played hard, 226 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 1: he got dinged up. But this idea that everybody always 227 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: played one hundred and sixty two games. Hey, a lot 228 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: of guys took games off. When you go back to 229 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: the eighties NBA that you covered. Do we give the 230 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 1: former players too much credit? Were some of them difficult employees? 231 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:25,920 Speaker 1: Did they take games off? Were they petty? You know, 232 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: you see guys now take stuff off their social media. 233 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: If contract negotiations don't go perfectly, we tend to bang on, 234 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 1: you know, current athletes. But go back to the eighties, 235 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: were some of those guys a pain in the rear 236 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,160 Speaker 1: didn't Yeah, there's always a pain in the rear, but 237 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: it didn't manifest itself. And not playing It wouldn't have 238 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 1: entered the mind of the Birds and the Magics and 239 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: the Michaels to not play if they were healthy enough 240 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 1: to play. That's what you did they. I mean, it 241 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,280 Speaker 1: just wasn't a part of the thought crossis at all. Oh, 242 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: of course there was some guys who were more paying 243 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: and you sent taking nights off. I smiled, thinking and 244 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: the late Dennis Johnson there'd be a couple of games 245 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: a year. There'd be certain games in a year when 246 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 1: and only a home game, and only when they knew 247 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: they were going it was against opponent they should beat 248 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: without any question. Dj would would kind of take it 249 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 1: easy that night. And I know we grew up to 250 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: Danny Ainge and say you're going to get the shots tonight. 251 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,120 Speaker 1: I mean I heard this from both of them, and yeah, 252 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: and you can find those games. I have my right 253 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: in this office where I'm sitting. I've got my year 254 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 1: by year books from the eighties that I kept every 255 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: night because of those that was predated all the statistical 256 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,080 Speaker 1: information you can get at the on your fingertips, you know, 257 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 1: by picking up your your your your cell phone today. 258 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: And I had to keep my own books, and I 259 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 1: can find you the games where DJ, you know, just 260 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: took four shots and fifteen shots, you know, well, but 261 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 1: he never cost them a game, you know. And the 262 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 1: flip side of that, you know, he's the guy that 263 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: Darry Bird famously said and we rated best player I 264 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,680 Speaker 1: ever played with, which I'm sure really annoys Kevin McHale 265 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:07,400 Speaker 1: and uh, I believe that by the way it does, 266 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: and that uh you can see the big he was 267 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 1: the classic big game player. Yeah, and and Larry and 268 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:17,400 Speaker 1: and and to that, uh, Larry said, you knew that DJ. 269 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 1: Here's how you knew DJ was ready for the game. 270 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: He went to the basket immediately. And when DJ went 271 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:25,359 Speaker 1: to the basket heart early, he knew it was a signal. Okay, boys, 272 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: you know I'm here. Let's go. Um. Have you watched, 273 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: by the way, HBO special on the Lakers, the Jeff 274 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 1: Perlman book Winning Time. Have you seen any of that yet? 275 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:37,920 Speaker 1: I have watched episodes one and two, and I planned 276 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: to keep doing it despite my better judgment that I 277 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: will need a barf bucket before it's over. It is okay, 278 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 1: it's a it's a dramatization. Yes, it doesn't make it 279 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,919 Speaker 1: preak a secret about the fact that it's a dramatization 280 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: based on a book, based on a book. I think 281 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 1: the only thing that that is true that they based 282 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: it on was that it's about the lasers. About everything 283 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: else is fantasy. The I just fear that too many 284 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: gullible people might actually think these things happened, or that 285 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: these people are like this. If I were Jerry West, 286 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:18,719 Speaker 1: my first I would say, call my lawyers. Here's my lawyer. 287 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 1: I cannot. I don't know what Jerry West ever did 288 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 1: to Adam McKay to be portrayed in such an unflattering 289 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:31,880 Speaker 1: light and unrealistic light, A just embarrassing light. And that's 290 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:37,880 Speaker 1: just for openers. Call I they were at Araback portrayals preposterous. 291 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: I hear what they've done to Larry is preposterous. Uh, 292 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: it's it's disgusting, the awful and the world didn't need this. 293 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, but I gotta keep watching because people talk 294 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:55,640 Speaker 1: about it. I do a podcast, you know, I got 295 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 1: to talk about it, and and it's it's it's it's outrageous. 