Carmen Vitali & Nikki Kay talk NBA Playoffs, 2025 Masters , NFL Draft, & So Much More!

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to Fox Sports.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Hello, and welcome into Fox Sports Saturday. I'm your host
Karma Vitally. I'm in for Alex Curry, who is out today,
but alongside me in the studio, I've got Spectrum La
Sports reporter Nikki Ka.

Speaker 3 (00:17):
Good party people.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Bye. I'm so excited. I think this is the first
time that like you and I have done the show
together in studio. You've been on the show when I've
been hosting, but I've.

Speaker 4 (00:26):
Had the privilege of listening to you from Afar, chatting
with you Afar, and now we are separated by a
mere yard and we get to celebrate the crazy weekend
of sports.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Say, we have a great show for you today because
we've got literally everything on the table here from my
alma mater making people mad at the Masters to.

Speaker 4 (00:45):
The NBA play you'reinating, no, you'urinating at Augusta please, and
and everything in between.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
You're all like dressed in like a golf golf attire too.

Speaker 4 (00:54):
We're great enough. I just had a shoot at Dodger
Stadium and I was dressing for the weather, and I
was like, you know what, let's sprinkle in a little green,
a little polo and look at that. We might as
well be an Augusta Augusta right now.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
I mean, my attire is absolutely not I would get
kicked off the course. But we've got a great show.
We've got producer Shay first time I get to work
with producer Shay Tackle, producer chrispher Fed, and Martin Weiss
at the news desk. So I want to talk first.
We're coming to you live from the tirerex dot com
studios here in Los Angeles. Tire rec dot com will

(01:30):
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Speaker 4 (01:38):
And make sure you check out the Fox Sports Radio
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Speaker 3 (01:45):
Just search Fox Sports Radio on YouTube and.

Speaker 4 (01:47):
You'll see a whole a lot of video highlights from
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videos on the YouTube.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
On the YouTube, you do, all right, I want to first,
you know, start with the most topical thing I think
just in general this week, which is the NBA Playoffs,
Because this is an incredibly important weekendlating, UH for the
Western Conference in particular, and you know it's been this way.
I think I feel like all season where you're not

(02:19):
as sure about the West, the West just seems a
little bit more competitive. Things are a little bit more
not not competitive in the East, but they're a little
bit more predictable. So the seating is established in the
Eastern right, all ten spots that have already been locked up.
That is not the case in the Western Conference. So
in case you guys need a refresher, the first, second,
and third seeds are all locked. That's okay. See the
Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers locked up the

(02:41):
third seed.

Speaker 5 (02:42):
UH.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
For the four seed, the Nuggets have to beat Houston
in their final game to secure home court.

Speaker 4 (02:47):
Wait, we should tell everyone to pull out their chalkboards,
pull out their white boards.

Speaker 2 (02:50):
I'm gonna say this is gonna get.

Speaker 4 (02:52):
It's that the Jiff from Hangover where he you know,
he's like looking at all the oh yeah.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, A beautiful mind, but with Zach Alfnakis, which is
absolutely more I'm more Zach Allenannakis than I am beautiful mind.
But the Nuggets have to beat Houston in the final
game just cure home court. In the first round, the
Clippers have to get through the Warriors. It up there
at their place, and a win with a Denver loss
means the Clippers get the four seed. A win and

(03:20):
a Denver win means that they play each other in
the first round. Lose, and the Clippers could get pushed
all the way down through the play in. So the
Clippers have like the highest variants I think of anyone
where they're either the fourth seed or they're in the.

Speaker 4 (03:35):
Play And weirdly enough, I don't think they can be
the sixth seed, which would mean a Lakers Clip Clippers
matchup in the first round, right, which I was very
confused about because I was like, Wow, we are finally
getting the cross town showdown. Once the Clippers leave the
building in Crypto, you know, and they move across town.

Speaker 3 (03:53):
But they can't get the sixth seed.

Speaker 4 (03:55):
It's either the fourth or fifth or seventh or below
I believe, or seventh I mean yes.

Speaker 2 (03:59):
And then you also have their going like their last
game is against the Warriors, and the Warriors themselves are
trying to avoid the play in, right, and if the
Timberwolves win the Wolves will be five, the Warriors six.
The Clippers get the play in there, you've lost me
on I know, I know they can't. The Warriors can't
finish lower than seventh though, right there's that amount of it,

(04:21):
and then there's the Grizzlies. Only path is through the
play in, but they can move into seventh.

Speaker 4 (04:26):
Everyone everyone's, you know, fighting for a seat at the
table right now.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
It's it's all the Kings control their own destiny, but
the Maverick Stone at the bottom of all of this.
It's it's incredibly like this weekend is going to determine everything, and.

Speaker 4 (04:42):
All eyes on that Clippers Warriors matchup on Sunday, right
the final day of the regular season, and I think
why it does have such weight because if the Warriors
do get the win, it will be a Warriors Lakers
first round matchup. You're talking about Lebron James, Steph Kirk,
Jimmy Butler, Luca Doncic.

Speaker 3 (05:02):
I can't believe I said Jimmy before Luca, but I mean,
you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2 (05:04):
It's like still being a laquer because they're not still
absolutely insane to me, My.

Speaker 4 (05:08):
Mom is it loves Jimmy Butler for his side quests,
for his NBA side quest. You know, she she's become
enamored with him, and she's like, wait, he's on the Warriors,
and it's like, you know, it's just kind of all
this movement is the Nuggets firing their coach this week.
I think the NBA met the moment with posts or
mid season drama.

Speaker 2 (05:26):
And like, if they're trying to get more people to
tune in mid season, they accomplished it with all with
the Luca trade. Yeah, with the with the Nuggets firing
their coach. But I want to talk more about the
Warriors it just in general, because how much do we
trust them if they have to go through the plane,
do they still have the shot? Because if you would
have asked me at the end of March when they

(05:47):
lost three of five, I might have hesitated and said, well,
you know, I don't know. I think they they need
that time off. Whereas now I'm like, well, they've been
playing really well down the stretch. Steph Curry is playing
as well as he as well as he ever has all. Oh,
he reaggravated his thumb.

Speaker 4 (06:02):
Now, yeah, a little bit of a finger injury. I
think I think it's nothing. I mean, obviously he wouldn't
reveal the cards if it was serious. Right, So with
an older team like the Warriors, the rest do you
get from not having to fight for your life in
the play tournament is invaluable, so I would I mean,
but then again, on the other side of the ball,

(06:23):
you've got Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers on Sunday, So
they're going to be fighting for their life to.

Speaker 2 (06:27):
It right when they have such a variety of what
can happen. They're right, they're the wild card here.

Speaker 4 (06:32):
We're gonna be sack that for that game after the
masters Chef's kiss.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
My other thing too, is now that the Warriors do
have Jimmy Butler, what does Jimmy Butler have a ton
of experience with the playoff?

Speaker 6 (06:44):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (06:44):
Mymy Butler plays really well at the Yeah.

Speaker 4 (06:46):
Jimmy is one of my favorite creatures in all of sports.

Speaker 2 (06:49):
So I feel like that's kind of a silver lining
for the Warriors of if they don't get the rest,
they don't get the rest for STEP's thumb, if they
don't get the rest for the older you know, their
older bodies, which is insane to say, because like I
feel like some of these guys are right. The silver
lining is that they now have somebody who is very experienced.
Although did you get Jimmy Butler to kind of avoid
this situation?

Speaker 4 (07:09):
I feel like you did exactly. It was a little
bit too late though, with him adding his magic touch
to their mix. But having seen the Lakers and how
they navigated they were in the play in tournament three
of the last four postseasons, and talk about an aging team,
You've got Lebron James, Anthony Anthony Davis at the time
who it's always, you know, a question mark when it

(07:30):
comes to just how the frigibility availability. It was always
nerve wrecking, but their savviness and veteran experience they normally
prevailed through those those play in games. So I would
bet on the Warriors. I think nine times out of
ten in any play in do or die, you know,
you tell you know, you take a one on one matchup,

(07:53):
are you gonna are you gonna pick the Warriors or
whoever's on the other side of the ball. And I
think looking at the other teams and just how inconsistent
they've been at the bottom of this Western Conference late,
I think the Warriors will advance through the plan. But
let's hope, let's hope we get a Warriors Lakers first
round matchup.

Speaker 2 (08:11):
I do think it's it's really interesting because obviously this
is where experience comes into play, and the Warriors have
all of the experience winning the Steph Curry even referred
to this game against the Clippers to end the season
as kind of a Game seven atmosphere, quote unquote. I
do think that all of that is going to help
them when it comes to Like, I'm not worried about
the Warriors and the plan, but I think it's the

(08:32):
ramifications of what happens after that if they have to
play the plan. It's not do I trust them to
win the plan? Of course I do. I don't Do
I trust them? Yes? Do I trust them to have
to forego that rest and still be okay and still
be viable as you get into the Western Conference, where
not only will you perhaps have to deal with the Lakers,
but you're gonna have to deal with one of the

(08:53):
best teams, if not the best team in the NBA
right now, which is the thunder.

Speaker 4 (08:56):
Right Eventually, Let's say let's say the Warriors get that
seventh seed in a place a play in situation and
they're going up against a well rested, young, feisty, scrappy
Houston Rocket squad. YEP, I wouldn't. I wouldn't bet against
the Warriors necessarily, But it's not how you want to
start your postseason push.

Speaker 2 (09:14):
No, no, because it's not like you get to you
get a break after that you go one to the
other end to the other depending on when you win
those series. But something that I find interesting between if
we're talking Warriors and Lakers, and this is what I
want to kind of get your opinion on too, because
you've been in LA for a long time, You've followed
Lebron's career. Lebron and I'm not one to talk necessarily
about legacy, but it's obviously very topical because we don't

(09:36):
know how much longer Lebron James is gonna end up playing.
If go with me here.

Speaker 4 (09:42):
Okay, I'm on the journey with you.

