The Summer of Sports

[00:00:00] At Alabama Take Projection Welcome everybody to Takin' On Sports, I am TD, that is Greg. Greg, how you doing man? I'm pretty good, how you doing? I'm pretty good, just trying to stay cool out here, you know, officially summer in, I guess not technically, officially summer in Alabama, but you know, you know how it goes. Alright, absolutely.

[00:00:29] Good one. That's good, let's see, I mean we got kind of a lot to talk about, a little time, we did it quick last week, but we can do it again, but I guess let's start, New York Knicks are NBA champs for the first time in 53 years. And did it with one of the more impressive playoff runs in recent memory, Greg. Where do you put them up in recent champs? Are they one of the better ones? Was this just a lucky path?

[00:00:58] Or did, you know, did they really earn it? Kind of team of destiny. Well, I mean, it doesn't, it doesn't seem like it's one of the greatest teams, but I mean, the results do speak for themselves. You know, many people will say, well, they didn't play the Celtics, but I mean, that's on the Celtics, they couldn't get past the 76ers. Nothing the Knicks did.

[00:01:27] I mean, you can only beat who you beat, who comes in front of you. And the fact that they had only, they only lost, what, game three of the NBA finals between that, being on with 2-1 to the Hawks. I mean, that's crazy. Yeah, like, yeah, only three losses total down, what, yeah, 2-0, were they down 2-0 or 2-1? I can't remember there.

[00:01:54] I think it was 2-2-1, and then they just blew out the Hawks after that. Yeah, just some, yeah, embarrassing wins, but, yeah, no, kind of with you, like, yeah, things made up, you know, it's kind of probably a little bit everything. Like, maybe things broke a little bit right for them, but, you know, like you said, you can't deny the results. And then also, they did have that kind of Team of Destiny feel.

[00:02:22] And we saw that every game of the NBA finals, I mean, where they were down double digits every game. Yeah, right, you know, 29-point comeback at one point, comeback in the clinching game in San Antonio. Yeah, we're 15. I mean, in the second quarter, like 13 or 15, it looked like we're going back to New York for game six. Yeah, it did. And just kind of the youth of San Antonio maybe showed in those moments.

[00:02:49] I saw some people, you know, maybe saying that maybe, you know, how hard San Antonio goes on defense, maybe gases them out toward the end of the game, and maybe, but also, they're young, man. Like, you can't – you don't get the gas out when you're young like that. Right. I mean, they should be in the best shape of their life, honestly. Yeah, I think ultimately what it was is just that kind of veteran, you know,

[00:03:15] the more experience of New York, even though it was the first-time finals for, I guess, most if not all of these players. I honestly don't know if any players have been in finals. Well, we know OG won with Toronto. That's right, that's right, that's right. He didn't play. He was hurt, but he was on that team. But, I mean, you look at the experience. I mean, though he hadn't won the title, I mean, Mike Brown has been around several. I mean, he, of course, was with Cleveland, LeBron.

[00:03:43] I mean, here, it's been several years on the San Antonio bench with Pop. You know, he's been around the league. You know, he had success in Sacramento, playoff success. So, obviously, he's been in the NBA realm forever. So, I mean, he has plenty of experience at the NBA. Okay.

[00:04:02] So, and, of course, but, you know, but, yeah, I mean, even though older, I mean, maybe more playoff experience, it's not like many of the Knicks have really been to the NBA finals either. And, I mean, really, it's a ton of pressure on him there. Right. Because you almost felt like if the Knicks don't win it this year with all the signs pointing

[00:04:30] to, man, this is the Knicks year, are they ever going to win a title? Yeah, right. Yeah. You got to have that feel to it. Yeah, it's one of those, yeah, the things have broke right for you. You know, you're getting, the Celtics are a little down. Indiana's in their kind of gap year with the Halliburton injury. Right. Things are just working out for you. And now they got it done. They got the title and the Knicks fans don't care how it happened. It happened.

[00:04:58] New York was party and wild. It's just some great videos to watch. I'm sure that parade is going to be insane. Dude, what is it? The Canyon of Champions or something? Yeah. Well, yeah, it's going to be wild. It was a wild night, as you could expect. I mean, really, should they have work tomorrow? Probably not. I mean, this is a wild weekend.

[00:05:28] I mean, but you got to think about, I mean, 73. I mean, to actually remember that, you have to be on the older side. Yeah. I mean, yeah, you got to be above 60 to really remember that. Yeah. Yeah. And it's crazy. It's such a weird thing because, you know, the Knicks are one of, like, the flagship franchises in the NBA, but they're not one of the more successful ones. You know, usually with sports leagues, it comes down to, you know, like, well, who's been successful?

