1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to this league, uncut in the world of twenty 2 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: four hour NBA news, Just do you lose Chris Hanes, 3 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: It's time, Mark Stein, It's show time. Shakalaka Chris Hanes 4 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: and Mark Stein. This link, uncutt is underway and then fire. 5 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: This should be a good one. It will be a 6 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: good one, even though we're a day late. And the 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: fact that we are at day late is totally completely 8 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: my fault. Chris Haynes is the one with the crazy 9 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: travel schedule. He's the one who has at least one 10 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,480 Speaker 1: midweek game that needs to go to often too. He's 11 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: on planes all week long. I am not, but it 12 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: is me. Mark Stein put this one on me. Sunday 13 00:00:54,760 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: I covered Sons MAVs in Dallas, which started early lean 14 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 1: really was one of the best regular season showcases of 15 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 1: the season, just a great really, as good as a 16 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 1: regular season game can be. And from there I bolted 17 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 1: very quickly to the airport to make a west coast trip. 18 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: Sources say I may or may not be in the 19 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:28,320 Speaker 1: desert right now at the most idyllic tennis setting in 20 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 1: the world known as Indian wells Sources cannot confirm that, 21 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: but it may be true. So between all that travel Sunday, 22 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: I was not I. It was me. I was not 23 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: able to get pinned down long enough for us to 24 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: record this, so we moved it back one day. But 25 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: of course no shortage of stuff to get into. And 26 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: I think it's safe to say we can only start 27 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: in one place with where things are in this league. 28 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: The John Morant situation in Men this absolutely shocking. It 29 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: was just last week that we had a very explosive 30 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 1: investigative report from the Washington Post citing various police reports 31 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: about alleged incidents involving Morant and some people close to him, 32 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: and that naturally created quite a stir after the incident 33 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:29,119 Speaker 1: in late January where members of the Indiana Pacers traveling 34 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: party alleged that they also felt threatened by some of 35 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 1: the people who were close to Jaw. And after all 36 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: of those things, early Saturday morning hours, the Grizzlies lose 37 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 1: in Denver. It is Jaw on his own social media channel, 38 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: live streaming on Instagram, Jah live streaming himself with what 39 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: appeared to be a gun. You know, absolute shockwaves all 40 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: around the league. You know, obviously he is on this 41 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: minimum two game leave of absence from the Grizzlies, but 42 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: you know, one suspects he's going to be away from 43 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: the team for a longer period. Man. You know, I've 44 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,839 Speaker 1: seen different people weigh in on this and the commentary 45 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: behind it, and I get it. I understand, am I. 46 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,920 Speaker 1: I'm not surprised by any of it. I'm really not. 47 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,119 Speaker 1: You know that probably sounds bad to say I'm not, 48 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: but um, John, Like, I'm not trying to lecture joh 49 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: at this point because everybody's doing it. But he knows 50 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: he can't behave that, you know, he can't behave this 51 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: way at the face of a franchise with a signature 52 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: shoe that just recently came out. You know, he's arguably 53 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: one of one of the top young stars we have 54 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: this league, you know, just with the fan base. My daughter, 55 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: my daughter Journey, my youngest daughter, she's eleven. John Morant 56 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: is her favorite player. And I was covering the Grizzlies 57 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: Timberwool's playoff series last last year and I was standing 58 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 1: in the same hotel with the Grizzlies and she really 59 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: wanted a picture with ya, and just so happened we 60 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 1: were in the lobby at the same time, going in 61 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: the elevator around the same time, I asked ya if 62 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: you can take a picture, and he did. She loves 63 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: that picture she has in her room, and so I've 64 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:37,479 Speaker 1: been I've had to explain to her the significance of 65 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: this because she's asking me, like, what's going on, And 66 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 1: so it's a conversation to be half for sure. But 67 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: I'll say this time, I don't know what he's going through, 68 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: but I can somewhat relate. When you come from not 69 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: having a lot of money to having money all of 70 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: a sudden, having succe as having somewhat of notoriety, it 71 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 1: can be a challenging trajectory if you're not truly prepared 72 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 1: and much and just on a mature level, if you're 73 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,039 Speaker 1: not much, you know, if you're not mature enough to 74 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: handle what's about to come at you. So I remember, 75 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: you know, Stein, You know, I got married when I 76 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: was twenty one, So it's approaching what twenty years so 77 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 1: far hasn't been the easiest, for sure, definitely hasn't been 78 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: hasn't been easy at all. But I remember, Stein, when 79 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 1: my career started to take off, and when my career 80 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: started to take off, you know, when your career started 81 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: to take off. You start. You know, there's there's people 82 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: that's praising you. There, there's there you know. They want pictures, 83 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: they want autographs, they want your attention, they want your advice. 