Hour 2: Should the NBA Abolish the 65-Game Rule?

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Here's tonight's ESPN NBA Wednesday double header.

The hawks take down the Eastern conference leading pistons at 7 Eastern than the timber wolves.

Those Katie in the Rockets, NBA countdown crew will tip off our coverage at 6.30 p.m. Eastern.

All right, so we got a situation happening right now in the NBA.

Teams are tanking and abusing load management, but then we have rules to try and subside that.

You must play 65 games in order to be eligible for end of season awards.

That doesn't always mean MVP or defensive player of the year.

There's also all NBA honors, and so the situation is a very good young player.

And a very good team has a very serious injury.

And the rule is going to affect if he qualifies for a second all B.A. honors.

That player is Cade Cunningham and his camp is pissed rightfully so.

Cade Cunningham's agent, Jeff Schwartz spoke about the 65 game rule telling ESPN's Shom Chironia

quote.

Cade is delivered a first team all NBA season.

If he falls just short of an arbitrary, arbitrary games played threshold due to a legitimate injury,

he should not disqualify him from recognition.

He has clearly earned over the course of the season.

The league should be rewarding excellence, not enforcing rigid cutoffs that ignore context.

An exception needs to be made.

And quote.

Okay, so that was Cade's agent.

Now here's Jalen Brown, another MVP candidate on the 65 game rule.

I'm really not mad at 65.

I just thought the contrary was that in the past, the guys would be playing 40 or 50 games

and then be up for all NBA teams.

And they played half the season because they would be, their numbers would be better because

they only play half the games versus somebody who played 70, 68, 72 games.

So that's a big difference.

So because of that is why I feel like it was needed.

Because you can't have dues playing 45, 50 games and when it first team all NBA, you basically

came to work half the time and then got rewarded for it.

Okay, can we agree with both of them?

Okay, the question now, should the NBA abolish the 65 game rule?

Stephen A, what do you think?

No, they shouldn't.

And I completely agree with Jalen Brown and his perspective.

I understand where Agent Jeff Swartz is coming from, but respectfully sit down.

I ain't trying to hear that from him.

You know why?

Because when his players, if I'm not saying that I know this to be the case in terms of

his specific players that he represents, but when players were missing games, when they

were abusing the system, when they were engaging in load management, when they were taking

nights off, did he open his mouth then?

No, he did not.

Then we don't want to hear from you now.

It's just that simple.

Kate Cunningham deserves to be a strong consideration for all NBA first team.

He clearly was an MVP candidate for most of the season.

He's an absolute stud and a star in the maintenance, he's a star in this league, a send in the

superstar status.

The brother's special, no doubt about that.

And it's not his fault because that's the legitimate injury with a partially collapsed

long.

We get all of that.

Nobody's questioning anything about that with Kate Cunningham.

But there is something to be said about the players bringing it on themselves.

The league didn't want to do this.

The league wasn't thinking about doing this, just like the league didn't want to make

modifications to NBA all-star weekend.

But player participation or lack thereof, player enthusiasm or flagrant lack thereof, along

with other things, contributed to the league trying to make adjustments because it had

sponsors, advertisers, and most importantly, it's overall fan base to pay attention to.

They did it to themselves.

And that's what we're talking about here.

We had cats getting contracts, okay, and I noticed for fact, and Jeff Schwartz knows

it better than me.

You had guys getting contracts and literally plotting for the next contract before they

even took a second to honor the one they just signed.

All right, how many games I'm going to miss?

How often am I going to sit out?

I'm not putting in this amount of work blah, blah, blah.

It's really about being ready for the playoffs, April, May, and June.

It's really not about those first six months, blah, blah, blah.

We saw this.

We didn't just hear about it, we saw it.

And if you weren't so flagrantly disrespectful to the game and the fans who support the game

for so many years, not recent, this year's been better, and they deserve to recognize that.

But on too many occasions, you had players, you had agents, you had teams because it's

not always the players for sometimes as the teams that's forcing them to do stuff as well

that were completely dismissive of the fans.

I didn't know when Steve Kerr opened his mouth and talked about shortening the season and

stuff like that.

Certainly, he knows he's a champion.

Champion is a player, champion is a coach.

Matt respect to him.

Nobody wants to hear that from him.

You know why?

Because are you trying to say that justified?

You showing up to a game and benching four of your five starters for the fans.