[00:05:57] You know, and, you know, every other league, you look at, you know, the top franchises and you're like, oh, yeah, well, of course they've won, you know, the most Super Bowls or they've won of the most, you know, or World Series and stuff like that. And, but the Knicks have not. But the Knicks are always, you know, talk, you know, it's, you know, they're always in talk for the big free agent. You know, there's always been talking like LeBron going there or somebody like that. And just, they finally got the team aspect of it right.

[00:06:25] And, you know, only one loss in the series, you know, maybe a certain curse because someone was in attendance there. I don't know. I'm not saying anything. It kind of seems like it now. I mean, he's getting Ted Cruz levels right there, man. All that old Trump curse, man. Yeah. It's kind of funny that that's the only game they lost, too, that kind of makes you even more. Yeah, right. Even better if you're into that type of thing. But, yeah, just awesome.

[00:06:53] Team, I mean, that 29-point comeback, that tip in by OG to win it, unbelievable athleticism. I think I said something on social under account. But, like, I don't think we really admire the athleticism of these guys enough. Like, we don't appreciate. I think what I said is, like, we don't appreciate that these people walk among us regular folk.

[00:07:17] You know, and, yeah, like, obviously there's fandom and, you know, like sports are more popular than ever. But, like, just watching the pure, like, freaky stuff. Like, the athleticism needed on that play to time it upright, to run, to leap, to get the height he needed, to extend his arm and get just the right touch on that tip. Because anybody, you know, a lot of people can jump up there and just tip at the ball. But, you know, they might bat it away. It might not even come close.

[00:07:46] But he got exactly the perfect touch needed to tip that ball in. Because, I mean, a lot of people are watching that shot. Because for a minute it looked like Brunson had hit it. Yeah. And he was right on. Uh-huh. I mean, a lot of people are just watching. Like, oh. Yeah. Yeah, just absolutely freaky play. And then, again, the comeback again on the road in San Antonio just, you know, but the Spurs will be back. We know that. Yeah.

[00:08:15] And this is one of those losses that really sticks to the young team, you know. So. The only, I mean, the only thing you can't, the only thing that you say, though, you know, I mean, we all say, oh, they'll be back. But as we know, it's easier said than done. You know, there's been plenty of teams that we thought were going to, not that they won't, but, you know, it's harder to, it's easier said than done.

[00:08:45] No matter how good they are. I mean, just with the longevity of a whole season and free agency and eventually, and then injuries. I mean, it's hard to get back, but, I mean, they, on paper, they should have no problem getting back. But, man, it's a path. They're at least going to be one of the contenders every year, you know. Absolutely. And that's, yeah.

[00:09:10] And how they're set up right now is they probably have at least a five-year window where they're going to be in that talk every year. Yeah. And I'm sure, you know, now the talk turns to the draft and free agency and, you know, maybe even, maybe a Giannis trade before that. We'll see what happens there. Some rumblings that the Celtics have made an offer. But, yeah, you know, that's where we're at now.

[00:09:39] So, we'll see, you know, how, what does OKC do to try to combat the Wembanyama problem there? You know, what happens in the East now we have, you know, Boston will be healthier, you know, you imagine next year. But like we said, are they going to rebuild their squad a little bit? Trade Jalen Brown? Try to get Giannis? You know, what do they do? Indiana, Tyrese Halliburton. Yeah. I mean, yeah, I think, I think the Celtics are going to do some reworking there. You know, what happens in Indiana? Tyrese Halliburton coming back healthy. Do they, you know, what do they do?

[00:10:09] You know, the Sixers, they got some questions with Embiid and Paul George, you know. So, it should be, you know, how does Washington become, do the Wizards become kind of a contender in East next year with, you know, if they get healthy AD and Trae Young and add on top of that, you know, they got the number one pick in the draft. So, you know. But overall, though, I think that you have to think that the Pacers are kind of kicking themselves for that Zubac trade. I get it.

[00:10:38] But man, that was with a top five pick. Yeah, it's tough. Oh, man. But yeah, so it was a fun, even though it was a four to one win, it was a great series, man. Every game, like we mentioned the comebacks, just fierce games. Great competition. Yeah. You know, some tough, tough in the moments for the Spurs.

[00:11:06] You know, obviously, De'Aaron Fox is probably the scapegoat of everything. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Right now. And of course, you know, people are already like, oh, you're the first year. It's his first year. Yeah. I know, right. Yeah. Like, it was a learning experience for him, too. You know, and I think. I mean, it's his first, yes. He's been around. He's been on the Spurs bench. He's been at the NBA Finals. He got a lot going on. Young team. So, I mean, he's learning just like everybody else.