84 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: And so I remember when this started happening, you know, 85 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: out the blue, and I remember I would go home 86 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: sometimes and I'm just gonna be blunt, styt it would 87 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: be it would be some shit. I just wouldn't take 88 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 1: it anymore at the house, you know what I'm saying, Like, 89 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 1: you know, some shit that I would tolerate at the 90 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: house before, I just wasn't don't take it anymore because 91 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: that I'm Chris b hangs now you know what I'm 92 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: saying about taking this ship though, both you know, so 93 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 1: it got to a point where, you know, it was 94 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: a rocky period for for a few years. I'm not 95 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: gonna lie, but I'm only saying that to say that 96 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: I understand how it is to all of a sudden, 97 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: you know, you're trying to handle this new notoriety or 98 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 1: this new somewhat power that you have with this influence 99 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 1: that you have, and you're trying not to let it 100 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: get the best of you to where it won't affect 101 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: your everyday life. And and I think that's where gis 102 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: at right now, where he's trying to I think that's 103 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: where he has to come to terms what he has 104 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: to get a sense and get a feel for, you know, 105 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: what it's like being in the lime, like like this 106 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: twenty four to seven, being a face, one of the 107 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: faces young faces of the league, face of the franchise, 108 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: and potentially a face of a shoe brand, which he 109 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: just got his own signature, Nike Shoe. And so he 110 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: has to he needs the right people in his corner 111 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: that's going to keep him, help him, because ultimately it's 112 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: all up to him. But it will help if there's 113 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: people in this corner that's kind of telling them, hey, 114 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: we need to be moving a different way. But it's 115 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: on him, right He's got to choose those people. He's 116 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: got to make sure that it's the right people at 117 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:46,080 Speaker 1: this quarter. I don't I'm with you. I don't want 118 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: to sit here and lecture him either, because everyone is 119 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: doing that and frankly, there are people far more qualified 120 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: to do it than me. But you know, I wrote 121 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: this Monday morning, and I'm not trying to be hyperbolic. 122 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: I do believe it when John Morant has such a 123 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 1: ceiling as a player that when the Grizzlies, remember in 124 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: the twenty nineteen lottery, they were supposed to have the 125 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:16,119 Speaker 1: eighth pick based on odds, they leapt up to number two. 126 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: And at the time it happened, you know, they had 127 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 1: just traded Mark Gassol away, they knew they were going 128 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: to trade Mike Conley away. Grit and grind was over. 129 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:29,119 Speaker 1: And this is one of the league's smallest markets. They're 130 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: never known for getting free agents. Moving up in that 131 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: lottery from eight to two to be able to draft 132 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 1: John Morant was seen by many people around the league 133 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: as a franchise saving moment because Morant has the ceiling 134 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: to be that good. I mean, you said it. Jerry 135 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,760 Speaker 1: Brewer wrote this in the Washington Post, and a great 136 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: point that I wish I had thought of, because I'm 137 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: constantly talking about how it's all these foreign guys who 138 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:04,319 Speaker 1: are at the forefront of the MVP chase, Jannie, Yoki, 139 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: Luca and Bead when we're looking for young American stars, 140 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: the next generation, not your Durant, your Curries, your Lebron's. 141 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: When we're looking at the young American set. You know, 142 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: John Morant is one of those guys who has the 143 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 1: ability to be an MVP. That's how talented and electric 144 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 1: this guy is. And now though he has to focus 145 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: on saving himself again, I'm not trying to I don't 146 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: want to be preachy. I'm not trying to overstate things 147 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: and be hyperbolic. But I don't think it's an exaggeration. 148 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: You know, he that was that was job on his 149 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 1: own Instagram. So like he did this, this, this most 150 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: recent incident over the weekend, he took you know, he 151 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 1: took responsibility for it with a Maya kulpa which was 152 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 1: strong and wrecked. But you know, he's got to want 153 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,360 Speaker 1: to fix this more than anyone. Now, the Grizzlies, you know, 154 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: I don't know that they've been as stern as they 155 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:11,959 Speaker 1: should be in trying to help him to this point. 156 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: Presumably that will change now because this is all out 157 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: in the open. You know, has the League done it's part? 158 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: You know, I think there are still so many questions 159 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: and so many things we don't know. But Jah has 160 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 1: to be the number one guy fixing this, and I 161 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: hope he does because it's not just your daughter. This 162 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: guy has a lot of fans around the league. He 163 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: is one of the most enjoyable players to watch, and 164 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 1: you know, nobody wants to be talking about this kind 165 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 1: of stuff. Nobody. So there are a couple of elements 166 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:48,599 Speaker 1: that the NBA and I know law enforcement in Colorado 167 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: what they're trying to investigate or look into. You know, 168 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: this was done on the road. This is at a 169 00:10:54,960 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: club in Denver, I believe, and so there's question of okay, 170 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: did he personally bring the pistol in himself, and then 171 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 1: being on the road, there's a question asked to well, 172 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: did he have the pistol on the team plane? And 173 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 1: I think I have to look at somebody sent me 174 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: the by laws believe of the CBA and the rules 175 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: and of of how you can carry and what you 176 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:27,839 Speaker 1: what you can and cannot carry on the on the 177 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: team flight, and I think that is in violation if 178 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: he was to have that on a flight. So there's 179 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: a couple of little elements right there that that they're 180 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: trying to get answers to. And and so I don't 181 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 1: know that. You know, the Grizzlies put out a statement 182 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:45,839 Speaker 1: saying at least two games he sat out the game 183 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: it's the Clippers in which they lost, the Clippers came 184 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,840 Speaker 1: back in one believes down by sixteen, and so you know, 185 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: we don't know. So it's it's what is it being called. 186 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 1: It's being officially called, uh, indefinitely, I believe, Yeah, it's 187 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: it's it's not I mean, you know, it's a suspension, 188 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: but nobody's using the word suspension. I mean it, you know, 189 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 1: really yeah, I mean that the Grizzlies have made it 190 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: sound like that this is a personal leave for John Morant. 191 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: You know, they're not using the word suspension. So you know, 192 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: we'll we'll have to see how much longer this lasts. 