1 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: On this episode of Sports Illustrated Weekly, when Troy Aikman 2 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker 1: left for ESPN, it's set off a chain reaction in 3 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: the NFL broadcast booth from multiple networks. SI Media reporter 4 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: Jimmy Traina breaks down the game of musical chairs involving 5 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:20,920 Speaker 1: Al Michael's Joe back and more. And later, w NBA 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: star Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for months. 7 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: We have a report on her situation and how it's 8 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: impacted the way women's basketball operates. But first, the NFL 9 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 1: Draft is upon us ESPNS. Mina Kimes joins me for 10 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: a primer on the big event happening this week in 11 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:42,959 Speaker 1: Las Vegas. It's April. I'm your host, John Gonzalez from 12 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: Sports Illustrated and I Heart Radio. This is Sports Illustrated Weekly. 13 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: You can catch her on ESPN talking about all things NFL, 14 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 1: and you can listen to her on the Mina Time 15 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,839 Speaker 1: Show featuring Lenny. Mina Kimes. Welcome to Sports Illustrated Weekly. 16 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for having me. I want to discuss 17 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 1: the upcoming draft with you and some other football topics. 18 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: Before we do that, though, I want to play the 19 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,600 Speaker 1: part of your manager when the super Bowl was here 20 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles. It was very hot that week and 21 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 1: you were on TV a lot and you happened to 22 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: be out in the sun with no shade. And I 23 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 1: mentioned this because the Draft is in Las Vegas, also 24 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: famously hot and sunny, and I'm hoping that you have 25 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: since demanded shade for this upcoming appearance. I have not, 26 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: but I've had more time to think through what I'm 27 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: wearing because the Super Draft, nobody really thought it was 28 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: gonna be that. You know, we live in l A. 29 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: It's not usually that hot. We were taking an annahem 30 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: which is hotter than l A. But um my first outfit, 31 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: this is really sports talk guys, was a leather dress. 32 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: So basically I was like, you could fry an egg 33 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: on me. And then that day so I'm better. I'm 34 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: ventilated heading into Vegas. We do tape in the middle 35 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: of the day, which is not great and we are outside, 36 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: but I'm gonna do my best to cool myself. I 37 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: am hopeful for you that it will go better this 38 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 1: time around. The other like draft related show performance question 39 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: that I had for you is are they still having 40 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,000 Speaker 1: the actual draft? Like in the middle of the Blagio 41 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: Fountain with the boats. Is that happening. I haven't heard 42 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 1: what the plan is. I I that was of course 43 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 1: the plan in the early pandemic draft, right, and then 44 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 1: they had to nix it and everything was digital, So 45 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: I imagine they might go in that direction. Your wife 46 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 1: would probably know better than me, John, if you want 47 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 1: to just call her to the other room, being that 48 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: she works in the network, I could like not to. 49 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, I'm not trying to turn this on you, 50 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: but you're like my favorite wife guy on Twitter. I 51 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: just want to throw that out. I appreciate that. I'll 52 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: take that as a compliment. I'm a big fan of her. 53 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: She's very talented. It's although I have said this before. 54 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: I think I said it to Katie Nolan when she 55 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 1: was on It's tough when you're not even the most 56 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: talented media member in your own house. That's how I 57 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: feel with Lenny. He's very talented. We love Lenny. All right, 58 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: let's talk about the actual draft. Talk to me like, 59 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: I have not paid any attention in the runup here. Hypothetically, 60 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: it feels to me from the outside that there's not 61 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: a lot of consensus about where people are going at 62 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: the top of the draft seems kind of wide open, yes, 63 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: And I think that's why it's really exciting draft, because 64 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: you know, in recent years have kind of gone chalk. 65 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: There's been a few surprises with the quarterbacks being like 66 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:28,519 Speaker 1: the last year, everybody knew it was going to be 67 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: Treport Lawrence and Zach Wilson right before the draft. Nobody 68 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,119 Speaker 1: really knows what the first five picks are gonna look like. 69 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 1: When you look at mock drafts from various experts, they're 70 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: all over the place, which I think is really exciting 71 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: because for a while it seemed like Aidan Hutchinson, who's 72 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: the addresser out of Michigan, was a clear number one 73 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: pick for Jackson Bill steps what the second second? But 74 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: then suddenly you have players like or just Travon Walker 75 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: climbing up the board. Uh their speculation, maybe they'll take 76 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: a tackle. And there's a lot of questions about the 77 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: quarterback position, which has been much maligned this year. It's 78 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: been characterized as one of the weakest classes in a while. 79 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: But frankly, because NFL teams are so desperate for quarterbacks, 80 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter. Some of them will go a lot 81 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: earlier than people think. And I think that's really makes 82 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: this all very interesting. Yeah, twas ever, thus on quarterbacks 83 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: being overdrafted, and I want to get into that quarterback 84 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: class in just a second. But but let's start with 85 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: the first thing, the first pick, Mina Kimes general manager, 86 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: who would you take? I would probably go with Aidan Hutchinson. 87 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: I've actually oscillated between him and Evan Neil. I think 88 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: Jacksonville they've made some a lot of additions the free agency, 89 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 1: a lot of frankly ill advised additions the free agency. 90 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 1: Their general managers Trent Boky's kind of like all over 91 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:51,560 Speaker 1: the place, a little bit unpredictable, you know, as much 92 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:53,920 Speaker 1: as Ed Rusher is somewhat of a need for them, 93 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: they have drafted. Ed Drush is pretty high in recent years. 94 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: Like Josh Allen, the other Josh Allen, I just think, 95 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: I look at this offensive line. I think, if you're 96 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: the goal is to optimize the surroundings around Trevor Lawrence, 97 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: who's the future of the franchise. They did franchise tag 98 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: a left tackle, can't Robinson, but I still think they 99 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 1: could bring in Evan Neil, who could play both left 100 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: and right, and he can also be like a cornerstone 101 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 1: at the offense. I started that saying Eddie Hutchinson, and 102 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,359 Speaker 1: then I pivoted halfway through my answer. I was like, 103 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 1: gonna sell you on Aidan Hutchinson, and then I completely 104 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: pivoted and sorry about that. Draft is the quarterback class, 105 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, not a lot of hype around this group, 106 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 1: and yet per usual, probably some of them will be overdrafted. 