- 2 days ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00NBC Sports, John Fanta, local kid done good joining us here on the Fan.
00:04Hello, John. How are you doing today?
00:07How are you guys? Happy opening day. Here we go.
00:11We're all excited about opening day. I don't know. Maybe my first hour, maybe not as much.
00:15But I'm not the one with the big gripe here, John.
00:19Spencer's got a big gripe on opening day. He wants to see if you agree or not.
00:22What do you got, Spencer? What do you got?
00:24How much is too much to pay for parking for a sporting event?
00:28But a big-time sporting event.
00:30Yeah, the moment it hits $60, that's too much.
00:33Okay. Thank you.
00:35I don't know if that's a thank you.
00:37Well, these sides say $80 and $70, so he's at least off that mark.
00:42Yeah, that's too much in Cleveland, Ohio. That's too much in Cleveland, Ohio. That's ridiculous.
00:46$80 to park a car is absolutely absurd.
00:50I would go and find an alternative way, you know, an alternative lot.
00:54I'm not giving that person $80.
00:56I mean, Spencer's as pissed as I've ever seen him about anything.
00:59He might run a whole new platform for mayor.
01:02It's just like the, I'm going to be the...
01:03I need to get one of these parking decks or whatever and charge less and then just make bank.
01:08They want to come to my lot first.
01:09Wait till there's parking prices for the new Brown Stadium.
01:15You know, I'm sure that will be real low in dollar amount.
01:19I've already actually, I've already wondered about that because the, so some of the early
01:23proposals is that like if you actually, if you park at where their stadium parking is
01:26trying to be, it's going to be like $150.
01:28It's supposed to be insane.
01:29Not great.
01:30Yeah.
01:31Not great.
01:31But it's going to be more expensive to park than it is to go in the game.
01:34I know.
01:34But like, but you've seen all those, like the parking flies and all they have around the
01:39airport over there.
01:40And I'm like, well, what happens to those?
01:41Like won't everyone just go and just park in the parking flies for like 13 bucks a day?
01:45I agree with that.
01:46Yeah.
01:46No, they've got, they've got some things to maneuver there.
01:50I mean, that, those should be utilized.
01:52Those should, what I do know is this, if you think about this, if you are scheduling a Sunday
01:59fall flight, okay.
02:00Out of Cleveland Hopkins, you might want to not do it like in September or October, specifically
02:05at like 10 a.m.
02:07Or 11 a.m.
02:08Like that, that's going to have to change your, your, that's going to change up, uh, airport
02:13travel.
02:14But yeah, once it hits 60 bucks, that's too much for me.
02:17I am excited for this opening day.
02:19I don't, I wasn't listening in the first hour, so I'm not sure what you were alluding to,
02:23but what I will say is like the guardians opening trip went as well as you could have asked for
02:28it.
02:28They're four and three after going to Seattle and Chavez ravine.
02:31It's a great start to the season.
02:33Yeah.
02:33It's a great start to the season.
02:34I guess where I fell on, it was I, it's I'm, I'm at a crossroads because I, I think this
02:39season is about, it's like a fact finding mission.
02:41You're trying to find out, uh, what Bozana can do if he comes up, but what the water can
02:45do, what Cephas can do, what Valera can do.
02:47And I love that.
02:48I'm supportive of that, but I also look and see what this team actually is.
02:53And I, I, I just, I, I feel like people are taking the first two series and expecting
02:56them to win 90 games like they typically do.
02:59And I just don't know that that's going to be possible this year, John.
03:01Well, I think they're going to win 90 games.
03:03I do.
03:04And I, and I think they're going to be right in the mix for a division championship because
03:08they, they've got the pitching, you know, they, first off when, whenever we're talking
03:13about a team, I really do believe this.
03:16I mean, save maybe a two or three.
03:18Okay.
03:18The Dodgers could outscore you when they get cooking.
03:21They, they can, the Mets could outscore some people this year and the Yankees certainly
03:24can the guardians aren't going to be confused as those teams, but the AL central, it's not
03:30like you're looking at a murderer's row in that division.
