Latest / The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon / Miller and Condon 8-1-25 Hour 2

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Miller and Condon 8-1-25 Hour 2 · The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon

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Miller Condon, welcome back our number 2 Iowa sports Radio
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network. Wherever you're listening in the
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state of Iowa, grateful that you are.
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Appreciate you being with me. Coming up toward the bottom of
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the hour, Eugene Repay covers Iowa State.
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There training camp underway, fall camp underway.
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We'll get the latest couple of the assistant coaches met,
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position coaches met yesterday with the media.
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So we'll pick Eugene's brain on what he hears.
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Let's go to Las Vegas. He's the VP of operations at
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Circus Sports. He joins me in his regular spot
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here on Friday. Mike, Ken, good to talk to you.
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How was your week? Good.
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I I think this NB MLB trade deadline is like more
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interesting than the NFL draft. Even I I find it to be great.
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I know they only played three. Games yesterday, Maybe they
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shouldn't play any. Yeah, maybe that's it should be
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a day off because so many people are moving.
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I mean, one guy goes from the race to the Yankees in the 7th
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inning right across the field. But I was fascinated with the
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the the the final 48 hours before the deadline hit at 5
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Central yesterday. I don't recall the Major League
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trade deadline being as this enthralling as it was yesterday.
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And I don't know if you know, they threatened work stoppage at
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27, maybe predicated some of those moves, owners getting out
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of contracts, but whatever. It was bananas and I loved
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watching it. So when it when it comes to
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that, Mike, I mean, did the markets react in any positive
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way to I mean, the Padres I think got significantly better.
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Did you guys have to lower some numbers based on the trade
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deadline yesterday? We had the Padres 7 to 1 to win
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the NL West. And off the move, we moved them
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to 6:50 and then they got bet down right now to plus 575.
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That's the most significant movement by far of any team.
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The Phillies of the Mets take down a few points for National
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League and World Series, but nothing as significant as the
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Padres. How about in the American
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League? Seems like teams in the West,
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and it's going to be a hell of a battle between the Astros,
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Mariners and Rangers. I really believe that those
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three teams are just going to great dog fight.
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How about any of those? Any market movement in the West?
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Not really. Both Seattle and Houston came,
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lowered their eyes a little bit. For America, the American League
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is fascinating. The Tigers I think are plus 3:40
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and then you've got the Yankees, Blue Jays, Astros and Mariners
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all like on the next line and between 470 and five to one
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right. It's really, really wide open.
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It would see. Do you like the Tigers?
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I don't. I don't either.
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I just can't trust anybody but Scopal and I like Reese Olson.
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Flaherty's way past his prime. I don't know what you can count
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on him. I remember the Dodgers started
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Yamamoto over him last year and traded to get Flaherty.
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I just, and I don't know if they made significant, I don't know
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the pat what does Paddock do? But to me, like the Cubs, what,
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what does the Roca do? I'd rather have Javier Assad
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back. I would too.
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Coming back soon off his work in in Iowa.
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So Roca doesn't do anything for me.
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So it's amazing the Cubs and Brewers really sort of stood
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past. Yeah, I just wondered if if the
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Cubs get to a Game 3 and that would mean they get through the
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wild card or don't, that they're who's going to start game three.
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Might it be Kate Horton at this point?
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I think it has to be. I think that that at that point
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they will trust that he's had enough experience.
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I mean, this guy was their number 1 prospect.
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I think it actually is on a tight.
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Leash, but I think it has to be Kate Hort.
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Yeah, What about the Twins? Have you ever seen anything like
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this, Mike? And you know, at at the end of
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the day, might they be doing the right thing?
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I mean, the, the the team is for sale.
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They got a lot of I think they did OK as far as some of the
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prospects now they got nothing for Korea.
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They got a 26 year old left-handed pitcher still in
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high a ball so he'll never make it.
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That was just, you know, getting rid of some cash off the books.
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But they did bring in some guys, some young guys that may or may
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not develop. What about the Twins?
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What's your take away and what they did yesterday?
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I. Mean it's criminal what these
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chief Co lads did to this organization.
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I in a vacuum I agree with the Korea deal.
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He's not worth that much money and you got all that payroll off
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the next two Korea can't hit anymore he's injured he's
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wounded the one thing he does is play great shortstop.
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He's going to play third base in Houston right.
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I totally agree with Korea. The rest of it is absolute
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treason. It's a sabotage of the franchise
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10. This is a bottom 10 farm system.
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It's not like they have a top five farm system and they're
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going to bring all these kids up together like they did 83
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through and made the run in 87 and won a World Series with a
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bunch of young players. That's not it.
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It's a bad farm system and you got nothing.
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All right, let's go through it. They trade the ran to Philly but
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didn't get the player they wanted the number one prospect
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from Philly. Now they loot the whole bullpit
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Hall of May they they they looted Stewart Barland Dominic.
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They trade their whole bullpen. The the thing that's the most
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head scratching to me is Griffin Jacks.
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I think Griffin Jacks is a top three eighth inning guy, right?
