🔥 THE SPORTS RIDE SHOW — BASEBALL LOCKOUT? NBA HEATS UP & NFL MADNESS!

0:15Welcome to the Sports Ride Show with Sports Pops. Listen to the voices if you want to get in trouble with the boys or these. Dallas Cowboys neighborhood with Mr. Wilson. Shai Shikha Lady Sports Happy Hour. It's about time with Top 4 Maverick and the big crew. Start your engines. The Sports Rise Show is ready.

0:51Welcome everybody to the Sports Rise Show. I am your host, Sports Pops. And remember, here at the Sports Ride Show, every sports story belongs to you. In order to bring all the sports story, I need the best peak crew in sports today. And let me start with the only one that is here, The Voice. Listen to The Voice if you want to get in trouble with The Voice or tease. And tonight we have our special guest, Mark Appelman. I'm going to give him the microphone in a few minutes so he can tell us a little bit more about him. But before I get to that, I want to go ahead and salute all the men and women of the armed forces.

1:32Thank you for your service. Thank you for fighting for our freedom. We love you here at the Sports Rise Show. And this is a way for us to say thank you. Mark, welcome to the Sports Rise Show. How are you doing tonight, sir? I'm good. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. I'm glad to have you. And by the way, I saw you dancing to our music. You like the music? Yeah, I love it. Love it. He started dancing. I saw him in there and said, damn, he's dancing to the music, baby. Anyway, Mark, tell us a little bit what you have done in the past, what you're doing right now. You've got an amazing resume when it comes to the world of sports.

2:07And that's the reason we have you here, so you can be with us at the Sports Rise Show. Go ahead, Mark. Well, thanks. So I started out my career as a sports writer for the L.A. Times, primarily based in San Diego. So I covered the San Diego Padres, the Chargers, San Diego State. Then I moved on to Sports Illustrated for Kids was launched. And that was a really fun, fun position. That was in the early 90s and was an editor there and then was in charge of all of their brand extensions. So we did shows with HBO and NBC. We had a weekly radio show. So we did the first timing website at the time with, if you remember the company CompuServe, going sort of way back.

2:54And that really got me into the whole internet and digital space and went on and headed up the first Fox Sports site. Then I was at AOL Sports. I was with a few startups. And then I went to ESPN at ESPN Sports Nation was my baby. And we did that across all platforms, TV, radio, the magazine, and really got involved in fan engagement with that. Went again to a couple of digital startups. Sort of my career has been a lot corporate startup, corporate startup kind of thing. And then ended up, and this was a totally sort of switch, although I had always been involved with baseball, but became the CEO of Sabre, the Society for American Baseball Research.

3:43And at the time, they were really looking to sort of change that organization from sort of a, you know, older organization that was based on history and based on research. And it was right around the time of Moneyball. So it was a perfect transition to really get involved in analytics and all the fantasy games and data. And so we started Sabre Analytics Conference, which became the biggest analytics conference for baseball. And I did that for eight years. Then I've been consulting. And over the last year or two, I have a weekly column that I do mostly about sports, but not totally. It's called the Appleman Playbook.

4:28And the website is theapplemanplaybook.com. It's also on LinkedIn. I also now down in Naples host a weekly show called Sports Talk, which is actually a live one hour on Tuesday morning where a lot of people in Naples get together and basically we talk sports, whatever's going on. Sometimes we have guests, sometimes we don't. And I'm doing some writing for Naples Illustrated, a magazine here, and then keep myself real busy with a lot of speaking things, sort of like this one. So I'm excited to be here and always excited to just talk sports, especially talk baseball, because I really did get very involved in that during those years at Sabre.

5:14We did a lot with Major League Baseball. We did a lot with the Players Association. So I'm pretty familiar with that. What a resume. I think I'm going to go ahead and leave the show and leave it with Mark and let him take over. Boys, go ahead and do the show with Mark. My resume doesn't even have one quarter of the quarter of everything that he said just now. But I'm glad to have you here, Mark, for sure. And, boys, let's go into what we want to talk about, and it's the possible MLB lockout for 2027. As we all know, two proposals have been proposed by the owners to the Baseball Players Association, and both of them included basically a salary cap, which is what the Players Association are going, no way, we are not doing that.

6:05And, Mark, why the Baseball Players Association is so apprehensive regarding a salary cap for baseball? Well, first of all, I'll start out by saying I think they need a salary cap in the sport. I think, you know, NFL is a salary cap. NBA is a salary cap. NHL does. I think, you know, people who are saying now that, you know, you really don't have this imbalance because you had the Brewers and the Rays this year. Well, that was sort of an anomaly. I mean, most of the years you're going to have the Dodgers and the Yankees and the Red Sox and teams like that. And I think this year, even though you had two teams that were among the lowest in payroll and smaller media markets, I still think that there is really the haves and have nots.

6:59And I think you need that. The players don't want it because they're able to get incredible salaries. I mean, if you look at it now, some of the players there are making ridiculous amounts of money. They're not even as great players as, you know, you might think. And then other ones are getting deferred money. So they'll be paid, you know, for years and years. So teams can sort of get around, you know, different types of financial things. So I get it from the player standpoint, but I think you have to have a salary cap. Yeah, I agree with you. We're being on the same page here at the Sports Drive Show, I think, including Mr.

7:39Wilson that just joined us here. Once again, you know, just like the Dallas Cowboys, he's always a little bit behind, that's all. But anyway, he's here with us now. I had to get you back, baby. But anyway, Mark, yeah, I'm on the same page. I believe they need a salary cap. The fact that, you know, three out of the four teams were small markets this year. You know, we had the Cleveland Guardians going against the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League Championship. And then we had the Brewers, of course, going against the Blue Evil Empire, which is the L.A. Dodgers. But to your point that, you know, if we don't get a salary cap, we're going to repeatedly see the same teams be involved to see who's going to the World Series, including the Jan Cheater Skankies.

8:27You call them New York Yankees. You were nice, but we call them Jan Cheater Skankies here at the show. So just to get you caught up to that point. But do you think that if the salary cap stays as part of the new CBA, the players will not agree to it? And then it's imminent for a lockout to happen this year? Well, next year in 2027, Mark? Yeah, I mean, unfortunately, I think everything we hear and what I've heard from people involved, you know, with baseball that there will be a lockout on December 1st. I think it's really unfortunate, as we've talked before, when these things have come up, you know, it's sort of the millionaires versus the billionaires.

9:12And I don't think people have a lot of tolerance for that anymore. I also think that it's gotten to the point now, you know, where younger fans, you know, back in 94, it was bad enough, but younger fans weren't as into the NFL, weren't as into the NFL, even NHL and soccer. I mean, you look now at sort of the rankings of sports and fan engagement, especially among the younger demographics. And even though baseball has done a lot in the last few years to try and speed up the game and do things, it's still not foremost in that, you know, demographic. And I think if they lose half a season or a season, I think it's going to be really, really tough to come back.

10:00Well, to your point, you probably discussed it in the last two, three months. I've been saying this probably when the baseball season started this year. And I said, look, guys, I don't think baseball can afford lockout for the following reason. I don't think they have another Jerry Maguire and Sammy Sosa to bring baseball back again. I don't think they have it. I agree. And if you think about it, you know, and I was thinking about this before I came on the show and did a little bit, you know, research on it. And after 94, when they had the strike, which was, you know, terrible. But the next year you had the whole Cal Ripken thing and baseball really played that up.

10:41And that sort of got a lot of momentum. He was breaking this record every day. He was going for the streak. So they really took advantage of that. And then shortly after that, you started having the whole, you know, everything with Sosa, McGuire, with Bonds, the sort of steroid home run contests and everything like that. And baseball didn't do anything to really stop that at that point, because that was also bringing back the sport. And I remember at the time we were at AOL and it was amazing the usage we had. I mean, every day with the charts and just keeping up with that home run race was huge.

11:20And that really helped bring back the sport. I'm not sure what there is now. And, you know, as we sort of talked a little before, I mean, the NFL has gotten so huge now. And college football, NBA, college basketball, as I mentioned, NHL. I just think there are a lot of ways, you know, in addition to all the other sports for people to, you know, enjoy sports. And I don't think if you don't have it for a season and it's sort of out of people's minds and suddenly, you know, you know, the NBA and NHL will play off those playoffs this year. they'll go crazy with those to attract the fans who aren't watching baseball in April, May and June.

12:05So, you know, I really hope for a lot of reasons. I hope for fans' sake, but also for the sport's sake. I think, you know, I think both the owners and players have to realize that. Well, we'll see. I mean, this discussion I had with Boyce and Mr. Wilson in the past, and I want to know how they feel as of today. So, Voice, it seems like we're going to have a lockout no matter what. And we discussed the part that you mentioned it yourself. You said, well, only Otani, but can he do it by himself to bring baseball back? I don't think he can, to be honest with you. So, go ahead, Voice, elaborating to that idea that you had months ago regarding that Otani cannot do it alone.

12:49Mark Appleman: Yeah, right. Well, first of all, you know, from the Sports Right Show, I want to say happy Veterans Day. You know, my brother-in-laws, you know, are involved in the military. My son was too. And to every single past president, future soldier, you know, thank you for your sacrifice. And Mark, you know, it's a pleasure having you here. Thank you. You have so much knowledge. Not just that you have, it's just incredible. If anything, after the show, I can give you a little bit of it. But to a sports boss point, yeah, I don't think Otani can bring it back by himself. And you just mentioned it earlier.

13:26Mark Appleman: This is not a case where you're going to have a Mark McGuire slash, his name escapes me right now, but Sammy Sosa type. Clearly the biggest losers, if there's a lockout, will be the fans, I'm thinking, and then the game itself. Because Mark, the way you said, they have a lot of competition nowadays. I completely agree with you on that. College football is huge. All the different sports that you mentioned is just huge. and fans are tired of having a lockout every so many years. You know, the way we see it is, oh, man, there are a whole bunch of spoiled little kids, you know, making millions already and just wanting more money.

14:09I might be wrong because, you know, when you play a sport,

14:13Mark Appleman: you know, you play it for love, but you also play it to make, you know, some type of money, right? Mark, let me ask you this. What is the worst-case scenario when it comes to a lockout? in terms of how long that might last? And what is the one thing that you will say there's not going to be a lockout because of this that could happen? Well, I think, first of all, I think if the season's delayed slightly, I think they'll probably be okay. I think a lot of people wish there was a 154-game season or a 142-game season. It's a long season with playoffs and everything. So I think people will be ticked off.

14:57And I think people, you know, especially for us down here in Florida or Arizona, we love spring training and people will miss that. But I think they're probably OK. I think if they go to, you know, July and it's the All-Star game already now, a lot of people are like tuned off and they're already ready for the next NFL season. And if it goes beyond that, I don't even know if they'll have a season. I don't think they're going to start in September and then just have the World Series. And if they miss a year, I mean, I don't know what. I really don't know where the sport will be. I just think that there are so many people will be out of mind.

15:38Plus, people will be really ticked off. I mean, it's expensive to go to sporting events now. Now, baseball may be a little less expensive than some of the other sports. But you take a family of four and by the time your food and concessions and parking and tickets, even if you're not sitting, you know, in the best box seats, it still really adds up. And I think fans are just going to be like, you know, I just I have no tolerance for this this kind of thing. And and I just think it's a shame. The other thing that could be really interesting. And I'd be curious about this is so I haven't seen them in person yet.