107 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: Who do you like among this? Maybe not illustrious quarterback class. 108 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: So Mike QB one and this does appear to be 109 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: the consensus, although where he's taken I think it's going 110 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:48,839 Speaker 1: to be a bit of a mystery. Is Malik Willis 111 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: out of Liberty University? Wells squore back, draw, navigated, tackle, 112 00:05:55,040 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: wells touchdown in a class where there's no super high 113 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: floor talent. I think there's some quarterbacks with reasonable floors, 114 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 1: notably Desmond Ridder, who I can talk about next, is 115 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 1: a quarterback I like a lot. Can you Pickett as well? 116 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 1: Malik Willis is the one guy who has the ceiling 117 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:17,599 Speaker 1: of a superstar. He also has a very questionable floor. 118 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: There's a lot of knocks on him, takes too many sacks, 119 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: ran a pretty simple offense at Liberty questions about where 120 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: he is in terms of being able to translate his 121 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: skills to the NFL. But just from a tools perspective, 122 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 1: the ball just explodes out of his hand. He's the 123 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 1: best deep ball in the class. And then he's an 124 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: incredible rusher. And I think the success of Josh Allen 125 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: and the Justin Herbert's of the world, and then watching 126 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: that Josh Allen Patrick Mahomes game has made teams more 127 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: likely or more willing rather to bet on the potential 128 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 1: home run even if it's a huge drikeout. Yeah, I 129 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 1: mean that. And that's good company too, because both of 130 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 1: those guys that you mentioned in Alan and Herbert had 131 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: some questions coming out and now you know, people roll 132 00:06:58,040 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: the dice and it worked out for them. Somebody who 133 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: did not mention in that quarterback class, Matt Corral, the 134 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: old mess quarterback. I had to check on the pronunciation 135 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 1: of his last name. By the way, I wasn't sure 136 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: if it was Coral like the reef or coral like 137 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: the Okay Corals. Shouts to Connor Or and Greg Rosenthal 138 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: for helping me out with that. But I saw his 139 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 1: ball game Mina, and he played and he ended up 140 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: hurting his right ankle. Corral is struggling to get to 141 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: his feet. He is in pain. And you know, this 142 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: time of the year, and even with these tradition rich games, 143 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: how many big time NFL draft prospects have opted out. 144 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: That was not the case. Matt Correll told Katie said, 145 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: I don't even think about opting out. I wanted this, 146 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: And that's kind of a semi new trend where some 147 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 1: expected high picks set out their bowl games and they 148 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: want to avoid getting injured because it's a business decision, 149 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: which I understand. But he ended up playing, and I'm 150 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: wondering what you made of him playing and then how 151 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: his status has been impacted as a result. Yeah, you know, 152 00:07:58,040 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: I kind of hated the discourse around it at the 153 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: time because either he was being upheld as an example 154 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: of toughness and teamwork and this is why guys should 155 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,920 Speaker 1: play or you know, should play despite the potential of injury, 156 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: and then when he got hurt, he was held up 157 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 1: as this is why they shouldn't play, and they should. 158 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: You know. It's like, dude, he wanted to play, you 159 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: want to play, whatever, but it's undeniable that his injury. 160 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: I wouldn't say it hurt his draft doc dramatically, but 161 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: it reminded people that you know, he does have some 162 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: injuries in his past, and he also has a pretty 163 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: like I wouldn't say reckless, but very courageous style of play. 164 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 1: You know he's going he like leans into contact. The 165 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: problem is he's very slight, unlike Malik willis So I 166 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier, he's like built like a mack truck though 167 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 1: he's only six one, and I think that has some 168 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:45,559 Speaker 1: teams concerned. Again, when you think about the transition to 169 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: the NFL, you don't want a guide that's small, taking 170 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: unnecessary hits the way Corral does. Where do you think 171 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: he goes out of curiosity? Man? I would have said 172 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,800 Speaker 1: second round, but again, like often, what you'll see is 173 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: like a team trading into the first round, right so 174 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 1: they can get a quarterback and have the option to 175 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:05,679 Speaker 1: pick up the fifth year option on him. It wouldn't 176 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: be my choice, frankly. You know. The other thing about him, 177 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,599 Speaker 1: other than the kind of scrappiness I think scrappy is 178 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,679 Speaker 1: probably a better word than reckless, is he ran extremely 179 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: extremely college offense, very RPO centric, and that makes it 180 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 1: hard to project whether he can run an NFL offense. 181 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: What is processing like because it was pretty one read. 182 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: It feels like you're not extremely high on him. Totally fine, 183 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 1: I'm wondering who you are. I want to go back 184 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:32,839 Speaker 1: to the first round because if he's going to be 185 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: outside of the first round, I'm wondering who you are 186 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: high on in the first round, aside from some of 187 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,640 Speaker 1: the other people that we talked about, maybe even some 188 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:42,680 Speaker 1: guys that you're higher on than other people might be. 189 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:48,439 Speaker 1: Non quarterback division, yeah, non quarterback division, the entire Georgia defense, 190 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: just meetings around It's insane. I mean, honestly, it's so 191 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: fortunate that they want the National championship because if not, 192 00:09:57,880 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 1: I think we would be watching these guys at the 193 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: Calm bye and then watching their tape and their pro 194 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: days and think, Man Kirby sets in Bennett the quarterback, 195 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:07,520 Speaker 1: like you really left up, but they didn't. They want, 196 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: which is great, and it's just like like it's an 197 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 1: all star team. It's crazy. You'll you'll watch one guy's 198 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 1: tape intending to focus on I don't know, Davonte Wyatt 199 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: is a defensive tackle, and then you'll just get so 200 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: distracted by the linebackers, some of which who aren't even 201 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 1: for this year's draft. UM, I love a lot of them. 202 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:26,880 Speaker 1: I would say my biggest crush out of that group 203 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: is Jordan Davis, who I'm sure you've heard about, um, 204 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: who is gotten off his weight in front of me, 205 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:35,959 Speaker 1: built like a sub zero refrigerator, but moves like a cat. 206 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 1: He put on one of the best performances at the combine, 207 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: just like the forty broad jump. All of it just 208 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 1: blew everyone out of the water. And then when you 209 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: watch this tape you see it. I think he's a 210 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: really interesting draft projection though, because he is, you know, 211 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: a nose tackle and his snap count was limited Georgia. 