[00:11:35] But then, you know, the Spurs are not, at least we know the Spurs aren't going to make any crazy. Mm-hmm. They're not going to be, jump on, you know, jump on the fan bandwagon and be, oh, got to move. You know, they know what they're doing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. So, yeah, that's where we are now. NBA coming up. Like we said, draft coming up soon. Should be an awesome draft. I mean, based on the time. Oh, yeah. One of the deeper drafts ever. Yeah.

[00:12:05] So, we shall see. One that everybody will watch. Because some years, you're like, some years, some of the last couple, well, not every year, but, you know, there's been some years in the last five, and you're like, dude, this is a horrible, on paper, a horrible draft. There's no excitement. There's no trades going on. Like, everybody, oh, you got the number one pick? Sorry for you. Yeah, right. But this year, yeah. I mean, so many, you know, so many options, no consensus on who's number one. Right.

[00:12:36] And some years, you know, it's even like, well, after the top four, you know, it's like, ugh, but now, you know, it's. You can go 15 on this. I was about to say, if you got a lottery pick, you were doing good. And then there's going to be some guys in the late rounds, too, that, I mean, I've been here. And I listened to something the other day that was interesting, talked about guys that might slip just because, you know, like, and one of them was our boy LeBaron Phylon. And the guy talking about, I forget who it was, but he said, like, he could just because, you know, because there's so many guards.

[00:13:06] But he said he would be the one of those guys that, like, will make people pay if, you know, he slips down to the 20s or something. But I happen to think, you know, I think somebody will see it. I think someone goes. I mean, I would think he goes in the team somewhere. Yeah. But if, oh, man. But if you got LeBaron Phylon in the 20s, that might be the win of the draft. Oh, right. Yeah.

[00:13:31] I mean, that's a guy that can come in and just his competitiveness, his, you know, his fierceness, like adding that to it. Especially if you're a good team, a good franchise. Yeah, that'd be. It's on the verge of needs of peace, maybe. Yeah. Yeah. Or if he, you know, something where he could go in, not a lot of pressure on him. He could go in and be like a six man or a bench player, you know. Absolutely. That'd be a great situation for him. But we're getting ahead of ourselves there. We'll talk about that when that time comes.

[00:13:58] Lots of championship events going on right now. World Cup started this week and it has been a great one already. Our boys in red, white, and blue. One of the best performances in men's U.S. soccer history. Four to one defeat of Paraguay and their opener. Three goals in the first half jumped on them.

[00:14:22] A Paraguay team who's a tough defensive team who beat Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay in South American and Camdenball World Cup qualifying. A staunch defensive team. They're kind of not a lot like other South American teams. You know, they're not flashy. They're not attack minded. They're very organized. They're defensive minded. They're tough. And, I mean, we looked great.

[00:14:47] It looked – this is the first time that this looked like a Pochettino coach team. You know, watched him for years in Premier League with Spurs. You know, he's a guy that took, you know, lesser players maybe but got the most he could out of them. And they played this breakneck style. Very, you know, good offense to watch. You know, as, you know, my Arsenal's rival hated it. But they were, you know, no doubt a fun team to watch. Absolutely.

[00:15:17] And we looked like that. You know, I mean, Kristen Pulisic on that left wing looked great. Hopefully, you know, they took him out at halftime. Hopefully his little knock, he said he doesn't think it's a big deal. So, hopefully it is just, you know, precautionary or something. Yeah. He could come back. Obviously, Balogun with his two goals looked great. Great finishing. Gio Reyna coming in and adding that one toward the end with just a beautiful outside foot shot.

[00:15:43] I mean, yeah, like we said, probably the best performance of the U.S. team maybe ever. Definitely – The last one I can remember, yeah, where we looked that good was the 2009 Confederations Cup. Which is no longer an event, but it used to be kind of a World Cup preview. And it was the reigning champions of each confederation, the upcoming World Cup host, and then the defending World Cup champion.

[00:16:10] So, you'd get – I think it was like 10 teams total, maybe eight. I think eight sounds right. And it was just a little quick competition. And that was a year that we finished second place, but in the semifinal upset Spain team that would go on to win. Yeah, win the World Cup, who was in the middle of – I think we broke their 39-match unbeaten streak at that point. And that was – you know, that Spain team was considered one of the best international teams of all time. Right.

[00:16:38] They won Europe in 08 and then World Cup in 10 and then won the Euros again in 12. So, I do remember that day was just an amazing performance. But this one was a different kind. Absolutely. I mean, just phenomenal. Yeah. Phenomenal. And just the amount of shots on goal. I mean, you know, we're so – you know, if you watch – if you're watching – I mean,

[00:17:05] I can't say I watch a lot of soccer outside U.S. internationals, honestly. But, you know, in the past we were so much more of a defensive team. We don't push a lot. You know, we eke our goals at the end. A lot of drama. And, man, we just pushed it, got after it, you know. No, yeah. It was the intensity and the attacking going forward that you just don't usually see out of U.S. team. You know, we used to play – We used to sit on our hands.