16:17I've seen them on TV, but you have the Savannah Bananas and they've taken over. I mean, next year they're going to have six teams. They have a deal with ESPN. Friends of mine who have young kids who have taken them there, you know, to see those games, say they're a blast, that the kids love them, that it's really fun. Now, for us, we don't really consider that baseball per se, but I wonder if that suddenly is on almost every day and they do even more and more games, how that may affect baseball going forward. I don't know. What do you guys think about that?

16:58Mark Appleman: Real quick, I'm starting to cut everyone off. Mark, one more thing. Who do you think gives in first, players or owners? I mean, usually it's the players who end up having to give in. Now, the baseball is traditionally had the strongest union of any sport, and they've sort of held off the longest and they've usually had the most, you know, sort of difficult negotiations with that. But I have to think probably at the end of the day, it's the players. Mark, let me before I ask this question to Mr. Wilson so he can elaborate regarding this lockout here. And we just had our amazing, talented Miss Chai Shika joining the show.

17:48So she's our female presence. We need her because we're all ugly, and she's the beauty of the show. So with that said. Well, nice to meet you. Nice to meet Mr. Wilson. Nice to meet you. Mark, you were saying, you know, to go to a ball game is a lot of money for families to go to a game. And I think it would be catastrophically stupid for baseball to go into a lockout. I'm going to put it just the way I need to. Saying that, that is so expensive. Let us know how we can get media credentials. I've been fighting for those for a little while now. But on a serious note, Mr. Wilson, this situation with baseball, not taking advantage for what happened last year with the NBA and having players and coaches get arrested for all the fraudulent activities they had, I think baseball put themselves into the second most watched sport after NFL here in the United States.

18:47And now if they decide to go into a lockout, they're going to lose all that momentum. And even that we know Savannah, Banana, baseball, that's basically the Harlem Globetrotters in baseball. That's what we got with that. So can they actually hold a whole season for us? I love Jesse Cole. He's the founder and creator of Banana. I love that man to death. But it remains to be seen if they can actually fill that void not having baseball. So, Mr. Wilson, what do you think about that? Well, happy Veterans Day to everybody. I got my service cap rocking here. Thank you to all the servicemen and women who are out there.

19:31putting their bodies on the line and being separated from family members. We appreciate you and love you for everything that you do. Speaking on Savannah, but man, I think it's great entertainment. I've seen it. It's a lot of fun. And I think that anybody who goes to any of those games, you are going to have a awesome time. That being said, it's not major league baseball. I don't see that replacing it. I don't see that ever coming close to filling the void that Major League Baseball would vacate if there was not a season this year. Truthfully, when it comes down to it, and again, we've talked about this at length, they've got to get a deal done.

20:22They've got to get a deal done. Mark spoke to this as well. What happens when your viewership starts watching and getting engaged with other sports? And also, we have to take into consideration what the baseball season, you already have injuries due to, you know, what have you. If there's a shortened spring training, if there is no spring training, what does that look like for baseball? And are you going to, you know, Aaron Judge can't stay healthy, you know, when he gets a full spring training. Are we going to be having more of these soft tissue injuries? Are we going to have more of these injuries just due to the fact that the baseball season has been impacted by time and not getting enough time to get your bodies right?

21:08So, again, I think that we can speak to this ad nauseum. Strike would not be good for baseball. They don't need it. And I think that both parties need to come to an understanding that a deal needs to get done and they need to get on the field. I agree. I mean, we've been agreeing upon this scenario that we are having with Major League Baseball right now. I have a question, Mark. Maybe you know it, maybe you don't. If they go into a lockout, can the players go play independent ball, especially those players that need to continue to develop and everything else? Can they go to play in United Baseball?

21:51Can they go to the Mexican League and play over there? Can they go to the Japan League? Or once the lockout is on, they got to stay home. First, I want to echo what everyone said about Veterans Day and a shout out to all the veterans, definitely. To answer your question, the players who are on the 40-man rosters and have the Major League Baseball contracts cannot, through the collective bargaining agreement, go play on any of those. But minor league players or players who have not signed a Major League contract, and many agents now, I imagine, are sort of telling their players not to sign those contracts right now because you will have minor league baseball and then they can go play in all the other leagues that you sort of mentioned.

22:40I don't think, I don't know, you know, if they have, you know, the, like they used to do the games from Korea during the, you know, COVID period. I don't know if televising games from Korea or from Japan or having minor league games is really going to be a good substitute for people. I'm not sure, you know, minor league games are fun and they're definitely more affordable and they're family things. But again, I don't think that's going to replace, you know, Major League Baseball. There we go. So 40-man, on the 40-man roster, those players will have to stay out, work out on their own, stay in shape.

23:21But then the minor league guys can continue to develop and do what they got to do and go some other places. Shai Shika, you want to say anything about our lovely veterans that support the Sports Ride Show? Of course. We support them. I mean, I think this day says everything. And I mean, if you personally know anyone that's served or even if you don't, we just appreciate their service. So 100 % echo everything everyone else has said as well. Yeah. Mark, what's happening is we've been doing audio since March of 2025. So when we started looking at our numbers and see exactly what was happening, we were like, why we have people listening in Afghanistan, Cameron, Kenya?

24:06And we were trying to figure it out, and we finally figured it out. It's the military basis for men and women of the United States military forces. They are listening to our show. I appreciate that. and it's quite a number to have, you know, besides the United States, 13 countries listening to our show. That's great. Congratulations on that. Thank you so much. And we know that it's our military people. So for that, we love you so much here at the Sports Right Show. We're going to continue to support anything that has to do with the veterans and the armed forces here at the Sports Right Show. And we did that little graphic that you're seeing in there.

24:44We all look great. but for whatever reason, Mr. Wilson looks like RG3. It's me or he looks like RG3? Yeah, he looks like RG3 right there. For a minute, I said, what happened here? I'll tell you this. I need to shave so I can get like that. What about Shai Shika with the Air Force uniform? Look at her. I like it. I like it. And Tom Cruise, eat your heart out with my, you know, Navy suit, baby. You know, that's all I have to say. I'm going to call Lee. I'm going to say, D 'Avric, here I come. I'm going to go ahead and call Lee Steinberg and let him know that I can do, you know, another top gun or something.

25:24His voice is looking good over there, too. Oh, yeah. He's the man.

25:29Mark Appleman: Hold on now. I can see all the medals right here, right on your chest and your heart. How many medals do I have? Too many. Too many. It was a case. It was a case. It was a case. We forgot to put the case right by your finger. Sorry about that. But anyway, Mark, I don't know what else to say regarding baseball, but they got to get their ass together and they act, you know, totally in function because if not baseball is going to suffer a lockout. And I don't think they're – the latest that they can start playing, in my opinion, has to be June 1st. If they don't have a deal by June 1st, the season is over.

26:14and then we'll have to see exactly what they want to do. And to your point, when the steroid era came into play, yeah, Major League Baseball didn't stop it. That's what brought baseball back. Yeah, that was huge for them. I mean, having those guys in the home run contests and everything like that, that really helped bring the sport back at that point. It was interesting. I heard an interview the other day with Pedro Martinez and was reading about it. He was really strong. I mean, he was basically pleading with the owners and the players to not strike because he remembered what it did in 94 when he was on the Montreal team that was in first place and headed, you know, toward the series and then everything that happened there.

26:58And he was I mean, he had some really pointed comments toward both the players and the owners saying you guys have to somehow put aside some differences and figure it out. Yeah, it's definitely, it would be a shame that baseball, after what I mentioned before, you know, with the situation that happened last year with the NBA and all the different, you know, that they did and the rest by the federal government with these players and coaches. and you take that momentum and made it work into your favor and having baseball back into the map and then having small market teams, three out of the last four, you know, they were all small markets.

27:40Mark, it was ironic that the payroll for the Guardians race and the Brewers, it was$10 million less than the Dodgers. I know. I had a chuckle when I saw that. That was really unbelievable. And here the sports right show is the same thing. Voice payroll, Mr. Wilson and mine, is$10 million less than Shy Chica. That's why she goes shopping so much. It's always on a shopping spree. She loves to shop. My God, you know. Guilty. Guilty of all charges.

28:16Mark Appleman: Mark, I'm going to put everyone here, I guess, to the test. We don't know. We have no idea what the number would be. But if everyone has to put a number, a percentage on if there's going to be a lockout or not, unfortunately, I got to say between 60 to 70 percent chance there will be a lockout. Just my opinion. I'll give you 90. Unfortunately, I think there's a 100 percent chance there'll be a lockout. I mean, with December 1st. Now, maybe they could even by spring training or, you know, just delay the season a little bit. That I'd give a little lower number to. But from everything, I just think that, you know, unless something really happens dramatically in the next few weeks, I just think there will be a lockout.

29:04Mark, on the initial proposal by the owners, they wanted, you know, the salary cap to be implemented from day one. On the second one, they said, okay, we'll leave 2027 completely as it is, get prepared, and then start in 2028. I thought that was very reasonable from the owners. The only part I don't like about the salary cap is the way they're structured for minimum salary. And the reason I'm saying this, if you've got a team like the Rays that they spend between$90 and$95 million per year, your proposal is saying that you need to spend 172 per season. I don't think teams in these small markets, including the Miami Marlins, nobody goes to the baseball games over there.

29:53You can't even imagine telling them, boom, from 75 to 172 million per year? They'll go bankruptcy. You know, that's such a shame about Miami because I love that ballpark. I've been to a bunch of games there, and it's really a shame. that they don't draw better. Yeah, I mean, it's, you know, Miami sports, it's a football town. Right, definitely. Even that the Miami Dolphins might only win one game, maybe two the entire year. You got the University of Miami, of course, in there. I mean, college football and the Dolphins itself is the ticket that everybody wants to be in within that area in Miami, and then baseball just gets pushed away.

30:36And the Miami Heat even got more and more and more frequency of fans really be behind the team. Now, if they're losing, they don't have anything. If they're winning, yeah, Miami Heat will be there. Very similar to the Jan Cheetahs Yankees fans. When they're winning, they're all there. I'm going to tell you something. I went to game two between the Rays and the Yankees. And in the sixth inning, all the Yankee fans left Tropicana. Sixth inning. They were leaving. Top of the sixth. When they got the third out, everybody walked out. And I said, well, Jan Cheater's can't give hands going at it again.

31:16If they're not winning, they disappear. So, yeah, that's very similar to the Miami Heat fans and the Marlins, I think. What do you think, Mr. Wilson? 100 % truth or I'm lying?

31:30Mark Appleman: Hey, leave them out of this. No, yeah. When it comes to the U, I wish the U had more support as well. But, yeah, Miami is not a sports town unless teams are good. That's just the way it's always been. There's so many different things to do in Miami. If a team is not good, you can go plenty of other places. There's a lot of things to do. The weather is always great. so you're not going to necessarily pack in or most people are not going to pack into an arena to see a losing um product or or a product that's not any good so they'll pack in when it's good and they'll find other things to do when it's not so good that's just the way it's always been i think it's the way it'll always be because it's not wisconsin you know where it's cold and the packers are what's happening you know i mean you're gonna go and the brewers is what is happening you know yeah definitely so here there's nice weather there's bars there's all sorts of other things that you can go and do and fans are not going to settle for a product that's not good yeah basically it will be like this take the ladies sports and just keep the happy hour in miami and that's what everybody will do you know if their teams are not winning there's a lot of happy hours here yeah yeah that's what i'm saying mr wilson mr wilson i'm gonna tell you i'm gonna say there's a lot of stuff to do down there in Miami.