Speaker 2 (09:43):
If say we do get Lakers Warriors m M, and
the Warriors end up bouncing the Lakers out of the playoffs,
and the Warriors somehow go all the way and the
Warriors get another ring, which means Steph Curry gets another ring.
Then he will have more rings than Lebron James does,

(10:05):
which means that Lebron James during the Lebron James era
will now not have the most rings of his own era.
What does that do for his legacy? Do we then
have to start having the conversation that Steph Curry is
in the conversation with Lebron, is in the conversation with
Michael Jordan for best player, most successful player? What have you?

(10:26):
I mean, it's not as if Steph Curry hasn't changed
the game. And he's won as many titles currently as
Lebron with he got into the league two thousand and nine,
Lebron two thousand and three.

Speaker 4 (10:37):
And they've both had the same captivating effect as superstars
of the game that drew in this cult like follow
up from fans like both of them. And you're so
right and so spot on, and it's not being talked
about right now because I think both teams kind of
felt like they were on the outside looking in when

(10:58):
it came to championship chances earlier in this season. Obviously
things really changed drastically with the trade deadline. But you're right,
if Steph Curry goes on to win a ring this year,
he is automatically in the chat, if not superseding Lebron
when it comes to the ranking of Michael Lebron. And yes,

(11:20):
Steph Curry, because Steph did change the game.

Speaker 2 (11:22):
He did, and when he gets played, there's so many
kids going like growing up saying I want to play
like Steph Curry, modeling their game after Steph Curry. He's
also not only grown the game here and how it's played,
but also abroad. How many Warriors fans exist internationally now
essentially because of Steph.

Speaker 4 (11:40):
Curry, right, right, and and for all the for all
the small, small guys out there. Just kidding. I know,
Steph's over six feet tall, but you're right. But he defied,
he defied expectations and did it in a transformative way.
And I do think that legacy conversation, especially to Len

(12:00):
who knows how many years he has left in him.
I mean, if he wins a championship this year, is
that it? But then now he has Luca Bio side
he let me tell you, this man playing looks better
than ever it is shown.

Speaker 2 (12:13):
Luca was the best thing to happen to Lebron for
so many reasons. But I do think that it kind
of like it prolongs it could hit in his career,
and it could prolong his window because he's not having
to carry this team anymore. He's not having to do everything.
When it comes to this team, you have the budding superstar,
the young superstar conditioning be damned. This is something that

(12:37):
has now helped Lebron to the point where you don't
know anymore if this is his last year. It very
well couldn't be.

Speaker 4 (12:44):
And it is so interesting because I think there was
a lot of conversation at the beginning of this NBA
season ratings down, Who's going to carry the torch? Why
are we talking about the old heads still? Why are
we still leaning on Lebron in step to carry the NBA?
But guess what, I still find them the most competed storylines.
Even though the Boston Celtics are the ranning champs, number

(13:04):
two seed in the East, that you got the Cleveland Cavaliers,
the Oklahoma City thunder who I am very fond of
as what they represent as a franchise in an NBA
team as a whole, I am still so captivated by
the arc of Lebron and Steph and if it will
collide here you're.

Speaker 2 (13:21):
In the post. I mean, yes, I think that's a
huge storyline. I am very curious to see. You know
now that okay See has a little bit more experience
in the postseason under their belt. Recently they have I
believe the rating, you know, the MVP who should be
the MVP. H and Shay Kildess, Alexander. We didn't really
get to the East, but like we said, all ten
spots are locked up. Cleveland has the best record in
the league. Boston has the second seed, Boston has the experience.

(13:44):
They're still going to be I feel like the favorites
to come out of the.

Speaker 4 (13:47):
East, and I think right now, if you look at
betting odds, they're the second favorites overall. The Thunder the first.
And I spent the early chunk of my career in
Oklahoma City working for a TV station there, and I
observed what the Thunder mean to that city incredible, right,
and and the passion of that fan base and the

(14:08):
departure of Kevin Durant. I spent my fourth of July
reporting on Kevin Durant leaving Oklahoma City. That's how ingrained
this basketball team is in the fabric of who they
are and to see not only them have success and
win at you know, this breakneck pace, but like to

(14:28):
the culture of the guys, the young guys who have
bought in and led by Shay and on both ends
of the floor, what they're doing. I can't help but
be excited at their championship prospects.

Speaker 2 (14:39):
I'm very excited to see them go through this, and
I really do hope that it is them that comes
out of the West, and I think they deserve to
go to finals. I would love to see that, make
no mistake, But I do think that some of the
most compelling storylines surprise surprise, still still revolve around Lebron James.
All right, coming up, we are going to talk some
masters because Roy right, you know, right now.

Speaker 4 (15:01):
We'll cover it's here.

Speaker 2 (15:03):
You're listening to Fox Sports Saturday.

Speaker 1 (15:05):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to
listen live.

Speaker 2 (15:17):
Say you give me a runway on that one, guys,
Welcome back Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Carmen Vitalia. I'm here
with Nikki Ka. We're having a good time, and even
though we're having a good time, you can calm the
chaos with the shipping software that delivers. Use code Sports
for a free trial at shipskatestation dot com. That's shipstation

(15:40):
dot com. Code Sports. Be sure to tune into the
Draft Night Live on Thursday, April twenty fourth at eight
pm Eastern, that's five pm Cifix throughout the first round
of the draft insider Jaglazer, former Jets general manager Joe Douglas,
college Football Hall of Famer LeVar Arrington, and Fox Sports
Lead college football reporter Jenny Taft. We'll have pick by
pick predictions and reactions to every first round pick. That's Thursday,

(16:01):
April twenty fourth, at eight pm Eastern, five pm Pacific
throughout the first round of the Draft, live right here
on Fox Sports Radio, brought to you by ship Station.
And we were just talking about all the things that
you can't say on radio, and that read every single
time is like I'm.

Speaker 3 (16:16):
Scart station three times.

Speaker 2 (16:18):
Fast, exactly like I am getting an FCC violation if
I have to keep saying that. But we got through it.
We got through it.

Speaker 4 (16:25):
Part of the they're like, hey, let's walk the line.

Speaker 2 (16:30):
Let's get to some Masters, Niki because.

Speaker 4 (16:33):
A tradition unlike any other.

Speaker 2 (16:35):
I like, you know, I'm watching it yesterday, and you know,
I see the cuts and everything like that, so I'm
like writing in my notes, I'm like, okay, like keeping
track of all the cuts you've got. Brooks Koepka misses
the cut He's not the only.

Speaker 4 (16:47):
Major or not at these majors.

Speaker 2 (16:50):
It's like all in the five time major winner missing
the food at Augusta, Like this is the first major
he's missed the cutout since twenty twenty two, interesting, which
is wild? And then Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott, Sergey Garcia,
all of them didn't make the cuts. I guess Brooks
is at least in good coming.

Speaker 4 (17:05):
Yeah, probably all at an Airbnb together, Chill Rose being Rose.

Speaker 2 (17:10):
It was just like well, yeah, just like now, just
kicking back and then could you imagine but going into today,
Roy mcmcelroy sitting at third at minus six, it's two
shots off the lead, and oh my.

Speaker 3 (17:23):
God, are you are you ready for my Rory take?

Speaker 2 (17:26):
I am? Let me let me go through what he's done.

Speaker 4 (17:28):
So okay, yeah, let's talk about let's let's talk about
it all.

Speaker 2 (17:31):
He became the first player in Master's history to start
around with six threes. So whether that was a birdie,
whether that was an eagle, three shots on the first
six holes, oh my gosh.

Speaker 4 (17:45):
Yeah, that eagle on on to today was something special.

Speaker 2 (17:47):
And then he sits at mines led right now, he
sits at my time, But he was as as low
as minus eleven now, ahead of Bryson de Shamba and
uh And and Rose and all these guys. So like
what got into him?

Speaker 4 (18:02):
Good?

Speaker 7 (18:02):
Right?

Speaker 4 (18:03):
Right? And here's the thing with Rory I have. I've
been a Rory fan watching golf, and I think I
appreciated the way when PGA and Live divided he stepped
up as kind of the de facto ambassador and spokesperson
for the PGA tour. I respected that. I've always loved Rory,
always rooting for him, especially you know, the further we've

(18:23):
gotten away from twenty fourteen, the last time he won
a major, It's like, okay, is this going to be
the one where Rory gets it done? Here we are
this Master's twenty twenty five, all the talk Rory McElroy
playing the best golf of his career. You know, if
he can get past Thursday, which is where he is
traditionally terrible in at Augusta. Then he has a shot

(18:47):
and now we're here, we are moving day and like
I said, ten under my feeling about Rory though, is
he is the high school fling, the hometown love of
your life, as the town that you know what, for
some reason, you've always circled, You've always come back and
you know, had your little flirtations here and there, But
then no matter how close you've come to reconnecting, you

(19:10):
remember why things never worked out, And you know what,
maybe Rory here is in twenty twenty five saying, you know,
I've gone to therapy, I've I've made the changes. I'm
truly for the better. Carmen, I'm so sorry. I'm so
scarred from rooting for this man and truly rooting for
him that I feel like there's the other shoe is
We're gonna learn some tragic shark secret on on our

(19:33):
final round where he's paired up with Bryson Deshambo, which,
by the way, talk about an epic final pairing. You've
got the young, upstart Deshambo and you know, controversial heel
live Bryson paired with Rory McElroy if we get that,
I would.

Speaker 2 (19:51):
Say Bryson de Shambo is like mister personality when it
comes to he was the villain.

Speaker 4 (19:56):
He was a big villain, right, like right, and so
you get the mister Rightchou and Rory and you get
Bryson who's done a career arc of like. Actually I
love Bryson now, I really do.

Speaker 2 (20:06):
Because it's like that villain redemption. Yeah, and he's likable
exactly like he has the personality and he has like I.

Speaker 3 (20:13):
Watch his YouTube videos.

Speaker 4 (20:14):
I'm all in.

Speaker 2 (20:15):
You know, I will lean into it, especially like you know,
within this new era of golf, the live era of golf.
I think it's it's it would be good for golf.
I'll tell you that much.