[00:17:35] Long balls. Yeah, long balls up front hoping to get a bounce and score on set pieces. And that gets so – Yeah. And that gets so – as a fan, when you're watching that style that we've done for so long, you get – it's so nerve-wracking because, you know, any second it could go wrong. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. So, it was great to come out against a team that you should have beat and put them away early. Absolutely.

[00:18:03] And hopefully, you know, we can – a big game coming up Friday against Australia who are winners 2-0, kind of surprise winners in their game. Against Turkey, wasn't it? Yeah, against Turkey. Looking good offensive themselves, Australia. I'll tell you. Another team that's kind of known more for defense and playing the long ball. But, yeah, so that – all of a sudden, it's a big game. You know, it's a clear path to winning the group, too. You win that. You win. Yeah, you're two wins in that.

[00:18:33] Yeah, you're pretty much probably on top. You probably win the group there. Absolutely. And then elsewhere, just some other – you know, a good one earlier today between the Netherlands and Japan. Japan, the late equalizer. But a lot of ties. Yeah, a lot of draws. A lot of good ones. Ivory Coast with a late winner to defeat Ecuador earlier. Sweden up 1-0 on Tunisia right now. First game of the day wasn't so good. You know, Germany.

[00:19:03] Germany housed them. Yeah, roughed up Curacao. Curacao did score a goal, surprisingly, and, you know, had it 1-1 early. Yeah, it was early. I mean, Germany said not today, guys. Yeah. But some fun matches so far in this expanded World Cup. That Morocco-Brazil game was amazing. Yeah, it's been a good – we're only four days in. It's been a fun one. So, you know, lots. And now we're starting the four games a day part two.

[00:19:32] You know, Thursday and Friday got the two games. Yesterday was three. No, it was four yesterday, too, wasn't it? Yeah. Ooh, and you can turn on, like, you know, our game starts at, like, 10.30 a night. Yeah. Last night I was watching that Australia game was 9.30, 10.30 start. I mean, that's been legit. Yeah. You have something to watch pretty much all day. Right. Yeah, something to sit back to. A lot like, yeah, college football season.

[00:20:01] You got those late-night games. Yep. Just one last thing. So, definitely something to put on the background at work this week, too. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Let's see elsewhere. Also got Stanley Cup finals going on right now. Game six going on. Carolina trying to bring home the cup the first time. Yeah. They're up 2-0 with about 17 and a half minutes here left in the third. So, still a lot of time for Vegas to come back.

[00:20:27] And this series has been one of crazy finishes. It has. Just wild goals, weird bounces. Just a fun, another fun series. And then we're also, College World Series is going on right now. Kicked off Thursday. Our boys, Alabama. Or kicked off Friday, I guess. Friday, yeah. Yeah, our boys, Alabama, played their first game yesterday. Yeah, that was a rough one. What, a 9-0 loss to Oklahoma?

[00:20:57] 9-0. First biggest loss since 2002 in Omaha. But, man, you know, it was just one. It wasn't that we did anything wrong. They just did everything right. I was about to say, it was just one of the, it's baseball. It was one of those days you just kind of shrug your shoulders and go, man, that's baseball sometimes. Like, our ace didn't have his stuff. No. Their freshman pitcher came out on fire, had his stuff. Freaky. Sorry. We were, you know, we were leaving guys on base,

[00:21:27] couldn't get them home. You know, blowing up. We had a good opportunity. You know, when it was 3-0, I want to say. We had two runners on, nobody out, hitting to a double play. Couldn't get anybody home. Yeah. And we were hitting balls hard just right at guys. What was it? I mean, what is their pitcher's name? Cord Rager? I mean. Yeah, Cord Rager. Yeah. I mean, what type, I don't know what his parents were thinking about, but you just had a feeling.

[00:21:54] A name like that, you expect him to have a good day and probably the game of his damn life. Yeah. I mean, that's an Oklahoma-ass name right there. Cord Rager. It's a cowboy name. Like, what? He had a day against us. But it'll be interesting because, I mean, that night game, Texas got throttled. Georgia took it to Texas. So, two teams on Monday facing elimination

[00:22:22] and both had possibly the worst game of the season. Yeah, and their opener in Omaha, you know, it's kind of rough. What did we – Texas took two or three from us in Austin this year, right? Yeah. They took two or three. Yeah. Obviously, if we stopped from beating the OU in Norman, that doesn't matter. Yeah, no, yeah.

