Latest / The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon / Big 12 Hoops craziness, Tommy Birch talks Cyclones gymnastics, women's hoops & I-Cubs baseball

Transcript

Big 12 Hoops craziness, Tommy Birch talks Cyclones gymnastics, women's hoops & I-Cubs baseball · The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon

0:00
All right, good afternoon. Welcome, Miller and Condon on a
0:02
Wednesday. The Iowa Sports Radio Network,
0:05
Trent Condon and Ken Miller for the next couple of hours to talk
0:08
sports with you. Thank you for starting your
0:10
afternoon with us. Here's what's coming up on our
0:14
program. 25 minutes. Tommy Birch, a very busy Tommy
0:17
Birch. She's actually on his way to KC
0:19
as we speak. He will join us.
0:21
We will talk about the Big 12 women's tournament with Tommy
0:25
obviously leaning into the Iowa State angle of things.
0:29
That's part of it. Also, the gymnastics story,
0:31
which we have to talk about is it continues finger pointing
0:36
back and forth. So we'll get Tommy's take on all
0:38
of that. Maybe some Iowa Cub stuff as to
0:41
who he anticipates will be making their way through Des
0:44
Moines. Perhaps if all goes according to
0:46
plan on the way to Chicago into the show.
0:49
So Tommy Birch, our only guest in hour number one, then David
0:52
Kaplan will kick off the second hour of the show.
0:55
Chicago sports topics with KAPI. Look forward to catching up with
0:59
the cap man. And then finally, Dave Ullman,
1:02
who does the brackets site one more time.
1:05
TC bracketville.com. For Dave Ullman, we'll take a
1:09
look at the penultimate week, well, the final week of the
1:13
regular season before conference tournaments begin, but we'll get
1:15
his take. Dave Ullman's at 130.
1:18
Trent will make some picks. Circus Sports sponsor those and
1:21
way we will go. Big trade in the NFL as the Rams
1:24
and the Chiefs have done business.
1:25
Trent Mcduffey moves from the Chiefs.
1:28
It becomes a member of the Rams. The 29th pick in the first round
1:32
of the this year's draft. A couple other draft picks this
1:35
year as well in a third round for next year.
1:38
But the Rams enhanced their secondary.
1:41
Mcduffie is no longer a Chief and he was pretty good player.
1:44
He was. In that but you got to give up
1:46
something to get something and both teams seem happy with what
1:49
they have been able to do. And we're waiting for Max
1:51
Crosby. And we're waiting for Max Crosby
1:54
and waiting for some of these quarterbacks because the
1:56
quarterbacks, I think it's going to be fascinating to watch out,
1:58
see they play with Tua and without Kyler Murray, who's
2:01
going to be free. And he's there's certainly not
2:05
alone. Kirk Cousins going to be out
2:07
there. Where is is he going to find the
2:08
landing spot? Spencer Rattler in New Orleans.
2:11
There's a few of them that I'm anxious to see where they go,
2:15
but we'll see. Kyler Murray.
2:18
But back to Max Crosby for some. Yeah.
2:20
Then I do want to get to Kyler Murray.
2:22
Yeah. Max Crosby Trend.
2:23
It's it's it seems like, I mean, it's he's going to be traded.
2:26
It's just who and when. Did you check the markets this
2:30
morning? I didn't.
2:31
I didn't either. I meant to.
2:32
Damn it. DraftKings.
2:34
He was, you know, odds on to be headed to the Bears.
2:38
We'll see where that goes and if there's been any change
2:42
regarding his potential destination.
2:44
But the Bears, that would certainly be an upgrade at that
2:46
position. If you can bring Max Crosby over
2:49
and plunk him onto that line, they they're gonna need some
2:51
help on the offensive lines. There are centre Dahlman.
2:54
He's a hell of a player. Absolutely.
2:56
Was he the first free agent they signed last year from Atlanta?
2:59
I think he was their first. I think he was because they
3:02
tried to rebuild their offensive line last year and did a great
3:04
job. They did.
3:05
Yeah. Thuny from the Chiefs plugged
3:08
him in to play left guard. And Dahlman.
3:10
And now you'll need a centre, but apparently is a pretty good
3:12
centre draft. And former Hawkeye Tyler
3:15
Lindenbaum is still on the market, and he is free.
3:18
Not free. Free, yes, but he's a free
3:20
agent. I thought I saw something from
3:22
PFF earlier this morning that it was anticipated Baltimore is
3:25
going to do. It I would be surprised if they
3:27
don't resign. I'm surprised they got to this
3:28
I. Couldn't agree with you more.
3:30
I couldn't agree with you more. By the way, Baltimore one of two
3:32
teams that are odds on to win their division.
3:36
The divisional odds have come out from the NFL the the Ravens
3:41
in the AFC North. Who do you think the other one
3:45
is? To.
3:47
That's a minus favorite to. Minus favorite.
3:49
Yep. Is it the Eagles?
3:51
Nope. Not the Eagles.
3:53
No, Patriots. No, it's the Bills or the Bill.
3:57
Yeah, of course, yes, But the Patriots are second choice,
4:01
Chiefs, once again the favorite in the West, and then the
4:03
Chargers and then the Broncos, the third choice at plus 3:20.
4:07
So we will talk some NFL and obviously since we're here,
4:11
let's get the cut the Cutler Murray angle of things because I
4:16
don't think JJ McCarthy's going to be the quarterback in
4:19
Minnesota this year. I was dead wrong.
4:20
Obviously. I've eaten my crow on that one.
4:25
Does Tyler Murray make sense with the Vikings?
4:26
Are they are they if they get a quarterback and a is he average
4:32
or above Tyler Murray or Jerry's still out average but ceiling
4:38
not hit? Oh, absolutely.
4:39
Another another level there maybe?
4:41
I mean, think of the coaches that he's had, think of the
4:43
offensive coordinators that he had.
4:45
He's had a couple. They say, Oh yeah, that's a good
4:47
fit. But overall, it's been a lot of
4:49
shuffling. It's a terrible organization, as
4:51
we know. Yeah, him with a pro in KOC.
4:55
I would absolutely love that marriage.
4:56
I think it'd be as close to a home run as you're going to get.