193 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: I don't think anybody expects this to only be a 194 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: two game app sence. The one, you know, the CBA 195 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: element is something that we do know because that that's 196 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:34,319 Speaker 1: happened before with the Gilbert Arenas Javaris Crittenen thing in Washington. 197 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 1: Um that you know if you have it. Basically, the 198 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 1: CB eight says that if if there is a if 199 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: there is a firearm on team, on team premises or 200 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:47,840 Speaker 1: on a team plan or anything like that, like, that's 201 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:53,319 Speaker 1: an automatic fifty game suspension. So that's why I think, 202 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 1: as you alluded to, the league is trying to ascertain 203 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: you know, where was the gun before the Instagram video 204 00:13:04,720 --> 00:13:08,079 Speaker 1: and all other manner of questions tied to that. It's 205 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 1: just yeah, I mean, this is just again nothing that 206 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,720 Speaker 1: any of us really wanted to be discussing. And yeah, 207 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm I don't even know how to artfully 208 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 1: I don't even know how to where to artfully take 209 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:23,599 Speaker 1: it after that. I mean, look, at the end of 210 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:25,960 Speaker 1: the day, it's it's all to job. Like we said, 211 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: it's it's all as job. It's not it's not about 212 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:32,680 Speaker 1: his The people he's around, they're part of it. They're 213 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 1: a part of it. But even then that's ultimately Jab's 214 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 1: decision on what he's going to do moving forward, how 215 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: he's going to move the people is going to have 216 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: in this corner. And you know, even with the reports 217 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 1: that have been coming out over the last few months 218 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: or whenever, it's it's still problematic, Like it's still even 219 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: if he's exonerated from these things, these stories coming out, 220 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 1: getting into these type of situations, it's still problematic. So look, man, 221 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,840 Speaker 1: I covered, like I believe I had his first sit 222 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:06,679 Speaker 1: down interview when he when he um declared for the 223 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:10,559 Speaker 1: NBA draft. I flew this was this was the night 224 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: that Damian Lillard hit that crazy three over Paul George. 225 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: It was that night when they when he eliminated O 226 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: kase I took a red eye. The game ended like 227 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 1: at ten thirty. My flight was like at twelve fifteen, 228 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: twelve thirty. I took a red eye to Florida. I 229 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: forgot the city in Florida. That job was training that 230 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 1: but I took a red eye to Florida for a 231 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: morning sit down interview from the pot the former podcast 232 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: I had, and um, he was great. And I remember 233 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: talking to him and I asked him, I said, what's 234 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: he What is your natural position in the NBA? And 235 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: he said point guard And I said, okay, point guard. 236 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:57,360 Speaker 1: He said no, no, point God. I'm like, oh oh, 237 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: I remember I remember him telling me that his dad 238 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: was they they they were all laughing. I was just 239 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: shocked at somebody who wasn't even drafted yet was I 240 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: was speaking at high of himself. But he's definitely lived 241 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: up to the building. And I hope you know he's 242 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: an amazing talent. Man. I love this pops his uncle. Man, 243 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: they got they got real good people, ma, So I'll 244 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:28,080 Speaker 1: pull them for him to get this team together. Let's 245 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 1: try to move this back to basketball, because, as I said, 246 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 1: my Sunday started with the very very early and mom 247 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 1: the American Air Life Center. But it was I am 248 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: not a morning person, leaving. Leaving for a game at 249 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: nine am is always going to be a struggle for me. 250 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:54,359 Speaker 1: But man, was it worth it. Absolute fantastic Mattinee Sons, MAVs, 251 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 1: Durant and Booker go for seventy three. Of course, everybody 252 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 1: saw the fireworks at the end when Luca don Chich 253 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: missed the short shot in the lane that could have 254 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 1: tied things up. He and Booker ended up going nose 255 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 1: to nose. There was a lot there, but I think 256 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,520 Speaker 1: the main thing you come away with is this Sun's 257 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:22,440 Speaker 1: team in its infancy, infancy in the Durant era, looking 258 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 1: awfully dangerous already early in this incarnation, despite concerns about 259 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: their bench and maybe not having enough depth beyond the 260 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: four guys they've stacked up in that starting lineup with 261 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: Katie joining Booker and Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton. This 262 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: was a rare occasion, Chris Haynes, where you were forced 263 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: to watch on television and I was at the big. 264 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: I was at the Big showdown. What did you What 265 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:53,880 Speaker 1: do you make of the Sun so far with Katie? 266 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,720 Speaker 1: I mean, Katie's fitting He's fitting in exactly how I 267 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: thought he was going to fit in. Man is one 268 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: of the most efficient scores we have. He can do it. 269 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: You know, he just blends in and Kyd says that, 270 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 1: you know, I can play in any system, any coach. 271 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: I mean, he's showing it. He's not even like he's 272 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 1: not even going out there shooting a whole bunch of shots. 273 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 1: He's scoring, getting twenty and thirty really just really efficiently Man, 274 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:22,120 Speaker 1: And I'm not I can't say I'm impressed. It's just 275 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:25,159 Speaker 1: what I expected. But you know, they still have to 276 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: get there rid him. Chris Paul is still trying to 277 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:31,400 Speaker 1: like he offensively, like he's still trying to find where 278 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: he fits in in that but he's still running the show. 279 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 1: I'm getting a high number of assists. But you know, 280 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 1: that was a really good game, definitely. You know, I 281 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: think everybody obviously talking about Luca and Devin Booker little 282 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: skirmish there at the end, and you know, hopefully we'll 283 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: see those those two teams messed up in the playoffs. 