Latest / The Tortured Fans Department / Ep. 56 - Around the World (World Cup in the USA, Wyndham Wins the U.S. Open, NBA Draft Preview and 'Did You See This?')

Transcript

Ep. 56 - Around the World (World Cup in the USA, Wyndham Wins the U.S. Open, NBA Draft Preview and 'Did You See This?') · The Tortured Fans Department

• 0:22
  SPEAKER_04: Hello, everybody, and welcome back to another episode of the Tortured Fans Department Podcast.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_04: I am Sean Boyle, and joining me today is Michael Blum.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_04: Blum, welcome back.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_04: How are you?
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_01: I am doing well, Sean.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_01: Very happy to be back on the pod and uh talking to Scotland's newest son.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_01: I do appreciate that.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_04: I feel like one of their own.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_04: I'm glad they've welcomed me.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_04: We'll get into more of that in just a bit.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_04: Boom, we've got a busy agenda today, not a ton of time to do it, so let's get down to business.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_04: We're gonna talk World Cup, we're gonna recap the US Open.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_04: We've got some NBA draft news to talk about.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_04: I cannot believe the NBA draft is today.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_04: It's happening this evening.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_04: Stunning to me.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_04: It's really snuck up on me.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_04: Used to be a big draft guy, but now I'm tapping you in as my expertise has significantly fallen in that regard.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_04: And then we're gonna wrap up the show with a little bit of Did you see this?
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_04: So, one we'll start the World Cup.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_04: I know you're not the biggest football fan, but this United States team seems to have everyone's attention.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_04: So have you been able to see either of the first two matches?
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_01: Are you caught up in World Cup fever?
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_01: So, in short, yes, I am caught up, Sean.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_01: I am not a big soccer guy, as you said, but it's very hard to not get into the World Cup just because it's like the topic of conversation everywhere you go.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um, in regards to the USA, I was able to watch their first game, uh, the dominant win against uh Paraguay 4-1.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_01: We had the uh the early own goal.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_01: But I feel like USA just again from a non-soccer fan's eye, they just controlled the entire game, possession, tempo, they were just attacking the entire game, uh, very aggressive.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, Paraguay, Australia, not the fiercest of competitions.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_01: So I'd be curious to see how you know that style of play translates as they make out of the group stage, and then hopefully as they advance through the knockout stage, they can uh continue their hot start.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_04: It certainly will get more difficult, that's for sure.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_04: We're not going to be able to just dominate possession and constantly attack against some of the better teams in the tournament, but it's definitely a good start.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_04: It's getting the nation into the World Cup.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_04: World Cup fever is spreading, like you said, so that's the good news.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_04: Has there been any teams that have caught your attention or stories that you've found that you end up rooting for those sides?
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_04: Anything of that sort?
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_04: So that messy guy is pretty good, right?
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, he's not bad.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_04: He's played two games, he has five goals.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_04: So yeah, he's unbelievable.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_01: As someone that is knows a lot about soccer and is familiar with basketball, would you say him or LeBron are more impressive at what they're doing today?
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_01: Man.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_04: It's so weird because LeBron physically is such a freak.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_04: And I know at 40, whatever he is, he's not as physically dominant, but he still is 6'8 and one of the strongest players on the court.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_04: Whereas Messi is this diminutive five foot six, now not the quickest guy.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_04: He just is smarter and better than everyone else.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_04: So they're different in how they each go about doing it.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_04: I'm more impressed with Messi always.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_04: That'll always be my answer, I guess.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_04: And I'm also, this is a crazy accusation to throw, but I'm not sure I believe that LeBron's 100% natural.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_04: You know, I just I just don't know.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_04: It just doesn't seem possible.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_04: He's never been hurt in 25 years.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_04: I don't I don't remember a significant injury his whole career.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_04: So yeah, I'm gonna go with Messi, but it's uh it's honestly a good comparison because they're both playing at such a high level so late into their lives.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_04: I do think Messi is still arguably the best in the world.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_04: Whereas I don't think you can argue that LeBron is the best in the world at this point.
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_04: So Messi is my answer, but it's a good question.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_01: Which is crazy to say that as I feel like we have a lot of great young soccer stars that are really cementing themselves and to say he's still the best is more impressive than, like you said, LeBron's not like a top 10 player anymore.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_01: So for sure.
• 4:16
  SPEAKER_04: And it's interesting because yeah, like you said, there's so many great young stars in soccer, and over the course of 40 game seasons at the highest level, I'm not so sure Messi can do that anymore.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_04: There's a reason he is playing an MLS, but you're seeing it in this World Cup.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_04: Like, if you're gonna give me a month and say, give me the best, I think Messi's right up there in that conversation, and he's gonna prove it this summer.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_04: So, yeah, for me, I I still lean Messi being the best in the world because of moments like he's able to give you that we've seen so far, but honestly, it's just a testament to he's also just definitively the greatest of all time.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_04: I don't really think there's a debate in soccer for a close second.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and some other things.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_01: So the smaller countries, they're not, I would say, making groundbreaking waves, but the Cape Verde draw, the Iran draw were seemed like pretty big upsets.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_01: I was very locked into the the Cure Sal game where they got their first ever point.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: Where is the the 15 saves by the goalie, that was a World Cup record, wasn't it?
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_01: Did I read that correctly?
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_04: It's second, I think, to Tim Howard.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_04: It's a World Cup record for 90 minutes of regulation.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_04: So Tim Howard had 16, but that game went to 120 minutes.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_04: So you are correct.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_04: I think it's a record for a normal length game.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because I was locked into that game, and you could tell they were just outmatched.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_01: Like he was standing on his head the entire game.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_01: And it was fun to watch.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it was great.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, he just kept flopping up and down and diving everywhere.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_01: And when they won the game, they acted like they won the World Cup.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_01: Like the fans were going nuts, the players were going nuts.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_01: So that's like cool things to see where countries are realistic in their expectations on success, and to see just the joy of just getting a draw against a superior team was was cool to see.
• 6:04
  SPEAKER_01: The the Zlatan, have you been paying attention to him on the the pre and post-game shows for Fox?
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, he he's delivering.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_04: He's delivering in a big way.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_04: Does he hate Lawless?
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_04: Uh he has to.
• 6:17
  SPEAKER_04: I didn't know of any prior beef going into this World Cup, but boy oh boy, some of the shots he's taking at him, they're not even disguised shots.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_04: They are just right across the brow.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_04: The guy's sitting right next to him, and he's just making him feel like a peanut in size every few minutes.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_04: It it's honestly must see TV.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_01: That's like a funny cast, too, because Latan and uh what's the other guy's name?
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_01: Henry.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_01: Thierry Henry, yeah.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_01: They're like a big deal in in soccer.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_01: Like Lala wasn't anything special, was he?
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_01: Had he had like one moment, one World Cup.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_01: Correct.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_04: He is more known for his punditry than he is for his play.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_04: He he was kind of a leader in the US team the last time the World Cup was here.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_04: So he could offer some insight into what it's like to play in a home World Cup, but he's much more known for his kind of outlandish opinions and hot takes and trying to be the figurehead for US men's soccer.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_04: So yeah, he he I think he's because of that become a bit of a puppet, if I do say, for those other actual soccer superstars that are sitting next to him.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_04: I feel like they're just toying with him.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because I wonder, like, Zlatan maybe has the mindset of like, I mean, he probably has this mindset regardless of who he's sitting next to, like, I'm just better than you, and like you're gonna know that I think I'm better than you.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_01: So maybe it's a little bit of that.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, there was a clip where like him and Henry were like kicking the ball around, he like fake kicked it to him, and they kept going, and Wallace was sitting in there with like his hands up his side, like that was funny.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I didn't know if that was like planned or not, but that was a nice little dig if so.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I don't know if that was scripted or not, but that was really good.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_04: It was it was honestly, honestly funny, and I don't know, I don't think it could have been scripted because Wallace's natural reaction to that was pretty priceless.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_04: He just tried to play it off, but he couldn't.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the other thing I have for you, Sean, and this is more so a question.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, we have expanded to 48 teams.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_01: Do you think that that expansion devalues the the group stage play at all?
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_04: I don't think you're wrong for asking that question.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_04: I I would say for me, I find it so far to be a really good thing because we're getting those stories like you talked about with Curacao, with Cape Verde, that we wouldn't have had before.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_04: Those teams wouldn't have qualified in a normal World Cup year.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_04: So that's the good news.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_04: The the thing is, you have to be really shockingly bad to not make it out of the group, which is kind of the point you're bringing up.
• 8:41
  SPEAKER_04: You because eight third place teams advance and there's only 12 groups, you're basically you have to be one of the worst 16 teams.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_04: And when there are some teams that really don't stand up in comparison to some of these elites in each of these groups, you have to play really poorly to not get through.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_04: So it does feel like, okay, then what's the point of this group stage, these three games?
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_04: I still think there's some value to it.
• 9:05
  SPEAKER_04: I think that if the trade-off is for the bigger countries, it's just kind of getting fine-tuned and growing into the tournament, like we've seen from a Spain, for example, where they looked poor in their first game and then they grew into the second game, they're getting healthier, they're gonna get stronger as the tournament goes on.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_04: I think there's benefit to it in that aspect.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_04: I also think more games is gonna help for TV, so I doubt they go back to a lesser team field in future events.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_04: Why would they, if you're gonna get extra TV games out of this, if you're gonna get more long, like a longer tournament?
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_04: I think it all makes sense on the money front as well.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_04: So I think it's a good thing, but I can certainly see a world where some of these final group stage games are relatively meaningless.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_01: That's what I was thinking too.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_01: Like obviously the US they clinched, and if you're like a top 20 team, more chances than not than like your first two games, you know that you'll advance and you're just playing.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_01: I would assume for to win to play a lesser opponent in the round of 32 and so on.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_01: So I guess that's the main incentive.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, someone that's not you know a soccer fan, that was kind of one of my thoughts as I was watching and seeing these just powerhouses kind of dominate their way through the group stage.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_04: And the thing is, that might happen either way, whether there's 36, 32, whatever the amount of team is is, that could happen.