33:01Mark Appleman: I lived there for 34 years, as you guys know. I washed up and moved out, but you mean to tell me that at least when it comes to college football, there's only six home games usually a year. You mean to tell me that you can't pack 60 ,000 people six times in a year? They should be able to do that, especially when they're good. The only thing that I'm saying is that here's the thing. you lived here for 34 years, but you know, there's a lot of money here. And you know, those people who are going to the games are the ones with a lot of money. And when you have a lot of money, there's a lot of things that you can do besides going and seeing a losing product.

33:46So that, that, that's Miami in a nutshell for you. You got Maybachs down here. You got, you got, you know, Lamborghinis, all sorts of things. And these people are going to pack the crowds. They're going to be front row seats if the team is good. But if the product is not good, those individuals who actually have the money to spend are going to find the multitude of other things there are to do in Miami. And there are countless when you have money to go and do, and they're going to do that instead. Mark, let me ask you. Like I said, I think if they don't start playing by June 1st, this season will be over.

34:26I don't think the owners are going to take away the salary cap they want it no matter what it's what I get from the information I was able to gather not that I have a lot like you do but that's my understanding the owners are not going to budge and they're going to go ahead and go with that and if they don't approve it then we have a lockout so they're in that position where they're going no matter what you guys said that you don't want it, you're trying to tell us because the Brewers won the World Series and the Tampa Bay Rays won the American League, and then you have the Cleveland Guardians in there too, it doesn't mean nothing to us regarding this salary cap that we want to implement within the new years of the CBA agreement.

35:15Yeah, I agree. I don't think they're going to take the salary cap off the table. Maybe if they tweak it a little bit or, you know, they do a few things to it, that might make it a little more, you know, possible for the players to entertain it and everything. But I agree with you. I don't think they're going to take it off the table. To a point that Mr. Wilson mentioned on previous shows, we definitely had the situation. We said, hey, we like the Max because that will bring a balance among the teams with the different players that they can sign and how they're going to go ahead and get creative like NFL has to do.

35:56The other thing that I hate completely about what they're doing is those deferred payments. Look at the Dodgers,$1.1 billion, not million, billion with a B, in deferred payments, then you can sign everybody and your mother. That's exactly what I said last week, and I'm going to repeat it again. It's not good for baseball. I think they cannot allow teams to go ahead and say, OK, yes, I'm going to pay you$700 million. But for the first 10 years, I'm going to pay you a million dollars. And then after that, we'll go ahead and get a loan from a bank or something and pay you back. You know? Yeah, I think it's crazy.

36:33And I think the only teams that can even do that are teams like the Dodgers, which are backed by Guggenheim or a huge financial place. If it's a smaller team or it's more an individual owner, players and their agents won't even do that because they don't know if in 20 years, you know, like Bobby Bonilla has been paid for decades now. I mean, it's crazy, but they don't know if that money will be there. And I agree with you. I think those deferred payments and they just let the teams get around a lot of things with the luxury tax and everything like that. Yeah, it's just, for me, it's bad for baseball, that deferment payment thing.

37:12And like you said, it's going to be the Dodgers, the Yankees, even that they spend money and they don't get any back, you know, in regards to their product, the Mets, but they're still spending money. They're a bit market. And then you might get some of the California teams and, you know, maybe Chicago, the Cubs especially, not the White Sox, but the Cubs are the bigger market team within the Chicago area, they might be able to pull something like that. But the rest of the league can do that. That's a complete disadvantage, not just from a player's perspective, but also from a competition perspective and how many teams can actually compete when you had that deferment system in there that I hate 100 ,000%.

38:00Right. And the thing about baseball, because it's such a long sport and there's so many games that if your team's basically out of it by the All-Star game in July, that's half a season that, you know, the fans really know there's no hope. I mean, even with the expanded playoffs, there's a limit. I mean, I remember looking around July 4th or July 15th this year, and there were so many teams that had no chance to make the playoffs. This year was a little more competitive than a lot of the years have been in the past. Yeah, the Rockies were out already by that time. I mean, there were a few teams that were already over 22 games out of first place within their division.

38:42Right, exactly. We'll see how this turns around, hopefully. We know for sure that by December 1st, there will be no new CBA agreement between the owners and the Players Association. We know that. So definitely the lockout will start on December 1st. Hopefully it doesn't last that long. But to me, like I said before, I'm going to sound like a broken record. If by June 1st this thing is not done, baseball will go into a definitely whole year lockout, and we will have baseball in 2027. Gentlemen, voice, and Mr. Wilson, and even Mrs. Shai Shika, any questions for our special guest, Mr. Mark Appelman?

39:24Mark Appleman: I just hope there's a lockout. I love baseball. I just hope they figure it out. And even a certain season, you know, a hundred games, whatever it is, I just hope they count their senses. Shake hands, get it done.

39:40Honestly, I've got nothing. Like I said, we've kind of beaten up this horse, unfortunately, and it's sad that it's kind of gotten to a point where there's a possibility that the season may be compromised. And I think that Mark did a great job illustrating and pointing out all of the possibilities that might lead it from it, but the likelihood that we are going to be looking at a lockout of some sort, which will impact the baseball season. But I appreciate everything. I appreciate all the information. and he's a walking baseball man. Oh, no, I said it. As soon as he – I let him have the mic and he went with his resume.

40:25I said to the boys, I'm leaving. I'm going to let Mark run the show and let Mark do everything else here because, oh, my God. Well, you guys are great. This has been really fun, the give and take. What grade you give us? Give us a grade. Give us a grade. F, great. That's a grade. The grade is great. Okay, there we go. I'd love to have you again on the show once baseball resolves this entire situation. Hopefully, you know, it gets resolved like before spring training. It will be great for baseball itself and all the baseball fans for sure. So, Mark, thank you so much for being here with us. We appreciate it, man.

41:10And we'll be in contact. Hey, get with Justin Ziegler and let her know that I'm waiting for her, too. I will try and get in touch with her. That will be a nice show. You, Justin, and then if I can get Manny Ramirez. I've been trying. Believe me. It's been a nightmare to get him in here, but I'm trying. So we'll see how that works. Well, thank you guys so much. I really appreciate you. Thanks for having me, and I'd love to come back again. Thank you, sir. Thank you again, and you have a great night. Good to meet you. Thank you. Take care. Bye. Bye. Bye. There we go, guys. Mark Adelman. Okay, so Mark used to be a executive for ESPN and also Fox Sports.

41:52And he has a lot of stuff working here in Florida now, but was an executive for ESPN for 12 years. So, you know. So he was kindly enough to come into the show. And I mentioned Justin Ziegler. She is the commissioner for the Women's Professional Baseball League. And I don't understand. I'm just being asking for an interview, nothing else. So hopefully she agrees and comes into a ladies' sports happy hour with Shai Shika. And, you know. That would be wonderful. That would be great. I'm telling you. So let's go. Since we're talking about the baseball world regarding, you know, let me see here. There we go.

42:43The voice is here. I was just doing something technical right here. So let's talk about what happened really quick with the Women's Professional Baseball League. The Los Angeles team won the championship, the first one of their kind. It's only four teams right now. They're talking about expanding next year. Probably two more teams. I have six. And if they can get that going, there's a little bit of let's start traveling and see how it works. Having San Francisco being San Francisco, L.A. and L.A., the New York team, and then we have a Boston team. We'll see what are the other cities that might get that expansion with the ladies.

43:22but it would be great for women's sports to actually have, you know, baseball, women's baseball professionally keep growing. It's going to be some growing pains for sure, but I think they can do something, and I hope not just us, the guys. I want the ladies to really support the sport. Shy Chica, what's going on with these ladies? You know, they're waiting for us to be the ones supporting and make every sport to growth when there's more women in the world than men. So the mic is yours. Explain me that formula there because there's more women in this world that can actually go ahead and support women's sports.

44:04Yeah, but, I mean, there's two sides to that. Women are strong and independent and can support their own league. But also, I mean, look at all the professional sports that are supported today through men and the followings. I'm sorry, but that's bigger than a gender, right? So, I mean, I just think if you're a sports fan, you're going to follow it regardless, as long as the game is good. What do you think about that one, guys? Do we need more females to actually back up more of the women's sports so the growth can be a little bit quicker? Here's my take on it. I think that it has to be. um i think that men have to support it because no no no no i'm not saying us to stay away when it when it comes to like sports overall you know a lot of the young ladies who i know are like yay sports so they're just not really into sports like if you're a female and you love sports you played softball in high school and things like that then you're into sports but if we're just looking at it from a consensus, men kind of drive the sports world and the money and all of that, because it's more, let's just take it this way.

45:19Like it would almost be like saying that men need to support more of like fashion week and things like that. And again, I'm not trying to be stereotypical here, but I do just want to kind of get down to like, if women don't like, let's say men's basketball, they're not necessarily going to just go out there and say, oh, well, the ladies are playing. If they're not into sports, they're not into sports. So ultimately, I think that what Shai said rings true. If you're into sports, regardless of what the gender is, you need to support that sport. WNBA, women's professional baseball, all of that. if you like baseball then you should be watching women's baseball as well and not determining whether or not you watch because it's women or men if you like baseball watch baseball definitely uh i mean don't get me wrong there's some really good looking nfl players but i don't watch the nfl because of the looks i watch nfl because i like sports right so it goes both ways That's why you love the Jacksonville Jaguars so much.

46:28Sunshine. Sunshine. She loves her sunshine. Well, she lights up when you say the Buffalo Bills. That's what she lights up. All right, big fan of Josh Allen these days, okay? Everyone knows that. Let's talk a little bit about the NBA. I just want to go over what is happening with the first 10 games or so with each team. We saw how the Boston Celtics spanned the 70s Cicis ass last night. And when I say Cicis, please, people, don't get it wrong. It means circus clowns. I want to make that clear, okay? Yeah. Look at Mr. Wilson. He's looking like, I want to kill this guy. He's calling them circus clowns.

47:12Listen, we talked about this last week. I'm not worried about it. I've heard that word my whole life. But anyway. That's not something that, I don't know. Maybe there are people who take offense to that. And if that's the case, then maybe we need to look into that further. But in all honesty, I've got no corals with the terminology. Yeah, terminology. But anyway, the Celtics are 9-2. Then the Philadelphia 76ers 9-3. Pistons 7-3. Knicks 6-4. They started winning some basketball games now. The Atlanta Hawks are there 7-5. The Raptors 5-5. And then you see the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, the Charlotte Hornets, and the Washington Wizards.

47:58If the playoffs were today, there will be the teams in the play-in. And then the rest of them will be out, including our Orlando Magic. Uh-oh. I got somebody coming to interrupt the show now.

48:11Mark Appleman: Hold on. It's Milo. Our official pet. Hold on. Milo, what are you doing? What do you want to do, Milo? Do you want to talk about sports? Yeah. Let's talk about sports. Yeah. Oh, he's biting now. Look at him. That's good old Milo. Uh-oh, he's going to eat the microphone. Let me give it back to Chino. You see, he's already acting with lifetime concussion protocol. I can see it. But anyway, we got that. On the other side, the Lakers are in first place with 10-2. So, Donjik without LeBrum is playing lights out, you know. Anything you have to say about that, Mr. Wilson?

