Hour 3: UCLA Women’s HC Cori Close, Mendoza Skipping the Draft, plus Emmanuelle Chriqui In-Studio

0:00Rich Eisen:You know you need fiber for a healthy gut, but do you actually know how to get it? Quaker's been serving up fiber since 1877, with over 100 great-tasting, good-source-of-fiber options to choose from. Whether you like old-fashioned oats, instant oatmeal, granola, or oatmeal squares, Quaker makes it delicious. Mmm, so good. Get your fiber with Quaker. Shop Quaker's good-source-of-fiber products at a store near you. K-Pop Demon Hunter's Saja Boys Breakfast Meal and Huntrix Meal have just dropped at McDonald's. They're calling this a battle for the fans. What do you say to that, Rumi? It's not a battle.

0:38So glad the Saja Boys could take breakfast and give our meal the rest of the day. It is an honor to share. No, it's our honor. It is our larger honor. No, really. Stop. You can really feel the respect in this battle. Pick a meal to pick a side. And participate in McDonald's while supplies last. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck. You can find us everywhere. Watch us weekdays on Disney Plus from noon to 3 Eastern. Miss the show? We've got a podcast so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part. Our YouTube channel. Subscribe at youtube.com slash richeisenshow and you'll never miss a moment.

1:25Now, on with the show. I'm a true champion. Go blue is the mantra. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Michigan, the men's basketball champion. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Earlier on the show. Michigan head coach, Dusty May. ESPN college basketball analyst, Jay Billis. Coming up. UCLA head coach, Corey Close. Actor, Emmanuel Shrieky. and now it's Rich Eisen.

1:59Rich Eisen:Hour number three of the Rich Eisen show is on the air and I have some breaking news. I just read during the commercial break that One Shining Moments lyrics were written by an Ann Arbor resident and it first played during the 1989 Michigan's basketball tournament win. I now love the song. You can't do that. I totally reversed course. I had no idea. What? You've already stated your disdain for it. You do not get to join our team now. Yes, I can. As one shining moment truthers. We're all, I enter the portal. Wow. That is, no, I'm not allowing that. I'm entering the portal. No chance. No, come on, man.

2:39Rich Eisen:You're on that side of the fence. I have no idea. It's written by a guy from Ann Arbor. And the first time they actually used it was in 89 when Michigan last won it all on the men's side of things. Which you wouldn't know because you were putting the school newspaper together. so you wouldn't have done it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You were hard working. I don't know that. No, I love the song. No. Uh-uh. And Luther Vandross sings it? Stop it. That was the worst part about it. How are you going to disrespect Luther like that? All right. Let's all come together as one. Thank you. Certainly since the coach of the team that came together on behalf of those in Westwood, California, wanting to see a trophy for the UCLA women's basketball team.

3:18Rich Eisen:Ladies and gentlemen, Corey Close is here after cutting down the nets. Eight. in Phoenix, Arizona. What's up, coach? How are you? I'm doing great. How are you doing today? Not as well. I mean, I'm doing great. My, my, my, my alma mater's men's team won it all, you know? So I texted you that last night. I said, you're a happy guy today. And what did you say? Last two days. I said, last two days. You made me happy to my whole household, Susie, my daughter, Taylor, my boys. Cause honestly, the way you go about your business and the way that your team plays. I mean, things took off the minute you hit the final four in a way.

4:00Rich Eisen:You found a new gear, it looked like, a whole different level. I'm wondering if you felt the same way. Yeah, actually, you are exactly right. I thought it was really important. We've not been challenged that much this year. And I thought actually the real pivotal piece was how we came out and went down in our Elite Eight game versus Duke. And it was like, okay, y 'all, we got to fight for this. We got to claw. We got to decide who we're going to be, and we got to go make this thing happen. And I really saw a different team from the halftime of that Elite Eight game all the way through the Final Four, culminating the morning of the national championship game.

4:40I got our entire team, and when I say team, I mean our support staff, our managers, our everybody, our scout guys together in this massive circle. And I talked about that the superpower of our team was really our connectivity and our mission mindedness. And that three strands woven together just cannot easily be broken. And how important it was for us to see ourselves as this interdependent, interwoven group. And I could just see in their eyes, Rich, that I turned to my director of basketball operations after that and just said, we're going to win this thing. they were just dialed in and they had found that other gear that you're referring to.

5:18Rich Eisen:No doubt about it. And then you avenge your only loss of the season against Texas on Friday night. What was that like Friday night into Sunday for you and your staff and your team? What was that like? Well, it was a huge, you could tell it was just a breakthrough mentally. I think, you know, in our minds all year, we're like, we can do this. We have the roster. We have the chemistry. We have the skill set to make this happen. But we had to overcome a hard thing. And we had to overcome an opponent that was probably playing the best basketball going into the Final Four was Texas. And I just I was so proud at what we how tough we were in that game.