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What they got toz Bradley. Are you kidding me?
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Toz Bradley for Griffin Jacks and they and they take and they
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and traded to the Dodgers. You couldn't tell me they could
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have got a better deal from the Dodgers for Jax who was looking
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for a reliever. This is these cheap Poland
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submarining this organization for at least half of a decade
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and maybe a decade. It's absolutely criminal what
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they did. And how do you not take and bet
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Cleveland at minus $1.17? Tonight they told Joe Ryan to go
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get his play on a plane to Boston.
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He was traded and 30 minutes later, they call him and say it
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fell through. You're on the plane to Cleveland
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and you're starting tomorrow with the AAA lineup.
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I'd walk Boston intentionally every time.
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And how's his team going to score three runs?
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Yeah, no, they're not. It's going to be a man could you
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imagine being trying to sell tickets to that disaster for the
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rest of the year based on Commission there'll.
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Be nobody at Target. There'll be.
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Nobody at Target the rest of the year.
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It's a disgrace. And the president, the GM, they
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should all go out and be done from baseball.
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Yeah, and they've already said that Rocco Bell Dolly is coming
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back. You know what that looks like to
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me that they want to pin this on the next owner that we're not
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going to buy him out, we're going to keep him here.
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So when you fire him, you can pay the whatever's left on his
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contract. Just embarrassing organization.
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All right, let's let's spend a minute on Brett Musburger who
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obviously is in Las Vegas, is the voice of V scene, does a lot
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of the V scene bumps etcetera. Long overdue, long overdue and
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his time with the NFL, the NFL, not the NFL Network, NFL today
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was appointment TV, right? We never seen anything like that
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along with the panel that that they had the Irv Cross and
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Phyllis George and Jane Kennedy. When Phyllis George left, of
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course, Jimmy, the Greek, etcetera.
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That was that was groundbreaking TV back in the day.
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Mike, why did it take so long for Musburger to finally get the
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call to the Hall of Fame? Because he wasn't an NFL play by
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play guy. Yeah.
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He. College and mad and he wasn't
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all right. He was at a college play by play
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guy football. I remember football and then he
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transitioned to basketball, right?
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But he wasn't a play by play guy.
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So they never had a studio guy in and really it was Dan Patrick
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that pushed this. And I thought it was a really
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poignant 2 1/2 minutes. He was with Maria Taylor.
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Last night. And I'm surprised at you, Kenny,
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when you listed because you know, he listed.
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He's just bad that Irvin and and and Phyllis George and Jimmy the
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Greek weren't won't be there on Saturday to be with him.
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And I know you mentioned Jane Kennedy.
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How about Charles E Canty? Yes, we.
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Talked about Charles E Canty, who filled in for the year when
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Phyllis George was having her baby.
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I mean, she filled in for a season, of course.
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A great a great cover of horse race.
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Yep, Yep. Chelsea Candy now Chelsea Candy,
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78, and Jane Kennedy, 73. Perhaps they'll be there on
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Saturday for Brit. I thought it was terrific.
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I thought it was terrific when he went up in the booth.
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And they had one of his best friends, Dick, for Neil and Dan
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Fouts, who I thought was his best partner in college
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football, on the sidelines talking about Waterboy.
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I ran into Dan Fouts at a Dodgers Padres playoff game a
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couple years ago, not last year, but a few years ago.
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And we met in a Padres suite and I spent 45 minutes talking to
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Fouts just about Brent. It was pretty amazing, all the
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stories he had. But congratulations to Brent.
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He still got it. He, he, you know, I don't know
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how many shows he'll do for me, said Honestly.
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He's not committing to every Sunday.
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I don't know how many he'll do. And you know, he and he's in
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Montana with Arlene, who's had some health problems, his wife,
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but he's still at the top of his game in terms of preparation.
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He doesn't forget anything. It's really amazing.
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And I was blessed to have, through my association with
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Derek, the ability to work with Brent.
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No Fascinating guy. Did you think it?
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I've seen some people that believe this.
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I don't know if I'm one of them. In fact, I know I'm not, but
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think it was his, you know, his working in the point spreader.
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Our friends in the desert before the NFL and college football and
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and the sports world in the country quite frankly, kind of
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embrace sports wagering that that hurt him as far as keeping
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him out of the Hall of Fame. Do you believe that?
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I don't know if it that or if some of the things he said might
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have been considered politically correct.
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He had a few comments along the way and he, you know, that might
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have been, I don't know if it was the gambling stuff, perhaps.
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I mean, now you would think it's ridiculous with the
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partnerships, the pro sports leagues and the teams, but he
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was certainly a generation ahead of his time with that stuff.
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Yeah, no doubt about it. Well, how are the contests
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doing? I see Grandissimo is getting
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closer all the time to 15. It's going to blow by that.
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I think your number out there is 30, which may be in jeopardy
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now. Obviously there was an appetite
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for a high buy in type of contest, 11 right now, maybe 12
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by the end of the weekend. I've seen on Twitter.
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Where's this going to end, Mike, do you think?
