Mornings with Greg & Eli 10-1-26

0:00It's time to get up and get your day started. Get up! Get up! It's morning with Greg Gaston and Eli Savoy. Good morning, everyone! Good morning! Morning! Morning! Good morning! The first hour of the show is brought to you by Old Dominic Distillery in downtown Memphis. Now, here are your hosts, Greg and Eli. Welcome to October the best month of the year, at least in this man's opinion. We welcome you in the mornings with Greg and Eli here on Sports 56 on 1075. We are broadcasting live from the Family Leisure Studios as we do each and every day. We have a family and fun come together. The world's biggest spa sale going on right now with the largest selection at the best prices and that's a guarantee from Family Leisure at 2120 Witten Road just north of I-40.

1:02Greg Gaston and Eli Savoy, Jay Ham with you on this Thursday morning, again the October 1st, 2026 edition. Right now at 72 degrees, we got one more really warm day and then things will cool down. Sunday 4 is the projected high today. mixture of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies to sat down, possibly a passing rain shower. Tomorrow a better chance of rain, especially later in the day with thunderstorms and possibility, but the high only 79 degrees tomorrow and then for your weekend, cloudy Saturday, 76 degrees. And on Sunday, we got a little bit of sun, a little bit of clouds, maybe a little rain, 79 degrees. Hour one of the program is brought to you by Old Dominic Distory. It's Thursday. That's their big happy hour. If you've not been down to the Distory, what are you waiting for? 305 South Front Street, that's where they produce the Tennessee whiskey, the Bourbon whiskey, that Honeybale Citrus vodka, the Formula 10 Gin, they again do it right there,

2:07downtown Memphis and they got the Distory Bar that's connected right to it where you can enjoy an award-winning craft spirit or a local brew. And again, today Thursday, 4 to 7, that's happy hour, $7 cocktails made with signature spirits, $4 local beers. You can find out more about Old Dominic and sign up for the tour, the guided tour. Really cool to see how these products are made. It's olddominic.com, Old Dominic Distory, come for the spirits, stay for the experience. Cheers to Memphis. Coming up today on the program, NFL, week number four begins tonight with the Steelers and the Browns and we had a big trade that happened yesterday as well. College Football Week five begins tonight with a couple of games, including one in the American Conference. We'll talk Memphis Tigers hoops as the conference schedule was released yesterday. As far as the dates, we knew the teams, but we know the dates now. We don't know all the times yet, but a lot of the information released yesterday, we

3:10will give you that information. Are we that much closer to a 24 team college football playoff? Ross Dellinger certainly thinks so. We'll talk major league baseball playoffs with Carrie Miller, three of the Wildcard series, our done. One is still going on. My fillies in the braze will play a third in the size of game tonight. And then from 9 to 10, it's the AutoZone Liberty Bowl inside college football hour. We'll be joined by Harold greater. We'll have our role famous pick six for one of you. We'll go up against one of us for some delicious barbecue Eli Savoy. I know it's not the best of mornings for you, even though it is a mixed bag acquiring Joey Porter, Jr. Can certainly help the Cowboys defense, but your Cubs after a long season, you were right. You called your shot offensively inept against the Padres. Yeah, it was it was ugly, ugly two games. No doubt about that. It just the Padres.

4:12I think the Padres are very dangerous. They are the hottest team. They can they can hit it. They're pitching the bullpen is nasty. And they've got some good starting pitching. The Cubs laid a big fat egg in the postseason, which I did. It did not surprise me, but when PCA and Alex Bergman combined to go over 15 with eight strikeouts, it's going to be tough to score some runs. And that's it with it. There really was nobody other than Nicole Horner that was able to actually hit the baseball. So tough tough times for the two games, but not a surprise. Yeah, one total run for the Cubs is the Padres win that series to love. J. Ham, how are you this morning? Pretty good. That's pretty good. I did remind the guy from Green Day that September was over. They're in October now, but looking forward to week five. Call it football week four NFL. Just read a row. Yeah, lots of lots of sports going on. A lot of good things. The Cubs game last night ended exactly at midnight.