296 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: It's horrible. Well, West and Arbak are made to look 297 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 1: really bad early. Kareem is so prickly, which, by the way, 298 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 1: Kareem is legendarily prickly. He takes the beating in episodes three, four, 299 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: and five. West Arbak was playfully arrogant. They have him 300 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 1: as mean spirited in Adam McKay's version. What was Red 301 00:19:24,520 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: really like? Red was an interesting man? Who it was? 302 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:31,680 Speaker 1: He was a very very bright man who who chose 303 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 1: to make his living in basketball, who I think had 304 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: a born leadership qualities that would have made him a 305 00:19:37,119 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 1: successful businessman, a CEO of some kind. He was a leader, 306 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 1: he uh and and he he was a visionary in 307 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,399 Speaker 1: his game. Uh. You know, first of all, you have 308 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 1: to go just go all the way back to the 309 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,840 Speaker 1: to the manipulations that took place to get Bill Russell 310 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:56,919 Speaker 1: on the team. I mean, it seems so self evident 311 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 1: after eleven championship in thirteen years, that Russell was the 312 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: best player around but it wasn't so self evident to 313 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: the world of russ He never would have gotten to 314 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:05,920 Speaker 1: Boston as a third pick. You know, had third pick 315 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: in nineteen fifty six. And Red saw that he was 316 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: the answer to his dreams about a guy to get 317 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 1: the ball off the boards, trigger his fast break, and 318 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 1: saw in him the defensive ability that we had never 319 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 1: seen it before. Bill Russell changed the concept. He didn't 320 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: invent the block shot, he perfected it, and he made 321 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 1: it a part of the game in a way that 322 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: it had not been before. And an intimidation of shots 323 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:32,399 Speaker 1: and so forth that it was starting to Bill Russell. 324 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 1: It's it's genesis in the game of basketball. It starts 325 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 1: with Bill Russell. Anyway, not everybody saw that. If the 326 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: Hawks knew that, you know, they wouldn't have done what 327 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 1: they did, although it was a racious element to that too. 328 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: And if and how about number two? How about how 329 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: they got him from the from the Rochester Royals by 330 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 1: by Walter Brown, the owner of the Celtics, promising Lester 331 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 1: making a deal with Lester Harrison, the owner of the 332 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 1: of the Rochester Royals, that he would give a water 333 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: around on the ice scapades that he would give them 334 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: icecapaige states uh in exchange for getting the number two 335 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 1: pick in the draft. That's that I got him the 336 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,239 Speaker 1: number two pick and the draft and that and they 337 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: they moved in the number three, and they got number three, 338 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:17,160 Speaker 1: and they took hustle of three. I mean really, uh no, Red, 339 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 1: But I could give you examples a reach sense of 340 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:23,480 Speaker 1: humor and rich and res uh uh you know, coming 341 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: say impish nature. Well, but uh, Red was ahead of 342 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: the game and smarter than everybody else. The Um, you 343 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:37,080 Speaker 1: were in the belly of those Lakers eighties. That that 344 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 1: that decade, which is to me, the the peak of 345 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: the NBA. Even though it was an early peak, it 346 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: was as good as the NBA was. You had six 347 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:49,600 Speaker 1: or seven really good teams and two great ones, the 348 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 1: Lakers and the Celtics. Um. It's almost a cliche now 349 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 1: to say that Larry Bird is underrated historically, because there's 350 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:01,639 Speaker 1: just there. You know, Larry was a different player. But 351 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 1: I went and looked at some Larry Bird articles a 352 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:05,959 Speaker 1: couple of years ago. Jack McCallum may have written them, 353 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:10,000 Speaker 1: and he was I went back to sports illustrated. I 354 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:14,679 Speaker 1: would just had time to waste on these archival articles, 355 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 1: and the way he described him is how we described Lebron. 356 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:21,280 Speaker 1: He was like, there's never been a forward like this. 357 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,160 Speaker 1: If you'd never you wouldn't know they weren't written today 358 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:29,919 Speaker 1: about Lebron James. Take people back to the beginning of 359 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: that rivalry and the emergence of Bird as a superstar. 360 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 1: Was it was it day one week one? Did everybody 361 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 1: in Boston know? It didn't take long his uh you know, 362 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:48,199 Speaker 1: I mean I was rare in the Boston I had 363 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 1: actually seen him in college in person the year before, 364 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 1: at the end of his junior year. I was covering 365 00:22:55,440 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: the the NSA Tournament first round game between Providence and 366 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:05,280 Speaker 1: Michigan State in Indianapolis on a Saturday afternoon. The night before, 367 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: Indiana State was playing Illinois State in an ni T 368 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: game in Terra Hote, So I got I drove out 369 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 1: there with Jason Stark and Mike Madden, were then both 370 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 1: working for the Providence Journal, and we went to the 371 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: game and watched Bird. And the first time I saw 372 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: Larry Bird make a play that they shot and missed 373 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:29,159 Speaker 1: the Illinois State did. Larry gotta got a rebound and 374 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:30,960 Speaker 1: he drilled up the left hand side of the court, 375 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 1: and as he approached mid court, he off the dribble, 376 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 1: he threw a bullet pass underhand, a seed about a 377 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: thirty five ft or forties to streaking Carl Knicks for 378 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:45,120 Speaker 1: a layup. That's the first time I ever saw him 379 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:47,600 Speaker 1: touch the ball. I