284 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:55,320 Speaker 1: Again because there was already history before and now you 285 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: add in that Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irvan dynamic to that, 286 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: so that's going to be even more compelled. But again, 287 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: I've said it. I said it before Kevin Durant stepped 288 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 1: foot on the floor for the Phoenix Suns, I said, 289 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: barred injuries, I still think Phoenix is the team to beat. 290 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: And Stine real quick, let me let me talk about 291 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 1: this team real quick. We'll get back to Phoenix. The Clippers. Stein, So, 292 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 1: they had lost. You know, that was a team just 293 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,800 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago, was looking like a real 294 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: NBA Championship continuing team. They were starting to find find 295 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: they grew and they lost five in a row and 296 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: they just won. So we're recording this. What is this Tuesday? 297 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:43,320 Speaker 1: This is Monday, Monday night. They went one Sunday and 298 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: beat Memphis. That did a Memphis team that didn't have 299 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:50,160 Speaker 1: Dealing Brooks or John Morant or god, what's the guy, 300 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: Brandon Clark, Brandon Clark, Stephen app Yeah, so they came 301 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: back and beat them. But so Stein, I was covering 302 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:02,919 Speaker 1: the last couple of Clipper games. Stein, so here I 303 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: am going to cover this Clipper game, and again all 304 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,440 Speaker 1: the buzz is that the Clippers have found their form. 305 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 1: They're found, they're finally getting healthy, Kawhi Leonards getting back 306 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 1: into shape, and they found their fact. They found their form, 307 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: and so I'm looking forward to watching this team. So 308 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: I cover one game they lost that game, cover another 309 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: game they lost that game. So then I'm covering their 310 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 1: the Clippers Warriors, and so we go to shoot around. 311 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: For those who don't know shoot around, it's like a 312 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,359 Speaker 1: little mini practice session the morning of the game. So 313 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 1: I go to Clippers shoot around. I talked to Russ 314 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 1: and I talked to Nicholas Petune. And Petune is my guy. 315 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:48,640 Speaker 1: You know, I covered him back in the Portland days. 316 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: So Petune tells me, don't talk to me. I'm like, 317 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 1: what you mean, don't talk to you? Don't talk to me. 318 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,960 Speaker 1: Every game you've been to we've lost. I'm like, oh, 319 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:02,120 Speaker 1: you blame it on me, Like, oh okay, yeah, every 320 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: game you've been So we started like telling his teammates, yeah, 321 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,840 Speaker 1: every game we Chris has been too, we've lost. Get 322 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,719 Speaker 1: out of here. I'm like, all right, whatever, I leave 323 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 1: him alone. So Stein the Warriors, like the Warriors start 324 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 1: putting the pounding all the Clippers in the third quarter. 325 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: It's just bad stop. And so you know, as a 326 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: sideline reporter, I get to go behind the team's bitch 327 00:20:25,760 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: and kind of listening in on, you know, what's being 328 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: talked about, what's being said amongst the players and coaches, 329 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:36,000 Speaker 1: and so Warriors go this crazy rud Clippers call a 330 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 1: time out. Warriors are up big in the third quarter. 331 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 1: So I go by the go behind the Clippers locker room. 332 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:45,879 Speaker 1: I'm excuse me, I go behind the Clippers bench, and 333 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 1: but Tuna just staring at me, staring at me, mad, 334 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 1: just staring at me. And remember I'm right behind the bitch, 335 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:56,399 Speaker 1: and so I just start laughing. And so I'm like, 336 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: I had to like stop myself because you know, all 337 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: these where's a piss right now? You know what I'm saying, 338 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:04,080 Speaker 1: what just happened. So I had to kind of like 339 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 1: turn my back compor Twitis mugging at me, staring at me, 340 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 1: blaming me for what for what they did on the court. Man, 341 00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: But they got they gotta win in Memphis, and I 342 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:17,399 Speaker 1: wasn't there. I think I got another Clipper game in 343 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: a few weeks. We'll see you not if I truly am, 344 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: I am the Jinks. But that was tough right there. 345 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:28,159 Speaker 1: I'm almost laughing right there behind their bench, you know, 346 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: while they're just getting blown out. I hope you are 347 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,440 Speaker 1: the Jinks because I don't want the Jinks to be Russ. 348 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:41,679 Speaker 1: I find myself rooting for him, even though you know, 349 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:43,159 Speaker 1: I don't. I don't, I don't. I just feel like 350 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: he's this is a guy who's headed to the Hall 351 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: of Fame eventually. He's had an incredible career and I 352 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:55,639 Speaker 1: I just don't like seeing the punching bag that he 353 00:21:55,720 --> 00:22:01,080 Speaker 1: had become during parts of his time with the Lakers, 354 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: and I really wanted to see this Clipper thing work. 355 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: But you know, when they during that oh and five start, 356 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:13,439 Speaker 1: a very trusted scout actually reached out to me and said, man, 357 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: the Russ curse is real, And I'm like, hold on 358 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: a second, the Clippers, there's always been the so called 359 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:20,439 Speaker 1: Clipper curse. First of all, there are no such thing 360 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: as curses. Really, there are no we there. You know, 361 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: we love to talk about curses in sports, but come on, 362 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,720 Speaker 1: we don't really believe in them, do we. But like 363 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: this scout, who who one of my most trusted one 364 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:35,560 Speaker 1: of the most trusted set of eyes that I've I've 365 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,119 Speaker 1: come to, you know, I really respect the way he 366 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 1: sees the game. And he said, yeah, man, I have 367 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: a bad feeling that this is the Russ curse because 368 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:46,880 Speaker 1: Russ has not played poorly as a Clipper. I mean 369 00:22:46,960 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 1: he's he's given them, he's given them better production in 370 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:55,600 Speaker 1: some ways than he was given the Lakers. But I 371 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 1: just don't know if he fits right with the you know, 372 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,119 Speaker 1: they they made these they made re bold move, you know, 373 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,120 Speaker 1: pretty maybe bold's too strong, and they made three strong 374 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:08,679 Speaker 1: moves at the deadline to bring in Eric Gordon and 375 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:12,680 Speaker 1: Plumbly and Bones Highland, and then they you know, then 376 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: they went for Russ. And it's just is it one 377 