212 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: So it's kind of one of those things where super 213 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 1: dominant players, super dominant athlete, But do we want to 214 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: draft someone who's maybe not on the field that much 215 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: in the top fifteen. I think that's a question teams 216 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,439 Speaker 1: will be asking. This is why you're one of the 217 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: best in the business because we get really a vocative 218 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 1: imagery like sub zero refrigerator and moves like a cat. 219 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 1: Excellent descriptors. So you're high on basically all of the 220 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: Georgia defense. Who do we think might fall because one 221 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: of my I know it's probably not great for them, 222 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: but one of the great things about the draft from 223 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: a distance is the last guy in the draft room, 224 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 1: in the green room, where they're just waiting to be called, 225 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 1: but we think might end up falling and having that 226 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers moment. I think it could be one of 227 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 1: the quarterbacks. Frankly, where you're watching him. I remember shooting 228 00:11:36,559 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 1: two thousand and eighteen, just the camera kept cutting to 229 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson and his mom, and my heart was just breaking. 230 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: And he was a prospect I loved. I wrote about him, 231 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 1: went to his pro day Louisville, and then it was 232 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: Ozzie Newsome's last draft with Baltimore, and then they made 233 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:52,280 Speaker 1: the pick. There after they took a tight end by 234 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: ways no longer in a team, and I just first 235 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: with happiness, because the thing about following is you might 236 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: end up in a better situation, which Lamar Jackson did. 237 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: He ended up with the perfect team, a team that 238 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: was willing to actually design an offense around a skill 239 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: set and you know, appreciated what he's capable of. He 240 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: could have ended up with a crappy team, and so 241 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: I think sometimes falling is not so bad. I would 242 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: say more near the top of the draft. The two 243 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:18,199 Speaker 1: prospects that everyone are watching. Everyone's watching to see if 244 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: they fall out of the top five ten our Cavon 245 00:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 1: Thibodeau addresser out of Oregon, and then Derek Stingley Jr. 246 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 1: Out of l s U, both of whom I think 247 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: we're really really hyped early in their college careers. And 248 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:33,920 Speaker 1: then you know, I saw some production dip. I think 249 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: with Stingley the concerns are mostly about the injury injuries 250 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: in college, but I think he's just a future all 251 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: pro talent if he stays healthy. And then with Thibodeau, 252 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: and I'm sure you'll you're used to seeing this year 253 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 1: after year, it's the murky like he's quirky, he plays, 254 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: he sells, crypto like, there's all these murky like the 255 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: teams like him, and you know, usually that's just bullshit. Yeah, 256 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: those like really nebulous ways of evaluating players that pop up, 257 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: I've never really understood, but you're right. I mean, maybe 258 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 1: as some of these guys fall, they fall to situations 259 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 1: that could potentially benefit them, you know, fingers crossed for 260 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: all of them. I wanted to ask you about some 261 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: non draft situations. Deebo Samuel recently asked for a trade, 262 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: and I'm wondering what, Yeah, you're shaking your head. I 263 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: want to know what you think is happening there, dude, 264 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:25,559 Speaker 1: I have no clue. I've been actually asking people all 265 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,319 Speaker 1: learning what they think. People in and around the organization, 266 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: you know, just like everybody's pretty puzzled because Deebo Samuel 267 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: hasn't given a reason, right and so my immediate reaction was, Oh, 268 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 1: this is just negotiations. He's just trying to get from 269 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: like I don't know whatever, twenty two to twenty six 270 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: million or whatever. But it seems like that's not it, 271 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:46,800 Speaker 1: which blows my mind because you know, if he just 272 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: wants to leave San Francisco for maybe these reasons, it's 273 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: one one of the better NFL cities to live in. 274 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:58,720 Speaker 1: But he's got a brilliant offensive coach who has I 275 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: think maximized his abilities. It's a great place to be. 276 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: By all accounts, they do want to pay him. And 277 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: then my question is, Okay, well, if he doesn't want 278 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 1: to be there, if he just waits another year, like 279 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: he can actually get past a tag to free agency 280 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: and make all of the money potentially, So I don't know. 281 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 1: This one's pretty confusing to me, frankly, and um, I'm 282 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 1: very curious to see how it plays out. I am 283 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,080 Speaker 1: also curious to see how it plays out. And I've 284 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: got my fingers crossed. I'm I'm thinking hypothetically here that 285 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: maybe a team with a surplus of draft picks and 286 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: need of a wide receiver, perhaps East Coast based with 287 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: a bird theme wearing midnight Green. I don't know, I'm 288 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: just like throwing out a bunch of criteria. Maybe it 289 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: could work out for him. I'm sure they're on the phone. Yeah, 290 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 1: I would like that. Two more for you, non draft related. 291 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: What have you made of the commander's financial fraud situation? 292 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: Because every time something happens with the Washington football team, 293 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: which by the way, they should have kept that as 294 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: their name, Uh, it's never good, it's always bad. And 295 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: this has yet another example. It's kind of one of 296 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 1: those things where and this is true of a lot 297 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: of things happening in society right now. Not to expand it, 298 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: were like Dan Snyder, the owner, has had so many 299 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: scandals that you stop believing anything can take him out. 300 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: And I think I tweeted this like when the first 301 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 1: story from I think it originated with Front Office Sports 302 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 1: was the first report before it kind of became public. 