You couldn't parse it out and make sure you benched one guy here and gave him a day's

rest in another guy here.

No, no, you got to sit three or four dudes at the down at the same time.

There's a couple of occasions that Steve Kerr did that.

We've seen others do it as well.

No regard to the fans and then he'll come and say, well, you know, I'm really sorry.

I hated doing it.

Well, you didn't have to.

You didn't have to.

You chose to.

And that's the kind of stuff that we're talking about here and we're talking about people

that's getting mumps off when you got four to six months off the air.

So we got to take that into consideration as well.

I'm not saying this is ideal.

Certainly the 65 game rule is not ideal, context matters and things need to be taken into

consideration.

It's any of that, but that's after you acknowledge you brought it on yourselves and you forced

to compel the NBA to do this because of your dereliction of duty as players, as agents,

as teams, along the way that forced the league's hand.

You did this.

So guess what?

Problems come with it.

Problems you created.

100% Steve and Kerr's a phony.

I mean, they come to New York there on Sunday and Ben shortest guys in New York to one

visit of the year.

I mean, you got to be a kid and be a kid.

I mean, that's what you do and you're telling me and you play with Jordan.

You would play the A2 games every single year.

And you know what?

The heck with Jeff Schwartz.

Sit down.

Nobody wants to hear from an agent regarding this.

There's plenty of athletes in every sport known to man that have had injuries, unfortunate

injuries that have cut off postseason awards.

I can go and give you, Wilk Chamberlain Torres ACL played 40 games in 1969-70.

What a 1A MVP.

Many co-facts had a circular problem in his fingers.

In 1962, he would have won a Saigon when he wouldn't believe, he didn't pitch the last

two months.

But there is no...

This is sports.

This is sport injuries happen.

This is sports.

That's the way it is.

It's unfortunate.

I feel bad for him.

But we don't make any exceptions now because you're annoyed that one of your players had

an injury.

Tough.

This is professional sports.

Sometimes it bounces you away.

Sometimes it doesn't.

You can't give the guy the MVP for playing 61 games.

It's absurd.

So he's wrong.

I have something to say.

Go ahead, Shay.

But make sure before we go to commercial break, I've got some numbers to give you.

I was going to ask a question.

I hear what you're saying.

But those instances you brought up, there wasn't this 65 game rule.

There wasn't a rule in place.

That was just the way the cookie crumbled.

But now there's a specific number.

And Kate is a specific instance with a serious injury.

What you got to have a number, you're going to have some barometer.

Sure.

You got to have a number, Shay.

What you got to do 40 games?

50 games?

I don't have something.

I like the number.

My question is now though, maybe there's an exception to the rule.

No.

Maybe you could appeal it or do something because he has a very specific instance.

Okay.

Tell me, tell me, tell me.

No, no, Dougie, I like what Shay just brought up.

That appeal process, like for example, if you're Kate cutting him, right?

And you've been medically diagnosed with a collapsed lung.

Serious.

And you were on pace to play 70 games, and that derailed you.

You can make an appeal to the league, and the league could say these were exigent circumstances.

Obviously, this is extreme, and that's why he didn't make the 65 game threshold.

So in other words, some kind of caveat that allows you to challenge it on a case-by-case

basis, subject to the league, I think we could be open to that because the NFL is just

like, Rodger could tell them, they'll make a ruling, and then you appeal it, and then

you got to go to them for the arbitration, et cetera, et cetera, and it could be upheld

or it could be changed.

I get that.

But Dougie and Shay, before I go back to y'all, put Shay and Dougie on the table.

Dougie up on the screen for me, please.

I got to read these numbers to y'all.

This is very, very significant when it comes to the 65 game rule.

Last season, because the 65 game rule came into effect, 2023, 2024 season, a couple of

years ago, right?

Last season, 77% of all stars in the NBA played in at least 65 games.

The year before the rule was instituted, do you know what I mean?

Do you know what that number was?

59%.

It increased by 18%.

It increased by 18% once the 65 game rule came into play.

That's number one.

10 years ago, Dougie, in terms of all stars playing in at least 65 games.

Do you know what that number was at?

10 years ago?

All stars 65.

I'm going to say about 52%.

How's that?

I guess.

92%.

Oh, wow, really?

Wow.

10 years ago, 10 years ago, 92% of NBA all stars played in at least 65 games and did somehow

some way over the next nine years.

