Hour 2: Justin Fields traded to Chiefs, TEAM USA

24:08Rich Eisen:The center that was taking care of Michigan yesterday, he's 24. you know and we just saw indiana win a national championship in football with a bunch of guys that have been playing for a long time so i have no idea who's out there you know michigan might face in the second game um from andst louis is that kid from from indiana state that everybody's been talking about for years you know that robbie avila kid you know that his nickname is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Oh, yeah. You know, Larry Nerd because of his glasses, which is terrible. Larry Nerd. It seems like he's been in college. You know what I mean?

24:53Rich Eisen:Larry Nerd is kind of funny. I was watching all of his Indiana State highlights and I'm like, oh, this kid's a lot of fun until I've got to try and take care of him if he takes care of Georgia. You know what I mean? Steph Blurry. Steph Blurry. All those nicknames. It's funny until, you know, wait a minute. Milk Chamberlain. Milk Chamberlain could knock Michigan out if Georgia doesn't take care of him first. What a story that would be. Yeah, exactly. That's why we watch the tournament. I mean, here in the studio. Except for me, I've been watching the tournament the last few years is hoping Michigan is that story.

25:32Rich Eisen:Now, Michigan's got to be the story. Yeah. I'm not used to that. I'd love to get used to being used to that. But that's why we watch the tournament. That's why the first four matters, Chris, because these teams could go on a little bit of a run. They win three games in a row. They're popping two teams that have chances that think they could go on deep runs. That's why we watch the tournament is for those last second moments. We saw them nonstop over the weekend. You know, it lights up your phone. You're like the number of times that I would not care about hitting a college basketball alert over the last two, three months.

26:13Rich Eisen:because I'm locked into football. I was watching every one of them because you watch how much it means to them. That's what I said to start the show, why the World Baseball Classic is so great, the Olympics is so great, the World Cup is so great. You're watching the ladies in FIBA right now because it means more to you maybe and it means more to the athletes you connect and watching. And that's what the tournament's about. So that's why the first four matters. who's going to make these cinderella runs burst the bubbles of the teams that feel like they could finally win it all or win it all again and then the question of who wins it all again speak speaking of the olympics um gus ramsey friend of the program gus uh one of the best sports center producers of all time he uh also i do believe if i'm not mistaken um runs dan patrick's full sail university uh school of broadcasting still yep um so he's he's in the family i'm in i'm in his family he's in yeah i am exactly i think he also uh not i think i know he worked with stew scott in the orlando days so he goes way back with stewart more than me but i bring this up because he texted me this before the program and i always appreciate he's always he's always thinking of content he's always thinking of content certainly for this show and I appreciate it he sent me this text if the US wins Tuesday night and the men's soccer team were to reach the quarters or semis of the World Cup would this be the greatest year in US sports history talk amongst yourselves based on what we saw with the women and the men's in that order winning gold in hockey right they won three the Paralympians just won it correct yeah gold um feels like without question right because and and that we've we would see the dub the wbc won by the united states first time since 2017 which is not an olympic year this would be a world cup year and a wbc year and an olympic year feels like even if uh team usa loses uh the wbc just to have the men's soccer team go to the quarters of the semis in the world cup oh my god that would that would push it over the top because you know that's something that is extremely rare maybe only happened once you don't think team usa's got to get their revenge on our espresso friends and and or venezuela to make it the greatest olympia u.s year ever no no i don't think so just making it this far i think making it this far making it to the final say it's a one-run game uh but the Soccer going that far, I think, pushes it over the top.

29:03Because we're so far behind. We should win baseball, right? We should win some of these other sports. Soccer? Not our sport. To go that far is a massive upset, and I think it would be the icing on the cake. And then hockey, not our sport when you've got our neighbors to the north, our friends. Although we kind of own them. Well, in the last year, right? Last runs at it. The last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup was? I got you. As they say in hockey, let's do that hockey. TJ, you want to chime in on this? I'm sitting here trying to think. That's a great question. Gus only asks those. Yeah, I don't know.

29:45It's too hard for me just seeing that two minutes go. Again, like, yeah, this is or this isn't.