Speaker 3 (20:26):
When you I mean, especially no Tiger this weekend and everything.

Speaker 4 (20:29):
But it's about time. We need to we need to
like love Tiger great, but let's move forward.

Speaker 2 (20:35):
Leave him to his social media tweeting tied Tiger staff
staff Twitter. But one thing though, I do want to
get to before we have to go, because this is
near and dear to my my little ASU heart, my
ASU brethren has made people mad, big mad this week
because a Louis Ballister he wore an upside down font

(20:57):
sun Devil's hat, and people are really upset about it.
But then as if that wasn't offensive enough at Augusta,
which I can understand all of this too, because he
doesn't he's still in college. He's literally an ASU student
right now.

Speaker 4 (21:10):
He's an amateur, and he.

Speaker 2 (21:11):
Doesn't have like the sponsorships, he doesn't have the obligations
to wear all of the fancy golf stuff whatever. I
actually I love coming.

Speaker 4 (21:19):
At it with a little bit of compassion. I'm gonna
come at it with some stern golf. Okay, you finish,
finish what else?

Speaker 2 (21:24):
Well, I was gonna say, if that wasn't enough, he did.
He did do something that I can't say isn't typical
of what I would expect out of an Asu Sun devil.
He shall we say, relieved himself in Ray's Creek, which
I mean the masters Augusta is sacred ground, and so
to do this is just like such a blatant disregard

(21:45):
for any sort of tradition or decorum. Uh. And I
understand why people are now, but we actually have Jose
talking about this.

Speaker 5 (21:54):
I completely Forgod that we have those russions from the
left of the tea box. And then I'm like, I
didn't really know where go, and since Jad had an
issue around the game, I'm like, okay, I'm just gonna
sneak here under river. Probably the people would not see
me that much. And then they caught for me, probably
one of the clubs that I really got today, like
real oued. So that was that was kind of funny.
It was not embarrassing at all for me. So if

(22:15):
I had to do it again, I would do it again.

Speaker 4 (22:18):
Uh yeah, yeah, you know, here's here's the problem there
whose like there there are rushrooms near each tea box,
like there were he walked away from Russia, and I
know he said he forgot. Also the next hole, I
think much more guarded in terms of like trees and
places to pop off and do your things, should you,
And like he did choose one of the most visible

(22:38):
stretches even though he thought nobody could see him.

Speaker 2 (22:42):
And also like race Creek is the thing, yeah, you
know the course if you know what Gusta like, you
know race Creek, right, and I just a.

Speaker 4 (22:51):
Little bit of decorum for like is is nothing sacred anymore?
Like come on, I understand, and I'm I'm typically one.

Speaker 2 (23:00):
We're having a college student on the Master.

Speaker 4 (23:01):
I know some personalities don't like when when football coaches
wear backwards hats or you know, and they think it's
a sign. I'm going to stay out of that discussion,
but I do think like, hey, we're at Augusta, let's
maybe elevate the fit a little bit. Let's maybe, you know,
choose some discretion when picking your restroom.

Speaker 2 (23:22):
It's a new age, no quote, no quote nights.

Speaker 3 (23:26):
Educate yourself.

Speaker 2 (23:27):
No, I'm with you here, I am, I am here.
All right, it's one thirty. Why don't we check into
with Martin Wise on the news desk.

Speaker 8 (23:38):
Roy McElroy still having a smoker of around through eight holes,
he's four under. He's leading the tournament right now, the Masters.

Speaker 4 (23:45):
That is justic case.

Speaker 2 (23:46):
You've been under a rock the last few days.

Speaker 8 (23:49):
Ten under. Right now, you've got a three shot of
lead on Bryson de Shambo, seven under. Right now, Justin Day,
Justin Rose, and Corey Conners all tied in third at
six under. Oh so was Shane Lowry. A lot of
people at six Scotti Scheffer's five under. Both of these
guys around even are two hundred plus and Justin Roses
plus two for the day. Shane Lowry won under but

(24:09):
again Rory four under through round three through eight holes
with a three shot lead ten under overall. Bottom of
the ninth inning, the Tigers have a four to nothing
lead over the Minnesota Twins. Top of the ninth inning.
Philadelphia leads Saint Louis four to one. Top of the
fifth on FS one, the Giants and the Yankees tied
two to two.

Speaker 2 (24:29):
Top of the second inning.

Speaker 8 (24:30):
The Blue Jays have a one nothing lead over the
Orioles Mets Athletics, scoreless through two. Top of the second inning.
Tampa with a one nothing lead over Atlanta started the
third inning. Top of the third inning, Marlins with they
won nothing lead over the Nationals and the White Sox
Carmen haven't given up a run yet. It's three, it's nothing,
nothing still bottom of the second ending. A lot of

(24:54):
baseball left yet, But you know you can't lowly looking up.

Speaker 2 (24:58):
From here hopefully well, your Detroit Tigers are four, are
up four nothing, So here you're sitting pretty.

Speaker 8 (25:04):
You know, some people say, you know, if the Dodgers
hadn't started the season three weeks before opening Day, and
everybody started to say maybe they wouldn't have dropped the
first couple of the Tigers. Let's see, but the Rangers
and that some people is really just me. The Hurricanes
having three nothing lead over the Rangers with eight thirty
left in the second period seven fifteen left in the
first period, the Kings lead the Avalanche one to nothing. Again,

(25:27):
Roy McElroy ten under your leader through eight holes the
third round of the Masters.

Speaker 2 (25:34):
Back to you guys, thanks Martin. Now, someone who is
also familiar with the golf world, someone who is everywhere.
She is the New York Giants team reporter. She works
for MSG Networks, CBS Sports, HQ. My fellow Sun Devil,
Madeline Burke.

Speaker 6 (25:50):
Hi, up, what's happening.

Speaker 2 (25:54):
We just did a whole thing about uh our Asu
brethren making people mad because Louis Yeah, oh yeah.

Speaker 6 (26:04):
I mean, hey, listen, he's representing our sun Devil nation.
Quite accurate.

Speaker 4 (26:09):
Least I was going to say, as a U. C.

Speaker 6 (26:11):
L A.

Speaker 4 (26:12):
Bruin, I would expect that.

Speaker 2 (26:13):
From the Okay, okay, okay, okay, I mean that's true,
that's true, and I love that you said pack tend Sorry,
well all right, mad, it's just it's you and me, Okay, Well,
I want to start your the Giants team reporter. You're
very plugged in with that organization. They happen to have

(26:35):
a top five pick right now. There are some very
interesting things, especially now with the Derek Carr news in
New Orleans. Uh, there might be some more teams in
the market. Four quarterback. Then, we initially thought the Giants
have addressed the position in probably the most entertaining way
they possibly could have so far. How are things going there?

(26:56):
What do you feel like is going to happen come
draft Day? Where are are the Giants' priorities right now?

Speaker 6 (27:02):
It's so fascinating to look at the way the Giants
are approaching this drafts because they could really go any
which way. I mean, yes, they signed Jameis Winston and
Russell Wilson in free agency and have perhaps the most
motivating pregame speech quarterbacks you've ever heard of. Aimen lots
of veteran experience there too, but that doesn't preclude them

(27:22):
from actually taking a quarterback even though people say, okay,
well they're good at that position. Russell Wilson's on a
one year deal right James Winston's on a two year deal,
So clearly they signed both of these guys with Okay,
this is not our long term plan, and that long
term planet quarterback still does need to be addressed. So
if they do love a guy, I don't think that

(27:43):
it completely precludes them. However, some of the comments we've
heard recently from Joe Shane, there's a lot less pressure
to go at the quarterback position at three, but it's
not a zero percent chance that they do that. You know,
there's still possibility that they go quarterback. There's still disability
Travis Herner if he's there as a player that a

(28:04):
lot of people in that organization really love. I mean, first,
perhaps the best player in this draft in Travis Hunter,
a duel carter. You know, you see that that comparison
with Michael Parsons. And famously in twenty twenty one when
the Giants packed on Michael Parsons, drafted Cadarius Tony and
you know, traded back in the draft drafted Cadarius Tony
and then also got Evan Neil out of that trade

(28:26):
as well. In hindsight, I think people, yeah, maybe if
we could pick between having Cadarius Tony and Evan Neil
or Michael Parsons, maybe should have gone the other direction.
But of course, hindsight is always twenty twenty. So there's
so many things on the table, and you know, the
quarterback position, of course, is such a big one. But
defense is something that you know, at the end of

(28:47):
last season, John Marrowin talking to the media, a lot
of you know, a lot of people remember how the
quarterback was a storyline, and hey, that's a thing that
needs to get addressed as well. But you know, marisaid,
quite frankly, he didn't think our defense played very real,
very well, and we need to make improvements there. I'm
tired of watching teams go up the field on us
and scoring so often. So the Giants have addressed that

(29:09):
quite a bit in the secondary. Maybe they do that
more at three in the draft. I don't know. We
got two weeks left, and every day I changed my
mind with where they're going.

Speaker 4 (29:18):
Every day is a winding road. Now, Madeline, obviously you've
got such a good in depth breakdown and I guess
big picture view of what this team is doing. But
I want you to get a little you know, hypothetical
with me and take me inside this quarterback room with.

Speaker 3 (29:35):
Russell and Jamis, and I.

Speaker 4 (29:38):
Mean from Afar it seems like, you know, Russell's message
might be best communicated through Jamis right, because his speech
is I am sat, I am hooked. Everything that man says.
I don't know where it's going, but I'm you know what,
the horses, the horses are prepared for battle. And I'm
just I'm just very curious from your impressions of the

(30:00):
you know, covering this league, how is this dynamic going
to work out?