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:19,360 Speaker 1: move too many? I mean, they've just you're right, they 378 00:23:19,359 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 1: were they heading into the trade deadline All Star period, 379 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: they looked like they were on a great trajectory and 380 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: now it has gone completely the other way. And yeah, 381 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:34,159 Speaker 1: the only win with Russ is against a very depleted 382 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:39,440 Speaker 1: and chaos ridden memberis team. So it is not looking good. 383 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 1: And I don't have the answer. I'm just kind of 384 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 1: watching the bar trying to make sense. And the last 385 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,800 Speaker 1: episode we did Steine. I talked about how we talked 386 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:59,120 Speaker 1: about how Russ Is still qualifies for the six Man 387 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 1: a Year award. So it's funny. Start. So I don't 388 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 1: know if I should say it, but I was saying. So. 389 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 1: I talked to Russ before that game, that last game 390 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: against the Wards that I covered, and I asked him, 391 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 1: I said, hey, you know you are technically you still 392 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 1: do qualify because you're not going You're going to play 393 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 1: more games this season as a reserve than the starter, 394 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,159 Speaker 1: so you still qualify for that six Men the Year award. 395 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:26,879 Speaker 1: He was I was like, how do you feel about it? 396 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 1: And I said this on T and T during the 397 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 1: During the game, he was like, Chris, what's my model? 398 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: Why not? He said, why not? He said? You know, 399 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 1: he said, I busted East. I busted my ass to 400 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 1: fit into a new role I wasn't accustomed to. And 401 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 1: you know, I think the team has success. He said, 402 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 1: he has success. And he said, hey, if he gets 403 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 1: enough votes to win that award, he'll definitely accept that. 404 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:54,359 Speaker 1: That definitely be something that he would cherish. So it's funny. 405 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna dable, but it's funny. So were you know, 406 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: so I the convert. I was having a conversation one 407 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,880 Speaker 1: of the purse a staff member for the Clippers. I'll 408 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: just say that, and we brought up the sixth Man 409 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:14,520 Speaker 1: a Year award, like okay, like now you guys have 410 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: two six Men of Year candidates and they were like, no, 411 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 1: it's just Norm. I don't think. They said, we don't 412 00:25:19,840 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 1: think Russ really wants it. And I was like, no, 413 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:28,320 Speaker 1: that's not true, that that is not true. And they 414 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:35,400 Speaker 1: were like, oh, man, you know dorn Palace. Is there 415 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 1: a guy who's been the sixth man all year? And 416 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 1: I get it. It's a connection. But look, I don't 417 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:42,080 Speaker 1: think Russ was still a trip. But you know, he's 418 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: definitely uh, he would definitely accept it if if if 419 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: you got enough votes, that's definitely something that he would 420 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:53,520 Speaker 1: feel honored about. You know what, though, you brought up 421 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 1: that but Tom interaction, and I'm so glad you did, 422 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: because you actually brought up sideline reporting and huddles on 423 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 1: last show and I wanted to ask you about this, 424 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:05,119 Speaker 1: and I somehow we got sidetracked that I didn't get 425 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 1: the chance. It must have been maybe when you you 426 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: must have launched into your radiator Annie Free story because 427 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 1: it's great what you I have not done as much 428 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:18,679 Speaker 1: sideline reporting as you, but what little, what little I 429 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:23,640 Speaker 1: did do was always for ESPN Radio. It was All 430 00:26:23,720 --> 00:26:26,920 Speaker 1: Star Game, but it was the NBA Finals and one 431 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 1: of the greatest gigs that I ever had in my life. 432 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: After Rick Buker left ESPN for four finals thirteen fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, 433 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:44,640 Speaker 1: that's seventeen, actually five finals between twenty thirteen and twenty seventeen, 434 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: I was ESPN Radio sideline reporter at the finals. Some 435 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:51,399 Speaker 1: years there were two of us. Shelley Smith also did it. 436 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:53,720 Speaker 1: But like you said, part of the job, one of 437 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,280 Speaker 1: the best parts of the job is you have the 438 00:26:56,400 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 1: license to go to go to lead into the huddle 439 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 1: as best you can, see as much as you can 440 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:08,880 Speaker 1: and report stuff. And I remember when I first started 441 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:13,680 Speaker 1: doing it, Buker's advice to me was, don't ever make 442 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 1: eye contact with the coach. Look in the huddle, try 443 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 1: to look at what's on the board, try to hear 444 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 1: the instructions. But whatever you do, do not make eye 445 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 1: contact with the coach. So you just you just told 446 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:32,640 Speaker 1: a story of you making eye contact with Batoune, which 447 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,400 Speaker 1: is different because he's a player. But what are do 448 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:38,840 Speaker 1: you do you employ a similar strategy or will you 449 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,439 Speaker 1: just look right into Tyler's eyes if you can when 450 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 1: you get the chance, Like, how do you how do 451 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 1: you deal with that? That's a good question. I've never 452 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:48,439 Speaker 1: thought about not making eye contact, but I guess you 453 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 1: tend to do that anyways. You know. Look, so as 454 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 1: a pertains Batun, he made eye contact with me. I 455 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:57,439 Speaker 1: was trying to avoid them because I figure he'll be 456 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: going there, and so it just made an awkward situation. 