went, oh, my God. And he 380 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:51,439 Speaker 1: winds up making the game winning basket. And I was 381 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:53,720 Speaker 1: dazzled by Bird. Now, so I was able to preach 382 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: the gospel a little bit, you know, when they drafted 383 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:59,119 Speaker 1: him about what we were what we were getting. Now. 384 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 1: Of course he had that one full senior year. We 385 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:03,119 Speaker 1: all know that, and it was coming out of the 386 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: famous Final Four and all that. But um okay, So 387 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: now I gets to the NBA. He makes a debut 388 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: in New York and an exhibition double header against the 389 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: seventy six ers. So his first opponent of statue replaces 390 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: Doctor Jay. He holds us own very well there, and 391 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: when the season started, you know, we knew we had 392 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:25,240 Speaker 1: something pretty special. He didn't put up dazzling night numbers 393 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:27,480 Speaker 1: the first night. They beat the Rockets on the opening night. 394 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 1: More distinguished was the fact that that was the first 395 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 1: year of the three point shot at chris Ford. Actually 396 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 1: at the first three point shot technically in the history 397 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: of the game, because there were game started every yeer 398 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 1: than the other games, you know, and that's true. He 399 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,159 Speaker 1: can truthfully say to Het the first three point shot. Ever, anyway, 400 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,920 Speaker 1: it didn't take long. We knew had we had something 401 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: very very special here, and you know, the whole package, 402 00:24:47,600 --> 00:24:51,640 Speaker 1: the points, the rebounds, but above all the passing, and 403 00:24:51,720 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 1: we knew and you know, he wounds up. He gets 404 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 1: a Wokie of the Year award over Magic. And you 405 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: know Magic had the last laft because he got to 406 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 1: you know, he at the championship that year. But it 407 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 1: was evident, very clear. He was first team All League 408 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:07,199 Speaker 1: as a rookie. I mean, come on, everybody recognized it 409 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: pretty quickly, you know, Bob of all the great dynasties 410 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 1: and the great lore of Boston sports. As an outsider, 411 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:21,200 Speaker 1: the Celtics in the Bird years feel as or more 412 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:25,440 Speaker 1: popular than Belichick's Patriots and any Red Sox team. They 413 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:27,399 Speaker 1: really do. To me, I don't know why that is, 414 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:32,040 Speaker 1: Am I wrong? I would say it's that's close. I mean, 415 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: I'd love to top the rubber stamp on it, because 416 00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: I'm a you know, baseball basketball guy. Before. I'm a 417 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 1: football guy, but the Patriots are pretty big, Brady. It's 418 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 1: hard to top. I mean, I just I know the 419 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:45,000 Speaker 1: fact I had to admit a number of years ago 420 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: that on the Boston mythical Rushmore I had to bump 421 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 1: Larry for Brady and that this is how good our 422 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:55,199 Speaker 1: Rushmore is. If you've got if you've got Bill Russell, Ted, 423 00:25:55,560 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: Ted Williams, Bobby or as Unquestioned must album, then you 424 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: know who's Larry was my other? But Brady, I had 425 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:06,239 Speaker 1: to say, I got to be in all honesty, you know, 426 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: I gotta I got a bump Larry. That's how great 427 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 1: the Boston Rushmore is. Okay that it was special. I 428 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 1: remember early on and first maybe the second year, one 429 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 1: night the Jazz came in at a point when they 430 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:21,240 Speaker 1: were at their nater they were terrible. At one point, 431 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,280 Speaker 1: the Celtics beat them over for twenty straight times and 432 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 1: they sold the building out. And this was early in 433 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 1: the season. That was a revelation. You know, you have 434 00:26:29,359 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 1: to understand what they were doing before Larry Bird came. 435 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 1: They were averaging like they were lucky to average. I 436 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 1: don't know, didn't have a ten thousand a night. I 437 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: don't think. And suddenly they sold the building out for 438 00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:41,520 Speaker 1: an early season game against the Utahs. Oh my god, 439 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 1: you know, Oh yeah, I mean that's where we came from. 440 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:45,200 Speaker 1: And then of course they went to a point where 441 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 1: they're solding out every game. But that was that was 442 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:50,760 Speaker 1: a gradual evolution. Now and Larry, Larry was the director. 443 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:53,119 Speaker 1: You know, the team didn't just improve only because consider this, 444 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: Darry gets the proponerance of the credit for the running 445 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 1: from twenty nine to sixty one, you know, the games. 