Speaker 6 (30:06):
It's gonna be fascinating. First of all, I feel like
anyone wants to find a person who looks at you
the way Jamis Winston looks at a snow game, just
like the Disney Princess ball, and his eyes of just wow.
I mean, that man is pure joy. And when he
signed with the Giants, which was of course, about a
week or so prior to Russell Wilson, Jamis was the

(30:26):
first quarterback free agent signed, and a lot of the
players I spoke to kind of echoed the same sentiment,
like this is a kind of joy that his locker
room needs. You know, he is a really I mean
we see it as media members, as football fans, as
fans of the game. He loves the game, but he
also just loves the community and the teamwork element of it.
I think he's going to be a fantastic teammate in

(30:49):
that scenario. And then you've got Russell Wilson coming in
and this man in his introductory press conference, he must
have name dropped like every single Giants player on this
roster because he watches so much film and he was
specifically referencing plays and again, this is his very first
introductory media availability as a member of the New York Giants,

(31:12):
and he's referencing specific plays and specific routes and specific
elements of each of these players games. He's already so
familiar with the players on this roster. He's down at
Georgia Tech recently this week working out with Darius Slayton,
the wide receiver jan Dale Robinson, and then Theo Johnson
going into a second year tight end out of Penn State.
So he's working out with some of the guys already

(31:33):
this offseason. But he's also going to be such a
great example if they do bring in another young guy
or just as a leader of just what it takes
to be fully prepared and locked in for the task
at hands. So I mean, I think they really did
the personality hires are fantastic, but also to the skill

(31:53):
level and the experience level. And of course Russell Wilson,
he won his Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium and you
know a lot of positive memories there. So maybe that
good jujube follows along. We'll see.

Speaker 2 (32:05):
I'm sure that Joshane and Brian Dabile are hoping. So
I want to switch gears really really quick, because I
know you do work with MSG Networks, you do work
with New York Knicks. You follow the Knicks. We didn't
talk a whole lot when we did our NBA segment
about the East because it's already locked up. But how
are the Knicks going to make noise in this in
this playoff? In these playoffs when all the conversation is

(32:26):
about Boston, and then even with Cleveland having the best record,
then Cleveland and then then I feel like the Knicks,
what are the vibes right now for you? Where do
you see this team going?

Speaker 6 (32:37):
Well, the Knicks are such a fun team, right but
I think the biggest hurdle for them is the fact
that all season they haven't beaten any of the teams,
the top three teams in the NBA. You know, they
haven't beaten the Celtics, they haven't beaten the cab, they
haven't beaten the Center. And they came close the other
night last week at Madison Square Garden in overtime, but
lost to the Celtics. And I think that right there

(32:58):
was such a gut punch because going into the postseason
with at least one win, even if it took an
extra period to get it would have been helpful. You know,
they had Brunson back and they're like, Okay, we're at
full strength. We can do this now. Of course it's
different in the seven game series. But if you look
at the narrative following the Knicks going into the postseason,
as they are a very good team and even better

(33:19):
so now that Brunson has returned. However, they have struggled
against the best of the league. So can they get
over the hump or will this be another really fun,
energetic first round with maybe a second round exit. Really
depends on how it all shakes out.

Speaker 2 (33:37):
Well, Madeline, I really appreciate you taking time a way
to talk to us. Thank you so much.

Speaker 4 (33:43):
Duit up for battle, Madeline, I mean, enjoy the masters.
I hope you can tasks I'm so jealous, yes.

Speaker 6 (33:50):
And I am looking forward to I feel like, you know,
somebody jump you know, Matt.

Speaker 2 (33:57):
Mad that someone who worked with Jamis for like three
four years. You're gonna have a blast with them. So holy,
so much fun. Thank you so much for joining us.
Coming up next, it's the Dues and the Don'ts of
the week you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Speaker 1 (34:11):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Jason Smith
Show with Mike Harmon weekdays at ten pm Eastern, seven
pm Pacific.

Speaker 2 (34:19):
Welcome back in you Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Carmen Vitally.
I'm here with Nikki Kay. We're having a great time.
We're talking about everything because everything is going on today.

Speaker 4 (34:29):
And remember, yeah, you can stream this show in all
of our Fox Sports Radio shows live twenty four to
seven in the new and improved iHeartRadio app. Just search
Fox Sports Radio in the app to stream us live.
And one of the newest features in the app is
that you can select Fox Sports Radio as one of
your presets, just like the presets on our radio dial.
So be sure to preset Fox Sports Radio in the

(34:50):
iHeartRadio app and it'll always pop up at the top
of your screen.

Speaker 2 (34:55):
You've in that right now, we're all just going back
to analog. I miss the buttons. That's why I miss
having a BlackBerry. I miss having a BlackBerry over an
iPhone because like I did, just like sit there and
I could feel the keys.

Speaker 4 (35:06):
You were one of those those girls who could just
be table absolutely breaking news in high school.

Speaker 2 (35:12):
Yeah, I was doing like well. I I was also
the girl in high school that like ran the earpod
up in through my sleeve and like laid on last
I listen to Cubs games in VA baseball games in general,
like during class I was. I was resourceful.

Speaker 4 (35:28):
You committed to the bit. I love it, but it's
not a bit because you're here now, Well what is
a bit?

Speaker 2 (35:33):
Yeah, we're going to get to the de in the
don'ts of the week.

Speaker 1 (35:37):
Highlight that putting a spotlight on the don't the subject
brings me no joy.

Speaker 2 (35:44):
That that's insane.

Speaker 1 (35:46):
It's time for the dues and the don'ts in sports.

Speaker 2 (35:49):
Okay, So I have a do okay to start out?
Uh do you? In fact, because Caitlin Clark was on
with David Letterman on his show, and there is a
quote that came from this interview that is just absolutely iconic,
but also just proves that Kaitlin Clark is She's doing her,
but she's also doing the like we're all Kitlyn Clark

(36:10):
in this. He asks her, He asked her like, why
are you the way you are? And she just goes,
because I'm insane? And if that response hasn't verbatim come
out of my mouth, like why am I the way
that I am? I'm insane?

Speaker 4 (36:26):
The amount of times I've used the word masochist in
my life, it's a little bit disproportionate to how they
should be, Like I just I've leaned on that as
an explanation for why I am the way I am.

Speaker 2 (36:39):
So Yes, because I'm insane, I feel like everybody, especially
in this industry, or I mean, and I think it's
to a completely other degree when you're talking about the
greatest what who could be one of the greatest WNBA
players of all time, one of the greatest women's college
players that we've ever seen. To get to those levels
like you talk about the Kobe's, the Jordan's, the Lebron's,

(37:01):
the Tigers, like you, guys, all you have to be
a sociopath in the best way. I said that about
Tom Brady. Also time I said about Tom Brady getting
to watch him for two years in Tampa when I
was with the team and seeing the way he prepares
and practices and just lives life. I'm like, he's a sociopath,
but in the best way.

Speaker 3 (37:17):
I'm going to take this moving forward as do be psychotic?

Speaker 2 (37:20):
Yeah, you know what, maybe that would that would have
been a better one.

Speaker 4 (37:23):
I love that.

Speaker 2 (37:23):
Do you care?

Speaker 3 (37:24):
Okay?

Speaker 4 (37:24):
So my do is going to come in the form
of a question to you, Carmen. So it's Master's weekend.
Are we do aka yes on the pimento cheese sandwich?
Or do on the egg salad sandwich?

Speaker 2 (37:39):
It's a really funny story. I was allergic to eggs
growing up, Okay, so I never ate them, and I've
grown out of that allergy. However, there is no consistency
like an egg, so it really weirds me out. So
like I've graduated. I'm such a baby. I've graduated. Scrambled eggs.
Egg salad is way too advanced.

Speaker 4 (37:57):
You know what, a bridge too far understandable. Eggs are
kind of a funky concept if you think about them
too long and hard.

Speaker 2 (38:03):
Mass producer.

Speaker 4 (38:03):
Yeah, yeah, and let's Prevento cheese.

Speaker 2 (38:06):
You can make a big vat of it and you
just spread it on and like that's great.

Speaker 4 (38:09):
You could be do on the ice cream sandwiches.

Speaker 2 (38:11):
Oh absolutely, okay, I do. And I am due on
the prices on the prices at the Masters. Okay, I
have another I guess don't okay, because we're going to
get to this with our next guest next hour, however,
and like I'm probably going to butcher his name, but

(38:32):
the Tennessee quarterback University of Tennessee, Nico Yamalavava. I know,
adding in there, I am Ala, I am Aliyaba. Thank you,
Technical producer, Chris Perfect.

Speaker 1 (38:47):
I might have gotten the first part a little bit
wrong there, but it is.

Speaker 2 (38:51):
Yeah, I am Aliaba wanted a new deal quote unquote,
and so I'm like, don't get too ahead of yourself here.
I you know, it's the nil era. I know it's
an era that we haven't seen before in college sports,
but we have to. It can't just be the Wild
West anymore. And you can't just be like, oh, I'm
going to hold out till I get a new deal.
If you're gonna hold out and get a new deal,
guess what you're gonna have the the other consequences that

(39:14):
NFL players can have, which is you can get cut,
and that's exactly what Tennessee did. We're going to get
into that Michael Junior next hour. But don't get hut
of yourself, dude, don't get too full of yourself. I
am this is arian. This is a very interesting scenario,
and I'm very excited to unpack it.

Speaker 4 (39:28):
It's a professional league now, and we're going to get
to this a little bit more later flesh it out.
But I'm gonna say, let's just say you're forty years old,
you're in the best shape of your life, or you
continue to be in the best shape of your life.
You're one of the best NBA players of all time,
and you look good without your shirt off. I'm gonna say,
don't listen to the haters. Don't put that shirt on when.

Speaker 2 (39:47):
You're warming That sounds weird.

Speaker 4 (39:49):
Ron James, don't listen to Isaiah Thomas if you need
to warm up without your shirt on in an emptycrypto
dot com Marena, you do you so do? You? Don't
listen to the doubters.

Speaker 2 (40:00):
All right, y'all, we have a great next hour coming up.
So please stick around, don't go anywhere. This is Fox
Sports Saturday. Welcome back in to hour two of Fox
Sports Radio. I'm common Vitally in for Alex Curry, who
is out today is I'm in the host chair and
next to me in studio, Nikki Kay, how are you?