[00:22:50] We took two or three from them in Norman and it just did not matter. So – It'll be interesting to see what we do, man. Because, I mean, it's going to be tough because, you know, they're going to – that Georgia team looks really good. Yeah, they look every bit the favorite they are right now. So, yeah. That dude, their pitcher last night, he was dealing with, he had, what, 15 Ks? Mm-hmm. Yeah, and if they –

[00:23:20] Yeah. Yeah, if they get their pitching going, that's insane. Yeah, the way their bats have been going. We talked about that super regional against state. But if they're pitching, if they get their pitching going too, yeah, that might be all that she wrote for them. Yeah. Yeah, Austin this year, yeah, we lost 10-2 the first game, the Friday night game. Closer one, lost 3-1 on Saturday, but then a 2-1 win on Sunday. So, that's – So, who – It really – I mean, you look at both games.

[00:23:49] I mean, obviously Alabama and Texas can kind of just throw that – throw that game away. Obviously both teams know they're better than what they showed Saturday. So, it'll be interesting to see, man, because someone's going home early. Yeah, 1 o'clock tomorrow. 1 o'clock. Are you going to get out there or – I think – yeah, I think I'll get out there because – Yeah. Brave the sun. Well, it won't be that bad actually. I think it's only going to be like mid-80s, so it's not terrible. Oh, there you go.

[00:24:19] Okay, yeah. It's been much hotter days in the Codge World Series, I'll tell you that. I bet, yeah. But it's not going to be terribly bad. This coming up week is actually going to be a phenomenal week weather-wise for the Codge World Series. So, I think the highest we might get is like 88 on like Thursday. Oh, okay. So – There you go. Yeah. That's a good week. But, man, yeah, so hopefully get out –

[00:24:48] should get out there. And, man, if we could at least get to push and play Georgia, you know, that would be – well, I would assume Georgia. I mean, OU might, you know, but hopefully get another game there on Wednesday or Tuesday. Yeah. Well, that would be – you never know. It would be against the loser of that. We'll have to lose this tomorrow night's game between Georgia and OU. Yeah.

[00:25:18] Yeah. That's who, yeah. So, yeah, we play 1 o'clock tomorrow. Hope the Tide can get a win and not do the quick exit like Ole Miss. Unfortunately, they're gone after losing to Troy today. Yeah, Troy. Great comeback, too. Staying alive. Yeah, great comeback. They will get a rematch with West Virginia, who they lost to in their first game. West Virginia lost today to North Carolina. North Carolina is looking like a solid –

[00:25:49] they're looking very good right now as well. Yeah. You know, their first two games have looked good. I mean, we're – I mean, right now, I mean, it looks like we're getting towards a Georgia – a Georgia-North Carolina final based upon the first two days in Omaha, first couple of days in Omaha. And North Carolina has been one of the better teams all year long. Yeah. They went back and forth for the ACC. Yeah.

[00:26:14] But, yeah, so North Carolina is the first one into a bracket final. They await the winner. Yeah, it is. Yeah, they put up a stat, I think. It's something like – It's like 39 of 40-something. The team that starts 2-0. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, some crazy stat. Yeah, most of the champs in the past, whatever, 30 years have started 2-0. So, yeah, North Carolina, like they said, they just need one more win

[00:26:42] and they're in the final of the championship series. They await the winner of that West Virginia-Troy rematch. Yeah. And that will take place Tuesday. Tuesday, yeah. Yeah, Tuesday. Oh, yeah, tomorrow, like you said, 1 o'clock, Alabama-Texas elimination game. And then 6 o'clock, Oklahoma and Georgia in a winner's bracket game. So, but, yeah, it has been a fun tournament.

[00:27:12] Omaha has been good so far. It's awesome seeing, you know, like West Virginia and their fans out there, Troy getting the win in their first time ever there is pretty awesome. Yeah. I mean, really, baseball is the last sport, team sport, where an underdog can pull it off. Yeah, exactly, yeah. This tournament, yeah, the way it's set up. If you get hot at the right time, man. Yeah. Oh, it looks like Sweden 2-0 lead right now in Tunisia.

[00:27:43] Interesting there. But, yeah, there was something I did want to say, something about. Oh, yeah, that's what it was, man. I don't know who made the decision for these patches for the World Series. But, man, they are huge. Yeah, they are. Putting them right on the chest like that, too, like a lot of teams are. Like, why not just put it on a sleeve? Make a sleeve patch. Nothing wrong with that. You have the sleeve. Yeah, put it on the sleeve. Yeah, like a lot of empty sleeves out there, too. Just throw that patch on the sleeve. Is this a, did Isak get this?