4:59
Flores. Am I never going to get a head
5:01
coaching job? Starting to look like that,
5:02
doesn't it? Yeah, and they got, although he
5:04
got paid handsomely, yes to stay as the DC over.
5:07
There because there are a lot of teams that are happy to bring
5:09
him in as ADC, but as that litigation continues and until
5:12
there is some kind of settlement one way or the other, I think he
5:16
is persona non grata. They're just not going to go
5:18
that direction for him as a head coach.
5:20
And because of that, it's great news for the Vikings because you
5:22
have as good of ADC in today's environment that you're going to
5:25
find way that they tackle. They're so good.
5:28
That roster is still, I think, very, very solid at minimum.
5:32
And that sounds like Hawkinson's going to stay, apparently.
5:34
That was the report I saw this weekend.
5:38
Yeah, he's good. Yeah, Solid.
5:40
They're just solid all around. Yep.
5:42
And in that division, solid that division it's going to be.
5:45
Good. I think it's the best division
5:47
in football. Yeah, I do.
5:48
Top to bottom best division. One through 4, no.
5:50
Doubt Yep I mean the lions finished fourth look at the
5:53
lions schedule this year. They're going to get a lot of
5:55
love to represent the NFC all right let's go to college
5:58
basketball from yesterday I I just can't get over this Big 12.
6:01
I mean, what is going on here, right?
6:03
Just what do you think that No no really nothing to have to
6:06
watch tonight nothing that's going to be moved the needle
6:09
when Trent and I reconvene on on Tuesday or Wednesday rather at
6:14
noon. Well, then Kansas goes into
6:16
Arizona State and gets beat by 10A Kansas team, a Kansas team
6:19
that was out there head coach Bill Self as he was tossed in
6:23
the basketball game. It's just crazy.
6:25
The team's coming off a A game against Arizona.
6:30
I mean, Arizona State has won seven games now.
6:33
Five of those wins are against teams that played their last
6:38
game against Arizona. On the back half of that
6:40
doubleheader, it's nuts, yes. The physicality that Arizona
6:43
plays with, though, and it kind of makes.
6:45
So what does this mean? You bet.
6:46
Arizona State this week against Iowa State?
6:48
Well. You're going to be getting a ton
6:49
of points, at least according to the projected totals that are
6:51
out there. I think it was 15 when I looked
6:53
last night as a game was going on, just anticipating what it
6:56
was going to be. And I don't know, obviously
6:58
today, I'm sure that shifted at least a little bit.
6:59
But you're going to get a handful of points with the Sun
7:02
Devils. That was such an entertaining
7:04
game last night. I enjoyed it so much.
7:05
So I get home from Colin. High school hoops, watch that,
7:08
then watch Nebraska. UCLA last night.
7:11
That was another option or. Is it?
7:12
Is it, you say it was 1 1/2? Yeah, UCLA was favored by 1 1/2.
7:15
So a upset in the rankings but not in the points.
7:19
So I want to get back to that game, but let's finish off with
7:21
you what the with the Kansas Arizona State.
7:23
Game, and this is what I've been saying for the better part of
7:24
six weeks now. How can you trust Kansas?
7:26
You can't. No, absolutely not.
7:28
Yes, they're talented, right? It's not a talent thing, no.
7:31
One of my favorite moments, though, is when Self is walking
7:33
off the floor. Did you see?
7:34
No, I was watching The Jets. My jets are the black rocks at
7:37
that time. So as he's walking off the floor
7:39
after getting ejected and he's making his way to the tunnel to
7:41
go back to the locker room, whoever the operations person
7:45
was blew off the smoke. Oh no, it's great.
7:49
What did self do? He just got.
7:51
Blocked. You know I think he's a good
7:52
dude. I do too.
7:53
I think he's I think that like he's a rivalry with IO state
7:56
right there. You're gonna hate that you're
7:58
gonna hate your opposing your rivals head code not hate, but
8:01
sure you get you get my point. I think he's a good guy.
8:04
Yeah. He's yeah.
8:05
We don't have the same kind of rooting interest, the Cyclone
8:07
fans, but right, yeah, he's he's.
8:10
Difficult to hate. I agree.
8:12
That's a well put, well put. He's difficult to hate.
8:15
I think he's good for the game. I think he's good for the
8:17
conference. He's a good coach, he's a good
8:18
coach. I love watching secondary breaks
8:20
with Kansas. They just do it as well as
8:21
anybody, year after year after year.
8:23
I don't trust his team this year as far as I can throw him.
8:25
Absolutely not and you know Peterson last night there are a
8:27
couple of times just questionable shot decisions.
8:30
It was just an interesting game. But maybe my favorite part
8:32
outside itself in the smoke. Philadelphia that's so good.
8:35
I got to send you the video that was my wife goes what is going
8:40
on What what is back behind the basket.
8:44
It's the Arizona State curtain of whatever they call.
8:47
It that's priceless. So she'd never seen this before.
8:50
And so we went back, I showed her a clip.
8:52
There was a clip that game day did years ago.
8:54
They I think they're at Arizona State that had some of the best
8:56
ones, Michael Phelps coming out in a Speedo behind there.
9:00
Just so entertaining and seeing what they're doing back behind
9:03
the basket. So we got to relive that a
9:05
little bit as the game was going on.
9:06
And Arizona State, they just kept coming up time in time out
9:10
with with a response coupled with UCLA, then late night they
9:14
did. But Arizona State, that is a
9:16
team, they're a home team, right?
9:18
They have not done anything on the road.
9:20
I don't think you should be overly concerned if you're Iowa
9:22
State about this game, but college basketball in the big
9:25
well. Trend is there.
9:27
And it wasn't just that. I mean, TCU goes into Texas Tech
9:29
after what we saw at them at Hilton, a desperate TCU team and
9:34
not just hanging around. They win that game, UCF found.
9:37
Like we both really kind of think is that head of the next
9:40
tier type of? Thing and UCF loses at home to
9:43
Oklahoma State that have been going the wrong way for three
9:45
weeks they're playing some 111 points 11.
9:49
Where there was overtime but. West Virginia desperate for a
9:52
win, They lose at K State. He probably had to run the table
9:56
and win a couple in the Big 12 to be on the right side of the
9:58
bubble. They weren't able to get that
10:00
done. Cincinnati does, and they blow
10:02
up BYU. And what do we make out of BYU?