Speaker 4 (40:22):
I couldn't be better having about to be here. I'm
having the best time. Great no better way to spend
such an exciting weekend. We got the NBA playoff race,
the hockey playoff race. We've got the Masters on.

Speaker 2 (40:34):
Yeah, we got a hockey update for Martin Weiss right
that we never get to talk about hockey. I would
love to talk more about hockey, but nobody I feel
like cares about it like I grew up in the Midwest.
So that's why tuer jam hockey people. Sure, jam, it
is my jam. We had Madelenburg Giants reporter on last hour.
Coming up this hour, we have Mike Gullick Junior, who's
always a great time. But we are broadcasting live from

(40:56):
the tirec dot Com studios. Tirerec dot Com will help
you get there. An unmatched selection in fast free shipping,
free rose, road hazard protection and over ten thousand recommended
installers tire at dot com. Wait, tire buying should be
love it. Ship Station. Oh it's your turn.

Speaker 4 (41:11):
Oh ship station all right, I'm new here. Okay, here
we go.

Speaker 2 (41:17):
Pull up good gopeed.

Speaker 4 (41:18):
Calm the chaos with the shipping software that delivers. Use
code Sports for a free trial at shipstation dot com.
That's shipstation dot com Code Sports, and be sure to
tune into Draft Night Live on Thursday, April twenty fourth
at eight pm Eastern, five pm Pacific throughout the first
round of the draft. Insider Jay Glazer, former Jets general

(41:40):
manager Joe Douglas, college football Hall of Famer LeVar Arrington,
and Fox Sports lead college football reporter Jenny Taft will
have pick by pick predictions and reactions to every first
round pick. That's Thursday, April twenty fourth, at five eastern
or eight eastern five Pacific throughout the first round of
the Draft, live right here on Fox Sports Radio, brought

(42:02):
to you by ship Station.

Speaker 2 (42:05):
If you're with us. Last hour, I talked about how
that read in particular is going to give me an
FCC violation before the event.

Speaker 4 (42:11):
Literally, you know, say it five times to ast.

Speaker 1 (42:14):
Uh.

Speaker 4 (42:15):
I can't believe I made it through.

Speaker 2 (42:16):
Did you did?

Speaker 4 (42:17):
You did a fantasticbulations.

Speaker 2 (42:19):
It did a fantastic job.

Speaker 1 (42:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (42:20):
You never You never really realized what goes into this
until you're in the host chair and you're like, okay,
all right, I gotta do these reheats, all right, I
want to get to for everything that's going on right now.
The NFL said, all right, like count us in more
importantly or more specifically Derek Carr. So that count me
in because Derek Carr, now apparently quarterback of the New

(42:41):
Orleans Saints, is dealing with a shoulder injury that casts
doubt on his availability for the twenty twenty five season. Now,
if you'll recall, his twenty twenty four season was cut
short with injury. Also, I don't understand how you pop
up with a shoulder injury at this point of the
off season when you're not even on the field with
the coaches and going through pres This is both sides

(43:01):
are apparently mulling surgery quote unquote, this is all reported
by the you know, the usual suspects, the insiders, Ian Rappaport,
Adam Schefter, Diana Rossini, and in fact, Diana Rossini said
that there's a lot of people around the league, as
myself as well as myself wondering if there's more to
this story?

Speaker 4 (43:18):
Right, And that was my first reaction to the story
was how peculiar the timing of a news drop like this, right,
because I don't I would be a fool to think
that Derek Carr's going through motions that would all of
a sudden aggravate or put it, you know, put up
for question.

Speaker 3 (43:38):
The need for a surgery like this.

Speaker 4 (43:39):
So why, why now.

Speaker 2 (43:41):
Why now? Where did it come from? How in the
world did you not know about this prior? You can't
like these Saints don't have an out in Derek Carr's contract.
They pushed a bunch of money down the line so
that his dead cap this year is absolutely unsustainable, especially
if you're the New Orleans Saints, who are just perpetually
in cap hell every single year. This would But now,

(44:01):
all of a sudden, it's mid April and you may
need a quarterback. They have Spencer Ratler, which if you
believe in, if you're very online termally online like I am.
There was some talk about the agenda where there was
a contingent of Saints fans that wanted Spencer Ratler to
start over Derek Carr. He might have the chance to
now just because Derek Carr may not be available after all.

(44:22):
It completely kind of changes the landscape of then how
we look at the first round of the draft, because
the Saints have a top ten pick. But if you're
talking about, like if you assume cam Ward goes to
the Tennessee Titans, then you have Shadura Sanders, who has
your quarterback two pretty much, or I mean you could
argue for Jackson Dart I suppose, but quarterback two is

(44:43):
kind of widely accepted to be Shadura Sanders. He has
to clear now multiple teams that could possibly need a
quarterback on his way down to nine. And if that's
the case, and now you're set, if you're New Orleans
on drafting Shadore, now you have to talk about a
trade up, right, So that's it changes the entire landscape
now of the first round.

Speaker 4 (45:02):
It's fascinating, truly. I know you mentioned New Orleans has
a top ten pick and top ten being there ninth, right,
not that right. There is a lot of things that
would have to go their way for Schaudur to ultimately
fall to ninth. So I would expect them to be aggressive.

Speaker 2 (45:19):
They haven't drafted a quarterback in the first round. The
Saints have not in fifty four years. Wow, they haven't
done because if I think a lot of people, like
if you, if you think back to the whole Drew
Brees thing, like, they didn't draft Drew Brees. They traded
for him. So for as good of a quarterback as
he ended up being for them, they did not draft
Drew Brees. So it's it's it changes everything when it

(45:41):
comes to talking about even like the top five picks,
and yeah, staying at nine, even though I don't think
any of us, I guess if you're signing value, think
of Shaudar Sanders as a top ten pick. We know
quarterbacks rise based on need, and now there are multiple
teams in the top ten before that number nine pick
that the Saints have that could need a quarterback or
could take a quarterback, and you have to get creative

(46:03):
if you're the New Roland Saints.

Speaker 4 (46:04):
At this point that being said, I was going to
run you through a little drill here. Oh and I
was gonna say, let's do for kicks and giggles a
fun little moment. Yeah, I'm learning quickly. I maybe late
to the ship station, but I bought that one. Hey,
so I was I was saying it'd be fun to

(46:26):
go through, you know, a top five mock draft.

Speaker 2 (46:29):
It is the season. I've already done a bunch of mocks.

Speaker 4 (46:33):
I'm gonna make you, Carmen, the GM of each of
these teams, and I'm going to put you on the clock.

Speaker 3 (46:38):
And you can even tell me if you think there's.

Speaker 4 (46:41):
Gonna be a movement. And you know, hey, maybe instead
of the Pats, that four were getting the Saints. But
let's let's proceed forward on the beats. All right, Welcome
to the twenty twenty five Fox Sports Radio mock Draft.
Carmen Vitally with the number one overall pick. The Tennessee

(47:02):
Titans are on.

Speaker 2 (47:03):
The clock, and they should not need this full time
to arrive at the conclusion that they're taking quarterback cam
Ward from Miami. This is kind of a foregone conclusion.
Tennessee needs the quarterback. For as much smoke as there's
been of like, oh well, maybe they'll trade down, they
just want to drive the price up of the first
overall pick. You don't have any other contingency plan, and
I truly do believe that even if you know you

(47:26):
had a better quarterback class, cam Ward is still going
to be a.

Speaker 4 (47:29):
Great line over.

Speaker 2 (47:31):
Yes, Okay, so cam Ward quarterback.

Speaker 4 (47:33):
Sign steal delivered and with number two, the Cleveland Browns
are selecting Travis Hunter. Travis Hunter, do you quarterback.

Speaker 2 (47:43):
Slash wide receiver out of the University of Colorado? Do
I think he's.

Speaker 3 (47:48):
Going to be playing both ways in the NFL?

Speaker 2 (47:50):
So I think it's interesting because I don't know how
to staate like there's a reason we haven't seen that
and like in a long time, right, and you think
of the era where this was, this did happen when
you talk about like the NFL wasn't what it is
now as far as the preparation, as far as how
many prices signs. I do realize that they don't do
two a days anymore in training camp. But if you

(48:14):
think about the season itself and just how kind of
regimented everything is between the meetings and all of that,
it's not just the stamina that Travis Hunter would need
to play both ways. It's also the mental side of things,
because there is a huge jump from the college game
to the NFL game. For as similar as they look
on paper playing them. Any player will tell you there

(48:36):
is a grace period you need, There is a learning
curve that you have trying to get used to NFL competition,
to the NFL playbook, to the way coaches want you
to play. And for that reason, I think it's extremely
hard in today's NFL to have a true two way player. Now,
does that mean that he won't play on both sides
of the ball. I don't think so. I think that

(48:56):
would be just.

Speaker 4 (48:57):
Maybe immediately right, let him get his under him. Welcome
to the league, young man.

Speaker 2 (49:02):
You know, I think that the fact that he plays
mirroring positions, and I've talked about this before, where he
plays wide receiver and cornerback, which mirror each other on
the field. Playing each of those makes him better at
the other one. So being a corner and makes him
a better wide receiver. Being a wide receiver makes him
a better corner. And I do think that whatever team
gets him is going to use him primarily as a corner,

(49:25):
but have packages for him on offense because that is
such a fun.

Speaker 4 (49:29):
It's so it's so awesome.

Speaker 2 (49:31):
It's it's a cheat code that no one else has, right,
And so I do think that like, and then because
of that experience, I think that he can be and
I know Mena Kimes have said this before too, he
can be a Pro Bowl caliber All Pro corner within
his first couple of years of the league because he
has that experience. So I think as soon as you possibly,

(49:51):
like any team possibly can That's why I think he's
gonna go second. Like, do the Cleveland Browns need a
corner yees shirt? Do they need a receiver?

Speaker 6 (49:57):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (49:57):
Shirt? Do they need other things? Absolutely, you cannot pass
on a player like.

Speaker 4 (50:02):
Jobshah one of one. All right, love that the pick
is in. Okay, number three, the New York Giants are
on the clock.

