1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: My name is Dan Jansas joined and we're billed with 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: heroes Mark Sessler, Chris Westling, Greg Rose, Doll with the 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 1: pocket square. What is up? Boys? Hey Dan? Hey Dan? 4 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 1: Hey Dan Hey Dan? It is the game of both 5 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:19,319 Speaker 1: skill and valor, also known as w is tooster in 6 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: a big spot and ate in three team on a 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: six game when it chaake look up to the live 8 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: show success, the meet up even more of a success. 9 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:34,239 Speaker 1: You guys have sat behind me or sat beside me 10 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: for seven shows. You sat beside me for a growing 11 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,199 Speaker 1: battle with cancer. Will you stand beside me on the 12 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: most important wine is blue? Because we're having a baby bar. 13 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: Something is always lost in art or experience when you 14 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: analyze it. Mark Twain once he became a riverboat pilot 15 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: and learned the technical side of it. The Mississippi River 16 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: was no longer beautiful for him. If I was to 17 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: hire a sportswriter, the first question I was gonna ask 18 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 1: him is how do you reconcile the essential meaninglessness of sports? 19 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: I mean, how do you reconcile watching young men bang 20 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 1: into each other and try to advance and inflate a 21 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: pigskin against Mark territory? I mean that's what you're doing. 22 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: How do you reconcile the importance of that? And I 23 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: think it's like Shakespeare's poems or Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. This 24 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: is going above and beyond. At its best, Sports is 25 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:40,759 Speaker 1: look at what humans can do. Welcome to another edition 26 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: of the Around the NFL Podcast, an edition of the 27 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: Around the NFL podcast unlike any other, and um sad 28 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: edition of the show. My name is Dan Hansas. Come 29 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: to you from a virtual room filled with some heroes, 30 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: and there always will be it always will be only 31 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:05,559 Speaker 1: some heroes, Um sadly, Mark Sessler, Greg Rosenthal, What is up? Boys? 32 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 1: M hm so yes, of course the news and everybody knows. 33 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 1: And but Chris the Mailman Westling West whatever you called him, um, 34 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: passed away this weekend, two weeks shy of his forty 35 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: seven birthday. One of our closest friends and a great 36 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: husband to Lakisha and an excellent father to link Um. 37 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:47,239 Speaker 1: However brief it was, uh And yes, the Super Bowl 38 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: just wrapped up with the Bucks lane a whip in 39 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: on the Chiefs, and I think West would have enjoyed 40 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: breaking down this game in the performance by Tampa Bay. 41 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: And we wish he was with us, UM, but instead 42 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,399 Speaker 1: that the show is about West, It's not about the game. Uh. 43 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: And that's how it should be. Boys. Yeah. I mean 44 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: when when West was talking, UM, you know about the 45 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: meaningless of noss of sports and why you would why 46 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: you would cover it in that UM basically it's like art, 47 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,399 Speaker 1: you know. I think that's how he saw it. UM, 48 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 1: that you're appreciating someone doing it like at the highest level, 49 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: UM possible. Look at what humans can do. And I 50 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: think listening you know to West say that, UM, it 51 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: just got me thinking of like, look at what he 52 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: can do, you know, look at what look at what 53 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: humans can do. When he when he wrote UM, when 54 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: he was on this podcast where I think he felt 55 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: like totally himself, totally comfortable from like from day one, 56 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: and was just awesome at it. Uh and probably more 57 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: than anything, like when he was just spinning yards with us, 58 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:09,000 Speaker 1: you know, UM at the bar or at work or wherever, 59 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: like he collected characters. I think that you know, we'll 60 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: talk about, I'm sure. But the outpouring I think, especially 61 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 1: from the people that knew him, UM is so profound 62 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 1: just because of because of that, because you connected with him, 63 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: because He connected with so many people because because of 64 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: because of what he could do. Yeah, we were asked 65 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: on Sky Sports if we were surprised by the outpouring, 66 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,359 Speaker 1: and Dan answered the question, and I I like what 67 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 1: Dan said that to some degree we were not um 68 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 1: because this has been a really long journey. And I 69 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: view West as someone who as we watch football grow, um, 70 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: not only in the States, but especially you know beyond 71 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 1: throughout Europe, that West is a big part of that. 72 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 1: When they write that story, um, he is someone that 73 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 1: would go out of his way. I cannot tell you 74 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 1: how many people reached out to us and and d 75 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: m s this week saying, oh, you know, I've actually 76 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: been writing back and forth with West for five years 77 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: and it's like a listener from the deep beyond. And 78 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 1: he he loved engaging with football, and he wasn't a 79 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: you know, you couldn't put West into a box. And 80 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: I'll say quickly blocking them to blocking them to there, 81 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: that's true. You had to play by a certain um 82 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,159 Speaker 1: set of rules with West. I'm not sure I've ever 83 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:33,840 Speaker 1: met anyone that that blocked more people, um, but I 84 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: would imagine with good with good reason. He didn't suffer 85 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:40,799 Speaker 1: fools uh for long UM. But when West first showed 86 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: up at NFL, UM we had a former UM manager 87 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: of ours. He kind of at the Super Bowl told 88 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: me Justin Hathaway, who who hired Dan, and I, you 89 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: better watch out because this West character, UM has been 90 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: writing all week while you've guys been at the Super Bowl. 91 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: And it's some of the best material I've ever read 92 00:05:58,360 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: on NFL dot com. And I know he's you know, 93 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 1: he was sort of saying, you've made a wonderful higher. UM. 94 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: This person is someone special when it comes to writing football. 95 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: And I was pretty knew at writing football back then myself, 96 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,599 Speaker 1: and I would spend a lot of time reading what 97 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: West wrote, UM, if we covered something similar, how he 98 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 1: covered it versus how I did, and like the lead, 99 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: the readers learned so much about football from West. But 100 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: I would credit West as UM, you have these people 101 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: in your life that when I started to read his 102 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 1: writing and his analysis, that it changed the way that 103 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: I thought about covering football, UM and always will you 104 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: know and that and it was so well done that 105 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 1: that the clip we played at the very top of 106 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:42,920 Speaker 1: the show, Matt Sick is UM who works for an 107 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,560 Speaker 1: editing team. UM. Just one of the many people at 108 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: the at the company he put it together. He did 109 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: such a great job with it, and UM, one of 110 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,520 Speaker 1: the people that the reason he was able to do 111 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: that was because he knew Wes and he knew UM. 112 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 1: The bond he had with us and with Ricky Hollywood. UM, 113 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: and that was kind of just West in a nutshell, 114 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:07,799 Speaker 1: how everyone got on with him. And I was thinking, 115 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: how like I in my whole life, UM, I was 116 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: never was friends with someone as long as I was 117 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:16,239 Speaker 1: friends with West, and I met him in two thousand 118 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 1: and now here we are in two thousand twenty one. 119 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: I never got into a fight with West once. I 120 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 1: never like we maybe would argue on the air and 121 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 1: the podcast, but me and him never had a single 122 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: like moment where we were crossed in like in each 123 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 1: other's faces or ever. You know, we just got on 124 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: so well because he did he got on well with everyone. 125 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: And Mark and I were talking about this UM the 126 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: night that he passed away over a few drinks, which 127 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 1: I know West approved of. UM. That all three of 128 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: us connected with West but in unique ways, which really 129 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: speaks to Chris in terms of, you know, really he's 130 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: such an eclectic personality and he was had so many layers, 131 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: and like I, I connected with West as someone who 132 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: grew up and m had not maybe a direct family 133 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: that was large, but I had an extended family that 134 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: I essentially grew up with tons of cousins and a 135 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: lot of them boys, and was raised Catholic and grew 136 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: up just in love with sports. And uh, I love 137 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: stupid things like whiffleball and like West cornhole, which he 138 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: introduced to us. And I know you guys have um 139 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: reasons why you kind of felt close to him and 140 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: and what what he said? How do you reconcile the 141 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: essential meaninglessness of sports? And he he hit on something 142 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: which was typically brilliant with Chris, which was this idea 143 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: that you could see the human form achieving um at 144 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 1: its peak physically. But it's sports to me. And the 145 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 1: reason why I love sports, um is because it's more 146 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 1: to me also than that. It's also how it brings 147 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: people together. And um, you know, um, that's sports and 148 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: the NFL's what brought us together. It's it's what brought West. 149 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: Was on a message board, Greg, when you were, um 150 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: a football writer once upon a time working in the 151 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: fantasy realm and you and you saw this guy that 152 00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:21,079 Speaker 1: was just writing brilliant long screeds about fantasy sports, and 153 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: you smartly hired him, and then we're smart enough to 154 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: bring him over here and it just changed all of 155 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: our lives. Yeah, it's so well said, um, because you know, 156 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: my my start to the relationship with West is Yes, 157 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: reading this this blog post on his old site, Sons 158 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: of the Tundra, a dynasty football blog, he had like 159 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: a ten Yeah, it's a great site. He had a 160 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: ten thousand word post um that I saw in the 161 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: off season that was like I could have just dropped 162 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: it and it would have replaced the first thirty pages 163 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: of our preview in magazine and it would have like 164 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: proved it. I was like, who is this guy? I 165 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,640 Speaker 1: need to Uh, I need to get this guy. But 166 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: part of part of I think feel like the basis 167 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 1: of our our friendship to start two was arguing and um, 168 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: and that's what arguing about football, and it was never personal. 