29:50Rich Eisen:You'd have to just figure any great year, greatest year ever for the United States in representing the country on national international stages okay would have to include the olympics yeah all right so my world baseball classic the last time we won it was not an olympics year right and then to have a world cup a wbc yep and an olympic year in which the united states men's and women's and paralympians all won hockey in the winter olympics with all due respect to the other sports this that's the ultimate team olympic sport with all due respect to curling or anything else that's going on right okay then you have the world baseball classic where the united states one would think even though they're not defending champs they're defending the sport that we've created sure correct against the world but the women's feeba is going on right now right right basketball right i don't think it's a question that would be this would be the greatest year in the history of united states athletic also it might already be because of that what other one would top it even if even if the men's soccer team advances out of group play yes and loses in the first round that's still a major accomplishment for that program, considering where they traditionally are.

31:18And the WBC say it's a one-run game in the finals tomorrow, win or lose. On top of the hockey golds, I'm in. The Women's World Cup is next year in Brazil. Yeah, already good. So the women will not be able to chime in with their usual greatness on that front this year. Okay. What year was the miracle year in the Soviets? it's 80 that's what i said anything else happened that year when i when i think of that i think my mind just goes to 80 because that was last time meant the men's won gold in hockey right but 96 that was also a really good olympic year for america i mean what the bulls won i mean i don't know that's a great question i sure i'll just say you're not getting multiple based upon what you just got the usa is winning championships in a season i don't think i guess i won't push back I think we're on the launching pad for it.

32:15Chris already thinks we've launched it. 844-204-RICH, number to dial if you have a conversation on that. People are calling in with their upset specials for the brackets. We're happy to take all that. Do you think the World Baseball Classic would be good if it's every three years? It is. Well, I mean, the last time it was. They didn't do it in 2020. That's true. Okay. And it got moved to 21. Got it. But we got off of the... Right. Okay. It was supposed to be odd years. 17, 20, 20. Now I get it. All right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. How about every two years? Let's go. Again, less is more. I understand that.

32:50Less is more. We don't need the first four. Less is more. I hear you, but I'm loving this intensity in March. You love it because you don't see it that often. I think that is a factor. That could play into it. Do you know who's starting the Team USA championship game? Your guy. Your Matt. Oh, really? McLean is starting. Interesting. Enola's pitching tonight for Team Italy. There we go. I've got to be honest, man. I thought DR was winning this whole thing. Yeah, because we saw them score 10 runs and hit four or five home runs per game the whole tournament. Bombs. Nukes. So I've got to be honest.

33:34I'm a little shocked that we beat them. and only scoring two runs julio rodriguez um bats what six seventh in that lineup it's kind of

33:43Rich Eisen:stupid oh we didn't even talk about him robbing aaron judge of a home run in that game last night oh right he you know could have been three one and he he robbed him of a home run he got a slow play everybody thinking it was gone he because well judge judge rounded first and flipped his bat and then realized it was caught yeah yeah i i thought the dominican republic was going to win this classic as well. I just felt like they were on such a heater at the plate. Like I said, scoring tons of runs, mashes. Severino pitched really good last night too, I thought. Gave up two shots. That was it. Two solo jacks.

34:24All three runs were solo homers, but it's not like we were pounding the ball and putting runners on base. DR left eight guys on. Multiple guys in scoring position.

34:36Rich Eisen:That's what I said. In the fourth inning, Austin Wells, who, by the way, had an otherwise really good world baseball classic. He flied out to end the fourth. Soto went to an inning-ending double play in the fifth because he plays for money. And then in the seventh inning, Bednar put a lot of ducks on the pond. Tatis Jr. and Marte struck out. There it is on the screen. And then in the ninth inning, they had a runner on second with one out. And Mason Miller was not his usual crisp self. And that's right there is how you let an umpire's bad call end your night and series. For sure. And classic. I mean, they really probably should have won that game, you know, 4-5-2.

35:15I'm sorry. Soto's not completely a mercenary. He really wanted to win. Everybody does things for money. What are we talking about? Like, what are we talking about?

35:25Rich Eisen:Oh, have you made your plans yet for Carlos Beltran's uniform? Yes. What do we got? You taking off that day? I haven't. But you know what? You can't wait. There is one thing I did want to say. By the way, I asked other fan friends about your favorite Beltran moment, and they all said what you said. Not being the favorite, but. The one where you struck out. My buddy Steve was in the building for that one. Yeah. He remembers it. But you got to look back, too. Way right through probably one of the nastiest pitches of all time. Yeah, he's beat a Hall of Famer. Like, come on. Swing the bat. One thing I did want to say, though, about that is I completely overlooked the fact that Gary Carter's number eight isn't retired.