10:05
There's something wrong. I mean, obviously Saunders, but
10:08
he wasn't there for the Iowa State game and we saw what
10:11
happened. They haven't won since I they
10:13
beat Iowa State on that Saturday night late night.
10:16
I was going to say not for them for maybe for the old man in the
10:19
room. But yeah, this conference is
10:23
just bonkers. It really is.
10:25
So do you give so help me out with this.
10:27
I think I have this right. If Iowa State beats Arizona
10:30
State, yes. If K State beats Kansas, yes.
10:35
Iowa State gets the buy and don't have to play on Wednesday,
10:39
correct? Correct.
10:40
Yes, that is the scenario that is there for them.
10:43
So it's a rivalry game, it's K State, it's Kansas, it's in
10:51
Lawrence. That therein lies the rub.
10:56
But if that happens, they get the four seed, meaning Iowa
10:58
State wouldn't have to play the. Extra game, right?
11:01
Well, that's, it's the way it's set up, assuming Iowa State wins
11:05
on Wednesday and that's when we're on the air, I think, isn't
11:08
it? 11:30 Yes, well, they would play
11:13
Kansas again. Did I see your your.
11:15
My mind's moving. How am I going to get out of
11:17
this? Yes, I saw you over there.
11:20
Yeah, I saw it all right. So how am I going to be able to
11:22
get a Wednesday? Off but it'll be Wednesday and
11:25
then Thursday, yeah we get to the semi finals then it'll.
11:28
Be Thursday game is during the during our show as well.
11:31
Yes yeah. Good God.
11:32
So the Iowa State Kansas game, yeah, also 1130.
11:34
Tip off for that one. Weiner Didn't the one seed used
11:39
to play that early game. I don't remember you.
11:43
You could be right. There's just so many of these
11:45
tournaments run together. And thank God, it's such a fun
11:47
week. It is.
11:48
It's, you know, I've been the March Madness, the opening
11:51
weekend of the tournament a couple of times.
11:53
I've been to the conference tournament week once with you.
11:57
Yeah, we were at Circa. I enjoy the conference
12:01
tournament weekend or week more. There's more games.
12:04
There's more games. Yeah, there's more.
12:05
It's not as crazy. I think you know, if you're a
12:10
basketball fan on top of your bucket list, if you know, if you
12:13
have a bucket list and you like to travel and you like Vegas,
12:16
you have to get out there for the Thursday, Friday, Saturday
12:19
and maybe fly home or stay Sunday opening weekend of that
12:22
tournament. It's it's number one in your
12:23
list, but I'm not so sure that you should just overlook
12:28
completely what the week before means.
12:31
It's fascinating, it truly is. And we used to have a bunch of
12:34
tournaments there. Now we have the WCC that starts
12:37
this week. Yeah.
12:37
How many? So the PAC 12 obviously is gone.
12:39
Right. And that was the big one there.
12:41
But whack. Used to be there.
12:43
Still is. That's at the Orleans.
12:45
That'll be the 11th through the 14th and the mountain.
12:47
Green is bigger than I realized it is.
12:48
Yeah, it really is So. And where are the others?
12:51
The Mountain West is where. Thomas the Mac this year, that's
12:53
where they're going to be playing that one.
12:55
The WCC is also at the Orleans, but that * tomorrow.
12:59
So there's nothing going on at where do the Aces play?
13:01
I know it's a Mandalay Bay. What's the name of their
13:03
building? I can't remember.
13:04
I can't remember but nothing there.
13:06
Nothing outside of the yeah, the Division One conference.
13:08
Does T-Mobile get any of the finals?
13:10
They well Nets used to be where the PAC 12 was, but no they
13:13
don't. Just all those not.
13:14
In use at all? Well, well, it's, it's here.
13:17
It's a fun time of year, no doubt about it.
13:19
All right, so let's, let's talk about the Iowa State situation
13:23
again. I, I hate parachuting into
13:24
stories like this because we never talk about the program and
13:28
and so we're obviously not well versed other than what we read
13:31
or what we hear, what we try to glean.
13:34
It seems like obviously when a program shuts down, there's
13:36
going to be awful hard feelings, right?
13:38
It's a non revenue generating program.
13:43
On one hand, you get the business decision, right?
13:45
On the other hand, could the administration have done more?
13:51
I don't know the answer to that. I do know if I if the women that
13:54
participate in the sports are to believe to be believed.
13:57
Nobody ever came over. They were kind of on an island
14:00
by themselves or they never they couldn't pick Jamie Pollard out
14:02
of the line up as far as him being I should mention the
14:05
endowed. What is up with that by the way,
14:07
I have no idea does that I mean, if if you were the if you were
14:10
the AD and and you were somebody get this in here.
14:13
Wouldn't you just want to be Trent Condon?
14:16
I've endowed, yes, instead of endowed, Trent I.
14:19
Like God, I like to be well endowed, but that's a different
14:21
conversation. Sure.
14:23
I have no idea. It's like the the Moon family.
14:26
Head football coach at the University of Iowa, Kirk
14:28
Ferrance, right? No, he's just the football
14:30
coach, right? But it's Buddy, and they're all
14:32
searching for Buddy. But he But now when he's
14:34
whenever he's referenced in a press release or anything, he's
14:38
the endowed athletic director. No, he's not.
14:40
Well, maybe he is. He's Jamie Pollard.
14:42
He's Jamie Pollard, yeah. That'd drive me crazy.
14:45
Yeah. I do.
14:46
I'm old man, like yelling at clouds.
14:48
So back, back to where we were going originally.
14:50
Do what? What do you make?
14:51
What have you gleaned from this? It's a weird situation.
14:54
I mean, you start with that part of it.
14:56
It's just it's odd starting when we found out weeks ago that.
15:00
They were shutting it down, yeah.
15:02
Okay, what's going on there? Well, there was internal
15:04
problems apparently. Well, what were?
15:05
They we've heard about internal problems, though, with the
15:09
basketball program. Yeah, yeah.
15:11
Going back. Bryce Dejon Jones.
15:13
Yeah, no, that was it. And they didn't shut down the
15:16
program. Nope.
15:17
Well, it's a Renview generator. There you go, right, you said.
15:21
It I get, the business aspect of it I do, I get.