169 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:18,719 Speaker 1: We the two of us were never one to back down. Um. 170 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 1: You know, Lakisha loves to say he's the most stubborn 171 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:25,320 Speaker 1: guy she's ever you know, met in his life. Um, 172 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: And I think he got that from his brothers. You 173 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: know we you mentioned having a drink. We we uh, 174 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: we were sitting with Phil Um then Chris's brother who 175 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: was here this week, and Um and then and they 176 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:44,080 Speaker 1: were they were like that relationship too, you know, a 177 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: millionth degree because there was seven of them and Um 178 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 1: and West. You know, West was the one who you know, 179 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: he's the second oldest one. I think a lot of them, 180 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: you know, really looked up to him. And that just 181 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 1: that just came from from him. But it wasn't It 182 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 1: wasn't just that you you said it so well and 183 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 1: even just how you said it. The end made me 184 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 1: think of how he collected characters around him, like so 185 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: many different types of people, and I connected with them 186 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: about about literature and talking about the you know, the 187 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: meaning of life and everything um about life. And when 188 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 1: I went down to Tybee, like and you guys saw that, 189 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: we all saw that at the wedding to just like 190 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: he could bring so many different types of people together. 191 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: That's all he wanted was to be surrounded by characters. 192 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:33,079 Speaker 1: He didn't care what type of personality you were. He 193 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: just like wanted you to be like a unique person 194 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 1: and if you were, then you could ride with West 195 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: and you were going to love him. Oh I love 196 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 1: I love what you both said, and I part of 197 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 1: me wishes we could have you know, said these things 198 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 1: like another time. But um, I just I think my my, 199 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: like my relationship with Wes wasn't really about football that much. 200 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 1: And I think that's such just so unique that you know, 201 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 1: we each covered such different territory with him, and I 202 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,719 Speaker 1: grew up loving boards as much as anything else, um, 203 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: but not as much as not as much as Wes. 204 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 1: I know that, um. But West and I like for 205 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: the other eight eight percent of our relationship, I think 206 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:13,079 Speaker 1: that it when he showed up to to Los Angeles. 207 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 1: I had been writing to him, um, because he had 208 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: been remote for a while, and we we I just 209 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: started to realize I was fascinated a bit, but fascinated 210 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: by this person. And I would send him like, um, hey, West, 211 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: like here's my top fifteen, like l a dive bars, 212 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: so when you get here, like we're going to try 213 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: these places out and stuff. And he didn't. He you know, 214 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 1: he I think he was struggling with with who he 215 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: was and where he was when he came to Los Angeles, 216 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 1: and I think the other phases of his time here 217 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,679 Speaker 1: where my friendship with him was de emphasized a little bit, 218 00:12:41,679 --> 00:12:43,839 Speaker 1: and obviously other plate people played a larger role. But 219 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: I think early on, UM just something inside of me 220 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: wanted to look out for West, and UM my thing 221 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 1: with West, I think a little bit rom reminded me 222 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: of some of my other guy friends growing up. Um 223 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: was misadventures and pranks. And I like, I was up 224 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: all night last night, Like I'm sure we all were, 225 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: just um trying to get down to the nuance of 226 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: what my friendship with West was about. And I'm not 227 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: even an eighth of the way through figuring that out. 228 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: But what kept coming to me where these moments were like, 229 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: and Dan, you were there for some of this too, 230 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,680 Speaker 1: But I just like West, when you get them going, 231 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 1: you'd wind them up off a few beers or something. 232 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: I just don't think that there are He'll He'll be 233 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 1: a top one or two or three friend in that 234 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 1: way for the rest of my life. And you know, 235 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: you'd be ten minutes in. I'd say to West, like, West, 236 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: how much will you pay me to pick up this 237 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 1: chair and launch it across this room? And He'd say, um, 238 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,319 Speaker 1: twelve bucks. So I was like, not enough. And then 239 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 1: we we I mentioned this on Sky that there were 240 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: just all these little instances. I remember a time when 241 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: we were out with Colleen Wolfe and Gonzo and and 242 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: we were upstairs at something the second floor of some 243 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: um pub, and there were these tables of older women. 244 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:52,559 Speaker 1: I don't know what they were doing there, but they 245 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 1: were essentially sort of blue hairs, and um, we would 246 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: just test each other to go do little things, and 247 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: we would walk up to these these table of women 248 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: and like sit down very seriously. I'd say we're we're 249 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: reporters from NFL dot com and West would say we're 250 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: real reporters, were scribes, and we would just ask, you know, 251 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 1: do it. I would like to know, do you think 252 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: that uh, you know, Iron Eagle is underrated as a 253 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: play by play man. This is a hot topic. And 254 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,080 Speaker 1: we're going around the whole bar and like it's just 255 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: like the the the that's you know, one little example 256 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: that West and I would do these things. We read 257 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: an airport once. Um what some people would call an incident. 258 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,080 Speaker 1: I would call it an uh an adventure to some degree. 259 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: But we were rolling around asking people like how furious 260 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:35,680 Speaker 1: they were with fake microphones in front of our hands, 261 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: like that the that the ravens had been pulled from 262 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: the belly of the Browns. And you know, these gentlemen 263 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: to be like, didn't that happen like twenty two years ago. 264 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: We're like, yes, but we need your thoughts, and like 265 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,400 Speaker 1: you know, by the time that that night ended, West 266 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: and I had um counted other incidents. But I I 267 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: love I just loved being able to chat and talk 268 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: with him, his verb his verbal skills. Um. That's something 269 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 1: that always, like I find I value in a end 270 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:03,400 Speaker 1: and we've seen how much how valuable he was on 271 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: that front. And this is one little um spoonful off 272 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: an Iceberg. So I thank you and Mark you and 273 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: Dan rather um for going out all those nights early on. 274 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 1: I remember I met my wife, but I met him 275 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 1: at this bar, like but I think the first day 276 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: he was here. We both moved out here at the 277 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: same time. I had worked for the NFL a little 278 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: longer than West, about nine months longer before we hired, 279 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: but we moved here at the exact same time, and 280 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 1: I went out with I went out with him to 281 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: a bar like the first night, and maybe did it 282 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: the third or fourth night. And I was thinking, like, well, 283 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: this isn't me. You know, I'm I'm not that guy really, 284 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: and I've got a I've got a young, young kid, 285 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: and UM, he's gonna need someone because you're right, I was. 286 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: I was going to do everything I could to make 287 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: um the work part of it UM payoff because he 288 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: took a chance. He really debated whether to come here 289 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: or not. He had he had just gotten promoted a 290 00:15:58,200 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 1: road to world. He was moving across the country from 291 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: Tybee Island. I was gonna do everything I could to 292 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: make the work part of it good. But it's like 293 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: I needed y'all. I needed you guys to be out 294 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: with him that or else. I don't know. I don't 295 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 1: know if you would have stayed well. It wasn't a 296 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:14,040 Speaker 1: hard shore Phil. His brother Phil told the story that 297 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: I was not aware of that. UM. I believe it 298 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 1: was Phil's daughter UM, And apologies to feel if I 299 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: have the story slightly off. But was asked to do 300 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 1: a book report on someone who took a chance in life, 301 