48:58I have no dog in the fight. No dog in the fight there. Lucas playing lights out. He's put a string of games together. Plus 40, he had like three in a row last week. averaging over 35 points a game. And again, I think that everybody understood who Luka has been. You know, he's been this since before he's been drafted. He's been playing professionally since like the age of 14, which is ridiculous, playing with grown men at the age of 14. This is not surprising. I think that them being able to give the reins to Luka gives him a little bit more of a comfort zone. and again, he is who he is and who we all have known him to be.

49:50So yeah, the guy balls out. He's lost some weight, tries to play better defense now. He tries. He tries now. He tries. At least he's trying. He gets a higher effort grade than he did in years past. So Lakers doing well. It's not surprising to me. He was great with the Mavericks and I'm sure he'll do great things with the Lakers as well. Before I ask the boys the state of the Miami Heat right now, I got one more question, Mr. Wilson. Who's that rookie from the Golden State Warriors that is playing lights out? Axel. Yeah, he has some weird name. Yeah, I forget the pronunciation. Kid from Michigan.

50:30Played in the National Championship last game. Yeah, he's averaging. I saw the stat earlier today. 21.7 points, 7.4 rebounds as a rookie. He is playing and he's giving a lift to that Golden State Warriors team. And, you know, we carry. Back to Lindenburg. There we go. That's the kid. Yeah, yeah. Lindenburg. That's the kid right there. But anyway, boys, let's get you into the action and what is going on with the Miami Heat. They're 5-6 right now. What is it? What's going on? Why the chemistry of Giannis and the rest of those guys is not clicking yet?

51:17Mark Appleman: Well, you just said the season actually started. I mean, think about it. The guy came in, I think, was in June. He's barely had a chance to even be on the team for a few months. They're still trying to get a feel for each other. But ultimately, what I said last week still stands. Now, the Heat, Miami Heat has been a type of organization that has been known to play defense. And right now, they're just not playing good enough defense. Even though Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, they're two, you know, very good defensive players. But again, my thing is, I think they need to gel. And I hope I'm right, God, please.

52:01Mark Appleman: But maybe, you know, by maybe the half-point way of the season, halfway season there. Hopefully they'll find the rhythm because they do have the talent. But again, when you give up more points and when you score, bad things are going to happen. Right now they're not playing defense. They better figure it out rather quickly or not. If not, they would have been beating the playing. I'm afraid of. We're going to get, you know, NBA started just now. It's going to be like 11 games, 10 games, depending on your team. and we'll get more involved as the season progresses. But let's go into who bucked that up.

52:40And I know who bucked that up. Here we go. Oh, man. You guys know about this, that he got arrested? I saw that. Rex Ryan. According to sources out there, I don't have all the details or anything like that, but according to sources, he drove over two people's toes with his car, stopped, had an argument with them, and then they took pictures of him and his license plate and everything else, but he left the scene. And he's just turning himself in today. So he's being arrested. So I imagine if Tony Romo got DUI and got his contract taken away, I guess this guy also will be out of a job. Maybe they can start a podcast together.

53:27That would be very interesting with this two, him and Tony Romo. or they can be part of the Sports Ride Show. Hey, why not? We'll bring him in. Can you imagine Tony Romo talking to Mr. Wilson? Wow. Dallas Cowboys neighborhood and going, why didn't he bring me a ship? Why didn't he bring me a ship? You know? They'll go at it all day long. But, yeah, unfortunately for, you know, Rex Ryan seems to be a great guy, good defensive-minded coach, as all the Ryans are, you know, That pedigree started with Buddy Ryan, his father, and then his brother. They have done so much well defensively for the National Football League.

54:09I know for the boys it's very sad because he used to be the head coach of the Jets. How are you feeling, boys? You okay?

54:19Mark Appleman: I got some breaking news. Let me not talk about this guy, Ray, you ain't got on camera. I got some breaking news. This is the Sports Rights Show, so let's write it out. So for the AL Cy Young winner, no surprise here, it's Cam Schittler. Did I say it right? I said, listen, maybe not Schittler. Well, anyway. It's somewhere in there. Yeah, he won the Cy Young Award winner with a 1.95 ERA. And then on the other side, no surprise either, Jacob Misarowski for the Brewers, he won the award, okay, Cy Young, And he had a 1.80 ERA to go along with 252 strikeouts. So that's all I got for now. Wow, wow, wow.

55:08Mark Appleman: And Rex Ryan, Rex Ryan. Hey, Rex Ryan, you're welcome to the Cowboys since you're looking for a job now, my bro. Or you'll likely be looking for a job. Whoa, whoa, whoa, Mr. Wilson. You think he still has it in him to be a coach? Well, I think that at least, maybe not as a coordinator, but you've seen older guys, you know what I mean, like coordinating teams like in their 70s. Pete Carroll is like 70 years old or something like that. The football mind, and the way that he calls, he gets to see the evolution of the game so he can adapt with that. I think that wouldn't be a problem. And since he's gone to jail, now you really fit the mold of the Cowboys.

55:52Yeah, now he's in. Now the second thing I'm going to say is, it's really hard to run over somebody's feet with a car. I wear a size 13. How big were these people's feet? I have no idea. He hit them. Maybe they belong to the Lord and the Rings, you know, those guys with the big feet. I have no idea. I don't know how it could happen where you run over somebody's feet with a car. Yeah, that's the allegation. I don't know how true it is. I have no idea. All right. So we'll let him have his day in court because that's, like I said, I'm not going to say that it didn't happen. And I'm just saying that, man, those are some big feet.

56:36The bumper didn't hit you, but the tire that's in the – because the tire is in the wheelhousing. So it's not even like on the outside of the car. It's in the wheelhousing. So typically you get hit by like the bumper or something like that before you get run. I'm just saying, we'll figure it out, and I'm sure that they'll have their day in court. Definitely. Look, guys, it was a trade deadline yesterday at 4 p.m. Eastern time. And I got to say, the Jowers made a statement with the trade deadline. And I think even that they're 7-1, I believe, or 8-1, the Bills are, they're not the favorite team to win the AFC now, in my opinion.

57:20I think it's the Jacksonville Jowers. Because defensively, they were better already than the Bills. And now for sure, they are better than anybody else, including the Denver Broncos and whoever else thinks they have a defense in the AFC. Even if the Texans were playing to their capabilities that they should have been playing, I believe with these three guys here that they added to their defense that it was already with the numbers there. Third in takeaways, Pirates on takeaways, number one. Touchdown ratio, intersection, 8 to 11, second. I mean, Red Sun touchdown percentage, fourth. And fifth in rushing yards allowed per game.

58:09I mean, now it's really, really going to be something very difficult for Josh Allen and the rest of those Buffalo Bills to take out the Jacksonville Jaguars, in my opinion. So what kind of predicament you have in Chichica? Because we know that from a personal standpoint, your voice is Trevor Lawrence. Now, from a football standpoint, it's Dutch Allen. So how are you feeling right now? I don't know about that scenario, but we can talk about that. But I would say I do think Jacksonville is going to be stacked. I mean, going into week 10 with them playing the Titans, too. Titans haven't performed all year.

58:47So what a good week to make some changes and bring on some more. I mean, they're going to be good, but I still don't know if they're going to be as good as the Bills or the Bears. Definitely. I'm saying we're number one in the division now. Oh, no, no, no. I understand. You know, the Bears. I got to enjoy this for seven days before something happens. You know, but the Bears, you know, they had a tough game against the Yacquineers, you know, and, you know, four interceptions were thrown in that game. We'll go into that in a minute because. Very stressful. I want to discuss what happened starting last Thursday night as the Jacksonville Jaguars went into Baltimore without no Lamar Jackson.

59:25And, you know, they put on a stump. You know, they stopped Henry, of course. They did it the previous week as they stopped Jonathan Taylor. So they're stopping the run. And that is so important and such an important key. They're running the football very well with Tutin. How do you say his last name? Wilson? Mr. Wilson? Tutin? We have the titles, though, and the Giants coming up. Tutin. Okay, there we go. So Tutin is doing his job running the football, so they're not really missing A-Chan or ATN, whatever he wants to be called these days. So he's doing a heck of a job. And then Trevor Lawrence with Lee and Kahn is coming to his own.

1:00:09Now he is what everybody was expecting and what all the experts said that he could be. I'm not saying he's there, but a lot of the experts, when he got drafted out of Clemson, was, hey, he's going to be the next Peyton Manning. He's not there, but he's playing so much better on Leon Corm, and I think offensively and defensively is the most complete team in the AFC. What do you think about that, Mr. Wilson? You believe the Jaguars are the best team in the AFC right now?

1:00:41um overall uh hmm you make me lean back on that yeah you see that's my job they're a complete team and if you have to look at it from i'm not going to say that they're the best team because um i still feel like they i still have a lot of confidence in in the bills and josh allen and what he's able to do But when you're looking at offense, defense, and special teams, and the complementary football that they play, unlike teams like the Vikings where they've got a defense but no complementary offense, I think that this Jacksonville Jaguars team puts it all together really well. This past week, Lawrence didn't have to do much.

1:01:25242 yards and a touchdown, and they beat these guys up 33-10. And their leading rusher had 30 yards rushing. So, again, when it comes to complementary football, I think the Jaguars have a well-rounded team. Will I say that they're the best? I wouldn't go there yet, but they're doing a lot of things and they're taking a lot of steps in the right direction. Chay Sheikha, what do you think about your favorite personal quarterback here on Trevor Lawrence? And, you know, he was always wearing a bandana and throwing the hair back. But, you know, I know you like it. You love that part about Trevor Lawrence.

1:02:02So what about his game? What about his game? The Jaguars have a great team, but I agree with Mr. Wilson. I don't know that they're the best in the AFC. I've said this from day one. The Bills are going to go all the way. Bills can't go all the way. They can't. Okay. Yeah. They got no defense. But, I mean, also, you know, look at the Jags' schedule. They're going to play the Titans and the Giants. I don't know how you can get best team. I don't know. Give it a couple weeks and let's revisit that question. You play who you play, but still, the Buffalo Bills don't have a defense. They don't have a championship defense.

1:02:39They don't. I heard them on fantasy football this weekend for the defense, and they put some serious points versus Minnesota. I'm not sure if you watched that game. Oh, my God. Jesus, Lord. You were playing that peewee offense that had no quarterback. Shoot, DeVos. They still got 12 points on defense. Mr. Wilson, DeVos, and I could have played linebacker and safeties, and we did have got some fantasy points against the Vikings. That's how bad they are in offense. I don't know about all that, but I'll tell you this. The Bills have faced two backup quarterbacks over the past two weeks. But, again, here's the thing about the Bills' defense.

1:03:23They don't have to be top of the pack. You have Josh Allen. They need to stay somewhere in the middle, and the Buffalo Bills can still be considered one of the best teams in the NFL. Not to mention, at the trade deadline, they got Amani Hooker, the safety. So they made a move to get that defense better, and I expect it to get better. But, again, Jacksonville is not the best in the AFC. Not right now. They still got to show some things. Okay, boys, what do you think? Bills or Jaguars? Come on, from a complete team standpoint. Not quarterback. I understand Josh Allen is probably the MVP in the league.