5:13So they did make it to October baseball. Barely, but they got one out. They had one out in October. They were there were there was one out in October. The Cubs played October baseball. I thought about this. So I was like, I don't recall a baseball playoff starting prior to October. Yeah, the counter worked out a little weird this year with the big that that actually gets a point because that's why we always use that saying October baseball, October baseball and not and of course we're talking about the post season. And so we don't say September baseball or late September baseball, but it is October baseball and three of the wildcard series. As I mentioned, or over so the Cubs are done. The white socks move on representing the great city of Chicago, the windy city, the surprising white socks. What a turnaround. They beat the Astros seven three yesterday and they win that series two. Oh, the Astros got three solo home runs, but that was all they could muster. The white socks still don't have what I think is a great pitching staff, but they're into

6:17the next round. Yeah, the turnaround that they have done is is pretty incredible. Nobody would have possibly imagined them being in the post season and now advancing in the post season first time since they won the World Series in 2005 that they've actually won a post season series. They move on and then because of major league baseballs, dumb rules, they get to take on Cleveland rather than Tampa Bay. So they've got a pretty decent chance of winning another series. A team they're very familiar with having battled them all year long in the American league central. And how about this today we get to hear the return of Dave will lotion talking about his Chicago white socks, right? Eli, you sure you don't want to take credit for the white socks? Believe me, I do not want to take credit for the white socks. I've dealt with enough text messages already from white socks fans of the, I don't want to have to deal with it. At least you do what you're supposed to do as a fan.

7:19You pick a team, you stick with the team and that's it. You don't get both teams from the city, Dave. You don't get both. You don't get to claim both. We had Darian head for it with that topic yesterday. I was like, I think Dave is a fan of both and great kids. I'm about to get it. It can't happen. You can't do, you can't be a fan of the Yankees and the Mets. You can't be a fan of the Cubs and the white socks. I sound like Jerry Seinfeld right now. They just can't. The Astros with the rare feet of now the first one was a bullpen game anyway, but so was it going to go long. But the rare feet of both not getting a starting picture out of the first inning in either one of the two games. Right. Exactly. That's, that's not good. But as you mentioned, the white socks and the Guardians Saturday will begin their series in Cleveland. Meanwhile, the rays will take on the New York Yankees, the New York Yankees, Jerry as the Yankees obliterated the red socks. Their big rivals winning yesterday, nine to two and winning that series to love.

8:21They got kickstarted with that Luis Garcia home run. Cody Belinger hit a three run bomb Yankees bats alive, even without Aaron Judge and Stanton, which could be bad news if they get those guys back. And I still don't know the status on either one of them. I saw the celebration in the locker room, the champagne celebration, but who knows if those guys will be available for their series with the rays. But look, the rays again, not a lot of people picking in the wind of division. Most people jumped on the Yankees bandwagon. Some may have went with the blue jays, the red socks. The smart people would be on the rays because every year they seem to do it. But do they have enough after a 98 win season to knock off the Yankees? That one will start on Saturday as well as far as the Padres, they will take on the Brewers that will begin on Saturday. That will be an interesting series.

9:22The Brewers all they did was win 103 games. They did, but they they've been very good and recent years, but they haven't had success in the post season. And again, the Padres are red hot coming in best team and baseball in September. And just continuing that in the playoffs. So that will be a tough series for the Brewers. The whole thing in the American League. It just there's no reason whatsoever for majorly baseball not to recede for this round. If I was the raise or the Yankees, I would be so pissed. The raises, the number one seed should not have to play the Yankees. It's right. I agree. I mean, it's it's absolutely ridiculous that they don't recede and make the white socks play the raise. The Yankees are nine finished nine games ahead of the white socks during the regular season. They have to play the number one seed and the white socks get to play Cleveland makes no sense. And remember the second round of the majorly baseball playoffs is the best of five.

10:27If you go from the wild card, best of three to the best of five. And then the final wild card series, the one that is still active is the Phillies in the brave. So my Phillies stave off elimination as they win in Atlanta. And that series is even tonight will be the third and decisive game in that series. The Phillies have been struggling going into the post season, but they've had success against the Braves in recent years in the post season. Of course, the Braves last year, besieged by injuries have come back strong this year. Last night or yesterday afternoon, I should say the Phillies found themselves down three to one. Unlike the first game of the Braves were down at an Austin Riley hit the three run home run. The Phillies were down. Bryce Harper made a big mistake in the outfield, but he made up for it as Kyle Schorber and Bryce Harper hit back to back home runs in the eighth to tie it and then Alex Bohn