• 10:25
  SPEAKER_04: So I don't know.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_04: I I'm gonna sign up to take the underdog stories that we got in this World Cup, and I'll say everywhere that I'm happy with the 48 teams, but it's certainly something to watch over the next few World Cups.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_04: Does this final group stage game get significantly impacted by the addition of those teams?
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_04: One thing I wanted to talk to you about, Blum.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_04: You're not the biggest football watcher, which is fine, but everyone in this country can relate to the fans from all the different nations around the world that are coming and taking over different cities in the United States.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_04: I know you are you have a trip to Scotland planned this this year, Blum.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_04: Would you like to use this platform to pledge your allegiance to the Tartan Army?
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_04: Because I I think like you led the show with, I've been like their main recruiter for the United States.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_04: On the eastern seaboard, I'm telling everybody who will listen about these guys.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_01: No, absolutely.
• 11:17
  SPEAKER_01: Uh the trip is planned and booked.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_01: But uh, no, first off, I think it's very safe to say that uh this podcast now officially resides in Scotland with all the support that you've received from the Tartan Army.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, so if you're listening, thank you for the support.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_01: It's uh very appreciated and reciprocated.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_01: But yes, as part of my uh my first ever journey to Europe, I will be uh in Edinburgh for three nights.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_01: Uh we're still planning our itinerary, but it seems like there's so much to do there.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_01: And obviously, we've seen all the great vibes and energy that you brought to our country, so definitely very excited to get over there and uh experience everything firsthand.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_04: And I'm happy to report too, they have taken their talents to South Beach.
• 12:04
  SPEAKER_04: They have moved from Boston, which was their home base for the first two matches, they have taken their talents to South Beach, and I've already seen videos of them partying with the Brazilians on the beach.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_04: They're playing bagpipes and swimming pools, blum.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_04: They're probably gonna bring them to Club Live.
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_04: It's it's just unbelievable stuff from this group.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_04: I I wish, I will promise this, if they make it to the knockout round and they're playing on the East Coast, I will be there.
• 12:30
  SPEAKER_04: I'll be, I'll go wherever it is.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_04: I couldn't get down to South Beach, and it's also not good for my complexion, and yours either.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_04: We're both not great sun guys, but I will do my best to be wherever that next knockout game is.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_01: Yes.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_01: Echo your point on the skin.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, I hope they are very well applied.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_01: We want SPF 60, 70, 80, 90, and uh most importantly, I hope they come away with a win because I think there is still a contention to win the group.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER_01: Am I correct?
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_04: Yes, all things are kind of in play in that group.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_04: No, yeah, they're everything's in play.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_04: They could win the group, they could not make the knockouts, they could finish second, they could finish third.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_04: It all depends on the final match day.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_04: So, and they're playing Brazil, which again is gonna be just a clash of not only fan bases but just cultures.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_04: I'd love to see it.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_04: It seems like the two teams that are most up for a party are playing together in one of the biggest party cities in the United States.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_04: So that seems like a match made in heaven.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_01: Well, I did see the video when they were in Philly, Brazil.
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_01: They took over McGillan's.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_01: Did you see that?
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_04: I saw them on the Rocky steps.
• 13:33
  SPEAKER_04: I did on the art museum steps.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_04: I did not see them at McGillan's.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_04: Anyone who's coming to Philly, McGillen's a great spot, but that's like that's a must-do for me almost anytime I'm in the city.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think they took over karaoke night.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_01: So uh that was uh some fun clips were surfacing on social media.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_04: That's great.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_04: That's great.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_04: Let's let's get into something that is more of your expertise.
• 13:53
  SPEAKER_04: I mentioned you wear a lot of hats on this program.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_04: You're our NFL expert, you're our NBA expert, you're our golf guy.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_04: You weren't able, you and our other golf guy, the two mics, were not able to do the preview show, which is convenient.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_04: I had Jeremy up here picking Scotty Shuffler.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_04: Well, no, no Kincher.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_04: We'd have gone on the limb.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_04: But Wyndham Clark is our winner of the U.S.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_04: Open at Shinnok.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_04: A definite deserved winner, a wire-to-wire win for Wyndham.
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_04: Why did no one want him to win?
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_01: I my best guess is the blow-up last year at Oakmont at the US Open where he destroyed the locker room, got banned from that club.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_01: He also had some like very questionable comments in the past.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_01: I think it was this past year he was in the the par three contest.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_01: And obviously, par three contest, it's a bunch of like kids, you know, good vibes.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_01: And he had an interview, I think, with Scott Van Pelt, and he said, Yeah, being here in the par three contest is is great birth control.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_01: Meaning that like the kids are like terrible to be around, and like he makes it makes him not want to have kids.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_01: So I don't know, like there's the f he's had in a questionable interview in the past.
• 15:05
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, the word the word blum, the word douche comes to mind if I had to pick one to describe Windham.
• 15:12
  SPEAKER_04: And the thing is, it could have been the US Open blow-up, like you mentioned at Oakmont, where he destroyed a locker and disgraced an iconic country club's locker room.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_04: Apparently that's not the first time something like that has happened either.
• 15:23
  SPEAKER_04: He's he's taken it out on T markers on the golf course before.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_04: There's rumors of him kind of doing similar things in other locker rooms at other stops along the PGA tour, and it just seems like he handled himself kind of like a big baby, and then in the media, did anything he could not to be vulnerable or not be compassionate or even overly apologetic.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_04: Where I think he could have really helped himself is if he just kind of steered into the skid and said, Hey, yeah, I was going through some stuff.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_04: I'm working to be a better person, I'm not proud of it, and now we're starting to see those sentiments come to light, but it seems almost like it's too late.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_04: Like the ketchup's out of the bottle, and he's the toothpaste is out of the tube, and he's trying to get it back in, and that's a hard thing to do.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_04: So I guess let's just get one like all of his off-the-course stuff out of the way before we celebrate his performance.
• 16:11
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I was gonna say I thought he handled himself perfectly throughout the entire week.
• 16:16
  SPEAKER_01: Interviews, pre-round, post-round.
• 16:20
  SPEAKER_01: And I'd like to think too, a lot of it was just due to like being paired with Scotty.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_01: It was just a general pro Scotty crowd.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_01: It was his birthday, he was going for the Grand Slam.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_01: You know, the 10 fans that were there, they wanted to see history, so I'm sure that had a lot to do with it.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_01: Uh but one of the most impressive, I think, performances and sports I've seen all year, the fact that he was able to win that tournament.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_01: I think that's the toughest golf tournament to win on the the PGA calendar.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_01: And he did it under just immense pressure and I mean credit to him because I don't think there's many golfers on the planet that could do that with everyone against you, and he pulled it out.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_01: So, like I said, maybe not the people's champion, but a well-deserved champion.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_04: For sure.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_04: Honestly, the golf on the course was as good as it gets.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_04: I kept rooting against him, kind of like the New York fans were.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_04: It just every time he answered the bell, he would put himself in a little bit of trouble, he'd make a 10-foot par putt right in the heart.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_04: He then he'd put himself in some more trouble, he'd chip it to 16 feet and make a 16-foot par putt right in the mouth.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_04: Then when he needed to step up and make a birdie, he did.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_04: He was just really good all week, a deserved champion for sure.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_04: I think it is a good point that you bring up, I think more of the Windham hate on the course was due to the fact that he was playing with Scotty and people just preferred to see Scotty make history there.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_04: But boy oh boy, I've never seen an American at the US Open be openly booed or rooted against to the point where they were cheering when his ball would be rolling off of the green.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_04: Which even yeah, it felt like a rider cup.
• 18:01
  SPEAKER_04: Even Scotty said was kind of a bridge too far.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER_04: He's like, I don't know if we need to see that, which I I do agree with him in that aspect.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_04: It seemed like it was Sergio Garcia, who has had some similar outbursts and is not American.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_04: It seemed like he was winning the golf tournament.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_04: But it was it was kind of shocking, but it big credit to Wyndham.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_04: And honestly, it makes the story better for him.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_04: If he wants to play the villain role in any way, he could look and say, I have one of the biggest flexes in recent golf memory to be able to do this in that environment at one of the hardest courses that we see them play every few years.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_04: So, really just a tip of the cap for what he did on the course.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the the birdie on 16, where he drove it left, he was in knee-high fescue, punches it out, and then goes up and down from like 180 out.
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_01: It's a great putt.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_01: You think, alright, it's over.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_01: Then he bogeys 17, he has to par 18, and he has just a touch of class lag putt to leave him a tap in to win it.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, like I said, just all poise.
• 19:07
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, he has major championship experience.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_01: He won in 2023.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_01: But uh I mean just to see the journey because he was in a very bad spot this year.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_01: He was not winning at all.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_01: He turned it around just within the last month, kind of out of nowhere.
• 19:21
  SPEAKER_01: So uh definitely he's in great form, and uh we'll see if he continues the success.
• 19:26
  SPEAKER_04: And now he's a two-time major champion, and honestly, one of I think only 24, I want to say, people to win the US Open two times, or to win any major twice for that matter.
• 19:36
  SPEAKER_04: Honestly, it's it's an impressive list, it's an impressive accomplishment.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_04: I want to ask you, Bloom.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_04: We'll give you a couple seconds to think about it.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_04: Now that Wyndham Clark has two of these, majors are so hard to come by.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_04: Aaron Rye has a major this year, Wyndham Clark, and then Rory.
• 19:50
  SPEAKER_04: So I don't think anybody would really would have had that list coming through three majors.
• 19:54
  SPEAKER_04: I want to ask, who do you think are the guys that don't have a major yet, that need one?
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_04: And then I also want to see if you have anybody that has a major but maybe hasn't won one in a while, or if you could assign a future major to a specific golfer, I want to hear what your match pairing would be.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_04: And I my answer, I'll go first so you have some time to think.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_04: My answer, it's obvious.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_04: I'm a big speech guy.