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Yeah, another person wired in their money.
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So they're coming this week and I think today.
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So it should hit 12 today and not tomorrow.
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Maybe it gets to 40. I don't know.
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I'm glad we're meeting the guarantee.
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You know, I don't focus on, to be honest with you, I don't
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focus on this. I really, really sweat the
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survivor because I wanted to get to 20 million.
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Will you? As of yesterday, I think that's
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a significant mark to get to 20 million.
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As of yesterday, we were pacing 41% up, which extrapolates to
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20.1 million. So we'll see.
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I mean we're getting we're going to touch 4 million where we were
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at 2600 last year, basically 2700 we'll be at 4,000,000 by by
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by the end of the day Sunday. So and then you get that last
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week where you do a million a day.
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So and contest week, it will be huge and that bash will be huge,
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you know, so I would bet, I wouldn't bet the no on 20
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million, right? Now room availabilities, you can
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watch it that way. I'm guessing that you guys are
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almost full or certainly nearing capacity toward the end of
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August, right when everybody will get out there.
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Yeah, we'll be sold out. We'll be sold out for the events
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I just mentioned. Even midweek we'll get sold out
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for bet bash because they have 7-8 hundred people come in.
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Not all stay here but a big chunk do.
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Will be sold out. Contest weekend, horse Labor Day
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weekend. So every weekend will be sold
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out. Probably after next weekend
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it'll be sold out straight through.
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Back to football in a second. I want to make sure I ask you
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this before we run out of time. Tomorrow's game.
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I was wondering, thinking to myself, what the hell are the
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Braves and the Reds getting underway at 11:30 in the morning
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on a Friday of all places? I mean, I understand that the
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Cubs at 1:20, but but then it dawned on me that tomorrow night
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the Reds in the car and the and the Braves are going to play at
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Bristol Speedway where I think it's 315 down the lines.
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When you guys are looking at put hanging a number total wise in a
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ballpark where a game has never been played, how do you go about
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doing that? Well, it's difficult and it's a
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lot of guesswork and you have to I think you can't shade it too
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far to the over because you the pros like the bed unders right,
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So you'll get hit with the pro money.
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I tell you, I just I think it's too gimmicky.
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Yeah, and I know they played the day game today because they've
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got to go from Cincinnati to Bristol, which is, I know they
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fly, but I mean, if you drove, it's five and a half, six hours.
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Somebody said, oh, they're going to play Bristol, CT I said no,
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no, the Reds aren't playing a home that would be Boston if
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they were playing in. I just, I hate the gimmicky and
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I think the other thing that's run its course is these outdoor
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games in the NHL. Nobody cares.
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If you look at the TV ratings, it was great, the concept.
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For the first 15 years was incredible.
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If you look at the TV ratings, from 1999 to 2009 they drew an
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average of 4 million viewers a game and then from 2010 to 2017
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that went down to 2 million and from 2018 till now it's 1.3
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million. Last year they didn't even have
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a million for the Blackhawks and the Blues, and now they're
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playing to in the state of Florida.
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That's ridiculous. How?
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Ridiculous is this. We saw the ice melt in Lake
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Tahoe, which is much colder than Miami.
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They say that they're going to because they're playing with the
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Marlins play, they're really going to cool that whole
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building to 30°. That's ludicrous how much money
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it would take. And then in Tampa and Raymond
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James, they said they're building like a greenhouse where
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they'll have the ice and then they'll take it away right
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before they. I think it's so stupid and and
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this gimmicky stuff is what it smacks to me.
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Now, here's the significant thing.
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We will have our first national TV commercial.
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This is the first ever national TV commercial Derek has airing
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for Surface Sports. During the the Reds Braves game
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tomorrow. Really nice.
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That's at 6:00 and they cleared the whole schedule, right?
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It's the only 6:00 game, central time.
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All the other games are at 3:00 or at or at 7:00 or at 9.
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Sorry, your time. So I'll be looking forward to
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seeing the commercial. Have you seen it yet?
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I don't know what we're using. I just found out to like on
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Monday that we're doing this, and so I haven't really found
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out what version, if we're using an old version or if Derek
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builds something new. OK, I see, I see the doom and
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gloom about the strip business on the strip.
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Like I was just at Circa and I was downtown.
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You guys aren't, you aren't feeling this, are you?
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I know the strip is because I see some of the the videos that
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some of the influencers put up, but I I didn't feel that it was
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down at Circa. Is downtown feeling the same
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pinch that the strip is? Yes, we're down about 6-7
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percent in in occupied room nights the last two months and
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we've had a lower rate a little the Strip has because they have
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so many rooms they have to lower rate dramatically, right.
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We're talking about going from 2:49 to 1:19.
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We're talking about going from, you know, not at Circa but at
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the other two properties, you know, going from, from, you
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know, on weekdays going from 99 to 79.
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There's this much more dramatic. We have between the three
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properties, 1600 hotel rooms. Some of those have, you know,
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3000 and up on strips. So they got to be, they got to
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cut further to get to get the occupancy.