11:28with the home run in the 10th and the Phillies would hold on and win that game. And the game would end with the ABS. Yeah. If that's not a, if that's not a, the AI world we live in, I don't know what is. I just, I want like, I just want a dream of a game seven of the world series ending with an ABS challenge that would be unbelievable. The drama of watching that's as everybody looks at the scoreboard to see what it's about that happen would just be unbelievable to watch the celebration. Have to wait like, uh, everybody just go crazy one way or another. Yeah. I mean, we're getting to that point. I don't think a major intent is has ended on that system that they have, which is similar to ABS. But could you imagine that again, you know, Wimbledon ends on, oh, the computer showing us where showing us that little white spot, same with baseball, but we're getting there and it will happen. Now the Phillies, not if you're the Cubs, because they had, they were out of challenges after

12:30the third inning. So that's not good. Phillies of brave still undecided on who's pitching tonight. Yeah. I, I don't know the Phil. Why is there a reason the Phillies wouldn't be going with Wheeler? That's, I'm thinking, but when was the last time he pitched? I'm trying to count the days here. He pitched in game three in that, uh, in that Sunday series, that final game that they finally clinched was that Wheeler or was that no, I can't, I don't remember who pitched. I think it might have been, it might have been Wheeler and then you would turn around and today is what Thursday. So you'd only have three days rest, but it's got to be Wheeler, right? And what about the Braves? I'm not sure what I have no idea. I have no idea who will make it bullpen games. Who knows? It's the way of the world, but that's true. The, the Phillies even losing game one were in a decent position because you were going to have the better starting pitch.

13:30Now that was assuming Wheeler would go game three. Right. You're going to have the better starting pitcher going in the final two games of that series. Well, again, I'll give you credit where credits do and I didn't disagree with you, but you called your shot. You said the other three series are basically over the Phillies that the only chance out of the wild cards. And I didn't want to sit here and go, yeah, you know, you're right. Absolutely. But I knew in the back of my mind, yes, I'm not going to, I'm not going to doubt the Phillies. I don't feel like 100% they're going to win this game in Atlanta game three, but I felt like they could force a third game. It would not surprise me if they win or vice versa, but I'm happy they least got it the third game after what the bullpen did in game one. So a lot better vibes after game two, but that will be the only game tonight. And that one will be what time is that start? 705. Yeah, they were waiting. They were waiting for the right again, stupid stuff.

14:32The Major League Baseball does. It's a seven o'clock game. They like, they acted like they had to know all these other things and they could have easily announced a start time or at least said. If this happens this or this or they're like, now we're not going to announce anything. Like just it's quite simple. If the Cubs win this, if the pro batteries win this, right, that's a very simple thing to tell everybody. Yeah, they waited forever. And finally, they announced after the Cubs, Padres games done. It's the only game again on the schedule today. Phillies, Braves will play at seven. And that will be on NBC. Now Drew Texan said, Wheeler's on three days rest. No, is on four. Yeah. I'd rather start with Wheeler as a Phillies fan. I'd rather start with Wheeler, but I don't know. Maybe there's a track record where him on three days rest in his career is not good. So maybe that's why they're undecided. But I liked the afternoon games because I had the opportunity to watch them. Yes. In the evening, your back home, your relaxed, you have dinner, but you're going up against

15:36football. Game three deciding game wild card playoff series Phillies, Braves will get trumped by the Steelers and Browns in a week for regular season NFL game. I bet it's three to one. And there's also some college football. Now there's not a great college football game on tonight. There's a couple of games tonight. You have one in the American conference, North Texas, a one and a half point favorite at Tulsa and Wester can tuckies at New Mexico state and Mexico states a two and a half point favorite. So again, other than the alums and people that back those programs, nobody really cares about that. But Steelers, Browns, Rodgers at the great game last week. I'm sure people will be curious to see this old Dishon Watson thing have the Browns fans probably have changed their tunes since they want to straight. These are two two and one teams Pittsburgh's a two and a half point favorite. The total is 38 and a half. So it's expected to be a rather low scoring game, but the Steelers, Browns, regular season

16:41against my Phillies and the Braves and at the size of third game three three to one minimum. I think as far as the TV viewership is concerned, the ratings. Uh, I would agree. Disgrace. I would go three to one. Okay. At least two to one, right? You're talking about prime versus NBC. That's that's a factor, but I still don't think it will matter. The Braves apparently, this will report that from Walt Weiss that Grant Holmes is expected to be to pitch the bulk of the innings. Um, now he may not start the game. They may go with an opener, but apparently, uh, Walt Weiss told folks that he would be the, the main guy for the Braves today. I did get a text. I'm not going to tell you who it was, but they said, let's give. MVP PCA credit. I had the same amount of postseason hits as he did. Not again. I mean, it's, it is what the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the way that vote that vote is