1:04:08I'm not taking that away from him. But from a complete standpoint, as defense, offense, all put together, they're the best team in the AFC right now, the Jacksonville Jaguars, especially with the acquisition of those three right there that we have.

1:04:27Mark Appleman: I'll put it to you like this. I'm kind of torn here. Well, first of all, let me get this out of the way. I hate the Bills. With that said. Really? We didn't know that. I think the Bills, I mean, I think the Bills have the best overall offense. If you're going to compare the Jags, you know, the Bills, this is my opinion. I think they have an overall best offense because of Josh Allen. He's done it year in, year out for the past how many years. But when it comes to the defense, I agree with you. I think the Jags are going to have the better defense now with all these trades. But the overall edge, God, I can't remember how I'm about to say this.

1:05:12Mark Appleman: I got to give it to the Bills simply because they've done it year in, year out. Really? Really? Now, with this said, anybody but Buffalo. Jags, Sunshine, do your thing and knock them off. Sports pop, you're on your own. You three picking the Buffalo Bills as better than the Jackson Bills after the trade deadline. You guys need to go with Chino at least for a week. It's all paid by the sports ratio. Hold on. This is like the crazy person in the loony bin looking at the doctors and calling them crazy. Your voice doesn't count on this one. I'm sorry. You're looking at us like we're crazy, and we're like you're the one wearing a straight jacket, buddy.

1:05:55Listen, let's just put it this way. What they did, they made a lot of good moves, and what Jacksonville is trying to do, they're trying to keep themselves from having to go up there to East Rutherford or whatever they're calling it now in Buffalo. They're trying to secure the number one spot. They don't want to go to Mile High. They don't want to go to Buffalo. They're trying to keep it to where they've got home field advantage and the weather suits what they do. I think that there's some really good moves, but who is the starting running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars? Two, two. Correct. You take James, you take James Cook over him all day.

1:06:36And when it comes to the, to the later months, you're going to need a running game. I don't know how much I, or how much confidence I have in Tootin. going down the stretch. I've got a lot of confidence in number 17, and I've got a lot more confidence in James Cook than I do, too. So that's where I go with that. And like I said, Buffalo's defense just needs to stay middle of the pack. They don't have to be a top defense because Josh Allen and that offense will take care of the rest. Boys, I'm going to ask you a simple question. What wins championships?

1:07:12Mark Appleman: Well, defense. There we go. That's all I have to say. Drop the mic, baby. Drop the mic because if any of you are telling me that the Buffalo Bills defense is close to the Jacksonville Jaguars defense today, after getting those three guys that I had on the previous image, no way. No, no, it's not lifetime concussion protocol. You said who's the best AFC team. We didn't say it wasn't the best defense. That may be the best team. You said overall. That may be the best team. Now we're changing the question. Oh, my God. Look at this. When we're talking about complimentary, yes. We're talking about sunshine a minute ago.

1:07:57Overall, I think that they have better complimentary pieces. But, again, I'll go to what you said. Defense wins championship. You know what's another style of defense? A really methodical offense that keeps the other offense on the sideline. That is also a really, really good defense. because I don't care what quarterback you are, whether you're Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, you can't beat me drinking Gatorade, baby. You can't beat me on the sideline. So if we can control time of possession, defense is throwing out the window because we're ultimately playing defense by keeping your ass on the sideline.

1:08:33So you are on the same page with Shai Shika. So you think the Bills are making the Super Bowl this year? Here's the thing about the Bills, again, it's a methodical offense. It's not one of those offenses that's going to be off the field really quick. They eat up time of possession. They make sure that they're wearing down your defense, and your offense can do nothing but watch. They're just as good as the person eating popcorn in the first row because they're helpless to do anything to stop Josh Allen when he's got these six, seven, eight-minute drives where they're just beating you up and getting third down and one and your offense can't do anything about it.

1:09:15That's the reason why I say Josh Allen is the equalizer when it comes to that defense because Josh Allen is not going to go out there and throw an 80-yard touchdown in a 30-second drive. That's just not the way they operate. I'm going to hate to say this. I'll be in concussion protocol. I'm going to hate to say this. I'll go with you, Mr. Wilson. Oh, isn't that special? Look at that. She's willing to go to the lifetime concussion protocol.

1:09:40Mark Appleman: But hold on, guys. So check this out. Right now, and Mr. Wilson, I agree with you, what you said about stuff like that, but also, sports box, you're right, defense wins championships. Now, like I said earlier, with that trade, the Jags have, you know, they have a good possibility of being the best defense coming out of the AFC with all these trades that they just made. Right now, the only one that's playing at an elite level, elite level, for Buffalo's defense, Mr. Wilson, Gregory Russo, baby. Yes, sir. From the U. He's playing lights out right now. Name somebody else in that defense that you can say, wow, that guy right there is playing at an elite level.

1:10:25Finally, somebody has some sense like me. Thank you, boys. Thank you, boys. That's the struggle that Jacksonville has. Who's their number one wideout in Jacksonville? Oh, no, no.

1:10:36Mark Appleman: Like I said, Washington has a better offense. Correct. There's no I in team. This isn't about one player. No, no, no. When I said about one player, you got to look at both sides. You know, I'm not saying that Cook is not better running back than Toothan. We know that. But Toothan is doing his job. You know? And they have a very good offense to an amazing championship defense. Buffalo has a great methodical, whatever you want to call it, offense with a shitty defense. Because they haven't played hardly anybody. That's incorrect. It's not shitty. It's not. No, it's not? It's not. Oh, I wish I would have pulled the numbers.

1:11:20You know? It's middle of the pack, but it's not like they're going out there and because of the way Josh Allen plays, the defense does not have to do as much. Is it a great defense? I'm not going to say that. No. And I think that the addition of Amani Hooker helps, but it doesn't. It's a band-aid. It doesn't solve a lot. But again, with Buffalo, we've seen Buffalo play like this for years now. It hasn't gotten them to where they want to go, so they're going to have to make some changes in terms of that. Josh Allen is really going to have to put that cape on, and that's the expectation year in and year out.

1:11:58After what Jacksonville did, they're contenders, and the Bills, to me, are pretenders.

1:12:05Mark Appleman: But now let me ask you. How do you take the Bills from contenders to pretenders all of a sudden because of what one thing did? Jacksonville, Jacksonville Jaguars, baby. Wow. But one more question for the panel here, for all you guys. So the Bills, like I said, the sports prophecy, the only reason why I'm picking them over the Jaguars is because they've been there. They've been to AFC championships, you know, deep into the playoffs, you know, for whatever many years in the past, right? They're like regulars on the scene when it comes to the playoffs. It's the only reason why I'm picking them over the Jags right now.

1:12:39Mark Appleman: But also, Mr. Wilson and Shy Chica, you guys better know that when the Bills went to the playoffs, why did they lose in the playoffs? Was it because of the offense or was it because of their defense? It's a simple answer. One time it was because of number 15 who wears a Kansas City Chiefs jersey. Right. And then he beat their defense. He beat their defense. See what I'm saying? I need clinics. I need clinics because this man is talking such. But that was also with 13 seconds left. Oh, my God. That's an anomaly. I got nothing to take my tears off. Thank you, boys. Thank you. Thank you, boys. I'll give you guys that.

1:13:24Ultimately, again, Buffalo's defense has never been something that Buffalo had to have. I don't just see what happens because I think the results are going to prove it. No, no, no, no. Shachika, you're not going to run away from this one that easy. I'm not running away. You're running away. But anyway. They're the best team. They are the best team in the AFC, I think. But anyway, to my dark horse, Cincinnati Bengals, they went and put 34 points against Atlanta. That was an easy victory for them. We know Atlanta is just Atlanta. Then we had Denver going into Carolina, and they won another game coming from behind, 26-21.

1:14:03To me, Denver is the second-best defensive team in the AFC. Offensively, they don't have an offense. So, yes, I put Buffalo over them, but I definitely put Jacksonville over Buffalo and Denver in the AFC. There's no doubt in my mind. And who has the best defense? You said that they're the second best? The second best defense is Denver over Buffalo. I'm going Jacksonville number one, Denver number two in defense, and then Buffalo right below them. Okay, so we're talking AFC only, right? No, no, no, I'm talking AFC. I've been saying AFC. I've said it from the moment I started this discussion. Okay, okay, okay.

1:14:45Okay, okay. I just wanted to clarify for the viewers out there. Yeah, because, you know, Dallas is the best team in the National Football League. Just kidding. Really quick, Dallas went and had a nail-biter against the Indianapolis Colts. So, in order to talk about that game, we need Dallas Cowboys neighborhood with Mr. Wilson. Come on, Mr. Wilson. Tell us a little bit about that game. And, you know, they didn't have pickings, you know. It was the City Lamb show all over the place. what are your expectation notes from your Dallas Cowboys you shouldn't need George Pickens to beat the Colts that's number one let's not forget Daniel Jones is their quarterback but the Cowboys do all sorts of things to try to make things interesting and quite possibly lose games C.D.

1:15:38Lamb after a huge catch somehow fumbles the ball it was not a fumble Oh, sorry. I'm trying to stay PG. By rule, it's a fumble because the hand is not down. You know, you have to have a forearm. You have to have a shin, those types of things. Because you can put your hand down to stay up and run. So he put his hand down and the ball was fumbled. And it was a good call by me, but it's just a testament to the Cowboys doing everything the Cowboys can possibly do to make games interesting. To Dallas's credit, they held Jonathan Taylor to 46 yards on 13 carries. But the game was a lot closer than I think that it should have been.

1:16:26Correct. But again, it's ultimately the Cowboys being the Cowboys. We got last week Jerry Jones saying that we're trending in the right direction or some nonsense like that. The guy's senile. Oh, come on. Don't talk about Jerry that way. I'll hand it back to you guys. Don't talk about Jerry that way. Oh, we got a nice free trip for Jerry to be with Chino for a week. Since you two can join him, you and Shai Sheikha. Whatever, I'll go. Especially if it's you sending me there, I'll go. Yes. Because you're crazy. You're crazy. Anyway, the Chiefs, like I said last week, great thing that they were playing the Jets.

1:17:07K-9 back to his own, you know, new ways with Kansas City running the football well. They defeated 35-12. They beat Boy's favorite team, the New York Jets.

1:17:21But Kansas City won the game. The game that I'm very upset about that I thought that Miami could have won is the one against Detroit. It was a close game, closer than what people expected, 19-9. Yes, I could go to lifetime concussion protocol for picking the Dolphins over the Lions. But I was hoping. Until the end of the season, I'm picking any team playing against the Lions. I just want to make that clear. Hello there. Yes, you got it. New Orleans went and beat. New Orleans went in and beat the Cleveland Browns with Shadol Sanders, which is a lifetime concussion protocol favorite quarterback.

1:18:03The only question I got voiced, do you agree going for two instead of the tie in the overtime period? Why not? Why not? Okay.

1:18:14Mark Appleman: I mean. I love how these teams, they love losses versus a tie. I just, you know, for me that, for coaches knowing that, hey, I'd rather lose the football game than have a tie. Yeah. let's go ahead and lose the football game on the road instead of having that tie that I could have. New Orleans did it on the first game of the season against the Lions, and these buckle heads over here, the Cleveland Browns, are doing it now. So I don't understand it. Shyshika, do you agree with that, taking a loss versus taking a tie? Of course not. It's crazy. Thank you. Finally, Shyshika is on my side. Oh, my God.