446 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,960 Speaker 1: But they get a real coach and Bill Fitch. They 447 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 1: signed mL Carr from the Pistons, who was a very 448 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 1: important player for them. John Henderson was a very nice 449 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: edition yet extra draft pick. And tiny Archibald got healthy 450 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,359 Speaker 1: after a couple of years seeds he had gotten heard of, 451 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 1: securities got stepped on by Tom Boordwinkle, imagine that, and uh, 452 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:22,400 Speaker 1: and he got healthy and so all those things came 453 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 1: together and Berg was still the most important thing. But 454 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: I don't under rest make the value of having Bill Fitch, 455 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: and you know, because they were and tying everything together 456 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:35,200 Speaker 1: for them. Bob Let's pivot to Brady as you bring 457 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:41,240 Speaker 1: him up. There are those who are saying in the 458 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:46,120 Speaker 1: Boston media they subscribe to the theory that Tom is 459 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:49,359 Speaker 1: a little bit of a sellout. Um, you know, the 460 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:52,840 Speaker 1: new Tom is, you know, a little into social media, 461 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:56,680 Speaker 1: a little goofy is not paying respect, you know to 462 00:27:56,800 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: sort of his historic relevance and his his greater half, 463 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 1: which is the New England half. I've argued this that 464 00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:08,639 Speaker 1: he suppressed a lot of his personality in New England 465 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:10,640 Speaker 1: for the betterment of the organization, and this is really 466 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:14,800 Speaker 1: who Tom is. Tom's kind of funny. Tom is wildly competitive. 467 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: He just bumped Bruce Arians to a job. He never 468 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:20,239 Speaker 1: wanted a cubicle upstairs. He's a lot more cutthroat than 469 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: we think, you know, hyper vigilant and willful. That's who 470 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 1: he is. But Tom also, especially early in New England, 471 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:31,960 Speaker 1: suppressed it because he realized very quickly, this is a 472 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 1: great owner and this is the best coach in the 473 00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 1: history of football, and my defenses are remarkable. Which is 474 00:28:38,560 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 1: the truth? Is this the real Tom? Is the other guy, 475 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 1: the real Tom. What do you make of his transformation 476 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 1: in Tampa. Well, it's interesting. He left the ranks of 477 00:28:47,880 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 1: the normal human being a long time ago when he 478 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: just completely went off the whales with this regiment of 479 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,640 Speaker 1: his and the whole, the whole TB twelve thing and 480 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:57,800 Speaker 1: claiming that you know, he could you could wheel your 481 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: way away from concussions and you know, come on, Tom, 482 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:02,920 Speaker 1: let's get you know real here. Uh that that that's 483 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: surfaced And but you're right this this, some of this 484 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:09,600 Speaker 1: other stuff uh came out after he got away from Bill. 485 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: And now we find um, you know, if you read 486 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 1: the two books that are out, the Dynasty and by 487 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 1: Jeff Benedict and the Better to Be Feared Book, and uh, 488 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:23,720 Speaker 1: it's pretty evident that he was happy to get away 489 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 1: from Bill. After all these years. He had done enough 490 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:28,760 Speaker 1: winning with Bill, and he had enough of Bills methodology, 491 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 1: and he wanted to get away from Bill. I don't 492 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: I think it's pretty evident for that. But right he 493 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 1: there probably was a more of a of a I 494 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 1: would say, carefree but mirthful personality than than he was 495 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:44,960 Speaker 1: ever allowed to which chose to display in Boston. So 496 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:46,880 Speaker 1: I think you're probably on the right track with that. 497 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 1: You know, Pete Carroll has a lot of power. When 498 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 1: Paul Allen died and the Seahawks drafts have gotten progressively worse, 499 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 1: the more power Pete Carroll had. Belichick historically is a 500 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 1: terrible drafter. The more power he had, especially of skill people. 501 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 1: Last year he had his best draft in a decade, 502 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:07,640 Speaker 1: arguably because you know, it was documented that he sort 503 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 1: of relinquished some of his power. Bill will always be 504 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 1: as smart as any coach I've ever seen. But the 505 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:17,040 Speaker 1: league is now, Bob, as you see clearly moving in 506 00:30:17,080 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 1: a different direction. The middle of the field is now 507 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:23,200 Speaker 1: the offenses. You can't hit quarterbacks or wide receivers. The NFC, 508 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:26,760 Speaker 1: every playoff team had an offensive coach. If you eliminate 509 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,320 Speaker 1: the AFC East that had only defensive coaches, seven of 510 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:35,080 Speaker 1: eight remaining divisions were won by an offensive coach. Mcvay's, 511 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 1: Zach Taylor's, the young coaches, Mcvay's tree, they're all working. 512 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:47,640 Speaker 1: Belichick's defensive tree many aren't working. Is it reasonable to say, 513 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:54,400 Speaker 1: as brilliant as Bill is that between drafting and the 514 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 1: cultural changes, Bill is starting, I mean he's going to 515 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:02,320 Speaker 1: be his own core Nator now. Offensively, according to reports, 516 00:31:03,080 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 1: Bill's starting not Jurassic but feeling a tad a tad outdated. 517 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 1: There are cultural changes. Greg Popovich faced this, it's more 518 00:31:13,240 --> 00:31:17,480 Speaker 1: you know, letting Kawhi go in petty fashion. They've never 519 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 1: really recovered from that. Do you think it's fair to say, 520 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 1: I see Bill, and I think not that he's Bobby 521 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 1: Knight right who refused to embrace the one and done. 522 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:33,160 Speaker 1: But he feels C. J. Jackson or J. C. Jackson. Bill, 523 00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 1: he's he's arguably your best player, Shack Mason, arguably your 524 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: best offensive lineman. He's starting to feel a little outdated, Bob. 525 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:47,640 Speaker 1: There's a a clear sense of arrogance that has manifested 526 00:31:47,680 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 1: itself here that he thinks he can do it the 527 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 1: way he did it. And he you mentioned that he's 528 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 1: just lost