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: and she was like, oh, I want to do it 302 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 1: on Uncle West, who had a perfectly comfortable life on 303 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 1: Tybee Island. He grew up on the West side of Cincinnati. Um. 304 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: He was a space alien for leaving the West side 305 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: of Cincinnati, because, as he told us many times, no 306 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:47,880 Speaker 1: one really left the West side of Cincinnati. And he 307 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: followed a friend of his that so many funny, strange 308 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 1: West stories, but a friend from Ohio who moved to 309 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: Tybee Island off the coast of Georgia and then became 310 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 1: the mayor of Typee Island. He moves there on that 311 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:07,880 Speaker 1: guy's recommendation and then settles into this island life um 312 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: or as Dave Damage was Dave Damage, I could say, 313 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: Tabby Ahland and um, and then you know, made fast 314 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 1: friends with everyone, um as Chris does, and built this 315 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:23,160 Speaker 1: whole life. And he was so he was the mayor, 316 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: although shout out to Jason Buellerman, I believe, who also 317 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: officiated his wedding. Right, let's not let's remember Buellerman was 318 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 1: the mayor. But what West was everyone's best friend. But 319 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:39,359 Speaker 1: West was so you know, such a gifted writer, he 320 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: was so talented that, um, he could have just stayed 321 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,160 Speaker 1: on that island. Um, got drunk with his friends, played softball, 322 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:51,439 Speaker 1: met someone, eventually got married and and and he nearly 323 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,880 Speaker 1: did that on that island as well, and then been 324 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: an online football writer and had he carved out a 325 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 1: nice life, but he did take that. He took that chance, 326 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: and um, I like to say it paid off for 327 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:06,160 Speaker 1: him beautifully. In fact, we know because Lakisha, he doesn't 328 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:10,160 Speaker 1: meet Lakisha an NFL network, and if he doesn't meet Lakisha, UM, 329 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,680 Speaker 1: I don't think he would have survived cancer the first time. 330 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:15,479 Speaker 1: That's how special a woman she is. And then there 331 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: would be no link. But it was touch and go 332 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 1: West in l A initially, and you said, Greg, you 333 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 1: you tried and that was not your forte going to bars. 334 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:30,159 Speaker 1: Mark and I definitely more up our alley and we 335 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 1: both went out with West a lot because we knew 336 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 1: we could tell immediately West was a good guy and 337 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 1: um a great football writer and a great addition to 338 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:40,399 Speaker 1: the team, but like a really good guy like we 339 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:43,840 Speaker 1: wanted it to meet. We wanted it to work, um, 340 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,200 Speaker 1: but it was. It was tough because he was, yes, 341 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 1: the most stubborn person I've ever known as well, UM, 342 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,200 Speaker 1: which could be a blessing and accurse sometimes, but he's 343 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 1: His initial thought was I hated here, this isn't me. 344 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: And I remember Mark us going out a lot with him. 345 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 1: One one day, Emily, my wife, and I went to 346 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: West's and I remember we all sat in the jacuzzi 347 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:08,120 Speaker 1: together and we threw corn together and listened to like Springsteen, 348 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: and it was just like you just wanted him to 349 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:13,119 Speaker 1: get like in the flow of like this could work. 350 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,639 Speaker 1: I remember Mark, you and I with Emily and West 351 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: sitting outside the city Tavern and Culver City and signing 352 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:22,440 Speaker 1: him up for Plenty of Fish, the dating site, which 353 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: was that took a lot of a lot of convincing 354 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: because he thought, oh, that's dating sites are for losers, 355 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: Like no, Wes, this is I think we were out 356 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: of the loop. But I think this is how it works. 357 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: This is how people meet and date and have fun. 358 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: Because you just wanted him to get his hooks into 359 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: the city, and he did. He started dating a lot, 360 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:42,639 Speaker 1: and you could tell he started to get more comfortable. 361 00:19:43,160 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: And then when he met Lakisha, who we had already known. 362 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 1: Um that that's what changed everything. Once Lakisha and West 363 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 1: got together, Um, there never again was there like I 364 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: don't like it here, this doesn't work. Now. He had 365 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 1: grievances with l A to the very end, but that's 366 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: when you're like, Okay, he's not going anywhere, and that 367 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: was a beautiful thing. He never did get that car 368 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 1: back that he just like last lost the car. He 369 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,200 Speaker 1: lost the car. He just went to the Super Bowl 370 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 1: down a note to that he got gotten some sort 371 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 1: of like a minor incident or accident and just gave 372 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:18,360 Speaker 1: the car to the other party. Didn't he just give 373 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: He gave the car away to the people that he 374 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:23,919 Speaker 1: got in the accident with. That's that's he just for debate. 375 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: I I've tried to I even reached out to Lukisha 376 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: at some point about two years ago. He was like, Lukisha, 377 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: do you want me to like do some like works 378 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: if I can find out where this car was? And 379 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 1: I think it was just eventually auctioned off by the city. 380 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 1: I mean I think it was. Also it was a 381 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: car that was worth about three hundred and seventy five 382 00:20:39,720 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 1: but it was now he got the one you're talking about. 383 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:48,480 Speaker 1: He got it shipped from Tybee shout out to the 384 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 1: NFL actually gave us our moving expenses and so he 385 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 1: had about a five hundred dollar car. You're talking about 386 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:00,360 Speaker 1: Big Irish, probably probably at the events of like uh, 387 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 1: probably at the expense of far more value than I'm 388 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 1: conflating stories because West lost two cars, but anyway, mark 389 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,119 Speaker 1: your turn. Well, no, I was just gonna say that 390 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:11,240 Speaker 1: I think that something else that happened to West along 391 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: the way was you know, I remember talking to him 392 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:15,280 Speaker 1: that we would even go out in l A to 393 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: various places and needs like this isn't huck a Poos, 394 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,239 Speaker 1: This isn't hucka Poos, like none of these places. They 395 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: just couldn't find that home, I think, And and that's 396 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 1: because I don't think l A really offers that um 397 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,639 Speaker 1: in establishments the same way that we having been to 398 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 1: hucka Poos it does. But he went and created it 399 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: on his own. And like we started to watch West 400 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 1: grow with his Westlemania parties, which started, as you know, 401 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,639 Speaker 1: for ten or eleven or twelve people because the circle 402 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: was smaller, but it started to grow and grow. And 403 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:45,600 Speaker 1: I remember at one point, I don't know what compelled 404 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 1: me to do this, but I walked from NFL Network 405 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: to Marina del rey Um to attend a Westlemania. I 406 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:54,199 Speaker 1: think I had sort of a heat stroke by the 407 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 1: time I got there on some level, and remember punching 408 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 1: our friend Jason Zumwald in the stomach and various other people. 409 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:04,200 Speaker 1: But um, these parties were these were absolutely epic events. 410 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: And you know what it was. It was West cooking. 411 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: It was West Um with his endless amazing playlists. And 412 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:12,679 Speaker 1: I think that the table started to turn because he 413 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 1: just created the home that wasn't there for him automatically 414 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: in Los Angeles. And on the Lakisha front, first, I'll 415 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,280 Speaker 1: never forget. I think we were out to lunch, Dan, 416 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:26,119 Speaker 1: you and I with Henry Um, and you had told 417 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: me that Western Lakisha were I mean, for lack of 418 00:22:29,640 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: a better term, interested in each other, and um, my 419 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,680 Speaker 1: cupid skills are are are sucky? Because I thought to myself, well, 420 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 1: I'm not sure about this. I I like, I love 421 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,199 Speaker 1: because I love these two so much. Um if this 422 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:44,000 Speaker 1: ever went south, what would it do to our friend group? Um? 423 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:46,119 Speaker 1: And I so I would just it was on It 424 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:48,600 Speaker 1: was on my radar, as you'd say, I was monitoring it, 425 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,120 Speaker 1: and then I suddenly became very pleased with what I saw. 426 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 1: I think the softball team helped all that, and you 427 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 1: can get into that. But um, their love and their 428 00:22:56,680 --> 00:23:01,199 Speaker 1: relationship and and they're pairing to me is incredible because 429 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: Lakisha's number one superpowers or positivity, and she walked right 430 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: into a situation that got so gnarly. I mean, I 431 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:11,440 Speaker 1: think you're right without her and who she is inside, 432 00:23:11,840 --> 00:23:14,440 Speaker 1: I don't think West would have gotten to the point 433 00:23:14,720 --> 00:23:17,439 Speaker 1: where we watched him get married to her in Tybee Islands. 434 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:20,800 Speaker 1: She he always he always likes to tell me, I 435 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: was there for the first time you saw him a fire, 436 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: which was in our break room in our at work, 437 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: and we're just like, I don't know, getting coffee or 438 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 1: water or whatever. And she walks in on her first 439 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:34,920 Speaker 1: day of work or an interview, I don't remember which, 440 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 1: and she was wearing a pretty short skirt and he 441 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:39,360 Speaker 1: just kind of like looks at me and just like 442 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,360 Speaker 1: a nice hire, you know, and pretty much pretty much 443 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 1: pretty much from then on, Um, you said, you say 444 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 1: it well, and I think it's it's one thing I 445 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,600 Speaker 1: this week has obviously been brutal and the best that 446 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 1: that I think I felt. I don't know if you 447 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: guys feel the same as like when when we're talking 448 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:04,119 Speaker 1: to each other and when we've we're talking about West, 449 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: um and um, you know, at other times it crashes 450 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:11,879 Speaker 1: and you realize he's not there. But one of the 451 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: things that that really UM has helped me just think 452 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:24,400 Speaker 1: about him, is that since since the first cancer battle, UM, 453 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: no one has appreciated every day. He had more that 454 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:30,359 Speaker 1: I've ever met than West. He He already was like that. 455 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:34,479 Speaker 1: He was a deep guy. He was even before before cancer. 