1:18:58It is a 55-10 game. Oh, Trevor Lawrence. Shia likes points. She's like, take the points. Yes. I've said that forever, especially about Ben Johnson. Take the points early. What are you doing? But no, but the thing I got is this. Okay, you're fighting in a division that you're not supposed to be fighting for. You can tie the game. That tie can be a difference at the end of the season. It can be that half a game that gives you the advantage. maybe to surprise the world and be in the wild card or maybe winning the NFC South, which sucks. But, you know, you decided to go ahead and lose the football game on the road when you could have had a tie.

1:19:41I don't get it. I prefer tie the freaking game, see what happens later in the season versus getting a big L on my record. That's my opinion.

1:19:51Mark Appleman: Boys, are you with me or are you with the coaches going for two? I mean, you already have a 50-50 chance of making it, right? Who? Well, when you go for two. You already have a 50-50 chance. It's not like, you know, it's 90%, oh, you know, I'm not going to get this two points versus 10%. You already have a 50 % chance of getting it done, right? So, man, listen, man, sometimes you got to be aggressive. I'm looking at Chino to see if he got enough space in his practice for lifetime concussion protocol. So no doubt in my mind. Anyway, the Giants went and beat the depleted Philadelphia Chigols 9-11.

1:20:33I won't say that much about it because I don't want Chai Chica to get hurt because, you know, that's her second team. I don't know if it's her second or third because she has something with Jacksonville. I know she does, you know, because she loves Trevor Lawrence. It's not Jacksonville. It's Trevor Lawrence. Oh, it's Trevor Lawrence. It's Trevor Lawrence. Why do you keep on saying Trevor Lawrence? It's the bill. Let's go ahead. Let's get it out of the way. Shy Sheikha, tell us why you love Trevor Lawrence. I don't love him the way that you're saying I do. Yeah, like, what is happening here? I think he's a good quarterback, and I have him in Famousy.

1:21:14Oh, come on. You love his hair. You love his hair. He has nice hair. Oh, you too, Mr. Wilson, you love his hair? I could pick one guy from every team, and I could create a pretty good-looking team, I think. Damn. Hey, do that next week. Present as your good-looking team for all the ladies at the Ladies Sports Rideshow for the Ladies Sports Happy Hour. That would be great. Yeah, let's do it. Ladies, next week, Shy Shika is going to put together her good-looking guys team for all you ladies out there going, oh, my God, can that be a calendar?

1:21:53Mark Appleman: You know? That's why. I got to tell you what. As a former offensive lineman, I will bet the house that I don't have that she won't put one offensive lineman in there. Ooh. Well, she has to. Not one. Not one. Not she'll have to. She'll have to make a whole team, right? She has to make a line. She has to make. Are we doing offensive? You're just picking one side of the ball. You're doing whatever you want. It doesn't matter. Whatever you want. They call them the big uglies for a reason. That's a lot. That's a lot of work. I actually have a couple of guys. What is it? 22 players? Yeah. 11 and 11, 22.

1:22:26That's it. It's easy for her. She probably already got 20 of them. She's just decided in the last two, you know? It's not complicated for her. Look at her. Her eyes are Googling and everything. She's like, oh, I'm going to have my team next week, you know? There we go. You got it. The Rams went into Washington. The return of Miles Garrett, three sacks, made a big difference. Pukanakua goes down. too bad he's the best receiver they have we know Devante Adams has been probably gone six to ten weeks they don't have a receiving corp anymore but Miles Gary is back and they can play a different type of football than they're not used to by running ball with Williams and Corum and let that defense win the victory that is my opinion boys do you agree with me that they need to change their play calling and play to their strengths right now, which is two good running backs with a good defense and let Stafford manage the football game.

1:23:30Do you agree with me?

1:23:32Mark Appleman: I absolutely do. And again, Mr. Wilson, to your point, the best offense is to keep the opposing defense on the sideline. You know what I mean? I mean, if you run that football effectively, like Mr. Wilson says, the defense is going to be sitting down, sucking up all the get-a-ray and just having a good time. You know what I mean? So, to me, that's the best defense. So, to your point, sports props, absolutely. Yes, sir. What about you, Mr. Wilson? There we go. Do you agree with that assessment that I just made regarding the Rams that they need to go ahead and now work to their strength with the two running backs and the defense and let Stafford manage the game?

1:24:13Well, yeah, clearly. You have no other choice at this point. You're down both of your elite wide receivers. And, you know, I'm just upset that you got Puka getting hurt on a jet sweep. Oh, yeah. Why is he running a jet sweep? Tutu Atwell and one of these guys who can't get open, those are the guys you put in jet sweeps to get the ball in their hands. Puka can get the ball just doing what he's supposed to do. Not to mention, those jet sweeps can be real dangerous when you've got offensive linemen around your legs, when you've got linebackers shooting A and B guys. Like, it's just silly to me that you need to get Puka the ball in that type of manner.

1:24:57That, for me, that's a slot receiver type of play. You get that to guys who barely touch the ball and you want to get them involved in the offense. You don't do that and you don't put somebody like Puka. Great point. Great take, Mr. Wilson. and he sounded just like Stephen A. Smith the other day on first take. I'm just saying, he said the same thing, just like he did. No, no, seriously. Great minds think alike. I don't have time to watch any damn sports shows at all. So, hey, listen, Stephen A. Smith, if you watch this show, stop biting off of me. Stop getting in my head. Exactly, exactly. I won't doubt it.

1:25:31Look, the other game was Houston and the Chargers. Chargers scored 22 points. They just happened to last 44, so they lost the football game. They're still undefeated, but on the wrong side of things. And Las Vegas Raiders were playing against the San Francisco 49ers. Big time win for the 49ers. And here comes before the trade deadline, who was the man that went to Minnesota? So the Raiders decide to go ahead and get a third-round pick. Send Kirk Cousins, you fight that, and send them to the Vikings that desperately need a quarterback because that offense looks abysmal. Shai Shika, does this put your Bears in a bad situation now that the Vikings got a good quarterback playing on their side finally?

1:26:30Or you think no matter what, the Bears are going to win this division? it definitely poses a threat I mean Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson were the duo a couple years ago but I do think it's going to take some time to get some rhythm and change it up after Murray and Wentz and everybody else so you know I'm not guaranteed it's going to work but I think there's a good possibility um I mean if the Bears keep playing like they played against the Buccaneers anyone could give them a run for their money that was ridiculously close and should have really not been that close of the game so talk about defense we got to step up and we're gonna make catches so yeah I mean I definitely think Kirk Cousins going back to the Vikings is good for the Vikings and I can't can't say I'm happy about that I'm gonna say the following believe it or not my worry now for the Vikings it's not the offense with Kirk Cousins it's the defense since they play the Lions and they put the blueprint how to run the football against this defense, they're running a little over them.

1:27:36And to me, that's a problem. There's a lot of bleeds packages coming in that is allowed to go ahead and do running back delays and do sweeps and everything else, and it's working against that defense, even that they're so aggressive. I think Flores needs to go back and see how he balances a little bit better and see how he can sustain the running game from the opposition much better than what has happened in the last two weeks, in my opinion. Mr. Wilson, what do you think about that? Do you think I'm on the right track, or do you think this is just basically because the offense is so abysmal, they'll retire and they cannot stop the run in the last two weeks?

1:28:18Well, when you're on the field 42 minutes, you're giving the other team a lot of bites at the apple. I don't think that this kind of states anything. They were run against the Detroit Lions. I would say Jameer Gibbs is one of the best in the league. Any debates or any objections on that? No, no, no, no. And then you've got James Cook and you've got Josh Allen who also uses his legs. Like I don't think that this is – unless every team somehow gets a Josh Allen, James Cook and Jameer Gibbs, I don't think that it's a blueprint or an indictment on their defense whatsoever. I think that the amount of time that they are on the field due to an inept offense has started to kind of rear its ugly head for the Vikings.

1:29:07So they've got to do something about that. And I think that they made a move to hopefully resolve that issue, even though Kirk Cousins is coming off of a three interception game. We won't talk about that, but he gets reunited with Kevin O 'Connell, the quarterback whisperer. And now the Vikings have ultimately gone back to their ex. They said, baby, I'm sorry I let you go. We made a mistake. We want you back. And maybe that'll work for the Vikings and we'll have to see. But the defense definitely needs help. And once again, that offense needs to start playing some defense for the Minnesota Vikings by staying on the field.

1:29:43Because once again, that is another extension of defense by having an offense who can stay on the feel for longer periods of time. Look, before we go into it again, are you saying that it's okay to go back with an ex? No, no, I don't want to discuss that. Okay, okay, sorry, sorry. No, no, I was just acting. It was to see how to do something different. I've got, you know, I've got nothing, I've got no statement on that. That's a non-statement for me. Welcome to the Love Connection with Mr. Wilson. Oh, man. There we go. What do you think about that segment, Shashica? Welcome to the Love Connection with Mr.

1:30:19Wilson. It was just an example. They went back to a guy who they let walk out the door and now he's back. I do think you have to question when you take the leftovers back. I mean, you made a decision. Oh! You made a decision. Girl, tell us how you're feeling. Snap the fingers. Snap the fingers. is it i mean sometimes if it's i don't know they made they made the decision not me that's yeah yeah because ultimately the way it went down was they drafted jj mccarthy jj mccarthy came in rookie season got hurt sam darnel steps in they let sam donna walk out the door and then they get kyla murray and now you got wince and also it's been it's it's been a it's it's been a bad love connection.

1:31:14It's been a turnstile of bad quarterbacks. And now they said, Kurt, man, we made a mistake. We should have never did that with J.J. McCarthy. We should have let you stay on the helmet. I'm sure J.J. is super happy to have a quarterback who he has some confidence in who can give him the ball. For sure. But I'm just saying I haven't seen anything out there about the salary they're paying him. Oh, no. Nobody's paying him because Atlanta's still Oh, he gets$10 million. And I think... But that's my point, is how many times can you jump and still get paid? That's why you say leftovers. Oh, my God. J.J.

1:31:52McCarthy's in... Justin Jefferson's going to be super happy. Of course he is. But I don't know, man. When the NFL has to rotate players like that, there's something going on. This is what's happened when they acquired... Oh, that's cute. Kyler Murray. That's cute. Kevin O 'Connell. You know? I love that. That's what happened. But anyway, guys, now they're back to Mr. Kirk Cousins, so we'll see what happens. Look, the game that shocked the world, because we knew it was going to be a competitive game. I picked the Patriots to win a close game. They got blown away by the Green Bay Packers. They went into Foxborough in New England.

1:32:33I know voice is savering that right now, as they got beat by the Green Bay Packers by the score 45-27. Boys, how you feel about that big victory by the Green Bay Packers? And if it's right to say that Jordan Love should be in the conversation for MVP.

1:32:53Mark Appleman: First of all, hallelujah. Hallelujah. They beat him down so damn bad. And even better than that, they retired. No, I'm sorry. I think they put Gronk's name in the Ring of Honor or something like that. the Patriots did. It was beautiful, man. Oh, it was Gronkowski was going to – yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. So, I mean, what a beatdown. And Love, I mean, he's playing lights out right now, man. It's – you know, the guy's coming to his own. And if he keeps playing like that, I mean, he's got to have to – he's going to have to be in a conversation at the end of the year. But going back to the Patriots, what's going on?