his offensive coordinator and and uh, we don't 529 00:31:57,240 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 1: know how that's gonna you know, eva of this year. Uh, 530 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 1: he's infested. He infested to have a lot of faith 531 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:08,560 Speaker 1: and the Matt Patricia to be he's just sure. He's 532 00:32:08,600 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 1: just Nebilia's number one lieutenant now, uh and back maybe 533 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:14,440 Speaker 1: where he belongs, as he certainly wasn't a success as 534 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:16,680 Speaker 1: the head guy. And you're right, the coaching tree of 535 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 1: his is pretty undistinguished. I mean, including McDaniel's first foray, 536 00:32:21,680 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 1: you know when when he flopped in Denver. Uh, now 537 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:27,920 Speaker 1: there's an arrogance there. And and believe me, people are 538 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 1: watching this. All these major things happen around the league 539 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:35,000 Speaker 1: and in the division, and starting in Buffalo, you know where. 540 00:32:35,040 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: Now they have the kid you'll had, you'll had the 541 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:40,320 Speaker 1: guy for twenty very well, damn near twenty years. They 542 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 1: have the guy. Now think about this. I mean, I 543 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 1: know you know this, but for people think about this 544 00:32:45,120 --> 00:32:47,240 Speaker 1: a stunning thing. And he wonder if it was anybody 545 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:50,960 Speaker 1: else but would have it would have gotten any more Buffalo? 546 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:53,080 Speaker 1: They played Buffalo twice in the end and and they 547 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 1: never punted. They never forced Buffalo off the field, not once, 548 00:32:57,200 --> 00:32:59,760 Speaker 1: not once, not once, and and one hundred and twenty 549 00:32:59,760 --> 00:33:02,760 Speaker 1: minutes of football did they forced Buffalo off the field? Uh? 550 00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 1: I mean that that that was chill. It's stunning. Um So, no, 551 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:09,320 Speaker 1: you're right, there's a there's an arrogance there and and 552 00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 1: uh there And you know what the famous Lord acting 553 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 1: quote is power corrupts, an absolute power corrupts absolutely. So 554 00:33:17,360 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 1: if he hangs around long enough, now he's gonna be 555 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:22,080 Speaker 1: seventy his next birthday. And and that's the decision, Bob 556 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 1: Kraft is what's who's what's Bob Kraft seeing what's he thinking. 557 00:33:25,720 --> 00:33:28,120 Speaker 1: Bob Kraft has been able to function for all these years. 558 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 1: And in Bill, I trust, you know very you know, 559 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 1: let Bill do what he wants. Bill guns everything the 560 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:33,760 Speaker 1: way Bill wants to run it. Fine. Bill can be 561 00:33:33,800 --> 00:33:35,600 Speaker 1: an assay after a game, and you know, and that's fine, 562 00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 1: you know, embarrassing organization. That's fine. You know, we'll get 563 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:41,240 Speaker 1: the benefit in the end. But maybe the benefit, you know, 564 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:43,360 Speaker 1: benefits aren't going to be so good from now. But 565 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:45,800 Speaker 1: I think that I'd love to know it with Bob Kraft, 566 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:47,360 Speaker 1: you know how a couple of your attention? Is he 567 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:49,840 Speaker 1: really paying to all this? Well? He said at the 568 00:33:49,880 --> 00:33:54,960 Speaker 1: owner meetings that right, yeah, about I'm tired of three years? Yeah, okay, fine, 569 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:58,240 Speaker 1: but what does that mean? All right? Fine? Well, so 570 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:00,960 Speaker 1: how are you going to affect this or up back this? Not? 571 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:03,720 Speaker 1: I don't know, you're right, he did say that so 572 00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:07,480 Speaker 1: clearly publicly he says that. But what's meanwhile, you know 573 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:09,400 Speaker 1: what's he's saying behind closed doors? I love to know. 574 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:13,799 Speaker 1: Make sure to check out the Draymon Green Show. I 575 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:16,160 Speaker 1: brought Draymond Green into the volume because one of the 576 00:34:16,160 --> 00:34:20,279 Speaker 1: more entertaining voices in sports, unique perspective understands behind the 577 00:34:20,400 --> 00:34:24,600 Speaker 1: rope also chops up with guests like Gary Peyton, Zach Levine, 578 00:34:24,640 --> 00:34:28,920 Speaker 1: Tracy McGrady. Make sure download The Draymond Green Show wherever 579 00:34:29,080 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts only on the Volume podcast network. 580 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:38,520 Speaker 1: You can really you understand the temperature of not only 581 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:43,239 Speaker 1: the room in Boston, but you have certainly a holistic 582 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:47,640 Speaker 1: understanding of sports nationally. I mean, look at the media 583 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:51,760 Speaker 1: world that's changed since you started Barstool Sports emanated from Boston, 584 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:57,359 Speaker 1: Bill Simmons, I mean those podcast networks. Yeah, I mean 585 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:01,960 Speaker 1: everything is changed. It's fascinating because you said you're a 586 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:05,120 Speaker 1: baseball guy, and my first I went to college and 587 00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:09,359 Speaker 1: my dream was to be Vince Scully and so, and 588 00:35:09,440 --> 00:35:11,800 Speaker 1: even though the Mariners were awful, my dream was always 589 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:15,080 Speaker 1: to be a baseball announcer. And then the truth was 590 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:17,239 Speaker 1: there were very few openings at the major league level 591 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:20,879 Speaker 1: and announcers kids were getting the jobs. And my dad 592 00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:24,080 Speaker 1: was a local optometrist. Boston is one of the two 593 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:27,720 Speaker 1: or three or four great American baseball cities New York, Boston, 594 00:35:27,800 --> 00:35:33,080 Speaker 1: Saint Louis, Detroit. Because of analytics, Bob, I think analytics 595 00:35:33,080 --> 00:35:35,920 Speaker 1: have helped football there's less punting, the game is faster, 596 00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:41,840 Speaker 1: more offensive analytics in baseball, it's strikeouts or home runs. 597 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:46,040 Speaker 1: There's fewer hits, fewer base runners. Now you're a baseball guy, 598 00:35:46,760 --> 00:35:50,480 Speaker 1: but do you sense, even in Boston, it's a harder 599 00:35:50,520 --> 00:35:53,240 Speaker 1: sell to young people. And it's a harder sell unless 600 00:35:53,239 --> 00:35:56,160 Speaker 1: the team is really good. No, you do. And if baseball, 601 00:35:56,160 --> 