• 20:18
  SPEAKER_04: I honestly want him to win two more tournaments.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_04: I want him to win the PGA for the career grand slam.
• 20:25
  SPEAKER_04: I don't care where he does it, but I want it to happen in 2027.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_04: So wherever they're playing in 2027, give that Jordan Speet, give him the 2027 Masters, and then honest to God, retire.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_04: I don't want to see him play golf again.
• 20:37
  SPEAKER_04: I can't keep doing this to myself.
• 20:38
  SPEAKER_04: The name of the podcast is Torture Fans Department.
• 20:41
  SPEAKER_04: Plum, it's not healthy to watch this guy play golf.
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_04: And I, it's like a drug.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_04: Every single time I talk myself into him having a chance, every single time it's the same old sad song.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_04: I'm so, I'm so done with it.
• 20:55
  SPEAKER_04: I just want one more major I'll take.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_04: I'll sign up for that, and and then retire.
• 21:00
  SPEAKER_04: Because you're doing you're really doing me a disservice because I'm gonna commit my time to you each time you tee it up.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so that's I think is a good answer with Jordan.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_01: The first player that came to mind when you said doesn't have one that needs one was to Tommy, Tommy Fleetwood.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, another guy doesn't see it.
• 21:17
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, like he he got over the hump last year, he won the tour championship.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_01: He flirted a little bit this week, but I don't think he was ever, in my mind, like taken seriously as a like, oh, he could win this.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_04: He's a great flirt.
• 21:34
  SPEAKER_04: He's a girl who's a great flirt, nice hair, nice eyes, yeah.
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_04: Oh, he's a great flirter.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_04: He never, ever, ever sticks sticks around and stands up when he needs to.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, but he's uh he's someone that like immediately came to mind, and then Justin Thomas is one I think that needs to get back to the winner circle.
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_01: He won the PGA, I believe it was.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_01: In pre-COVID or maybe just out of COVID, but he's another guy that's just like kind of a roller coaster like Jordan, where you don't know what you're gonna get with him.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_04: He's won two PGAs, and if you've won two PGAs, have you won any?
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_04: It's kind of not even really a major.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_04: It's like if you have two quarterbacks, do you have any?
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_04: I don't know.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_04: I agree.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_04: I agree.
• 22:17
  SPEAKER_04: JT needs to win a non-PGA major.
• 22:21
  SPEAKER_01: And then the other guy, I feel like he's a lost cause at this point, but I have to just throw Ricky Fowler in that mix.
• 22:29
  SPEAKER_01: He's no longer relevant, but I feel like that would be the next like great golf story, golf victory that golf fans can get behind.
• 22:40
  SPEAKER_01: Like I said, we're probably past that point.
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_01: I don't think it happens, but it would be very cool to see him get at least one as he's I'd say the true fan favorite in golf.
• 22:51
  SPEAKER_04: It's honestly, it's a good point you bring up with Ricky.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_04: He feels like the sad speech song just a few years in the future.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_04: It's like I see Ricky showing up, and he's kind of similar to Jordan.
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_04: They're not bad now.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_04: Like they're making cuts, they're finishing.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_04: You'll see some good finishes, top 10 here, top 20 there.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_04: But they you see Ricky and you're like, oh, he's still wearing the orange shoes.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_04: You know, that's nice.
• 23:15
  SPEAKER_04: Look at look at kids.
• 23:16
  SPEAKER_04: When I was growing up, I used to Ricky used to wear all orange.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_04: It was like a cream school out there, and he's still doing it, and he's just not winning at all.
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_04: And it is sad.
• 23:26
  SPEAKER_04: He's still, yeah, that's a good, that's a good shout because boy, it's tough.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_04: And I really feel like I think they're close in age Ricky and Speith, but it feels like Ricky's peak was higher and earlier than Jordan's was.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_04: And then when Speith hit the scene, it he was the best thing since sliced bread.
• 23:43
  SPEAKER_04: He was gonna win a bunch of these, and it's just been a slow slow, and he's not completely irrelevant where I could completely shut it down and say, Oh, he's never gonna win again.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_04: He likes to do the flirting thing, just not as good of a flirt as Tommy Fleetwood.
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_01: Would you say better chance of winning a major Tommy or Jordan?
• 24:03
  SPEAKER_04: I'll say Jordan, but I don't feel I don't feel great about the reason I'll say Jordan, I genuinely think anytime he plays Augusta, he has a he has a decent chance, just because of how well he plays the course.
• 24:15
  SPEAKER_04: But I mean Tommy plays most of these pretty well and just never he just doesn't win anything.
• 24:22
  SPEAKER_01: He's been playing well for like it feels like 10 years, and he just win to your point.
• 24:27
  SPEAKER_02: He's just afraid to say.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_04: He's been a great golfer for 10 years.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_04: He's won one.
• 24:33
  SPEAKER_01: So hasn't won shit.
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, that's that's good.
• 24:37
  SPEAKER_04: As we close out the US Open here, did this tournament we talked about some of the fans booing win, then we talked about maybe not that many fans out on property.
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_04: Why do you think this tournament lacked a little bit of excitement, a little bit of pop?
• 24:48
  SPEAKER_04: Usually the US Open on Father's Day weekend is appointment viewing.
• 24:52
  SPEAKER_04: I'm interested to hear why you think this one was a little different.
• 24:54
  SPEAKER_01: Another reason to trash New York fans, so sign me up.
• 24:58
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know if it was the Hamptons, maybe.
• 25:00
  SPEAKER_01: Is the Hamptons just like not a great kick off crowd?
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_01: Because it was they hosted the US Open in what 2017 or 2018, so they've been there before.
• 25:09
  SPEAKER_01: And I don't remember crowds being like that sparse.
• 25:13
  SPEAKER_01: Like there were reports on Twitter I was reading, just so many tickets unsold.
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_01: There was some communication where like the trains, the last train was at 6 p.m.
• 25:24
  SPEAKER_01: on a Saturday, and like last tea time was 3 30, so everyone had to leave early.
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know if that's true.
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, it was just a it was kind of pathetic watching it on TV where it did not feel like a major at all.
• 25:36
  SPEAKER_01: We're on 18 and there's like Wyndham Clark's team off, and there's like 20 people behind him.
• 25:43
  SPEAKER_01: There was just no one there.
• 25:45
  SPEAKER_01: So again, New York fans, not my favorite, might be my least favorite, them in Boston.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_01: If you're listening and you live in there, sorry, but you're not my favorite.
• 25:55
  SPEAKER_01: Hopefully we don't go back there.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_01: Hard to compare to the Philly crowd at Eronime.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_01: It's tough to follow.
• 26:00
  SPEAKER_01: We we do it good over here.
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_01: So again, hopefully we don't go back there, but it was uh definitely took away from the viewing experience.
• 26:07
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, it was definitely a wine and cheese crowd out there on the Hamptons.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_04: I think you're right where the train situation is tough.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_04: I believe there were trains that went later, but I don't think they were express trains back into the city.
• 26:19
  SPEAKER_04: So that creates a two-hour plus journey for some folks if you're trying to get back to Manhattan or any of the other boroughs.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_04: I don't I don't know exactly what the transportation situation was, but that wasn't good.
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_04: You mentioned it though.
• 26:32
  SPEAKER_04: Any reason to hate on the New York fans, I'll sign right up for.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_04: I thought it was a disgusting display by them.
• 26:37
  SPEAKER_04: Even on 16, Wyndham hits one on Saturday to like five feet for Eagle, best shot of the week there, and not a soul was around to see it.
• 26:47
  SPEAKER_04: It's almost like a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, doesn't make a sound.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_04: I don't know that anyone saw it.
• 26:53
  SPEAKER_04: He didn't even know if it was a good shot.
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_04: He had to turn to his caddy and say, like, is that close?
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_04: Because nobody clapped.
• 26:59
  SPEAKER_04: So that wasn't just people hating Wyndham, it was just no one was there to witness it.
• 27:02
  SPEAKER_04: And he was playing in the final group, so that's just crazy.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_01: And not to deflect the blame from New York, but I feel like the USGA made it a point to set up the course in a way where fans weren't close to the fescue.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_01: And that caused like ropes to be further off the course than they normally would.
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_01: And also around the greens, too.
• 27:22
  SPEAKER_01: I noticed like there were very, very few holes where crowds were allowed to be on top of the greens.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_01: Like every green I felt like was elevated and had a severe slope to the back of the green, and they left enough room there.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_01: The ball rose off, can roll 50 yards away, and not a fan is in sight because they're a hundred yards away.
• 27:40
  SPEAKER_01: So I don't know if that played a part in just how loud they sounded across the telecast.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_01: But uh yeah, something that kind of stuck out to me that I don't remember past US Open's having that that type of setup.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_04: I don't either.
• 27:54
  SPEAKER_04: And I think it's a stark comparison to what we saw at Aranamink.
• 27:58
  SPEAKER_04: You could say what you want about the quality of golf on the two courses and how difficult Chinnicok was, and how it might be a better course than Aranamink is, but the on course viewing experience at Aranamink was second to none.
• 28:08
  SPEAKER_04: Everywhere you turned, you could see multiple golf shots, multiple golf holes.
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_04: Fans felt like they were on top of each other in a good way, where it created an environment.
• 28:16
  SPEAKER_04: So you're right.
• 28:17
  SPEAKER_04: Just another that's a win for Philly against New York.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_04: We'll take the small ones that we can get.
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_04: We're still down one-two.
• 28:24
  SPEAKER_04: We're still down, we're still down.
• 28:25
  SPEAKER_04: Let's move on, blum.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_04: Another area of expertise for you is the NBA.
• 28:30
  SPEAKER_04: And to my knowledge, you're a pretty big NBA draft guy.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_04: I want to, before we get into the draft itself, there is some news that's kind of related to the draft.
• 28:39
  SPEAKER_04: There was a name being floated around potential trade markets.