[00:28:13] It's huge. Yeah, Alexander Isak with the goal for Sweden after a very disappointing first year at Liverpool. But doing it for country right here in the World Cup. Nice finish there. So, Sweden with an early 2-0 lead after 30 minutes there, the first half hour of the game. So, Carolina's still up 2-0 here, 13 minutes or so to go. But, yeah.

[00:28:40] It is just, yeah, it's just been a fun week of high-stakes sports. Absolutely. Yeah. You got everything on the line. I mean. Yeah. NBA final elimination games, NHL elimination games, CWS. We're getting to elimination games. Not quite elimination games yet, but, I mean, everything leads to an elimination and, of course, group stage of the World Cup. So, I mean, yeah, it's phenomenal. I would say, yeah, it just so matters.

[00:29:10] And then it's been fun, too, everything around the, you know, I'm sure if you're listening, you've seen something about, you know, all the tourists coming here, foreigners from other countries that are loving it and having, we got this German guy who was in the South and they're showing him Waffle House and barbecue joints. I mean, that's, I mean, that's what you, I mean, that's the stuff you love to see. I mean, with all the bullshit that's happening here, I mean, that's the stuff you like to

[00:29:36] still see, you know, just people having a good time, enjoying stuff without, you know, everything that's going on. Yeah. You know, that's what the World Cup is about. No, for sure. Exactly. You nailed it there. That's what this event should be. It should be, you know, a come together to a celebration of a game, a celebration of a bunch of cultures and just come together for fun, for the joy of, you know, coming together. Yeah.

[00:30:09] So, yeah, it's just been really cool watching all that. Like you say, you know, the news, all that stuff seems to focus on the negative aspect and while, you know, a lot of that deserves attention, but, you know, sometimes let's just celebrate the good stuff. Absolutely. You know. This is the time to do it. Yeah. And so as we get to, of course, the expanded World Cup, more teams than ever. A lot of teams that wouldn't normally be here getting a shot too, so that's fun. Yeah. Absolutely.

[00:30:36] You know, the one good case for, this is one of those tournaments, yeah, when they announced the expansion. I wasn't a fan of it at first, but you kind of see it. It's like, all right, you know, this is a little bit different than like the big dance expanding because, you know, the teams they're going to put in are, you know. They earned it. It's not. They didn't get there for being mediocre. Exactly. Yeah. And they're not there because they belong to some big group and, you know, this wasn't done, you know. It might have been, you know, it was just done for more money, obviously TV money, but

[00:31:04] like it wasn't done to get more. It wasn't like a few years ago when they tried to develop that Super League that would automatically have all the top teams in Europe and all the fans protested, which is, you know, awesome still. Yeah. Absolutely. I love that the fans actually got out and forced those clubs to back away, but it wasn't put on just for the sake of keeping the bigger names around. It was, you know, done. It was done for more money, no doubt, but they at least let the teams still play their way in

[00:31:34] because, you know, we look at it, we're missing Italy for the third straight World Cup, which seems absolutely insane to say. But, you know, one of the most successful countries in international soccer is not here right now. I mean, you get the likes of Curacao, you know. Exactly. Yeah. Smallest country in the World Cup. Curacao. Spain plays Cape Verde on Tuesday, I think, which that game might make that Germany Curacao game look ugly.

[00:32:00] But Cape Verde a better team than Curacao, but Spain's one of the favorites. Yeah. Spain's one of the big favorites. Them and France have been pretty much the running favorites. But yeah, it's been real fun. It's been awesome to watch and we're only getting started. So that's great. Yeah. Yeah.

[00:32:25] Like you said, you know, we got maybe we'll see what happens here in Las Vegas, but we might be losing this one too, but we still got a week of the College World Series. And then we got the World Cup. You know, baseball is really getting into full swing here. You know, it's still not quite, you know, super consequential, but, you know, things taking shape. I mean, we're getting closer to the All-Star break. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Getting all these commercials for, you know, reminding me to vote on players right now. Yeah.

[00:32:54] I mean, we're going to get there. And then, of course, we'll have the NBA drafts. I mean, it's a lot still coming up. Those certain things are coming to an end. We still have a lot going on. Yeah. Before you know it, we'll be at the SEC media days. Exactly. Yeah. It'll be football preview time. I mean, it's not one of those slow summers. No, it's an awesome summer. Yeah. Yeah. Awesome summer of sports. Trying to look elsewhere. I didn't really have anything.

[00:33:26] I mean, the thing that I saw last night, which was sad, but, I mean, from certain, not shocking, I guess, because there were certain things you saw from the past, but, man, Alden Schmidt died. Yeah. That's tough. But, you know, we know he'd been facing certain mental things throughout his time. Yeah. A hell of a player in his day. And, you know, by all accounts, seemed pretty liked by his teammates. So, yeah.