15:24
It that's what it is. It's an easy opportunity for a
15:26
dying sport, gymnastics. Now, if you listen to the former
15:30
coach, what's your name? KJ again didn't cover it, but
15:34
she's now at. Where is she at?
15:36
Oklahoma. Regardless, she called it the
15:38
fastest growing women's sport or one of I don't know if that's
15:42
true or not. I don't follow women's
15:44
gymnastics. I don't either.
15:46
I see sports that are being, I see gymnastics programs that
15:49
have been cut at the men's level.
15:50
I don't know how many there were.
15:51
At one point it was down to like 20.
15:54
It's. I do feel bad for the athletes,
15:56
of course. I feel terrible for them.
15:58
Now I will say that Iowa State doing the right thing here.
16:02
If they don't go to another program and continue to
16:05
participate in their sport, they're going to uphold the
16:09
scholarship. They're going to let them do
16:11
what all the other student athletes do.
16:12
All of those other privileges, you know, training table, those
16:15
type of things. They get to be part of all of
16:19
those health services, health services, everything that comes
16:22
with being a student athlete. You get to continue on with one
16:25
exception, you know the big one. You don't get to participate in
16:29
your sport. So give Iowa State credit for
16:31
that, but I just don't know enough about it as to who's at
16:34
fault. I think.
16:35
I think, like you said, probably took kind of the easy way out,
16:39
yeah. And we have a program that is
16:41
struggling, a program that loses money.
16:44
There's an opportunity. There's an opportunity to bring
16:45
in another program that might, you know, move the needle
16:48
somewhat, yes, in in a state that obviously wrestling means a
16:52
lot. So I get it on that end.
16:54
But I'm I'm way over the tips of my skis and I and I hate doing
16:58
this, but it's just, it's all over the news.
17:00
And we'll talk more about this with Birching, right?
17:03
He'll be able to fill in some of the gaps, and we certainly got
17:05
plenty of those on this front. You said it.
17:07
We always feel terrible for the athletes.
17:09
Doesn't matter. Going back when baseball's cut
17:11
at Iowa State, baseball was cut at you and I swimming programs
17:14
were a cunt, on and on and on. Yeah, it's awful for the student
17:17
athletes, but this is the era that we're in in college
17:20
athletics, and the spending has gotten out of control.
17:22
And you watch any basketball game and he got 20 idiots back
17:25
behind the bench. What are these guys doing?
17:27
Why do we need 20 staffers for a basketball game?
17:31
It's five on five basketball. And you got a staff of 2530
17:34
people. What are we doing on that front?
17:36
We got football Staffs, a balloon.
17:37
Football, men's basketball, They make money, but it's also some
17:40
of the other sports that don't generate money.
17:42
And he got this many people and this many administrators and on
17:46
and on and on. Look at the sports information
17:47
department. Look at all the hangers on in
17:50
college athletics. You wonder why they have a
17:52
financial crisis. Look inside.
17:54
Look at the number of people that are a part of it.
17:57
You want to trim some fat. You want to do things like that.
17:59
It absolutely can happen. The spending has gotten out of
18:02
control, and it happened because, well, it was a farce
18:05
for decades upon decades. They got to have that red.
18:08
Yeah. And that green got a balance,
18:10
and it's got a balance in the end.
18:12
So what do you do? We'll just go, Ken.
18:13
Ken, Ken, show the athletes that they were making money off of
18:16
their sweat on their back. So anyways, all right, we'll
18:20
talk to Tommy Birch more about that coming up here in about 5
18:22
minutes or so. He's making his way to Kansas
18:24
City. May be there.
18:25
The women. The Big 12 women's basketball
18:28
tournament begins. We'll talk to Birchie about
18:29
that. Iowa State's chances of making a
18:32
run in this thing. Look forward to doing that.
18:34
Then we'll head to Chicago in our number 2, David Kaplan in
18:37
his normal spot. Sponsored by our good friends at
18:41
Centurion Stone. Centurion Stone of Iowa, Let's
18:45
get Ben in here real quick. Ben, welcome to the program.
18:47
What's on your mind? Hey, how you doing?
18:50
Good. Hey, so my biggest I mean, I'm
18:54
not a lie, I'm not, I've never been a big Pollard fan.
18:56
He's just kind of rubbed me the wrong way all my like the whole
18:59
time. Fair disclosure.
19:00
Same here. Same here.
19:02
Yeah, I mean, I just, there's something about him.
19:04
He seems Weasley to me. The endowed thing.
19:06
I mean, this sounds like a, I don't know, you know, so self
19:10
absorbed type situation. I it was like, I'm not calling
19:13
myself that, you know, ridiculous like, and here's the
19:17
thing. He didn't even have the stones
19:19
to go tell the gymnastics gymnastic team himself.
19:23
He sent a staffer and associate to go do it.
19:26
And then he spent the time to make the video of the endowed
19:29
Jamie Pollard. So he can't even a stomach to be
19:33
a man to go there and do his job.
19:35
But he wants to, you know, because he wants to have the
19:37
flash and the flare, you know, the endowed Jamie Pollard, but
19:41
no greater. And also, aren't they below the
19:43
amount of sports sports that needed now got?
19:45
To be close, man, that's a great point.
19:47
They have to be close. They were.
19:48
They were on it. They were on a dead set.
19:50
They were at the minimum. Yeah.
19:53
Well, obviously there, well for the time being a you're probably
19:56
right Ben, if they were right on the the precipice and I don't
20:00
know, I'll take your word for it.
20:02
But now that they've, you know, disbanded the program, they
20:05
better get some something in there pretty quick.
20:07
Yeah. Hang on, I just I've been saying
20:10
it my whole time and I ever since then went back years ago
20:13
when he was on Twitter saying, Oh, we'll play anyone in the
20:17
country and all of a sudden in Florida AED like, hey, we'd love
20:20
to play. And then he just went cricket.
20:22
So like, oh, so you wanted the flash and the flare of, you
20:24
know, look at me on Twitter. But when you get called out on
20:27
it, Oh, no, never mind. Tell between my legs.
20:30
If you look at it, he's just got a history of this type of thing
20:32
where and he's only blaming other people.
20:34
He's never taken, you know, you know, taking accountability.
20:37
It's always someone else's fault and so it's only kind of during
20:41
me nuts about it. So that's it.