17:42a nine postseason does not matter. That's a regular season award, the MVP Jim Dechet said it very well. Last night, like your stars have to star. And you can see it in these playoffs already. You got many of a shadow in Fernando Tati's junior in game one yesterday, Schorber and Harper. You, um, the Yankees with Belinger. I mean, these, and you had the Cubs guys go over, uh, Yordon Alvarez went one for eight for the Astros. Like if your stars don't show up in the postseason, you're probably not winning the post season. Like your stars, your stars have to be stars. And a lot of these teams have had their stars, be stars, you know, Olsen for the Braves has been fantastic through these first two games. Like you, those guys have to come through. You're, you know, you're, you're, you'll get some production out of some unknown, you know, unexpected sources. But in the end, generally stars better be stars if you want to win in the postseason. Well, do you feel at least a, a little bit better because of what the Cowboys did.

18:44I'm assuming you like Joey Porter, junior, the talented cornerback has been traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys for a Cowboys sixth round draft pick in 2027 and a second round pick in 2028. Joey Porter, junior now will join the Dallas Cowboys. Uh, yeah, where's the Cubs could have acquired him and he could have pinched it for Dan's B Swanson. But, um, no, I look at the Cowboys defense needs all the help it can get. Um, they have been terrible once again this year. And their, their secondary has been banged up and in, I mean, they were, they were down to like, they're, I don't even know what corner on the depth chart on Sunday when guys kept going down with injury after injury. So, uh, going out and getting a guy like that, I, I hope helps the defense get a little bit better. How much better? I don't know, but, but he's a heck of a player. And so yeah, that's, uh, I will, I will be happy to have him on board with the Cowboys.

19:48Do you have any idea? Have you heard what the timeline will be for him? The Cowboys play this week is, he's not expected to play this week, is he? Well, I don't know what the situate, you know, I, there was the situation with the contract, but then he was also like, there was a back injury that they list, you know, he went from just that was like a non injury thing that he wasn't participating to. Then they also, they threw a back injury, I think, on the injury report. So I don't know where he is. Health wise and all of that stuff and would he'll be able to play. I'm not, I'm not sure. Um, even if the Cowboys know at this point in time, I guess until they probably get in there, Cowboys will play at the Texans in a battle, the Loan Star State on Sunday, Houston, Owen three, a three point favorite over the Cowboys. One other NFL note, Rams coach Sean McVeigh said Wednesday that the NFL told the team that defensive pass interference had not have been called against quarterback Josh Wallace and Sunday nights lost to the Broncos. Play came on third and sixth from the LA 11 when Wallace intercepted a pass by Broncos quarterback, Bo Nicks, the quarterback was called for defensive pass interference on Broncos

20:49wide receiver Pat Bryant, giving Denver first and goal to seven. The Broncos scored on the drive to take a 30 to 26 lead with 47 seconds left. Again, as I say, with every sport, why? Who cares? To me, it's adding insult to injury. It's adding your, your already pissed because you know they blew the call and now they're confirming the blue the call and there's nothing they could do. It's just like the Western Michigan thing. Hey, man, you know what? The protocol was not followed. You probably should have won the game. So we're telling you that because we, you know, we feel bad for you, but nothing happens. They're not changing the outcome of the game. They're not giving the Cowboys the win over the Broncos. So all it does is I get added a fury of Sean McVeg on. They definitely couldn't give the Cowboys the win over the. Sorry, sorry. Other Cowboys would take a win. They did a few rams. If you want to give the Cowboys the win, give the Cowboys the win. They need it.