[00:33:56] Had some mental issues. But you hate men. Still a young dude. I mean, he was, what, in college. Yeah, 36. I mean, I still remember him in Missouri. Mm-hmm. Like, crazy. Crazy. And when did he have that rookie year with the 49ers when he had 19 and a half sacks or something? Oh, yeah. Just came out on fire to the league. Just crazy. Such a talented dude.

[00:34:27] Tough. Yeah. Sad. Yeah. Yeah. Sad loss there. But, yeah. Elsewhere. Yeah. I don't really see anything else this week. Trying to look. Yeah. Nothing else. Like, nothing else big happened. You know, the NFL trades were last week. Yeah. That was last week. Maybe. Yeah.

[00:35:02] Other than that, not a whole lot. I would say. Yeah. I don't really see anything. Yeah. Nothing major in Major League Baseball going on right now. There's a couple of, you know, like my Braves this week, you know, kind of injuries kind of starting to take toll. But still, you know, they built such a big league in the division that it's not, you know, do worry about Spencer Strider was pulled early from his other game the other day with the elbow soreness or whatever.

[00:35:32] And he, because he had lost velocity on his fastball. That's never a good sign. Oh, that's not. So, you know. But, yeah. Like I said, the Braves have only, you know, only five and five in their last ten. They still get an eight-game lead. So, that's how. Yeah. Which also just speaks to their start and how bad the start was for the Mets and Phillies. Yeah. Because the Phillies, since they fired their skipper and promoted, who's it? Who's it? Don Matley is their manager now? I can't remember.

[00:35:59] But since they started him, they had the best record in baseball, and they're still eight games behind. Right. Yeah. The Braves. So, it's just one of those. Yeah. Yeah. The Mets. See, even though they did beat, got the Braves, they won the series on the Braves this weekend. Still terrible. Still in last place. 14 games back. Still seven under .500. Yeah. I saw a couple pitching gems this week. The Dodgers guy.

[00:36:29] I'm not going to try to butcher his name, but the Japanese kid. He threw almost a perfect game. What? Two outs away from it. You got Miz in Milwaukee through an absolute gem. 15 strikeouts. His last one was 100 miles an hour. At one point in the game, he threw 105 mile an hour pitch. The fastest. Right. In like 20 years or something. Crazy.

[00:36:54] But yeah, other than that, I think no big decisions, you know, as we await, you know, NIL stuff and all that kind of. There's always something going on there, but no big decisions, no college football playoff expansion, nothing. Yeah. I think. Crazy like that. Where we're at in June, you'd think we're back to a 12 team playoff next year. I don't see it. It's a little too late for any type of expansion.

[00:37:21] And obviously for 20s, for next season, we might 27. But for 26, I think we're back at a 12. I just don't think there's enough time or enough people that agree. Because, you know, the SEC and the Big Ten are just going to bump heads. I mean, that's just where we're at. And they're not meant to get along. The cultural difference is everything. And so, I mean, we're just at that impasse. At some point, some will happen.

[00:37:49] But for now, neither has any reason to give in. So until then, we're 12, which is fine with me. Yeah, I'm fine with that. But I guess this week has been the Brendan Soarsby saga with states' attorney generals, Texas attorney general, threatened to get involved. And then the Oklahoma attorney general said, okay, bring it. Well, that's interesting. But at some point, it's like, dude, Texas Tech, just say you can't. I understand what y'all are saying.

[00:38:17] He hasn't done anything at Texas Tech. But come on. What are we doing? Yeah, at some point, someone at Texas Tech has to be the voice of reason. They're like, look, man, this kid bet on games while he was on the team. You can't. Personally, if I was a Tech fan, I wouldn't want him. And not because, you know, some outstanding citizen. Goody good. Yeah, not because he's not talented or anything. But, you know, also, like, there's been some people questioning, like, well, is he worth all of this?

[00:38:46] Like, maybe at this point, it's just because Texas Tech doesn't have another option. But I think they were. Yeah, they went all in on Swordsby and they don't have. Yeah, don't really have anything. But I would be worried if I were a Tech fan, I'd be like, how do we know this kid isn't susceptible to doing this again or throwing a game? Or, you know, if he's this much of an addiction, that breeds stuff. You know, that's where you get these, you know, point-shaven scandals and stuff like that. You know, it's weird.

[00:39:13] And $90,000, I don't care if you're making a lot of NIL or not. $90,000 for anybody. But a college kid with $90,000 spent on gambling? Yeah, that's so much, man. And it's just, yeah, that's. Dude, I get nervous when I throw $50,000 on a weekend. I don't mind doing it. You know, I'm just like, ugh. Yeah. Yeah, it's rough.