303 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: I was like, in a way, it's kind of depressing 304 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: that he's more likely to be removed as an owner, 305 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: which is something I firmly believe should have happened years ago, 306 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: because he held money. He's being accused rather of keeping 307 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: not a ton of money, but some money from the 308 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:41,760 Speaker 1: owners as opposed to the rampant sexual misconduct in the organization, 309 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: including allegations levied against him specifically. I think that's also 310 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: a pretty good mirror for society. Yeah. I mean it's 311 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: a damning indictment, not just of that organization but of 312 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: the NFL. Right that he has been accused of running 313 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 1: this predatory workplace environment and being complicit in that, and 314 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: that this one thing about holding back some money might 315 00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: be his undoing, although I still would bet on it 316 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: not happening. Yeah. I agree. And it's kind of incredible 317 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: that the investigation started because of the misconduct allegations and 318 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 1: then one of the former employees was just like, hey, 319 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: he also did this, and I figgured this new round 320 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: of accusations. Um Man, I don't know what it like 321 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: Jerry Richardson, also accused of sexual misconduct, ended up selling 322 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: his team, but there's no indication that Snyder ever intends 323 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,640 Speaker 1: to and then also no indication that the other owners 324 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 1: will push him out, although again, if this has actually 325 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: proven it might be a final nail. Well, now that 326 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,320 Speaker 1: Congress is on it, I'm sure they'll get to the 327 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:49,520 Speaker 1: bottom of it, you know, and working bipartisan manner. Last 328 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,960 Speaker 1: one for you, the Browns are also being investigated. They're 329 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,640 Speaker 1: being investigated for tanking, which you know, everybody made the 330 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: joke that like, why would the Browns have to intentionally 331 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: tank when they've been doing it accidentally for the two 332 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: plus decades um. What's going on in Cleveland. The tanking 333 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: stuff is part of the sort of float out from 334 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: the Brian Flores lawsuit, which is probably the most significant 335 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:15,160 Speaker 1: lawsuit brought against the NFL and a really long time, 336 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:17,959 Speaker 1: and continues to grow by the way as other coaches 337 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: have come forward and other pieces of evidence. Something you 338 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 1: had Mike Malarkey, the former head coach of the Titans, 339 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: basically not basically actually admitting in a podcast interview that 340 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: no one listened to at the time that you know, 341 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,239 Speaker 1: he witnessed a sham interview after he had already been 342 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:34,159 Speaker 1: given the job, and the times like that wasn't a 343 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: shandon like your former head coach is admitting it? He 344 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: had what is the I think you should leave? Oh 345 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,480 Speaker 1: my god? He admitted that's how I felt. That came out. 346 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: Shout out to the ten people who understand that. But um, yeah, 347 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: so the tanking stuff came from that. And of course 348 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 1: there's also allegations from Flora's himself in Miami that the 349 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: owner there, Stephen Ross, had offered that to him. I 350 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:58,879 Speaker 1: personally kind of doubt that either of those things will 351 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 1: come to fruit. But you know, Cleveland right now is, 352 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: for many reasons, just embroiled in controversy. So I don't 353 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:14,680 Speaker 1: know if this even rises to the really really highlighting 354 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:17,119 Speaker 1: the excellence of the NFL right now. I don't know 355 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 1: if this really rises in people's estimation of like what 356 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: are the most significantly the things going wrong there? I 357 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:26,679 Speaker 1: suppose yeah, really weird like sideways times for Cleveland. And 358 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 1: I have a lot of Browns fans in my life, 359 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,919 Speaker 1: and especially because of the Deshaun Watson situation, a lot 360 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: of them have tried to take their leave. But This 361 00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:37,400 Speaker 1: was an excellent conversation. You know, we really enjoyed having 362 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: you on. Watch her on ESPN, listen to her podcast 363 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: featuring Lenny. If there was an NFL media draft, she'd 364 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:44,919 Speaker 1: be the first overall. Peck me at times. Thank you 365 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:51,240 Speaker 1: for this over Colleen one A. Well, you know what, 366 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 1: we're going to leave this all in. We're go Is 367 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:56,439 Speaker 1: this because I called you a wife guy? Are you 368 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 1: trying to pull back from your wife guy image right now? 369 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 1: I embraced my wife guy image, although I think it 370 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:11,919 Speaker 1: just took a ding did wow? Thank you. After a break, 371 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: we take a look at the big changes in the 372 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:18,679 Speaker 1: booth and the NFL broadcasting carousel. In Week four of 373 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:22,920 Speaker 1: the last NFL season, seven million people watched Sunday Night 374 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: Football on NBC and Al Michaels was on the call. 375 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:33,040 Speaker 1: Oh Ey tonight on Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. For 376 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 1: twenty years, Tom Brady led the New England Patriots out 377 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: of the home locker room. Tonight, Brady comes out of 378 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: the visitors locker room and a coal house of sixties. 379 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:49,119 Speaker 1: I've actually had talked through the years with Tom Brady 380 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: and Drew Brees, and they get towards the ends of 381 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,639 Speaker 1: their career, and in a way you know that the 382 00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: end is closer than the beginning or even the middle. 