21:49No, the Rams. I mean, again, telling these coaches, telling these players, telling the athletics directors, it doesn't, what does it do? What is it accomplish? It's transparency. That's, yeah, we screwed up. Yeah, we know you screwed up. So what is, what are the repercussions of you screwing up? What happens? Do they tell them that a, maybe a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, a, getting crew has been suspended or an individual official has been suspended? Does that happen? First of all, I think it happens sometimes. Do they tell the teams that were affected? That it happens? I don't know. I mean, transparency is important, but also repercussions are important to me. Whether there are suspensions, maybe, maybe a, a, crew doesn't get a paycheck one week because they screwed up, they should know better. There's times when you know, you would, you would love for them to be able to reverse an outcome, but that, that just isn't happening. Never happening. Folks, can Ali funeral directors, one of our sponsors, again, very tough to talk

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24:01this is Mornings with Greg and Eli on sports 56 on 1075. Mid-South sports fans, like us, sports 56 on 1075 FM. Now back to Mornings with Greg and Eli. This hour brought to you by Old Dominic Distillery in downtown Memphis. Here once again, our Greg Gaston and Eli Savoy. That's me in corner. Welcome back. 828, 728 the time. Our clock is off right here. Comfort schedules were announced yesterday in the American Conference of the Memphis men's and women's teams. They already knew their opponents where they would play the games and how many times each team they would play because some teams they play twice, home and home and others they play once. But we found out the dates. We don't know exactly all the tip times, but we know the dates Memphis with their conference schedule. This is the men will open at home December 30th versus East

25:03Carolina. And then they'll hit the road for their first rowdy at South Florida. That will be on January 3rd. So they'll usher in the new year, 2027. Other home games include Rice, January 6th, North Texas, January 23rd, UAB on February 7th. Always nice to see Andy Kennedy. Our old friend, friend of the show Charlotte on February 11th, Tulsa, February 25th, South Florida, the return game. That will be on the final day of February, February 28th. And then Tulane will be the final game of the regular season before the conference tournament. That will be home on March 7th. So those are the home games in conference play. Again, opponents we already know. Now you have some dates. If you want to find out about the other road games, just go to go Tigers go. They have the schedule for the men and for the women,

26:04which was announced yesterday. Yeah. It's a schedule. It's a schedule. You could dice it up which every way you want to bunch a bad team. Yes, you could put a bow on it. About twice a week. Stick on it. It's a totally twice a week. Yeah. And that takes you through January and February. Yeah. That's it is what it is. But will Memphis be the favorite? Because a lot of people don't believe they will. They think Wichita State will be the favorite. And so Wichita State, Memphis will play once, but will not play them at home. So they'll have to be them there. Again, the regular season champion is not the even though the conference, does the conference have the choice or certain conferences have the choice of who they want to send? Because I think that's happened before, not an American conference, not in conference USA. But I believe there's been a conference or two. And maybe it's in their, their, their bylaws

27:08that they could choose the regular season champion. Yes. If you want to make your conference tournament absolutely useless. Well, come on. Some of these conference tournaments, they have the tournaments and there's seven people in the stands. Take that down to zero people in the stands. Okay. I mean, it doesn't matter. Are those seven buying a lot of hot dogs and drinks? No, I mean, it puts them, but I've never, I understand conference tournaments. And especially smaller conferences, it's a money maker to some extent. It might be a money loser. I don't know, but it's, it's something to give every team in that league a reprieve, a chance for redemption from a situation in the regular season where they were bad. Maybe they had injuries. They're healthy for the postseason. So it's a new lease on life, right? We're about to see and we're going to talk about this here in a minute. Not 100% but it looks like they're leaning toward a 2014 playoff. That would eliminate conference

28:12championship games, right? So we're looking at the tournaments and going, how important are the tournaments? Well, apparently even conference championship games can go by the way, the dodo bird because really they're not important. They are a money maker. So they got to figure out how they make up for that lost money that lost revenue. Conference tournaments, you would hope their money makers, but I don't know to be honest with you. I wonder what it's been like for Memphis all those years when they hosted, I get asked Kevin Kane about that. Now for the city with revenue coming in for hotels and restaurants and things of that nature, it's probably a money maker. But for the actual conference and the city and the tournament itself, I don't know if it makes money. I can't imagine crowds aren't big. When Memphis was in their heyday, certainly they brought a lot of people wherever it was. And when they hosted, they had a good, a great attendance for their games. And it was pretty blah for the other games. But that's pretty much the

29:12case, whether it be the American, whether it be the Mac, the Sunbelt, the smaller conferences. But in this case, obviously the tournament winner gets the AQ into the NCAA tournament. It's always bothered me. I understand. Again, I understand the importance of the tournament. But to me, you go through the rigors of a conference schedule, whether it be 16 games, 18 games, 20, whatever you play, American plays 18. And you win that regular season title. And then it's three, four games, maybe five, whatever it is in the American tournament, depending on buys. And you get a guy that stubs his toe on the hotel dresser and can't move. It's black and blue. And he's your stud. And then all of a sudden you got there and lose. Now you don't make the NCAA tournament when you went 17 and 1 16 and two. And people said, well, don't think it in that large. Well, not if they didn't do anything in the non conference. Memphis struggles in the non conference.