1:33:33Mark Appleman: They're having an up-and-down season. They look great one week, and then they look like crap to follow. And I'm happy about it. I'm fine with that. I'm happy about it. Shai Sheik, a quick question. Who's playing better football right now, Caleb Williams or Jordan Law? Caleb Williams, they're winning. What? Uh-oh. Hold on. I'm always going to stick with the Bears. I didn't thought I had to do this again for the night. Yeah, why did you ask that question? I mean, who's going to stick with the Bears? Wow, Jesus. Mr. Wilson, help me out on this one. Who's playing better football right now, Caleb Williams or Jordan Love?

1:34:14Look at her. She's rolling her eyes. Whatever. Listen, I can't be upset with her for her answer, but Jordan Love is definitely playing better football right now. Oh, don't make her cry. Don't do that. I'm not going to cry, but I'm always going to vote the Bears. That was a silly question. When am I going to vote for the Packers? Why would she even utter that name, Jordan Love, when you put it with the same sentence as Caleb Williams? Caleb, Mablin, and Williams. I forgot to say Caleb, Mablin. Caleb Williams got absolutely demolished on Monday night. There's no joke. He needs to fix his game. But I'm never going to be a Packers fan.

1:34:56Come on. Look, the next game was the Seattle Seahawks, the defending champions. They went and put a defensive clinic against the Arizona Cardinals. It was suspected to be 17-3, and that's what happened. And let's go into the game that Shy Chica just mentioned, that they got to get their act together. He threw one, no, two, no, three, four interceptions, and the Bears still win the football game 27-24 over the Tampa Bay Yaconeers. The defense came big with one INT over Baker Mayfield and returned it for a touchdown, and that was the difference of the score, 27-24. Very important victory for the Bears to keep up with the Lions, the Vikings, and the Green Bay Packets.

1:35:45Yes, we better get the Maybelline Williams that we had a few weeks ago versus the one we had last week. If not, then that could be a lot of trouble for the Bears, you know. Shai Shika, how you feel about next week, how Caleb is going to perform? Well, we're on a bye. Oh, they're on a bye. Oh, so you should be fine. He's going to perform well. Well, he's going to perform well, yeah. He'll be going to the nail salon. Sorry about that. I'll take that back. Anyway, the next game was the Monday night game that we have discussed as the Buffalo Bills went into Minnesota, that defense did as well as they could to try to hold up Josh Allen and Cook and everybody else within that offense.

1:36:34But it was not enough as the Minnesota Vikings couldn't move the ball. Interception, Carlson just had the worst rating, I think, of this year for any quarterback in a single game. So not good. So that's why that Kirk Cousins trade came into place, and that's basically what we got. Shai Shika, I know you're very happy that the Bills won that football game. It might, you know, make it look like a mirage. You go, oh, my God, 23-6. Well, they played that offense that can't score against anybody. So to me it's not impressive, and that's why I will go back and say the Jacksonville Jowers is the best AFC team right now.

1:37:22Anything? We'll see. We're not going to keep on going back and forth. No, no, no, no, I'm going to week 10. I'm going to week 10 right now. So let's start with the pineapple ball. Well, no, it's not actually a pineapple ball. Is the commanders going to Jersey to play the first place? New York Giants, baby. Boys, can you say that? First place Giants? Come on with your voice.

1:37:51Mark Appleman: The first place Giants? There you go. First place Giants. The first place Giants. First place Giants with 5-2-1. Big division game still. It could be a trap game, but I'm hoping that New York can control the line of scrimmage. I think that defense is playing very well. So even with the loss of Burns, I think they're going to bring a lot of pressure. They got seven sacks last week, if I'm not mistaken. Mr. Wilson, how do you think this game is going to go between the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants? Hopefully horrible. I hope that they both lose, as always. I'm not sure how that happens, and I don't mean a tie.

1:38:33I want both of them to get a loss. We just have to figure out how that can be. um logistically possible um maybe both of them will just forfeit for whatever reason anyhow um i think that it'll it'll be a a good division matchup they typically are i'm not even sure who's going to be starting for the giants i don't even know if they know who's going to be starting for the giants but um somehow john harbaugh and those uh giants have been uh collecting some wins this year and the Cowboys, my Cowboys, need them to start losing. So are we picking yet? I'm going with Commanders. You're going with the Commanders.

1:39:15Okay. Going with the Commanders. Hey, Voice, can you remind me who was the guy that said that, you know, the Giants could win the division? Do you remember that guy before the preseason? Before training camp? Oh, hey, listen. I told you, I don't watch sports shows, but I did go back and watch that one. Okay. And I do have to give you credit. Listen, you guys know me. You guys have known me for over two decades. I give credit to where credit is due. You did, at the end of that segment, say that you went Philly and Giants at first, but then you actually, you know, grew a pair. Sorry, Shy. And you said that the Giants were going to win.

1:39:58So, listen, and I'll give it to you now. Thank you, thank you. Before you were just saying why all four teams win. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. But you did say the Giants were you. So you got the commanders, correct, Mr. Wilson? This week, yes. Yes. What about you, boys? Who you got? I got the Giants. You got the Giants. What about you, Shyshika? I got the Giants. And I have the Giants. So, yeah, Mr. Wilson, I know it's a wishful thinking right here about Washington commanders going to beat the Giants. New England goes to Detroit. I said it already at the beginning of the show. I'm going to go against Detroit for the rest of the year.

1:40:34I'm taking the New England Patriots to go ahead and beat Detroit in Detroit. Shy Sheikah, who you got, the Patriots or the Lions with the roar? No. I don't know. After watching the Patriots last week, I'm like, I don't know if they have it in them. Especially a travel game. I think that's an early game this week, isn't it? It's a 9.30 a.m. It's the international game, and I'm trying to figure out where they're playing. I'm going to go Lions. I even know I hate that for our division, but I think the Lions truly will win. What about you, Mr. Wilson? Who you got? Okay, I got a couple of things. One, I have to give you back-to-back flowers.

1:41:18I did it with the Giants. Last week, I said that the injured linebacker's name was Dan Campbell, just like the coach. You were right again. I was loud and wrong. His name is Jack Campbell. That's out the way. Thank you. Thank you. And the Grammy goes to Sports Pops. Oh, no. Go ahead. Number two, Voice, you said that the Patriots are up and down. You don't know. That's because Drake May is up and down. You have no idea what he's going to do from week in to week out. So I just can't trust it. I don't care if they're playing on Mars. I'm going Lions here. Lions. What about you, Voice? Who you got?

1:41:56I got Detroit. You got Detroit. So everybody got Detroit except me. I got the Patriots. Kansas City goes to Atlanta. Can I say it freely? We know regrets here. Kansas City all the way. Four. Complete sweep. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I got the Chiefs. We got the Chiefs. Houston goes to Cleveland. Okay, here we go. Deshaun, I deserve a massage. Ash Watson is playing this coming week. Shador goes back where he needs to be at. And Houston had a big game, but, you know, they play – who did they play last week? I forgot, but they got 44 points. Oh, the Chargers. So, yeah, definitely I'm taking the Browns to rebound at home.

1:42:46Shy Chica, who you got, Browns or you got the Texans? I agree with you. After bad decisions last week, I think they are going to rebound at home. I'm going Browns. What about you, Mr. Wilson? I am going to go. I'm going to say that the Texans win their fourth out of their last five. I'm going to go Texans on this one. I like that. Boys, I know you picked this team to go to the Super Bowl when the season started. You know, we've been very disappointed because I thought they had a Super Bowl defense. Do you think they can go into Cleveland and win this football game and get four out of five games like Mr.

1:43:27Wilson just stated.

1:43:29Mark Appleman: I do think that they cannot. Cleveland all the way. Cleveland all the way. So, Shai Sheik got Cleveland. The boys got – And I got Cleveland. I moved the bandwagon. I moved the bandwagon. Okay, he moved out of the bandwagon. Now, I don't know if it's too much of a short week. He knows the playbook very well on Kirk Cousins as the Minnesota Vikings go into Green Bay. If the Vikings happen to lose this football game, Shai Shika, you might have to find an emergency room for Ron Vike. Yeah, you're definitely going to have to take him to an emergency room or something that day. Urgent care. I don't know what it's going to be, but if they lose this third game in a row, Minnesota will be in a lot of trouble.

1:44:17The game is at Green Bay. I love the way Green Bay is playing right now on both sides of the ball. Do they get Mika Parsons back, Mr. Wilson, this week or not? I believe this week he is. Yes, is my understanding, too. He returns this week. I got the Packers. What about you, Shy? She got Packers or Vikings? This is like vinegar coming out of her mouth right now. Yeah. Picking either of these things. Go ahead. This is very close to the Commander's Giants for Mr. Wilson. Can both teams lose would be my preference if that's ever possible. Oh, this is so tough.

1:44:57Oh, God. I hate Green Bay. Oh, you hate Green Bay that bad? Oh, man, this is funny. Oh, wow, look at her. She really hates Green Bay. So you're taking the Vikings? Yeah, I'm going to go Vikings. Okay, she's going with the Vikings. She's going with her wants right now. Okay, what about you, Mr. Wilson? I genuinely think the Packers are going to do well at home, but I will never take the Packers. The Vikings versus the Green Bay Packers. Who you got, Mr. Wilson? I got the Pack. You got the Pack? Boys, Packers or Vikings? Home cooking time, baby. Home cooking. There we go. Okay, here we go. Good pineapple ball between the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts.

1:45:44Miami goes into Indianapolis. Indianapolis gave everybody away except Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor, but they gave away their offensive line, their receivers. I think they gave away their own cheerleaders too. I have no idea. I don't know exactly what they do, and I need to ask Mr. Wilson a question after this. But anyway, I think just for the fact that their team stayed together and nobody went away. I'm taking the Dolphins over Indianapolis. What about you, voice?

1:46:18Mark Appleman: This is, I'm not going to say it's going to be an easy thing, an easy pick, but I can't pick the Dolphins because Zach Ziegler, the defensive tackle, was out for the season, and then you got Malik Willis going to miss a few weeks, a couple weeks. Now they have the backup quarterback. I got the call. You know something? I changed my pick. Thank you, voice. Listen to the voices. I convinced him. Yeah, I'm going to Indianapolis. What about you, Mr. Wilson, who you got? Yeah, they're down there starting quarterback. Yeah, this goes without saying. By the way, the Colts are an absolutely idiotic team for not getting rid of Jonathan Taylor, but that's besides the point.

1:46:59Colts win. Yeah, and we'll get that into a minute. Shashica, who you got? Dolphins or the Colts? It's a Colts closeout. Okay, it's a Colts closeout. Let's go into that main thing that you just mentioned right now, Mr. Wilson. My understanding, well, I cannot understand it from the Colts' perspective. You give away your pro bowler guard. You give him away. Then you give away your two receivers. So you have seen how the offensive line has been playing lately without that guard in the offensive line. The running game is disappearing. Daniel Jones got less time to throw the football. And now you take both of his weapons from the outside.