00:35:59,720 Speaker 1: oh sure, and if baseball doesn't, Baseball inc Does mammal 602 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 1: b doesn't recognize this. Well, I think they are getting 603 00:36:03,440 --> 00:36:06,959 Speaker 1: the message now there there, you know, there's the shift 604 00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:08,680 Speaker 1: that's going to be a single. They're having to addressed 605 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,920 Speaker 1: that direct right now. But apparently they're thinking about actually, 606 00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:15,320 Speaker 1: you know, mandating you know, position and other players from 607 00:36:15,560 --> 00:36:18,200 Speaker 1: and the next next year. Oh, the three outcome baseball 608 00:36:18,360 --> 00:36:21,040 Speaker 1: is is everybody talks about it. Now you have to 609 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:23,200 Speaker 1: be aware of it. And it's not with and the 610 00:36:23,239 --> 00:36:27,280 Speaker 1: pitching that the the the five minute, the third man around, 611 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:30,160 Speaker 1: third time around, the rotation, you know, starting pitchers going 612 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:33,439 Speaker 1: five innings max. Now, uh, it's not the same game. 613 00:36:33,680 --> 00:36:37,759 Speaker 1: And I think it's that people are recognizing that. But 614 00:36:37,440 --> 00:36:39,359 Speaker 1: that's but they all young people think this has been 615 00:36:39,360 --> 00:36:42,440 Speaker 1: going on, you know for years. The idea of the 616 00:36:42,719 --> 00:36:44,440 Speaker 1: h Yet I look at the ballpark when you go 617 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:46,600 Speaker 1: to the game, you know, you do see you know, 618 00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:48,440 Speaker 1: people bring your kids. There's still a lot of young 619 00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:51,840 Speaker 1: people and even out and and and young twenty somethings. 620 00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:53,440 Speaker 1: You know, obviously they're the ones that are they're going 621 00:36:53,520 --> 00:36:55,920 Speaker 1: taking themselves, they're spending the money. They're still coming to 622 00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:59,560 Speaker 1: the ballpark here and it ways. But again, look at 623 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,840 Speaker 1: what's happened then, uh in the state of Florida, you know, 624 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:05,799 Speaker 1: I mean, those two franchises are woful. I mean, I 625 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:08,799 Speaker 1: don't know, you know, if it's just because of the 626 00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:12,839 Speaker 1: wherever reason. Yet, but we can't, I can't relate to this, 627 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:16,799 Speaker 1: you know. Yeah, I mean, look at the coverage of 628 00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:22,080 Speaker 1: Boston media in the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, the 629 00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:25,880 Speaker 1: local TV stations, the Hub, if you went w EI, 630 00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:29,719 Speaker 1: if you went to all you know, aggregate all the 631 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:33,320 Speaker 1: media coverage in Boston. How much is Patriots, how much Celtics, 632 00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:36,160 Speaker 1: how much Red Sox. Well, it used to be in 633 00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:38,719 Speaker 1: the old days. I used to it was true twenty 634 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:42,320 Speaker 1: years ago, maybe even up to ten years ago. Well 635 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:45,240 Speaker 1: that you could wait, but you could have had obligation 636 00:37:45,280 --> 00:37:47,359 Speaker 1: almost to wait, something about baseball three hundred and sixty 637 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:49,440 Speaker 1: five days a year in the Boston paper, and now 638 00:37:49,480 --> 00:37:52,239 Speaker 1: that's flipped. It's the Patriots. They had the currency they're on. 639 00:37:53,120 --> 00:37:56,719 Speaker 1: It's one in Boston. Red Sox are two and not 640 00:37:56,760 --> 00:37:59,960 Speaker 1: even one a which it's and it's because of the pages. Now, 641 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:05,640 Speaker 1: how this was going to manifest itself if the Patriots slide, 642 00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:08,440 Speaker 1: you know, in twenty twenty two and and and the 643 00:38:08,480 --> 00:38:10,880 Speaker 1: Red Sox have a good season as at least equivalent 644 00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:12,120 Speaker 1: of the one they had last year when I made 645 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:14,919 Speaker 1: a good run at it. Um, I could flip back. 646 00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:17,919 Speaker 1: It's but they're one and two and then the other 647 00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:20,960 Speaker 1: two depends now on who's better, you know, right now, 648 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:25,080 Speaker 1: and uh as they're close to still hockeytown at heart. 649 00:38:25,120 --> 00:38:26,960 Speaker 1: I still think in a winter, I really believe that. 650 00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:28,600 Speaker 1: Uh you know that we had the run in the 651 00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:31,759 Speaker 1: bird Ever. But after the bird Ever ended, uh it 652 00:38:31,960 --> 00:38:36,280 Speaker 1: receded somewhat. And the Bruins, if they have a good season, 653 00:38:36,840 --> 00:38:40,400 Speaker 1: the Bruins still command a lot of attention were it 654 00:38:40,480 --> 00:38:42,360 Speaker 1: is an amazing sports town in that regard. I'm so 655 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:44,600 Speaker 1: glad I wound up here. I went to college here 656 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:46,600 Speaker 1: and that's where I went up working. It's been an 657 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:48,640 Speaker 1: incredible place to work. And we've had you know, in 658 00:38:48,640 --> 00:38:50,239 Speaker 1: of course, in the twenty first century, we've been it's 659 00:38:50,239 --> 00:38:52,960 Speaker 1: been our golden era. Nobody's been had more championships and 660 00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:56,800 Speaker 1: more breachs than than Boston. Other LA's closing in. Yeah, 661 00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:59,319 Speaker 1: they get to count. They shouldn't count Anyheim. No, I'm 662 00:38:59,320 --> 00:39:01,960 Speaker 1: gonna want to go on record that is a separate market. 663 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:08,080 Speaker 1: But anyway, Yeah, you know, LA is having a renaissance. 664 00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:12,759 Speaker 1: You know, Lincoln Riley here for USC, the Clippers, the Dodgers, 665 00:39:12,840 --> 00:39:16,160 Speaker 1: and the Rams have really really strong front offices. Even 666 00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:21,040 Speaker 1: the Chargers now draft really really well. You know, I've 667 00:39:21,120 --> 00:39:23,920 Speaker 1: said this, I've never seen anything like it. I live 668 00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:27,359 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles, Bob. We just got Bobby Wagner. If 669 00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:30,160 Speaker 1: you listed the twenty and I won't even count the Angels. 670 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:34,960 Speaker 1: I won't count Mike Trout, I won't count him. If 671 00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:40,600 Speaker 1: you took the biggest the twenty biggest athletes in LA County, 672 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:44,440 Speaker 1: I think Paul George, a six or seven time All Star, 673 00:39:44,680 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 1: would be twentieth. He's probably number two in most markets, 674 00:39:49,880 --> 00:39:53,759 Speaker 1: maybe three. If I said today, who are the three 675 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:57,520 Speaker 1: or four biggest athletes in Boston. Who are they well 676 00:39:58,040 --> 00:40:01,479 Speaker 1: well with with? You know who gone? There's no one 677 00:40:01,560 --> 00:40:04,879 Speaker 1: Patriot that stands out there isn't you know it. I'll 678 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:07,120 Speaker 1: tell you what. Uh the first thing that comes to 679 00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:12,400 Speaker 1: mind is Patrice spurs are on uh baby in hockey. 