456 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,679 Speaker 1: We would talk talk about that. He had this saying 457 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 1: he'd the call which was really just kind of follow 458 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 1: your heart, don't worry about anything else but that. And UM, 459 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 1: I think especially after what he went through, UM, and 460 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: also just aware of what a beautiful, you know, amazing 461 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: wife he had and what we had as a podcast. 462 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:56,800 Speaker 1: It was a huge, huge part of his life. UM, 463 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:01,120 Speaker 1: he did appreciate it. He appreciated every day. He appreciated 464 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:05,639 Speaker 1: the moments like that the summer they had before they 465 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 1: got married, where they went all around the country, saw 466 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: all the people that they loved, went to Tybee Island, 467 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:14,439 Speaker 1: had a big throw down. UM there that you know, 468 00:25:14,440 --> 00:25:17,879 Speaker 1: the the wedding and last summer too. Man like no 469 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 1: one you know, Damna Scheck says it. You know that 470 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:24,720 Speaker 1: cheating life. I mean, he felt like he was cheating life. 471 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 1: He felt like he was one of the luckiest guys 472 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:29,160 Speaker 1: in the world. I would also quickly say, I don't 473 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 1: think the four of us have ever looked hotter as 474 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 1: a group than we did at West's wedding. I looked 475 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: the picture. Those pictures are good. I mean, I don't 476 00:25:36,840 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: I don't remember going on like a weight loss plan 477 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,000 Speaker 1: during that period. But I was like, I wish I 478 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:43,200 Speaker 1: didn't have the beard. In hindsight, I wish I didn't 479 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: have the beard. But his job by the photographer, I thought, 480 00:25:45,840 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 1: ultimately it's possibly true. Now the transformation of West to 481 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: from you know, from physically to everything else, from when 482 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: we started with him to the way he dressed and 483 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: the way he looked once the keisha was in was 484 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 1: always staggering to me. Um, he just went on a 485 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 1: journey and in his um seven or so years here 486 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:13,639 Speaker 1: and you know, it's like, you know, circling back to 487 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 1: how he's just connected with so many people. And this 488 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:22,160 Speaker 1: has been, you know, a terrible week. I mean it's 489 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:26,479 Speaker 1: been and we could you know, open the Kimono. West 490 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:30,200 Speaker 1: was very fond of taking down at the talent summits, 491 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 1: the corporate jargon that came out. Open the Kimono one 492 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 1: of our favorites. And Um, he was very fond of 493 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:45,160 Speaker 1: um our show and doing our show, and even when 494 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:48,080 Speaker 1: he got sick, he wanted to keep doing the show, 495 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 1: and we we knew things were going uh sideways. Um. 496 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 1: Really as the summer I went into the football season 497 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:01,639 Speaker 1: and Mark and I had many painful like back and 498 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 1: forth um where we just had this terrible feeling because 499 00:27:05,600 --> 00:27:08,199 Speaker 1: it just we we lived it. We lived through the 500 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:11,640 Speaker 1: first nightmare of West having cancer, and it always felt 501 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 1: like there was this clear path um, as difficult as 502 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: it was for him, that he was going to get 503 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 1: this treatment and then he's gonna have the surgery and 504 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,240 Speaker 1: then he had to go into recovery and then the 505 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:23,679 Speaker 1: doctors were giving a clear um directive of what he 506 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: needed to do and he beat it and it was like, Okay, 507 00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:29,960 Speaker 1: this time it wasn't that way. And you know when 508 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 1: he started not being able to do the show, Um, 509 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 1: I know is if the listeners out there, you you 510 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:38,639 Speaker 1: could probably put together that things were getting dicey. And 511 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,159 Speaker 1: then when he was able to do those Sunday night 512 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: shows this year, I mean that was one of my 513 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 1: favorite West stories. Um. That connects to this is the 514 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: we played softball together for three seasons and I don't 515 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 1: know if I could ever play softball again, be honest, 516 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:55,919 Speaker 1: because me and West loved playing together so much, and 517 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:59,439 Speaker 1: he was Mike don Zimmer my Consigliari the Shield, and 518 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:01,440 Speaker 1: we went to the title game three times in a row. 519 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: We won the first two years. First year was two 520 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:08,280 Speaker 1: thousand sixteen. He gets sick in two thousand seventeen. Uh 521 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:11,440 Speaker 1: and in the two thousand eighteen season he comes back 522 00:28:13,040 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 1: two thousand seventeen, UM season, he's playing softball of this 523 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:21,239 Speaker 1: while he's undergoing chemo, and it's like, what is this 524 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:23,920 Speaker 1: guy doing? And then when it's just like this level 525 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:27,640 Speaker 1: and well yeah, and playing well but not feeling himself 526 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:29,800 Speaker 1: and you know, having to lay down and drink a lot. 527 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 1: And in the final game when everything was on the 528 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: line and he was third, he was the third baseman. 529 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 1: Every week, I played first, Tony Garcia at shortstop, Nicolephelia 530 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 1: at second, Brook pitching, Lakisha, and our friend Brassie catching. 531 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:47,560 Speaker 1: That was the infield. And West pulls himself out of 532 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:49,880 Speaker 1: the game for the finals and says, you know what 533 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 1: I'm not, I'm gonna I'm gonna coach. I can use 534 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 1: my powers better positioning people on the field and and 535 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 1: watching the game and I'm like, this guy is so 536 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:05,280 Speaker 1: different even when you're doing softball and like, but also 537 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 1: like the toughest of playing while having cancer. The fact 538 00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: that he was getting um hanging on every Sunday like 539 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,480 Speaker 1: and he was always tired. West, he struggled to sleep 540 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 1: because he was in a lot of pain and discomfort 541 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:20,680 Speaker 1: uh during this final illness. But the fact that he 542 00:29:20,840 --> 00:29:23,280 Speaker 1: would always stay up and do for most of the 543 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 1: regular season, almost the whole show before Nick Shook would 544 00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 1: help out at the end, and then in the in 545 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: the final playoffs and everybody you could hear his voice. 546 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 1: I know you guys listening could hear that he was 547 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,400 Speaker 1: really struggling and in trouble, but he still wanted to 548 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 1: be a part of it. And he was on the 549 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 1: divisional round playoff recap with us and I. The last 550 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:46,640 Speaker 1: text that I ever had with him was after that, 551 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 1: after that show and I texted him that was great, West, 552 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 1: it was great to have you on and he wrote, 553 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:55,440 Speaker 1: thank you. That means a lot. Can't wait until I 554 00:29:55,440 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 1: can do a full one. He never he never quit, 555 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:00,200 Speaker 1: He never gave up like that was two weeks before 556 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 1: he died. Um. He was the toughest, bravest, guy, I know, 557 00:30:05,160 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 1: and that's stubbornness that sometimes would drive you crazy. Is 558 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:10,080 Speaker 1: why he he made it as long as he did. 559 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 1: It means a lot to me that one of um, 560 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 1: you know, our final moments together, UM and I think 561 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: really our finest, uh final kind of pure moment in 562 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:26,200 Speaker 1: the West sense, because that's what he was all about. 563 00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:28,800 Speaker 1: He was just like searching for these pure moments in life, 564 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 1: and a lot of them were at bars. Some of 565 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 1: someone were just talking to his friends. UM could have 566 00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:38,160 Speaker 1: been in sports. UM, I was talking about that Brown's 567 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:40,760 Speaker 1: game was the four of us, you know, and he 568 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 1: knew he knew if he was gonna be on for 569 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 1: one one game there that like we've been waiting um 570 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 1: the whole the whole time we did the podcast to 571 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 1: see a Brown's win, and he wanted to be be 572 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 1: there for Mark and he wanted to be there with 573 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 1: with Dan and I too. That the four of us 574 00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:00,280 Speaker 1: could couldn't enjoy that as a podcast. It means a 575 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:02,160 Speaker 1: lot to me that that he did that, and he 576 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:05,719 Speaker 1: was really pushing himself to do that. It's it just 577 00:31:05,760 --> 00:31:10,320 Speaker 1: seemed like um our respect collectively and individually for West 578 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 1: would grow with each year, which is a great way 579 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 1: to feel about someone. And um, it was even last 580 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 1: night when uh, you know, I I'm not alone. We've 581 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:22,360 Speaker 1: been looking at little clips of West and people of 582 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 1: our listeners are amazing and have found some incredible stuff. 583 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,840 Speaker 1: But I just was watching this random UM pod from 584 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:32,240 Speaker 1: I think it was like summer, and it was like 585 00:31:32,360 --> 00:31:35,880 Speaker 1: list teams that are you know, not gonna fulfill their promise. 