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RUNNIN' VEGAS - The John McNamara Sports Podcast
Talking all things Las Vegas sports-from UNLV to the pros, and everything in between.
RUNNIN' VEGAS - The John McNamara Sports Podcast
UNLV Is Doing It WRONG… John McNamara & Austin Starr Break It Down 👀
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Welcome And What We Cover
SPEAKER_02Hey guys, John McRoe here is Run and Vegas. We're talking local sports, business, real estate. If you guys want to see like and subscribe, follow us.
SPEAKER_01I'm running Vegas podcast today. We got a sports pod today.
SPEAKER_02Let's do it. Thanks for bringing on, man. Of course. It's been a while. Time flies.
Grading UNLV’s Season
SPEAKER_02We got we got some we got some news, but we're gonna start off we're gonna do my favorite subject. You know the basketball. Let's do it. All right, so what do you think? 2026, 2025, 2026 season. What were your what were your thoughts of the season?
SPEAKER_00Uh mid-year, if I were to put it. Um that's a good way.
SPEAKER_02That's a nice way to put it.
SPEAKER_00I mean, I was expecting a little bit better um results at the beginning of the year. Um, and then you know, towards the middle of the year, you're kind of you're like, okay, well, change of expectations, and then towards the end of the year, they kind of turned it around and a little bit better. So um I would probably say in the middle, middle of where I expected it to actually be. Okay. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, probably the same for me. I think it this might sound funny, but I think they kind of got lucky getting that on an NIT and get that 18th win. You know, that might not sound, but I feel like bare minimum, you gotta get 18 wins to keep your job. And I don't think Josh should have lost his job in the first year. Um, there's a lot that happened, lost his starting point guard, starting center. It was a tough year. I like the intangibles of Josh, but I, you know, it was it was kind of a rough year.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, to say the least.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, say the least. Yeah, yeah.
Portal Moves And Key Returners
SPEAKER_02Um, so big news. Uh Dre Gibbs, Lawhorn, he's in the portal, and then Mr. Tyron Jones is officially back. We'll see. We still gotta get through the portal. I've seen that before. Yeah, we'll see. Until somebody on the side offers him something. Yeah. But uh, yeah, what are your thoughts uh with potentially Jones coming back? Gibbs in the portal.
SPEAKER_00Uh Jones had a good year. I mean, he's staying staying home, I guess you could say. Yeah. Um, but with the portal and everything, you you never know. I mean, with Trey, he had a great year. Um, once he actually like got his bearings, and yeah, I'm sure Coach just had a little conversation with him. He's like, hey, you got the green light, just do what you want. Yeah. And then from there he kind of just took off. But I mean, it's hard to keep anyone here. It seems like Vegas or UNLV right now is a stepping stone for any player that you know is coming up. Yeah, that is like, all right, well, I'll go kill for a year, potentially, and then you know, I'll get I'll go in my transport portal and go make some money. So yeah, it's pretty much how it all is gonna play out, and I think it's gonna continue to play out that way. Yeah. Regardless if unless we get more money.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I agree with you. I I think it's actually not a bad move for Gibbs. Test the portal, he's gonna be a senior. He probably wants to try to play for you know a national championship, can at least get an NCA tournament, like make that money because that opportunity may never, you know, come again in his life. So we'll see. Um, but Jones coming back, uh huge. Because usually, as you know, we usually see a big step from freshman year to sophomore, and it's usually the biggest leap of progress because they're they're growing up, you know. Um, and he has all the length in the world, he probably just needs to add some size and talk more about his game because it was just it was so much fun to watch him. If there was one thing, it was Gibbs and Jones, and even though they weren't they were winning these big games and then losing kind of these silly games, but Jones was just it was beautiful basketball, which I haven't seen since you were on the team, you know, back in the day, were like a really true, incredibly athlete just playing great basketball.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean he's you could tell he's still a little raw in his game, um, you know, coming into college. And he was good in high school, college. He had he you could tell he's just like a raw athlete. Yeah. Um, once he actually starts to learn the game, if he can learn the game, um, I think he can be a really good player for in the in the years coming.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. Uh yeah, another thing interesting too. Any thoughts? Uh, because uh Cunningham and Che also went into the portal.