• 28:42
  SPEAKER_04: He has decided to sign a contract in DC the Wizards.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_04: And I just wanted to shout out, I think you would agree, we could pour one out to Wizards fans as the tortured fans of the week this week.
• 28:53
  SPEAKER_04: Just a miserable franchise, unfortunately for them.
• 28:57
  SPEAKER_04: They're awful and they're consistently awful, and they have locked up Trey Young to a four-year contract, averaging around$50 million a year.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_04: Not the biggest NBA guy, but I can tell you this, Trey Young should not be making$50 million a year.
• 29:11
  SPEAKER_04: I think he's stealing 49 of those million.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I haven't seen him play in a year, and the last time I did, it was not pretty at all.
• 29:21
  SPEAKER_01: He is the size of one of our friends who's five foot six.
• 29:25
  SPEAKER_01: And paying a guy$55 million a year, that you'll probably have to take him off the court in the playoffs because he'll get exposed defensively.
• 29:34
  SPEAKER_01: Like that's never a smart move.
• 29:36
  SPEAKER_01: I get it's the Wizards.
• 29:37
  SPEAKER_01: I get they need to get whatever type of talent they can because no one is choosing to actually sign with them in free agency.
• 29:44
  SPEAKER_01: You have to trade for them and just hope they commit to you.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_01: And this is an example of that with Trey Young.
• 29:50
  SPEAKER_01: So, I mean, we'll get into you know the draft, they have the first pick, but again, committing that salary to a guy that is considered, I think, one of the worst, like quote, stars, if we want to still call him the star in the league, is never a smart move.
• 30:08
  SPEAKER_01: So, yeah, Wizards fans, if you're listening, uh condolences.
• 30:13
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, we had to give a tortured fan of the week out.
• 30:15
  SPEAKER_04: It's been a while since we've given one because most of the teams that would be tortured right now at this point were losing in like the finals, and you still have a pretty good season if you got to the finals.
• 30:22
  SPEAKER_04: So can't really feel too bad from many fan bases right now, except for the Wizards.
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_04: They do, as you mentioned, Blum, have the first pick.
• 30:31
  SPEAKER_04: This person's forced to play for them.
• 30:33
  SPEAKER_04: So that's a good thing for them.
• 30:34
  SPEAKER_04: They don't they cannot they cannot get out of this.
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_04: This is a binding.
• 30:37
  SPEAKER_04: Well, I guess it's actually technically not, but we don't see first picks unless you're Eli Manning not signed with the team.
• 30:43
  SPEAKER_04: So hopefully, whoever they draft actually signs a contract.
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_04: How do you think the first few picks of this draft are gonna shake out?
• 30:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so I think the first four picks are pretty set in stone.
• 30:54
  SPEAKER_01: I think there's a clear teardrop when you get a five.
• 30:58
  SPEAKER_01: I think the order is pretty set as well.
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_01: I'm assuming AJ DeBanza will go number one to the Wizards.
• 31:04
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so whole pair with Trey Young.
• 31:06
  SPEAKER_01: They have Anthony Davis there.
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Darren Peterson, I believe, will be A.D.
• 31:11
  SPEAKER_01: Jesus.
• 31:12
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the corpse of AD and Trey Young making a hundred million a year.
• 31:17
  SPEAKER_01: So happy enjoy AJ to uh Washington because you're playing with those two guys.
• 31:22
  SPEAKER_01: Have fun.
• 31:23
  SPEAKER_01: But uh yeah, Darren Peterson probably going number two.
• 31:27
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I know he had a very roller coaster year at Kansas, but I mean the talent is very clearly there, so he'll go to the Jazz.
• 31:35
  SPEAKER_01: Uh number three and four, to me, I think it's a conversation.
• 31:38
  SPEAKER_01: I think Cam Boozer will go three to the Grizzlies.
• 31:42
  SPEAKER_01: He has a I think a very high floor but a limited ceiling.
• 31:46
  SPEAKER_01: And then uh Caleb Williams will, or Wilson, excuse me, Caleb Wilson, uh will go four to the Bulls.
• 31:54
  SPEAKER_01: I was the North Carolina player who got hurt end of year, didn't play in these tournaments.
• 31:59
  SPEAKER_01: So he's the guy with I think a lower floor but higher upside.
• 32:02
  SPEAKER_01: So those, I think, a pretty clear top four.
• 32:04
  SPEAKER_01: And I think it's a good draft overall.
• 32:05
  SPEAKER_01: So I think as a top four for a draft quest, I think it's better than it has been, I would say, the last maybe two or three years.
• 32:13
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I don't watch a ton of NBAs, you know.
• 32:15
  SPEAKER_04: I watch the Sixers once in a while and then I watch all their playoff games, but so I'm not the most well-versed in terms of what exactly translates to being a good NBA player now.
• 32:24
  SPEAKER_04: I think that's where maybe when I used to watch the league and then study the draft more intently, that's maybe where I was able to identify some things better than I am now.
• 32:34
  SPEAKER_04: But I do think this crop of kids that we saw in college this past year was very strong, and the freshman class specifically was stronger than it had been in a long time because guys were able to step into programs and all the ones you just mentioned made dramatic impacts on their teams that they played for.
• 32:49
  SPEAKER_04: And that's rare.
• 32:51
  SPEAKER_04: We haven't seen classes that have had that many freshmen make that big of an impact in a long time.
• 32:55
  SPEAKER_04: So I definitely think it's a strong NBA draft class, which is encouraging.
• 32:59
  SPEAKER_04: I am interested, who would you prefer between Boozer and Caleb Wilson?
• 33:03
  SPEAKER_04: It's a true, it's a tough one because I see it with Wilson in terms of the tools.
• 33:08
  SPEAKER_04: You could talk yourself into him becoming a really, really good player and a high upside, but I also I know that Boozer's a good player.
• 33:17
  SPEAKER_04: And he might not be flashy or be super special or great one day, but he's I will guarantee he's going to be a good NBA player.
• 33:24
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, my biggest concern with Caleb would be is he going to be a guy that could just get you a basket?
• 33:31
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I don't think he has like the best of handle.
• 33:34
  SPEAKER_01: Like his lowest, like worst case scenario when I watch him is like a Jonathan Isaac, where he's just like a very raw, offensive, but athletic player that's gonna be like a menace defensively and guard one through five.
• 33:48
  SPEAKER_01: But again, that's like the lowest, like the floor comparison.
• 33:51
  SPEAKER_01: Versus Boozer is he's not the most athletic guy.
• 33:55
  SPEAKER_01: I think he's too small to be a five to see athletic must play a four, so there's a little bit of that like position question with him.
• 34:01
  SPEAKER_01: But he's one of those guys, just seems like a high IQ, he's a great passer, you can run an offense through him in the the high post, top of the key.
• 34:09
  SPEAKER_01: Kind of similar, actually, how the Knicks used Cat in the playoffs, so they found a lot of success with that.
• 34:14
  SPEAKER_01: But come to my head, I mean, I'm always going to take the upside.
• 34:17
  SPEAKER_01: So I think I would go Caleb for that reason.
• 34:19
  SPEAKER_01: But again, it just depends on your team, your team makeup.
• 34:22
  SPEAKER_01: But if I'm just building a team from scratch, I think the upside is with Caleb there, just with the height, the wingspan, and the you know, two-way potential.
• 34:30
  SPEAKER_01: I agree.
• 34:30
  SPEAKER_04: If you are picking a team from scratch, maybe you could talk me to Caleb Wilson for sure, because that's a lottery ticket that if you hit on, he could be a franchise superstar.
• 34:39
  SPEAKER_04: I worry about him just being an in-between type player, kind of how you talked about, where he's not elite at any specific thing, and he's quick twitched and huge for how quick twitched he is, which I guess is elite.
• 34:51
  SPEAKER_04: But in terms of on the court, I'm not sure a skill that I could point to and be like, oh, he's gonna be elite at that, where with Boozer, I think his basketball IQ and just feel for the game is elite.
• 35:00
  SPEAKER_04: And he has a 7-2 wingspan, so I think it's just so safe to project him into being a good player.
• 35:05
  SPEAKER_04: But it is interesting, it depends on what you're doing with your roster, where you're at in your rebuild, because most of the teams, if you're picking this high in the draft, you don't have a ton.
• 35:16
  SPEAKER_04: So usually that's the case.
• 35:17
  SPEAKER_04: Sometimes you are just the San Antonio Spurs and lock into Victor Wanbanyama.
• 35:22
  SPEAKER_04: But Bum, I want to hear about a guy who you think will maybe outperform their projected draft position.
• 35:28
  SPEAKER_04: So somebody that's projected to go a little bit lower than you think their output will be.
• 35:32
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so I have uh one guy, if we're talking just like we'll say outside of the lottery, so with outside the top 14 picks projected in terms of having all stock potential, is Christian Anderson.
• 35:44
  SPEAKER_01: He is a guard out of Texas Tech.
• 35:47
  SPEAKER_01: He this past year um shouldered a lot of the load for them after I believe JT Toppin went down, was lost for the year.
• 35:56
  SPEAKER_01: Great shooter, shot almost 42% from three, uh, averaged eight assists, which is I think a very high number to average in college, uh, 18 points a game.
• 36:05
  SPEAKER_01: He is a little small, he's 180 pounds, he's 6'2.
• 36:09
  SPEAKER_01: So again, we talked Trey Young not being able to play end of games, you kind of run into that with him a little bit if he doesn't grow into his body.
• 36:16
  SPEAKER_01: But I think all the the raw skills are there.
• 36:19
  SPEAKER_01: He's not super quick, I would say.
• 36:21
  SPEAKER_01: Is his as a guard maybe why he's not projected to go any higher.
• 36:25
  SPEAKER_01: But what I saw from him seemed like he had a great feel for the game.
• 36:29
  SPEAKER_01: And especially I think in this draft is right after you get like from 7, 8, 9, there's like a bunch of just like role player guys.
• 36:35
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like he maybe has the most upside to exceed that and maybe reach all-star level.