Speaker 2 (50:08):
We heard from Madeline Burke, who is the Giants team
reporter last hour, and she said, for as much as
the moves that they made getting Jameis Winston Russell Wilson
doesn't preclude them from maybe taking a quarterback at this
a number three overall, she does think there's a lot
to be said for the defense, and their owner John
Mara said, yeah, defense was not what we wanted it
to be last year. I am going with Abdul Carter

(50:30):
Penn State Dresher, he is I think the best player
in this draft, which again doesn't mean that he goes
first overall. We know that because of need and all
of that other stuff. But like I think Abdul Carter
is an incredible player and he's ready now.

Speaker 4 (50:44):
So far, the Saints are looking okay, okay, all right,
So with the fourth overall pick, the New England Patriots.
They've got their quarterback.

Speaker 2 (50:52):
They do. And I love Drake May. I've loved Drake May.
He was one of my draft rushers last year. But
here's where I think things could get a little tricky,
where like maybe the Saints want to jump the Jets,
for instance, like outside of the top five, but like
to get into the top five to get shudder. I
think that the Patriots, given all the holes that they have,
are one of those teams that you could potentially see
trading out. However, I did not have them trading out.

(51:14):
I just had them taking defensive tackle Mason Graham auto Christ.

Speaker 4 (51:18):
They could be a potential, you know, willing partner to
dance with the Saints to rest.

Speaker 2 (51:23):
But I just I mean, I do think that Mason
Graham best defensive tackle in this class out of Michigan.
I think he's a phenomenal player. That Michigan defense in
general great great, Like there's a bunch of guys coming
out of Michigan this year on the defensive side and
on the defensive line in particular, that are going to
be great players. Mason Graham, don't overthink it. He's going
to be a staple for that or for whatever organization

(51:43):
he goes.

Speaker 4 (51:44):
To perfect And for the fifth and final pick of
our mock draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock.

Speaker 2 (51:51):
So again you have Trevor Lawrence. For good, for better,
or for worse. You made that arrangement. He still needs
more protection. I feel like that offensive line needs a
lot of work, and this is not as good of
an offensive line class I think as people want it
to be. A lot of the guys are very raw
and it's pretty top heavy when it comes to those prospects.

(52:12):
So like, if you need an offensive lineman, you're gonna
have to spend a premium pick on getting him. A
guy I really like out of Missouri armand Membao. He
is offensive tackle. I think he's a true tackle. He's
going to be an excellent player. He's still a little
rough around the edge, is still a little raw. He
needs developing, and that's where this new staff with Liam
Cohen in Tampa is going to have to step up

(52:34):
and develop him. But I think that going offensive line
like you can't go wrong when you're trying to rebuild
a franchise or retool a franchise, I guess in the
Jaguars case, by going through the trenches.

Speaker 4 (52:47):
So am Vitally. I just learned more from you than
I have any of my reading. So I'm termally online.

Speaker 2 (52:56):
I talk to a lot of people. All of my
all of my opinions on things are usually vetted by
somebody that has direct knowledge of that situation. So yeah,
I can't wait.

Speaker 4 (53:07):
It's also just around the corner, Holy smokes twenty six
a lot of weeks, a couple weenty fourth period.

Speaker 2 (53:12):
Sorry, Okay, all right, y'all, we are going to take
a break. Coming up next, we're going to talk about
a little bit more Lakers, a little bit more Major
League Baseball. Stay right there, you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Welcome back into Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Carmen Vitally in
for Alex Curry. We're vibing. I've got little Nikki Kay

(53:34):
with me. That'sday filling in.

Speaker 3 (53:37):
Thrilled to be here, thrilled to join you.

Speaker 4 (53:39):
Remember for the best pregame show every weekend, be sure
to tune into Fox Sports Radios Countdown presented by bet MGM,
every Saturday and Sunday morning from nine am to noon
Eastern six to nine Pacific. We will count you down
to all of the biggest games. Tune into Countdown presented
by bet MGM, every Saturday and Sunday morning right here

(54:01):
on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app So Karvin.
Last night, I was at the Los Angeles Lakers game
as they were taking on the Houston Rockets battle. If
the Lakers won, they got the three seed, which they did,
all was fine and dandy. I was there covering the
game with my coworker, Timothy Parker, and we were there

(54:21):
extraordinarily early because that was when our live hit for
the TV broadcast was and that is also when Lebron
James happens to be warming up. Right, it's a seven
thirty tip. This man is in a full lather and
sweat working out at four pm. Right, Love it, right,
love it. My friend Timothy, he said, I tried to

(54:44):
get in here to get Lebron's walk in see the
pregame fit. Even he was.

Speaker 2 (54:48):
Too, I would say he's one of the guys that's there,
like early, early and getting himself yeah, ready to go.
All that.

Speaker 4 (54:54):
To mention Lebron is working out without a shirt on,
I didn't think anything of it because, mind you, there
is no one else in the arena besides Timothy, myself
or photographer and Lebron's you know, the guy's helping him,
you know, yeah, coach, exactly like the milk. No one
else is in there. Didn't think anything of it. Lebron,

(55:15):
you know, goes through his warm up, finishes with this
half court shots, free throws. Bye. It wasn't a thing
until it became a thing when Isaiah Thomas, who was
on the NBA TV broadcast, decided to rip into Lebron
for working out without a shirt, saying, what what is
this league now? And I'm gonna lay out so you

(55:38):
can hear the audio for yourself.

Speaker 2 (55:40):
Shirts and skins is what they're doing.

Speaker 7 (55:41):
And everything there.

Speaker 9 (55:44):
I just totally one hundred percent object to this. And
if I was the GM of Code Drew, I would
never let one of my players walk out on the
floor looking like this. I mean, we are professional, inn
be a lead. We ain't summer league at the YMCAs.
I think I think coaches gotta go back to suits.

(56:06):
Just mean absolutely loutely.

Speaker 2 (56:10):
Uh okay, Isaiah Thomas, sir, talking talking mess. That sounds weird.
Listen being grumpy and being bitter and resentful of the
games superstars. That does not sound like him? What's oh?

Speaker 4 (56:24):
Oh wow? How I'm brand Isaiah? No, the thing was
nobody was in the arena and that that man was
was doing what he needed to do to get ready pregame,
and respectfully, like Lebron's, Lebron's carried this league.

Speaker 2 (56:38):
For I sound like if I looked like that at forty.

Speaker 4 (56:40):
One, by all means I I was. I was a
little confused that that was the argument he chose to pick.

Speaker 2 (56:50):
It doesn't make any any sense at all, because like,
who does this hurt whatsoever?

Speaker 4 (56:55):
Like?

Speaker 2 (56:56):
Right, this is about Lebron getting warmed up in the
way that he and like Lebron belongs to the old
school train of thoughts. He because he's been in the
league since.

Speaker 4 (57:04):
Here he is he is the greatest start in the game,
and he is still full sweat, full workout, not taking
the pregame, you know, preparation lightly. This man has invested
everything into his preparation and to be hung up on
a detail about a shirt when nobody else is in
is in the building is wild. I it's funny because

(57:25):
it's like I understand the you know, kind of angst
that golf fans felt over Jose's upside down hat at
the at the Masters. I get that kind of like, hey,
let's like dress up for the moment. Yeah, but Lebron James,
if you need to warm up without a shirt on
in an empty arena by all means.

Speaker 2 (57:45):
To do so, It's it doesn't make any sense to
me that that, Like I guess in a way it's
almost a form of flattery because it's like if this
is the only thing you can pick a part about
Lebront at this stage of his career, which it is. Uh,
And I think Lebron say not too long ago, like
how NBA coverage is basically just like the old guard,

(58:05):
like making or like talking and hating on like current players.

Speaker 4 (58:09):
That's one of my biggest gripes with coverage, like the
trashing from generation to generation. I mean Lebron even went
in and said like that if Yannis played in the seventies,
you could score over two hundred. I forget what the
exact thing was, but it's like, dude, like the founding
fathers established this league, so you could have the platform
you have today, So let's not go back and say
we could have done this if we were you know.

(58:31):
And also from the founding fathers.

Speaker 3 (58:33):
You're not playing in today's day and age, so it's it's.

Speaker 2 (58:36):
Kind of a this just doesn't hurt anyone either. And
it's so funny too because coming from like I've I've
focused and covered the NFL for most of my career
and like, guys warm up in all states of undressed
to a not empty are like arena by the way,
or like our stadium, like all the time, Like there's
there's a thing with a bunch of the guys I

(58:57):
used to work with in Tampa, the players in Tampa,
like Tristanwurf's best left tackle in the league. He has
a whole kind of posse crew, and they all go
out on the field to do warm ups barefoot. They
have no shoes on ground and like you have guys,
You've David and Joku in Cleveland, who is warming up
without a shirt on in like minus seven degree. Brother, Like,

(59:18):
there's this has never been a thing in like any
other sport. And I'm also like I don't see basketball
as stuffy as golf. Absolutely, absolutely Like golf, golf is
one thing where the tradition matters. I get it, there's
a very certain way to do things and that has
been upheld throughout like every generation. But the NBA is
not golf. The NBA is way more closely opposite white,

(59:41):
the opposite. I mean, I don't even see like I
guess a lot of people aren't in the stadium when
you see like baseball players kind of playing catch and
doing things in the in the stadium before they do
games because they don't have practices either. But like some
of those guys, if.

Speaker 4 (59:53):
You saw Clayton Kershaw's shirt during BP before games, he's
got the rip, Oh yeah, he's got his hat on
a skew. He is just looking like the ultimate dad
on a mission, just hanging out with the guys.

Speaker 2 (01:00:09):
For as traditional as baseball has been, I do feel
like baseball is kind of stepping into the moment and
trying to kind of up interest around Major League, which
is like something else now. I wanted to get.

Speaker 4 (01:00:19):
Into razzle dazzle.