680 00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:16,839 Speaker 1: Saniel Bogart. Daniel Bogarts is he is the best rest 681 00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:22,360 Speaker 1: red socks player. Yeah. Uh, and he's a very personable person. Uh. 682 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:28,040 Speaker 1: Jason Tatum, Jason Tatum is certainly uh, you know, very popular. 683 00:40:28,600 --> 00:40:31,320 Speaker 1: I would say, uh, and it's funny because I mentioned 684 00:40:31,320 --> 00:40:33,319 Speaker 1: the Patriots as an entity or it's still the number 685 00:40:33,320 --> 00:40:36,279 Speaker 1: one team, but but I can't and identify who is 686 00:40:36,280 --> 00:40:39,200 Speaker 1: the number one you know, the personality or player that 687 00:40:39,239 --> 00:40:40,879 Speaker 1: you think of when you think of the Patriots any 688 00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:44,960 Speaker 1: longer at all? You know, uh, you know said Devin 689 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:47,480 Speaker 1: you know Devin mccordy. You know it was a elder statesman, 690 00:40:47,520 --> 00:40:50,520 Speaker 1: Matthew Slater. They're wonderful guys, you know, but their position. 691 00:40:50,719 --> 00:40:53,960 Speaker 1: One's a career player, is a special teams guy, and 692 00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:57,879 Speaker 1: mccordy's a defensive back. You know that those don't. But 693 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:03,760 Speaker 1: so I would have to say I'm some bogs burgryand Tatum, 694 00:41:03,840 --> 00:41:07,440 Speaker 1: those three names that jump out of me. Belichick had 695 00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:11,120 Speaker 1: said years ago, and this is something I think Robert 696 00:41:11,160 --> 00:41:14,840 Speaker 1: Kraft has to look at. Belichick said years ago, maybe 697 00:41:14,880 --> 00:41:17,880 Speaker 1: six or seven years ago, he was only going to acquire, 698 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:23,000 Speaker 1: draft or trade for players he wanted to coach. It's like, okay, 699 00:41:23,320 --> 00:41:27,160 Speaker 1: be very careful. Okay, some of the great players you 700 00:41:27,239 --> 00:41:29,960 Speaker 1: may not love coaching. I heard one of the reasons 701 00:41:30,760 --> 00:41:35,120 Speaker 1: that they let J. C. Jackson walk is because they 702 00:41:35,160 --> 00:41:38,400 Speaker 1: didn't think if they franchise tagged him, they thought he 703 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:42,880 Speaker 1: would be difficult. And I think to myself, Bill, sometimes 704 00:41:42,920 --> 00:41:46,880 Speaker 1: great players are difficult. This is the interesting thing with 705 00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:50,200 Speaker 1: Belichick when he said that they had Brady and they 706 00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:53,520 Speaker 1: were winning. But this is where this is the great 707 00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:58,480 Speaker 1: Popovich connection. Here is that not everybody is going to 708 00:41:58,560 --> 00:42:01,399 Speaker 1: buy into your culture. Sometimes you need a great pass 709 00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:05,359 Speaker 1: rusher and you need a great wide receiver. Because and 710 00:42:05,560 --> 00:42:10,120 Speaker 1: that's where I am a little fearful that Belichick. He's 711 00:42:10,160 --> 00:42:13,920 Speaker 1: got his legacy, he's got his net worth, Bob, he 712 00:42:14,040 --> 00:42:20,319 Speaker 1: doesn't too much power. He won't let go because he 713 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:24,120 Speaker 1: loves every aspect of his job. He loves it all 714 00:42:24,160 --> 00:42:26,800 Speaker 1: like he's in glory. He's in his glory calling right now. 715 00:42:27,080 --> 00:42:30,279 Speaker 1: He loves preparing for the draft. He loves it. He 716 00:42:30,320 --> 00:42:34,640 Speaker 1: loves everything about coaching. He likes OTAs, he likes training camp. 717 00:42:34,680 --> 00:42:38,440 Speaker 1: He likes Sundays, you know, Monday nights. He likes to 718 00:42:39,040 --> 00:42:41,040 Speaker 1: But the only thing he doesn't like you, and even 719 00:42:41,120 --> 00:42:44,920 Speaker 1: this is misunderstood, is the dealing with the media. He 720 00:42:45,000 --> 00:42:46,840 Speaker 1: can manipulated the way he wants. He gets better and 721 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:48,640 Speaker 1: better as the week goes on. That's a whole other story. 722 00:42:48,840 --> 00:42:50,560 Speaker 1: You know that the politic that you see on Saturday, 723 00:42:50,600 --> 00:42:52,960 Speaker 1: Sunday after a game or Monday night after a game 724 00:42:53,120 --> 00:42:54,800 Speaker 1: is not the same Belichick you get on Saturday on 725 00:42:54,840 --> 00:42:58,839 Speaker 1: Friday when he's relaxed and has opened to discussion about 726 00:42:58,880 --> 00:43:01,960 Speaker 1: a lot of things. The man loves football. I would 727 00:43:02,040 --> 00:43:04,920 Speaker 1: dare say no coach in the history of the league 728 00:43:05,120 --> 00:43:08,160 Speaker 1: has had more football empirical knowledge stored in this head, 729 00:43:08,280 --> 00:43:12,800 Speaker 1: which includes history, than anybody's. He's the number one football 730 00:43:12,840 --> 00:43:15,239 Speaker 1: person that's ever coach in the NFL in terms of 731 00:43:15,280 --> 00:43:17,839 Speaker 1: empirical knowledge about football. I say he knows more about 732 00:43:17,840 --> 00:43:20,960 Speaker 1: Paul Brown than Mike Brown. Does. I mean that. It's 733 00:43:20,960 --> 00:43:22,759 Speaker 1: not a not just a joke. You know that's a 734 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:25,399 Speaker 1: throwaway line, but that's the poop point. But the point 735 00:43:25,480 --> 00:43:27,759 Speaker 1: is he loves it all and he hasn't. There's no 736 00:43:27,800 --> 00:43:30,759 Speaker 1: sign he loves he loves it any less now as 737 00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:33,160 Speaker 1: he approaches seventy than he did five, ten or fifteen 738 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:34,919 Speaker 1: years ago or when he was winning. So he's gonna 739 00:43:34,920 --> 00:43:37,840 Speaker 1: be hard to let the dislodge. I think your inference 740 00:43:37,880 --> 00:43:42,000 Speaker 1: is completely accurate. But now this is where Bob Kraft 741 00:43:42,040 --> 00:43:45,680 Speaker 1: comes in. Can Bob Kraft, you know, how's he handle this? 742 00:43:46,239 --> 00:43:48,680 Speaker 1: You know? And that's going to be very, very interesting. 743 00:43:48,680 --> 00:43:50,040 Speaker 1: By the way, I want to just back up the 744 00:43:50,239 --> 00:43:53,799 Speaker 1: prior discussion just to make a point that you're talking 745 00:43:53,840 --> 00:43:55,960 Speaker 1: about who's the most popular offering in Boston right now 746 00:43:56,800 --> 00:44:00,359 Speaker 1: since nineteen twenty five, but Eddie Schuer showed up, and 747 00:44:00,440 --> 00:44:02,600 Speaker 1: not including World War Two when they were people were 748 00:44:02,640 --> 00:44:05,439 Speaker 1: in the army, although we had we had people great 749 00:44:05,440 --> 00:44:08,400 Speaker 1: players and serving their country both the USA and Canada. 