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But it's been down, it's been a little slower and we'll see.
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As for us, as soon as football gets here, we're excited.
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Yeah, no, though Speaking of that, what are you seeing NFL
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futures wise, any movement this week?
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A little bit more coming back to the Lions, notwithstanding the
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performance last night, right? I mean in the, in the, as far as
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the central goes or the North is called the Central, the NFC
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North, you know, the Packers are seeing the markets a little
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chillier on the Packers and a little more warmed up to the
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lines. They're getting bet now to down
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on the division and getting bet to win the to win the NFC as
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well. Yeah, Is there.
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Who have you got futures wise in both the NFC and the AFC?
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Have you dabbled in those markets yet?
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And the Rams to win the NFC and the Super Bowl.
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And over 9 1/2. I have the Broncos over 9 1/2.
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I have Minnesota over 8 1/2 and over 9 1/2 and I took a little
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bit on the Jaguars over 7 1/2. Those are all my I didn't bet
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any unders I bet, I bet all overs and the only division or
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however you want to call it, I guess and that division.
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But it's a a conference in Super Bowl the Rams.
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Good stuff, Mike Pom, VP of Operations at Circus Sports.
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Mike, as always, thanks for doing this.
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Appreciate it. Have a great week and Trent and
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I will talk to you on Friday. He'll be back, so we'll talk.
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Friday, Yeah, be nice to hear from Trent again.
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All right. Thanks.
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Good. See you, buddy.
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Good to hear from you, Mike Pom, VP of Operations at Circus
17:07
Sports. If you're in the state of
17:08
Illinois, you can download the Circus Sports Illinois app.
17:11
If you're listening on the other side of the river, for those of
17:13
you in the state of Iowa, Circa Sports Iowa, where most of the
17:19
time you're going to find and not all the time get 2, get two
17:23
or three apps, but get the download the Circa app, fund
17:26
your account and, and away you'll go.
17:28
You'll get better prices for the majority of the time.
17:32
The, the, the Lions might. I'm not surprised that the Lions
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are starting to get some get get some play when it comes to that
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division. There's been a lot of
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conflicting reports. I'm excited for Tyler Allen, who
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does everything here at KXNO on the Iowa Sports Radio Network.
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He's going to be in Eagan next week.
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So he'll get a first hand look at at JJ McCarthy because man,
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it's it seemingly depends on who you listen to that it's gloom
17:58
and doom or this guy's making his way.
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He'll soon believe not long after his career ends and he's
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added to Canton. Not sure I can go that far.
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But here's my thing. When it comes to him, Kevin
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O'Connell, he makes chicken salad now, the chicken, you know
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what, when it comes to that position, look what he's done in
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his career. He's a quarterback whisperer and
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I, and I believe in JJ McCarthy. I do.
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The Bears. Caleb Williams had a really good
18:22
day of practice yesterday. Cappy pointed that out in our
18:25
visit. I think the Packers are going to
18:27
finish fourth in the North. I do, and I can see why.
18:31
The buys back starting to come in on the Lions a little bit.
18:34
This is a good football team. Hutchinson is back.
18:37
They're loaded. They're loaded.
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I look at the coordinators. It's not like they went out of
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the building. They hired from within.
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So these guys have been on staff.
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They know what Campbell wants. They know the personnel that
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they're working with. This team drafts exceptionally
18:53
well. The injuries last time last year
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rather just decimated that team. I mean, halfway through the
18:59
season, they were everybody's team to team to beat, right?
19:02
Everybody thought it was going to be the Lions.
19:05
Lions are home free in the in the NFC.
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Who's going to beat the Lions, blah, blah, blah.
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And then Washington comes in and picks them off.
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And I don't know, I just I can understand why the love is
19:16
starting to rear its head a little bit for the lions.
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All right, Tyler, put your put your headset on flip.
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Come on here for just a second. Hey, I appreciate what you've
19:25
done for me all week for sure. Where are you?
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Because you'll be in Eagan to see a couple of days practice
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and do some interviews, etcetera.
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You host the fantasy show over the last few years.
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Well, what do you expect from the Vikings?
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What do you expect to see when you're in Eagan next week?
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Well, one of the things that Lucas kind of pointed out to me
19:43
was that it's true that for the last 10 years or so, the Vikings
19:46
have trouble stringing together good seasons.
19:50
They'll have a good like solid 1112 win season and then they'll
19:52
win like 5 games the next season.
19:54
And that's kind of the way it's been since Zimmer was there.
19:58
When I get up there on Wednesday, next week, Thursday,
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I should be able to ask a question to O'Connell.
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And I'm going to ask him what kinds of things that he has done
20:06
in the offseason this year to roll and and keep that momentum.
20:11
Because the last time we had a really good season, we faltered
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the next year. So.
20:15
We're we're stacked. Are are are our.
20:19
So you're Vikings fan by the sounds of.
20:20
It yes. Are our free agents going to
20:22
come through? A lot of our big free agent
20:25
signings have injury histories and there was a little bit of a
20:28
play with that. So it's either going to go
20:30
really well for the Vikings or it could go South quickly.