SPEAKER_00I mean, Cunningham didn't really play a lot this year.
SPEAKER_02Um could he's known for a shooter and he couldn't shoot.
SPEAKER_00Mm-hmm. Exactly. Um and then Mason, uh we talked about it, Mason redshered this year. Yeah. Um, so I'm interested in seeing what that how that's gonna play out if he ends up leaving or if he ends up staying, who knows? But yeah, um, you know, I've seen him in high school, and I think that he could be a really good college player. Um but yeah, and then the the point guard is he transfer transferring now too?
SPEAKER_02She, yeah, he didn't play last year. So you actually, if you remember this pod, you made some pretty big predictions here. You picked Gibbs to be the best player, and I kind of gave you a little slack on it. So I was wrong, you were right. Um, but we were kind of talking about Che and he was injured, and we weren't sure when he was coming back, and then he just didn't end up playing because it's a little scary injury because I think he hit his foot twice. Yeah. So I don't know if this is a Unal E thing pushing him out because they kind of lost the season because it's not his fault, he got injured, but they were depending upon him. And I don't know if it's well, they paid him.
SPEAKER_00He was one of the highest paid players on the team. So if he's not gonna play at all, I mean they're just kind of wasting money, especially money that they don't have.
SPEAKER_02Right. No, I agree with you. I think it's do you want to chance that occurring a second year? Because that could cost been potentially passenger shop. So I'm kind of curious because I was kind of thinking like Chain may come in to Gibbs role, um, but then he went into the portal like right away.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, I mean I had a I broke my foot, I had a jones fracture with a sophomore year in college, and um if it's not hard to come back physically, it's hard to come back mentally. Um, so I think I mean with the foot injury, it's it's really difficult because you know, your feet you're planning and moving and all that kind of stuff. So I mean, the physical aspect's one thing, but then you get to the mental aspect, and I think it's a completely different story, especially when it's twice.
SPEAKER_02Right. I think you just answered my question. So okay, cool. Um, so yeah, Mason's coming back. I thought it was kind of interesting. He didn't really play last year, but I do think he's gonna be a contributor uh this year. Is there any other players you're looking forward going to next year? Potentially, I mean, I know like a lot's gonna change. I'm probably gonna have you back in a month or two, but right now with the core that looks that's gonna be back, who are you who else are you kind of interested in the team next year?
SPEAKER_00Um, I could probably say that the expectation of the team that's here now is not very high. Um, but I'm interested in seeing how you know the portal plays out um with the recent changes with the junior college and stuff along those lines that they could probably go get a diamond in a rough, hopefully. I mean, and
Juco Eligibility And The NIL Squeeze
SPEAKER_00that's that's the only shot that they have. Um getting a really good player.
SPEAKER_02What was the recent changes with uh junior college?
SPEAKER_00I mean so it doesn't count against your eligibility for division one or NCAA. Okay. So kids can go to junior college for two years, get their um associate's degree, and then go and play in the NCAA and not have their clock start. So um I think that's probably one of the biggest um cheat codes that there is for players nowadays, and you know, there's a stigma on junior college. Um I went to junior college my second year after I left UNLV. It's one of my my one of my favorite years that I've ever played because it's all it is is basketball, and you know, you got school on the side, but yeah, um yeah, I mean you could get the experience. I mean, you can play against high high quality players and you can go and get another four years.
SPEAKER_02So yeah, that's really interesting because yeah, you could be a freshman at 20 years old, um, or you know, be a senior at 24. There's a big difference between an 18-year-old and so yeah, teams have to be more savvy because we're seeing a lot of the more experienced teams are actually able to uh win on a higher level, you know.