750 00:44:08,880 --> 00:44:13,640 Speaker 1: The city of Boston sports teams has never since I've 751 00:44:13,640 --> 00:44:17,399 Speaker 1: been without at least one drop dead first ballot Hall 752 00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:20,120 Speaker 1: of Famer in one of the major sports. We have 753 00:44:20,200 --> 00:44:22,839 Speaker 1: had a complete continuum since nineteen twenty five. Because then 754 00:44:22,840 --> 00:44:25,080 Speaker 1: who's it an outwalts Berg, He's gonna used to walk in. 755 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:27,760 Speaker 1: He used to drop in hockey. One was down there, 756 00:44:27,800 --> 00:44:30,520 Speaker 1: down to one. But it's an incredible run. Now, I'm 757 00:44:30,520 --> 00:44:32,560 Speaker 1: not saying no, whether city can make that statement. I would, 758 00:44:32,680 --> 00:44:35,520 Speaker 1: I bet New York would. Would you make a run, 759 00:44:35,840 --> 00:44:39,719 Speaker 1: But I doubt that I'm willing to bet that categorically 760 00:44:39,760 --> 00:44:43,719 Speaker 1: that nowhether City can make that statement. As a columnist, 761 00:44:44,200 --> 00:44:48,520 Speaker 1: sometimes as a talk show host, I am a prisoner 762 00:44:49,120 --> 00:44:53,399 Speaker 1: of topics I know will resonate with the audience. I 763 00:44:53,440 --> 00:44:56,080 Speaker 1: can't talk about what I want to talk about. I 764 00:44:56,160 --> 00:45:01,399 Speaker 1: like college football much more than it will reward me 765 00:45:02,040 --> 00:45:05,040 Speaker 1: in my radio or TV ratings. Has there ever been 766 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:07,800 Speaker 1: something it could be fencing? Has there ever been anything, Bob, 767 00:45:07,880 --> 00:45:10,279 Speaker 1: that you have great passion for but you just can't 768 00:45:10,280 --> 00:45:13,080 Speaker 1: write columns on because you had your plates full. Your 769 00:45:13,120 --> 00:45:16,600 Speaker 1: audience doesn't care. I am a college the two my 770 00:45:16,680 --> 00:45:20,320 Speaker 1: two foundation sports with baseball and college basketball. And you 771 00:45:20,360 --> 00:45:21,920 Speaker 1: know that's when I grew up in the fifties, and 772 00:45:22,080 --> 00:45:24,920 Speaker 1: and and I was my father worked at Villanova when 773 00:45:24,960 --> 00:45:27,400 Speaker 1: I was very little and assistant athletic director. I was 774 00:45:27,440 --> 00:45:29,640 Speaker 1: introduced it a Big Five before it was even codified 775 00:45:29,640 --> 00:45:33,080 Speaker 1: as the Big Five plus justin nineteen fifty two. All right, 776 00:45:33,160 --> 00:45:34,960 Speaker 1: and baseball. I was tribute to be able to go 777 00:45:35,000 --> 00:45:38,560 Speaker 1: to Conimac Stadium Polar Grounds because of my father's professional 778 00:45:38,600 --> 00:45:44,680 Speaker 1: baseball connections. Okay, um, I love college basketball, and there 779 00:45:44,719 --> 00:45:48,200 Speaker 1: are times when I was never prevented from writing up. 780 00:45:48,200 --> 00:45:51,359 Speaker 1: But this city doesn't embrace it the way I would 781 00:45:51,400 --> 00:45:54,040 Speaker 1: love it. Wish it would never has. Still it never has, 782 00:45:54,360 --> 00:45:57,920 Speaker 1: and that that frustrates me a little so sometimes. But 783 00:45:57,920 --> 00:46:00,799 Speaker 1: but no, no editor ever prevent me from writing a 784 00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:02,719 Speaker 1: column about it, about it if I wanted to write 785 00:46:02,719 --> 00:46:05,799 Speaker 1: about it, but I just knew I was. It was not, 786 00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:09,400 Speaker 1: you know, as wide reaching as some other topics would be. No, 787 00:46:09,520 --> 00:46:13,000 Speaker 1: I've been fortunate. That's this is such a vibrant sports market. 788 00:46:13,440 --> 00:46:16,879 Speaker 1: I don't have any esoteric, you know, love of an 789 00:46:16,920 --> 00:46:18,799 Speaker 1: odd sport or anything that would you know, In fact, 790 00:46:18,800 --> 00:46:20,960 Speaker 1: there's one sport. There's only one. Really, there's only one 791 00:46:20,960 --> 00:46:23,560 Speaker 1: sport that I don't dislike it. I hate it. I 792 00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:26,200 Speaker 1: just don't feel for it. It doesn't appeal to me. 793 00:46:26,600 --> 00:46:29,239 Speaker 1: The esthetics of it, I think are done it and 794 00:46:29,239 --> 00:46:33,799 Speaker 1: that's lacrosse. And I can't get I just can't rum 795 00:46:33,920 --> 00:46:37,600 Speaker 1: up to look that that that motion, you know, drives 796 00:46:37,640 --> 00:46:39,279 Speaker 1: me crazy now and because it's you know, it's a 797 00:46:39,320 --> 00:46:41,399 Speaker 1: big deal. And I live in a town where it's 798 00:46:41,440 --> 00:46:44,040 Speaker 1: it's a planet baseball and you see kids haven't catched 799 00:46:44,040 --> 00:46:46,719 Speaker 1: with lacrosse ball rather than a baseball made it uh, 800 00:46:46,800 --> 00:46:51,320 Speaker 1: and it's it drives me crazy. Were you ever, finally, 801 00:46:52,080 --> 00:46:56,960 Speaker 1: as a great American sports writer, were you ever jealous 802 00:46:57,040 --> 00:46:59,759 Speaker 1: of another writer that he and I'm not talking to 803 00:46:59,800 --> 00:47:02,359 Speaker 1: him Way or Dickens. I'm talking about a sports writer 804 00:47:02,400 --> 00:47:06,799 Speaker 1: in America that you would read, you know, a Frank 805 00:47:06,880 --> 00:47:11,040 Speaker 1: de Ford maybe weekly column and go, yeah, never jealous. 806 00:47:11,320 --> 00:47:14,000 Speaker 1: I mean you mentioned my idol. I want to if 807 00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:15,960 Speaker 1: I when I was twenty years old, say well, Bob, 808 00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:17,279 Speaker 1: what do you want out of life? I want to 809 00:47:17,280 --> 00:47:19,799 Speaker 1: be the next thank to Ford? And I thought that 810 00:47:19,800 --> 00:47:22,520 Speaker 1: that was my That was my goal was to be 811 00:47:22,880 --> 00:47:24,879 Speaker 1: be right. I go to Sports Illustrated, right for Frank 812 00:47:24,880 --> 00:47:26,960 Speaker 1: the Ford. I never did work for Sports Illustrated. I 813 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:32,239 Speaker 1: had a couple of discussions early early on about job, 814 00:47:32,360 --> 00:47:34,800 Speaker 1: entry level jobs, but I didn't do it. I already 815 00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:36,919 Speaker 1: had a good job at the Globe. But I wanted 816 00:47:36,920 --> 00:47:39,120 Speaker 1: to be Frank the Ford. I admire Frank Theford immenseally. 817 00:47:39,160 --> 00:47:42,000 Speaker 1: Oh no, this this people, uh, you know, but he 818 00:47:42,080 --> 00:47:44,719 Speaker 1: was he was my absolute uh. The other guy, Jim 819 00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:48,280 Speaker 1: Murray when I was an adept and her and becoming 820 00:47:48,719 --> 00:47:51,439 Speaker 1: uh And even though you know, no one should write 821 00:47:51,880 --> 00:47:55,400 Speaker 1: the hy the hyperbole thing, the metaphor thing that was, 822 00:47:55,600 --> 00:47:57,040 Speaker 1: he did it better than anyone ever did it. And 823 00:47:57,040 --> 00:47:59,759 Speaker 1: it's spoolish to even try to think about, but I was. 824 00:48:00,040 --> 00:48:02,440 Speaker 1: Those are my two guys. Jim Murray was able to 825 00:48:02,440 --> 00:48:05,240 Speaker 1: read as a syndicated columnist. He was in the Philadelphia Inquirer. 826 00:48:05,280 --> 00:48:07,120 Speaker 1: I was able to get the Philadephia Inquirer and we 827 00:48:07,280 --> 00:48:09,479 Speaker 1: just syndicated column when that was the way the world 828 00:48:09,520 --> 00:48:12,319 Speaker 1: were operated. And then Frank the Ford. And here's just 829 00:48:12,440 --> 00:48:15,640 Speaker 1: quickly one month and I'm twenty three years old, covering 830 00:48:15,640 --> 00:48:18,560 Speaker 1: the Celtics in nineteen sixty nine, and who shows up 831 00:48:19,400 --> 00:48:21,479 Speaker 1: about one month into the season to write a story 832 00:48:21,480 --> 00:48:25,080 Speaker 1: about the Boston Celtics post Bill Grussell. Frank the Ford. 833 00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:27,439 Speaker 1: I got to meet him, and and and uh and 834 00:48:27,440 --> 00:48:30,000 Speaker 1: and then and it's established an acquaintance ship you know 835 00:48:30,040 --> 00:48:32,680 Speaker 1: that lasted until it is sad passing a couple of 836 00:48:32,760 --> 00:48:36,279 Speaker 1: years ago. But you mentioned you hit the you hit 837 00:48:36,320 --> 00:48:38,160 Speaker 1: the name, that's that's the guy would want to be. 838 00:48:39,280 --> 00:48:41,640 Speaker 1: Bob Bryan. I'll get talked about once twice a year 839 00:48:42,239 --> 00:48:46,719 Speaker 1: um US radio blatterers. Uh. I'll have you know that 840 00:48:46,800 --> 00:48:49,200 Speaker 1: I wanted to be a sportswriter but didn't have the uh, 841 00:48:49,680 --> 00:48:54,279 Speaker 1: the skill set, the patients, or the any ability to 842 00:48:54,320 --> 00:48:56,040 Speaker 1: do it. So I ended up talking for a living. 843 00:48:56,040 --> 00:48:57,799 Speaker 1: But I've admired you for a long time. I love 844 00:48:57,840 --> 00:49:00,839 Speaker 1: your stories and your your base of knowledge is it's 845 00:49:00,880 --> 00:49:04,200 Speaker 1: just your foundational knowledge is unbelievable. Thank you so much 846 00:49:04,239 --> 00:49:05,920 Speaker 1: for doing this, Thanks for having me. It's a lot 847 00:49:05,920 --> 00:49:21,440 Speaker 1: of fun. The volume