1 00:00:11,697 --> 00:00:14,937 Speaker 1: You're listening to The Buck Sexton Show podcast, make sure 2 00:00:14,977 --> 00:00:17,977 Speaker 1: you subscribe to the podcast on the iHeartRadio app or 3 00:00:18,017 --> 00:00:19,737 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. 4 00:00:20,137 --> 00:00:23,657 Speaker 2: Hey, everybody, welcome to the Buck Sexton Show. On this episode, 5 00:00:23,817 --> 00:00:28,057 Speaker 2: our friend Jake Beckett. He is a former NFL player, 6 00:00:28,177 --> 00:00:32,817 Speaker 2: former Army ranger, also was a Senate candidate in Arkansas 7 00:00:32,857 --> 00:00:36,577 Speaker 2: and now is the host of the Jake Peckett Beckett Podcast, 8 00:00:36,577 --> 00:00:38,817 Speaker 2: which I think you should all check out. Jake, thanks 9 00:00:38,817 --> 00:00:40,017 Speaker 2: for making the time man. Good to see you. 10 00:00:40,817 --> 00:00:41,937 Speaker 1: Hey, great to be on with you. 11 00:00:42,377 --> 00:00:43,057 Speaker 3: So you know, I. 12 00:00:42,977 --> 00:00:48,897 Speaker 2: Saw your governor, Governor Sanders Huckerbet Sanders not long ago, 13 00:00:49,577 --> 00:00:52,217 Speaker 2: and we talked a little bit about what's going on 14 00:00:52,257 --> 00:00:55,057 Speaker 2: in your state, because you would think that given that 15 00:00:55,137 --> 00:00:58,857 Speaker 2: Arkansas is pretty darn red, that it'd be able to 16 00:00:59,577 --> 00:01:00,897 Speaker 2: join in some of what we're seeing. 17 00:01:00,897 --> 00:01:01,817 Speaker 3: Obviously out of Florida. 18 00:01:01,857 --> 00:01:03,817 Speaker 2: I'm a little biased about the Florida thing these days, 19 00:01:03,817 --> 00:01:05,857 Speaker 2: but you know, Texas is doing some good things a 20 00:01:05,897 --> 00:01:07,977 Speaker 2: lot of states, Oklahoma. 21 00:01:08,937 --> 00:01:11,217 Speaker 1: Of what's happening in Florida, you should be proud of that. 22 00:01:11,377 --> 00:01:11,777 Speaker 3: Thank you. 23 00:01:11,897 --> 00:01:14,897 Speaker 2: I am now I'm a new Floridian, so I'm excited 24 00:01:14,897 --> 00:01:17,577 Speaker 2: about it. How are you guys doing in Arkansas, like 25 00:01:17,577 --> 00:01:20,537 Speaker 2: like bring people into whether you know, we've got this 26 00:01:20,617 --> 00:01:23,457 Speaker 2: red state blue state phenomenon playing out in a way 27 00:01:23,497 --> 00:01:26,017 Speaker 2: that we've never seen before. Right, people are fleeing going 28 00:01:26,057 --> 00:01:28,457 Speaker 2: to red. Blue is getting blue, or red is getting redder. 29 00:01:28,937 --> 00:01:31,857 Speaker 2: How's Arkansas looking. You get a lot of folks showing 30 00:01:31,937 --> 00:01:34,377 Speaker 2: up from Los Angeles who are like, hey, let's just 31 00:01:34,417 --> 00:01:35,497 Speaker 2: do the lib thing here. 32 00:01:37,897 --> 00:01:40,657 Speaker 1: I mean, I truly believe that we are in the 33 00:01:40,697 --> 00:01:45,657 Speaker 1: midst of a massive self sorting that's going to happen 34 00:01:45,697 --> 00:01:49,977 Speaker 1: within this country. I think COVID only accelerated a trend 35 00:01:50,137 --> 00:01:53,577 Speaker 1: that was happening for a couple of decades prior to 36 00:01:53,617 --> 00:01:56,097 Speaker 1: twenty twenty, twenty twenty one, but I think it's only 37 00:01:56,137 --> 00:02:02,097 Speaker 1: going to continue and possibly accelerate as things further unravel 38 00:02:02,297 --> 00:02:06,577 Speaker 1: in blue states and blue cities, you know, even within 39 00:02:06,657 --> 00:02:08,857 Speaker 1: red states. And you know, I'm glad you brought up 40 00:02:08,897 --> 00:02:12,537 Speaker 1: red states because and look, I'm I'm from Arkansas, born 41 00:02:12,537 --> 00:02:15,097 Speaker 1: and raised, I live in Arkansas, ran for state White 42 00:02:15,137 --> 00:02:19,617 Speaker 1: office here in Arkansas, and unfortunately, you know, we are, uh, 43 00:02:19,857 --> 00:02:21,977 Speaker 1: you know, a state that is you know, like many 44 00:02:21,977 --> 00:02:25,057 Speaker 1: other red states, particularly in the South. You know, we're 45 00:02:25,097 --> 00:02:30,777 Speaker 1: led by these just establishment rhino squishy hacks, and you know, 46 00:02:30,777 --> 00:02:34,497 Speaker 1: that's probably the most charitable way to describe most of them. 47 00:02:34,697 --> 00:02:37,857 Speaker 1: You know, these are people who you know, a lot 48 00:02:37,857 --> 00:02:40,937 Speaker 1: of the Republicans in these in these deep red Southern states, 49 00:02:41,017 --> 00:02:43,457 Speaker 1: you know, they were they were a long time Democrats 50 00:02:43,497 --> 00:02:46,177 Speaker 1: who just kind of like saw which way the wind 51 00:02:46,257 --> 00:02:49,577 Speaker 1: was blowing and changed their party affiliation. Or they're just 52 00:02:49,617 --> 00:02:51,737 Speaker 1: people who are you know, they they saw what was 53 00:02:51,777 --> 00:02:54,817 Speaker 1: happening in twenty ten, the tea party wave, you know, 54 00:02:54,857 --> 00:02:57,297 Speaker 1: and they came in and so we had this big changeover. 55 00:02:57,577 --> 00:03:01,977 Speaker 1: And you know, unlike these battleground states that have competitive 56 00:03:02,017 --> 00:03:06,937 Speaker 1: primaries cycle in and cycle out, like Pennsylvania, like Arizona, 57 00:03:07,097 --> 00:03:10,217 Speaker 1: like Florida. Florida's probably the best example, you know, where 58 00:03:10,257 --> 00:03:13,657 Speaker 1: there's constant turnover and there's there's competitive primaries and the 59 00:03:13,737 --> 00:03:16,137 Speaker 1: cream rises to the top. You know, we don't have 60 00:03:16,257 --> 00:03:18,097 Speaker 1: that in these deep red states. You know, we have 61 00:03:18,177 --> 00:03:21,817 Speaker 1: these incumbents, you know, who have been in office for four, five, six, 62 00:03:21,937 --> 00:03:25,497 Speaker 1: seven terms in the state legislature, in the House, and 63 00:03:25,577 --> 00:03:28,977 Speaker 1: the US Senate, and they're you know, it's almost impossible 64 00:03:29,057 --> 00:03:32,777 Speaker 1: to win a primary, you know, on the gup side 65 00:03:32,817 --> 00:03:34,897 Speaker 1: these days. Trust me, I can tell you all about that. 66 00:03:35,457 --> 00:03:38,097 Speaker 1: So without this what without the this purple kind of 67 00:03:38,097 --> 00:03:42,697 Speaker 1: competitive primary situation, you know, the the the political establishment 68 00:03:42,777 --> 00:03:46,697 Speaker 1: just has the opportunity to ossify, to stabilize, and there's 69 00:03:47,177 --> 00:03:50,817 Speaker 1: without the outside competitive influences, you know that we just 70 00:03:50,897 --> 00:03:53,617 Speaker 1: kind of drift along. And so unfortunately with the influences 71 00:03:53,617 --> 00:03:57,257 Speaker 1: of the media, these these giant corporations, big tech, you know, 72 00:03:57,297 --> 00:04:01,057 Speaker 1: the culture, you know, the deterioration of of the church, 73 00:04:01,417 --> 00:04:04,977 Speaker 1: you know, all these factors. You know, these these squishy, 74 00:04:05,017 --> 00:04:08,617 Speaker 1: spineless rhinos, they're not able to combat that. 75 00:04:08,937 --> 00:04:10,337 Speaker 3: So this is this crazy? 76 00:04:10,377 --> 00:04:12,057 Speaker 2: Can we just for a second, so I don't I've 77 00:04:12,057 --> 00:04:14,737 Speaker 2: actually I've actually never been to Arkansas, Jake. So maybe 78 00:04:14,737 --> 00:04:17,457 Speaker 2: we're gonna have to your Razorbacks. You know, my co 79 00:04:17,577 --> 00:04:20,337 Speaker 2: host loves the big football games. Maybe we'll have to 80 00:04:20,337 --> 00:04:22,337 Speaker 2: come down and check out the I'm just impressed with 81 00:04:22,337 --> 00:04:24,257 Speaker 2: myself that I remember that they're called the Razorbacks, right, 82 00:04:24,297 --> 00:04:24,897 Speaker 2: that's the name of it. 83 00:04:24,937 --> 00:04:27,137 Speaker 1: Oh, absolutely, yeah, you got it. 84 00:04:27,297 --> 00:04:30,497 Speaker 2: So because I'll see, for example, I have spent time 85 00:04:30,537 --> 00:04:33,497 Speaker 2: out in Utah, great state. A lot of stuff about 86 00:04:33,537 --> 00:04:36,377 Speaker 2: Utah that I totally love. The governor's like a communist. 87 00:04:36,377 --> 00:04:38,817 Speaker 2: I mean, for a very red state, you get the 88 00:04:38,857 --> 00:04:41,417 Speaker 2: governor of Utah is really bad on a whole. 89 00:04:41,297 --> 00:04:42,177 Speaker 3: Range of issues. 90 00:04:43,177 --> 00:04:45,377 Speaker 2: This is something that I feel like as we're seeing 91 00:04:45,417 --> 00:04:48,777 Speaker 2: the sorting happening with people leaving blue going to red, 92 00:04:48,817 --> 00:04:52,137 Speaker 2: red getting redder, and also the role of state governance 93 00:04:52,217 --> 00:04:55,617 Speaker 2: post COVID, everyone realizes your state really does matter. I 94 00:04:55,617 --> 00:04:57,177 Speaker 2: think there for a while we started to think, oh, 95 00:04:57,177 --> 00:04:59,537 Speaker 2: it's the federal government, right, you're a state local. It's 96 00:04:59,617 --> 00:05:02,057 Speaker 2: kind of your state government matters a whole heck of 97 00:05:02,097 --> 00:05:04,097 Speaker 2: a lot. How is it that some of the red 98 00:05:04,137 --> 00:05:06,657 Speaker 2: est states give us some of the worst leadership? I mean, 99 00:05:06,817 --> 00:05:09,017 Speaker 2: is it just that they have no fear of the 100 00:05:09,017 --> 00:05:13,217 Speaker 2: Democrat side, so they get soft, lazy, and they start 101 00:05:13,257 --> 00:05:14,577 Speaker 2: to dissemble. 