20:34
But I agree with you. The Packers are going to go 4th.
20:36
I don't think they did enough in the offseason.
20:39
Bears are trending up. Lions are still good and the
20:42
Vikings, unless, you know, it could be that they have their
20:44
off year again, that's the way it's been for them the last 10
20:48
years. You have eleven wins and then a
20:49
six win. So hopefully I'm high on JJ
20:53
MacArthur for sure, yeah. Yeah, so am I, I think that
20:57
their roster, other than the quarterback and I guess the most
20:59
important position in all sports, that's the great
21:02
unknown, right? But the rest of that roster, I
21:04
mean, they are, they went out, they spent significantly.
21:07
Not only did they draft the Donovan Jackson in the first
21:10
round, but Ryan Kelly and Freeze come in to play the offensive
21:13
line. They've got as good a receivers.
21:15
You're going to have maybe the best receivers in the league
21:17
with Addison and Jordan and Hawkinson at the tight end.
21:21
Jordan Mason, you play fantasy. I'm sure that he's high on your
21:24
list. He's going to be, Yeah.
21:26
It's it's all about running back.
21:28
Yeah. It's all about building through
21:29
the trenches. And the Eagles have shown us
21:31
this over the last 5-6 years. That is how you build
21:34
championship teams. The Chiefs to a lesser degree,
21:38
but the Eagles have really, really done a great job of of
21:41
doing it well. And the Vikings finally this
21:44
offseason without that giant Kirk Cousins contract had some
21:47
cash. Let's go out and get the best
21:49
giant. Finale in the churches.
21:51
Greenhard, Harrison, Phillips is still there in the linebackers
21:57
are good. Maybe the secondary might be the
21:59
question mark and there's some players there, but Harrison?
22:02
I like Rogers out of Philadelphia, OK.
22:04
I think, you know, yeah, I think him and maybe Okuda can
22:08
resurrect his career a little bit.
22:10
And McLaughlin from last year is is an unknown.
22:12
He kind of, I think he lost all of last year to due to injury,
22:16
but I like him a lot. They're a good team, they're a
22:19
good football team. McCarthy's even AI don't know
22:24
mid teens range quarterback in the league.
22:27
I think the Vikings are going to be fine.
22:28
I really do. I think it's the Lions, the
22:30
Vikings, the Bears and the Packers.
22:33
If I had to predict what it's how it's going to finish.
22:37
Right now, Eugene Repay is standing by.
22:41
Well, he's not, but he will be here when we call him in about 5
22:44
minutes. We'll take a time out.
22:46
We'll get into Iowa State conversation next.
22:49
Iowa State had a media availability yesterday.
22:52
We'll pick Eugene's brain on what he's seen so far as Iowa
22:57
State goes through their preparations. 3 weeks from
23:01
tomorrow. Is it really three weeks from
23:05
tomorrow? They play in Dublin.
23:07
Just three weeks from tomorrow is week 0.
23:10
That's unbelievable. Eugene repay Des Moines
23:13
Register, He's on the Iowa State beat, and he'll be here on the
23:17
Iowa Sports Radio Network when I come back.
23:20
I appreciate you being with me Miller and Condon Iowa Sports
23:23
Radio Network. Hi Miller Condon, welcome back
23:26
Iowa Sports radio network. Eugene repay momentarily some
23:30
Dallas Cowboys news. It's kind of escalated with
23:33
since this morning. Michael Parsons just I don't
23:38
know if it's his what account it is Instagram, wherever thanking
23:43
the fans of the Cowboys, thanking Dallas for his
23:46
beginning of his career. He wants out of there and has
23:48
already said farewell to the fans.
23:50
You don't see that very often. He's not going anywhere.
23:53
I'd be shocked if they would give up on Micah.
23:55
Why would you do that? He's one of the best in the
23:57
league and still young. For crying out loud, his best
24:01
football's ahead of him. He's unblockable.
24:04
Anyways. We'll see where that goes.
24:05
Eugene Repay covers Iowa State for the Des Moines Register,
24:09
desmoinesregister.com and he's with me.
24:11
Hello, Eugene, How are you? I'm good, I'm good.
24:15
How are you feeling? Okay, I appreciate you coming
24:17
on. So you've had a busy week.
24:19
You had a couple of assistant coaches yesterday.
24:23
We're going to get into what you heard.
24:24
Want to talk about your piece in today's Des Moines Register, the
24:28
five position battles groupings to keep an eye on.
24:31
But let's go to yesterday, Linebacker Colby Kratch.
24:35
That's the coach, linebacker, Coach Cratch, man, he's got some
24:39
decisions ahead of him, doesn't he?
24:41
This is going to be fascinating to see how this all shakes out.
24:44
They both are, all of them seemingly that were on the
24:47
roster last year. You know, when the first depth
24:50
chart came out, a lot of these guys weren't even on it because
24:52
they weren't expected to see any playing time.