Speaker 2 (01:00:22):
Baseball is like meeting the moment very very well when
it comes to their marketing strategy. When it comes to
the changes they've made to the actual game. The pitch
clock coming in last year, a couple of years, bigger bases,
Like you're trying to bring offense back to all of
this and the latest example of this now is the
is the torpedo bats. But like at the at the

(01:00:42):
base of all of this is innovation that is having
to keep up with each generation and keep up with
the times. And I don't think that that's a bad thing,
and that across the board.

Speaker 4 (01:00:54):
For it's so interesting. For a couple of years there,
I think it was like right after the pandemic and
it was like this like whole you know conundrum. Can
baseball stay relevant? Can it keep up with the NFL
and NBA. I think the pitch clock literally and figuratively
change the game with interest and excitement for people to

(01:01:14):
be able to casually enjoy a game because there are
so many of them. But now you're making things quicker.
And yes, you mentioned the torpedo bats, which I'm going
to say it right here and now put it on
my put it on my tombstone. I like big bats,
and I cannot lie.

Speaker 2 (01:01:34):
I I'm so tired of like these these pureists and
traditionalists all over the place just being like you're ruining
the but but but no, you're not. You are making
it more exciting so that more people turn in, tune in,
so that this game can sustain itself.

Speaker 3 (01:01:50):
We want to see dingers, we want dingers.

Speaker 2 (01:01:52):
Seekers, and we're not allowed to advocate for the use
of steroids anymore.

Speaker 4 (01:01:56):
So dang it.

Speaker 2 (01:01:58):
Now you've developed an invation that completely legally ups the
offense that every team could use if they wanted to.
You've made it readily available for every team should they
want to. I'm just like all of these conversations going
back to Lebron, going back to the Major League Baseball,
it's just the old guard not being able to let go.

Speaker 4 (01:02:19):
And Okay, like, at the risk of sounding really, I mean,
I don't want to sound flippant, but like, how did
it take us this long to think of customized bats?

Speaker 2 (01:02:29):
It took an mit grad right to just make this
team what more material? I got all the place where
the ball hits the back, right.

Speaker 3 (01:02:38):
I got all in on torpedo bats.

Speaker 4 (01:02:40):
You know, basically for those of you who have not
understood the science behind it, they have customized where the
mass of the bat is in relation to each hitter's swing.
And it's like, duh, groundbreaking. We've got customized cleats, We've
got customized gear.

Speaker 2 (01:02:56):
I just people players already had the choice of bat
within regulations obviously, but they had.

Speaker 4 (01:03:02):
Their own kids illuminum, right metal.

Speaker 2 (01:03:04):
I forget what there were rules that they had by,
but they were already. Yeah. So I just I think in.

Speaker 4 (01:03:10):
The pitching has gotten so good. So this is just
a little arms race moment. Yes, let the batters, Let
the batters, you know, go to town.

Speaker 2 (01:03:20):
Let the players.

Speaker 4 (01:03:21):
I likes and I cannot lie.

Speaker 2 (01:03:23):
I love that. Let let the players move the game
forward and to move the show forward. We're gonna check
in with Martin.

Speaker 4 (01:03:28):
Waite in the next transition.

Speaker 8 (01:03:32):
All right, we got a little bit of action going
on their masters right now. Rory McElroy had like a
three shot lead just a couple holes ago. Now it's
down to one. He's nine under, Corey Connors and Bryson
de Shamba breathing down his neck at eight under. Rory's
three under for the day, they're both he and Corey
Connors through twelve holes to Shambos through eleven. There's like

(01:03:52):
five guys tied for fourth at sixth under right now.
Most of those guys through at least eleven holes. But
again Rory had a restroke lead. Now it's down to
just one. In Major League Baseball, top of the seventh
in the Yankees doubling up the Giants eight to four.
That wins on FS one top of the sixth, Blue
Jays three, Orioles two, bottom of the fifth, and in

(01:04:13):
the A's on the board two to nothing against the
Mets bottom of the fifth inning, Rays two, Braves nothing
and bottom of the fifteen as well the Nationals, I'm
sorry the Marlins taking the lead here four to three
and at the bottom of the fifth and in the
Red Sox two, White Sox nothing. In the NFL, the
Hurricanes have a five to three lead over the Rangers

(01:04:34):
with ten to fifteen left in the third period. With
six fifty left in the second period, the Kings lead
the Avalanche three to two.

Speaker 2 (01:04:41):
Again.

Speaker 8 (01:04:42):
At the Masters, Rory McElroy through twelve holes has a
one stroke lead at nine under Corey Connors and bryceon
DESHAMBA eight under right there on his heels back to
you guys.

Speaker 2 (01:04:53):
Thanks Martin, appreciate it. We are now going to bring
in a favorite of mind, a favorite of ours. His
name is Michael Junior.

Speaker 3 (01:05:03):
He says, too late that break.

Speaker 2 (01:05:07):
Oh, we're starting with a Taylor Swift, early noted swifty
and sports commentator Mike Golic junior food connoisseur. Should I say,
I don't know what else do you want me to
add to your title? Mike?

Speaker 7 (01:05:18):
These at work. Between Taylor Swift songs and that kind
introduction here, We're off to a roaring start here. Can't
believe it.

Speaker 2 (01:05:24):
I'm phenomenal. Thank you so much for joining us. I
want to first talk. I was going we were gonna
get right into NBA playoffs, but uh, Nico, I am
I am ala liva Liaba, I am aliaba.

Speaker 4 (01:05:38):
There it is just a couple more vowels in there.

Speaker 1 (01:05:40):
I know.

Speaker 2 (01:05:40):
There's so many bells, tennessee this whole thing, Mike, You
and I have talked about the nil stuff. We've talked
about kind of this new age, the wild West of
college football. Nico says, Hey, I want a new deal.
I'm not playing until I get it. And then Tennessee
goes huh fine bye. What are the ramifications of all
of this? What are your thoughts?

Speaker 7 (01:06:00):
I think this is the first right Like for a
lot of us that cover college sports and the NFL,
that sounds familiar what you just described right offseason hold
out with star player and team that ends with them
not reaching a deal and so the team decides to
release player. We see that all the time in the NFL.
With college the difference is, on many friends one, we
haven't actually had holdouts before in college. This is still

(01:06:23):
part of the new age and the changes in the sport.
Obviously with college football, one of the big differences is
there aren't long term contract structures like we have in
the NFL, and so you can have some version of
free agency every year and that cuts both ways. Right
for Nico Yamliaba, if I'm a quarterback who sees a
bunch of other big quarterback deals going out this offseason,

(01:06:43):
maybe feels like relative for a starter that helped his
team to go into playoff contention last year, I'm underpaid.
You go in and you kick your feed up and
you ask for money, and you think it's going to
be all great, But on the other side for Tennessee,
we're getting to this point now where the scouting departments
for college teams have what essentially in the NFL would
have been a college scouting department aka their high school

(01:07:04):
recruiting scouting, and then a pro scouting department where you're
in charge of scouting the other teams. And so, Yes,
Niko and all these quarterbacks, it can be free agency
for them every year. But Tennessee also has access to
a lot of other quarterbacks in the portal every year
because of that. So if they decide, hey, we believe
our quarterback that we know and see every day and
practicing in these games is worth X amount of money

(01:07:25):
and we're not willing to go over that, They've got
to have the contingency plans in place, as does everyone
else in college sports right now. Until we get more structure,
you've always kind of got to be looking over your
shoulder trying to figure out, hey, is one of the
guys in our team all of a sudden going to
start to value himself differently than we do, And do
we have a plan in place to go and try
and counteract that if he does.

Speaker 2 (01:07:45):
Yeah, that's the other side of the coin.

Speaker 4 (01:07:47):
So, Mike, all that to say, I'm going to shift
gears here a little bit. As a fellow Swifty, I
have somewhat of a scenario I'd like you to help
me navigate through. Right. First of all, I'm watching Rory
McElroy at the top of the leaderboard and the words
that come to mind are I think I've seen this
film before and I didn't like the ending.

Speaker 3 (01:08:07):
M So I'm going to tee up for you.

Speaker 4 (01:08:10):
Three NBA Western Conference teams, and I want you to
give me their Taylor Swift era. Okay, because I'm thinking
the Oklahoma City Thunder are in their nineteen eighty nine
era right now, right, so I want you to give
me the respective eras you are feeling for the vibes
of the Golden State Warriors, the Denver Nuggets, and the
Los Angeles Clippers. What era, what album matches their moment

(01:08:33):
right now?

Speaker 7 (01:08:34):
Ooh, all right, let's start with the Denver Nuggets here.
So a team definitely going through a little bit of
turmoil right now. The edges up for everyone. You've got
nikodiokicch coming out and saying hey where I'm from. When
the coach gets fired, usually you're next on the list,
and so everyone's got to kind of play with that
sense of urgency. Here feels like we could be getting
the reputation nuggets.

Speaker 4 (01:08:55):
Now right Look what you made jokicch do?

Speaker 7 (01:08:59):
Yeah, what you made Jokic do? And if we know anything,
it's you don't want to challenge and put Taylor swifts
back against the wall. And I don't know if I'd
want to do that with Nikola Jokic.

Speaker 2 (01:09:07):
Either, Russell Westbrook.

Speaker 7 (01:09:10):
I'd say a reputation era for them. For Golden State,
this is kind of tough because you've got a team where, hey,
maybe their best days are behind them right now, but
they've got a little bit of an infusion of life
around the trade deadline with Jimmy Butler. They're on the
edge of the postseason right now, big game against the
Clippers coming up to try and decide what their playoff
seeding is going to look like.

Speaker 6 (01:09:31):
And so, hmmm, I'll say, I'll.

Speaker 7 (01:09:34):
Say tortured poets department because you've got step Curry with
the throbbing thumb that he's dealing with going into this
game right now, probably, and I would say, like tortured
poet's department. It's been a pretty long run in the
lead up to this. It was a long album, but
better than it gets credit for. And I think right
now the Golden State Warriors at this point in the
back half of the season have maybe been better than

(01:09:54):
they got credit for in the midway point.

Speaker 4 (01:09:56):
I love that so much. I was thinking the same.
And then and then give me one Clippers, who do
you have, you know, the resurgence of Kawhi if healthy
kind of underrated, the Clippers flying under the radar?