They allowed that to dip to 59%.

That is the evidence that the NBA leaned on to highlight how dismissive all stars had

become, had become towards honoring their commitment to playing as many games as they possibly

could during the regular season, which forced the 65 game rule to come into play.

I know that.

Yes.

I know that.

Jeff Swartz knows that.

Sit down.

You know better.

Stop that.

They did it to themselves.

That's why we're all here.

That's why they look at us and go off about us going off on them because they want to ignore

the numbers.

These are the numbers.

92% a decade ago, not 30 years ago, not 40 years ago, a decade ago, 92% of the all stars

played at least 65 games and you allowed it to drop to 59% in the 2023 season.

Come on now.

You did it to yourself.

Excellent.

You did it to yourself.

Yeah.

Nothing annoys me more than load management.

I'm just saying with Cade Cunningham in this severe of an injury, it does feel like it's

a special cake.

How about a guy who has a spray and ankle?

We're going to make an exception.

Cade accepts him too?

No.

No.

So how do we make these?

People play on spray and ankles.

Oh, how about if the doctor says he can't play?

And it's a leapsed run.

But how about if a guy says he can't play with a spray and ankle?

But it's a spray and ankle.

But you can potentially come back on a spring angle much faster than you could have collapsed

along.

I mean, he's going to play.

He's supposed to.

Yes, today.

It's like five games.

Five.

Yes.

Yes, they are my radio show.

Stephen A Smith show.

Mad Dog Sports Radio.

No, Stephen A Smith radio.

But go ahead.

You know what I'm saying?

It's it's your channel.

Yesterday, I had the former executive director of the Players Association, Charlie Grantham,

on the show with yours truly.

And what he always brings up, no matter what we talk about along these lines, is that it's

a CBA issue.

It's a collective bargaining issue.

All of these things get resolved if you put it in the collective bargaining agreement.

It ain't in there.

Why?

Because the Players Association for it.

You for it.

And you facilitated these players being able to get paid while not working 30, 40 percent

of the time.

And you didn't think a come-upence would arrive someday?

Come on now.

This was inevitable.

They brought it on themselves.

Okay.

Cut it in hand.

Special circumstances like that.

You should be in a position to file an appeal to the league office and the league office

can make a ruling based on your specific exigent circumstances.

That much I agree with Shay about.

I do agree with that, Doggy.

You want to come around or no?

No.

Okay.

Stay firm.

That's fine.

Our favorite segment of the week is coming up.

I missed it last week.

Oh, you did.

We have you a good last week.

All right.

Let's bring it again this week.

What do we mad about?

It's on the way.

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Welcome back to first egg time for a quick take.

Tiger Woods made his long anticipated return to competitive golf last night at the second

TGL championship.

Well, his team came up short.

The biggest question coming out of the match is will Tiger compete in the upcoming

masters?

He had that four putt.

Got mad.

Through his.

Through his golf club.

Tigers return it.

Stephen A.

Excited about picking up golf himself.

Here's what he said.

Stephen A.

Were you excited about Tiger Woods return and potentially going to the masters?

Well, I'm always excited to see him even though I don't think he's going to win another

major.

I just think that it has nothing to do with his skill set.

I don't think physically he could hold up.

He looks shaky out there.

You know, even though he looks all bulky and everything like that, you still have your

back issues, your Achilles issues.

Those are two very, very significant things and I see he missed that putt right there,

but that's an aberration.

He had a few good swings, no doubt about it.

They lost to the L.A. club, Fleetwood and to Gala and Druston Rose, got it.

He gave it to them.

I got that part.

But seeing Tiger Woods out there, meant a lot.

Happy to see him as a 15-time major winner, no doubt about major champion, no doubt about

that.

But his best days are behind him.

We all know that because physically it's just been a weird tear.

He's still unsure.

He didn't have it.

He didn't sound very, very confident is an ability to play.

He just said that he wanted to, but I'm going to tell you this.

I don't give a damn whether I see him on an 18-go on 18-holes or not.

I could kill us.

I love this right here, doggy.

I love that indoor golfing.

I swear to you, I love it.

I mean, I love the big screen.

I love the putty game.

I love all of that stuff.

I wish I was there.

I was mad at the boss.

It's not said to be there.

I would have loved it been there.

I would have loved that part, dissipated it in there.

Okay.