102 00:05:15,697 --> 00:05:19,377 Speaker 1: They know they'll never lose a primary, and that really 103 00:05:19,617 --> 00:05:22,297 Speaker 1: is the problem. You don't have any open seats. I mean, 104 00:05:22,377 --> 00:05:25,777 Speaker 1: Arkansas has had the same congressional delegation, the same four 105 00:05:25,817 --> 00:05:28,697 Speaker 1: members of the House, the same two US Senators for 106 00:05:28,737 --> 00:05:31,097 Speaker 1: ten years now. I mean, it's amazing, like it's been 107 00:05:31,217 --> 00:05:34,337 Speaker 1: It's been a whole decade and we've had zero turnover 108 00:05:34,777 --> 00:05:37,697 Speaker 1: in our six member congressional delegation. But you are right, 109 00:05:37,817 --> 00:05:41,537 Speaker 1: like like I think, by and large, you know the problems. 110 00:05:41,577 --> 00:05:43,777 Speaker 1: I mean, this is a pretty deeper discussion. We can 111 00:05:43,857 --> 00:05:45,737 Speaker 1: have a you know, a podcast series on this, but 112 00:05:45,937 --> 00:05:47,897 Speaker 1: you know, I think what's happening at the federal level 113 00:05:48,537 --> 00:05:50,497 Speaker 1: that's going to be really tough to fix. To put 114 00:05:50,537 --> 00:05:53,737 Speaker 1: it lightly, but where we actually have the opportunity to 115 00:05:53,777 --> 00:05:57,817 Speaker 1: exercise power, you know, where are where the base the 116 00:05:58,057 --> 00:06:01,657 Speaker 1: citizenry still actually believes what we believe and will grant 117 00:06:01,657 --> 00:06:05,777 Speaker 1: Republicans the actual ability to exercise our influence are in 118 00:06:05,857 --> 00:06:10,657 Speaker 1: these red counties in red states. And that's why important 119 00:06:10,697 --> 00:06:12,577 Speaker 1: for you know, states like Florida. You know, now it's 120 00:06:12,617 --> 00:06:14,497 Speaker 1: you know it it was a purple state. You know, 121 00:06:14,577 --> 00:06:17,417 Speaker 1: now due to you know, Governor Desants' influence, it's become 122 00:06:17,457 --> 00:06:20,217 Speaker 1: a red state. You know in some of the other states. 123 00:06:20,937 --> 00:06:23,057 Speaker 1: You know, it's it's getting better. You know. Governor de 124 00:06:23,097 --> 00:06:26,217 Speaker 1: Santis has really led the way. You know, it's it's 125 00:06:26,257 --> 00:06:29,737 Speaker 1: you know, I I could go on forever about how 126 00:06:29,777 --> 00:06:33,417 Speaker 1: important it's been to have him done in Florida, leading 127 00:06:33,457 --> 00:06:37,337 Speaker 1: the way and setting the example because for so many years, 128 00:06:37,577 --> 00:06:40,017 Speaker 1: I mean for people on the right, we don't even 129 00:06:40,137 --> 00:06:44,377 Speaker 1: know what winning looks like. We have no idea what excellence, 130 00:06:44,537 --> 00:06:48,817 Speaker 1: what greatness, what victory even looks like. And so we 131 00:06:48,857 --> 00:06:52,057 Speaker 1: didn't really have a barometer. So we had Asa Hutchinson 132 00:06:52,137 --> 00:06:54,017 Speaker 1: here in Arkansas, who was the governor for eight years. 133 00:06:54,017 --> 00:06:58,097 Speaker 1: He was terrible, you know, obviously the governor out in Utah. 134 00:06:58,137 --> 00:07:00,497 Speaker 1: You know k Ivy, the governor of Alabama, she's terrible. 135 00:07:01,017 --> 00:07:03,817 Speaker 1: Tate Reeves Mississippi. I mean, they're all they're all bad. 136 00:07:04,217 --> 00:07:07,617 Speaker 1: But we didn't even know it until Ron DeSantis came 137 00:07:07,617 --> 00:07:09,977 Speaker 1: in there and took a fifty to fifty red state 138 00:07:10,857 --> 00:07:14,057 Speaker 1: and made it a sixty to forty red state simply 139 00:07:14,097 --> 00:07:17,897 Speaker 1: because of the force of his policies and his leadership. Okay, 140 00:07:17,977 --> 00:07:21,137 Speaker 1: like he showed that, hey, we can have good things. Okay, 141 00:07:21,217 --> 00:07:24,217 Speaker 1: like we can we can take on these wok corporations 142 00:07:24,697 --> 00:07:28,057 Speaker 1: like Disney. You know, we can remove Soros DA's when 143 00:07:28,097 --> 00:07:31,177 Speaker 1: they get out of line. We can take over higher education, 144 00:07:31,537 --> 00:07:34,857 Speaker 1: you know, we can actually move the needle and show 145 00:07:34,897 --> 00:07:36,737 Speaker 1: the rest of the country. And so, like just as 146 00:07:36,777 --> 00:07:40,337 Speaker 1: any in business, in sports and whatever, competition is a 147 00:07:40,337 --> 00:07:43,817 Speaker 1: good thing. And so Governor DeSantis has moved every other 148 00:07:43,937 --> 00:07:47,017 Speaker 1: red state governor to the right on the issues, simply 149 00:07:47,017 --> 00:07:50,657 Speaker 1: because they've been humiliated by you know, the national news 150 00:07:50,657 --> 00:07:53,097 Speaker 1: and people in these red states like Arkansas looking like, hey, 151 00:07:53,177 --> 00:07:56,377 Speaker 1: like Asa Hutchinson, why aren't you doing what ron de 152 00:07:56,537 --> 00:08:00,217 Speaker 1: Santis is doing in Florida? And so obviously, like you know, 153 00:08:00,257 --> 00:08:03,297 Speaker 1: people's discussed with Asa Hutchinson. You know, he was the 154 00:08:03,297 --> 00:08:05,897 Speaker 1: guy who went on Tucker Carlson and was saying that, 155 00:08:06,417 --> 00:08:09,297 Speaker 1: you know, Ronald Reagan and William F. Buckley would have 156 00:08:09,337 --> 00:08:14,897 Speaker 1: agreed with, you know, transgender mutilation surgeries for children. Asa 157 00:08:14,977 --> 00:08:17,137 Speaker 1: Hudchson actually vetoed a bill in Arkansas that would have 158 00:08:17,137 --> 00:08:20,017 Speaker 1: made that illegal, and so and so we were fed 159 00:08:20,097 --> 00:08:22,497 Speaker 1: up with him, and we moved on to someone who's 160 00:08:22,537 --> 00:08:25,297 Speaker 1: definitely better than him, and Governor Sarah Sanders, and she's 161 00:08:25,337 --> 00:08:28,617 Speaker 1: implementing some good policies. But it really it started with 162 00:08:28,777 --> 00:08:32,137 Speaker 1: Governor Ron Decantis in Florida. He has shown the way 163 00:08:32,537 --> 00:08:35,777 Speaker 1: and I can't emphasize enough how important that has been 164 00:08:35,857 --> 00:08:38,377 Speaker 1: to show the people on the right in this country 165 00:08:38,777 --> 00:08:40,377 Speaker 1: that winning is possible. 166 00:08:41,617 --> 00:08:44,697 Speaker 2: I think technically we have to say he is presidential 167 00:08:44,737 --> 00:08:47,977 Speaker 2: candidate Asa Hutchins, just to be clear. Just to be clear, 168 00:08:48,337 --> 00:08:52,177 Speaker 2: I think if he breaks one percent of the national vote. 169 00:08:53,017 --> 00:08:55,657 Speaker 3: You know, Jake, I'll next time down. 170 00:08:56,777 --> 00:09:00,097 Speaker 1: I sincerely hope that he stays in the race through 171 00:09:00,257 --> 00:09:03,737 Speaker 1: the Arkansas Super Tuesday primary in twenty twenty four. I'm 172 00:09:03,777 --> 00:09:06,657 Speaker 1: genuinely curious to see what he will get in his 173 00:09:06,697 --> 00:09:08,897 Speaker 1: own home state. There's no way he lasts that long. 174 00:09:08,897 --> 00:09:11,097 Speaker 1: He'll probably drop out after I forgetting, you know, a 175 00:09:11,177 --> 00:09:14,057 Speaker 1: fraction of one percent, but I mean in Arkansas, he 176 00:09:14,097 --> 00:09:17,697 Speaker 1: wouldn't even get five percent of the vote in his 177 00:09:17,737 --> 00:09:20,337 Speaker 1: own home state. That's how reviled he is. 178 00:09:20,417 --> 00:09:21,697 Speaker 2: I want to come back and talk to you a 179 00:09:21,697 --> 00:09:25,137 Speaker 2: bit about, first of all, your story as it pertains 180 00:09:25,177 --> 00:09:29,057 Speaker 2: to your service in the Army Rangers, and then talk 181 00:09:29,057 --> 00:09:31,257 Speaker 2: a bit about Ukraine and some of what we've been 182 00:09:31,297 --> 00:09:32,337 Speaker 2: hearing recently. 183 00:09:31,977 --> 00:09:34,657 Speaker 3: About us role there maybe a little. 184 00:09:34,457 --> 00:09:38,017 Speaker 2: More substantial than is officially talked about. I mean, I 185 00:09:38,097 --> 00:09:40,577 Speaker 2: always assume that the role is I've thought that all along, 186 00:09:40,657 --> 00:09:42,457 Speaker 2: but you know, secret squirrel stuff. We all know what 187 00:09:42,537 --> 00:09:44,457 Speaker 2: goes on. 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That's policy genius dot com and sign up today. 214 00:10:59,737 --> 00:11:03,657 Speaker 2: All right, Jake, first off, tell everybody what ears, What 215 00:11:03,777 --> 00:11:06,617 Speaker 2: years were you in I just wanted to talk a 216 00:11:06,617 --> 00:11:08,817 Speaker 2: little bit about your military service where we talk about 217 00:11:08,857 --> 00:11:10,337 Speaker 2: the national security side of things. 218 00:11:10,377 --> 00:11:10,697 Speaker 3: Right now. 219 00:11:10,697 --> 00:11:13,177 Speaker 2: When did you first get into the army? 220 00:11:13,417 --> 00:11:16,217 Speaker 1: So I joined the Army in the summer of twenty seventeen. 