6:02I wasn't very proud that we turned the ball over 23 times. I was really proud. I mean, it was a it was a rugby match. And and I thought that we just stayed the course. Actually, our team, I think, was a little more level about it than I was. I was just like, you know, we got to be able to go from point A to point B here. And, you know, and they just did such a good job of going, hey, this is what it takes. This is what the game is telling us is required. And we're going to find a way to be the tougher, more together team. But that was a big deal. That was a big hurdle for us. But I really knew we were ready to go win it because I went into the locker room after the game.

6:41And it was like any other game. that was like, job's not done. What are we even talking about? Let's go. We came here very strictly on a business trip. We know what the mission is and when's the next film session to prep for the next game. And that's where they were.

6:56Rich Eisen:Yeah, and just seeing your players and just how loose they were, but how present they are, right? After Lauren Betts was done with her post-game interview on the live broadcast after the Texas win, she turned to her teammates and she goes, we're playing in the national championship game. She might've, she might've also had a, a word in there that I picked up, you know, earmuffs, earmuffs for Taylor, but nothing she hasn't heard at home, but, but, but in all seriousness thought and seeing that and then seeing your, your, your team kind of dancing while also going through the workouts on, on Saturday, I texted the group here and everyone like, you know, UCLA by 100, which you almost pulled off.

7:47Rich Eisen:But, you know, I'm wondering where that comes from. Coach? Yeah, you know, I think it comes rich from genuine relationships because you have to know what the what the vibe needs to be. Some people's I would call it their warrior dial. Some of their warrior dials need to be turned up. And we're always telling Lena Billett, she needs to play mad. She needs to play like, Let's go, you know, but some of our players needs to turn down. And part of that is just dance it out, like have fun. This has got to have joy. This has got to have a lightness because they're already putting so much pressure on themselves.

8:23And so I think you have to know your team and know, you know, what, how each individual is at their best and trust that though it may look different in style, player by player, the standard doesn't change about what's expected to be able to come out and perform. And, you know, they have a great balance of that. I think we realized early on the expectations that we're going to follow this team. And last year, I don't think I handled it as well as I needed to as a leader. And they, you know, I don't think we, bottom line, my biggest job is to get our team to play its best basketball when needed and at the highest levels.

9:01And we got spanked in the semifinals last year. And so I needed to go, okay, what needs to change? And I do think the way we handled having the target on our back, we actually needed more joy and lightness, not more intensity because the intensity was there. And so I just think that was fun. And in the in-between practice on Saturday, I actually had no idea how to handle it. I was like, what do I do? and I asked Holly Rowe like you've seen a million of these how do coaches handle it or I called Muffet McGraw at Notre Dame who'd been there I was like okay how does this work you know and so we just decided that that open practice was going to be our connecting fun practice and then we were going to have a closed practice after that was going to be about our business and they handled that with great maturity and it paid off.

9:51Rich Eisen:Corey Close champion head coach from UCLA here on the Rich Eisen Show. Let's talk about some of your players, if you don't mind. Lauren Betts, the most outstanding player of the Final Four in the tournament. And her story, Holly Rowe, you mentioned, made reference to it when she was on the podium with you and the rest of the team. And her Players' Tribune piece that was published in March was Raw. Yeah. And it really was out there. What are you willing to share about when she checked herself into UCLA care at the hospital there based on her depression moving from Stanford to UCLA and you had her in your care and this was happening?

10:36Rich Eisen:What can you share with us here, Corey? Yeah, you know, as much as I am proud of our staff, what we accomplished as a national champion and all those things, I'm actually more proud of how we show up for our players on the hard days. I'm that is probably my I have a group of staff. It's not it's not just me. It's it's every single person on our program that has chosen to sacrificially adopt the mission of our program, which really has more to do with who they're becoming as people than it does about who they're becoming as basketball players. And that was one of my proudest moments, you know, as a coach to see our entire program just come alongside Lauren in such a genuine way in her toughest moments.

11:23I remember my dad used to say that the greatest honor is when someone else invites you into their greatest time of need. And it's my honor to come alongside her. But I also have to give Lauren her props. when she played for me and when the USA basketball under night U19 World Cup team, she was actually on her way to Stanford. And on that trip, when I was the head coach of that World Cup team, my father passed away. And when we were in Spain, and I'm telling you, she is so empathic. And Lauren gave more to me than I did to her. And so then, you know, Fast forward two years later to be in that room with her.

12:07I mean, it's scary. Izzy Anstey was on that team and was probably Lauren's closest friend. And this gets me choked up when there's a picture that she flew across the world from Australia to be there. And at that moment, and that day was Izzy Anstey. She goes, that was maybe one of the hardest days of my life. I thought I was going to lose Lauren. And then Cam Brown has also had her own mental health struggle that she has really invested in Lauren and shared her journey with Lauren. And there's this picture after the national championship game where they all three of their foreheads are together and they're just their arms are clenched so tight in the layers of that bond was about showing up for each other on the hard days and on the things that really matter most.