24:54
But due to injuries, as we know, they were forced into the
24:58
spotlight and into the game. And now everybody's fine,
25:01
seemingly. But who's going to be the three
25:03
that go on the field to start? Fascinating.
25:05
What Cratch lies ahead is did he tip his hand at all as to who
25:09
maybe is, you know, leading the way in some of those battles at
25:12
this point? Or what did he have to say to
25:14
the media yesterday? So far, he said that right now
25:18
the best solution might just be putting all the names into a hat
25:21
and picking 3 and hoping that that's the way it goes.
25:24
Just because the competition right now is just so tight.
25:27
You have 9 guys who got legitimate playing time last
25:30
year, are expected to do big things coming back from injury.
25:34
The race is just as tight as it ever has been.
25:37
And right now he said that it's still very wide open.
25:40
There are no guarantees at this moment in camp.
25:43
He envisions that they'll have more of a solution as Iowan
25:47
draws closer. So I asked him what he thought
25:49
are like the two biggest criteria when determining your
25:52
starters. And he said consistency and the
25:54
ability to communicate and be a leader on on defense, Those
25:57
those are the two biggest traits that he's looking for throughout
26:00
fall camp. And he said once you know who
26:02
your starters are, you generally have a feeling.
26:05
But at this current point in time, it's not.
26:08
He's very good. He's got a good poker face and
26:10
he's not tipping his hand, or it really is this wide open and I
26:14
can't blame them. Just so much depth, so much
26:16
experience and just too many options.
26:18
But only three spots. Musical chairs.
26:20
Yeah, it really is. You know, as I think back to
26:21
this time last year, and I think you're still a few weeks away
26:24
from joining the beat, if memory serves.
26:27
But the conversation in August last year was about a freshman,
26:31
Kale Brazina, who was just opening some eyes and everybody
26:34
was talking about him. And of course, he was one of the
26:36
ones that was, you know, hurt, banged up throughout the year.
26:40
Has he come up at all? Because Brazina, this time last
26:42
year, everybody was talking about him.
26:44
And now, obviously, he's one of the nine that are in a fight.
26:47
Have you heard specifically at all about Brazina?
26:51
Yes, I believe that he'll definitely be one of the
26:54
contenders, probably in the top four, top five conversation
26:58
right now. Just speaking with him
26:59
yesterday, he looks like he's matured even more, just
27:03
physically and mentally put on more muscle mass.
27:06
He was already in great shape as a freshman coming in, but now a
27:08
whole year in the program to just get bigger, faster,
27:11
stronger, it is clearly shown and paid off.
27:14
He also just seems to just feel more comfortable being having
27:17
that year of experience in the program very mature.
27:20
I think that they do expect big things out of him.
27:23
But, you know, do you go with the veterans?
27:25
Do you go with the this guy who's looking very promising so
27:29
far? It really is.
27:32
You really don't know at this current point in time what Crash
27:35
is thinking. Who else did you guys have spoke
27:38
with you or answer some of your questions yesterday?
27:42
They only gave us Virginia yesterday out of the
27:44
linebackers, but they also gave us defensive ends Kenna Zagu and
27:49
Tomatillo McDonough, who is looking like a very impressive
27:53
spec. They call him a specimen.
27:55
Just as physicality and his life and his size and just from
27:58
meeting him first hand, it definitely shows.
28:00
Hopefully it will translate once the pads are on on game days.
28:04
And that's the kid from Yale, correct?
28:07
Yes, yeah. He led the Ivy League in sacks
28:10
and forced fumbles, big pass rush contributor, and that's
28:15
something that the Cyclones are looking to improve on.
28:17
So just having him, if he, if his game can translate from the
28:20
FCS Ivy League to the Big 12 or just be a guy that they can rely
28:25
on in certain situations, that'll be huge.
28:28
Well, I mean, it worked out for him last year.
28:31
As we think back to last year's offensive line grabbing a kid
28:35
and bringing him in and, and and look and look what he did.
28:39
He's with the Jalen Travis is with the Colts right in the NFLI
28:44
think he is. I think he's with the Colts
28:46
offensive line wise. What are the how's that shaping
28:49
up as they, you know, we keep waiting year after year.
28:52
We're told that this is the year that it finally gets over the
28:54
hump. They got a lot of talent
28:56
seemingly on this line. Travis is in the NFL.
28:59
Hufford played a lot of, had a lot of playing time at Iowa
29:03
State. He's moved on.
29:04
He's a free in free agent camp with the Raiders.
29:07
So what are we, what are we talking about when it comes to
29:10
offensive line? Obviously Tyler Miller would be
29:12
the given, I would assume at this point.
29:16
What do you expect? How's this going to work itself
29:18
out? I feel like for the sake of the
29:20
key this pre season camp will be identifying who will be the
29:24
starting center. And then once you figure out
29:26
that inside spot, you just kind of build outward.
29:29
Is it going to be Dylan Barrett that bumps inside the center?
29:32
They're going to be Brendan Black.
29:33
There was rumblings of black earlier during the spring, but
29:37
now it's looking like is it going to be Dylan Barrett?