SPEAKER_00Let alone let alone NBA players or professional players coming back and playing in college nowadays.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So it's like you got Baylor, like they brought an overseas player back that played in the league, and it's just there's so many things going on in college that you can't really dictate anything that's gonna happen.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's super interesting because even like high school recruiting now has gotten weird as well. There's been less high school recruits because a lot of kind of like what you're saying too, it's like, why are we gonna chance adding this high-level uh freshman recruit because we don't really know how it's gonna translate versus if we actually get to see them play, we actually know, you know, or have a better idea of if they translate better or not. So what you're saying makes a lot of sense. The one guy that I thought was super interesting because I was listening to Passener the other day was uh Diemble, who was supposed to be the starting center for the Rebels last year. And he came out and said, and he's never said this before, is he thought he would have been the number two center in the Mountain West last year. So I thought that was super interesting because now half the teams are leaving to the pack. He's basically saying he's probably gonna be the best center in the Mountain West this year if he comes back. I don't know if he's healthy or not, but it sounded like he was super excited about him coming back to the team. I don't know a ton about it. I know his brother played back in the day.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Chechna?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, great shot blogger. So I thought I'm kind of really interested to see how that progresses.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, I mean Chechna was a really good player. Um, he came in the year that I left, but we became pretty pretty cool um throughout that summer, right before I went to junior college. But um, yeah, his brother's got a lot of raw talent when I saw them in practice at the beginning of the year. Um, unfortunately, he got hurt and everything along those lines. So yeah, I mean it's it'll be cool and exciting to see how he comes back.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yeah. So what do you think Unlee has to do to, you know, get to the next level, or what do you want to see here in the future?
SPEAKER_00So ideally. The only thing that can happen is if they get more money within this, you know, NIL transition and movement through college and stuff along those lines. And um I mean, uh it's it it's created a whole realm. And now that UNLV is not the only team in Vegas, uh, you know, we got an NBA team coming now, we have hockey, we have you know Golden Knights, we have the the Aces, we have so many teams here that um you know creating that income for the team is not gonna go to basketball, yeah. It's gonna go to football now.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, so it's it's gonna be really hard. You're gonna have to find a lot of kids that can play and know how to play instead of just getting, you know, raw athletic talent just because it doesn't work if you don't have the money. No.
SPEAKER_02No, I agree with you. I think we just need to win, and we we've seen it with other Mountain West schools because it kind of hit me this past year. I'm like, I'm kind of over it. I've been watching only basketball for like over 15 years. They were good with you know the rice days, but it's just been basically bad for over a decade. I'm like, they just have to win. But you see New Mexico, you see Reno, um Grand Canton, you see these schools that have built a culture of winning, and they probably don't have higher NIL or probably in the similar range, right? Give or take. I think you just gotta like you gotta start winning.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, I think that there's uh I tell you this uh I think there's a difference between athletic and knowing how to play basketball.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And it's two completely different realms of of basketball. Um like knowing the game and knowing how to play goes a lot further than dunking the ball. I'll just say that now. And you know, getting kids that can shoot, getting kids that can spread the floor. I mean, we had this year, I mean, the only one that I knew could shoot is Gibbs Lawhorn. Yeah. And you know, you kind of it's easy to hone in on that and you know, take him away, take Jones away, and then you have nothing else.
SPEAKER_02Right.
SPEAKER_00Um, we saw teams going zone on us that didn't make you know, didn't help us at all um with our athleticism because we couldn't shoot.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. So no, it's true. Yeah, it's and you brought up a phenomenal point. NBA's gonna be here. Now it's like, hey, Union League basketball kind of had some kind of, but now it's like either they got to be top 25 or at bare minimum be winning their conference or competing with their conference every year to get folks in there. We see with Unal V football though, 30,000, 40,000 fans show up for games and the Raiders are here. So I think the opportunity is there, but uh you just made like a phenomenal point. I think we in the past or we're we're we're trying to go for the upside of every year versus just winning and building that culture and getting the right players in place versus trying to get these players with big names or you know, so I think on the point, it's just we gotta we have to understand Unal V has to understand what they are now. Yep, they're not a national powerhouse, those days are over. Just win some conference tournaments, and but overall, well, how would you grade overall the season?
SPEAKER_00Oh, um like I said, probably C. I'd probably say a C.
SPEAKER_02C?