457 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 1: So I'm going over there and he's making me laugh 458 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 1: while they're just down and so that was awkward. But 459 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:08,920 Speaker 1: um no, I think, Um, I don't say I make 460 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 1: eye contact with the coach. I'm just looking around. I'm 461 00:28:11,520 --> 00:28:15,680 Speaker 1: just scoping around the whole the whole bench area. I'm 462 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 1: going left or right. Um, I think both all the 463 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:20,720 Speaker 1: coaches know that I'm not going to pick off a 464 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 1: play and report a play or anything like that. And 465 00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 1: you know, you definitely have to be selective with what 466 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:29,960 Speaker 1: you want to use on air. You don't want to 467 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 1: you don't want to report anything that's going to jeopardize 468 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:37,399 Speaker 1: the trust that these coaches give you. You know, because 469 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 1: we have coaches meeting with these with the coaches before 470 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 1: the game, and they'll tell us a lot like they'll 471 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: tell us, you know, start lineups, Um, you know where 472 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 1: they're going, and that's not out yet. And you know 473 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:51,479 Speaker 1: you got to keep that to yourself as a broadcast partner, 474 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 1: so you know, you don't want to do anything to 475 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:59,720 Speaker 1: jeopardize the trust. But Styn, you know what, I'm gonna 476 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:04,600 Speaker 1: go there, I'm gonna go there. I got a story 477 00:29:04,920 --> 00:29:06,440 Speaker 1: do I got time for this time. I got a 478 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:08,800 Speaker 1: story about this time. You have all the time in 479 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 1: the world. You have no time limit ever Stein. So 480 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: let me tell you this. This would have been I 481 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,440 Speaker 1: have to look this up. I think this would have 482 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 1: been two playoffs ago. A matter of fact, it was 483 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: two playoffs ago, Denver Nuggets, Denver Nuggets, Denver Nugget playoffs. 484 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:34,720 Speaker 1: Who were they playing, Phoenix Suns. Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets 485 00:29:34,760 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 1: plaoffs two playoffs ago. You can look that up. It 486 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 1: was the last playoff game, right, So coach Malone was 487 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 1: they were down old three to Phoenix and for the 488 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: first three games he was bringing he was bringing in. 489 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:54,720 Speaker 1: He was bringing Will Barton and Monte Morris off the 490 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 1: bench and So the night before Game four, which is 491 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: a potential closeout game, the night before I got word 492 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: from multiple sources that Will Barton and Monte Morris will 493 00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 1: be asserted into the start lineup, right, So I had 494 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:17,480 Speaker 1: that information and my plan was to use it to 495 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 1: report that information sometime in the afternoon the day of 496 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 1: the game. The problem is Stein sometimes in those meetings, 497 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 1: again we had those coaches meet coach meetings before the game, 498 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:38,000 Speaker 1: and sometimes the coach would tell us the broadcast team 499 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:41,320 Speaker 1: who they're starting, who they're bringing off the bench. Sometimes 500 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: they won't. So I'm hoping in this meeting that coach 501 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:52,640 Speaker 1: Malone doesn't reveal his starting light up. But for some reason, 502 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:58,280 Speaker 1: Coach Malone did, And now I've stuck. I'm like, damn, 503 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:02,760 Speaker 1: I just told the broadcast. But I had already told 504 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,720 Speaker 1: my company about the starting line of change, so they 505 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: knew I had it already. And so I'm I'm decided 506 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:12,200 Speaker 1: trying to debate on what should I do? What should 507 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:14,160 Speaker 1: I do? Like how do I handle this? Like what 508 00:31:14,240 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 1: do I do? Just to clarify, you're reporting for Yahoo 509 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:21,240 Speaker 1: as well as at the time you were also writing 510 00:31:21,240 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 1: for Yahoo, correct, And so I'm like, what am I 511 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:26,120 Speaker 1: going to do. What am I gonna do? And so, 512 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 1: long story short, talk to upper management and uh, I 513 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 1: got to go ahead to hey, you let us know 514 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:37,280 Speaker 1: before this meeting happened, you had it, you had planned 515 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:41,800 Speaker 1: to sit until us in time. Go ahead. So I 516 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 1: went ahead and did that. In the afternoon, I got 517 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:52,560 Speaker 1: word Mike Malone was pissed. Was pissed. I'm like, damn. 518 00:31:53,120 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 1: I kind of knew it, but I was like, damn, 519 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,560 Speaker 1: and I'm like, you know I had. So I'm I'm 520 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 1: talking to you know, GETS officials. I'm telling them, look, 521 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 1: I understand why you think this, but I already had 522 00:32:04,960 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 1: this information. You know. I'm I'm a report. I already 523 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:10,280 Speaker 1: had this information. And you can talk to the higher 524 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: ups at at T and T. Yeah, but when coach 525 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 1: Malone gives you this information in the pre game, you're 526 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 1: not supposed to use it. And I'm like, I had 527 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,880 Speaker 1: this information. And so I even debated Stein for that 528 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 1: that call, that pregame meeting. I even debated not doing 529 00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: it because I knew what information I had. I didn't 530 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:33,840 Speaker 1: want to put myself in that situation. And long story short, 531 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:38,760 Speaker 1: we get to the game and it was the end 532 00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:41,440 Speaker 1: of the third quarter, which coach Malone is, I'm supposed 533 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:44,840 Speaker 1: to interview coach Malone in the third quarter. He didn't 534 00:32:44,840 --> 00:32:48,040 Speaker 1: do the interview. He didn't do anything. I don't know 535 00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:50,160 Speaker 1: if you ever knew that stein he didn't. He didn't 536 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:55,760 Speaker 1: do the interview. Yeah, he didn't do the interview. And 537 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:58,760 Speaker 1: so the only time a coach is not supposed to 538 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 1: do an interview is if they're up or down by 539 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,719 Speaker 1: twenty or more. But they were, they were within distance. 540 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:09,680 Speaker 1: It was like it was pretty close game going into 541 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:12,840 Speaker 1: that fourth quarter. At the same time, I understood because 542 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:15,240 Speaker 1: he was down, and you know, he was down going 543 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:17,400 Speaker 1: into the fourth and that's the final quarter to try 544 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:20,960 Speaker 1: to keep the season alive. So I didn't trip so lightweight. 545 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:22,680 Speaker 1: I'm kind of thinking, like, damn, did he do this? 546 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:27,040 Speaker 1: Did he not do this interview because he's I broke 547 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 1: before or is it because he's really into this fourth quarter? 