221 00:11:17,057 --> 00:11:19,857 Speaker 1: You know, I played four years of professional football for 222 00:11:19,937 --> 00:11:23,217 Speaker 1: the New England Patriots. You know, won a Super Bowl 223 00:11:23,217 --> 00:11:25,857 Speaker 1: with those guys single handedly. You know, it wouldn't Brady, 224 00:11:25,857 --> 00:11:27,137 Speaker 1: wouldn't Belichick. It was all me. 225 00:11:28,177 --> 00:11:28,337 Speaker 3: You know. 226 00:11:28,417 --> 00:11:32,137 Speaker 1: After I got done solidifying that dynasty, I went to 227 00:11:32,257 --> 00:11:35,857 Speaker 1: law school. You know, my my my intention wasn't to 228 00:11:35,897 --> 00:11:39,217 Speaker 1: practice law. You know, I was really hurt after I 229 00:11:39,297 --> 00:11:41,297 Speaker 1: left the NFL, so I went to law school to 230 00:11:41,297 --> 00:11:43,257 Speaker 1: get healthy. And when I was in d C in 231 00:11:43,337 --> 00:11:46,057 Speaker 1: law school, I just I really, you know, my ultimate 232 00:11:46,057 --> 00:11:47,817 Speaker 1: plan was was a serve in the military. And I 233 00:11:47,857 --> 00:11:49,777 Speaker 1: didn't want to be a jag and I was getting 234 00:11:49,777 --> 00:11:51,657 Speaker 1: close to the age limit, so you know, I just 235 00:11:51,977 --> 00:11:53,617 Speaker 1: I decided it was the best thing to do. To 236 00:11:53,617 --> 00:11:55,577 Speaker 1: to drop out of law school and join the army. 237 00:11:55,937 --> 00:11:57,857 Speaker 1: And that's what I did. I went through basic training 238 00:11:57,977 --> 00:12:02,817 Speaker 1: Officer Canada school, you know, went through the Infantry officers course, 239 00:12:03,097 --> 00:12:04,257 Speaker 1: I went through ranger school. 240 00:12:06,257 --> 00:12:07,337 Speaker 3: I have questions. I have questions. 241 00:12:07,337 --> 00:12:11,697 Speaker 2: Hold on, Yeah, Like, was there a point which you 242 00:12:11,777 --> 00:12:16,057 Speaker 2: were you were in your let's say your first or 243 00:12:16,097 --> 00:12:18,857 Speaker 2: second week of basic training or something, and you're a 244 00:12:18,897 --> 00:12:21,417 Speaker 2: little bit did you ever have a thought You're like, maybe, 245 00:12:21,937 --> 00:12:24,497 Speaker 2: I don't know about this decision. I'm just wondering. That's 246 00:12:24,537 --> 00:12:26,337 Speaker 2: a big move to drop out of law school right 247 00:12:26,417 --> 00:12:28,657 Speaker 2: to serve. I mean, I think it's very honorable decision. 248 00:12:28,697 --> 00:12:29,057 Speaker 3: It's great. 249 00:12:29,177 --> 00:12:31,737 Speaker 2: But did you did you know every day you were 250 00:12:31,777 --> 00:12:36,297 Speaker 2: going through it that this is what was for you? 251 00:12:36,297 --> 00:12:38,137 Speaker 1: You know, I did. I mean, I'm not gonna I'm 252 00:12:38,177 --> 00:12:40,697 Speaker 1: not gonna say it wasn't challenging, you know, but I 253 00:12:40,737 --> 00:12:45,737 Speaker 1: really I fully committed to making that decision. But yeah, 254 00:12:45,777 --> 00:12:47,257 Speaker 1: I mean there were some moments, you know, you're you know, 255 00:12:47,537 --> 00:12:49,617 Speaker 1: I went from having a really great apartment in downtown 256 00:12:49,657 --> 00:12:52,137 Speaker 1: Boston playing for the Patriots, you know, part of a 257 00:12:52,137 --> 00:12:54,937 Speaker 1: Super Bowl championship team, you know, to go into a 258 00:12:54,977 --> 00:12:58,377 Speaker 1: great apartment in Washington d C. You know, go into Georgetown, 259 00:12:58,377 --> 00:13:01,137 Speaker 1: a great law school, to you know, being in a 260 00:13:01,297 --> 00:13:04,857 Speaker 1: in a sleeping bay of you know, sixty five eighteen 261 00:13:04,937 --> 00:13:08,817 Speaker 1: to twenty four year old Basic trainees. You know, just 262 00:13:08,857 --> 00:13:11,457 Speaker 1: kind of looking around at mid nine, you know, man, like, 263 00:13:11,497 --> 00:13:11,657 Speaker 1: you know. 264 00:13:11,817 --> 00:13:15,497 Speaker 2: Your social options definitely decreased. Your service to the country 265 00:13:15,537 --> 00:13:19,057 Speaker 2: increased dramatically. Congratulations, But your social options from being a 266 00:13:19,177 --> 00:13:23,377 Speaker 2: NFL player in Boston to being in Basic training, you know, 267 00:13:23,977 --> 00:13:24,897 Speaker 2: not as many cheerleads. 268 00:13:24,897 --> 00:13:28,457 Speaker 1: But yeah, no, exactly, you know, but I was. I 269 00:13:28,497 --> 00:13:31,377 Speaker 1: was fully committed to making that sacrifice. And you know, 270 00:13:31,537 --> 00:13:33,177 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, I realized that it 271 00:13:33,217 --> 00:13:35,937 Speaker 1: wasn't gonna be it was gonna be a temporary, you know, 272 00:13:36,057 --> 00:13:39,617 Speaker 1: temporarily difficult situation to go through Basic and go through 273 00:13:39,617 --> 00:13:42,377 Speaker 1: o CS and Ranger school. But you know, I never 274 00:13:42,417 --> 00:13:44,937 Speaker 1: lost sight of that goal, which was to get my 275 00:13:45,057 --> 00:13:48,897 Speaker 1: ranger tab and you know lead a rifle platoon, which 276 00:13:49,057 --> 00:13:50,897 Speaker 1: I was very blessed to have the ability to do. 277 00:13:51,017 --> 00:13:52,257 Speaker 1: And you know. 278 00:13:52,257 --> 00:13:53,937 Speaker 3: I was a heart What's the hardest part of Ranger 279 00:13:53,937 --> 00:13:55,857 Speaker 3: school for you? For what? What did you find the 280 00:13:55,857 --> 00:13:57,817 Speaker 3: most challenging part of it? 281 00:13:57,817 --> 00:14:01,137 Speaker 1: It was the starvation. I mean, like truly, Like there's 282 00:14:01,537 --> 00:14:04,217 Speaker 1: I lost about forty pounds in Ranger School. I went 283 00:14:04,257 --> 00:14:06,617 Speaker 1: in weighed about two hundred and forty pounds, got out 284 00:14:06,617 --> 00:14:09,257 Speaker 1: weighing two hundred. I can show you some photos another time. 285 00:14:09,297 --> 00:14:11,017 Speaker 1: I mean I was like a stick figure coming out 286 00:14:11,057 --> 00:14:13,977 Speaker 1: of there. My mom cried once you saw me at 287 00:14:14,057 --> 00:14:16,897 Speaker 1: Ranger School graduation. I was so thin. But you know, 288 00:14:17,137 --> 00:14:19,257 Speaker 1: coming from a football background, you know, I like to eat, 289 00:14:19,737 --> 00:14:22,297 Speaker 1: so that was that was a huge challenge. But sleep 290 00:14:22,297 --> 00:14:25,137 Speaker 1: deprivation and food deprivation is a huge part of the school. 291 00:14:25,697 --> 00:14:28,457 Speaker 1: You know, you get pushed to your mental, physical, emotional, 292 00:14:28,977 --> 00:14:32,697 Speaker 1: spiritual limits, you know, but that's that's how you forage 293 00:14:32,737 --> 00:14:35,337 Speaker 1: great leaders, you know, over that sixty two day course, 294 00:14:35,377 --> 00:14:37,697 Speaker 1: and you know, I was able to finish it in 295 00:14:37,777 --> 00:14:40,097 Speaker 1: the in the shortest amount of time, thank goodness, and 296 00:14:40,097 --> 00:14:41,777 Speaker 1: and get out of there, and it gets my platoon. 297 00:14:41,897 --> 00:14:44,217 Speaker 1: So yeah, I would say that the sleep depth, you know, 298 00:14:44,297 --> 00:14:46,417 Speaker 1: forty five minutes of sleep per night for like ten 299 00:14:46,497 --> 00:14:49,817 Speaker 1: straight nights, is not not ideal when it comes to 300 00:14:50,017 --> 00:14:52,897 Speaker 1: you know, rest, recuperation and being in a prime mental state. 301 00:14:53,017 --> 00:14:55,777 Speaker 1: But you know that's just part of the deal. Where 302 00:14:55,777 --> 00:15:00,257 Speaker 1: do you end up deploying Iraq. So my my brigade 303 00:15:00,297 --> 00:15:02,657 Speaker 1: combat team with one hundred and first Airborne we were 304 00:15:02,657 --> 00:15:06,337 Speaker 1: stationed in uh northern Iraq, the Kurdistan region. 305 00:15:06,457 --> 00:15:09,417 Speaker 2: Oh, I aw, what where You're like in Suli or something. 306 00:15:09,457 --> 00:15:12,017 Speaker 2: I know, I know that area of the world pretty well. 307 00:15:12,897 --> 00:15:16,057 Speaker 1: We were. We were between Mosul and Ourbiel. 308 00:15:15,977 --> 00:15:19,497 Speaker 2: Oh Moses that place back in the day, my time 309 00:15:19,497 --> 00:15:22,657 Speaker 2: in mosil Man. That was a spicy location, let me 310 00:15:22,697 --> 00:15:24,897 Speaker 2: tell you. But that was uh what what when were 311 00:15:24,897 --> 00:15:26,097 Speaker 2: you there? If you don't mind. 312 00:15:26,017 --> 00:15:26,977 Speaker 3: About a deck about it? 313 00:15:27,137 --> 00:15:29,137 Speaker 2: I mean and I was in the region, I will 314 00:15:29,177 --> 00:15:32,577 Speaker 2: say about a decade, about a decade before you I 315 00:15:32,577 --> 00:15:34,497 Speaker 2: mean basically. 316 00:15:34,577 --> 00:15:37,377 Speaker 1: Before before twenty fifteen, because obviously that was the capital 317 00:15:37,377 --> 00:15:40,697 Speaker 1: of the Califade. You know when when Isis had their 318 00:15:40,857 --> 00:15:41,617 Speaker 1: had their brief run. 319 00:15:41,777 --> 00:15:45,177 Speaker 2: Yeah no, no, yeah, Well I was there again in 320 00:15:45,257 --> 00:15:49,777 Speaker 2: the vicinity and that too specific. I was there in 321 00:15:49,817 --> 00:15:53,897 Speaker 2: the vicinity, uh you know, doing my uh analyst uh 322 00:15:53,937 --> 00:15:55,897 Speaker 2: you know, dressed as like a guy on a camping trip. 323 00:15:55,937 --> 00:15:56,097 Speaker 3: Thing. 