[00:39:39] I just feel like, of course, as Alabama fans, we're like, bro, our guy just went to the G League. And came back. And he got. Yeah, right. Couldn't play after a couple games. Like, this dude, I did illegal stuff. Come on. Yeah, right. What are we doing? Yeah, starting to. You know, I've never been one of those. Never conspiracy theorists. Never one of those. Oh, like the NCAA always has it out for Alabama. But, man.

[00:40:04] It's tough to look at that BDACA ruling and then see guys, you know, LSU get a player that did the same thing. And actually got drafted. Right. Real ways hold them. Yeah. Everybody's added in the offseason. It's been like, dude, they played international ball. Yeah. It's crazy. The dude at Baylor never got questioned. But it's all because Betty Yacob did, had a couple of decent. It wasn't even a lecture fun. I mean, it was decent. But, I mean, it wasn't like, oh, my gosh, 20 and 12.

[00:40:33] Yeah, we went three and two in the five games he played. So, it wasn't like he made our season or anything. Right. It helped out a little bit. But, I mean, I don't think we. It's not like he. I don't think we'd still be Michigan even if he did play. No. Yeah. I don't think that. I mean, we kind of got there regardless. But, I mean, yes, we may have won a game more. Maybe two.

[00:40:58] But, long term, I mean, Sweet 16, based upon playing Michigan in that Sweet 16 as a national champ, that was as far as we were going to go regardless. Yeah. Unless, like, something crazy. More crazy would happen. Or the band finally had some help that day. Right. Yeah. Tunisia pulls one back here. Tunisia with a goal. Wow. Yeah. So, we. Yeah, let's see. Coming up this week, like we mentioned, College World Series games tomorrow, Tuesday,

[00:41:27] Wednesday, Thursday if necessary, and then a break Friday, and then Championship Series starts on Saturday. World Cup games all week. Tomorrow's schedule, you've got Spain and Cape Verde. Then Belgium and Egypt. That might be a solid one. Yeah. Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. And then the nightcap is Iran and New Zealand. So, yeah. Then looking forward to this week.

[00:41:54] France and Senegal on Tuesday might be a sneaky good one. Sneaky good, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Senegal is a good team. Argentina, Algeria, the defending champs get their first match. England and Croatia on Wednesday. Oh, go ahead. No, I was saying. Did you see how Congo came into the World Cup? No, I did not. The line outfits, shit. Shit. They had coming to America outfits on, I swear. Oh, nice.

[00:42:23] Nice. They play Portugal Wednesday. Right. That's awesome. That's pretty good. I like that. Ghana and Panama. That may be a good day. Wednesday might be a good day. You've got Portugal, Congo, England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama, and then Uzbekistan and Colombia in the nightcap. But, and then that will end. Yeah, Wednesday will be the last day everyone plays the first game. Then we start the second games on Thursday.

[00:42:53] So, including, I see, big Mexico, South Korea one. Big, big one in that group. Big, big one in that group. But, yeah. And then, of course, next Monday is the NBA draft. So, we will probably be recording during it. But, yeah. I think that's everything I got. Man. Yeah. So, it's a lot. It should be a great week if you're, you got a little something for everybody, I'd say. You know. Yeah.

[00:43:23] Great baseball here in Omaha. Got great soccer all over the U.S. and Mexico and Canada. Man. We're good. Yeah. And it looks like Carolina, they're still up two and under five minutes to go now. So. I'm assuming they have it on lock and they'll win. But, yeah. But, never say never in this series, like we said. So, Tunisia pulled one back here. So, it's 2-1 shortly before halftime there. Oh, we're going to have a good second half. Yeah.

[00:43:53] Good second half there. Oh. Oh. Oh. No. Good defensive play at Carolina right there. But, all right, Greg then, buddy. I will see you next week. If you get out there tomorrow and cheer our title on the victory. Absolutely. We can't. Yeah. Let's at least get one win out of here. But, let's go on a little run here. Man. That would be so much fun to go on a run. I don't know if we can do it or not. But, hey. At least let's see. At least get a third game in Omaha.

[00:44:22] So, big ask. But, man. I mean, as good as our bats have been, you would hope that they show up tomorrow. We need them. Yeah. Yeah. We need the bats to come through. And, obviously, a decent pitching performance. But, yeah. Let's. If the bats can light it up and send Texas home. Yeah. That would be huge. Yeah. And then get either a rematch with Oklahoma or face Georgia.

[00:44:50] But, we shall see, man. That's fair. Other than that, buddy. I'll see you next week. Absolutely.