20:42
Thanks. 14 is the number of total sports that need to be
20:47
offered at 14. Wherever the double at now.
20:49
They are, they got 6 on the men's side and down to 9 now on
20:54
the women side. So they're still OK on that?
20:56
Above. Above water.
20:58
We'll see where it goes. Look, Jamie, Paul just done
21:00
great for IO state he has. And like Ben, he kind of rubs me
21:05
either, you know, he does rub me the wrong way.
21:07
But you, you can't knock what he's done.
21:09
You cannot knock the results. You remember what it was like.
21:12
Fuck yeah, it was awful. You showed up here terrible.
21:15
It was from the and it wasn't just the football product.
21:19
I I just said growing up, it just felt so different.
21:22
Although when they turn the corner football wise, I mean,
21:25
there was an error there. If I was either Stacy by the
21:28
McCartney, you're finally winning a bowl, finally getting
21:30
to a bowl game and then winning that bowl game.
21:33
Basketball was, you know, under your station was fantastic.
21:36
Obviously the Elite 8 appearance there were there were some highs
21:40
under Paul. He's done a great job.
21:41
I I can't knock the businessman, but there's certainly some.
21:47
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyways, we'll take your time
21:49
out. Tommy Birch is next.
21:51
Miller and Condon underway. Glad you're with us on the
21:53
Wednesday, Cappy. Still to come, our bracket guy,
21:56
bracketville.com. Dave Allman will join us about
21:59
1:30. It's the Iowa Sports Radio
22:01
Network. I'm Mary Congton, welcome back.
22:07
Coming up on 12:30 on a Wednesday.
22:10
Still to come this, well, not this hour.
22:12
Next hour, David Kaplan will join us.
22:15
Dave Ullman on the brackets, Tommy Birch, Des Moines
22:17
Register, headed down to Kansas City, women's tournament
22:20
underway today, Iowa State tomorrow.
22:24
They will play early evening. I want to say 530.
22:27
Tip off for Iowa State to be determined whoever wins the
22:30
game. We'll find out that opponent
22:33
later on today. But Tommy Birch, who's been
22:36
ahead of busy couple of days in preparation for the tournament
22:39
and then the gymnastics stuff hits the fan.
22:41
Tommy Trenton, Ken, thanks for coming on.
22:42
How are you, brother? Good and spring training going
22:46
on we got 5. We kept season, season opener
22:50
right around my corner. So this, it's a crazy time of
22:54
year. It's for my family, appreciates
22:57
I'm gone so much. Yeah, you know, I just saw
22:59
something since you open the door to talk a little baseball.
23:02
I'm going to walk right through it.
23:04
Moises by stairs apparently is catching for the Cubs today.
23:08
Cabrera's on the round, on the mound, rather they got over in
23:12
the trade, but by Esteros behind the plate.
23:15
I don't anticipating him being there very often, if ever,
23:18
during the regular season. But you've seen him catch before
23:21
and that was kind of always great hitter, can't play,
23:25
doesn't really have a position other than DH.
23:28
What? What are the Cubs trying to do,
23:29
do you think, Tommy? I think just give him some
23:32
experience, give him some reps and see if that's something that
23:35
they can develop into a catcher. You know, the thing that they've
23:39
always kind of said, and, you know, I think there's a lot of
23:42
value to it, is that, you know, Bally is such a young guy.
23:45
And part of the reason why I think we tend to forget is he
23:48
rapidly rose through the minor leagues because his bat was so
23:52
elite. And when you're so good at one
23:55
part, when you're so good at one part of your game, and then
23:59
naturally people are going to think, OK, that other part
24:02
should be up to speed. And catching is in one of the
24:05
most difficult positions and all baseball and takes a lot of
24:08
time, a lot of experience and a lot of reps to master.
24:11
And he just hasn't had them. So, you know, I don't think, you
24:15
know, they're obviously not ready to give up on that part of
24:19
his game. You know, there's still a
24:20
tremendous amount of work that has got to go into it.
24:24
But, you know, the idea is that that bat is ready right now.
24:28
So they got to find a place for him to play.
24:31
Does that mean first base? Does that mean, you know, being
24:35
an emergency catcher or ADH? The only thing part of the
24:39
problem when it comes to Biasteros is if you kind of put
24:43
him in that role as ADH, Like there's going to be a lot of
24:47
concerns about the idea that he's not going to be a guy
24:49
that's going to hit 4050 home runs or even 30 home runs.
24:54
And that's what you kind of want from your DH.
24:56
But he is going to hit for average, he's going to get on
24:59
base and he is going to crank a ton of double S.
25:03
So he's definitely a service possible DH and he he's going to
25:07
be a tremendous hitter at the big league level.
25:10
It's finding that that spot for him that is going to be the
25:13
challenge. At this point in his career, we
25:16
know catchers. I mean, I go back and and think
25:18
of the guys that have been thrust in emergency roll as a
25:20
catcher and it's a disaster at the Major League level.
25:23
Is there any hope at all? I mean, we talk in like 5%
25:26
chance that even he could be a guy that you roll out there once
25:29
a week as a catcher. Sure.
25:32
Yeah, I mean, I I mean Kyle Schwarber caught have one point.
25:37
So if if he can do it, I I think Biasteros can do it.
25:42
And in because Biasteros is so young too that there there is
25:46
that potential. And he you know, he's not he's
25:49
not that athlete. You know, you look at Biasteros
25:52
and you think like, OK, that guy is not the world's greatest
25:55
athlete, but he can get around. And it was a smart guy and you
25:58
know, there is that that ability in there.
26:01
But, you know, for all intense purposes, from everything I've
26:05
seen, from what I've heard from other people that, you know,
26:09
evaluate catchers, they're just doesn't appear to be, you know,
26:14
a full time job for him on the horizon being a catcher.
26:18
And I would say him playing first base too, would seem a bit
26:21
of a stretch from from what I've seen.
26:24
But the saving grace is he is still really young.
26:27
He hasn't gotten that many reps And you know there, there's
26:31
still time to see what you have in there.
26:34
Yeah, somebody just sent me a text wondering if Carson Kelly
26:36
or Meyer part of the World Baseball Classic, and I don't
26:38
know the answer to that, but that could have something to do
26:41
with it as well. Well, Tommy, let's talk about
26:45
what you're going to see and who you're going to see.