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Okay, I was gonna say I'm C, C plus. You could even go incomplete because Che and Damblade, you know, didn't play, but but I mean that's basketball, right?
SPEAKER_00Things happen, people get injured. Um, but you have to have a team that's gonna surround the guys, and I think that's when you when you waste a lot of money on one player and you don't have a lot of reserves, then you then you're just you know hell belt on that. But it doesn't really work that way.
SPEAKER_02I agree with you. I think next year, no matter what, they gotta get at least 22 wins because I'm over it. It doesn't matter if they're injured or not, like that's part of batter, that's part of any sport, right? You gotta win. So I'm rooting for Pastner. I like Passner. What are your thoughts on Pastner?
SPEAKER_00Uh I mean, I think he's I think he's good. He's got a lot of energy, he's got a lot of um that going for him. Um as far as X's and O's, I'm not 100% sure. Um, but I mean, as any program is, as any team that you're gonna be with, the head coach is just the head, like the head coach is the head coach.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00They're they're there for politics, they're there for media, they're there for you know being the face of a program. But if you don't have the right assistant coaches that are in the right spots, then it doesn't work.
SPEAKER_02Right. So I'll give him this last year because he got kind of hired late. He'll have potentially a quarter players, we'll have assistant coaches in place. So I'm excited to see I'm rooting for him because I think he checks most of the boxes, and you're never, you know, V, you're never gonna get the like the perfect exact coach, like you know. But overall, I I I'm rooting for the guy, and uh we'll see how next year goes. And I'll have you back and we'll talk, you know, when the roster is actually together and we can actually, you know.
SPEAKER_00Let's do it.
SPEAKER_02All right, I'm excited.
Raiders Offseason And QB Plan
SPEAKER_02All right, so we're moving on to NFL. What do you think about uh the offseason?
SPEAKER_00The Raiders won this offseason, I believe. Crazy, right? Um now they just got what Kirk Cousins on uh well on a five-year deal, but technically a one-year deal. Yeah. That they're only having to put out about $10 million. So it's like it's not that big of a problem. And then you got Fernando Mendoza coming in. Um, you got Max Crosby back, you got an O-line, you got more on the defensive side. So it's like I think that they did a really good job, and I also think that the Rams did a really good job of getting you know some key players to improve their defense.
SPEAKER_02And I think yeah, and McDuffie was a great trade by them. It seems like they're all in this year. Seems like it, yeah. Yeah, we'll see what they do with that 13th pick. Now is you know, the receivers kind of in question. I could see them getting a receiver there, but um, yeah, it was great offseason for so far the Raiders. It's like the Raiders' offseason's just been bad for so long. Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_00I was not expecting the types of moves that they made this year. It was crazy.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, it was so good. Um, but my favor was uh Linerbaum, the center, um, coming over. I think we really, especially at Veteran Center, um, who it's one less thing for potentially Mendoza, who's gonna potentially be the number one pick, most likely. Takes one thing off, opens up the run game. Um, I liked that set. I actually liked the center of last year, but I thought it was more of a guard. Um, Jackson Powers um from Oregon, so I think moving him to guard is gonna help. Um, but overall, yeah, just they got some great athletes on defense. What'd you think about the Max Crosby situation though? The drama.
SPEAKER_00I mean, I think and I mean I think both teams kind of won that deal, right? Ravens get to keep um their picks, but they also get a really good edge rusher. Yeah. Um, and then Ravens get Crosby. I mean, uh Raiders get Crosby back. So right. Um I think that there's a way to restructure that with him. And um, I know he loves it here. Um, so I mean I think that that helps. Uh, but I mean I I think their defense is really strong this year, and I think that they're really contenders on on this side.
SPEAKER_02I agree with you. I think they're gonna be we'll see if they end up being a top ten, but if they're the mid, it's gonna be a huge improvement. And but I, you know, what do you think though? I guess the what do you think actually happened though for the for the Crosby Ravens? Do you think they changed their mind or they're worried about the meniscus?
SPEAKER_00Oh yeah, no, they it's definitely not it was a physical, but it wasn't a physical because they can get someone and keep their picks and get a really good at drusher that was top in the league last year.