• 36:41
  SPEAKER_04: I loved him in college.
• 36:43
  SPEAKER_04: I thought he was so good.
• 36:44
  SPEAKER_04: He's just a guy who's a good basketball player, can shoot.
• 36:47
  SPEAKER_04: If you step off him, he's gonna bury one in your face.
• 36:49
  SPEAKER_04: He's not shy at all.
• 36:50
  SPEAKER_04: He'll he'll get his shots up.
• 36:52
  SPEAKER_04: He's also a really skilled passer, like you mentioned, with his assists.
• 36:55
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, he's just a good ball player.
• 36:57
  SPEAKER_04: I think he's one of those guys where NBA teams tend to overthink it, where he doesn't have the physical traits necessarily to lead a NBA team as an explosive point guard, or he's not big enough to be a shooting guard, but he is he's a really good basketball player, and I I like that.
• 37:13
  SPEAKER_04: I'm I'm happy you picked him as your little under-the-radar pick.
• 37:16
  SPEAKER_04: Now, before we we move out of here, I do want your opinion on what your beloved Philadelphia 76ers will do or should do with their pick.
• 37:25
  SPEAKER_04: Do they even have a first-round pick?
• 37:27
  SPEAKER_01: They do.
• 37:27
  SPEAKER_01: They do, thanks to uh Jared McCain.
• 37:29
  SPEAKER_01: They have the the 22nd pick in this year's draft.
• 37:32
  SPEAKER_01: Sure, it's top 10.
• 37:33
  SPEAKER_01: Jared McCain's a good player.
• 37:35
  SPEAKER_01: No, no, no.
• 37:37
  SPEAKER_01: 22nd.
• 37:39
  SPEAKER_01: Good.
• 37:41
  SPEAKER_01: It's uh courtesy of the Rockets via the Thunder.
• 37:45
  SPEAKER_01: It's an interesting spot because I feel like there is a drop-off, I would say, after the lottery.
• 37:52
  SPEAKER_01: Then it's like a bunch of guys that are very similar from like 15 to the mid-20s.
• 37:56
  SPEAKER_01: The pipe dream pick, and this is a guy that I think his stock has risen the most since the combine, and that's uh Morris Johnson Jr., Michigan.
• 38:07
  SPEAKER_01: You mentioned Sean how like you don't maybe have a feel for like who can play in today's NBA.
• 38:13
  SPEAKER_01: I think he's the prototype of guys that you can plug in right away.
• 38:18
  SPEAKER_01: He's not going to create offense for himself, he's not creating offense from others, but he is the perfect player that you can put next to your stars, and he would fit right in instantly.
• 38:30
  SPEAKER_01: He's I think 6'10, he's 250, he has a 7'4 wingspan, he moves like a wing on the perimeter, he can guard every position.
• 38:39
  SPEAKER_01: He's awesome, big part of you know why Michigan won a national championship.
• 38:44
  SPEAKER_01: And uh like I said, I think 14 that I've seen is the four for him, so he's going to do a lottery.
• 38:49
  SPEAKER_01: I wouldn't be surprised if the Thunder grab him.
• 38:51
  SPEAKER_01: I think they have a lottery pick, so the rich might get richer.
• 38:54
  SPEAKER_01: But uh yeah, he's I would say probably my favorite player in this draft, and it's a shame that you know we don't have the ammo to trade up for him.
• 39:02
  SPEAKER_01: I of course the Thunder have a lottery pick.
• 39:05
  SPEAKER_01: That's great news for everybody else.
• 39:07
  SPEAKER_01: But uh so a couple other names.
• 39:08
  SPEAKER_01: So there's a few hard no's that I would be not happy with.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Chris Sanak Jr.
• 39:15
  SPEAKER_01: and CoAP.
• 39:17
  SPEAKER_01: Sanak, I just think he is very soft on paper.
• 39:21
  SPEAKER_01: He has great size, he's 6'11, 240.
• 39:25
  SPEAKER_01: He just, again, settles too much, he's kind of soft, not a fan of him.
• 39:30
  SPEAKER_01: I know Sean, you're a Houston Cougars guy, so I'm not sure how you feel or if you agree with that.
• 39:34
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, honestly, he didn't really impress me too much.
• 39:38
  SPEAKER_04: I I will say, usually you don't associate Kelvin Samson players as being soft, but he only was there one year, and I think Kelvin wanted to rip his head off by the end of the year because he settled all the time for mid-range jump shots.
• 39:50
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, I don't necessarily think you're wrong with that.
• 39:52
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the other guy is uh someone that I think the Sixers are tied to a lot, which scares me.
• 39:57
  SPEAKER_01: Coa Pete.
• 39:58
  SPEAKER_01: He is a freshman in Arizona.
• 40:01
  SPEAKER_01: This shot is just a big, big problem for him.
• 40:05
  SPEAKER_01: It's so bad.
• 40:06
  SPEAKER_04: It's bad.
• 40:07
  SPEAKER_04: It's so bad.
• 40:08
  SPEAKER_04: It's so bad.
• 40:09
  SPEAKER_04: It's not listeners.
• 40:10
  SPEAKER_04: If you've never seen anyone shoot a basketball, this would be jarring to you.
• 40:17
  SPEAKER_04: And if you have seen someone shoot a basketball, this would be the worst shot you've ever seen.
• 40:22
  SPEAKER_04: That's how bad it is.
• 40:23
  SPEAKER_04: It is indescribably bad.
• 40:25
  SPEAKER_04: It's kind of like Charles Barkley's old golf swing, where it just makes no sense.
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_04: It's herky jerky.
• 40:31
  SPEAKER_04: He doesn't even have a shot now.
• 40:33
  SPEAKER_04: I think he's trying to redo it, and the new version's still awful.
• 40:36
  SPEAKER_04: So, like, yeah, I'm good with staying away from him too.
• 40:39
  SPEAKER_04: I'm I've never really been a huge fan of him.
• 40:41
  SPEAKER_04: He's very athletic and looks the part, looks like Tarzan, maybe plays like Jane.
• 40:48
  SPEAKER_02: Mm-hmm.
• 40:49
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, like he the the main reasons why I feel like he like quote won in college because he was just like bigger and stronger than everyone else, and he's playing against college kids.
• 40:59
  SPEAKER_01: You can't do that in the NBA.
• 41:00
  SPEAKER_01: You're playing against grown men.
• 41:01
  SPEAKER_01: If you don't have a jump shot, he's not necessarily quick with the ball on his hands, so I don't see how he's gonna be able to score at the next level.
• 41:08
  SPEAKER_01: So uh he's a hard pass for me, which uh means I'm sure that they will probably take him.
• 41:14
  SPEAKER_01: It's perfect, yeah.
• 41:15
  SPEAKER_04: It's either we take him and he's exactly what he thought.
• 41:18
  SPEAKER_04: He's exactly what we thought he was, or we don't, and he turns into a great player.
• 41:23
  SPEAKER_04: I'm sure the Celtics will take him and he'll be a great player.
• 41:26
  SPEAKER_04: He'll be he'll be shooting threes in two weeks.
• 41:28
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 41:29
  SPEAKER_04: We'll be Larry Bird.
• 41:30
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 41:32
  SPEAKER_04: Anybody else that you would be good with, the Sixers taking?
• 41:35
  SPEAKER_04: I I've seen your list of that you're out on.
• 41:37
  SPEAKER_04: I'd love to see some positivity out of you, some good options.
• 41:41
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so I have two names for you.
• 41:43
  SPEAKER_01: Uh again, you're picking at 22, so it's you're not gonna get anyone special here.
• 41:47
  SPEAKER_01: But there's there's two names that I'm intrigued by.
• 41:49
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Dalen Swain.
• 41:51
  SPEAKER_01: He is a forward out of Texas.
• 41:53
  SPEAKER_01: He played a, I would say, a pretty big role in them getting to the Sweet 16 this past year.
• 41:59
  SPEAKER_01: He is uh 6'7, like 2'10.
• 42:02
  SPEAKER_01: Pretty athletic, good handle.
• 42:04
  SPEAKER_01: He's just like very slight of frame is the concern with him.
• 42:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um and then Alan Graves, he's a power forward from Santa Clara, uh freshman, 6'9, one of the best shooters, I think, in the class.
• 42:18
  SPEAKER_01: He shot 42%, so he has good size again at a position of need.
• 42:22
  SPEAKER_01: Just the the defense, I think, is a question mark with him.
• 42:25
  SPEAKER_01: Can you guard the perimeter?
• 42:26
  SPEAKER_01: He's uh a little bit of a bigger guy, doesn't move too well.
• 42:29
  SPEAKER_01: I watched him kind of think like a Grant Williams type of player, which can be helpful.
• 42:35
  SPEAKER_01: He was helpful for a stretch with the Celtics, but again, not the best of players.
• 42:39
  SPEAKER_01: So those would be the two names where I could like talk myself into.
• 42:42
  SPEAKER_01: So uh we'll see.
• 42:43
  SPEAKER_01: They're projected to go around that range.
• 42:45
  SPEAKER_01: But uh, you know, obviously new GM, new front office, so no one knows what this team is doing, which uh I guess equally scares me and is good because that means no other teams know what they're doing.
• 42:56
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, those are the two guys I think I would maybe hang my hat on.
• 43:00
  SPEAKER_04: I will co-sign the Dalen Swain pick.
• 43:03
  SPEAKER_04: I really liked him at Texas.
• 43:05
  SPEAKER_04: He drew fouls for a living there.
• 43:07
  SPEAKER_04: I think they shot among the most free throws in the country, and he was a big part of that.
• 43:10
  SPEAKER_04: He's just a matchup nightmare because he's such a good ball handler for his size.
• 43:14
  SPEAKER_04: And to my recollection, I want to say he shot in the low 30s from three.
• 43:18
  SPEAKER_04: He wasn't a shooter by any means, but you couldn't necessarily leave him open either.
• 43:22
  SPEAKER_04: So I think if he can just knock down a couple open ones at the NBA level, with his size and kind of versatility and be able to be able to handle the ball a little bit, I think that's a good pick.