586 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:39,520 Speaker 1: And I went on this like rant about Rex Ryan's bills, UM, 587 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 1: having no idea that I would later on hang out 588 00:31:42,880 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 1: with Rex Ryan and he actually at some point, UM, 589 00:31:46,160 --> 00:31:48,400 Speaker 1: while I was traveling with Rex Ryan went I can tell, 590 00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 1: went on the internet and looked for articles written by 591 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:52,200 Speaker 1: me about him, and there were a couple out there 592 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:56,800 Speaker 1: that were unfriendly. Let's put that's a whole different story. 593 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 1: But um, but I'm watching this thing and it was 594 00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 1: you know, we'd look a lot younger for or five 595 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 1: years ago, all of us, and like, um, I was, 596 00:32:04,280 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 1: you know, it was a rather directionless rant about the 597 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:10,720 Speaker 1: bills UM. And then someone else spoke and then West 598 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:14,360 Speaker 1: just said I agree with Mark. And I was sitting 599 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: there with Simone and I just got off up the 600 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:19,360 Speaker 1: couch and I started pumping my fist yeah. I was like, 601 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: if West believes in me, if he believed in my football, 602 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,400 Speaker 1: take I am a shining diamond. That was like all 603 00:32:25,440 --> 00:32:28,480 Speaker 1: I needed. Stop the tape. I'm out that. It wasn't 604 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 1: always the case, but it meant a lot when he 605 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:33,640 Speaker 1: agreed with you, because like you would put the work 606 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:35,800 Speaker 1: in or you got lucky, but he agreed with you. 607 00:32:35,880 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 1: And it means so much for me to be on 608 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 1: the right side of things because West on football almost 609 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:44,680 Speaker 1: always was that. I mean, that was It's funny you 610 00:32:44,680 --> 00:32:46,680 Speaker 1: should say that because that's something I wanted to talk about, 611 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 1: which was West obviously. Um, what made this and what's 612 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:56,240 Speaker 1: made this podcast successful is the dynamic and the four 613 00:32:56,280 --> 00:33:01,040 Speaker 1: of our personalities mixing together and you know, our strengths 614 00:33:01,120 --> 00:33:05,520 Speaker 1: um and our weaknesses all you know, being offset the weaknesses, 615 00:33:05,560 --> 00:33:09,080 Speaker 1: the strengths being amplified when everything is cooking. And I 616 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: always the West was so vital to the dynamic and 617 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:15,720 Speaker 1: it's you know, as we look forward, and it's hard 618 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:17,920 Speaker 1: to look forward right now, but as you look forward, 619 00:33:17,920 --> 00:33:19,880 Speaker 1: I don't know, I don't know what our podcast is 620 00:33:19,960 --> 00:33:21,960 Speaker 1: going forward with that West. I know we've we've done 621 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:25,720 Speaker 1: it before without West because he got sick and missed 622 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:27,760 Speaker 1: time the first time, and then we did this whole 623 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:31,600 Speaker 1: season mostly without him. But I don't none of us, 624 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:33,400 Speaker 1: we haven't sat down and talked about like what is 625 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:37,360 Speaker 1: our podcast going forward? Because West was so vital. He 626 00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 1: was his his football acumen was off the charts, and 627 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 1: you know, in terms of um his knowledge of sports 628 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 1: I think he's one of the true great sports fans ever. 629 00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 1: And I would put him up against I don't care anybody. 630 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:55,920 Speaker 1: You show me who the biggest sports van you know is, 631 00:33:56,520 --> 00:33:59,080 Speaker 1: and I'll put him up against West. And the now 632 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:02,160 Speaker 1: of games that West watches across the spectrum, Pro College, 633 00:34:02,360 --> 00:34:06,320 Speaker 1: whatever the tape he watched, the reading, he did, the 634 00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:08,400 Speaker 1: instincts he had, he could see the game in a 635 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:09,960 Speaker 1: way that none of us could see it. And his 636 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:12,560 Speaker 1: he was so important to the show because he would 637 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 1: push back against Greg and that was the scientists heat 638 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:18,080 Speaker 1: um with me when I was trying to make people laugh, 639 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:20,239 Speaker 1: I would always if I got West, I knew that 640 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 1: I would get the audience. And West was such a 641 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:25,239 Speaker 1: great uh person for me to be able to play 642 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:27,560 Speaker 1: off and understand where the tone and the field of 643 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:29,560 Speaker 1: the show was. And Mark with you, and this is 644 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:31,160 Speaker 1: I don't think I've ever shared this with you, but 645 00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:33,959 Speaker 1: it was something that I always noticed, the way where 646 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,680 Speaker 1: I sat um with Greg to my right and then 647 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:39,319 Speaker 1: West to my left, and then you on the far left. 648 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:41,600 Speaker 1: When you would make a football point, Mark, you would 649 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:45,200 Speaker 1: reflexively kind of turned toward West when you made it, 650 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:47,880 Speaker 1: because it was almost like you you were putting it 651 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:50,920 Speaker 1: out there for West and and will Wess agree with it. 652 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:54,439 Speaker 1: I want because you wanted that just like we all did, 653 00:34:54,520 --> 00:34:56,600 Speaker 1: because you nailed it, like we all wanted West to 654 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:59,680 Speaker 1: agree with our football takes. But I always noticed you Mark. 655 00:34:59,719 --> 00:35:01,880 Speaker 1: You aways looked to West when you were kind of 656 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:04,400 Speaker 1: putting yourself out there. I don't have the quality that 657 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:07,640 Speaker 1: Greg has to where he wanted to engage with West. 658 00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 1: I At one point I remember challenging West on his 659 00:35:10,760 --> 00:35:13,680 Speaker 1: Bengal fandom, telling him that I'll never forget this, that 660 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:16,840 Speaker 1: maybe you should rethink this huge binder you put together 661 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 1: about the Bengals because if you're loyal and this was, 662 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:22,239 Speaker 1: you know, the Browns were in like a deep apocalypse 663 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 1: for year twenty eight in a row, and like, Um, 664 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,239 Speaker 1: I was like loyal, people stick with their team. And 665 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 1: I don't remember Wes's response because it wasn't on the show, 666 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:35,520 Speaker 1: but he he uh destroyed me verbally for that. It 667 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:38,640 Speaker 1: doesn't being me, but he basically was just like, your 668 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:41,160 Speaker 1: opinion on that is completely wrong. And I was like, 669 00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:45,719 Speaker 1: I learned that arguing with West was not my forte um, 670 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:48,879 Speaker 1: was not my strength. Um, And I probably did try 671 00:35:48,920 --> 00:35:52,520 Speaker 1: to avoid that and create some sort of agreement because, 672 00:35:52,760 --> 00:35:54,759 Speaker 1: like you said, I mean it meant a lot. I 673 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:57,680 Speaker 1: sure I looked at him all the time because if 674 00:35:57,680 --> 00:35:59,399 Speaker 1: he's smiling, I had the same mine. You say something 675 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:03,480 Speaker 1: and he's smiles, he laughs. I've done anything anything I 676 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:06,839 Speaker 1: could possibly hope to do on a show. I mean 677 00:36:06,880 --> 00:36:11,520 Speaker 1: that's why I like when Dan asked the other week, um, 678 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:16,720 Speaker 1: you know, whether what Belichick's opinion was or feelings watching 679 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:19,719 Speaker 1: Brady and West came down on my side. I mean 680 00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:22,279 Speaker 1: that was a bigger fist pumping celebration that I had 681 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:25,600 Speaker 1: than any Patriots game all season. I was just like, yeah, okay, 682 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:28,240 Speaker 1: West is the decider here. But then mad Dog Russo 683 00:36:28,320 --> 00:36:32,600 Speaker 1: straighten you right out. Now, I'm taking taking West. I 684 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:36,200 Speaker 1: love to wind. I've you know, I just for fun. 685 00:36:36,239 --> 00:36:39,680 Speaker 1: I don't take it too seriously with hardcore football takes. 686 00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:41,319 Speaker 1: But I would go up against West and just have 687 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:43,160 Speaker 1: fun with it, even though if I knew it was 688 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:46,080 Speaker 1: a mismatch. The thing, real thing I love to do 689 00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:47,640 Speaker 1: with West and the shows just wind him up, and 690 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:50,160 Speaker 1: that would be you know, whether it was him carrying 691 00:36:50,239 --> 00:36:53,879 Speaker 1: the pail up and down the hill for the Patriots 692 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 1: and all get him all fired up about the fleet 693 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:59,839 Speaker 1: gate that was so fun, or Eli and his being 694 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:03,080 Speaker 1: hall of Famer and West say, I think West's take, 695 00:37:03,239 --> 00:37:06,120 Speaker 1: and it's sad that Well never get to see Um 696 00:37:06,160 --> 00:37:07,680 Speaker 1: if this would have played out, I think he said 697 00:37:07,719 --> 00:37:11,080 Speaker 1: he would never he would never either watch a Hall 698 00:37:11,120 --> 00:37:13,040 Speaker 1: of Fame speech or go to the Hall of Fame 699 00:37:13,080 --> 00:37:16,200 Speaker 1: if Eli got in. He felt so strong and that 700 00:37:16,280 --> 00:37:19,000 Speaker 1: Eli was not was not a good quarterback, which was 701 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:21,560 Speaker 1: always a fun little back and forth. He was just such. 702 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:26,440 Speaker 1: He was such a great podcaster because he was um 703 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:31,360 Speaker 1: smart as a whip, articulate, um. He knew everything, he 704 00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:33,839 Speaker 1: did the work, and he had a sense of humor. 705 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:36,040 Speaker 1: So he was kind of a total package guy. He was. 706 00:37:36,520 --> 00:37:38,359 Speaker 1: He was the not so secret weapon of the show. 707 00:37:38,560 --> 00:37:41,799 Speaker 1: I think about this. He was so stubborn that um 708 00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:44,640 Speaker 1: he he ended up eating his own softball pants because 709 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:46,800 Speaker 1: he refused to back down off and take about the 710 00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:49,840 Speaker 1: Raiders based on their general manager, who he disliked, a 711 00:37:49,840 --> 00:37:53,480 Speaker 1: whole bunch of other stuff and softball pants. Yeah, if 712 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:56,560 Speaker 1: you're someone new to the show, I believe. Um it 713 00:37:56,680 --> 00:37:59,200 Speaker 1: was he said he would eat his softball pants if 714 00:37:59,239 --> 00:38:02,560 Speaker 1: Dennis Allen Raiders had a certain win total. I think 715 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:04,520 Speaker 1: we had a six or something it was. I think 716 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:07,160 Speaker 1: it was five or six, and and they easily. I 717 00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:09,359 Speaker 1: think they might have gone eight and eight that year. Um. 718 00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:12,160 Speaker 1: And so he was in trouble early. And uh that 719 00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:16,480 Speaker 1: that is still my avatar on our our in company 720 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:20,560 Speaker 1: uh client messaging climbing client which we do not name, 721 00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:26,640 Speaker 1: is West eating softball pants. So out of Dan's he was. 722 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:28,319 Speaker 1: So it was. It was a bit that we had 723 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:32,279 Speaker 1: built up for for weeks and weeks and uh, I 724 00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:34,400 Speaker 1: remember calling West before we got on the plane to 725 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:36,880 Speaker 1: go to New York. It was the it was the 726 00:38:36,880 --> 00:38:41,279 Speaker 1: Seahawks Broncos Super Bowl at Giant or MetLife Stadium. Said West, 727 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:43,320 Speaker 1: you gotta bring the pants. You gotta bring the pants. 