383 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: I enjoy it. I'm exhilarated by it. I mean, it's 384 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: really it's an intoxicating thing to do this thing and 385 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,679 Speaker 1: be on the number one show on TV. That's Al 386 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: Michael's on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast hosted by our 387 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:11,359 Speaker 1: guest today, Jimmy Traina. He's a media reporter for Sports 388 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: Illustrated and over the last few months, he's talked to 389 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,360 Speaker 1: most of the leading NFL broadcasters involved in this head 390 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: spinning carousel of high dollar jobs. Jimmy Traina, Welcome to 391 00:20:22,040 --> 00:20:25,359 Speaker 1: Sports Illustrated Weekly. Thank you for having me. The godfather 392 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 1: legendary play by play man Al Michaels, who's been with 393 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: NBC forever. He's the voice of Sunday Night Football, but 394 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: next season he'll be with Amazon. Why did NBC let 395 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: him walk? Basically, they've had Mike Tarico waiting in the 396 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: wings for a few years. I think when NBC brought 397 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 1: Tariko over from ESPN, they thought maybe Al would start 398 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 1: to slip and his on air quality wouldn't be as good, 399 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,119 Speaker 1: But that never happened. So they ended up in this 400 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: predicament where they had two top play by play guys, 401 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: so they can let Al go in his kind track 402 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 1: ran out, which is what happened, and bump up Tariko, 403 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: who they had waiting in the wings to take over 404 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: Sunday Night Football. So Amazon gets their man though in 405 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 1: Al Michael's, and they bring Kirk herb Street over from 406 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 1: ESPN to pair with Michael's in the booth. Amazon is 407 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 1: obviously making a huge push here here's Al on your 408 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 1: podcast from last November. Well, I think Amazon is spending 409 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,479 Speaker 1: as far as I know, about one point three billion 410 00:21:24,520 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: a year to do Thursday. The NFL, I think, wants 411 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 1: to see Amazon succeed at the very highest level because 412 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:35,919 Speaker 1: that made me the future of viewing sports streaming. So 413 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: what do you make of Bezos and Amazon being the 414 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: exclusive home for Thursday Night Football? Money? So what everything 415 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: is about? Money? They shelled out the money for some 416 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:51,120 Speaker 1: reason that I still can't really get a great answer. 417 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:54,280 Speaker 1: On Fox never really made a ton of money on 418 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,120 Speaker 1: the Thursday Night package, I guess because it was so expensive. 419 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:02,920 Speaker 1: So Amazon has what's the phrase unlimited pockets, empty pockets, 420 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:06,959 Speaker 1: deep pockets. Something with their pockets yeah, where Bezos can 421 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 1: do whatever he wants. He became a player for this package. 422 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 1: The NFL took the money and we'll see what happens 423 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: in terms of people finding the game. It's streaming only 424 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 1: Thursday night. If the game involves your local team, it 425 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,159 Speaker 1: will still be on over the air TV. So if 426 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 1: you're in Philly and the Eagles playing, you don't need Amazon. 427 00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: If you're in Chicago and the Bears a plane, you 428 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 1: don't need. But if you're outside of those market, those 429 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: local markets, then there is no other way to watch 430 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,360 Speaker 1: Thursday night football but Amazon Prime. So I get why 431 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:39,680 Speaker 1: Amazon did it. They're in the NFL game and these 432 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: streaming services of trying to branch out and become big 433 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 1: players in the sports world life sports still nothing brings 434 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:49,680 Speaker 1: ratings like it, and that's why they want to get 435 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 1: involved in the NFL wanted cash. All these dominoes start 436 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:59,919 Speaker 1: falling in the off season. Really, it starts with Troy Aikman, 437 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,439 Speaker 1: who was at Fox forever and he left Fox and 438 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,679 Speaker 1: he jumps to ESPN Monday Night Football. As you mentioned, 439 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 1: you had him on your pot and you asked him 440 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 1: a great question, why did Fox let you go? And 441 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: he had an answer that resonated with all of us. 442 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: I guess what's perplexing to me is that I had 443 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:20,159 Speaker 1: no conversation with my boss until he called me to 444 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 1: congratulate me on my contract with the ESPN. I don't know. 445 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: I guess it's disappointing. I would have thought that there 446 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: would have been a conversation at least, and then when 447 00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 1: I did talk with him, I when he called to 448 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 1: congratulate me, I just asked for an explanation on some 449 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:43,959 Speaker 1: things that I didn't quite understand, and he opted not 450 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 1: to do that as well. I guess that's where it's left. 451 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: That's how I'll leave Fox, and and that's fine. I'm 452 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: excited about ESPN and thrilled to be continuing to work 453 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: with Joe. We've talked a lot and read a lot 454 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: during the pandemic about the great resignation. Here's Troy Aikman, 455 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer, a long time broadcaster, and Fox basically 456 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:09,239 Speaker 1: just says, go ahead, you can leave what's going on 457 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: behind the scenes. You're just plugged in. As anybody my guesses. 458 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: Fox didn't want to participate in this trend of exorbitant 459 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,600 Speaker 1: NFL broadcasters salaries, and they looked at away here to 460 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: cut down on some costs. Basically because Troy's contract was up. 461 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: We know Tony Romo got massive money. Aikman wanted to 462 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,479 Speaker 1: be in that category and be up there with those guys. 463 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 1: Is that what this is? Is is this sort of 464 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 1: the Tony Romo effect that we're seeing here, It's actually 465 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 1: the Payton Manning effect. I mean, yeah, this is what 466 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:46,240 Speaker 1: it was. ESPN couldn't get Payton Manning, so ESPN was 467 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:48,640 Speaker 1: going to make a play for Romo, and in order 468 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:53,520 Speaker 1: to keep Romo, CBS how to pay that huge monster contract. 469 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: So Peyton Manning not going to ESPN is really what 470 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,880 Speaker 1: started this because then CBS overpaid for well not overpaid, 471 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 1: but paid big for Romo, and then the dominoes fell 472 00:25:01,760 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: as each person's contract was up, they wanted sort of 473 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 1: to get in on that Romo stuff. I was surprised 474 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:09,760 Speaker 1: that Fox went this route and let Aikman go, but 475 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 1: maybe we shouldn't have because towards the end of the 476 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: season in the playoffs, he was doing the Eagles Bucks 477 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:16,400 Speaker 1: playoff game and he kind of hinted that he wasn't 478 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: so thrilled about that that game coming up, which is 479 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 1: on CBS, which is the Dallas Cowboys hosting the San 480 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 1: Francisco forty Niners. It's gonna be a great game. I'm 481 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:28,479 Speaker 1: in a really good game. I think there's a lot 482 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:30,960 Speaker 1: of people who like to be calling that game, but 483 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: it should be a lot of fun. I loved that. Afterwards. 484 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: I was like, you are a beauty. I can't believe 485 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 1: you just said that on television, and I laughed. I 486 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: was like, good, keep keep going whatever, let's have fun. 487 00:25:50,119 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 1: Whatever the score was, it wasn't very close at the 488 00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:55,920 Speaker 1: that's that's great. I I think I've said this on Twitter, 489 00:25:55,960 --> 00:26:00,919 Speaker 1: but Troy seems to have entered the Lake zero given zone. Yeah, 490 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 1: he's he's he's edged his way in there. You know 491 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 1: me well enough to know that. I'm all. I'm all 492 00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 1: for that. Joe Buck has initially left behind. He's also 493 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,120 Speaker 1: been with Fox forever and he's not only the face 494 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,199 Speaker 1: of their football coverage but also their baseball coverage, and 495 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,840 Speaker 1: he also leaves and joins Aikman on Monday Night Football. 