• 43:33
  SPEAKER_04: I saw Alan Graves, they played Kentucky in the tournament, and that was the only game I've watched of his.
• 43:38
  SPEAKER_04: He was good in the game, but I don't really see it from an NBA perspective, to be quite honest.
• 43:42
  SPEAKER_04: It's like what you said.
• 43:43
  SPEAKER_04: I'm not sure who he's guarding out there at the NBA level.
• 43:45
  SPEAKER_04: So, yeah, offensively, I think he could be nice and a shooter space the floor, but I'm not so sure in a draft that's a really good draft, I'm not just so sure we want to settle for just a guy who might be able to space the floor at a position of need at twenty two.
• 43:59
  unknown: Yeah.
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_01: Like my floor comp when I watched him was like George Niang.
• 44:03
  SPEAKER_04: That's yeah, that's honestly body size and shape and how they look, it's very similar.
• 44:09
  SPEAKER_04: That's a that's a funny one.
• 44:11
  SPEAKER_04: They might be brothers.
• 44:13
  SPEAKER_01: They might be, yeah, at least cousins.
• 44:14
  SPEAKER_01: But one more wild card to throw at you, Sean, and I want to get your thoughts on this guy because you probably know him more than I do.
• 44:21
  SPEAKER_01: A Kentucky transfer, Jaden Quaintens.
• 44:24
  SPEAKER_01: He I believe didn't play much at Kentucky.
• 44:26
  SPEAKER_01: Obviously, he had much more waves at Arizona State.
• 44:29
  SPEAKER_01: But I have I watched like five minutes of YouTube on him.
• 44:32
  SPEAKER_01: But before I give my thoughts, I'm curious what you think of him as an NBA player.
• 44:36
  SPEAKER_04: I have a long history with this guy, Blum.
• 44:38
  SPEAKER_04: He committed to Coach Cal at Kentucky out of high school.
• 44:41
  SPEAKER_04: Coach Cal left for Arkansas, so he decommitted and committed to Arizona State because they were supposed to be filming this documentary.
• 44:48
  SPEAKER_04: He got a big NIL bag, went to Arizona State towards ACL at the end of his freshman year, which he was playing as a 17-year-old, I think.
• 44:56
  SPEAKER_04: He was very young.
• 44:57
  SPEAKER_04: He was a year, he reclassified up to get to college early.
• 45:00
  SPEAKER_04: He then transferred to Kentucky.
• 45:02
  SPEAKER_04: He got a big NIL bag to come to Kentucky.
• 45:04
  SPEAKER_04: Kind of came back too soon from an ACL injury and dealt with swelling in his knee and then shut it down after I want to say three games in Kentucky Blue.
• 45:12
  SPEAKER_04: So I most of my familiarity with him is through highlights and excitement in thinking of what could have been.
• 45:20
  SPEAKER_04: But I'll I'll tell you this.
• 45:21
  SPEAKER_04: Even after ACL surgery, and his first game's back on a minute's restriction, he is a freakishly explosive athlete for his size.
• 45:30
  SPEAKER_04: And his size is no joke.
• 45:32
  SPEAKER_04: He might only be 6'8, 6'9, but he's got long ass arms and he's built kind of like Dwight Howard in terms of his frame.
• 45:40
  SPEAKER_04: And he is as quick twitched as some of the fastest point guards in this class.
• 45:44
  SPEAKER_04: So in terms of a blocks and steals perspective, he's going to immediately go into the NBA and in my opinion be an impact defender.
• 45:52
  SPEAKER_04: I don't know if he could guard point guards, but he could switch a little bit and he'll be a present.
• 45:55
  SPEAKER_04: He'll be hard to score against in the paint in the NBA, which I think is a great thing.
• 45:59
  SPEAKER_04: I don't know what on earth he could do on offense.
• 46:03
  SPEAKER_04: I'm not I'm not sure.
• 46:04
  SPEAKER_04: He might be able to stand in the dunker spot, he's athletic as shit and catch oops, but I other than that, I'm not trusting him with the ball in his hands at all.
• 46:12
  SPEAKER_01: And that was my takeaway.
• 46:13
  SPEAKER_01: Like I thought he was a like a freak athlete, like a specimen that doesn't know how to play basketball.
• 46:23
  SPEAKER_01: He's 19 years old and he's still super young, so that can come over time.
• 46:28
  SPEAKER_01: But you add that into all like the injury red flags, and he may fall out of the first round.
• 46:34
  SPEAKER_01: I've seen some stuff about that.
• 46:36
  SPEAKER_01: So I'd be curious.
• 46:37
  SPEAKER_01: That's I think the biggest one.
• 46:38
  SPEAKER_01: I wouldn't take him at 22.
• 46:40
  SPEAKER_01: I think there's just too much of a risk there.
• 46:41
  SPEAKER_01: Like you just can't miss on this pick just because there's so much attention on it, because it'll be tied to Jared McCain forever.
• 46:48
  SPEAKER_01: But he was the guy I wanted to have to get your thoughts on because I I don't think I can take him at 22.
• 46:54
  SPEAKER_04: I would I would be scared of doing that as well because of the ramifications of how this pick looks, at least from the public point of view.
• 47:01
  SPEAKER_04: I will say, by all accounts, he's a great, great kid.
• 47:04
  SPEAKER_04: Like loves playing chess and he's into anime.
• 47:07
  SPEAKER_04: You hear him speak, he's very soft spoken, mild-mannered, seems like a great guy.
• 47:11
  SPEAKER_04: And I trust that he will develop.
• 47:13
  SPEAKER_04: But I think this is one of those that's like a second contract player, where they're just for the first four years of his career, he's just kind of figuring out how to play basketball, let alone NBA basketball.
• 47:23
  SPEAKER_04: And then when he's 25, I could see him being really good, but that's just a long way away.
• 47:28
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and that's when the Sixers trade him, and then he joins the second team and he blossoms.
• 47:33
  SPEAKER_01: So I don't I can't do that to myself.
• 47:35
  SPEAKER_04: We can't handle, like, he's like a precious gemstone that you need to really nurture over time and take care of.
• 47:41
  SPEAKER_04: We will we'll botch it.
• 47:43
  SPEAKER_04: We'll let it get stolen right from under our noses.
• 47:45
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, we can't we can't do that.
• 47:46
  SPEAKER_04: So I'm with you.
• 47:47
  SPEAKER_04: Let's not let the Sixers anywhere near him.
• 47:49
  SPEAKER_01: And then one guy I'll just throw out, I didn't have him on the sheet.
• 47:51
  SPEAKER_01: Uh the poor man's version of Morez Johnson I mentioned is Zubi Egifor, St.
• 47:56
  SPEAKER_01: John's.
• 47:57
  SPEAKER_01: I love him.
• 47:58
  SPEAKER_01: He's just, again, super raw offensively, but he will go out there and just cause havoc the second he steps on the floor with his just energy and nasty.
• 48:06
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, him and Rick Patino at St.
• 48:08
  SPEAKER_04: John's were a perfect fit.
• 48:09
  SPEAKER_04: He he was all about intensity, and Zubi, Zubi was a good college player.
• 48:13
  SPEAKER_04: I'd be happy to see him go and have a good NBA career.
• 48:17
  SPEAKER_04: Well, um, that's a good that's a good little NBA preview.
• 48:19
  SPEAKER_04: We touched on our sixers, we gave you who's gonna go at the top of the draft, we gave you a couple sleepers.
• 48:24
  SPEAKER_04: Let's move on to some non-sports topics.
• 48:27
  SPEAKER_04: We've got a variety of hodgepodge of things here.
• 48:30
  SPEAKER_04: And did you see this?
• 48:31
  SPEAKER_04: You have a few prepared for me, I've got a few prepared for you.
• 48:36
  SPEAKER_04: I guess let's start with Mindblum, just so we can get this out.
• 48:40
  SPEAKER_04: I haven't heard your thoughts on the new Taylor Swift song.
• 48:43
  SPEAKER_04: I believe it's called I Knew It, I Knew You.
• 48:45
  SPEAKER_04: It is for Toy Story 5.
• 48:47
  SPEAKER_04: So I kind of just first quickly, what were your thoughts on the new Taylor song?
• 48:50
  SPEAKER_01: So when I first listened to it, I just thought it sounded very like movie soundtracking.
• 48:55
  SPEAKER_01: I don't mean that in a bad way, because that's what it is, but the more I listened to it, I did enjoy it.
• 49:00
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's very catchy.
• 49:01
  SPEAKER_01: I think it's a it's a good chorus.
• 49:04
  SPEAKER_01: It's you know, very kind of fearless-esque the vibe.
• 49:08
  SPEAKER_01: So it's good to see, you know, country tailored back.
• 49:11
  SPEAKER_01: But I enjoyed it.
• 49:11
  SPEAKER_01: Like it's a song that I'll keep in my rotation of uh, you know, listenable songs for sure.
• 49:18
  SPEAKER_04: I think that's perfectly well said.
• 49:19
  SPEAKER_04: I'm right there with you.
• 49:20
  SPEAKER_04: I first first heard it, I was almost like cringing, like, oh god, it's just a movie soundtrack song.
• 49:26
  SPEAKER_04: Which you're right, it's what it was for.
• 49:27
  SPEAKER_04: So it might not be for us to just listen to in our everyday lives.
• 49:30
  SPEAKER_04: But the more I've heard it, it's grown on me.
• 49:32
  SPEAKER_04: It's good, it's a good fine song.
• 49:34
  SPEAKER_04: It's a nice dip her toes back in the country pond.
• 49:37
  SPEAKER_04: No, no complaints from me.
• 49:39
  SPEAKER_04: I did have a question for you.
• 49:40
  SPEAKER_04: I don't know if I'm alone in this, so I'm interested to see what you have to say.
• 49:44
  SPEAKER_04: Obviously, we grew up with Toy Story, right?