26:48
Of everyone that may make their way through Des Moines this
26:51
year, who do you think has the most potential to have a really
26:56
impactful Major League career? Hopefully with the Cubs, but
26:59
obviously we know things can change there.
27:01
Would it be Wiggins? The Who they can't wait to see
27:05
on the bump? Give me a name or two that will
27:08
make their way through Des Moines that might might end up
27:12
being more than just a serviceable major leaguer.
27:15
Yeah. I mean, I think naturally, I
27:17
think a lot of people are going to, you know, gravitate towards
27:20
kind of the big names of like by Pharaohs, who, you know, he won,
27:24
He's got to go out and hit during spring training, which I
27:26
think he will. And if he does that, he earns
27:28
the job and we never see him again.
27:30
But then the other name is Jackson Wiggins being the top
27:34
pitching prospect in the system, the top 150 guy in all minor
27:37
League Baseball who really isn't pitched that much because he's
27:41
been dinged up. And when he got here last year,
27:43
he was on a really tight pitch count.
27:45
So he he is tremendously interesting with incredible
27:50
upside. The problem with Wiggins is
27:52
everybody wants to say like always going to be under kind of
27:55
this the same, you know, timeline is Kate Horton.
28:00
I just don't see how that is even possible giving all the
28:03
pitching that Chicago has right now.
28:06
So I think you're going to see a lot of Jackson Wiggins and I
28:09
would this season, which is a good thing because he's only,
28:13
you know, got a handful of innings here.
28:14
And I think everybody is going to think about Kevin L Contra,
28:18
you know, he'll probably start here.
28:20
But to me, one of the names that I really think about that he's
28:23
still a prospect in the Cubs system.
28:25
He's not a top 150 guy now, but he played here part of last
28:29
season is James Triantos. I mean, that guy has got bodes
28:34
of talent. He can play second, can play
28:36
short. You know, I think he can play
28:38
third. He played some of the outfield
28:39
too, but he's a base stealing machine.
28:42
He's got some pop in the bat and you know, he he was a guy that
28:47
was just hurt so much last year, but two years ago he came up at
28:51
the end of the year when Sean Alcantra came up at the very end
28:55
of the year and he was absolutely amazing.
28:58
So I think a lot of people are kind of sleeping on him because
29:01
he struggled so much when when he was healthy last year, but he
29:04
wasn't healthy very much. So I think he could have a huge
29:08
year and he could be an impactful guy for for the Cubs,
29:12
especially, you know, if they end up letting me, Nico Horner
29:16
walk out the front door, you know, they're going to have
29:18
options at second or, you know, however they, you know, go about
29:22
filling that void. But James Triantos could be a
29:25
guy and I think somebody that they value because he has a lot
29:30
of the intangibles that Nico Horner has.
29:33
Definitely not the Gold Glove ability that Nico has.
29:36
I mean, that's a whole whole other level.
29:39
But I think what they really love is things got a little bit
29:41
more pop than Nico, So he's going to be a fun one to watch
29:45
if he can stay healthy. Bert, you want to ask you about
29:48
Jonathan Long? Couple of games I went to last
29:50
year, he really popped. Now he's not a big guy for a
29:52
first baseman. I know he played a little bit of
29:54
third, but what is his role? He's still 24 years old.
29:57
They're entrenched with Bush at first base and now Bregman over
30:00
at 3rd. Is he a guy though that down the
30:03
line? Is that what he is, kind of a
30:04
bench piece? He'll fill in at a couple of
30:06
different spots. Or do you see more upside for
30:08
Jonathan Long? I mean, I think what you saw in
30:12
AAA is certainly scratches of the potential we could do at the
30:16
big league level of, you know, he got hurt early in spring
30:20
training doing with that wrist injury on an errant throw when
30:24
he was playing first base. So that's really, you know,
30:27
dampened his spring training because they keep winning to
30:30
spring training this year with the idea that like, if I go out
30:33
and hit, I do well, I could never won those bench spots
30:36
because look, they're going to let Michael Bush hit against
30:39
lefties a little bit more this season.
30:41
But there is going to be that possibility where they could use
30:44
a guy like Jonathan Log. But you know, where Jonathan Log
30:48
kind of gets lost in the shuffle is the fact that, you know, he's
30:53
playing first base. He's got a hit for some power.
30:55
He's not going to hit for a ton of power.
30:57
He's not going to hit for the prototypical power that you want
31:02
out of a first baseman. But you know, I think he's kind
31:06
of along the lines of a, you know what we're talking about
31:09
when it comes to Moises by Ceros.
31:11
He's a guy that hits. He'll get on base, he'll put up
31:15
great numbers, but they're not going to be gigantic power
31:19
numbers and he's not going to be an elite defender by any means.
31:22
Things really kind of limited to that first base role.
31:25
They play him in the outfield a little bit.
31:27
Last season it wasn't great. I think he could be serviceable
31:31
out there, but I I have a really hard time finding where he's
31:36
going to have a role in this organization.
31:38
I know we impressed a lot of people last year and possibly
31:41
put himself on the on the verge of a call up at one point last
31:45
season. But you know, he, he's just an
31:48
odd man out right now. And that's that's really tough
31:51
given, you know, the numbers he put up.
31:54
Honestly I'm really surprised they didn't trade him during the
31:56
offseason because his value after what he did last season
32:00
was probably as high as it's ever going to be.
32:04
Let's talk about the gymnastics. I do want to get to the Iowa
32:06
State women's basketball, which are down in the Kansas City for
32:08
the Big 12 tournament. But but this is quite a story,
32:11
Tommy. It started, it really didn't
32:13
move the needle that they were shutting down for the remainder
32:15
of the year. For some, I think was internal
32:19
issues, etcetera, etcetera. But but now the program has been
32:23
disbanded. It's going away.
32:26
That announcement was made yesterday by endowed Iowa State
32:30
athletic director Jamie Pollard. What what's, what is, what's
32:35
going on internally, the conflicts with we keep reading
32:38
about, hearing about, but yet really don't know anything
32:41
about. Have you been able to come up
32:43
with what's going on inside the program at all, Tommy?