728 00:38:43,640 --> 00:38:45,680 Speaker 1: We need the softball pants to do the pants bit. 729 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:49,080 Speaker 1: Uh we didn't. He didn't bring the pants. I don't 730 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:50,960 Speaker 1: was it the Giant, Maybe it wasn't the New York 731 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:52,719 Speaker 1: New Jersey Want, I can't remember. But he didn't have 732 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:55,200 Speaker 1: the pants, and uh, we had to go out and 733 00:38:55,239 --> 00:38:57,279 Speaker 1: I think he had to get the pants mailed. And 734 00:38:57,280 --> 00:38:59,760 Speaker 1: then it just so happened. At the rate at radio 735 00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:03,279 Speaker 1: there was a hot dog stand and there was a 736 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:06,440 Speaker 1: the world's biggest hot dog or something, and it was disgusting, 737 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:09,440 Speaker 1: and a chili and relish sour kraut and all this 738 00:39:09,520 --> 00:39:13,520 Speaker 1: other stuff, guacamole, bacon. It was insane and it was 739 00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:16,480 Speaker 1: about like two ft long. And we we cut up 740 00:39:16,960 --> 00:39:19,239 Speaker 1: a portion of the pants and just sprinkled it on top. 741 00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:23,759 Speaker 1: And West again a great podcaster. Um, he took a 742 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:25,960 Speaker 1: bite out of that hot dog. He ate some of 743 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:28,560 Speaker 1: his own softball pants. Because so strong was he in 744 00:39:28,600 --> 00:39:32,200 Speaker 1: his opinion about that particular Meaningless Raiders team. He was 745 00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:36,399 Speaker 1: willing to risk everything he was. It was something that 746 00:39:36,520 --> 00:39:39,799 Speaker 1: some of the someone tweeted about that I thought was right. 747 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:41,719 Speaker 1: Was just he was. He was real. He was like 748 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:44,520 Speaker 1: the realist of the real. He was always West Um. 749 00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:47,440 Speaker 1: And so I think that podcast is the perfect form 750 00:39:48,239 --> 00:39:54,120 Speaker 1: for him, um, because he could never be anything but West, 751 00:39:54,120 --> 00:39:57,200 Speaker 1: which was stubborn everything, but also incredibly generous, you know. 752 00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:01,880 Speaker 1: And and just like he was never he didn't have 753 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:04,600 Speaker 1: a fake bone in his body. There was zero bullet 754 00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:08,560 Speaker 1: with Chris Wesley. A little anecdote that UM, Ryan Bartlett 755 00:40:08,760 --> 00:40:11,000 Speaker 1: from our podcast crew mentioned that I just thought was 756 00:40:11,080 --> 00:40:13,040 Speaker 1: so West and it kind of shows you that he 757 00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:16,840 Speaker 1: did not care about how he was supposed to appear 758 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:19,600 Speaker 1: or be dressed. Um that they got into this deep 759 00:40:19,640 --> 00:40:23,040 Speaker 1: conversation about limousines, and you know, there's a lot of 760 00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:25,319 Speaker 1: things that happened in limousines. But West told a story 761 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:29,360 Speaker 1: of UM going on a pub crawl when he was 762 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:32,720 Speaker 1: a mailman. Um in a limo. He walked into a limo, 763 00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:36,120 Speaker 1: went from from pub to pub and his mailman outfit. 764 00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:40,480 Speaker 1: Like it's a completely beguiling visual. Um. But it's like, 765 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:42,600 Speaker 1: of course West did that. You know, he's not going 766 00:40:42,640 --> 00:40:45,920 Speaker 1: to change into something else. I love it, you know, 767 00:40:46,120 --> 00:40:48,560 Speaker 1: is he you know, That's how he started his and 768 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:50,640 Speaker 1: that's how he of course got the nickname Mailman. His 769 00:40:50,719 --> 00:40:52,800 Speaker 1: father I believe was a mailman, right, yes he was. 770 00:40:53,239 --> 00:40:56,200 Speaker 1: And again like and this is one of the things 771 00:40:56,200 --> 00:40:58,239 Speaker 1: I related to I know, you know, we both kind 772 00:40:58,239 --> 00:40:59,800 Speaker 1: of I know he's on the west side of Cincinnati. 773 00:40:59,800 --> 00:41:02,440 Speaker 1: But it was like a small town, UM, just like 774 00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:05,800 Speaker 1: I grew up in and and the idea of UM 775 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:09,320 Speaker 1: leaving town or or doing something well outside the box 776 00:41:10,080 --> 00:41:15,120 Speaker 1: wasn't something that that immediately, UM a young Chris Westling 777 00:41:15,360 --> 00:41:18,080 Speaker 1: thought about. So he went from high school and he did, 778 00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:20,400 Speaker 1: he did some college, and then I was working, as 779 00:41:20,440 --> 00:41:22,960 Speaker 1: an imagine someone is smart and gifted as he is, 780 00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:26,040 Speaker 1: UM working at the postal service, which, by the way, 781 00:41:26,280 --> 00:41:28,040 Speaker 1: I know people that work in the postal service, and 782 00:41:28,040 --> 00:41:31,359 Speaker 1: it's a perfectly um, honest living and and and and 783 00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:34,520 Speaker 1: a good job. But I'm saying with with the abilities 784 00:41:34,560 --> 00:41:37,080 Speaker 1: and the skills that he had, I'm so happy he 785 00:41:37,120 --> 00:41:38,960 Speaker 1: took that chance, not just because it meant that we 786 00:41:39,040 --> 00:41:41,319 Speaker 1: got to know him, but that he gave so much 787 00:41:41,719 --> 00:41:45,080 Speaker 1: to everyone. He's such, he's such. And go back, please, 788 00:41:45,680 --> 00:41:48,440 Speaker 1: if you do one thing, go back and read some 789 00:41:48,560 --> 00:41:52,200 Speaker 1: of Chris Wesseling's writing. Um he wrote. He wrote about 790 00:41:52,200 --> 00:41:56,720 Speaker 1: the Cincinnati Bengals um um offense under young Bill Wallace. 791 00:41:56,800 --> 00:42:00,560 Speaker 1: He wrote about Ohio River offense. He wrote about love 792 00:42:00,560 --> 00:42:04,799 Speaker 1: You Blue, about those famous Houston Oilers teams. These are 793 00:42:04,840 --> 00:42:08,600 Speaker 1: just a couple of his like really widely acclaimed long 794 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:11,080 Speaker 1: forms he did for the NFL, but then also just 795 00:42:11,160 --> 00:42:14,120 Speaker 1: read like a game story he wrote, or like a 796 00:42:14,200 --> 00:42:18,080 Speaker 1: takeaway post when we were doing our blog or anything 797 00:42:18,120 --> 00:42:20,040 Speaker 1: he wrote recently right up to the end when he 798 00:42:20,080 --> 00:42:23,200 Speaker 1: was doing Chemo and he was doing his QB rankings 799 00:42:23,239 --> 00:42:26,920 Speaker 1: piece and just doing the best writing on professional football 800 00:42:26,960 --> 00:42:29,279 Speaker 1: on the internet, like West was doing that to the 801 00:42:29,400 --> 00:42:33,440 Speaker 1: very end. So read about read West because of all 802 00:42:33,480 --> 00:42:36,040 Speaker 1: the things. I just said that he was a brilliant podcaster. 803 00:42:36,200 --> 00:42:38,600 Speaker 1: He wasn't even he was even better as a writer. Yeah, 804 00:42:38,640 --> 00:42:42,680 Speaker 1: I think Um. I think it was the first QB 805 00:42:42,800 --> 00:42:45,719 Speaker 1: Index of this season. He wrote the intro to it. 806 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:50,080 Speaker 1: Um just kind of in the same vein a similar 807 00:42:50,160 --> 00:42:51,799 Speaker 1: vein of what we heard at the top of the 808 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:55,000 Speaker 1: show about what sports means, and uh, I would really 809 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:57,360 Speaker 1: recommend people check that out. I believe it was. It 810 00:42:57,520 --> 00:43:00,279 Speaker 1: was the week week one thing. Um. I talked to 811 00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:03,240 Speaker 1: Spice Rack, who you know, if you're a regular listener, 812 00:43:03,280 --> 00:43:07,279 Speaker 1: you guys will remember is Um. You know his consigliari 813 00:43:07,360 --> 00:43:12,480 Speaker 1: in Vegas Desert, a friend of his Um from from 814 00:43:12,520 --> 00:43:15,600 Speaker 1: his childhood and Cincinnati originally like one of West's brother's 815 00:43:15,680 --> 00:43:18,560 Speaker 1: friends and then came to it and and he said 816 00:43:18,560 --> 00:43:22,880 Speaker 1: to me, when when West started writing for Rhoda World 817 00:43:23,000 --> 00:43:25,160 Speaker 1: and and that, and that was that a bit of 818 00:43:25,160 --> 00:43:26,839 Speaker 1: a low moment for him. You know, he was trying 819 00:43:26,880 --> 00:43:29,239 Speaker 1: to figure out what he was doing. He had just 820 00:43:29,239 --> 00:43:32,600 Speaker 1: just started a job delivering pizzas and he was in 821 00:43:32,640 --> 00:43:36,040 Speaker 1: his thirties, um, and and it started to go really well, 822 00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:39,040 Speaker 1: and he got hired you know, full time, sooner than later. 823 00:43:39,080 --> 00:43:40,959 Speaker 1: And then he went to the NFL and he said, 824 00:43:41,840 --> 00:43:44,719 Speaker 1: like everyone that knew him growing up was like, well, 825 00:43:44,719 --> 00:43:47,480 Speaker 1: of course, like why did it take this long? Not 826 00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:49,520 Speaker 1: why did it take this long? But like of course, 827 00:43:49,600 --> 00:43:52,840 Speaker 1: like he was the most brilliant guy, um, that we 828 00:43:52,920 --> 00:43:55,960 Speaker 1: all knew growing up, and and he was the most 829 00:43:56,000 --> 00:43:58,239 Speaker 1: brilliant guy about sports growing up. And when he was 830 00:43:58,320 --> 00:44:01,760 Speaker 1: sixteen seventeen, like he had all these notebooks, the same 831 00:44:01,840 --> 00:44:06,239 Speaker 1: handwritten notebooks that that he had now and and and 832 00:44:06,360 --> 00:44:10,759 Speaker 1: Spicy said something that really stuck with me, um, just 833 00:44:10,840 --> 00:44:15,319 Speaker 1: like about how much West believed in him and that 834 00:44:15,480 --> 00:44:18,640 Speaker 1: how much that meant to him. And that really resonated 835 00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:21,200 Speaker 1: because I just from the people that I know, uh, 836 00:44:21,320 --> 00:44:23,640 Speaker 1: in West's life, I think that's true of a lot 837 00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:26,359 Speaker 1: of people. Um that it really meant a lot when 838 00:44:26,360 --> 00:44:29,640 Speaker 1: West believed in you, that he saw like a like 839 00:44:29,880 --> 00:44:32,120 Speaker 1: the best side of you, and he and he tried 840 00:44:32,200 --> 00:44:35,200 Speaker 1: to take to get that out. And uh, I know 841 00:44:35,280 --> 00:44:36,880 Speaker 1: that meant a lot to spice Wreck, but me, it 842 00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:38,560 Speaker 1: meant a lot to a lot of people. I love 843 00:44:38,640 --> 00:44:40,200 Speaker 1: what you said. And I would say one other thing 844 00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:43,600 Speaker 1: about West that that lifted me up when we first 845 00:44:43,640 --> 00:44:46,600 Speaker 1: met was, um, you know, we're in a world where 846 00:44:46,600 --> 00:44:49,319 Speaker 1: a lot of people they go to college, they go 847 00:44:49,400 --> 00:44:52,880 Speaker 1: to journalism school, and by twenty three their rising stars. 848 00:44:52,920 --> 00:44:55,360 Speaker 1: And um, I didn't come to the NFL until I 849 00:44:55,400 --> 00:44:58,880 Speaker 1: was like thirty six or thirty seven, and West West 850 00:44:58,920 --> 00:45:01,839 Speaker 1: and I took very st huit is bizarre routes um 851 00:45:02,200 --> 00:45:03,719 Speaker 1: to get where we are. I mean all four of 852 00:45:03,840 --> 00:45:06,520 Speaker 1: us did. If you look at the way that we 853 00:45:06,560 --> 00:45:11,360 Speaker 1: all got to into that podcast studio together, UM, it's incredible. 854 00:45:11,560 --> 00:45:14,319 Speaker 1: It's it beats the odds because of what what we 855 00:45:14,360 --> 00:45:17,200 Speaker 1: went through. Um. But we always have younger writers and 856 00:45:17,239 --> 00:45:19,719 Speaker 1: stuff ask how do you do this? How do you 857 00:45:19,760 --> 00:45:22,279 Speaker 1: do that? And I find that my roadmap is a 858 00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:25,520 Speaker 1: terrible uh diagram for someone to follow. Don't do what 859 00:45:25,560 --> 00:45:27,239 Speaker 1: I did? And maybe don't do what West did. But 860 00:45:27,480 --> 00:45:29,600 Speaker 1: maybe the lesson in there a little bit is when 861 00:45:29,640 --> 00:45:33,359 Speaker 1: I think about West, he went and lived this incredibly 862 00:45:33,480 --> 00:45:36,560 Speaker 1: varied life with adventures that would say, well below him, 863 00:45:36,560 --> 00:45:38,320 Speaker 1: why are you a mailman when you're doing all this 864 00:45:38,360 --> 00:45:40,360 Speaker 1: other stuff or whatever? And I hear all that, and 865 00:45:40,360 --> 00:45:42,880 Speaker 1: it's true, but I think all that informed West and 866 00:45:42,920 --> 00:45:46,000 Speaker 1: who he was. Had he gone a journalism school and 867 00:45:46,160 --> 00:45:49,239 Speaker 1: been like a shiny employee from day one, I don't 868 00:45:49,320 --> 00:45:50,880 Speaker 1: we never would have known him. It would have been 869 00:45:50,920 --> 00:45:53,800 Speaker 1: a different person. So I I think like whatever wherever 870 00:45:53,880 --> 00:45:56,840 Speaker 1: you are, if you're listening to this um, there's always 871 00:45:56,920 --> 00:45:59,279 Speaker 1: hope to get back on course or just to wind 872 00:45:59,360 --> 00:46:01,839 Speaker 1: up where you should up. And that's what West did. Ricky, 873 00:46:01,920 --> 00:46:07,920 Speaker 1: I would love to hear um from you. Yeah, I mean, 874 00:46:08,000 --> 00:46:12,719 Speaker 1: it's so beautiful to to hear you guys. Um. You know, 875 00:46:12,800 --> 00:46:15,919 Speaker 1: we all have our different relationships, like us as a whole, 876 00:46:16,040 --> 00:46:18,200 Speaker 1: as a five some were very tight, but I have 877 00:46:18,280 --> 00:46:21,320 Speaker 1: a very different relationship with each of you, and I 878 00:46:21,719 --> 00:46:25,359 Speaker 1: did with West. And I met West when he came 879 00:46:25,360 --> 00:46:28,400 Speaker 1: back from cancer the first time, and I'm this new producer, 880 00:46:28,520 --> 00:46:30,919 Speaker 1: who am I? And the first thing he ever said 881 00:46:30,960 --> 00:46:33,000 Speaker 1: to me is, Oh, you're the one that's taking our 882 00:46:33,120 --> 00:46:37,120 Speaker 1: videos to the next level. And even in cancer, he 883 00:46:37,239 --> 00:46:40,040 Speaker 1: was watching what we were doing and he was like, 884 00:46:40,080 --> 00:46:43,040 Speaker 1: it's so great to meet you. And and from a 885 00:46:43,080 --> 00:46:46,400 Speaker 1: writer and a football standpoint, I mean, he's the smartest 886 00:46:46,440 --> 00:46:51,080 Speaker 1: guy I've ever met. But me and him together when 887 00:46:51,200 --> 00:46:54,279 Speaker 1: when we I mean, you guys, you know Dan and Mark, 888 00:46:54,320 --> 00:46:57,080 Speaker 1: you like you like to tie it on. But Me 889 00:46:57,200 --> 00:47:04,040 Speaker 1: and West together were absolute tornadoes and and and he 890 00:47:05,200 --> 00:47:08,719 Speaker 1: was just the most slice of life that you could 891 00:47:08,719 --> 00:47:12,439 Speaker 1: ever ask for. And from even petty stuff to being 892 00:47:12,480 --> 00:47:14,920 Speaker 1: in the office and I'd be like mad about something 893 00:47:15,040 --> 00:47:17,120 Speaker 1: Caddy that happened, and he would look at me and 894 00:47:17,120 --> 00:47:19,920 Speaker 1: be like, what does it matter? He would just straight 895 00:47:20,040 --> 00:47:22,120 Speaker 1: straight face, what what are you? Why are you upset 896 00:47:22,160 --> 00:47:25,839 Speaker 1: about this? And I would be like, you're You're right, 897 00:47:25,960 --> 00:47:30,760 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter. And and just his outlook on on life. 898 00:47:30,760 --> 00:47:33,719 Speaker 1: And I know there's videos and stuff going around, but 899 00:47:34,800 --> 00:47:37,799 Speaker 1: he was just the most fun. And he made me 900 00:47:38,320 --> 00:47:41,560 Speaker 1: so much worse out in public when there was alcohol involved. 