1:47:50Mr. Wilson, I think the entire Colts need to go ahead and just accept it. Accept that they bucked that up. They bucked that up big time. You know? Drug test everybody. Everybody needs to be drug tested immediately because it just doesn't make. You're telling me nobody in the league came with the first round pick for for Jonathan Taylor. You can't tell me that. And you can't tell me that their phones were not ringing about this young man. You are going nowhere. You had a fire sale. You got rid of everybody except. Daniel Jones, who probably wasn't fielding very many calls. I think they said that the Vikings might have been looking into him.

1:48:41Yes. But you've got to be kidding me. They should have sold the puppies. They should have sold everybody. Like, what's he doing? The sources out there were saying that there was a package very identical when McCaffrey got traded from Carolina to the 49ers, included a second round, fourth round, and fifth pick. They wanted a first. And to what people are saying is no team was willing to give a first round for him, supposedly. But they had three picks for him. I'll take a second, a fourth, and a fifth with a team that you're just letting everybody go, including the cheerleaders. I think they're gone already.

1:49:22And the other thing I want to say, Yeah. And the other thing I wanted to ask you. You don't have any value to them, so, yeah. Mr. Wilson, what is – look, it's been said that she was doing this in the past before the great owner, John Arce, passed away, that she will be on the sideline making notes and everything else. But that's when you were more like executive, you know, talking to coaches, stuff like that. But now you're the owner of the football team. I'm going to say as kind I can say nothing disrespectful but Miss what the fuck are you doing in the fucking sidelines with a fucking clipboard like you're taking notes at a fucking office stop it stop it it's just it doesn't make sense be at your street Look at what is happening up there.

1:50:22Be with your general manager and start making football decisions. But to me, it doesn't belong for any owner. And it has nothing to do with being a female or a male. Owners, GMs don't belong on the sidelines just when the game is over. That's what we say about Jerry. Huh? Boom. Well, Jerry's always upstairs. Jerry's always upstairs. No, no, he's upstairs now. When Jimmy was the coach, let me rewind you, the man was down there on the field. But that's probably why they won. That's probably why they won. You know, I didn't know that. Oh, God. No, I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. Here we go. I'm just kidding.

1:51:05I echo what you say. They don't belong down there. No. I don't know what's happening with the clipboard and all that stuff. And if it has nothing to do with female or male, don't say it. What you're saying is absolutely correct. We agree that owners should not be on the field. No, I'm just saying it because people are going to take that comment, that take, that I'm picking on her because she happens to be a lady. No, I'm picking on you because no GM or owner should be on the fucking sidelines while the game is going on. It's just that simple. I agree with you. Ultimately, I don't know what's on that clipboard.

1:51:43Like, what are you, are you, are you, are you monitoring how many cups of Gatorade people are drinking? Like, what is on the clipboard that you can actually, that you can't see from your, from the booth? There's cameras everywhere. I'm not sure what, I don't know what she's doing inventory or what's happening, but whether it's her, Jerry Jones, Arthur Blank, I don't like seeing any of them on the field. Stay off the field. Keep a pin in your hand. Sign the checks and collect your revenue. We don't want to see you. We don't want to hear you. According to a close source from Indianapolis, they tell me what is on her clipboard is basically her Amazon shopping list.

1:52:25Just kidding, guys. Just kidding. Look at Shashica. Look at Shashica. Come on, Shashica. Come back right at me. I was going to say that I agree with you that the owners and GMs should stay off the field and trust the people that they hired to run the team. And if those people aren't right, you get those people out and you find the right people. But I don't know. I mean, maybe there's a scare tactic, right? Maybe she's down there trying to scare the players to say, we're not messing around. Anyone that's not competing is going. But I don't know that threatening leadership is quite the approach that would motivate a team.

1:53:03But yeah. Yeah. I think they're going to go ahead. Now they're going to keep the pieces of Daniel Jones because they pay him and, of course, Jonathan Taylor. But there will be a new head coach next year, and there will be a new GM. Right, but, I mean, that's what I'm saying. If you're just down there to try to show people that there's no security. We have no idea why she keeps – I think you need to be finding the right people and sourcing a good leadership team that you can trust to handle the field. Yeah. I mean, there's even jokes around that. They're saying that they're considering Pat McAfee to be the GM.

1:53:39If they do that, that will be a circus. That will be the second Philadelphia Sissis, circus clowns, for sure. Well, they've done stuff like this. They got Jeff Saturday a couple of years ago. They got Shane Steichen. Like, what are we doing right now? What they did, but he was the interim coach, Jeff was. Correct. Exactly. He was not like the decision that he was going to be the head coach. No, they fired. Who was the head coach? They fired somebody. I think it was the guy that Pagano, Chuck Pagano. No, I don't think it was him. Was it Iberflos? No. Oh, who knows? But anyway. Whatever. They fired somebody.

1:54:23They put Jeff Saturday in there. Yeah, but he was the interim coach, and then they let him go. It was not like, hey, we hired this guy and, you know, press conference. We got the new head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. That was cute. But it would be crazy if they – Hey, Pat, I love you. Keep doing what you're doing, but you're not fucking general manager for sure. So, anyway, go ahead and stay doing what you're doing. Carolina goes into New Orleans, and they play the Saints. Believe it or not, both teams are 3-5, 3-5. But this game can decide who wins the damn division. So, boys, who you got?

1:55:00You got the Carolina Panthers going into New Orleans and beat the Saints, or you got the Saints?

1:55:08Mark Appleman: I think the Panthers do enough to win that game. I got the Panthers. Mr. Wilson, who you got? Taking the Panthers. You're taking the Panthers. What about you, Shai Shika? Saints or Panthers? Saints. Panthers. Oh, you got the Panthers. Okay. I'm taking the Panthers, too. Next game is basically like a preseason game for the Buffalo Bills. They go into Jersey to play the Jets and basically Buffalo in New York. Well, basically in New York. I'm taking the Bills. I know Shy Sheik, I got the Bills. Mr. Wilson got the Bills. And the boys got the Bills. So clean sweep for the Buffalo Bills. Jacksonville goes into Tennessee.

1:55:52I won't even ask the question. This is a clean sweep for the Jacksonville Jowers, the best team in the AFC. Then we go into the Rams and Miles Garrett and a different-looking L.A. Rams as they're going to have to run the football, play good defense, and let Stafford manage the football game. I got the Rams with that recipe. Who you got, boys?

1:56:16Mark Appleman: I got the Rams. What about you, Shyshika? I've got the Rams. And Mr. Wilson, I think this is a clean sweep. I believe you got the Rams. This is a clean sweep. Okay, now we got the Raiders playing at home, and it's going to be the first game for Fernando Mendoza, and he happens to be against the Seattle Seahawks. I hope they protect him. That's all I'm hoping. I got the Seattle Seahawks in this one, big time. Who you got, boys? I got the Seahawks. Wilson? There'll be some growing pains. I got the Hawks. You got the Hawks? There we go. Shashika, I think you got the Hawks too. Same. Really quick observation.

1:57:11Arizona, Becky starting the game. Mendoza for the Vegas. They happen to be the two quarterbacks playing at the national football game last year for the college NCAA. So what a coincidence that both quarterbacks get the first start at the National Football League level on the same week. Now, the 49ers go into Dallas Cowboys neighborhood. Oh, Lord. Mr. Wilson.

1:57:43What's going to happen in this particular football game? You like the Dallas maybe surprise the world and get to 5-5, 500 again and defeat the San Francisco 49ers? Listen, you're trying to, like, cook up this whole dream scenario. 49ers. 49ers. You see, Shachika learned from Mr. Wilson. He just, you know, he loves his team, but he understands, you know. That's why, you know, the Jawas are better than the Bills. But anyway, Shachika, you got the 49ers or you got the Dallas Cowboys? I got the 49ers. There we go. What about you, boys? You got the 49ers?

1:58:21Mark Appleman: Let me get my mic closer here. If it was in the 90s with the great Jimmy, I'd say the Cowboys. It's 20-26. The 49ers got this. 49ers. I got 49ers, too. Let's go into, for me, the game of the week is the Steelers go into Bengaland in Cincinnati. The Steelers 6-2. The Bengals 6-2. What a football game. I like the combination of the running backs in Pittsburgh. I love the way Aaron Rodgers is managing the game. I think that defense is playing as well as we thought they could play, even that they are a little bit older in the sense of some of the players or the key players in there. Cincinnati is just playing great offense.

1:59:17Their defense is still struggling at times, even that Lawrence is showing a lot of single pressures on quarterbacks. They may then throw the ball away and stuff like that. But this is a close game. And I'm going to let me still, Wilson, who do you pick on this one? You got the Steelers or you got the Bengals in Cincinnati?

1:59:41Bengals' defense has looked better. And that's just like I talked about with the Bills. They just need a middle-of-the-pack defense to be good with the offensive power they have. Steelers won the first matchup in Pittsburgh. I'd say they split the series. Bengals win. Bengals win. Voice, who you got? You got the Steelers or you got the Bengals?

2:00:03Mark Appleman: I'm with Mr. Wilson here. They're going to split the series. I got the Bengals winning. What about you, Shai Shika? I agree with both Mr. Wilson and the Voice. I don't want to agree with you guys. I'm going to take Aaron Rodgers, Roger that, and the Pittsburgh Steelers going into Cincinnati and surprise the world. And the other surprise game, the Monday night football. What a game. The 0-8 Chargers against the 4-5 Baltimore Ravens. They should have changed that. Yeah, they should have put Pittsburgh and Cincinnati on that Monday night game. Yeah, they should have done something. Yeah, but they didn't.

2:00:37So, anyway, Chargers going to Baltimore. We know exactly what has happened with the Baltimore Ravens. They went and got Jacobi Briscoe Brissett to be their new quarterback. They made a trade with the Arizona Cardinals. I don't think that's enough. And believe it or not, I think the Chargers win the first football game of the season. Who you got, boys?

2:01:00Mark Appleman: I'm with you. Hopefully they win the first game of the season. Hopefully won't win it last so that my Dolphins can come for that number one pick. There we go. Mr. Wilson, who do you like? Do you like the Chargers or do you like the Baltimore Ravens? Lucky for you. Boys, I don't think they're going quarterback anyways, so you'll be fine. I think they're going to stick with Justin Herbert. They've lost 11 games since last year. I say they lose 12, even with the Ravens and them being without Lamar Jackson. So you got the Ravens? Ravens at home. Ravens at home. What about Shishika? Who you got? Ravens or charges?

2:01:46Ravens at home. The charges have shown nothing. Okay. Dumpster fire. The voice and I, we're taking that game right there. 50-50 split. There we go. 50-50 split. Like they do in marriages when they get divorced. Sometimes. Sometimes. The other time they clean the house. Woo! Jesus. But anyway, guys, it's been a heck of a show. Thank you so much for everything. Let me get... Hey, Chino!

2:02:20Come on, man. Get us out of here. You know, because... Happy Valentine's Day to everybody and thank you for your service. Before we close the show, hey, look at the graphic I made for the show. Happy Valentine's Day. You saw it? It's a privilege to say to all the men and women of the Armed Forces, thank you so much for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. Those that did it before, those that lost their lives, The ones that are here today, thank you so much. And those ones that are thinking to join and do it in the future, we thank you already just for thinking about it. And if you made that decision, thank you again.

2:02:57And for those that follow us outside the United States on those Army bases and, you know, military bases of the United States, we love you. We salute you here at the Sports Ride Show. Chino, get us out of here. Keep your engines running. The Sports Rise Show is here.

2:03:42It's a wrap, boys and girls. Thank you.