32:47
Yeah, we've definitely gotten rumblings and they're certainly
32:50
whispers throughout online. But you know, my gathering and
32:55
understanding of the situation is it doesn't just stem from 1
32:59
certain thing, it stems from a combination of of conflicts and
33:03
involving, you know, the coaches, the athletes and even
33:07
the parents getting involved. So I don't think it it just
33:10
stems from, you know, this happened on this certain day and
33:15
this set it off. It was just in, you know, as
33:18
Jamie Pollard, you know, mentioned in his video statement
33:22
yesterday, this not the first time he he has had concerns
33:26
about what's going on within the program.
33:28
They ran investigation in eighteen 2023 as well.
33:33
And I think just a combination of, well, I know the combination
33:38
of those past experiences and what they were going, what they
33:41
were dealing with right now just made them say, look, enough is
33:45
enough. And it's, it's definitely, it's
33:49
definitely wild to think that it's gotten to this point
33:51
because, you know, realistically, it wasn't that
33:54
long ago. I mean, I was in college, I
33:57
went, I was saying when I was in college, they had one of the
34:00
best gymnastics programs, you know, in the nation going to the
34:04
Super 6. And, you know, so they, they
34:07
have experienced, they have success.
34:10
But ever since KJ Kendler ended up going to Oklahoma, you know,
34:15
they just haven't been able to get the right coaching staff in
34:17
there and get the right gymnasts and have the, you know, perfect
34:21
amount of success. But it was a program that that
34:25
had success and appeared headed in the right direction at one
34:29
point. And now, now there's not going
34:31
to exist anymore. With that, what is the
34:35
replacement? I mean, wrestling I think is
34:37
where a lot of people's minds went.
34:39
If you're looking at a replacement, there's other ideas
34:41
that are out there. What do you think makes the most
34:43
sense for Iowa State? Yeah, I mean, obviously women's
34:48
wrestling has been at the forefront of the conversation
34:51
even before this announcement yesterday.
34:53
I mean, I think people were already kind of pushing for it
34:56
to go in that direction, at least from the fans.
34:59
And, you know, that that seems like a logical solution given
35:03
the success of, you know, the the Iowa women's wrestling
35:07
program, the success of high school wrestling, girls
35:11
wrestling in the state. And then just the idea that,
35:14
hey, the state of Iowa, at least for a long time, has always been
35:18
one of the hotbeds when it comes to wrestling.
35:22
So that seems like a logical choice.
35:24
I know we've seen schools like Nebraska that picked up fight
35:29
football for women. That's kind of gaining some
35:31
momentum. So I mean, The thing is, no
35:34
matter what, it's it's going to be a challenge.
35:37
You're talking about starting a program off the ground where you
35:40
got to find athletes, you got to find coaches, you got to find
35:42
equipment and you got to find a place to participate and all
35:46
that. So there, there's some major
35:49
hurdles that have to be, you know, overcome before you just
35:54
get in and say, hey, we're starting woman's wrestling here,
35:57
we're starting a flag football here.
36:00
So it's going to be interesting to see, but I can't imagine
36:06
outside of, you know, there's always been this push for, you
36:09
know, I would say to bring back baseball.
36:11
And obviously that we're talking apples, oranges because it's the
36:15
male that's the male sport there.
36:16
But outside of like the fan pushback, I think that's like a
36:21
niche audience of people wanting Iowa State to bring back
36:25
baseball. I'm guessing I, I, I can't
36:28
imagine there has been another sport that has been pushed for
36:32
more in the last five or six years than women's wrestling.
36:36
Tommy, last thing on this and into the women's basketball
36:39
trend, if you're good with this facilities wise, Tommy, when it
36:41
comes to the gymnastics, hear a lot about the inadequate falling
36:45
behind a facility for the women's gymnastic program.
36:49
Do you know anything about that? Is that legitimate?
36:52
Apparently it wasn't even air conditioned.
36:54
Maybe if I'm to believe what I read and I shouldn't.
36:57
And and then what to what is the, what will become of that
37:01
facility once the program I guess as of now is disbanded,
37:05
you know? Sure, A couple of things.
37:08
One, a lot of the people I've talked to that were involved
37:11
with the program in the past and that kind of followed the
37:13
program from afar have have kind of voiced those concerns that
37:17
hey, you know, gymnastics just did not seem like a priority tie
37:22
with state. And and what they kind of point
37:25
the finger at is the the facilities and, you know, the
37:29
equipment and the things that were provided that just don't
37:33
seem like they're as Ruddy readily available as they are at
37:38
some of the other, you know, top programs or what you would even
37:41
expect to to have out of a, you know, a major college, you know,
37:46
gymnastics program. As for buyer hall, that's that's
37:49
still going to exist. That's where I believe the Iowa
37:52
State swimming team competes. They do a lot of other type
37:56
events there. And let's be honest, if I would
38:00
say does end up going down the women's wrestling Rd., Could
38:05
that that be, you know, I've heard no whispers, but the
38:09
logical conclusion I think you could come to is could that be
38:13
transformed into a a facility for them?
38:16
You know, I think the other big question too, is like, man, Iowa
38:20
State just recently abandoned the project for the men's
38:25
wrestling facility. So, you know, does that come in
38:30
play too? You know, there's so many
38:31
different angles and and questions that still need to
38:36
probably be answered before we know where they're going to go
38:39
moving forward. Over to women's basketball, they
38:42
await the winner of Arizona, Arizona State for tonight as the
38:46
Twister sisters will get a team that they beat either by 25 or
38:49
26 earlier this season. Those were the two wins out of
38:52
the teams from doubted Arizona. Doesn't feel like much of A
38:55
hiccup there, but a seven seed? An extra game?
38:57
What about the path for them? Do you like the path that they'd
39:00
have to take to make a deep run down in Casey?
39:04
I mean, I think no matter how you laid it out, it was going to
39:07
be a difficult path. I think this pride the, the
39:10
lesser 2 evils for Iowa State, you know, I think Bill Friendly
39:16
summed it up accurately and I, I think he's 100% true when he
39:21
says this, you know, I would say is fully capable of beating
39:24
anybody in the Big 12. You know, they were seemed to
39:27
had TCU on the ropes on the road.
39:31
They had TCU beat, they were up by 13 with 7 minutes to play and
39:36
they were a basket or two away from sweeping the leg and they
39:40
just could not finish it off. On the flip side, I would say is
39:44
certainly a team that can lose to anybody.
