Best of The Herd

Live from Syracuse’s Newhouse School, I’m filling in and feeling wildly out of place in a building that minted legends. We joked about the Dolphins tee, a rogue water flosser, and yes, Rocky’s wood‑chopping montage still being the best workout scene ever.

Let’s get to hoops. If you could live one career, Draymond Green with the rings and defense, or Charles Barkley with the singular greatness, which way are you going?

Barkley, easily. He owned who he was, didn’t need rings to validate him, and he’s built a post‑career that’s joyful and magnetic. Draymond’s a brilliant defender, but living in ring talk and constant defensiveness isn’t happiness, and rings won’t make you entertaining on TV.

I get the vibe side, but if you strip personality and stack résumés, the four titles and Defensive Player of the Year carry real weight. That said, we’re all complicit in this ring‑count obsession, and it warps how we talk about players.

Speaking of warped, the Wade versus Harden chatter is silly. Wade changed games at both ends and solved problems when shots died. Harden’s playoff profile keeps shrinking. He leans on step‑backs and whistles, and when those dry up, there’s no Plan B. It’s maddening to watch.

Here’s a wild number I double‑checked a bunch: in over a quarter of his playoff games, Harden has as many or more turnovers than made field goals. That’s the postseason story, not a hot take.

Right‑place, right‑time matters. Draymond on the Hornets isn’t Draymond the legend. And yes, I said it: if Derek Jeter came up with the Pirates, the myth changes a ton.

Jeter’s greatness travels. The market amplifies moments, sure, but he would have been elite anywhere. Context can boost a legacy; it doesn’t create the player from scratch.

Quick AI detour. AI Colin said the Pistons look like the team dictating pace against Cleveland and then tossed Jalen Brunson on a Knicks Mount Rushmore with Ewing, Reed, and Clyde. Fun, but let’s not erase Bernard King while we’re at it.

Jeff Passan joins from our Newhouse family. Love the new pod name idea, Sources Tell Jeff Passan. You finding out the hard way that building a weekly show is a second full‑time job?

Totally. It’s idea to execution, every week, no sleep, all joy. On the field, Paul Skenes is the best pitcher going right now, period. The Yankees finally look like they’re growing true front‑line arms, and with Rodón and Cole lining up, they’re the American League favorite.

Yankees fans are buzzing about Spencer Jones. What’s fair to expect?

Towering power and real production if he trims the strikeouts. Cut the swing‑and‑miss a little and you get an All‑Star. Cut it a lot and you’re talking MVP conversations.

I’m loving the dugout celebrations. Give me the Rockies’ purple coat and all the props.

Let it rip. The Blue Jays’ jacket, the Mariners’ trident, the whole thing adds flavor baseball needed.

Back to the Jeter hypothetical for a beat. Is he a product of pinstripes?

Not a creation of them, but New York shaped the legend. In Pittsburgh, he’s still great, just with fewer iconic chances. Surviving and thriving in that market is part of what made him memorable.

Are the Cubs built for October?

Lineup depth and elite defense say yes. The rotation ceiling and bullpen depth say proceed with caution, especially if you’re staring down the Dodgers’ front four.

AI Colin sided with keeping Cam Schlittler over swapping for Skenes, citing cost control and current performance. You cool with robo‑takes calling shots now?

I wouldn’t outsource baseball sense to a bot. On the Dodgers big‑spend question, dominance is good for the league when it’s within the rules. It gives everyone a villain to chase and exposes clubs that don’t invest or develop. Also, brace for a tense labor year.

Let’s play One Table. One seat left. Maddox, Glavine, or Smoltz?

Greg Maddux. Best of the trio and an all‑time clubhouse prank savant. That’s dinner entertainment.

Los Angeles choice: Sandy Koufax or Shohei Ohtani?

In a typical L.A. room, it’s Ohtani. In my place, it’s Koufax, every time.

That’s the hour. Big thanks to Jeff Passan. We laughed, we argued Jeter on the Pirates, we even let AI Colin cook. We’ll keep the mics hot and the takes warmer next time.