SPEAKER_02So yeah, I saw him on the podcast. He's like, Yeah, I got there, and nobody greeted me. And then the GM didn't come out for five hours. I'm like, they changed their mind. For sure. I'm like, I've had a meniscus there, it's not the end of the world. It's it's it happens.
SPEAKER_00You're back right after that, basically.
SPEAKER_02Right, yeah, yeah. I also liked uh yeah, cousins breaking news today is probably the starting quarterback for the beginning year. I love this. It's such a non-rater move, too. It's so smart to bring in a veteran. I know you have the number one pick, but like let him understand the process. Mendoza's a very cerebral quarterback. Um at Cal, he was getting beat up a lot because he didn't really understand that you know, there was a lot of moving parts on the line. Going in, it crushes it, obviously, one of the most amazing seasons of all time. And I think Kirk Cousins is just a great um fit to help develop Mendoza and give him time. You don't have to play him right away.
SPEAKER_00It also gives him time to sit down with Brady and like kind of pick his brain and not have to, you know, put it into a game situation right away. Yeah. Um, but yeah, I mean, I think he has two like really good quarterback brains to pick from whenever he gets here.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. I was super excited about Kubiak becoming, I thought that was best case scenario being the I know he's a corner and going to head coach, you never know how it's gonna go, but his offense was just beautiful to watch last year. I think the Raiders, they may need to tie some things up with the offensive line, but that I feel like the only real glaring hole is maybe that true alpha wide receiver. If you can't maybe trade for Brian Thomas or something this year, you go in the draft next year, whatever it is. It doesn't have to all be figured out this year, right? But it's really interesting because yeah, what a big turnaround for an offseason. So, and I literally like the moves. And a bunch of guys that are kind of you know, they're in their primes, good contracts. It was just overall, it was good. Yep. But I know you're oh, so what's your thoughts about Mendoza?
SPEAKER_00I think he's I think he'll be a really good quarterback. Um, I don't know how it's gonna be the first year. Um, he didn't play a lot under center last year throughout college, so I think that that's gonna be one of the biggest like keys for him, you know, going into the league. Um, but I think I think he's I think he's the truth. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I do too. Yeah, yeah, he's super cerebral. Um, he's got great size, he's 6'5, 235 pounds. He's uh he's unassumingly more athletic than I think people get. I mean, uh when I saw him get he's super tough, which I love. He's a super nerd, but he owns it. But the one thing I noticed in the Alabama game, I know Alabama's not like the same, he got the edge on them the whole game. Oh, yeah. So I'm like, this guy is super underrated as an athlete. So um, yeah, I'm excited about him too. And I think as of now, they are really doing a lot of good things to build him up. I think they just need that one receiver, but I'm excited. I've I've I haven't been excited about Raiders since they like got here. Yeah, yeah.
Steelers Moves And The QB Question
SPEAKER_02But I know you're a big Steelers fan. Yeah. So what you that you guys had an offseason this year, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we actually made some moves, which is actually kind of crazy. You guys you guys just draft. That's it. Yeah right? And keep our keep our head coach throughout 30 years, maybe. Yeah, uh, but no, I think we made some pretty good, pretty good plays. Yeah, you got Pittman coming in. Um I love that signing, which is a really good um on the other side of DK, and I think that we have really good core. Um, but I'm interested in seeing what McCarthy does with our offense. I mean, we're we're kind of always been defensive minded, and that's what Tomlin was, but um our offense has always struggled for the last what eight, nine years, yeah. Um, which is always tough to watch. I mean, I don't want to watch games that we scored where Boswell's the only one scoring.
SPEAKER_02So that's a rough. That's a rough Sunday. Another field goal. Yeah. Uh yeah, I I think uh yeah, McCarthy's interesting. I think that's a simple offense, but it works. You know, you guys, if you're top 15, maybe fringe top 10. Aaron Rodgers obviously knows that system well. Um what are your thoughts? Is Aaron Rodgers coming back, or is he potentially going? I heard some rumblings.