Now, I probably wouldn't have hit somebody's window somewhere and something like that because

I'm horrible.

I don't play much.

I got to learn.

But this stuff has me more excited about learning, even more so about the game of golf.

I love indoor golfing.

I really, really do.

And I love this event and I'm happy that they have it.

I just wish that Tiger Wood was healthy enough.

I'm not judging.

It's not an erosion in his game that I see.

I see an erosion physically.

All of that twist and then turn it from all of those years of swinging.

I know he says he's working on stuff like that, doggy.

But clearly it's very, very taxing on some people's bodies because no matter how he looks

when he's just walking around with bulky biceps and all of that, he's going through a lot.

He really, really has.

And I don't think that Tiger Woods can go for a days for an event.

100%.

100%.

And how trouble walking at the Masters of Chile.

But I have some rules for Steven A. If he wants to, because I'll take him if you want.

I get it.

That event.

I love it.

I love it.

I love it.

Well, he says he likes the indoor duff, but we're going to still make it.

First off, Steve, no cell phones, okay?

I'm not interested in you calling anybody.

When we play golf, in or out, Danny knows no cell phones, but I'm not interested.

You're there to play golf, not to sit there and, you know, break down what's going on

with the Kings and the Trailblazers tonight.

That's number one.

Number two, Steve.

Proper golf attire for you, okay?

Oh, you had to worry about that.

My wall would show the slide.

Slide, slide, slide.

I want a college shirt.

I want a college shirt.

You got to have a dress.

That's worse than Danny.

I don't want cargo shorts.

I want regular golf cleats.

I want you to look like a golfer, even if you can't be a golfer.

Look like one.

That's number two.

And you know what, Steve, that's something else.

How old was it?

You're looked apart.

It's not as much a factor here, but play it as a lie, Steve, okay?

You have a tendency to fudge the rules for walks of life.

All right, when when the ball lands on the ground, nobody's looking. Don't move the don't move the ball for the better line to the cup

They don't mark the ball behind and then that's another good point mark it in front of the ball in front of the

See it look at Dan jumping on it. He's so slick there. He's so slick there. I can see you doing that

Let me take a on on national television doggy. You know what?

I'm not worried about you. First of all, my wardrobe is always fly. I always look apart when I roll up in there

You you think I can play because I definitely look the ball. Let's get that out the way. Just throw that out of side

Doggy we can have the cameras rolling. I challenge you to a game of a golf. It don't bother me

We could go we could go you don't want on the golf course

You broke I don't do it and it's not just not big up in me if we play back

Come on. It's not it's it's not big. It's not big up in me

I just think you'd be a disaster with the cameras rolling. I really really do

I don't think you would sponsor the pressure. I

I would challenge you on national television. You're gonna break it. I will challenge you on national television. It's not a problem. You're gonna

Not a problem. How dare you? Oh, give me all my money on that dog. Oh, please. Who's your bookie? What's his name?

That's right. I'm Tophat Rob to put all the shackles. I mean that's an insult like you're gonna challenge me in a tennis

Let me tell you the game play golf all around the world

Where's this? All I do all I need is all I need is a week of doggy all I need is a week

I'll take a week worth of lessons a week. You need a week

We're the less and I'll be donkeys and better Bobby and I'll be doggy Steve

I'll tell you some most of the I'll be some of these doggy please I beach on the basketball court

Okay, let's not get carried away

That's funny. That's funny. That's funny

You almost crack your kneecap and have to attempt in a half-court shot, but you go sit up there beat me

I'll deal with Dan with the basketball stuff on another day. You know what I'm gonna show

I'm gonna bring the cameras to dance back yard and beat him on his own basketball court in his own backyard

That's another story for another day doggy. Here's how I will beat you

I predict I predict that three holes in doggy will tweak something and he won't be able to go

That's how this dog Steve walk yeah walk and carry your own

Yeah, no assistance carrying your back. I'm glad you brought that up

Carry your bag

Well, he we all know he carry yours, but the point is that's the problem with golf for me

Not that I don't mind watching them when they're about to swing. It's all that Dan walking

I'm like why I mean come I can't stand. Oh, I can't stand it. I'm using a cart. I'm not walking 18 holes

You're talking my ability he don't want to walk

All right, I didn't say I can't I said I don't want to it is boring and I don't want to walk 18

No, it's what cards are for I'm driving. I'm not walking 18. I'm not walking

No, I'm not doing it. Who's the force? I'm here. We've got doggy deal. That's three. We need a four. You're going you're getting greedy greenberg

We'll get greenie. He goes to the greenie

Greenie's with me to play and go to me go ahead and deal greenies with me. Okay

It's individual greenie won't let me down

Can you really really won't let me down, but it's all please spend 20 hours trying to find his golf balls?