36:06Really? Is that right? Yeah, and I'd forgotten about that until after we did that segment. And I was like, Gary, kid needs his. Is that right? That is right. Wow, who are the Mets numbers retired? Yeah, we said this last week. It's David Wright, Gil Hodges, Doc, Keith Hernandez, Strawberry, Willie Mays, who played like one year there, right? Yeah, but I mean, Willie Mays, they did it. 24 isn't retired universally across baseball. That one I get. Like the Mets getting Willie Mays before his career was up. And Willie is, you know, started in New York. And by the way, the Mets logo is a combination of the Giants and the Dodgers.

36:52Yeah. You know. The color schemes. The color schemes and everything. Because the Mets have nothing original for them. Oh, my goodness. At all. This guy. At all. Jerry Kuzma. And by the way, Willie played in a World Series for the Mets. You're looking at it right there against the A's. Looks like he was called out there. It does look like he was called out there. And he didn't knock Ray Fossey over. He probably should. Which would have been on brand. Ray Fossey. For Fossey. Oh, man. Oh, yeah. So. Those are great A's uniforms. So the Mets do have several retired numbers, but not Gary Carter. Not Gary Carter.

37:28So they've got – they don't win the World Series without Gary Carter. Not at all. No. I mean, Keith Hernandez and Doc and Strawberry are totally understandable. I mean, that's a spine, a backbone of their – so John Franco doesn't have his number retired either? Staten Island's finest? No, no, no. Wouldn't you think his number would be retired? It's got to be coming. At some point? Soon, you know. David Wright's number retired before Franco. Did you say Piazza? Yeah, Piazza. Piazza's best moment? Post 9-11. Without a doubt. It's one of the greatest home runs ever. I get goosebumps talking about it.

38:07Just even thinking about it. It's incredible. First game back. City's back. Baseball's back. America's back. Not broken. And he hit that one. A towering shot. In a spot that was used as a staging. Shea Stadium was used as staging. I might watch that right now. For first responders. Oh, right. Oh, yeah. See where I'm going with this? You can remember moments worthy of number retirements. But number eight doesn't need to be retired. Absolutely. And Franco, if you're going to retire in Beltran. Carter's got to be first. I don't know. I'm sure there's a reason. He's passed away, so I don't know who's pounding the table for him.

38:47I don't get that. I know. Maybe we'll pound the table right now. We just did. Number eight. Come on, Stevie Cohen. He's tired. The kid. Let's go. What's the big deal? This Piazza home run is so incredible. It is incredible. Who did you get it off of? I forget. It was the Braves, right? The Braves were in the house? It was the Braves. I remember that. Number 20. I don't know. Not anyone of note, I don't believe. I had to look that up. I don't even remember. Yeah, Piazza's biggest moment as a Met was right there. And then, of course, daring to throw a baseball at Roger Clemens in the World Series.

39:25Oh, Roger Clemens drew the broken bat at him. He should have been suspect. Because he thought it was the baseball. I know. It's the most insane reason. It's not rational. I thought it was. Like, either way you look at it. I thought it was the baseball. So you were going to throw the ball at him?

39:39Rich Eisen:I was in the building that night. I was in the building that night. I wrote an article about it for. The mag? For the ESPN, the magazine. Yeah. Because I was strolling around the stadium and the. Oh, my God. This is a wild story. I'll tell it when we come back. It's the craziest story. One of the craziest stories I've had. I'm going to go down memory lane over the next half hour. That's for sure. Because it is my anniversary today. It is. Yeah. 316. 844. Yes, it is. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial. The comedian Derek Stroop is going to be joining us for some fun laughs in hour number three.

40:17The Rich Eisen Show. The podcast.

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41:26Rich Eisen:back here on our rich eyes and show radio just talking about uh feed with disney plus and espn we're just talking about what if iuk stayed like what the hell happened there what if brandon iuk stayed because they they had to carry him he's still on the team which means they had to carry his cap number oh yeah i mean and it's a massive number it's uh it's 34 million for this year so they're trying to offload him and another team would be like Yeah, but he's trying to pull that NBA stuff where I'm not coming back. I don't want to come back. I don't want to play for it. Could you imagine if he played for the 49ers again?

42:07Rich Eisen:What happened there? I would love to know. Well, the injury, right? Well, I know that, but the fact that he's rehabbing and he's like, still, yeah, I'm not playing for you anymore. and that stupid video of him going 100 miles an hour past the stadium while taking his phone out to record how fast he's going past the stadium. Seems like he wants to play for Washington and nobody else. I don't think that's any secret. And why wouldn't Washington want him either, except for the fact he's got a massive price tag, but he also knows how to catch passes from Jaden Daniels, as you all know. Sure does. They were college teammates.