Speaker 7 (01:10:08):
Uh, you know what, if we're gonna talk about under
the radar and underrated, I'll give them lover Era. Then
lover we got robbed of lover Fest because of the pandemic.
It's an album that's got a bunch of hits on it.
And then if we had, you know, gone back and
put out different singles and maybe you have that situation
with you know, Cruel Summer where you've got the banger
of the summer, it would have been different.

Speaker 1 (01:10:26):
But it's not.

Speaker 7 (01:10:26):
That's like, will we won't be about Kawhi Leonard injuries. Instead,
what we've got us here and now in a team
that like that album, May your right be flying a
little bit under the radar and that's okay because in
the right circumstances it can still go off.

Speaker 4 (01:10:38):
Mike I Carmen's shaking her edge. It's all lost on her.
I'm smiling air to air because those were the exact
three albums I had pinned. So nailed it.

Speaker 2 (01:10:50):
You've got range. Let no one say that that Michael
Junior does not have range. I we haven't given our
due to the East at all. So I want to
ask you a little bit about the East because we've
talked a lot about the West. Rightfully so too, because
that's kind of where all the drama lies and has
all season long. You've got the ten seeds all locked

(01:11:10):
up in the East already, and basically you have for
the last few months. I don't think there was really
any surprises there. But you've got the top two seeds
battling it out with. You've got Cleveland has the best record.
You've got Boston though you know they're the raining champs.
There's I feel like, still kind of the favorites in
a lot of ways. You've got the Knicks, who are
feisy and fun. What do you see how do you

(01:11:31):
see this playing out in the East.

Speaker 7 (01:11:33):
Yeah, until further notice, You're going to have to prove
it for me with anyone other than the Boston Celtics.
No disrespect the Cleveland Cavaliers, long incredibly rangy defensive team.
Donovan Mitchell's got that game breaker ability to them. All
things they've proven over the long body of work of
this season. But now you get to this time of
year whereas everyone always talks about, everything gets pretty different here.

(01:11:53):
The game planning changes. When all of a sudden it's
the best of seven series. You're locked in more defensively.
And Boston is a team that got the medal at
this time of year that remember, isn't just a flash
of the pan from when they won it last year.
They didn't built towards that moment over a long time.
The Knicks, unfortunately, they've been a lot of fun, But
that's a team that seems to have had a lid
in terms of their performance against the top end competition,

(01:12:14):
both in the East and the West. So I have
questions about their limitations. Obviously everyone's gonna focus on Tibbs
in the minutes and all that stuff, but it's more
than that. The exciting team to me would be the
Detroit Pistons, considering what they've done during the course of
the regular season, young upstart team that's been for a
lot of this year because Milwaukee obviously the game stuff
is complicated that that's been a team that's sort of

(01:12:36):
been kind of in the middle ground all year long,
and so the East you're right, gets kind of put
in the background because I do think the picture is
a little bit more stable there. That feels like a
two team race where we might have some fun NCAA
March Madness style in the first round or two, but
ultimately it's going to be Boston and Cleveland, and I
think until further notice, it's going to be Boston versus
the world for me.

Speaker 2 (01:12:57):
Yeah, yeah, well I'll go. Don't let them put that
on a shirt. And Mike, I really appreciate you joining us.
We really been playing ball and doing all the Taylor
Swifty things that you just did that went completely over
my head. I knew you were the guy for the job,
so did Nicky.

Speaker 4 (01:13:15):
You met the moment.

Speaker 7 (01:13:17):
Always a pleasure, guys. Thank you for the kind introduction
and the opportunity to belch Taylor Swift album.

Speaker 2 (01:13:23):
Thank you guys so much. You're you're listening to Fox
Sports Radio. Stay tuned for the feel good story of
the week coming up next. Good Vibes Today. Welcome back
in to Fox Sports Radio Fox Sports Saturday. I'm Karma Vitally.
I've been in the host chair for Alex Curry, who
has been out today, and it's been so much fun
because I've had Nicky k with me in the other

(01:13:43):
host chair.

Speaker 3 (01:13:44):
It's been an absolute pleasure.

Speaker 2 (01:13:46):
Oh wow, oh now we're gonna have accents.

Speaker 3 (01:13:49):
Where that came from.

Speaker 2 (01:13:50):
It's okay, it fits. You're in golf attire. There there
are British men golfing right now on our TV. I
get it. It's cool. I love it.

Speaker 4 (01:13:57):
When I went over to London, I found myself, you know,
just picking up the accent. And my host, who's my
best friend, she married a British man, and he looked
at me and he goes, you really like trying to
speak like us. I was like, aren't close AND's.

Speaker 3 (01:14:11):
Like absolutely not, absolutely not, absolutely I.

Speaker 2 (01:14:15):
Have Actually I have family in London. So I've grown
up going to England like every other year, and it's
my favorite.

Speaker 4 (01:14:21):
Such a fun city.

Speaker 2 (01:14:22):
I love that cities. I wish I had that accent though,
Like they're like, oh your accents so cute. It's so American,
and I'm like, it is not cute.

Speaker 4 (01:14:29):
Are you aggressive?

Speaker 2 (01:14:31):
We do get very aggressive. They do not. That is
not something that you used to describe British joyful. Anyway,
thanks for indulging us on that tangent. If you missed
any of Toda's show, please go and check out the podcast,
which will be up immediately following when we're off the air,
thanks to our wonderful producers. Just search Fox Sports Radio
wherever you get your podcasts. We every single one of

(01:14:51):
our shows goes up right afterwards. It's a great time.
If you missed any of today's show, just go search
Fox Sports Radio wherever you get your podcasts. And now
let's talk some feel good stories of the week, should
shall we? I will start because we haven't even really
addressed the championship games that happened last weekend, or you know,

(01:15:13):
like in the case of the men's tournament last Monday,
I really really loved the fact that though Yukon won again,
as far as the women's tournament goes, Paige Becker's got
her first championship and that was something that was you
could just see the emotion on her face the way
she hugged Gino was so cute. I loved it so much.

(01:15:34):
But what came out afterwards, which is so funny. Rebecca
Lobo was on a Sarah Spain's podcast and Good Game
with Sarah Spain, and she told a really funny story
of what happened right after they got off the court
and you saw the emotion, like I said, like the
hugging and all of that kind of I just it
was incredible, right, and Page came out and she said, like,

(01:15:58):
Gino has been so wonderful, Our connections great. I can
go to him with anything. I go into his office.
We talk about life, we talk about basketball, we talk
about everything. Well, it turns out Gino roasted Page at
the postgame presser where you know they're all ride and high.
This is minutes after the confetti has come down, and
he basically just goes, hey, Page, go sit down. You

(01:16:19):
can sit next to her. You only have one ring,
She's got more. And he points to Rebecca Lobo and
then he goes down the line and he points at
each of his former players that have like she she's
got four, that's three, two, Like just back and forth,
just humbling Page, which I think is so indicative of
their relationship. So despite the fact that it's been a

(01:16:39):
couple weeks and all that kind of stuff just coming down,
I just I loved hearing that and hearing Rebecca Lobo
just say like, hey, yeah, he's roasting her. But that's
that's what we love about Gino and I thought that
was really sweet.

Speaker 4 (01:16:49):
Wanted to write off that. I was at the UCLA
Woman's Final four game covering the Bruins as they just
got decimated by Yukon. I mean, that team was on
a mission and it's just really cool to see. I mean,
the conversation we were having about college women's basketball as
much as three years ago was the biggest talking point
was is Yukon bad for women's basketball? Right? The dynastynastic

(01:17:14):
nature of it, And to see them now, we're like,
that's not even relevant in you know, thirteen national championships,
but that's not the discourse because of how far the
game and the popularity has come. Awesome stuff, What a
great Final Four, and I think it's only going to
continue to flourish. But real quick, here, my feel good
story of the week is the Masters. There's something about

(01:17:35):
this weekend that makes me so thrilled for you know,
the postseason push we're gonna get, for the NHL, for
the NBA. I love seeing the scenes from Augusta National
on our TVs. I love Rory McElroy maybe having the
chance at redemption, even though I.

Speaker 2 (01:17:51):
Kind of he's a ton under now so he was nine,
he gained I think he got a birdie.

Speaker 3 (01:17:55):
They're on twelve or thirteen, I forget what it was.

Speaker 4 (01:17:57):
But if he can pull it off, that will be
the ultimate feel good moment, even though you know he's
had his trials and tribulations as a personality and as
a golfer. I think the fact that he's been chasing
a major championship for over ten years and to get
it and get the Grand Slam, so to speak. Yeah, here,

(01:18:19):
I think we're in for some some special emotions. That is,
if he doesn't blow it right, I mean, which which
we talked about.

Speaker 2 (01:18:26):
You can't take for the trauma, the trauma.

Speaker 4 (01:18:28):
Rory story, the Rory story, the story of roll right,
it could be great.

Speaker 2 (01:18:33):
If he doesn't blow it, it could be great. You're right,
this could be a feel good story. Before there is
something so nostalgic though of like of watching Augusta and
The Masters and having these storylines and that no matter
who's leading, no matter who's in the termin who missed
the cut, there is something so just nostalgic about the

(01:18:55):
Masters that makes everyone tune in. I mean there's it's
on countless people's bucket lists to go. It's on mine. Like,
I'm not a huge, like avid golf fan, but I
would love to go to the Masters.

Speaker 4 (01:19:06):
I was listening to one of the hosts say that
this tournament or this event is where people connect to
the game of golf truly and purely, and they connect together.

Speaker 2 (01:19:15):
Too, and see they connect with each other.

Speaker 4 (01:19:18):
Have your phones there at time stands still. It's iconic,
it's classic, and it's it's elite.

Speaker 2 (01:19:23):
Yeah, that is, and hopefully it'll be a feel good
story for Rory. Uh. That's it for us today, you guys,
thank you so much for joining us. I'm common Vial Alex.
This is Nikki Kay. Have a great weekend, y'all. This
is Fox Sports Radio.

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