Oh, please. Okay, we got him. Steve don't send your t-shirts

Back in the box. That's for chronic doggy for what it's all about little stuff. You won't let you won't last three holes

You won't last you he's gonna he's gonna say you can go shake go ahead and give him a pound

All you want to he's gonna twit. He's gonna tweak his hip or something. He ain't gonna last

He ain't gonna do it too little three-on-two. You're gonna be

Take the top five to the Dodgers three-peak chances. Just come and doza as a list

My chakia plus we'll find out why

Chris Rousseau is mad and there's nothing to do with some people challenging his athletic ability

Get the two the game is over

Look at that

But feel it over the ball when you got more important things to worry about right now

You

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Here's our next hockey night double hudder tomorrow the wild will take on the panthers at 70's stern

Then the oilers will take on the golden nights covered strapped with the point at 60's stern on ESPN 2

Only docking strife you down really like me speaking crazy

That is absurd what I'm going to strike now

I'm trying to get back doggy strife me

I can't hear you got you

Let's go too late. I can't believe Steve with the golf what a joke that is anyway

That's our number one. I'm amazed that the NFL has wrapped up in his flag football at the Olympics

What is Sweden have a quarterback that I'm out of where off the planet?

This is like the world baseball classic where we had all the Italian players tell me they were born in Rome

And you look at their biota from forsaken New Jersey and a tie-ins in the WBC

Nobody plays freaking football about us. So why haven't but the worst thing is Joe burrow

You know he's all excited to play flag football

Joe gets hurt every five seconds fingernail this fingernail that the pain of four and fifty million dollars

If you were the Bengals and you're paying him four and fifty million dollars

You're gonna let him go out there in the Olympics and play flag football where he tears an ACL breaks an ankle and he's out six months

Why I know where would you ever do that?

That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen in my life. He's the best corny one of the best quarterbacks in a league

He's always hurt

And then you're gonna allow in the full-around and go play flag football in some stupid

Nutty Olympic event in Los Angeles. I mean and we're with this three teams and Jaden Daniels is a wide receiver

Which I've heard about I mean is the dumbest thing I've ever seen in my life that man is always hurts

Always let's give you a wide receiver running around fields in his shorts on it trying to flip the stupid

Whatever it's called with flag flag

It's a flag football. Oh my god. I'm amazed and I'm amazed the NFL and the owners when the pain these players so much money

Are allowing this to go on

You can get hurt and you get hurt you lose the player these days here these ACLs by walking down the street

Number one

You're right

You're right. I mean, I would be very very nervous

I really would be you know what?

You we've seen plenty of people get hurt in the NFL before the season even began while they were just working out training on a football field

You know they did a non-contact injuries happen all the time

So thinking about it from that standpoint

I think you make a very very valid point particularly with Joe burrow who is just out with the toe injury for crying out loud

I think you're right. All right. No, I'll give you a shake

For one Joe burrow is not fingernail this fingernail that the guy tore his ACL he had turp to his heart check

He's problems that he's hurt

But I actually think this might be cast him a little bit. I was okay with it

You've been awful all day. I'm sorry

61 game

I know but not today

Funny funny you're learning how to do this

It's taking you a while. We're to get a little better

Hi

Number two, number two, you know, this is a joke with these NCAA games

Did you know that on Sunday night

In Tampa, Florida

The Alabama Texas game started at 1010

On a Sunday night. I mean, I got to go to work the next day

I got to show up with a little life especially the week before I had to be here to get him going

Think about that for a second

1010 at night on a Sunday night. We're going to play rounds with the NCAA and it's in the east coast

How about Thursday night?