12:58and as proud as I am about the championship, I'm even more proud of that. It's beautiful.

13:04Rich Eisen:Thank you for sharing that. Yeah. I really appreciate that. Wow. And then, you know, Gabriela Jaquez, whose brother, okay, did what he did for the men's side of things. And she is as decorated as they come now in the history of the whole program. And just seeing her do everything. I mean, absolutely everything. Running the floor, blocking shots getting on the floor shooting threes uh you know setting screens uh i'll give you the floor on her development and how you know she she wanted to go nowhere else she wanted you to offer her more than anything in the world and you did and and boy now now now you got a banner yeah i look like an idiot rich like it took me she had one other power four offer going into her senior year of high school.

13:55Like it's just craziness, you know, and it's so interesting. Her AAU coach, Kelly Sopak, who's now the head coach at University of Nevada. He told a great story when she joined his club program, his AAU team, the Cal Stars. He said to somebody, you know what, if I was having, you know, just a three point shooting contest and, you know, I had to pick my players. I bet of 10 people, I would pick Gabriela Hawkins last. But if you had a one-shot to one three-pointer to win the game, even at that point, I would choose Gabriela Hawkins first. And I thought that encapsulates her warrior spirit, her confidence.

14:40She knows how to show up in the most pressurized moments. When you look back at our postseason runs from her freshman year to her senior year, the biggest games, the most pressurized games, the one when they're most on the line, the most consistent player was Gabriela Hawkins. And I think it just shows her mentality. She just got this warrior spirit. And I think she can be an inspiration to so many people that it doesn't have to look like everybody else. Like Gab's game doesn't look like most other people and she's going to be a top, you know, 10 draft pick. And so, you know, I think that if you're a kid growing up and you're looking for role models, she has been a self-made person.

15:24I mean, she has found her own niche of how to impact the game. And her plus minus has been our leading plus minus person all year long in terms of her offensive and defensive leverage of when she's on the floor. And so I just think, you know, if you can have a warrior spirit and if you can intentionally build your growth. I mean, she shot in the teens in the three-pointers her freshman year, and she made herself a 50-40-90 player. That's just unheard of. That just does not happen. And if you're someone willing to put in the work and compete fiercely, but with joy in your heart like Gabriela Jaquez, anything is possible.

16:02Rich Eisen:Yeah. You may hear your program called three times in the top ten a week from tonight at the WNBA draft. You may have three top ten picks, and I think you will, Corey. I think we'll have four. Okay. I don't mean I don't mean I don't okay I don't mean I don't mean I guess I'll tell us short

16:21I think all six are going to be drafted and at least four in the first round there you go

16:26Rich Eisen:before I let you go let's talk about you a little bit if you don't mind you were here last year for two shows you were the first guest of women's sports now last year there's season two information coming up very very shortly so be on the lookout for that text and invitation from Susie and the rest of us here coming up. But then you sat here in my guest chair, told an incredible story about meeting John Wooden, about being there and being alongside him. There you guys are. And your relationship with the Wizard. And, you know, I'm getting choked up, so I know how you're going to feel about this.

17:02Rich Eisen:You're going to be able to coach in that vaunted pavilion and look up, and one of your banners is going to be next to all of his. What's that moment going to be like for you? Do you think? It's a mix and I am getting joked up. It's a mix, Rich, because one, on the one hand, I could care less. Like, you know, I walked down the hallway of the men's side because of where our bench is in Pauley Pavilion before every game. And I sort of touch each banner, but it isn't about achieving the banner. It's about the flood of memories, lessons, shared experiences, principled centered leadership that Coach Wooden taught me and the time he spent.

17:48And so I, you know, and so it's this amazing bond. So to even have one of those to be next to him is like this. It's like this pay it forward kind of moment to say, I listened, you know, and I don't know. it doesn't always transpire with banners. It just doesn't. But I think the big thing that's most meaningful in that way is that I can say, I listened and you did that. Thank you. Just maybe just be able to say thank you. You know, his great granddaughter, Corey, sent me a picture yesterday and she and her daughter wore all their UCLA gear to school that day on Monday because they were proud. And I just was like, that's what it's all about.

18:34And his son, Jim, texts me after the game. And, you know, I just, I'm just really grateful for all those things. And then on the other side of this coin, and sorry to be long-winded.