03:34And I'm just, I'm impressed watching different guys out of that rotation, the way that they've
03:41started out the season.
03:42You know, I thought that, that Gavin delivered the other night, Parker Messick, I'm, I'm,
03:47I'm over the moon, excited about his potential and, and what, what he can bring to the table.
03:54Uh, and I, and I just, I think that this is a, a team that they've got a good blend
04:01of
04:01roster continuity and young mystery, but the mystery to me is what's so fun about this
04:10season, JP.
04:11And I, do I understand your concerns?
04:13I can understand some of them, but there is a little bit with this organization.
04:17I'm like, okay, if they just pulled off one of the best comebacks to win a division championship,
04:24remember their first, what, four months, three and a half months, we're, we're about as bad
04:29as you could have imagined.
04:30This, this team was sideways.
04:32I'm banking on them being better than that.
04:34I'm banking on Jose Ramirez continuing to, to set that tone, Manzardo and Bo Naylor doing
04:40enough.
04:41And I think the lineup's got more depth than it's had in the past couple of years.
04:45I really do.
04:47John, I want to pivot to the Browns here.
04:49We've been talking a lot lately about the possibilities of Jeremiah Love falling to the Browns at six
04:55and how he's easily considered one of the top two prospects in this entire draft.
05:00Would you be open to pulling the trigger on, on Jeremiah Love?
05:05Did I say Jeremiah Smith the first time?
05:06Jeremiah Love.
05:08I think you had it right.
05:08You said it.
05:09You said Love.
05:09If, if he was there at six, I would be willing to do it.
05:15I'd be into it because I do think he's an absolutely electrifying talent.
05:19And I think the Browns need to go best offensive talent available when, when they're picking
05:24at six.
05:26I think they've got to look at the, the, the shelf.
05:30And if Love is on the board there, I mean, Jeremiah Love was as electric a back as there
05:38was in college football this past season, Notre Dame.
05:42I didn't even think they were that good.
05:43I'll be real with you guys.
05:44I didn't think they were, they were that great of a team and they ultimately missed the playoff.
05:51And, but, but Jeremiah Love willed them time and again, his ability to break tackles, his
05:57burst when he gets out in the open field, he could take on contact and just keep going.
06:02So, I mean, I'm a big Jeremiah Love fan.
06:05I really do like him.
06:06I love his skill set.
06:08The Browns could do a ton worse and they have done a ton worse in that position.
06:13So we know it's competitive and we know what the wider, that the wide receiver room needs
06:17help.
06:18But if Jeremiah Love's on that board, you've got to take a long look at the Fighting Irish
06:22product because he willed Notre Dame when Notre Dame's offense had nowhere to go.
06:27They gave him the ball and he said, I'm going to go and get it.
06:30John Fanta joining us in the Make It Right Call, Kyle Wright Hotline.
06:34Spencer's trying to make the case that Cavs fans are in denial about this team.
06:38Do you feel like Cavs fans are in denial right now about this team?
06:41I don't know if Cavs fans are, well, Cavs fans are smart, are they not?
06:46I don't think so.
06:48So what are they denying is my question.
06:52What are they in denial about?
06:54Like, we all know what the goal is.
06:57The goal is what?
06:58The goal is to win a championship.
07:00Are they a team that can win the NBA championship?
07:03Probably not.
07:05They're probably not.
07:07There's going to be a lot of pressure on them, you know, in that first-round series.
07:11And I'll tell you what, it would be interesting against Atlanta's playing as well as anybody
07:17since the All-Star break.
07:19They've won like 18 of 21.
07:22Toronto, I don't think Toronto can beat Cleveland.
07:24But, you know, the Knicks right now, the Knicks have been terrible lately.
07:27The Knicks have been playing really poor basketball.
07:30And so then you're like, well, it's Detroit or it's Boston, and then I guess it's Cleveland.
07:34I mean, here's the thing.
07:37I think that there's some people living in denial because they don't want to acknowledge
07:41the fact that the Cavaliers are not at the level of a team that can win it all.