901 00:47:41,640 --> 00:47:45,280 Speaker 1: If he was there, it was it was. It was terrible. 902 00:47:45,360 --> 00:47:47,600 Speaker 1: But it's so much fun. And I think that there 903 00:47:47,680 --> 00:47:51,239 Speaker 1: was those photos from us at St. Elmo's and it's 904 00:47:51,239 --> 00:47:53,759 Speaker 1: really foggy. But I think we told them that it 905 00:47:53,880 --> 00:47:57,880 Speaker 1: was West and Eyes anniversary, so we got a free dessert. 906 00:47:58,719 --> 00:48:02,359 Speaker 1: But the league fence is it anyways, and so we 907 00:48:02,400 --> 00:48:07,560 Speaker 1: have to cut this anymore. But we told them it 908 00:48:07,640 --> 00:48:10,319 Speaker 1: was our anniversary for a free dessert. And we're at 909 00:48:10,360 --> 00:48:12,799 Speaker 1: a part. We're at a table like twelve at the time, 910 00:48:12,880 --> 00:48:15,120 Speaker 1: like just the two of us, and you were putting 911 00:48:15,120 --> 00:48:20,319 Speaker 1: cake in each other each other's mouths. You bought like 912 00:48:20,400 --> 00:48:22,800 Speaker 1: you bought other things that contributed to that. It was 913 00:48:22,800 --> 00:48:26,320 Speaker 1: an incredible that was West at his liveliest, like post cancer, 914 00:48:26,360 --> 00:48:28,840 Speaker 1: and he was having that was February. That was a 915 00:48:28,880 --> 00:48:31,560 Speaker 1: year ago. That was fifty weeks ago. I mean, that's 916 00:48:31,760 --> 00:48:36,480 Speaker 1: and that's the the sad the sadness about this, and 917 00:48:36,520 --> 00:48:38,879 Speaker 1: it is and I'm happy. I'm so happy we're doing 918 00:48:38,880 --> 00:48:41,719 Speaker 1: this because we were, you know when when when he 919 00:48:41,800 --> 00:48:43,560 Speaker 1: first passed away, we didn't know what we were doing. 920 00:48:43,600 --> 00:48:45,440 Speaker 1: We didn't should we do a show? Should we not? 921 00:48:45,520 --> 00:48:50,200 Speaker 1: I'm glad. I am so happy we're doing this. And 922 00:48:50,280 --> 00:48:53,319 Speaker 1: it's like Ricky hit the nail on the head, just 923 00:48:53,360 --> 00:48:56,040 Speaker 1: like we all have so many great stories of great time. 924 00:48:56,120 --> 00:48:58,759 Speaker 1: So he was such great company. UM. He was just 925 00:48:58,800 --> 00:49:00,680 Speaker 1: such a great person to be aroun on. And you 926 00:49:00,760 --> 00:49:03,319 Speaker 1: knew if West was there, UM, it was gonna it 927 00:49:03,360 --> 00:49:05,399 Speaker 1: was gonna be a good time. And and Ricky, I'm 928 00:49:05,440 --> 00:49:09,680 Speaker 1: so happy that you um entered the fold because UM, 929 00:49:09,719 --> 00:49:13,640 Speaker 1: in addition to making the podcast even better, you um 930 00:49:13,960 --> 00:49:16,720 Speaker 1: got along so well with him. And just another example, 931 00:49:16,760 --> 00:49:18,480 Speaker 1: like you're saying, and when I was saying earlier that 932 00:49:18,520 --> 00:49:21,080 Speaker 1: we all had different kind of portals of how we 933 00:49:21,160 --> 00:49:25,000 Speaker 1: connected with him, UM, and that goes for you as well, 934 00:49:25,040 --> 00:49:28,520 Speaker 1: and they goes down the line. West was West was 935 00:49:28,600 --> 00:49:32,640 Speaker 1: trending and as with Lakishan link uh in the UK 936 00:49:32,960 --> 00:49:36,319 Speaker 1: on Twitter and here in the United States. UM, when 937 00:49:36,360 --> 00:49:38,600 Speaker 1: when the news came out on Saturday, I mean just 938 00:49:38,640 --> 00:49:41,560 Speaker 1: think about that. I mean Roger Goodell sent an email 939 00:49:42,080 --> 00:49:44,160 Speaker 1: uh to everyone in the company rich eyes and has 940 00:49:44,160 --> 00:49:48,480 Speaker 1: had amazing words UM during the pregame show for Super 941 00:49:48,520 --> 00:49:50,279 Speaker 1: Bowl fifty five, and Ricky, if you could play this. 942 00:49:50,360 --> 00:49:55,319 Speaker 1: And I know Colleen, who we love, and she's this 943 00:49:55,400 --> 00:49:59,120 Speaker 1: is the first Super Bowl, UM since two thousand twelve 944 00:49:59,280 --> 00:50:03,640 Speaker 1: that we're not at the city for COVID reasons. Colleen, 945 00:50:03,719 --> 00:50:05,960 Speaker 1: because she's a big shot and a much bigger star 946 00:50:06,040 --> 00:50:08,520 Speaker 1: than us in the company. She went and helped anchor 947 00:50:08,560 --> 00:50:11,400 Speaker 1: the coverage and did an amazing job. Um. She was 948 00:50:11,440 --> 00:50:15,279 Speaker 1: crushed when she heard the news and I can't. I 949 00:50:15,320 --> 00:50:18,279 Speaker 1: reached out to Gonzo, her husband, and I think you 950 00:50:18,320 --> 00:50:20,840 Speaker 1: know who he is, and she connected with he connected 951 00:50:20,880 --> 00:50:23,440 Speaker 1: with Colleen and and she was a total mess. And 952 00:50:23,480 --> 00:50:27,000 Speaker 1: I remember talking about um on a video chat like 953 00:50:27,120 --> 00:50:29,319 Speaker 1: can she do this? Is she gonna go home? Is 954 00:50:29,320 --> 00:50:31,960 Speaker 1: she gonna ask out to not do the coverage for 955 00:50:31,960 --> 00:50:33,640 Speaker 1: the rest of the weekend because she doesn't think she 956 00:50:33,640 --> 00:50:36,640 Speaker 1: could do it emotionally? She she goes through with it 957 00:50:36,719 --> 00:50:39,839 Speaker 1: and as a total trooper. And um, like I said, 958 00:50:39,960 --> 00:50:42,920 Speaker 1: rich eyes and said words and they were great. Earlier 959 00:50:42,960 --> 00:50:46,239 Speaker 1: in the morning on Sunday. Uh, they had um other 960 00:50:46,440 --> 00:50:49,680 Speaker 1: like a little moments to to Chris and an article 961 00:50:49,719 --> 00:50:52,560 Speaker 1: in NFL dot com. But Colleen, it wasn't slated in 962 00:50:52,600 --> 00:50:56,040 Speaker 1: the show for her to say anything about West, but 963 00:50:56,360 --> 00:50:58,399 Speaker 1: she she changed that. And I just wanted to play 964 00:50:58,480 --> 00:51:01,719 Speaker 1: that because it was a really special Well, Lily, you're 965 00:51:01,719 --> 00:51:04,799 Speaker 1: going the box, I'm going with the chiefs. Um My 966 00:51:04,960 --> 00:51:07,600 Speaker 1: m v P is going to be Chris Jones in 967 00:51:07,600 --> 00:51:10,319 Speaker 1: this game. Um, but I am gonna go a little 968 00:51:10,440 --> 00:51:14,000 Speaker 1: rogue here, and I apologize to the producers and the 969 00:51:14,040 --> 00:51:17,479 Speaker 1: control room, but I just want to say these past 970 00:51:17,520 --> 00:51:20,480 Speaker 1: two days, I've been doing shows with a really heavy heart, 971 00:51:20,920 --> 00:51:23,080 Speaker 1: and I wasn't sure if I was going to be 972 00:51:23,160 --> 00:51:26,560 Speaker 1: able to put into words, um, how much Chris Westling 973 00:51:27,120 --> 00:51:29,920 Speaker 1: meant to me, meant to so many people at NFL Network. 974 00:51:30,400 --> 00:51:32,359 Speaker 1: We lost him two days ago, and he was like 975 00:51:33,200 --> 00:51:36,640 Speaker 1: one of the most beautiful people I've ever known. Um, 976 00:51:36,719 --> 00:51:39,759 Speaker 1: He's gonna be so missed, and I didn't feel like 977 00:51:39,800 --> 00:51:42,520 Speaker 1: it was right to not say it um today on 978 00:51:42,560 --> 00:51:44,560 Speaker 1: this show, because I've been trying to just get through 979 00:51:44,600 --> 00:51:47,480 Speaker 1: these two days and pretend that it hasn't happened, and 980 00:51:47,480 --> 00:51:49,680 Speaker 1: it doesn't really feel real still that we lost him. 981 00:51:49,840 --> 00:51:53,359 Speaker 1: He's been family from the second I met him at 982 00:51:53,440 --> 00:51:56,040 Speaker 1: NFL Network, UM, and he's such a big part of 983 00:51:56,080 --> 00:51:58,879 Speaker 1: my family still. My parents, they loved him. They don't 984 00:51:58,920 --> 00:52:00,960 Speaker 1: even know. They're just finding now some Mom and dad. 985 00:52:00,960 --> 00:52:04,160 Speaker 1: I'm sorry that you're finding out this way. But more importantly, 986 00:52:04,160 --> 00:52:07,040 Speaker 1: I just wanted to say to Lakisha, his wife, and 987 00:52:07,239 --> 00:52:10,520 Speaker 1: Link his son, we love you guys so much, and 988 00:52:11,160 --> 00:52:14,040 Speaker 1: we're all here to support you. And we know that 989 00:52:14,160 --> 00:52:17,799 Speaker 1: wes Is is watching over all of us here um 990 00:52:17,880 --> 00:52:21,279 Speaker 1: today and forever. Uh. And I'm sorry because there's no 991 00:52:21,320 --> 00:52:24,600 Speaker 1: good transition um to keep it moving about the game, 992 00:52:25,000 --> 00:52:27,440 Speaker 1: but sometimes there's things that are more important to the 993 00:52:27,480 --> 00:52:30,200 Speaker 1: game and the people that we meet here at work 994 00:52:30,560 --> 00:52:33,879 Speaker 1: talking about football. I've met so many great ones, and 995 00:52:34,040 --> 00:52:37,000 Speaker 1: Chris Wesling might be the greatest one I've ever met. 996 00:52:37,040 --> 00:52:41,560 Speaker 1: So he's really going to be missed. That was amazing 997 00:52:41,920 --> 00:52:45,440 Speaker 1: And we can't wait to have Colleen back on the 998 00:52:45,480 --> 00:52:48,080 Speaker 1: show and when she gets back into town and where 999 00:52:48,320 --> 00:52:51,279 Speaker 1: you know, this isn't gonna be the last time we 1000 00:52:51,320 --> 00:52:53,359 Speaker 1: talked about West, not by a long shot. He's part 1001 00:52:53,360 --> 00:52:55,560 Speaker 1: of the show for as long as this show continues, 1002 00:52:55,600 --> 00:52:58,160 Speaker 1: however long that may be. And we have no idea 1003 00:52:58,760 --> 00:53:00,440 Speaker 1: West is always going to be a part of it. 1004 00:53:00,520 --> 00:53:04,040 Speaker 1: And and and I just want to thank the NFL too, 1005 00:53:04,600 --> 00:53:09,759 Speaker 1: because when you're working for a thirteen billion dollar company, UM, 1006 00:53:09,880 --> 00:53:11,759 Speaker 1: there could be times where you feel like you could 1007 00:53:11,760 --> 00:53:14,640 Speaker 1: be lost in the shuffle and overlooked. And I think 1008 00:53:14,640 --> 00:53:17,479 Speaker 1: it's it's normal. And you know, when this went down, 1009 00:53:17,560 --> 00:53:20,520 Speaker 1: something that's so incredibly personal to us, and we knew 1010 00:53:20,520 --> 00:53:23,080 Speaker 1: what a big deal. It was, obviously, and the listeners, 1011 00:53:23,080 --> 00:53:27,279 Speaker 1: you guys understand what a m a monumental loss it 1012 00:53:27,320 --> 00:53:30,040 Speaker 1: is for West not to be with us anymore. UM. 1013 00:53:30,160 --> 00:53:32,680 Speaker 1: I just I I had hoped that the NFL understood 1014 00:53:32,719 --> 00:53:35,560 Speaker 1: the gravity of this and and I really thought they've 1015 00:53:35,600 --> 00:53:40,040 Speaker 1: come through with flying colors, both in recognizing wes Um 1016 00:53:40,080 --> 00:53:43,520 Speaker 1: on air UH and on our website and all the 1017 00:53:43,560 --> 00:53:48,480 Speaker 1: people behind the scenes, all our shadowy league figures, UM 1018 00:53:48,560 --> 00:53:52,960 Speaker 1: Mark Brady, who has been a tireless soldier UM behind 1019 00:53:52,960 --> 00:53:55,879 Speaker 1: the scenes and been such a great leader helping UM 1020 00:53:56,080 --> 00:54:00,840 Speaker 1: shepherd this show through good times and bad times, UM, 1021 00:54:00,960 --> 00:54:06,120 Speaker 1: John Marvel, Matt Schneider, Jason Kleinman, everyone who helped make 1022 00:54:06,239 --> 00:54:11,640 Speaker 1: this tremendously difficult process, uh just a little bit easier. UM. 1023 00:54:11,680 --> 00:54:14,239 Speaker 1: Thank you to everybody at the NFL listening now. And 1024 00:54:14,400 --> 00:54:16,279 Speaker 1: I want everybody to know that because the NFL is 1025 00:54:16,680 --> 00:54:18,560 Speaker 1: can be a big target sometimes and you think, oh, 1026 00:54:18,600 --> 00:54:21,400 Speaker 1: this is you know, you know, an organization, it's a 1027 00:54:21,440 --> 00:54:25,000 Speaker 1: cold thing. No, it has not felt cold. Has felt like, Uh, 1028 00:54:25,200 --> 00:54:27,120 Speaker 1: the NFL was a big family the last couple of 1029 00:54:27,200 --> 00:54:29,920 Speaker 1: days and and and that's what it felt like. We 1030 00:54:30,000 --> 00:54:32,520 Speaker 1: lost a family member and there was a closing of ranks. 1031 00:54:33,520 --> 00:54:35,920 Speaker 1: You know when you say that, like there's not one 1032 00:54:36,040 --> 00:54:40,120 Speaker 1: bad thing you could say about a person that's actually Wes, 1033 00:54:40,680 --> 00:54:45,440 Speaker 1: Like there's not one person across this company, across Twitter. 1034 00:54:45,600 --> 00:54:49,720 Speaker 1: Social media is such a dark place. Sometimes there really 1035 00:54:50,160 --> 00:54:53,279 Speaker 1: is not one bad thing you can say about Christmasling. 1036 00:54:54,480 --> 00:54:59,239 Speaker 1: We'll put Ricky, We'll put I'm really glad Colleen took 1037 00:54:59,239 --> 00:55:02,080 Speaker 1: that chance. Think West has taught a lot of people 1038 00:55:02,080 --> 00:55:05,360 Speaker 1: to take chances, and they I think NFL Network was 1039 00:55:05,400 --> 00:55:08,880 Speaker 1: probably just overjoyed with what she had to say. Um, 1040 00:55:09,000 --> 00:55:11,839 Speaker 1: I remember the first time we met her. I'll keep 1041 00:55:11,880 --> 00:55:14,480 Speaker 1: this really really quick, but it was West and I. Um, 1042 00:55:14,640 --> 00:55:17,120 Speaker 1: We're at the Whaler as we often were, and she 1043 00:55:17,200 --> 00:55:19,600 Speaker 1: happened to be there with her parents and she we 1044 00:55:19,640 --> 00:55:21,399 Speaker 1: had maybe seen her once or twice and unpil network, 1045 00:55:21,480 --> 00:55:23,080 Speaker 1: but she didn't have any friends. She had moved out 1046 00:55:23,120 --> 00:55:27,160 Speaker 1: here without Gonzo for a period of time, and West 1047 00:55:27,280 --> 00:55:29,719 Speaker 1: and his West Way, I mean, we were thrilled to 1048 00:55:29,760 --> 00:55:32,080 Speaker 1: see her, but I think he made it really clear 1049 00:55:32,160 --> 00:55:35,840 Speaker 1: that day, you're our friend. You're hanging with us, always 1050 00:55:35,840 --> 00:55:39,440 Speaker 1: open arms with West, always always welcomed you in. I 1051 00:55:39,400 --> 00:55:42,920 Speaker 1: I've told Wes, I always marveled with him that I, 1052 00:55:43,040 --> 00:55:45,520 Speaker 1: by my nature like to keep things a little tighter. 1053 00:55:45,560 --> 00:55:47,960 Speaker 1: And and that goes for like even when we have 1054 00:55:48,120 --> 00:55:50,640 Speaker 1: like meet ups with listeners at their live shows. I 1055 00:55:50,640 --> 00:55:53,759 Speaker 1: always did it because I love our listeners. But I 1056 00:55:53,800 --> 00:55:55,759 Speaker 1: never was quite always comfortable. It was just a little 1057 00:55:55,760 --> 00:55:57,759 Speaker 1: too much. But west could could have been at a 1058 00:55:57,880 --> 00:56:00,680 Speaker 1: after show drinking session for twenty four hours and it 1059 00:56:00,680 --> 00:56:05,640 Speaker 1: w didn't matter because he always people, always wanted people around, 1060 00:56:05,800 --> 00:56:09,080 Speaker 1: and he always welcomed anyone in and he was so great. 1061 00:56:09,280 --> 00:56:12,239 Speaker 1: He was so great with that too. But that's the generosity. 