496 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: Why did he want to make this jump? I mean, 497 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 1: does he like working with Aikman that much? Yes? Um, 498 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:36,439 Speaker 1: both of those guys, Joe and Troy on my podcast, 499 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: have talked about having a real friendship that goes beyond 500 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: Sunday afternoons calling an NFL game. I also think and 501 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:46,959 Speaker 1: Joe alluded to this in my podcast. Joe has been 502 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 1: doing this for Fox for twenty four twenty five years. 503 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 1: He doesn't want to break in a new partner at 504 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:54,720 Speaker 1: this point in his career. He wants to keep what 505 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 1: works and what's comfortable. It's been twenty years, and when 506 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: you do these games, it are as intense as they are. 507 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:03,880 Speaker 1: And I know where he's going, and he knows where 508 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,000 Speaker 1: I'm going, and I know what he wants to talk about, 509 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:08,480 Speaker 1: and he knows when and what I want to talk about. 510 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:13,359 Speaker 1: That that's really hard to replicate. Joe was going to 511 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:17,320 Speaker 1: give up baseball after this year anyway. Oh interesting. So 512 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: Joe's plan was to do the baseball this year for Fox. 513 00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 1: I think it would have been his twenty five World 514 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: Series if I'm not mistaken. And then his plan was 515 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:26,159 Speaker 1: to give up the baseball and just do football. Only 516 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: people should know he's not going to be doing baseball 517 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 1: at ESPN. He's strictly doing Monday Night Football. And that's it. 518 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 1: On the surface. Monday Night Football still a Prestige Night, 519 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:40,360 Speaker 1: and yet ESPN kind of stumbled into this fun product 520 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: this past season with the Manning Cast. They got a 521 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 1: great response for Payton and Eli. So you have the 522 00:27:45,760 --> 00:27:49,879 Speaker 1: traditional product with Buck and Aikman, but it's going up 523 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:53,280 Speaker 1: against another ESPN property with the Manning Cast, and I'm 524 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:58,720 Speaker 1: wondering if that's compliment or competition compliment. Well, here's what 525 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: people have to understand. I yet that everyone loved the 526 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:03,439 Speaker 1: Manning Cast. I loved it too. I thought it was great. 527 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 1: You know, if you judge it just by social media reaction, 528 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:10,200 Speaker 1: you would think the Manning Cast was the greatest thing ever. 529 00:28:10,960 --> 00:28:14,359 Speaker 1: And it was a smash success no matter how you 530 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:17,959 Speaker 1: spin it. But the main telecast on ESPN, which had 531 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 1: Steve Levy, Brian Greasy and um Lewis Riddick on a 532 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 1: week tweek basis, had twelve fourteen million viewers, the Manning 533 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,200 Speaker 1: Cast one point five one point six one point seven 534 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 1: million viewers. People are still watching the traditional way more 535 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:37,560 Speaker 1: than the Manning Cast. The Manning Cast is is an alternative. 536 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:40,080 Speaker 1: It's an additive. It's not supposed to be instead of 537 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 1: I don't think Joe and Troy are even thinking about 538 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 1: the Mann and cast on any level because it's a 539 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:50,840 Speaker 1: fraction of what the total audience is. I'm curious to 540 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 1: Jimmy what you think about Fox's move here, because you 541 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: have CBS paying big money for Tony Romo and Amazon 542 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,200 Speaker 1: paying big money for Al Michael's and ESPN just owing 543 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 1: a ton of money at Aikman and Buck and Fox 544 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 1: is making a different bet. Fox is making a bet 545 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 1: that hey, we're gonna just find different guys and pay 546 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,360 Speaker 1: them less money and everything's gonna be fine. Are they right? 547 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 1: I think they're right. People are gonna watch the game 548 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 1: no matter what if it's a good game, So I 549 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 1: get where Fox is coming from. You also talked to 550 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 1: Greg Gumble of CBS has been doing this for half 551 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 1: a century, and he basically said that he doesn't think 552 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:28,240 Speaker 1: that the palace intrigue is a big deal at all. Right, 553 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 1: I've never felt in my entire life that there is 554 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:34,880 Speaker 1: an announcer who can bring someone to the TV set 555 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 1: to watch a game that that viewer wasn't already going 556 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:41,640 Speaker 1: to watch. And I believe that the only thing that 557 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 1: a broadcaster can do is chase people away. I noticed 558 00:29:45,720 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 1: for a fact because I will name them, but there 559 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: are three or four announcers like, oh what really interested watching? Nope? 560 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:58,920 Speaker 1: I would I would love to know those names. But 561 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 1: I I truly believe that I don't think. I don't 562 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: think that that someone's tune in just to hear in 563 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 1: particular person called a football game. And I appreciated that honestly, 564 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:12,920 Speaker 1: you know, I got into this with him a little. 565 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:15,600 Speaker 1: Is a sports thing going to put on a game 566 00:30:15,640 --> 00:30:18,440 Speaker 1: strictly to hear an announcer? Probably not. And if there 567 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:22,360 Speaker 1: are any, yes, very small number. I do think the 568 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:24,760 Speaker 1: announcer can make someone stick with a game, maybe a 569 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:27,400 Speaker 1: little longer if they're not fully interested in the game. 570 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 1: How many people I don't know, Probably not a ton. 571 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:33,240 Speaker 1: So it was very interesting to hear Greg say that. 572 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 1: And like you said, fifty years in the business, he's 573 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:38,080 Speaker 1: done at Allso he carried some weight when he said that, 574 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:43,440 Speaker 1: which was interesting. Yeah, I think he probably has a point, 575 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 1: and yet I am excited to see these people in 576 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 1: new spots and to see how they equit themselves. You 577 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:52,520 Speaker 1: equit yourself while all the time. You can read him 578 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 1: on SI dot com and listen to him on the 579 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:58,240 Speaker 1: SI Media podcast Jimmy Traina. Thanks for this anytime. Thanks 580 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: for having me after a break our report on Britney 581 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:12,280 Speaker 1: Grinder's detention in Russia. As the diplomatic ties between the 582 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:15,280 Speaker 1: US and Russia crumble, a w n B A star 583 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 1: is caught in the middle. W n B A star 584 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:20,520 Speaker 1: Brittany Grinder is being detained in Moscow with tensions ratched 585 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:23,440 Speaker 1: up between Russia and the US over the invasion of Ukraine. 