548 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 1: And so I really didn't know. Like so I'm like 549 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 1: kind of like mess messed up, bro like, because I 550 00:33:34,360 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 1: felt like I did everything the right way and handed 551 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:38,600 Speaker 1: the right way. I went to my company, you know, 552 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 1: UM went to them first, and you know, they got 553 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:45,600 Speaker 1: eliminated after that game. But I would say that, so 554 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:48,479 Speaker 1: I kind of felt bad. But Coach Malone caught me 555 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 1: like a week later, and I think it was at 556 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:54,360 Speaker 1: point when I got in a bike accident at that time. 557 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,840 Speaker 1: But he called a week later and I didn't pick 558 00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:58,520 Speaker 1: I didn't pick up I I missed the call and 559 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:01,640 Speaker 1: he left a voice message, Man, Chris, we're all good man. 560 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,720 Speaker 1: I hope you're having a great summer. Man. You know, 561 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:07,000 Speaker 1: it was just it was just cool, man. So I'm glad. 562 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 1: I'm glad he did that. But that's one of those again, 563 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:12,920 Speaker 1: I'm taking people behind the scenes of you know what, 564 00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:14,799 Speaker 1: some of the things elements you gotta do with us 565 00:34:14,840 --> 00:34:18,239 Speaker 1: being a sideline reporter, and that's that's one situation that 566 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:21,120 Speaker 1: I got myself into where it was kind of it 567 00:34:21,200 --> 00:34:24,920 Speaker 1: was kind of rough. Yeah, I didn't remember the I 568 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 1: don't remember the bike accident either, but I'm I mean, 569 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:28,799 Speaker 1: I'm glad he did call you and it was over. 570 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: But I mean, that's the thing, because I think the 571 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:35,319 Speaker 1: distinction here probably that we need to clarify. Most sideline 572 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:42,040 Speaker 1: reporters are not also journalists writing, you know, I guess 573 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 1: written correspondence is probably the better word. Most sideline reporters 574 00:34:47,280 --> 00:34:52,600 Speaker 1: are generally strictly only on TV, whereas like when I 575 00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:55,319 Speaker 1: did it for radio, or Buker did it before me, 576 00:34:55,560 --> 00:35:00,200 Speaker 1: or you're doing it for TNT. You are also, you know, 577 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:03,320 Speaker 1: someone who writes about the league as well as covers 578 00:35:03,320 --> 00:35:07,040 Speaker 1: it electronically. So I think there's always that little little 579 00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:11,680 Speaker 1: uh because I remember, again, I'm only doing it sparingly, 580 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:13,719 Speaker 1: but during the finals, you know, I would go to 581 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:16,760 Speaker 1: those meetings too with you know, Mark Kesters and Huby 582 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:20,440 Speaker 1: Brown or doctor Jack and Hube and I'm there, and 583 00:35:20,719 --> 00:35:23,239 Speaker 1: you know, there's kind of that that look where like hey, Stein, 584 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:24,759 Speaker 1: you know you can listen all this, but you better 585 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:27,560 Speaker 1: not be writing it before the game because those meetings 586 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:31,880 Speaker 1: are considered off the record information for the broadcast not 587 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 1: to be you know, they're not telling you to report 588 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:37,640 Speaker 1: it seven hours before tip off. They're telling it to 589 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:40,480 Speaker 1: give you background that can be used during the game broadcast. 590 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:44,759 Speaker 1: So that is that is tricky territory for someone like you, 591 00:35:44,920 --> 00:35:49,600 Speaker 1: someone like me who is doing multiple jobs at once. Yeah, 592 00:35:49,680 --> 00:35:53,920 Speaker 1: that that was tough, and it was again coach Malone, 593 00:35:54,040 --> 00:35:55,759 Speaker 1: you know, and it was cool. I was glad he 594 00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:59,799 Speaker 1: called me left a message. Um you know that would 595 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: that was good to hear because I definitely coming from 596 00:36:02,239 --> 00:36:06,120 Speaker 1: his side, Stein, coming from his side, I would see 597 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:10,560 Speaker 1: why he would think that I used his information to 598 00:36:10,560 --> 00:36:12,880 Speaker 1: get that story, and so I understood that, and so 599 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:14,759 Speaker 1: that's that's Those are the kind of things that make 600 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:19,600 Speaker 1: it tough. All right, Well, this this has gone in 601 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:21,920 Speaker 1: a couple of different directions that I didn't expect. So listen, 602 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:23,520 Speaker 1: we are we We are not going to do it 603 00:36:23,560 --> 00:36:25,879 Speaker 1: today because there's one other topic I want to get 604 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:29,120 Speaker 1: to before we we closed down, but we we will 605 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:32,120 Speaker 1: be talking more and more about the Knicks, because I 606 00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:34,839 Speaker 1: do think the Knicks right now have have emerged as 607 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:39,200 Speaker 1: as maybe the best story in basketball. Incredible run, you know, 608 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:43,320 Speaker 1: two recent wins over Boston, the way Brunson is playing, 609 00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:47,520 Speaker 1: the way Julius Randall is playing, just how amazingly they've 610 00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:50,840 Speaker 1: turned it around from last year. But sticking with the West, 611 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:53,120 Speaker 1: because I think, you know, so much of what we've 612 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:56,120 Speaker 1: talked about already kind of feeds into this. A Western 613 00:36:56,160 --> 00:36:59,879 Speaker 1: Conference official asked me recently, Stein, who are you Who 614 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:03,960 Speaker 1: are the three teams that can win the West? If 615 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:06,920 Speaker 1: if you had to, if you had to bet right now, 616 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:09,240 Speaker 1: who are the three teams that can win the West. 617 00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:13,319 Speaker 1: And I can't say what team this executive works for, 618 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:15,839 Speaker 1: but I can say that his team did not make 619 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:19,200 Speaker 1: the cut. My three the only three teams I think 620 00:37:19,239 --> 00:37:23,960 Speaker 1: that can really win the West. Denver. I just think 621 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:27,920 Speaker 1: they've been the most consistent, the Yokis factor. You know, 622 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:30,640 Speaker 1: Murray and Porter are healthy, They've strengthened their bench. I 623 00:37:30,640 --> 00:37:33,040 Speaker 1: think the Nuggets have to top the list, deserve to 624 00:37:33,040 --> 00:37:36,319 Speaker 1: top the list, despite any doubts you have about what 625 00:37:36,360 --> 00:37:38,480 Speaker 1: they can do in the playoffs and are they for real? 626 00:37:38,520 --> 00:37:41,960 Speaker 1: They're gonna be playing in under immense playoff prove it 627 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:45,000 Speaker 1: to us pressure. But I think Denver has to be there. 628 00:37:45,320 --> 00:37:48,839 Speaker 1: Golden State, I give it to them based on yes, 629 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:53,960 Speaker 1: they've got championship. No how it's been a nightmare season 630 00:37:54,040 --> 00:37:58,719 Speaker 1: to this point in terms of, you know, consistency. But 631 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:01,560 Speaker 1: I think the Warriors have to be there because of 632 00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:04,160 Speaker 1: what they've done. You know, they still have a core 633 00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:07,960 Speaker 1: three with Steph Clay and Draymond who've won four championships. 634 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:11,239 Speaker 1: They know how it feels what it takes to go 635 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:14,239 Speaker 1: the playoff distance. So I think the Warriors have to 636 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:16,480 Speaker 1: be there as well. And then Phoenix, even though they're 637 00:38:17,080 --> 00:38:21,160 Speaker 1: still in the embryonic stages of the Durant era. They've 638 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:23,759 Speaker 1: just got too much talent. They have to be considered 639 00:38:24,160 --> 00:38:27,640 Speaker 1: a team that can coalesce and come together and get 640 00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:29,920 Speaker 1: to the West. But for me, those really are the 641 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:33,279 Speaker 1: only three. I am ruling out everyone else, even in 642 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:36,760 Speaker 1: the crowded jumble in the West standings that is now 643 00:38:37,239 --> 00:38:40,880 Speaker 1: goes from two down to number thirteen because you know 644 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:44,160 Speaker 1: Memphis has been sliding here. Do you dispute that in 645 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:46,440 Speaker 1: any way? Is there anybody else I'm leaving out in 646 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:50,720 Speaker 1: the West who can win the West that's not named 647 00:38:51,239 --> 00:38:57,440 Speaker 1: Nuggets Clip sorry, not Clippers, Nuggets, Sons or Warriors. It's 648 00:38:57,520 --> 00:39:00,279 Speaker 1: tough that you you only give me three options. It's 649 00:39:00,560 --> 00:39:03,040 Speaker 1: really hard to dispute. Tell me I'm wrong if I'm wrong, 650 00:39:03,080 --> 00:39:05,600 Speaker 1: coming well, no, it's just not that, Just like damn, 651 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:09,560 Speaker 1: I want to I still feel like I still think 652 00:39:10,440 --> 00:39:14,360 Speaker 1: there's a slight chance that the Lakers can make some 653 00:39:14,480 --> 00:39:20,640 Speaker 1: brown if Lebron comes back with enough time and he's healthy. Um, 654 00:39:20,920 --> 00:39:24,680 Speaker 1: who else Clippers it would be? That would be an 655 00:39:24,680 --> 00:39:29,040 Speaker 1: incredible story because I just I struggle to see Lebron 656 00:39:29,239 --> 00:39:31,759 Speaker 1: being you know, if we see him as he what 657 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:34,200 Speaker 1: is he going to be seventy eighty percent at best 658 00:39:34,239 --> 00:39:36,759 Speaker 1: if he can come. If the Lakers make the make 659 00:39:37,200 --> 00:39:41,080 Speaker 1: you know, make the play in make the playoffs, I mean, 660 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:44,040 Speaker 1: I guess you give them a puncher's chance if Lebron 661 00:39:44,120 --> 00:39:45,520 Speaker 1: and a d are there. But it's like, I don't 662 00:39:45,520 --> 00:39:48,240 Speaker 1: know for me. Clippers are going in the wrong direction. 