324 00:15:58,337 --> 00:16:01,497 Speaker 2: Right after or pretty close to what happened was like 325 00:16:01,537 --> 00:16:03,577 Speaker 2: they kicked all the bad guys, I mean not all 326 00:16:03,617 --> 00:16:06,977 Speaker 2: of them, but they they cleared out Flujah Ramadi and 327 00:16:07,097 --> 00:16:10,457 Speaker 2: that had been This is like oh six so seven 328 00:16:10,577 --> 00:16:13,417 Speaker 2: period that you know, those had been and bar province 329 00:16:13,617 --> 00:16:16,217 Speaker 2: was just the worst, right, the heaviest fighting. The Marines 330 00:16:16,217 --> 00:16:17,617 Speaker 2: had to go in their house to house do all 331 00:16:17,617 --> 00:16:20,497 Speaker 2: that stuff. But a lot of them, the suicide bomber 332 00:16:20,577 --> 00:16:23,537 Speaker 2: rat lines and the bad stuff switched up north to 333 00:16:23,817 --> 00:16:24,777 Speaker 2: Mosul coming in. 334 00:16:24,937 --> 00:16:25,897 Speaker 3: So that was yep. 335 00:16:25,977 --> 00:16:27,857 Speaker 2: So I remember I remember going spending some time with 336 00:16:27,937 --> 00:16:29,697 Speaker 2: some of the SF teams out there and trying to 337 00:16:29,697 --> 00:16:32,457 Speaker 2: see what could be done to Stuck because these guys 338 00:16:32,457 --> 00:16:34,737 Speaker 2: were going into marketplaces with you know, suicide vest are 339 00:16:34,777 --> 00:16:36,777 Speaker 2: actually car bombs all the time, just you know, blow 340 00:16:36,857 --> 00:16:39,977 Speaker 2: up thirty fifty eighty people. Whatever it was. It was 341 00:16:40,177 --> 00:16:42,777 Speaker 2: really really awful stuff. But so when you were there, 342 00:16:43,137 --> 00:16:45,737 Speaker 2: it's fascinating actually because when I was there it was horrible, 343 00:16:46,057 --> 00:16:47,497 Speaker 2: and then when you were there it was horrible. It 344 00:16:47,537 --> 00:16:49,857 Speaker 2: was like the main spots. So what were you doing? 345 00:16:51,457 --> 00:16:54,537 Speaker 1: So it was a really interesting mission set. You know, 346 00:16:54,617 --> 00:16:57,497 Speaker 1: it was a combination of patrols. You know, we were 347 00:16:57,497 --> 00:17:00,937 Speaker 1: doing some diplomatic stuff, you know, meeting with the you 348 00:17:00,977 --> 00:17:03,937 Speaker 1: know provincial governor you know this Nnila province, so the 349 00:17:04,177 --> 00:17:07,177 Speaker 1: provincial governor of the Iraqi. Yeah, the their version of 350 00:17:07,177 --> 00:17:10,617 Speaker 1: a core level commander was stationed with us, you know, 351 00:17:10,857 --> 00:17:13,617 Speaker 1: so we were coordinating air strikes. You know, we we 352 00:17:13,657 --> 00:17:15,577 Speaker 1: had some guys going out on target. So, I mean, 353 00:17:15,617 --> 00:17:17,257 Speaker 1: it was a it was a really interesting kind of 354 00:17:17,297 --> 00:17:20,457 Speaker 1: all encompassing mission set. It was great for a for 355 00:17:20,457 --> 00:17:21,977 Speaker 1: a young lieutenant to get out there and kind of 356 00:17:21,977 --> 00:17:25,457 Speaker 1: see everything that was going down. And this was this 357 00:17:25,577 --> 00:17:27,537 Speaker 1: was a couple of years after you know, we had 358 00:17:27,577 --> 00:17:31,137 Speaker 1: cleaned out Isis, you know, but there were obviously still 359 00:17:31,177 --> 00:17:35,017 Speaker 1: I mean, as you know, Mosl and Rbil Kurdistan. It's 360 00:17:35,097 --> 00:17:38,417 Speaker 1: kind of a confluence of a lot of different ethnicities. 361 00:17:38,977 --> 00:17:42,337 Speaker 1: You know, it was an old trading route historically, so 362 00:17:42,377 --> 00:17:43,937 Speaker 1: there was a there's a you know, a lot of 363 00:17:43,937 --> 00:17:46,537 Speaker 1: a Sunni Shia conflict happening in that part of the 364 00:17:46,857 --> 00:17:49,657 Speaker 1: you know, that part of the Middle East, and you know, 365 00:17:49,697 --> 00:17:52,937 Speaker 1: obviously in in the late twenty tens, that was when 366 00:17:52,937 --> 00:17:56,937 Speaker 1: Iran first really started to uh flex on that area. 367 00:17:57,137 --> 00:18:00,217 Speaker 1: You know, the Isis was was Sunni and so once 368 00:18:00,257 --> 00:18:02,617 Speaker 1: Isis got cleaned out, the Shia you know, came in 369 00:18:02,657 --> 00:18:06,217 Speaker 1: and decided they were in charge. Obviously, these Shia backed 370 00:18:06,337 --> 00:18:08,977 Speaker 1: or these Ran backed Chia militia groups, the s mgs, 371 00:18:09,857 --> 00:18:11,297 Speaker 1: you know, we're all over the place. It was a 372 00:18:11,337 --> 00:18:15,017 Speaker 1: really fascinating and and pretty intense mission set out there. 373 00:18:15,057 --> 00:18:16,977 Speaker 1: But you know, like I said, it was a it 374 00:18:17,017 --> 00:18:19,457 Speaker 1: was a good experience. It was a good deployment. I 375 00:18:19,497 --> 00:18:22,697 Speaker 1: deployed with some great people, uh, and not just army. 376 00:18:22,737 --> 00:18:24,697 Speaker 1: You know, we had some you know, we had some 377 00:18:24,697 --> 00:18:28,217 Speaker 1: some Marsat guys, marine raiders, we had some Air Force 378 00:18:28,337 --> 00:18:31,457 Speaker 1: j tax with us. You know, we had some some 379 00:18:31,497 --> 00:18:34,897 Speaker 1: guys from your with with you with your training who 380 00:18:34,937 --> 00:18:37,937 Speaker 1: were with us. So it was a it was a 381 00:18:37,937 --> 00:18:39,057 Speaker 1: really outstanding deployment. 382 00:18:40,457 --> 00:18:42,897 Speaker 2: So what I wanted to ask you, I wanted to 383 00:18:42,897 --> 00:18:45,137 Speaker 2: get that background. It's so interesting too, by the way, 384 00:18:45,177 --> 00:18:47,657 Speaker 2: I mean, I everyone that I talked to who deployed 385 00:18:47,657 --> 00:18:52,977 Speaker 2: your rocker Afghanistan before you, it was it's always roughly 386 00:18:53,057 --> 00:18:55,577 Speaker 2: my contemporaries, you know, either a few years before a 387 00:18:55,617 --> 00:18:57,457 Speaker 2: few years after being in that part of the world. 388 00:18:57,497 --> 00:18:59,297 Speaker 2: But you know, now, of course we have people that 389 00:18:59,337 --> 00:19:01,977 Speaker 2: were dealing with like you, dealing with the isis uh 390 00:19:02,097 --> 00:19:05,697 Speaker 2: situation uh up in up in a rock specifically obviously 391 00:19:05,737 --> 00:19:12,257 Speaker 2: Afghanistan kind of continued much much longer. If if I 392 00:19:12,257 --> 00:19:15,097 Speaker 2: got to ask you something. I'd be curious if someone 393 00:19:15,177 --> 00:19:20,737 Speaker 2: told you that you could go and advise the Kurds. 394 00:19:20,337 --> 00:19:22,337 Speaker 3: Just theoretically, if this kind of thing were happening. 395 00:19:22,337 --> 00:19:24,457 Speaker 2: I don't know, But if I told you that you 396 00:19:24,497 --> 00:19:28,297 Speaker 2: could go and advise the Kurds on the ground, I'm 397 00:19:28,297 --> 00:19:33,697 Speaker 2: sorry the Ukrainians. You already advised the Kurds, the Ukrainians 398 00:19:33,777 --> 00:19:38,377 Speaker 2: on the ground to help them against the Russians. And 399 00:19:38,497 --> 00:19:40,297 Speaker 2: I really mean this honestly, like, would you want any 400 00:19:40,337 --> 00:19:42,737 Speaker 2: part of that fight? Would you say, you know what, 401 00:19:42,817 --> 00:19:45,417 Speaker 2: I want to go and possibly, you know, take the 402 00:19:45,497 --> 00:19:48,177 Speaker 2: risks of we all know what can happen over there. 403 00:19:48,177 --> 00:19:49,097 Speaker 3: How would you feel about that? 404 00:19:50,577 --> 00:19:53,657 Speaker 1: I would advise the Ukrainians to make peace as quickly 405 00:19:53,697 --> 00:19:56,777 Speaker 1: as possible on the best possible terms they could get, 406 00:19:56,857 --> 00:19:59,817 Speaker 1: because I think that's that is the best possible outcome 407 00:19:59,857 --> 00:20:03,217 Speaker 1: for them right now. And that's that's not the narrative 408 00:20:03,217 --> 00:20:06,057 Speaker 1: that you get from the mainstream media. You know, obviously 409 00:20:06,097 --> 00:20:08,737 Speaker 1: they you know a lot of these people, these warhawks 410 00:20:08,737 --> 00:20:11,857 Speaker 1: and meocons and you know, unfortunately lives now. You know, 411 00:20:11,897 --> 00:20:15,057 Speaker 1: they're they're willing to fight to the last drop of 412 00:20:15,137 --> 00:20:18,457 Speaker 1: blood of someone else. You know, like namely the Ukrainian people, 413 00:20:19,337 --> 00:20:21,377 Speaker 1: you know, and the allies who are who are helping 414 00:20:21,417 --> 00:20:23,817 Speaker 1: them in that fight. But you know, I just think that, 415 00:20:24,097 --> 00:20:27,657 Speaker 1: you know, I'm I'm not willing to go over there 416 00:20:27,857 --> 00:20:29,817 Speaker 1: or send someone that I love to go fight for 417 00:20:29,897 --> 00:20:35,097 Speaker 1: the territorial sovereignty of the frontiers of Eastern Europe, especially 418 00:20:35,137 --> 00:20:37,937 Speaker 1: when there's ethnic conflict there that you know, most people, 419 00:20:38,097 --> 00:20:40,217 Speaker 1: you know don't even have the beginnings of an understanding 420 00:20:40,257 --> 00:20:43,137 Speaker 1: of and you know, especially when here in the United 421 00:20:43,137 --> 00:20:46,897 Speaker 1: States we don't have territorial sovereignty over our own country. 422 00:20:47,057 --> 00:20:49,057 Speaker 1: You know, let's just let's just be very blunt. I mean, 423 00:20:49,097 --> 00:20:51,577 Speaker 1: we we don't have a southern border. You know, I 424 00:20:51,857 --> 00:20:55,257 Speaker 1: talk to people who are with border patrol. There's actually 425 00:20:55,297 --> 00:20:57,537 Speaker 1: kind of a developing story that's you know, people who 426 00:20:57,537 --> 00:21:01,137 Speaker 1: are plugged in or following. Actually our northern border is 427 00:21:01,177 --> 00:21:04,057 Speaker 1: actually becoming more and more of an issue. You know, 428 00:21:04,137 --> 00:21:05,537 Speaker 1: these these you know, the. 429 00:21:05,937 --> 00:21:08,337 Speaker 2: The numbers are a lot smaller, but the percentage increase 430 00:21:08,457 --> 00:21:10,137 Speaker 2: is substantial. 