29:39
And then at the guards, you just have just so many different guys
29:42
and go to, you know, whoever doesn't get the starting center
29:44
job, I will most definitely probably be either left guard or
29:48
right guard. Then you also have Trevor Byrd,
29:51
Jim Boniface, all guys who have starting experience.
29:54
James Neal is looking to reclaim his spot and left tackle after
29:58
starting there in 2023. So there's a lot of different
30:01
guys, another position group that has many different players
30:05
with starting experience, lots of veteran gamers.
30:10
And then you also have red shirt freshman Garrett Rutledge, who
30:13
he probably won't be in contention for a starting job,
30:15
but he's been a name that's been popping up left and right from
30:19
coaches, from teammates since the spring.
30:22
And this is a guy who you could see working through the rotation
30:25
or be right behind some of these other guys that have been in the
30:28
program longer than him. Good Intel.
30:30
I like when you hear names and keep hearing them over and over
30:32
again. He didn't know a whole lot about
30:34
him. I want to go back to the
30:35
Boniface. Was he hurt last year because he
30:38
started a bunch of games earlier in his career, or was he just
30:41
passed over on the depth chart? Do you know?
30:44
Yeah, I think he was just passed over on the depth chart.
30:46
You had Jared Hufford bump over the center and then also just
30:50
with Jalen Travis coming in, I think that also affected a guy
30:53
like James Neil, who originally started when Travis was hurt.
30:58
They tried to move Neil to guard God.
31:00
Didn't really work out there. Very congested, gave him some
31:03
sense of tight end. So I just think it was just so
31:06
competitive last year and it's the same this year.
31:09
Boniface, you know, you'd love to see a guy like that for him,
31:12
for his sake to to get back into the starting lineup.
31:14
You know, I'm sure it wasn't easy and on his front, starting
31:18
every game in 2023 and then going to backup roll last year.
31:22
Defensive line, obviously I I think our defensive front, I
31:26
think it's maybe the biggest question mark on this team and
31:28
you and you have to have you have to be strong up front as
31:31
you know, or it's not good. Most times it's not going to end
31:34
up well. Obviously Dominic Orange, he's
31:36
going to the pros next year. Wasagu Campbell keeps saying he
31:39
should have played a more last year.
31:40
He should have seen the field more last year than he did.
31:44
So they're they I think that they I get the sense that
31:47
they're that they believe that they've got that spot settled.
31:50
But after that there's a bunch of question marks, right?
31:52
You mentioned Mcdonoghue McDonough rather a little bit
31:55
ago. Zamir Hawks name keeps coming
31:57
up. What about the defensive line?
31:59
Is that maybe the biggest question mark that the Cyclones
32:02
have going into the season? Yeah, we're going to say, you
32:06
know, linebacker is definitely tricky, but the defensive line
32:09
too, just with all the transfer that they added is another
32:13
position group that's just loaded with experiences and and
32:16
you just want to figure out how what is the best way to make the
32:18
puzzle pieces fit and what's the best way that they can just
32:21
maximize the production throughout this whole season.
32:25
After McDonough and after are, then after his algo you got
32:29
Cannon Butler from Northern Iowa, Vantra Mellow.
32:31
Both guys played substantial amounts at their former schools.
32:35
Cannibala was even a captain at Northern Iowa.
32:38
Malone is a guy from Tulsa who they said had a strong spring,
32:43
has followed up throughout the summer and is looking pretty
32:46
good. But then you also look at some
32:48
of the younger guys that are better deeper in the left
32:50
charter coming off of a Richard year who have taken great
32:53
strides. They're very excited about Jace
32:54
Gilbert and Elijah Carnell, but even Trevor Don is coming right
32:58
away and showing flashes with some of the younger guys.
33:01
I feel like that we'll see a rotation be deployed, especially
33:05
with defensive end. You know, they they're putting a
33:08
big emphasis on increasing pass rush, putting pressure on
33:13
opposing quarterbacks. Obviously they finished last in
33:16
the Big 12 last season, so it can only go up from here, but
33:21
they have a lot of different guys that they can utilize that
33:23
can hopefully help them solve that problem.
33:26
Obviously, Darren and Porter's success switching positions and
33:29
where he landed in the third round of the NFL draft.
33:32
Benny Nagoya is trying to follow those steps.
33:35
I know there was a piece yesterday in the paper in the
33:38
register about Nagoya. How's that transition going at
33:43
this point? What does Campbell say about
33:44
that? One thing that's interesting
33:47
about Nagoya is coming out of the high school, or in high
33:50
school rather, he played a lot. He prayed primarily on defense.
33:54
He played both ways, but he was really at the star of his high
33:57
school team on defense. Had a lot of experience playing
34:00
safety and cornerback. But then Darren Porter, he was
34:04
mostly a star whiteout coming out of high school and obviously
34:08
a track star and a track Vietnam and a speedster.
34:11
So at this point in time, when you see Nagoya making this
34:15
transition, Courtney Campbell, he sees, he feels that Nagoya
34:18
has a head start just because of all that experience and all
34:21
those reps that he had in high school.