42:43Rich Eisen:But that would be incredible. What a story that would be if he just, at the end of the day, just pulls a Jimmy Garoppolo saying, yeah, I thought we weren't going to hang anymore, but I'm still here. I'll play for you. I'm not leaving. Oh, you need me now? I'm not leaving. Yeah. Get into the Hyundai Getaway sales event right now and get away with the deal so right it almost feels wrong. Because right now you can get great deals on our most popular models, including our adventure-ready SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe or Santa Fe Hybrid or the Tucson or Tucson Hybrid. Plus, there's our bold and stylish Elantra loaded with the latest tech, or you can go all electric with the Ioniq 5 or Ioniq 9.

43:19Rich Eisen:So get down to your local Hyundai dealer and get away with a deal you'll love during the Hyundai Getaway Sales Event. Visit HyundaiUSA.com for details. Anthony in Miami, or I believe if I'm not mistaken since he's called in before, I believe this is Anthony in Miami, correct? Yes, Rich, it is. Okay, what's going on? I'm going to cover two topics because I only want to start with one, but you guys brought up another with the Mets. As far as I'm concerned, Mets should absolutely be retiring Gary Carter's number because he deserves it. At the same time, Johan Santana would be another one that could be retired.

43:58John Matlack would be another one that could be retired.

44:01Rich Eisen:That's old school there. You're going back to the 70s there. Johan Santana because he was the first Smith to throw a no-hitter? That's why? That's it? Well, he was pretty good for the Mets, except for the injuries. He went high register. I mean, he got overworked because the manager did not know how to take care of his arm. Okay. But yeah, he had a good career at the Mets. He had a good record, great ERA, excellent strikeout-to-walk ratio. Alright. And you have a team to watch for in your bracket? You got a bracket buster for me, Anthony? St. John's. St. John's. Got to go with the Red Storm. I mean, Rich, in the rich history of the Big East tournament, St.

44:48John's this weekend was the only team in its history to not trail by a single point at any point in the tournament. Wow. With the history of the Big East, for this St. John's squad under Rick Patino to do that with their suffocating defense, I actually have to pick them to win it all. That kid, Zuby Ejiofor, was unstoppable in the Big East championship game that I watched against UConn. Unstoppable. The only problem, Anthony, with that is this. A No. 5 seed has never won the NCAA. That's all right. A 6 seed has. Love that stat. I'm just saying. That's okay. St. John's can do it this year because this is by far the best defensive team St.

45:39John's has ever had. We've had some great offensive teams with the Chris Mullen, Walter Berry, Mark Jackson era. This is one of the best defensive teams. And as Bill Parcells taught us with the Giants, what wins championships? Defense. And timely scoring. St. John's has that. They gave UConn a fight in the game they lost to UConn. So this is a St. John's team that is worth watching, and I absolutely believe will win the NCAA tournament this year.

46:13Rich Eisen:Oh, Anthony in Miami, top roping it. Thank you for the call. Said it with his chest. Appreciate that. Appreciate that. Yeah, they pounded UConn. They destroyed UConn this weekend. Destroyed them. It wasn't even close. St. John's 101, Anthony. Get it down. It's Anthony. I hope he put some scratch on him. But St. John's, if I'm not mistaken, was a two seed last year and got – they got one and done, didn't they? They were. Or two and done. They were highly disappointed last year. Yeah, they were very, very disappointed. But this year, honestly, I was stunned they were a five seed. I know they lost six games and they were a Big East team.

46:52Rich Eisen:But UConn wound up a two seed, and they got smoked in Madison Square Garden on Saturday. I watched that one, too. watched a lot of college basketball this weekend. Attaboy. Well, I mean, you know, I'm a professional. I'm a lead pipe-wielding professional. Knew I'd be talking about it on today's program. The comedian Derek Stroop is in our green room, all fresh as a daisy, coming out here in about 20 minutes' time. I watched him this weekend. That's good. The Ridge Eisen Show Podcast. Shot clocks, big shots, upsets, aces, TGL playoffs are here. First, Atlanta Drive starts their repeat run against Los Angeles Golf Club.

47:27Then, Rory's Boston Common Golf and Tiger's Jupiter Lynx face off in their playoff debuts. Who will advance? Keep up. It's playoffs. Tune in Tuesday, March 17th at 6.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. only on ESPN and the ESPN app.