• 49:46
  SPEAKER_04: Like those Toy Story 1 and 2 were peak childhood, everybody saw them.
• 49:52
  SPEAKER_04: Have you seen Toy Stories 3 and 4?
• 49:55
  SPEAKER_03: I've not.
• 49:57
  SPEAKER_04: Now, is that a is that a deliberate choice, or is that just something you avoided?
• 50:02
  SPEAKER_01: I would say neither.
• 50:03
  SPEAKER_01: I just had like I'm not a movie guy, really.
• 50:07
  SPEAKER_01: So you add that in with like I need to be very interested in a movie to see it.
• 50:12
  SPEAKER_01: We have been talking actually of seeing Toy Story 5, just because I feel like everyone's talking about it.
• 50:17
  SPEAKER_01: So I may we may go do that.
• 50:20
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, three and four just didn't interest me.
• 50:22
  SPEAKER_01: But uh I might have to check out five and uh see what all the hype is about.
• 50:27
  SPEAKER_04: See, I was kind of thinking, I'm in a similar boat because this conversation came up where should I go see Toy Story Five?
• 50:33
  SPEAKER_04: And it's like I haven't seen three or four because I was so scared of three.
• 50:37
  SPEAKER_04: I heard it was the saddest thing ever, and I was just never emotionally ready to have Andy go to college and leave the toys at home.
• 50:43
  SPEAKER_04: I never wanted to have that realization.
• 50:45
  SPEAKER_04: Pretty sure that's what happens in the movie.
• 50:47
  SPEAKER_04: I don't know what else happens, but I just know it's a tearjerker, so I was like, why would I ever sign up for that?
• 50:51
  SPEAKER_04: Just you know what I mean, like my childhood just being ripped out.
• 50:54
  SPEAKER_04: So no, I'll never see Toy Story 3, heard it's great, I'll never see Toy Story 4, but I'm interested a little bit in going and seeing Toy Story 5.
• 51:02
  SPEAKER_01: So I just wanted to see if I was alone and skipping you could have told me I thought Andy just one of those characters that just never ages throughout the various movies.
• 51:11
  SPEAKER_01: So I would have never guessed in a million years that that kid's in college.
• 51:17
  SPEAKER_03: And he still has toys.
• 51:18
  SPEAKER_03: Well, and why don't you give us some things that you have seen recently?
• 51:24
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so if you're familiar with uh the NBA finals, I'm sure you're aware of how Knicks fans like beating innocent people senseless if they're just existing and wearing the opposing team's journey jersey.
• 51:38
  SPEAKER_01: Well, uh after game five, I believe, when the Knicks clinched, did you see Sean, the uh Thanos Stars fan that was storming and rushing any fan in his sight?
• 51:52
  SPEAKER_01: I I did not see this.
• 51:53
  SPEAKER_01: This is not made a seven.
• 51:55
  SPEAKER_01: No, I did not see this.
• 51:56
  SPEAKER_01: I gotta send this to you.
• 51:58
  SPEAKER_01: Please do.
• 51:59
  SPEAKER_01: Uh please describe describe it for the listener and then send it to me.
• 52:02
  SPEAKER_01: Oh my god.
• 52:03
  SPEAKER_01: So it was in the the concourse of um the Spurs Arena after the game.
• 52:10
  SPEAKER_01: This man is he didn't look super tall, he was maybe six foot, but he might have been just three hundred pounds of just all muscle.
• 52:20
  SPEAKER_01: And he looked like a zombie the way he was just he wasn't running, he was just sternly walking at people, and if he took one step towards someone, they would take 20 steps back.
• 52:32
  SPEAKER_01: Like it was to that extent how terrified they were.
• 52:35
  SPEAKER_01: And there were people that would go up from behind, like swing at him, and then sprint the other way.
• 52:39
  SPEAKER_01: Because he wasn't running, he was just walking.
• 52:41
  SPEAKER_01: People were kicking out his shins, running away, and he got a hold of a couple people, and let me tell you, it was not a pretty sight for those people.
• 52:50
  SPEAKER_01: Oh my god, that sounds great.
• 52:53
  SPEAKER_01: A dentist rod in Jersey, which was even more fitting.
• 52:56
  SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
• 52:58
  SPEAKER_01: The cops eventually kind of wrangled him and got him out of there, but that was funny to see.
• 53:03
  SPEAKER_01: It was amusing.
• 53:04
  SPEAKER_01: Again, Knicks winning a championship.
• 53:05
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, will never bring a smile to my face, but that was a fun viewing experience to see uh you know some Knicks fans get their promise.
• 53:14
  SPEAKER_04: Sure, yeah, sure.
• 53:15
  SPEAKER_04: That I'll sign right up to watch that.
• 53:17
  SPEAKER_04: I'll probably watch it several times, by the way.
• 53:19
  SPEAKER_04: So I'm looking forward to that later.
• 53:21
  SPEAKER_01: What else what else did you have?
• 53:22
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so I just wanted to shout out.
• 53:24
  SPEAKER_01: I know we were talking uh some Taylor, um Olivia Rodrigo's new album.
• 53:29
  SPEAKER_01: I know we mentioned it on or you, I think Jeremy talked about it on a recent episode.
• 53:34
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 53:34
  SPEAKER_01: Uh Stupid Song.
• 53:36
  SPEAKER_01: It's a banger.
• 53:37
  SPEAKER_04: I sent this text to our college uh group chat.
• 53:40
  SPEAKER_04: I said might potentially be Song of the Summer, stupid song.
• 53:44
  SPEAKER_04: Boy, oh boy, it's good.
• 53:46
  SPEAKER_04: And I have to say, I'm in love with the whole album for the most part.
• 53:49
  SPEAKER_04: There's a few that I won't be going back to, of course, but overall, as someone who's not a big Olivia Rodrigo guy, I was blown away by it.
• 53:58
  SPEAKER_04: And there's a few songs that I've already added to my rotation that I'm really enjoying.
• 54:02
  SPEAKER_04: You plus me equals a heart forever.
• 54:05
  SPEAKER_04: Banger, potentially in the mix for Song of the Summer 2.
• 54:08
  SPEAKER_04: This is all up until July 17th when Gracie's album comes out.
• 54:13
  SPEAKER_04: And she completely steals the spotlight, of course, from Little Olivia.
• 54:16
  SPEAKER_04: We'll pat her on the head and say good job.
• 54:18
  SPEAKER_04: But until then, I will be riding with Olivia Rodrigo.
• 54:21
  SPEAKER_01: Do you like any others from the album?
• 54:23
  SPEAKER_01: So I was gonna say, I will admit I've not listened to the album in its entirety.
• 54:27
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I know the the singles, stupid song, and Honeybee.
• 54:32
  SPEAKER_01: Is that what I'm too?
• 54:34
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
• 54:35
  SPEAKER_01: Those are the four that that I listened to.
• 54:37
  SPEAKER_01: Um all good songs, but so you think the the you plus me that should be next on my list?
• 54:44
  SPEAKER_01: Put that in the cue.
• 54:45
  SPEAKER_04: That one is very good.
• 54:48
  SPEAKER_04: And then purple.
• 54:49
  SPEAKER_04: I want you to get some ears on purple.
• 54:52
  SPEAKER_04: Purple gives me some Taylor Swift vibes, and I don't want to say like stole music or we're not we're not doing that here.
• 54:58
  SPEAKER_04: Because that's a whole debate between those two.
• 55:00
  SPEAKER_04: But overall, just really enjoyed the Olivia Rodrigo album.
• 55:04
  SPEAKER_04: Wasn't previously a fan, so I believe an album review is on its way soon to the tortured fans feed.
• 55:10
  SPEAKER_04: So stay tuned for that.
• 55:12
  SPEAKER_04: That's a good teaser.
• 55:13
  SPEAKER_04: Well, I'm also just a quick did you see this from me?
• 55:15
  SPEAKER_04: Another Gracie single coming out Thursday.
• 55:18
  SPEAKER_04: She just put it on her Instagram today saying another one, wow.
• 55:22
  SPEAKER_04: Another one coming out before the album.
• 55:24
  SPEAKER_04: I said we're less than a month away from the album.
• 55:27
  SPEAKER_04: I'm expecting fireworks in July from Gracie.
• 55:31
  SPEAKER_04: We'll see what we get, but the first one hit the wall is a great start.
• 55:36
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I did not see that second one, so that's sad to see for Olivia Rodrigo, too, because we wanted to give her the whole month, and now the single's coming out, and now it's just like the spotlight right off her again.
• 55:46
  SPEAKER_01: So sorry, Liverod, but uh we're taking back the ground.
• 55:50
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I do hate to immediately steal the thunder right back for my girl Gracie, but we unfortunately that's it's just we're in the business of doing that.
• 55:58
  SPEAKER_04: We have to.
• 55:59
  SPEAKER_04: So what else do we have?
• 56:00
  SPEAKER_04: For did you see this?
• 56:03
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so back to our World Cup.
• 56:05
  SPEAKER_01: Um, obviously, uh a lot of fans from all over the world are infiltrating our country, uh, some of which have never been in our country before and are experiencing new things for the first time that we are very accustomed to since we've lived here for 30 years.
• 56:22
  SPEAKER_01: So I'll just rattle off a few and then if you want to comment on any of them, Sean.
• 56:27
  SPEAKER_01: Uh the first one is we have fans that are leaving the country.
• 56:31
  SPEAKER_01: So they watch the games, they're heading home.
• 56:34
  SPEAKER_01: They're going through TSA.
• 56:36
  SPEAKER_01: Apparently, they're smuggling a bunch of ranch dressing back overseas.
• 56:40
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know if it's a shortage over there or they've never had it before and they want to experience it more, but I thought that was funny.
• 56:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um, there's videos of Japanese fans thinking that Fort Worth, Texas, is just basically like a Western film and a movie scene.
• 56:56
  SPEAKER_01: I guess they've never experienced that type of culture and landscape before.
• 57:01
  SPEAKER_01: So I thought that was funny.