431 00:21:10,417 --> 00:21:13,537 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And you know it makes sense because there's not 432 00:21:13,617 --> 00:21:16,097 Speaker 1: as much media attention on our northern border now, and 433 00:21:16,137 --> 00:21:18,537 Speaker 1: so you know, in the in the age of globalization 434 00:21:18,657 --> 00:21:20,777 Speaker 1: and transportation, people can get there I. 435 00:21:20,777 --> 00:21:23,057 Speaker 2: Mean, I think that if you can get to Mexico, 436 00:21:23,217 --> 00:21:25,337 Speaker 2: your chance. Now, I've spent a fair amount of time 437 00:21:25,377 --> 00:21:27,217 Speaker 2: at the border and a bunch of different locations right 438 00:21:27,217 --> 00:21:30,097 Speaker 2: along the border patrol, spending time with those guys and gals. 439 00:21:31,617 --> 00:21:37,297 Speaker 2: You know, I would I would bet that. I mean, 440 00:21:37,377 --> 00:21:39,937 Speaker 2: if you were telling me, never mind getting getting myself 441 00:21:39,977 --> 00:21:41,937 Speaker 2: into the country illegally, if I chose to do that 442 00:21:41,977 --> 00:21:44,497 Speaker 2: across the southern border, I'd give ten to one odds 443 00:21:44,497 --> 00:21:45,937 Speaker 2: that I'm able to get into the country. 444 00:21:46,977 --> 00:21:47,177 Speaker 3: You know. 445 00:21:47,337 --> 00:21:50,697 Speaker 2: Now that's not including the idea of like surrendering, right, 446 00:21:50,737 --> 00:21:51,817 Speaker 2: I mean, because that's what a lot. 447 00:21:51,697 --> 00:21:53,177 Speaker 3: Of the family units and others have done. 448 00:21:53,337 --> 00:21:55,417 Speaker 2: But if you're just saying streakshot into America, I think 449 00:21:55,457 --> 00:21:58,577 Speaker 2: ten to one I can because I know the cartel games, 450 00:21:58,577 --> 00:22:00,457 Speaker 2: I know what they do. So if you just replicate that, 451 00:22:00,497 --> 00:22:02,537 Speaker 2: you'll be able to get in pretty easily. Put them 452 00:22:02,537 --> 00:22:06,057 Speaker 2: at the northern border, you know, I feel like that's 453 00:22:06,177 --> 00:22:08,937 Speaker 2: wide open. That's got to be super easy to get across. 454 00:22:08,977 --> 00:22:11,577 Speaker 2: We have almost no protection up there whatsoever. So if 455 00:22:11,617 --> 00:22:13,617 Speaker 2: people figure out, well, if you can, you know, if 456 00:22:13,617 --> 00:22:15,377 Speaker 2: you can fly to camp mean, especially for the people 457 00:22:15,377 --> 00:22:19,417 Speaker 2: that aren't coming via foot and train, you know, from 458 00:22:19,457 --> 00:22:23,617 Speaker 2: Central America, specifically in Northern Triangle countries. People forget they're 459 00:22:23,617 --> 00:22:27,417 Speaker 2: coming from Pailand, They're coming from West Africa, they're coming 460 00:22:27,457 --> 00:22:30,777 Speaker 2: from China, from Pakistan, all over the world, right, the 461 00:22:30,817 --> 00:22:35,177 Speaker 2: illegal traffic across the border, so that means planes. So 462 00:22:35,297 --> 00:22:37,137 Speaker 2: at some point it is interesting to think about. You know, 463 00:22:37,217 --> 00:22:39,577 Speaker 2: I guess it depends on who you know, who's allowed 464 00:22:39,577 --> 00:22:42,017 Speaker 2: into Canada, but it would be easier to come across. 465 00:22:43,497 --> 00:22:44,937 Speaker 1: You asked me a question, I mean, what's what's a 466 00:22:44,977 --> 00:22:48,377 Speaker 1: fight that I believe in? Securing America's borders is a 467 00:22:48,417 --> 00:22:50,177 Speaker 1: fight that I believe in. I mean, I made the 468 00:22:50,217 --> 00:22:53,137 Speaker 1: point on social media a couple of months ago. It's 469 00:22:53,217 --> 00:22:55,297 Speaker 1: it's always struck me as strange that, you know, you 470 00:22:55,377 --> 00:22:59,217 Speaker 1: have these these these warhawks and neocons and everyone, you know, 471 00:22:59,297 --> 00:23:03,137 Speaker 1: beating the war drums, you know, supporting literally every possible 472 00:23:03,777 --> 00:23:07,657 Speaker 1: foreign intervention, you know, I mean, like they'll back any 473 00:23:08,137 --> 00:23:11,777 Speaker 1: proposed military action if it's done by NATO or the 474 00:23:11,857 --> 00:23:15,017 Speaker 1: United States or the UN. But you never hear them 475 00:23:15,057 --> 00:23:18,417 Speaker 1: mention like destroying the Mexican drug cartels or you know, 476 00:23:18,537 --> 00:23:22,657 Speaker 1: utilizing America's armed forces to supplement border patrol on the 477 00:23:22,697 --> 00:23:26,057 Speaker 1: southern or northern border. And like, look, I'm not someone 478 00:23:26,097 --> 00:23:29,777 Speaker 1: who trusts the Pentagon, the DD or our military establishment 479 00:23:29,817 --> 00:23:32,137 Speaker 1: to do the right thing at all times. But it's 480 00:23:32,177 --> 00:23:34,857 Speaker 1: just curious to me they've never never even floated that. 481 00:23:34,937 --> 00:23:37,897 Speaker 1: You never hear Lindsey Graham, you know, talking about like, 482 00:23:37,937 --> 00:23:40,577 Speaker 1: you know, spinning up America's military to destroy the cartels. 483 00:23:40,857 --> 00:23:43,097 Speaker 1: He may have jumped on that bandwagon after people pointed 484 00:23:43,097 --> 00:23:45,897 Speaker 1: that out, but I just think that's strange. That's a 485 00:23:45,897 --> 00:23:47,577 Speaker 1: fight that I believe in. I mean, you want to 486 00:23:47,577 --> 00:23:51,457 Speaker 1: solve America's recruiting crisis, and when it comes to military personnel, 487 00:23:51,777 --> 00:23:55,337 Speaker 1: you know, like actually have a you know, a dedicated campaign. 488 00:23:55,337 --> 00:23:57,297 Speaker 1: I mean like like Trump kind of dipped his toe 489 00:23:57,337 --> 00:24:00,217 Speaker 1: in on possibly using the military. I mean one of 490 00:24:00,257 --> 00:24:02,297 Speaker 1: the one of our sister brigades with one hundred and 491 00:24:02,337 --> 00:24:05,537 Speaker 1: first Airborne was you know, quote deployed to Arizona on 492 00:24:05,537 --> 00:24:07,697 Speaker 1: the southern border. They didn't really do anything, they didn't 493 00:24:07,697 --> 00:24:10,937 Speaker 1: have the authority to really interdict, you know, the illegals 494 00:24:10,977 --> 00:24:13,457 Speaker 1: coming across the border. But I mean I would love 495 00:24:13,537 --> 00:24:17,057 Speaker 1: I mean, like some of our best military you know leaders, 496 00:24:17,417 --> 00:24:20,417 Speaker 1: I believe Douglas MacArthur. When he was a young lieutenant 497 00:24:20,497 --> 00:24:22,937 Speaker 1: or captain, he was involved in the you know, the 498 00:24:22,977 --> 00:24:26,817 Speaker 1: Poncho Villa cross border raids. And I mean like like, 499 00:24:27,337 --> 00:24:31,537 Speaker 1: using the military to secure our southern border has long 500 00:24:31,657 --> 00:24:34,897 Speaker 1: been well within the traditions of American foreign policy. So 501 00:24:35,057 --> 00:24:36,977 Speaker 1: I mean, that's a fight that I believe in. 502 00:24:37,577 --> 00:24:38,777 Speaker 3: Let's come back to that in a second. 503 00:24:38,817 --> 00:24:40,017 Speaker 2: So when I ask you a question about how we 504 00:24:40,017 --> 00:24:43,697 Speaker 2: should handle the cartels, but on a on a happier 505 00:24:43,737 --> 00:24:46,817 Speaker 2: and more comfortable note. My Pillow is an amazing company 506 00:24:46,857 --> 00:24:49,497 Speaker 2: because of folks like you who realize these are great 507 00:24:49,537 --> 00:24:52,137 Speaker 2: products that'll help you get the best night sleep of 508 00:24:52,137 --> 00:24:54,817 Speaker 2: your life. And now the pillows started at all, but 509 00:24:54,857 --> 00:24:57,097 Speaker 2: for a lot of people myself included the sheets and 510 00:24:57,137 --> 00:24:59,257 Speaker 2: the slippers. 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Get those Giza Dream Sheets and 527 00:25:41,777 --> 00:25:43,657 Speaker 2: whatever else you like, and make sure you use promo 528 00:25:43,777 --> 00:25:48,177 Speaker 2: code buck. Okay, so you were you were up there 529 00:25:48,217 --> 00:25:51,057 Speaker 2: in northern Iraq. You saw the situation with ISIS, which 530 00:25:51,137 --> 00:25:54,337 Speaker 2: was a there was a little more conventional actually military 531 00:25:54,417 --> 00:25:56,577 Speaker 2: fight than what I had seen, which was a clearly 532 00:25:57,737 --> 00:26:01,057 Speaker 2: a counterinsurgency. You know. It was much more find the 533 00:26:01,097 --> 00:26:05,897 Speaker 2: bad guys, kicking the doors and arrest them if possible. 534 00:26:05,937 --> 00:26:11,217 Speaker 3: Often it wasn't possible cartels, fight the cartels. 535 00:26:10,737 --> 00:26:14,817 Speaker 2: With the military, and obviously the intelligence force intelligence community 536 00:26:14,817 --> 00:26:16,737 Speaker 2: would be a big part of this too, so it 537 00:26:16,737 --> 00:26:18,537 Speaker 2: would be kind of like dealing with al Qaeda, you know, 538 00:26:18,977 --> 00:26:21,417 Speaker 2: looking for individuals and networks and things like that, not 539 00:26:21,977 --> 00:26:24,657 Speaker 2: you know, brigade versus brigade combat maneuvers. 540 00:26:25,017 --> 00:26:26,577 Speaker 3: What do you think of that idea? Do we send 541 00:26:26,577 --> 00:26:28,457 Speaker 3: the military after the cartels in Mexico? 542 00:26:29,977 --> 00:26:33,057 Speaker 1: Well, I think it's a it's an all the above strategy. 