07:46And that's also because the Western Conference is absolutely ridiculous.
07:50I mean, Oklahoma City and San Antonio are far and away better than any team in the Eastern
07:55Conference.
07:56But what's disappointing is it doesn't feel like anybody's going to pick the Cavs to beat
08:02the Celtics.
08:03I don't know if people would pick them against the Pistons, but I think you've got to go
08:07through Boston at some point.
08:08And I think Boston's really, really good.
08:10Now they've got Jason Tatum back.
08:12They've already got Brown and Pritchard and White.
08:14They have championship DNA and experience, and that's what makes it tough in the East.
08:18It's hard because the Cavs are better than purgatory, but you feel like they're stuck at the
08:27altar, that they're not the bride.
08:30Anyway, they've been the bridesmaid, they're in the wedding, but they're not at the big
08:35shelf.
08:36John, Kenny Atkinson notably told Chris Fedor that he is kind of keeping an eye on the standings
08:44and where they are and potential matchups for the playoffs with just a few games to go.
08:49Are you okay with a coach admitting that?
08:51Are you okay with the Cavs trying to maybe manipulate this thing where they draw better matchups and
08:56they kind of avoid the Celtics, I think is probably the main goal?
08:59You've got to avoid Boston.
09:01You've got to avoid Boston.
09:02I don't mind him saying it.
09:04Honestly, when I was watching the Knicks this past week, I thought to myself, are they playing
09:09poorly because they're trying to avoid being the three seed?
09:13Fans, I don't know how you can make an argument that they weren't.
09:15They lost three straight.
09:16You watched that Rockets game.
09:17They were down 16 with five minutes just off the clock in that game.
09:21The Knicks aren't even trying.
09:23The only argument I would give back to that, though, JP, is it's very clear.
09:28If you're watching, and I had them last week in Charlotte, Carl Anthony Towns and Mike Brown
09:34are not working out.
09:36It's not working.
09:37They haven't beat a team with a record over .500 since March 6th, John.
09:43I get what you're saying, but they're a disaster right now, but I think part of it's intentional.
09:48No, and it's a little bit of like, you know, sometimes you coach to the finish line, and
09:54then you get into that playoff atmosphere, and you just expect that you're going to switch
09:58it on, and then you don't because you develop some bad habits.
10:01But let me ask you this question.
10:03When has Mike Brown and large personality superstar ever really worked out?
10:10When has it worked out?
10:13No, that's fair.
10:14Yeah.
10:14So when you saw them, though, what did you think?
10:17It's Mike Brown and Brunson or Mike Brown and Kat that's having a problem?
10:20No, I'm saying if you're the Knicks, you fired Tom Thibodeau, and you hired Mike Brown
10:24to get you over the top.
10:26And the moment that they did that, I said, did you really upgrade?
10:31Did you upgrade?
10:33Billy Donovan was their top choice.
10:35I'm not saying that he would be doing an extraordinary job, but he'd be an upgrade.
10:39I think he would be perceived and known as a guy that could be an upgrade.
10:44When they hired Mike Brown, I'm like, after all that, that's who they got?
10:48Was it that much of an upgrade?
10:50I don't think they're any better than last year.
10:52In fact, they might be worse.
10:55So look, I don't blame people for manipulating the playoffs.
10:58I wouldn't want to play Boston either.
11:00If you think it's a loser mentality, well, let's see what happens in the postseason.
11:04But you know what?
11:05Either way, the Cavs might get their wish, and they might avoid Boston.
11:09But they're not avoiding Atlanta in the first round.
11:11And if you're watching Atlanta, you know they challenge you defensively.
11:15They guard.
11:16Nikhil Alexander-Walker is having a tremendous season.
11:19Jalen Johnson, tremendous season.
11:21They've brought in some good reinforcements as well.
11:24Like, the Hawks are feisty.
11:25The Cavs are not just going to cakewalk their way to the Eastern Conference semis
11:29if they get the Atlanta Hawks.