1062 00:56:12,320 --> 00:56:14,880 Speaker 1: And I'm glad we got Colleen's voice in there because 1063 00:56:15,120 --> 00:56:18,520 Speaker 1: her and Gonzo really, um, it meant a lot to 1064 00:56:18,520 --> 00:56:24,520 Speaker 1: ta Keisha and in west Over the last a few 1065 00:56:24,600 --> 00:56:32,320 Speaker 1: years really and like um he uh you know he 1066 00:56:32,320 --> 00:56:35,719 Speaker 1: he did. Um, he did have a preference I know 1067 00:56:35,800 --> 00:56:38,600 Speaker 1: in this game by the way tonight, which I was 1068 00:56:38,640 --> 00:56:41,040 Speaker 1: thinking about, he was he was hoping that the Bucks 1069 00:56:41,040 --> 00:56:45,239 Speaker 1: would win. His brother Phil could not resist asking him, 1070 00:56:45,280 --> 00:56:48,560 Speaker 1: I know, um this week while while he was in 1071 00:56:48,600 --> 00:56:51,719 Speaker 1: the hospital, and and Phil being a Westling, and they're 1072 00:56:51,719 --> 00:56:54,080 Speaker 1: all they all got this like you see it come 1073 00:56:54,080 --> 00:56:56,200 Speaker 1: out where they're they're all a little, you know, similar 1074 00:56:56,239 --> 00:56:58,439 Speaker 1: in some ways, but I don't think West was really 1075 00:56:58,480 --> 00:57:01,319 Speaker 1: even playing ball at first. Eventually got the answer out 1076 00:57:01,320 --> 00:57:03,879 Speaker 1: of him. He wanted to see he wanted to see 1077 00:57:03,880 --> 00:57:07,359 Speaker 1: Brady win one more. Ye's always loved Brady because he, 1078 00:57:07,640 --> 00:57:10,240 Speaker 1: you know, West is such a student of the game 1079 00:57:10,520 --> 00:57:15,520 Speaker 1: and new really what Tom Brady has been able to 1080 00:57:15,600 --> 00:57:19,240 Speaker 1: do for twenty years now now winning a seventh Super Bowl, 1081 00:57:19,320 --> 00:57:22,320 Speaker 1: which obviously you wish, you wish West saw it, and 1082 00:57:22,320 --> 00:57:24,440 Speaker 1: maybe he did. Mark Sessler, You and I had to 1083 00:57:24,560 --> 00:57:29,960 Speaker 1: talk late, late, late, late, um Friday night, and like, 1084 00:57:30,000 --> 00:57:33,440 Speaker 1: where where is West now? And uh, you know West 1085 00:57:33,600 --> 00:57:36,520 Speaker 1: was open, Like I said, he was raised Catholic like 1086 00:57:36,600 --> 00:57:40,200 Speaker 1: I was, but he had you know, fell away from 1087 00:57:40,320 --> 00:57:42,919 Speaker 1: religion as he got older. And we would often joke 1088 00:57:43,000 --> 00:57:46,360 Speaker 1: on this show, um when we started to duck into 1089 00:57:46,440 --> 00:57:49,920 Speaker 1: those waters of religion and faith of save it for 1090 00:57:49,960 --> 00:57:52,600 Speaker 1: the theology podcast, and this is not going to turn 1091 00:57:52,640 --> 00:57:57,000 Speaker 1: into the theology podcast, but it did. It crossed my mind. 1092 00:57:57,200 --> 00:58:01,000 Speaker 1: And uh when he passed on where he was and 1093 00:58:01,040 --> 00:58:05,720 Speaker 1: if he's listening to us now? And um, my grandmother Granby, 1094 00:58:05,800 --> 00:58:09,400 Speaker 1: who I I love forever, and she she passed away 1095 00:58:09,440 --> 00:58:11,160 Speaker 1: a couple of days before I moved to l A 1096 00:58:12,320 --> 00:58:16,720 Speaker 1: to take this job, and she give me a rosary 1097 00:58:17,240 --> 00:58:21,400 Speaker 1: right before she died, and I always kept it with me. 1098 00:58:21,440 --> 00:58:24,400 Speaker 1: I actually wore it when I first moved here. Um 1099 00:58:24,560 --> 00:58:27,760 Speaker 1: and um, but I had kept it in my closet 1100 00:58:28,280 --> 00:58:33,200 Speaker 1: for years, really um because it wasn't I wasn't somebody 1101 00:58:33,200 --> 00:58:36,560 Speaker 1: who's going to church or praying. Um. But I took 1102 00:58:36,560 --> 00:58:39,720 Speaker 1: it out last week and and kept it by my 1103 00:58:39,720 --> 00:58:41,680 Speaker 1: bedside and said prayers for West. And I let him 1104 00:58:41,680 --> 00:58:44,520 Speaker 1: know as much in a text. And Lakisha told me 1105 00:58:44,560 --> 00:58:47,680 Speaker 1: that that he did see that in the hospital room. Um, 1106 00:58:47,720 --> 00:58:49,880 Speaker 1: so that that meant a lot to me too. And 1107 00:58:50,240 --> 00:58:53,040 Speaker 1: and if you are listening West right now, I hope here. 1108 00:58:53,600 --> 00:58:55,320 Speaker 1: I hope this is okay with you. I don't know 1109 00:58:55,360 --> 00:59:01,800 Speaker 1: if you're mad at us because we're not talking. Why 1110 00:59:01,800 --> 00:59:04,560 Speaker 1: would it be mad because he would be mad that 1111 00:59:04,600 --> 00:59:08,160 Speaker 1: we're not talking about the chiefs O line crumbling. He 1112 00:59:08,200 --> 00:59:11,200 Speaker 1: would be mad at people saying it was mahomes fault 1113 00:59:11,240 --> 00:59:13,800 Speaker 1: on Twitter. I can I've been thinking mad about that, yeah, 1114 00:59:14,280 --> 00:59:16,920 Speaker 1: like tweeting back at people he doesn't even know, getting 1115 00:59:17,360 --> 00:59:20,080 Speaker 1: telling them that they, you know, don't have eyes. And 1116 00:59:20,240 --> 00:59:23,880 Speaker 1: I just he would sneak. He would sneaky like Mahome's 1117 00:59:23,880 --> 00:59:26,959 Speaker 1: getting taken down a peg. But I don't think he'd 1118 00:59:26,960 --> 00:59:29,600 Speaker 1: be mad. I think he would. I think he would 1119 00:59:29,960 --> 00:59:31,760 Speaker 1: say I was thinking about this too. We were thinking 1120 00:59:31,760 --> 00:59:34,160 Speaker 1: about on Friday night, like what would West want? And 1121 00:59:34,200 --> 00:59:37,240 Speaker 1: like West would say, do what you want, you know, 1122 00:59:37,400 --> 00:59:39,800 Speaker 1: like West would say do what your heart tells you, 1123 00:59:39,880 --> 00:59:42,520 Speaker 1: Like I don't care if you talk about football or not, 1124 00:59:42,680 --> 00:59:44,800 Speaker 1: like you guys should do what feels right. You guys 1125 00:59:44,840 --> 00:59:48,440 Speaker 1: know your podcast. Um, you guys know our podcast the 1126 00:59:48,480 --> 00:59:52,160 Speaker 1: best and like and whether what did you actually talk 1127 00:59:52,240 --> 00:59:55,440 Speaker 1: to Wes um afterlife? This is coming in from a 1128 00:59:55,480 --> 00:59:58,880 Speaker 1: definitive place. Keep going. I'm just well Phil agreed with 1129 00:59:58,920 --> 01:00:02,760 Speaker 1: me on this one. Remember Um, we we talked. I 1130 01:00:02,800 --> 01:00:05,000 Speaker 1: just feel like that is that is what he you know, 1131 01:00:05,080 --> 01:00:08,480 Speaker 1: because he was not gonna that was gonna put put 1132 01:00:09,200 --> 01:00:12,000 Speaker 1: his thoughts on you and and what you said about 1133 01:00:12,040 --> 01:00:15,200 Speaker 1: looking down on us, Um, it just made me think 1134 01:00:15,280 --> 01:00:19,240 Speaker 1: like he's he's here regardless, like he's here with us, 1135 01:00:19,280 --> 01:00:22,200 Speaker 1: Like he is part he is part of us. He 1136 01:00:22,360 --> 01:00:25,320 Speaker 1: is part of who we are, not just the podcast, 1137 01:00:25,400 --> 01:00:27,640 Speaker 1: but just who we are as people and how how 1138 01:00:27,680 --> 01:00:30,200 Speaker 1: we act as people and I've thought about that that 1139 01:00:30,200 --> 01:00:32,640 Speaker 1: that's that's the best way to honor him is is 1140 01:00:32,680 --> 01:00:34,880 Speaker 1: how how we act. You know, I would tell you 1141 01:00:35,080 --> 01:00:37,400 Speaker 1: say one thing like like I said, I think my 1142 01:00:37,400 --> 01:00:40,160 Speaker 1: my relationship with him was about at best twelve percent 1143 01:00:40,200 --> 01:00:42,800 Speaker 1: about football, and that was just simply because we were 1144 01:00:42,840 --> 01:00:45,640 Speaker 1: at work doing that half the time. But um, and 1145 01:00:45,720 --> 01:00:48,200 Speaker 1: I'm not the person you should trust with every football opinion, 1146 01:00:48,200 --> 01:00:50,880 Speaker 1: but I do trust some things that I feel inside, 1147 01:00:50,880 --> 01:00:54,800 Speaker 1: and I feel him with us since since he's left. 1148 01:00:55,080 --> 01:00:59,400 Speaker 1: I mean that seriously awesome. UM. You know, I want 1149 01:00:59,400 --> 01:01:03,000 Speaker 1: to point out Greeby, who is one of our long 1150 01:01:03,080 --> 01:01:07,520 Speaker 1: time listeners and one of the founders of the subreddit 1151 01:01:07,760 --> 01:01:10,920 Speaker 1: um around the NFL UM started to go fund me 1152 01:01:11,040 --> 01:01:14,960 Speaker 1: page UM that I want everyone to check out, uh 1153 01:01:15,000 --> 01:01:19,640 Speaker 1: and if you can, UM, all the all the donations 1154 01:01:19,760 --> 01:01:23,760 Speaker 1: go directly to Lukisha and link um, So please check 1155 01:01:23,800 --> 01:01:29,160 Speaker 1: that out on our respective Twitter Twitter pages UM and yes, UM, 1156 01:01:29,240 --> 01:01:35,760 Speaker 1: link is you know the you know Lukisha And it's 1157 01:01:35,760 --> 01:01:38,000 Speaker 1: so tragic and sad that West didn't get more time 1158 01:01:38,000 --> 01:01:40,680 Speaker 1: with link but I know we're all going to be 1159 01:01:40,720 --> 01:01:43,400 Speaker 1: there for him as uncle's and Ricky as an aunt 1160 01:01:43,520 --> 01:01:47,000 Speaker 1: and UM, every listeners can know that. I know it's 1161 01:01:48,200 --> 01:01:51,360 Speaker 1: everyone feels for Lakisha, as they should because she has 1162 01:01:51,400 --> 01:01:55,280 Speaker 1: such a gargantuan uphill climb in front of her right now, 1163 01:01:55,320 --> 01:01:57,280 Speaker 1: and we're trying to be there for her as well. 1164 01:01:57,320 --> 01:01:59,360 Speaker 1: But none of us can put ourselves in their shoes, 1165 01:01:59,400 --> 01:02:02,200 Speaker 1: But listeners just know that where we have her back, 1166 01:02:02,240 --> 01:02:06,120 Speaker 1: and we're gonna do everything we can UM to help 1167 01:02:06,160 --> 01:02:09,360 Speaker 1: with Link as well, because that's how it would be 1168 01:02:09,520 --> 01:02:11,800 Speaker 1: if it was any of us that switched places with West. 1169 01:02:11,840 --> 01:02:13,480 Speaker 1: I know you guys would be the same way with me, 1170 01:02:13,960 --> 01:02:16,680 Speaker 1: and I would be the same way with you. Absolutely 1171 01:02:18,040 --> 01:02:24,680 Speaker 1: all right. Whenever you listen, whenever you listen to she 1172 01:02:24,840 --> 01:02:28,120 Speaker 1: is amazing, I have I have no I have no 1173 01:02:28,200 --> 01:02:32,480 Speaker 1: doubt that she will rise above and and overcome the 1174 01:02:32,560 --> 01:02:36,760 Speaker 1: challenges in front of her because she is They were 1175 01:02:36,800 --> 01:02:39,400 Speaker 1: a power couple, and they are a power couple forever 1176 01:02:40,000 --> 01:02:43,520 Speaker 1: UM and she will UM she will get this thing 1177 01:02:43,560 --> 01:02:45,880 Speaker 1: figured out in time, but it will it will take time, 1178 01:02:46,000 --> 01:02:48,400 Speaker 1: and it will take time for us to because it's 1179 01:02:48,720 --> 01:02:53,880 Speaker 1: obviously this is a time of um unforeseen and tragic 1180 01:02:54,360 --> 01:02:57,439 Speaker 1: circumstances UM for our show and trying to figure out 1181 01:02:57,600 --> 01:02:59,760 Speaker 1: what comes next and what's the right thing to do, 1182 01:02:59,840 --> 01:03:02,280 Speaker 1: and and we all feel and we hope that you 1183 01:03:02,360 --> 01:03:05,080 Speaker 1: the listener understands that we're not ready to We'll see 1184 01:03:05,120 --> 01:03:09,120 Speaker 1: on Wednesday to talk about how the Chiefs fix their offense. 1185 01:03:09,200 --> 01:03:11,000 Speaker 1: Like we're not going to be doing that. We're gonna 1186 01:03:11,040 --> 01:03:14,280 Speaker 1: take a little time off, um and and when we 1187 01:03:14,360 --> 01:03:17,400 Speaker 1: come back, we have, you know, more planned. In terms 1188 01:03:17,440 --> 01:03:21,120 Speaker 1: of remembering West, we talked about doing a show where 1189 01:03:21,120 --> 01:03:24,000 Speaker 1: we remember some great West moments. And I would say 1190 01:03:24,040 --> 01:03:27,120 Speaker 1: this is a great opportunity for crowdsourcing. If you're not 1191 01:03:27,280 --> 01:03:30,400 Speaker 1: on the Around the NFL subreddit, go get on it, 1192 01:03:30,520 --> 01:03:34,240 Speaker 1: and please maybe Greeby or whomever else can start a 1193 01:03:34,360 --> 01:03:37,400 Speaker 1: thread of favorite West moments on the show that we 1194 01:03:37,440 --> 01:03:41,360 Speaker 1: could begin to just build up a library. And like 1195 01:03:41,400 --> 01:03:44,439 Speaker 1: I said, West is and has been reiterated by everybody here. 1196 01:03:44,680 --> 01:03:46,440 Speaker 1: West is a part of the show forever. He's part 1197 01:03:46,440 --> 01:03:49,080 Speaker 1: of the show right now as we speak, and it's 1198 01:03:49,080 --> 01:03:50,800 Speaker 1: going to stay that way as long as the Around 1199 01:03:50,800 --> 01:03:57,320 Speaker 1: the NFL podcast exists. All right, boys, Ricky anything anything else. 1200 01:03:57,720 --> 01:03:59,720 Speaker 1: I just want to want to reiterate what you just 1201 01:03:59,720 --> 01:04:03,360 Speaker 1: said about Lakisha. I mean, we saw her briefly Friday, 1202 01:04:03,440 --> 01:04:06,400 Speaker 1: and you know, obviously as tough as it is. She 1203 01:04:06,560 --> 01:04:09,840 Speaker 1: was laughing with us when we were remembering West too 1204 01:04:10,000 --> 01:04:13,840 Speaker 1: before he had even you know, passed the hospital. And 1205 01:04:14,120 --> 01:04:18,919 Speaker 1: she is just the most remarkable person I think I've 1206 01:04:18,960 --> 01:04:22,680 Speaker 1: ever met. Yeah, Like I I feel so lucky that 1207 01:04:23,080 --> 01:04:26,160 Speaker 1: we were able to see her um and fill that morning. 1208 01:04:26,160 --> 01:04:29,600 Speaker 1: And you know, it's it's complex, just to be really real, UM, 1209 01:04:30,800 --> 01:04:32,960 Speaker 1: I look back in the past couple of months and 1210 01:04:33,440 --> 01:04:35,760 Speaker 1: I wish I had sent that extra text or two. 1211 01:04:35,760 --> 01:04:38,160 Speaker 1: I didn't really get to say goodbye to West. And 1212 01:04:38,320 --> 01:04:43,360 Speaker 1: in the vast majority of people, UM have those complex feelings. 1213 01:04:43,400 --> 01:04:46,040 Speaker 1: But but this, but there's so much about him that's 1214 01:04:46,040 --> 01:04:49,400 Speaker 1: gonna um bring life and vibrancy and and it's through 1215 01:04:49,600 --> 01:04:52,240 Speaker 1: Link and it's through Keisha, who are who are with 1216 01:04:52,360 --> 01:04:55,280 Speaker 1: us and we will look after in our own ways, 1217 01:04:55,600 --> 01:04:58,520 Speaker 1: um until the very end. And so this is just 1218 01:04:58,640 --> 01:05:01,640 Speaker 1: the beginning of what we are going to uh be 1219 01:05:01,760 --> 01:05:05,080 Speaker 1: doing for them. It hurts because there there wasn't there 1220 01:05:05,120 --> 01:05:09,680 Speaker 1: wasn't the time, you know that they would have wanted, 1221 01:05:09,680 --> 01:05:14,560 Speaker 1: in any circumstance, UM to to say those goodbyes and stuff. 1222 01:05:14,600 --> 01:05:17,320 Speaker 1: But of all people, West knew like all that I 1223 01:05:17,440 --> 01:05:21,440 Speaker 1: thought about it a lot like in Keisha Um absolutely 1224 01:05:21,480 --> 01:05:25,280 Speaker 1: knows how we all feel about her. Um. But but 1225 01:05:25,400 --> 01:05:28,920 Speaker 1: he knew like all the things we we we wanted 1226 01:05:28,960 --> 01:05:31,080 Speaker 1: we would have wanted to say, or other things like 1227 01:05:31,240 --> 01:05:33,400 Speaker 1: he he knew all that. I believe. I believe that 1228 01:05:33,440 --> 01:05:37,200 Speaker 1: in my heart. Alright, So yes, we will at some 1229 01:05:37,240 --> 01:05:40,680 Speaker 1: point return to talking football in this podcast, but right 1230 01:05:40,680 --> 01:05:43,840 Speaker 1: now it's about West and remembering West and listeners out 1231 01:05:43,880 --> 01:05:45,919 Speaker 1: have reached out thank you to everyone. We can't say 1232 01:05:45,960 --> 01:05:49,200 Speaker 1: thank you individually to everyone's has just been such an outpouring, 1233 01:05:49,600 --> 01:05:53,640 Speaker 1: but we really appreciate it and understand what West meant 1234 01:05:54,280 --> 01:05:58,520 Speaker 1: to you, um, because he meant so much stuff. So UM, 1235 01:05:58,600 --> 01:06:02,240 Speaker 1: until next time, thank you very much, and Chris Westling, 1236 01:06:02,600 --> 01:06:06,680 Speaker 1: wherever you are, rest in peace, our good friend. I 1237 01:06:06,800 --> 01:06:12,200 Speaker 1: love you, Love you wess. Me and West always used 1238 01:06:12,200 --> 01:06:15,640 Speaker 1: to say that, like adults don't drink milk, and we 1239 01:06:15,640 --> 01:06:19,280 Speaker 1: would always laugh at adults don't drink milk. So I 1240 01:06:19,360 --> 01:06:21,160 Speaker 1: think I'm going to have a glass of milk tonight. 1241 01:06:21,920 --> 01:07:00,320 Speaker 1: Make him laugh. No,