SPEAKER_00I hope he doesn't come back.
SPEAKER_01No, you don't want to come back.
SPEAKER_00Oh, that was hard to watch. But once again, like I said, once again, I think it is with the different offensive scheme. I think it could be a lot better. I think there's a lot more things that happened last year rather than just Aaron. But I think he's a little bit of a prima donna. Um and he causes a lot of issues, you know, locker room and all that kind of stuff, which you can kind of tell. But I we'll see. I just want to win. I don't care who's there, I don't care who's our quarterback wide receiver. Like, I just want to win. That's kind of just point blank period.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's an interesting fit, Aaron Rodgers, for like the Steelers quarterback. I didn't think it was that bad, but also I don't like like the Arthur Smith offense. Like it's it's weird. I don't know. I like it. It's uh they use like three tight ends, and you know, but uh yeah, if it wasn't Aaron Rodgers, like who would you want?
SPEAKER_00Or I wanted Malik Willis. I think Malik Willis has a upside for Malik Willis too for where he's actually gonna be. I mean, what he's with the Dolphins next year, so I don't know if that's gonna be like a perfect fit for him because the Dolphins don't have that many pieces anymore. I have nothing. Um, but I was I I want a mobile quarterback. I I've always wanted I've always liked mobile quarterbacks, but that's just my own personal preference. Yeah. Um to watch. But exactly. Yeah, yeah, I I don't watch too much, but I I when I do watch, I really like to enjoy it. So that's hard to do when you know like yeah, nothing's happening.
SPEAKER_02Right. I like Malik Wills too. I was surprised he went to Dolphins. I know he used to one of the coaches was at Green Bay that he worked with, and that's why he went. But then when Waddle got traded to Denver, I'm like, who's he gonna throw? I mean, like, this is one of the worst rosters in the NFL now. And I'm wondering if he's second guessing it because like I mean, I guess there was interest in Arizona, but they may have just given we're gonna give him a year. But like Pittsburgh, like you said, I won't I don't even know if that was a discussion. Maybe like Rodgers is already locked in for Steelers, but I feel like that would have been a perfect upgrade because the Steelers they're always in this weird spot where they're never, you know, they always if they don't make playoffs, they're eight and eight, or eight and nine, whatever it is, or nine and eight, right? Like, so they never have a high pick to get that quarterback, quarterback, yeah. But Malik Willis kind of would have been like a good potential. Like, if he sucks in a year, who cares? Give us year, yeah or two. But he has upside to potentially be the guy. Yep, I think that would have been a good fit, too. Yeah, and I like the pitman. I think it's a great compliment. I thought that was one of the most underrating.
SPEAKER_00Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Nobody talked about it. None, but and they extended him, but like it was perfect. I think it's a perfect compliment to DK because DK can he's just not the move changer guy, he's the vertical threat. So to have both, because I mean you could see it in the offense. It's like, okay, we're playing DK, just make sure he doesn't get the nine on us. So I love that. Or get in a fight or get ejected or something like that. Yeah, something like that. Yeah. So yeah. But if you get a slot, yeah. I I really I thought the Pittsburgh Steelers offseason was really underrated. So I was excited when you're because you're a huge Steelers fan. So I'm like, okay, cool, I can talk to him about the Steelers.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we made some moves.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. So what who do you think is the starting running back for the Steelers next year?
SPEAKER_00Um, oh who do we just get? What's his name?
SPEAKER_02You got Rico Dowd.