39:46
You know, they lost to, you know, Cincinnati, you know, when
39:49
and now, granted, that was during that rough patch where I
39:52
would say didn't have any Brown Ariana Jackson, but I think the
39:56
sentiment still exists for, you know, on any given Iowa State
40:00
can win and could lose. So obviously the first match up,
40:05
I think, you know, bodes well for Iowa State, either Arizona
40:09
or Arizona State, I think are certainly kind of those notch
40:13
below them type of opponents. But after that, it's it's
40:18
probably a toss up for Iowa State.
40:19
The good thing for the Cyclones moving forward is, you know, I I
40:24
think, you know, at this point they're set.
40:26
They are in NCAA. Tournament to me, the only way
40:30
they end up getting back on the bubble is if they lose Thursday
40:34
night, which even that might not be enough, but they are a team
40:38
that could make a run to the championship game or they could
40:42
lose Thursday or Friday. So it's it's it's been
40:46
incredibly stressful if you're a nice state women's basketball
40:50
team because you you never know what you're going to get on a
40:53
given night from this team. Last thing for me, Tommy, and I
40:56
know that you don't have the answer to this because as Bill
40:58
Fanley hasn't made it clear yet, but it seems like.
41:00
My favorite question, right? Doesn't it seem like and he's
41:05
been there a long time. He's been there a long time.
41:07
Nobody's pushing him out the door, but everything has to end
41:10
at some point. This group that that means so
41:13
much to Iowa State women's basketball fans that are
41:15
currently wearing their uniform. They're for the most part
41:18
seniors next year, right? Doesn't that seem like a a
41:22
pretty good stepping off point? If there been any whispers,
41:25
rumors along that next year might be the the end of an of an
41:30
unbelievable era, quite frankly, with Bill Fenley and Iowa State
41:32
women's basketball. Yeah, I mean, he actually
41:36
brought up retirement at the end of the season last year when
41:40
they lost in the NCAA Tournament.
41:43
So, you know, it's certainly on his mind and he doesn't shy away
41:46
from the idea that he's on the back nine and pride playing the
41:49
last 3-4, whatever holes of of his coaching career.
41:53
But you know, The funny thing is he had always told me like when
41:57
Bridget Carlton came and I was saying he was like, well, I want
42:00
to see Brittany and Ashley came and he was like, I want to see
42:03
Ashley through. And I think, you know, I there
42:07
there's always been that sentiment that he wants to see
42:09
Audie through too. And you know, you just never
42:13
know when it ends, you know, could could it turn into, oh, I
42:17
want to see Jada Williams, Sir. You know, obviously she's on the
42:20
same timeline as Zaddy Brown and Crooks, but there there's always
42:25
going to be a player that you want to see through.
42:28
And I think how this season, you know, ends up going at a certain
42:32
time will will play certainly a big factor.
42:35
But you know, he he has talked a lot about how much he's enjoyed
42:39
being around this team despite, you know, the inconsistencies
42:43
and and the struggles and and the hardships that they've dealt
42:46
with. He, he's been in a tremendous
42:49
mood and seems incredibly energized to, to coach them.
42:55
So it's, it's really hard for me to, to kind of pinpoint when
43:00
that day may come. But the fact that he's not
43:02
shying away from it, certainly, you certainly know it's coming
43:07
sooner than later. Yeah, utmost respect for Bill
43:09
Finley Stood the test of time, no doubt about it.
43:11
Good stuff, Tommy Birch, thanks for coming on.
43:13
Appreciate. We'll talk to you in the weeks
43:14
ahead, Tommy. Thank you.
43:17
Thanks guys. Good to talk to you, Tommy
43:18
Birch, Des Moines Register. We'll take a time.
43:20
I'll come back, finish up the hour.
43:22
By the way, if you want to go see Iowa, Michigan Doctor
43:24
Fullers tickets, caller number one right now, 515-284-5966.
43:29
Iowa, Michigan, you have to pick them up in person.
43:32
Caller one right now, 515-284-5966 Hi, Mallory Condon,
43:37
welcome back. Jeff Musselman won the tickets
43:39
to the Michigan game should tell you Doctor Stephen Fuller a
43:42
couple of locations, Fuller Dental fullerdental.net online,
43:46
2822 E 29th St. in Des Moines and on 8th St. in Altoona, Five
43:51
O 9 8th St. SE in Altoona.
43:54
That will do it for Doctor Fuller's football tickets and
43:56
basketball tickets and we're grateful to him for making those
44:00
available throughout both seasons.
44:03
So thank you Doctor Fuller for the tickets.
44:05
The final ones are are distributed.
44:08
So tomorrow night Michigan will be how big of a favorite Huge
44:13
1514119. Let's see what would be Ken
44:17
Palm. Bring that back up.
44:19
I just closed Ken Palm. I don't know why I even closed
44:21
it. I need to keep that open all the
44:22
time. Projected points spread 8.
44:25
Oh, so it's not as big as it was early in the week?
44:27
I think so, I think. Didn't you say 9 1/2?
44:29
I thought you said. I think it was.
44:30
Nine. Yeah.
44:31
All right. Well.
44:33
The bubble is helping Iowa. Many of these bubble teams
44:37
continue to lose, and for the angst and the concern and oh
44:41
boy, they're going to fall out. No, they're not.
44:43
They don't deserve to be a tournament.
44:44
Take a look at the team slow to them.
44:46
I I counted it up on Sunday. There would be thirteen teams at
44:50
bracket Matrix that would have to pass them in order for them
44:53
to miss. Now there might be a couple bid
44:55
Steelers out there. It's going to happen, right?
44:57
Maybe somebody ran them out of the Mountain West.
44:59
We've seen that happen before. There's going to be a team that
45:00
plays that number. Will not approach 13.
45:02
It's not going to be 13, even 12.
45:07
Does Miami have to win their tournament with their strength
45:10
to schedule? I didn't realize it's as bad as
45:11
it was. One combined Quad 1 and Quad 2
45:15
game on the resume. I mean it's it's like 325 out of
45:19
347. Like it's that bad.
45:21
Ken Palm, by the way, has the RedHawks ranked 89th in the
45:25
country. There you go.
45:28
David Kaplan kicks off our number 2 off to Chicago, Miller
45:31
and Condon on the Iowa Sports Radio Network.