663 00:39:48,480 --> 00:39:52,640 Speaker 1: The Grizzlies are in a crisis. The Kings, yes, they've 664 00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:56,080 Speaker 1: been absolutely impressive and storybook to be the number three 665 00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:59,160 Speaker 1: seed all this time, and Mike Brown's gonna win Coach 666 00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:01,840 Speaker 1: of the Year and Fox and Si Bonus, we're all stars. 667 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:04,560 Speaker 1: But I mean, we're we can't talk about the Kings 668 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:07,000 Speaker 1: making a playoff run until that we actually see them 669 00:40:07,000 --> 00:40:10,399 Speaker 1: in the playoffs again. The MAVs, there's just not enough 670 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:15,359 Speaker 1: defense there around Luca and Kyrie, you know, Minnisto, I mean, 671 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:18,120 Speaker 1: who who, I just I don't see it. I'll give 672 00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:20,160 Speaker 1: you that. I'll give it that. It's hard. It's hard 673 00:40:20,200 --> 00:40:22,360 Speaker 1: as a right now. We're just talking strictly as a 674 00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:25,600 Speaker 1: right now. It's hard to go against Denver Phoenix and 675 00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:28,800 Speaker 1: going to State for the reasons you mentioned prior. It's 676 00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:33,160 Speaker 1: hard writing Memphis off too soon? Am I writing Memphis 677 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:35,200 Speaker 1: off too soon. Not we You're not. I don't. I 678 00:40:35,239 --> 00:40:37,920 Speaker 1: don't think so, I don't think. I think this is 679 00:40:37,960 --> 00:40:40,360 Speaker 1: absolute chaos for them. I mean the job situation is 680 00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:43,520 Speaker 1: that serious that I mean it's And Brendan Clark is 681 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:49,319 Speaker 1: a huge piece to that team. He's as so much 682 00:40:49,360 --> 00:40:52,680 Speaker 1: too now. I just I don't think this is going 683 00:40:52,719 --> 00:40:58,560 Speaker 1: to be the Grizzlies year. UM and the Clippers. No, 684 00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:01,719 Speaker 1: we have every year we say what a what if 685 00:41:01,840 --> 00:41:05,319 Speaker 1: Kawuhi and PG are are there for the playoffs? But 686 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:08,560 Speaker 1: I just the signals, the signals coming out of clipper 687 00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:11,359 Speaker 1: Land ain't great right now? It do but Sty, we 688 00:41:11,360 --> 00:41:13,840 Speaker 1: we've done so. I think we're at the forty minute 689 00:41:13,880 --> 00:41:17,160 Speaker 1: mark Man, and we gave we just had a pretty 690 00:41:17,160 --> 00:41:19,919 Speaker 1: good podcast. But Sty, I know you know I'm gone 691 00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:23,640 Speaker 1: through something and I'm not ready to to share that personally. 692 00:41:24,120 --> 00:41:27,440 Speaker 1: But I know you're you're dealing with something as well, Man, 693 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:29,000 Speaker 1: so I want to. I want to give you the 694 00:41:29,040 --> 00:41:32,560 Speaker 1: floor for that. No, I appreciate that. UM. I do 695 00:41:32,719 --> 00:41:35,839 Speaker 1: not like to bring my personal stuff into the into 696 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:38,960 Speaker 1: the work sphere, but I really I want to dedicate 697 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:41,359 Speaker 1: this show to someone I went to high school with. 698 00:41:42,400 --> 00:41:47,240 Speaker 1: Um Eltoro High class of nineteen eighty seven. Uh, we 699 00:41:47,239 --> 00:41:53,200 Speaker 1: we got the news. Just I only found out today. Um, 700 00:41:53,239 --> 00:41:56,839 Speaker 1: and we're recording this on Monday for for Tuesday just distribution. 701 00:41:57,800 --> 00:41:59,759 Speaker 1: Someone I went to high school with, someone very dear 702 00:41:59,840 --> 00:42:04,799 Speaker 1: to me, passed suddenly over the weekend. His name was 703 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:09,480 Speaker 1: Mac Powell, and he was traveling with his family on 704 00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:13,239 Speaker 1: a family vacation in Hawaii. And I just want to 705 00:42:13,239 --> 00:42:17,560 Speaker 1: dedicate this show to him because I was incredibly fortunate 706 00:42:17,560 --> 00:42:22,480 Speaker 1: to go to a high school. We in our senior 707 00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:26,560 Speaker 1: year we had one of the best teams in the 708 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:32,120 Speaker 1: history of southern California. And that's not just hyperbole from 709 00:42:32,640 --> 00:42:34,799 Speaker 1: someone who obviously roots for his own school. I mean, 710 00:42:34,800 --> 00:42:37,040 Speaker 1: you can look it up. The Eltoro High School football 711 00:42:37,080 --> 00:42:41,560 Speaker 1: team in nineteen eighty six was an absolute powerhouse. First 712 00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:44,760 Speaker 1: of three quarterbacks who went to the Pros and Brett Johnson, 713 00:42:44,840 --> 00:42:51,239 Speaker 1: just a slew of Division one guys. And Mac was 714 00:42:52,680 --> 00:42:55,520 Speaker 1: Mac Powell was the Bo Jackson of my high school. 715 00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:58,000 Speaker 1: He didn't play on the football team. They tried to 716 00:42:58,000 --> 00:42:59,560 Speaker 1: get him to play on the football team so he 717 00:42:59,560 --> 00:43:02,239 Speaker 1: would have He would have played football for one of 718 00:43:02,280 --> 00:43:07,040 Speaker 1: the best high school teams in Southern California history, except 719 00:43:07,080 --> 00:43:11,840 Speaker 1: he was saving his body for his basketball and baseball prowess. 720 00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:16,960 Speaker 1: Just an absolutely incredible athlete, the athlete of all my 721 00:43:17,040 --> 00:43:19,600 Speaker 1: high school years. When I think of great athletes that 722 00:43:19,640 --> 00:43:21,719 Speaker 1: I grew up with in my childhood, I mean, he 723 00:43:21,840 --> 00:43:24,600 Speaker 1: is number one on the list. And just an absolutely 724 00:43:24,640 --> 00:43:29,520 Speaker 1: tragic loss in our in the community, of all the 725 00:43:29,520 --> 00:43:31,600 Speaker 1: people that I went to high school with. And I 726 00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:35,480 Speaker 1: just want to send the warmest wishes and best wishes 727 00:43:35,520 --> 00:43:39,839 Speaker 1: and deepest condolences and just all the strength and love 728 00:43:39,960 --> 00:43:43,120 Speaker 1: I can muster to his wife Kim and his son 729 00:43:43,239 --> 00:43:46,000 Speaker 1: Boog who Boogs so talented in his own right that 730 00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:49,319 Speaker 1: he made it to the major leagues as an outfielder. 731 00:43:49,440 --> 00:43:56,279 Speaker 1: So incredibly athletic. Family and Maxter love you and you 732 00:43:56,320 --> 00:43:59,239 Speaker 1: will be so missed. And the Chris, thanks for letting 733 00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:02,839 Speaker 1: me do the I really appreciate my condolecence to you 734 00:44:02,960 --> 00:44:07,440 Speaker 1: and to him and his family. Man, I understand how 735 00:44:07,480 --> 00:44:12,279 Speaker 1: tough it is. Yeah, I appreciate the sentiments because yeah, 736 00:44:12,440 --> 00:44:15,560 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna lie this one. This one definitely has 737 00:44:15,600 --> 00:44:19,480 Speaker 1: me shaken. But everyone, thank you so much for joining 738 00:44:19,560 --> 00:44:23,600 Speaker 1: us on another episode of This League Uncut. Chris and 739 00:44:23,719 --> 00:44:26,200 Speaker 1: I will be back with one more episode this week. 740 00:44:26,239 --> 00:44:29,200 Speaker 1: I will try not to mess up the recording schedule anymore, 741 00:44:29,280 --> 00:44:32,759 Speaker 1: because again, mister Haynes is the one who's flying all 742 00:44:32,760 --> 00:44:36,799 Speaker 1: over the place and I shouldn't be messing us up. 743 00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:38,880 Speaker 1: So I will do better. Guys, thanks to MIL for 744 00:44:38,920 --> 00:44:40,640 Speaker 1: being with us, and we will be back with you 745 00:44:40,680 --> 00:44:45,920 Speaker 1: soon into court. Please rate, review, subscribe, thanks for listening, 746 00:44:46,280 --> 00:44:48,520 Speaker 1: and that'll do it for us. See you next time. 747 00:44:48,800 --> 00:44:51,040 Speaker 1: This league uncut is and I heard radio production