30:16And they finish 16 and two 17 and one regular season champs in the American conference and losing the conference tournament. They're more than likely not getting in because there's not enough quality wins in the conference. So that's why I always thought the regular season champions should get in. But again, I understand people getting their second opportunity, new lease on life, all that good stuff. And for some conferences, they make money off it. I mean, they've now set it up in the American where you if you're whatever top two, you got to win two games for good to seek in the conference tournament. Well, I'm talking about history. Historically, it was there were some teams that had five games in five days and one five. I remember Syracuse doing that. Yes, it's it's changed to reward the teams that have the better regular season title. But it's not a given. It's not an absolute more than likely. What once was maybe at the beginning of the American conference, but certainly in conference USA, especially with Memphis and the John Calapari era, that they were producing two, three teams for the NCAA tournament.

31:19And now it's the conference tournament champion. Basically, unless Memphis goes out there and they put that schedule together for several reasons, one of them being just that say they slip up in the conference tournament, something happens. If they want enough games, big games in the non-conference, which they've done before, they get in. They get in that large. But Memphis doesn't have the cachet that it used to have, especially with the division that has happened since NIL and Memphis is spending and they're paying and they got good money, but it still pales in comparison to a lot of the big time programs out there. So you're not in the same, you're not in the same arena. But that's why you play that kind of conference schedule. I a non-conference schedule because you could build a resume and you could overcome not winning the conference tournament. As long as you don't flounder through the regular conference schedule and go 13 and 5, 12 and 6, then it's hard to come back from it. But if you do a real good job in your

32:23conference, lose two, three and pick up some big non-conference wins, you're going to get in as in at large. I mean, they've expanded the tournament like it gets, I mean, just be good enough to make the tournament. There's all these things easier said than done. There's nothing holding these things back. They can just become good. Well, there's finances is already some of that's how Memphis back. No, no, no, it's not. If you're spending some, if you're spending $10 million on your team and college basketball, you probably should be able to make it 76 team tournaments. You should. I don't know what, so who cares about regular season? Go win the day of tournament. I know. Again, easier said than done doing it, especially annually, which stall state, which has a lot of players coming back. I don't know a ton about their team yet. I'm not in basketball mode. I will be soon. But which of tall state? I don't know what they're spending. I know they're not spending a ton. I think Memphis still spends more than anybody in the conference, but you would think that without

33:25football that which it's all state would commit a little bit more to their basketball program and try to get it back to what it once was, which was always one of those non power conference programs that were good every year. And that's what they're trying to get back to, which would also help the American conference overall. Okay. Ross Dellinger yesterday from Yahoo Sports says the 2014 college football playoff is now seemingly a foregone conclusion as the sports leaders met outside Chicago to discuss logistics, including scheduling hurdles for the expanded format. If they have gotten to that conversation, which he reports, where they're talking about scheduling and logistics, then I would think Greg Sankey for one apparently seems to be happy maybe with discussions that have been made of the how they can find that lost revenue that they would lose

34:29from not having a conference championship game. But foregone conclusion. Wow. Remember, they got the window to have this happen for next year to go to a 2014 playoff. They would have reached an agreement by December 1st. So I don't once we had the memo from the they reported about the memo from Greg Sankey about the things he wanted to see to go to 2014 playoff. That told you he was willing to go to 2014, right? I mean, that was like here, just do these things and well, he was agreeable to 24 teams. And so once you got to that point, it was obvious we were going to get to 2014 probably. Well, you and I kind of we weren't ganging up on Harold, but we were, we were both on the same page you and me that Greg Sankey saying that wasn't a guarantee. But it was a step in that direction because he was adamant about it before. And he didn't want a 2014 playoff. But then the first thing, well, one of the first things he said was

35:33well, everybody's got to play 10 power conference opponents looking right at Tony Petiti. And Tony Petiti didn't waste any time. Absolutely. No question. So really, it seemed like the one hurdle was making up the revenue that you have to pay the sponsors that have already committed to being sponsors as part of the championship game for the SEC title game. And of course, the other conferences that would have their championship games as well. Where do you get that lost revenue? Where do you pay back the money if you've already had a financial commitment on a contract? They must feel that that's not going to be a problem because of the money that they're going to be able to bring in. Now, remember, we got this open window, right? The ESPN negotiating window is right now. And I forget is it October 9th that if if they don't announce anything with the ESPN, then it becomes an open possibility for anyone, including Fox to zip right in there. Who knows, even streaming services, they want to pay. And we're talking about a massive amount of money.