• 57:03
  SPEAKER_01: And then there's uh video servicing of Europeans that basically are walking around a Walmart in just pure, utter shock and disbelief.
• 57:14
  SPEAKER_01: Like it's the eighth wonder of the world.
• 57:17
  SPEAKER_01: So those I thought were amusing and it's provided some good content.
• 57:20
  SPEAKER_01: Um again, just people that aren't from here, that are walking around Walmart, a store that I dread going into, and they are treating it like it's like the best thing ever.
• 57:32
  SPEAKER_01: I'd rather go to the dentist in Walmart.
• 57:35
  SPEAKER_04: And you're right, people are all over the Walmart, just baffled, bemused by their findings in the store.
• 57:43
  SPEAKER_04: I think I made the joke to somebody just uh go to a Target, see what that's like.
• 57:47
  SPEAKER_04: You know what I mean?
• 57:47
  SPEAKER_04: How about pick an actual good store?
• 57:49
  SPEAKER_04: But the ranch dressing stuff, Plum, that's just disgusting.
• 57:52
  SPEAKER_04: They don't have, I'm sure they don't have that in their countries because it's just pure unhealthy garbage.
• 57:58
  SPEAKER_04: And only Americans would would do something like that.
• 58:00
  SPEAKER_04: I, you know, I hate ranch.
• 58:02
  SPEAKER_04: I can't stand it.
• 58:03
  SPEAKER_04: So the fact that they're taking this home is disgusting to me.
• 58:06
  SPEAKER_04: Those people should be caught at customs.
• 58:08
  SPEAKER_04: We can't let them don't let them fly with ranch.
• 58:10
  SPEAKER_04: Actually, if it if they're taking it away from our country, you know, that's fine with me.
• 58:14
  SPEAKER_04: Let's get it out.
• 58:15
  SPEAKER_04: You know, ship them out, ship them out.
• 58:17
  SPEAKER_01: That's what I was gonna say.
• 58:18
  SPEAKER_01: Good for you, bad for me.
• 58:19
  SPEAKER_01: As a ranch guy, there's probably a shortage now now that these uh these uh people have infiltrated our our country and have taken all our ranch from us.
• 58:28
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, actually, you're right.
• 58:30
  SPEAKER_04: Spin it the other way, take it all, take it all away.
• 58:33
  SPEAKER_04: And then lastly, the Japanese fans that are in Fort Worth just seeing actual like real-life cowboys, thinking to themselves, oh my god, these these exist, that's pretty funny as well.
• 58:43
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think the one was like, oh, Indiana Jones, like just any like stereotypical like cowboy or western like movie background was uh was funny.
• 58:52
  SPEAKER_01: So that was uh that was a good one.
• 58:54
  SPEAKER_04: Also, Blum, did you see this?
• 58:56
  SPEAKER_04: That countries across the world are just having a laugh at our expense.
• 59:03
  SPEAKER_04: They're t they're taking the piss out of us because of our lack of I would say any good soccer chants, soccer songs.
• 59:11
  SPEAKER_04: We we do a pretty piss-poor job, especially in comparison to these countries that have been playing football for hundreds of years or over a hundred years, where it's established and ingrained in their culture, their everyday life.
• 59:25
  SPEAKER_04: They come over here and they see us singing, I believe that we will win.
• 59:30
  SPEAKER_04: It's pretty embarrassing.
• 59:31
  SPEAKER_04: I have to say, hand up.
• 59:33
  SPEAKER_04: I will not in public be taking part in any of those chants because it's simply too embarrassing.
• 59:38
  SPEAKER_04: If I I couldn't imagine doing that in front of a fan from the Netherlands or a fan from Scotland in the Tartan Army, I I would never embarrass myself with a song of that sort.
• 59:48
  SPEAKER_01: I will say though, in our defense, we haven't had much to chant about.
• 59:52
  SPEAKER_01: So if things start to turn and we get better as a country on the field, then I think that's when we have to up our our chance and performance as fans off the field.
• 1:00:05
  SPEAKER_01: But until then, I feel like we deserve a pass a little bit because we've been chanting what these five letters, I believe we will win for seems like forever now, and every year it's just it's disappointment.
• 1:00:18
  SPEAKER_01: So hopefully things change.
• 1:00:19
  SPEAKER_04: Honestly, that's a good point.
• 1:00:20
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, let's let's win a few games.
• 1:00:23
  SPEAKER_04: This is the first time we've won back-to-back games in 96 years.
• 1:00:26
  SPEAKER_04: Let's win, let's win three in a row before we worry about the chance.
• 1:00:30
  SPEAKER_04: I guess that's a good way to look at it.
• 1:00:31
  SPEAKER_04: Agreed.
• 1:00:32
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, one one game at a time.
• 1:00:34
  SPEAKER_04: Bum, I think that's a good place to wrap up the show.
• 1:00:37
  SPEAKER_04: Before we go, do you have any travel plans for the summer?
• 1:00:40
  SPEAKER_04: Anything you're looking forward to?
• 1:00:42
  SPEAKER_04: I have I will quickly mention I did a little Appalachian Trail hike last weekend.
• 1:00:49
  SPEAKER_04: I had a wedding in North Georgia, which was a place I never expected to go, but it was absolutely great.
• 1:00:56
  SPEAKER_04: Honestly, 10 out of 10 experience.
• 1:00:58
  SPEAKER_04: I would never go there on my own, but because of the wedding, was kind of forced to and really enjoyed it.
• 1:01:03
  SPEAKER_04: The Appalachian Trail was great to hike.
• 1:01:04
  SPEAKER_04: It was in Deloniga, Georgia, which is a town in North Georgia.
• 1:01:07
  SPEAKER_04: We got some Georgia peaches.
• 1:01:09
  SPEAKER_04: Apparently, June is peak season.
• 1:01:10
  SPEAKER_04: Really like that.
• 1:01:12
  SPEAKER_04: But yeah, nothing but nothing but good reports.
• 1:01:14
  SPEAKER_04: I do enjoy a hike.
• 1:01:15
  SPEAKER_04: So anywhere I could get a nice open-air hike, especially at elevation like that, and it was a very scenic drive too, through the mountains of Appalachia.
• 1:01:24
  SPEAKER_04: So I'll give that a quick shout-out.
• 1:01:25
  SPEAKER_04: Anything on your end in the travel world.
• 1:01:29
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so for me, just in the peak summer months, just trips down the shore, uh, Jersey shore that is.
• 1:01:35
  SPEAKER_01: But um, as mentioned uh earlier in this episode, uh, do have plans in September uh to go over to Europe.
• 1:01:42
  SPEAKER_01: Uh doing three nights in London, then taking a train, three nights in Edinburgh.
• 1:01:47
  SPEAKER_01: So very excited about that.
• 1:01:49
  SPEAKER_01: Um again, first time in Europe, so it's a very long time in the making.
• 1:01:54
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so very excited for all of that and all those new uh new adventures over there.
• 1:01:59
  SPEAKER_04: I'm excited for you.
• 1:02:01
  SPEAKER_04: I wish I could live London again for the first time.
• 1:02:03
  SPEAKER_04: That that's uh that's gonna be awesome.
• 1:02:06
  SPEAKER_04: And I need to get my plans on the books to go to Edinburgh because that's uh I think that might be my second home.
• 1:02:11
  SPEAKER_04: I just need to make my way over there.
• 1:02:13
  SPEAKER_04: So I'm excited for you.
• 1:02:14
  SPEAKER_04: You have no choice but to go there now.
• 1:02:16
  SPEAKER_04: Like yes.
• 1:02:18
  SPEAKER_04: I mean I'm looking into trips like soon.
• 1:02:20
  SPEAKER_04: I think I need to strike while the iron's hot.
• 1:02:23
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you'd be a king over there.
• 1:02:25
  SPEAKER_01: How can you not?
• 1:02:27
  SPEAKER_04: Hopefully.
• 1:02:27
  SPEAKER_04: Hopefully, hopefully we can beat up the airport.
• 1:02:30
  unknown: Yeah.
• 1:02:32
  SPEAKER_04: That'd be great.
• 1:02:33
  SPEAKER_04: Uh hopefully we could beat Brazil and make it to the knockouts.
• 1:02:35
  SPEAKER_04: I'm more worried about the Scots than I am in the United States.
• 1:02:38
  SPEAKER_04: So that's where that's where we're at right now.
• 1:02:42
  SPEAKER_03: Go Scots, go.
• 1:02:44
  SPEAKER_01: Well, thank you as always for joining me.
• 1:02:47
  SPEAKER_01: It was a pleasure.
• 1:02:48
  SPEAKER_01: Of course, Sean.
• 1:02:48
  SPEAKER_01: Happy to be back on the pod.
• 1:02:50
  SPEAKER_01: And uh yeah, World Cup is uh in full swing.
• 1:02:54
  SPEAKER_01: So uh like I said, go USA and uh go Scotland.
• 1:02:58
  SPEAKER_04: Yes, and please go ahead and block off a little week on your calendar, the week leading up to the British Open, the the Open Championship, as they refer to it.
• 1:03:05
  SPEAKER_04: I need I need my golf expert ahead of time.
• 1:03:09
  SPEAKER_04: We can't fluff through another segment with two guys who don't know the sport.
• 1:03:13
  SPEAKER_04: So I appreciate you joining me as always, Blum.
• 1:03:16
  SPEAKER_04: Listeners, thank you all for tuning in.
• 1:03:18
  SPEAKER_04: I appreciate your listenership.
• 1:03:20
  SPEAKER_04: If you guys could go ahead, tell a friend, tell a friend.
• 1:03:22
  SPEAKER_04: I like to say that.
• 1:03:23
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• 1:03:29
  SPEAKER_04: That's always a nice little trick.
• 1:03:30
  SPEAKER_04: Check out the YouTube, we're pumping out content there and on TikTok.
• 1:03:33
  SPEAKER_04: So any support is appreciated.
• 1:03:35
  SPEAKER_04: Thank you all, and until next time, take care of the way.