543 00:26:33,137 --> 00:26:35,777 Speaker 1: I mean, you leverage intelligence, you leverage your power, and 544 00:26:35,777 --> 00:26:40,097 Speaker 1: obviously you leverage you know, conventional and special ground forces. 545 00:26:40,897 --> 00:26:43,217 Speaker 1: You know. But I'm just I'm tired of people who, 546 00:26:43,937 --> 00:26:45,777 Speaker 1: you know, you mentioned things like this and they just 547 00:26:45,857 --> 00:26:47,937 Speaker 1: kind of scoff like it's not possible. I mean, you know, 548 00:26:47,977 --> 00:26:51,657 Speaker 1: look at what Nai Bucal is doing in El Salvador. 549 00:26:51,777 --> 00:26:53,537 Speaker 1: I mean, this is a guy who I mean, I'm 550 00:26:53,537 --> 00:26:55,177 Speaker 1: as high on this guy as a world leader as 551 00:26:55,217 --> 00:26:57,657 Speaker 1: I am on anyone. I mean, he's he's one of 552 00:26:57,657 --> 00:27:01,217 Speaker 1: these guys who's just who's showing He's showing the world 553 00:27:01,257 --> 00:27:05,897 Speaker 1: what's possible with genuine leadership. I mean El Salvador, you know, 554 00:27:05,977 --> 00:27:09,097 Speaker 1: had the the world's highest murder rate not too long ago, 555 00:27:09,537 --> 00:27:11,977 Speaker 1: and you know, it would it's laughable, it would have 556 00:27:11,977 --> 00:27:14,537 Speaker 1: been laughable to assume that, you know, someone could come 557 00:27:14,537 --> 00:27:18,257 Speaker 1: in there and neutralize these gangs that have been terrorizing 558 00:27:18,297 --> 00:27:21,537 Speaker 1: and ruining the country for generations. But he came in 559 00:27:21,577 --> 00:27:23,697 Speaker 1: and did that and it wasn't easy. And yeah, I 560 00:27:23,697 --> 00:27:26,737 Speaker 1: mean he was a mixture of you know, hard and 561 00:27:26,777 --> 00:27:30,177 Speaker 1: soft power. But it is possible, and you know, we 562 00:27:30,337 --> 00:27:32,857 Speaker 1: just you know, I use bucal At as an example, 563 00:27:32,937 --> 00:27:35,217 Speaker 1: you know, I use Governor Ron DeSantis as an example. 564 00:27:35,457 --> 00:27:37,297 Speaker 1: I mean, just people on the right in America, we 565 00:27:37,377 --> 00:27:40,057 Speaker 1: don't even know what excellence looks like. We don't even 566 00:27:40,377 --> 00:27:43,217 Speaker 1: we don't have any conception about what is or is 567 00:27:43,297 --> 00:27:45,817 Speaker 1: not great. And you know, we have these beacons. We 568 00:27:45,897 --> 00:27:48,177 Speaker 1: have people who are showing us Hey, if we just 569 00:27:48,217 --> 00:27:50,577 Speaker 1: have people, if we have leaders on our side who 570 00:27:50,657 --> 00:27:53,217 Speaker 1: have the will, who have the force of will to 571 00:27:53,297 --> 00:27:55,617 Speaker 1: actually do this, who were going to pin their ears 572 00:27:55,697 --> 00:27:57,577 Speaker 1: back and just get it done, I mean like, yeah, 573 00:27:57,617 --> 00:27:59,657 Speaker 1: well you know, like you kind of you know, it's 574 00:27:59,657 --> 00:28:01,617 Speaker 1: it's as Coach Belichick would say, it's it's part. 575 00:28:01,457 --> 00:28:02,137 Speaker 3: Of the process. 576 00:28:02,257 --> 00:28:04,897 Speaker 1: You know, it's it's it's something that you know, you 577 00:28:04,897 --> 00:28:07,497 Speaker 1: you know, you adjust and things go wrong, you fix them, 578 00:28:07,577 --> 00:28:09,977 Speaker 1: and things you know, you you get it done over time, 579 00:28:10,577 --> 00:28:13,897 Speaker 1: But it starts with just having that iron will that 580 00:28:13,937 --> 00:28:15,817 Speaker 1: you're not gonna let anyone tell you that it can't 581 00:28:15,817 --> 00:28:18,577 Speaker 1: be done. You have an in state in mind, and 582 00:28:18,817 --> 00:28:21,417 Speaker 1: you know you're not gonna know just one more thing 583 00:28:21,457 --> 00:28:24,137 Speaker 1: about like about you know, this, this this idea of 584 00:28:24,257 --> 00:28:27,857 Speaker 1: leadership I'm sick of. You know, for so many years 585 00:28:27,937 --> 00:28:30,137 Speaker 1: people on the right were captive to people like Frank 586 00:28:30,217 --> 00:28:33,537 Speaker 1: Luntz and you know, people who like they think that 587 00:28:33,737 --> 00:28:37,697 Speaker 1: leaders are supposed to follow public opinion. You know, you know, 588 00:28:37,737 --> 00:28:40,137 Speaker 1: one of the greatest things about Governor DeSantis is he's 589 00:28:40,217 --> 00:28:43,817 Speaker 1: very clear that he doesn't govern by following public opinion. 590 00:28:44,097 --> 00:28:47,657 Speaker 1: He has the Steve Jobs model of leadership in mind. 591 00:28:47,657 --> 00:28:49,177 Speaker 1: And you know Steve Jobs of famous I think he 592 00:28:49,217 --> 00:28:52,257 Speaker 1: borrowed this saying from Henry Ford. You know I'm paraphrasing, 593 00:28:52,297 --> 00:28:54,377 Speaker 1: but essentially he said, you know, people don't know what 594 00:28:54,377 --> 00:28:57,177 Speaker 1: they want. You have to show them what they want 595 00:28:57,457 --> 00:28:59,417 Speaker 1: and then they'll follow you. You know, like like no 596 00:28:59,417 --> 00:29:02,177 Speaker 1: one could have envisioned the iPhone. They wouldn't have responded 597 00:29:02,177 --> 00:29:05,017 Speaker 1: to a Frank Lunz poll and said I want an iPhone. No, 598 00:29:05,137 --> 00:29:08,017 Speaker 1: Steve Jobs showed them the iPhone, and then of course 599 00:29:08,057 --> 00:29:10,017 Speaker 1: now everyone has an iPhone. Same thing with the vehicle, 600 00:29:10,297 --> 00:29:12,937 Speaker 1: and the same thing with leaders like Naive Buclet and 601 00:29:13,017 --> 00:29:15,937 Speaker 1: Ronda Santis. That's what leadership is. It's not following, you know, 602 00:29:15,977 --> 00:29:19,817 Speaker 1: Frank Lunz's polls. It's actually, you know, like having the 603 00:29:19,937 --> 00:29:23,577 Speaker 1: will to solve a problem and showing the people that 604 00:29:23,617 --> 00:29:25,897 Speaker 1: it's possible. So that's I mean, I want to see 605 00:29:25,937 --> 00:29:28,817 Speaker 1: more people like that rise in American politics or else. 606 00:29:28,937 --> 00:29:30,577 Speaker 1: You know, we're in We're in deep trouble. 607 00:29:30,857 --> 00:29:36,217 Speaker 2: It's fascinating that Bucule and El Salvador used prison labor 608 00:29:36,737 --> 00:29:39,857 Speaker 2: prisoners MS thirteen prisoners to destroy I'm sure you saw 609 00:29:39,897 --> 00:29:44,537 Speaker 2: this the graves of MS thirteen gang members because they 610 00:29:44,577 --> 00:29:48,217 Speaker 2: were being used as gathering sites in the cemeteries. So 611 00:29:48,257 --> 00:29:51,817 Speaker 2: they just if your gravestone said anything about MS thirteen, 612 00:29:51,937 --> 00:29:55,057 Speaker 2: they just turned into rubble. Not allowed to have public 613 00:29:55,137 --> 00:29:59,177 Speaker 2: displays of anything having to do with Mara. Salvatrucia, he's 614 00:29:59,217 --> 00:30:01,297 Speaker 2: he's hardcore about it, man. He treats it like he 615 00:30:01,377 --> 00:30:04,017 Speaker 2: says this. I've heard him in an interview saying that 616 00:30:04,537 --> 00:30:07,657 Speaker 2: he views the threat of MS thirteen the way that 617 00:30:07,737 --> 00:30:10,777 Speaker 2: he thinks people in Germany should treat Nazi as, which 618 00:30:10,817 --> 00:30:13,897 Speaker 2: is that it is a threat to the live, safety 619 00:30:14,457 --> 00:30:16,297 Speaker 2: of lives and safety of the people, and also a 620 00:30:16,297 --> 00:30:19,937 Speaker 2: threat to the very integrity of the state itself. And 621 00:30:20,017 --> 00:30:22,017 Speaker 2: for a small country in Central America to take that 622 00:30:22,057 --> 00:30:24,297 Speaker 2: approach and obviously have some results early on, I think 623 00:30:24,377 --> 00:30:28,177 Speaker 2: is really interesting. I've got a couple of NFL questions 624 00:30:28,177 --> 00:30:29,737 Speaker 2: for you when we come back in a second. Here, 625 00:30:29,777 --> 00:30:32,457 Speaker 2: So hold on for a minute. Everybody, you will see 626 00:30:32,457 --> 00:30:34,457 Speaker 2: if you're watching this, if you're not watching, if you're 627 00:30:34,497 --> 00:30:36,937 Speaker 2: only subscribing on the podcast, which most of you listen 628 00:30:36,977 --> 00:30:39,497 Speaker 2: to the podcast, but there's also YouTube. Go to YouTube 629 00:30:39,537 --> 00:30:41,697 Speaker 2: dot com slash box Sex and we've got video there. 630 00:30:42,097 --> 00:30:43,777 Speaker 2: You can see that my friend Jake here has a 631 00:30:43,857 --> 00:30:47,537 Speaker 2: fantastic beard. 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That's 651 00:31:39,537 --> 00:31:43,897 Speaker 2: one write it out one blade shave dot com, slash 652 00:31:43,977 --> 00:31:47,737 Speaker 2: buck one bladeshave dot com slash bucket twenty percent off 653 00:31:47,737 --> 00:31:50,577 Speaker 2: your order. It's just really high end product, really sleek, 654 00:31:50,737 --> 00:31:55,417 Speaker 2: and gives you a super close shave. All right, mister Beckett. First, 655 00:31:55,417 --> 00:31:59,217 Speaker 2: so all you mentioned Bill Belichick. I know a million 656 00:31:59,217 --> 00:32:00,377 Speaker 2: people have asked you, but I haven't. 657 00:32:00,377 --> 00:32:00,937 Speaker 3: What's you like? 658 00:32:02,817 --> 00:32:05,257 Speaker 1: Well, he's a genius. He's one of the greatest leaders 659 00:32:05,377 --> 00:32:08,537 Speaker 1: I've ever been around in the civilian world or the military. 