34:23
He's familiar with the position, he's familiar with the
34:25
techniques, he's familiar with, you know, dropping back, back
34:28
pedaling, reading the eyes of a quarterback.
34:31
While Porter, it was still fairly new to him.
34:34
He still had to learn the nuances and all the techniques
34:37
that came with the position. So for Nagoya, it's it's just
34:40
getting used to his new role, really learning that playbook
34:43
and it's a nice to have a head start, but will it culminate or
34:48
will it results in that jump or that trajectory like a Darren
34:52
Porter or like ATJ Tampa? Do you know where they're at as
34:55
far as their schedule goes, a fall camp schedule?
34:58
Have they had a not that you're invited to see it or to open to
35:01
the public by any means, but has there been a scrimmage yet, do
35:04
you know? Or that's got to be coming up or
35:06
at least the first ones got to be coming up any day now, maybe
35:09
as early as tomorrow. They start.
35:11
I mean, the season starts for them in three weeks.
35:13
Have they scrimmaged yet, Eugene?
35:15
I heard that they're off today and that they're scrimmaging
35:18
tomorrow. I heard that there's going to be
35:20
a scrimmage tomorrow. Closed doors.
35:22
Sure. I have heard this, yes.
35:24
Will there be a media availability early next week
35:27
that you guys can follow up on that?
35:29
Yeah, Monday, Monday and Thursday.
35:32
Good stuff Eugene repay Cyclone scrimmaging tomorrow.
35:35
Good stuff Eugene. Appreciate you coming on
35:37
desmoinesregister.com. Desmoinesregister.com for
35:41
Eugene. We will talk to you down the
35:43
road, Sir. Thanks for coming on.
35:45
Thank you so much and have a good weekend.
35:46
Yep, you do the same Eugene Repay as we check in on Iowa
35:50
State, it's it's got to be happening.
35:53
Anxious to see if there's any Nuggets that come out of it at
35:56
all. Maybe somebody's got a.
35:57
Drone with a camera. Can fly over and get a little
36:01
cup of snippets of video that's as close as you're going to get
36:04
close as you're going to get when it comes to Iowa State
36:06
football in any Intel you're going to be able to glean by the
36:10
in advance of this team headed over to Dublin which again three
36:14
weeks from tomorrow hard to believe.
36:15
I'll come back. We'll finish up the program.
36:17
Miller and Condon's the Iowa sports radio network.
36:23
Hi Miller and Condon, welcome back.
36:25
Final couple of minutes here should you?
36:26
How'd you play? Hey, Jude, I'm done.
36:31
Oh, man. Nice touch.
36:33
At Wrigley Field. Prior to the game today, they
36:35
had all the bases with the exception of second base in
36:38
place. And after the ceremony, Sean
36:41
Dunst and Jody Davis and Rick Sutcliffe carried second base
36:45
out, three former teammates, obviously Ryan Sandberg, and put
36:49
the second base in place. Now a nice touch by the Cubs,
36:54
who are up 1. Nothing as we play as we go to
36:57
the top of the third at Wrigley Field.
37:00
It's Kate Horton on the hill for the for the Cubbies here today.
37:05
I think he's got to be the number three guy once the
37:07
playoffs get here, at least at this point.
37:09
Lefty, lefty Kate Horton, I've not seen an innings, innings
37:14
limitation placed on the placed on the youngster this year.
37:17
And they, you know, they can always, you know, back him up a
37:20
day or something if they if they are worried about that.
37:22
But I think he's done enough. I really does really only had a
37:25
couple of bad starts. He's been he's been OK.
37:28
He's been OK. And look at they didn't address
37:30
that position yesterday. They got somebody in there,
37:33
Taion, maybe Assad Delphal, Soroka, who's going to start on
37:38
Monday and I'd be shocked at this point.
37:41
Colin Ray, better than advertised, but I bet it's going
37:44
to be Kate Horton. If the if they had, if we're at
37:46
that point in October, the best month, by the way, on the sports
37:51
calendar. We shall see.
37:52
We going to be a fun weekend. It is no NFL football this
37:56
weekend, but a full slate of baseball.
37:58
I'm looking forward to the game tomorrow night.
38:00
I'll watch it. I know it's gimmicky at the
38:03
Bristol Motor Speedway tomorrow. Just see what it's like.
38:06
Look, nothing, nothing, nothing will ever come close to the
38:09
Field of Dreams. They should have stopped at that
38:11
point. Last year was OK just because of
38:15
the history, but I think they're running out of ideas.
38:18
I really do. I'm running out of show.
38:22
The off the bench is coming up next.
38:24
Lucas Strain will guide you until 5:00 steering the ship and
38:29
then overtime. Iowa from 5:00 until 6.
38:31
Trent's back on Monday. Let the bells ring out and the
38:34
banners fly. Have a wonderful weekend.
38:37
Miller and Conda talk sports with you Monday through Friday,
38:41
noon to two, on the Iowa Sports Radio Network.