36:39Have you seen any estimations on that? Of how much money we're talking about? I don't know. I don't know what the extra money is going to be. I bet it's over one million. It was never going to get done during the exclusive thing. They just had to open up the exclusive thing to get past that. They could talk to others. Yeah, but ESPN's got to be looking at it seriously like, okay, I mean, we weren't ready for this, but now we better check this out and take advantage of the exclusive window. They didn't do the current deal during the exclusive window. ESPN knows it's right and it's not going to carry all these games. They're not going to be probably how much are they? Yeah, how much are they willing to give up? It's just going to be, you know, it's 11 extra games. Like, they're already farming games out the TNT. I was listening to a Bret and Bryant yesterday and Bryant was very adamant. Like, what are we doing here? It's not like the guy on Saturday night live with just Tucker Carlson. What are we doing here?

37:43What's this all about? 24 teams, 24 teams. Every year we go into the college football season, thinking what? There's six to eight teams that can win it all, like legitimate. If that many, if that many, 24 teams, I love playoffs and postseason, but when you get too many, it turns me off. Like, I get to a point and I can't tell you always the number, but I remember when hockey went to, like, just about everybody's in the playoffs for goodness sakes, it turned me off. I'm not a big fan of the playing in the NBA, but okay, all right. It gets down to eight still. You just have the two extra meaning 10 that start the postseason from each conference. I like the baseball expansion because I thought for years as a kid growing up, it was like, two limited was the division winners or four divisions, two, two leagues, they're four. I mean,

38:43it was there wasn't much going on. So you've added some drama and it takes some, some of that drama all the way up to the final game to 162 NFL. I can live with what we have now with four divisions in each conference and the three walls in each. That's seven and seven. We go any higher that will turn me off. I'm not saying I turned the TV off. It just kind of turns me off from it. 12, okay. Some people think that's too many. I'm fine with 12. I'm even fine with 16, which seems to be a little bit too much for a lot of people. 24 is just crazy. And again, the NCAA tournament going to, we've talked about this, we've discussed this and debated it before going to what 75 or whatever the hell they're talking about. What are they talking about? Talk about their doing 76. Well, yeah, I mean, talking about I know they've approved it. 76. That'd be an even number. 76 to me is too many. But there's 300 and what? 60 programs, division one college basketball,

39:44men's college basketball. But for football, 24, that's a lot. Does it water it down? I don't know. We'll see. We'll see what those numbers are. Every single one of those games that's played. Yeah, I mean, I don't know that anybody out there in the general public is demanding 2014's, but the whole thing again, it's it's just money. It's what they're just looking at. How do we maximize money for our schools? That's bottom up. Even I use money, the root of all even an extra just thrown it out there. Extra 12 games. Many of them to be played on campuses where you could sell a whole bunch of tickets at a really good price plus the TV money and everything else. I mean, it's yeah, maybe you're if you're oh, I was taking so a lot of tickets. It's an Alabama. I can sell a lot of tickets. These

40:47teams that are hosting will host these playoff games, they're going to sell a bunch of tickets. Right. Those stadiums are going to be full. The rich get richer again. That's so that's again, I mean, it's just it's just simply money. Conferences get richer. The networks get richer. The sponsors get richer. Hopefully the players too, because again, in this era, they deserve it. But the big time programs get richer and the big time programs continue to pull further away from the other guys. And that's the way it is. I'm Walter Krunker, CBS News. When we come back, we got some NBA to talk about. Plus, what are you doing if you have not signed up yet for our great bet top dog tournament to win $107.50 after Monday's Monday night football game. And you could do it absolutely free. No credit card, nothing you have to put down,