18:44Rich Eisen:No, go for it, please. But, and I said this on the Scott Van Pelps show, but I really mean it, is that banners really do just hang in gyms. Rings really do just collect dust. And the only two things that get to stay with you for the rest of your life from these four years is who you become and who you impact. And in the end, I know that Coach Wooden would also only care about that. And he also said, he used to always tell me, who cares about the four years that they're with you? It's what they do in the next 40 years that you're responsible for. and that that's really what it's all about that is so cool for sure yeah you know for sure and couldn't be happier for you um and uh because all of us here on this show and as i mentioned women's sports now uh to use the wizard phrase got to pull back the curtain and see who you are as a person you are as genuine as they come and you're all about it you're all about making sure that the next generation of girls i see it with my daughter and the way that you've interacted with her in the short periods of time that you've you know we've been lucky to have her around you you're really all about i couldn't be happier for you thank you rich but you know my biggest moment is that uh i got to teach your wife what a slob was line out of bounds and that she wants to uh put that out of bounds play in for taylor's team so hey that that's that's my that's my mountaintop moment right there well on behalf of my two boys and yours truly who are called slobs at home because we leave everything on the floor.

20:21Rich Eisen:We appreciate you giving Susie a different way to use that word on behalf of my daughter and their hopefully championship basketball team like yours. So thank you. There you go. I appreciate that. Thank you so much. Can't wait to see in person. Can't wait to see in person. Go hit that portal and go keep it going. Thanks again, coach. All right. Thanks so much. Thank you, everybody. That's Corey Close, champion head coach of UCLA basketball, putting a trophy in the case. That's awesome. That's what's happening. All right. that was cool that was awesome man i remember she came in here last year chris and remember we were joking with her because she had on this travis scott's uh-huh and i was like you're stunting coach you just go to any recruits elsewhere and those they're gonna sign with you that's right wonder if i wonder if the shoes help maybe they do well isn't that isn't that the phrase it's got to be the shoes gotta be the shoes rich come on is that was that mars blackman it's gotta be the shoes gotta be the money it's gotta be money that was awesome yeah that's cool isn't And it's kind of wild that UCLA, that school's synonymous with basketball, right?

21:21Rich Eisen:Indeed. First time the women have ever won. Well, again, they won one. Before it was. Correct. Yeah. Before it was recognized. Recognized, yeah. Correct. That was Ann Myers and that UCLA team. But neat stuff. All right, let's take a break. The actress Emanuel Schrieke is in our green room. Time to end that. She's coming on out. We'll talk about her new movie. And, of course, back in the day, a little fun Entourage. That's next. This is The Rich Eisen Show. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.

21:52Rich Eisen:Rich Eisen here. I've traveled all over for some of the biggest NFL moments you can imagine. Conference championships, Super Bowls, draft weekends, and everywhere I go, the city just feels different. It's buzzing, packed, electric. Now, take that energy and multiply it by the entire world. That's what's coming this summer with the FIFA World Cup. fans from every corner of the globe are going to be traveling to experience it live and when that many people come to town they're all looking for a place to stay that got me thinking if you live in or near a host city this is one of those rare moments you already have a space this summer you could list your space on airbnb while fans are in town for the fifa world cup not as a full-time thing not as some huge lifestyle change just during an event when demand is naturally high When I travel for big games, I just want a comfortable place in a real neighborhood, and that's exactly what so many visiting fans will be looking for.

22:49Rich Eisen:If you've ever thought about listing your space, this summer is a great time as we welcome FIFA World Cup fans. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com slash host. Rich Eisen here. The April 15th tax deadline is coming fast, but don't worry. Hand off your taxes to a TurboTax expert today. You know how April feels. Everything speeds up. Games matter. More hoops and hockey schedules tighten. Your phone won't stop buzzing. And somewhere in the middle of it all, there's that quiet little reminder. Taxes. You'll get to it tonight or tomorrow or after the weekend.

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24:49Rich Eisen:Called A Love Like This, our radio audience just rejoined. We just saw a trailer for it available now to buy or rent on all digital platforms starring Emanuel Shrieky, who's here. Hayes MacArthur as well. Everybody should go check that out. Where'd you come up with the idea for this? Who came up with the idea for this film? It was a script written by Jeffrey Ruggles. And it kind of, you know, one of the producers had it and was trying to put it together. And then it made its way to me. John Asher, the director, was attached. I met with John and I was like, I'm in. I would love to do this. And then I attached myself also to be a producer just because the story, I just, there was something, it was such a gut punch when I read it.

25:32I was like, this would be a really interesting and confronting story to tell.

25:37Rich Eisen:Well, our radio audience just returned, didn't see the trailer. You want to just fill out everyone on what the story is? Yeah, it's these high school sweethearts that find themselves in Malibu for a weekend, and we come to see that they've been having an affair for many years. And this is their last weekend together. Definitely. Last weekend. Well, we'll see. Right. That's the plan. Right. And, yeah, and so then John Asher and I, we were, you know, thinking about the guys, and he had mentioned Hayes MacArthur. And I was just like, yes, it's got to be Hayes. Hayes and I had done Super Troopers 2 together.