Friday is a work day

St. John's is going to start against Duke in Washington at 710

That game's going to take forever. They go through the replay timeouts. That game will never end

That game is, you know, five to ten. You got to weigh a half hour

And then they're going to play the game at 1030 game two, which is Yukon and Michigan stay early in his own

I mean think about this for a second

That CBS is full. You can't play the game at 5 and 730

And then TNT on Sunday night. They have no ratings during the week at night

So they put the basketball on late night because they know they get eyeballs in the sets

But that kills me because I can't stay up for what the damn thing

And think about it. I got Yukon and Michigan state. I got championships all over the place

And then I'm going to do the same thing on Friday, Illinois, Houston

And that game is starting to tell on five. You know why? Because I went to rest to play at 730 in the same spot

They're going to call it time out and to turn out the officials forever

Well, the flagrant foul we upgrade. Let's see whether that don't be thankful again

Let's see where the ball got knocked out of bounds. And so as we thought this game's going to be over 1015

It's a hit between games and I got to sit there and Friday. I got a few things outside the wing that my errands

But crying out loud and that game's going to start so late now that story times the incident of my tournament are an absolute joke and they kill the sports fan

Number two. Okay, first of all this is Thursday your microphones follow whatever

So this is thirsty, but right now it's the same thing. I said that you kind of they telling you you come right up

I'm just pointing it out. There's your microphone. Go ahead. Fend it out. Go ahead Stephen. Hey, just keep it quick. Oh, oh stop

Will you stop whining

This starts off with 60 18 64 did it gets knocked down to 32

We want to see the game just because it's pasier damn bedtime get over it. I'll be watching the game

I'll be up

What you're whining about okay

Listen, that's a what and by the way, that's West Coast. That's West Coast

I don't see the last game starting at the 10 o'clock. That's not a crime

They're not starting at midnight

Relax. It's not a big deal

You're whining too much about it

You're in your pajamas and your little cookies

Half the time half the year. I'm on the east coast and not only that if not more than half the year

And I'm always watching games after 11 o'clock

Just because it's bad young bedtime that doesn't speak to the rest of the world most of us are up

Relax

That's number two. I just you have a comment about that. I mean, I'm on the west coast. So I think it's great

Number three this drives me crazy and I don't want to make our old buddy Michael KESPN

I mean think about it here if you're the yes network

Where if you're s and y yes network does all the Yankee games s and y does all the mech games

Think of all the great games that you don't have a chance to do

Because major league baseball in there and in their ever-redding search to get the old-modded dollar

They move the games around so tonight. Yes, it's done the Yankees for 25 years

They do basically every opening day. Where is the game tonight?

It's on Netflix at eight o'clock the home opener or the season opener Yankees giants

I mean G wizards band up. You got to find Netflix

But if you're yes, that does a hundred and sixty two games

You know Yankees and the freaking Tampa rays in August and they carried the ballgame

This is the big game for them and they can't do it because baseball realizes that the marquee game takes it off

Yeses plate and gives it somewhere else. That's not the right thing to do

And then tomorrow the Mets against schemes

Who the whole world loved in the world baseball class the parents met the city field the game isn't on SNY

No, no, no, no, no, no, no

The game is on freaking NBC and Pika

What's that's not fair here it is what you you can you leave all the garbage?

to the s2s and to the S&Y and then you take them more key games

Friday night on Apple TV how many times you see that

when they lose you know died for this and Yankees after the all-star break Apple TV

I mean it's not he got this there. It's not running. It's not running

You have to allow the networks to do the games all year

at least have some big more key games.

And baseball takes all the big more key games

from the regional networks and a problem somewhere else.

And that is not the right thing to do.

And remember, Netflix is a new deal.

When ESPN gets the game, they spend a fortune to do it

for 50 years on Sunday night, but that's different.

Netflix, when they're not doing Sunday night anymore, that's right.

But Netflix, guys, be crazy.

And the same thing goes from on NBC.

It drives you crazy because you can't find it.

But I mean, in reality, where have you been?

That's kind of what it, you take the big games

and you put them in the big national markets.

And unfortunately, whether you like it or not,

Netflix, Apple TV, all these streaming networks,

it's a national market.

That's where you can now find it nationally.

Because most people aren't going to yes network

or SNY if you live in another area.

Oh, give them Yankees boils.

Don't give them the first game of the year.

Punish them because they don't live on the East Coast.

And there are Yankees kids in city.

Give them the lousy game.

Well, why do they own the good games?

Leave those regional networks to go money, money, money, money, money.

That's my fault.

Leave it now.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Doggy.

I just want to make sure that I'm clear.

They're making this decision obviously because of more money,

which obviously leads more revenue

for an abundance of people, right?