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42:55This is Mornings with Greg and Eli on Sports 56 on 1075. Same great sports conversation with a new pre-set, sports 56 on 1075 FM. Now back to Mornings with Greg and Eli. This hour brought to you by Old Dominic Distillery in downtown Memphis. Here once again, Greg Gaston and Eli Savoy. First pre-season games, Grizzlies continued camp in Nashville at Belmont University. The pistons according to reports have removed the weight clause from the Jalen Durin contract offer. Now Bobby Marks, former GM with ESPN, tweets out, without an agreement today, the $9.6 million qualifying offer to Jalen Durin will expire at 11.59 PM Eastern time. The qualifying offer can be extended, but that is more unlikely. And then he puts

44:02down the differences of Durin signing with Detroit for five years, 200 million compared to the qualifying offer and max salary in 2027. And while the total only is a $2 million difference and right off the bat, you're betting on yourself, but you're talking 9.6 this year as opposed to almost 34 and a half million dollars. And Bobby Mark says there is certainly a significant risk and Durin needs to know. So maybe today they put, I don't know how important that weight call clause thing was, but obviously it was that they pulled it significantly difference between what Durin wants financially, what is it, they can max out it with two, two 76. Yeah, yeah. And they're offering 200 for five years, although, you know, sign me up, I'll take it. But maybe maybe some happens today, but he has a hold out and I don't know when you start to get

45:03fined in the NBA for holding out. Maybe it's the start of the regular season when you start missing games, but he's a hold out. You don't, you don't hear this too often in the NBA with hold out. He's not under contract. They don't have a contract. Oh, okay. That's a good point. He's a free agent. He does have a deadline to decide if he's going to do later due to qualifying off at all. Yeah, that's today. That's today 1159. He's not holding out. That's a good point. That's a good point. That's a good point. Yeah, he's not signed. So there wouldn't be any kind of penalties against him financial penalties. Yeah, I mean, think about that good point. But maybe something happens today. Think about this. And I know there's, there was a trade thing yesterday. I saw where and I don't know how true it was, but then Washington was interested in dealing Anthony Davis for Jalen Dern, but the pistons have not picked up the phone and they're not interested in all that. Why would you be interested in Anthony Davis? Can, can people get it through

46:07their thick skull that he will get hurt again? He's older. Maybe they're lined up with TBS and they want to do another comment. I mean, look, I know when Anthony Davis is healthy, he's a hell of a player and is a hall of famous, a future, all the favorite, but man, he's, he's long in the tooth now. He gets hurt every friggin year. Dern's, Jalen Dern's an adonis man. He's a great God for goodness sakes. No, is he? Do I think Davis in Davis's prime Dern right now is getting into his prime? Do I think they're comparable? I don't. I think Davis was a better player, but you're talking about now trying to trade him for him. And again, you'd have to sign and trade because as you just pointed out, he's not even a part of the roster technically, but I thought that was a joke, but Detroit goes from having Jalen Dern and beef stew. Isaiah Stewart. Isaiah Stewart's now with the Grizzlies. Dern is not even with the team right now. Who would Detroit center be?

47:13Do you know, Jalen? They draft anybody? I'm when I'm looking at their roster. I have no clue. They went from a great one to punch at the big position to who's who's there now? That's why they got to get this brother sign. They got to get this brother sign. You're you're absolutely right. I was looking. I mean, the whole thing is they, I mean, let's see, he's really just willing to sit out. They got all the, they got him in by the, you know, what's like, you can't go anywhere else. It took way close out. Where should he? I still think with the NBA, even though they have him by, yes, they do know what? As Eli pointed out, they always seem to give in. The ownership seems to give in to the NBA players. They do. It's, it's other sports where they hold out. So just the NFL does, you know, the trail spray will disagrees with you. Well true. I'm not saying all the time, right? But it just seems like they give it a little bit more because

48:17they know how important having star players are not only to the bottom line wins and losses, but the bottom, well, maybe the bottom line, the box office. It's big around stars and stars that you can see their faces. Exactly. And I fell they're always concerned about injuries, career threatening injuries, baseball. There's so many players out there. It's more of a team sport than it is. Just an individual, although individual stars certainly are handsomely compensated. But yeah, I think, I think they'll give it. I think something will happen here. And maybe it'll happen today. Eli, what has to happen today as well? Well, again, technically doesn't have to have to happen today, but you're missing out on games. We got couch football tonight. We got NFL. We got the fillies and the braves and the wild card. And we got a whole weekend of football and great sporting events. And you can win money. Absolutely free. If you sign up for bet top dog. That's right. Go to bettopdog.com. Get signed up. Uh, in earlier, our tournament. It's right there on the main page.

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