SPEAKER_00You got Rico Dowdle. You got Warren Jalen. I love I love Warren. He's he's a very physical running back. I I think Warren's probably gonna be the starting running back. Yeah, and Dowdle's gonna be more of like the quicker one. Um, but I mean you can't if you start the game and you're just running through people, I think that speaks more volumes for for Waddle to be the starter.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I like Warren more too. Yeah, but they sign what's interesting because the Dowdle, he's he's got similar, he may have like a little bit, but it's basically the same numbers. Him and Warren have like six million a year or something like that. But everybody's thinking douddle is the guy. Um he's played with McCarthy in Dallas. Um, but he he's a very physical running back. I'm just wondering if the like the tread has worn off a little bit because Dallas and Carolina, he has he's had a lot of touches. Yep. So we'll see, because Carolina, he was like, it was so beautiful to watch him run. I mean, he was just hitting people. I mean, it was so much fun to watch, but I've seen it too many times where a guy's that physical has too many touches, and then he's just not the same back. You know, um, back in the day, Dolphins. Oh, it's beautiful to watch that guy run play football all of a sudden, and he was just he was out of the league.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So I'm agreeing with you because I think Warren is a better pass catching back, third down back. I think it's probably gonna be a 1A, 1B situation, but I think a lot of people just assume Rico's the guy. But they paid Warren last year, and Warren was great last year.
SPEAKER_00He was a really good running back for us.
SPEAKER_02He was fun to watch. Yep. And then you got Johnson as your third running back. Who knows? Like, I think it's perfect for him to watch those guys because they're both very undrafted, both fiscal runners. Because Johnson, I don't know, he's got the size speed, but I don't know if he's that fiscal. So it might be good for him for a year or two to just watch those guys play football up that level. So running back room for Steelers is gonna be fun to watch this year. Yeah, cool.
Real Estate Switch And Personal Goals
SPEAKER_02All right, let's talk a little bit about real estate. So you have moved brokerages while back, but I haven't seen you since then. So tell us about that, how your year going, what's new?
SPEAKER_00Good. Uh yeah, so I made the move to Sarah Hant. We've kind of launched October of last year. Um, and it's been great. I mean, it's been a very uh recognizable brand, but not only that, but it's very um they have the resources and the the structure that's that's able for us as agents to kind of go and do our own thing. Um, you know, we have our own studios department, which is really cool. Um, high quality videos, this, that, and the third. But um, it's been really good for business. So I I can't complain. I'm very happy where I'm at.
SPEAKER_02That's awesome. Yeah, you've been blowing it up and sale here, sale there, this listing, you know, million dollar listing over there. So it's great to see. You got all this momentum. So congrats to you. Congrats to move. I know it's been October. We've talked since then. We just haven't had you in the pod, but it seems like it's going really well. Yep, it is. Cool. So, what what are your goals for the rest of the year? Business, personal, you got any vacations coming up or uh no vacations this year.
SPEAKER_00Um, with the move, I think a lot of things have been, you know, fluctuating and really trying to hit the ground running and make different moves now. Um, and I think the last time we were on the pod, I kind of just was like, you know, I'm just trying to figure it out. And right. I know.
SPEAKER_02You're hinting on the pod. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I'm I'm I'm locked in. I'm going through. Um goals for this year are pretty good, pretty high. Um, very achievable though. Um, and personal, I think I'm we're planning a trip to Japan next year. My girlfriend grew up in Japan. Oh so we're gonna go back out there and kind of visit where she grew up, and I think it'd be really fun. I've never been.
SPEAKER_02I haven't either. What what city or town?
SPEAKER_00Uh she was in Okinawa for 10 years, but yeah, she's traveled all over Japan, so she knows everywhere to go. So that's gonna be awesome. Okinawa is like the Hawaii of Japan.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's gonna be exciting. Yeah, I've only heard I've read a lot of books on Japan. Uh just the culture seems like it's amazing. It's definitely a bucket list thing for that I want to achieve at some point.
SPEAKER_00Everyone says that it's like the most beautiful culture that that they've ever like immersed themselves in, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, everybody's polite and nice and they clean up like crazy thoughts. Yeah, right. And they all live to like 120 because they eat well and they have they have community with each other. Yep. I can't remember the book now, but it yeah, it's pretty cool. How's your golf game?
SPEAKER_00Uh I got to a plus one handicap, so it's it's been good. I've been playing like once or twice a week. I I haven't not that much, but yeah, I've gotten uh hit a pretty good point in my game.
SPEAKER_02So yeah, man, you're crushing it everywhere. I love it. All right, guys, we're gonna wrap this up. It's run big, awesome star. Thanks for being on, man. I appreciate you. Of course, guys, take care of yourselves today.