Are you of all people complaining about that?

You?

You mean by that?

It might be clear.

I just want to hear what to say.

Are you complaining about that?

They're doing something for the money,

which obviously generates more money for this sport,

generates more money for the participants in the sport.

Not to mention the fact that even though they'll take a game

from the local network sometimes,

even though it's airing on a national network,

it's also airing on your local affiliates simultaneously as well.

My point is, that's a problem for you?

Yes.

That's a problem for you for that to happen.

That's the truth.

That's the truth.

You should not be on Netflix tonight, the season over.

That game should be on, yes.

Where the yucky fan finds the game.

Last year, that was on ESPN.

I mean, that's the thing.

It's going to be, it's open now.

It's going to be.

It's got a relationship with Facebook for 70.

And by the way, and by the way,

Netflix, Netflix, Netflix, Netflix.

Netflix.

Netflix, hold on, hold on.

Netflix is in 190 countries.

And by the way, that's assisting in baseball continuing to globalize its brand,

which is a financial benefit for a lot of people along the way.

I got an idea.

I got an idea.

When the Rockies play the White Sox this year.

No.

Netflix for the game.

They want to get fans.

Hold it out.

It's baseball.

Netflix.

I got 190 million people.

The big guy just told me.

I think you're wrong about the wrong thing.

You should be mad.

That tonight, we got Yankees, we got Giants.

And instead of having these big baseball names,

they have James Winston and the Usos coming on to talk about baseball.

That should make you more upset.

Like, let's get some maybe, maybe some baseball people in there to talk baseball.

That name.

James Winston on?

Yeah, James was.

He played baseball.

We got to go.

The Dodgers.

Looking for the three-peat.

Who are the top five friends to LA making it happen?

Jess Kamen does is going to stick around and call everyone down and tell us next.

Rich Eisen here.

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Welcome back to first take.

All right.

Today is opening day.

Lucky for us, Jessica Mendoza in the house.

She's got an A-list for us.

The top five threats that might stand in the way of those Dodgers going for a three-peak

Jess.

We need to point out that the Dodgers are like up here, right?

So way up and like, yeah, and then these are the five teams, the five teams that could

challenge.

Okay.

So Philly's Red Sox Tigers meds Yankees.

Why the Philly's that one?

All right.

So I love this Philly's team and Chris, I mean, I love them in the postseason last year.

I mean, this team, with their starting rotation and people forget, Christopher Sanchez,

he's Susan Zardo, what they did with him, and by the way, Zach Wheeler's coming back.

So you think of even Aaron Nola can be half the pitcher that he was, this rotation,

so exciting.

They're, then they're lineup.

You think about Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trey Turner.

I mean, this lineup combined with their starting rotation.

It's an exciting team.

It was on the side team last year.

They bowed out in the division series to the Dodgers, but I look at the biggest threat.

It doesn't actually come in the American League.

I think it comes in the national league with Philly's.

Now, I think what you're looking for when you're doing this and Jessica did a great

job because all these teams have pitching.

You need pitching to beat the Dodgers, okay?

You're not going to beat them like Toronto doesn't have that great pitching and these teams

have great pitching.

How am I putting the manners in here?

You didn't have the manners in here.

You got the Tigers because of the school bull and you got them because of Valdez.

Yeah, I remember Valdez.

I may have put Seattle in there, but I've Red Sacks have good pitching, the Mets.

You could put the Yankees a little higher because you still got Garry Cole coming back, and

he could beat the Dodgers in his dressing room.

But I'm curious what Garry Cole looks like when he comes back.

That's fair.

You know, we haven't seen him throw and quite some time Carlos Rodón starts the year on

the injured list.

And actually, what concerns me the most about the Yankees isn't their pitching because

I'm with you.

That's actually going to be their strength once those guys get back.

What is this lineup without Aaron Judge?

And that has been the question for a few years now, and I'd really like just rolling it

back.

Just rolling it back every year, sticking with this core Cody Belinger.

These guys, yeah, they can hit a whole runs, but a ton of swing and miss.

You have to have players that can put the ball and play a manufacturer runs to get the big

dogs at the top of the lineup up.

Yeah, good point, Stevie.

I agree with Jessica from the standpoint, looking at the Phillies.

You can make a legitimate argument that they have the most urgent roster in the Major League

Baseball.

They got to win now.

This is it.