660 00:32:09,257 --> 00:32:13,297 Speaker 1: I did my last potdcast actually on the Patriots Dynasty 661 00:32:13,417 --> 00:32:15,657 Speaker 1: and and what we used to call the Patriot Way. 662 00:32:16,417 --> 00:32:20,097 Speaker 1: And you know, Coach Belichick had a very simple set 663 00:32:20,137 --> 00:32:23,177 Speaker 1: of rules for the team. You know, do your job, 664 00:32:23,257 --> 00:32:26,337 Speaker 1: work hard, be intentive, put the team first. You know, 665 00:32:26,337 --> 00:32:28,417 Speaker 1: those those were the four rules you know that you 666 00:32:28,497 --> 00:32:30,977 Speaker 1: had to abide by when you know, when you when 667 00:32:30,977 --> 00:32:32,737 Speaker 1: you step into the Patriots facility, you know, when you 668 00:32:32,777 --> 00:32:35,457 Speaker 1: became a new England Patriot. And you know he was 669 00:32:35,617 --> 00:32:37,937 Speaker 1: he was able to push us very hard. I mean, 670 00:32:37,977 --> 00:32:40,657 Speaker 1: there were so many stories of other veterans coming in 671 00:32:40,697 --> 00:32:43,617 Speaker 1: from different teams, either by trades or free agency or whatever, 672 00:32:44,177 --> 00:32:46,097 Speaker 1: and after a week or so, you know, they would 673 00:32:46,137 --> 00:32:48,577 Speaker 1: just quit the team. I mean, like big name guys 674 00:32:48,577 --> 00:32:52,417 Speaker 1: like you know, Reggie Wayne, Robert Gallery, Kellen Winslow. I mean, 675 00:32:52,497 --> 00:32:55,577 Speaker 1: like you know, brand name players. And I'm not denegrating 676 00:32:55,617 --> 00:32:57,657 Speaker 1: these guys, but you know they would come in and 677 00:32:57,737 --> 00:33:01,177 Speaker 1: after seven, seven or ten days of Patriots training camp, 678 00:33:01,577 --> 00:33:03,697 Speaker 1: they would go to Bill and just say, hey, coach, 679 00:33:04,017 --> 00:33:06,337 Speaker 1: you know this isn't for me. I'm going to retire, 680 00:33:06,737 --> 00:33:08,817 Speaker 1: and like that's you know, other other players who came 681 00:33:08,857 --> 00:33:11,577 Speaker 1: in could not believe how hard he worked, how hard 682 00:33:11,737 --> 00:33:14,737 Speaker 1: Bill coached the players. You know, but we were all 683 00:33:14,737 --> 00:33:16,617 Speaker 1: on the same page, you know, we all marched the 684 00:33:16,617 --> 00:33:19,537 Speaker 1: beat of the same drum. You know, Tom Brady was 685 00:33:19,577 --> 00:33:22,337 Speaker 1: a huge, huge reason for that. You know, I like 686 00:33:22,417 --> 00:33:25,857 Speaker 1: to tell the story of my first ever Patriots team meeting. 687 00:33:26,177 --> 00:33:27,897 Speaker 1: You know, I'm a brand new rookie coming in there 688 00:33:27,937 --> 00:33:31,737 Speaker 1: in May. It was like our first first spring mini 689 00:33:31,737 --> 00:33:34,737 Speaker 1: camp team meeting that the team had just lost the 690 00:33:34,737 --> 00:33:36,457 Speaker 1: Super Bowl to the Giants the year before that. I 691 00:33:36,497 --> 00:33:38,577 Speaker 1: got there and you know, he was just kind of 692 00:33:38,577 --> 00:33:40,657 Speaker 1: the first team meeting, kind of a nothing meeting. Bill's 693 00:33:40,697 --> 00:33:42,897 Speaker 1: just kind of laying out his expectations for Mini camp 694 00:33:43,377 --> 00:33:46,017 Speaker 1: and Tom Brady comes in and he's sitting front row center. 695 00:33:46,377 --> 00:33:47,697 Speaker 1: You know, he didn't have to do that, but he 696 00:33:47,777 --> 00:33:50,577 Speaker 1: sat front row center every single day. And in this 697 00:33:50,697 --> 00:33:53,297 Speaker 1: first ever team meeting, I'm sitting there, Brady's just he's 698 00:33:53,337 --> 00:33:55,937 Speaker 1: got his notepad, He's sitting up and he's just scribbling 699 00:33:56,017 --> 00:33:59,017 Speaker 1: notes furiously. He's trying to soak in every bit of 700 00:33:59,097 --> 00:34:01,497 Speaker 1: knowledge that Bill was sharing with us. And he had 701 00:34:01,497 --> 00:34:04,457 Speaker 1: probably heard the same meeting ten or fifteen times, the 702 00:34:04,497 --> 00:34:07,737 Speaker 1: same spiel, but he was trying to glean that extra 703 00:34:07,777 --> 00:34:09,697 Speaker 1: bit of knowledge. But I think what he was really 704 00:34:09,697 --> 00:34:12,857 Speaker 1: doing he was setting the example for all the new guys. 705 00:34:13,097 --> 00:34:15,897 Speaker 1: He was he was setting the tone for everyone else 706 00:34:15,937 --> 00:34:18,777 Speaker 1: who was sitting right behind him in that team meeting room, 707 00:34:18,817 --> 00:34:20,577 Speaker 1: you know, in the in the rows above him, and 708 00:34:20,737 --> 00:34:24,257 Speaker 1: you could see Tom Brady just just so attentive in 709 00:34:24,337 --> 00:34:29,257 Speaker 1: taking notes and engage intellectually and mentally engaged. And you 710 00:34:29,297 --> 00:34:30,897 Speaker 1: know that was that was the kind of leadership we 711 00:34:30,977 --> 00:34:33,737 Speaker 1: had from the coaching staff, from the Marquee players, guys 712 00:34:33,857 --> 00:34:36,417 Speaker 1: like like Tom and Gronk and Vince will Fork and 713 00:34:36,457 --> 00:34:39,537 Speaker 1: Matthew Slater and so many others. You know, it was 714 00:34:39,537 --> 00:34:42,857 Speaker 1: just an absolute machine. And that I tell stories like 715 00:34:42,897 --> 00:34:45,737 Speaker 1: that to really explain what is the Patriot Way because 716 00:34:45,817 --> 00:34:48,337 Speaker 1: it's not just for football, you know, it's for any 717 00:34:48,417 --> 00:34:51,217 Speaker 1: Any leader can learn from the Patriot Way. You know, 718 00:34:51,257 --> 00:34:54,297 Speaker 1: whether you're in politics, or in business or in media, 719 00:34:54,377 --> 00:34:56,737 Speaker 1: whatever it is. You know, if you if you follow 720 00:34:56,777 --> 00:34:59,417 Speaker 1: those rules and you and you hold people accountable, do 721 00:34:59,537 --> 00:35:02,137 Speaker 1: your job, be attentive, work hard, put the team first, 722 00:35:02,617 --> 00:35:03,697 Speaker 1: you're going to have success. 723 00:35:04,217 --> 00:35:07,017 Speaker 2: What was your favorite part of being an NFL? What 724 00:35:07,097 --> 00:35:08,857 Speaker 2: were you a linebacker? By the way, is that right? 725 00:35:09,577 --> 00:35:12,977 Speaker 1: I was a de defensive end, tight end, special teams player, 726 00:35:13,137 --> 00:35:15,297 Speaker 1: I was. I was a utility guy. Okay, I kind 727 00:35:15,297 --> 00:35:15,897 Speaker 1: of did everything. 728 00:35:16,977 --> 00:35:20,337 Speaker 2: What was your favorite part of playing in the NFL, 729 00:35:20,537 --> 00:35:24,137 Speaker 2: And what was the part that wasn't so great? 730 00:35:25,417 --> 00:35:28,097 Speaker 1: I mean, the best part was being around people who 731 00:35:28,177 --> 00:35:30,897 Speaker 1: were the greatest at what they do. And you know, 732 00:35:30,937 --> 00:35:34,257 Speaker 1: I I was I was very you know, humbled to 733 00:35:34,857 --> 00:35:37,457 Speaker 1: be drafted by them in the third round and just 734 00:35:37,897 --> 00:35:39,697 Speaker 1: I didn't take it for granted to be around some 735 00:35:39,737 --> 00:35:41,297 Speaker 1: of the great the greatest coach of all time, the 736 00:35:41,337 --> 00:35:43,297 Speaker 1: greatest quarterback of all time, some of the greatest players 737 00:35:43,337 --> 00:35:44,977 Speaker 1: in the league. You know, I think Gronk was the 738 00:35:44,977 --> 00:35:46,417 Speaker 1: best tight end of all time. You know, I was 739 00:35:46,417 --> 00:35:48,017 Speaker 1: in the same tight end meeting room as him for 740 00:35:48,017 --> 00:35:48,537 Speaker 1: two years. 741 00:35:48,577 --> 00:35:50,297 Speaker 3: He seems like a fun guy, by the way, Is 742 00:35:50,297 --> 00:35:52,137 Speaker 3: he a fun guy? Is that? Is that real? 743 00:35:53,257 --> 00:35:56,617 Speaker 1: Gronk is exactly who you imagined him to be. I'll 744 00:35:56,657 --> 00:35:59,257 Speaker 1: tell you a Gronk story. So Gronk, you know, every 745 00:35:59,257 --> 00:36:01,577 Speaker 1: member of the Patriots players and coaches and staff, we 746 00:36:01,617 --> 00:36:04,017 Speaker 1: had these key fobs that gave us twenty four to 747 00:36:04,057 --> 00:36:07,257 Speaker 1: seven access to the facility, you know, at any time, 748 00:36:07,297 --> 00:36:09,337 Speaker 1: and like during the offseason especially, guys come up there 749 00:36:09,337 --> 00:36:11,137 Speaker 1: at night or early morning to get a workout in, 750 00:36:11,617 --> 00:36:14,897 Speaker 1: getting the hot tub, col tub, whatever. And you know, Gronk, 751 00:36:14,977 --> 00:36:17,377 Speaker 1: you know, during the off season, he would, you know, 752 00:36:17,457 --> 00:36:20,177 Speaker 1: he'd go out in Boston or Providence or whatever, you know, 753 00:36:20,217 --> 00:36:22,817 Speaker 1: have a great time, stay out till two or three 754 00:36:22,857 --> 00:36:25,337 Speaker 1: in the morning, and he would have his buddies drop 755 00:36:25,417 --> 00:36:28,257 Speaker 1: him off at the Patriots facility at like three thirty 756 00:36:28,257 --> 00:36:31,017 Speaker 1: in the morning. So he would fob in and go 757 00:36:31,097 --> 00:36:34,257 Speaker 1: straight to the training room and he would find one 758 00:36:34,257 --> 00:36:36,897 Speaker 1: of the training tables and just like pass out, just 759 00:36:36,937 --> 00:36:39,057 Speaker 1: stretch out and go to sleep. And so when the 760 00:36:39,097 --> 00:36:41,337 Speaker 1: trainers would come in in the morning, they would see 761 00:36:41,377 --> 00:36:44,617 Speaker 1: Gronk like still in his like you know, like night 762 00:36:44,657 --> 00:36:47,737 Speaker 1: life clothes, just like