586 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 1: The six nine standout currently being held in Russia accused 587 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: of trying to import hash oil. According to Russian state media, 588 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 1: b G is one of these stars of stars in 589 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:39,080 Speaker 1: this league. If it had happen to her, it could 590 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:43,000 Speaker 1: happen to anybody, is the dwelling thought. That's Howard Megdal, 591 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 1: a sportswriter who covers the w n B A. We 592 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:47,920 Speaker 1: spoke with him about why Brittany Grinder's attainment is so 593 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 1: significant and the chilling effect it's had on her colleagues 594 00:31:50,800 --> 00:31:53,720 Speaker 1: in the league, something that was recently discussed by w 595 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:58,520 Speaker 1: NBA Players Association President Nacca Lagumackay on Good Morning America. 596 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 1: BG is us we are BG. You know that could 597 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:05,479 Speaker 1: have been us. Um. We're really most concerned about her 598 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:08,720 Speaker 1: health and safety, especially her mental health. Uh, We're hearing 599 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:11,640 Speaker 1: that she's in that respect, she's okay, but you know 600 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:19,160 Speaker 1: we want we won her home, alright, Howard, So, Britney 601 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 1: Grinder is obviously one of the best and most famous 602 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,200 Speaker 1: basketball players in the world. But tell us a little 603 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:27,000 Speaker 1: bit more about her and specifically what she was doing 604 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:32,400 Speaker 1: in Russia. Well, Britney Grinder was playing overseas on one 605 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:36,280 Speaker 1: of the best teams in not just the Russian League, 606 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:40,720 Speaker 1: but the euro League as a whole, starring for each 607 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:43,360 Speaker 1: at as a center, the way she's done every year 608 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 1: during the w NBA off season for a very long time. 609 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:49,680 Speaker 1: And that's not uncommon, right, I mean a lot of 610 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:55,120 Speaker 1: w NBA stars play abroad to supplement their income, right, yes, 611 00:32:55,320 --> 00:32:58,320 Speaker 1: stars do, But throughout the league there's a very common 612 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:01,680 Speaker 1: thing to play resees. About half the league did it 613 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:05,040 Speaker 1: as of last year. There are some rules that are 614 00:33:05,080 --> 00:33:08,880 Speaker 1: coming into place that are likely to change that independent 615 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: of what's happening in Russia right now. But yes, there's 616 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:15,200 Speaker 1: a very common thing, especially for stars. Part of this 617 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:19,720 Speaker 1: playing abroad for w n b A players is because 618 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:21,480 Speaker 1: of the paid disparity, right, I mean, we know that 619 00:33:21,520 --> 00:33:24,640 Speaker 1: in the NBA, players, whether you're a star or not 620 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:27,680 Speaker 1: are very well compensated, but that's not necessarily the case 621 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:30,520 Speaker 1: in the w n B A right very true now 622 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:33,479 Speaker 1: that disparity is smaller than it was because of a 623 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:37,800 Speaker 1: new collective barden In agreement signed in January that increased, 624 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:41,760 Speaker 1: for instance, the minimum salary from one to two d 625 00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:46,240 Speaker 1: and fifteen thousand immediately. The lead also has these deals 626 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 1: they're able to make with individual players that allow them 627 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:52,120 Speaker 1: to promote the lead to stay here and make well 628 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:54,920 Speaker 1: over half a million dollars. But as those familiar on 629 00:33:54,920 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 1: the NBA side, no, that is hadet change compared to 630 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 1: even the minimum salary in the NBA, and so the 631 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:04,520 Speaker 1: opportunity to go overseas and make a lot more money 632 00:34:04,840 --> 00:34:07,440 Speaker 1: doing it by playing there for a few months a 633 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:10,239 Speaker 1: year during the off season is obviously very attractive to 634 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:13,760 Speaker 1: players who have, like all athletes do, a limited time 635 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:20,479 Speaker 1: window in which to make a living. We learned about 636 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:23,840 Speaker 1: her arrest after Russia had invaded Ukraine, and there have 637 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:26,839 Speaker 1: been instances of governments like Russia and China arresting foreign 638 00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:30,280 Speaker 1: nationals to use them as pressure points to exert influence 639 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:33,759 Speaker 1: over other countries, almost kind of holding them as hostages 640 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:37,600 Speaker 1: for leverage. Do we think that's what's happening here. It's 641 00:34:37,640 --> 00:34:40,719 Speaker 1: hard to say, you know, to know to understand what 642 00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:44,640 Speaker 1: Vladimir Putin has in mind is something that I think 643 00:34:44,680 --> 00:34:47,799 Speaker 1: everyone is trying to figure out in ways that have 644 00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:52,200 Speaker 1: geopolitical significance, not just women's basketball significance, or even just 645 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 1: as they relate to Brittany Graner specifically. But I don't 646 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:57,760 Speaker 1: think it's something you can rule out. It's clearly something 647 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:02,360 Speaker 1: that the Russian government it has not been willing to 648 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:05,239 Speaker 1: engage on to the point that we found anything like 649 00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:09,359 Speaker 1: a resolution. So Brittany's wife and her family have been 650 00:35:09,480 --> 00:35:13,279 Speaker 1: relatively quiet about this situation after Grinder was detained, as 651 00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 1: has the State Department. They've been very very careful in 652 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:18,040 Speaker 1: the language that they've used. Clearly they're trying not to 653 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:22,080 Speaker 1: inflame the situation. How's her wife and family processing all this. 654 00:35:23,160 --> 00:35:26,359 Speaker 1: They've been keeping things very quiet and very internal. So 655 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,480 Speaker 1: it's it's a difficult thing to say, but clearly there 656 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:32,640 Speaker 1: is an effort that is being made. It is more 657 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:36,359 Speaker 1: public than it was at first. It was, to my 658 00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:41,560 Speaker 1: mind a bad sign when Russian state media made this 659 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 1: public that this was something that was ongoing, simply because 660 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:47,960 Speaker 1: it was a sign that they were not looking to 661 00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:51,000 Speaker 1: engage behind the scenes and come to a resolution about it, 662 00:35:51,239 --> 00:35:54,920 Speaker 1: and instead felt comfortable letting us know about it. The 663 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:58,919 Speaker 1: fact that there has been no real updates since then 664 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:01,600 Speaker 1: outside of this date that was put forward that she's 665 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:05,840 Speaker 1: been held until May nineteenth. There's nothing magical about May nineteenth. 666 00:36:05,920 --> 00:36:08,719 Speaker 1: That's not as if they have promised you re released 667 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:12,280 Speaker 1: on this day. It is simply the most recent status update, 668 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:17,960 Speaker 1: all right. So it's a really difficult situation, Howard, and 669 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 1: you spoke with a bunch of people around the w 670 00:36:19,840 --> 00:36:21,160 Speaker 1: n b A about this, and a lot of them 671 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:24,360 Speaker 1: told you how concerned they are for Griner, one of 672 00:36:24,360 --> 00:36:28,279 Speaker 1: whom is Minnesota links star aerial powers, especially when it 673 00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:30,440 Speaker 1: first came out, Like every time I was eating, I 674 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:32,800 Speaker 1: was like, damn, like what kind of millions we do? 675 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:36,399 Speaker 1: Haven't or you know what I was going to work out, 676 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:38,719 Speaker 1: I'm like, dang, she can't even work on the ready 677 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:42,000 Speaker 1: pro season, like even touching the basketball. It's just like 678 00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:45,120 Speaker 1: it was kind of like sad because it's like, you 679 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:48,080 Speaker 1: know that this could have been you, It's gonna be 680 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 1: any one of your teammates, Like, and it feels like 681 00:36:52,440 --> 00:36:58,359 Speaker 1: we are helpless. Everybody is unbelievably concerned. You know, there 682 00:36:58,480 --> 00:37:01,040 Speaker 1: is this feeling and so only of players I've spoken 683 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:03,960 Speaker 1: to that there but for the race of God go 684 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:06,560 Speaker 1: I is the thing you can turn over and over again. 