Don Browski is back as your president, obviously.

You resign a Schwabba and Real Muto.

You got Lazardo, you got Sanchez, you got Bryce Harper there.

This is it.

I mean, you know, talk to fans in Philadelphia and whatever, they tie.

They tie to waiting for these brothers to step up.

And close the deal.

This is it.

And I think that the Phillies know that and the level of urgency that they have, I think

is different than anybody else in Major League Baseball.

I'm not sleeping on Boston with some of the changes that they made.

Obviously, Yankees got some pitch in.

I'm really looking forward to that.

Let's see what happens with that.

I'm not sold on the meds, obviously, for obvious reasons with some of the changes that

they made, even though I expect them to still be good.

But I think the Phillies are that team that needs to be the D-threat to the Los Angeles

Dodgers.

Otherwise, the season will be considered an abject failure and change will be imminent.

I think they know it.

And that's why I think that they got the best chance for anybody to be the threat to

the Dodgers.

Quick grades.

Really quick for jazz.

What do you got, Stephen A?

Give our grade.

Say what?

Give our grade.

Not bad.

We agree with number one.

I'm going to say, I think about eight minus.

Eight minus.

All right.

I'm passing.

Okay.

Thank you.

Because I put the Mariners ahead of Detroit, I would give her a B-plus.

I can't wait till they play each other because that is going to be a series we saw in the

postseason because I'm with you.

But I think the Tigers, they have that up their hand.

We're going to bring us back for when that series happens.

Hopefully, schoolboy pitches more than 98 pitches, but the season in the line, not really

crazy.

Can I grade on a curve?

About that.

I know what she's going to grade me.

Come on.

No blue jays on here.

No blue jays on here.

I know you mentioned the pitching problems with the blue jays, but they were the last team

we saw facing the Dodgers in a really competitive series.

So I mean, pretty much their whole rotation outside of Dylan Cease is hurt.

So, I mean, that's, that's a scary thought, but blue jays, we'll see that A.L.E.

is going to be fun.

Cease is the day.

Jess, love this happening, opening day.

Love this list and go every team with the Dodgers, right?

We're all together.

Oh, no!

No!

No!

JT!

JT!

In the meant bracket.

It's almost here.

Which team?

It's going to be a ship.

We'll tell you next.

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Another one seed in UCLA, that's at 730, night capped off by Duke and LSU.

Time for a quick take.

This one's from the Men's Tournament.

Archensoft, freshman, phenom, Darius, A cup, junior, and landed a signature shoe with

Reebok, the SEC player of the year became the first NCAA men's athlete to receive a

deal with a major U.S. shoe brand while still in college.

Essay, what's your reaction?

Love it, love it, he deserves it.

Do you know that since the SEC tournament began the last five games, not only is he

average in 30, you understand shooting for over 40% from 3.48% from 3.30%, average in

37, nobody has scored more points in the NCAA tournament than this brother right here.

I love it and I love the fact that he's at Reebok because he to me is the second coming

of Iverson.

And the fact that Iverson started with his career, I obviously went to Reebok instead

of Nike.

I love the fact that A cup junior is doing the same because when I think about what he's

going to do on the next level, I find myself thinking about Allen Iverson.

I love it, I love the fact that Allen Iverson was in that photo with them.

This brother something special, if you look at his jump shot, he even shoots like Allen

Iverson.

I love it.

I just love it.

Let's give Reebok a moment here and they haven't had one in a minute.

Let's look ahead really quick to the sweet 16, our A cup and Arkansas.

They're going to have their hands full against the one seated in Arizona tomorrow who you

like in the sweet.

I think, and I was a great comparison with Steven A cup and Iverson, I like that.

I think Arizona is still the team to beat.

They're in San Jose.

Now they have a beat Arkansas.

I do think they beat Texas Purdue winner, Michigan will lie ahead.

But if you're asking me for the team that right now, my life on the line, to win four

in a row, I'm going to take Arizona.

Oh, Arizona.

Very good.

Arizona.

I would definitely take it with my prediction.

I don't want them to win as I respect them and I like them a lot.

But I want to see A cup junior as much as I possibly can.

I want that man to win.

I just don't know if they can beat Arizona.

Yeah, they're tough.

This has been a fun day.

I'm very good.

And you're up to Michigan, aren't you?

No, I'm good.

Dougie.

Good job.

Good job.

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