sleeping there. They would roll up 763 00:36:47,737 --> 00:36:50,657 Speaker 1: his sleeve at stick an IV in his arm and 764 00:36:50,777 --> 00:36:53,097 Speaker 1: just kind of revive him and he would get up 765 00:36:53,137 --> 00:36:55,817 Speaker 1: after a couple hours and just go be like the 766 00:36:55,817 --> 00:36:58,137 Speaker 1: dominant force that he was. It was about that time 767 00:36:58,177 --> 00:37:00,497 Speaker 1: that it was about that time that I realized that, 768 00:37:00,897 --> 00:37:03,057 Speaker 1: you know, some people are more talented than others. That 769 00:37:03,097 --> 00:37:04,977 Speaker 1: he had a pretty high ceiling like I was, you know, 770 00:37:05,457 --> 00:37:07,857 Speaker 1: I was getting plenty of sleep, do it everything right, 771 00:37:07,937 --> 00:37:10,857 Speaker 1: and like still, this guy was the greatest tight end 772 00:37:10,857 --> 00:37:13,057 Speaker 1: that I had ever seen, you know, but he was. 773 00:37:13,297 --> 00:37:15,697 Speaker 1: He was a great player, a great teammate. You know, 774 00:37:15,777 --> 00:37:18,697 Speaker 1: despite like having a good time on the weekends, he 775 00:37:18,737 --> 00:37:20,817 Speaker 1: worked his butt off when he was you know, when 776 00:37:20,857 --> 00:37:23,057 Speaker 1: it was time to do that, and he was just 777 00:37:23,057 --> 00:37:24,817 Speaker 1: a joy to be around. I mean, just a hell 778 00:37:24,857 --> 00:37:25,497 Speaker 1: of a great guy. 779 00:37:25,817 --> 00:37:26,617 Speaker 3: Was there anything, though? 780 00:37:26,657 --> 00:37:29,817 Speaker 2: I mean just physical punishment to your body or like, 781 00:37:29,817 --> 00:37:31,817 Speaker 2: what was the what was the thing? 782 00:37:31,817 --> 00:37:32,857 Speaker 3: If you had to point to one thing. 783 00:37:32,897 --> 00:37:34,577 Speaker 2: I mean, you're playing in the NFL, right, I feel 784 00:37:34,577 --> 00:37:37,137 Speaker 2: like when people get to that level of success and 785 00:37:37,217 --> 00:37:40,817 Speaker 2: something that's as heralded as that, there's a maybe for 786 00:37:40,857 --> 00:37:42,577 Speaker 2: a lot of folks, a public perception of like it 787 00:37:42,617 --> 00:37:45,417 Speaker 2: just must all be amazing. Nothing is all amazing, right, 788 00:37:45,457 --> 00:37:47,697 Speaker 2: I mean we all know that. So what was either 789 00:37:47,777 --> 00:37:49,897 Speaker 2: the challenge or the thing you wish you could change, 790 00:37:49,937 --> 00:37:51,417 Speaker 2: you know, something that you were just like, ah, that 791 00:37:51,457 --> 00:37:54,537 Speaker 2: part of it's maybe it was a surprise, Maybe it wasn't. 792 00:37:55,577 --> 00:37:57,817 Speaker 1: Yeah, don't get me wrong, it wasn't easy. I mean 793 00:37:57,897 --> 00:37:59,937 Speaker 1: it was I mean I told you those stories of 794 00:38:00,257 --> 00:38:02,217 Speaker 1: some of the greatest NFL players of all time to 795 00:38:02,257 --> 00:38:04,857 Speaker 1: strip quitting because of how tough it was. And yeah, 796 00:38:04,857 --> 00:38:07,777 Speaker 1: there's a lot of physical punishment that goes into playing 797 00:38:07,817 --> 00:38:10,217 Speaker 1: at that level, and you know, Bill's old scho Well, 798 00:38:10,257 --> 00:38:13,297 Speaker 1: he came from the Bill Parcells school of coaching, and 799 00:38:13,817 --> 00:38:16,657 Speaker 1: I mean that was like full contact practices as much 800 00:38:16,697 --> 00:38:19,937 Speaker 1: as possible, you know, all kinds of hitting. We probably 801 00:38:19,937 --> 00:38:22,457 Speaker 1: did more hitting in New England than we did, you know, 802 00:38:22,497 --> 00:38:25,657 Speaker 1: in my college days at the University of Arkansas. So 803 00:38:25,737 --> 00:38:28,297 Speaker 1: you know, it was a it was a huge you know, 804 00:38:28,537 --> 00:38:31,137 Speaker 1: it was very very tough on your body, you know, 805 00:38:31,257 --> 00:38:35,257 Speaker 1: very tough mentally to to to survive and thrive and 806 00:38:35,297 --> 00:38:37,657 Speaker 1: that and that tough of an environment. But you know 807 00:38:37,697 --> 00:38:40,017 Speaker 1: it was a great preparation for what I was, you know, 808 00:38:40,057 --> 00:38:42,817 Speaker 1: gonna do in the military and Rader school, and you know, 809 00:38:42,817 --> 00:38:44,577 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, you know, guy had 810 00:38:44,577 --> 00:38:46,417 Speaker 1: a plan. I would have loved to have played for 811 00:38:46,457 --> 00:38:48,697 Speaker 1: a bit longer in the league, but you know, I 812 00:38:48,737 --> 00:38:51,017 Speaker 1: wouldn't change it, Like going back, I would not change 813 00:38:51,057 --> 00:38:51,697 Speaker 1: a single thing. 814 00:38:52,737 --> 00:38:58,857 Speaker 2: Institutionally, dating a Patriots cheerleader frowned upon or encouraged for players. 815 00:39:00,257 --> 00:39:04,577 Speaker 1: So, uh, they're actually I'm pretty sure it was actually 816 00:39:04,777 --> 00:39:06,897 Speaker 1: it was against their rules. 817 00:39:06,817 --> 00:39:10,017 Speaker 2: For from other another situation, I keep going, I would 818 00:39:10,537 --> 00:39:13,617 Speaker 2: so obviously everybody, Yeah, I mean there is you know, 819 00:39:13,657 --> 00:39:16,817 Speaker 2: there is kind of a double standard there it's from 820 00:39:16,897 --> 00:39:19,177 Speaker 2: from what I remember, it is true that. 821 00:39:19,417 --> 00:39:21,137 Speaker 1: I mean, there were no restrictions on us. I mean, 822 00:39:21,137 --> 00:39:23,857 Speaker 1: we coul date whoever wanted, but for the Patriots cheerleaders, 823 00:39:24,137 --> 00:39:27,017 Speaker 1: they would get fired if they, you know, we were 824 00:39:27,017 --> 00:39:29,697 Speaker 1: caught with one of the players. I'm pretty sure Gronk's 825 00:39:29,697 --> 00:39:33,097 Speaker 1: longtime girlfriend is a former Patriots cheerleader, and like that's 826 00:39:33,337 --> 00:39:36,537 Speaker 1: that's what happened, is you know, they got outed in 827 00:39:36,577 --> 00:39:39,777 Speaker 1: their relationship and she got canned or maybe maybe like 828 00:39:39,817 --> 00:39:42,137 Speaker 1: they went public after she was done or something. But yeah, there, 829 00:39:42,377 --> 00:39:45,577 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure it's against it's against their the cheerleader rules, 830 00:39:46,657 --> 00:39:48,097 Speaker 1: you know, and that's you know, hey that I think 831 00:39:48,137 --> 00:39:48,817 Speaker 1: that's kind. 832 00:39:48,697 --> 00:39:51,297 Speaker 3: Of ridiculous, the cheerleader code of ethics. 833 00:39:51,337 --> 00:39:54,457 Speaker 1: I mean, come on, yeah, I mean I think that's 834 00:39:54,457 --> 00:39:57,217 Speaker 1: that's kind of absurd. Like, I mean American, Like there's 835 00:39:57,217 --> 00:40:00,937 Speaker 1: an old Sports Illustrated cover of when when Miami won 836 00:40:01,017 --> 00:40:03,817 Speaker 1: one of their national championships, you know, the you there's 837 00:40:03,857 --> 00:40:06,257 Speaker 1: this famous you know photo of you know, one of 838 00:40:06,257 --> 00:40:07,937 Speaker 1: the players on the field left of the game, you know, 839 00:40:08,017 --> 00:40:10,777 Speaker 1: kissing the cheerleader. I mean, like people love that, Like 840 00:40:10,817 --> 00:40:14,137 Speaker 1: what's wrong with that? I Mean, I really don't see 841 00:40:14,777 --> 00:40:16,857 Speaker 1: you know, any problem. Maybe it's just me. I don't know, 842 00:40:16,857 --> 00:40:19,497 Speaker 1: maybe there's some other rationale that I'm not seeing. But 843 00:40:19,977 --> 00:40:23,097 Speaker 1: I thought that was kind of a dumb policy. And 844 00:40:23,177 --> 00:40:24,897 Speaker 1: you know, I'm glad that Grant guy as a girl. 845 00:40:25,057 --> 00:40:25,697 Speaker 3: There we go. 846 00:40:25,897 --> 00:40:27,657 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I think all the men of America 847 00:40:27,657 --> 00:40:29,377 Speaker 2: are hitting your saying and some of the ladies. I'm 848 00:40:29,417 --> 00:40:32,137 Speaker 2: sure tour seg it's that's absurd. But anyway, not an 849 00:40:32,177 --> 00:40:35,857 Speaker 2: important topic, but I was curious. Anyway, Jake, you're doing 850 00:40:35,857 --> 00:40:36,217 Speaker 2: great work. 851 00:40:36,217 --> 00:40:37,937 Speaker 3: Where should people go to listen to your podcast? 852 00:40:38,977 --> 00:40:43,977 Speaker 1: Yeah, we're on all platforms, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, the 853 00:40:44,057 --> 00:40:47,657 Speaker 1: Jake Beckett Show podcast like subscribe, leave a good review. 854 00:40:48,657 --> 00:40:51,177 Speaker 1: You know, it's been great. We're seven or eight episodes 855 00:40:51,217 --> 00:40:54,537 Speaker 1: in right now, and it's been a great project thus far. 856 00:40:54,617 --> 00:40:57,297 Speaker 1: So give us a give us a listen there, and 857 00:40:57,497 --> 00:40:59,457 Speaker 1: you can find me on social media on Twitter at 858 00:40:59,577 --> 00:41:03,137 Speaker 1: Jake Beckett ninety one. So yeah, that's that's where you 859 00:41:03,177 --> 00:41:03,617 Speaker 1: can find me. 860 00:41:04,497 --> 00:41:06,697 Speaker 3: Jake, thank you for your service and thank you for 861 00:41:06,737 --> 00:41:06,977 Speaker 3: your time. 862 00:41:07,017 --> 00:41:07,137 Speaker 1: Man. 863 00:41:07,137 --> 00:41:08,457 Speaker 3: I appreciate you being with us. 864 00:41:08,897 --> 00:41:09,497 Speaker 1: Thanks for having me. 865 00:41:09,497 --> 00:41:09,737 Speaker 3: Buck