685 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:09,759 Speaker 1: It's very easily could have been any of us, especially 686 00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:13,920 Speaker 1: if in fact this was evidence for instance, that may 687 00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:17,120 Speaker 1: have been planted. You know, this is a very common 688 00:37:17,160 --> 00:37:20,560 Speaker 1: tactic of the Russian authorities as well, and so there's 689 00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:23,560 Speaker 1: a concern, there's a feeling of helplessness of we want 690 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:27,600 Speaker 1: to do more, and players are afraid to even be 691 00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:31,520 Speaker 1: vociferous in public, not knowing whether that is something that 692 00:37:31,520 --> 00:37:35,120 Speaker 1: would be positive or negative. Yeah, it's a really delicate situation. 693 00:37:35,160 --> 00:37:38,520 Speaker 1: When you spoke with Brianna Stewart from the Seattle Storm, 694 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:40,680 Speaker 1: she told you that she's trying to show support for 695 00:37:40,760 --> 00:37:44,360 Speaker 1: Grinder without necessarily drawing attention to her being detained because 696 00:37:44,400 --> 00:37:47,239 Speaker 1: everything is so fragile for the players too, were just 697 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:51,239 Speaker 1: singing to represent her. Even if we're not speaking about her, 698 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:54,200 Speaker 1: we're really finding her supporting her, and I think that's 699 00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:57,240 Speaker 1: the biggest thing is you know, I talked about supporting 700 00:37:57,000 --> 00:38:01,280 Speaker 1: her very filmy pension and the places that she supports 701 00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:10,279 Speaker 1: and doing that west and kind of anchoring from so 702 00:38:10,360 --> 00:38:14,280 Speaker 1: the Russian courts extended her detention until at least May nineteen. 703 00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:17,399 Speaker 1: What happens May nineteen, do we think and what's next 704 00:38:17,400 --> 00:38:21,239 Speaker 1: for Britney Grinder? It's a really hard thing to say that. 705 00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:23,680 Speaker 1: That's what makes this so concerned and so many people 706 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:27,279 Speaker 1: is we're an uncharted territory. You know. The idea that 707 00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:29,959 Speaker 1: all these players who play overseas have to figure out 708 00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:32,680 Speaker 1: what they're going to be doing in the fall, when 709 00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:36,200 Speaker 1: it's not necessarily clear what the Russian invasion of your 710 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:38,759 Speaker 1: train is going to look like next week. Makes it 711 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:43,319 Speaker 1: very difficult to plot a professional way forward for so 712 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:46,239 Speaker 1: many people. And so this is something that obviously is 713 00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:49,839 Speaker 1: affecting Brittany Grinders such a significant extent, but this has 714 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:53,520 Speaker 1: ramifications for the way all women's basketball players in the 715 00:38:53,560 --> 00:39:00,960 Speaker 1: world are making a living. How obviously there's a lot 716 00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:03,080 Speaker 1: of concern in the w n b A about Brittany 717 00:39:03,080 --> 00:39:05,560 Speaker 1: Grinder and her well being, but you would also mention 718 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:07,680 Speaker 1: the new rules and the c b A and how 719 00:39:07,719 --> 00:39:10,680 Speaker 1: it will make it a little more difficult for w 720 00:39:10,840 --> 00:39:13,040 Speaker 1: NBA players to play abroad. Tell us a little bit 721 00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:16,319 Speaker 1: more about that. So in the new cb A, there's 722 00:39:16,360 --> 00:39:21,480 Speaker 1: something called prioritization, and it means that as you need 723 00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:24,080 Speaker 1: to report for the start of training camp or be 724 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:27,520 Speaker 1: fined and report by the first day of the w 725 00:39:27,719 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 1: n b A regular season or be suspended for the year, 726 00:39:31,600 --> 00:39:33,920 Speaker 1: that becomes you need to report by the first day 727 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:36,239 Speaker 1: of training camp or be suspended for the season. And 728 00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:38,279 Speaker 1: so a lot of players are now going to have 729 00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:42,240 Speaker 1: to make that choice one or the other, playing overseas 730 00:39:42,360 --> 00:39:45,080 Speaker 1: or making sure you are in camp in time to 731 00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:47,560 Speaker 1: play in the w n b A. So this is 732 00:39:47,880 --> 00:39:51,920 Speaker 1: obviously a scenario that no one would want. That said, 733 00:39:52,080 --> 00:39:54,759 Speaker 1: it does strike a lot of different people as a 734 00:39:54,880 --> 00:39:59,680 Speaker 1: potentially beneficial thing to help reorder the way the w 735 00:39:59,880 --> 00:40:02,719 Speaker 1: n bagists within the pecking order of the world of 736 00:40:02,760 --> 00:40:07,080 Speaker 1: women's basketball professional basketball specifically. So we'll be fashionating to 737 00:40:07,120 --> 00:40:09,959 Speaker 1: see what the stars do and even what the rank 738 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:11,800 Speaker 1: and final members of the w n b A do 739 00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:16,080 Speaker 1: heading into prioritization over the next two years. How have 740 00:40:16,160 --> 00:40:19,759 Speaker 1: you done an excellent job covering this story? As more 741 00:40:19,800 --> 00:40:22,360 Speaker 1: developments occur, hopefully we'll have you back. Thanks for this 742 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:32,680 Speaker 1: any telling. Sports Illustrated Weekly is a production of Sports 743 00:40:32,680 --> 00:40:35,799 Speaker 1: Illustrated and I Heart Radio. For more podcasts from I 744 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:39,360 Speaker 1: Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 745 00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:42,279 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your favorite shows. And for more 746 00:40:42,320 --> 00:40:46,840 Speaker 1: of Sports Illustrated's best stories and podcasts, visit SI dot com. 747 00:40:46,840 --> 00:40:49,800 Speaker 1: This episode of Sports Illustrated Weekly was produced by Cooper McKim, 748 00:40:50,040 --> 00:40:53,800 Speaker 1: Jessica Yourmoski, and Isaac Lee, who was also our sound engineer. 749 00:40:54,280 --> 00:40:57,799 Speaker 1: Our senior producer is Dan Bloom. Our executive producers are 750 00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:01,279 Speaker 1: Scott Brody and me John Gonzalez. Our theme song is 751 00:41:01,320 --> 00:41:04,279 Speaker 1: by Nolan Schneider. Thanks for listening, and if you've stuck 752 00:41:04,320 --> 00:41:12,160 Speaker 1: around this long, we leave you with this all right. Jimmy, 753 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:14,720 Speaker 1: so you're a noted Yankees fan, how will you feel 754 00:41:14,719 --> 00:41:17,560 Speaker 1: this Friday, April nine when the Yankees play their very 755 00:41:17,560 --> 00:41:20,880 Speaker 1: first game on Apple TV Plus. If I am home, 756 00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:23,360 Speaker 1: I will be able to watch the game. I have 757 00:41:23,480 --> 00:41:25,480 Speaker 1: Apple Plus, I know how to use it and all 758 00:41:25,520 --> 00:41:28,200 Speaker 1: that stuff. If from not home and I'm in a restaurant, 759 00:41:28,239 --> 00:41:30,880 Speaker 1: it's a Friday night, the Mets were playing the Nationals 760 00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:32,960 Speaker 1: on Apple TV, and it was Max Serg's first thought. 761 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:34,400 Speaker 1: I did want to tune in just to see it 762 00:41:34,480 --> 00:41:36,239 Speaker 1: for you know, an inning or two and I was 763 00:41:36,280 --> 00:41:39,120 Speaker 1: at a friend's house and he didn't have Apple TV. 764 00:41:39,320 --> 00:41:41,360 Speaker 1: Despite everyone on social media telling me this is not 765 00:41:41,400 --> 00:41:43,920 Speaker 1: a big deal. Everyone has Apple TV, So there you go. 766 00:41:44,560 --> 00:41:46,239 Speaker 1: There's a hundred and sixty two games, so if I 767 00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:47,680 Speaker 1: miss one here and there, it's not the end of 768 00:41:47,719 --> 00:41:50,560 Speaker 1: the world. But it is amazing that baseball wants to 769 00:41:51,480 --> 00:41:54,000 Speaker 1: anger the local fan when it's become such a local 770 00:41:54,000 --> 00:41:57,839 Speaker 1: life sport. Listen as an East Coaster myself, it's better 771 00:41:57,920 --> 00:42:00,839 Speaker 1: not to anger us. So god speed to Apple. Yes, 772 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:03,239 Speaker 1: and the Apple reviews have not been pretty. Like I said, 773 00:42:03,280 --> 00:42:05,680 Speaker 1: I didn't see the opening week because I was somewhere 774 00:42:05,680 --> 00:42:07,640 Speaker 1: where they didn't have Apple TV. But I don't think 775 00:42:07,680 --> 00:42:11,719 Speaker 1: i've ever seen anything in sports broadcasting get completely destroyed 776 00:42:12,320 --> 00:42:16,360 Speaker 1: like the Apple TV production of Major League Baseball. Nowhere 777 00:42:16,360 --> 00:42:18,840 Speaker 1: to go but up. Yeah, well that's true. Yeah, it 778 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:20,919 Speaker 1: is true. There's the there's the half fall.