11:31John, I know you're in Indy for the Final Four.
11:34I am.
11:35I know that Dan Hurley is a hot topic because of some of his antics.
11:40I tend to think sports need more people with his type of personality,
11:44but I know some people think he's a little over the top at times.
11:48What say you on needing more personalities like that in our sports?
11:52We're all talking about him.
11:54We're all talking about it, and we're all talking about him.
11:57College basketball needs Dan Hurley.
11:59They've lost several big faces over the last decade.
12:02It's good for college basketball.
12:04Tommy Lloyd sat down today, and he said,
12:06I'm not going to North Carolina.
12:07I'm staying at Arizona.
12:09That's good for college basketball, that a team out west,
12:12a team west of the Mississippi, hasn't won a national championship in a long time.
12:18I mean, it's been at least two decades.
12:20So, to me, college hoops needs personalities.
12:24That's why Rick Pitino moves the needle.
12:26You know, it's why Tom Izzo, people still listen when he speaks.
12:32So, the Hurley thing, do people say he's got to rein it in?
12:34Sure they do.
12:35But they've never coached.
12:36I mean, a lot of them have not coached.
12:38I haven't coached a game.
12:40I think Dan would admit, he's got some crazy in him.
12:42Who of us doesn't?
12:44But take a look at the ratings.
12:45Take a look at the numbers.
12:47I mean, UConn Duke peaked at close to 20 million people watching that game.
12:54That's seismic for college basketball.
12:57The sport has seen an ascendance, a reemergence, if you will.
13:02And honestly, for all that's complained about with the NIL and stuff, the best 18- to 21-year-olds,
13:09with the exception of about 10, the others, they all stay in college because they could
13:14take a nice paycheck and play in a football stadium with 70,000 people in it tomorrow in
13:19Indianapolis with millions of people watching.
13:21So, college basketball is in a really good place, and it needs more of Dan Hurley.
13:26Dan Hurley, whether you like him or hate him, we're all talking about him.
13:29Yeah, and John, one other thing I think that is really benefiting them, and this might be
13:32one of the best Final Fours we've seen in years, but like Arizona and Michigan, it leaps out
13:37on the idea that Arizona, they don't have much of a perimeter game.
13:40They're very different than like Michigan, and I love that because in the NBA right now,
13:44and I love the NBA, but the NBA is very much you have to be able to shoot threes if
13:48you
13:48want to go a certain distance.
13:49That's why nobody believes in the Pistons, for instance, and this Final Four is highlighting
13:53it.
13:54Like, there's so many different styles between these teams, and it's not cookie-cutter,
13:58and I think the common college basketball fan is really appreciating what this game is
14:02right now and the crossroads between the sport.
14:05Coaches are going international.
14:06They're getting big size.
14:08The Ivisich brothers at Illinois, Adai Mara at Michigan coming over from UCLA,
14:15Terrace Reed at UConn played.
14:16He looked like Patrick Ewing on Sunday.
14:18I mean, he had a mammoth performance, so here's the thing.
14:21You're right, JP.
14:23College basketball, for the hoop junkies, the style of it is so fun, and here's the thing.
14:29The shot-making piece, not to bore anybody, the shot-making piece has really developed.
14:36Ten years ago, you watched the college game.
14:37You could see seven, eight missed threes in a row.
14:39Now, the shots are smarter.
14:42They're going inside out.
14:43Like, you're right, the meeting of the front courts tomorrow between Michigan and Arizona
14:49will be theater, and Michigan's got these three-point shooters who can break game open.
14:53Arizona's got to keep going to the basket.
14:55That contrast in styles will be really fun to watch.
14:57I like Michigan, I've got UConn, and I like the Wolverines to cut down the nets.
15:01Love it, John.
15:02Enjoy a big weekend for yourself.
15:03Always appreciate you giving us a few minutes.
15:05You're the man, John.
15:06Thanks.
15:06Thank you, guys.
15:07Appreciate you.
15:08All right, John Fanta right there on the Make It Right Call, Kyle Wright Hotline.
Comments